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577.101 

I94w 

.128820 


M.  L. 


GENEALOGY 


COLLECTION 


QaJ 


3  1833  02410  7382 


•►■-^^ 


1808. 


HISTORY 


OF 


THE  FIRE  LANDS, 


COMPRISING 


Huron  and  Erie  Counties, 


OHIO. 


Illustrations  and  Biographical  Sketches 


SOME  OF  THE  PROMINENT  MEN  AND  PIONEERS, 


q  71  JO  I 


HU^       W.  \^^.  WILLIAMS 


—1879.— 


PRESS  OF  LEADER  PRINTING  COMPANY,  CLEVELAND,  O. 


I 


U3S820 

Prefatory  Note, 


PEIvIIAPS  tlicre  is  no  other  district,  in  Ohio,  of  ei|iial  extent,  that  has  given  so  much  attention  to  pioneer 
iiistory  as  that  which  embraces  the  Fire-lan(]s.  An  liistorieal  society  has  been  in  active  being  since 
18r)7,  assembling,  for  the  most  part,  four  or  five  times  each  year;  and  thus  tlie  interest  in  local  history 
has  not  been  permitted  to  grow  dormant.  This  society  has  issued  thirteen  volumes,  containing  for  the  most 
part  matter  pertinent  to  pioneer  histnry.  This  matter  is  set  forth  in  print  in  the  form  in  uliieh  it  was  first 
|irepai-ed — some  of  it  in  townshi|i  liistories — mneli  of  the  highly  valuable  in  published  addresses.  Had  the 
publications  reteri-ed  to  contained  full  and  accii  rale  histories  of  all  the  townships  on  the  Fire-lands  there  would 
still  have  existed  one  defect  whicha  volume  such  as  the  autlior  now  places  in  the  liands  of  its  readers  is  in- 
tended to  supply,  viz:  a  lack  of  careful  revision  and  editing.  However,  tlie  township  liistories,  as  published 
in  The  Pioneer,  though  excellent  in  some  respects,  are  greatly  lacking  in  otiier  essentials.  Many  of  them  fail 
to  treat  of  subjects  that  are  entitled  to  weighty  consideration;  many  of  them  contain  irrelevant  matter;  some 
of  them  were  prepared  by  writers  who  are  nnaccustomed  to  work  of  this  nature — additional  points  that  show 
the  desirableness  of  a  carefully  compiled  history.  However,  the  author  of  this  volume  has  not  relied  upon 
Tlie  I'inneer  as  his  chief  source  of  information.  The  facts  have  been  gathered  anew.  Original  documents 
and  records  have  been  consulted;  old  settlers  and  their  descendants  personally  interviewed  and  the  history  of 
the  various  townships  made  as  complete  as  practicable.  Tlie  first  one  hundred  pages  or  more,  are  devoted 
to  tojiies  of  a  general  interest  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  Fire-lands,  while  the  remainder  of  the 
book  treats  of  matter  pertaining  to  the  history  of  the  various  townships  included  in  the  I*'ire-lands'  district; 
while  at  the  close  of  the  volume  is  appended  a  brief  account  of  the  islands  of  Sandusky  j'.ay.  The  book 
embraces  at  least  one  hundred  pages  more  of  reading  matter  tha'i  any  ])re\  ions  similar  ]inl)lieation  with 
which  the  publisher  has  been  identified.  His  hope  is  that  the  book,  which  he  is  eonseious  is  not  wIkpHv  free 
from  faults,  may  nevertheless  meet  reasonable  expectation. 

His  thanks  are  in  a  special  manner  due  to  Mr.  P.  N.  Schuyler,  President  of  the  Fire-lands  Historical  So- 
ciety for  valued  suggestions,  and  for  valuable  information  npon  various  topics.  That  gentleman's  C'entennial 
Address  jjulilishcd  in  Volume  XIII  of  the  Pifniccr,  the  publisher  found  of  great  value  and  made  lilieral  use 
of  facts  therein  set  forth. 

The  chapter  on  the  Pre-historic  Fire-lands  is  from  the  able  pen  of  S.  A.  Wildmax.  Esip.  of  Ni.rwalk.  who 
has  made  this  subject  a  special  study.  Through  some  inadvertence  the  jiroper  credit  in  the  jiroper  |)laee  was 
not  given. 

In  tiie  prej.aration  of  the  history  of  Lyme,  the  author  had  access  to  the  valuable  manuscript  of  Mr.  John 
Sey.moik,  which  treats  quite  fully  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  township;  to  him  the  publisher  is  therefore 
indebted,  as  also  to  Mr.  George  W.  Siikfi'iuli),  and  Mrs.  IiIchaud  L.  McCUrdy,  whom  he  found  it  neces- 
sary frequently  to  consult. 

Bellevue,  Ohio,  June  20,  187!l. 


i 


CONTENTS. 


hustok^io^I-.- 


HISTORY  OF  HUEOU  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES 

9 

n 
u 

20 
23 

25 

30 
34 

40 

I.— The  Connecticut  Western  Reserve     .... 
rr.— The  Suffering  Towns  of  Connecticut 

Ridgefield    . 

.  242 
.     253 

III.— The  Fire-Lands— A-  List  of  the  Sufferers  and  their 

Sherman 

284 

Losses 

IV.— Indian  Title— Copy  of  the  Original  Treaty        . 

Richmond    . 

.     290 

v.— The  Survey  and  Partition 

VI.— Physical  Features  of  Huron  County— Geography  and 

Ripley 

.     319 

Topography 

VII.— Geology  of  Erie  County— Surface,  Features,  and  De- 

Fiirfield 

.     351 

posit        

VIII.— The  Pre-historic  Fire-Lands 

IX.— The  Moravian  Missions 

Lyme .         .         . 

Norwich 

.  377 
.     417 

X. — Early  Settlement 

HISTORY 

OF    TOWNS    AND    VILLAGES 
ERIE   COUNTY. 

OF 

XII.— Civil  History 

XHL— Erie  County— Its  Erection  and  Organization     . 

44 

XV.     Political  History 

50 
52 

Florence 

.     445 

XVIII.— The  Fire-Lands  Historical  Society     .... 
XIX.— Military  History  of  the  Fire-Lands  .... 
XX.— Roster  of  Soldiers 

61 
67 
81 

HI 
1S2 
195 
202 
214 

Milan  .         .         . 

O.Kford 

Huron 

Berlin 

.  458 
.  466 
.  470 
.     475 

HISTORY   OF    TOWNS    AND   VILLAGES    OF 
HURON    COUNTY. 

Margaretta  . 

.  490 
.     510 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Ruggles,  Ashland  County 

Danbury,  Ottawa        '• 

Put-in-Bay,   "             - 

Wakeman 

Hartland 

Peru 

Greenfield 

.  501 
.  506 
.     519 

ILLTJSTI^^TIOlsrS- 


._ 

pa.:e 

HARTLAND. 

PAGE 

Outline  Maps  of  Huron  and  Erie  Counties 

.     between 

8,  9 

Portrait  of  Benjamin  F.  McCormick  . 

.        facing 

196 

PERU. 

NORWALK. 

Residence  of  Richardson  Eaton 

.        facing 

205 

Residence  of  John  Gardiner 

.        facing 

111 

Portraits  of  Richardson  Eaton  and  Wife    . 

205 

Portrait  of  Ashbel  G.  Post .... 

between  122 

123 

Portrait  of  Richard  Hindley       . 

Residence          '■             "               ... 

"        122 

123 

William  N.  Mitchell 

208 

Portrait  of  Judge  Chas.  B.  Stickney  . 

facing 

126 

Portraits  of  Ransom  B.  Ellsworth  and  Wife 

213 

"          Col.  Franklin  Sawyer 

135 

Hon.  John  A.  Williamson 

141 

GREENFIELD. 

Dr.  John  Tifft  .... 

144 

Portrait  of  Samuel  McCammon,  M.D. 

.        facing 

Ansel  Baker      .... 

. 

147 

Residence  of  Hiram  Smith  (double  page)  . 

between  224 

225 

Eri  Mesnard      .... 

153 

George  Butt       .... 

158 

BRONSON. 

John  Gardiner  (steel) 

171 

Portraits  of  A.  J.  Thomas  and  Wife 

between  228 

Piatt  Benedict  .... 

173 

Residence  of  A.  J.  Thomas 

Hon.  Timothy  Baker  (steel)      . 
Residence  and  Factory  of  B.  Cortrite 

175 
176 

Portrait  of  Thomas  Lawrence     . 

.        facing 

230 
?33 

Portrait  of  David  Harlow  Pease 

177 

Residence  of  Leister  Smith  (with  portraits) 

23!> 

"          John  Laylin 

178 

"         Caleb  H.  Gallup 

179 

Portraits  of  N.  S.  Hakes  and  Wife     . 

5 

CONTENTS. 


IXjXjTJSTI^.^TI03^TS. 


Portraits  of  Samuel  S.  Nowcuinb  and  Wife 
ResideDCc  of  Edward  Conger  (witli  portraits) 
Portraits  of  Timothy  Lawrence  and  Wife  . 
Residence  of  W.  G.  Mead 
Portrait  of  W.  G.  Mead      .... 
*'  George  Lawrence 


TOWNSEND. 

Portraits  of  JIartin  Denman  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  Dudley  S.  Humphrey 

William  Humphrey  . 

Dr.  Edgar  Martin     . 


»  RIDGEFIELD. 

Portrait  of  Isaac  L'nderhill 
Orrin  W.  Head 

"  John  S.  Davis  (steel) 

Portraits  of  William  A.  Bishop  and  Wife  . 
Portrait  of  Henry  P.  Steniz  (steel)     . 

"  Robert  G.  Martin    '• 

"  Thomas  Dickey 

Portraits  of  Salmon  Drake  and  Wife  . 


CLARKSFIELD. 

Portraits  of  Sherman  Smith  and  Wife 
Residence  of  Andrew  J.  Blackman  . 
Portraits  of  "  " 

Portrait  of  Edwin  W.  Cunninghan 


and  Wife 


SHER.HAN, 

Portrait  of  Lucien  Joues     . 

Residence  of  William  S.  Purdy  . 

PortraiU  of  William  S.  Purdy  and  Wife 
"  Ransom  Purdy  and  Wife 

"  Major  Purdy  and  \V\(e   . 

Residence  of  Major  Purdy 


RICHMOND. 


.     238 
facing     238 


facing     244 

reen  240,  247 

240,  247 


270,  271 

facing     272 

272 


facing     280 
280 


•        2S8, 289 
facing     2Sa 


Portrait  of  Dr.  William  Robinson 
Portraits  of  Uuriah  Robinson  and  Wife     . 
Residence  of  Huriah  Robinson   . 
Residence  of  Daniel  Sweetland  . 

NEW   U.VVEN. 

Residence  of  William  Motson     . 

Portraits  of  Thomxs  T.  Mulford  and  Wife 

Residence  of  Thomas  T.  Mulford 

Portraits  of  R.  G.  Richards  and  Wife 

Residence  of  R.  G.  Richards       . 

"  John  Lovelaud  (with  portraits) 

"  John  Skinner         "  " 

RIPLEY. 

Residence  of  A.  D.  Stotts  (with  portraits),  double 

page 

F.C.  Paine  (with  portraits). 

FITCHVILLE. 

Portraits  of  Philip  Uawxhurst  and  Wife   . 
Residence  of  Philip  Hawxhurst 

GREENWICH. 

Residence  of  Henry  G.  Washburn  (double  page),  w 
portraits      .... 
"  Chas.  A.  Sutton  (with  portraits) 

William  Sutton      . 
Portraits  of  John  M.  Carl  and  Wife  . 
Rosidcnco  of  John  M.  CnrI 
Portraits  of  David  Sutliff  and  Wife   . 


between  322,  323 


facing    335 
335 


between  338,  339 

facing    342 

345 

between  346,  347 

"         34B,  347 

"         346,  347 


Residence  of  David  Sutliff  .... 
"  John  Ellis  (with  portraits)     . 

William  B.  Ellis  (with  portraits) 
Portraits  of  Joseph  .Sutton  and  Wife 

FAIRFIELD. 

Residence  of  Clinton  McKellogg 

"  Isaac  DeWitt  (with  portraits) 

Portraits  of  William  Baker  and  Wife 

NEW   LONDON. 

Portrait  of  Holsy  Hubbard 
Portraits  of  Zelotus  Barrett  and  Wife 
Residence  of  the  late  Zelotus  Barrett 

"  Jesse  Perkins  (with  portraits) 

Portrait  of  Dr.  A.  D.  Skellenger 

Lyman  Dunks ... 
"  Tracy  Case        .         . 

E.  H.  Curtiss    .... 


Residence  of  E.  L.  Dole  (with  portraits)    . 

Portrait  of  David  Williams 

Thomas  G.  Amsden 
Frederick  A.  Chapman  (steel) 
Gurdou  Woodward 
Mary  S.  Woodward 
Bourdett  Wood 
Mrs.  Bourdett  Wood 
Dr.  L.  G.  Harkncss 
Mrs.  L.  G.  Harkness 
D.  M.  Harkness 

NORWICH. 


PAGE 

between  346,  347 

"         348,  349 

348,  349 

facing     350 


between  366,  36" 

366,  367 

facing     368 


"  390 

405 
406,  407 
406,  407 
412,  413 
412,  413 
414,  415 
414,415 

■ing     416 


Residence  of  W.  Robinson  (with  portraits)         .  facing 

Portraits  of  John  U.  Xiles  and  Wife  .  .... 

Residence  of  Harvey  J.  Doolittle        ....         facing 
Portraits  of  Harvey  J.  Doolittlc  and  Wile. 

John  S.  Hester  and  Wife  ... 

Residence  of  John  S.  Hester       .  .         . 

Portrait  of  Charles  T.  Hester 

Residence  of  Ebenezer  Lawrence  (with  portraits)      .         facing 
Portraits  of  James  H.  Dailcy  and  Wife  .         between  428, 

Residence  of  James  H.  Dailey   ....  "        428, 

Portraits  of  John  Bowcn  and  Wife    ...  "         428, 

Residence  of  John  Bowen "        42S, 

Residence  of  A.  B.  Gilson  (with  portraits)  .         .         facing 

SANDUSKY   CITY. 

Portrait  of  F.  D.  Parish 


BERLIN. 

Portraits  of  Benjamin  Summers  and  Wife  . 

Milton  McLaughlin  and  Wife  . 

Hudson  Tuttle  and  Wife. 
Portrait  of  Hon.  Almon  Ruggles 
Portraits  of  P.  B.  Barber  and  Wife    . 

RUGGLES. 


Portrait  of  Philetus  Ferris  .... 

KELLEY'S   ISLAND. 

Portraits  of  Datus  Kelley  and  Wife    . 

"  Charles  Carpenter  and  Wife    . 

Portrait  of  George  W.  Wires      .... 


rUT-IN-BAY. 

Portrait  of  Lorcnz  Miiller 

"  Simon  Fo.\ 

Portraits  of  Charles  DeKay  Townsend  and  Wife 


bzoc3-k.^:ph:ic^Xj. 


Ashbel  G.  Post    . 
Juilgu  Chiis.  15.  Stickuey 
Col.  Franklin  Sawyer 
Hon.  John  A.  Williamson 
Doctor  John  Tiflt 
Ansel  Baker 


E.i  Me 


George  Butt 
John  Gartliner    . 
I'latt  Benedict     . 
Hon.  Timothy  Baker 
Gideon  T.  Stewart 
Barnard  Cortritc 
David  Harlow  Pease 
John  Laylin 
Caleb  H.  Gallup 
Benjamin  F.  McCorm 
Richard  Hindley 
William  N.  Mitchell 
Dean  Clapp 
Ransom  B.  Ellsworth 
Samuel  MoCammon,  M.D 
Erastus  Smith     . 
Hiram  Smith 
A.  J.  Thomas      . 
Thomas  Lawrenc 
Alviu  Brightman 
The  Newcombs  of  Bronson 
David  Conger      . 
Leister  Smith 
Norinan  S.  Hakes 
Timothy  Lawrence 

John  Buffington  . 
W.  G.  Mead 
Martin  Denman  . 
Duilley  S.  Humphrey 
William  Humphrey 
Dr.  Edgar  Martin 
Isaac  Underbill  . 
Orrin  W.  Head    . 
John  S.  Davis      . 
William  A.  Bishop 
Henry  P.  Stentz 
Robert  G.  Martin 
Thomas  Dickey  . 
Salmon  Drake     . 
Reuben  Parker   . 
Sherman  Smith  and  Wife 
Andrew  J.  Blaekraan 
Edwin  W.  Cunningham 
Lucicn  Jones 
The  Purdy  Family 
Major  Purdy 
Huriah  Robinson 


between  122,  123 
facing     126 


between  228,  229 
facing     230 


.     240 

.     241 

.     241 

.     241 

facing     244 

between  246,  247 

246,  247 

.     251 

facing     255 


PAGE 

Thomas  T.  Mulford sir 

John  Skinner 317 

Richard  G.  Richards 317 

John  Lovoland    ..........  31s 

William  Motson 313 

F.  C.  Paine 325 

A.  D.  Stotts :i2u 

Samson  and  Philip  Haw,\hurst 336 

Henry  G.  Washburn 34s 

William  Benson  Ellis 349 

John  Ellis 340 

Joseph  Sutton 350 

William  Baker 360 

Isaac  De  Witt 300 

Clinlon  M.  Kellogg 361 

Zelotus  Barrett between  366,  367 

Dr.  A.  D.  Skellenger facing  372 

Isaac  P.  and  Tracy  Case 374 

Jesse  Perkins 375 

E.  H.  Curtiss 375 

David  Williams facing  385 

Thomas  G.  Amsden ■'  390 

Frederick  A.  Chapman 405 

Gurdon  Woodward 407 

The  Rev.  Moses  Hamilton 409 

Amos  Woodward 409 

Richard  Lord  MoCurdy 440 

Bourdett  Wood    ..........  442 

Dr.  L.  G.  Harkness 414 

Orrin  Dole 445 

D.  M.  Harkness 416 

John  H.  Niles 421 

Charles  T.  Hester 425 

John  S.  Hester 426 

Ebcnezer  Lawrence 427 

James  H.  Dailey          .........  428 

A.  B.  Gilson 428 

John  Bowen 429 

Harvey  J.  Doolittlc 430 

AFesley  Robinson 430 

F.  D.  Parish 439 

Percival  B.  Salisbury 469 

Benjamin  Summers     .......        facing  479 

Milton  McLaughlin     .......             '•  482 

Hudson  Tuttle "486 

Hon.  Ahuon  Ruggles 487 

Rev.  Phineas  B.  Barber 488 

Roxana  S.  Barber 489 

Datus  Kelley facing  513 

Charles  Carpenter        .         .         .         .         .         .         .             '*  515 

George  W.  Wires 517 

Roswell  Nichols .518 

Lorenz  MUller between  520,  521 

Simon  Fox "         520,  521 

Chas.  DeKay  Townsend 524 


A     1      N     n     0      3 


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4, 


LORAIM  COUNTr 


HISTORY 


HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES 


BY  W.   W.  WILLIAMS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    CONNECTICUT    WESTERN   EESERVE. 

The  Western  Reserve  of  Connecticut  lies  between 
tlie  parallels  of  41°  and  4-2°  i'  of  north  latitiTcle,  com- 
mencing with  the  western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania 
and  extending  thence  westward  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles.  The  entire  tract  embraces  an  area  of 
seven  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty  square  miles, 
nearly  one-third  of  which  is  covered  by  the  waters  of 
Lake  Erie.  Within  its  limits  are  contained,  in  whole 
or  in  part,  thirteen  counties,  us  follows:  Ten  counties, 
Ashtabula,  Trumbull,  Lake,  Geauga,  Portage,  Cuya- 
hoga, Lorain,  Medina,  Huron  and  Erie  lie  wholly  in 
the  Reserve;  two  others,  Summit  and  Mahoning,  are 
mostly  within  its  limits,  the  former  containing  six- 
teen original  townships,  only  two  of  which,  Franklin 
and  Green,  are  south  of  the  line,  the  latter  having 
ten  townships  north  of  the  Reserve  line  and  five 
south  of  it.  Ashland  county  is  represented  on  the 
Reserve  by  Sullivan,  Troy  and  Ruggles  townships, 
and  Ottawa  county  by  the  township  of  Daubury. 

There  have  been  numerous  claimants'to  the  soil  of 
the  Reserve.  In  addition  to  the  red  man's  title. 
Prance,  England,  the  United  States,  Virginia,  Massa- 
chusetts, New  York  and  Connecticut  have,,  at  one 
time  or  another,  asserted  ownership. 

The  claim  of  France  arose  by  reason  of  its  being  a 
portion  of  the  territory  which  she  possessed  by  right 
of  discovery. 

England  laid  claim  to  all  territory  adjoining  those 
districts  lying  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  whose  soil 
she  possessed  by  right  of  occupancy,  asserting  owner- 
ship from  sea  to  sea.  The  greatest  ignorance,  how- 
ever, prevailed  in  early  times  as  to  the  inland  extent 
of  the  American  continent.  During  the  reign  of 
James  I.,  Sir  Francis  Drake  reported  that  from  the 
top  of  the  mountains  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  he 
had  seen  both  oceans.  This  led  to  the  belief  that  the 
contment  from  &ast  to  west  was  of  no  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  that  the  South  Sea,  by  which  appellation 
the  Pacific  then  was  known,   did  not  lie   very  far 


removed  from  the  Atlantic.  As  late  as  1740,  the 
Duke  of  Newcastle  addressed  his  letters  to  the  "Island 
of  New  England."  This  ignorance  of  the  inland  ex- 
tent of  America  gave  rise,  as  we  shall  see,  to  con- 
flicting claims  of  western  territory.  England's  valid 
title  to  the  great  west  was  obtained  through  conquest, 
compelling  France,  in  1713  and  1763,  to  surrender 
nearly  the  whole  of  her  American  possessions. 

The  United  States  succeeded  Great  Britain  in  her 
right  of  ownership  in  American  soil,  and  thus  came 
to  have  a  claim  on  the  lands  of  the  Reserve.  The 
claims  of  Virginia,  Massachusetts,  New  York  and 
Connecticut  were  .obtained  by  virtue  of  charters 
granted  to  English  subjects  by  English  sovereigns. 
The  tract  of  country  embraced  in  the  Loudon  Com- 
pany's charter,  granted  by  James  I.  in  1609,  whence 
arose  Virginia's  claim,  commenced  its  boundaries  at 
old  Point  Comfort,  on  the  Atlantic,  and  extended 
two  hundred  miles  south  and  two  hundred  north 
from  this  point.  From  the  southernmost  point,  a 
line  drawn  due  west  to  the  Pacific  formed  the  south- 
ern boundary;  from  the  northernmost  i>oiut,  a  line 
running  diagonally  northwesterly  through  Pennsyl- 
vania and  western  New  York,  aci'oss  the  eastern 
portion  of  Lake  Erie,  and  terminating  finally  in  the 
Arctic  Ocean,  formed  the  northwestern  boundary; 
and  the  Pacific  Ocean,  or  what  was  then  called  the 
South  Sea.  the  western  boundary.  The  vast  empire 
lying  within  these  four  lines  included  over  one  half  of 
the  North  American  continent,  and  embraced  all  of 
what  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Northwestern  Ter- 
ritory, including,  of  course,  the  lands  of  the  Reserve. 

The  claim  of  Massachusetts  rested  for  its  validity 
upon  the  charter  of  ICyH),  granted  by  James  I.  to  the 
council  of  Plymouth,  and  embraced  all  the  territory 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  lying  between  the 
fortieth  and  forty-eighth  parallels  of  latitude.  This 
grant  comprised  an  area  of  more  than  a  million  of 
square  miles,  and  included  all  of  the  present  inhabited 
British  possessions  to  the  north  of  the  United  States, 
all  of  what  is  now  New  England,  New  York,  one  half 
of  New  Jersey,  very  nearly  all  of  Pennsylvania,  more 


10 


UISTOHV  OF  llUiiUX  AM)  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


than  the  northern  half  of  Ohio,  and  all  the  country 
to  the  «-e.st  of  those  States. 

In  1630,  the  Earl  of  Warwick  olHained  a  grant  to 
a  part  of  the  same  territory,  and.  in  the  following 
year,  assigned  a  portion  of  his  grant  to  Lord  Brooke, 
and  Viscounts  Say  and  Seal. 

In  1664.  Charles  II.  ceded  to  his  brother,  tlie  Duke 
of  York,  and  afterwards  King  James  II.  of  England, 
the  country  from  Delaware  bay  to  the  river  St.  Croix, 
and  afterwards  it  was  insisted  that  the  granted  terri- 
tory extended  westward  to  the  Pacific.  This  consti- 
tuted New  York's  claim  to  western  territory,  of  which 
the  lands  of  the  Reserve  were  a  portion. 

lu  1662,  the  same  monarch  granted  to  nineteen 
patentees  an  ample  charter,  from  which  Connecticut 
derived  her  claim  to  a  territory  bounded  by  Massa- 
chusetts on  tlie  north,  the  sea  on  the  south,  Narra- 
gansett  bay  on  the  east,  but  extc-udiug  to  the  Pacific 
on  the  west.  This  grant  embraced  a  strip  sixty-two 
miles  wide,  extending  from  Karragausett  bay  on  the 
east  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  on  the  west,  and  the  north- 
ern and  southern  boundaries  of  this  tract  were  the 
same  as  those,  in  part,  which  now  form  the  boundaries 
at  the  north  and  south  of  the  Reserve. 

Thus  arose  conflicting  claims.  The  extent  of  terri- 
tory to  which  V^irginia  insisted  she  was  the  rightful 
owner,  was  the  largest,  and  included  all  the  other 
claims.  That  of  Massachusetts  was  next  in  size,  and 
included  the  whole  region  claimed  for  Connecticut,  as 
did  the  territory  embraced  in  New  York's  claim. 

The  United  States  did  not  appear  as  a  contestant 
until  the  time  of  the  revolutionary  war,  when  she, 
with  good  reason,  insisted  that  these  disputed  lauds 
belonged  of  right  to  Great  Britain's  couquerer;  that 
a  vacant  territory,  wrested  from  a  common  enemy  by 
the  united  arms  and  at  the  joint  expense  and  sacrifice 
of  all  the  States,  should  be  considered  as  the  property 
of  the  conquering  nation,  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the 
common  benefit  of  all  the  people  of  all  the  States. 
To  show  how  groundless  were  the  claims  of  these 
contesting  States,  it  was  pointed  out  that  the  charters 
upon  which  they  were  founded  had  in  some  instances 
been  abrogated  by  judicial  decisions,  and  the  com- 
panies to  which  they  had  been  given  dissolved;  that 
the  charters  were  given  at  a  time  when  much  of  the 
territory  to  which  ownership  was  claimed  under  them 
was  in  the  actual  occupancy  of  another  power;  that 
all  the  various  grants  were  made  in  the  grossest  igno- 
rance of  the  inland  extent  of  the  American  continent: 
and  that  George  III.  had  either  repudiated  the  charters 
of  his  royal  predecessors  or  denied  to  them  the  right 
of  sovereignty  over  territory  of  so  vast  extent  by 
issuing  a  proclamation  forbidding  all  persons  from 
intruding  upon  lands  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio. 

Popular  feeling  ran  high.  Contentions  between 
conflicting  claimants  frequently  resulted  in  bloodshed. 
The  prospects  of  the  American  Union  were  darkened; 
the  difficulties  and  embarrassments  in  prosecuting  the  I 
war  for  independence  were  greatly  augmented.  Mary- 
laud  would  not  become  a  member  of  the  Union  unless  | 


the  States  claiming  western  territory  would  relin- 
quish their  title.  In  the  midst  of  these  gloomy  and 
foreboding  events,  in  which  disaster  to  the  common 
cause  was  more  to  be  feared  at  the  hands  of  its 
friends  than  its  enemies,  congress  made  a  strong 
appeal  to  the  claiming  States  to  avert  the  approaching 
danger  by  a  cessation  of  contentious  discord  among 
themselves,  and  by  making  li))eral  cessions  of  western 
ten-itory  for  the  common  benefit. 

New  York  was  the  first  to  respond,  and,  in  1780, 
ceded  to  the  United  States  the  lands  she  claimed 
lying  west  of  a  line  running  south  from  the  western 
bend  of  Lake  Ontario,  reserving  an  area  of  nineteen 
j  thousand  square  miles.  Virginia,  in  1784,  relin- 
quished to  congress  her  title  to  lands  lying  northwest 
of  the  Ohio,  reserving  a  district  of  land  in  Ohio  lying 
between  the  Scioto  and  Little  Miami  rivers,  which 
came  to  be  known  as  the  Virginia  Military  District, 
which  reservation  was  made  in  order  to  enable  Vir- 
ginia to  fulfill  pledges  to  her  soldiers  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war  of  bounties  ]iayable  in  western  lands.     In 

1785,  Massachusetts  ceded  the  western  territory  to 
which  slie  had  been  a  claimant,  reserving  the  same 
nineteen  thousand  square  miles  reserved  by  New 
York,  which  disputed  territory  was  afterwards  divided 
equally  between  those  two  States.  Connecticut  was 
the  most  reluctant  and  tardy  of  all  the  contesting 
States  in  sacrificing  State  pretensions  for  the  common 
benefit.     However,  on  the  14th  day  of  Septembei'. 

1786,  her  authorized  delegates  in  congress  relin- 
quished all  the  right,  title,  interest,  jurisdiction  and 
claim  that  she  possessed  to  land  within  her  chartered 
limits  lying  west  of  a  line  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  west  of  and  parallel  to  the  western  boundary  of 
Pennsylvania.  This  one  hundred  and  twenty  mile 
tract  was  not  conveyed,  but  reserved,  by  Connecticut, 
and  hence  the  name  of  Connecticut  Western  Reserve. 

As  Connecticut's  claim  included  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  northern  half  of  the  present  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, it  infringed  upon  the  rights  of  the  people  of 
that  State,  ^lo  alleged  ownership  by  virtue  of  a 
charter  to  William  Penn  granted  by  James  II.  of 
England,  in  1G81.  Both  States  strove  for  the  occu- 
pancy of  the  disputed  soil,  and  Connecticut  sold  to 
certain  individuals  seventeen  townships,  situated  on 
or  near  the  Susquehanna  river,  organized  the  tract 
into  a  civil  township,  and  attached  it  to  the  probate 
district  and  county  of  Litchfield,  in  Connecticut. 
Westmoreland  representatives  occupied  seats  in  the 
Connecticut  legislature.  [Pennslyvania  protested  and, 
when  the  revolutionary  contest  closed,  sent  an  armed 
force  to  drive  the  intruders  from  the  lands.  The 
shedding  of  blood  resulted.  The  controversy  was 
finally  submitted  to  a  court  of  commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  congress,  on  the  petition  of  Pennsylvania, 
as  i)rovided  in  the  ninth  article  of  the  Confederation, 
which  gave  to  congress  the  power  to  establish  a  court 
for  the  settlement  of  disputed  boundaries.  This 
court  sat  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  in  1787,  when  the 
case  was  tried  and  decided  against  Connecticut.    The 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


U 


title  to  lands  lying  west  of  Pennsylvania  was  not  in- 
volved in  this  adjudication,  and  Connecticut  still 
insisted  upon  the  validity  of  her  claim  to  lands  not 
ceded  by  her  to  the  United  States. 

At  a  session  of  the  Connecticut  legislature  held  at 
New  Haven,  in  1786  and  1787,  it  was  resolved  to  offer 
for  sale  that  part  of  the  Reserve  lying  east  of  the 
Cuyahoga,  the  Portage  path  and  the  Tuscarawas,  and 
a  committee  of  three  persons  was  appointed  to  cause 
a  survey  to  be  made  and  to  negotiate  a  sale.  Nothing, 
however,  was  immediately  done.  On  the  10th  of 
February,  1788,  however,  certain  lands  lying  within 
the  limits  of  the  Reserve  were  sold  to  General  Samuel 
H.  Parsons,  then  of  Middletown,  Connecticut.  This 
was  afterwards  known  as  the  salt  spring  tract,  General 
Parsons  having  explored  the  country  and  had  found 
the  location  of  a  salt  spring  near  the  Mahoning.  He 
selected  a  tract  including  the  spring  and  containing 
about  twenty-five  thousand  acres. 

In  May,  1795,  the  legislature,  in  session  at  Hart- 
ford, appointed  a  committee  of  eight  persons  to 
negotiate  the  sale  of  the  Reserve  excepting  the  "suf- 
ferer's lands"  and  the  salt  spring  tract.  They  effected 
a  sale  in  separate  contracts  with  forty-eight  different 
individuals,  realizing  for  the  State  the  sum  of  one 
million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  money 
thus  realized  was  set  apart  as  a  common  school  fund. 
The  following  were  the  original  purchasers  of  the 
Reserve,  not  including  the  Fire-lands: 


Joseph  Honiand.. 

Daniel  L.  Coit 

Elias  Morgan 

Daniel  L.  Coit 

Caleb  Atwater 

Daniel  Holbrook  . . 
Joseph  Williams  . . 

William  Law 

William  Judd 

ElishaHyde 

Uriah  Tracey 

James  Johnson... 
Samuel  Mather,  Jr 
Ephraim  Kirby  . . . . 
Elijah  Boardman. . , 
Uriel  Holmes,  Jr.., 

Luther  Loomis 

Ebenezer  King,  Jr., 

William  Lyman 

John  Stoddard 

Davis  King 

Moses  C'leaveland. . 
Samuel  P.  Lord. . . . 
Roger  Newbury.... 

Enoch  Perkins 

•Jonathan  Bruce 


8  30,401 
.51,408 


60,000 
44,818 
24,730 

32,600 
14,093 

38,000 


Oliver  Phelps ( 

Gideon  Granger f 

Solomon  Griswold 

William  Hart 

Henry  Champion,  8d. . . 

Ashur  Miller 

Robert  C.  Johnson. . 

Ephraim  Post 

Xehemiah  Hubbard,  Jr. 

Solomon  Cowles 

Oliver  Phelps 

Asahel  Hathaway 

John  Caldwell I 

PelegSantord f 

Timothy  Burr 

Ephraim  Starr 

Sylvanus  Griswold 

Jabez  Stocking ) 

Joshua  Stow [■ 

Titus  Street 

James  Bull i 

Aaron  Olmstead l 

John  Wyles ) 

Pierpont  Edwards 


8  80,000 
10,000 


Grand  total $1,200,000 

These  gentlemen  formed  themselves  into  a  body 
corporate,  under  the  name  of  '-The  Connecticut  Land 
Company,"  and  proceeded  to  survey  and  divide  their 
lands.  The  survey  of  the  lands  east  of  the  Cuyahoga 
was  made  in  1796,  and  partition  effected,  by  draft, 
January  39,  1798.  The  lands  of  the  Reserve  west  of 
the  Cuyahoga  were  divided  in  1807. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  SUFFEBING  TOWNS  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Though  her  sons  were  not  wanting  in  patriotism, 
and  freely  offered  up  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  inde- 
pendence, the  soil  of  Connecticut  was  not  the  theater 
of  any  of  the  great  battles  or  campaigns  of  the  revo- 
lutionary period,  and  was,  for  the  most  part,  remote 


from  the  scene  of  hostilities.  None  of  the  historic 
battles — Lexington,  Bunker  Hill,  Monmouth,  Tren- 
ton, Yorktown — were  fought  within  her  borders.  Yet 
the  war  did  not  terminate  without  leaving  here,  as 
elsewhere,  the  evidence  that  it  is  its  mission  to  cause 
suffering  and  death.  On  many  different  occasions  the 
British  troops,  who  occupied  New  York  City  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  war,  sent  out  expeditions  to  de- 
stroy stores  and  shipping  in  the  towns  of  Connecticut. 
The  object  of  these  expeditions,  or  forays,  was  best 
attained  by  landing  in  the  niglit,  destroying  and  burn- 
ing what  they  could,  and  then  retiring  and  putting  to 
sea  before  any  considerable  force  could  be  gathered  to 
prevent  them  from  carrying  out  their  plans,  but  in 
nearly  every  instance  there  was  skirmishing,  resulting 
in  loss  of  life,  the  most  notable  being  the  massacre  at 
Groton.  Nine  towns  were  thus  visited,  burned,  jilnu- 
dered,  laid  waste,  or  despoiled.  The  account  of  the 
misfortunes  that  befell  these  towns  and  their  citizens 
furnishes  some  of  the  most  deeply  interesting  chap- 
ters of  the  history  of  the  Revolution;  doubly  interest- 
ing to  the  people  of  the  Fire-lands,  as  it  is  from  these 
occurrences  that  the  laud  of  their  occupancy  derives 
its  name  and  being,  and  it  is  therefore  appropriate 
that  siiace  be  given  to  their  recital  in  the  present 
work. 

XEW    LOXnON. 

The  following  account  of  the  burning  of  New  Lon- 
don is  mainly,  and  often  literally,  taken  from  Caulkin's 
history  of  that  town  and  county.  More  space  is  given 
to  the  incidents  attending  the  destruction  of  New 
London,  and  the  massacre  at  Groton,  not  only  on 
account  of  their  greater  relative  importance,  but  be- 
cause many  scenes  related  as  transpiring  here  were 
common  at  other  places,  and  are  therefore  mentioned 
but  once. 

The  writer  referred  to  says:  "It  may  be  obsei-ved  in 
general  terms,  that  during  the  whole  war  New  London 
was  a  den  of  serpents  to  the  British — constantly  send- 
ing out  its  sloops  and  schooners,  well  manned  by  skill- 
ful and  daring  seamen,  to  harass  the  boats  and  ten- 
ders along  the  shore,  or  to  cutoff  merchant  vessels  on 
the  high  seas.  Rich  prizes,  in  spite  of  their  vigilance, 
would  run  into  this  open  port,  and  if  pursuit  was  ap- 
prehended, they  might  be  hurried  up  to  Norwich, 
entirely  out  of  reach.  The  year  1777  forms,  indeed, 
an  exception  to  the  universality  of  this  assertion;  so 
great  was  the  vigilance  of  the  British  squadron  on 
this  coast,  that  between  the  summer  of  1776  and  that 
of  1778,  not  a  single  prize  was  brought  into  the  harbor 
of  New  London. 

"Althrough  New  London  had  been  repeatedly 
threatened,  no  direct  attack  was  made  upon  the  town 
till  near  the  close  of  the  war  in  1781.  Gen.  Arnold, 
on  his  return  from  a  predatory  descent  upon  the  coast 
of  Virginia,  was  ordered  to  conduct  a  similar  expedi. 
tion  against  his  native  State.  A  large  quantity  of 
West  India  goods  and  European  merchandise,  brought 
in  by  various  privateers,  was  at  this  time  collected  in 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


New  Loiuloii;  the  iiuantity  of  shipping  in  port  was 
very  considerable,  and  among  the  prizes  recently  taken 
was  the  Hannah,  Capt.  Watson,  a  rich  merchant  ship 
from  Loudon,  bound  to  New  York,  which  had  been 
captured  a  little  south  of  Long  Island,  by  Caj)t  I)nd- 
ley  Saltonstall,  of  the  Minerva  privateer.  The  loss 
of  this  shij),  whose  cargo  was  said  to  be  the  most  val- 
uable brought  into  America  during  the  war,  had  exas- 
perated the  British,  and  more  than  any  other  single 
circumstance,  istliought  to  have  led  to  the  expedition. 
At  no  other  period  of  the  war  could  they  have  done 
so  much  mischief;  at  no  other  had  tlie  inliabitants  so 
much  to  lose. 

"The  expedition  was  fitted  out  at  New- York,  and 
consisted  of  thirty-two  sail,  including  twenty-four 
transports,  and  the  troops  numbered  eighteen  hundred. 
Late  in  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  September,  1781, 
information  was  received  in  New  London,  of  the  pres- 
ence of  a  Britisli  fleet  on  the  shore  of  Long  Island. 
So  many  false  demonstrations  of  attack  had  been 
made  during  the  war  that  this  intelligence  caused  but 
little  alarm.  No  public  notice  was  given  of  it,  and 
no  unusual  precaution  taken  against  surprise.  At 
nightfall  the  fleet  began  to  move,  aud  arriving  on  the 
coast  at  one  o'clock  would  undoubtedly  have  accom- 
plished its  design,  which  was  to  descend  suddenly 
upon  the  town,  under  cover  of  darkness,  with  such 
expedition  as  to  destroy  the  fortifications,  shipping, 
stores,  etc.,  and  depart  before  any  considerable  force 
could  be  collected  to  oppose  them.  As  they  were 
about  making  preparations  to  land  the  wind  shifted, 
the  fleet  was  obliged  to  stand  off  until  morning,  aud 
it  was  ten  o'clock  before  the  troops  debarked.  They 
were  in  two  divisions,  about  eight  hundred  landing  on 
the  Groton  side,  and  nine  hundred  or  a  thousand  on 
tlie  New  London  side.  A  considerable  jwrtiou  of  the 
troops  were  loyalists. 

"In  the  meantime  confused  and  hasty  prejiarations 
had  been  made  to  receive  them.  At  early  dawn  the 
fleet  had  been  discovered  lying  off,  becalmed,  but  the 
transports  were  making  preparations  to  beat  in  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  Signal  guns  were  fired  to  call 
assistance  from  the  neighboring  country.  *  * 
* ,  *  *  In  the  town  consternation  and  fright 
were  suddenly  let  loose.  No  sooner  were  the  terrible 
guns  heard,  than  the  startled  citizens  made  haste  to 
.send  away  their  families,  and  their  portable  and  most 
valuable  goods.  Throngs  of  women  and  children 
were  dismissed  into  the  fields  and  woods,  some  without 
food,  and  others  with  a  piece  of  bread  or  a  biscuit  in 
their  hands.  Such  was  the  confusion  of  the  scene, 
that  families,  in  many  cases,  were  scattered  upon  dif- 
ferent roads:  children  eight  or  ten  years  of  age  were 
•sent  off  into  the  country,  their  parents  lingering  to 
bury  or  conceal  some  of  their  effects.  Groups  of 
fugitives  gathered  on  the  high  hills  afar  off,  watching 
with  intense  interest  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
who,se  course  might  be  traced  by  their  gleaming  arms 
and  scarlet  coats,  until  the  sun  hid  them  from  their 
view.    Colonel  William  Lodvard  was  the  militarv  com- 


mandant. The  garrisons  were  small,  l)arely  sufficient 
to  keep  the  posts  in  order,  and  in  cases  of  emergency 
they  depended  on  volunteers  from  the  neighborhood 
or  details  of  militia.  These  were  coming  in  now  and 
the  commander  confidently  anticipated  the  arrival  of 
sufficient  aid  to  warrant  a  defense. 

"  In  the  meantime  great  efforts  were  made  to  secure 
the  shipping  in  the  harbor  by  getting  it  up  the  river, 
but  at  first  neither  wind  nor  tide  favored  the  attempt. 

"Toward  noon,  however,  before  the  enemy  had  got 
possession  of  the  town,  a  favorable  breeze  came  in 
from  the  water,  and  a  considerable  number  of  vessels 
escaped  up  the  river.  *****  guch  con- 
fusion reigned  in  the  town,  every  householder  being 
engaged  in  the  care  of  his  family  and  effects,  that  it 
was  difficult  to  form  any  concerted  plan  of  action. 
But  when  the  women  and  children  had  departed,  the 
men  began  to  gather  in  groups,  and  consult  respecting 
the  course  to  be  pursued.  They  could  muster  but  few 
effective  men;  flight  and  concealment  seemed  the  only 
prudent  course  for  them  to  adopt." 

But  about  one  hundred,  hastily  armed,  and  indig- 
nant at  the  thought  of  abandoning  their  homesteads 
without  a  blow,  collected  on  Tower  Hill,  with  a  view 
of  obstructing  the  course  of  the  enemy.  They  were 
without  a  commander,  and  as  the  advancing  files  of 
regular  soldiers,  in  firm  array,  with  glistening  steel, 
appeared  in  sight,  they  saw  the  rashness  of  their  de- 
sign, and  scattering  into  the  fields,  concealed  them- 
selves behind  rocks  and  fences,  and  annoyed  the  troops 
whenever  they  could. 

No  serious  resistance  was,  however,  made  to  the 
entrance  of  the  troops,  aud  once  in  the  town  the  de- 
struction of  ])roperty  was  begun.  "Vengeance  and 
destruction  had  no  check;  shops,  stores,  dwellings, 
piles  of  lumber,  wharves,  boats,  rigging  and  vessels 
were  soon  enveloped  in  smoke  and  flame.  Hogsheads 
were  knocked  in,  sugar  and  coffee  lay  in  heaps,  and 
rum  and  Irish  butter,  melt  in  the  fire,  trickled  along 
streets  and  filled  the  gutters.  *  *  *  Ou  the  pa- 
rade all  was  destroj-ed.  The  market,  wharf,  the  old 
magazine  and  battery,  the  court  house,  jail  and  jail 
house,  the  Episcopal  church,  and  several  contiguous 
shops  aud  dwelling  houses,  were  soon  a  iieap  of 
ashes.  The  western  part  of  this  street  was  left 
unhurt.  The  ancient,  dilapidated  old  building,  still 
extant  near  the  corner  of  Green  street,  was  then, 
as  it  since  has  been,  a  well  known  tavern  stand. 
The  landlady,  like  many  other  American  women  in 
those  disastrous  times,  had  lier  nearest  friends  ar- 
rayed ou  opposite  sides.  Her  husband,  as  sergeant 
iu  the  militia,  was  at  his  post  iu  the  field  annoying 
the  invaders,  and  her  brother  was  one  of  those  in- 
vaders, an  officer  under  Arnold's  command.  Before 
mounting  her  horse  to  escape,  she  had  her  tal)le  spread 
and  furnished  bountifully  with  provisions.  Though 
fleeing  with  her  patriot  husband,  she  could  not  refrain 
from  leaving  a  dinner  for  her  tory  brother.  That 
oHicer  eagerly  sought  the  threshold  of  his  relative, 
and   thouiih  he  found  her  iiot,  refreshed  himself  and 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


13 


his  brother  officers  with  the  collation."  The  enemy, 
however,  did  not,  in  general,  spare  the  dwellings 
of  their  reunited  friends.  This,  instead  of  being 
a  favor,  would  have  marked  them  out  for  patriot 
vengeance.  Arnold  himself  took  some  refreshment 
that  day  at  the  house  of  an  old  acquaintance  in  Bank 
street,  but  even  before  they  rose  from  the  table,  the 
building  v/as  in  flames  over  them.  It  has  been  often 
stated  that  some  whose  property  was  destroyed,  re- 
ceived in  the  end  double  compensation;  that  is,  from 
the  British,  on  account  of  their  loyalty,  and  from 
Congress,  in  the  grant  of  Fire-lands,  by  which  repar- 
ation was  made  to  the  sufferers.  Arnold  was  born 
within  fourteen  miles  of  New  London,  and  had  lived 
so  long  in  the  vicinity  that  he  had  many  acquaint- 
ances in  town;  some  of  these,  it  was  well  known,  had 
held  secret  intercourse  with  him,  and  officiated  as 
counsellors  and  guides  in  this  expedition. 

It  is  doubtless  a  fact  that  the  wanton  burning  of 
dwellings  had  not  l^eeu  at  first  intended.  Arnold 
says  in  his  report:  "  The  explosion  of  the  powder  and 
the  change  of  wind  soon  after  the  stores  were  fired, 
communicated  the  flames  to  part  of  the  town,  which 
was,  notwithstanding  every  effort  to  prevent  it,  un-. 
fortunately  destroyed."  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  his 
official  letter  to  England,  expresses  his  concern  that 
the  town  was  burned,  but  says  it  was  unavoidable, 
and  occasioned  by  the  explosion  of  gunpowder. 

"It  ought  to  be  stated  as  a  general  fact  that  Ar- 
nold's orders  appear  to  have  been  given  with  some 
reference  to  humanity  and  the  laws  of  civilized  war- 
fare. Private  houses  were  to  be  spared,  unless  in 
some  few  instances  where  the  owners  were  particularly 
obnoxious.  It  was  afterwards  well  understood  that 
most  of  the  spoil  and  havoc  in  private  houses  was  the 
work  of  a  few  worthless  vagrants  of  the  town,  who 
prowled  in  the  wake  of  the  invaders,  hoping  in  the 
general  confusion  not  to  be  detected."  The  loss  of 
life  was  not  great,  being  a  half  dozen  killed  and  a 
dozen  wounded  on  each  side.  A  few  of  the  inhab- 
itants were  carried  off  as  prisoners. 

Tlie  next  morning  at  eight  o'clock  the  fleet  made 
sail.  "By  this  timet  he  whole  surrounding  country 
was  in  motion.  All  the  militia,  all  who  had  friends 
on  the  seaboard,  all  who  hated  the  British,  all  who 
were  impelled  by  curiosity,  came  rushing  to  the  scene 
of  desolation,  mingled  with  the  fugitives  returning 
after  a  night  of  terror  and  anxiety,  to  their  forlorn 
homes.  On  the  hights,  in  view  of  the  town,  they 
paused  and  gave  vent  to  lamentations  and  cries  of  an- 
guish over  the  smoking  ruins." 

That  the  enemy  suffered  so  little  annoyance  on  the 
New  London  side,  and  were  allowed  to  retire  unmo- 
lested to  their  ships,  has  been  attributed  to  the  want 
of  an  efficient  leader  to  concentrate  and  direct  their 
force.  But  even  under  the  ablest  commander,  •  no 
position  of  attack  or  defense  could  have  been  sus- 
tained. What  could  be  effected  by  a  motley  assem- 
blage of  two  hundred  citizens  against  a  compact  army 
of  one  thousand  disciplined  soldiers!'     It   was   well 


that  no  daring  leader  came  forward  to  germinate  and 
encourage  rash  attempts,  whose  only  result  must  have 
been  a  duplicate  of  the  slaughter  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  A  single  spark  more,  to  kindle  indignation 
to  a  flame,  and  the  inhabitants  had  come  rushing  down 
on  the  enemy  to  pour  out  their  blood  like  water. 

The  loss  of  New  London,  from  this  predatory  visit 
can  only  be  given  in  its  main  items:  sixty-five  dwell- 
ing houses  were  burnt,  occupied  by  ninety-seven  fam- 
ilies; thirty-one  mercantile  stores  and  warehou.ses; 
eighteen  mechanics  shops,  twenty  barns,  and  nine 
other  buildings  for  public  use,  including  the  Episco- 
pal church,  court  house,  jail,  market,  custom  house, 
etc.  Nearly  all  the  wharfing  was  destroyed,  except 
sixteen  sloo})s  which  escaped  up  the  river. 


While  at  New  London  the  loss  of  life  was  inconsid- 
erable, it  was  different  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
at  Groton;  and  the  occurrences  of  the  6th  of  Septem- 
ber are  among  the  most  sad  and  tragic  of  the  revolu- 
tionary period.  A  small  body  of  brave  men,  hastily 
gathered  together  in  the  morning,  occupied  Groton 
fort.  They  numbered  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
all  told,  and  were  commanded  by  Colonel  Ledyard. 
They  were  assaulted  by  an  overwhelming  force  of 
eight  hundred  British,  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Ej-re,  and  though  they  made  a  heroic  de- 
fense it  was  all  in  vain,  the  fort  was  taken,  nor  did 
the  work  of  butchery  stop  even  after  the  surrender. 
The  few  remaining  brave  men  were  mostly  massa- 
ci'ed.  Arnold  says  eighty-five  were  killed  and  sixty 
wounded,  most  of  them  mortally;  about  thirty  of  the 
least  injured  were  taken  away  as  prisoners.  The 
others  were  paroled,  taken  out  of  the  fort,  the  maga- 
zine of  which  was  then  set  on  fire,  but  it  was  extin- 
guished, before  the  explosion,  by  an  American  who 
approached  the  fort  soon  after  the  British  had  left. 

"As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  British  had  re- 
embarked,  all  Groton  was  moved,  enquiring  for  her 
sons.  Women  and  children  assembled  before  the 
morning  dawn,  with  torches  in  their  hands,  examin- 
ing the  dead  and  wounded  in  search  of  their  friends. 
They  passed  the  light  from  face  to  face,  but  so  bloody 
and  mangled  were  they — their  features  so  distorted 
with  the  energy  of  resistance,  or  the  convulsion  of 
pain,  that  in  many  cases  the  wife  could  not  identify  her 
husband,  or  the  mother  her  son.  Forty  wives  had 
been  made  widows  that  day,  all  i-esiding  near  the 
scene  of  action.  A  woman,,  searching  for  her  hus- 
band among  the  slain,  cleansed  the  gore  from  more 
than  thirty  faces  before  she  found  the  remains  she 
sought." 

The  wounded  men  left,  in  a  house  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  were  given  attention.  Two  had  already  died, 
but  most  of  the  others  finally  recovered.  Fourteen 
among  the  dead,  and  three  among  the  wounded,  bore 
the  title  of  captain,  some  having  served  in  the  army, 
others  in  the  militia,  while  others  commanded  vessels. 
Of  the  killed,  sixty  belonged  to  Groton  and  twelve  to 


14 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


New  London.     Eleven  bore  the  name  of  Avery  and 
six  that  of  Perkins. 

The  British  loss  is  stated  to  have  been  fifty-four 
killed  and  one  hundred  and  forty-three  wounded.  A 
granite  monument  one  jiundred  and  twenty-seven  feet 
in  height,  bearing  the  names  of  the  heroic  dead,  com- 
memorates the  scene  of  the  bloody  encounter. 

DAXBUUY. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1776,  this  town  was 
selected  as  a  place  for  the  deposit  of  military  stores 
for  the  Continental  army.  A  large  quantity  having 
been  collected,  Governor  Tryon,  with  a  detachment 
of  two  thousand  British  troops,  set  out  to  destroy 
them,  in  which  attempt  they  were  successful,  as  the 
inhabitants  were  not  prepared  to  defend  the  town 
against  such  odds.  They  entered  the  town  in  the 
afternoon  of  April  '26,  1777,  and  left  the  next  morn- 
ing. The  amount  of  stores  destroyed  was  about  three 
thousand  barrels  of  pork,  one  thousand  bari'els  of 
flour,  several  hundred  barrels  of  beef,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  tents,  two  thousand  bushels  of  grain; 
also,  rum,  wine,  rice,  etc.,  a  considerable  amount. 
Nineteen  dwelling  houses,  a  meeting  house,  and 
twenty-two  stores  and  barns,  were  destroyed  by  fire. 

NEW  HAVEN. 

The  attack  on  New  Haven  was  preceded  by  a  proc- 
lamation, or  address,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Connecti- 
cut, dated  July  4,  1779,  and  signed  by  Commodore 
George  Collier,  commander-in-chief  of  his  majesty's 
ships  and  vessels  on  the  coast,  and  also  by  Major 
General  William  Tryon,  commanding  his  majesty's 
land  forces  on  a  separate  expedition.  Three  sentences 
of  the  proclamation  will  indicate  its  character:  ''The 
ungenerous  and  wanton  insurrection  against  the  sov- 
ereignty of  Great  Britain,  into  which  this  colony  has 
been  deluded  by  the  artifices  of  designing  men,  might 
well  justify  in  you  every  fear  which  conscious  guilt 
could  form,  respecting  the  intentions  of  the  present 
armament.  Your  towns,  your  property,  yourselves, 
lie  within  the  grasp  of  the  power  whose  forbearance 
you  have  ungenerously  construed  into  fear,  but  whose 
lenity  has  persisted  in  its  mild  and  noble  efiorts,  even 
though  branded  with  the  most  unworthy  imputation. 
The  existence  of  a  single  habitation  on  your  defence- 
less coast,  ought  to  be  a  subject  of  constant  reproof 
of  your  ingratitude." 

On  the  following  day  a  descent  was  made  upon 
Now  Haven.  The  fleet  consisted  of  forty-eight  sail, 
under  command  of  Commodore  Sir  George  Collier. 
There  were  on  board  about  three  thousand  troops  un- 
der command  of  General  Tryon.  They  soon  got  full 
possession  of  tlie  town,  not  without  opposition  on  the 
part  of  the  hastily  collected  militia,  who  soon  deliv- 
ered it  up  to  promiscuous  plunder  and  destruction. 
A  number  of  stores  were  burned,  and  eight  houses  in 
East  Haven.  The  conduct  of  the  troo]is  was  luulal. 
and  many  needless  cruelties  and  indiginins  jiiMctirrd 
upon  the  persons  of  the  inhabitants.     Wimnikd  men 


were  put  to  death,  women  were  ravLshed  and  aged 
people  murdered.  Twenty-seven  of  the  inhabitants 
were  killed,  and  some  thirty  or  forty  carried  off  as 
prisoners.  Among  the  wounded  was  Rev.  Naphthali 
Daggett,  president  of  Y'ale  college,  who  was  maltreated 
after  he  was  taken  prisoner. 


This  place  was  laid  in  ashes  by  Governor  Tryon.  ia 
the  revolutionary  war.  The  event  took  place  July  S, 
1779.  A  few  militia  assembled  to  oppose  the  advance 
of  the  British  ti'oops,  but  the  invasion  was  so  sudden 
and  unexpected  that  their  efforts  were  fruitless.  The 
town  was  plundered;  a  great  part  of  the  houses  burnt, 
and  the  inhabitants  turned  out  into  the  world  almost 
literally  destitute.  Eighty-four  dwelling  houses,  two 
churches,  an  elegant  eouct  house,  fifty-five  barns,  fif- 
teen stores,  and  fifteen  shops  were  destroyed  by  fire. 


After  having  laid  Fairfield  in  ashes,  Governor  Tryon 
and  his  forces,  crossed  the  sound  to  Huntington  Bay 
and  remained  until  July  11,  1779,  when  they  sailed 
over  to  Norwalk  and  landed  in  the  evening.  In  the 
morning  they  proceeded  to  burn  the  town.  Only  six 
houses  were  left  standing,  eighty  being  consumed,  as 
well  as  two  churches,  eighty-seven  barns,  four  mills, 
and  five  vessels. 


CHAPTER   III. 


From  the  preceding  chapter  the  reader  has  learned 
how  the  inhabitants  of  the  suffering  towns  sustained 
losses  during  the  revolutionary  war.  To  make  com- 
pensation for  these  losses,  the  State  of  Connecticut, 
l^rior  to  the  sale  to  the  Connecticut  Land  Company, 
released  and  quit-claimed  to  the  suffering  inhabitants 
five  hundred  thousand  acres,  to  be  taken  from  the 
western  end  of  the  Reserve.  The  tract  so  granted 
embraces  the  present  counties  of  Huron  and  Erie,  the 
township  of  Ruggles  in  Ashland  county,  and  of  Dan- 
bury  in  Ottawa  county.  The  name  "Fire-lands"  had 
had  its  origin  in  the  fact  that  the  lands  were  donated 
because  of  losses  which  occurred  by  reason  of  fire. 

Frequently  did  the  inhabitants  of  the  nine  suffering 
towns  appeal  to  the  Connecticut  legislature  for  some 
material  recognition  of  their  claims  for  relief.  The 
State  afforded  limited  aid  by  the  abatement  of  taxes, 
but  no  adequate  compensation  was  provided  for  some 
years. 

In  1787,  at  tlie  May  session,  the  memorialists  made 
another  and  a  strong  appeal,  asserting  the  justness 
of  their  claims  and  complaining  of  the  neglect  their 
previous  petitions  had  suffered.  They  earnestly 
urged  the  attention  of  the  legislature  to  their  prayer, 
which  was  signed  for  the  petitioners  of  the  several 
towns  as  follows:    By   Charles   Chauncey,    of  New 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


I 


Haven;  Philip  Burr  Bradley,  of  Ridgefield;  Daniel 
Ta^'lor,  of  Daubury;  Thomas  Fitch,  of  Norwalk; 
Jonathan  Sturges,  of  Fairfield;  John  Mead,  of  Green- 
wich; John  Deshon,  of  New  Loudon;  and  Andrew 
Ward,  of  Groton.  The  assembly  referred  this  memo- 
rial to  a  special  committee,  consisting  of  Hon.  Andrew 
Adams,  of  the  upper  house,  and  Colonel  Jeremiah 
Wadsworth,  Major  Charles  Phelps,  Major  Wni.  Hart, 
Colonel  Charles  Burrell  and  Captain  Moses  Cleave- 
Jand,  of  the  lower  liouse.  [See  documents  relating 
to  revolutionary  war,  volume  XXXVI,  number  three 
hundred  and  fifty-one.] 

In  October  of  the  same  year,  this  committee  re- 
ported that,  for  want  of  exhibits,  certificates  and 
vouchers,  they  were  unable  to  present  either  a  correct 
statement  of  the  amount  of  losses,  or  of  the  relief 
already  granted  by  the  State;  that  the  houses,  build- 
ings and  furniture  destroyed  by  the  enemy  ''onglit  fn 
be,  by  this  State,  paid  for  at  their  just  value;"  and 
that  the  only  means  in  the  power  of  this  State  at 
present  to  pay  the  same,  is  in  western  lands."  [lb.. 
Doc.  117.] 

The  report,  after  discussion,  was  approved,  and 
with  this  the  matter  rested.  Further  action  being 
postponed  from  session  to  session,  Thaddeus  Burr 
and  others,  at  the  December  session  of  1790,  presented 
a  new  petition.  Thereupon  a  committee,  consisting 
of  Hon.  John  Treadwell,  Ashur  Miller  and  Captain 
John  Chenwood,  was  appointed  to  ascertain  the 
amount  of  the  losses  of  the  memorialists  and  others 
who  had  undergone  similar  misfortunes.  This  com- 
mittee entered  upon  its  work  without  delay.  At  the 
May  session  of  1791,  further  time  was  asked  and 
given.  It  was  not  until  May,  1792,  that  the  labors 
of  the  committee  were  so  far  completed  as  to  enable 
the  assembly  to  take  action,  which  it  then  did  as  fol- 
lows: 


"At  a  general  assembly  o£  the  State  ot  Connecticut  holden  at  Hart- 
ford on  the  second  Thursday  ot  May,  A.D.,  1702: 

"Upon  the  memorial  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  ot  Fairfield  and 
Norwalk,  shewing  to  this  assembly  that  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  said 
towns  suffered  great  losses  by  the  devastations  of  the  enemy  during  the 
late  war,  praying  a  compensation  therefor,  and  a  report  of  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  assembly  at  this  session  held  at  Hartford  in  May,  1791, 
to  ascertain  from  documents  in  the  public  offices  the  ajnount  of  the 
losses  of  the  said  memorialists,  and  others  under  similar  circumstances, 
which  had  been  estimated  conformably  to  acts  of  this  legislature,  being 
such  as  were  occasioned  by  excursions  ot  the  enemy  during  the  late 
war,  distinguishing  the  losses  ot  buildings  and  necessary  furniture  from 
those  of  other  articles,  by  said  documents  or  otherwise,  and  also  to 
ascertain  the  advancements  which  have  been  made  to  sufferers  by 
abatement  of  taxes  or  otherwise,  and  to  report  the  same,  with  their 
opinion  relative  to  the  ways  and  means  ot  affording  for  the  relief,  as 
per  memorial  and  report  on  file. 

"Resolved,  By  this  assembly,  that  there  be  and  there  hereby  are  re 
leased  and  quit-claimed  to  the  sufferers  hereafter  named,  or  their  legal 
i-epresentatives  where  they  are  dead,  and  to  their  heirs  and  assignees 
forever,  five  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  belonging  to  this  State 
lying  west  ot  the  State  ot  Pennsylvania,  and  bounding  northerly  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  beginning  at  the  west  line  ot  said  lands  and  extend- 
ing eastward  to  a  line  running  northerly  and  southerly  parallel  to  the 
east  line  of  said  tract  of  land  belonging  to  this  State,  and  extending  the 
whole  width  ot  said  lands,  and  easterly  so  far  as  to  make  said  quantity 
of  five  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  exclusive  of  any  lands  within 
said  bounds,  it  any  be,  which  may  have  been  heretofore  granted  to  be 
divided  to  and  among  the  said  sufferers,  and  their  legal  representatives 
where  they  are  dead,  in  proportion  to  the  several  sums  annexed  to  their 
names  as  follows  in  the  annexed  list." 


The  total'amount  of  losses  awarded  was  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  pounds  eleven  shillings  and  six  and  a  half  pence 
New  England  currency,  equivalent  to  five  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-five 
dollars  and  twenty-six  cents.  The  board  of  commis- 
sioners ascertained  that  the  number  of  sufferers  was 
about  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy.  The  follow- 
ing table  will  show  in  what  proportion  these  sufferers 
and  their  losses  were  distributed  among  the  suffering 
towns : 

Greenwich 883  persons,  £13,000    Os.  OJ^tt 

Norwalk 289  "  23,889  19  2J^ 

Fairfield 269  "  34,339  11         0 

Danbury 187  "  8,238  10  7^ 

New  and  East  Haven 410  "  16,986    5  4 

New  London 273  "  54,398    7  3^ 

Ridgefield , 65  "  1.736    1  10 

Groton 93  "  7,739  13  6 

Total 1,870       "       £161,548  U.S.    e^d 

The  names  of  the  sufferers  are  classified  by  towns, 
and  the  amount  of  loss  sustained  by  each  is  given  in 
pounds,  shillings  and  pence.  The  following  list  is 
taken  from  the  "Classification  Record,"  an  old  book 
in  the  office  of  the  recorder  of  Huron  county,  and, 
though  far  from  being  well  arranged,  the  names  have 
been  copied  in  the  order  there  given.  Even  where  a 
cursory  glance  might  seem  to  show  the  list  alj^ha- 
betical,  further  examination  will  disclose  many  ex- 
ceptions. The  largest  amount  awarded  to  any  one 
individual  was  to  Jeremiah  Miller,  of  New  Londouj^ 
in  the  sum  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  pounds  eighteen  shillings  and  ten  pence,  or  eight 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars  and 
thirty-one  cents;  the  smallest  on  the  list  is  that  of 
Marah  Kilby,  of  New  Haven,  two  shillings  six  pence, 
or  forty-one  and  two-thirds  cents. 

The  names  on  the  list  are  familiar  ones.  Many  of 
them  and  their  descendants  settled  on  the  Fire-lauds, 
and  their  posterity  are  numerous  here  to-day.  The 
family  names  are  almost  exclusively  of  English  deriva- 
tion, there  being  a  notable  absence  of  the  Irish, 
Scotch,  French  and  German  names  so  common  at 
the  present  day.  Buf  the  .baptismal  names  were 
peculiar,  and,  in  this  respect,  time  has  wrought 
changes.  Amos,  Abijah,  Ephraim,  Ebenezer,  Eleazar, 
Hezekiah,  Joshua,  Justin,  Jedediah,  Jotham,  Oba- 
diah,  Nehemiah,  Titus,  Timothy  and  Uriah  were  as 
common  as  Abraham,  Benjamin,  John,  James,  Mat- 
thew, Moses  and  Solomon,  while  Eliphalet,  Eliakim, 
Shadrach,  Shubael  and  Zechariah  and  many  more 
names  now  unheard  of  are  of  freijuent  occurrence. 
The  names  of  George.  Charles,  Albert,  Edward,  Wil- 
liam, Henry,  Frederick  and  Richard  were  not  alto- 
gether wanting,  but  were  less  esteemed  than  tliose 
taken  from  scripture.  In  the  names  of  women,  Anna, 
Abigail,  Charity,  Deliverance,  Deborah,  Prudence, 
Priscilla,  Ruth,  Thankful  and  Temperance,  are  as 
easily  picked  out  as  Lucy,  Mary,  Jane  and  Sarah.  It 
is  needless  to  say  there  were  no  Allies  or 
.lennies  or  Minnies. 


10 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Another  feature  will  strike  even  the  most  casual 
reader,  and  that  is  the  absence  of  middle  names — 
scarcely  one  person  in  a  hundred  is  so  provided — 
while  Jr.,  2d,  and  even  3d,  are  common  suffixes  used 
to  distinguish  those  of  the  saflie  family  having  the 
same  name. 

LIST  OF  ORIGIXAL  .SUFFEKEK.S    CLASSIFIED    BY  TOWNS 
WITH  THE  AMOUNT  OF  EACH    INDIVIDUALS   LOSS. 


GREEXWICB. 

John  AiMington 
Samuel  Ask 
Abigail  Armour 
Lauren  Bruniall 
James  Brown 
William  Bush 
John  Bxish 
James  Barnes 
Samuel  Banks 
Roger  Brown  1 

Isaac  Bush 
Neheniiah  Brown 
William  Blake 

Isaac  Anderson 
Obeiliah  Banks 
Peter  C'vphus 
James  Lunningham 
Joseph  C  hambers 
Debcirah  Close 
Danii 


Tho 


aahl 


hen  Havis 
Daniel  Iiarrow 
Humphrey  Denton 

Charity  Banks 
Silas  Butts 


James  Brush 
Samuel  Brush 
Deborah  Brush 
Walter  Butler 
Charles  Brundage 
Elisha  Belcher 
William  Brundage 
, Peter  Brown 
'John  Clapp.  Jr. 
Thomas  llapp 
Odel  Close 
Jaciih  Conklin 


.■lose  (Adii 


Keuben  Coe 
Abraham  Close 
Joseph  Close  : 

Jonathan  Coe 
Jeremiah  Chapman 
Odel  Close.  Jr. 
Horse  X.  Church 
Episcopal  Church 
Jonathan  Connery 
Abraham  Hays 
Thomas  Hobby,  Jr. 
Hannah  Hays 
Joseph  Hubby,  Jr. 
John  Hobby 


Holmes 


David  Hallcock 
Isaac  Hclmes,  Jr. 
William  Hubbard 
Nathaniel  Hubbard 
Thomas  Hitchcock 
Nat  Huested 
Ebenezer  Howe 
Jona.  Hubbard,  Jr. 
Benjamin  Hubby 
Ebenezer  Hubby 
John  Dunn 
Isaac  Davis 
James  Kerriss 
Urial  Fields 
Oliver  Kairchild 
Jabez  Ferris 
Jonathan  Finch 
Nathaniel  Finch 
Timothy  Ferris 
Solomon  Finney 
Joshua  Franklin 
Sylvanus  Ferris 
Jabez  Filch 
Josiah  Ferris 
Timothy  Finch 
Joseph  Ferris 
Moses  Ferris 


Charles  Green 
Anne  Greggs 
Jabez  Holmes 
Reuben  Holmes 
Mills  Hobby 
Isaac  Howe' 


n 

n 

■m 

IH 

10 

w 

n 

4 

13 

3 

■ra 

16 

? 

(Kl 

1(1 

1(1 

0 

1.5 

II 

111 

w 

i 

:'. 

6 

■i 

(1 

l.S 

K> 

4 

il 

IB 

11 

11 

l.i 

(1 

(1 

1.5 

16 

0 

13 
1.5 

H 

111 

s 

28 

S 

7 

Mindwell  Hitchcock  18 

Jonah  Knapp  44 

Nathaniel  Knapp  15 

Eunice  Knapp  14 

Joshua  Knapp  125 

John  Knapp  23 

Charles  Knapp  11 

William  Kinch  5 

Jonathan  Knapp  26 

Ezekiel  Knapp  25 

Abraham  Knapp  2 

Widow  Kinch  8 

Samuel  Lockwood  108 

Israel  Lock-wood  51 
Philip  Loekvvood 

Enos  Lnckwood  !3 
Thaddeus  Lockwood  54 

Peter  Heusted  S6 
Abraham  Heusted 

Moses  Heusted.  Jr.  2 

Ebenezer  Holmes  9 

James  Hounam  208 

Meeting  House  20 

Thomas  Hobby  69 

Benjamin  Huested  6 

Nathaniel  Hubby  12 

Sarah  Halt  3 

Joseph  Hubby.  Jr.  31 

Elizabeth  Ingersoll  68 

Nathaniel  Ingersoll  59 

William  Jacobs  "60 

Anne  Ingersoll  14 

Job  Ireland  0 

Amos  Jes-sop  20 

Thomas  Johnson  41 

William  Johnson  8 

James  Johnston  8 

Israel  Knapp.  Jr.  4 

Ebenezer  Knapp  147 

Javed  Mead  68 

Daniel  Marshall  22 

Elizabeth  Moore  7 

Martin  McDonald  4 
Ezra  Marshall 

Ben.iamin  Mead  111 

Rachel  Marshall  10 

Peter  Mead,  Esq.  i:i8 

John  Mead  162 

Hannah  Mead  .    2 

Sarah  Mead  71 

Ebenezer  Mead  5 

Charles  Mead  0 

Eliphalet  Mead.  Jr.  95 

Ichiel  Mead  5 

Abraham  Mead  17 

Eliphalet  Mead  5 

Nehemiah  Mead  55 

Mathew  Mead  61 

Titus  Mead  95 
Nehemiah  Mead,  Jr.     9 

Daniel  Merritt  36 

John  Loudon  7 

Caleb  Lyon  9 

Joseph  Lockwood  30 

William  Lee  7 
Timothy  Lockwood  10 
Hannah  Lockwood  29 
William  Lockwood     18 

Gilbert  Lyon  16 
Abraham  Lockwood  .. 

Amos  Lyon  19 

James  Lyon  58 

Ezekiel  Lockwood  9 

James  Lyon,  Jr.  7 

Caleb  Lyon.  Jr.  29 
TheophilusLockwood  2 

Jonas  Mead  20 

Andrew  Marshall  26 

Peter  Mead.  Jr.  41 

Caleb  Mead  aS 

Reuben  Merritt  25 

John  Mead.  Jr.  .54 
Nathaniel  Mead,  3d    18 
Jeremiah  Mead.  Jr.     92 
Gilbert  Marshall 
Delivtrance  and  Ja- 

red  Mead  200 

Henry  Marshall  25 

Joseph  Mead  39 

Shadrack  Mead  42 

Caleb  Mead,  '.d  76 

Abigail  .Mead  6 

Jonah  Mead  24 

Enos  Mead  12 

Sibil  Mead  80 

Angus  McCall  13 

Zacbeus  Mead  !i 

Ezra  Marshall  .56 


£ 

s. 

rf 

Elkanah  Mead 

7 

10 

11 

John  Mesnard 

14 

0 

0 

Andrew  Mead 

36 

0 

0 

Jotham  Mead 

26 

10 

Eliphalet  and  Ichiel 

85 

0 

0 

Robert  Nutt 

14 

16 

Francis  Nash 

■>46 

5 

Daniel  Ogden 

15 

15 

2 

Silas  Mead 

02 

8 

Thomas  Mesnard 

6 

6 

William  Marshall 

14 

16 

11 

Deliverance  Mead 

39 

0 

3 

Jemima  Mead 

18 

8 

8 

Rev.  Jonathan  Mur 

dock 

79 

14 

4 

Jesse  Mead 

22 

8 

5 

Henry  Mead 

105 

2 

Elizabeth  Mead 

13 

14 

9 

Dr.  Amos  Mead 

180 

4 

Joshua  Mead 

11 

8 

Jerusha  Mead 

0 

John  Mesnard,  Jr. 

6 

0 

0 

James  Moe 

32 

2 

Nathaniel  Merrit 

4B 

13 

Edmond  Mead 

11 

11 

Titus  Palmer 

3 

b 

0 

Jere  and  John  Wood 

Palmer 

9 

3 

Hoiton  Reynolds 

(,5 

15 

10 

William  Rundall 

81 

7 

1 

Susannah  Reynolds 

Anue  Reynolds 

Nath.  Reynolds,  Jr. 
John  Ricf. 

10 

10 

4 

21 

3 

0 

Hannah  Rundell 

45 

0 

Hannah  Ritch 

0 

0 

Mary  Ritch 

44 

2 

0 

Reuben  Randall 

2 

0 

Anny  Rundall 

4 

15 

0 

Joanna  Reynolds 

12 

2 

Solomon  Rundall 

39 

19 

b 

Thi  mas  Ritch 

45 

15 

Timothy  Rundall 

11 

Jonathan  Reynolds 

18 

0 

0 

Abigail  Rundall 

i 

2 

Samuel  Rundal" 

Ambrose  and  Jona 

than  Reynolds 

18 

1 

7 

Nathaniel  Reynolds 

47 

15 

Shubael  Rundall 

Joseph  Sackett 

H 

12 

Samuel  Seymour 

195 

15 

3 

Joshua  Smith 

149 

Jonah  Smith 

70 

4 

Justus  Sackett 

223 

lb 

5 

Daniel  Smith 

3 

Oliver  Sherwood 

10 

0 

Drake  Seymour 

123 

19 

5 

Jabez  Shei wood 

47 

3 

Henry  St  eedwell 

17 

1 

Gilbert  Sherwood 

13 

Rev.William Seward  25 

10 

Benjamin  Sutton 

5 

11 

3 

David    and    Joshua 

Smith 

218 

Thomas  Steedwell 

2 

6 

4 

irxir^^i. 

100 

11 

6 

16 

1 

Sarah  Parsons 

5 

16 

TheophilusPeck.Ji 

.  50 

6 

4 

83 

18 

James  Phillips 

20 

0 

Denham  Palmer, 

2 

John  Palmer 

4 

2 

0 

Mary  Peck 

5 

Catharine  Peck 

16 

0 

Heth  Peek 

9 

t1 

11 

John  Purdy 
Winans  Palmer 

10 

1 

6 

14 

2 

Daniel  Palmer 

35 

19 

Benjamin  Peck 

26 

16 

9 

Samuel  Palmer 

77 

4 

2 

Gould  John  Sellich 

18 

0 

Roger  Sutherland 

10 

12 

3 

John  Town 

15 

4 

10 

William  Town 

3 

0 

Oliver  Tompkins 

14 

Michael  C.fempany  76 

14 

8 

Mary  Town 

4 

10 

0 

Zebediah  Taylor 

10 

William  Wairos 

11 

12 

2 

Ebenezer  Whelplej 

8 

Isaac  Wood 

18-^ 

0 

11 

John  Willis 

47 

18 

11 

John  Weeks 

9 

14 

5 

Francis  Wilmott 

6 

0 

0 

Jeffrey  Wilmeten 

9 

12 

Isaac  \Vhelpley 

21 

8 

« 

SOBWALK. 

Thomas  Benedict 

779 

10 

Josiah  Thatcher 

400 

t! 

James  Fitch.  Jr. 

319 

Thomas  Fitch 

387 

5^J 

James  Fitch 

219 

5 

John  Lockwood.  Jr 

249 

m 

Abraham      Camp 

s 

heirs 

142 

3 

Seth  Seymours  h'r 

Sl57 

NathlRaymond.J 
Fountain  Smith 

.144 

1^4 

158 

10 

John  Seymoiu-.  Jr 

161 

19 

9H! 

Abraham  Benedic 

73 

3 

1 

Thomas  Betts  l''i7 
John  and  Daniel  Ev- 

ersley  1.54 

John  Benedict  172 

Daniel  Hyatt  85 

Peter  Betts  180 

Ebenezer  Whitney  108 

Gould  Hays  195 

Uriah  Raymond  124 

Abigail  Raymond  144 

Jabez  Saunders  31 

John  Cannon  1933 

Lois  Whitney  88 

Stephen  Smith  48 

Ezra  Rickett  82 

John  Saunders  241 

William  Seymour  93 
Nathaniel  Benedict  359 
Eliphalet  Lockwood  721 

Hannah  Hooker  211 
HezekiahLockwood  176 

John  Gregory.  Jr.  221 

Ebenezer  Gregory  57 

Daniel  Smith  99 

Peter  Quintard  401 

Noah  Smith  89 

John  Darrow  192 

Thaddeus  Betts  2.54 

Maihew  Mallery  87 

John  St.  John  51 

William  St.  John  318 

John  Hays  72 

Daniel  Jackson  53 
Josiah  Thatcher,  Jr.  193 

Elizabeth  Rogers  228 

Eliakim  Raymond  297 

Lemuel  Brooks  287 

Richard  Camp  241 

Asa  Hays  :381 


345 
h 

Daniel  Hanford  -303 

Jesse  Benedict  114 

Samuel  Fairchild  131 

Simeon  Raymond  428 

Jedediah  Hanford  39 

Euock  Benedict  81 
David  Handford's 

Matthew  Keeler  165 
-MaiT  Benedict  40 

David  Comstock  313 
Th.  masFitchsh'rs4I5 
John  Rich  72 

Ebenezer  Hyatt  76 

Nathan  Mallery  157 

Daniel  Thatch's  hYs  215 
Samuel  (;i-unuuond  30 
Eljcnezer  Lockwood  82 
Isaiah  Marvin  158 

Eliakim  Smith  20:3 

Daniel  Seymour,  Jr.  87 
Dan  Finch  119 

Hezekiah  Raymond  1.52 
John  Betts  303 

Edward  Wentworth  SO 
Isaac  Scudder  661 

John  Lockv\ood.  3d  218 
Nathan  Jarvis  279 

Jabez  Raymond  293 
Nehemiah  St.  John  89 
Hezekiah  Hanford  2t)8 
Jonathan  Fitch's 

heirs  195 

Nathan  Hays  180 

Daniel  Fitch's  heirs  259 
John  Belden  :303 

Nathan  Beers  195 

Benjamin  Isaac's 

heirs  406 

Samuel  Marvin  319 

Thomas  Grummond  205 
Jacob  Jennings  22 

Je<lediah  Brown  162 
Sarah  Johnson  M 

Joseph  Whitney  182 
Susanah  Butler  6 

Abraham  Gregory  .50 
Lvdia  Comstock  9 

Nathl  Benedict,  2d  152 
Josiah  Raymond  239 
Col.StephenSt.  John  713 
Daniel  W.  Auley  248 
Daniel  Seymour  11 

Deborah  Dickinson  17 
Jane  Hitchcock  19 

Elizabeth  Rogers,  2d  1 
Hannah  Hanford  60 
Deborah  Pickett  '22 
Mary  Resco  2 

Rebecca  Smith  3 

Ohadiah  Liscat  3 

Abigail  Weeks  3 

Anne  Seymour  3 

Piatt  Townsend  2 

John  Piatt  0 

Stephen  Lockwood  18 
Nathan  Hyatt,  Jr       29 


10        714 


HISTOKY  OF  HVRON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES, 

OHIO. 

17 

£ 

4-. 

d. 

£ 

s. 

a. 

£ 

J 

d. 

£ 

g 

d. 

Jacob  Arnold              S4 

11 

8 

Simeon  Stewart,  Jr.     8 

6 

0 

John^Ra^mondand^^ 

4 

0 

David  Hyatt                 9 

0 

6 

Benjamin  Steward     14 

19 

7 

3 

13 

6 

John  Eversley             11 

2 

John  Filleo                    1 

15 

3 

Samuel  Rowland      476 
Andrew  Rowland  1,565 

10 

Nehemiah^Phippeny  12 
James  Penfleld             6 

12 

0 

Syphax,  (negro)          0 

0 

Col.  Matthew  Mead      4 

19 

4 

15 

11 

12 

0 

David  Whitney             0 

12 

0 

David  Webb                  1 

10 

8 

Samuel  Squire           412 

15 

Jabez  Perry                 2 

18 

0 

Anne  Seymour            6 

17 

5 

John  Rockwell             5 

16 

0 

John  Smedley           763 

10 

4 

John  Perry                    6 
.Abraham  Parrott        4 

17 

0 

John  Lockwood            9 

12 

8 

Elizabeth  Gaylord       5 

0 

Seth  Sturges              431 

0 

1 

14 

0 

David  Judah                 9 

19 

0 

Nathan  Hicock             2 

5 

3 

Joseph  Squire             65 

0 

Sarah  Penfleld            15 

:o 

0 

Timothy  Whitney       0 

17 

6 

Jas.  Small  Olmstead    3 

18 

8 

Thomas  Staples        247 

4 

7 

Benjamin  Rumsey      0 

15 

0 

Thomas  Betts,  Jr.       13 

14 

0 

Samuel  Stewart          13 

3 

0 

Joseph  Sturges- h'rs  339 

15 

2 

Lucretia  Redfield       -38 

3 

4 

Haynes  Fitch              42 

1 

3 

Michl Morehouse, Jr.  7 

4 

Jonathan  Sturges     748 

2 

0 

Widow  Sarah  Red- 

Michael  Judah            13 

6 

Aiulrt-w  Jloreliouse      1 

16 

0 

Hezekiah  Sturges     532 

8 

3 

field                        28 

15 

Uriah  Smith                35 

9 

0 

Michael  ?Iniehouse      4 

3 

0 

Samuel  Sturges         m 
Samuel  Smedley       415 

1 

Robert  Ross                  2 

17 

0 

Samuel  Burral            30 

18 

6 

James  Keeler                 8 

4 

8 

19 

Rev.  Hezekiah  Rip- 

Hannah Brown            6 

3 

6 

Jnsiali  Taylor.  Jr.         4 

9 

10 

Eliphalet  Thorp        401 

6 

ley                        -368 

19 

2 

James  Haifs  heirs     26 

3 

6 

Tha.ldeus  Keeler          2 

5 

10 

Jabez  Thorp              147 

18 

0 

Josepli  Sprague            2 
Grace  Spaklmg           90 
Francis  D.  Sword          3 

Stephen  Keeler           35 

3 

Sarah  Morehouse         0 

4 

John  Turney             .)26 

12 

4 

4 

David  Bott                    5 

19 

9 

Ebenezer  Fitch             2 

10 

Stephen  Thorp           515 

1 

3 

6 

Eleazer  Scott              16 

0 

9> 

Nathan  Burrall             2 

4 

Ansel  Treebv               96 

11 

Benjamin  Squire         1 

James  Crowley             3 

14 

Jeremiah  Webb            7 

5 

0 

John  Wasson              161 

5 

6 

8 

Stephen  St.  John       30 
Natlianiel  StniU          33 

0 

Elizabeth  Dunning       7 

1 

4 

Andrew  Wakeman    307 

14 

3 

Seth  Sm'itii       '  "         66 

0 

9 

Solomon  Morehouse     5 

11 

Ebenezer  Wakeman  68 

12 

1 

Zecheriah  Sanford       3 

5 

0 

Moses  St  John             3 

5 

0 

Rebecca  Deforest         7 

15 

8 

Joseph  Wakeman     167 

3 

8 

Mary  Smith                 16 

14 

3 

Isaac  Waring               3 

10 

0 

Marv  Fleet                   15 

10 

0 

Thomas  Hanford 

Ebenezer  Squire         14 

14 

4 

Giles  Mallery               12 

4 

10 

Benjamin  Beets,  Jr.    .3 

10 

0 

Wakeman               239 

6 

10 

Stephen  Turney         88 

5 

4 

David  Seymour            3 

19 

0 

9 

0 

?Jan-  Cutler                48 

18 

Samuel  Taylor              9 

17 

0 

Mary  Harvey              14 

11 

0 

William  sT.^.John        35 

13 

0 

David  Annible             43 

18 

10 

William  Thorp            24 

18 

0 

Rebecca  Wasron           4 

8 

3 

Daniel  Gregory           18 

18 

8 

Neh.  Buddington        15 
Andrew  Bulkley         33 

Ruel  Thorp                   6 

0 

Jarvis  Kellogg              3 

3 

9 

Thaddeus  Morehouse  2 

3 

10 

11 

Widow  Hannah  Tay- 

William Mott              10 

14 

Joseph  Olmstead          8 
Thaddeus  Betts           18 

8 

0 

James  Bulklev             0 

15 

s, 

lor                  ■          40 

4 

0 

Mary  Avery                 11 
Peter  Hitchcock        11 

3 

6 

6 

Walter  Buddihgton    -20 
Widow  Abigairaurr  58 
William  Buddington  37 

19 

Jehiel  White  Head       6 

16 

2 

13 

6 

Eliphalet  Lockwood  23 

18 

0 

9 

Richard  Wane              5 

8 

3 

Joshua  Rogers            14 

15 

3 

Jabez  Kaymond          38 
Charles  Pope                6 

16 

0 

Abigail  Whitear       111 

11 

Desire  Liscat                8 

0 

0 

Walter  Carson            37 

0 

Samuel  King                 5 
Gideon  Wells                29 

0 

Robert  Waters            11 

15 

4 

Haynes  Fitch               47 

10 

Jonathan  Darrow     354 

5 

3 

8 

8 

Jedediah  Raymond    10 

3 

Hezekiah  Hanford     .59 

10 

Isaac  Jarvis                 -^i 

10 

John  WiUson                  5 

4 

0 

Nehemiah  St.  John, 

Daniel  Hanford          20 

0 

0 

Abigail  Jennings        49 

16 

Nathaniel  Willson      10 

17 

3nd,                             6 

11 

0 

James  Fitch,  Jr.         23 

13 

0 

Justin  Jennings          31 

0 

Jolin  Whitehead         17 

8 

0 

Esther  St.  John            3 

3 

0 

Rebecca  Fitch             63 

3 

0 

Levi  Mallery                31 

18 

Abigail  Wynkoop       59 

15 

Mary  Lockwood           2 

8 

6 

Robert  Waters              6 

0 

0 

Abigail  Osborn          106 

9 

Joseph  Wkkeman        4 

0 

James  Smith               31 

13 

Dan  Finch                      3 

0 

0 

John  Parsons              33 

3 

Increase  Bradley      180 
House  of  Peter  Bulk- 

0 

0 

Betsey  Hall                 32 

11 

Uriah  Smith                  4 

0 

Ephraim  Bobbins     106 
Ebenezer  Sturges       89 

14 

10 

Mary  Brown                 9 

18 

0 

Simeon  Raymond       14 

0 

0 

4 

3 

ley  and  Jos.  Stur- 

Silas  Bessey                12 
Abraham  Lockwood    3 

16 

3 

WiUiam  Raymond        5 

0 

0 

John  Squire,  Jr.          15 

16 

8 

gess                           91 

0 

12 

0 

Moses  Ravmond           5 

0 

0 

Judson  Sturges         128 

16 

Edward  Buddington  81 

0 

0 

Abner  Booth               40 

1 

6 

Timothy  Hoj-t               6 

0 

0 

Isaac  Tucker               68 

17 

0 

Andrus  Jennings       310 

0 

0 

^^e^i^W^a        i 

10 

Benjamin  Merrit           5 

0 

Samuel  Smith             19 

16 

Aaron  Jennings          100 

0 

5 

0 

Jedediah  Raymond    15 

0 

0 

Isaac  Turney               30 

3 

5 

William  Levesav       152 

0 

0 

Pomp  Learning           14 

10 

0 

Hannah  Dickenson    23 

19 

9 

John  Williams,  Jr.      13 

19 

0 

Heirs  of  Benjamin 

Banlev  Arnold            12 

8 

0 

Moses  Dickenson's 

John  Williams           116 

0 

Osborn                      152 

Sarah' Eversley           26 

13 

.5 

heirs                        -259 

16 

10 

Ruth  Wakeman          22 

8 

1 

Benjamin  Allen            5 

3 

3 

Mary  Smith                 17 

5 

0 

Silas  Bartow                48 

12 

6 

Wright  White              46 

Ephraim  Burr              95 

17 

10 

Thomas  Darrow         17 

5 

2 

Samuel  Ketehum         4 

1 

6 

Marf-  Alvoid                20 

0 

0 

Gilbert  Brvan              19 

0 

Nathan  Hendrich       19 

18 

3 

Evert  Ellison               13 

10 

0 

Isaac  Burr                   23 

5 

0 

Ebenezer  Baker          21 

18 

0 

William  Garner           11 

3 

Michael  Judah              0 

2 

0 

Amelia  Burr                10 

0 

0 

Gersham  Banks          14 

15 

0 

Stephen  G.Thatcher  13 

1 

5 

John  Read                    9 

10 

11 

Ruth  Burr                    3 

19 

0 

George  Burr                 15 

16 

10 

Stephen  and  Hooker 

Retty  Javiss                  3 

2 

Charles  Burr               34 

16 

0 

John  Banks                 22 

12 

St.  John                    30 

6 

Luce  Burr                       4 

13 

0 

Ephraim  Burr,  Jr.       4 

18 

11 

Nathaniel  Raynipnd    4 

4 

0 

FAIRFIELD. 

George  Batterson       .55 

18 

Nathan  Bennit            15 

2 

0 

Susannah  Fitch           *4 

0 

■0 

Dudley  Baldwin           7 

13 

b 

Joseph  Bennit             56 

0 

7 

Thomas  Hays              18 

0 

0 

Abraham  Audress     430 

6 

0 

William  Batterson     16 

0 

Francis  Bradley,  3d     2 

10 

6 

Auley  W.  Aulev          30 
Joseph  Allen  Wright  95 

19 

3 

9 

0 

Samuel  Burr,  Jr.          3 

6 

Pinkney  Burr              14 

0 

0 

18 

8 

Col.  Elijah  Abel        719 

14 

4 

Samuel  Burr,  3d         14 

14 

0 

Elias  Bennett              19 

15 

5 

Dr.  Uriah  Rogers' 

John  Allen                 .545 

12 

6 

David  Burr                  10 

5 

4 

Job  Bartran                 13 

10 

0 

heirs                        225 

0 

0 

David  Allen                476 

9 

8 

Abigail  Burr,  Jr.         50 

6 

Thomas  Bennitt            3 

2 

3 

Jesse  Ravmond         147 

2 

George  Allen             331 

3 

11 

Nathan  Bulkley         11 

14 

0 

Sarah  Bryant              17 

10 

0 

John  Richards              7 

6 

8 

Anthony  Anniball     155 

5 

3 

Olive  Bulkley  ^          30 

5 

3 

James  Bennitt            -26 

3 

0 

Joseph  Waring           14 

18 

1 

Peter  Burr                  282 

9 

Wid.    Abigail  Bulk- 

Abigail  Desbrow           9 

11 

8 

Isaac  Richards           44 

10 

10 

Reuben  Beers           510 

4 

2 

ley  and  Jonathan 

Jason  Desbrow            16 

4 

Eli  Read                       58 

10 

11 

David  Beers               164 

4 

6 

Bulkley                     54 

Hezekiah  Cooley          3 

6 

0 

Jesse  Read                   3 

11 

Samuel  Beers              96 

8 

5 

Ebenezer  Bulkley        0 

7 

2 

John  Crosman              5 

12 

John  Bigsley                7 

0 

6 

Ebenezer  Baitran     144 

10 

3 

Nehemiah  Banks         4 

15 

0 

Caleb  Desbrow             8 

16 

4 

Benjamin  Read          42 

14 

B 

Joseph  Beers              90 

17 

0 

David  Barlow            374 

14 

Jabez  Desbrow             5 

9 

6 

Daniel  Richards         12 

s 

David  Burr                388 

2 

Priscilla  Burr            283 

8 

6 

John  Desbrow             15 

14 

0 

Solomon  Whitman     17 

17 

6 

14 

9 

Nathaniel  Burr           22 

18 

0 

Shubael  Gorham          4 

15 

0 

David  Read                126 

7 

4 

Samuel  Burr              481 

10 

Nathan  Burr                 4 

9 

0 

Solomon  Gray               1 

3 

B 

Nathan  Waring           33 

14 

7 

Job  Bartran               962 

17 

5 

William  Carter          16 

0 

Ann  Godfrey                  3 

18 

0 

Richard  Youngs         31 

5 

11 

Gersham  Burr          300 

10 

Ann  Caldwell                8 

8 

II 

Hezekiah  Hull              10 

0 

Marv  Read                  47 

17 

0 

Thaddeus  Burr       1,373 

IS 

Thomas  and  Simon 

Isaac  Hays                  28 

0 

Gersham  Richards     31 

13 

Simeon  Couch,  3d     337 

3 

Couch                        10 

0 

John  Hyde                  47 

11 

Clapp  Raymond         34 

3 

HI 

John  Davis                  62 

14 

11 

Abigail  Chapman        2 

11 

0 

John  Hvde.  Jr.             7 

JohnRichards            35 

9 

10 

Ann  Dimon                317 

18 

John  Cake                    0 

9 

2 

Joseph  "Hyde               35 

0 

Seth  Abbott                 .55 

7 

3 

AVilliam  Dimon         625 

Caleb  Disbrow            18 

0 

6 

Ebenezer  Jessup          3 

1 

Capt.  Eliakim  Ray- 

N.ThompsonNichols 67 
EUzabeth  Gold          iM6 

18 

0 

Rev.  Andrew  Elliot  .>J9 

11 

6 

Joseph  Lvon                 31 

15 

mond                        80 

17 

4 

16 

0 

Francis  Forgue         151 

16 

Seth  Meeker                 22 

5 

Simeon  Stewart          69 

10 

10 

Nathan  Godfrey       309 

12 

2 

Abigail  Thompson       8 
Nathan  T.  Niclkols.    81 

10 

0 

John  Morehouse         15 

18 

Capt.  Phineas  Han- 

David  Jennings,  2d  255 

3 

5 

16 

0 

Benjamin  Meeker       15 

17 

ford                           43 

14 

0 

Rebecca  Jennings     137 

0 

4 

Hannah  McKensey       1 

4 

0 

Rebicca  Nash              6 

7 

Azor  Mead                   30 

6 

8 

Moses  Jennings          599 

12 

4 

Jemima  Gould             6 

a 

0 

Sarah  Ogden               19 

6 

Phineas  Hanford.Jr.  25 

19 

3 

Isaac  Jennings          281 

4 

Abel  Gold                   113 

16 

9 

Daniel  Osborn               0 

13 

Richard  Dunning       26 

10 

6 

Peter  Hendrick         399 

6 

9 

Abel  Gold,  Jr.              3 

17 

a 

Cornelius  Stratton       1 

5 

Matthew  Marvin         19 

Abigail  Hubbell        176 

13 

Daniel  Gorham           '20 

0 

'  John  Stratton                1 

13 

Elizabeth  Whelpley   17 

17 

8 

Stephen  Jennings     195 

5 

5      ■ 

0 

Ebenezer  Sherwood     2 

Lvdia  Fitch                 19 
Elijah  Fitch                 10 

19 

10 

Jeremy  Jennings      196 

12 

n 

Martha  Fairchild       44 

8 

2 

Joseph  Sherwood         9 

15 

,"i 

2 

Ebenezer  Jessup       282 

19 

3 

Justin  Hohart            15 

10 

9 

Jehiel  Sherw-ood           4 

14 

Samuel  Keeler            30 

14 

0 

Moss  Kent                  185 

0 

7 

Jabez  Hubbell            33 

16 

9 

Samuel  "iurr            35 

Samuel  Middlebrook  14 

9 

11 

Lathrop  Lewis            37 

5 

Isaac  Hubbell              18 

IB 

0 

17 

Ezra  Waterbury         11 

6 

4 

Sturges  Lewis             52 

11 

3 

Isaac  Haves                86 

17 

8 

Andrew  Sturges          13 

18 

Hannah  Gregory        13 

3 

4 

Jonathan  Lewis        931 

11 

7 

Anna  Hull                   64 

16 

6 

0 

Ebeuezer  Bennit,  Jr.  14 

2 

8 

Widow  Eunice  More- 

John HiL-kling            30 

8 

9 

■Wilfiam  Thorp              3 

0 

Nathan  Adams           14 

0 

0 

house                       68 

0 

Sarah  Hews                 IB 

6 

Jessup  Wakeman       12 

9 

James  Betts               17 

2 

0 

Gideon  Morehouse     66 

10 

6 

Peter  Jennings             7 

8 

3 

Samuel  Whitney,  Jr.  26 

10 

Benjamin  Keeler        10 

19 

4 

Ebenezer  Morehouse  83 

3 

Lyman  Jennings          5 
Hezekiah  Jennings      1 

10 

6 

Peter  Whitney              7 

Nathan  Keeler              3 

7 

0 

GrammonMorehouse  G 

0 

Widow  Elizabeth 

James  Whelpley          4 
Capt.  Sam'l  Comstock  2 

5 

4 

John  Morehouse       33:3 

11 

Daniel  Jennings          32 

2 

1 

Sturges                    150 
MosesBulkley            50 

0 

Hezekiah  Nicolls       394 

10 

SrriL^°et;^fgs       1 

18 

10 

Benjamin  Betts            2 

11 

11 

Daniel  Osborn           135 

5 

0 

18 

0 

Josiah  Bulkley            10 

0 

Rev.  Isaac  Lewis           5 

1 

4 

Eleazer  Osborn,  Jr.  181 

2 

9 

Ephraim  Jennings       6 
Margaret  Keeler         18 

9 

6 

Nathan  Beers                1 

Daniel  Sturges              1 

8 

Widow    Mary   Pen- 

a 

1 

Ebenezer  Munro           1 

15 

Peter  Sturges                0 

14 

0 

field                         139 

14 

Esther  Lord                  7 

4 

0 

Admr  of  Nehemiah 

Esther  Wasson              5 

0 

Solomon  Sturges       319 

3 

9 

Jonathan  Maltbie       47 

1 

10 

Buddington                0 

10 

Capt.  Josiah  Thatcherl6 
Ephraim  Stewart         5 
Silas  Hicock                  3 

Mabel  Osborn            605 

0 

2 

Jona.  Middlebrook      4 

10 

Mary  Alvoid                  8 

0 

4 

4 

Samuel  Penfield     1,065 

9 

4 

Jesse  Morehouse        16 

6 

Jonah  Bulkley             0 

6 

13 

B 

John  Parrot                 86 

9 

8 

Hannah  Morehouse    33 

18 

8 

George  Cable            400 

0 

Jesse  Birchard              7 

12 

0 

Nathaniel  Parsons      86 

7 

7 

David  Osborn             21 

9 

0 

County  House 

HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Goal  and  Goaler's  Matthew  Gregory 

House  Jacob  Fiiitch 

School  House  on  the  James  Fieiaing 

Green  Matthew  \\  ilks 

Meeting  House  John  Barnum 

Old  School  House        John  Porter 

Church  House  Nathan  Taylor,  Jr. 

Meeting  House  at  Timothy  Northruni 

Green's  Farm  Timothy  Benedict 

Churoh,  Glebe  House  Timothy  WMl.lmau 

and  Barn  iIhx.ih  I.  r  >t;-wart 


Daniel  Taylor,  Es<i.,  B5B 

Major  Taylor  WS 

John  McLean  5d8 

Zadock  Benedict  67 

Joseph  Wildman  378 

John  Wood  36',i 
Matt.  Benedict,  Jr.  818 

David  Wood  288 

Abigail  Wood  18 

Jonah  Benedict  206 
Rev.   Ebenezer 

White  --ilS 
Jos.  P.  Cook,  Es.i.,     53 

Ezra  Starr  13U 

Matthew  Benedict  176 

Benjamin  Sperry  113 

Jabez  Rockwell  158 
Thaddeus  Benedict, 

Esq  349 

Eli  Slygatt,  Esq.  512 

James  Clark  524 

Comfort  Hoyt  50 

Comfort  Hoyt,  Jr.  4TS 

Sarah  Benedict  40 

Daniel  Church  40 

Eliphalet  Barnum  42 


Ban 

Elnathan  Gregory  3: 
Rev.  Xoah  Wetmore  2! 
Elizabeth  Henries  1! 
Christian  Rose  ( 

Matthew  Barnum         S 
Comfort  Barnum         i 
Joshua  Benedict         li 
JIatthew  Crowfeet 
Ann  Shepherd  ( 

David  Judd  S 

Charles  Peck  ( 

Joseph  Benedict,  Jr.  ^ 
Preserve  Wood  J 

Joseph  Gregory  ! 

Hannah  Lockwood      : 
Isaac  Callin 
Christian  Starr  I 

Nathan  Taylor,  3d  i: 
Samuel  Taylor,  Esq.  2: 
John  Taylor  1 

Rachel  Gregory 
Samuel  Lambert  • 

Horace  Knapp 
Nathaniel  Lockwood  ' 
Seth  Crowfeet 
Samuel  Andruss  i 

Wait  Desbrow 
Isaac  Davis 
Hannah  Andruss        1 
Timothy  Ketchum      2: 
Caleb  Baldwin 
John  Knapp  < 

Abijah  Benedict 
Thomas  Wildman 
Samuel  Wood 
Hannah  Wood 
Thomas  Starr  ! 

Jonas  Benedict 
Seth  Shove 
Elias  Taylor 
Rebecca  Crofeet 
Phineas  Peck 
Eliphalet  Peck 
Benjamin  Shove 
WiUiam  WiUe 
Comfort  Wildman      1 
Aaron  Stone 
Sarah  Peck 
Jonathan  Taylor 
Abijah  Barnum 
Oliver  Taylor 
Abial  Philips 
Daniel  Hicock 
Benjamin  Wood 
Ezra  Stevens 
Bethuel  .ludd 
John  Peck 
Joseph  Benedict 
Anne  Nf.rthorp 
Benjamin  Hicock 
Benjamin  Curtiss 
Samuel  Bi-nedict 
William  Griflin 
Elisha  Dibble 
Patience  Guthrie 
Benjamin  Boughton 
Andrew  Comgtock 
Nathaniel  Stevens 
Joseph  Beebe  1 

Jonathan  Hays  1 

Nathaniel  Gregory     1 
Daniel  Millson 
Stephen  Trowbridge 
Justus  Hoyt 


Josepli  Broadbooks 
Oliver  Benedict 
Ebenezer  Benedict 
David  Northrop 
Enos  Camp 
Ephraim  Barnum 
Daniel  Stevens 
Elijah  Wood 
Thaddeus  Barnum 
Philip  Corbin 
Nathaniel  Benedict 
Thomas  Tavler 
Thomas  Tavler,  Jr. 
James  Trowbridge 
Daniel  Wildman 
Benjamin  Ta.vlor 
John  Elliot 
Matthew  Starr 
Thomas  H.  Benedict 
William  Stone 
John  Stone 
Lemuel  Benedict 
Nathaniel  Starr 
EbenezerMunsou.Jr. 
John  Gregor 


Jer 


ry 


mug 


Amos  Northr 
David  Northrop 
Abial  Pickett 
John  Sturdevant 
Sallie  Pell 
Eleazei-  Hoyt 
Caleb  Church 
Thomas  Benedict 


Samuel  Brown 
John  Coach 
Stephen  Jarvis 
Ezra  Dibble,  Jr. 
Joseph  M.  White 
Aaron  Knapp 
Joseph  Guun 
Thomas  Tayler 
Benjamin  Barley 
Shadrack  Morriss 
Noah  Hoyt 
Samuel  Gregory 
David  Pierce 
Richard  Smith 
Henry  Peek 
David  Comstock 
John  Shepherd 
Joseph  Burchard 
Judith  Taylor 
Sarah  Basset 
Amos  Collins 
Joshua  Starr 
Matthew  Taylor 
WiUiam  B.  Alger 
Caleb  Hoyt 


Abraham  Augur  CO 

Uezekiah  Augur  29 

Eldad  Atwater  52 

David  Austin,  Esq.  2T8 

Timothy  Atwater  8 

Phineas  Andruss  18 

Joseph  Adams  13 

John  Allen  15 

Christopher  Allen  6 

Samuel  Austin  89 

Abner  Austin  60 

Abiah  Allen  13 

Oliver  Allen  40 

Samuel  Bird  42 

Abraham  Bradley  101 

Joseph  Bradley  40:3 

Benjamin  Brown  30 

Israel  Bishop  31 

Isaac  Bishop  3" 

Abel  Bsrret  27 

John  Bradley,  Jr.  31 

Stephen  Ball  36 

Francis  Brown  12 

Peter  Bontion  70 


12 


Phineas  Bradley,  Jr 
Daniel  Bishop 
John  Beecher,  Jr. 
Gurden  Bradley 
Azariah  Bradley 
Samuel  Barnes 
Stephen  Bradley 
Thomas  Burrall 
Timothy  Bartique 
James  Bradley 
Buckminster  Brint- 

nall 
Eleazer  Brown 
Nando  Cambridge 
Charles  Chauncey 
Samuel  Candy 
John  Chandler 
Timothy  Dwight 


Amos  Doolittle 
Nathan  Dummer 
Jonathan  Fitch 
Jehiel  Forbes 
Levi  Forl)es 
Samuel  Green 
Samuel  Griswold 
Caleb  Gilbert 
James  Gilbert 
Stephen  Gorham  ai 
Hezekiah  Gorham  21 
William  Greenough  27 
Samuel  Gills  58 
Timothy  Gilbert  3 
Samuel  Gorham  9 
Richard  Hood  36 
Nathan  Howell  10 
Samuel  Huggins  91 
Ezekiel  Hays  T2 
Josiah  Holly  52 
Abiah  Hall  3 
Amos  Hotchkiss  :14 
Samuel  Horton  77 
Jonah  Hotchkiss  19 
Ebenezer  Hoggings  47 
Marv  Hubbard  5 
Joseph  Howell  75 
Samuel  Howell  39 
Susannah  Hotchkiss  14 
Obediah  Hotchkiss  69 
Caleb  Hotchkiss  9 
Henrv  F.  Hughes  38 
EUjah  Hill  16 
Stephen  Herrick  15 
Jabez  Johnson  13 
Timothy  Jones,  Jr.  38 
Timothy  and  Wil- 
liam Jones  167 
Isaac  Jones  148 
Levi  Ives  46 
Peter  Johnson  20 
Silas  Kimlierley  9 
Azel  Kiuiberley  52 
Mary  Kimberley  18 
Elaiii  Luddington  408 
Daniel  Lvman,  Esq.  368 
Jesse  Leavenwoith  143 
WUham  Lyon  92 
Ebenezer  Lewis  20 
John  Lathrop  71 
Jeremiah  JlcCumber  20 
Amos  Jlon-is  12:ii 
William  Mansfield  47 
Jonah  Mix  15 
Stephen  Munson  22 
Joseph  Mix  11 
WilUam  Miles  5 
Joseph  Munson  10 
John  Miles  48 
William  JIuuson  73 
Samuel  Munson  41 
Israel  Munson  27 
Alliss  Miles  5 
Edward  Maloy  265 
Amos  Munson  18 
Paul  Noyes  2 
David  Osborn  30 
Nathan  Oaks  19 
JIahittibal  Osborn 


William  Plugmart 

•Elijah  or 

Abijah  Pardy 


Jacob  and  1 


JIary  Pardy 

Hezekiah  Parmely  109 

Mostin  Parrott  27 

William  Punchard  20 

Jacob  Pinto  22 

Ichabod  Page  59 

Sarah  Parmely  8 

James  Plant  94 

.lereiniah  Parmely  18 

Charles  Prindle  47 

John  Pease  18 

Benjamin  Pardy  88 

John  Robertson  26 

John  Richards  13 

Philemon  Smith  53 

Benjamin  Santoi-il  32 

William  Sherman  37 

Francis  Sage  34 

Jonathan  Sabin  64 


Elias  Shipman  10 

Caleb  Trowbridge  123 
Jere  Trowbridge.  Jr.  7 
Daniel  Tuttle  13 

Isaac  Townsend  11 

Benajah  Thomas  7 

Robert  Townsend  15 
Hezekiah  Tuttle  54 
Richard  Tuttle  13 

Michael  Todd  73 

Jeremiah  Townsend  36 
Jacob  Thompson  60 
Timothy  Townsend  11 
Abraham  Tuttle,  Jr.  27 
John  Townsend  3 

Stephen  Trowbridge  8 
Samuel  Tuttle  270 

James  Tuttle  93 

Tftnothy  Tuttle  79 

Noah  Tucker  99 

Jesse  Upson  47 

Jotham  Williams  2 
John  Woodward  838 
John  Woodward.Jr.  740 
Moses  Wells  256 

Samuel  Willmott  62 
William  Ward  22 

.lohnWise  31 

Daniel  Willmott  42 

John  White,  Jr.  23 

Rev.  Chauncey  Whit- 
tlesey 326 
Thomas  Wooster  590 
John  Whitney,  Esq.  158 
Titus  Beecher  5 
Hannah  Bingley  10 
Isaac  Beecher  3 
Sarah  Brown  12 
Peter  Buckley  2 
Joseph  Bishop  8 
Elias  Beech  3 
Aivhibald  Blakeley  11 
Tillv  Blakeley               13 


Abra 


tins  Br 
rge  C^ 


ughton 


;unning- 
ham  20 
John  Cathn  8 
Nathan  Catlin  8 
Zachariah  Candee  7 
Levi  Chnton  6 
David  Cook  29 
Russell  Clark  1 
Samuel  Clark  7 
Samuel  Cook  19 
Samuel  Chatterton  m 
Jolm  Clause  3 
John  Carcu  >  8 
Sarah  Davenport  1 
Isaac  Doolittle  26 
Samuel  Dunwell  34 
Henry  Doggett  37 
Rttoda  Denison  10 
Hamlin  Dwight  2 
Doct.  Naphtali  Dog- 
gett 32 
Isaac  Diekerman  32 
William  Dock  15 
Rev.  Jonathan  Ed- 
William  Eyers  5 
Robert  Fairchild  10 
Ezra  Ford  16 
Abel  Frisby  25 
Samuel  Goodwin  14 
John  Goodrich  140 
Timothy  Gorham  10 
Ruth  Gordon  7 
Henry  Gibbs  4 
Amos  Gilbert  13 
Sarah  Goldsmith  53 
Joel  Gilbert  ■  2 
Daniel  Goodsell  12 
David  Gilbert  8 
Martin  Gattee,  de- 
ceased 19 
John  Goodsell  8 
Stephen  Hotchkiss  4 
Clunstian  Hanson  21 
Ebenezer  Hull  5 
Hannah  Hotchkiss  4 
Sarah  Hunt  3 
Frederick  Harding  12 
Eleauore  Hoy  1 
Joseph  Hutts  1 
Jared  Hemmingway  5 
Hannah  Howe  13 
Sarah  Howe  14 
William  Holmes  4:1 
David  Hull  19 
James  Hull  9 
Silas  Hotchkiss  3 
Nehemiah  Hotchkiss  14 
Nehemiah  Higgins  2 
Enos  Hotchkiss  3 
Mary  Horton  5 
Stephen  Honeywell  1 
Abigail  Hughes  37 
Stephen  Johnson  14 
Simeon  Joulin  10 
Amaziab  JouUn  25 
Abraham  Johnson  5 
Mabel  Johnson  6 
Enos  Johnson  1 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


£ 

«. 

d. 

£ 

.,. 

d. 

£ 

g 

d. 

£ 

J 

d. 

Jack  and  wife 

IT 

11 

Newton  Whittlesey    33 

3 

Timothy  Durtey         20 
IsaacChamplin         142 

14 

0 

Joseph  Plumb 

24 

16 

0 

Jai-ed  IngersoU 

•3 

0 

Henry  York                  4 

3 

Green  Plumb 

43 

19 

3 

Riehafil  Johnson 

David  Abbott                4 

S 

Clark  Elliot                290 

11 

3 

Ichabod  Powers,  Jr 

.188 

16 

6 

Lytlia  Johnson 
Elijah  King 

5 

7 

Joseph  Ailing         •      4 

John  Champlin         104 

8 

5 

Andrew  Palmer 

103 

10 

0 

11 

19 

James  Ailing              12 

0 

Sarah  Edmunds         20 

2 

6 

Widow  Piner 

48 

0 

0 

Sarah  Kimberley 

27 

16 

Samuel  Ailing             20 

10 

John  Crocker              34 

13 

Simeon  Peck 

19 

16 

0 

Marah  Kilby 

0 

Ebenezer  Ailing          16 

0 

Abigail  Elliot            496 

13 

10 

James  Parker 

21 

19 

0 

Lydia  Kimberley 
Nathaniel  Kimberle 

8 

Lorrain  Ailing              4 

15 

John  Jrevin               800 

0 

Sarah  Pool 

4 

19 

0 

?'- 

13 

Hezekiah  Ailing         11 

14 

Jacob  Finch               130 

10 

Joshua  Powers 

4 

0 

James  Lvndes 

17 

David  Atwater             3 

12 

AnnFosdick&Sons  1043 

10 

11 

William  Pack-ivood 

_V2 

0 

Edward  Larkins 

21 

3 

David  Austin,  Jr.        12 

6 

Ebenezer  Goddard       7 

0 

Ichabod  Powers 

8 

0 

Samuel  Little 

11 

Abigail  Andruss           2 

8 

MarvHoodtaith          15 

0 

0 

.John  Penwert 

223 

8 

6 

Jlajor  Lines 

14 

,S 

Jedediah  Andruss       9 

11 

Elizabeth  Griflln           5 

0 

0 

John  Potter 

13 

3 

James  Lane 

0 

6 

Jeremiah  Atwater    227 

11 

Thomas  Gardiner       22 

8 

0 

Joseph  Packwood 

817 

5 

4 

Mark  Leavenworth 

Jonah  Atwater           16 

10 

Roger  Gibson            884 

18 

e,y. 

Joshua  Potter 

8 

14 

5 

Gad  Luke 

■27 

11 

Archibald  Austin       71 

13 

Mary  Gardiner          VXi 

16 

0 

.lohn  Prentice 

3 

16 

0 

Susannah  Mahon 

1 

6 

William  Alley                9 

David  Gardner            11 

0 

0 

Elizabeth  Plumb 

197 

19 

0 

John  Mix,  Jr. 

19 

.lohn  Austin                 10 

John  Gordon                 1 

16 

James  Pittman 

145 

8 

4 

Daniel  Mansfield 

n 

Stephen  Austin           12 
Joel  Atwater                 1 

12 

George  Gibbs              21 

0 

Stephen  Rougett 

37 

6 

1 

Elisha  Mix 

25 

0 

Matthew  Griswold      10 

0 

0 

Marv  Rogers 
Patrick  Robinson 

8 

13 

0 

Marv  Miles 

3 

12 

Samuel  Bishop,  Esq.  13 

13 

Russell  Hubbard     1012 

0 

3 

0 

0 

Amos  Morrison 

I 

0 

Phebe  Brown                7 

0 

Joseph  Hurlbut        965 

3 

Ann  Richards 

224 

15 

10 

Robert  :\Iattliews 

s 

3 

Timothy   Benticon, 

Thomas  Hopkins      198 

17 

•  lames  Rogers 

455 

10 

5 

Esther  Mansfield 

203 

5 

Jr.                                13 

8 

Ruth  Harris                63 

0 

Guy  Richards  and 

Kirsted  Mansfield 

10 

13 

Eleanor  Benticon       33 

9 

ElizabethHolesworth46 

8 

0 

Son 

811 

8 

0 

James  Murray 
Nathan  Mansfield 

9 

14 

Stephen  Brown           19 

2 

Thomas  Hancock      148 

Mary  Richards 
Benjamin  Rogers 
Jabez  Richards 

258 

17 

0 

3 

10 

Jonathan  Bridglen       8 

15 

Mary  Hurlburt          212 

13 

0 

9 

19 

5 

Silas  Jlerriman 

a 

2 

Abraham   Bradley, 

Joseph  Harris,  Jr.        5 

15 

0 

4 

4 

0 

David  Mulford  - 

16 

Jr.                               6 

9 

Stephen  Holt             229 
Natlianiel  Harriss        3 

Solomon  Rogers 

101 

3 

Hannah  Mansfield 

17 

Willard  Brintnall       .36 

5 

0 

Amos  Rogers 

31 

1 

Patience  Mix 

20 

19 

Lemuel  Benham         12 

19 

Eliz-bethHolesworth46 

8 

0 

Samuel  Roberts 

94 

6 

10 

Phebe  Miller 

l.i 

5 

Thomas  Bill                  9 

16 

Edward    and    John 

Geurtre  Roeers 

14 

14 

David  Murison 

2 

Hanover  Barney         11 

11 

Hallam                    310 

8 

David  Richards 

1 

9 

Hannah  Mix 

36 

4 

Lucy  Barker                 1 

Edwa  rd  and  George 

Ja.,„-s  R,.gers 

I 

16 

0 

Dr.  Timothy  Mix 

16 

12 

Israel  Bunnel               9 

16 

Hallman                  215 

0 

0 

Harriss  Rogers 

128 

13 

10 

Moses  Mansfield 

6 

3 

Naihan  Beers              13 

Edward  Hallam          10 

16 

0 

Peter  Rogers 

16 

2 

4 

Nathaniel  Mix 

10 

13 

William  Brintnall       16 

14 

William  Higgins           4 

11 

William  Rogers 

18 

3 

William  Noyes 

U 

14 

David  Beecher            19 

5 

Daniel  Hurlburt        126 

14 

Peter  Rogers.  Jr. 
Peter  Robinson 

1 

12 

9 

Ann  Plait 

10 

11 

David  Brown                 5 

16 

Sarah  Harris             177 

5 

81 

12 

2 

Jlarv  and  Lydia 

Timothy  P.   Benti- 

John Harris.  2d           33 

1 

4 

John  Rogers 

31 

8 

10 

Pirdy 

SO 

8 

con                              4 

i 

John     Hempstead 

David  Roberts 

17 

16 

0 

William  Punchard 

SB 

13 

Lamberton  Painter    24 

0 

and  others                30 

18 

William  Rogers 

4 

Ebenezer  Peck 

23 

2 

Silas  Kimberley         193 

16 

John  Hallam              417 

10 

James  Penniman 

137 

U1 

2 

18 

Jlarv  Kimberley         20 

0 

0 

Benjamin  Harris        19 

Daniel  Stale 

27 

14 

0 

Thos  Pimderson,  Jr.  14 

15 

John  Beecher  ^         25 

17 

Abigail  Holt                  18 

11 

2 

Gurdon  Salton- 

Mary  Pease 

2 

Thomas  Benham         10 

10 

0 

NathanielHempstead  7 

10 

stall.  Esq. 

1,440 

0 

David  Phipps 

6 

Jotham  Williams         6 

0 

0 

John  Hanle                44 

19 

4 

Thomas  Smith 

11 

0 

0 

.rohn  Pierpont 

18 

Andrus  Smith              14 

0 

Joseph  Holt                  3 

13 

William  Skinner 

15 

0 

n 

Abigail  Potter 

9 

^Villiam  Trowbridge    7 

4 

0 

Lydia  Harriss             60 

3 

Seth  Sears 

13 

19 

Moses  Pardy 

13 

14 

Anna  Clinton                  4 

8 

Thomas  Holt                 4 

18 

Jonathan  and  I.Starr  53 

2 

3 

Solomon  Phipps 
Lamberton  Painter 

10 

Rev.  Noah  Williston  27 

0 

0 

Bridgett  Harriss         24 

19 

Bathsheba  Skiune       '" 

0 

11 

Azel  Kimberley           32 

10 

6 

James  Holt                 21 

18 

6 

BatlislieliaSrnitli 

465 

14 

10 

Elijah  Painter 

14 

John  Mii                    37 

10 

John  Harriss,  1st         0 

11 

Eliza  Shajiflv 

382 

5 

Martin  Patehin 

0 

Walter  Harriss           17 

15 

10 

Allan)  Sliai>-ly 

20 

16 

Levi  Pardy 

3 

15 

NEW  LONDON. 

Grace  parriss             29 

0 

0 

Lydia  Siiiiick 

9 

13 

9 

Jonas  Prentice 

27 

17 

Ebenezer  Holt             15 

5 

1 

Ann  Squire 

10 

0 

Sarah  Pomeroy 

27 

16 

Phillip  Allen                 9 

15 

5H 

Daniel  Harriss              5 

0 

Nathaniel  and 

James  Prescott 

26 

i^^^     '1^ 

Eliphalet  Harriss       20 

18 

5 

Thomas  Shaw 

2,8:i4 

5 

0 

Philip  Rexford 

15 

17 

5 

0 

Daniel  Holt                 32 

8 

6 

John  Shepherd 

76 

14 

0 

Samuel  Robinson 

16 

Abigail  Bill                    6 

11 

9 

Jonathan  Holt            K 

13 

0 

Robert  Smith 

24 

18 

0 

Rachel  Russell 

3 

18 

William  Brooks          65 

11 

6!^ 

Ann  Hancock            140 

6 

Starr  &  Tallman 

150 

0 

Zechariah  Read 

3 

John  Barr                    71 

11 

4 

Titus  Hurlburt         1961 

John  Springer 

19 

0 

James  Rice 

64 

9 

Ann  Bulkley              493 

14 

11J4 

Stephen  Hempstead  70 

6 

1 

Ann  Simmonds 

13 

IK 

0 

Hannah  Russell 

17 

17 

Sanmcl  Brown           493 

7 

8 

Moses  Jeffrey              36 

3 

6 

Peter  Perry 

18 

0 

Martin  Ray 

70 

15 

Stephen  Babcocfc       34 

9 

IH 

Lydia  Johnson            21 

15 

0 

John  Coster 

14 

9 

0 

Hannah  Sackett 

5 

Jonah  Bebee             236 

2 

6 

Robert  Kennedy       3.50 

0 

0 

Widow  Dorsett 

2 

0 

0 

Adonijah  Sherman 

29 

13 

David  Byrne              336 

4 

Mary  Lewis                   5 

12 

0 

Judas  P.  Spooner 

21 

12 

« 

John  Scott 

0 

John  Barna                 M 

6 

P 

Christopher  Lefllng- 

Richard  Stroud 

■Si 

15 

0 

James  Sherman 

7 

1 

Jeremiah  Brown       124 

9 

well                           25 

0 

0 

James  Smith 

8 

Leveret  Stevens 

0 

Hannah  Beebe              6 

18 

.lames  Lampher        233 

9 

0 

Jane  Stewart 

13 

18 

6 

Sarah  Stevens 

4 

11 

Hannah  Bolton           32 

1 

10)^ 

Lydia  Lattimer           27 

6 

^vSlXrk 

5 

9 

8 

Elizabeth  Stillman 

26 

15 

Walter  Beebe                9 

8 

9 

James  Lamjihier.Jr.  42 

0 

9 

10 

Widow  Scovil 

0 

Percy  Beer                    6 

17 

Pickett  Lattimer       565 

8 

Sarah  Sitchell 

36 

16 

0 

William  Sherman 

23 

2 

Nathan  Bailey            20 

3 

101^ 

Sanu.el  Lattimer      910 

19 

5 

58 

8 

0 

Moses  Strong 

9 

10 

Cornelius  Cunning- 

Amos Lester               12 

11 

9 

,250 

11 

1 

Abigail  Starr 
Benjamin  Smith 

1 

ham                           62 

14 

~H 

Ebenezer  Lester          8 

18 

0 

Roswell     Salton- 

3 

0 

Joannah  Culver         10 

15 

John  Lester                 35 

19 

stall, 

800 

0 

0 

Nehemiah  Smith 

12 

Richard  Chapman     73 

1 

^14 

Edgcomb  Lee             48 

4 

Winthrop  Salton- 

George  Smith 

20 

Esther  Cutler               7 

0 

0 

Diodate  Little           207 

5 

0 

stall 

,181 

16 

8 

Nathan  Smith 

9 

15 

Joseph  Cheds              73 

11 

Samuel  Lattimer       24 

7 

6 

Nathaniel  Thorp 

3 

13 

3 

MaryStillwell 

13 

10 

Joseph  Collins            41 

0 

k 

Michael  Love              83 

0 

0 

Bethiah  Tallman 

63 

5 

0 

Hezekiah  Sabin 

79 

8 

John  Critchett             6 

6 

Richard  Lattimer       26 

19 

8 

Daniel  Tinker 

22 

17 

6 

Hezekiah  Sabin,  Jr. 

21 

10 

Joseph  Coit             1298 

18 

5 

Rasman  Lawrence     54 

0 

0 

James  Tilley 

,5.33 

10 

3 

Edmond  Smith 

4 

William  Coit              44 

17 

10 

Peter  Lattimer          317 

] 

6 

John  Tillev 

6 

18 

6 

Amos  Sherman 

34 

12 

James  Culver               8 

9 

John  Lathrop               1 

11 

^a^i;K;an 

26 

15 

10 

Joseph  Smith,  3d 

12 

10 

Joseph  Cocks                1 

5 

3 

Amasa  Larnid            18 

0 

6 

0 

JohnStorer 

55 

11 

0 

Lodwick  Champliu    11 

9 

10 

Jeremiah  Miller      2535 

18 

10 

Edward  Tinker 

25 

15 

9 

Hannah  Sloper 

5 

0 

0 

Elizabeth      Christo- 

JamesMcEver-sh'rsOOO 

0 

0 

John  Welch 

46 

10 

0 

James  Thompson 

0 

19 

0 

pher                          49 

4 

6 

James  Matthews        29 

19 

2 

Walter  Welch 

59 

19 

0 

John  R.  Throop 

2 

0 

Rebecca  Church         52 

11 

10 

Robert  Manwaring     21 

8 

Ebenezer  Way 

15 

16 

1 

12 

14 

0 

William  Comstock       3 

16 

0 

James  Miller               93 

8 

6 

John  Ward 

17 

5 

4 

■johnTownsend 

16 

14 

2 

Thomas  Coit               23 

13 

4 

John  Morriss              29 

16 

0 

Lucretia  Wolfe 

4 

16 

0 

Thankf  ull  Thompson  3.3 

7 

Nathaniel  Coit,  Jr.     15 

15 

10 

Giles  Mumford           44 

0 

0 

Anthony  Wolfe 

14 

0 

Isaac  Thompson 

16 

Joshua  Coit                 40 

0 

0 

James  Minor                7 

10 

7 

Simon  A-olcott 

,0&3 

Abraham  Tuttle 

4 

4 

0 

Joseph  Champlin       72 

11 

9 

Lawrence  Marting     55 

18 

6 

Elizabeth  Westcott 

87 

6 

0 

Abraham  Thompson 

5 

2 

Jonathan  Colefax      15 

11 

3 

Ephraim  Minor         348 

17 

4 

Temerance  Moore 

13 

8 

0 

Stephen  Tuttle 

5 

17 

3 

John  McCurdy        1128 

0 

0 

Lvdia  Green                12 

16 

0 

24 

3 

0 

Timothy  Tnlmadge 

37 

19 

Samuel  Coit                19 

Antony  Mitchell         83 

n 

6 

Samuel  Belden 

,771 

15 

Joseph  Trowbridge 

10 

0 

John  Clark  &  Sons    135 

6 

5 

David  Jhmitord        318 

5 

9 

Joanna  Short 

276 

" 

0 

Ebenezer  Town  send 

9 

5 

0 

John  Deshon           1177 

6 

2 

Isaac  Moseley           .500 

0 

0 

James  Thompson 
Michael  MelaTly 

350 

0 

7 

William  Trowbridge 

12 

19 

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Deshon  &  Co.            556 

10 

0 

David  .Manwaring       51 

3 

0 

4 

.lohu  Trowbridge 

17 

13 

Henry  Deshon           900 

0 

Lewis  Minor               71 

4 

John  Way 

390 

3 

11 

fornelius  Thayer 

3 

17 

s 

Joseph  Deshon         100 

1 

0 

Thomas  Jones            40 

4 

10 

Thomas  Bowhay 

49 

17 

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Moses  Thompson 
William  Vanftuersor 

6 

0 

Richard  Deshon        266 

19 

8 

Elizabeth  Newcomb  12 

0 

0 

Joshua  Hempstead 
Nathaniel  SaVton- 

62 

15 

3 

62 

4 

3 

Mons'r  Dumont        26:J 

10 

George  Newcomb      238 

1 

9 

Moses  Ventures 

31 

8 

0 

JonathanDouglass  1446 

14 

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Widow,  Nelson             63 

10 

0 

stall 

146 

9 

6 

Michael  Vaun 

3 

13 

10 

Sarah  Daviss               8 

0 

0 

Na'Lnfe'l  Overton     27 

5 

0 

John  Thompson 
Spere  Dougfass 

59 

16 

9 

Thomas  Willson 

50 

18 

10 

Richard  Douglass     262 
Robert  Douglass       200 

18 

6 

9 

0 

15 

Lois  Wells 

4 

0 

0 

Isaac  Oliver                40 

3 

Chapman  Simmons    22 

18 

0 

Thomas  WiUmott 

2 

14 

0 

Ebenezer  Douglass    17 

9 

4 

Owen  Neal                   91 

14 

6 

Elizabeth  Beebe 

16 

6 

0 

AUice  Wise 

9 

6 

0 

Peter  Darrow              10 

0 

0 

Joseph  Owen              75 

18 

6 

John  Hallam  and 

John  Ward 

25 

7 

6 

Nathan  Douglass      941 

11 

9 

Richard  Potter          382 

8 

3 

Benjamin  Harris 
MaryVard 
Stephen  Culver 
Mabitabil  Leet 

s300 

0 

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Rev,  McWilUston 

21 

8 

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Nicholas  Darrow          9 

12 

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Christopher  Prince  518 
Abigail  Potter           573 
Zuriah  Preston           21 

4 

3 

28 

0 

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3 

0 

James  Darrow             3 

3 

7 

4 

11 

3 

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John  Warner 

4 

8 

6 

Nathaniel  Dickinson  15 

1 

0 

13 

0 

124 

0 

0 

IILSTOKY  OF  IIUKON  AXD  ERIE  COUJS'TIES,  OHIO. 


£ 

s. 

rf. 

Ezekiel  Bailey 

.J 

Samuel  Olmstead 

74 

IS 

ft 

Stephen  Billings 

74 

Ebenezer  Olmstead 

5 

4 

James  Bailey 

Thaddeus  Rockwel 

36 

IS 

0 

Samuel  Chester 

10 

Samuel  Olmstead.  3a  .» 

16 

Eldridge  Chester 

Philip  B.  Bradley,  Es 

qao 

0 

Jedediah  Chester 

21 

LydiaGUbert 

•34 

10 

6 

Benjamin  Chester 
Benjamin  Chester 

443 

Timothy  Keeler,  ad 

9 

0 

ST 

13 

7 

as  executor 

300 

Benjamin  Northrop 

m 

6 

Charles  Chester 

6 

Daniel  Smith 

ISi 

4 

6 

Thomas  Chester 

0 

14-' 

17 

5 

Daniel  Chester 

19 

Thomas  Sevmour 

63 

16 

6 

Jason  Chester 

20 

Hannah  Seymour 

18 

3 

Esther  Conklin 

39 

Sarah  Morehouse 

109 

6 

9 

Simeon  Chester 

8 

David  Olmstead 

36 

0 

Nathan  Darrow 

9 

Joseph  Stehbins 

19 

16 

0 

Mary  Dodge 
Chas.  Eldridge,  Jr. 
Daniel  Eldridge 
Sergeant  Daniel  El 

14 

Daniel  Smith,  3d 

30 

19 

10 

775 

James  Sturges 

10 

U 

4 

John  Douchey 

11 

4 

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George  FoUcott 

la 

17 

4 

dridge 

1 

Daniel  Smith.  2d 

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13 

4 

Thomas  Grifllu 

3 

Ebenezer  Jones 

5 

8 

Robert  Gallup 

11 

Bartlett  Folcott 

.5 

10 

10 

Andrew  Gallup 

14 

Ebenezer  Stebbins 

19 

8 

John  Hicks 

Jesse  Benedict 

11 

10 

8 

Jonathan  Havens 

li 

Jonn  Abbott 

a 

Ruth  Holliday 

43 

Bartholomew  Weec 

3 

13 

4 

Edward  Jeffrey 

13.S 

Hope  Rhodes 

10 

0 

Alexander  Kvdd 

9 

Stephen  Smith 

8 

5 

0 

Thomas  Mumford, 

Martha  Keeler 

3 

3 

4 

Esq. 

604 

John  Watrous 

la 

0 

62 

David  Perry 

3 

2 

0 

HMi'i-v'^laso'ii"'*^ 

27 

a 

13 

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XaucVM..,re 

Philip  Dauchev 
Matthew  Keeler 

4 

Prudence  Minor 

6 

IC 

8 

Rebecca  Minor 

1 

John  Smith 

13 

8 

Joshua  and  Isaac 

Samuel  Smith 

18 

15 

2 

Benjamin  Smith 

4 

14 

0 

Morgan 
Marv  Moore 

4 

Jeremiah  Burchard 

13 

0 

10 

Samuel  Camp 

:38 

17 

10 

Frederick  Moore 

269 

Isaac  Ki^eler 

IM 

0 

0 

Ebenezer  Ledyard, 

Lemuel  Abbott 

5 

16 

0 

James  Xorthrop 

53 

17 

4 

Esq. 

1151 

Abraham  Rockwell 

10 

.Tohn  Latham 

94 

John  Keeler 

0 

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Bridgett  Ledyard 

397 

JcTaC/ntlftfie" 

6 

18 

6 

Youngs  Ledyard, 

5 

1.5 

4 

dec-d 

75 

Jemima  Keeler 

0 

18 

William  Leeds 

360 

David  Rockwell 

4 

6 

Benjamin  and  Caleb 

Samuel  Keeler 

4 

13 

0 

Ledvard 

2110 

Ebenezer  Sherwood 

0 

13 

4 

Anne  Ledvard 

143 

Stephen  Xorrice 

3 

0 

Aune  Leeds 

Daniel  Coolev 

18 

Benajah  Lester 

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Mary  Hays 

3 

16 

0 

Capt.  Edw'd  Latham  4 

Abijah  Rockwell 

3 

5 

2 

Thomas  D.  Lavis 

0 

Abijah  Smith 

16 

14 

0 

Widow  A.  Latham 

36 

Jonah  Foster 

10 

3 

10 

Capt.  Wilham  La- 
tham 

Sarah  SUsby 

a 

8 

45 

Elihu  Deforest 

a 

(1 

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Lydia  Latham 
Mary  Latham 

93 

Price  Xortnrop 

4 

4 

0 

4 

Nathan  Foster 

10 

8 

Jonathan  Latham 

Mary  Gray 

1 

6 

8 

EUzabeth  Latham 

13 

David  Rockwell,  -Jd 

2 

10 

Amos  Prentice,  Esq 

566 

Abner  Willson 

0 

Elisha  Prior 

34 

Samuel  Keeler,  Sd, 

1 

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AbiK-ail  Palmer 

6 

N.B.-Thesumsa 

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Alexander  Reed 

60 

town  of  Kidgefield, 

by 

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Thomas  Starr 

1 

general    assembly 
from  each  man's  r 

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Nathan  Seabury 

3 

>SDective" 

sum 

Thankful  Stanton 

0 

and  the  neat  balances  ascertained. 

Jabez  Sholes 
Nathan  Sholes 

0 
0 

Q^Q^gy 

John  Starr 

0 

Sarah  Stedman 

0 

Amos  .\very 

18 

2 

2 

Lucretia  Sholes 

4 

Prudence  Avery 

270 

14 

8 

James  Smith 

6 

Thankful  Avery 

363 

16 

Experience  Ward 

3 

Rnf  us  Averv 

1.32 

18 

4 

Eunice  Williams 

15 

Lydia  AverV 

157 

13 

1 

Samuel  Walsworth 

10 

Latham  Avery 

103 

5 

6 

Christopher  Wood- 

Ebenezer  Avery 

.30 

4 

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bridge 

Phebe  Averv 

a 

0 

Peter  Williams 

Peter  Avery 

4 

13 

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Benjamin  Vose 

6 

George  Avery 

8 

8 

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Ezekial  Yeuington 

3 

Hannah  Averv 

15 

6 

Elizabeth  Seabury 

Elizabeth  Avery 

6 

0 

John  Brown 

39 

Benjamin  Avery 

3 

19 

0 

Daniel  Williams 

Caleb  Averv 

7 

0 

Elisha  Avery 

10 

CIIAPTEK   IV. 

INDIAN  TITLE. -COPS'  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  THE  fl-T  T. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  liberality  of  the 
State  in  making  provision  for  the  benefit  of  the  suf- 
ferers, it  may  be  said  that  the  territory  disposed  of 
was  not  such  as  that  to  wliich  Connecticut  had  a 
clear,  unquestioned  title.  In  the  first  place,  it  be- 
longed to  the  Indians,  and  secondly,  subject  to  their 
right  of  occupancy,  it  was  claimed -by  the  United 
States,  and,  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  August  3, 


1795,  by  which  the  Cuyahoga,  the  Tuscarawas  and 
the  Portage  path  between  them  was  in  part  fixed  as 
the  Indian  "boundary,  the  entire  consideration  was 
paid  by  the  United  States  without  a  pro  rata  rcmun- 
j  eration  from  either  the  State  of  Connecticut  or  the 
land  company;  and  up  to  this  time,  at  least,  the 
United  States  had  not  by  direct  act  acknowledged 
the  State's  title  to  the  Reserve.  But  the  State  of 
Connecticut  not  only  asserted  a  right  to  the  fee,  but 
claimed  also  the  riglit  of  enacting  and  enforcing  laws, 
and  otherwise  exercising  jurisdiction  the  same  as  if 
its  own  title  were  undisputed. 

At  the  close  of  the  revolution,  the  general  govern- 
ment sought,  by  peaceable  means,  to  acquire  the  red 
man's  title  to  the  soil  northwest  of  the  Ohio.  On  tlic 
21st  of  January,  ItSS,  a  treaty  was  concluded  at 
Fort  Mcintosh  with  four  of  the  Indian  tribes,  the 
Wyandots,  Delaware.'^,  C/iippewas  and  Ottawas.  By 
this  treaty  tlie  Cuyalioga,  the  Tuscarawas  and  the 
Portage,  between  them,  were  agreed  as  the  boundary 
on  the  Reserve  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Indians.  All  east  of  this  line  was  ceded  to  the  United 
States.  But  the  Indians  soon  became  dissatisfied  and 
refused  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  and, 
on  January  9,  1789,  another  treaty  was  concluded  at 
Fort  Harmar,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  be- 
tween Arthur  St.  Clair,  acting  for  the  United  States, 
and  the  Wyund.Hs,  Delatvares,  Chippewas  and  Sac 
nations,  by  which  the  terms  of  the  former  treaty 
were  renewed  and  confirmed.  But  only  a  short  time 
elapsed  before  the  Indians  violated  their  compact. 
Peaceful  means  failing,  it  became  necessary  to  compel 
obedience  by  the  use  of  arms.  Vigorous  means  for 
the  relief  and  protection  for  the  white  settler  were 
called  for  and  enforced.  At  first  the  Indians  were 
successful;  but  in  1794,  General  Wayne,  at  the  head 
of  three  thousand  five  hundred  men,  encountered  the 
enemy  on  the  20th  of  August  on  the  Maumee,  and 
gained  a  decisive  victory.  Xearly  every  chief  was 
slain.  The  treaty  of  Greenville  was  the  result.  Gen- 
eral Wayne  met  in  grand  council  twelve  of  the  most 
powerful  northwestern  tribes,  and  the  Indians  again 
yielded  their  claims  to  the  lands  east  of  the  Cuyahoga 
[  and  made  no  further  effort  to  regain  them,  and  the 
line  then  fixed  remained  as  the  Indian  boundary  until 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Industry  in  1805,  when  the  Indian 
title  to  the  remaining  portion  of  the  Reserve  was  oh- 
tained  by  purchase. 

In  May,  1795,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature 
of  Connecticut,  requiring  that  deeds  conveying  any 
of  the  lands  so  granted,  shall  be  recorded  in  the  town 
clerk's  office  where  the  loss  or  damage  of  tiie  original 
grantee  mentioned  in  said  grant  was  sustained. 

In  October,  179j6,  on  the  petition  of  the  proprietors, 
the  assembly jjassed  "An  act  for  incorporating  the 
proprietors  of  the  half  million  acres  of  land  lying 
south  of  Lake  Erie."  By  the  terms  of  the  act  a  body 
politic  was  created,  with  power  to  appoint  officers  and 
to  levy  taxes  or  assessments,  and  provided  for  tlie 
sale   of   rights   to   jviy  delinqueiipies.      Tlie    ]>owers 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


21 


granted  by  this  act  were  exercised  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  until  a  new  charter,  in  almost  tlie  same  words, 
was  obtained  from  the  State  of  Ohio. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  at  this  time  the  West- 
ern Reserve  was  within  the  limits  of  the  northwestern 
territory,  which  had  been  duly  organized  under  the 
famous  ordinance  of  178T,  and  that  these  claims  of 
Connecticut  were  inconsistent  with  those  of  the  sov- 
ereign power  of  the  United  States.  The  controversy 
that  followed  on  this  point  resulted  in  a  compromise. 
Congress,  in  1799,  proposed  to  Connecticut  to  release 
the  right  of  soil  to  the  grantees  of  that  State,  pro- 
vided the  State  would  relenquish  her  claim  of  juris- 
diction. On  May  30,  1800,  Connecticut  acceded  to 
these  terms,  and  thus  the  cloud  upon  the  title  of  the 
lands  of  the  Western  Reserve  was  removed,  saving  the 
right  of  the  Indians  to  occupy  that  portion  west  of 
the  line  fixed  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville. 

When  the  State  of  Ohio  was  organized,  a  new 
charter  was  obtained  from  the  legislature  of  that 
State.  This  act  (approved  February  15,  1803.)  recites 
the  resolution  of  the  legishiture  of  Connecticut  pre- 
viously quoted,  and  also  further  recites: 

"And  Whereas,  The  geueral  assembly  of  said  State,  at  their  sessions 
holdcn  at  New  Haven  in  said  State  of  Connecticut  on  the  second  Thurs- 
day of  October,  Anno  Domini,  1796,  incorporated  the  owners  and  pro- 
prietors of  said  half  million  acres,  with  full  power  to  do  and  transact  all 
business  of  said  company  necessary  to  be  done; 

"And  Whereas,  Said  State  of  Connecticut,  by  their  proper  deed,  hare 
since  duly  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  their  judicial  right  in  and  to 
said  half  million  of  acres,  which  cession  has  been  duly  accepted  by  the 
congress  of  the  United  States,  and  said  land  annexed  to  the  government 
of  the  State  of  Ohio; 

"And  Whereas,  Said  half  million  of  acres  of  land  are  now  within  the 
limits  of  the  county  of  Trumbull,  in  said  State,  are  still  subject  to  Indian 
claims  of  title: 

"Wherefore,  To  enable  the  owners  and  proprietors  of  said  half  mil- 
lion acres  of  land  to  purchase  and  extinguish  the  Indian  claim  of  title 
to  the  ^same  (under  the  authority  of  the  United  States  when  the  same 
shall  be  obtained),  to  survey  and  locate  the  said  land,  and  to  make  par- 
tition thereof  to  and  among  said  owners  and  proprietors,  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  losses  which  is  or  shall  be  by  them  respectively 
owned,"  etc. 

After  this  preamble  follow  tiie  different  sections  of 
the  act,  the  first  section  constituting  the  owners  and 
proprietors  of  said  tract  a  body  corporate  under  the 
name  of  "The  proprietors  of  the  half  million  of  acres 
of  land  lying  south  of  Lake  Erie,  called  sufferers' 
lands." 

The  second  section  provides  for  a  board  of  nine 
directors,  one  of  whom  is  to  represent  each  of  the 
suffering  towns,  except  in  case  of  New  Loudon, 
which  was  allowed  two  directors.  These  directors 
were  authorized  to  take  steps  to  extinguish  the  Indian 
title,  to  survey  the  land  into  townships,  and  partition 
the  same  among  the  owners  and  proprietors  according 
to  the  amount^  of  their  several  interests,  to  defray 
expenses,  consequent  upon  these  and  other  necessary 
acts,  and  were  allowed  to  levy  a  tax  on  said  land  and 
enforce  the  collection  of  the  same. 

The  third  section  of  the  act  names  Jabez  Fitch,  of 
Greenwich;  Taylor  Siierman,  of  Norwalk;  Walter 
Bradley,  of  Fairfield;  Philip  B.  Bradley,  of  Ridge- 
lield;  James  Clark,  of  Daubury;  Isaac  Mills,  of  New 
Haven   and    East    Haven;    Elias    Perkins   and   Guy 


Richards,  of  New  London;  and  Starr  Chester,  of 
Groton,  as  the  first  board  of  directors,  and  pro- 
vides for  the  manner  of  organization,  calling  of 
meetings,  etc. 

Tiie  next  section  provides  tliat,  after  the  first  meet- 
ing, the  directors  shall  be  cliosen  once  in  two  years 
by  the  proprietors  of  said  lands,  holding  losses  sus- 
tained. Other  sections  following  provide  for  appoint- 
ment of  clerk,  treasurer,  collector  of  ta.xes,  etc.,  and 
specify  tiie  manner  of  selling  land  for  non-payment  of 
taxes. 

The  eighth  section  authorizes  the  directors  to  insti- 
tute suits  against  trespassers  on  the  lands,  and  to 
adjust  and  settle  the  accounts  of  former  incorpora- 
tions. 

The  ninth  section  makes  sales  by  collector,  of 
rights  sold  for  non-payment  of  taxes,  valid  unless 
redeemed  within  six  months,  by  paying  tax,  twelve 
per  cent,  interest,  and  cost  of  sale. 

The  ninth  section  authorizes  directors  "to  do  what- 
ever shall  to  them  appear  necessary  and  proper  to  be 
done  for  the  well-ordering  of  said  owners  and  pro- 
prietors, not  contrary  to  the  laws  of  this  State."  • 

The  eleventh  section  requires  the  directors  to  make 
an  annual  report,  and  directs  them  to  dispose  of  any 
surplus  funds  remaining  "after  the  Indian  title  shall 
be  extinguished,  and  said  lands  located  and  parti- 
tion thereof  made,  shall  be  used  by  said  directors 
in  laying  out  and  improving  the  public  roads  in  said 
tract. " 

The  twelfth  and  final  section  states  that  the  act 
shall  be  and  remain  a  jntblic  act  during  the  pleasure 
of  the  assembly. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  directors  was  holden  at 
the  dwelling  house  of  Marcus  Miles,  inn-holder,  in 
the  city  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  on  the  second 
Wednesday  of  February,  1804,  eight  of  the  nine 
directors  being  present.  Philip  B.  Bradley  was 
chosen  chairman,  and  Isaac  Mills,  clerk. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1804,  William  Dean,  of 
Easton,  originally  of  the  county  of  Bucks,  in  the 
commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  submitted  to  the 
directors  a  proposition  in  writing  to  extinguish  "the 
Indian  right  of  3oil  at  six  cents  per  acre  (or  thirty 
thousand  dollars),  and  deliver  the  possession  in  due 
form  of  law  (as  relates  to  Indians)  in  the  presence  of 
a  commissioner  of  the  United  States,  to  be  appointed 
for  that  purpo.se  before  the  1st  of  September  of  the 
next  year,  1805.  I  will,  at  my  own  expense,  pay  the 
consideration  to  the  Indians,  the  presents  to  l)e  made 
to  them  at  the  treaty,  the  pay  of  the  commissioner 
and  all  other  expenses  incident  to  the  same  (except 
those  of  tlie  agent  of  said  companj-)."  Mr.  Dean  also 
specifies  the  time  and  manner  of  payment  and  other 
particulars. 

The  directors,  at  their  meeting  on  September  30, 
considered  the  matter  and  voted  to  accept  the  jiropo- 
sitiou,  specifying  at  some  length  various  conditions, 
which  were  immediately  accepted  by  Mr.  Dean.  At 
this  meeting  a  tax  of  twenty-five  cents  to  the  pound 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  original  loss  was  levied.  September  25,  the  chair- 
man Avas  directed  to  make  application  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  to  appoint  a  commissioner 
to  treat  with  the  Indians,  as  provided  in  agreement 
with  William  Dean. 

On  March  27,  1805,  Isaac  Mills,  the  clerk  of  the 
board,  was  appointed  agent,  in  behalf  of  the  directors 
of  said  comi)any,  to  attend  the  Indian  treaty  to  be 
held  by  William  Dean,  and  was  also  authorized  to 
take  steps  towards  running  and  establishing  the 
boundary  lines,  and  was  to  be  allowed  five  dollars  per 
day  for  his  services,  and  his  own  expenses. 

On  October  31,  1805,  Isaac  Mills,  agent  for  the 
directors,  submitted  his  report,  reciting  that  on  May 
7,  he  left  Xew  Haven  for  Cleveland,  Ohio,  the  point 
originally  selected  to  hold  the  treaty  with  the  Indians. 
On  his  arrival  at  Cleveland,  he  found  that  the  In- 
dians could  not  be  collected  at  that  place,  and  that  it 
was  decided  to  hold  it  at  Fort  Industry,  on  the 
Miami  of  the  lake.  In  order  to  carry  out  the  treaty, 
Mr.  Dean,  not  having  the  specie,  drew  checks  on 
the  United  States  Bank  at  Philadelphia  to  the  amount 
of  six  thousand  dollars,  on  which  specie  was  obtained. 
On  the  4th  day  of  July,  1805,  the  Chippewa,  Ottawa, 
Pottawutoinie,  Wyandot,  Delaware  and  Miinsee,  to- 
gether with  the  Shawanese  nations  of  Indians,  exe- 
cuted a  treaty  by  which  all  the  lands  belonging  to  the 
company  were  ceded  by  said  nations  to  it,  and  Charles 
Jewett,  commissioner  for  the  United  States,  certified 
that  William  Dean  had  procured  the  proper  convey- 
ance from  the  Indian  tribes,  Avhich  would  become 
absolutely  vested  in  the  company  when  the  treaty 
should  be  ratified  by  the  United  States  senate.  Here- 
with is  the  treaty  referred  to: 

"To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  greeting;  I  certify.  That 
the  annexed  writing  contains  a  true  copy  of  a  treaty-concluded  with 
certain  Indian  tribes  at  Fort  Industry,  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1805,  the 
original  whereof  remains  in  this  office.  In  faith  whereof,  I,  Robert  Smith, 
secretary  for  the  department  of  state  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
have  signed  these  presents,  and  caused  the  seal  of  my  office  to  be  affixed 
hereto,  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  -HA  day  of  March,  A.D.,  180n,  and 
In  the  thirty-third  year  of  the  independence  of  the  said  States. 

[I.,  s.]  R.  SMITH. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  President  af  the  United  States  of  America:  To  all  to 
whom  these  presents  shall  come,  greeting: 

"  Whereas,  A  treaty  was  held  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  A.  D.,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  five,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States, 
with  the  sachems,  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Wyandot,  Ottaira,  Chip- 
pewa, ^fllnsee,  and  Delaware,  Shavanee  and  Pottauatomie  nations  or 
tribes  of  Indians  at  Fort  Industry,  on  the  Jliami  of  the  lake,  in  the  pres- 
ence and  with  the  approbation  of  Charles  Jewett,  the  commissioner  of 
the  United  States,  appointed  to  hold  the  same,  the  following  agreement 
was  made  between  the  said  nations  and  tribes  of  Indians  and  the  agent 
of  the  land  companies  hereinafter  mentioned. 

"A  treaty  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  sachems, 
chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  n'yandot.  Ottawa,  Chippewa,  Miinsee  and 
Delaware,  Shawciiee  and  Pottawatomie  nations,  holden  at  Fort  In- 
dustry, on  the  Jliami  of  the  lalfe,  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  A.D.,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  five. 

"Whereas,  Thomas  Jefferson.  President  of  the  United  States,  did  ap- 
point Charles  Jewett.  Esquire,  a  commissioner  to  hold  a  treaty  with  said 
Indian  Nations,  for  the  purjJose  of  enabling  the  agents  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Reserve,  to  negotiate  and  conclude  a  cession  of  their  lands:  and, 

"Whereas,  The  company  incorporatedby  thenameof  the  Proprietors 
of  the  half  million  acres  of  land  lying  south  of  Lake  Erie,  called  'Suf- 
ferers' Lands,"  and  the'ownersand  proprietors  of  one  half  million  acres 
of  land,  part  of  said  Connecticut  Resene.  lyingon  the  west  end  thereof, 
and  south  of  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie;  and. 


"Whereas,  The  Connecticut  Land  Company,  so  called,  are  the  owners 
I    and  proprietors  of  the  remaining  part  of  said  Reserve  lying  west  of  the 
river  Cuyahoga:  and. 

"Whereas,  Henry  Champion,  Esquire,  agent  of  the  said  Connecticut 
Land  Company,  and  Isaac  Mills.  Esquire,  agent  of  directors  of  the  com- 
pany, incoi-porated  by  the  name  of  the  'Proprietors  of  the  half  million 
acres  of  land  lying  south  of  Lake  Erie,  called  'Sufferers"  Lands."  were 
both  duly  authorized  and  empowered  by  their  respective  companies  and 
I  the  directors  thereof,  to  treat  lor  the  cession  and  purchase  of  said  Con- 
j    necticut  Reserve : 

*'Non',  knotr  all  men  by  these  presents.  That  we,  the  sachems,  chiefs 
and  warriors  of  the  Nations  aforesaid,  for  the  consideration  of  eighteen 
thousand  nine  hundred  sixteen  and  sixty-seven  one-himdredths  dollars 
received  of  the  companies  aforesaid,  by  the  hands  of  their  respective 
agents,  to  our  full  satisfaction,  have  ceded,  remised,  released  and  quit 
cla-med.  and  by  these  presents  do  cede,  remise,  release  and  forever  quit 
claim  to  the  companies  aforesaid,  and  the  individuals  composing  the 
same,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  the  interest,  right,  title 
and  claim  of  title  of  said  Indian  Nations  respectively,  of,  in  and  to  all 
the  lands  of  said  companies  lying  west  of  the  river  Cuyahoga,  and  the 
Portage  between  that  and  the  Tuscarawas  branch  of  the  Muskingum' 
north  of  the  northernmost  part  of  the  forty-first  degree  of  noith  lati- 
tude, east  of  a  line  agreed  and  designated  in  a  treaty  between  the  United 
States  and  said  Indian  Nations,  bearing  even  date  herewith,  being  a  line 
north  and  south  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  due  west  of  the  west  line 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  south  of  the  northwesternmostpart  of  the  forty- 
second  degree  and  two  minutes  north  latitude,  for  them  the  said  compa- 
nies respectively,  to  have,  hold,  occupy,  peaceably  possess  and  enjoy 
the  granted  and  quit  claimed  premises  forever,  free  and  clear  of  all  let, 
hindrance  or  molestation  whatever,  so  that  said  Nations,  and  neither  of 
them,  the  sachems,  chiefs  and  warriors  thereof,  and  neither  of  them,  or 
any  of  the  posterity  of  said  Nations  respectively,  shall  ever  hereafter 
make  any  claim  to  the  quit  claimed  premises,  or  any  part  thereof,  but 
therefrom  said  Nations,  the  sachems,  chiefs  and  warriors  thereof,  and 
the  posterity  of  said  nations  shall  be  forever  barred. 

"In  witness  whereof,  The  commissioner  of  the  United  States,  the  agents 
of  the  Companies  aforesaid,  and  the  sachems,  chiefs  and  warriors  of 
the  respective  Indian  Nations  aforesaid,  have  hereunto  interchangeably 
fixed  their  seals  and  set  their  names. 

■'CHARLES  JEW-ETT,  [l.  s.] 
■HENRY  CH.AMPION,  [l.  s.] 
'ISAAC  MILLS,  [l.  s.] 
"NEKIK,  or  Little  Otter,  [l.  s] 

Here  follows  the  names  of  the 
other  sachems,  etc.,  of  the  afore 
said  Indian  Tril  es. 
"In  presence  of  William  Dea.v,  C.  F.  L.  C.  , 
"J.  B.  Mower. 
"Jasper  Parish. 
'•Now,  be  it  kno)fn.  That  I,  Thomas  Jefferson,  President  of  the"Uuited 
States  of  America,  having  seen  and  considered  the  said  treaty,  do.  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof,  accept,   ratify 
and  confirm  the  same  and  every  article  and  clause  thereof. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to 
be  hereunto  affixed,  and  signed  the  same  with  my  hand. 

"  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  the  'JSth  day  of  January,  A.  D.  one 
thousand  eight  himdred  and  six,  and  of  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America  the  thirtieth. 

"TH:  JEFFERSON. 
"  By  the  President. 

"  JAMES  MADISON,  Secretary  of  State. 
"Recorded  and  examined  by  Isaac  Mills,  Clerk." 

By  virtue  of  this  treaty,  the  title  to  all  the  lands  of 
the  Reserve  which  was  not  obtained  by  the  treaty  of 
Oreenville,  was  perfected,  and  the  Indians  made  no 
further  attempt  to  assert  ownership.  The  two  com- 
panies agreed  to  pay  the  Indians,  l)y  reason  of  this 
relinquishment,  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  one  fourth 
in  cash,  and  the  remainder  in  annual  i)ayments  of  two 
thousand  dollars  each,  and  a  perpetual  annuity  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars,  the  interest  at  six 
percent  of  two  thousand  nine  hundred  sixteen  and 
sixty-seven  hundredths  dollars,  which  tw"0  sums  were 
secured  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  by  the 
companies.  The  consideration  named  in  the  treaty 
is  made  up  from  the  two  amounts  above  named,  six- 
teen thousand  dollars,  and  two  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  and  sixty-seven  hundredths  dollars. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  Indians  were  the  first  owners  of  the  soil,  and 
were  the  last  to  relinquish  their  claims.  The  suffer- 
ers were  deeply  interested  in  the  above  treaty,  for 
upon  its  successful  termination  depended  their  ability 
to  possess  and  settle  their  lauds. 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE  SURVEY  AND  PABTITION. 

The  treaty  referred  to  in  the  preceding  chapter,  was 
not  ratified  by  the  United  States  senate  untilJanuary 
25, 180(3;  still  the  Fire-lands  Comjjany  felt  so  sure  of 
its  final  ratification,  that  they  authorized  one  of  their 
number,  Taylor  Sherman,  at  a  meeting  held  Novem- 
ber 1,  1805,  to  make  an  arrangement  for  the  survey 
of  the  tract.  In  pursuance  of  the  power  thus  vested 
in  him,  Mr.  Sherman,  on  the  IGth  of  December  fol- 
lowing, closed  a  contract  with  John  McLean  and 
James  Clark,  of  Danbury,  Coni.ecticut,  to  make  the 
survey — these  persons  to  employ  Almon  Ruggles,  or 
some  other  competent  surveyor,  to  do  the  work.  The 
contract  stipulated  that  the  boundaries  of  the  five 
hundred  thousand  acres  should  be  ascertained  and 
fl.xed,  and  that  then  the  tract  should  be  divided  into 
townships  five  miles  square,  and  each  township  sub- 
divided into  four  equal  divisions.  The  price  which 
the  contractors  were  to  receive  was  two  dollars  per 
mile,  with  an  additional  sum  of  fifty  cents  per  mile 
should  the  survey  prove  to  be  entirely  satisfactory. 
Care  was  taken  to  have  the  contract  stipulate  that  all 
//ills  and  viountains  should  be  particularly  described. 
The  work  was  to  be  completed  within  one  year,  un- 
less delay  should  occur  in  the  ratification  of  the  treaty, 
or  the  labors  of  the  surveyors  interrupted  or  hindered 
by  the  Indians. 

On  account  of  unexpected  delay,  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States,  in  running  the  south  line  of  the  Re- 
serve, the  time  for  finishing  the  survey  was  extended 
to  June  1,  1807. 

On  the  Cth  of  Fel)ruary,  1800,  it  was  agreed  be- 
tween the  Counecticut  Land  Company  and  the  Fire- 
lands  Company  that  the  five  hundred  thousand  acres 
granted  the  latter  company  should  include  the  island 
in  Sandusky  bay  (Johnson's  Island),  but  not  the 
waters  of  the  bay  itself. 

The  survey  was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1806.  Fifty 
six  miles  of  the  base  line  of  the  Reserve,  westward 
from  Pennsylvania,  was  run  in  1796,  by  Mr.  Seth 
Pease,  a  surveyor  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States, 
and  Mr.  Gallatin,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  appointed 
him  to  run  the  remainder  of  the  line,  which  he  per- 
formed, commencing  June  2-4,  1806,  and  starting  at 
the  terminus  of  the  first  line  on  the  Tuscarawas.  The 
southwest  corner  of  the  Reserve  and  Fire-lands  was 
fixed  at  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
from  the-  Pennsylvania  line,  and  thereupon  township 
and  section  lines  were  run,  and  the  survey  was  com-' 
pleted  in  about  one  year. 

Although  the  base  line  was  run  on  the  true  parallel 


by  Mr.  Pease,  yet  an  error  had  lieen  made  in  starting, 
the  point  of  beginning  being  too  far  to  the  westward, 
which  carried  the  point  of  ending  beyond  the  real 
western  limit  of  the  Reserve. 

Amos  Spafford,  as  agent  for  the  Counecticut  Land 
Company,  made  a  survey  in  the  interests  of  the  com- 
l)any  in  the  year  1806,  but  his  chain  men  purposely 
made  the  base  line  longer  than  it  should  have  been, 
the  object  being  to  include  more  land  in  the  Reserve 
than  it  was  entitled  to.  Objections  being  made  to 
Spafford"s  survey,  the  Connecticut  Land  Company 
employed  Joshua  Stow  to  run  the  line  anew,  which 
he  did,  establishing  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Re- 
serve a  full  half  rcile  east  of  the  point  determined  by 
the  Spafford  survey. 

In  1808,  the  government  having  learned  of  the  mis- 
take made  by  ilr.  Pease,  commissioned  Mr.  Maxfield 
Ludlow  to  run  the  base  line  of  the  Reserve  anew, 
which  was  done,  and  the  western  terminus  was  foiuid 
to  be  a  trifle  more  than  a  mile  east  of  that  fixed  by 
Mr.  Pease's  survey.  The  Ludlow  and  the  Stow  sur- 
veys were  in  accord,  and  a  post  sunk  in  an  almost 
impenetrable  swamp  was  made  to  designate  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  Fire  lands  and  of  the  Reserve. 

Almon  Ruggles  had  made  a  division  of  the  five 
hundred  thousand  acres  into  townships  and*sections, 
beginning  at  the  southwestern  terminus  as  established 
by  Mr.  Pease.  After  the  Ludlow  survey,  this  division 
had  to  be  made  anew,  and  Ruggles  was  again  em- 
ployed. Beginning,  in  the  year  1808,  at  the  proi)er 
point  as  fixed  by  Ludlow,  he  ran  east  on  the  base 
line  of  the  Reserve  to  such  a  probable  point  as  that 
from  which,  if  a  line  were  run  north  to  the  lake  parallel 
with  the  west  line  of  the  Reserve,  the  included  area 
would  be  equivalent  to  five  hundred  thousand  aci'es. 
It  was  extremely  difficult  to  find  this  point,  owing  to 
the  irregularity  of  the  northern  boundary  caused  by 
the  trend  of  the  lake.  Mr.  Schuyler,  in  his  centennial 
address,  says:  "He  fixed  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
Fire-lands  on  the  Ludlow  line  twenty-eighty  chains 
and  sixty-eighty  links  west  from  the  ninety-fourth  mile 
post  from  the  Pennsylvania  line.  The  line  ran  from 
that  point  north  four  degrees  forty  seconds  west  to 
the  lake  to  a  point  forty-three  links  east  of  a  black  oak 
tree  marked  J.  Stow,  on  the  east  side,  and  A.  R.,  on 
the  west  side,  and  standing  near  the  bank  of  the  lake, 
and  near  the  first  perpendicular  bluff  of  rocks,  east 
of  the  Vermillion  river.  On  computation  of  the 
survey  afterwards,  it  was'  found  that  the  quantity  of 
land  so  cut  off  was  five  hundred  thousand  and 
twenty-seven  acres."  The  length  of  the  land,  from 
east  to  west,  thus  set  off  to  the  sufferers',  is  twenty- 
five  miles,  fift3'-one  chains,  and  thirtj'-two  links. 
When  the  tract  was  survej'ed  into  townships,  the 
breadth 'of  each,  from  east  to  west,  was,  therefore, 
about  two-fifteenths  of  a  mile  more  than  five  miles. 

P.\RTITION. 

.Joseph  Wakeman,  Isaac  Mills,  Taylor  Sherman  and 
William  Eldridge  were  appointed  a  committee  by  the 


24 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


directors  of  the  Fire-lands  Company,  September  13, 
1808,  to  devise  a  mode  of  partition  of  the  lands. 
November  8,  1808,  this  committee  submitted  a  some- 
what lengthy  report,  reciting  first  that  Almon  Riig- 
gles  had  completed  his  survey  whereby  the  tract  was 
divided  into  five  ranges  of  townships  from  south  to 
north,  numbered  the  twentieth,  twenty-first,  twenty- 
second,  twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth  ranges.  The 
report  goes  on  to  enumerate  facts  already  given. 

The  townships  in  each  range  were  numbered  from 
south  to  north,  the  one  adjoining  the  south  line  of 
the  Reserve  being  number  one,  and  were  intended  to 
be  five  miles  square,  except  those  adjoining  Lake  Erie, 
which  were  fractional. 

The  townships  generally  were  further  divided  into 
four  parts  or  sections,  the  southeast  rpiarter  being 
designated  as  section  one;  the  northeast  quarter  as 
section  two;  the  northwest  quarter  as  section  three, 
and  the  southwest  quarter  as  section  four. 

In  the  twentieth  range  there  are  five  townships 
about  five  miles  square,  and  containing  about  sixteen 
thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-one  acres  each, 
leaving  between  town  five  and  Lake  Erie  a  fraction 
containing  twelve  thousand  and  forty-nine  acres. 
Tlie  tweffty-first  range  also  contains  five  towns  of  the 
same  dimensions  with  a  fraction  on  the  north  of  six 
thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  The  twenty- 
second  range,  five  towns  and  fraction  of  thirteen 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres.  The 
twenty-third  range,  six  towns  and  fraction  of  two 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three  acres. 
The  twenty-fourth  range  contains  the  same  number 
of  square  towns,  as  the  twenty-third  i-ange,  with  a 
fraction  of  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  acres. 

The  peninsula  lying  north  of  Sandusky  bay,  con- 
tains sixteen  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-one 
acres,  and  the  island  (Johnson's)  adjacent  thereto  in 
said  bay  contains  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
the  whole  amounting  to  five  hundred  tliousand  and 
twenty-seven  acres. 

In  order  to  equalize  the  fractions  adjoining  the 
lake,  the  following  combinations  were  made: 

To  e(|ualize  town  six  in  range  twenty  were  added 
four  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres 
from  the  east  part  of  the  fraction  in  range  twenty- 
one;  this  now  forms  Vermillion  township  in  Erie 
county.  The  remaining  fractional  jjart  of  town  six  in 
range  twenty-one,  amounting  to  two  thousand  four 
hundred  and  seven  acres,  was  added  to  town  six  in 
range  twenty-two,  and  is  now  called  Huron  town- 
ship. 

The  peninsula  and  island  in  the  bay  were  jiut  to- 
gether not  being  considered  as  being  ei|nal  to  more 
than  a  township. 

To  section  one,  in  town  one  of  range  twenty-four, 
(Richmond),  were  annexed  seventeen  liundred  and 
eight-three  acres  off  the  east  end  of  the  fraction  of 
two  thousand  seven   hundred  and  eighty-three  acres 


lying  between  township  six  of  the  twenty-third  range 
and  Sandusky  bay. 

To  section  four  of  the  same  township,  were  added 
five  hundred  acres  taken  from  the  same  fraction,  and 
the  remaining  five  hundred  acres  were  annexed  to 
section  four  of  township  one  of  the  twenty-third 
range,  (New  Haven). 

To  section  one  of  township  six  in  the  twenty-fourth 
range,  were  added  four  hundred  acres  off  the  east 
end  of  the  fraction  lying  between  said  township  and 
the  bay.  To  section  three  of  said  township  were 
added  twenty- two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  taken 
from  the  same  fraction,  and  the  rest  of  it — six  hun- 
dred acres — was  added  to  the  fourth  section  of  the 
same  township. 

The  peninsula  and  island  were  divided  into  four 
equal  sections  or  quarters. 

By  using  in  this  way  sundry  tracts  for  annexation 
purposes,  the  different  townships  were  made  equal  in 
value  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee. 

The  mode  of  partition  was  ingenious  and  interest- 
ing. There  were  just  thirty  townships  (equalized,) 
to  be  distributed.  There  being  four  sections  to  each 
township,  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  sec- 
tions. The  whole  amount  of  loss  was  therefore 
divided  into  one  hundred  and  twenty  equal  parts, 
each  part  representing  one  thousand  three  hundred 
and  forty-four  pounds  seven  shillings.  This  sum  was 
therefore  the  value  of  each  section  or  one-fourth  of  a 
township.  One  hundred  and  twenty  tickets  were 
prepared.  On  each  ticket  were  written  the  names  of 
various  sufferers,  classified  in  such  a  way  that  their 
lo.sses  aggregated  one  thousand  three  hundred  and 
forty-four  pounds  seven  shillings.  Four  of  these 
tickets  numbered  respectively  one,  two,  three,  four, 
representing  five  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  pounds  eight  shillings,  equivalent  to  the  value 
of  a  whole  township,  were  taken  and  rolled  up 
together,  forming  a  package.  In  this  way  thirty 
packages  were  formed,  or  as  many  as  there  were 
townships.  These  thirty  packages  of  classifica- 
tions were  placed  in  a  box,  and  in  another  box 
were  placed  thirty  tickets,  each  containing  the  four 
sections  of  one  township.  Then  some  disinterested 
person  drew  from  the  box  of  township  tickets,  and 
some  other  disinterested  person  drew  from  the  other 
box  a  package  of  classifications.  The  package  was 
then  opened,  and  the  four  tickets  opened.  Ticket 
number  one  corresponded  to  section  number  one; 
ticket  two  to  section  two:  ticket  three  to  section 
three,  and  ticket  four  to  section  four.  The  names  on 
each  of  these  tickets  constituted  the  owners  for  each 
of  these  sections  respectively.  In  like  manner  were 
all  the  other  townships  drawn,  and  each  proprietor 
knew  at  once  in  which  township  and  section  his  land 
was  located.  The  draft  was  made  November  9, 
1808. 

Names  were  given  to  the  different  townships, 
which,  with  the  following  exceptions,  have  not  been 
changed  to  tlie  present  time. 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


jesup since  changed  to  Florence. 

Canterbury "  "         "  Hartland. 

Eldridge Berlin. 

Avery Milan. 

Vredenburg "  "         "Peru. 

Cannon "  "         •'Richmond. 

Patterson Margaretta. 

Wheatsborough Lyme. 

KOADS    ESTABLISHED. 

October  19,  1809,  the  directors  ordered  that  a  road 
be  laid  out  and  cnt  through  Huron  county,  from 
north  to  south,  passing  from,  or  near  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  on  the  east  side  of  Huron  river,  running 
thence  on  the  most  suitable  route  until  it  strikes  near 
the  center  of  the  north  line  of  the  township  of 
Norwalk,  and  thence  southward  on  a  line  as  near  the 
center  of  the  other  township  as  the  ground  will  admit; 
that  William  Eldridge  be  appointed  agent  to  cause 
the  road  to  be  laid  out  and  cut,  causewayed,  logged 
and  bridged  in  the  best  and  most  prudent  way  regard- 
ing the  interest  of  the  Fire-lands  Company;  to  be  cut 
and  cleared  off  at  least  sixteen  feet  in  width,  and  the 
stumps  to  be  cut  down  smooth  with  the  surface  of  the 
ground  at  least  twelve  feet  in  width.  The  sum  of 
eight  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  work, 
the  agent  to  receive  no  compensation  for  his  services. 

A  second  and  similar  road  was  ordered  laid  out 
north  and  south  through  the  county,  on  or  near  the 
line  between  the  twentieth  and  twenty-first  ranges. 
Six  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  work, 
and  Ebenezer  Jesup,  Jr.,  appointed  agent  to  carry  it 
into  effect,  and  to  serve  without  compensation. 

A  third,  leading  east  and  west  in  the  county,  to 
commence  on  the  east  side  thereof,  at  the  termination 
of  the  road  already  laid,  marked  or  cut  through  the 
lands  of  the  Connecticut  Land  Company,  leading 
from  the  Portage  in  the  southerly  part  thereof,  but- 
ting on  said  east  line,  and  extend  to,  or  near  the 
middle  or  center  of  the  south  line  of  the  town  of 
Norwalk  until  it  intersects  the  road  already  voted  to 
be  laid  out,  or  as  near  as  the  nature  of  the  ground 
will  admit. 

That  a  fourth  road  be  laid  out  to  commence  at  or 
near  the  south  line  of  Norwalk,  where  the  north  and 
south  road  crosses  it,  then  running  west  on  township 
lines,  or  as  near  the  same  as  practicable,  to  the  west 
line  of  the  county. 

Another  similar  road  to  begin  on  the  south  line  of 
Fairfield  at  the  north  and  south  road  and  running 
west,  following  town  lines  as  near  as  practicable  to 
the  county  line. 

Five  hundred  dollars  were  appropriated  for  the 
construction  of  the  first  road  and  six  hundred  dollars 
for  the  other  two  roads,  and  Isaac  Mills  appointed  agent 
to  construct  them,  to  serve  without  compensation. 

FINAL   PROCEEDUiTGS. 

The  report  of  Joseph  Darling,  treasurer,  was  sub- 
mitted, showing  the  total  receipts  up  to  October  10, 
1809,  as  forty-seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars  and  seventy-seven  cents,  with  a 

4 


balance  in  the  treasury  of  thirty-five  hundred  and 
sixty-nine  dollars  and  eleven  cents.  This  amount 
was  reduced  at  subsequent  meetings  of  the  directors, 
by  payment  of  the  sums  appropriated  for  making 
roads,  salaries  of  directors,  etc.,  until  the  balance 
in  the  treasury  was  i-educed  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  dollars,  which  was  by  vote  at  the  final 
meeting  appropriated:  sixty-two  dollars  to  cut  a  road 
fi-om  Norwalk  to  Sandusky  bay,  and  sixty  dollars  to 
cut  a  road  or  roads  in  the  town  of  Danbury,  on  the 
peninsula.  The  last  meeting  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors was  held  at  the  county  house  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  August  28,  1811,  the  full  board  being 
present.  Their  names  were  as  follows:  Guy  Richards, 
and  William  Eldridge,  of  New  London;  Ebenezer 
Avery,  Jr.,  of  Groton;  Ebenezer  Jesup,  Jr.,  of  Fair- 
field; Taylor  Sherman,  of  Norwalk;  Philip  B.  Brad- 
ley, of  Ridgefield;  and  Epiphras  W.  Bull,  of  Dan- 
bury. 

The  board  then  drew  up  a  petition  to  the  general 
assembly  of  Ohio,  reciting  that  they  had  performed 
the  duties  required  of  them  by  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion, and  asked  that  their  records  be  legalized,  so  that 
they  may  be  forever  kept  as  a  part  of  the  records  of 
Huron  county,  and  that  they,  or  duly  eei-tified  tran- 
scripts, be  received  as  legal  evidence. 

It  was  voted  that  upon  the  payment  of  outstanding 
orders  already  drawn,  the  bond  of  the  treasurer  sliall 
be  cancelled. 

"  Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  without 
day,  and  never  to  be  holden  again. 

"Attest:  Isaac  Mills,  Clerl:" 


CHAPTER    VI. 


PHYSICAL  FEATURES  OP  HURON  COUNTY-GEOG- 
RAPHY AND  TOPOGRAPHY. 

Huron"  county  lies  at  the  southwest  portion  of  the 
Connecticut  Western  Reserve,  and  originally  and  for 
many  years  after  its  settlement  it  comprehended  all 
of  the  Fire-lauds,  or  five  hundred  thousand  acres. 
Its  southern  boundary  is  the  forty-first  parallel  df 
latitude,  and  until  1838,  when  Erie  county  was 
formed  out  of  its  territory,  it  extended  northward  to 
the  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  including  the  peninsula  and 
islands  north  of  Sandusky  bay.  The  present  territo- 
rial limits  of  Huron  county  embrace,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Ruggles  township,  which  was  set  off  at  the 
time  of  the  formation  of  Ashland  county  in  1846, 
towns  number  one,  two,  three  and  four  in  the  twen- 
tieth, twenty-first,  twenty-second,  twenty-third  and 
twenty-fourth  ranges  of  townships  in  the  Connecticut 
Western  Reserve.  These  townships  were  laid  out  as 
nearly  five  miles  square  as  possible,  but  owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  breadth  of  the  Fire  lands'  tract,  from 
east  to  west,  is  twenty-five  miles,  fifty-one  chains  and 
thirty-two  links,  each  township,  from  eiist  to  west,  is 
a  fraction  more  than  five  miles  in  extent. 


26 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  county  is,  then,  generally  speaking,  a  rec- 
tangle, twenty-five  miles  long  by  twenty  miles  in 
widtli — its  greater  length  being  from  east  to  west. 
By  the  original  survey,  each  township  was  to  contain 
about  sixteen  thousand  acres  of  land.  This  would 
give  the  area  of  the  county  as  four  hundred  and 
seventy-five  square  miles,  or  three  hundred  and  six 
thousand  acres.  The  auditor's  duplicate  for  1877 
has  three  hundred  and  six  thousand  and  ninety- 
seven  acres,  which,  however,  does  not  include  lands 
regularly  laid  out  into  town  lots.  Land  occupied  by 
roads  is  sometimes,  but  not  generally  omitted,  as  are 
public  grounds,  cemeteries,  &c. ;  so  that  probably 
two  or  three  thousand  acres  are  thus  left  out. 

The  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Erie 
county,  on  the  east  by  Lorain  and  Ashland,  on  the 
south  by  Ashland  and  Richland,  and  on  the  west  by 
Seneca  and  Sandusky  counties.  It  has  nineteen 
townships,  as  follows:  Wakeman,  Clarksfield,  New 
London,  Townsend,  Hartland,  Fitchville,  Greenwich, 
Norwalk,  Bi-ouson,  Fairfield,  Ripley,  Ridgefield, 
Peru,  Greenfield,  New  Haven,  Lyme,  Sherman,  Nor- 
wich and  Richmond.  Its  principal  towns  and  vil- 
lages are  Norwalk,  Bellevue,  Monroeville,  Plymouth, 
Wakeman,  New  London  and  Collins.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  county  in  1870  was  as  follows: 


Bronson 

Clarksfield 

Fairfield 

Fitchville 

Greenfield 

Greenwich 

Hartland 9M  ,  Ripley 10S9 

Lyme,  exclusive  o£  village. .      1161      Sherman  1260 

Lymepart  of  Bellevue 1219  ,  Towusend . 

New  Haven 1221  '   Wakeman. 

New  London  township 797  , 

'  New  London  village 678  ,      Total 

Norwalk  township 1254' 


980  !  Norwalk  city 4498 

1062  ,   Norwich 1172 

1.332  !  Peru 1297 

795  1   Richmond 880 

954      Ridgefield 1189 

Uage 


29,616 


The  village  of  Bellevue  lies  partly  in  Sandusky 
county,  and  that  of  Plymouth  partly  in  Richland 
county. 

Huron  county  has  no  lakes  or  considerable  ponds; 
no  large  or  navigable  streams;  no  high  hills,  rocky 
ledges,  nor  ravines  or  gorges  of  considerable  depth  or 
extent,  and  yet  the  surface  is  far  from  an  unbroken, 
monotonous  plain;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  pleasantly 
diversified  with  hills  and  dales  of  often  picturesque 
Ijeauty  and  attractiveness.  The  slope  of  the  county 
is  to  the  northward,  the  numerous  streams  that  are 
found  within  its  limits  all  bearing  tribute  to  Lake 
Erie.  On  its  southern  boundary  these  streams  are 
well  nigh  insignificant  in  size;  in  fact,  within  five 
miles,  the  divide  is  reached,  south  of  which  the  streams 
are  tributary  to  the  great  Mississippi  basin.  Huron 
county  is  drained  by  two  principal  water  courses — 
Huron  and  Vermillion  rivers — at  the  mouth  of  each, 
especially  at  the  former,  there  are  good  harbors;  but 
the  streams  themselves  are  too  small  to  be  navigable 
to  any  distance.  However,  by  the  aid  of  a  canal  the 
former  stream  was  at  one  time  ascended  by  lake  craft 
as  far  as  the  village  of  Milan. 

Vermillion  river  has  its  source  in  Savannah  lake, 
Ashland  county,  where  it  connects  with  streams 
which  are  tributary  to  the  Ohio,  the  valleys  uniting 


at  the  divide  in  a  continuous  channel,  now  deeply 
filled  with  drift,  indicating  that  the  drainage  of  both 
valleys  was  formerly  southward.  The  connection  of 
the  head  waters  of  Huron  river  with  the  streams  run- 
ning south  is  not  so  distinctly  marked,  yet  it  can  be 
easily  traced  between  them  and  the  two  valleys,  one 
to  the  east  and  one  to  the  west  of  Mansfield,  in  Rich- 
land county,  where  the  drainage  is  also  to  the  south. 
This  is  indeed  a  general  characteristic  of  the  streams 
in  this  part  of  the  State,  which  have  their  origin  near 
the  divide,  between  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  and  the 
Ohio  river.  They  are  not  separated  by  a  water  shed, 
and  fed  by  springs  flowing  from  opposite  sides  of  it, 
but  have  their  common  origin  in  valleys  having  a 
northerly  and  southerly  direction,  and  usually  com- 
mence in  marshes  or  small  lakes,  now  occupying  the 
summit  of  the  pass.  Here  they  receive  the  surface 
drainage  from  the  higher  lands  on  each  side,  which 
accumulates  in  the  pond  or  marsh,  and  gives  rise  to 
streams  flowing  in  o])posite  directions.  The  valleys 
of  these  streams  are  filled  with  alluvium,  resting 
upon  drift  deposits,  and  they  have  rocky  beds  only  in 
places  where  ^obstructions  have  diverted  the  stream 
into  new  channels. 

There  is  one  peculiar  feature  of  Huron  county, 
through  rarely,  if  ever,  mentioned  in  print:  it  is  the 
eastern  limit  of  the  prairies.  Here  the  adventurous 
explorer,  making  his  way  westward,  first  saw  indica- 
tions that  there  was  anything  within  the  country  be- 
sides interminable  woods  and  forest  jungles,  and  soon 
became  aware  that  these  little  openings,  or  "savan- 
nas,*' sometimes  but  little  better  than  marshes,  were 
the  precursors,  or  forerunners,  of  the  vast  treeless 
plains  of  the  farther  west,  on  which  the  rank  grass 
grew  and  S'wayed  in  the  wind,  which,  though  gentle  at 
times,  often  sweeps  over  them  like  the  tempest  on  the 
open  sea.  But  Huron  county  was  mostly  in  the 
heavily  wooded  region.  Here  grew  the  giant  oaks, 
the  spreading  beech;  the  sturdy  maple  yielding  its 
saccharine  sweets;  the  drooping  and  graceful-boughed 
elm;  the  slender,  smooth,  strong  hickory  with  its 
gnarling  limbs,  its  shaggy  bark  and  its  plentiful  sup- 
ply of  nuts;  the  walnut,  white  aud  black;  while  the 
stately  shining  trunks  of  the  sycamore  aud  ash,  sym- 
bolic of  toughness,  were  not  wanting.  On  the  sandy 
ridges  grew  the  chestnut,  blooming  in  midsummer, 
and  furnishing  the  early  settler  with  rail  timber,  easily 
wrought,  light  to  handle,  and  resisting  decay  for  a 
generation.  Here,  also,  was  found  the  wild  cherry, 
with  its  not  unpleasant,  though  bitter  and  medicinal 
fruit,  and  its  close-grained  and  handsome  wood,  suita- 
ble for  cabinet  work,  but  now  superseded  by  the  black 
walnut.  The  dogwood,  with  its  broad-petaled  blos- 
soms aud  its  clusters  of  glistening  crimson  berries; 
the  juneberry,  its  flowers  appearing  before  the  frost 
and  snow  are  fairly  gone,  and  its  pleasant  tasting  fruit, 
ripening  at  the  time  of  strawberries;  the  sassafir.s, 
with  its  tender  and  fragrant  boughs,  its  strong-scented 
bark  and  roots;  the  grape-vine,  climbing  among  the 
saplings   of  the  forest,   and   with    its   broad    leaves 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


thickly  massed  forming  overhead  a  canopy  which  shut 
out  the  sun  and  almost  defied  the  rain  to  penetrate. 
There  were  not  wanting  scenes  of  sjivau  beauty,  and 
no  wonder  the  wild  Indian  and  the  scarcely  less  wild 
white  hunter  loved  the  forest  better  than  the  corn- 
field and  meadow,  and  at  their  approach  fled  west- 
ward where  they  would  be  undisturbed  by  the  echoes 
of  the  ringing  axe,  and  the  cnishing,  cracking  sound 
that  was  heard  when  a  great  tree  was  felled. 

GEOLOGY.* 

SURFACE    DEPOSITS. 

The  underlying  rocks  are  sandstone,  argillaceous 
and  bituminous  shales,  with  a  strip  of  lime  rock  in  the 
northwestern  border  of  the  county.  These  rocks  have 
been  broken  up  and  pulverized  by  nature's  vast  ice- 
plow.  The  finely  comminuted  debris  has  been  in- 
timately mixed  with  that  of  the  granite  of  the  north 
and  of  all  the  intervening  rocks,  and  the  whole  spread 
out  over  the  surface  of  the  county.  As  the  waters 
which  covered  the  surface  at  the  close  of  the  glacial 
epech  receded,  terraces  were  formed,  and  each,  for  a 
long  period,  constituted  a  shore  swamp,  in  which  the 
decomposing  vegetable  material  accumulated  to  form 
a  soil  of  unsurpassed  and  permanent  fertility. 

The  material  composing  the  upper  terraces  were 
long  subjected  to  the  action  of  shore  waves,  and  iu 
places  the  surface  is  occupied  by  sand  dunes  and  as- 
sorted gravel.  The  lower  terrace  is  a  broad  prairie, 
with  swampy  muck  soil.  When  the  country  was  first 
settled,  some  of  this  was  not  reclaimed  from  water, 
but  the  greater  part  of  it  is  now  remarkably  fertile 
farming  land,  especially  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of 
corn. 

The  general  elevation  of  the  level  prairie  land  in 
Lyme  township  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet 
above  the  lake.  Here  is  a  succession  of  remarkable 
sand  dunes,  which  rise  to  the  height  of  thirty  feet. 
These  sand  hills  were  formed,  as  was  much  of  the 
main  sand  ridge  of  the  county,  by  wind  and  wave 
action  along  the  lake  shore,  and  on  the  margin  of  a 
shore  swamp,  caused  by  this  barrier,  in  which  vege- 
table debris  accumulated  for  a  long  time.  The  north 
side  of  the  ridge  exhibits  the  irregular  winding  out- 
line of  the  lake  beach,  while  on  the  south  it  is  usually 
bordered  by  irregular,  billowy  dunes  of  sand — the 
ridge,  api^arently  formed  by  the  waves,  the  dunes  by 
the  wind.  West  of  Monroeville,  the  ridge  is  a  regu- 
lar, Avell  marked  beach  line,  rising  about  ten  feet 
above  the  plain,  at  the  south  of  it,  and  fifteen  above 
that,  at  the  north.  On  the  south  side  are  the  irrregu- 
lar  dunes,  and  on  the  north  a  wide  stretch  of  level 
prairie. 

At  Four  Corners,  the  ridge  becomes  less  conspicu- 
ous but  maintains  the  same  elevation,  the  marginal 
swamps  of  tlie  old  lake  having  become  quite  shallow. 
Beyond  this,  to  the  limit  of  the  county,  the  ridge  has 
an  elevation  of  onlv  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  above  the 


■  From  Geological  Sta 


ey  ot  Ohio,  volume  III. 


level  plain,  which  stretches  away  to  the  north  of  it. 
At  a  point  near  where  the  Bellevue  road  crosses  the 
county  line,  the  limestone  rock,  in  beds,  may  be  seen 
cropping  out  of  the  sand  ridge,  indicating  a  low  rock 
bluff,  formerly  the  shore  of  the  lake,  which  the  waves 
have  bui'ied  beneath  the  sand.  Where  the  ridge  does 
not  rest  upon  the  bed  rock,  the  materials  below  it  are 
here  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  of  silicious,  blue  clay,  with 
abundance  of  granite  bowlders  and  pebbles,  and  frag- 
ments of  shale,  with  quicksand  below,  resting  upon 
the  rocks,  and  in  which  a  supply  of  water  is  reached 
by  wells. 

While  the  great  body  of  this  level  land,  reclaimed 
from  the  old  swamps,  is  exceedingly  fertile,  there  is  a 
remarkable  exception  in  a  large  tract  north  of  Monroe- 
ville, and  extending  into  Erie  county.  The  soil  is  a 
fine,  black,  peaty  mold,  presenting  nothing  to  the  eye 
to  distinguish  it  from  the  productive  coi-n  lands  sur- 
rounding it.  It  was  cleared  and  put  under  cultiva- 
tion, but  it  refused  to  tolerate  grain,  or  corn,  or  any 
valuable  crop.  Here  and  there  an  apple  tree  sprang 
up,  spontaneously  seeded,  and  grew  vigorously.  Ef- 
forts at  thorough  drainage  were  unavailing.  The  soil 
is  comparatively  thin,  the  bed  rock  coming  near  the 
surface;  but  equally  thin  soils,  in  adjacent  places,  are 
productive,  so  that  this  cannot  be  the  real  cause  of  its 
infertility.  A  washing  of  the  soil  showed,  with  lit- 
mus paper  test,  a  decided  acid  reaction.  The  vege- 
tation also  indicates  the  presence  of  acids.  This  is, 
undoubtedly,  the  sole  cause  of  its  sterility.  The  un- 
derlying rock  is  Huron  shale,  which  is  filled  with 
concretions  of  the  bi-sulphide  of  iron;  wherever  this 
is  exposed  to  the  joint  action  of  air  and  water,  it  is 
decomposed,  the  sulphur  set  free,  which  uniting  with 
the  oxygen  of  the  air,  produces  sulphuric  acid.  These 
changes  are  facilitated  by  cultivation,  so  that  steps 
taken  to  improve  the  soil  only  aggravate  the  evil.  If 
this  is  the  cause  of  the  difficulty,  the  remedy  is  easily 
found.  A  generous  application  of  ashes,  or  of  quick- 
lime, will  be  sufficient.  The  lime,  uniting  with  the 
acid,  will  form  sulphate  of  lime,  oi-  plaster,  itself  a 
good  fertilizer.  The  alkali  must  be  well  mixed  with 
the  soil,  and  the  application  may  have  to  be  repeated, 
until  all  the  pyrites  within  reach  of  atmospheric  in- 
fluences has  decomposed,  and  yielded  up  its  sulphur. 
East  of  Xorwalk  the  sand  ridge  has  a  gently  wav- 
ing contour  on  the  north,  and  is  bounded  by  a  broad 
water  plain,  except  as  modified  by  recent  erosion. 
On  the  south  it  is  very  irregular  in  its  outline,  the 
billowy  dunes  being  of  varying  height  and  form,  and 
often  extending  a  long  distance  from  the  ridge.  The 
materials  of  the  ridge  are,  at  the  top,  finely  washed 
sand,  resting  upon  gravel,  with  a  profusion  of  granite 
bowlders,  and  below  this,  bowlder  clay  or  bed  rock. 
This  is  the  only  well  marked  and  continuous  sand 
ridge  in  the  county,  a  winding  highway,  thrown  up 
by  the  action  of  the  waves,  resting  in  places  directly 
upon  the  bed  rock,  iu  others  upon  the  coarser  ma- 
terials of  the  drift  clays,  sometimes  burying  beneath 
it  the  debris  of  the  old  shore  swamps,  and  at  others 


■2S 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


extending  over  chasms  one  lumdrecl  or  more  feet  in 
depth,  filled  to  the  general  level  with  drifted  material. 

Granite  bowlders  of  varions  sizes  may  be  occasion- 
ally seen  projecting  through  tlie  sand  of  the  ridge, 
and  through  the  peaty  marsh  soil  between  the  ridge 
and  the  lake,  presenting  the  appearance  of  having 
been  di'opped  from  floating  icebergs.  About  one 
mile  southwest  of  Monroeville  a  granite  bowlder,  eight 
and  one-half  feet  long  and  five  feet  in  breadth,  pro- 
jects four  feet  ten  ihches  above  the  black  mould  of 
the  prairie  soil;  others,  somewhat  smaller,  are  found 
here  and  there,  and  in  places  the  surface  is  dotted  with 
them.  Careful  examination  revealed  the  fact  that 
these  bowlders,  except  in  cases  where  they  had  been 
moved  by  human  agency,  rested  upon  the  rock,  or 
upon  the  clay  or  gravel  underlying  the  ridge.  Every 
fact  thus  far  observed  tends,  to  the  conclusion  that  all 
the  bowlders  were  dropi^ed  before  the  sand  ridge  or 
]ii-airie  soil  was  formed.  However,  near  the  south- 
west corner  of  Bei'lin  township,  in  a  primitive  forest, 
composed  mainly  of  large  oaks,  a  great  number  of 
bowlders  was  discovered  resting  upon  the  undisturbed 
vegetable  mould. 

Remains  of  other  sand  ridges  than  that  described 
can  be  detected  in  other  parts  of  the  county.  Be- 
tween Xorwalk  and  Olena,  on  the  line  which  sepa- 
rates Bronson  and  Hartland  townships,  the  surface 
presents  to  the  eye  the  appearance  of  a  broad,  level 
jjlain  of  rich  sandy  loam,  but  it  rises  imperceptibly 
to  the  height  of  two  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  above 
the  sand  ridge  of  Norwalk,  or  three  hundred  and 
sixty  feet  above  the  lake.  About  one-half  mile  east 
of  Olena,  a  long,  sandy  and  gravelly  ridge  rises  to 
the  height  of  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  feet 
above  the  lake.  Near  the  northeast  corner  of  Hart- 
land  township  there  are  also  the  remains  of  another 
sand  ridge,  fifty  feet  lower  than  the  last,  which  has 
suffered  much  from  erosion,  and  is  cut  up  by  irregular 
valleys  leading  down  to  the  west  branch  of  Vermillion 
river,  exposing  the  coarse  drift  below,' with  many 
large  striated  bowlders.  In  the  western  part  of 
Fitchville  township,  a  long,  sandy  ridge,  trending 
nearly  north  and  south,  rises  in  the  highest  parts  to 
four  hundred  and  twentj'-five  feet  above  the  lake, 
rising  ten  to  fifteen  feet  above  the  level  land  to  the 
east,  and  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet  aliove  that  ou  the 
west. 

In  Peru  township  the  bed  of  Huron  river  is  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  above  the  lake,  the  bluffs 
generally  composed  of  modified  drifts.  These  bluffs 
rise  to  a  height  of  from  one  hundred  and  eighty  to 
two  hundred  feet  above  the  lake,  and  are  modified  by 
surface  erosion. 

At  Greenfield  Center  the  Ijarometer  marked  an  ele- 
vation of  two  hundred  and  ninety  feet  above  the  lake. 
•The  surface  of  most  of  the  township  is  covered  with 
irregular  undulating  hills  of  gravel  and  drift. 

In  Greenwich  township  the  north  and  south  center 
road,  south  of  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati 
jind  Indianapolis  railroad,  passes  over  clay  lands  at  an 


altitude  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet  above 
the  lake,  presenting  the  appearance  of  a  broad  water 
plain,  and  resembling  in  all  respects  the  heavy  clay 
lands  in  northeastern  Ohio,  which  are  underlain  by 
the  Cuyahoga  shales. 

ClYAHOGA    SHALES. 

About  one  hundred  feet  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
Cuyahoga  shale  underlie  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
county.  This  formation  is  frequently  exposed  in  the 
banks  of  the  Vermillion  river  and  its  tributaries, 
where  the  harder  layers  are  quarried  for  local  use  and 
furnish  building  stone  of  fair  quality.  The  rock  is  a 
compact,  fine  grained  sandstone,  in  rather  thin  strata, 
containing  what  the  quarrymen  call  "turtle-backs." 
These  show  contorted  lines  of  cleavage,  which  cause 
the  rock  to  break  up  in  rounded,  flattish  masses, 
bearing  a  rough  resemblance  to  the  animal  which  has 
given  them  this  name.  The  dip  of  the  strata  is 
irregular.  At  the  quarry  worked  by  W.  R.  Stan*, 
south  of  Clarksfield  village,  along  the  line  bearing 
south  sixty  degrees  east,  the  rock  dips  to  tlie  north 
eleven  degrees.  Fifteen  rods  north  the  di|i  is  seven 
degrees  in  the  opposite  direction. 

BEREA    URIT. 

This  important  quarry  rock  covers  much  of  the 
county,  but  its  value  is  greatly  impaired  by  local  dis- 
turbances. At  Jefferson's  quarry,  near  the  town  line 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  Townsend,  on  a  long  ridge 
running  north  and  south,  the  surface  of  the  Berea  is 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  above  the  lake;  the 
dip  is  southwesterly  seventeen  degrees;  the  line  of 
strike  north  sixty-seven  degrees  west.  The  upper 
layers  only  are  exposed;  these  are  thin,  but  strong, 
and  less  broken  than  in  most  places  in  the  county, 
indicating  that  here  good  quarries  could  be  opened. 
A  half  mile  further  north,  the  diji  is  fifteen  degrees; 
the  surface  marked  with  glacial  stria;,  bearing  north- 
east and  southwest.  At  ]\Ir.  Milliman's  quarry,  near 
the  northwest  part  of  Townsend,  the  dip  of  the  Berea 
is  twenty  degrees  south,  and  south  by  southwest  the 
stone  is  of  good  quality;  glacial  striag  northeast  and 
southwest.  East  of  the  two  last  exposures,  and  ou 
the  east  bank  of  the  Vermillion,  the  surface  of  the 
Berea  is  twenty-five  feet  below  the  last.  Fifteen  feet 
of  the  rock  are  exposed  in  large,  massive  blocks, 
nearly  horizontal,  but  dipping  slightly  in  different 
directions.  Near  Plymoutii  village  the  Berea  crops 
out  on  the  banks  of  the  stream,  showing  massive  rock 
about  twelve  feet  in  thickness,  nearly  horizontal,  and 
of  good  quality.  At  Edgar  Bovier's  quarry,  just  east 
of  the  village,  the  rock  is  in  thin  horizontal  layers, 
becoming  thicker  as  the  opening  is  carried  downward; 
color,  grayish  blue,  many  of  the  layers  affording  a 
sharp  grindstone  grit.  Here,  and  at  openings  further 
north  on  the  river,  streaks  of  coaly  matter,  derived 
from  plants,  are  not  infrequent  in  the  Berea.  The 
rock  is  here  unaffected  by  glacial  action,  but  the  dis- 
turbance becomes  very  marked  further  down  the  river. 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


29 


At  G.  Graham's  quarry,  in  Greenfield  township,  the 
rock  dips  thirteen  and  a  half  degrees  soutli westerly, 
with  the  line  of  the  strike  sosth  thirtj'-tive  degrees 
east,  is  in  very  even  layers,  all  finely  ripple-marked, 
some  with  the  puzzling  mammary  surface,  probably 
caused  by  the  action  of  eddies  where  "two  seas  met" 
on  the  old  ocean  shore. 

At  Cole's  quarry,  one  and  one-half  miles  south- 
east of  Norwalk,  the  Berea  is  only  two  hundred  and 
five  feet  above  the  lake,  and  in  its  position  and  sur- 
roundings affords  a  remarkable  illustration  of  the 
superficial  disturbance  which  prevails  over  a  lafge 
part  of  the  county.  The  rock  is  in  thin,  evenly- 
bedded  layers,  dipping  twenty-seven  degrees  south- 
easterly, the  line  of  strike  being  twenty-two  degrees 
east.  Directly  north  some  fifteen  or  twenty  rods, 
and  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  small  stream,  the 
black  shale  is  in  a  position  at  the  same  level:  the 
strata  horizontal  and  undisturbed.  About  two. rods 
north,  and  a  little  east  of  the  quarry,  the  Bedford 
shales  are  exposed,  dipping  south  about  twenty- 
seven  degrees  north  from  the  last,  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream,  a  bluflf,  twenty-five  feet 
high,  shows  a  mixture  of  Erie  and  Bedford  shales. 
In  the  immediate  neighborhood  the  Berea  is  exposed 
in  several  places,  dipping  in  various  directions,  and 
varying  from  twenty  to  forty  degrees.  These  dis- 
turbances have  left  the  Berea  here  resting  on  the 
Cleveland  shales,  and  have  so  broken  up  and  crushed 
the  strata  as  to  greatly  impair  the  value  of  the  quar- 
ries in  the  county.  In  a  few  places,  even  where  the 
rock  is  tilted  up  to  quite  a  sharp  angle,  the  strata  are 
still  entire,  and  excellent  rock  can  be  quarried.  At 
many  of  the  openings  the  broken,  worthless  rock 
largely  exceeds  that  which  is  suitable  for  building 
jjurposes. 

BEDFORD    SHALES. 

These  are  exposed  only  in  the  different  branches  of 
the  Huron  and  Vermillion  rivers.  Where  undis- 
turbed they  range  from  forty  to  seventy-five  feet  in 
thickness,  and  consist  of  hard,  fine  grained  sand 
rock  in  thin  layers,  alternating  with  thinner  bands 
of  argillaceous  shales;  the  thicker  strata  of  the  sand 
rock  are  frequently  composed  of  a  mass  of  the  pecu- 
liar contorted  rock  called  "turtle-back,"  rendering 
it  quite  worthless.  Sometimes,  however,  this  forma- 
tion yields  a  fair  building  stone.  In  places  where 
quite  a  heavy  bed  of  the  Berea  constitutes  the  surface 
rock,  these  sholes  are  entirely  wanting,  the  Berea 
resting  upon  the  Cleveland  shales. 

CLEVELAND    SHALES. 

These  have  the  ordinary  characteristics  of  this 
formation,  as  described  in  the  reports  of  the  north- 
eastern counties  of  the  State,  differing  materially  only 
in  two  particulars.  The  deposit  is  thinner  here, 
varying  from  fifteen  to  thirty-two  feet  at  the  points 
where  measurements  could  be  obtained.  It  also  con- 
tains less  carbonaceous  matter  and  more  iron,  passing 


into  the  red  shale  which  gives  its  name  to  the  Ver- 
million river,  and  furnishes  an  inexhaustible  sup2>ly 
of  war  paint  to  the  native  inhabitants  of  the  region. 
The  Cleveland  shale  rests  upon  the 

ERIE    SHALES. 

The  largest  measurement  of  these  shales  in  the 
county,  thus  far  obtained,  is  thirty-two  feet.  Tiiey 
are  composed  of  soft,  argillaceous,  bluislt  shades,  with 
hard  ealcareo-silicious  bands  a  few  inches  in  thickness. 
The  great  changes  in  the  thickness  of  this  formation, 
and  its  position  between  the  two  beds  of  carbonaceous 
shales,  are  of  interest,  as  showing  the  topography  of 
the  region,  and  the  changes  of  level  at  the  time  of  the 
introduction  of  the  carboniferous  vegetation  of  the 
coal  measures.  These  two  deposits  of  carbonaceous 
shales  are  as  well  defined_and  as  easily  distinguished 
from  the  including  strata,  as  beds  of  coal.  They  may 
in  one  sense  be  called  coal,  containing  from  eighty- 
five  to  ninety  per  cent,  of  ash,  and  having  an  origin 
similar  to  that  of  true  cannel  coal.  The  fine  homo- 
geneous material  of  which  the  shales  are  composed 
indicate  their  deposition  from  quiet  water;  and  the 
wide  range  of  the  formation,  as  well  as  the  remains 
of  huge  fishes  which  it  contains,  forbid  the  idea  of  its 
having  accumulated  in  shallow  swamps.  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  condition  under  which  the  Huron 
shales  were  formed,  these  conditions  were  abruptly 
changed;  and  the  epoch  was  followed  by  long  con- 
tinued intervals,  in  which  the  growth  and  deposit  of 
this  carbonaceous  matter  were  interrupted. 

HUROX    SHALE. 

These  are  highly  bituminous  black  shales  having 
somewhat  the  appearance  of  cannel  coal,  containing 
in  places  the  remains  of  i)lants  accompanied  with 
films  of  true  coal.  They  also  frequently  include  thin 
strata  of  blue  argillaceous  shales,  containing  very  little 
bituminous  matter.  Spheroid,  and  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  Huron  shales,  elongated  concretions  are  very 
abundant,  varying  in  size  from  a  half  inch  to  fifteen 
feet  in  diameter.  The  smaller  ones  are  composed 
almost  entirely  of  pyrites,  the  larger  ones  of  impure 
carbonate  of  lime.  The  shales  are  so  highly  charged 
with  sulphur  and  potash,  that  in  exposures  protected 
from  the  rain  an  efflorescence  of  alum  is  sometimes 
seen  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  thickness:  and  occa- 
sionally a  nearly  pure  sulphur  of  equal  thickness  may 
be  observed. 

From  the  reported  boruig  for  water  in  the  machine 
shops,  Mr.  Read  estimates  the  thickness  of  the  Huron 
shales  to  be  about  seven  hundred  feet  above  the  toji 
of  the  nearest  exposure  of  the  Cleveland  shale.  Tiie 
Huron  shale  is  the  great  oil-producing  rock  of  Eastern 
Ohio  and  Western  Pennsylvania.  The  slow  distribu- 
tion of  bituminous  matter  in  it  has  resulted  in  the 
production  of  gas  and  petroleum,  which  along  the 
outcrop  of  the  strata,  have  steadily  escaped.  The 
petroleum  flowing  into  the  fissures  in  the  rocks,  where 
it  was  retained,  has  parted  witli  its  volatile  matter. 


30 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


leaving  a  residuum  of  asphaltum  which  by  continued 
desiccation  has  become  minutely  cracked,  and  the 
fissures  have  been  gradually  filled  with  barite.  Such 
deposits  afford  no  proof  that  a  valuable  deposit  of  coal 
may  be  found  outside  the  coal  measures.  True  coal 
in  very  thin  laminse  is  occasionally  found  in  this  shale, 
and  in  all  the  formations  between  it  and  the  coal 
measures,  land  plants  seem  to  have  flourished  under 
favorable  conditions  during  the  time  of  the  deposit  of 
all  the  upper  Devonian,  and  the  sub-carboniferous 
rocks.  It  lias  left  its  record  in  plant  impressions,  and 
in  isolated  thin  films  of  coal  which  may  be  found  on 
almost  any  horizon  of  these  rocks;  but  if  taken  as 
indications  of  the  presence  of  workable  deposits  of 
coal,  they  will  unquestionably  lead  to  disappointment. 

HAMILTON     GROUP. 

This  important  group  of  limestones  and  shales  of 
the  New  York  geologists  is  here  represented  by  a 
thin  and  unimportant  deposit  of  bluish,  yellow  marly 
limestone.  This  is  quite  soluble,  and  therefore  much 
honeycombed  and  eroded  at  its  points  of  ex])osure. 
Were  it  not  for  the  profusion  of  Hamilton  fossils 
contained  in  it,  this  would  be  regarded  as  the  upper 
part  of  the  corniferous  limestone  upon  which  it  rests. 
It  is  apparently  only  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  in  thick- 
ness. 

roKxiFERors  limestone. 

This  formation  contributes  the  surface  rock  at 
Bellevue  and  a  small  territory  adjacent  in  the  north- 
west part  of  the  county.  Two  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  the  village,  and  on  the  county  line,  it  is 
covered  with  only  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  of 
soil,  and  has  been  exposed  in  a  quarry  to  the  depth 
of  eight  feet.  The  rock  is  in  thin  layers,  hard,  com- 
pact, highly  fossiliferous,  and  presenting  the  ordi- 
nary characteristics  of  the  upper  layer  of  the  cornif- 
erous at  Sandusky.  Its  surface  is  thirty  feet  above 
the  railway  at  Bellevue.  South  from  this  point,  and 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  the  south  line  of 
Lyme  township,  it  is  struck  as  the  first  rock  in  sink- 
ing wells  at  a  depth  of  twelve  feet  from  the  surface. 
Still  further  south,  and  west  of  Weavers  Corners,  a 
ridge  of  limestone  soil,  filled  with  its  debris,  crowns 
the  west  line  of  the  county,  at  an  elevation  of  fifty 
feet  above  Bellevue,  making  the  thickness  of  the 
rock  in  the  county  approximately  fifty  feet. 


CHAPTER     Vll 


GEOLOGY  OP  EHIE  COUNTY-SUEFACE,  FEATURES 
AND  DEPOSIT.  ■ 

The  most  interesting  featuies  in  the  geology  of 
Erie  county  are  the  splendid  series  of  glacial  mark- 
ings inscribed  on  the  corniferous  limestone  in  and 
about  Sandusky  City,  the  lake  ridges  which  traverse 
the  county  from  east  to  west,   and  the  remarkable 

•From  the  Geological  Survey  of  Ohio,  vol.  II. 


petrifying  fountains,  known  as  the  Castalia  springs. 
In  its  topography,  Erie  county  is  without  any  strongly 
marked  features.  Tire  surface,  to  the  eye,  seems 
nearly  level;  while,  in  fact,  it  forms  agentle  slope  from 
the  south  line  of  the  county,  where  it  has  an  eleva- 
tion of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  lake  to 
the  lake  level.  This  monotony  of  surface  has  been 
produced  by  the  planing  action  of  the  great  glacier 
that  excavated  the  basin  of  Lake  Erie;  not  only  that 
basin  which  now  holds  the  water,  but  the  greater  one 
of  which  the  southern  boundery  is  the  water  shed 
between  the  lake  and  the  Ohio.  Erie  county,  there- 
fore, lies  near  the  bottom  of  this  greater  basin,  and 
the  great  ice  mass  which  filled  it,  moving  from  the 
northeast  to  the  southwest,  ground  down  the  under- 
lying rocks  to  a  nearly  uniform  surface.  The  outlines 
of  the  lake  shore  have  been  apparently  determined 
by  the  same  great  cause.  The  general  bearing  of  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Erie  is  essentially  the  same  from 
near  Buffalo  to  the  mouth  of  the  Huron  river.  There 
the  coast  line  forms  a  large  angle  with  its  former 
course,  and  stretches,  with  only  local  variations, 
directly  from  Huron  to  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee. 
By  a  glance  at  the  map,  however,  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  west  end  of  Lake  Erie  is  blocked  up  with  islands, 
and  that  a  series  of  these  islands  stretches  northward 
from  Sandusky  and  forms  a  barrier  which  must  have 
offered  serious  opposition  to  the  westward  movement 
of  the  glacier.  The  effect  of  this  ridge  thrown 
across  the  lake  basin  and  struck  obliquely  by  the 
moving  ice  mass,  was  to  deflect  that  slightly  to  the 
south,  and  to  cause  it  to  cut  the  deep  notch  in  the 
lake  shore  at  the  mouth  of  the  Huron.  The  excava- 
tion of  this  point  was  also  facilitated  by  the  compar- 
ative softness  of  the  Huron  shale  which  underlies  this 
portion  of  the  county. 

The  drift  deposits  which  overlie  the  glaciated  sur- 
face in  most  parts  of  the  State  have  been  removed 
from  the  greater  part  of  Erie  county.  The  bowlder 
clay  is,  however,  found  covering  the  rock  surface 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  This  is,  as 
usual,  a  blue,  or  where  exposed  and  its  iron  oxyd- 
ized,  reddish-yellow,  unstratified  clay,  thickly  set  with 
angular  fragments  of  shale  taken  from  the  lake  basin. 
With  these  are  more  or  fewer,  generally  small,  bowl- 
ders, usually  ground  and  striated,  derived  from  the 
crystalline  rocks  north  of  the  lakes.  In  this  part  of 
the  county  are  also  found  beds  of  sand  and  the  lake 
ridges  which  rest  upon  the  bowlder  clay.  These  latter 
deposits  are  evidently  the  effect  of  shore  waves,  and 
are  in  fact  old  beaches  formed  when  the  lake  stood 
much  higher  than  it  now  does.  A  good  illustration 
of  the  mode  of  deposition  of  such  sand  banks  and 
ridges  is  seen  on  the  lake  shore  between  Cedar  Point 
and  Huron.  Here  the  mouth  of  Sandusky  bay  is 
partially  closed  by  a  ridge  thrown  up  by  the  waves 
which  will  ultimately  dike  out  the  lake  from  and 
reclaim  a  large  area  formerly  covered  by  navigable 
water.  Between  the  ridges  and  sand  hills  which 
stretch  east  and  west,  north  of  Front's  station,  is  a 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


surface,  level  to  the  eye,  foi-med  by  a  fine  black  soil 
which  covers  the  limestone  here,  ijresenting  a  remark- 
ably level  surface  and  nowhere  deeply  buried.  This 
district  was  originally  prairie,  with  islands  of  timber, 
and  has  proved  the  most  fertile  and  productive  portion 
of  the  county.  We  have  here  a  broad  surface  of  lime, 
stone  planed  down  nearly  as  level  as  a  house  floor. 
This  was  doubtless  once  covered  with  drift  cla}',  but 
has  been  removed  by  the  waves  of  the  lake  when 
they  swept  over  it.  Subsequently,  when  the  water  of 
the  lake  had  been  withdrawn,  this  tract  was  left  in  a 
condition  similar  to  that  of  the  upper  end  of  Sandus- 
ky bay,  or  to  that  of  the  space  behind  the  barrier  east 
of  the  city,  viz:  covered  with  shallow,  quiet  water, 
which  was  gradually  replaced  by  a  fine  sediment, 
mixed  with  the  remains  of  the  luxuriant  vegetation 
that  grew  there.  The  result  was  a  sheet  of  remark- 
ably fine,  rich  soil,  having  all  the  characteristics  of 
the  prairie  soils  of  the  west,  and,  like  them,  covered 
with  a  growth  of  grass  rather  than  trees.  In  future 
ages,  when  Lake  Erie  shall  be  furtlier  drained,  wliat 
is  now  Sandusky  bay  will  undoubtedly  present  nearly 
the  same  -appearance  as  the  district  under  considera- 
tion. 

CASTALIA    SPRIXGS. 

The  phenomena  presented  by  Castalia  springs  have 
excited  considerable  curiosity  and  interest,  both  on 
the  part  of  the  residents  of  the  county  and  of  visitors 
from  other  States,  and  deserve  a  few  words  of  descrip- 
tion and  explanation.  As  is  known  to  most  persons' 
at  Castalia  a  volume  of  water  which  forms  quite  a 
river,  flows  u])  from  several  deep  orifices  in  the  lime- 
stone rock,  and  supplies  in  its  descent  to  the  lake  the 
motive  power  for  several  mills.  The  water  maintains 
nearly  the  same  temperature  winter  and  summer,  and 
its  flow  is  more  uniform  than  that  of  surface  streams 
in  the  vicinity,  though  sensibly  affected  by  periods  of 
unusual  and  wide-spread  drought.  The  water  of  the 
springs  is  highly  charged  with  lime,  rapidly  incrusting 
any  object  covered  by  it,  and  it  has  deposited  a  sheet 
of  travertine  over  an  area  of  several  square  miles  in 
the  vicinity.  The  rock  in  which  the  subterranean 
channels  are  excavated,  through  which  the  waters  of 
the  springs  flow,  is  the  water  lime,  the  uppermost 
meiubers  of  the  silurian  system.  This  is  a  magnesian 
limestone,  in  fact,  a  typical  dolomite,  containing 
about  fort3'-two  per  cent  of  magnesia  and  fifty-five  of 
carbonate  of  lime.  This  rock  forms  on  the  surface  an 
unbroken  sheet,  reaching  from  Castalia  to  Logan 
county,  the  highest  land  in  the  State.  The  true 
theory  of  the  formation  of  these  springs  is  simply 
this:  the  Helderberg  limestone,  like  many  others,  is 
soluble  in  atmospheric  water  containing  carbonic  acid. 
It  forms  the  slope  of  the  water-shed,  and  the  drainage 
of  the  country  south  from  Castalia,  jiassing  over  and 
through  it,  has  dissolved  out  a  connecting  system  of 
channels  which  are  really  subterranean  rivers.  Casta- 
lia springs  are  formed  at  the  mouths  of  one  of  these. 
Similar  springs  and  undergound  streams  are  met  with 


in  all  limestone  countries.  The  table  land  of  central 
Kentucky  affords  innumerable  examples  of  them. 
This  plateau  is  underlain  by  a  thick  mass  of  unusually 
soluble  limestone.  The  surface  water  dissolves  it 
away  so  easily  that  it  dissolves  every  crack  it  pene- 
trates, and  has  formed  a  connected  S3'stem  of  under- 
ground channels  by  which  all  the  drainage  of  the 
country  is  effected.  The  celebrated  Mammoth  Cave 
is  only  one  of  these  channels.  Along  the  margin  of 
this  plateau  there  are  a  great  number  of  fountains 
like  Castalia  springs,  which  mark  the  mouths  of  the 
subterranean  streams  that  have  been  described.  Such 
fountains  are  also  common  in  other  countries,  and 
the  classical  Clitumnus  bursts  out  at  tlie  foot  of  a 
limestone  mountain,  forming  a  fountain  precisely  like 
that  of  Castalia. 

GEOLOGICAL   .STRfCTrRE. 

The  section  of  the  rocks  underlying  Erie  county 
is,  in  descending  order,  as  follow's: 

First,  Berea  grit BO  £eet. 

Second,  Bedford  shale 75  feet 

Third,  Cleveland  shale 50  to  60  feet! 

Fourth,  Erie  shale; 50  (?)  feet. 

Fifth,  Huron  shale .300  feet. 

Sixth,  Hamilton  limestone 20  feet. 

Seventh,  Corniferous  limestone 100  (?)  feet. 

Eighth,  Oriskany  limestone 0—5  feet. 

Ninth,  Water  lime  group 100  (?)  feet. 

Tenth,  Onondaga  salt  group  '  30  to  40  feet. 

In  the  oil  well,  bored  at  the  mouth  of  the  Vermillion 
river,  the  Niagara  limestone,  the  Clinton  group,  and 
Medina  sandstone  were  penetrated,  but  they  nowhere 
come  to  the  surface,  within  the  limits  of  the  county. 
Of  tlie  foregoing  strata,  the  first,  the  sandstone  quar- 
ried at  Amherst  and  Brownhelm,  of  which  the  out- 
crop crosses  the  east  line  of  the  county,  within  loss 
than  a  half  mile  of  the  lake  shore;  thence  it  sweeps 
round  to  the  south  and  west,  passing  through  Berliu- 
ville,  and  a  little  east  of  Norwalk,  in  Huron  county. 
Within  the  area  lying  to  the  south  and  east  of  this 
line,  the  Berea  grit  underlies  most  of  the  surface,  but 
it  is  very  generally  covered  by  the  drift  materials;  and 
it  is  only  where  its  more  compact  and  massive  portions 
have  resisted  the  action  of  erosive  agents,  and  these 
have  been  left  in  relief,  that  it  projects  above  the  sur- 
face. The  hills  in  which  the  Amherst  and  Brown- 
helm  quarries  are  located,  and  the  elevation  known 
as  Berlin  Heights,  are  all  masses  of  this  character. 
They  were  once  bluffs  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake,  and 
everywhere  show  marks  of  the  action  of  water  and 
ice.  Along  the  outcrop  of  the  Berea  grit,  its  softer 
portions  have  undoubtedly  been  most  extensively 
eroded,  and  are  now  deeply  covered  by  drift  dejiosits, 
so  that  probably  little  of  this  portion  of  the  area  it 
occupies  will  furnish  valuable  quarries  of  building 
stone;  but  as  the  surface  rises,  and  the  rocks  dip  to- 
ward the  south  and  east,  it  soon  passes  below  the 
surface,  and  there  is  every  probability  that  within 
the  townships  of  Berlin,  Florence,  and  Vermillion, 
the  Berea  grit  will  hereafter  be  quarried  in  many 
localities,  precisely  as  it  now  is  at  Berea. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  P:RIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


BEDFORD  SHALE. 

Below  the  Berea  sandstone  is  a  bed  of  shale,  forty 
to  sixty  feet  in  thickness,  which  is  sometimes  blue,  or 
banded  in  color,  but  more  generally  red.  This  red 
shale  is  conspicuously  shown  in  the  valley  of  the  Ver- 
million, and  is  exposed  at  many  places  in  this  section 
of  the  State,  immediately  underlying  the  Berea  sand- 
stone: it  may,  therefore,  serve  as  an  important  guide 
to  those  who  are  seeking  for  the  excellent  quarry  stone 
furnished  by  that  formation. 

Neither  the  Berea  sandstone,  nor  the  red  shale, 
have,  ill  Erie  county,  furnished  any  fossils;  but  at 
Elyria,  Lorain  county,  and  at  Berea  and  Bedford, 
Cuyahoga  county,  a  large  number  of  remains  of  mol- 
lusks  and  fishes  have  been  taken  from  these  strata. 

CLEVELAND  SHALE. 

Under  the  red  shale  in  the  banks  of  the  Vermillion, 
occurs  a  black,  bituminous  shale,  sixty  or  more  feet 
in  thickness.  This  is  a  constant  member  of  the  Wa- 
yerly  or  lower  carboniferous  group,  and  forms  the  base 
of  that  series.  It  is  is  unusually  well  exposed  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cleveland,  and  I  have  therefore  called  it, 
for  convenience  sake,  "the  Cleveland  shale."  In  its 
lithological  character,  this  shale  is  hardly  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  great  black  shale  (the  Huron 
shale),  which  is  a  member  of  the  Devonian  system, 
and  whicli  here  lies  only  a  little  below.  Further  east, 
however,  they  are  separated  by  an  interval  of  several 
hundred  feet,  and  the  fossils  which  they  contain  are 
widely  different.  In  the  Cleveland  shale  are  bones, 
scales,  and  spines  of  fishes  of  small  size,  and  of  car- 
boniferous types.  In  the  Huron  shale,  on  the  con- 
trary, we  find  the  remains  of  fishes  of  enormous  size, 
of  most  peculiar  structure,  and  such  as  clearly  belong 
to  the  old  red  sandstone  fauna,  so  fully  described  by 
Hugh  Miller. 

ERIE    SHALE. 

The  lake  shore  from  the  Pennsylvania  line  to  Erie 
county  is,  for  the  most  part,  formed  by  a  series  of 
green  and  blue  shales,  vvliich  represent  the  Chemung 
and  Portage  rocks  of  New  York,  and  belong  to  the 
Devonian  formation.  These  shales  thin  out  rapidly 
westward,  and  seem  to  be  recognizable  beyond  the 
point  under  consideration.  In  tlie  valley  of  the  Cuya- 
hoga they  are  exposed  to  the  depth  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  feet,  and  have  there  yielded  the  most 
characteristic  fossils  of  the  Chemung. 

The  upper  layers  of  the  Huron  shale  are  inter- 
stratified  with  the  lower  ones  of  the  Erie  in  the 
northeastern  portion  of  the  State,  as  we  learn  by  bor- 
ings made  at  Cleveland  and  further  east.  ■  Some 
traces  of  this  interlocking  may  be  seen  at  Monroe- 
ville,  where  the  well  sunk  at  the  railroad  station  cuts 
some  blue  as  well  as  black  shales.  South  of  this 
point,  however,  the  Erie  shale  has  not  been  recog- 
nized, and  it  probably  reaches  but  ;i  little  way  back 
from  the  lake  shore. 


HVROX    SHALE. 

This  is  the  name  we  have  given  to  the  great  mass 
of  black  shale  designated  by  the  first  geological  board 
as  "the  black  slate,"  and  of  which  the  outcrop  forms 
a  belt  which  extends  entirely  across  the  State,  from 
Erie  to  Scioto  county.  This  is  the  shale  which  forms 
the  banks  of  the  Huron  river  at  Monroeville  and  below. 
It  is  not  here  a  homogeneous  black  shale,  as  there 
are  some  gray,  argillaceous  layers  iuterstratified  with 
the  more  carbonaceous  portions.  The  greater  part  of 
it  is,  however,  black,  and  highly  bituminous,  con- 
taining ten  per  cent,  or  more  of  combustible  matter. 
From  this  bitumen,  by  slow  spontaneous  distillation? 
petroleum  is  evolved,  and  flows  out  in  oil  springs  at 
a  great  number  of  localities.  The  process  of  distilla- 
tion also  gives  rise  to  the  gaseous  hydro-carbons,  and 
gas  springs  are  even  more  abundant  than  oil  springs 
over  the  outcrop  of  this  formation. 

The  Huron  shale  in  some  places  contains  many 
concretions  of  impure  limestone,  of  Avhich  hundreds 
may  be  seen  at  Monroeville,  where  they  have  washed 
out  of  the  river  banks.  These  concretions  are  some- 
times almost  absolutely  spherical;  .and  because  of 
their  geometric  regularity,  they  have  been  collected 
as  objects  of  curiosity  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
vicinity,  often  serving  as  ornamental  caps  to  gate 
posts,  etc.  Some  of  these  concretions  contain  the 
bones  or  teeth  of  huge  fishes,  first  discovered  in  the 
same  formation  at  Delaware  by  Mr.  Hertzer,  and 
from  its  formidable  character,  called  Dinichthys, 
(terrible  fish). 

Two  species  of  this  genus  have  been  found  in  Ohio 
— one  at  Delaware,  near  the  base  of  the  Huron  shale, 
and  named  after  its  discoverer,  Dinichthys  Hertzeri; 
the  other  from  the  summit  of  the  formation  in  Shef- 
field, Lorain  county,  and  this  I  have  named  Dinich- 
tliys  Terrilli,  to  commemorate  the  service  rendered 
to  science  by  Mr.  Jay  Terrell,  to  whose  zeal  and 
intelligence  we  owe  all  the  best  specimens  yet  ob- 
tained. Both  these  remarkable  fishes  will  be  found 
described  in  the  palaeontological  portion  of  this  re- 
port. Numerous  fragments  of  the  great  bones  of 
Dinichthys  have  been  broken  out  of  the  concretions 
which  have  fallen  from  the  shale  banks  of  Huron 
river,  but  the  specimens  yet  obtained  from  these  are 
too  imperfect  to  show  to  which  species  they  belong. 
Little  effort  has  been  made  to  collect  at  this  point,  and 
it  is  probable  that  careful  search  would  be  rewarded 
by  the  discovery  of  some  specimens  of  great  interest. 

As  nearly  as  we  can  determine,  the  thickness  of 
the  Huron  shale  in  this  part  of  the  State  is  about 
three  hundred  feet. 

HAMILTON    KROIP. 

At  Prout's  station  and  Deeji  cut,  on  the  Sandusky, 
Mansfield  and  Newark  railroad,  tliebase  of  the  Huron 
shale  is  exposed,  and  beneath  it  are  seen  layers  of 
light,  cherty,  and  bluish,  marly  limestone,  which  are 
the  representatives  of  the  Hamilton  group  of  New 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


33 


York.  Here  the  formation  has  become  insignificant 
in  dimensions,  compared  with  wliat  it  is  furtlier  east; 
wliere  it  is  not  more  than  twenty  feet  in  thickness, 
wliile  in  Central  New  York  the  Hamilton  group  is 
twelve  hundred  feet  thick.  There  is  no  mistaking  the 
e(|uivalence  of  these  strata,  however,  for  they  are  full 
of  fossils.  At  Front's  station  the  following  sjiecies 
are  found,  viz:  Spirifera  mucroi'.ata,  Cijrtia,  Hatn- 
Ufotieiisis,  Straphodonta  demissa,  Athyrus  .yjiri/e- 
roides,  HeliophijUuin  Halll,  Phacops,  bufo,  etc.,  etc., 
the  most  characteristic  fossils  of  the  Hamilton. 
From  the  softness  of  the  Hamilton  limestone  in  Erie 
connty,  as  well  as  from  its  inconsiderable  dimen- 
sions, it  forms  no  well  marked  line  of  ontciop, 
but  it  will  often  be  detected  in  sections  which  include 
the  base  of  the  Huron  shale  and  the  top  of  the  cornif- 
erous  limestone.  It  may  be  said  to  underlie  a  very 
narrow  belt  of  territory,  extending  southwesterly 
from  the  lake  shore,  at  a  point  half  way  between 
Sandusky  and  Huron,  to  the  Lake  Shorw  railroad, 
midway  between  Monroeville  and  Bellevne. 

CORXIFEKOrS    LIMESTONE. 

The  most  interesting,  and  perhaps  the  most  impor- 
tant formation  in  Erie  county  is  the  corniferous  lime- 
stone. This  is  the  rock  underlying  Sandusky  city, 
that  which  forms  Marblehead,  Kelly's  Island,  Middle 
Island,  etc.,  the  source  from  which  the  greater  part 
of  the  lime  used  in  northern  Ohio  is  derived,  and  a 
rock  scarcely  less  extensively  employed  as  a  building 
stone  than  the  Berea  grit.  The  upper  portion  of  the 
corniferous  limestone  is  blue  in  color,  and  lies  in  tliin 
strata.  It  is  this  subdivision  of  the  formation  that 
is  opened  in  the  quarriea  at  Sandusky,  and  which 
furnishes  the  blue  limestone  known  as  the  "San- 
dusky stone,"  and  largely  used  for  building,  paving, 
and  flagging  at  Sandusky  and  elsewhere.  The  lower 
portion  is  light  colored,  and  much  more  massive,  and  is 
that  quarried  at  Kelly's  Island  and  Marblehead.  The 
fossils  of  the  corniferous  limestone  are  exceedingly 
numerous  and  of  great  interest.  Like  most  other 
limestones  this  has  been  derived  from  the  decomposi- 
tion of  organic  structures,  and  in  many  places  it  is 
almost  altogether  made  up  of  corals  and  shells.  In 
chemical  composition  it  is  a  magnesian  limestone, 
containing-  twenty  per  cent,  or  more  of  magnesia. 
This  peculiarity  has  been  quoted  as  objectionable  in 
its  adaptation  to  the  manufacture  of  lime;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  it  is  benefited  by  this  ingredient,  the 
magnesia  making  it  slower  in  setting,  "less  hot,"  as 
masons  say,  and  therefore  much  more  manageable. 

The  fossil  fishes  of  the  corniferous  limestone  have 
attracted  more  or  less  attention  from  geologists  for 
many  years.  ■  They  are  now  chiefly  obtained  from  the 
quarries  on  Kelly's  Island  and  Marblehead,  in  the 
lower  corniferous  limestone;  and  those  of  Sandusky 
and  Delaware,  from  the  upper  member,  or  Sandusky 
limestone. 

Of  Macropetalichthijs,  the  <jnly  portion  yet  found  is 
tlie  cranium.     This  is  com]K)sed  of  a  number  of  geo- 


metrical plates  of  which  the  external  surface  is  beau- 
tifully tubercled.  It  is  known  to  most  of  the  quarry- 
men,  and  by  them  it  is  generally  regarded  as  the  car- 
apace of  turtle.  It  is,  however,  in  fact,  the  cranium 
of  a  large  fish,  as  any  one  will  plainly  see  who  will 
take  the  trouble  to  compare  with  it  the  cranium  of 
our  common  sturgeon. 

Onychodus  was  an  e<|ually  large  fish,  of  whicli  the 
cranial  bones  were  much  more  numerous  and  easily 
separated,  so  that  they  are  generally  found  detached 
and  scattered  through  the  rock.  The  jaws  of  this 
fish  are  not  unfrequently  met  with.  Tiiey  are  a  foot 
or  more  in  length,  and  are  studded  with  teeth  along 
the  upper  margin.  The  most  singular  feature  in  the 
structure  of  this  fish  is  formed  by  a  crest  of  seven 
large,  curved,  pointed  teeth,  which,  attached  to  an 
arch  of  bone,  were  inserted  between  the  extremities 
of  the  under  jaw,  apparently  acting  like  the  prow  of 
a  ram. 

OKISKANY    SAXnsTOXE. 

Beneath  the  corniferous  limestone,  on  the  penin- 
sula, and  near  Castalia,  a  thin  band  of  limestone  is 
visible.  This  holds  the  position  of  the  Oriskany 
sandstone  in  New  York,  and  though  it  has  here 
yielded  no  Oriskany  fossils,  they  are  said  to  have 
been  obtained  from  it  in  Indiana;  and  there  is  little 
doubt,  therefore,  that  it  should  be  regarded  as  the 
equivalent  of  the  Oriskany  sandstone. 

WATER     LIX'E. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  Silurian  system  is,  in 
Ohio,  represented  by  the  water  lime  and  Salina  form- 
ations. Of  these,  the  water  lime  is  the  uppermost 
and  by  far  the  most  conspicuous.  It  underlies  a 
larger  portion  of  Ohio  than  any  other  formation  ex- 
cept the  coal  measures.  It  composes  all  of  Catawba 
island,  Put-in-Bay,  and  the  other  islands  of  that 
group.  Erie  county  just  reaches  the  edge  of  the 
water  lime  area,  and,  as  has  been  mentioned,  it  is  in 
this  rock  that  the  subterranean  channel  has  been 
excavated  through  which  flows  the  stream  of  water 
that  forms  Castalia  springs. 

SALIXA     ftROUP. 

The  water  lime  is  immediately  underlain  by  a 
series  of  calcareous  shales  and  beds  of  gypsum, 
which  apparently  represent  the  Onondaga  salt  group 
of  New  Y^ork.  The  gypsum  quarries  worked  by  Mr. 
George  A.  Marsh,  on  Sandusky  bay,  lie  within  the 
limits  of  Ottawa  county,  and  the  same  formation 
extends  under  Sandusky,  where  it  has  been  reached 
in  boring  wells  for  oil — at  too  great  a  depth,  how- 
ever, to  be  profitably  worked.  These  beds  of  gyp- 
sum also  form  the  jpottom  of  the  lake  off  the  point  of 
Put-in-Bay  island,  so  that  they  apparently  underlie  ii 
large  area  in  this  vicinity.  They  deserve  to  be  care- 
fully sought  for,  as  they  may  be  found  in  localities 
where  they  will  be  readily  accessible.  From  the  con- 
tinuity of  the  surface  clays,  this  exploration,  how- 
ever, can  only  be  effected  by  boring.     The  gypsuni  of 


34 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Sandusk}'  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  the  quantity  is 
apparently  inexhaustible.  About  ten  thousand  tons 
per  annum  are  produced  at  the  (|uarries  of  Mr. 
Marsh. 

BriLDIX(i    STOXE. 

No  portion  of  the  State  is  more  abundantly  sup- 
])lied  with  excellent  building  materials  than  that 
immediately  about  Saudusky.  The  Amherst  sand- 
stone, which  is  known,  and  I  can  almost  say  used, 
all  over  the  United  States,  reaches  into  Erie  county, 
and,  though  not  }-et  quarried  there  to  any  consid- 
erable extent  may,  perhaps,  become  hereafter  an  im- 
portant contributor  to  the  wealth  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  Sandusky  limestone  is  also  highly  prized  as  a 
building  material,  and  its  capability  of  supplj-ing 
suitable  stone  for  large  and  handsome  structures  is 
illustrated  in  the  splendid  high-school  building  and 
various  other  edifices  at  Sandusky,  as  well  as 
churches,  stores  and  residences  at  Toledo,  Cleve- 
land, etc. 

The  quarries  o'f  the  corniferous  at  Marblehead  and 
Kelly's  Island,  are  in  Ottawa  county,  but  the  strata 
worked  there  underlie  all  of  Erie  county,  and  may 
be  reached  at  various  points  with  little  trouble.  The 
same  beds  of  the  corniferous  furnish  quick  lime  not 
inferior  to  any  manufactured  in  the  State,  so  that 
lime  may  be  specified  as  one  of  the  important  mineral 
staples  of  the  county. 

OIL    SHALES. 

The  carbonaceous  matter  contained  in  the  Huron 
shale  is  equivalent  in  heating  power  to  that  of  a  thick 
seam  of  coal,  but  up  to  the  present  time  we  have  not 
discovered  any  mode  of  making  that  source  of  power 
available,  except  by  distilling  oil  or  gas  from  it.  Both 
these  useful  substances  are  constantly  being  evolved 
from  this  great  carbonaceous  mass  by  spontaneous 
distillation,  and  it  is  possible  that  they  may  be  here- 
after,  when  the  supply  of  petroleum  from  wells  has 
failed,  artificially  generated  from  this  source  so 
cheaply  as  to  pay  a  profit  to  the  manufacturers.  It  is 
also  worth  rememl)ering  that  further  east  along  the 
lake  shore,  as  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  Fredonia, 
New  York,  the  spontaneous  flow  of  carbureted 
hydrogen  gas  from  the  Huron  shale  has  been  exten- 
sively utilized.  Fredonia  was  for  many  years  exclu- 
sively, and  still  is  partially  lighted  by  natural  gas, 
and  at  Erie,  wells  sunk  for  the  purpose,  are  supplying 
combustible  gas,  which  is  being  successfully  applied  to 
the  heating  and  lighting  of  residences  and  manu- 
facturing establishments. 

The  gypsum  and  hydraulic  lime  of  the  water  lime 
and  Salina  groups  should,  perhaps,  be  enumerated 
among  the  material  mineral  resources  of  Erie  county, 
as,  though  not  found  upon  the  surface,  they  lie  not 
far  below.  The  (piantity  and  accessibility  of  these 
materials  are,  however,  yet  so  much  in  doubt  that  no 
.IMP  would  be  justified  in  anticipating  a  great  increase 
in  tbi-  wealth  of  the  county  from  this  source. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE   PREHISTORIC  FIRE-LANDS. 

No  PERIOD  of  history  i.«  more  fascinating  to  the 
student  than  the  period  in  which  history  has  not 
begun.  In  the  study  of  ascertained  and  chronicled 
facts  there  is  not  much  scope  for  the  workings  of 
fancy;  but  the  imagination  may  run  riot  amid  the 
wildest  conjectures  as  to  times  of  which  no  records 
tell.  There  may  be  poetry  and  romance  based  ui)on 
the  sober  realities  of  historic  eras,  but  the  myths  and 
traditions  of  every  land,  belonging  to  ages  before  its 
history  began,  are  not  based  upon,  but  are  themselves, 
poetry  and  romance. 

This  chapter  is  to  treat  of  the  Fire-lands  before  the 
days  of  the  i)ioneers.  It  is  not  to  chronicle  events, 
but,  rather,  to  grope  in  the  darkness  of  forgotten 
times,  and  attempt  to  gather  up  such  broken  threads 
of  knowledge  as  have  not  been  utterly  lost,  that  they 
may  be  woven  into  some  semblance  of  reality.  It  is 
to  search  and  inquire,  rather  than  to  teach. 

The  ages  embraced  in  the  term,  "jH-ehistoric  times," 
have  an  end  but  no  beginning. 

Who,  if  any  human  beings,  inhabited  the  Fire- 
lands  befoi-e  that  mysterious  people,  the  Mound- 
Builders,  began  to  rear  their  strange  structures  along 
our  river  terraces,  we  have  no  means  of  knowing. 
All  before  their  era  is  an  absolute  blank,  m  which  we 
find  no  myth,  nor  tradition,  nor  moldering  ruin,  to 
aid  us  in  our  efforts  to  obtain  some  knowledge  of 
the  remotest  past. 

THE    MOrXD-lU'ILDERS, 

Our  name  for  tlie  people  who  wrote  in  our  soil  the 
fact  of  their  existence,  but  left  us  no  other  records. 
We  may  know  some  of  their  habits  of  life,  we  may 
know  that  they  mined  copper  about  Lake  Su]>erior 
and  mica  in  the  Alleghanies:  that  they  trafficked  in 
the  markets  of  the  southwest  and  brought  shells  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  but  their  memorable  events  of 
war  and  peace,  the  names  of  their  statesmen  and 
philosophers,  warriors  and  poets,  have  been  utterly 
forgotten,  and  no  man  knows  to-day  whether  or  not 
any  remnant  of  tiie  great  race  remains  on  the  earth. 

In  all  the  valleys  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tribu- 
taries, their  works  remain  in  abundance  to  testify  of 
the  mysterious  workers.  Of  the  origin  of  these  works 
the  Indians  knew  nothing.  Their  traditions  did  not 
reach  back  so  far. 

Accustomed  as  we  have  been  to  the  thought  of 
primeval  forests  in  all  this  region,  thinly  inhabited 
by  nomadic  tribes  of  savages,  disputing  the  title  to 
the  soil  with  the  fierce  panther  and  the  howling  wolf, 
we  can  hardly  realize  that,  ages  ago,  a  dense  agricul- 
tural population  filled  all  our  borders,  cultivating 
their  farms,  building  substantial  dwellings  and  lofty 
temples,  establishing  governments  and  enacting  laws, 
holding  commercial  relations  with  different  jiarts  of 
the  continent. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  erection  of  the  tlionsands  of  artiticiul  inouiids, 
terraces  and  earthwork  enclosures  which  still  remain, 
with  all  the  other  vast  works  which  must  have  been 
obliterated  by  "the  waves  and  weathers  of  time," 
could  only  have  been  possible  in  a  land  like  Mesopo- 
tamia or  Egypt,  of  great  agricultural  resources. 
Where  tliere  were  so  many  toiling  hands,  there  were 
many  mouths  to  be  fed,  and  to  supply  the  enormous 
demand  there  must  have  been  other  workers,  pro- 
ducers, tillers  of  the  soil. 

Maples  and  beeches,  tough  hickoi'ies  and  giant  oaks, 
"the  green-robed  senators  of  mighty  woods,"  did  not 
always  darken  the  face  of  Ohio  as  in  the  days  of  the 
Indian  hunters;  but  long,  long  before  the  red  men 
had  found  their  way  to  the  fertile  Fire-lands,  grain, 
golden  as  the  sunlight  which  ripened  it,  was  waving 
over  myriads  of  these  our  fields.  Where  there  was 
grain,  there  were  granaries,  and  where  the  builders 
of  the  terraced  mounds  toiled  day  by  day,  there  were 
buying  and  selling,  and  there  were  a  hundred  trades 
and  employments  which  men  have  ever  found  the 
inevitable  concomitants  of  civilized  society. 

The  character  of  the  earthworks  in  this  region  evi- 
dences the  fact  that  the  Fire-lands  are  on  the  northern 
frontiers  of  the  ancient  emjjire.  Nearly  all  the  works 
along  our  river  banks  in  northern  Ohio  are  manifestly 
defensive  fortifications,  with  external  facite,  as  in 
modern  works  of  like  character;  and  north  of  the 
lakes  there  are  no  such  pyramidal  foundations,  for 
now  lost  structures,  as  abound  in  the  central  part  of 
the  United  States.  Traveling  southward  from  the 
lakes,  one  finds  mysterious  ruins  growing  in  number 
and  magnitude,  until  they  are  merged  in  the  wealth 
of  monumental  remains,  shadowed  by  the  tropical 
forests  of  Central  America. 

Fascinating  as  is  the  study  of  these  relics  of  an 
ancient  empire,  this  chapter  has  space  but  to  deal  with 
those  which  belonged  to  this  one  of  its  outlying  prov- 
inces. We  shall  not  find  on  the  Fire-lands  such  great 
pyramidal  mounds  as  those  of  southern  Ohio,  West 
Virginia,  and  Illinois;  nor  shall  we  marvel  at  such 
monolithic  images  and  carven  tablets  as  abound  in 
Yucatan  and  Guatamala.  We  shall,  however,  find 
unmistakable  evidences  that  the  same  race  which  left 
these  records  of  an  extinct  civilization,  had  out-posts 
along  the  river  banks  which  are  most  familiar  to  us. 

The  works  upon  the  Fire-lands  were,  for  the  most 
part,  circular  fortifications  on  the  highlands  over- 
looking the  river  banks,  some  of  them  enclosing  smal] 
mounds  supposed  to  have  been  burial  places.  These 
works  have  been  almost  obliterated  by  continual  culti- 
vation during  the  past  half  century;  but  we  are  fortu- 
nate in  the  fact  that  some  of  the  observing  pioneers 
who  came  and  saw  them  before  the  leveling  plowshare 
had  crossed  and  recrossed  them  year  after  year,  have 
put  upon  paper  their  rementbrances  of  them. 

By  such  means  we  are  informed  that  the  Mound- 
Builders  are  believed  to  have  left  their  traces  in  at 
least  the  townships  of  M.irgaretta,  Vermillion,  Berlin, 
Huron,  Milan,  Ridgefield,  Norwalk,  New  Haven  and 


Norwich.  The  works  which,  in  tiie  early  part  of  tlie 
century,  remained  in  the  localities  which  have  become 
the  townships  above  named,  are  briefly  described  as 
follows: 

The  township  of  Margarettta  had,  when  first  set- 
tled, a  number  of  fortifications  and'mounds,  some  of 
the  latter  quite  large  and  constructed  of  stone. 

In  Vermillion  there  were  two  extensive  fortifica- 
tions  on  the  banks  of  the  river  of  the  same  name,  and 
another  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.  There 
were,  in  the  same  township,  a  number  of  mounds  in 
in  which  human  skeletons  and  scattered  bones  were 
found. 

In  Berlin,  in  the  western  part  of  the  township, 
there  was  a  mound  covering  a  (|uarter  of  an  acre,  with 
large  trees  growing  upon  it.  Near  the  center  of  the 
township,  on  the  fai-m  formerly  owned  by  the  late 
Lewis  Osborn,  was  another  mound,  and  in  the  nortJi- 
errt  part  of  the  township,  a  fortification. 

In  Huron  township,  mounds  were  found  on  the 
highlands  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Two  of  these 
mounds  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  and  about  two 
miles  from  its  mouth,  were  quite  large  and  nearly 
ronnd.  Human  bones  and  "beads  of  different  colors'' 
were  found  in  them. 

In  Milan,  the  pioneers  describe  "three  forts,"  one 
in  the  first  section,  one  in  the  second  and  one  in  the 
fourth.  Their  embankments,  when  first  seen  by  the 
whites,  were  from  two  to  four  feet  high.  At  differ- 
ent places  in  the  township  other  earthworks  were 
found,  and  in  some  of  them  human  bones  and  imple- 
ments of  stone  and  clay. 

In  Ridgefield  township,  Huron  county,  circular  for- 
tifications were  found  in  lot  two  and  lot  three  of  the 
first  section,  and  a  small  mound  containing  human 
bones,  in  lot  eighteen  of  the  second  section.  The 
fortifications  are  on  high  banks  of  branches  of  the 
Huron  river. 

In  Norwalk  there  were  tlii-ee  fortifications  near  the 
Ridgefield  line,  and  crossing  it,  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Isaac  Underbill.  That  gentleman  has  pre- 
served reminiscences  of  his  plowing,  when  a  boy, 
through  the  dry  and  brittle  bones  of  the  men  of  whom 
these  works  are  the  monuments. 

In  the  western  part  of  New  Haven  township  was  a 
circular  fortification  with  large  trees  growing  on  its 
embankments  when  first  discovered. 

Except  a  few  "conical  mounds"  said  to  haye  been 
found  in  Norwich,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town- 
ship, no  record,  so  far  as  we  know,  has  been  preserved 
of  any  other  traces  left  by  the  Mound-Builders  on  the 
soil  of  the  Fire-lands. 

It  may  be.  indeed,  that  not  all  the  remains  which 
have  been  mentioned,  belong  properly  to  the  age  of 
the  Mound-Builders,  for  the  pioneers  were  not  always 
careful  to  discriminate  between  the  works  of  that 
ancient  race  and  those  of  the  later  inhabitants  of 
these  lands,  the  Indians.  But  at  least  this  may  be 
said  with  confidence,  that  some,  if  not  all,  these 
works  were  wrought  by  the  hands  of  that  mysterious 


i1 1233^0 


3G 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


people,  whose  origin,  character  and  history  have  been 
a  pregnant  tlieme  for  many  a  flelver  in  the  world's 
antifjuities. 

It  is  not  tlie  province  of  this  local  history  to  enter 
into  extended  inquiries  of  this  kind.  The  evidences 
are  many  of  the'  great  antiquity  of  the  remains,  and 
the  fact  is-  no  less  clearly  proven  tliat  the  men  who 
erected  them  were  much  higher  than  the  red  men  in 
the  scale  of  civilization.  Whether  they  came  of  the 
Mongolian  stock,  were  a  remnant  of  the  "lost  tribes 
of  Israel,"  or  belonged  to  an  original  family  unknown 
to  the  old  world,  we  shall  not  stop  here  to  investigate. 
It  is  enough  to  say  that  long  ago,  ])crhaps  many 
ages  before  the  coming  of  the  Indians,  the  Mound- 
Builders  vanished  from  the  Fire-lands,  leaving  behind 
them  neither  tradition  nor  historv. 


When  and  whence  came  tlie  red  men  to  the  Fire- 
lands,  no  research  will  now  inform  us.  It  seems 
most  i)robable  that  they  were  of  Asiatic  origin  and 
drifted  across  the  country  from  the  northwest,  but 
the  matter  is  one  of  conjecture,  and  it  is  not  the  pro- 
vince of  this  work  to  discuss  the  arguments  in  favor 
of  any  particular  hypothesis. 

Whenever  they  came  and  whatever  their  origin, 
they  found  here,  on  the  southern  shoie  of  Lake  Erie, 
green  and  fertile  lands,  drained  by  the  waters  of  the 
Sandusky,  the  Huron  and  the  \'ermillion. 

These  were  prairie  and  wood  land,  well  ^yateredand 
abounding  in  game.  It  would  have  been  strange  if 
no  wandering  tribes  of  red  men,  whose  highest  idea 
of  happiness  was  embodied  in  a  paradise  of  well- 
stocked  hunting  grounds,  should  not  have  lingered 
along  the  river  banks,  where,  even  in  the  days  of  the 
pioneers  the  feathered  arrow  of  the  Indian  seldom 
searched  vainly  for  a  victim. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  here,  in  one  group  of 
counties,  by  that  process  of  language-petrifaction, 
which  has  left  upon  our  lakes  and  rivers.  States  and 
territories,  the  names  which  were  familiar  and  ex- 
pressive words  to  the  tribes  of  people  whose  graves 
are  all  over  the  Fire-lands,  we  have  six  Indian  titles: 
Erie,  Samb/ski/  and  Ottawa,  Huron,  Seneca  and 
Wyandot. 

All  these  but  one  were  tribal  designations;  but  not 
all  the  tribes  whose  names  have  been  so  perpetuated 
had  any  habitation  on  the  Fire-lands  at  the  coming  of 
tlie  pioneers.  Oftawas,  Hurons  or  Wyandots,  and 
Senecas,  there  were  in  the  first  years  of  this  century; 
but  hmg  Itefore  that,  naught  but  a  memory  remained 
of  tlie  Erics,  that  proud,  tierce  tribe,  whose  war  with 
the  Five  Nations  of  New  York  forms  one  of  the  most 
interesting  traditions  of  prehistoric  America. 

The  Eries,  it  is  said,  dreaded  the  combination  of 
five  such  tribes  as,  united,  made  up  the  Iroquois  Five 
Nations.  They  endeavored  to  crush  the  confederacy 
in  Its  inception,  but  were  themselves  defeated  witii 
terrible  slaughter,  between  Canandaigua  lake  and  the 
(iciieseo  river.     They   retired  to  the  far  west,  but  \ 


tradition  says  that  many  years  later  a  war  party  of 
their  descendants  returned  from  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi and  attacked  the  Senecas,  who  had  settled  upon 
the  fatherland  of  the  Eries;  l)ut  the  result  was  ;i 
second  crushing  defeat,  and  the  anniliilation  of  the 
Erie  race,  unless  a  remnant  was  left  to  mingle  witli 
other  tribes  in  the  west. 

As  long  ago  as  the  middle  of  tiiu  seventeenth  cen- 
tury the  Eries  probably  occupied  northern  Ohio, 
along  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  and  the  famous  i)ic- 
tured  rocks  on  Kelley's  Island,  have  been  supposed 
by  Shingwauk,  the  Little  Pine,  an  Indian  archa;olo- 
gist,  to  refer  to  the  wars'of  this  lost  nation. 

After  tlie  destruction  of  the  Eries  the  greater  part 
of  northern  Ohio  seems  to  have  been  never  so  mucli 
the  jieculiar  territory  of  any  one  nation  as  the  com- 
mon hunting  ground  of  many. 

As  white  settlements' increased  along  the  Atlantic 
coast,  and  the  natives  were  crowded  toward  the  set- 
ting sun,  tribes  and  remnants  of  tribes  whose  homes 
had  been  in  the  east,  wandered  into  Ohio  and  lingered 
there,  until  the  advancing  army  of  civilization  pressed 
them  still  further  toward  their  ultimate  destiny. 

It  is  for  this  reason  that  in  the  chronicles  of  the 
pioneers  we  find  mention  of  so  many  diverse  tribes. 
They  were  sojourners,  most  of  them,  rather  than 
permanent  dwellers  on  the  Fire-lands.  The  land 
may  have  seeiricd  almost  as  strange  to  tliem  as  to  the 
white  settlers. 

On  the  pages  of  the  Pioneer,  the  magazine  of  the 
Fire-lands  Historical  Socuety,  the  earliest  of  these 
white  settlers  have  recorded  these  names  of  tribes 
represented  here  during  the  first  years  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  Of  the.  Algonquin  family,  the 
Miamis  or  3hniviees,  the  Tawas  or  Ottaicas,  the  . 
Chippewas  or  Ojibways,  the  Delatvares,  S/iaw/iees 
and  Potawatomies;  and  of  the  Huron-Iroquois  fam- 
ily, the  Wyandots,  or  Hurons  proper,  and  the  Senecas. 
Of  these  tribes,  that  of  the  Wyandots  is  perhaps 
oftenest  mentioned  by  the  pioneers.  The  people  of 
this  tribe  lived  for  the  most  part  along  the  Sandusky 
river  for  many  years  after  the  town  and  villages  of 
the  pale  faces  had  s)n-ung  up  all  over  the  Fire-lands. 
The  Wyandots  and, If ui-ons  were  the  same  people, 
the  latter  name  lieing  the  one  bestowed  upon  them 
by  the  French. 

In  the  years  when  the  Iroqvois  were  waging  their 
relentless  wars  against  the  Eries,  the  Wyandots  lived 
on  the  Canada  side  of  the  lakes,  although  their  hunt- 
ing excursions  seem,  sometimes,  to  have  reached  the 
regions  about  tlie  inoutli  of  tiie  Miami  and  that  of  the 
Sandusky. 

They  also  became  involved  in  war  with  the  power- 
ful Iroquois,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Eries.  the 
Wyandots  were,  as  a  nation,  almost  exterminated  l)y 
the  seemingly  invincible 'confederacy  of  New  York. 
But  in  later  days,  after  the  Eries  had  ceased  to  be 
known  in  Ohio,  and  the  strife  with  the  Five  Nations 
had  ended,  remnants  of  the  Wya>idots  hunted  and 
planted    corn    along    tiie    valley    of    the    Sandusky. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


There  was  preserved  aijioug  them  a  tradition  of  their 
migration  across  tlie  lakes,  impelled  by  a  great  fam- 
ine to  search  for  new  hunting  grounds.  They  built 
their  "big  fire''  or  chief  town  at  Upper  Sandusky, 
and  a  map,  ]nxblished  in  1755,  shows  the  location  of 
others  of  their  villages  along  the  river.  These  settle- 
ments floiu-islied,  and  the  Wyandota  became,  after 
the  lapse  of  years,  the  most  powerful  tribe  in  this 
region.  Tiiere  is  frequent  mention  lu  the  chronicles 
of  the  pioneers  on  the  Fire-lauds,  of  parties  of  these 
Sandusky  river  Wyandots  who  crossed  the  Fire-lands 
in  search  of  game. 

In  smaller  numbers  on  the  Fire-lands  were  the  Sen- 
eccis,  a  remnant  of  the  once  powerful  nation,  which, 
with  the  other  tribes  of  the  Iroquois  confederacy,  a 
century  and  a  half  before,  had  crushed  the  Wyan- 
dots  and  the  Eries.  The  white  settlements  had  be- 
come numerous  through  the  territory  where  the  Five 
Nafions  had  held  dominion.  The  star  of  the  Senecas 
was  waning.  They  had  no  longer  the  leadership  of 
such  chieftains  as  Red  Jacket,  the  warrior-orator, 
and,  driven  by  the  dominant  Caucasian  race,  they 
were  drifting  slowly  across  the  country  towards  the 
great  plains  of  the  west. 

Besides  these  two  representatives  of  the  Huron- 
Iroqnois  family,  there  were  no  others  on  the  Fire- 
lands  in  the  days  of  the  pioneers. 

The  Algonquin^,  however,  were  here,  not  in  such 
numbers  of  individuals  probably,  but  more  numer- 
ously represented  in  names  of  tribes.  Among  these 
we  note  the  Delawares,  the  Ttenappi  or  Lenni-Lenafe, 
as  they  called  themselves,  who  dwelt  along  the  banks 
of  the  Huron  river,  the  most  of  them  in  Milan  town- 
ship. With  them  were  mingled  the  Ottawas  or 
"  T(iw-'s,"  as  many  of  the  white  settlers  called  them. 
The  one  people  had  come  from  the  east,  where,  for 
years,  they  had  lived  among  the  other  Algonquin 
tribes  of  the  Atlantic  coast;  the  other  had  come  from 
the  northwest,  and,  in  perfect  peace,  they  had  united 
their  fortunes  in  the  pleasant  valley  of  the  Huron. 
Upon  the  picturesque  site  of  the  town  of  Milan  they 
built  their  village,  Pequotting,  and  there  and  in  that 
vicinity,  even  after  the  coming  of  the  pale  faces,  they 
hunted  and  fished,  and  raised  corn  on  the  fertile  river 
flats. 

We  believe  that  it  was  these  Delaicares  and  Ottnivas 
of  Pequotting  who  were  accustomed  to  make  maple 
sugar  on  the  river  bottom  west  of  Norwalk,  and 
whose  trail  lay  along  tlie  sand  ridge  where  now  is 
Main  street,  the  pleasant,  maple-shaded  avenue 
which  is  the  pride  of  the  town. 

The  other  Algonquin  tribes,  so  far  as  is  known, 
had  no  fixed  residence  on  or  near  the  Fire-lands,  but, 
pursuant  to  their  nomadic  habits,  they  made  occa- 
sional visits  to  this  section  of  the  country.  This  was 
particularly  the  case  with  the  C/iijjpen'as,  Miamis 
and  Potau'ttttomies.  They  were  all  inhabitants  of 
the  country  to  the  west  and  northwest.  The  Shciw- 
nees  were  of  soutiiern  origin.     They  liad  a  tradition 


that  their  ancestors  came  from  some  foreign  land, 
across  the  sea. 

According  to  French  accounts,  the  tribe  of  Chip- 
peivas  or  Ojibways  is  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing 
notice.  They  are  said  to  have  been  a  powerful  and 
brave  race,  and  their  war  with  the  Sioux,  which  was 
waged  for  one  hundred  and  eighty  years  after  the 
whites  first  knew  them,  and  we  know  not  for  how 
long  before,  is  one  of  the  memorable  events  of  Indian 
history,  and  is  the  surest  proof  of  the  indomitaljle 
courage  and  haughty  pride  of  both  tribes. 

The  territory  of  the  Chippewns  was  on  both  sides  of 
Lake  Superior,  at  the  head  of  which  was  their  chief 
town,  Chegoimegon,  where,  it  is  said,  they  kept  a 
perpetual  fire  burning. 

They  were  a  tall,  well  formed  race,  and  their  lan- 
guage was  praised  by  the  French  as  the  court-language 
of  the  aborigines. 

Bands  of  Indians  of  all  these  tribes,  hunted  and 
fished  over  most,  and  probably  all,  the  townships  of 
the  Fire-lands;  but  except  Pequotting,  they  had  no 
village  in  either  Erie  caunty  or  Huron  at  the  time  of 
the  first  white  settlements. 

Technically,  the  lives  and  characters,  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  Indians  inhabiting  the  Fire-lands 
after  the  first  white  settlements,  can  scarcely  be  said 
to  belong  to  the  period  of  "prehistory."  But  one 
can  hardly  write  of  the  red  men  without  letting  his 
pen  cross  the  line  on  which  history  begins.  We  can 
form  no  estimate  of  the  lives  of  the  inhabitants  of 
these  woods  before  a  white  man's  ax  began  to  hew  the 
way  for  the  march  of  civilization,  without  a  study  of 
the  characteristics  described  by  the  first  white  chron- 
iclers, as  belonging  to  the  red  men  who  remained 
after  those  times. 

Thus,  even  in  naming  and  describing  tribes,  we 
have  trespassed  upon  the  nineteenth  century.  We 
shall  find  no  instance  of  individual  character  recorded 
at  any  earlier  period. 

So  many  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  last  red 
man  vanished  from  the  Fire-lands,  like  a  departing 
ghost  of  a  dead  and  buried  past,  that  we  can  now  but 
dimly  trace  even  the  tribal  distinctions  and  names  of 
these  strange  children  of  the  woods.  Few,  indeed, 
are  the  names,  and  faint  the  memories,  of  the  individ- 
ual warriors  and  chieftains  which  have  come  down  to 
us.  But  before  they  are  all  forever  lost  in  the  shad- 
ows of  the  iiast,  it  should  be  the  duty  of  the  historian 
to  rescue  and  keep  bright  the  names  and  fame  of  Sen- 
eca John  and  Ogontz,  the  Ottawu,  two  noble  repre- 
tatives  of  the  better  class  of  Algonquin  and  Iroquois. 

In  those  days  the  red  men  were  in  a  transition 
state.  They  had  been  savages,  witii  all  the  cruelty, 
the  bad  passions,  and  the  ignorance  belonging  to  sav- 
agery; but  now,  from  their  intercourse  with  the 
whites,  they  were  learning  many  of  the  mean  vices 
with  a  few  of  the  virtues,  of  civilization.  Tlie  mis- 
sionary and  the  trader  were  working  side  by  side,  but 
not  in  harmony,  and  too  often  tlie  good  work  of  tlie 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


one  was  destroyei]  by  tlie  liad  work  wruiiglit  by  tlie 
other. 

Ill  sncli  a  jieriod,  tlie  characters  of  Joliii,  the  Sen- 
ecu,  and  Ogoiitz,  tlie  Ottairu,  stand  out  in  bold  and 
pleasing  relief.  In  the  frefjiient  mention  of  these  two 
chiefs  by  the  early  chroniclers  of  the  Fire-lands,  there 
has  been  found  no  word  of  disparagement  concerning 
either  of  them. 

The  Seneca  was  accustomed  to  hunt  in  the  southern 
and  western  part  of  Huron  county.  The  early  set- 
tlers of  that  region  always  gave  him  a  cordial  welcome, 
and  some  of  them  have  placed  on  record  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  character.  He  could  speak  but  little 
English,  but  was  always  friendly  to  the  settlers,  and 
was  brave,  honest,  and  trustworthy. 

Ogontz  was  better  known  in  the  region  of  San- 
dusky, which  was  one  of  his  favorite  resorts  at  certain 
seasons  of  the  year,  for  the  purpose  of  fishing  and 
hunting,  and  that  locality  was  for  years  known,  by 
reason  of  this  fact,  as  "  Ogontz  place." 

This  chief  is  described  as  a  man  of  stately  form  and 
noble  bearing,  and,  like  Seneca  John,  he  seems  to 
have  been  in  character  a  nature's  nobleman,  while, 
unlike  John,  he  had  received,  at  the  hands  of  the 
French,  a  high  degree  of  culture. 

The  tragedy  which  ended  the  life  of  each  of  these 
hunter  and  w-arrior  chiefs,  illustrates  the  sanguinary 
character  of  their  race.  Seneca  John  was  accused  of 
witchcraft,  and  having  been  condemned  by  his  own 
tribe,  was  unhesitatingly  slain, — his  own  brother  be- 
ing the  executioner.  Ogontz,  years  before  his  death, 
had  killed,  in  self  defense,  a  rival  chief,  and  had 
adopted  the  latter's  son,  who,  even  in  his  boyhood, 
cherished  a  desire  to  avenge  his  father's  death.  The 
boy  grew  up,  and,  when  the  opportunity  offered,  took 
the  life  of  the  brave,  kind  Ogontz,  who  had  been  a 
second  father  to  him,  better  than  the  first. 

These  two  men,  John  and  Ogontz,  the  Seneca  and 
the  Ottawa,  the  Jrocjuois  and  the  Algonquin,  are  the 
type  of  the  aboriginal  native  of  America,  uncor- 
rnpted  by  association  with  the  white  men.  They 
lived  and  died,  the  one  an  ignorant  savage,  the  other 
an  educated  gentleman,  but  both,  by  nature,  proud, 
noble  and  manly,  the  proof  that  the  red  man  was  not 
always  in  his  present  state  of  miserable  degradation. 

Any  view  of  Indian  life  and  character  is  incom- 
plete which  fails  to  take  in  their  surroundings.  Be- 
fore we  can  have  vividly  before  ns  the  life  of  the  red 
man  of  tlie  Fire-lands,  we  must  reconstruct  the  Fire- 
lands  themselves  as  they  were'  a  century  ago.  We 
must  clear  away  all  the  marks  of  civilization;  we 
must  rear  again  the  mighty  woods,  and  let  the 
prairie  grasses  grow  in  the  rankness  and  lu.xuriance 
of  nature;  we  must  rescue  from  the  overflowing 
waves  of  the  destroying  lake,  the  fertile  lands  on 
which  they  have  encroached,  and  restore  the  marsh 
land  along  the  rivers  to  the  tillable  condition  of  the 
past;  we  must  sweep  all  the  mill-dams  from  the 
streams,  and  let  the  lake  muscalonge  and  pickerel, 
the  lawful  prey  of  the  Indian,  ascend  to  the  farthest 


limits  of  Huron  county;  we  m-iist  re-peojile  the  forests 
with  screaming  panthers,  bears  and  packs  of  howling 
wolves;  deer  must  abound  and  rattlesnakes  must 
crawl  in  the  damp  and  gloomy  woods. 

Amid  such  surroundings  as  these  the  Indian  war- 
rior reared  his  family.  His  daily  work  was  hunting 
and  trapping  game,  when  he  was  not  on  the  war 
trail,  seeking  the  scalps  of  his  enemies.  According 
to  Seneca  John,  the  hunting  grounds  were,  by  agree- 
ment, allotted  among  the  tribes,  and,  doubtless,  en- 
croachments on  one  another's  territory,  and  disputes 
as  to  boundaries,  were  the  fruitful  causes  of  quarrels 
and  bloodshed. 

In  the  autumn  of  every  year  the  prairies  were 
burned  over,  that  the  abundant  deer  might  be  more 
easily  tracked  and  hunted  over  the  bare  and  black- 
ened soil. 

While  the  young  men  were  engaged  in  such  pur- 
suits, the  other  members  of  the  tribes  remained  at 
home.  The  old  men,  doubtless,  smoked  and  dozed 
away  the  hours;  or,  not  unlike  our  pioneers,  lived 
over  their  youth  in  tales  of  daring  deeds  when  their 
eyes  were  keen  and  their  arms  strong.  The  half- 
naked  children  played  out  of  doors  by  themselves,  or 
importuned  their  grandfathers  to  make  them  bows 
and  arrows,  or,  may  be,  ever  insatiable,  begged  to  be 
told  innumerable  stories,  entirely  after  the  manner  of 
juvenile  palefaces,  for  children  are  children  the  world 
over. 

The  squaws,  meanwhile,  tied  up  their  little  pap- 
pooses  in  bark  cradles,  which  they  hung  from  the 
limbs  of  trees,  to  be  rocked  by  the  passing  wind — a 
practice  said  to  be  the  origin  of  our  lullaby  song, 
"Rockaby,  baby,  on  the  tree  top" — and,  then, 
meekly  recognizing  the  existence  of  a  "woman's 
sphere  "  and  their  wifely  duties  to  their  lordly  hus- 
bands, which,  as  in  civilized  society,  had  been  by  the 
latter  circumscribed  and  defined  for  them,  they  duti- 
fully brought  the  water,  gathered  the  firewood  and 
hoed  the  corn,  as  it  was  the  custom  for  even  the 
strongest-minded  squaws  to  do;  and,  while  they  toiled 
with  sweating  faces  and  aching  backs,  they  longed  for 
the  going  down  of  the  hot  sun  and  the  sight  of  their 
returning  braves,  with  venison-laden  ponie§  or  belts 
full  of  reeking  scalps. 

But  shall  we  infer  from  this  slavery,  into  which 
the  fashion  of  the  race  forced  women,  that  there  was 
no  affection  between  husband  and  wife?  At  first 
thought,  one  might  almost  so  believe,  but  surely 
there  is  under  all  the  artificial  manners  and  customs 
of  the  world  a  substratum  of  human  nature  which 
never  varies.  Let  it  not  be  doubted,  then,  that  the 
Indian  husband  and  wife  often  loved  one  another 
with  an  ;itfection  not  different  from  that  of  the 
palest-faced  Caucasians. 

The  Moravian  missionary,  Heckewelder,  tells  a 
touching  story  illustrative  of  such  tenderness  on  the 
part  of  an  Indian  husband  toward  his  wife.  It  was 
in  a  time  of  famine,  and  a  sick  woman  expressed  a 
longing  for  some  Indian  corn.     There  was  none  in 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  region  where  they  lived,  but  a  trader  had  a  small 
quantity  at  Lower  Sandusky,  a  hundred  miles  away. 
Thither  the  woman's  husband  rode,  and,  having 
traded  his  horse  for  a  small  quantity  of  the  j^recious 
grain,  he  returned  on  foot  alone:  the  weary  trail,  car- 
rying his  precious  purchase  with  him,  that  he  might 
gladden  the  heart  of  his  loved  wife. 

The  same  human  nature  sometimes  shone  out  in 
the  love  of  parents  for  their  children.  The  red  war- 
i-ior  was,  on  the  surface,  a  stern  and  taciturn  man, 
and  perhaps  the  little  ones  ofteuer  looked  up  to  him 
with  fear  and  awe  than  with  any  other  emotion,  but 
there  must  have  been  something  besides  sternness  in 
the  heart  of  that  Wyandot  of  Upper  Sandusky,  who, 
while  on  a  hunting  excursion  east  of  Milan,  lost  a 
child  by  death,  and  carried  the  body  home  in  his 
arms,  that  the  little  one  might  sleep  in  the  grave  of 
its  mother.  By  day  and  by  night  he  carried  his  bur- 
,den  and  his  sorrow,  alone  in  the  lonely  woods,  until 
he  reached  his  dreary  home.  He  was  an  Indian,  and 
would  shed  no  tears;  but  every  white  father,  who  has 
lost  the  first-born  son  of  his  pride  and  affection,  can 
understand  the  bitterness  of  the  red  man's  sorrow. 

It  is  a  mystery,  how,  in  this  northern  climate,  the 
Indians  obtained  the  means  of  living  through  the 
winter.  Even  those  tribes  who  did  not  despise  agri- 
culture tilled  the  soil  iu  a  superficial  way,  and  often 
had  short  crops.  In  such  a  season,  their  chief  de- 
pendence was  on  fish  and  game,  and  even  these  must 
at  times  have  failed  them.  It  is  easy  to  understand 
that  such  famines  as  that  which  drove  the  Wyandots 
south  of  the  lake,  according  to  their  tradition,  were 
not  an  unfrequent  occurrence.  Pestilence,  too,  occa- 
sionally swept  the  country,  destroying  whole  tribes. 
Ogontz  has  been  spoken  of  as  an  Ottawa,  but,  iu 
reality,  according  to  his  own  statement,  he  was  an 
adopted  son  of  tiiat  tribe — his  own  parents  having 
died  in  such  a  pestilence  while  he  was  a  child.  Sam- 
oset,  the  Wampunoaa,  told  to  the  New  England  colo- 
nists the  story  of  a  great  plague,  which,  a  few  years 
before,  had  almost  denuded  the  country  of  its  inhab- 
itants, and  had  left  many  tribes  in  a  feeble  and  deso- 
late condition. 

The  tongues  and  dialects  spoken  by  the  aboriginal 
inhabitants  of  our  country  have  been  a  fruitful  field 
for  philologists.  As  the  Algonquin  tribes  inhabited 
that  part  of  the  Atlantic  coast  first  settled  by  the 
English,  their  language  gave  to  the  colonists  several 
words  which  have  almost  become  a  part  of  our  Eng- 
lish vocabulary.  They  are  sucli  words  as  "wigwam," 
"squaw,"  "wampum,'"  "tomahawk,"  "sachem," 
etc.  The  words  in  the  Indian  vocabularies  were  few, 
and  it  became  often  necessary  for  them  to  express 
their  ideas  circuitously,  by  metaphors  aiid  other 
figures,  and  by  such  combinations  of  words,  as  printed 
in  English  books,  have  given  many  people  the  impres- 
sion that  the  aboriginal  languages  were  full  of  un- 
pronouncable,  ix>lysyllabic  words. 

Many  of  the  Indian  proper  names  were  combina- 
tions of  expressive  words  descriptive  of  the  localities 


named.  Thus  the  name  Sandusky  is  a  compound 
and  corrupted  word,  meaning,  originally,  "clear 
water,"  or,  more  literally  "water  not  concealing  the 
ground,"  or,  as  another  has  translated  it,  "  water  in 
pools."  Norwalk,  which  comes  from  the  Connecticut 
town  of  that  name,  is  another  compound  word, 
signifying  "middle-land,"  or,  like  the  Greek  Meso- 
potamia, "between  the  rivers."  Erie  signifies  "wild 
cat,"  ai  appropriate  title  for  one  of  the  fiercest  of 
the  native  tribes. 

Many  English  books  have  been  translated  into  these 
dialects  and  languages;  grammars  and  dictionaries 
have  been  written  of  the  tongues  of  several  of  the 
tribes,  and  comparative  philologists  have  sought,  by 
means  of  verljal  affinities,  to  trace  the  sources  and 
beginnings  of  the  American  races. 

There  is  no  subject  connected  with  aboriginal 
America  having  more  of  the  interest  of  unsolved 
mystery  than  this.  As  with  most  mysteries,  if  we 
could  lift  the  curtain  which  hides  from  us  the  genesis 
of  the  people  who  inliabited  the  continent  before  us, 
the  subject  would  lose  much  of  its  fascination. 

We  have  but  glanced  at  the  Fire-lands  of  pre- 
historic times.  A  hundred  things  might  still  be 
said,  and  yet  the  darkness  which  hides  from  our  con- 
ception the  state  of  a  country  whose  people  wrote  no 
history,  would  not  be  changed  to  twilight.    • 


CHAPTER    IX. 

THE  MORAVIAKT  MISSIONS. 

The  sect  known  as  Moravians  originated  in  Bohe- 
mia, and  though  always  insignificant  in  point  of  num- 
bers, and  none  of  them  remarkable  for  their  wealth, 
or  position,  or  learning,  they  have  never  been  lacking 
in  zeal  or  enthusiasm  in  extending  their  Master's  king- 
dom. Indeed,  taking  into  account  the  fewness  of  their 
numbers,  it  may  be  confidently  asserted  that  no  other 
denomination  of  christians  has  done  so  much  for  the 
missionary  cause.  Never  excelling  in  ability  or  skill 
in  elucidating  abstruse  and  difficult  problems  of  belief, 
they  have  sought  not  to  make  proselytes  among  tho.se 
already  well  grounded  in  the  cardinal  doctrines  of 
christian  faith,  but  to  teach  the  elementary  gospel 
religion  to  those  races  and  trilies  wlm  liad  not  yet  ])een 
converted  to  Christianity. 

To  the  prosecution  of  this  work  they  have  freely 
devoted  their  lives  and  fortunes,  and  no  country  has 
l)eeii  too  remote,  no  shore  too  forbidding  or  inhospita- 
ble to  prevent  their  planting  the  banner  of  the  cross, 
and  seeking  to  bring  under  its  folds  the  most  savage, 
barbarous  and  degraded  of  mankind. 

In  1732,  while  their  numl>er  was  less  than  four  hun- 
dred, they  began  their  missionary  work,  the  first  station 
estal)lished  being  at  St.  Thomas,  in  the  West  Indies, 
In  lT4(i.  they  esral)lislH'd  a  mission  among  the  Indians 
at  Hotlileliein.  I'cunsvhania  ;  but  as  tiio  Indians  were 


40 


HISTORY  OF  HUBON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


being  gnidually  driven  westwiird,  a  permanent  loca- 
tion was  impossible.  The  efforts  of  the  missionaries 
never  were  successful  in  civilizing  the  Indians  to  the 
degree  that  they  could  remain  in  contact  with  the 
whites,  without  being  corrupted  and  degi-aded.  To 
have  any  success  they  must  keep  in  advance  of  the 
wave  of  emigration.  In  1768  a  new  location  was 
sought  near  Oil  City,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1770  the 
congi'egation  removed  to  the  Beaver  river.  After 
remaining  here  for  a  year  or  more,  they  turned  their 
steps  westward  to  the  valley  of  the  Tiiscarawas,  near 
New  Philadelphia,  Ohio. 

Here,  in  this  pleasant  and  fertile  valley,  they 
thought  themselves  so  far  in  the  wilderness  that  they 
might  forever  remain  undisturbed.  They  built  cab- 
ins, cleared  away  the  forests,  tilled  the  soil,  and  wor- 
shiped God  in  peace  and  happiness.  Their  numbers 
increased  by  conversions  fr<3m  the  Indians  until  the 
settlement  contained  three  villages  named  Schoen- 
brunn,  Gnadenhutten  and  Salem.  But  though  exer- 
cising only  the  arts  of  peace,  keeping  aloof  fi-om  war 
and  strife,  and  patiently  submitting  to  wrong  without 
seeking  to  bestow  punishment  or  gratify  revenge,  they 
could  not  escape  persecution  and  martyrdom. 

They  were  distrasted  by  both  the  British  and  the 
Americans.  The  former  took  steps  to  break  up  their 
mission  and  bring  the  inhabitants  to  Detroit  as  pris- 
oners. It  was  a  sad  blow  to  the  peaceful  Christians 
to  be  forced  to  leave  their  homes  and  ungathered 
crops,  and,  in  a  long  journey  through  a  pathless  wil- 
derness, suffer  indignity,  cruelty  and  untold  hard- 
ships. The  following  spi-ing  (1782)  a  jwrtion  of  them 
obtained  permission  to  i-eturn  to  harvest  their  corn. 
Arriving  there,  a  terrible  fate  soon  befell  them.  A 
detachment  of  Americans  came  among  them,  and, 
seizing  a  favorable  opportunity,  rushed  upon  the 
defenceless  Indians  and  slaughtered  them  in  cold 
blood.  The  details  of  the  massacre  are  sickening  and 
horrible — it  being  one  of  the  most  unprovoked,  cruel 
and  bloody  deeds  in  the  annals  of  border  warfare. 

Those  that  had  remained  at  Detroit  sought  a  home 
in  Canada,  but,  after  staying  a  few  years  anting  the 
Chippewas,  their  hearts  yearned  for  their  old  home  on 
the  Tuscarawas,  and,  in  1780,  they  started  on  their 
return. 

Reaching  a  jxiint  on  the  Cuyahoga,  about  ten  miles 
from  Clevelaiiil  (in  Imk'iiendence  townshij)).  they  re- 
ceived intelligence  that  made  them  shrink  from  going 
further.  After  remaining  here  for  about  a  year,  they 
removed  westward,  and,  in  1787,  made  a  settlement 
on  the  Fire-lands  on  the  Huron  river,  about  two  miles 
north  of  Milan,  in  Erie  county.  But  the  country  was 
still  the  scene  of  war  and  Ijloodshed,  and.  after  re- 
maining five  or  six  years,  they  abandoned  their  settle- 
ment, and  again  sought  refuge  in  Canada,  where  tliey 
fo-.inded  a  settlement  on  the  river  Thames. 

In  1707,  congress,  mindful  of  their  iiast  wrongs. 
m:ule  grants  to  them  of  their  old  lands  on  the  Tus- 
carawas; a  porti(m  of  tlicni  returned,  aiul  the  mission- 
aries continued  their  labors.     But  the  contact  of  the 


whites  interfered  with  their  success,  and  some  of  them 
returned  to  Canada,  and  others,  among  them  Charles 
Dencke,  came  to  the  Huron  river  and  re-established 
the  mission.  This  was  in  1804,  and  they  remained 
about  five  years,  until  the  Fire-lands,  having  been  sur- 
veyed, the  white  settler  began  to  claim  the  lands  jjur- 
chased  from  the  Indians  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Industry, 
and  they,  the  missionaries  and  their  Indian  adherents, 
returned  to  Canada. 

The  mission  village  was  called  Pequotting,  or  Pay- 
nothing,  and  consisted  of  a  chapel,  mission  house,  and 
a  score  or  more  of  cabins,  some  of  which  were  after- 
ward used  by  the  white  settlers.  Here,  as  elsewhere, 
the  missionaries  taught  the  Indians  not  only  religion 
but  the  rudiments  of  education,  and,  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, were  successful  in  inducing  them  to  get  their 
food  by  cultivating  the  soil  instead  of  by  the  chase,  ta 
live  in  cabins,  and  to  leave  off  their  paint  and  feathers 
and  clothe  themselves  in  more  civilized  garb.  , 

Their  missionary,  Charles  Frederick  Dencke,  was 
born  in  Iceland,  his  father  being  a  missionary  to  that 
country.  Tradition  states  that  he  had  a  library  which 
filled  a  space  of  not  less  than  ten  feet  in  length  by 
six  feet  in  height,  and  occujiying  nearly  one  side  of 
his  log-cabin  at  Pequotting.  Surely,  the  man  who 
would  take  the  pains  to  transport  these  books  from 
place  to  place  under  so  many  difficulties,  could  not 
have  been  an  ignorant  or  uncultivated  man. 

It  is  stated  that  David  Zeisberger  was  here  dui'ing 
their  first  stay.  For  an  account  of  this  celebrated 
missionary,  and  his  co-laborers,  Heckewelder,  Post 
and  others,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  the  re.ider  to 
any  authentic  history  of  Ohio.  They  wei-e  not  the 
heroes  of  battles,  nor  winners  of  renown  in  the  noisy 
strife  of  civic  triumph.  They  cared  not  for  the  aji- 
plause  of  men,  but  in  a  humble  way,  in  an  obscure 
field,  in  years  of  lonely  wandering,  with  a  stnmg  faith 
that  sustained  them  in  many  a  trying  hour,  tliey 
sought  out  the  rude  savage  of  the  forest,  and  did  what 
they  could  to  civilize  and  elevate  him.  Is  it  not  best 
that  history  spares  them  a  jiage.  and  fame  keej)  their 
names  alive  ? 


CHAPTER   X. 

EAHLr   SETTLEMENT. 

The  survey  of  tlie  Fire-lands  having  been  comjdeted 
in  1808.  and  tlie  Indian  title  having  been  extinguished, 
many  peo])le  in  the  old  ('minecticut  began  to  think  of 
emigrating  to  the  new.  The  names  of  the  earlier  set- 
tlers, and  the  dates  of  their  arrival,  lU'c  given  with 
more  or  less  fullness  in  the  histories  of  the  different 
townships.  In  some  instances,  it  is  difficult  to  obtain 
accurate  information,  not  only  because  of  the  vague- 
ness of  memory,  and  the  imjjerfections  of  records,  but 
because  it  is  somcAvhat  difficult  at  this  period  to  dis- 
tinguish between  the  bona-Jlde  settler  and  the  mere 
s(|uatter.     This  latter  class  were  usually  first  upon  the 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


41 


ground.  It  w;is  raivlv  ilirtienlt  to  .«efUR'  tlit'ir  reniovul 
wlien  desired.  Civilized  society  and  regular  labor  wei-e 
an  aversion  to  them.  Tliey  loved  the  excitement  of 
the  chase  and  the  independence  of  forest  life,  and  the 
advent  of  cultivated  fields  was  in  general  the  signal 
for  their  disaiipearance.  Here  and  there  one  remained, 
living  in  a  hand-to-mouth  way,  doing  odd  Jobs  of  chop- 
l)ing,  planting  or  husking  for  himself  or  others,  but 
always  preferring  to  hunt  or  fish,  and  in  hahits,  tastes 
and  character  being  an  intermediate  link  between  the 
Indian  and  the  white  man.  Doubtless  some  of  this 
class  are  often  put  down  as  regular  settlers,  though  the 
classification  of  rights  was  not  made  until  Novemlier 
0.  1808. 

The  following  carefully  prejiared  table  shows  the 
date  of  settlement  of  the  different  townsiiips: 


HUROX   COrXTY. 


Nonvalk- 


]S10 

1811 

New  Haven 1811 

Townsend ...  1811 

Ridgefield 1812 

Sherman 1812 

Bronson 1814 

New  London 1815 

Peru 181S 


Fairfield  .. 
Norwich. . . 
Wakeman. 
Clarksfield. 
Greenwich 
Hartland  , 
Richmond. 
Ripley 


ERIE   COIXTY. 


Huron 1808  i   Milan. 

Vermillion 1808  '    Margan 

Danbury  (Ottawa  County)        ' ""   i    -    -     ■ 


1810 

1810 

O.^ford 1810 

Portland  1809      Florence 1811 

Groton ISOSi      Birmingham 1816 

Berlin 1810   I    Ruggles  (Ashland  County). ..  .183-3 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  first  settlements  were  made 
in  Erie  county.  Indeed,  some  of  these  townshijis  were 
settled  and  cleared  up  while  much  of  the  south  part 
of  Huron  county  was  yet  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. The  number  of  inhabitants  in  Milan  township, 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  1812,  is  stated  by  Mr. 
Fowler  to  have  been  two  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

It  will  already  have  been  noticed  that  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  settlers  of  the  Fire-lands,  like  those  of 
otiler  parts  of  the  Western  Reserve,  were  of  Connecti- 
cut birth.  This  gave  for  many  years  a  fixed  and 
homogeneous  character  to  tlie  population,  and,  though 
the  old  stock  has  given  way  to  younger  generations, 
the  old  traits  of  character  remain  to  a  great  extent 
unchanged. 

Here,  then,  in  18(.I9,  or  twenty-eight  yeai's  after  the 
burning  of  New  London,  and  thirty-three  years  after 
the  incursion  to  Danbury,  the  sufferers  could  begin  to 
see  the  end,  and  to  avail  themselves  to  some  extent  of 
the  long-sought  relief.  But  the  proportion  of  the  origi- 
nal losers  and  sufferers,  finally  benefited,  was  small. 
Death  had  thinned  their  ranks,  another  generation  was 
taking  their  place,  and,  of  those  still  living,  many  of 
them  with  hearts  sickened  by  long-deferred  hope,  and 
despairing  of  ever  receiving  anything,  or,  compelled  by 
the  stress  of  poverty,  had  sold  their  rights  for  a  pit- 
tance. Others,  vainly  striving  to  raise  the  money  to 
})ay  the  taxes  levied  to  meet  the  expenses  of  purcJiasing 
the  land  of  the  Indians  and  surveying  it,  were  unable 
to  do  so,  and  their  rights  sold.  At  best,  of  those  who 
were  able  to  retain  their  interests,  but  few  would  care 
to  remove  to  a  distant  wilderness,  and  so,  in  one  way 


and  aiiotla-r.  much  of  the  smaller  interests  were  ali- 
sorlied  by  the  larger,  and  if  not,  most  of  tiie  Fiiv-lands 
l»assed  into  the  hands  of  comparatively  a  few  indi- 
viduals, who  had  the  means  to  profit  by  the  necessities 
of  those  less  favored  by  fortune.  Indeed,  there  is  but 
little  doubt  but  that,  previous  to  the  passage  of  the 
grant,  many  of  the  rights  had  been  bought  up  on 
speculation  for  trifiing  sums.  It  is  certain  that  up  to 
that  time  immigrants  were  rapidly  arriving.  The  war 
of  1812  checked  for  a  temporary  period  the  infiux  of 
settlers.  In  fact,  many  of  them  aliandoned  their  im- 
provements and  fled  t(3  a  ])lace  of  safety,  some  of  them 
never  returning. 

It  would  be  a  difficult  task  to  i)ictnre,  to  the  mind 
of  the  reader  living  in  an  age  of  railroads  and  tele- 
graphs, the  difficulties  and  hardships  attending  a  jour- 
ney from  Connecticut  to  Ohio  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century.  A  distance  that  is  now  traversed  in 
twenty-four  hours,  required,  then,  a  journey  of  weary 
weeks  and  months.  There  was  no  means  of  instanta- 
neous communication;  even  the  turnpike  and  stage 
coach  were  thought  of  only  as  among  the  possibilities 
of  the  future.  Indeed,  at  thi.~:  )irc.<ent  time,  one  can 
traverse  the  globe,  not  only  with  greater  (.-(mifort  and 
safety,  but  consume  but  a  little  more  time  than  was 
then  necessary  to  ti-avel  from  Connecticut  to  the  Fire- 
lands.  The  boat  poled  up  the  Mohawk;  the  skiff 
rowed  along  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  scarce  daring  to 
venture  on  its  treacherous  waters;  the  wagon  drawn 
by  the  slow  plodding  oxen  through  pathless  forests,  and 
fording,  as  best  they  could,  the  bridgeless  streams, — 
these  were  the  means  of  communication  between  the 
east  and  the  west  in  those  days.  Nor  do  they,  upon 
their  arrival,  find  anything  prepared  for  their  comfort 
ov  their  safety.  Their  lot  is  cast  in  the  wilderness,  and 
toil,  danger  and  privation  must  l)e  their  pcu'tion  for 
many  years  to  come.  The  wild  beast  is  yet  in  the  for- 
est, and  the  Indian  still  lingers  on  his  old  jninting 
ground,  generally  peaceable,  indeed.  Iwt  at  times 
spreading  consternation  along  the  Ijorder,  and  at  best 
an  (jbject  of  suspicion  and  distrust.  Many  a  night  is 
passed  in  terror,  many  a  day  in  weary  suspense.  Stout 
hearts  grow  weak,  and  not  a  few  seek  safety  in  removal 
or  flight.  No  wonder,  then,  that  among  tiie  pioneers 
of  the  Fire-lands  were  found  so  many  men  of  strong 
frames,  robust  health  and  indomitable  will.  The 
fittest  only  could  stand  tlie  journey  and  the  subseijuent 
life — the  weak  and  puny  must  remain  behind. 

The  damp  woods  and  marshes  were  full  of  malari- 
onti  jioisons,  and  the  strongest  were  not  proof  airainst 
insidious  fevers  which  sapi)ed  their  strength  and  laid 
them  low  on  beds  of  pain  and  deatii. 

Did  they  never  repme,  and  mourn  for  their  old 
homes  and  associations  so  far  away,  and  curse  the  evil 
iiour  they  were  induced  to  leave  them?  It  would  be 
strange  if  there  were  not  those  among  them  that  did 
so.  But  there  was  little  time  for  the  settler  to  spend 
in  vain  regrets.  He  must  work  or  starve.  His  long 
journey  from  the  east  accomplished,  he  found  himself 
too  late  to  raise  any  cro])s  the  first  vear.     For  his  food 


i-i 


HISTOliY  OF  IIUKON  AND  EIUE  COUM'IE.S,  OHIO. 


he  must  ilqK'ud  on  wimt  he  had  Iji-ought  with  him, 
what  he  euukl  i)nrohase  of  his  neighbors,  and  hist,  Init 
1)V  no  means  least,  what  he  eould  kill  with  his  rifie. 
He  must  huild  a  ealiin  for  the  shelter  of  himself  and 
his  faniily.  inelosures  to  jiroteet  his  stoek  from  tiie 
wolf  and  the  liear:  then,  for  years,  with  an  exjierienee 
only  varied  by  a  little  j)lauting  and  caring  for  crops, 
an  occasional  trip  to  the  distant  store  or  mill,  year  in 
andj-earout,  he  mitst  labor  with  hi.-s  axe,  felling  the  trees 
which  covered  the  land,  one  by  one  ;  splitting  some 
into  rails  to  fence  his  crops,  but  generally  rolling  them 
together  and  burning.  It  is  worth  while  to  descri))e 
his  house-building,  farming  operations  and  mode  of 
life  more  in  detail. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

PIONEER  TIMES. 

A  DESCRIPTION-  of  a  pioneer  log-caljin  and  of  the 
pioneer  home-life,  may  not  lie  without  its  interest  to 
the  reader  of  the  present  day. 

The  location  of  the  cabin  decided  upon,  the  space 
cleared  away,  and  suitable  timber  having  been  selected, 
felled,  partially  hewn,  and  cut  into  proper  lengths,  it 
remained  to  "raise"  the  cabin.  Word  having  been 
given  out,  the  settlers  for  miles  around  gathered  to 
their  new  neighbor's  clearing,  glad  to  lend  a  helping 
hand.  A  man  of  experience  in  such  matters  was 
selected  as  captain  or  leader;  other  expert  men,  axe  in 
hand,  were  posted  at  the  corners  to  cut  saddles  or 
notches  in  the  logs  that  they  might,  lie  more  firmly 
and  closer  together,  tlie  ends  of  the  logs  often  over- 
lapping and  projecting  for  a  foot  or  more.  The  logs 
having  been  previously  drawn  to  a  convenient  nearness 
by  oxen,  to  the  major  part  of  the  company  was  assigned 
the  duty  of  conveying  the  logs  to  the  intended  struc- 
ture ;  sometimes  the  coml)ined  strength  of  the  party 
sutticcd  to  lift  theni  up  and  carry  them,  but  oftener 
skids  and  handspikes  were  called  into  use;  in  either 
case  the  work  was  done  with  a  will  scarce  needing  the 
energetic  tones  and  sharp  commands  constantly  used 
by  the  leader.  Accidents  were  not  uncommon;  severe 
strains  often  resulted  from  one  man  trying  to  out-do 
another,,  while  sometimes  a  log  slipped  or  fell,  striking 
a  man  down  in  its  descent,  and  breaking  his  leg  or 
arm.  The  log-carriers  were  sometimes  divided  into 
squads,  or  parties,  each  having  a  particular  end  to  keep 
up,  and  the  resulting  rivalry  made  the  task  a  short 
one,  the  building  being  rarely  over  a  single  story  in 
height.  The  cabin  fairly  raised,  and  the  roof  pole«  put 
in  position,  the  remaining  work  of  finishing  the  cabin 
could  be  performed  more  leisurely  without  the  help  of 
so  many  hands.  The  whisky  to  which  they  had  re- 
sorted for  refreshment  during  their  labors  was  drank 
more  freely  than  ever,  and  its  stimulating  effect  began 
to  l)e  visible  im  many  of  the  company.  Quiet  men 
gri'W  loud  and  l)oisterous;  modest  men  l)oastfnl  ami  iir- 
royaii'  :    jieaceful,  orderly  men   became   (|iiarrelsoine 


and  \  indietive.  and  instances  occurred  wiiere  the  pleas- 
ant party  of  the  early  day  ended  in  a  general  row;  but 
it  is  simple  justice  to  the  early  settler  to  say  tiiat 
the  evil  effects  of  whisky  drinking  were  much   more 

to  drink  freely  was  the  custom  of  the  tinier,  and  such 
a  thing  as  total  al)stinence  almost  unheard  of.  The 
stimulus  was  rarely  so  potent  as  to  lead  them  into 
other  exces.ses  than  rough  sports  and  games  and  rivalry 
in  feats  of  strength  and  agility. 

The  roof  .was  made  by.layijig  small  logs  or  saplings, 
the  tamarack  being  often  used,  which  were  placetl 
lengthwise.  These  formed  a  sujiport  for  the  shingles 
or  "shakes,"  as  they  were  often  called.  These  were 
much  longer  than  the  shingles  of  later  years,  and, 
when  laid,  about  three  feet  was  exposed  to  the 
weather.  They  were  generally  rived  or  split  out  of 
straight-grained,  full-grown  wljite-oak  trees.  Xails 
being  then  almost  unknown,  and  those  few-  forged  by 
hand,  their  use  was  out  of  the  question,  and  the 
shingles  were  secured  by  laying  poles  or  logs  to  keep 
them  in  position.  The  chimney  was  often  comj)osed 
of  "cats  and  clay,"  the  cats  in  question  not  being  the 
familiar  household  tabby,  but  small  sticks  split  to  a 
regular  size.  The  base  was  formed  of  stone,  often 
undressed  bowlders,  and  on  this  superstructure  the 
chimney  was  built,  generally  outside,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  cabin,  the  cats  forming  a  frame  work  which 
was  heavily  daubed  and  plastered  with  clay.  As  for 
openings,  the  door  usually  was  rived  planks,  unless- 
the  neighborhood  was  the  happy  possessor  of  a 
•■thunder-gust"  saw-mill.  The  hinges  and  latches 
were  made  of  wood.  Glass  was  a  luxury  rarely  met 
with.  Sometimes  greased  paper  served  as  a  substi- 
tute, and  the  windows  were  small,  the  usually  open 
door  being  another  medium  for  the  admission  of  lighr. 
Often,  for  months,  the  ground  served  for  a  floor,  liut. 
after  a  time,  boards  or  "puncheons"  were  split  out 
for  that  purpose;  they  were  hewed  a  little,  conse- 
quently they  were  never  very  smooth,  often  quite 
shaky.  Holes  were  bored  in  the  logs  and  pegs  driven 
in,  on  which  to  hang  the  various  articles  of  wearing 
apparel  and  household  use — a  place  to  hang  the  ritle 
not  being  forgotten.  These  pegs  served  as  a  support 
for  .shelves  and  even  for  lieds.  But  regular  bedsteads, 
cheap  and  common  enough  looking  these  days.  wei'C 
soon  introduced,  many  settlers  l.iringing  them  with 
them  from  Connecticut,  and.  for  the  children. 
"trundle-beds"  were  in  common  use.  I'he  caliin 
generally  consisted  of  but  a  single  room.  In  tlie 
warmer  months  much  of  the  work  of  cooking.  wa.~ii- 
ing,  etc.,  was  performed  outside,  under  the  friendly 
shade  of  .some  convenient  tree.  At  other  times  the 
one  room  served  the  jiurpose  of  kitchen,  dining-room, 
parlor,  closet  and  bed-room  combined.  The  larger 
boys  generally  slept  in  the  garret,  access  being  had  by 
a  flight  6{  rude  stairs  or  a  ladder:  and  in  the  winter 
sea.son  the  snow  often  found  its  Way  between  tin' 
loo.sely  placed  shingles,  so  tliat  in  going  to  bed  they 
"made  tracks'"  with   alacritv.     Rude  benches,  h  ng 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


enough  to  seat  two  or  three  persons,  made  of  planks 
si)lit  and  shaved,  served  as  cliairs.  In  tlie  plank, 
holes  were  bored  and  sticks  inserted,  to  serve  as  legs 
or  supports.  Household  utensils  were  as  scanty  as 
the  furniture,  a  single  pot  or  skillet  often  having  to 
do  duty  many  times  over  in  preparing  a  meal.  Tin- 
ware was  scarce  and  dear,  stoves  of  course  unknown, 
and  as  for  saving  fuel,  that  was  of  but  little  moment, 
the  huge  fire-places  admitting  a  stick  as  long  and  as 
heavy  as  a  man  would  care  to  carry. 

The  tire  on  the  hearth  is  one  of  tlie  i)leasant  memo- 
ries of  early  days;  on  a  winter's  evening,  with  familiar 
faces  grouped  around,  the  scene  is  most  inviting.  Is 
the  sacrifice  of  old  comforts  to  modern  plans  always 
without  loss?  The  bright  light  of  the  blazing  logs 
often  rendered  candles  or  lamps  unnecessary,  and  the 
fire  being  easily  kept  up  and  rarely  suffered  to  die  out 
for  months  together,  the  modern  inventiim  of  matches, 
now  indispensable,  was  more  easily  got  along  without. 
Clocks  were  the  luxxiry  of  the  few,  but  were-  a  few 
years  later  introduced  and  sold  at  high  prices  by  ped- 
dlers, the  housewife  noting  the  hours  by  the  sunlight 
streaming  through  the  open  door  or  window  and  cast- 
ing a  shadow  of  the  wall  upon  the  floor. 

The  food  of  the  settler  was  "johnny-cake"  and  mush, 
or  bread  of  coarsely-ground  flour  or  meal,  ililk  was 
freely  used,  butter  often  dispensed  with  and  rarely  of 
the  best  ((uality,  and  cheese  unknown.  Pork  and 
venison  were  always  at  hand;  wild  turkey,  squirrel  and 
other  game  easy  to  obtain.  Sugar  from  the  maple  was 
freipiently  to  be  had,  and  tea  and  coffee  were  often 
replaced  by  decoctions  of  sassafras,  si^ice-bush  and 
jiarched  corn.  As  for  food,  the  variety  and  manner  of 
cooking  were  quite  tolerable  to  those  settlers  fortunate 
in  having  a  good  start  and  a  little  money,  otherwise 
they  often  suffered  for  necessaries,  and  being  jiut  on 
short  rations  was  not  an  uncommon  experience. 

In  respect  to  clothing,  the  contrast  with  the  present 
time  was  more  noticeable.  Deerskin  was  largely  used 
for  men's  clothing.  It  would  wear  a  long  time,  but  its 
adaptability  was  sadly  lessened  by  the  ease  with  which  it 
would  absorb  water.  A  man  getting  a  pair  of  deerskin 
trousers  thoroughly  wet  would  soon  find  them  length- 
ened and  dangling  at  his  heels  so  as  to  seriously 
interfere  with  locomotion,  and,  after  hanging  them  up 
to  dry  at  night,  would,  on  the  following  morning,  find 
them  almost  as  stiff  as  if  made  of  cast  iron. 

The  loom  and  si)inning  wheel  were  found  in  every 
household,  and  the  women,  besides  making  and  knit- 
ting yarn,  made  cloth  of  flax  and  wool,  often  com- 
Ijining  the  ditt'erent  materials  into  a  coarse  fabric 
known  as  linsey-Wdnlsey.  The  barks  of  trees  fur- 
nished coloring  matter,  and  the  making  of  the  gar- 
ments was  completed  witlKJUt  calling  into  recpiisition 
any  greater  skill  than  the  household  afforded.  But 
these  '•home  manufacturers"  could  not  "compete" 
with  tile  "iiau per  labor"  of  New  England;  and  first 
came  the  calicoes  and  brown  muslins,  dear  at  first, 
doubly  so  from  cost  of  transportation,  handling,  and 
especially  from  the  scarcity,  but  very  soon  so  cheap  no 


one  could  afford  to  invest  money  to  make  them.  Not 
long  afterwards  satinets  and  jeans  wei-e  intrudticed  for 
men's  wear,  and  very  soim  the  louni  had  no  fuither 
place  in  the  household,  and  the  spinning  wheel  was 
soon  afterward  laid  aside.  More  recently  the  sewing 
machine,  books  of  patterns,  and  ready-made  boots,  hats 
and  clothing  have  come  into  general  use, — the  lattei- 
commodity  no  longer  content  with  becoming  tlie  aji- 
parel  of  men,  but  of  women  also. 

The  settler  provided  with  shelter,  the  work  of  clear- 
ing, grubbing  and  burning  away  the  forest  and  inclos- 
ing his  fields  must  be  commenced.  This  is  to  be  his 
main  vocation,  especially  in  the  winter  season,  for  long 
years  to  come.  He  must  rise  early  and  work  late,  nor 
is  the  labor  itself  easy  or  inviting.  As  timber  and 
wood  have  no  marketable  value,  they  are  simply  an 
incumbrance  to  be  got  rid  of;  occasionally,  however,  a 
fine  tree  is  saved  for  rails  or  other  use.  The  manner 
of  clearing,  too,  is  different  from  that  of  later  years. 
A  shorter,  less  laborious  method  must  be  adopted — 
the  labor  of  felling  the  trees  is  often  avoided  ])y  "gird- 
ling" or  "deadening"  them.  The  ascent  of  the  sap 
being  arrested  by  cutting  notches  entirely  around  the 
trunk,  the  tree  dies,  and  the  trunk  Ijecomes  dry  and 
is  burned  in  much  less  time,  than  if  it  was  felled  in  the 
first  instance  and  allowed  to  lie  on  the  damp  ground; 
and  besides,  after  a  time  many  of  the  trunks  are  blown 
over,  and  the  labor  of  chopping  them  down  avoided. 
Some  trees,  the  beech  and  maple  for  instance,  begin  to 
topple  and  fall  after  the  third  year. 

Grain  and  other  crops  were  often  raised  in  the 
girdling.  After  a  time  the  number  of  fallen  trunks 
interferes  with  cultivation,  and  selecting  a  dry  time, 
they  are  set  fire  to.  This  burning  is  systematically 
done;  a  hundred  fires  are  set,  and  the  woods  and  skies 
are  soon  darkened  by  the  smoke.  To  watch  and  tend 
the  fires,  to  cut  down,  an  occasional  "stub"  which  is 
left  standing,  is  the  work  of  the  settler,  which  is  pro- 
longed far  into  the  night,  when  the  bright  flames  light 
up  the  surrounding  forests,  and  make  a  scene  of  beauty 
upon  which  he  loves  to  linger  and  look.  In  order  to 
facilitate  the  burning  of  the  larger  logs,  fires  are  set 
at  different  points  so  as  to  burn  them  in  two.  In 
some  places  this  is  called  "niggering."  When  the 
work  is  sufficiently  advanced,  the  settler  invites  his 
neighbors,  who  turn  out  with  the  same  alacrity  and 
willingness  they  would  to  a  raising.  With  long  hand- 
spikes, the  burning  logs  are  rolled  together  into  great 
hea])s.  Working  in  the  smoke,  treading  on  hot  ashes 
and  emliers,  facing  blazing  fires,  and  at  the  same  time 
exerting  all  the  strength  they  possess,  the  task  is  no 
light  or  easy  one;  but  the  work  is  done  with  a  will,  and  a 
hearty  "now  all  together"  that  shows  them  in  earnest. 
The  task  accomplished,  the  scene  is  often  changed 
into  merry-making;  a  hearty  supper  is  jirepared,  and 
liquid  refreshments  are  not  wanting,  .  Though  the 
wood  or  timber  has  no  marketable  value,  the  ashes 
are  scra]ied  u])  and  placed  in  rude  conical  boxes,  flaring 
at  the  top,  and  made  of  staves.  Water  is  i)oured  in 
at  the  to]),  and,  leaching  through,  the  lye  thus  formed 


44 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AKD  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


is  carefully  saved,  ami  after  Ijoiliiijf  in  hiiLie  irun  [Kits 
forms  "lilack  salts,"  from  which  potash  is  niaile.  It 
was  sold  in  the  form  of  lilack  salts,  wliirli  had 
tlie  important  quality  of  considerable  \alue  in  so 
little  weight  or  bulk  that  it  eould  be  transported 
to  the  distant  eastern  markets.  The  sale  of  this  pro- 
duet  was  one  of  the  few  resources  whicli  tlie  early 
settler  had  to  obtain  money.  The  soil  of  the  field 
thus  burned  off  was,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say,  of  great 
fertility,  and  enormous  crops  were  often  i-iiised.  But 
plowing  and  caring  for  crops  was  hard  work  among 
the  roots,  stones  and  stumi)s;  tools  and  implements 
were  rudely  fashioned  and  imi)erfect.  It  was  the  days 
of  reaping  hooks  and  hand  rakes;  and  the  grain, 
slowly  gathered,  was  taken  to  the  barn,  and  the  work 
of  pounding  it  out  with  flails  remains  to  be  done. 
Nor  was  the  work  of  converting  into  flour  less  formid- 
able. At  first,  a  pestle  and  mortar  were  used,  worked 
liy  hand  with  a  .spring-pole,  but  the  i)ioneers  of  the 
Fire-lands  had  but  little  experience  of  this  kind.  With 
a  bag  of  gram  upon  his  horse,  the  settler  would  go 
ten,  twenty,  yes,  forty  miles  through  the  lonely  woods 
to  the  nearest  mill — a  rude  affair  of  Small  capacity — 
and  return  after  an  absence  of  three  or  four  days  con- 
sumed 'in  the  slow  traveling  of  the  times,  and  in 
waiting  for  his  turn,  and  in  a  few  weeks'  time  he 
would  have  to  make  another  trip.  No  wonder  then 
that  the  establishment  of  a  mill  in  a  settlement  was 
hailed  as  a  godsend. 

Bountiful  crops  did  not  always  reward  the  husband- 
man. The  raccoon,  the  squirrel  and  the  woodchuck 
were  sometimes  of  the  opinion  that  the  growing  corn 
was  their  private  property.  Traps  must  lie  set.  and 
hunts  organized  to  catch  them  and  put  a  stop  to  their 
depredations,  and  high  and  stout  fences  must  lie  built 
■to  keep  out  larger  animals,  hogs,  cattle  and  deer. 

The  csire  of  live  stock  was  no  small  matter.  Sheep 
had  to  be  penned  every  night  to  keep  them  from  the 
wolves,  and  every  once  in  a  while  a  bear  would  carry 
off  a  pig  in  broad  daylight.  Full  grown  cattle  ranged 
the  woods  with  l)ut  little  fear  from  attack  by  wild  ani- 
mals. They  were  generally  provided  with  bells,  so 
that  they  could  be  the  more  easily  found  at  night. 
But  the  forest-covered  country  furnished  but  little 
l)astiirage.  In  cold  weather  the  slender  supply  of  hay 
and  cornstalks  was  soon  exhausted,  and  the  cattle, 
gaunt  as  skeletons,  were  turned  into  the  woods  to 
browse  among  the  underl)rush  and  tree-tops  of  the 
clearings,  and  in  the  spring  and  summer  were  often 
poisoned  by  eating  noxious  herbs  and  shrubs.  That 
terrible  mysterious  scourge,  milk-sickness,  sometimes 
made  its  appearance,  and  brought  suffering  and  death 
into  the  settler's  cabins.  Malarious  diseases  were  more 
prevalent  than  now.  The  damp  woods  and  f resh-t  urned 
fields  were  full  of  fever  poisons.  Skilled  physicians 
were  few  and. of  ten  many  miles  away.  But  the  lot  of 
the  pioneer  was  not  altogether  lonely  and  clieerless. 
(■onii>anionship  was  not  wanting:  other  settlers  soon 
anived.  and  they  assisted  one  another  in  their  toils 
with  light  hearts  and  merry  rivalry.     The  raising  of  a 


cabin,  the  oiieniug  of  a  mad.  tlie  lug-rollmg  and  burn- 
ing, and  the  luisking-l)ee,  were  the  signal  for  all  to 
gather  together  and  turn  the  hardest  tasks  into  sport, 
while  the  coon-hunt,  the  election  and  the  training  day 
were  not  forgotten.  Nur  was  the  rustic  dance  neg- 
lected. On  the  rude  rtnors  of  the  cabins,  the  pioneer 
youth  and  his  sweet-heart,  clad  not  in  l)roadcloth  or  in 
silks,  but  in  half  tanned  deer-skin  or  coar.se  homespun, 
ranged  them.selves,  bright  and  expectant,  for  the  lively 
notes  of  the  violin.  A  few  tallow  candles  lent  a  dim 
and  glimmering  light,  but  the  bright  cheeks  of  the 
maidens  did  not  need  the  shade  ;  the  color  would  bear 
the  strongest  light.  The  dance  begins,  and  the  cares 
of  field  and  kitchen  are  soon  forgotten.  Soft  eyes 
met  loving  glances,  and  the  hours  sjied  away  as  if  on 
golden  wings. 


CHAPTER     XI 


CIVIL  HISTORY. 


TKl'MBrLi.  county  wa- 
government,    December 


ilished  by  the  territorial 
,S(ili.  It  included  the 
whole  of  the  Western  Reserve.  Prior  to  that  time,  so 
much  of  the  Reserve  as  lay  east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  the 
P(n-tage  path  and  the  Tuscarawas  river,  was  included 
in  Washington  county,  which  was  established  July  20. 
1788.  Eight  years  "later,  Angust  15,  1796,  that  part 
of  the  Reserve  lying  west  of  said  line  was  constituted 
a  part  of  Wayne  county. 

Geauga  county  was  erected  by  an  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture passed  December  31,  ISo.i.  by  which  aiul  subse- 
ipient  acts  it  is  supposed  that  a  parr  of  the  Fire-lands 
was  included  in  its  limits. 

Portage  county  was  formed  from  Trumbull  county, 
February  10,  1807,  and  that  i.ortion  of  the  Reserve 
lying  west  of  the  Cuyahoga  river  and  south  of  town- 
ship number  five  was  attached  to  Portage  county  for 
judicial  purposes. 

Huron  county  was  created  by  the  act  of  Feliruary 
7,  1809,  and  included  all  of  the  Fire-lands,  to  be 
organized  when  the  legislature  should  deem  proper; 
l)ut,  for  the  time,  to  remain  as  it  then  was.  attached 
to  Portage  and  Gc'auga  for  judicial  purjjoses.  By  the 
same  act,  Almon  Ruggles  was  appointed  recorder  of 
Huron  county,  and  to  continue  such  until  the  county 
organization  should  be  iierfected:  and  the  recorders  of 
Geauga  and  Trumbull  counties  were  to  deliver  to  him 
all  books  and  records  relating  to  the  county  of  Huion. 

Cuyahoga  county  was  organized  January  li'>.  ISKi. 
and  Huron  county  attached  to  it  for  judicial  pur|>oses. 

January  22,  1811,  the  limits  of  Huron  county  were 
enlarged,  the  east  line  being  moved  ea.stward  so  as  to 
include  a  considerable  part  of  what  is  now  Lorain 
county,  the  Ixiundary  being  changed  .so  as  to  extend 
from  the  luirtheast  corner  of  town  four  of  the  twenti- 
eth range  to  the  .southwest  corner  of  town  five  of  the 
sixteenth  range,  tJience  north  to  the  northwest  cornei- 
of  town  six. in  the  sixteenth  range,  thence  west  to  tlie 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


middle  of  Black  river,  and  thence,  following  that 
stream,  to  Lake  Erie.  The  Ohio  legislature,  by  a 
resolution  adopted  on  the  29th  of  January,  1811, 
'api)oiuted  Ephraim  Quinl^y  of  Trumlnill.  Joseph 
Clark  of  Geauga,  and  Solomon  Griswold  of  Ashtabula 
county,  as  commissioners  to  locate  a  county  seat. 
They  selected  a  site  on  the  farm  of  David  Aljbott,  in 
the  township  of  Avery,  and  near  the  present  village  of 
Milan. 

On  January  31.  1811.  an  act  was  passed  further  or- 
ganizing Huron  county,  but  the  war  with  England 
prevented  it  from  being  carried  out,  until  January  31, 
1815.  The  first  court  of  common  pleas  was  held  at 
the  county  seat,  in  Avery  township,  (now  Milan,) 
George  Tod,  presiding  judge,  and  Jabez  Wright,  Ste- 
phen Meeker  and  Joseph  Strong,  associates.  Com- 
plaint ha\ing  been  made  that  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  was  unsuitable,  the  legislature  was  induced, 
on  the  2Cth  day  of  January.  1818,  to  ajjpoiut  Abra- 
ham Tappan,  of  Geauga,  William  Wetmore,  of  Port- 
age, and  Elias  Lee,  of  Cuyahoga  county,  as  commis- 
sioners to  view  the  present  seat  of  justice  of  Huron 
county,  and  to  investigate  the  claims  of  other  localities, 
and  if  they  should  consider  that  the  interests  of  the 
county  require  it,  were  authorized  to  remove  it  to  such 
a  jilace  as  in  their  judgment  might  he  more  suitable. 

The  proprietors  of  Norwalk  were  much  interested 
in  securing  a  report  in  favor  of  their  infant  village, 
and  were  not,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  backward  in  pre- 
senting its  claims,  which  they  did  with  so  much  suc- 
cess that  the  commissioners  decided  in  their  favor  and 
removed  the  county  seat  thither. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  Huron 
county  was  held  at  the  county  seat,  in  Avery,  on 
August  1,  1815,  at  the  house  of  David  Abbott.  The 
commissioners  were  Caleb  Palmer,  Charles  Parker 
and  Eli  S.  Barnum  ;  Ichabod  Marshall  was  apjiointed 
clerky;;-o  fern.  AViijah  Comstock  was  iippointed  county 
treasurer. 

Among  the  townships  set  off  were  the  following: 

Vermillion,  to  comprise  the  whole  of  the  twentieth 
range,  together  with  all  that  tract  of  country  l^elong- 
ing  to  Huron  county,  east  of  the  twentieth  range. 

Greenfield,  to  comprise  townships  numbers  two  and 
three  in  the  twenty-first,  twenty-second,  twenty-third 
and  twenty-fourth  ranges. 

New  Haven,  to  comprise  townships  uuuiIxt  one, 
in  tlie  twenty-first,  twenty-second,  twenty-third  and 
t wcnty-f ourth  ranges. 

The  commissioners  decided  at  this  meeting  that  the 
bounty  for  killing  wolves  in  the  county  of  Huron  to  be 
paid  Ijy  said  county  shall  )je:  For  each  wolf  scalp  more 
than  six  months  old,  two  dollars;  for  each  wolf  scalp 
less  than  six  months  old,  one  dollar.  They  also 
ordered  that  the  Iniilding  at  the  county  seat  which 
hitherto  had  been  occupied  as  a  school  house,  should, 
for  the  future,  l)e  used  for  a  court  lu)useand  gaol  until 
other  arrangements  could  be  made. 

The  second  Ijoard  of  commissioners  consisted  of 
Nathan  Cuniinin!<.  for  one  vcar:   Frederick  Fallev.  tVi|- 


two  years;  and  Bildad  Adams,  for  three  years;  the 
length  of  service  being  determined  by  lot,  and  ap- 
pointed Frederick  Falley  as  their  clerk.  The  meeting 
was  held  at  the  house  of  David  Al^ljott,  Esq.,  at  the 
county  seat,  on  the  first  Monday  of  Decemljer,  1815. 

The  following  townships  were  ordered  set  off:  Ridge- 
field,  comprising  the  townships  of  Ridgefield,  Lyme, 
the  south  half  of  Oxford,  together  with  the  township 
of  Sherman;  Bloomingville,  comprising  Perkins  and 
fractions  Ijetween  that  and  Sandusky  Bay  and  the 
north  half  of  Oxford;  Margaretta,  comprising  Patter- 
son, the  fraction  between  that  and  Sandusky  Bay, 
Danbury  and  the  island  in  the  bay  and  lake. 

At  this  meeting  committees  were  appointed  to  lay 
out  ten  different  roads,  and  Lyman  Farwell  was  ap- 
pointed collector  of  county  taxes  and  levies  for  the 
year  1816,  and  Abijali  Comstock  was  appointed  treas- 
urer and  gave  bond  for  three  thousand  dollars,  with 
David  Abbott  and  John  Hack  as  sureties.  June  8, 
1816,  the  treasurer's  report  was  sul)mitted  :  Total  re- 
ceipts for  the  year,  two  thousand  six  hundred  and 
fifty-three  dollars  and  eleven  cents;  total  expenditures, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-three  dollars  and 
ninety-five  cents;  l)alance  in  the  treasury,  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  dollars  and  sixteen  cents. 

The  order  of  notice  for  proposals  to  be  received  for 
building  a  court  house  and  gaol  is  in  the  following 
words:  "Notice  is  hereby  given  that  proposals  will  be 
received  for  the  building  of  a  brick  court  house  and  a 
gaol  by  the  commissioners  of  the  county  of  Huron  at 
the  next  court  of  common  pleas  to  be  holden  in  and 
for  the  county  of  Huron  on  the  third  Tuesday  of 
October  next  of  said  court,  at  which  time  and  place  a 
plan  of  said  buildings  will  be  exhibited,  and  time 
made  known  for  the  completion  of  the  same.  Fred- 
erick Falley,  Eljenezer  Merry,  Bildad  Adams,  commis- 
sioners. Attest:  David  Abbott,  Clerk."  The  com- 
missioners ordered  that  the  notice  be  inserted  in  a 
paper  published  at  Columbus,  and  in  the  Tnonp  of 
Fame,  for  three  weeks  prerious  to  the  time  of  receiv- 
ing proposals,  and  also  that  notice  l>e  given  in  four 
public  places  by  advertisements. 

February  8,  1817,  the  township  of  Danl)ury  was  set 
off  from  Margaretta  (to  include  the  islands),  and 
Bronson  and  Norwalk  were  set  off  from  Hui'on.  under 
the  name  of  Norwalk. 

Township  five  in  the  twentieth  range  wa.s  set  off 
from  Vermillion,  to  be  called  Florence.  Townships 
one,  two,  three,  four  and  five,  in  twenty-first  range, 
were  set  oft',  under  the  name  ..r  Eldriil-e,  April "3, 
1817. 

The  l)uilding  of  the  court  house  and  jail  l>eiug  put 
up  at  auction.  Ebeiu-zer  Merry  was  the  lowest  bid- 
der— seven  hundred  dollars  for  erecting  the  frame  of 
the  niurt  house  and  jail  and  tiie  underpinMing  for  the 
sanu'. 

April  23,  1817.  Merry  contracted  to  furnish  fifteen 
thousand  feet  of  boards,  for  finishing  the  court  house, 
at  twelve  dollars  j.er  flions;,u.l. 


46 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


June  S,  1817.— Abijah  Comstock,  Treasurer,  Da. 

ToStatetax 81,535  84 

To  county  tax 258  99 

To  permits  and  licenses 121'  11 

To  old  balance **13  15 

To  onler  on  Cuyahoga  county 613  59 

To  order  on  auditor  tor  three  per  cent,  money 150  00 

3,492  68 
C"R. 

Orders  redeemed $2,195  42 

For  per  centage S"  ^1 

Balance  due  the  county  on  settlement $1,209  45 

Sei)teniljer  11,  1819.  it  was  ordered  that  tlie  name 
of  Wheatsborough  be  changed  to  Lyme.  February 
16.  1820,  the  commissioners  ordered  that  tliere  should 
be  no  more  Indians'  accounts  audited. 

June,  lS'i'2,  the  wolf  bounty  was  fixed  at  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents  for  each  wolf  over  six  months  old,  and 
seventy-five  cents  for  those  under  that  age. 

August  12, 1818,  it  was  ordered  by  the  commissioners 
that  notice  be  given  that  the  coijimissioners  will,  on 
the  first  ilonday  of  December  following,  receive  pro- 
posals for  a  court  house,  forty  by  thirty  feet,  and  a  jail; 
and  on  the  7th  of  December  following,  the  commis- 
sioners purchased  a  building  of  David  Underbill  &  Co. 
for  a  court  house,  for  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  and 
forty-eight  dollars. 

March  I,  1819,  the  commissioners  contracted  with 
Piatt  Benedict  to  build  a  jail,  twenty-four  by  forty-six 
feet,  two  stories  high,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars. 

The  first  term  of  court  was  held  at  the  old  county 
seat,  in  October.  1815,  the  first  recorded  cause  being 
an  action  by  John  James  against  Anthony  Doyle  for 
assault  and  battery — Samuel  Mott,  attorney  for  plain- 
tiff, Elisha  Whittiesey  for  defendant.  The  cause  was 
discontinued  before  being  brought  to  a  trial. 

The  first  letters  of  administration  were  issued  to 
Nathan  "Wood,  on  the  estate  of  Robert  Harberson. 
deceased,  late  <if  Wheatsborough  (Lyme)  township. 
The  inventory  of  the  goods  and  chattels  gives,  among 
other  items: 

1  black  cott  m  w 

1  red  co«  IS  00 

1  pair  steer-.  -6  00 

5  geese  ^  W 

1  large  iron  kettle  <>  M 

1  set  plow  irons  5  00 

1  iron  wedge  1  00 

1  axe. .  i  00 

1  scythe  and  snat^                                                                 .  1  25 

III  the  year  1830  a  tax  or  license  was  charged 
against  lawyers  and  physicians  from  one  dollar  to 
three  dollars  each.  Total  amount,  eighty-three  dol- 
lars.    The  following  is  the  list: 

Lawyers —Ebenezer  .\ndrews.  Milan;  L.  S.  Beecher,  Portland;  Eleu- 
theros  Cook,  Ridgefield:  Wm.  H.  Hunter,  Portland;  David  Higgins,  Nor- 
walk;  Philip  R.  Hopkins  Milan;  Francis  Kenyon,  Milan ;  Picket  Lati- 
mer, Norwalk;  Ebenezer  Lane,  Xorwalk;  Francis  l>.  Parish,  Portland; 
Thad.  B.  Sturges.  Xorwalk;  John  Wheeler.  Portland;  James  Williams. 
Norwalk. 

Physicians,— (jeo.  .\nderson.  Portland;  A.  H.  Brown.  New  Haven: 
Geo.  O.  Baker,  Florence;  S.  B.  Carpenter.  Oxford:  H.  M.  Clark.  Wake- 
man;  Cyrus  Cole,  Ridgefield ;  Thos.  Davis,  Portland:  Lyman  Fay,  Milan: 
Dr.  Frisbie,  New  Haven;  I.  T.  Gilbert,  Sew  Haven;  Amos  B.  Harris, 
Milan;  Junia  A.  Jennings.  New  Haven;  Wm.  F.  Kittredge.  Xorwalk; 
•Wm.  M.  Ladd,  Greenwich;  Philip  R.  McCrea.  Milan:  Harvey  Manley, 
Clarksfleld;  Richard  A.  Morton.  Greenwich;  Wm.  W.  Nugent,  Portland; 


Lemuel  Powers,  New  Haven ;  Hugh  T.  Prouty.  Ridgefield :  Moses  C.  San- 
ders, Peru;  Samuel  Stevens,  Lyme;  Charles  Smith.  Lyme:  Daniel  Til- 
den,  Norwalk;  Ensign  Van  Benschoter,  Portland. 

In  18-iO  the  following  lawyers  were  taxed.  They 
were  located  at  Norwalk,  unless  otherwise  sjtecified: 

Lawyers —J.  J.  .\ckerman.  John  Beardsley,  C.  L.  Boalt.  David  Hig- 
gins. Jr.,  Jairus  Kennan.  C.  L.  Latimer.  Noah  Newton.  J.  R.  Osboni.  W. 
Pierce,  Joseph  M.  Root,  Ezra  M.  Stone,  T.  B.  Sturges,  C.  B.  Squires, 
James  Williams.  S.  T.  Worcester,  John  Whitbeek-  J.  W.  Wilson,  of 
Fitchville. 

Herewith  is  given  a  list  of  the  names  on  the  tax 
duplicate  for  the  year  181.5.  The  book  containing 
them  is  now  on  file  at  the  county  auditor's  office  in 
Norwalk,  and  consists  of  a  single  sheet  of  foolscap 
folded  so  as  to  make  sixteen  pages.  It  has  no  cover, 
and  IS  yellow  with  age.  The  amount  of  tax  levied  to 
each  person  is  given,  but  is  here  omitted — the  total 
amount  levied  being  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  dol- 
lars and  forty  cents;  the  largest  amount  charged  to  a 
single  individual  being  six  dollars  and  forty  cents, — to 
David  Abbott.     The  spelling  is  that  of  the  record: 

TAX  BILL  FOR  THE  <Ol"XTY  OF  HIROX  IX  THE  YEAR 
181,5. 

Whe.atsborovgh.— Bildad  Adams.  Joseph  .\lbee.  Epm.  .\danis.  Seth 
Brown.  Sumner  Bacon.  Mathew  Benard.  John  Barney.  Charles  Blanoh- 
ard,  John  Baker,  Henry  Barney.  Elijah  Biaton.  Hiram  Blackman,  Ste- 
phen Blackmore,  Charles  Butler.  William  Bole,  Gasper  Clutter,  Dougal 
Campbell,  Samuel  Chena.  Nathan  Cummins.  Stephen  Crippin.  Thomas 
Cook,  Josiah  Curtis,  Luther  Coe,  Christopher  Cooper.  James  R.  Cowen. 
Thomas  Curren,  Israel  Coolidge.  Henry  Cole,  Benj,  Drake. '  Phinehas 
Dunham,  Levi  Dixon.  John  Dillingham.  Peter  Dunham,  John  Evens, 
Francis  Evens,  Lineus  Ensign.  Barrel  Fitch.  William  Frink.  WiUiara 
Ferguson,  George  Ferguson,  John  Fleming.  Eli  Ford.  James  Forsyth. 
John  Fay.  Truman  Gilbert.  Jacob  Goodrich,  .\nslow  Ciuthrie,  Seth  Har- 
rington. Job  Hughs.  Eli  Hunt.  John  Harbison.  John  Inscho,  J.  Moses 
Inscho.  Joseph  Inscho.  John  Jackson.  .Alexis  Jackson.  Thomas  James. 
John  James.  Samuel  Knap.  Martin  M,  Kellogg,  Ezra  Lee,  Sanders  Lit. 
tlefield.  Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  Harlow  Marth  r.  William  McKelvey,  Israel 
Markham,  James  Jlclntyre.  Thomas  Morris,  Chis,  May.  James  More- 
craft.  James  McCord.  Samuel  Megill.-Adam  Myers.  Timothy  Olds.  Stephen 
Palmer.  Daniel  Pratt.  Caleb  Palmer,  David  Powers.  Isaac  Powers'  Uzziel 
Putnam.  -Tohn  Paxton.  Dan.  Putnam,  Samuel  Pettingale,  .\ndres  Parker, 
.\ndres  Parker.Jr..  Daniel  Page.  Green  Parker.  William  Richey.  Richard 
Richards.  Ram.idale  on  the  P.  (Peninsula  ?).  Ebenezer  Ransom.  Hanson 
Reed.  John  Roberts,  Samuel  Rice.  George  Roberts,  John  Sower,  Erastus 
Smith,  Samuel  Spencer.  Gasper  Smith,  Math^-w  Smith.  Danl.  Sherman, 
Moses  Sutton.  Moses  Sutton,  Jr..  Levi  Sutton,  Andrew  Stull,  Francis 
Strong.  Zadoc  Str.ing.  Sanford  Selvey.  Joseph  Strong.  Reuben  Skmner, 
Samuel  Spry,  Dorastus  P.  Snow.  Philip  Sutton.  Jonathan  Sprague.  Jona. 
Sprague.  Senr.,  Willard  Sprague,  Nathan  Shippy,  Junr  .  Moses  Thorp, 
Tulleronthe  P.  (Peninsula  ^i,  James  Wilson.  Thomas  Webb,  .Michael 
Widner,  Leonard  Widner.  Moses  Wilson,  Jasper  Wood.  Nathan  Wood, 
Wolcott  on  the  P..  (Peninsula  ?i,  William  York. 

Huron  Township.— Isaac  Allen.  David  .\bbott,  Daniel  Butler,  estate  of 
David  Barritt.  Richard  Bngley.  .\zariah  Beebe.  George  Calvin.  Levi  D. 
Chapman.  Daniel  Curtis,  Sj-renus  Campbell,  Abijah  Comstock,  James 
Conaway,  Jeremiah  Daniels.  John  Dickson,  John  B.  Flemmond,  .\nson 
Fox,  Lyman  Fay,  Lyman  Farwell,  Anderson  Hubbard,  Abijah  Hewet, 
George  Giles,  Eli  H"bbard,  John  Hook,  Luther  Harvey,  William  Howard, 
Thomas  JefTery,  Elijah  Kinney,  Manoak  Kinney.  Orsemus  Kellogg,  John 
Laughlin,  Samuel  Lewis.  John  Monigomery,  Jacob  Mingur,  Osmer 
Merry,  Moody  Mears.  Ebenezer  Merry.  Cornelia  Mason.  Aaron  Noble, 
Benj.  Newcomb.  Moses  Olmsted.  Winslow  Perry,  Charles  Parker,  Reuben 
Pixley,  John  Roberts,  Richmond  Rhodes,  Hiram  Russell,  David  Smith, 
Josiah  Smith,  Tinker  K.  Smith,  Asa  Smith,  Thomas  Starr.  Jonathan 
Sprague.  Chester  Smith.  Phineas  Tillotson,  John  Thompson,  Kneeland 
Townsend.  Joseph  Vanorman,  Henry  Vanwormer,  Jerred  Ward.  Jabez 
Wright, 

Vermiu-ion  Tow.vship,— William  .Austin,  John  .\ustin,  John  Brooks. 
George  Brooks,  Ira  Blackmail,  Joseph  Brooks,  Jonathan  Brooks,  Daniel 
Barton.  John  Beardsley.  Harvey  Bliss.  Jeremian  V.  Benscotre.  Lemuel 
Blackin,  James  Buroughs.  William  Blackman.  Charles  Betts,  Eli  S. 
Barnum.  Aaron  C.  Buck,  James  Cuddeback,  Peter  Cuddeback,  Jacob 
Cumpton,  Town  Clark,  David  Frary,  Rufus  Judson,  Francis  Keys, 
Stephen  Meeker,  Joseph  Parsons.  Solomon  Pai-sons,  Horatio  Perry. 
Almond  Ruggles,  Isaac  Ransom,  Martin  Ci.  Shelhouse.  Loramie  Shel- 
house,  Lambert  Shafer,  Ezra  Sprague.  Barlow  Sturges.  John  Sharets. 
George  Sharets,  Enoch  Smith,  Isaac  Tillotson.  Josiah  Weston. 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


47 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


The  earliest  indication  of  a  divisioa  of  Huron 
county,  that  might  have  been  discovered  by  the  far 
seeing,  was  the  springing  up  of  a  spirit  of  jealous 
rivalry  between  Sandusky  and  Norwalk.  This  feeling 
was  developed  at  an  early  day  and  increased  steadily 
up  to  and  beyond  the  time  when  Erie  county. was  set 
off  from  Huron,  though  the  main  cause  of  its  foster- 
ing was  removed  when  Sandusky  became  the  county 
seat  of  Erie.  There  were  other  and  more  potent 
forces  in  operation,  however,  which  tended  toward 
the  division  of  the  territory.  There  was  a  desire  for 
the  formation  of  new  counties  in  several  localities, 
notably  in  tiie  southern  part  of  Huron  and  the 
northern  part  of  Richland,  where  a  strong  movement 
was  on  foot'  for  the  erection  of  a  new  county  from  the 
territory  of  the  tAvo  named,  to  be  known  as  Plymouth. 
Tliis  scheme  was  urged  with  considerable  energy  by 
the  people  of  New  Haven  (then  a  thriving  village), 
and  of  Paris  (now  Plymouth),  Ijetween  which  places, 
had  a  new  county  been  set  off.  there  would  have  been 
a  warm  competition  for  the  "honors  and  emolu- 
ments "  of  the  county  seat  location.  Had  not  Erie 
been  set  off  from  the  northern  part  of  Huron,  some 
of  the  territory  of  the  southern  part  would,  in  all 
probability,  have  been  set  off  for  the  erection  of  the 
proposed  county  of  Plymouth. 

The  act  for  the  ejection  of  Erie  county  was  intro- 
duced in  the  Ohio  legislature  in  the  session  of  183S, 
and  was  the  subject  of  mucli  argument  pro  and  con, 
in  the  public  prints  of  the  territory  more  or  less  in- 
terested, and  through  memorials. 

Petitions  and  remonstrances,  the  usual  recourse  of 
the  public,  were  submitted  to  the  legislature,  showing 
the  rea.sons  for  and  against  the  erection  of  the  county. 
The  report  of  the  standing  committee  of  the  senate 
— session  of  1838 — on  new  counties,  comments  at 
length  upon  these  expressions  of  the  people's  will.  A 
brief  synopsis  of  this  report  gives  an  exhibit  of  the 
causes  that  led  to  the  formation  of  Erie  county.  The 
petitions  praying  for  the  erection  of  the  county  were 
signed  by  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  all  of 
whom  were  said  to  reside  in  the  boundaries  of  Huron 
and  Sandusky  counties  and  within  the  boundaries 
proposed  for  the  county  of  which  the  act  under 
consideration  contemplated  the  erection.  In  addition 
to  these  there  was  another  petition  containing  the 
mimes  of  forty-six  persons,  who  expressed  a  prefer- 
ence for  Erie  over  Ottawa  county.  These  jietitions 
represented  that  the  counties  of  Huron  and  Sandusky- 
were  larger  than  necessary;  that  they  had  an  unusu- 
ally good  soil;  were  capaljle  of  sustaining  an  unusually 
den.«e  population;  contained  many  flourishing  towns 
and  villages,  and  were  being  rapidly  settled  by  an 
industrious  and  enterprising  class  of  people.  It  was 
also  represented  that  the  judicial  business  of  Huron 
county  required  annually  three  terms  of  the  court  of 


common  pleas,  of  from  three  to  five  weeks  duration, 
and  that  there  was  every  prospect  of  an  increase  in 
the  same.  The  consequent  delay  and  inconvenience 
arising  to  suitors,  and  the  great  distance  of  those  re- 
siding on  the  peninsula  and  the  islands  from  the  seat 
of  justice,  and  the  fact  that  a  large  amount  of  the 
legal  business  of  Huron  county  originated  near  the 
lake,  were  among  the  strongest  reasons  urged  in  favor 
of  erecting  the  new  county. 

The  remonstrances  were  signed  by  fifteen  hundred 
persons,  '•'excluding  the  names  that  were  found  ap- 
pended more  than  once."  Of  these,  one  thousand 
and  fifty  were  represented  as  residing  in  Sandusky 
county,  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  county  of 
Huron.  More  than  four  hundred  and  fifty  of  those 
from  Sandusky  lived  within  the  territory  which  it 
was  proposed  in  the  bill  to  attach  to  the  new  county. 
The  reasons  urged  against  the  erection  of  Erie  were 
various,  and  differed  according  to  the  location  of  the 
remonstrants.  From  Sandusky  it  would  take  several 
of  the  most  fertile  and  densely  settled  townships,  by 
which  the  taxes  of  the  people  residing  in  other  parts 
of  the  county  would  be  greatly  increased;  the  seat  of 
justice  would  be  thrown  near  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  county,  and  before  many  years  .would  require  to 
be  moved  from  its  present  location,  causing  difficul- 
ties and  embarrassments  to  the  people.  It  was  further 
represented  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  peninsula 
were  compelled  to  cross  the  ))ay  when  required  to 
visit  the  (then)  present  seat  of  justice,  and  that  by 
the  erection  of  Erie  county,  as  proposed,  they  would, 
though  being  nearer  the  seat  of  justice,  still  be  com- 
pelled to  the  inconvenience  of  crossing  the  liay,  which 
was  sometimes  both  difficult  and  dangerous.  Most 
of  the  remonstrances  were  circulated  after  the  bill 
had  passed  the  senate,  the  remonstrants  alleging 
that  its  passage  caused  their  first  knowledge  of  the 
measure. 

The  committee  closed  its  report  with  the  recom- 
mendation, that  as  it  was  by  no  means  certain  that 
the  spirit  of  the  act  was  in  accordance  with  tiie 
wishes  of  a  majority  of  the  people  interested  in  the 
erection  of  the  new  county,  no  action  should  lie  taken 
until  there  had  l)een  further  consideration  of  the 
matter. 

The  act,  after  having  been  sent  baclc  and  forth 
from  the  house  t<j  various  committees,  and  being 
variously  reported  upon,  was  finally  iiassed,  March 
15,  1838. 

As  this  act  fully  describes  the  county  as  it  was 
originally  constituted,  we  print  the  full  te.xt.  It 
reads  as  follows : 

AN  ACT 
To  erect  the  County  o(  Erie. 
Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Oeneral  Assemblij  of  the  State  of  Ohio' 
That  such  parts  of  the  counties  of  Huron  and  Samlusky.  as  are  em- 
braced in  the  tioundaries  hereinafter  described,  be  and  the  same  are 
hereby  erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct  county,  which  shall  be  known 
Ijy  the  name  of  the  county  of  Erie,  and  the  seat  of  justice  in  and  for  said 
county,  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  fixed  and  established  at  Sandusky  City, 
to  wit;  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  east  line  of  Oxford  township,  in  the 
county  of  Huron,  one  mile  north  of  the  southeast  corner  thereof ;  thence 
northerly  on  the  said  east  line,  and  In  the  same  direction,  to  the  Canada 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


line;  thence  westerly  along  said  Canada  line,  to  a  point  therein  directly 
opposite  the  west  line  of  the  township  of  Portage,  in  Sandusljy  county; 
theiK-r  southerly,  parallel  with  the  east  line  of  said  Sandusky  county  to 
the  north  Wfst  corner  of  the  township  of  Townsentl,  in  Sandusky  eounry; 
tlience  east,  to  the  west  boundary  of  Huron  county;  thence  south,  on 
said  west  boundary  of  Huron  county,  to  a  point  one  tnile  north  of  the 
south  line  of  the  township  of  Groton,  in  said  Hiu'on  county;  and  from 
thence  to  the  place  of  beginning:  Provided,  ami  il  is  hereby  declared, 
That  if  the  east  line  of  said  county  of  Erie,  as  above  described,  will  not 
include  the  whole  of  Cunningham's  Island,  in  Lake  Erie,  then,  and  in 
that  case,  said  line  shall  be  so  far  varied  from  the  south  shore  of  said 
lake  to  the  said  Canada  line,  that  it  will  embrace  the  whole  of  said  Cun- 
ningham's Island. 

Sec.  3.  That  the  said  county  of  Erie  be,  and  remain  attached  to  the 
counties  from  which  it  is  detached,  until  the  same  shall  be  organized  by 
the  legislature. 

C.  ANTHONY, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

GEORGE  J.  S.MITH, 

March  1.5th,  ISM.  Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

The  act  for  the  orgauizatiou  of  Erie  county  was 
passed  March  16,  1838.  It  provided  for  the  liolding 
of  ail  election  on  the  following  May,  and  that  all 
justices  of  the  peace  and  constables,  residing  within 
the  territory  taken  from  the  counties  of  Huron  and 
Sandusky  and  embraced  within  the  limits  of  Erie 
county,  should  continue  fo  discharge  their  duties  until 
their  terms  shonld  e.xpire,  and  that  suits  begun  in 
court  before  the  taking  effect  of  the  act  should  proceed 
and  be  prosecuted  as  though  the  act  had  not  been 
been  passed.  The  county  was  by  the  power  of  this 
act  attached  for  judicial  purposes  to  the  second  judi- 
cial circuit. 

It  was  not  until  1840,  that  Erie  county  was  consti- 
tuted, territorially,  as  it  now  e.xists.  By  an  act 
passed  March  6th  of  the  year  above  designated,  the 
township  of  Danbury  (the  peninsula)  and  the  islands, 
which  previous  to  that  time  had  been  within  the 
boundaries  of  Erie  county,  were  transferred  to  Ottawa 
county,  and  Erie  county  was  enlarged  so  as  to  embrace 
all  of  the  Fire-lands  north  of  the  north  line  of  Lyme, 
Ridgefield,  Norwalk,  Town.<eiul  and  Wakenian,  (ex- 
cei)t  the  peninsula.) 


CHAPTER     XIV 


CIVIL  LIST. 

David  Abbott  was  a  presidential  elector  in  1812, 
but  is  marked  as  "not  present."  Other  citizens  of 
the  county  who  have  e.xercised  the  trusts  of  this  office 
are:  Ebeiiezer  Merry,  in  1854;  H.  D.  Cooke,  in  1856, 
and  Jo.'sejih  M.  Root,  elector  at  large. 

The  following  have  served  as  members  of  State 
conventions  to  revise  the  constitution  of  the  State  of 
Oiiio:  Convention  of  18.51,  Joseph  M.  Farr,  of*Hu- 
ron,  and  James  W.  Taylor,  of  Erie;  convention  of 
187.3,  Cooper  K.  \V;it<on,  of  Huron,  and  Joseph  M. 
Root,  of  Erie. 

Ebenezer  Lane,  of  Huron,  and  Walter  F.  Stone. 
of  Erie,  have  lieen  judges  of  \hc  siijireim'  I'ourr  of 
the  State 

The  list  of  congressmen  does  not  extend  further 
back  than  1823.  Previous  to  this  the  iiiiinher  of 
representatives  was  small,  and  eacli  district  covered 
a   large   territory.      The  census   of    IS-.'d,    however. 


changed  this.  In  the  i)eriod  between  1810  and  1820, 
more  especially  after  the  war  of  1S12,  the  growth  of 
Ohio  was  rapid,  almost  beyond  precedent,  and  almost 
at  a  bound  it  took  that  prominent  position  in  the 
Union  that  it  has  ever  since  maintained.  The  Fire- 
lands  have  often  been  represented  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress by  men  of  distinguished  ability  and  wide  repu- 
tation. Mordecai  Bartley,  of  Mansfield,  afterwards 
Governor;  Joseph  M.  Root,  then  of  Xorwalk,  now 
living  in  the  retirement  of  old  age  at  Sandusky; 
John  Sherman,  of  Mansfield,  senator,  and  now  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury  in  the  cabinet  of  President 
Hayes,  and  James  Monroe,  of  Oberlin — these  are  all 
men  who  have  left  the  impress  of  their  influence  on 
the  politics  of  their  time,  and  some  of  them  have 
been  and  are  still  among  the  leading  minds  and  mov- 
ing spirits  in  American  politics. 

COXGRESSMEX. 

18th  Congress.  18'J323.— 14th  District,  Mordecai  Bartley,  Richland. 
19th  Congress,  18-J5-3T.— 14th  District.  Mordecai  Bartley,  Richland, 
aoth  Congress,  1837-29.— 14th  District,  Mordecai  Bartley.  Richland. 
21st  Congress,  1829-31.— 14th  District,  Mordecai  Bartley,  Richland. 
22d  Congress,  18.31-.33.— 14th  District,  Eleutheros  Cooke.  Huron. 
2.3d  Congress,  1833-35.— 14th  District,  William  Patterson,  Richland 
34th  Congress,  18-35-37.- 14th  District,  William  Patterson,  Richland. 
25th  Congress,  1837-39.— 14th  District.  William  H.  Hunter,  Huron. 
Stlth  Congress,  1839-41.— 14th  District,  George  Sweney,  Crawford. 
27th  Congress,  I84H3.— 14th  District,  George  Sweney,  Crawford. 
2Sth  Congress,  184-3-45.- 31st  District.  Henry  R.  BrinkerhoiT.  Huron.    Ed. 

ward  S.  Hamlin,  Lorain  (elected  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  death  of 

Brinkerhoff). 
29th  Congress,  1845-47.— 21st  District,  Joseph  M.  Root.  Huron. 
30th  Congress,  1847-49  —21st  District,  Joseph  M.  R  ot.  Huron. 
31st  Congress,  1849-51.— 21st  District,  Joseph  M.  Root,  Erie. 
32d  Congress,  1851-53.— 3Ist  District,  Norton  S.  Townshend,  Lorain. 
33d  Congress,  1853-55— 13th  District,  William  D.  Lindsley,  Erie. 
34th  Congress,  1855-57.— 1.3th  District.  John  Sherman.  Richland. 
35th  Congress,  1857-59.— 13th  Disfriot.  John  Sherman.  Richland. 
36th  Congress,  1859-61.— 13th  District.  .lohii  Sherman.  Richland. 
.37ih  Congress.  1861-63.- 1.3th  District.  John  Sherman.  Richland.    Elected 

Senator,  and  succeeded  by  Samuel  T.  Worcester.  Huron. 
3Sth  Congress,  1863-65.— 9th  District,  Warren  P.  Noble.  Seneca. 
39th  Congress,  1865-67.— 9th  District.  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  Sandusky. 
40th  Congress.  1867-69.— 9th  District,  Ralph  P.  Buckland.  Sandusky. 
41st  Congress,  1869-71  —9th  District,  Edward  F.  Dickinson,  Sandusky. 
42d  Congress,  1871-73  —9th  District,  Charles  Foster,  Seneca. 
43d  Congress.  l.t73-75.— 10th  District,  Charles  Foster.  Seneca. 
44th  Congress,  1875-77.— 10th  District,  Charles  Foster,  Seneca. 
45th  Congress,  1877-79  -  10th  District,  Charles  Foster.  Seneca. 
46th  Congress,  1879-81.— 17th  District,  James  Monroe,  Lorain. 

During  the  early  jiart  of  the  present  century,  a 
menibei'  of  the  State  legislature  i-epresented  a  far  larger 
area  of  territory  than  is  now  the  case.  Among  those 
who  served  the  Fire-lands  in  this  capacity,  were  not 
only  such  men  as  David  Abbott,  Almon  Ruggles.  Elie- 
nezer  Merry  and  Eleutheros  Cooke — names  which  have 
a  familiar  sound  to  every  old  resident  of  the  Fire- 
lands — but  such  others  as  Ephraim  Quinby.  of  War- 
ren; Peter  Hitchcock,  of  Geauga,  a  jurist  of  reputa- 
tion: .\lfred  Kelly,  often  styled  the  father  of  the  Ohio 
canals:  and  Reuben  Wood,  afterward.-  g.)vernor.  The 
list  lierc  oiven  liegins  at  ISHi.  which  is  about  the  time 
when  llni'on  coiintv  began  to  have  a  rc:il  existence. 


LE( 


1st— Senate,  Samuel  Htmtington.  Trumlnill.    House,  E.  Quinby,  Ai 

Wheeler,  Trumbull. 
3d— Senate,  Benj.  Tappan.     House,  David  .\bbott.  Epm.  Quinby. 
.'id— Senate,  George  Tod.    House,  Amos  Spofford,  Homer  Hine. 
4th— Senate,  George  Tod.     House,  Homer  Hine,  James  Kingsbury. 


HISTOKY  OF. HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


55  _1806-r.    Senate,  Calvin  Cone.    House.  J.  P.  Bissell,  James  Kingsbui-y 
Bth— 180r-8     Senate,    Calvin   Cone.    House,    John    \V.   Seeley.    James 

Montgomery. 

7th— 1808-9.    Senate,  David  Abbott.    House, ? 

8th— 1809-10.    Senate,  David  Abbott.    House, ? 

Otli— 1810-11 .    Senate,  David  Abbott.    House,  Peter  Hitchcock. 

lOth— 1811-12.    Senate,  David  Abbott.    House. 

nth— 1812-13.    Senate,  Peter  Hitchcock.    House, 

12th-181.3-U.    Senate,  Peter  Hitchcoclc.    House. , 

13th— ISll-l").    Senate.  Pfter  Hitchcocli.    House, . 

nth— 181.")-li'.    senate.  Peter  Hi-chcoclc.    House, . 

l-Sth— ISlii-lT     Sfnate.  Varon  Wheeler,  .\lm(jn  Ruggles.    House,  Alfred 

Kelly,  Williau)  Kerr. 
lOth— lsir-1^.    Senatei,Alraon  Rugbies,  .\arun  Wheeler.     Hou^ie,  Lewis 


Dill 


ate-AIn 
fia.TlorJ 


Wheeler,  John  Campbell.    Ho 


Ebr. 


iFar- 


irth-lSlS-19     Senate.   Aar 

Merry.  Lewis  Dille. 
ISth— lsni-30.    Senate,  John  Campbell,  Almon  Ruggles.    House, 

Kelly,  E.  Merry. 
I9th— 1820-21.    Senate,  Almon  Ruggles.    House.  Lyman  Farwell. 
20th— 1821-22.    Senate,  Alfred  Kelly.    House,  David  Abbott,  Lyme 

well. 
21st— 1823-23.    Senate,  Alfred  Kelly.    House,  Eleutheros  Cooke. 
22d— lo23-24.    Senate,  J.abez  Wright.    House,  Eleutheros  Cooke. 
23d— 1824-23.    Senate,  J.  Wright.     House,  .\lmon  Ruggles. 
24th— 1823-26.    Senate,  Reuben  Wood.     House,  Eleutheros  Cooke. 
25th— 1823-27.    Senate,  Reuben  Wood.    House,  David  Campbell. 
26th— 1827-28.    Senate,  Reub?n  Wood.     House,  David  Campbell, 
arth— 1S2S-29.    Senate,  David  Campbell.    House,  Daniel  Tilden. 
2^th— 1829-30     Senate.  David  Campbell.    House.  :vioses  C.  Saunders. 
29th— 1830-31.    Senate,  S.  -M.  Lockwood.    House,  George  C4.  Baker. 
30th--18Jl-32.    Senate.  S.  M.  Lockwood.    House.  Charles  Lindsay. 
31st— 1832-33.    Senate,  Dan.  Tilden.    House,  Ebenezer  Merry. 
32d— 1833-34.    Senate.  Daniel  Tilden.    House,  Charles  Lindsay. 
33d— 1884-3).    Senate,  Joseph  Howard.    House,  Philo  Clark. 
34th— l8r>-36.    Senate,  Joseph  Howard.    House,  Cyrus  Butler. 
35th— 188J-3~.    Senate,  .lohn  K.  Cirapbell.    House,  Philo  Clark. 
Slith— 183;-38     Senate,  John  K  Campbell.    Hoise,  Philo  Clark. 
37th— 1S3S-.39     Senate,  Josiah  Tracy.    House,  Walter  Branch,  John  G- 

38th— 1839-10.    Senate,  Josiah  Tracy.    House,  Ebenez-r  Warner. 

39th— 1840-41-    Senate,  Joseph  M.  Root.    House,  Eleutheros  Cooke. 

40th— 1841-42.    Senate,  Joseph  JL  Root.    House,  Eleutheros  Cooke. 

41st— 1842-13.    Senate,  John  Fuller.    House,  Samuel  Atherton. 

42nd— 1843-44.    Senate,  John  Fuller.     House,  Samuel  Atherton. 

43rd— 1844-45.    Senate,  John  R.  Osborn.    House,  Benjamin  Summers. 

44th— 1845-10.    Senate,  J.  R,  Osborn. 

45th— 1846-47.    Senate,  vacancy.     House,  Joseph  C.  Curtis. 

46th— 1847-48.     Senate,  Thomas  Hamilton.    House,  Samuel  Atherton. 

47th— 1848-49.    Senate,  Samuel  T.   Worcester.     House,  George  Reber. 

48th— 1849-50.    Senate,   Samuel  T.  Worcester.    House,  Harvey  Chase. 

49th— 1850-51.    Senate,  Earl  Bill.    House,  De  Morris  Pratt. 

.50th— 1851-52.    Senate,  Elihu  P.  Hill.    House,  Hiram  McMillen. 

olBt— 18,54.    Senate,  Albert  G.  Sutton.     House,  Harvey  Fowler,  Erie; 

Alpia  R.  Segar,  Huron. 
.52nd— 1850.    Senate,  Ralph  P.  Buckland.    House,  C.   L.    Burton,  Erie-: 

Thomas  M.  Cook,  Huron. 
.53rd— 1S5S.     Senate,  Ralph  P.  Buckland.      House,  Thomas  C.  Furnold, 

Erie;  Charles  B.  Simmons,  Huron. 
54th— 1860.— Senate,  F.  D.  Parish.    House,  C.  B.  Choate,  Erie;  Alexan- 
der McPherson.  Robert  McCune,  Huron. 
55th— 1802,— Senate,  John  Kelly.     House,  J.  W.  Pierce,  Erie;  Ezra  Stew 

art,  Huron. 
.5Uth— 1804.    Senate,  Frederick  Wickham. 
Erie;  John  C.  Thompson,  Huron. 
5Tth— 1806.    Senate,  E.  B.  Sadler.     House,  A.  T.  Wilco.v.  Zalnuma  Phil- 
lips, Erie;  Frank  Sawyer,  Huron. 
.58th— 1808.    Senate,  Homer  Everett.    House,  Benj.  L    Hill,  Erie;  W.  0. 

Parker,  Huron. 
.59th-1870.    Senate,  Homer  Everett,  J    M.  Root.     House,  Benj.  L.  Hill, 

Erie;  W.  O.  Parker,  E.  Bogardus,  Huron. 
COth— 1872.    Sennte,  Welcome  0.  Parker.     House,  David  C    Richmond, 

Erie;  Henry  C.  Breckenridge,  Huron. 
6Ist— 1874.     Senate,  John  H.Hudson.    House,  D.  C.   Richmond,  Erie; 

Edgar  Martin,  Huron. 
02nd— 1870.    Senate,  John  H.  Hudson.     House,  James  Douglas,  Erie;  E. 

Borgardus,  Huron. 
03rd— 1878.     Senate,  C.  S.  Parker.     House,  James  Douglas,  Erie;  John 
A.  Williamson,  Huron. 

HURON   COUNTY   OFFICERS. 

AUDITORS. 

in— ..AsaSanfuTd.  1841 .  .Daniel  A.  Baker. 

18J2.  Mnses  Kimball,  1851 .  .Gideon  T.  Stewart. 

)h::i     ,l;ii,i.'-i  Williams  1K.57. .  William  Case. 

is:;;    (  y:  IK  Bitler.  1803.  David  H.  Pease. 

is:;:.    ,l,.liii  Kfiiiian.  1869,. John  Barnes. 

l,s;s    Wilcoxson,  H.   H.                    1875.. Henry  W.  Owen. 

Johnson,  acting. 


D.  Lindsley, 


TREASURERS. 

1813 

\bgah  Comstotk 

j            1844 

.Henry  H.Brown. 

181S 

David  \bb  .tt 

1848. 

Daniels.  Pond. 

1   19 

I  lial     IMushall 

'1    '.hall 
n  t,hani 
:i.-ld 

18.50 

E.  E.  Husted. 
lan..-sS.  Felton, 
ih.nl^.  A.Preston, 

:'iv'M:;,s.an, 

1    1                  lenburgh. 

,1,  X    Watrous. 

i\i   11,  ,11   taswell 

EdwiuH.  Brown. 

John  Kennan 

.E.  W.  Gilson. 

1S40 

John  M   Latmiei 

1878 

.0.  W.  Williams 

Henn  Buekmgham 

RECORDEKS. 

180il 

.Almon  Ruggles, 

1           1848 

.D.  M.  Barmun 

1K15 

.Xathan  Strong. 
.Ichabod  :Marshall 

1858 

.James  Brown 

1810 

1867 

.John  F.  Randolph,  Jr 

18-35 

Paul  G.  Smith. 

1873 

.E.  G.  Boughton 

18.36 

.Woodward  Todd. 

1 

PROBATE  JUDliES. 

LOfBce  established  by  Constitu 

ion  of  1S51]. 

1852 

.C.  B.  Stiokney. 

1861 

George  Q.  Adams 
.DanielH.  Fox 

18.55 

.Frederick  Sears. 

1S67 

( 

LERKS  (IF  CorifT. 

1815 

-David  .\bbott. 

1S58 

.JosephC.  Curtiss,  Jr. 

l.sis 

James  Williams 

]^ 

.W.  C,  AUea. 

1867..AlvinB.  Gr 
1870.. B.  P.  Smith. 
1876  .S.^muel  T.  Vansciever. 


1850 , ,  David  Johnson , 
1.S.54  ,H,  L,  .Moore. 
1S.5S  ,G.  51.  Cleveland. 
180-.>    Jos.  F.  B.adger,  idied 

while  in  oftice.) 
1804., (L.  D.  Allen,  coroner. 

sheriff  e.'c-offlcio). 
1863.. Irving  Cole. 
1869.. Edward  C.  Culp. 
18:3.  John  M.  Latimer. 
]877..Parlee  C.  Breckenridge. 


For  many  years  this  office  was  not  elective,  but  was  appointed  by  the 
court,  and  held  office  at  its  pleasure.  The  following  is  a  list  of  incum- 
bents for  the  past  thirty  years. 


1847.. J.  R.  Osborn, 
1851.. Frank  S'Wyer. 
18.53.. G.  H.  Saffnrd. 
18.55 . .  Moses  R.  Brailey , 
18.57  ,R,  c.  Powers, 
1861 ,  Philip  N,  .Schuyler, 


Charles  E.  Pennewell. 

.Chai-les  P,  Wickham, 
,Ge..ri;e  W   Kiiarip 


IM  Ml  SSI  I. 


rEi;.>. 


1813.. Nathan  Cummins,  Frederick  Falley,  Bildad  .\dams. 
1810.. Frederick  Falley,  Bildad  Adams,  Ebenezer  Merry, 
1817.. Bildad  .\dams,  John  S.  Reed,  Joseph  Strong. 
1818..Sameasl817. 

1819.  Bildad  Adams.  .Joseph  Strong,  Lyman  Farwell. 

1820.  .Bildad  Adams,  Joseph  Strong,  Eli  S.  Barnum. 

1821. Eh S.  Barnum,  Roberts.  Southgate,  Amos  Woodward. 

1822  and  182:5.  .Same  as  in  1821. 

1824.. Eli  S.  Barnum,  .^mos  Woodwanl,  Schuyler  Van  Rensselaer. 

1823. Eli  S.  Barnum,  Schuyler  Van  Rensselaer,  George  W.  Choate. 

1820.. Schuyler  Van  Renssi-laer.  GfTge  W,  Choate,  Frederick  Forsyth. 

1827    George  W,  Choate,  Frederick  Forsyth,  Bradford  Sturtevant. 

lS28..Same  as  in  1827. 

1S2H.. George  W.  Choate,  Bradford  Sturtevant.  M.  JlcKelvey. 

18-j(i..Sameasinl829. 

1831.,Bradford  Sturtevant.  M.  McKelvey,  George  Hollister. 

18:J2..  Bradford  Sturtevant,  George  Hollister,  George  W.  Choate. 

18:)3.. George  Hollister,  George  W.  f;hoate,  Sara.  B.  Carpenter. 

18:)4.  George  W.  Choate,  Sara.  B,  Carpenter,  W.  C.  Spalding. 

18:»..Sam.  B.  Caipenter,  W.  C.  Spalding,  John  Bounce. 

18.36    W.  C.  Spalding,  John  Dounce,  Benjamin  Cogswell. 

is.i7.  W.  C.  Spalding,  Benjamm  Cogswell,  John  Miller. 

18:j8.  Benjamin  Cogswell,  John  Miller,  John  Fuller. 

18.39.  John  Fuller,  Henrj- Terry,  Lemuel  Morse. 

lS10..John  Fuller.  Lemuel  Morse,  John  B.  Wiibor. 

1841.. Lemuel  Morse,  Samuel  Atherton,  Nathan  W.  Spears. 

1842.  .Samuel  Atherton,  Joseph  C.  Curtiss,  Stephen  Russell. 

1843.. Joseph  C.  Curtiss,  Stephen  Russell,  Rouse  Bly. 

1844..Sameasinl843. 

1845.  Joseph  C.  Curtiss,  Rouse  Bly,  James  Smith. 

1S16.  Rouse  Bly,  James  Smith,  Benjamin  Benson. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


184T..  James  Smitb,  Benjamin  Benson,  Justus  Brown. 

1&48.. Benjamin  Benson,  Justus  Brown,  Samuel  W.  Boalt. 

1849.  Justus  Brown,  S.  W.  Boalt,  Smith  Btarr. 

1850.. S.  W.  Boalt,  Smith  Starr,  D.  E.  Merrill. 

1851 .  .Smith  Starr.  D.  E.  Merrill,  Dean  Clapp. 

18V2.  .D.  E.  Merrill,  Dean  Clapp.  James  Wilson. 

185;j.  .Dean  Clapp.  James  Wilson,  James  Hamilton,  Jr. 

1851. .James  Wilson.  James  Hamilton,  Jr.,  Barnett  Roe. 

1855.  James  Hamilton,  Jr..  Barnett  Roe,  S.  W.  Edwards 

1850..Baruett  Roe.  S.  W.  Edwards.  S.  H  Gibson. 

18.5-.. S.  W.  Edwards.  S.  H.  Gibson,  D.  H.  Manville. 

1858.  .S.  H.  Gibso.n.  D.  H.  ManriUe,  J.  H.  Niles. 

1859,  1800.  ]8t;i..Same  as  in  IfoS. 

1863.. D.  H.  Manville.  J.  H.  Kiles.  George  Silliman. 
186-3.. J.  H.  Niles,  George  Silliman,  E.  Bogardus. 
1864.. George  Silliman,  E.  Bogardus,  C.  C.  Canfleld 
1865. 1866.  1S67.  Same  as  in  1864. 
186.S..E.  Bogardus,  C.  C.  Canfleld.  J.  H.  Beelman 
1869. C.  C.  Canfleld.  J.  H.  Beelman,  James  W.  Martin. 
18:o..J.  H.  Beelman,  A.  Brightman.  Halsey  Hubbard. 
I'^ri.  I'^r,',  1-r:!,  Same  as  in  ISTO. 

1-74    .\   B.iu'litiuan.  Halsey  Hubbard,  A.  C.  Williams. 
1-:-     H.i:»ty  Hubbard,  A. C.  Williams,  A.  D.  Stotts. 
]-:'■    A  C.  Williams.  A.  D.  Stotts.  W.  W.  Stiles, 
isrr,  isr.s.saraeasinisro. 

ERIE   COUNTY   OFFICERS. 


1855.. Horaces.  Bill 
1861.. .John  J.  Peufield 
1863.. George  N.  Penfleld. 


18:j-<..H.  W.  Conklin. 
1840..Wm.  Xeill. 
1841 . .  Orlando  McKnight . 
184B..Geo.  W.Smith. 

1850.. F.M.  Follett. 

18.5-i.. Charles  H.  Botsford. 


1864.-George  O.Selkirk 
lsr0..O.  C.  McLough. 
I'iTB ..Wm.  Affleck,  who  is  the 
present  iucumbent . 


1856.. F.  M.  Follett. 
I860-.. Geo.  W.  Smith 
1867..Ebenezer  Merry, 


TKEA.SIKEK.S 


1!<43..  Samuel 
1844.. Earl  Bill 
1848.. John  B.  Wilbor 
1850.. John  W.  Sprague. 
l8.53..Thos.S.  Fuller. 
18M.. Holly  Skinner. 


1870... James  S.  Chandler. 
1872..  Jas.  D.  Chamberlain. 
1877.. R.  Turner,   the   present 


PKOSECITIXG    ATTORXEY.S. 


ISS^.John  F.  Campbell. 
1840.. Francis  D.  Parish. 
1.S43.. Morris  Homan 
184:)..$.  F.Taylor. 
Hi-i.A.  W.  Hendr>-- 
1H.VJ . ,  John  Macke.T 


WJH.. Harvey  Long. 
1840.  .Zalmuna  Phillips. 
1843.  .Ebenczer  Warner. 
1846.. Isaac  Fowler 


1840..C.B.  Squire 
l'^4.E.  Merry. 
1850. Charles  Wilbor. 


I>:i8.  .S.  H  Smith. 

1840.  W.  H.Smith. 

1841.  J.  B.  Darling. 
1845.  Alvin  Brooks. 
1847.  J.  B.  Darling 


1858. .Fred.  F.  Smith. 
1860..D.  S.  Worthington. 
1864    Jesse  S.  Davis. 
1866.. D.  S.  Worthington. 
1870..CharlesH.  Botsford. 
S.  Worthington 


M.  L.  Starr. 


KECORDEKS. 


1853..Jas.  W.Cook. 
1863.. John  W.  Reed. 
1868..Wm.A.Zill,stUlinc 


1875. .A.  W.  Judson 

1876 ..  George  Morton . 

1879.  .A.  W.  Judson,  the  present 


COMMISSIOXEKS. 
^tniuel  B.  Carpenter,  Nelson  Taylor,  Zara  Patch.  Wm.  B.  Craighill 
Jiio  B.  Fuller,  Wm.  Gill,  Isaac  Fowler,  Philo  Adams,  Harvey  Long, 
B.  D.  Turner,  Ara  Sprague,  Boiirdett  Wood.  Harvey  Fowler,  Elihu 
P  Hill,  Harry  Sprague,  Myron  Se.\ton,  Joseph  Otis,  Jno.  P.  Dego, 
John  Summers,  C.  Beardsley,  Rice  Harper,  Isaac  McKtsson,  Robt. 
Bennett,  G.  M.  Darling,  Calvin  Caswell,  D.  G  Taylor,  Wm  H. 
Crane,  E.  White.  W.  S.  Webb,  Louis  Wells,  Stark  Adams,  W.  W. 
Miller,  Oustavus  Graliain. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY. 

In  a  republican  stronghold  like  Huron  county  the 
attempts  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State  were  viewed 
with  the  deepest  interest  and  alarm.  In  common 
with  those  of  other  communities  in  the  free  North, 
many  of  her  young  men  emigrated  thither,  prepared 
to  fight,  if  necessary,' to  prevent  such  attempts  from 
being  successful.  A  Kansas  Aid  Socifety  was  formed 
with  committees  for  each  township,  and  a  central  one 
for  the  county,  the  object  being  to  aid  the  free  State 
cause  by  sending  thither  men  armed  with  Sharpe's 
rifles.  As  early  as  April  2-2,  18.56,  G.  T.  Stewart 
reports  that  the  township  committees  had  paid  over 
to  him  three  hundred  and  eighteen  dollars  and  ninety- 
oue  cents  for  the  cause.  Later  in  the  season,  about 
one  hundred  of  the  citizens  of  the  county  contributed 
to  the  fund,  in  sums  of  five  dollars  and  upwards,  and 
the  published  statement  shows  contributions  amount- 
ing in  all  to  one  thousand  and  forty-six  dollars  and 
eighty-nine  cents  up  to  October  21.  1856. 

The  following  is  the  vote  of  Huron  county  for 
president  of  the  United  States  frem  the  year  1832, 
wheh  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  president,  up  to 
and  including  the  last  presidential  election: 

1833— Henry  Clay,  whig .'. . .  1,646 

Andrew  Jackson,    democrat 1,035 

William  Wirt,  ami-masonic 11 

18:36-Wm.  H.  Harrison,  whig 2,798 

Martin  Van  Buren,  democrat 2,143 

1840— Wm.  H.  Harrison ,  whig  2,291 

Martin  Van  Buren,  democrat 1,531 

Jas.  G.  Bimey,  abolition 34 

(The  reduced  vote  of  1840  compared  with  that  o£  18-36.  is  explained 

by  the  fact  of  the  formation  of  Erie  county  in  1838). 

1844— Henry  Clay,  whig 2,564 

James  K.  Polk,  democrat. ' 2.136 

James  6.  Bimey,  abolition  138 

1848— Zachary  Taylor,  whig, 1,950 

Lewis  Cass,  democrat  1,769 

Martin  Van  Buren.  free  soil 876 

1852— Winfield  Scott   whig  a.-U2 

Franklin  Pierce,  democrat 1,819 

John  P.  Hale,  free  soil Sm 

1856— John  C.  Fremont,  republican 3,468 

James  Buchanan,  democrat, 1.709 

Millard  Fillmore.  American ...   , 54 

Republican  plurality  1,759 

1860— Abraham  Lincoln,  republican 4.107 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  democrat a,nS3 

John  Bell,  union 37 

Lincoln  over  Douglas  2,027 

1364— Abraham  Lincoln,  republican  4.441 

George  B.  MeClellau,  democrat 2.U90 

Lincoln's  majority 2,351 

1868— nysses  S.  Grant,  republican 4,019 

Horatio  Seymour,  democrat 3,24;j 

Granfs  majority 1.T76 

1872— Ulysses  S.  Grant,  republican 3.813 

Horace  Greeley,  democrat  and  liberal 3,18.' 

Jeremiah  S.  Black .W 

Charles  O'Connor 19 

Grant  over  Greeley 1.6.30 

1S76— Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  republican, 4,.">04 

Samuel  J.  Tilden.  democrat, 3.014 

Peter  Cooper,  greenback 1 

Green  Clay  Smith,  prohibition . .       67 

Hayes  over  Tilden 1,490 

The  votes  cast  for  each  candidate  at  the  several 
presidential  elections  held  since  the  organiziitum  of 
Erie  county,  have  been  as  follows: 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1K40— William  Henry  Han-isou,  wliig l.i-U 

Martin  Van  Bureu,  democrat 1,042 

James  G .  Birney ,  abolition g 

im4— Henry  Clay,  whig r I,4i8 

James  K.  Polk,  democrat 1,261 

James  G.  Birney,  abolition 65 

1S48— Zachary  Taylor    whig 1,409 

Lewis  Cass,  democrat 999 

Martin  Van  Buren,  free  soil 681 

1S.W— Winfield  Scott,  whig 1,589 

Franklin  Pierce,  democrat  1,404 

John  P.  Hale  tree  soil 275 

1S56— John  C.  Fremont,  republican 2  258 

James  Buchanan,  democrat 1.377 

Millard  Fillmore,  American 75 

Fremont  over  Buchanan 881 

ISCO-Abraham  Lincoln,  republican 2,886 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  democrat 1,538 

John  Bell,  unionist 28 

Lincoln  over  Douglas 1,348 

1.SG4— Abraham  Lincoln,  repub  lean 3,032 

George  B.  McClellan,  democrat 1,829 

Lincoln's  majority 1,203 

IStiS— Ulysses  S.  Grant,  rep.iblican .1.130 

Horatio  Seymour,  democrat 1,884 

Grant's  majority 1,216 

1872— Ulysses  S.  Grant,  repub  ican 2,905 

Horace  Greeley,  democrat  and  liberal 2,287 

Scattering 19 

Grant  over  Greeley 618 

1S7H— Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  republ  can 3.158 

Samuel  J.  Tilden,  democrat 3,112 

Peter  Cooper,  greenback 115 

Green  Clay  Smith,  prohibition  8 

Hayes  over  Tilden . 46 

The  following  shows  the  strength  of  each  party  in 
each  township  of  the  two  counties  at  the  last  presi- 
dential election: 

ERIE    COUNTY. 


& 

g 

i 

■^ 

g 

P 

a 

1 

^ 

i 

3     a 

1 

S 

S 

6 

1 

1 

d 

rS     1 

Berlin  

31 S 

151 

:« 

1 

Vermillion 

170 

245 

11 

194 

127 

4 

Sandusky— 

First  Ward... 

99 

131 

285 

294 

167 

15 

Second  Ward 

303 

Kelley  s  Island 

99 

89 

Third  Ward  . 

247 

316 

Milan^ 

166 

47 

4 

Fourth  Ward 

19:1 

M2M 

Margaretta  .... 

2V4 

m 

Fifth  Ward.. 

87 

m 

lli9 

172 

Totals 

31.58 

3112 

pIS:::;:::; 

115      i 

HURON     COUNIY. 


Norwich 1.55 

Peru 93 

Plymouth 83 

Richmond 1 28 

Ridgefleld 270 

Ripley 204 

Sherman 31 

Townsend 262 

Wakeman 210 


Bronson 173  90 

Clarksfleld 221        51 

Fairfield 264       89 

Fitchville 180       34 

Greenfield 142       92 

Greenwich.  ...  203       82 

Hartland 202       42 

Lyme 119  134 

New  London...  350  104 

New  Haven...  156  213      ..     ..  —    — 

Norwalk 910  644       1    20         Totals 4501    3014^      1    67 

HURON  COUNTY — VOTE  FOR  GOVERNOR. 

In  the  following  table  of  votes  cast  for  governor, 
the  names  of  the  whig  or  republican  candidate  is 
given  first,  and  the  democratic  candidate  second. 
From  184-4  to  18.5.3,  the  third  party  is  the  abolition  or 
free-soil.  In  1855,  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  votes 
were  cast  for  the  ticket  of  the  native  American,  anti- 
Catholic,  or  know-nothing  party,  as  it  was  called: 

1816— Thomas  Worthington,  whig 40 

E.  A.  Brown,  democrat 42 

1818— James  Dunlap,  whig  71 

E.  A.  Brown,  democrat 332 


1820— VV.  H.  Harrison,  whig 4S 

E.  A.  Brown,  democrat 449 

1822— Jeremiah  Morrow,  whig 96 

Allen  Trimble,  democrat 490 

Irvin , 312 

1824— Jeremiah  Morrow,  whig 165 

Allen  Trimbif,  democrat 629 

1826- Alexander  Campbell,  whig 433 

Allen  Trimble,  democrat 0.52 

1828— John  W.  Campbell,  whig 446 

Allen  Trimble,  democrat 973 

1830— Duncan  McArthur,  whig 1,013 

Robert  Lucas,  democrat 431 

1832— Dariu?  Lyman,  whig 

Robert  Lucas,  democrat 

1834— James  Findlay,  whig 1.583 

Robert  Lucas,  democrat   1.117 

1836— Joseph  Vance,  whig • 

Eli  Baldwin,  democrat 

1838-Joseph  Vance,  whig 2,5i)6 

Wilson  Shannon,  democrat 2,.366 

1840— Thomas  Corwin,  whig 2.205 

Wilson  Shannon,  democi'at ...  1,6.50 

1843— Thomas  Corwin,  whig 1.975 

Wilson  Shannon,  democrat 1.796 

1844 — Mordecai  Bartley ,  whig 2  445 

David  Tod.  democrat 2,149 

L.  King,  abolition 181 

1846— William  Bebb.  whig 1.960 

David  Tod,  democrat 1,517 

Samuel  Lewis,  abolition 367 

1848— Seabury  Ford,  whig -2,135 

John  B.  W^eller,  democrat  1,682 

1850— Wm.  Johnston,  whig 2,120 

Reuben  Wood,  democrat 1,718 

Edward  Smith,  abolition  349 

1851— S.  F.  Vinton,  whig 1,704 

Reuben  Wood,  democrat l.e'03 

Lewis,  abolition 470 

18.53— Nelson  Barrere.  whig l,]03 

William  Medill.  democrat 1,705 

Lewis,  abolition  1,277 

18.5.5— Salmon  P.  Chase,  republican  1,295 

William  Medill,  democrat 1,277 

Know  nothing 134 

18.57— Salmon  P.  Chase,  republican 2,9.53 

H.  B  Payne,  democrat 1,568 

1859— Wm.  Dennison,  republican 2,934 

R.  P.  Ranney,  democrat  1.568 

1861— David  Tod,  republican  3,158 

Hugh  J.  Jewett.  democrat ],2]r 

186.3— John  Brough,  republican 4,453 

C.  L.  Vallandigham.  democrat 1,775 

1865— Jacob  D.  Cos.  republican 3,203 

George  W.  Jlorgan,  democrat 1,944 

1.867— R.  B.  Hayes,  republican 3,683 

Allen  G.  Thurman,  democrat 2,273 

1869-R.  B.  Hayes,  republican 3.393 

George  H.  Pendleton,  democrat 2.112 

1871— Edward  F.  Noyes,  republican  '. 3.S29 

George  W.  McCoot,  democrat 2,070 

Gideon  T.  Stewart,  prohibitionist 140 

1873— Edw«rd  F.  Noyes,  republican 2.633 

W'illiam  .\llen,  democrat 1,829 

Gideon  T.  Stewart,  prohibition  332 

Isaac  Collins,  liberal  28 

1875— R.  B.  Hayes,  republican  3.873 

William  .\llen,  democrat  2,687 

Jay  Odell.  prohibition  .  .      128 

1877- Wm.  H.  West,  republican  3.734 

Richard  M.  Bishop,  democrat  2,454 

H.  A.  Thompson,  pi  ohibition  138 

Stephen  Johns,  grtenback  239 

ERIE  CorXTV — VOTE  FOR  GOVERNOR  .SINCE  18-40. 


1840— Thomas  C 01  win   whig 

Wilson  Shannon  democrat 
1842— Thomas  Corn  in  w  hig 

Wilson  Shannon,  democrat 

L.  King,  'al  olition 
1S14— Mordecai  Bartlev    whig 

David  Tod  democrat 

L.  King,  abolition 
1H16— William  Bebb  whig 

David  Tod  democrat 

Lewis,  abolition 


HISTORY  OF  HUROK  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1»48— Seaburs-  Ford,  whig 1,392 

John  B.  Weller,  democrat 1,118 

1830-WiUiam  Johnston,  whig 1,192 

Reuben  Wood,  democrat 1,196 

Edward  Smith,  abolition 107 

1851— S.  F.  Vinton,  whig 1,149 

Reuben  Wood,  democrat 1,304 

Lewis,  abolition ITO 

1833— Nelson  Barrere,  whig 873 

William  Medill,  democrat 1,197 

■     Lewis,  abolition 408 

1.S55— Salmon  P.  Chase,  republican 1,564 

William  MedUI,  democrat 1,123 

American 68 

1857— Salmon  P.  Chase,  republican 1.916 

H.  B.  Payne,  democrat 1,4-39 

1859— William  Dennison,  republican 1,983 

■  R.  P.  Ranney,  democrat. 1,535 

1861— David  Tod.  republican  2,164 

Hugh  J.  Jewett,  democrat 836 

1863— John  Brough,  republican  3,412 

C   L   Vallandigham.  democrat 1403 

lKfi5-J.  D   Cox.  republican 2,143 

George  W .  Morgan,  democrat 1,651 

1867— R.  B  Hayes,  republican 2,480 

A .  G.  Thurman.  democrat 1,989 

1869— R.  B.  Hayes,  republican  8,311 

George  H   Pendleton,  democrat 1,848 

1871— Edward  F.  Noyes,  republican 2.231 

George  W   McCook,  democrat 1,555 

G.  T   Stewart,  prohibition 38 

1873— E.  F.  Noyes,  republican ' 1,988 

William  Allen,  democrat 1,588 

G.  T.  Stewart,  prohibiten 75 

Isaac  Collins,  liberal 77 

1S7.5— R   B   Hayes,  republican 2,891 

William  Allen,  democrat 2,657 

Jay  Odell,  prohibition 13 

1S77— William  H    West,  republican 2,424 

R   M   Bishop,  democrat 2,486 

Greenback 377 

Prohibition 23 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

STATISTICS. 


Ix  the  year  1S03  uu  euiinieratiou  was  taken  of  the 
white  males  iu  Ohio,  the  number  reported  being 
twelve  thousand  and  eighty-eight,  of  which  one  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  eleven,  representing  about  four 
thousand  inhabitants,  were  returned  from  Trumbull 
county.  The  census  of  1820  shows  the  population  of 
Huron  county  to  be  six  thousand  six  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  and  a  census  taken  in  1827,  presumably 
the  work  of  the  township  assessors,  and  published  in 
the  Xorwalk  Rejwrter  of  June  9,  1827,  gives  the 
population  of  each  township, — the  total  for  the  county 
being  nine  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixteen.  The 
census  of  1830  gives  a  population  of  thirteen  thousand 
three  hundred  and  forty-one. 

The  maximum  population  of  the  county  seems  to 
have  been  reached  in  1860,  and  is  an  illustration  of  a 
fact  often  dwelt  upon  by  statisticians, — that  the 
popular  belief  that  the  older  a  country  is  the  more 
thickly  populated  it  becomes,  is  not  always  well 
founded.  For  the  past  thirty  years  the  increase  of 
population  lias  been  almost  wholly  in  the  towns  and 
villages.  Indeed,  most  of  the  townships  have  lost, 
many  of  them  actually  having  les.f  inliabitants  than 
in  1840. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  a  work  like  this  to  point 
out  the  causes  of  this  depopulation  of  the  farming 


districts,  but  it  is  worth  while  to  remark  that  the 
work  of  clearing  the  woods,  in  a  heavily  timbered 
country,  requires  many  strong  hands.  Every  farm 
had  to  be  literally  chopped  out  of  the  woods:  houses, 
barns,  fences,  and  roads  had  to  be  built;  hence 
there  was  employment  for  a  large  surplus  pojjulation, 
who,  when  their  services  were  no  longer  required, 
were  forced  to  seek  new  locations.  Another  explana- 
tion may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  some  people  when 
they  get  the  "western  fever"  are  never  satisfied. 
First  they  remove  to  Ohio,  and  try  their  fortune  here 
awhile,  but  not  finding  any  easy  way  to  get  rich,  pull 
up  stakes  and  go  to  Indiana;  there  they  find  the  chills 
and  the  water  to  be  very  bad,  and  they  go  to  Illinois 
or  Iowa,  where  something  else  is  not  to  their  liking, 
and  they  move  on  t^  Kansas  and  perhaps  are  soon 
en  route  for  some  other  locality;  and  so  they  journey 
on,  in  their  nomadic  wanderings,  until  starvation  and 
death  overtake  them.  A  third  reason  is  the  extensive 
use  of  labor-saving  machinery.  A  fourth  is  the 
substitution  of  cattle  and  sheep  raising  and  dairying 
in  place  of  raising  corn,  grain  and  potatoes:  while 
the  diminution  of  population  by  reason  of  the  war 
is  still  another  reason. 


Bronsnn 

Clarksfield 

Fairfield 

FltchviUe 

Greenfield 

Gr  enwich 

Hartland 

Lyme    

Bellevue  Village,  that  part  situated 

ated  in  Lyme 

New  Haven 

New  London 

New  London  Village 

Norwalk 

Norwalk  Village 

Norwich 

Peru 

Richmond 

Ridgefield 

Monroeville  Village 

Riple.y 

Sherman 

Townsf'nd 

Wakeman 


1840 
1.291 


1850      1860     1870 


1  2-30       1,246 


Totals. 


I  616      as, 532 


The  population  of  Erie  county  was. 


18.568      1870. 


Of  the  Huron  county  population,  census  l.sTii, 
k'ere  born  in 


NeWiork  3,1 

Germany 1,1 

England  and  Wales  f 

Of  the  Erie  coimty  pi 
were  born  in 


Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

New  York 

Virginia  and  West  Vnginia 


British  Ar 
France... 
Scotland . 

Colored  . 


Ireland 

England  and  Wales 

Britii'h  America  ...   . 

France 

Scotland 

Colored  . 


HISTOEY  OF  HUEON  AND  EEIE  COUISTTIES,  OHIO. 


53 


PROPERTY    VALUES — HL'RON    COCNTY. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  State  Board  of  Equali- 
zation in  1826,  the  fourteenth  district,  including 
Cuyahoga,  Medina,  Eichland,  Huron,  Sandusky  and 
Lorain  counties,  were  represented  by  James  Hedges. 
The  average  value  of  land  per  acre  was  fixed  at  two 
dollars  and  eight  cents.  Total  value  of  lands,  one 
million  forty-seven  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  dollars;  value  of  town  lots,  etc.,  seventy-five 
thousand  one  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars.  At  the 
meeting  in  1835,  the  value  of  houses,  mills,  etc.,  was 
returned  at  sixty-five  thousand  three  hundred  and 
eighty-one  dollars;  average  value  of  land  per  acre 
fixed  at  three  dollars  and  twenty -five  cents;  value  t)f 
town  lots,  buildings,  etc.,  as  returned,  tAvo  hundred 
and  twenty-six  thousand  eight  hundred  and  three 
dollars.  Total  value  of  real  property  fixed  at  one  mil- 
lion nine  hundred  and  eighty-two  thousand  and  fifty- 
four  dollars;  personal  jiroperty,  two  hundred  and 
seventy-one  thousand  seven  iiundred  and  nine  dollars. 

In  1841,  Huron  county  was  represented  by  Ebrenger 
Warren.  Value  of  town  lots,  etc.,  as  returned,  ninety- 
one  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  dollars; 
average  value  of  land  per  acre  fixed  at  three  dollars 
and  twenty-four  cents;  total  value  of  real  property, 
one  million  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  thousand 
and  three  dollars. 

In  1846,  Huron  county  was  represented  by  Charles 
Standart,  of  Erie  county.  Average  value  of  land  per 
acrefixed  at  twelve  dollars  and  twenty-four  cents;  value 
of  towns,  three  hundred  and  one  thousand  six  hund- 
red and  fifty-two  dollars;  total  value  of  real  property, 
four  million  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  tliousand 
six  hundred  and  twenty-three  dollars. 

In  1853,  the  thirtieth  senatorial  district,  composed 
of  Huron,  Erie.  Sandusky  and  Ottawa  counties,  was 
represented  in  the  State  Board,  by  John  B.  Wilbor, 
of  Huron,  Erie  county.  The  following  are  the 
equalized  valuations:  Land  per  acre,  twenty-one 
dollars  and  twenty-two  cents;  value  of  towns,  six 
hundred  and  eight  thousand  six  hundred  and  eight 
dollars;  total  value,  seven  million  two  hundred  and 
sixty  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty  dollars.  The 
highest  valuation  per  acre  was  for  Bidgefield  town- 
ship, thirty-one  dollars  and  three  cents;  valuation  of 
Bcllevue,  buildings  and  lots,  one  hundred  and  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy  dollars;  Monroe- 
ville,  ninety-three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety 
dollars;  Xew  Loudon,  twenty-two  thousand  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  Norwalk,  three  hundred 
and  forty-two  thousand  and  ninety  dollars. 

PROPERTY    VALUES— ERIE    COUXTV. 

The  first  State  Board  of  Equalization,  after  the 
organization  of  Erie  county,  was  held  at  Columbus 
in  1841.  Valuation  of  town  lots,  etc.,  as  returned, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-six  thousand  six  hundred 
and  twenty-two  dollars;  value  of  laud  ])er  acre  fixed 
at  three  dollars  and  ninety-nine  cents;  total  valuation 


of  real  property,  seven  hundred  and  eighty-one 
•thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty  eight  dollars. 

In  1846,  Erie  comity  was  represented  by  Charles 
Standart.  Value  of  land  per  acre  fixed  at  thirteen 
dollars  and  thirty-six  cents,  being  more  than  three 
times  the  amount  at  which  it  was  fixed  only  five 
years  before;  value  of  towns,  nine  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty  dollars;  total 
value  of  real  property,  three  million  forty-eight  thou- 
sand one  hundi'ed  and  two  dollars. 

In  1853,  the  thirtieth  senatorial  district,  composed 
of  Huron,  Erie,  Sandusky  and  Ottawa  counties,  was 
represented  in  the  State  Board,  by  John  B.  Wilbor, 
of  Huron,  Erie  county.  The  following  are  among 
the  equalized  valuations:  Average  value  of  land  per 
acre,  twenty-four  dollars  and  eighty-nine  cents;  total 
value  of  land,  three  million  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty-six  dollars; 
Sandusky  City,  one  million  seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-eight  dollars; 
other  towns,  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  thousand 
six  hundred  and  ninety-four  dollars. 

AGRICULTURAL   STATISTICS. 

Among  the  noteworthy  crops  raised  in  Huron 
county,  the  following  are  taken  from  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Eeport  of  a  few  years  since,  and  illustrate 
the  fact  that  the  soil  of  this  portion  of  Ohio  is  rarely 
surpassed  in  fertility  and  productiveness.  The  crops 
given  were  those  upon  which  premiums  were  awarded 
by  either  the  State  or  county  agricultural  societies, 
and  were,  it  is  understood,  based  on  sworn  and  veri- 
fied statements  and  measurements.  In  the  year  1850, 
Lemuel  Morse  raised  four  acres  of  wheat;  average 
yield  fifty-two  bushels  per  acre.  .  In  1852,  William 
Bacon  raised  four  acres  of  wheat;  average  yield  per 
acre  forty-five  bushels.  The  yield  of  other  crops  has, 
on  several  occasions,  been  equally  remarkable  accord- 
ing to  the  same  authority.  In  1850,  D.  A.  Baker 
raised  on  seven  and  a  half  acres — one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  bushels  of  oats  per  acre.  In  1852,  B.  B. 
Jackson  comes  to  the  front  for  that  year,  and  reports 
one  hundred  and  three  bushels  of  oats  raised  on  one 
acre;  two  years  previously  the  same  gentleman  raised 
one-half  acre  of  potatoes  which  yielded  at  the  rate  of 
four  hundred  and  thirty-three  bushels  per  acre. 

THE    WHEAT    CROP — HUROX    COUNTY. 

Year.          Acres.          Bushels.  Year.  Acres.          Bushels. 

1850 21,832 411,604     1S6.5 lo.OSi :T7,366 

1852 17,981 2:j-2,581     1866 14,566 133,2.33 

1854 11,153 18.036     1867 14,299 180,701 

1855 6,07- 66,817     1868 17,963 247,372 

1856 6,593 80,150     1869 21,740 524,520 

1859 20,478 219.059     1870 20,455 221,790 

1860 19,630 265,865     1871 17,083 313,264 

1861 21,095 238,286     1873 20,575 298,071 

1882 25,53:} 413,030     1874 33,952 421,062 

1863 21,800 300.577     1875 24,7« 332,1.^)3 

1864 17,847 152..T03     1876 21,197 324.291 

THE    CORN    CROP — HURON    COUNTY. 

Year.          Acres.          Bushels.  Year.           Acres.          Bushels, 

1850 22.806 878,143  1865 21,524 762,342 

1855 3:,.312 1,074,448  1870 27.419 1.131,891 

1860 28,075 96.3,876         '  1875 28,904 1,002,220 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  1853,  the  yield  of  corn  was  only  three  hundred 
and  thirty-two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  bushels.  The  average  yield  for  fifteen  years — 
1850  to  1864 — was  seven  hundred  and  eighty-one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety  bushels.  Tlie 
amount  raised  in  186.3  was  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  thousand  bushels,  and  in  1865,  seven  hundred 
and  sixty-two  thousand  three  hundi-ed  and  forty-two. 


THE 

VVHE.\T    CROP 

—ERIE 

COUNTY. 

Year. 

.icres. 

Bushels. 

Year. 

.A.cres 

Bushels. 

1850.... 

...  13  5T8. 

397.587 

1865... 

....    8,!i:347.. 

....    8.5,653 

1853... 

..      9,789. 

162  814 

1866... 

....    7,344... 

....    75  567 

1851.... 

...    6,698. 

31,149 

1867... 

....    7  795... 

....  113.185 

1855.... 

...    .3,740. 

50.599 

1868.... 

....    9,814... 

....  136,371 

1856... 

...    3  990. 

.50.035 

1869. . . . 

....     9,844... 

...    203,436 

1859.... 

...  10  513. 

..     ..  175,312 

1870... 

9  655... 

....  160,459 

...   W  105. 

350.711 

1871.... 

....     9.784... 

...  170  038 

1861.... 

...  14  478. 

2.36  842 

1873.... 

....  13,765  .. 

....  234  478 

1862.... 

...  16.966. 

393,960 

1874... 

16  638... 

....  .329  661 

1863,... 

...  15.899. 

250,041 

1875.. 

...    16  035... 

....  295  611 

18«.... 

...  11,961. 

62,020 

1876... 

....  14  184.  . 

...  316,846 

THE 

CORN    CROP- 

-ERIE 

COUNTY. 

Year. 

Acres. 

Bushels. 

Year. 

Acres. 

Bushels. 

1850.... 

...  14,569. 

615,122 

1865.. . 

....  14.748... 

...  501  333 

1855.... 

...  31, .396. 

737,427 

I.'<70.. 

19,185.. . 

....  713,529 

1869.... 

...  32.236. 

919.983 

1875... 

....  10  3a8... 

....  780,121 

The  crop  of  1853  amounted  to  only  four  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  bushels.  The  average  for  fifteen  years,  1850 — 
1864,  was  sixteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
twenty-four  acres,  with  a  product  of  five  hundred 
and  fifty-six  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty 
bushels. 

TAXES — HURON  COUNTY. 

The  total  amount  of  taxes  in  Huron  county  in  1821, 
on  personal  and  village  property,  was  as  follows: 


-hin 

New  Jerusalem,  (town  plat) 

I-!^ 

BeattyCtown 

I    J, 

41  83 

Pekins 

36  90 

City  of  San 

Oxford 

70  101^ 

9  39 

Sherman 

Macksville  . 

1  90 

Qreenfield 

.33  80 

Clarksfteld  . 

11  70 

Black  River 

33  50 

Elyria 

33  85 

18  10 

Xorivalk. 

Norwalk,  (town  niati  . 

63  48 

New  Haven 

New  Haven 

(town  plat  1 

.            13  50^ 

Lyme 

4080 

14  6S 

31  .35 

1,0.56  36H 

New  London  

Eldridge 

East  half  of  Venice 

Total  amount 

ftl.ll78  no 

Amount  of  deductions  as  per  return  of  Ezra  Sprague 304  .52 

Amount  to  be  paid  to  the  treasurer 773  48 

Total  land  tax  of  Huron  county,  in  1821,  was 7,831  68 

Grand  total  tax  for  1831 88,605  10 

Huron  county,  in  1821,  embraced  a  large  i)art  of 
the  present  county  of  Lorain,  in  addition  to  the  whole 
of  the  Fire-lands. 

INTERNAL    UEVENUE. 

During  the  war  various  jilans  of  taxation  were 
resorted  to,  in  order  to  help  defray  its  immense  cost. 
The  amount  of  money  realized  in  this  way  from  Huron 
county,  was  veuy  large.  From  July  1,  to  December 
31,  1865,  the  internal  revenue  receipts  from  Huron 
county  were  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thousand 
and  ninety-three  dollars,  while  the  receipts  from  Erie 
county  for  the  same  period  were  ninety-six  thousand 
six  hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars.  By  far  the 
largest  amount  of  this  was  collected  from  the  dis- 
tilleries located  at  Monroeville  and  Bellevue.  The 
tax  collected  from  them  for  the  month  of  May,  1864, 
was  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thousand  one  hund- 
red and  sixty  dollars  and  thirty-six  cents,  of  which  S. 
V.  Harkness  paid  sixty-nine  thousand  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  dollars;  Woodward  &  Littlefiekl,  thirty- 
eight  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-five  dollars, 
and  D.  M.  Harkness  &  Co.,  twenty-eight  thousand 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars. 

The  amount  paid  by  S.  V.  Harkness  for  excise  on 
licjuors  manufactured  from  February  21,  1863,  to 
December  31,  1864,  was  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
one  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars  and 
eighty-nine  cents,  and  for  a  period  of  over  four 
months — fi'om  August  11  to  December  20,  1864, 
the  distillery  was  not  running.  Of  the  two  hundred 
arid  fifty-eight  thousand  and  ninety-three  dollars 
internal  revenue  for  Huron  county  in  the  six  months 
ending  December  31,  1865,  the  various  distillers 
paid  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  dollars,  the  amount  paid  by 
each  being  as  follows:  S.  V.  Harkness,  fifty-nine 
thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-seven  dollars;  H.  JI. 
Sinclair  &  Co.,  forty-four  thousand  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  dollars;  A.  Woodward,  thirty-five  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  forty-nine  dollars;  Clary  &  Co., 
twenty-two  thousand  si_x  hundred  and  thirty-three 
dollars;  LaBarre  &  Packard,  thirteen  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty-one  dollars;  C.  P.  Prentiss,  six 
thou.-:and  five  luindred  and  fifty-one  dollars, 

.scHtluL    STATI^TICS — HURON    COUNTY. 

The  Huron  county  School  statistics  for  187T,  are 
as  follows: 

Total  amount  of  school  moneys  received  during  the  year §148,789  33 

Number  of  unmarried  youth  between  the  ages  of  six  and 

twenty-one:  boys,  5.513;  girls,  5,083;  colored  youth,  72; 

total 10,097 

Number  between  sixteen  and  twenty-one 3,788 

Number  of  school  houses  erected  during  the  year, 6 

Cost $9,02600 

W'hole  number  of  school  houses 169 

Value  of  school  property $344,7.50  00 

Number  of  teachers  employed:  males,  189:   females,  323; 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AXD  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Average  wages  o£  teachers,  per  month:  township  primary: 

Males 

Females 

Separate  districts,  males 


8  36  00 
S  33  00 
$53  00 
S  35  00 


Average  number  of  weeks  schools  were  in  session: 

Township  primary 

Separate  districts,  primary 

Total  number  of  different  pupils  enrolled 

Average  daily  attendance 

Number  of  pupils  in  different  branches  o£  study: 

Alphabet 813  ,  Natural  Philosophy . 

Reading 0,".)      German 

SpelUng 6,760      Algebra  

Writing 5,:3.54      Gt-omt-trv -. 

Arithmetic; 5,9iiJ 

Geography "  "" ' 


iietry. 


a,:^;! 

Composition 1,530 

Drawing ^3» 

Vocal  Music l,o'J>i 

U.  S.  History 369 


ISCOME  RETl'RXS,   18G-i. 

The  amounts  given  below  are  in  excess  of  the  si.x 
hundred  dollars  exempted  by  law,  also  exclusive  of 
all  taxes,  dividends  on  bank,  railroad  stock,  etc. 
Those  less  than  one  thousand  are  omitted.  First 
district  embracing  Xorwalk,  Ridgefield,  Lyme,  Sher- 
man. Peru,  Bronson,  Hurtland,  Townsend,  and 
Wakeman. 

FIRST  DIVISIOK — HIRAM  RUSE,  ASSESSOR. 


$1,295 
1,100 
1,790 
1.-03-2 

i.ori 

2,100 
.     5.414 

2,5(» 
.  1,901 
.     l.:«7 

.   a,aio 

.     1,411 

.    l,oon 

■  M-'' 
.    urn 

.     1.000 
.  21,000 
.  21,000 
.     1.500 

:  \:^ 

.     1,000 
.120,000 
.     1200 
.     1,185 
.     1,510 
.    8,000 

;  l-Tr 

:j,110 
6,750 

N— JO 

.  $1  801 
.    2  00O 
.     1  SVO 
.     1,000 
.    1  :399 
.     1,117 
.     1,981 
.     1,001 
.     2  4.S1 

■  '  ^•■: 

'.       I'.IIS'.I 

S.  C.Perkins  

J.  A.  Pattison 

D.  R.Patrick 

C.  E.  Pennewell 

A.  W.Prentiss 

C.P.Prentiss 

D.H.  Pease.. 
Isaac  Powell      , . 
W.  D.  Roberts 
R    B.  Russell       . 

Ru'ei  Roby  ".'.'.-'.'' 

^TiZ^: :....:.. 

H.M.Sinclair 

T.  R.  Strong 

Walter  Bates 

G.G.Baker 

2.242 

1,000 

W.  A  Bishop  

Henry  Baker 

C.L.Wlt 

Nathaniel  Chapman  

2,500 

.    .    .       4,01X1 

....  s 

H.  Clary 

Wm.  Case 

O.Dole 

J.  F.  Dewev 

J.  C.  R.  Eastman  

.       4.7.>1 

1.186 

1,276 

1,186 

2,603 

F.  A.  Gilbert 

0    W    Head 

1,'773 

2,696 

L  G  Harkness 

L.  A.  Shepard 

Isaac  Underhill 

I>.  Wheaton 

F.  Wickham 

S.  T.  W..r..<ester 

J.V.Warner 

Amos  Woodward  .... 
Edward  Williams.... 

H    M    Wooster 

3  044 

D.  M.  Harkness 

Wra    Humphrey 

M.  JI.  Hester 

N  G   Havward 

3,378 

4,000 

1,200 

3  500 

D.  S.  Humi.hrey 

S.  V.  Harkness. 

G.  JaL-..l.s..n 

t^:.t!:/:;:;.:;:;.:;::; 

W.  R,  Little 

H    Lrieb 

1.2:51 

1,01X1 

1.4:i9 

l.I.iO 

20,000 

1  856 

.S.B.Martin 

C.  E.  Xewmau 

D   Packard 

;.::;:;  3;^ 

15,01X1 

1.50(1 

Total  amount  of  tax. 
SECOXD  DIVISIO 

S;J0,919.57 

HX  BARXES,   ASSESSOR. 

j.B  Bisseii.;:;;::::::;;;: 

H    C.  Breckenridge 

Moses  Bilstine 

John  O.  Berrr 

R    Knowlton 

L   D.  King 

^^n^<^'kead:;::;:;. 

Aranson  Sutton 

Alanson  Sutton 

D.  W.  Slocum 

i;056 

1.060 

1,108 

R.   Bevier.      "  

A.   Barrett 

.1    Breniaiiiau 

2675 

2.706 

1  168 

■.•;.•;■.■  1095 

N.Carl 

Mrs    Cubertson 

rSfSi^n"^;::::;::;;; 

S    Hau.'ihurst 

riiiiii)  ri.|. 

1,004 

3.90O 

1  012 

Ahni  Yeaman." . . ; ; 

■KKS,     18T0. 

Erie  Co. 

1,206 

1.458 

1,500 

Huron  Co. 

MAXrFACT 

Water  wheels    . 

40 

54 

AU  hands 

2801 

801 

five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-tive  in  18G.5, 
and  six  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventeen  in  18G2. 
Usually  the  number  has  not  varied  more  than  a  hund- 
red from  six  thousand  head  for  many  years. 

The  number  of  horses  in  Huron  county  has  not, 
in  many  years,  greatly  varied  from  ten  thousand,  the 
number  in  1862  being  ten  thousand  four  hundred  and 
eighty-one,  and  a  few  years  after  being  reduced  to 
about  nine  thousand  six  hundred. 


CHAPTER    XVII 


THE  PRESS. 


The  number  of  horses  in   Erie  county  for  about 
twenty  years  jiast   lias  ranged  from   two  extremes, 


Newspapers,  more  properly  than  actors,  are  "the 
abstract  and  brief  chronicles  of  the  times."  They 
not  only  narrate  for  the  people  of  a  cotemporary  age 
the  passing  events,  but  embalm  the  facts  of  the  pres- 
ent for  the  information  of  future  generations.  They 
put  on  record  the  present  in  detail,  and  as  printing  is 
"the  art  preservative  of  all  arts,"  so  are  the  newspa- 
pers the  preservers  and  perpetuators  of  current  iiis- 
tory.  They  are  a  reflex,  as  a  rule,  of  the  thought  and 
action  of  their  time;  store-houses  of  facts  and  fancy; 
treasuries  of  information  in  regard  to  the  morals 
and  the  men  of  the  time  in  which  they  are  edited; 
unfailing  indexes  of  public  opinion,  and  transcripts 
of  the  minds  that  make  them. 

While  the  editor  of  a  newspaper  shows  to  his  read- 
ers the  various  happenings  in  the  world,  and  com- 
ments upon  them,  he,  unconsciously,  perhaps,  but 
nevertheless  surely,  exhibits  his  mental  and  moral 
nature,  and  so  it  happens  that  in  turning  over  the 
yellow  leaves  of  the  old  newspapers  of  the  Fire.-lands 
we  know  something  of  the  men  who  were  then  mana- 
gers, and  "read  lietween  the  lines"  the  records  of 
their  lives  and  the  peculiar  traits  of  their  character. 
A  great  work  was  accomplished  by  the  pioneer  jour- 
nalists of  the  Western  Reserve,  for  they,  laboring 
against  almost  every  conceivable  disadvantage,  aided 
the  development  of  the  country,  and  each  in  some 
degree  bettered  the  condition  of  its  people  by  ad- 
vancing their  thought,  and  by  keeping  them  abreast 
of  the  world  in  knowledge  of  public  affairs,  politics 
and  principles.  The  history  of  a  newspaper  can- 
not be  written.  We  give  only  the  dry  facts  of 
a  course  of  existence  which  in  some  cases  has  been 
long,  and  in  some  brief,  but,  we  can  truly  say,  in 
(dl,  beneficial.  The  press  in  Huron  and  Erie  coun- 
ties has  been  in  the  hands  of  men  worthy  of  their 
high  office,  and  it  stands  the  test  of  comparison  with 
that  of  any  similar  section  of  country.  Its  record 
has  been  one  of  steady  development.  It  has  kept 
ahead  and  led  the  march  of  improvement.  How 
great  the  growth  from  its  pioneer  days,  the  date  of 
the  "Rainage"  press,  and  scanty  news  facilities,  to 
the  present  era  of  enlarged  scope! 

We  present,  in  the  following,  a  brief  compilatinu  of 
facts  in  regard  to  the  various  papers  of  the  p;ist  and 
present  in  tiie  Fire-lands: 


HISTORY  OF  IIUKOX  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


EH  IE    COUNTY,    SANDUSKY. 
THE    SAXDUSKY    CLAKIOX. 

The  i>ioiieer  iiewsjjaper  of  the  Fire-lands  was  first 
issued  upon  tlie  Sith  of  April,  1822.  David  Camp- 
bell, who  arrived  from  the  east  about  1820,  associated 
himself  with  Adouijah  Chamjilin,  his  brother-in-law, 
who,  however,  never  became  a  partner,  and  December 
15,  1821,  issued  proposals  and  a  prospectus  for  the 
publication  of  the  Ohio  Illuminator.  The  proposi- 
tion met  with  favor  from  the  very  start.  The  business 
men  and  tlie  citizens  generally,  of  Huron  county,  took 
hold  of  the  matter  with  spirit,  and  subsequently,  lists 
were  zealously  circulated  throughout  the  village  and 
county  in  which  it  was  reasonable  to  believe  a  constit- 
uency could  be  secured.  The  project  was  so  warmly 
espoused  by  the  people,  that  ]\[r.  Campbell  immedi- 
ately began  preparations  for  the  publication  of  the 
paper  in  March,  as  he  had  in  his  prospectus  promised 
to  do.  He  had  his  types  and  press  on  hand  by  the 
loth,  but  as  the  subscription  lists  had  not  been  re- 
turned, and  being  a  very  cautious  kind  of  man,  Mr. 
Campbell  delayed  the  publication  until  he  could  be 
assured  of  ami>le  support,  and  consequently  the  paper 
was  not  issued  until  the  date  above  giveji.  In  the 
time  intervening,  between  the  inception  of  the  idea 
and  its  realization,  the  pioneer  editor  had  met  with 
some  discouraging  experiences.  His  partner,  Mr. 
Champlin,  who  had  gone  east,  was  prevented  by 
sickness  from  returning,  and  a  certain  class  of  the 
people,  who,  then  as  now,  have  no  doubt  of  their  entire 
competency  to  conduct  a  newspaper  better  than  the 
editor,  made  objection  to  the  name,  Ohio  Illuminator, 
as  improper;  and  perhaps  with  better  reason  than 
ordinarily  possesses  fault  finders,  for  the  proprietor 
seem.s  to  have  been  convinced  by  them,  and  in  confor- 
mity to  their  wishes  adopted  the  name  Sandusky 
Clarion.  The  initial  number  of  the  Clarion  was,  of. 
course,  a  folio,  in  size  twency-four  by  thirty-eight 
inches.  It  was  printed  upon  heavy,  coarse  paper,  in 
the  manner  of  typography  then  common,  all  of  the 
type  in  both  reading  matter  and  advertisements  being 
from  the  same  font.  It  was  printed  in  a  small  story 
and  a  half  building  which  stood  upon  the  corner  of 
Columbus  avenue  and  Water  street,  which  was  used 
also  as  a  dwelling  by  Mr.  Campbell.  Subsequently 
the  office  was  removed  to  the  "  Old  AVhite  store,"  and 
from  thence  to  the  "  Old  Portland  House  "  on  Water 
street,  which  was  burned  some  years  after. 

In  stating  the  aim  of  his  journalistic  endeavors, 
Mr.  Campbell  spoke  particularly  of  the  deep  interest 
that  eastern  people  felt  in  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment of  the  "Sandusky  country."  and  said  that  he 
should  "spare  no  pains  in  giving  such  information 
in  regard  to  it  as  might  be  interesting  to  emigrants,"' 
adding  that  it  would  "  be  an  agreeable  task,  if  experi- 
ence shall  warrant  it,  to  correct  the  unfavorable 
reports  so  prevalent  in  the  western  part  of  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  relative  to  the  unhealthfulness  of 
the  climate."   concluding  by  asking  information  in 


regard  to  the  matter.  The  salutatoi-y  closed  with  the 
I  following  paragraph,  indicative  of  the  course  of  the 
Clarion,  viz:  "I  am  more  anxious  to  form  a  charac- 
ter for  the  Clarion,  by  the  manner  of  conducting  it, 
than  by  gratuitous  promises;  these  general  i-emarks 
may  suffice,  until  time  has  developed  the  opinions  of 
the  editors  and  established  the  reputation  of  the 
paper." 

For  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  pioneer  paper  of  the 
Fire-lands  was  conducted  upon  the  plan  here  fore- 
shadowed, and  with  a  degree  of  success  that  was 
creditable  to  the  sagacity  and  probity  of  its  proprie- 
tor. He  was  untiring  in  his  •efforts  to  establish  for 
his  paper  a  reputation  for  candor  and  straight- 
forwardness, and  made  it  much  more  of  a  neivs  paper 
than  were  most  of  its  contemporary  journals,  even  in 
older  and  better  fields.  It  was  the  third  on  the 
Western  Reserve — the  Cleveland  Herald,  and  the 
Western  Reserve  Chronicle,  at  Warren,  Trumbull 
county,  then  existing.  Mr.  Campbell  was  for  many 
years  sole  proprietor  of  the  Clarion,  but  was  from  the 
beginning  assisted  in  the  office  by  his  nephew,  .John 
K.  Campbell.  The  latter  finally  became  jiartner. 
After  a  few  years  the  nephew  retired  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  George  W.,  the  eldest  sou  of  David.  As 
the  other  two  sons,  Benjamin  F.  and  Henry  C,  be- 
came of  age,  tliey  were  received  into  the  concern, 
when  the  firm  name  was  "  D.  Campbell  &  Sons." 
The  paper  was  several  times  enlarged,  and  was  con- 
tinued, under  the  control  of  its  original  proprietor 
and  his  partners  for  twenty-nine  years.  Benjamin  F. 
and  Henry  C.  died  many  years  ago.  George  W.  is 
now,  and  has  been,  for  many  years  past,  a  resident  of 
Delaware,  Ohio.  The  father  deceased  several  years 
since  (July  28,  1801). 

Mr.  Campbell  was  pre-eminently  a  man  of  lionest, 
modest  worth  in  private  life,  and  in  professional 
capacity  and  the  combination  of  admirable  traits 
made  up  a  character  which  very  naturally  won  and 
held  the  respect  of  the  people  with  whom  about  forty 
years  of  his  life  were  passed.  He  died  at  his  residence 
in  Sandusky,  July  28,  18(11,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years. 

The  paper  that  lie  founded  in  1822,  and  which  was 
for  five  years  the  only  one  in  the  Fire-lands,  was  con- 
ducted under  the  name  of  the  Clarion,  until  it  had 
attained  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  when  it  was 
made  a  daily  paper,  and  its  name  was  changed  to  the 
Daily  Sanduskian.  In  tlie  year  1851,  Mr.  Campbell 
sold  the  paper  and  printing  office  to  Earl  Bill,  now 
clerk  of  the  United  States  district  court  for  the 
northern  district  of  Ohio,  and  Clark  Waggoner,  after- 
wards editor  of  the  Toledo  Commerrial.  Tliey  pub- 
lished daily,  tri-weekly  and  weekly  editions  under  tlie 
name  of  tlie  Commerrial  Bvf/isfer. 

In  1852,  the  files  of  the  Clarion  were  consumed  by 
fire.  In  1852,  Henry  D.  Cooke  became  interested  in 
the  paper  and  for  twelve  years  it  was  published  by  the 
firm  of  Henry  D.  Cooke  &  Co.  In  1855,  Orville  J.  Vic- 
tor entered  the  firm,  taking  charge  particularly  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


local  and  literary  departments  of  the  paper.  In  1850 
Messrs.  Bill  and  Waggoner  retired,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  Mr.  Victor  also  left  the  concern,  leaving 
Mr.  Cooke  sole  proprietor  foi-  a  time,  but  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  Mr.  C.  C.  Bill  became  a  partner.  Mr. 
Cooke  retired  from  the  firm  to  become  editor  of  the 
State  journal,  and  Mr.  'Waggoner  to  take  charge  of 
the  Toledo  Blade.  In  May,  I860,  the  whole  estab- 
lishment was  sold  to  H.  C.  Johnson  and  A.  H.  Agard. 
In  18G1,  Mr.  Bill  accepted  the  position  of  United 
States  marshal.  They  sold  ont  in  1865  to  General 
Nettleton  and  Judge  Waterbury,  who  published  the 
paper  until  March,  1869,  when  the  interest  of  the 
former  was  transferred  to  I.  F.  Mack,  who  in  com 
pany  with  Judge  Waterbury  conducted  the  Journal 
until  the  fall  of  1870,  under  the  name  of  the  Register 
Printing  Company.  Judge  Waterbury  retired  on  the 
1st  of  November,  1870,  and  from  that  date  until 
.1874,  when  Mr.  John  F.  Mack  became  associated 
with  his  brother  as  partner.  These  gentlemen  con- 
tinue the  publication  of  the  Register  under  the  firm 
name  of  I.  F.  Mack  &  Bro.,  and  issue  three  editions 
of  the  Register — daily,  tri-weekly  and  weekly.  The 
jjaper  is  republican  in  politics,  thoroughly  edited, 
enterprising  in  its  news  departments,  of  good  tone 
and  high  repute. 

THE    REPUBLICiN"    STANDAKD 

was  established  in  1832  by  E.  &  .1.  H.  Brown,  but 
had  not  a  remarkably  long  lease  of  life.  It  was  de- 
scribed by  the  Reflector  as  being  of  a  super-roj^al  size; 
its  appearance,  decent:  its  political  character,  JefEer- 
sonian. 

THE    COMMERCIAL    ADVERTISER 

was  i.ssued  for  the  first  time  in  April,  18-12,  by  M. 
H.  Snyder  &  Co.     It  was  discontinued  in  the  fall. 

THE    DEMOCRATIC    MIRROR 

was  started  in  December,  1842,  by  William  S.  Mills 
and  Sylvester  Ross,  the  same  type  being  used  that 
had  been  purchased  for  the  Commercial  Advertiser. 
In  1847,  John  Mackey  pui-chased  an  interest  in  this 
paper,  and  the  firm  of  Mills,  Ross  &  Mackey  con- 
tinued the  publication  until  May,  1849,  when  J.  W. 
Taylor  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Mackey.  In  185.3  the 
Mirror  establishment  was  sold  to  Joseph  and  Field- 
ing Cable,  and  the  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to 
The  Bay  Citg  Mirror.  After  a  short  time  the 
Cables  sold  out  to  Asa  Dimmock  who,  after  a  few 
months,  sold  to  Ray  Haddock,  Esq.  The  daily  edi- 
tion was  discontinued  at  this  time.  In  ^lay,  1856, 
Charles  H.  Ortou,  formerly  of  the  Xorivalk  Experi- 
ment, purchased  the  paper,  and  two  years  later  sold 
it  to  his  son,  T.  S.  Orton.  The  publication  of  the 
paper  was  suspended  about  a  year  after. 

THE    SANDUSKY    .lOlRNAL. 

In  the  fall  of  1865,   Messrs.   A.   D.   Kinney  and 
F.  B.   Culver  opened  a  job  printing  office,  and  tiie 


next  year  J.  C.  and  A.  D.  Kinney  began  the  publica- 
tion of  a  weekly  paper  called  the  Sandusky  Journal. 
It  was  started  as  independent  in  politics,  but  in  the 
Greeley  movement  it  advocated  Greeley's  election, 
and  the  local  candidates  of  that  party.  It  is  now 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

THE  INTELLIGENTE  BLATT. 

In  1851,  Messrs.  Augustus  Riemmele  and  Herman 
Ruep  commenced  the  publication  of  the  first  German 
paper  in  the  city,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Intelli- 
(jenfe  Blatt.  Mr.  Ruep  was  the  editor.  Mr.  Ruem- 
mele  was  accidentally  killed  on  the  Mad  River  &  Lake 
Erie  R.  R.,  near  Castalia,  in  September,  1857.  The 
paper  was  continued  by  Ruep  &  Co.  till  1859;  Ruep 
and  Frederick  Kelly,  editors.  In  the  latter  year,  the 
concern  was  sold  to  Messrs.  Jacob  Neuert,  H.  Hamel- 
stein  and  Charles  Bachy.  J.  Lippart  was  the  editor. 
In  November,  of  the  same  year,  the  concern  was  sold 
to  Engle  tt  Co.,  and  the  paper  was  then  edited  by 
A.  Thieme  and  Frederick  Reidling.  In  May,  1861, 
Mr.  Beidling  became  the  sole  editor  and  proprietor. 
The  Bhltf  was  a  democratic  paper  till  1854.  when 
it  became  republican. 

THE  BAYSTADT  DEMOKRAT. 

In  1856,  the  second  German  paper  was  commenced 
by  Louis  Tranb,  and  edited  by  H.  Ran,  and  was 
called  the  Baystadt  Demoh-at.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  it  was  sold  to  Frederick  Hertel,  sole  pro- 
prietor and  editor.  It  was  democratic.  In  1873, 
Messrs.  Hertel,  Senn  and  Ernst,  who  were  joint 
owners  and  editors,  changing  the  name  to  the  San- 
dusky Democrat.  About  a  year  ago,  Mr.  Ernst  sold 
out  to  Mr.  Senn,  who  is  now  sole  owner  and  editor. 
Several  other  German  papers  have,  at  different  times, 
been  started,  but  failed  to  be  sustained. 
MIL.\N. 

THE    MILAX    FREE    PRESS 

was  started  in  February,  ls3<i.  by  Warren  Jenkins, 
and  discontinued  in  April  of  the  following  year,  the 
editor  removing  to  Sandusky  where  he  began  the  pub- 
lication of  an  anti-masonic  paper. 

THE  MILAX  TRIBIXE 

was  published  here  from  1843  to  1851,  by  Clark  Wag- 
goner. 

THE    MILAX    ADVERTISER. 

was  first  issued  by  its  present  proprietor  about  the  first 
of  December,  1869,  as  an  advertising  sheet  until  after 
the  holidays.  It  was  issued  weekly  for  six  weeks,  and 
subsequently  every  fortnight  for  three  months.  Until 
the  first  of  April  it  was  issued  for  free  circulation, 
but  at  that  date  it  was  made  a  regular  publication  as 
a  five-colum  folio,  the  subscription  being  fixed  at  one 
dollar  per  year.  It  was  soon  after  enlarged  to  si.x 
columns,  and  in  June,  1875,  was  made  a  seven 
column  paper,  and  the  price  was  advanced  to  one  dol- 
lar and  fifty  cents  per  year.     Upon  the  1st  of  January, 


58 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1870,  the  paper  was  clianged  to  the  quarto  form  and 
made  five  columns  in  size — just  double  the  size  at 
which  it  was  started,  and  without  further  increase  of 
price.  It  is  now  in  its  tenth  year,  and  is  still  under 
the  management  of  its  original  proprietor  and  editor, 
A.  H.  Balslcy,  who  is  also  the  owner,  manager  and 
editor  of  the  Fiudlay,  Hancock  coiuity,  JefffTnonian, 
and  the  Attica,  Seneca  county,  Joitrnal. 


THE  COMMERCIAL  ADVERTISER. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Huron  was  the 
Huron  Commercial  Advertiser,  a  weekly  journal  is- 
sued January  l?th,  1837,  by  H.  C.  Gray,  now  a 
resident  of  Painesville,  Ohio.  The  press  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  December  12,  1838.  Another  press 
was  obtained,  and  the  publication  resumed  March  2, 
1839,  and  continued  till  April,  1842. 

THE  BEACON. 

Tiie  publication  of  another  weekly  journal,  the 
Huron  Beacon,  by  Mr.  Haddock,  was  comnijenced  in 
1853,  and  discontinued  the  next  year. 

THE  TIMES. 

Huron  next  had  the  benefit  of  the  Huron  Times, 
published  by  James  L.  Sweeny,  but  as  Huron  patron- 
age was  too  limited  to  support  a  literary  journal  of 
that  class,  Mr.  Sweeny  moved  to  Sandusky,  and  com- 
menced publishing  a  Sunday  journal. 

HURON  COUNTY— NORWALK. 

THE  REPORTER. 

Here  was  issued,  in  1827,  the  second  paper  pub- 
lished in  the  Fire-lands,  the  Norwalk  Reporter.  Its 
editors  and  publishers  were  John  P.  McArdle  and 
Henry  Buckingham.  The  former  had,  as  early  as 
1814,  published  a  paper  at  Clinton,  Ohio,  and  later  at 
Mount  Vernon,  being  one  of  the  oldest  printers  in 
the  State.  The  Reporter  was  published,  at  a  later 
date,  by  McArdle  and  G.  T.  Buckingham,  under  the 
firm  name  of  G.  T.  Buckingham  &  Co.,  and  was  dis- 
continued in  1830.  This  paper  was  printed  upon  a 
Ramage  press,  the  second  that  crossed  the  AUeghanies, 
obtained  in  England,  and  first  used  in  1794,  at  Wash- 
ington, Pennsylvania.  It  was  afterwards  removed  to 
Sandusky,  and  from  thence  to  Tiffin. 

THE  REFLECTOR. 

The  Huron  Reflector,  now  the  oldest  paper  in  the 
Fire-lands,  was  first  issued  February  2,  1830.  It  was 
published  at  Norwalk,  upon  a  Stanbury,  and  with 
new  type  (small  pica),  brought  by  wagon  from  Cin- 
cinnati for  the  purpose.  The  paper  was  of  neat  ap- 
pearance and  large  size.  Its  publishers  and  proprie- 
tors were  Samuel  Preston  and  G.  T.  Buckingham, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Preston  &  Buckingham.  Mr. 
Buckingham  retired  upon  the  1st  of  August,  1831, 
and  the  publication  of  the  paper  was  continued  by 


Samuel  Preston  &  Co.,  until  1834,  when  the  partner- 
ship was  dissolved,  and  a  new  firm  was  constitued  by 
Mr.  Preston  and  his  .son  C.  A.  Preston,  by  whom  it 
was  published  until  the  death  of  the  former  in  March, 
1852.  The  paper  was  then  published  for  two  years 
by  C.  A.  Preston  and  F.  Wickham,  when  the  latter 
gentleman  became  sole  proprietor.  John  R.  Osborne 
was  connected  with  the  paper,  as  editor,  in  1843,  and 
G.  T.  Stewart  from  1848  to  1851,  inclusive. 

F.  Wickham  retained  the  sole  ownership  of  the 
paper  until  18G5,  when  the  proprietorship  was  changed 
to  the  firm  of  F.  &  W.  S.  Wickham.  W.  S.  Wick- 
ham withdrew  October  1,  1873,  and  his  place  in  the 
partnership  was  filled  by  James  G.  Gibbs. 

The  Stanbury  press,  of  which  the  first  editors  were 
doubtless  very  proud,  gave  place,  many  years  ago,  to 
an  improved  power  press,  and  this  again  was  improved 
upon  by  the  introduction,  in  1872,  of  one  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati cylinder  presses,  of  the  mammoth  size.  An 
engine  was  put  in  at  the  same  time,  and  the  first 
steam  printing  in  Huron  county  wks  performed  dur- 
ing that  rear  at  the  Reflector  office.  It  was  also  in 
1872  that  the  paper  was  changed  in  form  from  the 
old  fashioned  folio  to  a  seven  column  quarto.  The 
Reflector  was  originally  independent  in  politics,  but 
about  1835  espoused  the  cause  of  the  whigs,  and  upon 
tlie  formation  of  the  republican  party,  became  an  ex- 
ponent of  its  principles. 

THE  WESTERN    INTELLIGENCER 

was  started  in  June,  1833,  by  John  Kernan  and 
Myi-on  H.  Tilden,  which,  -about  six  months  later,  be- 
coming the  property  of  the  latter,  was  removed  to 
Milan. 

THE     EXPERIMENT 

was  first  tried  in  1835,  the  first  number  being  issued 
upon  August  20th,  by  Samuel  S.  Hatch  and  Joseph 
M.  Farr,  and  having  a  very  creditable  appearance. 
It  was  democratic  in  politics,  and  bore  conspicuously 
pi-inted  at  the  head  of  its  columns  the  names  of  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren  and  Richard  M.  Johnson,  as  candi- 
dates for  the  presidency  and  vice  presidency  of  the 
United  States.  The  paper  was  strongly  and  fearlessly 
edited.  Up  to  August,  1843,  the  proprietorship  of 
the  paper  remained  unchanged,  but  at  that  time  Sir. 
Hatch  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Farr  continued  alone  until 
the  fall  of  1845,  wlien  he  sold  out  to  Charles  J.  Or- 
ton,  Esq.  Mr.  Farr  again  became  proprietor  in  the 
year  1846,  and  remained  in  possession  until  1854.  In 
this  year  James  H.  Rule  and  W.  W.  Redfield  then 
became  owners  of  the  paper,  and  remained  in  jiart- 
nership  until  August  31,  1858,  when  Mr.  Rule  re- 
tired. Mr.  Redfield  renuiined  in  charge  until  August, 
1805,  when  he  sold  out  the  office  to  I.  F.  &  J.  L. 
Clark.  In  May,  18G9,  the  paper  was  purchased  again 
by  Mr.  Redfield,  who  has  since  then  been  its  exclusive 
owner,  though  the  establishment  was  leased  to  Messrs. 
J.  H.  &  C.  H.  Rule,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1875,  for 
one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Redfield  again 
took  sole  control  of  the  paper  till  Noveml)er,  12,  1877, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


59 


when  C.  H.  Rule  became  a  partner  in  the  office,  since 
which  time  the  publishing  firm  of  the  Experinieiit 
has  been  Redfield  &  Rule. 

The  paper  at  a  very  early  day  in  its  existence  out- 
grew the  modest  meaning  of  the  name  its  founders 
chose  for  it,  and  has  ever  since  been  making  advance- 
ment, so  that  while  it  is  by  name  the  Experiment,  it 
is  in  reality  a  very  thoroughly  established  enterprise. 
It  is  the  second  oldest  paper  in  the  Fire-lands. 

THE    HURON    COUNTY    CHRONICLE 

was  started  in  March,  1875,  by  George  B.  Pratt  and 
E.  J.  Hammer,  and  after  passing  through  several 
ownerships,  in  the  spring  of  1878,  came  into  the 
hands  of  Findley  &  Dodds,  who  have  since  then  con- 
ducted it  to  the  satisfaction  of  a  large  number  of 
patrons.  Though  young,  it  is  well  established,  and 
favorably  known. 

THE    HURON    COUNTY    DEMOKRAT, 

tiie  only  Germ;in  newspapsr  in  Huron  county,  was 
started  in  1877,  by  Hammer  &  Barr,  and  the  present 
proprietor,  Martin  Ruff,  became  its  owner  in  June  of 
the  same  year.  It  was  started  as  a  republican  paper, 
but  is  now  democratic. 

BELLE  VUE.* 

The  newspaper,  the  great  engine  of  modern  pro- 
gress and  enlightenment,  has  had  a  history  in  the 
village  of  Bellevue  very  like  that  of  the  early  pioneer 
settlers  —  a  history  of  adversities  and  failures,  and  of 
ultimate  success.  To-day  there  are  two  newspapers 
in  Bellevue,  generously  supported  by  as  enlightened 
and  thrifty  people  as  this  country  can  boast. 

The  first  venture  was  made  by  G.  W.  Hopkins,  in 
the  fall  of  1851.  He  opened  an  office  in  the  old 
Howard  house — now  defunct — on  Jlonroe  street,  and 
issued 

THE     BELLEVUE    (iAZETTE, 

with  the  still  more  pretentious  title  of  Huron, 
Seneca,  Erie,  and  Sandusky  Advertiser,  having  a 
spread  eagle  at  its  mast-head,  bearing  a  scroll 
with  "oijen  to  all"  emblazoned  upon  it.  The 
paper  was  a  five-column  folio,  in  coarse  type,  de- 
voted to  current  news  and  the  ventilation  of  such 
ideas  as  contributors  were'  ambitious  to  furnish. 
C.  C.  Cook,  at  present  chief  of  the  village  fire  de- 
partment, served  in  the  capacity  of  "devil,"  thus 
being  the  first  "printer's  devil."  His  most  vivid 
remembrance  is  that  of  his  duty  to  ink  the  forms  on 
an  old  wooden  Franklin  press — a  duty  with  little 
sentiment  and  no  poetry  to  allure  him  on  to  contin- 
ued service.  The  people  felt  disposed  to  give  the 
paper  a  fair  support,  but  its  editor  was  a  victim  to 
that  human  bane — strong  drink;  so,  after  a  brilliant 
but  brief  career  of  six  months,  the  fledgeling  per- 
ished. 


♦  By  H.  F.  Baker. 


In  April  of  1861,  Mr.  0.  B.  Chapman  opened  a 
printing  office  in  Squire's  block,  corner  of  Mam  and 
Sanduskv  streets,  and  issued 


THE     BELLEVUE 


njEPEXDEXT, 


a  seven-column  folio,  devoted  to  general  and  local 
news.  This  was  the  first  year  of  the  great  rebel- 
lion, and  it  would  seem  that  the  stirring  events  of 
those  times  should  furnish  the  necessary  pabulum  to 
make  it  a  success.  But  it  continued  only  a  short 
time,  and  then  perished  for  reasons  not  now  apparent. 
We  now  come  to  consider  the  first  successful  pajier 
established  in  the  village — one  to  which  the  town  is 
largely  indebted  for  many  of  its  most  valued  im- 
provements, being  always  intensely  devoted  to  the 
Avelfare  of  the  place  and  the  advocacy  of  such  public 
works  and  measures  as  would  secure  its  greatest  pros- 
perity. We  therefore  think  its  editor  worthy  of  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  Mr.  E.  P.  Brown  says  of  him- 
self chat  he  was  born  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  March  5,  184-"2, 
of  distressingly  poor  but  outrageously  honest  parents, 
and  clai\iis  that  the  laws  of  hereditary  transmission 
have  not,  therefoi-e,  allowed  him  a  fair  chance.  His 
early  life  was  one  of  toil,  with  little  advantage  in  the 
way  of  education,  an  old  darkey  preacher  being  his 
best  tutor,  but  was  successful  in  obtaining  a  "  sheep- 
skin" in  a  public  school  and  valedictory  honors.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  printer  in  the  office  of  the  Oxford 
Citizen  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he  obtained  em- 
ployment in  a  Cincinnati  Job  office.  He  enlisted  in 
the  Thirteenth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry  at  Urbana, 
Ohio,  in  1861,  and  fought  the  enemies  of  his  country 
for  two  years,  lacking  a  week — serving  in  all  the  en- 
gagements of  that  regiment  until  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 
when  a  rebel  bullet  between  the  eyes  placed  him  hors 
du  combat.  He  was  left  for  dead,  and  was  thus 
reported,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  reading  his  own 
obituary,  containing  much  of  a  laudatory  nature,  a 
privilege  seldom  accorded  the  human  family;  but 
subsequent  events  show  him  to  -be  an  exceedingly 
lively  corpse.  His  wound  gave  him  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  Thirteenth,  but  he  finally  re- 
entered the  army  in  the  one  hundred  day  service  as 
substitute  for  a  Dutchman,  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-Seventli  regiment,  receiving  three  hundred 
dollars  therefor.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr. 
Brown  casually  made  the  acquaintance  of  William 
L.  Meyers,  of  the  Tiffin  Tribune,  who  proved  a 
fast,  firm  friend,  and  proposed  that,  since  Bellevue 
was  an  excellent  place  to  establish  a  paper,  they 
embark  together  in  the  enterprise.  They  did  so, 
but,  at  the  end  of  the  first  six  weeks,  Mr.  Jleyers  be- 
came discouraged  and  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner 
for  four  humlred  and  fifty  dollars,  on  a  year's  time. 
Mr.  Brown  himself  hail  had.but  two  years'  experience 
in  editorial  work,  and  never  managed  an  office  on 
his  own  responsibility,  hence  he  entered  upon  it 
with  fear  aud  trembling,  almost  certain  he  would 
fail  inside  the  first  six  months.  The  outfit  of  type 
was   purchased   of  the   Franklin  foundry,  amount- 


GO 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AKD  ERIK  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


ing  to  eight  hundred  and  twenty-three  doUar.s.  A 
six-column  Washington  hand  i)ress  and  a  half-medium 
Wells"  jobber  was  purchased  second  hand  of  other 
parties  for  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  dollars. 
This  comprised  the  outfit.  On  Saturday,  .August  10, 
1867,  the  first  number  of 

THE    BELLEVrE    GAZETTE 

Saw  the  liglit.  The  interest  taken  by  the  business 
men  in  the  success  of  the  paper,  is  shown  by  the  ma- 
terial aid  they  accorded  it.  0.  A.  Willard,  a  leading 
business  man,  solicited  all  the  subscriptions.  Busi- 
ness men  pledged  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars, 
deposited  in  Sinclair's  bank,  to  be  paid  at  the  first 
issue,and  taken  in  advertising  during  the  first  year, 
which  was  conscientiously  done,  and  made  the  capital 
used  by  the  energetic,  intelligent  and  careful  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Brown,  insuring  success. 

At  the  time  the  first  number  was  printed,  an  all- 
absorbing  interest  gathered  around  the  press.  In- 
deed, the  room  was  full,  and  as  the  clean,  handsome 
twenty-four-column  sheet  was  taken  off  the  press, 
Mr.  Will.ird's  rhapsody  was  beyond  expression.  Peter 
Brady,  present  village  mayor,  was  present,  and  as 
deeply  interested  as  any  until,  in  looking  over  the 
church  notices,  the  blunder  was  discovered  of  dub- 
bing him  Rev.  Peter  Brady,  pastor  of  the  Catholic 
church.  This  was  too  much,  and  any  idea  the  editor 
may  have  had  that  Mr.  Brady  was  a  member  of  the 
clerical  profession,  was  immediately  dispelled  then 
and  there.  Proper  correction  being  made,  tiie  print- 
ing of  the  edition  proceeded. 

Under  Mr.  Brown's  careful  management  and  the 
fulfilment  of  every  anticipation  the  citizens  may  have 
had  as  to  the  benefits  the  village  would  derive  from 
the  paper,  it  proved  an  unbounded  success,  and  all 
fears  on  his  part  of  a  failure  were  dispelled  like  clouds 
before  the  morning  sun.  In  the  course  of  the  next 
three  years  Mr.  Brown  purchased  a  Hoe  cylinder  rail- 
road press  at  a  bargain,  one  which  originally  belonged 
to  Dan  Rice,  and  was  used  to  print  his  show  bills. 
This  enabled  him  to  branch  out  in  the  business.  He, 
therefore,  engaged  in  furnishing  i-eady  prints  for  other 
offices,  and  introduced  steam.  Business  increased  on 
his  hands  until  Mr.  Aiken,  the  originator  of  the 
ready  print  method  of  publishing  newspapers,  made 
him  a  very  advantageous  offer  to  accept  the  manage- 
ment of  a  new^  establishment  in  Cincinnati,  which  he 
did,  and  ultimately  became  as  he  is  now  the  sole  pro- 
prietor—only another  example  of  what  pluck,  energy 
and  good  management  will  do. 

Mr.  E.  J.  Hammer  bought  the  (ifnj'ttc  when  Mr. 
Brown  went  to  Cincinnati,  entering  upon  its  manage- 
ment July  1,  1874.  Mr.  Hammer  was  not  a  large 
man,  but  had  large  idejw  aspiring  to  greater  things 
than  the  conduct  of  a  one-horse  country  paper. 
Although  that  was  very  well  done,  yet  his  more 
ambitious  views  led  him  to  unite  with  A.  B.  Pratt 
to  start  the  Norwalk  ('hronirh  whicli  being  a  county 
paper,  was  a  step,  at  least,  in  the  direction  of  E.\- 


celsior.  He  finally  turned  the  Gazelle  over  to  his 
father.  Rev.  George  Hammer,  of  Van  Wert,  Ohio. 
The  old  gentleman,  though  very  kindly  disposed,  had 
little  or  no  practical  skill  in  the  publishing  business, 
hence  found  it  an  elephant  on  liis  hands.  In  tlie 
spring  of  1877,  lie  sold  it  to  Messrs.  C.  D.  Stoner 
and  S.  C.  Thompson,  the  present  pioprietors,  under 
whose  care  the  i)aper  thrives,  finding  a  cordial, 
generous  support  among  the  people  of  the  community, 
whose  attacliment  for  an  old  friend  was  proof  against 
mismanagement  of  the  former  proprietors,  as  w^ell  as 
the  machinations  of  enemies. 

At  the  time.  Mr.  E.  J.  Hammer  had  started  the 
ClironicJe,  and  tlierefore  contemjilated  the  sale  of  the 
Gazelle,  as  well  as  removal  to  Xorwalk,  H.  F.  Baker, 
son  of  Hiram  Baker,  one  of  the  early  pioneer  settlers 
in  Lyme  township,  proposed  to  buy  it,  l^ut  unable  to 
agree  upon  the  price,  he  decided  to  purchase  new  ma- 
terial and  start  another  paper.  He  had  really  no  ex- 
perience in  the  printing  business,  but  his  son,  H.  L. 
Baker,  had  mastered  some  of  the  intricacies  of  the 
trade  in  the  Gazelle  ofttce.  and  having  a  natural  tact 
for  it,  they  together  hoped  to  make  their  venture  a 
success.  This  determination  was  acted  upon:  an 
office  was  opened  in  the  new  Union  block,  and  on 
Thursday,  October  21,  1S75,  tlie  first  number  of 

THE  BELLEVTE  LOC.VL  XEWS 

was  issued.  The  pajjer  flourished  from  the  start. 
Being  managed  with  full  average  aljility,  and  by  those 


n  I  5  5  SI! 


broughi  :.,  .:.  :...  .. ui.n. .,..., ^. .  \,l!1  \Li>cd  in  all  its 
lore,  it  represents  the  local  interests  of  the  town  with 
greater  intensity  than  any  other  lias  been  able  to  do. 
In  April,  1878,  Mr.  Baker  purchased  the  old  Burling- 
ton stone  building,  contiguous  to  the  new  city  hall, 
and  tearing  down  the  old  front,  rebuilt  of  brick  in 
the  same  style  of  the  city  hall,  which  together  make 
as  fine  a  block  among  the  many  fine  business  houses, 
as  the  town  can  boast.  The  jiroprietors  put  steam 
presses  and  an  engine  into  their  new  ([uurteis,  and 
are  now  conducting  a  floiirisliiug  businc«s. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


PLYMOUTH. 

THE    PLYMOUTH    .VDVEKTISER 

was  founded  October  6,  1853,  by  James  Robinson 
and  D.  R.  Locke  (Nasby. )  Two  years  later  it  was  dis- 
posed of  to  A.  H.  Balsley,  of  St.  Clairsville,  0.,  who 
continued  in  its  management  till  January  30,  1869, 
when  he  disposed  of  it  to  Mr.  J.  M.  Beelman,  of 
Plymouth.  Up  to  that  time  it  was  a  seven  column 
folio  and  the  only  paper  in  that  part  of  Richland 
and  Huron  counties.  In  August,  1872,  J.  Frank 
Beelman  was  admitted  as  a  partner  in  the  business, 
and  in  December,  1876,  he  purchased  the  remaining 
interest  in  the  paper  and  is  now  both  editor  and  pro- 
prietor. The  Advertiser  has  ever  been  a  republican 
paper. 

MONROEVILLE. 
THE    MOXKOEVILLE    SPECTATOR 

was  first  issued  October,  1870,  by  J.  F.  Clough, 
as  a  seven  column  folio,  and  was  enlarged  to  an  eight 
column  soon  after.  It  was  subsequently  made  a  six 
column  quarto.  The  paper  was  purchased  by  L.  M. 
Wilkinson  September  7,  1876,  and  he  assigned  the 
management  to  W.  H.  Wilkinson,  who  is  at  present 
in  charge. 

THE    MONEOEVILLE    NEWS 

was  established  October  16,  1878,  by  C.  W.  Clough 
as  a  seven  column  folio,  and  was  afterwards  changed 
to  a  five  column  quarto.  The  publication  was  sus- 
pended in  1879.  Both  of  these  pajiers  were  neutral 
in  politics. 

NEW    LONDON. 
THE    AGIT.\.TOR. 

The  first  paper  in  New  London  was  the  Agitator, 
published  for  a  short  time  by  Mr.  Brewster. 

THE    XEW    LONDOX   TIMES 

was  started  by  Charles  E.  Manchester,  just  before 
the  close  of  the  war.  The  paper  eked  out  an  exis- 
tence for  two  years  and  died  for  want  of  support. 
The  material  was  purchased  by  a  number  of  New 
London  merchants  and  about  a  year  after  Manches- 
ter's failure  Mr.  E.  L.  Atkinson,  of  West  Salem, 
began  the  publication  of  the  Times.  He  was  com- 
pelled to  suspend  iu  less  than  a  year. 

THE    NEW    LONDON    RECORD 

was  started  in  1870  by  F.  A.  Whitmore.  In  1872 
he  left  town  and  George  W.  Runyan,  the  present 
owner,  then  an  employe  in  the  office,  purchased  the 
material  and  began  issuing  the  paper  as  his  own. 
Soon  after  the  entire  office  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but 
upon  January  1,  1873,.  he  began  again  with  new  mate- 
rial, and  succeeded  so  well  that  a  year  later  he  was 
obliged  to  enlarge  his  paper  to  the  size  of  an  eight 
column  quarto. 


FAIRFIELD. 
THE  NORTH  FAIRFIELD  (JAZETTE 

was  a  short-lived  paper,  started  in  18.57  by  the  Rev. 
Robert  McCune  and  J.  R.  Robinson.  It  was  suc- 
cessively but  not  successfully  owned  by  Robinson  & 
Lee  and  by  0.  B.  Chapman.  During  its  short  career 
the  pajierwas  well  edited  and  readable. 

WAKEMAN. 

THE  RIVERSIDE  ECHO 

was  a  small  paper,  started  in  1873  by  Melvin  Lewis. 
It  was  enlarged  from  a  four  column  quarto  to  a  six 
column,  and  in  1875  was  removed  to  North  Amherst, 
Lorain  county.     September  18th,  1875, 


was  established  by  G.  H.  Mains.  The  office  was 
sold  out  ill  March,  1877,  to  A.  E.  Mains,  G.  H. 
i\Iains  acting  as  manager. 

In  this  county  pajjers  have  also  been  published 
recently  at  Chicago  Junction  and  Collins.  The 
former  was  known  as  the  Herald,  and  its  proprietor 
was  0.  J.  Powell,  formerly  of  Wapakonetta.  The 
pajjer  was  so  short-lived  as  to  be  hardly  worthy  of 
mention.  The  Collins  paper  was  the  property  of 
Frank  Miles.  It  was  issued  as  a  monthly  until  it 
reached  its  sixth  or  seventh  number,  and  was  then 
absorbed  by  the  Wakeman  Independent  Press. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 

THE  PIHE-LANDS  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  initial  movement  toward  the  organization  of 
the  Fire-lands  Historical  Society  was  made,  when, 
upon  May,  20,  1857,  a  few  prominent  pioneers  as- 
sembled informally  at  the  court  house,  actuated  with 
the  laudable  desire  of  making  an  effort  to  preserve 
from  oblivion  the  early  history  of  the  settlement  of 
the  "sufferers"  land — a  land  bought  with  the  ashes 
of  happy  ruined  homes.  There  were  but  a  few  per- 
sons present — Piatt  Benedict,  Rev.  Alfred  Betts, 
Philo  Wells,  Philo  Adams,  Seth  A.  Adams,  Horace 
Hall,  P.  N.  Schuyler,  and  Harvey  Fowler.,  After 
some  consultation  upon  the  fcasibibility  of  effecting 
an  organization,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  June, 
17th.  But  little  was  accomplished  beside  the  ap- 
pointment, upon  motion,  of  the  Rev.  Alfred  Betts, 
of  a  committee  of  two  persons,  in  each  township, 
whose  duty  it  .should  be  to  collect  and  reduce  to 
writing,  all  facts  and  statistics,  in  relation  to  the 
early  settlement  of  their  respective  townships,  and 
report  the  same  to  the  secretary.  Tlie  committees 
were  constituted  as  follows: 

\'erinillion,  Wm.  H.  Crane,  John  Morgan:  Flor- 
ence, T.  S.  Fuller,  D.  Chandler;  Wakeman,  J.  Sher- 
man, C.   Manvel;  New  London,  J.  Miller,  Thomas 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Smith;  Ruggles,  B.  Sturtevant,  H.  Sackett;  Green- 
wich, J.  Barnes,  S.  H.  Gibson;  Fitchville,  J.  C.  Cur- 
tiss,  R.  Palmer;  Hartland,  Elijah  Bills,  D.  Minor; 
Townsend,  D.  H.  Manville,  B.  Benson;  Berlin,  I. 
Fowler,  Z.  Phillips:  Huron,  Rev.  S.  Marks,  Rev.  H. 

C.  Taylor;  Milan,  A.  Minnse,  C.  B.  Choate;  Nor- 
walk,  Piatt  Benedict,  Dolen  Read;  Bronson,  M.  Kel- 
logg, D.  Warren;  Fairfield,  Dr.  J.  N.  Campbell,  A. 
Benson;  Ripley,  Gen.  D.  G.  Barker,  Wm.  Bacon; 
New  Haven,  R.  Bly,  A.  Brewbaker;  Greenfield,  S.  C. 
Parker,  H.  Spencer;  Peru,  S!  Atherton,  R.  Eaton; 
Ridgefield,  Rev.  E.  Eaton,  John  Sowers;  Oxford, 
Wm.  Parish,  A.  W.  Pront;  Perkins,  J.  House,  Gen. 
W.  D.  Lindsley;  Portland,  Hon.  E.  Cooke,  F.  D. 
Parish;  Margaretta,  H.  Fowler,  Rev.  C.  Smith;  Gro- 
ton,  E.  Bemiss,  S.  Rash;  Lyme,  L.  G.  Harkuess,  J. 
K.  Campbell;  Sherman,  J.  Manley,  C.  Bloomer; 
Norwich,  G.  H.  Woodruff,  J.   H.  Niles;  Richmond, 

D.  Sweetland,  J.  Geesy;  Danbury,  William  Kelley, 
Frank  Dwelly;  Kelley's  Island,  Datus  Kelley;  Clarks- 
field,  S.  Husted,  E.  M.  Barnum. 

The  above  committees  were  afterwards  somewhat 
changed.  Z.  Phillips  was  appointed  for  the  township 
of  Berlin,  m  place  of  S.  Fowler;  Charles  B.  Sim- 
mons, for  Greenfield,  in  place  of  J.  C.  Parker;  Robert 
Carpenter,  for  New  London,  in  place  of  Thomas 
Smith;  James  Cudderback,  of  Vermillion,  in  place  of 
William  Morgan;  A.  G.  Stewart,  of  New  Haven,  in 
place  of  Rouse  Bly;  Levi  R.  Sutton  was  added  to  the 
committee  for  Peru,  and  William  W.  Pollock,  to  the 
Ridegfield  committee.  A  number  of  other  changes 
were  made  before  the  work  assigned  to  the  commit- 
tees was  completed,  but  they  remained  substantially 
the  same. 

A  grand  reunion  of  the  pioneers  was  held  at 
Norwalk  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1857,  which  created 
much  enthusiasm,  and  brought  many  of  the  early 
settlers  to  a  fuller  realization  of  the  importance  of 
gathering  the  early  history  of  the  settlement  and  de- 
velopment of  the  country.  An  address  was  delivered 
by  the  Hon.  Eleutheros  Cooke,  of  Sandusky. 

June  17,  1857,  another  meeting  was  held,  at  which 
the  following  officers  were  elected:  Piatt  Benedict, 
president;  William  Parish,  Elentheros  Cooke,  Z. 
Phillips,  Seth  C.  Parker,  John  H.  Niles,  vice  presi- 
dents; Charles  A.  Preston,  treasurer;  Philip  N. 
Schuyler,  recording  secretary;  F.  D.  Parish,  G.  T. 
Stewart,  corresponding  secretaries. 

Piatt  Benedict  held  the  office  of  president  until  his 
death  on  the  -ibth  of  October,  1866.  At  the  annual 
meeting  in  1867,  Judge  Zalmunna  Phillips  was  chosen 
to  the  office.  He  held  it  until  1875,  when  P.  N. 
Schuyler  was  elected  president. 

The  objects  of  the  Fire-lands  Historical  Society 
as  declared  in  the  constitution,  are  to  collect  and  pre- 
serve in  proper  form  tlie  facts  constituting  the  full 
history  of  the  Fire-lands;  also,  to  obtain  and  preserve 
an  authentic  and  genenil  statement  of  their  resources 
and  productions  of  all  kinds. 

In  pursuance  of  this  object,  the  society  held  annual 


and  quarterly  meetings,  which  were  addressed  upon 
topics  of  historical  interest,  by  the  prominent  pio- 
neers; established  a  valuable  cabinet  of  curiosities, 
and  began  the  publication  of  The  Fire-Lauds  Pioneer. 
This  publication  was  first  issued  in  the  form  of  a  neat 
pamphlet,  from  the  press  of  the  Sandusky  Register, 
in  1858.  Thirteen  volumes  have  been  issued, — the 
last  bearing  the  date  July,  1878 — containing  sketches 
of  the  townships,  personal  memoirs,  dissertations 
upon  various  appropriate  subjects,  obituaries  of  de- 
ceased pioneers,  and  miscellaneous  selections  of  in- 
teresting matter. 

The  society  has  performed  a  work  which  can  only 
with  difficulty  be  appreciated  by  those  who  have  had 
no  practical  knowledge,  through  experience,  of  the 
arduousness  of  the  task.  The  meetings  have  been 
held  with  regularity,  and  have  been  prolific  in  good 
results,  among  which  the  chief  is,  perhaps,  the  fur- 
therance of  social  well  being,  the  creation  of  new  and 
the  strengthening  of  old  friendships,  the  awakening 
of  sympathetic  feeling,  and  the  revival  of  happy 
memories  of  the  olden  time.  The  work  of  securing 
from  oblivion  the  facts  of  the  early  settlement  of 
the  country,  and  the  memoirs  of  the  sturdy,  brave 
souls  who  developed  it,  is  one  which  will  be  more 
fully  and  widely  appreciated  as  the  years  roll  on,  and 
the  last  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  the  Fire-lands  has 
passed  over  to  the  great  majority. 

AGRICULTURAL. 
THE  FIRST  SOCIETY  IX  THE  FIRE-LANDS. 

In  pursuance  of  a  notice  published  in  the  Huron 
Reflector  in  1833,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  Court 
House  in  Norwalk,  on  the  last  Friday  of  June,  and 
then  and  there  was  effected  the  organization  of  the 
Huron  County  Agricultural  Society,  the  first  of  the 
kind  in  the  Fire-lands.  The  following  officers  were 
elected  :  President,  Amos  Woodward;  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Timothy  Baker;  Directors,  Lemuel  Morse,  Levi 
Barnum,  Lester  Cone,  John  Millen,  John  Falton, 
Aaron  Corbit,  Arunah  Eaton,  Wm.  P  Mason,  Daniel 
Beach,  Charles  B.  Simmons;  Treasurer,  Eben  Boalt: 
Secretary,  John  V.  Vredenburgh. 

The  first  fair  was  held  in  the  fall  of  1833.  An 
address  was  delivered  by  T.  B.  Sturges,  Esq.  The 
premium  for  the  best  acre  of  corn  was  awarded  to 
George  Powers,  who  had  a  yield  of  sixty-three 
bushels:  best  half  acre  of  potatoes,  John  Daune,  one 
hundred  bushels;  best  half  acre  beets,  John  \. 
Vredenburgh.  The  only  article  in  the  line  of  "house- 
hold utensils"  on  exhibition  was  "an  improved  cook- 
ing stove,"  upon  which  William  Gallup  took  a 
premium. 

After  tlie  division  of  Huron  county,  tlie  society 
was  reorganized,  and  had  for  several  years  an  exist- 
ence under  the  name  of  the  Huron  and  Erie  Counties" 
Agricultural  Society.  In  1852,  the  directors  adopted 
a  series  of  resolutions,  in  which  they  expressed  them- 
selves as  believing  that  the  general  interests  of  agri- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


culture  would  be  best  subserved  by  the  existence  of 
separate  societies  in  each  of  the  counties  of  Huron 
and  Erie.  The  resolutions  were  only  adopted  after  a 
warm  debate.  In  accordance  with  a  resolution  that 
a  committee  of  three  from  each  county  be  appointed, 
to  close  up  and  adjust  the  funds  belonging  to  the 
society,  C.  E.  Newman,  D.  A.  Baker  and  Giles  Boalt 
were  appointed  from  Huron,  and  J.  F.  Reynolds, 
H.  Chase  and  L.  S.  Stowe  from  Erie.  This  com- 
mittee held  a  meeting  at  Milan,  and  reported  that 
they  had  found  in  the  treasury  8511.10,  of  which 
amount  they  gave  Huron  county  6S299.0G  and 
Erie  S213.04. 

The  year  following  the  dissolution  (1855)  was 
formed  the 

ERIE  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

A  meeting  was  held  at  Huron  in  February,  at 
which  a  constitution  was  adopted  and  the  following 
officers  elected :  President,  J.  T.  Reynolds;  Vice 
President,  Harvey  Chase;  Secretary,  F.  D.  Parish; 
Treasurer,  Charles  N.  Ryan;  Directors,  R.  H.  Rogers, 
Margaretta ;  John  Thompson,  Berlin ;  A.  W. 
Prout,  Sr.,  Oxford;  Elijah  Bemis,  Groton;  Elam 
Ward,  Milan. 

The  tlrst  annual  fair  of  this  society  was  held  at  San- 
dusky, in  the  month  of  October,  1855.  The  commit- 
tee of  arrangements  consisted  of  the  following  gentle- 
men: J.  F.  Reynolds,  F.  D.  Parish,  F.  T.  Barney, 
P.  Gregg  and  H.  B.  Lane.  The  fair  was  a  great  suc- 
cess, and  the  prosperity  of  the  society,  in  that  its  first 
essay  in  the  systematic  encouragement  of  agriculture, 
was  the  first  in  a  now  long  series  of  successful  exhi- 
bitions. The  society  has  fine  grounds  in  Sandusky, 
is  generally  regarded  as  one  of  the  strongest  local 
organizations  of  the  kind  in  the  State,  and  its  activity 
and  prosperity  is  constantly  upon  the  increase. 

HURON'    COUXTY    ACiKICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

Pursuant  to  a  call  published  in  the  county  papers, 
a  large  number  of  citizens  interested  in  agriculture 
met  in  Everett's  Hall,  in  Fairfield,  January  17,  1855, 
for  the  purpose  of  eifecting  the  formation  of  a  county 
agricultural  society.  The  society  then  and  there 
organized  was  the  Huron  County  Agricultural  Society. 
G.  T.  Stewart,  Samuel  Atherton  2d,  Union  White, 
B.  T.  Hunt  and  A.  McPherson  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  draw  up  a  constitution,  which  they  did  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  convention,  as  it  was  immedi- 
ately adopted.  Fifty-two  members  united  with  the 
society  and  signed  the  constitution.  The  following 
officers  were  elected:  Union  White,  president;  D.  A. 
Baker,  Benj.  H.  Hinkley,  vice  presidents;  W.  Mana- 
han,  treasurer;  J.  C.  Curtiss,  Jr.,  secretary. 

The  society  held  three  fairs  at  Olena  and  one  at 
Fairfield,  after  which  the  place  of  exhibition  was 
changed  to  Norwalk,  where  it  has  ever  since  been. 
Until  1872,  the  society  had  the  use  of  grounds  which 
were  insufficient  and  unsuitable  for  their  purpose,  but 
in  that  year  the  present  grounds  were  purchased  of 


John  Gardiner,  and  were,  sometime  subsequently, 
fitted  up  by  the  erection  of  buildings,  stalls  and  vari- 
ous improvements,  at  a  cost  amounting  to  eight 
thousand  dollars,  five  thousand  of  which  was  a  sub- 
scription fund. 

In  1875,  the  society  was  still  in  debt  over  six  thou- 
sand three  hundred  dollars;  and,  in  accordance  with 
an  act  of  the  legislature,  and  the  question  being  sub- 
mitted to  the  people  by  a  popular  vote,  the  township  of 
Norwalk  paid  to  John  Gardiner,  from  an  unexpended 
fund  raised  by  taxation  for  railroad  jiurposes,  but 
declared  unconstitutional,  the  sum  of  six  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  receiving  from  him  a 
warranty  deed  of  the  thirty  acres  of  laud  included  in 
the  fair  ground.  The  township  then,  through  its 
trustees,  leased  the  grounds  to  the  Huron  County 
Agricultural  Society  for  a  term  of  twenty-five  years, 
to  expire  in  the  year  1900,  for  a  consideration  of  only 
twenty-five  dollars  per  year,  the  agricultural  society 
being  bound,  under  forfeiture  of  its  lease,  to  keep  in 
good  condition  the  grounds,  trees  and  shrubbery,  to 
maintain  its  organization,  and  to  hold  upon  these 
grounds  annual  fairs. 

The  first  fair  held  upon  the  new  grounds  was  in 
1873,  and  was  very  successful.  The  committee  of 
improvements  consisted  of  Giles  Boalt,  0.  W.  Haws, 
J.  W.  Bostwick  and  John  Gardiner. 

THE    HURON    COUNTY    BIBLE    SOCIETY, 

an  auxiliary  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  is  the 
oldest  organization  existing  in  the  territory,  at  pres- 
ent, included  in  Huron  and  Erie  counties.  It  was 
organized  in  1825.  Upon  March  15th  of  that  year, 
a  meeting  was  held  in  Norwalk  of  "  sundry  inhabit- 
ants of  Huron  count}',  (a  number  of  citizens  from 
various  and  distant  parts  of  the  county.)"  Piatt 
Benedict  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Zachariah 
Marvin  appointed  clerk.  After  adopting  a  constitu- 
tion, the  meeting  was  adjourned.  On  June  6th, 
another  meeting  was  held,  at  which  the  first  officers 
^ho  served  the  society,  were  elected.  They  were  the 
following:  President,  Ichabod  Marshall;  Vice  Presi- 
dents, Robert  S.  Southgate,  of  Brouson;  George  G. 
Baker,  of  Florence;  Jabez  Wright,  of  Huron; 
Timothy  Baker,  of  Norwalk;  Amos  Woodward,  of 
Lyme:  John  B.  Johnson,  of  New  London;  Moor  Far- 
well,  of  Sandusky,  and  Ephraim  Munger,  of  Milan; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Ralph  Lockwood;  Recording 
Secretary,  Zachariah  Marvin;  Treasurer,  Milton  Jen- 
nings; Directors,  William  Kelley,  of  Perkins;  Richard 
Fally,  of  j\Iargaretta;  Francis  Strong,  of  Lyme; 
Andrew  Hanford,  of  Sherman:  Elisha  Steward,  of 
New  Haven;  Eli  Holaday,  of  Greenfield;  Harry  0. 
Sheldon,  of  Peru:  Zebediah  Morse,  of  Ridgefield; 
James  Strong,  of  Oxford:  Philo  Adams,  ef  Huron; 
Jasper  Miles  and  Bildad  Adams,  of  Milan;  Piatt 
Benedict,  of  Norwalk;  Nathan  Tanner,  of  Bronson; 
Joseph  Crawford,  of  Fairfield:  Samuel  Brown,  of 
Greenwich;  Rundle  Palmer,  of  Fitchville;  Obadiah 
Jenney,  of  Clarksfield;  Eli  S.  Barnum.  of  Florence; 


64 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Clark,    of  Vermillion;    Benjamin    Bailey,    of 

Townsend:  John  Fuller,  of  Eldridge;  Justus  Miner, 
of  Wakeman;  Azel  Miner,  of  New  London;  Bi-adford 
Sturtevant,  of  Ruggles;  Joseph  Ramsdell,  of  Dan- 
bury,  and  Gayus  Munger,  of  York,  Sandusky  county. 
This  society  celebrated  in  1878,  its  fifty-third  anni- 
versary. Its  life  has  been,  as  might  be  supposed 
from  its  strong  organization,  a  vigorous  one,  and  its 
work  extensive  and  valuable. 

MEDICAL. 

Dr.  Moses  C.  Sanders  was  the  president  of  the  first 
medical  society  that  had  an  existence  in  the  Fire-lands. 
This  is  a  fact  shown  by  the  appearance  of  his  name 
signed  to  a  call  for  a  meeting  of  the  society,  June  4, 
1822,  and  published  in  May  of  the  same  year,  in  the 
Sandusky  Clarion.  Nothing  further  appears  in  re- 
gard to  this  medical  society,  in  the  files  of  old  news- 
papers, and  the  records,  if  there  ever  were  any,  are 
now  undiscoverable.  It  is  probable  that  the  organiza- 
tion had  but  a  short  life,  for 

THE  FOfRTEEXTH   DISTRICT  MEDICAL  SOCIETY 

was  organized  in  1824,  and  as  it  was  a  large,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  a  very  prosperous  society,  it  in  all 
likelihood  crowded  the  smaller  one  out  of  existence. 
Following  is  the  first  newspaper  mention  of  this  or- 
ganization: 


Medical  Notice. — Pursuant  to  an  act  to  incorporate  medical 
for  the  purpose  of  re  uJating  the  practice  of  physic  and  surgery  in  this 
State,  I  hereby  notify  the  medical  gentlemen,  resident  in  the  counties  of 
Richland,  Huron,  Lorain,  Sandusky  and  Seneca  that  a  meeting  will  be 
holden  at  Norwalk,  the  last  Tuesday  of  May  next,  at  ten  o'clock,  a.ni . ,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  a  medical  society  agreeable  to  said  act.  It  is 
expected  that  there  will  be  a  general  attendance  of  physicians  of  this 
district,  as  the  eleventh  section  of  the  act  provides  that  no  person,  other 
than  members  of  one  of  the  medical  societies  in  this  State  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  practice  physic  or  surgery  after  the  1st  of  July  nest. 

NoRWALK,  April  10,  1S34.  "  Daniel  Tilden  . 

The  above  and  the  following  are  from  the  Sandusky 
Clarion,  the  latter  being  in  the  issue  of  June  2,  1824. 

Communication.— Agreeable  to  the  act,  on  the  25th  instant,  came  on  at 
Norwalk  the  first  meeting  of  the  Fourteenth  Medical  Society  in  this 
State.  The  meeting  was  full,  and  upon  the  whole,  we  were  much 
pleased  with  the  respectable  display  of  parchment .  At  three  o'clock 
the  gentlmen  present  proceeded  to  organize  by  choosing— 

Dr.  Tilden,  of  Norwalk,  president:  Dr  Anderson,  of  Sandusky,  vice 
president:  Dr.  Mantor,  of  Elyria,  secretary:  Dr  Fay.  of  Milan,  treas- 
urer; Dr.  Lucas,  of  L'niontown:  Dr.  G  C  Miller,  of  Mansfield:  Dr 
Baker,  of  Florence;  Dr.  Sanders,  of  Peru;  Dr  Strong,  of  Blooming- 
■ville.  censors. 

The  annual  meeting  of  182.5  was  also  held  at 
Norwalk,  a  number  of  new  members  were  received 
and  the  following  officers  elected:  Nathan  H. 
Mantor,  president;  John  B.  Johnson,  vice  i)resident; 
Amos  B.  Harris,  secretary;  Lyman  Fay,  treasurer; 
George  G.  Baker,  Moses  C.  Sanders,  Daniel  Tilden, 
Eli  Dresback  and  Charles  E.  Ford,  censors. 

The  third  annual  meeting  was  held  May  .30,  1826, 
and  the  following  officers  elected:  Moses  C.  Sanders, 
president;  George  Anderson,  vice  president;  Amos  B. 
Harris,  secretary;  Lyman  Fay,  treasurer;  George  G. 
Baker,  Daniel  Tilden,  Nathan  H  Mautur,  Daniel 
Braiuard,  Jr.,  and  Joel  Luther,  censors. 


The  fourth  meeting  was  held  at  Norwalk  on  the 
29th  of  May,  1827,  and  the  oflficers  elected  were  as 
follows:  Allen  G.  Miller,  president;  George  G. 
Baker,  vice  president;  A.  B.  Harris,  secretary; 
Lyman    Fay,    treasurer;  George    G.   Baker,  William 

F.  Kittredge,  Moses  C.  Sanders,  Daniel  Tilden,  and 
Eli  Dresback,  censors. 

It  was  shown  that  there  were  at  that  time  the  fol- 
lowing regularly  licensed  practicing  physicians  and 
surgeons  in  Huron  county:  George  G.  Baker,  Daniel 
Tilden,  M.  C.  Sanders,  George  Anderson,  Lyman 
Fay,  William  F.  Kittredge,  William  W.  Nugent,  C. 
B.  Harris,  H.  M.  Clark,  Joseph  Pearce,  Andrew 
McMillan,  Richard  P.  Christophers,  Samuel  Stephens, 
Charles  Smith,  Samuel  B.  Carpenter,  W.  Merriman, 
Lemuel  Powers,  and  A.  H.  Brown,  eighteen  in  all. 
The  other  counties  of  the  district  together  had  but 
sixteen. 

The  following  are  the  officers  for  1838  and  1829: 
1828 — President,  George  G.  Baker;  Vice  President, 
Moses  C.  Sanders,  Secretary,  Amos  B.  Harris;  Treas- 
urer, Lyman  Fay;  Censors,  W'm.  F.  Kittredge,  Allen 

G.  Miller,  Eber  W.  Hubbard,  Moses  C.  Sanders, 
Daniel  Tilden. 

1829 — President,  Moses  C.  Sanders;  Vice  President, 
Daniel  Tilden;  Secretary,  Amos  B.  Harris;  Treasurer, 
Lyman  Fay;  Censors,  George  G.  Baker,  Nathan  H. 
Manter,  Wm.  F.  Kittredge,  \Vm.  W.  Nugent.  Heurv 
Kuhn. 

At  the  meeting  in  18.30,  a  resolution  was  passed 
approving  the  efforts  then  making  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  intemperance.  Geo.  Anderson  was  elected 
President.  No  mention  of  the  society  can  be  found 
later  than  the  above  years,  and  it  is  probable  that  the 
organization  was  not  sustained  much  later  than  the 
above  date — the  last  one  given. 

THE  DELAMATER    MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION- 

is  the  next  m  order.  It  was  organized  at  a  meeting 
of  the  medical  profession  of  Norwalk  and  the  neigh- 
boring towns,  held  at  the  office  of  Drs.  Reid  and 
Ford,  November  18th,  1858.  Drs.  A.  N.  Reid, 
Thomas  M.  Cook,  and  L.  Galpin  were  appointed  to 
draw  up  a  constitution,  which,  at  a  later  session  on 
the  same  day,  was  adopted.  The  constitution  opened 
with  a  preamble  expressing  the  fittingness  of  men  of 
congenial  minds  and  similar  pursuits  associating 
themselves  together  for  the  promotion  of  kind  feeling 
and  the  free  interchange  of  opinions,  and  in  addition 
to  this  general  statement  of  the  objects  of  the  organi- 
zation, prescribed  certain  rules  for  self-government, 
and  further  exhibited  its  aim  in  tlie  fifth  and  sixth 
clauses  by  expressions  in  favor  of  adopting  the  code 
of  ethics  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  and 
of  constituting  itself  a  court,  before  which  should  be 
heard  all  complaints  of  breach  of  etiquette  and  all 
questions  of  ethics.  The  charter  members  of  the 
association  were  Drs.  Charles  Smith,  of  Lyme;  L. 
Galpin  and  W.  F.  Dean,  of  Milan;  Thomas  M.  Cook, 
of  Monroeville;  Wm.  W.  Stillson  and  J.  W.  Goodson, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  Bellevne;  A.   0.  Eaton,  of   Peru;  S.   ilcCaVniou, 

of  Greenfield;  A.  N.  Read,  J.  B.  Ford  and Baker, 

of  Norwalk.  Dr.  Charles  Smith  was  elected  presi- 
dent and  Dr.  J.  B.  Ford  secretary.  The  society  has, 
since  its  organization,  held  quarterly  meetings  in  the 
various  towns  of  Erie  and  Huron  counties  where  it 
has  had  membei's,  for  the  consideration  of  subjects 
interesting  to  the  profession,  and  for  the  furtherance 
of  social  relations  and  well-being.  Its  constitution 
has  been  subscriijed  by  many  others  than  the  few 
charter  members,  and  bears  the  signatures  of  some  of 
the  most  prominent  physicians  of  the  past  and 
present  in  both  counties.  It  has  now  over  twenty 
active  members.  R.  A.  Severance  is  its  president, 
J.  B.  Ford,  secretai-y,  and  0.  S.  Kreider,  treasurer. 

THE    ERIE    COUNTY    MEDK.'AL   SOCIETY, 

composed  of  the  allopathic  physicians  of  Sandusky 
and  vicinity,  was  organized,  in  the  city  just  named, 
in  the  year  18.50,  its  members  being  Drs.  Daniel  Til- 
den,    Aaron   Austin,    E.    S.    Lane,    Chas.    Cochran, 

Robert  R.    McMeens   and  Landerdall.     The 

first  president  was  Dr.  Tilden,  and  the  secretary.  Dr. 
Lane.  The  society,  during  the  war,  did  not  main- 
tain an  active  organization;  but  when  the  cause  of 
distraction  from  civil  pursuits  no  longer  existed,  it 
was  resuscitated,  and  has  ever  since  remained  in 
active  existence.  Dr.  H.  J.  Donalioe  was  for  many 
years  its  president,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  P.  H. 
Clemens,  the  present  incumbent.  The  vice  presidents 
are  Di-s.  Cook  and  Story,  and  the  secretary.  Dr.  W. 
R.  Page.  The  society  has  about  twenty  members, 
holds  monthly  meetings,  and  has  done  much  to  pro- 
duce social  good  fellowship  among  members  of  the 
profession. 

TEMPERANCE. 

THE    HURON-    COUNTY    TEMPERANCE    LEAGUE. 

This  organization  was  a  direct  outgrowtli  of  the 
very  successful  local  organizations  in  Norwalk  and 
other  points  in  the  county,  and  came  into  being  June 
7,  1850,  at  which  time,  pursuant  to  call,  a  meeting 
was  held  in  the  ilethodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Nor- 
walk. A  preamble  and  pledge  were  adopted,  and  the 
following  otticers  elected:  Rev.  S.  C.  Parker,  president; 
(i.  F.  Stewart,  secretary;  Charles  E.  Newman,  treas- 
urer. All  of  the  ofticiating  clergymen  of  the  county 
who  became  members  of  the  organization  were  made 
vice  presidents. 

After  this  preliminary  organization,  the  first  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  league  was  held  at  ^lonroeville, 
November  8th,  of  the  same  year  above  designated,  and 
the  following  officers  were  elected:  Rev.  J.  C.  Bowles, 
jiresident;  Charles  E.  Newman,  secretary;  Charles 
Vancise,  treasurer.  At  the  next  meeting,  held  at 
Norwalk,  December  Oth,  the  constitution  was  so  modi- 
fied as  to  allow  all  temperance  societies  in  the  county 
to  become  auxilliary  to  the  league.  .From  this  time 
on  for  several  years  temperance  work  was  prosecuted 
with  great  diligence  and  to  excellent  effect,  a  strong 


public  feeling  being  aroused  and  much  good  accom- 
plished. All  of  the  clergymen  and  other  public 
speakers  who  were  willing  to  give  their  labor  for  the 
cause  were  enlisted  in  the  work;  it  was  decided  to 
have  one  temperance  address  delivered  in  each  town- 
ship every  three  months.  The  following  gentlemen 
were  enrolled  as  county  lecturers,  and  made  addresses 
in  all  parts  of  the  county  dui-ing  the  year  18.51  and 
the  first  quarter  of  1852:  Rev.  C.  W.  C'lapp.  Rev.  S. 
B.  Page,  Rev.  E.  S.  Grumley,  Rev.  M'.  W.  Fairfield. 
Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon,  Rev.  F.  P.  Hall,  Rev.  R.  S. 
Lockwood,  Rev.  Mr.  Boardman,  Rev.  Alfred  Newton, 
Rev.  S.  H.  Waldo,  Rev.  Ira  Smith,  Rev.  .John  Kelley, 
John  R.  Osborne,  S.  T.  Worcester,  G.  T.  Stewart. 
Charles  Kent,  E.  W.  Tucker,  DeMorris  Pratt,  D.  H. 
Beck  with,  Timothy  Baker,  Jr.,  C.  F.  Woodruff,  B. 
T.  Hunt,  B.  F.  Roberts.  It  was  arranged  that  quar- 
terly meetings  should  be  held  in  various  places  in  the 
county,  and  that  on  the  Fourth  of  July  of  each  year 
should  be  held  the  annual  temperance  celebration, 
which  should  also  be  a  patriotic  reunion  of  all  who  had 
the  cause  of  temperance  at  heart.  The  speeches  de- 
livered in  the  summer  of  18.51,  preceding  the  State 
election,  on  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  with 
a  separate  vote  on  the  section  prohibitmg  license  for 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  had  a  great  influence 
in  throwing  the  vote  of  Huron  county  upon  the  anti- 
license  side.  The  vote  of  the  townships  upon  this 
question  stood  as  follows: 

FOR        AGAINST  FOR        AGAINST 

LICENSE.  LICENSE.  LICENSE.  LICENSE. 

Bronson "116  73                  Norwich 05  67 

ClarksHeld 30      _     153  i         Peru 65  62 

Fitchville 33  111                  Richmond...  7  38 

Fairfield 48  167  i         RidgeHeld  ...  109  89 

Greenfield 8J  99  j         Riplej- 47  S8 

Grfenwica  76  38  I         Sherman....  56  m 

Hartland 68  47  I         Tovvnsend  ...  108  6] 

Lyme 102  57                 Wakeman  .    .  34  6H 

Norwalk ,325  223                                             

New  Haven 149  50                        Total..  1,4S0  l,t535 

New  London 73  113 

The  officers  elected  at  the  second  annual  meeting, 
held  at  Norwalk,  July  4,  1851,  were  as  follows:  Gen. 
Jeremiah  Cole,  president;  Charles  E.  Newman,  sec- 
retary; Edward  E.  Husted,  treasurer. 

During  the  excitement  of  the  presidential  cam- 
paign of  1852,  the  meetings  were  mostly  suspended, 
but  they  were  resumed  in  1853.  The  following  offi- 
cers were  elected  that  year,  the  meeting  being  held 
July  4th,  at  Norwalk:  James  Green,  president; 
Charles  E.  Newman,  secretary;  Edward  E.  Husted, 
treasurer.  Following  are  the  officers  elected  in  later 
years:  1854,  Frederick  Sears,  president;  Frederick 
A.  Wildman,  secretary;  Erastus  Gray,  treasurer. 
1856,  Charles  B.  Simmons,  president;  Charles  W. 
Manahan,  seei-etary;  Erastus  Gray,  treasurer.  The 
league  was  disbanded  in  1857,  because  of  the  slavery 
agitation,  the  disruption  of  old  political  parties,  the 
formation  of  new  ones,  and  the  prevalence  of  various 
absorbing  and  exciting  problems  in  the  nation.  No 
attempt  was  made  to  revive  it  until  18T0.  A  meet- 
ing was  held  upon  the  8th  of  January  of  that  year, 
and  the  following  officers  were  chosen:  Charles  W. 
Manahan,  president;  Henry  J.  Baldwin,  secretary; 
Levi  Kilburn,  treasurer. 


6G 


HISTOHY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


This  organized  league  did  not  long  continue  in  ex- 
istence. Something  was  accomi)iished,  but  not  much. 
The  interest  died  out,  and  the  league  was  a  second 
time  disbanded.  After  the  wide-spread  and  intense 
excitement  of  the  crusade,  in  1873,  had  roused  the 
people  to  an  intensity  of  action  before  unknown,  the 
Huron  county  temperance  league,  at  present  in  ex- 
istence, was  organized  ujjon  a  strong  basis,  and  in- 
cluding all  other  temperance  societies,  both  township 
organizations,  and  those  having  a  county  breadth. 
The  first  officers  of  the  new  league  were  elected  at  a 
meeting  held  May  22,  1874,  at  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  in  Norwalk.  They  were  as  follows:  N. 
S.  C.  Perkins,  of  Noi-walk,  president;  ilrs.  E.  Sum- 
ner, Bellevue;  Mrs.  S.  T.  Guard,  Monroeville;  Mrs. 
R.  C.  Powers,  New  London;  Mrs.  Danforth,  Peru; 
Mrs.  L.  S.  Johnson,  Peru,  vice  presidents;  Mrs.  H. 
Brown,  Norwalk,  secretary;  Mrs.  T.  H.  Drake^  Mon- 
roeville, treasurer.  The  present  officers  of  the  league 
are:  Rev.  C.  C.  Creegan,  president;  Mrs.  H.  E.  Farr, 
secretary;  Mrs.  M.  A.  Corwin,  treasurer.  The  league 
has  constantly  kept  up  its  organization,  has  been  one 
of  the  most  active  in  the  State,  and  is,  at  the  present 
writing,  in  a  thoroughly  prosperous  condition. 

THE    farmers'    exporting    COMPANY    OF    HURON 

COUNTY, 

was  one  of  the  earliest  organizations  effected  in  the 
county,  and  was,  for  a  short  time,  of  considerable 
importance.  No  records  of  the  organization  exist, 
and  only  a  little  light  is  thrown  upon  the  nature  and 
object  of  the  society,  by  the  brief  notices  that  are  to 
be  found  in  the  files  of  the  Sandusky  Clarion.  It 
appears  that  the  Farmers'  Exporting  Company  was 
organized  some  time  prior  to  1822,  foi»  an  advertise- 
ment, dated  July  26th,  of  that  year,  calls  a  "meeting 
to  be  held  at  Captain  Boalt's  inn,  in  Norwalk,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  measures  for  the  transportation  of 
a  drove  of  cattle  to  the  east.'  There  were  many 
difficulties  at  that  early  day,  in  getting  a  market  for 
what  little  could  be  raised  in  excess  of  consumption, 
upon  the  Reserve,  and  this  company  assisted  mate- 
rially, for  a  few  years,  the  farmers  of  the  company, 
who  could  do  but  little  except  by  organized  effort. 
AMien,  or  by  whom  the  company  was  formed,  does 
not  fully  appear.     The  directors  were  Luther  Coe, 

Ebenezer  Guthrie,  John  McMillen, Raymond, 

and  Effeuctus  Starr. 

HURON  COUNTY  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION. 

The  earliest  Sunday  school  union  of  which  there  is 
any  record,  was  organized  in  1825,  at  a  meeting  held 
in  Norwalk,  and  was  known  as  the  Huron  County 
Sunday  School  t^nion.  It  remained  in  existence  but 
a  short  time.  The  following  were  its  officers:  Rev. 
John  Beach,  president;  Rev.  Enoch  Conger,  David 
Gibbs,  and  Asahel  Morse,  vice-presidents;  Ichabod 
Marshall,  treasurer;  Zachriah  Marion,  secretiiry:  Henry 
Buckingham,  depository. 

The  Sunday  school  union  of  Huron  county,  now  in 


existence,  was  organized  July  29,  1803,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  Norwalk,  pursuant  to  call,  and  attended  by 
a  large  number  of  the  churches  of  the  county,  with- 
out regard  to  denomination.  Judge  Parker,  Henry 
M.  Holliday,  C.  E.  Newman,  Rev.  J.  D.  McCord,  S. 

B.  French,  E.  Bemiss,  Rev.  L.  Bailey,  R.  G.  Can- 
nings, D.  B.  Simons,  N.  H.  Spencer,  J.  L.  Patton, 
and  Rev.  G.  H.  Walter  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  draw  up  a  constitution. 

"  The  object  of  the  union,"  as  stated  in  this  con- 
stitution, "shall  be  to  unite  all  evangelical  christians 
in  the  county  in  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  Sun- 
day schools,  establishing  new  schools  where  they  are 
needed,  and  awakening  an  increased  interest  and 
efficiency  in  such  as  are  already  in  operation." 

The  first  officers  of  the  union  were  as  follows:  N. 
S.  C.  Perkins,  president;  C.  E.  Newman,  correspond- 
ing secretary;  Rev.  J.  D.  McCord,  recording  secre- 
tary; Joel  Smith,  treasurer;  C.   E.   Pennewell,  Rev. 

C.  F.  Lewis,  and  Rev.  L.  Bailey,  central  committee; 
Rev.  A.  Newton,  Norwalk;  Mrs.  Johnson,  Bronson; 
Rev.  C.  Moors,  Fairfield;  C.  A.  Willard,  Lyme;  Rev. 
J.  E.  Weed,  Ridgefield;  John  Saunders,  Peru;  John 
Sherman,  Wakeman;  D.  B.  Simmons,  Townsend;  Rev. 
J.  H.  Walter,  Milan;  D.  Laughlin,  Hartland;  J.  L. 
Patton,  Clarksfield;  Judge  Parker  Greenfield;  A. 
Morrifield,  New  London;  J.  H.  Niles,  Norwich;  Rev. 
J.  C.  Thompson,  Fitchville;  Rev.  F.  C.  Paine,  Ripley; 
Reuben  Linden,  New  Haven;  E.  Bemiss,  Groton; 
Samuel  Dodd,  Greenwich,  vice-j^residents.  The  Sun- 
day school  union,  now  after  an  active  and  useful  ex- 
istence of  sixteen  years,  is  better  than  ever  able  to 
further  the  ends  for  which  it  was  organized. 

ERIE  COUNTY  FARMERS'  INSURANCE  COMPANY. 

This  company,  for  the  purpose  of  insurance  against 
fire,  upon  the  mutual  plan,  was  organized  August  13, 

1877,  at  Sandusky,  with  the  following  charter  mem- 
bers: Henry  Miliner,  Calvin  Caswell,  J.  B.  Witter, 
B.  H.  Rogers,  T.  B.  Taylor,  M.  B.  Rice,  I.  G.  Tay- 
lor, T.  B.  Eddy,  R.  F.  Fowler,  E.  A.  Beebe,  Orlando 
Ransom,  E.  W.  Hughes,  H.  C.  Norton,  C.  W.  Liv- 
ingood,  W.  G.  Benschooten,  Andrew  Smith,  Peter 
Mainzer,  C.  H.  Rockwell,  D.  H.  Benschooten,  J.  F. 
Greene,  George  Taylor,  0.  C.  Tillinghast,  Reuben 
Turner.  The  organization  was  perfected  by  the  elec- 
tion of  the  following  officers:  Calvin  Caswell,  pres- 
ident; Gardner  Benschooten,  vice-president;  Andrew 
Smith,  Orlando  Ransom,  D.  H.  Benschooten,  direc- 
tors; T.  B.  Taylor,  secretary;  Reuben  Turner,  treas- 
urer. 

THE  HURON  COUNTY  FARMERS"  INSURANCE  COMPANY 

is  the  outgrowth  of  a  movement  that  began  in  Ripley 
township,  and  its  organization  was  effected  March  11, 

1878,  the  following  gentlemen  being  the  charter 
members:  A.  D.  Stotts,  R.  C.  Johnson,  James  R. 
Knight,  A.  W.  Barker,  A.  Robinson,  J.  A.  Fmst,  W. 
W.  Martin,  S.   E.   Peck,   D.  S.  Washburne,   Lorenzo 

D.  Keller.     On  the  14th  of  March  the  following  offi- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


cers  were  elected:  A.  D.  Stotts,  president;  R.  C. 
Johnson,  vice-president;  R.  C.  Johnson,  secretary; 
James  R.  Knight,  treasurer;  S.  E.  Peck,  J.  A.  Frost, 
^Y.  W.  Martin,  directors.  The  object  of  the  company 
is  to  insure  its  members  at  the  lowest  possible  rates 
consistent  with  sound  business  principles.  '  During 
the  first  year  of  its  existence,  the  company  has  as- 
sumed risks  of  over  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 


CHAPTER     XIX. 

MILITARY    HISTORY    OF    THE    FIRE-LANDS. 
EIGHTH      REftlMENT     OHIO      VOLL'XTEER      IXFAXTRY. 

This  regiment  was  originally  organized  as  a 
"three  months'  regiment,"  under  the  first  call  of 
the  president,  most  of  the  companies  having  been 
enlisted  between  the  16th  and  iM  days  of  April,  1861, 
and  all  of  them  arriving  at  Camp  Taylor  as  eai'ly  as 
April  39th.  On  the  3d  of  May,  all  the  companies  hav- 
ing been  mustered  into  the  service,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Camp  Dennison,  whei-e  it  arrived  on  the  3d, 
during  a  drenching  rain,  and  many  of  the  men,  for  the 
first  time  in  their  lives,  slept  in  the  open  air,  with  only 
a  soldier's  blanket  for  floor,  roof,  walls  and  bed-clothes. 
The  regimental  organization  was  here  completed  by 
the  appointment  of  the  field  and  staff  officers.  In- 
structions in  the  "drill"  now  commenced,  and  vig- 
orous efforts  were  pat  forth  to  fit  the  regiment  for 
service;  but  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  troops 
at  this  camp  would  not  be  sent  to  the  field  as  three 
months'  men,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  re-enlist  the 
regiment  for  three  years.  To  this  every  company 
responded  except  Company  I.  and  the  regiment  of 
nine  companies  was  mustered  into  the  service  for 
three  years,  on  the  32d,  25th  and  26th  of  June. 

In  the  following  September  Company  I  joined  the 
regiment  at  Grafton,  Virginia. 

On  the  9th  day  of  July,  1861,  the  regiment  left 
Camp  Dennison  for  Grafton,  Virginia,  and  ou  the 
12th  arrived  at  West  Union,  Preston  county,  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  summit  of  the  Alleghany  mountains 
where  they  are  crossed  by  the  great  western  turnpike, 
and  along  which  Garnett's  rebel  army  was  then  being 
rapidly  driven  by  McClellan's  troops.  For  some 
weeks  after  this,  the  regiment  was  stationed  at  various 
l)laces  among  the  mountains  and  along  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad,  during  which  time  it  suffered 
severely  from  typhoid  fever.  At  one  time  over  three 
hundred  were  in  the  hospital,  and  some  thirty-four 
deaths  resulted  from  the  fever  in  a  short  time. 

On  the  21:th  of  September  the  regiment  partici- 
pated in  an  attack  on  Ronmey.  At  the  "  Hanging 
Rock  "  it  was  exposed  to  a  severe  fire,  and  lost  several 
men  in  killed  and  a  number  wounded.  The  regiment 
again  participated  in  an  attack  on  Romney,  October 
2-lth.  which,  being  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  was  occu- 
pied by  the  troops  under  General  Kelly  until  January 


12,  1862.  The  next  fight  wm  at  Blue's  Gap.  In 
January  tlife  troops  were  reaioved  to  Patterson's 
creek,  and  the  following  month  to  Paw-Paw  tunnel. 

On  February  14th  the  Eighth  participated  in  a  brisk 
fight  at  Bloomey  Gap,  in  which  Colonel  Baldwin, 
with  his  staff  and  a  part  of  his  command  were  cap- 
tured. General  Lander  died  March  2d,  and  shortly 
after  the  division  was  sent  to  the  Shenandoah  valley, 
where  General  Shields  took  command. 

On  March  22d  the  outposts  at  Winchester  were 
attacked  by  Ashby,  and  General  Shields  severely 
wounded.  The  next  day  the  battle  of  Winchester 
was  fought.  But  few  of  the  troops  had  ever  been 
undor  fire,  and  none  of  them,  as  then  organized,  in 
any  serious  engagements.  Cjlonel  Kimball  com- 
manded, a:id  made"  the  arrangements  to  whip 
"  Stonewall  "  Jackson,  who  had  arrived  during  the 
night.  The  battle  was  one  of  the  most  severe  of  the 
war.  Jackson,  toward  evening,  attempted  to  turn 
our  right  flank,  but  was  met  by  Tyler's  brigade  in 
front,  when  Colonel  Kimball  threw  several  regiments 
on  his  right  flauk,  and,  after  a  desperate  fight, 
which,  in  some  instancas,  was  hand  to  hand,  the 
enemy  was  routed  and  driven  from  the  field.  [This 
was  "hot"  work;  the  writer  was  there,  and  knows 
whereof  he  speaks.]  The  regimeut  followed  the 
enemy  up  the  valley,  skirmishing  at  Woodstock, 
Mount  Jackson,  Edinburgh  and  New  Market;  thence 
it  joined  .McDowell  at  Fredericksburg.  Here  it 
remained  a  few  days,  and  was  ordered  back  to  the 
valley  again.  In  the  meantime  Banks  had  executed 
one  of  those  retrograde  movements  for  which  he 
became  e)iiinentlij  coii'tpicuous  ere  the  close  of  the 
war. 

In  August  following  the  Eig'ith  was  united  to 
the  SecDnd  Corps,  then  commanded  by  Sumner,  and 
with  thiscDi-ps  it  continued  to  a:-t  during  the  remain- 
der of  its  service. 

After  much  marching,  skirmishing  and  a  few 
light  engiigements,  the  Potomac  was  crossed  at 
chain  bridge,  and  the  march  through  Maryland 
commenced  which  ended  in  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain  and  Antietam,  near  Reedyville.  The 
whole  army  was  massed  by  the  morning  of  Sep- 
tember 16th,  and  a  furious  artillery  duel  commenced. 
One  of  the  first  of  the  enemy's  shots  killed  W.  W. 
Farmer,  a  color-sergeant  of  the  Eighth.  The  cm- 
nonade  lasted  all  day.  The  next  day  the  battle  of 
Antietam  was  fought.  The  Second  Corps  crossed 
the  river  and  occupied  the  center  of  the  line.  It  did 
effective  work  that  day.  In  this  battle  the  regiment 
lost  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  were  Lieutenants  De- 
lany  and  Lantry,  of  Company  B,  Lieutenant  H.  H. 
Bill,  Company  E.  and  Lieutenant  C.  W.  Barnes, 
Company  D. 

In  the  terrible  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  on  Decem- 
ber 13th,  the  Eighth  formed  the  right  wing  of  the  for- 
lorn hope.  Among  the  killed  in  tiiis  battle  was  Cap- 
tain Allen,  Company  I.     At  the  battle  of  Chancel- 


68 


HISTORY  OF  HUROK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


lorsville,  beginning  April  28,  1803.  the  Eighth  was 
almost  constantly  under  fire  for  four  days,  and  j-et 
its  loss  was  only  two  killed  and  eleven  wounded. 
The  brigade  was  at  this  time  and  subseijueutly  com- 
manded l)v  General  Carroll,  and  the  Eighth  Regiment 
by  Colonel  Franklin  Sawyer. 

No  further  active  service  wa<  hal  until  the  Gettj-s- 
burg  cMmp.ugn.  In  that  battle  the  regiment  bore  a 
conspicuous  part,  capturing  three  stands  of  colors, 
and  losing  in  killed  and  wounded  one  hundred  and 
four  officers  and  men.  After  the  escapa  of  Lee's 
army  across  the  Potomac,  the  Eighth  marched  with 
the  army  to  the  Rapidau.  But  we  have  not  space  to 
record  all  the  fighting  done  by  this  regiment.  Suffice 
it  to  sav,  that,  from  this  date  until  June  25,  1864, 
when,  its  term  of  service  having  expired,  and  the 
little  squad,  numbering  but«  seventy-two  officers  and 
men  fit  for  duty,  were  taken  from  the  trenches  before 
Petersburg  and  returned  to  Ohio  for  muster  out, 
they  were  almost  constantly  in  active  service  of  the 
severest  character.  The  regiment  was  formally  mus- 
tered out  on  July  1.3.  1864.  at  Cleveland.  Oiiio,  by 
Captain  Douglass.  United  States  army. 

THIRTY-SECOXD    OHIO    VOLUXTEEK    IXFASTRY. 

This  was  one  of  the  first  organi/iations  raised  in 
the  State  on  the  basis  of  three  years'  service.  Its 
rendezvous  was  Camp  Hartley  near  Mansfield,  but. 
before  completion  it  was  transferred  to  Camp  Denni- 
sou  where  it  was  completed,  organized,  equipped  and 
sent  to  the  field,  under  the  auspices  of  Colonel  Thos. 
H.  Ford,  formerly  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Ohio. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  September,  1861,  the  regiment 
left  Camp  Dennison  for  West  Virginia.  xVs  was  the 
case  with  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  first  regiments  from 
Ohio,  it  was  poorly  equipped  and  armed  with  the  al- 
most useless,  old,  smooth-bore  muskets  of  a  by-gone 
age.  The  regiment  was  moved  by  railroad,  and  ar- 
rived at  Grafton  September  18th,  and  marched  the 
next  day  for  Beverly,  West  Virginia,  where  it  an-ived 
on  the  22d.  It  was  here  assigned  to  tiie  command 
then  stationed  on  Cheat  Mountain  summit. 

The  Thirty-secoud  had  been  hurried  to  the  field 
without  discipline  of  any  kind — in  fact,  it  was  hardly 
organized.  Here,  upon  the  rugged  heights  of  Cheat 
Mountain,  amid  the  wild  scenery  of  the  Alleghanies, 
the  regiment  received  its  first  lesson  in  the  art  of  war. 
On  the  3rd  of  October,  1861,  the  Thirty-second  led 
the  advance  of  the  army  against  Greenbrier,  Virginia, 
through  the  mountains  and  pines  of  that  region  by 
midnight.  It  remained  at  Greenbrier  during  the  fall 
of  1861. 

On  December  13th,  it  engaged  in  the  advance  on 
Camp  Alleghany.  In  his  report  General  Milroy  com- 
plimented the  regiment  very  highly  on  its  gallantry 
and  good  conduct  in  its  charge  into  the  camp  of  the 
enemy.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  in  this  affair  was 
four  killed  and  fouiteen  wounded, — some  severely. 

On  its  return  from  this  expedition,  it  was  ordered 
to  Beverly  wheie  it   remained    the  remainder  of  the 


winter.  In  May  it  was  at  the  engagements  in  the 
Bull  Pasture  valley.  In  the  pursuit  of  Jackson  uj) 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  the  regiment  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic,  on 
the  8th  and  9th  of  June,  186-2.  Returning  to  Win- 
chester, it  did  garrison  duty  until  September  1st, 
when  the  place  was  evacuated  by  General  White. 
The  regiment  then  moved  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
assisted  in  its  defence.  After  making  a  hard  fight 
and  losing  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  its  uumber,  the 
regiment  with  the  whole  command,  was  surrendered 
by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  post  to  the  enemy 
as  prisoners  of  war.  The  history  of  this  unaccount- 
able affair  is  yet  to  be  written.  The  Thirty-Second 
was  paroled,  and  finally  transferred  to  Chicago,  Il- 
linois. December-  1,  1SG2,  it  was  transferred  to 
Camp  Taylor,  Cleveland.  Ohio.  January  12,  1863, 
it  was  declared  exchanged,  and  on  the  eighteenth, 
received  orders  to  report  to  Major-General  U.  S. 
Grant  at  Memphis,  Tennessee.  It  reached  that 
point  on  the  2.5th  of  January,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  At  the  battle 
of  Champion  Hills  the  Thirty-Second  made  a  bayonet 
charge,  and  captured  the  First  Mississippi  Rebel 
Battery — men,  guns  and  horses,  with  a  loss  of  twenty- 
four  men.  For  this  gallant  achievement  the  captured 
battery  was  turned  over  to  the  regiment,  and  manned 
by  Company  F,  during  the  entire  sieze  of  Vicksburg. 
The  total  loss  loss  of  the  regiment,  during  the 
campaign  and  siege  of  Vicksburg,  was  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five,  rank  and  file.  It  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson  and 
Champion  Hills;  and  was  in  the  extreme  front  of 
Logan's  Division  when  Vicksburg  surrendered.  It 
was  identified  with  its  corps  in  Sherman's  advance 
against  Atlanta:  participated  in  the  assault  on  Rene- 
saw  Mountain,  June  27,  1864,  and  Nicojack  Creek. 
July  10th.  Also,  in  the  battles  of  July  20th,  21st, 
22d  an  2Sth,  before  Atlanta,  and  lost  more  than  half 
its  number  in  killed  and  wounded.  After  the  fall  of 
Atlanta  the  Thirty-Second  moved  with  the  army  in 
pursuit  of  Hood,  after  which  it  rejoined  General 
Sherman  and  accompanied  him  on  his  "March  to  the 
Sea."  It  participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Wash- 
ington, and  remained  in  camp  near  that  city  until 
June  8,  186.5,  when  it  took  the  cars  for  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  It  lay  there  until  July  20th,  when  it  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service,  and  proceeded  toColum- 
but,  Ohio,  at  which  place  the  men  received  their  final 
discharge,  July  26,  186-5. 

The  Thirty-Second  entered  the  field  September  1.5, 
1861.  nine  hundred  and  fifty  sti-ong,  and  during  the 
war,  received  more  than  sixteen  hundred  recruits. 
Only  five  hundred  and  sixty-five  remained  at  its 
muster-out.  It  is  believeil  that  the  regiment  lost  and 
recruited  more  men  than  anv  other  from  Ohio. 


THE  FORTY-FIKST  OHId  VOI.l\TKEK  IXFANTKV. 


Immediately  after  tlic  battle  <if  Hull  Rui 
of  the  citizens  of  Clevolaiul.  Ohio,  set  alu 


lumber 
r.-iising 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


a  regiment,  and  the  result  of  their  labors  was  the 
Forty-First  Ohio  Volunteers,  of  which  Capt.  William 
B.  Hazen,  Eighth  U.  S.  Infantry,  was  appointed 
colonel.  The  camp  of  rendezvous  was  established 
near  Cleveland.  By  the  1st  of  September  a  large 
number  of  men  were  in  camp,  and  the  work  of  in- 
struction had  commenced.  The  regiment  was  mus- 
tered as  complete,  October  31,  1861.  November  6th, 
the  regiment  moved  by  rail  to  camp  Dennison,  where 
arms  were  supplied.  Tliese  consisted  of  the  '-'Green- 
wood Rifles,"  a  weapon  nearly  as  dangerous  as  the 
scythes  and  ])itchforks  of  our  revolutionary  ancestry. 
From  this  point  the  regiment  went  to  Gallipolis,  and 
thence  to  Louisville.  It  remained  during  the  winter 
at  Camp  Wicklifife,  Kentucky,  and  was  assigned  to 
Nelson's  Division.  Februaj-yl4,  lg62,  the  active  ser- 
vice began.  First  came  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing. Here  the  Forty-First  did  noble  work.  Of  the 
three  hundred  and  seventy-three  men  who  entered  the 
engagement,  one  hundred  and  forty-oue  were  either 
killed  or  wounded  in  half  an  hour.  It  was  next  en- 
gaged in  the  seige  of  Corinth  ;  then  at  Perryville, 
Murfreesboro',  (where  one  hundred  and  twelve  were 
killed  or  wounded,  out  of  four  hundred  and  ten.) 
January  10,  1863,  encamped  at  Readyville,  where  it 
remained  until  June  24th.  August  15th  tents  were 
struck  and  the  regiment  moved  against  Chattanooga. 
September  19th  the  regiment  was  actively  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  during  the  entire  fight, 
and  soon  after  retired  to  Chattanooga.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  October  27th,  fifty-two  pon- 
toons, bearing  the  Forty-First  and  its  brigade,  pushed 
out  silently  from  Chattanooga,  and  floated  down  the 
river.  In  half  an  hour  the  leading  pontoons  were 
passing  in  front  of  the  enemy's  pickets  on  the  bank, 
liuudred  feet  above.  The  conversation  of  the  rebels 
could  be  distinctly  heard,  but  their  attention  was  not 
once  directed  to  the  twelve  hundred  silent  enemies 
floating  past  within  pistol-shot.  Just  as  the  first 
pontoon  arrived  opposite  its  landing,  it  was  discovered; 
but  the  landing  was  effected,  the  pickets  driven  in, 
and  the  hill  gained.  When  the  morning  haze  cleared 
away  the  rebels  on  Lookout  mountain  saw  the  hills 
beneath  them,  commanding  two  roads  to  Bridgeport, 
covered  with  blue-coats,  in  a  position  from  which 
they  could  not  be  driven,  with  a  pontoon  bridge  to 
connect  them  with  Chattanooga  almost  completed. 
The  engagement  which  followed  was  the  most  severe 
in  which  the  Forty-First  was  ever  engaged,  and  it  was 
personally  thanked  by  General  Thomas  for  its  gallant 
conduct  on  the  occasion.  At  Mission  Ridge  the  reo'i- 
meut  lost  one  hundred  and  fifteen  in  killed  and 
wounded.  At  Clinch  mountain  the  regiment  re-en- 
listed, and  was  furloughed  home  for  thirty  days, 
reaching  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  February, 
1864.  Returning  to  the  front,  they  were  at  Rocky 
•  Face  Ridge,  Resaca,  Piney  Top  mountain,  Peach  Tree 
creek,  and  numerous  smaller  encounters.  July  28th 
the  regiment  was  in  front  of  Atlanta,  and  was  en- 
gaged  more  or  less  during  the  seige,  and  lost  one 


hundred  and  fifty  men  in  battle  and  eighty  by  disease. 
The  regiment  was  with  General  Thomas  in  his  move- 
ment against  Hood,  and  had  "hot  work"  oji  Overton 
knob.  It  finally  rested  at  Huntsville,  Alabama.  In 
June,  1865,  the  corps  embarked  at  Nashville  for 
Texas.  Near  Cairo  the  steamer  collided  with  a  gun- 
boat and  sunk  immediately.  Fortunately  no  lives 
were  lost.  In  Texas  the  regiment  was  stationed  near 
San  Antonio  until  November,  when  it  was  ordered  to 
be  mustered  out.  It  was  discharged  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  November  26,  1865,  after  four  years  and  one 
month's  service. 

FIFTT-FIFTH    OHIO    VOLl'XTEER    INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  went  into  camp  at  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
on  the  17th  of  October,  1861.  Companies  A,  C,  D, 
and  I,  were  recruited  from  the  counties  of  Huron 
and  Erie,  as  was  also  the  field  and  staff. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  1862.  the  regiment  left 
Norwalk  for  Grafton,  West  Virginia,  and  after  a 
short  stay  here,  it  moved  to  New  Creek.  From  this 
point  it  made  two  severe  marches,  one  to  Romuey, 
and  the  other  to  Moorefield;  at  the  latter  place  it 
participated  in  a  slight  skirmish.  Tiie  regiment  re- 
turned to  Grafton  on  the  19  th  day  of  February. 
Here  it  suffered  greatly  from  measles  and  other  dis- 
eases, by  which  more  than  twenty  men  lost  their  lives, 
and  many  more  were  rendered  unfit  for  field  service. 
At  one  time  over  four  hundred  men  in  the  regiment 
were  unfit  for  duty.  On  March  31st,  the  regiment 
was  ready  for  service  again.  It  moved  by  rail  to 
Green  Spring  river,  and  marched  from  thence  to 
Romney,  where  it  joined  General  Sehenck's  brigade, 
moved  to  Moorefield,  and  went  into  camp,  some  four 
miles  north  of  the  town. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April,  seven  companies  of  the 
Fiftj'-Fifth  moved  with  the  brigade  to  Petersburg, 
and  to  McDowell,  leaving  companies  D,  E,  and  G,  at 
Moorefield.  In  the  battle  of  McDowell,  or  Blue  Pas- 
ture mountain,  the  regiment  constituted  the  reserve, 
and  after  the  battle  fell  back  to  Franklin.  On  this 
march,  and  during  the  stay  at  Franklin,  the  regiment 
suffered  severely  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  rations. 
On  the  26th  of  May,  the  army  broke  camp  at  Frank- 
lin, and  moved  rapidly  to  Strasburg,  a  distance  of 
ninety  miles,  a  large  portion  of  which  had  been  passed 
over  before  Stonewall  Jackson  knew  tliat  the  army 
had  left  Franklin.  The  regiment  was  present  at 
Cross  Keys,  but  was  not  engaged.  July  7tii,  the 
regiment  marched  to  Sperryville.  Here  it  remained 
until  August  8th,  when  it  moved  in  tlie  direction  of 
Culpepper  C.  H.,  and  at  three  o'clock,  a.  m.,  on 
the  10th,  arrived  on  the  battle-field  of  Slaughter 
mountain.  Ou  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  army 
commenced  a  retrograde  movement  northward,  cross- 
ing the  Rappahannock  at  White  Sulphur  Springs. 
On  the  25th,  the  regiment  was  under  severe  artillery 
fire  from  Jackson's  troops,  and  at  night  fell  back  to 
Centerville.  Here  it  remained  until  November  2d, 
when  it  proceeded  to  Hopewell,  via  Manassas  June- 


70 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


tion.  It  remained  here  until  November  20th,  when 
it  moved  to  the  neigliborhood  of  Chantilly.  On  the 
10th  of  December,  the  regiment  broke  camp,  and 
after  a  series  of  severe  marches,  arrived  at  Stafford 
C.  H.,  on  the  17th.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1863, 
General  Burnside  moved  his  army  with  the  intention 
of  attacking  the  enemy  at  Fredericksburg,  and  the 
regiment,  with  the  division,  was  sent  to  Belle  Plain 
landing,  to  defend  that  point.  Heavy  rains  and  bad 
roads  arrested  the  movement  of  the  army,  and  the 
regiment  went  into  winter  (juarters  at  Biooks'  sta- 
tion. On  the  27th  of  April,  the  army  moved  upon 
Fredericksburg.  The  Eleventh  Corps,  to  which  the 
Fifty-Fifth  was  attached,  marched  up  the  Rappahan- 
nock, arriving  at  Chancellorsville  on  the  30th.  The 
next  day  the  army  went  into  position.  The  Eleventh 
Corps  occupied  the  extreme  right,  and  the  Fifty-Fifth 
was  in  the  second  brigade  from  the  right.  On  the 
2d  of  May  the  battle  opened,  and  the  result  is  too 
well  known  to  be  repeated  here.  In  this  engagement 
the  Fifty-Fifth  lost  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  men, 
killed,  wounded  and  missing.  On  the  5th,  the  army 
retreated,  and  the  regiment  went  into  its  old  camp, 
near  Brooks'  station.  About  the  middle  of  May  the 
regiment  was  transferred  to  the  Second  Brigade  of 
the  Second  Division,  and  it  remained  in  this  brigade 
during  the  remainder  of  its  term  of  service.  The 
regiment  marched  into  Pennsylvania  with  the  army, 
and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The 
battle-line  of  the  regiment  was  not  engaged,  but  the 
skirmish  line  was  subject,  most  of  the  time,  to  a 
severe  fire.  The  Fifty-Fifth  lost  in  this  battle  about 
fifty  men.  The  regiment  followed  the  retreating 
enemy,  and  went  into  camp  on  the  25th  of  July,  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  0.  &  A.  R.  R.  Here  it  performed 
heavy  picket  duty.  On  the  34th  of  September,  the 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  took  cars  at  Manassas 
Junction,  and  moved  to  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  arriv- 
ing on  the  30th.  On  the  25th  of  October,  the  troops 
moved  for  Lookout  valley,  and  encamped  in  fullsight 
of  Lookout  mountain.  The  enemy  attacked  the 
troops  in  the  valley.  The  Fifty-Fifth  was  not  in  the 
early  part  of  the  engagement,  having  been  on  ]iicket. 
The  regiment  moved  to  Chattanooga,  on  the  22d  of 
November.  In  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  the  corps 
formed  line  to  the  left  and  front  of  Fort  Hood,  and 
moving  forward  rapidly,  drove  the  rebel  skirmish  line 
beyond  the  East  Tennessee  railroad.  On  the  after- 
noon of  the  25th,  the  regiment  was  posted  on  the  ex- 
treme left,  and  guarded  the  flank  duriitg  the  remain- 
der of  the  battle.  Immediately  after  this  the  regiment 
entered  on  the  Knoxville  campaign,  and  returned 
again  to  Lookout  valley,  December  17th.  This  cam- 
paign was  made  in  extremely  cold  weather,  without 
tents  or  blankets.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1864,  three 
hundred  and  nineteen  men  in  the  Fiftv-Fifth  re- 
enlisted,  and  were  furloughed  home.  Returning,  it 
again  encamped,  on  March  4th,  in  Lookout  valley. 
About  this  time  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  were 
consolidated,   and  denominated  the    Twentieth,  and 


the  regiment  formed  a  part  of  the  Third  Brigade  of 
the  Third  Division. 

The  regiment  started  on  the  Atlanta  campaign  on 
the  3d  of  May,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  in 
which  the  Twentieth  Corps  was  engaged.  At  the 
battle  of  Resaca,  on  May  loth,  it  suffered  severely,  los- 
ing upward  of  ninety  men.  It  was  engaged  also  at 
Cassville,  Dallas,  New  Hope  church.  Marietta,  and. 
Kenesaw.  On  the  20th  of  July  the  regiment  took 
position  on  the  right  of  the  Fourth  Corps.  During 
the  seige  of  Atlanta  the  Fifty-Fifth  occupied  its  place 
in  the  lines,  assisting  in  the  gradual  but  sure  advance- 
ment of  the  parallels  toward  the  city.  On  the  3d  of 
September  the  troops  entered  the  city.  The  Fifty- 
Fifth  lost  over  two  hundred  men  in  this  campaign. 
The  regiment  left  Atlanta  November  15,  <ind  moved 
toward  the  sea-coast.  On  the  31st  of  December  it 
entered  Savannah  and  camped  near  the  city.  Here  it 
remained  until  early  in  January,  1865,  when  it  was 
thrown  across  the  Savannah  river.  On  the  39th  of 
January  the  regiment  started  on  the  campaign  of  the 
Carolinas.  No  incident  worthy  of  mention  occurred 
until  March  16,  when,  at  the  battle  of  Smith's  Farm 
the  Fifty-Fifth  lost  thirty-six  men  killed  and  wounded; 
and  again,  on  the  19th,  it  was  engaged  and  lost  two 
men  killed,  one  officer  and  twenty-three  men  wounded, 
and  seven  men  missing.  On  March  34th,  the  regiment 
reached  Goldsboro'  and  was  reviewed  by  General  Sher- 
man. On  the  30th  it  commenced  the  march  to  Wash- 
ington. On  May  34th  it  crossed  Long  Bridge  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  grand  review,  after  which  it  went 
into  camp  near  Washington.  On  the  10th  of  June 
It  proceeded  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where,  on  the 
11th  of  July,  the  Fifty-Fifth  was  mn5tered  out  of  the 
service.  The  regimsnt  was  transported  to  Cleveland. 
Ohio,  where  it  was  paid  and  discharged  on  the  19th 
of  July,  1865. 

During  its  term  of  service  the  regiment  enrolled 
about  one  thousand  three  bunded  and  fifty  men,  and 
of  these  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  were  either 
killed  or  wounded  in  battle.  Ten  officers  were 
wounded  once  or  more,  and  eight  officers  either  died 
of  wounds  or  were  killed  in  battle. 

JayKling,  M.  D.,  now  of  Monroeville,  surgeon  of 
the  regiment,  was  mustered  out  after  three  years  ser- 
vice. Embarking  for  home  a  few  days  subsequent, 
he  was  captured  by  the  rebels  and  although  paroled, 
yet  he  was  obliged  to  remain  with  them  many  months 
before  being  allowed  to  pass  through  the  union  lines 
to  freedom  and  home. 

SIXTY-FIFTH  OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  one  of  those  included  in  the 
brigade  raised  at  Mansfield,  Ohio.  It  was  organized 
at  Camp  Buckingham,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1861, 
and  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  1st  of  December. 

The  regiment  left  Mansfield  for  active  duty  Decem- 
ber 18th,  and  moved  to  Lomisville,  iventucky,  where 
it  remained  for  a  week,  and  then  marched  to  Camp 
Morton,  four  miles  east  of  Bardstowu,  arriving  on  th„ 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


71 


30th  of  December.  Here  it  was  brigaded  with  the 
Sixty-Fourth  Dhio,  the  Fifty-First  Indiana,  and  Ninth 
Kentucky.  It  was  assigned  to  General  Woods'  di- 
vision. 

On  the  I3th  of  January,  1862,  the  regiment  moved 
to  Hall's  Gap.  Here  it  was  engaged  in  building  cor- 
duroy roads  until  February  7th,  when  it  marched  to 
Lebanon,  and  on  the  12th  embarked  on  cars  for  Green 
river.  It  arrived  at  Mumfordsville,  on  the  13th,  and 
remained  there  until  the  23d,  then  marched  for  Nash- 
ville, where  it  arrived  on  March  13th.  On  tliis  march 
the  troops  were  forced,  at  times,  to  transport  the  con- 
tents of  the  baggage  wagons  on  their  backs  over  steep 
hills. 

On  March  29th,  the  regiment,  with  General  Gar- 
field in  command  of  the  brigade,  marched  to  Savan- 
nah, where  it  arrived  on  April  6th,  and  the  next 
morning  moved  on  steamer  to  Pittsburg  Landing. 
At  four  o'clock  p.  m.  it  was  on  the  battle  field,  but 
was  not  actively  engaged.  It  lost  two  men  wounded. 
The  regiment  next  participated  in  the  movements 
against  Coriuth,  and  during  the  seige  was  under  fire 
almost  hourly.  After  the  evacuation  it  moved  to 
Bridgeport,  where  it  did  guard  duty  until  the  29th 
of  August,  when  it  marched  northward  in  pursuit  of 
Bragg's  army,  arriving  at  Louisville  September  2-ith. 
After  resting  a  week  it  moved  to  near  Perryville,  and 
from  there  marched  to  Nashville.  On  December  26th 
the  brigade  moved  on  the  Nashville  pike,  fighting  its 
way  to  La  Vergne  and  Stone  river.  On  the  night  of 
the  29th,  the  brigade  crossed  Stone  river,  the  men 
wading  in  the  water  to  their  armpits,  in  the  face  of  a 
murderous  fire.  The  opposite  bank  was  gained,  and 
a  line  formed,  but  supports  failing  to  come  up  the 
brigade  was  forced  to  retire.  This  it  did  in  good  or- 
der. It  lay  on  its  arms  all  that  night,  and  during 
the  whole  of  the  next  day;  it  was  waiting  for  McCook 
to  move  on  the  right.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the 
31st,  McCook's  corps  was  driven  back,  and  Harkness' 
brigade,  in  which  was  the  Sixty-Fifth,  was  ordered 
to  its  support.  The  brigade  met  a  storm  of  bullets, 
and  a  solid  column,  of  exultant  rebels.  For  eight 
hours  the  brigade  was  heavily  engaged,  and  at  last 
succeeded  in  checking  the  rebel  army.  In  this  en- 
gagement the  Sixty-dfth  lost  two  officers  killed  and 
eight  wounded,  (one  mortally),  and  thirty-eight  men 
killed,  one  hundred  and  six  wounded,  nineteen  miss- 
ing, and  three  deserted  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 
The  regiment  was  under  fire  throughout  the  entire 
engagement.  The  regiment  remained  at  Mui-frees- 
boro'  until  June  7,  1863,  when  it  moved  to  near 
Chattanooga,  and  on  the  7th  of  September  skirmished 
with  the  enemy,  losing  one  man. 

During  the  first  day  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
the  regiment  was  in  reserve  until  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  it  became  briskly  engaged.  It  moved 
to  the  left  center,  and  lay  on  its  arms  all  night.  The 
next  day  fighting  was  continued,  with  alternate  suc- 
cess and  reverse.  On  the  night  of  the  20th,  the  entix'e 
army  fell  back  finally  to  Chattanooga.    The  regiment 


participated  in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  with  a 
loss  of  fifteen  killed  and  wounded.  In  the  Atlanta 
campaign  the  Sixty-Fifth  was  under  fire  almost  con- 
stantly. At  Lookout  Mountain  it  lost  four  men;  at 
Resaca  it  lost  twenty -eight  men  killed  and  wounded ; 
at  Dallas  it  lost  six  killed  and  wounded;  at  Marietta 
it  lost  twelve  in  killed  and  wounded.  It  was  in  a 
fight  at  Peachtree  creek,  at  Atlanta,  July  22d,  and  in 
the  movement  at  Jonesboro'.  After  the  evacuation 
of  Atlanta,  it  went  into  camp  there.  After  some 
three  weeks  there,  it  went  in  pursuit  of  Hood.  On 
November  29th,  it  participated  in  the  battle  of  Spring- 
field, losing  forty-one  men  killed,  wounded  and  miss- 
ing. November  30th,  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  it  lost 
forty-four  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  The  non- 
veterans  were  discharged  October  3,  1864.  The  regi- 
ment was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  and  in 
pursuit  of  the  rebel  army  across  the  Tennessee,  after 
which  it  returned  to  Nashville,  and  went  into  camp. 
In  June,  186.5,  the  regiment  embarked  on  transports 
for  New  Orleans,  where  it  remained  several  weeks, 
and  was  ordered  to  Texas.  At  San  Antonio  it  did 
garrison  duty  until  December,  1865,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  it 
was  mustered  out,  paid  and  discharged  on  January 
2,  1866. 

SEVENTY-SECOND    OHIO    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Fremont,  Ohio, 
during  the  months  of  October,  November  and  Decem- 
ber, 1861.  It  was  recruited  from  the  counties  of 
Sandusky,  Erie,  Medina  and  Wood. 

On  the  24th  day  of  January,  1862,  the  regiment, 
numbering  about  nine  hundred 'men,  left  Fremont 
for  Camp  Chase.  Here  it  was  fully  equipped,  and, 
in  February,  reported  to  General  Sherman,  at  Padu- 
cah.  Early  in  March,  1862,  Sherman's  Division  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Tennessee  to  Fort  Henry,  where  the 
main  army  was  concentrated.  The  Seventv-Second 
was  on  the  steamer  Baltic.  From  here  the  main 
army  proceeded  to  Savannah;  Sherman's  Division, 
however,  was  ordered  up  to  Eastjiort,  Mississippi, 
intending  to  cut  the  Slemphis  and  Charleston  rail- 
road. Heavy  rains  and  con.se([uent  high  water  de- 
feated this  plan,  and  the  men  returned  to  Pittsburg 
Landing,  encamping  near  Shiloh  Church. 

On  the  morning  of  April  6th,  Buckland's  Brigade, 
in  which  was  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment,  met  the 
enemy  and  withstood  the  onset  of  three  successive 
rebel  lines;  and  held  the  position  two  hours,  and  was 
ordered  to  retire.  At  eleven  o'clock  it  was  again  in 
position  on  the  right  of  the  national  line.  It  was  at 
the  front  constantly,  and,  on  the  7th,  participated  in 
the  final  charge  which  swept  the  enemy  from  the 
field.  The  regiment  lost  in  this  affair  one  hundred 
and  thirty-four,  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

In  the  siege  of  Corinth  the  Seventy-Second  bore  a 
conspicuous  part.  During  the  siege  General  J.  W. 
Denver  assumed  command  of  the  brigade.  July  21st, 
the   regiment  entered  Memphis,     No  clothing   had 


72 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,   OHIO. 


been  driiwti  since  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing, 
and  the  men  were  covered  witli  rags.  January  9, 
180;3.  it  was  ordered  to  Corinth.  The  Seventy-Second 
reached  White's  Station,  nine  miles-east  of  Memphis, 
on  January  31st. 

On  the  13th  of  Marcli,  the  regiment  moved  to 
Memphis,  embarked  on  steamer,  and  proceeded  down 
the  river.  April  -^d,  it  encamped  near  Young's  Point. 
The  regiment  commenced  the  march  for  Vicksburg 
on  May  2d.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Jackson  on 
the  l-4th,  and  the  next  day  continued  the  march  to 
Vicksburg,  where  it  arrived  on  the  18th.  It  partici- 
pated in  the  assault  on  the  rebel  works  on  the  19th 
and  32d  of  May,  and  then  came  the  labor  of  the  siege. 
It  occupied  a  position  on  the  right. 

On  the  -ZM  of  June,  the  regiment  formed  a  part  of 
the  force  ordered  to  Big  Black  river  to  intercept 
General  Joe  Johnson,  who  was  attempting  the  relief 
of  Vicksburg.  The  Seventy- Second  was  thrown  out 
on  the  advance  picket-line,  and  continued  to  hold 
that  position  until  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg.  The 
regiment  then  moved  against  Johnson  at  Jackson, 
and,  after  the  battle,  pursued  the  rebels  to  Brandon, 
where  it  had  an  engagement  After  destroying  a  por- 
tion of  the  railroad,  it  returned  to  Big  Black  to  rest 
and  refit.  Alwut  the  middle  of  November  the  division 
was  ordered  to  Memphis.  January  2,  1864,  the  regi- 
ment re-enlisted,  and.  on  February  33d,  received  its 
veteran  furlough;  returning  to  Fremont  it  was  heartily 
■welcomed.  Returning  to  the  front,  it  moved,  on  the 
8th  of  April,  by  rail  to  Cairo,  and  from  there  to  Padu- 
cah,  Kentucky,  to  assist  in  the  defense  of  that  place 
against  Forrest.  Nothing  of  importance  transpired 
here,  and,  on  the  22d,  the  regiment  embarked  for 
Memphis,  where  it  arrived  the  next  day. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  the  regiment  formed  part  of 
an  expedition  against  Forrest;  the  result  of  which, 
through  the  incompetency  of  the  commanding  officer, 
was  a  total  panic — the  baggage  trains  were  captured, 
as  were  a  large  portion  of  the  men.  The  above  re- 
ferred officer  in  command,  at  an  early  stage  of  the 
affray,  surrounded  himself  with  cavalry  and  started 
for  Memphis,  leaving  the  infantry,  as  he  expressively 
and  feelingly  (?)  remarked,  "to  go  to  the  devil;"  and 
it  was  only  by  the  most  arduous  effort  on  their  part 
that  they  did  not  all  go  where  he  designated,  or  to  an 
infinifelfi  more  barbarous  localiti/,  a  rebel  prison.  We 
are  unable  to  give  the  name  of  this  unfeeling  brute, 
very  much  to  our  regret. 

Incredible  as  it  may  seem,  nine  officers  and  one 
hundred  and  forty  men  of  the  Seventy-Second  reached 
Germ  iiitown,  one  hundred  miles,  in  forty-one  hours 
after  the  battle,  and  this,  too.  without  a  morsel  of 
food.  Eleven  officers  and  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  men  of  the  regiment  were  killed,  wounded,  or 
captured;  the  greater  portion  were  of  the  latter  class, 
and  but  few  ever  returned  to  the  I'egiment.  June  22d, 
the  Sixteenth  Corps,  to  which  the  Seventy-Second  Reg- 
iment was  now  attached,  started  on  an  expedition  in 


the  direction  of  Tupelo,  Miss.  Tn  this  movement  Mc- 
Millan's Brigade,  barely  nine  hundred  strong,  was  in 
the  rear  of  the  infantry  column,  and  just  in  advance  of 
the  wagon  train.  When  two  miles  west  of  Tupelo, 
Bell's  Brigade  of  N.  B.  Forrests'  command,  which  was 
in  ambush,  attacked  the  column.  This  fell  mainly  on 
the  Seventy-Second.  The  Regiment  at  once  charged 
the  enemy.  The  remainder  of  the  Brigade  was 
brought  into  action,  and  within  twenty  minutes  the 
rebels  driven  from  the  field,  utterly  routed.  On  the 
return  march  McMillan's  Brigade  again  marched  in 
rear  of  the  infanti-y  column;  and  just  as  it  was  going 
into  bivouac  for  the  night,  Bell's  Brigade  fell  upon 
the  Cavalry  rear-guard  and  drove  it  into  camp.  Mc- 
Millan's Brigade  formed  rapidly  and  advanced.  A 
volley  checked  the  enemy,  and  a  charge  drove  him 
from  the  field.  On  the  1st  of  September  the  division 
started  on  a  wild-goose  chase  into  Arkansas  and  Mis- 
souri, resnlting  in  nothing  except  an  immense  amount 
of  marching  and  hardship.  It  finally  I'eached  St. 
Louis  on  November  16th.  Its  rest  was  brief.  The 
division  was  ordered  up  the  Cumberland,  and  on  the 
30th  of  November  it  joined  the  forces  under  General 
Thomas,  at  Nashville,  and  was  posted  on  the  right  of 
line.  On  the  7th  of  December  the  Seventy-Second 
was  on  a  reconnoisance,  and  became  warmly  engaged, 
losing  eleven  men  killed  and  wounded.  During  the 
first  day  of  the  battle  of  Nashville,  the  regiment  par- 
ticipated in  a  charge,  in  which  three  hundred  and 
fifty  prisoners  and  six  pieces  of  artillery  were  cap. 
tured.  It  also  took  part  in  the  fight  on  the  IGth,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  charge  on  Walnut  Hills.  In  this 
battle  McMillan's  Brigade,  numbering  less  than  twelve 
hundred  men,  captured  two  thousand  prisoners  and 
thirteen  pieces  of  artillery,  while  its  total  loss  was 
only  one  hundred  and  sixty.  The  division  moved  to 
Eastport,  Mississippi,  and  went  into  camp.  Supplies 
were  scarce,  and  the  troops  subsisted  for  some  days 
on  parched  corn. 

In  February,  1865,  it  moved  to  New  Orleans  and 
camped  on  the  old  battle-ground.  On  February  28th 
it  embarked  on  the  ocean  steamer  Empire  State,  and  on 
March  3d,  landed  at  Fort  Gaines,  on  Dauphin  Island. 
On  the  19th  it  moved  up  Fish  river,  landing  some 
thirty  miles  east  of  Spanish  Fort.  On  the  27th  the 
fort  was  invested.  The  siege  lasted  until  April  8th, 
when  the  fort  was  evacuated.  In  these  operations  the 
the  Seventy-Second  lost  one  man  killed  and  three 
wounded.  On  the  19th  of  April  the  regiment  moved 
against  Fort  Blakely,  which  was  captured  the  same 
day.  The  brigade  was  finally  ordered  to  Meridian. 
Mississippi,  where  it  remained,  doing  garrison  duty 
until  June,  when  it  was  placed  along  the  line  of  the 
railroad  west  of  Meridian.  About  this  time  the  men 
whose  term  of  service  would  expire  before  October  1, 
1865,  were  mustered  out.  In  September,  the  regiment 
moved  to  Coi-inth,  but  it  was  soon  ordered  to  Vicks- 
burg-, where  it  was  muscered  out  on  the  11th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1865.  It  at  once  embarked  for  Ohio,  and 
was  paid  and  discharged  at  Camp  Chase. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


EIGHTY-EIGHTH    OHIO    VOLrXTEER    INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  tlie  latter  part  of 
July,  1862,  its  nnclens  being  four  companies,  called 
the  "First  Battalion  of  G-overnor's  Guards,  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantr\-."  It  was  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice by  Captain  A.  E.  Drake,  United  States  army,  Oc- 
tober 37,  1863,  and  was  at  once  placed  on  duty  at 
Camp  Chase,  near  Columbus,  then  filled  with  rebel 
prisonex's.  The  duty  here  was  very  arduous.  The 
prisoners  were  confined  in  three  separate  tenements, 
and  it  required  the  whole  strength  of  the  regiment  to 
fill  the  details.  In  a  few  months  the  service  became 
exceedingly  monotonous  to  both  officers  and  men,  and 
all  were  clamorous  to  go  into  the  field.  The  regi- 
ment was  recruited  to  the  maximum  number  July  39th. 
George  W.  Neil,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second 
Kentucky  Infantry,  who  had  but  recently  been  re- 
leased from  a  thirteen-months'  imprisonment  in  rebel 
prisons,  was  appointed  its  Colonel.  He  at  once  placed 
the  regiment  under  the  strictest  discipline,  and  soon 
had  it  drilled  to  the  highest  point  of  efficiency;  and 
the  hope  was  cherished  by  the  officers  and  men  that 
they  would  be  afforded  a  chance  to  display  their  ac- 
quirements at  "the  front."  This  hope  was  soon  dis- 
sipated, o)-ders  having  been  received  for  the  regiment 
to  remain  on  duty  at  Camp  Chase.  A  small  detach- 
ment only  was  permitted  to  visit  West  Virginia  and 
Maryland.  This  was  soon  brough-t  back  to  aid  in  the 
captui'e  of  the  freebooter  John  Morgan  and  his  thiev- 
ing horde.  During  this  raid  the  Eighty-Eighth  did 
effective  service.  In  October,  1863,  the  regiment  re- 
lieved the  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Ohio  at  Cin- 
cinnati. They  did  provost  duty  in  that  city  until 
the  latter  part  of  December,  when  it  became  neces- 
sary for  the  regiment  to  resume  their  duties  over  the 
"grey-backs"  at  Camp  Chase,  and  it  remained  on 
the  same  duty  until  July  3,  18G5,  when  it  was  form- 
ally mustered  out  of  the  service. 

The  Eightj'-Eighth  Ohio  was  a  complete  and  well- 
drilled  regiment,  and,  if  given  a  chance,  would  have 
undoubtedly  performed  good  service  in  the  field. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIRST  OHIO  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  one  of  that  series  of  patriotic 
organizations  raised  in  the  dark  days  of  1803,  when 
the  national  cause  seemed  to  be  drifting  into  final  de- 
feat. It  was  recruited  from  the  counties  of  Huron, 
Erie,  Seneca,  Crawford,  and  Wyandot,  and  organ- 
ized and  mustered  into  the  service  at  Monroeville, 
Ohio,  on  the  30th  day  of  August,  1862.  Companies 
A,  B,  D,  and  G  were  recruited  from  the  counties  of 
Huron  and  Erie. 

On  the  -ith  of  Septemljer.  altliough  not  (juite  ready 
for  field  service,  the  regiment  was  hui-ried  by  rail  to 
Cincinnati,  and  thence  across  the  river  to  Covington, 
Kentucky,  to  assist  in  repelling  a  threatened  raid  by 
Kirby  Smith.  After  lying  in  camji  near  Covington 
until  September  34th,  it  was  taken  by  rail  to  Louis- 
ville. Kentucky,  and  incorporated  with  Buell's  army. 

10 


It  was  assigned  to  Carlin's  Brigade,  Mitchell's  Divis- 
ion. On  October  1st  the  regiment  marched  in  pur- 
suit of  Bragg,  and  on  the  8th,  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Perryville.  In  this,  the  first  encounter  with 
the  enemy,  the  regiment  bore  itself  well  and  bravely, 
and  received  the  praise  of  its  brigade  and  division 
commanders.  It  lost  several  men.  Following  in 
pursuit  of  the  rebels,  it  had  a  pretty  severe  skirmish 
witli  their  rear  guard  at  Lancaster.  The  march  was 
continued  to  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Here  Jeff.  C. 
Davis  took  command  of  the  division,  and  on  Decem- 
ber 36th  it  marched  with  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  enemy 
was  met,  and  a  line  of  battle  formed.  The  Second 
Brigade,  in  which  was  the  One  Hundred  and  First 
Regiment,  soon  engaged  the  enemy  with  spirit,  sus- 
taining a.sharp  fire  until  it  was  dislodged.  Following 
the  enemy  some  two  miles,  another  sharp  engagement 
took  place.  This  resulted  in  driving  the  enemy  from 
the  field,  and  capturing  several  guns. 

On  December  30th,  this  brigade  was  the  first  to 
reach  the  battlefield  of  Stone  River.  It  at  once  en- 
gaged the  enemy's  outposts,  drove  them  back,  and 
just  at  night  became  busily  engaged.  The  regiment 
lay  on  its  arms  all  night,  and  was  fully  prepared  to 
receive  the  shock  of  battle  that  came  with  daylight  on 
the  31st  of  December.  The  brigade  stood  firm,  re- 
pulsing every  attempt  to  break  ic,  until  Johnson's 
Division  and  Post's  Brigade,  of  the  First  Division,  on 
the  I'ight,  being  driven  from  their  positions,  the  enemy 
appeared  on  the  right  flank  and  rear  of  the  brigade, 
when  it  fell  back  and  took  a  new  position,  and  held 
the  enemy  in  check.  Tlie  regiment  continued  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fight,  taking  up  six  different  positions, 
and  stubbornly  maintaining  them  during  the  day. 
Colonel  Stem  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wooster  were 
both  killed  on  the  front  line,  on  the  right  of  the 
arm}'.  Both  of  these  officers  died  while  leading  their 
men  to  deeds  of  daring.  The  regiment  was  held  on 
the  front  line,  on  the  right,  until  January  3d,  when  dis- 
aster was  threatening  the  left.  It  was  one  of  the  many 
regiments  that  were  transferred  to  the  left,  and  with 
the  bayonet  helped  to  turn  the  tide  of  battle.  It  re- 
mained thei-e  until  the  close  of  the  battle,  losing  seven 
officers  and  two  hundred  and  twelve  men  killed  and 
wounded. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  winter  tlie  One 
Hundred  and  First  was  engaged  constantly  on  expedi- 
tions through  the  country  surrounding  Murfrees- 
boro',  suffering  very  much  from  fatigue  and  exposure. 
It  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  as  many  as  fifty 
men  of  the  regiment  marching  withouf  shoes  or  their 
feet,  and  so  ragged  as  to  excite  both  the  sympathies 
and  the  risibilities  of  their  companions.  This  march- 
ing up  and  down  the  country — the  purposes  or  utility 
of  which  were,  oftentimes,  wholly  unknown — lasted 
until  April,  1SG3,  when  the  regiment  was  allowed  to 
go  into  camp  at  Murfreesboro'  for  rest. 

On  the  2-lth  of  June,  the  TuUahoma  cam- 
paign   was    inaugurated.     The    One    Hundred    and 


74 


mSTORY  OF  HURON  AXD  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


First  moved  in  the  directiou  of  Liberty  Gap,  and  was 
engaged  for  two  days  at  that  point,  with  Cleburne's 
rebel  division.  It  followed  tiie  fortunes  of  the  army, 
up  to  Chattanooga,  and  at  tlie  close  of  that  campaign 
was  with  Davis'  division  at  Winchester,  Tennessee. 
August  17th,  it  marched  on  the  Chattanooga  campa- 
ign going  over  Lookout  Mountain  to  Alpine,  Georgia. 
From  here  it  countermarched  over  the  mountain  to 
the  field  of  Chickamauga,  where  it  participated  in 
that  battle  on  the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  of  August, 
displaying  great  coolness  and  gallantry.  During  the 
heat  of  battle  on  the  second  day,  the  One  Hundred 
and  First  retook  a  National  battery  from  the  enemy, 
fighting  over  the  guns  with  clubbed  muskets.  Re- 
tiring to  Chattanooga,  it  became  a  part  of  the  First 
Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  Fourth  Army  Corps, 
and  on  October  28th,  marched  to  Bridgeport, 
Alabama. 

Here  it  remained  until  January  16, 1864.  On  May  3, 
1864,  it  marched  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  meeting 
the  enemy's  outposts  at  Catoosa  Springs.  The  regi- 
ment was  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  and  drove 
the  enemy  steadily  up  to  Tunnel  Hill.  At  Buzzard's 
Roost  it  advanced  to  within  thirty  or  forty  yards  of 
the  enemy's  main  line  of  works,  but  the  fire  was  so 
murderous  that  the  men  were  obliged  to  seek  shelter 
under  the  overhanging  rocks,  and  remain  until  the 
darkness  at  night  gave  them  an  opportunity  to  retire. 
As  the  campaign  progressed,  the  regiment  was  almost 
constantly  engaged  in  the  fighting  of  that  arduous 
march,  and  from  Atlanta  moved  to  Nashville. 

At  the  battle  of  Franklin,  just  at  night  fall,  the 
One  Hundred  and  First  was  ordered  to  retake  an 
angle  of  the  works  held  by  tlie  enemy,  which  it  did 
with  the  bayonet,  and  held  the  position  until  ten 
o'clock  p.  m.,  notwithstanding  the  rebels  were  almost 
within  bayonet  reach  during  all  that  time. 

The  One  Hundred  and  First  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Nashville,  December  loth  and  16th,  and 
participated  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  center  on 
the  15th.  After  the  battle  it  followed  in  pursuit 
of  Hood  to  Lexington,  Alabama,  and  marched  thence 
to  Huntsville,  where  it  went  into  camp.  It  lay  at 
Huntsville  until  June  12,  1865,  when,  with  other 
regiments  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  It  was  then 
sent  home  by  rail  to  Ohio,  placed  m  Camp  Taylor 
near  Cleveland,  paid  off,  and  discharged. 

OXE  HUNDRED    AND    SEVENTH    OHIO  VOLINTEEK 
INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  composed  almost  wholly  of 
Germans.  It  was  organized  August  25,  1862,  at 
Camp  Taylor,  near  Cleveland.  It  lay  in  camp  at  this 
place,  preparing  for  the  field,  until  the  latter  part 
of  September,  when  it  moved  to  Covington,  Ken- 
tucky. It  lay  there  a  sliort  time,  was  taken  by  rail 
to  Washington,  and  for  a  month  was  engaged  in  con- 
structing fortifications.  In  the  early  part  of  Novem- 
ber, the  regiment  marched  to  Fairfa.K  C.  H.,  Virginia, 
and  thence  to  Stafford  C.  H.     Here  it  was  assigned 


to  the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Eleventh 
Army  Corps. 

After  considerable  marching  it  went  into  winter 
quarters  at  Brook's  Station.  On  the  29th  of  April, 
1863,  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh,  with  its 
brigade  and  Division,  moved  to  Chancellorsville, 
where,  on  May  2d  and  3d.  it  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  that  name.  In  this  disastrous  affair  the  regiment 
suffered  terribly,  losing  two  hundred  and  twenty 
officers  and  men — killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners. 
Returning  to  its  former  camp,  it  remained  until  June 
12th,  when  it  marched  to  Gettysburg.  It  reached 
there  on  the  morning  of  July  1st,  and  was  at  once 
engaged  with  the  enemy.  In  the  first  day's  fight 
the  regiment  and  entire  Eleventh  Corps  were  com- 
pelled to  fall  back  through  Gettysburg  to  Cemetery 
hill,  where  a  new  line  was  formed  and  held  during 
the  remainder  of  the  battle.  In  falling  back  the 
regiment  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  men.  In  the  second 
day's  fight,  a  charge  was  made,  just  at  night,  in 
which  it  again  lost  heavily.  In  this  affair  the  regi- 
ment captured  a  rebel  flag  from  the  Eighth  Louisiana 
Tigers.  Its  loss  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg — killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners — was  over  four  hundred  out 
of  five  hundred  and  fifty,  rank  and  file,  with  which 
it  entered.  Captain  Fisher,  of  Company  F,  was  shot 
through  the  breast  and  arm;  and  Captain  Vignus,  of 
Company  H,  had  his  right  arm  shot  off. 

With  one  hundred  and  eleven  guns,  all  that  was 
left  of  the  regiment,  it  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
rebel  army.  August  1st,  the  regiment  sailed  to  Folly 
Island,  S.  C,  where  it  performed  picket  duty  until 
January,  1864.  In  that  month  it  was  taken  in  boats 
to  Kiowah  Island,  and  from  there  waded  over  to 
Seabrook  Island,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  that 
point.  On  February  23d,  the  regiment  was  taken  to 
Jacksonville,  Florida.  Here  it  had  a  few  skirmishes 
witli  the  enemy.  December  29th,  it  was  taken  to 
Devos  Neck,  S.  C.  While  here  it  had  several  skir- 
mishes with  the  enemy,  and  lost  five  men  killed  and 
fifteen  wounded.  March  23d,  it  marched  to  Suniter- 
ville,  met  the  enemy,  defeated  him,  and  captured 
three  peices  of  artillery,  six  horses,  and  fifteen 
prisoners.  In  this  affair  the  regiment  lost  four  men 
wounded.  Marching  to  Singleton  plantation,  it  met 
and  skirmished  with  the  enemy,  losing  two  men 
wounded.  A  few  days  later,  near  the  same  place,  it 
captured  a  train  of  cars,  which  was  destroyed,  with 
thirteen  locomotives  and  a  large  amount  of  provi- 
sions and  ammunition. 

On  April  16,  1865,  news  was  received  of  the 
surrender  of  Lee's  and  Johnston's  armies:  and.  amid 
great  rejoicings  over  the  auspicious  event,  tlie  regi- 
ment marched  back  to  Georgetown.  S.  C.  Three 
weeks  thereafter  it  was  taken  by  steamer  to  Charles- 
ton, where  it  remained  on  provost  duty  until  July 
10th,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  and 
sent  home  to  Cleveland,  wliere  it  was  jxiid  off  and 
discharged. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


75 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    TWENTY-THIRD     OHIO     VOLUN- 
TEER   INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Monroeville, 
Huron  county.  Companies  B,  C,  E,  G.,  and  a  por- 
tion of  H,  I  and  K  were  recruited  from  Huron  and 
Erie  counties.  Seven  companies  were  mustered  into 
the  service  on  the  S-ith  of  September,  1862,  two  on 
the  39th,  and  one  on  the  16th  of  October.  The  regi- 
ment moved  on  the  last-named  day  to  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  whence  it  was  taken  down  the  Muskingum 
river  to  Marietta;  thence  by  rail  to  Belpre,  and  across 
the  river  to  Parkersburg,  Virginia;  thence  by  rail  to 
Clarksburg,  reaching  that  jilace  October  30th.  On  the 
27th  of  October  the  regiment  made  its  first  march  to 
Buckhannon,  making  twelve  miles  the  first  day,  ar- 
riving there  on  the  30th.  This  was  considered  good 
marching,  and  almost  exhausted  the  men,  under  the 
enormous  loads  then  permitted  to  be  carried  on  their 
persons  and  in  their  knapsacks.  The  regiment  re- 
sumed the  march  on  November  3d,  first  to  Beverly, 
then  to  Hnttonsville,  and  finally  to  Webster.  On 
November  18th,  it  left  this  point  and  moved  by  rail  to 
New  Greek,  where  it  remained  in  camjJ  until  Decem- 
ber 12th.  "While  lyijig  in  this  camp.  Captain  Horace 
Kellogg,  of  Company  B,  was  sent  to  St.  George  C. 
H,  with  orders  to  assess  the  rebel  citizens  of  that 
place  and  vicinity  for  outrages  committed  on  Union 
citizens  by  Imboden's  guerillas.  Five  thousand  dol- 
lars were  collected  under  this  order  and  paid  over  to 
the  Union  sufferers.  From  this  point  the  regiment 
marched  to  Petersburg,  West  Virginia,  arriving  De- 
cember 18th.  On  January  3,  1863,  it  was  ordered  to 
Moorefield  to  relieve  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth 
Ohio,  which  was  surrounded  by  rebel  cavalry,  and  in 
imminent  danger  of  capture.  The  rebels  were  driven 
off  and  the  regiment  rescued.  January  10th,  the  regi- 
ment left  Moorefield  for  Romney.  It  arrived  on  the 
12th  and  remained  some  six  weeks,  doing  scouting 
duty.  On  the  1st  of  March  the  regiment  moved  to 
Winchester,  and  while  there  made  several  raids  up  the 
Shenandoah  valley.  Nothing  further  of  interest  oc- 
curred until  June  13th,  at  which  time  Lee's  whole  rebel 
army  surrounded  Winchester.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  isth,  the  One  mindred  and  Twenty-Third,  with 
its  brigade,  had  an  engagement  with  General  Early's 
corps,  in  which  it  lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  nearly 
one  hundred  men.  On  the  14th  the  national  forces 
were  driven  into  their  fortifications  and  hardly  pressed 
by  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  rebel  army. 
That  afternoon  they  were  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire 
for  two  hours.  The  outworks  being  carried  by  the 
rebels,  it  was  decided  to  evacuate  the  place.  The 
troops  marched  out  of  the  works  in  silence  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  leaving  the  artillery  in  posi- 
tion, but  spiked.  At  a  point  about  four  miles  on  the 
Martinsburg  road,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
rebels  were  found  in  position  along  the  road,  and  fur- 
ther retreat  was  cut  off.  In  attempting  to  cut  their 
way  through,  the  regiment  lost,  in  killed  and 
wounded,   about  fifty  men.     In   this  affair  the  One 


Hundred  and  Twenty-Third  made  three  distinct 
charges,  but  to  little  purpose.  While  it  was  forming 
for  a  fourth  charge.  Colonel  Ely,  of  the  Eighteenth 
Connecticut,  temporarily  in  command  of  the  brigade, 
surrendered  to  the  enemy,  and  the  whole  brigade, 
except  Company  D  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
Third,  were  made  prisoners  of  war.  They  were  taken 
to  Richmond,  where  the  officers  remained  in  Libby 
prison  about  eleven  months.  Two  officers  made  their 
escape,  and  two  were  exchanged  and  sent  home.  The 
remainder  of  the  officers  were,  after  eleven  months' 
confinement,  removed  to  Macon,  Georgia,  thence  to 
Charleston  and  jjhtced  under  fire  (southern  chivalry?), 
thence  to  Columbia.  From  this  point  several  officers 
made  their  escape,  and  made  their  way  successfully 
into  the  national  lines.  Among  these  were  Captains 
J.  F.  Randolph  (Company  B),  0.  H.  Rosenbaum 
(Company  G),  and  Lieutenants  Frank  B.  Colver  and 
B.  F.  Blair.  Several  officers  were  exchanged,  among 
them  Lieutenants  Frank  A.  Breckenridge  and  Charles 
H.  Sowers.  Captain  Charles  H.  Riggs  (Company  G) 
died  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  of  disease  con- 
tracted in  prison.  The  privates  of  the  regiment  were 
exchanged  within  a  few  months  and  sent  to  the  pa- 
roled camps  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  and  Camp 
Chase,  Ohio. 

Major  Horace  Kellogg,  who  was  wounded,  made 
his  escape  from  the  enemy  at  Winchester,  collected 
the  stragglers  of  the  regiment  at  Martinsburg,  where 
the  paroled  men  of  the  regiment,  after  exchange, 
joined  him,  about  the  first  of  September,  1803.  At 
this  place  the  regiment  was  newly  armed  and 
equipped.  About  the  1st  of  April,  1864,  the  regi- 
ment moved  to  Winchester.  From  there  it  marched 
to  Cedar  creek,  and  made  a  raid  up  the  valley.  After 
a  sharp  fight  at  New  Market,  (on  May  loth),  in 
which  seventy-nine  men  were  lost  (killed  and  wound- 
ed), in  the  regiment,  the  forces  fell  back  to  Cedar 
creek.  General  Hunter  took  command,  and  on  the 
24th  of  May,  started  up  the  valley,  arriving  at  Port 
Republic  on  the  night  of  the  4th  of  June.  On  the 
next  morning,  at  daylight,  the  enemy  was  encoun- 
tered. A  brisk  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  rebels  were 
whipped,  and  two  thousand  prisoners  captured.  The 
next  day  the  command  entered  Staunton.  On  June 
11th,  Lexington  was  reached.  Here  General  Hunter 
destroyed  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  which  had 
for  years  been  preparing  officers  for  the  confederacy. 
From  Liberty  to  Lynchljurg,  an  almost  constant  skir- 
mish was  had  with  the  enemy.  On  the  morning  of 
the  14th,  the  rebels  were  heavily  engaged,  the  con- 
flict lasting  all  day.  After  this,  the  army  made  the 
memorable  and  disastrous  retreat  to  the  Kanawha  val- 
ley. This  was  almost  a  continual  fight  from  Lynch- 
burg to  Salem.  On  this  retreat  the  most  intense 
suffering  was  endured  from  exhaustion  and  starva- 
tion. Numbers  of  men  lay  down  by  the  roadside 
and  died  from  one  or  the  other  of  these  causes.  At 
length  Gauley  Bridge  was  reached,  and  supplies  were 
distributed  to  the  famished  men.    On  the  2d  of  July, 


76 


HISTORY  OF  IIUROK  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  regiment,  with  its  brigade  and  division,  moved  by 
steamboat  and  railroad  a  circuitous  route  to  Martins- 
burg,  from  which  the  One  Hui.dred  and  Twent}'- 
Tliird  had  started  two  months  and  a  half  before,  with 
seven  hundred  men.  It  now  returned  with  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  July  18th,  the  regiment,  with  the 
Army  of  West  Virginia,  was  thrown  across  the  Shen- 
andoah river.  Early's  rebel  corps  was  met,  and  a 
brisk  fight  ensued.  The  army  was  driven,  and  in  at- 
tempting to  recross  the  river,  a  number  of  the  men 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Tliird  were  killed, 
including  Lieutenant  C.  D.  Williams,  of  Company  B. 
That  night  the  rebels  retreated  to  Winchester,  and  up 
the  valley.  On  the  22d  of  July,  the  national  troops 
moved  after  the  rebels  toward  Winchester,  and  on 
the  2.3d,  came  up  with  them,  and  after  a  sharp  skir- 
mish, drove  them.  The  next  morning  the  rebels  at- 
tacked in  force,  and  in  their  turn  drove  the  national 
troops.  Soon  a  new  era  dawned  upon  the  Shenan- 
doah valley.  The  command  of  the  National  troops 
■was  placed  in  the  hands  of  General  Phil.  Sheridan. 
Getting  his  troops  well  in  hand,  he  moved  them  up 
the  valley. 

At  Berryville  the  rebels  were  met,  and  skirmished 
with,  both  sides  losing  a  few  men.  Following  the 
rebels  to  Fisher's  Hill,  skirmishing  by  the  way,  the 
army  went  into  camp  for  several  days.  Anticipating 
heavy  rebel  re-enforcements,  our  army  retreated  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  entrenched  themselves.  August 
26th,  the  army  again  moved  up  the  valley  to  Charles- 
town.  Berryville  was  the  next  point  reached.  Here 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Third  had  a  sharp 
fight,  losing  twenty-five  men,  killed,  wounded  and 
captured.  On  the  morning  of  September  19th,  the 
enemy  was  met  near  Winchester,  and  another  battle 
was  fought.  In  this  affair  the  regiment  was  engaged 
on  the  right,  and  formed  part  of  the  grand  flanking 
column  which  changed  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  At 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  regiment 
made  a  charge,  which  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field, 
and  decided  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  The  routed 
rebel  army  was  pressed  by  the  infantry  to  a  point  two 
miles  beyond  Winchester,  and  the  cavalry  was  then 
left  to  gather  the  fruits  of  the  victory.  At  early 
dawn  the  infantry  again  took  the  road  in  pursuit. 
Reaching  Strasburg,  the  enemy  was  discovered  be- 
hind strong  works.  General  Crook's  command,  in 
which  was  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Third,  was 
placed  in  the  reserve.  Moving  his  command  to  the 
right,  he  maneuvered  to  reach  the  left  flank  of  the 
rebel  army.  The  movement  was  successfully  per- 
formed. Watching  his  chances.  General  Crook 
charged  the  rebels,  and  scattered  them  like  chaff. 
In  this  aciiou  the  regiment  lost  six  men.  Crook's 
command  encamped  near  the  battle-field.  The  na- 
tional forces  remained  at  Cedar  creek  until  the  19th 
of  October,  engaged  in  building  fortifications. 

Now  comes  disaster.  On  the  morning  of  October 
19th  at  early  dawn,  the  enemy,  under  cover  of  a  dense 
fog,  crept  through  a  gap  unfortunately  left  in  the 


national  line  of  pickets,  and  turned  the  left  flank  of 
the  army,  held  by  General  Crook's  corps,  pushing' the 
army  ])ack  five  or  six  miles,  capturing  the  works  and 
all  that  was  in  them.  In  this  rout  the  Sixth  Corps 
acted  as  a  breakwater  to  the  rebels,  and  held  them  in 
check  until  the  national  lines  were  re-formed.  At 
this  juncture  General  Sheridan,  who  had  been  absent 
at  Winchester,  appeared  on  the  field,  having  made 
his  famous  ride  of  twenty  miles.  He  at  once  infused 
new  life  into  the  demoralized  forces.  Making  some 
slight  changes  in  the  order  of  battle,  he  rode  down 
the  lines  amid  the  cheers  of  the  men,  and  ordered  an 
immediate  advance  of  the  entire  line.  The  enemy 
were  swept  from  the  field,  losing  all  theirown  artillery 
and  that  which  they  had  captured  in  the  .morning. 
This  rout  of  Early's  forces  was  comidete  and  final. 
The  Shenandoah  valley  was  cleared  almost  entirely 
of  opposition  to  the  national  arms.  Falling  back  to 
near  Winchester  the  troops  went  into  camp;  next 
moved  to  0])equan  creek,  thence  to  Burmuda  Hun- 
dred, and  arrived  at  Deep  Bottom,  December  27. 1864. 
The  regiment  lay  in  camp  in  this  vicinity  until  March 
2.5,  1865,  when  it  moved  to  Chickahominy.  and  from 
there  to  Hatcher's  Run.  On  March  30th,  an  advance 
was  made  on  the  rebel  works,  and  skirmishing  con- 
tinued until  the  morning  of  April  2d,  when  a  general 
charge  was  made  and  the  rebel  works  were  carried. 
The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Third  during  this 
time  was,  for  three  days  and  nights,  on  the  skirmish 
line  without  relief,  and  their  rations  were  carried  them 
by  Lieutenant  E.  H.  Brown,  regimental  quartermas- 
ter— a  most  dangerous  duty.  The  loss  of  the  regi- 
ment was  quite  severe.  It  captured  two  battle-flags 
and  a  number  of  prisoners.  The  rebels  were  followed 
toward  Petersburg.  On  April  3d,  the  whole  national 
army  mnrched  in  pursuit  of  Lee  toward  Danville. 
On  the  5th,  the  regiment  was  captured  by  Lee's  rebel 
cavalry,  not  however  until  after  a  hot  fight  of  three 
or  four  hours,  with  heavy  loss  on  both  sides.  Captain 
J.  F.  Randolph  (Company  B)  was  shot  through  the 
right  lung  in  this  fight.  The  prisoners  were  carried 
with  the  rebel  army  to  Appomattox  C.  H.  At  this 
point  the  rebel  army  surrendered  to  the  national 
forces,  and  the  prisoners  were  rescued. 

The  regiment  immediately  thereafter  left  City  Point. 
on  transports,  for  Annapolis,  Maryland,  and  thence 
to  Cam])  Chase,  Ohio,  where  it  remained  until  the 
12th  of  June,  and  was  then  mustered  out  of  the 
service. 

OXE     HINDUED    AXI>    TWKXTY-EIOHTH    OHIO    \OI,rN- 
TEEH    tXFAN'TKY. 

This  regiment,  although  chiefly  occupied  in  guard- 
duty  within  the  borders  of  the  State,  was  an  organi- 
zation of  three  year's  troops,  enlisted  and  mustered 
into  the  United  States'  service,  and  was  liable  to 
service  wherever  required.  It  attained  minimum 
strength  on  the  25th  of  December,  1863,  and  con- 
sisted of  four  companies,  before  known  as  '"  The 
Hoffman  Battalion,'"  raised  at  different  times  in  1862. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


77 


Six  new  companies  were  mustered  in  at  Camp  Taylor, 
near  Cleveland,  between  the  Sth  and  the  15th  of  Jan- 
uary, 18G4.  The  four  old  companies  had  been  on 
duty  at  Johnson's  Island  nearly  all  the  time  since  their 
muster-in,  but  had  frequently  furnished  detachments 
for  service  elsewhere,  including  a  short  and  very  active 
campaign  in  pursuit  of  rebel  troops  in  West  Virginia, 
in  1862. 

The  One  Hundred  andTwentj-'Eighth  having  been 
chiefly  occupied  at  the  frontier  posts  of  Johnson's 
Island  and  Sandusky,  its  service  necessarily  involves 
much  of  the  military  history  of  these  posts,  and  can 
be  better  understood  by  giving  a  brief  synopsis  of  that 
history. 

Early  in  1862,  Johnson's  Island  became  a  depot  ex- 
clusively for  rebel  officers  w'ho  were  held  as  prisoners  of 
war.  The  reports  show  that  the  average  number  of 
prisoners  confined  there,  was  as  follows:  1862 — 788; 
1863—1,205;  1864—2,480;  total,  4,473.  Acartelfor 
a  general  exchange  of  prisoners  of  war  had  long  been 
expected,  and  was  finally  agreed  upon  July  22,  1862. 
Under  that  cartel,  exchanges  went  on  until  July,  1863, 
and  a  continuance  was  expected.  This,  with  the  lielief 
of  general  loyalty  in  the  north,  and  the  want  of  help 
in  Canada,  had  their  legitimate  influence  on  prison- 
ers, and  undoubtedly  pi-evented  efforts  at  outbreak 
and  resistance  until  late  in  the  fall  of  1863.  It  would 
occupy  too  much  space  to  give  the  details  of  efforts  at 
rescue,  or  the  attempts  at  escape  and  outbreak.  The 
situation  was,  that  at  this  point  wei"e  confined  officers 
enough  for  an  army  and  navy  of  eighty  thousand  men. 
They  were  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Canada 
main,  and  still  nearer  to  a  Canada  island.  The  pre- 
vailing sympathy  in  Canada  was  largely  in  favor  of 
the  rebels;  and  there  every  facility  and  encouragement, 
short  of  direct  participation  in  our  war,  was  extended 
to  the  large  force  from  the  rebel  army  and  navy  main- 
tained in  Canaula  to  effect  a  rescue  of  these  rebel  offi- 
cers. If,  by  such  efforts,  war  should  be  brought  on 
between  the  United  States  and  England,  a  great  point 
would  be  gained  by  the  rebels.  No  other  depot  of 
prisoners  of  war  was  on  a  frontier,  or  exposed  like 
this.  During  the  season  of  navigation  it  could  be 
reached  in  a  few  hours'  night  run,  and  during  the 
winter  season  men  and  teams  could  conveniently  cross 
the  lake,  from  island  to  island,  not  over  five  miles  of 
ice  intervening  in  any  place.  During  the  season  of 
ice  the  location  of  the  depot  of  prisoners  practically- 
ceased  to  be  an  island.  The  I'ebel  officers  confined 
there  had  a  large  range  of  friends  in  the  "loyal  States. " 
For  them  the  rebel  emissaries,  traveling  in  those 
States,  and  the  secret  plotters  against  the  national 
arms,  known  as  the  -'Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle," 
and  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  had  an  especial  sympathy, 
and  were  anxious  to  aid  them  by  means  of  escape,  or 
with  places  of  refuge  and  concealment.  These  facts, 
with  the  difficulty  about  exchanges,  stimulated  machi- 
nations for  rescue  front  and  rear,  and  kept  the  prison- 
ers constantly  on  the  qui  vive,  ready  for  any  desperate 
adventure  until  after  the  fall  of  Petersburg. 


In  view  of  the  contingencies  on  the  frontier,  and  in 
order  to  hold  these  posts  with  a  less  force,  the  con- 
struction of  three  forts  was  bf-un  in  the  fall  of  18G4, 
one  on  Cedar  Point,  and  two  nu  the  island.  Laborers 
could  not  be  hired  at  the  wages  offered,  and  the  colonel 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Eighth  detailed  men 
from  the  regiment,  who  did  the  greater  part  of  the 
work,  including  the  mechanical.  They  completed  the 
forts,  and  the  magazines,  and  mounted  the  guns. 
This  work  was  done  in  the  most  inclement  seasons  of 
the  year,  without  extra  pay,  and  at  a  time  when  the 
other  details  were  very  heavy.  But  in  this  instance, 
as  in  all  others,  officers  and  men  applied  themselves  to 
the  duties  before  them  with  an  intelligence  and  zeal 
which  promptly  overcame  difficulties,  and  attained 
the  desired  result  in  a  very  creditaljle  manner.  Soon 
after  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  armies,  in  the  spring 
of  1865,  the  prisoners  on  the  island  were  reduced  to 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-Eighth  left  the  island  on  the  10th  of  July, 
1865,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  the  17th  at 
Camp  Chase. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-SIXTH  OHIO  VOLINTEER 
INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Chase,  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  September  21.  1864,  for  one  year.  As 
soon  as  the  organization  was  completed,  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  assigned  to 
the  Second  Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  Twentieth 
Army  Corps. 

Soon  after  its  arrival,  it  was  detailed  to  perform 
provost  guard  duty  at  Nashville,  and  during  the  seige 
and  battle  of  Nashville,  it  was  in  the  works;  but  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  companies,  under  Major  Cum- 
mings,  the  regiment  was  not  engaged.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  the  officers  and  men  were  veteran  soldiers,  and 
their  knowledge  and  experience  gave  the  regiment 
considerable  reputation  for  proficiency  in  drill  and 
discipline. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Tod 
Barracks,  Columbus,  Oliio,  on  the  18th  day  of  June, 
1865. 

ONE    HL'NDRED    AND    NINETY-SECOXI)     OHIO     VOLUN- 
TEER   INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio, 
March  9,  1865,  and  started  to  the  field  four  days 
later.  It  arrived  at  Halltown,  near  Harper's  Ferry, 
Virginia,  March  16th,  and  reported  to  Brevet  Major- 
General  John  R.  Brooke,  commanding  provisional 
division.  On  March  20th,  it  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  Brigade.  Strong  picket  lines  were  main- 
tained, and  some  skirmishing  occurred.  On  March 
31st,  the  division  marched  through  Charlestown,  re- 
nowned for  the  execution  of  John  Brown.  It  was 
afterward  stationed  at  Stevenson  station,  and  Reed's 
hill,  above  Winchester.  Here  the  care  of  the  entire 
country,  including  Luray  valley,  deirolved  upon  the 
commandant  of  the  regiment.     These  onerous  duties 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


were  discliarged  to  general  satisfactiou.  The  conduct 
of  the  men  was  exemplary.  The  regiment  stood  high 
in  the  brigade  and  division  for  drill,  discipline,  and 
efficiency.  All  the  field,  and  a  majority  of  the  staff 
and  line  officers,  had  served  in  the  army  previous  to 
entering  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-second,  and 
many  in  the  ranks  were  scarred  veterans,  who  had 
faced  the  enemy  on  many  bloody  fields.  The  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  Sep- 
tember 1,  1865.  It  arrived  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  at 
midnight,  September  3d,  and  was  paid  and  discharged 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1865. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND    NINETY-SIXTH   OHIO  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio, 
and  mustered  into  the  service  on  the  25th  of  March, 
1865.  It  immediately  started  for  Western  Virginia, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  an  Ohio  brigade  at  Win- 
chester. Here  it  remained  until  July,  and  gained  the 
reputation  of  being  a  well-drilled  and  well-disciplined 
organization.  In  July  it  was  ordered  to  Baltimore, 
and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  fortifications  around  the 
city,  a  portion  of  it  being  sent  to  Fort  Delaware. 
On  the  11th  of  September  it  was  mustered  out  at 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  being  the  last  volunteer  or- 
ganization in  that  department.  Of  the  thirty-eight 
officers  composing  the  field,  staff  and  line,  there  were 
only  two  who  had  not  served  over  two  years,  and  the 
majority  had  served  during  the  war  in  other  organi- 
zations. More  than  two-thirds  of  the  men  had 
belonged  to  other  regiments,  and  had  been  honorably 
discharged  for  wounds  or  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

The  men  who  composed  the  regiment  were  mostly 
young  men,  and  as  an  organization  it  was  probably 
excelled  by  but  few  in  appearance,  discipline  and 
soldierly  bearing;  and  though  the  regiment  was  not 
entitled  to  inscribe  on  its  colors  the  name  of  any 
engagement,  still  nearly  every  battle  field  in  the 
Union  was  represented  in  its  ranks. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    NINETY-SEVENTH  OHIO    VOLUN- 
TEER INFANTRY. 

This  was  not  only  the  last  regiment  which  Ohio 
sent  to  the  field,  but  also  the  last  complete  organiza- 
tion which  the  State  raised  for  service  during  the 
rebellion.  Of  its  officers  all  except  five  had  seen 
active  service  in  other  commands,  and  nearly  one-half 
of  the  men  were  experienced  soldiers.  The  first  com- 
pany was  mustered  in  on  the  28th  of  March,  1865,  at 
Camp  Chase,  and  the  organization  of  the  regiment 
was  completed  on  the  12th  of  April.  It  was  i-ecruited 
to  a  total  strength  of  one  thousand  and  six  men,  but 
by  the  casualties  incident  to  barrack  life  its  effective 
force  w^is  reduced  to  about  nine  hundred.  On  the 
25th  of  April  it  left  Camp  Chase  by  rail  for  Wash- 
ington City,  and  on  its  arrival  received  the  news  of 
the  surrender  of  General  Johnston's  army,  dispelling 
every  prospect  of'  active  service. 

The  regiment  was  temporarily  assigned  to  the  Ninth 


Corps,  and  was  quartered  near  Alexandria;  from  here 
it  went  by  rail  to  Dover,  Delaware.  May  31st,  it 
moved  to  Havre  de  Grace,  and  engaged  in  guard  duty. 
The  regiment  re-assembled  at  Camp  Bradford,  near 
Baltimore,  and  was  mustered  out  July  31st.  It  was 
paid  at  Tod  Barracks,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  disbanded 
on  the  6th  of  Angust,  1865. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  NINETY-EIGHTH  OHIO  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY. 

There  were  eight  companies  of  this  intended  regi- 
ment fully  recruited  and  assembled  at  Camp  Chase, 
all  of  which  had  been  mustered  into  the  service  by 
companies,  but  not  as  an  organization.  Before  the 
maximum  was  reached  the  ''Confederacy"  collapsed, 
and  the  men  were  sent  to  their  homes. 

FIRST   REGIMENT   OHIO    HEAVY    ARTILLERY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  as  the  One  Hundred 
and  Seventeenth  Ohio  Infantry,  at  Camp  Portsmouth, 
September  15,  1862,  with  eight  companies  of  seven 
hundred  and  ninety-six  men — aggregate  strength. 
On  October  2d,  it  moved  into  Eastern  Kentucky. 
In  January,  it  aided  in  dispersing  a  portion  of  Floyd's 
army.  In  February,  it  was  ordered  to  Covington. 
During  the  spring  it  was  engaged  in  numerous  expe- 
ditions to  Cynthiaua,  Paris,  Lexington,  Mount  Ster- 
ling and  interior  points,  to  meet  Morgan  and  other 
guerrilla  thieves.  On  the  2d  of  May,  1863,  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  by  the  War  Department  to  be 
changed  into  the  First  Heavy  Artillery,  Ohio  Volun- 
teei's,  and  recruited  to  the  maximum  strength  of  that 
organization.  August  12th,  it  was  so  reorganized 
with  twelve  companies,  of  five  officers  each,  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  men,  and  an  aggregate 
strength  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  officers  and  men.  Company  M  was  recruited 
entirely  from  Erie  county.  During  its  recruitment 
it  constructed  the  tine  and  extensive  fortifications 
around  Covington  and  Newport,  making  Cincinnati 
one  of  the  strongest  fortified  cities  in  the  Union. 
Companies  H,  K,  L  and  M  were  stationed  at  Camp 
Nelson,  Kentucky,  under  Major  Matthews.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1864,  the  regiment  moved  to  Knoxville,  Ten- 
nessee, and  assembling  at  Point  Burnside,  remained 
there  till  February  29th,  when  it  started  over  the 
mountains  in  the  heavy  snow  and  very  cold  weather 
of  that  winter,  under  command  of  Major  Matthews, 
and  arrived  at  Knoxville,  March  9th.  In  June,  four 
companies  were  stationed  at  Loudon,  and  a  detach- 
ment at  Strawberry  Plains.  In  August,  Wheeler 
made  his  raid  in  rear  of  Sherman's  army,  and  was 
driven  from  Sweetwater  to  Strawberry  Plains,  a  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  by  the  regiment. 
The  regiment  moved  to  Cleuveland,  Tennessee,  Octo- 
ber 7tli,  and  soon  thereafter  to  Chattanooga.  It 
joined  in  the  cavalry  raid  against  Saltville,  and  on 
the  return  of  the  expedition  in  December,  as  a  pro- 
visional brigade,  under  Colonel  Hawley,  covered  an 
extensive  foraging  expedition  on  the  French,  Broad 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


79 


and  Cliucky  rivers,  in  East  Tennessee  and  North 
Carolina;  during  tlie  winter  of  1864  and  1865,  occupy- 
ing Danbridge,  Allen's  Ford,  Leadville,  Greenville 
and  Newport.  With  constant  detached  fighting  with 
guerrillas  of  Vaughn's  and  Debrill's  commands,  a  large 
amount  of  grain,  beef  and  pork  was  obtained  and 
floated  down  to  Knoxville.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  the 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  First  Brigade,  Fourth 
Division,  Colonel  C.  G.  Hawley,  commanding.  In  con- 
nection with  General  Stoneman's  raid  and  the  general 
advance  of  troops,  thebrigade  moved  toward  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina,  and  occupied  the  mouth  of 
Roane  Creek  and  Taylorsville  in  East  Tennessee,  and 
State  Gap,  Boone,  Watauga  Gap  and  head  of  Yadkin, 
in  North  Cai-olina,  shutting  up  all  the  mountain 
passes  to  the  retreating  rebels  in  Virginia.  After  the 
surrender  of  Lee  and  Johnston  the  brigade  was  sent 
down  to  Ashville,  North  Carolina,  thence  to  Raban's 
and  Saluda  Gap,  and  at  Webster,  Tennessee,  received 
the  surrender  of  the  hostile  Indians,  two  thousand 
strong,  under  the  .chief,  the  i-ebel  Thomas.  Return- 
ing to  Greenville,  Tennessee,  the  regiment  remained 
in  camp  till  July  15th,  when  it  started  homeward  for 
the  muster-out,  and  was  discharged  and  paid  at  Camp 
Dennison,  August  1,  1865. 

BATTERY  B,  FIRST    OHIO    LIGHT  ARTILLERY 

was  organized  at  Camp  Dennison,  and  mustered  into 
the  service  October  8th,  1861,  with  an  aggregate 
strength  of  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  men.  It 
reported  to  Gen.  George  H.  Thomas,  at  Camp  Dick 
Robinson.  The  first  experience  it  had  in  the  field  was 
a  brisk  little  affair  at  Camp  Wildcat,  in  which  it  fired 
twelve  rounds  and  silenced  one  of  the  enemy's  guns. 
November  5th,  the  battery  moved  to  Fishing  Creek, 
and  for  a  montli  did  scouting  duty.  It  remained 
here  until  January  17th,  and  moved  to  Mill  Springs, 
where  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle,  and  did  very 
effective  service.  February  10th,  the  battery  moved 
to  Louisville  and  embarked  on  transports  for  Nash- 
ville, where  it  arrived  March  4th,  1862.  Here  it  was 
assigned  to  Barnett's  Artillery  Reserve,  and  until 
July  10th  was  engaged  in  expeditions  through  middle 
Tennessee.  It  was  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  but 
was  not  engaged.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River  it 
was  involved  in  the  disaster  on  the  right,  but  suc- 
ceeded in  withdrawing  all  its  guns  from  the  field.  It 
lost  seventeen  men  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  and 
twenty-one  horses  killed.  June  24th,  it  Joined  in  the 
advance  on  TuUahoma.  At  the  battle  of  Chica- 
mauga  it  was  charged  repeatedly  by  the  rebels,  and 
at  last  overwhelmed  and  compelled  to  leave  two  guns 
in  the  enemy's  hands.  It  was  cooped  up  in  Chatta- 
nooga and  suffered  all  the  privations  of  the  siege. 
October  19th,  it  went  into  quarters  at  Black  Oak 
ridge,  where  it  remained  until  the  battle  of  Chatta- 
nooga.    It  then  moved  to  Nashville. 

January  4,  1864,  sixty-five  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  battery  re-enlisted  as  veterans  and  were 
furloughed  home. 


Returning  to  Nashville,  in  March,  it  reported  on 
the  16th  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  where  it  remained 
until  July,  1866.  It  was  then  sent  home  to  Colum- 
bus, and  mustered  out,  being  one  of  tlie  last  organi- 
zations to  leave  the  service. 

THIRD  OHIO  VOLUXTEER  CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  September,  18G1, 
at  Monroeville,  Huron  county.  It  was  largely 
recruited  from  Huron  and  Erie  counties.  On  Janu- 
ary 14,  1863,  the  regiment  moved  to  Camp  Dennison. 
In  February  following,  it  went  to  Jeffersonville, 
Indiana.  It  arrived  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  j\Iaicli 
18th,  and  on  the  29th  it  left  for  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Arriving  there  on  the  25th  of  April,  it  encamped  four 
miles  from  the  river.  During  this  inarch  jNIajor 
John  H.  Foster  went  with  a  detachment  to  Mount 
Pleasant,  and  captured  a  large  quantity  of  l)acon 
which  was  turned  over  to  the  quartermaster.  May 
4th,  the  first  battalion  went  on  a  reconuoisance.  At 
Monterey  the  enemy  were  met  and  dfiven  back  to 
their  main  body.  The  Third  then  moved  to  within 
ten  miles  of  Corinth.  Here  Major  Foster  advanced 
to  within  sight  of  the  enemy's  lines.  In  falling  back, 
he  was  followed  by  the  rebels,  and  a  brisk  fight  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  twelve  reljels.  May  27th, 
the  enemy  was  discovered  in  force  on  the  line  of  the 
Memphis  railroad,  west  of  Corinth,  engaged  and 
routed.  After  much  marching,  the  regiment  went 
into  camp  at  Winchester,  July  18th.  Leaving  this 
camp  August  14th,  the  regiment  and  division  moved 
to  McMinnville.  Here  Major  Foster  took  his  battalion 
to  Dunlap,  five  miles  from  this  point.  The  enemy's 
pickets  were  encountered  and  driven  in.  Foster  then 
returned  to  his  division.  September  3d,  the  division 
marched  to  Nashville,  thence  to  Gallatin  and  Mum- 
fordsville,  where  it  arrived  on  the  21st.  On  the  same 
day,  the  first  battalion  had  a  sharp  engagement  with 
three  times  its  own  number,  and  drove  them  into  their 
works  in  three  separate  charges.  •  It  lost  twelve 
wounded  and  two  killed.  The  enemy  lost  thirty-eight 
killed  and  sixty  wounded. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  inarched  to  Louisville, 
and  on  October  1st,  resumed  the  pursuit  of  Bragg's 
rebel  army.  Near  Bardstown,  in  an  attack  upon  the 
enemy,  Major  Foster  was  disabled.  On  October  20th, 
a  detachment  of  the  Third,  some  two  hundred  and 
fifty,  acting  as  special  escort,  were  captured  by  John 
Morgan's  thieves.  After  being  robbed  of  their  valu- 
ables, and  dismounted,  they  were  paroled,  sent  into 
the  national  lines,  and  ordered  to  Camp  Chase,  Ohio. 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  second  and  third 
l)attalious  were  next  stationed  on  the  line  of  the  rail- 
road from  Bowling  Green  to  the  vicinity  of  Gallatin. 
John  Morgan's  guerrillas  lay  at  the  last  named  jilace. 
Colonel  Zahm  sent  a  detachment  on  a  reconuoisance 
to  Gallatin,  to  ascertain  Morgan's  strength  and  posi- 
tion. The  rebel  pickets  were  captured,  and  the  re- 
quired information  obtained.  At  daylight,  the  next 
morning,  the  cavalry,  supported  by  a  brigade  of  in- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


fantry,  commanded  by  Colonel  C.  G.  Harker,  attacked 
Morgan's  camp,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  his  camp 
equipage  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  Morgan 
retreated  to  Lebanon,  Tennessee.  Here  for  the  first 
time  during  an  active  campaign  of  seven  months' 
duration,  the  second  and  third  battalions  of  the 
Third  Cavalry  met  the  first  battalion  under  novel 
circumstances.  Colonel  Zahm,  on  approaching  Gal- 
latin, was  attacked  by  a  cavalry  force,  which  proved 
to  be  his  own  first  battalion.  This  unfortunate  mis- 
take was  probably  the  cause  of  Morgan's  escape  at 
that  time,  he  being  apprised,  by  the  rapid  firing,  of 
the  approach  of  the  national  forces. 

From  Gallatin  the  regiment  moved  to  Hartsville, 
Tennessee,  where  it  went  into  camp.  A  detachment, 
under  command  of  Captain  E.  M.  Colver,  under  orders, 
went  up  tlie  Cumberland  river  to  Carthage,  to  inter- 
cept a  drove  of  mules  and  rebel  stores,  which  were 
being  removed  by  rebel  quartermasters,  and  accom- 
panied by  an  escort  of  Morgan's  guerrillas.  After  a 
chase  of  twenty-six  miles,  fording  the  Cumberland 
river  four  times,  they  succeeded  in  capturing  the  entire 
rebel  train,  and  drove  oil  one  hundred  and  forty  six 
mules,  routing  the  escort  to  the  train,  killing  three, 
and  capturing  seventeen  prisoners,  among  whom  were 
two  rebel  quartermasters  and  a  paymaster. 

During  the  time  the  regiment  was  in  camp  at 
Hartsville,  it  was  almost  daily  engaged  in  skirmish- 
ing. In  December,  this  portion  of  the  Third  Cavalry, 
moved  to  near  Nashville,  and  here  the  first  battalion 
joined  its  regiment.  December  21st,  a  reconnoisance 
in  force  was  made  to  Franklin,  Tennessee.  The 
rebels  were  driven  from  the  place,  and  some  prisoners 
captured.  The  forces  then  returned  to  Nashville. 
In  this  affair  the  notorious  rebel  guerrilla,  thief,  and 
murderer,  Dick  McCann,  was  relieved  of  his  antici- 
pated Christmas  dinner  by  some  of  the  boys  of  the 
Third  Cavalry. 

December  20th,  the  regiment  took  position  on  the 
right  of  Rosecrans'  army,  near  Franklin.  On  the 
27th,  a  second  attack  was  made  on  Franklin,  which 
resulted  in  a  complete  rout  of  the  enemy.  The  regi- 
ment then  moved  toward  Triune,  and  at  night  en- 
gaged the  enemy. 

On  December  29th,  a  reconnoisance  in  force  was 
made.  On  the  evening  of  the  30th,  the  regiment  was 
assigned  position  on  the  extreme  right.  At  two  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  .31st,  the  first  battalion  being 
on  picket  duty,  apprised  Colonel  Zahm,  of  the  advance 
of  the  rebel  forces.  The  brigade  was  placed  in  line  of 
battle,  and  the  first  biittalion  formed  as  skirmishers. 
At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  skirmish  line  was 
driven  in,  and  the  brigade  attacked  by  Wheeler's  rebel 
cavalry.  After  two  hours'  fighting,  through  superi- 
ority of  numbers,  the  rebels  forced  the  main  portion 
of  the  brigade  from  the  field.  During  the  morning 
of  the  31st,  the  "rebs"  captured  General  McCook's 
corps  ammunition  train,  and  was  removing  it  from  the 
field.  The  second  and  third  battalions  of  the  Third 
Cavalry,  who  withstood   the  shock,  and   remained  at 


their  posts,  made  a  dash  at  the  enemy  and  recaptured 
the  train,  taking  one  hundred  and  forty  prisoners,  and 
killing  a  number  of  rebels  and  horses.  During  the 
afternoon  of  the  31st,  the  regiment  lost,  in  sustaining 
a  charge  made  by  the  rebels,  thirteen  killed  and  a 
large  number  wounded. 

At  noon  of  January  1,  1863,  the  Third  Cavalry 
left  the  field  to  escort  a  train  of  four  thousand  wagons 
for  Nashville,  after  supplies.  The  train  was  attacked 
at  Stewart's  creek  Ijy  Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry,  and  the 
regiment,  supported  by  the  Tenth  Ohio  Infantry,  re- 
pulsed the  rebels  with  severe  loss.  Later  in  the  day 
the  train  was  attacked  by  the  same  force.  A  portion 
of  the  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  eight  hundred 
strong,  being  the  rear  guard,  was  attacked  and  com- 
pletely routed  by  the  rebels.  The  Third  Cavalry,  in 
the  rear,  came  up  and  met  the  enemy.  A  sharp  fight 
ensued,  lasting  until  after  nightfall,  in  which  the 
rebels  were  repulsed.  The  train  was  safely  taken 
through  to  Nashville,  laden  with  supplies,  and  re- 
turned to  Murfi'eesboro'.  After  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  the  Third  Cavalry  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  and  near  Middleton,  Tennessee,  attacked  his 
rear  guard  and  cajotured  one  of  his  trains.  The  regi- 
ment then  returned  and  went  into  camp  at  Murfrees- 
boro'.  While  stationed  here,  the  second  battalion  was 
detached,  and  reported  to  Colonel  Hazen,  at  Ready- 
ville.  Here  it  skirmished  frequently  with  John  Mor- 
gan's oxitlaws.  While  in  camp  at  ilurfreesboro',  a 
detachment  of  the  third  battalion,  while  on  a  scout, 
was  attacked  and  completely  suri'ounded  by  the  eiie- 
my.  A  demand  was  made  for  surrender,  and  refused. 
Lieutenant  Brenard,  in  command,  ordered  a  saber 
charge,  and  cut  his  way  through  the  enemy's  lines 
with  slight  loss,  taking  a  number  of  rebel  prisoners. 
On  the  general  advance  of  the  army  from  Murfrees- 
boro',  in  July,  1863,  the  Third  was  engaged  in  skir- 
mishing almost  daily.  In  the  Sequatchie  valley  the 
enemy  was  encountered,  and  a  running  fight  of  three 
days'  duration  ensued.  During  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga  the  regiment  occupied  a  position  on  the  ex- 
treme left,  and  afterward  moved  in  pursuit  of  the 
rebel  Wheeler's  cavaby,  through  Tennessee,  engaging 
them  at  McMinnville  and  Farmiugton.  The  latter 
engagement  was  a  handsome  and  successful  cavalry 
fight.  Wheeler's  forces  were  completely  routed  and 
demoralraed,  large  numbers  of  the  rebels  being  killed 
and  captured.  In  this  engagement  the  Third  Cavalry 
lost  two  men  killed  and  twenty-three  captured. 

In  November.  1863,  detachments  of  the  regiment 
scouted  through  the  mountains  of  Etist  Tennessee. 
In  January,  186-i,  at  Pulaski,  Tennessee,  the  Third 
Cavalry  re-enlisted.  Of  the  original  number  of  thirteen 
hundred,  only  four  hundred  effective  men  were  left  at 
this  date.  On  the  4th  of  February,  it  left  Nashville 
for  Ohio,  and  reached  Monroeville,  where  it  met  with 
a  cordial  reception.  On  March  2.  1864.  the  Third  rc- 
assemliled  at  Monroeville.  Through  the  efforts  of 
Major  Charles  W.  Skinner  and  Cai)tain  E.  M.  Colver. 
nearlv  one  thousand   recruits  were  enlisted,  and  on  its 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


return  to  the  front  at  Nashville,  it  numbered  over 
fifteen  hundred  strong.  At  Nashville  it  was  re-equip- 
l)ed,  armed  and  mounted. 

About  May  1st,  the  Third  moved  from  Columbia, 
Tennessee,  as  the  advance  guard  of  the  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps.  At  Courtland,  Alabama,  the  regiment 
was  engaged  with  the  rebel  General  Rhoddy's  com- 
mand. The  rebels  were  routed  with  the  loss  of  a 
lieutenant-colonel,  major  and  upward  of  thirty  men 
killed  and  wounded.  Reaching  Rome,  the  Tliird 
Cavalry  was  assigned  to  a  position  on  the  left  flank  of 
Sherman's  army,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Etowah,  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Noonday  Creek,  and 
at  the  crossing  of  the  Chattahoochie  river.  It  was 
sent  to  Roswell,  Georgia,  to  destroy  the  rebel  stores 
and  factories  at  that  place.  In  this  affair  four  hund- 
red factory-girls  were  captured  and  sent  through  the 
lines.  At  McAfee  Bridge;  on  July  9th,  four  com- 
panies of  the  Third  Cavalry,  under  command  of 
Captain  E.  M.  Colver,  engaged  a  superior  force  of 
rebel  Texan  cavalry,  killing  a  lieutenant  and  seven  men, 
and  capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners  and  horses. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  Creek  and  Decatur,  and  in  the  raid  to  Covington, 
Stone  Mountain,  and  in  the  Stoneman  raid,  in  each  of 
which  it  suffered  severely.  After  the  occupation  of 
Atlanta  the  regiment  encamped  at  Decatur,  Georgia. 
It  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  Hood.  It  was  engaged  in 
the  battles  of  Franklin,  and  before  Nashville.  It  was 
engaged  in  the  Wilson  raid  through  Alabama  and 
Georgia,  and  at  Selma,  Montgomery,  Macon  and  Grif- 
fin. It  was  engaged  in  the  chase  after  Jeff.  Davis. 
Lieutenant  D.  C.  Lewis  and  a  number  of  other  officers 
were  captured  at  Selma.  Lieutenant  Lewis  was  after- 
ward paroled,  and  while  on  his  way  home,  was  killed 
in  the  explosion  of  steamer  Sultana,  near  Memphis. 

Under  orders  from  General  Thomas,  the  Third 
turned  over  its  horses  and  arms  at  Macon.  It  pro- 
ceeded to  Nashville,  and  was  mustered  out,  from  thence 
to  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  dis- 
charged on  the  14th  of  August,  18G.5,  having  served 
four  years, — less  twenty  days. 


COMPANY 


THIRD   REGIMENT  OHIO  VOLrNTEERS. 

IMESICA.N   WAR.) 


The  following  is  the  muster  roll  of  a  company  in 
the  Third  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteers,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Samuel  K.  Curtis,  and  called  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  by  the  President,  under  the 
act  of  congress  approved  May  13,  1846.  All  but  two 
were  enrolled  at  Norwalk,  by  General  McLaughlin, 
and  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Washington,  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  by  Captain  Shriver,  June  -^4,  184(i. 
They  were  discharged  August  31.  184ti. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Chauncey  Woodruff  Second  LieuteDaiit  Owen  Francis 

First  Lieutenant  William  W.  Rob        .Second  Lieutenant  Edward  T. 
inson  Croxford 

NO.S-COMMISSIO.VED  OFFICERS, 

bergeaut  Benjamin  R.  Pratt .  Corporal  Charles  Tupper 

Sergeant  El>enezer  S.  Sacket.  Corporal  Hiram  Brant, 

Sergeant  Samuel  Haskell.  Corporal  Elie  D.  Eaton 

Sergeant  Daniel  Leslie  Corporal  Samuel  N.  Terrillanini . 
11 


John  Austin, 
W^illiam  "W.  Ackerman. 
Silas  Bemus, 
Joseph  Bosler, 
MathewR.  Birdsell, 
Charles  Bailey, 
John  Van  Buskirk. 
Samuel  Barus. 
Albert  Bartholomew , 
Hudson  T.  Curtis. 
Alexander  Cole, 
JohnD.  Curtis. 
George  Clark. 
Leonard  C.  Cronk. 
William  Church 
Milo  Caton . 
Hiram  A.  Curtis . 
Orlando  Chamberlin 
David  M.  Catlin. 
George  Dart. 
Joseph  Dunlap. 
Samuel  C.  Dean. 
George  S.  Davis. 
James  Elliot , 
Jasper  Flint, 
Cyrus  Francis . 
Samuel  W.  Gordon, 
John  Gingerich. 
George  H.  Goodwin. 


.leseph  Hoover. 
Slyvester  Hoyt. 
John  Jones. 
Alfred  Jacobs 
Newton  Leonard. 
Sidney  C.  Miller. 
John  McGookey . 
Tibius  Mabie. 
!:  imeon  Preston . 
Husted  Pierce, 
William  McPherson. 
George  I.  Read 
Henry  Ray , 
Joseph  Smith . 
Edward  D.  Stephens 
Alfred  B.  Stephens. 
Samuel  Shields, 
Andrew  I.  Todd. 
Warren  Z.  Webster. 
James  A.  Wilson.   . 
Reuben  I.  Woolcot. 
George  Woolcot. 
Harry  Woodruff . 
Fry  Williams, 
Thomas  Riley, 
James  G.Wilson. 
Charles  Burr. 
John  Gruesbeck. 
Ambrose  Steel. 


Charles  Burr  died  at  Brazos  Santiago,  July  28.  1846,  of  solar  i 
fever. 

John  Gruesbeck  died  at  the  same  place,  July  31,  1846,  of  congestion  of 
the  brain 

Ambrose  Steel  was  discharged  at  Matamoras,  August  I".  1846,  on  sur- 
geon's certificate .  • 

COMPANY    C,    FIFTEENTH    UNITED    STATES    INFANTRY'. 

This  company  served  during  the  Mexican  AVar  as  fol- 
lows: August  "20,  1847,  in  the  battles  of  Contreras  and 
Cherubusco;  September  8th,  battle  of  Moliuo  del 
Rey;  September  11th,  battle  of  Chepaultepec;  and 
marched  into  the  City  of  Mexico,  under  General  Scott, 
September  14,  1847. 

COMMISSIO.VED   OFFICERS 

Second  Lieutenant  Cornelius 
Ketchum . 

NOX-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS . 

;  Fred.  Laubenheimer.         Sergeant  A.  J.  Dewaldt. 
Sergeant  Anthony  S.  Sutton 


PRIVATES . 

Crawford  White . 

Lester  Huyck. 

A.J.Sutton 

.\nda  Riker. 

Joseph  Kelble. 

WiUiamBoothe, 

Robert  Buck. 

Joseph  Maltby 

George  A.  Dean, 

E.  Little. 

Simeon  Jones, 

Ward. 

Alfa  Jones 

Zahn 

and  others  whose  names  are  forgotten 

CHAPTER    XX. 

ROSTER  OF  SOLDIERS. 

EKiHTII    REGIMENT  OHIO  VOLCNTEER  IN-FANTRY, 
COMPANY    D. 

Mustered  into  the  service  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  June  44,  1861.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  July  13,  1864. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Franklin  Sawyer,  promoted  to  Major  June  28,  1861;  to  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  November  3,  1861;  and  to  Brevet  Brigadier  General 
March  1,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant  Daniel  C.  Daggett,  promoted  to  Captam  July  9,  1861 ; 
resigned  June  27,  1862. 

Second  Lieutenant  Anthony  S.  Sutton,  resigned  March  1,  1862. 


HISTORY  OF  HUROK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


KON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  John  Reid,  promoted  to  Captain  Februarr  6,  1862 

Sergeant  Jolin  G.  Reid.  promoted  to  Captain  of  Company  H. 

Sergeant  Salem  T.  Howe,  discharged  on  Surgeon's  certificate  March  11, 

1863. 
Sergeant  John  Briggs,  liilled  in  action  at  Antietani  September  IT,  1862. 
Sergeant  Elijah  T.  Kust,  killed  in  action  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  March 

2:3.  im-i. 

Corporal  Charles  S.  Manahan,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  March  1, 

18tM;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  May  12,  18M. 
Corporal  Samuel  P.  Bonett.  killed  at  Fredericksburg  December  1.3, 1862. 
Corporal  William  W.  Farmer,  killed  in  action  at  Antietam,  Maryland, 

September  17,  18S2. 
Corporal  Ezra  Stevens,  mustered  out  at  expiration  of  service . 
Coi-poral  William  Gridley.  Jr  ,  mustered  out  at  expiration  of  service. 
Corporal  Robert  W.  Park,  discharged  December  1, 1862,  for  disability. 
Corporal  Ebenezer  K.  S.  Bunce,  died  March  7.  1862,  of  wounds  received 

in  the  battle  of  Winchester. 
Corporal  Hubert  W.  Bowker,  discharged  August  2,  1862,  by  reason  of 

wounds  received  at  battle  of  Winchester,  Virginia,  March  2;J,  1862; 

promoted  to  Captain  U.S.A. 
Musician,  Albert  Yeatman,  mustered  out  at  expiration  of  service 

PRIVATES. 

Aaron  Alvord,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  December  13,  186:i. 

George  H.  Allen,  discharged  May  11,  1862,  for  disability. 

Ira  H.  Brooks. 

Silas  Bemis,  discharged  January  20,  1863,  for  disability. 

Cornelius  Booman,  transferred  to  Company  C,  June  25,  1861. 

Jay  L.  Curry,  discharged  October  27,  1862,  tor  disability. 

Daniel  F.  Curtiss. 

George  W.  Chandler,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  West  Virginia  Cav- 
alry 

Clarence  Doneman.  died  October  18,  1861 

Joseph  Dewaldt. 

David  Ennis. 

Virgil  N.  Ennis. 

William  S.  Foster,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  Third  Ohio  Cavalry. 

Robert  Foster,  discharged  November  22,  1862,  by  reason  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  September  17,  1862. 

Frederic  W.  Fowler,  discharged  January  22,  1862,  for  disability. 

Horace  Fling. 

Charles  Fisher. 

John  Finn . 

William  Grover,  died  at  Grafton,  Virginia,  October,  1861 . 

James  S.  Graves,  died  December  17, 1862. 

Peter  Griffin,  transferred  to  Company  C,  June  25,  1.861. 

Adam  Haumer,  discharged  December  27, 1862,  for  disability 

David  W.  Hindman 

Samuel  Hohnes,  discharged  Februarj- 1,  1862.  for  disability 

Samuel  Holmes,  discharged  for  disability 

Lucius  Hoyt,  killed  inaction  at  Antietam,  September  17,  1862 

Charles  Johnson. 

Joseph  E.  Jameson. 

Nathan  Jump. 

Charles  B.  Keeler,  died  of  dis.ease  in  the  service. 

George  Klinnell,  discharged  February  1,  1862. 

Joseph  B.  Knox. 

David  W.  Long,  transferred  to  Company  C,  June  25,  1861 

Thomas  Lee,  transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,  October  22, 
1862. 

Charles  Locher 

George  H.  Long,  transferred  to  Company  C,  June  25,  1861 

Michael  McCarthy,  discharged  February  1,  1862,  for  disability. 

Peter  A.  Miller,  died  at  Grafton,  October  2,  IS-il . 

John  Manin,  joined  Sixth  U  S.  Cavalry 

Thomas  McHenrj-,  killed  near  Whitehouse,  in  battle. 

William  Mountain,  killed  in  action,  a?  Antietam,  Maryland,  September 
17,  1862. 

Alexander  MelvlUe,  killed  at  battle  of  Antietam,  September  17,  1862. 

Thomas  Matthews,  died  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
William  F.  Parker,  discharged  for  wounds  at  Antietam. 

Wilson  S.  Parker,  promoted  to  Sergeant  Major. 

JohnF.  P>craft 

Lucius  A    Palmer,  discharged  July  1, 1862,  for  disability. 

Henrj-G.  Rust 

William  Reynolds,  discharged  for  wounds  at  Antietam. 

William  Raymond,  discharged  January  9,  1862,  for  disability 

Josiah  Raymond,  discharged  January  20,  1862,  for  disabiUty. 

Casper  Rhoner,  transferred  to  Fourth  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry, 
June  2»,  18&4. 

Louis  Rounds,  transferred  to  Fourth  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry, 
June  24, 1864:  promoted  to  Captain. 

John  J.  Reiber,  transferred  to  Company  C,  June  85, 1881. 

Lewis  S.  Rouse. 

Hubert  H.  Russell,  died  at  Oakland,  October  25, 1861 . 


Leo  A.  Sweet,  discharged  October27,  1861,  for  disabihty. 

Daniel  Starks,  transferred  to  Sixth  United   States  CavaUy,  October  22, 

1862 
Williiam  Steel,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Petersburgh, 
Charles  Stewart,  transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,   October 

82.  1868. 
Frank  ShafTer,  killed  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  3, 1863. 
George  A.  Scott,  transferred  to   Sixth  United  States  Cavalry.  October 

22,  1862. 
James  Taggart,  transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,  October  22, 

1862. 
Joseph  Taylor,  transferred  to  Fourth  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry, 

June24,  )864. 
Evander  White. 

David  ^Miite,  discharged  for  disability,  October",  1862. 
William  J.  Ward,  died.  December  28,  1863,  at  Stevensbui-gh 
David  0.  Ward,  transferred  to    Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,  October 

22,  1862. 
Samuel  F.  Wend,  transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,  October 

22,1862. 
William  Wallace,  transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,  October 

22.  1862 
Samuel  R.  Welch. 
Frederick  E.  West. 

Christopher  C.  Wood,  discharged  January  2).  1S62,  for  disability. 
William  W.  Wells. 

Evan  Williams,  discharged  for  disability. 
John  White. 
The  men  not  otherwise  disposed  of  were  mustered  out  with  the  Com- 

FIFTEENTH    REGIMENT    OHIO    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY, 
CO.MPANY    A. 


Arnold  S.  Johns,  mustered  January  30,  1364;  discharged  at  San  Antonio, 
Texas. 

PRIVATES. 

Andrew  Decker,  mustered  January  14,  1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 

William  Dennis,  mustered  January  25,  1865;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Samuel  R.  Gatline,  mustered  December  81,  1863;  wounded  October  16. 
1864;  discharged  July  13,  1865. 

Charles  Hammond,  mustered  February  88, 1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Solomon  Hammond,  mustered  December  17,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company. 

William  H.  Hammond,  mustered  February  10,  1864;  date  of  discharge 
not  given. 

Jeremiah  Hartney,  mustered  February  38, 1834;  mustered  out  with  corn- 
Francis  Mullen,  mustered  February  19,  1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Hugh  McWhutter,  mustered  February  10,  1864. 

Joseph  Noble,  mustered  February  24, 1861;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Whissen,  mustered  February  21,  1864;  date  of  discharge  not 
given. 

James  W.  White,  mustered  January  15,  1864;  wounded  in  action  Decem- 
ber 31,  1862;  discharged  April  10,  1863. 

Peter  Wycoff,  mustered  January  1.  1864;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Parker  C.  Bird,  mustered  December  7,  1863;  discharged  May  27.  1863. 

Peter  Hammond,  mustered  February  10,  1864;  wounded  in  action  Jtay 
,  14,  1864;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Edward  Richardson,  mustered  February  10,  1864;  wounded  iu  action 
May  27,  1864 ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

John  Wycotf,  mustered  June  30,  1864:  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

EIGHTEEN'TIi  REGIMENT  OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY, 
COMPANY     F. 


Isaac  Ames,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Dayton  Andrews,  recruit;  discharged  July  17.  1.863. 
William  L.  Benton,  recruit ;  mustered  out  with  company . 
Daniel  C.  Brooks,  recruit;  discharged  May  16,  1865. 
Harvey  M.  Carley.  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  B.  Coleman,  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  L.  Dunbar,  recruit;  discharged  October  31,  1864. 
Harrison  Eggleston.  recruit:  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  L.  Ennis,  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company;  appointed 
poral. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Burns  T.  French,  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company, 
Solomon  Foster,  recruit;  prisoner  of  war. 
Joshua  Foster,  recruit;  uo  record  of  discharge. 
Leonard  Henry,  appointed  corporal  May  10.  1865. 
William  Jeffrey,  recruit;  discharged  July  20.  1865. 
Fred.  A.  Ketchum,  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Martin  Osborn,  appointed  corporal  August  18,  1865. 
John  J.  Pillen,  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Snyder,  appointed  corporal  May  10,  1865. 
Leonard  R.  Simmons,  recruit;  discharged  June  -i,  1865. 
Philip  Smith,  recruit;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Patrick  Shannossey,  appointed  corporal  September  12,  1865. 
Thomas  Weston,  recniit;  died  of  wounds  December  15,  1864. 


NINETEENTH     KEfU.MENT     OHIO     VOLl'NTEER     INFAN- 
TRY,   COMPANY    F. 


Mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Ford,  September  25,  1861 .    Mustered  ( 
of  service  at  San  Antonio.  Texas,  October  24,  1865 . 


r-COMMISSIONED 


Sergeant  John  F.  Cook,  discharged  June  1:3,  1862 
Sergeant  Edward  L.  Hall,  discharged  August  14,  1862 


Andrew  J.  English  discharged  at  expiration  of  service. 

William  N.  Fugate,  died  March  14,  1863  of  wounds . 

Israel  D.  Gonser,  appointed  corporal ;  wounded  at  Chickamauga, Georgia. 

Robert  Huston,  discharged  Octobers,  1864. 

Samuel  McConnell,  died  November  25,  1862, 

David  M.  Rainsburg,  appointed  corporal;  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  R.  Ross,  discharged  October  5,  1864. 

James  P,  Rainsburg,  died  February  22,  1862, 

Peter  Loveland,  discharged  October  5,  1864. 

John  B.  Shipley,  discharged  October  1,  1862. 

Harry  H.  Shipley,  promoted  sergeant;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Jesse  Vamer,  died  October  19, 1862. 


TWENTY-FOURTH     REGIMENT     OHIO     VOLUNTEER     IN- 
FANTRY, COMPANY    A. 


COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

Captain  Lyman  M.  Kellogg,  resigned  to  accept  an  appointment  in  the 

Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry.    (No  date  given). 
First  Lieutenant  Moses  F.  Wooster,  appointed  Adjutant  of  the  regiment 

June  19,  1861 . 
Second  Lieutenant  William  B,  Sturges,  promoted  first  Lieutenant  July 

23,  1861;  to  Captain  February  28,  1862,  and  to  Major  of  the  re^-iment, 

November  7,  1863 

NON-COMMISSIO.N-ED   OFFICERS 

First  Sergeant  Thomas  M,  McTlure,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
July  23,  1861,  and  assigned  to  Company  B 

Sergeant  Edgar  B.  Kellogg,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  July  85 
1861,  and  assigned  to  Company  K. 

Sergeant  David  N.  Bodflsh,  died  at  Clarksburg,  Virginia,  August  4,  1861, 

Sergeant  John  Acker 

Sergeant  David  A ,  Merrill,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  June  6,  1862; 
assigned  to  Company  F,  January  10,  1863. 

Corporal  Hiram  Whitney. 

Corporal  John  H.  Fosdiok,  promoted  to  Sergeant  December  26,  1862. 

Corporal  Paul  Spohn,  transferred  to  Company  E,  December  14,  1861. 

Corporal  Nathaniel  P.  Burt,  promoted  to  Sergeant  December  26,  1861. 

Corporal  Sumner  W.  Smead,  discharged  to  enlist  in  Fourth  U.  S.  Artil- 
lery, Octobers:},  1862. 

Corporal  William  W.  Minor,  promoted  Sergeant  February  28,  1863. 

Corporal  Francis  W.  Bacon,  discharged  April  8,  1863. 

Corporal  Charles  B.  Davis,  discharged  August  7,  1862. 

Fifer  Osmer  B,  HaU,  discharged  July  20,  1862. 

Wagoner  Otis  H,  Van  Tassell 


Joseph  Buckley. 
Benjamin  C.  B:aii 
Daniel  Burnham 
Edward  Bartow. 


PRIVATES. 


Joseph  E .  Bonett,  discharged  November  5,  1861 . 

John  Bub,  discharged  August  5,  1862. 

George  W .  Brown,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  and  assigned  to  Company 

C,  August  15,  1864. 
Henry  E.  Camp,  discharged  June  23,  1862. 
JohnC.Coleman,  discharged  January  2.'i,  186:j,  to  enlist  m   Twelfth  U. 

S.  Infantry. 
Charles  Coleman. 
James  W.  Crum,  died  June  27,  1862 
John  Cook 

Clark  Calligan,  discharged  March  5,  1862. 
Henry  Carr,  veteran  volunteer. 

Cortes  Elliott,  died  at  Cheat  Mountain  Septemb.r  1,  1861 . 
Isaac  I .  Furman,  veteran  volunteer 
Robert  H.  Herford,  discharged  June  25,  1862 
Danforth  G.  Heimeway,  discharged  of  wounds  May  23,  1862. 
Isaac  Holman . 

Carlton  Humphrey,  promoted  Corporal  January  14,  1863. 
Charles  I.  Hoyt. 

Arnold  Hassler,  promoted  Corporal  October  31,  1863. 
James  H.  Jaques,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  July  4. 1863. 
Epenetus  P.  Kinney,  died  of  wounds  May  6,  1862. 
Joel  W,  Kinney 
Henry  Klabish . 

Lewis  G.  Kies,  promoted  Commissary  Sergeant  August  11,  1861, 
Gottleib  L,  Klein,  died  May  18,  1862. 
William  C.  Linn,  died  March  6,  1863 

Albert  F.  Le  ,  promoted  Corporal;  died  of  wounds  March  8,  1864. 
Alexander  McMillan,  discharged  January  20,  1862 
August  Meyer,  died  November  5.  1861 . 
Frederick  3Ieyer. 
Joseph  M.  Millis. 
AmbeisE.  Miller 
David  M,MUler. 

John  A.  Meak,  died  September  8,  1861 , 
Edwin  Miller,  discharged  April  21,  1862. 
Mitchell  A,  Minor,  promoted  Corporal  October  31,  1863 
John  A.  Molock. 

Charles  G.  Morehouse,  promoted  Sergeant  Major  December  18,  1861. 
Harlan  R.  Page,  died  November  10,  1861. 
Julius  F.  Pratt,  veteran  volunteer. 
Addison  Potter,  veteran  volunteer. 
Milton  F.  Pettit. 
Frank  E.  Pray. 
George  Quirin . 

Jackson  W.  Ridgeway.  discharged  January  20,  1862. 
Seneca  Ronk,  discharged  October  22,  1863. 
William  Rice,  discharged  August  4, 1862. 
George  H.  Stevens. 
Levander  Stacey,  discnarged  October  22,  1862,  to  enlist  in  Fourth  U.  S. 

Artillery. 
John  A.  Sheffield. 

William  E.  Sherwood,  appointed  Wagoner  October  31,  1863 
Henry  F.  Sherman. 
John  Thomas. 

Robert  E .  Tillinghast,  veteran  volunteer . 
Palmer  Whitney,  died  of  wounds  April  17,  1862 
Edwai-d  Wbitford,  promoted  Corporal  January  14,  1863 
Michael  H   Waggoner. 
James  M.  Willson.  veteran  volunteer 

Lewis  Sewell,  promoted  Quartermaster  Sergeant  March  3,  1862. 
Charles  Trowbridge,  killed  in  battle  April  7,  1862. 
Edward  C.  Pejk,  died  of  wounds  April  17,  1862. 
Calvin  L.  Peck,  died  October  14,  1862. 
Lathrup  Taylor,  died  Februarys.  1863. 
Reuben  F.  Atherton,  died  February  6,  1864. 


Daniel  D.  Brooks,  enlisted  February  23,  1864. 
Harry  M.  Carey,  enlisted  January  5,  1864, 
John  B.  Coleman.  enUsted  January  5,  1864. 
Harrison  Egleston,  enlisted  February  23,  1864 . 
Burnice  T.  French,  enlisted  February  23,  1864. 
William  Jeffrey,  enlisted  February  23,  1864. 
Martin  Ausborn.  enlisted  January  4,  1864. 
John  J.  Pillers.  enlisted  January  5,  1864. 
George  Snyder,  enlisted  January  5,  1864. 
Erastus  F.  Squire,  enlisted  January  5,  1864, 
Leonard  R,  Sanmons,  enlisted  February  2:3, 1864. 
Daniel  Walper,  enlisted  Januarys,  1864. 


John  F.  Blaudon,  discharged  June  6.  1862. 
Angus  McLaughhn.  discharged  July  29,  1862 . 
Horace  C,  Hill,  discharged  February  27,  1863. 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


COMPANY  C. 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Lieutenant  Enoch  Weller,  transferred  to  Company  H,  October  3, 
1861;  promoted  to  Major,  August  11, 1862;  killed  in  action,  December 
31,  1862. 

Second  Lieutenant  Dewitt  C .  Wadsworth.  promoted  to  Captain, February 
16, 1863;  Icilled  in  battle  of  Chickaniauga,  September  30, 1863  . 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Frank  L.  Myers,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Sergeant  John  M ,  Root,  died  August  24,  1861 

Corporal  Alfred  Marion,  promoted  to  Sergeant,  September  1, 18fii;   killed 

at  battle  of  Stone  river,  December  31,  1861 . 
Corporal  Francis  Bradley;  died,  March  22,  1862. 
Corporal  Leonard  B .  Osborn 
Corporal  John  M.  Shepard. 
Wagoner  Charles  Mc  Graves,  discharged  February  16,  1862, 

PRIVATES 

Nelson  Arnold 

John  Ami 

one  Anderson,  killed  July  25.  1861 

John  Brokely,  died  July  4,  1862. 

Thomas  W ,  Carpenter,  mustered  out  with  company 

John  Donevan,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

George  Dart,  killed  by  Joseph  King,  January  13,  1863. 

Victor  W .  Frederick,  transferred  to  Company  H , 

John  Heater,  veteran  vohinteer 

John  H   Hibler 

Joseph  King,  sentenced  to  twenty  years  imprisonment,  and  pay  shopped, 

for  murder 
William  Luff, 

Michael  McGookey,  mustered  out  with  company 
Henry  Myers. 

John  Matt,  promoted  Corporal ;  discharged  (no  date . ) 
Peter  Miller,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Neidle.  discharged.  May  17, 1862 , 
Jason  R ,  Orton . 
James  Quinn. 

Peter  Ryan,  discharged,  April  3,  1862. 
Jackson  Ryan,  discharged.  May  17,  1862, 
Jacob  Rinehart,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Lewis  Roble . 

Charles  Sills,  discharged.  January  20,  1862. 
Richard  Stetle,  promoted  Corporal 
Bohard  Stinley,  mustered  out  with  eompany . 
Charles  Studenhover.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Shirley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Henry  Trout,  mustered  out  with  company , 
William  Tetswood,  discharged,  January  20,  1862, 
William  Voit,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Vining,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Wilson. 

Jacob  Warner,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Max  Wolf. 

William  Luff,  discharged.  May  8, 1863. 
Frederick  Teater,  discharged,  September  8, 1862, 

RECRUITS— PRIVATES , 

John  L.  Dunbar,  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland 
John  L.  Ennis.  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
Solomon  Foster,  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
Joshua  Foster,  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland . 
Henry  Garrett,  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
Leonard  Henry,  transferrt-il  totha  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
William  Marlow,  trnn^^ferred  t.>  th.'  Departmentof  the  Cumberland. 
David  Steigle,  transf.T!>-(l  t..  the  Ht-partment  of  the  Cumberland. 
Philip  Smith,  transfenvd  to  the  Dtpartment  of  the  Cumberland. 
Patrick  Shunnessy.  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
Tliomas  Weston,  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 


CO.MPANY  G. 

Organized  at  Monroeville.  Ohio.    Mustered  into  service  May  18.  1861 
Mustered  out  June  19,  1864 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Henry  Terry,  promoted  to  Major  June  6,  1802;  killed  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December  31,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  Samuel  Clock,  resigned  October  28,  1861 . 

Second  Lieutenant  Robert  G.  Clark,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and 
transferred  to  Company  H,  December  14,  1881 . 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  James  G.  Breckenridge. 

Sergeant  Charles  W.  Olds,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  January  1.  1803, 

Sergeant  Coleman  Ehrman,  wounded  at  Shiloh  April  7,  1862. 

Sergeant  Frederick  Hettell . 

Corporal  Benjamin  F.  Skinner,  promoted  Sergeant  July  21,  1861 

Corporal  Benedick  Moser, 

Corporal  William    Bennett,    appointed    Sergeant    December  26.   1861; 

wounded  at  Stone  River:  discharged  July  5,  1863. 
Corporal  David  O.  Williams,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  December  14, 

1861,  and  transferred  to  Company  H, 
Corporal  John  N.  Sivers.  killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April 

7.  1862. 
Corporal  William  B.  Clark,  discharged  March  11, 1863 
Corporal  Victor  R.  Monroe . 

Corporal  James  Smith,  discharged  November  6, 1862, 
Wagoner,  John  O'Conner,  discharged  January  14, 1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Thomas  C.  Arnold,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  R.  Bloomer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

JohnBertch. 

Jacob  Born,  promoted  Corporal ;  died  of  wotmds  November  18, 1863 

James  W .  Conant , 

Luther  Conklin, 

Charles  C.  Clemmons,  killed  June 30,  1862, 

Robert  Dutchman,  discharged  August  4,  186! 

Timothy  Dorsey,  died  September  2,  1862. 

Henry  Dewitt. 

William  S.  Finch,  died  February  7,  1862. 

John  G.  Frederickson,  discharged  October  23,  1862.  and  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  United  States  Artillery, 

Martin  Frederickson.  discharged  on  account  of  wounds,  Feb  23,  I86;3 

John  Friderger,  died  October  11,  1862. 

Henry  L.  GrifiBn,  discharged  September  20,  1861. 

Alexander  I .  Grant,  captured  at  Stone  River , 

Peter  Grisel , 

Lucas  Geif ell,  discharged  October  29, 1862,  to  enlist  in  the  Fourth  United 
States  Artillery , 

Youngs  Gregory,  discharged  January  2,  186:3 

Gottleib  Hilber,  discharged  July  20,  1863, 

Emory  A.  Hulbert.  discharged  to  enlist  in  Fourth  United  States  Artil- 
lery, October  23,  1862. 

John  Harley,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps 

David  W.  Heath,  discharged  to  enlist  in  Fourth  United  States  Artillery. 
October  23.  1862, 

Paul  Hager,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps 

William  H.  Hughes, 

William  Hyber. 

George  M.  Hulburt,  discharged  February  23,  1863. 

James  Herrington 

Charles  W.  Hopkins,  discharged  June  28,  1862. 

Gotleib  Holzer, 

Martin  L.  Hahn 

William  Jeffries, 

Charles  Kern,  died  August  14, 1861. 

.John  A.  Lantz,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 

Lewis  Lemmon 

Stephen  C.  Lobdell,  discharged  August  5,  1862. 

Thomas R.  Mitchell, 

Frederick  Myers. 

James  MoGrew,  died  October  21.  1862. 

Berkhdtt  Martz . 

Hezekiah  Masten,  discharged  February  23,  1863. 

Abram  R.  Marsh,  discharged  September  23,  1863. 

George  F.  Norman . 

Dennis  O'Brien,  killed  at  Stone  River,  December  31,  1862. 

Anton  Peach,  captured  at  Chickamauga . 

John  Rothgele,  died  March  29,  1862. 

Joseph  Rider,  discharged  October  16,  1863. 

Joseph  Reamer,  1st, 

Joseph  Reamer,  2d,  captured  at  Chickamauga. 

Joel  W.  Rickel,  wounded  at  Chickamauga , 

Heber  Squires. 

John  Stephens,  discharged  October  23,  180:3,  to  enlist  in  the  Fourth 
United  States  Artillery. 

John  A.  Smith, 

Jacob  Swartz.  transfei-reil  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps 

Casper  Seabolt. 

Thomas  G.  Stuchfleld 

John  B.  Smith,  died  October  13,  1862. 

Abram  Spoors. 

August  Thomas, 

William  Williams,  discharged  December  0,  1862 

Charles  Weist,  discharge*  August  5.  1862. 

Edgar  A.  Welch . 

Isaac  Bennett. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


85 


THIHTY-SECOXD    REGIMEXT    OHIO     VOLIXTEER     IN- 
FANTRY,   COMPANY    K. 


Mustered  into  service,  September  7,   ISfil,  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio. 
Mustered  out  of  service,  July  30,  IWiS,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky. 


COMMISSIOSED  OFFICER . 

Captain  Jay  Dyer,  resigned  April  10,  1862 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

First  Sergeant  Russell  B.  Bennett,  promoted  Chaplain 


Albert  C.  Bailey 
Alonzo  Blawett. 
Benj.  Y.  Blaney. 
Asa  Carr . 
Jacob  Carr 
Amba  C.  Cole. 
George  H.  Courter 
Aaron  Clossen . 
Hiram  C.  Fuller. 
GUbertFravel. 
Emery  Garlinghouse . 
John  G  rsuch 
Erastus  F.  Granger. 
Thomas  C.  Gaylord. 
Thomas  H.  Grist. 
Jesse  W.  Gardner. 
Burton  Hubbell. 
William  Z.  Hubbell. 
Nathaniel  Haycock . 
George  Haycock 
Enoch  Hartrum 
Ira  Hartrum 

This  company  became  veterans  i 
No  muster  out  rolls  of  first  mustei 
Office. 


James  Herroon . 
Isaiah  Irwin 
Willis  Lake. 
William  B.  Massma 
Aden  Mullen. 
Miles  McLeod. 
John  C.  Nutt. 
George  Osborne. 
William  Piper. 
Harmon  Robins 
Abraham  Robins . 
Thomas  E.  Rose. 
John  H.  Stenbeck. 
Charles  E.  Smith 
Selah  J.  Stark. 
Hos^a  C.  Sherman 
David  Sherman. 
John  W.  Taylor. 
James  S.  Tyler 
Phillip  H.  Waters. 
George  Warfield. 
Oscar  F.  Weeks. 


expiratic 


o£  original  enlistment, 
e  in  Adjutant  General's 


■     THIRTY-SIXTH    REGIMENT    OHIO    VOLL'NTEER     IN- 
FANTRY, COMPANY    E. 

Mustered  into  service,  February  25,  1863,  at  Cumberland,  Maryland. 
Mustered  out  of  service  July  37,  1865,  at  Wheeling,  Virginia. 


Transferred  from  Company  E,  Thirty-Fourth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 

Infantry. 
John  W.  Ernes.  James  V.  Kirk. 

William  Fulkerson .  Isaac  J .  Mead . 

Theodore  Gearing.  Jacob  Mullenkoph 

JohnHecket.  William  Shickler. 

Amos  Hillborn .  Samuel  Sloan 

Dennis  Mulligan,  discharged  May  14,  1864. 

These  men,  with  one  exception,  were  mustered  out  with  company. 

THIRTY'-SEVENTH    OHIO    VOLINTEER    INFANTRY, 
COMPANY    A. 

Mustered  into  service  September  9.  1861,  at  Camp  Brown,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  August  7, 1865,  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 
Corporal  Jacob  Fehr,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Private  Johann  EngraCF,  mustered  out  with  company. 


COMPANY     F. 

Mustered  into  service  September  23,  1861,  at  Camp  Brown,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  August  7, 1865,  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  Sebaldus  Hassler,  discharged  for  promotion  April  19 

1863. 
Sergeant  Henry  Reutsh,  promoted  Q.  M.  Sergt. 
Corporal  Peter  Sailer,  discharged  October  8,  1803. 
Musician,  Gisbort  Raymond,  appointed  Chief  Bugler  September  19, 1861.. 


Charles  Bengel,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  April  30,  18i>4. 

Theodore  Dimisch.  discharged  for  wounds  June  1,  1862. 

Henry  Glaser,  discharged  June  11,  1862. 

Casper  Hardtman,  discharged  December  19,  1862. 

Charles  Happ,  veteran  volunteer;  discharged  for  wounds  April  5,  1665. 

Frank  Roth,  promoted  Corporal:  discharged  September  19, 1864. 

11   A 


John  Straus,  promoted  Corporal;  killed  in  action  May  17.  1863. 

Henry  Stall,  discharged  for  wounds  May  35  (no  year) . 

John  Steinrich,  killed  in  action  May  34,  1863. 

Henry  Schmidt,  veteran  volunteer. 

Adolph  Schwab,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Wentzinger,  veteran  volunteers ;  mustered  out  with  company. 

COMPANY    (i. 

Mustered  into  service  September  19.  1861,  at  Camp  Brown,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  August  7.  1865,  at  Little  Rock.  Arkansas. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Corporal  August  Roedicker 

Joseph  Aborte,  George  Metzger, 

Joseph  Gartio.  Lewis  Schwartz. 

FORTIETH     REGIMENT    OHIO    VOLUX'TEER     INFANTRY, 
COMPANY    I. 

Mustered  into  service  December  9,  1861,  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service .     [No  muster-out  rolls  of 

this  regiment  on  file  at  Columbus.l 

COMMISSIONED   OFFICER. 

First  Lieutenant  Milton  Kemper. 


Sergeant  David  R    Brown.  i.orporal  Jacob  Edwards. 

Corporal  John  Kearns  Corporal  James  L.  Kemper 

Corporal  Michael  Shiltz. 


Joshua  Barker, 
William  Chambers, 
Samuel  Chambers, 
James  Corner, 
Stephen  Demona, 
Conrad  Fox, 
William  Grim, 


Lewis  Jones, 
Nelson  Maze, 
Francis  Pilliod, 
Victor  Soupp, 
David  Starret, 
Christian  Waggler, 
.Jacob  Waggler. 


FORTY'-FIRST    OHIO    VOLUNTEER    INFJ 
COMPANY    H. 

Mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Wood.  Ohio,  October  29, 
out  of  service  November  37, 1865. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  James  McMahon,  transferred  to  Company  I, 

Sergeant  John  O.  Strong. 

Corporal  William  H.  Pierce. 

Corporal  Daniel  H.  Smith. 

Corporal  William  H.  Rossitter.  promoted  to  Sergeant. 

MuB  cian  Alonzo  Hosford. 

Seneca  A.  Camp,  killed  in  battle  April  7, 1863. 

Hanson  H .  Camp. 

James  H.  Grant,  killed  in  battle  November  23, 1863. 

Charles  Gunsaul,  killed  in  battle,  November  23,  1863. 

Edwin  Hasbrook. 

Lester  E.  Marks. 

Aquilla  Mains. 

Emraur  E .  Rossitter,  killed  i 

Floyd  Rossitter. 

Philander  Talcott 

COMPANY 


Sylvester  M.  Dawson,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  c 

Peter  Clucky,  discharged  May  16,  1865. 

Henry  Tuttle,  promoted  Corporal,  1865. 

William  Greene,  discharged  June  7,  1865 

Henry  Talcott,  kUled  in  battle  November  37,  1863. 

John  Gleason,  discharged  June  7,  1865. 

Elmer  N.  Wilkinson,  veteran  volunteer;  promoted  Corporal. 

Sherman  R    Haskell,  discharged  January  9,  1865. 

Francis  Klenungger,  mustered  out.    (Mo  date) 


COMPANY    K. 
Privat*  Gilbert  W   Sherman,  died  in  hospital .    (No  date) 


I  battle  December 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


FIFTY-SECOXD    REGIilENT    OHIO    VOLUNTEER    INFAN- 
TRY,   COMPANY    K. 

Mustered  into  service  August  31,  1882.    Mustered  out  of  service  June 

3,  1865. 
Private 'Michael  Madden 

FIFTY-FOURTH     OHIO     VOLUNTEER     INFANTRY, 
COMPANY     F, 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Lieutenant  Samuel  Starr,  promoted  Captain:  resigned  March  15, 


Peter  Bates 
Peter  Mahon 
Charles  Merrii 
Andrew  Xelso 


NOS-COMMISSIONED   OFFICER. 

Corporal  William  Sprang. 


Martin  Orduer. 
GilbertS.  Orcut 
.lohn  Ruth 
John  Shaffer. 
William  Wilber 


FIFTY-FIFTH  RE(UMENT    OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

FIELD   AND  STAFF. 

Colouel  John  C.  Lee.  resigned,  May  8,  1863. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  George  H.  Saflf ord,  resigned,  March  4, 18(33. 
Major  Daniel  F.  DeWolf,  resigned  October  8,  1863. 
Chaplain  John  G.  W.  Coivles.  resigned,  Jul.v  21,  1862. 
Surgeon  Jay  Kliug,  mustered  out  on  expiration  of  service. 
Assistant-Surgeon  Henry  R.  Spooner,  promoted  to  Surgeon,  November 

20,  1863,  and  assigned  to  Si.^ty-First  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
■"T  fantry. 

First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  Frank  W.  Martin,  promoted  to  Captain. 
First  Lieutenant  and  A.  Q.  M.  Robert  G.  Pennington,  resigned,  July  33, 

1862. 
Sergeaut-JIajor  Mahlon  L.  Lambert,  appointed  October  25,  1861. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant  Benjamin  C.  Taber,  promoted  First  Lieutenant ; 

July  IT,  1862,  appointed  Regimental  Quartermaster. 
Commissary  Sergeant  James  G.  Millen,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps. 
Hospital  Steward  William  E.  Childs,   re-enlisted  as  veteran  volunteer, 

January  1,  1864. 


COMPANY  A. 

Mustered  into  service  at  Nonvalk,  Ohio,  December  31,  1801 ,      Mustered 
out  of  service  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  11,  1865 

COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS- 

Captain  Charles  B.  Gambee,  promoted  to  Colonel,  and  killed  in  action 

at  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1,864. 
First  Lieutenant  Benjamin  F.  Eldridge,  promoted  to  Captain ;  resigned 

December  28,  1863. 
Second  Lieutenant  William  H.  Long,  resigned  August  17,  1862. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  Henry  H.  Moore,  promoted  to  Captain;  resigned  Janu- 
arylD,  1865. 

Sergeant  John  E.  Kunkel,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Sergeant  Charles  M.  Smith,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant. 

Sergeant  Albert  J.  Dimick,  mustered  out  at  e.vpiration  of  service. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Harrington,  mustered  out  at  expiration  of  service. 

Corporal  Lyman  T.  Ford,  veteran  volunteer,  promoted  Sergeant  Janu- 
ary 1,  1864. 

Corporal  John  Stevens,  discharged  for  disability  July,  1862. 

Corporal  John  Ryan,  discharged  for  disability  August  22,  1862. 

Corporal  James  W.  Saunders. 

Corporal  George  A .  Stillson,  discharged  tor  disability  July,  1862. 

Corporal  Sidney  F.  Sinclair,  discharged  for  disability  July  22,  1862. 

Corporal  Oren  J.  Stark,  discharged  for  disability  August  7,  1868. 

Musician,  Daniel  Herring,  died  a  prisoner  May  27,  1863. 

Musician,  George  W.  Goodell,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with 
company. 

Wagoner,  William  H.  Ciyder,  died  of  small  pox  July  26,  1803. 


Horace  B.  Adams,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Nelson  Barber,  died  of  woimds  May  20,  186-3 

Philip  Beckley,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company. 


virh  company. 


Thomas  Beckley,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out 

Stephen  Beckley,  promoted  Sergeant  December  17.  1864. 

James  Boughton.  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Louis  S.  Bergstrener,  transferred  January  16,  1864. 

Joseph  Ball,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  1.  1863. 

James  Carver,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  14, 1863. 

John  Chinrock,  died  of  wounds,  July  31,  1863. 

Howard  M.  Coleman, discharged  October25,  1802. 

Albert  Chapman,  discharged  April  26,  1863. 

Albert  P.  Curiy,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  January  15, 1864. 

William  Charvill,  discharged  September  1,  1862. 

Milton  Crockett,  mustered  out  June  3,  1865 

ElUott  A.  Cobb,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company . 

AlonzoCorser  promoted  Sergeant  March  1,  1865;  veteran  volunteer. 

Henry  R   Carver,  mustered  out  June  32,  1865 

Levi  Close,  mustered  out  June  2,  1865. 

Miles  Duesler,  promoted  Sergeant;  died  June  3,  1863,  of  wounds  received 
at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia,  May  2.  1863. 

John  J.  Duesler,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  August  14,  1863; 
right  arm  amputated 

Francis  Davis,  mustered  out  with  compan.v. 

George  G.  Dietrich,  mustered  out  with  company 

Uriah  M.  Eckhart,  veteran  volunteer;  re-enlisted  January  1,  1864;  mus- 
tered out  with  company . 

Martin  J.  Ford  promoted  Corporal  Januarj- 1,  1864;  veteran  volunteer. 

Benjamin  F.  Fulkerson.  lost  on  steamer  General  Lyon,  while  a  prisoner. 

Arthur  Franklin^  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia,  May  2,  1863. 

John  Grubb   mustered  out  with  company. 

William  H.  Goodson,  discharged  July  22,  1S63. 

Francis  Gale,  discharged  November  34,  1863. 

Henry  Gale,  discharged  April  23,  1362. 

John  Gleeson,  veteran  volunteer. 

Henry  Gehring,  discharged  August,  1862 

George  H.  Gale,  discharged  May  18. 1862. 

Charles  Gale,  mustered  out  December  20   1865. 

Charles  Haler.  killed  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1864. 

Henry  J.  Hayward,  promoted  Corporal  January  1,  1864;  veteran  vol- 
Henry  Henney,  veteran  volunteer. 

Theophilus  P.  Howard,  discharged  November  26,  1862 

William  Hartman,  received  gunshot  wound  through  right  arm  at  Chan- 
cellorsville, Virginia . 

Samuel  Henney.  veteran  volunteer;  died  of  wound  received  at  Resaca. 

William  Hyde,  died  March  18,  1863. 

Dexter  R.  Jones,  discharged  November  1    1862 

Rollin  Jacoy,  died  March  30,  1862. 

Thomas  A.  Kunkel,  mustered  out  June  83,  1865 

Jesse  Khne . 

William  E.  Miller,  promoted  Sergeant  January  1,  1864 

John  Moyer.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Charles  R  Mathis,  discharged  December  10, 1862. 

Amandus  Mohr,  died  of  wounds,  July  14,  1863,  received  at  Chancellors- 
ville, Virginia. 

Aretas  Miller,  mustered  out  with  company 

James  G.  Millen. 

David  McCormick,  veteran  volunteer 

James  B.  Mohn . 

George  W.  Orwig.  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company;  cap- 
tured at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia;  paroled  and  exchanged 

Jolm  Peightle,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Silas  P.  Riley,  killed  at  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  30,  1862. 

Elias  Smith,  veteran  volunteer , 

William  Stegman,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Samuel  Smith,  discharged  April  16,  1863. 

Elias  Stearns,  discharged  March  23,  1862. 

Dewalt  J.  Swander.  mustered  out  with  company . 

James  Slinker,  veteran  volunteer. 

Jonas  Shoemaker,  veteran  volunteer 

William  E.  Sheffield,  discharged  December,  1862,  of  wounds  received  at 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run 

James  Sowards,  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  T,  1864,  from  wounds. 

WiUiam  Sowards,  veteran  volunteer 

Ashael  P.  Smith,  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward,  May  1, 18i)5. 

RossC.Tremain,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Amaziah  Thorp,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  W.  Todd,  discharged  December  23,  1863. 

Charles  H.  Welch,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Eli  C.  Wright,  died  of  measles  March  8,  1863. 

George  O.  Winters,  not  on  muster-out  roll . 

Jefferson  Wright,  mustered  out  with  company 

Moses  W,  Wilt .  mustered  oi«  with  company 

Russell  S.  Williams,  killed  near  Bentonville,  North  tarolina.  March  16, 


Benjamin  Zimmerman,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  H.  Bitting,  enlisted  February  13,  1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany . 
Sylvester  Hevelone,  enlisted  Feb,  19,  1864;  mustered  out  with  company. 


I 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Martin  Landenschaler    enlisted  February  S,  1864;  mustered  out  with 

company . 
William  M.  Giles,  recruit . 
Frederick  Close   discharged  October  IS.  1864. 
James  J.  Null,  recruit. 

Edward  Farnsworth.  discharged  June  8,  1865 . 
George  W.  Price,  discliarged 
NeLson  Crockett,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant;  wounded  at  Bull  Run; 

discharged  June  3.  1863 . 
Jacol)  B.  Wales,  recruit 
Walter  E.  Long,  recruit. 
Benjamin  F.  Moore,  recruit  . 

COMPANY    V. 

Mustered  into  service  October  16    1861.     Mustered  out  of  service 
July  11,  1865. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

Captain  Horatio  N.  Shipman,  resigned  March  10,  1863 

First    Lieutenant    Henry    William    Persing,    promoted    Captain    and 

A.  Q.  M.  July  18,  1863. 
Second  Lieutenant  Arthur  Cranston,  resigned  March  15,  1862. 


Fi  St  Sergeant  Walter  W.  Thomas,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  March 
13.  1862;  died  April  6,  1862. 

Sergeant  Thomas  0.  Leary.  promoted  First  Lieutenant  March  6,  1863: 
resigned  December  28,  1863. 

Sergeant  James  Young,  discharged  April  23,  1863. 

Sergeant  Stephen  L.  Saunders,  veteran  volunteer ;  wounded  at  Cedar 
Mouutaiu  Virginia,  August  9,  1862. 

Sergeant  Robert  Y'oung.  promoted  Sergeant  January  1,  1864. 

Corporal  John  R.  Lowe  promoted  Second  Lieutenant:  wounded  at  Bull 
Run  August  30,  1864. 

Corporal  Henry  B.  Warren  promoted  First  Sergeant:  wounded  at  Get- 
tysburg July  3.  1863.  . 

Corporal  Charles  H.  Lockwood,  discharged  March  29,  1862. 

Corporal  Edwin  H.  Butler,  discharged  January  20,  1863. 

Corporal  William  Bellamy,  banner  bearer,  killed  August  30,  1862. 

Corporal  Bradford  N.  Kellogg,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with 
company . 

Corporal  William  H.  Long,  appointed  Sergeant  October  16,  1861;  dis- 
charged October  27,  1862. 

Corporal  James  D.  Walker,  discharged  October  29,  1862. 

Musician,  John  Bowers,  discharged  October  5,  1862. 

Musician,  Billy  N.  Mtssenger,  discharged  September  3,  1862 

Wagoner,  Justus  Squire   discharged  October  4,  1862. 


Albert  Q.  Adams,  discharged  November  25,  1862. 

Ernest  Anson,  wounded  at  Gett.ysburg  July  3,  1863;  mustered  out  with 

company. 
Jack  B.  Burch,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Xavier  Bergamyer,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Lewis  Bauer,  transferred  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  1863. 
Frank  P.  Barton,  promoted  Corporal ;  wounded  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  May 

13,  1864:  died  Blay  22,  1864. 
William  H.  H.  Bemis,  discharged  October  2r,  1862. 
Silas  Brown,  discharged  June  22,  1863. 

Robert  Blake,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Benjamin  F.  Bemis.  killed  November  23,  1863. 
Enoch  M.  Bell,  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  Carr,  discharged  January  1,  1863. 
William  A.  Crawford,  promoted  Corporal;  killed  at  Resaca,  Georgia, 

May  15,  1864, 
Milton  N.  Cowles,  promoted  Corporal;  captured  at  McDowell,  Virginia; 

exchanged ;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Andrew  W.  Clawson,  promotrd  Corporal  November?,  1864. 
Wilham  Coultrip,  wounded  at  second  Bull  Run  battle. 
William  Cowell,  wounded  at  second  Bull  Run  battle. 
James  M.  Chaffee,  discharged  December  29,  1864. 
William  Dourian,  discharged  September  4.  1862. 
Henry  C.  Ellis,  discharged  September  8,  1862. 
Alden  A.  Emmons,  died  July  I'.i,  1862. 
Oscar  F.  Fuller,  discharged  January  ,30,  1863. 
Henry  J.  Fay,  promoted  Corporal  January  6,  1863. 
Wesley  C.  Fay,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Marcli  1,  1864. 
Nyruni  Gregory,  mustered  out  May  20,  1865. 
Henry  H.  Hess,  died  a  prisoner  July,  1862. 

Henry  H.  Hess,  discharged  June  8,  1865 .  . 

Edwin  H.  HoUister,  discharged  September  21,  1862. 
Thomas  J.  Harris. 

Tames  Hartney ,  promoted  Sergeant  October  38,  1864 . 
Edward  G.  Harris,  discharged  April  10,  1863. 
William  Gaeger. 
George  E.  Jefferson. 


William  Jurrett,  discharged  March  T,  1813  . 

David  E.  Jefferson,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  December  2, 

1863. 
Michael  Kavanagh . 

Alonzo  Keeler,  promoted  Sergeant  January  1,  1,864. 
Burnie  M.  Kline,  veteran  volunteer,  mastered  out  with  company. 
Charles  C.  Lowe,  promoted  Corporal  July  11.  1864. 
Jacob  Mitchell,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  3,  1863 
John  R.  Myer,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  :3,  1863. 
Samuel  McGuckiu,  killed  at  second  Bull  Run  August  :iO,  1862. 
David  McGuckin,  discharged  April  29,  1862. 
Azenia  A.  Nickles,  promoted  Sergeant  May  1_,  1865. 
Francis  M.  Nickles,  promoted  CorjJoral  May  1,  1865 
Albert  Niles,  discharged  May  20,  1863. 
Williston  Osborn,  discharged  October  9.  1862. 
Cyrus  M.  Osier,  discharged  February  6,  1863. 
John  P.  Patterson,  died  March  6,  1862. 
Wilham  M.  Parks,  discharged  October  27,  1862 
George  W.  Plue,  discharged  September  4,  1862 
Jackson  N.  Pinney,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  1864. 
Henry  C.  Pinney,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  1862. 
John  C.  Purdy,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  E.  Pollock,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  3,  1863. 
Lewis  Ray,  discharged  Decembers,  1862. 
Edwin  F.  Russell,  transferred  to  Volunteer  Reserve  Corps . 
Lewis  Roberts,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  H.  Robinson,  discharged  September  :30,  1862. 
George  Riiz,  discharged  March  10,  1862. 
Frank  W.  Sparks,  discharged  October  19,  1864 . 
Rush  R.  Sloan,  died  at  Grafton,  Virginia,  March  8,  1862. 
John  Sprotberry,  discharged  September  14,  1863. 
Sickinger  Rinehart,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  January  15» 

1864. 
Anthony  A.  Simmons,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company., 
William  B.  Saeman,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  S.  Saeman,  discharged  November  11,  1864. 
Daniel  D.  Stage,  died  October  20,  1862. 

James  H.  Stage,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Benjamin  Tanner,  discharged  July  6,  1865 . 
John  Taylor,  veteran  volunteer,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Robert  Vangorder,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  March  1,  1864. 
Jonathan  Welch,  Jr.,  promoted  Corporal  Maj- 1,  1865. 
Francis  A.  Williams,  discharged  October  20,  1863. 
David  A.  Warren,  promoted  Sergeant:  veteran  volunteer,  wounded  at 

Gettysburg  and  Bull  Run . 
George  W.  Wright,  discharged  September  9,  1862. 
John  White,  discharged  January  29,  1863. 
Luther  A.  Welch,  discharged  April  16,  1863. 
Sylvester  Hull,  killed  May  15,  1864,  at  Resacca,  Georgia. 
Jay  HoUister.  died  September  20,  1863. 
Jerome  Welch,  wounded  June  21,  1864;  died  July  10,  1864. 
Corporal  Francis  Vangorder,  discharged  June  17,  1863 . 
Wilbert  L.  Green,  discharged  January  14,  1865. 
Elihu  Westfall,  recruit,  discharged  September  16,  1863. 


•OMPANY    D. 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Frederick  A.  Wildraan,  resigned  February  12,  1863. 

First  Lieutenant  Charles  P.  Wickham,  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel, 

June  6,  1864. 
Second  Lieutenant  Frederick  H.   Boalt,  promoted  to  Captain  June  1. 

1S63;  resigned  September  13,  1864. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  diaries  M.  Stillman,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  June  1, 
1864;  resigned. 

Sergeant  Williams.  Wickham,  promoted  Captain  September  26,  1864, 

Sergeant  Luther  B .  Mesnard. 

Sergeant  Barna  Cooper,  discharged  September  26, 1862. 

Sergeant  James  P.  Jones,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  April  1,  1864; 
mustered  out  March  12,  1865. 

Corporal  Alvin  B.  Chase. 

Corporal  William  C.  Penfield.  promoted  Sergeant:  captured  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pennsyvania. 

Corporal  Frederick  Rombo. 

Coi  poral  Theodore  M.  Wood,  promoted  Sergeant,  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner  at  ChancellorsviUe,  Virginia,  May  2,  1863;  exchanged;  mus- 
tered out  with  company. 

Corporal  Jacob  Fetterman,  killed  at  battle  of  Bull  Run  August  :iO,  18ti2. 

Corporal  Noble  Call,  discharged  July,  1862. 

Corporal  George  CoUingwood,  promoted  Sergeant ;  wounded  at  Chan- 
cellorsviUe, Virginia.  May  2,  186;3. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Corporal  Edward  E.  Shayes,  discharged  November  20,  1863. 

Musician.  Guel  M.  Wood. 

Musician,  Win.  Waldron. 

Wagoner.  Charles  Florence,  veteran  volunteer. 

PRIVATES. 

Samuel  Ashbolt.  veteran  volunteer. 

Andrew  Anderson,  discharged  September  H,  1863. 

Chauneey  Adams,  discharged  Januai-y  12,  1863. 

John  Bitterman,  discharged  April  13,  1863. 

David  Battee.  died  July  3.  1862. 

William  Biler,  discharged.     (No  date). 

George  Bailey,  veteran  volunteer. 

Edwin  Bedell,  discharged  February  8,  1863. 

Finley  Benson,  veteran  volunteer. 

Irvin  E.  Barker,  discharged  December  S3,  1862. 

Moses  P.  Brewster,  discharged  February  1.5,  1S63 

Robert  E.  Bailey,  veteran  volunteer. 

Jacob  A.  Brown,  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2, 

1863. 
Jacob  Brown,  veteran  volunteer. 
David  L.  Carpenter,  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July 

2,  1863. 
William  F.  Clark,  discharged  Decembers,  1861. 

John  A.  Cain,  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2, 1863. 
William  Cromwell,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  received  at  second 

battle  of  Bull  Run.    (No  date). 
Samuel  ClafiSger. 
James  Doran. 

George  Doll,  died  at  Alexandria,  Virginia.     (No  date). 
Richard  Dobney,  discharged  January  12.  1863. 
Mathew  Donnelly,  discharged  December  22,  1862. 
Joseph  L.  Day,  discharged  October  10.  1862. 
Thomas  E.  French,  discharged,  October  15,  1862. 
Henry  Freeman,  discharged,  February  28,  1862. 
John  J.  Fisher. 
Charles  E.  Ganung. 
Jacob  Goble,  veteran  volunteer. 
Charles  C.  Godfrey,  discharged,  Septembers,  1862. 
Samuel  Harrington,  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863. 
John  Hannerott,  veteran  volunteer. 

Henry  W.  Husted,  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia,  May  2,  1863 
Evelyn  E.  Husted,  promoted  Corporal. 
James  M.   Harland,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  August  13, 

1863. 
Charles  H.  Horton,  promoted  Corporal. 
Charles  L    Hurlbut.  promoted  Corporal. 
Lorin  C.  Hill,  veteran  volunteer. 
Michael  Hartnick,  veteran  volunteer. 
Harrison  Jones. 
John  Keller,  veteran  volunteer. 
Gustave  Knapp.  veteran  volunteer. 

Alonzo  B.  Keeler.  captured  at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia,  May  2,  1863. 
Phillip  J.  Keller. 

Clarence  L.  Keeler,  killed,  June  7,  1802. 
Philetus  C    Lathrop. 

Samuel  Lane,  discharged,  August  23   1862.  __ 

Peter  Ludwig, 
Henry  Miller. 

Thomas  Newberry,  discharged,  April  22.  1862. 
Charles  Olens,  transferred  to  Fourth  United  States  Cavalry. 
Walter  R   Perrin,. 
George  P.  Palmer 
Ludwig  Reisterer,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  September  14, . 

1863. 
JairusH    Rowland. 

Charles  .A.  Stover,  discharged,  December 83,  1862 
Charles  Stacey,  captured  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  .July  2,  1863 
John  Strouhnour. 
William  K.  Starr. 

Anthony  Rhipman,  discharged,  (no  ilate.) 
Adolph  Sibold. 
Anthony  Stienly 
Benjamin  C   Taber. 
Abner  D    Twaddle. 
John  M.  Tread  well. 
Thomas  C.  Taylor 

Jacob  C.  Utz.  discharged  for  wounds,  Januarys,  1963. 
Edwarl  F.  Volck,  wounded  at  Bull  Run;  died  September  25,  1862. 
Sumner  A.  Wing. 

Daniel  Wells,  discharged,  December  2, 1862. 
George  H.  Walsworth.  died.  July  10.  1862. 

Thomas  Wilson,  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia,  May  2,  1863. 
George  WiUey,  discharged,  (no  date.i 
Joseph  Zimmerman,  veteran  volunteer. 
Carl  Zendersi  wounded  at  Bull  Run,  August  2!l  1802 
William  Zarr. 


I  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 


COMPANY    E. 

Norwalk,  Ohio,  December  31,  1801.    Mustered 
It  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  11,  1865. 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 


Major  December  20,  1861 ;  ] 
864;  .Acting  Colonel  when  n 


Captain  Edwin  H.  Powers,  promoted  i 

moted  Lieutenant  Colonel  June  27, 

tered  out  with  regiment. 
First  Lieutenant  Albert  E.  Peck,  promoted  to  Captain  March  6,  1863; 

killed  May  15,  1864. 
Second  Lieutenant  Francis  H.  Morse,  promoted  to  Captain  March  19, 

1864:  resigned  April  20,  1864. 

NON-COMMISSIOSEO 


First  Sergeant  Hiram  K.  Preston,  died  June  18,  1862. 

Sergeant  Henry  W.  Crosby . 

Sergeant  Giles  King,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  August 

1863. 
Sergeant  John  H.  Boss. 
Sergeant  Ambers  Rice. 

Corporal  George  W.  Foote.  discharged  July  9,  1863. 
Corporal  Ira  D.  Peck,  discharged  April  16.  1863. 
Corporal  John  West,  discharged  July  23,  1863. 
Corporal  John  L.  Flaharty. 
Corporal  Alpheus  J.  Peck,  veteran  volunteer. 
Corporal  John  Bellman,  promoted  Sergeant;  veteran  volunteer. 
Corporal  John  F.  Wheaton,  discharged  September  22, 1863 
Corporal  William  F.  Smith . 
Musician,  John  Allman. 


Sewell  C.  Briggs,  discharged  for  wounds  November  22,  1862. 

Thomas  Brumbay,  died  of  wounds  August  23.  1863. 

Erastus  Barrit,  died  April  .5,  1.862. 

Henry  Baxtuer,  veteran  volunteer, 

Thomas  E.  Buckley,  discharged  for  wounds  March  3,  1863. 

Thomas  (Banning,  discharged  May  18,  1862. 

Lewis  Bellman,  died  July  11,  1.S62. 

William  F.  Crapo,  discharged  October  13,  1862. 

John  Coppins,  veteran  volunteer. 

William  Clinton,  discharged  November  21   1862. 

William  Collins,  veteran  volunteer. 

John  Coupe,  p-^omoted  Sergeant:  wounded  in  shoulder  at  second  battle 
of  Bull  Run . 

William  E.  Childs,  appointed  Hospital  Steward  November  21,  1861 . 

William  Deleany.  died  February  14,  1863. 

James  Doughty,  died  March  22,  1862 

Burton  Farnsworth,  discharged  September  13,  1862. 

John  Furguson,  discharged  February  14.  1863. 

Divid  Gates,  veteran  volunteer. 

George  Howarth.  transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry  November 
10,  1862, 

William  Harphain, 

William  Harris,  died  December  7,  1862. 

William  K.  Horr 

Edward  Hotchkins,  discharged  December  26,  1862. 

Henry  Heff ron,  veteran  volunteer , 

Michael  Hinaeey.  wounded  at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia,  May  2,  1863,  in 
left  hand  and  arm , 

Sidne.v  Hooper,  discharged  April  10.  1862. 

Edwin  F.  Hood,  veteran  volunteer. 

Francis  L.  Jupp. 

Mellville  Jamison,  veteran  volunteer 

Ira  S.  Jump,  veteran  volunteer. 

William  Jones. 

Henry  C.  King,  discharged  October  19,  1882. 

Henry  Kloon,  discharged  August  29,  1862. 

James  H.  Lowi-y,  veteran  volunteer;  wounded  in  head  at  Chancellors- 
ville, Virginia,  May  2,  1863 

James  Larkins. 

Ezra  Lee , 

Alonzo  McCord,  discharged  March  14,  1863. 

George  W.  Minus,  drowned  April  18,  1862.  while  on  duty 

George  H.  Malloy , 

Rufus  Norton,  discharged  June  9,  186:1. 

Henry  W.  Opfer,  discharged  July  2,  1862. 

Henry  Opfer,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  July  :i,  18ta 

Cyrrance  A.  Peck,  discharged  Septiamber  12, 1802. 

Sterling  H.  Post,  veteran  volunteer. 

Benjamin  Pease,  veteran  volunteer. 

Benjamin  Pronto,  veteran  volunteer. 

Anson  Pease,  veteran  volunteer. 

Myron  B.  Run.van,  veteran  volunteer. 

-Alexander  .M.  Richards,  discharged  November  16,  1862 

Jonathan  Smith,  veteran  volunteer,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville,  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  band. 


I 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Horace  Smith,  dieil  February  -M.  1803. 

Jedediah  D.  Smith,  veteran  volunteer. 

Ambrose  D.  Smith,  discharged  July  13.  IStii. 

Robert  Scott,  veteran  volunteer:  wounded  at  Chancellorsviile.  Virgin 

throirgh  hip  and  leg. 
Edward  Sharp 
William  E.  Sperart 
Jolm  W.  Saftmau 

Frederick  J.  Slatterie.  discharged  November  15,  lS(i-V 
Ulartiu  Van  Sickles,  transferreil  to  Vetei-an  Reserve  Corps, 
(ieorne  Winklepliek,  discharged  November  16,  18Ba. 
Johu  Winklepliek.  veteran  volunteer. 
Allen  A.  Winters   veteran  volunteer. 
Havid  Williams,  discharged  March  19,  IStiS. 
Frank  Wyatt,  veteran  volunteer. 
Mahlon  T.  Lambert,  promoted  Sergeant  Major.  October  '^.5,  I86I . 


.t  Norwalk,  Ohio,  December  31,  18U1.    Mustered 
t  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  July  10.  1.16.). 


Captain  Ira  C.  Terry,  resigned  October  31,  1863. 

First  Lieutenant  Richard  Patrick,  resigned  June  10,  1863. 

Second  Lieutenant  Hartwel)  Osborn,  promoted  Captain  August  4.  1863. 

NON-COMUISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  Nelson  H.  Nicholas,  discharged  January  1,  1863. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  F.  Erans.  promoted  to  Captain  April  24,  1865. 

Sergeant  Rodney  Sanford.  died  January  14,  1863. 

Sergeant  Albert  Gage,  discharged  September  1,  1863. 

Sergeant  Robert  Fenson,  veteran  volunteer. 

Corporal  Elias  Burrough. 

Corporal  Mason  Catlin,  killed  in  action  May  3,  1863.  at  Chancellorsviile, 

Virginia. 
Corporal  Hiram  W.  McGlone. 

Corporal  Andrew  J.  Sykes,  promoted  Sergeant;  veteran  volunteer. 
Corporal  Russell  S.  Owen,  promoted  Sergeant. 
Corporal  Joseph  Zuber,  veteran  volunteer. 

Corporal  Daniel  Sweetland,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
Corporal  Henry  C    Love,  died  March  14,  1863. 
Musician,  Nathan  Dancer,  died  July  13, 1863. 
Musician,  Dwight  Lee. 
Wagoner.  Daniel  D.  Rogers,  discharged  July  13, 1863. 

PRIVATES. 

William  H.  Barber,  veteran  volunteer 

Lucius  Babcock,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  January  14, 1861. 

Randolph  M.  Bard,  wounded  at  Chancellorsviile,  May  3, 1863,  and  at  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  3,  1863. 

Jacob  F  Beck,  died  July  3,  18G3,  of  wounds  received  at  Gettysburg,  Vir- 
ginia. 

Clark  Berry. 

Hiram  D.  Barber. 

AloDzo  D.  Barber,  veteran  volunteer. 

William  F.  Babcock. 

Henry  Brown,  discharged  March  5,  1863. 

Coleman  Brown,  discharged  January  9,  1864. 

Alonzo  B.  Burlingham,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  2, 1863. 

Joseph  Coxley,  discharged  March  18,  1863. 

Frederick  A.  Corney. 

Charles  Clark,  veteran  volunteer. 

Harvey  A.  Cross,  veteran  volunteer. 

Charles  A.  Carr,  veteran  volunteer. 

Elisha  Cole. 

Sebastian  Daha,  discharged  January  31,  1803. 

Minor  L.  Day,  veteran  volunteer. 

Isaac  De' Puy,  promoted  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Chancellorsviile.  Vir- 
ginia, May  2.  1863. 

Joseph  A.  DePuy,  veteran  volunteer. 

Edmund  Franklin,  veteran  volunteer. 

Warren  V.  Franklin,  veteran  volunteer. 

Jerome  Franklin,  veteran  volunteer. 

Burdette  Goodell.  veteran  volunteer 

John  Hoyles. 

Frank  M.  Hunt. 

Henry  C    Hanford,  discharged,  March  8,  1863 

Zadock  M.  Hungerford,  ilischarged.  September  10, 1803. 

Clin  B.  Johnson 

William  Jenkins. 

Hiram  Johnson. 

Brundage  Knapp,  died,  August  13,  1863. 

Jairus  Knapp,  discharged,  March  2,  1863. 

Joel  Knapp.  discharged,  November  1.5,  1862. 

William  -Allen  Kirsey,  discharged,  December  3,  1862. 


Gettysburg.  Pennsylv 


Luther  J.  Moore,  discharged,  December  11,  ls63. 

Joseph  McConnell. 

John  T.  McMorris. 

James  McConnell  discharged,  August  3.5,  1863. 

George  T.  May,  veteran  volunteer. 

Emerj-  Owen,  veteran  volunteer 

William  W.  Potter,  discharged  for  wounds.  December  33. 

Charles  F.  Pruden    wounded  in  action  at  Chancellorsviile 

3  1863. 
Samuel  Post,  discharged,  March  26.  1S63. 
Andrew  Reed,  discharged   July  28,  1863. 
Jerome  Robinson,  killed  in  action.  May  3,  1863. 
Oscar  Rawson   died  September  4.  1862  of  wounds  leceiv 
Edgar  Richards. 

Zetus  Richards  died,  December  31.  1863. 
Joseph  S.  Robinson,  veteran  volunteer. 
Andrew  F.  Sweetland,  wounded  in  ; 

July  3.  1863. 
Jonathan  L.  Shamp. 
Johu  Sutton,  died,  July  IT    1863. 
Reuben  Sutton. 

Jefferson  Smith,  discharged,  July  38. 1863. 
John  Sha.  veteran  volunteer. 
John  W.  Thorley. 

Amos  Turwillinger,  discharged,  April  16,  1863. 
Loring  Walsworth.  died,  July  2.  1863. 
Peny  Walker,  wounded  in  action  at  Chancellorsviile,  Virginia    May  3 

1863. 
William  L.  Wilson   discharged,  January  1,  1863. 
Jesse  Woodruff,  discharged,  Decembers   1863. 
John  White,  discharged,  May  20  1862. 

SIXTY-FIRST  HEGIMEXT  OHIO    VOLUXTEEU   INFANT  KV, 

COMPANY    K. 
Mustered  into  service.  May  10,  1862.    Mustered  out  of  .service.  February 


Sergeant  James  H.  Peabody,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  March  35, 1863. 
Corporal  Perry  Flaherty,  mustered  out  with  company. 


George  H.  Harris,  captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  1,  1863. 
Samuel  Pence,  appointed  Corporal  May  19.  1862;  wounded  at  Chancel- 
lorsviile, Virginia. 
Benjamin  Robbins.  mustered  out  with  company. 

SIXTY-FOFRTH    REGIMENT    OHIO    VOUNTEKK    IN- 
FANTRY, COMPANY  E. 

Mustered  into  service.  November  6,  1861.    Re-enlisted,  and  finally  mus- 
tered out  December  3,  1865. 

Alonzo  Akers.  Jasper  L.  Ruggles. 

Henry  H.  Clai  k .  William  Rhinemiller . 

Irving  Hough .  Charles  M.  Saunders. 
Lloyd  A.  Manley 

These  names  do  not  appear  on  final  muster  out  roll.     They  were, 
doubtless,  discharged  on  expiration  of  original  term  of  enlistment. 
George  Stebbins,  mustered  out  with  company 


1-TH    KKGIMI 
FANTKY, 


110    VOI.UNTEl 


COMMISSIONED  OEFICER 

Second  Lieutenant  Frank  B.  Hunt,  promoted  to  First  Lie 
8,  1862;  resigned  November  29.  1863. 


First  Sergeant  Samuel  H.  Young      Corporal  William  B  Hunt 


Alvin  M.  Parker. 

James  Houston . 

Marshall  W.  Johnson 

Hiram  C.  Parker 

Madison  Baker,  dischiiged  Janu 

ary  37,  18U5. 
Theodore  Belden . 


Alfred  Luin. 
Janus  L.  .McKihben. 
Henry  Moore. 
Sherwood  C.  Nicholson. 
James  H.  Packard 
-Abijah  Packard, 
.losiah  T.  Parker. 


12 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


JolinF.  Buck. 
John  W.  Chorus. 
Levi  Curtiss. 
Alfred  C.  Ellsworth. 
EzekielGooddoll. 
Schuyler  C.  Gates. 
Elias  Luiu. 


DariasD.  Rolf. 

Adam  Shanks. 

MedadF.  WoodruSE. 

Andrew  J.  Young. 

Julius  C.  Young,  discharged  June 

15,  1883. 
Deoius  P.  Brown 


COM  PA  XV  G. 
Mustered  into  service  with  regiment.    Mustered  out  of  sei-vi( 
regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIOXED  OFFICER.S 

First  Sergeant  Dolsen  Vankirk.         Corporal  Augustus  Keimlin. 


Sergeant  John  C.  Zollinger 
Cori'oral  Brewer  Smith . 


Adam  Apple 

Jacob  Binharamer,  captured; 

died  in  Andersonville  prison . 
Chris  F.  E.  Blaich 
William  Clark. 
Charles  Carpenter. 
Martin  Casey. 
John  C.  Earnst 
Lewis  Eckhart 
Jacob  Fike 
Joseph  Fellman . 
John  Geideman 


Corporal  H.  C.  Jennings. 
Corporal  John  MoUaney. 


Theodore  Geisey. 
William  Kalhorst 
Fred  Koegele . 
Henrv  Leidkie 
James  Murtjv 
Michael  Nash 
John  T.  Nicholai. 
James  Nolan. 
George  W.  Philo. 
John  Sullivan. 
J.  C.  Weidemieir. 
William  Walsh. 


William  Campbell 
William  Hensow. 
James  Hensow 

No  mi 
at  Columbus,  Ohio 


COMPAXY    K. 
Mustered  with  regiment. 

PRIVATES 

Randolph  J,  Loecher 
Peter  Wigle 
Henry  M.  Sprague 
rolls  of  this  regiment  (original  enlistment. )  are  < 


SIXTY-.SEVEXTH  REGIMENT  OHIO  VOLIKTEEK    IXFAX- 

TRY,  COMPAXY  C. 

Organized  December,  1S61.    Mustered  out  December  31,  1861 

NOX-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Coiporal  Christian    Schwartz,  promoted  Sergeant;  woimded  July  IS, 
1803. 

COMPAXY  F. 


)  OFFICER. 

Captain  Joseph  P.  Owen,  promoted  from  Corporal  of  Company  K; 
mustered  out  June  14,  1863. 

COMPAXY    K. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  James  J.  Banks. 

Corporal  Joseph  P.  Owen,  enlisted  November  2,  1861 ;  wounded  in  left 
hand  at  Fort  Wagoner,  July  18,  1863;  promoted  to  Captain  of  Com- 
pany F;  mustered  out  June  14,  1865. 

Corporal  Henry  Clatlin. 

Musician,  Roscoe  Caselten . 


Homer  Akers. 
Lafayette  Baird. 
Jonah  C.  Barton 
Henry  H.  Gibbs 
Alonzo  H.  Hopkin.s. 
Jeremiah  McFall 
Comfort  H.  Ruggles,  promoted 
Sergeant. 


l-ATES . 

Edwin  Russell. 
Charles  Sivers . 
Frank  M.  Stewart . 
Jolin  Turner 
Daniel  B.  Waggoner. 
John  W.  Whiddon. 
Eugene  Whitney. 


S  KV  i:\TY-.SECOND  KEGIMEXT    OHIO    VOLUXTEER 
INFANTRY,  COMPAXY    li. 
Mustered  into  service  February  18,  1863.    Mustered  out  September 
11.  186.5. 

COMMISSIO.VED  OFFICERS 

Captain  James  Fernald,  mustered  out  with  reginienl. 

First  Lieutenant  William  C.  Bidle,  promoted  to  Captain  and  transferred 

to  Company  E. 
Second  Lieutenant  John  H.  Poyer,  resigned,  December  3,  1862. 


NON-C05IMISSI0NED    OFFICERS 

First  Sergeant  Jacob  M  Beecher.  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in  Sev- 
enty-First United  States  Colored  Infantry   April  17. 1864. 

First  Sergeant  Jonas  Stanberry,  wounded  at  siege  of  Spanish  fort,  Ala- 
bama; mustered  out  with  company 

Sergeant  George  Downing,  veteran  volunteer  mustered  out  with  com- 


:  with  . 


pany. 

Sergeant  William  P.  Sliilk,  veteran  volunteer: 
pany 

Sergeant   George  Taylor,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany 

Corporal  Robert  Dalzell,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Coiporal  Eliliu  Fernald,  veteran  volunteer,  promoted  to  Sergeant  and 
transferred  to  Company  E. 

Musician,  Christian  Engle,  veteran  volunteer;  discharged  August  7, 1865- 

PRIVATES. 

Erasmus  H.  Andress,  not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Sydney  Adams,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  R.  Akers,  not  on  the  muster-out  roll. 

Ebenezer  G.  Allen,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Burel  Butman.  mastered  out  with  company. 

David  Brownell,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Charles  Barber,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Peter  Broms.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Lewis  C.  Clark,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Wilson  S.  Ci-um,  veteran  volunteer:  discharged  August  7,  186,3. 

John  Coon. 

John  Call. 

Samuel  Dailey. 

Eward  Daniels,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Willard  Dike,  discharged  December  14.  1864. 

William  Davie,  discharged  December  14,  1864. 

Henry  W.  Daykin,  discharged  December  14,  1864. 

Christopher  Edwards. 

Erastus  Erskin,  veteran  volunteer;  discharged  May  13,  1865. 

Henry  L.  Ewing,  dischai-ged  June  11,  1864. 

Louis  A.  Ervin. 

Thomas  C.  Fernold. 

Hiram  B.  French. 

Heniy  French. 

Eugene  Frankenbury,  died  at  Andersonville  prison. 

Norman  Foster,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Franigan. 

Edward  B.  Fuller. 

Edward  Gibbs. 

Nicholas  L.  Grow. 

John  Haughn,  discharged  December  14,  1864. 

Alfred  Haun. 

Charles  Haughn,  discharged  to  accept  pro:notiou  July  10,  1864. 

Francis  Higgins. 

James  Hageny 

Solomon  Hower. 

Charles  Harley,  veteran  volunteei 

J  oseph  Imhaf . 

David  H.  James. 

John  H.  Jefferson. 

Frantz  Kromer. 

Charles  Kramus. 

Andrew  Loughlin. 

JolmV.  Ladd.  discharged  Oetob( 

Comfort  M.  Lewis. 

Charles  Lansen. 

George  W.  Lewis. 

Rufus  W.  Lawrence. 

Dennis  Lavler 

William  H.  McEnaliy 

Dennis  Mack. 

Philip  Mons,  died  in  rebel  prison 

Michael  McCarty. 

Augustus  Mulchey,  veteran  vohmteer; 

Robert  Meek. 

William  Perry. 

.lohn  D.  Plum. 

Calvin  R.  Porter. 

James  L.  Porter. 

William  Rood. 

William  L    Roberlson. 

Albert  Rice,  veteran  volunteer;  mustei 

.Augustus  Rice 

George  W    Reed . 

George  H.  Sutherland,  discharged  Dee 

Erastus  Squires. 

Merritt  Sestous. 


discharged  August  7,  1865. 


volunteer;  mustered  < 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


John  C .  Steward,  discharged  bj' 

tember  27,  1864. 
James  M.  Smith . 
Frederick  Schater. 

William  Seitt,  discharged  February  10,  1865 
Henry  Sprow. 
Morris  Sweet. 
John  Shadenck. 
Joseph  R.  Turner. 
Benjamin  Thurlby. 

John  D.  Turner,  veteran  volunteer;  muster 
Michael  Parchner. 
Jonathan  Taylor 


of  tracture  of  right  ankle,  Sep- 


mustered  out  with  company. 


De  Witt  C.  Vance,  died  of  wounds  August  8.  1.864. 

Isaac  Vanderpool. 

Henry  Wile. 

Thomas  J.  Wright. 

Harrison  Warren. 

William  H.  Walker. 

COMPANY    H. 
Mustered  with  regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICER. 

First  Sergeant  Andrew  Meckel,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  in  Com- 
pany A,  April  29,  1864. 

PRIVATES. 


Frank  Mittler, 
Frederick  Mittler, 
Lewis  Raw, 
John  Raw. 
William  Roos, 
Charles  Smith, 
Henry  StuU, 
Louis  Schneider, 
Andrew  Schumaker, 
Joseph  F.  Willi, 


Rudolph  Dilger, 
Henry  Dickman, 
George  Filmeier, 
Fridolin  Haid, 
Charles  Hubbard, 
George  Hubbard, 
Martin  Killian, 
Frederick  Loomis, 
Jacob  Lang, 
Rochus  Link, 

Peter  Zimmerman,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Xo  muster-out  rolls  of  original  enlistments  can  be  found. 

The  names  are  copied  verbatim  from  the  rolls,  and  the  writer  will  not 

be  responsible  for  errors  in  spelling. 

KIGHTY-SEVENTH    REGIMENT    OHIO    VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY,    COMPANY    G. 

Mustered  into  service  June  10,  1862,  for  three  months ;  mustered  out  at 
expiration  of  term  of  serrice. 


William  A .  Barber 
Arthur  W.  Fitch. 
Samuel  P  Kenyon 
Thomas  Kanaly 


George  W.  Rickard. 
John  C .  Schneider 
Kelsey  Weeks. 


COMPANY  K. 

Private  Andrew  C,  Mavrill. 

EIGHTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    OHIO    VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY,  COMPANY    H. 
;ered  into  service,  July  .31,  186J.    Mustered  out  of  service,  July  3 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS . 

First  Sergeant  Martin  L.  Coyer. 

Sergeant  Isaac  P.  Baldwin,  discharged  January  18, 

Corporal  Martin  M .  Ryerson . 

Corporal  Russell  Prentiss 

Corporal  John  M.  Sloan. 

Clark  H.  Ames. 

Palmer  Amsden. 

Charles  1    Black. 

James  Bissell. 

Sylvanus  Burch 

Homer  Brundage,  dischai-ged  January  30,  1S64. 

Benjamin  Curtit,  discharged  July  12,  1.S04. 

Wili-onL.  Driver. 

Asa  Drake,  discharged  March  14,  186.1 

George  Daniels,  discharged  July  18,  1864 

Hiram  Fisher. 

George  Fisher. 

Samuel  C.  Gregory. 

William  H.  Green,  discharged  March  18, 186.5. 


Charles  Hooper,  discharged  October  25, 1863. 

Scott  Halloway. 

WUliam  Hubbell,  discharged  July  6, 1864. 

GUes  W.  Jump 

James  Jackson . 

John  H.  Kandall. 

Dallis  Lawton. 

Leonard  Lane. 

Adam  Lootman. 

Elias  Mason,  discharged  July  6,  1864. 

Harrison  Mohn . 

Ferdinand  Market. 

John  S.  Pierce. 

Torance  D    Parker. 

Francis  Rice,  died  January  17,  1864. 

Taylor  Sweet. 

MunsonL.  Squire. 

EzraH.  Smith. 

Nelson  Sutton. 

Henry  Tice,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Samuel  Weyenbacher. 

Thomas  H.  Wood,  discharged  March  18,  1865. 

ONE    HlNDREl)    AND    FIRST    REGIMENT    OHIO    VOLUN- 
TEER   INFANTRY. 

ed  out  of  service  June 


Surgeon,  Thomas  M.  Cook,  mustered  into  service  at  Moaroeville,  Ohio, 
August  12.  1862;  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

Assistant  Surgeon,  Walter  Caswell,  resigned  July  28,  1863. 

Chaplain,  Oliver  Kennedy,  resigned  November  17,  1863. 

Adjutant,  Leonard  D.  Smith,  promoted  to  Captain  and  assigned  to  Com- 
pany C  May  30,  1863. 

Sergeant  Major,  Jay  C.  Smith.  enroUed  as  private  in  Company  B;  pro- 
moted Sergeant  Major  February  14,  1863,  and  to  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  I,  May  9,  1864. 

Hospital  Steward,  Levi  B.  Lathrop,  discharged  April  14 ,  1863,  at  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  on  Surgeon's  certificate . 

Hospital  Steward,  J.  Edward  Mathews,  enroUed  as  private  in  Company 
B;  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward  April  15,  1863. 


COMPANY    A. 


Clustered  into  s 


e  at  MonroevUle,  Ohio,  August  30, 1862.    Mustered 
out  of  service  at  Camp  Harker,  Tennessee,  June  12,  1865 . 

COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS . 

Captain  Charles  Caligan,  resignation  accepted  December  10,  IS&i. 
First  Lieutenant  Asa  R.  Hillyer.  died  January  4, 1863,  of  wounds  received 

at  Stone  River  December  31,  1862. 
Second  Lieutenant  Daniel  H.  Fox,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  February 

1.  1863;  mustered  out  July  29,  1864,  to  accept  commission  as  JVIajor 

of  the  regiment . 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

First   Sergeant  Justus  F.  Brisack,  discharged  for  disability  December 

31,  1.862. 
Sergeant  A.  Ward  Hillyer,  discharged  for  disability  Decembei-  in,  1862. 
Sergeant  David  W.  Smith,  discharged  for  disabilit3^  March  6,  1863 . 
Sergeant  Benjamin  F.  Brs'ant,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  February 

1,  1863. 
Corporal  Andrew  A.  Jackson,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  May  12,  1864. 
Corporal  WUlard  E.  Robbins,  discharged  for  disability  April  29,  1863. 
Corporal  Horace  Hill,  dis.'liarged  for  disability  January  6,  1863. 
Corporal  James  E.  Ells  mot  on  muster-out  roll) . 
Corporal  Gideon  D.  Webb,  discharged  tor  disability  March  27,  1865. 
Corporal  Van  R.  M.  Ryan,  discharged  for  disability  April  24,  1863. 
Corporal  Henry  Kingsley,  discharged  for  disability  March  10,  1863. 
Corporal  Frederick  J,  JelTerson,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  November 

1,  1863;  killed  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge  May  11,  1864. 
Musician,  Andrew  Clock,  transfei  red  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  March 

15,  1864. 

Musician,  Mathew  Park,  discharged  by  order  of  Secretary  of  War  May 

16,  1865. 

Wagoner,  John  Buck,  discharged  for  disability  March  7.  186:1. 

PRIVATES. 

Delmer  Atkinson,  discliarged  for  disability  May  2,  1863. 
James  Allen,  discharged  for  disability  April  3.  186.") 

Julius  Austin,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  November  20, 1863. 
Patrick  Brady,  promoted  to  Corporal  May  1,  1865 

John  Base,  promoted  to  Corporal  August  1,  1863;  prisoner  of  war  since 
September  20,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Traven  Brady  (not  on  muster-out  roll). 

Ransom  Barnitt.  discharged  for  disability  December  4, 1862. 

Newbury  Barker,  died  at  Xashville,  Tennessee,  December  1, 1862. 

Miles  E.  Cartwright.  died  in  service  August  13, 1864. 

William  P.  Cleveland,  discharged  for  disability  February  12, 1863. 

Lucius  A.  Challer.  died  at  Nashville.  Tennessee.  December  21.  1862. 

George  P.  Colem.in.  dieil  in  serviee  April  26.  1864. 

Leon.lrd  Chan.e.  di.-.l  in  service  May  30.  iSm. 


1  C.  Dis 


,1864. 


Thomas  Earl,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  November  20,  1863. 

Henry  Emsberger.  died  in  service  November  4,  1862. 

Andrew  Evans,  discharged  for  disability  March  21,  1883. 

Henry  Fish,  died  in  service  April  2.5, 1863. 

Charles  R.  Green,  mustered  out  with  company 

Thomas  Green,  discharged  for  disability  July  1,  imi. 

John  R.  GrifBn.  promoted  to  Corporal  February  1,  1863. 

Norman  Gregory,  killed  near  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  30,  1864. 

Cornelius  F.  Harder. 

John  Harriman,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Philip  F.  Henley,  discharged  for  disability  March  3,  1863. 

Sidney  Hoft,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  November  : 

Frederick  J.  Haller.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Albert  R.  Hill,  promoted  Corporal  September  14,  1862;  discharged  for 
disability  January  31, 1863. 

John  W.  Hasbrook,  discharged  for  disability  in  the  spring  of  1863. 

Abram  Inman,  died  October  5, 1863.  of  wounds  received  at  Chickamauga 
September  20, 1863. 

Wilbur  Kingsley,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  August  1,  1863. 

Abel  Kiiapp.  promoted  Sergeant  November  1,  1863:  mu.stered  out  with 
company . 

Enoch  H.  Kilburn.  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  March  ",  1864. 

John  King,  promoted  Sergeant  May  1.1S6.5;  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Lameron.  killed  at  Chickamauga  September  IS.  1863. 

Alpho  Lowe,  Jr.,  died  at  Louisville.  Kentucky.  June  14.  1S64. 

William  M.  Jliner.  transferred  to  Engineer  Corps  August  r,  1864. 

John  McGraw,  discharged  July  14,  1864. 

James  S.  Moody,  not  on  muster  out  roll 

Harman  H.  Martin,  prisoner  of  war  since  September  20.  1863. 

James  Marks,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

William  L.  McPherson,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Chickamauga,  Octo- 
ber 13.  1863. 

Amos  W   Polly,  discharged  for  disabiUty  May  17, 1S63. 

Samuel  A,  Pike,  died  in  serviee  September,  1802. 

Cyrus  B.  Prosser.  died  of  wounds  received  at  Stone  River,  January  12, 
1863. 

Edwin  Bunyan,  killed  at  Stone  River,  December  31,  1862 

John  L.  Riggs,  died  in  service,  January,  1?63 

George  P.  Raidart,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

William  H.  Russell,  transferred  to  navy,  April  15,  1864. 

Oliver  HP    Springer,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  March  1. 


1864. 


;roll 


Lovell  R.  Simmons,  not  on  n: 

Gersham  R.  Staunton,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

Benjamin  F.  Strong,  discharged  for  disability  May  5, 1864. 

Joseph  Scott. 

Joel  Sear!,  died  in  service  April  3,  1863 

John  Stimson,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  January  14,  1864 

John  Smith,  discharged  for  disability  January  4,  1S64. 

William  W,  Shanger.  transferred  to  Engineer  Corps  August  7,  1864. 

Marquis  D.  Stephens,  transferred  per  General  Order,  No.  ll. 

Chailes  A   Turner,  transferred  to  Mississippi  Marine  Brigade  January 

186:). 
Isaac  Vasburg.  discharged  for  disability.  January  1,  1863. 
Vanscoy  Vanrenssalaer.  discharged  for  disabilit.v,  winter  of  1863. 
Albert  Whitney,  promoted  to  Corporal  May  1,  1865. 
John  Williams,  discharged  tor  disability  June,  1863. 
Harmon  G.  Webster.  Iransfen-ed  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  November 

28.  1863. 
Daniel  Webster,  died  in  service  February  3,  1863 
Alpheus  Welch,  discharged  for  disability  November,  1862. 
Samuel  J.  Wilson,  missing  in  action  at  Chickamauga.  September  19, 

1S63. 
Marvin  Wooden,  died  in  service,  January  12, 1865. 
George  Young,  discharged  by  order  of  Secretary  of  War,  March  11 

18)3,  to  enlist  in  9Ii$sis<ippi  Marine  Brigade. 

COMPANY    B. 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

Captain  Thomas  C.  Fernald,  resigned  on  account  of  disability  January 

25.  1863. 
First  Lieutenant  Stephen  P.  Beckwith.  promoted  to  Captain  Februarj- 

1, 1863;  resigned  November  .30,  1864,  by  reason  of  disability 
Second  Lieutenant  Otis  L   Peck,  dishonorably  discharged  January  2.5. 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

First  Sergeant  John  M    l:ull-r.  |.i-'!noted  First  Lieutenant  January  25, 

1863;  resigned  1'.  .  ■  mi.  r  .:.  i-    ; 
Sergeant  Charles  E    Sfich    ,!K.I,.n-ed  for  disability  Februarj- 14.  186:i. 
Sergeant  Jay  C.  Butler,  j  r  .lii  .r.-l  Secnd  Lieutenant  Januaiy  25.  1863, 

to  First  Lieutenant  Mai-ch  en  lsi;4,  and  to  Captain  March  16.  1865. 
Sergeant  James  Gordon,  discharged  for  disability  March  8. 186^3. 
Sergeant  Simeon  Huntington,  wounded  at  Stone  River;  died  by  reason 

of  the  same  January  I'J,  1863. 
Corporal  Alonzo  R,  Sharp,  discharged  for  disability  June  1.  1863. 
Corporal  Henry  J.  BIy.  discharged  for  wounds  received  at  Stone  River, 

February  17, 1863. 
Corporal  Joshua  B    Davis,  transferred  to  First  U.  S.  Engineers  July  29, 

1864. 
Corporal  William  D.  Taylor,  promoted  Sergeant  January  25,  18*>4 ;  mus- 
tered out  with  company. 
Corporal  Francis  L.  Pease,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  April 

6.  1864. 
Corporal  William  B.  Bice,  promoted  to  Sergeant  January  25.  IS(i3 
Corporal  Jacob  Merkley.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  John  W.  Ward,  discharged  for  disability  March  8, 1863 
Musician.  George  W    Hill,  died  at  Perry ville.  Kentucky.  November  12. 

1862, 
Wagoner,  William  P.  Barton,  mustered  out  with  company. 


1865. 


Harper  Austin,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Seth  A,  Barton,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  January  4,  1864. 

William  Burrell,  died  in  serviee  January  28. 

Allen  ?I.  Curran.  promoted  Sergeant  January  25.  1863. 

William  H.  Carpenter,  discharged  lor  disability  January  15,  1S63. 

Edwin  Clatlin,  dischartted  Aijril  3.  lSfi.5.  by  reason  of  accidental  wound. 

Robert  CuUen,  mustered  out  with  ecimpany. 

Wilbur  F.  Cowles,  promoted  In  Fiist   Sergeant  January  25.1863;  cap- 
tured at  battle  of  Chickamauga. 

William  H.  Colvell,  transferred  to  Marine  Corps,  May  3,  1863. 

John  W.  Dodge,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  February  4, 
1864. 

Milton  C.  Dodge,  missing  in  battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  SO,  1863. 

Simeon  A.  Davis,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  May  3,  1861 

Charles  B.  Dennis,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Henrj-  M.  Elwood.  discharged  for  disability,  December  20, 1862. 

Sidney  W.  Faxon,  discharged  for  disability,  January  28,  1863. 

James  C.  Fitch,  discharged  for  disabiUty,  3Iay  29,  1865. 

Amos  W.  Fox.  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  July  1,  1863. 

Alfred  Foreman,  discharged  for  disability,  January  14,  1863 

Theodore  Ford,  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Tennessee, 
September  19,  1863. 

Alfred  Grant,  discharged  for  disability,  February  24,  186;). 

Leonard  Ciay.  discharged  for  disability,  January  10,  1863. 

James  Glin,  died  in  service.  November  5,  1862. 

Charles  Gross,  transferred  to  Veteran  Resene  Corps,  (date  unknown; 

Alexander  C.  Hosmer.  transferred  to  Company  A  to  receive  promotion 
as  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  L.  Hutton.  discharged  for  disability.  October  7, 1863 . 

Jerome  Holly,  died  May  8.  1803. 

Harrison  J.  Hammond,  died  in  service  February  14,  186:3 

Francis  Houseman,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  March  18, 
1864, 

Orlando  Holly,  died  in  serviee,  November  8,  1862. 

Albert  Hinman,  discharged  by  reason  of  wounds  received  at  Stone 
River,  (no  date  1. 

Smith  Harrington,  discharged  for  disability,  February  24,  1863 

David  Hinds,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  (no  date  given).  * 

Oliver  Holbrook.  discharged  for  disability.  March  10.  1863 

.Martin  Ingles,  died  in  service,  December  9.  1863, 

Philip  Hunz.  mot  on  muster  out  roll). 

Emmett  Lincoln,  transferred  to  marine  service,  (date  not  given). 

CJeorge  W.  Littleton,  mustered  out  with  company. 

James  H.  Laden,  discharged  for  disability.  April  7, 1863. 

George  W.  Ladd.  promoted  Sergeant  January  25,  1863. 

.lustus  Lulirs.  promoted  to  Corporal  June  1,  1864. 

(  liai  I  -  Mri.i  tti,-an,  transferred  to  Veteran  Rererve  Corps,  May  3, 1864 

I  I    ;    '       1 1 istered  out  with  company. 

I        li    I      I       li.ill.  discharged  February  28,  1863,  by  reason  of  wounds 
I— n.-!  a:  Sii.ne  River. 

William  31eachani,  mustered  out  with  company 

.John  F.  Miller,  died  May  26,  1884,  from  wounds 

J    Edward  Matthews,  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward.  April  14.  1863. 

Charles  D    Pierce,  discharged  for  disability,  .lune  11,  186:3. 

Edwin  C    Pomeroy.  diedjune:30.  1864,  from  wounds  received  at  Chatta- 
nooga. Tennessee . 

Oscar  Pertschman.  promoted  to  Corporal  March  1, 1865. 

Henry  B.  Penfield,  discharged  for  disability,  December  :30, 1863 

William  R    Pope,  discharged  March  12,  18frl,  by  reason  of  wounds  re- 
ceived at  Chickamauga. 

Theodore  Rebadiie.  prisoner  of  war. 


History  of  huron  and  erie  counties,  ohio. 


Aden  Rice,  Clerk  ai  Headquarters  Fourth  Army  Corps,  mustered  out 

with  cotupany. 
Jay  C.  Smith,  promoted  Sergeant  Major,  January  4,  181)3. 
Robert  St-hetb,  mustered  out  with  company , 
Charles  Shupe,  prisoner  of  war,  no  record  of  discharge. 
Orange  Seamans.  discharged  for  disability,  January  9,  1863. 
Bradford  J.  Seavery,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Ralph  E.  Taylor,  discharged  for  disability,  October9,  1863. 
David  W.  Thompson,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September 

20,  1863. 
Royal  H.  Tucker,  discharged  for  disability  May  29, 1865. 
Joseph  Terril,  captured  Septemper20,  1863,  and  died  from  starvation  in 

rebel  prison  April  1,  180.5. 
Joel  S.  Wolvcrton,  discharged  for  disability  December  30,  1802. 
Daniel  Wood,  discharged  for  disability  January  r,  1804. 
Michael  Wood,  discharged  for  disability  December  30,  1803. 
Anton  Wauck,  discharged  for  disability  December  30,  1863. 
Henry  O.  Wright,  transferred  to   Veteran  Reserve  Corps.     (No  date 

given). 
Samuel  G.  Wright,  discharged  for  disability  December  30,  1863. 
Dustin  Washburn,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Engineers  August  29,  1864. 
Jacob  Young,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1865;  mustered  out  with 

company. 
Jacob  M  Zimmerman,  died  in  rebel  prison  January  9,  1864. 
Robert  Sankey,  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.     (No  dale  given) 


COMPANY    D. 

Mustered  into  service  August  30, 1861,  at  Monroeville,  Ohio.     Mustered 
out  of  service  J  une  12,  1865,  in  Tennessee . 

COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS 

Captain  H.  G.  Sheldon,  resigned  by  reason  of  disability  January  28, 1803. 
First  Lieutenant  J.  B.  Curtis,  resigned  by  reason  of  disability  January 

2,  1863. 
Second  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Lattimer.  Jr.,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  March 

5,  1863,  and  to  Captain  March  21,  1863:  mustered  out  with  company. 


N0N-CO5IMISS1OXE  D 

First  Sergeant  Manferd  D.  Sloeum,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps  August  1,  1863. 

Sergeant  G.  W.  Payne,  discharged  March  28,  1863. 

Sergeant  Ira  Beman  Reed,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  Maich  21,  1863, 
and  to  Captain  March  29,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  E. 

Sergeant  John  D.  Blair,  killed  at  Chickamauga,  September  19,  1863. 

Sergeant  Dutton  Jones,  discharged  September  9,  1863. 

Corporal  Elbert  J.  Squire,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  March  29,  1864; 
captured  near  Huntsville,  Alabama,  January  IT,  1865. 

Corporal  Charles  E.  Marsh,  discharged  December  28,  186J. 

Corporal  Enos  L.  Marsh,  discharged  by  reason  of  wounds  May  9,  1863. 

Corporal  Jerome  G.  Gibson,  discharged  January  7,  1863. 

Corporal  Justus  N.  Brown,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Corporal  George  N.  Mead,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1864. 

Corporal  Minor  Lawrence,  discharged  March  28,  1863 


Luzerne  Amsden,  discharged  March  23,  1864. 

Duane  Austin,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  August  10,  1804 

Jacob  M.  Abbott,  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  25,  1863 

Clark  Barber,  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  7,  1863. 

Charles  F.  Brewster,  discharged  April  2\  1803. 

William  R.  Bell,  discharged  March  13,  1863. 

Egbeit  31.  Burgess,  died  at  Louisvdle,  Kentucky,  December  3,  1863. 

Charles  C.  Bacon,  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  1,  1863. 

Frederick  G.  Brown,  discharged  February  3,  1864. 

Delas  Bishop,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  August  1,  1863. 

Joseph  L.  Bishop,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Nc 


Alonzo  F.  Bishop,  discharged  April  27,  1865. 

William  \V.  Conover,  discharged  February  3,  1863. 

Chester  H.  Carpenter,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  January 

15,  1864. 
Enoch  Cole,  mustered  out  May  16,  1865. 
George  W,  Curtiss,  discharged  January  13,  1803 
Jotham  A.  Curtiss,  died  August  15,  1804,  of  wounds  received  in  action 

near  Kenesaw  Knob,  Georgia . 
John  H.  Crawford,  captured  at  Chickamauga  September  20,  1803 
E.  W.  Cunningham,  discharged  June  22,  186;!. 
George  F.  Drake,  discharged  July  15,  1863. 

William  L.  Dickinson,  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  December  12,  1802. 
William  S.  Denton,  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  June  26,  18&4. 
Henry  G.  Dills,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  30  1863 
Constantine  Frank,  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  May  31,  1863* 
George  W.  Fish,  died  at  Gashville.  Tennessee,  January  5,  1863. 
12  A 


Edward  P.  Fowler,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Myron  H.  Furlong,  discharged  February  10.  1803 . 

Leroy  L.  Guthrie,  mustered  out  May  15,  1865. 

Charles  A.  Gowdy,  died  at  Bardstown,  Kentucky.  December  8,  1862. 

G.  W.  Goodman,  discharged  February  6,  1863.  ~ 

Hamilton  Wilson,  promoted  to  Corporal  May  1.  1803;  discharged  August 

24,  1804. 
James  HoUoway.  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Hunt,  discharged  February  9,  1863. 

George  N.  Hubbell,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  September  20,  1803. 
Thaddeus  Hackett,  discharged  March  2.5.  1804. 
W.  W.  Hopkins,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Janus  H.  Hopkins,  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky.  December  4,  1S02. 
John  N.  Hopkins,  died  at  .Murfreesboro,  Tennessee.  June  15,  1803. 
E.  M.  Hume,  discharged  February  9,  1803. 

Eugene  Hawkes,  captured  at  Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863. 
John  W.  Johnson,  mustered  out  May  17.  1805. 
Flavel  B.  Jones,  killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September 

19,  1863. 
George  N.  Keeler,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corydon  Kingsbury,  promoted  to  Sergeant  March  1,  1804 
Simeon  W.  Kinsey,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  Leak,  mustered  out  with  company 
Ge  rge  Lawrence,  transferred  to  Veteran  Corps,  April  29.  1864 
George  A.  Lawrence,  mustered  out  with  company. 
E.  E.  Lyons,  discharged  December  13,  1863. 
George  E.  Mattoon,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  F.  Merit,  died  at  Danville,  Kentuckj',  November  12,  1862. 
Charles  H.  Mead,  promoted  to  Sergeant  May  1,  1864. 
Henry  M.  Newton,  promoted  to  Sergeant  May  1,  1803. 
Charles  Pickens,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Stone  River,  January  1 ,  1803 
Charles  Penfield,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds.  May  4,  1863. 
-\lbert  Palmer,  mustered  out  with  company. 
D.  G.  Palmer,  mustered  out  May  22,  1865. 
Job  Peterson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  B.  Rose,  mustered  out  with  compay 
Erastus  S.  Russell    discharged  February  14,  1803. 
John  H   Rickey,  died  of  wounds  June  23, 1864. 

Watson  W.  Rowland,  died  .January  31,  1863,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 
Levi  O.Rowland,  discharged  February  15,  1864. 
Samuel  L.  Smith,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  January  10, 

1865. 
George  H.  Sowers,  promoted  Sergeant  May  1.  1804. 
William  H.  Snyder,  discharged  December  28,  1802. 
Charles  Scott,  killed  in  action  at  Kingston,  Georgia,  May  19.  1864. 
John  C.  Sprague,  discharged  i  ebruary  14.  180:^ 
Orrin  S.  Sutton,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Luther  L.  Terry,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  February  5. 1864. 
James  E.  Terry,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  February  15. 

1864. 
Hiram  N.  Townsend,  discharged  March  7,  1863. 
William  H.  Trnmbley,  discharged  March  8,  1863. 
Jacob  Trusell,  Jr.,  discharged  December  12,  1863. 
Homer  Truxell,  discharged  February  14, 1863 
Merit  WycofE,  disharged  January  10, 1863. 
William  C.  Wyekes,  promoted  to  Corporal  May  1,  1864;  mustered  out 

with  company 
Samuel  C.  White,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia, 

September  20  1863 
W.  J.  Washbnrne,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  September  30, 

1863. 
Lemuel  Wood,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  January  15,  1864. 
Jesse  W.  Bell,  discharged  February  7,  1863. 

COMPANY    G. 


i  Lieutenant  Colonel,  to  date  January 


Captain  John  Messei',  prt 

3.  1863;  resigned  January  T,  1864. 
First  Lieutenant  John  P.  Fleming,  promoted  Captain  May  23, 1863;  mus 

tered  out  with  company. 
Second  Lieutenant  Horace  D.  Olds,  promoted  to  Firet  Lieutenant  May 

27,  188;3;  discharged  December  25,  1804,  to  accept  promotion  in  First 

United  States  Volunteer  Veteran  Engineer  Corps 

NON-COMMISSIOXED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sei-geant  William  H.  Van  Ness,  discharged  October  26,  ISSJ. 

Sergeant  .\mbrose  B.  C.  Dunman.  captured  September  19.  1863. 

Sergeant  Jonathan  Cooke,  transferred  to  First  United  States  Volunteer 
Veteran  Engineer  Coips  August  7,  1864 . 

Sergeant  George  W.  Flemmg,  discharged  March  4,  1803. 

Corporal  Squire  A.  Butler,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  May  3,  1804;  mus- 
tered out  with  company 


niSTOKY  OF  lirnOK  and  EHIE  counties,  OHIO. 


Corporal  George  Jloi-doff,  promoteil  to  Sergeant  July  'J.  1NI14;  mustered 

out  with  company . 
Corporal  Isaac  C.  Capen,  promoted  to  Sergeant  March  4.  18t53;  killed  in 

battle  September  19,  1863. 
Corjjoral  Francis  M.  Miller,  discharged  October  17, 1862. 
Corporal  George  L.  Smith,  died  December  4.  1802. 
Corporal  Jasper  F.  Webster,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  May  3, 

1864,  and  to  First  Lieutenant  February  I,  1S65;  mustered  out  with 

company . 
Corporal  John  White,  promoted  to  Sergeant  October  15,  1863;  mustered 

out  with  company . 
Musician,  Rhoderick  Russell,  discharged  March  26,  1863 


Franklin  Andrews,  promoted  to  Corporal  March  1, 
Emerson  Andrews,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Squire  Abbott,  mustered  out  with  company. 
He  =  ry  E.  Burahauk,  not  on  muster  out  roll . 
Isaac  Baldwin,  died  June  12.  1803. 
David  S.  Barber,  discharged  February  21,  1863. 
Oliver  W.  Beuschootei-.  died  December  28,  1,862. 
Albert  A.  Blair,  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  C.  Burkholder,  transferred  to  Veteran  Re; 


Corps,  May  27. 


1864. 


Walter  C.  Beardsley.  captured  September  19,  1863. 

Oliver  JI.  Butler,  mustered  out  with  company 

Marcus  Ci-annell,  wounded  December  1.5,  1804:  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

John  Daniels,  died  February  19,  1803 

Hezekiah  S.  Drake,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1805 

John  J.  Dunning,  discharged  July  10,  1863. 

William  Dunham,  killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  2.5, 1804 

Floron  Dalzell,  died  January  28,  1803. 

Henry  E.  Dwight,  mustered  out  with  company 

Henry  D.  Fisher,  mustered  out  with  company 

Alpha  B.  Falley,  discliarged  June  23,  1803 

George  L.  Fowler,  promoted  Sergeant  July  1,  1804:  mustered  out  with 
company . 

Ralph  G.  Fuller,  mustered  out  with  company, 

James  Ford,  transferred  to  .Mississippi  Marine  Brigade  March  11,  1803. 

Alfred  Ford,  discharged  for  wounds  May  13,  1805. 

Peter  Greiner,  transferred  to  Signal  Corps  October  22,  1803. 

Oliver  Gardner,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Daniel  W    Harris,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Hewett,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  January  5,  1.863 

Oeorge  Hoover,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Jacob  Hay,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  May  3,  1804 . 

William  Hutchinson,  killed  in  battle  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December 
.5,  1804. 

Malacbi  Humphrey,  discharged  for  wounds  May  85, 1865 

Daniel  B.  Higgius,  mustered  outwith  company. 

Miles  E    Hale,  discharged  January  31.  1803. 

Edgar  F.  Horn,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.    (No  date) . 

.Alha  H..>VHy.  mustered  out  with  company. 

I'  lii'  H  'V  ^    t.  a  nsferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.     (Nodate). 

-1    '      t,         ::    t  I  littered  out  with  company. 

i- 1  .-,1,  1 1.  i.  111. ml,,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Ben,)amm  ,lones,  mustered  outwith  company 

Peter  Landin,  discharged  February  7,  1863 

Laban  D.  Lowry,  discharged  December  1),  1803. 

Charles  Long,  mustered  outwith  company, 

Alexander  Lewis,  died  December  2,  1862. 

Charles  D.  Morehouse,  discharged  February  28, 1804 

Curtis  B.  Mullenox,  killed  in  battle  of  Stone  River  January  2,  1803. 

Andrew  Meikle   killed  in  battle  of  Stone  River  January  2,  1803. 

Francis  Magill,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Lafayette  Miller,  transferred  to  Engineer  Corps  August  7,  1864. 

Daniel  Myers,  mustered  out  with  company 

Andrew  J.  Miller,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1805, 

William  Munson,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  April  10, 1864. 

George  B.  Morse,  promoted  Corporal  January  1,  1805. 

Leroy  Mullenox.  died  fi-om  wounds  July  25,  1864. 

Lewis  Osborn,  died  in  Libby  Prison  December  14, 1803 

Stephen  Paxton,  promoted  Corporal  May  10,  1803;  mustered  out   with 
company . 

James  J.  Pike,  discharged  Januaiy  6,  1864. 

David  Plue,  promoted  Corporal  July  1,  1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

John  Russet,  nuistered  out  with  company. 

Charles  Russet,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Giles  W  Ray,  promoted  Corporal  July  1.  1864. 

Horace  V.  Ramsdell,  discharged  of  wounds  March  11.  1863. 

L.vraan  B.  Russell,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Almon  W.  Sherman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Elisha  D    Smith,  discharged  June  4. 1864. 

Russell  Sanders  discharged  August  1.5,  1863. 

Oeorge  W   Shaffer,  died  June  19,  18IM. 


Alfred  Sutton,  mustered  out  with  eomiiany. 

DeWitt  Thompson,  nmstered  out  with  company. 

Martin  V.  Wilbur,  discharged  for  wounds  March  27,  1805. 

John  D    Wheat,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Madison  E.  Wells,  promoted  Sergeant  .Fuly  1,  1804:  mustered  out  with 

company. 
George  W.  Wheat,  discharged  February  4,  1863 
Andrews  Bradley,  starved  to  death  in  Andei'sonville  prison,  September 

24,  1864:  captured  September  23,  1863, 

ONE    HrNDHED    AXD    SEVENTH   HElilMENT    OHIO    VOL- 
rXTEER    rXFAXTRY,    COMPAXY    F. 

Mustered  in  o  service  September  9   1862.  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.     Mustered 
out  of  service  July  10,  1865,  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 


First  Sergeant  Henry  Bernhard.  discharged  March  2, 1863. 
Sergeant  George  Beck,  missing  in  action  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  1863. 
Sergeant  Justus  Thornberg  promoted  First  Lieutenant:  woundt  d  May 

2,  1863. 
Sergeant  Carl  Groesli,  discharged  December  22,  1862. 
Sergeant  Leopold  Weinman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  John  Becker,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Frederick  Frey,  promoted  Sergeant  March  5,  1803:  mustere 

out  with  compaii,v. 
Corporal  Charles  Wahlei-.  wounded  in  action  July  1.  1863. 
Corporal  Henry  RodiT.  imistcrt-d  ,,iit  with  company. 
Corporal  Henry  Frt-.v.  .Ii.d  N-i  emi.fi- 1,  1802. 
Corporal  Joseph  Fels.  i.li^cliaiv^t.-d  U>i  wounds  May  27,  1864. 
Musician,  Stephen  Scliuun-.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Wagoner.  ,Josei)h  Bleier,  mustered  out  with  compan.v. 


Herman  Breunniy,  discliarged  April,  1863. 

Jacob  Bretz.  died  October  8, 1863. 

T.  Xavier  Buerge.  mustered  outwith  company. 

Augustin  Berzikafer.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Jacol-  Beecher.  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Bueher,  mustered  outwith  company. 

Frederick  Biehl,  captured  at  Gettysburg:  eight  months  a  prisoner. 

Adam  Bergheeler.  promoted  Corporal:  mustered  out  with  company 

John  Becker,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  promoted  Corporal. 

John  Breil.  died  May  14,  1865. 

Frederick  Busch,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Bishop,  died  December  31, 1802, 

Andrew  Bengel,  killed  in  action  March  2,  1803. 

John  Ernst,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  CoriJS  September  26, 18ii3. 

John  Ensdorff,  promoted  to  Sergeant  October  1,  1864;   mustered  out 

with  company 
Charles  Frauck,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  G.  Fott,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Gerdes,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  Gessler,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  Giteman,  mu.stered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  Hormes,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  by  reason  of 

wounds, 
George  Helmech,  killed  in  action  July  2,  186:3 . 
Henrj'  Hossle,  mustered  out  with  compan.y. 
William  Heinzman,  not  on  muster  out  roll 
William  Hacker,  missing  at  Gettysburg,  July  1.  1":03. 
Martin  Indlekofer,  died  June  19,  1865. 
John  Kastor,  mustered  out  with  company 
Charles  Krumbholz,  not  on  muster  out  roll . 
Henry  Klappel,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1804. 
Anton  Lung,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Ferdinand  Loeblein.  killed  in  action  May  2,  1803. 
Alphonse  J.  Leffler,  not  on  muster  out  roll . 
Frank  Mangin.  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Moos,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Jacob  G.  Miller,  absent,  sick,  when  company  was  mustered  out. 
Conrad  5IK-I-    ]••:•■ I'l  i^  Corporal  March  1,  1864;  wounded  May  2, 


1  Reserve  Corps  May  20,  1863 


August  51 ■  -         ■  'I  1 

Joseph  51nrll.  I    iiiii~ir  i.l  .nit  with  company. 

Frank  Newber^er,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  May  20,  1863. 

Gustav  Phillips,  promoted  to  Corporal  November  24,  1862:  wounded  in 

action  May  2,  1863;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  August 

22,  1804 . 
Peter  Reader,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  JIarch  5.  1864,  by 

reason  of  wounds. 
Peter  Reis,  died  from  wounds  July  10.  1863. 
August  Raber,  died  of  wounds  August  2,  18t>3. 
Nicholas  Rimel.  died  in  Libby  Prison. 
Henry  Ross,  mustered  out  with  company . 
John  Surreu.  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  February  1,  1804. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


William  Siieider,  promoted  to  Principal  Musician. 

Adam  Schaub,  wounded  in  action  IMareh  1,  ISiJi;  mustered  out  with 
compan}-. 

Valentin  Sheidler,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

John  Schomer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Smith,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

Christian  Thomas,  mustered  out  with  company 

Wendel  Viethauer,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

Jacob  Walter,  wounded  in  action  May  a,  1863;. mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Garret  Walter,  missing  in  action  July  1,  1863. 

Anthony  Wintersteller,  not  on  muster  out  roll . 

Jacob  Zuber,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

rOMP.VNY    H. 

Mustered  into  ser\-ice  September  !i,  1862,  Cleveland,  Ohio.    Mustered 
out  of  service  July  10.  186.5,  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 


Sergeant  Edward  Reitz,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Sergeant  William  Bowers,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  Company  B, 

April  23, 1865. 
Otto  Shick,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Andrew  Myers,  captured  at  Gettysburg,  Jul.y  1,  1863;  mustered 

out  with  company. 
Corporal  George  A.  Wise,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Romig,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  discharged  May  21,  1861. 
Corporal  Henry  Setzler,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville:  transferred  to 

Veteran  Reserve  Corps . 
Wagoner,  Joseph  Myers,  mustered  out  with  company 

PRIVATES . 

Amos  Arbogast,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Philip  Buliong,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Jacob  Bauman,  died  February  4,  1863. 

WiUiam  H.  Bauman,  died  December  2,  1863. 

Harry  Baursax,  promoted  Corporal  September  .«,  1862:  mustered  out 
with  company . 

Samuel  Cane,  mustei  ed  out  with  company . 

George  Denhart,  captured  at  ChancellorsviUe. 

Jacob  Egli,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  November  28,  1863. 

Martin  Gross,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville,  May  2,  1863;  transferred  to 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  1,  1863. 

Joseph  Gruner,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Nicholas  Huther,  mustered  out  with  compiny. 

Christopher  Heer,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date). 

Christiau  F.  HiUhvein,  promoted  Sergeant  July  1,  1863;  mustered  out 
with  company. 

Melchoir  Kechely,  mustered  out  with  company. 

James  W.  Myers,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Metz,  died  of  wounds  June  2.  1863. 

Conrad  Metz,  promoted  Corporal  March  5,  1863 ;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Frederick  Metz,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  January  16,  1864. 

Phihp  Oakleaf,  promoted  to  Corporal  December  4,  1862;  died  January 
2,  1863. 

Philip  Ohlemacher,  mus:ered  out  with  company. 

Franklin  B.  Price,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  March  2,  1864. 

John  Parker,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Alphonse  Reamer,  captured  at  Gettysburg;  mustered  out  with  company. 

PhiUp  Raw,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  January  16,  1S64. 

George  Roedersdorf .  mustered  out  with  company . 

Philip  Seel,  promo:ed  Corporal  January  1,  1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Michael  Seitz,  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  1,  1863;  transferred  to  Vete- 
ran Reserve  Corjis  March  2,  1864 . 

John  Soulter,  died  June  3,  1863. 

Joseph  Sneider,  died  April  10,  1863. 

Peter  Frautmau,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corp.s  January  16,  1864. 

Joseph  Weis,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps 

Peter  Weilnan,  died  June  7,  1863. 

John  W.  Weisenheimer.  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Simon  Yeager.  captured  February  .5,  1863;  paroled,  and  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  when  company  was  mustered  out. 

ONK    HlSDRF.l)    AND    ELEVENTH   RECUMENT  OHIO 
VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY,  COMPANY    A. 
Mustered  into  service  September  3,  1862,  at  Camp  Toledo,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  June  27,  1863,  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina. 

XO.NCOMUISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Charles  Baker,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  K, 

May  1,  1864. 
Corporal  Gemira  G.  Burton,  luustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date). 
Corporal  Henry  Vanbuskirk,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  John  R.  Ramsej',  discharged  (no  date) . 
Musician,  Janus  Current,  died  June  29,  1864 


William  H.  Arling,  discharged  at  Louisville,  Kentucky  (no  date). 

Robert  Long,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Jacob  Parker,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

Joseph  A.  Porter,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Edward  Sibrell,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Soanlen,  discharged  January  10,  1865. 

John  StoU,  mustered  out  with  company. 

COMPANY    G. 

Mustered  into  service  September  5,  1,862,    Mustered  out  of  service  with 
regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIOXED  OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Patrick  F.  Dalton,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  Company 

H,  Aprils,  1865. 
Corporal  Philip  Mathia,  wounded  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  November  30, 

1864;  discharged  from  hospital  at  Columbus,  Ohio  (no  date). 


George    W.  Crowell,  promoted    to    Second    Lieutenant,   Forty-Eighth 

U.  S.  C.  I.,  January  2,  1865. 
Richard  K.  Dalton,  died  at  Bowling  Green.  Kentucky,  November  23, 1862. 
Silas  Dymond,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Frederick  S.  Story,  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  November  21, 1862. 
Orrison  Smith,  discharged  from  hospital  (no  date). 
John  Tuekerman,  severely  injured  by  railroad  disaster  near  Gallatin, 

Tennessee,  March,  1863,  while  in  line  of  his  duty  as  train  guard. 

ONE    HTNDRED    AND    TWENTY-THIRD     REGIMENT 
OHIO  VOLINTEEK  INFANTRY,  COMPANY  B. 

Mustered  into  service  September  24,  1862,  at  Monroeville,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  June  12. 1865.  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Horace  Kellogg,  promoted  to  Major  April  6,  1863,  aud  to  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  December  14,  1864;  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

First  Lieutenant  John  Fitz  Randolph,  promoted  !to  Captain  March  6, 
1863;  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

Second  Lieutenant  Caleb  Dayton  Williams  promoted  to  First  Lieuten 
ant  March  6,  1863;  killed  in  action  July  18,  1864. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  George  Joseph  Frith,  wounded  in  action  at  Winchester, 
Virginia,  June  13,  1863;  died  June  20, 1863. 

Sergeant  Eugene  Smith,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant;  prisoner  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  from  June  15  to  July  15,  1863;  mustered  out  in  hos- 
pital. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  F.  Blair,  promoted  to  Captain,  and  transferred  to 
Compan.v  K  May  27,  1865. 

Sergeant  Harris  E.  Smith,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in  Thirteenth 
U.  S    C.  A.    January  9,  186:3. 

Sergeant  George  A.  Drake,  prisoner  of  war  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  from 
June  13  to  July  13.  1863.     No  date  of  discharge. 

Corporal  Ira  D.  Wells,  wounded  in  action  at  Hatcher's  Run,  Virginia, 
March  31.  1865. 

Corporal  George  Buskirk,  wounded  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  June  13, 
1863.    Discharged  November  19.  1863. 

Corporal  William  H.  Thomas,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Seventh  United  States  Colored  Troops, 
March  13.  1863. 

Corporal  Samuel  B.  Caldwell,  prisoner  of  war  from  June  13,  to  July  15, 
1863. 

Corporal  Edward  L.  Husted.  prisoner  from  June  15  to  July  15,  1863. 

Corporal  Ezra  A.  Wait,  discharged  Decembers,  1863. 

Cori^oral  William  G.  Ailing,  discharged  in  hospital. 

Corporal  Josiali  R.  Fisher,  wounded  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  June  13, 
1862;  discharged  July  14,  1S64 

IMusiciau,  Joseph  Sallalanil,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Musician   George  Williams,  mustered  out  with  company 


Nelson  Armstrong,  promoted  to  Corporal ;  no  date  given ;  mustered  out 

with  company . 
Malvern  H.  Barnhart,  died  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  May  12, 1863. 
Albert  Blish,  captured  June  15,  1863;  dischai-ged  in  hospital. 
Enoch  L.  Birdseye.  promoted  to  Corporal;  uo  date;  mustered  out  with 

company. 
Albert  Burch,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Y'.  Benfer,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 
Anson  T.  Bowen;  discharged  June  21,  I8tM. 

Edwin  J   Beverstock,  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward  September  1, 1861. 
William  Barliite.  promoted  Corporal  September  26,  1862;  captured  June 

15,  1863. 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


OiTin  G.  Bond,  mustered  out  with  eompany . 

Stanley  F.  Bond,  starved  to  death  at  Andersonville  prison,  August  16, 

1864.  by  order  of  Jeff.  Davis. 
Jehlle  Castle,  discharged  in  hospital. 

Elijah  S   Conger,  killed  in  battle  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  June  13,  186-3. 
Henry  S.  Clapp,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  Nineteenth  United 

States  Colored  Troops.  August  11.  1864. 
IriwngCole,  wounded  in  actional  Winchester,  Virginia,  June  1.3,  1863: 

right  arm  amputated:  discharged  October  3.  18B4. 
Judson  Castle,  discharged  in  hospital. 

William  C.  Cummings,  captured  June  15,  1863:  discharged  in  hospital. 
Richard  Evans,  died  of  woun  ds  July  10,  1863. 
Michael  Freund,  discharged  in  hospital. 
Reuben  Fox,  captured  June  15,  1863 ;  discharged  in  hospital. 
Amos  Fo.x,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 
Jordon  Fox,  discharged  in  hospital.  • 
John  L.  Greggs,  died  April  39,  1863. 

Emanuel  F.  Goodell,  captured  June  15, 1S63;  discharged  in  hospital. 
Serah  Godfrey,  discharged  in  hospital. 

Andros  J.  Gilbert,  captured  June  15,  1863:  mustered  out  with  company. 
Elmer  E.  Husted,  mustered  out  with  regiment  as  First  Lieutenant  and 

Adjutant. 
Rufus  T.  Holcomb,  died  .August,  1863. 
Palmer  D.  Hatch,  discharged  in  hospital . 
Benjamin  Holcomb.  died  of  wounds  July  3,  1863, 
Philip  A.  Hoffman,  captured  June  15, 1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 
Ezra  A.  Hoffman,  captured  June  15, 1863;  discharged  from  hospital. 
William  W.  Hill,  captured  June  15,  1863:  discharged  in  hospital, 
Ebenezer  B.  Harrison,  discharged  in  hospital. 
Henry  C.  Hicks,  discharged  in  hospital. 

Louis  Kutcher,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 
George  Kutcher,  captured  June  15, 1863. 
Leonard  Keller,  killed  in  action  June  13, 1863. 
Francis  Little,  discharged  (records  lost). 
Solon  Lane,  discharged  in  hospital. 

Noyes  S.  Lee,  captured  June  15,  1863:  discharged  in  hospital. 
William  Lett.s,  discharged  in  hospital . 
Alfred  W.  Miller,  discharged  in  hospital 
Uriah  Mogg,  captured  June  IS,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 
William  Mann,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 
Sylvanus  A.  Messeldine,  discharged  in  hospital . 
Albert  T.  Nye,  discharged  in  hospital . 
William  B.  Prouty,  discharged  (records  lost).  • 

Emery  Prouty,  discharged  in  hospital. 
Clinton  Prouty,  discharged  December  31,  1864. 
Charles  H.  Reynolds,  discharged  (records  lost). 
Henry  C.  Rushton,  promoted  Corporal  (no  dates). 
Charles  Roe.  mustered  out  with  company . 

Louis  Rutherford,  wounded  July  18,  1864.  at  Snicker's  Ferry,  Virginia 
Bowen  W.  Schnebley,  killed  in  action  June  13,  1863. 
Riley  Sparks,  discharged  (records  lostl. 
Henry  C.  Stultz,  killed  in  action  July  18,  1864. 
John  L.  Smith   promoted  Corporal  January  1.  1865;  mustered  out  with 

company . 
Henry  J.  Spangler,  missing  in  action  at  Snicker's  Ferry,  Virginia 
Thompson  Smith,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Edward  Strickfather,  mustered  out  with  company 
Martin  Stoekmaster.  wounded  at  Hatcher's  Run,  Vii-ginia,  March  31. 

1865;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Wagner  R.  Smith,  captured  June  15,  186:3:  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Slater,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  (records  lost). 
George  W.  Slater,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  Slater,  wounded  at  Hatcher's  Run,  Virginia,  March  31,  1865. 
Benjamin  F,  Skinner,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Joseph  Tuman,  died  May  1,  1863. 
Anson  H.  Taylor,  nmstered  out  with  company. 
Loren  Twiss,  captured  June  1.5,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
A.  Woodruff,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  (records  lost). 
Fred.  C.  Wickhauer,  promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant  September  36, 

1863. 
Seymour  Waldron,  discharged  (records  lost). 
Benjamin  H.  Williams,  killed  in  action  June  1.5,  1863. 
Edward  H.   Williams,  promoted  to  Quartermaster  Sergeant  October 

as,  1863. 
Victor  Weiss,  captured  June  15,  1863:  mustered  out  with  company 
Abraham  W.  Walter,  died  of  wounds  June  35,  1863. 
Robert  W.  Burns,  captured  June  15.  1863;  nmstered  out  with  i 


I  company. 


lOMPAXY 


Mustered  into  service  September  39.1862.  at  Monroeville,  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  with  regiment  June  12,  1865. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Charles  V.  Parinenter,  resigned  for  disability,  Octobers,  1804. 
First  Lieutenant  Edgar  Martin,  resigned  for  disability,  February  18, 1863. 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS . 

First  Sergeant  Frank  A.  Breckenridge,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
April  .5,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Sergeant  John  Kennedy,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Sergeant  Augustin  L.  Smith,  discharged  February,  1863. 

Sergeant  James  Amadell.jJischarged  March.  1863. 

Sergeant  Lewis  White,  drowned  while  in  action  July  18.  1864. 

Corporal  Marion  C.  Lester,  captured  June  15,  1863;  promoted  First  Ser- 
geant; mustered  out  with  company. 

Corporal  Philander  Miles,  discharged  for  disability,  (no  date). 

Corporal  George  A.  Webster,  in  Salisbury  prison  from  September  3, 1.S64, 
to  March  1,  1865. 

Corporal  William  Odell,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  com. 
pany. 

Corporal  William  H.  Ramey.  discharged  for  disability,  March  30,  1863. 

Corporal  Norman  H.  Tillotson.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Corporal  Addison  Barker,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  (no 
date. 

Corporal  Lymau  P.  Blake,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Musician,  Dennis  K.  Canfield,  promoted  to  Principal  Musician  Septem- 
ber 1,  1864. 

Musician,  Clark  Canfield,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company. 


Nelson  Baker,  captured  June  15,  1S63;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Albert  S.  Blanchard.  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

William  L.  Burnham,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Thomas  N.  Beers,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Romane  Curtis,  promoted  to  medical  cadet.  May,  1863. 

William  Carson,  discharged  in  hospital. 

Sidney  Carpenter,  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  on  muster  out;  discharged 
July  3il,  1854. 

Jacob  Carson,  wounded  May  11.  1864,  and  September  19,  1864. 

William  Carr,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 

Patrick  Clark,  discharged  March  18,  1863 

Orrin  Cole,  captured  June  15,  1863,  (no  date  of  muster  out) 

Willis  H.  Conklin,  prisoner  from  July  24,  1864,  to  March  1,  1865. 

Eureka  Colt,  captured  May  15,  1864;  died  in  rebel  prison  September  1, 
1864. 

Wilson  Day,  mustered  out  with  companj' . 

Hugh  Debow,  no  date  of  muster  out. 

Orry  Decker,  killed  in  action  June  13,  1863. 

Henry  W.  Erswell,  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Charles  Erswell,  captured  lune  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company, 

Martin  Fay,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Daniel  T.  Fink,  March  1,  1865,  mustered  out  with  company :  promoted 
Sergeant. 

George  L.  Fish,  discharged  for  disability,  February,  1865. 

John  B.  Fairchilds,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital, 

Addison  M.  Frye,  promoted  Sergeant  February  19,  1864:  captured  May 
15,  1864. 

Harvey  E.  Garrison,  starved  to  death  in  rebel  prison,  Feboiary  14, 1865. 

Henry  Goodenough,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Crary  Green,  killed  May  31 ,  ]S63. 

Frankhn  Gieen,  discharged  February  18.  1863 

Thomas  Grannals,  discharged  from  Cumberland  hospital,  Slarch  14, 

Frederick  Heminway,  captured  June  15,  1863:  mustered 
pany 

Seymour  C.  Lester,  promoted  Sergeant  April  5,  1863;  captured  June  15, 
186:3;  mustered  out  with  company. 

William  McKee,  discharged  in  hospital. 

John  W.  Miller,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,1865:  mustered  out  with 
company. 

John  Miller,  discharged  April,  1863. 

Wilson  Moore,  discharged  March  30,  1863. 

Nelson  S.  Mosier,  discharged  March  20.  1863 

Charles  Nixon,  died  in  rebel  prison  December  11,  1864. 

John  S.  Phillips,  mustered  out  with  company 

Franklin  Phillips,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  H.  Rhodes,  promoted  Corporal  April  5,  1863;  wounded  in  action, 
September  19,  1864;  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  in  hospital. 

Napoleon  Robinson,  mustered  out  with  company, 

James  Spence.  died  September  1,  1863. 

John  Salisbury,  captured  June  15,  1S63;  mustered  out  with  company, 

Wallace  D.  Skinner,  captured  June  1.5,  1863:  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany 

Levi  J,  Steel,  died  May  14,  1863. 

Simon  Steel ;  wounded  April  6,  1S65;  discharged  from  hospital 

Jacob  Steel,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Josiah  Snyder,  died  a  paroled  prisoner  March  29,  1865. 

Lyman  R.  Shepard,  prisoner  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  from  October 
19,  18«4,  to  March  1,  1865;  mustered  out  with  company 


with  com- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Lorin  L.  Spronger,  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Homer  S.  Seeley,  died  June  30.  1863. 

John  Siflet,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Fernando  Sly,  died  June  20,  1S63. 

Otis  Sylier,  wounded  in  action  September  19,  1864;  limb  amputated;  dis- 
charged iu  hospital;  captured  June  15,  1863. 

Christopher  E.  Tillotson.  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Cyrus  Taylor,  discharged  from  hospital . 

William  Waggoner,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Samuel  White,  captured  June  15,  1863;  discharged  from  hospital. 

Johfl  R.  Wilson,  stm-ved  to  death  in  Andersonville  prison  October  81, 
1864, 

Albert  H.  Wait,  promoted  Corporal  Febi-uary  19, 1S64;  captured  June  15. 
1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Hiram  Whitmour,  discharged  February,  1863,  for  disabiUty , 

Alphord  Bascom,  discharged  February  14,  1863,  for  disability. 

Silas  Simpson,  killed  by  cars  December  19,  1864. 

Alonzo  Linn,  died  from  wounds  received  June  IT,  1863. 

John  Murfy,  discharged  February  14,  1863,  for  disability. 

Lafayette  Loveland,  discharged  for  disability  (date  not  Ijnown). 

Nathan  Beei-s,  mustered  out  with  company . 

David  B.  Moore,  recruit;  wounded  at  High  Bridge,  Virginia,  April  6, 
1865;  mustered  out  with  company. 

COM  PAX  Y    E. 

Blustered  into  service  September  29,  1862,  at  Monroeville.  Ohio.    Mus- 
tered out  with  regiment  June  12,  1865 , 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Samuel  W.  Reed  resigned  February  12.  1863. 

First  Lieutenant  Dwight  Kellogg,  promoted  to  Captain  April  5,  1863; 

mustered  out  with  company. 
Second  Lieutenant  Martin  H.  Smith,  promoted  to  Captain  of  Company 

D,  June  7,  1865. 

NOX-COMMISSIO.VED  OFFICERS 

First  Sergeant  WiUiam  S.    Rulison,    died  at  Cumberland,   Maryland, 

Deeember  10,  1862. 
Sergeant  Martin  V.  Aldrich,  discharged  March  18,  1863. 
Sergeant  Charles  H.  Sowers,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  December  9, 

1864. 
Sergeant  Charles  Loring,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  April  5, 1863;   mus 

tert  d  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  James  Angel,  discharged  for  disability  April  15,  1803 . 
Corporal  Horace  Lawrence,  promoted  to  Sergeant  December  10,  1862; 

mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  David  H .  Hutchison,  captured  June  20,  1864 ;  iu  rebel  prison 

when  company  was  mustered  out.  • 

Corporal  James  Wheaton.  disii-harged  April  24,  1S63,  for  disability. 
Musician,  Samuel  Bratton,  died  in  rebel  prison  February  IT.  1865. 
Wagoner,  William  Stone,  on  detached  service  when  the  company  was 

mustered  out. 


William  Biirge,  sicli  iu  hospital  when  company  was  mustered  out. 
James  Bennington,  discharged  January  25, 1865. 
Jeremiah  Cassner  sicli  in  hospital  since  September  20.  1864. 
Moses  Cassner.  captured  at  Cedar  Creel;,  Virginia,  October  19,  1864. 
Henry  Coats,  absent  on  detached  service. 
Hudson  Catlin,  absent  with  pontoon  train . 

Jacob  Dorn,  Itilled  in  action  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  June  15,  1863. 
Alexander  Dennison  died  in  rebel  prison  February  18,  1864. 
Hamilton  Dennison,  died  July  6.  1863,  of  wounds  received  in  action. 
Nicholas  Durgin,  died  August  1,  1863. 
Joseph  Dignan,  promoted  Corporal,  January  8,  1864. 
John  Ensign,  discharged  December  23.  1863. 
Micliael  H.  Fullcert,  discharged  September  30,  1863. 
Henry  Gibson,  wounded  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  September  19,  1864. 
James  Gregory,  mustered  out  witli  company. 
John  Ghorani,  discharged  March  18,  1863. 
Elias  Hanlcison,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Richard  Howell,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Hanserd,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Peter  Letts,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Daniel  Mead,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Victor  F.  Mosier,  mustered  out  with  company . 
James  S.  Moody,  mustered  cut  with  company 
Isaac  Odell,  promoted  Corporal  April  5.  1863. 
Lucius  Palmer,  mustered  out  wiih  company. 
George  Pipher,  died  iu  rebel  prison,  Agust  9,  1864 . 
James  B.  Reed,  died  April  18,  1863 
David  Reed,  mustered  out  with  company 
Thomas  Shamp.  died  March  2'<,  1865. 

Lorenzo  Sweetland,  discharged,  from  wounds  receiveil  iu  action,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1803. 

13 


Frederick  Shafer,  died  in  rebel  prison  December  25, 1864. 

Edmond  P.  Snyder,  promoted  Corporal  April  5,  1863;  mustered  out  with 

compan.v . 
Edwin  Snyder,  promoted  Sergeant  October  12,  1864;  mustered  out  with 

company . 
James  B.  Smith,  discharged  31arch  IS,  1863. 
Lambert  N.  Sackett,  discharged  April  1.  1803. 

James  Smith,  starved  to  deatli  in  rebel  prison,  about  October  15,  1804. 
Newell  B.  Salisbury,  died  October  1,  1804,  of  wounds  received  in  action 

September  30,  1864. 
Edwin  Trimmer,  promoted  Corporal  April  5,  1863 
George  W.  Tucker,  discharged  October  15,  1863. 
Wiliard  C.  Vanlere,  discharged  December  1,  1863. 
Charles  Vogal,  killed  in  action  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  June  13,  1863. 
Lemuel  Veil,  absent  in  hospital  when  company  was  mustered  out. 
David  Williams,  discharged  April  31,  1863. 
Perjy  C.  Wyrick.  discharged  December  23,  1862. 
Mathias  Zimmerman. 

Ralph  C.  Poiner,  (name  not  on  muster  out  roll). 
John  W.  Garrison,  mustered  out  with  company . 


COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Captain  Charles  H.  Riggs,  died  September  15,  1864.  from  starvation, 

while  in  rebel  prison  at  Charleston.  South  Carolina. 
First  Lieutenant  Oswald  H.  Rosenbaum,  was  private  to  August  22,  1863, 

when  he  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant;  promoted  to  Captain 

March  7,  1865. 
Second  Lieutenant  Frank  B.  Colver,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  June 

I.  1863;  discharged  by  special  order  War  Department,  April  4,  1865. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  Sherman  A.  Johnson,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  Janu- 
ary 14.  1864;  discharged  for  wounds  June  15,  1865. 
Sergeant  George  A.  Scobey,  transferred  to  Non-Commlssioned  Staff 

April  0,  1863. 
Sergeant  Wesley  B.  .Jennings,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  January  1, 

1804. 
Sergeant  Charles  M.  Keyes,  transferred  by  i>romotion  to  Company  K, 

April,  1864. 
Sergeant  Martin  L.  Skillman,  captured  June  15,  1865;  mustered  out  with 

company . 
Corporal   Myrcn    E.    demons,    promoted    to    Sergeant;    wounded    at 

Hatchers  Run,  March  31,  1865. 
Corporal  John  Steele,  discharged  March,  1863  (records  lost). 
Corporal  Augustus  O.  Garrett,  promoted  to  Sergeant;  captured  June 

15,  1863. 
Corporal  Frank  W.  Canfield,  discharged  tor  disabilit.y  (records  lost) . 
Corporal  Jacob  Wentz,  died  in  rebel  prison  January  3T,  1865. 
Corporal  Wilham  Gallard,  killed  in  action  June  13.  1863. 
Corporal  William  H.  Metcalf.  name  not  on  muster-out  roll. 
Corporal  William  H.  Levering,  name  not  on  muster-out  roll. 
Musician,  William  Jennings,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Musician,  William  Allen,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Wagoner,  George  R.  McCounelly,  absent  as  brigade  teamster. 

PRIVATES. 

Louis  Buyer,  captured  June  15,  1863 

Solomon  Brown,  died  of  wounds  November  21,  1864. 

Charles  Brumm,  discharged  for  wounds  March  20,  1865. 

Napoleon  Buyer,  absent  when  company  was  mustered  out. 

Lut'aer  Barnard,  wounded  in  action  September  19.  1861;  captured  June 
15.  :-63. 

Henry  C.  Barnard,  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  N.  Bonn,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Jay  Bogart,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Albert  D.  Buck,  mustered  out  with  company. 

James  Burns,  captured  June  15, 186;3;  mustered  out  with  compan.v. 

Henry  Blosier,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Michael  Clark,  captured  June  15,  1883;  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Clavhi,  discharged  for  disability  (records  lost) . 

James  Cross,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

William  H.  Chamberlain,  discharged  for  disability  (records  losti. 

Cornelius  D.  Congor.  captured  June  15,  1863:  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

George  B.  Drake,  promoted  Corporal:  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered 
out  with  company 

Benjamin  Drake,  captured  June  15,  1803;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Jacoli  Detless,  died  from  wounds  received  in  action  November  21,  1864. 

Martin  Dippel.  discharged  for  disa1>iUty  (records  lost). 

Benjamin  E.  Deeley,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  com. 
pany. 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Edward  Forester,  on  detached  service . 

Conrad  Filmore,  absent— sick  in  hospital . 

Joseph  Grofif,  captured  June  15.  186;) 

Joseph  H.  GofI,  captured  June  15,  186:3;  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  W.  Greenhoe.  captured  June  15.  1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 


pany 


^ords  lost ) 


Charles  W.  Gillen.  discluir^-t-.l  f..r  .Usability  ( 
■William  Golden,  captinvd  Ausrust  Vl  18«4 
Georfre  Golden,  .Jr..  dit-d  June  vl.  I^'i.'J. 
Bryant  Headley.  transferred  by  promotion 

First  United  States  Colored  Troops.  Septe 
Charles  Hegony,  no  date  of  muster  out. 
John  Harper,  captured  June  13,  J86.3. 
James  Hoyt,  died  March  li,  18ia. 
William  Hoyt.  died  May  23. 186.3. 

Richard  Howe,  captured  June  1.5, 1S«3;  mustered  out  with  company 
Charles  Hammond,  discharged  for  disabiUty ;  no  record 
John  Hines,  on  detached  service. 

George  Hines.  captured  June  13,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Henry  D.  Johnson,  died  from  wounds  received  in  action  June  15,  1863. 
Charles  G   Knight,  promoted  Corporal :  captured  June  IS,  1863. 
Thomas  Keyes,  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Lyman  Luce,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Patrick  I^ughlin,  captured  May  13,  1864;   exchanged  March  11,  1865; 

mustered  out  with  company. 
John  La  Fere,  died  in  rebel  prison  (date  not  known). 
Andrew  J.  Lewis,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  (records  lost) 
Frank  Littlefleld,  discharged  for  disability  (records  lost). 
James  P.  McElwain.  died  in  rebel  prison  (date  not  known). 
William  Morgan,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Barney  McGookey.  died  in  hospital  May  i),  1863. 
Richard  Martin,  missing  in  action  June  13, 1863. 
Foster  Neil,  captured  June  15,  1863. 

Thomas  Neil,  died  in  Andersonville  prison  (starved  to  death). 
Theodore  Ocks,  killed  in  action  March  31, 1865. 
Albert  Ott.  killed  in  action  July  12,  1864. 

William  Oehm,  in  hospital  when  company  was  mustered  out. 
August  Raab.  absent  in  hospital  when  company  was  mustered  out. 
Conrad  Rhoela,  discharged  for  wounds  received  in  action  June  13,  1863. 
Delos  C.  Ransom,  captured  June  15,  1863. 

William  Reed,  captured  June  15.  186:j;  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Reed,  died  from  wounds  July  12,  1864 

Samuel  E.  Stowe.  captured  June  15,  1863:  mustered  out  with  company 
Andrew  Strawson,  captured  October  19,  1864. 
Albert  Srutley,  name  not  on  muster  out  roll . 
John  R.  Savenack,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Peter  Sheur,  captured  June  13,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Stockley,  captured  June  13,  1S63. 
George  Shesley,  on  detached  duty 
Benjamin  Thompson,  on  detached  service. 

Frederick  Tucker,  in  hospital  when  company  was  mustered  out. 
Alfred  C.  Vantyne,  discharged  for  wounds,  Febru  ary  20, 1863. 
George  A.  Warren,  died  in  hospital  at  Cumberland,  Maryland  (no  date). 
Albert  L.  Walker,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  March  14, 1863;  assigned 

to  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Sixth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer 

William  P.  Wheeler,  promoted  CoriJOial;  wounded  in  action  September 

19,  1864;  discharge.l  from  liospital. 
Solomon  Kri-s.Mis..hargH.|  fnr  disability,  (record  lost) 
William  Stahl.  di«hniged  in  liospital,  (no  date). 
George  Weber,  capturt-il  .lune  15.  ls63. 
John  McGookey,  mustered  out  wich  company. 
Richard  H.  Trimmer,  wounded  in  action;  captured  June  15,  186:1, 
Thomas  Persons,  captured  June  15,  1863. 
Milo  H.  Wager,  wounded  in  action;  captured  June  15,  1863. 
Wilham  Kelly,  wounded  in  action;  captured  June  15.  1863. 


COMPANY   H. 


Mustered  into  service  September  8, 1863,  at  Monroeville,  Ohio, 
tered  out  of  service  with  regiment  June  12, 1863 


Sergeant  John  O.  Davis,  prisoner  from  May  1.5.  to  Decembei- 6.  1864; 
mustered  out  with  company. 

Corporal  Frederick  Staley,  promoted  Sergeant  September  1.  1863;  cap- 
tured June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company 


Daniel  Ambrosier.  wounded  October  111,  1864,  and  left  in  hospital. 
Shannon  Blackford,  name  not  on  muster  out  roll. 
WilliamlBeck,  captured  June  15. 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Samuel  K.  Swisher,  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  L.  Foy,  died  while  a  prisoner.  June  44,  18G4. 


Joseph  Sidell,  mustered  out  with  company 

Samuel  S.  Carson,  discharged  for  disability  (records  lost) 

H.  M.  Carey,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company 

Thomas  McClintock,  discharged  for  disability  (records  lost) 

James  W.  English,  captured  June  1.5, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 


COM PAX Y    K 

-  October  16,  1862, 


;  Monroeville,  Ohio 


NOS-COMMISSIO.NED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  James  Healy,   captured   June  13.  1863;  mustered  out 

with  company . 
Sergeant  Joseph  Goodsal,  died  of  wounds,  September  5,  1864 . 
Corporal  Ignatius  Buff,  discharged  May  4,  1863. 
Corporal  Thomas  R.ibinson.  promoted  Sergeant:  captured  June  15. 1863; 

mustered  out  with  compan.v 


David  S.  Ames,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Thomas  W.  Boyce,  pi  omoted  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  F,  March, 

1864. 
James  Caul,  died  June,  1863. 

Andrew  Dunahoe.  killed  in  action,  at  Hatcher's  Run,  March  :jl.  1865. 
James  Duffey   mustered  out  with  company . 

Arthur  Donnelly,  discharged  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  (no  records). 
John  Grant,  promoted  to  Corporal;  wounded  Septembers,  18(>4. 
Francis  Higgins,  captured  June  15,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Hastings,  transferred  to  Company  B,  October  16, 1862. 
Michael  Hyde,  transferred  to  Company  B,  October  16,  1862 
Daniel  McGrady,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  R.  Marvin,  captured  June  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Robinson,  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  September  12,  1864. 
Benjamin  Spittle,  captured  June  13.  1863. 

Edward  Lavenack,  transferred  to  Company  B,  October  16,  1862. 
Ozias  Huntley,  in  hospital  at  City  Point  when  company  was  mustered 


HOFFMAN  S    BATTALION  —  COMPANY    B — ONE    HUN- 
DRED   AND    TWENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service,  February  27,  1862,  at  Johnson's  Island,  Ohio. 
Mustered  out  of  service  July  13,  1865,  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio 

NOX-COMUISSIOSED  OFFICERS. 

First  Sergeant  Leroy  W.  Bailey,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant. 

Sergeant  William  Koch,  discharged  to  accept  promotion  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Sergeant  Marshall  Duray,  promoted  First  Lieutenant;  resigned  De- 
cember 13.  1S64. 

Sergeant  John  Doherty,  discharged  August  7,  1862. 

Corporal  Frank  Berger,  discharged  at  expiration  of  term  of  service. 


George  Aikin,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Michael  Abele,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Henry  Brewer,  mustered  out  with  company 
Frank  Bridenbaugh.  mustered  out  with  company 
Jacob  Brunner,  mustered  out  with  company 
John  H    Carrington.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Clirist.ipli.-r  L'r...-k.  mustt-red  ..ut  with  company. 
J..lin  EikltT.  iiiusteic.l  ..lit  witli  company. 
Fr.Tiiklin  KIlis,  ninstrrt-.l  ..ui  with  company. 
George  Fl.-iniUL-.  imwt.i.-.l  out  with  company. 
Benjamin  F.  F..«  I,  r.  mnstered  out  with  company. 
John  Gould,  niiistfivil  ..ut  with  company. 
William  Hart,  mustrrid  uut  with  company. 
James  A.  Harvey,  nuistered  out  with  company. 
AKred  Luff,  nuistered  out  with  company. 
Basil  JIark,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Henry  Motry,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Ariacus  Offerman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Frederick  Ofterman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  W.  Rohbacher,  mustered  out  «ith  company 
George  O.  Sharp,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Samuel  Steck,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Christian  Steebig,  mustered  out  with  company. 
,lohn  Werner,  mustered  with  company 


t{[S'l()i;V   OF  IIUHON  AND  ElilE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Abrani  C.  Wliite.  mustered  our  with  company, 
Benjamin;F.  Withingtou.  mustered  mt  with  company. 
Seth  Woodward,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edwin  R.  Woodworth,  mustered  out  with  company 
David  Wright,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Wright,  mustered  out  with  company. 


JOMPAXY    C. 


nson's  Island,  Ohio.     Mustered 
:  Camp  Chase,  Ohio . 


Mustered  into  service  June  6.  186:3,  at  Jc 
out  of  service  July  13,  IfcitiS, 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Corporal  Emery  Bureau,  discharged  June  5,  1805. 


Jolin  Burge,  discharged  June  5,  1865. 

Joel  V.  Bidwell,  discharged  December  T,  1862. 

Ler  Bates,  discharged  June  5,  1865. 

John  L.  Davis,  discharged  June  5.  1865. 

Charles  A .  Graves,  mustered  out  with  company 

Joshua  S.  Harris,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Samuel  Knight,  discharged  June  5.  1865. 

James  McCarty,  discharged  June  5   1885. 

Philip  Morton,  discharged  August  20.  1863. 

Edwin  Moore,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in  the  One  Hundred  and 

Second  United  States  Colored  Troops,  September,  6,  1863. 
Loeb  Mark,  discharged  December  7,  1863. 
Glaorge  Van  Buskirk,  discharged  June  5,  1865. 

CO.MPAXY    D. 

Mustered  into  service  September  16,  1S6S,  at  Johnson's  Island,  Ohio. 
Mustered  out  of  service  July  13,  1865,  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 


rporal  Charles  Waucke,  mustered  ( 
rporal  John  Gluck,  mustered  out. 


Frank  Beitchman,  discharged  April  25,  1863 
William  Beith,  mustered  out. 
John  Baunling,  mustered  ( 
George  Currie,  mustered  < 


August  Gla 
Charles  Hittle,  n 
JolmHeyler.  mu 
Valentine  Henn, 
Jacob  Hartmann 


lustered  ( 


t  with  company. 
;  with  company . 
t  with  company . 

lUstered  out  with  company. 

stered  out  with  company . 

mustered  out  with  company. 

,  discharged  August  13,  1863. 
Joseph  Koleuber,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  N.  Lehman   mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Lechler.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Metzgan,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Martin,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  Raymond,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Frank  Rettman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Frederick  N.  Smith,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Solomon,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sebastian  Schwinford,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Mike  Schlagter,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Wellinger,  mustered  out. 
SainuelS.  Yoder.  promoted  September  26,  1864. 
Benham  Zahin,  died  January  26,  1863. 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Second  Lieutenant  Foster  V.  FoUett,  transferred  to  Company  A,  April  4, 


Sergeant  Ervin  Hewit,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Corporal  Louis  Ray,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Musician,  Aloys  Baumeister,  mustered  out  with  company. 


August  Bottger,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Boyd  Clendenning,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Barney  Conley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Francis  Conley,  mustered  out  with  company . 
John  Conley,  mustered  out  with  company 
Moses  Dildine,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Benjamin  S.  Ervin. 


William  Ford,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Doctor  C.  Gardner,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Dyark  W.  Gardner,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Andrew  J.  Hastings,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Aaron  J.  Hunt,  mustei-ed  out  with  company. 
William  Hunt,  mustered  out  with  company . 
William  Jones,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Lahrman,  died  September  24,  1864. 
David  T.  Livingood.  mustered  out  with  company . 
Urban  C.  Livingood,  mustered  out  with  company 
Jacob  Long,  mustered  out  with  company . 
John  Noss,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  S.  Philo,  mustered  out  with  company . 
George  Reiter.  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Buggies,  mustered  out  with  company . 
William  Ruggles,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Joseph  Shebeley ,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Frank  Speildenner.  mustered  out  with  company . 
George  Bpron,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Jefferson  Stephens,  must<'red  out  with  company 

ONE     HUXDHED     AXD    SIXTY-SIXTH     OHIO     NATIONAL 
(iUARn,     COMPANY    B. 

Mustered  into  service  May  15,  1864,  at  Norwalk.  Ohio.     Mustered  out  of 
service  September  9,  1864,  at  Camp  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS . 

Captain  Edgar  Martin.  First  Lieutenant  Samuel  W.  Curtiss. 

Second  Lieutenant  Sterry  H.  Cole . 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS . 

FirstSergeantEdw'dA.Comstock.    Corporal  Simon  DeGraff. 


Sergeant  Walter  Petteys . 
Sergeant  George  S.  Hoyt. 
Sergeant  David  M.  Pelton . 
Sergeant  Thomas  MiUiman . 
Corporal  Edgar  Barnhart. 
Corporal  George  Willsey. 


David  Acker, 
Cecil  C.  Abbott. 
George  Beers. 
John  Butt. 
Asa  Briggs,  Jr. 
George  F.  Burton . 
Michael  Considing. 
GarrahB.  Clawson. 
Nicholas  Dunn. 
Peter  R.  Draper. 
Isaac  X    DeGraff 
Charles  V.  Fay . 
Charles  H.  Hoyt. 
Frederick  Hines. 
William  H.  Haskell. 
Chalres  Isenhour. 
William  N.  Jenkins. 
Sydney  S .  Llpyd. 
Robert  Lester. 
Josiah  Lawrence. 
James  E.  Lutts . 
Allen  Morrison . 
Thomas  W,  Miller. 
Samuel  B .  Newcomb 
Seth  W.  Osborn. 
Henry  C.  Owens. 
John  B.  Perkins. 
Henry  Sayers. 
Hiam  Stout. 
John  R.  Sly. 
Marcus  M.  States. 
Jared  C.  Tutsworth. 
Ben.iamin  Worthington. 
Wilbur  Waldron 


Corporal  Albert  Dunn . 
Corporal  Lyman  J.  Swift. 
Corporal  Lorey  Arnold. 
Musician,  Spencer  C.  Cornell. 
Musician,  Henry  Butt. 


William  H.  .-imes. 
Cyrus  Arnett. 
Daniel  A.  Jas.  Baker. 
Jacob  Burdue. 
James  N.  Burdue. 
Myron  H.  Bentley. 
George  W.  Curtis. 
.\shurM.  Cole. 
William  C.  Davis. 
Horace  Draper. 
Reuben  Emerson. 
Thomas  Hagaman . 
Elhanan  W.  Hawks. 
Edmund  J.  Husted. 
Joseph  Isenhour. 
Abbott  Jones. 
Charles  F.  Lee . 
Marshal  Lester. 
Andrew  J.  Lockwood. 
Alonzo  E.  Lawrence. 
Marshal  W.  Lowe. 
Robert  Mountain. 
Carlos  Norton. 
Joseph  Nast, 
Allen  D    Owens. 
Harvey  Palmer. 
William  Rice. 
Eli,iah  Soule. 
John  C.  Sower. 
Van  Ransaelaer  Swift. 
William  S.  Smith. 
Ezra  Tutsworth. 
Stedman  Winchester. 
Giles  Yaples. 


Coiporal  Norris  D.  Fay,  July  14,  1864. 
Corporal  Dwight  Ruggles.  .-iugust  3.  18W 


Spurr>-  Green.  July  31,  18W. 
Charles  E.  Burr,  August  1.5,  18»4. 
John  Pinney,  .Vugust  19,  1864. 
Cornelius  S.  Plue,  at  home.  .Septembe 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  ulllO. 


Mustered  with  i 


Halsey  D.  Atberton. 
Bryant  I.  Bloomer. 
William  H.  Bishop. 
D.  E.  Cliaffee. 
William  Denman. 
Rebel  t  Ellis. 
John  Ford. 
George  F.  Gunn. 
James  Gray. 
Lucius  L.  Hollis. 
Thomas  C.  Hill. 
Charles  T.  Hester 
Charles  Higgins. 
Harrison  McConnell . 
Jacob  M.  Miller. 
Joseph  Briggs. 
Lewis  P.  Bishop. 
James  Conoly. 
Byron  Culver. 
BenHJah  Dolba. 
John  I.  Dewitt. 
Augustus  C.  Fritchel. 
Leonard  P.  Feruauld. 
John  He£Ener. 
George  W.  Harringtoi 
WilUam  Jones. 
John  Kunchel. 
Robert  Miller 
Henrj'  L.  Moore. 
Andrew  McFarland. 
Henry  C.  Niver. 
William  Norton, 
AlvinE   Phillips 
William  S   Prosser. 
Benjamin  Robinson . 
John  Roberts. 
John  W.  Sage. 
David  Summerlin. 
Thomas  Simpson 
Eli  Thomas. 
Manson  Terwilliger, 
Peter  V.  Woodruff. 


COMPANY  ]). 


COMMISSIONED   OEFICEE 


Dan 


za  B.  GUson  was  t 
the  regiment  he 
tiou,  he  was  not 


Ephraim  Briggs. 
Robert  A.  Bloomer. 
George  D.  Cox. 
Albert  I.  Crosby. 
Andrew  Dufner. 
Frank  E.  Fitch. 
George  F.  Fletcher. 
Homer  P.  Gibson. 
Addison  Gardiner, 
Heber  Harris . 
William  G.  HolUday. 
J.  R  Haskms. 
George  Jenkins. 
Milo  McCrilUs. 
Luther  A  Amsden. 
Doctor  F.  Brown. 
Francis  Childs. 
Henry  Cornell. 
George  W,  Decker 
Benjamin  Dolba. 
George  W.  Donelson . 
M.  E.  Fenson. 
Alonzo  French 
Benjamin  F    Heffner 
William  Hales. 
George  Jillich. 
John  Kraps. 
Marcus  S.  Miles. 
Frank  A .  Moore . 
John  Nesbett. 
John  M.  Niver 
Byron  E.  Noble. 
Oscar  Pease. 
Ludwig  Reimer 
Orlando  E.  Raymond . 
William  Richardson. 
Judson  H.  Snyder. 
William  F.  Smith. 
John  H.  Smith. 
Daniel  Truman. 
William  H.  Vogle. 
Humphiey  Winslow. 
William  Wheaton 
David  Knapp. 

Irst  Captain  of  this  company.  On  organization  of 
was  elected  Major,  but  through  informality  in  elec- 
commissioned,  and  returned  home. 


ONE  Hl'NDRED  AXD  SEVENTY-SIXTH    REGIMENT  OHIO 
VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY,  COMPANY  B. 

Mustered  into  service  in  August  and  September,  1864,  tor  one  year. 
Mustered  out  of  service  June  14,  1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS 

Captain  Ira  B.  Wambugh,  promoted  to  Captain  September  18.  1864;  mus- 
tered out  with  company. 

First  Lieutenant  Heni-y  H.  Crane,  promoted  to  Captain,  and  assigned  to 
Com])any  G,  April  3,  1865. 

Fecond  Lieutenant  Joseph  P.  Owen,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and 
assigned  to  Company  E,  Februarys,  1865. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS 

First  Sergeant  Alfred  W.  House,  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  Decem- 
ber 19, 1864. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Smith,  died  January  6,  1865 

Sergeant  Charles  M.  Fiser,  appointed  Hospital  Steward.  October  a,  1864. 

Sergeant  Nelson  P.  Hyland,  mustered  out  with  company 

Corporal  Willis  Hague,  promoted  Sergeant  December  86, 1864;  mustered 
out  with  company. 

Corporal  Joel  S.  Wolverton,  promoted  First  beigeant  March  30,  1865; 
mustered  out  with  company . 

Conioral  William  Wright,  promoted  Sergeant  October  «>,  1864;  mustered 
out  with  company. 


Corporal  Lafayette  T    Trask,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  March  22, 

180.5,  and  transferred  to  Comi)any  C 
Corporal  John  J.  Lowery,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Frederick  M.  Childs,  discharged  May  30,  1865. 
Corporal  Stacy  Packard,  discharged  April  13,  1865. 
Musician.  George  Kidd,  died  January  0,  1865 
Musician,  George  Schneider,  died  January  li.  1865. 

PRIV.iTES. 

James  C.  Bard,  mustered  out  with  company 

Eli  Bushshawn,  died  January  12,  1865. 

Edward  Butcher,  mustered  out  with  company 

Anthony  I;-  i-  .  -.    ii-i  I  .l.i-uary  1-3.  1865 

Corneliu- I  ■  i  mistered  out  in  hospital. 

Joseph  ('■     :  i-      -   !  "iit  with  company . 

James  P.  r.nl,  iiiiis!i-i,  .i  .>ut  with  company. 

William  Coupjiles,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Charles  Collins,  mustered  out  with  ccmpany . 

Jeremiah  Chamberlain,  must  ered  out  with  company 

Leonard  Dellmater,  promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Lewis  Dieble.  mustered  out  with  company . 

Frederick  Dalton,  this  name  is  not  on  muster  out  roll 

Charles  Darby,  discharged  May  3,  1865. 

Jacob  Darr,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Thomas  Evans,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Henry  Englebuy,  mustered  "out  with  company. 

Benjamin  F.  Fowler,  discharged  in  hospital,  (no  date). 

Sylvester  B.  Fleming,  died  February  5,  1864 

John  G.  Gassman,  not  mustered  out  with  conipan.v. 

Nelson  Gunn.  appointed  Hospital  Steward,  February  13,  1865. 

Simon  Grubb,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Calvin  Hall,  mustered  out  with  company. 

CjTus  Hinckley,  appointed  Corporal  Deceml>er  -iS,  1S64;  mustered  out 

with  company . 
Robert  Holley,  died  March  18,  1865. 
Charles  A.  Hearth,  died  October  2.  1865. 
Jeremiah  Hinton.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Hall,  died  February  11,  1S63 
Erastus  Hatch,  mustered  out  with  comjiany 
Benjamiu  F.  Holmes,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Mills  B.  Hinsdale,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Ovitt  S.  Hinsdale,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Isaac  L.  Hendrixson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  W.  Hill,  mustered  out  with  company 
Samuel  Holmes,  mustered  out  with  company 
John  R.  Hoy,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Christian  A.  Jeffers,  mustered  out  with  compan}-. 
Martin  Kolb,  mustered  out  with  company, 
John  Keller,  appointed  Corporal  October  25,  1864;  nmstered  out  with 

company, 
Joseph  Knapp,  mustered  out  with  companj*. 
Thomas  Lundy,  discharged  May  3,  1865, 
Loran  K.  Loomis,  died  December  5,  1864. 
William  E.  Lohr,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  Morrow,  mustered  out  with  company 
Jacob  Middletou,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Charles  McKelvey,  appointed  musician;  mustered  out  with  company, 
William  S.  McGowan,  appointed  Corporal  December  14,  1S64;  mustered 

out  with  company. 
Giles  Mead,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  Mills,  discharged  May  30,  1865. 
James  Newman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Paxton.  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  E ,  Patterson,  appointed  Corporal  December  26, 1864 ;  mustered  out 

with  company. 
George  B.  Powers,  appointed  Corporal  April  20.  1865;  nmstered  out  with 

company, 
Newton  Parsons,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Barney  Pratt,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Robeit  Rice,  discharged  May  3,  1865, 
Nelson  Roby.  nmstered  out  with  company, 
John  Reddisseller,  not  mustered  out  with  company. 
Henry  Shartzer,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Charles  L.  Shorts,  mustered  out  with  company 
Penell  S.  Shorts,  died  January  18. 1865. 
Brobus  Sterger,  appointed  Corporal  December  26,   1864;  nmstered  out 

with  company. 
Jacob  Surgessou,  mustered  out  in  hospital. 
John  T.  Slackford,  discharged  May  3,  1865. 
John  Snyder,  promoted  Sergeant   March  30.  1865;  nmstered  out  with 

company 
Ezra  Sturdevant.  musteied  out  with  company, 
John  Salt,  nmstered  out  with  company, 
liaiii  hi  .--I'l'  '■'i\  mustered  out  with  company, 
.N        .      -:         I    i.iMstereil  out  with  company, 
^^  I     -     "    nmstered  out  with  company, 

,Ia ->nii>li    I  Mustered  out  With  company. 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Charles  Talbert,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  O .  Taylor,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Franklin  Vanderpool,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  White,  died  February  3,  1 805. 
David  E.  Wells,  died  January  26,  1865. 
Louis  D.  Woolsey,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jackson  Warnick,  died  February  10,  1865. 
Thomas  Wilson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Will,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Barney  H.  Weigle,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Isaiah  Wilson,  mustered  out  with  company 
William  L.  Wallace,  mustered  out  with  company 
Frank  V.  Young,  mustered  out  in  hospital. 

Theodore  J.  Youngs,  promoted  to  Corporal  October  S5,  1854;  died  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  14,  1864. 

RECRUITS— PRIVATES. 

John  M.  Byron,  not  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  H.  Fletcher,  not  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  H.  Fletcher,  not  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Grey,  not  mustered  out  with  company , 

1  Jameson,  not  mustered  out  with  company . 


ONE  IirXDRED  AXD  .SEVEXTY-XIXTH  REGIMENT  OHIO 
VOLrXTEER    INFANTRY,  COMPANY'    E. 

Mustered  into  service  September  36,  1864,  for  one  year.    Mustered  out 


NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Henry  Ritz.  died  March  18,  1865. 

Corporal  Henry  Martin,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Corporal  Hurman  Callman.  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date). 


John  Bichley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Ferdinand  Eccard,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Josiah  ia .  Elder,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  Eagon,  died,  January  1,  1865. 
Alvis  Haren   died,  February  3,  1865. 
JohnHurbel,  mustered  out  in  hospital,  (no  date). 
Alexander  Kiefer.  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Mclntire,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Antey  Meier,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  W.  Osborn,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Wilham  Oachs,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Otis  Olney,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Ashley  Quayle,  died  April  -i.  1835. 
Adam  Schneider,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Columba  Z.  Squires,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Lucas  Sickinger,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Englebert  Zimmerman,  mustered  out  with  company, 

ONE    HUNDKEIJ    AND    EIGHTY-THIRD    REGIMENT    OHIO 

VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY,    COMPANY    A. 
Mustered  into  service  August,  September  and  October,  18&4,  for  one 

year.    Mustered  out  of  service  July  IT,  1865,  at  Salisbury,  North 

Carolina, 

COMMISIOXED  OFFICER, 

Second  Lieutenant  Samuel  C.  Hemphill,  discharged,  March  27,  1865, 


James  M,  Benn-tt,  mustered  out  in  hospital,  (no  date), 

John  H.  Carden,  discharged,  June  7,  1865. 

Eli  Decker   mustered  out  in  hospital,  (no  date). 

John  F.  Foster,  appointed  Sergeant,  April  26,  1865. 

George  Vf.  Earick,  appointed  Corporal,  October  13   1864,  mustered  out 

with  company. 
Charles  R.  Fonl,  missing  in  action,  November  30,  1864. 
Jacob  Feels,  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Gassard,  discharged.  May  25.  1865. 
Philip  Gossart,  missing  in  action,  November  30,  1864. 
Francis  I.  Gossard,  missing  in  action,  November  30,  1864. 
William  H.  Gossard,  mustered  out  in  hospital,  (no  date). 
John  A.  Hemphill,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Isaac  Holt,  died  January  29,  1865, 
Benjamin  Holt,  promoted  Sergeant  October  12,  ISIM,  mustered  out  with 

company 
Benjamin  M,  Kites,  mustered  out  with  company 
David  Mahon,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date). 
Joseph  Reed,  died  February  10,  1862, 
William  Riley,  discharged  May  29.  1865, 
John  Richards,  discharged  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio  (no  date). 


Joseph  K,  Russell,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date), 

George  Stlmmell,  mustered  out  with  company, 

George  D,  Stevenson,  mustered  out  with  company, 

Thomas  T,  Sessler,  died  February  5,  1865, 

William  Sheldon,  died  of  wounds,  December  17,  1864, 

Peter  A.  Thomas,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Samuel  P,  Tidd,  mustered  out  with  company, 

George  W,  Williams,  discharged  June  26,  1865, 

Jesse  A,  Williams,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date), 

Joseph  H,  Williams,  mustered  out  with  company. 

James  Walters,  died  June  8   1865. 

James  S.  Wilson,  discharged  May  23,  1865, 

Philip  Zupp,  mustered  out  in  hospital, 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  EIGHTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT  OHIO 
VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY,  COMPANY    E. 

Mustered  into  service  February  87,  1865,  for  one  year.  Mustered  out  of 
service  September  18, 1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 


Oliver  T.  Ames,  mustered  out  with  company 

Jeremiah  Andrews,  mustered  out  with  company , 

James  Bowe,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Dyer  Drake,  promoted  to  Sergeant  July  8,  1865, 

Lewis  Eoy,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date), 

Stephen  Gibson,  mustered  out  with  company, 

Ale:vander  Harnden,  promoted  to  Corporal  August  19, 1865 ;  mustered  out 

with  company, 
James  S,  Kinman,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Galen  D,  Long,  mustered  out  with  company , 
Theodore  Ludwig,  retained  under  General  Order  101, 
Giles  Morey,  retained  under  General  Order  101 , 
Matthias  Arendorf,  Jr,,  discharged  August  3,  1865, 
Henry  M,  Smith,  promoted  to  Corporal  August  19,  1865;  mustered  out 

with  company, 
Robert  A,  St.  John,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date), 
George  Shuler,  retained  under  General  Order  101 , 
Frederick  C.  Wise,  retained  under  General  Order  101 
Leo  Long,  mustered  out  with  company , 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  EIGHTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  OHIO 
VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY,  COMPANY  G. 

Mustered  into  service  March  3,  1865,  for  one  year.  Mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice September  21,  1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 

PRIVATES , 

Philip  Buigle,  mustered  out  with  company . 

John  S,  Duncan,  mustered  out  with  company, 

Samuel  L.  Eggleston,  discharged  May  25,  1865, 

Joseph  Eckhart,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date). 

Gabriel  Gearhart,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date) , 

Joseph  Gearhart,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date) 

Sylvester  Grover,  mustered  out  with  company, 

Jacob  Hartman,  mustered  out  in  hospital  (no  date) , 

Christ.  Klepper,  discharged  May  3,  1865. 

William  H  Myers,  retained  under  General  Order  101. 

William  H,  Owen,  retained  under  General  Order  101 , 

Fidill  Saile,  retained  under  General  Order  101 , 

Samuel  W,  Thomas,  retained  under  General  Order  101, 

Frederick  Warren,  promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  with  company, 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  NINETY-FIRST  REGIMENT  OHIO 
VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY,    COMPANY    G. 


John  Akers,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Natdaniel  Bracy,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Conrad  Bauman,  promoted  to  Corporal;  mustered  c 
Thomas  Biznett,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Bartholomew  Biznett,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Eleader  Barrett,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Sumner  E.  Barnes,  nuistered  out  with  company, 
Joseph  Cavalier,  discharged  May  29,  1865. 
John  Couts,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Norman  Curtiss,  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  A.  Conell,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Sumner  Converse,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Joel  Cooley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Converse,  mustered  out  with  company 
Albert  B.  Cavelier,  mustered  out  with  company 
Amos  B.  Derby,  nmstered  out  with  company. 
James  S.  Darby,  mustered  out  with  company . 


UlSTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


with  company 


Austin  E.  Ellsworth,  mustered  out  with  company. 
David  Fatzeneer.  mustered  out  wiih  company. 
Samuel  P.  Foreman.  iiiu>,tprt-.l  ••m  with  company. 
Philip  Felder.  mu-tfi.l  -m  vvnh  .  .  .i.,iuiny. 

JohnB.  Fisbfr,  musti-icl    .ut  uiili ii|)any. 

John  Geusert.  mustert-d  mui  «iih  cuipauy . 

Frank  Grill,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Hadd.  mustered  out  with  company . 

Levi  H,  Harris,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Hewitt  Harding,  mustered  out  with  company 

Anthony  Huber,  mustered  out  witli  comiiany 

John  C    Houghtlen,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Robert  H    J.ibnston.  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Jenkins.  iirMiiiMt..>a  to  Corporal:  mustered 

Hiram  Minti.  iiui-i.r.il    .iit  with  company. 

John  W    Mors,.,  .hs.hai  -,d  :\Iay  29.  1865. 

Silas  B.  Mann,  nnistt-red  out  with  company. 

Cabin  McNutt,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Franklin  McLucas,  mustered  out  with  company 

William  B.  McConnell,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Asahel  A.  Pond,  piomoted  to  Coi-poral:  mustered  out  with  company. 

Emmet  Portei-,  mustered  out  with  company. 

J  ohn  W .  Page,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Alva  Richman.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Isaac  W .  Richards,  mustered  out  with  company 

Samuel  W   Reed,  promoted  to  Sergeant:  mustered  out  with  company. 

Frank  E.  Smith,  mustered  out  with  company 

Jared  W   Stocking,  mustered  out  with  company 

Johu  Seucrant.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Isaac  Scisinger.  mustered  out  with  company . 

Rtuben  Shelden.  mustered  out  with  company 

Alanson  E.  Sheldon,  mustered  out  with  companj'. 

Nathan  Tanner,  promoted  to  Corporal:  mustered  out  with  company. 

Sidney  Wheeler,  discharged  June  9,  1865. 

William  M.  Wade,  mustered  out  with  company 

Almond  B.  Wood,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Eli  Wolf,  promoted  to  Corporal:  mustered  out  with  company 

Sebastian  Williocker:  mustered  out  with  company. 

OXE  HIXDRED  AXD  XIXETY-SECOND  REGIMENT  OHIO 
VOLUXTEER  IXFANTRY,  COMPANY  A. 

Mustered  into  service  March  9,  1865.  tor  one  year.    Mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice September  1,  1865,  at  Winchester,  Virginia 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Captain  Frank  E    Pray,  mustered  out  with  company. 

NO.N-COMMISSIOKED  OFPICEBS. 

Sergeant  Amasa  Heath   mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Henry  C.  Niekerson,  mustered  out  with  company 
Sergeant  Lewis  S.  Rouse,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Richard  H.  Reid,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Michael  Bead^v,  mustered  out  with  company 
Corporal  Sylvanus  F.  Bishop,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corpcjral  Buel  P.  Barnum  mustered  out  with  company 
Corporal  Frank  Eagle,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Charles  B    Halsey,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  John  W.  Lee,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Corporal  William  Selleger,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Judson  H    Snyder,  mustered  out  with  company. 

PRIVATES. 

Halsey  D.  Atherton 
Frederick  Aves. 
Virgil  Brooks,  died  April  IS, 
Garit  Bowman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
,Iohn  G    Brunner,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Calvin  Chaffee,  mustered  out  with  company , 
William  D    Crawford,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Frank  J.  Casper,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  Casper,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Alexander Chapln.  nmst-ipd  Mut  with  company. 
Henry  Dewitt,  must^i.  I  ,  ut  with  .Mmiiany. 
Martin  Diggins,  mustH,,-,]  ,,nt  uiih  company. 
David  Dalbee,  mustei-.-d  out  with  company 
Andrew  Dutner,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Darenback,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  H.  Eichert,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Samuel  Edwards,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Phillip  Feller,  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Finch,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Peter  Fuhr,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Elza  Ferguson,  discharged  May  15,  1865, 
James  Fiser.  mustered  out  with  company 
Japhetli  Galagher.  mustered  out  with  company. 


Horace  D.  Hill,  mustered  out  with  company  . 

Thaddeus  Hirbe,  mustered  out  with  company . 

WilUam  Holmes,  mustered  out  with  company . 

William  Hyter,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Daniel  Houts   mustered  out  with  company. 

Ambros  Hubbell,  discharged  May  15.  1865. 

Edgar  Johnson,  discharged  May  13,  1865. 

Lewis  Johnson,  discharged  July  19.  1865. 

William  F.  Kellogg,  mustered  out  with  c  ompany . 

Sears  Ketchum,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Michael  Kramer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Kebble.  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Kreps,  mustered  out  with  company. 

James  C    Lutts,  promoted  Commissary  Sergeant  June  11. 

McCurdy  LeBean.  mustered  out  with  comijany. 

Herman  Lougyear,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Frank  Meyer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Nicholas  Mole,  di  charged  June  17,  1865. 

John  Mosier,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Cain  Mahony,  mustered  out  with  company. 

ivith  company. 

vith  company. 

with  company. 
Philip  Maibadger.  mustered  out  with  company. 


Robert  March  mistered 
John  Morrison,  mustered 
Michael  Myers,  mustered 


t  with  company. 
t  with  company . 
with  company. 
It  with  company. 
jt  with  company. 
:  with  company. 


Michel,  mustered  < 
Anthony  Michel,  mustered  oi 
Charles  Moore,  mustered  out 
Robert  Mountain,  mustered  ( 
William  D.  Moor,  rausttred  ( 
Patrick  Mackiu,  mustered  ot 
Charles  McCoy,  mustei'ed  out  with  company. 
William  Norton,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  D.  Nash,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  S.  Perry,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Partine  Phillips,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Charles  Richardson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  Ritter.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Reimel.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  Ricke)',  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Sallebauk,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Marcus  Suydam,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Myron  B    Seym.iur.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Emil  Schick,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Siller,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Samuel  S.  Smith,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Philip  Sowers,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Polin.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Robert  M    Shaw,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Rupert  Sti'ker.  nuistered  out  with  company. 
Antony  Steakley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  M.  Sanders,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Frank  Tylor,  mustered  out  with  company 
Solomon  Weckert.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Franklin  Wilcox,  discharged  May  15,  1865, 
William  Walker,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Wessert,  mustered  out  w.th  company. 
William  Wheeler,  name  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

ONE    HUNDRED  AND    NINETY-THIRD    REGIMENT    OHIO 
VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY,  COMPANY  E. 

Mustered  into  service  March  11,  1865,  for  one  year.    Mustered  out  of 
service  August  4,  1865,  at  Winchester,  Virginia. 

NOS-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Corporal  Emanuel  Sanders,  mustered  out  with  company. 


Amos  Baubecker,  died  July  30,  1S85 
Levi  Crawford,  discharged  June  6, 1865 
Henry  Carson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  Cory.  niiisfHr.-dr,ut  with  company. 
Jackson  Cory,  miist.r.-.t  i.nt  with  company. 
JohnJ.  Clos,.   iun>i.  r.-l  mui  with  company. 
George  Carnutl.  iuusti-r..-,l  out  with  company. 
John  J.  Craig,  mustered  out  with  company 
Benjamin  Guire,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Glove,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  W.  H.  GUI,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Peter  Heners,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  Hannah,  discharged  June  19, 1865. 
Jacob  Huntington,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Hervey  Hunting,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Heneline,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Lewis  C.  HoUoway,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Hanan,  mustered  out  with  company. 


HISTOKY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Hiram  G.  Johnson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Nelson  Johnson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Lester  Knapp,  mustered  out  with  compau)' . 
Marqui  Knowles,  mustered  out  with  company 
Joseph  Mackey,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Moses  F.  Mapes,  mustered  out  nith  company 
John  Mockerman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  O'Harra.  mustered  out  with  company. 
PhiUp  M.  Riker,  mustered  out  with  company 
Charles  Reno,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Alfred  Stevens,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Alfred  Slocum,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Henry  Thomas,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Samuel  W.  Vanpelt.  discharged  June  13,  1S65. 
George  Vanpelt,  mustered  out  with  company . 
OUver  WilUams,  mustered  out  with  company 
Jacob  Minzener,  mustered  out  with  company . 

ONE    HL'IfDRED    AND    NINETY-SIXTH    REGIMENT    OHIO 
VOLL'NTEER    INFANTRY,  COMPANY    C. 

Mustered  into  service  March  21,  1885,  for  one  j-ear.    Mustered  out  of 
service  September  11,  1865,  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 


Sergeant 
Sergeant 
Sergeant 
Sergeant 
Corporal 
Corporal 
Corporal 
Corporal 
Corporal 
Corporal 
Musician, 


NON-OOMMISSIOXED 

Alexander  Cavilee,  mustered  out  with  company . 
George  S.  Supner,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Gates  Seobey,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  Shepard,  mustered  out  with  company 
Alexander  Collie,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Zeriah  D.  Ells,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Mason  Green,  mustered  out  with  company 
William  E.  Geer,  mustered  out  with  company 
Washburn  Underhlll,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Simeon  O.  Whaley ,  mustered  out  with  company , 
Oliver  O.  Burgess,  mustered  out  with  company. 


PprVATES . 

Charles  E.  Arnold,  died  April  17,  1805 

Benjamin^Auspargh,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Albert  Barber,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Richard  Boulton,  mustered  out  with  company 

John  Boyer,  discharged  March  29,  1865. 

James  Borden,  discharged  June  2,  1865 . 

Edwin  W.  Chapman,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Criver,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Watson  D.  Chase,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Samuel  Chrysler,  mustered  out  with  company 

Josiah  Coats,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  C . 

John  M .  Chrysler,  mustered  out  with  company . 

David  J.  Collier,  mustered  out  with  company 

Peter  Deel,  discharged  June  13,  1865. 

George  Deel,  mustered  out  with  company 

Jacob  Darr,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Sylvester  Daniels,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Henry  C.  Dwight,  mustered  out  with  company. 

William  Darr,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Henry  M.  Easterly,  mustered  out  with  company 

Sylvester  A.  Filkin,  mustered  out  with  company 

John  Ferguson,  mustered'out  with  company . 

John  R.  Frank,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Walter  Grigs,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Samuel  E.  Hartman,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Ferdinand  Hardenbrook,  mustered  out  with  company. 

William  W.  Hutchinson,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant. 

Charles  Higgins,  died  April  4,  1865. 

Henry  Hatfield,  mustered  out  with  company 

John  Harley,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Isahart,  mustered  out  with  company.. 

Charles  L.  Jones,  mustered  ojt  with  company. 

Josiah  D.  Johnson,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Jacob  Kollar,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Loivery,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Miller,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Edward  S.  McCloe,  mustered  out  with  company 

James  McCuUough,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  G.  McCannise,  mnstered  out  with  company. 

William  Ogle,  discharged  June  2,  1865. 

Nathaniel  Robinson,  mustered  out  with  company 

Albert E.  Read,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Henry  Jones  Rinju,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  S.  Snurr,  mustered  out  with  company, 

William  A.  Thompson,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Edwin  Thompson,  died  March  29,  1865. 

William  Tarris,  mustered  out  with  company. 


Alfred  Vansickles,  mustered  out  with  corai>auy. 
Gottleib  F .  Winter^mlistered  out  with  company. 
Jefferson  Wanzer,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Francis  Wells,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Leonard  Weis,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Robert  Wilson,  mustered  out  with  company 
Samuel  A.  Young,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Joseph  Zimmerman,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jeremiah  Zimmerman,  mustered  out  with  company 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    NINETY-SEVENTH    REGIMENT 
OHIO  VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY,    COMPANY    B. 

Mustered  into  service  March  28, 1865,  for  one  year.    Mustered  out  of 
service  July  31,  1865,  at  Camp  Bradford,  Maryland. 

NO.V-COMMISSIONEp  OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  Ferris,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Rineheard  Sickinger,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  James  Turner,  mustered  out  with  company 
Sergeant  George  A.  Trumble,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Daniel  Wood,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Roland  Vale,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Corporal  Eugene  Emmons,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Jacob  Klapf er,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Corporal  Arthur  L.  Osboru,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  James  E.  Palmer,  mustered  out  with  company. 


Henry  Butts,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Perry  Curtiss,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Lewis  A.  Darling,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Helor  Dewit,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Charles  R.  Elwood,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Arnold  B.  Fuller,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  C .  Hill,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Benjamin  F.  Howe,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Hugh  Menagh,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  McEwen,  mustered  < 

Oscar  Pease,  mustered  ou 

John  G.  Park,  died  April  1 

Eli  A.  Rosco,  mustered  ou 

Tinas  S.  Rickard,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Reeves,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Peter  Saeman,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Franklin  E.  Shupe,  promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant,  April  K,  1865; 

mustered  out  with  company. 
David  W.  Soper,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  L.  Shupe,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Lewis  Slyker,  discharged  in  hospital:  no  date. 
William  H.  Speare,  discharged  in  hospital;  no  date. 
David  Whiddon,  mustered  out  with  company. 


mt  with  compan; 
twith  company. 


lith  company. 


COMPANY    C. 


April  1,  1855,    Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 


{-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER . 


.  Sherwood,  mustered  ( 


Perry  B.  Arnold,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Seth  Baxter,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Byron  H.  Colven,  muster  .-d  out  with  company . 

George  W.  Cushman,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Nicholas  Deag,  mustered  out  with  company. 

John  Flarity,  mustered  out  with  company . 

William  Flickinger,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  Gunn,  died  April  7,  1865. 

Lester  Gregorj',  mustered  out  with  company. 

Jacob  Gibbons,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Kritzer,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Flavius  Kilburn,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Gilbert  W.  Lindsey.  mustered  out  with  company. 

Harrison  McConnell,  mustered  out  with  company . 

Richard  Pryce,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Alvin  E .  Phillips,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Bramir  S.  Smith,  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward,  April  18,  1865. 

Haver  Schenble,  mustered  out  with  company. 

Stephen  Schualey.  mustered  out  «-ith  company. 

JohnSpaulding,  mustered  out  with  company, 

Jesse  Woo.lruff,  mustered  out  with  company. 

George  W    Young,  discharged  from  hospiial ;  no  date. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


COMPANY    F. 

Mustered  into  service,  April  8.  1865,  tor  one  year.    Clustered  out  with 
regiment . 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

S  ergeant  George  Beatty ,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Sergeant  Truman  L.  Blakinan.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Alva  Bartlett.  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Thomas  Banning,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Isaac  S.  Gibson,  mustered  out  with  company 
Sergeant  David  H.  Lewis,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Aaron  J.  Bretz,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  George  J.  Downing,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Edward  P.  Fisher,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Corporal  Homer  Millions,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Corporal  William  Shechy,  mustered  out  with  company. 

PRIVATES . 

Samuel  Aulger,  mustered  out  with  company 
Learkin  Bartlett.  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Borer,  miistered  out  with  company. 
Fredolin  Borer,  mustered  out  with  company . 
William  Bohl,  mustered  out  with  company 
C(ft-nelius  Connor,  mustered  out  with  company. 
David  Darr,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Richard  C,  Dimock,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  Egerer,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Andrew  Fell,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edwin  A.  Gibson,  mustered  out  with  company 
Blake  W.  Griffin,  mustered  out  with  company 
Frederick  Holchour,  died  May  5, 1S65 
Barthold  Hartman.  mustered  out  with  company 
Cornelius  Heath,  mustered  out  with  company. 
JYancis  Howe,  mustered  oixt  with  company 
George  M .  Jeffrey,  mustered  out  with  company 
Peter  J    Kuhn,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Jacob  Klarrh,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Conrad  Kiefer,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Perry  W,  Kuntz,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  B.  Lincoln,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Ichabod  Lasey,  mustered  out  with  company. 
WiUiam  C.  Luff,  discharged  July  8,  :865. 
John  Merrills,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Oliver  Martin,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  C.  Pauley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  Rider,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Henry  C.  Ransom,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Nathan  Shinn,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Isadore  Shell,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Herbert  W.  Shaft,  mustered  out  with  company, 
Charles  Wilson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  Wilkinson,  discharged  June  8,  186.5. 

ONE      HUNDRED     AND      NINETY-EIGHTH      REGIMENT 

OHIO    VOLUNTEER     INFANTRY,    COMPANY    B. 

Mustered  into  service  April  21,  18G5,  for  one  year.     Mustered  out  of 

service  May  8,  1865,  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio. 


John  Blair,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Harrison  Barber,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Judson  D .  Bums,  mustered  out  with  company . 
William  Bagent,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  Conner,  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  H.  Endsley,  mustered  out  with  company . 
James  Endsley,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Hiram  Fowler,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Charles  R.  Gardner,  mustered  out  with  company 
Julius  Hammel.  mustered  out  with  company. 
James  Hanvill,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Alzen  Hale,  mustered  out  with  company. 
John  S.  Jennings,  mustered  out  with  corapauy . 
Adelbert  Jefferson,  mustered  out  with  company 
John  Lichtey,  mustered  out  with  company 
William  C.  Tingley,  mustered  out  with  company 
Thomas  Thompson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
George  S.  Walter,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edward  Ward,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Edwin  J.  Williams,  mustered  out  with  company. 


Mustered 


COMPANY 
•  .\pril  3-1.  IMiD.  for 


year.    Mustered 


PRIVATES. 

James  E.  Heater,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Frank  Mitchell,  mjsterel  out  with  company 
Jacob  Osterlln,  mustered  out  with  company. 


SHARP-SHOOTERS. 
Rial  Phelps,  enlisted  March  I,  1862. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH    REGIMENT     UNITED     !<TATES     COL- 
ORED  TROOP.S,     COMPANY    C. 
Mustered  into    service  February  26,    1864.    Mustered  out  of    service 
September  21,  1865. 

PRIVATES . 

James  Ashland,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Simeon  Banks,  transferred  to  Twenty-Third  Regit 

Colored  Troops. 
Isan  Clay,  discharged  in  hospital 
George  Stanlej^,  mustered  out  with  company. 


United  States 


Mustered  into  : 


COMPANY    D. 
■  February  26,  1864.    JIustered  . 


George  Bailey,  mustered  out  with  company. 


COMPANY    E. 
Mustered  into  service  March  7  and  8,  1864.    Mustered  out  of 
with  Regiment. 


Allen  Bobson,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Bonrey  Hidard,  mustered  out  with  company 


■OMPANY     F. 


PRIVATE. 

Franklin  Treadwell,  mustered  out  with  company. 


COMPANY    H. 

Mustered  into  service  in  1864.    Mustered  out  of  service  with  Regii 


Corporal  William  J.  Thompson,  mustered  out  with  company. 


John  Farley,  mustered  out  with  company 
Alexander  Johnson,  mustered  out  with  company. 
Cornelius  Johnson,  mustered  out  with  company 
WilUam  Jones,  mustered  out  with  company . 
James  H.  Quails,  mustered  out  with  company 

FIRST    REGIMENT    OHIO    HEAVY    ARTILLERY. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

Sergeant  Major  Alvin  M.  Woolson,  mustered  into  service  August  5,  1863; 


I  service  August  5, 


mustered  out  of  service  July  25,  1865. 
Hospital  Steward,  Wesley  J.  Andrews,  mustered 
1863:  mustered  out  of  service  July  25,  1865. 

COMPANY    M. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS, 

Captain  Henry  J.  BIy,  appointed  Second  Lieutenant  June  23,  1863 ;  pro- 
moted to  Captain  July  16,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company. 

First  Lieutenant  James  H.  Ainsley.  enlisted  as  private  June  30,  1863; 
appointed  First  Lieutenant  August  13,  1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

First  Lieutenant  Nelson  E.  Prentice,  enlisted  June  24.  1863;  appointed 
Second  Lieutenant  August  13,  1863;  appointed  First  Lieutenant  Sep 
tember  5,  1863;  mustered  out  with  company 

Second  Lieutenant  James  G.  Fish,  enlisted  June  26,  1863;  promoted  to 
Second  Lieutenant  November  2G,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant  Wallace  E.  Bratton,  enlisted  June  1.  1863;  jiromoted 
to  Second  Lieutenant  January  30,  18C5. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

Fir«.t  Sergeant  John  B.  Colby,  enlisted  June  28,  186:3,  veteran  volunteer; 

nnistfrr.l  out  with  company. 
Qiiarteniuisiei- Serjeant  William  H.  Hallenbeck,  enlisted  June  21,  1863, 

veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  George  W.  Mears,  enlisted  June  28,  186.3.  veteran  volunteer; 

mustered  out  with  company. 
Sergeant  Thomas  W.  Hicks,  enlisted  July  13.  1868,  veteran  volunteer; 

mustered  out  with  company 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


Sergeant  Romanas  Shepherd,  enli-^ted  June  Si,  1868;  mustered  out  with 

vith  com- 
pany. 

Sergeant  John  Matt,  enlisted  July  G,  186.S,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered 
out  with  company. 

Sergeant  James  Hutchinson,  enlisted  July  9,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company . 

Corporal  Charles  R  Logan,  enlisted  June  35,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company. 

Corporal  Daniel  Corvele,  enlisted  July  4,  ISiB;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Corporal  Josiah  M.  Dancer,  enlisted  July  9,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company. 

Corporal  Edwin  Cowell,  enlisted  June  24,  1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Corporal  Alfred  G.  Runner,  enlisted  January  4,  1S64;  mustered  out 
with  company. 

Corporal  Richard  Fowler,  enlisted  June  20,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company . 

Corporal  Henry  51.  Elwood,  enlisted  July  17,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company. 

Corporal  Charles  Streeter,  enlisted  July  6,  1863;  mustered  out  with 
company. 

Corporal  Levi  A.  Hultz,  enlisted  July  15, 1863;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Corporal  Thomas  C.  Betts,  enlisted  December  32, 1863;  mustered  out 
with  company . 

Corporal  Silas  McDougal,  enlisted  December  23,  1863;  mustered  out 
with  company. 

Corporal  John  R.  Hale,  enlisted  July  23. 1863. 

Artificer,  Andrew  Houk,  enlisted  July  33,  1863. 

Musician,  Frederick  Lesser,  eijlisted  July  1~,  1863 

Musician,  James  Nobles,  enlisted  July  3,  1863. 

Wagoner,  John  J.  Tallman,  enlisted  July  6,  1863. 


William  Ainsley,  enlisted  July  9,  1863. 

James  Armatage,  enlisted  July  33,  1863. 

■Warren  C.  Breckenridge,  enlisted  July  13,  1863. 

Charles  Bilderbach,  enlisted  July  33.  1863. 

Israel  Borough,  enlisted  July  22,  1863. 

Edwin  E.  Jones,  enlisted  July  13,  1863;  veteran  volunteer. 

Francis  L.  Jupp,  enlisted  August  13,  1863;  veteran  volunteer. 

John  Kinney,  enlisted  July  5, 18B:J. 

Joseph  Kelley,  enlisted  July  15,  1863. 

James  Lemon,  Jr.,  enhsted  July  14,  1863. 

Jay  Littleton,  enlisted  June  17,  1863. 

Andrew  H.  Layman,  enlisted  July  14,  1863. 

Anthony  Latere,  enlisted  July  15,  1863. 

James  F.  Lee,  enlisted  August  14,  1863. 

Channey  Lathrop,  enlisted  .4.ugustl7, 1863. 

Henry  Murphy,  enlisted  June  30,  1863. 

Charles  B.  Morris,  enlisted  July  13, 1863. 

Alexander  Motry,  enlisted  July  13, 186.3. 

Horace  Martin,  enlisted  June  27, 1863. 

Frank  Morris,  enlisted  July  6,  1803. 

Alfred  J.  Nichols,  enlisted  July  9,  1863. 

John  E.  Nichols,  enlisted  July  9,  1863. 

Nelson  Olmsted,  enlisted  August  16,  1863. 

Horace  Place,  enlisted  July  18,  1863. 

George  E.  Pruden,  enlisted  July  18,  1803. 

Samuel  Payne,  enlisted  July  30,  1863. 

Jarvis  D.  Rolf,  enlisted  June  9, 1863. 

George  Row,  enlisted  August  17,  1863, 

George  W.  Reed,  enlisted  June  30, 1863. 

Jones  W.  Rosco,  enlisted  June  30, 1863, 

Fred  W.  Rosco,  enlisted  June  30,  1863. 

Alsiha  SchoUield,  enlisted  January  4,  1864. 

Frank  Stempson,  enlisted  August  16,  1863. 

Adam  Smith,  enlisted' July  2.3,  1863. 

Samuel  J.  Spangbourn,  enlisted  July  22,  1863. 

Henry  Series,  enlisted  July  13,  186:3. 

Zalman  B,  Slater,  enlisted  July  13,  1863. 

Henry  C.  Bowen,  enlisted  July  23,  1863. 

Michael  Beaiy,  enlisted  June  32, 1863. 

Joseph  Coxley,  enlisted  July  6,  1863;  t 

Delos  C.  Chapman,  enlisted  June  28, 1 

John  Carney,  enlisted  July  9,  1863. 

John  Cole,  enlisted  July  23,  1863;  vet( 

James  Cole,  enlisted  July  22,  1863. 

James  Cartwright,  enlisted  May  25,  1861. 

Freeman  Cables,  enlisted  .\ugust  17,  1863;  veteran  volunteer. 

Charles  H.  Ders.  enlisted  June  29,  1803 

Isaac  Dewitt,  enlisted  .lune  2;-.,  1863, 

14 


volunteer, 


volunteer. 


Hubbard  E.  Dwelle,  enlisted  June  30  1863. 

Charles  Dennison,  enlisted  Jitly  11,  1863. 

Reuben  G.  Dickerson,  enlisted  June  39,  1863. 

Peter  Epp,  enlisted  June  25,  1863;  veteran  volunteer. 

Franklin  Fry,  enlisted  July  14,  1863. 

Alpha  B.  Fally.  enlisted  June  27.  1SC3. 

John  Gorham.  enlisted  July  U,  isi.,.-i. 

William  Griffith,  enlisted  .July  14,  1863. 

Charles  Grauel,  enlisted  July  K.  1803. 

Wilson  S.  Gordon,  enlisted  June  25,  1803. 

Youngs  Gregory,  enlisted  July  13,  1863. 

James  N.  Haines,  enlisted  July  13, 1863. 

George  Hotchkiss,  enlisted  July  4,  1863. 

Lewis  V.  Hackett,  enlisted  July  6,  1863. 

John  Hire,  enlisted  .July  4,  1863. 

George  Hess,  enlisted  July  16, 18G;i;  veteran  volunteer. 

Francis  M.  Halsey,  enlisted  July  18.  1863;  veteran  volunteer. 

Lewis  Button,  enlisted  June  22,  1?63. 

William  G.  Henson,  enlisted  July  6.  186:3.- 

John  Henderson,  enlisted  August  13,  1863. 

John  R.  Jewett.  Jr.,  enlisted  June  22. 1863. 

Frank  Stible.  enlisted  July  18,  1S63 

Sanford  Selvey.  enlisted  July  4.  1863 

Martin  L.  Shanks,  enlisted  July  21,  1863. 

Marlyn  Sweatland,  enlisted  July  4.  1863. 

Jay  C.  Smith,  enhsted  July  14,  1863. 

Aaron  Thewecter.  enlisted  July  7.  1863. 

John  Tomkins,  enlisted  July  4.  1863. 

Claudius  V.  Turner,  enlisted  July  33,  1863. 

Theodore  B.  Tucker,  enlisted  July  9,  1863. 

William  H.  Wilson,  enlisted  July  11.  186:3. 

Alexander  Wiley,  enlisted  July  1,  1863. 

William  Ward,  enlisted  July  23.  1863. 

Allen  White,  enhsted  July  19.  1863. 

John  Yetter,  enlisted  June  22, 1863. 

George  C.  Yowell,  enlisted  July  15,  1863. 

George  Yetter,  enlisted  June  32,  1863, 

Corporal  David  W.  Gibbs.  discharged  June  1,  1865. 

Corporal  Lafayette  Billings,  discharged  Jun^  1,  1864. 

Artificer,  Chelon  H.  Young,  discharged  October  35.  1864. 

Milton  L.  Andrews,  discharged  May  30,  1865. 

Samuel  L.  Armstrong,  discharged  March  o,  1864. 

Alfred  F.  BIy,  discharged  November,  1,  1864.- 

William  H.  Blair,  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

George  W.  Coit.  discharged  June  30.  1865. 

James  E.  Heuron,  discharged  May  21,  1865. 

James  Harding,  discharged  June  37,  1865. 

William  M.  Knowlton,  discharged  March  30,  1864. 

George  Lamkins,  discharged  June  30,  1865 

George  B.  Nickle,  discharged  June  IS,  1865. 

Henry  O.  Place,  discharged  June  26,  1865. 

William  Perry,  discharge.l  May  18,  1865. 

Preston  Palmer,  discharged  :May  20,  1865. 

Bamett  Rowe.  Jr..  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Peter  Ryan,  discharged  November  31,  1864. 

James  Ryan,  discharged  May  27,  1865. 

Edwin  F.  Smith,  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

John  N.  Simmons,  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Simeon  Snyder,  discharged  May  24,  1865. 

George  H.  Sharp,  discharged  May  18, 1865. 

Thomas  Tildon,  discharged  May  13,  1865. 

Wilham  H.  Van  Horn,  discharged  May  22,  1865. 

Isaac  H.  West,  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Lafayette  Whittinger,  discharged  November  14,  1863 . 

Evans  P.  Williams  discharged  November  14, 1863. 

Lucius  A.  West,  discharged  July  10.  1863. 

Philander  S.  Abbott,  transferred  to  Company  C . 

Hulbert  L.  Williams,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Francis  Taylor,  transferred  to  Non-Commissioned  Staff. 

Wesley  J.  Andrews,  transferred  to  Non-Commissioned  Staff, 

Jackson  Ryan,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps , 

Thomas  Williams,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Edward  C.  Wiles,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Alvin  M.  Woolson,  transferred  to  Non-Commissioned  Staff. 

Corporal  Charles  Bailey,  died  at  Covington,  Kentucky,  November  17, 1863. 

Artificer,  James  Murfit,  died  at  Madison,  Indiana,  December  8,  I8W. 

Thomas  Germon,  died  at  Kno.xville,  Tennessee,  July  10.  1864 

Thomas  Harding,  died  March  17,  1864. 

Christian  Marsh,  died  Februaiy  18,  1864. 

Malcom  G.  Niles,  died  July  21,  1864. 

Stillman  S.  Nichols,  died  August  5,  1864. 

Miner  Powell,  died  July  28, 1864. 


James  Peterson,  died  November  17, 
Henn-  A.  Smith,  died  April  7,  1864. 
Virgil  Stevens,  died  May  7,  1861. 
Leslie  E.  Sparks,  died  June  2, 1864. 
William  Waterman,  died  April  4,  11 


1863. 


HISTOKV  OF  IIUKON  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


FIRST    KEGIMENT   OHIO    LI(;HT    ARTILLEKY, 
BATTERY    B. 

Mustered  into  service  October  8,  1861.  Tliis  battery  re-enlisted  and  was 
finally  mustered  out  of  service  Julj-  28,  1865,  at  Camp  Cleveland 
Ohio. 

NOX-COMMISSIOSED    OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Elislia  D.  Parljer,  discharged  for  disability     (Date  not  Icnowu). 
Corporal  Silas  H.  Judson,  promoted  Sergeant:  commanded  the  battery 

as  Second  Lieutenant:  assigned  to  Battel y  F. 
Artificer,  William  C.  Hodge,  died  December  r,  ISJl 


Jeremiah  Arndt,  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  Binehower,  discharged  June  16.  1865 

David  K.  Bailey,  died  December  17,  1861. 

John  L.  Barnes,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company 

Jerome  Boiee,  transferred  to  Batteiy  K . 

James  Baker,  died  in  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.     (No  date). 

■William  B.  Carey,  died  at  Nashville.  Tennessee,  November  6,  1868. 

John  David,  promoted  to  Corporal  March  1,  1S63;  wounded  at  Chicka- 

mauga:  died  from  same  Octobers,  186:5. 
John  Elliott,  killed  in  battle  of  Stone  River  December  31. 1863 
Samuel  Earl,  veteran  volunteer;  promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  with 

company 
James  H    Fash,  vetei-an  volunteer;  promoted  Corporal:   musteied  out 

with  company . 
Martin  P.  Fiudley  discharged  May  17,  1863. 
Thomas  M.  Hunter,  discharged  March  34,  1664. 
Rodman  Harb.  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Joshua  R.  Krebs,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company 
John  Lepper,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company, 
William  Leary,  transferred  to  Battery  K. 
Charles  H.  Millis,  discharged  January  9.  1863 
Andrew  J .  McLaughlin,  discharged  June  16,  1865. 
Thomas  C.  Potter,  had  both  arms  shot  off  in  battle  of  Chickamauga 

October  20;  died  October  21,  1863. 
Emanuel  M.  Peet,  wounded  at  Chickamauga ;  veteran  volunteer;  mus- 
tered out  with  company . 
A.  B    Peet,  died  April  10,  1865 
Alexander  Stratton,  discharged  March  22,  1863. 
John  A.  Shukers,  promoted  Corporal:  mustered  out  with  company. 
Adam  Sprinkle,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 
William  H.  Singer,  veteran  volunteer;  promoted  Corporal;  mustered 

out  with  company. 
Sherwood  W.  Shankland. 
Benjamin H.  Searls,  veteran  volunteer:  promoted  Corporal;  mustered 

out  with  company 
William  Twerrell,  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  company 
Jacob  Wolf,  transferred  to  Battery  K,  April  6, 1864. 
Daniel  White,  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  company. 
Frank  M,   Yeckley.  veteran  volunteer;  promoted  Sergeant  March  11 

1865. 


SECOND    KE(;iMEXT    UNITED    STATES    ARTILLERY. 

Brevet  Major  Frank  B.  Hamilton,  graduated  at  West  Point  June  14, 1863, 
as  Second  Lieutenant;  breveted  First  Lieutenant  in  Third  United 
States  Artillery,  September  17,  1862,  for  '-gallantry  and  meritorious 
service  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Maryland ;"  appointed  First  Lieuten- 
ant June  1,  1865;  breveted  Captain  August  20, 1866,  "for  gallantry  at 
the  lattle  of  Gettysburgh,  Penns.ylvania,  July  .3, 1863;"  appointed 
Captain  in  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  United  States  Infantry  March  15, 
1867;  breveted  Major  and  now  serving  as  Captain  in  the  Second  Reg- 
iment United  States  Artillery,  at  Fort  Ontario,  Oswego,  New  Y"ork. 
This  officer  is  the  second  son  of  James  Hamilton,  at  present  and  for 
some  years  past  postmaster  at  Momoeville 


THIRD    REGIMENT    OHIO    UOLUNTEER    CAVALRY. 

Musteied  into  service  December  11,  1861,  for  three  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  the  Regiment  re-enlisted,  and  was  finally  mustered 
out  August  4,  1.S65. 

FIELD   AND  STAFF. 

Colonel  Lewis  Zahm,  mustered  September  27,  1861 ;  resigned  January  6, 
musteied  September  27,  1861;  re- 


Cliaplain,  Reverend  E.  Y.  We 
signed  August  1,  1862. 

Adjutant  Lewis  R.  Zahm,  mustered  September  27,  1861;  resigned  De- 
cembers, 18«3. 

chief  Bugler.  William  Hinnian,  promoted  from  Company  H. 

Chief  Bugler.  Jerome  R.  Graham,  mustered  December  11, 1881. 


FIRST     BAITALIO.S-- 

Jlajor  John  H.  Foster,  mustered  September  13,  1861;  resigned  February 

14,  1863. 
Adjutant  William  S    Foster,  mustered  December  9, 1861 :  mustered  out 

as  supernumerary. 
Quartermaster  George  C,  Probert,  mustered.December9, 1861;  mustered 

out  as  supernnmerary,  March  30.  1864. 
Ser!.'t-;uit  Major  J,  Ransom  Hall,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  May  21, 

-     —     ^    i       l:  -bert  H.  Bliven 


SECOND   BATTALION. 

Major  James  W.  Paramore  mustered  September  27.  1861 :  promoted  to 
Colonel  January  5,  1863;  dismissed  July,  1863 

Quartermaster.  William  R.  Jackson,  mustered  November  4,  isoi;  pro- 
moted to  Captain  November  1,  1861. 

Commissary  Sergeaut,  James  H.  Johnson. 

Hospital  Steward,  John  C.  Grafton. 

Saddlery  Sergeant,  James  M.  Burg,  musteied  at  expiration  of  term  of 
enUstment,  Octobers,  1864 

Vetermary  Sergeant,  Artemas  Richards 

THIRD  BATTALLION 

Quartermaster  Sergeaut,  Frank  Wilham 
Commissary  Sergeant,  C.  R.  Hipkius, 
Hospital  Steward.  Horace  B.  White. 
Veterinary  Sergeant,  James  B.  Page 

This  regiment  re-enlisted  January  4,  1861.  The  muster  out  rolls  of 
this  date  are  not  on  file  in  the  ofiflce  of  the  Adjutant  General  of  Ohio  ■ 
thus  rendering  it  impossible  to  give  a  perfect  record  of  the  enUsted  men 
prior  to  that  date . 

COMPANY    A. 

Mustered  September  4,  1861, 

COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

Captain  Dew-itt  C.  Doane,  resigned  November  12,  1862. 

Captain  William  B.  Gates,  musteied  out  with  company. 

First  Lieutenant  Thomas  D.  McClelland,  promoted  to  Captain,  Septem- 
ber 4,  1861 

Second  Lieutenaut  Harrison  Terry,  promoted  to  Captain,  February  14, 
1863;  resigned  July  5,  1864. 

NON-COMMISSlOSED  OFFICERS 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  George  Milliman. 

First  Sergeant  James  Ransom  Hail,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant,  May 

21,  1362;  resigned  March  21,  1863, 
Sergeant  Edwin  Clark, 
Sergeaut  Edward  S  Hurlburt, 
Sergeant  John  W.  Ward 
Sergeant  Charles  B.  Bennett. 
Corporal  Jacob  Bauman 
Corporal  William  E.  Akers . 

Corporal  Anson  E.  Hitter,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant. 
Corporal  Siberia  Keis 
Corporal  William  McMaster. 
Corporal  J  ohn  T.  Woodford . 
Corporal  Henry  M.  Meacham. 
Corporal  Martin  V.  McCrillis, 
Bugler,  Ralph  N.  H.  Osborn 
Bugler,  Eugeue  A.  Osborn . 

Farrier,  Joel  F.  Smith,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Farrier,  John  B.  McFadden. 
Sadler,  Edward  Morton 
Wagoner.  George  Carlisle 

Harrison  Ames 

Silas  M.  Adams, 

Ira  Blackman, 

Daily  Benuet 

Joseph  Ball. 

Homer  W.  Brooks,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 

JohnN.  Buich. 

Alfred  C.  Broughtou . 

Hiram  C.  Burch 

William  Conley,  discharged  June  *l,  1865. 

Samuel  C.  Currie,  promoted  Second  Lieutenaut. 

John  Carpenter. 

David  H.  Crippen, 

William  Crouse . 

Joseph  Dolph. 

Henry  Drage. 

Silas  Eugles. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


107 


Curtis  Frost,  discharged  October  8,  1861. 
Norman  T.  Foster. 

Stephen  French,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Isaac  W.  Ford,  discharged  October  3,  1S64. 
Henr}-  Glenn. 

Harrison  Green,  promoted  Quartermater  Sergeant. 
Enos  Griss. 
Franlilin  Hart . 

Silas  H.  Hopkins,  discharged  Octobers,  1864. 
Thomas  W.  Hicks. 
ErwinHewit. 
William  Himberger. 
William  H.  Horton. 
Michael  Hughes 
Isaac  Hunt. 
Lewis  Johnson 

Charles  C.  Jewell,  discharged  October  3.  1864. 
Joseph  S.  Keeler. 
George  Letherer. 

Samuel  Lingo,  promoted  to  Corporal . 
Boston  Lidurf. 

John  W.  Lai-ge,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Allen  McPherson,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Levi  Miller. 
John  Monaghan . 
Robert  E.  Morton. 
Richard  Meredith. 
Albert  McMaster. 
George  W,  Noggle. 
JohnG.  Oats. 

John  Parkason,  discharged  October  3,  1S64 
Jay  A.  PoUey,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Charles  Payne,  promoted  to  Cori'oral. 
Patrick  Parcel. 
Horace  Reynolds . 

Ezra  H.  Root,  discharged  October  3,  1864 
Theodore  Rickey.discharged  October  3,  1864. 
George  Smith. 
Isaac  Skillman. 
Joseph  Sekinger. 

Pitt  Simons,  promoted  Commissarj*  Sergeant . 
Jasper  Strong,  died  March  10,  1865. 
Lewis  B.  Tooker. 
Thomas  TuUey. 
Marshall  M.  Turner. 
George  N.  Veader. 
John  W    Willoughby. 
James  Weldon. 
George  W    Wright. 

Thomas  C.  Wright,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Charles  A.  Waite, 
Benjamin  F.  Welch 
Richard  Wilson. 
James  O.  Williams. 
Henry  Young 

This  company  served  three  years,  re-enlisted,  and  was  Anally  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Edgefield,  Tennessee,  August  4,  1865 . 

COMPANY    B, 
Mustered  into  service  September  4,  1861.     Mustered  out  August  4,  1865. 

COMSasSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Leonard  B.  Chapin,  resigned  March  5,  1863. 

First  Lieutenant  Elisha  M.  Calver.  promoted  Captain  June  16,  1863; 

resigned  September  ie,  1864, 
Second  Lieutenant  Alonzo  B.  Eunis,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  June  16, 

1862;  mustered  out  July  S,  186->. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  Martin  E.  Ellis. 

First  Sergeant  Addison  H.  Pearl,  promoted  Captain  November  30,  1864; 
mustered  out  with  company. 

Sergeant  Jesse  A.  Squires,  promoted  Commissary  Sergeant  First  Bat- 
talliou. 

Sergeant  Judson  Willard. 

Sergeant  John  Bartlett. 

Sergeant  Henry  N.  Porter 

Corporal  Charles  P.  Joliuson 

Corporal  Horace  B .  Porter 

Corporal  George  W.  Surges. 

Corporal  John  J.  Cowles. 

Corporal  Morgan  J.  Carpenter. 

Bugler,  Ransom  CoUonwood. 

Bugler.  QK'Mge  B.  Squires,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany. 

Farrier,  William  D.  Chaffer. 

Blacksmith,  Elihu  Jenkins. 


Cornelius  Ellis,  promoted  Sergeant;  mustered  out  October  3,  1864. 
Hiram  C.  Reed. 
Byron  L.  White. 

Orrin  Adams,  promoted  Corporal. 

Samuel  B.  Bassett,  promoted  Sergeant;  mustered  out  October  3, 1864. 

Philip  Bangle,  promoted  First  Sergeant. 

Theodore  Barber,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Simeon  Blackman. 

James  Brooks. 

Isaac  Brown,  mustered  out  on  expiration  ot  original  enlistment. 

Charles  Brown 

Henry  Brown. 

Frank  Buckley. 

George  W.  Cole,  mustered  out  of  serWee  Octobers,  1864. 

Jerred  Calvin. 

Anson  dinger. 

Jude  Corbon. 

Luther  Camfield,  discharged  in  hospital  (no  date). 

Benjamin  F.  Drake. 

Avery  Edwards,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  compan7. 

William  Eastman. 

Franklin  Fay.  mustered  out  at  expiration  of  original  enlistment. 

James  W.  Fay. 

William  Fisar. 

James  Fairfax. 

Eli  S.  Hardy. 

Heman  Hickok.  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company . 

Jesse  HoUister.  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Edwin  Hollister,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Ambrose  Haws,  promoted  Seconed  Lieutenant  and  transferred,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1864,  to  company  H , 

Garrett  Hawley. 

William  Hay se. 

Lewis  Harding. 

Benjamin  B    Hillman. 

Mendile  Henry. 

Lorenzo  Ingles. 

William  Jenkins,  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 

Conrad  Keim. 

Flavins  Kilburn. 

Henry  E.  Kress. 

John  H.  Lawrence. 

Mortimer  Lawrence. 

Henry  C.  G.  Lane. 

David  C.  Lipke. 

Amos  A.  Morris. 

Charles  M.  McGloan . 

James  Malki 

Almon  Mason. 

Jeremiah  Mason. 

Norman  Mason. 

Thomas  McKini . 

JohnG.  McFale. 

James  C.  Ronk. 

Simon  Roberts . 

Arthur  Rogers. 

Rodney  Rice,  mustered  out  October  3, 1864. 

Myron  Rice . 

Orlando  Starr. 

Hiram  Sexton,  promoted  Sergeant;  mustered  out  October  3,  1864. 

Willard  Spurrier,  mustered  out  April  30,  18H5 . 

Myron  Sweet . 

Albert  C.  Smith. 

Conrad  Shillenburger,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Garner  Stimpson. 

John  H.  Smith,  veteran  volunteer;   discharged  from  hospital.    (No 
date. 

Henry  H.  Scott. 

Edmond  Tripp , 

Parmer  Tracy. 

David  E.  Tyler. 

Edwin  D.  Tyler. 

Robert  Welch,  discharged  in  hospital.    (No  date). 

George  S.  Wilson,  died  of  gun-shot  wound  August  16,  1864. 

Peter  Wets. 

David  C.  Fields,  died  from  wounds  July  4.  1864. 

Lester  Case. 

COMPANY    C. 
Mustered  October  8,  1861.    Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 


William  Crorapton,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  < 
William  H.  Foster,  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 
Albert  L,  Williams,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


coil  PA  XY    D. 

Mustered  September  10,  1861 .    Mustered  out  with  Regiment 

COMMISSIONED  OPPICER 

First  Lieutenant  Richard  B.  Wood,  promoted  Captain  June  20,1862: 
killed  in  action  February  23,  18&4. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER . 

Corporal  Michael  Farmer. 

PRIVATES. 

Edward  W.  Ausden,  mustered  out  September  10, 1864. 

Robert  Benfer,  mustered  out  September  10,  1864. 

John  Britzer. 

Christopher  Deleware. 

Philip  Ehman,  mustered  out  September  10,  1864. 

John  H(  Hand. 

Edward  P   Lehi. 

Edward  Morse. 

Abraham  Moyer 

Obed  C.  Russell,  discharged  November  23,  1864. 

Isaiah  Stout. 

Alexander  Tittle. 

Thomas  Warren 

COM  PAX  Y    E. 
Mustered  November  4,  1861.    Mustered  out  with  regiment. 


John  Griffln 

Thomas  Grant. 

Levi  Hipoug 

William  B.  Kerr,  promoted  First  Sergeant;  mustered  out  with  company. 

COMPANY  F. 
Mustered  December  11, 1861.    Mustered  out  with  regiment. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Captain  Oliver  G.  Smith,  honorably  discharged,  September  11,  1862. 
First  Lieutenant  George  C .  Roberts,  promoted  to  Captain,  September 

11,  1862;  resigned  April  17,  1863. 
Second    Lieutenant   Elihu  Isbel,  promoted  Captain,  August  12,  1663; 

mustered  out  with  company. 


tTh. 


Adjll 


Sergeant  James  Johnson. 

Nuuan,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant;  mustered 
regiment 


Sergeant  L.  La  Charles. 

Corporal  Samuel  S.  Hoy t . 

Corporal   George  G.  Holliday,  promoted  Sergeant;  mustere 

vember  4.  1864. 
Corporal  Richard  H.  Reed. 
Corporal  Alfred  Washburn 
Corporal  Dudley  W.  Post. 
Corporal  Asher  W    Coon 
Corporal  Albert  Fox . 
First  Bugler,  James  Hanley 
Second  Bugler,  I.  A.  Locher 
Farrier,  A.  Richards 

Saddler,  Thomas  S.  Cromwell,  died  April  18,  1863. 
Wagoner,  Frank  Rogers 

Barkdall  Arnott 

James  Arnott. 

James  H.  Bailey. 

David  Beardsley 

Malon  J.  Bassett,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  j 

volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company 
,Tacob  Beckerstock. 
Lawrence  Blily 
Ira  Crow 

John  Duxberry,  mustered  out  November  4.  18t>4. 
Llewellyn  French 
Albin  Farley 

L.  D.  Fisher,  mustered  out  January  I,  1865 
Charles  Hayne. 
Isaac  P.  HaskiDs. 
Nicholas  Houghton. 
Alexander  Houghton. 
Edward  R    Holliday. 
Amasa  Heath. 
John  King. 
Hayburn  King. 
George  Kedwell. 
Hiram  Lynn,  promoted  Corporal ;  killed  August  20,  IfO-l. 


MelvinS.  Lynn,  mustered  out  November  4, 1864. 

William  P.  Lee. 

Lyman  G.  Lloyd,  mustered  out  November  23,  1864. 

Daniel  Le  Clear. 

John  Myers,  mustered  out  November  4,  1864. 

Thomas  Martin,  promoted  to  Sergeant,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Com- 
pany K;  veteran  volunteer:   mustered  out  with  company 

William  Morrison. 

James  H.  Mann. 

Albert  P.Noble. 

Theodore  L  Prosser. 

Edwin  S.  Prosser. 

John  Peacock, 

Samuel  Riggs. 

Martin  Rowe. 

Lewis  A.  Rounds. 

William  Sheldon. 

Richard  Sheldon. 

Royal  Sikes. 

William  Setchel. 

Abraham  Sinfield. 

George  F.  Sherwood . 

Louis  Shreck. 

Byron  Spencer . 

William  Tappin , 

William  Vauscoy,  mustered  out  November  4,  18ft4 

Almond  Vincent , 

James  Watson . 

JohnB.  Young,  promoted  to  Sergeant:  veteran  volunteer:  drowned  at 
Macon,  Georgia,  July  18,  1865. 


COMPANY    G. 

■  December  11,  1861.    Mustered  i 
Regiment. 


PhiloSt.  John. 

Frank  J.  bmith,  discharged  December  1,  1864. 
John  J.  Watterman,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  < 
Frederick  Warren , 


:  of  service  with 


COMPANY    I. 
:  December  11,  1861.    Mustered  out  of  service  with 
Regiment. 


Captain  Henry  B.  Gaylord,  resigned  May  2,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant  Clark  Center,  honorably  discharged  January  21.  1863. 

Second  Lieutenant  William  Goodnow,  died  May  30,  1862. 


Sergeant  James  Merroe,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  April  8,  1865 . 
Sergeant  Daniel  C.  Lewis,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  transferred 

to  Company  M . 
Sergeant  Chauncey  B.  Wheeler. 

Sergeant  Robert  H.  Spaulding,  discharged  October  3.  1864 . 
Corporal  Thomas  Hoffmire 
Corporal  James  B.  Page. 
Corporal  Roswell  Robbins. 
Corporal  Albert  Sweatland . 
Corporal  Amos  S.  Waltermire . 

Corporal  Cyrus  K.  Livermore,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Corporal  Thomas  Saltzgaber,  discharged  June  5,  1865. 
First  Bugler,  Henry  L.  Bingham. 
Blacksmith.  Jacob  Howk. 

Blacksmith,  Adam  M.  Rock,  discharged  October  3,  1864. 
Saddler,  Thomas  D    Stevenson 
Wagoner,  Frederick  F.  Drake,  transferred  to  Company  B,  April  17,  1865. 

Henry  H.Allen 

William  F.  Allen 

John  W    Blackman. 

Lewis  M.  Brightenstine 

Solomon  Baker 

Charles  B.  Benham,  promoted  Quartermaster  Sergeant;  discharged  in 

hospital. 
James  D.  Benham,  promoted  Sergeant  July  1, 1865;  mustered  out  with 

company 
Harmon  L    Breneman,  killed  in  action  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Georgia, 

June  15,  1864 
William  Bolster,  died  March  18,  18tB 
John  S.  Banks,  discharged  May  24,  1805. 
Frederick  Bloom 
Heary  Broadman 
Seymour  B    Coe. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Frank  Cobban,  died  February  4,  1865. 

Napoleon  B.  Downing. 

Adam  Fetter. 

Henry  B.  Gaylord. 

William  L.  Goodnow. 

Clark  Center. 

Anson  P.  Green . 

Lewis  Heraminger. 

Jacob  Hammal. 

Martin  C .  Johnston 

Edmon  Kiser. 

Vernon  Kellogg. 

George  Kreider. 

Henry  Libe 

William  D.  Leak. 

Pat  Louber. 

Charles  McMaster. 

Charles  Mason. 

James  Mitchell. 

James  H.  Mann. 

Dexter  McMaster. 

Christian  Nagiann. 

Edwin  Niver,  captured  Nov.  15,  IStiS;  starved  to  death  in  Andersonville 
Prison  June  19,  1864. 

Warren  W.  Parsons. 

Burr  P  Parks. 

Otto  N.  Rogers. 

Henry  Rogers,  discharged  October  3,  181U. 

David  T    Selance. 

Charles  A.  Sanders,  discharged  October  -3,  1864 

Henry  Sweatland. 

Gaylord  Saltzgaber.  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  company. 

William  Saltzgaber,  mustered  out  at  Macon,  Georgia,  (no  date). 

Joseph  Stephens,  captured  at  Frog  Springs  SeptemberSO,  1863;  in  prison 
when  company  was  mustered  out. 

William  Spencer,  mustered  out  at  Macon.  Georgia,  (no  date). 

Samuel  Stuke,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Christian  Summers. 

Henry  Thomas. 

Curon  Thomas 

Hyatt  Travis,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Francella  VanHorn . 

Wilson  VanHorn,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Joseph  M.  Wilcox,  mustered  out  at  Macon,  Georgia,  (no  date). 

George  Watson,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  transferred  to  com- 
pany M . 

Richard  Waggoner. 

COMPANY    K. 
Mustered  into  service  December  11,  1861.     Mu.stered  out  with  regiment 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

First  Lieutenant  Darius  E.  Livermore,  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel 
April  8,  1865;  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  B.  Walter  Burr,  discharged  December  .30,  1864. 
Sergeant  John  Maloney,  discharged  December  30,  1864. 
Corporal  Hiram  Barnes. 
Bugler,  Henrj-  Trott . 

Blacksmith,  William  G.  Swart,  discharged  May  30,  1865. 
Saddler,  Robert  Dutchman,  transferred  to  company  M;  veteran  volun- 
teer; mustered  out  with  company. 
Wagoner,  Charles  Yance,  discharged  December  30.  1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Howard  Bowman. 

George  Cummings. 

Peter  M.  Chilson. 

James  Druery. 

Benjamin  Grow . 

William  Gowitze. 

William  Grow. 

Samuel  Grow. 

(ieorge  Heslel^ 

William  Heslet. 

William  Jones. 

Robert  O    Kennedy,  promoted  Corporal;  veteran  volunteer;  mustered 

out  with  company 
John  Kelley. 
James  Morrison. 
James  McCormick,  promoted  Corporal;  veteran  volunteer;  mustered 

out  with  company 
Jonathan  R.  Reed. 
John  Reynolds. 
William  Rose 


Francis  Shares. 
Jacob  Trott. 
John  Toomy . 

Cornelius  Vandenburgh,  discharged  December  30,  1864 
Lewis  Wright,  discharged  December  -30, 1864. 
I.  W.  Wilson. 
James  Wildon. 
George  Leitherer. 

Robert  E.  Morion,  promoted  Corporal  December  31,  1864.  veteral 
teer;  mustered  out  with  company. 


COMPANY     L. 
Mustered  into  and  out  of  service  wittf  the  Regiment 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Sergeaut  John  T.  Woodford,  transferred  to  Company  A,  September 


PRIVATES. 

William  T    Guinn. 

Ezra  Guinn . 

Jacob  Rush,  discharged  Jlay  18,  1865. 

Jacob  Snider. 

William  E.  Thitcher,  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  comps 

John  W.  VVilloughby. 

COMPANY  M. 
Musteied  with  the  Regiment. 

NO.N-COMMISSIONED   OFFICER. 

Farrier.  Andrew  Maxwell. 

PRIV.ITES. 

Napoleon  B .  Benedict,  died  of  disease  at  home  in  Ohio. 

Daniel  dinger,  promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  October  1:3.  1864. 

Michael  Moulet,  mustered  out  November  33,  1864. 

James  Maxwell. 

Francis  Ora. 

Samuel  Simons. 

JohnB.  Viele. 


FIFTH    RE(JIMEXT    OHIO    VOLUNTEER    CAVALRY. 
COMPANY    K. 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER. 

Veterinary  Sergeant,  George  W.  Dimick,  transferred  to  Third  Ohio  Vol- 
imteer  Cavalry. 

PRIVATE. 


Franklin  Pallailay, 


SIXTH    REGIMENT   OHIO    VOLUNTEER    CAVALKY. 
COMPANY    L. 
Mustered  into  service  in  October,  November  and  December,  1861 .    Mus- 
tered out  of  service  August  7,  1865  at  Petersburg,  Virginia. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS . 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  Isaac  W.  Kirk,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant; 
veteran  volunteer;  wounded  April  6,  1865. 

Sergeant  Jacob  B.  Templin,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  October  16, 
1864. 

Corporal  William  P.  Cox,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Janu- 
ary 1,  1865. 

Corporal  Madison  Ti  ail,  discharged  October  25,  1862. 

Corporal  David  A.  Musser,  discharged  October  30,  1S63. 

Farriei,  Nelson  R.  Gunder,  discharged  November  4,  1664. 

Farrier,  John  6.  Carson,  promoted  to  Quartermaster  Sergeant  October 
1,  1863. 


Bazil  Brooks,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  March  31, 1864. 

Jeremiah  Culler,  discharged  November  4, 1864 

Daniel  Crist,  died  September  8,  1863. 

David  B.  Cox.  discharged  for  disability  August  33,  1863. 

David  Elliott,  promoted  to  Corporal;  veteran  volunteer:    mustered  out 

with  company. 
Thomas  E.  French.  promAted  tn  Commissary  Sergeant,  February  10, 

1865,  veteran  voluiiti-f;  Tini^T-t-fii  out  with  company. 
Henry  J.  Heisler,  vfi.-raii  \ -luiit.-r  ;  iimstered  out  with  company. 
Thomas  P.  Hillnian.  ili^ch.ut;rcl  .\ugust  17,  18(!3 


HISTORY  OF  IIUROK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


James  A.  Hughes,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company ;  pro- 
moted to  Corporal. 

Jeremiah  Hileman,  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  in  hospital. 

David  Harman,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  May  13,  1864. 

Jacob  Ipes,  promoted  Corporal:  veteran  volunteer;  discharged  June 
10.  1S65,  by  reason  of  wounds. 

James  P.  Jenkins,  discharged  June  28,  18G5 

George  K.  Mead,  discharged  November  4,  1S64 

Harmon  Minard,  discharged  August  18.  1862 

George  Minard,  veteran  volunteer;  mustered  out  with  company 

William  D.  Oswald,  discharged  December  11,  1804. 

John  Pyle,  died  August  16,  1862. 

John  S.  Regal,  discharged  February  23,  1S63 

John  Ripley,  discharged  June  7,  1862 

John  White,  discharged  February  3;!,  1863. 


XIXTH    KEGIMEXT    OHIO    VOLUXTF.ER    CAVALRY, 
COMPAXY  H. 

rviceJulya 


Mustered  into  service  October  30, 1863.    Mustered  out 
1865,  at  Lexington,  North  Carolina 


Clark  E.  Caligan.  veteran  volunteer:  mustered  out  with  c 
William  H.  Hurlburt,  mustered  out  with  company . 
Gregory  K-  Winegardner.  discharged  from  hospital. 


olunteer;  mustered 


COMPAXY  I. 
Mustered  into  service  December  4, 1863.    Mustered  o 
2il,  ISe.i,  at  Lexington,  North  Carolin 

Harrison  Ames,  promoted  First  Sergeant;  veterans 

out  with  company 
William  A.  Blandon   discharged  May  23,  1863 
Joseph  Jopp,  promoted  Corporal;  captured  July  16 
Julius  Shruch,  discharged  in  hospital;  veteran. 


TEXTH    K£(;iMEXT    OHIO    VtlLUXTEER    CAVALRY, 
COMPAXY    D. 


rvice  March  3.  1804 .    Mustered  out  c 
1863,  at  Lexington.  Norih  Carolina, 


1  July  24, 


PRIVATES  - 

John  Battey,  died  August  18,  1863. 

Martin  Golden,  paroled  prisoner,  at  Annnpolis,  Maryland. 

Henrj-  Hewitt,  prisoner;  surrendered  January  3,  1863. 

William  Nash,  promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  with  company. 

Benjamin  E.  Parker,  discharged  from  hospital,  (no  date). 

William  E.  Ring,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Coi-ps,  April  26,  1864. 

William  C.  Siegling,  bugler;  transferred  to  Company  E. 

George  Slaokford.  killed  September  10,  1864. 

Cook  Smith,  paroled  prisoner  when  company  was  mustered  out. 

Frank  Smith,  promoted  Sergeant;  mustered  out  with  company. 


HISTORY 


Towns  and  Villages  in  Huron  County, 


NORWALK. 


ORIGIN    OF   THE    NAME. 

In  1640,  the  Indian  title  to  the  hind  upon  which 
Nonvalk,  Connecticut,  now  stands,  was  purchased  of 
the  natives  in  two  tr;icts. 

The  bounds  of  the  east  tract  purchased  l)y  Roger 
Ludlow,  as  described  in  the  ancient  records,  were 
"From  Norwalk  river  to  Sawhatuc  (Saugatuck) 
river,  from  sea,  Indian  one  day  walk  into  the  coun- 
try." For  this  tract  the  following  articles  were 
given,  to  wit:  Eight  fathum  wampum,  six  coats,  ten 
hatchets,  ten  hoes,  ten  knives,  ten  scizers,  ten  juse- 
harps,  ten  fathom  tobacco,  three  kettles,  three  hands- 
about.  ten  looking-glasses. 

The  tract  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  sold  to  one 
Captain  Patrick,  is  described  as  follows:  "From  Nor- 
walk river  to  Five  Mile  river,  from  sea,  Indian  one 
day  in  country."  For  this  the  following  articles 
were  given:  "  ten  fathom  wampum,  three  hatchets, 
three  hoes,  when  ship  comes;  six  glasses,  twelve 
tobacco  pipes,  three  knives,  ten  drillers,  ten  needles." 

The  northern  bounds  of  the  lands  purchased  were 
to  be  from  the  sea  one  day's  north  walk  into  the 
country,  hence  the  name  Norwalk. 
.  The  above  explanation  of  the  origin  of  the  name 
is,  in  substance,  given  in  Barbers  Historical  CoUec- 
tions,  Hall's  Historical  Records  of  NorivcdJi:,  and 
Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolvtion, 
and,  perhaps,  should  be  accepted  as  conclusive;  but 
it  has  always  been  a  query  with  the  writer,  what  tlie 
name  of  ".Norwalk  river  "  was  at  the  time  of  the  pur- 
chase? If  it  was  then  Norwalk  river,  the  name  Nor- 
walk could  not  have  been  derived  from  terms  used  in 
describing  that  purchase;  if  it  bore  some  other  name, 
it  would  appear  singular  that  the  "ancient  records" 
should  describe  the  lioundaries  as  beginning  "From 
Norwalk  river." 

THE   T0WN8HII>    NAMED. 

On  the  9th  day  of  November,  1808,  Philij)  B. 
Bradley,    of   Ridgetield;  Taylor   Sherman,    oi    Nor- 


walk; Isaac  Mills,  of  New  Haven;  William  Eldridge, 
of  New  Loudon;  Jabez  Fitch,  of  Greenwich;  Ebenezer 
Jessup.  Jr.,  of  Fairfield;  Guy  Richards,  of  New 
London;  Ebenezer  Avery,  Jr.,  of  Groton,  all  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  met  as  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  "The  proprietors  of  the  half  million  acres  of  land 
lying  south  of  Lake  Erie,  called  the  Sufferers'  Land," 
at  the  court  house,  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
and  among  other  business  transacted  that  day,  passed 
a  resolution  naming  all  the  townships  in  the  "Fire 
Lands;"  in  and  by  that  resolution,  township  num- 
ber four  in  the  twenty-second  range  was  named  Nor- 
walk. 

Taylor  Sherman  was  the  only  member  of  that 
board  from  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  probably  stood 
sponsor  at  the  christening.  He  was  the  grandfather 
of  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman  who  led  that  magnificent 
column  of  American  veterans  on  its  memoralile  march 
from  "Atlanta  to  the  sea,"  and  of  John  Sherman, 
secretary  of  the  treasury,  who,  to-day,  stands  befoi-c 
the  nations,  as  first  of  financiers. 

ORIGIN    OF    LAND    TITLES. 

July  11,  1797,  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  was  burned 
by  the  British  and  tories  under  Governor  Trvon.  A 
committee  of  the  general  assembly  estimated  the 
losses  by  the  inhabitants  at  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  dollars  and 
sixt3'-six  cents.  Half  a  million  acres  of  land  in 
"New  Connecticut'-'  was  approprLated  for  the  benefit 
of  those  sufferers^  and  those  of  other  towns  which  had 
suffered  a  like  calamity. 

The  left  hand  column  in  the  following  table  shows 
the  name  aud  amount  of  losses,  in  pounds,  sliillings 
and  pence,  of  each  Norwalk  sufferer.  The  right  hand 
column  shows  the  names  of  the  persons,  to  whom 
tlieir  claims  were  paid  in  land.  For  a  more  full  and 
particular  account  of  the  classification  and  jjayment 
of  those  claims,  see  the  general  county  history. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


NORWALK,    TOWN    NUMBER    FOUR,    IN    THE    TWENTY- 
SECOND    RANGE.- 


Classification  No.  1,  Section 


Hannah  Hooker  211 
James  Fitch  319 

Haynes  Fitch,  two 

losses  89 

Jacob  Jennings  23 
Edward  Wentworth  80 
Ebenezer  W  hitney  108 
Benj.  Betts.  Jr.  3 

Michael  ^lorehouse 

Jr.  7 

Michael  Morehouse  4 
Andrew  Morehouse  1 
Elizabeth  Gaylord  5 
Samuel  Bunal  30 

Nehemiah  St.  John  89 
Samuel  Comstock  2 
Ephraim  Stewart  n 
Thaddeus  Keeler  2 
Elizabeth  Dunning  7 
Silas  Hickoek  3 

Nathan  Hickoek  2 

Nathaniel  Street  .33 
Jesse  Burchard  7 

John  Benedict  172 

David  Jackson  53 

Samuel  Keeler  30 

Benjamin  Peck  23 

James  Brown  15 

Anna  Reynolds  22 

John  Dovey 


heirs 
Moses  Dickinsons 

Hannah  Dickinson 
Piatt  Townsend 
Daniel  Thatcher's 


Jacob  Jennings 
Stephen  Wood 
Sam'l  Middlebrook 


Sarah  Dickinson 

Deborah  Dickinson  : 
Hannah  Dickinson  & 
Eliza  LiUibridge 
Daniel   Thatchers 
heirs 


James  Smith  21        13  Committee 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  1, 
Classification  No.  2,  Section  2. 


18 

12 

/ 

Stephen  Lockwooo 

18 

12 

/ 

Thaddeus   Betts, 

two  losses 

272 

17 

§ 

272 

17 

9 

James  Cr  owley 

3 

14 

3 

14 

7 

Gershorn  Hyatt 

5 

32 

5 

Simeon  Raymond 

442 

3!4 

Thomas  Comstock 

442 

7 

'3H 

Thomas  Benedict 

779 

1 

10 

Thomas  Benedict 

502 

11 

5 

John  Rich 

72 
Fo 

B 
oting 

ofC 

John  Rich's  heirs 
assificationNo.2, 

18 

n^ 

£1,:M4 

7 

0 

Classification 

No.  3,  Section  3. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

£ 

s 

d. 

Nathan  Jarvis 

279 

6 

Stephen  Lockwood  219 

16 

Daniel  Hanford's 

two  losses 

323 

16 

4 

32:3 

16 

4 

Gold  Hoyt 

195 

8 

Thomas  Comstock  195 

8 

James  Hoyfs  heirs  26 

2 

26 

2 

Thomas  Benedict 

779 

10 

Thomas  Benedict 

216 

10 

5 

Matthew  Keeler 

165 

10 

Isaac  Keeler 

32 

15 

5 

Jesse  Ben-diet 

144 

6 

Jesse  Benedict 

114 

7 

6 

Matthew  Keeler 

165 

10 

10 

Jonathan  Riggs 

15 

5 

Josiah  Marvin 

158 

10 

..** 

58 

10 

1 

Obediah  .Siseat 

0 

3 

0 

Rebecca  Smith 

3 

2 

9 

3 

2 

Isaac  Waring 

3 

10 

3 

10 

James  Hitchcock 

19 

8 

6 

4 

io 

Thomas  Hayes 

IS 

16 

14 

8 

Deborah  Ricket 

22 

0 

2 

Samuel  Kiteham 

1 

•2 

2 

Joshua  Rogers 

14 

15 

3 

.. 

12 

•  r 

Mary  Avery 

n 

- 

•' 

lU 

10 

Foot 

ngc 

f  Cla 

ssification  No  3, 

.4:1,344 

~~ 

0 

Classification 

No.  4,  Section  4 

£ 

s. 

d. 

£ 

^ 

d. 

Capt.  Josiah  Starr 

13 

5 

8 

Josiah  Starr 

13 

5 

Joshua  Starr 
Josiah  Starr 
Ezra  Starr 
Fara  Starr 
Dr.  John  Wood 


Comfort  S.  Mygatt  400 
His  heirs  262 

Wni. Taylor  in  right 


ing  of  Classification  No.  4. 


,NI/,ATIOX. 


At  tlu'  coniiiieiicei 
foniiud  jMi't  i>i  tlu' 
towij.-liJi)  of  niin.ii. 


)f  the  year   1817,  Norwalk 
(irv   of  the  tlieu  e.xtensivc 


Early  in  that  year,  a  i^etition  for  a 
organization  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  a  number 
of  citizens,  but  how  many,  or  whom,  cannot  now  be 
ascertained,  the  writer  having  made  a  diligent  search 
for  the  original  paper,  among  the  public  files,  without 
successs. 

In  pursuance  of  that  petition,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Commissioners  of  Hiiron  county  held  on  on  the  18th 
day  of  February,  1817,  the  following  order  was  made: 

On  the  petition  of  David  Gibbs  and  others,  we  set  off  the  townships 
of  Bronson  and  Norwalk  (being  numbers  three  and  four  in  the  twenty- 
second  range  of  townships  in  Huron  county)  from  the  township  of 
Huron,  to  be  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Nor. 
walk.  By  order  of  the  Commissioners, 

J  Attest :  Frederick  Fally,  P.  'I. 

Frederick  Fally,  Ebenezer  Merry  and  Bildad 
Adams  were  then  the  county  commissionrt's,  and 
Frederick  Fally  was  acting  as  clerk  for  tlie  commis- 
sioners "P.  T."  {jjro  fern.) 

The  two  townships  remained  in  that  state  of  or- 
ganization until  on  the  8tli  of  March,  IS'20,  when  at 
a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners, — present, 
Joseph  Strong  and  Lyman  Farwell, — it  was 

Ordered,  That  towns  numbers  one  and  two,  in  the  twenty-second 
range,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  annexed  to  the  township  of  Norwalk. 

And  that   state  of  organization  continued  until  at 
a  meeting  of  the   commissioners   of  Huron  county,  • 
held  on  the  4th  day  of  March,  1823:  present,  Eli   S. 
Barnum,  Robert  S.  Southgate  and  Amos  Woodward, 
commissioners,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  township  Bumber  one,  in  the  twenty-second  range 
(called  Ripley),  be  and  same  is  hereby  annexed  to  township  number 
one,  in  the  twenty-third  range  (called  New  Haven),  fo:-  township  pur- 
poses. 

Ordered,  On  the  petition  of  Edward  L.  Cole'and  others,  that  townships 
numbers  two  and  three,  in  the  twenty-second  range  (the  first  Bronson, 
the  second  Fairfield.)  be  organized  with  township  privileges,  and  that 
the  same  be  known  by  the  name  of  Bronson.  And  notice  of  township 
meeting  on  the  first  Monday  of  April  next,  given  according  to  law. 
Attest  :  MosES  Kimball, 

Clerk  and  Auditor,  Huron  County. 

Of  the  townships  here  named  in  parenthesis,  the 
first  should  have  been  Fairfield,  and  the  second,  Bron- 
son, but  the  record  stands  as  cited. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  from  February  18,  1817, 
to  Alarch  8,  1S20,  Norwalk  embraced  a  territory  five 
miles  wide  and  ten  miles  long,  and  from  March  8, 
1820  to  March  4,  IS'i'i,  its  territory  was  five  miles 
wide  and  twenty  miles  long;  forming  an  election  pre- 
cinct which  polled  sixty-two  votes  at  the  first  elec- 
tion, as  appears  by  the  certificate  attached  to  tlie  tally 
sheet  of  that  election,  now  on  file  in  the  county 
clerk's  office,  which  is  as  follows: 

At  a  regular  election  of  the  electors  in  the  township  of  Norwalk,  at 
the  house  of  Daniel  Tilden,  in  said  Norwalk,  on  the  third  Say  of  April, 
1820,  for  two  justices  of  the  peace: 

We  do  hereby  certify,  that  Enos  Gilbert  had  sixty -one  votes:  Samuel 
B.  Lewis,  forty-flve;  Luke  Keeler,  one:  Abijah  Comstock,  seven;  Asher 
Cole,  one;  and  Joseph  Pierce,  three,  for  the  offices  of  justices  of  the 
peace.  Platt  Benedict, 

Attest :        Wm.   Gardner,  Euphalet  W.  Day, 

Enos  Gilbert,  Robert  S.  Sovthgate,' 

Clerks.  Judges  of  Election. 

At  an  election  for  slieritf  on  Deoenilier  (;,  18-20,  (at 
winch  Enos  (Jilhert,  of  Norwalk.  was  elected) 
seventy-two  votes  were  polled. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


At  iin  election  for  justice  on  the  "^d  day  of  April, 
1821,  (at  which  Timothy  Taylor  was  elected)  seventy- 
six  votes  were  polled. 

At  the  election  for  county  otticers.  October  9,  1831, 
ninety-two  votes  were  polled. 

At  the  State  election  in  1877,  the  same  territory 
polled  for  governor:  Fairfield,  303";  Bronson,  22o; 
Ripley,  312;  Norwalk,  1,34-4.     Total,  3,08-1:. 

After  Ripley,  Fairfield  and  Bronson  were  detached 
from  Norwalk,  and'at  the  State  election  of  October  8, 
1831,  only  fifty-one  votes  were  polled  in  NorAvalk. 

PERSONAL  PROPERTY  TAX   FOR  181-5. 
{.\bstract  showing  Norwalk.) 
Duplicate  of   taxes  laid  in  Huron  county  for  the  year  1815,  by  the 
county  commissions  of  said  county. 
Eli  S.  Barnum,  Caleb  Palmer  and  Charles  Parker,  Con 
Tax  bill  for  the  county  of  Huron  in  the  year  1S15: 

WBEATSBOROrGH.  HURO: 


Dillingham    John SSHO 

Reed.  Hanson 

Wilson,  .James 


Comstock,  Abijah  . . 
Lewis,  Samuel  B  . . 
Newcomb,  Benjamii 


Total  for Wheatsborough       aSO 
Total  for  Til  60 

Huron i    5600 

Vermillion 2480 


Total  for  Huron  County,  8192.40 

The  townships  of  Wheatsborough.  Huron  and 
Vermillion  appear  to  have  constituted  the  whole 
county,  for  purposes  of  taxation,  at  that  time. 

This  duplicate  was  probably  made  out  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1815.  In  August,  of  that  year, 
there  was  an  entirely  different  arrangement  of  town- 
ship lines  established,  as  appears  by  the  following 
extract  from  Volume  I,  page  1,  of  the  Commissioners' 
Joui-nal  of  Huron  county: 

Commissioners'  office,  at  county  seat,  August  1,  1815.  First  meet- 
ing held  at  David  Abbott,  Esq. 

Caleb  Palmer,  Charles  Parker  and  Eli  S.  Barnum,  Commissioners. 

Ichabod  Marshall,  Clerk,  appointed  pro  tern.  Abijah  Comstock, 
appointed  County  Treasurer. 

The  new  townships  following  are  set  off,  viz: 

1,  Wayne's  Reserve,  at  Lower  Sandusky,  to  be  known  by  the  name 
of  Lower  Sandusky. 

a.  Vermillion— comprising  the  following  tract,  viz:  The  whole  of 
the  twentieth  range  of  the  Connecticut  Western  Reserve,  together  with 
all  the  tract  of  coimtry  belonging  to  the  county  of  Huron,  east  of  said 
twentieth  range. 

3.  Greenfield— comprising  townships  numbers  two  and  three,  in  the 
twenty-first,  twenty-second,  twenty-third  and  twenty-fou]fh  ranges  of 
the  Connecticut  Western  Reserve. 

4.  New  Haven— comprising  number  one  in  the  twenty-first,  twenty- 
second,  twenty -third  and  twenty -fourth  ranges. 

By  order  of  the  Commissioners, 
Ichabod  Marshall,  Commissioners'  Clerk,  pro  tern. 

PERSONAL    PROPERTY    T.\X    FOR    ISlfl. 

(Extract  showing  Norwalk.) 
County    tax  assessed    on  the    residents    of   Huron  county  for  the 
year  1819: 

Xorn-alk  Towntihip.  Horses.  Cattle.  Houses. 

Abbot,  Ezra 450       $2  25 

*Ammerroan,  Simeon 3        —  30 

Benedict   Piatt 2            8         ...  140 

Boalt,  Eben 4        ...  40 

Boalt,  John  2       ....  20 

Brunson    Hosea 1        —  10 

Cole,  Levi 2           9       ,...  150 

Comstock,  Abijah 3            3        ..,.  140 

♦Clark,  Lestor 1        ....  10 

*Clark,Jabez 1            4       ....  ro 

•Cole,    David 4        ....  40 

15 


yoriralk  Tou-nship.  Horses.  Cattle.  Houses. 

*Cla;k,  Halsey 1            4        ....  70 

''Crawford,  Joseph 2        20 

Cole.  Thomas 2        —  20 

■•Demmg,  Jabez 3        ....  30 

Forsythe,  Fi-ederick  1             1         350  2  15 

Fay,  Lucius 4           ..  40 

Gibbs,  David 1           3       ....  liO 

Gibbs,  Samuel  R    1            K        .  ■  ■  ■  90 

Gilbert,   Enos    1        ....  10 

*6uthrj,Eben 1            8        ....  110 

■^Herrick,  Ezra 1            2        ....  .50 

■►Herrick,  Ezra    Jr 1        30 

'Hoskins,  John 3        ....  30 

''Hagerman,  Thomas 5        —  .50 

Houk,  Henry 2            2        ....  80 

*Herrick,  Lott 4         ...  40 

Isham,  Epaphroditus 4  40 

Isham,Seldon  1        ...  H) 

Iiiman.  Malvara 3        ....  30 

•Kellogg.  Jlariin  1            4        ....  TO 

Keeler.  Luke 1            4  TO 

Keelei-.John 2             2        ....  80 

tLoekwood.  George 2        60 

Lockwood,  Henry 1            3        ...  110 

Laylin.John 1             1          -.  -10 

Laylin,  Charles 1  10 

Lewis,  Samuel  B 1            4        ....  TO 

Marshall,  Ichabod 1        30 

Mason,  Cornelius 1  10 

Myre«,Adam 2            1        ....  TO 

Odway,  Nehemiah 1        30 

*Pixley,  Reuben 2            1        ...  TO 

Powers,  Abraham 2        —  20 

*Rundle.  Abijah 1            4        —  TO 

Reed,  Hanson 1            4         ...  TO 

"Reynolds,  Job  T 3          ...  30 

'SutlifE,  Nathan 3         ...  :» 

♦Southgate,  Robert  S 1             5        ....  80 

*Sypher,  Peter 1            4        ....  TO 

Strong.  Silas  G 1          ...  10 

Tice,Peter ,         1            1        :J00  1  90 

Tice  &  Forsythe 200  100 

*Taylor.  Benjamin 2        ....  20 

*Terry,  Henry 1          ...  10 

*Tanner,  Nathan 4         ...  40 

tUnderhill,  Jasper 2        ....  20 

Wheeler,  Edward 1             1          ...  40 

Wells.  Ezekiel  1            4        ...  TO 

''Welch,  John 5        ...  .50 

White,John 1            3       ....  00 

Wilson,  James 1            4  TO 

Todd,  Manning  S  1          30 

David  Underbill.  Levi  Cole,  Piatt  Benedict, 
Peter  Tice,  Frederick  Forsythe  and 
Daniel  Tilden,  own  all  the  town  of  Nor- 
walk, assessed  at  $1,400 7(10 

Total  for  Norwalk 42         174        ....  $43  10 

Total  amount  of  the  tax 81,217  75 

Note.— Total  names  on  this  duplicate 63 

''Lived  in  Bronson,  then  attached  to  Norwalk 19 

tLived  in  Milan 1 

tLived  in  Ridgefleld 1 —  21 

Residents  of  Norwalk 42 

To  Hallet  Gallup— .Sir.'— The  taxes  herein  contained,  assessed  on 
the  residents  of  Huron  county  for  the  year  1819;  you  are  by  the  Com- 
missioners of  Huron  county,  authorized  to  collect,  you  will,  therefore, 
proceed  to  90lleet  the  said  taxes,  and  pay  the  amount  to  the  Treasurer 
of  Huron  county  as  the  law  directs. 

By  order  of  the  Commissioners, 

Benj    Abbott,  Clerk. 

PERSON.VL  PROPERTY  TAX  FOR  1830. 

(Extract  showing  Norwalk.) 

List  of  Taxable  Property  in  Norwalk  Tow.vship. 

Proprietors^  Xames.  Homes.  Cattl?. 

■"Ammermon.  Simeon 1            5  80.80 

Bronker.  John 2            1  70 

Brunson,  Hosea 2  20 

Bangs.  James 2  20 

Benton   William 1  10 

Baker,  Timothy 2            2  80 

•Beckwith,  William .3  30 

Bangs,  Theodore 2  flO 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Proprietors 

Benedict.  Piatt 

•Baker,  Spencer 

*Baker,  ^\  illiam 

•Brownell   \bel 

Boalt.  John 

Boalt.  Eben 

•Clark,  Daniel  L 

•Crawford  Joseph 

•Clark,  LestPi 

•Cl.irk,  Jabez 

Cole,  Da^id 

•Conger  David 

Cole.  Thomas 

Case.  Samuel 

Carver,    Mdnch 

Cole,  Ashei 

Comstoc  k    \bi]ah 

Denit,  Zurich  W 

•Day,  Ehphalet 

Decker,  Elick 

Dimick,  John 

Dillingham  John 

•DemmiQg  Jai)ez 

Dillingham    Heur\ 

•Ervin,  Thomas 

Fnrsjthf  iiedenek 

Finney.  Eravtus 
■  Foster,  beth 
Fay.  John 
Fay.  Lunub 
Gallup,  Hallett 
Gardner   \\  ilham 
Gibbs,  DaMd 
Gibbs.  Samuel  R 
•Guthrie  Eben 
Gilbert,  Enos 
Huyck,  Henij 
Hutohinb  Elias 
•Herrick   Lott 
•Hoskinb  John 
•Hagarman  Thomas 
•Herrick   Ezra 
•Herrick   Ezid  Ji 
Inman,  Mulvery 
Isham,  Ep-iplii  oditus 
Isham,  Selden 
•Johnson    Bi vant 
Jerolomon  Thomas 
•Kellogg    Mai  tin 
Keeler,  Lewis 
Keeler,  John 
Lewis,  SainueJ  B 
Laylin,  C  hailes 
Laylin,  .J  ohn 
Lockwood    Henr\ 
Lane,  Ebeiie^er 
Ma.:on,  (  ornelia 
Marshall  Ichabod 
•Mofflt,  Pbihp 
•Pi.icley,  Reuben  C 
Pratt,  John 
Pierce,  Joseph 
Porter,  W  illiam 
•Rundle,  Abioah 
Raymond  Lemuel 
•Reynolds  Job  T 

Reed.  Hanson 
•Sutliff,  Nathan 
•Southgate  Robert  S 
•Sample  John 
Sifort,  Fetei 
Sifori,  Peter  Jr 
•Tanner,  Nathan 
Tice,  Peter 
Tilden,  Daniel 
Todd,  Manning  S 
•Terr}-,  Henrj 
•Taylor,  Benjamin  F 
•Warren,  Daniel 
Welch,  John 
Wilson,  James 
White,  John 
Wlieeler   Levi 
Western   Jonathan 
Wells,  Roswell 


Horses.  Cattle. 


Proprietor^i'  Names. 

Wilson,  Thomas  C.^ 

Ordway ,  Nehemiah 

Amount  of  Town  Plat 


gSi  10 


TOWN*    PI..\T    OF    XORWAl.K. 

PROPEIETORS'   NAMES.  '  Taj-. 

Benedict,  Piatt '   5  72}^ 

Benton,  William 35 

Bangs,  James , 35 

Bangs,  Theodore » 30 

tButman,  John  S .30 

Cole   Levi 4.50 

Finney   Erastus 1.35 

Fay,  John 1.68^ 

Forsythe  Frederick 2.85 

Gallup,  William 1.50 

Henry,  Samuel  50 

Lane,  Ebenezer 1.50 

Mason,  Cornelia 2  00 

Tice,  Peter  5.75 

Tilden,  Daniel  8.00 

tUnderhill.  David 3.75 

Williams.  James  1.25 

Whittlesey  and  Benedict  6.60 

$47.60 
Total  amount  of  page  footings  of  this  duplicate  81.14-2  U 

To  David  W.  Hinman,  Esi^., 

Sir;— The  county  levies  liereiu  contained,  assessed  on  the  inhabitants 
of  Huron  County,  for  the  year  1820,  you  are,  by  the  Commissioners  of 
Huron  county,  authorized  to  collect,  you  will  therefore  proceed  to  col- 
lect the  same  and  pay  to  the  Treasurer  of  Huron  county  as  the  law 
directs  By  order  of  tlie  Coramissitners. 

For  Lyman  Farwell,  Clerk, 

Ichabod  Marshall. 

Note  .     Total  names  on  this  duplicate,  including  lot  owners . .  101 

•Lived  in  Bronson,  then  attached  to  Norwalk 33 

tLi%-ed  in  Milan 1 

tLived  in  Ridgefleld  1-35 

Residents  of  Norwalk  66 

PERSONAL    PKOPEKTY,   ETC. — TA.\    FOR    1822. 

(Extract  siiowing  Norwalk.) 

Duplicate  of  the  county  tax  levied  on  the  personal  and  town  propei-jy 
of  Huron  county  for  the  year  1822. 


Norwalk. 


Hors 


Arnold.  Alfred 

Bangs,  Theodore  S.,  lot  60,  1820,  30c;  1821,  $1.25:  1822, 

75c 

Butman,  Jno.  S.,  lot  58, 1820, 41c;  1821, 79}^c;  1822,37^c;  . . 

Boalt,  Eben 

Boukee,  John 1 

Baker,  Timothy,  1  house  $400 3 

Benedict,  Piatt,  1  house  ¥400,  half  No.  1 2 

lot  14,  1821,  87Hc;  18^,  50c 

"       .      lot  15,  1821,  $4.40;  1822,  50c 

lotl8,  1821,  63^0 ;  1822,  50c 

Iot33,  1821,  62Hc;  1822,  50c 

Benton.  William 

Boalt.  Jolin    1 

Comstock.  Abijah 1 

Cole,  Asher,  1  house  S250 2 

Norwalk  lots  4,  11,  19,  21,  27,  29 

Cole,  Asa,  lot  22,  BOc 

lot  30,  1820,  52.18;  1821,  80.81H;  1^  50c 

Drake,  Benjamin  F 1 

Drake,  William,  lot  26,  halt  1820,  81.09^;  1821,  JO.SIH; 

1822,80.25 

Dounce,  John 

Dillingham,  John,  1  house  f  2.50 

Forsythe,  Frederick,  1  house  J8.50 1 

%  lot  9,  1821  and  1822 

Finny,  Erastus,  1  house  -200,  !^  lot  24 

Fay,  Lucius 

Fay,  John,  deUnquent,  1820, 1  house,  lot  16 

same  same  for  1822 

Gardner,  William 1 

Gallup,  Hallet,  lot  61 1 

Gilbert,  Enos 1 

Gibl).s,  David 1 


3.85 

1.37K 

4.90 

1.12^ 

1.12Ji 


2.16 
10 

2.45 


1.25 

.50 

1.62H 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Norwalk.  Horses. 

Gallup,  William,  lot  62,  1S20, '31, '82 

Gibbs,  Samuel  R 

Hurlburt,  Henry 

Henrv,  Sanauel  lot  ir,  1820, -21, '22 

Hoskins,  Thomas • 1 

Huyck.Henry 3 

Isha'ii,  Epaphroditus 

Isham,  Selden 1 

Inman,  Malvery  

Kimball,  Jloses,  half  28. 

Keeler,  John » 1 

Keeler,  Luke  1 

Keeler,  Lewis 

Latimer,  Pickett , 1 

Lockwood  Henry 

Laylin,  Charles 

Lane.  Ebenezer,  1  house  :200 1 

Lewis,  Samuel  B 1 

Laylin,  John 2 

Merryman,  Enoch  B    1 

Marshall,  Ichabod 1 

lots36and37 

Mason,  Cornelia,  lot  34 ". . 

JIarvin,  Zaehariah,  lot  35 

Odway.  Neheniiah,  delinquent  of  1S2I 

Pratt,  John  

Pearce,  Joseph,  delinquent  of  1820 .. 

Reed,  Hanson  1 

Richmond  Everett,  lot  66.  1821,  '22 

Straiten,  Daniel 

Tice,  Peter,  }s  lot  9 2 

•loto 

lots  6,  8, 1831, '22  

lots  35,  33,  1821, '22 

Tilden,  Daniel  

half  lots  12,  26,  1820, '21, -22 

Underhill,  David,  lots  23,  88 

Underbill,  Benedict  &.  Cole,  lots  2,  3,  10,  20 

Williams,  James,  lot  64, 1820,  -21,  '22 1 

Wells,  Ezekiel 

Wells,  Roswell 

Woodward,  William 

Wilson,  James 1 

White,  John 

Wheeler,  Samuel 

Wood,  Andrew 

Wheeler,  Edward 2 

Whittlesey,  Elisha,  lots  38,  39,  40,  41,  42,  43,  44.  45,  M, 

55.  56,  57,  59,  63  and  63,  1821  and  1823 . 

Unknown,  lots  7  and  31, 1821  and  1822 

Totals 47 


Auditor's  Office,  Huron  Co.,  Aug.  1, 1822. 
I,  Moses  Kimball,  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  correct  duplicate  of  the 
county  tax  for  1822.  Moses  Kimball,  C.  .4. 

Note.— The  total  tax  for  the  county,  including  Brownhelm,  Black  River 
and  Elyria.  is  tooted  up  $1,659.36. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Norwalk  and  Brouson 
were  set  off  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Norwalk  on 
February  18,  1817,  and  that  Bronson  was  set  oif  from 
Norwalk  on  March  4,  1822.  This,  then,  is  the  first 
personal  property  tax  duplicate  for  Norwalk  town- 
ship proper,  and  shows  a  list  of  sixty-six  taxable  per- 
sons; but  Butman,  Underhill  and  Whittlesey  were 
not  residents,  leaving  the  actual  resident  tax  payers 
only  sixty-three. 

KESIDEyX  REAL  ESTATE  TAX   IN   1815. 
(Extract  showing  Norwalk). 
Resident  proprietors'  land  tax,  in  the  year  1815,  for  the  counties  of  Cuy- 
ahoga and  Huron.  State  of  Ohio. 


6.75 
2.99Ji 

20 
3.77H 
1.00 
4.0O 
4.65 


Proprietors' 

II  III 

2  S'g  «£ 

1 

1 

-■imount  of 
Taxes 

T3tSl 

Amount  Due 

$ 'cts.  mills'200 

8  cts.'mills300 

Comstock.Abijah 
Frink,  William  § 
Wood,  Standish 

.....145022  4 
..200. ...22   4 
..200. ...22  4 

4     :    do 

25 

5 
5 

81 
37 
37 

5 

25l  81     00    OO 
5,  37      5      ... 
.^|37      5      ... 

I  have  compared  this  duplicate  with  the  original,  and  find  it  correct. 
George  Pease. 
The  charge  for  drawing  off  Ihe  within  duplicate  is  cne  dollar  and 
fifty  cents.    Received  payment  of  Charles  Parker.J        George  Pease. 

*There  is  one  name  on  this  duplicate  for  Portage  <  ounty.  £r.d  one  for 
Cuyahoga,  with  forty-seven  other  names  for  Huron  county,  the  three 
above  given  being  all  there  are  for  Norwalk. 

i  Charles  Parker  was  one  of  the  county  commissioners  in  1815. 

§  William  Frink  was  a  resident  of  Ridgefleld  in  1812  and  1813.  and  of 
Sherman  in  18-20.  and  probably  never  resided  in  Norwalk. 

TAX    IX    1816. 

(Extract  showing  Norwalk). 


Proprietors' 
Names. 

1 

5 

Jill 

4 
2.3 

Amount  ot    j^^^^'o^^'lj,^^^ 

Sets. 

t% 
17  50 
27  75 

4  50 

mills,      i  S 
5    '...     4 

5  :::  ,? 

.  ;27 

cts.  mills 

Beaty,  John 

Buii,Epaphrusw:.:: : 

Comstock.Abijah 

Frink,  William 

200 

-l|i:; 

21      5 

t      5 

75 

.50 

Total  am't  tax  (with  i  est  of  county),  sl.lSo.C 


CoMMissioxERs'  OFFICE.  Hurou  County,  Ohio,  June  8.  1816. 

We  hereby  certify  that  the  within  and  foregoing  is  a  duplicate  of  the 
State  tax.  for  the  County  of  Huron,  for  the  year  1816. 

Frederick  Fally,  |  „„ ■,„-,,. 

Attest:  Ebenezer  Merry,  iji-ommissioneis. 

Frederick  Fally,  Clerk. 

t  There  are  in  this  duplicate  one  name  from  Portage  county,  two 
names  from  Medina  county,  four  names  from  Cuyahoga  county,  one 
hundred  and  seven  names  from  Huron  couty,— four  being  from  Nor- 
walk, and  Comstock  the  only  actual  resident. 

TAX    IN    1817. 

(Extract  showing  Norwalk). 

Resident  proprietors'  land  tax,  for  the  year  1817,  for  Huron  county. 


Ohio. 


Proprietors'  Names. 


C'olwell  and  others. 


Bull,  EpaphrusW 

Comstock,  Abijah 

Fay,  Aaron 

Frink,  William 

Gibbs,  David 

Lockwood,  Henry 

Second  Rate  (for  county) 
§  Third  Rate  (for  a 


33742H 


22  4:4 
""  42&3 

22  4i 
"  43 
22  43 


t'i339  87H 


Commissioners'  Office,  Huron  County,  Ohio,  April  3,  1817. 
We  hereby  certify  that  the  within  and  foregoing  is  a  duplicate  of  the 
State  tax,  for  the  county  of  Huron,  for  the  year  1817. 


§  There  are  in  this  duplicate  one  name  from  Portage  county,  two 
names  from  Medina  county,  two  names  from  Cuyahoga  county,  one 
hundred  and  twenty.fhree  names  from  Huron  county, — seven  being 
from  Norwalk. 

+  These  figures  are  the  total  for  the  county.  The  total  for  Norwalk  is 
$78.23)4. 

TAX    IN    1818. 

(Extract  showing  Norwalk). 

Resident  proprietors'  land  tax.  for  the  year  1818.  for  Huron  county. 


Frink,  William 

Gibbs,  Pavid 

Lockwood,  Henry. 


3    5^11 


m 


...•22!  43 

280  •22;  4  2 


HISTOKY  OF  HUKOK  AND  EEIE  COUNTIEfS.  OHIO. 


There  are  ia  this  duplicate  one  name  from  Portage  county,  one  name 
from  Medina  county,  one  hundred  and  eights'-eight  names  from  Huron 
county,— nine  being  from  Norwalk. 

Tliere  is  no  certificatp  attached  to  this  paper,  but  it  is  authentic,  and 
forms  part  of  the  oflicial  record  in  the  Auditors'  office  of  Huron  county. 

TAX    IX    1819. 
(Extract  sliowing  Norwalk) - 

The  following  Collector's  duplicate,  for  the  tax  of 
the  year  1819,  found  amoung  the  papers  of  the  late 
Hallet  Gallup,  is  the  earliest  one  that  the  most 
thorough  search  has  brought  to  light.  None  are  on 
file  in  the  Auditor's  office. 


and  tax  of  tlie  residents  of  Hur 


imly.  fo 


i 

irrii 

1 

33 
32 

32 

T 

3.3 

J_ 

1 

1 

1 

281 

350 
6.30 
638 
520 
140 
544 

Huron 

Returned 

t'onistock.  Abijah 
Fav    \aroii 

m 

300 
3li( 
iOO 

■m 

311 

R 

Paid 

Friuk  William 

sir""" 

Paid 
Paid 

Gibl«,  David 

Lock  wood,  Henry. 
Lewis,  Samuel  B.. 
Marvin,  Zachariah 

part:4 

John  S.  Reed  says,  the  tax  against  Cornelius  Reed  was  paid  for  last 
.year. 

To  Hallet  Gallup: 

You  are,  by  the  commissioners  o  Huron  county  appointed  collector 
of  the  foregoing  taxes,  of  the  residents,  on  land  in  the  county  of  Huron. 
Ton  are.  therefore,  hereby  authorized  to  collect  the  same,  and  make 
returns  as  the  law  directs. 

Joseph  Strong.  I  ,^„,„,„v, ,.•„„„,.. 


TAX    IX    1820. 
(Extract  showing  Norwalk). 


Benedict,  Thomas . 

do 
Benedict,  Elijah, .. 


Beatty,  John. 


do 


100 


Benedict  Piatt, 

for  Salley  and 

Mary  Pettit 

Boalt,  Eben I  200 

Benedict,  William    800 
Comstock.  Abijah.  1160 


Curtiss,  Ira  . . 
Cole,  Asa  *  Thomas 
Crawford,  Joseph 
Cole,  Levi,  heirs  of 


B-rink,  William +  . 
Gibbs,  SamuelR . 
Gibbs,  David  . . . . 
Huyck,  Henry.  . 
Inman,  Melvery. 
Jennings,  Seth  . . 


Lewis  Samuel  B.. 
Lockwood,  Henry 

;Lane,  E 

iMeers.  Moody 

Uarrin,  Zachariah 


543 


Tax  in  1830-continue 

"■ 

Non-Resident 
Proprietors. 

Resident 
Proprietors. 

1 

1 

R 

,!s  1 

?  cts. 

Middlebrook.SamT  1 

rS^^c  ...' 
Riggs,  Jonali. heirs  of 

Townsend,  Jacob 

413 

urn 

4.33  ■ 
170 

43 

33 
32 
22 
32 
32 

i 

; 

33 

a 

4  1 

4!  3   

4  3 

4  4   

44 

4  A.'.'.'.... 

■am 

Reed,  Hanson 

60 

1356 
U2U 

8r.5i-j 

24(3 
150 
50 

% 

2:3'73 

2« 

Tice  Peter 

White,  Moss,  / 
E.Tweedy,  &  others  \ 

Whitlock,  Thadeous 
Whittlesey,  Elisha. . . 
Wood,  Steplien 

Wilson,  James 

Keeier,  John '.'.'.'.'.. 

do          

Newcomb,  Jabez. 

■■ 

V 

Total  for  Norwalk. 


I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  and  foregoing  is  a  correct  dupli< 
the  land  tax  in  the  county  of  Huron,  for  the  year  1820. 


Asa  Sanford, 
Uiditor  of  Huron  County. 


I  resident  of  Sherr 


TAX    Dl' PLICATE    FOR    1878. 


The  present  County  Auditor,  H.  W.  Owen,  Esq., 
has  kindly  furnished  the  writer  with  a  statement  of 
the  several  footings  of  valuations  and  taxes  for  the 
township  and  corporation  of  Norwalk  in  tne  yeaf 
1878: 


btate  proportion 

County  proportion  

Township  proportion.    X  orwalk  township . 


State  proportion 

County  proportion 

Corporation  proportion 

Total  for  township  and  corporation. 


37,804  75 
S61,096  67 


FIR.ST    ELECTION. 

Of  the  first  election  ever  held  within  the  limits  of 
the  present  township  of  Norwalk,  Samuel  B.  Lewis 
says  (see  Fire-lands  Pioiieer  of  June,  1858,  page  33) : 
"During  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1815,  I  built  a 
house  on  the  farm  I  have  so  long  dwelt  upon,  and  in 
that  house,  in  the  spring  of  1816,  was  formed  a  town- 
ship organization,  just  after  which  was  held,  in  my 
house,  the  first  Norwalk  township  election.  I  do  not, 
at  this  distant  day,  recollect  all  who  were  present  at 
that  election,  but  can  only  name,  among  others,  pre- 
sent: Judge  Southgate,  David  Gibbs,  Esq.,  Henry 
Lockwood,  James  AVilson,  Hanson  Reed,  Abijah 
Comstock,  Esq.,  mj-self  and  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
others.  Judge  Southgate,  Abijah  Comstock,  Esq., 
and  Samuel  B.  Lewis.  Esq..  constituted  the  board  at 
this  election. 

Martin  Kellogg  says  (see  Fire-hiiuh  Pi(i)u-i-r  of 
March,  1859,  page  41):  "The  first  election  in  Norwalk 
town.ship  was  held  at  the  house  of  Hanson  Reed  in 
April,  1817.  Norwalk  and  Bronsou  were  at  this  time 
organized  as  an  election  district.  There  was  no  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  or  otlier  officer  who  could  lawfully 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


117 


qualify  the  election  board  before  entering  upon  the 
duties  for  which  they  were  chosen. 

'"Abijah  Comstock  had  been  justice  of  the  peace, 
but  his  commission  had  expired  previous  to  this  elec- 
tion. After  the  electors  had  met  and  the  board  was 
formed,  they  had  to  send  to  Ridgefield  for  Esquire 
Littlefield  to  come  and  qualify  the  board." 

"On  the  6th  of  April,  1818,  (Norwalk  and  Bronson 
being  together  as  an  election  district,)  R.  S.  South- 
gate  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  Number  of 
votes  at  said  election,  twenty-two,  of  which  Mr. 
Southgate  had  twent_v-one  votes.  On  the  28th  of 
ilay,  he  was  qualified  by  James  Williams,  Esq., 
county  clerk.  On  the  13th  of  April.  1818,  an  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  B.  Lewis,  in 
Norwalk  township,  (Bronson  and  Norwalk  together.) 
At  this  election  fifty-six  votes  were  given.  S.  B. 
Lewis,  Lott  Herrick  and  Martin  Kellogg  were  judges, 
and  Reuben  Pixley  and  Dr.  Joseph  Pearce  were  clerks 
of  election." 

•  "Norwalk  and  Bronson  were  together  as  an  election 
district  from  1817  (the  time  of  their  first  organiza- 
tion) to  1822.  For  a  part  of  this  time  Fairfield  was 
included  in  the  same  organization,  making  an  election 
district  five  miles  wide  and  fifteen  miles  long,  the 
same  being  called  Norwalk;  and  while  so  together,  all 
the  elections  were  held  in  the-  jiart  called  Norwalk 
proper." 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Miuu,  formerly  Reed,  says  (see 
Fire-lands  Pioneer  of  March,  1859,  page  48):  "The 
first  town  meeting  was  held  at  our  house,  as  near  as 
I  can  remember,  in  1818.  The  officers  I  do  not  re- 
member except  Reuben  Pixley.     He  was  town  clerk." 

The  foregoing  statements  are  all  in  conflict  with 
each  other,  and  leave  the  question  as  to  date,  in 
doubt. 

Mr.  Lewis  is  undoubtedly  mistaken  in  fixing  the 
date  in  1816,  for  Norwalk  was  not  set  off  from  the 
township  of  Huron  until  February  18,  1817. 

Mr.  Kellogg  evidently  speaks  from  memory  in  fix- 
ing the  date  as  April,  1817,  and  does  not  give  the 
names  of  any  of  the  officers  ofliciating  at  the  election 
he  describes,  nor  the  names  of  any  of  the  officers 
elected.  He  speaks  by  the  record  in  his  account  of 
the  election  of  April  6,  1818,  but  puts  them  in  a 
little  thick  when  he  gives  us  another  election  on  April 
13,  1818,  only  seven  days  after  that  of  the  6th.  lu 
the  number  of  votes  and  names  of  officers  officiating, 
he  exactly  describes  the  election  for  governor  and 
other  officers  held  on  October  13,  1818.  There  is 
no  official  record  in  any  of  the  county  offices,  from 
which  an  inference  could  be  drawn,  that  any  election 
Avas  held  on  April  13th;  so  he  is  probably  incoi-rect  in 
that  statement. 

He  is,  in  part,  correct  in  stating  that  part  of  the 
time  between  1817  and  1832,  Fairfield  formed  part 
of  the  election  district  "called  Norwalk."  From 
February  18,  1817,  to  March  8,  1820,  Bronson  and 
Norwalk  were  one  organization  named  Norwalk;  at 
the  latter  date,  Ripley  and  Fairfield  were  attached  to 


Norwalk,  and  the  four  townships  constituted  an  elec- 
tion district,  five  miles  wide  and  twenty  miles  long, 
from  that  time  until  March  4,  1822,  when  Bronson 
and  Fairfield  were  set  oft'  into  an  organization  by  the 
name  of  Bronson,  and  Ripley  was  attached  to  New 
Haven. 

No  poll  l)ook,  nor  certificate  of  election  can  be 
found  in  any  of  the  county  offices,  relating  to  an 
election  in  Norwalk  in  1817,  but  in  volume  one  of 
the  "Commissioners'  Journal"  of  Huron  county, 
showing  the  disbursements  by  the  County  Treasurer 
for  1817,  appears  the  following  entry: 

Voucher  258. 

1*17 — June  4. — To  Abijah  Comstock,  for  making  returns  of 
Justice  elect SI  00 

Voucher  258,  now  on  file  in  the  Auditor's  office, 
reads  as  follows: 

I  hereby  certify  that  Abijah  Comstock  made  return  of  the  election  of 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  township  of  Norwalk,  and  that  by  said 
returns  he  was  a  judge  of  the  election. 

May  20,  1S17.  David  Abbott,  Clerk  Common  Pleas. 

In  the  probate  judges  office,  at  Norwalk,  is  a  little 
old  record  book  containing  a  medley  of  official  memo- 
randa of  estrays,  store,  -tavern  and  ferry  licenses, 
marriages,  certificates  of  the  organization  of  dif- 
ferent religions  societies,  and  official  qualification  of 
justices  of  the  peace;  among  which  is  the  following: 

June  4.  18ir.    David  Gibbs  sworn  ii 
for  Norwalk  township,  before  me. 

The  foregoing  entries  and  voucher  fully  corroborate 
and  establish  the  correctness  of  Mr.  Kellogg's  state- 
ment, that  the  first  election  was  held  in  1817,  and  it 
is  undoubtedly  true  that  April  was  the  month,  and 
Hanson  Reed's  house  the  place,  when  and  where  it 
occurred. 

Hanson  Reed's  house  was  situated  on  the  east  side 
of  the  road  leading  from  near  the  water  works  to  the 
Fairfield  road,  and  about  thirty  rods  from  the  latter 
road. 

No  poll-l)0ok  can  be  found  of  the  election  of  April 
6,  1818,  but  an  official  certificate  of  an  "abstract  of 
the  votes  cast  at  that  election  is  on  file  in  the  county 
clerk's  office,  and  is  as  follows : 

Whereas,  By  poll-book  transmitted  to  me,  and  opened  in  the  pres- 
ence of  David  Abbott  and  David  W.  Hinman,  two  justices  of  tlie  peace 
in  and  for  the  county  of  Huron,  it  appears  that  at  an  election  in  and  for 
the  township  of  Norwalk,  on  the  Cth  day  of  April,  1318,  the  number  of 
votes  amounted  to  twent}--two,  and  that  Rjbert  S. Southgate  liad  twenty- 
one  votes  and  Samuel  B.  Lewis  one  vote,  consequently  the  said  Robert 
S-  Southgate  was  duly  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  in  and  for  the 
township  of  Norwalk,  in  the  county  aforesaid. 

■We,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true 
abstract  of  the  above  mentioned  poll-book  opened  by  us . 

Dated  this  13th  day  of  April,  1818.  David  Abbott, 

David  W.  Hismas, 

Jinstii-es  of  the  Peace. 

Ill  the  Commissioners"  Jounuil,  account  of  disburse- 
ments for  the  year  1818.  appears  the  following  entry 
under  date  of  May  27: 


To  S    B    Lewis  for  election  return  .... 

Voucher  No.  360,  for  that . 

I  do  hereby  certify  thit  Samuel  B  Lewis  made  a  return  of  tlie  poll- 
book  of  the  election  of  a  justice  of  the  iieace.  in  and  tor  the  township 
of  Norwalk,  whereby  it  appears  that  Robert  S.  Southgate  was  elected  a 
justice.  'Jas.  Williams,  C.  Pleas. 


reads : 


118 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Tlie  foregoing  certificates  and  commissioners'  entry 
form  the  onlj-  official  recognition  of  the  election  of 
April  6,  1818.  They  fully  corroborate  Mr.  Kellogg 
as  to  his  statement  of  that  election.  It  is  probable 
that  Samuel  B.  Lewis,  Lott  Herrick  and  Martin  Kel- 
logg, were  the  Judges,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Kellogg,  and 
Eeuben  Pixley  one  of  the  clerks,  as  stated  by  both 
Mr.  Kellogg  and  Mrs.  Minn. 

The  poll-book  of  the  State  election  of  October  13, 
1818,  (which  Mr.  Kellogg  so  exactly  describes  as  hav- 
ing been  held  April  13,)  is  the  first  and  oldest  one 
found  on  the  files  in  the  county  clerk's  office.  This  is 
probably  the  election  referi-ed  to  by  ]\Ir.  Lewis  and 
Mr.  Kellogg  as  the  one  held  at  the  house  of  the  former. 
The  following  is  a  copy: 


POLL    BOOI- 


■TOBEK   13,    1818. 


Poll  Book  of  the  election  held  in  the  township  of  Norwalk,  in  the 
county  of  Huron,  on  the  thirteenth  daj  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighteen.  Martin  Kellogg,  Sam- 
uel B.  Lewis,  and  Lot  Herrick,  judges;  and  Reuben  Pixley  and  Joseph 
Pearce.  clerks  of  this  election,  were  severally  swore  as  the  law  directs, 
previous  to  their  entenng  on  the  duties  of  their  offices 


No. 


i  of  Electors. 

Levi  Cole. 
*Eben  Guthrie. 
Mulvery  Inman. 
Ezra  Abbott. 
Burwell  Whitlock. 
*Stewart  Southgate. 
Asher  Cole. 
Edward  Wheeler. 
Hanson  Read. 
.Joseph  Pearce. 
John  Laylin. 
Charles  Laylin. 
*William  W.  Beckwith 
'Joseph  Crawford. 
*Job  T.  Reynolds. 
Carlton  Hoskins. 
Piatt  Benedict. 
*Lot  Herrick. 
*5Iartin  Kellogg. 
'Daniel  Warren . 
Lucius  Fay. 
Samuel  B.  Lewis. 
♦Roberts.  Southgate. 
*Jabez  Uemming. 
Jasper  Underbill. 
John  Welch. 
♦Reuben  Pixley. 
David  Underbill. 


Reibe.n  Pixley. 
Jo.sEPH  Pearce, 

Clerks. 


No. 
^of        Names  of  Electors 

29.  Peter  Tice. 

30.  Simon  Timermon. 

31.  Reuben  C.  Pixley. 
82  James  Wilson. 

33.  'Lester  Clark. 

:J4.  *Nathan  Sutlifl. 

35.  Thomas  Cole. 

36.  Truman  Rusco 

37.  John  White. 

38.  Eben  Boalt. 

•39.  Asa  W.  Ruggles. 

40.  *Nathan  Tanner. 

41 .  Seth  Jennings. 

42.  David  Cole. 

43.  Abraham  Powers. 

44.  *Abioah  Rundell. 

45.  John  Boalt. 

46.  Jabez  Neweomb. 

47.  Luke  Keeler. 

48.  John  Keeler. 

49.  Henry  Lockwood. 

50.  Louis  Keeler. 

51 .  'Daniel  Clark. 

52.  Seth  Keeler. 
.53.  *Halsey  Clark. 
54.  James  Mead. 

.55.  Abijah  Comstook. 

56.  Charles  Taylor. 


uber  of  electors 


this  election 


Samuel  B.  Lewis 
Martin  Kellogg, 
Lott  Herrick, 

Judges  of  Election. 


Oil  the  reverse  side  of  the  half  sheet  of  unruled 
foohscaj)  paper  upon  which  the  foregoing  "Poll 
Book  "  is  written,  an  abstract  and  certificate  of  the 
votes  cast  at  that  election  are  entered,  as  follows: 

kamks  of  persons  voted  for.  a.nd  for  what  offices,  containing  the 
nl-mber  of  votes  for  each  person. 

Governor— 

Thomas  Worthinginn,  number  of  votes 2 

Ethan  A.  Brown,  number  of  votes .53 

Representatives  in  the  State  Leoislatitie— 

Senate— John  Campbell,  number  of  votes 49 

Representative— Alfred  Kelley.  number  of  votes 49 


•Lived  in 


then  part  of  Norwalk . 


Representative  in  Congress — 

Peter  Hitchcock,  number  of  votes 6 

John  Sloane,  number  of  votes 49 

CovNTV  Commissioners—  /~ 

Erastus  Smith,  number  of  votes '. 5 

Bildad  Adams,  number  of  votes 50 

We  hereby  certify  that  Ethan  A.  Brown  had  fifty-three  votes  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  Thomas  Worthington  had  two  votes  for  Governor:  John 
Campbell  had  forty-nine  votes  for  Senator  in  the  State  Legislature; 
Alfred  Kelley  had  forty-nine  votes  for  Representative  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature; John  Sloane  had  forty-nine  votes  for  Representative  in  Con- 
gress, and  Peter  Hitchcock  had  six  votes  for  representative  in  Congress; 
Bildad  Adams  had  fifty  votes  for  County  Commissioner,  and  Erastus 
Smith  had  five  votes  for  County  Commissioner. 

Sami-el  B.  Lewis, 
Attest:  Martin  Kellogg, 

Rei-ben  Pixlet.  Lott  Herrick, 

Joseph  Pearce.  Judges  of  Election. 

Clerk.<s. 

POLL  BOOK.   APRIL  5,   l82-i. 

Poll-book  of  the  election  held  in  the  township  of  Norwalk,  in  the 
county  of  Huron,  and  State  of  Ohio,  this  fifth  day  of  April,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty -four.  Piatt  Bene- 
dict, Eben  Boalt  and  Asher  Cole,  judges:  and  John  Tice  and  Abel 
Tracy,  clerks,  were  severally  sworn,  as  the  law  directs,  previous  to- 
their  entering  upon  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices. 


Andrew  Woods. 
Ammi  Keeler. 
John  Tice. 
Hallet  Gallup 
Lucius  Fay . 
Erastus  Fenney . 
Richard  Huyk 
John  G.  Taylor. 
Abimel  Dodge. 
Thomas  Buchannan 
John  Dillingham . 
Pickett  Latimer. 
Malavery  Inman . 
Samuel  Preston. 
JohnT.  Hdton. 
Asa  Cole. 
Henry  Lockwood . 
Frederick  Forsythe. 
Thomas  Holmes. 
Daniel  Sani'iveslane 
Daniel  G.  Raitt 
Enos  Gilbert. 
Benjamin  Junkins. 


names  of  electors. 
Cyrus  Butler. 
Matthew  W.  Junkins. 
Perry  G.  Beckwith. 
Piatt  Benedict. 
Isaac  Herrick. 
John  White. 
Edward  Wheeler. 
JohnHuyck. 
James  Wilson . 
Luke  Keeler. 
Erastus  Butler. 
Henry  Hurlbutt. 
Samuel  Henry. 
Ebenezer  Lane. 
.A.lexander  Dickson. 
John  La.ylin . 
Henry  Huyck. 
Roswell  Wells. 
Oliver  Day. 
Epaphroditus  Isham 
Seldon  Isham. 
Zachariah  Mai-vin. 
Josiah  Wells . 


Joshua  Drake. 
Alvin  Barton. 
Abijah  Comstock. 
Ruluf  Andrus. 
Jabez  Clark. 
Ichalod  Marshall. 
David  Gibbs. 
Abel  Tracy. 
Eben  Boalt. 
Theodore  Baker. 
Ezekiel  Wells 
John  Dounce. 
Charles  Laylin. 
Har^-ey  G .  Morse . 
Timothy  Baker. 
George  Springsted. 
Hanson  Read. 
Daniel  Whitney. 
John  Keeler. 
Asher  Cole. 
Benjamin  Hoj-t. 


hereby  certified  that  the  number  of  electors  at 


?N  Tice, 
EL  Tracy, 

Clerks 


Platt  Benedict. 
Asher  Cole, 
Eben  Boalt, 

Judges  of  Election. 


Enos  Gilbert,  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Samuel  Preston,  was  elected  Township  Clerk. 

Eben  Boalt,  Piatt  Benedict  and  Asher  Cole,  were  elected  Trustees. 

Timothy  Baker,  was  elected  Treasurer. 

CENSUS    OF    1819. 


age  of  twenty-one  yeai 

Abbott,  Ezra. 
Ammerman,  Simeon. 
Ammidon,  Daniel. 
Arnold,  Alfred. 
Benedict,  Piatt. 
Beckwith,  Perry. ^' 
Beckwith,  William.  ' 
Boalt,  Eben 
Boalt.  John . 
Brunson,  Hozeah. 
Baily,  Hyram. 
Brownell,  Abel .  '•' 
Betts,  John 
Cole,  Levi. 
Cole,  Asher. 


Gallup,  Hallet. 
Guthra,  Eben." 
Gurley,  M. 
Herrick,  Ezra.» 
Herrick,  Ezra,  Jr.- 
Hurlbutt,  Henry. 
Hoskins.  John.  ' 
Hoskins,  Carleton .  '■' 
Hagerman,  Thomas." 
Houk.  Henry. 
Herrick,  Lott." 
Inman,  Matvara. 
Isham,  Epaphroditus. 
Isham,  Seldon. 
Kellogg,  Martin." 


Potter,  Thomas 
Prentice.  Oliver." 
Pettet,  Edward. 
Raitt,  Daniel  G 
Rundle.  Abijah." 
Reed,  Hanson. 
Reynolds.  Job  T." 
Sutliff.  Nathan." 
Southgate,  Robert  S.' 
Sypher,  Peter." 
Sypher,  Peter,  Jr." 
Smith,  John. 
Strong.  Silas  G. 
Sypher,  Henry." 
Stone,  Joel. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Carpenter,  John  L.         Keeler,  Luke.  Sanders,  Stephen, 

Com^tock,  Abijah.         Keeler,  Ami.  Soles,  Charles. 

Cherry,  Henry.*  Keeler.  Lewis .  Tice,  Peter 

Clark,  Lester.''  Keeler,  John.  Taylor.  Benjamin.'' 

Clark,  Jabez.  "  Keeler,  Setli.  Terry.  Henry." 

Cole,  David.  Lockwood,  George.        Tanner,  Nathan." 

Clark.  Holsey."  Lockwood,  Ralph.  Underhill,  Jasper. 

Crawford,  Joseph."        Lockwood.  Henry.  Underhill,  David. 

Cole.  Thomas.  Laylin,  John.  Wheeler,  Edward. 

Cole,  Asa.  Las'lin.  Charles.  Wells,  Ezekiel. 

Carver,  Aldrich.  Lewis.  Samuel  B.  Wells,  Roswell. 

Dickerson.  Alexander.  Loomis,  Almau.  Welch,  .Tohn. 

Demming.  Jabez."  Marshall,  lohabod.  Warren,  Daniel  W.» 

Davis,  Joshua.  Myre^,  Adam.  White,  John. 

Forsy the.  Frederick.      McLin,  John.  Wilson,  James. 

Fay,  Lucius.  Neweomb,  Jabez.  Todd,  Manning  S. 

Fay,  Pollus,  Nims,  Slaham.  Shaddock,  Joseph. 

Felt,  Joshua  Odwa}-,  Nehemiah.         Ru,?gles,  Asa. 

Gibbs,  David.  Pearce,  Joseph.  Rusco,  Armon." 

Gibbs,  Samuel  R.  Pixley,  Reuben."  Southgate,  Stewart. 

Gilbert,  Enos.  Pixley,  Reuben,  Jr.  ' 

Gallup.  William.  Powers,  Abraham. 

I  do  hereby  certify  the  within  to  be  a  correct  enumeration  of  the  white 
male  inhabitants  of  the  township  of  Norwalk,  in  the  county  of  Huron,  as 
taken  by  me.  Ebex  Boalt,  Lister. 

XoRwALK,  May  24,  1819. 

This  enumeration  shows  a  total  of 109 

Lived  in  Bronson,  attached  to  Norwalk 34 

Total  for  Norwalk  proper 75 

CENSUS    OF    1823. 

The  eiuxnieratioii  of  the  white  male  inliabitants  of 
Norwalk  above  twentv-oue  years  of  a^'e,  in  18".33. 


John  Keeler —  1 

Abijah  Comstock 1 

Nehemiah  Odway 1 

Ezekiel  Wells ...  1 

Roswell  Wells 1 

Seldon  Isham 1 

Epaphroditus  Ishara 1 

Samuel  R.  Gibbs 1 

Daniel  Stratton 1 

Andrew  Woods  ...  1 

Samuel  B.  Lewis 1 

Henry  Hurlbutt  I 

Eben  Boalt 1 

Henn,-  Huyck. 2 

John  Dillingham 1 

•  Buck 1 

Daniel  Sowers 1 

John  Dounce 1 

John  Layland 1 

Edward  Wheeler 3 

Joslah  Wells 1 

Asa  Cole 2 

James  Wilson 1 

Malvery  Inman 1 

Charles  Laylin 1 

John  White 1 

Hanson  Reed i 

Lemuel  Raymond 1 

Thomas  Holmes : 1 

Asher  Cole 3 

•  Lucius  Fay 1 

The  whole  amount  of  the  white  male  inhabitants  of  the 
Norwalk  is  eighty.    Attest  by  Luke  Keeler 


Peter  Tice 2 

Frederick  Forsythe 3 

Daniel  G.  Raitt 1 

Edward  Pettit 1 

Harvey  G.  Morse 3 

Cyrus  Butler 1 

Erastus  Finney 1 

EnosGilbert 1 

Daniel  Tilden i 

Henry  Buckingham .   1 

Moses  Kimball i 

Piatt  Benedict 1 

Samuel  Preston 2 

Samuel  Henry i 

William  Benton 1 

Ichabod  Marshall 8 

Zachariah  Marvin 1 

Hallet  Gallup 1 

Theodore  Bangs 1 

Nathan  B.  Johnson i 

Ebenezer  Lane 1 

Pickett  Latimer  1 

Timothy  Baker 3 

Luke  Keeler 2 

Lewis  Keeler 1 

David  Gibbs i 

Henry  Lockivood 3 

Thomas  Buchannon I 

Alfred  Arnold.   1 

John  T.  Hilton 1 


nship  c 
Lister  for  the  Township  of  Xorwalk. 


It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  foregoing  "eiiumera- 
tiou"  was  not  more  explicit  in  naming  the  inhabi- 
tants; nineteen  person  are  counted  without  being 
named.  It  is  probable  the  list  is  imperfect.  Wil- 
liam Gallup,  the  head  of  a  family,  and  within  the 
class  called  for  by  the  enumeration,  does  not  appear. 
He  did  not  belong  iu  any  of  the  families  containing 
more  than  one  person  given  above;  the  same  is  true  of 
Benjamin  Taylor,  James  Williams  and  some  others. 


CENSUS    OF    1837. 

County  Assessors  returns  of  the  white  male  inhabitants,  above  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  iu  Huron  county,  agreeable  to  an  act  regulat- 
ing the  mode  of  taking  the  enumeration  of  the  white  male  inhabitants 
above  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  passed  January  10,  1S27 


Levi  Wilson. 
Samuel  R.  Gibbs. 
Oliver  Day 
Seldoa  Isham. 
David  Sutton. 
Epaphroditus  Isham . 
Roswell  Wells. 
Josiah  Wells. 
Ezekiel  Wells. 
Ezekiel  Wells,  Jr, 
Lewis  Keeler, 
Jacob  Tetter 
Andrew  Woods. 
Thomas  Philips. 
Obadiah  Jenney. 
John  V    Buskark. 
John  V.  Buskark,  2d 
Richard  Numsin. 
Joseph  Wilson. 
ThaddeusB.  Sturgis. 
Thomas  Adams. 
Jacob  Wilson. 
H.  G.  Morse. 
Aurelius  Mason . 
Benj.  Carman. 
Ebenezer  Lane 


NORWALK    131. 

Ichabod  Marshall. 
Zachariah  Marvin. 
Benjamin  F.  Harman. 
Daniel  Tilden. 
Moses  Kimball. 
Timothy  Baker. 
Theodore  Baker. 
Picket  Latimer, 
David  Gibbs 
Enos  Gilbert 
Augustus  P.  Tower. 
Gilbert  Brightman. 
Samuel  Preston. 
JohnP.  McArdle. 
William  F.  Kitterage. 
Daniel  G.  Raitt. 
John  G.  Tailor. 
Nelson  Haughton. 
Horace  Howard. 
Asahel  W.  Howe. 
Isaac  Wilson. 
William  Benton. 
Samuel  Henry. 
James  Springstead 
Levereti  Bradley. 
John  Tice. 
Lewis  Curtiss. 
Joseph  C.  Curtiss. 
Thomas  Holmes. 
James  Wilson 
Malavara  Inman. 
Thomas  Buchannan . 
John  White. 
Union  White. 
John  W,  Haughton. 
Asa  Cole 

William  Haughton. 
Edward  Wheeler. 
Samuel  Wheeler. 
.John  Laylin. 
John  Dounce. 
John  Dillingham. 
Jesse  C.  Brayman 
Henry  Huyck. 
Michael  F.  Cisco. 
Seth  Jennings. 


Josiah  Botsford. 
Samuel  Barnes. 
Samuel  Sherman . 
Luke  Keeler. 
Ami  Keeler 
Jonathan  Jennings. 
Andrew  Millburn. 
Thomas  Millburn. 
Lucius  Fay. 
Asher  Cole. 
Levi  Cole 
Miner  Cole. 
Abel  Brownell 
John  Keeler. 
Dr.  Joseph  Pearce. 
Abraham  Powers. 
Jacob  Morton. 
Piatt  Benedict. 
Jonas  B .  Benedict . 

I.  George  Sheffield,  Assessor  of  Huron  County,  certify  that  the  fore- 
going is  a  correct  list  of  the  white  raale  inhabitants  above  the  age  ot 
twenty  one  years,  taken  by  me  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
the  State  of  Ohio,  passed  January  10,  182T. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  official  signature 
this  4th  day  of  June,  1827.  George  Sheffield,  A.sses3or. 

The  "poll-book"  of  an  election  held  in  Norwalk  on 
the  2d  of  April,  1827,  shows  that  the  following  per- 
sons voted  at  that  election,  whose  names  do  not  ap- 
pear in  the  foregoing  "enumeration:" 


Matthew  W.  Junkins.  ' , 
Frederick  Forsyth. 
Oliver  Woodhouse. 

Read. 

Caleb  Gallup. 
Barnet  Carkhuff. 
AsaH-  Beard. 
Abraham  Emmitt. 
Ery  Keeler 
Henry  Hurlbut. 
John  Miller. 
Cyrus  Butler. 
William  H.  Hunter. 
William  W.  Nugent. 
JohnV.  Vredenburgh. 
Mathew  Callaway. 
Hallett  Gallup. 
James  Williams,  Esq. 
Joseph  Wilson,  Jr. 
Charles  L.  Curtis. 
William  Gallup. 
John  V.  Sharp. 
Henry  Buckingham. 
Henry  Rider. 
James  Jlinshel. 
Carlton  B.  Gane. 
Lewis  M .  Howard. 
John  Ebert.Jr. 
Jabez^A.  B.  Calkins. 
Daniel  Stratton. 
Charles  Laylin. 
Perry  G.  Beckwith. 
Samuel  B.  Lewis. 
George  Powers. 
Nathan  Parks. 
Jonathan  Brown. 
Ruluf  Andrus. 
John  T.  Hilton. 
Norwalk  131. 

[The  returns  of  other 
towns  omitted  as  not 
connected  with  Norwalk 
history  ] 


David  Lawrence. 
Sylvester  Pomeroy. 
Isaac  M.  Marvin. 
Seth  Keeler. 


Stephen  V.  R.  Bogert.  Burrell  Keeler. 

Eben  Boalt.  David  H.  Sutton. 

Alpheus  Buchannan.  William  Miller. 

Nelson  Horton,  John  Huyck. 

William  Buck.  Robert  Morton. 

NATHAN    S.    COMSTOI.'K. 

At  the  time  Nm-walk.  Connecticut,  wa,-;  burned 
(■July  11,  1707)  by  (Tcneral  Tryon.  iu  tiic  ■•Rcvolu- 
tiouary  War,"  Thomas  Comstock,  of  New  Canaan,  ex- 
tended .shelter,  and  such  assi.stance  as  his  means  per- 
mitted, to  many  of  the  Norwalk  sufferers.  Not  having 
the  means  of  repaying  his  kindness,  Simeon  Raymond 
and  Gold  Hoyt  proposed  to,  and  did  release  to  him 


120 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


any  claims  tliey  might;  have  against  the  government 
on  account  of  their  lot'ses.  As  a  result,  he  afterwards 
became  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  in  sections 
two  and  three  of  Norwalk,  Ohio. 

1806. — In  this  year,  his  son,  Nathan  S.  Comstock, 
in  company  with  several  others,  started  on  an  explor- 
ing expedition  to  "spy  out  the  country"  where  their 
new  possessions  lay.  They  spent  some  time  in  look- 
ing over  the  country,  but  not  being  provided  with 
suitable  maps  or  guides,  were  not  certain  they  found 
the  particular  land  they  were  in  search  of. 

1809.— Early  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  Nathan  en- 
gaged the  services  of  Darius  Ferris  and  Elijah  Hoyt 
to  accompany  him  on  a  second  expedition  to  Norwalk 
with  the  intention  of  making  a  permanent  settlement. 
They  started  witli  a  span  of  horses  and  wagon  and 
such  tools  as  would  be  necessary  in  clearing  and  build- 
ing. At  Buffalo  they  found  it  impracticable  to  proceed 
further  with  their  wagon,  so  a  small  boat  was  pur- 
chased, into  which  their  goods  were  packed,  with  the 
addition  of  a  barrel  of  whisky.  Two  of  them  manned 
the  boat,  and  proceeded  up  the  lake,  keeping  near 
the  shore,  while  the  other  took  charge  of  the  horses, 
and  traveled  overland,  keeping  near  the  lake.  In 
this  manner  they  reached  the  mouth  of  Huron  river. 

There  were  at  that  time  quite  a  number  of  Indian 
settlements  along  that  river,  the  largest  of  which  was 
where  the  village  of  Milan  now  stands,  and  was  called 
Pequatting.  They  were  Moravians,  in  charge  of  a 
missionary  named  Frederick  Drake,  and  had  a  mission 
house.  Being  very  friendly,  they  offered  the  new 
comers  the  use  of  their  mission  house  until  a  struc- 
ture could  be  erected  to  shelter  them.  A  site  was 
selected  for  the  new  house  in  section  two,  near  a 
spring,  and  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the 
fine  brick  residence  erected  a  few  years  ago  by  Philo 
Comstock.  Esq.,  and  now  occupied  by  John  Ran- 
dolph, Esq.,  in  section  three  of  Norwalk.  After  cut- 
ting the  logs,  the  few  white  men  then  in  the  country, 
of  whom  F.  W.  Fowler,  of  Milan,  was  one,  were 
invited  to  assist  in  ])utting  up  the  house. 

This  was  the  first  house  erected  by  white  men,  in 
the  township  of  Norwalk.  of  which  any  record  can  be 
traced,  and  was,  most  probably,  the  pioneer  house. 
It  was  not  covered  by  a  mansard  roof;  the  windows 
were  not  set  with  crown-plate  glass;  the  front  door 
was  not  of  carved  walnut,  nor  mahogany;  the  back 
door  did  not  exist;  its  floor  was  not  covered  with  a 
brussels  carpet;  there  was  no  piano  and  no  sewing 
machine  within  its  walls;  upon  the  marble-topped 
center  table  (which  was  not  there)  lay  no  daily  morn- 
ing paper  containing  the  latest  telegraph  news  and 
the  last  time  card  of  the  Lake  Sli<n-e  i*c  Michigan 
Southern  Rail  Road,  nor  even  that  nf  the  Wheeling  & 
Lake  Erie  Railroad  Comi)any.  In  fact,  it  was  no 
palatial  residence,  but  rough  and  strong,  and  made 
for  service  like  the  strong-willed,  iron-handed  men 
whe  l)uilt  it.  Its  roof  was  nuide  of  "shakes;"  its 
walls  (if  rough  logs;  its  floor  was  the  face  of  mother- 
earth,  carjieted  with  the  mo.'s  of  the  growth  of  ages; 


the  bedsteads  were  "bunks"  with  poles  for  springs, 
and  their  mattresses  were  sacks  filled  with  leaves  and 
mosses;  its  cooking  range  was  a  brass  kettle  hung  on 
a  pole  supported  by  two  crotched  sticks  driven  into 
the  floor,  and  its  chimney  was  a  hole  left  open  in  the 
roof.  Rough,  uncouth,  homely,  yet  it  was  a  home, — 
the  first  home  of  Norwalk. 

The  house  having  been  erected,  they  next  com- 
menced a  clearing  of  about  ten  acres  which  they  com- 
pleted, in  a  manner,  and  sowed  to  wheat  that  fall. 

Nathan  was  a  genuine  Yankee,  and  possessed  of 
the  same  fertility  of  genius  that  invented  "wooden 
nutmegs."  The  Indians  had  got  a  taste  of  his  w^hisky, 
and  became  frequent  visitors;  he  improved  the  quan- 
tity of  it  by  the  addition  of  three  gallons  of  water  to 
each  gallon  of  spirits,  and  the  color  and  quality  by 
adding  burned  maple  sugar  and  wild  cherries.  This 
"doctored"  compound  he  sold  readily  to  the  Indians 
as  "French  brandy"  at  one  dollar  a  quart.  It  would 
be  fortunate  for  the  "red-nosed  fraternity"  of 
the  present  generation  if  they  indulged  in  no  worse 
brandy  than  was  sold  by  Nathan  S.  Comstock  in  1809. 

^V^hile  making  their  clearing,  the  three  kept  "bache- 
lor's hall,"  and  a  common  dish  with  them  was  pork 
and  beans.  One  morning  they  set  their  pot  of  beans 
and  pork  over  the  fire,  so  as  to  have  their  dinner 
ready  cooked  when  they  should  come  in  at  mid-day, 
and  then  went  to  their  work.  When  the  sun  marked 
noon,  they  returned  in  time  to  see  two  or  three 
sneaking  wolves  disappear  down  a  neighboring  rapine, 
and  found  their  fire  burned  out,  their  dinner  gone, 
and  the  unlucky  brass  kettle  much  the  worse  from 
having  been  used  as  a  platter  by  several  wolves  instead 
of  one.  It  is  probable  those  hungry  men  then  in- 
dulged in  a  few  remarks,  not  complimentary  to  the 
four-legged  tramps. 

The  clearing  having  been  made,  and  the  wheat  put 
in,  they  returned  to  Connecticut.  Nathan  intended 
to  return  the  next  spring  with  his  family,  and  remain 
a  permanent  settler,  but  his  health  had  become  so 
poor  in  consequence  of  exposures  and  hardships  ex- 
perienced on  his  return  in  the  fall  of  1809,  and  his 
wife  being  unwilling  to  risk  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions of  a  frontier  life,  he  resigned  his  interest  in  the 
west  to  his  brother  Abijah. 

Nathan  S.  Comstock  was  the  father  of  Philo  Com- 
stock, Esq.,  now  living  in  Milan,  Ohio,  and  grand- 
father of  E.  A.  Comstock,  of  this  village,  and  Mrs. 
John  Randolph,  of  this  township,  and  an  uncle  of 
Giles,  Stephen  and  Augusta  Boalt,  of  this  village. 

AKl.IAH     lOMSTOCK. 

Abijah  Comstock  was  born  at  New  Canaan,  Con- 
necticut, September  2,  1T81,  and  in  1810  came  to 
Norwalk,  and  by  arrangement  Avith  his  father  and 
brother,  Nathan  S.,  took  the  interest  of  Nathan  S. 
in  the  Norwalk  land,  and  becoming  an  actual  resi- 
dent.— in  the  house  built  by  his  brother  the  year 
previous, — harvested  the  crop  of  wheat  which  had 
been  put  in  by  Nathan  and  his  two  hn-ed  men. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  the  latter  part  of  1810  or  fore  part  of  1811,  he 
married  Esther  Iseft,  sister  of  Hosmer  Merry's  wife, 
at  that  time  living  at  the  place  which  became  what  is 
now  known  as  the  "Old  County  Seat." 

He  brought  with  him  from  Connecticut  two  yoke 
of  oxen,  a  wagon  and  the  supplies  necessary  for  his 
permanent  sojourn,  and  was  accompanied  by  a  lad 
named  Alfred  Arnold,  who  is  yet  living  in  Townsend 
township,  well  advanced  in  years. 

In  1812,  his  first  child,  Thomas,  was  born.  When 
the  child  was  only  a  day  or  two  old,  Alfred  Arnold, 
who  had  been  away  on  an  errand  through  the  woods, 
met,  on  his  return,  an  Indian  named  Omick,*  who 
stopped  him  and  made  very  particular  in([uiry  as  to 
"How  Comstock?  How  squaw?  How  pappoose?" 
The  fact  of  the  Indian  being  aware  of  the  birth  of 
the  child,  which  had  so  recently  occurred,  surprised 
young  Arnold,  but  he  was  quickly  cured  of  that  sur- 
prise by  a  greater  one.  The  Indian  seized  him  by 
the  hair  of  his  head  and  said,  "Arnold  no  be  fraid, 
Arnold  good  boy;  Indian  no  scalp  Arnold."  He 
then  released  his  grasp  and  plunged  into  the  woods. 

Arnold  was  so  impresse'd  by  the  questions,  manner 
and  actions  of  Omick,  that  he  hastened  home  and 
told  Comstock  that  they  must  leave  at  once,  or  they 
would  be  murdered.  His  warning  was  acted  upon, 
the  oxen  and  wagon  got  ready,  and  the  whole  family 
sought  safety  in  flight  toward  the  Vermillion  river. 
Soon  after,  their  house  was  burned  by  the  Indians, 
probably  by  the  same  band  that  destroyed  Benjamin 
Newcomb's  house. 

While  Norwalk  was  yet  attached  to,  and  part  of, 
the  Township  of  Huron,  Mr.  Comstock  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  peace.  And  he  was  also  elected  and 
served  as  the  first  county  t)-easurer,  but  this  position 
proved  unfortunate  for  him.  He  was  of  a  generous 
disposition,  and  could  not  refuse  to  grant  a  favor 
asked  by  one  who  came  to  him  in  need,  or  in  the 
character  of  a  friend,  and  locked  upon  all  men  as 
honest  and  meaning  just  what  they  said.  No  sooner 
had  the  taxes  been  collected  and  returned  to  him 
than  he  was  successfully  beseiged  by  numerous  appli- 
cants for  temporary  loans  of  money,  each  and  all 
assuring  him  of  their  certainty  of  returning  it  to 
him  before  he  should  be  called  upon  to  account  for 
it.  The  usual  result  in  such  cases  followed,  and  he 
found  the  time  for  settlement  at  hand,  but  no  funds. 
In  this  dilemma  he  hastened  back  to  Connecticut, 
mortgaged  all  his  interest  in  the  Norwalk  lands  to  his 
brother  Nathan  S.,  in  exchange  for  money  sufficient  to 
meet  his  deficit;  returned  to  Huron  county,  and  fully 
paid  up  all  his  liabilities  as  treasurer,  and  from  that 


•Mr.  Arnold's  recollection  is,  that  it  was  Omick,  but  in  this  he  is 
probably  mistaken,  for  the  incident  related,  is  not  likely  to  have  occur- 
red before  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  181'3,  Congress  passed 
the  act  declaring  tliat  war  en  June  isth,  and  it  was  proclaimed  on  the 
next  day.  In  .\pril,  isi'2,  Omick  and  another  Indian,  Semo,  murdered 
Michael  Gibbs  and  a  Mr.  Bviel  near  -Ogontz  Place"  (now  Sandusky 
City),  and  were  soon  after  arrested,  when  Semo  blew  his  own  brains  out 
with  a  gun,  and  Omick  was  taken  to  Cleveland,  tried,  convicted,  and  on 
June i(i.  1812,  executed. 

16 


time  to  his  death,  remained  a  comparatively  poor 
man,  but  always  honorable  and  respected. 

Tlie  mortgage  was  never  paid,  and  the  property 
eventually  passed  to  Nathan,  who,  in  18-28,  sent  his 
son  Philo  out  to  look  after  it,  and  so  faithful  has  been 
his  stewardship  that  he  has  remained  looking  after  it 
to  this  day. 

He  died  February  1,  1857,  at  the  house  of  Stephen 
Boalt,  whose  mother  was  a  sister  to  Nathan  and 
Abijah. 

HEXJAMIN    XEWCOMB. 

Benjamin  Newconib  was  born  in  Durham,  Connecti- 
cut. He  there  married,  and  afterwards  with  his  wife 
and  two  sons,  Samuel  S.  and  Benjamin  C,  removed 
to  Kinsman,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  From  there  at 
some  time  previous  to  the  war  of  1812,  he  removed 
to  Norwalk  township,  and  located  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  four  on  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Miner  Cole.  He  probably  took  the  land 
under  a  contract  from  Comfort  S.  Mygatt,  but  never 
obtained  a  deed.  His  name  appears  on  the  tax  dupli- 
cate of  personal  property  for  181.5,  but  not  on  the 
real  estate  duplicate. 

1815. — In  the  summer  of  this  year,  he  transferred 
whatever  interest  he  had  in  the  land  to  Josepli  Pierce, 
who  afterwards,  in  1816,  sold  it  to  Levi  Cole  who 
obtained  a  deed  from  Mv'gatt. 

1816. — On  July  ith,  Mr.  Newcomb  was  instantly 
killed  by  the  kick  of  a  horse. 

While  residing  in  Norwalk,  he  had  occasion  to  go 
to  Huron,  and  while  there  had  an  altercation  with 
an  intoxicated  Indian  who  took  offence  at  something 
Mr.  Newcomb  said  or  did.  The  Indian  attacked  him 
with  an  axe,  but  Mr.  Newcomb  took  the  axe  away 
from  him,  and  then  knocked  him  down  with  his  fist. 
The  next  day  the  Indian  on  horseback  passed  Mr. 
Newcomb  near  his  house,  and  watching  his  oppor- 
tunity, hit  him  a  severe  blow  with  a  club.  Mr.  New- 
comb sprang  forward,  seized  tlie  "red-skin"  ))y  one 
foot,  dragged  him  from  his  pony,  and  gave  liim  so 
severe  a  beating  that  he  was  thought  to  be  dead,  and 
was  put  in  the  fence  corner,  and  the  children  covered 
him  up  with  sticks  and  leaves,  but  the  next  morning 
he  was  gone. 

Soon  after  Hull's  surrender  in  August.  1812.  John 
Laylin.  then  of  Berlin  township,  while  on  his  way  to 
Greenfield  to  notify  his  uncle,  Hanson  Reed,  of  the 
danger  from  the  Indians,  called  in  the  night,  and 
gave  the  alarm  to  Newcomb  that  the  Indians  were 
.  coming,  and  they  must  at  once  iQjive  the  country. 
Very  hastily  such  things  as  were  necessary  for  a  long 
tedious  tramp  through  an  almost  trackless  wilderness, 
were  packed  up,  and  the  family,  consisting  of  father, 
mother,  two  boys  and  an  infant,.  Mary,*  less  than  two 
years  of  age,  started  for  the  older  settlements  east. 
By  day-break,  they  reached  tiie  "old  State  road,"  and 
at  a  place  since  called   Purdy's  Corners,  met   other 


•  Mary  Newcomb   married  Philo  Comstock  February  .").  18-il, 
died  in  September  following;  aged  a  little  over  twenty  years. 


VZi 


HISTORY  OF  HUllON  AM)  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


refugees  from  Huron.  Together  they  kept  ou  to  Ter- 
milliou  river,  where  a  halt  was  made,  and  Mr.  Xew- 
conib  returned  to  reconnoiter,  and  reached  his  phice, 
two  or  three  days  after  leaving  it,  in  time  to  see,  from 
a  safe  cover,  his  house  burned  by  the  Indians,  and  he 
supposed  they  must  have  been  led  there  by  the  one 
he  had  so  severely  punished  some  time  before,  as  it 
was  the  only  house  burned  so  far  away  from  the  lake. 
After  crossing  the  Vermillion  river,  they  directed  their 
course  to  the  "portage"  of  Cuyahoga  river,  from 
there  to  Charlestown,  and  from  there  to  Vernon,  and 
from  there  Mr.  Neweomb  entered  the  army  as  a 
teamster.  In  preparing  for  flight,  Mr.  Newcomb  hid 
his  log-chains  and  some  other  property  in  a  hole  he 
dug  in  the  ground,  but  upon  his  return  after  the 
war,  could  not  find  where  he  had  made  his  deposit, 
and  the  articles  have  never  been  found. 

Towards  night  of  the  next  day  after  Newcomb  and 
family  had  left  their  house,  several  persons  from  the 
township  of  Wheatsborough,  now  Lyme,  fleeing  from 
the  dreaded  Indian  incursion,  reached  the"  deserted 
house,  and  detei-mined  to  camp  there  over  night. 
They  "hoppled"  their  horses  by  tieing  their  front  feet 
so  near  together  that  they  could  not  step  more  than 
about  a  foot  at  a  time,  and  let  them  loose  to  feed; 
then  commenced  to  prepare  their  supper,  which  they 
soon  had  ready,  and  were  about  commencing,  to  eat 
when  they  were  startled  by  the  much  dreaded  and 
unearthly  Indian  war-whoop.  Stricken  with  horror, 
they  stood  not  upon  the  order  of  their  going,  but  preci- 
pitately sought  safety  in  the  darkness  of  the  unbroken 
forest;  their  horses,  goods  and  tempting  supper  were 
left  behind;  even  their  guns  were  abandoned,  so  com- 
plete and  bewildering  was  their  surprise;  life,  or 
torture  and  death  hung  upon  the  action  of  moments; 
property,  resistance,  the  means  of  protection  were 
unthought  of,  in  the  dire  necessity  for  immediate 
escape  and  shelter  from  the  merciless  foe  who  tortured 
for  pleasure,  and  murdered  for  revenge. 

They  all  escaped  successfully,  and  hour  after  hour, 
all  night  long,  hurried  southward  through  the  swamps, 
thickets,  and  over  the  fallen  logs  of  the  trackless 
wilderness;  at  day-break,  they  were  near  the  south  line 
of  the  county,  some  of  them  so  nearly  exhausted  that 
they  wanted  to  halt  and  rest,  but  others  of  the  party 
insisted  the  Indians  could  follow  their  track  like  a 
pack  of  wolves,  and  so  the  weary,  famishing  flight, 
kept  on  during  the  long,  long  hours  of  the  day,  until 
the  weaker  ones  were  ready  to  fall  out  of  line,  abandon 
the  escai)e,  and  submit  to  their  fate.  But  there  were 
warm  hearts  and  strong  hands  in  that  party.  A  long 
light  pole  was  secured,  each  person  took  firm  hold  of 
it,  aud  thus,  the  strong  supporting  the  weak,  the 
weary  march  dragged  ou,  and  did  not  stop  until 
Mansfield  and  safety  were  reached. 

The  day  this  party  passed  through  the  township  of 
Ridgefield  on  their  Avay  to  Newcomb's  house,  Reuben 
Pixlcy,  Sr.,  then  living  in  Ridgefield  townshij),  heard 
in  some  way  that  there  was  no  danger  to  be  appre- 
hended from  the  Indians,  and  started  after  the  party 


to  induce  them  to  return.  On  his  way  he  met  Seth 
Brown  who  lived  in  the  fourth  section  of  Ridgefield, 
and  consented  to  accompany  Pixley  in  search  of  the 
refugees. 

They  arrived  i>ear  Newcomb's  place,  just  as  the 
party  were  aljuut  to  commence  eating  their  supper, 
and  thinking  to  have  some  sport,  tried  their  ability  to 
counterfeit  the  hideous  war-whoop  of  the  savages. 
The  success  of- their  powers  of  imitation  was  greater 
than  they  had  anticipated,  aud  although  they  made 
strenuous  efforts  to  overtake  the  frightened  people, 
and  explain  their  little  joke,  were  totally  unable  to 
do  so.  They  remained  at  Newcomb's  house  that 
night,  fared  sumptuously,  and  in  the  morning  re- 
turned with  the  abandoned  projierty,  and  soon  sent 
word  on  to  Mansfield  explaining  their  miserable  i)i-ac- 
tical  joke.  This  story  was  recently  related  to  the 
writer  by  Miner  Cole,  Esq.,  of  this  township,  who 
says  he  has  heard  it  many  times  from  the  lips  of 
Reul)en  Pixley,  Sr.,  one  of  the  practical  jokers. 

The  Newcomb  house,  burned  by  the  Indians  in 
1812,  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek,  close  under 
the  hill,  aud  but  a  few  rods  from  the  town  line 
between  Norwalk  and  Bronson.  There  are  now 
standing  near  its  site  a  stately  poplar  and  an  old 
descrepit  apple  tree  planted  there  liy  that  early 
settler  nearly  seventy  years  ago. 

A  military  road  or  trail  then  existed  upon  the 
town  line,  just  south  of  his  house,  which  Mr.  New- 
comb had  assisted  in  opening,  and  it  was  while  at 
work  on  that  road  that  he  was  attracted  by  the  beauty 
of  that  particular  location  which  afterwards  he  settled 
upon  as  related. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  his  place, 
aud  erected  another  log  house  on  the  west  side  of  the 
creek,  on  a  gravel  bluff  overlooking  the  valley.  From 
that  bluff  the  gravel  was  taken  that  filters  the  water 
used  by  the  citizens  of  Norwalk  from  the  water 
works,  and  West  Main  street  was  graveled  partly  from 
the  same  source. 

Yesterday,  May  2,  1879,  the  writer  and  his  little 
daughtei-,  in  company  with  Miner  Cole,  visited  the 
spot;  the  old  house  is  gone;  its  site  is  marked  ])y  an 
indentation  where  the  cellar  used  to  be,  and  the  old 
hearthstones  yet  remain  in  pl&ce.  Standing  upon 
that  memento  of  the  first  steps  of  civilization,  and 
looking  forth  in  the  bright  sunlight  of  the  balmy 
May  afternoon,  over  the  beautiful  valley  at  his  feet, 
upon  which  a  flock  of  sheep  and  lambs  were  grazing, 
busy  fancies  In-ought  to  him  echoes  of  the  scream  of 
the  panther  and  howl  of  the  wolf,  followed  by  the 
inging  sound  of  the  woodman's  axe,  and  the  voices 
of  children  playing  at  the  creek,  then  by  screams  and 
shouts  of  terror-stricken  fugitives,  soon  followed  by 
the  dim  vision  of  a  stealthy  band  of  half-naked,  painted 
savages,  quickly  made  distinct  in  all  their  wild  orgies 
by  the  lurid  light  of  a  burning  home:  then  another 
sound  broke  in,  gentle,  sweet  and  pleading — "Papa, 
please  buy  me  a  little  baa-baa-lamb?" 

The  contrast  was   too  great;  the  fancies  took  to 


y/^l^ 


Among  the  pioneers  of  the  Fire-Lands,  whose  long  residence 
and  active  labors  have  made  them  conspicuous,  none  occupy 
a  more  prominent  position,  and  deservedly  so,  than  Ashbel  G. 
Post.  Coming  here  at  a  time  when  the  then  infant  settlement 
was  devoid  of  all  those  improvements  that  now  add  to  the 
convenience  and  comfort  of  the  people ;  when  the  present 
county  of  Huron  was  almost  without  roads  and  bridges ;  when 
it  required  hard  and  persistent  labor,  toil,  and  care  to  make 
the  soil  produce  enough  for  the  bare  necessities  of  life, — he 
has  lived  to  witness  all  the  various  developments  now  existing, 
and  in  his  life  and  character  has  assisted  in  this  great  work  of 
progress. 

Ashbel  G.  Post  is  the  second  child  and  only  son  of  Ashbel 
Post,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Old  Saybrook,  Conn., 
in  the  year  1767,  and  died  in  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  14, 
1823. 

His  mother  was  Betsey  Phelps,  who  died  May  26,  1796,  in 
the  nineteenth  year  of  her  age.  Ashbel  G.  Post  was  born  in 
Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  20,  1796,  and  is  consequently  in  the 
eighty-third  year  of  his  age.  His  father  and  uncle.  Col.  Ezra 
Post,  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
latter  had  been  in  the  Kevohitionary  war,  and  also  held  a 
colonel's  commission  in  the  army  during  the  war  of  1812,  and 
was  a  mi'mber  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York 
during  the  palmy  days  of  De  Witt  Clinton. 

Ashbel  Post  was  a  man  of  a  somewhat  changeable  disposi- 
tion, but  of  great  personal  integrity.  For  seven  years  he  was 
master  of  a  sailing  vessel  out  of  Boston.  He  subsequently 
married  again  and  settled  on  a  small  farm  in  Middlese.\  Co!, 
Conn.,  and  afterward  was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  the  village 
of  Cromwell.  In  1821  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  located  between 
six  and  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Fitchville.  He  erected 
a  log  cabin,  and  proceeded  to  make  the  necessary  improve- 
ments preparatory  to  moving  his  family,  and  had  nearly  com- 
pleted his  arrangements  to  go  East  for  them  when,  on  the  14th 
of  August,  182.3,  he  died.  He  left  behind  him  a  reputation 
for  industry  and  perseverance  which,  had  he  lived,  would 
have  resulted  in  much  happiness  and  comfort  for  his  family 


It  was  in  July,  1823,  that  Ashbel  G.  Post  first  came  West- 
He  was  then  a  young  man,  ardent  in  his  desire  to  succeed,  and 
willing  to  assume  the  arduous  duties  of  the  pioneer.  After 
visiting  his  father  and  looking  around  some,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  coming  out  to  settle,  he  returned  East  and  soon  received 
the  melancholy  intelligence  of  his  father's  death.  In  Novem- 
ber following  he  returned  to  the  Fire- Lands,  and  obtaining  his 
share  of  his  father's  estate  he  went  to  work,  paid  ofi"  the  re- 
maining incumbrance,  and  from  that  time  all  through  his 
active  business  life  succeeded  well.  In  1830  he  removed  to 
Berlin  township  (now  Erie  County),  where  he  purchased  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  of  which  he  made  the  best  farm  in  what 
now  constitutes  the  two  counties  of  Huron  and  Erie,  and  for 
several  years  he  took  the  first  premium  for  the  most  highly 
cultivated,  the  best  improved,  and  the  neatest  farm,  thus  de- 
monstrating his  ability  as  a  good,  practical  farmer. 

Mr.  Post  has  been  three  times  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Tamia  Palmer,  with  whom  he  was  united  Nov.  15,  1824. 
She  died  April  1,  1836.  They  had  five  children,  namely: 
Sanford  G.,  now  resides  in  Nevada;  Fanny  P  ,  married  and 
lives  in  Michigan  ;  Eleanor,  married  and  resides  in  Vermil- 
ion ;  Wesley  (deceased)  ;  William  H.,  now  resides  at  home. 

For  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Post  married  Ellen  S.  Parmenter, 
who  died  March  28,  1855,  leaving  one  daughter,  Louisa  P., 
who  now  resides  in  Wood  Co.,  Ohio.  They  had  also  one  son, 
James  A.,  who  died  young.  For  his  third  partner  in  life,  Mr. 
Post  married  Mrs.  Fanny  M.  Piatt,  of  Connecticut,  Sept.  24, 
1855.  In  1829,  Mr.  Post'was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  re-elected  in  1832.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  in  religion  liberal. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Post  sold  his  six  hundred  acres  in  Erie  County, 
and  after  traveling  and  visiting  his  Eastern  home,  in  18.59,  he 
settled  in  his  present  residence  in  Norwalk. 

The  main  characteristics  of  his  long  and  eminently  useful  life 
are  his  industrious  habits,  his  indomitable  energy,  and  his 
uncompromising  personal  integrity.  These  good  qualities  he 
will  leave  as  a  worthy  example  for  future  generations  to  fol- 
low, and  as  an  imperishable  legacy  to  his  children. 


Residence  of  A.G.  POST  ,/Vo.77  WcsTpm  St.,|^orwalic,0. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1-^3 


flight,  else  the  writer  to  tliis  hour  might  liuve  stood 
on  tiiat  ancient  hearth,  listening  to  echoes  from  the 
remote  past. 

SAMUEL    H.    LEWIS 

ISl-t. — Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  South  Salem,  West- 
chester county,  New  York,  in  1T90,  and  died  at 
Norwalk,  July  14,  If^TO,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of 
his  age. 

In  181-i,  he  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  the  present  loca- 
tion of  the  village  of  Norwalk,  paying  for  it  two  dol- 
lars per  acre,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  came  on 
to  make  preparation  for  a  jjermanent  settlement.  He 
made  some  clearing,  and  put  in  a  small  piece  of 
wheat,  then  returning  to  New  York. 

1815.— On  the  fifteenth  of  February,  1815,  he 
started  with  his  family,  then  consisting  of  his  wife 
and  a  little  daughter,  named  Angeline,  (who  died  at 
Norwalk,  September  1,  1817),  for  the  new  home  in 
the  West.  The  journey  was  made  in  a  covered  wagon 
drawn  by  a  span  of  horses,  and  required  forfy-i'i.i: 
days  to  complete.  They  arrived  at  Norwalk,  April 
2,  1815,  or  rather,  they  arrived  at  their  new  home  on 
that  day,  for  Norwalk  was  yet  to  be;  only  an  "  Indian 
trail"  marked  the  crest  of  the  "sand  ridge"  where 
Main  street  now  is. 

Soon  after  arriving  w-ith  his  family,  he  sold  the 
land  upon  which  he  had  commenced  his  improve- 
ments the  year  before,  to  Hanson  Reed,  for  five  dol- 
lars per  acre,  and  purchased  another  tract  of  two 
hundred  acres,  in  section  one,  for  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  acre. 

During  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1815,  he  built 
a  house  on  his  new  purchase,  and  in  that  house  the 
election  for  State  officers,  of  October,  1818,  was  held. 

In  an  article  written  By  Mr.  Lewis,  and  published 
in  the  Fire-lands  Pioneer,  of  June,  1858,  and  from 
which  most  of  the  foregoing  facts  of  his  history  have 
been  taken,  he  says: 

"When  I  first  came  to  Ohio,  provisions  of  all 
kinds  were  scarce,  and  prices  high.  Wheat  was  sold 
at  two  dollars  per  bushel,  also  the  first  oats  I  sowed 
cost  me  two  dollars  per  bushel;  I  bought  them  of 
Judge  Meeker,  on  the  lake  shore,  as  I  came  into  the 
country;  and  at  another  time  I  paid  him  five  dollars 
for  a  common  axe,  and  went  tioelve  miles  for  it;  how- 
ever, upon  the  cessation  of  the  war  of  1813,  people 
having  turned  their  attention  more  to  clearing  their 
lands,  and  to  agriculture,  when  soon  field  was  added 
to  field,  and  farm  to  farm,  and,  rich  in  their  virgin 
soil,  they  sent  forth  their  luxuriant  harvests  until 
plenty  filled  the  land.  Then  produce  fell  to  an 
extremely  low  price;  so  low  that  the  year  previous  to 
the  opening  of  the  New  York  and  Erie  canal,  the 
most  that  I  could  get  offered  for  a  fine  tjuality  of 
wheat,  was  twelve  and  a  haJf  cents  2)er  hiisheU  and 
haul  it  a  distance  of  six  miles  to  market,  which  was 
then  at  Milan." 

In  tliose  early  days,  wild  turkeys  were  very  plenty. 


and  did  great  damage  to  wheat  and  corn  crops.  Mr. 
Lewis  relates  that  in  18-27,  they  were  so  numerous  as 
to  endanger  his  wheat  crop.  He  built  a  rail  pen  about 
eleven  feet  square,  with  rails  laid  near  together  on 
top.  A  trap-door  was  provided,  and  grain  freely 
scattered  around  and  within  the  pen.  The  turkeys 
came,  entered  the  ti-ap,  and  his  first  catch  was  nine 
fat  birds,  but  one  got  away.  Two  or  three  days  after- 
wards, twelve  more  fell  victims  to  the  trap,  and  this 
put  an  end  to  their  depredations,  for  no  otiiers  came 
around  that  season. 

During  the  infancy  of  the  settlement  of  Norwalk, 
Mr.  Lewis'  house  was  always  open,  free  of  charge,  to 
the  new  comers,  who  sought  his  hospitality,  and  on 
one  occasion,  from  the  frequency  of  such  calls  upon 
him,  his  stock  of  breadstuffs  ran  very  short.  There 
were  no  mills  in  the  country,  and  no  flour  market 
nearer  than  Mansfield,  and  no  road  practicable  for  a 
wagon  to  that  place;  so  he  went  there  on  horseback, 
and  constructing  a  rude  rack  to  fit  the  back  of  his 
horse,  loaded  a  barrel  of  flour  on  that,  and  in  that 
manner  transported  it  home. 

On  another  occasion  he  was  called  back  to  the  east, 
and  performed  the  whole  journey  from  Norwalk  to 
Jersey  City,  on  foot. 

Mr.  Lewis,  with  another  pioneer,  named  William 
Marshall,  a  surveyor,  traveled  over  and  surveyed 
many  of  the  lands  in  Huron  county.  These  two 
went  days  and  sometimes  weeks  together  through  the 
wilderness,  camping  out  nights,  while  they  were  sur- 
veying farms,  and  running  out  public  roads. 

He  held  at  different  times  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  township  trustee,  assessor,  and  lister. 

The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Amy  Ferris. 
She  was  born  at  Newtown,  Fairfield  county,  Con- 
necticut, and  until  her  death,  in  October,  185G,  bore 
her  share  of  the  privations  of  pioneer  life  cheerfully, 
and  with  courage. 

In  those  early  days,  they  were  surrounded  by  the 
dense  wilderness,  the  home  of  thousands  of  savage 
men,  bears,  wolves  and  panthers. 

On  one  occasion,  when  there  was  no  one  at  home 
but  Mrs.  Lewis  and  her  little  daughter,  there  came 
on  horseback  to  the  house  two  Indian  women,  or 
squaws,  who  wanted  flour,  which  v;as  kept  in  the 
house  up  stairs.  Mrs.  Lewis  went  up,  and  was  get- 
ting the  flour,  when  the  two  squaws  followed,  and 
commenced  impudently  lifting  the  lids  of  boxes  and 
barrels,  to  see  what  they  contained.  Mrs.  Lewis 
shook  her  head  at  them,  and  they  shook  their  heads  at 
her.  When  the  floor  was  put  up,  they  all  descended, 
and  one  of  the  squaws  seized  the  little  girl,  then 
nearly  two  years  old.  and  the  tAvo  hastened  to  their 
horses,  mounted  and  galloped  away  with  the  child 
before  Mrs.  Lewis  fully  realized  what  they  were  at. 
But  the  mother's  heart  (juickly  took  the  alarm,  and 
desperation  nerved  her  to  an  almost  superhuman 
effort  for  the  recovery  of  her  little  one.  The  route 
taken  by  the  sfiuaws  would  compel  them,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  one  mile,  to  pa.'s  the  house  of  another 


124 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


settler,*  but  before  that  was  leached,  the  mother  was 
so  close  after  them,  aud  screaming  so  lustily,  that 
they  dared  not  pass  the  settler's  clearing,  ahead  of 
them,  with  the  child,  for  fear  of  being  captured,  so 
the  child  was  put  down  on  the  ground,  the  squaws 
scampered  off  with  all"  the  speed  they  could  get  out 
of  their  ponies,  and  the  mother  returned  home  with 
her  child  and  a  heart  full  of  thankfulness. 

DR.    JOSEPH    PIERCE. 

1815. — Dr.  Joseph  Pierce  came  to  Norwalk  in  1815, 
in  comjjany  with  Major  David  Underbill,  Timothy 
Baker,  Levi  Cole  and  Horace  Morse.  That  summer 
be  purchased  of  Benjamin  Newcomb  all  the  interest 
held  by  the  latter  in  lot  number  one  of  section  four  of 
Norwalk,  being  the  Newcomb  place,  now  Miner  Cole's 
farm,  and,  in  1816,  transferred  his  interest  to  Levi 
Cole,  but  continued,  with  his  sister  Rhoda,  to  make 
it  his  home  with  Mr.  Cole  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  the  first  practicing  physician  in  Norwalk 
township,  and  the  first  postmaster,  of  which  more 
particular  mention  is  made  under  the  head  of  "First 
Post  Office."  Dr.  Pierce  was  from  Herkimer  county. 
New  York.  He  remained  here  until  about  1825,  and 
then  removed  to  New  Ha\  en  and  remained  for  some 
time,  and  then  removed  U>  Indiana. 


Levi  Cole  was  born  in  Windom  county,  Connecti- 
cut, November  20,  1T66,  married  November  25,  1790. 
and  died  February  11,  1820,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  His 
wife,  Hannah  Kinney,  was  born  in  AVindom  county, 
Connecticut,  July  2-1,  1770,  and  died  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  February  27,  1840.  They  had  seven  sons,  as 
follows:  Jeremy,  born  March  17,  17115;  died  July^ 
30,  1818;  came  to  Ohio  in  1815.  Asher,  born  April 
23,  1707;  died  November  4,  1830;  came  to  Ohio  in- 
1816.  James,  born  April  25,  1799;  now  living  in 
Norwalk  township;  came  to  Ohio  in  1816.  Levi, 
born  March  23,  1801;  now  living  in  Ridgefield  town- 
ship; came  to  Ohio  in  1816.  Miner,  born  July  26, 
1803;  now  living  in  Norwalk  township;  came  to  Ohio 
in  1816.  Manly  K.,  born  February  11,  1807;  now  liv- 
ing in  Bronson  township;  came  to  Ohio  in  1816. 
Lyman,  born  March  10,  1810:  died  October  10,  1843; 
came  to  Ohio  in  1816. 

In  1814,  Mr.  Cole  was  living  in  Herkimer  county. 
New  York,  aud,  that  year,  in  company  with  Major 
David  Underbill  and  Timothy  Baker,  came  on  to  look 
at  lands  held  by  Mr.  Underbill  in  Ridgefield  township. 
He  was  pleased  with  the  land  and  bargained  for  a 
piece  this  side  of  the  present  farm  of  Sidney  Brown, 
aud  then  returned  home. 

In  1815,  he  came  out  again,  accompanied  by  his 
son  Jeremy,  Horace  Morse,  Dr.  Joseph  Pierce  and 
David  Underbill,  put  up  a  house  on  the  land,  com- 
menced a  clearing,  and  otherwise  prepared  for  bring- 


♦Thls  was  probably  Captain  John  Boalfs  place,  on  the  corner  of  what 
i8  now  Medina  street,  and  the  "Old  State  Road,"  where  the  sexton's 
house  stands,  on  the  grounds  of  Woodlawn  Cemetery. 


iiig  bis  family  out  the  next  year.  In  the  Fall,  leaving 
Jeremy  to  look  after  the  place  and  continue  the  im- 
provements, he  returned  liome  again. 

During  this  visit,  and  on  the  16th  day  of  July, 
1815,  he.  Major  Underbill  and  Dr.  Joseph  Pierce, 
brushed  out  a  "trail,"  or  road,  from  Abijah  Cum- 
stock's  place  to  the  "Sand  Ridge,"  as  it  was  tiien 
called  (now  Norwalk),  and  at  night  returned  and 
stayed  at  Comstock's  until  the  next  day,  and  then 
started  out  and  com])leted  their  work  through  to 
UnderhilTs  place  on  the  17th.  Tliis  was  the  first 
highway  labor  ever  done  on  Main  street.  It  was  not 
done  in  pursuance  of  an  ordinance,  and  no  street  com- 
missioner "bossed  "  the  job;  perhaps  that  will  account 
for  its  rapid  completion.  They  followed  the  old  "  In- 
dian trail,"  which  came  out  on  to  the  ridge  some- 
where between  Milan  and  Chatham  streets. 

In  January  of  1816,  Mr,  Cole  and  Major  Under- 
bill started  with  their  families  and  such  goods  and 
supplies  as  they  might  require  in  their  new  homes, 
with  six  teams  and  sleighs,  three  to  each  family.  The 
party  contained  twenty  iiersons,  to-wit:  Mr.  and  ilrs. 
Cole  and  six  of  their  boys,  Mr.  and  iMrs.  Underbill 
and  six  children.  Jasper  Underbill  (a  nephew  of  the 
Major),  D.iniel  Warren,  :Marks  Rosbeck,  Rboda 
Pierce,  sister  to  .Tosejih  Pierce,  and  a  person  l)y  the 
name  of  AVilcox, 

After  spending  six  weeks  upon  the  road  (five  days 
resting  at  Avery,  the  old  county  seat,)  they  reached 
Major  Underbill's  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  1816. 
The  Huron  river  was  then  so  high  that  Mr.  Cole 
could  not  cross  with  bis  family  and  teams  to  bis  own 
house,  so  he  took  them  to  Dr,  Pierce's  house  (the 
Benjamin  Newcomb  jilace),  and  soon  after  purchased 
that  place,  and  remained  there  so  long  as  he  lived. 

1818. — In  this  year  Mr.  Cole  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  movement  which  culminated  in  the  removal  of 
the  county  seat  to  Norwalk,  of  w-hicb  a  more  particu- 
lar account  is  given  in  another  2)art  of  this  history. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1820,  Mr.  Cole  was  en- 
gaged hauling  a  large  saw-log,  to  which  four  yoke  of 
oxen  were  attached,  by  a  chain,  into  Underbill's  saw- 
mill yard;  finding  it  was  likely  to  strike  another  log 
which  projected  partly  over  the  road,  he  attempted  to 
jump  over  the  chain,  and  in  doing  so  one  of  bis  limlis 
was  caught  between  the  logs,  and  so  terril)ly  crushed 
that  he  died  two  days  afterwards, 

DAVID    (ilBUS  AND    HEXKY    LOrKWOOD. 

David  Gibbs  and  Henry  Lockwood  were  natives  of 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  were  brothers-in-law.  Mrs. 
Gibbs  being  Lockwood's  sister. 

In  the  summer  of  1815,  Mr.  Gibbs,  I\Ir.  Lockwood, 
his  father,  L.  Lockwood,  and  Stephen  Lockwood.  left 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  to  look  up  homes  in  Ohio. 
After  visiting  and  examining  several  places  they  at 
last,  after  ten  week's  travel  and  prospecting,  arrived 
at  Aliijab  Comstock's  place  in  Norwalk.  Ohio,  on  the 
16th  day  of  July.  1815.  There  they  met  Major  David 
Underbill,  Levi  Cole  and  Dr.  Joseph  Pierce,  wlio  bad 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


125 


been  at  work  that  day  clearing  out  a  road  to  the  sand 
ridge,  on  which  Norwalk  now  is  located. 

After  spending  about  a  week  in  examining  lands 
belonging  to  L.  Lockwood,  in  Norwalk  township, 
they  selected  a  site  for  a  home  on  the  hill  just  south 
of  the  first  creek,  on  the  section  line  road  going  north 
from  tlie  present  "Alliug's  Corners,"  and  on  the  east 
side  of  that  road.  During  the  months  of  August, 
September  and  part  of  October,  they  cleared  off  and 
put  into  wheat  about  six  acres  of  land,  and  put  up  a 
large  double  log  house. 

There  were  then  three  families  living  in  the  town- 
ship, those  of  Abijah  Comstock,  Benjamin  Newcomb 
and  Samuel  B.  Lewis.  Gibbs  and  the  two  Lockwoods 
boarded  at  Comstock's  while  engaged  in  making  their 
improvements.  Provisions  were  scarce.  Salt  was  not 
to  be  obtained,  for  there  was  then  none  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  and  as  a  consequence  the  family  and 
boarders  frequently  were  compelled  to  use  meat  tliat 
was  more  odorous  than  palatable.  Bread,  milk  and 
potatoes  was  their  only  other  reliance. 

When  the  walls  of  the  house  were  up  ready  for  the 
roof,  they  let  to  Benjamin  Newcomb  a  contract  for 
its  completion,  and  started  back  to  Connecticut. 

At  this  time,  the  sand  ridge  from  Alling's  or  Gibb's 
Corners  to  Major  Underhill's  place  (the  present  Isaac 
Underbill  farm)  was  covered  sparsely  by  oak  trees, 
forming  what  was  called  an  "oak  opening."  Whor- 
tleberry bushes  and  columl^o  grew  in  abundance,  the 
root  of  the  latter  being  used  by  the  inhabitants  as  'a 
tonic  in  bilious  diseases.  The  oak  trees  were  of  the 
scrub  variety,  specimens  of  which  may  yet  be  seen 
both  in  the  east  and  west  ends  of  the  village. 

On  the  24th  day  of  January,  1816,  they  left  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut,  with  their  families,  and  arrived 
at  their  new  home  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  on  the  30th  of 
April,  having  been  ninety-five  days  in  making  the 
journey.  The  party  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibbs, 
their  daughter  Eliza  (now  Mrs.  Pruden  Ailing,  yet 
living  in  Norwalk),  then  five  years  old;  their  son 
David,  three  years  old;  Mr.  Jlenry  Lockwood,  his 
wife  and  their  little  child  Henry;  and  Lewis  Keeler, 
who  came  along  as  a  teamster  in  charge  of  the  bag- 
gage wagon,  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen. 

Mrs.  Gibbs  and  Mrs.  Lockwood,  with  their  chil- 
dren, were  provided  with  a  substantial  wagon,  covered 
with  oil-cloth,  lined  with  blaukets,  carpeted  and  pro- 
vided with  spring  seats ;  very  comfortable  and  decent, 
and  drawn  by  a  heavy  span  of  bay  horses.  They  were 
well  clothed,  and  provided  with  abundant  blankets 
and  a  foot  stove.  Their  provision  chest  contained 
cold  chickens,  hams,  hard  biscuit,  pies,  dough-nuts 
by  the  bushel,  tea,  coffee,  pickles,  dried  fruit,  pre- 
serves, and  all  the  necessary  etceteras,  so  they  were 
"well-to-do"  in  the  world. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  in  crossing  Cattaraugus 
creek,  west  of  Buffalo,  on  the  ice,  their  baggage 
wagon  broke  through  near  the  west  shore.  One  yoke 
of  oxen,  a  horse  which  they  had  purchased  on  the 
way  as  a  leader  for  the  ox  team,  and  many  of  their 


house-keeping  articles,  were  lost.  In  this  dilemma 
they  were  assisted  by  some  friendly  Indians,  who,  by 
diving  and  fishing  with  poles,  brought  up  most  of 
the  lost  articles,  among  them  a  box  of  log  chains, 
axes,  plow-shares,  kitchen  ware,  etc.  They  were  paid 
for  their  services  thirty  or  forty  dollars.  They  also 
brought  up  the  bodies  of  the  two  oxen,  gave  uji  the 
hides  and  shoes,  but  eagerly  accepted  the  carcasses  for 
food.  This  mishap  caused  a  halt  of  about  a  week, 
during  which  little  Henry  Lockwood  sickened  and 
died.  Soon  afterwards,  at  Fredonia,  little  David  Gibbs 
was  taken  severely  ill,  and  after  lingering  twelve  days 
also  died.  The  trouble  was  "camp  dysentery,"  and 
several  others  of  the  i)arty  were  also  attacked,  but  all 
recovered. 

The  expense  of  this  enforced  sojourn  at  Fredonia 
was  over  five  hundred  dollars,  provisions  being  scarce 
and  high,  codfish  fifty  cents  per  pound,  and  other 
things  in  proportion. 

Their  house  was  built  double,  with  a  hall  through  the 
center  open  at  both  ends;  the  window  sash  were  slats 
fastened  together,  and  set  with  greased  paper  instead 
of  glass;  the  doors  were  rough  slabs  split  out  of  logs; 
and  the  first  table  was  a  square  one,  with  no  leaves, 
hewed  out  of  a  black-walnut  log. 

After  the  privation  and  sufferings  and  sorrows  of 
their  long,  exhausting  march,  this  homely  two-roomed 
house  seemed  to  these  weary  travelers  a  very  palace 
and  haven  of  rest;  and  not  only  to  them,  but  to 
many  who  came  after.  At  one  time,  for  some  days, 
their  families  were  increased  to  forty  souls.  Among 
them  were  the  families  of  Piatt  Benedict,  seven  per- 
sons; and  Captain  John  Boalt,  father  of  the  late 
Charles  L.  Boalt,  thirteen  persons,  of  whom  nine  were 
down  with  the  ague. 

For  all  this  numerous  family  Mrs.  Gibbs  did  the 
cooking,  baking,  etc.,  with  rude  and  limited  utensils 
designed  for  less  than  one-fourth  of  that  number; 
whilst  Mrs.  Lockwood  ministered  to  the  sick  with 
means  for  their  comfort  equally  limited.  But  they 
had  strength  given  them  for  the  task,  and  were  Ijlessed 
and  happy  in  their  laliors  of  love.  They  were  at  one 
time  short  of  provisions,  and  had  to  send  to  Cleveland 
for  flour  and  pay  twenty-five  dollars  per  barrel,  and 
for  pork  about  the  same;  the  families  in  the  mean- 
time subsisting,  for  a  week,  on  milk  and  jiotatoes 
alone. 

Mr.  Lockwood  remained  in  Norwalk  only  a  few 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Milan.  Mr.  Gibbs  was 
elected  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  Norwalk  town- 
ship in  April,  1817,  and  was  appointed  county  clerk 
in  182.5,  and  continued  to  hold  that  office  until  his 
death,  at  Norwalk,  March  16,  1840,  aged  fifty-one 
years,  nine  months  and  twenty-four  days.  His  wife, 
Elizalieth  L.  Gibbs,  died  at  Norwalk  October  4,  1873, 
aged  eighty-two  years,  six  months  and  eleven  days. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  viz:  An  in- 
fant, died  in  Connecticut;  David,  died  at  Fredonia  in 
1816;  a  little  daughter,  died  in  1832,  aged  one  year, 
seven  months  and  twentv-two  days;  James  B.,  died 


120 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


August  3,  1850,  aged  twenty-eight  years,  two  months 
and  thirteen  days:  Rali)h  M.,  died  August  IC,  1854, 
aged  thirty  years  and  sixteen  days  (of  cholera);  Mrs. 
Eliza  Ailing,  now  living  at  Xorwalk,  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  1816;  David,  now  living  at  Le  Mars,  Iowa; 
Roswell,  now  living  at  Troy,  Miami  county,  Ohio; 
Charles  (Rev.),  now  living  at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa;  Mrs. 
S.  L.  Adams,  now  living  at  Clarksfield,  Huron  county, 
Ohio. 

FIRST    MARRIAGE. 

In  Vol.  I.  of  Marriage  Records  of  Huron  County, 
on  page  nine,  appears  the  following  entry: 

William  Gallup  and  Sally  Boalt  were  joined  in  marriage  on  the  ad  day 
of  M.iy,  1S19.  by  DA^^D  W.  Hixman, 

Justice  Peace. 

Upon  a  (."ireful  examination  of  the  record  of  mar- 
riages, the  foregoing  is  found  to  be  the  first  one  in 
which  the  marriage  was  solemnized  in  the  township, 
between  parties,  both  residents.  And  Heni-y  Lock- 
wood,  Esq.,  in  an  article  published  in  the  Pioneer  of 
May,  1859,  on  page  twenty-eight,  says:  "About  the 
marriages  we  are  uncertain.  Hallet  and  William  Gal- 
lu])  were  among  the  first." 

William  Gallup  was  born  at  Kingston,  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1794,  and,  in  1816,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother  Hallet,  came  to  Ohio,  but  not 
to  Norwalk  until  1818.  He  built  the  old  frame  block 
of  stores  now  occupied  by  Link's  grocery,  James 
Seeley's  shoe  store,  and  the  Casper  Brothers.  It  was 
one  of  the  first  ventures  in  the  new  village  to  provide 
business  rooms  for  renting.  The  second  stoi'y  was 
used  by  him  as  a  cabinet  shop  and  furniture  ware- 
room.  He  was  the  contractor  who  built  the  "Old 
Court  House,"  now  Central  Hotel,  on  Whittlesey 
avenue.     He  died  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  January  15,  1858. 

Sally  Boalt  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and 
came  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  with  her  father's  family,  in 
1817.  She  was  a  sister  of  Charles  L.  Boalt  and 
daughter  of  Captain  John  Boalt,  who  made  his  first 
settlement  in  this  townshiji  upon  the  present  ceme- 
tery property.  And  there  in  their  new  double  log 
house  she  was  married. 

Her  death  occurred  at  Osborn,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
January  26,  1871.  Her  husband's  remains  were  then 
taken  from  Tiffin,  and,  with  hers,  brought  to  Nor- 
walk, and,  side  by  side,  laid  away  to  rest  within 
about  twenty  rods  of  the  site  of  the  log  house  where 
they  were  married. 

KIliST    BIHTH. 

Soon  after  Hull's  surrender  at  Detroit  in  August  of 
1812,  Thomas,  son  of  Abijah  Comstock,  was  born  on 
section  two  of  Norwalk.  When  he  was  cmly  a  few 
days  old,  his  parents  liad  to  flee  from  their  home  to 
escape  the  Indians,  which  they  did  just  in  time,  tak- 
ing him  and  their  other  valuables  with  them,  for  the 
night  after  their  departure  their  house  was  burned. 
This  was  the  first  white  child  liorn  in  NorAvalk, 
and  that  pioneer  is  yet  living,  a  resident  of  Hidgeville, 
Loniin  county,  Ohio. 


FIRST    DEATH. 

In  all  the  researches  made  by  the  writer  after  data 
from  which  to  compile  the  history  of  Norwalk,  the 
first  death  of  which  he  has  found"  any  record,  was  that 
of  Angeline  Lewis.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
B.  and  Amy  Lewis;  born  at  South  Salem,  Westchester 
county,  New  York,  probably  in  the  fall  of  181-1;  was 
brought  by  her  parents  to  Norwalk  in  the  spring  of 
1815,  and  died  September  1,  1817.  She  was  probably 
the  child  stolen  by  two  squaws,  and  rescued  by  her 
mother,  of  which  an  account  is  given  in  the  history  of 
Samuel  B.  Lewis. 

THE    FIRST    SAW    AND    GKIST    MILL. 

In  the  spring  or  summer  of  1815,  Hanson  Reed, 
then  living  in  Greenfield,  purchased  of  Samuel  B. 
Lewis,  the  place  upon  which  Mr.  Lewis  had  erected  a 
house  the  previous  year. 

He  soon  moved  in  with  his  family,  and  in  1816  or 
1817,  commenced  building  a  saw  mill  on  the  creek 
which  runs  through  the  present  L.  B.  Mesnard  and 
S.  J.  Rogers  farms,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Fairfield 
road,  and  a  few  rods  to  the  west  of  the  stone  bridge 
over  that  creek.  In  erecting  this  mill,  he  was  assisted 
by  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Abraham  Powers,  Soon 
after  its  completion,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
two  men  then  made  a  worksho])  of  the  house,  and 
commenced  work  on  the  machinery  of  another  mill, 
and  in  about  five  weeks  had  it  completed,  running 
and  doing  a  good  business,  but  when  the  fall  rains 
came  on,  a  freshet  swept  away  tlieir  dam.  They 
were  now  without  funds,  all  having  been  put  into 
building  and  re-bnilding,  but  were  not  discouraged; 
the  dam  was  soon  replaced,  and  then  they  began  to 
plan  for  a  grist  mill  attachment  to  the  saw  mill,  and 
carried  their  plans  into  execution  in  a  year  or  two 
afterwards. 

These  were  the  first  mills  erected  in  the  township. 
The  old  frame  was  taken  down  several  years  ago,  but 
the  old  dam  is  destined  to  remain,  perhaps,  for  cen- 
turies, for  it  forms  part  of  the  road  embankment 
across  the  ravine. 


lUKDER    OF    W( 


;D    BISHOP. 


Early  in  Ajnil,  1819,  John  Wood,  a  married  man, 
keeping  tavern  at  Venice,  (ieorge  Bishop,  a  sin- 
gle man,  by  occupation  a  sailor,  living  in  Danbury, 
Abiather  Shirley,  and  Barnabus  Meeker,  organized  a 
hunting  and  trapping  expedition  to  the  "  Peninsula," 
now  part  of  Ottawa  county. 

They  made  their  camp  in  a  little  cabin  near  the 
bank  of  the  Portage,  then  called  •'Carrying  River," 
about  twelve  miles  from  its  mouth.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  April,  Meeker  and  Shirley  left  the  camp,  and 
returned  to  their  homes,  Wood  and  Bishop  still  re- 
maining to  prosecute  their  enterprise.  Being  well 
supplied  with  traps,  ammunition,  and  camp  equip- 
inige,  and  being  expert  in  hunting  and  trapping,  they 
were  (piite  successful,  and  had  accumulated  quite  a 


CHARLES  B.  STICKNEY. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Moira,  Franklin 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  20,  1810.  He  was  the  oldest  of  twelve 
children,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  Charles  and  Betsey 
Stickney. 

His  father,  Capt.  Charles  Stickney,  was  born  at  Corn- 
wall, Addison  Co.,  Vt.,  May  17,  1785,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Pierce,  at  New  Salem,  Franklin 
Co.,  Mass.,  April  11,  1790.  They  were  married  in  the  town 
of  Dickinson,  Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  11,  1809.  Both 
are  now  dead.  They  were  of  English  descent.  His  father's 
earliest  ancestor  in  America  was  William  Stickney,  who 
came  to  this  country,  in  1637,  from  Hull,  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, and  settled  with  his  family  at  Rowley,  Mass.  From 
him  it  is  believed  that  all  bearing  the  name  of  Stickney 
in  America  are  descended. 

Mr.  Stickney's  early  years  were  required  by  his  father  on 
his  farm,  where  he  remained  until    his  twenty-first  year, 
engaged  in  hard  work,  and  receiving  only  a  district-school 
education,    when    he    was 
given   his   time,  $5.50  in 
money,  and  the  blessing  of 
his  kind  parents,  with  which 
he  started  forth  to  seek  his 
fortune. 

He  entered  the  academy 
at  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  then  in  charge 
of  Rev.  Asa  Brainard, 
where  he  remained  nearly 
four  years,  supporting  him- 
self in  the  mean  time  by 
teaching  school  winters. 

His  health  having  be- 
come impaired  from  close 
application,  he  reluctantly 
left  the  academy  and  came 
to  Ohio.  He  reached  Ash- 
tabula County,  where  he 
was  taken  sick  at  the  house 
of  his  maternal  uncle,  Jesse 
Pierce,  in  the  town  of  Say- 
brook,  his  sickness  contin- 
uing for  nearly  six  months. 

Recovering  his  health 
somewhat,  he  adopted  the 

teaching  of  penmanship  as  ^^  \ 

a  means  of  livelihood,  and  ^ 

taught   in   different  places  ''^i,- 

in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia,  and  Southern 
Ohio. 

In  the  year  1841  he  visited  his  brother,  Hon.  E.  T. 
Stickney,  at  Scipio,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  and,  meeting  with 
a  former  fellow-student  of  Potsdam  Academy,  the  late 
Jairus  Kennan,  Esq.,  who  was  then  practicing  law  at 
Norwalk,  he  was  induced  to  enter  his  ofiice,  and  commence 
the  study  of  law.  He  arrived  at  Norwalk,  Nov.  13,  18-H, 
and  pursued  his  studies  with  Mr.  Kennan.  Was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  Aug.  1,  1841,  and  subsequently  to  practice  in 
the  Federal  Courts,  at  Cleveland,  April  12,  1860. 

During  his  term  of  study  he  was  associated  with  the 
late  Ezra  M.  Stone  in  the  preparation  of  a  large  number  of 
cases  in  bankruptcy,  under  the  then  existing  bankrupt  law 
of  the  United  States. 

After  he  commenced  practice  he  was  several  times  a  can- 
didate for  prosecuting  attorney,  always  running  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  but  not  being  able  to  overcome  the  party  odds 
against  him. 

The  new  constitution  of  Ohio  created  the  Court  of  Pro- 
bate, and   upon  its  going   into   operation,  in  1851,  Mr. 


Stickney  was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  the 
new  ofiice  of  judge  of  said  court,  and  was  elected  over  his 
competitor,  Hon.  F.  Wickham,  by  thirty-one  majority, 
having  run  ahead  of  his  ticket  about  five  hundred  votes. 
He  performed  the  duties  of  his  oflBce  faithfully  and  satis- 
factorily to  all  for  the  term  of  three  years,  and  was  again 
nominated  in  1854.  The  newly-formed  Republican  and 
Know-Nothing  p.'irties  swept  the  field,  the  general  majority 
of  the  party  in  Huron  County  being  about  sixteen  hundred, 
but  the  majority  for  his  competitor,  Hon.  P.  Sears,  was  cut 
down  to  about  eight  hundred. 

He  has  served  several  terms  as  a  member  of  the  com- 
mon council,  and  in  April,  1874,  was  elected  mayor  of 
Norwalk,  and  served  two  years,  being  an  acceptable  and 
popular  oflicer. 

He  was  for  several  years  school  examiner  for  Huron 
County,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the 
Union  School  for  four  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
clerk  of  the  Board.  He 
has  at  all  times  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  educational 
matters.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Whittlesey 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences, of  which  he  has  been 
president. 

He  became  a  member,  by 
initiation,  April  30,  1845, 
of  Huron  Lodge,  No.  37, 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  been  a 
prominent  and  respected 
member  of  the  order,  hold- 
ing many  of  its  important 
ofiBces. 

On  Feb.  20,  1856,  he 
was  elected  Most  Worthy 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Ohio,  serving  one 
term  with  distinguished 
ability.  For  his  fixithful 
and  efiieient  services  in 
this  ofiice  he  received 
from  the  Grand  Lodge 
its  beautiful  and  costly 
medal. 

In  1858,  Judge  Stickney 
was  appointed  assistant  ad- 
jutant-general,    with     the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel, 
on  the  stafi'  of   Maj.-Gen. 
James  A  Jones,  17th  Division  Ohio  Volunteer  Militia,  and 
was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Chase.     He  also  acted  as  in- 
spector-general of  division. 

Judge  Stickney,  on  coming  to  Norwalk,  became  a  boarder 
at  the  Mansion  House,  then  kept  by  Obadiah  Jenney,  Esq., 
and,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  has  remained  unmarried,  and 
a  constant  boarder  at  one  hotel,  now  over  thirty-seven 
years. 

Though  not  a  communicant  he  has  long  been  an  attend- 
ant at  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  at  Norwalk,  and  has 
served  several  years  as  vestryman  and  clerk  of  the  vestry, 
yet  charitable  and  liberal  in  his  religious  views  toward  all 
church  organizations. 

Judge  Stickney  has  always  had  an  extensive  law  practice, 
and  been  especially  successful  as  a  collection  lawyer,  and,  in 
the  settlement  of  estates  and  matters  of  guardianship,  he 
has  been,  through  his  professional  life,  regarded  as  an 
upright  man.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  taste  and  culture,  kind 
and  benevolent,  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him,  and  is  an 
eminently  popular  member  of  society. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


127 


stock  of  skins  of  the  fur-bearing  animals,  then  numer- 
ous in  that  wild,  unsettled  region. 

At  that  time  there  was  a  camp  of  Ottawa  Indians 
on  the  bank  of  the  "  Miami  of  the  Lakes,"  (now  Mau- 
mee  River).  About  the  middle  of  April,  three  mem- 
liers  of  that  tribe,  named  Negosheek,  (Ne-go-sheek), 
Negoneba,  (Ne-gon-e-ba),  and  Negossum,  (Ne-gos- 
sum),  the  last  a  boy  of  about  seventeen  j-ears  of  age, 
started  on  an  expedition  to  the  mouth  of  the  Portage 
river,  and  while  passing  down  the  river  in  their 
canoes,  discovered  the  trapper's  camp,  and,  no  doubt, 
with  their  usual  cunning,  became  fulh-  posted  as  to 
its  valuable  contents.  Thej-  stayed  around  the  mouth 
of  the  river  a  daj'  or  two,  "loafing,"  and  the  two  old- 
estdrinking  whisky,  the  boy  doing  what  he  could  to 
prevent  their  getting  drunk.  On  their  return  up  the 
river,  Negosheek  jjlotted  the  murder  of  Wood  and 
Bishop,  and  the  plunder  of  their  camp.  Negoneba 
consented  and  agreed  to  assist;  the  boy,  Negossum, 
remaining  passive  from  fear  of  Negosheek,  who  was 
a  ''bad  Indian"  when  drunk.  On  the  morning  of 
Wednesda}',  April  21,  about  two  hours  before  daylight, 
they  reached  the  cabin  of  the  trappers,  and,  stealthily 
approaching,  Negosheek  and  Negoneba  drew  aside 
the  blanket  which  hung  as  a  curtain  over  the  door- 
way, entered,  and  finding  the  trappers  asleep,  each 
singled  out  liis  victim,  and  with  their  ever  present 
tomahawks,  quickly  sent  the  two  white  men  to  a  hap- 
pier hunting  ground.  Then  calling  in  Negossum, 
the  boy,  who  had  remained  outside,  Negosheek  com- 
pelled him  to  strike  the  legs  of  one  of  the  dead  men 
with  the  handle  of  his  tomahawk,  so  that  he  should 
feel  that  he  too  was  a  party  to  the  crime,  and  from 
fear  of  the  consequences  as  to  himself,  keep  it  a 
secret. 

They  now  plundered  the  camp  of  its  contents,  con- 
sisting of  a  gun,  tea-kettle,  spider,  some  tlour,  a 
blanket,  tow-shirt,  a  handkerchief,  two  powder  horns 
and  powder,  nine  traps,  three  dozen  muskrat  skins, 
some  pork,  and  from  one  of  the  men  three  dollars  in 
silver  money.  They  hid  the  kettle,  spider,  flour, 
traps  and  gun  on  the  west  side  of  a  small  stream 
called  Crane  Creek,  and  selling  the  skins  to  a  French 
trader,  named  Guy.  who  was  stationed  a  few  miles 
away,  then  immediately  started  for  their  camp  on  the 
Maumee. 

The  testimony  taken  at  the  subsequent  trial  siiows 
that  they  soon  very  indiscreetly  divulged  their  secret 
to  a  half-breed  Indian,  named  Chazee,  (Cha-zee), 
who  on  going  down  the  river,  found  the  murdered 
men  still  lying  in  their  cabin  where  slain.  He  went 
on  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  informed  one 
Charles  C.  Tupper,  a  constable,  of  the  facts,  who  at 
once  obtained  a  warrant  from  Truman  Pettibone,  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  Danbury  township. 

Armed  with  this  warrant,  and  accompanied  by  An- 
son Gray,  Peter  Mauminin,  (and  perhaps  others, 
though  it  is  not  possible  at  this  distant  day  to  ascer- 
tain whom,  or  how  many),  he  at  once  went  to  the 
camp  of    the  Ottawas,  on  the  Maumee,   and  made 


known  his  errand  to  a  friendly  Indian,  named  Sac-e- 
saw,  who  at  once  pointed  out  the  three  implicated 
Indians,  and  they  were  promptly  arrested,  the  chief 
informed  of  the  charge  against  them,  and  the  long 
and  tedious  return  march  commenced. 

On  April  30,  Tupper  returned  the  warrant  to  the 
justice,  with  the  three  prisoners,  and  an  examination 
was  at  once  held,  the  result  of  which  was  the  holding 
of  the  accused  for  trial  in  the  court  of  common 
pleas.  At  that  examination  John  B.  Flammond, 
a  French  trader,  acted  as  interpreter. 

Negossum,  the  boy,  was  first  examined,  and  con- 
fessed that  he  was  present  with  the  others  when  they 
committed  the  murder,  but  j^i'otested  his  innocence. 
Negoneba  was  next  examined,  and  confessed  that  he 
wiis  one  of  the  men  who  committed  the  murder  on 
Portage  river  nine  nights  before;  claiming  that  Ne- 
gossum, the  boy,  struck  one  of  the  men  they  were 
murdering,  with  the  handle  of  his  hatchet;  and  that 
Negosheek  first  plotted  the  murder,  and  struck  the 
first  blow.  He  also  confessed  the  taking  and  secret- 
ing the  property,  and  the  sale  of  some  of  it.  Nego- 
sheek was  next  examined,  and  confessed  the  crime. 
He  said  when  sober  he  had  no  idea  of  committing  the 
murder,  but  on  getting  drunk,  he  plotted  the  attack, 
and  assisted  in  executing  it. 

The  prisoners  were  then  shackled,  and  in  charge  of 
Tupper  and  his  assistants,  started  for  the  county  seat, 
Norwalk. 

The  party  crossed  Sandusky  Bay  on  a  ferry,  kept 
by  a  man  named  Luther  Chapin,  at  ''Ogontz  Place>" 
now  Sandusky  City.  They  stayed  from  the  evening 
of  April  30th  to  May  3d,  at  an  inn  kept  by  Cyrus 
W.  Marsh.  Their  bill  of  fare,  afterwai'ds  allowed 
by  the  county  commissioners,  and  now  on  file  in  the 
auditor's  office,  is  as  follows: 

Voucher  577. 
ism.  Huron  County,  Dr.  to  C.  W.  Marsh.  • 

By  Mr.  Tupper. 
April  30.    To  1  pt.  wy  and  seven  suppers  tor  Indians  on  guard . .  .S3  87^ 

To  1  pt.  of  whisky 25 

To  3  suppers  for  the  prisoners 1  12 

May      1.    To  .51^  pts.  of  w'y fioj^ 

To  7  breakfasts  for  the  Indians 2  63i4 

To  3  breakfasts  and  2  suppers  for  himself 1  50 

3,    To  414  pts.  w'y  and  I  lodging (i2^<; 

To  31^  days'  board  for  2  prisoners .3  50 

To  1  day's  board  for  1  i^risoner  50 

3.    To  breakfast  for  3  Indians I  Vi]4 

To  31^  pts.  Wy  and  1  lodging 50 

To  1  day'?  board  for  Tupper "5 

Tupper.  SI5  .tO 

May    17.    To  entertainment  on  his  return  with  the  prisoner 1  Siy 

Capt.  Burt's  bill,  by  Tupjier's  orders . .       sri^ 

AVhile  at  Sandusky  oiu'  of  the  Indians  was  taken 
back  to  the  scene  of  the  murder,  in  ordfr  to  point  out 
the  precise  locality  of  the  liidden  prii]H'rty,  wiiich  he 
did,  and  nearly  all  was  recovered. 

On  arriving  at  Norwalk,  there  l)eing  no  jail  tlieii. 
they  were  all  confined  in  a  log  cabin  owned  by  Daniel 
G.  Raitt,  which  tlien  stood  on  the  lot  the  ''Newman 
block  "  now  stands  on  (nortliwest  corner  of  Main  and 
Hester  streets),  and  a  few  rods  back  from  Main  street. 


128 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  this  cabin  they  were  kept,  with  tlie  sliackles  on, 
under  the  guard  of  Daniel  G.  Raitt,  Charles  Sonles, 
Charles  C.  Tnpper,  J.  0.  Thayer,  Calvin  Bates,  and 
perhaps  others  whose  names  are  now  lost  to  history. 
These  guards  wefe  not  all  on  duty  at  the  same  time, 
but  served  at  different  times  as  a  relief  to  each  other. 

After. being  in  confinement  a  short  time  the  Indians 
planned  an  escape,  and  Negoneba  and  Xego^^suin  .suc- 
ceeded in  removing  tlieir  shackles,  hiding  tlu-m  liehind 
a  log,  and  by  keeping  covered  up  with  their  blankets 
and  feigning  sleep  escaped  the  suspicion  of  the  guards. 
Eaitt  was  on  guard  the  night  of  their  escape,  but  at 
midnight  was  relieved  by  Soules.  Not  long  afterward 
Negosheek  asked  him  to  remove  his  shackles  and 
accompany  him  outside  the  building  a  few  steps. 
Soules  removed  the  shackles  from  one  leg,  leaving  it 
fast  to  the  other,  and,  supposing  tlie  two  others  sound 
asleep,  left  the  door  open  as  they  went  out;  very  soon 
after  he  saw  the  two  Indians  running  away,  and  at 
once  realized  that  he  had  been  made  the  victim  of 
misplaced  confidence;  he  called  to  them,  and  also  to 
Eaitt,  for  the  purpose  of  arousing  him,  and  as  he  did 
so  Negosheek  jumped  up  and  started  to  run.  Soules 
had  his  rifle  witli  him  and,  as  he  gave  chase,  fired  at 
the  retreating  savage,  and  before  losing  sight  of  him 
loaded  and  fired  twice  more.  Satisfied  that  he  had 
wounded  the  fellow,  and  all  having  escaped,  lie  re- 
turned to  town. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  John  Hawk,  a  young  man, 
while  out  hunting  along  Pipe  creek,  near  the  west 
boundary  of  the  county,  discovered  Negosheek  in  a 
swamp  along  the  border  of  the  creek,  hunting  for 
"craw-fish"  (the  river  lobster  or  crab),  upon  which, 
with  roots,  he  had  lived  since  escaping.  The  shackle, 
which  was  fast  to  one  leg  when  he  ran  away,  had 
stuck  to  him  like  a  brother,  though  rather  an  incon- 
venient appendage  in  his  case.  After  watching  him 
for  a  short  time.  Hawk  became  satisfied  that  the 
Indian  was  suffering  from  wounds,  and  concluded  to 
investigate  his  discovery  more  closely,  and  upon  ap- 
proaching nearer  saw  the  shackles  which  the  Indian 
vainly  tried  to  conceal;  he  then  captured  the  fellow 
and  took  him  to  an  old  hunter  named  John  Pum- 
plirey,  who  brought  him  back  to  Norwalk.  Pumphrey 
afterward,  on  behalf  of  Hawk  and  himself,  filed  a 
claim  for  the  reward  of  one  hundred  'and  twenty-five 
dollars  which  the  sheriff  had  offered  for  the  recapture 
of  the  three  Indians,  of  which  claim  the  commis- 
sioners allowed  twenty-five  dollars. 

Dr.  Daniel  Tilden  was  called  in  to  attend  to  tlie 
wounded  prisoner,  and  examination  develojied  the 
fact  that  Soule  was  good  ;it  a  niniiing  .■^lint,  for  tliere 
was  one  wound  in  the  .-ilKnililer,  one  in  the  hip.  and 
one  in  the  leg. 

Raitt  undertook  the  position  of  nurse  to  the 
wounded  and  half-famished  ])risoner,  and"  tui-ned  him 
over  fully  healed  before  he  was  hung.  From  that  day 
to  his  death  Raitt  bore  the  pre-fix  of  "  Doc." 

Soon  after  the  cscaiie  of  tlip  Indians.  ('a])taiu  John 
Boait,  tlic    father    of  \hv    latc>    ('.   L.  I'.oalt.    ('iiptain 


Heniy  Hurt,  nf  Monroeville,  and  the  Frenchman, 
John  H.  Flainniond,  started  for  the  Ottawa  camp  on 
the  Maumee  river,  with  the  expectation  of  finding 
and  re-capturing  the  fugitives;  they  arranged  among 
themselves  that  Captain  Burt,  who  was  dressed  in 
"regimentals"  (military  uniform),  should  be  presented 
to  the  Ottawa  chief  as  the  governor  of  Ohio,  and  that 
as  such  he  should  demand  the  surrender  of  the  mur- 
derers. The  plan  proved  a  success,  and  Negoneba 
was  immediately  delivered  up  to  them,  searched,  de- 
prived of  his  weapons,  his  hands  bound  behind  him, 
and  with  a  rope  fastened  around  his  body  as  a  leading 
string,  placed  in  charge  of  Captain  Burt  and  a  guard 
of  friendly  Indians,  and  conducted  to  Norwalk. 
The  chief  insisted  that  Negossum,  the  boy,  was  inno- 
cent, but  upon  being  assured  if  that  were  true,  he 
would  not  be  injured,  promised  to  send  him  on  to 
Norwalk  in  a  few  days.  Captain  Boalt  and  Flam- 
mond  remained  to  see  that  the  promise  should  be  ful- 
filled; it  was,  to  the  letter,  and  in  due  time  they  re- 
turned the  boy  to  the  custody  of  the  .sheriff  at  Nor- 
walk. 

Captain  Burt,  with  his  prisoner  and  Indian  guards, 
made  their  way  directly  for  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
The  first  night  they  camped  in  the  woods;  it  was  wet 
and  uncomfortable;  Burt  wanted  a  fire;  upon  being 
promised  a  quart  of  whisky,  one  of  the  guards 
gathered  some  dry  leaves  upon  which  he  emptied  some 
powder  from  his  horn,  and  bending  over  the  pile, 
struck  sparks  of  fire  into  it  with  flint  and  steel;  an 
explosion  followed,  and  the  Indian,  taken  by  surprise, 
jumped  high  in  the  air,  but  the  fire  was  started,  and 
the  whisky  was  forgotten  by  the  faithless  "pale-face," 
He,  however,  was  reminded  of  the  promise  the  next 
day,  by  the  Indian  performing  in  pantomime  what  he 
had  acted  in  earnest  the  night  before;  the  whisky 
was  delivered,  and  faith  was  kept. 

At  the  lake  shore  the  Indian  guards  turned  back, 
and  Burt  leading  his  prisoner  by  the  roi)e,  proceeded 
on  his  journey.  Once  Negoneba  thought  his  chance 
had  come  to  escape,  and  with  a  sudden  spring,  made 
a  bold  and  desperate  strike  for  liberty,  but  Burt,  who 
was  a  large,  muscular  man,  in  the  prime  of  life,  gave 
him  some  vigorous  jerks  with  the  rope;  and  then 
seizing  him  by  the  shoulders,  shook  him  so  severely 
as  to  effectually  quell  all  thoughts  of  further  resist- 
ance. 

They  arrived  at  Marsh's  tavern  on  the  ITthof  May, 
and  from  there  Tupper  accompanied  them  to  Nor- 
walk. Here  Negoneba  was  again  searched,  and  a 
knife,  probably  given  him  by  his  squaw  just  before 
the  commencement  of  the  journey,  was  found  se- 
creted on  his  person.  Had  Burt  been  less  watchful 
and  determined,  he  probably  would  have  followed 
Wood  and  Bishop  to  the  happy  hunting  ground,  on 
a  free  pass  from  the  hand  of  this  desperate  savage. 

On  Tuesday,  the  ISth  of  May,  1819,  the  court  of 
common  pleas  commenced  its  session  in  the  old 
court  house,  wliich  then  stood  where  the  present  court 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,.  OHIO. 


to  the  east  side  of  "Enterprise  Road,"  afterwards 
"Mechanic  street,"  now  "Whittlesey  avenue,"  and 
is  the  "Central  Hotel"  building,  kept  by  A.  H. 
Rose. 

Hon.  George  Tod,  father  of  Ex-governor  Tod,  was 
presiding  judge;  Hons.  Jubez  Wright,  Stephen 
Meeker  and  Ezra  Sprague  were  the  associate  judges. 
The  late  James  Williams,  of  Norwalk,  was  clerk; 
L3'nian  Farwell,  then  of  Norwalk,  since  for  many 
years  of  Watertown,  New  York,  sheriff;  Ebenezer 
Lane,  then  of  Norwalk,  and  for  many  years  since 
chief  justice  of  Ohio,  was  prosecuting  attorney,  and 
was  assisted  by  Peter  Hitchcock,  of  Cleveland,  after- 
ward for  many  years  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court 
of  Ohio. 

The  indictment  returned  by  the  grand  jury  against 
these  Indians  charges  the  crime  to  have  been  com- 
mitted "at  Lower  Sandusky,  in  the  said  county  of 
Huron."  It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  Chase's 
Statutes,  vol.'  3,  page  2,110,  that  Huron  county  was 
set  off,  February  7th.  1S09,  as  the  five  western-most 
ranges  of  the  Coniiecticut  AVestern  Reserve;  being 
that  part  called  the  Fire-lands:  By  act  of  January 
31st,  1815  (Chase's  Statutes,  vol.  3,  page  2,120),  a 
portion  of  the  unorganized  territory  west  of  the 
Reserve  and  north  of  its  south  line,  reaching  about  as 
far  west  as  the  present  western  boundaries  of  San- 
dusky and  Ottawa  counties,  was  attached  to  Huron 
county  for  judicial  purposes;  Lower  Snndusky  was 
within  this  attached  territory. 

A  copy  of  the  indictment  found  against  the  three 
parties  charged,  taken  from  the  first  volume  of  "Law 
Records  "  of  Huron  county  court  of  common  pleas, 
is  as  follows: 

Pleas  before  the  honorable,  the  president,  and  judges  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas,  holden  at  Norwalk,  in  and  for  the  county  of  Huron 
and  State  of  Ohio,  in  the  term  of  Jlay,  A.D.,  1819. 

NO.    6— MAY   TERM,   A.T>..    1819. 


Negossum 
State  of  Ohio,  County  of  Huron. 

At  a  court  of  common  pleas  begun  and  holden  at  the  court  house  in 
Norwalk,  within  and  for  the  county  of  Huron,  on  the  eighteenth  day  of 
May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nineteen, 
before  the  honorable  George  Tod.  president,  and  Jabez  Wright,  Stephen 
Meeker  and  Ezra  Sprague,  Esqs.,  associate  judges  holding  said  court. 
The  grand  jurors  of  the  State  of  Oliio,  in  and  for  said  county  of  Huron, 
to-wit:  Henry  Jeffry,  Tinker  R.  Smith,  Isaac  Powers,  Elihu  Clary,  John 
Drewry,  Augustus  R.  Demick,  Daniel  Curti-,  Ezekiel  Barnes,  James 
Forraan,  Charles  Hubbell,  Reuben  Pixley,  Heni-y  Barney,  Silas  G.  Strong, 
William  Gallup  and  Eli  HoUiday,  good  and  lawful  men  of  said  county, 
then  and  there  duly  returned,  tried,  impanneled,  charged  and  sworn  to 
inquire  for  the  body  of  the  county  of  Huron,  do,  upon  their  oaths  in  the 
name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  present  and  find  that 
Negosheek,  an  Indian  of  the  tribe  Ottiums,  Negoneby,  an  Indian  of  the 
said  tribe,  and  Negossum,  an  Indian  of  the  same  tribe,  at  Lower  San- 
dusky, in  the  said  county  of  Huron,  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  April,  in 
the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nineteen,  not  having  the  fear 
of  God  before  their  eyes,  but  moved  and  seduced  by  the  instigation  of 
the  devil,  with  force  and  arms  in  and  upon  the  body  of  John  Wood,  in 
the  peace  of  God  and  the  State  of  Ohio,  then  and  there  being  feloniously, 
unlawfully,  willfully,  purposely  and  "f  il.-IihejatH  and  premeditated 
malice,  did  make  an  assault:  and  the  snid  X.-gnsh.-t-k.  with  a  tomehawk 

in  his  right  hand  then  and  there  held,  of  th.-  vali f  imt-  dollar,  the  said 

John  Wood,  in  and  upon  the  head  of  him  the  said  Wood,  behind  the  left 
17 


ear  of  him  the  said  Wood,  and  also  in  and  upon  the  left  side  of  the  head 
over  Che  left  shoulder  of  him  the  said  Wood,  then  and  there  feloniously, 
unlawfully,  willfully,  purposely  and  of  his  deliberate  and  premeditated 
malice,  did  strike,  cut  and  penetrate,  then  and  there  giving  to  him  the 
said  John  Wood,  wilh  the  tomehawk  aforesaid,  in  and  upon  the  head 
behind  the  left  ear  of  him  the  said  John  Wood,  and  also  in  and  upon  the 
left  side  of  the  head  and  over  the  left  shoulder  of  him  the  said  John 
Wood,  two  mortal  wounds,  each  of  the  breadth  of  three  inches  and  of 
the  depth  of  three  inches,  of  which  said  mortal  wounds  the  said  John 
Wood  then  and  there  instantly  died;  and  the  said  Negoneby  and  tlie 
said  Negossum,  at  the  time  of  the  committing  the  said  felony  and  mur- 
der by  the  said  Negosheek  in  the  manner  and  form  af.jresaid,  unlaw- 
fully, feloniously,  willfully,  purposely  and  of  their  delibei-ate  and  pre- 
meditated malice,  were  present  aiding,  assisting,  abetting,  counselling, 
procuring,  helping,  comforting  and  maintaining  the  said  Negosheek  the 
felony  and  murder  aforesaid  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid  to  do,  com- 
mit and  perpetrate:  and  so  the  jurors  aforesaid,  upon  their  oaths  afore- 
said, do  further  say  that  the  said  Negosheek  and  the  said  Negoneby 
and  the  said  Negossum,  him,  the  said  John  Wood,  then  and  there,  in 
manner  and  form  aforesa  d,  feloniously,  un'awfully,  willfully,  pur- 
posely and  of  their  deliberate  aud  piemediiated  malice,  did  kill  and 
murder,  contrary  to  the  form  of  the  statute,  in  sudi  case  made  and  pro- 
vided, and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

And  the  jurors  aforesaid,  at  the  tei  m  aforesaid,  and  on  their  oath 
aforesaid,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authoiity'aforesaid,  do  further  pre- 
sent and  find  that  the  said  Negotheek,  the  said  Negoneby.  and  the  said 
Negossum,  at  Lower  Sandusky  aforesaid,ron  the  twenty-flist  day  of 
April,  aforesaid,  not  having  the  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes,  but 
moved  and  seduced  by  the  instigation  of  the  devil,  with  force  and  arms 
in  and  upon  the  body  of  George  Bishop,  in  the  peace  of  God  and  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  then  and  there  being  feloniously,  unlawfully,  willfully, 
purposely,  and  of  their  deliberate  and  premeditated  malice,  did  make 
an  assault,  and  that  the  said  Negoneby,  with  a  certain  tomehawk,  of 
the  value  of  one  dollar,  in  his,  the  said  Negoneby 's  right  hand,  then  and 
there  hit  the  said  George  Bishop  in  and  upon  the  head  of  him,  the  said 
George  Bishop,  and  also  in  and  upon  the  breast  of  him,  the  said 
George  Bishop,  then  and  there  unlawfully,  felonious^ly,  wilfully,  pur- 
posely, and  of  his  deliberate  and  premeditated  malice,  did  strike,  cut, 
and  penetrate:  giving  to  the  said  George  Bishop,  then  and  there  with 
the  tomehawk  aforesaid,  in  and  upon  the  head  of  the  said  Geoige 
Bishop  six  mortal  wounds,  of  the  breadth  of  three  inches,  and  the  depth 
of  three  inches  each,  and  also  giving  to  him,  the  said  George  Bishop, 
then  and  there,  with  the  tomehawk  aforesaid,  in  and  upon  the  breast  of 
the  said  George  Bishop  two  other  mortal  wounds,  each  of  the  breadth 
of  three  inches,  and  of  the  depth  oi  six  inches:  of  which  mortal  wounds 
the  said  George  Bishop  then  and  there  instantly  died.  And  that  the 
said  Negosheek,  and  the  said  Negossum,  at  the  time  of  committing  the 
last  mentioned  felony  and  murder  aforesaid,  by  the  said  Negoneby,  in 
manner  and  form  aforesaid,  unlawfully,  feloniously,  wilfully,  purposely 
and  of  their  deliberate  and  premeditated  malice,  were  present,  aiding, 
abetting,  counselling  and  procuring,  helping,  assisting,  comforting  and 
maintaining  the  said  Negoneby  the  felony  and  nuirder  last  mentioned 
aforesaid,  in  manner  and  formaforesaid,  to  do,  commit,  and  perpetrate; 
and  so  the  jurors  aforesaid,  upon  their  oaths  aforesaid,  do  further  say 
that  the  said  Negosheek,  and  the  said  Negoneby,  and  the  said  Negossum, 
him,  the  said  George  Bishop,  then  and  there,  in  manner  and  form 
aforesaid,  feloniously,  unlawfully,  wilfully,  purposely,  and  of  their  de- 
liberate and  premeditated  malice,  did  kill  and  murder,  contraryito  the 
form  of  the  statute,  in  such  case  made  and  provided,  and  against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 


E.  Lane,  Pn 


ittomey. 


I'pon  tiie  back  of  which  indictment  appears  the 
following,  to  wit: 

"A  true  bill.    Filed  May  term,  1819. "       „         „    „ 

Silas  G.  Strong,  Foreman. 

The  trial  took  place  on  Friday.  May  21st.  The 
court-room  was  crowded  to  its  fullest  capacity,  and 
many  who  could  not  gain  access  were  congregated  in 
the  front  vanl.  David  Abbott,  of  Avery  (tlie  old 
county  seat),  and  Samuel  Cowles,  of  Cleveland, 
appeared  as  attorneys  for  the  Indians. 

On  being  arraigned  and  the  indictment  re;id  and 
interpreted  to  them,  each  plead  "not  guilty,"  and 
demanded  Separate  trials. 

Ncgoneba  was  first  put  uixm  trial,  a  jury  called  and 
he  informed  of  his  right  of  challenge,  which  he  at 
once  exercised  by  rejecting  every  red-headed  man  on 
the  li.st.     The  jury  finally  selected  and  sworn  were 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ElilE  COUATIES,  OHIO. 


Josiali  Riimerv,  Ezra  Abbott,  William  AVatkiiis,  Syl- 
vester Pomeroy,  William  R.  Beebe,  Samuel  Spencer, 
Moody  Mears,  Daniel  Mack,  Royal  N.  Powers,  Daniel 
Warren,  AVilliam  Speers  and  Isaac  Allen. 

The  witnesses  for  the  State  were  Charles  C.  Tupper, 
the  half-breed  Chazee,  Abiather  Shirley,  Barnabas 
Meeker,  and  some  others  called  on  minor  matters. 

The  prosecutor  made  no  opening  argument. 
Cowles,  for  the  defense,  read  some  authorities  and 
addressed  the  jury  upon  the  evidence.  Hitchcock, 
for  the  State,  replied,  and  upon  a  charge  from  the 
court  the  jury  retired,  and  soon  returned  with  a 
verdict  of  murder  in  the  first  degree. 

Xegosheek  was  next  put  upon  ti'ial  Ijefore  the  fol- 
lowing jury:  Anthony  Beers,  Samuel  Cockraue, 
Beekwith  Cook,  Jacob  Hawhn,  John  Barney,  Samuel 
B.  Carpenter,  Gamaliel  Townsend,  Samuel  B.  Lewis, 
Joseph  Strong,  Jared  Ward,  Joseph  Ozier  and  Levi 
Cole.  The  same  witnesses  appeared  for  the  State  as 
in  the  first  case;  and  a  like  verdict  was  rendered. 

Negossum,  the  boy,  was  then  put  upon  trial,  but 
the  testimony  was  so  clearly  in  his  favor  that  the 
prosecutor  declared  he  would  not  further  prosecute 
the  indictment  against  him,  and  the  court  ordered 
his  discharge. 

Negoneba  and  Xegosheek  were  sentenced  Ijy  the 
court  to  be  remanded  to  the  jail  from  whence  they 
came,  and  there  remain  until  the  first  day  of  July 
next,  and  from  thence,  between  the  hours  of  ten  and 
twelve  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  said  day,  be  taken 
by  the  sheriff  of  the  county  to  the  place  of  execution, 
and  then  and  there,  by  said  sheriff,  be  hanged  by  the 
neck  until  they  be  dead. 

They  did  not  approve  of  the  sentence  of  hanging, 
and  asked  that  they  might  be  shot,  but  when  they 
fully  realized  that  they  should  surely  be  hung,  they 
tried  experiments  upon  each  other;  one  would  lie 
down  upon  his  back  and  the  other  would  sit  astride 
of  him,  and  with  both  hands  clasped  around  his  neck, 
choke  him  until  nearly  gone,  and  then  let  go;  when 
sufficiently  recovered,  he  would  slowly  arise  and 
sagely  shake  his  head  and  exclaim,  "ugh!  no  good, 
no  good;''  then  they  would  change  places,  and  the 
compliment  be  returned  in  kind,  with  the  same  result; 
it  was  still  "No  good,  no  good." 

The  day  of  execution  was  warm  and  sultry.  At  an 
early  hour  people  began  to  gather  from  far  and  near, 
dressed  in  the  rude  costume  of  those  days;  with  the 
men,  "buckskin  trousers"  were  common;  and  one 
young  man,  who  in  coming  from  Huron  had  got  his 
(not  doeskin  cassimere)  "breeches"  thoroughly  wet 
in  passing  a  creek,  found  them  stretching  down  to  an 
inconvenient  length;  he  cut  off  enough  to  make  them 
right,  they  continued  to  stretch,  he  cut  them  off 
again  and  again;  on  arriving  at  Xorwalk  the  hot  sun 
began  to  dry  them  and  they  began  to  shrink,  and 
kept  on  shrinking  until  the  bottoms  crawled  up  above 
his  knees,  and  in  that  plight  he  became  an  object  of 
almost  as  much  attention  as  the  two  criminals. 


Seven  or  eight  Indians,  Ottawas,  were  present  at 
the  execution,  some  of  them  being  the  ones  who  had 
assisted  in  their  cajiture  on  both  occasions. 

The  "gallos"  (gallows)  was  erected  on  tlie  sand 
ridge  just  south  of  Main  street,  on  the  lot  and  near 
the  site  of  the  residence  of  A.  G.  Post,  Esq.,  next 
west  of  the  Episcopal  cemetery. 

A  rifle  company  formed  one  or  two  years  before,  of 
about  one  hundred  men,  under  command  of  Cajitain 
Henry  Burt,  attended  the  execution  as  a  guard,  and 
to  assist  the  civil  authorities. 

They  marched  to  the  jail,  and  the  jirisoners  having 
been  dressed  in  their  shrouds,  with  rojoes  around . 
their  necks,  were  taken  out  by  the  sheriff  and.  placed 
in  a  wagon,  and,  escorted  by  the  guard,  taken  to  the 
place  of  execution,  when  being  asked  if  they  had 
anything  to  say,  Xegosheek  spoke  a  few  words  in 
broken  English,  but  what  he  said  cannot  now  lie 
ascertained. 

After  life  was  extinct  the  bodies  were  placed  in 
coffins  and  buried  at  the  jjlace  of  execution.  The 
civil  officers  and  military  company  then  marched  to 
the  house  of  Capt.  Boalt,  and  were  furnished  a  boun- 
tiful repast  by  him,  after  which  a  funeral  discourse 
was  preached  by  the  Rev.  William  Hanford,  a  Pres- 
byterian clergyman. 

Before  Xegosheek  was  executed  he  confessed  the 
murder  of  six  other  white  men,  previous  to  that  of 
Wood  and  Bishop. 

This  was  the  first  -important  criminal  trial  in 
Huron  county,  and  the  first  execution  in  Xorwalk. 
Since  then  there  has  been  only  one  other  execution 
for  murder  in  Xorwalk;  that  of  Bennett  Scop  for  the 
murder  of  a  peddler  named  Jacolj  Goodman  in  Green- 
field township,  on  the  9th  day  of  October,  A.  D. 
1869. 

The  cost  of  the  cajjture  and  trial  of  the  Indians 
was  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  new  settlement,  and  the 
bills  rendered  are  primitive  curiosities.  Some  of  them 
are  here  given  in  the  original  form  and  spelling: 

Voucher  No  .  660. 

HcEON  County  to  Jennings,  Dasltng  &  Co.,  Dr. 

Paid  Sasa Sia  00 

Cabian 12  00 

Paqahkemann 9  00 

.James 9  00 

Undeno 9  00 

Measaeka 9  00 

Ogenee 9  00 

Thunder 4  60 

$r3  30 

Goods  and  provisions  to  Mr.  Tupper  for  going  after  pro- 
perty: 

1  deer  skin $150 

12  feet  bed  cord 19 

28Hlb.  bacon 5  35 

H  lb .  young  hyson  tea 94 

Paid  Indians  tor  going  after  property  as  per  order  of  C. 
Tupper: 

Iblacksilk  handk'f 1  85 

^yrd.  calico 31 

2yrd.  ribben 44 

3yrd.  plaid 1  30 

1  bandana  handk'f 100 

Jenxinos,  Darling  &  Co  . , 
Allowed.  Per  Moses  Farwell. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Voi'cherNo.  656. 

May  22.    Huron  county  to  Charles  C.  Tupper,  one  dollar  and  sixty- 
two  &  %  cents.  Charles  C.  Tupper. 
Note.— On  the  back  of  the  voucher  is  the  following: 

Charles  C.  Tupper  deter  to  Enos  Gilbert,  for  liqur  whlst  on  gard, 
thirteen  shilling  &.  sixpence.  Charles  C.  Tupper. 

This  claim  was  allowed  by  the  commissioners,  and  entered  on  their 
journal  as  follows: 
To  C.  Tupper,  for  services $1  62)^ 

Voucher  Wo. 

Huron  County  to  Charles  C.  Tupper,  Dr. 

My  services  9  days  in  apprehending,  securing  and  delivering  the 

Indians  on  the  first  expedition  $-36  00 

Ditto,  ditto,  14  days  on  the  second  expedition 56  00 

Cash  paid  for  expenses  in  pursuit  of  Indians 7  00 

Ditto,  to  be  paid  to  Anson  Gray  for  7  Tlays  services  in  apprehend- 
ing and  securing  the  Indians  on  first  expedition 10  50 

Ditto,  ditto,  to  Peter  JIauminin  for  5  days  service  in  apprehend- 
ing and  interpreting  on  first  expedition  10  00 

Ditto,  ditto,  Thos    Demas,  6  days  services  for  ditto,  on  second 

expedition 10  35 

Ditto,  ditto,  Wm.  Austin,  6  days  services  for  ditto,  on  second  ex- 
pedition        9  00 

3128  73 
Note.— The  following  addition  to  the  bill  is  in  the  hand-writing 
of  E.  Lane,  then  prosecuting  attorney: 

Two  days  attending  as  guard  2  00 

Charles  C .  Tupper.  attending  the  grand  jury  tliree  days 1  50 

E.  Lane,  Pros.  Att'ij.        51:32  25 

V0RCHER634. 

CouNTy  OF  HuRoir  to  John  B.  Flemi.sg,  Dr. 
To  eleven  days  service  to  pursue,  retake  and  interpret  for  the 

Indian^risoners,  @  S4  per  day SH  00 

Norwalk,  22d  May,  1819.  J,  B.  Fl.asimond,  " 

*Thisis  Flammond's  own  signature  and  shows  the  correct  spelling; 
in  all  the  records  it  is  spelled  wrong. 

Voucher  No.  35  (new  numbering). 

Dr.  The  Honorable  the  Commissioners  for  the  County  of  Huron  to 
John  B  .  Flammond  . 

2  days  services,  :30th  June  and  1st  July,  as  interpreter 34  00 

Note.— This  bill  was  allowed  by  the  commissioners,  and  entered  in 
their  journal  as  follows: 
To  John  B.  Fleming,  for  services  hanging  Indian  34  OO 

Voucher  No.  17  (new  numbering). 

Swan  Creek,  llth  May,  1819. 
Lieut.  Charles  C.  Tupper  Dr.  to  Matthew  McKelvey  . 

May  11.    To:S0i/4lb    bacon,  (S  2s -.7  5614 

1  qt.  whisky,  @  4s 50 

12.    To  1  qt.  whisky,  @  3s :j7i^ 

Money  paid  Mr.  Printis,  8s 1  00 

1  pt.  whisky,  3s;  to  Hpt.,  Is;  to  I  qt.,  3s 75 

Whisky  for  your  men,  4s 50 

13     To  Iqt.  whisky,  3s 

Money  paid  Capt.  Henderson,  9s 1  1214 

Iqt.  whisky,  3s 371^ 

Paid  Joseph  Printis,  8s 1  00 

Rope  to  bind  an  Indian,  3s  .37J^ 

14.    To  2  qts.  whisky 75 

314  3154 
Lyman   Farwell    pay  Jlatthew  McKelvey  the    above    amount,  and 
oblige  yours,  &.C.,  it  being  articles  had  on  our  campaign  after  the  runa- 
way Indians.  Charles  C  .  Tupper. 

Note.— The  use  of  the  "necessaries  of  life"  on  the  campaign  men- 
tioned in  the  above  bill,  were  in  about  the  following  proportion:  One 
quart  of  whisky  to  four  pounds  of  bacon.  Hominy,  potatots  and  lodg- 
ing were  either  not  necessary,  or  were  thrown  in  as  not  of  sufficient 
>  be  charged  for. 


Voucher  No.  IS  (new  numbering) 

Swan  Creek,  ISth  May,  181a. 
Mr.  Bolt  Dr.  to  Matthew  McKelvey. 

To  two  gal.  whisky 53  (X) 

To  two  hired  hands,  three  days  (j  00 

To  use  of  boat  same  time  j  00 

tlO  TO 
Matthew  McKelvey 


Voucher  661. 

( 
To  charges  in  hunting  Indians. 

Services  in  hunting 

May  22d,  1819. 


County  of  Huron,  to  John  Boalt,  Dr  . 
To  nine  davs  services  to  Pursue  Indian  Prisoners,  m  4S  36  00 

Norwalk,  22d  May.  1819  S27  00 

Voucher  657. 

County  of  Huron,  Dr. 
to  nine  day s  ?  ervises  on  guard  over  the  ingins  a  dollar  a 
day  and  night .  Norwalk,  May  the  23, 1819 . 

D.  G.  Raitt. 

Voucher  624. 

Gentlemen  Commissioners  of  Huron  Cou.nty  :  — J.    G.    Thayer  has 
served  five  days  as  a  Guard  during  this  term  of  Court . 

Lyman  Farwell.  Sheriff. 
Norwalk,  May  22,  1819. 
S5.00  allowed. 


Gentlemen    Commissioners   of    Huron  County:— Calvin    Bates  has 
served  two  days  in  Guarding  Prisoners  during  this  term  of  the  Court. 
May  21st.  1SI9.  Lyman  Farwell.  Sheriff. 

200  cts  allowed  by  Commissioners. 

Voucher  63h. 

Huron  County  to  Lyman  Farwell,  Dr. 

To  paying  Guard  at  Portland 4  50 

To  transporting  Prisoners S  00 

To  cash  paid  Tupper 3 -31— $13  81 

Norwalk,  May  22,  1819. 

Voucher  641 . 

I,  John  Pumphry,  do  hejeby  certify  that  John  Hawk  and  myself 
did,  on  the  15th  of  this  instant,  take  up  Negossheek,  one  of  the  Indian 
murders  and  on  the  16th  Instant  delivered  said  Indian  to  the  Jailor  of 
Huron  County,  for  which  we  the  said  John  Hawk  and  John  Pumphry 
claim  the  Reward  offered  by  the  Sheriff  of  said  county,  it  being  one 
hundred  and  twenty -five  dollars.        Norwalk.  May  20, 1819. 

John  Pumphrey. 
.\llowed  on  the  above  25  dollars . 

Voucher  626. 
The  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars  is  allowed  Peter  Hitchcock  for  assisting 
1  prosecuting  the  pleas  of  the  State  in  the  county  of  Huron,  at  the  May 
-         -         -        -    -     ~       .  George  Tod,  Pres't. 


term,  1819 .     By  01  der  of  the  Court . 


Voucher  635. 

County  of  Huron  to  Samuel  C'owles,  Dr. 

To  assisting  on  the  trial  of  Naugeshek,  Negonebee  and  Negossum  1 

Counsel  for  prisoners J2o  00 

May  term,  1819.    The  above  amount  is  allowed  by  order  of  the  Cotir 
George  Tod.  Pres't. 

Voucher  No.  36  (new  numbering). 
Allowed  to  Ezra  Abbott: 

July  the  1.  1819      Dr.  ■ihe  Commissinoers  of  the  County  of  Huron. 

To  building  Gallos 14  00 

to  two  Coffins  -'4  each 8  00 

to  making  Srowd 1  00 

tooneshirt 1  00-324  ( 

Voucher  113. 

Huron  Cou.vty  Dr.  to  Alman  Loomis. 

Dr  to  Diging  Grave  for  Indians SI  ' 

July  1.  1.S19.     Certified  by  me.  Lyman  Farwell,  Sheriff. 

Voucher  112  (new  numberins,). 

May  4th  1819.  County  of  Huron.  Dr. 

To  boarding  3  Indians  six  days       18  days. 
They  then  escaped. 

Afterwards  Negasset 11  days. 

Negunneba 7  days. 

Negassum 4  days. 

Rowlin 8  days. 

Downing 6  days. 

To  the  end  of  May  Court 54days.  —  7  weeks  3  days. 

Rowlin  two  weeks 2  weeks. 

Two  Indians  five  weeks  four  days 11  weeks  1  day. 

at  two  dollars  p  week.  20  weeks  li  days. 


132 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  UillU. 


Two  Guards  six  days 13  days. 

Two       "       four  days 8 days. 

Four      ••       seven  days 38  days 

Five       "       twodays lOdays. 

5S  days.  -^  8  weeks  3  days. 
Three    "       five  weeks  three  uay.s 10     •■       3    " 

34  weeks  4  days. 

Three  old  shirts 1.50       34!4  weeks  at  3.50  per  week 

1014  lb.  candles  at  3s.  6d  . . .  .3.3,S 

Meals  (or  e.^ctra  Guards .5.0(1  j  61  38 

14  mealsfor  seven  Indians..  3.50  Criminal 4187)4 

Whisky  to  dress  the  wounds  17  53 

of  the  Indians  and  extra  

Guards  4)4  Gallons 4.3.i  130  78H 

Ending  July  1st  1819.  Jir.53 

f  130. 78.  for  LvuAN  Farwell,  S^icny, 

Esos  Gilbert. 
Note.— For  much  of  the  information  contained  in  the  foregoing  ac- 
c  lunt  of  facts,  scenes  and  incidents  attending  the  murder,  capture, 
trial  and  conviction,  the  writer  is  largely  indebted  to  an  article  pub- 
lished in  tne  Fire-lands  Pioneer  of  June,  IS65,  page  43.  Also,  to  official 
records  and  flies,  and  to  his  own  memory  of  conversation  between 
"Doc.  Raitf  and  the  late  Hallet  Gallup,  in  his  hearing  when  a  boy 

K£.M()V.\L    OF    THE    COfXTY    SE.\X. 

In  September  of  1815,  Piatt  Benedict,  then  of  Dan- 
bury,  Connecticut,  came  west  to  prospect  for  a  new 
home.  He  stopped  to  see  his  cousin,  Eli  Boughton, 
then  living  at  Canfield,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  there  introduced  to  Elisha  Whittlesey.  Mr.  Whit- 
tlesey was  about  starting  for  Huron  county  with  Judge 
Todd,  to  attend  the  first  court  soon  to  be  held  at  the 
"old  county  seat."  Mr.  Benedict  joined  their  com- 
pany and  came  on  with  them. 

The  first  court  was  held  at  the  house  of  David 
Abbott,  and  there  was  a  very  general  dissatisfaction 
expressed  at  the  location,  and  the  propriety  of  select- 
ing another  site  was  freely  discussed.  Some  person 
(whose  name  cannot  now  be  ascertained)  suggested 
that  there  was  a  fine  sand  ridge  in  Norwalk  township 
that  would  make  a  good  location. 

Major  Frederick  Folly,  of  Margaretta  township,  was 
one  of  the  parties  present  at  that  court;  and  after 
the  adjournment,  he,  Mr.  Whittlesey  and  Mr.  Bene- 
dict, started  to  examine  the  "sand  ridge"  with  the 
intention  of  ascertaining  its  desirability  as  a  site  for 
the  future  seat  of  justice,  and  no  doubt  with  some 
speculative  design  in  view.  On  arriving  at  the  place 
of  Abijah  Comstock,  they  invited  him  to  accompany 
them  and  act  as  guide.  After  "  prospecting"  the  site 
of  the  future  city  which  loomed  up  in  their  "minds' 
eye,"  and  finding  good  water  (which  the  oijponents 
of  a  change  of  county  seat  asserted  "could  not  be 
had  in  that  barren  sand  ridge"),  they  turned  iheir 
steps  towards  Cleveland,  and  soon  after  arriving  there, 
drew  uj)  and  signed  an  agreement,  the  original  of 
which  is  now  in  possession  of  the  writer,  and  is  as 
follows: 

This  Agreement,  made  this  the  30th  day  of  October,  1815,  by  and 
l)etween  Frederick  Fally,  Piatt  Benedict  and  Elisha  Whittlesey,  wil^ 
nesseth  that  they  have,  and  by  these  presents  do  covenant,  and  agree 
to  and  with  each  other,  to  purchase  so  much  of  the  fourth  section,  in 
the  town  of  Norwalk,  in  the  county  of  Huron,  as  is  for  sale,  belonging 
to  Eli  Starr,  Ithamer  Canfleld  and  Betsey  Canfield,  Win.  Taylor  and 
Abigail  Taylor,  John  Dodd  and  the  heirs  of  Ephraphus  W.  Bull:  and  it 
the  whole  of  their  rights  in  said  section  cannot  be  purchased,  then  they 
agree  to  purchase  so  much  of  each  of  the  above  proprietors  as  can  be 
procured,  and  to  pay  therefor  at  such  price,  and  on  such  terms  of 


payment  as  shall  be  agreed  on  by  the  person  making  such  purchase,  in 
the  following  proportions,  to  wit:  The  said  Frederick  Fally  one-fourth 
of  the  purchase  money,  the  said  Piatt  Benedict,  one-fourth,  and  the 
said  Elisha  Whittlesey,  one-half  of  the  purchase  money.  It  is,  however, 
mutually  agreed  that  if  Mathew  B  Whittlesey  and  Moss  White,  oi-  either 
of  them  if  both  do  not  consent  and  agree  to  become  partnei-s  in  the 
purchase,  may  one  or  either  of  them  be  permitted  to  take  one  fourth 
of  the  purchase,  which  is  to  be  deducted  from  the  proportion  agreed 
above  to  be  taken  by  the  said  E.  Whittlesey,  on  their  agreeing  if 
both  consent,  or  on  either  of  them  agreeing  if  only  one  consents,  to 
become  part  proprietors  in  the  purchase,  to  be  bound  by  the  cove- 
nants which  bind  each  of  the  above  contracting  parties,  which  shall 
be  evidenced  by  expressing  the  intention  in  signing  these  covenants, 
with  appropriate  and  fit  words  to  bind  him  or  them  to  each  of  the 
above  contracting  parties,  in  which  case  each  of  us  hereby  agree  to 
become  bound  to  him  or  them,  as  we  shall  be  to  each  other  in  these 
covenants.  We  further  covenant  and  agree  to  and  with  each  other, 
that  on  effecting  the  purchase  aforesaid,  or  a  part  thereof,  in  case  the 
same  shall  include  a  suitable  site  tor  a  town,  to  lay  out  a  plat  of  ground 
suitable  in  extent  to  the  object  in  view;  and  in  case  the  seat  of  justice 
is  removed  from  where  it  is  now  established  in  the  count.v  of  Huron, 
on  to  the  lands  which  may  be  purchased  in  said  section  as  above ;  or  if 
the  legislature  should  appoint  a  committee  to  view  for  a  suitable  place 
to  which  to  remove  the  seat  of  justice  to.  that  such  part  and  proportion 
of  said  plat  shall  and  maj  be  offered  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
county,  for  the  erection  of  public  buildings  as  shall  hereaf 'er  be  agreed 
on  by  a  majority  of  the  pn  prietors  voting  by  the  interest  each  one  may 
have,  the  least  share  counting  one  vote,  and  to  increase  in  proportion  to 
the  quantum  of  interest,  in  case  that  quantum  shall  double  to  the  least 
share,  and  so  on  in  the  same  ratio. 

It  is  further  covenanted  and  agreed,  to  dispose  of  right  to  the  plat 
to  the  best  advantage,  either  at  public  or  private  sale,  or  so  much 
thereof  as  may  be  thought  advisable,  to  be  agreed  on  in  the  same 
manner  as  is  above  covenanted  in  case  any  difference  of  opinion  should 
exist.  We  further  covenant  and  agree  to  lay  off  the  residue  of  the  land 
into  suitable  outlets  and  farms,  and  dispose  of  the  same  to  the  best 
advantage  for  those  concerned :  and  whereas  some  one  or  more  of  the 
contracting  parties  may  wish  to  reside  on  some  parts  of  said  land,  it  is 
further  agreed  that  a  preference  shall  be  given  to  such  in  thfe  selection 
of  suitable  quantity  of  land,  or  such  lots  as  he  or  they  may  choose, 
paying  therefor  such  price  as  the  same  lots  would  sell  for  in  market; 
and  whereas  it  is  doubtful  in  whose  name  a  deed  or  contract  may  be 
given,  it  is  further  covenanted  and  agreed  that  the  pei-son  in  whose 
name  the  contract  is  executed,  or  to  whom  the  deeds  may  be  given, 
shall,  prior  to  disposing  of  any  of  said  lands,  bind  himself  in  suitable 
bonds,  payable  to  the  other  proprietors,  for  the  faithful  accounting  for 
all  moneys  received,  and  paying  over  the  same  to  the  other  proprietors 
in  the  proportion  they  may  own  whenever  thereunto  required.  Each  of 
the  contracting  parties  binds  himself  to  the  other,  and  each  of  them 
to  bear  the  proportionable  part  of  the  expense  that  may  be  iucurred  in 
procuring  an  article  or  a  title  for  the  ab':>vf  lands,  or  so  much  thereof 
as  can  be  purchased.  The  intention  of  the  contracting  parties  being  to 
erect  and  build  a  town  on  some  part  of  the  above  lauds,  if  purchased,  it 
is  agreed  that  each  one  is  to  render  all  the  assistance  in  his  power  to 
procure  settlers  and  promote  the  settlement.  It  is  further  agreed,  that 
no  one  of  the  contracting  parties  shall  sell  out  his  interest  in  said  pur- 
chase to  any  person,  without  the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  other 
proprietors. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  and  to 
triplicates  hereof,  which  are  deUvered  to  each  of  the  contracting  par- 
ties the  day  and  year  above  written,  viz:  October  :30th,  1815. 

FREnERICK  Fallet,  [l.  s.) 

Platt  Beseoict,  [l.  s.] 

E.  Whittlesey,  |l.  .s.] 

Upon  the  execution  of  the  foregoing  contract  it 
was  arranged  that  Mr.  Benedict  should  return  to 
Connecticut  and  effect  the  purchases  contemplated, 
upon  the  best  terms  attainable;  and  he  at  once  started, 
taking  the  following  letter,  addressed  by  Elisha 
Whittlesey  to  his  brother,  Mathew  B.  Whittlesey,  of 
Daubury,  Connecticut,  explaining  the  foregoing  con- 
tract, and  soliciting  his  co-operation: 

Cleveland.  October  31,  1815 
Dear  Brother:  You  will  perceive  by  contract  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Benedict,  that  he,  Major  Fally,  and  myself,  design  purchasing  a  tract 
of  land  lying  in  the  fourth  section  of  the  town  of  Norwalk.  By  this 
map  you  will  be  able  to  see  the  situation  of  the  land  among  the  several 
owners.  Mr,  Benedict  will  inform  you  of  the  prospect  of  moving  the 
seat  of  justice.  The  tract  of  land  is  a  valuable  one  and  can  soon  be 
disposed  of,  even  if  we  should  fail  in  the  object  we  have  in  view. 

The  site  on  this  tract,  owned  by  Starr  and  Canfleld,  is  as  handsome  as 
any  one  I  ever  saw.    Mr.  Benedict  will  descend  into  particulars,  as  also 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


133 


of  the  land  adjoining.  We  should  be  happy  ot  having  you  join,  and 
Col.  Moss  White,  if  consistent,  otherwise  the  parts  reserved  will  be  dis- 
posed of  here.  We  wish  vour  assistance  in  making  this  purchase,  and 
leave  it  for  you.  BIr.  Benedict  and  Mr.  White  to  devise  the  most  eligible 
plan .  If  the  deed  is  taken  in  the  names  of  a  part  of  the  proprietors,  it 
is  expected  that  suitable  covenants  will  be  entered  into  to  secure  the 
others  in  t  ^e  participation  ot  the  profits  of  the  contracts.  It  will  be- 
come necessarj'  that  those  who  reside  here  have  the  disposal  of  the  lots, 
and  be  able  to  give  titles,  or  otherwise  you  will  perceive  the  business 
would  be  much  procrastinated  and  embarrassed.  The  price  of  laud  in 
the  unsettled  towns  adjoining  is  from  one  dollar  to  two  dollars  and  two 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.    We  have  not  proscribed  Mr.  Benedict 

as  to  the  price,  but  wish  the  purchase  on  the  most  favorable  terms. 
If  contract  cannot  be  made  with  Starr  and  Canfleld  we  propose  to 
purchase  so  much  as  they  will  sell,  provided  they  come  in  and  are 
bound  with'  the  rest  of  us,  for  the  building  the  town.  But  we  do 
not  wish  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  it,  unless  the  business  is  so 
arranged  that  lands  can  be  disposed  of  with  a  certainty  of  having  the 
title,  when  requested,  made  to  the  purchaser.  Major  Fally  is  a  man 
ot  respectability,  business  and  honor,  and  well  calculated  to  be  engaged 
in  business  of  this  kind.  You  will  perceive  that  much  confidence  must 
be  reposed  in  each  other  until  such  time  as  the  title  is  procured  and  du- 
plicate convenants  signed  for  the  security  ot  each  proprietor.  Unless 
Starr  and  Canfleld  sell,  they  need  not  flatter  themselves  of  the  seat  of 
justice,  for  there  are  other  places  which  will  be  favored. 

Since  writing  the  above  Mr .  Benedict  and  Tally  wish  the  title  to  be 

vested  ultimately  in  me  Of  that  do  as  you  shall  judge  best.  Mr.  Beu- 
edictwill  informyouof  the  health  of  ray  family,  lic.    In  haste. 

Yours  affectionately,  E.  Whittlesey. 

The  following  memorauda  appear  on  the  back  of 
this  letter,  iu  the  handwriting  of  Piatt  Benedict, 
showing  liis  disbursements  while  on  the  trip  to  make 
the  purchase  contemplated  by  the  contract: 

expenses  by  platt  bexedict. 

Nov.  19.    2  days  to  New  Milford,  and  expense  for  horse,  &c.  S3  50 

Jan .  36.    i  day  to  New  Milford  and  expense 2  50 

March  27 .    To  1  da,v  and  expenses  to  New  Miiford 2  50 

.   To  postage  of  3  letters    112!^ 

Aprils.    Cash  paid  Col.  Taylor 10  00 

do.    do.    do.        do 10  00 

Postage  on  letter 25 

Moss  White  paid  do 15  00 

M,  B.  Whittlesey  do 19  00 

Moss  White  paid  19th  July 25  00 

59  00 

P.  Benedict  paid  do 15  00 

3  days  going  to  New  Milford  to  complete  the  business,  &c., 

expenses  with  Mrs.  Bull 7  50 

S52  37V4 
Amount  of  expense  and  cash  paid  by  P.  Benedict  as  above,         29  87>^ 

Cash  paid  by  P.  Benedict  15  00 

do    for  expense 7  50 

J52  37H 
April  3.  1816.— Contracted  with  Wm.  Taylor  for  563  acres  in  Norwalk, 

Ohio,  for  «1,210.    Paid  him  SIO.    Platt  Benedict,  Matthew  B.  Whittlesey, 

Moss  White  notes  as  follows :  one  note  on  demand  to  Eli  Mygatt,  tor 

S13  81— one  to  Col.  Taylor,  sixty  days,  S356— one  tori450,  one  year  from 

date— one  tor  S450,  two  years  from  date. 
15th  Nov.,  1815.— P.  Benedict  note  on  demand  for  S406— one  note  tor 

S406  payable  one  year  from  date— one  for  S406  payable  2  years  from  date 

—and  one  ot  $406  payable  3  years  from  date. 
Matthew  B.  Whittlesey  and  Moss  White,  July  9th.— Paid  on  the  note  on 

demand  S40— S25  paid  by  M.  White  and  S15  by  P.  Benedict. 

Mr.  Benedict,  having  left  Cleveland  on  or  aliout 
October  31,  on  horseback,  reached  Danbury  in  eleven 
days,  making  an  average  daily  ride  of  over  fifty  miles. 
and.  on  the  15th  of  November,  went  to  New  Milford, 
.sixteen  miles  distant,  and  commenced  negotiations 
with  Colonel  William  Taylor,  who,  •'•  in  right  of  his 
wife,"  held  part  of  the  desired  land.  After  several  such 
trips,  he  at  length,  on  April  3.  1810,  concluded  a 
contract  with  him  for  five  hundred  and  si.xty-two 
acres,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
ten   dollars.     This  purchase  covered  the  land  upon 


which  all  of  the  original  town  plat  of  Norwalk  east  of 
Hester  street  was  afterwards  laid  out.  Eight  huu  - 
dred  and  twelve  acres  were  also  purchased  of  Mrs. 
Polley  Bull  for  two  dollars  per  acre.  This  land  lies 
east  of  the  Taylor  tract,  and  all  of  the  east  part  of 
the  present  village  south  of  the  section  line  is  built 
upon  it.  The  Taylor  tract  was  part  of  the  claim  of 
fire  sufferer,  Ezra  Starr;  and  the  Polley  Bull  tract 
was  part  of  claim  of  fire  sufferer,  John  McLean. 

In  accordance  with  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Whit- 
tlesey, in  his  letter  to  his  brother  above  given,  Mathew 
B.  Whittlesey  and  E.  Moss  White  entered  into  the 
enterprise  and  Joined  with  Mr.  Benedict  iu  giving 
notes  for  the  purchase  price  of  the  lauds,  as  fully 
appears  by  many  papers  in  the  writer's  possession. 

On  April  8,  1816,  Colonel  Wm.  Taylor  executed  a 
deed  of  the  five  hundred  and  sixty-two  acre  tract  to 
Elisha  Whittlesey:  and,  on  June  8,  1816,  Mrs.  Bull 
executed  a  deed  of  the  eight  hundred  and  twelve  acre 
tract  to  the  same  party.  The  reason  of  these  deeds 
being  executed  to  Mr.  Whittlesey  is  fully  explained  in 
his  foregoing  letter.  On  the  e.xecution  of  the  deeds 
they  were  at  once  sent  on  to  Mr.  Whittlesey,  and  he 
soon  after  came  on,  and,  after  consulting  Major  Un- 
derhill,  employed  Almond  Ruggles  as  a  surveyor  to 
run  out  a  portion  of  the  land  into  village  lots  and  plat 
the  same.  On  October  16,  1816,  the  survey  and  jjlat 
having  been  completed,  Mr.  Whittlesey  signed  and 
acknowledged  the  plat  before  Jabez  Wright,  associate 
judge,  and  the  same  day  it  was  received  for  record 
and  recorded  in  volume  one  of  records  of  deeds  on 
page  seventeen,  by  Ichabod  Marshall,  recorder.  The 
instrument  recorded  with  the  plat  contains  the  fol- 
lowing dedication:  "Lot  thirteen  is  given  for  a  site 
to  build  a  court  house,  lot  twelve  a  meeting  house,  lot 
one  for  an  academy  or  college,  and  lot  twenty-four  for 
a  goal" — evidently  meaning  gaol,  or  jail.  The  court 
house  and  jail  now  stand  on  lot  thirteen,  the  Metho- 
dist Church  on  lot  twelve,  Whittlesey  Academy  on  lot 
one,  and  the  Parker  Block  on  lot  twenty-four. 

From  the  fact  that  the  gift  of  these  lots  appears 
upon  the  records  in  the  name  of  Elisha  Whittlesey 
alone,  the  impression  long  since  sprang  up  in  this 
community  that  to  him  only  belonged  the  credit  of 
the  grant.  The  foregoing  contract  and  Mr.  Whittle- 
sey's letter  to  his  brother  with  the  other  facts  stated 
in  this  history,  fully  disprove  the  correctness  of  that 
impression.  Mr.  Whittlesey,  in  executing  that  dedi- 
cation, and  having  it  recorded,  acted  in  fact  as  a 
trustee  for  himself,  M.  B.  Whittlesey,  E.  M.  White 
and  Platt  Benedict,  and  they  deserve  the  credit 
jointly  with  him. 

Frederick  Falley,  living  in  Margaretta  township, 
never  fulfilled  his  part  of  the  contract  by  advancing 
any  part  of  the  purchase  money,  nor  of  the  exjienscs, 
and  was  quietly  dropped  out. 

On    September  0,  181T,  Mr.   Benedict    arrived    in 

Norwalk  township  with   his  family,  and  finding  his 

house,  which  he  had  put  up  iu  the  sjiring  of  1817, 

I   burned  to  the  ground,  at  once  erected  another  one  on 


134 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  same  site,  and  on  November  4,  1817,  commenced 
work  clearing,  as  appears  by  tlie  following  entries 
selected  from  his  account  book,  now  in  possession  of 
the  writer: 

1817.— Nov.    4.    To  4  days  and  team  clearing  out  road  on  ridge.   .    S5.00 

1818.— May    6.    To  1  gall,  whisky  for  hands  clearing  ground 1.50 

To  4  days  clearing  ground  for  county  seat -(.00 

Then  some  change  seems  to  have  been  decided  upon 
in  the  arrangement  and  plan  of  the  plat;  as  a  result, 
four  of  the  eight  two  rod  alleys,  between  the  present 
Benedict  avenue  and  Medina  street,  were  vacated, 
and  the  arrangement  of  lots  changed  to  correspond, 
and  as  thus  changed,  it  now  /-emrtt^.s;  but  no  record 
was  ever  made  of  that  change,  and  as  the  old  plat 
recorded  in  1816  is  the  only  one  upon  the  county  re- 
cords, title  searchers  are  puzzled,  at  this  day,  to  ac- 
count for  the  wide  variance  between  the  recorded  and 
the  actual  plat. 

The  writer  has  found  among  the  papers  of  Piatt 
Benedict,  an  ancient,  much  worn  map  of  the  present 
actual  plat,  but  there  is  no  endorsement  upon  it 
showing  by  whom,  or  when  it  was  made.  A  fair  copy 
of  it  is  now  in  possession  of  E.  S.  Houghton,  present 
recorder  of  deeds. 

The  following  entries,  also  taken  from  the  account 
book  of  Mr.  Benedict,  give  a  little  more  light  upon 
this  change: 

1818.— June  15.    To  1  day  surveying  and  laying  out  town  plot $1.25 

To  boarding  surveyor  and  hand  1  day  each 75 

This  strange  omission  in  not  having  the  changed 
plat  recorded,  might,  long  years  ago,  have  been  seized 
upon  as  a  pretext  for  vexations  litigation,  but  the 
statutes  of  repose  have  long  since  thrown  their  pro- 
tecting mantle  over  it. 

In  the  year  1817,  schemes  were  devised,  and  plans 
perfected  for  accomplishing  the  second  step  in  this 
campaign  for  the  capture  of  the  county  seat.  Peti- 
tions were  circulated,  and  the  result  shows  they  must 
have  been  quite  generally  signed. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  number  of  men  of  energy 
and  public  spirit  had  come  in,  and  settled  upon  the 
new  town  plat,  and  by  the  spring  of  1818,  it  began 
to  assume  the  dignity  of  a  village.  A  subscription 
paper  was  circulated  to  raise  funds  for  the  erection  of 
county  buildings,  and  several  hundred  dollars  were 
raised.  Almond  Ruggles  was  employed  to  go  to 
Columbus  in  January,  1818,  with  the  petitions  for 
removing  the  county  seat,  and  "lobby"  a  bill  through 
the  legislature;  this  he  did  successfully,  and  was  paid 
for  that  service  as  appears  by  the  following  receipt, 
the  original  of  which  is  now  in  possession  of  Miner 
Cole,  Es.|.: 

Received  of  Peter  Tice  and  Piatt  Benedict,  one  hundred  dollars  for 
services  rendered  in  going  to  Columbus,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the 
question  as  to  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  to  Norwalk,  at  the 
request  of  those  interested.  Almond  Ruggles. 

The  bill  passed  by  the  legislature,  appointed  a 
commission  of  three  persons  "  to  view  the  present 
and  .such  oilier  sites  for  seats  of  justice,  as  might  be 
shown  to  them  in  the  county  of  Huron,"  and  also 
cliarged  the  commission  with  the  duty  of   ai)praising 


the  damage  which  those  who  had  purchased  iirojicrty 
at  the  old  county  seat  would  suffer  by  the  removal 
of  it. 

At  the  time  appointed  for  a  meeting  of  the  com 
missioners,  only  two  were  present.  The  following 
places  were  applicants  for  the  location,  viz.:  Abbott".^ 
place  in  Eldridge  (Berlin);  Milan,  Abijah  Comstock's 
place  on  section  two  of  this  town;  Gibbs  and  Lock- 
wood's  Corners  (now  Alling's  Corners),  Norwalk  vil- 
lage, Monroeville,  Widow  Parkers  (on  the  west  side 
of  Huron  river  opposite  Milan),  and  Sandusky  City. 
The  commission  proceeded  to  view  all  the  proposed 
sites,  selected  Norwalk,  and  appraised  the  damages 
of  the  several  property  owners  at  the  old  site  at  a 
total  of  three  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty  dollars. 

Most  of  the  foregoing  facts  will  more  fully  appear 
by  reference  to  the  following  bond  which  explains 
itself,  and  which  was,  no  doubt,  an  important  factor 
in  determining  the  action  of  the  commission: 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents.  That  we.  Elisha  Whittlesey  and 
Piatt  Benedict,  as  principals,  and  David  Underbill.  Levi  Cole,  Peter 
Tice  and  Daniel  Tilden,  as  sureties,  are  firmly  bound  and  obligated  to 
Abijah  Comstock,  treasurer  of  the  county  of  Huron,  and  his  successors 
in  said  office,  and  to  Ebenezer  Merry.  Epbraim  Quimby,  Frederick  W. 
Fowler,  Lyman  Fay,  Ichabod  Marshall,  Richmond  Rhodes,  Othniel 
Fields  and  Joseph  Kairns.  in  the  penal  sum  of  eight  thousand  dollars, 
to  the  payment  of  which  sum  we  hereby  bind  ourselves,  our  heirs,  and 
executors,  firmly  by  these  presents,  signed  with  our  hands,  and  sealed 
with  our  seals,  this,  the  eighth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighteen.    In  presence  of. 

The  condition  of  this  bond  is  such  that,  whereas  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  on  the  twenty-sLxth  day  of  January,  one  tliousand  eight 
hundred  and  eighteen,  passed  a  law  appointing  Abraham  Tappan.  Wil- 
liam Wetmore,  and  Elias  Lee,  commissioners  to  view  the  present  and 
such  other  sites  for  seats  of  justice  as  might  be  shown  to  them  in  the 
county  of  Huron,  and  to  take  into  consideration  the  necessity  and  pro- 
priety of  removing  said  seat  of  justice  for  said  county ;  and  whereas, 
the  said  commissioners,  by  said  act.  are  to  appraise  the  damage  that 
each  person  might  sustain  who  had  purchased  in  the  present  seat  of 
justice  in  and  for  said  county;  and.  whereas,  the  said  Abraham  Tap- 
pan,  and  William  Wetmore,  two  of  said  committee,  have  attended  to 
the  duties  of  their  appointment,  and  have  assessed  to  the  said  Ebenezer 
Merry,  and  Ephraini  Quimby,  damage  to  the  amount  of  two  thn\isand, 
two  hundred  dollars;  to  Lyman  Fay,  damage  to  tlie  amount  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars;  Frederick  W.  Fowler,  damage  to  the  ; 
six  hundred  and  eighty  dollars;  Richmond  Rhodes,  damage 
amount  of  sixty  dollars;  Ichabod  Marshall,  damage  to  the  amoi 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  to  Othniel  Fields,  damage  to  the  i 
of  one  hundred  dollars ;  to  Joseph  Kairns,  damage  to  the  amount  of  one 
hundred  dollars. 

And.  whereas,  also  by  said  act,  the  damage  so  assessed,  is  to  be  paid 
to  the  several  sufferers  within  two  years ;  and,  whereas,  also  the  dona- 
tions heretofore  subscribed  for  public  buildings,  or  a  sum  equal  thereto 
are  to  be  paid  within  one  year.  Now,  therefore,  the  condition  of  this 
bond  is  such  that  if  the  said  commissioners  shall  fix  the  seat  of  justice 
on  the  town  plat  of  Norwalk,  and  the  said  obligors  do  not  pay  to  the  said 
treasurer,  or  his  said  successor  in  said  office,  for  the  use  of  Jthe  county, 
asimiequalto  the  present  amount  of  donations  for  public  buildings, 
within  one  year  from  this  date,  or  if  the  said  obligors  do  not  pay  the 
said  Ebenezer  Merry,  and  Ephraim  Quimby,  the  said  sum  of  t  wo  thou- 
sand two  hundred  dollars:  to  the  said  Lyman  Fay,  the  said  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  to  the  said  Frederick  W.  Fowler,  the  said 
sum  of  six  hundred  and  eighty  dollars;  to  the  said  Richmond  Rhodes, 
the  said  sum  of  sixty  dollars;  to  the  said  Ichabod  Marshall,  the  said 
sum  of  onehun.lred  and  fifty  dollars;  to  the  said  Othniel  Fields,  the 
said  sum  of  one  hundred  dollai-s;  to  the  said  Joseph  Kairns,  the  said 
sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  within  two  years  from  this  date,  then  this 
bond  to  be  and  remain  in  full  force  and  effect :  but  if  the  seveial  sums  of 
money  above  mentioned  be  paid  as  above  stipulated,  then  this  bond  to 
be  null  and  void. 

Elish.i  Whittlesey.         [l.s.] 

Pl.\tt  Uenedict,  [l.s.] 

Witness-  David  Underhill.  [l.s.] 

David  Abbott.  Levi  Cole,  [l.s.] 

Ben.i,  W.  Abbott.  Daniel  Tilden.  [l.s.] 

Peter  Tice.  [l.s,] 

Note.— C'oiJied  from  journalof  Common  Pleas  Court  of  May  term,  1818. 


N  Ca/n^CjU/vv    <^ 


C/\.r^-r^' 


^/yvv/^ 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Auburn,  Crawford 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  13,  1825.  His  parents,  Erastus  and  Sally 
Sawyer,  were  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  His  father's 
ancestors  emigrated  to  tliis  country  from  Lancashire,  England, 
and  his  mother's  (whose  maiden  name  was  Snider)  from  Hol- 
land. His  parents  were  pioneers  in  that  then  wilderness 
country.  He  has  one  brother,  Albanus,  older,  and  one  sis- 
ter, Mrs.  Lucy  Kellogg,  younger,  than  himself,  who  reside 
in  Crawford  County. 

He  remained  upon  his  father's  farm  until  his  seventeenth 
year,  employed  in  the  hard  work  of  the  new  country,  and 
attending  the  common  school  of  the  neighborhood  when  there 
happened  to  be  one.  In  1843  he  was  a  student  at  Norwalk 
Seminary,  and  the  next  year  at  Granville  College,  supporting 
himself  during  this  time,  and  while  studying  law,  by  teaching 
school  winters.  In  1845  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law 
at  Norwalk,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1847,  and  soon 
had  a  respectable  practice. 

In  1850  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney,  which  office 
he  held  two  years,  during  which  time  he  was  successful  in 
breaking  up  a  noted  gang  of  horse  thieves,  counterfeiters,  and 
professional  witnesses  who  infested  the  county. 

In  1854  he  formed  a  partnership  with  George  H.  Safford, 
which  continued  until  both  threw  up  the  profession  to  enter 
the  army.  The  firm  did  an  extensive  and  successful  business. 
In  1860,  at  the  instance  of  Gov.  Dennison,  Mr.  Sawyer 
organized  a  military  company  known  as  the  Norwalk  Light 
Guards,  and  on  the  16th  day  of  April,  1801,  was  ordered  into 
the  service  for  three  months,  and  reported  with  his  company 
at  Camp  Dennison  as  Co.  "D,"  8th  Ohio  Volunteers.  The 
regiment  soon  reorganized  for  three  years,  and  he  was  pro- 
moted to  major,  and  soon  after  to  lieutenant-colonel.  In  July 
the  regiment  went  to  Western  Virginia  and  participated  in 
the  campaign  of  that  summer.  S.  S.  Carroll,  of  the  U.S.A., 
was  appointed  colonel,  and  toolc  the  regiment  into  the  valley 
in  the  spring  of  1861,  where  it  fought  conspicuously  in  the 
battle  of  Winchester.  Col.  Carroll  was  there  given  the  com- 
mand of  a  brigade,  and  from  this  time  tlic  regiment  was  in 
command  of  Col.  Sawyer.  It  was  then  ordered  to  Harrison's 
Landing,  and  became  part  of  the  2d  Corps.  He  commanded 
the  regiment  in  the  battles  of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Morton's  Ford, 
the  Wilderness,  and  Spottsylvania,  and  in  innumerable 
skirmishes.  In  most  of  these  battles  he  was  assigned  to 
difficult  positions,  and  in  every  instance  was  complimented  by 
his  superior  officers  for  his  gallant  conduct.  At  Gettysburg, 
he  was  ordered  to  drive  out  a  rebel  force  posted  in  an  im- 
portant position  in  front  of  Hancock's  battle-line,  which  was 
handsomely  done  with  the  bayonet,  though  at  a  heavy  loss. 
This  position  he  maintained  for  two  days  unsupported,  and 
far  in  advance  of  the  lino,  although  three  times  attacked  by 
superior  force;  and  finally,  cluirging  an  advancing  column  of 
rebels,  took  a  number  of  prisoners  and  three  battle-ilags.  In 
this  battle,  and  also  the  battle  of  Antietam,  over  one-half  of 


his  men  engaged  were  killed  or  wounded.  His  horse  was  shot 
from  under  him  at  Antietam,  Chancellorsville,  and  Locust 
Grove.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Morton's 
Ford,  and  Spottsylvania,  at  the  latter  place  the  wound  dis- 
abling him  from  further  service  and  partially  paralyzing  the 
left  side.  During  the  draft-riots  he  was  sent  to  the  city  of 
New  York  with  his  regiment,  and  occupied  a  position  on 
Brooklyn  Heights  until  the  consummation  of  the  draft. 

Promotion  was  several  times  tendered  him,  but  he  preferred 
to  remain  with  his  "gallant  old  8th."  His  popularity  with 
his  men  was  unbounded,  his  ability  as  an  officer  was  con- 
coded,  and  his  absolute  bravery  in  battle  unquestioned.  The 
rank  of  brevet  brigadier-general  was  conferred  for  meritorious 
conduct  during  the  war. 

In  the  fall  of  1864  he  visited  the  Ohio  troops  on  the  line  of 
the  Mississippi,  New  Orleans,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Northern 
Alabama,  and  Georgia,  on  a  special  commission  from  Gov. 
Brough.  He  then  acted  as  assistant  judge  advocate  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Advocate  Gen.  Holt,  at  Washington,  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  triuniplial  return  of  the  Union 
army  to  Washington,  in  June,  1865. 

In  1865  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  Legislature  for 
Huron  County  on  the  Kepublican  ticket,  and  served  two 
sessions.  Was  a  member  of  the  committees  on  finance,  schools, 
and  the  agricultural  college  fund.  The  Clcrclniid  Leader,  in 
a  review  of  this  Legislature,  said  of  him  :  "  Few  men  in  the 
St.ate  achieved  a  brighter  reputation  in  the  recent  war  than 
Gen.  Sawyer,  the  member  for  Huron.  As  a  legislator  he  is 
chiefly  distinguished  for  his  ability  in  presenting  his  case  and 
'  dumfounding'  his  adversary,  if  anybody  has  the  temerity  to 
oppose  him.  For  real  humor,  as  well  as  solid  argument,  he 
has  few  superiors.  Sometimes  his  rare  blending  of  humor  and 
argument  would  convulse  with  laughter  the  entire  hou.se,  and 
upset  the  gravity  of  everybody  within  hearing." 

In  May,  1867,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  registers  in 
bankruptcy  for  the  Northern  District  of  Ohio,  which  office  he 
has  held  during  the  existence  of  the  act,  a  period  of  over 
twelve  years,  being  regarded  as  a  careful  and  impartial  officer. 
He  has  also  during  this  period  continued  successfully  in  his 
law  practice.  Gen.  Sawyer  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest 
in  the  prosperity  of  Norwalk.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Nor- 
walk Institute  for  several  years,  and  until  it  was  discontinued 
on  account  of  the  non-popular  public-school  system,  and  was 
then  for  fifteen  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of 
the  union  schools. 

As  a  lawyer  he  occupies  a  prominent  jiosition  at  the  I?»r, 
and  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  strict  integrity  ;  he  is  an  interest- 
ing speaker  and  ready  debater,  and  a  thorough  student  of 
literature  and  history. 

He  was  married  to'Lucinda  M.  Lathrop,  Jan.  30,  1848,  who 
died  June  12,  1854.  Nov.  20,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth B.  Bostwick,  of  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  died  Jan. 
6,  1878.  He  has  one  son,  Frank,  who  is  being  educated  for 
the  profession  of  the  law. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


135 


TIk'  location  having  been  settled,  Mr.  Whittlesey 
proposed  to  deed  the  entire  town  plat,  except  lots 
number  one,  twelve,  thirteen  and  twenty-four,  to  cer- 
tain individuals  if  they  would  relieve  him  from  his 
liabitity  on  the  foregoing  Ijond.  His  proposition  was 
accepted,  and  on  May  30,  1818,  they  executed  to  him 
the  following  bond  of  indemnity: 

K{Jow  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESEXTS,  That  We,  David  Underbill,  Peter 
Tice.  Levi  Cole,  Piatt  Benedict  and  Daniel  Tilden,  of  Huron  countj-, 
are  held  and  stand  firmly  bound  unto  Elisha  Whittlesey  in  the  penal 
sum  of  eight  thousand  dollars,  to  the  payment  of  which  we  bind  our- 
selves ,  our  heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  firmly  by  these  presents. 
Signed  with  our  hapds  and  sealed  with  our  seals  this,  the  thirtieth  day 
of  May,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighteen 

The  condition  of  this  bond  is  such  that  whereas  the  said  Elisha  Whit, 
tlesey,  heretofore  at  our  request,  became  bound  as  principal  in  a  certain 
bond  executed  by  him  to  Abijah  Comstock.  treasurer  of  the  county  of 
Huron  aforesaid  and  his  successors  in  said  oflSce,  in  the  penal  sum  of 
eight  thousand  dollars,  conditioned  for  the  payment  of  three  thousard 
four  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  or  thereabouts,  to  certain  individuals 
therein  named,  being  the  damages  assessed  to  be  paid  to  them  by  the 
appraisal  of  Abraham  Tappan  and  William  Wetniore,  commissioners 
appointed  to  remove  the  seat  of  justice  in  Huron  county:  and,  also, 
having  this  further  condition  that  the  donation  should  be  kept  good  for 
the  benefit  of  the  county  aforesaid,  reference  being  had  to  said  botrd 
returned  to  the  clerk  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  by  him 
entered  on  the  journal  of  said  court. 

Now,  therefore,  if  the  said  David  Uuderhill,  Peter  Tice,  Levi  Cole, 
Piatt  Benedict  and  Daniel  Tilden,  shall  exonerate  and  save  harmless  the 
said  Elisha  Whittlesey  from  all  suits,  legal  liabilities  and  costs  of,  in 
and  concerning  said  bond,  by  performing  the  conditions  therein  con. 
tained.  as  they  severally  become  due,  then  this  bond  to  be  void  and  of 
no  effect,  otherwise  to  be  and  remain  in  full  force  and  effect. 

Signed  and  sealed  the  day  and  year  above. 

David  Ukderhill,        [l.s.] 

In  presence  of  Peter  Tice,  [l.s.] 

Nathan  Strong,  Levi  Cole,  [l.s.] 

C   S.  Hale.  Platt  Benedict,  [l.s.] 

Daniel  Tilden.  [l.s.) 

Note  . —Copied  from  the  original,  now  in  possession  of  Miner  Cole,  Esq . 

The  foregoing  bond  having  been  executed  May  30, 
1818,  on  June  8,  1818,  Mr.  Whittlesey  executed,  in 
favor  of  the  parties  who  signed  said  bond,  a  deed  of 
lots  from  one  to  forty-eight,  being  the  whole  of  Nor- 
walk  town  plat,  except  jiublic  lots  one,  twelve,  thir- 
teen and  twenty-four,  which  is  recorded  in  volume  II, 
of  Huron  county  record  of  deeds,  at  page  445. 

These  parties  afterwards  fulfilled  their  obligations 
assumed  in  the  two  bonds,  and  in  1820  partitioned 
the  lots  among  themselves  by  a  joint  deed,  which  is 
recorded  in  volume  II,  of  Huron  county  record  of 
deeds,  at  page  884. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners  on 
October  21,  18  L8,  the  following  resolution  was  passed  : 

Ordered,  By  the  commissioners,  that  notice  be  given  that  the  commis- 
sioners will,  on  the  first  Monday  of  December  next,  receive  proposals 
for  the  building  of  a  court-house,  forty  by  thirty  feet,  and  a  jail. 

Previous  to  that,  however,  and  upon  the  consuma- 
tion  of  the  bargain  between  Mr.  Whittlesey  and  the 
five  who  had  e.xecuted  the  foregoing  bond,  the  latter 
had  commenced  the  erection  of  a  court  house,  under 
a  contract  with  William  Gallup  as  builder,  and  had  it 
so  far  completed  that  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  Octo- 
ber, 1818,  the  first  term  of  the  court  at  the  "new 
county  seat "  was  held  in  it. 

On  Monday,  December  7,  1818,  the  commissioners 
caused  the  following  entry  to  be  made  in  their 
journal: 

"  Commissioners    purchased  a  building   of    David 


Underbill  &  Co.,  for  a  court  house,  for  the  sum  of 
eight  hundred  and  forty-eight  dollars,  which  is  to 
apply  on  their  donations  given  at  the  sand  ridge, 
except  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  which  is  to  be 
allowed  to  William  Gallup." 

The  original  subscription  papers  for  the  county- 
seat  fund  cannot  now  be  found,  and  it  is  therefore 
impossible  to  determine  whether  the  three  hundred 
and  ninety-eight  dollars,  above  applied  "on  their 
donations  given  at  the  sand  ridge,"  was  the  amount, 
or  part  of  the  amount,  of  the  individual  subscrip- 
tions of  the  five,  composing  "David  Underbill  &  Co," 
but  as  the  subscriptions  were  made  for  the  benefit  of 
the  cMinty,  it  is  most  probable  that  the  i^apers  were 
in  the  hands  of  the  county  officers  for  collection,  and 
that  by  the  above  application  they  collected  the  whole 
or  a  part  of  the  individual  donations  of  Underbill, 
Tice,  Cole,  Benedict  and  Tilden,  and  paid  Gallup  his 
four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  balance  due  on  build- 
ing, in  county  orders  (which  another  part  of  their 
journal  shows),  trusting  to  further  collections  to  meet 
the  orders. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  held  March 
2,  1819,  they  caused  the  following  entry  to  be  made 
in  their  journal: 

"Contracted  with  Platt  Benedict  to  build  a  jail, 
twenty-four  by  forty-six,  two  stories,  for  the  sum  of 
twelve  hundred  and  .seventy-five  dollars." 

This  contract  was  sub-let  to  Hallet  Gallup,  and  on 
August  8,  1819,  the  commissioners  caused  the  follow- 
ing entry  to  be  made  in  their  journal: 

"Commissioners  agreed  to  accept  the  jail  from 
Hallet  Gallup,  and  have  deducted  twenty  dollars 
from  the  contract,  for  work  which  remains  unfinished, 
and  have  paid  the  balance,  with  this  proviso:  the  said 
Gallup  claims  that  he  has  done  some  extra  work, 
which  the  contract  and  custom  does  not  recpiire, 
which  question  the  said  Gallup  and  the  commissioners 
have  agreed  to  submit  to  some  disinterested  judges, 
and  abide  their  decree.  Said  decision  to  be  submitted 
toS.  Benton,  Timothy  Baker  and  Frederick  Forsyth." 

The  contract  price  of  this  jail  was  paid  in  county 
orders,  the  commissioners  probably  relying  upon  the 
collection  of  donation  subscriptions  to  meet  them. 

The  old  court  house  was  removed  many  years  ago, 
to  give  place  to  the  present  brick  structure,  and  now 
stands  in  all  its  original  "beauty"  on  Whittlesey  avenue, 
and  is  the  present  "Central  Hotel." 

The  old*  jail  was  removed  in  1872,  to  give  place  to 
the  present  Parker  Block,  and  now  stands  on  Rule 
street,  north  side,  between  Huron  and  Wooster  streets, 
as  a  dwelling  house.  It,  however,  had  not  been  used 
as  a  jail  since  about  1837. 

fir.st  post  office. 

Up  to  August,  1816,  the  new  settlers  received  and 
sent  their  mail  from  the  post  office  at  Huron.  This 
was  so  inconvenient  that  Maj.  Underbill,  meeting 
Judge  Ruggles  one  day,  represented  to  liim  the  diffi- 
culty and  annoyance  of  carrying  on  correspondence 


136 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


with  tlie  east.  Ruggles  replied:  "Find  a  postmaster, 
and  I  will  write  to  the  department  and  have  the 
ap])ointment  made."  Dr.  Joseph  Peax-ce  was  selected, 
Euggles  fulfilled  his  promise,  and  the  appointment 
was,  in  due  time,  made,  and  received  as  a  ray  of  light 
penetrating  into  an  oppressive  darkness.  The  follow- 
ing extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Harriet  Underhill, 
to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Horace  Morse,  in  Herkimer,  New- 
York,  refers  to  this  appointment.  The  letter  is  dated 
"Ridgefield,  Angust  6,  1816." 

After  referring  to  family  matters,  the  writer  says: 
"Ma  wishes  you  to  write  and  let  us  know  when  you 
are  coming  out  here.  Perhaps  you  think  of  taking 
us  hy  surprise,  but  do  not  think  of  that,  for  we* shall 
hear  all  the  news  that  is  stirring,  for  this  day  a  post 
office  has  been  established  here,  and  Dr.  Pearce  is 
postmaster.  Please  dii-ect  your  letters  to  Norwalk 
Post  Office."' 

This  office  was  kept  at  the  house  of  Levi  Cole  (Ben- 
jamin Newcomb's  second  house),  on  the  present  Miner 
Cole  farm,  until,  in  July,  1818,  when  Mr.  Pearce 
resigned  and  his  resignation  was  accepted. 

The  total  business  done  by  the  office,,  while  held  by 
Dr.  Pearce,  is  shown  by  the  following  statement  of 
account  made  out  at  Washington,  at  that  time,  and 
found  among  the  papers  of  Piatt  Benedict,  now  in 
possession  of  the  writer: 


Dr. 


t'R 


To  bal,  due  on  his  post  office  ac't. 

From  1817 

August  2-2  to  October  1,  1816,    1.6.5       January  29.  By  Cash $  SM 

October  1  to  Dec.       31,    "       3.73  1818 

January  1  to  April       1,1817,    8.92       May  14,  By  Cash 1.00 

April       1  to  July        1.     "      13.98  1819 

July         1  to  October  1,    "      11 .61       January  1,  By  Draft  in  favor 
October  1  to  Dec.       31,    "      11.09  David  Abbott  72.00 

January  1  to  April       1,  1818.       90 
April       1  to  July        1,     "      ■20.21 
Balance 5.85 


S78  00 


FIRST  VILLAGE  POST  OFFICE. 


S7S.00 


Dr.  Pearce  having  tendered  his  resignation,  the 
following  letter  was  sent  to  him  from  the  department, 
the  original  of  which  is  now  in  the  writer's  possession: 


Sir: 


General  Post  Office, 

City  of  Washington,  25  July,  1818. 


Your  letter  resigning  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Norwalli,  Ohio,  has 
been  received,  and  accepted.  It  has  Leen  concluded  to  appoint  Mr. 
Piatt  Benedict  to  fill  the  vacancy;  a  bond  tor  his  signature  is  enclosed 
and  you  will  oblige  me  by  seeing  it  done  with  proper  surety,  and  then 
return  it,  with  a  certificate  that  he  has  taken  the  requisite  oaths,  to  this 
office.  When  those  papers  are  received  here,  a  commission  will  be 
made  out  and  forwarded  to  him,  and  you  will  then,  or  as  soon  as  the 
bond  is  forwarded,  if  more  convenient,  hand  over  to  him  all  the  articles 
of  post  office  property  in  your  possession,  the  moneys  due  to  this  office 
excepted.  Yours  respectfully, 

R.  I.  Meigs,  Jr. 

Joseph  Pearce,  Esq. 

At  that  time,  Piatt  Benedict  was  living  in  a  log 
house,  which  stood  on  the  lot,  and  in  the  rear  of 
where  the  present  Gallup  block  now  stands.  That 
log  house  was  built  in  September,  1817,  upon  the 
site  of  one  built  by  Mr.  Benedict  in  the  spring  1817, — 


but  burned  down  early  in  September  of  that  year, — 
these  two  being  the  first  houses  erected  within  the 
present  corporate  limits  of  Norwalk. 

The  office  was  at  once  removed  by  Mr.  Benedict  to 
his  residence,  and  the  first  post  office  in  the  village 
was  there  opened  and  kept  until  1819;  and  the  first 
mail  brought  only  one  letter  and  one  newspaper.  In 
that  year  Mr.  Benedict  erected  and  moved  into  his 
"splendid  new  brick  house,"  (the  first  brick  structure 
erected  within  the  present  limits  of  Huron  county), 
now  forming-  part  of  the  present  Gallup  block,  in  the 
rear.  In  the  little  room  (back  of  store'room  number 
fourteen.  East  Main  street,  now  used  as  a  fitting  room 
by  S.  C.  Kinsley,  fancy  goods  merchant,)  the  post 
office  was  opened  up  "in  state,"  and  there  kept, 
until  Picket  Latimer  and  Harvey  G.  Morse,  some 
years  afterwards,  opened  a  general  store,  in  a  building 
standing  about  where  Harley's  grocery  now  is,  (store 
room  number  nine.  West  Main  street),  when  it 
was  removed  to  that  location,  and  put  in  charge  of 
Jonas  B.  Benedict,  (son  of  Piatt  Benedict,  and  father 
of  Dr.  D.  D.  Benedict),  as  deputy.  There  it  was 
kept  at  the  west  front  seven  by  nine  glass  window, 
until  in  1827,  when  Latimer  &  Co.  moved  to  the  "Old 
Red  Store,"  standing  where  the  Norwalk  National 
Bank  now  is,  (Baker  &  Kimball  succeeding  Latimer 
&  Co.  in  the  old  stand).  The  post  office  went  with 
Latimer  &  Co.,  and  remained  there,  in  charge 
of  D.  A.  Baker,  (pi-esent  president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank),  as  deputy,  until  the  early  part  of  1828. 
Asahel  W.  Howe,  that  year,  leased  of  Horace  Howard 
the  tavern  stand  that  is  now  the  wooden  building 
standing  next  west  of  Whittlesey  block,  so  long  known 
as  the  Mansion  house,  the  sign  of  which  is  yet  indis- 
tinctly visible  on  ths  east  end  of  the  old  brick  block 
next  west. 

On  January  10.  1828,  Howe  was  sworn  in  as 
deputy,  and  the  office  was  moved  there.  He  proved 
to  be  unworthy  of  the  trust;  robbed  the  mails,  was  ar- 
rested, tried,  convicted,  sentenced  to  imprisonment 
for  a  term  of  years,  atid  pardoned  out  in  about  one 
year. 

Daniel  A.  Baker  was  sworn  in  as  deputy,  on  March 
29,  1827,  before  Samuel  Preston,  justice  of  the  ])eace. 
as  appear  by  the  official  oath  of  office,  now  in  ])osses- 
sion  of  the  writer. 

The  first  official  draft  by  tiie  department  upon  the 
Norwalk  post  office,  was  drawn  against  Joseph  Pearce, 
January  1.  1819. 

The  second  was  drawn  against  Piatt  Benedict,  and 
is  as  follows: 


'Dols.  56.— Cents.  No    2 


V.) 


Sir— At  sight,  pay  David  Abbott,  or  order,  flfty-six  dollars cents 

and  charge  to  account  of  this  office.  Asm.  Bradley,  Jr  , 

Assistant  Postmaster  General." 
To  Platt  Benedict,  Esquire, 
Postmaster  at  Xonvalk,  Ohio. 

The  official  list  of  newspapers,  pamphlets,  and 
magazines  received  at  this  office  from  October  1,  1828, 
to  January  1,  1829,  shows  that  seventy-three  copies 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


137 


were  received,  upon  wliich  tlie  jiostage  was  twelve  dol- 
lars and  twenty-four  cents. 

Au  official  statement  of  account  made  out  at  Wash- 
ington, in  1829,  shows  the  total  business  of  the  office 
from  July  1,  1818,  to  September  1,  1839,  (a  period 
of  eleven  years  and  two  months,  dui'ing  which  the 
office  was  held  by  Piatt  Benedict),  as  having  amounted 
to  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-five  dollars 
and  fifty-seven  cents,  or  an  average  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  year,  the  last 
year,  however,  from  July  1.  1828,  to  July  1,  1829,  it 
was  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  dollars  and  thirteen 
cents. 

The  present  postmaster,  Frederick  C.  Wickham, 
grandson  of  Samuel  Preston,  who  administered  the 
oath  of  office  to  D.  A.  Baker,  in  1827,  has  kindly 
furnished  the  writer  with  the  following  statement  of 
the  business  of  the  office,  for  the  year  ending  ilarch 
:U,  1879: 

AMOUXT    OF    STAMPS,     STAMPED    ENVELOPES,     NEWSPAPER     WRAPPERS,     AND 
POSTAL  CARDS  SOLD. 

For  the  quarter  ending  .June  30,  18T8 S  1.60T  51 

'■       September  30, 1878 1,492  84 

"      "        "  ■'       December  31,  18(8 1,815  77 

"       March  31, 1879 1,793  86 

Total  for  one  year S  6,709  98 

AMOUNT  COLLECTED  FOR  BOX  RENT. 

For  the  quarter  ending  June  30.  1878 $  226  25 

"     "       "  '•       September  30, 1878 236  00 

December  31,  1878 226  25 

"      "        "  "       March  31,  1879 229  00 

Total  for  one  year.- S      907  50 

RECEIVED  FROM  OTHER  SOURCES. 

For  the  quarter  ending  June  39,  1878 S  3  26 

'■      September  30,  1878  2  86 

■•      December  31,  1878 3  40 

' •■      March31,lS79 oil 

Total  for  one  year S         14  03 

Grand  total  for  year 87,632  01 

MONEY  ORDERS  ISSUED. 

Number  of  money  orders  issued  during  the  year  ending 

March  31,  1879 3,871 

Amount  issued  for  the  year S41,040  05 

Amount  of  fees  received  for  same 460  65 

Number  of  orders  paid  during  the  year 3,109 

Amount  of  orders  paid  during  the  year J41,168  97 

Perhaps  no  single  department  of  business  in  the 
town  affords  a  better  criterion  by  which  to  measure 
its  growth  and  improvement. 

In  1818-19  the  office  was  a  log  dwelling  ]>ouse  with 
one  room, — parlor,  sitting-room,  bed-room,  kitchen 
and  post  office  in  one  ;  its  windows  were  set  with 
greased  paper  instead  of  glass  ;  it  was  warmed  from  a 
huge  sione-built  fire-place,  by  burning  logs,  so  large 
that  a  man  could  only  put  them  in  place  by  the  "end 
over  end"  process  ;  there  was  only  one  mail  per  week. 
The  total  receipts  of  the  office  from  July  1,  1818  to 
July  1,  1819,  were  §112.08,  and  postage  was  then 
twenty-five  cents  for  each  half-ounce  letter. 

The  total  population  of  the  the  whole  township 
was  probably  about  two  hundred,  which  would  make 
the  average  contribution  of  each  inhabitant,  to  the 
receipts  of  the  office,  about  fifty-si.v  cents  per  year,  or 
e(|ual  to  about  two  and  one-(iuarter  letters  sent   bv 


each  inhabitant  during  the  year ;  etiual  to  about 
eighteen  and  two-thirds  letters  at  the  present  three- 
cent  rate  of  postage. 

Sixty  years  have  rolled  by  since  then,  and  our 
fathers  and  motJiers,  who  were  then  the  actors  upon 
the  stage  of  life,  are  now  sleeping  in  their  quiet, 
silent  graves  ;  a  new  and  busy  generation  of  men  and 
women,  mostly  sti'angers  to  them,  fill,  according  to 
their  ability,  the  vacant  places. 

And  to-day,  that  post  office  is  housed  in  a  commo- 
dious room,  upon  the  same  premises  where  it  was  first 
opened,  nearly  sixty-one  years  ago  ;  its  windows  are 
of  plate  glass,  each  light  of  which  is  five  and  a  half 
by  ten  and  a  half  feet  square,  and  it  is  fitted  up  with 
most  of  the  modern  appliances  for  facilitating  busi- 
ness, and  ten  or  twelve  mails  per  day,  arrive  and  de- 
part. 

The  receipts  of  the  office,  aside  from  the  money 
order  department,  from  March  1,  1878,  to  March  31, 
1879,  having  been  87,632.01,  and  estimating  the 
present  population  of  the  township  at  nine  thousand, 
would  average  a  contribution,  by  each  inhabitant,  to 
those  receipts,  of  about  eighty-five  cents,  or  at  three 
cents  per  half-ounce  letter,  would  equal  the  annual 
sending  of  nearly  sixty-five  letters  by  each  inhabitant 
now,  as  against  the  two  and  one-quarter  letters  sent 
in  1818-19. 

As  a  conclusion,  based  upon  the  foregoing  figures, 
while  the  population  has  increased  in  those  sixty 
years,  only  about  forty-times,  the  annual  receipts  of 
the  post  office  have  increased  nearly  sixty-eight  times, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  rate  of  postage  has 
been  reduced  from  twenty-five,  to  three  cents  per 
half-ounce,  or  over  eight  times  ;  taking  that  fact  into 
consideration,  the  business  of  the  office  has  increased 
about  five  hundred  and  forty-four  times. 

The  names  and  date  of  commission  of  each  person 
who  has  held  the  office,  from  its  establishment  to  the 
present  time,  have  been  furnished  the  writer  by  the 
Department  at  Washington,  and  are  as  follows  : 

Joseph  Pearce commissioned  October    1,  1816 

Piatt  Benedict "  October  2:5,  1818 

Cyrus  Butler '       "  July  29,  1829 

John  Bucliingham "  September  21,  1830 

Obadiah  Jenney "  May  20, 1841 

DanielJIallery •'  May    1,1849 

A.S.Sutton .- •■  July    6,1853 

Amos  ParlfS "  April  30,  1857 

John  V .  Vredenburgh "  December  15,  ISiiS 

JuliusS.  Coe ••  December  30,  1858 

HiramRose "  October  24.  1871 

Fredericlf  C.  Wickham "  December  l.'),  1875 

FIHST  MKKCHAXTS. 

TicE  &  FoKS\TH  (Peter  Tice  and  Frederick  For- 
syth), commenced  business  in  1818,  in  the  ''Red 
Store,"  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Hester  streets, 
where  the  Xorwalk  national  bank  now  stands;  dis- 
continued business  about  1821. 

Cyrvs  Bi'TLEK  commenced  business  as  successor 
of  Tice  &  Forsythe,  in  the  "Red  Store;"  David  M. 
Benedict,   clerk.     In  1825  built  the  brick  store  now 


138 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHlU. 


occupied  by  C.  H.  Wines  &  Co..  grocers,  on  the 
Latimer  property.     Removed  to  Birmingham  iu  1827. 

Frederick  Forsyth  commenced  business,  about 
1821,  in  a  building  which  stood  wliere  Harley's 
grocery  store,  number  nine,  West  ilain  street  now 
is,  and  discontinued  about  1823. 

Morse  &  Latimer  (Harvey  G.  Morse  and  Picket 
Latimer,)  commenced  business  about  1823,  in  the 
store  vacated  by  Forsythe,  and  continued  there  until 
they  removed  to  the  "'Red-Store."'  to  give  place  to 
Baker  &  Kimball,  in  1827. 

Bakek  &  Kimball  (Timothy  Baker  and  Moses 
Kimball,)  commenced  business  about  1825,  in  the 
building  so  long  used  as  a  store  by  Shepard  Patrick, 
standing  where  G.  Jacobson"s  clothing  store  now  is, 
store  number  seven,  W.  Main  street,  and  in  1827  re- 
moved to  store  vacated  by  Morse  &  Latimer. 

JoHX  V.  Vredenburgh  commenced  business  about 

1825,  in  the  building  Iniilt  by  him  on  the  lot  corner 
of  Main  street  and  Railroad  avenue,  where  Cline"s 
building  now  stands. 

EARLY    MERfHAXTS. 

A  copy  of  the  list  of  merchants  trading  iu  the 
county  of  Huron,  on  the  first  day  of  April,  A.  D. 

1826,  with  the  amount  of  capital. 

Cyrus  Butler,  Norwalk,* $5,000 

EnosGilbert  -         50 

Joseph  Strong,  Jr. ,  "        1,500 

.)    V.  Vredenburgh,  "        3,000 

I  certify  the  above  to  be  a  true  copy  of  the  list  of  merchants  in  said 
county,  doing  business  on  the  first  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1826. 

Geo.  Sheffield, 

Dated  June  1,  183(j  County  Assessor. 

*  The  list  of  the  other  towns  is  omitted  here,  because  not  connected 
with  the  history  of  Norwalk. 

The  following  are  similar  lists  made  by  the  county 
assessor  for  1828.  1829,  1830  and  1831. 

LIST  FOR  1828. 

Baker  &  Kimball,  Norwalk SI, 500 

P.  Latimer  &  Co.,        "        "2^500 

John  V.  Vredenburgh,  Norwalk 1,500 

Philo  Adams, 
June  3,  1828.  Assessor. 

Note— This  year  the  name  of  Cyrus  Butler  appears  in  the  list  for 
Florence,  capital  $500. 

LIST  FOE  1829. 

John  v.  Vredenburgh,  Norwalk 81,000 

Wm.  C.  Spolden.  "         ." 750 

Baker  &  Kimball,  "  1,500 

Piatt  Benedict  &  Co  ,         "         l^SOO 

Picket  Latimer,  "         a^OOO 

Tilden  &  Kittridge,  "         'lOo 

John  Wliyler,  "         250 

Philo  Adams, 

June  3,  1829.  County  Assessor. 

Note— Butler  does  not  appear  on  the  list  this  year. 
LIST  FOR  1830. 

Cyrus  Butler  &  Co.,  Norwalk gl^Ooo 

Baker  &  Kimball,  "         '  i^goo 

P.  Latimer  &  Co.,  •'         llsoo- 

Tilden  &  Kittridge,  '         '15O 

John  Whyler,  •'         5OO 

Geo.  Sheffield, 
June  1,  1830.  Assessor,  Huron  County. 

NoTE-The  name  of  John  V  Vredenburgh  appears  in  the  list  for 
Florence,  capital  S«00. 


LIST  FOB  18:JI. 

Baker  &  Kimball.  Norwalk S2,000 

Buckingham  &  Sturges,  Norwalk 1,500 

David  H.  Fitch,  "         since  April  1 1,500 

P.  Latimer  &  Co..  "         2,300 

John  Whyler,  since  April  1 1,200 

Attest :  Geo.  Sheffield,  Assessor. 

Note— This  year  the  name  of  Cyrus  Butler  appears  as  a  merchant  in 
Florence,  wi'h  a  capital  of  5800,  and  J.  V.  Vredenburgh,  with  a  capital 

of  sroo. 

No  further  lists  of  this  kind  have  been  found,  and 
it  is  probable  that  the  practice  of  a  general  listing  of 
merchants  was  abandoned  after  1831,  and  the  present 
mode  of  assessment  adopted. 

In  addition  to  the  list  for  1828,  S.  A.  Bronsou 
advertised  in  the  Xonvalk  Reporter  of  May  31,  1828: 

books:  ROOKS! 

SEVERAL  thousand  volumes  of  Books  are  now  received  in  Norwalk, 
among  which  are  as  follows-    (Here  follows  a  descriptive  list.)   Sta- 
tionery, SiC . ,  &c. ,  all  o:  which  will  be  sold  cheap  for  ready  pay,  either  in 
cash   or  produce,  at  the  market  price.    Enquire  of  S.  A.  BRONSON 
immediately  under  the  printing  office. 
Norwalk,  May  27,  1828. 

Also,  in  the  issue  of  the  Reporter  of  April  .i,  1828, 
Aurelins  Mason  advertised: 

JUST  received 

AND  for  sale,  by  .^urelius  Mason,  Dried  Peaches,  of  an  excellent 
qualit.v,  and  a  quantity  of  Stoneware. 
Norwalk,  April  4,  1828. 

In  the  issue  of  the  Reporter  ot  June  28,  1828,  John 
Whyler  announces  that  he  "has  just  opened  his  shop 
in  N'orwalk,  adjoining  the  public  square,  where  he 
intends  keeping  at  all  times  a  general  assortment  of 
tin  ware,  which  he  will  sell  low  for  cash,  or  most 
kinds  of  country  produce," 

The  history  of  John  Whyler,  as  a  merchant  of  Xor- 
walk,  is  one  of  thrift  and  singular  prosperity.  The 
writer  has  heard  Mr.  Whyler  relate  that  he  came  to 
Xorwalk  with  all  his  worldly  goods  packed  in  a  wheel- 
barrow. He  commenced  business  here  as  a  peddler  of 
threads,  laces,  buttons,  etc.,  in  the  latter  part  of 
1827,  or  the  early  part  of  1828,  carrying  from  house 
to  house  his  stock  in  trade  iu  two  tin  boxes.  His 
trade  increased  so  that  he  soon  opened  a  small  store 
on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  J.  JI.  Farr,  corner 
of  Pleasant  and  Main  streets.  As  announced  in  the 
above  advertisement,  be,  in  1828,  ojjened  a  tin  shop 
adjoining  the  public  square,  which  was  put  iu  charge 
of  his  son,  George  Whyler,  (father  of  John  6. 
Whyler,  the  present  plumber  of  Norwalk).  Iu  1830, 
the  store  was  removed  to  the  building  occupied  by  the 
tin  shop,  and  a  general  stock  of  merchandise  opened 
up.  The  place  of  business  was  then  known  as  "The 
Red  Store."  From  this  location  he  removed  his  busi- 
ness as  ;i  general  merchant,  some  years  afterwards,  to 
the  lot  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Prospect 
streets,  where,  in  company  with  his  sons,  John,  Jr., 
and  Edward,  he  for  many  years,  and  until  about 
1849,  carried  on  a  very  extensive  and  general  mer- 
cantile business. 

This  place  of  business  was  called  "The  Old  For- 
tress," and  in  the  palmy  days  of  the  grain  traffic  at 
Milan,  the  streets  of  Norwalk  were,  year  after  year, 
in  the  grain  season,   filled  and  almost  blockaded  by 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


two,  four,  six,  eight  and  ten  horse  teams  attached  to 
"Pennsylvania  Schooners,"  (as  tliose  immense  canvas 
covered  grain  wagons  were  called,)  while  their  owners 
were  making  purchases  to  carry  home.  Those  "team- 
sters" came  from  all  the  territory  south  from  here  to 
Franklin  county,  and  a  very  large  proportion  of  them 
would  buy  their  "store  goods"  of  no  one  but  "Ole 
AVyler." 

He  was  a  bluff,  bow-legged,  corpulent,  jolly,  wide- 
awake Englishman,  and  the  hearty,  "hail-fellow, 
well-mef  manner  of  the  man  won  the  hearts  and 
the  trade  of  the  "Pennsylvania  Dutch"  farmers  of 
Central  Ohio. 

The  successful  opening  of  tlie  Sandusky,  Mansfield 
&  Newark  Rail  Road  and  the  Cleveland,  Columbus 
&  Cincinnati  Rail  Road  killed  Milan  and  "The  Old 
Fortress." 

Mr.  Whyler  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
and  there  commenced  business  as  a  baker,  in  which 
he  proved  a  failure;  then  he  emigrated  and  settled  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  continued  only  a  short  time; 
from  there  he  came  to  Norwalk.  and  remained  uniil 
his  death. 

VILL.\(4E    INCORPOKATEI). 

Norwalk  was  incorporated  by  Act  of  Legislature, 
February  11,  1828.  The  following  are  the  two  first 
sections  of  the  act  of  incorporation: 

Section  I .  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
That  so  much  of  the  township  of  Norwalk,  in  the  county  of  Huron,  as 
lies  within  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit:  Commencing  at  the  stuth 
east  corner  of  the  lown  plat  of  Xorwalk,  in  the  center  of  the  road  lead- 
ing to  Medina,  running  alcing  the  south  side  of  the  back  alley  as  far  ao 
it  extends,  from  thence  in  the  same  direction  to  the  center  of  the  road 
passing  Widow  Tice's  dwelling,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  sixteen 
rods  from  the  starting  point;  thence  alongthe  center  of  said  road  forty  ; 
rods;  thence  northeastwardly  and  parallel  with  the  first  line  to  the 
center  of  the  road  passing  Ebenezer  Lane's  dwelling  to  Milan,  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  and  sixteen  rods;  thence  along  the  center  of  said  road 
forty  rods  to  the  place  o£  beginning,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  created 
a  town  corporate,  and  shall  henceforth  be  known  and  distinguished  by 
the  name  of  the  town  of  Xorwalk. 

Sec  i-  That  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  white  male  inhabitants  of  said 
town,  having  the  quaUflcations  of  electors  of  members  of  the  General 
Assembly,  to  meet  at  some  convenient  place  in  said  town,  on  the  first 
Monday  of  May  next,  and  the  first  Monday  of  May  annually  thereafter, 
and  then  and  there  proceed,  by  a  plurality  of  votes,  to  elect  by  ballot 
one  mayor,  one  recorder  and  five  trustees,  who  shall  have  the  qualifica- 
tions of  electors;  and  the  persons  so  elected  shall  hold  their  office  for 
one  year,  and  until  their  successors  shall  be  chosen  and  qualified,  and 
they  shall  constitute  the  town  council. 


FIRST    CORPOKATIGX    ELECTION. 

The  fdllowiiig  i.-;  taken  from  the  first  pages  of  the 
first  book  of  record  of  the  corporation  of  Norwalk, 
and  comprises  the  poll-book  and  tally  sheet  of  the 
first  election  held  as  tin  incorporated  village: 

Poll-book  of  the  election  held  in  the  town  of  Norwalk,  in  the  county 
of  Huron,  and  State  of  Ohio,  this  fifth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty -eight.  Joseph  C.  Curtiss 
Benjamin  Carmon  and  Wm.  Gallup,  judges,  and  Geo.  T.  Buckingham, 
clerk,  of  this  election,  were  severall.v  sworn  as  the  law  directs  previous 
to  their  entering  on  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices. 


;Vo. 


of         Names  of  Electon 

1.  James  Williams. 

2.  Wm    H.  Hunter. 

3.  Ichabod  Marshall. 
J.  EriKeeler. 

5.  Halletc  (iallup 


Voter. 


Xamesof  Electors. 


36.  Geo.  Gauff. 

37.  Henry  Tice. 

38.  Piatt  Benedict, 

39  Seth  Jennings. 

40  Geo.  T.  Buckingha 


41  Samuel  Preston. 

42  Daniel  G.  Eaitt. 

43.  Thadeus  B.  Sturges. 

44-  Jacob  Wilson. 

45.  John  V.  Vredenburgh. 

40.  Leverett  Bradley. 

47.  Ozias  S.  Baker. 

48  William  Gallup. 

49.  Joseph  C.  Curtiss. 

50.  Benjamin  Carmon. 
51  Josiah  L.  Bottsford. 

52.  Abraham  Emmet. 

53,  Wm.  C.  Enos. 
54-  Aurelius  Mason. 
55.  James  Minshall. 
56  Joseph  Mason. 

67.  Frederick  Forsythe. 

58.  Asahel  W.  Howe. 

59.  Michael  F.  Cisco. 

60.  Wm.  JI.  Newgent. 

61 .  Charles  Slocum. 

62.  Picket  Latimer. 

63.  John  Felton. 

64.  Lewis  M.  Howard. 

65.  Cyrus  Butler. 

66.  Jonas  B.  Benedict. 
67  John  Ford. 

68.  Jonas  Denton - 
69-  John  Knott. 

imber  of  electors  at  this  election 

WlLLIiM  GiLLCP. 

B.  Carmon, 

Judges  of  Election. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  ttiUy  sheet  of  this 
election,  with  the  certificate  of  tiie  judges  of  the 
election : 

Names  of  persons  voted  for  and  for  what  offices,  containing  the  num- 
ber of  votes  for  each  candidate. 


6.  Moses  Kimball. 

7.  Pelatiah  Strong. 

8.  Daniel  Tilden. 

9.  John  P.  McArdle. 

10.  Wm.  Haughton. 

11.  Sherlock  A.  Bronson. 

12.  Zachariah  Marvin. 

13.  Sam  B.  Ames. 

14.  Levi  Wilson. 

15.  Barton  Sweet, 

16.  John  V.  Sharp. 

17.  John  G.  Taylor. 

18.  Henry  Buckingham. 

19.  Isaac  M.  Wilson. 

20.  Joseph  Wilson. 

21 .  Joseph  H.  Wilson. 

22.  Denison  Clark. 

23.  John  Ebbett,  Jr. 

24.  Cira  Collins. 

25.  Benjamin  Junkins. 

26.  Henry  Hurlbert. 

27 .  Nelson  Haughton  - 
58  John  Ebbert. 

29,  Nathan  Sweet. 

.30.  Charles  Lindsay. 

31.  Wm.  Taylor, 

32.  John  P.  Savin. 

33.  Barney  Carkhoof. 

34.  John  Miller. 

35.  Enos  Gilbert. 


James  Williams.  41  ' 


William  H.  Hunter,  26  i 

RECORDER. 

John  V.  Vredenburgh.  i 

TRUSTEES. 

Samuel  Preston,  38  vote 


Henry  Buckingha 
Lewis  M.  Howard.  28 
Isaac  M.  Wilson,  26  vc 
Daniel  E.  Raitt,  27  vol 
William  Gallup,  1  voti 
Isaac  Wilson,  1  vote. 


Picket  Latimer,  40  votes. 

Frederick  Forsythe,  39  votes.  Henry  Buckingham,  41  ' 

Daniel  Ti!den,'41  votes. 

Cyrus  Butler,  31  votes. 

Charles  Lindsny.  29  votes 

Jonas  Benedict,  1  vote. 

L.  M.  Howard,  2  votC!^. 

We  do  hereby  certify  that  James  Williams  had  forty-one  votes,  and 
William  H.  Hunter  had  twenty-six  votes,  for  mayor;  and  that  Leverett 
Bradley  had  thirty-seven  votes,  and  John  G.  Vredenburgh  ha  1  thirty 
votes,  for  recorder;  and  that  Picket  Latimer  had  forty  votes.  Samuel 
Preston  had  thirty -eight  votes,  Frederick  Forsythe  had  thirty -nine  votes, 
Henry  Buckingham  had  forty-one  votes  Daniel  Tilden  had  forty-one 
votes,  Lewis  M.  Howard  had  twenty  eightTotes.  Cyrus  Butler  had  thirty- 
one  votes,  Isaac  M.  Wilson  had  twenty-six  votes.  Charles  Lindsay  had 
twenty-nine  votes,  Daniel  G.  Raitt  had  twenty-seven  votes,  Jonas  Bene- 
dict had  one  vote.  William  Gallup  had  one  vote.  L.  M.  Howard  had  two 
votes,  and  Isaac  Wilson  had  one  vote,  for  trustees. 

Bex.7.  Carmon, 
Wm.  Gallup, 
Attest:  Joseph  C.  Cvrtiss, 

Geo,  T,  Buckingham,  Judyes of  Election. 

Clerk. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  town  council  took  place  on 
May  8,  1828,  at  which  time  the  members  were  duly 
(jualified,  after  which  Ichabod  Marshall  was  appointed 
treasurer,  and  John  Miller,  marshal. 

Council  again  met  May  lil.  and  appointed  James 
Williams,  Frederick  Forsyth  and  Picket  Latimer,  a 
conimittee  to  draft  ti  code  of  by-laws  and  report  at 
the  next  meeting. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


On  May  3(),  council  met  to  receive  the  report  of  tlic 
conmiittee  on  by-laws.  At  thi.s  meeting  Eri  Keeler 
was  appointed  pound-keeper,  and  authorized  to  build 
a  public  pound.  This  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
June  6,  and  from  that  date  again  to  June  10. 

At  the  meeting  of  Juue  10,  a  long  ordinance  of  five 
sections  was  adopted  :  the  substance  of  which  was 
that  "no  hog  or  hogs,  shoat  or  shoats,  pig  or  pigs," 
should  be  allowed  to  run  at  large  within  the  limits 
of  the  corporation.  This  ordinance  was  repealed  May 
20,  1835,  as  appears  in  the  record  book,  page  59. 

No  further  record  of  meetings  of  the  council  is  en- 
tered until  that  of  April  6,  182'.». 

The  poll  book  of  the  election  held  May  4,  182!l, 
contains  the  names  of  twenty-eight  electors.  The 
officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were,  Frederick  Forsyth, 
mayor  ;  John  Miller,  recorder  ;  Mathew  Callaway, 
Lewis  M.  Howard,  Thaddeus  B.  Sturges,  Moses  Kim- 
ball and  William  M.  Newgent,  trustees. 

The  first  book  of  the  records  extends  to  the  year 
1840,  the  last  meeting  of  the  council,  that  is  recorded, 
being  held  April  25,  of  that  year. 

At  the  election  held  the  first  Monday  in  May.  of 
that  year,  Piatt  Benedict  was  elected  mayor  ;  J.  Sid- 
ney Skinner,  recorder  ;  F.  Wickham,  assessor  ;  Tim- 
othy Baker,  John  Kennan,  John  Beebe,  Robert  Mor- 
ton and  John  Cline,  Tx-ustces. 

The  elections  in  those  days  were  held  at  the 
"Council  House,"  which  stood  where  "Whittlesey 
Block"  now  stands  ;  it  was  a  one  story  frame  building 
of  about  twenty-four  by  forty  feet,  with  about  twelve 
feet  of  the  north  part  partitioned  off  for  a  council- 
room,  the  front  part  being  used  for  the  storage  of  the 
old  rotary  pump  fire  engine,  a  two-wheeled  hose-cart 
and  some  massive  hooks  and  ladders  that  required 
great  strength  to  handle.  The  old,  black,  home- 
made hearse,  for  many  years  owned  and  driven  by  Eri 
Keeler,  used  to  be  kept  there  too.  For  a  number  of 
years  previous  to  1850,  Benjamin  Shipley  used  the 
council-rcom  as  a  barber  shop.  The  old  building  was 
moved  away  in  1854  to  give  place  to  Whittlesey  Block. 
At  the  corporation  election  held  in  April,  18T9, 
there  were  one  thousand  and  forty-eight  votes  polled. 
The  present  (1879)  corporation  officers  are  :  S.  P. 
Hildreth,  mayor  ;  W.  Y.  Watrous,  clerk ;  £.  A. 
Pray,  solicitor ;  Wm.  Suhr,  treasurer  ;  Jefferson 
Barber,  marshal ;  H.  P.  Smith,  street  commissioner  ; 
C.  J.  Baldwin,  Ira  T.  Couclin,  Col.  J.  A.  Jones,  J. 
B.  Millen,  J.  A.  Nichols,  S.  S.  Wing,  councihnen. 

FUGITIVE  SLAVES. 

In  October,  1842,  five  men,  three  women  and  four 
children,  all  but  one  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  residents  of  Campbell  county, 
Kentucky,  concluded  to  emigrate  to  Canada.  They 
crossed  the  Ohio  river  and  took  passage  on  the  "Under 
Ground  Railroad,"  the  earliest,  most  economical  and 
efficiently  managed  railroad  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and 
had  progressed  on  their  journey  so  far  as  Fitchville.  i 
in  this  couuty,^a  station  on  that  road,  R.  Palmer,    | 


agent, —  when  they  were  arrested  by  virtue  of  a  war- 
rant, issued  by  Samuel  Pennewell,  Esq.,  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  of  Norwalk  township,  under  what  was  then 
called  the  "Black  Law,"  and  brought  to  Norwalk, 
on  November  2nd,  charged  with  being  fugitive  slaves. 
Mr.  Pennewell  was  not  in  sympathy  with  the  "Black 
Law,"  and  had  publicly  stated  that  he  should  require 
the  most  conclusive  evidence  of  not  only  ownership, 
but  birth  in  slavery;  and  that,  before  he  would  issue 
an  order  for  their  rendition,  the  testimony  would 
have  to  be  so  conclusive  that  it  would  suffice  to  estab- 
lish the  legitimacy  of  a  royal  heir  to  his  throne. 

In  consequence  of  Mr.  Pennewell's  expressed  views, 
no  doubt,  a  writ  of  liabeas  corpus  was  taken  out,  and 
the  examination  removed  from  before  Esquire  Penne- 
well and  brought  before  A.  G.  Sutton,  then  an  Asso- 
ciate Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court,  and  resulted 
in  five  of  the  fugitives  being  remanded  back  to 
slavery;  but,  for  technical  insufficiency  in  the  testi- 
mony, no  order  was  given  against  the  others,  but  they 
were  held  to  await  the  procuring  of  further  testimony 
from  Kentucky. 

Discouraged  by  the  order  against  five  of  their  party, 
the  other  seven  then  gave  up  the  contest  and  con- 
sented to  be  taken  back. 

Two  of  them  were  claimed  by  one  part}-,  three  by 
another  and  seven  by  a  third. 

The  owners  were  represented  here  by  an  agent,  or 
"slave  hunter,"  who,  it  appears,  was  assisted  by  par- 
ties living  in  Ohio,  of  whom  the  citizens  of  Fitchville 
say,  in  one  of  many  resolutions  adopted  by  them 
November  9,  1842,  and  signed  "Stephen  Pomeroy. 
moderatoi-,  and  E.  A.  Pray,  secretary:" 

"Be  it  therefore  resolved  *  *  *  that  a  large 
majority  of  our  worthy  citizens  feel  grieved  that  a 
Kentucky  slaveholder,  with  a  number  of  bought  up 
(what  is  called  here)  Ohio  blood  hounds,  or  slave- 
catchers,  should  be  secretly  quartered  among  us,  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  their  nefarious  purposes  into 
operation. " 

At  that  time  Edward  E.  Husted  was  sheriff  of 
Huron -county,  and  he  refused  to  have  the  fugitives 
confined  in  the  jail.  They  were  consequently  kept 
at  the  old  "Goff  House,"  (which  stood  where  the 
Congregational  Church  now  is,)  under  an  armed 
guard,  for  about  one  week,  and  until  the  close  of  the 
examination. 

On  Sunday  morning,  after  the  order  of  rendition 
had  been  given,  they  were  ironed,  loaded  on  to  a  four- 
horse  stage  and  taken  through  Main  street  on  their 
way  back  to — no  one  here  knows  ic/iai. 

Hallet  Gallup  then  lived  nest  west  of  the  old  "Goff 
House,"  which  had  an  upper  and  lower  veranda  across 
its  whole  front;  the  negroes  were  i)ermitted  frequently 
to  exercise  upon  the  upper  one,  and  a  sou  of  Mr. 
Gallup,  a  little  lad,  took  advantage  of  those  occasions 
to  throw  apples  up  to  them,  and  for  such  favors 
received  as  hearty  thanks  as  have  ever  been  tendered 
to  him  since,  and  by  those  acts  probably  won  the 
confidence  of  the  slaves;  at  all  events,  on  the  Sunday 


^:^^ 


HON.  JOHN  A.  WILLIAMSON, 


son  of  tlie  late  Jiiines  "Williamson  and  Pliebe  Williamson, 
anil,  on  the  maternal  side,  grandson  of  Abizah  GriflBn,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Greenwich  township,  was  born  Sept.  25, 
1842,  in  the  township  of  New  London,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State,  having  been 
born  and  reared  in  Hunter,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and,  removing 
to  Ohio  at  a  comparative  early  day,  were  here  married  in 
the  year  1830.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  at  the  family  homestead, 
the  old  farm  still  owned  by  him,  upon  which  the  Williamsons 
originally  settled,  and  which  lies  in  the  townships  of  New 
London  and  Fitchville,  into  the  latter  of  which  the  residence 
was  transferred  in  1852. 

Mr.  Williamson's  youth  was  passed  in  a  manner  of  life 
similar  to  that  of  many  farmer  boys,  but,  possessing  a  more 
than  usually  vigorous  constitution,  together  with  bright  and 
acute  intellectual  qualities,  he  began  early  in  life  to  manifest 
those  traits  of  mind  and  character  which,  in  their  mature 
development,  have  rendered  him  eminent,  professionally  and 
politically.  His  was  naturally  an  ambitious  nature,  and  so  it 
happened  that  he  could  not  be  satisfied  with  the  education 
gained  in  the  common  schools,  but  when  he  had  passed 
through  their  course  of  study,  ehose  to  avail  himself  of  further 
opportunities  and  fit  himself  for  the  occupation  of  higher 
positions  in  life  than  he  could  attain  to  without  so  doing. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  upon  a  course  in  the 
preparatory  department  of  Oberlin  College,  and  two  years 
later  he  became  a  member  of  the  Freshman  class  of  that  insti- 
tution of  learning.  He  remained  until  the  completion  of  the 
Sojihomore  year,  18G2,  when  that  one  of  many  exciting  war 
alarms,  the  news  that  the  Confederate  Gen.  Kirby  Smith 
was  about  to  make  a  raid  upon  Cincinnati,  was  flashed  through 
the  loyal  North,  and  a  call  was  made  for  the  minute-men  of 
the  State  to  rally  to  the  protection  of  its  chief  city.  Mr. 
Williamson,  being  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Union  sentiment, 
and  feeling  that  be  should  do  anything  that  lay  within  his 
means  to  assist  the  overthrow  of  the  power  which  menaced 
our  free  soil,  notwithstanding  the  reluctance  of  parental 
solicitude  for  the  safety  of  an  only  child,  went  out  as  one  of 
that  hastily-summoned  and  quickly-prepared  body  of  men, 
as  did  also  many  of  his  class. 


After  returning  from  the  service  of  that  brief  campaign, 
which  by  no  means,  however,  promised  to  be  short,  he  asked 
for  and  received  an  honorable  dismissal  from  Oberlin,  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Junior  class  at  Yale,  from  which  col- 
lege he  graduated  with  honors  in  the  year  18G4.  Immediately 
after  finishing  his  academic  course  he  entered  upon  the  study 
of  law  in  the  Law  School  of  the  University  of  New  York,  at 
Albany,  from  which  he  graduated  in  18G5.  The  time  inter- 
vening between  this  date  and  1807  was  spent  in  a  law-office 
in  Cincinnati,  and  in  traveling  and  general  reading. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1867,  he  became  deputy  clerk  of 
courts  in  Huron  County,  under  A.  B.  Griffin,  Esq.,  clerk, 
which  position  he  held  until  his  resignation,  in  1868,  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  into  a  partnership  for  the  practice  of  law 
with  Hon.  W.  S.  Tennant,  at  East  Saginaw,  Mich.  In  1869 
he  removed  from  East  Saginaw  to  Toledo,  where  he  resided 
until  the  spring  of  1871,  when  he  removed  to  Norwalk,  in  his 
native  county.  At  this  point  he  has  since  lived  prominently 
in  the  eye  of  the  public,  and  in  such  manner  as  to  have  no 
cause  to  fear  its  watching.  He  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  followed  it  assiduously  and  uninterruptedly 
until  1877,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Representatives  from  Huron  County. 

Politically,  Mr.  Williamson  is  a  Republican,  and  an  earnest 
supporter  of  the  men  and  measures  of  that  party.  He  has 
been  a  worker  for  the  success  of  principles  and  of  the  best  men 
in  the  party,  rather  than  a  seeker  of  political  preferment  for 
himself.  Ho  has  not  sought  place,  and  in  accepting  it  has 
only  done  so  in  response  to  the  clearly  expressed  will  of  his 
friends  and  the  suffrage  of  the  people. 

Mr.  Williamson  is  a  man  of  fine  as  well  as  forcible  intel- 
lectual qualities,  an  extensive  reader  and  close  thinker,  of  a 
remarkably  practical  cast  of  mind,  and  yet,  withal,  alive  to 
whatever  there  is  of  beauty  in  the  many  refinements  of  sur- 
roundings and  of  being.  He  is  cautious  but  firm  in  his 
judgments,  and  reliable.  In  manner  he  is  social  and  friendly, 
and  he  possesses  qualities  that  readily  win  admiration  and 
respect,  whether  from  his  political  compeers,  or  his  private 
companions  and  acquaintances. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Celestia  N.  Tennant,  of  Camden, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  19,  1869. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


141 


before  they  were  taken  away,  he  was  engaged  in 
throwing  them  apples  again,  when  one  of  them,  a 
large  and  powerful  man,  stepped  near  the  railing  and 
threw  something  which  sparkled  and  flashed  in  the 
sunlight  as  it  came  through  the  air  and  fell  into  the 
tall  grass  at  the  lad's  feet.  The  guards  were  near, 
and  a  crowd  of  boisterous  men  were  gathered  on  the 
lower  porch.  Fearing  detection,  the  boy  took  no  no- 
tice of  what  had  been  thrown  him,  but  soon  went 
and  informed  his  father  of  what  had  occurred.  That 
night  Mr.  Gallup  went,  and,  searching  through  the 
grass,  found  a  large  silver -handled  double-edged 
'•bowie  knife,'"  with  a  silver-trimmed  leather  sheath. 
About  one  year  afterwards,  a  constable  of  Norwalk 
called  on  Mr.  Gallup  and  demanded  the  knife,  saying 
he  had  a  search  warrant  for  it.  Mr.  Gallup  stepped 
to  the  large  old-fashioned  "fire-place,"  and  picking 
up  an  iron  poker,  turned  and  asked  the  constable  if 
that  wa'nt  the  knife  he  was  .looking  for;  but  the 
valiant  officer  at  once  became  anxious  to  go  back  to 
the  justice  that  issued  the  warrant  so  as  to  return  it 
"not  found.'"  Suit  was  then  commenced  before  a 
justice  against  Mr.  Gallup  for  the  value  of  the  knife; 
but  upon  his  demanding  a  jury  trial,  it  was  with- 
drawn, and  nothing  further  was  done  about  it.  That 
cruel,  blood-stained  knife  is  now  in  possession  of  a 
son  of  Hallet  Gallup. 

In  the  volume  on  "Population  and  Social  Statis- 
tics," United  States  Census  of  1870,  on  page  fifty-six, 
it  is  stated  that  the  free  colored  population  of  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  was  in  1820,  seven;  in  1830,  fifty-six; 
in  1840,  one  hundred  and  six;  in  1850,  thirty-nine; 
in  1860,  seventy-nine;  and  in  1870,  two  hundred. 
From  this  it  will  be  seen,  that  in  the  decade  from 
1840  to  1850,  the  colored  population  of  Huron  county 
decreased  from  one  hundred  and  six  to  thirty-nine, 
or  nearly  two-thirds — proliably  in  consequence  of  the 
fear  of  being  claimed  and  sent  south  as  slaves — a  fear 
engendered  by  this  inhuman  violation  of  personal 
liberty,  which  was  sanctioned  by  law  and  submitted 
to  by  the  freemen  of  the  north  in  1843.  It  will  fur- 
ther be  noticed,  that  after  slavery  had  been  abolished, 
and  terror  of  the  "  black  law ""  no  longer  hung  as  a 
sable  pall  over  the  land,  in  the  decade  from  1860  to 
1870,  the  colored  population  increased  from  seventy- 
nine  to  two  hundred,  or  niore  than  two  and  a  half 
times,  and  probably  a  greater  part  of  this  increase 
occurred  after  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865.  The 
people  of  Norwalk  and  of  the  whole  North  were  never 
in  sympathy  with  slavery  nor  the  fugitive  slave  law, 
but  they  were  law  abiding,  and  submitted  to  the 
decrees  of  the  courts.  The  question  is  pertinent:  have 
the  people  of  the  old  slave  States  ever,  even  to  this 
day,  shown  a  like  submission  to  law? 

FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

Norwalk  having  been  incorporated  in  1828,  one  of 
tlie  first  acts  of  its  first  council  was  to  provide  the 
newly  organized  village  with  some  eflicient  method  for 
extinguishing  fires.      Muscle  then   was   paramount. 


and  the  only  machine  accessible  was  the  bucket;  con- 
sequently the  first  organization  was  known  as  the 
"bucket  brigade.'"  The  first  ordinance  required  that 
each  property  owner  on  Main  street  should  keep  a 
certain  number  of  leathern  buckets,  suitably  num- 
bered, and  lettered  with  the  owner's  name,  and  hung 
in  the  building  as  assessed,  convenient  for  use,  usu- 
ally in  the  front  hall.  Some  of  these  old  buckets  are 
still  in  existence,  and  might  have  been  seen  hanging 
up  to  a  recent  date  in  the  hall  entrance  of  Judge 
Stickney's  office.  The  judge  was  an  efficient  and 
"leading  engine"  in  that  organization.  One  is  now 
in  possess"ion  of  C.  H.  Gallup,  Esq.,  marked  "P. 
Benedict,"  who  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  brigade. 
This  organization  was  well  disciplined,  and  at  the  first 
"blowing  of  the  horn,"  which  was  then  the  alarm, 
every  man  was  on  hand  with  his  buckets,  and  two 
lines  were  formed  from  the  burning  building  to  the 
nearest  water,  and  the  "stream"  passed  from  hand  to 
hand,  in  these  buckets,  the  second  line  returning  the 
empty  ones.  Every  man  was  then  a  fireman,  and 
worked  with  a  will  and  efficiency  that  might  well  he 
imitated  with  more  modern  ajipliances  and  by  more 
elaborate  organizations.  But  it  formed  the  germ  from 
which  has  sprung  a  company  that  stands  at  the  head 
of  its  class  and  department  in  the  United  States,  the 
"Rescue"  hook  and  ladder  company,  now  holding  the 
championship  belt  and  gold  prizes  won  at  Chicago  in 
1878,  of  which  we  will  speak  hereafter. 

Following  closely  upon  this  first  step  was  the  con- 
struction of  town  wells,  designed  only  for  fire  pur- 
poses, and  mainly  planked  Or  timbered  up,  one  of 
which  may  still  be  seen  at  the  corner  of  Railroad  ave- 
nue and  Monroe  street,  but  the  first  were  located  on 
Main  street.  As  time  passed  and  the  village  increased 
in  population,  it  was  thought  best  to  purchase  a  ma- 
chine, but,  as  it  could  not  be  reached  by  taxation,  a 
subscription  was  started  for  that  purpose,  and  the 
project  was  successful.  After  doing  years  of  service 
this  old  engine  was  passed  over  to  the  "boys,"  many  of 
whom  are  now  middle-aged  business  men,  and  remem- 
ber with  much  pride  their  first  "playing  firemen" 
with  the  old  machine.  Then  the  "  Champion"  was 
purchased,  and  the  department  more  efficiently  or- 
ganized; but  as  yet  there  was  but  one  company,  con- 
trolled by  a  chief  engineer,  one  foreman  with  two 
assistants,  etc.  In  1854,  the  Whittlesey  block  was 
erected,  and  the  corporation  built  in  connection  with 
the  other  owners  of  rooms  the  north  room  on  the 
ground-floor  of  said  building  and  dedicated  it  to  the 
use  of  the  department;  and  it  was  so  used  by  them  as 
their  headquarters,  in  connection  'with  a  rented  hall 
above,  until  June,  1877,  when  the  new  hall  on  Sem- 
inary street  was  taken  possession  of  and  dedicated, 
and  the  rented  room  given  up. 

Many  j'ears  previous  to  this,  however,  the  needs  of 
the  village  had  outgrown  the  "Champion,"  and  the 
"Phaniix"  engine  was  purchased.  As  yet  but  one 
company  existed,  nearly  all  the  members  of  Avhich 
transferred  their  aifections  to  the  new  engine.     At 


142 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


tlie  head  of  tlie  department  witli  this  new  engine, 
stood  E.  0.  Hill  (afterwurds  mastt-r  mechanic  at  the 
railroad  shops),  as  chief  engineer,  and  many  vere  the 
tilts  he  had  with  other  departments  and  engines  of 
the  State,  in  most  cases  successfully.  Under  his 
management  the  department  attained  a  great  degree 
of  efficiency,  which  it  maintained  up  to  its  disband- 
ment  in  1.S73.  It  had  furnished  its  hall  creditably — 
had  quite  a  large  library,  many  good  pictures,  and 
much  other  property  incident  to  that  department, 
and  its  company  numbered  about  sixty. 

The  increase  of  risks  to  property  in  the  corporation, 
consequent  upon  its  extending  its  limits',  and  the 
natural  decrease  of  the  water,  had  forced  upon  the 
citizens  the  necessity  of  procuring  some  more  abun- 
dant supply  and  efficient  protection,  and  they  very 
wisely  combined  the  two  in  the  adoption  of  their 
present  system  of  water  works.  This  system  em- 
braced the  supply  and  protection  principles,  and  very 
largely  superseded  the  hand  engines  then  in  use,  and 
necessitated  the  reorganization  of  the  whole  depart- 
ment, or  rather  the  creation  of  a  new  one  to  harmon- 
ize, in  its  workings,  with  the  changed  order  of  things. 
The  project  of  a  change  met  with  the  most  violent 
opposition  from  the  old  company,  and  eventuated  in 
their  ignoring  the  whole  thing,  and  refusing,  almost 
to  a  man,  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it;  but  an  ordi- 
nance was  passed  dividing  the  village  into  five  fire 
districts,  each  district  to  organize  a  company  consisting 
of  fifteen  men,  and  they  to  elect  of  their  own  number 
a  foreman  and  one  assistant,  and  also  to  designate  one 
man  as  policeman,  who  is  to  be  called  into  active 
service  in  emergencies  by  the  mayor.  In  addition  to 
these  five  companies  there  was  created  a  hook  and 
ladder  company  of  twenty  members,  with  like  officers, 
making  the  whole  department  for  actual  service  con- 
sist of  six  companies,  with  a  total  of  about  one 
hundred  men.  The  force  is  under  the  direct  man- 
agement of  a  chief  engineer  appointed  by  the  council, 
who  is  paid  fifty  dollars  a  year  for  his  services — the 
only  man  of  the  whole  force  that  is  paid — the  depart- 
ment being  otherwise  volunteers.  This  arrangement 
has  proved  entirely  satisfactory,  and  the  organization 
is  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  successful  in  the  State, 
or,  in  fact,  in  the  United  States,  of  its  class,  as  the 
record  of  the  "  Rescues,"  the  hook  and  ladder  com- 
pany, has  demonstrated. 

In  September  of  1878,  the  first  national  tourna- 
ment of  volunteer  firemen  was  held  at  Chicago,  and 
among  its  j)rizes  offered  was  a  championship  belt  of  the 
United  States  with  a  cash  prize  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars in  gold,  and  several  individual  prizes  of  less  value. 
The  "Rescues"  of  Xorwalk  had  made  an  enviable 
record  in  the  State  contests  during  the  season  and 
desired  to  take  part  in  the  national  contest,  but  re- 
ceived no  encouragement  or  assistance  from  the  city 
council.  They  therefore  appealed  direct  to  the  citi- 
zens, who  generously  contributed  the  funds  necessary 
to  make  the  trial,  and  they  entered  the  contest.  This 
tournament  lasted  the  whole  of  one  week,  and  was 


participated  in  by  all  the  various  dei)artments  of  the 
volunteer  service  of  the  United  States.  The  contest 
of  hook  and  ladder  comiDanies  was  to  make  a  run  of 
three  hundred  yards — a  trifle  more  than  fifty-five  rods 
— running  their  trucks  loaded  with  the  full  service  of 
ladders,  and  all  other  apparatus  necessary  for  efficient 
work  at  a  fire,  to  raise  a  thirty  foot  ladder,  a  man  of 
the  company  making  the  full  run  with  them  and 
climbing  from  the  ground  to  the  top. 

In  this  contest  there  were  twelve  competing  com- 
panies, among  whom  were  the  champions  of  Illinois 
and  Indiana,  who  had  been  under  training  for  months 
for  the  struggle.  There  were  to  be  two  runs  made  by 
each  company,  and  the  average  time  taken  to  decide 
it.  The  first  run  was  made  by  the  •' Monmouths,' 
the  champions  of  Illinois,  who  made  it  in  forty-nine 
and  one-half  seconds,  the  fastest  time  then  ever  made. 
The  "Rescues"  next  went  over  the  course  and  made 
the  run  in  forty -eight,  seconds,  beating  their  strongest 
competitors  a  second  and  a  half,  and  making  the 
fastest  time  now  on  record.  The  other  companies  in 
the  contest  made  runs  varying  in  time  from  fifty  to 
sixty-eight  and  three-fourths  seconds,  a  difference  in 
time  of  more  that  twenty  seconds.  After  an  interval 
of  two  hours  the  second  runs  were  made,  when  the 
"Rescues"  met  with  an  accident  to  their  climber, 
who,  when  near  the  top  of  the  ladder,  made  a  misstep 
and  partial  fall  that  lost  him  a  second  and  a  half, 
making  their  time  forty-nine  seconds,  while  their 
competitors  had  reduced  theirs  to  forty-eight  and  a 
half  seconds,  leaving  the  "Rescues"  a  clear  second 
ahead  and  the  winners  of  the  prize,  the  two  runs  of 
the  "Rescues"  being  ninety-seven  seconds,  while  those 
of  the  "  Monmouths,"  their  closest  contestants,  made 
ninety-eight. 

The  company  met  with  a  perfect  ovation  on  their 
return  home.  Toledo  felt  that  they  had  an  interest 
in  them,  advancing  as  they  had  the  credit  of  the 
State  of  Ohio.  They  were  met  by  that  department, 
taken  in  carriages  and  driven  over  the  city.  At  home 
they  were  received  by  almost  the  entire  population — 
drawn  by  their  comrades  through  the  city,  and  given  a 
public  dinner.  The  employes  of  the  railroad  gave  them 
their  heavy  mounted  cannon  and  their  large  national 
flag,  and  in  all  this  whirl  and  excitement  they  realized 
the  responsibility  of  their  position  as  champions  of 
the  United  States,  and  conducted  themselves  in  ac- 
cordance with  that  responsibilty. 

Each  of  these  five  fire  districts  is  provided  with  a 
neat  hose  house,  besides  the  large  building  and  hall  for 
the  head(piarters  of  the  department  for  general  meet- 
ings. The  first  floor  of  this  building  is  used  by  the 
hook  and  ladder  company  in  storing  their  trucks  and 
apparatus,  and  also  a  hand  engine,  of  which  they  have 
control,  for  emexgencies  outside  of  the  water  works 
limits.  Each  of  the.other  five  companies  is  provided 
with  fine  hose  trucks,  uniforms,  etc.  All  the  ai>pli- 
ances  necessary  for  efficiency  and  for  service  depend 
entii'ely  upon  the  water  works,  located  two  miles 
away — but  connected  with  the  department  by  tele- 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


143 


graph  and  telephone — and  which  during  their  eight 
years  of  existence  have  never  failed  them. 

Norwalk  may  well  fell  proud  of  her  fire  department, 
and  need  not  hesitate  to  compare  it  with  any  in  the 
larger  cities  of  the  State. 

WATER    WORK.S. 

The  citizens  of  Norwalk,  as  the  town  increased  to 
a  goodly  size,  felt  the  need  of  a  more  adequate  sup- 
ply of  water  for  all  purposes,  than  could  be  obtained 
from  wells  and  cisterns,  and  in  1869,  or  before  that 
time,  the  question  of  erecting  a  system  of  water 
works  began  to  be  agitated.  Meetings  were,  held,  and 
the  council  engaged  the  services  of  an  engineer  to 
make  surveys  with  such  an  object  in  view  in  the 
future.  It  was  found  impracticable  to  adopt  the  re- 
servoir system,  which  was  at  first  proposed.  Surveys 
were  made  at  Maxville,  but  would  require  seven  miles 
of  pipe.  For  similar  reasons  other  places,  where 
water  could  be  procured,  were  discarded.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  by  the  village  council  to  visit 
Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and  examine  into  the  Holly 
.system  of  water  works,  which  had  been  adopted,  and 
were  in  use  in  that  city.  They  were  well  satisfied  with 
the  results  of  their  examination,  and  on  their  retui-n 
the  council  passed  an  ordinance  which  was  published 
December  20,  1809,  submitting  the  question  of  es- 
tablishing the  Holly  system  of  water  works,  to  a 
popular  vote,  the  cost  of  the  same  not  to  exceed 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  A  meeting  of  the 
citizens  was  called  at  the  court  house,  January  28, 
1870,  which  was  enthusiastic  in  favor  of  the  proposi- 
tion. The  election  to  decide  the  question  was  held 
February  7th,  and  resulted  in  a  vote  of  five  hundred 
and  eighty  in  favor  to  twenty-one  against.  The  pro- 
position was  to  issue  bonds  fur  the  whole  amount,  the 
same  to  run  not  to  exceed  fifteen  years  at  seven  per 
cent,  interest.  It  being  feared  after  the  vote  was 
taken  that  the  bonds  could  not  be  negotiated  with 
but  seven  per  cent,  interest,  it  was  thought  best  to 
again  submit  it  to  the  people,  with  a  change  in  the 
rate  of  interest  the  bonds  were  to  bear,  to  eight 
cent.  The  requisite  notice  was  given,  and  the  second 
election  was  held  April  30,  1870,  resulting  in  three 
hundred  and  ninety  in  favor  of  the  works,  to  thirty- 
eight  against. 

The  erection  of  water  works  Ijeiug  determined  on, 
three  trustees  were  elected  at  the  regular  time  of  hold- 
ing elections,  April  i,  1870;  the  members  elected  be- 
ing 0.  A.  White,  S.  J.  Patrick  and  John  Gardiner. 
On  June  1st,  a  contract  was  entered  into  by  the  village 
of  Norwalk  and  the  Holly  Manufacturing  Company, 
of  Lockport,  New  York,  for  suitable  machinery  for  the 
purpose  desired,  the  water  capacity  to  be  not  less  than 
two  million  gallons  every  twenty-four  hours,  and  the 
machinery  to  be  shipped  on  or  before  August  15,  1870. 
Work  was  at  once  begun  on  a  well,  filters,  and  a  brick 
house  for  the  machinery,  which  wej-e  erected  at  a  cost 
of  four  thousand  dollars.  The  work  of  laying  pipe 
was  also  commenced,  but  was  not  completed  until  the   j 


spring  of  1871.  It  had  been  decided  to  procure  the 
water  from  the  east  branch  of  the  Huron  river,  some 
two  miles  west  from  the  courthouse.  The  machinery 
was  duly  placed  in  position,  and  on  March  30,  1871, 
a  test  of  the  working  of  the  machinery  was  made. 
A  committee  of  citizens  was  invited  by  the  council  to 
visit  the  works.  Visitors  were  also  present  from 
Sandusky,  Milan,  Fremont,  Adrian,  Michigan,  Mans- 
field and  other  places.  The  test  proved  entirely  satis- 
factory, and  was  duly  reported  in  the  leading  papers 
of  this  portion  of  the  State.  The  citizens,  one  and 
all,  took  great  pride  in  the  fact  of  the  establishment 
of  a  water  works  system  in  the  beautiful  village,  their 
home. 

The  building  for  the  machinery  is  fifty-four  by 
fifty-eight  feet.  The  machinery  comprised  three 
engines,  one  being  a  rotary  for  reserve  purposes,  the 
others  double-cylinder  piston  engines.  Two  boilers 
furnished  steam,  and  six  gang  pumps  forced  the  water, 
which  runs  through  a  filter  of  stone,  charcoal  and 
coarse  sand,  into  a  well  twenty-five  feet  deep  and 
twenty-two  feet  wide,  capable  of  holding  fifty-six 
thousand  gallons  of  water.  A  telegraph  line  runs 
from  the  works  to  town;  there  is  also  a  telephone 
attached  to  the  wire. 

It  was  found,  after  a  while,  that  the  Holly  engines 
were  not  satisfactory,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1878,  two 
new  Worthington  low-pressure  engines  and  pumps 
were  placed  in  position,  and  were  tested,  in  presence 
of  the  trustees,  April  22,  1878,  proving  entirely 
satisfactory. 

The  cost  of  the  Holly  works  was  a  little  more  than 
ninety-six  thousand  dollars,  and  the  new  Worthington 
engines  and  pipes  have  cost  fourteen  thousand  dollars 
more,  making  a  total  cost  of  about  one  hundred  and 
ten  thousand  dollars.  In  the  near  future  it  will  be 
necessary  to  replace  the  main  jjipe  with  a  larger  size, 
as  the  one  now  in  use  causes  a  great  loss  in  pressure 
from  its  being  too  small.  At  the  present  time,  it 
requires  a  pressure  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  to 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  pounds  at  the  works  to 
produce  ninety  to  ninety-seven  and  one-half  at  the 
court  house,  which  is  elevated  about  fifty  feet  above 
the  works  and  two  miles  distant.  The  system,  as 
a  whole,  has  proved  a  good  investment  to  Norwalk, 
and  such  defects  as  it  may  have  will,  in  time,  tie 
remedied. 

The  number  of  water  takers,  the  1.5th  of  May,  1879, 
was  about  three  hundred  and  seventy-five.  There  arc 
now  in  place,  for  use,  some  ninety  hydrants,  about 
fourteen  miles  of  street  mains,  and  two  tanks  for  the 
use  of  the  traveling  public  in   watering  their  teams. 

The  power  at  the  water  works  is  utilized  instead  of 
fire  engines,  in  case  of  fire  on  any  of  the  streets  in 
the  village.  As  soon  as  an  alarm  is  sounded,  the 
signal  for  fire  pressure  to  be  applied  is  sent  over  the 
wire  to  the  engineer  at  his  post,  at  the  water  works 
building.  The  fire  companies  respond  to  the  alarm, 
and  as  soon  as  the  hose  are  attached  to  the  hydrants, 
powerful  streams   of  water  can   be   thrown;  thus  the 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


water  works  power  answers  the  same  pui-pose  as  half 
a  dozen  fire  engines,  and  at  no  additional  cost. 

Many  of  the  citizens  have  small  rubber  hose,  which 
can  be  attached  to  the  pipes  in  their  yards  and  used 
to  water  the  flowers,  the  lawn  and  garden,  and  some- 
times to  settle  the  dust  on  the  street.  Different  forms 
of  lawn  sprinklers  are  used,  some  of  them  producing 
a  beautiful  spray,  and  serving  the  purpose  of  a  foun- 
tain. In  addition  to  these  fi.Ktures,  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  fine  private  fountains,  in  different  parts  of  the 
village,  the  power  for  which  is  furnished  by  the  aid 
of  the  heavy  engines,  located  two  miles  distant. 

The  present  (1879)  officers  of  the  works  are  as 
follows:  W.  A.  Mack,  president;  W.  A.  Mack, 
J.  M.  Crosby,  David  Stoutenburgh,  trustees;  M.  Y. 
Watrous,  secretary;  U.  Pritchard,  superintendent. 

CEMETERY    ASSOC'IATION. 

The  subject  of  a  new  cemetery  began  to  agitate  the 
minds  of  the  citizens  during  the  winter  of  1854, 
and  a  notice  was  posted  calling  a  meeting  for  the  jjur- 
Ijose  of  organizing  a  cemetery  association.  This 
meeting  was  called  at  seven  o'clock,  p.  m.,  February 
1st,  in  the  Court  House,  the  notice  being  signed  by 
C.  L.  Boalt,  Samuel  T.  Worcester  and  C.  L.  Latimer 
as  committee,  they  having  been  appointed  at  a  pre- 
liminary meeting  held  previously.  At  this  meeting 
articles  of  association  were  presented.  Another 
meeting  was  held  at  the  same  place  February  22d, 
at  which  time  an  organization  was  effected  under  the 
statutes  of  Ohio,  the.  same  to  be  known  as  the  Nor- 
walk  Cemetery  Association.  The  following  trustees 
were  elected:  C.  L.  Latimer,  S.  T.  .Worcester,  Henry 
Brown,  John  Titt't  and  Giles  Boalt.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  trustees,  held  March  1,  1854,  at  the  office  of  S. 
T.  Worcester,  John  Tifft  was  elected  president,  and 
H.  Brown,  clerk  and  treasurer.  Mr.  Tifft  has  con- 
tinued as  president  of  the  association  to  the  present 
time,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  also  held  the 
offices  of  secretary,  treasurer  and  superintendent. 
The  present  officers  of  tiie  association  are  John  Gar- 
diner, Theo.  Williams,  Henry  Brown,  D.  D.  Benedict, 
and  John  Tifft,  trustees,  tlie  Litter  liolding  all  the 
offices  of  the  board. 

The  original  members  of  tjie  association  at  its 
formation,  as  shown  l)y  the  signatures  to  its  articles, 
were  H.  Brown,  Siiepherd  Patrick,*  John  Tifft, 
George  H.  Safford,  Jairus  Kennan,*  John  H.  Foster,* 
Joel  E.  Mead.*  Samuel  T.  Worcester,  0.  G.  Carter, 
C.  E.  Pennewell,  G.  T.  Stewart,  0.  Jenny,  C.  L. 
Latimer,  M.  Olnistead,  Nathan  Wooster.*  C.  E. 
Newman,  E.  E.  Husted,*  Cyrus  Lyman,*  Stephen 
Boalt,  Jos.  M.  Farr,*  John"  Whitbeck,  Russel  M. 
Wheeler,*  Isaac  Underbill  and  D.  D.  Benedict. 

The  i)roperty  s'elected  for  the  purpose  by  the  board 
of  trustees,  was  a  part  of  tJie  Gibbs'  farm,  a  mile 
from  town  on  the  old   .Medina   road,  and  containing 

•Those  marked  with  a  •  have  found  a  last  restiiiKplacc  in  the  grounds 
they  provided  tor  at  that  time 


about  thirty  acres.  The  original  cost  was  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  which  amount  was  raised 
by  subscription.  The  deed  of  the  property  was  given 
by  Henry  and  Sarah  Brown  to  the  association,  on  the 
sixth  day  of  January,  1858.  Considerable  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  raising  a  sufficient  amount  of  means 
to  pay  for  the  same,  but  it  was  finally  accomplished. 
Five  hundred  and  thirty-four  lots  have  been  sold, 
and  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  twelve  burials 
have  taken  place  to  May  9,  1879. 

A  receiving  vault  of  cut  stone  and  fine  architec- 
tural design,  is  now  being  erected  under  the  charge 
of  Dr.  Tjfft  and  Theodore  Williams,  Esq.  It  is 
eighteen  by  twenty-eight  feet  over  all,  and  fourteen 
by  twenty-four  feet  inside  measurement,  and  will 
accommodate  twenty-five  to  thirty  caskets. 

The  first  burial  in  the  new  cemetery  was  that  of 
Herbert  Barnhart,  aged  six  months  and  twenty-four 
days,  and  was  on  July  13,  1854. 

The  affairs  of  the  association  have  always  been 
managed  with  marked  ability  and  integrity  by  its 
officers,  who  have  served  long  and  well  without  fee  or 
pecuniary  reward. 

It  has  now  a  permanent  fund,  mostly  invested  in 
real  estate  security,  of  about  eight  thousand  dollars, 
the  interest  from  which  is  devoted  to  repairs  arid 
improvements. 

The  grounds  upon  which  the  cemetery  is  laid  out, 
form  part  of  the  Captain  John  Boalt  farm,  where  the 
youthful  days  of  his  sons,  Charles  L.  Boalt,  John  M. 
Boalt  and  their  brothers  and  sisters  were  passed. 
There  their  sister,  Sarah  was  married  to  William  Gal- 
lup, May  2, 1819.  John  is  now  postmaster  at  Sandusky 
City,  Ohio,  and  Charles  L.  and  his  sister  Sarah  and 
her  husband,  have  come  back  to  their  old  home  to  go 
hence  no  more. 

From  Captain  John  Boalt  the  property  passed  to 
Samuel  R.  Gibbs,  grandfather  of  P.  C.  Breckenridge, 
present  sheriff  of  Huron  county,  whose  family  occu- 
pied it  until  purchased  for  its  present  use. 

But  prior  to  any  of  these  occupants,  prior  to  the 
first  settlement  of  the  white  man  in  "  New  Connec- 
ticut;" prior  to  the  records  of  history  or  tradition,  it 
was  a  favorite  resort  of  a  race  of  people  whose  origin 
and  fate  are  shrouded  in  mystery;  that  they  existed, 
and  at  some  time  in  the  unrecorded  past  fre(|ucnt6d 
this  beautiful  spot,  is  beyond  question,  for  they  left 
behind  them  enduring  evidence  of  their  workman- 
ship and  primitive  habits.  Nearly  forty  years  ago, 
when  our  present  "city  of  the  dead"'  was  a  cornfield, 
and  the  writer  a  little  boy,  he  gathered  many  speci- 
mens of  what  are  called  Indian  hatchets  and  Indian 
arrow-heads  from  that  very  spot.  Now  well-kept 
avenues  and  foot-paths,  sightly  monuments  and  hum- 
ble head  stones,  ornamental  shrubbery  and  stately 
shade  trees,  and  our  sacred  dead,  are  there. 

Again  in  the  cycles  of  time  it  is  the  resort  of  an- 
other race  of  people,  not  with  weapons  of  war  and 
destruction,  but  armed  with  floral  tributes  and  com- 
memorative garlands;  and  tliere,  one  by  one,  in  end- 


JOHN   TIFFT,   M.D. 


The  medical  profession  is  the  most  arduous  of  all 
professions,  and  particularly  is  this  the  case  in  new  and 
thinly-settled  localities.  Therefore,  when  we  find  a  man 
who,  for  upward  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  with 
persistent  perseverance  and  labor,  worked  in  the  capacity 
of  family  and  general  physician,  many  traits  of  character 
of  an  admirable  nature  are  presented.  Away  back  in 
1833,  when  Huron  County  was  comparatively  new,  and 
the  country  consequently  but  sparsely  settled.  Dr.  John 
Tiflft  removed  here,  and,  


until  1859,  uninterrupt- 
edly practiced  medicine 
in  and  around  ISTorwalk. 

John  Tifft  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Martha 
(Rose)  Tifft,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  at 
Exeter,  R.  L,  Oct.  11, 
1775,  and  the  latter  at 
Stephentown,  Rensse- 
laer Co.,  N.  Y.,  April 
26,  1775. 

John  Tifft,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was 
born  at  Scipio,  Cayuga 
Co.,   N.  Y.,   June    11, 
1808.  He  received  most 
of  his  literary  education 
at  the  district   schools, 
completing  the  same  at 
Auburn  Academy.     On 
leaving  the  latter  insti- 
tution he  chose  the  prac- 
tice  of    medicine    as   a 
professi(jn,  and  entered 
the  office  of  Joseph  T. 
Pitney,    M.D.,  at   Au- 
burn, for  its  study.    He 
remained  with  Dr.  Pit- 
ney  about    two    years, 
and   then   attended  the 
Berkshire  Medical  Insti- 
tute, at  Pittsfield,  Mass. 
(a  branch  of  Williams  College),  from  which 
he  was  graduated  with  honors,  receiving 
his  diploma,  Sept.  5,  1832.    He  practiced 
his  profession  for  about  one  year  in  York  State,  and 
then,  in  1833,  removed  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  he 
commenced  a   practice   which   subsequently   developed 
into  an  extensive  and  lucrative  business. 

From  1833  to  1846,  Dr.  Tifft  continued  in  the  allo- 
pathic school,  but  in  the  latter  year  he  changed  his  mode 
of  practice,  and  soon  became  as  successful  in  the  homoeo- 


pathic as  he  had  been  in  the  regular  school.  In  1859, 
losing  his  wife,  he  retired  from  active  work,  and  has 
since  attended  to  the  management  and  supervision  of 
his  property.  He  is  among  the  oldest  living  practi- 
tioners in  Huron  County,  as  he  has  been  among  the  most 
successful.  He  has  been  twice  married, — first  to  Louisa 
Fitch,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1833,  who  died  Sept. 
19, 1859;  second,  to  Nancy  V.  Earl,  Nov.  4, 1862,  who 
is  still  living.     He  is  a  Democrat,  and  always  belonged 

to  that  political  faith.  In 

^^^^^Bj  1860  he  was  chosen  one 
■^^^fcl  ^^  ^'^®  delegates  to  the 
(  liarleston  and  Balti- 
iiiMrc  Conventions.  He 
1. 1-  held  various  offices, 
I  'iili  professional  and 
political.  Hewaselected 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Homieopathic  Medical 
Colk'ge  of  Cleveland; 
W£Ui  treasurer  of  Nor- 
walk township  for  sev- 
eral years;  a  member  of 
the  corporation  council, 
and  mayor  of  the  village 
in  1872-73.  Hehasoc- 
( II pied  the  offices  in  the 
(  1  metery  Association  of 
I '  ii-ioe,  president,  secre- 
i;ny,  and  treasurer,  and 
til  liim  is  due,  in  a  large 
measure,  the  present  suc- 
cess of  that  well-man- 
aged institution. 

In  these  various  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust 
the  doctor  has  invariably 
given  satisfaction.     He 
brought  the  same  integ- 
rity and   ability  to  the 
fulfilment  of  his  various 
official  duties  that  made 
his  professional  life  both 
popular  and  successful.    All  public  enter- 
pri-LS  and  interests  tending  to  the  material 
development  of  the  community  in  which 
he  has  lived  so  long,  and  attained  a  reputation  so  credita- 
able,  meets  with  his  ardent  support  and  aid. 

He  is  public-spirited,  honest,  and  fair  in  his  deal- 
ings with  his  fellow-men ;  and,  though  affiliated  with 
no  particular  religious  denomination,  yet  he  possesses 
all  the  essential  qualities  of  the  Christian  gentleman  and 
the  enterprising  citizen  that  he  is. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


less  miirch,  we  lay  away   our   dead,  and  as  time  rolls 
on  we  follow  them. 

It  is  a  fitting  memory  to  lie  recorded  that  Charles 
L.  Boalt  was  the  most  active  member  of  our  commu- 
nity in  organizing  the  association  and  procuring  the 
site.  And  Dr.  John  Tifft,  its  one  president  and  su- 
perintendent, and  for  some  y'ears,  also  secretary  and 
treasurer,  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  having  carefully 
guarded  its  financial  interests,  and  Judiciously  directed 
its  improvement. 

ST.    PAUL'S    EPISCOPAL. 

The  cemetery  connected  with  St.  Paul's  (Episco- 
pal) church  was  one  of  the  very  earliest  in  use  for 
that  purpose  in  the  township.  It  comprises  about 
four  acres  of  ground  near  the  center  of  the  village,  on 
West  Main  street,  and  the  grass-covered  mounds  in 
this  home  of  the  dead,  are  very  thickly  strewn  over 
its  surface.  At  the  present  time,  and  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Norwalk  cemetery  association,  this 
ground  has  been  but  little  used.  The  oldest  stone  in 
the  yard  bears  the  following  inscription: 

CAROLINE     TICE, 
Died,  March,   1820. 

AGEDNINEMONTHS. 

"  I  am  the  first  come  here  to  lie 
Children  and  youth  prepare  to  die  " 

Tlie  property  on  which  stands  the  church  and  the 
ground  used  for  burial  purposes,  was  a  part  of  the 
original  Starr  and  Canfield  tract,  which  at  an  early 
day  came  into  the  possession  of  White.  Tweedy  and 
Hoyt,  who  sold  this  lot  for  the  above  named  purpose, 
for  the  sum  of  sixty-one  dollars  The  deed  for  this 
l>roperty  is  recorded  in  volume  V.  of  records,  page 
610.  The  grantee  in  the  deed  is  St.  Paul's  Episcopal 
church. 

No  record  has  been  preserved  of  the  burials  in  this 
old  burying  ground,  and  it  is  not  known  how  many 
there  are,  and  probably  it  never  will  lie  known  until 
each  grave  gives  up  its  dead. 

Whole  families  lie  there  with  no  one  left  to  tend 
and  trim  their  graves;  and  the  present  busy  genera- 
tion, with  all  its  interests  centered  upon  the  ever- 
changing  affairs  of  life,  passes  by  unheeding:  but 
nature,  more  kind,  is  rapidly  hiding  the  neglect  un- 
der a  dense  copse  of  hazel  and  blackberry  bushes. 

ST.   Paul's  catholic. 

The  cemetery  belonging  to  St.  Paul's  Church, 
(German  Catholic),  was  purchased  about  the  year 
1870.  and  comprises  a  little  more  than  five  acres, 
situated  on  South  West  street.  From  the  date  of  its 
purchase,  until  the  present  time,  1879,  there  have 
been  about  sixty  interments. 

ST.     PETER'S    catholic. 

St.  Peter's  cemetery,  belonging  to  the  First  Uer- 
man  Catholic  Church,  was  established  with  the 
church  in  18-41,  the  first  burial  taking  place  while 
the  church  was  in  process  of  construction.     Up  to 


the  present  time  there  have  been  about  five  hundred 
interments. 

ST.     MAltY's    catholic. 

The  Irish  Catholic  cemetery,  belonging  to  St. 
Mary's  parish,  is  located  near  the  extension  of  Main 
street,  at  some  distance  from  town.  The  property 
contains  about  three  acres,  and  was  purchased  about 
1868,  since  which  time  it  has  been  used  as  a  church 
burial  ground. 

SOCIETIES. 
soldier's  aid  society. 
Very  early  in  the  year  1861,  the  citizens  of  Norwalk 
began  to  work  for  the  soldiers.  A  part  of  the  Eighth 
regiment  had  been  collected,  quartered  and  drilled 
there.  On  the  Sabbath  before  they  left,  religious  ser- 
vices were  held  in  their  camps,  and  the  occasion,  so 
new  and  affecting,  called  forth  the  most  profound 
sensations  of  sorrow  and  apprehension.  Some  days 
previously,  the  ladies  had  been  engaged  in  supplying 
these  soldiers  with  such  necessaries  and  luxuries  as 
the  deepest  interest  could  suggest.  Immediately  after 
their  departure,  a  society  of  both  sexes  was  formed, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  follow  those  who  went 
from  the  vicinity,  with  aid  and  comfort  in  any  form, 
and  by  any  means-  that  could  reach  them  ;  thus  secur- 
ing, as  was  hoped,  an  unbroken  intercourse  with 
them.  A  quai'terly  subscription  among  the  gentle- 
men, was  established,  the  first  installment  of  which 
is  dated  May  18,  1861.  The  officers  elected  were: 
Charles  B.  Stickney,  president  ;  J.  C.  Curtis,  secre- 
tary ;  David  H.  Pease,  treasurer  :  Mrs.  G.  G.  Baker. 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Baker,  Mrs.  0.  Jenney.  Mrs.  C.  E. 
Pennewell  and  Mrs.  S.  T.  Worcester,  board  of  direc- 
tors— the  last  named  secretary  of  the  board.  From 
that  time  till  November,  1862,  something  was  contin- 
ually being  done,  but  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
reaching  the  regiments,  after  they  went  into  actual 
service,  and  the  consequent  irregularity  of  the  quar- 
terly payments,  seriously  obstructed  progress.  In 
the  meantime,  a  society  had  been  organized  in  Cleve- 
land, through  which,  as  a  medium,  it  was  believed  that 
the  regiments  could  be  reached.  Application  was  per- 
sonally made  to  that  society,  by  the  secretary  of  the 
board,  in  Norwalk,  for  assistance  in  sending  a  box  of 
hospital  stores  to  the  Eighth  regiment,  then  in  West 
Virginia  ;  the  surgeon  of  that  regiment  having,  by 
letter,  applied  for  immediate  aid.  The  request  was 
cheerfully  granted  ;  the  box  sent,  received  in  time, 
and  earnest  thanks  therefor  returned.  This  occur- 
ence awakened  new  life,  and  eventually  led  to  the 
formation,  in  August,  1863,  of  the  Alert  Club,  to 
collect  funds,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year,  to 
the  transfer  of  all  the  offices  to  the  ladies.  At  the 
time  of  the  transfer,  Mi's.  J.  M.  Farr  was  elected 
president  ;  Mrs.  D.  H.  Pease,  secretary  ;  and  Mrs. 
T.  S.  Worcester,  treasurer.  The  work  then  went  on 
prosperously,  funds  were  ample,  the  contributions 
sent  forward,  large  and   valuable,   and   mostly  trans- 


ANSEL   BAKER. 


Thomas  Baker,  the  father  of  tlie  subject  of  this 
notice,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  In  1803  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Lafayette,  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  Ansel  was  born,  Aug.  4,  1818, 
being  the  eighth  in  a  family  of  ten  children.  Wlien 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  live  with  a  married 
sister  in  Lafayette,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
lie  was  twenty-one.  He  cast  his  first  vote,  at  the 
Presidential  election  in  1840,  for  Gen.  Harrison, 
and  the  next  day  started  on  his  journey  to  the  distant 
West,  as  Ohio  was  then  regarded.  After  his  arrival 
there  he  began  to  work  by  the  month  at  the  hard 
work  of  clearing  of  that  early  time ;  working  thus 
in  the  summer,  and  teaching  school  during  the  win- 
ter months,  getting  forty  dollars  for  a  term  of  three 
months.  At  the  close  of  his  school-teaching  he 
began  work  upon  the  farm  for  Daniel  A.  Baker,  now 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Norwalk,  at  eleven 
dollars  per  month,  continuing  two  years,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  M'hich  he  married  Martha  S.  Foster, 
daughter  of  Moses  S.  Foster,  of  Peru  township, 
Huron  Co.,  who  came  from  Vermont  in  1832.  She 
was  born  Dec.  21,  1823.  After  his  marriage  he 
rented  the  farm  of  his  former  employer,  Mr.  Baker, 
for  two  years,  when  he  moved  to  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  resides,  in  the  southeast  part  of  Nor- 
walk township,  having  made  his  purchase  some  four 


or  five  years  previous.  When  he  began  there  this 
part  of  the  township  was  very  new,  the  nearest  im- 
provement being  that  of  Ezra  Wait,  west  of  him, 
which  was  then  the  eastern  end  of  the  road.  His 
first  purchase  of  land  was  fifty-four  acres,  for  which 
he  paid  eight  dollars  per  acre.  He  has  since  added, 
and  now  owns  two  hundred  acres,  paying  seventy 
dollars  \)ev  acre  for  the  last  purchase. 

His  wife  died  Sept.  20,  1878,  having  borne  him 
six  children,  who  are  all  living:  Mary  Frances, 
born  Jan.  11,  1848,  married  Chester  Bobbins  in 
the  fall  of  1869,  and  resides  on  the  southeast  corner 
farm  of  this  township;  Moses  F.,  born  Nov.  26, 
1849,  has  his  second  wife,  and  lives  in  Rice  Co., 
Kan.,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers;  Nor- 
man, born  Aug.  26,  1855,  married  Jennie  Adams, 
May  15, 1878,  and  occupies  the  farm  with  his  father. 
Charles  Eri,  born  Jan,  15,  1860,  Lewis,  born  Oct. 
4,  1863,  and  Albert  Thomas,  born  July  21,  1870, 
are  living  at  home. 

Mrs.  Fanny  Foster,  the  mother  of  the  deceased 
wife  of  Mr.  Baker,  has  lived  witli  her  son-in-law 
about  twenty  years.  Her  husband  died  a  few  years 
after  his  settlement  in  Peru.  Mrs.  Foster  is  now 
aged  nearly  eighty-nine  years,  and  is  entirely  help- 
less, having  sustained  an  accident  to  one  of  her  limbs 
some  twelve  years  since. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


147 


ber  of  judicious  married  ladies.  They  had,  from  the 
first  of  September,  1863,  to  the  first  of  November, 
ISC-i,  forty-nine  different  families  as  beneficiaries, 
furnishing  to  each  new  material,  according  to  their 
need,  in  value  from  two  dollars  and  fifty-two  cents, 
the  lowest  sum,  to  sixty-one  dollars  and  nineteen 
cents,  the  highest.  Total  amount  raised  during  that 
time,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty  dollars 
and  eighty-two  cents;  total  expended;  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  ninety-six  dollars  and  ninety-nine 
cents.  They  also  sent  forward  various  contributions, 
as  synipathy  prompted,  to  the  soldiers.  In  November 
1864:,  they  organized  as  a  regular  soldiers'  aid  society, 
specially  voting  to  retain  their  own  distinctive  name. 
Officers:  Mrs.  S.  T.  Worcester,  president:  Mrs.  T.  W. 
Christian  and  Miss  S.  Rowland,  vice-presidents:  Miss 
Lizzie  Gallup,  recording  secretary;  Miss  Mary  Wick- 
ham,  corresponding  secretary;  and  Mrs.  W.  M.  Cline, 
treasurer.  They  began  this  year  with  three  hundred 
and  forty-three  dollars  and  eighty-three  cents,  the 
overplus  of  last  year.  They  continued  to  acquire  as 
well  as  expend,  so  that  at  their  last  regular  meeting 
in  May,  1865,  they  had  forwarded  in  all,  thirty-seven 
boxes,  barrels  or  kegs,  of  hospital  stores,  three  hun- 
dred dollars  in  cash,  and  had  in  j^ossession  or  expect- 
ancy, four  hundred  and  sixty  dollars.  To  this  sum 
they  added  the  net  gain  of  a  subsequent  series  of 
tableaux,  and  eventually  presented  to  the  young 
mens'  library,  then  being  established,  the  sum  of  nine 
hundred  dollars.  With  the  remainder  they  purchased, 
framed  and  suitably  lettered  the  two  engravings 
entitled  "The  First  Reading  of  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation,"  and  "  Washington  Irving  and  His 
Friends,"  and  presented  them  to  the  grammar  school, 
from  which  many  of  their  tableau  performers  had 
been  taken.  Total  funds  raised  and  expended,  three 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  and 
ninety-three  cents. 

MEMORIAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Soldiers  Memorial  association  was  organized 
to  perpetuate  the  memories  of  our  noble  dead,  who 
served  or  suffered  for  our  common  country  during 
her  wars.  The  organization  was  perfected  on  the 
20th  of  July,  1877,  with  the  following  officers:  Col. 
C.  P.  Wickham,  o.5th  0.  V.  I.,  president;  Chas.  AV. 
Lee,  U.  S.  N.,  vice-president;  David  T.  Hall,  Uth 
0.  V.  I.,  secretary;  Baxtor  Trevor,  treasurer;  Col. 
H.  Kellogg,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Dewey,  and  Miss  Lottie  Gibbs, 
executive  committee. 

The  association  has  annually  decorated  the  graves 
of  their  fallen  comrades,  on  the  30th  of  May  each 
year,  with  appropriate  services. 

MASONIC    FRATERNITY. 
MT.    VERXOX    LOnOE,    SO.   O-t,   F.    AXO    A.    M. 

Dispensation  to  work  was  granted  by  Brother  John 
Snow,  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  April  10 
1821;  the  charter  was  granted  December  12,  A.  L. 
5821,  A.    D.    1821.   to   Timothy    Baker.    Piatt   Bene- 


dict, John  D.  Haskins,  Sehujder  Vaurensselaer, 
Amos  Woodward,  Daniel  Tilden,  Enos  Gilbert.  Icha- 
bod  Marshall,  David  Underbill  and  David  Gibbs. 

Worshipful  Masters. — Timothy  Baker,  1821  to 
1825;  Piatt  Benedict,  1826;  Timothy  Baker,  1827; 
Theodore  Baker,  1828;  no  record  from  May  26,  1828, 
to  April  30,  1834;  Piatt  Benedict,  183-4  to  1841; 
Benjamin  Carman,  1842;  no  record  from  January  24, 
1842,  to  February  26,  1844;  James  R.  Norton,  1844; 
Piatt  Benedict,  1845;  James  R.  Norton,  1846;  John 
P.  Worstell,  1847;  Eli  Barnnm,  1848  to  1851;  Oliver 
True,  1852;  M.  R.  Brailey,  1853  and  1854:  S.  F. 
Rogers,  1855;  R.  W.  Beckwith,  1856;  D.  M.  Bar- 
nnm, 1857;  Oscar  Welch,  1858;  Marshall  0.  Wag- 
goner, 1859;  Oscar  Welch,  1860;  Horace  Kellogg, 
1861:  James  S.  Felton,  1862;  John  H.  Powers,  1863 
to  1865;  Oscar  Welch,  1866;  J.  H.  F.  Weirs,  1867 
and  1868;  T.  P.  Bishop,  1869;  J.  H.  F.  Weirs,  1870, 
T.  P.  Bishop,  1871  to  1873;  0.  A.  White.  1874  to 
1876;  C.  M.  Wilcox,  1877  and  1878:  0.  A.  White, 
1879. 

The  present  officers  are,  0.  A.  White,  W.  M. :  T. 
L.  Williams,  S.  W.:  J.  D.  Cook,  J.  W.:  W.  Suhr. 
Treas.;  G.  W.  Shultz,  Sec;  R.  H.  Burlin,  S.  D. :  J. 
H.  Weirs,  J.  D.;  P.  Ganung,  Tyler. 

HURON    ROYAL   ARCH    CHAPTER.    NO.    I. 

December  13,  1820,  a  dispensation  was  issued  by 
the  Grand  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  of  Ohio  to 
Timothy  Baker,  David  Underbill,  Frederick  Fally, 
Rodolphus  Morse,  David  Gibbs,  Schuyler  Vaurensse- 
laer. Piatt  Benedict,  Wm.  Hall  and  Jacques  Hubbard, 
to  form  a  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons.  The 
Royal  Arch  degree  was  conferred  the  first  time  Octo- 
ber 25,  1820,  upon  E.  Whittlesey.  Samuel  Spencer 
and  Moses  Farwell. 

December  15,  1821,  a  charter  was  issued  to  the 
above  named  companions,  constituting  Huron  Royal 
Arch  Chapter,  No.  7,  in  due  form.  Timothy  Baker 
appointed  First  High  Priest;  David  Underbill,  First 
King;  Piatt  Benedict,  First  Scribe. 

The  first  election  of  officers  was  held  December  20, 
1822.  Timothy  Baker,  elected  High  Priest;  David 
LTnderhill,  King;  Piatt  Benedict,  Scribe;  S.  Vau- 
rensselaer, C.  of  H. ;  E.  Cook,  P.  S. ;  Amos  Woodward, 
R.  A.  C:  J.  D.  Haskins,  1st  V.;  M.  Farwell,  2nd 
v.;  L.  Fay,  3rd  V.;  J.  Marshall,  Treasurer:  David 
Gibbs,  Secretary;  H.  P.  Morse,  Guard. 

Early  in  1822,  the  subject  of  building  a  Masonic 
hall  was  talked  of,  but  did  not  assume  any  definite 
form  until  January,  1824,  when  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  confer  with  like  committees  from  JIt. 
Vernon  Lodge,  No.  64,  and  Norwalk  Academy,  to 
make  arrangements  to  build  a  Masonic  hall.  March, 
1824,  the  committee  made  their  report;  when  the 
Chajtter  appointed  a  building  committee,  with  power 
to  act,  and  the  Treasurer  ordered  to  pay  to  the  build- 
ing committee  two  hundred  dollars.  Here  the  pro- 
ject seems  to  have  died,  as  we  find  no  records  of  any 
action  tiiereon. 


148 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Tlic  Chaiik-r  held  its  regular  meetiugs  iind  did  a 
great  deal  of  work  until  November,  1828,  when,  in 
consequence  of  the  anti-masonic  movement,  it  sus- 
pended work,  and  sodn  after  surrendered  its  charter 
to  the  Grand  Chapter. 

Timothy  Baker  was  the  presiding  otticer  from  the 
organization  to  November,  1827,  when  Piatt  Bene- 
dict was  elected  High  Priest,  which  position  he  held 
at  the  time  the  charter  was  surrendered. 

In  1848,  the  Grand  Chapter  returned  the  old 
charter  to  the  companions  of  Huron  Rojal  Arch 
Chapter,  when  they  commenced  holding  regular 
meetings,  Piatt  Benedict  being  the  High  Priest,  in 
which  position  he  was  continued  until  1853. 

March  1,  1854,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  con- 
fer with  a  like  committee  from  Mt.  Vernon  Loiige, 
No.  64,  to  make  such  arrangements  as  they  might 
deem  proper  to  build  a  new  hall  in  the  Whittlesey 
academy  building. 

June  24.  1854,  St.  John's  day  was  celebrated  by 
laying  the  corner  stone  of  Whittlesey  academy  build- 
ing. June  24,  1858,  the  new  masonic  hall  was  dedi- 
cated. 

Since  the  reorganization  in  1848,  to  the  present 
time,  Huron  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  7,  has  con- 
tinued to  hold  its  meetings  regularly,  and  is  now  in  a 
flourishing  conditiou,  numljeriug  nearly  one  hundred 
members. 

Its  present  officers  are  Wm.  Suhr,  High  Priest;  T. 
P.  Bishop,  King;  6.  M.  Darling,  Scribe;  C.  Close, 
C.  of  H.:  Wm.  Rutherford,  P.  S.;  M.  A.  Mclntyre, 
R.  A.  C;  C.  G.  Drake,  1st  V.;  John  Pettys,  2nd 
v.:  A.  N.  Pebbles,  Syd  V.:  N.  H.  Pebbles,  Treasurer: 
J.  1).  Cook.  Secretary:  E.  A.  Pray,  Chaplain:  P. 
Ganuug.  (ruard. 


NOR  WALK 


I  IL     KUYAL     ASI) 
KO.    24    F.    &    A. 


iELECT     MASTERS 


Octoljer  29,  A.D.  1855.  a  dispensation  was  issued 
by  the  Grand  Puissant  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Council  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  directed  to  Piatt  Bene- 
dict, Wm.  C.  Huestis,  H.  V.  Bogart,  J.  S.  Felton, 
H.  Bromley,  Samuel  Neff,  B.  F.  Gray,  M.  R.  Brailey, 
L.  Wood,  A.  Hamilton,  T.  Gibson.  C.  Buck  and  W. 
H.  Couch. 

October  K!.  1857,  a  charter  was  issued  to  the  al)Ove 
named  companions  constituting  Norwalk  Council 
Royal  and  Select  Masters,  No.  24,  in  due  form.  Piatt 
Benedict,  appointed  first  "Thrice  Illustrious  Mas- 
ter," in  which  office  he  continued  until  the  time  of 
his  death  in  October,  186C. 

Tiie following  named  companions  have  been  elected: 
T.  I.  Masters,  James  S.  Felton,  for  the  year  1807; 
Wm.  Suhr,  1868-70;  Wm.  A.  Mack,  lS7o";  Coleman 
Close,  1871-4;  Wm.  Suhr,  1874-79.  Present  officers, 
Wm.  Suhr,  "Thrice  Illustrious  Master;"  George  M. 
Darling,  "Deputy  Master;"  Nelson  H.  Pebbles,  "Prin- 
i-ipal  Conductor  of  the  Work;"  Horace  Kellogg,  "Cap- 
tain of  the  Guard:"  John  H.  Pettys,  Treasurer;  Ethan 


1    A.  Pray,   Recorder:   Asher  F.  Huuland.  ■■  ('i)nductor 
of  tlie  Council:""  Peter  (Tiiuung.  Sentinel. 

NORWALK  LODGE. 

Norwalk  Lodge,  No.  467.  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, was  granted  a  dispensation  by  the  Most  Wor- 
shipful Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  viz: 
Alexander  H.  Newcomb,  on  the  l-2th  day  of  July,  A. 
D.,  1872,  on  the  petition  of  George  W.  Skyrm,  S.  E. 
Carrington,  William  H.  Couch,  Walter  Pettys,  M. 
M.  Perkins,  W.  0.  Smith,  William  Arnold,"  Omar 
Bailey,  George  M.  Darling,  H.  C.  Edwards,  Thomas 
Smith  and  Irving  K.  Cole.  The  dispensation  ap- 
pointed Walter  Pettys,  W.  M.,  S.  E.  Carrington, 
S.  W.,  and  George  W.  Skyrm  J.  W.,  until  the  time 
of  the  regular  annual  election  of  officers.  The  Wor- 
shipful Masters  of  this  Lodge  have  been  as  follows, 
viz:  Walter  Pettys,  from  July  12,  1872,  to  December 
12,  1872;  William  A.  Mack,  from  December,  1872,  to 
December,  1877;  0.  Prentiss,  from  December,  1877, 
to  December,  1878,  and  from  December,  1878,  now 
serving,  L.  C.  Laylin.  The  officers,  in  full,  at  the 
present  time  are  as  follows:  L.  C.  Laylin,  W.  M. : 
John  Harley,  S.  W. ;  A.  L.  Osborn,  J.  W. ;  George 
M.  Darling.  Treas. :  E.  W.  Gilson.  Sec:  C.  L. 
Merry.  S.  D. :  F.  H.  Boalt.  J.  D. :  Walter  Pettys.  T. 

KNIGHTS    TEMPLAR. 

Norwalk  Commandery,  No.  18,  Knights  Templar, 
was  organized  February  8,  1869,  under  dispensation 
of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  Sir 
Heman  Ely.  of  Elyria.  being  at  the  time  R.  E.  G. 
Commander.  The  following  named  Sir  Knights  wei'e 
the  charter  members:  I.  S.  Felton,  M.  0.  Waggoner, 
J.  W.  Develin,  H.  S.  Mitchell.  J.  H.  F.  Weirs,  W. 
A.  Mack,  W.  C.  Hustis.  E.  A.  Pray.  H.  0.  Wadlie. 
William  Suhr,  Ira  Lake,  Major  Mclntyre,  C.  N. 
Thorpe.  At  the  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Grand 
Commandery  a  charter  was  granted  under  date  of 
October  15,  1869.  Sir  J.  S.  Felton  was  appointed 
by  (rrand  Commander  Ely  first  Eminent  Commander. 
The  Commandery  now  numbers  sixty  two  members, 
and  the  following  named  Knights  are  its  officers:  H. 
S.  Mitchell,  E.  C:  L.  L.  Chandler,  Gen.:  0.  W. 
Williams.  C.  G. :  L.  C.  Laylin,  Prelate;  C.  L.  Merrv. 
S.  W.;  M.  S.  Hill.  J.  W^;  C.  R.  Bostwick,  Treas.: 
C.  W.  Flinn,  Rec. :  E.  A  Pray.  Std.  B. ;  0.  Prentiss, 
Swd.  B.;  A.  F.  Rowland,  Warder:  Major  .Mclntyre. 
Sentinel. 


IXOEPKN'DEN'T    DKDEI 


)|)    EELLDWS. 


Huron  Lodge,  No.  37.  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted 
at  Norwalk,  April  14,  1845,  by  authority  of  a  charter 
granted  Ijy  the  Right  Worthy  (irand  Lodge  of  Ohio, 
to  the  following  charter  members:  Liberty  Waite, 
A.  Powers,  N.  F.  Benson,  T.  C.  Evans  and  Franklin 
Parker.  And  the  following  members  were  added  by 
initiation:  Noah  Newton,  Jr.,  E.  P.  Cheescbrongh, 
Thomas  Powers,  Timothy  Baker,  John  F.  Day. 
Hiram   K.    Steele,   Benj.   F.    Brown,    Erastns  Gray, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AKU  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


149 


John  S.  Roby,  William  D.  Perkins  and  James  Sharps. 
The  lodge  having  been  thus  successfully  launched  on 
its  mission  of  friendship,  love  and  truth,  was  pros- 
perous, aud  included  in  its  membership  many  citizens 
of  prominence,  among  others  Dr.  J.  Tifit,  0.  B. 
Stickney,  J.  M.  Farr,  S.  L.  Hatch,  W.  W.  Redfield, 
Hiram  Rose,  J.  F.  Dewey,  G.  T.  Stewart,  P.  N. 
Schuyler,  J.  H.  Rule,  W.  0.  Parker,  Franklin  Saw 
yer,  M.  F.  Wooster,  John  Cline,  S.  H.  Berry,  R.  A. 
Pantlind,  W.  0.  Abbott,  Edwin  H.  Brown,  B.  P. 
Smith  and  many  others.  Since  its  organization  it 
has  admitted  three  hundred  and  sixty-one  members, 
and  at  this  date  (May  10,  1879,)  lias  one  hundred  and 
ten  members.  In  furtherance  of  its  charitable  mis- 
sion it  has  expended  twenty-one  thousand  dollars; 
aud  has  now  invested  in  real  and  personal  property, 
and  in  its  widows'  and  orphans'  fund,  about  ten 
thousand  dollars,  all  of  which  is  pledged  to  the  bene- 
ficient  purposes  of  the  friendly  order  of  American 
Odd  Fellowship. 

fiOXS    OF    TEMl'EKASt'E. 

The  Norwalk  Division,  Xo.  "i-i"!,  Sons  of  Temper- 
arice,  was  chartered  aud  instituted  on  the  .3d  day  of 
June,  1847,  with  the  following  charter  members: 
Samuel  T.  Worcester,  Geo.  T.  Cole,  James  N.  Good- 
hue, Geo.  Gough,  Chas.  A.  Preston,  A.  E.  Berry, 
Timotiiy  Baker,  Jr.,  Phillip  N.  Schuyler,  Erastus 
Gray,  Charles  E.  Penuewell,  Henry  M.  Hotchkiss,  A. 
S.  Curtiss,  Gideon  T.  Stewart,  Daniel  A.  Baker  and 
Edwin  H.  Brown.  The  first  elected  officers  were, 
Samuel  T.  Worcester,  W.  P.;  Daniel  A.  Baker,  W. 
A. :  Gideon  T.  Stewart,  R.  8. ;  E.  H.  Brown,  A.  R. 
S.;  A.  S.  Curtiss,  F.  S.,  Timothy  Baker,  Jr.,  Treas. ; 
P.  N.  Schuyler,  Con.:  A.  R.  Berry.  A.  C:  Benj. 
Ellis,  I.  S.;  Addison  C.  Brown,  0.  8\ 

The  organization  of  this  division  was  mainly  due 
to  the  enterpiise  of  Mr.  6.  T.  Stewart,  who  is  and 
always  has  Ijeeu  a  zealous  worker  in  the  temperance 
cause.  The  division  is  its  own  historian.  The  record 
of  more  than  one  thousand  six  hundred  meetings, 
and  of  thirty-three  years  of  associated  life,  with  all 
their-  trials,  sacrifices,  doubts,  fears,  hopes  and  tri- 
umphs, lies  before  us.  Thirty-three  years  ago,  on 
the  first  Tuesday  evening  of -June,  1847,  this  division 
was  instituted  in  the  Odd  Fellows  hall,  on  Mechanic 
street  (now  Whittlesey  avenue).  The  division  con- 
tinued to  hold  its  meetings  iu  that  hall  for  over  three, 
years,  a  bond  of  fraternal  sympathy  springing  up 
between  the  two  ordei'S  which  has  continued  to  this 
day.  During  these  three  years  the  division  had  accu- 
mulated sufficient  funds  to  purchase  and  fit  up  a  hall 
for  its  own  use,  iu  the  second  story  of  tlie  frame 
building  then  standing  next  door  of  the  Norwalk 
Branch  Bank  of  tlie  State  of  Ohio,  on  Main  street, 
over  the  store  occupied  by  Jeuney  &  Peters,  clothing 
store,  which  was  publicly  dedicated  on  the  evening  of 
August  13,  18.50.  Here  the  division  lield  its  meet- 
ings for  five  years,  until  the  morning  of  October  13, 
IS.").!,  when  the  building  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire. 


aud  all  was  reduced  to  ashes — furniture,  library, 
regalia,  books  aud  papers — except  the  records  of  the 
recording  scribe,  which  were  at  his  house.  The 
meetings  were  held  at  the  county  auditor's  office  for 
about  four  months,  aud  on  February  (J,  1850,  a  new 
hall  was  fitted  up  over  C.  E.  Newman's  store.  The 
former  hall  having  been  insured  for  about  six  hundred 
dollars,  and  the  division  having  an  interest  iu  the 
ground  on  which  it  stood,  was  enabled  to  lease  the 
new  hall  ou  long  time,  and  fit  it  up  in  good  style. 
Here  it  continued  to  meet  for  more  than  eleven  years, 
until  June,  18G7.  when  it  dedicated  a  fine  hall  in  the 
third  story  of  C.  E.  Newman's  new  brick  block,  and 
took  a  lease  for  twenty  years,  which  it  paid  in  ad- 
vance, and  expended  about  one  thousand  dollars  in 
fitting  up,  finishing  it  and  publicly  celebrating  its 
twentieth  anniversary.  The  number  of  members  in 
good  standing  was  five  hundred  and  twenty-two,  hav- 
ing nearly  one-eighth  of  the  entire  population  of 
Norwalk  at  that  timei  This  number  does  not  include 
two  hundred  and  twenty  members  of  the  Fifty-Fifth 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  who  were  in  camp 
here,  and  were  initiated  before  they  entered  the  field. 

!  Their  names  remain  in  perpetual  honor  on  the  records 
of  this  division.  Of  the  former  members  sixty  vol- 
unteered in  the  Union  army,  and  a  number  held 
official  commissions. 

The  apathy  which  fell  upon  the  temperance  cause 
throughout  the  country,  the  financial  depression 
and  political  excitement  resulting  from  the  war, 
caused  a  decline  in  the  membership,  until,  in  the 
spring  of  1876,  it  disposed  of  its  hall  and  suspended 
weekly  meetings.  During  the  year  ending  May  1, 
1877,    the   division    held    monthly    meetings   at   the 

I  house  of  Past  Worthy  Patriarch  Erastus  Gray,  who 
set  apart  one  of  his  rooms  for  its  use.  On  the  1st 
of  May  it  leased  a  hall  of  Mr.  Moses  Yale,  occupied 
by  the  locomotive  engineers,  and  resumed  regular 
weekly  meetings,  and  in  four  weeks  increased  its 
membership  to  fifty-six.  Its  trustees  deeming  it 
proper  leased  the  large  hall  in  Patrick's  block,  ad- 
joining the  Methodist  church,  for  ten  years,  paying 

j  the  rent  in  advance  for  the  whole  term,  and  after 
suitably  fitting  it  up  have  saved  over  five  hundred 
dollars  for  future  operations.  The  division  now 
numbers  over  two  hundred  active  members,  and  is 

I    increasing  weekly,  ranking  as  the  banner  division  of 

I    Ohio,  numerically  and  financially.     It  has  had  the 

I   honor  of   having  three   of    its   members,    David   H. 

!  Pease,  Tiiomas  P.  Bishop  and  Mrs.  Harriet  N.  Bishop, 
exalted  to  the  office  of  grand  worthy  patriarch  of  the 
State  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  H.  N.  Bishop,  the  present  grand 
worthy  patriarch,  is  the  first  lady  who  has  had  this 
honor  conferred  upon  her  in  the  international  juris- 

j   diction.     Norwalk  may  well  feel  proud  of   her  divi- 

j   siou  of  the  Sous  of  Temperance. 


The 
the  fai 


•St  school  hoUSi 

)f  1810,  a  few 


built    ill 

hip  liuq 


150 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


between  Ridgefield  and  Xorwalk,  on  lot  number  two  of 
Ridgefield.  It  stood  upon  tlie  bank  on  the  left  hand 
after  crossing  the  bridge  upon  the  present  road  to 
Peru,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  bridge,  and  was 
made  of  logs.  The  first  teacher  was  Charles  Seymour 
Hale,  son  of  General  Hale,  of  Herkimer;  the  next 
was  Ann  Boalt,  sister  of  C.  L.  Boalt;  and  the  next, 
Tamar  Palmer.  The  scholars  were  Asher,  James, 
Miner,  Lvman  and  Manley  Cole:  David,  Isaac,  Aurelia 
and  Louisa  Underbill;  Alanson,  Alva  and  Betsey 
Pixley;  Jonas  and  Eliza  Ann  Benedict;  Almira,  Daniel 
and  John  Morse;  Mary  Ann  Morse  and  others.  In 
September  of  the  same  year,  Peter  Tice  and  his  son 
John  put  up  a  small  framed  building,  the  first  framed 
building  in  the  region,  upon  the  flats  in  the  bend  of 
the  road  as  it  turns  toward  Peru,  and  used  it  for  a 
store.  Afterwai-d,  when  the  Tices  removed  to  Xor- 
walk, it  was  used  by  Judge  Baker  as  a  dwelling  house, 
and  subsequently  became  a  school  house,  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  that  above  described.  Oliver  Prentiss, 
Zacharias  Marion  and  Horace  Johnson  taught  in  it 
at  different  times.  The  building  was  afterward  re- 
moved to  Xorwalk  and  used  as  a  wagon  shop;  then 
converted  into  a  dwelling,  and  used  by  different  fami- 
lies, among  which  was  that  'of  the  late  Hon.  J.  M. 
Root  and  wife,  of  Sandusky  City,  whose  first  house- 
keeping experience  commenced  in  it  about  18.35. 
Again  it  was  removed  to  the  first  lot  next  north  of 
Whittlesey  avenue  school  house,  and  then  used  as  a 
dwelling  by  several  different  families,  among  them 
that  of  Hon.  C.  S.  Parker,  present  Ohio  State  sen- 
ator. About  fifteen  years  ago  it  again  became  restless 
and  changed  its  location  to  Prospect  street,  where  it 
now  rests  for  a  time,  the  second  dwelling  house  south 
of  the  raili-oad  track. 

Beside  these,  school  was  taught  liy  J.  A.  Jennings, 
afterward  doctor,  in  a  brick-maker's  shanty,  on  the 
south  side  of  what  is  now  Seminary  street,  and  a  few 
rods  east  of  Benedict  avenue,  and  later  in  a  framed 
building  standing  where  the  high-school  building  now 
,  stands,  but  now  moved  to  South  street  and  occupied  as 
a  dwelling.  School  was  taught  also  by  Doctor  Amos 
B.Harris,  in  the  old  court  house,  probably  parts  of  two 
two  or  three  years,  but  the  dates  during  these  first  ten 
years  are  uncertain,  and  our  information  is  not  posi- 
tive until,  in  October,  1S"2(!.  an  association  of  individ- 
uals was  organized,  under  the  name  of  "The  Presi- 
dent, Trustees,  etc.,  of  the  Xorwalk  Academy,"  having 
l)reviously  purchased  of  Elisha  Whittlesey  four  lots, 
known  then  as  numbers  thirty-eight,  thirty-nine,  forty 
and  forty-one,  and  being  the  same  lots  now  occupied 
by  our  iiigh-school  building,  who  erected  and  partially 
finished  a  three  story  brick  building  upon  these  lots, 
the  first  and  second  stories  of  wliich  were  designed  for 
the  purposes  of  the  academy,  and  the  third  story  for  a 
tnasonic  lodge.  The  first  and  second  stories,  though 
far  from  comjjlete,  were  occupied  and  the  academy 
opened  in  Decemberof  thesameyear  (182(1)  with  Hev. 
C.  P.  Bronson,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  as  princi- 
pal, and  Hev.  S.  .V.  Bronson.  Abrani  Bronson.  .Mr.  War- 


ner and  Josiah  Botsford,  assistants.  A  female  teacher. 
Miss  Bostwjck,  was  soon  after  added,  who  taught 
ornamental  branches — drawing,  painting,  etc.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  quarter,  the  principal  reported  the 
number  of  pupils  in  attendance  at  ninety.  The  ])rices 
fixed  for  tuition  were  as  follows:  Reading,  writing 
and  spelling  per  quarter,  one  dollar  and  seventy-five 
cents;  if  paid  in  two  weeks,  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents; 
arithmetic  and  English  grammar,  two  dollars:  paid  m 
two  weeks,  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents;  higher 
branches  of  education,  three  dollars;  paid  in  two  weeks, 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents;  Greek  and  Latin,  four 
dollars;  paid  in  two  weeks,  three  dollars  and  fifty 
cents.  Beside  the  tuition,  each  pupil  was  required  to 
furnish  one-half  cord  of  wood  or  twenty-five  cents  in 
money,  toward  warming  the  building. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  yeai-,  the  trustees  reported 
one  hundred  scholars  in  attendance  as  the  average  for 
the  year.  The  academy  continued  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Mr.  Bronson  until  May,  1828,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Henry  Tucker,  a  graduate  of 
L^nion  College.  Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  sustaining 
the  school,  an  effort  was  made  to  increase  the  nunilier 
of  ])upils  by  reducing  still  lower  the  price  of  tuition. 
The  salaries  of  the  superintendents  and  assistants 
depended  upon  the  amount  the  principal  could  collect 
for  tuition,  which  rendered  their  compensation  very 
uncertain  and  generally  very  unsatisfactory.  Mr. 
Tucker  remained  until  the  fall  of  that  year  (1828) 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  Kennan,  of  Herki- 
mer. Xew  York.  There  was  no  lack  of  ability  in  these 
different  principals  to  establish  for  the  academy  a  high 
reputation,  but  it  was  evidently  ))rematnre.  The 
country  was  too  sparsely  populated  and  the  people  too 
poor  to  support  the  expenses  necessary  for  its  suc- 
cessful continuance,  and  we  find,  in  October  of  1829, 
a  consolidation  of  the  academy  Avith  the  district  schools, 
with  Mr.  Kennan  as  principal.  The  number  of  pupils 
was  thus  increased,  but  even  then  the  salary  of  the  prin- 
cipal amounted  to  less  than  four  hundred  dollars  per 
year.  Mr.  Kennan  continued  in  charge  of  the  school 
until  the  fall  of  1830,  when  he  resigned  his  position, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  formerly  principal  of  the 
Classical  and  Young  Ladies'  Boarding  School,  of 
Utica,  Xew  York,  succeeded  him  in  the  su]ierintend- 
ency.  The  population  of  the  Xorwalk  corporation  at 
this  time  was  three  hundred  and  ten.  The  board  of 
school  examiners  was  appointed  by  the  court,  and 
consisted  at  this  time  of  Ebenezer  Andrews,  Doctor 
Amos.  B.  Harris.  Moses  Kimball  and  L.  Bradley. 

In  August.  1831.  Miss  Roxana  Spnigue  was  employed 
to  teach  the  school  in  district  number  one,  and  occu- 
pied a  room  upon  the  first  floor  of  the  academy  build- 
ing. The  studies  taught  in  the  academy  at  this  time 
were  all  the  common  branches,  including  rhetoric, 
elocution,  astronomy,  chemistry,  philosophy,  mineral- 
ogy, geology,  music,  engineering  and  surveying,  and 
the  Latin  and  Greek  languages. 

In  April,  1833  Miss  Eliza  Ware  (iih'ikmI  a  school 
exclusivelv  for  vouus  ladies,  in  the  acadcniv  liuildin<r. 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


151 


under  the  title  of  "Norwalk  Female  Seminary,"  )3ut 
soon  after  it  was  moved  to  the  residence  cf  C.  P. 
Bronsou,  who  then  resided  on  the  lot  directly  west  of 
St.  PauFs  Church.  This  school  was  not  of  long  dura- 
tion. 

NORWALK    SEMIN.\RY. 

On  the  nth  of  November,  1833,  the  "Norwalk  Semi- 
nary" was  ojjened  in  the  academy  building,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with 
Rev.  Jonathan  E.  Chaplin  as  principal.  Norwalk  at 
this  time  had  a  population  of  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-nine. 

The  seminary  opened  with  the  principal  and  one 
male  assistant,  and  three  female  teachers.  Miss  Jen- 
kins, Miss  Louisa  Hamlin  and  Miss  Anna  Langford. 

The  school  was  opened  successfully,  and  was  prose- 
cuted vigorously,  and,  at  tiie  close  of  the  first  year, 
showed  an  average  attendance  of  one  hundred  pupils. 
Our  population  in  July,  1834:,  was  one  thousand  and 
twenty.  During  the  second  year  a  course  of  lectures 
was  delivered  by  Dr.  Bigelow  upon  chemistry,  and  a 
philosophical  apparatus  was  procured  for  the  use  of 
the  school.  The  number  of  pupils  rapidly  increased 
as  the  character  of  the  institution  became  more  widely 
known,  and  at  the  end  of  the  second  year  they  re- 
ported one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  in  attendance; 
and  a  very  large  proportion  of  this  number  was  made 
up  of  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  more  advanced 
years,  who  labored  with  unusual  zeal  in  acquiring  an 
education. 

The  seminary  burned  down  on  the  night  of  Febru- 
ary 26,  1&36,  with  a  loss  of  about  three  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  no  insurance;  school  books,  library  and 
apparatus  were  all  destroyed.  The  blow  was  a  severe 
one  to  the  institution,  as  it  had  no  endowment  nor 
support  from  public  funds,  and  the  people  of  Norwalk 
and  the  patrons  of  the  institution  were  in  no  pecu- 
niary condition  to  rebuild;  but  with  commendable 
energy  the  friends  of  the  seminary  immediately  set 
themselves  to  work  to  raise  funds  for  rebuilding,  and 
upon  a  larger  scale  than  before.  Mr.  Chaplin,  the 
principal,  and  Rev.  H.  0.  Sheldon  went  east  to  solicit 
assistance,  while  others  were  laboring  amongst  our 
own  people  for  contrilnitions;  but  means  came  slow 
and  sparingly.  In  the  intervals,  however,  the  school 
was  not  discontinued.  The  Methodist  Church,  to- 
gether with  the  basement  of  the  Baptist  Church,  were 
improvised  for  the  emergency,  with  an  interruption  of 
but  four  days.  Rev.  J.  E.  Chaplin  continued  as 
jirincipal,  with  Mr.  Darnell  assistant,  Mrs.  Goshorn, 
Miss  Loveland  and  Jliss  Langford  in  the  female  de- 
partment, and  Rev.  H.  0.  Sheldon  as  general  agent 
for  raising  funds  and  promoting  the  general  interests 
of  the  institution.  The  catalogue  for  1830  showed 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  in  the  male  department 
and  one  hundred  and  eighteen  in  the  female — aggre- 
gate, two  hundred  and  fifty-tive. 

The  fall   term  (•(mimencod    in    Octi)ber,    1S3(;.    the 


trustees  presenting  a  flattering  prospectus.  J.  M. 
Goshorn  became  the  agent,  and  the  same  corps  of 
instructors  were  retained.  Rev.  Dr.  Thompson  de- 
livered the  commencement  address  to  the  students 
and  patrons  of  the  school. 

In  February,  1837,  the  trustees  issued  proposals  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  building,  of  brick,  forty  by 
eighty  feet,  and  three  stories  high;  and,  in  Decemljer, 
1838,  they  were  enabled  to  re-open  the  school  in  the 
new  building  for  male  scholars,  the  apartment  for 
female  pupils  not  being  com])lete.  The  former  i)rin- 
cipal,  Rev.  J.  E.  Chaplin,  having  been  transferred 
by  the  Metliodist  conference  to  Michigan,  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Thompson  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  in 
1838.  Alexander  Nelson  was  his  assistant  in  the 
mathematical  department,  and  new  life  was  infused 
into  the  school. 

At  the  annual  commencement  in  18-l"-i,  the  cata- 
logue of  the  seminary  showed  three  hundred  and 
ninety-one  students  during  the  year,'  and  the  examin- 
ing committee  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  pro- 
ficiency of  the  students  and  the  zealous  and  faithful 
labors  of  the  instructors  in  the  various  branches. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  seminary  was  not 
good.  Since  the  effort  to  rebuild,  del)ts  had  accumu- 
lated upon  the  trustees,  which  they  found  it  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  meet,  and,  for  the  purpose  of  relief, 
a  society  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1842,  known  as 
the  "Norwalk  Education  Society,"  the  object  of 
which  was  to  collect  funds,  and  aid  in  other  ways  the 
institution  to  relieve  itself  of  debt  and  to  increase  its 
usefulness,  of  which  society  Rev.  Adam  Poo  was 
elected  president. 

The  general  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  held  in  New  York  City  in  June,  1844, 
elected  Rev.  Edward  Thompson,  editor  of  the  Ladies' 
Be^JOsitory,  published  in  Cincinnati,  and,  at  the  close 
of  the  summer  session  in  July,  1844,  he  tendered  his 
resignation  as  principal  of  the  seminary,  which  posi- 
tion he  had  occupied  since  the  fall  of  1838.  His 
resignation  was  accepted  with  regret.  He  was  a  man 
of  rare  literary  attainments,  of  ripe  scholarship,  of 
pleasing  address,  of  refined  and  gentlemanly  manners, 
and  purity  of  life  and  character,  and  the  vacancy  thus 
created  was  one  of  great  difficulty  to  fill. 

H.  Dwight,  who  had  for  some  time  been  the  prin- 
cipal assistant  of  Doctor  Thompson,  was  appointed 
his  successor,  and  the  fall  term  of  1844  was  opened 
under  his  supervision,  and  he  i-emained  principal  of 
the  seminary  until  its  ck)se,  January,  1846. 

The  seminary  had  l)een  lal)oring  under  heavy  in- 
debtedness from  the  time  of  rebuilding  in  1838,  which 
the  most  strenuous  of  its  friends  had  l)een  unable  to 
remove;  and  now  that  the  stronger  interests  of  the 
Methodist  denomination  throughout  the  State  had 
been  transferred  to  the  university  at  Delaware,  the 
local  interest  of  Norwalk  was  found  inadecpiate  to  the 
removing  of  the  incumbrance,  and  the  whole  ])roperty 
was  sold  under  execution  in  favor  of  the  builders. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


NORWALK    IXSTITUTE. 

The  Baptists  of  Norwalk  called  ii  meeting  Janu- 
ary, 1846,  to  take  into  consideration  the  purchas- 
ing of  the  property,  and  the  continuance  of  the 
school  under  the  auspices  of  that  denomination;  and 
measures  were  immediately  inaugurated  to  cari'v  the 
proposition  thus  brought  forward  for  accomplishing 
this  into  effect.  A  hoai-d  of  trustees  was  elected,  con- 
sisting of  J.  S.  Lowry,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Hall,  Rev.  R. 
N.  Henderson,  Rev.  Samuel  Woodsworth  and  John 
Kelly,  and  arrangements  made  to  make  immediate 
efforts  to  procure  subscriptions  and  donations  for  the 
purchase  and  opening  of  the  school,  under  the  name 
and  style  of  the  "Norwalk  Institute." 

The  institute  was  opened  August,  1840,  with  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Hall  as  principal,  assisted  by  Nathan  S. 
Burton,  and  Miss  Martha  J.  Flanders  as  principal  of 
the  female  de])artment.  The  terms  of  tuition  remained 
the  same  as  under  the  seminary  management,  and 
pupils  rapidly  filled  up  the  school.  In  November, 
1847,  the  catalogue  showed  the  number  of  pupils  for 
the  year  to  be  two  hundred  and  thirty — one  hundred 
and  fifteen  gentlemen,  ninety-three  ladies,  and  twenty- 
two  primary — and  the  numbers  continued  to  increase, 
till  in  1849  their  catalogue  showed  three  hundred  and 
six.  Rev.  J.  Hall  was  succeeded  by  A.  S.  Hutchins 
as  principal,  who  continued  to  occupy  that  position 
till  1855,  when  the  institute  ceased  to  exist. 

The  legislature  of  Ohio  passed  the  Akron  school 
law,  February  8,  1847,  and  under  this  act  and  the 
one  amendatory  thereto,  other  towns,  by  a  petition  of 
two-thirds  of  their  qualified  voters,  could  avail  them- 
selves of  its  provisions.  This  law  authorized  and 
inaugurated  the  system  of  graded  schools,  which  were 
soon  after  so  generally  adopted,  and  which  experience 
has  amended  and  improved  till  it  has  resulted  in  our 
present  etBcient  system. 

March,  1855,  the  Norwalk  institute  was  purchased 
by  the  Union  school  district,  together  with  library 
and  apparatus,  and  Mr.  Hutchins,  who  had  been 
principal  of  the  institute,  became  the  superintendent 
of  (>ui-  jiublic  schools. 

K?:MALE    SEMIXARY. 

The  history  of  our  schools  would  be  incomplete 
should  we  omit  to  mention  the  Fenuile  seminary, 
established  in  December,  1837,  under  the  principal- 
ship  of  Miss  Harriet  Bedford.  The  school  was  under 
the  control  of  a  joint  stock  comj)any,  and  managed 
by  a  board  of  directors,  of  which  David  Gibbs  was 
president,  and  Dr.  John  Tifft,  secretary.  The  build- 
ing occupied  was  the  one  erected  at  an  early  day  for 
our  county  courthouse,  but  finding  it  too  small  to 
accommodate  the  increasing  business  of  the  county, 
it  was  sold  and  moved  to  Whittlesey  avenue,  and 
occupied  for  several  years  for  school  purposes.  No 
data  can  be  found  from  which  the  text  books  used, 
the  course  of  study  adopted,  or  the  number  of  pupils 
in  attendance  can   be  given.      In   March.  1S3!»,  Miss 


Bedford  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  M.  F.  C.  Worcester, 
the  accomplished  wife  of  Hon.  S.  T.  Worcester,  then 
a  resident  of  our  village,  whose  love  of  the  occupa- 
tion, united  with  educational  qualifications  of  a  high 
order,  soon  gave  to  the  school  an  envialile  reputation 
amongst  our  own  citizens,  and  brougiit  in  many 
pupils  from  other  towns. 

The  price  of  tuition  in  English  branches  was  five 
dollars,  including  drawing,  six  dollars;  Latin  and 
French  in  addition,  eight  dollars;  music,  five  dollars 
extra. 

The  seminary,  however,  continued  but  a  short  time, 
though  the  precise  date  of  its  close  we  cannot  readily 
determine,  as  no  records  have  been  found.  A  want 
of  means  and  pecuniary  embarrassment  led  to  its  dis- 
continuance, and  the  building  was  sold.  Mrs.  Wor- 
cester, however,  continued  a  private  school  for  young 
ladies  for  some  time  after,  which  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful. 

But  the  necessity  of  a  good  female  school  amongst 
our  people  was  still  strongly  felt,  and  the  matter  con- 
tinued to  be  agitated  until  the  winter  of  1846  and  '47, 
when  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained  for  the 
"  Norwalk  Female  Seminary,"  with  S.  T.  Worcester, 
W.  F.  Kittridge,  C.  L.  Latimer,  John  R.  Osborn  and 
Rev.  Alfred  Newton,  as  trustees,  and  an  effort  was 
made  to  get  the  necessary  amount  of  stock  subscribed, 
which  was  fixed  at  three  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. This  amount,  after  considerable  labor,  was 
finally  obtained,  and  a  beautiful  location  was  selected 
in  the  west  part  of  our  village,  corner  of  Main  and 
Pleasant  streets,  which  was  the  generous  gift  of  Hon. 
S.  T.  Worcester,  and  a  suitable  two-story  brick  build- 
ing was  erected,  which  was  completed  and  fully  paid 
for  in  June,  1848. 

It  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1850  that  the  semi- 
nary was  finally  opened  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  J. 
il.  Hayes,  a  Presbyterian  minister  of  scholarly  ac- 
quirements, who  had  previously  obtained,  by  purchase 
and  assignment,  the  interests  of  the  shareholders, 
with  the  reservation  on  the  part  of  some  that  the 
building  should  continue  to  be  used  for  the  purposes 
originally  designed. 

Mr.  Hayes  remained  two  years,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Asa  Brainard,  of  New  York.  He  remained 
but  two  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Miss  E.  Cook,  a 
graduate  of  Mt.  Holyoke,  who  had  charge  of  it  for 
the  two  succeeding  years,  when  she  resigned  the  posi- 
tion to  her  sister,  Miss  C.  Cook,  who  remained  one 
year. 

Miss  Metcalf,  of  Hudson,  Ohio,  was  then  (in  1857) 
employed  with  Miss  Eliza  S.  Watson  as  assistant,  and 
they  fully  sustained  the  good  reputation  the  school 
attained  under  the  former  instructors.  But  the  com- 
mercial disasters  of  the  country  at  this  time,  com- 
bined with  tlie  growing  interests  of  our  citizens  in 
our  Public  schools,  left  the  seminary  without  an 
adequate  support,  and  in  1858  it  suspended.  Though 
its  life  was  less  than  ten  years,  it  had  exerted  a  marked 
infiueiicc  in  our  village  and  its  vicinity. 


ERI   MESNARD 


was  born  at  Norwalk,  Conn.,  Oct.  16,  1797.  He 
moved  witli  his  father's  family  to  Saratoga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1806;  thence,  in  1818,  to  Onon- 
daga Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  lie  married  Lucy,  daughter 
of  Ebenezer  Hill,  in  the  year  1826.  His  wife 
died  in  1830,  and  in  1835  he  married,  for  his 
second  wife,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Seth  Baker,  of 
Lafayette,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  resided  at 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  until  1836,  when  he  moved  to 
Fairfield,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  thence,  in  1843,  to 
Norwalk,  in  said  county,  where  he  remained  until 
the  date  of  his  death,  Jan.  28,  1879,  in  the  eighty- 
second  year  of  his  age.  He  was  employed  as  civil 
engineer,  about   1831,  on   the   Ithaca  and  Owcgo 


Railroad,  one  of  the  first  railroads  built  in  the 
United  States. 

He  officiated  as  county  surveyor  of  Huron  County 
for  fourteen  years,  and  did  more  or  less  surveying 
during  all  the  years  of  his  residence  in  Ohio, 
though  he  made  farming  his  principal  occupation, 
being  proprietor  of  the  fine  farm  now  owned  by 
his  son,  Capt.  L.  B.  Mesnard,  and  located  two 
miles  south  of  Norwalk. 

But  few  men  were  more  widely  known  or  re- 
spected throughout  the  county.  He  was  an  exem- 
plary Christian,  and  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
integrity.  He  leaves  a  son  and  three  daughters,  all 
residents  of  Huron  County. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


PTBLIC    SCHOOLS. 

The  liistory  of  the  public  schooLs  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  from  the  date  of  its  first  settlement  in  1809  to 
the  adoption  of  our  present  system  of  graded  schools 
in  1850,  presents  little  of  especial  interest. 

Our  district  schools  were  taught  for  many  years  in 
buildings  rented  for  that  purpose,  but  one  school 
house  belonging  to  the  district  up  to  1837,  which 
stood  upon  the  west  lot  of  the  grounds  now  occupied 
by  our  high  school  building.  It  was  a  one-story 
wooden  structu.e,  with  but  one  room,  which  was 
removed  about  1830. 

In  1837,  a  school  house  was  built  on  the  lirow  of 
the  hill  southwest  of  the  courthouse,  now  known  as 
Benedict  avenue,  and  being  somewhat  pretentions 
from  being  painted,  was  known  as  the  "  White  school 
house."  Another  was  soon  after  built  on  Seminary 
street,  near  the  old  Methodist  church,  of  brick,  and 
another  was  built  on  Whittlesey  avenue  in  1841 — the 
same  building  now  occupied  by  our  public  schools. 

A  building  was  also  rented  on  Railroad  avenue  in 
1841,  where  a  school  was  kept  by  J.  H.  Foster;  and 
another  was  kept  in  a  building  near  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Milan  streets,  and  still  another  was  in  the 
Norwalk  seminary  building. 

The  directors  in  1841  were  Timothy  Baker,  JoJm 
R.  Osborn  and  Jairus  Kennan. 

Our  seminary  being  in  operation  at  that  time,  there 
were  few  excepting  primary  scholars  who  attended 
the  district  schools. 

FIKsT   TtACHEKs"    INSTITUTE. 

In  February,  1848,  the  first  congregation  of  teach- 
ers, under  the  title  of  Teachers'  Institute,  was  called 
in  this  place. 

The  county  board  of  examiners  earnestly  requested 
all  teachers,  and  those  intending  to  make  application, 
to  attend  this  institute,  as  they  had  determined  upon 
a  more  thorough  and  rigid  course  of  examining  the 
qualifications  of  teachers  than  formerly. 

The  commissioners  of  the  county  made  an  appro- 
priation to  meet  the  ordinary  expenses,  board  ex- 
cepted. 

The  first  institute  proved  a  great  success.  It  was 
conducted  by  Prof.  M.  P.  Cowdry,  then  of  Geauga 
county,  and  J.  Hurty,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio,  assisted  by 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Hall,  the  principal  of  the  Norwalk 
institute.  From  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hun- 
dred teachers,  and  those  desiring  to  become  such, 
were  in  attendance. 

Lectures  were  delivered  by  Hon.  S.  T.  Worcester, 
then  of  Norwalk,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer,  of  Monroe- 
ville,  and  Hon.  Isaac  J.  Allen,  of  Mansfield,  and  an 
interest  was  awakened  in  educational  matters,  the 
result  of  whicii  extended  far  beyond  our  borders. 


FIRST    NORMA  I 


LASS    IN    THE    STATE. 


On  tiu'  14th  day  of  June.  1848.  tiie  first  normal 
class  of  the  -SState  IVachcrs"  Association  •"  held  in 
OJiio   was   convened    in    this   placi'.    continuing   nine 


weeks,  and  marks  an  epoch  in  our  educational  liis- 
tory, for  it  seems  to  have  proved  the  radiating  jjoint 
from  which  a  better,  a  more  thorough  and  far  higher 
system  was  soon  to  be  eliminated. 

The  Honorable  Samuel  Galloway,  then  secretary  of 
state,  and  president  of  the  Ohio  State  teachers"  as- 
sociation, delivered  an  address  before  the  class. 

L'NION    SCHOOLS. 

Immediately  upon  the  adjournment  of  the  "State 
Normal  Class,"  a  meeting  of  our  citizens  was  called  at 
the  court  house,  to  take  into  consideration  the  pro- 
priety of  establishing  a  system  of  union  schools.  This 
was  in  August,  1848. 

The  legislature  of  our  State,  in  February,  1849. 
passed  an  act  under  which  all  incorporated  cities, 
towns  and  villages  having  a  population  of  two  hund- 
red or  more  might  vote  upon  the  adoption  of  the  sys- 
tem— a  majority  vote  deciding  the  adoption  or  rejec- 
tion of  the  law. 

At  the  spring  election  in  1850,  the  question  was 
submitted  t(i  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  was  adopted 
with  great  unanimity.  A  board  of  education  was 
elected,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  adapt  the  brick 
school  building  on  Whittlesey  avenue  to  the  necessities 
of  the  school. 

Mr.  D.  F.  DeWolf  was  elected  superintendent,  and 
all  arrangements  were  made  for  opening  under  the 
graded  system  on  the  33d  of  September  of  that  year. 

The  board  of  education  consisted  of  six  members: 
W.  F.  Kittridge,  E.  E.  Husted,  Samuel  Pennewell, 
S.  T.  Worcester,  Henry  Brown  and  C.  L.  Boalt; 
Henry  Brown  as  clerk  of  the  board. 

There  were  three  buildings  occupied  for  school  pur- 
poses. The  Central,  on  Mechanic  street  (now  Whit- 
tlesey avenue,)  the  South  Pleasant  street  building, 
and  the  brick  school  house  on  Seminary  street;  the 
latter  two  as  ward  schools  for  pi'imary  scholars,  with 
five  female  teachers.  The  superintendent  also  gave 
the  larger  portion  of  his  time  to  teaching. 

The  female  teachers  were  Mrs.  DeWolf,  Miss  Eunice 
C.  Fox,  Miss  Isabella  Farr,  Miss  M.  Barrett  and  Miss 
Julia  Hitchcock. 

The  population  of  Norwalk  at  this  time  was  about 
two  thousand,  and  the  union  school  district  extended 
over  the  corporation. 

The  school  opened  with  three  hundred  scholars  in 
the  various  grades.  The  salary  of  the  superintendent 
was  fixed  at  six  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and  that 
of  the  female  teachers  at  fourteen  dollars  per  niontli. 
A  tax  was  levied  for  school  purposes  of  two  and  one- 
half  mills,  producing  one  thousand  and  fifty  dollars, 
besides  the  money  received  from  the  State  school  fund, 
amounting  to  three  hundred  and  forty  dollars. 

The  enrollment  of  the  year  amounted  to  about  four 
hundred,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  ninety  were  males 
and  two  hundred  and  ten  females,  with  an  average  at- 
tendance of  three  hundred.  The  school  was  taught 
for  ten  months.  The  departments  were  divided  into 
pviniary.  -cpnnilary  and  grammar  schools. 


154 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


At  the  May  election  in  1851,  0.  G.  Carter  and  John 
R.  Osboru  were  elected  members  of  the  board  of 
education  to  fill  the  vacancies  occasioned  by  the  ex- 
piration of  the  terms  of  S.  T.  Worcester  and  C.  L. 
Boult.  Mr.  DeWoIf  was  continued  in  the  superin- 
tendency,  and  Mrs.  P.  A.  Seymour  was  engaged  in 
the  grammar  school  at  a  salary  of  two  hundred  dollars. 
She  continued  but  a  short  time,  and  Miss  Janes  was 
appointed  to  tiie  vacancy. 

The  enumeration  for  1852  shows  seven  hundred 
and  seven  between  the  ages  of  four  and  twenty-one 
years,  with  an  enrollment  in  our  schools  of  four 
hundred  and  tifty-six.  The  salary  of  Mr.  DeWolf, 
as  superintendent,  was  increased  to  seven  hundred 
dollars.  During  the  year,  Miss  Ella  Tenney,  one  of 
the  teachers,  died,  after  a  brief  illness,  and  a  special 
meeting  of  the  board  was  held,  and  resolutions  of 
respect  and  condolence  were  jiassed. 

No  course  of  study  appears  in  any  of  tlie  records  of 
the  school  at  this  time. 

At  the  close  of  the  school  year,  1853.  Mr.  DeWolf 
tendered  his  resignation  as  superintendent,  and  the 
vacancy  was  filled  by  the  election  of  William  P. 
Clark,  of  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  as  superintendent,  at 
a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  Mrs.  Bates  was 
employed  to  take  charge  of  the  grammar  school,  and 
Miss  Hill,  Miss  Julia  Hitchcock,  Miss  Fannie  Wil- 
son, Miss  Dealing  and  Miss  Lowe  in  the  other  depart- 
ments. The  school  examiners  at  this  time  were  Rev. 
E.  Wiuthrop.  Rev.  Alfred  Newton  and  Samuel  T. 
Worcester. 

Tlie  whole  value  of  our  school  property  was  re- 
turned ;it  $2,300,  and  the  total  expenses  of  our  school 
for  the  year  at  -SI, 800.  The  average  salary  of  female 
teachers  for  forty  weeks  was  $180.  A  special  school 
tax  wa.s  levied  of  two  mills.  Tlie  value  of  maps  and 
.school  apparatus  was  §150. 

In  1855,  the  board  purchased  the  brick  building 
occupied  by  the  Norwalk  Institute,  to  be  used  as  a 
central  and  high  school  building  for  the  district. 
Tlie  purchase  was  for  the  sum  of  $3,500,  which  em- 
braced the  two  central  lots  and  the  present  high 
school  building,  a  small  library  and  some  apparatus. 

Mr.  A.  S.  Hutchins,  the  former  principal  of  the 
Norwalk  Institute,  was  elected  suijerintendent  of  the 
Union  Schools  in  Sei)tember,  185-1,  in  place  of  Mr. 
Clark.  Mr.  S.  F.  Newman  was  elected  principal  of 
the  grammar  school,  with  seven  female  teachers  in 
the  primary  and  secondary  departments. 

i'revii)us  to  the  close  of  the  school  year  in  1855, 
.Mr.  Hutchins  resigned  his  position  as  superintendent, 
and  Mr.  William  Mitchell  was  appointed  to  the  va- 
cancy. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  re-elected  suiterintendent  in  1S5G, 
at  a  salary  of  »1,000  per  year,  with  the  following 
corps  of  teachers  :  S.  F.  Newman,  principal  of  the 
grammar  school,  salary,  $600  ;  Miss  S.  S.  Sanford, 
at  $350,  Miss  Julia  Hitchcock,  at  $300  ;  Jliss  Fannie 
Wilson,  at  $250  ;  Miss  Dealing,  $300. 

Tlie  board  at  this  time  consisted  of  N.   8.   C.   Per- 


kins, .Io.s.  M.  Farr,  C.  E.  Newman,  H.  Rose,  F. 
Sawyer  and  R.  P.  Geer.  A  levy  of  four  mills  was 
made  for  school  purposes,  and  Mr.  Mitchell  was  con- 
tinued in  the  superintendency  at  his  previous  salary. 

At  the  annual  election  in  1858,  J.  A.  Jackman  and 
Theodore  Baker  were  elected  in  the  places  of  C.  E. 
Newman  and  R.  P.  Geer,  whose  terms  had  expired, 
and  the  new  board  systematized  their  labors  by  the 
appointment  of  committees  to  attend  to  specific  du- 
ties, to  wit :  A  committee  upon  teachers,  a  committee 
upon  buildings  and  repairs,  upon  text  books,  and 
upon  supplies.  Rev.  A.  Newton,  William  Mitchell 
and  S.  T.  Worcester  were  appointed  examiners  for 
the  year. 

There  seemed  to  the  board  a  necessity  for  retrench- 
ing expenses,  and  the  salary  of  the  superintendent 
was  reduced  to  nine  hundred  dollars,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing yeiir  Mr.  Mitchell  tendered  his  resignation. 

Mr.  Theodore  E.  Baker  was  elected  by  the  bosird  to 
succeed  Mr.  Mitchell  in  the  superintendency,  at  a 
salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars. 

At  the  annual  election.  May  5th,  1860,  Messrs. 
C.  E.  Pennewell  and  William  Case  were  elected  mem- 
bers of  the  board  in  the  places  of  Perkins  and  Rose, 
whose  terms  had  expired,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
school  year  in  July,  the  board  elected  R.  W.  Steven- 
son, then  of  Dresden,  Ohio,  to  the  superintendency, 
at  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  his 
wife  as  assistant  teacher  in  the  high  school,  at  a  salary 
of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

In  1861,  sub-district  number  nine,  joining  the 
union  school  district  on  the  east,  was  by  petition 
added  to  it.  At  this  time  the  number  of  teachers 
increased  to  twelve,  including  the  superintendent. 

In  1863,  the  salary  of  the  superintendent  was  raised 
to  one  thousand  dollars. 

The  first  graduate  of  our  union  schools  was  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Wilkinson,  in  1861,  and  the  next  was  Miss 
Nettie  M.  North,  in  1862;  and  in  the  class  of  1863 
were  Miss  Arietta  Newman,  William  F.  Parker  and 
Cortland  L.  Kennan. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Stevenson's  salary  was  increased  to 
one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars.  All  the  teachers 
of  the  previous  year  were  invited  to  remain,  at  in- 
creased salaries.  At  the  close  of  this  school  year 
there  were  seven  in  the  graduating  class. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Stevenson's  salary  was  again  increased, 
to  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars,  and  all  tlie 
teachers  of  the  previous  year  were  invited  to  remain 
at  former  salaries.  The  population  of  our  union 
school  district  at  this  time  was  three  thou.sand  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-one,  and  the  enumeration  of 
children  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  was  one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-three,  divided  as 
follows:  Six  hundred  and  ninety-five  white  males, 
seven  hundred  and  thirty -seven  white  females,  seven 
colored  males  and  four  colored  females.  At  the  close 
of  this  school  year  there  was  a  graduating  class  of  six. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Stevenson's  salary  was  again  increased 
by  the  voluntary  action  of  the  board,  they  recogniz- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


ing  the  value  of  liis  services,  and  the  salaries  of  inter- 
mediate and  secondary  teachers  were  also  increased 
fifty  dollars  per  year  each. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  again  re-elected  to  the 
superintendency,  with  his  salary  increased  to  one 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  board  decided  to  erect  a  larger  and  better 
school  house  on  South  Pleasant  street,  the  old  one 
being  small  and  dilapidated.  A  lot  was  purchased, 
adjoining  the  old  one,  for  eight  hundred  dollars,  and 
a  brick  building  was  erected  to  accommodate  primary 
scholars.  The  tax  levied  was  five  mills,  and  the 
amount  disbursed  for  school  purposes  was  thirteen 
thousand  and  thirty-five  dollars  and  seventy-nine 
cents.  There  were  ten  graduates  at  the  close  of  this 
year. 

In  18(iS,  R.  W.  Stevenson  was  re-elected  superin- 
tendent, at  a  salary  of  two  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
salaries  of  most  of  the  teachers  were  increased. 

There  was  urgent  necessity  for  more  room  and 
more  school  buildings,  to  accommodate  the  increased 
number  of  scholars  in  the  different  wards  of  the  vil- 
lage. The  board  obtained  from  the  corporation 
authorities  a  deed  of  two  lots  on  League  street, 
designed  in  the  platting  by  the  "  Homestead  League  " 
for  "public  purposes,"  for  the  erection  of  a  school 
house,  and  the  board  proceeded  to  erect  a  good, 
substantial  two-story  brick  building  for  the  purpose, 
known  as  the  "League  Street  School  House." 

The  building  was  erected  under  the  especial  super- 
vision of  D.  D.  Benedict  and  Theodore  Williams, 
(a  committed  appointed  by  the  board,)  at  an  expense 
of  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
dollars  and  eighty-one  cents,  which  was  all  paid  for 
without  levying  any  additional  tax  over  that  raised  for 
school  purposes  of  five  mills.  The  board  also  pur- 
chased an  acre  of  laud  o'n  Benedict  avenue,  in  the 
south  part  of  the  village,  for  the  erection  of  another 
ward  school  house,  to  be  put  up  as  soon  as  the  finances 
would  permit,  without  creating  a  bonded  debt.  For 
this  they  paid  eight  hundred  dollars. 

Our  enumeration  had  now  reached  one  thousand, 
seven  hundred  and  fifty-four,  between  the  ages  of 
five  and  twenty-one,  and  the  enrollment  in  our  schools 
was  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five,  with  an  average 
cost  per  pupil  of  twelve  dollars  and  fifty-four  cents 
per  year.  The  graduating  class  this  year  consisted  of 
five  members. 

At  the  close  of  the  school  year  in  1871,  the  super- 
intendent and  all  the  teachers  were  invited  to  remain. 
Mr.  Stevenson,  however,  tendered  his  resignation,  as 
he  had  been  elected  to  the  same  position  in  the  public 
schools  of  Columbus,  at  an  increased  salary. 

Mr.  Henry  A.  Farwell,  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  was 
elected  by  the  board  to  succeed  Mr.  Stevenspn  from 
September,  1871,  at  a  salary  of  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars. 

The  crowded  state  of  our  schools  in  IST"^  made  it 
necessary  that  a  school  building  should  be  erected  on 
the  lot  purchased  on  Benedict  avenue,  and  plans  were 


procured,  and  measures  adopted  for  proceeding  at 
once  to  its  erection.  D.  D.  Benedict  and  Theodore 
Williams  were  appointed  a  building  committee,  and 
authorized  to  fit  up  the  grounds  and  make  all  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  having  a  school  opened.  A 
very  commodious  two-story  brick  building  was  erected, 
about  thirty-six  by  sixty  feet,  upon  the  ground,  de- 
signed to  accommodate  two  primary  schools,  with 
ante-rooms,  recitation-rooms  and  black-boards,  and 
seated  with  modern  single  seats  and  desks,  having  a 
more  tasty  and  attractive  exterior  than  any  of  our 
previous  school  buildings,  at  a  cost  of  eight  thousand 
dollars.  This  building  will  seat  comfortably  one 
hundred  and  fifty  scholars. 

Mr.  Farwell  was  re-elected  superintendent  at  a 
salary  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars, and  the  teachers  of  the  previous  year  were  invited 
to  remain. 

Mr.  Farwell  was  re-elected  superintendent  in  1872, 
at  his  previous  salary. 

Miss  S.  H.  Smith,  resigned  her  position  in  tlie  high 
school  at  the  close  of  the  school  year  in  1873.  She 
had  been  teacher  of  marked  ability  in  our  schools  for 
many  years,  and  her  resignation  was  accepted  with 
much  regret. 

Mr.  Farwell  was  re-elected  to  the  superintendency 
in  Julv,  1873.  There  was  a  graduating  class  at  the 
close  of  the  school  year  of  eleven. 

In  July,  1874,  Mr.  Farwell's  time  having  expired, 
the  board  elected  C.  W.  Oakes  superintendent,  at  a 
salary  of  one  thousand  and  six  hundred  dollars  ]ier 
year. 

The  enumeration  taken  under  the  law  of  May  15, 
1873,  limits  the  school  age  to  those  between  six  and 
twentj-one  3-ears — our  last  enumeration  embracing 
those  between  five  and  twenty-one  years.  We  find  the 
number  reduced  to  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirty-four.  The  average  daily  attendance  was  six 
hundred  and  fourteen,  of  whom  eighty  were  in  the 
high  school.  It  should  be  stated,  in  explanation  of 
the  small  per  centage  of  daily  attendance  to  the 
enumeration,  that  the  Catholic  denomination  main- 
tains separate  schools,  and  also  the  Lutherans  (mak- 
ing three  in  all,)  and  employing  four  or  five  teachers. 
There  were  twelve  in  the  graduating  class  at  the 
close  of  the  school  year, 

Mr.  Oakes  was  re-elected  to  the  superintendency  in 
June,  1875,  at  a  salary  of  one  thousand  and  eight 
hundred  dollars. 

The  l)oai-d  this  year  added  vocal  music  to  the 
branches  taught,  and  engaged  the  services  of  Prof. 
Luse  at  a  salary  of  six  hundred  dollars,  to  divide  his 
time  between  the  different  schools. 

A  brief  recapitulation  of  the  prominent  jioints  in 
our  .school  history  may  not  be  uninteresting. 

Our  graded  schools  were  organized  under  the 
general  law  of  1849;  they  opened  under  that  law  in 
September,  1850;  the  population  of  Norwalk  was 
then  about  two  thousand;  the  enrollment  the  first 
vear  was  almut  fmir  huiidrccl:  our  present  jiopulatioii 


150 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


(1879)  is  six  thousand  and  one  hundred;  our  enu- 
meration between  six  and  twenty-one  years  is  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-nine;  our  enroll- 
ment in  schools,  exclusive  of  Catholic  and  Lutheran 
schools,  is  one  thousand  and  one. 

We  commenced  with  four  schools,  in  three  build- 
ings, aud  five  teachers;  we  now  have  seven  school 
houses:  nineteen  schools  and  twenty-three  teachers. 

We  ijaid  our  first  superintendent  six  hundred  dollars 
per  year,  and  our  female  teachers  fourteen  dollars  per 
month ;  we  now  pay  our  superintendent  one  thousand 
and  eight  hundred  per  year,  and  our  female  teachers 
from  thirty-five  to  sixty  dollars  per  month.  Our 
monthly  pay  roll  is  now  one  thousand  and  two 
luindred  dollars. 

We  commenced  with  tliree  grades,  primary,  sec- 
ondary and  grammar  ;  we  now  have  nine  grades,  em- 
bracing the  high  school,  with  a  standard  of  education 
intended  to  fit  pupils  to  enter  college.  We  think  the 
average  cost  per  scholar,  for  instruction  for  a  series 
of  years,"  will  not  exceed  §15  per  year. 

Our  school  property  in  1850  was  worth  §2,300 ;  it 
is  now  worth  over  145,000. 

We  have  had  seven  different  superintendents  in  our 
schools  since  organizing  under  the  graded  system,  as 
follows  :  D.  F.  DeWolf,  from  185()"to  1853  ;  W.  P. 
Clark,  from  1853  to  1854 :  A.  S.  Hutchins,  from 
1854  to  1855  :  William  Mitchell,  from  1855  to  1859  ; 
T.  E.  Baker,  from  1859  to  1860  :  R.  W.  Stevenson, 
18G0  to  IST]  :  H.  A.  Farwell.  1871  to  1874  :  C.  W. 
Oakes,  1874. 
.  Our  list  of  graduates  numbers  128. 

An  association  of  the  Alumni  was  organized  in 
1875,  which  proved  both  pleasant  and  profitable,  and 
promises  to  be  a  permanent  society,  holding  regular 
meetings  hereafter.  It  numbers  among  its  members 
many  of  our  best  citizens,  and  gathers  from  abroad 
many,  occupying  prominent  positions,  who  have  gone 
out  from  us. 

The  Catholic  portion  of  our  population  has  never 
felt  disposed  to  participate,  to  any  great  extent,  in 
tile  benefits  of  our  public  schools,  preferring  to  main- 
tain theii'  separate  denominational  institutions.  Thev 
maintain  two  schools  within  our  district,  employing 
four  teachers. 

The  board  of  education  has  never  made  the  reading 
of  the  Bible  in  the  schools  imperative  upon  superin- 
tendents or  teachers,  but  lias  left  the  matter  wholly 
discretionary  with  them  ;  and  though  the  general 
practice  is  in  most  of  our  schools  to  read  a  portion  of 
tlie  Scriptures  in  the  opening  exercise,  no  strictures 
or  criticisms  have  arisen  of  a  sectarian  character  tO' 
disturb  their  peaceful  progress. 

There  is  no  local  interest  dearer  to  our  people  than 
that  of  maintaining  the  high  standing  of  our  public 
schoools.  The  iuijjression  has  grown  into  a  settled 
conviction,  that  with  universal  suffrage,  the  great  safe- 
guard for  our  institutions,  both  civil  and  religious,  is 
in  universal  education. 


LAW    .VXD    BL-.SlXE.Sfi    COLLEGE. 

On  the  21st  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1878,  Wm.  H. 
Sprague,  Esq.,  establislied  Sprague's  Business  Col- 
lege, and  located  it  in  Gallup's  new  block.  Since  its 
organization,  over  thirty  students  have  been  and  are 
in  attendance.  It  is  already  a  success.  By  reason  of 
young  men  soliciting  assistance  in  studying  the  law, 
the  proprietor  has  concluded  to  add  a  law  department, 
which  will  open  on  the  22d  day  of  September,  1879, 
and  will  be  known  as  Sprague's  Law  aud  Business 
College.  The  faculty  have  been  engaged  aud  are 
well  known  at  the  bar,  viz  :  Hon.  G.  T.  Stewart, 
Col.  Frank  Sawyer,  S.  A.  Wildman  and  C.  H.  Gal- 
lup. Instruction  in  plionograjiluc  short-hand  will 
also  be  given  liy  Mr.  P.  J.  ilahou,  a  practical  |)ho- 
nographer. 

WHITTLESEY    ACAHEMY. 

For  twenty-six  years  there  has  been  in  existence  in 
Norwalk,  a  corporation  known  by  name  to  many  of 
our  citizens,  but  as  to  whose  origin  and  history  there 
exists  an  almost  entire  lack  of  information.  A  whole 
generation  has  grown  up  since  the  ""Whittlesey  Acad- 
emy of  Arts  and  Sciences"  was  organized,  who  know 
nothing  of  the  facts  which  led  to  its  organization. 

On  the  16th  of  October,  1816,  Hon.  Elisha  Whit- 
tlesey, who  held  the  title  as  trustee  in  fact,  for  him- 
self, Mathew  B.  Whittlesey,  E.  iloss  White  aud 
Piatt  Benedict,  filed  the  "town  plat  of  Norwalk"  with 
the  recorder  of  Huron  county.  Forty-eight  lots  are 
plotted  and  described,  and  the  conclusion  of  the  de- 
scription is  as  follows  : 

"The  roads,  streets  and  alleys  are  given  for  pul)lic 
use.  Lot  13  is  given  for  a  site  to  build  a  court  house. 
Lot  12,  a  meeting  house.  Lot  1  for  an  academy  or 
college,  and  lot  24  for  a  goal,  "evidently  meaning  gaol, 
or  jail. 

Lot  1,  thus  dedicated  for  "'an  academy  or  college" 
remained  unoccupied  for  many  years,  and  was  used 
for  a  play  ground  by  the  youth  of  the  village,  and  as 
a  public  hitching  place  for  teams,  but  after  nearly 
forty  years  Mr.  'Whittlesey,  in  1854,  then  a  resident 
of  Washington,  and  Piatt  Benedict,  gave  a  quit  claim 
deed  of  the  lot  to  the  "Whittlesey  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,"  which  had  been  organized  by  a  number 
of  the  leadiug  citizens  of  the  town  the  year  previous. 
This  quit  claim  is  dated  April  26th,  1854. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  1853,  a  number  of  gentlemen 
"being  desirous  of  founding  an  academy,  in  said 
town,  for  the  advancement  of  useful  knowledge  by 
courses  of  lectures  upon  the  sciences  and  arts,  and 
a  library  and  calnnet  of  curiosities,"  made  petition  to 
the  county  auditor,  to  be  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  Ohio.  "The  intention  being  to  secure  and  perfect 
the  title  to  lot  No.  1  in  said  Norwalk,  aud  erect  a 
suitable  building  thereon,  according  to  the  the  inten- 
tion of  the  donor,  Hon.  Elisha  Whittlesey."  Accord- 
ingly, G.  T.  Stewart,  who  was  then  the  county 
auditor,  appointed  three  apjiraisers,  David  Johnson, 
David  E.  Merrill,  and  Alfred  S.  Curtiss,    to  vifw  and 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


157 


appraise  lot  No.  1.  The)'  duly  performed  this  duty, 
appraising  the  lot  at  $800.  and  made  their  return 
May  31st.  The  next  day,  auditor  Stewart  issued  his 
certificate  of  incorporation,  and  on  June  2d,  C.  B. 
Stickney,  E.  Gray,  G.  H.  SafEord,  J.  E.  Ingersoll,  C. 
E.  Newman,  M.  R.  Brailey,  F.  A.  Wildman  and  G. 
T.  Stewart,  met  at  the  mayor's  office  to  organize. 
C.  B.  Stickney  presided  and  G.  T.  Stewart  acted  as 
secretary.  G.  H.  Safford  stated  the  object  of  the 
meeting  and  moved  that  the  association  be  known  as 
the  "Whittlesey  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences." 
Messrs.  Ingersoll,  Brailey  and  Safford  were  appointed 
committee  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws,  which 
were  adopted  at  a  meeting  held  June  ISth.  On  the 
2d  of  July,  officers  were  chosen  for  the  year,  as  follows : 

President,  S.  T.  Worcester ;  vice-president,  G.  T. 
Stewart  ;  secretary,  J.  E.  Ingersoll  ;  trea^rer,  E. 
Gray ;  librarian,  C.  E.  -Newman  ;  trustees,  S.  T. 
Worcester,  G.  T.  Stewart,  C.  B.  Stickney,  G.  H. 
Safford,  M.  R.  Brailey. 

Within  a  few  weeks,  Mr.  Ingersoll  removed  from 
the  village,  and  F.  A.  Wildman  was  chosen  secretary. 
Mr.  Gray,  who  was  the  first  treasurer,  has  acted  con- 
tinuously in  that  capacity  ever  since,  nearly  twenty-si.x 
years.  The  academy  being  thus  organized,  the  next 
tiling  was  to  erect  a  building.  At  a  meeting  held 
November  7,  1853,  a  building  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  G.  T.  Stewart,  G.  H.  Safford 
and  E.  Grey.  Subsequently,  M.  R.  Brailey  was  added 
to  the  committee,  and  the  contract  for  building  the 
present  Whittlesey  block  was  awarded  to  John  King. 
The  sum  of  §10,137.02,  to  build  with,  was  furnished 
by  the  following  parties,  who  received  i^erpetual 
leases,  subject  to  forfeiture  on  non-payment  of  annu- 
al rental  or  assessments,  of  the  several  rooms  in  the 
block,  the  academy  reserving  Whittlesey  hall  and 
ante-room  for  its  own  use  : 

Piatt  Benedict S1,1B8  80 

E.  Gager 1,817  50 

.7.  M.  Crosb5- 1,170  00 

HustedA  Gray 779  20 

Corporation  of  Norwalk ." 974  00 

Worcester  &  Pennewell 370  12 

Jairus  Kennan 340  90 

Osborn&  Stewart 358  70 

G.  H.  Safford ; 305  90 

G.  T.  Stewart 606  60 

M.  K.  Brailey 1,608  40 

Mt.  Vernon  Lodge  No.  64,  F.  &  A.  M 904  50 

The  total  cost  of  the  building,  as  shown  by  the  re- 
port of  treasurer  Gray,  was  some  S188  more  than  the 
above. 

The  academy  is  limited  tn  twenty-live  members, 
who  hold  their  membershi}t  during  life,  or  until  re- 
moval from  the  county.  N'acancies  are  filled  at  the 
annual  meeting,  which  is  iield  the  second  Monday  in 
April.  All  the  rooms  in  tlic  block  are  subject  to  an 
annual  charge  for  ground  rent,  and  the  amounts  thus 
received,  with  the  rental  of  Whittlesey  hall,  furnish 
the  income  of  the  academy.  Until  18GG,  when  the 
Young  Men's  Library  and  Reading  Room  was  estab- 
lished, the  academy  furnished  a  ccnirse  of  lectures 
iiearlv    cverv   wintur,    and    ii:i<l    ;ieeuniuhited   nuitc   a 


library  and  some  curiosities.  They  then  made  an  ar- 
rangement with  the  library  association,  whereby  the 
lattei-  took  charge  of  their  books.  An  annual  appro- 
priation of  from  SlOO  to  $400  for  new  books  has  since 
been  made.  At  this  time  nearly  all  tiie  books  in  the 
Young  Men's  Library  belong  to  the  Whittlesey  acad- 
emy. The  free  use  of  the  hall  has  also  been  granted 
the  library  for  lectures  or  entertainments,  to  the 
number  of,  at  least,  eight  each  year. 

The  affairs  of  the  academey  are  managed  by  a 
board  of  five  trustees,  who  meet  at  frequent  intervals 
during  the  year,  the  academy  itself  rarely  convening, 
save  at  the  annual  meeting  in  April.  The  following 
gentlemen  have  been  members  of  the  Whittlesey 
academy  in  the  past : 

M.  R.  Brailey,  G.  H.  Safford,  J.  E.  Ingersoll,  W. 
S.  Rose,  S.  T.  Worcester,  S.  R.  Beckwith,  B.  F. 
Roberts,  J.  A.  Jones,  Edward  Winthrop,  Charles 
BishoiJ,  J.  A.  Jackman,  I.  E.  Morehouse,  John 
Cline,  George  Baker,  Joseph  M.  Farr,  E.  M.  Stone, 
A.  Brainerd,  R.  W.  Stevenson,  D.  H.  Pease,  C.  E. 
Pennewell,  E.  E.  Husted.  Jairus  Kennan,  C.  L. 
Boalt,  S.  L.  Hatch,  F.  Sears,  Piatt  Benedict,  John 
Mountain,  Elmer  E.  Husted. 

The  following  are  the  present  members  : 

G.  T.  Stewart.  E.  Gray,  C.  E.  Newman,  F.  A. 
Wildman,  0.  G.  Carter,  C.  B.  Stickney,  L.  D. 
Strutton,  John  Tifft,  N.  S.  C.  Perkins,  Hiram  Rose, 
Franklin  Sawyer,  P.  N.  Schuyler,  J.  B.  Ford,  C.  P. 
Wickham,  G.  W.  Kuapp,  D.  D.  Benedict,  S.  P. 
Hildreth,  Henry  S.  Mitchell,  C.  L.  Kennan,  D.  H. 
Fox,  S.  A.  Wildman,  Charles  A.  Lloyd,  C.  H.  Gal- 
lup, James  G.  Gibbs,  L.  C.  Laylin. 

The  annual  meeting  for  1879,  was  held  Monday, 
April  14th.  Eighteen  members  were  present.  The 
report  of  the  trustees  showed  an  income  during  the 
year  of  S6G5.25  from  hall  rents,  and  $194.92  from 
ground  rents  and  assessments.  (Assessments  are 
made  on  the  several  rooms  for  repairs  or  improve- 
ments when  necessary). 

The  expenditures  amounted  to  $923.02.  of  which 
$178.17  was  for  books  for  the  library,  and  $133  was 
for  the  catalogue  of  the  library.  The  balance  on 
hand  is  $460.86. 

Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were  elected,  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  F.  A.  Wildman  :  vice-president,  0. 
G.  Carter  ;  secretary,  S.  A.  Wildman ;  treasurer,  E. 
Gray  ;  trustees.  D.  H.  Fox,  C.  H.  Gallup,  S.  P. 
Hildreth.  C.  A.  Lloyd  and  S.  A.  Wil.lnian  :  of  which 
))oard  C.  H.  Gallup  is  chairman. 

The  use  of  the  hall,  free  of  expense,  was  tendered 
to  the  library  asssociation,  for  lectures  or  entertain- 
ments, to  the  number  of  nine  during  the  year.  The 
sum  of  $150  was  appropriated  for  books,  to  be  placed 
in  the  keeping  of  the  library  association.  The  trus- 
tees were  authorized  to  take  such  action  as  they  may 
deem  proper  in  aiding  the  Firelands  Historical  Soci- 
ety to  protect  its  cabinet. 

The  academy  is  one  of  the  most  meritorious  insti- 
tutions in  Uie  place,  and  that  gift   of  lot   No.    1,   is 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


really   the  sulij^tunt 
Ycuncr  Moo's  Libra 


;)se    of   our  ])rc'scnt  valualilc 


LIKKAKY    ANU    READING    ROOM. 

Early  in  January,  186(3,  a  number  of  our  titizcii.>i 
convened  at  the  town  hall,  to  discuss  plans  for  estab- 
lishing a  reading  room,  and  organizing  a  library  asso- 
ciation. Resolutioas  were  adopted  expressing  the 
object  of  the  meeting,  and  pledging  those  present  to 
the  suppprt  of  the  enterprise.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  constitution  and  solicit  subscrip- 
tions. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  iield  on  the  24th  of  Jan- 
uary, a  constitution  was  adopted,  as  reported  by  the 
committee,  in  which  the  objects  of  the  association 
were  declared  to  be,  the  })roviding  for  the  people,  and 
especially  the  youth  of  Norwalk,  additional  means 
for  mental  improvement  through  the  agency  of  a 
library,  iseading  room,  public  lectures,  and  other  kin- 
dred instnmentalities.  An  organization  was  then  ef- 
fected under  the  name  of  The  Young  Men's  Library 
and  Reading  Room  Association,  and  the  following 
officers  elected  :  R.  W.  Stevenson,  president  ;  D.  H. 
Pease,  vice-president  ;  T.  D.  Shepard,  secretary ;  W. 
M.  Cline.  treasurer ;  directors,  D.  D.  Benedict,  E. 
E.  Rusted,  T.  P.  Bishop  and  C.  P.  Wickham.  A 
nucleus  of  a  library  was  provided  by  an  unconditional 
gift  to  the  association,  of  over  one  hundred  valuable 
volumes,  by  Mrs.  S.  T.  AVorcester. 

This  gift  was  immediately  followed  by  a  pi-opositiou 
from  the  "Whittlesey  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,'" 
in  which  they  proposed,  (in  order  to  carry  more  fully 
into  effect  one  of  the  leading  objects  for  which  the 
academy  was  organized,)  to  loan  to  the  Young  Men's 
Association,  all  the  books  then  owned  by  the  academy, 
and  all  that  might  hereafter  be  acquired  by  gift,  pur- 
chase, or  otherwise,  to  be  kept  for  its  use,  so  long  as 
the  association  was  conducted  according  to  the  arti- 
cles of  its  organization.  Also,  that  the  academy 
would  appropriate,  at  that  time,  §500  for  the  imme- 
diate increase  of  the  library,  and  not  less  than  $50 
for  that  ]nirj)ose,  annually  thereafter. 

The  loan  acquired  at  that  time  consisted  of  1554 
volumes,  a  number  of  which  were  a  present  to  the 
academy  from  Washington  Irving.  The  library  of 
the  association  was  a  short  time  after  increased,  by  a 
gift  from  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  125  volumes. 

The  labors  of  the  finance  committee  were  attended 
with  considerable  success,  as  the  following  memoran- 
dum taken  from  their  report  will  show  : 

Union  Aid  Society,  donation S    76  09 

Bounty  Fund,  donation 663  16 

Ohristiai)  Conimission,  donation 10  00 

Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  donation 58  00 

Alert  Club,  donation. 480  00 

Alert  Club  Library  fund,  donation.                                     430  00 

Norwalk  High  School,  donation                                        100  00 

Ladies' Festival,  donation 218  19 

Total  donations sa.oas  44 


"With  a  part  of  the  funds,  thus  actnirircd,  the  a.sso- 
ciation  was  enabled  .to  lea.~e   stiitalile   inoms  and  iiro- 


[  vide  furniture.  The  rooms  were  supplied  with  the 
leading  newspajiers  and  periodicals,  published  at  that 
time,  and  immediately  became  the  most  popular  jilace 
of  resort  in  the  town.  In  the  winter  following  the 
organization  of  the  association,  an  excellent  course  of 
lectures  was  given  under  its  auspices.  Since  that 
time  the  association  has  enjoyed  the  services  of  the 
best  lecturers  in  the  country. 

In  the  year  18G8,  there  were  only  262.3  volumes  on 
its  shelves,  and  49  papers  and  periodicals  on  the  ta- 
bles, now  there  are  nearly  5000  volumes  and  over  60 
papers  and  periodicals,  in  store  for  its  patrons. 

The  amount  of  money  received  annually  from 
membership  tickets,  and  from  the  interest  of  the 
permanent  fund,  has  been  barely  sufficient  to  defray 
necessary  expenses.  All  additions  of  books  that 
have  been  made  to  the  library,  have  been  bought  by 
the  Whittlesey  academy,  or  by  money  raised  by 
festivals,  excursions,  and  other  entertainments  of  like 
nature. 

The  association  is  not  in  debt,  but  yet  it  is  in  great 
need  of  more  liberal  support.  It  has  always  been  the 
desire  of  the  association,  to  occupy  a  home  of  its  own. 
It  was  expected  that  the  permanent  fund,  with  the 
accumulating  interest,  would  at  some  time  enable  it 
to  realize  that  hope. 

The  permenent  fund  now  amounts  to  .§1,900, 
which  is  invested  in  real  estate  security.  In  addition 
to  this,  the  association  has  invested  *225,  a  bequest 
of  Mrs.  S.  T.  Worcester.  It  was  Mrs.  Worcester's 
request  that  the  money  should  be  used  ouly  in  beauti- 
fying and  adorning  the  rooms  of  the  association. 

The  library  was  first  established  in  rooms  in  the  old 
Mansion  House  block.  The  rooms  were  inconvenient, 
and  the  books  were  necessarily  in  a  disordered  state. 
A  removal  was  made  in  June,  1878,  to  the  rooms  now 
occupied  in  the  Gallup  block,  which  were  fitted  up 
at  considerable  expense,  new  cases  provided,  and  the 
books  arranged  in  systematic  order,  and  an  alphabet- 
ical list  of  the  library  was  taken,  and  a  catalogue  pre- 
pared. It  is  the  first  ever  provided  and  was  the  best 
method  of  preserving  the  books. 

The  present  officers  are,  C.  H.  (Jallup,  president  ; 
C.  W.  Oakes,  vice-president ;  E.  L.  Husted,  treas- 
urer ;  G.  F.  Titus,  secretary  ;  J.  G.  Gibbs,  B.  S. 
Hubbard,  H.  L.  Kennan,  L.  C.  Laylin,  S.  J.  Pat- 
rick, F.  Sawyer,  Jr.,  directors:  Miss  S.  Rowhind, 
librarian. 

On  account  of  the  loss  of  the  minutes  of  the  ]U'e- 
liminary  meetings,  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain,  Avith 
certainty,  the  names  of  our  citizens  who  were  most 
active  in  organizing  and  establishing  the  association, 
but  Mrs.  M.  F.  C.  Worcester,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Corwin, 
David  H.  Pease,  R.  W.  Stevenson  and  Charles  P. 
Wickham  were  among  them  ;  none,  however,  were 
more  efficient  in  the  good  work  than  Mrs.  Worcester. 

This  institution  fills  a  very  important  position 
among  the  educational  enterprises  of  the  town,  and 
but  few  of  them  better  deserve  the  fostering  care  of  its 
citizens. 


GEORGE   BUTT. 


George  Butt  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  July  24,  1834. 
At  the  age  of  six  or  seven  years  his  father  moved  to  Illinois,  where 
Mr.  Butt  spent  the  earlier  years  of  his  active  life.  While  still  young 
he  manifested  a  taste  for  the  fine  arts,  spending  much  time  in  a  por- 
trait painter's  studio,  where  he  received  many  impressions  that  were 
lasting,  and  which  had  much  to  do  with  his  choice  of  a  profession 
for  life.  His  bent  of  mind  did  not  receive  encouragement  from  his 
parents;  on  the  contrary,  they  discouraged  him,  and  marked  out 
another  pursuit.  He  was  still  young  when  his  parents  died,  and, 
having  no  desire  for  a  trade,  he  grew  up  to  manhood  without  any 
special  business.  His  father  had  left  some  money  for  him,  but  he 
never  received  it.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  however,  he  acquired 
about  $800,  which,  by  judicious  speculation,  was  increased  to  about 
$2000.  With  this  he  bought  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  tried  farm- 
ing, but  was  not  successful.  He  lost  heavily  by  the  failure  of  the 
wheat  crops  in  successive  years,  and,  becoming  discouraged,  sold  out 
at  a  great  loss. 

While  visiting  Springfield,  111.,  he  became  interested  in  the  ambro- 
type  business,  and  gave  considerable  time  to  the  acquirement  of  the 
art;  but  finally  gave  it  up  and  returned  home. 

For  a  year  succeeding  he  was  in  poor  health.  In  the  mean  time 
photography  had  made  rapid  advances,  and  he  once  more  determined 
to  learn  the  business.  Placing  himself  under  the  best  instructors,  he 
took  a  thorough  course,  and  again  entered  the  field  with  very  creditable 
success  ;  but,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  his  knowledge,  he  determined 
to  place  himself  where  ho  could  become  a  thorough  master  of  the  art. 
He  accordingly  entered  a  leading  gallery  as  a  workman,  and  labored 
industriously,  and  subsequently  took  private  lessons  from  some  of  the 
best  artists  in  the  State.  In  llii--  \v;iy  he  soon  made  rapid  progress, 
and  in  a,  short  time  was  cnubl.-.l  Ih  rniiniiiind  good  wages. 

He  eventually,  with  a  parlij. I,  ],iirtli;\?e(l  a  fiuc  establishment  in  the 
city  of  Ottawa,  111.,  which  Wiis  renin, Icltd  and  thoroughly  refitted, 
but  had  only  been  in  operation  under  its  new  proprietors  for  the 
space  of  three  days  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  found  him- 
self in  very  straitened  circumstances.  But  he  was  not  wholly  dis- 
couraged, and,  adopting  the  motto,  "Where  there's  a  will  there's  a 


way,"  he  borrowed  $150  of  a  friend,  purchased  a  second-hand  travel- 
ing car,  repaired  and  refitted  it,  and,  locating  himself  on  the  public 
square,  opened  for  business  within  a  week  of  the  disaster. 

In  this  venture  he  was  eminently  successful;  but,  his  quarters 
proving  too  narrow  for  his  increasing  business,  he  soon  after  entered 
into  partnership  with  an  artist  of  Ottawa.  This,  however,  proved  an 
unprofitable  venture,  aud  he  very  soon  sold  out  his  interest. 

During  the  next  two  years  he  spent  considerable  time  in  Chicago, 
with  the  intention  of  entering  into  permanent  business  there.  But 
he  finally  took  the  mistaken,  though  well-meant,  advice  of  a  friend, 
and  removed  to  Ohio,  only  to  meet  disappointment.  After  seeking 
an  eligible  location  for  several  months,  he  eventually  located  in  Nor- 
walk,  when  he  rented  the  gallery  over  the  First  National  Bank,  taking 
possession  Oct.  1,  1869,  and  began  business  under  very  discouraging 
circumstances.  For  six  months  his  expenditures  considerably  ex- 
ceeded his  receipts;  but,  continuing  undaunted,  at  the  end  of  one 
year  his  prospects  had  greatly  brightened.  In  this  location  he 
remained  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  his  business  had 
entirely  outgrown  his  facilities.  He  accordingly  leased  the  second 
story  over  two  stores  in  the  new  Flinn  block,  aud  fitted  the  rooms  at 
great  expense  in  modern  style,  and  at  the  present  time  has  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  conveniently  arranged  galleries  to  be  found  in  any 
provincial  town  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Butt's  reputation  as  an  artist  is  excellent  and  wide-spread,  and 
his  work  extends  to  every  State  in  the  Union.  His  studio  is  tastefully 
arranged  and  decorated,  and  is  familiarly  known  throughout  the 
county.  He  makes  the  production  of  large  pictures  a  specialty,  and 
is  ably  seconded  in  his  business  by  a  competent  corps  of  three  or  four 
employes  which  he  keeps  constantly  at  work.  His  establishment  is 
an  honor  to  the  town,  and  has  become  a  prominent  place  of  resort. 
Mr.  Butt  also  keeps  on  hand  a  fine  assortment  of  artists'  goods  and 
materials.     His  success  has  been  very  gratifying. 

It  is  proper,  in  this  connection,  to  state  that  Mr.  Butt  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army,  in  1862.  He  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of 
his  company,  and  remained  until  disabled  by  sickness,  when  he  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  and  soon  after  discharged. 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


159 


CHURCHES 

IS-il — PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL. 

Early  in  the  year  1818  the  first  public  religious 
services  in  the  township  were  held  at  the  log  house  of 
Piatt  Benedict  and  consisted  of  reading  the  service  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  a  sermon,  by  a 
layman.  After  that,  and  on  the  completion  of  the 
new  court  house  (now  Central  hotel  on  Whittlesey 
avenue),  those  services  were  kept  up  with  more  or  less 
regularity  for  some  years.  In  a  letter  written  by  Mrs. 
Ruth  Boalt,  wife  of  Capt.  John  Boalt  and  mother  of 
Charles  L.  Boalt,  to  her  daughter,  in  Watertown,  N. 
Y.,  and  dated  .June  13,  1820,  she  says: 

"We  have'  no  minister  with  us,  but  I  have  the 
pleasure  to  inform  you  that  this  society  meets  at  the 
court  house  every  Sabbath  and  reads  the  church  ser- 
vice and  a  sermon.  *  *  *  Lester  read  the  sermon 
last  Sabbath." 

On  January  20,  1821,  a  number  of  persons  of  Nor- 
walk  and  vicinity,  calling  themselves  members  and 
friends  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  met  at 
Norwalk  village.  Piatt  Benedict  was  appointed  chair- 
man and  William  Gardiner  elected  clerk.  The  fol- 
lowing named  persons  were  then  enrolled  as  members 
or  friends  of  the  church:  Piatt  Benedict,  Luke 
Keeler.  Amos  Woodward,  William  Gardiner,  Ami 
Keeler,  William  Woodward,  Gurdon  Woodward, 
David  Gibbs,  Moses  Sowers,  John  Keeler,  John  Boalt, 
Samuel  Sparrow,  Asa  Sandford,  Henry  Hurlbut,  E. 
Lane,  William  Gallup,  and  Enos  Gilbert,  eleven  in 
all.     Of  that  number.  Ami  Keeler  is  the  only  survivor. 

At  that  meeting  it  was  voted  to  organize  the  parish 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Norwalk,  and  to  adopt  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  the  following  officers 
were  elected:  Amos  Woodward,  senior  warden;  Luke 
Keeler,  junior  warden  ;  Eljenezer  Lane,  clerk,  and 
Piatt  Benedict,  John  Keeler,  John  Boalt,  Ebenezer 
Lane,  and  Asa  Sanford,  vestrymen.  As  no  clergyman 
was  then  to  be  had,  Piatt  Benedict,  John  Boalt,  Amos 
Woodward,  Samuel  Sparrow  and  Ebenezer  Lane  were 
chosen  as  lay  readers. 

The  occasion  of  tills  meeting  was  the  visit  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  an  Episcopal  minister,  who,  on  the 
next  day,  January  21,  1820,  performed  divine  service, 
(the  first  in  Norwalk)  and  also  administered  the  rite 
of  infant  baptism  to  Louisa  Williams,  Theodore  Wil- 
liams, William  Gallup  and  Eben  Lane.  These  were 
also  the  first  baptisms  in  Norwalk.  On  the  next  day 
he  baptized  one  adult,  Henry  Hurll)ut,  and  also  the 
children  of  Captain  John  Boalt,  as  follows:  Amanda, 
Clarissa  and  Martha. 

From  that  time  on  to  1826  meetings  and  lay  read- 
ings were  kept  up  and  at  long  intervals  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Searle  made  other  visits  and  administered  many  bap- 
tisms. 

In  August,  182G,  Rev.  C.  P.  Bronson  was  engaged 
to  officiate  for  such  portion  of  his  time  as  funds  could 
l)e  raised  to  pay  him  for.     In  1828  efforts  were  made 


to  raise  means  with  which  to  build  a  church,  and  Mr. 
Bronson  was  sent  east  to  solicit  assistance.  The  re- 
sult was  that  on  his  return  he  reported  the  collection 
of  donations  amounting  to  one  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-one  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents,  but 
did  not  offer  to  pay  over  the  funds  and  never  did. 
This  unfortunate  affair  discouraged  the  enterprise. 
Bronson's  connection  with  the  church  was  severed  in 
1829  and  no  minister  was  employed  until  1833,  when 
Rev.  John  P.  Bausman  took  charge  at  a  salary  of  $400 
per  year  for  two-thirds  of  his  time.  He  remained 
only  one  year.  Then  a  Mr.  Eaton  officiated  as  a  lay 
reader, — services  still  being  held  in  the  court  house — 
and  the  congregation  was  called  together  by  Ami 
Keeler  blowing  a  tin  horn. 

In  1835  Rev.  E.  Punderson  to<)k  charge  and  re- 
mained about  four  years. 

At  the  time  the  first  eSort,  already  mentioned,  was 
made  to  raise  funds  to  build  a  church  edifice,  in  1828, 
the  site  of  the  present  church  and  burying  ground 
(four  acres)  was  purchased  in  the  name  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  from  White,  Tweedy  and  Hoyt  for  sixty-one 
dollars.  The  deed  is  recorded  July  12,  1828,  in  vol- 
ume five  of  deeds  at  page  six  hundred  and  ten. 

In  1834  another  effort  was  made  to  pi-ovidea  build- 
ing and  proved  so  far  successful  that  the  larger  part 
of  the  present  sti'ucture  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  two 
thousand  and  twenty  dollars.  It  was  completed  in 
1835  and  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  June  ' 
26,  1836. 

In  1837  the  original  organ  (now  rebuilt)  was  pur- 
chased of  A.  Backus,  Esq.,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  at  a  cost 
of  six  hundred  and  sixty  dollars. 

In  1839,  Rev^  Anson  Clark,  of  Medina,  took  charge 
until  September,  1840,  when,  on  account  of  ill-health, 
he  severed  his  connection  as  pastor,  and  went  south, 
but  returned  and  took  charge  again  in  February, 
1841,  only  to  remain  until  June  of  the  same  year. 

Novem'ber  1,  1841,  Rev.  J.  J.  Okill,  of  New  York, 
took  charge,  but  resigned  November  14,  1842. 

December  18,  1842,  Rev.  Alvan  Guion  took  charge 
at  a  salary  of  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars, 
but  "if  the  vestry  found  it  inconvenient  to  j)ay  that 
amount,  he  was  to  accept  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars."     He  resigned  May  2,  1844. 

September  30,  1844,  Rev.  Sabiu  Hough,  of  Mic- 
higan, took  charge  at  a  salary  of  four  hundred  dollars 
j)er  year,  and  house  rent  free. 

About  May  1,  1846,  he  resigned,  because  "ho 
believed  several  of  the  leading  doctrines  of  the 
church  were  at  great  variance  from  the  ])rincij)les  of 
eternal  truth." 

April  7,  1847,  Rev.  Edward  Winthroii,  of  Maiietta, 
was  called  and  took  charge  at  a  salary  of  five  hundred 
dollars,  remaining  until  a  disease  of  the  throat  con- 
strained him  to  resign  in  1854. 

June  26,  1854,  Rev.  George  Watson,  of  Oswego, 
New  York,  was  called  and  took  charge  at  a  salary  of 
eight  hundred  dollars,  and  remained  until  June  27, 
1864.     He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Henry  TuUidge  on 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Marcli  -,'5,  lSfi5,  wlio  resigned  April  22,  18G7.  Rev. 
William  Newton  took  charge  May  8,  1867,.  and  re- 
signed June  26,  1870.  Rev.  H.  H.  Morrell  took 
charge  October  1,  1870,  and  resigned  April  6,  1874; 
and  the  Rev.  R.  B.  Balcom,  the  present  incumbent, 
took  charge  July  15,  187-4. 

Benedict  Chapel  was  erected  in  1863-4,  at  a  cost  of 
about  four  thousand  dollars,  of  which  amount  Piatt 
Benedict  contributed  about -one  thousand  and  five 
hundred  dollars, — hence  its  name. 

In  1868,  a  bell  was  purchased  and  placed  in  the 
tower,  at  a  cost  of  about  four  hundred  dolhuv. 

1823-METHODIST  EPISCOPAL. 

Tn  the  year  1818,  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson.  who  is  vet 
living,  was  appointed  to  the  Huron  circuit,  of  which 
New  Haven  was  the  most  southerly  appointment,  and 
which,  on  an  irregular  path,  reached  to  Venice,  a  few 
miles  west  of  the  city  of  Sandusky,  thence  easterly 
through  the  township  of  Perkins  to  the  mouth  of  Black 
River,  embracing  twenty-four  appointments  which 
are  reached  by  two  hundred  miles  of  travel.  •  One  of 
these  twenty-four  appointments  was  at  Hanson  Reeds, 
about  two  miles  south  of  Norwalk,  and  this  was  the 
first  Methodist  preaching  in  the  vicinity  of  Norwalk. 
At  the  same  place,  the  first  Methodist  Sunday  school 
was  organized  in  1823.  During  this  year  True  Pat- 
ter and  James  Mclntyre  were  appointed  circuit 
preachers  of  Huron  Circuit,  and  a  preaching  place 
was  established  in  Norwalk  with  a  class  of  seven 
members,  which  had  increased  in  the  following  year  to 
thirteen.  Hanson  Reed,  Lester  Clark,  Job  T.  Rey- 
nolds, John  Laylin,  Charles  Laylin  (for  many  years  a 
local  minister),  Daniel  Stratton,  Jabez  Clark,  Perry 
Beckwith,  James  Wilson,  Armon  Roscoe,  A.  Powers, 
Prudence  Inman,  Thomas  Holmes,-  Ollie  Clark  and 
Jane  Buchanan,  were  its  members. 

The  book  of  the  recoixling  steward  shows  that  these 
faithful  ministers  received  for  their  services  the  sum 
of  fifty  dollars,  of  which  sum  Norwalk  contributed 
about  ten  dollars.  The  pay  was,  no  doubt,  thank- 
fully received,  but  it  is  not  supposed  that  any  of  it 
was  used  in  speculation.  In  the  years  1826  and  1827 
Shadrach  Ruark  and  Adam  Poe  supplied  the  work  and 
shared  the  hospitalities  of  the  pioneers.  The  follow- 
ing entry  occurs  in  the  official  record  of  the  year  1826: 

"August  21st,  1826. — This  day  paid  to  Bro.  S. 
Ruark,  seventy-two  cents,  the  same  being  the  money 
received  at  a  collection  made  at  a  meeting  in  Nor- 
walk, yesterday.     M.  Kf.llo«c».  Circuit  Steward." 

In  the  year  1829,  John  Hiizzard  and  Cyrus  S.  Car- 
penter were  appointed  preachers,  and  on  the  24th  of 
November,  1829,  a  lot  was  purchased  of  E.  Whittle- 
sey &  Co.,  near  the  east  end  of  Seminary  street,  and 
soon  after  a  ciiurch  was  built.  In  184.5,  the  church 
and  i)arsoniige  were  sold  for  <lebt,  but  the  church  was 
redeemed  the  following  year  ;  the  parsonage,  in  the 
mean  time,  was  consumed  by  fire.  In  1843,  Norwalk 
was  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  circuit  and  placed 
uinlci-  th.'   pastoral  care  of  Edward   .Mc-Clurc.  but  the 


following  year  it  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of 
Milan,  which  arrangement  lasted  but  a  few  years, 
when  Norwalk  became  self  supporting.  On  the  25th 
day  of  December,  1853,  the  society,  at  the  call  of  the 
pastor.  Rev.  J.  A.  Mudge,  met  and  appointed  a  board 
of  trustees.  The  trustees  immediately  organized  and 
took  possession  of  lot  No.  12,  corner  of  Benedict* 
avenue  and  Main  street,  dedicated  by  E.  Whittlesey, 
Esq.,  acting,  in  fact,  as  trustee  for  himself  and 
others,  to  the  building  of  a  "meeting  house."  A 
subscription  was  commenced  January  4th,  1854.  and 
on  the  26th  day  of  October,  1856,  the  church,  an  ex- 
cellent one  for  its  time,  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  Edward 
Thompson. 

Extensive  repairs  and  changes  were  made  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  Palmer  in  1867,  and  a  sermon 
was  preached  at  the  re-opening  by  Bishop  Kiugsley. 

A  number  of  the  presiding  elders  of  the  district, 
and  preachers  of  Norwalk,  have  risen  to  eminence  in 
the  church.  In  early  days,  Russel  Biglow  was  pre- 
siding elder.  Those  who  heard  him,  never  forget 
the  most  remarkable  man,  as  a  minister,  of  his  day. 
With  eloquence  like  a  flame  of  fire,  and  pathos,  piety 
and  energy,  that  none  could  stand  unmoved  before, 
his  praise  filled  the  land  ;  but  he  died  in  1834,  when 
only  forty-two  years  of  age.  L.  B.  Gurley  was  the 
poet  preacher.  Dr.  Edward  Thompson,  brilliant  as 
a  writer  and  very  able  as  a  preacher,  afterwards  a 
Bishop,  is  well  remembered  in  this  place.  W.  L. 
Harris,  with  fine  executive  ability,  once  a  minister 
here,  is  the  business  Bishop  of  the  church,  and  few 
churches  have,  taking  the  whole  list  together,  ever 
been  more  faithfully  or  ably  served.  The  present 
membership  of  the  church  is  three  hundred  and  fifteen, 
with  a  very  flourishing  Sunday  school  of  over  two 
hundred  scholars. 

Since  1830,  the  church  has  been  served  by  the  follow- 
ing ministers:  1830,  J.  Janes,  J.  Ragan  ;  1831,  E. 
Chase,  A.  Minear ;  1832,  A.  Minear,  C.  S.  Carpen- 
ter ;  1833,  H.  0.  Sheldon,  E.  Thompson  :  1834,  J. 
Wheeler,  E.  C.  Gavitt ;  1835,  L.  Hill,  J.  M.  Gos- 
horn,  D.  Burns;  1836,  L.  Hill,  Thomas  Barkdull; 
1837,  Hiram  Shaffer,  J.  M.  Goshorn;  1838,  T. 
Dunn,  W.  C.  Huestis  ;  1839,  W.  J.  Wells,  C.  Saw- 
yer ;  1840,  T.  Dunn,  W.  R.  Disbro  ;  1841,  David 
Gray,  W.  R.  Disbro  ;  1842,  J.  McMahon,  T.  Cooper; 
1843,  E.  McClure  :  1844,  Thomas  Barkdull,  W.  C. 
Pierce  ;  184.5,  Joseph  Jones,  W.  C.  Pierce  ;  1846,  H. 
S.  Bradley,  L.  S.  Johnson  ;  1847,  W.  L.  Harris ; 
1848,  M.  Rowley  :  1850,  E.  S.  Grumley  :  1851,  Jesse 
Durbin  ;  1852, Thomas  J.  Gard  :  1853,  J.- A.  Mudge; 
1855-6,  E.  R.  Jewitt :  1857,  C.  L.  Foote ;  1858,  S. 
Mower  :  186(),  W.  H.  Seeley  ;  1862,  J.  A.  Mudge  ; 
1864,  Thomas  Barkdull  ;  1865,  T.  Hartley :  1866, 
A.  R.  Palmer  :  1869,  T.  F.  Hildreth  :  1872,  F.  M. 
Searlos  :  1875.  K.  Persons  :  1878,  J.  S.  Rroudwell. 

1830 — FIRST    PRESBYTERI.\X. 

This  church  "was  organized  on  the  11th  of  February. 
1S3»I.    bv  Rev.    Messrs.     A.    H.    Betts.    Daniel     \V. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


101 


Lathrop  and  Jolni  Beacli.  It  consisted  of  nine  mem- 
bers-— five  males  and  four  females.  It  was  organ- 
ized as  a  Congregational  church,  and  taken  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huron.  Rev.  John  Beach 
was  the  stated  supply  of  this  in  connection  with  the 
church  in  Peru,  sustained  in  part  by  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society.  He  remained  here  untill  some  time  in 
18.31,  when  he  removed  to  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan. 
Tlie  church  was  then  supplied  once  in  two  weeks  by 
Rev.  E.  Barber,  who  was  the  principal  of  the  Huron 
Institute  at  Milan.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Chajjin 
R.  Clark  who  commenced  his  labors  in  September, 
183-3,  and  continued  them  one  year. 

Rev.  Stephen  Saunders,  of  Milan,  formerly  a  much 
esteemed  pastor  of  a  church  in  Salem,  New  York, 
afterwards  supplied  for  a  few  months,  until  feeble 
health  prevented  his  further  labors.  He  died  in  the 
early  part  of  the  year  183.5. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  the  organization  of  the 
church  was  changed  from  Congregational  to  Pres- 
byterian, and  on  March  7,  1836,  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion was  obtained,  giving  the  society  a  legal  existence 
under  the  name  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
and  congregation  of  Norwalk,  Huron  county,  Ohio. 

In  March,  1835,  on  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Judson,  of  Milan,  an  invitation  was  sent  by  the 
church  to  the  Rev.  Alfred  Newton,  of  Connecticut, 
to  visit  them,  with  a  view  of  being  employed  as  pastor 
should  there  be  mutual  satisfaction.  Having  previ- 
ously determined  to  make  the  west  his  field  of  labor, 
he  was  the  more  ready  to  receive  the  proposition  with 
favor;  and  accordingly  complied  with  the  invitation. 
He  commenced  his  labors  here  on  the  first  Sunday  in 
July,  1835.  The  church,  then,  was  not  only  small 
in  members,  but  weak  in  pecuniary  resources.  The 
whole  taxable  property  of  its  members  and  supporters, 
according  to  tlie  duplicate  of  that  year,  did  not  ex- 
ceed ten  thousand  dollars.  Aid  had  been  received 
yearly  from  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  but  when 
Mr.  Newton  came,  the  church  became  at  once  self- 
sustaining,  and  has  always  remained  so. 

In  re36,  and  again  in  1837^  Mr.  Newton  was  un- 
animously invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church, 
but  each  time  declined,  wishing,  before  he  became 
permanently  settled,  to  see  the  issue  of  efforts  which 
were  then  being  made  for  the  erection  of  a  liouse  of 
worship. 

Services  were  held  in  the  academy  until  its  destruc- 
tion by  fire  in  February,  1836.  Another  place  of 
worship  was  soon  extemporized  in  the  attic  of  a  brick 
block  on  West  Main  street.  It  was  an  unfinished 
room,  with  naked  rafters  and  walls.  Unplaned  boards 
without  backs  were  the  seats  for  the  audience,  and  the 
pulpit  was  constructed  of  tea  chests  and  dry  goods 
boxes.  With  theee  primitive  appointments,  the 
church  continued  to  hold  its  meetings  on  the  Sab- 
bath from  February  to  June,  when  the  old  court 
house  WHS  secured. 

This  was  the  place  of  meeting  for  more  than  a  year. 
Meanwhile  the  society  was  taking  vigorous  measures 


to  secure  a  building  of  its  own.  In  1837  a  lot  was 
procured  and  work  begun.  The  church  was  finished 
about  the  first  of  July,  1838,  at  a  cost  of  about  ten 
thousand  dollars,  including  lot  and  organ.  It  was 
dedicated  on  the  24th  of  July.  On  the  same  day, 
also,  Mr.  Newton  was  installed  pastor  by  the  pres- 
bytery. 

The  church  worshiped  in  the  building  that  was 
then  dedicated  for  more  than  thirty  years,  but  it  was 
at  length  felt  to  be  inadequate  to  their  necessities.  In 
1867,  a  movement  began  in  the  congregation  to  secui-e 
a  new  house  of  worship.  With  various  hindrauces 
and  discouragements,  this  was  prosecuted  until  the 
completion,  in  1870,  of  the  present  sanctuary,  at  a 
cost,  with  the  lot,  of  about  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. It  was  dedicated  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  July, 
1870,  with  a  debt  of  about  five  thousand  dollars  rest- 
ing upon  it.  This  proved  to  be  a  heavy  burden  upon 
the  society.  In  January,  1878,  a  vigorous  attempt  was 
made  to  reduce  it,  and- by  the  1st  of  May,  1879,  the 
last  dollar  had  been  paid,  so  that  now  the  church  is 
entirely  free  from  debt.  On  the  day  of  dedication 
Dr.  Newton  laid  aside  the  official  care  of  the  church, 
which  he  had  borne  faithfully  for  thirty-five  years. 

In  an  historical  discourse  from  which  much  of  the 
preceding  facts  have  been  gathered,  preached  by  Dr. 
Newton  on  concluding  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his 
ministry  in  the  church,  June  24,  1860,  he  was  able  to 
report  that  since  the  organization  of  the  church  the 
membership  had  increased  from  nine  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  and  that  more  than  sixty  thousand  dollars 
had  been  contributed  for  religious  and  educational 
purposes  at  home  and  abroad.  Since  then  the  annual 
contributions  have  increased  rather  than  diminished. 

Dr.  Newton,  after  his  resignation,  continued  with 
the  church,  as  pastor  emeritus,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  the  31st  of  December,  1878.  The  funeral 
services  were  held  in  the  church,  on  the  second  day 
of  January,  1879.  His  presence  was  sadly  missed, 
not  in  the  church  only,  to  which  he  had  given  the 
best  years  of  his  life,  but  throughout  the  hole  com- 
munity, which  knew  him  only  to  esteem  hi_:_  for  his 
many  christian  virtues.  He  rests  from  his  Irbors, 
but  his  works  follow  him. 

When  Dr.  Newton  resigned  the  pastoral  office,  Rev. 
Henry  H.  Rice  was  unanimously  elected  to  succeed 
him.  He  remained  with  the  church  for  four  years, 
resigning  in  the  fall  of  1874,  and  was  soon  after  called 
to  the  Westminster  church  of  Sacramento.  For 
nearly  a  year  the  church  was  without  a  pastor.  In  the 
summer  of  1875,  Rev.  James  D.  Williamson,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  was  invited  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  year. 
Afterwards  he  was  invited  to  accept  the  office  of  pas- 
tor, and  was  installed  October  3,  1876. 

The  churcii  numbers  at  present  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  members. 

The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1835,  and  lias 
always  enjoyed  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity.  It  has 
had  but  two  superintendents  .since  its  organization, 
Messrs.  C.  L.  Latimer  and  N.  S.  C.    Perkins.     The 


iiyz 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


former  was  superiiitcudeiit  till  his  removal  to  Cleve- 
laiid  in  1862,  and  the  latter  has  held  the  position 
ever  since.  The  school  numbers  about  two  hundred 
teachers  and  scholars. 

Through  much  self-denial,  the  church  has  done  its 
work,  attained  its  present  strength  and  secured  its 
commodious  and  well  appointed  house  of  worship. 
If  its  growth  has  not  been  rapid,  it  has  been  constant, 
and  the  present  condition  of  the  church  warrants  the 
belief  that  the  record  of  the  future  will  be  us  good, 
at  least,  as  that  of  the  past. 

18.35— FIRST    BAPTIST. 

The  first  settlers  of  Huron  county  were  of  New  Eng- 
land origin,  and  as  soon  as  a  home  was  established  in 
the  wilderness,  and  the  immediate  needs  of  the  body 
supplied,  their  thoughts  turned  naturally  to  those 
spiritual  blessings  for  which  the  soul  longs,  aud  they 
])rovided  for  their  wauts  by  the  speedy  organization 
of  churches.  Among  these,  several,  holding  Baptist 
sentiments,  met  September  20,  1818,  and  after  con- 
sultation, constituted  a  church  to  be  designated  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Ridgefield,.  Its  constituent  mem- 
bers were  Asahel  Morse,  Lemuel  Raymond,  Francis  H. 
Johnson  and  Clarissa  Ann  Morse.  Others  soon  joined 
them  by  letter,  and  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  their 
numbers  had  increased  to  twenty  members,  all  living 
in  what  are  now  Huron  and  Erie  counties.  Their  cen- 
tral place  of  meeting  was  in  Ridgefield,  in  a  school 
house  on  the  ridge  road,  midway  between  Norwalk 
and  Monroeville,  but,  as  the  members  were  widely 
scattered,  meetings  were  held  for  sixteen  years  at 
different  places,  from  Bloomingville.  on  the  north,  to 
Fairfield  south,  and  from  Norwalk  to  Bellevue. 
Itinerant  pastors  were  expected  to  fill  each  appoint- 
ment once  a  month.  Success  attended  their  labors 
and  many  were  added  to  the  church. 

In  1832,  twenty-nine  were  dismissed  to  form  the 
first  Baptist  Church  in  Fairfield. 

In  January,  183.5,  a  vote  was  passed  locating  per- 
manently in  Norwalk,  and  the  name  ehauged  to  "The 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Norwalk."  They  numbered 
at  that  time  sixty-three  members.  Soon  after  this, 
members  were  dismissed  to  constitute  churches  in 
Bronson,  Peru,  Monroeville  and  Bellevue.  Until 
this  time  they  had  met  in  school-houses,  private 
houses  and  barns,  but  at  the  same  meeting  at  which 
they  voted  to  locate  in  Norwalk,  they  took  measures 
to  erect  a  house  of  worship,  and  appointed  P.  G. 
Smith,  Theodore  Baker,  Timothy  Baker,  David 
Webb  aud  Moses  Kimball,  trustees,  to  obtain  a  char- 
ter, purchase  a  lot  and  raise  the  necessary  funds. 
The  result  of  this  action  was  the  purchase  of  their 
present  location,  and  the  erection  of  a  brick  edifice, 
forty  by  sixty  feet,  at  a  cost  of  about  four  thousand 
dollars,  which  was  dedicated  June  26,  1836,  by 
Rev.  E.  Tucker,  of  Buffalo.  This  house  was  occu- 
pied for  worship  just  forty  years,  until  July,  1876, 
when  it  was  removed  to  give  place  to  a  larger  and 
more  elegant  building. 


The  first  settled  pastorate  of  the  church  was  made 
in  1821,  and,  recognizing  the  obligation  to  sustain 
constantly  the  preaching  of  the  Word,  they  have 
since  then  had  a  succession  of  faithful  laborers,  whose 
efforts  have  l>eeu  accompanied  by  the  Divine  blessing. 

The  Sabbath  school  interest  early  claimed  attention, 
and  a  school  was  opened  in  1820,  and  sustained  for  ' 
several  seasons,  in  which  the  elementary  branches  of 
the  English  language  were  taught,  in  addition  to  in- 
structions in  Bible  truths.  Then  the  members  united 
with  others  in  union  Sabbath  schools,  until  the  first 
church  was  dedicated,  when  a  church  school  was  or- 
ganized, and  has  continued  its  work  to  the  present 
time,  without  interruption.  It  numbers  now  two 
hundred.  During  these  years,  five  hundred  and 
forty  persons  have  been  baptised  into  the  fellowship 
of  the  church.  In  1878  it  numbered  two  hundred 
aud  fifty-seven.  The  whole  number  admitted  to  its 
membership  is  twelve  hundred  aud  eighteen.  It  has 
always  been  in  full  and  hearty  accord  with  all  the 
benevolent  and  evangelizing  activities  of  the  age,  and 
by  an  earnest  co-operation  with  other  organizations 
seeking  the  same  object  still  endeavors  to  perform  its 
l)art  in  bringing  human  hearts  and  lives  into  harmony 
with  the  Divine  Law,  aud  the  perfect  life  of  the  great 
teacher,  Christ. 

1840— ST.    PETER'S    (C.4TH0LIC.) 

St.  Peter's  Church  was  formed  in  1840-1,  by  Rev. 
Freigang,  with  a  congregation  of  about  thirty  families. 
In  1850,  there  were  about  eighty  families,  aud  in 
1860,  nearly  one  hundred  aud  fifty.  Tlw?  church 
building  was  erected  in  1840-1,  at  a  cost  of  about 
seven  hundred  dollars,  the  laud  for  its  use  being 
donated  by  Jlr.  Whyler  who  gave  it  in  trust  to  James 
Me3-ers.  In  1842-3,  the  building,  proving  too  small 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  congregation,  was  en- 
larged. The  attendants  of  this  church  at  this  time 
came  from  Monroeville,  Milan  and  the  country  sur- 
rounding Norwalk.  Since  its  organization  it  has 
seen  mauy  changes,  owing  to  the  rapid  growth  and 
settlement  of  the  country  which  was  the  cause  of 
many  of  its  members  withdrawing  and  forming  new 
churches. 

In  1841-2,  and  until  1843,  Rev.  Mathew  Alicks,  a 
Redemptorist,  was  pastor,  and  finished  the  church 
begun  by  Rev.  Freigang.  In  1843,  Rev.  Frank 
Aloysius  Bruiier,  a  Passionist  father,  ministered  to 
the  church,  and  in  1844,  Rev.  Machboeuf,  from 
Sandusky  and  Tiffin,  attended  it.  The  same  year, 
1844,  a  deed  of  the  church  property  was  given  to 
Bishop  Purcell,  by  Jos.  Meyer.  From  1845  until 
1851,  the  congregation  was  alternately  attended  by 
Rev.  Machboeuf  and  the  Passionist  fathers  from 
Thompson,  Ohio.  From  1851  to  1853,  it  was  at- 
tended by  Rev.  Charles  Evrard.  In  1853,  Rev. 
Nicholas  Roupp  came  to  the  charge,  aud  remained  one 
year,  after  which  the  church  was  closed  for  thirteen 
months.  In  1855,  a  mission  was  given  by  Bishop 
Rappe  and  Father  Luhr.     Three  months  afterwards, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


103 


Father  Punchell  aiTi  veil  and  remained,  residing  in  the 
liouse  belonging  to  St.  Peters,  bnt  attending  St. 
Mary's  until  his  death  in  1860. 

The  dedication  of  the  church  took  jjlace  in  June, 
1846,  by  Bishop  Purcell,  of  Cincinnati,  Rev.  Mach- 
boenf,  Peter  Anton,  John  Wittmer  and  others  being 
present.  Rev.  Manclerc  attended  old  St.  Peter's  until 
about  August,  1860,  boarding  at  a  private  house  near 
the  church,  while  the  jjarsonage  was  occupied  by  Rev. 
Punchell.  From  September,  1860,  until  August, 
1861,  Rev.  Dolweck  was  in  charge;  and  from  Septem- 
ber, 1861,  until  October,  1865,  Rev.  X.  Obermiller, 
with  Rev.  Dambach  as  assistant,  was  in  eharge. 

A  school  house  was  built  in  1858  and  1859,  at  a  cost 
of  about  one  thousand  dollars.  First  attendance  was 
about  seventy-tive  to  one  hundred.  The  present  at- 
tendance is  about  thirty-five. 

In  1867-8,  the  people  living  in  the  village,  separated 
from  the  church,  and  became  a  new  and  distinct  con- 
gregation, being  at  first  called  New  St.  Peter's 
Church,  but  afterwards  St.  Paul's.  Forty  families 
remained  with  the  old  church.  The  separation  took 
place  during  the  pastorate  of  Father  Magenhause, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Father  Kuhn,  both  churches 
being  under  his  charge,  also  under  charge  of  his  suc- 
cessor Rev.  Dechant.  From  the  year  187"2,  each  con- 
gregation had  its  own  pastor.  Rev.  Drolshagen  suc- 
ceeded Rev.  Dechant,  and  remained  in  charge  of  the 
old  church  until  1873,  at  which  time  Rev.  G.  Peter 
took  charge  of  the  pastorate,  and  remained  until 
October,  1875,  when  Rev.  Peter  Kolopp,  the  present 
pastor,  succeeded  him.  The  present  congregation 
numbers  about  thirty  families. 

In  1859-60,  the  English  speaking  portion  of  the 
congregation  separated  from  the  old  church,  and  under 
Father  Punchell,  formed  St.  Mary's  Church  on  Milan 
street.  In  1864-5,  those  of  the  congregation  who 
lived  at  Milan,  left,  and  attended  services  at  St. 
Peter's. 

1851 — LUTHERAN. 

This  church  was  organized  June  29,  1851,  the  con- 
gregation at  that  time  consisting  of  sixty-four  voting 
members,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Yincens  Klein. 
The  lot  was  donated  by  A.  J.  Dewalt,  and  is  located 
on  Prospect  street,  east  side,  north  of  League  street. 
The  congregation  commenced  to  build  in  1852,  and 
in  1854  completed  a  substantial  brick  church,  at  a 
cost  of  two  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  At  a  later 
period  dissensions  arose  among  the  members  of  the 
congregation,  which  so  reduced  it  in  numbers  that  in 
1874  there  were  but  five  voting  members.  In  that 
year  Rev.  A.  C.  Ulrich,  the  present  pastor,  came  to 
the  church.  In  1870  a  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Under  his  minis- 
trations the  church  was  destined  to  recover  much  that 
had  been  lost,  and  in  1879  the  number  of  voting 
members  was  twenty-seven  and  the  total  number  of 
confirmed  members,  ninety-eight.  The  congregation 
comprises  (1879)  one  hundred  and  forty  children  and 


adults.  Sunday  school  is  held  regularly,  under  the 
superintendency  of  Wm.  Himberger,  and  has  from 
thirty-five  to  forty  members.  The  church  belongs  to 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  joint  synod  of  Ohio  and 
adjacent  States. 

1859 — ST.  Mary's  (catholic). 

St.  Mary's  church  was  built  about  the  year  1859 
under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Mr.  Pontial,  its  first 
pastor,  who  was  of  French  parentage.  He  died  in 
1800,  before  its  completion,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  Quinn  who  finished  the  building,  and  con- 
tinued in  charge  of  the  pastorate  some  four  years.  He 
in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  P.  Thorpe,  who  offi- 
ciated as  its  pastor  four  years.  At  the  organization  of 
the  church  about  thirty  families  of  that  faith,  compris- 
ing some  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons,  belonged  to 
the  congregation.  In  1869  the  congregation  num- 
bered four  hundred,  and  in  1879  about  five  hundred 
persons.  The  cost  of  the  church  was  some  twelve 
thousand  dollars,  the  funds  for  the  building  of  which 
were  raised  in  part  by  subscription,  part  by  festivals, 
and  a  part  fi'om  the  chui-ch  fund.  The  parochial 
residence,  a  two  story  brick  building,  costing  three 
thousand  dollars,  was  erected  irt  1863,  under  the  su- 
pervision of  Rev.  John  Quinn,  the  pastor  in  charge  at 
that  time.  The  present  jDastor  is  Rev.  T.  F.  Halley, 
who  has  been  in  charge  over  eleven  years. 

A  substantial  school  house  was  erected  on  the 
church  property  in  1865,  by  Rev.  T.  P.  Thorpe.  Its 
cost  was  four  thousand  dollars.  At  its  organization 
the  school  had  an  attendance  of  about  eighty,  but  as 
time  passed  and  the  congregation  increased  in  num- 
bers it  was  found  necessary  to  erect  another  building 
to  accommodate  all.  A  site  consisting  of  four  lots  on 
the  corner  of  League  and  State  streets,  was  secured, 
and  a  school  house  built,  costing,  inclusive  of  all, 
about  eight  thousand  dollars.  The  funds  for  building 
the  school  house  and  purchasing  the  lots  were  obtained 
in  the  same  manner  as  for  building  the  church.  This 
church  is  also  possessed  of  two  lots  on  Milan  street, 
which  are  valued  at  eight  hundred  dollars. 

1864. — ADVEXT    CHRISTIAN.* 

The  commencement  of  this  church  was  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1842,  by  a  mutual  assembling  together  of 
persons  from  the  various  churches,  and  others  in  the 
town  and  vicinity,  interested  in  the  doctrine  of  the 
speedy  personal  coming  of  Christ,  for  worship,  and 
more  particularly  to  examine  the  Bible  upon  this  sub- 
ject. It  was  not  the  design  then,  or  for  a  length  of 
time  thereafter,  to  organize  another  religious  denomi- 
nation; but  as  they  advanced  in  knowledge  of  Bible 
testimony,  they  became  more  and  more  confirmed  in 
its  truthfulness,  and  as  the  churches  refused  to  exam- 
ine the  subject,  or  tolerate  its  introduction  into  their 
meetings,  they  Avere  driven  to  this  alternative,  or 
abandon  the  doctrine.  This  was  the  true  cause  of  its 
organization. 

•Prepared  by  Prudden  Ailing,  Esq..  two  weeks  before  his  deatli 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Amongst  the  persons  who  took  a  prominent  part 
in  tlie  meetings  of  that  and  the  two  succeeding  years, 
the  following  may  be  mentioned,  then  residing  in 
Norwalk  and  Bronson,  viz:  James  D.  Knaj^p,  Prud- 
den  Ailing  and  family,  Simeon  B.  Sturges,  Era  Clark 
and  family,  Abel  Herrick  and  family,  John  Covell 
and  family,  Edmund  Mead  and  wife.  Paul  G.  Smith, 
Nathan  L.  Thayer  and  wife.  Daniel  Boon,  Ager  B. 
Hoyt  and  wife,  Ira  Curtiss  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Boss.  In  later  years  othei's  from  the  various  churches 
and  by  conversions  from  the  outside  world,  became 
interested  in  this  and  kindred  doctrines  of  the  Bible 
peculiar  to  this  people,  and  united  with  them  in  wor- 
ship.    Their  distinctive  doctrines  are  these: 

1.  They  believe  in  the  personal  coming  and  reign 
of  Christ  on  the  earth  during  the  millennium,  as  taught 
in  the  twentieth  chapter  of  Revelation. 

2.  At  the  beginning  of  which  period  the  righteous 
dead  will  be  raised,  the  living  saints  changed  from 
mortal  to  immortality,  and  will  reign  with  Christ 
during  the  thousand  years. 

3.  They  now  believe  the  intermediate  state  be- 
tween death  and  the  resurectiou  of  both  the  righteous 
and  the  wicked,  is  that  of  unconsciousness. 

4.  They  believe,  as  the  wicked  do  not  lay  hold  of 
Christ  as  their  life-giver,  and  neglect  to  seek  for  im- 
mortality, they  fail  of  that  attribute,  and  consequently 
will  be  raised  up  at  the  end  of  the  one  thousand  years 
to  a  mortal  life,  and  will  fall  under  the  power  of  the 
second  death,  being  the  .wages  of  sin,  which  will  be  an 
extinction  of  •being,  and  eternal  in  its  results. 

5.  Some  believe  that  as  all  the  family  of  man  that 
have  "died  in  Adam"  will  be  raised  up  in  the  resur- 
rection to  another  life,  that  all  who  have  lived  and 
died  in  unavoidable  ignorance  of  a  saving  knowledge 
of  God's  plan  of  salvation,  in  this  or  previous  dispen- 
sations, will  then  have  the  opportunity  of  hearing  of 
Him  who  died  for  all  and  tasted  death  for  every  man, 
and'of  accepting  or  rejecting  Christ  for  themselves; 
then  their  due  time  for  hearing  of  Him  will  have 
come. 

G.  The  belief  in  or  the  rejection  of  these  doctrines 
or  any  part  of  them,  is  not  made  a  test  of  fellowship. 
Their  only  test  is  Christian  character. 

7.  Their  creed  is  simply  this:  "  We,  whose  names 
are  hereto  attached,  do  hereby  associate  ourselves  to- 
gether as  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Norwalk  and  vicin- 
ity, and  agree  to  take  the  Bible  as  our  only  rule  of 
faith  and  practice."  This  was  adopted  January  18, 
1803. 

8.  They  practice  mimersion,  after  believing,  alone 
as  baptism. 

9.  They  organized  themselves  into  a  body  corpo- 
rate August  3,  18G4. 

After  perfecting  an  organization  they  purchased 
from  M.  A.  Dunton  the  building  and  lot  formerly 
owned  by  the  Methodist  church,  on  Seminary  street, 
for  eight  hundred  dollars.  A  part  of  the  lot  was  af- 
terward- sold  to  T.  R.  Strong  for  one  hundred  and 


twenty-five  dollars.  The  building  was  repaired  and 
seated  at  a  cost  of  about  three  hundred  dollars,  and 
was  occupied  as  a  house  of  wor.ship  until  the  winter 
of  1873-73,  when  it  was  found  so  illy  adapted  to  their 
wants  that  it  was  resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  rebuild. 
A  subscription  was  circulated,  and  about  one  thousand 
four  hundred  dollars  obtained.  It  was  thereui>on  re- 
solved to  rebuild  or  remodel  the  whole  structure  ex- 
cept the  frame.  The  following  building  committee 
■was  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  were  instructed 
not  to  run  the  church  into  debt,  viz:  Simeon  F.  Rog- 
ers, David  C.  Jefferson,  James  D.  Knapp,  Orange 
Seaman  and  Hiram  Dillingham.  The  building  was 
duly  finished,  and  was  dedicated  by  Elder  Frank 
Burr,  of  Chicago,  on  the  29th  of  June,  1873.  It  has 
been  used  as  then  furnished  to  the  present  time,  as  a 
heuse  of  worship.  There  is  one  peculiararity  in  its 
heating  arrangement  worthy  of  notice,  which  is  this: 
It  has  a  tight  basement,  with  two  large  stoves  placed 
in  the  south  side,  and  with  pipes  running  through  its 
entire  length  under  the  two  outside  rows  of  seats,  with 
two  or  more  registers  in  each  seat,  opened  at  will,  for 
the  rise  of  the  heat.  This  plan  is  found  to  work  ad- 
mirably for  warming  the  feet  and  heating  the  building. 
In  addition  to  this  there  are  two  long  box  tubes  set 
under  the  back  seat  and  co^  ered  with  wires,  placed 
even  with  the  floor,  each  about  twelve  by  twenty 
inches  in  size,  and  extending  down  to  near  the  bottom 
of  the  basement,  which  creates  a  downward  draft  for 
the  cold  air.  This  keeps  up  a  constant  circulation 
and  prevents  a  fetid  atmosphere,  as  is  often  experi- 
enced in  the  ordinary  mode  of  heating  churches  and 
other  buildings.  The  experiment  has  i>roved  a  suc- 
cess worthy  the  attention  of  other  churches  erecting 
similar  edifices. 

From  the  beginning  up  to  the  present  time  its  his- 
tory has  been  more  variable  than  is  usually  witnessed 
in  other  denominations,  caused  in  part  by  the  pecu- 
liarity of  their  doctrines,  and  partly  from  this  other 
fact,  that  with  them  were  associated  members  from 
nearly  every  other  denomination  in  the  land,  all  tinc- 
tured, more  or  less,  with  their  earlier  educational 
biases.  Since  1843  their  meetings  have  been  kept  up 
in  town  or  vicinity,  on  Sunday,  and  usually  pji-ayer 
meetings  once  a  week.  A  part  of  this  time  they  were 
favored  with  ministering  brethren,  who  were  formerly 
members  of  the  orthodox  denominations,  viz:  Presby- 
terian, Congregational,  Baptist,  Freewill  Baptist, 
Methodist  and  others,  amongst  whom  may  be  men- 
tioned Elders  Charles  Fitch,  J.  B.  Cook,  Thomas 
Carlton,  N.  M.  Needham,  J.  M.  Judson,  L.  P.  Jud- 
son,  Butler  Morley,  Mr.  Boggs,  Frank  Burr,  Cyrus 
Mendenhall,  Mr.  Surgerson  and  D.  T.  Call,  their 
present  minister.  Also,  Dr.  G.  W.  Stetson,  who  was 
with  them  some  years,  and  Jonas  Wardcll.  Their 
irregular  ministry  was  alwa)^s  a  hindrance,  both  in  the 
advancement  of  the  church  in  members  and  spiritu- 
ality. Their  members  have  varied  from  twenty  up  to 
one  hundred  or  more.  Their  present  membership  is 
about  sixt^',  embracing  some  living  at  a  distance. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1G5 


1867 — t'ONGREfiATIONAL. 

This  Church  was  organized  in  the  court  house  at  Nor- 
■wallv,  December  19,  1867.  For  several  mouths  pre- 
vious, 2)reacliiug  services,  sustained  by  those  of  Con- 
gregational preferences,  had  been  held  in  the  court 
house  on  Sunday  afternoons,  under  the  ministrations 
of  Rev.  A.  S.  Walsh.  The  church  was  organized  with 
fifty-four  members.  These  were  mostly  drawn  from 
the  Congregational  Church  of  Bronson  township, 
which  was  thereby  disbanded.  A  number  of  them, 
however,  were  Congregationaltsts  of  Norwalk,  who 
had  until  then  united  with  no  church  in  that  place, 
and  a  very  few  were  members  of  other  churches  but 
of  congregational  antecedents  or  preferences,  who  now 
availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity  of  becoming 
identified  with  that  denomination. 

Soon  after  the  organization,  the  court  house  being 
no  longer  at  their  command,  the  Congregationalists 
were  very  cordially  invited  by  tJie  Protestant  Episco- 
X)al  Church  to  occupy  its  house  of  worshij).  The 
oSer  was  gladly  accepted,  and  services  were  held  there 
Sunday  afternoons  until  spring,  when  it  was  found 
more  convenient  to  return  to  the  court  house,  now 
once  more  available,  which  was  used  from  this  time 
until  October,  1869,  from  which  time,  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  new  church,  the  Baptist  Cliurch  was 
occupied  by  invitation. 

In  April,  1868,  the  lot  on  which  the  church  now 
stands  was  purchased.  It  was  occupied  at  tlie  time 
by  an  old  hotel  called  the  Gauff  House,  which  was 
under  lease,  and  did  not  pass  into  the  hands  of  the 
church  for  a  considerable  time.  When  it  did,  the 
prayer  meetings,  which  had  been  held  at  the  resi- 
dences of  Mrs.  Henry  Brown,  Mrs.  Hoyt,  and  in 
rooms  rented  by  the  church  on  Seminary  sti-eet,  were 
removed  thither.  The  Sunday  school  was  also  first 
organized  in  the  old  hotel,  and,  when  that  building 
was  removed  to  make  room  for  the  church,  it  was 
held  by  invitation  in  the  Baptist  Church  till  a  place 
was  made  for  it  in  the  new  building.  The  church  as 
it  now  stands  was  completed  early  in  1871,  and  was 
dedicated  February  2d  of  that  year.  It  has  pi'oven  a 
pleasant  home  to  those  who  have  occupied  it,  but 
tliey  have  not  yet  forgotten  the  courtesies  received 
from  sister  churches,  when  they  were  yet  pilgrims 
and  strangers  on  the  earth. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  was 
Mr.  Charles  Seger.  The  first  deacons  of  the  church 
were  James  RowclifiE.  John  Hagaman  and  Frederick 
Upson.  The  first  trustees  were  Henry  Brown,  James 
Rowcliff,  TJiomas  Hagaman,  C.  W.  Mauahau  and  N. 
H.  Pebbles.  The  first  pastor  after  Mv.  AValsh  was 
Rev.  C.  E.  Wright,  and  his  successors  have  been  Rev. 
J.  W.  Cracraft,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Cowan.  The 
present  membership  is  about  two  hundred  and  thirty. 
The  Sunday  school  is  under  the  superinteudency  of 
Mr.  Frank  B.  Foster,  and  has  a  membership  of  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five.  The  cost  of  the  church 
lot  was  four  thousand  dollars:  the  cost  of  tlie  cliurch 
building,  twelve  thousand  dollars. 


1868 — ST.  PAUL'S,  (catholic.) 

The  German  Catholic  inhabitants  of  Norwalk,  be- 
longed, until  the  year  1868,  to  St.  Peter's  church,  on 
West  Main  street,  but  as  their  number  increased 
they  wished  to  have  a  church  nearer  the  centre  of  the 
beautiful  village  of  Norwalk.  They  therefore  bought 
two  lots  on  Hester  street,  on  which  they  built  a 
school  house,  the  first  story  being  used  for  school  and 
teacher's  dwelling,  and  the  second  for  church  pur- 
poses. Rev.  Father  A.  Magenhanu  superintended  in 
buying  the  lots  and  building  the  house.  The  rev- 
erend father,  after  a  time  of  hard  work,  was  ti-aus- 
ferred  to  Mansfield  the  1st  of  September,  1869.  Rev.  J. 
Kuhn  was  his  successor,  and  was  followed  on  August 
20,  1871,  by  Rev.  Father  M.  Dechaut.  The  purchase 
of  lots  on  Hester  street  had  been  a  great  loss  to 
the  congregation,  on  account  of  their  unfavorable  sit- 
uation, and  so  it  happened  that  pastor  and  congrega- 
tion came  to  an  understanding  to  buy  a  more  favora- 
ble location.  Their  choice  was  the  property  belonging 
to  W.  0.  Parker,  consisting  of  lots  forty  and  forty- 
one  on  Main  street.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
buy  said  lots,  which  they  did  for  seven  thousand 
dollars,  which  was  a  high  price  for  the  poor  congre- 
gation to  pay,  but  was  cheap  on  account  of  the  beauty 
and  good  location,  for  the  greater  part  of  the  mem- 
bers of  St.  Paul's  live  on  the  neighboring  streets. 
Previous  to  this,  there  was  no  priest's  house,  Init 
uow  Father  Dechaut  removed  into  the  house  on  the 
new  purchase,  formerly  occupied  by  W.  0.  Parker. 
On  the  10th  of  December,  1873,  Father  Dechaut  was 
transferred  to  St.  Alphons'  church,  Peru,  four  miles 
southwest  from  Norwalk,  and  Rev.  A.  Eilert  was  his 
successor. 

A  few  months  before  the  generous  bankruptcy  com- 
menced, wages  were  cut  down  and  money  became 
scarce,  but  thanks  to  the  general  sacrifices  of  its 
members,  the  debts,  amounting  to  nearly  eight 
thousand  dollars,  were  very  rapidly  reduced.  At  the 
same  time,  the  cemetery,  bought  a  few  years  pre- 
viously by  Father  Kuhn,  and  situated  on  South  West 
street,  was  improved.  In  August,  1875,  a  comfort- 
able dwelling  house  for  the  teacher,  was  built,  at  a  cost 
of'one  thousand  four  hundred  dollars.  On  Septem- 
ber 1,  1876,  that  unpleasant  place  on  Hester  street 
was  sold  for  five  thousand  dollars.  During  the  same 
month  a  large,  new  school  house  was  commenced  on 
the  lately  purchased  proi)erty,  and. was  so  far  finished 
at  Christmas  that  divine  service  was  held  in  the  first 
story,  and  in  the  second  story  school  could  be  held. 
Tlie  cost  of  the  new  edifice,  including  the  bell,  pipe 
organ  for  the  church  part,  and  other  improvements, 
amounted  to  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  number  of  members  of  St.  Paul's  has,  within 
eleven  years,  more  than  doubled,  increasing  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  families.  To  two 
school  classes  a  third  one  had  to  be  added  in  the  fall 
of  1878,  about  one  lumdred  and  eighty  cliildreu  at- 
tending them. 

The  revenues,  during  the  past  five  years,  amounted 


ino 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


to  twenty-six  tliousand  dollars,  of  which  eleven 
thousand  dollars  were  paid  on  debts,  the  balance  be- 
ing used  for  current  expenses.  As  there  is  reason  to 
hope  that  times  are  getting  better,  the  people  will  try 
as  soon  as  possible  to  pay  all  outstanding  debts.  As 
soon  as  this  is  accomplished  they  contemplate  build- 
ing a  magnificent  church  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Wooster  streets. 

At  the  present  time  (spring  of  18T9),  the  Sunday 
school  contains  two  hundred  and  fifty  members. 

1869 — UNIVERSALIST. 

On  December  1,  1867,  religious  services  were  com- 
menced by  Rev.  Mr.  Canfield,  of  Peru,  who  preached 
in  the  court  house  Sunday  evenings  for  one  year. 
The  first  of  the  year  1868,  Whittlesey  Hall  was 
secured  for  the  purpose  of  holding  services,  and  a 
Sunday  school  was  organized  with  four  pupils  and 
four  teachers.  At  the  close  of  this  year  the  hall  of 
the  Sons  of  Temperance  was  rented  and  fitted  up  for 
church  purposes.  Siruday  school  was  held  in  the 
morning  and  preaching  in  the  evening.  In  the 
month  of  January  of  this  year  (1869)  a  church  was 
organized  with  twenty-seven  members.  In  1873  the 
present  church  edifice  on  West  Main  street,  a  beauti- 
ful structure,  with  all  the  modern  conveniences,  was 
dedicated  December  8.  The  building  cost,  complete, 
with  the  grounds,  twenty  thousand,  dollars.  In 
building  the  church  liberal  assistance  was  obtained 
from  friends  of  the  cause  outside  of  the  church  and 
congregation;  outside,  indeed,  of  the  township.  Two 
members  of  the  Peru  church,  R.  Eaton  and  Freddus 
Simmons  contributed  each  one  thousand  to  the  ten 
thousand  which  it  had  been  resolved  should  be  raised 
before  commencing  the  work  of  building.  Others 
who  maybe  considered  ''outsiders,"  although  friends 
of  the  cause,  were  liberal  donors.  Mr.  W.  A. 
Mack  and  F.  Sears,  of  Norwalk,  were  among  the 
most  liberal  contributors,  both  being  members  of  the 
church;  the  former  having,  in  addition  to  his  sub- 
scription to  the  building  fund,  donated,  at  the  cost  of 
two  thousand  dollars,  the  fine  pipe  organ  now  used. 
At  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  the  church,  Dccem- 
8,  1872,  there  was  a  debt  of  some  six  thousand  dollfti-s 
resting  on  the  building.  Over  four  thousand  dollars 
of  this  debt  was  raised  at  that  time.  Mr.  J.  H. 
Buchtel,  of  Akron,  was  present  at  the  dedication,  and 
contributed  five  hundred  dollars  of  the  sum.  Many 
others  also  gave  liberally  of  their  means  toward 
extinguishing  the  debt.  A  few  years  later  an  effort 
was  made  by  the  friends  of  the  church,  assisted  by 
Revs.  Canfield  and  Wilson,  to  raise  the  balance  of 
the  debt,  which  proved  successful,  and  the  church  is 
now  free  from  debt. 

Since  its  organization,  the  church  has  had  tlnee 
settled  pastors— Rev.  H.  L.  Canfield,  who  for  a  year 
or  two  after  its  inception  preached  one-half  of  the 
time  in  Pern  in  the  morning,  and  in  Norwalk  in  the 
afternoon.  He  finally  removed  to  Norwalk,  and  con- 
tinued  as    pastor  of   the   congregation    some    three 


years,  preaching  on  Sundays  both  morning  and  after- 
noon. Rev.  E.  Hathaway  was  then  employed,  and 
remained  about  three  years,  when  he  resigned,  and 
the  present  pastor.  Rev.  C.  S.  Vincent  was  called  to 
the  charge. 

The  church  has  met  with  steady  prosperity  from 
its  organization,  until  at  the  present  time,  1879,  it 
has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  ten,  with  a 
Sunday-school  of  one  hundred  pupils,  and  owns  its 
property  clear  of'debt,  supporting  preaching  services 
every  Sunday.  * 


1869- 


{EN   CHAPEL. 


In  the  fall  of  1869  a  class-meeting  was  instituted 
among  the  colored  people  of  Norwalk  by  Mr.  Ray 
Harvey,  who  received  a  license  as  a  local  preacher, 
and  held  meetings  about  six  months,  when  work  was 
commenced  on  a  house  of  worship.  After  the  frame 
was  raised  a  severe  storm  of  wind  removed  it  from 
the  foundation  and  caused  some  additional  expense 
to  that  contemplated  in  building.  The  church  was 
completed  in  1869,  and  was  dedicated  in  the  spring 
of  1870.  After  its  dedication  it  was  reorganized, 
and,  dissensions  arising,  Mr.  Harvey  withdrew  from 
the  connection.  At  its  reorganization  it  was  incor- 
po-rated  as  Warren  Chapel  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  It  has  had  regular  services  each 
Sunday  since  its  formation,  part  of  the  time  by  local 
preachers,  and  part  of  the  time  by  the  missionary 
who  has  charge  of  this,  and  the  missions  of  Sandusky 
and  Fremont.  It  has  at  present  a  membership  of 
about  twenty-four,  and  a  Sunday  school  of  twenty 
members.  Rev.  George  Stevens  is  the  present  mis- 
sionary. The  chapel  is  situated  on  Cline  street,  and 
cost  about  one  thousand  dollars. 

BUSINESS    IN    1879. 

The  following  is  believed  to  be  a  correct  showing 
of  the  number  and  different  kinds  of  business  now 
being  prosecuted  in  Norwalk: 

Dry  Goods,— Manahan,  Taber&Co.,  (C.  W.  Manahan,  B  C.  Taber, 
and  H.  C.  Johnson, )  corner  of  Main  street  and  Whittlesey  avenue.  H.  E- 
Smith  &  Co.,(H.  E.  Smith,  W.  A.  Poyer)  East  Main.  F.  D.  Taylor, 
corner  Main  and  Railroad  avenue.  Wooster  &  Patrick  (H .  M  Wooster, 
M .  C.  Patrick)  corner  Main  and  Railroad  avenue.  C.  E.  Marsh  &  Co.. 
(C.  E.  Marsh,  S.  B.  Pease)  corner  Main  and  Whittlesey  avenue.  Theo- 
dore Williams,  West  Main. 

Gents'  Clothing  and  Furnishing  Goods.— Manahan,  Taber  &  Co., 
comer  Main  and  Whittlesey  ave.  William  Suhr,  W.  Main.  Reming  eft 
Gandolf,  E.  Main.  G .  Jacobson,  W.  Main.  E.  Peters  &  Son.  W.  Main. 
E.  Windecker,  E.  Main.      William  Sehaefer.  Milan  street. 

Milliners'  and  Ladies'  Goods.— S  C.  Kinsley,  E.  Main.  Mrs.  S.  G. 
Brown,  E.  Main.  Mrs.  Sherman,  W.  Main.  Mrs.  Robbins,  W.  Main. 
Mrs.  E.  Roth,  E.  .Main.  Mrs.  Demorest,  W.  Seminary.  Mrs.  Mann,  W. 
Seminary.  Mrs.  Pritchard.  Whittlesey  avenue.  Louisa  Smith  Whit- 
tlesey avenue.  Judson  &  Webster,  Whittlesey  avenue.  Miss  B.  Coe, 
Whittlesey  avenue.     Mrs.  Snyder,  Whittlesey  Avenue. 

Boots  and  Shoes— Husted  Bros.,  S.  M.  Fuller,  C.  Ohlemacher,  J.  A. 
McMillan,  Oscar  Townsend,  James  Seeley,  William  Moshier,  George  Staf- 
ford, E.  Main.  D.  E.  Cole,  W.  Main.  Thomas  Agus,  Benedict  avenue. 
J.  Kavanaugh,  Whittlesey  avenue.  M.  Suydam,  Railroad  avenue.  Wil- 
liam Ashboalt  &  Son,  Fisher  &  Bloxam,  Seminary  street. 

Jewelers. --Samuel  Wilkinson  O.  G.  Carter,  C.  L.  Merry,  C.  L.  Mat- 
thews. East  Main . 

Grocers —Moore  &  Co.,  John  Cheney,  E.  Main.  W.  C.  Huyck, 
J.  .\.  Junes,   Benedict  avenue.     J.;a.  Rynn,  G:  Fergel,  Stale  street. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


J.  Haut,  William  Indlekof^r,  Milan  street.  C.  H.  Hoyt,  Mitchell  & 
Rowland.  A.  D.  Harlej",  H.  F.  Barton,  W.  Main.  T.  King,  P.  Corn- 
stock,  C.  H.  Wines  &  Co.,  J.  P.  Link,  C.  F.  Butler  &  Co.,  C.  R.  Bost- 
^vick,  J.  E.  Lutts,  Boss  &  Eastman.  E.  Main. 

Drugs.— T.  S.  Wooster,  W.  O.  Abbott  &  Sons,  Wooster  &  Patrick,  E. 
Main.     D.  D.  Benedict,  W.  R.  Little  &  Son,  H.  T.  Barton,  W.  Main. 
Hatters.— J.  Miller,  W.  O.  Abbott,  E.  Main. 

Meats.— Wheaton  &  Hoj-t,  M.  Blatz,  H.  Troeiidle,  C.  MuUhoUand,  E. 
Main.  Honsinger  &  Newman,  Seaton  Bros.,  W.  Main.  William  H.  Sny- 
der, Benedict  avenue. 

CoxFECTiONERY,  CiGARS  AND  ToBACco.— H.  C.  MorHs,  U.  Holderman, 
G.  T.  Brady,  E.  Main.    C.  Chisholm,  W.  Main. 

FCRNITURE.— House  &  Arnold,  Hund  &  Kiefer,  F  W.  Boalt.  E.  Main. 
William  Schafer  &  Bros.,  W.  Main. 

Hardware,  Stoves  and  Tinware.— F.  A.  Powers,  George  Lambkins, 
Wooster  &  Patrick.  D.  Higgins.  E.  Main.  W.  R.  Little  &  Sou,  C.  W. 
Manahan,  Martin  &  Carabin,  W.  Main. 
Agricultural  Implkments.— J.  A.  Nichols,  Benedict  avenue. 
Produce  and  Commission.— W.  A.  Poyer,  E.  Main;  grain  warehouse 
and  elevator  on  railroad.  Bowen  &  Tuttle,  E.  Main;  grain  warehouse 
and  elevator  on  railroad.  A.  Kribbs,  Wooster  street,  green  fruits,  pota- 
toes, etc.  J.  Cheeney,  E.  Main,  butter,  eggs,  dried  fruits,  etc.  E.  D. 
Jordan,  W.  Seminary,  grain  and  feed. 

Livery  and  Sale  Stables,— E   H.  Draper,  Seminary  st.    R.  M.  Pant- 

lind.  Raih-oad  avenue ;  the  first  established  in  Northern  Ohio.    C.  Morgan, 

railroad  avenue.    J.  M.  Harkuess.  E.  Main.     M.  Graves,  Hester  street. 

Barbers.— .T.  S.  Minot,  C.  Maiberger,  George  McGee,  H.  Mulhaupt,  E. 

Main.     M.  Vancamp,  Benedict  avenue.    J.  Hawkins,  W.  Main. 

Hotels. — St.  Charles,  Charles  Stratton,  proprietor,  W.  Main  street. 
Central,  Gus.  Rose,  proprietor,  Whittlesey  avenue.  Cottage,  Silas  Hill, 
proprietor.  Railroad  avenue .  Bush  House,  J.  W.  Bush,  proprietor,  S. 
Hester  street. 
Marble  Dealers.— R.  R.  King,  Huron  st.  J.  T.  Davis,  E.  Main  st. 
Doctors.— E.  C.  Morril.  T.  Gill,  A.  N.  Read,  J.  B.  Ford,  B.  Babeock, 
J.  R.  Whitwood,  A.  L.  Osborn,  S.  W.  Green,  J.  L.  Babeock,  T.  E.  Pray. 
Dentists —A.  Terry,  S.  P.  Hildreth,  M.  G.  Furlong,  J.  W.  Peasley. 
Saloons.— A.  Riester,  Louis  Webber,  P.  Ludwig,  S.  Stultz,  P.  Tioendle. 
J.  Miller,  N.-Bachn\au,  F.  Becher,  J.  Fezenger,  F.  Casper.  A.  Brobst,  E, 
Roth,  J.  Fitz,  H.  MuUhaupt,  J.  W.  Lee. 
Undertakers.— Tom  Hay,  Benedict  avenue.  M.  L.  Chappie,  E.  Main. 
Lawyers.— O.  Bailey,  admitted  June  4,  1868.  G.  W.  Corwin.  C.  H. 
Gallup,  admitted  .\pril  13,  18.^8;  was  prosecuting  attorney  for  Huron 
county,  Mich.,  from  1860  to  1870,  and  member  of  the  Michigan  legislature 
from  1866  to  1868.  Griffin  &  Williamson,  (Ah-in  B.  GrifiSn,  admitted 
April  18,  1870,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio;  has  been  clerk  of  courts.  John  A. 
Williamson,  admitted  May,  1865,  at  Albany.  New  York;  present  member 
of  legislature.)  William  L.  Harrod,  admitted  March,  1858.  O.  E.  Kel- 
logg. T.  H.  Kellogg.  C.  L.&  H.  L  Kennan.  G.  W.  Knapp,  has  been  pros- 
ecuting attorney.  L.  C.  Laylin,  present  prosecuting  attorney.  Jay 
Patrick,  admitted  1851.  E.  A.  Pray,  admitted  187.5;  present  corpo. 
ration  solicitor.  Franklin  Sawyer,  admitteil  July  27,  1,847:  has  been 
member  of  the  legislature,  register  in  bankruptcy  and  prosecuting 
attorney.  Gideon  T.  Stewart,  admitted  August  14, 1.854:  has  been  county 
auditor.  Charles  B.  Stickney,  admitted  .iugust  1, 1844;  has  been  probate 
judge  and  ntayor  of  Norwalk:  T.  R.  Strong,  admitted  June,  1843.  L.  D. 
Strutton,  admitted  May,  1858,  William  H.  Sprague.  proprietor  of  the 
commercial  and  law  school;  admitted  September  10,  187:3.  George  R. 
Walker,  admitted  April,  1833.  William  B,  Woolverton,  admitted  1870; 
has  been  prosecuting'attorney.  C.  P.  Wickham,  admitted  April,  1858; 
has  been  prosecuting  attorney .  S,  A.iWildman,  admitted  April,  1870. 
D.  H.  Young,  admitted  1845.  S.  M.  Y'oung.  Henry  Brown,  has  been 
county  clerk;  now  out  of  practice.  John  Kennan.  now  out  of  practice. 
Artists.— George  Butt,  photographer,  International  Photograph  En- 
larging Company,  E.  Main.  F.  B.  Foster,  photographer,  W.  Main  A. 
P.  Couch,  portrait  painter,  E.  Main. 

Mills.— G.  M.  Cleveland  &  Co.,  Mill  street,  4  run  stones,  steam.  Oood- 
tiow  &  Warner.  E.  Main,  4  run  stones,  steam.  G.  Jacobbs,  Medina  St., 
circular  saw  mill,  steam,  E.  Jacobbs,  Enterprise  road,  upright  saw- 
mill, water. 

Draymen.- J.  R.  Strickland.  J.  Harley,  D  L-e,  G.  Holmes  J.  McGinn, 
.1.  Smith,  M.  Saladine. 

Newspapers.— iVbrioaffc  ife/f -cfor,  Wickham  &  Gibbs,  proprietors,  W. 
Main  st.    Huron  County  Chronicle,    Finley  &  Dodds.  proprietors,  E. 
Main  St.    Norwalk  Experiment,  W.  W.  Redfleld    proprietor,  W,  Main. 
Norwalk  Demokrat,  Martin  Ruf,  proprietor,  E.  Main. 
News  Depot.— Baxter  Trevor,  Gallup  block,  E.  Main. 
Library  and  Reading  Room.- Rooms  in  Gallup  block,  E.  Main, 
Telegraph  Offices.— Rooms  No.  6  and  8,  Gallup  Block.  E.  Main  st. 
Room  at  railroad  depot,  Whittlesey  avenue. 

Post  Office. — Frederick  C.  Wickham,  postmaster.  Gallup  block,  E. 
Jlain  st . 


JIanufacturers.— Lewis  Morehouse,  Union  Foundry,  plows,  plow 
points  and  general  job  foundry,  corner  Main  and  Milan  streets.  A.  E. 
Warner.  Empire  Iron  Works,  corner  of  Main  and  Medina  streets,  manu- 
facture wood-sawing  machines,  general  repaiiing  shop  and  foundry 
D.  B.  Kuhns,  Eagle  Iron  Works,  East  Seminary  street,  boiler  repair  shop 
and  job  foundry.  M.  P.  Smith,  corner  Jefferson  and  State  streets,  gen- 
eral machine  repairing ,  N.  H .  Pebbles,  carriage  making  and  repairing, 
corner  Monroe  and  Railroad  avenue ;  warerooms  corner  Seminary  st. , 
and  Railroad  avenue.  J.  H.  Gross,  carriage  making  and  repairing,  cor- 
ner Seminary  st.  and  Benedict  avenue .  E .  S .  Andrews,  carriage  mak- 
ing, E .  Seminary  st ,  William  Foreman,  harness  maker,  E.  Main  street. 
H.  Terry,  tannery,  Corwin  street.  J.N.  Watrous,  harness  maker;  Jo- 
seph Gibbs,  harness  maker:  S,  C.  Crawford,  rubber  bucket  pumps;  W. 
C.  Cocaut,  carriage  trimmer;  E.  S.  Andrews,  carriage  maker;  C.  H. 
Fuller,  blacksmith :  Lee  &  Bush,  blacksmith;  Thomas  Galliger,  black- 
smith; P.  Hogan,  blacksmith,  E.  Seminary  St.  D  B.  Ward,  blacksmith, 
Corwin  street.  M,  Kean,  blacksmith,  Benedict  avenue.  Gilson  &  Law- 
rence, lumberyard;  Brown  &  Smith,  churns;  C.  W.  Smith,  turner;  C. 
C.  Pearl,  book  bindery;  F.  M.  Snaveley,  carriage  painter;  F.  Stewart, 
dowellpins;  Himmelwright  Bros.,  painters;  J,  Sharp,  carpenter;  Wil- 
liam Bailey,  carpenter  and  builder;  William  Baker,  tinker;  S  Stultz, 
blacksmith;  William  Shuljert,  carpenter  and  builder;  Beard  &  Cortwrite, 
fanning  mills.  Benedict  avenue.  William  Cleveland,  guns  and  gun  re- 
pairing. Railroad  avenue.  H.  P.  Dillingham,  repair  shop.  Seminary 
street .  WiUoughby  &  Smith,  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  Benedict  avenue. 
Fisher  &  Bloxam,  ladies'  fine  shoes,  NicoUs'  block,  corner  Seminary  and 
Benedict  aVeuues.  S.  W .  Owen,  cooper  shop  and  heading  factory,  Me- 
dina street,  John  ColHns,  cooper  shop,  Marshall  street.  J,W.  Lind- 
sey,  painter.  Whittlesey  avenue,     F,  Rice,  painter.  Railroad  avenue. 

BANKS. 

The  first  bank  in  Huron  county,  aud  the  fir.st  one 
in  this  portion  of  the  State,  was  organized  under  a 
special  act  of  the  legislature  in  1832,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Ebenezer 
Lane  was  elected  president,  Martin  Bentley,  cashier. 
The  directors  were  Ebenezer  Lane,  Timothy  Baker, 
George  HoUister,  Daniel  Hamilton,  Picket  Latimer 
and  Moses  Kimball.  Business  was  begun  by  the  bank 
in  February,  1833.  In  183-i,  John  Gardiner  was 
elected  first  clerk,  and  Geo.  Mygatt  succeeded  Mr. 
Bentley  as  cashier.  Mr.  Mygatt  was  succeeded  in 
1836  by  J.  R.  Finn,  in  which  year  the  business  was 
closed  up  by  paying  back  the  capital  stock  to  the 
original  shareholders.  The  franchise  was  sold  to 
Mr.  Burr  Higgins  and  his  associates. 

The  Norwalk  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  of  Ohio 
was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1847,  with  a  capital 
■  stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  was 
afterward  increased  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  The  directors  were  J.  P.  Reznor.  Timothy 
Baker,  John  M.  Boalt,  John  Gardiner  and  John  R. 
Osborn.  Mr.  Reznor  was  elected  president,  and  John 
Gardiner  cashier  and  active  manager.  In  1850,  Mr. 
Timothy  Baker  succeeded  Mr.  Reznor  as  president. 
For  eighteen  years  the  bank  did  a  successful  business, 
and,  notwithstanding  large  losses  consequent  upon 
the  panic  of  1856,  closed  up  its  business  in  1865, 
returning  the  capital  stock  to  the  shareholders  and 
paying  a  dividend  during  the  time  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars. 

NORWALK    NATIONAL. 

The  Norwalk  National  bank,  to  some  extent  the 
successor  of  the  Branch  of  the  State  bank,  was  organ- 
ized in  March,  1865,  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  John  Gardiner,  Amos  Wood- 
ard,  John  TifFt,  C.  A.  Preston  and  Timothy  Baker, 


1G8 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


were  tlie  first  directors.  The  vacancies  caused  by  the 
deaths  of  Mr.  Preston  and  Mr.  Baker  have  been  filled 
by  C.  W.  Millan  and  Theodore  Williams.  Mr.  Gardi- 
ner was  elected  president,  and  Mr.  Millen  cashier. 
The  condition  of  the  bank  will  be  seen  by  the  last 
report  as  given: 

Report  of  the  condition  of  the  Norwalk  National  bank,  at  Nornalk,  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  at  the  close  of  business  April  4, 1879: 

RESOl-RCES. 

Loans  and  discounts $187,016  68 

Overdrafts 583  53 

United  States  bonds  to  secure  circulation 100,000  00 

Due  from  approved  reserved  agents 84,767  53 

Due  from  other  National  banks 6,323  95 

Due  from  State  banks  and  bankers  670  65 

Real  estate,  furniture  and  fixtures 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid 

Bills  of  other  banks 

Fractional  currency  (including  nickels) 

Specie  (including  gold  treasury  certificates) 

Legal  tender  notes 

Redemption  fund  with  United  States  treasurer  (5  per  cent, 
of  circulation) 


6,500  ( 
1,336  ( 
2,200  1 


Total  . 


UABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in 

Surplus  fund 

Undivided  profits 

National  bank  notes  outstanding 

Individual  deposits  subject  to  check 866,567  ( 

Demand  certificates  of  deposit 45,077  ! 


1,000  00 
l,-201  54 
).395  00 


FIRST    NATIONAL. 


The  private  banking  company  of  Baker,  Kitridge 
&  Company,  began  business  in  December,  1857,  and 
continued  to  the  1st  of  February,  1864.  The  com 
pany  was  composed  of  Geo.  G.  Baker,  Wm.  F.  Kitt- 
ridge,  Henry  Brown  and  D.  A.  Baker. 

This  company  was  succeeded  by  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Norwalk,  which  immediately  began  business 
with  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The 
directors  were  G.  G.  Baker,  W.  F.  Kittredge,  Henry 
Brown,  D.  A.  Baker,  W.  0.  Parker,  Fred  Sears  and 
J.  C.  Curtiss,  Jr.  Mr.  G.  G.  Baker  was  elected  presi- 
dent, and  Mr.  Kittredge,  cashier.  The  present  direc- 
tors are  D.  A.  Baker,  W.  0.  Parker.  H.  Brown.  G. 
M.  Cleveland  and  D.  A.  Baker.  Jr.  D.  A.  Baker. 
president;  D.  A.  Baker,  Jr.,  cashier. 

Report  of  the  condition  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Norwalk,  at 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  at  the  close  of  business  April  4, 1870: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts t89,103  10 

Overdrafts .* S.  136  03 

United  States  bopds  to  secure  circulation 50.000  00 

United  States  bonds  on  hand 19,800  00 

Due  from  approved  reserve  agents 17,447  12 

Due  from  other  National  banks 10.034  75 

Due  from  State  banks  and  bankers 3,789  08 

Furniture  and  fixtures    3,000  00 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid 1,621  53 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 2,133  54 

Bills  of  other  banks 6,000  00 

Fractional  currency  (including  nickels) 183  43 

Specie 11,032  58 

Legal  tender  notes 12,500  00 

Redemption  fund  with  United  States  treasurer  (5  percent. 

of  circulation) 2,250  00 


Total 


UABIUTIES. 

Surplus  fund  

Undivided  profits 

21.500  00 

:i8]2  18 

Individual  deposits  subject  to  check 

Demand  certificates  of  deposit 

Time  certificates  of  deposit 

3105,016  10 

4,929  00 

2,230  Ofl 

112.175  10 

«88  82 

Total 

$229,031  16 

RAILROAD    SHOPS. 

The  most  imjiortant  of  the  mechanical  industries 
connected  with  Norwalk  are  the  shops  of  the  Lake 
vShore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad.  They  were 
constructed  by  the  Toledo,  Norwalk  and  Cleveland 
Railroad,  which  was  a  Norwalk  enterprise  incorpor- 
ated in  1850.  The  commissioners  met  at  the  court 
house  September  'ii,  1850,  and  elected  the  first  board 
of  directors  as  follows:  Charles  L.  Boalt,  pre^dent; 
Timothy  Baker,  George  S.  Baker,  E.  B.  Perkins, 
Alvin  Coles,  Frederick  Chapman  and  Matthew  John- 
son. 

The  road  was  opened  January  24,  1853,  forming 
the  last  links  in  the  chain  of  roads  from  Chicago  to 
New  York  and  Boston.  It  was  a  financial  success, 
being  built  considerably  within  the  estimated  cost, 
and  returning  to  its  stock  holders  a  dividend  of  five 
per  cent,  six  months  after  the  opening  of  the  road. 
After  various  consolidations  with  rival  and  connecting 
companies  it  came  under  the  control  of  the  present 
company. 

The  various  shops  are  substantially  constructed, 
mostly  of  brick,  and  occupy  about  fifteen  acres  of 
laud  at  the  head  of  Railroad  avenue,  between  Huron 
street  and  Whittlesey  avenue.  The  total  valuation  of 
the  property  situated  within  the  corporation,  a.s 
appearing  on  the  tax  duplicate,  is  five  hundred  and 
ninety-five  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-two.  dol- 
lars. Nearly  seven  hundred  men  are  employed  who 
are  engaged  in  the  construction  and  repairing  of  cars 
and  locomotives.  In  the  past  four  years  six  of  the 
largest  and  best  express  locomotives  owned  by  the 
company  have  been  turned  out  at  a  cost  of  forty-four 
thousand  dollars. 

In  connection  with  the  shops,  a  class  of  those  em- 
ployees who  desire  (attendance  being  compulsory  on 
the  apprentices),  are  taught  drafting,  a  school  being 
maintained  by  the  company  and  instruction  furnished 
free  of  expense  to  the  scholars. 

By  reference  to  the  last  annual  report  of  the  direc- 
tors, it  will  be  seen  that  twenty-five  million  six  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
thirty-one  pounds  of  freight  was  shipped  and  forty-two 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-one  passengers  taken 
from  this  station.  The  amount  of  money  paid  out  to 
employees  the  greater  part  of  which  finds  its  way  into 
Norwalk  markets,  is  upwards  of  eighteen  thousand 
dollars  per  month.  These  facts  taken  with  that,  that 
they  possess  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  taxable 
property,  gives  one  an  idea  of  tiie  infiuence  that  tliey 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


169 


huvo  on  tlie  pro.-^perity  of  Norwalk  and  of  the  gloom 
in  whicli  the  lrt.<t  curl  of  smoke  floating  away  from 
the  stacks  would  enshroud  the  town. 

(iASLKxHT    AXb    COKE   COMPANY. 

The  Norwalk  Gaslight  and  Coke  Company  was  or- 
ganized May  0, 1859,  by  C.  L.  Boalt,  John  TifEt,  G.  H. 
Safford,  E.  A.  Coon  and  W.  0.  Parker,  with  a  capi- 
tal stock  of  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  C.  L.  Boalt 
was  elected  president;  Theo.  Williams,  treasurer  and 
secretary.  The  stock  of  the  company  has  always  been 
a  good  investment  and  is  now  worth  a  considerable 
premium  and  cannot  be  bought  in  market. 

STONE    QUARRY. 

The  stone  (juarry  of  Wm.  Perrin,  on  Rattlesnake 
Creek,  has  been  worked  for  forty  years.  The  stone 
obtained  is  a  hard  blue  sandstone  and  is  now  found 
fifty  feet  below  the  surface  of  a  very  superior  cpiality. 
The  stone  used  in  the  construction  of  most  of  the 
bridges  and  buildings  throughout  the  county  was  ob- 
tained at  this  quarry. 

The  quarry  on  "Reed's  Creek."  near  the  south  line 
of  the  town,  was  the  first  one  opened,  and  from  there 
the  stone  was  obtained  for  the  first  buildings  in  Nor- 
walk in  1818.  It  is  upon  the  old  James  Cole  farm. 
The  stone  is  of  a  suparior  quality  for  building  pur- 
poses, and  a  very  durable  flagging  stone  is  obtained 
near  the  surface. 

DAUNTLESS    MANUFACTURIJtG    COMPANY. 

Among  the  most  interesting  and  valuable  industries 
of  the  place,  that  of  the  Dauntless  manufaci^uring 
company  stands  prominent. 

The  factory  is  an  extensive  brick  pile  on  Whittlesey 
avenue,  just  north  of  the  Lake  Shore  railroad.  The 
original  buildings  were  constructed  in  1852,  by  Mr, 
N.  S.  C.  Perkins,  and  have  quite  a  history  of  their 
own.  They  were  occupied  by  him  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  manufacturing  of  steam  saw  mills  and 
engines.  At  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  the 
eastern  factories  introduced  their  machines,  which 
they  were  able,  with  their  greater  facilities,  to  offer 
at  prices  with  which  inland  factories  could  not  com- 
pete, necessitating  an  abandonment  of  the  business, 
and  woi'king  havoc  with  this  and  other  kindred  in- 
dustries through  the  northwest.  But  the  road,  in 
turn,  brought  the  desired  facilities,  and  again  the 
fires  were  kindled  and  the  welcome  din  and  rattle  of 
machinery  were  revived. 

Early  in  1860  tiie  buildings  were  enlarged  to  their 
lirensent  size.  The  furore  and  excitement  created  by 
that  wondrous  piece  of  American  mechanism  the 
sewing  machine,  were  at  fever  hieat. 

That  the  machine  was,  as  yet,  in  a  cnule  state,  was 
apparent  to  skilled  eyes  and  inventive  brains.  With 
many  others,  Mr.  Perkins  turned  his  attention  in  this 
direction.  The  factory  might  aptly  be  designated  a 
nursery  of  sewing  machines.  The  first  machine  con- 
structed   on    the    premises    was    the    single   thread 


"Gardner,"  being  the  first  sewing  machine  manufac- 
tured in  the  west;  and  subsequently  tlie  "  Little 
Giant,"  which  survives  to  our  day  as  the  "Common 
Sense." 

These  were  succeeded  by  the  "Moore,"  which  be- 
came such  a  formidable  rival  to  the  best  of  the  eastern 
machines  that  the  huge  monopoly  called  the  "Sewing 
Machine  Combination,"  determined  to  crush  it  out, 
and  did  so.  The  next  machine  manufactured  by 
Mr.  Perkins  was  one  of  his  own  invention,  and  bear- 
ing his  own  name.  In  1864  Mr.  W.  A.  Mack, 
inventor  of  the  Domestic,  called  in  with  his  designs. 
Mr.  Perkins'  experience  enabled  him  to  discern  its 
advantages,  and  a  partnership  was  immediately  formed 
for  its  construction.  The  Domestic  became  widely 
and  popularly  known,  and  was  manufactured  for  a 
number  of  years  by  the  firm,  until  it  was  absorbed  by 
a  powerful  eastern  company.  After  many  experi- 
ments and  trials,  the  present  machine,  appropriately 
named  the  "Dauntless,"  was  produced,  and  in  1875  a 
company  was  organized  for  its  manufacture.  The 
machine  has  met  with  splendid  success,  and  has  given 
to  Norwalk  a  wide-spread  notoriety. 

Ill  the  present  time  of  business  depression,  the 
number  employed  has  not  filled  the  capacity  of  the 
factory;  but  we  are  glad  to  state  that  the  merits  of 
the  Dauntless  are  being  appreciated  and  that  the 
orders  received  are  compelling  the  company  to  crowd 
in  new  forces,  which  will  tend  to  enliven  the  city  and 
add  greater  significance  to  its  history. 

EUREKA    FANNING    MILL. 

The  Eureka  fanning  mill,  patented  md  owned  by 
Mr.  B.  Cortrite,  is  manufactured  by  him  at  his  shops 
on  East  Main  street,  the  shops  and  store  houses 
occupying  about  two  acres  of  ground  adjoining  the 
tracks  of  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  Railroad.  The  factory  is 
run  by  steam  power,  the  different  parts  of  the  mill 
being  made  and  stored  ready  for  putting  together. 
The  mill  has  been  very  largely  manufactured  and  has 
met  with  universal  approval — being  extensively  used 
through  Ohio  and  the  West. 

LUMKER    YARD. 

The  lumber  yanl  and  planing  mill  of  D.  E.  More- 
house on  Medina  street,  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  Nor- 
walk's  industries.  Mr.  Morehouse  began  business  at 
the  present  site  in  1855,  and  has  continued  it  with 
success.  In  1865,  the  mill  and  stock  were  almost  en- 
tirely destroyed  by  fire.  The  mill  was  immediately 
re-built  and  the  yard  re-stocked.  Mr.  Morehouse 
handles  upwards  of  two  million  feet  of  lumber  annu- 
ally, which  he  has  ample  facilities  for  storing,  to- 
gether with  a  proportionate  amount  of  lath  and 
shingles.  In  connection  with  the  planing  mill, 
which  is  a  large  two-story  brick,  are  substantial 
buildings  for  sash,  door  and  blind  manufacturing, 
which  are  worked  to  their  full  capacity.  The  many 
specimens  of  the  work  which  adorn  our  fine  resi- 
dences and  business  blocks  testifying  to  the  quality 


170 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  tlie  appreciation,  of  lionie  productions.  For  the 
jiccomniodation  of  smaller  manufactures,  Mr.  More- 
house has  convenient  rooms  supplied  with  power. 
They  were  occupied  in  1875  by  a  firm  manufacturing 
harness  hames,  and  afterwards  as  u  washboard  fac- 
tory. 

For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  the  present  occu- 
pation, extending  back  to  1834,  this  site  was  occupied 
by  Mr.  G.  T.  Morehouse  as  a  brickyard  and  foundery. 
The  brick  used  in  the  g  eater  part  of  the  earlier 
dwelling  houses  and  Imsiness  blocks,  were  made 
there. 

PEDKO    BED. 

The  Pedro  Cot  Bed  was  invented  by  Mr.  0.  A. 
Wliite,  one  of  Norwalk's  well-known  business  men. 
It  is  now  manufactured  liy  Messrs.  White  &  I.  W. 
Bostwick. 

The  Pedro,  like  many  other  of  the  most  substantial 
aud  solid  comforts  afforded  to  man,  comes  to  him  in 
an  unpretentious  form.  In  keeping  with  the  pro- 
duction, the  factory  on  Benedict  avenue  is  plain  but 
most  convenient.  The  many  merits  of  the  bed  have 
already  won  for  it  a  firm  demand  among  the  staple 
productions  of  the  country,  and  will  undoubtedly  de- 
velop another  large  and  attractive  industry. 

TOBACro    FACTORY. 

The  Norwalk  tobacco  factory  occupies  the  large 
three-story  brick  block  fronting  on  West  Main  street, 
and  extends  in  the  form  of  an  L  around  the  brick 
block  of  C.  E.  Newman  to  Hester  street,  making  one 
of  the  most  roomy  and  commodious  factories  in  this 
town.  It  was  started  in  April,  1873,  by  Mr.  F.  B. 
Case,  and  contains  all  the  various  departments  for 
storing  and  preparing  the  different  brands  of  chew- 
ing and  smoking  tobacco,  aud  affords  employment  to 
about  sixty  men.  The  fact  that  Mr.  Case  manufac- 
tures on  an  average  four  hundred  thousand  pounds 
annually,  shows  that  we  do  not  all  altogether  concur 
with  "little  Robert  Read"  in  his  opinion  on  the 
"filthy  weed." 

liAGER  &  Baldwin's  horse-radish  mill. 

Since  the  year  1ST6  Norwalk  has  had  in  her  limits 
a  quiet  little  factory  that  has  turned  out,  in  a  way  of 
its  own,  "])rej)ared  smartness''  for  mankind  in  a  shape 
aud  form  never  utilized  before. 

The  horse-radish  mill  of  Messrs.  Gager  &  Baldwin  i 
on  North  ProsiJect  street  is  an  oddity,  which  has  no 
rival  in  the  world.  It  is  only  recently  that  this 
well-known  root  has  been  prepared  in  a  way  that 
would  preserve  its  pungency,  and  render  it  fit  for 
table  use  at  all  seasons.  The  firm  had  twenty  acres 
of  ground  occupied  in  1878  in  raising  the  plant.  It 
is  taken,  when  of  proper  size,  to  a  dry-house,  and 
after  a  certain  amount  of  drying  and  other  prepara- 
tion, is  ground  to  flour  in  a  mill,  or  grated.  It  is 
prepared  for  nnirket  in  various  ways,  being  mostlj- 
put  in  bottles  hermetically  sealed.     In  addition,  the 


firm  mauufai'ture  pumpkin  flour  for  culinary  pur- 
poses. The  pumpkins  by  a  somewhat  similar  process 
are  worked  into  flour,  which  is  put  in  neat  packages 
for  the  market.  Both  productions  are  oddities  which 
are  attracting  universal  attention  and  liid  fair  to 
become  staple  goods  in  the  market. 

THE    A.    B.    t'HASE    ORGAN. 

The  A.  B.  Cliase  Organ  Company,  another  of 
Norvvalks  far  famed  industries,  was  organized  under 
a  charter  granted  September  I,  1875,  with  an  author- 
ized capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The 
stock  was  soon  taken,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  A.  B.  Chase,  president;  L.  L.  Doud,  secre- 
tary aud  treasurer;  H.  R.  Moore,  an  inventive  and 
experienced  organ  builder,  general  superintendent. 

The  buildings  occupy  two  acres  of  ground  on  the 
east  side  of  Newton  street,  adjoining  the  track  of  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad,  which  affords  them  opportunity 
of  receiving  supplies  and  shipping  direct.  The  main 
building  is  a  three-story  structure,  forty  by  one  hund- 
red feet,  to  which  are  joined  spacious  l)oiler  and 
engine  rooms,  stock  and  dry  houses.  The  company 
sold  their  first  orgau  on  July  25,  1876,  and  have  con- 
structed upwards  of  two  thousand.  Believing  in  the 
old  maxim  that  "True  merit  ever  achieves  success," 
none  Init  educated  and  experienced  workmen  are  em- 
ployed, and  all  that  inventive  genius  has  perfected  in 
their  line  of  machinery,  is  to  be  found  at  command. 
The  fact  that  this  company  was  organized  in,  and 
successfully  workecf  through  the  greatest  and  most 
disastrous  of  all  financial  crises  that  have  visited  our 
country,  is  in  itself  sufficient  evidence  that  the  basis 
and  production  are  sound  and  healthy,  and  that  Nor- 
walk may  well  l)e  proud  of  being  the  home  of  the 
company. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 

In  presenting  the  foregoing  as  a  history  of  Norwalk, 
it  is  proper  to  state  that  in  the  limited  time  allowed 
for  its  preparation,  it  has  been  impossible  to  verify 
every  statement  of  fact  made;  but  so  far  as  time  and 
opportunity  permitted,  none  but  the  most  trust- 
worthy sources  of  information  have  been  consulted. 

For  valuable  information  aud  assistance  in  prepar- 
ing the  work,  the  writer  desires  to  acknowledge  his 
great  obligation  to  "Scattered  Sheaves,  by  Ruth" 
(Mrs.  M.  F.  C.  Worcester)  published  in  the  Firelands 
Pioneer,  and  her  report  of  the  different  soldiers, 
aid  societies;  to  a  history  of  the  schools  prepared  in 
1876,  by  Theodore  Williams,  Esq.;  to  a  history  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  published  in  1876,  by 
Charles  E.  Newman,  Esq.;  for  other  church  histories 
furnished,  to  Rev.  J.  S.  Broadwell,  Rev.  J.  D. 
Williamson,  J.  W.  Baker,  Esq.,  Rev.  Peter  Kolopp, 
Rev.  A.  C.  Ullrich,  Rev.  T.  F.  Halley,  Prudden 
Ailing,  Esq.,  (written  by  himself  two  weeks  before  his 
death)  Rev.  J.  W.  Cowan,  Rev.  A.  Eilert,  Rev.  E. 
Hathaway;  Judge  F.  Wickham,  aud  M.  Barker, 
Esq.;  to  E.  A.  Pray,  C.  L.  Merry,  C.  W.  Flinn,  S. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


T.  A.  Vail  Sciver  and  U.  T.  Hall  for  histories  of 
different  secret  societies;  to  Isaac  Uiulerhill,  Es(|., 
Miner  Cole,  Esq.,  0.  A.  White,  and  many  other  citi- 
zens for  favors  and  information ;  to  the  different  county 
olticers  for  facilities  in  searching  the  public  records, 
and  to  the  Young  Men's  Library  and  Reading  Room 
Association  for  the  use  of  many  Ixioks  for  reference. 
C.  H.  Gallup. 

NoRWALK,  Ohio,  May  in,  ISra. 


Biographical  Sketched 


JOHN  C4ARDINER. 

SORWJLK. 

John  (lai-diner  was  born  at  Gardiner's  Point,  for- 
merly known  as  Millstone  Point,  New  London  county, 
Connecticut,  September  1.5,  1816.  His  grandfather, 
Benajah  Gardiner,  removed  from  Rhode  Island  to 
Plum  Island,  in  the  east  part  of  Long  Island  Sound, 
where  he  remained  a  few  years;  thence  he  removed 
to  Millstone  Point  in  the  year  1T87.  His  wife  was 
Miss  Charlotte  Raymond,  of  Montville.  New  London 
county. 

Lebbeus  W.  Gardiner,  son  of  Benajah,  and  father 
of  John  Gardiner,  was  born  April  30,  1786,  on  Plum 
Island,  and  his  wife  was  Miss  Eunice  Latimei-,  a 
daughter  of  Pickett  Latimer,  of  New  London.  The 
ancestors  of  the  (rardiner  family  came  from  England 
and  settled  originally  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.. 
The  mother  of  John  Gardiner  died  in  1819,  leaving^ 
three  children,  Charlotte,  John  and  Jvilia,  and  the' 
family  then  separated;  John  and  Jnlia  going  with 
their  grand  parents,  at  Millstone  Point,  and  Charlotte 
with  the  Latimers,  north  of  New  London — the  father, 
L.  W.  Gardiner,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  follow- 
ing the  sea  as  captain  of  a  clipper  coasting  schooner, 
sailing  from  New  London  to  Baltimore,  Wilmington, 
New  Orleans  and  South  America.  He  died  at  Nor- 
walk,  ]\Iarch  0,  186-^.  As  soon  as  John  was  old 
enough,  he  attended  school  at  Durfee  Hill,  about  one 
mile  from  his  home  across  lots,  which  was  kept  as  a 
district  school  about  six  months  during  the  year,  and 
when  not  attending  school  he  worked  on  the  farm. 

In  18-31,  Mr.  Gardiner  went  to  school  at  Bacon 
academy,  Colchester,  where  he  remained  a  year,  mak- 
ing navigation  his  principal  study,  with  a  view  of 
following  the  sea — as  New  London  was  at  that  time 
largely  and  prosperously  engaged  in  the  whale  fishery 
and  West  India  trade,  and  sent  annually  a  fleet  of 
.ships  to  the  Pacific  ocean  for  whale,  and  to  the  north 
seas  for  whale  and  seal.  At  Bacon  academy,  Mr. 
Gardiner  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  present 
chief  justice  AVaite;  Hon.  John  T.  Waite,  M.  C,  of 
Norwich;  Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull,  ex-senator,  of  Illi- 
nois, and  Commodore  Rogers,  United  States  navy, 
who  were  then  preparing  for  college. 


In  the  fall  of  1832,  Mr.  Gardiner  was  pei'suaded  by 
his  uncle,  .John  M.  Latimer,  Esq.,  to  visit  Ohio, 
which  in  the  end  changed  his  whole  course  of  life. 
About  three  thousand  acres  of  land  near  Belle vue,  in 
Huron  county,  had  been  given  by  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut to  Pickett  Latimer,  the  grandfather,  for 
losses  sustained  by  fire  when  New  London  was  burned 
by  the  British  during  the  revolution,  which  grant  of 
land  had  already  brought  Pickett  Latimer,  an  uncle, 
to  Huron  county,  and  who  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits  at  Norwalk.  Leaving  New  London  by  steam- 
boat early  in  December,  1833,  before  the  days  of 
railroads,  Mr.  Gardiner  journeyed  west  to  Albany, 
■where  he  took  stage  as  far  as  Hamilton,  New  York, 
where  he  remained  during  the  winter,  and  attended 
school  at  Hamilton  academy;  an  1  in  the  early  spring 
of  1833,  left  Utici  by  canal  boat  for  the  west.  Arriv- 
ing at  Buffalo  the  last  days  of  April,  he  embarked  on 
the  steamer  ''Uncle  Sam,"  bsiug  the  first  boat  to' leave 
Buffalo  that  spring  for  Detroit  and  intermediate  ports. 
At  that  time  ne.arly  the  whole  south  shore  of  Lake 
Erie  was  skirted  with  primeval  forests,  itnd  only  oc- 
casfonal  glimpses  of  light  were  discernible  in  the 
evening  from  the  log  cabins  of  the  settlers  along  the 
line  of  shore,  and  Cleveland  contained  only  some  two 
thousand  inhabitants,  living  mostly  below  the  public 
S([uare.  and  without  street  improvements  or  side- 
walks. 

On  the  first  of  May  the  steamer  arrived  at  the  Port 
of  Huron,  which  was  then  ffuite  a  shipping  point, 
and  a  hack,  driven  by  a  man  by  the  name  of  Sweat, 
conveyed  Mr.  Gardiner  to  his  future  home.  Norwalk 
at  that  time  contained  about  four  hundred  inhabi- 
tants, but  not  a  person  or  animal  was  visible  in  the 
streets  on  his  arrival,  and  the  village  was  entirely 
surrounded  by  forests,  except  where  the  roads  were 
cut  throngh,  and  wild  deer  frequently  crossed  the 
roads  at  each  end  of  the  village,  and  the  county  was 
dotted  over  with  the  log  cabins  of  the  early  settlers, 
and  the  roads  in  early  spring  almost  impassable.  Mr. 
Gardiner  immediately  commenced  clerking  in  the 
store  of  P.  &  J.  M.  Latimer — (who  were  doing  a 
large  business  in  general  merchandise  and  produce, 
which  latter  found  a  ready  market  at  Detroit,  to  sup- 
ply the  settlers  of  Michigan)  and  at  a  salary  of  sev- 
enty-five dollars  a  year  and  board;  which  a  young  man 
of  seventeen,  at>  the  present  day,  would  think  a  very 
small  compensation  for  his  valuable  services. 

In  the  spring  of  1834  Mr.  Gardiner  was  solicited  to 
take  a  clerkship  in  the  Bank  of  Norwalk,  an  institu- 
tion which  had  commenced  business  in  1833,  with  a 
special  charter  from  the  State  of  Ohio,  with  the  Hon. 
Ebenezer  Lane,  president,  who  was  then  one  of  the 
supreme  judges  of  the  State,  and  Martin  Bentley, 
cashier.  During  the  summer  of  1834  the  cashier  died 
very  suddenly,  leaving  Mr.  Gardiner,  then  only  eigh- 
teen, in  charge  of  the  bank  for  nearly  two  months, 
when  George  Mygatt,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  the  va- 
cancy. At  that  early  day  this  was  the  only  bank  in 
north-western  Ohio,  and  its  business  extended  south 


172 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  C0UKTIE8,  OHIO. 


to  Mount  \'eriion,  Mansfield,  Marion  and  Bucyrus; 
WL'st  to  Toledo,  Penysburg  and  Fremont;  north  to 
Huron  and  Sauduskj-,  bringing  Mr.  Gardiner  in  eon- 
tact  with  all  the  leading  business  men  of  that  region 
of  country,  who  then  came  to  Xorwalk  for  their  bank 
accommodations.  The  bank  went  successfully  through 
the  panic  of  1837,  and  was  one  of  the  first  banks  in 
Ohio  to  resume  coin  payments  after  the  failure  of  the 
government  deposit  banks  and  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States,  and  finally  closed  uii,  paying  back  nearly  all 
its  capital  to  its  original  shareholders,  and  selling  its 
franchise  to  Mr.  Higgins  and  his  associates. 

In  18.35  and  183G  emigration  was  pushing  itself 
west  by  every  leading  road,  and  long  lines  of  emigrant 
wagons  were  passing  daily  westward,  the  occupants  in 
pui-suit  of  new  homes,  and  the  western  land  fever  had 
seized  upon  nearly  all  classes  of  citizens.  Mr.  Gar- 
diner, not  yet  of  age,  proceeded  to  the  western  coun- 
ties of  Ohio  and  the  eastern  counties  of  Indiana  on 
horseback,  over  muddy  roads  and  trails  through  the 
forest,  and  pui-chased  some  tracts  of  government  laud. 
But  as  the  panic  came  upon  the  country  in  1837  and 
all  land  speculations  ceased,  it  took  over  fifteen  years 
before  Mr.  Gardiner  could  finally  close  out  his  land, 
and  then  without  much  profit,  after  counting  interest 
and  taxes.  The  whole  western  country,  after  the 
collapse  of  1837,  was  land  poor. 

Mr.  Gardiner  having  finally  been  appointed  cashier 
of  the  bank,  and  John  R.  Finn,  president,  and  the 
bank,  owing  to  adverse  legislation,  about  closing  its 
business,  resigned  the  office  of  cashier  in  September, 
1840,  and  commenced  the  business  of  merchandising 
at  No.  1,  Brick  block,  keeping  a  general  stock  of 
merchandize  and  dealing  very  largely  in  produce;  so 
much  so  that  his  combined  business,  in  1844,  had 
reached  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

In  the  spring  of  1845,  Mr.  Gardiner  took  into  busi- 
ness with  him  Richard  D.  Joslin,  his  brother-in-law; 
and,  leaving  him  iu  charge  of  the  business,  went  to 
New  York  with  the  intention  of  engaging  in  the 
wholesale  dry  goods  trade  in  the  following  January. 
But  after  spending  the  summer  in  the  city  in  a  dry 
goods  store,  and  not  being  satisfied  with  the  prospects 
of  the  trade,  he  returned  to  Norwalk  in  November 
and  continued  the  mercantile  business  with  his  part- 
ner until  the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  his  partner,  Mr.  Joslin,  and  with  some 
friends  established  the  Norwalk  Branch  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Ohio,  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  thous- 
and dollars,  afterward  increased  to  one  hunJE-ed  and 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  This  bank  commenced 
business  in  May,  1847,  with  Mr.  Gardiner  as  cashier 
and  manager,  and  for  eighteen  years  did  a  successful 
business;  and,  notwithstanding  large  losses  conse- 
quent upon  the  panic  of  185C,  and  the  failure  of  the 
Ohio  Life  Insurance  and  Trust  company,  and  general 
suspension  of  the  banks,  closed  out  its  business  in 
ISGo,  returning  its  capital  to  the  share  holders,  hav- 
ing paid  in  dividends  over  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  thousand  dollars. 


In  March,  1805,  Mr.  Gardiner,  with  some  friends, 
organized  the  Norwalk  National  bank,  with  a  capital 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  succeeded  to 
the  business  of  the  Norwalk  Branch  of  the  State 
bank,  and  has,  up  to  this  period  (1879),  done  a  suc- 
cessful business,  with  Mr.  Gardiner  as  its  president, 
and  Charles  W.  Millen,  cashier. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Gardiner  was  elected  a  member  of  tlie 
board  of  control  of  the  State  tjank  of  Ohio,  and  con- 
tinued a  member  of  that  distinguished  body,  consist- 
ing of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  State,  until 
the  State  bank  finally  closed  its  business,  and  was 
superseded  by  the  National  banks  in  1865. 

While  banking  has  been  Mr.  Gardiner's  principal 
occupation,  he  has  not  omitted  other  enterprises  con- 
nected with  the  general  improvement  and  develop- 
ment of  the  country.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
move  iu  obtaining  a  charter  for  the  Toledo,  Norwalk 
and  Cleveland  railroad  company,  and  was  one  of  the 
original  corporators  of  the  company  in  a  charter 
granted  in  1850.  After  the  road  was  constructed 
and  in  operation,  in  1853,  it  was  consolidated  with 
the  Junction  railroad,  forming  the  Toledo  and  Cleve- 
land railroad  company,  of  which  Mr.  Gardiner  was 
elected  a  director  in  1856,  and  iu  November,  1860, 
was  elected  president  of  the  company. 

At  this  time  the  company  was  carrying  a  large  float- 
ing debt,  and  its  securities  were  very  much  depressed, 
so  much  so  that  its  stock  was  selling  so  low  as  twenty 
cents  on  the  dollar.  But  under  Mr.  Gardiner's  super- 
vision, and  consequent  upon  the  war,  and  the  large 
issue  of  paper  money,  the  floating  debt  was  paid  ofl:, 
dividends  resumed,  the  earnings  of  the  company  more 
than  doubled  and  the  stock  advanced  iu  the  market 
to  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar. 

In  18G5,  the  capital  stock  having  changed  hands, 
Mr.  Gardiner  was  superseded  in  the  presidency, 
though  he  reiaiained  a  director  until  it  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  Lake  Shore  line,  iu  1869. 

The  Sandusky,  Mansfield  and  Newark  railroad  was 
one  of  the  first  railroads  commenced  in  the  State,  and 
was  intended  for  the  transfer  of  passengers  and  freight 
from  the  interior  towns  to  and  from  the  lake  for  ship- 
ment, and  after  struggling  through  financial  difficul- 
ties until  1863,  when  Charles  L.  Boalt  was  elected 
president,  and  Mr.  Gardiner  was  elected  one  of  its 
directors,  and  they  proceeded  to  form  a  line  for 
traffic  from  Sandusky  to  Baltimore,  by  the  Central 
Ohio  and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroads,  and  this 
arrangement  met  with  such  success  that  they  leased 
the  Sandusky,  Mansfield  and  Newark  railroad,  to  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  comi)any  in  1SC9,  since 
which  time  it  has  done  a  successful  business.  On  the 
death  of  C.  L.  Boalt,  iu  1870,  Mr.  Gardiner  was 
elected  i)resident  of  the  company,  and  is  still  its 
president,  though  the  road  is  operated  by  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  company  under  the  lease,  and  forms  a 
part  of  its  main  line  to  Chicago. 

Mr.  Gardiner  was  elected  a  director  of  the  Colum- 
bus and  Indianapolis  Rail  Road  Company  in  18G3 — 


h 


':  .^^ 


hi 


J        --^ 


B.  F.  HiiwUf,  riiotogn 


PLATT   BENEDICT. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


173 


which  road  was  inteuded  to  form  a  line  between 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and 
after  consolidating  with  various  lines,  finally'  embraced 
about  six  hundred  miles  of  road  under  the  name  of 
the  Columbus,  Chicago  and  Indiana  Cer.tral  Railway 
Company. 

In  the  winter  of  1868,  Mr.  Gardiner  and  E.\-Gov. 
William  Dennison,  with  the  President,  B.  E.  Smith, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  negotiate  a  lease  of  the 
road  to  the  Pittsburgh',  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis 
Railway  Company,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Rail  Road 
Company,  which  lease  was  made  on  the  22d  day 
of  January,  1869,  and  duly  ratified,  though  it  was 
amended  one  year  thereafter,  and  under  it  the  road 
is  still  operated.  In  Mr.  Gardiner's  railroad  connec- 
tions he  has  become  acquainted  with  most  of  the  lead- 
ing railroad  magnates  of  the  day,  for  many  of  whom 
he  still  entertains  a  high  appreciation. 

Mr.  Gardiner  was  married  at  Norwalk  on  the  31st 
day  of  July,  184:3,  to  Miss  Frances  Mary  Joslin— a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  A.  Joslin,  of  Troy,  New 
York,  and  his  wife,  Frances  C.  Davis,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  New  York — and  four  children  were  the  off- 
spring of  this  marriage,  viz.:  Edmund  G.  Gardiner 
Avho  was  born  August  23,  1844;  John  Gardiner,  Jr., 
who  was  born  February  28, 1847;  Lucy  Jane  Gardiner 
who  was  born  June  4,  1848,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years,  and  William  L.  Gardiner  who  was  l)orn 
June"  24,  1857. 

Edmund  G.  Gardiner  married  Miss  Susie  J.  Barnes, 
of  Norwalk.  John  Gardiner,  Jr.,  married  Miss 
Louisa  Woodward,  of  Bellevue. 

Mr.  Gardiner  purchased  his  present  residence  on 
West  Main  street,  in  the  year  1848,  and  occupied  it 
the  same  spring,  having  since  added  to  it  from  time 
to  time,  and  increased  the  quantity  of  land  until  he 
now  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
adjoining  his  residence,  almost  wholly  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  village. 

Politically,  he  was  an  original  Henry  Clay  whig 
but  when  the  whig  party  merged  into  the  republican, 
Mr.  Gardiner  went  with  his  party,  and  has  always 
remained  a  republican,  and  contributed  to  its  success, 
but  without  ever  seeking  an  office,  or  soliciting  the 
votes  of  his  friends  or  party  for  political  preferment 
or  position. 

Mr.  Gardiner  has  lived  nearly  a  lialf  century  in 
Norwalk,  during  which  time  he  has  applied  himself 
to  business  pursuits,  without  wavering  or  faltering, 
in  Ivis  onward  course,  or  ever  failing  to  discharge  his 
pe'juniary  obligations,  and  without  a  blemish  on  his 
Inisiness  character,  or  integrity;  and  during  which 
time  the  early  pioneers  of  the  county,  with  nearly  all 
of  whom  he  was  acquainted,  have  gone  to  their  long 
homes,  having  stamped  their  principles  of  industry, 
integrity  and  perseverance  upon  their  children  and 
successors.  The  business,  and  the  leading  men  of 
that  early  day,  are  nearly  all  dead,  many  having 
failed  in  business  during  the  collapse  of  1837; 
and  the  log  cabins  of  the  early  settlers  have  disap- 


peared from  the  county,  ami  good  farm  houses  have 
taken  their  places,  occupied  by  as  thrifty  and  intel- 
ligent a  class  of  people,  as  are  to  be  found  in  any 
section  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Gardiner  re- 
members many  acts  of  kindness  from  those  early 
friends  who  occupied  positions  which  enabled  them  to 
assist  him  in  his  early  business  career,  and  who  were 
ever  ready  to  lend  him  aid  in  carrying  forward  his 
business  enterprises,  and  to  whose  generous  support 
and  assistance  he  attributes  much  of  his  ultimate 
success.    • 

May,  1879. 


PLATT  BENEDICT. 

About  the  year  A.  D.  15U0,  William  Benedict,  of 
Nottinghamshire,  iu  England,  had  an  only  son  born 
to  him  whom  he  called  William;  this  William,  3d, 
had  an  only  sou  whom  he  called  William;  and  this 
William,  3d,  had  in  1617  an  only  son,  whom  he  called 
Thomas. 

In  1638  Thomas  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
New  England;  after  remaining  there  for  a  time  he 
removed  to  Southhold,  on  Long  Island,  where  were 
Ijorn  to  him  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  whose 
names  were  Thomas,  John,  Samuel,  James,  Daniel, 
Betty,  Mary,  Sarah  and  Rebecca.  From  Southhold 
the  family  removed  to  Hassamatnac,  from  tiiere  to 
Jamaica,  Long  Island,  (where  Thomas  was  married,) 
from  there,  last  of  all,  they  removed  to  Norwalk, 
Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  where  all  the  remain- 
ing children  were  married. 

Daniel  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Matthew  Marvin, 
of  Norwalk;  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  "direful  swamp 
fight"  of  December  19,  1675  (Connecticut  Historical 
Collections,  pages  20-1— Palfrey's  History  of  New 
England,  vol.  8,  pages  176  to  180);  after  which,  at  a 
Norwalk  town  meeting,  January  12,  1676,  •'  The 
towne,  in  consideration  of  the  good  service  that  the 
soldiers  sent  out  of  the  towne  ingaged  and  performed 
by  them,  and  out  of  respect  and  thankfulnese  to  the 
sayd  soldiers,  doe  with  one  consent  and  freely  give 
and  grant  to  so  many  as  were  in  the  direful  swamp 
fight,  twelve  acors  of  land;  and  eight  acors  of  land  to 
so  many  as  were  in  the  next  considerable  service.'" 
Accordingly,  there  was  granted  l)y  the  plantation,  as 
a  gratuity  unto  Daniel  Benedict,  "l)eing  a  souldier  in 
the  Indian  warr,  twelfe  acres  of  land  and  lyeth  in 
three  parcels." 

He  sold  his  Norwalk  i)ropt'rty  in  IC'.Ki.  and  removed 
to  Danbury. 

His  children  were  Mary,  D mid  2d,  Hinnali  and 
Mercy. 

Daniel  2d  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Taylor,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Danbury,  Con- 
necticut, and  their  children  were  Daniel  3A,  Matthew, 
Tiieophitus,  Rebecca,  Mary,  David,  Natiiau  and 
Deborah. 


174 


HISTQRY  OF  HUROJI  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Captain  Daniel  3d,  born  1705,  married  Sarah 
Hickok  17--i8,  and  "died  November  0,  1773;  their 
children  were,  Daniel  -Ith,  Lemnel,  Noah,  Sarah, 
Jonas,  Aaron,  Ruth,  Mary  and  Amos. 

Jonas  was  born  September  21,  174:"2;  married 
January  14,  1767,  to  Mercy  Boughton,  and  died 
October  30,  1820.  He  was  a  member  of  the  general 
assembly  of  Connecticut  in  1809.  Their  children 
were  Elizabeth,  Jonas  2d,  Piatt,  Sarah,  Daniel  5th, 
Mary  and  Eli. 

Piatt  Benedict,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was 
born  at  Danbury,  Connecticut,  March  18,  1775, 
and  was  of  the  sixth  generation  of  Benedicts  in 
America.  He  married,  November  12,  1795,  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Daniel  DeForest,  of  Wilton,  Connecticut, 
She  was  born  August  37,  1777,  and  died  June  24, 
1852,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.     Their  children  were: 

Clarissa,  born  September  4,  179(3;  married  Hallet 
Gallup,  April  9,  1820;  died  January  11,  1878,  at 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  leaving  two  sons  and  four  daughters 
now  living  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  viz.;  Catherine,  Maria 
(wife  of  Marlin  A.  Dunton),  Carroll,  Sarah  (wife  of 
Henry  Brown),  Caleb  H.  and  Lizzie  F. 

David  Mead,  born  August  17,  1801;  married  Sep- 
tember 24,  1833,  to  Mary  Booth  Starr;  and  died  June 
16,  1843,  at  Danbury,  leaving  no  issue. 

Daniel  Bridgum,  born  June  1,  1803;  died  Septem- 
ber 9,  1827.  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  Not 
married. 

Jonas  Boughton,  born  March  23,  1806;  married 
October  8,  1829,  to  Fanny,  daughter  of  Henry  Buck- 
ingham; and  died  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  July  29,  1851, 
leaving  one  son,  David  DeForest  (Dr.  Benedict,  the 
present  druggist  of  Norwalk,  Ohio),  and  one 
daughter,  Fanny  B.,  who  married  Louis  H.  Severance, 
of  Cleveland,  and  died  August  1,  1874. 

And  Eliza  Ann,  born  October  27,  1812;  married 
William  Brewster,  May  1,  1832,  and  died  August  17, 
1840,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  leaving  two  sons,  both  of 
whom  died  in  childhood. 

After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  North  Salem, 
Westchester  county,  New  York,  where  his  daughter 
Clarissa  was  born;  and  from  there  he  removed  to 
Randal's  Island,  in  East  River,  where  he  engaged  in 
market  gardening;  in  a  few  years  he  removed  back  to 
Danbury,  and  was  appointed  collector  of  that  town, 
in  which  capacity  he  acted  in  1812-13. 

In  September.  1815,  he  first  came  to  Ohio  to  look 
up  a  ncw'liome,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  in 
comjiany  with  Elislia  Whittlesey  and  Maj.  Frederick 
Falley  visited  and  examined  the  present  site  of  Nor- 
walk. He  then  returned  to  Danbury  and  negotiated 
the  purchase  of  about  one  thousand  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  (now  the  site  of  Norwalk)  on  behalf  of 
Elisha  Whittlesey,  Matthew  B.  Whittlesey.  E.  Moss 
White  and  himself. 

In  January,  1817,  he  again  returncil  to  take  charge 
of  and",make  improvements  upon  tlie  new  purchase; 
erected  a  log  house  (which  was  the  first  building  con- 
structed by  white  men  within  tlie  present  corporate 


limits  of  the  village  of  Norwalk),  commenced  a  clear- 
ing upon  the  flats  south  of  his  new  house,  and  on 
April  4th  returned  to  Danbury,  arriving  there  May  4th. 

In  July,  1817,  he  left  Danbury  with  his  family,  in 
a  covei-ed  wagon  drawn  by  one  horse,  and  another 
wagon  loaded  with  household  goods,  provisions,  etc., 
drawn  by  four  oxen;  also,  one  saddle  horse.  After 
seven  weeks  of  fatiguing  travel  and  hardship,  they 
arrived  at  the  house  of  David  Gibbs  and  Henry  Lock- 
wood  in  Norwalk  on  September  9th  and  then  learned 
that  their  house,  built  that  spring,  was  burned  down. 
In  this  emergency,  the  open-handed  hospitality  of 
frontier  life  was  extended  to  them  by  the  families  of 
Gibbs  and  Lockwood,  and  there  they  remained  until 
a  new  house  was  erected.  Of  the  erection  of  that 
house,  destined  to  be  the  avant-courier  of  so  many 
noble  structures  and  happy  homes,  Mr.  Benedict  him- 
self says  (Fire-lands  Pioneer  of  March,  1859,  page 
eighteen) : 

"On  hearing  of  my  house  being  burned,  we  stopped 
with  Messrs.  Gibbs  and  Lockwood,  who  very  hospit- 
ably entertained  us  until  I  got  my  house  in  a  condition 
to  move  in.  They  were  accommodating  Capt.  John 
Boalt's  family,  nine  of  whom  were  sick  with  the 
ague.  We  staid  there  from  Monday  until  Friday, 
when  we  went  into  our  new  home,  a  log  pen  twenty 
feet  square,  no  doors,  windows,  fire-place,  and  no  fur- 
niture except  some  cooking  utensils  used  on  our  jour- 
ney. Built  a  fire  against  the  logs  on  one  side  of  the 
shanty,  made  up  our  beds  on  the  floor,  which  was  so 
green  and  damp  it  spoiled  the  under-beds,  which  in- 
duced me  to  fit  up  two  bedsteads,  one  for  myself  and 
wife  and  one  for  my  daughters,  placed  in  opposite  cor- 
ners of  the  shanty,  by  boring  holes  in  the  logs,  for  the 
sides  and  feet,  and  one  upright  post  put  into  a  hole  in 
the  floor,  and  fastened  at  the  top,  and  with  basswood 
bark,  made  matting  in  the  place  of  cord,  and  ^vhen 
completed  they  were  very  comfortable.  I  cut  out  two 
doors  and  two  windows.  The  sash  I  bought  but 
could  get  no  glass;  in  place  of  which  I  used  greased 
paper.  Built  an  oven  in  one  corner,  part  in  and  part 
outside,  with  clay  and  sticks;  also  a  stick  chimney 
above  the  chamber  floor,  had  no  jams.  After  burn- 
ing out  three  or  four  logs,  I  built  up  the  back  part  of 
the  chimney  of  muck  and  sticks.  I  chinked  up  and 
mudded  between  the  logs,  which  made  it  very  com- 
fortable. For  a  few  days  we  were  almost  without  pro- 
visions; we  had  green  corn,  turnips  and  milk." 

The  late  Seth  Jenning,  of  Milin,  says  (Pioneer, 
March,  1860,  page  IT):  "I  commenced  splitting  clap- 
boards out  of  oak  timber  to  make  the  roof  of.  Every 
man  that  could  work  was  on  hand  to  help  and  do  his 
best  toward  getting  up  the  house.  The  women 
turned  out  and  brought  up  our  dinners  that  day ; 
but  we  got  along  so  well  with  the  house  that  the 
next  morning  Mr.  Benedict  moved  up.  and  ilrs. 
Benedict  .cooked  our  dinners  that  day  by  u  Idg  near 
the  house." 

In  "Scattered  Sheaves,  by  Ruth,"  it  is  stated 
(Pjo/^ee/- of  September,  1860,  page  42).  "There  were 


Jyn^-SM  S^  *  Str^.VSa-cUrSrjrT 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


175 


present,  Levi  Cole  and  his  sons,  Maj.  Underliill, 
David  and  Jasper  Underbill,  his  nephews,  Lott  Her- 

rick, Sanderson,  Daniel  Clary,  Noah  P.  Ward, 

Elihu  Potter,  Richard  Gardiner,  Reuben  Pixley 
and  his  sou  Reuben,  Henry  Lockwood,  David  Gibbs 
and  others.  Says  David  Underbill,  2d.,  'Asher 
Cole,  Sanderson  and  myself,  cut  logs  in  the  woods 
near,  or  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  railroad 
buildings,  and  the  water  was  ankle  deep  ;  Lott  Her- 
rick  drove  the  team.  Mr.  Benedict  regaled  his  fellow 
laborers  with  Jamaica  rum  instead  of  whisky,  which 
was  usually  furnished  on  such  occasions.  Mrs.  Un- 
derbill, furnished,  cooked  the  dinner,  and  sent  it  to 
us.  It  consisted  mainly  of  pork,  potatoes,  turnijjs 
and  bread.'  '^ 

In  an  unpublished  narrative,  dictated  liy  Mrs. 
Benedict  not  long  before  her  death,  she  says:  "Two 
miles  from  any  neighbor  our  little  cabin  stood  ;  the 
floor  of  logs  split  in  the  middle,  not  smoothed  by 
plane  or  chisel;  our  chairs  made  in  the  same  rude 
nuxnner;  our  table  was  of  pieces  of  boxes  in  which 
our  goods  bad  been  packed,  and  "sajjlings"  fastened 
together,  formed  our  bedsteads.  On  oue  side  of  our 
cabin  was  a  large  fire-place,  on  the  east  and  west  sides 
were  doors,  on  the  north  our  only  windows,  in  which 
to  supply  the  jilace  of  glass,  we  pasted  pieces  of 
greased  paper. 

"And  many  pleasant  evenings  we  spent  beside  that 
huge  fire-place,  cracking  nuts  and  eating,  Hof  apples, 
but  turnips.  You  need  not  laugh,  I  tell  you  those 
raw  turnips  tasted  good  when  there  was  nothing  else 
to  eat,  and  as  the  flames  grew  bright,  our  merry  party 
would  forget  that  they  were  not  in  their  eastern 
liome,  but  far  away  in  the  wilds  of  Ohio. 

"We  heard  the  howl  of  the  wolf  and  the  whoop  of 
the  Indian  resounding  through  the  forest,  for  a 
favorite  hunting  ground  of  these  wild  men  was  situ- 
ated near  our  cabin,  and  often  would  the  Indians 
assemble  and  renew  their  noisy  sports,  little  dreaming 
of  the  tide  of  emigration  which  should  finally  sweep 
them  away. 

"One  night  the  loud  barking  of  our  dog  attracted 
our  attention,  followed  by  a  knock  at  the  door;  on 
opening  which,  in  stalked  a  large  Indian,  dressed  in 
furs  and  blanket,  and  fully  armed.  The  children 
huddled  close  to  me  as  he  came  near  and  asked  for 
"daddy."  He  was  evidently  intoxicated,  and  I  did 
not  dare  to  let  him  know  that  ''daddy"  was  not  at 
liome.  I  asked  him  to  sit  down,  but  be  preferred  to 
stretch  himself  before  the  fire,  where  be  soon  fell 
asleep.  When  be  awoke  be  was  nearly  sober  and 
quite  inclined  to  be  talkative.  He  told  me  of  the 
many  wrongs  the  Indian  bad  suffered;  that  the  white 
man  planted  corn  over  his  father's  bones;  and  the 
poor  old  Indian  wept.  Finally  he  started  up,  ex- 
claiming, 'daddy  no  come,  you  no  sleep,  I  go  to  my 
brothers',  and  be  went  away. 

"Sleep  was  a  stranger  to  our  eyes  that  night,  we  kept 
ourselves  in  readiness  for  flight,  for  we  expected  the 
•red-face'  would  return  with  bis  l)rothers  to  murder 


us  all.  The  riches  of  a  kingdom  would  not  repay  us 
for  another  such  night  of  anxiety.  But  as  time 
passed  on,  we  gained  the  friendship  of  these  denizens 
of  the  forest,  and  they  brought  us  many,  uiam/  pres- 
ents in  their  own  rude  way.'' 

From  the  date  of  Mr.  Benedict's  settlement  to  that 
of  his  death,  his  history  is  so  completely  intertwined 
with  that  of  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town, 
that  to  give  it  here  in  detail  would  only  be  a  repeti- 
tion of  a  large  part  of  the  history  of  Norwalk. 

June  17,  1856,  he  married,  as  his  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Lavina  P.  Benton  of  Republic,  Ohio,  who  survived 
him  and  died  February  9,  1875. 

A  few  days  before  his  death,  he  attended  tlie  Grand 
Encampment  of  Masons  at  Toledo,  became  very  much 
fatigued  by  over  exertion,  was  attacked  by  bowel 
complaint,  but  so  great  were  his  physical  '•-powers  and 
so  determined  bis  will,  that  he  returned  to  Norwalk, 
after  which  he  rapidly  grew  worse;  yet,  so  remarka- 
ble was  bis  vitality  that  he  kept  up  and  around  bis 
room  until  within  a  very  few  hours  of  the  end.  One 
of  bis  last  acts  preceding  bis  death,  only  about  six 
hours,  was  the  dictation  and  signing  a  very  salutary 
codici^, to.  his  will  for  the  benefit  of  his  wife. 

Witllall  his  faculties  of  mind  clear  and  distinct  to 
the  last,  be  quietly  passed  away  October  25,  18GG, 
aged  ninety-one  years,  seven  months  and  seven  days. 

His  funeral  took  place  on  the  following  Sabbath 
and  was  conducted'  by  the  Kuigbts  Templar  from 
various  parts  of  northern  Ohio,  who  came  in  special 
trains  run  from  Cleveland  and  Toledo  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

His  cherished  and  aged  friend.  Rev.  Samuel  Marks 
of  Huron,  Ohio,  officiated,  and  at  the  grave,  in  the 
presence  of  assembled  thousands,  said:  "Venerable 
man!  May  thy  aslies  rest  in  peace,  and  the  clods  fall 
lightly  upon  thy  bosom  !  Thy  virtues  will  be  em- 
balmed forever  in  our  heart  of  hearts.  Fare  thee 
well." 


HON.  TIMOTHY  BAKER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, Mass.,  where  be  was  born  August  5,  1787. 
He  went  in  1801  to  L'^tica  and  in  1805  made  his  home 
in  Herkimer,  N.  Y'.,  where,  in  1816,  be  married  Miss 
Eliza  Remington,  of  Fairfield,  a  union  which  brought 
him  forty-six  years  of  rare  domestic  happiness,  until 
her  death,  which  occurred  September  27.  1862. 

In  1814,  he  joined  some  friends  in  a  journey  to  this 
county,  but  with  no  intention  of  removing  here  or  of 
making  purchases  himself.  Passing  through  Norwalk 
on  an  Indian  trail,  the  party  found  shelter  for  the 
night  in  a  log  cabin  about  fifteen  feet  si(uare,  two 
miles  south  of  the  village,  with  several  other  similar 
companies,  ten  or  twelve  making  their  bed  on  the 
poles  and  bark  that  formed  the  floor  under  the  prim- 
itive roof.  He  again  visited  Ohio  in  1815  and  pur- 
chased several  large  tracts  of  laud,  including  the  farm 


170 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


in  Xorwalk,  to  which  he  came  with  his  family  and 
his  brother,  Theodore  Baker,  September  27,  1819, 
and  where  he  resided  for  nearly  sixty  years,  when  the 
shadow  of  death  again  fell  upon  the  home,  and  at  the 
age  of  ninety  years,  on  January  27,  1878,  his  earthly 
life  ended. 

Others,  parents,  relatives,  and  friends,  had  been 
borne  from  his  house  to  their  last  resting  place,  but 
his  own  family  had  been  spared  through  all  these 
years,  and  his  six  children,  one  daughter  and  five 
sons,  with  their  companions,  yet  survive  him. 

The  little  company  of  inhabitants  in  Norwalk  em- 
braced about  ten  or  twelve  families  when  he  came, 
and  was  very  cordially  welcomed  by  them.  He  en- 
tered at  once  earnestly  and  lieartily  into  all  their 
plans  for  the  advancement  of  the  place,  and  was  for 
forty  years  personally  connected  with  nearly  every 
public  enterprise  that  promised  to  increase  its  wealth, 
its  prosperity,  or  its  intelligence. 

The  tannery  that  he  built  in  1820  soon  passed  to 
his  brother,  and  in  his  own  business  he  soon  became 
widely  known  as  a  landliolder  and  merchant.  "He 
was  also  more  or  less  engaged  in  banking,  and  was  for 
many  years  president  of  the  Bank  of  Xorwalk,  then 
one  of  the  most  substantial  institutions  of  the  kind  in 
Ohio.  In  1821  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  an - 
associate  judge  (under  the  old  judicial  system),  and 
after  twenty-one  years  of  service,  declined  another 
nomination  in  1842.  It  is  but  justice  to  say  that 
during  that  long  period  he  maintained  a  standing  as 
a  jurist  reached  by  few  in  that  position,  his  relations 
to  the  court  being  recognized  as  far  more  important 
than  were  often  accorded  to  associates.  This  was  due 
alike  to  his  sound  judgment,  careful  investigation, 
and  conscientious  regard  for  justice." 

In  1842  he  became  a  member  of  the  First  Bajjtist 
Church  of  Norwalk,  a  relation  that  he  assumed  with 
great  self-distrust.  The  tie  thus  formed  was  a  source 
of  strength  and  blessing  in  the  changes  that  came 
with  the  passing  years,  of  which  the  sweetness  of  his 
closing  days  gave  precious  evidence. 

In  his  home  he  was  the  kind  and  thoughtful  hus- 
band, the  loved  and  honored  father,  the  genial  com- 
panion, the  hospitable  friend,  practicing  in  his  own 
life  the  habits  of. self-control  that  hO  enforced  ujjon 
his  children  wlio  recall  hi.-*  lifr  with  mingled  love  and 
reverence. 


(ilDEOX  T.   STEWAHT. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  born  at  Johnston,  Fulton  county, 
New  York,  in  1824,  and  is  therefore  nearly  fifty-five 
years  old.  His  ancestors,  on  his  father's  side,  came 
from  the  north  of  Ireland,  originally  from  Scotland. 
They  became  the  founders  of  the  first  academy  in 
Schenectady,  New  York,  which  afterwards  became 
Union  College.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  a 
distinguished  Methodist  divine  of  revolutioiiarv  fame. 


Rev.  Nicholas  Hill,  Sr.,  and  a  sister  of  the  celebrated 
lawyer  of  the  same  name.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Oberlin,  Ohio. 
He  soon  entered  Oberlin  college,  but  while  in  his 
sophomore  year,  left  that  institution  to  commence  the 
study  of  law,  first  at  Xorwalk,  and  subsequently  at 
Columbus  in  the  office  of  Chief  Justice  Swayne  of 
Ohio,  now  of  the  United  States  Supreme  court.  In 
August,  1846,  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Xorwalk,  Ohio,  where  lie  now  resides.  He 
edited  the  Whig  organ  at  X'orwalk  for  three  years, 
and  was  three  times  elected  county  auditor  by  that 
party.  Immediately  upon  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  he  identified  himself  with  it. 

In  ISni  he  went  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  purchased 
the  Daihj  Times  of  that  place,  the  only  Union  daily 
newspaper  then  published  in  the  north  half  of  that 
state.  He  edited  it  through  the  war,  then  sold  out 
and  returned  to  Xorwalk,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
law,  which  he  has  since  continued.  He  at  one  time 
owned  one-half  of  the  Toledo  Daily  Blade,  and  at 
another,  one-half  of  the  Daily  Commercial  of  that 
city. 

In  1847  he  helped  organize  Xorwalk  division  of  the 
Sons  of  Temperance,  which  is  still  an  active  working 
temperance  society,  and  of  which  he  remains  a 
charter  member.  He  has  been  three  times  elected 
presiding  officer  of  the  Order  of  Good  Templars  in 
Ohio. 

As  an  item  of  interest  in  the  history  of  the  temper- 
ance reform,  it  may  be  well  to  say  that  in  1857,  Mr, 
Stewart  presided  over  a  state  temper.ince  convention, 
held  at  Columbus,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  an 
independent  prohibition  political  party:  that  this 
convention  appointed  a  committee  to  call  a  state 
nominating  convention,  but  the  movement  was 
stopped  by  the  war  in  Kansas,  followed  by  the  war  of 
the  rebellion.  In  1869  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Chicago  convention,  that  organized  the  X^ational 
Prohibition  party,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  member 
of  the  national  executive  committee.  He  has  been 
three  times  candidate  of  the  Prohibition  Reform 
party  in  Ohio  for  supreme  judge,  and  tlirice  for 
governor. 

He  is  a  clear,  logical  reasoner,  and  possessed  of 
excellent  executive  ability.  He  is  thoroughly  posted 
in  political  history  and  economy,  and  there  are  few, 
if  any,  men  in  the  country  who  more  thoroughly 
undei^tand  the  questions  relating  to  temperance. 


BAKXARI)  CORTRITK 

is  a  son  of  Garrett  V.  and  Electa  Cortrite,  Jiis  father 
being  a  native  of  Penn.sylvania,  and  his  mother,  of 
Connecticut.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Phelps, 
Ontario  county,  X'^ew  York,  September  25, 1831.  He 
remained  with  his  parents,  devoting  himself  industri- 
iinsly    to    till'    nfcu]iation   of  farming    until    ho    was 


Mr,  D.  H.  Pease, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


177 


twenty-two  years  of  ;ige.  All  the  education  he  re- 
ceived was  "picked  up"  in  a  district  school,  some 
two  miles  distant  from  his  home. 

Having  a  natural  fondness  for  machinery,  and  his 
father  being  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  the  mowing 
machine  into  Ontorio  county,  young  Barnard,  when 
he  was  but  fourteen  years  old,  at  the  request  of  a 
farmer  living  some  t^velve  miles  distant,  took  his 
father's  mower,  and  drove  to  the  place,  arriving  late 
at  night.  Going  to  work  in  the  meadow  the  next 
morning,  he  cut,  by  noon  of  the  second  day,  twenty 
acres  of  grass;  for  which  feat  he  was  highly  com- 
plimented in  the  county  newspapers. 

In  April,  1854,  Mr.  Cortrite  went  to  Wisconsin,  to 
manage  a  farm  consisting  of  a  section  of  laud,  for  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  A.  C.  Loomis,  where  he 
remained  until  that  gentleman's  death.  He  then 
went  to  Saginaw,  Michigan,  and  engaged  in  the 
Saginaw  City  mills,  as  an  assistant  sawj-er,  but  at  the 
end  of  three  weeks  he  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  first  sawyer,  by  the  proprietor  of  the  mills.  Here 
he  cast  his  first  vote,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  for  General 
Fremont.  For  the  rest  of  that  year,  after  the  saw- 
ing season  was  over,  he  employed  himself  in  chopping 
cord  wood,  at  fifty  cents  a  day. 

In  185T,  on  account  of  his  father's  death,  he  was 
called  home  to  settle  up  the  estate.  After  perform- 
ing this  duty,  he  took  the  whole  family,  viz.:  His 
mother,  three  brothers  and  three  sisters,  to  Genesee 
county,  Michigan,  where  they  located. 

At  about  this  period,  Mr.  Cortrite  became  con- 
nected with  the  firm  of  Ledyard  &  Bennett,  of  Ply- 
mouth, Wayne  county,  Michigan,  as  salesman  and 
collector  during  the  spring,  summer  and  fall,  and 
during  the  winter,  as  manufacturer  of  fanning  mills. 
With  this  firm  he  remained  five  successive  years,  dur- 
ing which  time,  on  the  38th  of  September,  1860,  he 
was  married  to  Lydia  Ann,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Sarah  Terry,  of  Plymouth,  Michigan.  Of  this  union 
were  born  two  children,  Hattie  E.  and  Sarah  A.,  both 
of  whom  are  living. 

In  the  year  1864,  after  a  protracted  illness,  he  en- 
gaged with  the  firm  of  Shutts  &  Ferrier,  manu- 
facturers of  machinery,  as  salesman  for  a  term  of 
three  years.  While  engaged  with  this  firm,  he  was 
solicited  Ijy  Mr.  Bennett,  one  of  his  former  employ- 
ers, to  go  to  Ohio  and  engage  in  the  fanning  mill 
business  with  him,  becoming  an  equal  partner  and 
manager.  This  he  did,  purchasing  land  and  erecting 
a  factory  in  the  village  of  Norwalk,  Huron  county, 
and  entering  inte  partnership  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  At  the  end  of  this  term  he  purchased  Mr. 
Bennett's  interest,  and  became  sole  owner  of  the  ])ro- 
perty. 

During  his  many  years'  ex])erience  in  this  business, 
Mr.  Cortrite  became  convinced  that  a  more  perfect 
mill  than  those  then  in  use,  was  needed,  and  could  be 
constructed.  And  soon  after  becoming  sole  proprietor 
of  the  establishment  above  named,  he  invented  what 


is  now  widely  known  as  the  "Eureka  Fanning  Mill," 
for  which  he  obtained  letters  patent. 

This  invention  has  proved  eminently  successful, 
and  its  success  is  attributable  not  only  to  the  ingenu- 
ity of  the  invention  itself,  but- also  to  the  prudence, 
energy  and  financial  ability  with  which  the  inventor 
has,  for  a  period  of  some  fourteen  years,  conducted 
his  affairs.  His  business  has  rapidly  increased  until, 
with  the  facilities  afforded  by  his  Norwalk  factory, 
and  the  one  recently  established  by  him  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  the  average  number  of  his  mills 
sold  annually  is  over  one  thousand. 

During  the  years  of  1877-8,  Mr.  C.  erected  and 
completed  the  fine  residence,  a  view  of  which  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  work,  and  which  the  people 
of  Norwalk  properly  regard  as  an  ornament  to  their 
village.  He  has  also  made  many  improvements  upon 
his  factory  buildings  and  the  surrounding  grounds, 
which  are  indicative  of  his  artistic  taste,  as  well  as  of 
his  pecuniary  ability. 

In  the  year  1872,  Mr.  Cortrite  made  a  pnljlic  \n-o- 
fession  of  religion  and  united  with  the  M.  E.  church, 
of  which  he  is  still  an  active  memlier. 


DAVID  HARLOW  PEASE. 

D.  H.  Pease  w\as  born  in  Somers,  Connecticut, 
November  9,  1826,  and  at  the  time  of  death,  January 
13,  1873,  was  in  the  forty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

His  early  years  were  spent  in  his  native  town,  and 
in  addition  to  such  knowledge  as  he  could  obtain  af 
the  public  school,  he  pursued  his  studies  for  two 
years  at  the  village  academy  at  Wilbraham,  Massa- 
chusetts. 

He  came  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  m  18-;)"2,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  book-  and  drug  business  until  1863,  when 
he  was  elected  county  auditor,  and  filled  that  posi- 
tion with  remarkable  fidelity  for  three  successive 
terms  until  1869,  since  which  time,  until  his  death, 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  merchandise. 

So,  few  words  express  in  general  terms  the  story  of 
Mr.  Pease's  life.  He  was  not  a  man  to  limit  his 
cares  or  his  labors  to  his  own  or  his  family's  well  be- 
ing. With  an  earnest  desire  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  all  within  the  reach  of  his  influence,  he  combined  a 
rare  judgment,  an  indomitable  perseverance  and  re- 
markable efficiency.  While  yet  a  young  man,  he  de- 
termined to  do  what  one  man  could  to  promote  the 
cause  of  temperance,  and  his  time,  labor,  means  and 
counsel  have  been  freely  given,  year  after  year,  to 
further  this  great  object.  He  was  active  in  the  for- 
mation of  the  Young  Men's  Library  and  Reading 
Room  Association,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  one 
of  its  most  efficient  and  valuable  officers.  His  in- 
terest in  the  Fire-land's  Historical  Society  was  unflag- 
ging for  years.  His  duties  as  secretary  of  the  society 
and  editor  of  the  Pioneer,  occupied  much  of  his  val- 
uable time,  and  this  he  freely  gave  from  some  time 


178 


HISTORY  OF  HT'RON  AND  ElUE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ill  the  year  ISiid,  whuii  lie  was  chosen  editor  of  tlie 
Pioneer,  to  the  time  that  he  was  compelled  by  weak- 
ness to  lay  aside  his  pen.  In  early  manhood  he  made 
up  his  mind  that  whatever  was  excellent  in  character 
or  elevating  and  ennoliling  in  tendency,  was  generally 
connected  with  the  Christian  church.  He,  therefore, 
sustained  the  public  ivorship  of  God  by  his  example 
and  most  generous  contributions,  and  his  counsel  and 
jiersonal  presence  could  always  be  depended  upon  in 
sustaining  the  Sabbath  school.  He  was  foremost  in 
every  good  work,  and  counted  no  sacrifice  to  great 
for  the  public  good.  Such  characters  as  Mr.  Pease's 
are  not  common  ;  it  is  only  here  and  there  that 
such  a  man  is  vouchsafed  to  a  community.  Genial 
and  happy  in  his  home — a  kind  neighbor,  a  wise 
and  faitiiful  citizen — we  miss  his  presence  in  our  as- 
semblages— we  miss  his  counsels  and  his  labors.  He 
has  gone  from  us  in  the  prime  of  life  and  in  the 
midst  of  great  usefulness,  but  has  left  to  the  com- 
munity the  rich  legacy  of  a  pure  and  upright  life. 
Let  us  imitate  his  examiile  and  emulate  his  virtues. 


JOHN  LAY  LIN. 

John  Laylin  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  May  ^2,  179L  His  parents  removed 
to  Beaver.  Pennsylvania,  in  liDU.     In  March,  1810, 


%. 


country,"  takin_  uiiii  liini  ill  hi-  I  luiih  t\(c]i( 
John,  who  remaiiud  Ik  hind  until  June  ot  tin  -ame 
year  to  receive  a  jia^iiieut  for  the  tarin,   hIuuIi  beciniiu 

due  at  that  time.  John  hired  out  during  the  summer 
to  a  farmer  at  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  month, 
and  attended  school  during  the  following  winter.  In 
the  spring    his  grandfather.   Abraham    Powers,    and 


Hanson  Heed,  decided  to  follow  John's  parents  to 
the  frontier.  Accordingly  they  started  overland 
through  the  wilderness,  taking  with  them  such  house- 
hold goods  and  other  prpperty  as  they  could  carry. 
John  accompanied  them,  assisting  in  driving  stock 
and  in  other  ways  rendering  them  aid  during  their 
long,  tedious  journey.  The  party  at  length  arrived 
at  Cuyahoga  portage.  They  then  learned  that  John's 
father  and  party  had  stopped  there  the  previous 
spring,  on  their  way  to  the  frontier,  and  raised  a  crop 
of  corn,  and  in  the  fall  had  removed  to  the  mouth  of 
Black  river,  on  the  lake  shore.  John  remained  with 
his  grandfathers  party  until  they  reached  Greenfield, 
Huron  county,  where  they  settled.  He  remained 
with  Hanson  Reed  one  month,  to  assist  him  in  plant- 
ing corn.  He  then  started  alone  and  on  foot,  by 
Indian  trails,  to  join  his  father's  family,  near  Black 
river.  While  on  this  lonely  journey,  sleeping  on  the 
bank  of  the  Termillion  river,  he  was  surrounded  by 
wolves,  but,  by  the  greatest  vigilance,  and  kindling  a 
fire,  he  kept  them  at  bay  until  morning.  In  October, 
1811,  the  family  removed  to  West  Berlin,  Erie  county. 
During  the  following  wiirter,  Mr.  Laylin  taught 
school,  receiving  his  board  and  one  dollar  and  a  quar- 
ter tuition  per  scholar,  as  compensation. 

In  the  spring  of  1812  war  w^as  declared  between 
England  and  the  Fnited  States.  A  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  that  and  the  surrounding  counties  was 
held  to  provide  means  for  defence.  A  petition,  ask- 
ing for  assistance  from  the  governor  of  Ohio,  was 
forwarded,  and  a  company  of  "minute  men"  was 
organized  for  home  defence.  Mr.  Laylin  joined  the 
company,  and  on  the  next  day  it  marched  to  the 
peninsula  off  Sandusky  to  ascertain  if  there  were 
any  Indians  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Laylin  was  pre- 
vented joining  this  expedition  by  severe  sickness. 
From  the  entire  company  of  thirty,  only  four  or  five 
survived  the  expedition.  Nothing  was  heard  of  the 
poor  fellows  until  their  whitened  bones  were  found 
in  the  following  September  by  a  detachment  of  Com- 
modore Perry's  victorious  troops.  In  August,  General 
Hull  surrendered  to  the  British,  which  was  not  known 
among  the  settlers  until  a  small  British  fleet  appeared 
off  Huron,  from  which  some  of  the  prisoners  taken 
were  sent  in  small  boats  to  the  shore. 

The  greatest  consternation  prevailed.  In  the  iianic 
which  followed,  the  family  fled  to  ilount  Vernon. 
At  Mansfield,  they  met  a  regiment  hastening  to  the 
protection  of  the  citizens  on  the  border,  and  Mr. 
Laylin  joined  the.se  troops.  After  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment had  expired,  he  rejoined  his  father's  family  at 
Mount  Vernon.  Here  he  learned  tiie  mason's  trade. 
He  was  fond  of  reading  and  study  and.  not  being 
confined  closely  at  his  trade,  found  lime  U\  avail 
himself  of  the  advantages  of  a  puiilic  library.  He 
became  a  great  student  of  ancient  and  modern  history. 
He  also  watched  with  deep  interest  the  great  dis- 
coveries in  science  and  the  inventions  of  genius.  It 
was  during  this  time  that  his  most  lasting  \w 


and 


re   formed.      In   the  niea 


C.  H.  GALLUP. 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


179 


tinu',  his  father's  family  hail  veiiiuved  to  Xorwalk, 
but  1r'  rcniaincil  in  Mount  Vernon  until  1817,  when 
he  was  called  liome  by  the  death  of  his  father.  In 
Oet<jber,  1818.  he  married  Olive  Clark,  wife  of  Itmicl 
ClarU.  uf  Bronson.  Mr.  i.aylin  then  settled  near 
Norwalk,  on  a  fai-m  wliieli  he  had  [ircviously  bought, 
where  he  passed  the  most  active  and  useful  portion 
of  his  life.  During  the  years  that  followed  he -was  a 
most  zealous  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  Sabbath. school,  having  made  that  the 
church  of  his  choice.  Nearly  all  religious  services, 
prior  to  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice  in  the  village, 
were  held  at  his  house.  He  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  a  Sabbath  school  in  the  neighborhood, 
which  position  he  filled  for  a  number  of  years.  Dur- 
ing the  year  1841,  he  was  sorely  bereaved  in  the  death 
of  his  wife  and  two  children.  There  remained  of 
the  family  si.x children:  two  sons  and  four  daugliters. 

Six  years  afterward,  Mr.  Laylin  married  Mrs.  Mary 
Weyburn  States,  of  Hartland,  who  proved  an  excel- 
lent wife  and  mother.  In  the  strength  of  her  affec- 
tion she  gathered  into  her  love  the  remains  of  two 
brnkeii  families  and  was  a  true  mother  to  them  all. 

SoMii  after  his  second  marriage  he  removed  to  a 
residence  on  Medina  street,  Nt>r\valk.  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death. 

His  faithful  wife  died  April  10,  1877,  after  a  long, 
painful  illness,  which  bafWed  skill,  love  and  care. 
For  several  years  her  husband's  infirmity,  and  his 
desire  to  have  her  by  him,  confined  her  to  the  pre- 
cints  of  home.  She  was  its  light  and  strength. 
Her  worth  was  manifest  in  the  high  esteem  and 
reverence  in  which  she  was  held  by  all  her  family. 
Mr.  Laylin  survived  the  death  of  his  wife  but  a  few 
days.  He  died,  peacefully,  April  36,  1877.  There 
remain  of  his  children:  Elvira,  Mrs.  Richard  Elliott: 
Celestine,  Mrs.  W  W.  Hildreth:  Olive,  Mrs.  il.  L. 
Carr;  Marriettc,  Mrs.  F.  Gard;  and  Marie.  Mrs. 
Frank  Evans.  His  sons,  Theodore  and  Lewis  C,  are 
residents  of  Norwalk. 

Mr.  Laylin  was  a  man  of  untiring  energy  and  per- 
se verence.  Favored  with  few  early  advantages  for 
mental  culture,  he  availed  himself  to  the  utmost  of 
what  he  had.  Strength  and  definiteness  were  leading 
characteristics  of  his  mind.  He  held  decided  and 
independent  judgments  on  all  religious  and  jiolitical 
questions  that  from  time  to  time  stirred  jjulilic 
thought  during  his  long  life. 

His  life  covers  almost  the  entire  national  period  of 
our  history.  He  was  born  in  the  second  year  of 
Washington's  first  term,  and  was  over  eight  years 
old  when  he  (Wasliington)  died.  He  was  eligible  to 
vote  for  fifteen  presidents.  His  life  runs  l)ack  through 
Victoria's  long  reign — past  William  and  George  IV. 
to  the  middle  of  the  stupid  misrule  of  George  III. 
Louis  XVI.  was  still  a  monarch,  the  French  reign  of 
terror  was  yet  unknown,  and  the  great  battles  of  Na- 
poleon unfought.  Nicholas  and  two  Alexanders  had 
not  yet  come  to  the  throne  of  Russia,  and  the  Em]iire 
of  Austria  was  yet  unborr.     He  has  setn  .-jii  ng  into 


beingthe  wonderful  inechanieal  in\c-ntioiis  and  scien- 
tific discoveries  that  have  so  materially  changed  the 
economy  of  life. 

He  received  from  his  mother  religious  nistructiou 
which,  at  eighteen,  ripened  into  definite  conversion. 
His  religions  convictions  were  welded  in  the  white 
heat  of  early  coiitroversy,  and  ever  bore  the  marks 
of  their  origin.  He  died  firm  in  the  faith  that  he 
would  awaken  amid  the  glories  of  his  heavenly  home. 


CALEB  H.  GALLUP. 

In  Lorraine,  jiart  of  the  debatable  territory  be- 
tween the  French  and  German  people;  wasted  and 
seared  and  scarred  by  many  battles,  now  in  possession 
of  one  people  and  then  of  the  other,  there  is  an  ancient 
family  of  the  name  of  Kolopp.  From  time  immemo- 
rial the  tradition  has  been  handed  down  by  its  mem- 
bers, from  generation  to  generation,  that  one  of  their 
number  went  to  western  Europe  as  a  follower  of  Wil- 
liam, Duke  of  Normandy,  and  never  returned.  This 
tradition  was  recently  imparted  to  the  writer  by  the 
Rev.  Peter  Kolopp,  a  member  of  that  family  now  in 
charge  of  St.  Peter's  (Catholic)  church  of  Norwalk. 

Hume,  in  his  history  of  the  "  Conquest,"  says: 
"The  situation  also  of  Europe  inspired  William  with 
hopes  that,  besides  his  brave  Normans,  he  might  em- 
ploy against  England  the  flower  of  the  military  force 
which  was  dispersed  in  all  the  neighboring  states. 
France,  Germany  and  the  Lower  countries,  by  the 
progress  of  the  feudal  institutions,  were  divided  and 
sub-divided  into  many  principalities  and  baronies.  * 
*  *  A  military  spirit  had  universally  diffused  itself 
througlKuit  Euro])e;  *  *  *  multitudes  crowded 
to  tender  to  tiie  duke  their  services,  with  that  of 
their  vassals  and  retainers."  (Hume's  History  of 
England,  Boston  edition  of  1854,  volume  one,  i>ages 
one  hundred  forty-one  and  two.)  Readers  of  history 
will  remember  that  these  movements  of  "William  the 
Conqueror"  were  crowned  with  success  at  the  battle 
of  Hastings,  October  14.  106G. 

As  corroborative  of  the  tradition  in  the  Kolopp 
family  of  Lorraine,  a  tradition  also  exists  in  the  (xal- 
lup  family  of  America  that  the  founder  of  the  Eng- 
lish branch  came  into  England  at  the  Conquest,  from 
France.  This  tradition  has  often  been  related  to  the 
writer  by  the  late  Hallet  Gallup  of  Norwalk. 

The  different  spelling  of  the  name  by  the  two  fam- 
ilies is  no  indication  of  a  difference  in  origin.  In 
those  early  days  education  was  confined  to  the  monas- 
teries, and  family  names  were  perpetuated  by  the  me- 
dium of  their  children  more  than  by  written  records. 
Afterwards,  as  education  becaine  more  general,  and 
men  learned  to  irrite  their  names,  the  manner  of 
spelling  them  was  purely  arbitrary,  de])ending  upon 
the  sound,  or  the  fancy  of  the  individual.  Kolopp  is 
a  correct  phonetic  spelling  of  the  <ierinan  pronuncia- 
tion of  (iallup. 


180 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Early  in  the  seveuteeuth  eentury,  and  previous  to 
1630,  two  brothers,  John  iind  William  Gallup,  came 
over  to  this  country  ^from  England  and  settled  at 
Boston,  then  but  an  infant  settlement.  John  was  an 
English  sailor  and  soon  became  a  Massachusetts  fish- 
erman, and  with  his  little  tishiug  smack  became 
historic  in  the  Indian  troubles  of  that  time — 1636 — 
(Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  volume  one,  page 
four  hundi-ed  fifty-eight:  Life  and  Letters  of  John 
Winthrop,  pages  one  hundred  fifty-eight,  two  hun- 
dred, and  three  hundred  eighty-seven).  He  died  at 
Boston  about  1652,  without  issue. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  New  London,  Connec- 
ticut, and  about  1048,  William,  who  is  supposed  to 
have  married  at  Boston,  became  a  resident  of  that 
part  of  Xew  London  since  called  Groton,  where  he 
brought  up  two  sous,  Hallet  and  William  (second), 
and  probably  other  children. 

In  16T5,  Hallet  received  warning,  from  a  friendly 
Indi  .n,  of  the  trouble  soon  to  culminate  in  that  historic 
event  known  as  "King  Phillip's  war."  That  warn- 
ing was  the  present  of  a  wampum  belt,  or  rather,  a 
belt  made  out  of  the  long  coarse  hair  of  the  black 
bear,  ornamented  with  whiteheads  set  in  the  form  of  a 
"  W.'"  This  indicated  war.  He  raised  a  company  of 
soldiers  and  took  them  into  that  "  direful  swamp 
fight"  of  Decemlicr  19,  1775.  The  following  quota- 
tion shows  his  fate: 

"  The  legislature  of  the  colony,  in  a  representation 
of  the  services  they  had  performed  in  the  war,  say: 
'  In  that  signal  service,  the  fort  fight,  in  Xarragan- 
sett,  as  we  had  our  full  number  in  proportion  to  the 
other  confederates,  so  all  say  they  did  their  full  pro- 
portion of  service.  Three  noble  soldiers,  Seeley, 
courageous  Marshall  and  bold  Gallup,  died  in  the 
bed  of  honor:  and  valiant  Mason,  a  fourth  captain, 
had  his  death's  wound.  There  died  many  brave 
otScers  aud  sentiniels,  whose  memory  is  blessed,  and 
whose  death  redeemed  our  lives.'  "  (Barbor's  Connec- 
ticut Historical  Collections,  page  21;  see,  also,  Pal- 
frey's History  of  New  England,  volume  III,  page  177). 

William  (second)  survived  the  war  and  raised  a  large 
family,  one  of  which  was  a  son  named  William 
(third),  who  also  raised  a  family  of  two  boys,  William 
(fourth)  and  Hallet  (second),  and  ten  daughters,  of 
whom  there  were  six  twins. 

This  William  (third)  removed  from  Groton,  Con- 
necticut, to  Kingston,  Pennsylvania,  in  October, 
177-Jr,  and  was  living  there  at  the  time  of  the  "  Wyom- 
ing massacre,"  of  July  3,  1778.  His  sou  Hallet 
(second)  was  in  the  fight,  and  escaped  by  floating 
down  the  Susquehanna  river,  with  his  body  under 
water  and  his  face  protected  from  view,  between  two 
rails  grasped  in  his  hands. 

Two  of  his  twin  daughters,  Sarah  and  Hannah, 
aged  about  five  years,  were  captured  and  carried  off 
by  the  Indians,  painted  and  adopted  by  a  squaw,  but 
."oon  after  ransomed. 

Hannah,  born  at  Groton,  Connecticut,  March  4, 
1773.  was  the  Mrs.  Hannah  Jones  who  died  at  Kings- 


ton, Pennsylvania,  about  1860.  Sarah,  born  at  Gro- 
ton, Connecticut,  March  4,  1773,  was  the  Sarah  Hoyt 
who  died  at  Xorwalk,  Ohio,  in  18.58.  She  first 
marcied  Peter  Grubb,  Jr. :  after  his  death  she  married 
Mr.  Agur  Hoyt  and  removed  to  Danbury,  Connecti- 
cut; from  there  they  removed,  in  1831,  to  Xorwalk, 
Ohio.  She  was  the  stepmother  of  Agur  B.  Hoyt, 
now  of  Xorwalk,  aud  mother  of  William  It.  Hoyt, 
now  of  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Another  daughter,  Mary,  was  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried to  James  Divine,  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  at 
Kingston  to  visit  her,  and  was  one  of  tlie  victims  of 
July  3,  1778.     She  never  married. 

William  (fourth),  then  a  lad,  escaped  the  massacre, 
and,  at  maturity,  married  Freelove  Hathaway,  sister 
of  sea  captain  Caleb  Hathaway,  of  Philadelphia. 
Their  children  were  William  (fifth).  Hallet  (third), 
".James  Divine '"  and  Caleb  Hathaway. 

William  (fifth)  came  to  Xorwalk,  Ohio,  in  1818, 
and,  on  May  2,  1820,  married  Salley  Boalt,  daughter 
of  Captain  John  Boalt  (the  first  marriage  in  Xorwalk), 
and  their  children  are:  William  (si.xth),  now  living 
in  Tiffin.  Ohio:  Matilda  (Mrs.  Wm.  Bombarger),  now 
of  Boulder.  Colorado;  Mary,  dead;  Francis,  now  of 
Denver,  Colorado;  Ruth  Ann  (Mrs.  Lafayette  S.  Lyt- 
tle,)  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  George,  of  Tiffin,  Ohio:  Susan 
(Mrs.  Thomas  Thresher,)  of  Granville,  Ohio;  Samuel 
C,  now  of  Pueblo,  Colorado;  James  Divine  (2d),  now 
of  Greensburgh,  Indiana:  John  (2d),  now  of  Boulder, 
Colorado:  Rose  (Mrs.  Albert  Xusley.)  of  Sandusky 
City,  Ohio). 

Hallet  (3d)  was  born  at  Kingston,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1796,  and,  upon  his  birth,  a  relative  at  Groton,  Con- 
necticut, sent  on  to  his  parents  the  wampum  belt 
given  by  the  friendly  Indian  to  Captain  Hallet  (1st) 
in  1775,  with  the  request  to  name  him  Hallet.  That 
belt  is  yet  in  almost  perfect  preservation  in  tiie- pos- 
session of  Carroll  Gallup,  of  Xorwalk,  Ohio. 

In  1812,  Hallet  (3d)  joined  Captain  Thomas"  com- 
pany of  Pennsylvania  volunteers  and  served  in  the 
artillery  under  Harrison.  On  being  mustered  out  of 
service  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he,  in  1816,  came  to 
Bloomingsville,  then  in  Huron  county,  and,  in  1818, 
came  to  Xorwalk.  In  1819  he  was  appointed  col- 
lector of  the  then  Huron  county.  On  April  0,  1820, 
he  married  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Piatt  and  Sally 
Benedict,  and  died  in  his  eighty-second  year  on  July 
11,  1877,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio. 

His  wife,  Clarissa,  died  at  X'orwalk.  Ohio,  just  six 
months  afterwards,  on  January  11,  1878,  in  the  eighty- 
second  year  of  her  age. 

Their  children  were:  Catharine,  now  living  at  Xor- 
walk: Maria,  (Mrs.  M.  A.  Dunton)  now  living  at  Xor- 
walk; Lydia,  died  in  childhood:  Carroll,  now  living 
at  Xorwalk:  Sarah,  (Mrs.  Henry  Brown)  now  living 
at  Norwalk;  Eliza,  died  in  infancy;  Caleb  Hathaway, 
(second)  now  living  at  Norwalk;  Lizzie  Francis,  now 
living  at  Norwalk. 

James  Divine,  third  son  of  William,  (fnintli)  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a   mining  engineer,  in 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AIS'D  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


181 


the  then  just  developing  coal  regions  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  died  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Pennsylvania,  in  March, 
185G;  aged  about  fifty-eight  years;  never  married. 

Caleb  Hathaway,  fourth  son  of  William,  (fourth) 
was  born  at  Kingston,  Pennsylvania,  in  180-2;  came  to 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  in  1825,  and  opened  a  cabinet  shop 
on  the  lot  so  long  occupied  by  the  late  John  H.  Foster. 
He  died  at  Norwalk,  September  20, 1827;  not  m;irried. 

Caleb  Hathaway,  (second)  whose  picture  accom- 
panies this  memoir,  son  of  Hallett,  (third)  was  born  at 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  May  10,  1834. 

In  1856,  he  graduated  at  Madison  University, 
Hamilton,  New  York,  from  the  "Literary  and 
Scientific  Course,"  and  was  the  first  student  upon 
whom  that  institution  conferred  the  "Degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Philosophy.'" 

In  1857,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
Worcester  and  Pennewell,  of  Norwalk,  and  in  April, 
1858,  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati- Law  School  with 
the  "Degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,"  and  shortly  after- 
wards opened  an  office  at  Norwalk. 

In  1859,  he  removed  to  St.  John's,  Michigan,  and 
on  July  19th,  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in  the 
courts  of  that  State. 

The  next  summer  he  removed  from  St.  John's  to 
Port  Austin,  Huron  county,  Michigan,  arriving  tliere 
on  June  24,  18*60. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year,  he  was  elected  the  first 
prosecuting  attorney  of  that  county,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  re-elected  for  four  succeeding  terms,  hold- 
ing the  office  until  January  1,  1871, — ten  years. 

He  also  held  the  offices  of  circuit  court  commis- 
sioner and  injunction  master  during  most  of  the  same 
period,  as  well  as  that  of  township  treasurer,  and 
several  other  minor  offices. 

During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  he  acted  as  deputy 
L^uited  States  Marshal  for  the  western  district  of 
Huron  county,  Michigan;  was  him.self  "drafted"  and 


instead  of  being  sent  to  the  "front,"  was  ordered 
back  to  duty  as  deputy  marshal. 

In  1866  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Michigan 
legislature  for  two  years,  and  while  acting  in  that 
capacity  introduced  and  obtained  the  passage  of  a 
joint  resolution  calling  on  Congress  to  provide  for 
and  construct  a  harbor  of  refuge  at  or  near  Point 
Au  Barques,  Lake  Huron.  He  also  had  printed  and 
circulated,  at  the  different  cities  bordering  the  great 
chain  of  lakes,  a  petition  to  the  same  end.  This  was 
the  first  step  ever  taken  to  obtain  such  a  harbor,  and 
did  not  meet  witli  immediate  success;  but  it  set  the 
movement  on  foot  that  eventually  culminated  in  the 
magnificent  harbor  of  refuge  now  nearly  completed 
at  Sand  Beach,  Huron  county,  Michigan.  Hundreds 
of  vessels,  thousands  of  sailors  and  millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  property  now  find  safe  shelter  there  from 
the  terrible  storms  on  lake  Huron. 

In  1867-8-9  he  made  repeated  efforts  to  obtain  an 
extention  of  the  Western  Union  telegraph  line  from 
Lexington,  seventy  miles,  to  Port  Austin,  and  with 
success. 

June  20,  1860,  he  married  Kate  M.,  daughter  of 
John  v.,  and  Mary  S.  Vredenburgh,  then  of  Peru, 
Huron  county,  Ohio.     She  died  May  25,  1863. 

The  issue  of  that  marriage  was  one  son,  Richard 
Carroll,  born  Septemljer  2,  1861,  at  the   Peru  farm. 

November  3,  1869,  married,  as  second  wife,  Helen 
A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Glover,  of  Trenton, 
New  Jersey,  and  niece  of  Hon.  Joel  Parker,  of  Free- 
hold, New  Jersey,  the  only  person  who  has  twice 
held  the  position  of  governor  of  that  State.  She 
died  April  8,  1872,  at  Port  Austin,  Michigan,  aged 
twenty-nine  years,  and  is  buried  at  Norwalk.  Ohio. 

The  issue  of  this  second  marriage  was  one  daughter, 
Mabel  Parker,  born  September  17,  1870,  and  one  son, 
Herbert  Alpheus,  born  April  5,  1872,  both  at  Port 
Austin. 

July  9,  1872,  removed  with  his  children  back  to 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  his  present  residence. 


WAKEMAN 


OKUilN'AL    OWXEHS. 

Ix  the  year  lT'.i"-3  tliu  State  of  Connecticut  granted 
tive  hundred  tliousand  acres  of  land,  ou  the  west  end 
of  the  We:<tern  Reserve,  to  those  of  her  inhabitants 
whose  property  had  been  destroyed  l)y  fire  by  the 
enemy  during  the  revohitionary  war.  The  grantees 
organized  under  the  name  of  "  The  Sufferers'  Land 
Company,"  and  ou  the  8th  of  November,  1808,  the 
directors  of  the  company  met  in  the  city  of  Xew 
Haven,  Connecticut,  and  devised  a  plan  for  a  division 
of  the  land  among  its  members,  which  was  made  Viy 
lot. 

The  four  classes  drawn  for  the  four  sections  of 
Wakeman  are  e.^hibited  in  the  following  table,  the 
first  column  of  which  contains  the  names  of  the 
"sufferers'"  as  the  grantees  were  called.  The  fig- 
ures opposite  the  names  show  the  amount  of  each 
individual's  loss  in  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence. 
The  right  hand  column  contains  the  names  of  those 
persons  who  became  owners  of  the  claims,  either  by 
purchase  or  by  heirship,  and  the  amounts  set  opposite 
their  names  show  the  amount  paid  for  the  claims  in 
the  different  sections.  The  value  of  each  section  of 
the  township  being  arbitrarily  fixed  at  one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  forty-four  pounds  and  seven  shil- 
lings, each  classifier  was  apportioned  a  quantity  of 
land  in  the  same  ratio  to  the  total  amount  as  the 
amount  of  his  claim  bore  to  the  total  value.  In  tlu- 
distribution  of  the  lauds,  which,  as  previously  stated, 
was  made  by  lot,  it  sometimes  hapjiened  that  a  claim- 
ant received  land  in  each  section  of  the  township  and 
in  other  townships. 


■|(i\VN    MM  HER  FUl 
H.VXCiE. 

Classificatiok  No .  i, 


run  TWEXTIETI 


Original  Grunteei 


Ani't  Lous.       Claisified  by. 


Mable  Osborne  605  0  3  Jesup  Wakeman       33B  1  9 

John  Davis  62  H  11  Ebenezer  Jesup.  Jr.  in  13  11^ 

Nathan  Godfrey  M<  \i  -2  -            -              59  13  0 
Caleb  Disbrow. 

two  rights  -M  W  10  ••              ••                -m  16  10 
Isaac  Hays. 

two  riehts  lU  N  1  ....                3s  4  s 

Isaac  Hiibbel  IS  10  0  -             "               18  10  0 

Josiah  Thatcher.  400  B  3I4  -            "              X  0  9^ 
John  &  Daniel  Ev- 

ersley  1.54  9  li^  "             "             131  IT  54^ 

Titua  fturlburt  19(il  3  0  Isaac  Bronsou           3:JB  I  9 

David  Burr  -Sse  •.'  9  "           "                   139  14  a 
N.  Thompson  Xich- 

oils  «r  18  0  ••           ••                   or  18  0 
N.  Thompson  Nich- 

oils  SI  16  0  ••           ■'                    81  16  0 

John  Whitehead  17  S  0  "            '                    17  s  0 

Abigail  Thompson  8  10  0  '           '                      .•>  10  0 

Abigail  Wynkoop  59  15  ii  ••           -                    30  15  0 


Reuben  Beers 
Mabel  Osborne 
Natn'l  Wilson 


Cl.\ssificatio.s-  Xo.  3,  Sectio.x  3 
Am't  Lo.is.       Classified  by. 


Jesup  Wakeman       IGO 
Ebenezer  Jesup.  Jr      8 


Hezekiah  Hull 
John  Hvde 
John  Hyde,  Jr 
Joseph  Hjide 
Benjamin  .Maker 
Rebecca  Xash 
Peter  Whitney 
Josiah  Bulkley 
Samuel  Beers 
Francis  Forgue 
Solomon  Gray 
Benj.  Rumsey 
John  Davis 
Jere'h  Miller,  Esq. 
Bridget  Ledyard 
Seth  Sturges 
Stephen  Suerney 
Moses  Bulkley 
David  Beers 
David  Burr 


Footing  of  Classification  Xo.  2,  .fl.:M4  7       0 

Classification  Xo.  3,  Sectio.n  3. 

Original  Grantees.       Am't  Los.t.       Classified  by.  Am't  Classed. 

i;       s.        d.  f  .<         d. 

Stephen  Thorp          515         1        S       Jesup  Wakeman        SO  1       3 

John  Smedlev           7B3       in       4             "           -  190  17       7 

Jesup  Wakeman        13         9      II             •'           "  13  9  11 

Ohve  Bulkley             -SO         5       3            -           "  30  5       3 


Xhel  Gould 
David  Barlow  374 

Ann  Caldwell  8 

Joseph  Gould  17 

Hezekiah  Jennings      1 


Ebenezer  Jesup,  Jr.  137 


Ui.leon  Wills  39  I 

Nathaniel  WUson       10       1 
Elizabeth  Shapely    383         ; 


Euzabetn  snapeiy  3sa 
Jereh  Miller,  Esq  33.35 
Seth  Sturges 


Isaac  Bronson  13"> 

310 

Jesup  Wakeman       336 

Footing  of  Classification  Xo.  3,   ,£1.344 


Cl-ASSIFICATION  Xo.  4,  SECTION  4. 

Original  Grantees.        Am't  Loss.       Classified  by.  Am't  Classed. 

f       s         d.    I  .f  s.  rf. 

Mabel  Osborne         605         0       3     I  Jesup  Wakeman  93  11  7 

Joseph  Isquire            65         0       0             "            '  65  0  6 

Stephen  Thorp         515         18             ....  177  9  8 
John  &  Daniel  Ev- 

ersly 

Xath'l  Benedict        ■»:*       i-5       .j  .31.3  y  jm 

Titus  Hurlburt       1961         3       0       Isaac  Bronson  63  19  3J^ 

Ebenezer  Holt            15         5       1'"           "  1551 

EUzabeth  Shapely    38  i         3       0''-           "  356  17  4H 

" " Jesup  Wakeman  3.51  14  II 


9       6]4,  Ebenezer  Jesup.  Jr.   23       13       0^ 
13        3 313         a        3U 


Elizah  Abel 
Nathaniel  Burr 
Daniel  Gorebani 
Seth  Sturges 


23 


Fcioting  of  Classilicalii 


14         15 


Th 
)f  th 


lied  fur  .lesu].  W: 
rs  of  its  soil. 


NATt  KAL    APPEAliANIE. 

The  surface  is  generally    undulating,   tiie   eastern 
jiortion  being  more  rolling  than  the    western.     The 

(182) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Vermillion  river  enters  the  township  from  the  south, 
near  the  center  of  the  town  line,  and  running  a  won- 
derfully crooked  course,  passes  about  a  mile  east  of 
the  center  and  leaves  the  township  a  short  distance 
west  of  the  section  line.  Brandy  creek  enters  the 
south  line  of  the  township,  in  the  southwest  part,  and 
forms  a  junction  with  the  Vermillion  a  short  distance 
northeast  of  the  center  of  the  town.  La  Chapelle 
creek  rises  in  Townsend,  enters  this  township  south 
of  the  center  road  and  leaves  it  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
east  of  the  northwest  corner.  The  stream  is  said  to 
have  derived  its  name  from  a  Frenchman  by  the  name 
of  De  La  Chapelle,  who  discovered  and  explored  it 
to  its  source,  long  before  the  country  was  settled. 

The  soil  is  generally  a  clay-loam  with  a  mixture  of 
sand  and  gravel  in  many  places,  and  is  adai)ted  to  a 
varied  cultivation.  The  first  settlers  found  this  town- 
ship heavily  timbered,  the  principal  varieties  being 
whitewood.  white  oak,  beech,  maple,  black  walnut, 
butternut,  chestnut,  hickory  and  basswood.  On  the 
river  bottoms  tlie  sycamore,  elm  and  sugar  maple  were 
chiefly  found. 

X.VTIVE    ANIMALS. 

Tlie  principal  species  of  wild  animals  originall^i found 
in  the  forests  of  Wakemau,  were  the  bear,  deer,  w-olf, 
wild-cat  and  fox.  Bears,  though  not  numerous,  were 
occasionally  seen.  Deer  were  very  numerous,  and 
were  frequently  captured.  They  were  the  settlers' 
main  dependence  for  meat,  while  their  skins  were 
used  as  an  article  of  clothing  by  the  male  inhabitants. 
Suits  made  wholly  of  buckskin  were  worn  only  when 
absolute  necessity  required,  a  single  wetting  and  dry- 
ing making  them  very  uncomfortable.  It  was  more 
generally  used  for  facing  the  exposed  portion  of  the 
pantaloons.  The  neck  was  sewed  on  to  the  seat,  and 
the  balance  of  the  hide  on  to  the  front  of  each  leg 
al)ove  the  knee. 

Wolves  were  plenty,  but  they  were  a  shy  animal, 
and  perhaps  were  not  as  often  seen  as  bears.  They 
were  exceedingly  vexatious  to  the  inhabitants,  ren- 
dering night  hideous  with  their  almost  incessant  howl, 
and  often  attacking  and  killing  sheep  if  not  inclosed 
in  pens.  Large  hunting  parties  were  sometimes 
formed  for  the  purpose,  chiefly,  of  ridding  the  coun- 
try (if  them,  but  they  were  rarely  caught  in  this 
mannei'. 

The  wild  turkey  was  the  most  important  of  the  bird 
specu'.'*.  and  was  fnund  in  great  aliiuulance. 


Fur  about  ten  years  aftor  the  arrival  of  tlie  Hrst 
.settlers,  a  band  of  Indians,  consisting  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  families,  came  regularly  into  the  township 
twice  a  year — in  the  spring  to  make  maple  sugar  and 
in  the  fall  to  hunt.  They  were  from  the  region  of 
Upper  Sandu.sky.  and  were  probably  of  the  Wyandot 
and  Seneca  tribes.  They  made  their  trips  in  canoes 
"f  their  own  manufacture,  which  were  made  usually 
out  of  black  walnut  or  white  wood.     On  their  return 


their  canoes  would  be  loaded  with  sugar  or  furs  and 
venison. 

In  reply  to  an  inquiry  from  Erastus  French,  who 
had  a  curio.sity  to  know  how  they  would  get  their 
boats  over  the  dams  across  the  river,  the  answer  was, 
"Yankee  cow."  (They  would  get  a  settler  with  a 
yoke  of  oxen  to  draw  their  boats  around  the  dams.) 
They  had  a  sugar  camp  east  of  the  Vermillion,  on  land 
afterwards  owned  by  Mr.  Bunce.  Their  huts  were 
made  of  elm  bark,  and  their  sap-troughs  of  the  same. 
The  last  time  they  visited  the  place  was  in  the  spring 
of  1827.  They  left  everything,  evidently  expecting 
to  return,  but  they  never  came  again.  The  troughs 
were  carefully  packed  up  inside  the  huts,  the  doors 
were  tightly  closed,  and  a  stick  placed  against  each 
one,  signifying  that  no  oiw  was  at  home. 

On  one  occasion  three  Indians  came  to  the  house  of 
Erastus  French,  and  presenting  a  certificate  of  their 
honesty  from  Judge  Meeker,  asked  for  a  "Yankee 
hack."  Mr.  French  was  unable  to  understand  what 
they  meant,  until  one  of  the  Indians  jumped  upon  a 
log  and  gesticulated  as  if  digging  out  a  canoe,  when 
he  rightly  inferred  that  an  adz  was  wanted,  but  had 
none  to  give  them.  They  would  frequently  call  at 
the  houses  of  the  settlers  for  whisky,  for  which  they 
would  invariably  oflei'  something  in  exchange.  When 
refused  on  the  ground  that  they  would  get  drunk 
("cacocsie"),  the  plea  would  be  "Injun  no  cacoosie 
now,  cacoosie  to-morrow."  Tliey  would  rarely  get 
drunk  away  from  their  camp. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Cantield  relates  the  following  incident  of 
his  first  sight  of  Indians:  In  that  portion  of  the 
township  formerly  called  the  "windfall."  there  were, 
in  the  early  settlement,  great  quantities  of  blackber- 
ries. In  the  summer  of  1817.  himself,  his  brother 
Royal,  Lemuel  and  Bennett  Pierce,  all  lads  whose 
ages  ranged  from  six  to  nine  years,  mounted  Captain 
Pierce's  old  mare,  the  only  horse  in  the  township  that 
year,  and  started  for  the  blackberry  i)ateh.  When  they 
arrived  at  "the  windfall,"  about  a  mile  west  of  where 
the  depot  now  stands,  they  suddenly  discovered  a 
party  of  Indians  only  a  short  distance  away,  mounted 
upon  their  ponies  and  coming  directly  toward  them. 
The  bovs  stood  not  upon  the  order  of  their  going,  but 
went  at  once.  The  old  nag  developed  a  rate  of  speed 
on  that  homeward  trip  of  which  she  had  never  been 
suspected.  Over  logs,  brush  and  mud  holes  she  went, 
and  fortunately  arrived  at  Mr.  CanfieUFs  without  a 
boy  less.  The  Indians  followed  along  up  to  the 
house,  greatly  amused  at  the  l)oys"  fright,  and  with 
many  gesticulations  described  to  llie  family  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  lads  during  their  lliglit. 

SETTLEMENT. 

In  ISlii.  Burton  Cantield,  P.enneti  French,  Joel 
Crane,  Waite  Downs,  aiul  other  gentlemen  living  in 
Southbury,  Connecticut,  organized  themselves  into  a 
company  and  purchased  of  Wakemau,  Bronson  and 
Jesup,  section  three  and  subsequently  the  northern 
tier  of  lots  of  section  four,  the  purchase  amounting  to 


184 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


about  four  thousand  eight  hundred  acres,  the  price 
per  acre  being  two  dollars. 

This  company  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the 
original  proprietors,  who  recognized  the  benefit  it 
would  be  to  their  adjacent  lands  to  have  the  tract 
sold,  speedily  settled,  to  furnish  one  settler  each  year 
for  each  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  purchase 
until  each  quarter  section  should  be  thus  occupied. 
As  the  entire  tract  contained  thirty  quarter  sections, 
the  company  had  thirty  years  in  which  to  fill  this 
pledge,  and,  long  before  the  limit  of  time  was  reached, 
the  agreement  had  been  fulfilled. 

In  consequence  largely  of  the  above  agreement,  the 
character  of  the  population  that  took  possession  of 
Wakeman  was  of  the  genuine  Yankee  sort;  they  were, 
almost  without  exception,  from  Connecticut.  Most 
of  them  came  from  Southbury,  New  Haven  county, 
some  from  Litchfield  and  Fairfield  counties,  and  a 
few  from  other  parts  of  the  State. 

The  first  family  to  take  up  its  abode  in  the  wlder- 
ness  was  that  of  Augustin  Canfield.  Mr.  Canfield 
started  from  New  Milford,  Litchfield  county,  with 
his  wife  and  four  children,  his  brother  Burton  Can- 
field,  Seymour  Johnson  and  his  hired  man,  for  the 
Fire-lands  on  the  29th  day  of  April,  1817.  While 
journeying  through  the  "four-mile  woods"  west  of 
Buffalo,  the  emigrants  experienced  a  break-down,  one 
of  the  axletrees  of  the  wagon  breaking  off  at  the 
wheel.  The  company  fortunately  possessed  sufficient 
mechanical  skill  to  repair  the  damage,  cutting  out  a 
piece  of  timber  from  a  tree  and  splicing  it  on  to  the 
remaining  part  of  the  axle,  and  thus  completed  the 
journey  without  further  mishap. 

Many  anecdotes  are  related  illustrative  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  roads  through  Cattaraugus  Swamp,  or, 
more  particularly,  that  portion  of  it  known  by  early 
settlers  as  the  "four  mile  woods."  A  traveler,  seeing 
a  hat  floating  on  the  mud.  procured  a  pole  and  tried 
to  secure  it,  when  a  voice  from  below  cried  out,  "Let 
me  alone;  I  have  a  good  horse  under  me.  and  I  shall 
get  through  all  right." 

Mr.  Canfield  and  liis  associates  arrived  in  Wakeman 
on  the  23d  day  of  May,  performing  the  long  journey 
in  about  three  weeks.  He  settled  on  lot  number 
twenty-three  in  the  third  section,  building  his  cabin 
near  the  location  of  the  present  residence  of  John  G. 
Sherman.  The  house  was  fourteen  feet  square,  built 
of  rough  logs,  with  a  roof  of  elm  bark  and  a  floor  of 
the  same.  Two  large  boxes,  or  trunks,  placed  to- 
gether constituted  the  only  table  in  the  house,  and 
upon  which  the  scanty  meal  was  spread.  The  house 
being  without  a  fire  place,  the  cooking  was  done  by  a 
log  fire  outside.  This  ]irimitive  habitation  was  occu- 
pied about  six  weeks,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  more 
substantial  log  house,  in  which  the  family  lived  until 
1832,  when  it  was  sold,  with  seventy  acres  on  the 
south  part  of  the  lot,  to  Justin  Sherman,  Mr.  Can- 
field  taking  up  his  residence  on  the  north  part  of  the 
same  lot,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  died  September  16,  184S,  aged  nearly  sixty-five. 


Mrs.  Canfield  died  in  February,  1801,  at  the  age  of 
nearly  seventy-two.  They  raised  a  family  of  five 
children.  C.  C.  Canfield.  the  eldest,  married  Mary  E. 
Hanford,  daughter  of  Jabez  Hanford,  who  settled  in 
Wakeman  in  18-31.  Mr.  Canfield  has  resided  in  the 
township  for  a  period  of  sixty-two  consecutive  years. 
Royal  R.  Canfield  was  a  physician,  and  died  in  North 
Carolina.  Sarah  Ann  (now  Mrs.  N.  W.  St.  Johns) 
resides  at  Oberlin.  Harriet  (widow  of  Curtiss  Burr), 
and  Burton  M.  Canfield  reside  in  this  township. 

The  following  incident  which  occurred  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1817,  when  there  were  but  three  families  in 
the  township,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  new^ness  of 
the  country  at  that  time.  While  Mr.  Canfield  was 
assisting  Captain  Pierce  in  his  logging,  his  family 
went  over  to  spend  the  day.  At  night  a  thunder 
shower  came  up.  and  it  being  regarded  hazardous  for 
Mrs.  Canfield  and  the  children  to  undertake  a  journey 
of  half  a  mile,  they  remained  at  Mr  Pearce's  over 
night.  But  there  was  a  cow  at  home  to  be  milked, 
and  Mr.  Canfield  had  to  go.  He  started  on  horse- 
back, with  his  little  son  Calvert  on  behind.  After 
going  a  short  distance  he  lost  his  path,  and  being 
utterly  unable  to  find  it  again,  had  no  alternative  but 
to  make  a  night  of  it  in  the  woods.  The  storm  was 
of  great  violence,  and  there  was  no  shelter  to  be  had. 
He.  therefore  took  the  saddle  from  the  horse,  and 
placing  it  on  the  riven  end  of  a  tree  that  had  been 
blown  down  by  the  storm,  formed  a  cover  for  the  boy, 
while  he  himself  bore  the  pelting  rain,  and  thus  they 
spent  the  night.  When  daylight  appeared  he  found 
that  he  had  wandered  only  about  thirty  rods  away 
from  the  path. 

Burton  Canfield.  who  came  in  with  Augustin  Can- 
field  and  family,  as  previously  mentioned,  returned  to 
Connecticut  a  few  weeks  afterward;  remained  there 
five  or  six  years,  when,  with  his  family  of  wife  and 
son,  he  removed  to  this  township. 

The  next  mmx  that  penetrated  the  forests  of  AVake- 
man  was  Amial  P.  Pierce.  He  arrived  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  wife  and  four  children,  and  a 
hired  man,  about  three  weeks  after  the  Canfields', 
making  the  journey  from  Connecticut  with  an  ox 
team.  He  made  his  location  on  the  adjoining  lot, 
number  twenty-two.  He  always  resided  im  this 
location. 

He  was  a  man  of  large  size  and  of  great  physical 
strength,  excelling  in  this  respect,  any  other  of  the 
pioneers  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Bristol.  He  had 
borne  the  rank  of  captain  in  Connecticut,  and  the 
title  was  applied  to  him  here  for  many  years,  and 
until  that  of  "Squire,"  owing  to  his  long  service  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  was  substituted. 

Mrs.  Pierce  is  said  to  have  been  n  woman  of 
"strong  emotions,  firm  Christian  faith  and  deej> 
religious  experience."  She  was  the  only  professing 
Christian  in  the  first  three  families,  and  her  example 
and  influence  was  most  salutary.  It  is  said  that  slie 
found  it  very  hard  to  become  reconciled  to  the  new 
life  upon  which  she  had  entered.     The  change  from 


HISTORY  OF  IIUROX  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


185 


till'  comforts  of  a  pleasant  hume  in  the  midst  of 
churches,  schools  and  all  the  appliances  of  civiliza- 
tion, to  a  home  in  a  rude  log  cabin,  girt  about  with 
impenetrable  forest,  with  hardly  the  necessaries,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  comforts,  of  life,  was  a  severe  trial  to 
her.  Her  neighbor,  Mrs.  Bristol,  on  one  occasion 
during  a  visit,  wishing  to  induce  a  more  cheerful 
state  of  mind,  hazarded  the  prediction  that  she 
"might  some  day  see  a  big  meeting-house  with  a  bell 
in  iti"  Mrs.  Pierce  died  many  years  ago.  but  she 
lived  to  see  changes,  phj'sical  and  social,  such  as  the 
most  vivid  imagination  had  never  painted.  She  was 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Lemuel  B., 
Bennett,  Minott,  Ann,  David,  Fanny  and  David. 
Minott  Pierce,  living  in  this  township,  and  Mrs.  Dr. 
Johnson,  living  at  Oberlin,  are  the  surviving  mem- 
bers of  the  family. 

About  a  month  after  Mr.  Pierce,  came  Samuel  Bris-. 
tol,  with  his  wife  and  one  son.  They  started  on  their 
western  journey  with  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  one  horse 
ahead,  on  the  28th  day  of  May,  and  arrived  in  Ver- 
million, Erie  county,  where  friends  of  the  family 
were  then  living,  on  the  4th  of  July  following.  The 
mother  and  child  remained  a  few  weeks  in  Vermillion, 
while  Mr.  Bristol  came  on  to  Wakeman  and  com- 
menced the  work  of  preparing  a  home  for  them.  He 
erected  his  cabin,  north  of  his  neighbors,  on  lot  num- 
hev  eleven.  Two  years  afterwards  he  exchanged  his 
farm  for  land  on  lot  twenty-one  in  order  to  be  on  the 
road.  Mr.  Bristol  was  a  man  of  untiring  industry, 
by  which,  combined  with  economy  and  good  manage- 
ment, he  acquired  a  tine  j^roperty.  He  spent  the  later 
years  of  his  life  in  the  home  of  his  son.  Nelson,  in 
Florence,  Erie  county.  During  his  residence  there 
an  event  occurred  which,  not  improbably,  hastened 
his  death.  He  and  his  son.  Nelson,  owned  a  large 
amount  of  jiroperty,  both  real  and  personal,  the  laxter 
consisting  mostly  of  United  States  coupon  bonds, 
which  were  kept  in  an  iron  safe  in  the  house.  In  the 
dusk  of  the  evening,  June  26,  1866,  a  gang  of  bur- 
glars, five  in  number,  entered  a  room  in  which  the 
family  were  gathered,  and  on  the  pretense  that  they 
were  government  detectives  in  search  of  stolen  bonds, 
demanded  access  to  those  in  their  possession,  for  the 
])urpose  of  insjiection.  The  members  of  the  family 
were  tied  together  with  a  cord  taken  from  the  bed, 
and  after  ai  hour  of  argument  and  threats  the  safe 
was  opened  by  Mr.  Nelson  Bristol,  and  the  thieves 
secured  sixteen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  in  bonds 
and  money,  two  thousand  four  hundred  dollars  of 
which  belonged  to  two  other  farmers  in  the  neighbor- 
houd.  The  robbers  were  captured,  tried  and  at  first 
convicted,  but  were  eventually  cleared  on  proof  of  an 

Samuel  Bristol  died  in  Florence,  Erie  county,  at 
the  residence  of  his  son,  August  13,  1807,  within  a 
week  of  eighty  years  of  age.  He  possessed  a  large, 
stalwart  frame,  and  corresponding  physical  strength 
and  capacity  for  endurance,  excelling  in  this  respect 
any  o.ther  man  in  the  sectlcment.     Mrs.  Bristol  still 

24 


survives,  having  ivajiied  the  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years.  She  is  blind,  but  otherwise  retains  her  facul- 
ties unimpaired. 

The  first  year  of  the  settlement,  wheat  was  two  dol- 
lars and  j)otatoes  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  per 
bushel,  pork  thirty  dollars  per  barrel,  and  oftener  of 
the  "shack'"  variety  than  otherwise.  Until  the  land 
was  brought  under  cultivation  provisions  were  genei"- 
ally  obtained  in  the  surrounding  earlier  settlements. 

Erastus  French  joined  the  little  band  in  the  woods 
of  Wakeman  in  the  fall  of  1817.  He  was  then  a 
young  man'tweuty  years  of  age.  He  made  the  jour- 
ney with  one  horse  and  a  light  wagon,  coming  by 
way  of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  then  called  the 
"southern  route."  On  arriving  in  Wakeman,  he 
directed  his  course  toward  the  cabin  of  Captain 
Pierce,  the  bright,  cheerful  hearth  fire  of  which  he 
could  see  for  some  distance  thi-ough  the  unch inked 
cracks  between  the  logs.  When  he  arrived  there  he 
was  in  a  sorrowful  condition.  Recent  rains  had  so 
swollen  the  streams,  that,  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  it  would  be  safe  to  drive  into  them,  he  would 
first  wade  through  them,  and  thus  became  wet  nearly 
from  head  to  foot  and  almost  covered  with  mud. 
And  so  the  first  thing  in  order  after  his  arrival  was  to 
put  himself  in  a  condition  for  association  with  civil- 
ized people;  but  a  Ijath  in  a  mud-pnddle  near  the 
caliiii  hardly  produced  the  desired  effect.  He  selected 
a  location  on  lot  thirty-two  and  began  the  work  of 
improvemeut:  but  what  could  a  man  do  in  the  Wake- 
man wilderness  without  a  wife?  For  three  years  the 
young  man  worked  out  the  problem  in  this  way:  He 
boarded  at  Mr.  Pierce's  for  a  time  at  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  a  week;  but  afterwards,  in  order  to  save 
expense — an  important  consideration  with  him  at  that 
time — he  bought  his  own  provisions  and  paid  Mrs. 
Pierce  fifty  centy  per  week  to  cook  them  for  him, 
eating  his  simple  meal  at  a  separate  table.  His  bill 
of  fare  was  less  varied  than  whok'sonic.  consisting 
generally  of  mush,  milk  and  corn  Ijread. 

In  May,  1820,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ruth 
Squire,  daughter  of  Joab  Scjuire,  an  early  settler  in 
Florence.  A  short  time  afterwai'ds  he  made  a  visit 
to  Connecticut  to  obtain  some  money,  and  performed 
the  entire  journey — with  the  exception  of  eighteen 
miles  by  lake,  which  consumed  three  daj's — alone  on 
foot  with  his  knapsack  on  his  back.  He  averaged 
nearly  forty-five  miles  per  day,  a  remarkable  ])edes- 
trian  feat  considering  the  condition  of  the  country, 
much  of  his  course  leading  through  swamp  and  dense 
woods.  But  nature  provided  Mr.  French  with  a  good 
pair  of  walkers  and  few  men  could  keeji  up  with  him 
in  his  younger  days.  During  the  journey  mentioned 
he  fell  in  with  a  traveler  whose  company  was  very 
agreeable,  but  he  was  uiialilc  to  keep  along  with  Mr. 
French,  and.  after  a  day  or  so,  was  left  behind. 

His  first  wife  died  June  10.  1845,  and,  in  1851,  he 
married  Mrs.  "William  Doughty,  with  whom  he  is  now 
living  a  short  distance  north  of  his  original  location, 
aged  eighty-one. 


186 


HISTORY  OF  HUROK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  May,  1818,  Dr.  Harmon  M.  Clark  and  wife 
moved  into  town.  His  father's  family  came  to  Ohio 
at  the  same  time,  settling  in  Medina  county.  Dr. 
Clark  located  on  lot  twenty-four,  where  George  Mcr- 
doff  now  lives.  He  was  a  practising  physician,  and 
was  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  settlement.  A  rela- 
tion of  the  hardships  attendant  upon  his  practice 
would  be  a  revelation  to  some  of  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  profession  of  the  present  day.  He  traveled 
on  foot,  with  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  through  this 
and  adjacent  settlements,  wading  through  streams, 
and  often  picking  his  way  through  the  forest  only  by 
means  of  blazed  trees,  ministering  to  the  necessities 
of  all,  without  regard  to  compensation.  If  a  patient 
was  able  to  pay,  a  moderate  fee  was  taken,  which  was 
frequently  paid  in  produce,  while  from  others  nothing 
whatever  was  received  or  expected.  He  subsequently 
went  as  a  missionary  amends  the  Indians,  on  the 
Maumee,  but  did  not  remain  long.  He  and  his  wife 
eventually  took  up  their  residence  with  their  son-in- 
law,  Dr.  Bryant  of  Amherst,  and  ^Irs.  Clark  died 
there  in  1863.  He  afterwards  made  his  home  with 
his  son,  Dr.  Henry  Clark  of  Ashland,  and  subse- 
quently died  there.  They  had  a, family  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  now  living,  but  none  in  this 
township. 

Barzilla  S.  Hendricks,  his  wife  and  adopted  son, 
came  into  the  township  in  the  spring  of  1819,  and 
settled  where  George  Denton  now  lives.  Mr.  Hen- 
dricks was  killed  by  an  accident,  February  5,  1830. 
He  and  his  wnfe  had  been  to  the  Centre  in  attenadnce 
upon  a  meeting  of  some  kind,  and  when  near  Merritt 
Hyde's,  on  their  return  home,  a  part  of  the  harness 
gave  way,  the  sleigh  was  wrecked,  and  Mr.  Hen- 
dricks received  injuries  which  caused  his  death  the 
following  day.  His  first  wife  died  in  the  early  years 
of  their  settlement,  and  he  married  again  a  few  years 
afterward.     His  second  wife  is  yet  living. 

Abram  Bronson,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Hendricks, 
with  his  wife,  a  son  and  hired  man,  came  in  with  the 
Hendricks  family,  and  settled  where  Mr.  C.  C.  Can- 
field  now  lives.  He  died  on  this  place  a  little  more 
than  a  year  after  his  arrival— August  29,  1820. 

Sheldon  Smith  and  family  and  Burton  French 
arrived  in  October,  1830.  Mr.  Smith  took  up  his 
residence  on  the  place  first  occupied  by  Mr.  Hen- 
dricks. His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Silas 
French,  died  in  Wakeman  in  February,  1831.  Mr. 
Smith  subsequently  married  again,  and  removed  to 
the  township  of  Berlin.  Erie  county,  where  he  after- 
wards died. 

Silas.  Frencli.  the  father  of  Burton  and  Erastus, 
with  his  family,  the  wife  of  Burton  and  Miss  Sally 
Sherman,  joined  tiie  settlement  in  June.  1831.  Mr. 
French  made  his  location  in  the  western  part  of  the 
township,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  May, 
1842,  aged  sixty-nine. 

Erastus  French  is  the  only  surviving  member  of 
I  lie  bmiilv.  Burton  French  lived  with  Erastus  until 
t  lie  arrival  of  his  wife,  when  he  settled  near  his  father. 


In  June,  18"il.  Justus  Minor,  with  his  wife  and 
two  children,  moved  into  the  place.  The  family 
found  shelter  in  the  log  school  house  near  Mr.  Can- 
field's  until  a  house  could  be  erected  on  their  selected 
location  at  the  center  of  the  town,  on  lot  forty-six. 
Mrs.  Minor  died  at  the  school  house  a  short  time  after 
their  arrival,  and  her  remains  were  borne  to  the  center 
for  burial,  a  path  being  underbrushed  from  the  school 
house  to  the  center,  a  distance  of  about  two  miles,  for 
the  funeral  procession.  Mr.  Minor's  settlement  was 
the  first  in  the  township,  outside  of  the  third  section. 
He  chose  the  center  as  being  in  his  view  the  most 
natural  place,  in  the  township,  for  a  piobable  future 
village,  and  especially  for  the  church,  the  location  of 
which  he  had  determined  to  have  fixed  there.  Dis- 
sension and  division  had  been  experienced  in  the 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member  in  Connecticut, 
occasioned  by  the  location  of  the  church  remote  from 
the  center  of  the  township,  and  he  resolved  to  prevent 
a  similar  difficulty  here.  As  a  preliminary  step  in 
the  accomplishment  of  his  design  he  offered  to  board 
a  settled  minister  the  first  year  without  charge,  and 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Betts,  on  his  arrival  a  few  years  after- 
wards, as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  first 
took  up  his  abode  at  his  house.  He  was  nnable,  how- 
ever, to  completely  carry  out  his  plan.  The  mills  had 
been  located  on  the  Vermillion,  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  center,  and  they  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  settle- 
ment which  grew  faster  than  that  at  the  center,  and 
the  meeting  houses  were  eventually  located  between 
the  rival  points. 

A  few  years  after  his  first  wife's  death,  Mr.  Minor 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Delia  Palmer  of  Fiteh- 
ville,  and  in  1832  removed  to  that  township  and  re- 
sided there  a  number  of  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Wakeman,  residing  here  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  the  father  of  four  children,  one  of  whom 
(Cyrus  Minor),  resides  at  Collins,  Townsend  township, 
aged  seventy-eight. 

Chester  Manville  came  from  Litchfield  county,  Con- 
.necticut,  to  Wakeman,  in  May,  1822.  He  came  afoot 
and  Peter  Sherman  with  him,  though  not  for  the 
purpose  of  settlement  at  that  time.  He  came  to  take 
charge  of  the  remains  of  a  brother  who  had  lost  his 
life  a  short  time  before  on  the  Ohio  river.  Nor,  in- 
deed, did  young  Manville  come  out  to  remain,  but 
rather  to  see  his  sweetheart.  Miss  Dotha  Minor,  who 
had  emigrated  hither  with  her  parents  the  year  pre- 
vious. He  naturally  protracted  his  visit,  not  return- 
ing to  Connecticut  until  the  next  winter,  wiieii  Mr. 
Sherman  returned  with  him,  again  making  the  jour- 
ney on  foot.  The  following  spring,  Mr.  Mauville  and 
a  sister,  who  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Amos 
Clark,  moved  out.  with  a  horse  and  single  wagon. 
They  Ijrought  with  them  a  few  household  goods,  and 
Miss  Ruth  rode  in  the  wagon  and  drove  the  horse, 
while  the  lirother  accompanied  her  on  foot,  making 
for  the  third  time  tlie  journey  in  that  manner.  He 
married  Dotha  Minor,  March  31,  1824,  and  .settled 
where  he  now  resides,  on  lot  twelve,  section  three, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUxNTIES,  OHIO. 


187 


paying  two  dollars  iuid  seventy-five  cents  per  acre  for 
his  land.  His  wife  died  February  8,  184-2,  m  the 
forty-fifth  year  of  her  age.  -Mrs.  Manville  was  a 
most  excellent  woman,  loved  and  honored  by  her  fam- 
ily, and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her.  Mr. 
Manville  was  subsequently  twice  married,  but  death 
took  from  him  his  last  companion  some  years  since. 
One  son  and  two  daughters  are  now  living,  viz: 
James  H.  Manville,  on  the  old  homestead;  Mrs.  Pel- 
let, in  New  York,  and  Mrs.  Ellis,  in  Clyde,  Ohio. 
His  oldest  sou,  John,  when  nineteen  years  of  age  was 
kicked  by  a  horse,  causing  his  death  forty-eight  hours 
afterwards— June  12,  1847. 

Mr.  Manville  is  now  living  at  the  residence  of  his 
son  James,  in  Wakeman,  aged  eighty-three.  In  his 
younger  days,  and  when  the  country  was  new,  he 
often  pursued  the  business  of  hunting  as  a  pastime. 
He  reports  to  the  writer  the  killing  of  nearly  one 
hundred  deer  and  wild  turkeys,  and  smaller  game  too 
numerous  to  mention. 

Next  in  order  was  Justin  Sherman,  with  liis  family 
of  wife  and  five  children,  in  September,  1822.  He 
came  through  with  a  four-horse  team,  and  made  an 
unusually  quick  trip.  He  purchased  of  Augustin 
Canfield  the  south  part  of  lot  twenty-three,  and  took 
up  his  abode  in  the  old  log  house  of  Mr.  Canfield, 
which  his  purchase  embraced;  this  was  replaced  five 
years  afterward  by  a  substantial  frame  house,  the  first 
in  the  township.  His  wife  died  in  1824,  and  he  sub- 
sequently married  a  Mrs.  Redding.  His  own  death 
took  place  in  August,  1865,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty.  Mr.  Sherman  established  the  first  store  in 
the  township,  and  was  the  first  postmaster.  His 
surviving  children  are,  N.  G.  Sherman,  living  at 
Norwalk;  Mrs.  Colonel  Gideon  Waugh,  in  Kansas; 
George  B.  and  John  G.,  in  this  township.  The  eldest 
son.  Lewis,  was  accidentally  killed  in  the  spring  of 
1832.  While  at  work  by  the  side  of  a  burning  log-heap 
m  his  clearing,  he  was  struck  on  the  head  by  a  fall- 
ing tree — burned  at  the  root — crushing  his  skull. 
He  fell  into  the  fire  and,  when  found,  he  was  burned 
almost  beyond  recognition.  He  was  twenty-four 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  left  a 
young  wife  to  mourn  his  untimely  loss. 

Philo  Sherman  came  in  at  the  same  time,  and  set- 
tled south  of  his  brother  Justin.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was 
its  first  class-leader  in  Wakeman. 

Leveritt  Hill  came  in  about  this  time.  He  was 
tiieu  unmarried,  but  afterward  married  Miss  Esther 
Strong,  a  sister  of  Cyrus  Strong,  and  settled  in  the 
western  part  of  the  township.  His  father,  Isaac  Hill, 
and  his  family  moved  in  a  few  years  after,  and  settled 
in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  Hills  were  from 
Rootstown,  Portage  county. 

In  May,  1823,  Merritt  Hyde  and  family  arrived  and 
located  on  the  section  line  west  of  the  center.  Mr. 
Hyde  was  postmaster  for  a  number  of  years,  and  a 
worthy  citizen.  His  widow  still  resides  in  Wake- 
man.    A  son,  Monroe  Hyde,  was  killed  September 


28,  1834,  by  being  thrown  over  a  horse's  head,  and 
breaking  his  neck.  The  accident  occurred  in  Flor- 
ence, on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  widow  of  Simon 
Sprague. 

In  the  summer  of  1823,  Amos  Clark,  a  brother  of 
the  doctor,  came  in  from  Medina  county.  His  land 
which  he  received  froni  his  father,  was  embraced  in 
the  same  lot  as  that  of  his  brother.  May,  1826,  he 
married  Ruth  Ann  Manville,  who  came  in  with  her 
brother  Chester,  as  previously  stated,  and  began 
housekeeping  on  the  farm  on  which  he  has  ever  since 
resided.  Mr.  Clark  is  now  aged  seventy-seven.  His 
wife  died  April  2,  1878. 

Russell  Barnes  and  family  arrived  in  the  spring  of 
1824,  and  took  up  his  location  on  lot  number  twenty- 
six  in  the  fourth  section.  He  finally  moved  to  Ver- 
million where  he  died  of  cancer  in  1851. 

William  Beers  settled  a  short  distance  west  of  Can- 
field's  Corners,  but  subsequently  moved  to  the  south 
part  of  the  township. 

In  the  summer  of  1826  Sheldon  Barnes  and  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  one  child,  came  in. 
At  Buffalo  they  took  a  vessel  for  Huron  or  Sandusky, 
but  were  driven  by  a  storm  into  the  mouth  of  Black 
River,  and  from  there  they  came  to  Wakeman,  the 
mother  and  child  on  horseback  and  the  father  on  foot. 
After  a  stay  of  a  few  months  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Johnson  Wheeler,  in  Townsend,  Mr.  Barnes  settled 
in  Wakeman,  near  the  west  line  of  the  township.  He 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  frequently  changed  his 
location  as  the  prosecution  of  his  work  required,  and 
a  part  of  the  time  lived  in  other  townships.  One 
dav,  soon  after  their  settlement,  Mrs.  Barnes  was  out 
in  the  woods,  not  far  distant  from  the  house,  with 
her  child  in  her  arms,  and  met  a  bear  in  her  path. 
They  parted  on  good  terms,  though  without  iin  em- 
brace. 

Mr.  Barnes  died  in  this  township  in  1860,  aged 
sixty-seven.  Two  children  are  now  living  in  Wake- 
man— George  A.,  where  Peter  Sherman  formerly 
lived,  and  Mrs.  A.  P.  Phillips,  on  the  old  homestead. 

Rufus  J.  Bunce  and  family  arrived  in  Wakeman  in 
September,  1827,  and,  during  the  erection  of  his 
house  near  the  center,  took  up  his  abode  in  a  log 
house  near  the  mills  east  of  the  Vermillion  river. 
There  were  no  settlers  oh  that  side  of  the  river  at 
that  time.  During  their  occupancy  of  the  house  near 
the  mills  the  ^'ermillion  was  swollen  by  rains  to  an 
unusual  heighth,  and  Mr.  Bunce  was  in  the  habit  of 
ferrying  people  across,  as  occasion  required,  using  for 
this  purpose  an  Indian  canoe.  On  one  occasion  he 
came  very  near  losing  his  life.  He  was  crossing  for 
Burton  French  when  his  oar  broke  in  the  middle  of 
the  stream.  The  current  was  rapid  and  he  was 
quickly  swept  over  the  dam  below,  in  going  over 
which  he  was  thrown  out  of  the  boat.  For  a  moment 
his  rescue  seemed  impo.ssible,  but  he  succeeded  in 
getting  away  from  the  angry  water  under  the  dam 
and  was  carried  by  the  current  nearly  to  the  bridge, 
when,  with  the  timely  assistance  of  Mr.  French,  he 


188 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


succeeded  in  reacliiug  :lie  bank.  Mr.  Dunce's  ijerma- 
nent  location  was  on  the  hill,  a  short  distance  east 
of  the  center.  The  place  is  now  owned  b}'  Mr.  Lucius 
Hall.  The  house,  although  not  in  a  ver}-  advanced 
stage  of  completion,  *'as  considered  ready  for  occu- 
pancy by  January.  The  household  goods,  with  the 
mother  and  children,  were  loaded  on  a  flat-boat, 
which  the  father  and  some  of  the  neighbors,  with  a 
rope,  pulled  up  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Brandy 
creek,  where  a  lauding  was  made. 

Mr.  Buuce  died  in  Wakemau  on  his  original  loca- 
tion in  Januar}-,  1873,  aged  sixty-two.  His  widow 
is  yet  living  and  is  seventy-eight.  Two  daughters — 
Mrs.  Lucius  Hall  and  Mrs.  David  Pierce — reside  in 
Wakeman.  The  late  Edward  J.  Bunce,  a  son,  was  a 
mau  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  held  the 
offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  postmaster  for  a 
number  of  years. 

In  the  year  1827,  Isaac  Todd,  then  a  young  man 
'eighteen  years  of  age,  came  into  the  township,  and 
the'  year  following  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  on  lot  eighty-seven  in  section  one.  There  was 
no  improvement  east  of  him  at  that  time.  In  1830, 
he  married  Fanny  Booth,  sister  of  Mrs.  Bunce.  He 
felt  unequal  to  the  expenditure  necessary  to  obtain  a 
marriage  license,  in  the  absence  of  which,  the  law 
required  the  publication  of  the  banns  from  the  pulpit. 
He  accordingly  requested  his  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Betts, 
to  make  the  announcement,  adding  that  he  didn't 
think  he  should  be  present  on  the  occasion.  "Don't 
let  that  keep  you  away  from  church,"  said  Mr.  Betts, 
"I  can  make  the  announcement  at  the  beginning  of 
the  service  and  vou  can  come  in  a  little  late  ;  but 
come  to  church  as  usual."  He  followed  his  pastor's 
good  advice,  and  when  Sunday  came,  went  to  church, 
entering  the  house  at  a  stage  of  the  service  Avheu  he 
was  sure  the  notice  had  been  made.  But  instead  of 
his  pastor,  a  stranger  was  in  the  pulpit,  and  to  the 
young  man's  surprise  and  mortification  the  announce- 
ment was  made  immediately  after  he  took  his  seat, 
after  the  preliminary  services  instead  of  before,  as  was 
intended.  This  was  enough ;  but  when  the  preacher 
announced  for  the  text,  "Remember  Lot's  wife," 
which,  in  his  enibarassment,  Mr.  Todd  thought  had 
special  reference  to  him,  he  was  crushed,  and  retains 
only  an  indistinct  recollection  of  the  rest  of  the  ser- 
vice. He  thinks  Mr.  Betts  made  a  blunder  in  ex- 
changing pulpits  without  informing  the  officiating 
minister  of  the  previous  arrangement. 

Mr.  Todd  seems  to  have  had  a  hard  struggle  of  it 
in  the  Wakeman  forest.  Prosperity  came  slowly.  For 
sometime  after  his  marriage  he  was  destitute  of  a  pair 
of  boots  or  shoes,  and  in  attending  church,  his  wife 
would  wear  lier  every  day  shoes,  carrying  her  Sun- 
day's best,  until  near  the  church,  when  she  would 
take  them  off  for  her  husband  to  wear,  and  put  on  her 
best  ones.  Afterwards,  when  he  became  able  to  own 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  they  rode  to  church  on  a  sled,  the 
year  round. 

Kneeland  Todd.  :i  tuiu-lii-otiier  of  Isaac,  came  in 


soon  after.  He  subsequently  married  a  sister  of 
Isaac's  wife,  and  settled  in  the  same  vicinity.  It  was 
said  that  the  brothers  so  closely  resembled  each  other 
that  even  their  wives  were  often  puzzled  to  dis- 
tinguish one  from  the  other.  This  part  of  the  town- 
ship took  the  name  of  the  "Todd  Settlement."  and 
is  still  so-called. 

Martin  Bell  and  family,  his  father,  Elias  Bell  and 
family,  and  Simeon  Brown  and  family,  were  early 
residents  in  this  portion  of  the  township. 

As  previously  mentioned,  Peter  Sherman  first  vis- 
ited Wakeman  in  the  spring  of  1822.  In  the  year 
1828,  he  moved  out  with  his  family,  wife  and  one 
child,  and  settled  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  his 
son-in-law,  George  A.  Barnes.  His  frame  house  was 
one  of  the  earliest  built  in  the  township  east  of  the 
Vermillion.  He  died  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in- 
law,  Mr.  Barnes,  February  22,  1878,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years. 

Cyrus  Strong  was  also  one  of  the  early  settlers  in 
this  part  of  the  township.  His  location  was  the  next 
east  of  Rufus  Bunce.  He  still  occupies  his  original 
location. 

James  Wilson  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  grist  mill,  which  he  run  in  an  early 
day.     His  house  stood  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river. 

A  short  distance  north  of  Wilson,  at  the  end  of  the 
road  leading  from  Dr.  Clark's,  was  Nathan  Downs. 

Woodward  Tood  moved  in,  in  1822,  and  a  year  or 
two  after  moved  to  the  center  of  Townsend,  and  took 
charge  of  the  store  of  William  Townsend.  He  re- 
mained only  about  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  Wake- 
man and  resided  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  William 
Wilbur.  Mr.  Todd  is  now  living  a  short  distance 
south  of  Norwalk. 

North  of  Mr.  Todd's,  a  short  distance,  Lucius 
Tomlinson  and  family  settled  at  an  early  date. 

South  of  the  center,  on  the  road  to  Clarksfield,  the 
earliest  settlers  were  Lewis  Beei's  and  Marcellus  Booth; 
and  southwest  of  the  center,  about  a  mile,  the  first 
settler  was  Gersham  Shelton. 

On  the  west  township  line,  on  the  center  road,  a 
Mr,  Parsons  settled  at  an  early  date.  He  subse- 
quently committed  suicide. 

Bela  Coe  was  an  early  settler,  his  location  ))uing  in 
the  third  section,  a  short  distance  south  of  Anios 
Clarks. 

Also,  comparatively  early  in  different  portions  of 
the  township:  John  Brooks,  Jabez  Hanford,  Hiram 
Rumsey,  Henry  T.  Peck,  Isaac  Haskins,  Dr.  Curtis 
and  Captain  Bell. 

Reuben  Hall  emigrated  from  Connecticut  to  tiie 
Western  Reserve  in  the  fall  of  1805,  settling  in  Can- 
field,  Mahoning  county.  He  remained  there  a  year, 
and  then  removed  to  Rootstown,  Portage  county, 
where  he  lived  eleven  years.  There  he  married, 
March  7,  1810,  Betsey  Coe,  daughter  of  Israel  Coe, 
formerly  of  (iranville,  Massachusetts.  In  181 G  he 
moved  to  Brimfield,  in  the  same  county,  whence,  af- 
ter a  residence  of  nineteen  years,  he  cam.?  with  his 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


family  to  this  township,  fixing  his  location  on  lot 
twenty-nine  in  the  fourth  section.  He  died  on  this 
place  November  10,  1861.  Mr.  Hall  was  a  man  of 
intelligence,  earnest  religious  zeal  and  a  useful  mem- 
ber of  society.  Mrs.  Hall  died  June  1.3,  1868.  Of 
the  nine  children  born  to  them,  only  two  are  now 
living, — Alvan  C,  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Lucius 
S.  near  the  center. 

The  Irish  began  to  settle  in  the  township  about 
the  time  of  the  building  of  the  railroad — in  1853. 
One  of  the  first  was  Thomas  C'oury.  He  was  a  native 
of  Galway,  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1847.  He  formerly  lived  in  Camden,  Lo- 
rain county,  and  moved  thence  to  Wakemau,  settling 
in  the  east  part  of  the  township,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  death,  March  5,  1879. 

There  are  now  about  fifty  Irish  families  in  the  town- 
sliip,  and  they  are,  as  a  general  thing,  a  respectable 
and  industrious  class  of  citizens. 

In  the  returns  of  the  enumeration  of  the  white 
male  inhabitants  over  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  in 
Huron  county  in  1829,  as  made  by  George  Sheffield, 
county  assessor,  the  following  persons  are  given  as 
such  inhabitants  of  Wakeman  : 


Samuel  Bristol. 
Amia!  P.  Pierce. 
Augustin  Canfield. 
Woodward  Todd. 
Justin  Sherman. 
Harmon  M.  Clark. 
Aaron  Parsons. 
Samuel  B.  Barnes. 
Garry  B.  Hyde. 
William  Beers. 
Gersham  Sheltou. 


Asahel  Buck. 
Elisha  Shelden. 
Erastus  French. 
Philo  Sherman. 
Shelden  Smith. 


Ichabod  T.  Norto 
Chester  Manvil. 
James  Wilson. 
Wilham  Barnes. 
Amos  Clark. 


Barzilla  S.  Hendricks.    Silas  French. 


Isaac  Hill. 
Merritt  Hyde. 
Marshal  Johnson. 
Justus  Minor. 
JIarcellus  Booth. 


Bela  Coe. 
Lewis  Patterson. 
Enoch  Johnson. 
Cyrus  Minor. 
Harry  Smith. 


EARLY     EVENTS. 


THE    FIRST    WEDDIXG 


ill  Wakemaii  was  tiuit  of  Marshall  -Johnson  and 
Mariiula  Bradley.  Tiiey  were  married  in  October, 
1830,  at  the  house  of  Abram  Bronson,  Dr.  Clark, 
justice  of  the  peace,  performing  the  nuptial  cere- 
mony. Mr.  Johnson  came  in  as  a  hired  man  with 
Captain  Pierce,  and  Miss  Bradley  was  a  relative  of 
tlie  Branson  family.  They  settled  a  short  distance 
southwest  of  tlie  center,  and  raised  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children. 

The  next  couple  married  was  Nathaniel  Hine,  of 
Berlin,  and  Ruth  Sherman.  They  were  married  in 
the  winter  of  1821  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Bristol, 
also  by  Esquire  Clark.  Mr.  Hine  was  subsequently 
drowned  while  crossing  the  Vermillion,  a  short  dis- 
tance above  Terryville,  in  Florence.  Mrs.  Hine 
afterwards  removed  to  Browuhelm.  where  she  died. 

THE    FIRST    CHILD    BORX 

of  civilized  parents,  in  the  township,  was  Burton  M. 
Canfield.  This  event  occurred  April  18,  1818.  Mr. 
Canfield  married  Louisa  Cunningham,  and  now  lives 
in  the  village  of  Wakeman. 

The  first  girl  baby  was  Mary  Smith,  daughter  of 
Sheldon  and  Phedima  Smith,  born  in  April,  1821. 


The  birth  of  Laura  French,  daughter  of  Erastus 
and  Ruth  French,  was  the  second  female  birth.  She 
was  born  May  17,  1821,  and  died  December  9,  1849, 
unmarried. 

Sarah  Ann  Johnson,  daughter  of  the  first  couple 
married,  was  born  the  same  year.  She  is  now  living 
in  Wakeman. 

THE    FIRST    DE.ATH 

was  that  of  Mrs.  Hendricks,  mother  of  Mrs.  Abram 
Bronsou,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1820.  The  death 
of  Mr.  Bronson  occurred  a  short  time  after  that  of 
Mrs.  Hendricks. 

The  first  burying-ground  was  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  cross-roads,  across  from  where  Mr. 
MordoS  now  lives.  Some  of  the  bodies  were  after- 
wards taken  up  and  removed  to  other  places,  and  the 
former  location  was  abandoned  as  a  place  of  burial. 
The  first  interment  in  the  cemetery  at  the  center 
was  that  of  Mrs.  Justus  Minor  before  referred  to. 

THE    FIRST    FRAME  ERECTIOX 

was  the  barn  of  Justin  Sherman  built  in  1823.  The 
first  completed  frame  house  was  also  erected  by  Mr. 
Sherman  in  1827.  It  is  the  house  now  occupied  by 
John  G.  Sherman.  Sheldon  Barnes  commenced  the 
erection  of  a  frame  house  previous  to  that  of  Mr. 
Sherman's,  but  before  it  was  finished,  it  was  taken 
down,  and  removed  to  another  location. 

THE    FIRST    PriiLIC    HOUSE 

was  kept  by  Marcus  French,  half  a  mile  west  of  the 
center,  on  the  section  line.  The  place  is  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Rice. 

The  first  regular  train  of  cars  ran  through  the  town- 
ship November  24.  1852. 

The  first  and  only  known  murder  committed  in  the 
township  occurred  in  May,  1843.  The  victim  was  the 
wife  of  Alexander  Lawtha.  She  was  strangled  to 
death  by  the  hands  of  her  husband,  assisted  by  John 
Simpson,  a  neighbor.  The  body  of  the  woman  was 
thrown  into  a  well,  and  when  found,  the  print  of  the 
fingers  on  her  neck  could  be  plainly  seen.  The  mur- 
derers were  convicted  of  the  crime,  and  Lawtha  was 
sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for  life,  but  before  his 
removal  from  the  county  jail,  he  cut  his  throat  with 
a  razor,  but  before  death  made  a  confession  of  his 
crime.  Simpson  was  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary 
for  ten  years,  and  served  out  his  term. 

TOWXSHIP    ORGAXIZATIOX. 

Wakeman  was  attached  to  Florence  for  township 
purposes  until  February,  1824.  at  which  time,  on 
petition  of  the  inhabitants,  it  was  set  off  by  the 
county  commissioners,  and  organized  indej)endcutly. 
The  election  was  held  at  the  log  school  house  near 
Mr.  Canfield's,  in  April  following.  Woodward  Todd 
was  elected  clerk;  Samuel  Bristol,  Justin  Sherman 
and  Silas  French,  trustees;  Amial  P.  Pierce,  treasurer; 
Justin  Sherman  and  Silas  French,  overseers  of  the 


.190 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


poor:  Augustin  Ciinfield  and  Isaac  Hill,  fence  view- 
ers; Augnstin  Canfield,  appraiser;  Cyrus  Minor,  lister: 
Amos  Clark  and  Marcus  French,  supervisors;  Erastus 
French,  constable;  Dr.  H.  M.  Clark,  justice  of  the 
peace.  During  his  term  of  three  j'ears  he  issued 
neither  a  warrant,  nor  a  summons  which  attests  the 
law-abiding  character  of  the  inhabitants.  Dr.  Clark 
was  followed  in  office  by  Captain  Pierce. 

Township  officers  elected  in  April,  18T9,  are  as 
follows:  W.  J.  Redfield,  clerk;  George  Humphrey, 
James  A.  Cummings  and  Elon  Parker,  trustees;  H. 
J.  Shannon,  treasurer;  Eugene  Gibson,  assessor;  S.  T. 
Gibson  and  B.  L.  Dereamer,  justices  of  the  peace; 
Samuel  White  and  Thomas  Conry,  constables. 


The  first  settlers  went  to  Esquire  Merry's  mill  in 
Milan  township  to  get  their  grinding  done,  a  distance 
of  fourteen  miles  as  the  road  originally  ran.  Subse- 
quently, and  until  the  erection  of  a  grist  mill  by  Bur- 
ton Canfield  in  1824,  they  obtained  their  grist  at  Bug- 
gies" mill  in  Florence,  and  at  Husted's  mill  in 
Clarksfield.  In  1823,  Burton  Canfield  built  a  saw 
mill  on  the  Vermillion,  where  the  grist  mill  now 
stands  east  of  Wakeman  village.  The  next  year 
he  added  a  frame  grist  mill  with  one  run  of 
stone.  The  mill  stones  were  made  out  of  the  ordi- 
nary ''hard  head"  stone  by  Elder  Phillips,  a  pioneer 
Baptist  preacher  of  Berlin.  He  took  the  job  for 
thirty-five  dollars,  and  realized  less  than  a  shilling  a 
day,  the  stone  proving  harder  than  he  had  estimated. 

A  saw  mill  was  built  on  the  La  Chapelle  in  182.3 
by  Justin  Sherman.  This  and  the  Canfield  mill  were 
erected  at  the  same  time,  but  the  Sherman  mill  sawed 
the  first  log.  On  the  same  stream  there  were  for- 
merly three  other  saw  mills,  one  built  by  Esquire 
Pierce  about  the  year  ls33,  one  by  C.  C.  Canfield  in 
IS-tO,  and  one  by  B.  M.  Canfield  in  18i8.  That  of 
C.  C.  Canfield  was  in  operation  for  thirty  _vears,  and 
did  an  extensive  business.  The  only  saw  mill  now  in 
operation  in  tliis  portion  of  the  township  is  the  steam 
mill  of  Darwin  Canfield,  located  on  lot  twentj--one. 
Cyrus  Minor  built  a  saw  mill  at  an  early  day  on  Bran- 
dy creek,  the  only  mill  ever  erected  on  that  stream. 

THE  WAKEMAN    CHEESE  FACTORY, 

a  stock  concern,  was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of 
1867  with  a  capital  invested  of  about  1:7,000.  The 
factory  has  been  operated  under  a  lease  by  the  Messrs. 
Vanfleet  Bros,  for  the  last  three  years,  who  have  done 
an  extensive  business  in  the  manufacture  of  butter 
and  cheese. 

Henry  Peck  also  has  a  cheese  factory  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  the  township,  but  it  is  not  in  opera- 
tion.    It  has  done  an  extensive  business. 


The  first  road  was  that  along  the  west  town  line, 
called  the  "Reed  road,"  a  man  of  that  name  having 
ojienrd  it.     The  first  road  within  the  township  was 


that  along  the  line  of  the  first  settlements,  called  the 
New  London  road.  It  is  a  mile  east  of  the  west  line 
road,  and  runs  a  generally  north  and  south  direction. 
It  was  opened  by  the  settlers,  being  at  first  merely 
underbrnshed  and  originally  ran  a  more  crooked  course 
than  it  now  does,  in  order  to  avoid  swales  and  steep 
hills.  The  east  and  west  center  road  was  opened 
west  of  the  center  in  182.5  or  1826,  and  east  of  the  cen- 
ter a  few  years  after. 

EDUCATIOXAL. 

The  fii-st  school  was  opened  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Clark  in 
her  own  house,  in  the  summer  of  1818.  Her  scholars 
were  Calvert  C,  Royal  R.  and  Sarah  Ai.n  Canfield; 
Lemuel  B.,  Bennett  and  ilinott  Pierce.  Mrs.  Clark 
taught  for  one  dollar  per  week,  and  boarded  herself. 
Her  wages  were  paid,  not  in  money,  but  in  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  soil,  the  usual  legal  tender  in  those  early 
times.  The  school  was  also  kept  by  Mrs.  Clark  in 
the  log  house  of  Mr.  Canfield.  The  scholars  would 
each  carry  an  ear  of  corn  to  school  which  the  teacher 
would  boil  for  them,  this  constituting  the  only  dinner 
they  had.  School  was  kept  in  Wakeman  only  a  few 
weeks  in  the  year,  and  the  children,  or  at  least  the 
boys,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  not  more  than  ten  years 
of  age,  -attended  a  school  in  Florence,  traversing  an 
unbroken  forest  for  a  distance  of  three  miles.  In  the 
year  1820  the  first  school  house  was  built,  of  logs  of 
course,  on  the  farm  of  Augustin  Canfield,  about  forty 
rods  north  of  where  John  G.  Sherman  now  resides. 
Levi  Bod  well,  of  Clarksfield,  taught  the  first  school 
in  this  house  and  was  the  fii'st  male  teacher  in  the 
place.  Levi  Piatt,  now  living  in  the  township  of 
Greenfield,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  was 
the  next.     He  was  followed  by  Dr.  Clark. 

The  log  school  house  served  the  double  purpose  of 
a  place  of  teaching  and  a  house  of  worship  for  about 
nine  years,  \\hen  it  was  replaced  by  a  comfortable 
frame  school  house,  twenty-two  by  twenty-six  feet 
in  size,  with  a  genuine  shingle  roof.  The  meeting 
to  consider  the  question  of  its  erection  was  held  at 
the  old  school  house.  January  2'J.  1829.  Bela  Coe 
was  chosen  nimlrr.'itoi'  of  tht-  meeting,  and  Augnstin 
Canfield,  clerk.  It  war-  decided  to  build  the  house 
by  a  tax,  the  cost  of  which  was  to  be  one  hundred 
and  seventy  dollars.  Among  other  things  it  was  re- 
solved that  "we  will  have  a  chimney  in  said  house," 
that  "a  writing  desk  shall  be  attached  to  the  side  of 
the  house,"  etc.  It  was  also  stipulated  that  the  house 
should  be  open  on  the  Sabbath  to  the  Congregational 
and  Methodist  churches,  each  to  occupy  it  one-half  of 
the  time,  "•  but  if  it  so  happens  that  one  denomina- 
tion does  not  want  to  occupy  their  half  of  the  time, 
and  the  other  does  more,  it  shall  be  their  privilege  to 
do  so."  The  house  had  a  kind  of  dedication  by  a 
union  service  of  the  two  churches  on  Christmas  Eve. 
1829,  the  Rev.  Xenophon  Betts  and  True  Pattee  offi- 
ciating on  the  occasion.  The  house  was  trimmed  with 
evergreens  and  illuminated.  The  first  teacher  in  the 
new  school  house  was  J.  M.  Root,  afterwards  a  mem- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


191 


bei-  of  Congress  and  a  law3'er  of  ability  and  distinc- 
tion, recently  deceased. 

The  first  election  of  a  school  board,  of  which  there 
is  a  record,  occnrred  October  31,  1828, when  Angustin 
Canfield  was-  elected  clerk  ;  Justin  Sherman,  Philo 
Sherman  and  Samuel  Bristol,  directors. 

Until  1827  the  township  constituted  one  school 
district.  The  location  of  the  first  school  house  being 
determined  by  the  center  of  the  population,  it  was 
built  in  the  third  section,  as  previously  stated.  In 
the  spring  of  the  above  year  a  second  school  district 
was  erected,  embracing  nearly  three-fourths  of  the 
township,  and  a  log  school  house  built  at  the  center 
of  town.  A  few  years  after  a  frame  school  house  was 
Ijuilt  there. 

In  regard  to  the  character  of  her  schools  and  school 
houses,  Wakeman  occupies  a  front  rank  among  the 
townships  of  the  county.  There  are  at  present  eight 
school  houses,  all  of  which  are  brick,  with  Init  one 
exception. 

The  school  in  the  village  is  at  present  under  the 
efficient  management  of  A.  J.  Cobben. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  meeting  in  Wakeman  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Augustin  Canfield,  Sunday  evening, 
January  10,  1819.  Rev.  Lot  B.  Sullivan,  a  mission- 
ary, was  the  preacher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Canfield,  Dr. 
C'la;k  and  wife  led  the  singing.  They  were  the 
pioneer  choir  of  Wakeman  for  many  years. 

The  first  church  organization  was  formed  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Pierce,  October  25,  1832,  by  Rev.  A.  H. 
Betts  and  Rev.  Joseph  Treat.  The  society  was  of  the 
Congregational  order,  and  consisted  of  the  following 
members:  Barzilla  S.  Hendricks  and  wife,  Justus 
Miniir.  Mrs.  Electa  Pierce,  Dr.  H.  M.  Clark,  Ruth 
Ei-eneli,  Sally  Sherman  and  Mary  Barnum.  The 
society  was  called  the  First  Congregational  church  of 
Wakeman.  Rev.  Xenophon  Betts  was  the  first 
jnistor  of  the  church,  and  was  installed  April  9,  1829, 
at  the  house  .of  Mr.  Pierce.  Mr.  Betts  continued 
jiastor  until  December  25,  183G,  when  he  was  dis- 
missed at  his  own  request.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
attainments,  and  was  a  faithful  and  efficient  pastor. 
During  his  pastorate  there  were  forty-five  additions 
to  the  membership.  The  subsequent  history  of  the 
church  will  be  found  in  connection  with  that  of  the 
Second  Congregational  church. 

SECOXD  C0X(;KEGATI0XAL  CHL'RCH. 

The  following  sketch  is  mainly  compiled  from  the 
interesting  memorial  address  of  Mr.  Alvan  C.  Hall 
at  the  farewell  services  held  at  the  old  chuch  building 
December  31,  1878. 

The  organization  of  the  church  is  the  result  of  a 
division  in  the  First  Congregational  Church  which 
grew  out  of  a  difference  of  views  and  sentiments  re- 
specting certain  ideas  and  principles  upon  which 
Oberlin  had  been  founded  in  February,  1834.  In  tlie 
fall  of  1835  Mr.  Finney's  large  tent  (or  "tabernacle"' 


as  it  was  called)  which  was  used  for  holding  pro- 
tracted meetings,  was  set  up  at  the  four  corners  in 
the  west  part  of  the  township  on  the  farm  then  owned 
by  Bela  Coe,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Cummiugs.  Presi- 
dent Mahan,  of  Oberlin,  on  invi^ation  of  the  church, 
with  several  theological  students  who  had  recently 
left  Lane  Seminary  because  of  the  repressive  measures 
adopted  by  that  institution  concerning  the  discussion 
of  the  question  of  salary  by  its  students,  came  and 
hejd  a  meeting  of  several  days  duration  in  the  tent. 
The  meeting  resulted  in  a  number  of  conversions. 
The  year  following,  the  pastor.  Rev.  Xenojjhen  Betts 
who  belonged  to  the  Presbytery  (as  most  of  the  con- 
gregational ministers  then  did)  severed  his  connection 
with  the  church  to  take  charge  of  the  Presljyterian 
Church  in  Lyme  in  this  county,  and  the  theological 
students  before  mentioned  came  out  from  Oberlin  and 
])reached  during  the  interim.  Prominent  among 
those  students  was  John  Watson  Alvord,  afterwards 
connected  with  the  Freedmen's  Bureau.  So  much 
was  he  esteemed  that  children  were  named  after  him 
by  their  parents,-  and  Wakeman  has  had  a  Watson 
Hill  and  an  Alvord  Hill.  At  length  another  jjastor 
was  obtained  who  remained  ;i  year  or  two,  when  re- 
course was  again  had  to  the  Oberlin  students.  In  the 
meantime  the  breach  between  the  old  school  part  of 
the  church  and  that  which 'sympathized  with  the 
doctrines  and  jjrinciples  of  Oberlin  was  constantly 
growing  wider. 

"In  those  days  it  was  customary,'"  says  Mr.  Hall, 
"to  have  a  sermon  both  forenoon  and  afternoon,  and 
frequently  one  in  the  evening,  or  at  five  o'clock.  The 
people  usually  carried  a  lunch  in  their  baskets  or 
pockets,  to  eat  at  the  recess  at  noon;  and  during  this 
recess,  and  while  eating  their  lunch,  a  group  would 
frequently  be  gathered  together  discussing  the  sub- 
ject and  doctrines  of  the  forenoon  sermon.  We  re- 
call "to  mind  a  sermon  preached  at  the  old  school 
house  which  stood  a  little  north  of  John  Sherman's, 
in  which  sermon  God  was  represented  as  not  only 
willing,  but  infinitely  desirous  of  saving  all  mankind. 
This  sermon  was  the  subject  of  considerable  comment 
at  the  noon  recess.  We  remember  distinctly  a  ques- 
tion asked  by  one  of  our  old  school  brethren  in  appar- 
ent honesty  and  sincerity,  namely:  'Would  it  not  be 
derogatory  to  the  character  of  G-od,  to  hold  that  he 
was  not  only  willing,  but  infinitely  desirous  of  saving 
all  mankind,  and  then  fail  to  do  it?" '" 

Thus  the  church  continued,  hii-ing  a  minister  for  a 
year  or  two,  and  at  the  end  of  the  tiTui  getting 
students  from  Oberlin  to  supply  the  interval,  until 
the  fall  of  1843,  or  spring  of  1844,  when  Rev.  William 
Russell,  from  Connecticut,  was  employed,  and  it  was 
hoped  that  he  would  be  able  so  to  compromise  the 
matter  of  difference  as  to  bring  about  more  union  of 
feeling  and  consequent  pros])erity  to  the  church. 
This  he  endeavored  to  do,  but  failed.  The  subject 
of  building  a  meeting  house  began  to  Ije  discussed, 
which  proved  a  cause  for  increased  contention.  If 
r)lx'rlin  ministers  were  to  be  shut  out  from  the  pulpit. 


192 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


as  one  part  desired,  there  would  be  no  disposition 
with  the  other,  and  more  able  part,  to  assist  in  the 
building.  In  order  to  awaken  a  greater  interest  in 
the  proiwsed  erection,  the  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Russell, 
preached  a  sermon'  bearing  upon  the  subject,  in 
which  he  intimated  that  if  the  church  could  not  be 
sufticiently  united  to  build  a  meeting  house,  it  had 
better  divide.  The  (luestion  was  discussed  by  the 
church,  and  terminated  in  the  adoption  of  a  resolu- 
tion to  give  letters  of  dismission  to  those  who  should 
wish  to  withdraw  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  new 
church.  A  request  for  letters  was  circulated  among 
the  members  and  received  the  following  signatures, 
to-wit:  Augustine  Canfield,  Reuben  Hall,  Amos 
Clark,  Lemuel  B.  Pierce,  C.  0.  Canfield,  Leverett 
Hill,  Alvan  C.  Hall,  Kneeland  Todd,  Rufus  J.  Bunce, 
Isaac  Todd.  Mary  Bunce,  Eunice  Pierce,  Esther  Hill, 
Betsey  Hall,  Electa  Pierce,  Mary  E.  Canfield,  Caro- 
line C.  Burr,  Minerva  Pierce,  Susan  L.  Pierce,  Ruth 
A.  Clark,  Sophia  Wheeler  and  Juliatte  Travis.  The 
above-named  received  a  letter  of  dismission  in  a  body, 
dated  August  30,  1844.  Next  day  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  center  school  house  (the  building  now  occupied 
by  -Mr.  Reed  as  a  dwelling)  for  the  purpose  of  form- 
ing a  new  church.  Rev.  Henry  Cowles,  of  Oberlin, 
officiated  at  the  organization,  which  consisted  of  the 
seceding  members  above  named  (with  the  exception 
of  Kneeland  Tod 4,  Juliatte  Travis  and  Susan  L. 
Pierce)  and  Cordelia  B.  Hall,  who  brought  a  letter 
from  the  church  in  Edinburg,  Ohio.  November  24th 
following,  ^Ir.  Todd  and  Mrs.  Travis  united,  together 
with  Amos  Pierce  and  ."Minott  Pierce,  who  were  the 
first  to  unite  on  profession.  Mrs.  Susan  L.  Pierce, 
one  (if  the  number  who  withdrew  from  the  first 
church,  did  not  unite  until  March  16,  1845.  Of  the 
original  twenty  members  the  following  are  still 
living:  C.  C.  Canfield,  Isaac  Todd,  Amos  Clark, 
Alvan  C.  Hall,  IMary  Bunce,  .Mary  E.  Canfield, 
Catharine  C.  Burr  and  Esther  Hill.  Seven  of  these 
eight  reside  reside  in  Wakeman.  Jeremiah  Butler, 
an  Oberlin  student,  was  employed  by  the  church  as 
the  first  pastor,  and  i-emained  a  year.  Their  meet- 
ings were  held,  with  the  Methodists,  in  the  school 
houses  at  the  center  and  in  the  north  part  of  town, 
one  Sunday  in  one,  and  the  next  in  the  other. 

The  society  was  soon  after  incorporated,  and  in 
1845  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  near  the  center, 
the  lot  for  which  was  donated  by  Justin  Sherman. 
Tlie  building  was  dedicated  October  2,  1845,  the 
sermon  on  the  occasion  being  preached  by  Rev.  Henry 
Cowles.  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Westervelt  was  ordained  the 
same  day  in  the  church,  and  officiated  as  pastor  for 
one  year.  The  uuiiding  was  subsequently  consider- 
ably enlarged,  mainly  by  the  efforts  of  ;\Ir.  C.  C. 
Canfield. 

Tiie  following  are  the  ministers  who  have  officiated 
as  pastors  of  the  church  for  one  year  or  more,  with 
the  term  of  service  of  each,  as  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, viz. : 

Jeremiah  Butler.  Win.  A.  Westervelt  and  Wm.  F. 


Clarke,  one  year  each  ;  Minor  W.  Fairfield,  nearly 
three  years  ;  James  M.  Van  Wagner — first  installed 
pastor — about  six  years  ;  Prof.  Henry  E.  Peck,  near- 
ly three  years  ;  Henry  S.  Bennett,  about  four  years  ; 
Joseph  L.  Edwards,  nearly  three  years  ;  Levi  Loring, 
one  year ;  S.  Lee  Hillyer,  one  year ;  Edward  B. 
Payne,  between  two  and  three  years.  Mr.  Payne  was 
succeeded  by  the  present  pastoi-.  Rev.  C.  C.  Creegan, 
who  began  his  labors  July  1,  1875,  and  was  regularly 
installed  September  5,  1877.  Mention  should  be 
made  of  Professor  James  A.  Thorne,  who  preached 
for  the  church  nearly  a  year  as  a  temporary  supply. 

For  two  or  three  j'ears  subsequent  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  no  deacon  was  cliosen.  The  num- 
ber has  increased  from  one  to  five,  the  present  num- 
ber. Tliose  who  have  served  as  such,  are  Leverett 
Hill,  James  Wilson,  Justin  Hill,  James  A.  Burham, 
Isaac  Todd,  George  Barnes,  Wm.  H.  Pierce  and  Wil- 
liam Barber.     The  first  three  are  deceased. 

The  first  member  of  the  church  that  died  was  Mrs. 
Electa  Pierce,  January  10,  1845.  She  was  one  of 
the  original  twenty,  and  "was  truly  a  mother  to  the 
church."  The  church  has  steadily  grown  from  that 
small  beginning  in  1844,  every  year  having  witnessed 
accessions,  until,  at  the  date  of  this  writing — March, 
1879, — the  membership  has  reached  three  hundred 
and   twenty-three. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  the  faithful  service  of 
Mr.  L.  S.  Hall,  the  efficient  leader  of  the  cliuir.  who 
has  officiated  as  chorister  for  over  thirty  years,  and 
without  any  pecuniary  consideration  whatever.  His 
labors  have  been  of  great  value  to  the  society. 

The  Sabbath  school  was  in  existence  during  the 
organization  of  the  first  church,  of  which  James 
Wilson  and  Leverett  Hill  were  superintendents.  It 
is  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosperous  in  the 
county,  the  number  of  pupils  enrolled  being  over 
three  hundred.  Mr.  S.  H.  Todd,  who  possesses  more 
than  a  local  reputation  as  an  efficient  Sabbatii  school 
worker,  is  the  present  superintendent. 

THK    XEW    BUILDIXC. 

The  subject  of  the  erection  of  a  more  commodious 
house  of  worship  than  the  one  so  long  used  by  the 
society,  was  first  discussed  in  1875.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid,  with  impressive  ceremonies,  September  5, 
1877,  Rev.  Dr.  Wolcott,  of  Cleveland,  conducting  the 
services.  It  was  completed  in  December,  1878,  and 
dedicated  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1879,  President 
J.  H.  Fairchild,  of  Oberlin,  preaching  the  dedication 
sermon.  There  were  fourteen  hundred  people  in  at- 
tendance, representing  forty-three  different  townships 
in  the  surrounding  country.  The  church  is  a  hand- 
some and  imi)osing  brick  edifice,  evincing  in  its  de- 
sign and  appearance,  good  practical  judgment  and 
excellent  taste  on  the  part  of  those  to  whose  energy 
and  liberality  its  erection  is  due.  The  audience  room 
is  forty  by  sixty-six  feet,  with  two  wings,  eighteen  by 
thirty  feet  each,  the  rooms  being  neatly  fitted  up  for 
prayer  and  social  meetings,  and  galleries  above.     The 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


193 


interior  is  finished  in  ciiestnut,  in  the  natural  wood, 
and  presents  a  rich  and  beautiful  appearance.  The 
cost  of  the  building  was  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  the 
whole  of  which  is  provided  for. 

METH0DI8T    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  first  class  was  formed  in  December,  1828,  by 
Rev.  True  Pattee,  a  circuit  preacher.  The  following 
were  the  constituent  members:  Philo  Sherman,  Betsey 
Sherman,  Lucius  Tomlinson,  Charlotte  Tomlinson, 
Phedima  Smith  and  Anna  French.  The  first  named 
was  appointed  leader  of  the  class.  The  church  held 
their  meetings  alternately  with  the  Congregationalists 
at  he  two  school  houses  until  the  erection  of  a  church 
building  by  the  Congregationalists,  when  being  offered 
the  use  of  the  house  on  Sabbath  afternoons,  they 
held  their  meetings  there.  An  unusual  harmony  and 
christian  spirit  always  characterized '  the  relations  of 
the  two  churches.  The  class  was  eventually  dis- 
banded. 

The  present  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Wake- 
man  village  was  organized  in  the  town  hall,  by  Rev. 
A.  J.  Lyon,  June  16,  1873,  and  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing members:  J.  M.  Whiton,  Sarah  M.  Whiton, 
William  Denman,  Samuel  Webb,  Jane  Webb,  M.  E. 
Wattles.  E.  M.  Bell,  E.  F.  Squire,  A.  P.  Phillips, 
Rebecca  Phillips,  Hiram  Hurd,  J.  M.  Cahoon,  Scyn- 
thia  E.  Cahoon,  Mary  M.  Harris,  George  Randall, 
Harriet  M.  Randall,  Edward  Denman  and  Jane  Den- 
man. Mr.  Whiton  was  chosen  leader.  Wakeman 
was  at  this  time  embraced  in  the  East  Townsend  cir- 
cuit, but  a  year  and  a  half  afterwards  was  set  off  as 
Wakeman  charge,  with  Birmingham  annexed.  The 
following  have  officiated  as  pastors  of  the  church: 
Revs.  G.  L.  Hannawalt,  D.  R.  Moore,  E.  Hayes,  J.  A. 
Kaull,  C.  D.  Patterson,  G.  E.  Scott  and  Hiram  Royce, 
whose  term  of  service  has  not  expired. 

The  erection  of  a  church  building  was  first  dis- 
cussed by  a  few  men,  not  members  of  any  church,  one 
evening  in  the  spring  of  1872,  at  the  stoi'e  of  Mr. 
John  Harris.  Johnson  Braziugton  proposed  it,  and 
would  give  fifty  dollars.  It  was  favored  by  others. 
A  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  formerly 
a  Methodist,  solicited  subscriptions,  and  the  erection 
of  a  building  was  soon  after  begun.  It  was  completed 
in  September,  1873,  and  dedicated  on  the  23d  of  that 
month.  Rev,  Mr,  Godman,  of  Berea,  preaching  the 
dedication  sermon.  When  the  house  was  completed, 
there  was  an  indebtedness  of  one  thousand  and  four 
iiundred  dollars  which  was  assumed  by  the  building 
committee.  On  the  day  of  the  dedication  one  thou- 
sand and  six  hundred  dollars  was  raised,  and  the 
church  is  now  out  of  debt.  The  cost  of  the  church 
including  the  lot  and  liell.  was  four  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars.  The  membershiii  is  now  fifty-six, 
with  G.  H.  Mains,  leader.  A  Sabbath  school  was  or- 
ganized in  January,  1874,  by  J.  M.  Whiton  who  has 
been  the  superintendent  up  to  the  jn'esent  time.  The 
number  of  echolars  enrolled  at  this  writing,  is  one 
hundred  and  eighteen. 


PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  by  Rev,  Anson  Clark, 
August  14,  1837,  with  the  following  list  of  members: 
Joel  Wheeler,  Elvira  Wheeler,  Charlotte  Tomlinson, 
Lucius  Tomlinson,  Jabez  Hanford,  Abbie  Hanford, 
Cyrenus  Beecher,  Betsey  Beeclier,  Samuel  Bristol, 
Eunice  Bristol,  Ezra  Sprague,  Harriet  Sprague, 
Justin  Sherman,  Betsey  Sherman,  Lester  T,  Farrand, 
Ann  E.  Farrand,  Joab  Squire,  Harriet  Squire,  Peter 
Sherman,  Samantha  Sherman,  Louis  Markham,  Eliza 
M.  Redding,  James  C.  Judson,  Laura  Wheeler,  Phebe 
Burgess,  Starr  Hoyt,  Ezekiel  W.  Arnold,  Mary  Arnold, 
Sala  Todd,  Aurilla  Masters,  Martin  Bell,  Polly  Bell, 
George  Todd  and  Harmon  M.  Clark.  Joel  Wheeler 
and  Jabez  Hanford  were  elected  wardens;  Cyrenus 
Beecher,  Peter  Sherman  and  Starr  Hoyt,  vestrymen. 
Justin  Sherman  was  chosen  secretary  of  the  chui-ch 
at  a  meeting  held  at  his  home,  April  16,  1838.  The 
church  was  incorporated  as  "St.  John's  Church,  of 
Wakenuiu,"  by  act  of  the  legislature,  session  of 
1838-39.  The  church  building,  near  the  center,  was 
erected  in  1840,  the  lot  for  which  was  donated  by 
Justin  Sherman.  Rev.  Anson  Clark  was  the  first 
rector  of  the  church,  and  since  then  the  following 
clergymen  have  successively  filled  the  pastoral  office, 
viz:  Thos.  Barrow,  J.  Rice  Taylor,  Abram  Bronson, 
E.  D.  Irvine,  Chas.  F.  Lewis  and  G.W.  Williams.  Most 
of  these  lived  elsewhere,  and  officiated  here  on  alter- 
nate Sabbaths.  Much  of  the  time  the  church  was 
without  stated  preaching,  and  the  reguh'.rity  of  the 
services  depended  upon  the  established  forms  of  the 
church  as  conducted  by  lay  readers.  Cyrenus  Beecher, 
John  Kiloh,  J.  E.  Hanford  and  others  had  been  com- 
missioned by  the  bishop,  and  officiated  in  that  capac- 
ity. The  church  has  been  in  a  low  condition  of  pros- 
perity for  some  time,  no  regular  services  having  been 
held  for  the  last  two  oi-  three  years,  and  many  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  church  have  joined  the  Con- 
gregational church. 

ST.  mart's  (catholic)  church. 

This  church  was  organized  by  the  Irish  inhabitants 
of  the  township,  in  the  fall  of  1868,  Rev.  Father 
Hally,  of  Xorwalk,  officiating  at  the  organization. 
The  erection  of  a  church  building  was  soon  after 
commenced,  which  was  completed  the  following 
spring.  The  church  consists  of  about  forty-five  fam- 
ilies, about  the  same  number  as  when  organized.  The 
society  is  now  under  the  care  of  Father  Quinn. 

POST  OFFICE. 

In  the  year  1829  the  inhabitants  of  Wakeman  at- 
tained to  the  felicity  of  a  weekly  mail.  Isaac  Todd 
and  Cyrus  Minor  drew  up,  or  caused  to  be  drawn  up, 
a  petition  for  the  extension  of  the  mail  route  from 
Grafton,  Lorain  county,  to  Norwalk,  and  carried  it 
to  Grafton  to  obtain  the  signatures  of  the  settlers 
along  the  proposed  route.  After  the  mail  was  estab- 
lislied,  the  settlers  along  the  line  turned  out  and 
under-brushed  a   road  from    Wakeman   to  Grafton. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  •OHIO. 


The  first  mail-carrier  was  one  Cole,  who  carried  the 
mail  .once  a  week,  making  his  journeys  on  foot.  The 
first  trip  he  made  through  Wakenian  he  stopped  at 
Isaac  Todd's,  whose  house  was  the  first  on  his  route 
west  of  La  Grange.  No  mail-bag  being  visible,  Mr. 
Todd  inquired  about  it.  "Oh,  I've  got  it,"  replied 
the  carrier,  and  he  reached  in  his  pocket  and  drew 
forth  a  large-sized  jiockei-bool-,  on  which  was  a  pad- 
lock about  the  size  of  a  silver  half  dollar.  Mr.  Todd, 
naturally  taken  back  at  the  apparently  unimportance 
of  the  enterprise  he  had  labored  hard  to  establish, 
said  :  "You  don't  mean  to  say  you  carry  the  mail  in 
that  ?"  "  Yes,"  rejoined  Cole,  "and  it's  large  enough; 
there's  nothing  in  it!"  The  route  was  established, 
and  the  mail-carrier  had  to  make  the  trip,  although 
there  was  not  an  item  of  mail  to  carry.  It  was  not 
long,  however,  before  a  more  capacious  mail  bag  was 
substituted  for  the  pocket-book. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Waldron  afterwards  carried 
the  mail.  He  frequently  stopped  at  Joseph  French's, 
and  on  one  occasion  brought  the  family  a  piece  of  ven- 
ison. On  being  asked  where  he  got  it  he  replied  that 
he  "shot  the  deer  with  the  mail  bag."  He  came 
upon  the  animal  while  browsing  in  the  top  of  a  fallen 
tree,  struck  it  in  the  head  with  the  bag,  whicli  so 
frightened  the  deer  that  he  caught  it  and  cut  its 
throat  with  his  knife. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  January  1, 1833, 
with  Justin  Sherman,  postmaster,  who  kept  the  office 
in  his  house.  He  served  for  seven  years  and  three 
months,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Merritt  Hyde,  and 
tlie  office  was  moved  to  his  dwelling,  west  of  the  cen- 
ter. 'Sir.  Hyde  held  the  position  until  June  1842, 
when  Mr.  Sherman  was  again  appointed.  He  served 
for  three  years,  keei)ing  the  office  at  his  store  near  the 
center.  Since  Jlr.  Sherman's  second  term,  Edward  J. 
Bunce,  Lester  T.  Farrand,  Hiram  K.  Hosford,  Wil- 
liam Pierce  and  H.  J.  Baldwin  (the  present  incum- 
l)ent)  have  successively  officiated  as  postmasters. 

PIIYSU'IAXS. 

As  already  stated.  Dr.  Harmon  M.  Clark  was  the 
fii-st  physician  that  practiced  in  the  township.  He 
had  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  before 
he  came  to  this  country,  and  was  a  surgeon  or  assist- 
ant surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  navy  in  the  war  of  1812. 
When  he  omigiated  west,  he  determined  to  abandon 
the  profession  and  devote  himself  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, but  so  great  was  the  need  of  doctors  in  that 
early  time,  and  none  to  be  had  except  from  distant 
l)laces,  that  Dr.  Clark  was,  out  of  consideration  of 
human  it  v,  impelled  again  to  engage  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  And  when  he  once  began,  he  was 
the  busiest  man  in  the  place,  finding  Init  little  time 
to  attend  to  his  farm,  which  did  not  so  much  matter, 
however,  as  his  ability  as  a  farmer  was  not  of  the 
highest  order. 

Of  those  who  have  been  engaged  in  medical  prac- 
tice in  AVakeman,  since  Dr.  Clark,  the  writer  has  the 
names    of    Drs.    Wm.    B.    Latin,   Burroughs,  Moses 


Trumbull,  Jones,  Bunce,  C.  A.  Staiulart  and  Rose. 
The  length  of  time,  or  the  order  in  which  they  prac- 
ticed, we  are  unable  to  state. 

Dr.  E.  E.  Beeman,  one  of  the  two  physicians  now 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Wakeman, 
graduated,  first,  in  18G0,  at  a  medical  school  in  Ciu- 
cinnati,  and  subsequently,  in  1875,  at  the  Western 
Reserve  College  (Medical  department),  Cleveland. 
His  first  practice  was  in  that  city,  in  connection  with 
his  father,  and  subsequently  practiced  in  Wisconsin 
and  Illinois.  From  1864  to  18T6  he  was  located  at 
Birmingham,  Erie  county,  whence,  in  September  of 
the  latter  year,  he  removed  to  Wakeman. 

Dr.    H E^ was   graduated   from    the 

Ohio  Electic  College,  Cincinnati,  in  1848,  having  pre- 
viously attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  a  medical  col- 
lege in  Cleveland.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Puthian  county,  continuing  two  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Clarksfield,  Huron  county.  He 
pi-actised  in  Clarksfield  until  his  removal  to  'Wake- 
man in  July,  187T,  with  the  exception  of  four  years, 
during  which  he  practiced  in  Crestline. 

MERC.VXTILE. 

The  first  store  in  Wakeman  was  kept  by  Justin 
Sherman  near  the  center,  on  lot  forty-five.  He  erected 
the  building  in  1839,  and  sold  the  first  goods  on  the 
third  day  of  July,  1841.  His  goods  were  purchased 
in  New  York  City,  and  transported  by  way  of  Hudson 
river,  Erie  canal  and  Lake  Erie  to  Huron,  and  thence 
to  Wakeman  by  team.  In  184.5,  he  sold  the  stock  to 
Rufus  J.  Bunce  and  his  son,  Edward,  who  carried  on 
the  business  about  two  years,  when  they  sold  out,  and 
the  goods  were  taken  out  of  the  township.  Edward 
J.  Bunce  and  Lucius  S.  Hall  subsequently  revived  the 
business,  and  continued  near  the  center  until  the 
completion  of  the  Cleveland  and  Toledo  Railroad,  (as 
it  was  then  called)  when  they  changed  their  location, 
and  opened  their  store  where  the  millinery  store  now 
is  in  the  village  of  Wakeman.  The  same  year, 
Messrs.  Pierce  &  Co.  put  up  the  Wakeman  Exchange, 
wooden  block,  which  has  since  been  enlarged,  and  is 
now  known  as  the  Bright  block.  In  this  building, 
a  hotel  was  opened  by  Mr.  Preston,  and  a  store  by 
Hosford  and  Andrews.  The  large  brick  block  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant  streets,  was 
erected  in  the  summer  of  1871,  by  the  firms  of  Harris, 
Pierce  &  Baldwin  and  Vanfleet  Bros.  They  Avere 
previously  located  in  the  Bright  building,  and  their 
change  of  location  transferred  the  most  of  the  busi- 
ness of  the  village  to  the  south  side  of  Main  street. 
Mr.  Harris,  of  the  firm  of  Harris  &  Baldwin,  has 
been  engaged  in  mercantile  trade  in  Wakenian  for  a 
period  of  nearly  twenty  years,  and  is  the  oldrst  iiiei- 
chant  in  the  place. 

The    village    now    contains  about   seven    or   eight 

hundred  inhabitants,  witii  four  churches. schools, 

one  printing  office,  three  general  stores,  one  drug  and 
hardware  store,  two  groceries,  one  bout  and  shoe 
store,  three   millinery  and   fancy  goods  stores,  two 


HISTOEY  OF  HLUIUX  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


195 


furniture  stores  and  undertaking  shops,  one  bakery, 
one  liarness  shop,  one  tailor  shop,  two  slioe  shops, 
four  dre'ssniaking  establishments,  one  clock  and  watch 
repairer,  two  hotels,  four  blacksmith  shops,  two  cooper 
shops,  two  barber  shops,  one  livery,  one  wagon  shop, 
two  meat  markets,  two  saw  mills,  one  bending  works 
and  planing  mill,  one  grist  mill,  two  pump  factories, 
and  two  physicians. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

In  1873,  the  first  newspaper,  called  the  Riccrside 
Echo,    was   published   by   Melvin    Lewis.     It   was   a 


small,  four-column  folio,  l)ut  was  subsequently  en- 
larged to  a  six-column.  The  paper  was  removed  in 
1875  to  North  Amherst,  Lorain  county.  September 
18th,  of  the  same  year,  the  first  number  of  the  Wake- 
man  Prexs  was  issued  by  G.  H.  Mains,  with  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  subscribers  at  one  dollar  per 
year.  It  was  originally  a  five-column  folio,  with  a 
ready-printed  outside;  but  December  18th,  it  was  en- 
larged to  a  si.K-column  folio  with  a  patent  inside. 
April,  1876.  it  was  commenced  as  a  home  paper, 
printed  entirely  at  home. 


HARTLAND. 


OHIGIXAL    OWNERS. 

For  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township. 

HARTLAND,  TOWN  .VUMBE«  THREE,   IN    THE   TWENTY- 
FIRST    RAX(iE. 


Original  G-mntees. 

Jonathan  Doug- 
lass 1, 
Lucv  Stan- 
Jonathan  Doug- 
lass 1 
Robert  Douglass 
Ichabod  Powers,  Jr. 
Thomas  Mumford, 

Esq 
Nicholas  Darrow 


Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 
ArtVt  Loss.        Classified  by. 
£       s.        d.  t 
1.446       14       T    I    Daniel  Douglass 


Guy  Douglass 
Richard  Powers 


Footing  of  Classification  ; 


Classification  : 
Origintd  Grantees.        AmH  Loss. 

S  s.        d.  I 
John  Wa.v                  5!in         ,3      11 

Charles  Bulkley       49.3  14      11     I 

Jeremiah  Miller  2,.535  18  10  : 
Peter  Darrow  10  0  0! 
Mehitable  Leet  134  0  0  . 
Sarah  Davis  8  0  0  I 
James  Darrow  .  3  3  7  [ 
Daniel  Harris  5  BO 
Elizabeth  Griffin          5         0       0 

Joseph  Chamflin       7S  11        9    I 


<Io.  a,  Section  2. 

Classified  by. 

John  Way 
Charles  Bulkley 
Richard  Morgan 
Nicholas  Darrow 
Daniel  Starr 


Am't  classed. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  -2.  £I,:344 

7  " 

0 

Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 

OriyitKil  Grantees 

Am't  Loss          Classified  by. 

Am 

tcl( 

ssed. 

e 

s 

d. 

£ 

J 

d. 

Lydia  Latham 

'M 

6 

Jonathan  Stan- 

92 

4 

6 

Jonathan  and  Jare 

d 

Starr 

53 

3 

33 

3 

Joanna  Short 

2T6 

0 

Joanna  Short 

167 

3 

James  Lamphia 

2.33 

0 

Euclid  Elliott 

160 

IR 

0 

Clark  Elliott 

296 

3 

296 

11 

Starr  &  Tallman 

150 

Starr  &  Tallman 

1.50 

0 

0 

Richard  Drnglass 

6 

Richard  Douglass 

362 

18 

6 

J.>sepli  Clmmplin 

"72 

9 

Anna  Hatch 

78 

5 

John  Potter 

83 

13 

3 

John  Potter 

a3 

13 

3 

Daniel  Tnimnn 

'' 

0 

0       Henry  Truman 

6 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  f  1.344 

16 

':> 

Classification  No.  4.  Section  4. 

Original  Grantees 

Am't  Lass.        Ckissilied  bi/. 

.4» 

7  clas.ted. 

£ 

s 

d.    1 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Joshua  Starr 

1,250 

11 

I      1  Joshua  Starr 

1.250 

ii 

Joanna  Short 

21  fi 

14 

0 

1 

03 

15 

n 

;  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1,344 


PHYSICAL    FEATURES. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level, 
though  less  so  in  the  south  and  east  parts  than  else- 
where. The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  modified  by  gravel 
and  sand  along  the  streams  and  on  the  Hartland 
ridge,  which  runs  a  general  north  and  south  direction 
through  the  second  section.  There  were  formerly  a 
numljer  of  swamps  or  marshes  in  the  townshii>,  the 
largest  of  which  were  known  as  Canterbury  Swamp, 
Cranberry  Marsh,  Grape  Swamp  and  Bear  Swamp. 
The  first  was  over  two  miles  in  leugth,  varying  in 
width  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  rods,  and  lay 
south  east  of  the  centre.  Cranberry  Marsh  lay  north 
!  of  the  centre,  and  contained  about  one  hundred  acres. 
These  formerly  unsightly  places  have  been  more  or 
less  reclaimed,  and  the  soil,  which  is  a  deep  black 
muck,  is  the  best  in  the  town.sliip. 

The  principal  native  varieties  of  timlier  were  white 
wood,  white,  black  and  burr  oak,  white  and  black 
ash,  black  walnut,  hickory,  birch  and  maple. 

The  Vermillion  river  runs  though  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  township,  and  adds  a  pleasing  element 
to  the  landscape.  Indian  creek  has  its  source  in  the 
southwest  part  and  flows  into  the  Vermillion  near  the 
east  town  line.  Brandy  creek,  which  is  said  to  have 
derived  its  name  from  the  peculiar  color  of  the  water, 
rises  near  the  centre  of  the  township,  flows  through 
the  northeast  part  of  the'  township  and  across  the 
northwest  corner  of  Clarksfield,  uniting  with  the 
Vermillion  a  short  distance  west  of  the  center  of 
Wakeman  township, 

NATIVE    AXIMAI.S. 

The  animals  of  the  forest,  were  the  bear,  deer, 
wolf,  wild  cat,  grey  fox  and  other  species  of  less  im- 
portance. Bears  were  not  numerous  and  seldom  seen. 
They  seem  to  have  collected  more  generally  in  the 
marshes  of  Kipley,  Avhere  they  were  frequently  killed. 
Deer  were   very   plenty  and   venison   was  often    so 


190 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


abundant  among  the  early  settlers  as  to  be  almost  a 
drug.  Mr.  E.  AV.  AValdron  and  Daniel  Robbius, 
while  hunting  on  one  occasion,  performed  the  unusual 
feat  of  capturing  two  of  them  by  running  them  down. 
There  were  several  inches  of  snow  on  the  ground  with 
a  crust,  through  which  the  sharp  hoofs  of  tlie  animals 
penetrated,  making  it  difficult  for  them  to  run. 

Wolves  were  numerous,  and  their  nocturnal  howls 
around  the  obscure  cabins  of  the  settlers,  were  as 
familiar  as  the  whip-poor-will's  song.  They  were 
also  very  troublesome,  killing  the  settlers'  sheep 
under  the  walls  of  his  cabin,  and  rendering  inclosures 
necessary  to  insure  their  safety. 

The  forests,  also,  abounded  in  wild  turkeys,  and 
Mr.  Bobbins  informs  the  writer  that  he  has  killed 
four  of  them  at  a  single  shot  from  his  rifle.  They 
were  often  taken,  in  the  spring  of  the  ^-ear,  by  imitat- 
ing the  note  of  the  female  and  decoying  the  male 
within  range  of  the  gun. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  earliest  settlements  were  made  in  tlie  second 
section,  on  Hartlaud  ridge.  In  the  spring  of  1817, 
William  and  Alva  Mun.sell  came  in  and  Ijegan  on  lot 
number  thirty- three,  in  what  was  called  the  Bulkley 
tract.  They  put  up  a  cabin,  chopped  off  a  piece  of 
ground,  and  planted  it  to  corn.  Tliey  left  the  town- 
ship in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  and  the  piece  of  land 
which  they  occupied  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
"old  brier  patch." 

Daniel  Bills  and  Jared  Tolls  arrived  soon  after  the 
Munsells.  Mr.  Bills  was  originally  from  Connecti- 
cut. He  married  Hannah  Waldron,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Waldron,  then  of  Ontario  county.  New  York, 
afterwards  of  this  township.  His  family  did  not  ac- 
company him  here,  Init  came  on  from  New  York  with 
Elijah  Bills  the  following  year.  He  located  on  lot 
number  sixteen,  where  Mr.  Thomas  now  resides.  A 
few  years  after  he  exchanged  farms  with  Daniel  Minor, 
of  Clarksfield,  and  moved  to  that  township. 

Jared  Tolls  was  an  early  settler  in  one  of  the  town- 
ships now  embraced  in  Erie  county.  He  settled  on 
lot  number  seventeen,  on  the  place  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Delap.  He  died  the  next  year  and  was  buried  on 
his  farm.  After  his  death  the  family  removed  to 
Macksville  in  Peru  township.  Mrs.  Tolls  was  a  sis- 
ter of  Daniel  Mack.  The  first  birth  and  the  first 
death  in  the  township  occurred  in  this  family. 

Allen  and  Sylvester  Blackmail  came  to  Hartland  at 
an  early  date  from  Florence.  The  former  was  the 
first  settler  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  B.  F. 
McCormick.  He  sold  the  place  to  Joseph  Waldron 
in  18'il,  and  moved  back  to  Florence.  Sylvester 
Blackman  settled  wliere  Elijah  Bills  afterwards  re- 
sided. 

Elijah  Bills  came  from  the  State  of  New  Y'ork  with 
the  family  of  Daniel  Bills  in  the  spring  of  1818.  He 
was  then  unmarried,  but  subsequently  he  married 
Mary  Howard,  daughter  of  Captain  William  Howard, 
and  settled  on  lot  eighteen,  purchasing  the  place  of 


Sylvester  Blackman.  He  died  on  this  place  October 
30,  1867,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  Mr.  Bills  was  a 
man  of  great  size,  force  of  character  and  local  promi- 
nence. He  was  so  poor  when  he  began  in  Hartland 
he  could  not  pay  for  an  ax,  but  before  his  death  he 
owned  a  thousand  acres  of  land.  He  acquired  some 
knowledge  of  law  and  was  a  sort  of  pettifogger  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  also  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Hartlaud  for  many  years. 

He  was  the  father  of  six  children,  four  boys  and 
two  girls.  Lion  E.  died  May  20,  1870,  in  his  forty- 
eighth  year;  Harriet  became  the  wife  of  B.  F.  Mc- 
Cormick, February  15,  18-16,  and,  in  the  spring  of 
the  following  year,  they  settled  on  the  place  where 
they  now  reside.  The  rest  of  the  children  are  also 
residents  of  this  township,  viz:  Stephen  W.,  Mary 
Amanda  (Mrs.  N.  M.  Bedell),  John  E.  and  Charles 
W.  The  latter,  with  his  mother,  owns  and  occupies 
the  old  homestead. 

Nathan  Miner  came  from  Connecticut  in  1819.  and 
stopped  for  a  short  time  in  the  township  of  Eldridge 
(now  Berlin),  where  he  married  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
White,  who  afterward  moved  to  this  township.  Mr. 
Miner  settled  where  his  son  Oliver  now  lives,  on  lot 
twenty-seven,  and  resided  there  until  his  death.  Mrs. 
Miner  is  also  deceased.  They  had  a  family  of  nine 
children.  Polly  married  David  Ernsberger,  moved  to 
Wisconsin,  and  died  there  soon  after;  Betsey  is  the 
relict  of  Warren  Hackett,  and  resides  on  Hartland 
ridge;  David,  Nelson  and  James  live  somewhere  in 
the  west;  Oliver  occupies  the  old  homestead,  as  pre- 
viously mentioned;  Olive  (Mrs.  Patchin)  resides  in 
Republic,  Ohio;  Samuel  and  Lucius  are  deceased. 

Samuel  White  and  family  came  from  Pennsylvania 
and  settled  in  Ashtabula  county  prior  to  the  war  of 
1812.  He  afterwards  moved  to  the  Fire-lands,  loca- 
ting at  Cold  Creek,  but  had  hardly  got  settled  when 
the  news  of  Hull's  surrender  of  Detroit  was  received. 
The  family  fled  to  Mount  Vernon,  Knox  county,  and 
remained  there  about  four  years.  They  then  went  to 
Berlin,  and  afterwards  to  Florence,  thence  to  Hart- 
land. He  died  while  on  a  visit  to  Ashtabula  county 
in  the  year  1840.  Mrs.  White  died  many  years  after  in 
Hartland.  There  were  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
married  and  settled  in  this  township.  They  were 
Jane,  who  became  the  w-ife  of  Nathan  Miner;  James, 
who  married  Fanny  Howard,  January  1,  1829,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  where  they  have  since  resided; 
and  Betsey,  who  married  Peter  James  and  located 
where  T,  W.  Head  now  lives.  Only  two  of  the  child- 
ren are  now  living,  viz:  David  in  Ashtabula,  and 
James  in  this  township.  One  of  the  sons,  Crawford, 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country  during  the  war 
with  Mexico  and  died  soon  after  his  arrival  in  that 
cou  ntry. 

Joseph  Waldron  with  his  wife  and  two  grand-child- 
ren, Elnathim  J.  and  Betsey  Waldron,  moved  in  from 
Bristol,  Ontario  county,  New  York.  June  2.  1821.  He 
purchased  of  Allen  Blackman  the  place  on  which  B. 
F.  McCormick  now  resides — lot  number  tv.eutv-two. 


,,/ 


BENJAiMIN   F.   McCORMICK. 


Benjamin  F.  McConnick,  the  fourth  child  of  Daniel 
McCormick  and  Mary  C.  Bnindage,  was  born  in  Ovid, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  14,  1820.  He  came  to  Ohio  in 
the  spring  of  1842,  and  entered  Oberlin  College  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year,  and  spent  a  portion  of  the  following  year 
in  that  institution,  taking  a  partial  course. 

Feb.  15,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Bills,  eldest 
daughter  of  Elijah  Bills  and  Mary  Howard,  of  Hartland. 
They  settled  on  what  is  known  as  Hartland  Ridge,  the  most 
beautiful  and  valuable  portion  of  the  township,  where  they 
still  live,  owning  about  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  and  fine  buildings. 

Seven  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  five  of  whom 
are  living :  William  S.,  mairied  Martha  Birkett,  of  Mon- 
roe Co.,  Mich.,  and  lives  in  Hartland,  near  his  parents ; 
Emma,  graduated  from  Oberlin,  and  married  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Winslow,  a  Congregational  minister,  and  lives  at 
De  Witt,  Saline  Co.,  Neb. ;  Frank  B.,  John  E.,  and  Fan- 
nie W.  are  unmarried,  and  live  at  home. 

For  many  years  the  subject  of  our  sketch  held  the  office 
of  township  clerk,  and  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
six  or  seven  terms.  We  regard  the  foregoing  as  worthy  of 
notice,  in  this  connection,  as  an  index  of  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  neighbors  more  than  anything  else. 

Politically,  Mr.  McCormick  started  as  a  Democrat,  and 
cast  his  first  ballot  for  James  K.  Polk,  in  1844;  a  fact 
which,  he  says,  has  been  a  source  of  continued  mortification 
acd  regret.  He  was  next  identified  with  the  Free-Soil 
party  until  it  was  merged  into  the  Republican  party,  with 
which  he  has  been  an  energetic  and  active  worker  until 
quite  recently.     He  now  believes  that  the  upas  shade  of 


corruption  has  poisoned  the  party,  dishonored  its  past  record, 
and  destroyed  its  future  prospects  by  adding  millions  to  the 
wealth  of  the  rich  by  laying  grievous  burdens  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  industrial  classes  ;  and  last,  but  not  least, 
by  utterly  neglecting  a  large  class  of  citizens  but  recently 
set  free,  and  refusing  them  the  protection  to  which  they  as 
citizens  are  justly  entitled.  Consequently,  he  has  identified 
himself  with  the  National  party,  and  believes  that,  under 
the  Constitution,  Congress  has  the  same  right  to  issue  paper 
money  and  make  it  a  legal  tender,  as  to  coin  gold  and  silver 
and  fix  the  value  thereof.  He  reads  the  current  news  and 
the  doiogs  of  Congress  critically,  and  expresses  his  views 
earnestly  and  methodically.  He  is  firm  in  his  convictions, 
because  they  are  the  result  of  investigation,  and  he  ex- 
presses them  with  the  earnestness  of  his  nature. 

Though  never  admitted  to  the  Bar,  his  knowledge  of  law 
and  his  natural  fitness  for  the  practice  have  made  Mr. 
McCormick  the  home  lawyer  of  his  township,  drafting 
legal  papers,  and  managing  and  trying  cases  in  justices' 
courts  for  those  who  sought  his  skill. 

We  hazard  nothing  in  saying  that  had  he  turned  hb 
attention  to  the  legal  profession,  he  would  have  been  an 
ornament  to  the  Bar  of  any  county  town. 

In  early  life  Mr.  McCormick  united  with  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  his  religious  sympathies  are  still  with  that 
body,  though  not  now  a  member  of  any  church. 

He  reads  and  has  the  courage  to  think  for  himself  on 
religious  subjects  as  well  as  political,  and,  if  we  were  to 
judge  of  his  religious  future,  we  would  say  that  such  a 
mind  would  not  long  be  in  sympathy  with  any  formulated 
religion. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


197 


He  died  on  this  place  June  15,  18-22.  He  fl'as  born 
near  Boston,  Mass.,  Februar}'  7,  1753,  and  removed 
to  Bristol,  New  York,  in  1801,  whence  he  came  to 
this  township  as  already  stated.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war;  was  present  at  the  firing  of 
tiie  first  gun  at  Lexington;  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill,  and  was  subsequently  taken  prisoner 
and  kept  on  board  of  a  British  man-of-war  for  two 
vears.  He  had  three  sous — Sylvester,  Stephen  and 
Joseph — all  of  whom  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Syl- 
vester came  to  Hartland  in  1819,  and  died  in  18i7. 
Joseph  followed  with  his  family  in  1831  and  occupied 
the  log  barn  of  Daniel  Bills  until  he  could  build  him 
a  house  in  Towusend,  where  he  settled,  about  a  mile 
and  a  quarter  southeast  of  the  center.  He  died  there 
in  1865,  and  his  oldest  son,  Sanford  G.  AValdron,  now 
occupies  the  place.  Stephen,  whose  two  cliildren, 
Elnatlian  J.  and  Betsey  Waldron,  came  to  Hartland 
with  their  grand-parents  as  previously  stated,  died  at 
an  advanced  age  in  the  State  of  New  Y'ork. 

Joseph  Osyor  moved  from  Canada  to  Berlin  town- 
ship, and  iu  1820  to  Hartland,  and  settled  on  lot 
number  thirty.  The  farm  is  now  occupied  by  Eno 
Holiday.  Osyor  sold  and  moved  to  Clarksfield  a  few 
years  after,  subsequently  to  the  center  of  Towusend, 
and  still  later  to  Berlin,  where  he  died.  He  had  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  Tlie  latter  became 
the  wife  of  Cyrus  Wagoner. 

Elnathan  J.  Waldrou  has  resided  in  the  township 
since  18^1.  He  was  born  in  New  Y'ork,  March  24, 
1804.  He  married  Emily  Kilbourn,  in  this  township, 
August  13,  L826.  Mr.  Waldron  has  written  an  in- 
teresting short  history  of  Hartland  for  the  Fire-haids 
Pioneer. 

Josiah  Kilbourn,  with  his  fa\nily,  removed  to  Ber- 
lin from  Onondaga  county.  New  Y'ork,  in  1815.  He 
resided  there  until  March  1821,  when  he  settled  iu 
this  township,  on  lot  number  nine.  He  afterwards 
moved  to  Sullivan  township,  then  Lorain  county, 
and  in  1838  or  '39  returned  to  Berlin,  where  he  died 
a  year  or  two  after.  His  first  wife  died  during  tlieir 
residence  iu  Hartland,  and  he  subsequently  married 
the  widow  Proctor,  of  Berlin,  who  survived  him.  He 
liad  a  large  number  of  children,  the  oldest  of  whom 
(Emily)  is  the  wife  of  Elnathan  J.  Waldron. 

Captain  William  Howard,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
removed  with  his  family  from  Delaware  county.  New 
York,  to  Milan  in  1810.  He  settled  where  the  vil- 
lage of  Milau  now  is,  then  called  Indian  Village.  He 
lived  there  two  years,  when,  the  Indians  becoming 
troublesome,  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Hudson, 
and,  afterwards,  to  Portage  county  near  the  Jlahon- 
ing  river,  where  he  remamed  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  returned  to  the  township  of  Milan, 
loc^ating  near  the  Berlin  line.  Two  or  three  years 
afterward  lie  went  to  Perkins  township,  where,  owing 
to  sickness  iu  his  family,  he  lost  everything.  He 
removed  to  Sherman  township,  remained  about  three 
years,  and  then  came  to  Harthmd.  arriving  iu  April, 
1821.     He    made   his    location   on    lot    inunljer  ten. 


where  Stephen  Bills  now  resides.  He  died  in  Hart- 
land, December,  1859,  aged  ninety.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1832,  and  he  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Amanda 
Phelps,  who  died  December,  1872,  aged  nearly  eighty- 
nine.  There  were  eleven  children,  all  by  the  first 
marriage.  Three  of  them  died  during  the  residence 
of  the  family  in  the  Indian  Village,  and  now  sleep 
beneath  the  present  village  of  Milan.  Mary,  widow 
of  Elijah  Bills,  aged  seventy-seven;  Fanny,  wife  of 
James  Wliite,  aged  seventy-three;  and  Almon,  twin 
brother  of  Alvah  (deceased),  reside  in  this  township; 
Arthur  lives  in  Indiana,  and  William  Sidney  in  Wake- 
man.  Tlie  rest  are  deceased.  Captain  Howard  was 
a  sea  captain  for  many  years,  hence  the  title,  "Cap- 
tain. " 

In  February,  1824,  Daniel  Miner  moved  in  from 
Clarksfield,  and  fixed  his  residence  at  the  corners 
where  Daniel  Bills  previously  resided,  with  whom  he 
traded  farms.  Mr.  Miner  was  a  native  of  Homer, 
Courtland  couuty.  New  Y'ork.  He  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  father  in  1810,  and  settled  near  Rocky  river, 
in  Cuyahoga  county.  He  came  to  Huron  county 
when  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  resided  in 
Clarksfield  until  his  removal  to  this  township.  He 
merried  Lydia  Bennett,  of  Thompson  township, 
Seneca  county,  Ohio,  January  7,  1823.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  many  years  iu  Hartland  he  removed  to  Nor- 
walk,  where  he  afterwards  lived.  He  died  July  25, 
1878,  aged  nearly  seventy-five.  Mrs.  Miner  died 
September  22,  of  the  same  year.  They  had  but  one 
child,  a  daughter,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
R.  Bostwick,  of  Norwalk. 

Mr.  Miner  kept  a  tavern  on  Hartland  Ridge  for 
many  years.  He  was  the  first  township  clerk  and  the 
first  postmaster,  holding  the  latter  office  over  twenty- 
one  years. 

Jesse  Taintor  moved  in  from  New  Y'ork  itbout  the 
year  1824,  and  bought  out  Jared  Tolls  on  lot  twenty- 
one.  He  continued  to  occupy  this  place  until  his 
death,  in  1800.  -Mrs.  Taintor  died  a  few  years  since, 
aged  about  ninety.  They  Inid  a  family  of  five  child- 
ren, the  oldest  of  whom,  Lucieu,  married  Betsey 
Waldron,  of  previous  mention,  and  settled  on  the 
ridge,,  where  their  son-in-law,   Mr.  Delap,  now  lives. 

Eli  Barnum  and  Alien  Mead  came  to  Hartland  in 
1824,  and  bought  out  Joseph  Oysor.  The  two  fami- 
lies occupied  the  same  house,  and  they  began  farming 
on  a  sort  of  co-operative  plan.  They  remained  only  a 
few  years,  sold  to  Tinker  Smith,  and  Barnum  re- 
moved to  Norwalk  town^ihip,  and  was  subsequently 
connected  with  the  infirmary  in  some  official  capacity. 
Mr.  Mead,  who  was  a  Baptist  preacher,  went  to  Mans- 
field. 

Libeus  Stoors  came  into  the  country  ;ibout  tliis  time. 
He  married  Anna  Harris,  of  Berlin,  and  settled  on 
the  ridge,  where  the  log  house  now  stands,  a  siiort 
distance  north  of  E.  Holidays".  The  place  is  now 
owned  by  J.  C.  Ranr<om.  He  and  his  wife,  and  some 
of  the  cliiUlroii.  are  buried  there.  There  are  three 
cliildren  living,   oae  of  wlio;n.    Mr<.    Samuel    Lock- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


wood,  with  her  linsbiiiid,  occupies  a  portion  of  the  old 
homestead. 

A  family  bv  the  name  of  Ledyard.  and  another  by 
the  name  of  Owen,  settled  on  the  Vermillion  river,  in 
the  first  section,  about  182.5.  They  remained  but  a 
short  time  in  the  township. 

Ezekiel  Phillips  was  one  of  the  earliest  permanent 
settlers  in  this  section.  He  tirrived  with  his  family 
from  Ontario  county.  New  York,  in  1830,  and  settled 
on  lot  number  seven  on  the  section  line.  He  died  in 
Hartland  in  July,  18.56.  His  widow,  after  his  death, 
made  her  home  with  her  son-in-law.  Parley  K.  Post. 
She  died  October  1,  1877,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year 
of  her  age.  There  were  nine  children,  five  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Post,  in  Hartland; 
Mrs.  Hoppock  and  Mrs.  Burgess,  in  Wisconsin,  Mrs. 
John  C'lawson,  in  C'larksfield.  and  C.  X..  in  Mich- 
igan. 

Pai'ley  K.  Post  came  from  Madison  county,  Xew 
York,  to  Hartland  in  September,  1831.  He  bought 
the  "betterments"  of  John  Ford,  who  had  cleared 
about  five  acres  where  Mr.  Post  now  lives,  and  had 
built  a  shanty  across  the  road.  His  brother-in-law, 
Luther  Toogood,  moved  into  the  house  soon  after, 
and  occupied  it  until  the  next  spring,  and  Mr.  Post 
lived,  with  them.  Toogood  then  located  a  short  dis- 
tance south  of  where  Abram  Phillips  now  resides, 
and  Mr.  Post's  parents  came  on  from  New  York  and 
moved  into  his  house.  October  23,  1835,  he  married 
Amy  Phillips,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  Phillips,  and 
erected  a  log  house  near  where  his  frame  house  now 
stands,  which  he  built  in  1850. 

His  father,  Isaiah  Post,  died  July  25,  1838,  and  the 
mother  two  years  subsequently.  They  had  a  family 
of  thirteen  children,  three  of  wliom  are  living,  viz: 
Mrs.  E.  Chandler,  in  Townsend,  Isaiah,  in  Wisconsin, 
and  Parley  K.,  in  this  township.  The  latter  has  held 
the  office  of  township  trustee  in  Hartland  for  a  period 
of  twenty-two  years. 

In  March,  1832.  Daniel  Robbins,  with  his  family  of 
wife  and  two  children,  and  his  wife's  sister,  arrived 
from  Wayne  county.  New  Y^ork.  Mr.  Robbins  settled 
on  lot  number  nine  in  the  third  section,  erecting  his 
shanty  on  the  location  of  the  present  residence  of 
Lev/is  Moore.  When  he  moved  into  his  cabin,  it  was, 
indeed,  a  primitive  dwelling,  being  unehinked,  and 
without  a  door,  window  or  chimney.  He  resided  here 
five  years,  and  tiicn  siild  and  moved  to  Norwich,  and 
finally  to  Bronson  on  tiie  west  town  line,  where  he 
ha.s  since  lived. 

Peres  Miner  moved  on  to  the  place  now  occupied  by 
Henry  L.  Moore,  on  lot  twenty-six  in  the  third  sec- 
tion, in  the  spring  of  1833.  He  had  lived  in  Nor- 
walk  township  a  number  of  years  previous,  and  mar- 
ried there  the  widow  of  Hanson  Read  who  was  the 
first  settler  in  Greenfield.  Miner  resided  in  Hartland 
about  eight  years  when  he  moved  to  Bronson.  There 
a  few  years  after  he  lost  his  house  by  fire,  and  he 
moved  to  Enterprise,  and  finally  to  Norwich  town- 
ship where  he  sub.sequently  died. 


Stephen  Knapp  and  three  sons,  and  Andrew  Bishop 
settled  in  the  third  section  about  the  year  1833. 

Henry  Silcox  moved  into  the  town.-ship  from  Cayuga 
county.  New  York,  in  183-1:.  He  and  his  wife  both 
died  in  this  township  many  years  ago.  Two  of  their 
children  are  now  living  in  this  township,  and  one  in 
Michigan. 

Thomas  Manahan,  with  his  wife  and  four  sous — a 
daughter  remaining  at  the  east — came  from  Cayuga 
county.  New  I'ork,  to  this  county,  in  the  summer  of 
1833.  He  lived  in  the  township  of  Xorwalk  about 
two  years,  and  then  purchased  and  settled  in  Hart- 
land, on  lot  number  twelve  in  section  number  three. 
He  died  while  east  on  a  visit  to  his  daughter  in 
December,  1858,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  Mrs. 
Manahan  lived  to  the  advanc.d  age  of  nearly  ninety- 
five.  She  died  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  George 
W.  Manahan,  in  Norwalk  township,  December  18, 
1873.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  over  sixty  years,  and  of  the  Hartland 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  nearly  forty  years. 
They  raised  a  family  of  five  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living,  as  follows:  Sarah  Ann  (Mrs.  Worthing) 
in  Norwalk;  George  W.  in  the  south  part  of  the  town- 
ship of  Norwalk;  Charles  W.  in  Norwalk,  who  is  at 
the  head  of  the  dry  goods  house  of  Manahan,  Taber 
&  Co.  Henry  H.  married  Mary  J.  Chapin,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  resides  in  Bronson  township.  Lewis 
married  Sarah  Chapin,  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Henry  H. 
Manahan,  and  resides  near  Olena  in  Bronson.  The 
sons  have  been  among  the  active  business  men  of  the 
county  for  many  years. 

Joseph  Moore,  a  native  of  Cherry  Valley.  New  Jer- 
sey, removed  with  his  family  from  Tompkins  county. 
New  York,  to  this  county,  in  1833.  He  settled  in 
Norwalk  township,  on  lot  number  five  in  the  first 
section.  In  1855,  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to 
Hartland,  locating  with  his  son,  Lewis  Moore,  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  the  latter,  on  lot  nine,  section 
three.  He  died  on  this  farm  October  5,  1876,  aged 
nearly  ninety  years.  Mr.  Moore  was  a  good  citizen, 
an  exemjjlary  christian  and  an  efficient  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Moore  died 
in  185-1. 

There  were  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  three  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  Mrs. 
Jonathan  White  in  Kansas,  and  Lewis  and  Henry 
L.  in  Hartland.  The  latter  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Huron  county  in  October,  1853,  on  the  last  whig 
ticket,  and  w;is  the  only  nominee  on  the  ticket  elected. 
He  was  re-elected  in  1855,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
second  term,  he  purchased  the  farm  in  Hartland  on 
which  he  has  since  lived. 

William  Johnson,  his  wife  and  seven  children,  came 
to  Hartland,  from  the  state  of  New  York,  in  the  year 
1835,  and  located  lots  number  seventeen  eighteen  and 
a  part  of  twenty,  of  the  Latimer  and  Lane  tract,  in 
the  first  section.  Mr.  Johnson  died  February  24, 
1867,  and  Melinda,  his  wife,  died  September  14, 1847. 
Of  the  seven  children,  six  are  living,  as  follows  :    R. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


199 


C.  Johnson  resides  in  Fitchville;  Mrs.  0.  A.  Rausom 
in  Hartland;  Mary  J.  Prosser  in  New  London;  Eliza 
J.  Barns  iu  Fitciiville;  A.  S.  Johnson  in  New  Lon- 
don, and  Lewis  Johnson  iu  Clarksfield.  Catharine 
(Foot)  died  iu  New  London  iu  February,  187T. 

Charles  and  George  Smitli  moved  in  from  New 
York  and  settled  in  this  section  a  short  time  previous 
to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Post.  They  resided  here  a 
number  of  years  and  then  removed  to  Lorain  county, 
and  finally  to  the  west. 

A  family  by  the  name  of  Harrington  settled  about 
the  same  time  on  lot  number  eleven.  A  few  years 
he  subsequently  married  Mary  Jaeksou,  who  came  to 
Hartland  with  the  family  of  Thomas  Manahan  in  1833. 

Abram  Phillips  came  to  Huron  from  near  Buffalo, 
New  York,  with  his  family,  in  August,  1835.  He  re- 
mained a  year  in  Huron  and  then  settled  in  Hartland, 
where  he  has  since  lived,  on  lot  six  iu  the  first  section. 
He  built  his  present  brick  house  in  1849,  which  was 
the  first  brick  building  erected  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Phillijis  was  born  in  Windham,  Greene  county, 
New  York,  June  11,  1T99.  He  married,  January  1, 
1823,  Jane  Robinson,  who  was  born  iu  Pennsylvania 
in  1894:.  They  have  reared  a  family  of  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  Calvin  0.  Chaffee,  liis  wife 
and  child,  Bartlett  Davis  and  wife,  Benjamin  G.  and 
George  Haines  and  their  families  came  to  this  county 
from  near  Springfield,  Mass.,  consuming  four  weeks 
iu  the  journey. 

Mr.  Chaffee,  the  first  year  after  his  arrival,  rented 
the  place  on  which  Mv.  Tilton  now  lives,  in  Bronson. 
He  then  purchased  and  settled  in  Hartland,  where  his 
Widow  now  resides, — lot  number  twenty-five,  section 
number  three — where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  in  January,  1877.  He  was  born  April  29, 1811. 
Mrs.  Chaffee  was  born  at  Palmer,  Mass.,  March  27, 
1808.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Ciialiee,  March  19, 
1833.  The  number  of  children  born  to  them  was 
seven,  six  of  whom  are  living.  The  two  sons,  D.  E. 
and  Charles  M.,  operate  the  saw-mill  opposite  the  old 
homestead. 

Mr.  Davis  first  located  a  short  distance  north  of  his 
present  residence.  His  wife  died  April  10,  1850,  and 
after,  he  sold  to  Isaac  Powell  and  moved  to  Fitchville. 

George  Haines  remained  in  Bronson  a  short  time 
and  then  settled  in  Ripley.  The  most  of  the  family 
died  of  typhoid  fever  soon  after,  which  was  brought 
among  them  by  a  young  man  from  the  south. 

Benjamin  Haines  died  in  Bronson  about  the  same 
time  of  tiie  same  disease. 

In  the  fourth  section  the  first  settler  was  Isaac 
Frayer  who  moved  in  from  Greene  county,  New  York, 
in  1832.  He  settled  on  the  southwest  corner  of  lot 
number  nineteen.  He  occupied  his  original  location 
until  his  death  in  December,  1874.  Mrs.  Frayer  died 
in  the  early  years  of  their  settlement.  They  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz: 
Ambrose  Frayer  in  Ripley,  Mrs.  Beardsley,  ilrs.  Goff, 
and  Mrs.  Robbins  in  Norwalk. 


Across  the  road  from  Frayer,  Darius  Cherry  located 
at  an  early  date.  He  afterwards  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Fitchville  where  he  is  now  living. 

Robert  Brown  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this 
quarter  of  the  township  and  is  the  only  one  of  those 
who  took  up  land  on  the  road  on  which  he  lives,  now 
occupying  his  original  location.  He  was  born  in  New 
London,  Conn.,  January  24,  1805;  married  March  12, 
183G,  Eliza  Chapel  of  the  same  place  who  was  born 
February  16th,  of  the  same  3-ear.  He  came  to  Huron 
county  in  1831  and  resided  in  Greenfield  and  Fairfield 
five  years  and  then  came  to  Hartland  where  he  made 
his  first  purchase  of  laud,  on  lot  number  sixteen  in 
the  Mercer  tract.  His  cabin  was  built  of  logs  and 
witli  "stick"  chimney  after  the  style  of  tlie  period, 
and  stood  in  the  midst  of  these  large  stumps  and  girt 
about  with  dense  woods.  Mr.  Brown  had  nothing  to 
begin  with  but  his  character  and  industry,  and  his 
necessities  required  a  great  deal  of  hard  labor  in  those 
early  days.  His  tax  the  first  yeav  was  fiventy-seven 
cents,  paid  on  a  cow  and  a  pair  of  steers.  He  is  the 
father  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  ai-e  living.  Mrs. 
Brown  died  in  Hartland,  January  22,  1877. 

Rowland  Searles  and  family,  and  subsequently  his 
father,  John  Searles,  and  his  family,  settled  on  lots 
number  twenty-two  and  twenty-three  of  the  fourth 
section,  respectively,  in  the  year  1835.  They  were 
from  the  state  of  New  York.  John  Searles  died 
many  years  ago.  Rowland  Searles  is  how  living  across 
the  road  from  his  first  location,  on  lot  seventeen,  and 
is  aged  about  seventy. 

Nathaniel  S.  Tompkins,  from  Greene  coiintv.  New 
York,  moved  in  soon  after  the  Searles',  and  settled  on 
half  of  lot  number  twenty-two.  He  and  his  wife  both 
died  on  this  place,  and  none  of  the  family  are  now 
left  in  Hartland. 

Three  families  by  the  name  of  Price — father  and 
two  sons^settled  on  this  road  about  the  vear  1835, 
but  none  of  thein  are  now  living  in  the  township. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  Azael  Welch  moved  in  from  New 
York,  and  settled  on  the  west  end  of  the  road.  He 
is  dead,  and  but  one  member  of  the  family  now  re- 
mains in  the  town. 

Ambrose  Royce  came  to  the  Fire-lauds  from  New 
York  State,  lived  a  few  years  iu  Fairfield,  and  in  1836 
settled  in  Hartland,  on  the  west  part  of  lot  fifteen, 
where  his  widow  now  lives.     He  died  a  few  years  since. 

John  Ernsberger  was  an  early  settler  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  township,  and  is  still  living  on  his  original 
location,  a  mile  east  of  Olena. 

The  returns  of  the  county  assessor,  of  the  white 
male  inhabitants  in  Huron  county  over  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  in'the  jxar  1827,  gives  the  following 
list  of  such  inhabitants  in  this  township  : 


HeuryPick-ard. 

Joseph  P.  Owen 

Francis  Waj-al 

Samuel  Wellman. 

EliBarnum. 

Nathan  Miner. 

Libeus  Stoois. 

Samuel  White 

Sylvester  Wald. 

Elnathan  Waldron 

Jesse  Taiutor. 

Luoie.iTaintor. 

Crawford  White 

Jonathan  Waldron 

James  Tliomas. 

Elijah  Bills. 

William  Howard 

Arthur  Howard 

Daniel  Miner. 

Josiah  Kilburn 

James  W.ite 

Peter  J.imes 

HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  white  child  hnni  in  the  township,  was  a 
chihl  of  Jared  Tolls,  in  ISIS. 

The  first  couple  married  was  Elijah  Bills  and  Mary 
Howard,  dax;gliter  of  Captain  William  Howard.  This 
event  occurred  June  2,  1822,  at  the  i-esidence  of  the 
bride's  parents, — John  Beatty,  Esq.,  performing  the 
nuptial  ceremony. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Jared  Tolls,  who  died 
in  the  fall  of  1818.  from  eating  too  freely  of  wild 
plums.  He  was  buried  on  his  farm,  in  a  coffin  made 
out  of  Daniel  Bills'  wagon-box,  as  there  was  no  lum- 
ber to  be  had.  A  small  apple  tree  sprout  was  planted 
at  the  head  of  the  grave,  which  grew  to  be  a  large 
tree.  l>ut  it  has  been  removed,  and  the  exact  location 
of  the  grave  is  now  unknown. 


was  built  by  Judah  Ransom,  on  Indian  creek,  in  the 
spring  of  1826. 

There  are  at  the  present  time  four  saw  mills  in  the 
township,  viz:  The  Chaffee  mill,  in  the  third  sec- 
tion; the  Miles  mill,  near  the  north  town  line;  the 
Miles  mills,  at  the  center,  and  the  Thomas  mills,  at 
Olena.  The  latter,  the  oldest,  was  built  by  John 
Laugan  in  1840  or  1845.  There  has  never  been  a 
grist  mill  built  in  Hartland,  and  the  early  settlers 
sometimes  experienced  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  in 
getting  their  grinding  done.  There  were  grist  mills 
in  some  of  the  adjacent  townships,  but  they  were  at 
rest  much  of  the  time  in  consequence  of  dry  weather, 
and  at  such  times  trips  to  Cold  creek,  and  occasionally 
even  to  Mansfield,  sixty  miles  distant,  and  through 
almost  unbroken  forests,  were  necessary  to  get  grind- 
ing done.  Families  whose  supply  of  flour  would  be 
exhausted  before  the  return  of  the  grist  from  the 
mill,  would  enjoy  a  week's  variety  of  pounded  wheat 
or  ''joint?d  corn." 

EOrCATKJXAL. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  in  the  fall  of  1821, 
on  the  ground  that  is  now  occupied  by  the  Ridge 
burying  ground.  The  size  of  the  house  was  sixteen 
by  twenty  feet,  with  puncheon  floor.  The  door,  seats 
and  writing  desks  were  also  made  of  puncheons,  and 
greased  paper  served  as  glass  for  the  windows. 

The  first  school  was  kept  by  Cyrus  Munger,  in  the 
winter  of  1821-22.  The  families  of  Josiah  Kilbourn, 
William  Howard,  Daniel  Bills,  Joseph  Osj'or,  Nathan 
Miner  and  Samuel  White  were  represented  in  the 
school. 

In  April,  1826,  the  township  was  erected  by  the 
trustees  into  one  school  district,  called  District  No.  1. 
The  following  were  at  that  time  householders  of  the 
district:  Josiah  Kilbourn,  William  Howard,  Daniel 
Miner,  Elijah  Bills,  Samuel  White,  Jesse  Taintor, 
Nathan  Miner,  Sylvester  Waldron,  Libeus  Stoors, 
Allen  .Mead,  Eli  Barnum  and  Henry  Pickard. 


RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  Hartland  was  Ijy  the 
Rev.  Lot  B.  Sullivan,  a  Congregational  home  mis- 
sionary. The  first  regular  religious  services  were 
held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Waldron,  in  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1821,  at  which  the  Revs.  True  Pattee  and 
James  Mclntyre,  Methodist  circuit  preachers,  offi- 
ciated. 

After  the  school  house  was  built,  on  the  ridge,  in 
the  fall  of  1821,  the  meetings  were  held  there.  There 
was  at  this  time  but  one  Methodist  family  in  the 
township.  In  1824,  a  few  Free  Will  Baptist  families 
moved  into  the  township,  among  which  was  that  of 
Allen  Mead,  a  preacher  of  that  denomination.  They 
soon  after  began  to  hold  meetings,  and,  under  the 
preaching  of  Mead,  Elder  Wheeler  of  Greenfield,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Carlton,  quite  a  revival  followed,  resulting 
in  the  organization  of  a  church  in  Clarksfield,  with 
which  the  Baptists  in  Hartland  united.  The  Free 
Wills  thus  took  the  lead,  and  maintained  it  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHIRCH 

of  West  Hartland  was  organized  at  the  house  of  Perez 
Miner,  in  the  year  18.32,  by  Rev.  Leonard  Hill,  and 
consisted  of  four  members,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Perez 
Miner,  James  Read,  F.  M.  Kilbourn  and  wife. 
Daniel  Strattoii,  of  Xorwalk  townshiji.  was  appointed 
class  leader. 

This  was  the  first  church  organized  in  the  town- 
ship. The  earliest  preachers  who  ofliciated  for  this 
church  were  Edward  Thompson  (afterwards  bishop), 
Diem,  Disbro,  Kellum,  BarkduU,  Heuster,  Jones, 
Wells,  Breckenridge  and  Gurley.  The  church  has 
now  a  membership  of  about  fift}-.  The  Rev.  George 
A.  Weber,  resident  at  Townsend  center,  is  the  pastor. 
The  church  building  was  erected  in  1873,  and  cost 
about  two  thousand  three  hundred  dollars. 

A  Sabbath  school,  the  first  in  the  township,  was 
organized  by  Rev.  True  Pattee,  in  1834.  It  is  now  in 
a  flourishing  condition.  D.  E.  Chaffee  is  the  superin- 
tendent. There  wuis  a  class  formed  in  the  fourth 
section  at  an  early  date,  and  subsequently  another  at 
the  center  of  the  town.  The  former  did  not  continue 
long,  the  members  going  to  Olena,  and  the  latter, 
after  a  few  years,  disbanded. 

In  about  the  year  1852  or  1853,  a  Wesleyan  proac  her, 
by  the  name  of  Royce,  came  in  and  formed  a  class, 
but  not  being  able  to  sustain  preaching,  the  class  ex- 
isted but  a  few  years. 

THE  IXITED  BRETHREX  CHURCH 

at  the  center  was  organized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  in 
the  spring  of  1865,  and  consisted  of  the  following 
members,  to-wit:  Elon  Done  and  wife.  Joseph  Briggs 
and  wife,  G.  W.  Patchen  and  wife,  James  Blakcman 
and  wife,  J.  B.  Darling  and  a  few  young  members, 
whose  names  cannot  now  be  recalled.  They  held 
their  meetings  at  the  center  school  house  until  1867, 
when  the  present  church  building  was  erected  at  a 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


cost  of  about  twelve  hundred  dollars.  In  18TT  the 
church,  enjoyed  an  extensive  revival,  the  number  of 
conversions  being  about  one  hundred.  The  member- 
ship for  a  j-ear  or  two  has  been  diminishing,  and  the 
society  is  not  at  present  in  as  prosperous  a  condition 
as  formerly. 

TOWXSHIP    ORG.iXIZATIOX. 

The  original  name  of  the  township  was  Canterbury. 
It  was  annexed  to  Glarksfield  (formerly  Bethel)  until 
April,  1826,  when  it  was  detached  and  organized  for 
independent  action  under  the  name  of  Hartland. 

The  election  for  township  officers  was  held  at  the 
school  house  on  the  ridge.  Eli  Barnum  and  Daniel 
Jliner  were  chosen  clerks  of  election,  and  Nathan 
Miner,  Josiah  Kilbourn  and  Allen  Mead,  judges. 

The  result  of  tlie  election  was  as  follows:  Daniel 
Miner,  township  clerk;  Nathan  jMiner,  Josiah  Kil- 
bourn and  Jesse  Taintor,  trustees;  Lebeus  Stoors  and 
James  Wiiite,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Elijah  Bills  and 
Lebeus  Stoors.  fence  viewers:  Allen  Mead  and  Lebens 
Stoors.  appraisers  of  property;  Allen  Mead,  lister; 
Allen  ilead,  treasurer:  Nathan  Miner  and  Daniel 
Miner,  supervisors  of  highways.  Arthur  Howard  was 
elected  constable,  and,  to  provide  him  employment, 
on  the  24th  day  of  May  following  Eli  Barnum  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  March,  1827,  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  trustees  with  township  officers  was  made, 
at  which  time  the  following  orders  were  drawn  on  the 
treasurer,  to  wit:  To  Eli  Barnum,  for  services  as  clerk 
of  election,  thirty-three  cents  ;  to  Josiah  Kilbourn, 
for  services  as  trustee,  one  dollar  and  sixty-one  cents: 
to  Nathan  Miner,  for  services  as  trustee,  two  dollars 
and  seventy  cents  :  to  Jesse  Taintor,  for  same  service. 


one  dollar  and  thirty-thi'ce  cents  :  Daniel  Miner,  for 
services  as  township  clerk,  including  a  township  rec- 
ord book,  three  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents. 

I'lOXEER    INTIMIDATION. 

I  Tlie  spring  election  of  1827  was  an  unusually  excit- 
ing one,  and  there  is  a  vague  tradition  that  it  was  not 

I  wholly  free  from  a  certain  kind  of  intimidation.  The 
contest  was  over  supervisor  of  highways,  one  party 
wanting  all  the  road-work  confined  to  the  ridge, 
while  the  other  thought  some  of  it  ought  to  be  done 
on  the  other  roads.  xVfter  a  spirited  discussion  of 
the  question,  and  before  the  voting  began,  a  canvass 

I   was  made  to  learn  the  relative  strength  of  the  two 

1  parties,  when  it  was  found  the  ridge  party  had  six 
adherents  and  their  opponents  seven.  One  of  the 
seven,  whose  "  infirmity  "  was  well  known,  was  there- 
upon bargained  with  by  the  minority,  for  a  jug  of 
whisky,  to  vote  with  them,  a  penalty  being  affixed 
that  in  case  of  non-performance  of  contract  by  the 
purchased  voter,  he  should  be  kicked  by  his  pur- 
chasers from  the  polls  to  his  home.  The  ridge  got 
all  the  work. 

At  the  election  in  xVpril  of  the  current  year,  J.  M. 
Chaffee  was  chosen  township  clerk  ;  J.  B.  Darling, 
A.  C.  Miller  and  E.  E.  Brown,  trustees ;  G.  D.  Ful- 
ler, treasurer ;  H.  M.  Hood  and  Henry  L.  Moore, 
justices  of  the  peace. 

POST    OFFICE. 

In  1833  the  first  post  office  was  established  in  Hart- 
land,  with  Daniel  Miner  as  postmaster,  who  kept  the 
office  in  his  house,  on  the  ridge,  for  a  period  of  twen- 
ty-one years. 

The  present  post  office  is  located  at  the  center  of 
Hartland,  L.  M.  Miles  being  the  incumbent. 


PERU 


ORIGIXAL   OWXER.S. 

Fun  t'.\])lan:itiou  of  fullowiDg  table,  see  Wakeuian 
lii.<tor_v: 

PEUr,    TOWX   XCMBER   THREE,    RAX(;E    TW'EXTY. 

Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 

Original  Grantees.         Am't.Loss.  Classified  by.  Am't  Classed^ 

AbelFi-isbie                   ..    '. .     ..  "              "  83  15  o' 

John  Woodward, Jr.    740    19    11  Jere.  Atwater&  Jere.  .,,-  „  „ 

Townsend's  heirs  "■"  "  " 

Sarah  Hunt                     "              "  3  4  0 

Jared  Hemingway        "              '"  5  4  6 

Nehemiah  Higgins        "              "  2  8  11 

Stephen  Honevwell       "              "  1  19  6 

Enos  Hotchkiss              "              "  3  IT  8 

Jared  IngersoU               i  "              "  2  0  0 

Enos  Johnson                 "              "  1  IT  9 

James  Lyndes                !  '*              "  4  IT  6 

David  Murison                "              "  8  8  6 

Robert  Matthews           I  "              "  8  3  0 

Susan  Malion                  "              "  16  8 

Marv  Pease                     '  "              "  15  14  0 

Rachel  Rtissell                '  "              "  3  18  10 

Hannah  Sloper               "              '■  5  8  0 

Amos  Sherman               "              "  34  12  8 

Hez.  Sabiu,  Jr.                "              ••  T9  8  9 

Sarah  Stevens                 "              "  4  11  0 

Hannah  Sackett             Jeremiah  Atwater  5  7  6 

Ruth  Gordon                   "              "  T  10  0 

Mary  Hubbard                I  "              "  5  IT  11 

Edmond  Smith                "              "  4  IT  1 

Thomas  Bill                     1  "              "  9  16  4 

Patience  Mix                   j  '•              "  20  19  1 

Oliver  Ailing                   ,  "              "  40  18  0 

Lydia  Johnson                *'              "  5  T  0 

Rev.  Chauncey  Whit- 
tlesey                         326      6      3  The  heirs  at  law  .326  6  3 

Newton  Whittlesey        "              "  33  3  0 

Wm .  Van  Duerson         Wra.  Van  Duerson  62  4  3 

Marv  Cutler                    Heir  at  law  48  18  1 

John  Woodward,  Jr.  740    19    11    ,  John  Woodward  360  1  3 

Rev.  Noah  Williston      I  Committee  27  5  0 

Silas  Kimberly                 9    18      6  "  9  0  6 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  1  £1,344  7  0 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Oriijinal  Gri 


'I  tee 


Classification 
Am't  Los: 


No .  2,  Section  2. 
Classified  by 


Am't  Classed. 


John  Mix.  Jr. 
Major  Lines 
Ebenezer  Huggins 
Joseph  Howell 
Susannah  Hotchkiss 
Obediah  Hotchkiss 
Henry  F.  Hughes 
Stephen  Herrick 
Levi  Ives 
Peter  Johnson 
Ebenezer  Lines 
Edward  Meloy 
Amos  Monson 
David  Osborne 
Mehittibel  Osborne 
Marstin  Parrot 
William  Punchard 
Jacob  Pinto 
Ichabod  Page 
Sarah  Pannelee 
Jeremiah  Parmelee 
Charles  Prindle 
William  Sherman 
Caleb.Trowbridge 
Jere.  Townsend,  Jr. 
Daniel  Tuttle 
Robert  Townsend 
Hezekiah  Tuttle 
Daniel  Mansfield 
Kinstead  Mansfield 
James  Murray 
Marj'  Horton 
Abraham  Johnson 
Jeremiah  Townsend 
Timothy  Townsend 
Stephen  Trowbridge 
Robert  Fail  child 
Ezra  I'ord 
Heni-j-  Gibbs 
Christian  Hanson 
David  Cook 
SBmuel  Clark 
■Samuel  Cook 


William  J.  Vredenburg9 


t  Loss.        Classified  by. 


Isaac  Doolittle  20 

Henry  iJaggett  3T 

Sarah  Kimberly 
Jonas  Prentice 
Martin  Ray 
John  Scott 
Moses  Strong 
Hannah  Mix 
Moses  Mansfield 
Thomas  Punderson 
John  Pierpont 
Timothy  Taimadge 
Allice  Wise 
John  Ward 
John  Warner 
Joseph  Smith,  3d 
John  Stover 
John  R.  Throop 
Joseph  Thompson 
Abraham  Thompson  .. 
John  Mix 
Samuel  Ailing 
Hesekiah  Ailing 
Jonah  Atwater 
Elanor  Bonticon 
Abraham  Bradley,  Jr.    . 
Lemuel  Benhara 
Hanover  Barney 
John  Lathrop 
ElishaMix 
Lorain  Ailing 
Sarah  Brown 
Stephen  Johnson 
Ansel  Truly 
Ephraim  Bobbins 
Charles  Burr 
Nehemiah  Buddington . . 
Jacob  Thompson 
Sarah  Goldsmith 
Moses  Wells  856 

Michael  Todd 
Jeremiah  Townsend    36 
Henry  Daggett  3T 

Stephen  Hotchkiss 
Samuel  Robertson 
Abraham  Tuttle  4 

Silas  Kimberly  9 


1  J.  Vredenburg  T 


Footing  of  Classification  No   3.  £1,313      14 


Origi; 


al  Grantees. 


60 


Abraham  Augur 
Hezekiah  Augur 
Eldad  Atwater 
Christopher  Ailing 
Abraham  Bradley 
Israel  Bishop 
Isaac  Bishop 
Samuel  Griswold 
Daniel  Bishop 
Stephen  Bradley 
Thomas  Burral 
Eleazer  Brown 
John  Ohandler 
Timothy  Dwight 
Jacob  Daggett 
Apios  Doolitile 
Nathan  Dammer 
Samuel  Green 
John  Miles 
William  Morson 
Stephen  Gorham 
Samuel  Gorham 
Richard  Hood 
Samuel  Huggins 
Josiah  Holley 
Alvah  Hall 
Amos  Hotchkiss 
Stephen  Monson 
Joseph  Mix 
:    Moses  Wells 
I    Samuel  Wilmott 
John  White   Jr 
George  Cook 
Richard  Tuttle 


No.  4,  Section  4. 


William  J ,  Vredenburg  60 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1,344 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  *1..344 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


203 


XATUKAL    FEATURES. 


The  surface  of  the  township  is  rolling,  except  in 
the  northwest  part,  where  it  is  level,  and  the  land 
somewhat  low.  The  soil  is  strong  and  productive, 
being  generally  of  a  loamy  nature.  In  the  north  part 
of  the  town  it  is  more  sandy,  mixed  somewhat  with 
gravel,  while  much  of  the  south  part  is  clay. 

Its  principal  strea  is  the  river  Huron  which,  i-i^^ing 
in  Richland  county,  enters  tlie  township  about  half  a 
mile  east  of  the  southwest  corner,  runs  for  the  most 
jiart  a  general  northeasterly  course,and  leaves  the  town- 
sliip  on  lot  eight,  section  three.  The  east  branch  of 
the  Huron  has  its  source  in  Fairfield,  enters  Peru  from 
Bronson  on  lot  eighteen,  section  one,  flows  a  north- 
westerly direction,  and  unites  with  the  present  stream 
in  the  township  of  Ridgefield,  about  a  mile  north  of 
the  town  line.  State  run  comes  into  the  township 
from  Seneca  county,  flows  a  northeasterly  course  into 
Ridgefield  where  it  unites  with  the  Huron.  The 
streams  afford  excellent  water  power  privileges  which 
are  more  or  less  imiirored.  The  principal  varieties  of 
timber  were  originally  the  oak  in  several  varieties, 
whitewood,  beech,  maple,  hickory,  basswood  and 
buckeye.  Along  the  streams  the  variety  was  mostly 
butternut  and  lilack  walnut. 


The  town  was  originally  called  "  Vrcdeuburg-,"' 
from  tlie  circumstance  that  William  J.  Vredenburg 
was  a  large  owner  of  its  soil.  Hebought  up  theclaims 
of  the  •■'Sufferers"  until  he  obtained  the  ownership  of 
three-fourths  of  the  township,  viz. :  Sections  two, 
three  and  four.  Section  one  was  owned  by  various 
persons  in  the  east,  from  whom  the  earliest  settlers  in 
that  portion  of  the  town  purchased  their  lands.  The 
place  continued  under  the  name  of  "Vredenburg" 
until  the  winter  of  1820,  when  at  a  meeting  called 
for  the  purpose,  and  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph 
Ruggles,  the  name  of  Peru,  under  which  a  post  office 
had  been  established,  was  substituted. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  earliest  settlements  in  the  township  were  made 
on  the  first  section.  The  first  white  settlers  were 
Elihu  Clary,  Henry  Adams  and  William  Smith,  who 
together  arrived  on  lot  number  five  in  section  one  on 
the  loth  day  of  June,  1815.  Adams,  who  was  from 
Marlborough,  Vermont,  had  come  to  Cleveland  in  the 
winter  previous  with  team  and  wagon,  and  remained 
in  the  vicinity  at  work  until  his  removal  to  Peru,  then 
called  Vredenburgh.  At  Cleveland  he  was  joined  by 
Clary  and  Smith  in  the  spring  of  1815  who  came  from 
Deerfield,  Massachusetts,  on  foot.  From  Cleveland 
the  journey  was  made  by  all  three  on  foot.  They  en- 
tered the  township  on  the  east  line,  crossed  the  East 
Branch  of  the  Huron  river,  a  few  rods  below  the 
bridge  that  now  crosses  the  stream  in  Macksville,  and 
traveled  on  until  reaching  the  house  of  Bildad  Adams 
in  the  township  of  Greenfield.  With  iiim  they  board- 
ed for  a  few  days  until  they  could  roll  up  a  log  house 


on  lot  five  in  section  one.  Henry  Adams  had  shipped 
a  barrel  of  flour  from  Cleveland  to  Huron  and  soon 
after  his  arrival  in  Peru  lie  went  there  after  it  with  a 
wagon  and  two  yoke  of  oxen.  He  found,  however, 
that  the  flour  had  lieen  carried  to  Detroit  and  he  had 
to  remain  two  weeks  awaiting  its  arrival.  He  brought 
home  with  him  also  a  barrel  of  pork  for  which  he 
paid  thirty  dollars.  Mr.  Adams  states  that  he  was 
unable  to  find  during  the  entire  journey  enough  straw 
for  a  single  bed.  He  wrote  back  to  his  wife  that  his 
bed  consisted  of  the  "soft  side  of  a  basswood  punch- 
eon." The  men  kept  bachelor's  hall  in  the  first  cabin 
built  until  the  following  October,  when  they  erected  a 
better  log  house  a  few  rods  further  west.  A  part  of 
their  furniture  consisted  of  four  tables  made  from  a 
whitewood  tree,  one  of  which  Henry  Adams  used  in 
his  own  house  for  several  years. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  that  month,  the  wife  of 
Clary  arrived  and  they  were  the  first  family  that  set- 
tled in  the  town.  Mrs.  Clary  came  from  Deerfield, 
Massachusetts,  with  an  uncle  of  her  husband.  They 
traveled  as  far  as  Buffalo  in  a  wagon  with  which  she 
brought  to  that  point  a  few  household  goods.  The 
roads,  west  of  Buffalo,  being  in  an  almost  impassable 
condition,  the  goods  were  shipped  by  water  from 
there  to  Huron,  and  the  travelei's  completed  the 
journey  on  horseback.  Mrs.  Clary  rode  in  a  man's 
saddle  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
making  the  journey  in  seven  days.  She  kept  house 
for  the  men  while  they  prosecuted  the  work  of  clean- 
ing. They  lived  thus  until  the  following  spring, 
when  they  moved  to  their  selected  locations.  Clary 
located  on  lot  number  eighteen,  section  one,  where 
Brown  Fisher  now  lives.  Some  years  afterwards  he 
moved  to  the  village  of  Macksville,  where  he  kept  a 
tavern  for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  removed  to 
near  Albany,  New  Yoi'k.  His  wife.  Pearly  Clary, 
died  in  Macksville  June  18,  1830.  and  he  married 
again  in  New  York,  and  subsequently  returned  to 
Ohio,  but  soon  removed  to  Bedford,  Monroe  county, 
Michigan,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  born  in  Montague,  Massachusetts,  in  the 
year  1788,  and  died  in  September,  1871,  aged  eighty- 
three.  This  pioneer  family  experienced  the  various 
hardships  incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  country. 
In  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Clary  in  1857,  he  says 
the  family  lived  for  three  weeks,  in  the  spring  of 
1816,  on  pudding  and  molasses,  "not  for  want  of 
money,  which  was  then  very  plenty,  but  provisions 
were  not  to  be  had  in  Huron  county,  and  the  roads 
to  the  south  were  at  that  time  impassable  with  teams; 

I   but  soon  the  warmth  of  the  sun  dispelled  the  clouds 
and  dried  up  the  mud.  and  teams  came  in   with  pork 

I   and  flour:  a  drove  of  cows  arrived,  and   we  again  had 
plenty.'" 

Mr.  Adams  settled  on  lot  twenty-nine  in  the  first 
section,  and  he  now  (January,  1879,)  occujjies  his 
original  purchase.  His  first  cabin  stood  a  short  dis- 
tance north  of  where  he  now  resides.     It  was  sixteen 

1    feet  sc|uare,  with  a  roof  of  ••shakers."  puncheon  floor. 


204 


HISTORY  OF  HUKOK  "AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  a  door  made  al.so  of  puncheons.  His  bedstead 
consisted  of  two  poles,  some  eight  or  ten  feet  in  lengtli, 
one  end  of  whicli  was  stuck  into  a  log  in  the  wall  of 
the  house,  a  few  feet  apiu't,  and  joined  to  a  stake  at 
the  other  end,  triangular  in  shape.  He  nsed  elm 
bark  for  bed-cord,  and  this  rude  arrangement  consti- 
tuted a  bed  which  the  young  people  of  to-day  would 
hardly  regard  as  conducive  to  a  good  night's  rest. 
His  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  infant  daugh- 
ter, arrived  in  the  fall  of  1816,  coming  with  the  wife 

of  Xewell  Adams  and  her  father, Bliss.     One  of 

the  hoi'ses  with  which  the  journey  was  made  partially 
gave  out  at  Buffalo,  and  from  there  to  Peru  the  two 
women  traveled  on  foot. 

Henry  Adams  was  born  in  Windham  county,  ^'er- 
mont,  October  16,  1790.  He  married  Annis  Barr, 
who  was  born  in  Roe,  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, February  5,  1788.  She  died  in  Peru,  December 
5,  1859.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Emily  married  Asahel 
Wilcox,  who  died  of  cholera  in  1849,  since  when  she 
has  lived  with  her  father.  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Silas  U.  Seymour,  a  methodist  minister,  and  lives  in 
Greenwich.  Jane  became  the  wife  of  E.  F.  Adams, 
who  died  in  May,  1876,  and  she  now  lives  at  the  old 
home.  Melissa  has  been  insane  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  Mr.  Adams  has  resided  in  the  town  for  a  pe- 
riod of  nearly  sixty-four  consecutive  years,  and  has 
been  a  worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
ohurcli  for  fifty-four  yeai-B. 

Smith  made  his  location  on  tiie  farm  now  occupied 
by  P.  Barnum,  on  lot  number  nine,  section  one.  He 
subsequently  married  Lovina  Pierce,  daughter  of  Al- 
den  Pierce,  an  early  settler  of  Greenfield.  Smith 
finally  removed  to  Illinois  where  he  died.  Alexander 
Pierce  and  Polly  Curtiss  were  married  in  Massachu- 
setts, November  14,  1815,  and  a  mouth  after  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  arriving  at  the  cabin  of  Clary,  Adams  and 
Smith  on  the  last  day  of  January,  1816.  Mrs.  Clary 
regaled  her  visitors  with  a  meal  consisting  of  roasted 
raccoon  and  boiled  turnips.  On  the  14th  of  February 
following,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce  took  up  their  abode 
in  their  cabin,  on  lot  number  fourteen  in  the  first 
section.  Their  first  meal  in  tlieir  new  home  consisted 
of  pigs  feet  and  hulled  corn,  the  corn  costing  one  dol- 
lar per  bushel.  Mr.  Pierce  died  in  Peru  in  1836. 
His  widow  afterwards  lived  for  a  number  of  years  in 
Sherman  township,  but  finally  came  back  to  Pern  and 
died  here  September  26,  1865.  "Auut  Polly,"  as  she 
was  familiarly  called,  was  a  rare  character.  She  pos- 
sessed an  inexhaustible  fund  of  anecdote  and  reminis- 
cences of  pioneer  days  and  could  talk  well  in  public. 
S'le  wa?  a  daugiiter  of  Ebenezer  Curtiss  and  was  born 
in  Leverett,  Massachusetts,  in  1798.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  she  married  Alex.  Pierce,  and  became  the 
mother  of  four  children — three  sons  and  a  daughter. 

It  is  possible  now  to  obtain  but  little  information 
concerning  some  of  the  early  settlers.  We  find  that 
Simon  Raymond  came  into  the  town.-^liip  aliont  the 
.same  time  of  Alexander  Pierce  and  wife. 


Newell  Adams,  a  brother  of  Henry,  arrived  in  the 
summer  of  1816,  but  his  wife  remained  at  the  east 
until  sometime  in  the  following  fall  when  she  came 
on,  the  family  of  Henry  Adams  coming  at  the  same 
time.  He  located  on  lot  twenty-seven  where  Commo- 
dore Perry  now  lives.  He  subsequently  sold  to  Fred 
Delano  and  removed  to  Illinois  where  he  is  how  living. 
Another  brother  by  the  name  of  Aldeu,  who  was  un- 
married at  the  time,  came  in  subsequently  and  mar- 
ried Jane  Delamater  and  settled  on  lot  twenty-two. 
He  afterwards  sold  out  and  removed  to  the  west  and 
died  there  some  four  or  five  3'ears  ago. 

Thaddeus  Raymond  and  family  moved  intn  the 
township  in  Novewber,  1816,  and  settled  on  lot  num- 
ber thirty,  and  Joel  Clark  about  the  same  time  set- 
tling on  lot  twenty-six.  Clark  remained  in  the  town 
only  a  few  years  when  he  removed  to  ilichigan. 
Daniel  Mack  arrived  in  the  fall  of  1816  and  made  his 
location  where  the  village  of  ^lacksville  now  is,  and 
which  derived  its  name  from  him.  He  built  a  saw- 
mill on  the  stream  there  a  year  or  two  after  his  arrival 
in  which  he  had  a  run  of  stone  for  grinding  grain. 
A  few  years  after  he  removed  to  Cold  creek,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business  there.  About  this  time 
James  Ashley  and  Eli  Nelson  joined  the  settlement. 

Thomas  Tillson  came  into  the  township  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1816,  making  the  journey  from  Hampshire. 
county,  Massachusetts,  on  foot.  He  selected  his  lo- 
cation on  lot  twenty-eight,  section  one,  and  immedi- 
ately began  the  work  of  clearing  and  improving  his 
land,  making  his  home  meanwhile  with  Henry  Adams 
whose  family  had  not  yet  arrived.  He  sowed  some 
three  or  four  acres  to  wheat  in  the  fall  and  then  re- 
turned to  Massachusetts  for  the  money  to  pay  for  his 
laud.  He  came  by  Avay  of  the  lake  from  Buffalo  to 
Sandusky  and  arrived  in  Peru  on  the  2Sth  of  June, 
1817.  His  family,  consisting  then  of  wife  and  one 
child,  arrived  in  1821,  coming  with  Alden  Pierce  and 
family.  Mr.  Tillson's  original  cabin  stood  across  the 
road  from  and  west  of  the  present  residence  of  his 
son  Rufus.  He  built  the  latter  house  in  1829  and 
occupied  it  until  his  death  in  1844.  His  wife  survived 
him  a  few  years.  They  had  five  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living,  and  one — Rufus — in  Peru.  Stephen 
resides  in  Iowa  and  Thomas  is  an  inmate  of  the  insane 
asylum  at  Columbus. 

LSvi  R.  Sutton,  writing  in  the  Fire-hdids  Pioneer, 
concerning  the  early  settlement  of  Peru,  speaks  as 
follows  of  the  first  settlements  west  of  the  river: 
"Isaac  Sutton,  Levi  R.  Sutton  and  Elias  Hughes  were 
the  first  three  settlers  west  of  Huron  river,  who  com- 
menced making  improvements  in  the  latter  part  of 
March,  1817.  and  moved  into  their  cabins  on  the  2d 
of  April  following.  Isaac  Sutton  settled  on  what  is 
now  lot  number  eleven.  W.  Weed's  partition,  but 
R.  Eaton  having  bought  the  land  at  the  east,  he  gave 
up  possession  to  him,  and  left  the  township  in  a  year 
or  so.  Levi  R.  Sutton  settled  on  the  hill  west  of 
Huron  river,  on  E.  T.  Troop's  partition,  on  what  is 
now  called  lot  number  thirteen.     Elias  Hughes  lived 


4 


MRS  RICHARDSON   EATON. 


RICHARDSON    EATON. 


RESiDENCE-or   RICHARDSON    EATON   PL-(u   -^1    HURON    CO    OHIO 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


205 


and  worked  with  L.  R.  Sutton  some  two  or  three 
years,  and  then  bought  a  piece  of  land  on  the  center 
road  and  commenced  blacksmithing.  He  worked  at 
that  business  for  a  few  years  and  then  left  and  died 
in  Indiana." 

Levi  R.  Sutton  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  7,  1T94,  and  removed  with  his 
father's  family  to  Knox  county  Ohio,  in  1812.  He 
married,  November  28,  1813,  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Peter  Kile,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  removed  to  Lyme 
township,  Huron  county,  in  May,  1810.  The  next 
April  he  settled  in  Peru.  He  occupied  his  original 
location  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  September, 
1872.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  township 
for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  and  town  clerk  for 
an  equally  long  period.  His  widow  is  yet  living,  but 
at  this  writing,  January,  1879,  is  in  a  very  feeble  con- 
dition. She  is  in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  There 
were  seven  cliildren,  six  of  whom  are  living,  as  fol- 
low :s  Mrs.  Richard  Gardner,  in  Peru,  Jacob,  in  Clyde, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Deyo,  in  Fulton  county,  Betsey,  unmar- 
ried, with  her  aged  mother,  Mrs.  Adaline  Harper,  in 
Illinois,  and  Esther  Davenport,  in  Michigan. 

Richardson  Eaton  first  visited  the  township  in  June, 
1818,  coming  from  Lodi,  Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y. 
He  selected  and  purchased  of  Walter  Weed  about  five 
hundred  acres  in  lots  number  one,  two,  ten,  eleven 
and  twelve,  mostly  in  section  number  one.  In  July 
next  following  he  returned  to  New  York  for  his 
family,  consisting  of  wife  and  two  children,  with 
whom  he  arrived  in  Peru  in  February  of  next  year, 
performing  the  long  journey  with  wagon  and  ox 
team.  A  log  house  had  been  rolled  up  and  roofed 
over  by  a  man  sent  on  from  New  York  for  the  pur- 
pose. It  stood  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Huron  river, 
on  lot  number  eleven.  It  was,  indeed,  a  very  primi- 
tive habitation,  when  the  family  began  life  in  it,  and 
was  witliout  a  door,  window  or  chimney,  until  the  fall 
following  its  occupancy.  Mr.  Eaton  resided  here 
seven  or  eight  years,  and  then  moved  into  the  frame 
house  just  east  of  the  brick  house  which  he  now  occu- 
pies, on  lot  number  twelve.  He  now  owns  lots  eleven 
and  twelve.  Mr.  Eaton  has  experienced  the  various 
iiardships  incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  country. 
He  bouglit  his  land  on  time  and  was  twenty-five  years 
in  clearing  it. of  debt.  The  hard  times  arrested  emi- 
gration, and  there  was  no  home  demand  and  no  outlet 
for  the  produce  of  the  farmer,  and  for  a  time  wheat 
would  not  bring  ten  cents  a  bushel.  Mr.  Eaton  says 
a  wagon  load  of  it,  at  one  time,  would  not  buy  a 
pound  of  tea.  The  completion  of  the  Erie  canal, 
however,  inaugurated  a  better  condition  of  things. 
Wiieat  went  up  to  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  and  otiier 
things  in  proportion,  and  the  settlers  were  then  '-out 
of  the  woods." 

Mrs.  Elton  died  in  1858.  Of  the  four  children, 
(inly  one  is  now  living.  This  is  Emeline,  who  is  un- 
married and  resides  with  her  father,  wliose  eighty- 
ninth  birthday  occurred  April  11,  187'.i.  Mr.  Eaton 
served  in  the  war  of  1812. 


James  Vantine  and  family  took  up  their  residence 
in  Peru  on  the  24th  day  of  June,  1818.  He  pur- 
chased a  thousand  acres  of  land  of  E.  T.  Troop  in 
the  second  section.  The  family  settled  on  the  east 
end  of  the  purchase  on  lot  number  twenty-eight. 

Arunah  Eaton,  a  brother  of  Richardson,  arrived 
with  his  family  in  the  winter  of  1819,  and  located 
just  north  of  his  brother.  He  afterwards  sold  to  his 
son-in-law,  John  A.  Patterson,  and  took  up  his  abode 
with  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Aro  Clapp,  in  the  township  of 
Norwalk,  wjiere  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Elijah  Clary  (father  of  Elihu,  the  first  settler)  and 
family  arrived  in  Peru  in  the  fall  of  1817,  after  a 
journey  of  fifty  days,  from  Deerfield,  Massachusetts. 
The  season  was  a  very  wet  one;  and  the  roads,  usually 
intolerable,  were  worse  than  ever  at  this  time,  and 
the  progress  of  the  emigrants  was  very  slow.  West 
of  Cleveland  there  were  no  bridges  over  the  streams, 
and  they  were  so  swollen  by  recent  rains  that  the 
family  would  have  to  wait  sometimes  two  or  three 
days  for  the  water  to  fall  so  that  they  could  cross. 
The  travelers  finally  reached  the  cabin  of  the  son 
Elihu,  November  Gth  of  the  year  above  given. 

Mrs.  Sanders,  a  daughter,  says  in  regard  to  the 
settlement  of  her  father's  family:  "We  found  my 
brother  and  family  well,  who  had  been  here  more 
than  two  years,  and,  as  they  thought,  living  very 
comfortably,  their  condition  being  so  much  better 
than  when  they  first  came.  But,  accustomed  as  we 
had  been  to  the  luxuries  of  a  New  England  home,  we 
thought  it  rather  hard  fare  (though  I  must  acknowl- 
edge that  the  beef  and  turnips  were  very  good).  But 
there  wei-e  very  few  necessaries  tliat  could  be  obtained, 
and  those  so  high-priced  that  few  could  afford  to  have 
them.  My  father  paid  twenty-five  dollars  for  a  bar- 
rel of  pork  that  had  seven  half  heads  in  and  shanks 
in  proportion.'"  Mr.  Clary  settled  just  south  of  Alex- 
ander Pierce. 

Joseph  Ruggles  and  family,  of  Hampshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  left  their  native  place  for  the  far  west 
in  the  fall  of  1816,  with  an  ox  teamand  wagon,  and 
one  horse  ahead.  Arriving  in  Otsego  county.  New 
York,  where  several  brothers  of  Mrs.  Ruggles  (who 
was  a  Tillson)  had  settled,  the  family  remained  there 
through  the  winter  and  then  resumed  their  journey 
to  the  Fire-lands.  They  reached  the  place  of  desti- 
nation April  27,  1817,  taking  up  their  abode  in  the 
log  house  of  Thomas  Tillson,  which  had  been  put  up 
previously  by  Daniel  Mack,  from  whom  Tillson 
bought  the  land.  The  family  lived  here  several  years, 
and  then  moved  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  a  son, 
George.  Mr.  Ruggles  resided  here  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  His  death  occurred  in  June,  18-19,  his  wife 
surviving  him  three  years.  There  were  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  and  two — Henry  and  George 
W. — in  this  township. 

Charles  and  Richard  Gardner,  lirothers,  came  to 
the  township  of  Ridgefield,  Huron  county,  from  Ste- 
ventown,  New  York,  in  the  spring  of  1817.  They 
made  the  journey  with  an  ox  team  and  wagon,  and 


206 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


were  six  weeks  on  the  way.  They  made  a  beginning 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Allen  Lindsey, 
in  Ridgefield,  but  soon  after  exchanged  it  for  land  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  township  of  Lyme,  where 
they  remained  some  three  years,  and  then  came  into 
Peru  andbuilt  the  saw  mill  now  owned  by  Charles 
Smith.  Tliey  run  this  in  partnership  some  five  years, 
when  Cliarles  bought  his  brother's  interest,  and  a  few 
years  subsequently  put  up  a  woolen  factory  and  carding 
niacliine  at  the  same  place.  He  married  in  1833,  and 
settled  where  he  now  resides,  aged  eighty-six.  He 
helped  to  build  the  first  house  in  Xorwalk — the  log 
cabin  of  Piatt  Benedict. 

Richard,  after  selling  his  interest  in  the  mill,  worked 
at  his  trade — that  of  carpenter  and  joiner — for  a 
couple  of  years,  and  then  bought  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  lots  five  and  six  in  section  two.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Lawrence  in  1826,  and  first  commenced 
housekeeping  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  the  fam- 
ily of  Levi  R.  Sutton,,  (deceased)  the  building  then 
standing  just  nortli  of  where  his  brother,  Charles 
Gardner,  now  lives.  His  first  wife  died  October  13, 
1828,  and  he  married,  four  years  subsequently,  Maria 
Sutton,  daughter  of  Levi  R.  Sutton,  with  whom  he 
is  now  living.  They  are  aged,  respectively,  eighty- 
three  and  sixty-four. 

One  of  the  prominent  early  settlers  in  Peru,  was 
Thomas  Parker.  He  purchased,  in  1819,  nearly 
seven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  fourth  section, 
and  the  next  year  he  and  Luther  Hodges — his  son-in- 
law — and  their  families,  moved  from  Cayuga  county, 
NeAv  York,  and  settled  on  the  tract  aforesaid.  They 
made  the  first  improvements  in  that  portion  of  the 
township.  In  1821,  Mr.  Parker  planted  the  first  j 
apple  orchard  in  that  that  section  of  town,  aud  the 
next  year,  Josiah  Root  erected  for  him,  on  the  west 
part  of  his  purchase,  on  the  Huron,  a  saw  and  grist 
mill.  He  died  in  Peru,  September  3,  1839.  He  was 
born  in  Providence,  Rliode  Island,  October  16,  1767. 
He  married,  in  Cuynga  county,  New  York,  October 
16,  1796,  Sarah  Elliot,  who  was  born  in  Dover, 
Duchess  county.  New  York,  August  13,  1769.  They 
raised  a  family  of  twelve  children,  none  of  whom 
now  live  in  the  township.  Seth  and  Benjamin  were 
ministers  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  the  former  was 
a  prominent  member  of  tlie  Fire-lanJs  Historical 
Society  for  many  years.  His  widow  now  resides  at 
fireen field  center. 

Rev.  Harry  0.  ShrldDii.  a  well  known  i)iuneer 
preacher  of  tiie  Firc-laiuls,  and  now  almost  an  octo- 
genarian, residing  in  01)erlin.  came  to  Peru  in  t'.ie 
spring  of  1819.  His  father  bought  a  farm  for  him  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  and  he  began  farm- 
ing there  June  19,  1819,  and  as  he  says  in  a  note  to 
the  writer,  on  ''teniin'rance  principles."'  His  neigh- 
bors expostiilatiil  with  hiin,  saying  that  he  never  could 
get  a  house  imi  up.  nor  liis  grain  harvested  witliout 
the  aid  of  whisky.  But  the  young  man  was  firm,  and 
replied  tliat  lie  would  do  witliout  a  hou.se,  and  let  the 
grain  rot  on   the  ground  before   lie  sliould    furnish 


whisky.  But  the  cabin  was  raised  without  it.  One 
man  was  very  indignant  at  the  innovation  of  the  time- 
honored  custom,  and  refused  to  attend;  and  lie  subse- 
quently died  an  inebriate. 

Mr.  Sheldon  married  Ruth  Bradley,  of  Genoa.  New 
j  York,  March  15,  1820,  and  in  the  following  fall, 
]  began  housekeeping  in  the  cabin  in  the  Peru  woods. 
Jeptjia  Lawrence  joined  him  on  the  south,  and  Sylves- 
ter Brownell  joined  him  on  the  north.  Mr.  Sheldon 
remained  but  a  few  years  in  the  township,  but  during 
that  time  his  influence  was  felt  in  the  settlement. 
He  was  an  efficient  helper  in  everything  tending  to 
build  up  society  on  a  correct  basis,  and  was  largely 
instrumental,  although  not  then  a  professing  christian, 
in  the  erection  of  the  first  house  of  worship — the 
Presbyterian  log  meeting  house — and  was  chosen  the 
clerk  of  that  society.  He  also  took  an  active  part  in 
establishing  the  academy  at  Macksville,  and  was  the 
clerk  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  that  pioneer  educa- 
tional institution.  He  was  converted  in  December, 
1823,  and  officiated  as  an  exhorter,  at  meetings  at 
various  places  in  the  country  roundabout,  until  June, 
1825,  when  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  removed 
from  the  township.  His  subsequent  career  is  well 
known. 

Moses  Smitii  came  from  Massachusetts  to  Peru 
township  about  the  year  1820,  and  settled  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Charles  Roe  farm.  His  family 
consisting  of  wife  and  five  children,  came  on  the  fol- 
lowing year.  The  family  eventually  moved  to  Green-  , 
field  where  the  mother  died  in  1833.  Mr.  Smith  died 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Timmer,  in  Nor- 
wich, in  1859.  There  were  five  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

Isaac  Johnson,  Josiah  Root,  James  Smith,  Wyatt 
Cook,  William  Best,  Hibbard  Smith,  Perry  Easton, 
John  A.  Patterson,  Oliver  Patterson  and  others 
whose  names  are  now  beyond  recall,  were  early  set-, 
tiers.  Johnson  settled  just  east  of  the  present  brick 
residence  of  Joseph  Smith,  on  the  north  and  south 
center  road.  He  died  there  a  few  years  after;  his 
wife  at  a  later  date,  and  there  are  now  no  descendants 
living  in  the  town.  Root  was  from  New  York,  aud 
took  up  his  location  on  the  Parker  tract.  Smith  had 
a  log  distillery  at  Macksville  at  an  early  day;  he  after- 
wards moved  to  the  west  part  of  the  town,  where  he 
is  still  living.  Wyatt  Cook  was  a  Verinonter,  aud 
arrived  in  Peru  as  early  as  1818.  He  worked  the  first 
\  ear  for  Henry  Adams,  afterwards  married  and  raised 
a  family.  He  is  now  living  in  Fairfield,  well  advanced 
in  life.  Best  came  in  with  Vantine;his  widow  is  still 
living.  JIarcus  Johnson  and  family  moved  into  the 
township  in  1822,  after  a  residence,  the  iirevious  sea- 
son, on  a  rented  farm  in  Greenfield.  They  were 
formerly  from  Genesee  county.  New  York.  Mr. 
Johnson  located  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Lutlier  B.  .lohnsoii.  and  occupied  it  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  March,  183-1.  He  was  the  first 
person  interred  in  the  burying  ground  at  the  center. 
I   His  widow  died  in  Peru  in  1875.    Six  of  the  children 


KICHARD   HINDLEY. 


Among  those  who  were  prominent  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  township  of  Peru  was  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, on  the  6th  of  December,  1794.  He  spent  his 
early  life  in  the  motlier-country,  following  the  sea 
for  a  livelihood.  Becoming  weary,  at  length,  of 
maritime  pursuits,  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1832, 
being  then  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  Coming  di- 
rectly to  Ohio,  he  settled  in  the  township  of  Peru, 
])urchasing  the  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  is 
still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  widow. 

He  was  twice  married,  losing  his  first  wife  on  the 
27tla  of  September,  1852.  His  second  wife,  whom 
he  married  June  13,  1856,  was  Elizabeth  H., 
daughter  of  George  and  Hannah  E.  Scothan,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  liad  no  children,  but  adopted 
as  his  daughter  a  niece  of  his  second  wife.  Miss 
Nellie  L.  Scothan.     This  adopted  daughter  is  mar- 


ried, and  resides  at  the  old  homestead.  Their  daugh- 
ter, Annie  Lydia,  who  was  born  April  27,  1873,  is 
the  only  child  born  on  the  farm  since  it  was  cleared 
by  Mr.  Hindley. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hindley  was  a  Democrat,  and  at 
various  times  during  his  life  he  served  his  fellow- 
townsmen  in  different  local  offices.  He  never  made 
a  public  profession  of  religion,  but  was  always  an 
attendant  and  supporter  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
The  improvement  of  his  farm,  on  which  he  made 
the  first  clearing,  and  the  elevation  of  the  standard 
of  morality  in  the  community  around  him,  were  the 
worthy  objects  to  which  he  devoted  his  life. 

He  died  on  the  2d  of  September,  1864,  being 
then  in  his  seventieth  year.  He  was  widely  known 
as  a  prudent  counselor,  and  a  ready  helper  of  the 
weak  and  suffering.  In  his  death  his  widow  lost  a 
kind  husband,  and  his  neighbors  an  obliging  friend. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


207 


are  now  living.  One  only  resides  in  Peru,  Lutlier  B., 
who  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 

Cyrus  Simmons,  originally  from  Washington 
county,  New  York,  moved  to  Peru  from  Richland 
county,  Ohio — where  he  had  resided  six  years — in  the 
year  1829.  He  settled  near  the  north  line  of  the 
township,  where  his  son  George  now  lives,  paying 
four  dollars  an  acre  for  his  land.  At  the  time  of  his 
settlement,  there  was  not  a  stick  of  timber  cut  in 
this  part  of  the  town,  except  on  the  line  of  the  roads. 
The  last  payment  he  made  on  his  land  was  a  hundred 
dollars  received  for  building  a  hundred  feet  of  the 
mill  dam  at  Standartburg.  He  occupied  his  original 
purchase  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  25,  1853.  His  wife  died  October  29,  1866. 
Seven  of  the  ten  -children  born  to  them,  are  now 
living.  Henry,  Mrs.  John  Morse,  Sophronia,  George 
and  Mrs.  Henry  West,  are  residents  of  this  township. 
Mrs.  John  Sneer  lives  in  Iowa,  and  Fredus  in  Nor- 
walk. 

Thomas  Roe  with  his  oldest  son,  Charles,  came 
into  the  township  in  the  fall  -of  18.31.  After  he 
located  his  land — lots  two  and  three  in  section  one — 
he  returned  to  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  for  his 
family,  leaving  the  son  to  prosecute  the  work  of  clear- 
ing. Mr.  Roe  removed  with  his  family  the  next 
year.  He  was  a  native  of  England,  and  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1833,  settling 
in  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  whei-e  he  i-esided  nine 
years  and  until  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Peru. 
He  died  in  Peru  in  1842,  and  his  wife  in  1840. 
Of  his  nine  children,  sis  are  now  living,  and  two 
of  them — Charles  and  Joseph — in  this  town.  The 
former  occupies  the  old  homestead,  and  the  latter  the 
farm  adjoining  him  on  the  south. 

Edward  Ashton  came  from  Lincolnshire,  England, 
to  Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1831.  He  located  in  this 
township  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  William  T. 
Ashton.  He  died  the  following  year,  August  5,  1832. 
Mrs.  Ashton  died  in  May,  1862.  There  were  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  came  into  the  country  with 
their  parents.  The  oldest  son  arrived  the  subsequent 
year.  The  names  of  the  children  are  as  follows: 
.Tames,  deceased;  Thomas,  who  married  Mary  Edgar 
and  resides  in  Lyme  township;  Margaret,  who  became 
the  wife  of  S.  W.  Bryan  (dead);  Jane  who  married  J. 
R.  Hall,  and  now  resides  in  Monroeville;  William 
married  Sally  Birch  and  occupies  the  old  homestead 
in  this  township;  Mary  (now  Mrs.  Alfred  Outright) 
lives  in  Marengo,  Iowa;  John  resides  in  Monroeville; 
Edward  married  Eunice  .J.  Pulver  and  lives  in  Low- 
ell,   Indiana. 

Joseph  Perry  settled  where  his  son.  Commodore, 
now  resides,  in  the  autumn  of  1832,  after  a  brief 
residence  just  south  of  Macksville.  His  death  took 
place  on  the  farm  ujjon  which  he  first  settled,  in 
1859,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  but  was  residing  in  Cayuga  county,  New 
York,  at  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Ohio.  Mrs.  Perry 
.survived  her  husband  something  over  a  year.     Six  of 


their  nine  children  are  living.  Horace,  Mrs.  Emeliue 
Akers,  Sarah  A.,  and  Commodoi-e,  live  in  Peru. 

Ezra  Smith  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  promi- 
nent business  men  of  this  township.  He  was  a  man 
of  energy  and  public  sjjirit,  which  were  manifested  in 
a  variety  of  enterprises,  and  acquired  a  large  property. 

A  French  family  by  the  name  of  Haffel  settled  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  Peru  ill  1829.  A  year  or  two 
after,  several  other  families,  also  from  France,  took 
up  their  residence  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town. 
The  names  of  some  of  these  families  were  Kagley, 
Hoover,  and  Berger, — two  families. 

The  Germans  first  began  to  settle  in  tlie  town  in 
1830,  the  first  family  to  arrive  being  that  of  John 
Joseph  Smith,  in  the  year  mentioned.  He  took  up 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Joseph 
Smith.  He  died  in  Peru  in  1860,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-seven.  His  wife  died  at  the  residence 
of  a  son  in  Wood  county.  Two  children  survive,  one 
of  whom,  Mrs  Addlemann,  resides  in  Peru. 

Soon  after  several  other  families,  by  the  names  of 
Keller,  Kramer,  Kilsheimer,  Schnal  and  Weil,  settled 
in  the  north  part  of  town.  After  1840,  the  town 
settled  rapidly  with  Germans,  and  they  are  now 
largely  in  the  majority.  Among  the  earliest  German 
settlers  in  the  northwest  part  of  tlie  town,  who  took 
up  land  and  have  since  brought  it  up  to  a  high  con- 
dition of  improvement,  are  William  Scheid,  who 
came  into  the  country  in  1849,  locating  where  he 
now  lives.  Philip  Scheldt,  in  1852,  followed  soon 
after  by  Philip  Bahler,  Philip  Erf,  William  Stutts 
and  William  Horn.  Mr.  Bahler  emigrated  to  this 
country  from  Germany  in  1849,  and  settled  in  Peru, 
after  a  residence  of  a  few  years  in  Lyme  and  Sherman 
townships.  Philip  Erf  also  lived  in  Lyme  a  few  years 
previous  to  his  settlement  in  Peru. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  white  male  inhabi- 
tants, over  the  age  of  t\\'enty-one  years,  residing  in 
Peru  in  the  year  1827,  as  shown  by  the  enumeration 
of  such  inhabitants  in  Huron  county,  made  by  the 
county  assessor  for  the  al)ove  year: 


E.  C.  Parker, 
Salmon  Vangilder. 
Janiei  Vantine. 
Horace  Johnson . 
Robert  Nesbit. 
Arunah  Eaton. 
Levi  R.Sutton. 
George  B.  Gaily. 
Lsrman  Ellis. 
Thomas  Tilson. 
David  Smith. 
Thomas  J.  Smith. 
Xtithan  W.  Delano. 
Homer  W.  Farmer. 
Isaac  B.  Smith. 
James  Ashley 

Jacob  H.  WaUiver. 
Samuel  Taft. 
William  Taggart 
Moses  C .  Saunders . 
Ezra  CoUins. 
Cornelius  Mllspaugh. 
Abram  Blanchard. 
Monson  Pond. 


Oliver  W.  Slocum. 
Marcus  Johnson . 
Isaac  Johnson. 
Calvin  Brown. 
John  Nyman. 
Cjrles  Gardner. 
Jacob  Kile . 
Smith  Barber. 
Wyatt  Cook. 
John  Hiudly . 
Joseph  Ruggles. 
Cyrus  Smith. 
Samuel  B.  Turner. 
Luther  Hodges. 
Thomas  Parker. 
Joel  H.  Ashley. 
William  Uambell 
Nelson  Mead. 
Noyes  Stone. 
Charles  Beintaum. 
William  C.  Preutis. 
Sterling  Newcomb. 
John  Saunders 
Ransom  B.  Elsworth. 
Carlos  Keith. 


Benj.  E.  Parker. 
Penfleld  Johnson. 
Hiram  Johnson. 
Daniel  Sanborn . 
Richardson  Eaton. 
Richard  Gardner. 

Gilbert  Stevens 
Newell  Adams. 
Henry  Adams. 
Daniel  Smith . 
James  EUenwood. 
Samuel  Turner. 
Benjamin  D.  Gasier. 
Seth  Parker 
John  Howe 
Usher  Gambell. 
Isaac  Stone 
Jesse  Smith. 
Phineas  Williams. 
Daniel  G.  Barker. 
.\lexander  Pierce. 
John  S.  Prentis. 
Seth' Backus. 
William  Mclntyre. 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Ebenezer  Dunton. 
Isaac  Holden 
John  Fayling. 
John  Xelson 
Homer  Turner. 
Alden  Adams . 
Harrj-0.  Sheldon, 
James  Vantine. 


H. 


iher. 


John  Holden. 
Stephen  M.  ToUes. 
Elijah  Clary. 
Abram  Reamer. 
John  Beach. 
Pardon  Wilson. 
Calvin  Powell. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 


Amos  W.  Smith. 
Willard  Pierce. 
EU  Nelson. 
Elihu  Clary. 
Robert  McGee. 
Jeptha  Lawrence. 
Benajah  Huntly. 
David  Williams 


The  fir.st  couple  married  m  the  township  was 
George  Douglass  ami  Pearloy  C.  Clary,  February  8, 
18"2(i.  Mrs.  Douglass  subsequently,  and  after  the 
death  of  her  first  husband,  became  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Moscs  C.  Sanders. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  a  son  of  Elihu  and 
Pearly  Clary,  born  October  12,  18  L6.  The  first  female 
birth  was  that  of  Keziah  Raymond,  born  February 
23,  1817.  The  first  person  that  died  in  Peru  was  an 
infant  son  of  Levi  R.  and  Catharine  Sutton.  The 
child  died  November  20,  1820.  Daniel  Mack  built 
the  first  frame  house  in  the  township,  in  1820.  The 
house  is  still  standing  in  the  village  of  Macksville, 
and  is  used  as  a  dwelling. 

The  first  house  kept  for  the  accommodation  of 
travelers  was  opened  by  Henry  Adams,  in  the  fall  of 
1816.  Joseph  Rnggles  built  an  addition  to  the  Tillson 
cabin  in  the  fall  of  1817,  when  he  opened  it  as  a  tav- 
ern. His  sign  was  a  pair  of  deer's  horns,  and  the 
tavern  was  called  "The  Buck  Horn." 

The  first  apjile  orchard  planted,  was  set  out  by 
Henry  Adams  in  the  spring  of  1817,  the  seed  being 
brought  by  his  brother,  Newell,  from  Vermont. 

The  earliest  burials  were  in  private  burying  grounds. 
Some  twenty  or  more  bodies  were  interred  on  the 
farm  of  Henry  Adams,  but  were  subsequently  re- 
moved to  the  center  burying  ground. 

Moses  C.  Sanders  opened  the  first  store  at  Macks- 
ville, in  1820  or  "21. 

Dr.  Sanders  was  the  first  doctor  in  this  township, 
and  also  the  pioneer  doctor  of  many  of  the  surround- 
ing towns.  He  was  born  in  Milford,  Massachusetts, 
in  the  year  1790.  He  came  to  Peru  in  August,  1818, 
and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  May,  1831,  he  married  Mrs. 
Pearly  C.  Douglass,  nee  Clary.  In  his  early  practice, 
Dr.  Sanders  made  his  visits  on  foot,  with  his  saddle- 
bags on  his  arm.  He  would  often  walk  to  Fitchville, 
a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  with  nothing  to  direct  him 
through  the  unbroken  forest  but  blazed  trees,  visit 
his  patients  there,  and  return  the  same  day.  His 
fees  were  usually  paid  in  provisions,  when  his  patients 
could  pay  at  all.  From  many  he  neither  asked  nor 
e.xpected  anything,  but  he  ministered  to  their  neces- 
sities none  the  less  cheerfully.  He  was  universally 
esteemed  for  his  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 
He  died  May  \>^,  li^S7,  aged  si.xty-seven. 


The  first  school  in  the  tnwiii^hip  was  kept  by  Nancy 
Adams,  daugliter  of  Bildad  Adams,  of  Greenfield,  in 
the  summer  of  1818.  She  taught  in  Macksville,  in  a 
log  house  which  stood  where  the  frame  house  of  Mr. 
Fi.sher  now   stands.     In   tiie  fall  of   the  same  year,  a 


log  school  house  was  built,  where  the  academy  after- 
wards stood,  and  the  succeeding  winter  Jonas  Leonard, 
of  Bronson,  taught  school  in  it,  and  was  the  first  male 
teacher  in  Peru.  He  had  nearly  fifty  scholars  en- 
rolled, some  of  whom  lived  two  miles  and  a  half  from 
the  school  house.  In  the  winter  of  1820-1,  Henry 
Adams  opened  a  school  in  his  own  house.  He  tangiit 
for  twelve  dollars  per  month,  and  boarded  himself, 
and  received  his  wages  in  work  by  the  parents  of  the 
pupils.  The  next  winter  Nelson  Strong  kept  school 
in  the  same  place.  A  school  house  was  built  soon 
after,  on  lot  twenty-seven,  ths  first  school  in  wliich 
was  taught  by  Miriam  Wilson,  and  the  next  liy  David 
Williams. 


In  the  summer  of  1822,  an  academy  was  established 
at  Macksville.  The  principal  promoters  of  the  laud- 
able enterprise  were  Dr.  Moses  C.  Sanders,  Harry  0. 
Sheldon,  Robert  S.  Southgate,  Ebcn  Guthrie  and 
Elijah  Clary.  The  institution  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  the  "lima  Academic  Society  of  Peru, 
Huron  county."  The  first  annual  meeting  was  held 
on  the  first  Tuesday  in  August,  1822,  at  which  the 
following  persons  were  elected  a  board  of  trustees  for 
the  then  current  year,  viz.:  Rev.  Alvan  Coe,  presi- 
dent; Dr.  Moses  C.  Sanders,  Dr.  William  Gardner, 
Major  Eben  Guthrie  and  Robert  S.  Southgate.  Harry 
0.  Sheldon  was  elected  clerk. 

The  school  was  opened  the  first  Monday  in  Decem- 
ber, 1822,  with  Amos  B.  H;irris  as  principal  teacher. 
In  a  notice  published  in  the  Sandusky  Clarion, 
November  13,  1822,  announcing  the  prospective  open- 
ing, the  following  terms  of  tuition  are  given,  viz.: 

For  orthography,  reading  and  writing, $2  00 

Same  with  arithmetic  and  English  grammar 2  50 

Geography,  rhetoric  and  composition  3  00 

Higher  branches  of  mathematics,  Latin  and  Greek  languages 4  00 

The  building  was  a  two-story  frame,  unpainted, 
and  stood  where  the  brick  school  house  does  now. 
The  institution  was  called  Lima  Academy,  because  of 
the  fact  that  it  was  then  expected  the  name  of  the 
village  would  be  changed  to  Lima.  The  academy 
had  an  existence  of  only  one  year,  but  we  are  not  able 
to  state  why  it  was  abandoned  as  the  school  was  full. 
The  building  was  afterwards  used  for  a  common 
school,  and  as  a  house  of  worship  by  some  of  the 
religious  societies.  It  was  bought  a  few  years  since, 
by  Jesse  Kingsbury,  of  Macksville,  and  now  forms  a 
part  of  iiis  tanning  establishment  in  .Macksville. 


The  first  religious  meeting  in  this  township  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Elijah  Clary,  on  Sunday,  in 
November,  1817.  Major  Guthrie  and  family  settled 
in  Bronson  the  same  week  that  Mr.  Clary  settled  in 
Peru,  and  in  tiie  same  vicinity.  The  two  families 
soon  became  aci]uaintcd,  and  in  the  course  of  the  next 
week  after  their  arrival,  they  decided  to  hold  a  read- 
ing service  at  Mr.  Clary's  the  Sabbath  following.    The 


WILLIAM   N.   MITCHELL. 


Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born,  Jan.  1,  1799. 
He  is  tlie  eldest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Huntingdon  Co.,  N.  J. 
His  fiither,  James  Mitchell,  was  born  May  17, 1773 ; 
and  his  mother,  Lorane  Salton,  Dec.  24, 1779.  They 
were  married  Jan.  1,  1797. 

When  William  was  about  a  year  old  his  parents 
removed  to  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his  early  life 
was  passed  in  that  and  the  adjoining  county  of  Ca- 
yuga. On  becoming  of  age  he  decided  to  try  his 
fortune  (as  so  many  other  young  men  were  doing)  in 
the  Western  country ;  and  finally,  in  1820,  came  to 
Greenwich,  Huron  Co.,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  wild 
land,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  eighteen  acres, 
which  he  proceeded  to  clear  and  fence.  The  country 
was  at  that  time  thinly  settled  and  heavily  covered 
with  timber;  but,  by  energy  and  industry,  he  re- 
moved the  forest  from  a  large  portion  of  his  land, 
erected  a  comfortable  home,  and  soon  found  himself 
the  owner  of  a  well-cultivated  farm. 

On  the  18th  of  October,  1289,  he  was  married  to 


Clarissa,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Amanda  Beach. 
She  is  a  native  of  Pompey,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  she  was  born,  Nov.  6,  1812.  They  have  had 
four  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
sui'viving  children  are  Philander  L.,  born  Aug.  19, 
1833,  and  Elias  B.,  born  Dec.  30, 1839,— both  mar- 
ried and  residing  on  farms  in  Greenfield  township. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Mitciiell  was  originally  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat,  but  of  late  years  he  has  voted  and 
acted  with  the  Republican  party.  In  religious  be- 
lief and  church  affiliation  he  and  his  wife  are  Bap- 
tists. 

Though  now  over  four-score  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Mitchell  is  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  comfortable 
health.  He  has  seen  the  country,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers,  changed  from  an  almost  un- 
broken forest  to  a  cultivated  region,  and  dotted  with 
the  abodes  of  men.  By  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
his  endeavors  he  is  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  want, 
and  both  he  and  the  companion  of  his  early  man- 
hood await,  with  the  calmness  of  Christian  hope, 
their  departure  to  a  better  land. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


■309 


meeting  was  held,  and  similar  services  regularly  con- 
tinued on  the  Sabbath  through  the  winter,  being  held 
at  the  houses  of  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity.  Rev. 
Alvan  Coe,  daring  that  winter,  preached  the  first 
sermon  in  the  township.  The  nest  year  the  present 
Congregational  church  at  Macksville  was  formed.  It 
was  organized  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Alvan  Coe  and  William 
Williams,  missionaries  of  the  Connecticut  Missionary 
society,  at  a  school  house  near  the  widow  Fay's,  in 
Ridgefield,  April  18,  1818,  and  was  composed  of  the 
following  members:  Ezra  Strong,  of  Ridgefield; 
p]lijah  Clary  and  wife,  of  Peru;  Ezra  Herrick  and 
wife,  and  Simeon  Ammerman,  of  Bronson.  No 
officers  were  chosen  at  this  time  except  a  modei-ator 
and  clerk,  Elijah  Clary  being  elected  to  the  former 
office  and  Ezrsi  Strong  to  the  latter.  At  a  subsequent 
meeting,  held  in  pursuance  of  an  act  entitled,  "An 
act  for  the  incorporation  of  religious  societies,"  the 
following  officers  of  the  society  were  chosen;  James 
Vantine  and  Harry  0.  Sheldon,  of  Peru,  and  Nathan 
Sutliff,  of  Bronson,  trustees;  Harry  0.  Sheldon, 
clerk.  The  result  of  the  election,  and  the  name 
chosen  for  the  society,  were  certified  by  the  trustees 
to  the  county  clerk,  as  follows: 

We,  the  undersigned,  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  society  of 
Peru  and  its  vicinity,  do  certify  that  a  meeting  of  a  religious  society  was 
held,  according  to  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  legislature,  passed  Feb- 
ruary 5.  1819,  for  the  choice  of  officers  of  said  society,  in  the  township 
of  Peru,  on  the  aoth  day  of  September,  ult.,  and  that  the  name  of  said 
society  is  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Peru  and  its  vicinity . 

Given  under  our  hands  and  seals.  Dated  this  8th  day  of  November, 
1821.  JjjiesVaxtine,      [L.S.] 

N.1THAN   SUTLIFF,    [l.S  ] 

H    O.  Sheldon,      [l.s.1 
Trustees. 

Tlie  earliest  record  of  the  election  of  other  officers 
than  those  mentioned  took  place  ilarch  1,  1828,  when 
Elijah  Clary  and  James  Vantine  were  elected  deacons 
and  Elijah  Clary,  Nathan  Sutliff  and  S(jlomon  \'an- 
guilder  a  standing  committee.  The  church  employed 
the  Rev.  James  Mclntyre,  a  local  Methodist  preacher, 
to  preach  for  them.  He  was  engaged  rather  tiian  a 
preacher  of  their  own  denomination  because  he  would 
take  his  pay  in  grain  while  in  the  other  case  half  of  the 
salary  would  be  required  in  cash!  The  meetings  were 
at  first  held  at  the  log  cabin  of  Harry  0.  Sheldon, 
who  had  been  chosen  clerk  of  the  society — not  of  tlie 
church,  of  which  he  was  not  a  member.  He  subse- 
([uently  drew  a  plan  and  a  subscription  for  a  meeting 
house  to  be  built  of  hewed  logs.  It  was  erected  on 
the  line  between  Peru  and  Bronson,  where  the  old 
cemetery  now  is.  In  the  fall  of  18:i4,  John  Beach,  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Otsego,  New  York, 
liegan  to  preach  for  the  church,  and  July  2.5,  1827, 
was  ordained  and  installed,  and  remained  till  August 
18,  1829.  From  this  time  until  the  close  of  18-33 
the  church  had  only  occasional  preaching.  During 
the  year  1831:  they  were  supplied  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Dunton.  In  1835  Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon  became  pastor 
and  continued  three  or  four  years.  Rev.  S.  Stephens 
began  to  labor  July  13,  1839,  and  continued  two  years. 
Rev.  E.  P.  ■Si)erry  was  installed  pastor  Juno  28,  1842, 


and  officiated  one  half  the  time  for  about  three  years 
and  a  half.  October  0,  1847,  Rev.  J.  M.  Hayes  was 
installed  pastor  to  labor  one-half  the  time,  and  was 
dismissed  September  3,  1851,  to  open  and  take  charge 
of  the  Norwalk  Female  Seminary.  Mr.  Hayes'  labors 
as  pastor  of  the  church  closed  in  March  preceding  his 
dismissal,  at  which  time  Rev.  E.  Conger  began  his 
labors  with  the  church  and  officiated  one-half  of  the 
time  for  a  number  of  years.  Since  Mr.  Conger's  pas- 
torate. Rev.  John  McCutcheon,  Rev.  John  D.  Mc- 
Cord,  Rev.  Hubbard  Lawrence,  Rev.  T.  D.  Barthol- 
omew, and  Rev.  Augustus  Cone  have  officiated  as 
pastors  of  the  church.  The  last  named  began  bis 
labors  in  February.  1878,  and  continues  pastor  up  to 
the  present  During  Mr.  Salmon's  pastorate  the 
church  was  filled  with  divisions  and  contentions.  A 
large  portion  of  the  church  withdrew  and  united  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Bronsojn,  then  under 
the  care  of  Mr.  Salmon.  The  church  building  at 
Macksville  was  erected  in  1835,  costing  two  thousand 
two  hundred  dollars.  There  are  now  about  forty 
members  of  the  church.  Munson  Gregory  is  clerk, 
and  George  Lawrence.  William  J.  Derby  and  John 
McFarland,  deacons. 

The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1832  or  '33, 
Minor  Lawrence  being  the  first  superintendent.  The 
school  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition.  It  is  held 
in  union  with  the  M.  E.  Sabbath  school,  M.  M.  Hes- 
ter of  the  latter  cluirch  being  the  superintendent. 

.METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  James  Mclntyre 
at  the  old  academy  building  in  the  winter  of  1823-24, 
and  consisted  of  the  following  members:  Brother 
Tooker  and  wife.  Pardon  Wilson  and  wife,  Samuel 
Parish  and  wife,  Henry  Beam  and  wife.  John  Corbett 
and  wife,  Hai-ry  0.  Sheldon,  .Mrs.  Abram  Reamer 
and  Mrs.  Polly  Pierce,  Tiie  first-named  was  ap- 
pointed class  leader.  Tliey  used  the  academy  build- 
ing as  a  place  of  worshi])  until  1847,  when  the  lot  and 
store  building  of  Henry  Terry,  then  recently  deceased, 
were  purchased  and  the  building  fitted  up  for  a  house 
of  worship.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Harris, 
now  bishop.  The  present  brick  church  in  Macksville 
was  erected,  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-one  dollars.  It  was  dedi- 
cated Sunday,  October  25th  of  that  year.  Rev.  T.  F. 
Hildreth  preaching  the  dedication  sermon.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  some  of  the  early  circuit 
preachers:  True  Pattee,  James  Mclntyre,  Shadrach 
Ruark,  John  Hazard,  Cyrus  S.  Carpenter,  Joab 
Ragan,  Ebenezer  R.  Chase,  Adam  Minear.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  E.  J.  V.  Booth,  of  Fairfield. 
The  membership  is  now  forty-si.x. 

A  Sabbath  school  was  organized  by  Rev.  Thomas 
Dunn  in  1842,  William  G.  Mead  being  the  first  super- 
intendent. The  school  unites  with  the  Presbyterian, 
M.  M.  Hester  being  the  superintendent. 

A  class  was  organized  at  the  center  of  town  about 
the  same  time  that  the  class  at  JIacksville  was  formed. 


310 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


by  Rev.  True  Pattee,  and  consisted  of  the  following 
members:  Henry  Adams  and  ^\ife,  Thomas  Tillson 
and  wife,  Chas.  Gardner  and  wife,  and  Meriam  Smith. 
Henry  Adams  was  the  first  class  leader.  Meetings 
were  held  in  the  school  house  at  the  center  of  town. 
The  class  was  finally  absorbed  by  that  at  Macksville. 

rNIVERSALIST    CHUKCH. 

"The  First  Universalist  Society  in  the  county  of 
Huron"  was  organized  at  the  house  of  Alden  Pierce, 
in  Greenfield,  on  the  37th  of  September,  1827. 
Ofiicers  of  the  society  were  chosen  as  follows:  Elihu 
Clary,  clerk;  Alden  Pierce.,  treasurer;  Robert  S. 
Southgate,  Mouson  Pond  and  Benjamin  Washhurne, 
trustees.  An  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  by  the 
legislature  of  the  State,  February  24,  183-1.  Rev.  T. 
Strong  was  the  first  jireacher  that  came  amoug  them. 
On  the  2Uth  of  Januar}',  1838,  a  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  above  society,  met  and  organized  a  church 
in  Peru,  called  the  "First  Fniversalist  church  of 
Peru."  Reuben  Farley  was  pastor;  Comfort  Eaton 
was  elected  clerk,  and  Munson  Pond  and  Apollos 
Fay  were  chosen  deacons. 

A  church  building  was  erected  at  Macksville  iu 
1840.  The  church  records  show  the  membership 
to  be  about  ninety — but  death  and  removals  have  re- 
duced the  number  considerably.  The  present  pastor 
of  the  church  is  A.  L.  Rice,  who  recently  began  his 
labors.  H.  H.  Clark  is  clerk:  Henry  D.  Williams, 
treasurer;  H.  H.  Clark,  W.  H.  Smith  and  Walter 
Franklin,  trustees. 

BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  earliest  meeting  by  the  members  of  this  society, 
was  a  conference  and  praise  meeting  held  at  the 
house  of  Arunah  Eaton  on  the  26th  day  of  August, 
1837.  Elder  Asahel  Morse  was  present,  and  was  their 
first  preacher.  The  church  was  organized  January 
13,  1838,  at  the  school  house,  near  Pe.u  center. 
Elder  Morse  acted  as  moderator  of  the  council,  and 
S.  B.  Webster,  clerk.  The  following  named  persons 
were  the  constituent  members,  viz. :  Arunah  Eaton, 
John  S.  Sayre,  Mary  Sayre,  Eliphalet  Brooks,  Effa 
Brooks,  Edward  Eaton,  Mary  Ann  Eaton,  L.  Hodge, 
Hepsibah  Eaton,  Hepsibali  Parker,  Eleanor  Mc- 
Mitchell,  Abigail  Allison,  Thomas  Ilughson,  Daniel 
Morse,  Joannah  Morse,  Daniel  Perry,  Eleanor  Eaton. 
The  meetings  after  organization  were  generally  at  the 
school  houses.  A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in 
Macksville  in  1840,  at  a  cost  of  about  eight  hundred 
dollars.  The  membership  is  now — January,  1879 — 
forty-five.  The  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  P.  Islip,  of  Olena. 
Officers,  G.  W.  Athertou,  clerk:  J.  Kingsbury  and 
wife,  Charles  Roe,  G.  W.  Morse  and  William,  Mitchell, 
delegates. 

A  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1841,  with 
Brothers  Waters  and  Terry,  superintendents.  The 
school  now  numl)ers  thirty-tAvo  scholars,  with  J. 
Kingsbury,  superintendent. 


THE    LUTHEKAN    CHUKCH, 

situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  was  organi- 
zed in  1859,  by  Rev.  William  Shmogrow,.with  about 
thirty  members.  In  1860,  the  church  building  was 
erected,  costiig  efght  hundred  dollars.  The  dedica- 
tion sermon  was  preached  by  Mr.  Shmogrow.  There 
is  now,  January,  1879,  a  membership  of  thirt\-sevcn. 
Rev.  Charles  Ulrich,  of  Norwalk,  is  pastor. 

A  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  the  summer  of 
1878,  of  about  forty  scholars,  of  wiiich  Louis  Hoff- 
man is  the  superintendent. 

The  first  temperance  society  in  the  township  was 
organized  in  1833,  with  Simon  Spaulding,  president, 
and  Seth  C.  Parker,  secretary.  During  the  first  four 
years  of  its  existence,  three  hundred  and  fifty -seven 
members  joined  the  organization. 

THE    PERU    DIVISIOX,    SONS    OF   TEMPERVNCE, 

an  existing  organization,  was  instituted  December 
4,  1878,  the  officers  of  which  are  as  follows :  C. 
Woodruff,  W.  P.:  Mrs.  E.  Clark,  W.  A.;  J.  H. 
Snyder,  R.  S.;  Miss  Kate  Hester,  A.  R.  S.;  G-  R. 
Gregory,  F.  S. ;  R.  S.  Danforth,  F. ;  M.  X.  Hester, 
chaplain;  F.  J.  Hard,  C;  Mrs.  J.  E.  Woodruff. 
A.  C. ;  Mrs.  H.  Howe,  I.  S. ;  W.  H.  Smith,  A.  S. ; 
H.  L.  Derby,  P.  W.  S.;  W.  H.  Smith,  D.  G.  W.  P. 
The  membership  is,  at  the  present  writing,  (January. 
1879,)  forty-three.  The  meetings  of  the  society  are 
held  in  the  school  house  in  Macksville. 

POST  OFFICE. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  1818,  under 
the  name  of  Peru.  Thomas  Tillson  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  kept  the  office  in  his  own  house,  on 
lot  twenty-eight.  The  location  of  the  office  was  un- 
satisfactory to  the  residents  of  Macksville,  and  ilr. 
Tillson,  after  serving  a  few  mouths,  was  superseded 
by  Moses  C.  Sanders,  and  the  location  of  the  office 
changed  to  Macksville,  where  it  has  since  remaiuod, 
the  name  being  Peru.  The  present  postmaster  is  C. 
Woodruff. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  township,  prior  to  1820,  then  called  Yreden- 
burg,  was  annexed  to  Greenfield  for  township  pur- 
poses. The  first  election  as  an  indejiendent  townshiii 
was  held  on  the  third  day  of  April,  1820,  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  Ruggles,  on  lot  number  twenty-eight,  and 
resulted  as  follows:  Elihu  Clary,  clerk;  Elijah  Clary, 
Richardson  Eaton  and  James  Vantine,  trustees; 
Daniel  Mack  and  Newell  Adams,  fence  viewers:  Joel 
Clark  and  Alexander  Pierce,  overseers  of  the  ]ioor; 
Thomas  Tillson  and  Eli  Nelson,  appraisers  of  i)rop- 
erty;  James  Ashley,  treasurer. 

Thomas  Tillson  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace 
while  the  township  was  attached  to  Greenfield.  His 
comniission  from  Governor  Brown  was  dated  January 
18,  1819.  He  held  his  office  in  his  own  house,  on  lot 
twenty-eight.     The  earliest  record  of  a  justice  of  the 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


211 


peace  being  chosen  after  the  town  was  organized  sepa- 
rately, was' on  the  21st  of  April,  1821,  when  Phineas 
Williams  was  chosen  to  that  office.  He  was  followed 
by  Elihu  Clary,  Moses  C.  Sanders,  Jr.,  A.  Jenning, 
Abel  Tracy,  0."  W.  Slocum,  B.  F.  Morse  and  others, 
for  the  east  part  of  the  town.  The  first  justice  of 
the  peace  in  the  west  part  of  the  township  was 
Thomas  Tillson,  followed  by  Daniel  Smith,  Arunah 
Eaton,  Levi  R.  Sutton  and  others.  Mr.  Sutton  served 
in  that  capacity  for  about  thirty  years,  his  term  of 
service  commencing  in  ^Ipril,  1834.  The  first  report 
of  the  township  treasurer,  dated  March  1,  1821  was 
as  follows: 

Money  received SOLOO 

Money  paid  out 00.00 

Amount  remaining  ia  treasury    00.00 

Due  Elihu  Clary,  per  order  from  trustees  for  a  blank  book  pur- 
chased   1  -Ot) 

Total  amount  of  expenditures  tor  the  year 1 .00 

Signed:  Ja^ies  Ashley,  Treasurer. 

Attest:    Elihu  Clary,  Township  Clerk. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  report  that  uo  charge 
was  made  by  township  officers  for  services  rendered. 
Such  was  the  case  for  eight  or  ten  years  subsequent  to 
the  organization  of  the  township. 

The  poll  book  of  an  election  in  Peru  for  State  and 
county  officers,  held  October  10,  1825,  contains  the 
names  of  twelve  electors,  as  follows:  Simon  Raymond, 
Abner  Mack,  Thomas  Tillson,  William  Smith",  Wyatt 
Cook,  Hibbard  Smith,  Henry  Adams,  Elihu  Clary, 
Newell  Adams,  Joseph  Ruggles,  James  Ashley,  Rich- 
ardson Eaton.  Wyatt  Cook,  Hibbard  Smith  and 
Newell  Adams  were  judges  of  election,  and  Elihu 
Clary  and  Henry  Adams,  clerks.  In  the  list  of  can- 
didates we  find  the  name  of  Henry  Adams,  who 
received  one  vote  each  for  governor  and  county  com- 
missioner. At  the  election  for  justice  of  the  peace, 
held  Occober  0,  1821,  there  were  forty-six  votes 
polled,  of  which  Thomas  Tillson  received  forty-four, 
and  Henry  Adams  and  Thomas  Prentice  one  each. 

INCIDENTS. 

Aunt  Polly  Pierce  used  to  relate  many  incidents  of 
pioneer  life  in  Peru,  only  one  of  which,  however, 
touching  her  own  experience,  has  been  preserved.  In 
the  summer,  1816,  accompanied  by  her  little  dog,  she 
went  through  the  dense  forest  on  a  brief  visit  to  her 
father-in-law,  Alden  Pierce,  in  Greenfield.  The  fam- 
ily supplied  her  with  a  quantity  of  provisions,  which 
she  carried  home  with  her,  and,  when  within  a  mile 
of  her  cabin,  she  encountered  a  huge  bear,  which 
seemed  intent  on  making  a  meal,  either  of  the  trav- 
eler, her  provisions,  or  the  dog.  The  heroic  woman, 
however,  was  determined  that  old  bruin  should  have 
neither,  and,  taking  her  provisions  under  one  arm. 
and  the  dog,  crouched  through  fear  at  her  feet,  under 
the  other,  ran  for  dear  life  to  her  home,  which  she 
reached  in  safety,  but  not  a  moment  two  soon,  as  the 
brute  was  but  a  few  rods  behind  her  when  she  arrived 
at  the  door  of  her  cabin. 

Tlie  following  incident  in  the  life  of  Levi  R.  Sut- 
ton will  serve  to  illustrate  the  difficulties  the  early 


settlers  experienced  in  obtaining  breadstuffs  for  their 
families,  before  they  could  raise  their  own  grain.  In 
the  spring  of  1818,  'being  nearly  out  of  corn  for 
bread,  he  sent  a  man  with  some  maple  sugar  to  Cold 
creek  to  exchange  for  corn,  which,  when  obtained, 
was  to  be  taken  to  Hunt's  mill  to  be  ground.  The 
man,  failing  to  return  within  a  reasonable  time,  Mr. 
Sutton  mounted  an  old  horse  that  ran  in  the  woods 
and  started  in  search  of  him,  and  met  him  about  ten 
o'clock  on  his  return  home,  but  without  either  flour 
or  the  sugar.  He  had  sold  the  sugar  to  a  man  in 
Venice,  who  expected  to  have  some  corn  to  pay  for  it 
in  about  two  weeks.  Mi'.  Sutton  proceeded  to  Venice, 
but  the  man  who  purchased  the  sugar  was  aljsent 
from  home  and  did  not  return  uatil  the  following 
day.  He  had  on  hand  a  small  quantity  of  corn,  but 
it  was  desired  by  a  few  of  his  neighbors,  who  pre- 
vailed upon  the  owner  to  pay  Mr.  Sutton  the  money 
for  his  sugar,  which  was  accordingly  tendered,  but 
which  Mr.  Sutton  refused  to  receive,  telling  the  man 
the  situation  of  his  family  with  respect  to  food,  the 
double  journey  to  Venice,  his  long  waiting  for  his 
return,  and  so  forth,  and  the  man  finally  let  him 
have  the  corn.  Mr.  Sutton  then  took  it  to  the.  mill 
at  Cold  creek,  got  it  ground  just  before  night,  and 
then  returned. home,  where  he  arrived,  to  the  great 
joy  of  his  family,  about  midnight. 


The  first  mill  in  this  township  was  built  by  Daniel 
Mack  in  the  year  1816  or  '17,  on  the  East  branch,  a 
short  distance  below  tiie  bridge  in  ifacksville.  Short- 
ly after  he  put  in  a  run  of  stone  for  grinding  grain. 
This  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  settlers  living  in 
this  township  and  in  Bronson,  as  it  saved  them  long 
journeys  in  order  to  obtain  their  grists.  Mr.  Mack 
subsequently  erected  a  grist  mill  on  the  location  of  the 
present  grist  mill  in  Macksville.  using  the  same  run 
of  stone. 

In  1820  or  "21  Charles  and  Richard  Gardner  built  a 
saw  mill  on  Huron  river  where  that  of  Charles  Smith 
now  stands.  A  few  years  after,  Charles  Gardner  es- 
tablished at  the  same  place  a  fulling  mill  and  a  card- 
nig  machine.  He  operated  these  mills  about  six  years 
and  then  sold  them  to  Alanson  Archie. 

In  the  spring  of  1823,  Munson  Pond  moved  into  the 
township  from  Knox  county  and  shortly  afterwai-d,  in 
partnership  with  Robert  S.  Southgate,  erected  on  the 
East  branch  of  the  Huron,  the  location  of  the  present 
saw  mill  of  Henry  D.  Williams,  a  saw  mill,  with  a 
building  designed  for  carding  and  cloth  dressing,  but 
was  fina,lly  occupied  by  Prince  Haskell,  Jr.,  as  a  grist 
mill.  Haskell  was  afterwards  bought  out  by  Messrs. 
Southgate  and  Pond,  who  then  sold  a  fourth  interest 
in  their  mills  to  Carlos  Keithj  a  son-in-law  of  Mr. 
Pond.  The  present  grist  mill  in  the  village  of  Macks- 
ville was  built  by  Ezra  Smith  in  1831.  He  operated 
it  until  his  death,  some  ten  years  after,  when  the  mill 
was  bought  Ijy  a  Mr.  Palmer  of  Monroevillo.  A  later 
owner  was  Thomas  Thuomey,  of  whose  widow  the 


n-i 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


present  owner,  Jacob  Boehm,  purchased  the  property 
some  thirteen  years  since.  The  mill  has  three  run  of 
stone.  The  main  building  is  forty-five  by  sixty  feet, 
three  stories  high  with  basement.  The  mill  can  be 
run  by  either  water  or  steam,  the  engine  being  a 
thirty  horse  power. 

The  grist  mill  of  J.  D.  Mason,  situated  on  the 
Huron,  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  township,  was 
erected  by  Pickett  Lattimer  in  the  year  18-40.  He 
operated  it  about  twenty  years  when  he  sold  to  the 
present  proprietor.  The  building  is  forty  by  sixty 
feet,  three  stories,  and  has  three  run  of  stone. 

There  is  also  a  saw  mill  at  this  point,  established 
originally  by  Lattimer,  but  it  has  siu.ce  been  rebuilt. 
It  is  now  owned  by  J.  D.  Mason.  The  first  mills  at 
this  place  were  established  by  Thomas  Parker  who 
built  a  combined  saw  and  grist  mill  in  1821. 

THE  VILLAGE. 

Macksville,  the  only  village  in  the  township,  is  sit- 
uated on  the  East  branch  of  the  Huron,  near  the  east 
town  line.  It  derived  its  name  from  Daniel  Mack, 
the  original  owner  of  the  land  on  which  the  village 
stands.  The  town  site  was  subsequently  owned  joint- 
ly by  Moses  G.  Sanders,  John  Nelson.  John  Atwater 
and  John  G.  Taylor.  We  find  in  several  successive 
numbers  of  the  Clarion,  in  the  summer  of  1822,  a  no- 
tice, published  by  the  above  gentlemen,  announcing 
their  intention  of  making  application  to  the  court  of 
common  pleas  at  the  fall  term  of  that  year  to  change 
the  name  of  the  village  to  Lima.  Whether  the  ap- 
plication was  made,  or  made  and  denied,  we  are  not 
able  to  say,  but  the  name  was  not  changed.  Dr. 
Sanders  kept  the  first  store  here  in  a  small  log  house. 
Macksville  was  formerly  a  place  of  considerable  activ- 
ity. At  one  time  there  were  four  stores,  two  distil- 
leries, three  breweries,  two  asheries,  and  a  hotel  which 
frequently  kept  twenty  to  twenty-five  teams  and  team- 
sters over  night.  This  was  before  the  time  of  rail- 
roads and  when  the  wagon  trade  was  something  im- 
mense. The  place  has  now  four  churches,  a  school, 
one  general  stoi-e,  one  flouriug-mill,  two  blacksmith 
shops,  one  cooper  shop,*one  carriage  shop,  one  harness 
shop,  one  paint  shop,  a  shoemaker,  a  tailor  and  a 
broom  maker.  The  post  office  is  also  located  here, 
the  name  of  which  being  Peru  the  village  is  generally 
so  called. 


Biographical  Sketches, 


DEAN  CLAPP. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  record,  on  the  pages  of  history, 
the  deeds  of  a  meritorious  life  as  an  example  worthy 
to  be  imitated  by  the  young.  And  such,  emphati- 
cally, was  the  life  of  him  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  page. 


Mr.  Clapp  was  born  among  the  green  hills  of  Ver- 
mont, in  the  town  of  Barnard,  Windsor  county, 
January  15,  1805.  His  father,  Benjamin  Clapp.  was 
a  native  of  the  same  State,  and  was  prominently  iden- 
tified with  its  agricultural  interests.  He  was  placed 
by  his  fellow-citizens  in  many  important  jjositions.  at 
one  time  holding  the  office  of  judge.  He  was  born 
October  11,  1762,  and  was  married  to  Polly  Dean, 
March  2.3,  1788.  She  was  born  in  Windsor  county, 
February  20,  1702.  Their  family  consisted  of  eleven 
children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  next  to  the 
youngest.  They  both  lived  to  a  green  old  age,  the 
husband  passing  away  June  26,  18-10,  followed  by  his 
wife  February  22,  1848. 

His  parents  being  in  limited  circumstances,  young 
Dean  received  the  benefits  of  only  a  common  school 
education.  On  arriving  at  maturity,  he  was  married. 
May  19,  1828,  to  Betsey  M.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel 
and  Jlercy  (Southgate)  Danforth.  who  was  born  in 
the  place  first  named  above,  December  30,  1805.  The 
young  couple,  seeing  no  hope  of  liettering  their  con- 
dition in  the  place  of  their  birth,  turned  their  atten- 
tion to  the  far  west;  and,  iu  the  fall  of  the  year  after 
their  marriage,  gathered  their  worldly  effects  together 
and  started  for  "the  land  of  promise" — their  western 
wilderness  home. 

On  their  journey  to  Ohio,  they  stopped  at  Alexan- 
dria, New  York,  where  he  obtained  work  in  teaming 
and  harvesting;  but,  unfortunately,  he  loaned  two 
hundred  dollars  of  their  capital  to  irresponsible  par- 
ties; so  that,  on  reaching  their  destination,  they  had 
but  sixty-five  dollars  remaining.  They  purchased  a 
piece  of  wild  land  in  Peru  township,  Huron  county, 
paying  fifty  dollars  down,  which  left  them  only  fifteen 
dollars  to  begin  with.  Not  a  tree  had  been  cut,  and 
they  had  but  a  few  articles,  brought  with  them  from 
Vermont,  with  which  to  commence  housekeeping, 
when  they  moved  upon  their  farm  in  the  winter  of 
1830.  But  perseverance,  industry  and  energy  must 
win  the  day  at  last.  And  so,  by  their  united  efforts, 
they  were  enabled  to  build  themselves  a  home,  and 
leave  to  their  children  an  inlieritance,  accumulated  by 
endeavors  of  which  their  descendants  may  justly  be 
proud. 

Mr.  Clapp  was  always  engaged  in  agricultural  i)ur- 
suits.  He  was  prominently  connected  with  the  Huron 
county  agricultural  society,  having  been  one  of  its 
first  incorporators,  and  having  held  the  office  of  presi- 
dent and  trustee  for  many  j-ears.  On  his  death,  the 
board  of  trustees  passed  appropriaie  resolutions. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Clapp  was  a  republican,  and  held 
many  offices  of  trust  in  Huron  county.  He  was 
county  commissioner  in  1852,  one  of  the  members  of 
the  first  board  of  trustees  of  the  infirmary,  and  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  of  the  State  as  one  of  the 
appraisers  of  the  school  lands  located  on  the  Western 
Reserve.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Universalist  and, 
for  many  years,  was  deacon  and  trustee  of  the  First 
Universalist  Church  of  Peru.  His  death  occurred 
December  14,  1805;  and  seldom,  in  any  community. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


213 


has  the  loss  of  a  citizen  beau  more  deeply  felt.  He 
was  always  a  trusted  friend  and  neighbor,  a  kind 
husband  and  father,  and  in  him  Peru  lost  one  of  its 
most  jorominent  pioneers.  • 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clapp  had  three  children,  whose 
names  and  brief  domestic  history  are  as  follows: 
Aro  D.,  born  July  22,  18.30,  was  married  February  3, 
1858,  to  Helen,  daughter  of  Aruna  and  Mary  Ann 


Eaton,  of  Peru.  They  reside  on  a  farm  located  in 
Norwalk  township,  and  have  a  family  of  two  children, 
and  Mrs.  Clapp  resides  with  them.  Mary  Isabella, 
born  January  18,  18.31,  is  married  to  Dr.  Alfred 
Terry,  a  dentist,  of  Norwalk.  Henry  Seymour,  born 
October  21,  1841.  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Alvin 
and  Parmela  Brightman.  of  Bronsoii.  He  resides  at 
the  old  homestead  in  Peru,  and  has  two  cliildren. 


Mr.  R.  B,  Ellsworth, 


Mrs.  R.  B.  Ellsworth, 


RANSOM  B.  ELLSWORTH. 

Ransom  B.  Ellsworth,  born  in  Windsor,  Vermont, 
November  11,  1800,  at  an  early  age  removed  to  Onta- 
rio county.  New  York.  He  married  there  Eliza 
Prentiss,  and  the  young  couple  removed  to  Fairfield, 
Huron  county,  and  settled  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  present  village,  being  one  of  the  very  foremost 
pioneers  of  the  township,  and  sharing  the  severe  toil 
of  clearing  and  improving.  He  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  elected  in  Fairfield,  and  held  the  office 
for  three  years.  He  moved  into  Peru  township  in 
1829,  and  lived  for  about  one  year  at  the  little  village 
of  Macksville.  His  wife  died  the  same  year.  In  1831, 
he  married  his  second  wife,  Louisa  Barker,  and  re- 
moved to  his  present  location,  lot  number  three,  in 
the  Parker  tract.  His  second  wife  died  in  1847,  and 
in  the  following  year  he  married  his  present  wife. 


formerly  Mrs.  Susan  Morey,  born  in  Dutchess  county. 
New  York,  December  8,  1813,  but  since  1847  a  resi- 
dent of  Peru.  She  had  one  daughter,  Georgianna, 
who  married  D.  Brooks,  and  is  resident  in  the  town- 
ship, and  a  son,  Willard,  now  in  Flat  Rock,  Michi- 
gan. Mr.  Ellsworth  has  had  in  all  eleven  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Amanda  (Mrs.  N. 
Edwards),  in  Minnesota;  Allen,  in  Toledo,  and 
Maria  (Mrs.  J.  Drury),  in  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ellsworth  are  now  aged  respectively  seventy-nine  and 
sixty-sis.  Mr.  Ellsworth  is  one.  of  those  men  who, 
having  begun  in  a  new  country,  empty-handed,  the 
struggle  for  a  livelihood  for  himself  and  family,  has 
succeeded  in  gaining  that  condition  in  life  which 
allows  him  the  ease  and  comfort  which  he  has  so  well 
earned  by  years  of  toil  and  privation.  He  has  a 
finely  cultivated  farm  of  about  sixty-five  acres,  and  a 
comfortable  home. 


GREENFIELD. 


ORIGISAL   OWNERS. 

For  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township. 

GREENFIELD,  TOWN    NIMBEK    TWO,   IN    THE  TWENTY- 
THIRD    RANCiE. 
Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 
Original  Cfrantees.  Am'tLoss.    Classified  by.  Am' t  Classed. 

S  s.     d.  £  s.      d. 

Andrew  Rowland    1568       15      11    I    Thomas   F.    Row- 
land 884         9        5 
Thomas  Fitch's                                   i           _  ^         „       „ 
heirs                        415         3       0,          "                "         142         6       7 
Hannah  Fitch's 

heirs  141         2       T  "  "  48         7       7 

Samuel  Rowland      476       10       7  "  "         111        16       7 

JohnHubbell  33         -       -  ... 

Widow  Abigail  Burr  58 


Ephriani  Penflekl 


Stephen  Jennings    195 
JabezPeny  3 

Eleazer  Osbom,  Jr  181 


Eleazer  Osborn,  Jr    15 


' 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,  £1,344 

7 

0 

Classification  No.  2,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't 

Loss. 

Classified  by. 

.41/ 

't  Classed. 

£ 

s 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Samuel  Smedley 

415 

19 

Samuel  Smedley 

415 

9 

John  Smedley 

.763 

10 

4 

Samuel  Smedley 
and  others 

381 

15 

3 

Samuel  Rowland 

476 

10 

7 

Walter  Bradley 

39 

16 

2 

David  Anuibal 

m 

18 

10 

43 

10 

Samuel  Smith 

19 

16 

9 

,J? 

16 

9 

John  Williams 

116 

0 

9 

116 

0 

9 

John  Williams.  Jr 

13 

19 

13 

19 

0 

Dudley  Baldwin 
Jonathan  Mattber 

7 

13 

0 

7 

13 

47 

5 

10 

47 

5 

10 

Increase  Bradley 

180 

0 

0 

180 

0 

0 

lTn^L^n"u7 

15 
22 

16 
12 

10 
2 

'u 

15 
32 

16 
13 

10 
2 

Joseph  Sherwood 
Sam*l  Whitney,  Jr 

9 

15 

6 

9 

15 

6 

26 

10 

2 

" 

26 

10 

2 

John  Morehouse, 
(two  rights) 

349 

4 

5 

Zalmon  Bradley 

3 

17 

3 

Original  Grantees. 

Ebenezer  Bertram 
James  Buckley 
Justin  Jennings 
Luce  Burr 
Samuel  Burr,  Jr 
Nathan  Bun- 
William  Carter 
Abigail  Chapman 
Hannah  McKinsey 
Sarah  Hughes 
Ephn 


Footing  of  Classification  No,  ' 

Classification  No.  3,  Section 

Am't  Loss.    Classified  by. 


Am't  Classed. 


Classification 


Samuel  Rowland 


Man 


;  Keeler 


Middlebi 
Free  Nt-gr",  Ned 
Abiaham  Parrott 
Robert  Ross 
Joseph  Sprag 
Beni.  Squire 
Zeeheriah  Sanford 
Jehiah  Whitehead 
Samuel  King 
Ephraim  Burr,  Jr 
John  Stratton 
Nath'l  Burr 
Josiah  Buckley 
Hezekiah  Caley 
Rewil  Thorp 
Stephen  Thorp 
John  Coke 
Ann  Godfrey 
Ebenezer  Monroe 
David  Burr 
Andrew  Rowland     1 
Daniel  Hurlburt 
Ca|)t.  Titus  Hurl- 
burt 1 
Capt.  James  Lam 

poire 
James  Lamphire.Jr 


Original  Grantees. 

John  Morehouse 
Sam'lSturges 
Sam'l  Taylor 
Nehemiah  Banks 
Samuel  Penfield 
Mary  Penfleld 


^o'^ 


Footing  of  Classification  No   4,  £1,344 


I'HYt 


•AL    FEATURI 


iitlcatiou  No.  3,  .£1,344 


Tlie  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  nudulating. 
The  Huron  river  enters  it  about  a  mile  west  of  the 
southeast  corner,  runs  a  winding,  but,  generally, 
northwest  course 'through  the  township,  and  leaves 
it  a  little  less  than  a  mile  east  of  the  northwest  cor- 
ner. There  are  several  small  tributaries,  the  largest 
of  which  is  the  west  branch,  which  drains  the  western 
part  of  tlie  town. 

The  original  varieties  of  timber,  east  of  the  river, 
were  principally  white  wood,  black  walnut,  beech  and 
maple,  with  some  white  oak,  butternut  and  basswood. 
West  of  the  river,  white  and  black  oak,  hickory,  beech 
and  maple  were  the  leading  varieties.  The  soil  is  a 
loam  of  a  sandy  or  gravelly  nature,  cast  of  the  river, 
and  a  clay  loam  west  of  it. 

There  is  a  stone  quarry  on  the  east  bank  of  Huron 
river,  owned  and  worked  by  Elias  Easter.  It  was 
first  opened  by  Ezra  Smith,  at  an  early  date.  The 
quarry  underlies  a  considerable  tract  of  land,  with  a 
dip  to  the  southeast,  extending  into  Fairfield  town- 
ship, and  is  sandstone  of  the  newer  formation.  The 
stone  varies  from  an  inch  to  twelve  inches  in  thick- 
ness, and  is  largely  used  for  building  and  flagging. 
Tliere  exists  also,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Easter,  bog  iron 
ore.  but  in  what  quantity  is  not  known. 

In  18-17  or  '48,  Mr.  Harlan  E.  Simmons,  while 
plowing  through  an  excavation  on  his  farm,  made  by 
a  large  uprooted  tree,  came  upon  two  copper  kettles, 
one  a  five-jiail,  and  the  other  a  three-pail  kettle,  the 
latter  within  the  former,  and  both  lying  bottom 
upwards.  By  whom  they  were  buried,  and  for  what 
purpose,  can,  of  course  only  be  conjectured,  but  they 
were  evidently  buried  at  an  early  period,  both  as 
indicated  by  the  appearance  of  the  vessels,  and  by 
the  size  of  the  tree  under  which  they  were  phiced. 
One  of  the  kettles  is  now  in  the  cabinet  of  relics  of 
the  Fire-hmds  Historical  Society,  and  the  other  in 
the  jiossession  of  Alonzo  L.  Simmons. 

SETTLEMENT  AND    SETTLiniS. 

The  first  person  that  came  into  the  township  of 
Greenfield,  for  the  purpose  of  settlement,  was  William 
McKelvey,  Jr.,  who  arrived  from  Trumbull  county 
in  the  year   1810.     He  purchased  one  hundred  and 

(214) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


215 


^ix  acres  of  land  of  Caleb  Palmer,  of  New  Haven 
township,  on  lot  number  twentj-five,  iu  the  second 
section  of  this  townshij),  paying  for  it  in  work.  In 
1811,  he  cleared  eleven  and  a  half  acres  and  sowed  it 
to  wheat.  He  had  harvested  his  crop  and  was  putting 
it  in  stack  when  the  news  of  Hall's  surrender  reached 
the  settlement.  He  immediately  returned  to  Trum- 
bull county,  where  his  father  and  the  rest  of  the 
family  were  then  living,  and  joined  the  army  as  a 
volunteer  for  six  months.  In  the  spring  of  1814  he 
returned  to  Greenfield,  bringing,  with  a  four-horse 
team  and  wagon,  his  brotlier-in-law,  Truman  Gilbert, 
and  his  family.  His  wheat  had  been  burned  during 
his  absence,  evidently  by  the  Indians.  The  loss  was 
considerable,  as  breadstuffs  were  then  high.  He  after- 
wards bought  fifteen  bushels  of  the  wheat  left  in 
stack  by  Erastus  Smith,  on  his  flight  to  Trumbull 
county,  for  which  he  paid  forty-five  dollars,  thresh- 
■  ing  it  himself.  Judging  from  the  yield  of  Mr. 
Smith's  crop  and  the  price  he  received  for  what  he 
sold,  Mr.  McKelvey's  loss  was  about  twelve  hundi:ed 
dollars.  In  December,  1817,  he  married  Saloma  Ash- 
ley, daughter  of  James  Ashley,  of  Peru  township, 
and  built  a  distillery  the  same  year  on  Huron  river, 
on  lot  twenty-six,  section  two,  the  upper  story  of 
which  he  occupied  as  a  dwelling.  A  number  of  years 
afterwards  he  built  a  log  house  on  his  farm  on  the 
center  road,  where  Robert  Arthur  now  lives,  and  took 
up  his  abode  there.  He  moved  to  Hardin  county 
in  1835,  remained  six  years  and  then  returned  to  this 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1853,  and  in  the  fall  of  1854  he  married  Mrs. 
Electa  Grant,  with  whom  he  is  now  living  at  Green- 
field center.  Mr.  McKelvey  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  July  21,  1790.  In  1804 
he  and  his  father,  William  McKelvey,  Sr.,  came  to 
Ohio,  selecting  a  location  in  Palmyra  township,  Por- ' 
tage  county,  the  rest  of  the  family  following  the  next 
year.  In  1806  or  1807  the  family  removed  to  Trum- 
bull county.  William  McKelvey,  Sr.,  removed  to  this 
township  in  1815,  and  settled  on  lot  twenty-six,  in 
the  second  section.  In  1819  he  moved  to  the  town- 
ship of  Plymouth,  Richland  countj',  where  he  after- 
wards died. 

Truman  Gilljert  settled  on  the  north  and  south 
center  road,  on  lot  thirty-six.  He  subsequently  moved 
to  York  township,  Sandusky  county,  and  died  there. 

The  first  family  that  settled  in  Greenfield  was  that 
of  Hanson  Read.  Mr.  Read  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut and  was  born  June  4,  1782.  While  a  boy,  his 
parents  removed  to  Bath,  New  York.  In  1810,  he 
married  Elizabeth  Powers  of  Beavertown,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  April,  1811,  removed  to  this  township 
in  company  with  Abram  Powers  (his  wife's  father), 
Jacob  Rush  (his  hired  man),  James  Wilson,  who  sub- 
sequently became  a  settler  in  this  township,  Caleb 
Palmer,  who  settled  iu  New  Haven,  and  John  Laylin, 
who  settled  in  Eldridge,  now  Berlin.  They  reached 
Greenfield  on  the  first  day  of  Jlay,  after  a  tedious 
journey.     For  a  great  part  of  the  way  there  was  no 


road,  only  such  as  the  emigrants  cut  as  they  traveled. 
The  first  night  in  Greenfield  the  family  slept  on  the 
ground  under  a  tree. 

A  short  time  after  tJieir  arrival.  Abram  Powers 
went  into  the  woods  in  search  of  the  cows,  and  the 
day  being  cloudy,  lost  his  direction. and  wandered 
about  for  five  days  and  nights  before  reaching  his 
home.  He  subsisted  on  roots  and  berries,  and  came 
in  very  much  exhausted.  Every  effort  had  been 
made  by  his  associates  to  find  the  lost  man,  but  with- 
out success.  Mr.  Read  built  his  cabin  in  the  fourth 
section  on  lot  number  thirty-two.  It,  indeed,  was  a 
lonely  dwelling,  being  among  the  very  first  in  what  is 
now  Huron  county.  The  first  year  of  their  settle- 
ment the  family  had  to  go  to  Cuyahoga  county,  or  to 
Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  county,  with  their  grist,  and  to 
Mansfield  for  the  few  groceries  they  needed. 

April  25,  1812,  their  son  Franklin  was  born,  which 
was  the  first  birth  of  civilized  parents  in  the  town- 
ship and  one  of  the  earliest  in  the  county. 

In  1814,  Mr.  Read  sold  his  farm  to  James  Wilson, 
and  commenced,  with  Mr.  Powers,  the  erection  of 
the  grist  mill  on  Huron  river,  as  mentioned  elsewhere, 
Soon  after  it  was  built,  Mr.  Read  sold  the  mill 'to  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Carkhuff,  and  moved  to  the 
township  of  Norwalk,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south 
of  where  the  village  of  Norwalk  now  is,  purchasing 
his  land  of  Samuel  B.  Lewis.  Mr.  Read  built  a  saw 
mill  here  in  1817-18,  and  a  gristmill  in  1821,  the 
first  in  the  townsliip.  In  1826,  he  removed  to 
Perrysburg,  Ohio,  and  took  a  job  of  road-making  on 
the  turnpike.  He  lived  but  a  few  months  after  his 
settlement  there,  and  his  family  subsequently  returned 
to  Norwalk  township.  Mrs.  Read  afterwards  became 
the  wife  of  Perez  Miner,  whom  she  also  survived,  and 
finally  i-emoved,  with  a  sou,  to  Ingham  county,  Mich- 
igan, where  she  subsequently  died.  There  were  six 
children,  all  boys,  and  all  of  whom  are  living.  Frank- 
lin, the  eldest,  resides  in  Norwalk  township,  a  mile 
south  of  the  village,  aged  sixty-seven;  James  resides  in 
Ingham  county,  Michigan:  Eli  and  Dennis  live  in 
Wisconsin;  Abram  lives  in  Missouri,  and  Ransler  in 
Indiana. 

In  October,  1811,  a  little  company,  consisting  of 
Erastus  Smitli  and  family,  of  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren; Samuel  C.  Spencer,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Smith, 
Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  and  Buel  Ensign  started  from 
Vernon,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  for  the  Fire-lands, 
arriving  in  Greenfield  about  the  first  of  November. 
They  brought  with  them  two  wagons,  four  yoke  of 
oxen,  three  cows,  and  twenty-three  hogs.  After  cross- 
ing the  Cuyahoga  they  were  strictly  pioneers.  The 
country  was  a  vast  wilderness,  not  a  house  to  l)e  seen 
on  their  route  west  of  the  Cuyahoga  river,  until  tlie 
lonely  cabin  of  Hanson  Read,  in  Greenfield,  was 
reached.  Mrs.  Smith  and  her  children  remained  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Read  until  the  men  could  roll  up  a 
house,  which  was  built  on  the  place  now  occupied  by 
Hiram  Smith.  The  house  was  indeed  a  primitive 
dwelling  place  when  the  family  moved  into  it.  being 


216 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


without  a  door  or  window,  and  had  only  a  few  feet 
square  of  puncheon  floor.  A  door  aud  window  were 
soon  provided,  however,  made  also  of  puncheons,  and 
the  family  lived  in  comparative  comfort  through  the 
winter  which  was  a  very  severe  one.  It  was  with  dif- 
ficulty that  the  cattle  were  wintered  through.  They 
subsisted  largely  on  shrubs,  and  twigs  of  trees  which 
were  cut  down  for  them  to  browse  on.  The  hogs  ran 
in  the  woods,  and  fed  on  the  abundant  mast,  or 
"shack"  which  the  forest  yielded.  The  next  spring 
these  hogs  all  went  back  to  Vernon,  in  Trumbull 
county,  where  they  were  subsequently  found  by  Mr. 
Smith,  on  his  return,  during  the  excitement  of  the 
war  of  1812.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Hartland,  Con- 
necticut, January  7,  1784,  and  migrated  with  his 
parents  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  in  1799.  Decem- 
ber, 19,  1805,  he  married  Miss  Fanny  Spencer,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Lydia  Spencer,  also  of  Hartland, 
Connecticut,  who  moved  with  their  family  to  Trum- 
bull county,  in  1803.  Mr.  aud  Mrs.  Smith  resided  in 
the  township  of  Vernon,  in  said  county,  until  their 
removal  to  Greenfield,  as  previously  stated.  Erastus 
Smith  was  a  man  of  much  force  of  character  and  in- 
telligence, and  was  for  years  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  settlement.  He  was  foremost  in  favoring  and 
promoting  everything  pertaining  to  the  general  im- 
provement of  the  infant  settlement.  His  death  oc- 
curred July  16,  1820.  Mrs.  Smith  is  yet  living  and 
will  have  reached  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four 
years,  if  she  lives  until  December  7,  1879.  She  was 
in  the  truest  sense,  a  helpmeet  of  her  husband,  shar- 
ing with  him  the  many  privations  of  that  eai-ly  time 
with  a  remarkal)le  courage.  She  retains  a  wonderful 
memory  of  early  events,  and  has  been  our  main  reli- 
ance in  the  collection  of  facts  embraced  in  the  history 
of  this  township.  There  were  seven  children,  viz. : 
Martin,  (deceased),  Lydia,  now  Mrs.  Dennison  Bas- 
com,  living  in  the  township  of  Norwich:  Truman  and 
Erastus,  (deceased);  Lester,  residing  in  Bronson; 
Hiram,  residing  in  Greenfield,  on  the  old  homestead; 
and  Henrietta,  (Mrs.  Thomas  Cone,  deceased.)  Mrs. 
Smith  has  living,  three  children,  twenty  nine  grand- 
children, and  forty  great-grand  ciiildren,  the  oldest 
child  being  seventy  years  of  age,  and  the  oldest  grand- 
child twenty-three. 

The  following  is  one  of  niiuiy  incidents  in  the  life 
of  Mrs.  Smith,  which  are -worthy  of  record,  as  illus- 
trating the  perils  which  surrounded  the  homes  of  the 
pioneers:  One  day  while  her  husband  was  in  the  har- 
vest-field, Mrs.  Smith  left  the  house  for  a  few  moments 
and  on  her  return  saw  a  huge  black  snake  crawling 
across  the  head-hoard  of  the  Ijcd  on  which  her  young- 
est child  lay  sleejung.  The  reptile  disappeared  under 
the  floor  of  the  iionse.  Mrs.  Smith  raised  one  of  the 
puncheons,  and  with  the  tongs,  threw  the  snake  out  on 
the  heartli,  where  it  was  seized  and  killed  by  tlie  dog. 

The  two  families  previously  mentioned,  with  their 
hired  men,  Jacob  Rush  and  Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  were 
the  only  inhabitants  of  the  township  at  the  time  of 
Hull's   surrender,    in   August,    1812.     A   short   time 


after  that  event,  another  transpired  which  occasioned 
feelings  of  great  apprehension  and  alarm,  not  only  to 
the  pioneers  of  Greenfield,  but  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  entire  Reserve.  Information  came,  and  spread 
rapidly,  that  the  British  and  Indians  were  approach- 
ing the  settlements,  with  intent  to  massa'jre  the 
inhabitants.  A  large  party  had  been  seen  landing 
at  Huron,  which  was  supposed  to  be  the  forces  of  the 
enemy.  Johnny  Appleseed  brought  the  dreadful 
intelligence  to  Greenfield.  After  the  surrender  of 
Detroit,  he  was  engaged  by  the  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship and  New  Haven  to  go  to  Huron  for  the  news 
once  a  week.  One  morning,  about  nine  o'clock,  he 
returned,  riding  rapidly,  and  shouting,  "Run  for 
your  lives  !  The  Indians  are  killing  everybody  and 
burning  their  property  ! "' 

Intense  excitement  ensued,  and  preparations  for 
flight  were  immediately  begun.  Clothing,  bedding 
and  some  other  household  goods,  were  packed  up, 
the  cattle  collected,  and  at  evening,  with  teams  and 
wagons,  a  start  was  made  for  New  Haven.  The 
progress  of  the  travelers  was  slow,  and  it  was  late  in 
the  night  when  they  reached  the  house  of  Caleb 
Palmer.  Besides  the  family  of  Mr.  Palmer,  there 
were  then  living  in  New  Haven  a  family  by  the  name 
of  Woodcock,  Alvan  Coe  and  wife,  Luther  Coe  and 
James  M  cintyrc.  The  next  day  (Saturday)  the  whole 
company  started  south,  with  four  teams  and  wagons. 
For  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles,  a  road  had  to  be  cut 
every  rod  of  the  way.  It  was  an  exceedingly  wet 
time,  too,  and  the  streams  were  much  swollen,  ren- 
dering them  difiicuit  of  passage,  the  teams  and  stock 
being  compelled  to  swim  across  some  of  them.  The 
company  reached  the  Black  Fork,  a  branch  of  the 
Muskingum  river,  by  evening  of  the  first  day,  and 
pitched  their  tent  on  the  bank  for  the  night.  Hun- 
gry and  worn  with  fatigue,  their  clothing  and  bedding 
drenched  with  rain,  which  had  been  almost  continuous 
during  the  Journey,  and  haunted  with  visions  of  the 
red  coat  and  scalping-knife,  the  situation  of  the 
fugitives  was  indeed  a  deplorable  one.  They  slept 
upon  the  wet  ground  as  best  they  could,  and  the  next 
morning  pushed  on.  In  the  evening  of  the  second 
day,  while  making  preparations  for  a  night's  rest,  a 
report  reached  them  that  they  were  being  pursued  by 
Indians,  who  were  only  a  short  distance  behind  them. 

The  wagons  with  their  stores  were  left  in  care  of 
two  of  the  men  and  the  rest  of  the  I'-rty  pressed  on. 
the  women  and  children  riding  upon  the  horses.  Af- 
ter proceeding  a  short  distance  it  was  decided  to  bring 
up  the  wagons,  and  the  teams  with  two  men  returned 
for  them.  Fredericktown,  Knox  county,  was  finally 
reached,  when  they  learned  of  the  falsity  of  the  last 
alarm,  which  arose  from  the  fact  of  a  fleeing  party 
frantically  shouting  for  heli).  who  had  lost  their  way 
in  the  woods. 

After  a  week's  rest  in  Firdoricktown  the  families 
of  r.  Read  and  Mr.  Sniiih.  and  Mis.  Alvnn  Coe  .Mre- 
turned  to  Mansfield  and  >l:irted  for  Ti-uinlmll  county 
bv  wav  of  Wooster. 


SAMUEL   McCAMMON,  M.D. 


The  late  Dr.  Samuel  McCammon  was  for  many 
years  a  resident  of  Greenfield,  and  his  good  qualities 
both  as  man  and  physician  were  almost  universally 
liked  and  i-espected.  Very  few,  indeed,  were  those 
who  could  be  counted  in  any  other  category  than 
that  of  his  friends. 

Dr.  McCammon  was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
Jan.  3,  1821,  and  his  parents,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
McCammon,  who  were  at  that  time  living  upon  a 
farm,  moved  two  years  later  to  Richland  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Mansfield. 

"When  his  son  was  four  years  of  age  the  father 
died.  When  the  boy  became  twelve  years  of  age  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  saddle-making  trade, 
at  which  he  afterward  worked  for  a  short  time.  But 
having  a  strong  desire  for  study,  it  was  gratified  by 
an  attendance  at  the  common  schools  in  Mansfield 
and  Fredericktown. 

His  taste  soon  turned  toward  medical  subjects,  and 
he  determined  to  become  a  physician.  His  first  in- 
struction in  this  especial  field  of  science  was  received 
in  Norwalk,  under  the  now  venerable  Dr.  John 
TifFt,  and  began  in  December,  1842.  He  afterward 
attended  two  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Willoughby 
(Lake  County)  Medical  College. 

In  March,  1845,  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Greenfield,  which  was  quite  a  thriving,  busy  vil- 
lage. He  was  successful,  and  slowly  but  surely  built 
up  a  practice  which  gave  him  a  large  ride,  and 
brought  iiini  the  means  necessary  to  a  comfortable 
condition  of  life.     Not  long  after  beginning  he  was 


able  to  buy  the  lot  where  his  widow  now  resides,  and 
later  to  purchase  the  farm  adjoining. 

Dr.  McCammon,  during  the  whole  of  his  profes- 
sional career  in  Greenfield,  was  highly  esteemed,  and 
his  practice  was  large  until  toward  the  close  of  his 
life,  when,  for  a  few  years,  his  health  was  impaired  by 
a  chronic  ailment  which  made  the  travel  incident  to 
the  profession  very  painful  and  at  times  impossible. 
He  practiced  in  Greenfield  more  years  than  any  other 
physician,  and  for  most  of  the  time  was  the  only 
doctor  in  the  place.  He  wa.s  associated  for  a  period 
of  about  one  year  with  Dr.  B.  F.  Morse,  who  after- 
ward practiced  in  Peru  township. 

The  doctor  was  married,  Sept.  7, 1848,  to  Philene, 
daughter  of  Lebo  and  Polly  Blackman,  old  settlers 
in  Greenfield.  She  was  born  in  this  township,  Aug. 
27,  1828,  and  is  still  living,  three  of  her  children 
being  with  her.  The  first-born  son  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
McCammon,  George  Ij.,  was  liorn  June  26,  1851, 
and  died  Oct.  3,  1856.  The  other  children  are  Frank 
B.,  born  Oct.  5,  1855;  Edward  L.,  born  Aug.  16, 
1858;  and  Laura,  born  July  9,  1861. 

Dr.  McCammon  died  Aug.  2,  1870,  having  been 
sick  and  confined  to  his  home  for  several  months 
previous.  His  last  professional  call  was  made  in 
February  of  the  same  year. 

Although  not  connected  with  any  church,  Dr. 
McCammon  was  a  man  of  religious  feeling  and  of 
strict  rectitude  of  character.  During  his  sickness  he 
himself  as  being  without  fear,  and  he 
away  peacefully  and  quietly. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


■Z17 


Abram  Powers,  who  had  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
hearing  of  the  excitement  among  the  settlers  of  the 
Reserve,  and  fearing  for  the  safet)'  of  his  children,  of 
whom  he  had  three  residing  on  the  Fire-lands,  came 
to  Ohio,  arriving  at  Mansfield  the  evening  of  the  day 
Mr.  Reed  and  family  left.  Bat  he  met  there  his  two 
daughters,  Mrs.  Woodruif  and  Phoebe  Powers,  who 
had  been  residing  at  the  mouth  of  Huron  river.  The 
th  latter  had  been  teaching  school  there.  He  found 
them  both  lying  at  the  point  of  death,  which  with  the 
failure  to  find  Mr.  Read  and  family,  greatly  depressed 
him.  James  Mclntyre,  who  was  equal  to  almost  any 
emergency,  proposed  to  overtake  them  on  foot.  Mr. 
Powers  expostulated  with  him,  but  he  insisted  on  a 
trial,  and  did  overtake  them  the  next  day.  Mr.  Read 
and  family  returned  to  Mansfield,  but  soon  went  to 
Fredericktown,  where  they  remained  during  the  sum- 
mer. Mr.  Read  made  several  trijis  during  the  sum- 
mer to  his  house  in  Greenfield,  and  he  found  that  it 
had  been  entered  by  Indians  and  every  article  of 
household  furniture  that  had  not  been  removed  or 
concealed  was  destroyed  or  carried  off. 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Read  returned 
to  Greenfield  with  his  family,  but  reports  were 
so  frequent  of  Indian  depredations  -that  he  soon 
moved  south  again,  and  remained  until  January  1. 
1814,  wlien  he  returned  to  his  former  residence  and 
remained. 

Mr.  Smith  and  family,  and  Mrs.  Coe,  made  the 
journey  to  Trumbull  county  with  two  horses,  Mrs. 
Smith  with  two  of  her  children  I'iding  on  one  horse, 
and  Mrs.  Coe  on  the  other  with  the  third  child, 
while  Mr.  Smith  accompanied  them  on  foot. 

When  a  few  miles  beyond  Woostor,  they  stopped  at 
a  farm-house  in  which  the  terrified  inhabitants  in  the 
neighborhood  had  taken  refuge  from  apprehended 
danger,  and  while  there  a  false  alarm  was  raised  that 
the  Indians  had  taken  Wooster,  when  the  inmates  all 
fled  to  the  woods,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Smith 
and  family,  who,  with  their  previous  experience,  de- 
termined to  await,  this  time,  the  actual  approach  of 
danger.  Being  very  much  fatigued  by  the  toilsome 
journey,  and  needing  rest,  they  appropriated  to  their 
use  the  vacated  beds  and  were  soon  asleep.  But 
they  were  not  permitted  to  rest  long,  one  of  tiie 
fleeing  party  returning  and  insisting  on  their  going 
to  the  woods.  They  started,  but  in  a  shoi-t  time  re- 
turned and  again  retired,  and  soon  after  the  whole 
party  returned  from  the  woods.  The  alarm  is  said 
to  have  arisen  from  the  noise  made  by  a  horse  pawing 
in  a  feed-trough,  which  was  supposed  to  be  the  guns 
of  the  enemy.  The  iniiabitants  were  in  such  a  state 
of  agitation  that  an  alarm,  however  improbable, 
would  cause  an  immediate  flight.  Mr.  Smith  and  his 
company  pursued  their  journey  and  reached  their  place 
of  destination  in  safety.  The  next  fall  he  retui-ned  to 
Fredericktown  for  his  cattle  and  goods,  which  he  had 
left  there,  but  learning  of  the  murder  of  a  family, 
while  traveling  over  tlie  road  wliicii  he  expected  to 
take,  he  went  back  to  Vernon   without   them.     Soon 


after,  Samuel  C.  Spencer  and  Cyrus  W.  Marsh  took 
the  property  through.  Mr.  Smith  and  family  re- 
mained in  Vernon  until  February,  1815,  when  they 
returned  to  their  abandoned  home  in  Greenfield. 
Their  house  had  been  used  by  the  Indians  as  a  stable 
for  their  horses,  but  six  acres  of  wheat,  which  was  left 
in  stack  a  mile  or  so  from  the  house — the  most  val- 
uable, perhaps,  of  the  property  abandoned — remained 
untouched. 

It  is  impossible  for  the  young  people  of  the  present 
day  to  understand  the  conditions  of  living  in  the  new 
settlement.  The  first  settlers  in  Greenfield  were 
among  the  first  in  the  county,  and  they  were  com- 
pletely isolated  from  all  the  appliances  of  civilization. 
The  nearest  mill,  at  which  grinding  was  done,  was 
at  Owl  Creek,  a  great  many  miles  distant,  through 
an  unbroken  forest.  The  grain  was  ground  in  the 
order  of  its  reception  at  the  mill,  and  sometimes 
several  days  would  be  consumed  in  going  to  mill 
and  back.  It  was  customary  for  one  person  to  take 
the  milling  of  the  entire  neighborhood,  when  going 
with  a  team.  While  there  are  no  instances  of  suffer- 
ing from  want  of  necessary  food,  in  the  history  of 
this  township,  provisions  were  by  no  means  plenty. 
Wheat  was  at  one  time  three  dollars  per  bushel,  and 
other  articles  of  food  in  proportion.  William  McKel- 
vey  on  one  occasion  went  to  Owl  Creek  to  buy  some 
pork,  and  could  only  find  some  of  the  "shack"  va- 
riety, for  which  he  paid  forty-four  cents  per  pound. 
The  meat  was  a  poor  substitute  for  that  of  the  domes- 
tic hog,  being  spongy  and  of  ill  flavor.  For  fresh 
meat  the  early  settlers  had  venison  and  other  wild 
game  so  plenty  at  times  as  to  become  a  drug. 

In  the  matter  of  necessary  clothing,  the  pioneers 
experienced  a  greater  diflBculty.  The  families,  in 
general,  came  well  furnished  with  wearing  apparel, 
but  a  year  or  two  of  wear  and  tear  in  the  woods  sadly 
diminished  their  stock.  Flax  could  be  raised,  and 
summer  clothing  of  tow,  butternut-dyed,  and  bleached 
linen  could  be  manufactured  when  a  weaver  could  be 
found  to  do  it  ;  for,  although  every  woman  was  a 
spinner,  only  here  and  there  was  one  weaver,  and  each 
family  had  to  await  its  turn.  The  old  garments  were 
often  worn  to  rags  before  the  new  cloth  could  be  put 
through  the  loom. 

To  obtain  the  material  for  winter  clothing  was  still 
more  difficult.  The  introduction  of  sheep  was  at- 
tended with  much  difficulty.  They  were  not  safe 
from  wolves,  and  the  new,  wet  lands  proved  un- 
healthy to  them.  The  summer  clothing  would  often 
have  to  answer  for  winter  wear,  or  other  expedients 
be  resorted  to.  Buckskin,  either  wholly  or  in  part, 
frequently  served  as  material  for  winter  apparel,  but 
garments  made  entirely  of  it  were  never  popular. 
The  pantaloons  would  frequently  be  wet  to  the  knees, 
and  when  dry  would  be  as  stiff  and  uncomfortable  as 
if  made  of  tin. 

Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made, 
in  181G  erected  a  house,  which  he  opened  as  a  tavern, 
on  the  hill,  just  north  of  the  river,  on  the  center  road. 


218 


HLSTOHY  OF  HUKOK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OUIO. 


This  was  the  first  public  house  in  the  township.  A 
short  time  afterwards  he  moved  to  Sandusky  city 
(then  called  Ogontz  Place),  and  built  there  in  the  fall 
of  1817  the  second  framed  house  in  the  place.  In 
1822,  iu  connection  with  Constant  Barney,  of  that 
place,  he  commenced  running  a  line  of  stages  from 
Sandusky  to  Columbus,  through  Milan,  Norwalk, 
Mansfield  and  Delaware.  In  opening  their  enterprise 
they  announced  to  the  public  that,  "being  an  infant 
establishment,  and  fostered  only  by  an  infant  patron- 
age, the  subscribers  have  chosen  rather  to  consult  the 
strength  and  efficiency  of  their  carriages  and  steeds, 
than  their  elegance  or  beauty.  As  the  country  grows 
older,  and  their  patronage  increases,  they  pledge 
themselves  to  improve,  both  in  the  expedition  of 
traveling  and  in  style  of  their  establishment. 

"They  will  endeavor  to  select  the  best  houses  on  their 
route  for  the  refreshment  of  their  passengers;  and 
every  attention  will  be  paid  to  promote  their  ease, 
comfort  and  accommodation."  The  enterprise  was 
kept  up  for  eight  or  ten  years.  IMr.  Marsh  carried 
the  mail  also,  and  was  the  first  mail  carrier  on  this 
route. 

Bildad  Adams  and  family  moved  in  from  Vermont 
in  the  spring  of  1815,  and  located  in  the  north  part 
of  the  township,  on  the  center  road,  opposite  where 
the  tavern  of  Cyrus  W.  Marsh  formerly  stood.  In 
June  following,  Henry  Adams,  Elihu  Clary  and 
William  Smith  began  the  settlement  of  Peru  town- 
ship, and  boarded  at  Mr.  Adams'  while  they  were 
building  them  a  shanty  in  that  township.  A  daughter, 
Nancy  Adams,  taught  the  first  school  in  the  township 
of  Peru,  at  Macksville,  iu  the  summer  of  1818. 
Mr.  Adams  was  one  of  the  first  three  commissioners 
of  Huron  county,  and  was  a  man  of  local  influence. 
He  died  in  the  township  of  Milan,  about  the  year 
1828. 

Seba  Mather  and  wife,  his  brother  Horace  and  wife 
and  their  parents,  moved  together  from  Marlboro, 
Windham  county,  Vermont,  to  this  township  in  the 
summer  of  1815.  The  three  families  located  on  a 
tract  of  land  south  of  the  center,  where  Seba  Mather 
opened  a  short  time  afterward  a  public  house,*  which 
he  kept  until  1820,  when  he  discontinued  it  and 
established  the  mills  east  of  the  center,  mention  of 
which  is  made  elsewhere.  He  carried  on  an  extensive 
business  at  these  mills  for  nearly  thirty  years,  when 
he  sold  them  and  retired  to  his  farm,  on  which  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  August  20, 
1814,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight.  His  wife, 
father,  mother  and  a  brother  Horace,  preceded  him. 
Mr.  Mather's  barn,  erected  in  1820,  was  the  first 
frame  building  in  the  township. 

David  Lovell  emigrated  with  his  family  to  this 
township  in  the  fall  of  1815.  He  located  four  lots  in 
the  second  section,  erecting  his  house  near  the  river 
on   lot  thirty-four.     He  subsequently  sold  three  of 

"  It  is  thought  by  some  that  this  tavern  was  opened  before  that  of 
Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  which  we  have  stated,  on  the  authority  of  Mrs.  Smith, 
to  l\ave  been  the  first  in  the  township. 


the  lots,  and,  after  the  east  road  was  opened,  built  a 
log  house,  where  his  son  Ethan  now  lives,  on  lot 
twenty-eight.  He  erected  a  brick  house  here  at  an 
eai-ly  day,  which  he  occupied  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  16,  1830,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year 
of  his  age.  Mr.  Lovell  was  a  man  of  excellent  prin- 
ciples and  of  extensive  information.  Mrs.  Lovell 
died  July  U.  1848,  aged  seventy-two  years  and  six 
months.  Few  wonun  equaled  her  in  courage  and 
resolution.  She  made  three  journeys  to  her  former 
home  iu  Pennsylvania  on  horseback  and  alone,  and 
once  in  company  with  her  husband.  Mr.  Lovell  had 
sold  his  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  mostly  on  time;  and 
the  payments  not  being  met,  the  journeys  were  made 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  them.  The  object  of 
the  visits,  however,  was  unsuccessful:  the  farm  had 
to  be  taken  back  eventually  and  disposed  of  at  a  pecu- 
niary sacrifice 

Three  of  the  six  children  of  the  family  are  living. 
Mrs.  Edward  H.  Lowther  and  Ethan  Lovell  reside  in 
this  township,  the  former  a  short  distance  east  of 
Greenfield  center,  and  the  latter  on  the  old  homestead; 
Mrs.  Guthrie  lives  in  Fairfield. 

Nathan  Warner  removed  from  Massachusetts  to 
Greenfield  in  tJie  above  3-ear.  He  resided  in  the  town- 
ship until  1853,  when  he  removed  to  Laporte  county, 
Indiana. 

Eli  Halliday  moved  into  the  township  from  Ver- 
mont iu  1816,  and  settled  on  the  Shourd  place,  as 
now  called,  on  the  east  i-oad.  He  was  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  abilit\',  excellent  character,  and  did 
much  to  pi-omote  the  moi-al  welfare  of  community, 
and  was  efficient  in  establishing  the  first  religious 
society  in  Greenfield.  He  finally  moved  to  Huron, 
Erie  county,  where  he  died  in  1850. 

Daniel  Halliday  moved  into  the  township  the  same 
year,  remained  seven  or  eight  years,  when  he  removed 
to  Ridgefield. 

Samuel  C.  Spencer  and  family  arrived  from  Trum- 
bull county  in  1816,  and  located  east  of  the  center  of 
Greenfield,  where  Samuel  Morris  now  resides.  About 
the  j-ear  1836,  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  In- 
diana, where  he  subsequently  died. 

A  family  by  the  name  of  Evans,  formerly  from 
Pennsylvania,  moved  into  the  township  from  the 
southern  part  of  this  State,  soon  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  located  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
town.  The  father  died  there,  and  his  wife  also  sub- 
sequently.   The  rest  of  the  family  removed  to  Illinois. 

Robert  Ford  and  Thomas  Irvin  came  in  about  the 
same  time  as  the  Evans".  They  married  subse(iuent 
to  their  arriv.il  two  daughters  of  the  family  and  set- 
tled in  the  same  locality.  They  all  moved  to  Illinois 
simultaneously. 

Amos  Harkness  settled  m  Greenfield  in  1810;  after- 
wards moved  to  Fairfield  townshi]). 

Robert  Inscho  arrived  in  Greenfield  fiuiii  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1816.  lie  removi-d  to  Indiana  about  the 
year  1850. 

William  Ciirkhuff.   from   the  same  State,  came  to 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


this  township  in  1815  or  '16.  He  was  then  unmar- 
ried, but  he  subsequently  married  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Elias  Easter.  He 
was  elected  sheirff  of  Huron  county  in  183.5,  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Xorwalk.  He  moved  to 
Indiana  in  1848,  wlicre  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

Silas  Bowers  settled  in  the  east  part  of  the  town- 
ship in  1810.  Tlie  life  of  this  pioneer  came  to  an 
untimely  end  under  the  following  painful  circum- 
stances: Seeing  some  deer  feeding  within  the  cleared 
area  around  his  cabin,  one  morning  in  the  winter  of 
1818,  he  took  his  gun  and  started  out  to  shoot  them. 
The  deer  fled  at  his  approach,  but  he  followed,  and 
finally  shot  one  of  them  near  where  the  village  of 
North  Fairfield  now  stands.  He  dressed  the  animal, 
and  suspending  the  remainder  of  the  carcass  to  a  sap- 
ling, started  homeward  with  the  hide  and  "saddle." 
Mr.  Bowers  was  naturally  physically  weak,  and  having 
started  out  before  breakfast,  was  poorly  qualified  for 
such  a  toilsome  journey  through  the  dense  forest. 
His  physical  energies  gradually  wasted  away  and  he 
was  forced  to  abandon  his  load,  and  left  it  a  short 
distance  west  of  the  east  branch  of  the  Huron.  A 
little  further  on  he  tried  to  build  a  fire  of  some  leaves 
and  bark  to  warm  himself,  for  the  weather  was  very 
cold.  Not  succeeding,  he  sought  a  place  to  rest  by 
the  side  of  afnllen  tree,  after  which  he  wearily  pressed 
on  towards  home.  He  traveled  until  near  the  present 
residence  of  James  Cook,  when  becoming  too  weak  to 
proceed  farther,  he  sat  down  on  the  butt-end  of  a 
tree  that  had  been  i-ecently  cut  down,  rested  his  head 
upon  a  stump,  and  in  that  position  he  was  found  two 
days  afterwards,  evidently  frozen  to  death. 

Alden  Pierce  moved  in  from  Massachusetts  in  1816, 
and  resided  here  until  1837.  wlien  he  removed  to 
Illinois. 

John  Pierce  moved  in  the  following  year,  and  set- 
tled in  the  east  part  of  the  township. 

Nathaniel  Haynes,  with  his  family  of  wife  and  six 
children  and  his  wife's  father,  emigrated  from  Wind- 
ham county,  Vermftnt,  to  this  township  in  the  fall 
of  1816,  and  settled  on  lot  number  seven  in  the  third 
section.     He  died  on  this  farm  in  the  spring  of  18-1-1. 

In  1817.  Levi  Savage  arrived  from  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  the  following  year  married  a  daugliter 
of  Mr.  Haynes  and  settled  on  fifty  acres  now  owned 
by  Hiram  Smith. 

In  1816,  a  family  by  the  r.ame  of  Long — four 
brothers  and  two  sisters,  all  grown  to  adult  life,  but 
unmarried — moved  intt)  the  township  from  the  State 
uf  Pennsylvania.  The  only  surviving  member  of  the 
family — Miss  Catharine  Long,  now  almost  a  centen- 
arian— is  an  inmate  of  the  County  Infirmary.  She  is 
the  victim  of  one  of  the  grossest  acts  of  wrong  and 
injustice  that  was  ever  perpetrated  in  a  civilized 
community.  Many  years  ago  the  j'oungcst  t)rother, 
James,  came  into  possessioif  of  a  legacy  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  from  Ireland.  He  was  never  married, 
and  at  his  death,  some  vuars  afterwards,  the  estate 


Avas  inherited  by  a  surviving  brother  and  sister, 
William  and  Catharine.  '  Some  years  afterward,  and 
when  the  increasing  infirmities  of  age  rendered  the 
care  of  a  farm  too  laborious  for  them,  they  unwisely 
concluded  to  settle  upon  a  nephew,  whom  they  had 
brought  up  from  childhood,  their  entire  property,  re- 
quiring in  return  only  a  verbal  promise  that  he  would 
support  them  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The 
transfer  was  made,  and  subsequently  William  Long 
died.  In  a  short  time  the  old  lady  began  to  be  felt  as 
a  burden,  the  farm  was  finally  sold,  everything  con- 
verted into  cash  that  could  be,  and  in  September, 
1878,  the  nephew  with  his  family  moved  to  Michigan, 
leaving  their  benefactress  alone  in  the  house,  almost 
blind  and  entirely  helpless  (having  broken  her  limb 
by  a  fall  a  short  time  previous)  and  without  an  article 
necessary  to  physical  comfort,  except  the  clothes  she 
wore,  and  a  single  chair.  A  neighbor  calling  at  the 
house  shortly  after  the  family  left,  found  her  almost 
wild  with  grief.  She  begged  him  to  kill  her  and  save 
her  from  the  humiliation  of  becoming  a  county 
charge.  She  was  taken  to  the  house  of  one  of  her 
neighbors,  and  kindly  cared  for  a  few  weeks,  and  then 
removed  to  the  infirmary  where  the  writer,  in  a  per- 
sonal interview,  obtained  the  above  facts.  The  name 
of  the  villain  who  repaid  such  kindness  with  such 
cruel  wrong  is  James  Long,  and  he  now  resides  some- 
where in  Northern  Michigan. 

Philip  Lewis  moved  his  family  to  this  township 
in  1817,  having  previously  come  out,  located  his 
land,  and  erected  his  cabin.  He  settled  on  lot  thirty- 
four  in  section  one,  and  lived  there  a  number  of  years, 
and  then  bought  where  his  son,  Alexander  Lewis,  now 
lives.  He  died  here  some  twenty  years  since.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

John  and  Joseph  Cook  came  to  this  township  from 
Pennsylvania,  as  early  as  1817.  Joseph  settled  on  lot 
thirty  in  the  first  section.  After  a  residence  of  about 
ten  years  he  returned  to  Pittsburgh,  and  subse(iuently 
went  to  Cincinnati.  He  was  a  man  of  education, 
energy  and  perseverance,  and  eventually  amassed  a 
large  property.  John  settled  on  lot  twenty-four,  sec- 
tion one. 

Lemuel  Brooks,  one  of  the  prominent  early  settlers 
of  Greenfield,  arrived  in  the  fall  of  1817.  He  was 
then  advanced  in  life,  and  had  served  as  an  officer  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Quebec.  He  died  in  the  year  1831,  at  the 
age  of  ninety  years.  His  wife  was  formerly  Esther 
Sprague.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living. 

Eliphalet  B.  Simmons,  a  native  of  JIassachusetts, 
emigrated  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  from  Del- 
aware county.  New  York,  to  this  township,  in  1817, 
arriving  July  12th.  He  purchased  his  land,  in  the 
second  section,  of  Abram  D.  Baldwin,  of  Connecticut, 
at  two  dollars  and  a  half  an  acre,  and  took  up  his 
residence  on  lot  twenty-two,  where  John  Simmons,  his 
grandson,  now  resides.  Mr.  Simmons  was  a  man  of 
great  industry,  shrewdness  and  practical   judgment. 


220 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


and  eventually  acquired  a  large  property.  He  was 
twice  man-ied,  and  had  a  family  of  four  children. 
Harlow  E.,  the  oldest,  came  to  this  township  in  the 
fall  of  1819.  He  started  from  Massachusetts  in 
October,  alone  with  one  horse  and  a  light  open  wagon, 
and  arrived  at  the  residence  of  his  f  ther  in  Green- 
field, in  December  following.  He  settled  on  lot  num- 
ber twenty-one  in  the  second  section.  He  occupied 
his  original  location  until  his  death  in  March,  1875, 
aged  seventy-seven. 

Charles  B.  Simmons,  now  residing  in  the  village  of 
North  Fairfield,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age, 
has  until  recently  occupied  the  old  homestead  in 
Greenfield,  and  was  for  many  5-ears  one  of  the  fore- 
most farmers  in  the  county.  He  is  a  gentleman  of 
intelligence  and  public  spirit,  and  was  a  republican 
representative  in  the  State  legislature  from  Huron 
county,  session  of  18o8-9. 

Mr.  Simmons,  the  pioneer,  died  in  Greenfield 
January  26,  1836,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age. 

Luther  Ashley  with  his  family  of  wife  and  seven 
children  removed  from  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, to  this  township,  in  November,  1817,  si.x  weeks 
being  consumed  in  the  journey.  Mr.  Ashley  settled 
near  the  east  town  line  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Elias  Mitchell.  He  subsequently  changed  his  loca- 
tion in  the  township,  but  eventually  removed  to  Indi- 
ana. He  was  taken  sick  and  died  while  returning  to 
Greenfield  in  the  fall  of  1838.  His  widow  died  in 
the  township  in  1856.  There  are  three  children  living 
in  the  township,  viz:  Mrs.  Beers,  Dennis  Ashley, 
and  Mrs.  Smith,  widow  of  Erastus  Smith,  Jr. 

Worden  Ashley,  a  brother  of  Luther,  and  family, 
came  in  at  the  same  time,  and  the  two  families  occu- 
pied the  same  house — a  double  log  house — for  a  few 
years.  Worden  subsequently  took  up  his  residence  a 
short  distance  east  of  the  center  of  towu.  He  died 
in  this  township. 

Epenetus  Starr  moved  into  the  township  in  1817, 
coming  from  the  State  of  New  York.  He  died  about 
the  year  1845.  He  erected  the  first  brick  house  in  the 
township. 

Edward  H.  Lowther,  now  living  in  Greenfield,  in 
his  seventy-ninth  year,  came  to  Ohio  from  Delaware 
county,  New  York,  early  in  the  year  1817.  Joseph 
Crawford  and  family,  who  settled  in  Norwalk,  emi- 
grated at  the  same  time,  and  Lowther  had  charge  of 
their  goods,  which  were  shijjped  by  the  Lake  from 
Buffalo.  After  working  for  a  time  for  Esquire  David 
Abbott,  Hosmer  Merry,  Joseph  Crawford  and  others, 
he  came  to  Greenfield.  The  first  work  he  did  after 
his  arrival  in  the  township  was  a  job  of  chopping  for 
Eliphalet  B.  Simmons,  in  payment  of  money  borrowed 
of  Mr.  Simmons  at  Buffalo,  who  was  tlien  on  his  way 
to  the  Fire-lands.  In  the  fall  of  1824  he  purchased 
land  of  Judge  Mills,  on  lot  twenty-one,  section  one, 
and  in  January,  1825,  married  Miss  Martha  Lovell, 
daughter  of  David  Lovell,  and  commenced  married 
life  on  his  farm  in  the  following  April.  They  occu- 
pied this  i)lacc  until   the  spring  of  1873,   when   they 


moved  to  their  present  residence  a  short  distance  east 
of  Greenfield  center. 

William  Lowther.  a  brother,  ciinie  to  Greenfield 
from  Knox  county.  Ohio.  He  married  here,  and 
resiiled  in  the  town  some  twenty  years,  and  then 
went  to  Illinois. 

Samuel  Spencer  and  family  move4  in  from  Trum- 
bull county  in  1817,  and  located  on  the  center  road, 
a  short  distance  north  of  Greenfield  center.  He  died 
here  in  September,  1848,  aged  eighty-four.  His  wife 
died  the  year  previous  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

William  Campl)8ll  and  family  were  early  residents 
of  the  eastern  part  of  the  township. 

Levi  Piatt,  now  residing  in  Greenfield,  in  the  eighty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age,  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Connecticut,  and  is  the  fifteenth  of  a  family  of 
seventeen  children,  of  whom  he  alone  survives.  He 
arrived  in  this  township  in  the  fall  of  1818,  and  the 
succeeding  winter  taught  the  first  school  at  the  center 
of  town.  The  next  spring  he  returned,  on  horseback, 
to  Connecticut,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1822,  when  he  came  back  to  Greenfield,  and  settled 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  the  center,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  married.  May  10,  1825,  Abigail 
Bodman,  formerly  of  Ontario  county,  New  York. 
She  is  now   aged   nearly  seventy-four. 

Elder  John  Wheeler  and  family  came  to  Greenfield 
from  Richmond,  Ontario  county.  New  Y'ork,  in 
March,  1818.  He  made  his  location  on  lot  twenty- 
one,  section  three.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  a  minister  of 
the  Free  Will  Baptist  chtirch,  and  followed  his  calling 
for  upwards  of  forty  years,  and  until  the  infirmities 
of  age  compelled  a  cessation  of  active  labor.  His  field 
of  labor,  as  a  pioneer  preacher,  was  very  extensive, 
and  he  was.  of  course,  away  from  home  much  of  the 
time.  The  management  of  the  farm  was  necessarily 
left  almost  wholly  to  his  wife  and  children.  She  died 
some  thirty  years  ago,  and  Mr.  Wheeler  subsequently 
remarried.  He  sold  his  farm  some  ten  or  twelve 
years  since,  and  moved  to  Greenfield  center,  where  he 
died  in  August,  1878,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly 
ninety-one.  There  were  nine  children,  six  of  whom 
are  now  living.  John  H.,  Calvin  and  Bradford,  reside 
in  this  township;  Aaron  lives  in  Norwich,  Chauncey 
B.,  in  Kansas,  and  Mrs.  Almira  Tucker,  in  Sandusky. 
Benoni  died  in  September,  1876,  on  the  place  now 
occupied  by  his  widow.  Asa,  the  oldest  of  the  chil- 
dren, and  a  daughter,  the  youngest,  died  many  years 
ago. 

James  Wilson,  Daniel  Davis,  and  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Graham,  were  early  settlers  in  this  township. 

Ozias  Joiner  arrived  in  Greenfield  in  the  spring  of 
1818  He  came  from  Cayuga  county.  New  York, 
walking  to  Buffalo,  thence  taking  passage  on  a  vessel, 
but  disembarked  at  Erie,  on  account  of  head  winds. 
He  proceeded  on  foot  to  a  short  distance  west  of 
Rocky  river,  Cuyahoga  county,  where  he  remained 
through  the  winter,  when*iie  resumed  his  journey  to 
Greenfield.  In  1825  he  returned  to  Connecticut  to 
purchase  his  laud — two  hiiiulred  acres — lots  thirty- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


221 


three  and  thirty-four,  to  which  he  subsequently  added 
tifty  acres  of  lot  thirty-two,  all  in  section  two.  He 
married,  in  1838,  Philura  Newbury,  and  both  are 
now  living  on  one  hundred  acres  of  the  original  pur- 
chase.    Mr.  Joiner  is  nearly  eighty-two  years  of  age. 

Dan  Lindsey  and  family  removed  from  Saratoga 
county,  New  York,  to  this  township  in  1819.  They 
started  on  their  Journey  in  February,  and  were  six 
weeks  and  three  days  on  the  road.  He  settled  on  the 
jilace  now  occupied  by  Jesse  Smith,  in  the  western 
l)art  of  town.  He  afterwards  exchanged  this  farm 
with  Judge  Mills  for  the  farm  now  occupied  by  widow 
Joiner,  and  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  west  branch  of  the 
river.  In  1832,  he  took  up  his  abode  on  the  place 
now  occupied  by  his  son  Benjamin,  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  tlie  family.  Mr.  L.  died  here  in  Jan- 
uary, 1864. 

Lebo  Blackman  arrived  from  Connecticut  in  the 
spring  of  1822,  in  company  with  Levi  Piatt.  He 
subsequently  married  and  settled  on  the  farm  adjoin- 
ing Mr.  Piatt's  on  the  south.  He  died  m  Greenfield 
six  or  seven  years  since,  and  his  widow  now  resides  at 
the  center. 

Tlie  same  year  Jacob  Bliss  and  family  moved  in 
from  Massachusetts,  and  located  where  Jonathan  now 
lives.  He  afterwards  bought  a  short  distance  south 
of  his  first  location,  and  lived  there  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  There  are  three  children  living,  of  whom 
Jonathan  Bliss  and  Mrs.  Dennis  Ashley  reside  in  this 
township. 

John  Arthur,  wife  and  one  child,  emigrated  to  this 
country  from  Ireland  in  1822,  settling  in  this  town- 
ship, on  lot  twenty,  in  the  third  section.  Mr.  Arthur 
is  still  living,  and  on  his  original  location,  aged  eighty- 
four.  His  wife  died  December,  1878,  aged  eighty- 
five.  He  and  his  two  sons,  Robert  and  Wm.  H., 
own  some  twelve  liundred  acres  of  land  in  this  town- 
ship. There  are  six  children,  and  all  living  in  Green- 
field. 

J'acob  Smitli  moved,  witli  liis  family,  from  Oneida 
county.  New  York,  to  Greenfield  in  1821.  Mr.  Smith 
came  (o  the  township  with  John  Pierce  and  family 
in  1817,  but  remained  only  a  few  months.  The  fam- 
ily first  located  a  sliort  distance  south  of  where  Ethan 
Lovell  now  resides,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  A 
year  or  two  after  they  "took  up"  tlie  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Aaron  F.  Kellogg.  In  the  fall  of  1833,  a 
son — Abel  Smith — purchased  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  and  the  family  moved  there.  Mr.  Smith 
died  here  in  November,  1852,  aged  eighty-one.  His 
wife  died  a  few  months  previous.  There  were  eight 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  Anna — Mrs. 
Knight — resides  in  New  York,  and  Abel  in  Green- 
field. A  son — George  B.  Smith — was  killed  by  a  well 
caving  in  on  him,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Charles  B. 
Simmons,  in  February,  1837. 

Archibald  Easter,  from  Pennsylvania,  settled  in 
Ijower  Sandusky  (now  Fremont)  in  1819.  He  re- 
mained there  three  years,  when  he  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Columbus.     Three  years  subsequently  he 


came  to  this  township  and  located  on  the  center  road, 
nearly  a  mile  north  of  Greenfield  center,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Arthur.  He  suhsequently  moved 
to  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  Elias.  He  died 
here  in  18G7.  His  widow  survives,  and  lives  with 
her  son.  Two  daughters,  Mrs.  Arthur  and  Mrs. 
John  McLane,  reside  a  short  distance  north  of'  the 
center. 

Josepii  Noggle  settled  in  tlie  southwest  part  of 
town  in  about  the  year  182G:  Jeremiah  Cole  al)out 
the  same  time  where  Lewis  Wood  now  lives.  He 
subsequently  moved  to  the  corners,  and  opened  a 
tavern  on  the  location  of  the  present  residence  of  J. 
Shourd.  He  afterwards  moved  to  the  place  occupied 
by  Captain  Lowther,  where  he  died  seven  or  eight 
years  since. 

Adam  A.  Lewis  and  family  emigrated  from  Jeffer- 
son county.  New  York,  to  this  township,  in  May, 
1827,  and  resided  here  until  1842,  when  he  moved  to 
Ionia,  Michigan,  where  he  died  in  1864.  His  widow 
now  resides  there  with  a  son.  There  were  ten  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living.  Alexander,  the 
oldest,  lives  at  Greenfield  center.  Mr.  Lewis,  the 
pioneer,  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Stephen  Robinson  and  family  moved  in  from  New 
York  in  the  spring  of  1828,  and  settled  where  his 
widow  now  resides.  In  1819,  he  came  to  Ohio  with 
his  brother  Reuben,  and  brought  from  the  Onondaga 
Salt  Works  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  barrels  of 
salt,  the  most  of  which  he  sold  in  Huron  county,  at 
five  dollars  per  barrel,  and  some  of  it  for  ten  dollars 
a  barrel.  He  visited  Greenfield  in  tlie  winter  of 
1824-5,  and  married  February  10,  1825,  Enierline 
Haynes,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Haynes,  with  whom 
he  returned  to  New  York,  remaining  there  until  the 
spring  of  1828,  when  he  purchased  land  of  his  father- 
in-law,  and  removed  to  Greenfield.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 13,  1875,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of  his  age. 
Mrs.  Robinson,  aged  nearly  sevent\'-six,  still  occupies 
the  primitive  log  house  in  which  she  and  her  hus- 
band so  long  ago  began  pioneer  life  on  the  Firelands. 
When  a  girl  and  living  at  home,  Mrs.  Robinson  went 
one  evening  to  a  neighbor's  to  borrow  a  flax  hatchel, 
and  while  returning  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  along 
the  road  skirted  by  a  ravine,  she  heard  in  the  patli 
belo\v  the  steps  of  some  animal.  She  was  near  the 
hollow  where  the  road  was  intersected  by  the  jiatli. 
She  left  the  road,  and  throwing  her  hatchel  away,  ran 
across  a  clearing  to  her  father's  woods,  in  which  she 
saw  a  burning  log  heajj,  arriving  at  which  she  looked 
back  for  the  first  time,  and  saw  tlie  hungry  eyes  of  a 
wolf  glaring  at  her  through  the  darkness  only  a  few 
rods  away.  Seizing  a  firebrand  from  the  fire,  she  ran 
for  dear  life  for  home,  waving  the  brand  about  her  as 
she  ran,  and  finally  reached  the  house  in  safety.  The 
next  morning  the  hatchel  was  recovered. 

William  Smith,  of  New  York  State,  married  Philena 
Mitciiell,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  removed  to 
Oiiio  in  1831,  settling  one  milo  UDrtii  of  Greenfield 
center,   resided  there   a    number  of  ve.irs.  wlien   he 


222 


HISTORY  OP  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


moved  to  Michigan,  where  he  subsequently  died. 
His  widow  now  lives  in  California  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty  years.  There  are  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Harrison,  who  married  Caroline  Benjamin,  and 
Saloma,  wife  of  Joseph  Wilcox,  live  in  the  township 
of  Xorwich:  Marshall,  in  Canada;  Marietta  and  Hen- 
rietta (twins),  both  married  and  living,  the  former  in 
California  and  the  latter  in  Michigan;  Lauretta,  the 
youngest,  also  resides  in  Michigan. 

In  the  returns  of  the  enumeration  of  tlie  white 
male  mhabitants,  over  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  in 
Huron  county,  in  the  year  1837,  as  made  by  George 
Shetfield,  county  assessor,  the  following  persons  are 
recorded  as  such  inhabitants  of  this  township: 


Cyrenius  Starr. 
Benj.  B.  Halladay. 
Orange  Starr 
Jacob  Truxel . 
Henrj-  Groover 
Adam  A.  Lewis. 
James  W.  Mclutyrt 
Robert  Evans - 
James  Henderson 
Abel  Halladay. 
Jonathan  Smith . 
Henry  A.  Smith. 
Lemuel  Brooks 
Alden  Pierce . 
William  Arthur. 
Charles  W.  Miller, 
Epenetus  Starr 
Solomon  DaTis. 
.Robert  Easter,  Jr. 
Sam'l  Spencer. 
Saml  C.  Spencer- 
Seba  Mather. 
Dexter  Ashley 
Jonathan  Bliss. 
Noah  Bliss. 
William  Long. 
Dan  Lindsey. 
Nathaniel  Haynes. 
Thos.  Arthur  ad. 
Nathaniel  Warren 


Hiram  Starr. 
John  Diraitt. 
Jona.  Leflingwell. 
Jehlel  Andrews. 
John  Groover. 
Edward  H.  Lowther. 
Jame.s  Mclntyre.  Jr. 
Archibald  Easter. 
William  Truxel. 
Osias  Joiner. 
John  Lovell . 
Harlow  Simmons . 
Jacob  Smith. 
James  Ashley . 
John  Arthur. 
Lyman  Babcock. 
James  Earl. 
James  Easter. 
James  Easter  2d . 
Hiram  Spencer. 
Luther  Ashley . 
Nathaniel  White. 
Levi  Piatt , 
Andrew  Long. 
Robert  Inscho. 
Matthew  Long. 
Salmon  Lindsey. 
Josiah  Root . 
Robert  Clark 
John  West 


Jeremiah  Cole. 
Hugh  A.  Campbell. 
Christian  Brewbaker 
Isaac  Groover. 
Philip  Lewis. 
James  Evans. 
George  Evans. 
Thos.  Arthur. 
Eli  Halladay. 
Moses  Smith . 
John  Pierce . 
Alexander  Pierce. 
Eliphalet  B.  Simmons. 
John  Wheelor. 
Leonard  Ashley. 
John  Call. 
John  Hamilton. 
John  Easter. 
Joseph  Edwards. 
Gilbert  Ashley. 
William  Inscho. 
Benjamin  Washburn. 
Lebo  Blackman 
Jacob  Bliss. 
John  Inscho. 
Ti:nothy  S.  Sherman . 
Denison  Bascom, 
Robert  Arthur. 
Richard  West. 
George  McFarland. 


According  to  the  "enumeration  of  the  white  male 
inhabitants  of  Greenfield  above  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,"  as  returned  to  the  county  clerk  by  Seba 
Mather,  lister,  for  the  year  ISl'J,  the  number  of  such 
inhabitants  was  one  hundred  and  thirty.  Peru  was 
then  attached  to  Greenfield,  and  is  included  in  the 
enumeration. 

EAUl.Y    EVKNTS. 

Hanson  Read  built  the  fir.^t  iiunse  in  Greenfield  in 
the  spring  of  1811. 

Franklin  Read,  sun  of  Han.son  and  Elizabeth  Read, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  this  township.  The 
date  was  April  25,  1812.  Mr.  Read  is  now  living  in 
Norwalk  township,  a  mile  south  of  the  village. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  William  Smith  to 
Aliss  Lovina  Pierce,  daughter  of  Alden  Pierce,  in 
1817.  Erastus  Smith,  justice  of  the  peace,  performed 
the  nuptial  ceremony.  Mr.  Smith  and  family  moved 
to  I]linoi.s  in  18.37. 

The  following   marriage  

the  Sandusky  ('liirimi  May 


)tice  wa; 


"Postscript— NuPTtAi^ExTHi.— Marriage,  on  the  aoth  ultimo,  at  the 
house  ot  XathanM  Haynes,  by  Thomas  Tilson,  Esq.:  William  Davis 
an  African,  to  Xuncy  Hiaifer,  a  white  woman;  both  of  Greenfield. 
'  Oh  dear,  what  can  the  matter  hef 
Will  no  one  deign  to  marry  me^ 
Yes;  Cupid  kept  his  shaft  not  back; 
He  missed  the  white,  but  hit  a  black :' 

Communiroted." 

The  first  deatli  in  the  town.ship  was  that  of  an  in- 
fant son  of  Samuel  C.  and  Xancy  Spencer,  in  the 
spring  of  1816.     The  child  was  buried  on  the  farm. 

Ruth,  daughter  of  David  Lovell,  was  the  first  per- 
son buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Greenfield  Center.  Her 
death  occurred  February  17,  1818,  at  the  age  of 
nearly  fourteen. 

POST  OFFICE. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  1818  or  1819, 
and  was  called  Lafayette.  The  first  postmaster  was 
Joseph  Cook,  who  kept  the  office  in  his  own  house, 
on  lot  number  thirty,  in  the  fourth  section.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Hiram  Spencer,  in  1823,  and  the  loca- 
tion of  the  office  changed  to  the  center  of  town.  In 
1835  the  name  of  the  office  was  changed  to  Steuben, 
and  has  continued  since  under  that  name,  Calvin 
Wheeler  being  the  present  incumbent. 

PHYSICIAX.S. 

Dr.  Moses  C.  Sanders,  of  the  township  of  Peru, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  physicians  that  practiced  in 
this  township.  The  first  resident  physician  was  Dr. 
Henry  Niles,  who  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
this  township  in  the  spring  of  1831.  He  remained 
two  years  and  then  removed  to  Clyde,  Sandusky 
county,  and  subsequently  to  Adams,  Seneca  county, 
where  he  died  in  September,  1864.  Dr.  Samuel 
McCammon  arrived  in  this  township  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  18-15.  He  married,  in 
September,  1848,  Miss  Philena  Blackman,  and  settled 
where  his  widow  now  resides,  a  short  distance  south 
of  Greenfield  center.  Dr.  McCammon  died  in  this 
township  August  3,  1870.  There  were  several  physi- 
cians who  resided  and  practiced  medicine  in  this 
township  before  Dr.  McCammon,  and  one  or  two 
since,  but  their  residence  was  comparatively  brief. 

RELIGIOUS  AND  EDUCATIONAL. 

The  first  religious  meeting  in  the  township  was  held 
at  the  cabin  of  Erastus  Smith,  on  the  first  Sabbath  in 
the  spring  of  1815,  on  which  occasion  the  Rev.  Green 
Parker,  from  near  Milan,  officiated.  A  church  organ- 
ization was  not  effected  until  the  year  1822.  July  3, 
of  that  year,  the  First  Congregational  cliurch  of 
Greenfield  was  formed,  the  Revs.  Lot  B.  Sullivan  and 
AlvinCoe,  missionaries,  officiating  in  its  organization. 
The  following  named  persons  were  tlie  constituent 
members:  Matthew  McKelvey,  Xancy  ilcKelvey,  Lu- 
ther Ashley.  Eunice  Ashley,  Seba  Mather,  Cynthia 
Mather,  Olive  Mather,  Ist,  Olive  Mather,  2d,  Mary 
llalliday.   Polly    Ashley,   Lydia  Spencer.    Sally  Coe. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


223 


Matthew  McKelvey  was  chosen  church  clerk,  and 
Hugh  A.  Campbell  was  appointed  deacou.  April  18, 
1825.  The  first  pastor  of  tlie  church  was  Rev.  Enoch 
Conger,  who  began  his  labors  in  1824,  and  officiated 
one-third  of  the  •time  for  two  years.  Since  Mr.  Con- 
ger, Revs.  J.  H.  Russ,  E.  P.  Salmon,  A.  Blanchard, 
J.  B.  Parlin,  Francis  Child,  Euos  Wood,  Abram  C. 
Dubois,  A.  K.  Barr,  C.  W.  Clapp,  R.  S.  Lock  wood, 
and  others,  have  officiated  as  pastors.  The  present 
membership  is  eighty-three.  Elias  Easter  is  clerk 
of  the  church,  and  Levi  Piatt  and  James  Campbell, 
deacons.     The  church  is  at  present  without  a  pastor. 

THE    FREEWILL    BAPTIST    CHl'RCH 

was  formed  at  the  house  of  Epenetus  Starr,  January 
24,  1829,  and  consisted  of  the  following  members,  to 
wit:  Elder  John  Wheeler,  Christian  Wheeler,  Setli  C. 
Parker,  Benjamin  E.  Parker,  Mary  Wheeler,  Ann 
White  and  Sally  Ashley.  The  next  day  Jane  Parker 
was  baptized  and  united  with  the  church.  Elder  John 
Wheeler  was  the  first  pastor.  The  church  building 
at  the  center  was  erected  in  1843,  costing  something 
over  a  thousand  dollars.  Elder  Cyrus  Colton,  from 
Lorain  county,  preached  the  dedication  sermon.  On 
the  organization  of  societies  of  this  denomination  in 
Peru  and  New  Haven,  the  membership,  which  ^was 
then  quite  large,  numbering  ninety-one  in  1841,  was 
thereby  much  reduced.  Under  the  pastorship  of  Rev. 
B.  E.  Baker,  who  began  his  labors  in  1867,  much  dis- 
satisfaction existed,  and  a  division  of  the  church  re- 
sulted. The  church  is  now  weak,  having  a  member- 
ship of  only  twenty-two,  and  is  without  a  preacher. 
The  only  preaching  now  enjoyed  by  the  churches  of 
Greenfield  is  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Palmer,  of 
Centerton,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  clergyman,  who 
officiates  at  the  center  on  the  Sabbath,  once  in  two 
weeks.  The  two  churches  unite  in  their  Sabbath 
school,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Mrs.  Na- 
than Beers,  Jr.,  is  superintendent. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Annie  Mather, 
in  the  little  log  school  house  on  the  hill,  south  of 
Hiram  Smith's,  in  the  summer  of  1816.  Miss  Mather 
became  the  wife  of  David  Hinman,  who  -was  one  of 
the  early  sheriffs  of  Huron  county.  The  following 
winter  tlie  school  was  kept  by  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Davis,  whose  given  name  cannot  now  be  recalled. 
Miss  Abby  Harris  taught  the  second  summer. 

A  school  house  was  erected  at  the  center  of  town 
soon  after,  the  first  school  in  which  was  taught  by 
Levi  Piatt,  in  the  winter  of  1818-19. 

IXDIAX    SCHOOL    AND   MISSIONARY    EFFORTS. 

Rev.  Alvin  Coe  emigrated  from  Massachusetts  to 
Ohio  some  time  prior  to  the  war  of  1812,  and  remained 
in  Huron  or  Vermillion  until  its  close.  He  then 
removed  to  \'ernon,  Trumbull  county,  where  he  sub- 
sequently married  a  daughter  of  General  Smith.  He 
entered  the  ministry,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Grand  river  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1816, 
and   soon  after  removed   to   Greenfield,    fixing   his 


residence  at  the  center.  He  was  commissioned  a 
missionary  by  the  Connecticut  Missionary  Society, 
and  commenced  itinerating  among  the  churches,  trav- 
eling throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  work.  He  frequently  came  in 
contact  with  the  Indians,  whose  benighted  condition 
enlisted  his  sympathies,  and  he  conceived  a  scheme 
for  civilizing  and  christianizing  them. 

To  this  end  he  established,  in  the  year  1818,  a 
school  at  Greenfield  center,  for  the  education  of  Indian 
boys.  He  built  a  house  for  the  purpose,  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  center,  on  tlie  west  side  of  the 
road,  and  collected  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  boys, 
of  the  Wyandotte  and  other  tribes  then  in  this 
region,  whom  he  taught,  fed,  and  clothed  at  his  own 
expense,  with  such  contributions,  mainly  of  provisions, 
as  the  presentation  of  his  work  prompted  his  many 
friends  to  give.  In  the  spring  of  1820,  finding  the 
enterprise  pecuniarily  burdensome,  he  appealed  to 
the  presbytery  of  Portage,  which  embraced  his  field 
of  labor,  for  a  recommendation  of  his  work  to  the 
churches  for  aid  in  sustaining  it,  and  invited  the 
presbytery,  then  in  session  at  Lyme,  to  visit  the 
school,  that  its  members  might  satisfy  themselves  as 
to  the  success  of  his  experiment.  The  visit  was  not 
made,  but  the  presbytery  endowed  the  philanthropic 
enterprise,  and  heartily  recommended  it  to  the 
churches  under  its  charge.  Several  years  after,  wlien 
the  Western  Missionary  Society  established  a  mission 
near  Perrysburg,  on  the  Maumee,  Mr.  Coe  trans- 
ferred his  school  to  that  point,  and  carried  it  on 
a  short  time,  when" it  passed  under  the  care  of  the 
American  Board. 

Mr.  Coe  then  began  his  missionary  labors  among 
the  various  Indian  tribes,  and  spent  several  years 
among  those  on  the  Upper  Mississippi.  When  he 
left  Greenfield,  his  wife  returned  to  Vernon,  where 
her  parents  still  lived,  and  Mr.  Coe  enjoyed  but  little 
of  her  society,  so  constantly  was  he  engaged  in  his 
chosen  work.  His  sympathy  for  the  condition  of  tlie 
Indians,  and  his  desire  for  tlieir  amelioration  aniou  nted 
almost  to  a  monomania.  It  is  said  that  during  his 
labors  among  them  he  adopted,  to  some  extent,  their 
customs  and  conditions  of  living.  He  would  deny 
himself  the  common  necessities  of  life  to  relieve  their 
wants. 

He  once  had  occasion,  while  residing  in  the  Luke 
Superior  region,  to  go  from  a  mission  to  a  military 
station  which  ordinarily  I'equired  a  journey  of  aliout 
three  days.  He  started  with  a  supply  of  food,  but 
divided  it  among  some  destitute  Indians  whom  he 
met  on  the  way.  He  was  longer  on  tlie  journey  than 
he  expected  to  be;  and  became  greatly  exhausted  be- 
fore reaching  his  destination.  Knowing  the  Indians' 
habit  of  subsisting  on  the  bark  of  trees  to  appease 
hunger,  he  tried  the  plan  and  ate  the  bark  of  the  oak, 
which  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  When  he  reached  the 
military  post,  he  was  in  a  condition  of  great  distress, 
and  it  was  some  time  before  he  fully  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  his  imprudence. 


m 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  Indians  became  greatly  attached  to  him,  and 
regarded  him  with  veneration.  He  exercised  a  potent 
influence  for  good  over  them  during  his  association 
with  them,  but  his  mission  was  unsuccessful  in  ac- 
complishing any  permanent  good.  While  in  charge 
of  the  school  in  this  township,  the  father  of  one  of 
his  pupils  came  from  Sandusky  to  visit  the  school- 
Before  returning,  he  called  iit  the  house  of  Alden 
Pierce,  who  was  opei'ating  a  small  distillery  in  the 
neighborhood.  The  Indian  was  offered  a  glass  of 
whisky,  but  he  refused  it  at  first,  saying:  "Pappoose 
say  Mr.  Coe  tell  hini'good  Injun  no  drink  whisky, 
he  go  up  good  place.  Bad  Injun  drink  whisky,  he  go 
down  bad  place;  big  burn."  And  then  looking  wist- 
fully at  the  liquor,  added,  "lujun-dou't-know.  May 
be,"  (moving  the  cup  slowly  to  his  lips)  "Mr.  Coe, 
he  lie." 

Mr.  Coe  was  finally  jirevailod  upon  to  accept  the 
charge  of  a  church  in  Trumbull  county,  but  con- 
sented only  on  the  condition  that  he  be  allowed  to 
make  an  annual  visit  to  the  Indians. 

In  1818,  a  library  organization  was  formed  at  the 
center  of  Greenfield  through  the  efforts  of  Eli  Halla- 
day.  Bildad  Adams,  Samuel  Spencer,  Erastus  Smith, 
Eliphalet  B.  Simmons  and  others.  The  organization 
was  called  "The  Social  Library  of  Greenfield,"  and 
continued  in  existence  many  years. 

A  temperance  society  called  "Steuben  Division 
Sons  of  Temperance"  was  organized  at  the  center  in 
November,  1878,  with  about  forty  members,  and  con- 
tinues in  existence. 

The  first  goods  were  sold  in  the  township  by  Mat- 
thew McKelvey,  who  kept  a  small  stock  in  his  dwelling 
on  the  place. 

Joseph  White  opened  the  first  store  at  the  center, 
about  1821  or  1823.  There  are  at  the  present  time 
at  the  center  one  general  store,  one  grocery,  one 
drugstore  and  grocery,  one  hotel,  three  blacksmith 
shops,  two  repair  shops,  one  shoe  shop. 

TOWXSHIP   ORGAXIZATION. 

The  township  records  prior  to  the  year  1828  have 
been  lost,  and  the  following  facts  relative  to  the  first 
election  for  township  officers  are  furnished  tlie  writer 
by  William  McKelvey,  who  was  present  on  the  occa- 
sion and  was  one  of  the  officers  chosen. 

The  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Erastus  Smith 
in  the  spring  of  1810.  Josepli  Cook  was  elected  town- 
sliip  clerk;  Eli  Ilalladay,  Bildad  Adams  and  Nathan 
Warner,  trustees;  William  McKelvey,  constable;  Eras- 
tus Smith,  justice  of  the  peace.  Having  no  use  for  a 
ti'easurcr  none  was  elected. 

Tlie  adjoining  townships  of  New  Haven,  Peru  and 
Norwalk  were  attached  to  Greenfield  for  township 
purposes,  and  continued  so  annexed  until  each  con- 
tained tlie  re(|uisite  number  of  votes  for  independent 
organization,  when  they  were  detached  and  severally 
assumed  control  of  their  own  affairs. 

The  name  of  the  township  was  changed  to  Berlin  in 
18Ht,  because  of  a  t(iwn>.hii)  and  a  post  (iffico  of  tiie 


name  of  Greenfield  in  another  county  in  the  State. 
The  township  continued  under  the  name  of  Berlin 
until  1822,  when  the  original  name  was  restored.  The 
following  are  some  of  the  early  justices  of  the  peace 
who  have  served  since  Esquire  Smith,  to-wit:  Ben- 
jamin Washburn,  John  Cook,  Joseph  Cook,  Charles 
W.  Miller,  James  Mclntyre,  John  Call,  E.  B.  Arthur, 
E.  M.  Wright,  Charles  B.  Simmons,  James  Brown, 
L.  Q.  Campbell.  The  poll  book  for  the  election  for 
justice  of  the  peace  held  April  3,  1820,  gives  the 
number  of  votes  cast  at  said  election  as  fifty-nine,  of 
which  Benjamin  Washburn  received  nineteen,  Da^vid 
Lovell  seventeen,  and  Bildad  Adams  thirteen.  The 
above  election  was  evidently  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  as  another  election  was 
held  for  the  same  officer  November  .3d  of  the  same 
year,  at  which  twenty-three  votes  were  cast,  of  which 
John  Cook  received  twenty-two  and  John  Williamson 
one.  At  the  election  for  justice  of  the  peace  held 
October  8,  1822,  there  were  thirty-eight  votes  cast, 
fourteen  of  which  were  given  to  Joseph  Cook,  twelve 
to  Eli  Halladay  and  eleven  to  Harlan  E.  Simmons. 

The  poll  book  of  the  election  held  in  this  township 
on  the  13th  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1818,  William  Mc- 
Kelvey, Eli  Halladay  and  Thomas  Tillson,  judges, 
and  Henry  Adams  and  Simon  Raymond  clerks  of  the 
election,  gives  the  following  list  of  electors,  who  voted 
at  said  election  (Peru  being  then  attached  to  Green- 
field), to  wit:  Eli  Halladay,  Thomas  Tillson,  Simon 
Raymond,  Joseph  Ruggles,  William  McKelvey, 
Andrew  Dewitt,  Samuel  Spencer,  Samuel  C.  Spencer, 
Newell  Adams,  Alden  Pierce,  Bildad  Adams,  Erastus 
&mith,  Abel  Halladay,  Hiram  Spencer,  Robert  An- 
derson, Charles  Dougherty,  Levi  Savage,  Daniel  Hal- 
laday, David  Lovell,  Joel  Clark,  William  Carkhuff, 
Thomas  Evans,  Dennis  Eddy,  Benjamin  T.  Smith, 
Nathaniel  Haynes,  Warden  Ashley,  Alexander  Pierce, 
John  Cook,  Esq.,  Henry  Adams,  Luther  Ashley, 
Seba  Mather,  Levi  R.  Sutton,  Elihu  Clary,  James 
Ashley,  John  Nelson,  Horace  Mather.  Amos  Hark- 
ness,  John  Sample,  Joseph  Cook. 

The  candidates  voted  for  at  this  election,  and  the 
number  of  votes  received  by  each,  was  as  follows: 
Governor— Ethan  A.  Brown,  thirty-six;  Ethan  A. 
Allen,  three.  State  Senator — John  Campbell,  twenty- 
six;  John  Adams,  one.  Representative  in  Congress 
— Peter  Hitchcock,  thirty-eight.  Representative  in 
State  Legislature — Lewis  Dilley,  thirty-three;  Alfred 
Kelley.  twenty-nine:  Ebenezer  Merr\',  six.  County 
Commissioner — Bildad  Adams,  tliirtv:  Erastus  Smith, 


In  tlie  winter  of  1814-15,  Hanson  Read  and  Ahrnm 
Powers  built  a  grist  mill  on  Huron  river,  in  the  first 
section,  near  where  the  Phoenix  Mills  now  stand. 
This  was  undoubtedly  the  first  grist  mill  erected  in 
the  county  as  now  constituted.  The  character  of  the 
establishment  was  in  keeping  with  those  simple  times. ' 
The    frame  was  made  of  poles,    with    forked    j^takes 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


225 


driven  into  the  ground  for  a  foundation  and  a  roof 
made  of  "shakes."  The  bolt  was  turned  by  hand 
with  a  crank.  The  mill  stones  were  made  by  Mr. 
Powers,  then  seventy  years  of  age,  of  stone  oljtained 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Vermillion  river,  and  were  hauled 
to  Greenfield  by  eight  yoke  of  oxen.  Mr.  Powers 
and  a  boy  brouglit  the  irons  for  the  mill  in  pack- 
saddles,  upon  the  backs  of  two  horses,  from  the  falls 
of  Big  Beaver. 

In  1816,  Mr.  Read  sold  the  mill  to  William  Cark- 
huff  for  fourteen  hundred  dollars,  a  part  of  the  pay- 
ment being  made  in  goods.  Garkhuff  soon  after  re- 
moved the  pole  structure  and  erected  a  log  building 
over  the  works.  It  was  quite  an  improvemeiat  over 
the  former  building,  but  nevertheless  a  cheap  con- 
trivance. It  was  built  of  logs  and  hewed  puncheons, 
without  a  sawed  board  in  it,  and  was  covered  with 
oak  l)ark. 

Nathan  Keith,  who  moved  into  Bronson  with 
Judge  Southgate  and  family  in  1810,  was  injured  in 
this  mill  during  its  erection,  which  caused  his  death 
a  short  time  after. 

In  18.35  Ezra  Smith,  of  Peru,  erected  a  frame  grist 
mill  at  this  point,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1850.  The  present  stone  mill  was  built  by  Barnet 
Roe  (deceased)  in  1856.  The  stone  of  which  it  is 
built  was  obtained  from  the  quarry  on  the  farm  of 
Elias  Easter.  The  mill  was  recently  purchased  and 
is  now  owned  by  .John  Minges  and  Alonzo  L.  Sim- 
mons. 

SAW  MILLS. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  built  in  1819,  by  Josiah 
Root,  on  Huron  river,  on  land  now  owned  by  Hiram 
Smith.  The  next  was  built  by  Hiram  C.  Spencer, 
east  of  the  center  of  town,  on  the  river,  a  short  dis- 
tance below  the  bridge.  It  was  built  about  the  year 
1827  or  1828,  and  did  a  large  business.  A  few  years 
after,  Archibald  Easter  erected  a  saw  mill  where  that 
of  Barnett  Roe  now  stands,  and  at  about  the  same 
time  one  was  built  by  Dan  Lindsey  on  the  west  branch 
of  the  river,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Joiner.  Jacob  and  David  Noggle  built  the  Curtis 
mill  about  the  year  18.35. 

The  steam  saw  mill  located  on  lot  nineteen,  in  the 
fourth  section,  and  owned  by  Jonathan  Bliss  and 
sons,  was  built  in  1846.  A  saw  mill  was  erected  on 
the  west  branch  of  the  river  some  twenty  years  ago, 
by  a  man  of  the  name  of  Burke.  About  the  year 
1820,  Seba  and  Horace  Mather  built  a  saw  mill,  grist 
mill  and  fulling  mill  on  Huron  river,  east  of  the  cen- 
ter,-on  the  Fairfield  road.  The  grist  mill  was  small, 
having  one  run  of  stone,  and  after  a  few  years  was 
discontinued,  and  the  fulling  mill  was  enlarged.  The 
first  building  was  built  of  logs,  but  subsequently  a 
two-story  frame  was  erected  by  Seba  Mather,  Horace 
having  previously  died.  Tliis  was  the  only  mill  of 
the  kind  in  this  section  of  country  at  the  time  of  its 
establishment,  and  farmers  came  with  their  wool  from 
a  distance  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles.     Mr.  Mather 


did  an  extensive  and  prosperous  business  until  about 
the  year  1849,  when  he  sold  to  Ellen  wood  Brothers, 
and  not  long  after  the  works  were  discontinued. 

There  is  one  cheese  factory  in  the  townshij),  near 
the  stone  grist  mill,  owned  by  Barnet  Roe. 

Three  distillei'ies  were  in  operation  in  this  town- 
ship in  an  early  day,  the  first  of  which  was  built  by 
William  McKelvey,  in  1817,  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  township  on  the  Huron  river. 


Biographical  Sketches, 


ERASTUS  SMITH  AND  HIRAM  SillTH. 

The  Smith  family,  of  Greenfield,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  upon  the  Fire-lands,  and  its  history  will  be 
found  interwoven  with  that  of  the  township. 

Erastus  Smith  built  the  second  house  in  Greenfield. 
He  arrived  there  in  1811,  from  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  and  during  the  short  term  of  years  intervening 
between  his  settlement  and  his  death,  did  much  to 
establish  a  correct  moral  tone  in  society,  and  to  en- 
courage the  growth  and  improvement  of  the  settle- 
ment. He  was  a  man  admirably  adapted  to  pioneer 
life,  having  great  energy  and  perseverence,  and  a 
certain  ability  to  make  others  as  enthusiastic  in  the 
work  of  developing  the  country  as  himself.  His 
example  was  of  great  benefit  to  the  infant  settlement 
in  many  ways,  and  he  is  reverently  remembered  by  the 
few  persons  still  living  who  knew  him  in  pioneer  days. 
He  was  born  January  7,  1784,  and  married  Fanny 
Spencer,  December  19,  1805.  When  the  couple  came 
to  Greenfield  they  had  three  children — Martin,  Lydia 
and  Truman.  Subsequently  there  were  born  to  them 
four  more — Erastus,  Lester,  Hiram  and  Henrietta. 
Erastus  Smith,  the  father  of  these  children,  died 
from  congestion  of  the  brain  July  16,  1820.  His 
widow  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years, 
with  her  son  Hiram  Smith,  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  that  old  age  require,  a  fitting  compen.sation 
for  the  toils,  privations  and  cares  of  lier  pioneer  life. 
A  view  of  this  home  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Its  owner,  Hiram  Smith,  was  born  November  21, 
1816,  and  was,  conse([uently,  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  death,  in  1820,  but  four  years  of  age.  He 
went  to  live  with  his  grandfather  Spencer,  and  re- 
mained there  until  he  was  sixteen,  becoming  accus- 
tomed to  farming,  the  occupation  which  he  has  most 
of  his  life  followed,  although  he  was  also  engaged 
four  years  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Steuben  or 
Greenfield  center,  and  was  an  extensive  dealer  in 
stock.  His  business  and  farming  interests  have  been 
the  principal  objects  that  have  engrossed  his  atten- 
tion, and  he  has  taken  but  little  part  in  the  affairs  of 
his  township.  This  has  been  rather  because  of  a 
retiring,  quiet  nature,  than  ffom  lack  of  interest  and 


226 


HISTORY  or  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


due  regard  for  public  welfare.  He  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  substantially  worthy  men  of  this  part  of  the 
county. —  scrupulously  honorable  in  all  things,  gen- 
erous to  those  in  need,  and  kind  to  all.  He  is  one  of 
the  few  men  who  seem  to  have  passed  througli  a  long 
life,  actively  engaged  and  constantly  mingling  with 
men,  and  yet  been  exempt  from  reproach — to  have 
received  no  scar,  to  have  remained  untarnished.  His 
education  has  been  mostly  self-acquired,  and  he  pos- 
sesses a  well  balanced,  well  stored,  mind,  practical  in 
its  cast,  yet  finely  tempered  with  the  reflective  quality. 


Mr.  Smith  was  married,  December  31,  18-10,  to 
Polly  Rockwell,  daughter  of  Thaddeus  and  Polly 
Rockwell,  then  of  Greenfield,  but  formerly  of  New 
York.  The  offspring  of  this  union  were  six  child- 
ren, viz:  Emma  Fannett,  Hiram  J.,  Henry  Dayton, 
Sarah  Francis,  George  Rockwell  and  Fanny  Eliza,  the 
last  three  now  residing  at  the  old  homestead.  Emma 
Fannett  married  Harry  C.  Sturges:  Hiram  J.  married 
Sarah  A.  Wheeler,  and  lives  in  the  township  of 
Greenfield;  Henry  Dayton  married  Jenny  Winspa, 
nad  is  livins;  in  Washington  Territorv. 


BRONSON 


ORIGINAL   OWNERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 

BRONSON,  township  NUJIBER  THREE  IN  THE 
TWENTY-SECOND  RANGE. 

Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 

Original  Grantees.        Am't  Loss.        Chissified  b;/.  Anit  Classed. 

£       s.       d.  S        s.        d. 

Isaac  Bronsoii         1210       17       4 


James  Tilley  1533 

Stephen  Babcock  34 

Mai  y  Gardner  123 

James  Lamphier  233 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  3,  Sectk 


OrUiinal  Grantees.       A 

£ 

Ann  Richaras  215 

Mary  Richards  258 

Peter  Rogers  16 

Sarah  Setcbel  56 

Ann  Squire  7 

Ann  Simmonds  13 

James  Smith  4 

Mary  Taylor  26 

John  Prentice  3 

Widow  Dorset  S 

Wm.  Comstock  3 

Joseph  Cocks  1 

Hannah  Bebee  6 

Mary  Goodfaith  15 

George  Rogers  14 

Ebenezer  Lester  8 

Jabez  Z.  Richards  4 

John  Lathrop  1 

John  Carter  14 

Thomas  Coit  23 

Jeremiah  MUler  2535 
Joshua  Hempsted 

James  Stewart  13 

Anthony  Wolf  4 

Simeon  Chester  H 

Thomas  Griffln  3 

Mar}'  Latham  4  ' 

Jonath  Latham  3 

James  Hownom  208 

Caleb  Mead  2<1  76 

Mary  Rich  44 

Jabez  Fitch  41 

Jos.  Hobby,  Jr.,  '  31 

Nath'l  Reynolds  47 
.Jas.  Lamphier.  Jr.  42 
Eliphalet  Mead,  Jr.    !I5 

Daniel  Merrit  30 


Thomas  R.  Gold 


Footing  of  Classification  No   2,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  f 


'  Loss.        Classi/ied  by. 


400 


Mary  Benedict 
Abuer  Booth 
John  Burchard 
Silas  Barton 
Jedikiah  Hanford 
Peter  Hitchcock 
Azor  Mead 
Stephen  Smith 
John  St.  John 
Josiah  Thatcher 

John  Bigsbee  7 

Daniel  Wildman  31 

Ebenezer  Benedict  5 

Joseph  Wildman  278 

Ebenezer  Monson  23 

Ebenezer  Benedict  4 

Samuel  Olmstead  37 

Ebenez'r  Olmstead  5 

Sam'l  Olmstead  3d  23 

David  Olmstead  36 

James  Sturges  10 

George  Fottal  12 

Ebenezer  Jones  5 

Bartlet  Folliot  5 

Matthew  Kec ler  2 

Philip  Dundrey  3 

Eb'nez'r  Sherwood  5 

Wm.  Brandoge  49 

James  Hounan  208 

Neh.  St.  John  2d  6 

Abner  Wilson  9 

John  Borno  84 

Walter  Bebee  S 

William  Coit  44 

Rebecca  Church  52 

Thomas  Gardner  22 

David  Gardner  11 

Matthew  Griswold  10 

Abigail  Holt  IS 

Thomas  Holt  4 
Johu  Harris  1st 

James  Stewart  13 

Benjamin  Sutton  5 

Ichabod  Powers  620 


, 

(f 

0 

0 
6 

Gideo 

9 
12 

1 
13 

10 
6 
11 

';'• 

6 

16 

11 

W 

(i 

5 

0 
19 
16 

6 
10 

4 

6 
14 

8 
0 

.. 

9 

16 
2 
11 

4 

4 

:; 

4 

111 

10 

13 

4 

10 

TH 

17 
11 

10 
10 

:; 

0 

0 

0 

11 

0 
2 

18 

1H 

6 

11 

2 

0 

Am't  Classed. 


Footing  of  Classifloation  J 


iiPiCATiON  No.  4,  Section  4. 


Original  Grantees. 

Nathan  Beers 
Abigail  Raymond 
Eliakim  Smith 
Daniel  Hyat 
Josiah  Thatcher, 


Daniel  Smith 
Eliz'b-th  Whelpley 
Thomas  Betts,  Jr. 
Bridget  Ledyard 
Daniel  Hurlburt 


Fnoting  of  Classification  No 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


227 


The  township  derived  its  name  from  Isaac  Bronson, 
one  of  tiie  original  owners  of  the  soil. 

PHYSICAL    FEATURES. 

The  township,  while  generally  level,  is  diversified 
by  the  bi-anches  of  the  Huron  in  the  western  part. 
In  this  portion  of  the  township  the  soil  is  a  loamy 
clay  mixed  with  gravel,  while  the  eastern  half  is 
mostly  clay.  Sandstone  of  the  newer  formation  un- 
derlies a  considerable  portion  of  the  township,  and  is 
quarried  in  some  portions  to  a  considerable  extent. 
The  varieties  of  timber  were  whitewood,  hickory, 
beech,  white  ash,  black  walnut,  the  oak  in  several 
varieties,  butternut,  basswood,  elm,  sycamore,  chest- 
nut, and  some  other  kinds  of  less  importance.  Sev- 
eral of  the  eastern  branches  of  the  Huron  river  run 
through  the  township,  their  general  course  being 
northwest.  The  stream  called  East  branch  crosses 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  and  another 
crosses  the  northeast  corner,  while  High  Bridge  creek 
flows  from  the  southeast  part  to  the  northwest.  The 
stream  received  the  name  of  "High  Bridge"  from  the 
circumstance  that  a  bricjge  which  formerly  crossed  it 
south  of  the  present  residence  of  David  Morse  was 
considerably  elevated,  the  banks  being  steep. 

There  are  several  quarries  of  sandstone  in  the  third 
section,  which  have  been  extensively  worked  for  build- 
ing purposes.  The  dwelling  of  Mr.  George  Lawrence 
is  built  of  stone  obtained  from  one  of  these  quarries. 

XATIVE    ANIMALS. 

The  animals  of  the  forest  were  the  bear,  deer,  wolf, 
wild  cat,  fox,  raccoon,  opossum,  etc.  The  wild  tur- 
key was  the  principal  bird,  and  was  quite  abundant. 
Bears  were  not  infrequently  seen,  but  were  not  often 
killed.  Deer  were  numerous,  and  venison  was  a  com- 
mon article  of  food  with  the  earlier  settlers.  Their 
skin  was  an  article  of  clothing,  as  well  as  of  trade. 
Two  deer  skins  would  suffice  to  make  a  pair  of  panta- 
loons, and  one  would  face  a  pair.  The  facing  was 
done  by  sewing  the  neck  of  the  hide  on  to  the  seat, 
and  the  half  of  the  balance  on  the  front  of  each  leg, 
witli  a  stiip  around  the  bottom. 

The  woods  abounded  in  wolves,  and  they  were  a 
great  annoyance  to  the  farmer.  It  was  usual  to  pen 
their  sheep  up  at  night,  in  rail  pens,  built  near  the 
house,  for  to  leave  them  out  at  night  was  to  insure 
their  destruction. 

Rattlesnakes,  also,  were  very  numerous  in  the  first 
settlement  of  the  township,  more  especially  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  streams.  A  nest  of  them  was  discov- 
ered by  Ephraim  Herrick  on  the  bank  of  the  creek, 
near  his  father's  house,  and,  with  the  help  of  two  or 
three  others,  quarried  out  from  among  the  rock  and 
killed  tiiie  hundred  and  twenty. 

SKTTLEMENT. 

The  first  habitation  erected  in  Bronson,  for  the 
abode  of  civilized  people,  was  the  log  cabin   of  the 


|squatter,  John  Welch,  built  in  the  summer  of  1815. 
He  came  from  Pennsylvania  with  his  family,  and 
located  west  of  the  creek,  opposite  Mr.  Kellogg's. 
His  parents  and  his  brothers  came  in  soon  after,  some 
of  whom  located  in  Peru,  but  none  of  the  family 
made  a  permanent  settlement. 

We  date  the  actual  settlement  of  the  township  from 
the  arrival  of  Benjamin  Neweomb  and  family,  who 
moved  in,  in  the  winter  of  1815-16,  and  settled  on  lot 
number  four,  section  number  three,  where  Ada.m 
Leutman  now  resides.  Neweomb  was  a  native  of  Leb- 
anon, (now  Columbia,)  Connecticut.  At  tlie  age  of 
eighteen  he  removed,  with  his  widowed  mother,  to 
Bridgewater,  Pennsylvania,  and  while  yet  a  young 
man  came  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He  married 
Stata  Crosby,  and  before  the  war  of  1812  came  to  the 
Fire-lands,  and  settled  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Norwalk  township. 

While  residing  there  he  hail  occasion  to  go  to 
Huron  after  provisions,  and,  while  there,  was  attacked 
by  an  Indian  through  mistaken  identity.  A  man  by 
the  name  of  Hayes  kept  a  sort  of  tavern  at  Huron,  to 
which  the  Indians  frequently  resorted  for  whiskey, 
and  he  had  greatly  offended  one  of  them  by  refusing 
to  give  him  a  drink.  Neweomb  so  strongly  resembled 
the  tavern-keeper,  that,  while  standing  outside  of  the 
tavern,  the  Indian,  supposing  him  to  be  Hayes,  ap- 
proached him  in  a  menacing  manner,  when  New- 
comb  seized  an  ax  that  was  sticking  in  the  wall  of 
the  house,  and  knocked  him  down. 

The  next  day  the  Indian  suddenly  rode  up  to  him 
near  his  house,  with  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  in 
his  belt;  but,  before  he  had  time  to  dismount,  New- 
comb  jerked  him  from  his  horse  and  beat  him  until 
he  was  insensible.  Supposing  him  to  be  dead.  New- 
comb  dragged  him  into  a  corner  of  the  fence,  and  the 
children  covered  him  up  with  brush  and  leaves,  but 
the  next  morning  Poor  Lo  was  missing. 

When  information  of  Hull's  surrender  was  received 
— which  was  conveyed  to  the  inhabitants  in  that  sec- 
tion by  John  Laj'liu,  of  Norwalk — Neweomb  and 
family  immediately  started  for  Trumbull  county. 
They  were  soon  joined  by  others  from  Huron,  and. 
when  they  reached  the  Vermillion  river,  the  water 
was  so  high  that  a  delay  was  ocCcisioned  for  a  day  or 
so,  during  which  Neweomb  returned  to  the  vicinity  of 
his  home  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering,  and  wit- 
nessed the  burning  of  his  house  by  the  Indians.  The 
deed  was  evidently  committed  out  of  revenge  for  the 
treatment  by  Neweomb  of  the  Indian  previously  men- 
tioned, as  no  other  dwelling  was  destro^-ed  so  fai-  from 
the  lake  shore. 

After  reaching  Trumbull  county,  he  went  into  tiu> 
army  as  teamster.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned with  his  family  to  his  former  residence  in 
Norwalk,  but,  soon  after,  disposed  of  his  contract  for 
the  lot  to  Levi  Cole,  and  purchased  and  settled  in 
Bronson,  as  already  stated. 

The  life  of  this  iiardy  pioneer  was  cut  short  by  an 
acciileiit.  which  occurred  the  next  year  after  his  set- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


tlement.  He  was  rctuniiug  from  mill  at  Mansfield 
July  4,  1810,  with  flour  which  was  carried  in  pack- 
saddles  on  two  horses;  and,  while  adjusting  the  load 
near  Plymouth,  was  kicked  in  the  stomach  by  the 
horse,  killing  him  instantly.  His  son  Sterling,  then 
.  a  lad  nine  years  old,  was  with  him,  and  carried  the 
sad  news  of  his  father's  death  to  Plymouth,  where  he 
obtained  assistance  in  removing  the  body  to  the  home 
of  the  bereaved  family.  The  next  day  after  the  burial 
of  her  luisl)and,  .July  6,  1816,  Mrs.  Newcomb  gave 
birth  to  a  son,  who  was  the  first  child  born  in  Bron- 
son.  She  survived  her  husband  about  eighteen  months 
only,  her  death  occurring  at  Mansfield  in  December, 
1817.  Their  children  were  Samuel  Sterling,  Clark 
Benjamin,  Mary  (who  married  Philo  Comstock),  and 
Timothy  T.,  the  last-named  being  the  only  survivor. 
The  next  settler  was  Martin  Kellogg.  He  and  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  three  daughters, 
Maudane,  Lucy  and  Rebecca;  Aaron  Fay,  (father  of 
Mrs.  Kellogg),  his  wife,  two  sons,  Lucius  and  Apol- 
los,  aud  daughter  Clarissa;  the  wife  of  John  Fay  and 
her  brother  Eliphaz  Bigelow, — left  Bethel,  Windsor 
county,  Vermont,  for  the  Fire-lands,  June  17,  1815. 
This  company  was  increased  at  Granville,  New  York, 
by  the  birth  of  a  daughter  (Polly)  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kellogg.  This  event  necessitated  a  stop  of  only  a 
week.  On  account  of  the  reported  bad  condition  of 
the  roads  west  of  Buffalo,  four  of  the  company  (Apol- 
los  and  Clarrissa  Fay,  Mrs.  John  Fay  and  E.  Bigelow) 
with  the  goods,  journeyed  from  Buffalo  to  Huron  in 
an  open  top  boat.  After  a  tedious  journey,  both  on 
land  and  water,  the  party  arrived  at  the  house  of  Eb- 
enezer  Merry,  in  Milan,  then  Avery,  on  the  30th  of 
July,  and  a  few  days  afterwards  took  up  their  abode 
in  the  block  house.  In  August  following,  Mr.  Kel- 
logg moved  to  Ridgefield  and  occupied  the  unfinished 
house  of  David  Underbill,  who  had  returned  to  New 
York  for  his  family.  He  lived  there  until  the  next 
March,  when  he  moved  on  to  a  farm  in  Norwalk  town- 
ship, now  owned  by  Miner  Cole.  He  remained  here 
until  June  17,  1816,  just  one  year  after  leaving  Ver- 
mont, aud  then  located  on  the  farm  on  which  he  has 
since  resided,  lot  eight,  section  three.  Mr.  Kellogg 
was  born  in  Bethel,  Windsor  county,  Vermont,  Sep- 
tember 31,  1786.  December  7,  1809,  he  married  Polly 
Fay,  who  was  born  in  Barnard,  same  county,  July  17, 
1787.  She  died  April  1,  1866.  Mrs.  Kellogg  was  a 
woman  of  intelligence  and  exalted  character.  They 
had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  as  follows:  Mandane 
(now  Mrs.  Perry  G.  Harding)  lives  in  Nebraska;  Lucy 
(Mrs.  Jason  K.  Thompson)  lives  in  Bei'lin;  Rebecca 
married  Daniel  Goff,  of  Norwalk.  Both  died  in  1837. 
Polly  F.  (Mrs.  Devine)  lives  with  a  son  in  Greenfield; 
Aaron  F.  married  Mary  Ann  Coffey,  November  2-1, 
1844,  and  they  now  reside  in  Greenfield;  Martin  died 
May  22,  1837,  unmarried;  Elcutheira  (Mrs.  Edward 
Familiar)  lives  in  Fairfield;  Lyman  and  Harriet  L. 
(Mrs.  L.  L.  Thayer)  live  in  Bronson,  the  latter  on  the 
old  homestead.  Anson  lives  in  Milan  township. 
Thomas  died  in  infancy:   Kinsley  B.  died  Fel)raary  4. 


18.58.  Eleven  of  the  children  lived  to  adult  age.  Mr. 
Kellogg  still  lives  on  the  farm  on  which  he  settled  so 
long  ago,  having  reached  the  advanced  age  of  nearly 
ninety-three  years.  He  retains  his  mental  and  phys- 
ical faculties  in  a  marked  degree  of  excellence.  He 
is  a  fine  old  gentleman  and  is  also  a  man  of  extensive 
information  and  of  original  thought.  He  is  as  busy 
as  most  men  are  at  sixty,  and  has  only  quite  recently 
written  and  published  in  a  local  newspaper,  a  history 
of  his  native  town. 

In  the  fall  of  1816,  Simon  Amnurnian,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  moved  in  from  Cayuga  county,  New 
York.  He  settled  on  lot  four,  where  Benjamin  New- 
comb  formerly  resided.  He  continued  to  live  there 
until  his  children  were  settled  in  life,  after  which  he 
made  his  home  with  his  son  John.  He  died  March 
11,  1860;  his  wife,  February  7,  1851.  There  were 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living,  viz:  Mrs. 
Charles  Gardner  in  Peru:  widow  of  Seth  C.  Parker 
in  Greenfield,  and  widow  of  John  Hagaman  in  Bron- 
son. 

Reuben  Pixley  moved  on  to  lot  number  six  in  the 
third  section,  in  the  winter  of  1816-]  7.  He  came  to 
the  Fire-lands  from  the  State-of  New  York  ))efore  the 
war  of  1812,  and  the  name  is  associated  with  the  Sey- 
more  tragedy.  In  the  fall  of  1812.  Reuben  C.  Pix- 
ley, his  son,  then  sixteen  years  of  age,  was  assisting 
Seymore  in  cutting  down  a  bee-tree  on  Seymoi'e 
creek,  when  they  w^ere  fired  upon  by  two  Indians  in 
ambush.  Seymore  was  shot  through  the  head  and 
fell  dead  at  Pixley's  feet.  The  Indians  came  up  aud 
scalped  Seymore,  and  finding  the  boy  unhurt,  though 
a  bullet  had  pierced  his  hat,  they  turned  him  around 
with  his  face  toward  the  west  and  ordered  him  to  run. 
He  obeyed,  and  they  ran  together  behind  him,  cou- 
cealing  him  as  much  as  possible,  until  they  got  away 
from  the  settlement.  He  was  taken  to  Canada  and 
kept  a  prisoner  for  about  six  months,  when  he  was 
bought  of  the  Indians,  at  one  of  their  drunken 
carousals,  for  seventy-five  dollars,  by  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Hunt.  Hunt  understood  well  the  Indian 
nature  and  knew  that  when  they  became  sober  they 
would  break  their  bargain  aud  endeavor  to  recapture 
the  boy,  and  he  therefore  took  him  home  and  secreted 
him  in  his  cellar.  The  next  day  the  Indians  went  to 
Hunt's  house,  laid  down  the  money  and  demanded 
Pixley,  saying  that  they  loved  him  and  could  not  give 
him  up;  that  they  had  adopted  him  and  had  a  squaw 
selected  for  his  wife.  Hunt  replied  that  the  bargain 
was  a  fair  one,  that  he  paid  the  price  asked  for  their 
captive,  and.  supposing  that  it  was  satisfactory,  had 
sent  the  boy  to  Detroit.  The  Indians  doubted  Hunt's 
statement  that  Pixley  had  gone  and  they  remained 
near  the  house,  watching  for  his  appearance.  After 
watching  for  three  days  they  went  away  for  a  siiort 
time,  aud  Pixley,  taking  advantage  of  tiiis  fortunate 
circumstance,  made  good  his  escape. 

Reuben  Pixley  and  his  son  were  much  engaged  in 
clearing  land  by  the  job,  making  roads,  etc.  Tiiey 
made,  in  1827  and  '28,  a  jiari  of  tlie  turnpike  lielwecn 


J.    THOMAS. 


A.  J.  THOMAS. 


Andrew  J.  Thomas  was  born  in  the  town  of  Exeter, 
Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3,  1832,  and  was  the  sixth  son  of 
George  and  Adaline  Thomas,  both  of  whom  were  of  New 
England  ancestry,  and  who  settled  with  their  parents  in 
New  York  State,  while  quite  young,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing,— an  occupation  which  most  of  their  descendants  have 
followed. 

Mr.  Mason  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Orcelia  S., 
daughter  of  Asael  and  Susan  Allen,  of  the  town  of  Edmes- 
ton,  Otsego  Co.  They  had  three  children, — Don  J.,  the 
only  surviving  child ;  Mary  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years ;  and  a  son,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Thomas'  early  teachings  all  inculcated  the  lessons  of 
industry  and  economy,  which  were  more  commonly  acted 
upon  by  the  youth  of  his  generation  than  those  of  a  later, 
and  he  believes  that  whatever  of  success  he  has  made  in 
life  is  attributable  largely  to  the  early  training  that  he  had 
upon  these  subjects.  Like  too  many  f;»rmcr  boys  of  his 
time,  he  had  only  the  most  limited  advantages  and  oppor- 
tunities of  securiii;/  an  nlur.iiion.  never  attemling  any  other 
than  the  comnmn  ili^iiii  t  -rLudls  iluriiiL:  the  winter  terms, 
after  he  was  eight  veins  nl'  aue.  Airivini;  at  manhood,  he 
realized  the  importance  of  a  wider  information  than  he 
possessed,  and  resolved  to  secure  it  by  those  varied  and  val- 
uable means  fortunately  afforded  those  whose  school-days 
have  been  few.  He  became  a  practical  and  persistent  reader 
of  books  and  newspapers,  and,  being  naturally  of  a  reflective, 
discriminating  turn  of  mind,  gleaned  from  many  sources  an 
education  perhaps  more  thorough  and  beneficial  than  he 
would  have  secured  from  dry  text-books. 

The  same  laudable  ambition  that  made  him  desire  im- 
provement mentally,  led  the  young  man  to  seek  the  better- 
ing of  his  condition  in  other  respects,  and  he  followed  an 
actively  industrious  course  of  life  that  led  naturally  to  a 
state  of  prosperitj',  plenty,  and  comfort.  He  accumulated, 
through  well-directed  effort  and  untiring  labor,  the  property 
upon  which  his  [ileasant  liome  is  at  present, — a  fine  farm. 


consisting  of  about  three  hundred  acres  of  fertile  land, 
lying  five  and  a  half  miles  south  of  the  county  seat,  and 
upon  which  he  has  made  all  of  the  improvements,  except 
building  the  old  portion  of  the  house,  a  cut  of  which 
appears  upon  another  page  of  this  work.  This  farm  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  one  hundred  acres 
are  free  from  obstruction  of  any  kind,  and  presents  a  beauti- 
ful appearance. 

He  has,  from  the  commencement,  turned  his  attention 
particularly  to  the  breeding  and  handling  of  sheep  and 
cattle,  making  the  former  his  specialty,  and  has  met  with  a 
marked  degree  of  success  in  this  line  of  farming.  Mr. 
Thomas  is  justly  deserving  of  credit  for  his  course  as  an 
agriculturist  and  stock-raiser,  and  may  well  be  proud  of  what 
he  has  attained.  He  is  one  of  those  farmers  who  take 
pleasure  in  the  performance  of  their  labor,  and  in  leading  a 
wholesome,  independent  life.  While  he  works  hard,  he 
has  a  feeling  of  pleasure  in  seeing  the  results  of  his  labor, 
and  the  consciousness,  which  all  men  of  his  class  should 
have,  that  farming  is  something  more  than  a  merely  menial 
calling.  He  is  a  strong  believer  in  the  dignity  of  labor, 
and,  holding  to  the  theory  that  whatever  is  worth  doing  at 
all  is  worth  doing  well,  he  has  put  it  into  practical  effect. 
In  a  broad  sense  he  has  carried  out  the  principle  involved 
in  the  wise  old  adage, 

"He  who  by  the  plow  wouUl  thrive, 
Himself  must  either  hold  or  drive." 

All  that  he  has,  he  has  acquired  by  hard  labor.  He 
began  with  nothing  but  his  hands,  and  his  career  of  success, 
through  honest  hearty  effort,  affords  an  example  worthy  of 
the  emulation  of  every  young  man  who  must  begin  for  him- 
self the  battle  of  life.     He  is  really  a  self  made  man. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Thomas  is  a  Republican,  having  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont.  He  has  ever 
been  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  principles  of  that  party, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  leading  supporters  in  Bronson. 


Sheep  Barn. 


RESIDENCE  OF  A.J.  THOMAS. BRONSON  TP.,f1UR0N  Co.O. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


Belk'vue  and  Clyde,  and  the  family  moved  to  York 
township  in  Sandusky  county.  Reuben  Pixley,  Sr., 
died  in  1834,  iu  the  township  of  Milan.  \Yhile  at 
work  at  Huron,  he  was  attacked  with  cholera,  and  in 
company  with  an  acquaintance,  by  the  name  of  Brown, 
started  for  his  home  in  York  township.  While  passing 
through  the  township  of  Milan  he  became  unable  to 
proceed  further,  and  with  some  difficulty  found 
shelter  in  a  farm-house,  which  the  family  abandoned 
for  the  sick  man  to  die  in.  He  lived  only  a  few  hours 
and  was  buried  on  the  place,  by  his  companion,  who 
carried  the  sad  news  to  his  family. 

The  son,  Ruebeu  C,  married  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Read,  of  Norwich  townshijj,  in  1828,  and  settled  in 
that  township.     They  both  died  in  1830. 

Nathan  SutlifE,  originally  from  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut, moved  into  Bronson  from  Cayuga  county,  New 
York,  in  March,  1817,  and  settled  on  lot  No.  nine, 
section  three.  His  son,  George  Suiliii,  now  lives  on 
the  place.  He  died  on  this  farm  in  the  fall  of  1864, 
aged  seventy-five.  Loretta  SutlifE,  his  wife,  died  in 
May,  1859,  aged  sixty-six.  There  were  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.  :  Samuel,  Mary, 
Loretta,  and  George,  in  Bronson;  John,  iu  Fairfield, 
and  David,  in  Greenwich. 

William  W.  Beckwith  and  family  moved  in  about 
the  same  time  and  settled  on  the  east  part  of  lot  six 
in  the  third  section.  He  died  here  August  otii,  1861, 
aged  sixty-eight. 

In  1818  Thomas  Hagaman  and  family,  from 
Cayuga  county.  New  York,  took  up  their  abode  on 
lot  No.  eight,  section  three.  He  died  in  this  township, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  August  5ch,  1851.  His 
wife  survi\'ed  him  some  ten  years.  There  were  three 
children,  John,  James,  and  George.  The  first  is 
dead;  James  is  blind,  and  George  is  a  pai-alytie. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  fourth  section  was  made 
by  Robert  S.  Southgate,  of  Barnard,  Vermont.  He 
first  came  to  Ohio  in  the  winter  of  1815  in  company 
with  Calel)  Keith,  Carlos  Keith,  Joshua  Freeman, 
and  Jonathan  Fish.  They  journeyed  from  Vermont 
to  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  in  a  sleigh;  thence  in  a  wagon 
to  Springfield  (tiie  snow  having  disappeared),  where 
a  sister  of  Southgate  was  living.  They  brought 
with  them  their  provisions,  which  consisted  of  half 
a  bushel  of  baked  pork,  chickens,  bread,  a  box  of 
cigars,  and  eight  yaUons  of  imtato  lohiskii.  South- 
gate  engaged  at  brick-making  near  Marietta  until  the 
next  October,  when,  in  company  with  Caleb  Keith, 
he  returned  to  Vermont.  The  next  fall  he  moved 
out  with  his  family,  which  consisted  of  his  wife,  his 
father,  Stewart  Southgate,  and  Samuel  and  Lucy 
Taft,  his  adopted  children.  Natlian  Keith  and 
family  came  at  tlie  same  time.  They  stopped  with 
the  Fays  in  Norwalk  township  until  Judge  Southgate 
could  put  up  a  house  in  Bronson.  He  built  on  lot 
No.  forty-one  in  the  fourth  section.  In  January, 
1817,  ho  went  on  foot  to  tlie  State  of  New  York  and 
purciiased  of  Tilly  Lynde  something  over  two  thou- 
sand acres.     The  tract  cost  him.  including  the  ex- 


pense of  the  survey  and  partition,  about  two  dollars 
and  sixty  cents  per  acre.  Judge  Southgate  was  a 
man  of  superior  ability  and  high  character,  and  his 
influence  was  always  on  the  side  of  good  order,  edu- 
cation, and  morality.  He  was  the  first  magistrate  in 
the  township,  and  was  seven  years  Associate  Judge  of 
Common  Pleas  for  Huron  County.  He  died  in  Bron- 
son May  9,  1838,  aged  sixty-four,  and  his  wife,  Anna 
Keith,  died  May  2,  1846,  aged  sixty-six.  Stewart 
Southgate,  the  father  of  Judge  Southgate,  died  in 
this  township  in  the  year  1820. 

Nathan  Keith,  about  a  year  after  his  arrival,  was 
injured  while  at  work  in  Carkhuff's  saw-mill  in  Green- 
field, which  resulted  in  his  death  shortly  afterwards. 

Caleb  Keith,  who  came  out  with  Judge  Southgate 
in  1815,  as  elsewhere  mentioned,  moved  his  family 
out  the  next  year  from  New  Hampshire,  and  settled 
in  New  Haven,  and  resided  there  a  few  years  and 
then  moved  to  Bronson  and  built  a  house  on  the  hill, 
a  short  distance  east  of  the  present  residence  of  R.  S. 
Danforth.  He  did  not  purchase,  but  soon  after  re- 
moved to  Florence  township,  Erie  county,  and  there 
purchased  a  farm  and  settled.  Carlos  Keith  man-ied, 
April  22,  1824,  Elvira  Pond,  daughter  of  Munson 
Pond,  who  moved  into  Peru  from  Knox  county  the 
year  previous.  Keith  settled  on  lot  number  thirty- 
four,  in  th^  fourth  section,  but  afterward  traded  his 
farm  for  one-fourth  interest  iu  the  mills  of  Southgate 
and  Pond,  a  short  distance  south  of  Macksville,  in 
Peru.  He  then  took  up  his  residence  where  Henry 
Williams  now  lives. 

Major  Eben  Guthrie,  from  (Tenoa,  Cayuga  county. 
New  York,  came  into  the  township  in  the  summer  of 
1817.  He  purchased  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  Judge 
Southgate,  eleven  hundred  on  the  south  part  and  four 
hundred  on  the  north  part  of  section  four.  He  built 
his  house  where  that  of  Abijali  Nichols  now  stands 
(lot  forty-two),  and  the  next  year  his  family  came  on. 
Major  Guthrie  died  on  this  place  October  20,  1855, 
aged  eighty-five.  His  daugliter,  widow  of  Henry 
Terry,  who,  with  her  husband,  were  long  residents  of 
Bronson,  now  lives  in  Norwalk  with  her  son. 

Prince  Haskell  came  into  the  county  in  1817.  His 
family  came  in  1819.  They  lived  for  a  few  years  in 
New  Haven  township,  and  then  moved  to  Bronson, 
locating  where  Mr.  Nye  now  lives,  near  the  west 
township  line  iu  the  fdurth  section.  They  afterwards 
moved  on  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Thomas,  in 
the  first  section,  and  subsequently  built  a  mill  on  High 
Bridge  creek.  Mr.  Haskell  was  a  valuable  accession 
to  the  infant  settlement,  being  skillful  in  making  the 
various  implements  and  tools  so  necessary  to  the  set- 
tlers and  so  hard  to  get  in  the  early  days — such  as 
plows,  harrows,  sleds,  scythes,  etc.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  .January,  1849.  His  father.  Prince  Haskell, 
Sr.,  died  in  Peru  in  the  spring  of  1841,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two.  He  was  in  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States  during  a  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  ^Vas  afterwards  taken  a  prisoner  by  the  Indians 
while  at  work  on  his  farm  in  Massachusetts.     He  was 


230 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


taken  to  Canada  and  given  up  to  tlie  British,  by  whom 
he  wastlirown  into  prison  and  confined  about  a  year, 
when  he  was  released.  He  sulTered  many  cruelties 
during  his  captivity. 

Jabez  Deming,  originally  of  Sandersfield,  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  moved  to  Bronson,  with  his 
family,  from  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  spring 
of  1817,  and  settled  on  lot  number  twelve,  in  the 
third  section.  He  had  previously  been  in  the  town- 
ship, and  with  Martin  Kellogg  and  Jasper  Under- 
hill,  assisted  Almon  Ruggles  in  surveying  the  third 
section.  Jasper  Underbill,  and  his  brother  David, 
subsequently  began  on  lot  thirteen.  Jabez  Deming 
moved  to  Xorwalk  in  lST-2,  where  he  died  the  follow- 
ing fall.  Several  cliildren  are  living,  but  none  in 
Bronson. 

Amos  Deming,  brother  of  Jabez,  came  to  Bronson 
from  Livingston  county,  New  York,  in  March,  1818, 
performing  the  Journey  on  foot.  He  was  then  eigh- 
teen years  of  age.  He  purchased  fifty  acres  of  his 
brother,  for  whom  he  worked  for  a  few  years.  June 
10,  1821,  he  married  Fanny  Wetherell,  of  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  and  moved  on  to  his  farm  in 
Bronson.  In  1850  he  moved  to  the  center  of  town, 
where  he  now  resides.  His  wife  died  in  1850,  and  he 
subsequently  married  the  widow  of  James  Ford. 

Among  the  early  pioneers  of  Bronson  was  Ezra 
Herrick.  He  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  April 
25,  1770,  and  married,  August  22,  1790,  Catharine 
Lott,  who  was  born  February  19,  1763.  He  removed 
to  Bronson  in  January,  1819,  and  settled  on  lot  ten, 
of  the  thii-d  section,  erecting  his  cabin  a  short  distance 
south  of  the  present  residence  of  A.  E.  Lawrence. 
Here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died 
December  24,  1853.  Mrs.  Herrick  died  July  12, 1842. 
The  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  seven  boys  and 
two  girls,  as  follows  :  Joel,  Orpha,  Ezra,  Lott,  Ann, 
Ephraim,  Abel,  Gideon  and  Isaac.  Lott  came  to 
Bronson  in  1818,  and  married,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  Lola  Sutliff,  which  was  the  first  wedding  in  the 
township.  Mrs.  Beckwith,  living  in  Cincinnati,  aged 
eighty-three,  and  Ephraim  Hen-ick,  in  his  eighty- 
third  year,  are  the  only  surviving  members  of  the 
family.  Mr.  Herrick  resides  in  Bronson,  on  the  same 
lot  on  which  he  settled  with  his  parents  so  many  years 
ago,  making  his  home  with  his  soii-in-law,  A.  E. 
Lawrence.  His  wife  (formerly  Electa  Webb)  died 
April  28,  1876,  aged  seventy-five  years.  Mr.  Herrick 
says  the  wolves,  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship, were  numerous,  and  extremely  troublesome, 
often  killing  the  sheep  of  the  settlers  under  the  very 
walls  of  their  cabins.  They  killed  for  his  father  one 
night,  in  a  pen  within  four  rods  of  the  house,  two 
of  his  little  flock,  and  left  another  with  its  hinder 
parts  denuded  of  flesh.  He  (Ephraim)  determined  on 
having  some  sort  of  satisfaction  for  the  outrage,  built 
a  rail  pen  the  next  evening,  about  twenty  rods  from 
the  house,  in  wliich  he  tied  a  live  siieep  as  a  decoy, 
and  in  the  door  set  a  large  bear-trap.  The  fallow- 
ing morning  he  found  in   the  trap,  not  a  wolf,  but 


the  sheep,  with  a  leg  broken.  This  was  not  the  kind 
of  satisfaction  the  young  man  was  after.  He  car- 
ried home  his  sheep,  cut  off  the  broken  limb,  and 
substituted  a  wooden  one.  The  next  night  he  took 
another  sheep  for  a  stool-pigeon,  and  set  the  trap 
outside  of  the  pen,  in  the  path  the  wolves  had  made 
in  their  tramp  around  the  inclosure  the  previous 
night.  The  next  morning  he  found  the  trap  gone, 
and  with  his  rifle  he  followed  its  track  about  a  mile 
eastward,  when  he  came  upon  a  large  gray  wolf 
among  some  bushes,  with  the  trap,  attached  to  his 
leg.  He  shot  him,  took  off  his  iiide,  which  he  carried 
to  the  county  clerk,  and  i-eceived  his  bounty  of  three 
dollars.  Mr.  H.  afterwards,  with  a  trap,  captured  a 
young  wolf,  which  he  carried  home  alive. 

Jonas  Leonard  came  in  with  Major  Guthrie  and 
subsequently  married  his  daughter  and  settled  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  township,  where  his  widow 
(second  wife)  now  lives.  His  first  wife,  Abigail,  died 
in  1837,  aged  twenty-nine.  Mr.  Leonard  was  a  man 
of  intelligence  and  a  most  worthy  citizen.  He  taught 
the  first  school  in  the  township  of  Peru.  He  died  in 
March,  1873. 

Henry  Terry  settled  on  lot  thirty-seven,  in  the 
fourth  section,  in  1819.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
ilajor  Guthrie.  He  died  October  2,  1843,  aged  forty- 
seven,  and  his  widow  quite  recently  in  Norwalk,  at  an 
advanced  age. 

Edward  L.  Cole  moved  into  Bronson  from  Scipio, 
Cayuga  county.  New  York,  in  1821.  He  had  visited 
the  township  previously  and  worked  for  awhile  for 
Major  Guthrie.  He  settled  in  the  fourth  section, 
where  his  son  Joseph  now  lives.  He  died  June  15, 
1859,  aged  sixty.  Mrs.  Cole  still  occupies  the  place, 
making  her  home  with  her  son.  Slie  is  now  seventy- 
six,  and  is  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence 
and  strength  of  character. 

Lemon  Cole  came  out  with  liis  brother  Edward 
when  the  latter  first  came.  He  returned  to  New 
York,  and  subsequently  married  and  moved  to  Bron- 
son about  the  year  1824,  settling  on  lot  number  thir- 
ty-three. He  died  on  this  place  in  1861,  and  there 
are  none  of  the  family  now  in  the  township. 

Daniel  Brightman,  formerly  from  Massachusetts, 
came  to  Ohio  in  February,  1823,  and  located  on  lot 
number  five,  section  three,  where  the  widow  of  the 
son  Alvan  now  lives.  He  died  on  this  place  in  1851, 
aged  seventy-seven.  Mrs.  Brightman  died  many  years 
previous.  There  were  eight  children,  of  whom  there 
were  two  pairs  of  twins.  Mrs.  Jonas  Parks  (widow) 
now  living.in  Norwalk.  is  the  only  surviving  member 
of  the  family. 

Aro  Danforth  came  from  Vermont  to  Bronson  on 
foot,  in  his  twenty-first  year,  arriving  in  December, 
1824.  He  had  learned  the  carpenter  and  joiner  trade 
ii.  Barnard,  Vermont,  and  followed  it  here  until  1861 
or  '6'-i.  He  has  built,  and  aided  in  building,  about 
one  hundred  framed  houses  in  this  region,  mostly  iu 
Bronson  and  Peru.  He  married,  in  1828.  Miss  Lucy 
Taft,  wlio  came  to  Bronson  with  the  family  of  Judge 


THOMAS  LAWKENCE. 


Thomas  Lawrence,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  Lawrence,  was 
born  in  South  Salem  (now  Lcwisboro'),  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  May  8,  1794.  His  father  was  born  in  Fairfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  Jan.  25,  1760.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
commenced  service  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  was  in  many  engagements  at  the  closing  of  that  strug- 
gle. His  father,  Capt.  Samuel  Lawrence,  settled  at  South 
Salem,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  some  time  previous  to  the 
struggle  for  liberty,  and  served  through  many  engagements 
a.s  a  commissioned  officer.  The  Lawrence  family  are  of 
English  descent,  and,  so  far  as  known,  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  Capt.  Lawrence  being  an  official 
member  of  that  body. 

Our  subject  removed  from  South  Salem,  N.  Y.,  to  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  1833  ;  commenced  keeping  house  in  a  rude 
log  cabin,  without  any  floor  in  it,  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
west  of  the  village  of  Olena.  He  soon  after  purchased 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son,  George  B.,  located  one- 
half  mile  west  of  Olena,  on  which  he  ever  after  lived.  He 
was  thrice  married :  first,  to  Clemence  Reynolds,  Nov.  27, 
1823,  who  died  Nov.  14,  1830  ;  second,  to  Ada  Bishop, 
May  24,  1831,  who  died  March  25,  1843,  leaving  no 
family;  third,  to  Drusilla  Stone,  May  9,  1844.  By  the 
first  union  was  born  three  children,  viz. :  John,  born  Oct. 
17,  1824,  died  Dec.  25,  1860;  Lucinda,  born  June  16, 
1826,  died  March  16,  1843;  Alonzo,  born  Sept.  9,  1830, 
and  married,  Jan.  1,  1856,  to  Lois  Morse.  The  result  of 
this  union  was  four  children,  viz.,  Thoma.s,  Daniel,  Edwin, 
and  Mary.  George  B.,  son  of  Thomas  Lawrence  and  Dru- 
silla Stone,  was  born  June  7,  1846,  and  married,  Feb.  8, 
1869,  to  Emma  J.  Green;  to  them  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  Clara  and  Martin. 

Thomas  Lawrence  was  a  millwright  and  carpenter  pre- 
vious to  his  removal  to  Ohio,  but,  having  taught  school  in 
his  early  manhood,  was  noted  as  an  extensive  reader  and 
cogent  thinker.      For  forty-six  years   he  was   a   helpful 


member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  greatly  es- 
teemed for  his  benevolence  to  the  needy,  and  his  integrity 
in  the  business  relations  of  life. 

It  is  related  of  him  that  his  conscientious  regard  for 
the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath  once  lost  him  the  purchase  of 
a  farm  at  a  good  bargain,  because  he  declined  to  converse 
on  the  subject  on  the  holy  day.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
Bronson,  Huron  Co.,  Feb.  22,  1877,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  His  wife  survives  him,  and  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  with  her  son,  George  B. 


One  night,  as  I  lay  sleeping  and  slumbering  on  my  bed, 
A  vision  then  appeared, — a  dream  came  in  my  head  : 
The  awful  day  of  judgment  I  thought  had  surely  come, 
The  Judge  himself  was  there,  to  summon  old  and  young. 

I  heard  myself  called  forth  by  the  trumpet  loud  and  shrill : 
"Arise,  yo  sons  of  men,  lot  your  deeds  be  good  or  ill !" 
I  trembled  as  I  listened,  with  sorrow,  grief,  and  woo ; 
But  could  not  bo  exempted;  to  judgment  I  must  go. 

I  had  not  long  been  there  until  Satan  came  ;  I  thought 
He  came  as  my  accuser,  and  all  my  sins  be  brought ; 
He  laid  them  before  the  Judge,  and  claimed  me  for  his  own, 
I  felt  my  crimes  were  great,  and  exclaimed,  "  I  am  undone  !" 

The  Judge  then  sweetly  said,  "I'll  quickly  end  the  strife: 
I'll  see  if  the  sinner's  name  stands  in  the  Book  of  Life." 
Then  the  Book  of  Life  was  brought,  the  Judge  did  it  unfold, 
And  the  sinner's  name  was  there  in  letters  wrote  in  gold. 

The  Judge  then  gravely  said,  "  0  Satan !  Satan  !  stay  ! 
The  sinner's  name  is  here,  his  sins  are  washed  away." 
Then  Satan,  trembling,  roaring,  and  in  a  dreadful  fright, 
He  said  unto  the  Judge,  "  Those  inditings  are  not  right." 

The  Judge  then  sternly  said,  "  0  Satan,  do  not  lie : 
Thou  knowest  very  well  that  for  sinners  I  did  die. 
I  died  for  my  chosen  ;  their  sins  were  laid  on  me  ; 
In  vain  dost  thou  accuse  them,  they  are  secure  from  thee." 


Compoted  by  Thomas  LatorencCf  about  1832. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


231 


Southgate  in  1816.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Danforth  first  set- 
tled on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Albert  Crane,  in  the 
southwest  part  of  the  township,  but  si.K  or  seven  years 
afterward  sold  and  moved  to  Peru  township,  taking 
up  their  residence  half  a  mile  south  of  Macksville, 
where  he  resided  until  the  spring  of  18T6.  Since  then 
they  have  lived  with  their  son,  Robert  S.  Danforth, 
in  Bronsou.  They  are  aged  respectively  seventy-five 
and  seventy-two. 

Frederick  Sears  and  William  Gregory,  and  their 
families,  came  from  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  in 
1837.  Sears  settled  on  lot  thirty-one,  in  the  fourth 
section.  He  was  subsequently  elected  Judge  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  removed  to  Norwalk.  Gregory  settled 
on  the  lot  adjoining  Sears,  on  the  south,  and  lived 
there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  son,  Munson 
Gregory,  resides  in  Bronson.  His  widow  lives  with  a 
daughter,  in  Norwalk. 

Martin  Hester,  with  his  parents,  settled  in  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1807.  He  married, 
November  30.  1809,  Mary  51.  Stough,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812  settled  in  Orange  township,  now 
Ashland  county.  He  removed  to  Bionson  in  the  year 
1S27,  and  settled  near  the  west  line  of  the  township, 
where  his  son,  Martin  M.  Hester,  now  resides.  He 
died  in  that  place  January  31,  1870,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
nearly  eighty-three,  surviving  his  wife  about  seven 
years.  They  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living,  as  follows:  John  S.,  in  the  township 
of  Norwich;  Eliza  W.  (Mrs.  Savage)  in  Berea;  Sam- 
uel, in  Anderson,  Indiana;  Matthias  and  Martin  M. 
in  Bronson.  The  latter  is  the  best  authority  on  the 
early  history  of  Methodism  in  this  region,  and  has 
written  some  interesting  sketches  on  that  subject  for 
The  Xonvalk  Reflector. 

■  George  Lawrence  and  family  moved  in  from  Genoa, 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  in  September,  1831,  and 
settled  on  lot  number  nineteen,  section  four,  where 
he  and  his  aged  Avife  now  reside.  Mr.  Lawrence  has 
been  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Peru 
for  about  forty-five  years.  His  brother  Timothy  Law- 
rence came  from  the  same  place  and  settled  on  the  lot 
adjoining  in  the  south  in  1833.  He  subsequently 
moved  to  the  township  of  Norwalk  and  resided  there 
for  a  time,  but  finally  came  back  to  Bronson  and  now 
occupies  his  original  purchase. 

William  G.  Mead,  his  wife  and  one  child,  his  wid- 
owed mother  and  two  sisters  from  the  same  place,  ar- 
rived in  the  same  year.  Mr.  Mead  settled  where  he 
now  resides  on  lot  seventeen  in  the  fourth  section. 
His  mother  (Mrs.  Worthington)  is  yet  living,  and  has 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 

The  first  settlers  on  the  old  State  road  in  this  town- 
ship were  David  Cole,  Abijah  Rundell  and  Nathan 
Tanner.  They  came  to  Ohio  from  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  with  their  families,  in  the  spring  of  1815, 
and  remained  in  the  township  of  Avery  (now  Milan) 
until  1817,  when  they  moved  into  Bronson.  Cole 
made  his  location  on  lot  sixteen  in  section  three.  He 
resided  here  some  eight   or  nine  years,  and  then,  his 


wife  having  previously  died,  he  returned  to  New 
York  and  joined  the  Shakers,  and  his  children  be- 
came scattered.  His  oldest  son  Hylas  was  killed  in 
1825,  by  the  fall  of  a  tree.  He  was  in  the  woods  cut- 
ing  down  a  tree,  from  which,  in  falling,  a  large  limb 
was  broken  off,  striking  him  on  the  head,  and  causing 
instant  death. 

Mr.  Rundell  settled  on  the  north  half  of  the  lot 
seventeen,  next  south  of  Cole.  He  was  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  and  was  born  June  19, 
1776.  He  married  Betsey  Parker,  of  Cayuga  county. 
New  York,  from  whence  he  removed  to  Ohio  as 
previously  stated.     He  died  June  19,  1842. 

Of  their  family  of  seven  children  but  two  remain, 
viz.:  Mrs.  J.  D.  Knapp  and  Rial  Rundell,  both  in 
Bronson;  the  latter  living  on  the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Tanner  located  on  the  south  half  of  lot  seven- 
teen. He  removed  from  the  township  a  number  of 
years  after. 

The  next  settler,  south  on  this  road,  was  Daniel  W. 
Warren.  He  was  a  native  of.  New  Jersey,  but  re- 
moved to  the  Fire-lands  from  New  York  in  1814.  He 
lived  for  a  while  on  the  farm  of  Ebcnezer  Merry, 
Esq.,  in  Milan  township,  and  in  1818,  moved  into  this 
township,  settling  on  lot  number  eighteen,  section 
number  three.  There  are  three  children,  as  follows: 
Elisha  in  Hartland;  Adaline  (Mrs.  C.  C.  Cadwell), 
and  Charles  L.  in  Bronson.  The  latter  occupies  the 
place  on  which  the  family  first  settled. 

David  Conger,  from  Cayuga  county.  New  York, 
came  to  Bronson  in  June,  1819.  He  came  on  foot  to 
Buffalo,  thence  to  Sandusky  on  the  first  or  second 
trip  of  the  first  steamboat  on  Lake  Erie  the  Walk-in- 
the- Water.  His  family  followed  in  the  fall,  coming 
with  a  brother  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  to  Ohio 
with  a  Mr.  DeWitt  and  family.  Mr.  Conger  settled 
on  the  south  part  of  lot  number  eighteen,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  now  in  his  e-iglity-ninth  year, 
and  is  somewhat  feeble  both  in  body  and  mind.  Mr. 
Conger  is  a  good  and  worthy  man,  respected  by  all 
who  know  him.  His  wife,  who  was  formerly  Sally 
Parker,  died  March  2,  1875,  aged  nearly  eighty.  Mr. 
Conger  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  British  at  the  battle  of  Queenstown. 

The  next  settler  on  this  road  was  Bethuel  Cole, 
brother  of  David  Cole,  previously  mentioned.  He 
moved  in  with  his  family  from  Ontario  county,  New 
York,  in  October,  1823,  and  settled  on  lot  number 
nineteen.  Mr.  Cole  built  a  snug,  hewed  log  house, 
where  the  dwelling  of  his  son-in-law,  T.  J.  McCague, 
now  stands.  There  was  merely  a  blind  path  south  of 
them  where  the  State  road  now  is.  The  loneliness 
and  privations  of  the  settlers  were  promotive  of  sym- 
pathy and  neighborliness,  and  the  people  iu  those 
days,  living  five  miles  or  more  apart,  exhibited  a  more 
truly  friendly  concern  for  one  another  than  do  many 
who  dwell  on  the  same  lot  nowadays.'  Mrs.  Cole  in- 
forms the  writer  that  they  were  frequently  visited  by 
settlers  in  Fitchville,  and  they  were  always  as  glad  to 
see  them  as  if  they  had  been  long  absent  relatives. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


They  would,  of  course,  stay  over  night,  as  such  a 
journey  and  such  visits  as  were  made  in  those  days 
could  not  be  finished  in  a  single  day;  Mr.  Cole  died 
on  his  original  location  in  1873,  in  the  seventy-eighth 
year  of  his  age.  Mrs.  Cole,  now  an  octogenarian, 
still  occupies  the  old  homestead,  making  her  home 
with  her  son-in-law,  T.  .J.  McCague. 

In  June,  1820,  Caleb  Heath  and  family,  and  his 
•wife's  father,  Andrus  Porter,  and  family,  joined  the 
settlement  in  this  part  of  the  township.  Heath  set- 
tled on  lot  twenty,  while  Mr.  Porter  bought  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  David  Cole,  on  which  he  located.  He 
died  on  this  farm  in  1857,  and  his  wife  afterward, 
both  aged  eighty-eight.  Heath,  many  years  ago, 
removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  and  his  wife  both 
subsequently  died. 

Attrusha  Cole,  brother  of  David  and  Bethuel, 
arrived  in  February,  1829,  and  settled  on  lot  number 
twenty-two,  section  number  three,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  came  out  first  in  1818.  He  is  now 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  Janu- 
ary, 1876. 

The  first  settlement  in  section  two  was  made  by 
David  Clark  in  1816.  He  emigrated  to  Ohio  from 
Middletown.  Connecticut,  and  took  up  some  four 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  above  section,  building 
his  cabin  on  lot  number  one.  He  died  in  Bronson, 
about  the  year  1830,  quite  advanced  in  life.  His  wife 
died  afterwards.  There  were  five  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter, who'became  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  Laylin,  of 
Norwalk.  One  of  the  sons  now  lives  in  Iowa,  and  is 
the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family. 

Jocl^Blish  and  family,  of  wife  and  three  children, 
came  to  Ohio  from  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  the  fall 
of  1832.  He  remained  in  Berlin  township  until 
May,  1824,  and  then  removed  to  this  township,  loca- 
ting at  first  on  the  State  road,  opposite  where  David 
Cole  then  lived.  Two  or  three  years  afterward  he 
ehanged'his  location  to  lot  number  twenty-six,  in  the 
same  section  (second),  purchasing  his  land  of  the 
heirs  of  David  Clark,  and  resided  there  until  1854, 
when  heimoved  to  the  village  of  Norwalk,  where  he 
has  since  lived.  He  has  arrived  at  the  advanced  age 
of  nearly  eighty-eight. 

In  the  same  vicinity  a  man  by  the  name  of  Harmon 
Roscoe  had  settled  a  short  time  previous  to  the  ar- 
rival of  Mr.  Blish.  He  remained  several  years  and 
then  removed  to  Clarksfield. 

Jolin^'Lyon  and  family,  from  Tompkins  county. 
New  York,  settled  a  short  distance  north  of  the  cen- 
ter, on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  in  the  year  1828. 
After  a  residence  tliere  of  some  twenty  years  he 
moved  back  to  New  York,  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  subsequently  died. 

Tlie  "first  settlement  in  tlie  first  section  of  this 
township  was  made  in  1823,  by  Jouiithan  Hull. 
He  died  in  1828. 

Alva  Munsell  came  in  and  settled  in  lS2i  or  "28. 
Seven  or'eiglit  years  afterward  he  moved  out  of  the 
township. 


Samuel  Hull,  brother  of  Jonathan,  located  just 
east  of  Munsell  in  the  spring  of  1830.  Many  years 
afterward  he  moved  to  Seneca  county. 

Jacob  Hicks  settled  on  lot  number  twenty-seven  in 
1828,  and  a  year  or  two  afterward  built  a  saw  mill  on 
High  Bridge  creek.  His  little  three-year-old  daughter 
was  drowned  in  this  creek  in  the  spring  of  1833. 
While  the  people  in  the  neighborhood  were  at  a  meet- 
ing in  the  school  house,  one  Sunday  morning,  a  mes- 
senger arrived  with  the  startling  announcement  that 
"  Little  Martha  Hicks  is  missing."  The  congregation 
went  immediately  over  to  the  house  and  began  a  search 
for  the  missing  child.  Her  foot  prints  were  traced  to 
the  edge  of  the  stream,  and  shortly  afterward,  about  a 
mile  below,  her  dead  body  was  found  floating  among 
?ome  drift  wood .  It  is  supposed  she  started  to  go  to 
the  mill,  where  her  father  and  brothers  were  at  work, 
the  stream  being  so  high  from  recent  rains  us  to  en- 
danger the  property. 

Mr.  Hicks  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  influence, 
and  served  some  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
moved  into  Peru  township  in  1838. 

Daniel  S.  Morse,  formerly  from  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  came  to  Bronson  from  Monroe  county, 
near  Rochester,  New  York,  in  September,  1830.  He 
settled  a  short  distance  north  of  Esquire  Hicks,  on 
lot  number  twenty-nine,  in  the  first  section,  where 
Mr.Vroman  now  lives.  Six  years  aftei'ward  he  moved 
on  to  the  State  road,  just  north  of  the  creek,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Morse  has  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  two  terms,  and  was  township 
clerk  a  number  of  years.  He  is  now  seventy-three 
years  of  age,  and  his  health  is  somewhat  impaired. 

Frederick  Hicks  and  Ira  Hull  came  in  from  the 
State  of  New  York  in  the  year  1828.  They  settled 
to  the  north  of  Mr.  Morse.  Hicks,  about  the  year- 
1849,  moved  to  Michigan.  Hull  afterwards  moved 
on  to  the  State  road,  but  finally  rumoved  tu  some 
western  State. 

Orrin  Hicks  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1830;  subse- 
quently married  Sallie  Gregory,  and  settled  on  the  lot 
adjoining  Mr.  Morse  on  the  north.  He  moved  to 
Norwich  in  a  few  years,  and  finally  to  Iowa. 

Abner  Sylvester  and  family  moved  in  from  Court- 
land  county.  New  York,  in  September,  1831,  and 
settled  on  lot  number  thirty-five  in  the  first  section. 
The  place  is  now  owned  by  N.  S.  Hakes.  The  set- 
tlers were  so  few  in  that  part  of  the  township  that  it 
required  two  days  to  raise  their  house.  Mr.  Sylvester 
was  a  pioneer  Bai)tist  preacher.  He  rode  all  through 
this  region  of  country,  preaching  in  Bronson,  Fair- 
field, Peru,  Huron  county,  Berlin,  Eric  county,  and 
in  Lorain  county,  traveling  much  of  the  way  tiudugli 
unbroken  forest,  with  nothing  to  guide  him  but  lihizcd 
trees.  In  1846  they  moved  to  Oleua,  and  four  years 
afterwards  returned  to  Ncav  York,  where  they  resided 
until  1866,  when  he  removed  to  Kalamazoo  count}', 
Michigan,  where  lie  and  his  wife  now  live,  aged  re- 
spectively seventy-nine  and  seventy-three.  Mr.  Syl- 
vester preached  for  the  Baptist  Clnircii  in   Bronson 


ALVIN   BEIGHTMAN. 


Alvin  Brightman,  son  of  Daniel  Briglitman  and 
Elizabeth  Bronnell,  was  born  Jan.  11,  1818,  in  the 
town  of  Scipio,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Bronson,  Huron  Co.,  in  the 
month  of  February,  1822.  He  was  the  youngest  of 
a  family  of  eight  children, — a  twin,  his  brother  Al- 
fred, surviving  him  a  little  more  than  two  years. 
Was  united  in  marriage,  Dec.  8,  1842,  to  Pamelia 
C.  Douglass ;  to  them  were  born  four  children,  three 
daughters  and  one  son,  all  of  whom  are  still  living 
except  the  eldest,  she  dying  at  the  age  of  seven 
years. 


At  the  age  of  eighteen  INIr.  Brightman  experi- 
enced religion,  subsequently  uniting  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  of  which  he  was  always  a  member 
and  a  liberal  supporter. 

He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  served  two 
terms  as  county  commissioner  ;  was  also  ])re.sident  of 
the  Huron  County  Agricultural  Society  three  years. 
He  always  lived  on  the  same  farm  purcliased  by  his 
father,  and  died  very  suddenly,  at  tlie  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years  and  eight  months.  He  was  a  kind  and 
affectionate  husband,  an  indulgent  father,  a  good 
neighbor,  and  a  man  much  respected. 


HISTORY  OP  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


233 


for  twenty  years,  and  is  highly  respected  by  all  wlio 
know  him.  Mrs.  Sylvester  is  :i  woman  of  much  force 
of  character  and  of  earnest  piety. 

J.  D.  Knapp,  from  Onondaga,  Onondaga  county. 
New  York,  came  to  Bronson  in  the  spring  of  1830. 
He  married,  October  22,  1832,  Diana,  daughter  of 
Abijah  Rundell,  and  settled  where  he  now  resides. 
They  have  raised  a  family  of  seven  children,  all  of 
wliom  are  living. 

Daniel  Sumerlin  was  an  early  settler  on  tlie  place 
now  occupied  by  Charles  Herrick.  The  family  came 
from  the  State  of  New  York.  They  finally  moved  to 
Seneca  county. 

Thomas  Lawrence  came  to  this  township  from 
Westchester  township.  New  York,  with  his  family, 
consisting  of  his  wife  and  three  children,  in  June, 
1833.  He  lived  for  a  few  months  on  lot  thirty-five, 
in  the  fourth  section,  after  which  he  purchased  a 
farm  half  a  mile  west  of  where  Olena  has  since  been 
built.  There  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  February  22,  1877,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  a  man 
of  the  best  type,  industrious,  persevering  and  public- 
spirited.  He  was,  moreover,  a  true  Christian,  and 
was,  from  the  date  of  its  organization,  a  most  effi- 
cient member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Olena. 

He  was  married  a  third  time,  and  his  widow,  with  a 
son,  G.  B.  Lawrence,  now  occupies  the  old  homestead. 

James  R.  Knight  was  one  of  several  sons  of  a  wid- 
owed mother,  who  came  to  Norwalk  in  1824.  The 
same  year  he  went  to  Bronson,  and  worked  there 
until  of  age.  He  moved  to  New  Haven  in  1837,  and 
to  Ripley,  where  he  now  resides,  in  1863.  His  first 
wife  was  Clarissa  Burcli;  his  second,  Louisa  Fuller. 
Several  of  his  children  died  young.  George  A.  and 
Clara  are  living  at  home.  Mr.  Knight  made  and 
ijold,  about  the  year  183.5,  the  first  spring  wagon  sold 
in  Norwalk. 

Daniel  Angell,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  removed 
from  the  State  of  New  York  to  Fairfield  township  in 
June,  1832,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Reuben  Carpenter  on  the  Norwalk  and  Fairfield  road, 
now  called  the  new  State  road.  He  resided  there 
some  eight  years,  when  he  removed  to  Bronson,  loca- 
ting at  Olena,  where  his  son  Ephraim  kept  tavern  a 
number  of  years,  as  mentioned  elsewhere.  Ephraim 
Angell  subsequently  exchanged  the  hotel  property  for 
the  farm  he  now  occupies,  and  his  parents  afterwards 
lived  with  him.  Daniel  Angell  died,  in  1854,  aged 
seventy-two,  and  Mrs.  Angell  in  1875,  in  her  eighty- 
ninth  year. 

In  July,  1830,  Ephraim  Angell  married  Eliza  J. 
Adams,  daughter  of  Peter  Adams,  of  Fairfield.  Mr. 
Adams  moved  to  that  township  froni  Cayuga  county. 
New  York,  in  1825,  and  began  on  a  place  a  mile  and 
a  ([uarter  north  of  the  village  of  North  Fairfield.  He 
afterwards  located  more  permanently  on  a  farm  of 
three  hundred  acres  southwest  of  the  same  village. 
He  died  there  September  10,  1851.  Mrs.  Adams 
died  in  August,  1850. 


James  Ford  and  family  came  from  Tompkins 
county.  New  York,  to  Bronson  in  the  fall  of  1833, 
and  settled  on  lot  thirty-five  in  the  first  section, 
opposite  where  Norman  S.  Hakes  now  lives.  The 
land  is  now  owned  by  Mathias  Hester.  Mr.  Ford 
died  in  this  township  in  1845,  and  Mrs.  Ford  after- 
wards married  Amos  Demiug,  with  whom  she  is  now 
living  at  the  center  of  Bronson. 

Alexander  McPherson,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five, 
emigrated  from  Londonderry,  Ireland,  to  the  United 
States  in  the  year  1830.  He  married.  May  2,  1833, 
Hannah  McKnight,  of  Seneca  county.  New  York, 
and  resided  in  that  State  until  the  year  1839,  when  he 
removed  to  the  Fire-lands,  settling  first  in  the  town- 
ship of  Ruggles,  but  removing  eighteen  months 
afterwards  to  Bronson.  He  located  in  this  township 
on  lot  number  seventeen,  in  the  first  section,  and  re- 
sided there  until  1866,  when  he  moved  to  the  place 
he  now  occupies^ot  number  nine  in  section  three. 
Mr.  McPherson  has  creditably  filled  various  offices 
of  public  trust.  He  was  a  Republican  Representa- 
tive from -this  county  to  the  State  Legislature  at  the 
session  of  1800-61;  has  also  been  coroner  of  the  county, 
and  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1843,  and 
again  in  1868.  He  is  now  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of 
his  age.  Mrs.  McPherson  died  June  4,  1876.  Wil- 
liam McPherson  (father  of  Alexander  McPherson) 
and  his  family  arrived  in  Bronson  in  1833,  and  settled 
on  lot  number  nineteen  in  the  first  section,  where 
they  afterwards  resided.  Mrs.  McPherson's  death 
occurred  in  1853  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  preceding 
her  husband  a  few  years,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four.  Of  the  six  children,  three  are  now  liv- 
ing and  in  this  township,  viz:  Alexander,  Elizabeth, 
and  William.  The  latter  occupies  the  old  homestead. 
Elizabeth  married  Andrew  McPherson,  a  cousin,  and 
resides  on  lot  number  ten  in  section  two. 

Benjamin  Haines  came  from  Massachusetts  with 
his  brother  George  and  family,  Bartlett  Davis  and 
wife,  and  Calvin  0.  Chaffee  and  family  in  the  spring 
of  1833.  He  settled  where  his  son-in-law,  Charles 
Herrick,  now  lives.  His  brother,  after  a  short  resi- 
dence in  Bronson,  settled  in  Ripley,  where  most  of 
the  family  died  of  a  malignant  disease  communicated 
to  the  family  by  a  young  man  fi-om  one  of  the 
Southern  States.  Benjamin  Haines  died  soon  after 
of  the  same  disease.  Mr.  Chaffee  and  Mr.  Davis  set- 
tled in  Hartland,  and  the  latter  and  the  widow  of  the 
former  are  still  living  there. 

In  November,  1837,  Isaac  E.  Town,  with  wife  and 
one  child,  moved  into  Bronson  from  Onondaga  county. 
New  York,  and  settled  where  he  now  resides — on  the 
Norwalk  and  Olena  road.  This  part  of  the  township 
was  then  very  new,  the  road  liad  only  been  cut  out, 
and  a  team  would  hardly  be  seen  to  pass  once  a  month. 
The  settlers  assisted  each  other  in  their  logging,  and 
Mrs.  Town  herself  has  burned  log-heaps  many  a  night 
until  twelve  o'clock.  On  the  land  which  they  pur- 
cliased  stood  a  poor  apology  of  a  house,  which  an 
uncle  of   Air.  Town  had  built   for  a  son.     The  door 


234 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  window  were  made  of  piuiclieous,  the  roof  was  of 
l^ark,  and  the  floor  consisted  of  a  single  board.  In 
this  the  family  took  up  their  abode,  and  began  pioneer 
life.  One  night,  shorti}'  afterward,  tiie  family  were 
awakened  by  a  noise  in  the  direction  of  their  grist — 
which  Mr.  T.  had  brought  home  fi'om  mill  the  day 
before — and  on  investigation  it  was  discovered  that  a 
hog  had  got  into  the  house  and  sadly  reduced  their 
stock  of  breadstuff. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Town  have  liad  an  old-fasliioned 
family  of  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living, 
and  all  but  two  settled  in  life,  but  widely  scattered. 

Mr.  Town  was  born  January  16,  1812,  and  Mrs. 
Town  February  3,  of  the  same  year. 

Joseph  Park  and  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and 
six  sons,  emigrated  from  the  county  of  Donegal,  near 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  to  Bronsou  in  the  year  1847. 
He  made  his  location  in  the  first  section,  on  lot  num- 
ber twenty-one,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  November  6,  1860,  aged 
fifty-eight.  Mrs.  Park  died  January  1,  1861,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-six.  Of  their  six  children,  five  are  j-et 
living,  as  follows  :  Joseph,  in  Bronsou.  on  the  road 
running  from  Olena  to  Norwalk ;  Robert,  on  the 
south  line  of  the  township  ;  James,  in  Hartland,  one 
mile  east  of  Olena  :  William  Henry,  (U.  S.  ganger,) 
in  Cincinnati,  and  Alexander  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Bronson,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  north  of  Olena. 
Matthew  died  January  20,  1874,  unmarried. 

The  first  German  settler  in  the  township  was  Peter 
Seifert,  who  came  from  Cayuga  county.  New  York, 
in  the  fall  of  1817.  He  settled  on  lot  number  five, 
in  the  third  section,  but  after  a  few  years  returned  to 
New  Y'ork,  where  he  died  in  1828.  He  was  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  during  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  There  was  no  general 
emigration  of  Germans,  or  other  foreigners,  to  Bron- 
son, however,  until  1828.  That  year  several  families 
moved  in,  the  first  of  which  were  those  of  Peter 
Bowers,  Joseph  Carobin,  and  Anthony  Phillips,  who 
emigrated  from  France.  Peter  Bowers  located  where 
his  son  Peter  now  lives.  He  died  tliere  in  the  year 
1844.  Tliere  is  now  a  considerable  German  popula- 
tion in  the  township,  mostly  in  the  northwest  part. 

In  the  returns  of  the  enumeration  of  the  white  male 
inhabitants,  over  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  in 
Huron  county  in  1827,  as  made  by  George  Sheffield, 
county  assessor,  the  following  persons  are  given  as 
such  inhabitants  of  Bronson: 

Jonathan  Hull  William  Taylor.  Albert  Southard 

Alvan  Munsell.  bamuel  Halstead.  Abijah  Rundle 

Nathan  Tanner.  Timothy  Taylor.  Jeremiah  Rundle. 

ApoUos  Fay.  James  Cole .  David  Conger 

Robert  Morton.  Briant  Johnson.  Andrew  Porter 

Ethan  Powers.  Simon  Ammerman.        Ira  Porter. 

LemouCole  Henry  Beam.  Daniel  W.  Wan-en. 

Frederiok  Sears.  Samuel  Parish.  Thomas  Warren. 

Peter  Seifret.  Jacob  Taylor  W'm.  W.  Beekwith. 

Ezra  Herrick.  Eben  Guthrie.  Daniel  L.  Clark. 

Nathan  SuUiff.  John  Collls  Jabez  Clark. 

Abel  Herrick.  Jonas  Leonard .  Armon  Roscoe . 

Thomas  Hatraman.  Edward  E.  Cole.  Henry  Terry. 

James  V .  Hagaman.      James  Corbett.  Halsey  Terry. 

John  Hagaman.  Joel  BUsh  Lemuel  Siiihert . 

John  B.  Hoskins  Tilly  Poyer  Martin  Kellogg. 


Jabez  Denning  Joshua  Poyer.  Phineas  Guthrie. 

Job  T.  Reynolds.  David  Cole.  Lot  Herrick. 

John  Buchanan.  Elijah  Slocum,  Prince  Haskell. 

James  Elsby.  William  Htiyck.  Robt.  S.  Southgate. 

Warren  Miner.  Lester  Clark  Eph  W.  Herrick. 

Perez  Miner.  Daniel  Sumerliu  Halsey  Clark 

Daniel  Brightman.  Caleb  Heath. 

FIR.ST    EVENTS. 

The  first  white  cliild  born  in  Bronson  was  Timothy 
T.  Newcomb,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Stata  Newcomb. 
He  was  born  July  6,  1816,  the  next  day  after  the 
burial  of  his  father,  who  was  killed  by  the  kick  of  a 
horse,  as  previously  mentioned.  He  married,  Sep- 
tember 9,  1840,  Friuda  Goodell,  of  Shalersville,  Ohio, 
and  moved  to  Hiram,  Ohio,  where  tiiey  have  since 
resided. 

The  first  couple  married  was  Lott  Herrick  and 
Lola  Sutlifif.  This  event  occurred  October  16,  1818, 
at  the  house  of  Nathan  SutlifE,  Robert  S.  Southgate, 
justice  of  the  peace,  performing  the  nuptial  ceremony. 
They  settled  on  the  nortli  line  of  the  township,  but 
some  years  afterward  removed  to  Indiana,  where  both 
subsequently  died. 

At  a  later  hour  of  the  same  day  Judge  Southgate 
united  in  marriage  John  Laylin,  of  Norwalk,  and 
Olive  Clark,  daughter  of  Daniel  Clark. 

The  first  death  waS  that  of  Benjamin  Newcomb, 
who  was  killed  by  the  kick  of  a  horse,  July  4,  1816, 
the  circumstances  of  which  have  already  been  given. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  in  Bronson  was  kept  by  Lola  Sut- 
lifE, in  the  log  barn  of  Martin  Kellogg,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1818.  Her  scholars  were  Maudane,  Lucy, 
Rebecca  and  Polly  Kellogg:  Lucy,  Jane,  Tina,  Elean- 
or and  John  Ammerman;  Peggy  and  John  Welch. 
The  teacher  received  seventy-five  cents  per  week,  her 
wages  being  paid  by  the  parents  in  proportion  to  tlip 
number  of  children  sent. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  (of  logs,  of  course) 
on  the  north  part  of  Nathan  Sutlifl's  farm,  a  short 
distance  west  of  the  present  frame,  in  the  fall  of  1819. 
Martin  Kellogg  taught  the  school  in  it  the  next  win- 
ter, and  was  the  first  male  teacher  in  the  township. 
The  house  was  unfinished  at  the  time  he  ojiened  his 
school,  and  he  and  Wm.  W.  Beckwith  put  it  in  con- 
dition for  occupancy.  He  had  about  twenty  scliolars 
and  recei>-ed  fifteen  dollars  per  mouth. 

The  earliest  religious  meetings  were  held  at  this 
school-house,  and  a  remarkable  revival  occurred  there 
in  the  winter  of  1823-24,  when  twenty-one  heads  of 
families  were  converted  and  afterwards  united  with 
the  church. 

The  first  school-house  erected  for  the  benefit  of  the 
State  road  settlement,  was  built  on  tiie  north  town 
line.  One  of  the  most  efficient  early  teachers  in  tiiis 
house  was  Esquire  John  Dounce,  who  lived  in  tlie 
southern  part  of  Norwalk  township.  He  taught  sev- 
eral terms  and  is  remembered  as  an  excellent  teacher. 

Tiie  first  school-house  Iniilt  for  the  accommodation 
of  tlie  settlers  in  tlie  first  section,   was  erected  on  tiic 


HISTOHY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


235 


farm  o!  Es(iiiire  Jiicob  Hicks  on  lot  twenty-seven,  just 
south  of  the  creek.  The  house  was  subsequently 
moved  south  to  the  corners,  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  Elder  Sylvester's  farm.  The  earliest  settlers  in 
the  fourtli  section  were  sent  to  ^lacksviUe  to  school. 


With  tlic  exception  of  the  Catholic  Church,  the 
churches  in  this  township  are  all  located  at  Olena. 

THE    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

was  organized  at  the  log  school  house,  which  then 
stood  on  the  farm  of  Esquire  Hicks,  by  Elder  Phil- 
lips, of  Berlin,  in  the  summer  of  1834.  There  were 
sixteen  persons  composing  the  orgaaization,  as  fol- 
lows: Abner  Sylvester  and  wife,  Frederick  Hicks  and 

wife,  Hinkley  and    wife,   Hiram    Newhall    and 

wife,  Nathan  Stewart  and  wife,  Jacob  Hicks  and 
wife,  William^Vroman,  Abel  Kichardson,  Mr.  Burras 
and  Mrs.  Barber.  Jacob  Hicks  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  church,  and  Frederiok  Hicks  deacon.  The  first 
and  only  pastor  for  nearly  twenty  years  was  Elder 
Sylvester.  The  school  house  was  used  as  a  place  of 
worship  until  the  erection  of  the  church  building  at 
Olena  in  the  year  1843.  The  church  was  built  by 
Hiram  Newhall,  and  cost  about  one  thousand  dollars. 
Since  Elder  Sylvester,  Mr.  Hull,  Mr.  Ames,  Mr. 
Gritchet,  Mr.  Gray  and  Mr.  Islip  have  officiated  as 
pastors.  The  latter  began  his  labors  in  the  spring  of 
1878,  and  continues  in  charge.  The  present  member- 
ship is  about  one  hundred.  The  officers  are  as  fol- 
lows: H.  M.  Hood  and  Mark  Ammerman,  deacons; 
Charles  Reed,  Charles  Blackman  and  George  Fuller, 
trustees;  Angus  McDonald,  clerk. 

H.  M.  Hood  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath 
school. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAX    CHURCH 

was  organized  at  the  house  of  Daniel  S.  Morse,  April 
33,  1835,  by  a  committee  of  the  Huron  Presbytery, 
consisting  of  Rev.  E.  Conger  and  Deacon  Joseph 
Pierce,  and  was  composed  of  fifteen  members.  On 
the  following  sixth  of  June  the  society  met  at  the 
school  house  at  the  center  of  town,  and  elected  Daniel 
S.  Morse,  John  Hagaman  and  Thomas  Lawrence, 
elders  for  one,  two  and  three  yeai-s  respectively. 

The  use  of  the  center  school  house  as  a  place  of 
worship  was  objectionable  to  a  few  of  the  inhabitants 
there,  not  members  of  the  church,  and  the  place  of 
meeting  was  soon  changed  to  Angel I's  Corners  (now 
Olena).  The  churcii  continued  with  usual  prosperity 
under  the  labor  of  Rev.  T.  Kennan  and  Rev.  J.'  Ed- 
wards until  the  spring  of  1840.  At  this  time,  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon,  the  subject  of 
the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  began  to  be  dis- 
cussed. The  church  was  unanimous  as  to  the  neces- 
sity of  a  building,  but  was  divided  as  to  the  proper 
place  of  location.  The  members  living  near  the 
center  desired  it  located  there,  while  those  in  the 
vicinity  of  Angell's  Corners  regarded  that  the  better 


location.  This  division  of  sentiment  resulted  in  a 
division  of  the  church,  the  center  portion,  under  the 
lead  of  the  pastor,  withdrawing  and  forming  a  Con- 
gregational society.  The  balance  of  the  church  ap- 
plied to  the  Presbytery  for  advice,  and  were  advised 
to  continue  their  meetings,  and  consider  themselves 
still  as  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Bronson,  and 
in  connection  with  the  Presbytery.  During  the  j'ear 
1841,  the  church  was  under  the  care  of  Rev.  E.  Scott. 
In  July,  1843,  Rev.  E.  P.  Sperry  commenced  preach- 
ing half  of  the  time,  and  continued  his  labors  three 
years  and  a  half. 

In  the  spring  of  1847,  Rev.  J.  M.  Haj^es  began  his 
labors  as  pastor,  preaching  half  of  the  time,  and  con- 
tinued with  success  for  three  years. 

December,  1850,  Rev.  Joel  Talcott  became  pastor 
and  remained  for  one  year. 

Rev.  E.  Conger  began  liis  labors  as  pastor  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1853,  preached  one-half  of  the  time,  and 
officiated  until  June,  1855.  In  August  of  the  same 
year,  the  Rev.  John  McCutcheon  began  his  pastorate 
and  continued  five  years.  Rev.  J.  D.  McCord  began 
his  labors  for  the  church  in  September,  1861,  and 
continued  until  March,  1865.  In  the  following  May, 
Rev.  Hubbard  Lawrence  commenced  his  pastoral  re- 
lation and  remained  until  the  spring  of  18G8.  From 
that  time  until  January  1,  1870,  the  church  was  with- 
out a  pastor,  during  which  Rev.  Marcus  Palmer,  a 
quondam  Indian  missionary,  supplied  the  pulpit.  At 
the  date  mentioned.  Rev.  T.  D.  Bartholomew  com- 
menced his  service  as  pastor  and  officiated  until  the 
close  of  the  \ear  1877.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A. 
Cone,  whose  term  of  service  has  not  expired. 

After  the  withdrawal  of  the  center  members  the 
remnant  of  the  church  built  a  small  frame  building, 
which  is  now  used  as  a  Sabbath  school  room. 

In  1861,  the  present  brick  church  edifice  was 
erected,  chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  Deacon  Thoma* 
Lawrence.  The  building  cost  something  over  twenty- 
three  hundred  dollars.  It  contains  a  fine  bell,  the 
cost  of  which  was  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  membership  of  the  churcli  is  now  something 
over  one  hundred. 

John  Ernsberger,  N.  H.  Spencer  and  James  Pai-k 
are  the  Deacons.  The  latter  is  the  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath  school. 

The  Congregational  church,  soon  after  their  seces- 
sion from  the  Presbyterian  church,  erected  a  house  of 
worship  a  mile  north  of  the  center,  the  land  of  which 
was  donated  by  Mr.  Bethuel  Cole.  The  church  con- 
tinueil  with  a  fair  degree  of  i)rosperity  until  the 
organization  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Nor- 
walk.  when  it  was  disbanded. 

THE    METHODIST    El'ISCOPAL    CHURCH 

at  Olena  was  formed  in  1853,  by  a  union  of  a  North 
-  Fitchville  class  and  a  Hartland  class  with  some  mem- 
bers fi-om  Bronson  and  Fairfield.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  the  original  members  so  far  as  we  have 
been  able  to  get  them:  M.  E.  Butler,  leader,  Mahala 


23<i 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Butler,  D.  M.  Pnitt,  local  preacher,  Mary  Pratt,  Es- 
ther Roberts,  Cornelia  Johnson,  Jude  ^'andusen,  Ann 
Eliza  Vandusen,  James  Buck,  Lettie  Buck,  Tiiomas 
Crawford,  Chloe  Crawford,  Hannah  Jlead,  Hannah 
Farrar,  James  M.  Ward,  Abbie  J.  Ward,  S.  L.  Mead, 
Mary  A.  Mead,  Almina  Mead,  Ambrose  Royce,  Bet- 
sey Roj-ce,  Rhoda  Buck,  Caroline  Royce,  John  Owens, 
Nancy  Owens,  Richard  Owens,  Ann  Eliza  Buck,  Lo- 
vina  Miller,  John  D.  Cheney,  Elizabeth  Cheney. 

The  meetings  were  first  held  in  the  Baptist  church, 
wliich  had  been  kindly  offered  to  them  by  that  society, 
and  subsequently  in  the  small  frame  building  of  the 
Presbyterians,  the  Methodists  using  the  house  in  the 
forenoons  and  the  Presbyterians  in  the  afternoon. 
The  pastors  that  officiated  for  the  church  were  the 
circuit  preachers  of  that  period.  Some  of  the  earliest 
are  the  following:  James  Mclntyre.  True  Pattee,  John 
Hazard,  Shadrach  Ruark,  Cyrus  Carpenter,  Jacob 
Ragan,  Ebenezer  Chase,  Adam  Minear.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  E.  J.  V.  Booth,  who  also  preaches  at 
other  points.  The  church  building  was  completed 
and  dedicated  in  March.  1860,  Rev.  William  B. 
Disliro,  preaching  the  sermon  on  the  occasion.  Rev. 
Ralph  Wilcox  was  the  pastor  at  that  time.  Rev.  Mr. 
Richards  and  E.  Y.  Warner  were  then  on  the  Fairfield 
circuit,  and  Edward  R.  Jewett  was  presiding  elder  of 
the  Sandusky  district.  The  building  cost  about  sev- 
enteen hundred  dollars.  The  church  membership  at 
the  present  time  is  eighty-five.  The  class-leaders  are 
Jared  Pond,  Anson  Newman,  William  Pond  and  Ed- 
ward Butler;  stewards,  Jared  Pond  and  Matthias 
Hester;  trustees,  Edward  Butler,  Jared  Pond,  David 
Holmes,  Leander  Mead  and  Anson  Newman;  local 
preacher.  Rev.  D.  M.  Pratt. 

THE    CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

located  on  the  west  township  line,  in  the  northwest 
part  of  the  township,  was  organized  in  the  year  1831, 
and  consisted  of  about  eight  families.  At  the  time  of 
organization  there  was  no  similar  church  nearer  than 
Canton.  The  first  building  was  a  frame,  erected  in 
the  year  1832,  and  stood  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
present  house.  The  stone  church  was  built  in  1851. 
The  stone  were  obtained  in  Bronson,  on  lot  number 
two,  in  the  first  section.  The  society  now  numbers 
about  eighty-five  families,  a  majority  of  whom  reside 
in  Peru  township.  The  church  is  at  present  under 
the  care  of  Rev.  M.  Dechant.  The  Catholics  erected 
a  large  brick  school  house  just  west  of  the  church 
during  the  past  year. 

TOWXSHIP  ORCJANIZATION. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  Huron  county, 
(Frederick  Falley, Ebenezer  Merry  and  Bildad  Adams,) 
held  on  the  18th  day  of  February,  1817,  on  petition 
of  David  Cibbs  and  others,  the  townships  of  Bronson 
and  Xorwalk,  numbers  three  and  four  in  the  twenty- 
second  range,  were  set  off  from  the  township  of  Hu- 
ron, to  be  organized  as  a  separate  township  by  the 
name  of  Norwalk.    The  election  for  tnwnsliiti  officers 


was  held  at  the  house  of  Hanson  Read,  in  Nt)rwalk 
township,  in  April,  1817,  Robert  S.  Southgate,  Sam- 
uel B.  Lewis  and  Abijah  Conistock  constituting  the 
board  of  election.  There  was  no  one  present  who 
could  lawfully  qualify  the  board,  and  Esquire  Little- 
field  was  brougjit  from  Ridgefield  for  that  purpose. 
The  squire's  duties  were  so  new  to  him  that  he  was 
unable  to  administer  the  oath,  and  had  to  repeat  it 
after  Abijah  Comstock,  a  former  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  a  member  of  the  election  board  on  this  occasion. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1832,  the  county  commis- 
sioners (Eli  S.  Barnum,  Robert  S.  Southgate  and 
Amos  Woodward,)  "ordered,  on  the  petition  of  Edward 
C.  Cole  and  others,  that  townshijjs  number  two  and 
three,  in  the  tw-enty-secoud  range  (the  first  Fairfield 
and  the  second  Bronson),  be  organized  with  township 
privileges,  and  that  the  same  be  known  by  the  name 
of  Bronson."  The  election  for  township  officers  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Ezra  Herrick,  April  1,  1822. 
Robert  S.  Southgate,  John  D.  Hoskins  and  Timothy 
Taylor  were  chosen  judges,  and  Martin  Kellogg  and 
Abel  Brownell  clerks  of  ele'ction.  Township  officers 
were  elected  as  follows:  Martin  Kellogg,  clerk;  Abijah 
Rundell,  Timothy  Taylor  and  Philip  Moffit,  trustees; 
Eben  Guthrie  and  Ezra  Herrick,  overseers  of  th^ 
poor;  Daniel  Warner  and  Thomas  Haganian,  fence 
viewers:  Abel  Brownell  and  Jonas  Leonard,  appraisers 
of  property;  Jonas  Leonard,  lister;  E.  W.  Herrick, 
constable;  Henry  Terry,  treasurer;  Edward  L.  Cole, 
Nathan  Sutliff,  Lester  Clark,  Abel  Brownell,  John 
Crawford,  Benjamin  F.  Taylor  and  Eliphalet  W.  Day, 
supervisors  of  highways.  The  number  of  votes  polled 
at  this  ejection  was  forty-four,  the  names  of  the  elec- 
tors being  as  fellows :  Halsey  Clark,  Eben  Guthrie,  Jr. , 
Martin  Kellogg,-  Ephraim  W.  Herrick,  John  Craw- 
ford, John  G.  Taylor,  Ezra  Heurick,  Edward  L.  Cole, 
Henry  Terry,  Abel  Brownell,  Carlos  Keith,  Job  T. 
Reynolds,  Alvan  Munsell,  Daniel  Warren,  Bryant 
Johnson,  Amos  Harkness,  John  Sample,  John  DeWitt, 
Eliphalet  W.  Day,  William  Baker,  Isaac  DeWitt, 
Thomas  C.  Wilson,  John  D.  Hoskins,  Robert  S. 
Southgate,  Henry  Sifert,  Philip  Moffit,  Abel  Herrick, 
David  Conger,  Thomas  Ervin,  Spencer  Baker,  Jabez 
Demiug,  Nathan  Sutlifi,  Wm.  W.  Beckwith,  Jonas 
Leonard,  Timothy  Taylor,  Lester  Clark,  Benjamin  F. 
Taylor,  Eben  Guthrie,  Nathan  Tanner,  Simon  Am- 
merman.  Perry  G.  Beckwith,  Abijah  Rundell,  Thomas 
Hagaman,  Ezra  Herrick,  Jr. 

In  the  spring  of  1823  Fairfield  was  detached  from 
Bronson,  and  organized  for  independent  action.  The 
following  township  officers  for  Bronson  were  elected 
in  April  of  the  current  year,  to  wit:  N.  H.  Spencer, 
clerk;  James  Stone.  Charles  L.  Warren  and  Thomas 
Beach,  trustees;  Norman  S.  Hakes,  treasurer:  J.  E. 
Buffington,  assessor;  Joiin  Buffington  and  Martin  M, 
Hester,  justices  of  the  peace. 

PO,ST   OFFICIi. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  at  tlie  center  of 
the  township  about  the  year  1820  or  "30.     John  Lyon 


f^.S.f^AKES. 


Mrs. N.S. Hakes, 


RESIDENCE  OF    N.S.  HAKES  .BRonson  Tp,  f<URON  Co.,0. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


was  the  first  postmaster,  who  served  a  number  of  years. 
Since  Mr.  Lyon,  Ezekiel  Morse,  J.  A.  Nichols,  Isaac 
Sanford,  Christian  Conger  and  Amos  Deming  have 
successively  officiated  as  postmasters.  The  office  was 
vacated  in  1861. 

The  office  at  Olena  was  originally  located  in  the 
northwest  part  of  Fitchville  township,  and  was  called 
North  Fitchville.  It  was  established  about  1833,  with 
a  Mr.  Morgan  as  postmaster.  The  office  was  moved 
to  its  present  location  in  18-41,  where  it  was  first  kept 
by  Andrew  Godfrey.  His  successors  have  been,  re- 
spectively, Joseph  L.  Smith,  C.  W.  Manahan,  William 
King,  Dr.  L.  Johnson,  Walter  Gallup,  B.  W.  Green, 
Dr.  G.  W.  Stetson,  Orlando  Gififord  and  N.  H. 
Spencer,  the  present  incumbent. 


No  grist  mills  have  ever  been  built  in  Bronson.  In 
the  early  settlement  of  the  township,  the  settlers 
obtained  their  grinding,  usually,  at  the  grist  mill  of 
David  Mack,  at  Macksville,  sometimes  at  Carkhuff's 
mill  in  Greenfield,  and,  occasionally,  even  at  Mans- 
field. 

There  have  been  a  number  of  saw  mills  erected  in 
the  township.  There  were  formerly  five  in  operation 
on  High  Bridge  creek  at  the  same  time.  The  names 
of  their  builders,  beginning  at  the  first,  near  Olena, 
and  going  down  stream,  were  Jacob  Hicks,  Picket 
Latimer,  Prince  Haskell,  Messrs.  Sears  and  Herrick, 
and  Martin  Kellogg.  Tliese  mills  did  an  extensive 
business. 

There  was  also  a  saw  mill  on  the  branch  of  the 
Huron,  farther  north,  but  the  name  of  the  builder  is 
not  known.  Major  Guthrie  also  built  one  on  the  east 
branch  of  the  Huron. 

There  is  now  but  one  mill  in  tlie  townshii) — the 
saw  mill  of  Addison  Heath,  at  the  center. 

The  only  cheese  factory  in  the  town  is  situated  on 
the  south  line,  and  was  established  in  the  spring  of 
1877,  by  Messrs.  Pratt  and  Tucker,  by  whom  it  is 
still  owned. 

OLENA    VILLAGE. 

In  the  southeast  part  of  the  township,  on  the  Hart- 
land  line,  is  the  village  of  Olena,  the  first  house  in 
which  was  built  by  Wm.  H.  Burras,  in  1832.  He  pur- 
chased sixteen  acres  of  land  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  cross-roads,  and  put  up  a  log  house  where  the 
dwelling  of  Dr.  D.  A.  Wood  now  stands.  He  mar- 
ried Ruth  Palmer,  daughter  of  Abijah  Palmer,  of 
Fitchville,  Septemlier  22,  1835,  and  moved  into  his 
log  cabin,  previous  to  which  he  had  occupied  with 
his  parents.  Mr.  Burras  located  at  the  corners  with 
the  intention  of  subsequently  opening  a  tavern;  but 
his  wife's  opposition  on  temperance  grounds,  induced 
him  to  give  up  the  project,,  and  after  a  residence  there 
of  some  three  or  four  years,  he  moved  just  across  the 


line  into  Hartland,  and  settled  on  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  on  lot  number  one  of  the  fourth  section 
of  that  township,  where  he  afterwards  resided.  He 
died  in  July,  1876,  aged  sixty-eight.  Mrs.  Burras 
subsequently  moved  to  Olena,  where  she  now  lives 
with  a  married  daughter.  They  had  six  children, 
only  three  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  Abijah,  on 
the  farm  in  Hartland,  where  his  parents  formerly  re- 
sided; Mrs.  Joseph  Lazell,  in  Fitchville,  on  the  old 
homestead  of  her  grandfather;  Abijah  Palmer  and 
Mrs.  David  Summerlin  in  Olena. 

Samuel  Burras,  an  older  brother  of  William,  came 
with  his  family  from  the  State  of  New  York  a  short 
time  afterward,  and  first  located  on  the  old  state  road, 
but  soon  after  bought  a  short  distance  southeast  of 
Olena,  and  erected  a  log  house,  where  his  widow  now 
lives,  whick  was  one  of  the  first  buildings  in  the 
place. 

Among  the  earliest  houses  built  at  Olena,  liesides 
those  mentioned,  were  those  of  Joel  Wooley,  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  cross-roads;  Hiram  Allen,  on 
the  northwest  corner,  and  John  Moore  a  short  dis- 
tance west  of  Allen. 

The  first  tavern  at  Olena  was  kept,  in  a  small  way, 
by  Benjamin  Drake,  in  a  log  house,  some  twenty  rods 
south  of  the  corners,  about  the  year  1835.  In  1840 
Daniel  Angell  bought  out  Drake,  and  his  son,  Ephraim 
Angell,  continued  the  tavern  about  two  years,  when 
he  bought  the  sixteen  acres  of  William  H.  Burras, 
and  erected  a  framed  hotel  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  cross-roads,  and  kept  a  tavern  there  for  ten  years. 
Andrew  Godfrey  built  a  frame  tavern  on  the  southwest 
corner,  which  is  still  standing,  in  1841,  or  about  that 
time,  and  kept  the  first  post  office  there.  The  tavern 
business  at  this  point,  in  the  olden  times  of  wagon 
trade,  was  something  immense.  Mr.  Angell  reports 
that  he  used  frequently  to  keep  over  a  single  night 
more  than  a  iTundred  teams  and  teamsters.  The  rate 
was  fifty  cents,  including  supper  and  breakfast  for  a 
man  and  four-horse  team. 

The  first  store  at  Olena  was  occupied  by  Noali  Close, 
but  at  what  date  we  are  unable  tt)  determine.  The 
business,  however,  was  not  extensively  carried  on  until 
about  1850,  when  C.  W.  Manahan,  now  of  Manahan, 
Taber  &Co.,  of  Norwalk,  and  Courtland  Cannon  es 
tablished  a  store  on  the  southeast  corner,  in  the  build- 
ing formerly  occupied  as  a  hotel  by  Mr.  Angell.  They 
continued  some  two  years,  and  until  the  death  of  Can- 
non, when  Lewis  Manahan  became  a  partner  of  his 
brother.  They  afterwards  erected  the  building  now 
occupied  as  a  general  store  by  Mr.  Knight,  and  con- 
tinued there  some  years.  The  village  was  formerly 
called  Angell's  Corners,  and  continued  to  be  so  called 
for  several  years,  when,  at  a  public  meeting  of 
the  citizens,  the  name  was  changed  to  Olena.  The 
village  now  contains  about  fifty  or  sixty  families,  with 
the  following  business  places,  to  wit:  one  general 
store,  one  grocery,  one  millinery  shop,  one  hotel,  two 
wagon  shops,  two  blacksmith  shops,  two  slioe  shojjs, 
one  cooper  shop,  and  one  tile  j'ard. 


238 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


Mr.  Samuel  S.  Newcomb. 


Mrs,  Elizabeth  Newcomb. 


THE  \EWC0MB8  OF  BROXSON. 
The  present  representatives  of  the  Newcomb  fam- 
ily in  Bronson  are  descendants  of  Benjamin  and 
Stata  Newcomb,  who  settled  in  that  township  in 
1811.  It  is  not  definitely  known  where  Benjamin 
Newcomb  was  born,  as  the  old  records  of  the  family 
have  been  destroyed,  but  it  is  probable  that  his  birth 
took  place  in  1786,  as  the  fact  of  his  baptism  in  that 
year  is  mentioned  in  the  genealogy  of  the  family. 
Benjamin  Newcomb  came  originally  from  Durham, 
Connecticut,  removed  from  there  to  Pennsylvania, 
thence  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to 
BronsoUj,  as  above  stated,  or  rather  at  first  to  Nor- 
walk,  just  north  of  the  township  line.  He  had  an 
experience  of  pioneer  life  that  was  seldom  equaled 
upon  the  Fire-lands.*  He  was  one  of  that  small, 
brave  band  of  settlers  who  endured,  from  1812  to  the 
close  of  the  war  in  181i,  many  of  the  severest  priva- 
tions, suffered  from  the  constant  apprehension  of  a 
visit  from  the  hostile  Indians,  and  several  times  was 
actually  obliged  to  seek  safety  in  the  Ijlock  house  at 
Mansfield.  When  the  war  was  concluded,  he  had  but 
a  short  time  to  enjoy  the  condition  of  peace  and 
security  which  the  people  in  the  scitttered  settlements 
enjoyed.  Only  two  years  after  the  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities and  tiie  return  of  the  settlers  to  their  homes, 
Mr'  Newcomb  met  with  a  violent  death  while  return- 
ing from  Truxville  (now  Ganges).  He  was  killed 
almost  instantly  by  the  kick  of  a  horse.  His  widow 
died  in  Mansfield  in  181(1. 


^As  the  events  of  his  life  in  Bronson  (luring:  and  after  the  war  a 
fully  spoken  of  elsewhere,  it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  detail  here. 


Benjamin  and  Stata  Newcomb  were  the  parents 
of  four  children — Samuel  Sterling,  Clark,  Mary 
and  Timothy  Jabez,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  more 
prominently  identified  with  the  progress  and  gi-owth 
of  Bronson  than  any  of  the  others.  Upon  the  death 
of  his  father  the  family  were  scattered,  the  children 
being  compelled  by  necessity  to  separate,  and  Samuel 
was  bound  out  to  a  farmer  in  Trumbull  count}',  who 
treated  him  in  a  most  shamefully  cruel  manner,  until 
he  was  released,  from  what  was  really  a  condition  of 
slavery,  through  the  interference  of  relatives  and 
friends.  He  afterwards  worked  in  various  places 
through  Northern  Ohio,  and  finally  returned  to 
Bronson,  where  he  continued  his  industrious  habits 
of  labor,  and  eventually,  through  the  close  saving  of 
his  hard  earned  wages,  was  able  to  buy  a  farm.  This 
was  the  piece,  consisting  of  one  hundred  acres,  upon 
which  his  son  lives.  His  life  was  an  almost  ceasless 
grind  of  labor.  He  cleared  up  his  farm  with  no  other 
assistance  than  that  which  his  son  gave  him,  when 
old  enough,  and  absolutely  wrung  a  living  from  the 
soil  that  it  took  the  greatest  of  efforts  to  bring  into  a 
state  of  cultivation.  •  Tiiough  he  was  a  man  of  but 
little  education,  in  the  common  acceptance  of  the 
term,  he  acipiired.  through  observation,  experience, 
reading  and  reflection,  a  good  knowledge  of  men  and 
affairs  in  the  world  at  large.  His  was  a  character 
more  truly  worthy  of  admiration  and  emulation 
than  most  of  those  made  famous  by  so-called  great 
deeds.  He  was  simple,  manly,  strong,  honest,  indus- 
trious— a  good  man.  true  to  liimself,  and  one  who 
fulfilled,  patiently  and  willingly,  his  humble  destiny. 
He  was  horn   September  9,   1807.  and   passed  to  his 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


239 


rewjird  after  the  allotted  three  score  j'ears  and  ten, 
— a  busy,  useful  life,  December  12,  1810- 

The  sharer  of  his  life  and  labor,'  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Shubael  and  Betsey  Newman,  lie  married  when 
in  his  twenty-seventh  \-ear,  September  11,  1834.  They 
had  two  children:  Samuel  Benjamin,  born  October 
23,  1835,  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  April  23,  1838. 

Samuel  Benjamin  Newcomb  lives  upon  the  old 
homestead.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John 
and  Agnes  Kennedy,  of  Bronson.  Mary  Elizabeth 
Newcomb,  also  resident  in  Bronson,  married  William 
Kennedy,  a  brother  of  her  brother's  wife,  and  is  now 
a  widow,  her  husband  having  been  killed  by  the 
Ixirsting  of  a  boiler  several  years  since. 


DAVID  CONGER 


was  born  in  the  township  of  Bern,  Albany  county. 
New  York,  August  28,  1790,  and  was  the  fifth  child 
in  a  family  of  twelve  (six  sons  and  six  daughters),  of 
Reuben  and  Lydia  Conger, — the  former  born  in  New. 
Jersey,  and  both  of  New  England  origin.  Our  sub- 
ject, the  only  surviving  member  of  this  once  large 
family,  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  removed  from 
Bern,  Albany  county,  to  the  township  of  Semphronius, 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  where  he  remained  till 
June,  1819,  when  he  removed  to  Bronson,  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  piece  of  land  (the  old 
homestead)  purchased  previously  by  his  father,  con- 
sisting of  fifty-three  acres,  and  began  the  life  of  a 
pioneer,  the  Fire-lands  being  mainly  an  unbroken 
wilderness.  Here  he  cut  the  first  tree,  and  erected  a 
rude  log  cabin,  about  fifty  feet  to  the  rear  of  the 
present  residence  of  his  son,  Edward  Conger.  He 
was  married,  December  25th,  1814,  to  Sarah  Parker, 
daughter  of  George  and  Phebe  Parker,  of  Semphro- 
nius, Cayuga  county.  New  York.  By  this  union  were 
born  four  children,  viz:  Catharine,  George  R.,  Ed- 
ward and  Delilah,  all  living,  except  George,  who  died 
February  15,  185G,  aged  thirty-five  j'ears,  three  months 
and  one  day.  Mrs.  Conger,  wife  of  David,  died 
March  2, 1875,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  eleven  months 
and  one  day. 

Mr.  Conger,  whose  portrait,  at  the  age  of  eiglity- 
uine  years,  appears,  in  connection  with  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  upon  another  page  of  this  volume, 
is  a  man  who  has  ever  enjoyed  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  people  of  Hurou  county,  and  one  whose 
name  will  be  long  remembered  as  a  hardy  pioneer  of 
the  Fire-lands. 

Edward  Conger,  the  third  child  of  David  Conger, 
succeeds  his  father  in  his  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
is  well  known  as  a  prominent  farmer  of  Hurou  county. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Betsey  Pilgrim,  daughter  of  Francis  and 
Orpha  Pilgrim,  of  Bronson  township,  whose  portraits 
appear  in  connection  with  those  of  the  fatiier  and 
mother. 


LEISTER  SMITH 

Was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  November  27, 
1814.  His  parents,  Erastus  and  Fanny  (Spencer) 
Smith,  were  from  Connecticut.  Some  interesting  re- 
miniscences of  the  Smiths  and  Spencers,  and  of  their 
early  settlement  in  Ohio,  are  recorded  in  the  history 
of  Greenfield  township,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 
Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Hamilton,  De- 
cember 31,  1847.  They  have  four  children:  Willey 
H.,  Julia  E.,  Edward  B.  and  Mary  G.,  all  of  whom  are 
living. 

Mr.  Smith  commenced  his  business  life  as  a  tiller 
of  the  soil,  following  the  occupation  of  his  father, 
on  the  portion  of  the  paternal  estate  which  fell  to 
his  share.  Here  he  remained  until  1865,  when  he 
sold  out  and  bought  a  farm  in  Peru  township. 
This  he  exchanged  in  1868  for  another  farm, 
which  he  still  occupies.  Having  been  enabled, 
by  patient  and  honest  industry,  to  procure  for  him- 
self and  family  a  comfortable  living,  he  rightly 
regards  this  as  a  satisfactory  success  in  life.  Not  be- 
ing of  an  eager,  or  grasping  disposition,  he  has  not 
aimed  to  be  rich,  but  has  contented  himself  with  tlie 
calm  enjoyment  of  life  as  'it  passes,  considering  the 
golden  mean,  "neither  poverty  nor  riches,"  for  which 
Agur  prayed,  as  a  greater  blessing  than  the  cares  of 
wealth.  Recognizing  the  hand  of  Divine  Providence, 
in  the  almost  constant  bestowment  of  health  and  hap- 
piness upon  himself  and  family,  and  especially  in  tlie 
exemption  of  his  family  circle  thus  far  from  invasion 
by  the  fell  destroyer,  he  has  always  acknowledged 
the  debt  of  gratitude  and  sought  to  repay  it  by 
contributing,  according  to  his  means,  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  christian  religion  and  for  all  charitable 
purposes. 

Early  in  life  he  was  taught  to  believe  in  tlie  exist- 
ence of  God,  and  in  the  general  doctrines  held  by  the 
Presbyterian  Church  ;  but  not  being  able  conscien- 
tiously to  accept  all  its  principles,  he  did  not  identify 
himself  with  any  church  till  the  year  1873,  when,  with 
his  wife,  and  oldest  son  and  daughter,  he  found  what 
has  proved  to  them  a  congenial  ecclesiastic  il  home  in 
the  First  Universalist  Church  of  Peru. 

His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Harrison,  in  1840,  and 
since  the  formation  of  the  republican  party  he  has 
always  acted  with  it,  and  voted  for  its  candidates.  Ho 
has  never  aspired  to  any  public  office,  but,  at  the  so- 
licitation of  his  fellow  citizens,  he  has  accepted  a  few 
of  the  minor  ones,  whose  duties  he  has  never  failed 
to  perform  in  such  a  manner  as  to  secure  the  cordial 
approval  of  his  constituents. 

Having  now  entered  upon  that  period  of  life  in 
which  men,  whether  willing  or  unwilling,  must  ac- 
custom themselves  to  the  not  always  welcome  ajjpella- 
tion  of  old  age,  Mr.  Smith  has  the  enviable  satis- 
faction of  looking  back,  upon  his  past  life,  with  the 
consciousness  that  he  has  always  been  honored  and 
trusted  by  his  fellow  men,  and  with  the  comfortable 
assurance  that  it  will  be  so  to  the  end. 


240 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


NORMAN  S.  HAKES 

was  born  in  the  town  of  Nassau,  Rennsselaer  county, 
New  York,  July  5.  1818,  and  was  the  second  son  of 
Samuel  A.  Hakes  and  Hannah  Victory.  The  father 
was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  and  also  his 
ancestors,  some  of  whom  were  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
the  grandfather  having  served  three  years  in  the 
struggle  for  liberty.  The  mother  was  born  on  the 
same  farm  where  our  subject  was,  in  Nassau.  Mr. 
Hakes  removed' from  Nassau  to  Bronson,  Ohio,  in  the 
spring  of  1840,  and  began  work  as  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  which  business  he  followed  for  twenty  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1840,  Mr.  Hakes  returned  to  Rochester, 
New  York,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Adelia  M., 
daughter  of  Oshea  G.  Fox  and  Theresa  M.  Tucker. 
Mr.  Fox  and  wife  were  natives  of  Rennsselaer  county. 
New  York,  of  New  England  ancestry,  their  parents 
being  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hakes  were  born  five  children,   two  daughters  and 


three  sons,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and  married,  viz.: 
Annette,  wife  of  Oscar  Burras ;  James  H.,  residing 
in  Bronson  :  Martha  L..  wife  of  Freeborn  Kellogg, 
residing  in  Chicago  :  Norman  Millie,  at  home,  and 
Samuel  Albert,  living  in  Bronson.  Mr.  Hakes  has 
been  identified  with  the  farming  interests  for  some 
thirty-seven  years,  having  invested  the  money  earned, 
while  working  at  his  trade,  in  real  estate,  and  he  now 
owns  two  highly  improved  farms  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Bronson,  consisting  of  over  two  hundred 
acres.  A  cut  of  his  home,  and  portraits  of  himself 
and  wife,  appear  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr. 
Hakes  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
farmers  of  Bronson,  and  is  one  of  the  self-made  men 
of  the  country.  In  politics,  Mr.  Hakes  is  an  out  and 
out  republican,  ever  luiving  been  a  faithful  exponent 
of  the  principles  of  iiis  party.  Akliough  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  church  organization,  he  is,  in  principle,  a 
Baptist,  and  contributes  liberally  to  the  interests  of 
church  and  schools. 


MR.  Timothy  Lawrence. 


Mrs.  Timothy  Lawrence, 


TIMOTHY  LAWRENCE. 

was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  March  16, 
1800:  was  the  fourth  child  and  second  son  of  Samuel 
and  Hannah  Lawrence,  who  were  also  of  New  Eng- 
land birth.  When  Timothy  was  four  years  old  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Cayuga  county  New 
York,  where  he  lived  until  1834,  and  then  removed 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  tiie  town  of  Bronson, 
where  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Lawrence  was  married  to  Miss  Calista  Todd, 
27th  of  February,  1831,  who  was  also  of  New  Eng- 
land parentage.  She  -.Mrs.  Lawrence)  was  born  in 
Lansing.   Tompkins   county.    New    York.      To    this 


couple  have  been  born  two  children,  Josiah  and  Delia, 
both  living  and  married.  Josiah  has  three  children. 
Delia  married  E.  T.  Curtis,  of  Michigan.  They  have 
one  child. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  early  united  with  the  Con- 
gregntional  Church,  of  which  body  they  are  still 
members,  and  under  the  government  of  the  Presby- 
tery. Mr.  Lawrence  was  first  a  whig,  and  at  the 
I  organization  of  the  republican  party  he  identified 
him.self  with  the  same.  Mr.  Lawrence  is  now  seventy- 
nine  years  of  age,  and  remarkably  well  preserved. 
Mrs.  Lawrence  is  sixty-seven  years,  and  enjoys  ex- 
cellent iicalth. 


\ri 


Wm.  G  Mead. 


F?ESIDENCE  OF  W,C  .  MEAD,  Bronso,,  TpH.ron  Co  0. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


GEORGE  LAWRENCE 

was  bora  in  Genoa,  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  March 
1,  1805,  and  was  the  sixth  child  in  a  family  of  nine 
cliildren  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  Lawrence,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Connecticut.  Samuel's  father's 
name  was  Timothy,  of  New  England  birth,  and 
English  ancestry,  (being  a  descendant  of  .John  Law- 
rence, born  in  England)  and  of  the  third  or  fourth 
generation.  Solomon  Dibble,  of  French  extraction, 
was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject -on  the  maternal 
side.     Mr.  Lawrence  settled  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 


on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  in  the  year  1831, 
— coming  by  way  of  wagon  to  Montezuma,  to  Buffalo 
by  the  Erie  canal,  and  to  Sandusky  by  Lake  Erie. 
He  purchased,  in  all,  some  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  began  clearing  and  improving,  and  has  become 
one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Huron  county. 
Was  married  January  23,  18.31,  to  Rhodema  Smith, 
daughter  of  Lockwood  and  Fanny  Smith,  of  Genoa, 
New  Y'ork.  By  this  union  were  born  fout  children, 
viz:  Minor,  Alonzo  E.,  George  A.,  and  Alice  Eliza- 
beth, all  of  whom  are  living.  All  are  married,  and 
residing  in  the  vicinity  of  their  early  home, — the 
eldest  having  charge  of  the  old  homestead  and  farm. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  are  both  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Peru  and  vicinity,  hav- 
ing joined  that  body  in  1832.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  ap- 
pointed deacon  in  1834,  and  has  held  the  office  suc- 
cessively until  the  present  time.  In  polities,  Mr. 
Lawrence  is  a  republican,  ever  having  been  a  "faithful 
exponent  of  its  principles.  He  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  John  Quincy  Adams.  Mr.  Lawrence 
is  now  seventy-four  years  of  age,  and  quite  well  pre- 
served for  one  who  has  met  with  the  struggles,  of  a 
]iioneer  life. 

31 


JOHN  BUFFINGTON. 

Mr.  Buffington  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  May  29,  1813.  When  twenty-three 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Ohio,  stopping  in  Richland 
county  four  months,  thence  proceeding  to  Milan, 
Erie  county,  where  he  engaged  in  his  chosen  occupa- 
tion— that  of  wagon-maker.  He  resided  at  Milan 
seven  years,  when  he  removed  to  the  township  of 
Fitchville,  Huron  county,  fixing  his  residence  at  the 
village  of  Clinton.  There  he  married,  in  June,  1845, 
Miss  Abbie  J.  Belding,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Jane  Belding,  of  Greenwich,  this  county.  She  was 
born  January  34,  1818.  He  continued  to  reside  in 
Fitchville  until  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  pur- 
chased and  settled  at  Olena,  in  Bronson,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Esquire  Buffington  has  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  continuously,  since  1845, 
with  exception  of  the  first  four  years  of  his  residence 
in  Bronson,  a  period  of  thirty  years.  We  doubt  if 
any  other  justice  in  the  county  can  show  such  a  term 
of  service.  It  has  been  his  practice,  as  a  general 
thing,  to  advise  the  settlement  of  suits,  and  through 
his  counsel,  the  cause  of  difference  between  parties 
litigant,  have  frequently  been  amicably  adjusted. 
This  course  greatly  commends  itself  to  the  better 
class  of  citizens. 

Mrs.  Buffington  is  a  woman  of  characteristic  amia- 
bility and  an  eflBcient  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Olena.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buffing- 
ton have  three  children,  as  follows:  Ann,  born  No- 
vember 37,  1847,  married  Ransom  Walcott  and  now 
resides  in  Barry  county,  Michigan;  Jennie,  born 
March  11,  1849,  residing  at  home  with  her  parents; 
John  E.,  born  August  19,  1850,  married  Ella  Burras, 
and  occupies  the  farm  with  his  father. 


W.  G.  MEAD, 

son  of  Alfred  Mead  and  Betsey  Barger,  and  grandson 
of  Jonathan  Mead,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 3, 1808,  in  the  town  of  Genoa,  Cayuga  county. 
New  Y'ork.  Mr.  Mead  remained  with  his  father 
until  twenty-three  years  of  age.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  began  with  David  Tucker,  of  Genoa, 
New  York,  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  serving  some 
two  vears  for  instruction,  which  business  he  followed 
for  twenty-one  years  successfully,  paying  for  and 
clearing  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
with  the  earnings  of  his  trade.  In  1833,  June  4,  he 
arrived  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  immediately  located 
lauds  in  the  town  of  Bronson,  five  miles  south  of  the 
county  seat  of  Huron  county,  and  subsequently  pur- 
chased lands  amounting  in  all  to  two  hundred  and 
five  acres,  of  which  he  is  the  present  owner.  Mr. 
Mead  is  truly  a  pioneer,  having  cut  his  own  road 
through  the  woods  for  one  mile  to  get  to  his  farm. 
He  is  generally  acknowledged  to  have  been  one  of  the 
hardiest  men  of  the  country,  and  has  done  as  much 


242 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


manual  labor  in  the  clearing  and  improving  of  lands 
as  any  man  in  Huron  county;  is  of  strong  physique, 
and,  at  present  writing,  managing  and  working  one 
of  the  finest  farms  of  the  county  in  which  he  lives. 
In  the  fall  of  18-il,  Mr.  Mead  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  has  served  in  said  capacity  twenty-one 
years.  During  the  first  ten  or  twelve  years  of  western 
life  our  subject  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  deer 
hunting,  and  was  widely  known  as  a  lucky  sportsman 
with  the  rifle.  ■  Mr.  Mead  is  strictly  a  temperance 
man,  having  used  neither  tea  nor  coffee  for  thirty- 
seven  years.  In  the  j'ear  1828,  April  27,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Hannah,  daughter  of  Newman 
Smith,  of  Genoa,  New   York.      By  this  union    were 


boi'u  two  children:  Betsey  Ann,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two;  and  Alfred  N.,  born  March  21,  18-1],  at 
present  lumber  merchant  in  the  city  of  Cleveland.  In 
politics  he  is  a  prohibitionist  and  an  earnest  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  his  party,  although  formerly  a 
republican,  and  during  the  war  was  one  of  the  com- 
mittee with  James  Knapp  to  raise  money  and  ))rocure 
men  to  avoid  a  draft  in  the  town  of  Bronson,  which 
was  carried  to  a  successful  and  satisfactory  ending. 
Mr.  Mead  has  the  premium  farm  of  the  county, 
having  been  awarded  the  only  prize  granted,  upon  an 
examination  of  several  farms  by  a  committee  chosen 
for  that  purpose, — a  cut  of  his  residence  and  liuildings 
appearing  upon  audther  jxige  of  this  work. 


TOWNSEND. 


OKKUNAL   OWNERS. 


For  an  explanatioi 
Wakeman  history: 


of   the   followini;-   table,    see 


TOWXSEN'D,  TOWX    NUMBER    FOUR,    IN    THE   TWENTY- 
FIRST    RAN(;E. 


Classification  No.  1,  Section  I. 


Oi-igiual  Grantees. 

Amos  Morriss 

Benjamin  Pardy 
John  Townsend  (2 
rights) 


Footing  of  Classification  1 
Classification  No.  2,  Secti 


OrigiiHil  Ui-antees.        Ain't  Loss.        Ckissifiedbi/. 


Ezekiel  Hayes 

Isaac  Townsend 
John  Closs 
Nathaniel  Mix 
Ebenezer  Townsend  . . 
Moses  Venters 
Jacob  and  Elijah 

Pardy 
Mary  and  Lydia 

I'arflj' 
Mary  Pardy 
James  Prescott 
Jedediah  Andrews 
Jonathan  Brigden, 

or  Briglin 
Jesse  Upson 
John  Beecher 
Jonathan  Edwards, 

Rev. 
John  Beecher.  Jr. 
Wm.  Brentnall 
Samuel  Munson 
James  Ailing 
Ann  Piatt 
Abraham  Barnes 
AbelBanit! 
Stephen  .\i:<\u 
Francis  lii-ivi 

Nathan  B.  .  i  - 
John  Tro'.i  i.riil-i- 
Elijah  Hills  u, 

John  Robinson 
Thankful  Thompson  S-'J 
Israel  Monson 
John  Wise  31 

Samuel  Austin 
Nathan  Howel 
Benjamin  Sanford 
Levi  Fobes 
Stephen  Ball 


Fooling  of  Classifleation  No.  2.  £l,!U-i 


Classification  No.  3,  Section 


Original  Grantees. 
Ebenezer  Sturges 

Hezekiah  Sturges 
Abigail  Whittier 
Samuel  Rowland      i 
Grace  Spalding 
Daniel  Osborne 
Hezekiah  Parmelee 
Jonathan  Fitch 
Samuel  Coudy 
Benjamin  Brown 
Samuel  Chatterton 
Stephe 


Phipps 
5ter  Brei 


Wm.  Greenough         27 
Jabez  Johnson  13 

Mary  Kimberley         18 
Jonah  Mix  15 

Nathan  Oaks  19 

Elijah  Painter  14 

Sarah  Pomeroy  2? 

James  Rice  64 

Addonijah  Sherman  29 
James  Sherman  7 

Wm.  Ally  9 

Joseph  Trowbridge    . . 
Nehemiah  Smith 
Stephen  Ball  .36 

Hannah  Howe 
Sarah  Howe 
Daniel  Osborne 
Andrew  Rowland  1,568 
Abiah  Ailing  13 


Original  Grantees 
Esther  Mansfield 


Phineas  Bradley 
Charles  Chaunce; 
Jeremiah  Atwate: 
Hezekiah  Gorhan 
Simeon  Joulin 


Caleb  Hotchkiss 
Jonah  Hotchkiss 
David  .-itwater 
Timothy  Atwater 
Gad  Luke 
David  Gilbert 
Timothy  Gilbert 
Timothy  Gorham 
Joseph  Munson 
Abigail  Potter 
Tilly  Blakesley 
James  Rice  B 

Sarah  Pomeroy  a 

James  Gillett 
Joel  Gilbert 
Naphtali  Duggelt, Dr. 
Timothy  Bonticon 
Willard  Brentnall      3 
Stephen  Ball  3 

James  Sherman 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  .SI.:: 
Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 
Am't  Loss.        Classi.ried  bij. 
£       s.        d. 
Kneeland  Town- 


Footing  of  Classiticat 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


U3 


TOPOGRAPHY. 

The  surftice  of  tlie  township  is  generally  level  with 
slight  undulations  in  the  second  and  third  sections. 
The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  with  a  mixture  of  sand  in  the 
northern  and  northwestern  portions.  The  streams 
are  small,  tlie  largest  being  Rattlesnake  creek,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  Huron,  flowing  through  the  west  part  of 
the  township.  The  name  originated  from  the  large 
number  of  rattlesnakes  that  were  formerly  found 
along  the  stream.  There  are  two  other  branches  of 
the  Huron  iji  the  western  part,  and  La  Chapelle,  a 
tributary  of  the  Vermillion,  ui  the  eastern  part.  Tlie 
stream  is  said  to  have  derived  its  name  from  a  French- 
man who  discovered  it,  and  explored  it  to  its  source. 

Townsend  was  originally  clothed  with  a  magnificent 
growth  of  timber,  the  principal  varieties  of  which 
were  white  oak,  whitewood,  ash,  hickory,  black  wal- 
nut, butternut,  beech  and  maple.  The  manufacture 
of  white  oak  staves  was  an  import  int  industry  of  this 
township  for  many  years.  The  staves  were  usually 
marketed  at  Milan,  and  so  extensive  was  the  business 
that  the  iirodnct  was  known  there  as  '-Townsend 
wheat."' 

The  following  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  primi- 
tive forests  of  this  township,  is  made  by  gentlemen 
of  experience  and  reliability: 

Lumber— 15,000  feet  per  aere,  (16.000  acres)=240,000  feet. 
Wood— 100  cords  per  acre,  "  •'    =1,600,000  cords. 

*10,000  feet  of  lumber,  at  $16.00  per  1000 S3,S40,000 

1,600,000  cords  wood,  at  $1.00  per  cord 1,600,000 

Total $5,440,000 

One  of  the  gentlemen  above  referred  to  cut  from  a 
single  tree  on  his  own  land: 

5,000feet  of  lumber,  which  he  sold  for 875  00 

2,000  staves,  which  he  sold  for    60  00 

20  cords  wood,  which  he  sold  for 20  00 

Total ■  155  00 

EARLY    .SETTLEMENT. 

The  earliest  settlements  in  the  township  were  made 
in  the  north  part,  in  section  number  three,  and 
George  Miller  is  generally  accorded  the  honor  of 
being  the  first  settler.  He  removed  with  his  family 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Milan,  (then  called  Avery,) 
Erie  county,  Ohio,  in  1809,  and  remained  there 
until  1811,  when  he  came  to  Townsend,  and  took 
up  his  abode  on  lot  number  five.  His  log  cabin 
was  the  first  habitation  for  the  abode  of  civilized 
people  in  the  township.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  1765.  He  married 
.Mary  Burdue,  of  the  same  State,  and  had  a  family  of 
four  children,  all  now  dead.  He  died  on  his  original 
location,  February  7,  IS'^8,  and  his  wife,  April  17, 
184'J,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  her  age. 

Soon  after  Miller,  came  William  Burdue  and  family. 
Burdue  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  November  3G,  1782.  March  28,  1809,  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Blazer,  who  was  born  September  20, 
1791.     In  1810  he  removed  with  his  family,  consisting 


of  wife  and  one  child,  to  the  vicinity  of  Milan,  then 
called  Indian  Village,  but  remained  there  only  one 
year,  when  he  moved  into  Townsend,  making  his 
location  on  lot  number  four,  in  section  three.  He 
died  on  this  place,  October  23,  183J-,  and  his  wife, 
March  29,  1868.  They  raised  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  having  died  when  young.  Six  are  now 
(February,  1879,)  living,  as  follows  :  Nathaniel,  in 
Norwalk  ;  George  and  W.  W.,  in  Townsend  ;  John, 
in  Kansas  ;  Isaac,  in  Fulton  county,  Ohio,  and  Ben- 
jamin, in  Indiana.  George  Burdue,  who  occupies 
the  old  homestead,  .was  born  during  the  residence  of 
his  parents  near  Milan,  February  19, 1811.  November 
20,  1838,  he  married  Susan  Hill,  of  Delaware  county, 
New  York.  They  have  two  children,  viz. :  M.  W. 
Burdue.  who  occupies  the  original  log  house  built  by 
his  grandfather,  in  1811,  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Riggs, 
who  is  also  a  resident  of  this  township. 

Soon  after  their  settlement,  the  family  made  the 
acquaintance  of  an  old  Indian  in  the  vicinity,  and 
who,  subsequently,  by  reason  of  the  many  favors 
shown  him  by  them,  especially  by  Mrs.  Burdue,  a 
woman  of  much  excellence  of  character,  became 
warmly  attached  to  them.  Burdue,  having  lost  a  span 
of  horses  and  a  colt  on  one  occasion,  was  asked  by  the 
Indian  to  show  him  their  tracks.  He  was  taken  into 
the  woods,  where  the  horses  had  recently  been,  and 
where  their  tracks  were  found.  These  the  Indian 
carefully  measured,  with  his  hand,  and  then  went 
off.  He  returned  in  a  few  days,  and  informed  Burdue 
that  he  had  found  tracks  answering  to  the  description, 
directing  him  to  the  place  where  he  had  seen  them. 
Burdue  traveled  a  long  distance  to  the  south,  until 
he  arrived  at  an  Indian  camp.  He  saw  his  horses 
there,  but  did  not  make  the  object  of  his  visit  known. 
He  learned,  however,  before  returning,  that  the 
Indians  would,  in  a  few  days,  go  to  Huron — their 
usual  trading  place.  They  passed  by  his  house  in  a 
few  days,  as  expected,  and  Burdue  followed  them.  On 
arriving  at  Huron  he  found  the  horses,  and  demanded 
their  surrender,  but  the  Indians  refused  to  give  them 
up  unless  compensated, — the  terms  being  a  small 
quantity  of  corn  and  whisky.  These  were  {iromjitly 
furnished,  and  the  horses  recovered. 

The  old  Indian,  above  referred  to,  gave  other  evi- 
dences of  his  friendship  for  the  family,  the  most  im- 
portant of  which  was  the  information,  shortly  after 
Hull's  surrender,  that  the  Indians  were  preparing  to 
massacre  the  settlers,  and  advising  the  family  to  seek 
a  phice  of  safety.  He  enjoined  secrecy  as  to  the 
source  of  their  information,  as,  he  said,  if  it  were 
known  he  would  suffer  death.  He  then  went  away, 
and  was  never  again  seen  in  these  parts.  The  family 
immediately  left  for  Pennsylvania,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1816,  when  they  returned  to  tiieirhome. 
Before  leaving,  they  hid  some  of  their  household 
furniture  under  the  puncheon  fioor  of  their  log  cabin. 
These  they  found,  on  their  return,  undisturbed, 
although  the  caliin  itself  had  lieeti  (X'cii|iied  l)y  the 
savages. 


244 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  Miller  family  also  went  to  Pennsylvania  at  the 
same  time,  and  remained  there  until  181 7. 

Orisimus  Kellogg  and  family,  consisting  of  wife  and 
six  children,  emigrated  from  Batavia,  Genesee  county, 
New  York,  to  the  Fire-lauds,  in  June,  1811.  They 
were  about  four  weeks  on  the  journey,  arriving  in 
Townsend  on  the  fifth  of  July.  There  were,  at  the 
time  of  their  arrival,  only  two  families — those  of 
George  Miller  and  William  Burdue — in  the  township. 
The  family  lived  with  the  latter  until  Mr.  Kellogg 
could  roll  up  his  cabin  on  lot  number  one,  the  north- 
west corner  lot  in  the  township.  He  was  Mr.  Town- 
send's  agent  for  the  sale  of  his  laud,  and  received 
from  him,  gratis,  one  hundred  acres,  as  a  compensa- 
tion for  leaving  the  comforts  of  his  eastern  home  and 
settling  in  the  wilds  of  Townsend.  The  log  cabin, 
when  first  occupied  by  the  family,  was,  indeed,  a 
primitive  habitation  for  the  abode  of  civilized  people. 
It  was  absut  twenty  feet  square,  and  was  without  a 
door,  window  or  chimney,  and  the  puncheon  floor 
only  half  laid. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Fay,  a  member  of  the  family,  gives 
the  following  account  of  their  flight  on  hearing  of 
Hull's  surrender:  "The  sad  news  was  announced  at 
my  father's  dwelling  at  the  hour  of  midnight  of  the 
8th  of  July.  The  elder  members  of  our  family  arose 
and  set  themselves  to  work  immediately,  making 
preparations  to  flee  for  their  lives.  At  ten  o'clock  in 
the  morning  we  were  all  ready  and  commenced  our 
flight  from  the  savage  foe  which  we  imagined  was  in 
close  pursuit.  We  directed  our  course  for  Cuyahoga, 
Portage  county.  It  had  been  raining  quite  hard  all 
of  the  previous  night.  After  traveling  four  or  five 
miles  we  fell  in  company  with  four  families  of  our 
acquaintance.  We  got  twelve  miles  on  our  journey 
by  dark,  and  pitched  our  tents  and  partook  of  our 
evening  meal,  and  were  obliged  to  spread  our  beds  on 
the  wet  ground,  and  in  the  morning  they  were  nearly 
covered  with  water  caused  by  the  rain  that  had  fallen 
during  the  night.  There  we  were,  in  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  an  unfrequented  road  of  seventy-five 
miles  to  our  place  of  destination.  We  were  obliged 
to  ford  all  the  streams  that  lay  in  our  path  or  to  stop 
and  cut  trees  and  bridge  those  that  were  flooded  by 
the  recent  rain.  We  were  on  our  journey  eight  days 
and  seven  nights  without  seeing  so  much  as  a  log 
cabin,  expecting  every  night  when  we  lay  down  to 
rest  to  be  tomahawked  and  scalped  before  morning 
by  the  Indians.  Many  of  the  youth  of  our  company 
were  so  much  fatigued  by  travel  that  they  could  not 
stand  alone  when  they  first  rose  m  the  morning.  One 
night  we  camped  near  a  sugar  camp  where  some  one 
had  made  sugar  the  previous  spring,  and  spread  our 
beds  on  some  bark  that  was  lying  on  the  ground.  To 
my  f^stonishment,  when  I  arose  in  the  morning,  I  saw 
a  blacksnake  peeping  out  his  head  from  under  the  bed 
that  I  had  rested  upon.  On  removing  the  bed  the 
men  killed  seven  large  snakes. 

"There  was  only  one  mill  on  the  Fire-lands  at  that' 
time,  and  that  was  situated  at  tlio  head  of  Cold  creek. 


It  ground  grain  without  Ijolting.  Fortunately  ray 
father  had  returned  from  there  the  day  but  one  before 
we  heard  of  Hull's  surrender,  with  nine  or  ten  bushels 
of  wheat  ground.  The  next  day  we  sifted  the  whole 
of  it  through  a  common  hand  seive.  The  flour  of 
that  grain  was  nearly  all  that  the  whole  of  the  five 
families  had  to  subsist  upon  during  the  journey.  We 
numbered  nearly  thirty, — children  and  all.  We  re- 
mained at  Cuyahoga  about  six  weeks,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Painesville,  where  we  remained  until  Octo- 
ber, 1813,  and  then  returned  to  our  former  residence. 
AVe  found  our  house,  and  the  furniture  that  we  buried 
before  we  left,  in  as  good  condition  as  could  be  ex- 
pected." 

Bryant  Millinian  and  family,-  from  Livingston 
county.  New  I'ork,  moved  into  the  township  in  the 
spring  of  1816.  and  settled  on  lot  number  twenty- 
three,  in  section  three.  His  was  tiie  fourth  family 
that  settled  in  the  town.  A  son,  Amherst  Milliman, 
aged  seventy-three,  now  occupies  the  old  homestead. 
The  first  settlements  in  the  western  part  of  Town-, 
send,  were  made  by  Jasper  Miles,  Benjamin  Bailey, 
and  Hezekiah  Barber  and  their  families,  in  February, 
1817.  These  families  were  from  Penfield,  Ontario 
county.  New  Y'ork.  Miles  settled  on  lot  number 
ninety-six,  in  section  four.  He  brought  with  him 
from  New  Y'ork  about  one  thousand  dollars  in  money, 
but  instead  of  paying  for  his  land  he  bought  it  on 
time  and  used  his  money  in  making  improvements, 
being  encouraged  to  do  so  by  Kneeland  Townsend,  of 
whom  he  made  the  purchase,  and  who  promised 
leniency  in  case  of  failure  to  pay  at  the  time  stipu- 
lated. The  family  endured  many  hardships,  toiled 
hard,  and  had  the  farm  in  a  fair  condition  of  improve- 
ment when  the  notes  for  its  purchase  became  due. 
Townsend  demanded  payment  according  to  the  bond, 
in  default  of  which  the  family  was  ejected,  losing 
not  only  the  money  invested,  but  the  results  of  many 
years  of  hardship  and  toil.  The  family  moved  to 
Milan  where  they  lived  about  eight  j'ears,  and  then 
to  Berlih,  where  they  secured  a  home  and  afterwards 
resided.  Mr.  Miles  died  there  in  1849,  Mrs.  Miles 
surviving  him  many  years.  They  were  an  intelligent 
family  and  highly  respected.  During  their  residence 
in  Townsend,  Mrs.  Miles,  who  had  learned  the  tailor's 
trade,  assisted  in  keeping  "the  wolf  from  the  door" 
by  making  buckskin  pants  for  the  men,  taking  her 
pay  in  any  thing  that  was  of  use  to  the  family.  But 
provisions  were  so  scarce  and  high  that  it  i-equired 
days  of  hard  labor  to  pay  for  even  a  little  salt.  A 
load  having  been  brought  to  Milan  in  1818.  Mrs. 
Miles  went  there  after  some,  and  brought  home  a 
peck,  for  which  she  paid  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents  in  cash. 

Hezekiah  Barber  settled  on  lot  number  seventy- 
three  in  the  third  section,  and  Benjamin  Bailey  in  the 
fourth  section  on  lot  ninety-five.  Bailey  sul)se(|uently 
removed  to  Berlin. 

Soon  after  the  above  families  arrived,  the  families 
of  Amaziah    Barlicr.   Abijab    Barber.   Augustus    Bur- 


MARTIN    DENMAN. 


MRS.    SALLY  ANN   DENMAN. 


MARTIN   DENMAN, 


the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Neversink,  Sulliyan  Co.,  N.T., 
April  16,  1806,  and  was  the  seventh  child  of  William  Denman  and 
Ann  (Boreman)  Denman.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Kent  Co., 
England,  and  were  married  in  Hadcom,  in  said  county,  June  24, 
1790. 

Martin  Denman  married  Sally  Ann  Washburn,  in  Wawarsing, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  T.,  Jan.  20,  1830.  In  1833  he  immigrated  with  his 
family  to  this  county,  and  purchased  over  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  the  township  of  Townsend,  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
which  are  still  owned  by  the  family.  The  only  improvements  on  the 
land  originally  purchased  by  him  was  a  clearing  of  five  acres  and 
five  acres  of  slashing. 

His  remark-ible  energy  and  good  judgment,  as  well  as  his  sterling 
courage,  will  appear  when  it  is  known  that  his  health  was  never  firm, 
having  inherited  a  pulmonic  trouble;  but  feeble  as  was  his  health, 
stimulated  by  the  very  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  in  the  shape  of  a 
frowning  forest,  and  especially  the  wants  of  a  growing  family,  he 
pressed  vigorously  forward,  conquered  the  forest,  and  carved  there- 
from a  beautiful  home  and  a  handsome  competence  for  his  family. 
His  life  shows  what  industry,  economy,  integrity,  and  determination 
will  accomplish. 

His  education  was  limited  to  such  as  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  county  could  furnish.  He  made  a  profession  of  religion  in 
early  life,  and  was  a  prominent  and  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  until  his  death. 

In  politics  he  acted  with  the  Republican  party,  but  cast  the  second 
Abolition  vote  ever  deposited  in  this  township.  So  bitter  was  the 
feeling  against  him,  on  account  of  this  practical  application  of  Chris- 
tianity, that  his  neighbors  refused  to  hold  his  horse — who  would  not 
sufier  himself  to  be  tied — while  he  deposited  his  ballot.  He  was 
obliged  to  find  a  stable  where  he  could  secure  his  fastidious  animal, 
when,  with  that  courage  and  determination  which  characterized  his 
life,  he  went  fearlessly  forward  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  that, 
too,  when  men  of  less  courage  and  less  principle  would  have  suc- 
cumbed to  prejudice  and  popular  opinion. 

What  his  hands  found  to  do  he  did  with  all  his  might.  This 
quality,  as  well  as  his  patriotism,  was,  perhaps,  never  more  apparent 
than  during  the  late  war,  when  active,  denr-headtil,  large-hearted 
men  were  needed  to  collect  hospital  supplies  and  clear  the  township 


of  draft,  and  thereby  save  the  few  remaining  young  and  able-bodied 
men  to  plant  for  future  harvests.  Here  his  real  worth  was  apparent. 
He  was  untiring  in  his  devotion  to  his  country,  and  unflagging  in 
his  energies  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  those  who  took  their  lives  in 
their  hands,  and  went  forth  to  do  battle  for  the  maintenance  of  con- 
stitutional liberty  and  human  rights. 

On  the  23d  day  of  January,  1872,  from  an  attack  of  typhoid  pneu- 
monia, having,  we  may  truly  say,  fought  his  good  fight  and  finished 
his  course,  death  came  to  bring  the  new  birth. 

We  cannot  speak  of  the  end  of  such  a  life,  when  those  who  knew 
him  best,  and  were  nearest  to  him  in  his  earth-life,  still  live  in  the 
echoes  of  that  life,  making  an  immortality  in  whose  glory  they  stand. 

Mrs.  Sally  Ann  Denman  was  the  tenth  and  youngest  child  of 
James  Washburn  and  Judith  Griffin.  The  family  consisted  of  seven 
girls  and  three  boys.  Of  this  large  family  but  two  are  living,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  and  one  sister,  Mrs.  Golden,  now  living  in 


London,  Ohio 


Her  brother,  Joseph  Washburn,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Fitehville  township,  and  is  said  to  have  donated  the  lands  for  the 
church  buildings  of  that  place. 

Mrs.  Dcnman's  parents  were  Quakers,  but  at  quite  an  early  age 
she  united  with  the  Methodist  Church,  and  has  ever  since  been  a 
member  of  that  body. 

Too  much  can  hardly  be  said  for  the  mother,  who,  in  addition  to 
the  task  of  rearing  a  family,  could  courageously  meet  the  trials  inci- 
dent to,  and  inseparable  from,  a  pioneer  life  in  a  new  country. 

Having  turned  her  back  on  the  scenes  of  her  childhood,  with  its 
pleasant  memories  and  luring  charms,  with  Christian  fortitude  and 
unfaltering  faith  in  God,  she  went  hand  in  hand  with  him  who  had 
promised  to  love  and  cherish  her,  meeting  her  trials  with  that  calm 
resignation  so  befitting  a  trusting  soul.  By  her  aid  and  good  man- 
agement, her  faithful  husband-was  enabled  to  see  the  fruition  of  his 
labors  in  the  acquirement  of  a  oompotonco  for  the  support  of  those 

Two  daughters  and  one  son  were  the  fruit  of  this  marriage :  Julia 
Ann,  married  Philip  Hawxhurst,  May  4,  1854,  and  settled  in  Fiteh- 
ville, this  county ;  she  passed  to  a  higher  life,  Sept.  11, 1867.  Harriet, 
married  Horace  S.  Brooks,  May  5,  1879,  and  settled  in  Uuntsville, 
Logan  Co.,  Ohio. 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


berand  David  Lee  moved  into  the  fourth  section  near 
the  Norwalk  line.  That  part  of  the  township  took 
the  name  of  "the  Barber  settlement,"  which  name  it 
has  since  retained.  The  Barbers  were  Baptists  of  the 
close  communion  order,  and  thej'  were  very  exclusive 
socially  as  well  as  religiously.  In  bargaining  for 
their  land,  they  endeavored  to  secure  a  pledge  from 
Kneeland  Townsend,  the  proprietor,  that  so-called 
"worldly  people"  be  kept  fi-om  settling  in  that  part 
of  the  township.  There  was  almost  no  intercourse 
between  them  and  settlers  in  other  portions  of  the 
township.  The  children  imbibed  the  ideas  of  the 
parents,  and  kept  aloof  from  other  children,  and 
cousins  intermarried  with  cousins.  A  double  wedding 
of  Barbers  once  came  off,  the  notice  of  which  was 
published  in  the  Norwalk  Reporter,  headed  "Barber — 
ous  times  in  Townsend." 

Amaziah  Barber  served  in  both  the  French  and 
Indian  war  and  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  also  en- 
listed in  the  war  of  1812,  but  his  former  services  were 
thought  sufficient,  and  he  was  sent  home.  It  is  said 
that  Abijah  was  the  only  one  of  the  number  who  suc- 
ceeded in  paying  for  his  farm,  and  he  was  enabled  to 
do  so  only  by  the  aid  of  his  father,  Amaziah  Barber, 
who  applied  his  pension  to  tlie  extinguishment  of  the 
debt. 

Amaziah  Barber  died  in  Townsend  in  1834,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years. 

Abijah  Barber's  location  was  on  lot  seventy-four  in 
section  three.  He  finally  removed  to  Branch  county, 
Michigan,  where  he  died. 

David  Lee  built,  on  Rattlesnake  creek  in  1820,  the 
first  saw  mill  in  the  township,  which  he  operated  for 
.several  years.  He  was  unsuccessful  in  paying  for  his 
land,  however,  and  it  reverted  to  the  original  owner, 
Lee  removing  to  Clarksfield  where  he  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

Frederick  Perring  came  into  the  township  in  1818, 
settling  in  the  foui-tli  section.  Many  years  afterward 
he  sold  and  removed  to  Branch  county,  Michigan, 
where  he  subsequently  died.  There  are  no  descend- 
ants of  the  family  now  living  in  Townsend. 

Samuel  Sherman  came  to  Townsend  from  New 
York,  without  his  family,  in  the  spring  of  1817,  and 
bargained  for  one  hundred  acres  in  the  Barber  settle- 
ment. He  then  returned  east  and  moved  out  with 
Ills  family  the  next  j-ear.  He  lived  in  this  township 
only  four  years,  when  he  moved  to  New  London.  He 
resided  in  the  north  part  of  that  township  twelve 
years,  and  then  settled  in  Vermillion.  He  died  there 
in  1836,  aged  seventy.  Mrs.  Sherman  survived  her 
husband  a  number  of  years,  and  was  seventy-seven  at 
her  death.  There  were  twelve  children,  nine  of 
whom  lived  to  adult  age.  Three  are  now  living,  as 
follows:  Samuel,  aged  eighty-one,  on  the  Medina  road 
in  Norwalk  township;  Lemuel,  in  the  village  of  Nor- 
walk, aged  sixty-seven,  and  Mrs.  A.  Welch,  living 
with  her  brother  Samuel. 

Joseph  Waldron,  from  Ontario  county.  New  York, 
settled  in  the  township  of  Hartland  (then  called  Can- 


terbury) in  the  year  1820.  He  located  on  the  Hecock 
farm  on  Hartland  ridge,  and  after  a  residence  there 
of  three  years  moved  into  Townsend,  settling  on  lot 
number  one  hundred  and  thirteen,  section  one.  He 
lived  here  until  his  death  in  September,  186.5.  His 
wife  died  four  years  subsequently.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
Sanford  G.  Waldron,  the  oldest,  occupies  the  farm  on 
which  he  located  in  1839,  just  south  of  the  old  home- 
stead. Mrs.  0.  H.  Vantassel  and  Mrs.  Franklin 
Shineflew  also  live  in  Townsend.  Edmund  lives  in 
Missouri,  and  Mrs.  Sterling  Tenant  resides  in  Berlin 
township. 

Thomas  E.  Fletcher  settled  in  the  south  part  of 
the  township  on  the  Medina  road,  in  1818  or  '19.  He 
was  a  cooper  and  worked  at  his  trade  here.  He 
finally  sold  and  moved  to  Indiana. 

David  H.  Sutton,  at  an  early  date,  settled  on  the 
creek  in  the  west  part,  but  did  not  remain  long. 

Ephraim  Munger  came  in  about  1818,  and  lived  in 
the  west  part  of  town  several  years.  Also,  a  family 
by  the  name  of  Malonv,  about  the  same  time. 

David  Goodell  was  an  early  settler  in  the  north 
part,  and  in  difEerent  portions  of  the  township, 
Stephen  Heath,  Henry  C.  Westfall,  Jeremiah  Mils- 
paugh,  Caleb  Knapp,  Horatio  Thompson,  and  Joseph 
Purdy. 

The  first  actual  settler  in  the  second  section,  was 
Johnson  Wheeler,  who  moved  from  Connecticut  in 
January,  1824.  A  family  by  the  name  of  Ellis  had 
previously  come  on  to  the  ground,  erected  a  log 
house  near  the  Wakeman  line,  on  lot  sixtj--two,  and 
partially  cleared  two  or  three  acres  around  the  cabin, 
but  they  had  abandoned  the  premises  when  Wheeler 
had  arrived,  and  he  and  his  wife,  with  the  permission 
of  William  Townsend,  who  owned  the  land,  took  i\\) 
their  abode  in  the  vacant  house.  The  former  occu- 
pants had  left  a  bedstead  made  of  round  poles  and 
corded  with  bark,  and  a  rude  home-made  table,  which 
the  tenants  gladly  made  use  of.  In  the  cleared 
piece,  among  the  logs  and  In'ush,  had  been  planted 
corn  and  beans,  which  remained  unharvested,  and 
these  also  were  appropriated  by  the  new  occupants. 
Wheeler  a  short  time  after  contracted  with  Town- 
send  for  the  lot  on  which  he  lived,  together  with  the  lot 
(eighty-four)  adjoining  on  the  south,  agreeing  to 
furnish  him,  in  payment  for  the  same,  a  certain  num- 
ber of  axes,  scythes,  hoes  and  other  necessary  farming 
implements.  In  order  to  the  fulfillment  of  the  con- 
tract on  Wheeler's  part,  a  trip  to  Connecticut  was 
necessary,  which  he  made  in  tlie  fall  of  1825.  As- 
sisted by  his  brother-in-law,  James  0.  Judson,  after- 
wards a  resident  of  Florence,  he  made  in  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut,  during  the  following  winter, 
the  articles  contracted  for,  and  returned  with  tliein 
the  next  spring.  They  were  delivered  to  Townsend 
at  Sandusky  and  proved  satisfactory. 

Mr.  Wheeler  resided  in  Townsend  about  seven 
yeai's,  and  during  that  time  but  one  other  settler  had 
moved  into  the  section  on  which  he  lived.    That  settler 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


was  Lewis  Middleton.  Wheeler  moved  to  Clarksfield 
ill  the  fall  of  1830,  and  located  near  the  mills.  His 
energy  and  public  spirit  manifested  themselves  in  a 
number  of  enterprise?.  In  company  with  his  bi'other 
he  carried  on,  during  his  residence  in  Clarksfield,  a 
farm,  a  store,  grist  mill  and  saw  mill  and  also  built 
and  run  a  distillery  for  a  short  time,  but  these  enter- 
prises proved  financially  nnsuccessful.  In  1835,  he 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Florence,  where  he  kept  a  tavern 
and  carried  on  a  grind  stone  factory  for  several  years. 
He  lived  in  Florence  until  18-16,  when  he  removed  to 
Crown  Point,  Lake  county,  Indiana.  A  few  years 
later  he  caught  the  excitement  about  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia and  went  to  that  State,  but  remained  only  a 
few  months,  returning  to  Crown  Point,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  September 
27,  ISTOi  in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age. 

The  settlers  in  the  Barber  settlement  were  generally 
very  poor,  and  lived  in  the  most  primitive  manner. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Benson,  writing  of  their  condition, 
says:  "Some  of  the  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  town- 
ship, were  not  very  fastidious  as  to  what  kind  of 
clothing  they  wore,  and  some  allowed  their  children 
to  be  seen  in  a  state  of  perfect  nudity.  The  writer 
once  called  at  a  house  in  this  place  for  some  water, 
when  a  lad  of  about  twelve  years  was  sent  for  some. 
All  the  clothing  he  had  on  at  the  time  was  what  had 
once  been  the  arm-holes  of  a  waist  coat,  but  which 
was  of  no  more  service  as  an  article  of  clothing  than 
if  it  had  been  a  piece  of  cotton  yarn  crossed  over  his 
shoulders  and  tied.  And  it  is  a  fact  that  some  of  the 
children  were  provided  with  but  a  single  garment — 
that  is  a  shirt  or  frock  of  tow  cloth  for  the  then  cur- 
rent year,  unless  they  were  occasionally  assisted  by 
the  charity  of  others.  But  the  most  astonishing  part 
of  the  story  is,  that  this  extreme  destitution  wa  not 
the  result  of  vicious  habits,  or  ruinous  inebriety,  for 
the  most  of  those  in  this  settlement  were  considered 
a.s  correct  in  their  morals,  and  it  might  be  said, 
pious.  This  is  no  fiction.  And  if  the  real  condition 
of  some  of  those  people,  at  the  time  alluded  to,  should 
be  related  in  detail,  it  would  create  a  doubt  as  to  tlie 
truthfulness  of  the  narrative." 

Although  the  first  settlers  in  Townseiid  were  among 
the  first  in  the  county,  the  township  was  never-the- 
less  much  more  slowly  settled  than  many  others. 
The  land  was  difficult  to  bring  under  subjection,  be- 
ing generally  wet  and  very  heavily  tinibered,  and  the 
township  was  generally  shunned  by  the  earlier  emi- 
grants. Many  who  did  take  up  land,  and  ran  in  debt 
for  it.  were  v)ompelled,  after  years  of  hard  toil  and 
privation,  to  give  up  the  struggle,  thus  losing  the 
improvements  they  had  made.  When  the  land  was 
once  cleared  and  drained,  it  was  found  to  be  very  pro- 
ductive, and  in  the  character  of  its  soil  the  township 
now  ranks  among  the  best  in  the  county. 

Nehemiah  Ordway  came  to  the  Fire-lands  from 
Vermont  with  his  family  in  the  year  1818.  His  first 
settlement  was  on  the  Coinstock  place  in  Norwalk 
townsliip.      In    \>>ii   lie    settled    (Ui    lot    iiiimt)or  one 


hundred  and  thirty-seven  in  the  first  section  of  Town- 
.send.  In  1832  he  sold  to  James  Arnold  and  pur- 
chat-ed  and  settled  near  the  center  of  town  where 
Harlow  House  now  lives.  In  1852  he  moved  to 
Bowling  Green,  Wood  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
April  19,  1873,  aged  nearly  eighty-five.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  was  the  father  of  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  and  one — Martin — in  this 
township. 

Among  those  who  came  in  at  a  later  date  were  the 
Arnolds — two  brothers,  Alfred  and  James.  Alfred 
Arnold,  now  almost  an  octogenarian,  and  in  very 
feeble  health,  came  to  the  Fire-lands  when  a  lid  of 
thirteen  years  with  Abijah  Comstock,  arriving  from 
Fairfield 'county,  Connecticut,  in  1810.  Comstock 
was  then  unmarried,  but  subsequently  he  married 
and  settled  in  the  third  section  of  Norwalk  township, 
and  young  Arnold  continued  to  live  with  the  family 
until  he  attained  his  majority. 

Not  long  after  their  settlement  they  began  to  expe- 
rience annoyances  from  the  Indians.  Comstock 
missed  a  couple  of  his  hogs,  which  he  subsequently 
found  in  the  possession  of  two  Indians,  who  were 
dressing  them  near  where  the  seminary  in.  Milan  now 
stands.  He  demanded  their  surrender,  but  the  In- 
dians refused  to  give  them  up.  Seeing  their  rifles 
against  a  tree  a  few  rods  away,  Comstock  seized  them 
and  carried  them  home,  with  the  intent  on  of  keeping 
them  until  the  hogs  should  be  restored  or  paid  for. 
This  greatly  enraged  the  Indians,  and  dire  conse- 
(juences  were  feared  by  those  who  better  understood 
the  Indian  character  than  did  Comstock.  An  ad- 
justment of  the  difficulty,  however,  was  agreed  upon 
through  the  mediation  of  an  Indian  missionary,  the 
Indians  promising  to  husk  a  piece  of  corn  for  Corn- 
stock  in  payment  of  the  hogs,  when  the  rifles  were  to 
be  returned.  On  the  day  appointed  the  Indians  be- 
gan the  fulfillment  of  their  part  of  the  bargain,  men, 
women,  and  children  engaging  in  the  work.  A  few 
hours  after,  Comstock  went  out  to  see  how  the  work 
was  progressing,  when  he  discovered  to  his  amaze- 
ment that  instead  of  putting  it  in  piles  the  Indians 
dro[)ped  the  corn  as  they  husked  it  and  then  pressed 
it  into  the  wet  ground  with  their  feet.  Comstock 
was  glad  to  buy  them  otf,  which  he  did,  and  to  return 
their  rifles  to  boot. 

When  intelligence  of  Hull's  surrender  was  received, 
Mr.  Comstock  returned  to  Connecticut.  He  saw  that 
he  was  a  special  object  of  tlie  animosity  of  the  Indians 
and  believed  that  his  presence  would  tend  to  excite 
them  to  acts  of  violence.  He  instructed  young  Ar- 
nold, in  case  of  threatened  danger,  to  take  Mrs.  Com- 
stock and  baby,  then  a  week  old,  to  Wooster.  While 
the  boy  was  in  the  woods  after  the  cattle,  that  same 
day,  an  Indian  suddenly  accosted  him  with  "How 
Alfred?"  It  was  the  Indian  Omick,  afterwards  exe- 
cuted at  Cleveland  for  murder.  The  boy  had  often 
seen  him,  but  never,  as  now,  in  his  war  paint  and 
feathers.  He  intiuired  about  Mr.  Comstock.  The 
bov  said  he  had  iroi.e  to  Connecticut.     He  then  asked 


(jl)5  aVwvlJ^WurAA 


Dudley  S.  Humphrey  was  the  eighth  child  of  Dudley 
Humphrey  and  Polly  M.  Sherman.  He  was  horn  in  Goshen, 
Conn.,  Nov.  21,  1814.  His  early  life  was  spent  among  the 
hills  of  New  England.  In  the  winter  of  1834-35  he,  with 
his  hrother  William,  engaged  in  a  lumber  speculation  which 
resulted  in  the  purchase  of  a  large  number  of  clocks.  To 
dispose  of  these  clocks,  the  brothers  decided  that  the  West 
offered  the  most  inviting  and  promising  field  not  only  for 
the  sale  of  their  clocks.'but  for  future  enterprises.  During 
the  year  1835  they  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Parma,  near 
Cleveland,  where  they  remained  about  fourteen  years.  Their 
first  venture  in  the  lumber  business  having  proved  remunera- 
tive, together  with  their  natural  fitness  for  the  business,  both 
of  them  having  a  taste  for  mechanics,  they  again  embarked 
in  tlie  lumber  and  clock  business,  built  a  water,  afterward  a 
steam,  saw-mill  in  Parma,  and  developed  a  large  trade. 

Our  subject  married  Mabel  F.  Fay,  of  Parma,  Ohio,  March 
10,  1847,  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Mina  S.,  married 
A.  D.  Scott,  of  Wakeman,  and  is  now  living  in  Hartland. 
Harlow,  Dudley  S.,  David,  and  Linnie  are  unmarried  and 
live  in  Townsend. 

The  scarcity  of  timber  in  Parma  induced  the  brothers  to 
come  to  Townsend,  which  they  did  in  the  year  1849,  and  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land.  They  built  mills  and  opened 
business  on  a  large  scale.  During  the  partnership  of  the 
brothers  thrv  built  over  forty  steam  and  water  saw-mills 
througli  till-  West.  They  were  the  first  to  introduce  and  use  the 
"Mulay  Gaiig-Saws,"  an-d  "  Cone  Pulley-Feed."  In  Janu- 
ary, 18.j1,  whil''  Working  with  a  circular  siding-saw,  an  acci- 
dent occurred  whii  h  i.  -ult  ■.!  in  the  amputation  of  his  right 
hand.  Seriou>:is  \v;i-  tl]i-  :o\ident,pressof  business, ingenuity, 
and  ambition  mailo  the  Im  ttir  use  of  his  remaining  hand,  as 
well  as  the  machinery;  in  fact,  he  is  said  to  have  handled 
tools  and  machinery  rnore  skillfully  with  one  hand  than  most 
persons  would  with  two. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Humphrey  moved  to  the  southeast  part  of  the 
township,  where  they  owned  a  tract  of  land  and  a  mill.  He 
divided  his  attention  between  the  mill  and  farm. 

In  1860  he  returned  to  Townsend  Centre  and  remained  until 
1863,  when  he  returned  to  the  farm  on  the  townline  road, 
and  gave  his  attention  to  its  improvement  and  embellishment. 
He  was  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  fruit-  and  forest-trees,  as  the 
large  orchards  and  many  shade-trees  on  the  farm  will  attest. 
He  planted  out  over  five  miles  of  maple-trees  along  the  road- 
way, which  gave  the  name  of  Maple  Street  to  the  road  so 
improved.  His  admiration  for  shade-trees  will  he  seen  from 
the  following  circumstance : 

In  opening  a  jiublic  highway  on  one  side  of  his  farm,  a 


number  of  thrifty  maples  stood  in  what  was  to  be  the  centre 
roadway.  The  supervisor  attempted  to  cut  them  down,  but 
our  subject  defended  them  so  vigorously  that  the  supervisor 
was  forced  to  desist  at  the  time,  and,  to  make  the  protection 
complete,  served  an  injunction  on  the  supervisors,  which  was 
made  perpetual  by  the  courts.  More  than  four  hundred  of 
his  friends  and  neighbors  joined  him,  it  is  said,  with  aflBdavits 
in  defense  of  the  trees.  Those  trees  still  stand  as  monuments 
to  the  memory  and  fidelity  of  him  who  so  nobly  defended 
them. 

His  school-room  education  ended  with  his  thirteenth  year, 
as  the  financial  condition  of  his  parents  was  such  as  to  oblige 
the  sons  to  commence  their  business  life  early.  He  was  tem- 
perate in  his  habits  and  industrious  always, — as  might  be 
expected  of  a  New  England  boy, — which  may  explain  the 
force  and  vigor  of  his  later  life.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  others,  and  in  building  up  for  the  comfort  of 
those  who  were  to  follow.  Was  public-spirited  and  generous 
to  a  fault.  It  has  been  said  that  he  and  his  brother  William 
did  more  to  relieve  the  township  from  draft  during  the  late 
war  than  all  the  rest  of  the  township  combined.  His  educa- 
tion, like  his  brother's,  was  self-acquired  for  the  most  part, 
and  few  men  in  the  country  read  more,  and  fewer  still  were 
more  successful  in  business. 

In  1872  he  indorsed  paper  for  some  manufacturers  in  Wake- 
man,  and  in  1873,  when  the  financial  crash  came,  these  manu- 
facturers failed,  and  he  to  save  himself  took  the  mill  property, 
which  required  a  still  greater  outlay  of  money.  He  never 
recovered  this  loss,  as  prices  declined  with  the  demand  for 
manufactured  goods  as  well  as  grains  and  stock. 

He  gave  generouslj'  to  all  church  organizations  seeking  aid, 
but  his  belief  and  sympathies  were  with  the  Universalists. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  courage,  fine  presence,  and  wonderful 
nerve.  When  he  met  with  an  accident  requiring  a  surgical 
operation, — he  broke  a  leg  two  or  thres  times  badly,  lost  a 
too  and  a  hand, — he  refused  all  antesthetics,  preferring  to  be 
in  perfect  command  of  his  senses  during  the  painful  operation. 
He  died  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  Oct.  19,  1876,  after  an  illness 
of  several  months. 

His  wife,  who  so  nobly  sustained  him  in  his  eft'orts,  still  sur- 
vives him.  She  was  ever  faithful  in  seconding  the  efforts  of 
her  husband,  and  is  a  loving  and  affectionate  mother.  The 
two  older  sons,  Harlow  and  Dudley  S.,  though  up  to  the  time 
of  the  death  of  their  father  unaccustomed  to  care  and  respon- 
sibility, with  a  courage  and  determination  rarelv  equaled, 
have  shouldered  the  indebtedness  of  the  estate,  anj  hope,  by 
application  to  business  and  strict  economy,  to  discharge  the 
incumbrances. 


.^t4v. 


William  Humphrey  was  born  in  Goshen,  Conn.,  Oct.  l.S,  1S12, 
and  w:ui  the  seventh  child  of  Dudley  Humphrev  and  Polly  M.  Sher- 
man. He  married  Sarah  A.  Kierce.  of  Cornwail,  Conn.,  April,  1834. 
By  this  union  were  born  four  eliildrcii :  Einuiii  L..uis:i,  nuirricd  Joseph 
Hyde,  an  extensive  farmer,  aini  lt\  e>  in  ihr  iinnlica^r  ]M.rtion  of  the 
township.  Sarah  Alice,  miirrird  (ieuri^L-  llurLnis.  larm.r.  truit-,ij;rower, 
and  manufacturer  of  lumber,  and  lives  near  Cullins'  Statiun,  in  the 
same  township.  Delia  Luerctia,  married  W.  D.  Johnson,  a  merchant, 
at  the  centre  of  Townsend;  she  died  June  15,  1869.  Willie,  died  in 
infancy. 

Mrs.  Humphrey  died  Nov.  13,  1854.  Our  subject  married  his 
second  wife.  Miss  Sarah  M.  Hyde,  of  Wakeman,  Ohio,  June  28,  1855, 
who  survives  him.  At  an  early  age  the  subject  of  our  sketch  mani- 
fested unusual  mechanical  skill  and  ingenuity,  and  during  his  busi- 
ness life  invented  many  improvements  in  machinery ;  among  which 
is  what  is  still  known  as  "  Humphrey's  Direct  Action  Steam-Mill," 
also  the  *'  Humphrey  Double  Action  Pump.'' 

In  1835  he  removed  from  Connecticut  to  Parma,  Ohio,  where,  with 
his  brother,  Dudley  S.  Humphrey,  ho  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
clocks,  lumber,  etc.  In  1849  the  two  brothers  came  to  Townsend, 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  commenced  lumbering  on  a  large 
scale.  They  built  mills  and  plank  roads,  and  furnished  employment 
for  a  large  number  of  men. 

What  was  an  almost  unbroken  forest  in  1849  is  now  adorned  by 
two  thriving  villages,  broad  acres  of  pasture,  meadow,  and  orchard 

He  was  president  of  the  Centre  Plank  Road  Company,  and  was  one 
of  the  principal  movers  in  the  enterprise  :  in  fact,  was  the  animating 
force  in  eompletini;  the  work. 

The  lumber  ULinutMeliired  by  tbeui  \v;is,  to  a  large  extent.  Sent  to  an 
Eastern  market  through  Milmi  as  the  nearest  shipping-point  for  water 
transit:  hence  they  became  the  ino.^t  extensive  patrons  of  the  plank 
road.  He  soon  became  the  largest  landholder  in  the  township,  and 
continued  to  be  up  to  the  time  of  his  sudden  demise. 

He  was  coo),  self-reliant,  and  always  in  full  command  of  his  forces, 
no  matter  what  the  einer;eniy.  When,  as  was  froiiucntly  the  case, 
one  of  his  mill-inm  wntiM  m.,  i  widi  an  aiviMrnt  requiring  surgical 
skill,  like  the  crn-liiii- i-r  a  linni  ,„■  ihr  lural^ing  of  an  arm,  he  was 
the  first  ipan  suugiit  lor:  w  h.  n,  wiih  |.o,  k.t  knilo.  needle,  splints,  and 
bandage,  with  steu'ly  nerve  ;\\\A  really  jud^uunt,  he  would  dress  the 
wound  so  acceptably  that  the  .'■urgeon  would  seldom  change  it. 

He  went  boldly  forward  with  business  enterprises  where  many  of 
large  experience,  even,  would  hesitate  and  doubt.  His  judgment  on 
all  business  matters  in  which  he  had  the  management  was  clear, 
decided,  and  came  by  intuition  apparently.     In  every  sense  of  the 


word  he  was  a'Jarge-heartcd,  broad-gauged  man,  of  prepossessing 
appearance,  attractive  and  genial  in  manner, — with  strangers  as  well 
as  friends. 

He  scorned  a  mean  or  dishonorable  transaction,  and  was  incapable 
of  doing  a  mean  thing  himself,  and  despised  it  in  others.  Comldned 
with  his  other  social  qualities  was  the  nire  Irnit  of  equanimity  of 
temper  and  forbearance,  even  under  strong  provocation,  remembering 
the  injury  only  to  render  some  kind  office  to  the  offender  when  in 
need,  which  was  frequently  the  case.  This  quality  seemed  to  be  recog- 
nized most  fully  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Not  only  his  business,  but  his  charities  and  his  sympathies  were 
on  a  broad  and  generous  scale.  He  would  always  prefer  to  lose  a  debt 
than  distress  a  poor,  industrious  man.  He  was  a  peacemaker  of  his 
neighborhood,  and,  no  matter  what  the  press  of  business,  would  atten- 
tively listen  to  the  misfortunes  and  trials  of  others,  and,  like  a  father, 
freely  advise  those  who  sought  his  kindly  offices. 

The  estate  of  his  father  having  been  absorbed  by  indorsements  for 
friends  in  the  early  life  of  our  subject,  he  knew  all  about  poverty, 
and  struggles,  and  misfortune,  and  his  kindly  sympathies  were  de- 
veloped in  that  school  of  experience  which  alone  seems  fitted  to  make 
men  Gndlike,  and  gives  them  active,  intelligent  sympathy  for  the 
unfortunate.  To  his  immediate  family  ho  was  a  tower  of  strength 
and  a  fountain  of  love.  As  a  neighbor,  kind  and  obliging.  As  a 
citizen,  liberal  and  patriotic.  His  biographer  finds  a  pleasure  iu 
writing  of  one  who  was  endeared  to  a  whole  community  by  so  many 
amiable  qualities,  and  who  was  so  entirely  lelf-tnndc. 

His  school-room  education  ended  with  his  twelfth  year.  Few  men 
with  a  classical  education  were  more  ])rosperous  in  business.  His 
education  was  practical,  an  1  ae.niired  in  the  school  of  experience. 

Politically,  ho  affiliated  witli  tin-  lUi ralic  party,  but  was  said  to 

be  in  active  sympathy  with  the  mainlenaneo  of  constitutional  liberty, 
and  untiring  in  his  labors  for  the  comfort  of  soldiers  during  the  late 
war.  He  was  nominated  by  his  party  for  representative,  August,  1865, 
at  a  time  when  his  party  was  in  a  hopeless  minority,  and  of  course 
was  not  elected,  though  he  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

lie  never  was  a  member  of  any  church  organization,  but  treated 
all  with  respect.  His  religion  was  to  rfo  i/aod  lo  his  /elloic, — to  help 
those  in  want.  In  short,  he  was  one  of  those  few  noble  souls  who 
could  rise  above  church,  creed,  and  formulated  dogma,  and  reach 
that  higher  principle  from  which  it  is  possible  to  know  God  by  dis- 
covering the  Almighty  in  the  soul. 

He  met  his  death,  Nov.  23,  1874,  by  the  breaking  of  a  scaffolding, 
while  engaged  in  repairing  the  roof  of  his  dwelling-house.  The  fall 
broke  his  skull,  causing  his  death  within  a  few  hours,  and  he  was 
unconscious  most  of  the  time  until  death  relea.^ed  him. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


247 


about  Mrs.  Conretock  aud,  fiually,  "How  papoose?" 
This  question  startled  the  boy,  for  he  knew  tliat  the 
babe  had  never  been  out  of  the  house,  and  the  Indian 
had  evidently  been  lurking  about  the  place.  The 
savage,  noticing  the  boy's  agitation,  endeavored  to 
reassure  him.  Taking  him  by  the  hair  he  addressed 
him  thus:  "Me  no  scalp  you,  Alfred.  You  good 
boy;  give  Injun  corn  bread.  Me  no  kill  ijon."  This 
emphatic  assurance,  that  his  own  life  was  not  in 
jeopardy,  did  not  tend  to  quiet  the  boy's  fears.  He 
hurried  home  with  the  oxen,  and  informed  Mrs.  Com- 
stock  of  the  circnmstance  in  the  woods.  They  decided 
not  to  remain  in  the  house  another  night,  and  prepa 
rations  for  flight  were  at  once  commenced.  They  got 
started  by  evening  and,  after  a  tedious  journey,  ar- 
rived at  Wooster,  where  they  learned  that  their  cabin 
was  burned  the  night  they  left,  and  everything  de- 
stroyed that  had  been  left  behind.  The  family  soon 
went  to  tlie  block  house,  where  they  were  afterwards 
joined  by  Mr.  Comstock.  There  they  re  aincd  until 
after  Perry's  victory,  when  they  returned  to  tlieir 
ruined  liome. 

When  j'oung  Arnold  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
Mr.  Comstock  gave  him  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Nor- 
walk  township.  He  built  himself  a  cabin  and  kept 
bachelors'  hall  for  five  years,  and  then  exchanged  his 
farm  for  a  team,  harness  and  wagon. 

While  in  attendance  at  a  party  a  short  time  after- 
wards, his  team  broke  loose  and  ran  away,  Ijoth  horses 
being  killed.  He  sold  what  remained  of  his  harness 
and  wagon  for  fifteen  years — the  total  amount  of  his 
earnings  for  fourteen  dollars.  He  went  back  to  the 
State  of  New  I'ork,  where  his  father  was  then  living; 
but,  after  remaining  a  year,  returned  to  this  county 
and  bought,  jointly  with  Nehemiah  Ordway,  a  part 
of  lot  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  iu  section  one. 

In  1831,  the  year  following  the  arrival  of  his 
brother,  James  Arnold,  with  his  family,  consisting  of 
his  wife  and  a  son  six  years  of  age,  arrived  from 
Utica,  New  Y'ork.  The  family  were  accompanied  by 
a  young  lady,  who  subsequently  became  the  wife  of 
Alfred  Arnold.  James  bought  out  Ord way's  interest, 
the  remainder  of  the  lot  was  purchased,  and  the  two 
brothers  remained  iu  partnership  for  six  years,  when 
a  division  was  made,  Alfred  taking  the  east  and 
James  tlie  west  half.  The  former  now  lives  on  his 
original  purchase.  James  resided  here  seventeen 
year.s,  when  he  sold  and  moved  to  the  center  of  town, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  with  the  old  block  house  iu 
which  William  Townsend  had  kept  store.  Tlie  next 
year  Mr.  Arnold  erected  a  framed  building  in  which 
he  opened  a  store,  and  continued  in  merchandise  for 
many  years.  He  now  resides  at  the  center,  aged 
nearly  seventy-six.  Mr.  Arnold  was  the  agent  of 
William  Townsend  for  the  sale  of  his  land  for  mailj- 
years. 

W.  S.  Hyde,  now  living  at  Collins,  came  to  the 
Fire-lands  iu  1833,  from  Fairfield  county,  Connecti- 
cut. He  was,  for  several  years,  one  of  the  active 
business  men  of  Milan.     He  was  one  of  the  original 


proprietors  of  the  town  site  of  the  village  of  Collins, 
and  is  the  inventor  of  the  "Hyde  Cultivator."  He 
has  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Hiram  Boardman  came  to  this  township  from 
Massachusetts,  alone,  on  foot,  in  the  spring  of  1835. 
He  bought  his  farm  and  then  returned  east  for  his 
family,  with  whom  he  arrived  iu  June  following.  He 
died  in  Townsend  iu  1871,  aged  sixty-five  years. 

E.  C.  Riggs  and  family,  and  a  family  by  the  name 
of  Beckwith,  settled  in  1834,  the  former  on  lot  fifty, 
and  the  latter  on  twenty-five,  section  three.  Alva 
Low  arrived  about  the  same  time. 

Marcus  L.  Ward,  from  Cayuga  county,  New  York, 
located  where  he  now  resides  in  1834,  and  Martin 
Denman,  from  Delaware  county.  New  York,  about 
the  same  time,  taking  up  his  abode  where  his  son 
Cyrus  now  lives. 

Amasrt  Finch  and  family  removed  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Townsend  in  November,  1836,  locating  a 
mile  and  a  half  east  of  the  center.  He  afterwards 
lived  for  a  time  in  Clarksfield  and  in  Wakeman,  but 
spent  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in  this  township, 
where  he  died,  iu  1877,  aged  nearly  seventy-eight. 
His  widow  now  lives  near  the  center.  Three  children 
are  living.  Julia  Ann  is  the  wife  of  S.  G.  Waldron, 
of  Townsend,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made.  Piatt 
W.  lives  in  Clarksfield,  and  C'hauncey  in  this  town- 
ship. 

Isaac  Trimmer,  liis  wife,  and  his  wife's  mother, 
moved  in  from  Cayuga  county.  New  Y'ork,  in  the  fall 
of  1839.  Mr.  Trimmer  made  his  location  where  he 
now  lives,  on  the  west  part  of  lot  sevent}--five  in  the 
third  section.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth 
Trimmer,  came  on  some  years  subsequently,  but  re- 
mained only  a  year,  when  they  returned  to  New  Y'"ork, 
where  he  died  in  1803.  Mrs.  Trimmer  then  came  to 
Townsend,  making  her  home  with  her  son  Isaac  the 
remainder  of  her  life.  She  died  January  18,  1876,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-nine  years,  six  months, 
and  fourteen  days.  She  was  born  on  the  fourth  day 
of  July,  1770,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  she  survived.  Her  mother 
lived  to  the  age  of  one  hundred  yeai-s,  and  her  ma- 
ternal grandfather  reached  the  great  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ten.  In  her  father's  large  family  there  was 
but  one  son,  and  it  soinetimes  became  necessary  for 
the  daughters  to  assist  in  the  work  on  the  farm,  and 
it  is  said  Mrs.  Trimmer  raked  and  bound  grain  many 
a  day  and  kept  up  with  the  cradler. 

White  Sammis  moved  into  Townsend  from  Cayuga 
county,  New  Y'ork,  in  the  year  1837.  He  cleaerd  up 
the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  family.  He 
died  January  2,  1859,  leaving  a  wife  and  three  child- 
ren surviving  him.  Mrs.  Sammis  is  still  living,  well 
advanced  in  life.  She  makes  her  home  with  her  son 
Anson. 

The  number  of  the  white  male  inluibitants  of  Town- 
send  in  1827,  above  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  as 
shown  by  the  enumeration  made  by  the  County  As- 
sessor for  that  year,  was  thirty-five,  as  follows: 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


George  Kellogg. 
Henry  Kellogg. 
Horatio  Thompson. 
■William  Burdue. 
George  Miller. 
David  Goodell . 
Amon  Milliraan . 
Bryant  Milliman. 
Stephen  Heath. 
Lewis  Middleton . 
Sheldon  Barnes. 
Nathaniel  Calhoun. 


TOWNSEND  35. 

Johnson  Wheeler. 
John  Miller. 
Edward  Mollony 
Joseph  Purdy . 
Charles  Purdy. 
Nehemiah  Ordway. 
Alfred  Arnold. 
Thomas  Farrand . 
Joseph  Waldron. 
Jeremiah  Milspau 
George  Milspau . 
Abijah  Barber. 

EARLY    EVEXT.S. 


Amaziah  Barber. 
Benjamin  Bailey. 
Benjamin  Benson. 
Frederick  Perring. 
Augustus  Barber. 
John  Barber. 
David  Barber. 
Ansel  Barber. 
Amaziah  Barber,  Jr. 
Caleb  Knapp : 
Thomas  E.  Fletcher. 


The  tii-.st  wedding  in  Townseud  was  that  of  Dr. 
Lyniau  Fay,  of  Mihiu,  and  Miss  Caroline  Kellogg, 
daughter  of  Orisimus  Kellogg,  of  this  township. 
This  event  occurred  at  the  house  of  the  bride's  father, 
July  21.  1816,  David  Abbott,  Esq.,  tying  the  nuptial 
knot. 

William  and  Elizabeth  Burdue  were  the  parents 
of  the  first  white  children  born  in  the  township. 
They  were  twins,  were  born  in  the  year  1816,  and 
lived  only  a  few  months.  The  next  birth  was  that  of 
Roxena  Goodell,  daughter  of  David  and  Electa  Good- 
ell. She  was  born  June  19,  1817,  married  Amherst 
Ordway,  January  24,  1838,  and  died  in  Wood  county, 
Ohio,  May  11,  1876.  A  birth  also  occurred  in  one  of 
the  Barber  families  in  1817. 

David  Sayre,  was  the  first  person  that  died  in  the 
township,  but  the  date  we  are  unable  to  give. 

The  first  tavern  was  opened  by  Moses  D.  Fowler, 
in  the  southwest  part  of  town,  on  the  Medina  road, 
about  the  year  1834.  On  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
cross  roads,  where  the  west  line  road  intersects  the  Me- 
dina road,  stands  the  old  "Blue  Fly"  erected  by  William 
Thompson  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  years  ago.  It 
was  originally  painted  blue.  Some  one  facetiously 
dubbed  it  "the  blue  fly"  and  the  place  has  always 
been  known  by  that  name.  Thompson  kept  it  as  a 
tavern  for  five  or  six  years  when  he  sold  it  to  Theodore 
Williams,  of  Norwalk,  who  now  owns  it.  It  is  now 
used  as  a  dwelling. 


The  first  school  house  was  built  in  the  Barber  set- 
tlement, about  the  year  1818.  The  first  school  teacher 
is  not  known  with  certainty,  but  is  generally  supposed 
to  have  been  Jasper  Miles,  who  taught  a  winter 
school.  Miss  Polly  Barber,  (now  Mrs.  Samuel  Sher- 
man, aged  nearly  eighty, )  kept  the  first  summer  school. 
Lucy  Tenant  was  among  the  earliest  school  teachers 
in  the  township.  She  taught  in  a  log  dwelling 
which  stood  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  S.  G. 
Waldron,  in  the  southeast  part  of  town.  A  seminary, 
called  "The  Western  Reserve  Union  Institute,"  was 
established  at  Collins,  in  1855,  chiefly  through  the 
efforts  of  W.  S.  Hyde.  The  institution  derived  its 
support  from  the  tuition  of  its  pupils,  and  was  not 
incorporated.  It  had  an  existence  until  about  the 
year  1870,  when  the  building  was  purchased  by  the 
township,  and  has  since  liccn  used  as  a  district  school. 


RELIGIOUS. 


THE    BAPTIST   CHfRCH 


was  organized  in  Penfield,  New  York,  in  1810,  and 
consisted  of  five  members,  namely  :  Abijah  Barber, 
Benjamin  Bailey,  Acsah  Bailey,  Jasper  Miles  and 
Betsey  Miles,  all  of  whom  removed  to  this  township 
the  following  year.  It  was  originally  called  "The 
Peace  Baptist  Church,"  one  of  the  articles  of  its  con- 
stitution condemning,  "all  carnal  wars  and  fighting, 
and  the  use  of  carnal  weapons,  in  self  defence,  as  un- 
warranted by  Scripture." 

The  members,  on  removing  to  this  township,  kept 
up  their  organization,  the  earliest  meetings  being  held 
at  their  respective  dwellings. 

Elder  French,  a  Baptist  minister,  preaclied  tlie  first 
sermon  in  the  townsliip. 

Elder  Phillips,  of  Berlin,  was  also  one  of  the 
eai'liest  preachers  of  that  denomination  that  preached 
in  the  township. 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Elder  R.  W.  Yiuing, 
who  began  his  labors  in  1^37.  Since  Mr.  Yining,  J. 
R.  Abbott,  J.  Freeman,  F.  P.  Hall,  A.  J.  Ellis, 
D.  B.  Simms,  John  Kyle,  E.  R.  Richmond,  J.  P. 
Islip  and  S.  A.  F.  Freshney,  have  successively  officia- 
ted as  pastors.  The  latter's  term  of  service  has  not 
yet  expired. 

A  church  building  was  erected  at  tiie  center,  in 
1850,  costing  about  five  hundred  dollars.  The 
society  has  at  present  a  membership  of  fifty-three. 
Edwin  Kinney  is  clerk  ;  William  Bott  and  John 
Teed,  deacons  ;  Edwin  Kinney  is  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath  school,  which  is  small,  numbering  some 
twenty-five  or  thirty  scholars. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

We  are  indeljted  to  Rev.  George  A.  Weber,  pastor 
of  the  church,  for  the  facts  in  tlie  following  state- 
ment: 

The  churcli  was  in  existence  at  Townsend  Center 
in  the  spring  of  1839;  how  long  before  that,  or  by 
whom  organized,  can  not  be  ascertained.  The  first 
meetings  were  held  in  an  old  red  school  house  a  short 
distance  southeast  of  the  center.  The  building  is 
now  used  by  H.  Boardman  as  a  bee-liouse.  There 
wei-e  then  two  other  M.  E.  Societies  in  the  township, 
one  of  which  met  in  a  school  house  on  the  east  town 
line,  and  the  other  in  a  school  house  (recently  burned) 
about  two  miles  further  west.  The  society  at  the 
center  had  a  precarious  existence  until  the  completion 
of  its  house  of  worship  in  1852,  at  which  time  the 
other  classes  referred  to  disbanded,  some  of  the  mem- 
bers uniting  with  the  church  at  the  center  and  others 
going  elsewhere.  In  1849,  when  the  Brothers  Burton 
and  Curtiss  Fairchikl  with  their  wives  united,  there 
were  only  eleven  members,  themselves  included.  The 
names  of  the  other  members  were  as  follows :  A.  D. 
Bryant  (leader),  his  wife  and  father,  Zenas  Graham, 
Alva  Brewster  and  wife,  and  a  Mrs.  Yining. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


249 


Regular  services,  wliich  had  not  been  previously 
held,  were  at  once  established  and  have  continued, 
without  intermission,  until  the  present.  They  were 
held  in  the  school  house  which  then  stood  upon  the 
site  of  the  present  school  building  at  the  center,  but 
now  stands  a  short  distance  further  west,  and  is  used 
by  the  Good  Templars  as  a  lodge-room.  The  church 
has  grown  from  that  little  band  of  eleven,  in  1849.  to 
a  present  membership  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight, 
including  thirty  probationers. 

From  18.38  to  1841,  the  following  ministers  were 
on  the  Clarksfield  circuit,  in  which  this  church  was 
embraced,  viz:  J.  L.  Ferris,  William  Disbro,  Thomas 
Barkdull,  W.  J.  Wells,  John  H.  C'urtiss,  James 
Brewster  and  John  0.  Conoway.  L.  B.  Gurley  was 
the  presiding  elder. 

The  following  were  the  preachers  from  1849  to 
1860,  to  wit:  Hiram  Humphrey,  Luke  Johnson,  John 
R.  Jewett,  H.  M.  Close,  Wm.  Hustiss,  J.  M.  Wilcox, 
G.  W.  Breckenridge,  E.  H.  Bush,  James  Evans, 
Jacob  A.  Brown,  Ralph  Wilcox  and  John  McKeau. 
During  that  time  (from  1849  to  1860),  or  at  least  a 
portion  of  it,  the  society  was  included  in  the  Florence 
circuit,  and  two  preachers  were  constantly  employed. 

The  cliui-ch  building  was  begun  in  the  summer  of 
1851  and  completed,  during  the  pastorate  of  John  R. 
Jewett,  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and  cost  fourteen  hundred 
dollars.  The  dedication  sermon  was  [ireached  by 
Edward  Thompson,  D.  D.,  afterwards  bishop. 

The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  the  spring  of 
1853.  George  Perkins  was  the  first  superintendent. 
The  present  membership  is  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty.  George  D.  Liles  is  at  present  the  superin- 
tendent. 

TEMPiiRAXCE    SOCIETIES. 

A  lodge  of  Good  Templars  was  organized  at  the 
center  of  Townsend  in  1867,  with  about  forty  mem- 
bers. The  society  occupied,  for  a  time,  a  building 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  A.  D.  Smith's  shop.  The 
building  was  subsequently  destroyed  by  fire,  the  soci- 
ety losing  some  two  hundred  dollars  thereby.  For 
seven  months  succeeding  this  event  the  meetings  were 
held  ia  the  house  of  E.  Kinney,  when  the  old  school 
house  just  west  of  the  center  was  obtained  and  fitted 
up  for  a  lodge  room  and  has  since  been  used  by  the 
society. 

TEMPEKAXCE  ML'Tl.VL  I.MPROVEMEXT  SOCIETY. 

The  Dbji'Ct  (if  thi^  organization  is  two-fold:  to 
diminish  iiitemperauee  and  to  jirovide  a  means  for 
mental  improvement.  The  members  pledge  them- 
selves to  abstain  from  the  use,  as  a  beverage,  of  in- 
toxicating drinks.  The  literary  exercises  consist  of 
declamations,  essays  and  the  discussion  of  temperance 
topics.  The  society  was  formed  in  November,  1874, 
with  forty-seven  members,  and  up  to  the  present  time 
five  hundred  and  thirty  names  have  been  added  to  the 
list  of   moml)ership.     The  exercises    arc   held    alter- 


nately in  the   Methodist  and  Baptist  churches  at  the 
center. 

POST    OFFICE. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  1833  or  1834, 
with  Daniel  Phillips  as  postmaster,  who  kept  the 
office  in  his  house,  on  lot  ninety  two,  in  the  first  sec- 
tion. The  office  was  called  East  Townsend,  which 
name  it  has  retained  until  the  present  time,  for  the 
reason  that  there  was  an  office  in  Sandusky  county  of 
the  name  of  Townsend.  Phillips'  administration  was 
defective  in  one  particular:  he  failed  to  account  to  the 
government  for  the  receipts  of  his  office,  and  some 
three  years  after  his  appointment,  James  Arnold  and 
Nehemiah  Ordway,  his  bondsmen,  received  a  notifica- 
tion from  Washington  that  the  official  was  then  in 
arrears  to  the  government  in  the  sum  of  about  seven- 
teen dollars.  The  amount  was  paid  by  the  bondsmen, 
and  Phillips  was  removed  from  office,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hiram  Boardman,  who  served  for  a  term  of 
six  or  seven  years.  White  Sammis  w:is  tiien  appointed 
and  held  the  position  three  years,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  James  Arnold,  and  the  location  of  the  office 
changed  to  tbe  center  of  the  township.  Mr.  Arnold 
kept  the  office  five  or  six  years,  and  was  followed  by 
Jaspsr  St.  John  who  held  the  place  for  a  few  months 
only,  when  John  Miller  received  the  appointment. 
The  office  was  then  removed  to  the  railroad,  half  a 
mile  further  north,  and  continued  there  some  four 
years,  when  it  was  re-established  at  the  center,  with 
William  Humphrey  as  postmaster.  He  served  two 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by  James  Arnold,  who  con- 
tinued until  the  appointment  of  the  present  incum- 
bent, W.  D.  Johnson,  in  October,  1873. 

The  first  east  and  west  mail  throughTownsend  was 
carried,  on  foot,  by  a  man  of  the  name  of  Coles, 
whose  trip  extended  from  Akron  to  Norwalk.  At 
first  his  mail  bag  consisted  of  a  large  sized  pocket 
book,  locked  with  a  padlock  of  about  the  size  of  a 
silver  half  dollar,  but  the  first  trip  he-made  through 
Townsend  his  '"mail  bag"  was  entirely  empty.  An 
early  mail  carrier  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Waldron, 
and  on  one  of  his  trips  through  the  woods  he  threw 
the  mail  bag  at  a  deer,  knocking  it  down,  and  before 
the  animal  could  regain  his  feet  he  jumped  upon  it 
and  cut  its  throat  with  a  pocket-knife.  A  man  by 
the  name  of  De  Bow  carried  the  mail  from  Norwalk 
to  Medina,  back  in  the  twenties.  His  route  passed 
witliin  twenty  or  thirty  rods  of  Thomas  Fletcher's 
house,  on  the  creek,  south  of  the  Medina  road. 
Fletciier  cut  a  mortice  in  a  large  white  oak  tree,  on 
the  road,  for  tiic  reception  of  his  mail,  and  made  an 
arrangement  with  the  mail  carrier  to  blow  his  tin  horn 
whenever  his  "  box"  contained  any  mail.  The  ar- 
rangement was  faithfully  carried  out  by  De  Bow,  and 
the  sound  of  his  liorn  became  as  familiar  as  the  song 
of  the  whip-poor-will. 

I'lIYSRlAXS. 

The  eailiest  doctors  wiio  practiced  in  the  township 
were  doubtless  from  the  surrouiuling   towns.     Tlie 


250 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


first  resident  pliysician  was  Dr.  G.  R.  Stanton,  who 
located  at  the  center,  .and  began  to  practice  in  1847. 
He  remained  for  six  or  seven  years  and  then  removed 
to  Lawrence,  Kansas,  where  he  now  lives.  Dr. 
Morse  came  in  soon  after,  but  remained  only  a  year, 
when  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Hoyt  was 
an  early  practitioner  of  physic  here.  Dr.  Charles 
Arnold  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1848, 
and  continued  until  1851,  when  he  removed  to  Mon- 
roeville.  He  now  resides  at  Townsend  Center,  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  violins.  Dr.  E.  Martin, 
the  present  physician  residing  at  the  center,  moved 
into  the  place  in  the  fall  of  1851.  He  is  of  the  regu- 
lar school,  deriving  his  medical  education  at  Hudson 
Medical  College,  Cleveland,  where  he  graduated  in 
1855.  He  is  at  present  the  only  resident  doctor  in 
the  township,  and  has  an  extensive  practice.  Since 
Dr.  Martin  began  here,  two  or  three  others  have 
started  in  practice,  but  remained  only  a  short  time. 

ORGAKIZATIOX    OF   TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  election  for  township  officers  was  held,  in 
pursuance  of  an  order  of  the  supreme  court,  October 
15,  1820,  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Bailey.  Jasper 
Miles,  Abijah  Barber,  and  Isaac  E.  Wright  were 
judges,  and  Frederick  Perring  and  Roj-al  Munger 
clerks  of  election.  Township  officers  were  elected  as 
follows:  Frederick  Perring,  clerk;  Abijah  Barber, 
David  Lee,  and  Benjamin  Bailey,  trustees;  Thomas 
E.  Fletcher  and  Isaac  R.  Wright,  overseers  of  the 
poor;  Royal  Munger  and  David  C.  Lewis,  fence  view- 
ers; Hiram  Bailey,  appraiser  of  property;  Samuel 
Sherman,  lister;  Abijah  Barber,  treasurer;  Royal 
Munger,  constaJjle.  On  the  15th  of  November,  fol- 
lowing, an  election  was  held  for  justice  of  the  peace. 
There  were  nine  votes  cast,  all  of  which  were  given 
to  Jasper  Miles.  The  poll  book  of  this  election,  on 
file  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  Huron  county,  con- 
tains the  names  of  the  following  electors:  Augustus 
Barber,  Benjamin  Bailey,  Abijah  Barber,  David  Lee, 
Hezekiah  Barber,. Frederick  Perring,  Royal  Munger, 
Hiram  Bailey,  Elisha  H.  Sheldon. 

April  1,  182-2,  Royal  Munger  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace,  receiving  the  nine  votes  cast.  The  first 
record  of  an  election  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
original  township  record  book,  now  in  possession  of 
Sanford  G.  Waldron,  of  Townsend,  is  that  of  April, 
182.3,  when  oliver  Day  was  chosen  to  that  office.  Be- 
sides those  mentioned,  Joseph  Purdy,  Thomas  E. 
Fletcher,  Johnson  Wheeler,  Levi  Chapman  and 
White  Sammis,  were  some  of  the  early  justices  of 
the  peace. 

At  the  election  for  sheriff  of  Huron  county,  held 
in  Townsend,  December  6,  1820,  thirteen  votes  were 
cast,  of  which  Benjamin  Abbott  received  six,  Asa 
Sanford  five,  and  Piatt  Benedict,  two. 

The  first  election  in  the  township,  for  State  and 
county  officers,  was  held  October  9,  1821.  There 
were  thirteen  votes  cast  for  State  senator,  which  were 
{tiveii  for  El)enezer  Merrv.      Fourteen  votes  were  cast 


for  representative  in  state  legislature,  of  which  Ly- 
man Farwell  received  thirteen  and  David  Abbott  one. 
Enos  Gilbert  received  tiiirteen  votes  for  sheriff  and 
David  Gibbs,  one  vote.  Piatt  Benedict  received  twelve 
votes  for  auditor;  Robert  S.  Southgate  had  twelve 
votes  for  county  commissioner,  and  James  Strong,  six; 
Luke  Keeler  had  ten  votes  for  coroner  and  Amos 
Woodward,  six. 

The  different  settlements  in  Townsend  were  so 
separated  from  each  other  that  election  days  were  the 
only  occasions  on  which  they  met  together.  Men  and 
boys  attended  the  election  as  a  holiday,  bringing  their 
rifles  with  them  to  shoot  at  target.  As  but  few  votes 
were  polled  and  but  little  excitement,  politically,  pre- 
vailed, they  had  plenty  of  time  to  engage  in  sports. 

At  the  presidential  election,  when  Jackson  was 
elected  president,  there  was  a  gr.uid  wrestling  match 
between  the  two  political  parties.  It  was  a  close  con- 
test, but  the  administration  party  prevailed,  who 
regarded  the  result  as  significant,  and  the  affair  came 
very  near  ending  in  a  general  fight.  It  is  said  that, 
if  Milford's  wliisky  had  not  given  out.  blood  would, 
undoubtedly,  have  been  spilt. 

A  substantial,  two-story  brick  town  hall  was  erected 
in  the  summer  of  1870,  at  the  center,  costing  four 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  The  plan  was  drawn 
and  the  building  erected  by  E.  Kinney,  architect  and 
builder,  living  at  Townsend  center. 

William  Townsend,  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  the  township,  put  up  a  block  house  at  the  center, 
in  which  he  opened  a  store  in  1822  or  '23.  It  was 
furnished  from  his  store  in  Sandusky,  which  he  estab- 
lished in  the  winter  of  1819-20,  bringing  his  first 
goods  from  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  in  a  sleigh. 

A  store  was  subsequently  kept  here  a  short  time  by 
Kneeland  Townsend,  brother  of  William  Townsend, 
and  still  later  by  James  Arnold,  who  continued  in 
merchandise  for  a  number  of  years. 

There  are  two  villages  in  the  township,  of  nearly 
equal  size,  called  Townsend  center  and  Collins,  the 
latter  situated  on  the  railroad,  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  center.  At  Townsend  center  there  are  two 
chu  ches,  two  stores,  one  millinery  shop,  one  black- 
smith shop,  one  school  house,  one  saw  mill,  one  bee- 
house,  one  violin  manufacturer  and  one  architect  and 
builder. 

At  Collins  there  are  one  general  store,  one  grocery, 
one  tin  shop,  one  millinery  store,  one  hotel,  two 
blacksmith  shops,  one  wagon  shop,  two  shoe  shops, 
one  harness  shop,  one  broom  factory,  one  pump  fac- 
tory, and  one  saw  mill  and  bending  works. 

MILLS  A\D    MANl'FACTl'RES. 

The  pioneer  mill  of  Townsend  was  estalili.<lu'd  by 
William  Burdue.  He  brought  with  him  from  Penn- 
sylvania a  pair  of  small  mill-stones,  and  set  up  a  hand 
mill  for  grinding  grain.  The  rude  contrivance  was  a 
great  convenience  to  the  early  settlers,  who  were  tiius 
saved  many  miles  of  travel,  through  dense  woods  to 
get  their  milliner  done. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


251 


The  first  saw  mill  in  this  township  was  built  by 
Davicl  Lee,  in  183u.  It  was  located  on  lot  seventy- 
three,  in  the  fourth  section,  on  Rattlesnake  creek. 
There  are,  at  the  present  time,  three  saw  mills  in 
operation.  The  mill  near  the  center  was  erected  by 
James  Arnold,  in  the  winter  of  184:8-9.  When  com- 
pleted, he  sold  it  to  William  Humphrey,  who  operated 
it  until  his  death,  in  1874,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  George  Bargus,  the  present  owner. 

The  saw  mill  of  L.  V.  McKesson  was  established 
by  Cyrus  Minor,  in  1856.  He  operated  it  for  live  or 
si.x  years,  when  he  sold  to  James  McCullough,  who, 
a  year  subsequently,  moved  the  machinery  away.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  Funk  afterwards  bought  the 
building  and  fitted  it  up  for  a  gvisi  mill,  which  he 
carried  on  for  three  years,  and  then  removed  the 
machinery  to  Mt.  Vernon. 

•  THE    COLLIXS  PIMP  COMPANY. 

The  original  building  of  this  factory  was  erected  by 
W.  S.  Hyde  and  Pruden  Ailing,  in  1857,  who  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  the  Hyde  cultivator,  of  which 
the  said  Hj'de  was  the  patentee.  They  carried  on 
the  business  for  one  year,  when  a  suspension  resulted, 
occasioned,  principally,  by  the  hard  times  of  that 
period.  In  1866,  the  building  and  ground  were  pur- 
chased by  Isaac  McKesson,  who  subsequently  formed 
a  partnership  with  M.  M.  Perkins  in  the  manufacture 
of  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  Afterwards,  Cyrus  Denman 
bought  a  half  interest  with  McKesson  in  the  property, 
and  they,  in  addition  to  the  business  then  in  operation, 
began  the  manufacture  of  pumps.  Subsequently,  J. 
C.  Shaw  became  a  partner  of  McKesson,  and  they  are 
now  the  owners  of  the  property.  The  works  are  run 
by  an  engine  of  twenty-horse  power,  and  the  factory 
possesses  facilities  for  an  extensive  business. 

UNION    BENDING    WORK.S. 

The  Union  Bending  Works  were  established  in  1852, 
by  Hemmingway  &  Humphrey,  in  the  saw  mill  near 
the  center,  and  having  passed  through  several  hands 
down  to  1866,  came  into  the  possession  of  Smith  & 
Ellis,  who  began  the  business  in  its  present  location 
and  carried  it  on  for  one  year,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  William  G.  Ailing  &  Co.  These  parties 
continued  the  business  but  one  year.  Isaac  McKesson 
then  became  proprietor  of  the  business,  with  his  son, 
L.  V.  McKesson,  as  superintendent.  Soon  after  this 
another  copartnership  was  entered  into  between  Mon- 
trose &.McKesson,  and  was  conducted  under  this  firm 
name  for  one  j'ear.  when  Montrose  sold  out,  and  the 
firm  was  succeeded  by  McKesson  &  Ellis,  who  contin- 
ued the  business  for  six  months.  Mr.  Ellis,  then 
went  out  and  Isaac  McKesson  took  his  son,  L.  V.  Mc- 
Kesson, into  partnership,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Isaac  McKesson  &  Son.  This  arrangement  continued 
for  one  year,  closing  with  the  year  1871.  On  Janu- 
ary 1,  1873,  L.  V.  McKesson  bought  of  Isaac  Mc- 
Kesson, his  share  in  the  business,  together  with  all 
the  buildings,   machiner}-,  etc.,  and  has  been,  since 


that  date,  sole  proprietor  of  the  Union  Bending  Works, 
making  numerous  improvements  and  additions,  both 
in  machinery  and  buildings.  A  large,  new  warehouse, 
thirty  by  sixty  feet  has  been  erected  in  which  to  store 
felloes.  The  capacity  of  the  works  has  been  enlarged 
to  a  considerable  extent.  Formerly  the  utmost  ca- 
pacity was,  in  the  manufacture  of  felloes,  from  forty 
to  fifty  set,  steamed  and  bent,  per  day;  and  in  sawing 
lumber,  from  two  thousand  to  twenty-five  hundred  feet 
per  day.  At  this  time  they  have  facilities  for  steam- 
ing and  bending  one  hundred  set  of  felloes  per  day, 
and  for  sawing  from  four  to  six  thousand  feet  of  lum- 
ber. The  sawing,  ripping,  and  jDlaning  are  done  in 
the  basement  story;  the  steaming,  bending  and  pack- 
ing felloes  is  done  in  the  second  story  of  the  mill 
building.  Within  the  year  past  a  turning  shop  has 
been  added,  and  quite  lately  has  been  enlarged  and 
improved.  Neck-yokes  and  whiffletrees  are  the  spe- 
cialties in  this  department.  All  kinds  of  bent  work 
for  wagons,  buggies,  sleds  and  cutters  is  made,  requir- 
ing, for  these  alone,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred 
feet  of  the  best  hickory  and  oak  lumber  per  day. 
From  fifteen  to  twenty  men  are  employed  about  the 
works,  and  on  some  occasions  as  many  as  fifteen  teams 
and  teamsters  are  employed  to  get  logs  to  the  mill. 
A  side  track  is  laid  from  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern  depot  to  the  mill  platform,  so  that  cars  can 
be  run  in  and  loaded  at  the  mill. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  personal  property  subject 
to  taxation  in  a  portion  of  Townsend,  as  taken  in 
May,  1826,  by  John  Miller,  deputy  assessor: 


.a.es. 

Horses, 
Mules, 

Aggre- 

vXl 

oS-S. 

1'            8 

1 

40 

3i           34 

4           32 

Caleb  Kn^p            

8            16 

Ben jamiu  Bailey 

AbijahBarber 

Stephen  Heath 

2 

1 
1 
I 

80 
40 
40 
40 

.     3           '^ 

5!           40 

I        a! 



George  Miller 

1 

40 

I        n 

Amon  MiUiman                          



1             8 

George  Kellogg 

1 

40 

5           40 

Biographical  Sketches, 


DOCTOR  EDGAR  MARTIN 

was  the  eighth  child  of  Gilbert  Martin  and  Hannah 
Washburn,  and  was  born  in  Fitchville,  Huron  count)', 
Ohio,  October  10,  1826.  He  came  to  Townsend  in 
1851,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine. 

He  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Chapman,  of  Town- 
send,  in  1853.  They  have  four  living  children: 
Marie,  Fred.  D.,  May  and  Edgar  G. 

Fred.  D.  Martin  is  a  physician,  and  lives  in  Coltun, 
Henry  county,  Ohio.  The  other  members  of  the 
xamilv  are  at  home. 


252 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Doctor  Edgar  Martin,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
toook  his  degree  from  the  Cleveland  Medical  College, 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1850,  after  five  years 


of  practice,  and  he  has  been  in  almost  constant  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  ever  since,  in  Townsend  and  the 
adjoining  townships.  His  professional  success  may 
be  easily  inferred  from  his  extended  ride  and  his  very 
busy  life, —  having  had  over  twenty-five  years  of 
practice. 


He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1859,  and 
has  held  the  office  continuously  since  that  time-^ 
twenty  years. 

He  was  commissioned  lieutenant  in  the  One  Hund- 
red and  Twenty-third  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  lu- 
faitry  in  the  early  part  of  the  late  war,  and  was  soon 
promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixtv-sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 

He  was  elected  to  the  State  legislature  in  18T3,  and 
se  -ved  in  that  capacity  two  years. 

In  early  life  Doctor  Martin  was  an  abolitionist,  and 
in  1852,  voted  for  John  P.  Hale  for  president.  He 
has  been  a  staunch  republican  since  the  organization 
of  that  party.  The  repeated  expressions  of  coufi: 
dence,  by  his  party,  send  his  prominence  in  political 
circles  in  town  and  county,  give  better  proof  of  his 
unswerving  patriotism  and  real  merif  than  anything 
tli3  writer  can  say. 

The  doctor  springs  from  a  Quaker  ancestry  which 
will  explain,  to  some  extent,  at  least,  his  pronounced 
anti-slavery  convictions  in  his  early  manhood. 

To  properly  estimate  such  a  character,  we  must 
bear  in  mind  that  the  church,  society,  and  the  two 
great  political  parties  were  intensely  pro-slavery,  and 
all  alike  ready  to  rend  the  man  who  had  the  temerity 
to  stand  and  talk,  and  vote  for  human  rights.  "To 
remember  those  in  bonds  as  bound  .with  them,"  created 
the  bitterest  antagonisms  as  well  as  social  ostracism, 
and  was  considered  sufficient  cause  for  personal  abuse 
and  cruel  persecutions  in  many  cases,  both  in  the 
church  and  out  of  it.  This  fact  will  add  a  special 
luster  to  tlie  earlv  manhood  of  Dr.  Martin. 


RIDGEFIELD. 


The  following  history  is  prei^ared  from  personal 
interviews  with  early  settlers,  the  public  records,  and 
the  sketch  of  the  early  settlement  of  Enos  Rose. 

Ridgofield  township  is  described  on  the  records  of 
the  original  Connecticut  Reserve  as  number  four  in 
range  twenty-three.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Oxford  township,  Erie  county;  south  by  Peru;  east 
by  Xorwalk,  and  west  by  Lyme  townships.  The 
township  is  generally  level,  except  along  the  streams. 
Here  are  found  in  many  places  high  banks  or  bluffs. 
In  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township  the  surface 
is  broken  or  rolling. 

STREAMS. 

Tlie  East  Ijranch  of  the  Hui'on  river  enters  the 
township  from  the  south,  crossing  the  southern 
boundary  on  lot  six,  in  section  one.  Its  course  is 
slightly  east  of  north,  flowing  from  the  township  on 
the  east  line,  lot  two  in  the  second  section.  The 
West  branch  of  the  Huron  river  is  formed  from  two 
streams,  which  cross  the  south  line  of  the  township; 
one  on  lots  one  and  six  in  section  four,  and  the  other 
on  lot  sixteen  in  the  same  section.  Uniting  on  lot 
seven  they  form  the  main  sti-eam.  This  flows  a  gen- 
eral northerly  direction  to  near  the  center  of  Monroe- 
ville  village.  Here  the  course  changes  to  due  east, 
thence  a  northeasterly  direction,  and,  after  many  de- 
vious turnings,  crosses  the  north  line  of  the  township) 
on  lot  fifteen  in  the  second  section.  Another  stream 
flows  from  the  southwest,  and  empties  its  waters  into 
the  West  branch,  in  Monroe ville  village.  This  is 
kaown  as  Frink  Run,  from  the  fact  that  William 
Frink  was  the  first  to  build  a  habitation  on  its  bank. 
Frink  Run  and  the  West  branch  of  the  Huron  river 
divide  the  township,  and  on  the  northeast  side  of 
these  streams  the  land  is  of  the  nature  of  prairie,  and 
generally  of  a  deep  i-ich  soil,  with  small  islands  and 
groves  of  small  timber.  Another  small  stream  enters 
the  township  from  the  west,  flows  east-northeast  and 
empties  into  the  West  branch  on  lot  fifteen,  section 
second.  It  is  called  Seymour  Brook,  from  the  fact 
that  a  man  named  Seymour  was  killed  by  the  Indians, 
in  IST-i,  while  engaged  in  cutting  a  bee-tree,  which 
stood  on  its  banks.  On  the  south  and  east  side  of 
Frink  Run  and  the  West  branch  of  the  Huron  river, 
the  lands  were  heavily  timbered,  and  possess  a  deep, 
rich,  loamy  soil,  not  excelled,  perhaps,  by  any  town- 
ship of  the  Fire-lands  in  productiveness. 

The  township  is  underlain  with  a  slate  rock,  from 
seven  to  ten  feet  below  the  surface. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  township,  game  of 
all  kinds  was  very  plenty,  as  were  also  fish  in  the 
streams.  It  is  related  that  Major  David  Underbill, 
with  his  men,  in  one  day,  caught  two  wagon  boxes 


full  of  fish.  At  the  present  day  fish  enough  abound, 
especially  those  shy  fellows,  the  black  bass,  to  render 
exercise  with  the  rod  attractive;  but  unless  the  law 
is  rigidly  enforced,  and  persons  prevented  from  shoot- 
ing them  during  certain  seasons,  this  delicious  fish 
will  soon  become  extinct. 

Ridgefield  township  was  divided  into  four  sections, 
and  these  were  again  divided  into  two-hundred-acre 
lots,  making  twenty  lots  in  each  section. 

ORIGINAL    OWNERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  read- 
er is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 


Cla 

SSIFIC 

ATIO 

^•No 

1,  Section  1. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am'tLoss. 

Claasified  by. 

4»r 

t  Classed. 

£ 

s 

d. 

£ 

g 

d. 

Isaac  Bun- 

23 

5 

0 

Phillip  B.  Bradley 

23 

i 

0 

Anthony  Anniball 

155 

5 

2 

155 

5 

2 

Hezekiah  Nichols 

394 

10 

394 

10 

John  Squire.  Jr. 

15 

16 

8 

15 

16 

8 

Samuel  Burr  and 

John  Squire,  Jr. 
Seth  Smith 

35 

IT 

6 

ai 

17 

6 

56 

0 

56 

0 

David  Burr 

394 

10 

155 

5 

Samuel  Camp 
Timothv  Keeler  2d 

38 

ir 

10 

38 

10 

51 

9 

0 

51 

9 

0 

David  Rockwell 

8 

6 

5 

David  Rock-well  3d 

3 

2 

10 

.i 

3 

2 

10 

Bartholomew  Weed 

3 

13 

4 

3 

13 

4 

Timothy  Benedict 

6 

18 

6 

6 

18 

6 

Daniel  Coley 

1 

IS 

18 

8 

Philhp  B.  B  adley 

20 

9 

0 

20 

9 

0 

James  Scott 

2 

12 

8 

2 

12 

8 

Samuel  Lockwood 

108 

14 

4 

108 

14 

4 

John  Barnum 

5 

17 

0 

5 

17 

0 

Charles  Peck 

6 

8 

4 

6 

8 

4 

John  Gregory 

4 

0 

.1 

4 

0 

1 

David  Pierce 

3 

12 

0 

3 

12 

0 

Sarah  Morehouse 

189 

6 

Her  heirs 

189 

6 

9 

Samuel  Olmstead 

74 

18 

9 

Jared  Olmsted 

18 

14 

Samuel  Smith 

18 

15 

2 

Nathan  Smith 

14 

5 

Abraham  Rockwell 

10 

4 

4 

Abraham  Rockwell 

10 

4 

Jonah  Foster 

10 

3 

10 

Jonah  Foster 

10 

10 

Elihu  Deforest 

2 

0 

0 

Timothy  Keeler  2d 

2 

0 

0 

Samuel  Keeler  3d 

8 

Thaddeus  RockweU 

26 

18 

0 

Job  Smith 

3 

10 

Fc 

otin 

rof  c 

■■lassifloation  No.  1  £1,344 

~r 

0 

Dlassification 

No.  2,  Section  2. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am^t  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Am 

t  Classed. 

£ 

s 

d. 

£ 

J 

d. 

Jabez  Raymond 

m-i 

9 

0 

Amos  Cook 

a32 

9 

0 

Isaac  Keeler 

194 

0 

0 

51 

12 

6 

John  Woodwaid 

3 

8:!8 

Gurdon  Bradley 

66 

10 

0 

66 

10 

0 

Azariah  Bradley 

19 

2 

19 

0 

Benjamin  Pardee 

8H 

12 

0 

3 

0 

Samuel  Bishop.  Esq 

13 

13 

3 

13 

13 

Fo 

oting 

ofC 

assiacationNo.2,  F 

luT 

"T" 

0 

Classification 

No.  3,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees. 

An 

't  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Am 

t  Classed. 

£ 

g 

d. 

£ 

s 

d. 

Josiah  Raymond 
Jonthn  Fitch's  h'rs 

9 

Amos  Cooke 

9 

m 

0 

u 

m 

0 

Robert  Waters, 

two  losses 

15 

4 

ir 

15 

Isaac  Keeler 

194 

0 

0 

112 

7 

Ezra  Starr 

1214 

11 

4 

H'rs  Timothy  Taylor  145 

17 

Thos.  Benedict,  Jr. 

10 

4 

10 

1 

Ephraim  Barnum 

3 

10 

0 

10 

John  Knapp 

6 

10 

0 

" 

6 

10 

Christiana  Starr 

6 

2 

6 

1 

Daniel  Stevens 

2 

0 

12 

Stephn  Trowbridge 

0 

4 

7 

0 

Timothy  Wildman 

i 

13 

4 

.. 

2 

13 

Daniel  taylor,  Esq. 

0 

IH 

155 

10 

Nathaniel  Starr 

4 

4 

4 

Abigail  Wood 
Daniel  Tayl:.r,  Esq. 

18 

4 

18 

656 

0 

1!4 

Heirs  of  Ellsha 

H^^'jy^ha 

323 

Jeremiah  Dunning 

2 

2 

Whittlesey 

2 

2 

Samuel  Gregory 

61 

16 

10 

Heirs  of  Caleb  Starr 

61 

16 

Foe 

ting 

OfC 

assiflcation  No.  3.  £1,344 

~T 

0 

(253) 

HISTORY  OP  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 

Am' t  Loss.        Classifiid   by. 
£       s.       d.   . 
1S3       4       6    '    Job  Smith 


Gamaliel  Xorthrup 
Tbaddeus  Rockwell 
Ebenezer  Stebbins 
Hope  Rhods 
Stephen  Norris 
Hannah  Seymour 
Jesse  Benedict 
Benjamin  Smith 
Ichabod  Doolittle 
Simeon  Stewart 

Daniel  Smith 
Daniel  Smith  3d 
Sarah  Litsby 
Jemima  Keeler 
Lydia  GUbert 
John  Smith 
Matthew  Keeler 
Prue  Northrup 
James  Northrup 
John  Keeler 
Gamaliel  Northrup 
Abijah  Smith 
David  Rockwell 
Abijah  Rockwell 
Nathan  Godfrey 


David  Comstock  313 

Andrew  Comstock  5 

Matthew  Gregory  12 

Elnathan  Gregory  31 

James  Trowbridge  7 

Mary  Haves  3 

Fountain  Smith  158 

Nathan  Hendriek  19 

Elizabeth  Rogers  ad  1 

Josiah  Wentworth  151 


David  and  Darling 

Stewart 
Daniel  Smith 


350 

Thomas  and  Simon 

Conch,  Jr.  10 

Heirs  T.  &  S.  C.  Jr.  313 

Betty  Comstock  5 

Matthew  Gregory  12 

Heirs  of  Caleb  Starr  31 

James  Trowbridge  7 

Committee  3 


Footing  of  Classification  1 


Numerous  parties  of  the  W^yandotte  and  other 
tribes  of  Indians  had  a  habitation  in  early  times  along 
the  river.  They  passed  the  time  in  hunting,  fishing, 
making  baskets,  ax  helves,  etc.,  and  were  generally 
quiet  and  peaceable,  except  when  under  the  influence 
of  "  fire-water,"  or  whisky.  Then  they  were  ugly 
and  ((uarrelsome,  behaving  themselves,  as  Mr.  }iies- 
senger  sttites,  I usi  like  white  folks.  During  the  war 
of  1812,  two  inmates  of  the  Parker  block  house  in 
Milan,  Seymour  and  Pixley,  were  engaged  in  cutting 
a  "  bee  tree,"  standing  on  the  south  side  of  the  small 
stream  flowing  through  the  Clary  farm.  They  had 
nearly  completed  their  labors,  when  they  were  fired 
upon  by  a  party  of  cowardly  Indians,  and  Seymour 
instantly  killed.  Pixley  ran.  but  l)ecoming  entangled 
in  the  brushwood,  was  captured,  and  remained  a 
prisoner  for  many  months. 

SETTLEMENT. 

William  Frink  is  thought  to  be  the  first  white  man 
that  contracted  for  land  in  Ridgefield  township,  for 
the  purpose  of  settlement.  His  contract  is  dated  in 
1811,  and  was  for  the  south  part  of  lot  number  five 
in  the  fourth  section.  Frink  built  the  first  house  in 
the  township.  It  was  of  logs  and  stood  near  the  site 
of  the  house  now  owned  by  Samuel  Clock.  Frink 
was  more  hunter  than  farmer,  and  when  Seth  Brown 
came  into  the  township,  in  the  spring  of  1812.  Frink 
sold  his  contract  and  left  the  county.  Very  little  is 
now  known  of  his  history,  cither  before  or  since  he 
left  the  township,  except  that  he  was  eventually 
found  dead  in  Seneca  county.  He  was  one  of  those 
characters  who  prefer  tl;e  solitude  of  the  wildcriu'.-s. 


Seth  Brown  was  a  go-ahead  Yankee.  Prior  to  the 
date  last  mentioned,  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  but 
finding  the  yellow  fever  prevailing  there,  he  "stood 
not  on  the  order  of  his  going,"  but  beat  a  precipitate 
retreat  northward.  He  traveled  the  entire  distance 
to  Ridgefield,  on  foot,  with  no  companion  but  his 
trusty  rifle,  a  safeguard  in  danger  as  well  as  an  assist- 
ant in  procuring  food  in  the  wilderness.  Arriving  at 
the  township,  he  purchased  the  land  as  before  stated, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1812,  broke  a  piece  of  prairie 
and  planted  it  to  corn — the  first  in  the  township. 
The  Indians  were  exceedingly  troublesome,  and  in 
the  summer,  Brown  became  connected  with  thearnw, 
going  as  far  west  as  Monroe,  Michigan  ;  here  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  a  young  widow  (Mrs.  Sarah 
Tuttle),  whom  he  married,  and  with  whom  he  returned 
to  Ridgefield  in  the  spring  of  1813,  and  began  the 
battle  of  life,  in  the  first  house  in  the  township.  Mr. 
Brown,  it  is  said,  thinking  of  his  good  fortune  at 
Monroe,  applied  the  name  to  the  village  of  his  creation. . 
The  family  of  this  couple  were  four:  George  W.,  who 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township,  is 
now  living  in  Illinois;  John  S.,  who  lives  in  Price 
county,  Minnesota;  Seth,  who  died  in  Monroeville  in 
1849,  of  cholera;  and  Emily  Jane,  who  married  James 
Hamilton,  Jr.,  and  died  in  Monroeville  May  30,  1857. 
Seth  Brown,  Sr.,  at  one  time  carried  the  mail  from 
Huron  to  Sandusky.  He  died  in  Monroeville  August 
20,  1821;  his  wife  died  November  18,  1849. 

The  second  settler  in  Ridgefield  township  was 
Sanders  Littlefield.  He  was  originally  from  Crown 
Point,  New  York,  but  was  living  in  Erie  county, 
same  State,  when  he  emigrated  to  Ohio.  This  was  in 
the  spring  of  1851.  AccomiJanied  by  his  daughter, 
Celia,  he  came  by  team  to  Ridgefield.  Halting  near 
the  site  of  the  residence  of  the  late  William  R.  Jack- 
son, a  rude  habitation  was  improvised  from  the 
wagon-box,  and  in  this  some  three  weeks  were  passed 
while  a  log  cabin  was  being  constructed.  In  the  fall 
following,  a  son-in-law,  George  Pierce,  arrived  and 
occupied  the  cabin,  Mr.  Littlefield  and  daughter  (Celia) 
returning  East,  going  the  entire  distance  on  horse- 
back. The  subsequent  spring  he  removed  perma- 
nently to  Ohio,  with  his  family,  which  consisted  of  a 
wife  and  four  children.  (One  son,  Ray  S.,  remained 
East  )  Of  the  children  who  came  with  the  parents: 
Ledyard  married  Mary  Read,  and  in  1828  returned 
to  New  York,  where  he  died,  leaving  four  children, 
(Ann,  Leason,  Minerva  and  Darwin);  Celia  married 
Deodatus  Hubbell;  Diantha  married  Lewis  Arnold, 
and  is  now  deceased;  Minerva  married  Theodore 
Hawkins,  and  resides  in  South  Haven,  Michigan. 
After  remaining  a  short  time  on  the  original  location, 
Mr.  Littlefield  removed  north,  on  the  ridge,  and 
located  permanently  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  S.  I>. 
Fish.  Here  he  died  on  March  10,  1818.  Mrs.  Lit- 
tlefield returned  to  the  State  of  New  York,  where 
she  died. 

John  Sowers,  the  next  .settler  in  Ridgefield,  was 
born   in   York    conntv,  Penn.svlvania,  where  he  lived 


ISAAC   UNDERBILL. 


David  Underbill  was  born  in  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  19, 
1765.  Ills  fiitber,  Abram  Underbill,  was  a  captain  in  tbe  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  a  member  of  tbe  Constitutional  Convention  of  Ver- 
mont, having  previously  removed  to  Dorset,  in  that  State.  When 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  David  went  to  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
located  land  in  tbe  township  of  Norway. 

The  following  year  be  married  Polly  Osborn,  of  Goshen,  N.  Y.,  and 
settled  upon  bis  purchase.  He  cleared  up  this  farm,  and  subsequently 
another  in  tbe  same  county.  Through  ill-considered  kindness,  in  be- 
coming bail  for  an  acquaintance,  he  lost  bis  property,  which  induced 
him  to  come  West.  He  came  to  Ohio  first,  in  tbe  spring  of  1810, 
leaving  bis  family  behind.  He  made  bis  stopping-place  at  Esquire 
Abbott's,  at  the  old  county-seat,  while  he  explored  tbe  surrounding 
country  with  a  view  to  settlement.  He  returned  East,  and  the  next 
year  came  out  and  purchased  thirty-six  hundred  acres  in  township  No. 
4,  range  No.  23  (Ridgefield),  at  seventy-five  cents  an  acre.  In  the 
summer  of  1812  be  made  a  beginning  on  his  land,  building  a  cabin  on 
the  bank  of  the  Huron  River  where  the  saw-mill  near  the  water-works 
now  stands.  He  distinctly  heard,  while  at  work  here  on  the  day  that 
Gen.  Hull  surrendered  Detroit,  tbe  engagement  with  tbe  British  on 
the  river  below  tbe  fort,  and  went  to  Mr.  Abbott's  to  consult  about 

A  messenger  soon  after  arrived  with  the  report  that  the  British  and 
Indians  had  been  seen  landing  at  Huron,  and  warning  the  inhabitants 
to  seek  safety  in  immediate  flight. 

They  all  started  southward,  but  before  traveling  far  were  overtaken 
by  a  party  of  men,  at  first  supposed  to  be  forces  of  the  enemy,  but  who 
proved,  on  inquiry,  to  be  the  released  prisoners  of  Gen.  Hull  on  their 
way  to  Mansfield.  They  were  the  jiarty  which  disembarked  at  Huron, 
and  tbe  nuijority  of  the  fleeing  inhabitants  returned  to  their  homes. 

Until  the  removal  of  his  family,  in  1816,  Major  Underbill  made  an 
annual  trijt  to  his  Western  purchase,  usually  bringing  out  with  him  a 
stock  of  goods,  which  he  could  sell  on  the  journey,  and  taking  back 
a  stock  of  furs. 

In  1816  he  was  accompanied  on  his  Western  trip  by  his  son-in-law, 
Horace  Morse,  Levi  Cole  and  son,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Pearce.  In  that 
year  he  built  a  part  of  his  double  log  house,  at  the  raising  of  which 
all  the  men  in  the  county  within  a  radius  of  fifteen  miles  attended, 
and  yet  the  number,  including  the  party  above  mentioned,  was  only 
sixteen.  He  arrived  with  his  family  Feb.  22,  1816,  his  log  cabin 
furnishing  temporary  shelter  during  his  absence  to  Martin  Kellogg 
and  family. 

Major  Underbill's  was  the  usual  stopping-place  for  the  judges  and 
some  of  the  latvyers  (Piatt  Benedict  accommodating  tbe  rest)  during 
the  sessions  of  the  court  in  the  early  days  of  Norwalk. 

A  few  years  after  his  purchase.  Major  Underbill  sold  to  some  of  his 
friends  in  the  East  all  but  six  hundred  acres  of  his  tract,  receiving  an 
advance  on  the  original  price  of  fifty  cents  per  acre.    Ho  subsequently 


owned,  in  connection  with  two  other  men,  the  third  section  of  Bronson, 
but  disposed  of  that  also. 

In  the  fall  of  1817  he  erected  a  saw-mill  near  where  he  lived,  which 
was  one  of  the  first  saw-mills  in  the  country,  and  which  for  many 
years  did  an  extensive  business.  During  the  first  years  of  their 
settlement  the  family  suffered  much  from  ague.  The  country  in  its 
new  and  undrained  condition  was  unhealthy,  and  the  erection  of  tbe 
mill-dam  made  it  still  worse  in  the  vicinity  of  the  dwelling,  as  it 
caused  an  overflow  of  the  river- bottoms. 

In  1822  he  removed  to  a  more  healthful  location,  that  which  his  son 
Isaac  now  occupies,  erecting  a  frame  house,  which  constitutes  a  part 
of  the  present  dwelling  of  Mr.  Underbill.  He  died  here  Oct.  5,  1841, 
and  Mrs.  Underbill,  Dec.  1,  1850.     '■ 

Major  Underbill's  career  was  one  of  great  activity  and  usefulness, 
and  he  was  esteemed  as  an  honorable  man  and  an  enterprising  citizen. 

He  assisted  in  opening  the  road  which  runs  through  ^Norwalk,  and 
was  instrumental  in  removing  the  county-seat  from  Avery. 

He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  as  follows,  in  the  order  of  their 
ages:  Tbirza,  was  the  wife  of  Horace  Morse,  deceased;  Mercy,  died 
unmarried  before  tbe  removal  of  the  family  from  New  York  ;  Harriet, 
widow  of  Nathan  Strong,  an  early  resident  of  Lyme,  lives  with  her 
brother,  Isaac  Underbill,  aged  eighty-two  ;  Mary,  was  the  wife  of  Dr. 
J.  A.  Jennings ;  and  Aurelia,  wife  of  A.  W.  Hulett. 

Isaac  U.\nERHiLL,  whose  portrait  is  given  in  connection  with  this 
sketch,  was  born  Jan.  13,  1805.  His  first  business  venture  was  the 
purchase  of  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of  John  C.  Hale,  an  eastern 
resident,  at  $2  per  acre,  and  he  agreed  to  make  a  payment  of  $50 
the  next  spring.  He  was  puzzled  for  some  time  to  find  a  way  of 
securing  the  $50,  but  finally,  on  a  capital  of  between  $6  and  $7,  com- 
menced buying  deerskins,  and  on  the  first  lot  that  he  sold  at  Iluron^ 
much  of  which  was  bought  on  credit,  he  cleared  $100 ;  and  when  the 
day  of  payment  arrived  be  was  prepared  to  pay  $70  instead  of  $50, 
which  he  did.  From  that  small  beginning  he  has  made  the  property 
he  now  owns,  and  has  purchased  back  the  encumbered  homestead  of 
his  father,  without  any  assistance  through  inheritance. 

Mr.  Underbill  was  married,  March  28,  1851,  to  Amanda  Patten, 
whose  father  was  an  early  settler  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  She  died  July  5, 
1852,  leaving  a  child  who  died  in  January  following. 

His  second  wife  was  Lydia  Gregory,  whom  he  married  Doc.  27 
1855.  She  was  born  April  13,  1830.  There  were  five  children  born 
of  this  marriage,  four  of  whom  are  living,  one  having  died  in  infancy. 
The  surviving  children  are  Isaac  M.,  born  Sept.  27,  1856 :  Isabel  F., 
born  July  6,  I860:  Edwin  G.,  born  Oct.  20, 1862;  and  Arthur,  born 
March  0,  1867. 

David  Underbill,  the  younger  of  the  two  sons  of  Major  Underbill^ 
fell  from  a  horse  many  years  ago,  injuring  his  brain  and  resulting  in 
his  mental  derangement,  from  which  he  has  not  recovered.  Sarah 
Louisa  was  the  wife  of  A.  B.  Bcaverstock. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


until  attaining  his  majority,  wlien  he  married  and 
soon  after  removed  to  Baltimore  county,  Maryland. 
In  1811  he  removed  to  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  and 
from  there  to  Rtdgefield,  Huron  county,  arriving 
September  35,  1815.  He  located  on  lot  four  in  the 
fourth  section,  a  portion  of  which  he  subsequently 
caused  to  be  laid  out,  and  now  forms  a  part  of  Mon- 
roeville  village.  Sowers  had  four  sons:  John,  Jr., 
who  married  Chloe  Strong  (by  whom  he  had  four 
children:  Catharine,  John,  Francis,  and  Dorcas);  his 
wife  died  August  30,  1830,  aged  thirty-one  j^ears,  and 
he  married  Mrs.  Deborah  S.  Benedict  in  October, 
1831;  had  several  children  by  second  wife.  He  died 
in  Monroeville  June  3,  1868.  Second  wife  died  April 
6,  1869.  Moses,  who  married  Mrs.  Susan  Abbott, 
eventually  removed  to  Richland  count}',  where  he  died 
February  16,  1875,  leaving  two  children,  George  and 
Bloomer.  Daniel,  who  married  Mary  McMillan, 
died  in  Monroeville  October  26,  1877.  Mrs.  S.  died 
January  20,  1878.  (The  children  were:  Mary  Ann, 
John,  Agnes,  George,  Lavina,  and  Alice.)  James, 
who  married  Catharine  Eastlick,  lived  in  Monroeville 
some  twenty  years;  removed  to  Whitley  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  now  resides.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Mary  and  Elizabeth. 

John  Sowers,  Sr.,  had  but  one  daughter,  Mary, 
who  married  Jesse  Davis.  One  child  was  born  to 
them,  John  S.  The  mother  died  when  he  was  three 
weeks  old.  He  lived  with  his  grand  parents,  and 
with  them  came  to  Ohio.  He  was  then  nine  years  of 
age.  In  1836  he  removed  to  Lexington,  Richland 
county,  and  in  February,  1838,  located  at  Gallon. 
Here  he  married  Catharine  Nave,  May  17,  1843,  and 
engaged  in  merchandising.  He  became  largely  inter- 
ested in  the  banking  interest  at  that  point.  In  May, 
1866,  he  returned  to  Monroeville,  and  purchased  the 
residence  of  S.  V.  Hurkness,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  also  purchased  the  brick  building  occupied  by  the 
stores  of  E.  J.  Squire  and  F.  H.  Drake  and  the  Ex- 
change Bank.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis 
are:  Amanda,  who  married  Captain  A.  S.  Skilton; 
(have  two  children,  John  Davis  and  Bessie  Roby); 
John  and  Kittie,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Mary  E., 
the  baby.  Mr.  Davis  is  thoroughly  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  Monroeville.  John  Sowers, 
Sr.,  died  July  23,  1820,  aged  sixty-three  years.  Mrs. 
Sowers  died  May  21,  1848,  aged  ninety-three  years. 

Julius  C.  Hubbell,  of  Charlotte,  Vermont,  mar- 
ried Sally  Barker,  and  came  to  Ridgefield,  October 
13,  1815,  locating  on  lot  number  seventeen  in  the 
second  section.  When  he  moved  into  Ridgeville 
from  Elyria,  he  came  twenty  miles  without  seeing  a 
house.  He  was  at  the  first  election  in  the  township, 
but  was  not  old  enough  to  vote.  There  were  no  mills 
in  the  country  at  that  time,  and  corn,  hulled,  grated, 
or  pounded,  was  a  common  article  of  diet.  He  had  a 
family  of  nine  children. 

Daniel  Page  was  a  native  of  New  Fairfield,  Con- 
necticut, and  his  wife,  Rebecca  Moore,  of  Fownell, 
Vermont.     They  were  married  March  19,  1795.    Mr. 


Page  read  medicine  in  early  life,  but  finally  became 
a  surveyor.  In  1811  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Dover,  Cuyahoga  county,  where  he  opened  a  hotel. 
In  1815  Mr.  Page  bought  the  farm  of  Reuben  Pixley, 
in  the  second  section  of  Ridgefield  township,  and 
moved  his  family  thereto  in  October  of  that  j'ear.  He 
died  on  this  farm  in  July,  1829.  His  wife  died  July 
18,  1831.  There  were  two  sons  and  four  daughters 
in  the  family  who  lived  to  maturity.  They  were  as 
follows:  Amanda,  who  married  Henry  Dillingham, 
and  removed  to  Indiana.  Lexey  had  two  husbands. 
Hannah  D.  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  and  after 
enduring  many  hardships,  returned  to  her  parents. 
She  married  Ezra  Herrick,  and  died  in  Oakland 
county,  Michigan,  leaving  seven  children.  Sophia 
was  twice  married,  the  last  time  to  Amos  Felt,  of 
Norwalk.  Daniel,  who  married  Louisa  Smith,  of 
Oxford;  died  in  Illinois.  William,  who  married 
Mary  Prindle  of  Oxford,  and  moved  to  Calhoun 
county,  Michigan. 

Joseph  F.  Read  came  to  Huron  county  in  1813. 
He  settled  on  lot  number  sixteen  in  the  second  section 
of  Ridgefield  township,  in  September,  1814.  He 
afterward  moved  to  lot  number  seven  in  the  third  sec- 
tion, and  occupied  a  small  log  cabin,  minus  floor, 
chimney  and  windows.  In  this  he  soon  commenced 
keeping  a  tavern.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Cass 
county,  Micliigan,  where  he  died.  He  had  one  son 
and  one  daughter.  She  married  Allen  Beverstock, 
and  died  in  Richland  county. 

A  family  named  Sweatland  first  settled  on  lot  fifteen 
in  the  second  section.  One  daughter  and  the  mother 
died  in  July,  1815,  and  the  father  in  October  of  the 
same  year.  These  are  believed  to  have  been  the  first 
deaths  in  the  township.  They  were  Iniried  on  lot 
fifteen  in  section  one. 

Major  David  Underbill,  formerly  from  Vermont, 
came  from  Herkimer  county.  New  York,  to  Huron 
county,  in  1809-10,  and  purchased  thirty-six  hund- 
red acres  of  land  in  section  one,  Ridgefield  township. 
The  deed  for  this  land  was  made  in  September,  1811. 
In  1812,  he  built  a  small  log  cabin  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  but,  on  account  of  the  war,  he  abandoned  it. 
In  1815,  he  returned,  and  built  a  respectable  log  house 
near  the  site  of  the  first  cabin,  and  the  following 
spring,  moved  his  family  on  to  his  possessions,  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  death  which  occurred  October 
5,  1841.  Mrs.  Underbill  died  December  1,  1850. 
Major  L^nderhill  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the 
township  and  county.  In  the  spring  of  1816,  he 
assisted  in  opening  the  road  to  Monroeville,  and  he 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  at  Norwalk.  The  family  are  as  follows: 
Harinet,  who  man-ied  Nathan  Strong,  and  is  now  liv- 
ing on  the  old  homestead;  Marian,  who  married  Dr. 
Junia  A.  Jennings,  and  is  deceased;  Aurelia,  who 
married  A.  W.  Hulet,  and  is  dead;  Isaac,  who  married 
Amanda  Patterson  (had  one  child,  this  died  as  did  the 
wife:  he  then  married  Lydia  Gregory  by  whom  he  lias 
four  children).     He  resides  in  the   old  farm  house. 


256 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


David,  who  married  Caroline  Wilbur,  also  lives  on  the 
old  farm,  and  Sarah  Louisa,  who  married  A.  B. 
Beverstock,  is  deceased. 

Thomas  Dickey  was  born  in  Hillsboro,  New  Hamp- 
shire, December  15,  1790,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
thirteen.  When  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  was  en- 
gaged to  General  Benjamin  Pierce,  and  while  with 
him,  entered  the  army,  and  served  during  the  entire 
war.  During  the  siege  of  Fort  Erie  he  was  wounded 
in  the  foot.  After  his  discharge  from  the  service  he 
returned  to  New  Hampshire,  September  15,  1815;  he 
started  on  horseback  for  Ohio,  and  in  due  time 
reached  Monroeville,  where  he  stopped,  near  the  late 
residence  of  William  E.  Jackson,  until  April,  181 9-, 
when  he  married  Elizabeth  Myers,  and  removed  to 
Seneca  county.  After  a  couple  of  removals  he  re- 
turned to  Eidgeiield  township.  This  was  in  October; 
1825.  He  located  in  the  second  section,  and  remained 
in  the  township  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  tenth  of  January,  1879.  Mrs.  Dickey  died  in 
185-}:.  The  children  of  this  couple  were  five — three 
boys  and  two  girls;  but  two  of  the  cbildreii  are  now 
living. 

Charles  Hubbell,  of  Charlotte,  Crittenden  county, 
Vermont,  arrived  in  Ridgefield,  July  23,  1817.  He 
located  on  lot  number  sixteen,  in  the  second  section. 
The  children  numbered  four;  one  son  and  three 
daughters.  The  oldest  daughter,  Cecelia,  married 
Forrest  Messenger,  and  died  in  Monroeville  July  30, 
1849,  of  cholera.  The  second  daughter  married  Jona- 
than Green,  of  Peru  township.  The  third  daughter 
married  Ebenezer  Welch,  of  Lyme  township. 

George  H.  Clock  was  boi'n  in  1765,  and  emigrated 
to  Ridgefield  in  the  spring  of  1817,  from  the  State  of 
New  York.  He  settled  on  lot  number  six,  in  the 
third  section.  His  wife  was  Margaret  Overhiser,  by 
whom  he  had  thirteen  children:  Daniel,  David,  Tim- 
othy, Elijah,  Archibald,  Samuel,  Andrew,  James, 
Sally,  Parmelia,  Sophronia,  Lovina  and  Julia  Ann. 

The  only  one  of  these  children  now  residing  in 
Ridgefield  township  is  Samuel,  who  maiTied  Maria 
Vroman.  One  son  of  this  marriage  was  killed  in  the 
army;  another,  Andrew,  is  married  and  lives  in  Mon- 
roeville village;  a  daughter  is  married  and  resides  in 
St.  Louis.  Missouri.  Descendants  of  Timothy  also 
reside  in  the  village;  among  them  are  David  Clock 
and  Mrs.  James  Hamilton. 

William  Brooks,  a  native  of  Ouondago  countv. 
NeAv  York,  came  to  Huron  county  in  1818.  His 
family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  four  children,  re- 
mained east.  Mr.  Brooks  came  to  Monroeville,  and 
was  engaged  by  the  Burt  Brothers  in  the  construction 
of  the  grist  and  saw  mills  at  that  point.  In  1822  the 
fam'ily  arrived.  They  lived  for  a  time  on  the  farm 
now  occupied  l)y  Mrs.  Daniel  Clary,  and  afterwards 
in  .Monroeville  village.  Mr.  Brooks  returned  east, 
where  he  died  in  1849. 

In  March,  1839,  the  family  located  in  Sherman 
township,  where  tlie  widow  still  resides,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-four  years.     The  children  were: 


Clinton,  who  married  Lydia  Haskins,  and  died  in 
ilichigan:  Emeline,  who  married  John  Van  Buskirk, 
and  died  in  Norwalk  of  cholera  in  1834;  Temperance, 
who  has  been  thrice  married,  is  -now  the  wife  of 
William  Ticknor,  and  lives  on  lot  number  ten,  in 
section  three,  Sherman  township;  and  Sylvester  0., 
who  married  Jerusha  Ann  Hallis,  and  died  in  1849. 

John  Burdue,  a  Frenchman,  was  quite  a  character 
in  the  early  settlement.  He  built  the  first  log  cabin 
in  Norwalk  township  for  Piatt  Benedict.  He  lived 
for  some  time  m  the  family  of  John  Somers,  Sr.  He 
finally  returned  to  Canada. 

Daniel  Clary  was  born  in  Herkimer  county.  New 
York,  in  1799.  In  1817  became  to  Ridgefield  and 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  of  Major  David 
Underbill.  This  was  in  lot  number  nineteen  in  the 
first  section.  Mr.  Clary  paid  for  this  land  in  labor, 
and  so  faithfully  did  he  perform  his  part  of  the  con- 
tract, that,  at  the  expiration  of  three  years,  he  had 
lost  but  three  days'  time.  He  subsequently  purchased 
the  farm  on  lot  number  nineteen,  in  section  one; 
upon  this  he  built  the  residence  where  he  died,  on 
April  29,  1863.  On  February  23,  1825,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Wilcox,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons — Homer 
C.  and  George  W.,  the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased. 
The  former  resides  on  the  old  farm.  The  w^dow  of 
Daniel  Clary  still  occupies  the  home  mansion. 

James  Breckenridge,  from  Crittenden  county,  Ver- 
mont, married  Lovina  J.  Read  November  20,  1811. 
In  the  winter  of  1817,  he  came  by  team  to  Ohio,  and, 
after  encountering  many  dangers,  reached  Joseph 
Read's,  in  Ridgefield  township,  on  March  7th.  The 
following  summer  he  purchased  two  lots  in  Venice 
and  erected  thereon  a  house,  returning  in  the  fall  to 
Vermont  for  his  family.  In  June,  1818,  he  began 
the  journey,  and  in  July  re.iched  the  ''promised  land." 
On  arrival  he  found  that  he  could  not  get  a  title  to 
his  land,  and  that  the  people  who  were  there,  and  not 
already  dead,  were  in  a  fair  way  of  dying — for  all 
were  sick.  He  then  purchased  two  lots  in  Monroe- 
ville, where  Eckhart's  hotel  now  stands;  built  a  house 
and  opened  a  liotel,  the  first,  of  importance,  at  least, 
in  the  village.  Tlie  children  of  this  couple  numbered 
nine,  two  of  whom  died  in  Vermont.  George  W.,  who 
became  eminent  as  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church;  Ann  F.,  Giles  C,  Jane  E.,  Almira  N., 
Jeannetce,  and  Frank  A.  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
union  army  during  the  rebellion.  He  was  captured 
at  Milroy's  defeat,  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  was  for 
many  months  :in  involuntary  guest  at  the  hotel  dc 
Libby,  Richmond  Virginia. 

Dcodatus  Hubbell  emigrated  f:om  Lanesborough, 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  to  Ridgefield  in  the 
spring  of  1818.  He  purchased  lot  number  eighteen, 
in  the  second  section.  In  1819,  he  married  Celia 
Littlefield.  The  season  of  1820  was  noted  for  tlie 
prevalence  of  ague,  billions  fever  and  sore  eyes,  Mr. 
Hubbell  became  afflicted  with  the  latter  trouble  and 
became  totally  blind.  He  returned  to  Massachusetts, 
wiicrc  be  regained  liis  health  and  eve-sight.     In  1828 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


■io7 


he  returned  to  his  home  in  Ridgetield,  where  he  died, 
August  19,  1863.  Mrs.  Hubbell  died  November  5, 
187T.  The  children  of  this  couple  numbered 'four — 
one  died  in  infancy — Eliza  Ann,  who  married  F.  H. 
Drake,  of  Monroeville,  Rosamond  M.,  who  married  E. 
Read,  and  Celia  M.,  who  became  the  wife  of  James 
G.  Hardy,  and  now  resides  in  Covington,  Indiana. 
Mr.  Hubbell  became  an  early  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  always  remained  a  prominent  member 
and  one  of  its  principal  supporters.  The  bell  of  this 
church,  which  cost  three  hundred  dollars,  was  one  of 
his  many  donations. 

Hial  Hunt  emigrated  from  Vermont,  and  in  1816 
located  in  Margaretta  township,  Erie  county,  and,  in 
connection  with  a  brother,  erected  a  mill  on  Cold 
creek,  but,  being  unable  to  obtain  a  title  to  the  land, 
gave  it  up,  and  he  came  to  Ridgefield  in  the  spring  of 
1818.  He  purchased,  finally,  the  lot  upon  which 
stiinds  the  brick  building  occupied  by  R.  G  Martin's 
hardware,  and  A.  L.  Lane's  drug  store.  In  1820  he 
removed  from  the  county.  Returning  about  1824, 
he  settled  in  the  tirst  section  of  Lyme  township.  He 
has  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1835,  and  he  married  a  widow  lady,  named 
Phillips. 

Reuben  Bloomer,  from  Vermont,  arrived  in  Ridge- 
field township  on  October  37,  1817.  He  located  a  few 
rods  east  of  the  present  residence  of  Sidney  Brown, 
where  he  lived  a  few  years,  and  removed  to  Sherman 
township,  where  he  settled,  permanently,  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  "Bloomer  farm."  Here  he  died, 
June  20,  1836.  His  wife  died  July  24,  1826.  The 
children  were  :  Susan,  Coles  A.,  Albert,  Emma  J., 
Charles  B.,  George  and  John  U.  Four  are  living — 
three  in  Ridgefield  township. 

Charles  Parker,  of  Rhode  Island,  married,  ou  Feb- 
ruary i,  1798,  Lucina  Lamberton,  from  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  in  about  1800  emigrated  to  Ohio.  He 
located  at,  or  near,  the  present  village  of  Paiuesville, 
in  Lake  county,  and  was  among  the  early  merchants 
of  that  village.  He  remained  there  until  1811,  in 
May  of  which  year,  he  removed  to  Milan,  (then  called 
Avery,)  and  settled  on  Huron  river,  about  one  and 
a  half  miles  southwest  of  the  present  village  of 
Milan. 

Here  the  histbric  block  house  was  erected,  to 
jjrotect  the  settlers  from  the  incursions  of  savages, 
rendered  more  ferocious  by  the  offer  of  British  gold 
for  scalps.  After  the  infamous  and  cowardly  surren- 
der of  the  traitor,  Hull,  at  Detroit,  the  families  in 
the  block  house  fled  southward  for  safety.  The 
family  of  Charles  Parker  were  :  Ira,  who  was  born 
before  the  parents  came  to  Ohio  :  he  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  the  army.  Anna  and 
Hiram  were  born  at  Painesville.  Anna  married 
Thomas  J.  Prentiss,  on  September  27, 1819,  and  came 
at  once  to  live  in  Ridgefield,  locating  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  H.  P.  Stentz.  Here  two  children  were  born, 
Charles  P.,  who  married  Emma  Lurkins,  and  resides 
in    Monroeville,    and    Jane,     who    married     Bailey 


Wheeler,  and  is  now  deceased.  Hiram  married  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Russell,  and  died  in  Michigan,  in  1876,  at 
Milan.  Two  children  were  born  :  Lucina  who  mar- 
ried Samuel  Knight,  and  lives  in  Illinois,  and 
Catharine,  who  married  Hiram  Brooks,  and  is  living 
in  the  south.  Mr.  Parker  died  October  12,  1815.  He 
had  three  wives. 

Perry  Easton  came  from  Ontaria  county.  New  York, 
and  located  in  Ridgefield,  June  9, 1818.  The  journey 
was  performed  by  team  to  Buffalo,  and  from  thence 
to  Sandusky  by  boat.  Settling  on  lot  number  six,  he 
remained  until  1821,  when  he  I'emoved  to  Bronson 
township,  and  finally  to  Peru,  where  he  permanently 
located.  He  died  May  9,  1858.  Mrs.  Easton  died 
December  29,  1872.  The  children  were  three  : 
James  D.  and  John  C,  (twins,)  and  a  daughter, 
Cordelia.  James  D.  married  Jane  Barker,  and  lives 
in  Monroeville  ;  John  C.  married  Anna  Estes,  and 
lives  in  Paris,  Texas. 

James  Hamilton  and  family  moved  from  Granville, 
Washington  county.  New  Y'ork,  to  Lyme  township, 
this  county,  in  the  spring  of  1819.  Here  he  located 
and  remained  until  the  spring  of  1826,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Monroeville.  Mrs.  Hamilton  died  in  Lyme 
in  August.  1821.  Mr.  Hamilton  died  in  Milan  in 
June,  1855. 

The  family  consisted  of  nine  children:  Chester,  who 
died  in  Milan;  Henry,  who  died  in  Buffalo,  New 
York;  Margaret,  who  married  N.  M.  Standard,  of 
Milan,  died  from  injuries  received  by  being  thrown 
from  the  high  bank  near  the  residence  of  the  late 
David  Clock,  by  a  frightened  horse;  Daniel,  who  died 
in  Milan;  John,  who  now  lives  in  Anamosy,  Iowa; 
James,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  Granville,  New  Y'ork, 
August  8,  1806,  married  Emily  J.  Brown.  (She  died 
May  30,  1851,  leaving  the  jfollowmg  children:  James 
H.,  Frank  B.,  Francis  J.,  Emily,  Margaret  and 
Sarah;  Emily  is  deceased.)  Mr.  Hamilton  married 
Berthulia  Clock,  November  4.  1852,  by  whom  two 
children  were  born:  Clay  and  Marrion  L.  He  is  at 
present  postmaster  at  Monroeville.  Findley  F.,  the 
next  child  of  James  Hamilton,  Sr.,  is  deceased,  as 
are  Thomas  and  William  Edgar,  which  comprise  the 
family. 

Forrest  Messenger  came  from  Granville,  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  to  Milan,  Huron  county,  in  August, 
1822.  He  remained  there  until  1825,  when  he  came 
to  Ridgefield  township  and  purchased  land  in  what  is 
now  Monroeville  village.  L^pou  this  he  still  resides. 
In  the  fall  of  1828  he  married  Jliss  Cecelia  Hubbell, 
by  whom  five  children  were  born.  Of  these,  three  are 
still  living.  Mrs.  Messenger  died  of  cholera  in  July, 
1849.  In  the  spring  of  1850,  he  married  Hannah 
Patterson,  by  whom  he  has  had  one  child,  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Messenger  was  the  "village  blacksmith" 
thirty-four  years,  and,  during  stageing  times,  he  did 
an  extensive  business.  He  has,  undoubtedly,  shod 
more  horses  than  any  man  in  Huron  county.  During 
the  war  of  1812,  although  too  young  for  a  soldier,  yet 
he  accompanied  the  army  as  a  fifer. 


258 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


John  Brown,  of  New  Hampshire,  came  to  Ohio  in 
the  summer  of  1S23,  and  located  in  the  village  of 
Monroeville.  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
The  children  were:  Albert,  Justus,  Jeremiah,  Sally, 
Melissa,  Esther  and  John;  five  are  still  living.  Al- 
bert is  the  only  one  residing,  at  present,  in  the  town- 
ship. He  married  Emma  J.  Bloomer:  they  have 
seven  children. 

John  Fish  came  from  Licking  county,  Ohio,  to 
Peru,  in  about  1822.  In  1825  he  settled  on  lot  num- 
ber seven  in  Ridgefield  township,  and  this  farm  is 
still  owned  by  his  heirs.  His  first  wife  was  Jane  Gam- 
ble, by  whom  the  following  children  were  born:  Au- 
rora B.,  Sidney  D.,  Gordon  W.,  Edwin,  Mary  J.,  and 
Sarah  A.  Mrs.  Fish  died  June  6,  1832,  and  he  mar- 
ried Lydia  Van  Coy,  who  is  still  living.  The  children 
by  this  marriage  are:  Piatt  C,  James  G.,  John  \V., 
Celia,  Judson  D.,  and  Ida,  all  living.  Mr.  Fish  died 
September  13,  1866. 

Daniel  Sherman,  in  February,  1825,  purchased  the 
farm  formerly  owned  by  Sanders  Littlefield.  This  is 
now  occupied  by  S.  D.  Fish.  (For  further  of  Mr. 
Sherman's  history,  see  Sherman  township.) 

P.  J.  Robertson,  from  Washington  county.  New 
York,  located  in  Ridgefield  township,  on  lot  one,  sec- 
tion four,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1834  he  married 
Mrs.  Anna  Prentiss.  One  child  was  born  to  them, 
(George)  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

C.  S.  Brown,  from  Madison  county.  New  Yol-k, 
settled  in  Ridgefield,  on  lot  eight,  in  1837,  where  he 
now  lives.  He  has  two  children:  Lloyd,  who  married 
Rose  Mahou,  and  lives  at  home,  and  Retta,  who  mar- 
ried William  H.  Bishop,  a  son  of  Augustus  W.  Bishop, 
who  settled  ni  Ridgefield  in  1835. 

Isaac  Smith,  from  Tompkins  county,  New  Y'ork. 
settled  in  Fitch^-ille  in  1835.  In  October,  1836,  he 
married  Cornelia  Barnhart.  and  in  February,  1838, 
came  to  Monroeville,  and  soon  after  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, and  has  prosecuted  this  vocation  continu- 
ously, with  the  exception  of  two  years,  until  the  pres- 
ent period.  His  wife  died  in  1850,  and  in  1854  he 
married  Elizabeth  Piatt,  with  whom  he  now  lives. 
He  is  the  oldest  merchant  in  the  village.  The  chil- 
dren are  as  follows:  Byron  A.,  Ellen  L.,  Hattie  C, 
Cynthia  J.,  Ralph  P.,  Ed.  S.,  and  Abbie  N.  The 
last  three  are  by  the  second  wife.  Elvira  ]M.  and 
Frank  J.  are  dead. 

Among  the  early  settlers  we  find  the  names  of  Al- 
len Lindsley,  Lysander  Halladay,  David  Webb,  B.  B. 
Jackson,  Ezra  Leonard,  Asel  Morse,  Elihu  Potter, 
Henry  Tice,  who  was  quite  prominent  in  the  village, 
Levi  Cole,  who  settled  in  Ridgefield  very  early,  had  a 
family  of  eight  sons,  some  of  whom  yet  reside  in  the 
county.  The  Burt  brothers  who  built  the  grist  and 
saw  mills  in  the  village,  were  very  early  settlers. 
They  came  from  Derby,  ^'ermont. 

John  Green  came  from  Auburn,  New  York,  to 
Huron  county  (locating  in  Greenfield  township)  in 
October.  1818.  In  1822  he  removed  to  Lyme  town- 
ship, where  he  died,  October,  1826.     James,  his  son. 


was  then  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  drifted  with  the 
tide,  until  1833,  when  he  came  to  Monroeville.  He 
married  Catharine  Palmer,  of  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  in 
1834.  They  have  four  children — a  son  and  three 
daughters.  Mr.  Green  was,  for  a  number  of  years, 
engaged  in  merchandising.  He  has  been  a  Justice  of 
the  peace  for  twenty-one  years,  and  infirmary  director 
for  several  years. 

J.  R.  Hall,  a  native  of  Kirkwood,  Belmont  county, 
Ohio,  came  to  Ridgefield  in  the  fall  of  183C.  He 
married  Mrs.  Jane  Prout,  and,  erecting  buildings  in 
Monroeville  village,  engaged  in  merchandising.  He 
was  entirely  burned  out  in  the  fire  of  1855.  He  then 
purchased  the  property  on  the  south  side  of  the  river, 
where  lie  yet  resides.  Of  the  family  of  five  children, 
three  (Russell,  Jane  and  Aldura)  are  deceased. 
Jeannette  and  Marion  are  at  home.  The  latter 
married  William  W.  Beardsley,  who  is  deceased. 

James  Mason,  of  Atlantic  county.  New  Jersey, 
located  in  Ridgefield  township  in  1831,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  married  Abigail  Hess.  The  children 
are  :  Elias,  Melissa,  Francis  H...  Mary  E.  and  James, 
who  are  all  living. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  wliite  child  liorn  in  the  township  of 
Ridgefield,  was  a  son  to  Seth  and  Sarah  Brown,  born 
August  29,  1815.  He  is  now  the  Rev.  George  W. 
Brown,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is 
located  in  Illinois.  He  was  a  missionary  among  the 
Indians  in  the  Lake  Superior  region  before  the  open- 
ing of  the  copper  mines. 

The  first  deaths  were,  without  doubt,  the  Sweatland 
family  before  mentioned,  which  occurred  in  July  and 
October.  1815. 

The  first  burial  in  tiie  Monroeville  cemetery  was 
Preoxcintha,  wife  of  Isaac  Clary.  Slie  died  on  the 
21st  of  September,  1818. 

The  pioneer  wedding  in  the  township  was  Thomas 
Dickey  to  Miss  Elizabeth  :Myers.  It  transpired  in 
April,  1819.  This  couple  died  in  Ridgefield,  the 
wife  in  1854,  and  the  husband,  January  10,  18T9. 

The  first  frame  house  in  Monroeville  was  built  by 
John  Sowers,  in  about  1820.  It  stood  just  back  of 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Davis  block.  This 
building  now  stands  near  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is 
occupied  by  Mrs.  Ed.  Wright. 

The  first  brick  building  was  built  by  George  Hol- 
lister,  in  about  1830.  This  is  now  the  residence  of 
John  S.  Davis. 

Schuyler  Van  Rensselaer  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
Ridgefield  township,  and  Ave  learn  that  the  office  was 
located  in  a  building  standing  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Exchange  block,  (corner  Main  street  and 
Milan  avenue.)  This  building  was  erected  by  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  in  it  he  sold  goods,  among  the  first  in 
the  township.  James  Hamilton  is  present  postmaster, 
appointed  December  19,  18T4. 

The  first  goods  were  sold  by  a  ni.in  named 
Drummond.    who  fitted   up  a  corner  of   Burt's  saw 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


2b9 


mill  for  a  store.  This  was  immediately  after  tlie  mill 
wfis  completed. 

John  Sowers  planted  an  orchard  on  tlie  farm  where 
Thomas  Cone  now  lives,  in  1817.  Tliis  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  pioneer  orchard  in  the  township. 

Seth  Brown  and  John  Sowers  each  sowed  a  piece  of 
wheat,  as  soon  as  practicable,  after  settlement. 

The  first  4th  of  July  celebratioti  was  held  at  George 
Pearce's,  near  the  William  H.  Jackson  residence. 
For  dinner,  they  had  baked  meats,  beans,  and  sorrel 
pie,  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  whisky  added  its 
exhilirating  effect  to  the  festivities.  A  dance  was 
held  in  the  evening.  The  following  4th  of  July  a 
celebration  was  held  on  "  Independence  Island," 
then  extending  from  a  little  above  the  present  bridge 
at  Monroeville  some  twenty  rods  below  and. some  five 
or  six  rods  in  width,  and  covered  with  trees.  This 
island  has  now  entirely  disappeared. 

We  have  before  stated  that  the  first  hotel  stood  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Eckhart  Hotel,  owned 
by  Emerson  Brothers.  This  pioneer  hotel  was  a 
wood  structure.  In  about  1834  it  was  burned,  and 
soon  afterwards  the  present  brick  hotel  was  erected. 
This  was  undoubtedly  built  by  Harry  Gritfin,  and 
christened  the  Railroad  House.  Gritfin,  who  mar- 
ried Harriet  Sturges,  was  its  host  some  three  years, 
and  is  said  to  have  kept  the  best  hotel  between  Cleve- 
land and  Detroit.  Uriah  M.  Eckhart  is  tlie  present 
host. 

The  Exchange  Hotel  was  built  by  James  Tice,  who 
sold  it  to  Stephen  Crippen.  It  was  operated  some 
years  for  a  hotel.     Isaac  Smith  is  the  present  owner. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Ridgefield  township  was  organized  the  first  Monday 
in  December  1815,  and  comprised  the  territory  now 
included  in  the  townships  of  Ridgefield,  Sherman, 
Lyme,  and  the  south  half  of  Oxford.  The  first 
election  was  held  in  the  spring  of  1816  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  F.  Read,  on  lot  sixteeu  in  section  two.  No 
record  of  this  election  can  be  found.  Enos  Rose,  in 
his  "sketch  of  Ridgefield  township,"  says:  "From 
the  recollection  of  those  who  were  at  this  election, 
David  Page,  Levi  Sutton,  and  David  Underhill  were 
the  first  trustees;  Joseph  F.  Read,  township  clerk, 
and  Sanders  Littlefield,  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
names  of  electors  were  as  follows:  Joseph  F.  Read, 
Daniel  Sherman,  Sanders  Littlefield,  George  Pearce, 
Seth  Brown,  Daniel  Page,  John  Sowers,  Sr.,  John 
Sowers,  Jr.,  Moses  Sowers,  David  Underhill,  John 
Hahn,  Thomas  Webb,  Adam  Wires,  George  Wires, 
Thomas  Dickey,  Richard  Henry,  George  and  John 
Burt,  and  two  others  named  Drake  and  Strong. 

On  March  4,  1816,  the  second  and  third  sections 
of  Lyme  were  set  off  to  Wheatland.  March  2,  1818, 
Oxford  was  attached  to  Bloomingville.  February  6, 
1820,  one  mile  square  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Ox- 
ford was  attached  to  Lyme,  and  the  next  square  mile 
east  attached  to  Ridgefield,  and  on  March  6th,  of  the 


same  j'ear,  the  Lyme  portion  was  set  back  to  Ridge- 
field. Lyme  and  Sherman  were  detached  from  Ridge- 
field in  1819.  Lyme,  and  about  one  mile  of  Groton 
now  Erie  county,  making  an  election  district,  and 
Sherman  and  Norwich  were  organized  as  a  township 
the  same  year.  Ridgefield  is  described  as  township 
number  four,  range  twenty-three. 

The  township  officers  for  the  year  1878  are:  Alex- 
ander Mushett,  John  G.  Myers,  and  Samuel  La- 
moreux,  trustees;  Isaac  Smith,  clerk;  H.  P.  Stentz, 
treasurer;  Fred  W.  Aves,  assessor;  Henry  Kingsley 
and  Fred  W.  Aves,  constables;  and  J.  P.  Cornell  and 
James  Green,  justices  of  the  peace. 

MONROEVILLE   VILLAGE. 

On  September  39,  1817,  the  north  part  of  lot 
number  four,  in  the  fourth  section,  owned  by  John 
Sowers,  Sr.,  and  the  south  part  of  lot  number  five, 
in  the  same  section,  of  which  Seth  Brown  was  owner, 
was  laid  out  as  a  village.  It  was  named  Monroe,  and 
continued  to  be  called  by  that  name  until  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  post  office,  when,  to  avoid  repetition, 
the  name  was  changed  to  Monroeville.  On  May  24, 
1836,  an  addition  was  made  to  the  village,  by  the 
heirs  of  Seth  Brown,  and  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-one  lots. 

March  6,  1868,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  com- 
missioners of  Huron  county,  asking  that  the  village 
of  Monroeville  be  incorporated.  The  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  was  granted,  and  an  election  ordered. 
The  following  gentlemen  were  elected:  James  Green, 
mayor;  W.  J.  Lewis,  recorder;  Roman  Zipfel,  treas- 
urer; Wm.  R.  Jackson,  S.  B.  Martin,  C.  P.  Prentiss, 
J.  Hamilton  and  R.  Zipfel,  trustees.  The  successors 
to  the  office  of  mayor,  recorder  and  treasurer,  are  as 
follows:  1870,  John  Sowers,  mayor;  H.  M.  Roby 
was  elected  recorder,  but  declined  to  serve,  and  H.  P. 
Stentz  was  appointed  to  fill  vacancy.  1871,  B.  A. 
Smith,  clerk.  1872,  S.  Robbins,  mayor;  D.  Packard, 
treasurer.  1873,  A.  S.  Skilton,  clerk.  1874,  R.  Zipfel, 
treasurer.  1876,  R.  Zipfel,  mayor;  A.  Hipp,  treas- 
urer. 1877,  John  Butler,  clerk.  1878,  Roman  Zipfel, 
mayor;  A.  E.  Scholey.  clerk;  A.  Hipp,  treasurer;  W. 
M.  Fanning,  James  T.  Camp,  J.  Tillotson,  Joshua 
Parker,  C.  P.  Hankamer  and  F.  G.  Murphy,  council- 
men;  Henry  Kingsley,  marshal;  J.  Henninger,  street 
commissioner. 


Were  it  possible  to  jnirify  by  fire,  tlien,  indeed, 
would  Monroeville  be  purity  itself.  In  the  early 
morning  of  March  4,  185.5,  occurred  the  first  fire  of 
importance,  in  Monroeville  village.  At  this  time 
the  space  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  from 
Monroe  street  south  to  near  where  now  stands 
the  blacksmith  shop,  was  filled  by  a  row  of  wooden 
buildings.  The  building  farthest  south  was  oc- 
cupied by  J.  R.  HalFs  grocery.  The  fire  originated 
from  a  box  of  ashes  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  build- 


■260 


HISTORY  OF  HUKOK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ingnest  north.  There  was  no  provision  for  fire,  and 
a  strong  wind  from  the  southwest  drove  the  de- 
vouring element  rapidly  northward,  and,  although 
buckets  were  brought  into  requisition,  and  every  one 
strove  heroically  to  stay  its  ravages,;  yet  without  avail, 
and  in  perhaps  three  hours,  nothing  remained,  ex- 
cept ashes  and  smouldering  ruins,  from  where  the  fire 
originated,  north  to  ^louroe  street.  The  most  im- 
portant building  destroyed  was  the  Hollister  ware- 
house. The  entire  loss  was  estimated  at  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars. 

In  the  spring  of  186T.  the  second  serions  fire  took 
place.  It  originated  in  the  building,  corner  Main 
street  and  Milan  avenue,  and  extended  south  along 
the  east  side  of  Main  street.  The  fire  was  subdued 
when,  about  two-thirds  of  the  distance  from  Milan 
avenue  to  Eckhart's  hotel  had  been  burned  over. 
Three  buildings  only  were  left  standing,  north  of  the 
hotel.  The  principal  suSerers  by  this  fire  were:  John 
Hosford,  Philip  Meiijger.  Urlan  &  Zipfel  and  James 
Wright.  The  rebuilding  of  the  burned  district  was 
immediately  begun.  The  loss,  outside  of  insurance 
was  six  thousand  dollars. 

In  April,  18T0,  the  three  buildiugs  north  of  the 
hotel  (which  were  saved  in  previous  fire)  were  burned. 
The  losses  were  Urlan  &  Zipfel  and  J.  Antemeu,  and 
the  amount,  not  covered  by  insurance,  aggregated 
some  two  thousand  dollars. 

On  the  night  of  April  1.  1ST7,  occurred  the  last 
grand  conflagration.  The  fire  originated  in  the  mil- 
linery store  of  Mrs.  Parsons,  standing  on  the  north 
side  of  Monroe  street.  The  wind  blew  a  gale,  and 
soon  the  fire  fiend  reached  Main  street.  About  mid- 
night the  wind  shifted  to  the  north  and  the  flames 
were  carried  across  Monroe  street  to  Mrs.  Aves'  mil- 
linery store,  which  was  soon  destroyed.  This  was 
followed  rapidly  by  the  residence  and  oflSce  of  Dr. 
Lane,  the  town  hall,  F.  &  J.  Tyler's  market,  A. 
Hipp  &  Co. 's  grocery,  Merrill,  Cary  &  Co.'s  stores, 
A.  L.  Lane's  drug  store,  R.  G.  Martin's  hardware 
store,  J.  Carabin's  grocery.  The  halls  of  the  Masonic, 
Odd  Fellows  and  Good  Templar  Societies  were  in  these 
buildings  and  lost  everything.  Fire  companies  had 
been  summoned  by  telegraph  from  Norwalk,  San- 
dusky and  Bellevue,  and  arrived  on  the  scene  at  the 
time  the  fire  had  reached  the  store  adjoining  the 
Davis  block.  Bellevue  steamer  was  soon  in  position 
and  poured  two  powerful  streams  into  the  burning 
pile.  The  other  companies  worked  with  a  will,  and 
by  their  almost  superhuman  efforts  the  fire  was  sta3ed 
at  this  point.  The  people  of  Monroeville  should  ever 
cherish  a  feeling  of  gratitude  for  the  noble  assistance 
rendered  on  this  occasion. 

The  aggregate  loss  was  seventy-five  thousand  dol- 
lars, upon  which  there  Avas  a  partial  insurance.  The 
origin  of  this  tire  is  unknown,  but  is  thought  to  have 
been  incendiary.  The  majority  of  the  parties  burned 
out  were  soon  doing  business  again,  and  the  portion 
of  tlie  burned  district  on  Main  street  was  soon  re- 
built. 


FIRE    DEPAKT.MEN'T. 

Despite  the  repeated  conflagrations  with  whicii 
Monroeville  had  lieen  visited,  no  effort  was  made  to 
organize  a  fire  department  until  after  the  disastrous 
fire  of  1877.  Immediately  following  this,  the  legis- 
lature was  petitioned  to  pass  an  "enabling  act." 
authoi-izmg  the  council  to  issue  bonds  in  any  amount 
not  exceeding  eighf  thousand  dollars,  the  same  to  be 
applied  to  the  purchase  of  fire  engine,  etc.  This  was 
done,  and  on  August  10,  1877,  a  number  four  steam 
fire  engine,  of  the  Clapp  and  Jones  pattern,  w:is  pur- 
chased :  also,  fifteen  hundred  feet  of  hose,  and  two 
hose  reels,  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand,  seven  hundred 
dollars.  The  department  was  organized,  with  Henry 
M.  Roby,  chief :  A.  S.  Skilton,  engineer  :  August  J. 
Antenen.  assistant,  and  William  Rooney,  fireman. 
Hose  companies  number  one  and  two  were  formed, 
with  twenty  men  each.  Tliey  are  officered  as  follows: 
Number  One — Dr.  C.  M.  C.  Prentiss,  foreman ; 
Thomas  Clarck,  iissistaut  :  Thomas  Emerson,  treas- 
urer ;  J.  Carabin.  secretary.  Roby,  Number  Two — 
A.  E.  Scholey,  foreman  ;  Cliarley  Karcher,  assistant; 
A.  E.  Scholey,  treasurer  ;  Roscoe  De  Witt,  secretary. 
A  hook  and  ladder  company  is  in  process  of  formation. 
The  water  supply  is  inexhaustible. 

MOXETAKY  INTERESTS. 

In  the  year  18.56,  Messrs.  Head  &  Perkins  com- 
menced to  do  a  private  banking  business  in  Monroe- 
ville village.  After  a  time  they  were  succeeded  by  S. 
V.  Harkness,  and  he  in  turn,  in  1866.  by  the  present 
proprietors,  Messrs.  J.  S.  Davis.  C.  S.  Crim  and  H. 
P.  Stenz,  who,  under  the  firm  name  of  Davis,  Crim 
&  Stenz,  organized  the  "  Exchange  Bank  of  Monroe- 
ville." These  gentlemen  are  also  connected  with  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Gallon,  and  the  latter  with 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Plymouth.  The  '  Ex- 
change" does  a  general  banking  business.  To  show- 
its  stability,  in  1873,  when  the  disastrous  panic  struck 
our  country,  it  had  on  deposit  ^180,000.  and  its  de- 
positors were  promptly  paid  on  call.  The  proprietors 
are  widely  known  as  gentlemen  of  strict  integrity  and 
unquestionable  financial  ability.  Steel  portraits  of 
Messrs.  Davis  and  Stenz  appear  in  this  volume. 

Isaac  Smith  and  A.  W.  Prentiss  have  also  done  a 
private  banking  business  in  Monroeville. 

RAILROADS. 

In  the  year  1830  a  charter  was  granted  for  the  S.-^u- 
dusky  and  ilonroeviUe  railroad.  Work  was  com- 
menced immediately  and  the  road  completed  be- 
tween these  points  in  1838.  The  cars  were  drawn 
by  horses.  In  about  1836  or  '37.  the  since  notorious 
Brigham  Young  worked  a  lot  of  men  on  this  road. 
While  excavating  for  the  deep  cut  the  l)ones  of  a 
mastodon  were  unearthed.  The  line  was  extended  to 
Mansfield,  steam  was  applied  and  the  road  eventually 
extended  to  Newark,  when  it  was  leased  to  tlie  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  railroad,  and  is  now  tiie  Lake  Erie 
Divisiidi  of  that  com|)any's  line. 


HISTOKY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


261 


In  1851-2  the  Cleveland,  Norwalk  and  Toledo  rail- 
road was  built.  This  is  now  the  Southern  Division 
of  the  Lake  Shore  and  ^tlichigan  Southern  railroad. 
Th"e  two  lines  of  railroad  cross  in  Monrocville. 

CHURCHES. 

In  1818  a  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  Ridge- 
field  township,  composed  of  membei-s  residing  in  the 
territory'  now  embraced  in  Huron  and  Erie  counties. 
The  meetings  of  this  body  were  held  in  different  local- 
ities until  1835,  when,  by  mutual  consent,  the  church 
was  permanently  located  in  Norwalk,  and  the  name 
changed  from  "  Ridgefield  "  to  "Norwalk"'  Baptist 
Church.  For  particulars  connected  with  the  early 
organization  and  history  of  this  church,  see  histoiy 
of  Norwalk  Baptist  Church  in  this  volume.  This 
was  the  first  church  organization  in  the  township  of 
Ridgefield. 

FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Sundry  inhabitants,  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
Lyme  and  Ridgefield  townships,  met  at  the  house  of 
S.  Van  Rensselaer  on  the  14th  day  of  November,  1831, 
and  organized  the  aljove  named  church,  agreeably  to 
the  general  assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
the  United  States,  approved  by  the  general  association 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  The  following  divines 
were  present :  Revs.  A.  H.  Bells,  Enoch  Conger, 
Eveston  Judson  and  E.  P.  Salmon.  The  constituent 
members  of  this  church  were  :  James  Hamilton,  Sr., 
Hannah  Hamilton,  John  Seymour,  Sarah  A.  Seymour, 
Thomas  H.  Prentiss,  Elmira  Barney,  Lewis  Stone, 
Hannah  Stone,  Mieah  Skinner,  Cata  Skinner,  Dilatus 
W.  Skinner,  Jane  Catharine  Skinner,  Nathan  Ste- 
phens. Eliza  Stephens,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Van  Rensselaer, 
Mary  A.  Sowers,  Mary  Holiday,  Laura  H.  Sherman, 
Eliza  Ann  Seymour.  Elmira  Cook.  Nancy  Hand,  and 
Betsy  and  Melissa  Brown.  Services  were  held  in  the 
school  house,  standing  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
John  Hosford-s  residence,  until  1810,  April  13th,  of 
which  year,  the  building  committee  report  the  church 
as  finished,  at  a  cost  of  about  four  thousand  dollars. 
This  is  the  building  yet  occupied  by  this  society.  The 
season  of  1865,  however,  the  church  was  rebuilt,  and 
extensive  improvements  made,  for  which  some  four 
thousand  dollars  were  expended. 

The  parsonage,  which  is  located  on  Monroe  street, 
was  purchased  in  the  spring  of  1864,  at  a  cost  of 
seventeen  hundred  dollars.  The  church  officers,  on 
organization,  were  :  James  Hamilton,  Sr..  John 
Seymour  and  Thomas  H.  Prentiss,  elders ;  John 
Seymour,  clerk. 

The  charter  which  was  granted  in  1838.  created  the 
Presbyterian  and  Congregational  church  and  society 
of  Monroeville,  and  on  April  1(3.  1838,  James  Ham- 
ilton. Sr..  George  Hollister.  John  M.  Latimer,  Justus 
Brown  and  George  W.  Wannalian,  were  elected 
trustees,  and  James  W.  Huniphrey,  secretary.  1854. 
Allen  Lindsley.  clerk  :  1860,  Augustus  TV.  Prentiss. 
clerk.     He  was  succeeded  by  E.  J.  Squire,  and  he  by 


the  present  clerk,  Brainard  W.  Salisbury.  The  official 
roster  for  1878  is:  John  S.  Davis,  George  Fish,  David 
Clary,  Albert  Brown  and  Brainard  W.  Salisbury, 
trustees  ;  Jonathan  Green  and  Albert  Brown,  deacons; 
E.  J.  Squire,  treasurer  ;  D.  H.  Clock,  chorister,  and 
George  W.  Paine,  organist  and  superintendent  of 
Sabbath  school,  in  which  there  is  an  average  attend- 
ance of  sixty-five.  The  church  membership  at  present 
(March,  1879,)  is  sixty. 

The  records  are  quite  imperfect  from  which  the 
following  list  of  pastors  is  compiled.  The  first 
regular  pastor  was  Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon,  who  remained 
until  about  1836  ;  for  the  six  years  following,  the 
church  had  no  regular  pastor,  but  was  supplied  by  the 

following  :  Rev.  David    Higgins,  Parlin.  A.  H. 

Betts  and Conger.  June  1,  1842,  Rev.  I.  B.  Par- 
lin was  installed  pastor  by  the  Huron  Presbytery.  He 
served  until  March  20.  1847,  when  he  was  dismissed, 
and  Revs.  Sperry,  Newton.  Sawyer  and  others,  acted 
as  stated  supply  until  July  28,  1858,  when  Rev.  C. 
W.  Clapp  was  installed.  He  resigned,  March  30, 
1855.  and  the  following  acted  as  supply:  Rev.  Charles 

Richards. Walker,  Henry  Willard.  J.  E.    Weed. 

D.  E.  Wells  began  preaching  March  1.  1864.  He 
was  installed  September  25.  1866,  and  dismissed  in 
1868.  After  him.  was  Rev.  T.  J.  Lewis  and  Smith 
Barnes.  1870.  Rev.  J.  T.  Pollock  assumed  charge. 
He  resigned,  November  7,  1873,  and  was  followed  by 
Rev.  C.  W.  Wallace,  who  remained  until  Api'il,  1876, 
and  from  this  date  until  October  1.  of  the  same  j'ear. 
When  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  A.  A.  Cressman, 
assumed  charge,  the  church  was  without  a  pastor. 

Laura  Sherman  died  December  31,  1876,  aged 
eighty-six  years,  and  ;\Irs.  Mary  Sowers  died  January 
20,  1877,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  These  were  the 
last  and  only  constituent  members  of  this  church, 
who  were  residents  of  Ridgefield  township. 

METHOIIIST    EPISCOPAL    CHCRCH. 

The  following  sketch  is  written  from  the  "recol- 
lections" of  James  Green,  Esq.,  of  Monroeville,  one 
of  the  constituent  members  of  tiiis  church.  During 
the  summer  of  1832,  a  traveling  minister,  Rev.  Shad- 
rach  Ruark,  preached  occasionally  in  the  school  house, 
then  standing  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  resi- 
dence of  John  Hosford,  Esq.,  and  in,  it  is  thought, 
October  of  that  year,  a  class  was  formed,  consisting 
of  the  following  persons:  Benjamin  Murphy,  who  was 
leader,  James  Green,  Mrs.  Mary  Green,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Green,  Mrs.  Ann  Bills,  Mrs.  Maria  Bills  and  Mrs.  Ann 
Morrison.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  school  house 
above  mentioned  until  about  1841  or  "42,  when  a 
small  brick  church  was  erected  on  Broad  street.  This 
was  occupied  until  about  1861,  when  it  became  too 
small,  and  the  present  commodious  church  on  Chapel 
street  was  erected.  This  cost,  with  site,  fifteen  tliou- 
sand  dollars.  The  former  church  wa«  sold  to  the 
Ciitholic  society,  and  is  now  occupied  by  them  for 
school  purposes.  The  average  membership  since 
1861  has  been  one  hundred  and  forty. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  perliaps  1834,  a  Sabbath  school  was  orgaiiized  in 
Monroeville.  This  was  on  the  union  plan,  and  was 
composed  of  children  of  every  denomination.  James 
Green  was  its  superintendent. 

The  Sabbath  school  in  connection  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  was  formed  in  1842 — James 
Green,  superintendent.  This  school  has  now  (1879) 
an  average  attendance  of  eighty.  John  Hosford, 
superintendent. 

Among  the  ministers  who  have  presided  over  the 
destinies   of   this   church,    are    the   following:    Rev. 

Day,    Goshorn,    Edward    Thompson 

(late  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church),  H. 

0.     Sheldon,    Thomas     Barkdull,    Disbro, 

Thomas  Cooper,  George  W.  Brown,  Lee,  T. 

J.    Pope,  Pounds,  John   T.   Kellum,  James 

Kellum,    Evans,    Milligan,    

Painter,  John  A.  Mudge,  John  R.  Jewett,   

McKaskey,  T.  J.  Guard,  E.  Thompson,  and  the 
present  pastor.  Rev.  F.  S.  Woolfe. 

The  present  church  officials  are:  James  Green, 
Samuel  Carr,  George  Hearsou,  William  Powley, 
Harry  Powley,  Frank  Mason  and  Thomas  Ackerman, 
class  leaders;  John  Hosford,  James  Green,  Dr.  C.  L. 
Kreider,  Gardner  Young,  J.  S.  Green,  Isaac  De  Witt 
and  Frank  Mason,  stewards  and  trustees. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  writer  desires  to  express  his  thanks  to  Rev.  M. 
W.  Homes  for  the  following  history  of  this  church: 
"On  June  6,  1836,  eighteen  members  of  this  denomi- 
nation formed  themselves  into  a  jonference  under  the 
following  pledge:  'We,  the  undersigned  members 
of  Baptist  Churches,  feeling  desirous  to  sustain  the 
public  worship  of  God  in  the  village  of  Monroeville, 
and  other  parts  of  the  town  of  Ridgefield,  do  agree 
to  unite  in  conference,  covenanting,  by  the  help  of 
God,  to  meet  for  his  worship  at  such  time  and  place 
as  shall  be  by  us  appointed;  and  when  not  favored 
witli  the  preached  word,  to  improve  the  time  in  exhor- 
tation, singing  and  prayer,  as  the  word  of  God 
directs.' 

"The  following  are  the  names  of  those  forming  the 
conference:  David  Webb,  Roswell  Phelps,  Samuel 
Chapman,  Diodatus  Hubbell,  Oliver  Webb,  David  S. 
Webb,  Martin  L.  Ruggles,  Henry  Dillingham,  Lydia 
Webb,  Louisa  S.  Webb.  Miamee  Phelps,  .\manda 
Dillingham,  Sallie  Chapman.  Celia  Hubbell,  Louisa 
Lake,  Elizabeth  Webb,'  Eliza  Giasler  and  Fidelia 
Ruggles. 

"The  conference  held  their  first  meeting  June  Is, 
1830;  Elder  A.  Morse,  moderator,  and  Roswell  Phelps, 
clerk.  At  this  meeting  arrangements  were  made  for 
regular  religious  services,  including  the  monthly 
covenant  meeting.  On  August  27.  1836,  the  organi- 
zation of  the  conference  as  a  churcli  was  fully  com- 
pleted, by  the  adoption  of  articles  of  faith  .md  church 
covenant  and  the  approval  of  ministering  brethren 
and  the  churches  of  which  those  composing  the  con- 
ference   had    been    members.     The   articles    of  faith 


were  those  known  as  the  "Philadelphia  articles."  In 
1850,  the  church  adopted  what  are  known  as  the  'New 
Hampshire  articles,'  at  which  time  the  name  of  the 
church  was  changed  to  Monroeville  Baptist  Churt;h. 
At  the  same  meeting  they  appointed  delegates  to  apply 
for  admission  into  the  Huron  Baptist  association, 
and  were  received  at  the  session  of  that  body  at  Nor- 
walk,  the  same  year. 

"  The  first  addition  to  the  church,  by  baptism, 
occurred  April  2,  1837,  when  three  were  baptized. 
One  of  these,  the  wife  of  deacon  F.  H.  Drake,  and 
daughter  of  Diodatus  Hubbell,  is  still  living  (April, 
1879). 

"Api'il  15,  1857,  six  more  were  baptized,  among 
whom  were  David  Clock  and  wife.  Mrs.  Clock  at 
this  writing  is  still  living. 

"The  church  employed  Elder  A.  Morse  as  supply 
until  they  could  secure  the  service  of  a  regular  pastor. 
The  Rev.  S.  B.  Webster  was  engaged  in  the  spring  of 
1837.  The  following  have  served  the  church  to  the 
present  time:  William  White,  Benjamin  Thomas,  A. 
Brown,  Jeremiah  Hall,  C.  J.  Biroles,  E.  B.  Turner, 
E.  Eaton,  Watson  Clark,  D.  W.  Morgan,  D.  Morse, 
L.  Bailey,  J.  L.  King,  J.  Hawker,  D.  Downie,  M. 
E.  Lyon,  and  the  present  incumbent.  Rev.  M.  W. 
Homes. 

"The  church  and  society  were  incorporated  March 
5,  1838,  with  Diodatus  Hubbell,  Edward  Baker  and 
David  Clock  as  trustees.  The  first  meeting  as  a 
church  and  society  was  held  April  14,  1838,  when  a 
constitution  was  adopted  and  the  following  officers 
elected:  Willard  Knight,  president;  Diodatus  Hub- 
bell, Samuel  Clock  and  George  W.  Allen,  trustees; 
and  Edward  Baker,  clerk.  At  the  same  meeting, 
Willard  Knight,  George  Hollister,  Elisha  Lake  and 
Benjamin  F.  Morse  were  appointed  a  committee  to  su- 
perintend the  building  of  a  house  of  worship.  The 
house  was  completed  and  dedicated  January  8,  1839, 
Elder  S.  Wadsworth  preaching  the  sermon.  The 
cost  of  the  building  is  not  given;  it  has  since  been 
repaired,  once  in  1844,  cost  not  given;  again  in  1868 
-69,  at  an  expense  of  two  thousand  dollars. 

"A  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  the  spring  1839, 
and  reported  to  the  association  forty  scholars.  Its 
present  superintendent  is  William  Roth.  Under  the 
labors  of  Rev.  S.  B.  Webster,  the  membership  was 
largely  increased.  During  the  entire  history  of  the 
church  there  have  been  received  into  its  fellowship  six 
hundred  and  twenty-nine.  Of  this  number,  four 
hundred  and  nineteen  were  received  by  baptism. 
The  present  pastor  began  his  labors  January  1,  1877, 
since  when  fifty-two  have  been  added  to  the  church. 
Tiie  following  gentleman  have  served  the  church  as 
deacons:  David  Webb,  Diodatus  Hubbell,  Edward 
Thomas,  F.  H.  Drake  and  William  Skaden.  the  last 
two  still  acting  as  such;  clerks,  R.  Phelps,  Benjamin 
Vrooman,  J.  Gantz,  C.  D.  Hall,  F.  II.  Drake,  and 
the  present  incumbent,  G.  Stimson.  There  is  a 
commi)dious  p;irsonage." 


ORRIN   W.   HEAD. 


Orrin  W.  Head  was  born  at  Paris,  Oneida  Co., 
JST.  Y.,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1808.  His  parents  were 
Jonatliau  and  Hepzibah  (Livermore)  Head,  both 
born  in  New  England,  the  former  in  Rhode  Island, 
the  latter  in  New  Hampshire.  His  father,  with  two 
brothers,  left  Rhode  Island  in  early  life  to  settle  in 
New  York.  They  came  up  the  Mohawk,  bringing 
their  silver  money  in  a  tin-pail,  and  landed  at  Utica 
when  there  was  but  one  tavern  in  that  now  poindous 
and  beautiful  city,  and  nearly  the  whole  of  Oneida 
County  was  unsettled.  The  tavern  above  mentioned 
occupied  the  identical  site  of  Bagg's  Hotel,  well 
known  to  travelers  on  the  New  York  Central  Rail- 
road. 

Mr.  Head  had  eight  brotliers  and  two  sisters,  of 
whom  six  brothers  and  one  sister  are  still  living,  the 
latter  in  Oakland,  Cal. 

In  1836  he  was  married  to  Julia  Crane,  in  Mar- 
shall, Oneida  Co.,  where  iier  parents  had  resided  lor 
many  years.  Four  children  were  the  fruits  of  this 
marriage,  their  names  and  dates  of  birth  being  as 
follows:  Thaddeus  W.,  born  December,  1837;  Irvin 
T.,  born  December,  1839;  Lucy  M.,  born  January, 
1841 ;  George,  born  September,  1846. 

Mr.  Head  came  to  Ridgefield  township  in  April, 
1842,  purchasing  what  was  then  known  as  the 
Sowers  farm,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 


acres.  He  has  lived  on  tiio  same  land  ever  since, 
but  has  at  various  times  l)ouglit  and  sold  cuiitiguous 
lands,  so  that  his  farm  now  comprises  two  iiundred 
and  fifty  acres. 

It  is  an  achievement  well  worth  recording,  tliat  he 
has  taken,  almost  literally  with  his  own  hatids,  the 
native  forest  (yielding,  the  most  of  it,  one  hundred 
cords  to  the  acre)  from  more  than  three  hundred  acies 
of  land,  hardly  a  log-heap  having  been  burned  on 
all  that  extent  of  ground  of  which  he  did  not 
superintend  and  assist  the  construction,  handspike  in 
hand.  And  yet  a  hale  old  age  testifies  that  the  work 
did  not  overtax  his  vigorous  constitution. 

Mr.  Head  claims  to  have  more  miles  oC  (/ood  fence 
on  his  farm  than  any  other  fiirmer  in  Huron  County, 
and  no  one  can  ride  past  his  well-kept  and  well-cul- 
tivated grounds  without  thinking  that  his  claim  is 
valid. 

In  1857  he  built,  in  company  with  Mr.  E.  B.  Per- 
kins, what  is  known  as  the  "  Davis  Block,"  in 
Monroeville,  and  established  there  the  Perkins  it 
Head  Exchange  Bank,  which  continued  in  suc- 
cessful operation  five  yeare. 

Mr.  Head  never  held  or  sougiit  any  public  office, 
but  he  has  been  the  "standing  bondsman"  for  town- 
ship and  county  functionaries  of  every  grade  for  the 
past  twenty  years. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


a63 


EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

This  church  was  first  denominated  "Unity/"  but 
this  was  subsequently  changed  to  "Zion," — the  name 
it  now  bears.  Its  history  begins  with  the  year  1843. 
The  summer  of  that  year  Rev.  Alvah  Guion,  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Xorwalk,  began,  and  for  one 
year  subsequent,  held  service  every  Sunday  after- 
noon in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  There  were  then 
but  three  Episcopal  families  residing  in  Monroeville. 
At  the  end  of  the  year,  from  various  reasons,  services 
were  discontinued,  and  eleven  years  intervened  ere 
regular  services  were  again  established.  During  this 
interval  occasional  services  were  held  by  rectors  of  the 
surrounding  parishes. 

In  1854,  Rev.  G.  S.  Davis,  of  Medina,  accepted  a 
call.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  Monroeville, 
preaching  here  on  each  Sabbath  afternoon,  and  in 
Lyme  township,  during  the  forenoon.  The  parish 
was  organized,  and  measures  were  taken  to  raise  funds 
sufficient  to  build  a  church  edifice.  This  was  nearly 
consummated,  when  deaths  and  removals  caused  a 
postponement.  During  the  stay  of  Rev.  Mr.  Davis, 
the  congregation  met  in  the  Presbyterian,  Methodist 
and  Baptist  churches,  and  in  public  halls,  and  it  was 
during  his  rectorship  that  the  rite  of  confirmation 
was,  for  the  first  time,  administered  in  Monroeville. 
After  two  and  one-half  years  Mr.  Davis  resigned 
charge  of  the  parish,  the  communicants  at  that  time 
numbering  ten. 

The  summer  of  1857,  Rev.  J.  P.  Curran,  rector  of 
St.  Luke's  Church,  Milan,  assumed  charge  of  the 
parish,  holding  service  in  Perkins'  hall  on  Sunday 
afternoon.  A  Sunday  school  was  now  organized,  with 
five  teachers  and  twenty-five  children.  The  question 
of  building  a  church  was  again  agitated,  and  work 
was  about  to  begin,  when  Mr.  Curran  resigned  the 
rectorship. 

July  8.  1860,  Rev.  Samuel  Marks  assumed  charge 
of  the  parish.  September  25th,  the  corner  stone  of 
the  church  was  laid,  and  on  the  8th  of  December, 
1861,  it  was  completed  and  opened  for  divine  ser- 
vice. The  cost  was  three  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  The  holy  communion  was  first  administered 
within  its  walls  on  Christmas  day.  The  consecration 
of  the  church  was  consummated  on  Februarys,  1864, 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  C.  P.  JlcUvane,  bishop  of  the 
Diocese  of  Ohio.  Nine  clegymen  were  present.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Phelps,  of  Fremont,  preached  the  sermon, 
from  1  Kings  viii.  37.  Rev.  Mr.  Marks,  by  reason 
of  failing  health,  resigned  the  pastorate  in  the  spring 
of  1864. 

The  following  summer  tlie  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
different  clergymen,  and  in  the  autumn  Rev.  A.  E. 
Bishop  assumed  temporary  charge.  He  remained 
until  July,  1865,  when  the  Rev.  William  R.  Powell 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  rectorship;  he  remained 
until  February,  1867,  when  he  resigned.  Rev,  Henry 
L.  Badger  succeeded  him.  and  he  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1869.      Rev.  W,  H.   Dean  then  assumed 


charge.  He  remained  until  August,  1870,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  C,  Howard,  who  resigned  Sep- 
tember 1,  1872.  The  parish  now  remained  for  more 
than  one  year  with  only  occasional  supply. 

On  December  2,  1873,  Rev.  J.  Karcher,  present 
rector,  assumed  charge.  The  membership  at  present 
(1878)  numbers  fifty-six.  The  Sabbath  school  has  an 
average  attendance  of  forty.  Albert  C.  Williams  is 
superintendent.  Following  are  the  church  "officers: 
on  March  27,  1856,  Edwin  Prentiss,  Charles  Earl, 
Alva  Adsit,  James  T.  Camp,  C.  C.  Williams,  Thomas 
M.  Cook,  Lewis  Zahm,  Daniel  F,  Williams  and  Isaac 
Smith  were  elected  vestrymen,  and  William  R.  Jack- 
son, clerk.  At  the  Easter  election,  1866,  Philip 
Ward  was  elected  senior  warden,  H.  L.  Wilson,  junior 
warden,  and  Isaac  Smith,  Jonathan  Prentiss,  John 
S.  Roby,  J.  T.  Camp,  Albert  Williams  and  R.  G. 
Martin,  vestrymen.  In  1868,  wardens  and  a  number 
of  vestrymen  re-elected;  new  vestrymen.  Dr.  0.  Pren- 
tiss and  Henry  M.  Roby.  1871,  Jonathan  Prentiss  and 
Albert  Williams,  wardens;  John  S.  Roby,  William  R. 
Jackson,  Charles  William  Radclifle,  Dr.  0.  Prentiss 
and  E.  Wright,  vestrymen;  at  the  same  time  Dr.  0. 
Prentiss,  Jonathan  Prentiss  and  Albert  Williams  were 
elected  delegates  to  convention  at  Toledo.  1872, 
wardens  re-elected;  new  vestrymen  were  H.  S.  Wilson 
and  R.  G.  Martin.  1874,  Jonathan  Prentiss  and  Dr. 
0.  Prentiss,  wardens;  H.  M.  Roby.  H.  J.  Coit,  C.  H. 
Williams,  W.  R.  Jackson,  W.  W.  Radcliffe  and  J.  T. 
Camp,  vestrymen.  1875,  Edmond  Wright,  warden; 
Dr.  0.  Prentiss,  vestryman.  At  this  election  the 
number  of  vestrymen  was  increased  to  seven  to  avoid 
the  danger  of  a  tie  vote.  1876,  A.  C.  Williams,  se- 
nior warden,  William  Prentiss  and  A.  S.  Skiltou,  ves- 
trymen.- 1877,  officers  re-elected  entire,  except  J.  H. 
Sargent,  vestryman.  1878,  A.  C.  Williams  and  A.  S. 
Skilton,  wardens;  Dr.  0.  Prentiss,  H,  M.  Roby,  Geo. 
Williams,  Charles  Sargent,  C.  H.  Williams,  M.  0. 
Merrill  and  J.  T.  Camp,  vestrymen.  The  parsonage 
was  built  during  the  summer  of  1866,  at  a  cost 
of  two  thousand  dollars.  Henry  }>l.  Roby  was  the 
superintendent  of  construction. 

COXGREOATIONAL    CHURCH. 

This  church,  which  is  located  at  Four  Corners, 
was  organized  by  Rev,  Jeremiah  Butler  on  the  11th 
of  February,  1846,  Following  are  the  constituent 
members:  Chauncey  Cook  and  Dorcas,  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Theoda  Cook,  Elias  Kiugsley  and  Polly,  his  wife; 
Brainard  Willard,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Willard,  John 
Hoyt  and  Lydia,  his  wife:  Miss  Amelia  K,  Hoyt,  Mrs. 
Laura  E.  Weed,  Mrs.  Eunice  Cook  and  Moses  Fisher, 
who  joined  by  letter;  Elisha  Cook,  V.  M.  Horton, 
Samuel  M.  Cook,  Thomas  Smith,  C.  B.  Cook,  and 
Miss  Cornelia  Kingsley,  joined  by  profession.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  stone  school  house  until  1853, 
when  the  present  meeting  house  was  ei'ected.  This 
is  a  substantial  wood  building  with  spire,  and  cost 
with  grounds  ^1,785.  A  Sabbath  school  was  organ- 
ized  several  years    prior   to   the   formation    of   the 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


cliurcli,  ami  lias  uoutinued  until  the  present.  There 
is  now  an  average  attendance  of  seventy  children. 
H.  C.  Reed  is  its  able  superintendent.  Following 
are  the  ministers  who  have  presided  over  this  church 
for  a  period  of  one  year  or  more:  Rev.  J.  E.  Allen, 
who  assumed  charge  in  April  following  the  organiza- 
tion. He  remained  five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  C.  C.  Baldwin.  After  him  were  Rev.  C.  Bur- 
gess, M.  H.  Smith,  —  Coyner.  E.  N.  Bartlett,  Quin- 
cy  M.  Bosworth.  John  Hollway.  J.  H.  Payne,  C.  W. 
Wallace.  A.  D.  Knapp.  and  F.  S.  Wolfe,  who  is  the 
present  incumbent.  The  present  membership  is 
eighty-four.  The  whole  number  who  have  united 
with  the  church  since  its  formation  is  one  hundred 
and  sevent3^  The  following  are  the  names  of  per- 
sons who  have  served  the  church  as  deacons:  Chaun- 
cey  Cook,  Cornelius  Powers,  M.  W.  Needham,  and 
W.  S.  Barnes,  and  W.  K.  Radcliffe,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. The  clerk  of  the  church  is  Mr.  C.  B. 
Cook,  to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  the  data 
of  this  skctcli. 

EVANGELICAL  PROTESTANT  CHURCH. 

The  organization  of  this  church  occurred  on  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1861.  and  was  consummated  through  the 
efforts  of  Jacob  Setzler,  Sr.,  and  Philip  Weihl.  Fol- 
lowing are  the  original  members:  John,  Jacob  and 
Philip  Weihl  and  wives,  Jacob  Setzler  and  wife,  Jacob 
Setzler,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Henry,  Casper  and  Jacob 
Haas  and  wives,  Philip  Knoll  and  wife,  Ludewick 
Kan  bach  and  wife,  Jacob  and  Philip  Erf  and  wives, 
Jacob  Seel  and  wife,  Philip  Horn  and  wife,  Chris  and 
William  Heimann  and  wives,  William  Hankamer  and 
wife,  Jacob  Weisenheimer  and  wife,  Carl  Bender  and 
wife,  William  Miller  and  wife,  William  Miller,  Jr., 
and  wife,  Jacob  Gehring  and  wife,  George  Meyer,  wife 
and  father.  George  Linder  and  wife,  John  Bahr  and 
wife  and  William  Stotz  and  wife.  Meetings  were 
held  in  the  old  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  in 
public  halls  until  1864,  when  the  present  church  was 
completed.  The  cost  of  this  structure  was  two  thou- 
sand three  hundred  dollars.  The  ministers  who  have 
presided  over  the  church  are  as  follows:  Rev.  F.  E. 
Ludevic.  Wilhelm  Hessal,  Frederick  Hamberly,  Wil- 
liam Kling,  Frederick  Benedict  and  William  Renter, 
the  present  pastor,  who  assumed  charge  some  three 
years  since.  The  officers  on  organization  were:  Philip 
Weihl,  president;  John  Bahr,  secretary;  Jacob  Set- 
zler, Jr.,  treasurer;  William  Miller,  Jacob  Setzler,  Sr., 
and  Jacob  Erf,  trustees.  The  present  officers  (1878) 
are:  Philip  E.  Horn,  president;  Jacob  Hinninger,  sec- 
retary; Chris  Hankamer.  treasurer;  Philip  Deidrich. 
George  Holdrick  and  Henry  Hasis,  trustees.  The 
present  membership  is  one  hundred.  The  Sunday 
school,  in  connection  with  this  church,  was  organized 
in  August,  1875,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Renter,  who  was 
the  first,  and  is  the  present,  superintendent.  The 
school  has  an  average  of  sixty  children  in  attendance. 
Ciiarli's  liaiikamcr.  assistant  suiH'riiiteiidi'iit. 


ST.  Joseph's  (catholic)  church 

was  attended  as  a  missionary  station  until  1863, 
when  it  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Obermuller, 
of  Norwalk.  Meetings  were  held  in  Carabin's  Hall 
until  January  13,  1863,  when  the  brick  church,  now 
occupied  as  a  school  room,  was  purchased  of  the 
Methodist  society.  The  committee  on  purchase  were: 
R.  Zipfel,  Robert  Urlau,  Charles  Freund,  Cornell 
Schnurr,  and  Joseph  Walter.  Rev.  Obermuller  con- 
tinued to  attend  until  July  13,  1863,  when  Rev.  A. 
Abel  assumed  charge  as  settled  pastor.  He  remained 
until  October  9,  1864,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  pres- 
ent pastor.  Rev.  J.  M.  Peutz.  The  church  was  es- 
tablished with  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
families,  and  has  now  some  twenty-five  less.  A  school 
was  organized  in  connection  with  the  church  by  Rev. 
Obermullei'.  This  was  more  or  less  interrupted,  for 
want  of  proper  accommodations  until  186.5,  when  it 
convened  in  the  present  parsonage.  Four  years  later 
its  sessions  were  held  in  the  old  school  building  of  the 
Union  School.  In  1877  it  was  permanently  removed 
to  its  present  location,  in  the  old  church.  The  av- 
erage attendance  is  about  one  hundred.  It  is  a  graded 
school  of  primary  and  intermediate  departments,  and 
both  English  and  German  are  taught. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  present  commodious  church 
edifice  was  laid  on  October  13,  1873.  It  was  com- 
pleted in  the  early  summer  of  1876,  and  consecrated 
on  June  17th  of  that  year,  by  Bishop  Dwenenger  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  The  building  is,  in  size,  fifty- 
four  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet,  of  a  com- 
posite order  of  architecture,  composed  of  the  Roman 
and  the  Gothic,  a  style  much  used  in  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury. The  cost  of  the  church  was  twenty-six  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars,  and  the 
total  amount  at  present  invested  in  the  building  and 
real  estate  is  thirty  thousand  dollars.  The  present 
trustees  (1869)  are  Benjamin  Baumann,  William 
Thompson,  Matthew  Carroll  and  Andrew  Hipp. 

The  data  from  which  the  foregoing  sketch  was 
written  was  furnished  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Poutz. 

schools. 

The  first  school  iiouse  in  the  township  was  erected 
on  lot  number  two  hundred  and  seventy-two  in  Mon- 
roeville  village.  It  was,  doubtless,  built  of  logs,  but 
the  date  of  its  construction,  or  the  teaching  of  the 
first  term  of  school  within  its  walls,  the  writer  could 
not  ascertain.  George  Burt  was  the  first  teacher  and 
he  was  paid  ten  dollars  per  month  for  his  services; 
tradition  does  not  state,  but  he  undoubtedly  boarded 
himself;  he  certainly  could  afford  to  from  so  munificent 
a  salary.  The  children  who  attended  this  school 
were  :  John  S.  Davis,  Augustus  H.  Hubbell,  James 
Sowers,  Benjamin,  Isaac  and  Rachel  Spicer,  Nelson  and 
Orrin  Brown,  William  and  Rachel  Fletcher,  Diantha 
and  Minerva  Littlefield,  Cecelia  and  Loisa  Hubbell, 
Hosev  and  Almon  Hunt. 


HISTORY  OF  IIUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


MOXROEVILLE    UNION    SCHOOLS. 

Pursuant  to  notice,  the  citizens  in  district  number 
two,  Ridgelield  township,  convened  at  (lie  school 
house,  in  said  district,  on  April  10,  185--J,  for  the  pur- 
l)0se  of  adopting  or  rejecting  the  law  which  created 
the  Union  School  system.  Jacob  M.  Zahm  was 
chosen  ciiairman;  S.  C.  Palmer,  assistant  chairman; 
and  William  Saddler,  clerk.  A  ballot  was  had,  and 
of  the  seventy-eight  electors  present,  but  forty  voted 
in  favor  of  the  system.  This  was,  however,  a. major- 
ity, and  on  April  ^4th,  tlie  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  directors  of  thepublic  schools:  D.  B.  Allen, 
J.  W.  Humphrey,  J.  M.  Zahm,  Dr.  T.  M.  Cook, 
James  Hamilton,  Jr.,  and  Isaac  Smith,  and  on  or- 
ganization. Dr.  T.  M.  Cook  was  chosen  president; 
J.  M.  Zahm,  secretary;  and  Isaac  Smith,  treasurer. 
The  house  of  Miss  Josephine  Lemmon  was  first  used 
for  the  school.  This  is  now  occupied  as  a  dwelling 
by  Charles  Foehler.  lu  185-1,  a  building  was  pur- 
chased of  J.  R.  Benjamin,  which  was  occupied  by  the 
school  for  a  time. 

The  present  substantial  school  building  was  erected 
from  designs  prepared  by  Henry  M.  Roby,  Es<i.,  and 
was  first  occupied  ou  October  4,  1868.  The  total 
cost  of  the  building  was  twenty-seven  thousand  and 
fifty-eiglit  dollars  and  thirty-tliree  cents.  In  addition 
there  have  been  expended  for  furniture,  grading, 
fencing,  etc.,  three  thousand  and  seventy-nine  dol- 
lars, making  a  total  of  thirty  thousand  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  dollars. 

The  fine  library  in  connection  with  the  school,  con- 
tains a  complete  set  (twenty-one  volumes)  of  the  En- 
cyclopaedia Britannica,  which  is  a  complete  library 
in  itself.  The  school  is  provided  with  a  full  chemical 
and  astronomical  apparatus,  and  all  the  adjuncts  to 
a  thorough  course  of  study.  The  course  embraces 
the  primary,  secondary,  intermediate  and  grammar 
school  grades,  with  a  high  school  course  embracing 
a  four  year's  study. 

The  following  shows  the  teachers  in  the  sciiool, 
from  its  organization  to  the  present  time  (1878):  prin- 
cipals. Prof.  T.  B.  Hutchins,  Edwin  Gregory,  A.  B. 
Cornell,  Collins  Ford,  George  Cornell,  G.  L.  Starr, 
Miss  Emma  A.  Fish,  Prof.  A.  E.  Smiley,  A.  N.  Mead, 
C.  C.  Chamberlain,  A.  E.  Roberts,  A.  Thomas,  C.  G. 
Bisbee,  W.  H.  H.  Jackson,  R.  N.  Smith,  A.  J.  Mich- 
ael, R.  H.  Kennison.  and  the  present  ertieiont  snjier- 
intendent,  0.  E.  Latham. 

Tlie  assistant  teachers  are:  Miss  Josephine  Lem- 
mon,  Mary   Patterson,  Worden,   .M.   Clock,  E. 

Piatt,  L.  Piatt,  Mary  Price,  Rosalia  Prentiss,  Fannie 
Benjamin,  Mr.  C.  Breckenridgc,  .Miss  H.  Adsit,  Ruth 
Prindle,  Louisa  Squire,  Helen  Eaton,  Emily  Gregory, 
Ida  C.  Leonard,  Lucia  Bonett,  Mr.  W.  Robbins,  Miss 
E.  Lyons,  M.  Collins,  Addie  C'olver,  —  Gilbert,  L. 
Randal],  Julia  A.  Jackson,  Lovina  Breckenridgc, 
Mattie  Morrison,  M.  J.  Balentine,  F.  E.  Brown,  — 
Herrick.  Jessie  Brown.  A.  L.  Lane,   Harriet  Gowdy, 


Julia  Kittell,  M.  L.  Moore,  Mary  Randall,  Mary  E. 
Allison,  Anne  E.  Wilson,  Lizzie  Montgomery,  Jose- 
phine Adsit,  Helen  Smith.  Anna  Montgomery,  Emma 
L.  Sumner,  May  Chance,  Francis  Camp,  F.  C.  Ath- 
erton,  Lodusky  Lassalles,  Fannie  Zahm.  L.  Olefield, 
Stacie  Lyon,  Mr.  John  Gann,  Miss  Lucy  Raymond, 
Alice  Sowers,  Jennie  Mulock,  Ruth  Howarth,  Emma 
Martin,  Ida  Daniels,  —  Dimon,  Mr.  Charles  Young, 
Miss  Lizzie  Diggins,  Alice  Dean,  H.  Hartshorn,  L. 
A.  Cahoon,  Jennie  Edgar,  Maggie  Boyd,  0.  D.  Bald- 
win, Addie  Salsbury,  *J.  S.  Green,  D.  Campbell, 
Helen  Smith,  Lottie  E.  Fant,  Hattie  Smith,  Helen 
Witford,  and  Florence  Robbins.  The  present  staff 
is:  Professor  0.  E.  Latliam,  principal.  Miss  Lizzie 
Frail,  Anna  C.  Prentiss,  Retta  Tranb,  Jennie  Bissell, 
Alice  L.  Simson,  Ida  S.  Easton,  and  F.  J.  Hotchkiss, 
assistants;  J.  G.  Kline,  teacher  penmanship.  Board 
of  Education,  1878:  C.  P.  Prentiss,  president;  L. 
Emerson,  secretary;  R.  G.  Martin,  treasurer;  Dr.  0. 
Prentiss,  E.  J.  Squire,  W^  M.  Fanning,  and  C.  V. 
King.  Whole  number  of  scholars  in  the  district, 
five  hundred  and  thirty  eight;  amount  paid  teachers, 
three  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty  dollars. 

SOCIETIES. 

Numerous  social  organizations  have  from  time  to 
time  had  an  existence  in  Monroeville.  Among  the 
oldest  of  these,  and  in  fact  the  only  one  that  has 
withstood  the  "  lapse  of  time  and  the  ravages  of  bar- 
barous force,"  is  Nachee  Lodge  No.  94,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
In  consequence  of  having  passed  through  fire,  the 
records  of  this  society  give  very  few  details  from 
which  to  prepare  a  sketch.  The  charter  bears  date 
August  26,  18-17,  and  bears  upon  its  face  the  follow- 
ing names:  H.  K.  Steele,  T.  D.  McClelland,  Timothy 
Bilker,  Cornelius  P.  Ross.  John  Sowers,  Jr.,  John 
L.  LeBean.  F.  C.  Taylor,  C.  D.  Dwight,  and  F.  H. 
Cone.  The  officers  at  present  (1879)  are:  A.  L.  Lane, 
N.  G. ;  G.  Wilkinson,  V.  G. ;  B.  W.  Salisbury,  secre- 
tary, and  John  S.  Roby,  treasurer.  Present  mem- 
bership, forty-five.  The  society  meets  on  Tuesday 
evening  of  each  week  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall. 

Rose  Lodge  No.  304,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized 
A.  D.,  March  10,  1858,  with  the  following  charter 
members:  Enos  Rose,  Dr.  0.  Prentiss,  Darius  S. 
Colver,  L.  Pomeroy,  Jacob  Nathan,  Edwin  Fish,  De 
Witt  C.  Doane,  Charles  E.  Phillips,  W.  S.  Wortman, 
John  S.  Roby,  John  Fish,  and  J.  R.  Rose.  Tlie  first 
officers  were:  Enos  Rose,  W.  M.;  Dr.  0.  Prentiss, 
S.  W.;  D.  S.  Colver,  J.  W.;  John  S.  Roby,  treasurer; 
L.  Pomeroy,  secretary;  E.  Fish,  S.  D. ;  D.  W.  C. 
Doane,  J.  D.;  and  Charles  E.  Phillips,  tyler.  The 
charter  was  issued  at  tlie  session  of  the  grand  lodge, 
held  in  October,  1858,  and  the  first  meeting  of  the 
lodge,  under  charter,  was  held  November  10,  1858. 
A  public  installation  of  officers  was  held  at  Perkins' 
Hall,  November  Stli,  same  year.  The  lodge  room  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Monroe  streets  was  fitted  up 
in  elegant  style.  The  furniture,  charter  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  jewels  were  destroyed  in  the  disastrous  fire 


2G6 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  April  1,  187T.     The  lodge  has  not  resumed  labor 
since  that  time. 

Temperance  societies  have  been  organized  from 
time  to  time,  but  the  element  against  reform  in  in- 
temperance is  so  strong  in  Monroeville  that  it  was 
constant  battling  with  the  tide,  and,  although  to 
stranger  eyes  the  need  of  thorough  temperance  work 
is  painfully  manifest,  j^et  no  society  exists  except  the 
Emerson  National  Temperance  Savings  society.  This 
was  organized  December.  1878,  and  derives  its  name 
from  its  founder,  Mr.  L.  Emerson,  of  Monroeville. 
The  following  are  the  oificers:  James  S.  Green,  pres- 
ident; Dr.  C.  M.  C.  Prentiss  and  T.  J.  Middough, 
vice  presidents;  James  Brady,  secretary,  and  W.  H. 
Wilkinson,  treasurer.  This  is  not  a  secret  society, 
but  open  to  all,  especially  those  who  wish  to  shake  ofE 
the  demon.  Intemperance.  Each  member  pays  an 
initiation  fee  and  weekly  dues,  one-half  of  which  he 
is  allowed  to  draw  out  at  the  expiration  of  one  year, 
leaving  the  other  half,  as  a  guarantee  of  his  future 
good  behavior,  and  at  the  end  of  every  six  months 
thereafter  he  can  draw  out  the  earnings  of  the  preced- 
ing six  months.  Should  he  indulge  in  intoxicants  he 
forfeits  what  he  has  paid  and  is  exjielled  from  the 
society.  In  case  of  sickness  or  removal  he  can  draw 
his  entire  accumulation  if  he  so  desires.  The  society 
started  with  a  membership  of  tliirteen,  and  is  now  in 
a  flourishing  condition. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  disciple  of  ^Esculapius  who  graced  the 
township  by  his  presence,  permanently,  was  Cyrus 
Cole.  He  was  from  Easton,  Washington  count}'.  New 
York.  He  there  read  medicine  with  a  Dr.  Moshier, 
and  practiced  with  him  three  years;  came  to  Ohio  in 
1817.  At  Fremont  he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  De- 
sang,  and  in  the  spring  of  1820  located  permanently 
in  Ridgefield,  where  he  practiced  until  his  death,  in 
March,  1853.  The  widow  is  now  deceased  Their 
only  daughter,  Mary  L..  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  T.  M. 
Cook,  of  Sandusky. 

Following  Dr.  Cole,  was  Hugh  T.  Prouty,  but  of 
him  we  have  no  history,  except  that  he  was  drowned 
in  the  straits  above  Mackinaw,  while  passing  the  rap- 
ids in  a  canoe. 

In  October,  1843,  J.  L.  Lane,  from  Hartford, 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  located  in  Monroeville.  He 
married  Martha  A.  McFarland  in  1838.  Dr.  Lane  is 
still  practicing  in  Monroeville.  Has  two  children, 
Albert  L.  and  Grace. 

Thomas  M.  Cook  comes  next.  He  practiced  here 
some  twelve  years.     Now  lives  in  Sandusky. 

Obadiah  Prentiss  married  Harriet  D.  Webster  of 
Jefferson,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  January  1;  18-14  ; 
graduated  at  the  E.  M.  Institute,  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
in  June,  1848,  and  settled  in  Monroeville  in  May, 
1854.  He  has  an  extensive  and  lucrative  iH-actice. 
Of  the  five  children  who  have  been  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, but  two  are  now  living  :  Chalmer  M.  C,  who 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Wooster  Medical  College,  Cleve- 


land, Ohio,  and    a  daughter,   Corinne  ^M.,   who    re- 
mains at  home. 

B.  T.  Smith  first  settled  at  Four  Corners,  and  from 
there  removed  to  Monroeville,  where  he  practiced 
many  years.     He  died  in  the  spring  of  1878. 

C.  L.  Kreider  comes  next,  and  is  still  practicing,  as 
are  the  following:     G.  A.  Slack  and  Jay  Kling. 

INDUSTRIAL    PURSUITS. 


The  first  in  the  township  were  built  by  Richard 
and  Henry  Burt,  in  1817.  The  saw  mill  was  built 
first,  and  the  grist  mill  soon  afterward,  both  now 
owned  by  John  Boehm.  The  saw  mill  is  but  little 
changed,  except  -by  time.  The  grist  mill  has  been 
entirely  rebuilt  inside.  Boehm  also  owns  the  mills 
on  lot  one,  in  the  fourth  section. 

A  grist  and  saw  mill  was  next  built  by  George 
Myers,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township.  These 
were  located  on  the  Huron  river,  and  have  long  since 
gone  into  decay. 

Major  Underbill  built  a  saw  mill  soon  after.  This 
was  on  the  east,  branch,  lot  three,  section  one.  The 
.mill  is  still  standing,  but  the  dam  has  been  carried 
away  by  the  flood. 

The  buildings  of  the  Holly  water  works  are  situated 
on  lot  two,  in  the  same  section. 

DISTILLERIES. 

Schuyler  ^'an  Rensselaer  built  the  first  one.  This 
went  into  operation  in  about  1823.  It  was  a  log 
building,  and  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
dwelling  of  William  Webljer.  Joseph  Pierce  was  its 
first  distiller.  This  distillery  was  "in  blast  "  but  a 
few  years. 

George  Hollister  built  the  next  one,  in  about  1825 
or  '2G.  The  building  was  of  brick  and  wood,  and 
stood  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  a  few  rods  east 
of  the  bridge.  It  was  in  operation,  under  different 
owners,  until  about  1865.  A'othing  now  remains  to 
mark  the  spot. 

In  1837,  James  Hamilton,  Jr.,  built  a  distillery. 
It  was  of  brick,  and  stood  on  the  corner  of  Hamilton 
street  and  Milan  avenue,  and  was  in  operation  until 
1859  or  '60.  It  boilers  exjiloded  a  few  years  before  it 
finally  ceased  business. 

The  distillery  standing  near  the  junction  was  built 
by  Messrs.  Amsden,  Williams  and  Company,  in  1848 
or  '49,  and  was  in  operation  till  the  spring  of  1876. 

Messrs.  Prentiss  and  Packard  also  built  a  distillery. 
This  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

In  October,  1848,  Mr.  J.  S.  Roby,  in  connection 
with  Isaac  Harper,  erected  the  brewery  on  the  corner 
of  Monroe  and  Ridge  streets.  It  was  conducted  by 
the  Roby  brothers  until  1866,  when  they  sold  the 
property  to  C.  P.  Prentiss.  The  present  proprietors, 
Messrs.  Urlaw.  Hnp\)  and  Company,  came  in  posses- 
sion October  lo.  18^7.  They  have  invested,  in  real 
estate.  l)uild:ns>sand  fixtures,  twentv  tliousand  dollars. 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


IQ7 


The  first  woolen  factory  in  Monroeville,  was  built 
by  Timothy  Baker,  in  1830.  It  stood  on  the  bank  of 
the  river,  on  what  is  now  Mechanic  street.  This  was 
quite  a  complete  affair.  It  was  in  operation  a  number 
of  years,  and  gradually  went  to  decay. 

The  Monroeville  woolen  mill  was  built  in  1873.  It 
was  constructed  by  a  stock  company  with  an  author- 
ized capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  about 
sixty  thousand  dollars  of  which  was  paid  in.  It  was 
fully  equipped,  but  never  run.  The  machinery  has 
been  removed,  and  the  fine  building  is  now  unoc- 
cupied. 

In  ISiO,  F.  H.  Drake  built  a  sash  and  blind  factory. 
It  was  on  lot  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  in  Mon- 
roeville village,  and  was  in  operation  some  ten  years. 
This  was  the  only  manufactory  of  the  kind  in  Huron 
county,  and  was  finally  destroj^ed  by  fire. 

In  1845,  C.  P.  Prentiss  erected  a  wooden  building 
on  Ridge  street,  which  he  occupied  for  a  foundry  and 
machine  shop.  The  business  grew  to  be  one  of  con- 
siderable magnitude.  At  one  time  some  thirty  men 
were  employed. 

The  present  brick  building  on  this  site  was  built  by 
Messrs.  Roe  &  Drake  in  1857,  the  lower  part  for 
foundry  and  machine  shop,  the  upper  for  the  manu- 
facture of  sash  and  blinds.  Drake  sold  his  interest  to 
Roe,  and  he,  in  1866,  disposed  of  the  property  to  the 
present  proprietor,  W.  E.  Smith,  who  has  at  present 
invested  in  the  business  six  thousand  dollars.  He 
manufactures  agricultural  implements. 

The  fanning  mill  manufactory  was  established  by 
John  Hosford  on  January  1,  1870.  There  are  now 
ten  thousand  dollars  invested,  and  an  average  of  eight 
men  employed  in  the  works,  and  seven  salesman  are 
required  during  the  summer  months.  The  first  year 
there  were  manufactured  one  hundred  mills.  The 
second  year  the  business  increased  to  seven  hundred 
mills,  and  continues  the  same  at  present.  The  sales 
for  1878  aggregated  the  snug  sum  of  nineteen  thou- 
sand six  hundred  dollars.  During  this  season  the 
making  of  the  Schuyler  churn  was  commenced.  Mr. 
Hosford's  sales  are  confined  principally  to  Ohio  and 
Michigan. 

The  plow  works  at  Cook's  Corners  began  operations 
as  early  as  1832  or  '33.  Messrs.  Searls  &  Scadden 
were  the  projectors.  They  began  in  a  small  way, 
their  first  efforts  being  wooden  plows,  gradually  the 
business  enlarged.  (It  is  believed  this  firm  made  the 
first  steel  plows  ever  put  up  in  the  State. )  The  present 
proprietor,  James  Truesdall,  purchased  the  property 
in  1862,  and  made  that  year  one  hundred  plows.  He 
has  now  invested  ten  thousand  dollars,  employs  an 
average  of  eight  workmen,  and  manufactures  four 
hundred  plows  yearly,  and  about  the  same  number  of 
cultivators  and  harrows.  An  eight-horse  engine  pro- 
pells  the  machinery.  Years  since  there  was  an  ex- 
tensive hemp  works  at  the  "Corners."  Of  this  we 
have  no  particulars. 

There  are  at  present  three  wagon  makers  in  the 
village:  L.  H.  Raymond,  M.  Fritz  and  M.  Bailey,  and 


the  following  blacksmiths:  F.  G.  Murphy,   J.   Fitz- 
patrick  and  M.  &  A.  Fritz. 

Frederick  Richards  operates  a  small  tannery  in  the 
village. 

MONROEVILLE  IN  18T9. 

Dry  Goods,  Notions,  etc.— Isaac  Smith  is  the  oldest  merchant  iu  the 
village.  E.  J.  SQuire,  perhaps,  comes  next  in  settlement.  Next  in  im- 
portance is  the  store  of  Messrs.  Manahan.  Taber  &  Co..  which  is  oper- 
ated in  connection  with  the  Norwalk  house .  It  was  established  October 
1,  1878,  and  is  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Henry  Taber,  by  whose  efficient 
management  it  already  occupies  a  prominent  position  among  the  mer- 
cantile houses  of  the  village.  L.  Tyler  and  A*.  M.  Meri'ill  complete  the 
list  in  this  line . 

Millinery.— Mrs.  B.  S.  Clark  and  Mrs.  F.  Aves. 

Drugs,  Groceries  and  Notions.— Messrs.   Kling  &  Sargeant  and  A. 

Hardware,  Stoves  and  Tinware.— In  this  line,  Robert  G.  Martin  is 
the  oldest  representative,  Benjamin  Bauman  next.  Ralph  P.  Smith 
deals  in  stoves  and  tinware  only . 

Groceries— J  S.  Green,  J.  Carabin,  R.  Zipfel  and  A.  Hipp— also  han- 
dle glassware. 

Furniture  — F.  H.  Drake  &  Son  (the  senior  partner  of  this  firm  has 
been  for  many  years  connected  with  the  business  interests  of  Monroe 
ville),  andJ.  T.  Haskell. 

Dealer  in  Musical  Instruments.— H.  Ehlers. 

Harness  Makers.— C.  P.  Hankamer  and  .\ugust  Fehrenbach. 

Clothing  and  Furnishing  Goods.— J,  Antenan. 

Jewelry  and  Silverware.— George  A.  Turner. 

Photographs. — A.  S.  Gilson. 

Merchant  Tailors.— .Andrew  Razor,  B.  Diringerand  S.  Schneider. 

Boots  AND  Shoes.— A.  &  P.  Tyler  and  F  Hamerich. 

Bakeries.— .Joseph  Klumpp  and  B.  S.  Clark. 

Markets.— F.  &  J.  Tyler  and  Miner  &  Hiltz. 

General  Merchandise.— A.  S.  Skilton. 

Malters.— J.  S.  &  H.  M.  Hoby. 

The  livery  interest  is  represented  by  Emerson  Brothers,  J.  Tillottson 
andR  S.  Seely. 

Attorneys.— Monroeville  has  been  the  home -of  a  number  of  gentle- 
men of  the  legal  profession .  The  present  are :  J .  P .  Cornell  and  James 
Brady. 

Notaries  Public— The  present  are:  A.  S.  Skilton,  John  P.  Cornell 
and  Louis  A .  Carabin. 

Prominent  among  business  men  of  Monroeville  are  . 
the  Roby  brothers.  They  were  formerly  from  Detroit, 
Michigan.  John  S.  located  in  Monroeville  iu  1842, 
and  engaged  in  the  business  of  malting  and  brewing. 
In  1850,  Reuel  came,  and  three  years  later  Henry  M., 
who  became  connected  with  the  business  and  still 
continues.  John  S.  was  the  first  agent  of  the  S.  M. 
and  N.  R.  R.,  and  subsequently  of  the  L.  S.  and  M. 
S.  R.  R.,  in  which  capacity  he  has  acted  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  Since  closing  out  the  brewery, 
the  brothers  have  been  engaged  exclusively  in  the 
business  of  malting. 

Among  others  who  have  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  growth  and  business  interests  of 
Monroeville  are  found  the  names  of  Ephraim  B.  Per- 
kins, Schuyler  Van  Ranslaer,  James  Hamilton.  Jr., 
Isaac  Smith,  George  Hollister,  Charles  P.  Prentiss, 
S.  V.Harkness,  Charles  Earl.  Henry  and  James  Tice, 
George  W.  Manahan,  Charles  Barrett,  John  J.  Hol- 
lister. S.  D.  Fish. 

The  Monroeville  Cornet  Band  was  organized 
August  20,  1875,  with  twelve  members.  W.  Wiest, 
leader.  A  set  of  instruments  was  purchased  the  fall 
following  organization,  and  during  the  winter  con- 
sideraljle  progress  was  made,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1876  the  organization  ceased.  A  second  organization 
took  place  the  subsequent  summer  with  A.  J.  Ante- 
nan,  leader.  The  winter  of  1876  another  collapse  oc- 
curred.     The   present  band   was  organized  in   the 


268 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


summer  of  18T7,  and  is  composed  of  the  followiug 
persons:  Judsou  Fish,  leader:  A.  J.  Autenau  S.  L. 
and  Fred  Chiry.  Fred  Fanning.  John  Zorn,  A.  S. 
Gilson,  Dr.  C.  :M.  C.  Prentiss.  Frank,  John,  and 
Lew  Tyler,  John  B.  Wiest.  C.  Latham,  and  Charles 
Zipfel. " 

AXCIEXT    REMAINS. 

In  the  tirst  section  of  Ridgefield  township,  on  lots 
number  two  and  three,  are  found  remains  of  ancient 
earthworks.  It  wiil  be  remembered  the  east  branch 
of  Huron  river  enters  the  township  from  the  east  on 
the  corner  of  lot  number  three.  In  the  first  section 
there  is  a  stream  known  as  the  Peru  branch,  which 
flows  into  the  east  branch  on  lot  number  three,  where 
its  course  is  turned  north.  These  streams  make 
three  high  banks  or  bluffs,  which  lie  nearly  in  a  tri- 
angular form.  Upon  these  are  earthwork  fortifica- 
tions of  a  circular  form.  There  was  also  on  lot  num- 
ber eighteen  in  the  second  section,  on  tlie  east  side  of 
the  west  branch  of  the  Huron  river,  an  ancient 
mound  of  small  size. 

In  the  fourth  section  is  located  a  circular  earth- 
work, enclosing  an  area  of  perhaps  ten  acres.  The 
indications  are  that  a  stockade  formerly  surmounted 
the  present  embankment.  Immediately  south  of  this 
are  a  number  of  mounds.  In  these,  as  in  the  others 
mentioned  above,  human  bones  have  been  found, 
indicating  to  a  certainty  that  these  elevations  are  the 
burial  places  of  a  race  formerly  inhabiting  the  coun- 
try, but  long  since  extii.ct. 

FOUR    CORNERS. 

The  following  sketch  of  this  locality  is  prepared 
upon  data,  obtained  in  an  interview  with  F.  D. 
Drake.  Esq.,  of  Oxford  township.  Erie  county,  who 
settled  there  as  early  as  1815: 

Dr.  Daniel  Tildeu  was  undoubtedly  the  pioneer 
settler  at  the  "Corners."'  The  date  of  his  coming 
was  in  1817  or  '18.  He  settled  on  the  place  now  oc- 
cupied by  W.  S.  Barnes.  Dr.  Tilden  remained  a 
few  years,  removed  to  Norwalk.  and  finally  to  San- 
dusky, where  he  died  a  few  years  since.  The  next 
settler  was.  without  doubt,  the  grandfather  of  Jay 
Cooke.  We  wrote  to  Pitt  Cooke,  of  Sandusky,  asking 
him  to  furnish  the  data  for  a  sketch  of  the  family. 
He  replied  that  lie  had  not  "time  or  inclination  to 
furnish  the  items  we  desired:"  hence  we  are  obliged 
to  leave  this  family  unwritten.  Lewis  Stone  was  the 
next  settler  and  Martin  Yroman  the  fourth.-  He 
located  on  lands  now  owned  by  Hon.  E.  Bogardus. 
The  corners  did  not  settle  rapidly;  in  fact,  the  fore- 
going are  all  who  may  be  regarded  as  pioneers. 

John  Seymour,  now  of  Lyme  township,  bought  the 
Vromau  property,  and  to  him  belongs  the  honor  of 
selling  the  first  merchant  goods  at  the  "corners." 
He  sold  to  Lewis  Stone.  The  second  store  was  es- 
tablished by  John  K.  Campbell  in  about  1835.  The 
goods  were  displa)-ed  in  a  small  building  standing  on 
the  Webster  lot.  After  two  or  three  years  he  removed, 
and  soon   after  Edward  Cook  opened   a  store,   who 


continued  in  the  business,  perhaps,  fifteen  years,  and 
sold  to  Messrs.  Bogardus  &  Atherton.  The  present 
store  of  Messrs.  Read  &  Valentine  is  a  continuation 
of  this  establishment. 

A  post  office  was  established  here  as  eiirly  as  1835. 
and  Edward  Cook  commissioned  postmaster.  The 
present  postmaster  is  H.  C.  Read,  and  the  office  is 
kept  in  his  store.  The  other  business  at  the  corners 
is  the  plow  works,  described  elscAvhere;  wagon  shop, 
by  H.  G.  Webster;  harness  shop,  by  H.  D.  Williams; 
and  shoe  shop,  by  John  Cook  and  D.  Murray. 

As  early  as  1830,  and  possibly  earlier,  the  old  stone 
school  house  was  built.  Prior  to  this,  however,  a 
school  was  held  iu  one  room  of  ilartin  Vroman"s 
house.  The  teacher  was  a  man  named  Perkins.  This 
was  as  early  as  1835.  Religious  services  were  held  in 
the  school  house  until  the  erection  of  the  present 
churcli. 

A  society  of  the  Sous  of  Temperance  was  established 
at  quite  an  early  date,  and  also  a  lodge  of  I.  0.  G. 
Templars. 

The  Corners  has  a  dramatic  club  of  considerable 
ability. 

Col.  James  Smith  settled  at  ••Four  Corners"  in  18^28. 
He  purchased  the  hemp  machine  property  in  1832; 
made  brick  several  years,  removed  to  Mouroeville  in 
1837,  and  finally  to  Lyme  township,  where  he  died  iu 
October,  1866. 

The  following,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Prentiss,  gives 
an  account  of  an  affair  that  produced  much  merri- 
ment iu  the  neighborhood  in  and  around  Monroeville 
village,  long  years  since.  The  persons  referred  to 
were  sous  of  the  third  permanent  settler  iu  the  town- 
ship of  Ridgefield : 

Some  forty  yeai-s  since,  when  I  was  a  child. 
And  all  of  Ohio  was  rugged  aud  wild: 
Whei'e  cities  now  stand  with  spii-es  in  the  sky, 
The  forest  in  glory  waved  branches  on  high. 

The  I  ed  man.  triumphant  with  ari-ow  and  bow, 
Sought  panther  and  beai',  the  buck  and  the  doe; 
Trapped  beaver  on  stream-side,  caught  otter  aud  mink. 
From  river  caught  fish,  as  he  sat  on  the  brink. 

Few  were  the  white  men,  yes,  scattered  1  trow. 
Much  as  real  Christians  among  us  ai-e  now ; 
Then  husband  aud  wife  both  worked  with  one  heart, 
And  people  were  neighbors,  though  ten  miles  apart. 

From  Maryland's  fields  two  brothers  had  coiue, 

In  to  Ohio  to  look  out  a  home; 

They  settled  apart,  but  not  a  great  ways. 

So  each  could  make  visits  every  feiv  days. 

One  biother  was  John,  the  other's  name,  Dan, 
Each  was  an  honest  and  hard  working  man; 
In  those  early  days,  when  wolves  killed  the  sheep, 
Dogs  were  of  profit  for  farmers  to  keep. 

John  had  a  dog.  but  his  brother  had  none. 
So  Dan  was  looking  to  get  himself  one; 
Cue  afternoon,  a  chap  came  along. 
With  a  noble,  big  dog,  both  active  and  strong. 


Uncle  Dan  saw 

The  dog  was  a  i 

"  Wliich  way  are 

You've  got  a  .i,-' 


1  going  by; 

lis  eye; 

•e  have  you  been  * 


'  You'd  say  so,  my  friend;  you  know  Hinley's  big  dog, 
I  stopped  there  a  moment  to  rest  on  a  log; 
His  dog  was  right  savage,  and  pitched  into  mine. 
And  Tiger,  heiv,  thrashed  him  in  less  than  no  time. 


'"'vrrn 


HISTOEt  OP  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


269 


I've  another,  name's  Lion,  exactly  tliis  style. 
But  I  can't  keep  them  both,  for  they  fight  all  the  while.' 
Dan  asked  the  price,  which  the  fellow  made  known; 
It  was  willingly  paid,  and  the  fellow  went  on. 

Dan  tied  the  dog  with  a  rope  in  the  barn. 
Then  went  to  the  house  to  tell  his  dog  yarn. 

The  time  sped  away  for  two  or  three  days. 
While  things  run  along  much  in  the  old  ways; 
Then  John  took  the  team,  names.  Nellie  and  Fan, 
And  drove  the  folks  over  to  see  Uncle  Dan. 

They  were  met  with  a  smile  by  the  folks  at  the  gate, 
■With  "How  do  you  do?"  and  "  We're  all  flrst-rate. 
'  Hie,  Biddy  Martin!"  says  Dan  to  John, 
'  We'll  put  out  the  horses  and  have  some  fun." 

They  were  putting  the  horses  just  into  the  stall. 
When  the  dog  gave  a  whine,  and  a  recoguized  squall; 
Uncle  John  jumped  around  as  quick  as  a  frog, 
'  What  are  you  doing,  Dan,  Dan,  with  my  dog:-" 

Then  came  the  story,  how,  three  days  before, 
The  dog  had  been  stolen  from  Uncle  John's  door. 
Uncle  John  loosed  the  dog  from  the  rope  in  the  barn, 
Then  went  to  the  house  to  tell  his  dog  yarn. 


Biographical  Sketches, 


JOHN  S.  DAVIS 

John  S.  Dcivis  was  bora  March  28,  1S06,  in  Balti- 
more county,  Maryland.  His  parents  were  Jesse  and 
Mary  Ann  (Sowers)  Davis.  His  mother  died  while  he 
was  still  an  infant,  and  he  was  brouglit  up  by  his 
maternal  grandparents,  John  and  Mary  Ann  Sowers. 
After  his  mother's  death  his  father  was  twice  married 
— first  to  a  Miss  Hunt,  of  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren. Mary  and  Jackson — and  again  to  a  Miss  Sewell, 
who  bore  him  on^  child,  Ann  Eliza.  Not  long  after 
his  mother's  death,  his  father  removed  to  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  where  (in  the  village  of  Shrewsbury, 
York  county,)  he  died  about  the  year  1833. 

In  1811,  when  he  was  but  five  years  old,  Mr.  Davis 
came,  with  his  grandparents  above  named,  to  Fair- 
field, Lancaster  county,  Ohio.  Not  long  after,  they 
settled  in  Ridgefield  township,  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Cone  farm — a  part  of  which  is  included  in  the 
corporation  of  Monroeville.  Here  his  grandfather 
died  July  23,  1820,  aged  sixty- three,  and  his  grand- 
mother twenty-eight  years  after,  i.  e..  May  21,  1848, 
aged  ninety-three.  These  grandparents  had  four  sons, 
John,  Moses,  Daniel  and  James,  with  the  older  of 
whom  Mr.  Davis  lived  till  after  his  majority.  It  is 
well  worthy  of  record,  as  a  remarkable  physiological 
fact,  that  James,  the  youngest  of  these  four  uncles 
(who  is  still  living  in  Whitley  county,  Indiana)  was 
born  when  his  mother  was  fifty-tliree  years  old,  his 
next  older  l)rother,  Daniel,  being  then  in  his  four- 
teenth year. 

Mr.  Davis  lived  in  this  township  till  1835,  when  he 
removed  to  Lexington,  Richland  county.  Three  years 
later  he  moved  again  to  Gallon,  Crawford  county, 


where  he  lived  twenty-eight  year.s — returning  to 
Monroeville  in  1866. 

While  living  at  Gallon,  on  the  ITtli  of  May.  1843, 
he  married  Catharine  Nave  who  was  born  in  Path 
Valley,  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  have 
had  four  children,  of  whom  two  daughters  are  still 
living.  The  elder  of  these  daughters.  Amanda  J., 
born  February  17,  1844,  married  Capt.  A.  S.  Skil- 
ton  in  Gallon,  December  20,  1865.  They  have  two 
children,  John  Davis  Skilton  and  Elizabeth  Roby, 
and  now  reside  in  Monroeville.  Mr.  Davis'  youngest 
daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  was  born  January  15, 18G9. 

Mr.  Davis  followed  the  honorable  profession  of 
farmer,  on  a  small  place  in  Ridgefield  township,  till  he 
was  thirty  years  old,  when  he  went  into  the  dry  goods 
business  with  Mr.  Bloomer  as  partner.  About  the 
year  1850,  he  embarked  in  the  business  of  banking, 
first  in  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Gallon,  managed  under 
the  firm  name  of  Atwood,  Davis  &  Bloomer;  after- 
wards in  the  First  National  Bank  at  the  same  place. 
He  is  also  interested  in  the  Farmers'  National  Bank 
of  Mansfield,  the  National  Bank  of  Plymouth,  and 
(more  especially)  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Monroeville, 
of  which  the  managing  firm  are  Davis,  Crim  &  Stentz. 
In  all  his  business  enterprises,  Mr.  Davis  has  been 
singularly  successful,  and  if  he  has  not  "made 
money"  quite  as  fast  as  Midas,  he  has  been  more  for- 
tunate than  that  fatally  avaricious  king,  in  that  he 
has  been  permitted  to  choose  what  should,  and  what 
should  not,  turn  to  gold  under  his  touch. 

On  the  28th  of  March.  1876,  a  very  numerous  com- 
pany of  his  relatives,  friends,  and  neighbors,  assem- 
bled at  his  spacious  mansion  to  celebrate  his  seventieth 
birthday.  The  affair  was  managed  by  his  good  wife, 
together  with  his  daughter  and  son-in-law,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Skilton,  as  a  "surprise,"  and  most  complete  was 
their  success,  Mr.  Davis  having  not  the  least  suspicion 
of  what  was  going  on,  till  the  guests  began  to  arrive. 
But  his  surprise  reached  its  culmination  when,  after 
the  company  had  all  assembled,  an  elegant  gold-headed 
cane,  and  a  beautiful,  life-sized  crayon  portrait  of 
Mrs.  Davis  (a  present  from  the  above-mentioned  par- 
ties), were  produced  and  presented  to  him  in  an 
appropriate  address.  Touched  to  the  heart  by  these 
manifestations  of  kindly  regard,  it  would  have  been 
strange,  indeed,  if  he  liad  -found  any  other  than  the 
simplest  words  of  thanks,  in  which  to  express  his 
grateful  emotions.  The  Huron  county  teachers"  in- 
stitute, being  then  in  session  at  Monroeville.  were 
present  in  a  body,  and  with  them  the  distinguished 
grammarian,  Professor  Harvey,  of  Paiuesville. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  enjoyed  the  di.-tin- 
guished,  but  unsought,  honor  of  being  chosen  elector 
of  president  and  vice  president  of  the  United  States; 
and  afterwards,  in  the  college  of  electors,  of  easting 
his  vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  and  William  A. 
Wheeler,  a.-:  president  and  vice  president  of  the 
nation. 

Mr.  Davis  is  enjoying  a  hale  and  green  old  age,  at 
Monroeville,   surrounded  by  an  affectionate  family. 


370 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  looked  up  to  bv  his  neighbors,  young  and  old,  as 
a  kind  friend  and  prudent  counsellor.  No  object, 
looking  toward  the  moral  and  religious  improvement 
of  the  community,  fails  of  his  cordial  support.  He 
is  exceptionally  unostentatious,  affable  and  com- 
panionable: and  tlie  writer  hereof  will  not  soon  forget 


the  pleasant  ramble  had  with  him  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery  of  Monroeville.  where 

"The  rude  forefathers  of  the  hamlet  sleep  "— 

searching"  among  the  white  monuments  of  that  quiet 
and  cheerful  resting  place  of  the  dead  for  dates  to  be 
interwoven  in  the  foregoing  biographical  sketch. 


//laA.7J,   ^'  "^/ij^Aj^ 


WILLIAM   A.   BISHOP. 

The  subject  of  tliis  notice  was  born  in  Hunderdon 
county,  New  Jersey,  March  3,  1800.  His  parents 
were  Joseph  and  Mary  (Wykoff)  Bishop.  His  father 
died  in  1801,  and  his  mother  about  1859,  having 
lived  a  widow  fifty-eight  years.  His  ancestors,  on  the 
father's  side,  were  from  England;  on  tlie  mother's, 
from  Holland. 

He  was  twice  married;  tiie  first  time,  April  4,  1834, 
to  Magdalene  Edinger,  who  died  April  5,  183T.  Two 
children  were  the  fruit  of  this  marriage:  Joseph,  born 
January  26,  1835,  died  in  infancy;  William  H.,  born 
June  19,  1836,  is  still  living  in  this  township.  He 
married,  as  his  second  wife,  on  the  30th  of  November, 
1837,  Mary  Ann  Cadwell,  who  was  born  in  Lorain 
county,  January  11, 1818.  Following  are  the  names  of 
the  children  of  this  marriage:  1,  Laura  Ann,  born 
January  18,  1839.  2,  Eliza,  born  August  25,  1842. 
3,  Charles  D.,  born  January  4,  1846.  4,  Lina,  born 
April  15,  1849.     5,  Mary  E.,  born  January  2,  1854, 


G,  Martha  E..  born  June  1,  1857.     Of  these  children, 
only  the  third,  fourth  and  sixth  still  survive. 

Mr.  Bishop  came  to  this  county  on  the  2d  of  Au- 
gust, 1834,  from  Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania, 
to  which  place  he  had  migrated  about  two  years  be- 
fore. He  settled  in  Ridgefield,  on  the  west  branch  of 
the  Huron  river,  on  what  was  known  as  the  Page 
farm.  There  he  lived  about  twelve  year's,  and  then 
moved  to  the  Palmer  farm,  in  1849.  This  farm  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres,  sixty  or 
seventy  acres  having  been  cleared  before  he  bought  it, 
and  about  thirty-five  since.  During  his  thirty  years' 
residence  on  this  farm,  he  has  built  for  himself  a 
beautiful  home  (with  commodious  barns  adjacent) 
near  the  bank  of  the  Huron  river,  and  pleasantly 
sheltered  among  the  bluffs  that  border  that  beautiful 
stream.  Here  he  is  "growing  old  gracefully,"  sur- 
rounded by  an  affectionate  family.  He  has  been  su- 
pervisor of  the  county,  and  school  director,  but  he  has 
never  -'hankered''  for  the  cares  of  office.  Though  not 
a  "professor  of  religion,'"  he  has  always  been  a  liljeral 
supporter  of  tlie  various  churches  of  his  township. 


c^#^^' 


"fyS^im^uiS^'" 


(^^^^c:::^aA;^ 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


271 


HENRY  P.  STENTZ. 

Henry  P.  Stentz  was  born  in  Middletown,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  26th  of  Februarj',  1838.  His  parents 
are  Peter  and  Catharine  Stentz,  of  German  ancesti-y. 
They  have  five  children,  all  of  whom,  except  Henry 
P.,  reside  at  Galion.  Their  names  are  as  follows  : 
Mary  L.,  married  to  E.  A.  Snyder,  Henry  P.,  Ida, 
married  to  Cliarles  Cronewett,  Willis  P.,  assistant 
cashier  First  National  bank,  Galion,  and  Emory  K., 
a  jeweler. 

Mr.  Stentz,  the  father,  (who  is  a  merchant,)  came 
to  Huron  county  in  1840,  and  settled  at  Plymouth, 
where  he  remained  till  1854.  He  then  removed  to 
Galion,  where  he  still  resides.  Henry  P.  resided  at 
the  same  place  till  1866,  being,  for  some  eight  years 
previous,  in  the  employ  of  A.  At  wood,  Esq.,  a 
merchant  and  banker.  The  estimation  in  which  Mr. 
Stentz  is  held  by  that  gentleman,  is  shown  from  the 
following  commendatory  letter,  which,  having  fallen 
into  our  hands,  we  take  the  liberty  of  putting  on 
record  : 

,  Galiox,  O.,  May  :3,  1866. 

The  bearer.  H.  P.  Stentz.  has  been  doing  business  with  me,  in  my 
employ,  without  intermission,  nearly  eight  years  and  a  half,  and  I  take 
great  pleasure  in  saying  that  he  is  strictly  honest,  entirely  reliable, 
sober  industrious,  energetic,  and  capable  of  filling  any  position  he  may 
ask  for.  He  is  one  (and  there  are  few  such)  who  takes  the  same  interest 
in  his  employer's  business  he  does  in  his  own.  He  has  been  my  confl- 
dential  clerk  and  book  keeper  during  the  most  of  the  time  above  men- 
tioned, and  but  few  of  his  age,  without  any  start  in  life,  have  succeeded 
in  dollars  and  cents,  and  in  winning  the  confidence  of  the  people,  to  the 
extent  he  has  Respectfully, 

A.  ATWOOD. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Stentz  came  to  Monroeville,  and  suc- 
ceeded S.  Y.  Harkness,  as  cashier  of  the  Exchange 
bank,  on  the  reorganization  of  that  institution,  which 
took  place  soon  after.  This  bank  is  doing  a  very 
successful  business,  having  a  range  of  deposits  av- 
eraging about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
Mr.  Stentz  assisted  in  organizing  the  First  National 
bank,  of  Galion,  and,  afterwards,  that  of  Plymouth, 
and  he  is  at  present  a  director  in  both  those  institu- 
tions. He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  township  of- 
Eidgefield  for  eight  consecutive  years,  and  is  now,  for 
the  second  term,  president  of  the  Huron  county 
agricultural  society.  He  once  ran  for  the  ofiice  of 
Mayor,  of  Galion,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  even 
in  that  stronghold  of  the  Democracy,  came  within 
fifteen  votes  of  being  elected.  While  residing-  at 
Galion,  during  the  war,  he  Avas  at  one  time  operating 
very  extensively  at  the  south  in  cotton,  sugar  and 
hemp.  Among  his  other  valuable  estates,  is  a  fine 
farm,  lying  between  Monroeville  and  Norwalk. 

His  education  was  received  in  the  Union  school  at 
Plymouth.  Though  not  a  professor  of  religion,  he 
is  an  attendant  and  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Stentz  has  never  married,  but  still 
clings  to  his  baccalaureate  freedom.  He  is  now  in 
the  prime  of  manhood,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
business  men  of  Monroeville.  He  occupies,  and  de- 
servedly so,  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow 
townsmen.     He  furnishes  a  striking  illustration  of  | 


the  successful  business  man.  Assuming  the  respon- 
sible duties  of  cashier  of  the  Monroeville  Exchange 
Bank  when  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  by 
close  attention  to  every  known  duty  connected  with 
that  institution,  by  strict  and  honorable  dealing,  by 
careful  and  wise  management,  by  his  pleasing  man- 
ners and  address,  he  has  been  instrumental  in  secur- 
ing for  the  Exchange  Bank  a  truly  gratifying  career 
of  success,  enabling  it  to  take  rank  as  one  of  the 
soundest  and  best  patronized  banking  houses  of  the 
Fire-lauds.  What  greater  compliment  could  there  be 
in  behalf  of  his  strict  and  unswerving  business  integ- 
rity and  his  acknowledged  business  ability  and  tact 
than  is  furnished  in  the  fact  tliat  he  has  lield  the 
position  of  cashier  without  interruption  since  1866? 
His  marked  success  in  business  life  in  so  unpreten- 
tious a  village  as  Monroeville,  affords  a  lesson  of 
instruction  for  every  young  man  just  starting  upon  a 
business  career.  Success  rarely  comes  to  any  one  by 
the  mere  fortuitous  revolution  of  the  wheel  of  for- 
tune. It  must  be  coveted,  striven  for.  won-and  con- 
quered. He  who  does  not  have  a  strong  desii-e  for 
her  laurels  will  never  wear  them;  but  desire  alone 
will  never  win  the  battle.  An  aim  that  is  high  and 
honorable,  an  industry  that  is  iudefetigable,  a  will 
and  a  purpose  that  are  unbending,  an  integrity  that 
is  uncompromising,  coupled  with  other  character- 
istics that  stamp  tlie  true  gentleman, — these  must 
unite  with  desire  in  order  to  secure  the  trophies  of 
success. 


ROBERT  G.  MARTIN. 

Robert  G.  Martin  was  born  on  the  31st  of  January, 
1838,  at  Coventry,  Chenango  county,  New  I'ork.  His 
father,  Frederick  Martin,  died  April  30,  18T7.  His 
mother,  Penelope  (Boughton)  Martin,  is  still  living. 

His  maternal  grandfather,  Seymour  Boughton,  was 
a  colonel  in  the  last  war  with  England,  and  was 
killed  by  the  Indians,  during  the  year  1812,  at  Black 
Rock,^  wliich  is  now  included  in  tlie  city  of  Buffalo, 
New  Y'ork.  The  hat  worn  by  him  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  bearing  the  marks  both  of  the  tomahawk  and 
bullet  by  which  he  was  killed,  was  preserved  in  the 
family  till  1870,  when,  strangely  enough,  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  a  person  not  realizing  its  value  as  a  relic. 
His  mnthurV  family  were  of  Scotch  descent;  his  fatli- 
er"s  from  Irchmd. 

!Mr.  Martin  was  first  married  on  the  16th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1860,  to  Yirginia  C.  Wallace,  of  .Pittsburg,  who 
died  February  26,  1867.  Of  this  marriage  there  were 
two  children,  both  of  whom  died  in  early  childhood. 
He  was  married  the  second  time  to  Louisa  il.  Cara- 
bin,  a  native  of  Norwalk,  on  the  22d  of  November, 
1868.  Mr.  Martin  first  came  to  Monroeville  on  the 
loth  of  November,  1853,  when  he  was  but  fifteen 
years  old,  to  live  with  his  brother,  Seymour  B.,  a 
druggist — with  whom  he  resided   two  years.     This 


272 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


brother  was  a  prominent  business  man  here  for  twen- 
ty-two years;  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  vilhige, 
and  township  treasurer  and  trustee  for  several  years. 
He  died  at  Grey  Eagle,  Buncombe  county,  North 
Carolina,  in  the  month  of  October,  1876. 

In  1855,  R.  G.  Martin,  then  in  his  eighteenth  year, 
went  back  to  Coventry,  New  York,  and  there,  during 
the  winter  of  that  and  the  following  year,  taught 
school  in  the  very  district  where  lie  first  learned  his 
alphabet.  The  experiences  of  the  young  pedagogue 
during  that  winter,  if  we  only  had  room  for  them, 
would  make  an  interesting  chapter  in  his  history. 

Returning  to  Monroeville,  he  was  associated  with 
the  brother  above  mentioned,  in  the  drug  store,  till 
1860;  when  he  and  the  same  brother  became  suc- 
cessors to  Mrs.  N.  V.  Earl  in  the  hardware  business. 
Purchasing  his  brother's  interest  in  1862,  he  became 
sole  proprietor,  and  has  continued  in  the  same  busi- 
ness ever  since.  His  establishment  during  these  six- 
teen years  (marked  by  financial  revulsions  which  have 
shaken  the  whole  country  from  center  to  circumfer- 
ence), has  enjoyed  a  uniform  prosperity,  having  out- 
ridden several  storms  in  which  many  other  less  for- 
tunate crafts,  though  perhaps  equally  seaworthy,  have 
gone  to  the  bottom.  The  business  Neptune  of  the 
land,  like  his  brother  of  the  ocean,  is  a  capricious 
god,  wafting  one  venture  with  prosperous  gales,  and 
driving  another,  which  seemed  equally  promising,  a 
wreck  upon  the  breakers.  And  yet  it  is  possible  that 
success  or  failure  in  any  given  case,  might  be  infalli- 
bly predicted  by  any  scientific  financier,  who  had  ac- 
cess to  all  the  data  necessary  for  making  his  compu- 
tations. Mr.  Martin  has  been,  for  a  number  of  years, 
a  member  of  the  council  of  Monroeville;  also  a  mem- 
ber and  treasurer  of  the  school  board.  He  was  elected 
the  last  time  for  three  years,  without  opposition.  He 
is  a  supporter  of  Zion  (Episcopal)  church. 

F.  L.  Martin,  a  brother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  resides  in  Colorado  Springs,  at  the  foot  of 
Pike's  Peak,  to  which  place  he  went  a  few  years  ago 
on  account  of  his  health.  He  has  there  become  a 
great  sheep  raiser,  having  clipped  last  year  over  ten 
thousand  fleeces.  During  the  month  of  April, -1873, 
he  lost  between  three  and  four  thousand  head,  in  a 
tremendous  snow  storm,  but  since  that  time,  having 
become  better  posted  in  the  business,  lie  has  met  with 
no  greater  losses  than  farmers  and  stock  raisers  in 
this  region.  Some  two  years  ago,  R.  G.  Martin  be- 
came financially  associated  with  this  brother  in  the 
sheep  business,  and  their  flocks  at  present  number 
about  twelve  thousand. 

F.  L.  Martin  is  the  only  survivor  of  six  gentlemen 
who  spent  the  winter  of  1871-2  in  Colorado  for  their 
health.  Their  disease  was  of  a  pulmonary  nature, 
and  Martin,  altliough  enjoying. excellent  health  in 
Colorado,  cannot  remain  at  the  east,  even  for  a  few 
months,  without  a  return  of  his  old  complaint. 

Mr.  Martin,  the  suVjject  of  this  sketch,  enjoys  in  a 
higii  degree  tiie  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity in  whicli  he  dwells.     Coming  to   Monroeville 


when  but  a  lad  of  fifteen,  and  entering  his  brother's 
store  as  a  clerk,  he,  at  that  early  day  in  his  life,  gave 
assurance  to  those  who  knew  him  of  possessing  the 
elements  of  true  success.  When  but  twenty-two 
years  of  age  he  was  enabled  to  become  a  partner  with 
his  brother  in  the  hardware  business,  and  two  years 
later  succeeded  to  the  sole  proprietorship.  He  has 
shown  a  laudable  tenacity  of  purpose  in  clinging  to 
the  same  business  in  which  he  embarked  at  so  early 
an  age  oi  his  own  account,  and  to-day  has  his  reward 
in  the  acknowledged  position  wliich  is  accorded  him 
of  being  one  of  the  most  successful  merchants  Mon- 
roeville has  ever  known. 


THOMAS  DICKEY. 

Thomas  Dickey  was  born  in  Hillsboro,  New  Hamp- 
shire, on  the  loth  of  December,  1790.  He  was  one 
of  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  ten  boys  and  three 
girls,  only  five  of  whom  were  living  when  Mr.  Dickey 
left  New  Hampshire.  His  parents,  Wm  and  Sally 
(Moore)  Dickey,  were  natives  of  Ireland,  who,  with 
a  colony  of  their  countrymen,  came  to  America  to 
escape  religious  persecution.  They  purchased  land 
and  settled  in  the  township  of  Londonderry,  Rock- 
ingham county.  New  Hampshire,  whence,  in  March, 
1790,  they  moved  to  Hillsboro,  forty  miles  distant, 
where  Thomas  was  born.  Here  he  lived  till  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he  hired  himself  to  Gen- 
eral Benjamin  Pierce,  father  of  President  Pierce,  and 
lived  with  him  two  years.  He  had  engaged  for  one 
year  more,  but,  the  war  coming  on,  he  enlisted  in  the 
army,  May  13,  1812:  was  at  once  made  orderly  ser- 
geant, under  Captain  John  McNeal,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  July  1,  1814,  when,  by  orders  of 
General  Winfield  Scott,  he  was  detailed  to  "act  as 
ensign,  till  the  pleasure  of  the  secretary  of  war  be 
known."' 

On  the  night  of  July  3,  1811,  in  Buffalo  creek,  the 
command  embarked  on  board  a  boat,  crossed  over 
into  Canada,  landed  below  Fort  Erie,  then  occupied 
by  the  British  who  surrendered  without  firing  a  gun. 
On  the  4th  of  July,  they  marched  down  the  river 
nearly  to  Niagara  falls.  The  next  day  the  enemy 
appeared,  and  the  battle  of  Chippewa  was  fought. 
Afterward  they  WLiit  to  Fort  George,  at  the  head  of 
Lake  Ontario,  and  remained  there  about  a  week. 
Then,  being  reeuforced.  General  Brown  moved  back 
across  Chippewa  creek  to  Niagara,  where,  on  the  25tli 
of  July,  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane  was  fought. 

In  this  battle  Scott's  brigade  alone  contended  with 
the  enemy  for  two  hours,  before  reinforcements  came 
up.  Tlien  General  Ripley  said  to  Colonel  Miller: 
"  Can  you  take  that  battery?"  and  received  the  memo^ 
rablc  reply,  "I  can  try,  sir."  He  did  try,  and  drove 
the  enemy  from  their  guns,  capturing  them  all,  thir- 
teen in  numlier.  The  main  contest  was  fought  here, 
there  being  three  charges  by  the  enemy  to  retake  the 


;x 


^^^,(^7^L   ^jJ 


l^^, 


SALMON    URAKE. 


MRS.    SALMON    DKAKE. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


2?3 


gnus:  but  they  were  repulsed  each  time  with  great 
shinghter.  It  was  during  the  last  charge  that  Gen- 
eral Scott  was  wounded.  The  enemy  retreated  some 
four  miles.  Generals  Scott  and  Brown  being  both 
wounded,  the  command  devolved  upon  General  Rip- 
ley, who  thought  it  prudent  to  retire  to  Fort  Erie; 
where,  after  a  few  days,  the  enemy  again  made  their 
appearance,  and,  for  some  time  thereafter,  laid  siege 
to  the  fort.  But  they  were  finally  defeated  with  the 
loss  of  nine  hundred  men,  our  loss  !)eiiig  only  eighty 
wounded. 

The  American  army  evacuated  Fort  Erie,  and  the 
regiment  in  which  Mr.  Dickey  was  serving  finally 
marched  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  where  he  remained 
until  peace  was  declared,  and  he  was  discharged. 
During  the  siege  of  Fort  Erie,  on  the  11th  of  Sep- 
tember, he  was  wounded  in  the  foot  by  the  bursting 
of  a  shell;  but  he  was  well  enough  on  the  17th  to 
take  part  in  the  final  battle,  in  which  he  had  com- 
mand of  his  company. 

Mr.  Dickey  has  often  related  many  other  incidents 
of  the  battles  fought  near  Niagara  river.  For  these 
meritorious  services,  the  government,  many  years 
after,  granted  him  a  pension. 

After  his  discharge,  he  returned  to  Hillsboro,  New 
Hampshire,  and  on  the  15th  of  September,  1815, 
started,  on  horseback,  for  Ohio.  He  stopped  at 
Monroeville,  in  this  county,  where  he  remained  until 
April,  1819,  when  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Myers. 
This  lady  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  where 
she  was  born  on  the  SGth  of  January,  1791.  Her 
parents  were  Adam  and  Mary  Myers,  of  German 
extraction.  They  came  first  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  and 
from  there  to  Ridgefield  township,  about  the  year  1815. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dickey  removed  to  Thompson,  Seneca  county,  where 
they  resided  three  years  ;  then  to  Oxford,  (now  in 
Erie  county,)  where  they  remained  about  the  same 
length  of  time.  Finally,  they  returned  to  Ridgefield, 
in  October,  1825,  where  he  cleared  up  tlie  farm  upon 
which  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  10th  of  January,  1879. 

The  fruits  of  his  marriage  were  five  children,  three 
boys  and  two  girls,  of  whom  only  two  survive  him — 
a  son,  somewhere  in  the  west,  (the  family  having  lost 
track  of  him,)  and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Cynthia  Drake, 
who  resides  at  the  old  homestead. 

Mrs.  Dickey  died  in  1854.  Two  years  later,  Mr. 
Dickey  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  he  continued  a  member  until  his  death. 
During  his  residence  of  sixty-three  years  in  Huron 
county,  he  witnessed  great  changes.  Looking  forward 
from  1815,  those  years  must  have  seemed  to  him 
almost  an  age.  But,  looking  backward  from  1879, 
how  short  the  space  appeared  !  He  was  a  land-mark 
in  the  history  of  the  county — a  link  between  the 
present  and  the  past.  The  land  mark  has  fallen — the 
link  is  severed. 

Surrounded  by  his  daughter  and  his  grand  chil- 
dren, loving  hearts  and  hands  ministered   to  his  last 


moments.  He  passed  away,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-eight  years  and  twenty-five  days, — "a  shock 
of  corn  fully  ripe  for  the  harvest." 

[The  foregoing  sketch  is  taken,  with  some  additions  and  verbal 
changes,  from  an  obituary  notice  by  W.  C.  A.,  published  in  the  Norwalk 
Reflector,  of  January  28,  1879.] 


SALMON  DRAKE. 


Salmon  Drake  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1827.  His 
parents  were  Hiram  and  Sarah  (Riiggles)  Drake,  of 
English  ancestry,  who  settled,  at  an  early  day,  in 
Connecticut.  He  moved  to  Monroeville  (Ridgefield 
township)  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1848; 
was  married  to  Cynthia  Dickey,  June  17,  1850,  and 
settled  on  the  Dickey  homestead,  in  said  township, 
in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  Here  a  goodly  number 
of  '-olive-branches"  gathered,  in  due  time,  around 
their  table — the  following  being  their  names  and 
dates  of  birth:  1,  Eliza  Jane,  born  July  5,  1852.  2, 
Hiram  Dickey,  born  July  7,  1854.  3,  Charley  W., 
born  May  9,  1856.  4,  Emmagene,  born  April  29, 
1858.  5,  J.  Omer,  born  March  6,  1861.  6,  Gorgi- 
ana,  born  November  3,  1862.  7,  Stery  A.,  born 
March  19,  1864.  8,  Ira,  born  October  4,  1805.  All 
these  children  survive  their  father,  except  the  last 
named,  who  died  on  tiie  18th  of  January,  1872. 

In  July,  1867,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake  and  their  eldest 
daughter,  united  with  the  congregation  of  Christian 
people,  known  as  "Disciples,"  in  Fairfield,  Huron 
county.  In  January,  1868,  measures  having  been 
taken  to  organize  a  similar  congregation  at  Norwalk, 
in  the  same  county,  they  transferred  their  connection 
to  that  organization.  Mr.  Drake  was,  at  the  outset, 
made  "deacon"  of  the  new  body — an  office  which  he 
held  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  is  spoken 
of,  by  his  neighbors  and  fellow  communicants,  as  a 
zealous  Christian  man,  active  in  every  good  work 
looking  toward  the  moral  and  religious  improvement 
of  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

He  was  an  industrious,  skillful  and  successful  far- 
mer, having  devoted  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  He  had,  however,  a  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade, 
which  he  learned  and  practiced  in  early  life. 

A  few  years  ago  he  received  a  somewhat  serit)us 
injury  in  his  left  side,  from  a  young  horse  which  he 
was  training.  Taking  a  violent  cold,  a  short  time 
before  his  death,  from  exposure  in  a  severe  storm,  it 
settled  in  the  injured  side,  and  resulted  in  the  fatal 
disease,  typhoid  pneumonia,  which  ended  his  days  on 
the  3d  of  April,  1877 — at  which  time  he  lacked  but 
six  days  of  being  fifty  years  old.  "He  died  quietly  in 
the  midst  of  his  family,  greatly  beloved  by  them  and 
his  friends  and  neighbors,  all  of  whom  attested  their 
aSection  and  respect  for  him  by  their  pivsence  in 
great  numbers  at  his  burial." 


274 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


REUBEN  PARKER. 

Joshua  Parker  and  two  sous,  James  and  Reuben, 
came  from  Liueoliishire.  England.  The  fatlier  and 
sou  James  settled  iu  Indiana  and  died  there.  Reu- 
ben, the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Ridgefield  in 
August,  1S51,  and  purchased  the  John  Brown  farm 
on  the  ridge  in  section  three.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Roe,  and,  by  economy  and  steady,  persever- 
ing effort,  has  now  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  acres  under  protitat.)le  cultivation,  for  which 


he  paid  twelve  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  They 
have  a  family  of  eight  children,  whose  names  are  as 
follows:  Homer,  Nellie,  Charles,  Rosa,  Frank,  Anna, 
George  and  Alice.  A  son,  Joshua,  Jr..  came  to 
Ridgefield  in  the  spring  of  1845.  He  has  been  twice 
married;  lives  in  Monroeville.  In  1861,  three  other 
children  came  on:  John,  who  married  Ann  Clark, 
i  lives  in  Bronson;  Mary  A.,  who  married  Joseph 
{  Holden,  lives  in  Ridgefield,  and  Jesse,  who  married 
Rachel  Smith,  and  lives  in  Lvnie  township. 


CLARKSFIELD. 


DuRixG  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  British  troops 
committed  many  depredations  in  the  east,  among 
which  was  the  burning  of  the  towns  of  Danbury,  Nor- 
walk,  Fairfield  and  other  places  in  Connecticut.  The 
State,  in  view  of  the  sufferings  of  those  who  had  sus- 
tained losses  by  fire,  made  them  a  donation  of  lands 
in  Ohio,  being  the  same  now  comprised  mainly  iu  the 
couties  of  Huron  and  Erie. 

ORIGIXAL    OWXERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  tables  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  historv  of  Wakeman  town- 
.ship: 

I'LAKKSFIELD.    TOWX     XTilBER   THREE.     IN    R.\XGE 
TWENTY. 


Classification  No.  1,  Section 


Original  Grantees.  A 

Peter  Hendrick  399 

Abraham  Andrews  430 

Abigail  Desbrow  9 

Major  Taylor  4li2 

Ebenezer  Baker  21 

Benjamin  Alien  5 

Joseph  Stehbins  19 

John  Walerous  3 

Jefferj-  Wellmith  9 

Abraham  Hays  23 
Nehemiah  Mead,  Jr.     9 

Zebediah  Taylor  10 

Robert  Xutt  14 
Thomas  Hobby,  Jr.     18 

Titus  Palmer  3 

Jabez  Ferris  28 

Rebecca  Deforest  T 
AbramCamps  heirs  142 

James  Whelpley  4 

Mary  Harvey  14 

.John  Rockwell  5 

John  Rogers  41 


Villiam  Walton 


Footing  of  C'lassiflcation  No.  1,  .£1.: 


Classification  No.  2,  Sections. 


Oriyinal  Grantees. 
James  Clark  I 


James  Clark,  Esq.      224 
Curtis  Clark  300 

Joseph  Trowbridge    363 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  2. 
Am't  Loss.     Classijied  by. 


David  Wood  2SS 

Eliphalet  Barnum  42 

Daniel  Church  40 

Comfort  Hoyt  50 

Stephen  Jarvis  ■iS 

■loshua  Knapp  43 

Eleazer  Hovt  1 

Daniel  Taylor,  Esq.  636 

Benjamin  Spirry  113 

Thomas  Tavlor  11 

Thomas  Taylor.  Jr  10 

Seth  Shove  3 

Jesse  Raymond  147 

Nathan  ^'  aring  32 

Thomas  Darrow  IT 

Jouah  Benedict  206 

Isaac  Benedict  4 

Samuel  Taylor.  Esq  22 

Thomas  Taylor  22 


John  Dodd                 222  13 
L.  Philips,  wife  of 

L.  H.  PhiUips       222  13 

Philo  Calhoun            42  6 


IVi    Jadock  Starr 


Timothy  Chittenden, 


4!.a    Daniel  Minor 


C  of  Classlflcatio 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  - 


Comfort  Hovt,  Jr  4? 
William  Balger  1! 

Antony  Angevine  : 
Samuel  Andrews  I 
Matthew  Benedict  21; 
Sarah  Benedict  4i 

Abijah  Benedict  ; 

Joshua  Benedict         1: 
Joseph  Benedict,  Jr    : 
Timothy  Benedict       ; 
Lemuel  Benedict         i 
Thomas  Benedict       1: 
OUver  Benedict 
Samuel  Benedict 
Benjamin  Houghton    ; 
Matthew  Barnum        : 
Comfort  Barnum 
Samuel  Br.  .wn 
Joseiili  Burchard 
Sarah  Basset 
Caleb  Church 
Seth  Comfort 
Isaac  Caller 
Enos  Camp 
John  Couch 
Philip  Corbin  V 

Amos  Collins 
Joseph  Broadbrooks 
Elisha  Dibble 
Benjamin  Dailv 
Wait  Disbrow 
John  Elliott 
Jacob  Finch 
James  Fielding  i 

William  GrifBu 
Rachel  Gregory 
Justus  Hovt 
Noah  Hoyt 
Caleb  Hoyt 
Jonathan  Hays  1 


Comfort  Hoyt  Jr. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


275 


£ 

g 

d. 

£ 

Horace  Knapp 

15 

0 

Comfort  Hoyt  Jr 

2 

Aaron  Knapp 

4 

18 

4 

Timothy  Ketchum 

23 

S 

6 

23 

Samuel  Lambert 

3 

19 

3 

Amos  Northrop 

9 

0 

David  Northrup 

3 

14 

8 

3' 

Amie  Noithrup 

3 

8 

0 

David  Northrup 

4 

6 

8 

4 

Abiel  Pickel 

3 

14 

6 

3 

John  Sturdivant 

4 

11 

0 

John  Stone 

4 

16 

8 

Ohver  Taylor 

4 

16 

10 

■' 

4 

Benjamin  Taylor 
Nathan  Taylor,  3d 

2 

15 

4 

15 

5 

5 

7 

Matthew  lay  lor 

19 

6 

"          ," 

11 

EUas  Taylor 

3 

4 

Thomas  Wildman 

3 

11 

4 

" 

3 

Elijah  Wood 

2 

0 

fe?fc^Se\ 

8 

8 

ID 

Jos.  H.  Gregory  & 

heirs  8 

9 

8 

Ezra  Dibble 

Ezra  Dibble,  Jr. 

17 

7 

11 

17 

Ezra  Starr 

214 

11 

4 

84 

Benjamin  Sperry 

113 

4 

a 

« 

Matthew  Starr 

2 

22 

0 

2 

Jeshi.a  Mead 

n 

8 

11 

Elizabeth  Moore 

2 

0 

7 

Thadeus  Locknood 

54 

18 

5 

54 

John  Wyllys 

18 

11 

47 

Michael  C  Timpany  76 

14 

8 

76 

Jhsiah  Thatcher 

400 

6 

5H 

45 

Edmund  .Mead 

11 

9 

11 

11 

Footing  of  Classification  No   4,  £1,;344       T         0 

Township  number  three  in  range  twenty  is  bound- 
ed on  the  north  by  Wakemun  township;  south  by 
New  London;  east  by  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  west  by  Hartland  township.  The  town- 
ship is  generally  level  and  well  watered.  The  soil 
consists  of  a  mixture  of  clay,  a  little  sand,  and  a 
goodly  portion  of  black  loam,  whicli  together  consti- 
tute a  soil  well  adapted  to  agriculture.  The  Vermil- 
lion river  is  the  principal  water  course  in  the  town- 
ship. It  rises  in  Richland  county,  has  two  branches, 
and  flows  in  a  northerly  direction  until  it  empties 
into  J^ake  Erie.  The  west  branch  enters  this  town- 
ship on  lot  twenty-five  in  the  fourth  section,  and 
flowing  a  general  northeasterly  direction,  crosses  the 
north  township  line  on  lot  five  in  section  three.  The 
east  branch  is  formed  from  two  small  streams  which 
enter  the  south  part  of  the  township  on  lots  six  in 
the  fourth  section  and  eleven  in  the  first  section, 
which  unite  on  lot  twenty-three  in  the  last-named 
section.  The  stream  flows  northeasterly  to  lot 
twelve  in  the  second  section,  where  it  turns  westward 
and  flows  from  the  township  on  lot  twenty  in  the 
second  section.  The  banks  of  this  river  furnish  an 
excellent  quality  of  sandstone  for  building  purposes. 
There  are  a  few  other  streams,  of  which  Spring  brook 
is  the  chief,  but  they  are  unimportant,  and  generally 
dry  in  the  summer  season. 


This  township  derived  its  name  from  a  gentleman 
named  James  Clark,  who  was  a  "  sufferer"  to  the 
amount  of  £1,04:8  6s.  8d.  The  name  was  subse- 
quently changed  to  Bethel,  and  shortly  afterwards  to 
its  present  name  of  Clarksfield. 


Among  the  Indians,  the  Wyandottes  and  Senecas 
were  probably  the  most  numerous,  and  often  visited 
the  settlement,  bringing  in  venison  to  exchange  for 
pi'oduce,  whisky,  etc.  Onfe  of  these  Indians,  having 
one  day  imbibed  a  little  too  freely  while  on  a  visit  to 
the  "  hollow,"'  called  at  the  house  of  E.  W.  Barnum, 


and,  supposing  him  to  be  "one  Frenchman,"'  insisted 
on  killing  him.  He  was,  however,  put  in  duress  for 
the  night,  one  of  his  own  tribe  aiding  in  tying  him 
up.  Next  morning  he  was  permitted  to  depart,  a 
little  more  sober  if  not  better  natured.  They  were 
in  general,  however,  civil  and  well  disposed  toward 
the  settlers,  wliisky  causing  nearly  all  the  exceptions. 

SETTLEMENT. 

In  the  summer  of  1817,  Samuel  Husted  and  Ezra 
Wood  came  from  Danbury,  Connecticut,  to  Ohio, 
and  during  the  summer  erected  the  first  house  in 
Clarksfield  township.  This  was  constructed  of  the 
materials  usual  in  pioneer  times — logs, — and  was 
situated  on  the  hill  near  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
residence  of  IMurray  Stiles.  After  the  completion  of 
this  hou.se,  the  two  returned  to  their  homes  in  the  far- 
away east.  While  they  were  preparing  for  a  final  re- 
moval to  Ohio,  two  hardy  sons  of  New  England  ar- 
rived in  Clarksfield,  and  became  the  first  families  to 
locate  there.  Their  names  were  Smith  Starr  and 
Simeon  Hoyt.  The  former  of  these  settled  on  lot 
number  eight  in  the  third  section,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  died  July  13,  1850.  Mrs. 
Starr  died  December  16,  1846.  During  the  first 
winter  in  the  township,  their  nearest  neighbor  was 
some  miles  away.  The  family  consisted  of  John  T., 
who  now  lives  in  Kansas:  .Alary,  Rory  and  Peter  who 
are  dead;  Deborah,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead; 
Smith  who  received  an  injury  in  the  saw  mill,  from 
which  he  died;  William  K.,  who  married  Jane  Arnold, 
and  also  resides  on  the  old  farm. 

Simeon  Hoyt  came  by  wagon  drawn  by  two  yoke 
of  oxen  and  a  horse.  Six  weeks  were  consumed  by 
the  toilsome  journey.  In  October,  Clarksfield  town- 
ship was  reached,  and  a  settlement  was  soon  eflected 
on  lot  number  six  in  the  fourth  section.  Here  the 
family  remained  until  1860;  then  removed  to  Florence, 
Erie  county,  where  the  father  died  some  three  years 
later.  The  wife  died  in  1858.  She  was  the  widow  of 
John  Knapp,  and  had  seven  children  when  married 
to  Hoyt.  Three  children  were  born  of  the  last  mar- 
riage. Their  names  were:  Lyman  who  married  Ar- 
villa  Curtiss,  lives  in  Clarksfield:  Hiram  who  is  dead; 
William  who  married  Emma  Webb,  and  lives  in 
Clarksfield;  Henry,  who  is  dead;  Caroline  and  Emeline 
(twins,)  the  former  of  whom  married  Sherman  Smith, 
and  lives  in  Clarksfield:  the  latter  married  Dr  Tracy 
Cone,  and  lives  in  New  London:  Eliza,  who  married 
Major  Smith,  and  lives  in  Clarksfield;  J.  Frederick, 
who  married  Mary  J.  Andre,  and  lives  in  Michigan; 
Dolly  who  married  John  Dean,  also  lives  in  Michigan; 
Lucy  Ann  is  now  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Pierce,  of 
Florence,  Erie  county. 

Samuel  Husted  came,  with  his  family,  in  1818.  He 
came  by  the  slow  transit  method,  oxen  and  wagon, 
and  was  nine  weeks  on  the  road.  Arriving  in 
Clarksfield,  the  family  occupied  the  log  house  for  a 
time.  Mr.  Ilusted  afterward  built  a  frame  house  in 
the  "hollow,""  the  first  in  the  township,  into  which 


276 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  family  removed.  Thi.«  hoii.se  is  now  occupied  by 
AVilliam  Re\-nolds.  Mr.  Hiisted  became  prominent 
in  tlie  pioneer  improvements  of  the  township.  He 
died  May  10,  18 — .  Mrs.  Husted  is  also  deceased. 
The  children  are  :  Hiram,  who  married  H.  A.  Slocum, 
of  South  Carolina,  and  died  there  ;  Edward  E.  and 
Samuel  W.  are  dead  ;  Thomas  F.,  living  in  Michigan; 
Hoyt  and  Betsey  are  dead  ;  Mary  J.,  who  married 
George  H.  Signor,  and  lives  iu  the  hollow  ;  (To  this 
lady  the  writer  is  indebted  for  the  facts  of  this  family. ) 
Obadiah  J.,  who  married  ilary  W.  Hurlbutt,  and 
lives  on  lot  seven,  in  the  third  section  :  Hester  Paul, 
an  adopted  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Husted,  came 
with  the  family,  and  became  an  important  person  at 
the  first  wedding. 

Ezra  Wood  married  Xaucv  Rowland,  in  1816,  and 
reached  Clarksfield,  November  IS,  1818.  He  settled  on 
lot  number  seventeen,  in  the  second  section,  (this  farm 
is  now  owned  by  David  R.  Wood, )  Avhere  he  remained, 
nearly  continuously,  until  his  death,  September  18, 
187.5.  Mrs.  Wood  died  January  7. 1878.  Ezra  Wood 
was  an  expert  hunter,  and  a  sort  of  missionary  among 
the  Indians.  He  was  connected  with  many  early 
industries  iu  Clarksfield.     The  children  were  :  Maria 

C,  who  married  S.  R.  Day,  lives  in  Clarksfield  : 
David  E.  and  William  H.  are  deceased  :  Nathaniel  E. 
who  married  Julia  A.  McCord,  lives  in  New  London 
township,  and  Daniel  R.,  wiio  married  Mary  J.  Ronk, 
lives  on  the  old  farm,  and  has  three  children — Ezra 
J.,  Edwin  B.  and  Nancy  !May. 

Benjamin  Stiles,  of  Danbury,  Connecticut,  arrived 
in  Clarksfield  township  on  July  3, 1818.  He  purchased 
some  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  and  located 
on  lot  number  twenty-two,  in  section  three.  His  first 
wife  was  Anna  Morris,  who  died  previous  to  his  coming 
to  Ohio,  and  he  married  Hannah  Trowbridge,  who  died 
in  Ohio,  and  he  married  Rhoda  Root,  who  died  in  185-2 
or  '53.  Benjamin  Stiles  died  in  Clarksfield  iu  April, 
1S72.  The  children  are  as  follows  :  Ann,  died  Feb- 
ruary 9, 1841;  Henry,  died  May  19,  1866;  Joseph  B., 
died  September  20,  1842,  and  Lucy  B.,  died  February 
22,  1835  ;  Samuel,  who  married  Harriet  Livermore, 
and  lives  in  Iowa  ;  William  W..  who  married  Sarah 

D.  Tyler,  and  resides  in  Clarksfield  ;  (This  gentleman 
is  county  commissioner.)  Hannah  M.,  who  married 
Alfred  Mead,  and  lives  in  Michigan,  and  EdmondR.. 
who  married  Angle  Bruce,  also  lives  in  Michigan. 

Solomon  Gray  came  from  Danbury,  Connecticut, 
with  oxen  and  wagon,  to  Ohio,  in  1818.  He  first 
settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  Hayes.  He 
next  located  on  lot  number  nine,  where  he  died  in 
April,  1845.  Mrs.  Gray  died  a  few  years  subsequent. 
The  children  are  :  Parmelia,  who  married  James 
G reen,  and  lives  on  lot  nine  ;  George  W. ,  who  married 
Mahalia  Spurrier,  and  lives  on  lot  twenty-five,  have 
five  ciiildren  living,  (Martha  J.,  Jeannette  R.,  Ella 
B..  Mina,  Agnes  and  James  D.);  James  has  been 
twice  married,  and  lives  on  lot  nine. 

Aaron  Rowland  was  born  in  Danbury.  Connecticut, 
November,    1770.      .Januarv    1,    17!i!i.    he    married 


[  Deborah  Dean,  of  Putnam  county.  New  York,  and 
locating  in  Southeast,  same  county,  he  followed  the 
milling  business  on  the  Croton  river,  until  latter  part 
of  September,  1818,  when  he  removed  to  Clarksfield, 
and  settled  on  lot  number  eighteen  in  the  second  sec- 
tion. His  family  at  this  time  consisted  of  wife  and 
six  children.  The  journey  was  performed  with  oxen 
and  wagon,  and  some  six  weeks'  time  was  consumed. 
Mrs.  Rowland  died  in  December,  ISfiO;  and  Mr. 
Rowland,  in  February.  1808.  The  children  are  : 
Ezra,  who  married  Ann  Stiles  :  she  died,  and  he 
married  Mrs.  Catharine  Dorau.  He  died  in  1SG8. 
The  family  live  in  Clarksfield.  Jemima,  who  mar- 
ried Linas  Palmer,  she  now  lives  with  a  .son  in 
Fitehville.  William,  who  married  Harriet  Wright; 
she  died,  and  he  married  Abby  Rickman,  and  lives  in 
New  York  city.  Wildman,  who  married  Harmony 
Blair  and  now  lives  in  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Tamazou,  who 
married  Samuel  Husted;  after  his  death  she  married 
Martin  Pulver.  and  lives  in  Clarksfield.  Betsey,  who 
married  Joseph  Stiles,  who  died,  and  she  became  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Pelton,  now  living  in  Berlin,  Erie 
county,  Ohio.  Charles,  who  married  Lucy  Seagur, 
and  after  her  death,  Jane  Grey,  and  now  lives  in  New 
London,  this  county;  and  Daniel,  who  married  Har- 
riet Chaffee,  and  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Clarksfield  township. 

Obadiah  Jenney  whose  nativity  was  New  Bedford, 
Massachusetts,  left  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  for 
Ohio  early  in  March,  1818,  and  with  a  horse  and  cut- 
ter, made  the  journey  in  aii  incredibly  short  time, 
arriving  in  Clarksfield  township  on  March  11th.  He 
was  a  mill  wright,  and  the  following  summer,  assisted 
in  building  the  mills  at  the  hollow.  On  December 
25,  1821,  he  married  Miss  Hester  Paul.  He  had, 
previous  to  this  time,  bought  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  lot  fourteen  iu  the  third  section.  In 
1825,  he  removed  to  Norwalk,  and  iu  1828.  he 
bought  the  hotel,  at  the  village,  known  as  the  Mansion 
House.  He  is  yet  living  living  in  Norwalk.  The 
children  are:  Eliza  A.,  who  is  deceased;  Enoch  S., 
who  now,  lives  in  California;  Cornelia,  deceased;  Ce- 
celia, who  resides  at  home;  ilary  and  John  are  de- 
ceased: William  H.  and  Frank  L..  (twins)  the  former 
was  a  physician,  and  is  deceased;  the  latter  married 
C.  L.  Loverien,  and  resides  in  Kansas  City. 

In  July,  1819,  two  brothers,  Eli  and  Ebenezer 
Barnum,  arrived  in  Clarksfield  township  from  Dan- 
bury, Connecticut.  Eli  settled  on  the  farm  now  oc- 
cupied by  Mrs.  Collins,  where  he  remained  a  number 
of  years;  eventually,  however,  he  removed  to  Nowalk. 
He  was  superintendent  of  the  county  infirmary,  where 
he  died.  Mrs.  Barnum  is  now  deceased.  The  chil- 
dren are:  Levi.  Horace,  David.  Ilemy.  Liuy  and 
Mary.  Ebenezer.  located  on  the  farm  miw  owned  by 
Mrs.  Fisher,  and  after  a  short  time,  removed  to  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Ransom  Camp,  where  he  settled 
permanently.  In  1857,  he  removed  to  the  "hollow" 
where  he  died  March  4.  18G8.  Mrs.  Barnum  is  still 
living,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  her  faculties,  although 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


■Z17 


eighty-one  years  of  age.  The  family  consist  of 
Francis  and  Mary  who  died  in  infancy,  prior  to  locat- 
ing in  Ohio;  .John  N. ,  who  married  Catharine  B. 
Croxford  resides  at  the  "hollow."  He  has  been  en- 
gaged in  merchandizing  for  the  past  twenty-five  years. 
Joseph  S.,  who  married  Sally  A.  Bacon,  and  lives  in 
Missouri;  William  L.,  who  married  Maria  Scott,  and 
lives  in  Ontario,  Indiana;  Stephen  G.,  who  married 
Lucinda  A.  Norton,  and  lives  in  Memphis,  Missouri; 
Ebenezer  M.,  Jr.,  who  died  in  infancy:  and  Sarah  A., 
who  married  Levi  Stuck,  and  died  in  Missouri. 

A  few  years  subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  Eli  and 
Ebenezer,  a  third  brother,  Levi,  came.  He  settled  on 
lot  number  twelve  where  he  died  many  years  since. 
His  wife  is  now  deceased.  Children:  Mary  A.,  who 
married  William  A.  Patch,  and  lives  on  the  old  farm; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  0.  P.  Furlong,  and  lives  in 
Tennessee;  Fanny,  who  nrarried  Hiram  Smith,  and 
ives  in  Norwalk;  Thomas  is  dead;  Joanna,  who  mar- 
ried John  Lucas,  and  lives  in  Detroit,  Michigan; 
Margaret,  who  married  Harriet  Bontley,  and  lives  in 
Wakeman,  and  Catharine,  who  married  Wilson  Cur- 
tiss,  and  now  lives  in  Michigan. 

Ezra  Wildman  came  from  Danlmry  to  Ohio  in  1820. 
His  wife  was  Anna  Hoyt,  daughter  of  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  township,  who  had  received  from  her 
father  a  deed  for  one-half  of  lot  number  nine  in  the 
third  section.  Mr.  Wildman  purchased  the  remainder 
of  the  lot,  and  in  1828,  located  his  family  thereon. 
He  died  February  26,  1858;  age  eighty-three  years. 
Mrs.  Wildman  died  on  the  10th  of  the  following 
June,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  3-ears.  The  family 
were:  Mary  Ann,  who  married  Daniel  Stone,  and  lives 
in  Clarksfield;  William  H.,  who  is  now  living  with 
his  second  wife,  occupies  the  old  homestead;  Frederick 
A.,  who  married  Marietta  Patch.  He  was  a  cap- 
tain in  the  Union  army  during  the  rebellion.  (His 
faniily  are  three  sons  and  two  daughters.)  The 
next  child  of  Ezra  Wildman  was  Cornelia  E.,  who 
married  Alfred  R.  Segur,  and  lives  in  Norwalk.  A 
sister,  the  eldest  of  the  family,  died  prior  to  removal 
to  Ohio. 

Three  brothers — Sherman,  Clark  A.  and  Major 
Smith,  came  to  Huron  county  in  the  fall  of  1815. 
Their  parents,  Elisha  and  Margaret  Mathews  Smith 
had  removed  from  Bristol,  Connecticut,  to  Springfield, 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  in  1810,  and  three  years  later 
both  died,  and  the  three  children  came  north,  as 
stated.  Sherman  was  aged  twenty,  Clark  eighteen, 
and  Major  six  years;  a  sister,  Betsej-,  aged  twelve 
years,  was  left  with  stranger-friends  at  Springfield. 
Sherman  contracted  for  land  in  New  London  town- 
ship, upon  which  he  erected  a  log  house,  and  then 
sent  for  the  sister,  who  came  on  and  kept  house  for 
the  boys.  The  following  spring  the  house  and  its  con- 
tents were  burned. 

In  1821,  finding  that  a  good  title  could  not  be  ob- 
tained, the  land  was  given  up.  Clark  had  died  in  the 
meantime,  and  Sherman  bought  seventy-one  acres  of 
land  in  lot  two,  section  four;  built  a  log  house  and 


frame  barn,  (the  third  in  the  township);  married  Car- 
oline Knapp,  and  began  in  earnest  the  work  of  acquir- 
ing a  competency.  Major  continued  to  live  with  him 
until  he,  too,  married.  His  wife  was  Eliza  Knapp. 
They  live  in  Clarksfield;  have  had  one  child,  now 
deceased.  Sherman  subsequently  purchased  the  farm 
in  lot  six,  where  he  now  resides.  The  children  are: 
Sarah,  who  married  George  Bissell.  and  lives  in  New 
London;  Saba,  who  married]  Benjamin  F.  Fanning, 
lives  in  Clarksfield;  Mina,  who  married  G.  A. 
Fox.  and  lives  in  New  London,  and  Enieline,  who 
married  Andrew  J.  Blackman,  and  lives  in  Clarksfield. 
The  sister,  Betsey,  married  Lotus  Barrett,  of  New 
London,  and  died,  leaving  two  children. 

Eli  Segur,  at  an  early  date,  settled  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  Isaac  .Johns,  where  he  died.  The  wife 
died  in  Bronson  township.  None  of  the  family  are 
now  living  in  the  county.  The  children's  names  are: 
Mary  Ann,  Alfred  R.,  Albert  W.,  Amarillas,  Lucy, 
and  perhaps  one  other. 

Asa  Wheeler  was  the  most  frequently  settled  man 
in  the  township,  never  remaining  more  than  a  year  or 
two  in  one  place.  He  finally  died  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  S.  Ronk.  Of  his  family  Lavina  and 
Bathia  are  deceased;  Anson  W.  and  Lemuel  live  in 
Kansas. 

Abram  Gray  came  from  Connecticut  to  Ohio,  arriv- 
ing in  Clarksfield,  September  14,  1825.  He  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Hiram  Pierce,  which  he  cleared 
and  upon  which  he  died,  March  7,  1842.  Mrs.  Gray 
died  June  20,  1844.  Children:  Smith  S.,  deceased; 
Erastus.  who  married  Eliza  Parker,  lives  in  Norwalk; 
Deborah,  who  married  E.  E.  Husted  also  lives  in 
Norwalk;  Peter  S.,  who  married  Alice  ivnapp,  lives 
in  Iowa:  Lydia.  who  married  S.  S.  Barnes,  lives 
in  Clarksfield;  Parmelia  Ann,  Sarah  and  Harriet  are 
dead.  Samuel  D..  who  married  Anna  C.  Husted,  and 
lives  in  Clarksfield,  and  Hiram  H.,  who  married  .Jane 
Rogers,  and  lives  in  Kansas. 

Nathan  Harris  came  from  Genessoe  county,  New 
York,  to  Jessup,  now  Florence  township,  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  in  1815,  arriving  on  October  20th;  next  went  to 
Berlin  township,  and  in  1847  to  Lake  county,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  died.  Mrs.  Harris  died  in  1845.  The 
children  are:  Anna,  Thomas,  Hiram,  Hiram,  2d,  who 
married  Betsey  Hendrick,  has  five  children,  and  re- 
sides at  the  center  of  Clarksfield:  Emma,  Betsey, 
Maria,  and  Harriet.  Nathan  Harris  was  one  of  the 
men  who  laid  out  the  road  from  Florence  center  to 
Norwalk. 

FIR8T    EVEXTS. 

The  pioneer  baby  in  Clarksfield  township  was  a  son 
to  Benjamin  and  Hannah  Stiles.  This  event,  in  the 
annals  of  our  infant  colony,  occurred  on  November 
13,  1818.  The  infant  was  christened  Samuel,  grew 
to  manhood,  married  Miss  Harriet  Livermore  and 
removed  to  Iowa,  in  which  State  he  now  resides. 

The  first  couple  married  in  the  township  was  Oba- 
diah  Jenney  and  Hester  Paul,  an  adopted  daughter 


378 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Hnstecl.  The  contract  was 
solemnized  by  Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq.,  at  the  residence 
of  the  bride's  father,  December  25,  1831.  This 
couple  are  now  living  in  Norwalk,  where  they  occupy 
a  respectable  position  in  society. 

The  first  death  that  occurred  in  the  township  was 
Ephraim,  a  youth  some  twelve  ye  irs  of  age,  the  son 
of  Eli  aad.Jane  Seger.  He  was  picking  up  chips  to 
put  on  a  log  heap,  and  was  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake. 
The  boy  was  warm  by  previous  exertion,  and  the 
virus  took  immediate  eifect,  rendering  every  effort  to 
save  him  ineffectual.  He  died  on  the  third  day  after- 
ward. 

Soon  after  this.  Henry  Vandevere.  while  rliopping, 
perceiving  a  cow  feeding  just  within  tlie  range  of  the 
tree  he  was  about  to  fell  {and  which  had  already 
started  to  fall),  ran  to  drive  her  away,  but  was  caught 
by  the  tree-top  and  crushed  in  a  horrible  manner. 

Horace  Bodwell  was  drowned  in  a  well,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1820. 

A  post  office  was  established  in  Clarksfield  town- 
ship (at  the  hollow),  in  the  winter  of  1819-20,  with 
Smith  Starr  as  postmaster,  who  continued  to  occupy 
the  position  many  years.  A  mail  route  was  laid  out 
from  Norwalk  to  Medina — a  Frenchman,  named 
Seboo,  carrying  the  mail  through  the  woods  on  foot, 
between  these  points.  G.  W.  Jerauld  is  the  present 
postmaster. 

Another  post  office  was  established  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  township,  some  years  since.  James 
Daley  is  the  present  postmaster,  the  office  being  loca- 
ted at  his  residence,  on  lot  eleven,  in  the  second 
section. 

The  tir^t  brick  building  in  the  township  was  built 
by  a  man'  named  Mead,  and  stood  east  of  the  hollow. 

The  first  orchard  in  the  township  was  planted  by 
Obadiah  .Jenuey,  in  the  year  1831.  This  was  on  the 
bottom,  and  known  as  the  stone  farm,  and  consisted 
of  some  fifty  trees. 

The  first  trading  establishment,  if  it  be  worth  the 
name,  was  opened  by  R.  T.  Huyck,  in  "the  hollow." 
He  sold  rum,  a  few  articles  of  stoneware  and  a  trifling 
amount  of  groceries.  The  rum  was  good  for  men  to 
get  drunk  on  and  but  little  else.  The  present  stores 
are:  J.  N.  Barnum  and  Rufus  Curtiss,  dry  goods, 
and  P.  W.  Finch,  drugs. 

OIUJANIZATIOX. 

The  political  organization  of  the  townsliij),  like 
that  of  all  others  in  the  State,  involves  no  special  in- 
terest. It  was  first  recognized  by  being  attached  to 
New  London.  A  few  years  later  Clarksfield  and  Can- 
terbury constituted  one  township,  and  continued  for 
some  years  longer,  when  each  assumed  a  distinct  or- 
ganization. The  records  of  the  township  are  imper- 
fect; in  fact,  the  writer  has  been  obliged  to  comjjile 
much  of  the  early  history  of  this  township  from  the 
"memoirs"  written  liy  Beiijaniin  liensou  and  E.  M. 
Barnum. 


In  April,  1822,  the  following  named  persons  were 
elected  township  officers:  A.  Rowland,  Josiah  Kil- 
burn,  and  Benjamin  Carman,  trustees;  Levi  Barnum, 
clerk;  Jason  Thayer,  William  Howard,  overseers  of 
the  poor:  Ziba  Thayer,  James  White,  fence  viewers; 
Eli  Segur,  Smith  Starr,  appraisers  and  listers;  Eli 
Barnum,  Nathan  Miner,  constables;  Josiah  Kilborn, 
Joseph  Osier,  Levi  Barnum,  Eli  Segur,  Eli  Barnum, 
Ira  Peck,  Stephen  Post,  Smith  Starr,  and  Allen 
Blackman,  supervisors.  Benjamin  Stiles  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1820  (December),  and 
Obediah  Jenney  had  acted  as  township  clerk  previous 
to  the  election  above  mentioned.  In  early  times,  in 
the  selection  of  candidates  for  office,  little  was  urged 
but  weight  of  character  and  fitness  for  the  place  pro- 
posed, and  of  which  most  were  capable  of  judging, 
consequently  there  were  but  few  causes  for  strife  and 
debate. 

The  officers  for  18TS  were:  L.  F.  Beers,  Henry 
Hayes,  and  A.  J.  Gridley,  trustees;  M.  T.  Sti"les, 
clerk;  G.  W.  Jerauld,  treasurer;  S.  Long,  assessor; 
Loren  Spurrier,  constable;  Myron  Rogers  and  A.  J. 
Blackman,  justices  of  the  peace. 

CHUKCHES. 

Immediately  after  Samuel  Husted  became  settled 
in  his  wilderness  home  he  began  holding  religious 
service  there  on  the  Sabbath.  He  was  of  the  Pres- 
byterian faith,  and  had  brought  with  him  from  his 
far-away  eastern  home  some  volumes  of  sermons,  from 
which  he  read.  Meetings  were  held  at  his  house 
u.ntil  it  became  too  small  to  accommodate  the  in- 
creased attendance,  and  afterwaids  in  the  school 
house. 

Alvin  Coe  and  William  Westlake,  the  former  a 
Presbyterian  and  the  latter  a  Methodist  minister, 
were  the  first  preachers  who  visited  the  township. 
The  first  church  organization  was  that  of  the  Congre- 
gationalists.  This  took  place  on  October  24r,  1823. 
No  early  records  of  this  church  are  now  in  existence. 
Among  the  first  members  were  Samuel  Husted,  E.  E. 
Husted,  and  Rhoda  Stiles.  The  first  minister  to 
locate  was  Rev.  Xenophon  Betts.  Then  followed 
Paine,  Wilcox,  Todd,  Penfield,  Shepard,  etc.  Rev. 
A.  A.  Grossman,  now  of  Monroeville,  was  ordained 
pastor  of  this  church  in  1875.  Rev.  J.  M.  Frazier 
succeeded  him  in  IST'J,  and  still  labors  there.  The 
present  church  officers  are:  Martin  Palmer  and  Wil- 
liam Adams,  deacons;  Mrs.  F.  H.  Hayes,  clerk;  J. 
N.  Barnum,  treasurer;  0.  J.  Husted,  F.  E.  Wildman, 
and  A.  S.  Adams,  trustees;  Thomas  Rowland,  super- 
intendent. Average  attendance  at  Sabbath  school, 
fifty.  In  1835,  the  church  at  the  hollow  was  begun, 
and  finished  two  years  later.  The  upper  room  was 
finished  and  occupied  sooner  than  this.  Do  not  know 
the  cost. 

In  about  1822,  a  Methodist  church  was  formed  in 
the  south  part  of  Clarksfield,but  the  membership  was 
almost  entirely  from  New  London  township,  to  which 
township  the  sketch  of  this  church  belongs,  though 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


279 


built 


lS7r 


located 


the    fine  brick  church 
Clarksfield. 

The  second  chiss  of  this  denomination  was  formed 
at  the  "liollow"  as  early  as  1825.  The  following  are 
all  that  can  now  be  remembered  of  the  first  class: 
Abram  Gray  and  Anna,  his  wife;  Andrew  McMillan 
and  Effie,  his  wife;  Harvey  Smith  and  Maria,  his 
wife ;  and  Nancy  Nickerson.  Meetings  were  first 
held  at  the  residence  of  Abram  Gray,  and  from  there 
to  the  school  house  in  the  "hollow."  In  about  183.5, 
the  present  church  was  built.  This  has  been  im- 
proved since.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hazard  is  thought  to 
have  been  the  first  resident  minister.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  Hiram  Royce.  The  present  church 
officers  are:  Barney  Cooper,  Joseph  Stiles  and  Sam- 
uel D.  Gray,  trustees;  William  E.  Starr,  superin- 
tendent of  Sabbath  school.  The  average  attendance 
of  children  is  fifty.  Present  church  membership, 
seventy-five. 

The  East  Clarksfield  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
was  formed  in  1837  or  '38.  The  following  are 
the  constituent  members:  Alexander  Twaddle  (who 
was  the  first  class  leader),  Sarah  Twaddle,  Henry 
S.  Barnes,  Lydia  Barnes,  Armon  Rusco,  Sarah 
Rusco.  E.  B.  Nickerson,  Nancy  Nickerson,  Elizabet^h 
Twaddle,  Charles  and  Jennie  Blackman,  Patience 
Gifford  and  Adam  Shank.  Meetings  were  first  held 
in  the  houses  of  Alexander  Twaddle  and  others,  and 
afterward  in  a  log  scliool  house  standing  on  lot  one  in 
the  second  section,  upon  the  same  site  the  present 
church  stands.  This  was  dedicated  in  June,  1870. 
Its  cost  was  two  thousand  dollars.  The  first  minister 
was  James  Brewster.  The  present  is  Rev.  Edward 
L.  Warner.  Church  officers:  Aaron  Rowland,  William 
Phillips,  Thomas  Burrows,  Giles  Scott,  Jacob  Meyers 
and  Pliilander  Barrett,  trustees;  H.  S.  Barnes,  Wil- 
liam Tewilliger  and  John  Hand,  class  leaders.  Aver- 
age attendance  at  Sabbath  school,  seventy.  Superin- 
tendent, Ashley  Barnes.  Membership  of  church,  one 
hundred  and  twenty. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  large  and  jirosperous  Bap- 
tist church  in  the  township.  Many  of  the  early 
settlers  were  members  of  it,  but  it  passed  out  of 
existence  many  years  since. 


Coming,  as  the  first  settlers  did,  from  New  Eng- 
land, they  early  appreciated  the  advantages  of  educa- 
tion, and  two  years  after  the  beginning  of  the  settle- 
ment, a  log  school  house  was  erected.  This  stood, 
perhaps,  sixty  rods  south  of  the  "hollow,"  and  in  it 
Miss  Abzina  Barker  taught  a  term  of  school.  This 
was  supported  by  the  inhabitants,  who  paid  according 
to  the  number  of  children  sent  to  school.  This 
"dome  of  learning"  remained  for  a  few  years  and  was 
burned,  it  is  believed  by  some  of  the  enterprising  (?) 
young  men,  then  infesting  the  "hollow."  A  frame 
school  house  was  soon  after  erected,  and  about  the 
same  time  another  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  Ver- 
million river,  in  what  was  then  called  the  "Stiles  set- 


tlement,"' and  others  were  built  according  to  the 
wants  of  the  settlement.  In  those  early  times,  the 
scholars  made  but  little  progress,  as  the  schools 
were  not  continued  for  more  than  three  months  in 
the  year,  so  that  what  instruction  they  gained  dur- 
ing the  term  was  generally  lost  during  the  long  vaca- 
tion that  followed. 


Clarksfield  Grange,  No.  1174,  P.  of  H.,  was 
organized  April  18,  1875,  with  the  following  charter 
members  :  C.  C.  Clark  and  wife,  E.  M.  Day  and  wife, 
J.  M.  Rogers  and  wife,  John  J.  Dunning  and  wife, 
D.  K.  Winans  and  wife,  J.  Knapp  and  wife,  J.  M. 
Tuttle  and  wife,  L.  Gibson  and  wife,  M.  Gregory, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Day,  Miss  Harriet  Rogers,  A.  Colling- 
wood,  L.  Johnson,  F.  Wildman  and  wife,  Henry 
Hardy  and  daughter.  The  society  has  convened, 
from  its  organization,  at  the  residence  of  J.  M.  Tuttle, 
once  each  month,  on  the  Saturday  evening  preceding 
the  full  moon.  The  total  membership  is  now  (1878) 
sixteen.  The  officers  for  1878  are ;  C.  C.  Clark, 
master ;  J.  M.  Tuttle,  overseer ;  D.  K.  Winans,  lec- 
turer ;  Mrs.  C.  A.  Day,  chaplain  ;  A.  CoUingwood, 
steward ;  J.  M.  Rogers,  assistant  steward  ;  E.  M. 
Day,  secretary ;  M.  Gregory,  treasurer  ;  L.  Gibson, 
gate-keeper  :  Mrs.  C.  C.  Clark,  Pomona ;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Day,  Flora ;  Miss  Hattie  Rogers,  Ceres ;  Mrs.  Anna 
ColUingwood,  lady  assistant  steward. 

The  temperance  society,  known  as  Good  Templars, 
have  twice  organized  in  the  township,  and  became 
flourishing  and  promising,  but  the  interest  would  sub- 
side, and  the  operations  of  the  order  finally  ceased. 

IXI)ISTRI.\L    PURSflTS. 

The  first  of  the  manufacturing  iiidustries  in 
Clarksfield  township  was  a  grist  mill,  built  by  Samuel 
Husted,  in  the  year  1818.  It  was  small,  substantially 
built,  and  had  one  run  of  stone.  Before  this  mill  was 
built,  the  settlers  had  their  grinding  done  at  Merry's 
mill,  in  Milan,  a  distance  of  fourteen  miles,  and 
sometimes  in  Richland  county,  vvhich  was  much 
farther. 

The  present  grist  mill  at  the  hollow,  was  built  as 
early  as  early  as  1838,  by  Messrs.  Squires  and  Lawton. 
It  was  purchased  by  the  present  owners,  Messrs. 
Hayes  and  Barnum,  in  1877,  they  paying  for  the 
property  (grist  and  saw  mill)  six  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars.  The  grist  mill  has  three  run  of  stone, 
and  is  thoroughly  equipped  throughout. 

In  1831,  Smith  Starr  erected  the  first  saw  mill  in 
tlie  township.  It  was  propelled,  as  was  the  grist  mill, 
by  the  water  of  the  ^'ermillion  river. 

A  few  years  after  the  beginning  of  the  settlement, 
a  whisky  still  went  into  operation  at  the  "hollow." 
A  second  distillery  was  established  at  "  Hayesville," 
as  early  as  1827.  Porcey,  Wiieoler  and  Johnson  were 
the  projectors  of  it.  and  if  was  in  ()})eration  but  a  few 
years. 


280 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


A  •'pocket'"  furnace  was  started  at  the  "hollow" 
quite  early,  and  did  quite  a  business  for,  perhaps, 
ten  years,  casting  divers  small  articles. 

The  first  tannery  was  started  at  the  "hollow"  by 
Omar  Nickerson,  as  early,  it  is  believed,  as  1830.  It 
stood  a  short  distance  west  of  the  site  of  the  present 
grist  mill,  and  was  in  operation,  under  different  man- 
agements, until  about  1850. 

Sherman  Smith  built  a  second  one,  on  lot  two,  in 


the  fourth  section,  in  1826,  He  continued  in  the 
business  until  1858. 

There  are  two  cheese  factories  in  the  township,  the 
first  of  which  is  located  on  the  corner  of  lot  thirteen, 
in  the  second  section,  and  is,  we  learn,  now  operated 
by  Horr,  Warner  and  Company,  of  Wellington,  Lorain 
county. 

The  second  was  established  by  Dorr  Twaddle,  in 
1875. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


Mr  shef 


Mrs.  Sherman  Smith. 


SHERMAN  SMITH  AND  WIFE. 

Sherman  Smith,  now  a  resident  of  the  township  of 
Clarksfield,  Huion  county,  Ojjio,  Avas  born  in  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  Hartford  county,  September 34, 
1795.  His  p.'U'ents  were  both  natives  of  the  same 
State.  His  fatlier,  Mr.  Elisha  Smith,  was  born  in 
Plymouth,  Hartford  county,  in  17G6;  his  mother, 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Moses  Matthews,  of  the  same 
county  and  State,  was  born  in  17TC.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  1794.  Elisha  Smitli  was  l)y  trade  a  blacksmith. 
In  1805,  he  and  his  family  moved  to  Onondaga  county. 
New  York,  about  eiglit  miles  southwest  of  where 
now  is  the  city  of  Syracuse;  and  in  1811,  with  a  team 
and  wagon,  the  family,  now  consisting  of  Jlr.  Smith, 
wife,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  started  for  Soutliern 
Ohio  by  way  of  Buffalo,  New  Ynrk,  to  Erie.  Pennsyl- 
vania, thence  across  the  wilderness  to  a  place  called 
Beef,  on  the  Alleghany  river,  where  a  boat  was  pur- 
chased, and  all,  team,  wagon  and  family  shipped 
aboard  to  Pittsburgli:  thence  down  tlie  beautiful  Ohio 
to  Cincinnati,  then  only  a  small  village  of  less  than 
two    thousand   six    hundred    inhabitants;   thence   by 


team,  seventy-five  miles  to  Springfield,  Clark  county, 
Ohio;  having  been  more  than  forty  days  making  this 
journey  to  their  western  home.  During  the  war  of 
1812-14,  he  served  as  an  artificer,  shoeing  oxen  and 
horses.  He  died  September,  1814,  his  wife  having 
died  July  28th  of  the  same  year. 

Sherman  Smith  was  the  eldest  of  this  family  of 
orplian  children,  and  had  seen  service  for  six  months 
in  the  army. 

His  brother,  V.  Austin,  was  liorn  in  Connecticut 
August,  IIU",.  and  died  in  New  London  August,  1827. 
His  widow,  now  a  widnw  of  Squire  r>arrett,  lives  in 
Huron,  Ohio. 

His  sister,  Betsey,  was  born  .July,  1802,  in  Connecti- 
cut; was  the  first  wife  of  (!apt.  Z.  Barrett  (and 
mother  to  Philander  and  Smith  Barrett),  died  in  New 
London,  Oliio,  May  25,  1830.  His  youngest  brother, 
Major,  was  born  August  17,  1809,  in  Onondaga 
county.  New  York,  and  now  resides  in  Clarksfield, 
Huron  county,  Ohio.  These  three  brothers,  in  the 
fall  of  1815,  (in  company  with  J.  P.  Case  and  family, 
Simeon  Mnnsnn  and  family  and  otliers),  came  and 
settled  in  New  Limcbni,  on  the  farm   now  owned  by 


RESIDENCE    OT    A  .  J.  BLACK  M  AN  ,  C  lasksheld  Tp,  HuronCo.O. 


History  of  hukon  and  erie  counties,  ohio. 


281 


George  Jenney.  Sherman,  now  twenty  years  of  age, 
acted  as  both  parent  and  guardian  to  and  for  his 
younger  brothers.  The  patient  endurance,  labor, 
cold,  hunger  and  a  thousand  wants  poorly  supplied, 
none,  save  those  similarly  placed,  can  or  ever  will 
realize.  Major  has  told  the  biographer  that  for  years 
the  only  garment  of  clothing  he  wore,  was  made  of 
domestic  tanned  buck  or  deer-sknsi 

His  sister,  Betsey,  did  not  come  to  New  London 
witli  her  brothers.  She  had  been,  upon  the  death  of 
lier  parents  in  1814,  bound  out  to  a  Baptist  preacher 
by  the  name  of  Jlichael  French,  who,  according  to 
the  sayings  of  those  who  knew,  was  "a  better  judge 
of  the  horse  and  horse-trading,  and  drinking  whisky 
than  he  was  of  preaching  the  gospel,"  and  the  girl 
was  very  ill  treated  in  tliis  family;  and  in  July, 
1818,  her  brother,  Sherman,  resolved  on  her  rescue 
from  worse  than  negro  bondage,  and  bravehj  did  he 
steal,  (if  such  a  word  may  be  employed  for  so  noble 
an  act,)  and,  on  an  old  horse  which  she  rode,  and  he  on 
foot  whipping  the  old  jaded  animal  through  the 
woods,  did  both,  after  many  hungry  and  weary  days 
and  nights,  arrive  in  New  London.  He  was  pursued, 
and  at  home  arrested  for  kidnapping  his  sister. 
While  nnder  arrest,  upon  the  giving  of  his  individual 
note  to  French,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars, 
he  was  released.     The  note  was  never  collected. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  while  all  the  family  were 
absent,  (Betsey  visiting  at  A.  Miner's,  and  the  boys 
at  a  raising  of  a  potash  factory  for  Dr.  Samuel  Day,) 
the  house  and  its  contents,  including  the  township 
and  family  records,  were  entirely  consumed.  L^pon 
the  organization  of  New  London  in  1817,  Sherman 
was  made  township  clerk,  which  office  he  lield  till 
18-^.2. 

HIS    WIFE. 

Miss  Caroline  Kuapp,  daughter  of  John  Knapp,  was 
born  in  Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  August  9, 
1809;  came  with  her  stepfather,  Mr.  Simeon  Hoyt, 
in  October,  1817,  and  began  living  on  lot  number 
six,  section  four,  in  the  township  of  Clarksfield,  and 
she  and  Mr.  Smith  now  live  on  the  same.  Sherman 
Smith  and  Caroline  Knapp  were  married  in  New 
London,  Ohio,  by  Isaac  P.  Case,  October  17,  182.5. 
Sherman  now  sold  to  his  brother,  Austin,  his  place 
in  New  London,  and  he  and  his  wife  went  into  the 
woods  in  Clarksfield,  on  lot  number  two,  fourth  sec- 
tion, where  James  M.  Crandall  now  resides.  They 
cleared  up  this  farm,  and  remained  on  it  till  1862, 
since  which  time  they  have  lived  at  their  present 
house.  This  couple  have  lived  long,  peaceably  and 
happily  together,  and  are  the  parents  of  four  as  good 
and  respectable  girls  and  women  as  the  county  is 
proud  of  as  citizens.  The  children  are:  Sarah,  (now 
Mrs.  Col.  George  Bissell)  born  April  5,  1827,  and 
married  October  1.5,  1842,  and  lives  in  New  London. 
Sabra  (now  Mrs.  B.  G.  Fanning  living  in  Clarksfield), 
born  January  12,  1829,  and  was  married  July  4,  184fi. 
Mina  (now  Mrs.   G.  A.  Fox,  of  New  London),  born 


December  27,  1831,  and  was  married  September  25, 
1848.  Emeline  (now  the  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Black- 
man,  Esq.,  of  Clarksfield),  born  April  10,  1834,  and 
was  married  September  1,  1856. 

Mrs.  Smith  is  now  a  healthy,  handsome,  well  pre- 
served old  lady;  very  prord  of  her  aged  and  kind, 
generous  and  benevolent  husband,  and,  if  possible, 
manifests  more  satisfaction  in  being  the  mother  of 
four  so  good,  healthy  and  respectable  daughters,  (and 
the  daughters  love  and  are  equally  proud  of  their 
parents). 

She  requested  her  biographer  to  say  for  her:  "I 
have  brought  up  /o«t  as  good  and  respecfable  girls  as 
were  ever  raised;  and  I  never  compelled  one  of  them 
to  go  to  a  Sabbath  school  a  single  day,  but  I  left  them 
entirely  at  liberty  to  go  or  not  to  go  as  they  chose." 
And,  when  enquired  as  to  what  church  she  belonged, 
replied:  "To  Dr.  Skellexger's  Church." 

As  pioneers,  the  family  experienced  much  of  its 
privations,  including 'education  and  much  of  the  joys, 
and  pleasures  and  happiness  known  and  enjoyed 
in  the  earliest  days  of  the  first  settlers.  Mr.  Smith, 
now  almost  eighty-four  years  of  age,  does  his  labor  on 
the  farm,  and  enjoys  excellent  health.  He  has  filled 
honestly  and  well  several  public  positions,  and  is  a 
pensioner.  One  of  the  qualities  that  distinguish 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  is  generous  hospitability,  ever 
delighting  in  the  happiness  and  comfort  of  all  their 
many  friends.  Benevolent,  kind,  generous,  industri- 
ous, honest  and  happy,  they  are.  May  they  happily 
continue  to  live.  a.  d.  s. 


ANDREW  J.  BLACKMAN. 

Andrew  J.  Blackman  was  born  in  the  township  of 
New  London,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  at  the  home  of 
his  parents  at  Barrett's  Corners,  December  10,  1830. 

Simeon  Blackman,  father  of  Andrew  J.,  came  to 
the  county,  from  Cortland  county.  New  York,  in  the 
spring  of  1815,  stopping  a  few  months  at  Florence, 
Erie  county,  then  a  part  of  Huron  county.  He  then 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  at  Bar- 
rett's Corners,  upon  which  he  made  a  large  part  of 
the  clearing,  set  out  an  orchard  and  built  a  frame 
barn.  He  was  the  son  of  Josiah  Blackman,  who 
afterwards  settled  in  Florence  township.  He  was  the 
sixth  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  but  three  of  whom 
are  now  living,  though  all  attained  a  fair  old  age. 
He  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Ohio.  His  death  occurred  in  May,  1864.  He  was 
married,  in  1824,  to  the  sixth  child  of  Philander  Bar- 
rett. She  came  to  Ohio,  from  Ontario  county.  New 
York,  in  1822,  her  father  having  died  previously. 
She  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  she  came  to 
tlie  State.  Immediately  after  marriage,  they  com- 
menced housekeeping  on  the  farm  at  Barrett's  Corners, 
where  they  remained  until  1833,  and  where  five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  viz:  Stephen,  who  died  in 


282 


iriSTOIlY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


infancy,  Orinda,  Elvira,  Wealthy  A.  and  Andrew  J. 
They  tlien  bought  a  farm  in  Russia  township.  Lorain 
county,  where  they  lived  two  years  and  where  another 
daughter,  Mary  A.,  was  born.  They  went  from  tliere 
to  Huron,  Erie  county,  where  they  bought  a  prairie 
farm,  but,  it  being  a  sickly  location  at  that  time,  they 
remained  but  two  years,  when  they  bought  a  farm  in 
Vermillion  township,  Erie  county.  This  farm  proved 
to  be  a  poor  one,  and  two  years  later  it  was  traded  for 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  in 
Olarksfield  township,  on  which  they  immediately 
moved,  and  where  they  resided  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Blackman,  in  1864.  While  at  Vermillion,  another 
son,  George  W.,  was  born;  and  a  son  was  also  born 
after  their  removal  to  Olarksfield.  The  latter  died 
in  infancy.  The  others  are  all  living  at  the  present 
time.     Their  mother  is  also  still  living. 

Andrew  J.  Blackman  lived  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  had  the  privi- 
leges of  a  common  school  educntion,  and  a  term  at 
Oberlin  college.  On  arriving  at  age,  he  began  mak- 
ing efforts  to  secure  a  home  of  his  own,  at  which  he 
continued  with  reasonable  success.  On  the  first  day 
of  September,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Emeline  S. 
Smith,  of  Olarksfield.  She  remained  with  her  parents 
two  years  after  her  marriage,  during  which  time  M^. 
Blackman  worked  his  father's  farm.  On  August  30, 
1857,  a  son,  Sherman  F.,  was  born  to  thein.  In  the 
fall  of  1857,  they  began  housekeeping  on  his  father's 
place.  In  the  spring  of  1858,  Mr.  Blackman  bought 
sixty  acres  of  the  farm  he  now  owns,  for  one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  it  being  new  and 
with  no  buildings,  except  a  log  house  and  two  log 
barns.  They  moved  into  the  log  house  in  the  follow- 
ing November,  where  they  lived  humble  and  contented 
lives  for  nine  years,  making  improvements  and  such 
additions  to  the  farm  as  they  were  able  to  do. 
A  daughter,  Emma  D.,  was  born  in  April,  1864. 
They  have  had  Init  the  two  children  mentioned 
above. 

In  the  summer  and  fall  of  1867  their  present  resi- 
dence was  built,  and  in  February,  1868,  they  vacated 
the  old  log  house,  not  with  the  expectation  of  an  in- 
creased measure  of  happiness,  but  to  satisfy  an  aspira- 
tion they  had  of  always  looking  forward  to  something 
better.  To  say  tliat  all  has  been  accomplished  that 
was  looked  forward  to,  would  be  folly,  yet,  all  things 
considered,  they  are  not  despondent  on  account  of 
failures,  nor  yet  flattered  by  success. 

In  regard  to  his  services  in  public  life,  Mr.  Black- 
man  has  been  elected  to  all  the  township  offices,  ex- 
cept clerk  and  treasurer.  He  has  been  a  justice  of 
the  peace  all  the  time  since  he  was  twenty-seven  years 
.  of  age,  with  the  exception  of  four  years,  and  is  now 
attending  to  the  duties  of  that  office.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  republican. 

Mrs.  Emeline  S.  Blackman,  wife  of  Andrew  J., 
was  born  April  10, 1834,  at  Olarksfield,  Huron  county. 
She  is  the  .j-oungest  of  a  family  of  four  daughters, 
viz:  Sarah,  Sabra,  Mina  and  Emeline  S.,  all  of  whom 


are  now  living.  Her  father,  Sherman  Smith,  came 
from  Springfield,  Ohio,  to  Huron  county,  in  its 
earliest  settlement.  He  first  settled  in  New  London, 
but  shortly  after  moved  to  Olarksfield,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  is  now  living,  a  hale  old  man.  in 
his  eighty-fourth  year.  His  wife,  who  is  still  living, 
came  from  Danbury,  Connecticut,  with  her  mother 
and  stepfather,  when  she  was  but  eight  years  of  age. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Caroline  Knapp. 

Neither  Mr.  nor  Mrs.  Blackman  have  ever  joined  a 
church  or  secret  society,  nor  have  they  or  their  chil- 
dren been  addicted  to  the  use  of  strong  drinks  of  any 
kind,  or  to  the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form. 

Mr.  Blackman's  success  in  life  is  mainly  to  be 
attributed  to  a  strict  sense  of  justice,  to  reasonable 
economy  and  rigid  industry. 


EDWIN  W.  CUNNINGHAM. 

Born  in  1842,  he  is  the  youngest  son  of  Hiram 
May  and  Eunice  Cunningham.  His  father  settled  in 
Olarksfield  in  1838,  and  Edwin's  place  of  birth  was 


at  the  old  CUinuingham  humi^tead,  wlieie  his  father 
toiled  many  wearisome  }eaia  to  mak«  it  the  beautiful 
home  it  became  before  Edwin  left  its  shelter.  Mr. 
Cunningham  senior  purchased  his  land  in  the  second 
section,  known  as  lots  twenty-one  and  parts  of  lots 
sixteen  and  twenty-two,  the  extent  of  his  purchase 
being  a  little  more  than  two  hundred  acres,  for  which 
he  paid  four  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars  and  seven- 
ty-five cents.  He  lived  in  Olarksfield  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  July  11, 1860.  His  was  a  quiet,  useful, 
and  unostentatious  life.  He  believed  in  the  advan- 
tage of  a  good  education,  and  aided  his  children  in 
this  direction  to  the  full  extent  of  his  ability.  Edwin 
began  his  collegiate  emirse  at   Baldwin  University  in 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1800.  where  lie  coiniileted  his  junior  ye.ir.  In  the 
fall  of  186.5  he  went  to  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  and  in 
.Tune  of  1860  he  graduated  with  honors.  As  a  stu- 
dent, while  he  was  perhaps  less  industrious  than 
others  of  his  classmates,-  he  scarcely  ever  appeared  in 
recitation  without  having  gained  a  ready  mastery  of 
the  subjects  to  be  recited.  His  mind  was  then,  and 
is  still,  of  an  analytical  turn  and  quick  of  comprehen- 
sion, and  it  scarcely  ever  grappled  with  a  subject  or 
problem  which  it  did  not  quickly  understand  or  solve. 
His  classmates  were  often  puzzled  over  the  question: 
"  How  is  it  that  Ed.  masters  with  so  little  effort  what 
it  costi  us  so  many  anxious,  toilsome  hours  to  over- 
come ?  ■'  As  a  scholar  he  excelled  in  mathematics  and 
the  natural  and  mental  sciences.  The  very  fact  of 
his  easy  mastei'y  of  his  lessons  made  him  a  little  care- 
less of  the  details  of  the  subject  in  hand.  Under- 
standing the  main  features  clearly,  the  minor  ones 
would  often  escape  his  attention.  But  for  this  fault, 
no  fellow-student  of  his  could  possibly  have  equalled 
him  in  excellence  of  recitation,  for  none  excelled  him 
in  talent.  Leaving  Hillsdale  after  his  graduation,  he 
returned  to  Clarksfield,  and  March  12,  1867,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Deborah  Rowland, 
daughter  of  Ezra  and  Catharine  Rowland,  pioneer 
settlers  in  Clarksfield.  The  attachment  which  thus 
happily  culminated  in  marriage  was  formed  before 
Edwin  had  left  his  father's  home  to  prosecute  his 
studies  in  Baldwin  University.  Thrown  in  the  soci- 
ety of  other  young  ladies,  some  of  them  the  fairest  of 
the  fair,  still,  through  all  the  years  of  his  almost 
constant  absence  from  his  first  love,  his  fidelity  re- 
mained unshaken.     This  constancy  has  been  rewarded 


by  the  happiness  which  has  ever  characterized  his 
home  life;  a  happiness  which  we  feel  safe  in  saying 
has  never  known  a  single  disturbing  element,  save 
that  which  has  come  in  the  line  of  domestic  affliction, 
the  tendency  of  which  is  always  to  cement  still  more 
closely  the  bond  which  unites  two  hearts  in  one. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cunningham  taught  for  one 
year,  assisted  by  his  wife,  the  public  schools  of  Milan. 
He  then  went  to  Urbana,  Illinois,  where  three  of  his 
brothers  were  residing,  and  secui-ed  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
His  leisure  hours  he  gave  to  the  study  of  law.  In 
June  of  1869  he  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  su- 
preme court  of  Illinois,  and  in  the  following  month 
removed  to  Emporia,  Kansas,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  and  the  writer  were  in  partnership  for  a 
short  time' in  the  law  and  real-estate  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1870  he  was  elected  police  judge  and  held 
the  office  two  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  probate  judge,  which  position  he  filled  for 
six  years  with  great  acceptability.  The  republicans 
nominated  him  for  representative  to  the  State  legis- 
lature in  1878,  but  he  was  defeated  by  a  few  votes, 
the  greenbackers  uniting  with  the  democrats  for  this 
purpose. 

*He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  Emporia,  and  was  chosen  lay  dele- 
gate to  the  general  convention  of  that  church  which 
convened  at  Baltimore  in  1876. 

He  has  four  children  living:  Maud,  born  January 
12,  1868;  Mabel,  December  11,  1871  ;  Ella,  June  24, 
1875;  Ralph  E.,  May  27,  1878. 


SHERMAN 


ORIGINAL  OWNERS. 

For  explauation  of  the  following  table  the  reader  i; 
referred  to  the  history  of  Wakenian  township: 

SHERMAN,  TOWN    NUMBER   THREE.  IN    THE    TWENTY- 
FOURTH    RANGE. 


Classification  I 


Original  ft- 


Ain't  Loss.       Classified  by. 


Am't  Classed. 


John  Saunders  341 

Dau'l  Finch,  i  losses  13J 
Seth  Sevmour'sh'rs  157 
Ebenezei-  Gregory  6? 
Matthew  Mallery  87 
Nathan  Mallery  15T 

Josiah  Thatcher  400 
Matthew  Keeler  165 
Mary  Smith   '  17 

Thomas  Fitch  387 

Thomas  Fitch's  h'rs  415 
Hannah  Fitch's  h'rs  141 
Hannah  Brown  6 

Mary  Roscoe  2 

Nathan  A^iams  14 

Daniel  Lyman  3158 

Nathan  Jarvis  27!) 


Footing  of  Classification  I 


Classification  No.  2,  Section  ; 


Original  Grantees .        Am't  Loss.        Classified  by. 


Am't  classed. 


10!^    Samuel  Middlebrook  11       3       5^^ 


Richard  Dunning  26 
Nathan  Hyatt,  Jr.  39 
Joseph  Olmstead  2 

Jas.  Small  Olmstead  3 
EUzabeth  Rogers  338 
James  Olmstead  7 

Sarah  Morehouse  6 

James  Keeler  8 

Thadd'us  Morehouse  8 
Lemuel  Brooks  287 

Elizabeth  Fitch  10 

Daniel  Gregory  18 

Stephen  Keeler,  Jr.  '25 
Da^^d  Reed  126 

Solomon  Morehouse  5 
Nathan  Hoyt  180 

Jedediah  Brown  lii2 
Jeilediah  Raymond  25 
Jeremiah  Welib  7 

William  Raymond  5 
Samuel  Middlebrook  14 
Ebenezer  Whitney     108 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2.  .£1, 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Original  Grantees.       Ai 

£ 
Stephen  Whitney         19 
Hezekiah  Raymond  152 
Moses  Raymond  5 

Richard  \  oungs  31 

Solomon  Whilmore  17 
David  Boalt  5 

Samuel  Marvin  319 

John  Jockwood,  Jr.  349 
Uriali  Raymond  134 
Jesse  Brown  44 

Susannah  Butler  6 

Joseph  Whitney  183 
David  Se3'mour  3 

John  Seymour,  Jr.  Ifil 
Gilbert  feryant  19 


Classification  No   4.  Section 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  tl.: 


Original  Granteea. 

i 
Eliakim  Raymond 

two  losses  3 

Adle  Close's  Adm'r 
James  Ferris 
Ann  Gregg 
Enos  Lockwood 
Theophilus  Lockw'd 
Shadrach  Mead 
Enos  Mead 
Jonalh'n  &  Ambrose 

Reynolds  : 

Gold  John  Sellick 
John  Seymour  3 

Nath'l  Raymond,  Jr  h 


Widow  Abigail  and 

Jonathan  Bulkley    54 
Josiah  Wentworth     151 


't  Los.i.    Classified 


Eliakim  and  George 

Raymond  : 

George  Raymond 


James  Seymour  345 
X'th'l  Raymond,  Jr  144 
John  Kellogg  7i> 

Xath'l  Benedict,  Jr  152 
Widow  Hannah 

Bulkley  ,i4 

Nath'l  Raymond.  Jr,  95 


'  Classed 
s.       d. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1,344 


Sherman  istowiLshij)  luunlier  three,  in  range  twenty- 
four,  and  is  l)ounded  as  follows:  on  the  north  by 
Lyme  town.ship,  sonth  by  Norwich  township,  east  by 
Peru  township,  and  west  by  the  townships  of  Thomp- 
son and  Reed,  iu  Seneca  county.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  Taylor  Sherman,  Esq.,  one  of  .the  directors 
of  the  Fire-lands  Company,  and  originally  a  large 
land  holder  in  the  township.  The  name  was  given  at 
a  meeting  of  the  directors,  held  at  A'ew  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, November  9,  1808.  At  this  time  the  lands 
were  divided  by  lot  among  those  holding  ".-jutferer's" 
claims. 

The  surface  is  generally  level,  and  the  soil  jirinci- 
pally  clav.  Along  the  borders  of  the  streams  it  is 
mixed  with  yellow  sand,  and  is  easily  tilled.  Away 
from  the  streams  the  soil  is  harder  to  work,  but  is 
productive,  and  improves  very  n«ach  with  proper  cul- 
ture.    This  township  contains  but  little  waste  land. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  following  is  principally  from  the  "ilenioirs  of 
Sherman.""  by  John  E.  La  Barre: 

Daniel  Sherman,  (son  of  Taylor  Sherman  and  uncle 
of  General  W.  T.  Sherman)  Burwell  Fitch  and  Samuel 
Seymour,  were  the  first  white  settlers  of  the  township. 
The  year  of  their  arrival  was  1812.  They  were  from 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  the  last  end  of  their  jour- 
ney was  over  what  was  then  known  as  the  Portage 
road,  their  teams  being  the  first  which  travelled  over  it. 
The  first  night  after  leaving  Xewcomb's.  in  Bronson, 
was  spent  in  the  woods.  They  were  not  accustomed 
to  this  sort  of  a  life,  and  were  disturbed  and  consider- 
ably alarmed  at  the  noise  of  the  wild  animals  with 
which  the  surrounding  woods  abounded.     They  ini- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


285 


mediately  eommeuced  improvemeuts,  in  the  secoud 
sectiou.  The  first  clearing  was  made  on  Sherman's 
land,  and  the  next  on  that  of  Burwell  Fitch.  The 
first  house  in  the  township  was  built  on  the  land  of 
the  latter. 

Daniel  Sherman  went  to  Lancaster  in  the  fall  of 
1812.  He  returned  in  December,  and  the  war  having 
ensued,  made  his  home  in  the  block  house  of  Charles 
Parker,  west  of  Milan.  There,  in  1813,  he  married 
Abby  Guthrie,  and  in  March,  1814.  returned  to  his 
home  in  Sherman  township.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  the  township  until  1825.  Mrs.  Sherman  died  in 
1821,  and  was  buried  in  the  township  burial  ground. 
This  was  the  first  burial,  and  the. second  death  in  the 
townsliip.  In  1824  he  married  Laura  Hubbell,  and 
in  February,  1825,  removed  to  Ridgefield  township, 
locating  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  S.  D.  Fish. 
Here  he  died  September  27,  1864.  Mrs.  Sherman 
died  December  31,  1876.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: Betsey,  who  was  born  November  5,  1814;  mar- 
ried C.  B.  Hall,  and  is  now  deceased.  William  S., 
who  was  born  January  20,  181'i',  removed  to  Mansfield, 
where  he  died  September  24,  1876.  George  Edwin, 
born  in  1819,  died  July  6,  1831.  Harriet  e",  who  was 
born  April  24,  1825;  married  Sidney  D.  Fish,  and 
lives  on  the  old  homestead;  and  Charles  W.,  who  was 
born  in  1827,  and  died  in  1836. 

Taylor  Sherman  visited  the  township  which  bears 
his  name,  one  season,  during  which  he  was  taken  with 
the  "lake  fever."  He  returned  to  Connecticut,  and 
after  lingering  some  time,  he  finally  died  from  its 
effects. 

Burwell  Fitch  died  in  Sherman.  He  had  four  chil- 
dren: Mary  Ann,  who  married  Buck  Chandler,  of 
Bellevue.  He  died  and  she  became  the  wife  of  Eph- 
raim  Felton,  of  Norwich;  Susan,  who  married  Alonzo 
Husted,  of  Lyme:  Betsey,  who  married  William  West, 
of  Fairfield,  and  Eliza,  who  married  William  Burns 
and  moved  to  Iowa. 

Samuel  Seymour  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  (See 
history  of  Ridgefield  township.) 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  located  in  the  first,  third, 
and  fourth  sections,  the  second  not  being  in  the 
market.  No  particular  effort  Avas  made  by  the  orig- 
inal owners  to  draw  settlers  that  way,  except,  per- 
haps, by  the  Lockwoods.  In  1814,  land  was  held  at 
one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  —  Blanchard  came 
this  year  and  bought  fifty  acres  of  land.  Daniel 
Sherman  gave  him  fifty  acres  more  to  induce  him  to 
settle,  and  the  year  following  he  began  clearing  his 
farm.  Mr.  Blanchard  had  no  children,  except  a  son 
by  adoption  named  Samuel,  who  lived  for  a  time  in 
Sandusky,  and  from  there  he  went  Michigan.  Mr. 
Blanchard  died  in  Sherman.  Rufus  S.  Paine  moved 
into  the  township  during  the  year  1816  or  '17,  and 
bought  Blanchard's  one  hundred  acres,  on  ■which  he 
settled  and  lived  until  his  death.  Edwin  Hanford, 
an  early  settler,  died  in  Sherman,  leaving  three 
children,  George,  Edwin,  and  James.  The  following 
are  among  the  early  settlers:  Valorous  Richardson, 


H.  Dascomb,  who  had  a  wife,  was  a  baker.  He  soon 
removed  to  Sandusky,  and  from  thence  to  the  west. 
William  Frink,  the  noted  hunter,  after  whom  Frink's 
run  was  named,  had  no  family  in  Sherman.  He  died 
many  years  since  in  Seneca  county,  with  his  trusty 
rifle  by  his  side.  Captain  Howard  moved  on  to  lots 
eleven  and  sixteen  in  the  third  section  at  an  early 
date.  He  remained  four  or  five  years,  and  removed 
to  Hartford.  James  Lewis  and  a  man  named  Samuel 
Rice  were  living  in  the  township  in  1817. 

On  May  19,  1817,  Jonathan  Fitch  left  Norwalk, 
Connecticut,  for  Ohio,  in  company  with  Adam  Swan 
and  John  and  Seth  Keeler.  The  three  horses  owned 
by  the  party  were  harnessed  in  one  team,  and  with 
this  the  journey  was  performed.  Near  Mon-istown, 
New  York,  they  were  overtaken  by  Captain  Husted 
and  Ezra  Wood,  who  were  also  en  route  for  Ohio  by 
team.  The  company  continued  together  until  June 
10th,  when,  having  reached  a  point  near  Big  Beaver 
bridge,  Messrs.  Husted  and  Wood  took  the  right  hand 
I'oad  to  Clarksfield,  while  the  remainder  of  the  com- 
pany continued  on  to  Mansfield,  in  Richland  county. 
Jonathan  Fitch  soon  after  came  on  to  Major  Lander- 
hill's  in  Ridgefield  township,  and  from  there  to  Sher- 
man township,  where  he  took  up  his  abode  with 
Burwell  Fitch.  At  this  time  there  were  four  families 
on  tlie  fourth  section.  John  Chany  owned  lot  num- 
ber nine,  Nathan  Shippy  lot  number  three,  Burwell 
Fitch  lot  number  eight,  and  Jonathan  Fitch  pur- 
chased lot  number  thirteen.  After  making  some  im- 
provements on  his  farm,  Jonathan  Fitch  returned  to 
Connecticut  in  the  fall  to  get  a  helpmate.  When  near 
Pittsburg  he  met  the  companion  of  his  former  "voy- 
age," Captain  Husted  and  family,  then  "moving'"  to 
Ohio.  Mr.  Fitch  married  Hannah  Raymond  on  the 
2d  day  of  April,  1818,  and  started  soon  after,  by 
team,  on  the  return  trip  to  Ohio,  which  State  was 
reached  in  due  time,  without  accident  or  material 
incident,  other  than  those  usually  occuring  in  an  over 
land  journey  to  the  western  wilderness.  We  have  no 
history  of  Mr.  Fitch  and  wife,  after  reaching  Sherman 
township. 

Joseph  Purdy  came  from  the  State  of  New  York  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  1818,  locating  in  Sherman 
township  in  February  of  that  year.  In  1822,  he  re- 
moved to  Townsend  township.  Some  three  years 
later  he  went  to  Cleveland  and  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising. This  occupation  was  soon  abandoned,  and 
Huron  county  again  became  the  home  of  the  family. 
The  parents  finally  settled  in  Branch  county,  Michi- 
gan, where  they  both  died.  The  children  are:  Horace, 
who  married  Sally  Thompson  and  removed  to  ]\Iichi- 
gan,  where  he  died;  Ransom,  who  married  Sallv  P. 
Bennett,  and  died  in  Bellevue,  this  county;  and 
Major,  who  nuirried  Hannah  Bennett,  purchased  a 
farm  in  lot  number  twenty-four,  in  section  three,  and 
still  occupies  it.  Here  the  writer  found  him,  hale 
and  hearty;  and,  although  time  has  changed  his  once 
jetty  locks  to  a  silvery  hue,  yet  has  left  his  mind  un- 
impaired.    He  is  the  oldest  settler  now  living  in  the 


286 


HISTOEY  OF  HUR02J  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


township,  ami  to  him  the  writer  is  indebted  for  many 
items  of  liistoriciil  interest.  Mrs.  Purdy  died  Sep- 
tember .3,  187-1.  Of  the  family  the  following  are  now 
living:  Charles,  Norman,  Harriet  and  Nancy. 

Ransom  Purdy  jmrchased  the  farm  now  known  as 
the  Pnrdy  homestead  in  IS'22,  and  lived  upon  it  until 
about  1805,  when  he  put  his  two  sons  on  the  farm 
and  removed  to  Bellevue,  where  he  died  Mai'ch  23, 
1872,  aged  seventy-six  years.  The  family  are:  Diana, 
who  married  Lewis  Betterly,  lives  in  Michigan;  Wil- 
liam S.,  who  married  Mary  Harris,  of  Lorain  county, 
lives  in  Sherman;  Daniel  M.,  who  married  Rachel 
Davenport,  lives  in  Michigan:  Mary,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  Eliza,  who  married  H.  L.  Harris,  M.D., 
of  Bellevue,  Ohio. 

Reiiben  Blooomer  came  to  Huron  county  in  Octo- 
ber, 1817,  and  with  a  family  consisting  of  a  wife  and 
seven  children,  located  in  Ridgetield  township.  Here 
he  remained  six  years,  removing  in  1823  to  Sherman 
township.  He  located  at  Weaver's  corners,  on  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  Jacob  Heyman.  Here  the  par- 
ents died;  Mrs.  Bloomer,  July  24,  1826,  and  Mr. 
Bloomer,  June  20,  1836.  Of  the  children,  we  learn 
Susan,  the  eldest,  became  the  wife  of  Moses  Sowers, 
and  now  lives  in  Lexington,  Richland  county;  Coles 
A.,  the  next,  married  Charlotte  Johnson,  and  died 
in  1869;  Albert,  died  in  September,  1839;  Emma  J., 
is  now  the  wife  of  Albert  Brown,  of  Monroeville; 
Charles  B.,  married  Caroline  C.  Dimick,  and  died 
in  1865;  George,  married  Sally  A.  Johnson,  and  lives 
on  lot  number  ten  in  the  third  section.  He  is  the 
only  member  of  tlie  family  now  living  in  Sherman 
township;  has  nine  children,  and  John,  tiie  young- 
est, lives  in  Galion. 

Jabez  Brant,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  moved  to 
Ohio  from  Pennsylvania,  and  resided  for  four  or  five 
years  at  Loiidonville  and  vicinity,  and  subsequently, 
for  a  few  months,  at  Jeromeville,  near  Ashland.  In 
1831,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
Sherman  township,  and  the  next  year  two  sons,  Clark 
and  John  K.  Brant,  arrived  and  began  the  work  of 
clearing.  They  had  a  few  acres  cleared  and  the  logs 
cut  for  a  house,  when  the  rest  of  the  family  arrived. 
A  log  house  was  soon  rolled  up, — the  family,  in  the 
meantime,  taking  shelter  under  a  shed  built  by  the 
side  of  a  tree.  This  family  made  the  first  improve- 
ment in  this  corner  of  the  township.  In  1860,  they 
removed  to  Branch  county,  Michigan,  where  the 
fatlier  died  some  five  years  later.  Mrs.  Brant  died  in 
Sherman  in  1842.  Mr.  Brant  remarried,  his  second 
wife  dying  in  Michigan.  Ten  rliildrm  wne  Imrn, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living.  .Iulm  K.,  who  lives 
in  Greenfield,  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  now  re- 
siding on  the  Fire-lands.  He  is  a  progressive  farmer, 
and  as  president  of  the  Plymouth  agricultural  society, 
a  position  wiiich  he  has  held  for  the  past  ten  years, 
h;'.s  done  as  mucii  to  promote  the  interest  of  agri- 
culture as  any  other  man,  perhaps,  in  the  county. 

Brace  Jones  came  from  Windsor  county,  Vermont, 
to  Ohio,  arriving  in  Sherman   township  in  January, 


I  1838.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  lot  number  six  in  the 
!  third  section  the  following  June,  and  lived  here  until 
his  death,  September  26,  1848.  Mrs.  Jones  died 
Mai'ch  19, 1865.  The  children  are^:  Lucien  and  Susan 
E.,  who  occupy  the  old  homestead;  Lucretia,  who 
married  Pardon  Brightman,  and  lives  in  Sherman; 
and  Sarah,  who  died  in  1838. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  death  in  the  township,  was  a  child  of  R. 
S.  Paine,  date  not  remembered.  The  body  was  in- 
terred in  Lyme  township.  The  second  death  was  the 
wife  of  Daniel  Sherman,  in  1821.  She  was  buried  on 
the  fai-m  of  her  husband,  in  what  is  now  the  burying 
ground,  .n  lot  number  six  in  the  third  section. 

The  first  frame  house  in  the  township,  was  Iniilt  by 
Henry  M.  Read,  soon  after  1820.  It  was  located  on 
Slate  run.  Coles  Bloomer  built  the  first  brick  house 
in  Sherman  township.  This  is  now  occupied  by 
George  Bloomer. 

The  pioneer  "tavern"  was  opened  by  Coles  and 
Albert  Bloomer,  in  1834,  in  the  building  now  owned 
by  B.  Leyman.  The  present  "Sherman  House"  was 
established  by  David  Weaver.  H.  Drake  is  its  present 
host. 

Daniel  Sherman  received  acomissionas  postmaster, 
but  did  not  accept  the  oflSce.  Rufus  S.  Paine  was 
next  commissioned,  and  became  the  first  postmaster. 
After  a  few  years,  the  office  was  removed  to  Weaver's 
corners,  and  C.  A.  Bloomer  was  duly  commissioned 
postmaster.  The  present  postmaster,  at  this  point, 
is  M.  McCrillis,  Esq.  In  1871,  a  mail  route  was  es- 
tablished from  Bellevue  to  Lodi,  and  afterward  an 
office  was  established,  at  the  German  settlement  called 
Bismark,  one  mile  south  of  the  center,  with  C.  West- 
rick  postmaster,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 

In  about  1835,  Messrs.  Isaac  and  David  Underhill, 
of  Ridgefield  township,  established  a  store  at  Weaver's 
corners.  This  closed  out  after  a  few  years.  The  only 
mercantile  establishment  in  the  township  is  at  Weav- 
er's corners, — Peter  Roth,  proprietor. 

The  first  apple  trees  were  set  out  by  Daniel  Sher- 
man in  1817.  They  were  brought  from  Lancaster  by 
his  brother  Charles.  The  second  orchard  was  planted 
by  Horace  and  Major  Purdy,  on  land  now  owned  by 
B.  Leyman,  in  aliout  1819.  A  number  of  these  trees 
are  still  standing. 

The  first  road  laid  out  in  the  township,  was  from 
Mansfield  to  the  center  of  Sherman,  and  from  there 
to  Venice.  This  was  afterwards  vacated.  The  next, 
and  tiie  first  one  improved,  was  from  Monroeville, 
through  Sherman  to  Thompson  township  in  Seneca 
coTintv. 

()RG.\NIZAT1().\. 

At  tlu'  first  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  Huron 
county,  hrld  August  1,  1815,  Sherman  was  attached 
to  (ireenlii'ld  tnwnship,  and  in  December  of  the  same 
year  was  detached,  and  together  with  the  south  half 
of  Oxford  was  united  with  Ridgefield.  About  the 
year  1820  it  was  united  with  Norwich,  but  no  record 


LUCIEN  JONES 


was  born  in  Barnard,  "Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  March  11,  1812. 
His  ftither  was  Brace  Jones,  and  his  mother  Lucretia  Part- 
ridge Jones.  When  he  was  eight  years  of  age  his  mother 
died.  In  1819  his  father  married  Mrs.  Lucy  Beebe,  formerly 
Lucy  Sanderson.  By  his  first  wife  his  father  had  four  chil- 
dren,— Amanda,  Solon,  Lucien,  and  Stephen;  and  by  his 
second  wife  he  had  three  daughters, — Lucretia,  Sarah,  and 
Susan.  Sarah  died  in  September,  1838,  the  fall  after  their 
removal  to  Ohio. 

Lucien  Jones  worked  at  farming  with  his  father  in  the 
place  of  his  birth  until  1838,  when  he  started  with  a  team  and 
sled  for  the  then  far  West.  He  made  the  journey  from  Ver- 
mont to  Sherman,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  in  twenty-six  da3's.  On 
starting  out  he  was  provided  with  a  set  of  wagon  wheels  which 
could  bo  attached  to  the  sled,  but  was  obliged  to  use  them  only 
two  days.  There  was  sleighing  for  some  six  weeks  after  his 
arrival  in  Ohio,  and  he  can  recall  not  more  than  one  year 
since  that  time  when  there  has  been  such  a  long  season  of 
sleighing. 

He  purchased  the  farm  in  Sherman,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  It  contained  ninety-six  acres  of 
land,  of  which  about  ten  acres  were  cleared,  and  ten  or 
twelve  more  partly  cleared  and  girdled  ;  the  balance  of  the  land 
was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  oak,  hickory,  and  elm, 
with  a  sprinkling  of  other  timber  common  to  the  country. 
Two  years  later  he  added  fifty  acres  to  his  first  purchase, 
giving  him  his  present  snug  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty- 
six  acres.  A  log  house  was  built  on  his  first  purchase  several 
years  previously  by  Daniel  Sherman,  the  former  owner  of  the 
land. 

In  June  of  the  year  he  arrived  (1838)  tho  rest  of  his  father's 
family  came  by  way  of  the  canal  to  Buft'alo,  N.  Y.,  thence  by 
lake,  experiencing  uniformly  pleasant  weather  during  their 
journey.  His  parents  lived  with  him  until  their  death.  His 
father  died  Sept.  G,  1846,  aged  seventy-three,  and  his  step- 
mother March  19,  1865,  aged  eighty-one  years. 

The  first  year  after  their  arrival  in  the  new  country  all  the 
corn  was  killed  by  an  early  frost,  September  1st.  Mr.  Jones 
then  went  with  a  wagon  to  the  Sciota  River,  some  sixty  miles 
distant,  to  procure  corn  and  wheat  for  subsistence  until  another 
year  should  roll  around.     He  paid  $1.50  per  bushel  for  corn 


and  §2.25  for  wheat.  Thereafter  he  was  enabled  to  raise 
enough  grain  to  live  on  except  during  one  year,  about  1859, 
when  the  grain  was  killed  by  a  severe  frost  in  June. 

The  family  lived  in  the  old  log  house  two  and  one-half 
years,  when  they  remodeled  a  frame  blaoksmith-shop  that  had 
been  built  on  another  part  of  the  farm,  and  fitted  it  up  as  a 
home;  here  they  lived  until  1863,  when  the  present  substantial 
farm-house  was  built. 

During  the  early  years  of  his  life  at  Sherman,  Mr.  Jones  cut 
staves  and  cord  wood,  which  he  sold  to  procure  money  to  pay 
taxes  and  furnish  needful  articles  for  the  comfort  of  the 
family. 

Lucien  Jones  has  never  been  a  robust  man,  though  he  has 
done  much  hard  labor.  He  has  generally  kept  hired  help,  and 
has  been  able  to  work  with  and  oversee  them  until  within 
the  past  few  years.  Some  ten  or  twelve  years  ago  he  began 
to  be  troubled  with  sore  e3-es,  and  for  the  past  seven  years  has 
been  unable  to  perform  any  hard  labor.  He  consulted  eminent 
oculists  in  Cleveland,  and  was  treated  for  several  years,  with- 
out any  decided  improvement,  however.  He  finally  consulted 
Dr.  Gracflf,  of  Sandusky,  who  at  once  pronounced  his  eyes 
covered  with  cataract;  he  made  an  effort  to  remove  the 
trouble,  and  for  a  time  with  strong  hopes  of  success,  but  in- 
flammation set  in,  and  soon  all  hope  was  lost.  For  the  past 
two  years  he  has  been  unable  to  use  his  eyes,  and  now  can  only 
discern  tho  light. 

In  politics  Mr.  Jones  was  a  AVhig  in  early  days,  and  is  now 
a  Republican,  and  has  been  since  the  organization  of  that 
party. 

Mr.  Jones  has  never  married.  His  youngest  sister,  Susan 
E.,  remains  with  him,  and  assumes  the  care  of  household 
duties.  His  eldest  sister,  Lucretia,  married,  in  1832,  Pardon 
Brightmnn,  who  died  in  November,  1878.  Since  her  mar- 
riage she  has  lived  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Sherman 
township,  and  is  the  mother  of  seven  children. 

His  life  is  one  of  confinement,  his  only  exercise  being  that 
which  he  takes  within  tho  walls  of  his  dwelling.  He  has 
lived  a  useful,  temperate,  industrious  life,  and  now,  in  the 
years  of  his  affliction  and  approaching  old  age,  his  j'oungest 
sister,  in  her  fidelity  and  attachment  to  him,  is  his  comfort 
and  solace. 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


•ZS7 


is  given  of  it.  March  6, 1827,  Norwich  was  detached, 
and  Sherman  has  since  remained  a  distinct  township. 
The  first  general  election,  while  united  with  Norwich, 
was  held  October  10,  1820.  Asa  Gilson,  Russell 
Woodruff,  and  Abraham  Blodget  were  judges,  and 
Naum  Gilson  and  George  Woodruff,  clerks.  Eight 
votes  were  cast — all  for  Ethan  Allen  Brown  for  Gov- 
ernor, Lyman  Farwell  for  representative,  and  Asa 
Sanford  for  coroner.  Printed  tickets  at  this  time 
were  unknown.  Those  used  at  this  election  were 
written  evidently  by  one  hand,  and  are  still  on  file  in 
the  office  of  the  clerk  of  Huron  county.  At  the  State 
election  in  1822  fifteen  votes  were  cast  for  W.  W. 
Irwin,  governor. 

During  the  time  that  Norwich  and  Sherman  were 
together  there  was  a  lack  of  harmony  in  local  matters, 
Sherman  complaining  that  Norwich  had  all  the  offices. 
The  first  and  second  election  for  a  justice  of  the  peace 
was  declared  illegal.  At  the  third,  Russell  Woodruff 
was  elected. 

The  first  election  on  record  after  the  separation 
from  Norwich  was  held  April  6,  1829,  at  which  time 
fifteen  votes  were  cast,  and  the  following  persons 
elected:  Reuben  Bloomer,  Andrew  Hanford,  and 
Joseph  La  Barre,  trustees,  and  Jonathan  Fitch,  clerk 
and  treasurer.  George  Hanford  was  without  doubt 
the  first  justice  of  the  peace.  The  officers  for  1878 
were:  John  Garharstein,  Jocob  Haas,  and  Jacob  Hitz, 
trustees;  Milo  McCrillis,  clerk;  Charles  Westrick, 
treasurer;  John  Ernst,  assessor;  Lewis  Miller  and 
Coonrod  Metz,  constables,  Milo  McCrillis  and  William 
A.  Heyman,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  eighteen  su- 
pervisors. 


The  first  school  was  taught  by  George  Hanford  in 
about  1824  or  '25  in  a  building  standing  on  lot  num- 
ber eighteen  in  the  third  section.  There  were  some 
eight  or  ten  scholars  in  attendance.  In  1827  or  '28 
the  township  was  divided  into  two  school  districts, 
termed  the  east  and  west  district.  The  first  school 
house  was  Iniilt  on  lot  number  nineteen  in  the  first 
section,  and  the  first  public  schsol  was  taught  by 
Sarah  Mason,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Norwalk. 
She  received  the  first  public  money  that  ever  came 
into  the  township  for  school  purposes,  and  was  paid 
off  in  silver  half  dollars.  She  had  fourteen  or  fifteen 
scholars,  among  whom  were  the  daughters  of  Buruell 
Fitch,  who  lived  two  and  one-half  miles  away  through 
an  unbroken  wilderness. 


The  first  sermon  i)reached  in  Sherman  township 
was,  without  doubt,  by  Rev.  Alva  Coe,  at  the  house 
of  Daniel  Sherman.  We  cannot  give  the  date,  but 
are  'assured  it  was  early  in  the  settlement.  The 
Methodist  ministers  were  early  u])on  the  scene,  and 
organized  a  church.  Meetings  were  held  at  private 
houses,  usually  at  Joseph  La  Barre's  and  William 
Williams',  the  latter  being  an  active  member,  as  was 


also  the  wife  of  the  former.  The  organization  was 
kept  uj)  for  a  number  of  years.  After  them  came  the 
Free  Will  Baptists,  who  became  quite  numerous. 

The  Catholic  church,  which  is  now  the  only  organiza- 
tion, having  religious  tendencies,  in  the  township,  was 
formed  in  1836.  and  comprised  some  fourteen  families. 
Ten  years  later  a  meeting  house  was  built.  This  was 
of  logs,  and  was  oceujiied  until  the  completion  of  the 
present  brick  meeting  house,  in  1857.  The  society 
have  also  a  school  house  and  parsonage,  of  brick,  and 
are  in  a  condition  satisfactory,  no  doubt,  to  them- 
selves. 

This   church    was    first    attended    by Bruner, 

then  pastor  of  the  church  in  Thompson  township. 
John  Tomar  was  the  first  settled  priest.  He  assumed 
charge  in  1868,  and  remained  some  eighteen  months. 
Peter  Pitts  succeeded  him.  He  was  removed  in  Sep- 
tember. 1872.  The  present  priest.  Victor  Hausner, 
assumed  charge  of  the  church  January  10,  1873.  The 
church  directors  are  :  Peter  Bishop,  Jlichael  Phillips 
and  John  Swartz. 


There  was  no  doctor  in  the  township  previous  to 
1824,  and  since  then,  those  who  have  located  here 
have  not  remained  long.  Possibly,  the  township  is 
too  healthy,  for  certain  it  is  that  these  medical  gen- 
tlemen were  thoroughly  educated,  and  fully  competent 
to  combat  disease  successfully.  Their  names  are 
Jackson,  West,  Hathaway,  and  M.  R.  Nichols,  who 
at  present  comprises  the  entire  medical  staff  in  the 
township. 

SOCIETIES. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  large  and  fiourishing  lodge 
of  Good  Templars  in  the  township.  This  has  gone 
out  of  existence.  Possibly,  the  need  of  temperance 
societies  does  not  exist  in  Sherman. 

IXDUSTRIAL  I'UIiSL'lT.S. 

Under  this  head  the  historian  finds  little  to  mention. 
Without  doubt  the  first  was  a  steam  saw  mill,  built 
by  David  Weaver,  on  lot  number  thirteen,  in  the  third 
section.  A  small  tanning  establishment  is  in  operation 
near  ^Veaver's  corners. 

The  township  did  not  reach  the  jiroud  distinction 
of  having  a  "whisky  mill"  within  its  l)oundaries, 
until  the  summer  of  1856.  David  Weaver  was  tlie 
projector  of  this  "institution"  which  was  located 
near  the  corners.  It  was  in  operation,  under  diffei'cnt 
owners,  until  the  spring  of  1874,  when  it  was  closed. 
We  learn   it  was  never  a  success,   financial! v.     It    is 


Few  of  the  present  inliabitants  can  appreciate  the 
privations  endured  by  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Sherman 
townshii).  Tlieir  milling  was  done  at  Eldridge.  Cold 
Creek,  and  sometimes  Greenfield.  Wiieat  and  corn 
were  the   principal   productions,    but  there  was  no 


288 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


market.  At  one  time  tliirty-six  bushels  of  corn  were 
paid  for  one  barrel  of  salt.  Not  many  of  the  necessa- 
ries, and  fewer  of  the  luxuries,  of  life  were  enjoyed  by 
them.  Wolf  scalps  and  Owl  creek  bills  constituted 
a  large  portion  of  the  currency.  At  present  (March, 
1870.)  there  are  but  two  of  the  first  residents  now 
living  in  the  townsliip.  These  are  Major  Purdy  and 
George  Bloomer. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


THE  PURDY  FAMILY. 

Ransom  Purdy  was  born  in  Saratoga  county.  New 
York,  July  9,  1795.  Not  long  after  the  family  moved 
to  Ontario  county,  whence,  in  October,  1817,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  together  with  his  parents,  five 
brothers  and  one  sister,  emigrated  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio.  Thev  slowly  made  their  way,  with  teams, 
through  almost  unbroken  forests  and  across  streams 
unbridged,  until,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  following 
February,  they  reached  what  is  now  Sherman  town- 
ship, and,  moving  into  a  deserted  house  opposite  the 
present  Purdy  homestead,  they  began  in  good  earnest 
the  rough  and  self-denying  labors  of  pioneer  life, 
which  secured  for  the  family  a  competence  in  later 
years.  Huron  county,  at  that  time,  embraced  all 
that  portion  of  the  State  known  as  the  "Fire-lands," 
together  with  a  part  of  Lorain  county.  What  is  now 
the  main  road  from  Monroeville  to  Fremont  was  then 
but  a  mere  trailT  known  to  the  hundred,  or  less,  white 
families  (which,  together  with  the  native  Indians, 
constituted  the  entire  population  for  some  ten  miles 
square)  as  "Strong's  Ridge  trail." 

M(5nroeville  possessed,  at  that  time,  three  or  four 
houses  and  a  small  variety  store;  but  where  Bellevue 
now  stands  all  was  an  unbroken  wilderness.  The 
nearest  cabin  was  one  and  a  half  miles  to  the  east,  and 
the  nearest  settlement  two  and  a  fourth  miles  south, 
known  as  the  "  Woodward  Settlement." 

During  the  spring  of  1818  a  clearing  was  made  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Mowry,  in  Thompson 
township,  and  a  log  cabin  built,  into  which  Mr. 
Purdy's  parents  moved.  Also,  during  this  spring, 
Ransom  and  his  brothers,  Horace  and  Major,  took  a 
contract  to  cut  and  split  the  rails  to  fence  forty  acres 
of  land  owned  by  Gurdon  Williams,  the  northwest 
corner  of  which  was  in  the  center  of  Bellevue,  in 
front  of  the  old  Tremont  House.  While  engaged  in 
this  work  they  boarded  in  the  Woodward  settlement, 
staying  out  from  morning  till  night,  and  taking 
(without  thinking  it  much  of  a  hardship,  either)  their 
johnny-cake  and  jerked  venison  dinners  with  them. 

It  was  during  this  season  that  the  hearts  of  all  the 
settlers  were  made  glad  by  the  erection  of  Burch's 
mills  at  Monroeville,  the  "raising"  of  which  necessi- 
tated the  gathering  of  all  the  able-bodied  men  for 
miles  around,  including  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 


In  January,  1821,  Mr.  Purdy  married  Miss  Sally  P. 
Bennett,  whose  fathers  family  had  moved  here  from 
Steuben  county.  New  York,  two  years  before.  They 
at  once  rented  and  went  to  keeping  house  on  the  place 
•which  they  bought  the  next  year,  and  on  which  tliey 
continued  to  reside  some  forty-four  years,  /.  c.  till 
1865,  when  they  rented  their  fine  old  homestead  to 
their  sons,  William  and  Daniel,  and  came  to  Bellevue 
to  spend  their  remaining  days  in  quiet  with  their 
daughter,  the  wife  of  Dr.  H.  L.  Harris. 

To  Ransom  Purdy  and  his  wife,  four  children  have 
been  born,  of  whom  brief  biographical  notices  will 
here  be  in  keeping:  Diana,  the  eldest,  was  born 
March  .3, 1822.  She  married  Lewis  Betterly,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  now  resides  in  Kent  county,  Michigan. 
William  S.  was  born  September  10,  1824,  of  whom 
more  will  be  said  below.  Daniel  M.,  born  February 
11,  1826,  also  resides  in  Kent  county,  Michigan. 
Eliza  M.,  the  youngest,  was  born  May  25,  1832.  She 
was  married  to  Dr.  H.  L.  Harris,  of  Lorain  county, 
and  now  resides,  as  above  stated,  in  Bellevue. 

William  S.,  the  second  child  of  the  family,  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Harris,  of  Lorain  county. 
They  have  one  child,  named  Belle,  born  April  29, 
1854,  who  is  now  residing  at  home  with  her  parents. 
The  education  of  William  S.  was  limited  to  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Sherman  township.  He  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old,  when  he 
went  to  Flat  Rock,  Seneca  county,  and  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business.  He  continued  in  this  for  five 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  went  into  the  dry  goods 
business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  four  years. 
Again  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Amherst,  Lorain 
county,  and  leased  his  father-in-law's  farm  for  four 
years.  He  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  and, 
with  his  brother  Daniel,  worked  the  farm  for  about 
seven  years,  when  he  bought  out  the  heirs  and  became 
sole  proprietor.  In  politics,  he  was  a  whig,  till  the 
formation  of  the  republican  party,  with  which  he  has 
since  acted. 

From  what  has  been  said,  the  reader  can  get  an 
idea  of  the  wonderful  changes  made  hereabout  during 
the  last  half-century,  and  of  the  part  worthily  per- 
formed by  the  Purdy  family  in  settling  this  portion 
of  the  State,  and  developing  its  resources.  Ransom 
Purdy,  the  principal  subject  of  the  foregoing  sketch, 
died  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law.  Dr.  Harris, 
in  Bellevue,  March  23,  1872,  aged  seventy-six  years, 
eight  months  and  fourteen  days.  In  all  the  relations 
in  life,  as  husband,  father,  neighbor  and  citizen,  he 
proved  himself  honest,  upright  and  just;  and  he  was 
taken  home  in  the  fullness  of  his  years,  mourned  by 
all  his  friends,  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  aged  widow  still  survives,  enjoying  the  esteem 
and  affectionate  sympathy  of  the  entire  community. 
His  four  children  were  all  near  him  in  his  last  days. 
Of  the  brothers  who  accompanied  him  here,  sixty-one 
years  ago,  three  survive — the  eldest.  Major  Purdy, 
living  in  Slierinaii,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of 
his  age. 


\ 


Ransom  PuRor. 


^Rs  Sally  Purdy 


MRS. MARY  PURDY 


WILLIAM  S.  PURDY. 


fJlAJOH  PUF 


^RS  Hannah  Furdy 


residence:  OF   major  pjrdy,  SnEn»>«„rp.HuRo«co..o 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


•289 


MAJOR    PURDY. 

Major  Purely  was  boni  in  the  town  of  Wcstfielil, 
Wasliinntuu  county,  New  York,  October  'J,  1T07, 
where  liis  father  was  a  farmer.  In  1801,  his  father 
and  mother  removed  to  Argentile,  Canada,  about 
fifty  miles  north  of  Montreal,  on  the  Ottawa  river,  he 
then  l)eing  some  four  years  of  age.  Here  they  re- 
mained until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  they  re- 
moved to  C'hittenden  county,  Vermont,  where  they 
remained  three  years,  then  moving  to  Ontario  county, 
New  York,  in  181G,  where  they  remained  one  year. 
From  New  Y'ork  State  they  removed  to  Ohio,  arriv 
ing  in  Ridgefield,  Huron  countj-,  in  February,  1818. 
They  were  detained  this  side  of  Buffalo,  New  York, 
some  six  weeks,  on  account  of  bad  weather.  Their 
journey  was  begun  with  wagons  and  ended  with  sleds. 
The  family  at  this  time  consisted  of  father,  mother 
and  nine  children.  Of  these,  two  are  now  living  in 
Michigan. 

For  some  time  after  coming  to  Ohio,  Major  Purdy 
worked  wherever  he  could  obtain  work  to  do,  at  chop- 
ping cord-wood,  splitting  rails,  etc.,  all  of  the  hardest 
kind  of  labor.  He  was  one  of  four  persons  to  split 
rails  to  fence  forty  acres  of  ground  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  present  village  of  Bellevue,  one  corner  of 
the  lot  being  near  the  present  bank  building  on  the 
county  line  road;  the  fence  running  thence  to  a  point 
near  the  mill,  and  south  to  the  cemetery,  the  west 
line  being  along  the  county  line.  At  this  time  San- 
dusky county  had  not  lieen  surveyed,  and  belonged  to 
the  Indians. 

Mr.  Purdy  first  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Town- 
send,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  but  was  unable  to  obtain 
a  title  to  this  property,  and  lost  it.'  He  then  bought 
forty  acres  of  laud  on  what  is  called  Muggs'  ridge,  in 
Sandusky  county.  He  sold  this  property  in  1824, 
and  bought  his  present  farm  of  eighty-eight  and  a 
fraction  acres,  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness. 


It  had  for  improvements  a  log  house  and  a  small 
girdling.  For  these  he  paid  one  hundred  dollars. 
Since  that  time. he  has  disposed  of  two  and  one-half 
acres,  leaving  his  ))resent  homestead  of  a  little  more 
than  eighty-five  acres. 

In  1824  Major  Purdy  was  married,  in  Sherman,  to 
Hannah  Bennett.  The  fruit  of  this  union  was  six 
sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  two  daughters  and 
two  sons  are  now  living.  One  son  lives  in  Lyons, 
Rice  county,  Kansas;  one  in  Toledo;  a  daughter  in 
Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  and  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Letherer,  with  whom  he  now  lives,  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Sherman,  Huron  county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Purdy, 
his  wife,  died  September  3,  1874,  aged  seventy-seven 
years  and  ten  months. 

Very  few  settlers  were  to  be  found  in  the  country 
when  Mr.  Purdy  arrived.  No  county  roads  had  been 
made,  and  not  more  than  one  was  surveyed.  The 
roads  were  mere  trails  through  the  woods;  more  tim- 
ber and  swamp  than  dry  land. 

Since  he  came  to  Ohio  he  has  followed  farming, 
and  his  present  fine  homestead  was  won  from  a  rough 
country  by  the  hard  labor  of  liis  own  hands,  the  land 
being  girdled  and  cleared  a  little  at  a  time.  As  the 
timber  became  deadened  after  girdling,  corn  was 
planted  or  grain  sown  in  the  spaces  betw.een  the  trees 
and  stumps,  until  they  were  removed  by  burning,  or 
by  the  more  tedious  action  of  the  elements  that  rotted 
the  tough  wood.  In  time  the  fields  became  free  from 
stumps  and  roots,  and  he  could  begin  to  see  the  re- 
sults of  his  hard  labor,  and  now  he  has  a  well  ap- 
pointed farm.  He  erected  a  good  frame  barn  in  1832, 
but  lived  in  his  log  house  until  1839,  when  his  present 
commodious  frame  house  was  built. 

On  his  next  birthday,  October  '.),  18T9,  Major  Pur- 
dy will  arrive  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He 
is  still  hale  and  hearty,  and  at  this  writing.  May,  1879, 
is  preparing  to  take  a  long  journey  to  visit  friends  in 
Michigan. 


RICHMOND.- 


Ix  the  preparation  of  the  following  history,  access 
has  been  had  to  John  H.  Xiles's  "Memoirs."  This 
became  necessary  from  the  fact  that  none  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers  reside  in  the  township,  and  but  few  of 
their  descendants. 

This  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Nor- 
wich township;  south,  by  Auburn  and  Cranberry 
townships,  in  Crawford  county;  east,  by  New  Haven 
township;  and  west,  by  Venice  township,  in  Seneca 
county. 

Richmond  is  divided  into  upland  and  marsh.  The 
upland  occupies  the  north  half  of  the  township  and 
a  strip  across  the  west  side.  This  was  covered  with 
heavy  timber.  The  north  shore  of  the  marsh  is  a 
bluff,  and  rises  thirty  or  forty  feet  above  the  marsh. 
The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  the  surface  generally  undu- 
lating, except  in  tlie  northwest  part,  -where  it  is 
broken  by  streams. 

Honey  creek  rises  in  the  marsh  on  the  north  side, 
east  of  the  center  of  the  township,  and  runs  west 
along  the  north  shore  some  two  miles,  where  it  enters 
the  woodlands.  In  leaves  the  township  on  the  west 
line  and  empties  into  the  Sandusky  river  above  Tiffin, 
in  Seneca  county. 

The  marsh  covers  over  one-third  of  the  township, 
and  contains  about  twenty  square  miles.  It  is  six 
miles  long  from  east  to  west,  and  over  three  miles  in 
width,  covering  an  estimated  area  of  five  thousand 
five  hundred  acres  in  Richmond,  three  thousand  five 
hundred  in  New  Haven,  and  three  thousand  eight 
hundred  in  Auburn  township,  Crawford  county.  It 
has  the  appearance  of  a  larco  pra>~y  prairie,  with 
clusters  of  timber  and  busln-.  lianiini:  islands.  The 
soil  is  composed  of  decaviil  i^ras-.  and  is  wet  and 
spongy,  sinking  under  the  feet,  and,  where  the  turf  is 
not  strong  enough  to  bear,  it  is  sometimes  dangerous. 

The  Pigeon  Roost,  the  largest  of  the  timber  islands, 
lies  on  the  county  line,  and  is  two  miles  in  length,  by 
about  one  half  mile  in  width,  and,  from  its  isolated 
position,  marshy  surroundings,  and  its  almost  im- 
penetrable thickets  of  underbrush,  has  always  been 
the  favorite  roosting  place  of  myriads  of  pigeons  dur- 
ing the  summer  season. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  marsh,  in  the  first  section 
of  Richmond  township,  is  an  immense  bed  of  cran- 
berry bushes,  covering  some  two  hundred  acres. 
Whortleberries  are  also  found  in  and  around  the  tim- 
ber islands. 

ORIfilXAL    OWNERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 


Classification  No. 


Original  G-ranteen. 


Stephen  and  Hooke 

William  Seymour 
Jabez  Sanders 
John  Cannon         1 


13         8       S^\    His  heirs  469 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,  £1.^44 


Classification  No.  2,  Section  : 
Original  Grantees.       AnCt  Loss.        Classiped  by. 


Ain^t  Classed. 


John  Lockwood  3d  218 
John  Lockwood  9 

Thomas  Fitch  38; 

ThomasFitch'sh'rs413 
Hannah  Fitch's  h'rs  141 
Benjamin  Merrill  5 
John  Piatt 

Nath'l  Rarraoud  4 

Uriah  Smith  39 

Esther  St.  John  2 

Peter  Sturges 


OH    Andrew  Fitch 


Simeon  : 
Isaac  Seudden 
BenJ.  Isaacs'  heii 
John  Northrup 

Samuel  Olmstead 
Nathan  Keeler 
JIatthew  Jlead 
Benjamin  Keeler 
Clapp  Raymond 
Abrauam  Benedict 
Peter  Belts 
Nehemiah  St.  John 
Josiah  Wentworth 


661 


77 

10 

lOH 

n 

17 

1^ 

;;        .';              * 

0 

ill 

0 

15 

6 

j2 

11 

't^ 

10 

1« 

14 

0 

o 

18 

10 

Sarah  Burt                330 

18 

0 

Benj.  Isaacs'  heirs   316 

3 

5 

Benjamin  and  Wm. 

Isaacs                      14-3 

17 

5 

18 

14 

Sam'l  Middlebrooks    3 

0 

il        16       0       Nath'l  Raymond 
Footing  of  Classification  No.  a,  £1.344 


Classification  No ,  3,  Section  3. 


Wm.  St.  John's  h'rs  318 


Original  Grantees. 

£ 
WiUiam  St.  John        ;38 

35       la       u  ■•  ••         :•      ao 

Stephen  and  Hooker 

St.  John  30         16"  "         "       .5 

Abraham  Gregory     50         9       8!4       "  "         "      50 

JohnBelden  30:3       14       6       John  Beldeu's  heirs  303 

John  Belden-.  Jr.'s 
heirs  and  Amos 
Hannah  Hanford       60         3       O^J       Belden  60 

John  Cannon  1,933         8       a»j       John  Cannon's 

heirs  570 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,344 

Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 
Original  Grantees.        Am't  Loss.        Classified  bi/.  An 

£ 
John  Cannon  1,933 


.4111'/  Classed. 


Thomas  Fitch's  h'rs  415 
Thomas  Fitch  387 

Hannah  Fitch's  h'rs  141 
Betsey  Hall  29 

Daniel  Fitch  259 

Rebecca  Fitch  63 

John  Lockwood  3d  218 


2%    John  Cannon 
heirs 

0  Marv  Esther  Fitch  /  1 
5Vj    and  Edward  Fitch 
7    i       (deceased) 

11        Betsey  Hall 

1  Jonathan  Fitch 
0    I  . 
014    Andrew  Fitch 


11: 


i-jy 


15  '^ 

10  lOH 

t  \^ 

14  6H 


Footingof  Classification  No.  4,  £1,34)         7       0 

The  original  name  of  Richmond  was  Cannon,  given 
in  honor  of  Samuel  Cannon,  a  wealthy  merchant  of 
Xorwalk,  Connecticut,  who  was  one  of  the  "suffer- 
ers." He  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  lat- 
ter married  a  man  named  Lockwood. 

(290) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


291 


SQUATTER    SETTLEMENT. 

Before  the  lauds  of  Richmond  were  offered  for 
sale,  the  thousands  of  bushels  of  cranberries  that 
annually  grew  on  the  marsh  allured  to  the  north  shore 
a  settlement  of  squatters  numbering  perhaps  twenty 
families.  An  important  part  of  their  business  con- 
sisted of  picking  cranberries,  which  were  sold  to  the 
distant  settlers.  Hunting  necessarily  claimed  a  good 
share  of  their  attention,  and  as  the  deer  flocked  to  the 
marsh  to  avoid  the  flies  in  the  summer  and  the  hunt- 
ers in  the  winter,  their  chances  for  deer  hunting  were 
unusually  good.  The  settlers  of  the  surrounding 
townships  kept  large  numbers  of  hogs,  that  swarmed 
in  the  woods  and  fattened  on  the  untold  quantities  of 
mast.  The  squatters  paid  no  attention  to  ear-marks 
or  ownership,  but  "  appropriated'"  whenever  in  need 
of  pork.  The  strong  arm  of  the  law  was  sometimes 
invoked  to  abate  their  thievish  practices,  but  if  the 
unfortunate  prosecutor  got  off,  by  paying  the  costs, 
without  having  his  corn-crib,  meat  barrel,  and  hen 
roost  plundered  in  turn,  he  was  extremely  fortunate. 

With  the  sale  of  their  cranberries,  deer  skins, 
"shack  pork,"  and  coon  skins,  and  the  produce  of  a 
small  patcii  of  potatoes  around  their  cabins,  they 
managed  to  live,  but  made  no  improvements  to  entitle 
them  to  the  name  of  settlers,  nor  did  any  of  them 
ever  become  owners  of  the  soil  or  join  in  the  march 
of  improvement  that  has  since  characterized  the  in- 
habitants of  the  township. 

But  Riclimond  has  long  since  outlived  this  gang  of 
outlaws,  and  with  honest  industry,  liberal  churches, 
and  well  conducted  schools,  it  now  stands  second  to 
no  township  of  its  age  in  moral  worth  and  prosperity. 

Jutting  out  from  the  south  shore  of  the  marsh,  a 
mile  or  so  in  length,  is  a  point  of  timbered  upland, 
on  the  extreme  northern  point  of  which  stood  the 
cabin  of  Moreliead  the  trap})er,  who  was  the  first,  and 
for  many  years,  the  only  inhabitant  of  Richmond 
township.  His  principal  occupation  was  trapping 
and  spearing  muskrats,  and  in  times  of  high  water, 
made  his  daily  rounds  over  the  marsh  in  a  small 
boat  kept  for  that  purpose.  Many  a  weary  hunter 
has  sought  his  cabin  and  shared  his  homely  meals, 
always  consisting  of  johnny  cake  and  venison;  laying 
down  at  night  on  a  plat  of  deer  skins  spread  for  the 
purpose  on  the  cabin  floor,  and  arising  at  dawn  re- 
freshed and  hopeful  for  another  day"s  hunt. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  land  sold  for  settlement  in  Richmond 
township,  was  by  Isaac  Mills  to  William  Tindall.  in 
1825.  This  was  lot  number  twelve,  in  the  second 
section,  and  is  now  occujjied  by  P]zekiel  Buckingham. 
Tindall  cleared  a  field  the  same  year,  built  a  cabin, 
and  set  out  an  orchard,  the  first  in  the  township. 
This  consisted  of  fifty  trees  taken  from  Johnny  Apple- 
seed's  nursery.  This  orchard  is  yet  standing.  Tin- 
dall soon  became  tired  of  pioneer  life,  traded  his  land 
to  Judge  Ives,  of  New  Haven,  and  left  the  township. 

In   1833,  Amos  Ogden  began  on  lot  one,   in  the 


I  second  section.  He  was  the  first  permanent  settler 
in  Richmond  township,  and  died  in  1850,  leaving  no 
children. 

Jacob  C'roninger,  the  next  settler,  came  into  the 
township  October  G.  1835,  and  Ijcgan  settlement  on 
lot  number  fourteen,  where  E.  W.  Fast  now  lives. 
He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  moved  from  West- 
moreland county,  in  1811,  to  Stark  county.  Ohio, 
and  from  thence  to  this  township.  He  died  in  1802, 
having  a  family  of  three  sons  and  nine  daughters. 

Reuben  Franklin  and  family  came  from  Herkimer 
county,  New  York,  to  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1832.  He 
stopped  during  the  winter  in  Norwich,  and,  the  sub- 
sequent spring,  located  permanently  in  Richmond,  on 
lot  number  twenty-nine,  in  the  second  section.  Here 
he  died  four  years  later  (October  16,  1837).  Mrs. 
Franklin  died  the  year  following  their  settlement  in 
Richmond.  Of  the  nine  children  composing  this 
family,  four  are  now  living:  M^iria,  Rebecca,  George 
and  Edmond.  The  latter  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead, and  is  the  earliest  settler  now  living  in  the 
township. 

Philip  Upp,  came  into  Richmond  in  the  fall  of 
1835,  and  cleared  off  two  acres  on  lot  number  sixteen. 
Upon  this  he  built  a  cabin,  during  the  winter,  and, 
the  third  week  in  February,  1836,  moved  his  family 
into  it.  Mr.  Upp  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  death  occurred  in  March,  and  a  family  were  left 
consisting  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Jacob, 
the  eldest,  died  in  1862,  and  left  a  family  in  Michi- 
gan. Philip,  the  youngest,  now  resides  in  Plymouth, 
this  county.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Cro- 
ninger,  and  Hannah  lives  in  Pennsylvania. 

Eleazer  Day  came  into  the  township  in  the  spring 
of  1836,  and  commenced  settlement  on  the  corner  of 
lot  nine,  in  the  third  section.  The  following  year 
his  brother-in-law  built  an  addition  to  the  house  and 
0])ened  the  pioneer  hotel  in  the  township.  Thoy 
both  left  the  township  in  about  1815,  and  of  their 
history  nothing  is  known. 

William  Hutchison  came  from  Monroe  county, 
Ohio,  to  Richmond,  in  1836,  and  located  on  lot  num- 
ber four,  in  the  first  section,  now  occupied  by  a  son, 
James.  William  Hutchison  died  in  1849.  Mrs. 
Hamilton  is  still  living. 

Daniel  Sykes,  who  was  originally  from  Franklin 
county.  Vermont,  came  to  Huron  county  in  1832.  and 
first  settled  in  Greenfield  township.  His  wife  was 
Arabelle  Butler.  In  1836  he  removed  to  Richmond 
township,  and  located  on  lot  number  twenty-seven, 
in  the  second  section,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  were  in  the  army. 
One  was  killed  at  Resaca,  one  died,  and  one  lost  a 
leg  at  Winchester,  A'irginia. 

Jonas  Fackler  came  into  the  township  on  the  30th 
day  of  April.  1837.  and  moved  into  the  cabin  with 
Philip  Upp.  His  younger  brother.  Jacob  Fackler, 
came  with  him,  and  in  nine  days  they  had  completed 
a  cabin  and  moved  into  it.  This  was  on  lot  number 
two,  ill  the  second   section.     He  had  four  sons  and 


292 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


one  daughter.  Tlie  sons  still  live  in  the  township, 
the  daughter  in  ^lichigan. 

William  Johnson  came  from  the  State  of  New  York 
ti)  Hartland,  in  1833.  Here  he  remained  .some  four 
years,  and  removed  to  Greenfield.  Two  years  later 
he  located  permanently  in  Richmond  township.  This 
was  on  lot  number  two,  in  the  second  section.  Here 
he  died,  in  1862.  His  wife  died  some  ten  years  before. 
The  family  consisted  of  twelve  children.  Mary  mar- 
ried Huriah  Robinson,  and  lives  in  Richmond. 

lluriah  Robinson  came  with  his  parents  to  Norwich, 
in  1832.  January  2Gth,  he  married  Mary  Johnson  and 
the  following  year  came  to  Richmond  township,  locat- 
ing on  lot  thirty-seven  in  the  second  section,  where 
he  still  lives.  Mr.  Robinson  has  been  for  twelve  years 
justice  of  the  peace.  Of  the  nine  children  born  of 
this  marriage,  four  only  are  now  living. 

In  May,  1837.  Daniel  Sweetland  came  to  Ohio,  and 
eventually  located  in  Greenfield  township.  The 
children  who  came  with  him  were  :  Elijah  and  wife, 
and  Daniel,  Jr.  Elijah  settled  in  Norwich,  where 
he  died.  Daniel,  Jr.,  married  Orphelia  Crosby,  and 
settled  on  lot  number  forty-five,  in  the  second  section 
of  Richmond  township,  where  he  now  lives.  They 
have  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living. 
Daniel  Sweetland,  Sr.,  died  February  20,  181:8,  and 
Mrs.  Sweetland  the  March  following.  The  following 
are  among  the  early  settlers  :  Benjamin  B.  Tanner,  lot 
four,  in  the  second  section  ;  George  and  Elisha  Baker, 
Peris  Miner,  lot  thirty-four,  section  two  ;  James  and 
Abram  Reed,  Griffith  Johns,  lot  thirty-three,  section 
two;  John  Kelsey,  lot  seven,  section  three;  Henry 
Rush,  lot  six,  section  three;  James  Lutts.  lot  eighteen, 
section  three;  Michael  Lutts,  lot  seventeen,  same 
section  :  John  Hall,  lot  one,  section  two:  Robert 
Moore,  Samuel  Post,  and  possibly  others. 

James  Y^ouugs  settled  in  Richmond  township  in 
December,  1835.  His  family,  at  that  time,  consisted 
of  a  wife  and  six  children,  and  came  from  Broome 
county.  New  Y'ork.  When  the  family  reached  Rich- 
mond, their  entire  worldly  effects  consisted  of  a  yoke 
of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  some  bedding,  a  dog  and  gun 
and  a  York  sixpence.  They  located  in  the  northeast 
l>art  of  the  township,  near  where  Chicago  Junction 
now  is.  Here  they  lived  some  three  years,  then  re- 
moved to  New  Haven  township,  eventually  locating 
in  its  eastern  jjart.  Mrs.  Y'oungs  died  here,  and  Mr. 
^'oungs  subserjuently  married  and  settled  in  Green- 
Held  township,  where  he  died  in  July,"  1873.  The 
children  numbered  eleven,  three  only  of  whom  sur- 
vive: James  J.  and  Charles,  who  live  in  Greentield, 
the  latter  on  the  old  homestead.  A  daughter,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Platts,  resides  in  Michigan. 

FIRST    EVENTS.. 

There  were  births,  and  ]in>l>ably  <leaths,  among  the 
squatters,  of  wjiicli  there  is  no  rememlirance;  but 
the  first  birth  among  the  permanent  settlers  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Susan  Cline.     She  was  named 


Savilla.  grew  to  womanhood,  married  Simon  Yetter 
and  moved  from  the  township. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Eliza  Day  to  James 
McManigal.  Of  this  couple  we  only  know  that  they 
moved  to  Michigan  soon  after  marriage. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Higley,  who 
resided  on  lot  number  one.  The  body  was  buried 
near  the  house,  and  some  two  years  later  it  was  dis- 
interred, with  the  intention  of  removing  it  to  a  more 
suitable  location. 

In  1839,  a  post  office  was  established  in  the  town- 
ship. John  Foglesong  was  postmaster,  and  the  office 
was  located  at  his  house,  on  lot  number  seventeen. 
This  office  was  finally  discontinued  and,  for  years, 
Richmond  township  has  been   without  a  post  office. 

Richmond  has  never  had  anything  in  the  mercan- 
tile line,  except  two  small  groceries,  and  these  have 
long  since  gone  out  of  existence. 

In  addition  to  the  hotel  already  mentioned,  Abram 
Polliuger  kept  a  house  of  entertainment  on  lot  num- 
ber seventeen,  in  third  section,  for  a  number  of  years. 

Ill  1848,  Amos  Ogden  built  a  steam  saw  mill  in  the 
east  part  of  township,  on  the  Tiffin  road  (lot  twelve). 
This  was  burned  in  1861.  Three  other  mills  have 
been  built  and  are  still  in  operation  in  the  township. 

The  Tiffin  road  was  the  first  opened  in  the  town- 
ship. It  was  begun  in  1836,  and  completed  four 
3"ears  later,  and  even  then  it  was  often  a  day's  work 
to  drive  through   the  township  with   a  loaded  team. 

ORGAXIZATION. 

From  1815  to  "36.  Richmond  township  was  attached 
to  New  Haven.  At  the  April  election  of  1836.  Amos 
Ogden  was  elected  a  supervisor  for  Richmond  town- 
ship.    He  was  the  first  sworn  officer  in  the  township. 

In  March,  1836,  the  householders  of  the  township 
met  at  the  house  of  Philip  Upp.  Eleizor  Day  acted  as 
chairman  and  secretary,  and  it  was  resolved,,  on  mo- 
tion of  Mr.  Day.  to  petition  the  county  commissiouers 
of  Huron  county,  for  an  organization  of  the  township, 
under  the  name  of  Richmond.  The  following  per- 
sons signed  the  petition:  Eleizor  Day,  Jacob  Cro- 
ninger,  Joseph  Anderson,  Hugh  Carson,  Wm.  Carson, 
N.  Carson,  William  Linglefelter,  Israel  Randal,  God- 
frey Lake,  Elijah  Packard,  Wm.  Hutchinson,  George 
Day,  Abram  Carey.  Amos  Ogden.  Henry  Knavel, 
James  Dailey,  Jesse  Williams,  James  Y'oungs,  Charles 
Skinner,  Samuel  Spencer,  William  and  Thomas  Hill, 
Solomon  Billings,  Joseph  Light  and  John  Carpenter. 
The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  granttd.  and  an 
election  for  township  officers  ordered,  to  take  place  on 
the  fourth  day  of  the  following  July.  The  record  of 
this  election  cannot  be  found,  but  it  is  thought  the 
following  persons  were  elected:  Reuben  Franklin, 
William  Hutchinson  and  Jacob  Croninger,  trustees; 
Eleizor  Day,  clerk;  Philip  Upp,"  treasurer:  among 
justices  of  the  jieace  we  find  the  names  of  Amos 
Ogden,  Amos  Roop,  Daniel  Franklin,  Jeremiah  Wil- 
liams, Huriah  Robinson,  Michael  Lutts,  Joseph  Beel- 
nian,  Daniel  Sweetland,  S.  N.  Sage,  John  Carothers 


Dr  WILLIAM   ROBINSON. 


fv^RS.[^URIAH   ROBINSON.  [HURIAH    ROBINSON 


RESIDENCE  OF    H.    ROBINSON. RiCHMOndTrHwonCo.i 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  John  Nesbit.  The  township  officers  for  1878 
are:  Hiram  Suj-der,  J.  J.  Critchett  and  Alexander 
Brown,  trustees;  John  Moore,  clerk;  Lewis  Kirk- 
wood,  treasurer;  Abuer  Crawford,  assessor;  Lewis 
Ault  and  Abner  Crawford,  constables;  and  sixteen 
supervisors  of  highways. 

CHURCHES. 

In  1840-41,  there  existed  a  small  isolated  class  of 
Methodist  people,  along  the  line  between  Norwich 
and  Richmond,  who  were  compelled,  for  want  of  a 
better  place,  to  hold  their  evening  prayer  meetings  at 
the  houses  of  the  settlers.  Benjamin  Tanner,  of 
Richmond,  was  their  class-leadei-,  and  in  December, 
1841,  he  appointed  a  meeting  -at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Jolinson  standing  far  into  the  woods.  Contrary  to 
exijectation,  people  flocked  in,  with  torches  through 
the  woods,  from  every  direction,  and  filled  the  cabin 
to  its  utmost  capacity.  Rev.  Samuel  Allen,  a  circuit 
preacher,  had  casually  heard  that  John  Keesey,  a 
Methodist,  was  living  in  Richmond,  and  he  visited 
him  iu  time  to  attend  the  prayer  meeting.  He 
preached  a  fine  sermon,  and  from  its  good  effect  he 
thought  best  to  make  another  appointment.  This 
was  at  the  school  house  on  Day's  Corners,  and  a  class  of 
Methodists  were  organized  at  this  time,  consisting  of 
the  following  persons:  F.  D.  Read  and  wife,  Seth 
Read  and  wife,  and  John  Keesey  and  wife.  The  class 
leader  was  John  Keesey.  These  meetings  continued 
until  the  church  numbered  about  fifty  members.  By 
deaths  and  removals  this  class  has  become  so  much 
reduced  in  numbers  that  an  organization  luirdly  exists 
at  present.  Mr.  Allen's  sermon  at  the  prayer  meet- 
ing was  tlie  first  Methodist  sermon  delivered  in  the 
township. 

rXITEP    BRETHREN    CHURCH. 

In  the  fall  of  18.38,  Rev.  Michael  Long,  of  the 
Bretiiren  faith,  held  an  evening  meeting  at  the  house 
of  Jacob  Croninger,  and  preached  the  first  sermon  in 
the  township.  In  1849,  Jacob  Bell  organized  the 
L^nited  Brethren  Church,  in  the  red  school  house  in 
the  east  part  of  the  township,  with  the  following  mem- 
bers: George  S.  Williams,  James  May,  Jacob  Upp, 
Henry  Weaver,  Philip  Bash,  David  Bush  and  wife, 
and  Reuben  Fenton  and  wife..  The  same  year  the 
cliurch,  on  lot  number  eight  in  the  second  section, 
was  erected.  This  is  now  occupied  by  this  society 
and  the  Methodists.  The  present  officers  of  the 
United  Bretiiren  Churcli  are  John  Auhmiller,  leader; 
PJiilip  Newman,  Margaret  Newman  and  Eliza  Daw- 
.son,  stewards.     The  nunnbership  is  seventy. 

The  class  of  United  Brethren  at  Union  Bethel  was 
organized  in  about  1S7(I.  Meetings  were  held,  tor 
.-several  years  prior  to  this,  in  tlie  school  iiouse  in  tliis 
locality.  The  members  of  tiiis  class  were:  P.  B. 
Keesey  and  wife,  B.  Ilawii  and  wife,  J.  Hoyles,  wife 
and  daughter,  James  Thompson  and  wife,  E.  W.  Fast, 
wife  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Mai-y  A.  JIcBride, 
Daniel  Rogers,  Mrs.  Crabb,  Mrs.  Finley  Leonard,  Mrs. 


Hannah  Pearch,  Sarah  Keesey,  and  Truman  and 
Viola  Fuller.  The  present  membership  is  twenty- 
five.  Church  officers:  Hewey  Blair,  leader;  J.  W. 
Sage,  steward.  The  Union  Sabbath  school  is  presided 
over  by  Finley  Leonard.  The  following  are  among 
the  ministers  who  have  preached  to  both  United 
Brethren  congregations  in  the  township:  Rev.  (i. 
Hoover,  William  Nevil,  William  Mathers,  George  T. 

Seyler,  John  Auhmiller. Steamen, Bender, 

Ramsey  and  Klingel. 

THE    CHURCH    OF    GOD 

was  organized  by  the  Rev.  William  Shafer  iu  about 
18.55.  Constituent  members:  Abram  PoUinger  and 
wife,  James  Shinaberger  and  wife,  Leonard  Allaman 
and  wife.  Christian  Fetterhoof  and  wife,  Sarah  Pol- 
linger  and  Jlrs.  Elizabeth  Brandt.  Meetings  were 
held  in  the  school  house  in  district  number  five  until 
the  erection  of  the  '-Bethel"  in  1860.  This  building 
is  located  on  lot  number  eighteen  in  the  third  sec- 
tion. It  was  built  by  subscription,  and  is  ojjen  to  all 
religious  denominations.  The  membership  of  the 
Church  of  God  is  thirty.  Officers:  Abram  Polliuger, 
elder;  Joseph  Wolf  and  Lewis  Rapp,  deacons.  The 
ministers  who  have  presided  over  that  church,  are  R. 
H.  Bolton,  John  Senseneg,  John  L.  Jenner.  Martin 
Mowen,  D.  S.  Warner,  Jacob  Aukerman,  J.  S.  :\Ic- 
Kee.  George  Wilson,  W.  H.  Oliver  and  William  Bur- 
chard. 

THE    ZIOX    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

Meetings  were  held  in  the  summer  of  1S.5T,  by  the 
Rev.  William  Schmakero,  in  the  house  of  Daniel 
Drehers.  The  following  summer  the  church  now 
occupied  by  this  society,  on  lot  number  twenty-two, 
was  constructed.  This  cost  one  thousand  dollars,  and 
soon  after  its  completion,  the  church  was  organized 
with  the  following  members:  Peter  Lepley  and  wife, 
Daniel  Dreher  and  wife,  John  and  Simon  Dick  and 
wives,  William  Miller  and  wife,  W.  Albright  and 
wife,  William  Ritz  and  wife,  Conrad  Craft  and  wife, 
Frederick  Goosh  and  wife,  John  Waltz  and  wife, 
Loi-enz  Koutz  and  wife,  Frederick  Lander  and  wife, 
and  Christiana  Sissinger.  The  membership  at  present 
(1878)  is  nearly  the  same  as  when  first  organized. 
ilinisters:  Charles  Miller,  Charles  Smith, Brown- 
wait.  Kranier,  0.  K.  Ulrich  and  Jacob  Kreigher. 

SCHOOLS. 

In  1837,  Richmond  township  was  divided  iutn  two 
school  districts,  and  a  frame  school  house  Ijiiili  in 
each,  but  a  school  was  only  kept  in  tlie  west  one,  tiien 
standing  at  Day's  corners,  on  lands  now  owned  by  John 
Waltz.  Eliza  Day  was  the  first  teacher.  Her  scholars 
were:  Jonathan  Jacob,  David,  Susan,  Haunali,  and 
Lydia  Croninger,  William,  Eliza,  and  Charles  Day,- 
Charles,  Margaret,  and  Mary  Ann  Clinc,  Andrew 
and  Elizabeth  Anderson,  and  Elizabeth  Lingerfelter. 
The  east  school  house  was  not  completed  for  a  school 
tluit  winter.  These  were-the  first  frame  buildings  in 
the  township,  and  were  well  furnished  and  coinforta_ 


294 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ble.  Richmond  h.-i^  now  as  fine  ii  lot  of  school  build- 
ings as  any  township  in  the  county,  nearly  all  of 
brick. 

I1EFE.4T   OF   THE    SQUATTER. 

In  18.37,  Eleizor  Day  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  served  three  years.  In  1840,  W.  H.  Pond 
■was  elected,  served  three  years,  and  was  a  candidate 
for  re-election  in  1843.  He  was  wholly  and  entirely 
in  the  interest  of  the  squatter  element.  At  this  time 
two  parties,  equal  in  numbers,  stood  sternly  opposed 
to  each  other  morally.  Amos  Roop  was  the  opponent 
of  Mr.  Pond.  Two  elections  had  been  held,  and  both 
resulted  in  a  tie  vote.  But  at  the  third  the  Pond 
party  had  increased  its  strength,  so_  that  he  was  sure 
of  receiving  two  majority.  But  to  his  surprise,  when 
the  votes  were  counted  the  two  majority  were  in  favor 
of  Air.  Roop.  An  investigation  was  had,  and  a  suit 
brought  before  Esquire  Coglazier,  of  Plymouth,  con- 
testing the  election.  The  court,  however,  ruled  that 
Roop  was  legally  elected.  The  defeat  of  Pond  was 
the  defeat  of  the  outlaw  party,  and  the  death  blow  to 
squatter  rule  in  Richmond  township,  a  sort  of  moral 
revolution,  as  it  were.  Her  good  men  breathed  freer. 
The  civilizing  influence  of  Mr.  Roop's  judicial  ad- 
ministration scattered  the  squatters  and  those  who 
had  gathered  to  their  standard,  like  chaff  before  the 
wind,  and  Richmond  assumed  a  moral  position  among 
her  sister  townships. 


Biographical  Sketches, 


HURIAH  ROBINSON 
is  the  sixth  child  of  William  and  Latitia  Coleman 
Robinson,  who  removed   from  Washington   county, 
Pennsylvania,  to  Ohio,  soon  after  it  became  a  State, 


first  locating  in  Lenton  township,  Coshocton  county, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  March  2, 
181C.  In  1828,  the  family  removed  to  Marion  county, 
where  they  remained  until  1832,  when  they  came  to 
Huron  county,  arriving  in  Norwich  township  on  May 
5th  of  that  year.  Eventually  the  parents  removed  to 
Fitchville  township,  where  Mr.  Robinson  died  in  Oc- 
tober, 1864;  his  wife  following  him  in  February  sub- 
sequent. Huriah  derived  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Northern  Ohio,  and  after  obtaining 
his  majority  he  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  farming. 
On  January  16,  1842,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and  Phebe  Wade 
Johnson,  of  Richmond  township,  by  whom  the  fol- 
lowing children  were, born:  Hannah,  who  married 
Jolin  Nesbitt,  and  resides  in  Richmond;  William  J., 
who  is  now  clerk  of  the  Morton  House,  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Michigan;  Emily  0.,  who  is  deceased;  Vol- 
ney  J.,  who  married  Emeline  Post,  of  Norwich,  and 
lives  in  Richmond;  Eugene,  deceased;  Robert,  de- 
ceased; Prank,  who  married  Caroline  Croxton,  lives 
in  Richmond;  Josephine,  deceased;  and  Martha  E., 
who  married  F.  B.  Tanner,  deceased,  leaving  two 
chfldren. 

In  January,  1843,  Mr.  Robinson  purchased  the 
farm  in  lot  number  thirty-seven,  in  the  second  section, 
upon  which  he  still  resides,  and  which  he  has  brought 
from  a  "  howling  wilderness"  to  a  profitable  state  of 
cultivation.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  acres. 

Politically,  ilr.  or  Esquire  Robinson,  as  he  is  usu- 
ally called,  is  a  firm  adherent  to  the  principles  of  the 
democratic  party.  In  his  township  he  has  always 
occupied  a  prominent  position  in  its  politics,  and  be- 
ginning with  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which 
he  held  twelve  years,  he  has  held  every  township  of- 
fice, except  constable,  and  during  his  service  as  justice 
of  the  peace  had  but  one  case  appealed.  A  fine  view 
of  his  residence  appears  in  this  volume. 


Residence  of   DANIEL  SWELTLAND.RichmondTp.HuronCo.O 


NEW  HAVEN. 


The  time  that  has  passed,  since  the  pioneer  first 
walked  in  tlie  wilderness  by  the  side  of  the  Huron, 
is  almost  three  score  years  and  ten.  Strange  and 
startling  scenes,  in  life  dramas,  have  been  enacted 
upon  its  brink,  before  and  since  then.  The  Indian, 
glorying  in  liis  wild  freedom  and  holding  undisputed 
possession  of  the  forest,  has  here  lain  in  wait  for  the 
deer  to  come  and  drink,  has  fought  the  bear  and  fol- 
lowed the  stealthy  panther.  Human  blood  has  flowed 
by  the  side  of  the  stream.  The  white  man  came,  and 
with  hard  labor  rolled  together  the  logs  for  a  humble 
home.  The  prattle  and  the  laughter  of  little  children 
mingled  with  the  musical  babbling  of  the  river.  The 
sound  of  the  ax  was  heard  along  the  shore,  and  the 
crashing  of  falling  timber  shook  the  earth.  The 
forest  melted  away  before  the  march  of  the  army  of 
peace.  The  country  was  dotted  with  human  habita- 
tions; a  village  grew  up  and  became  a  busy  mart.  The 
church  and  school  house  a2:)peared.  Where  once 
were  no  sounds  but  those  of  nature,  there  had  come 
the  hum  of  industry,  the  bustle  of  trade,  a  hurrying 
to  and  fro,  the  greetings  of  man  with  man,  the  ac- 
tivity impelled  by  varied  human  interests.  The  river 
was  stopped  that  it  might  gather  strength  to  turn  the 
mill.  There  were  births,  marriages,  deaths,  the  ever 
occurring  joys  and  griefs  of  humanity, — the  change 
and  mutation  of  life  and  time.  The  village  arose  and 
well  nigh  faded  from  existence  again;  houses  rotted 
away;  men  who  were  babes  when  the  the  country  was 
new,  grew  old  and  went  down  to  their  graves.  In 
the  midst  of  change  only  the  river  went  on  un- 
changed, like  the  poet's  brook,  for — 


Were  tlie  fulltilment  of  the  task  possible,-  it  would 
l)e  a  pleasant  duty  to  present  to  the  reader  of  to-day, 
carefully  trimmed  outlines  of  the  characters  of  tiiose 
men  and  women,  whose  lives  were  passed  in  pre- 
paring the  wilderness  for  the  present  generations; 
but  we  shall,  however,  present  some  of  the  facts  of 
pioneer  life,  and  strive  to  perpetuate,  at  least  the 
names,  of  those  who  bore  the  brunt  in  the  great 
struggle  of  subduing  a  new  country — who  surmounted 
its  obstacles  and  faced  its  dangers  bravely. 

The  history  of  Xew  Haven  has  for  several  reasons 
a  peculiar  interest.  It  was  the  first  township  settled, 
within  the  territory  at  present  consisting  of  Huron 
county.  Tlie  village  was  the  first  one  formed  and 
the  plat  the  first  laid  out  within  the  present  limits  of 
the  county.  Two  other  villages  have  l)een  develoi)ed 
— one  to  a  considerable  size  by  a  slow  growth,  since 
the  star  of  New  Haven's  hope  waned;  the  other,  a 
.small    one,    recently   and    ijuiekly.      In   addition  to 


these  facts,  the  red-man  enters  prominently  into  the 
recital  of  the  first  settlers'  experience,  and  Jonathan 
Chapman — "Appleseed  Johnny" — occupies  a  large 
share  of  attention,  because  New  Haven  was  more  of  a 
home  for  that  strange  philanthropist  of  the  western 
forest,  than  any  other  he  possessed  after  entering 
upon  the  life  service  that  made  him  famous  through- 
out the  country. 

SITUATION,    STRE.A.-MS,    SURFACE,    FEATURES. 

New  Haven  is  township  number  one,  range  twenty- 
three,  and  was  generally  so  known  until  it  received 
its  name.  It  is  bounded  upon  the  north  by  Greenfield, 
on  the  east  by  Ripley,  south  by  Plymouth  township, 
(Richland  county),  and  west  by  Richmond.  The 
principal  stream  within  its  limits  is  the  Huron  river, 
which  flows  in  a  northerly  and  easterly  direction 
through  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  and  thence 
on  to  the  lake.  Almost  one  fourth  of  the  township, 
section  number  four,  the  southwest  quarter,  was  orig- 
inally a  wet  prairie  or  marsh,  which,  until  it  had  been 
improved  by  extensive  and  systematic  drainage,  was 
uninhabitable  and  untillable.  It  abounded,  at  an  early 
day,  in  willow  thickets,  cranberries  and  rattlesnakes,  of 
the  kind  commonly  called  "Saugers. "  As  the  land  was 
improved,  the  rattlesnakes  and  cranberries  and  marsh 
grass  gave  place,  in  a  large  measure,  to  the  production 
of  other  and  more  useful  articles,  and  now  a  large 
portion  of  the  once  wild  waste  is  cultivated,  and  gives 
the  farmer  a  rich  reward  for  his  labor  in  grass,  grain 
and  corn.  The  marsh  feeds  a  small  stream,  known 
as  Marsh  run,  which  i^:  a  tributary  to  the  Huron 
river. 

Stone  appears  at  tlie  surface  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  township,  near  Plymouth  village,  and  has  for 
many  years  been  quite  extensively  quarried  for  use  in 
the  i  mediate  vicinity.  It  is  most  commonly  found 
in  thin  layers,  more  suitable  for  flagging  than  for 
building  purposes. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level,  but 
in  some  portions  is  slightly  rolling.  The  soil  in  the 
north  and  eastern  parts  is  a  mixture  of  clay  and  sand, 
unexcelled  for  general  agricultui-al  pu  poses.  In  the 
southwest  it  is  a  black  sandy  loam. 

An  unusually  heavy  growth  of  timber  originally 
covered  this  territory.  The  river  forms  a  distinct 
dividing  line  between  the  oak  and  beech  lands.  Tlie 
beech  trees  are  still  abundant  upon  the  east  side,  and 
oak.  hickory,  ash,  maple  and  other  iiard  timber  upon 
the  west. 

AKOKIGIXAI.  UKMAINS. 

Early  settlers  speak  of  the  remains  of  an  old  fortifi- 
cation,  plainly   visible   before    the    plowshare    had 


290 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


levelled  them  with  the  suiTouuding  plain.  It  was 
upon  land  owned  by  the  heirs  of  David  Dow,  and 
situated  within  the  limits  of  the  town  plat.  Tlie 
embankments  were  of  circular  form,  very  plainly 
marked,  and  trees  of  a  large  growth  weri_'  standing 
upon  them  fifty  years  ago. 

THE     (OX.VECTICUT     '-SUFrEKEKs"     AXD     THE      FIRST 
OWXEKS    OF   THE    SOIL. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  read- 
er is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 


Classification  No. 


Original  ( 


iitee, 


Samuel  Squire,  Jr. 
Walter  Buddlngton 
Amos  Jesup 
Horton  Reynjlds 
Richard  Camp 
Samuel  Fairctuld 
Jadock  Benedict 
Abijah  Barnum 
NatSaniel  Gregory 
Sbudduck  Morris 
Benjamin  Shove 
Joseph  P.  Cook 
Elizabeth  Henry  or 
Henrick 


Benjamin  Wood 
John  Porter 
Elias  Shipman 
Jonathan  Williams 
Thomas  Wilson 
James  Lane 
Martin  Patchin 
Lois  Wells 
Jotham  Williams 
Thomas  Wilmot 
Abraham  Tuttle,  Jr. 
Widow  Scovil  or 

Scovit 
Thos.Punderson,  Jr. 
Doctor  Timothy  Mix 
Israel  Bunnil 
Mary  Kimberly 
Cornelius  Thayer 
Isaac  Thompson 
Thomas  Benham 
James  Hull 
Isaac  Doolittle  : 

John  Goodrich 
Abraham  Tuttle 
Thankful  Thompson    : 
Daniel  Wilmot 
CornTs  Cunningham 
Rhoda  Demiison 
William  Noyes 
Ebenezer  Peck 
Abigail  Stan- 
Samuel  White 
Daniel  Brown 
William  Trowbridge 
John  Whiting,  Esq.    li 
James  Bradley 
John  Bradley,  Jr. 


Classified  bij.  Am' 

X, 
ElishaT.ioIs'ac  Mills  33 


Committee 
Joseph  Smith  4th 
Committee 


James  Bradley 


Footing  of  Classificati* 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  •■ 


Original  Gran 


Abigail  Andrews 
David  Abbott 
Joseph  Adams 
Lucy  Barker 
Joseph  Bishop 
Elias  Buck 
Peter  Bulkley 
Phebe  Brown 
'llmothy  1'.  Bonticoii 
Ama  Clinton 
Levi  Clinton 
John  Carew 
William  Doak 
Samuel  Dunwell 
Samuel  Dwight 
Sarah  navenp'jrc 
Hamlin  Dwight 

John  (i  odsell 
Martin  Gatler,  dec'd 
Sanmel  Goodwin 
Hannah  Holchkiss 
Ebenezer  Hull 
Richard  Johnson 


Classified  by. 
I   Joseph  Darling 


Am't  Ctussed. 


Mark  Leavenworth 
Samuel  Little 
Phebe  Miher 
WUliam  Miles 
Mary  Miles 
WilUam  Piuichard 
Philip  Rexford 
Francis  Sage 
Elizabeth  Stillman 
Timothy  Sperry 
William  Sherman 
Moes  Thompson 
Stephen  Tuttle 
Micliael  Vaun 
David  Austin,  Jr 
Paul  Xoves 
Nathan  Smith 
John  Austin 
John  Pease 
Noah  Tucker 
Joseph  Tuttle 


Archibald  Austin 
Justin  Hobart 
Ezra  Peekit 
Stephen  St.lohn 
Zadock  Benedict 
Matthew  Benedict 
Nath'l  Lockwood 
Sallew  Pell 
JIary  Greenslate 
Rebecca  Crowfut 
Matthew  Crowfut 
Thomas  Starr 
Major  Taylor 
Benjamin  Sperry 
Joseph  Benedict 
Thos  H.  Benedict 
Mary  Kilby 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  a,  .£l.a44 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Isaac  Dickerman         S 
Edward  Larkin 
Frederick  Harding 
Nehemiah  Hotchkiss  . 
-Mabel  Johnson 
Ebenezer  Alhng 
William  Eyers 
Timothy  Jones.  Jr 
Daniel  Goodsell 
Samuell  Howell 
Caleb  Gilbert 
Benjamin  Smith 
Nathaniel  Kimberly 
David  Mulford 
Benajah  Thomas 
Andrew  Smith 
Jon  Allen 
Mary  Stillwell 
Samuel  Barnes 
Nathan  Catlin 
Hannah  Bingley 
John  Richards 
Hannah  JIansfield 
Titus  Beecher 
George  Smith 
Jeremiah  MoCumber  . 
Jesse  Stephens 
Mando  Cambridge 
William  Pheymeit      . 
Phineas  Andrus 
Thomas  Davis 
Lamberton  Painter, 

(two  losses). 
William  Holmes 
Isaac  Jones 
Jonathan  Sabin 
Samuel  Horton 
Timothy  Tuttle 
David  BeecKer 
Philemon  Smith 
Azel  Kimberly,  (two 

losses) 
Peter  Bonhier,  or 

Bontieon 
James  Plant     . 
Samuel  Tuttle  3T 


"■■■     I 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3.  £1,314 


Classificatio.v 
Am't  Loss. 


Samuel  Tuttle 
Timy*  Wm.  Jones 
'I  homas  Wooster 
Jesse  Leavenworth 
.Abner  Austin 
Edward  Buddlngton 
William  Buddlngton 
Samuel  Squire,  Jr 


Jo.  4,  Section  4. 

Classified  by. 

Elisha  T.  x  Isaac 
Mills 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,   £1." 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


•^97 


A  pioneer's  experience  DrKIXG  THE  WAR  OF  1813. 

Caleb  Palmer  was  the  pioneer  of  New  Haven.  He 
entered,  for  the  purpose  of  settlement,  what  was  then 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  before  the  war,  in  1811,  and 
was,  undoubtedly,  the  first  permanent  white  resident 
in  the  territory  now  included  in  the  bounds  of  Huron 
county.  He  was  a  typical  pioneer,  nigged,  strong, 
independent,  fearless.  He  was  a  surveyor,  and  in 
that  capacity  had  tramped  through  the  forests  of  this 
part  of  the  country  some  years  before.  He  bought 
land  in  1810.  His  family,  in  1811,  when  he  made  his 
settlement,  consisted  of  himself,  wife  and  two  children. 
Two  men,  Woodcock  and  Newcomb,  came  at  the 
same  time,  or  soon  after,  but  neither  remained  long 
in  the  township,  or  was  prominently  associated  with 
its  affairs.  Newcomb  died  in  Trumbull  county, 
where  he  had  returned  for  his  family.  Woodcock 
made  his  home  on  lot  sixty-six,  section  two,  and 
remained  a  year  or  so.  No  mention  of  him  is  made 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  it  is  probable  that  he 
did  not  return  to  his  land  after  going  to  Richland 
county,  at  the  time  of  the  Indian'scare.  It  is  difficult 
to  obtain. detinite  information  in  regard  to  Palmer, 
for  he  seems  to  have  had  a  peculiar  dislike  of  leaving 
anything  to  posterity  concerning  himself,  and  is  said 
to  have  destroyed  many  papers,  which,  were  they  now 
in  existence,  would  afford  interesting  particulars  of 
his  early  life. 

The  first  few  years  of  Palmer's  experience  was  of  the 
kind  that  would  make  the  stoutest  heart  quail.  Soon 
after  the  war  began,  he  went  to  Lower  Sandusky  with 
an  ox  team,  and  there  learned  of  Hull's  surrender, 
which  left  the  frontier  without  defence.  He  was  on 
his  guard  on  the  long  drive  home,  and  prepared  for 
the  worst.  No  trouble  was,  however,  experienced. 
During  the  war,  an  almost  constant  watch  was  kept 
by  the  few  inhabitants  scattered  through  the  country, 
and  scouts  were  constantly  employed,  so  that  the 
approach  of  any  large  body  of  redskins  might  be 
apprehended,  and  the  settlers  given  time  to  flee  from 
their  homes.  On  one  occasion,  five  hostile  Indians 
encamped  upon  the  river  bottom,  just  opposite 
Palmer's  cabin.  An  attack  was  momentarily  expected, 
but  for  some  reason,  although  they  were  well  aware 
of  the  existence  of  the  house,  they  did  not  come  near 
it,  but  contented  themselves  with  making  a  meal  from 
the  corn  growing  near  by.  The  danger  may  have 
been  overestimated,  for  it  was  regularly  reported  that 
the  woods  were  full  of  Indians,  and  rumors,  probably 
greatly  exaggerated,  reached  the  pioneers,  of  horrible 
atrocities  in  various  parts  of  the  wilderness. 

This  family  and  one  or  two  other  settlers  in  the 
township,  and  two  or  three  more  in  Greenfield,  lived 
in  almost  constant  fear  that  the  terrific  war  whoop  of 
the  savages  would  be  heard  about  their  houses,  and 
that  scenes  would  be  enacted  about  their  hearthstones 
similar  to  those  of  which  they  had  heard.  The 
imagination  pictured  dangers  when  none  existed. 
Any  unusual  sound  in  the  forest,  the  suspicious  cry 


of  an  owl,  or  of  a  wild  animal,  might  be  the  signal 
for  an  overwhelming  onslaught  and  massacre. 

Palmer  and  Woodcock  had  agreed  that  if  either 
saw  Indians  in  the  vicinity,  a  rifle  shot  should  be 
fired,  and  that  on  no  account  whatever,  except  on 
such  occasion,  should  a  gun  be  fired.  Palmer  and 
"Johnny  Apjjleseed,"  who  was  at  that  time  living 
with  him,  one  day  heard  the  sharp  crack  of  a  rifle,  in 
the  direction  of  Woodcock's  cabin;  almost  immedi- 
ately it  was  followed  by  two  more  reports.  Feeling 
sure  that  Indians  were  near  at  hand.  Palmer  and  his 
companion  prepared  for  a  hasty  retreat.  The  family 
was  prepared  to  start,  the  moveables  were  packed, 
and  then  it  being  thought  best  to  reconoiter,  Johnny 
started,  rifle  in  hand,  through  the  woods.  Several 
hours  passed,  leaving  Palmer  and  his  family  in  terri- 
ble suspense,  and  then  he  too,  shouldered  his  gun 
and  went  toward  Woodcock's,  expecting  to  find  that 
his  friends  had  both  been  murdered.  As  he  neared 
the  spot,  where  he  judged  the  shooting  had  occurred, 
his  mind  troubled  with  all  kinds  of  apprehensions, 
he  saw,  indistinctly  through  the  bushes,  a  dusky 
form.  Supposing  that  it  was  an  Indian  intent  upon 
murder,  he  raised  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  took  de- 
liberate aim  and  was  about  to  fire,  when  the  figure 
disappeared.  Presently  it  again  came  in  sight,  and 
again  Palmer's  rifle  went  to  his  shoulder  and  his  eye 
glanced  along  the  barrel.  Something  diverted  his 
attention  and  he  did  not  fire.  A  third  time  he  leveled 
his  gun  upon  the  form,  and  just  as  he  was  about  to 
pull  the  trigger,  be  obtained  a  clearer  view  and  rec- 
ognized "Johnny  Appleseed."  The  rifle  was  dashed 
to  the  ground  and  Palmer  in  a  few  seconds  was  em- 
bracing his  old  friend  and  explaining  to  him  the 
danger  through  which  he  had  unknowingly  passed. 
Woodcock  having  become  almost  famished  for  want 
of  meat,  and  a  deer  coming  close  to  his  cabin,  he  had 
shot  him.  regardless  of  the  agreement  that  no  firing- 
should  take  place  unless  Indians  ajjpeared.  Johnny 
Appleseed  on  discovering  the  cause  of  the  alarm,  had 
remained  to  help  dress  the  animal,  and  when  seen 
by  Palmer,  was  on  his  way  back  with  one  of  the  venison 
hams  hanging  by  his  side. 

Not  all  of  the  alarms,  however,  were  so  soon  dis- 
pelled as  this  one.  At  three  different  times  during 
the  war.  Palmer  was  compelled  to  fly  from  his  home 
and  take  refuge  in  the  block  house  at  -Mansfield. 
Once,  in  the  fall  of  1813,  the  scouts  came  to  his 
cabin  and  told  him  that  if  he  cared  for  his  own  life, 
or  the  safety  of  his  family,  he  must  lose  no  time  in 
reaching  Mansfield,  for  the  Indians  were  not  far  away 
and  were  approaching.  Early  in  the  following  morn- 
ing, the  three  horses  were  Ciiught,  all  of  the  household 
goods,  that  could  be  carried,  packed  upon  them;  the 
crops  that  had  been  gathered,  and  whatever  could 
not  be  taken  with  them,  stored  in  the  house,  and  the 
family  made  the  tedious  and  slow  journey  to  the 
block  house.  Palmer  returned  on  foot  to  ascertain 
the  fate  of  his  log  house  and  his  goods,  and  laying  in 
ambush,  saw  the  the  little  log  dwelling,  which  had 


298 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


cost  him  so  much  hard  labor  to  build,  in  flames, 
while  the  red-skius,  who  had  applied  the  torch,  stood 
about,  watching  its  destruction.  I 

Once,  when  the  dread  news  was  given  that  Indians  | 
were  about,  the  Palmers  made  luirried  preparations 
to  go  to  the  block  house,  and  were  at  a  loss  to  devise  | 
a  way  to  carry  their  children.  Finally,  after  much 
planning  and  anxiety,  Mrs.  Palmer  hit  upon  a  novel 
expedient.  She  had,  among  the  things  she  brought 
to  her  new  home,  some  window  curtains  of  heavy 
stuff.  These  she  hastily  made  into  two  large  bags, 
and  then,  putting  a  child  in  each,  she  hung  them 
over  the  horse,  and  in  that  manner  the  little  ones 
made  their  journey  to  a  place  of  safety.  | 

Palmer  even  went  as  far  south  with  his  family  as 
Knox  county,  but  he  liked  New  Haven,  and  could 
not  give  up  the  idea  of  living  there,  and,  as  soon  as 
it  was  considered  safe  to  do  so,  he  returned,  and  loca- 
ted upon  lots  tif ty-six  and  fifty-seven,  in  section  two, 
a  little  distance  northeast  of  the  center,  and  upon 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Norwalk  road.  He  was 
told  by  the  Indians,  whom  he  afterward  met,  that  he 
might  have  remained  in  the  woods  all  through  the 
war,  with  safety,  as  the  Indians  felt  friendly  toward 
him  and  would  have  done  him  no  harm.  They  ex- 
plained that  his  house  had  l)een  burnt  because  it  was 
supposed  to  contain  food  and  supplies  for  the  army. 
Palmer  lived  until  ISoi,  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  the  township. 

THE    IXDIAXS. 

Most  of  the  Indians  who  were  seen  by  the  early 
settlers  in  New  Haven,  were  of  the  Seneca  tribe,  one 
of  the  divisions  of  the  formerly  powerful  nation 
known  as  the  Iroquois  Confederacy.  The  south- 
western part  of  Huron  county  was  peculiarly  the 
hunting  ground  of  this  tribe.  The  Wyandots  or 
Hurons  were  also  seen,  but  not  so  frequently;  and  at 
times,  some  of  the  Delawares,  the  kindred  of  the 
Mohicans,  about  whom  Cooper  has  woven  so  much  of 
romance,  passed  through  the  country,  as  did  small 
bands  from  various  tribes  of  the  Algo.  quiu  race. 

Before  the  settlement  of  the  country  some  of  these 
tribes  inhabited  the  Fire-lands,  and  lield  them  as  their 
own.  After  the  pale  face  came,  they,  no  longer,  re- 
garded tJie  territory  as  their  home,  and  seem  only  to 
have  wandered  through  it,  tarrying  a  little  while  here 
and  there,  hunting,  fishing  and  making  maple  sugar. 
Tliey  had  some  villages  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
Fire-lands,  but  none  in  the  southern.  They  were 
peaceable  after  the  war  had  closed,  and  in  New  Haven, 
as  in  most  other  townships,  there  were  no  instances 
of  any  violence  or  crime  being  committed  by  them. 
Tiie  Senecas  passed  through  New  Haven,  on  their 
way  to  the  eastern  hunting  grounds,  sometimes  in 
bodies  of  several  hundreds,  but  more  often  in  small 
companies  which  occasionally  camped  for  a  few  days 
or  \veeks  near  the  bank  of  the  Huron.  Some  rode 
upon  ponies,  and  some  travelled  afoot.  All  were 
clothed  in  characteristic  Indian  style.     The  warriors 


wore  the  peculiarly  fierce  appearing  feathered  head- 
dress, and  were  clothed  in  buckskin.  The  squaws 
were  always  neatly  dressed,  in  short  skirts,  beaded 
moccasins,  and  gaily  bedecked  blankets.  They  brought 
baskets,  deer  hams  and  various  trinkets  to  the 
settlers,  which  they  were  always  anxious  to  barter  for 
bread,  flour  or  meal.  There  were  strong  friendships 
between  some  of  the  whites  and  Indians.  Even  tJie 
little  children  were  so  accustomed  to  seeing  the  dusky 
savages  that  they  did  not  fear  them,  and,  indeed, 
formed  for  some  of  them  strong  attachments. 
Seneca  John,  the  famous  chief,  used  to  carry  the 
Palmer  children  upon  his  shoulders,  and  they  learned 
to  like  him  and  look  eagerly  for  his  coming.  Some- 
times when  a  band  of  Indians  was  seen  aiiproaching, 
they  would  watch  them  closely  to  see  if  Seneca  John 
was  among  them,  and  then  if  they  distinguished  his 
tall,  stalwart  form,  they  would  run  to  meet  him  and 
vie  with  each  other  the  honor  of  a  ride,  to  or  from 
school,  perched  high  up  on  his  shoulder.  The  pale 
faced  children  played  with  the  Indian  boys  and  girls, 
visited  them  at  their  camps,  and  were  upon  as  friendly 
terms  as  with  the  youthful  playmates  of  tlieir  own 
race. 

Several  Indians  have  been  buried  in  the  township. 
Two  braves  were  interred  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
river,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Keiser  farm,  and 
their  bones  still  rest  there,  unless  they  have  been  dis- 
turbed in  comparatively  recent  times  by  the  hand  of 
some  vandal  white  curiosity  seeker.  A  little  child 
was  buried  not  far  from  the  place  where  the  two  war- 
riors were  interred.  About  forty  Indian  women  and 
half  as  many  men  were  present  at  the  sepulture.  The 
body,  encased  in  a  small,  rough  coffin,  was  placed  in 
the  ground  with  the  cover  unfasteued,  "so  that  the 
little  spirit  could  easily  escape,"  the  Indians  said, 
and  one  of  the  chiefs  uttered  a  few  words  in  the 
tongue  of  his  people,  after  which  the  grave  was  closed, 
and  the  sad  but  stoical  band  returned  to  the  camp. 
An  eye  witness  says  that  an  observer  could  not  tell  by 
the  outward  signs  of  grief,  which  one  of  the  many 
squaws  was  the  bereaved  mother,  but  as  the  same 
sub-stratum  of  humanity  runs  through  all  races  and 
nations,  however  they  may  appear  externally,  there 
was  one  mother's  heart  which  experienced  a  thousand 
fold  more  pain  than  all  of  the  others. 


.IONATH.\X    (HA1'.MAX 


70HXXY    Al'l'LESKEIJ. 


No  history  of  New  Haven  township  could  be  com- 
plete which  failed  to  bring  into  prominence  that  ec- 
centric man  and  great  public  benefactor.  Jonathan 
Chapman,  known  more  commonly  by  the  sobriquet 
of  Johnny  Apple-seed.  If  the  man  who  causes  two 
spears  of  grass  to  grow,  where  but  one  grew  before,  is 
deserving  of  the  meed  of  praise,  "Johnny  Appleseed  "' 
should  receive  the  thanks  of  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  people,  whose  homes  are  upon  the  fertile  farms  of 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  for  he  not  only  caused  the  wilder- 
ness to  blossom  as  the  rose,  but  to  bear  fruit  for  the 
pioneers'  children  and  their  children's  children. 


» 


THOMAS  T.MULFORD^ 


fVlRSJHOMASTMULFORD, 


Residence  or  THOMAS  T.  M  ULFORD,Nsw  Haven,  Huron  CoO 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Jonathan  Chapman,  supposed  to  liave  been  born  in 
Boston.  1775,  first  made  his  ai)pearance  in  the  terri- 
tory of  Ohio  in  1801.  and  about  ten  years  later  we 
find  him  living  with  Caleb  Palmer  in  the  township  of 
New  Haven.  He  remained  here  much  of  the  time 
during  the  war,  though  he  was  freipiently  absent  up- 
on pilgrimages  to  various  parts  of  the  country.  The 
great  mission  of  Jonathan  Chapman's  life  was  the 
preparation  of  the  wild  western  country  for  the  pio- 
neers and  their  succeeding  generation,  and  through  a 
strange  monomania  that  possessed  this  singular  man, 
his  beneficent  feeling  toward  mankind  found  expres- 
sion in  only  one  form  and  effect:  the  planting  of  ap- 
ple orchards  or  nurseries  in  advance  of  the  outposts 
of  civilization.  From  these  nurseries  were  obtained 
the  trees  which  formed  most  of  the  now  old  and  de- 
caying orchards  in  Ohio  and  Indiana.  Johnny's  plan 
was  to  choose  a  good  natural  location,  in  a  little  glade, 
or  in  the  thickest  part  of  the  woods,  it  mattered  not 
which.  If  the  piece  of  ground  which  suited  him 
chanced  to  be  heavily  covered  with  timber  he  would 
clear  it  off  and,  with  the  tops  of  the  largest  trees, 
make  a  rude  fence,  inclosing  an  area  of  two  or  three 
acres.  This  was  done  to  keep  the  deer  from  brows- 
ing upon  the  young  trees.  Having  prepared  the 
ground  he  would  sow  his  apple  seeds  broadcast,  as 
farmers  do  wheat.  He  believed  it  wrong  to  raise 
trees  in  any  way  but  from  the  seeds,  and  looked  upon 
pruning  with  much  the  same  species  of  horror  that 
other  men  would  upon  human  murder.  He  procured 
his  seeds  from  the  eider  mills  in  western  Pennsylvania 
and  usually  carried  them  through  the  wilderness  in  a 
leathern  bag,  though  sometimes  he  was  known  to 
transport  them  in  a  small  wagon,  to  which  he  would 
have  an  old  horse  harnessed,  which  had  been  turned 
loose  by  some  settler.  One  of  the  nurseries  planted 
by  old  Johnny  was  in  New  Haven,  near  the  cast  mar- 
gin of  the  marsh.  Wlien  the  trees  were  grown  suf- 
ficiently large  to  be  transplanted  Johnny  either  sold 
them,  or  gave  them  away  himself,  or  left  them  in 
charge  of  a  friend  to  be  disposed  of  in  a  similar  way. 
Sometimes  he  exchanged  the  trees  for  articles  of 
clothing,  but  his  general  custom  was  to  take  a  note 
payable  at  some  indefinite  time.  Having  received  it 
he  regarded  the  transaction  at  an  end  and  bothered 
himself  no  further  about  the  matter.  He  had  no 
business  metliod  and  needed  none,  for  he  had  but  lit- 
tle use  for  money.  What  little  came  into  his  posses- 
sion he  soon  disposed  of  in  gifts  to  the  poorer  settlers 
whom  he  met  in  his  wanderings.  He  was  never 
known  to  have  made  but  one  purchase  of  land,  and 
that  was  in  Michigan  township,  Ashland  county,  the 
southwest  quarter  of  .section  twenty-six.  With  his 
customary  indifference  to  matters  of  value,  he  failed 
to  record  the  deed,  and  lost  his  title  to  the  land,  a 
fact  of  which  he  was  probably  never  aware. 

The  personal  api)earance  of  this  strange  character 
was  in  keeping  with  the  peculiarities  of  his  nature. 
He  was  small,  wiry,  ([uick  and  restless;  his  beard, 
short  and  unshaven;  hair  long  and  dark,  and  eyes 


black  and  sparkling.  His  dress  was  generally  a  med- 
ley of 'the  cast-off  clothing  taken  in  exchange  for 
trees,  but  at  one  time  his  sole  garment  was  a  coffee 
sack,  in  which  he  cut  holes  for  his  head  and  arms. 
He  nearly  always  went  barefooted,  even  in  the 
coldest  weather.  His  head  covering  was  as  economi- 
cal as  the  rest  of  his  attire.  For  a  time,  he  wore  the 
large  tin  dipper  in  which  he  cooked  his  food  when 
traveling,  but,  as  it  hurt  his  head,  he  constructed,  of 
paste-board,  something  between  a  hat  and  cap,  which 
he  adopted  as  a  permanent  fashion. 

Religiously,  Johnny  was  a  Swedeuborgian.  He 
was  a  most  enthusiastic  disciple  of  the  great  seer, 
and  the  zeal  with  which  he  endeavored  to  propagate 
his  doctrines  was  only  equalled  by  his  untiring  labor 
in  planting  his  apple  nurseries.  He  went  from  place 
to  place,  carrying  his  bag  of  apple  seeds  and  hi.s 
Swedenborgian  books,  and  when  he  arrived  at  the 
hospitable  cabin  of  some  settler,  no  matter  whether  he 
were  acquaintance  or  stranger,  at  once  lay  down  upon 
the  puncheon  floor,  and,  while  recovering  from  the 
fatigue  of  his  long  walk,  would,  read  what  he  called 
"news  right  fresh  from  heaven."'  He  purchased  books 
and  tracts  treating  of  his  favorite  system  of  religion, 
for  distribution  among  the  settlers,  and  when  he  had 
not  enough  to  go  around,  would  often  tear  one  in  two 
and  giye  the  halves  to  neighbors,  telling  them  to  ex- 
change when  each  had  read  his  part.  His  veneration 
for  the  books,  of  Swedenborg  was  so  great  that  he 
believed  they  formed  a  sure  preventive  of  bodily  harm. 
The  morals  of  the  man  were  as  good  as  his  religious 
belief.  He  led  as  blameless  a  life  as  a  human  being 
could,  and  compared  himself,  in  his  simplicity  of 
attire  and  habits  of  life,  to  the  primitive  Christian. 

Upon  one  occasion  an  itinerant  preacher  was  hold- 
ing forth  on  the  j)ublic  square  of  Mansfield  in  a  long 
and  somewhat  tedious  discourse  upon  the  sin  of  ex- 
travagance, frequently  emphasizing  his  text  by  the 
inquiry:  "Where  now  is  the  barefooted  Christian 
traveling  to  heaven?"  Johnny,  wiio  was  lying  on  his 
back  in  some  timber,  taking  the  question  in  its  literal 
sense,  raised  his  bare  feet  in  the  air  and  vociferated: 
"  Here's  your  primitive  ChristianI"  He  was  a  veg- 
etarian, and  rigidly  opposed  to  killing  any  living 
thing  for  food.  Upon  this  point  his  ideas  were  car- 
ried to  a  fanatical  extreme  as  will  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing incidents,  which  are  well  authenticated:  One 
autumnal  night,  while  lying  by  his  camp-fire  in  the 
woods,  he  observed  that  the  mosquitoes  blew  into  the 
flames  and  were  burned.  Taking  the  huge  tin  dip- 
per, which  answered  the  double  purpose  of  cup  and 
mush-pot,  from  liis  head,  he  filled  it  with  water  and 
quenched  the  fire,  remarking  afterwards:  "God  forbid 
that  I  should  build  a  fire  for  my  comfort  which  should 
be  the  means  of  destroying  any  of  his  creatures! "  At 
another  time  he  made  his  camp-fire  at  the  end  of  a 
hollow  log  in  which  he  intended  to  pass  the  night, 
but  finding  it  occupied  by  a  bear  and  her  cubs,  he 
moved  the  fire  to  the  other  end  and  slept  in  the  snow 
rather  than  disturb  the  bears.     Walking  one  morning 


300 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


over  a  small  ^irairie  he  was  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake. 
Some  time  afterwards,  a  friend  inquired  of  him" about 
the  matter.  He  drew  a  long  sigli  and  replied:  "  Poor 
fellow!  he  only  just  touched  me,  when  I,  in  an  un- 
ungodly  jiassiou.  put  the  heel  of  my  scythe  in  him 
and  went  home."  Again,  while  assisting  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  road  tlirough  the  woods,  a  hornet, 
whose  nest  had  been  destroyed  in  the  operation,  found 
lodgment  underneath  Johnny's  shirt.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  he  was  repeatedly  stung  by  the  en- 
raged insect,  he  removed  it  with  the  greatest  gentle- 
ness. His  companions  laughingly  asked  him  why  he 
did  not  kill  it,  receiving  in  reply,  "  It  would  not  be 
right  to  kill  the  poor  thing,  for  it  did  not  intend  to 
hurt  me." 

Among  his  other  eccentricities  was  that  of  a  re- 
markable stoicism,  an  indifference  to  physical  pain. 
To  demonstrate  this,  he  would  often  stick  pins  into 
his  flesh:  and  he  cured  wounds  by  cauterizing  them, 
and  then  treating  them  as  burns.  This  fortitude,  or 
nervous  insensibility,  whichever  it  was,  led  the  In- 
dians to  look  upon  him  as  a  being  peculiarly  gifted, 
a  "great  medicine  man,"  and  they  treated  him  with 
great  kindness.  "Johnny  Appleseed"  made  his 
home  with  Caleb  Palmer  through  the  war,  visited 
the  settlement  very  often  afterward,  and  was  as  well 
known  here  as  in  any  part  of  Ohio. 

About  1838,  he  left  the  State  and  pushed  further 
into  the  west,  still  laboring  in  his  self-imposed  mis- 
sion, im2»lled  perhaps  wholly  by  his  philanthropic 
monomania,  but  probably  by  a  gnawing  misery  of  the 
heart  as  well,  for  it  was  commonly  believed  that  some 
bitter  disappointment  in  a  love  affair,  had,  in  his 
young  manhood,  changed  the  tenor  of  Jonathan  Chap- 
man's life.  If  so,  a  great  good  was  accomplished 
through  the  thwarting  of  one  human  being's  happi- 
ness, for  the  strange,  heroic,  generous,  humane  char- 
acter, whom  the  pioneers  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  knew 
as  "Johnny  Appleseed, "by  his  self-sacrificing  toil  did 
a  vast  service  to  the  settlers  whom  he  preceded  in  the 
wilderness,  and  to  their  succeeding  generations.  It 
has  been  well  said  of  him.  that  "as  a  hero  of  endur- 
ance, that  was  voluntarily  assumed,  and  of  toil,  the 
benefits  of  which  could  only  be  reaped  by  posterity, 
the  name  of  Jonathan  Chapman  deserves  a  perpetuity 
Ijeyoud  that  of  a  generation  of  lesser  lights  passed  in 
the  glare  and  romance  of  the  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife  period." 

But  little  is  known  of  the  early  life  of  this  pioneer 
nurseryman,  but  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
it  was  one  strangely  in  variance  with  his  after  years. 
That  he  was  a  man  of  fine  education  is  beyond  doubt, 
for  it  is  testified  to  by  those  who  knew  him  in  New 
Haven  and  elsewhere.  At  a  very  early  day  he  deliv- 
ered a  Fourth  of  July  address  at  Bronson,  whicii,  it 
is  said  by  those  who  heard  it,  was  masterly  in  matter 
and  manner,  a  splendid  piece  of  eloquence  and  a 
model  of  thought,  such  as  only  a  mind  of  fine  order 
could  give  birth  to. 

In  184T,  after  nearly  a  half  century  of  devotion  to 


his  chosen  mission,  and  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years,  Jonathan  Chapman  died  in  the  cabin  of  a  set- 
tler near  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  The  physician  who 
was  present  said  that  he  had  never  seen  a  man  in  so 
placid  a  state  at  the  approach  of  death,  and  so  ready 
to  enter  u^jon  another  life. 

THE    PI0XKI;K:>    AXD    EARLY    SETTLERS. 

New  Haven  was  settled  by  a  superior  class  of  men. 
Many  of  them  had  enjoyed  unusual  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  a  number  were  much  better  endowed 
with  material  goods  than  the  pioneers  in  a  new 
country  generally  are.  As  the  village  was  formed  at 
an  early  day,  there  were  many  who  came  in  without 
experiencing  the  pleasures  or  pains  of  pioneer  life. 
Tliis  class  did  not,  as  a  rule,  take  up  land.  They 
were  not,  in  the  proper  sense  of  the  term,  early  set- 
tlers. They  located  in  the  village  and  followed 
trades,  and  their  number  was  so  great  that  many  are 
not  even  mentioned,  while  others  are  barely  referred 
to. 

Beginning  with  the  pioneers,  there  was  Caleb 
Palmer,  of  whose  first  years  in  New  Haven,  an  ac- 
count has  already  been  given.  He  was  born  in  Horse 
Neck,  Connecticut,  in  1T?5,  went  from  there  to  New 
York,  and  then  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  re- 
moved from  there  to  New  Haven,  as  has  been  hereto- 
fore stated,  in  1811.  His  first  wife  was  Harriet 
Smith.  He  had  by  her.  four  children  :  Maria,  (born 
before  he  settled  here,  and  now  dead.)  ^leigs,  (now 
sixty-eight  years  of  age,  a  resident  of  New  Haven,  lot 
thirty-nine,  section  two.)  Ruth,  (Mrs.  Jessie  Youngs 
of  Tompkins  county,  Michigan),  and  Electa  S.,  (now 
Mrs.  C.  C.  Harding,  of  New  Haven.)  She  married, 
first,  Jacob  Guyselman.  Meigs  Palmer  married 
Betsey  Curtiss.  Caleb  Palmer's  first  wife  died  in 
1818,  and  he  married,  several  years  later,  Mrs.  Shel- 
don, the  mother  of  the  famous  Metliodist  preaclier, 
Harry  0.  Sheldon. 

Who  came  next  after  Palmer.  Woodstoock  and 
Nemcomb,  cannot  be  definitely  si  ated,  and,  in  fact, 
it  is  impossible  to  state  precise];:  Ho  year  in  which 
the  first  settlers  arrived,  for  memory  errs,  and  there 
is  naught  to  depend  upon  in  this  matter  but  the  re- 
collections of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  township. 
The  settlement  increased  quite  fast  during  the  years 
1814  and  1815.  During  these  two  years,  Josiah  Cur- 
tiss, Reuben  Skinner.  Jas.  Maclntyre,  David  Powers, 
Samuel  B.  Carpenter,  John  Barney,  Samuel  Kiiapp, 
Martin  M.  Kellogg,  the  Inschos,  Henry  Barney,  Royal 
N.  Powers,  Chism  May,  Calvin  Hutchinson,  Ceorge 
Beymer,  Wm.  Clark,  Jacob  Speeker,  Rouse  Bly, 
Joseph  Dana,  John  Alberson.  George  Sliirel,  Mattliew 
Bevard,  William  York,  Prince  Haskell.  Stephen  Stil- 
well,  and  many  others  cast  their  fortunes  with  the 
settlement. 

James  3IacIiUyre  and  his  son  liy  tlie  same  name, 
with  their  wives,  came  from  New  York  State.  The 
old  gentleman,  whose  family  included  several  girls, . 
took  up  lot  ninety,  section' one.     At  the  same  time 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


301 


came  two  soiis-iu-law,  Samuel  Knapp  and  Daniel  Pratt, 
the  latter  of  whom,  located  upon  lot  oue  hundred  and 
four,  section  one,  east  of  the  river.  Knapp  lived  with 
Maclntyre  for  a  time,  and  tlieu  he  and  Pratt  re- 
moved to  Seneca  county.  Samuel  Tooker,  a  prospec- 
tive son-in-law,  came  also  with  the  Maclntyre  family. 
Josiah  Curtiss,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Rockwell,  made  their  home  on  lot  fifty-six,  sec- 
tion two.  Curtiss  took  as  his  second  wife,  Margaret 
DeWitt.  David  Powers  located  upon  lots  sixty-eight 
and  sixty-seven,  section  three — the  Jesse  Snyder  farm. 
His  brothers,  Royal  N.  and  Lemuel,  came  into  the 
county  later. — the  last  named,  considerably  so.  They 
had  a  sister,  who  married  Millard  Fillmore.  Chisim 
May  came  from  Georgia,  and  it  is  said  that  the  prime 
cause  of  his  immigration  was  the  fact  that  he  had  bitten 
oil  the  ear  of  a  man  and  brother.  He  died  about  ten 
or  a  dozen  years  after  coming  to  New  Haven,  leaving 
a  large  family.  Martin  M.  Kellogg  was  for  a  short 
time  a  resident  of  the  place,  and  probably  the  first 
wagon  maker  in  it.  He  removed  to  Bronson,  (the 
history  of  which  township  contains  more  extended 
mention  of  him).  Samuel  B.  Carpenter,  of  New 
York,  took  up  lot  forty,  section  two.  He  left  about 
tlie  year  1820.  Prince  Haskell,  noted  as  :t-  mechan- 
ical genius,  a  native  of  Vermont,  came  in,  and  re- 
mained a  short  time,  and  removed  to  Bronson,  where 
lie  died  in  1853. 

Matthew  Bevard,  of  Muskingum  county,  settled 
first  upon  lot  forty,  section  two,  and  afterwards  re- 
moved to  lot  sixty-four.  It  is  related  of  him  that  be- 
ing with  his  brother  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  latter 
being  taken  sick  after  HulFs  surrender,  he  carried 
him  upon  his  back  from  Cleveland  to  Zanesville. 
Bevard  went  from  New  Haven  to  Missouri  where  he 
died.  His  children  were:  Hiram,  William,  Sydney, 
George,  Emery,  Julia  Ann  and  John.  Joseph  Dana 
was  an  early  resident  who  was  prominent  from  the  fact 
that  he  was  a  fine  scholar,  and  for  many  years,  taught 
a  school  which  afforded  excellent  advantages  to  a 
large  juimber  of  youth.  He  at  first  took  up  the  Mul- 
ford  farm,  but  was  unable  to  pay  for  it,  and  after- 
wards resided  ujion  the  Henry  Trimuer  farm.  He 
removed  some  time  after  1835,  to  Sandusky  count}'. 
John  Alberson,  a  brother-in-law  of  Dana,  came  in 
company  with  him  to  New  Haven,  and  also  lived  a 
while  upon  the  ilulford  farm.  George  Shivel  who 
arrived  about  this  time,  was  noted  as  a  great  maker 
of  shingles.  Jacob  Speeker,  a  great  hunter  and  trap- 
per, located  upon  the  edge  of  the  prairie,  and  re- 
mained there  several  years,  after  which  he  went  to  the 
mouth  of  Pipe  creek  (near  Sandusky)  where  he  died 
<iuite  recently.  William  York,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
removed  from  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  to  New  Haven, 
in  1815,  and  located  upon  lot  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight,  section  one.  By  his  wife,  Fannie 
Ettzler,  lie  had  .several  children,  three  of  whom,  He- 
cotor,  Ruth  and  Abraham  came  to  New  Haven. 
Ruth  is  dead;  the  other  two  reside  in  New  Haven. 
William  York  died  in  1858,  and  his  wife  in  1853. 


Reuben  Skinner  came  to  the  township  in  1814, 
bought  land,  and  made  preparations  to  move  his 
family.  He  took  up  lot  oue  hundred  and  three  and 
a  part  of  one  hundred  and  four  in  section  oue,  and 
made  his  home  there.  In  February,  1815,  he  brought 
his  family  from  Knox  county,  Ohio,  where  they  had 
been  for  some  time  residing  (he  was  originally  from 
New  Jersey),  and  began  life  in  the  new  settlement. 
He  was  rich  in  the  possession  of  about  forty  head  of 
cattle,  the  same  number  of  sheep  and  eight  or 
ten  horses  and  colts.  His  wife's  name  was  Sarah 
Coleman.  The  pair  had  eight  children:  Rebecca, 
James,  Joseph,  Alfred,  John,  Ruth,  Asel  Har- 
I'ison  and  Harriet.  Father,  mother  and  all  of  the 
descendants  are  now  dead,  but  John,  Ruth  and  Asel 
Harrison.  John  lives  upon  the  old  homestead.  He 
married  for  his  first  wife,  Emeline  Frisbie,  and  as  his 
second,  Maria  Reubens.  Their  children  are:  Harriet 
(deceased),  William,  Edward  and  Ann,  all  residents 
in  New  Haven.  Ruth  married  St.  Clair  Beymer,  and 
is  now  living  in  Iowa.     Asel  Han-ison  is  in  Michigan. 

Benjamin  Barney  settled  in  the  year  1826;  his  two 
sons,  Henry  and  John,  taking  up  respectively  lots  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  and  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
one,  both  in  section  one.  Thei'e  was  also  a  third  son, 
Benjamin,  who  was  insane.  He  once  wandered  into 
the  prairie  or  marsh,  was  lost  and  not  found  until  he 
was  almost  dead.  There  were  several  girls  in  the 
family,  among  them  Julia  and  Sophia,  the  latter  the 
wife  of  Luther  Coe.  and  after  his  death  the  wife  of 
Rouse  Bly.  The  Barneys  were  from  Lucei-ne  county, 
Pennsj'lvauia.  They  removed  to  Michigan.  George 
Beymer,  of  Franklin  county,  settled  in  1815.  He 
died  in  181 T,  leaving  a  wife,  Christina  Beymer,  and 
five  children:  Louisa  (Lisle),  Fanny  (Burns),  William, 
Maclntyre  and  St.  Clair.  The  mother  died  in  1841). 
George  Beymer  had  the  honor  of  establishing  the 
first  line  of  stages  in  Ohio,  running  from  Wheeling 
to  Chillicothe,  and  received  a  gratuity  from  the 
government  for  doing  so. 

Stephen  Stilwell  settled  upon  the  town  plat  in 
1815.  His  wife's  name  was  Lydia.  She  lived  until 
quite  recently,  and,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  she  was 
in  her  ninety-ninth  year.  Selden  Graves  also  located 
in  the  village  about  this  time,  but  not  long  after 
moved  to  Seneca  county.  Joseph  and  Moses  Incho, 
of  Knox  county,  settled,  respectively,  upon  lots  fifty- 
one  and  twenty,  in  section '  three,  and  a  brother, 
Robert,  settled  in  Greenfield.  Moses  removed  to 
Ripley  about  twelve  years  later. 

In  the  year  1816,  there  were  (piite  a  number  of 
arrivals.  Luther  Coe,  a  brother  of  the  widely-known 
Rev.  Alvin  Coe,  settled  on  lots  oue  hundred  ami 
twenty-seven  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight,  in 
section  one.  He  married  Sophia  Barney,  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  six  children.  Coe  died  in  1827,  in 
Indiana.  His  widow  married  Rouse  Bly.  Ezekiel 
Rooks  and  William  Ellis  settled  near  tiie  marsh  (se^c- 
tion  four)  in  the  same  year — Rooks  upon  lots  one 
hundred  and  fortv-eisrht  ami  one  hundivd  and  fortv- 


302 


HISTORY  OF  IIUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


nine,  and  Ellis  adjoining  him  upon  the  latter.  Ellis 
died  in  1824.  Isaac  Powers  came  about  the  same 
time  and  took  up  the  lot  north  of  Rooks,  but  removed 
to  Michigan  with  his  family  as  early  as  1831.  All 
these  families  were  from  New  York  State.  Rouse 
Bly,  who  came  in  sometime  during  1816,  took  up  lots 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight,  section  one.  It  was  probably  about  this 
time  that  Joseph  Darling,  of  Connecticut,  came  into 
the  township.  He  married  Sophia  Dana,  and  lived 
in  New  Haven  till  his  death,  which  occurred  about 
1855.  John  Myers  located,  not  far  from  the  year 
above  mentioned,  on  the  town  plat,  and  Benjamin 
West.  Gasper  and  Matthew  Smith,  John  Middleton 
and  several  others,  arrived  in  the  township.  Henry 
Granger  came  in  about  1817,  and  built  a  tavern. 
Benjamin  McFarland  came  from  New  l^ork  the  same 
year,  bringing  with  him  his  mother.  He  resided  for 
a  number  of'years  on  the  town  plat,  and  is  still  living 
in  the  township,  aged  nearly  ninety.  He  never  mar- 
ried. Wm.  Clark,  who  came  at  this  time,  or  earlier, 
perhaps,  took  up  no  land  for  a  permanent  homestead, 
but  bought  various  parcels  upon  speculation.  David 
Dow,  of  New  York,  came  in  1817,  bought  land  of 
Clark,  and  afterwards  went  into  the  shoemaking 
business.  He  married  Louisa  Beymer.  Medad  Wood- 
ruff was  another  arrival  during  the  same  year.  He 
was  drowned  some  time  after. 

Enos  Rose  was  one  of  the  first  who  entered  tlie 
settlement  in  1818.  Elisha  Steward,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, but  for  some  time  a  resident  of  Pennsyl- 
Tania,  took  up  lot  one  hundred  and  twelve,  section 
one.  He  married  Mary  Rice.  Wm.  Bunn,  of  Mary- 
land, came  in  the  same  year.*  A  Mr.  McEwen  arrived 
about  the  same  time,  and  Bunn  married  one  of  his 
daughters. 

Thomas  T.  Mulford  arrived  in  1811).     His  parents 
had  lived  on    Long  Island,  but   Mr.    Mulford's  last 
place  of   residence,  before  coming  to  Ohio,   was  in 
Lucerne  county,  Pennsylvania.     He  was  a  single  man 
when  he  came  to  New  Haven,  but  in  1821  he  went  to 
Connecticut,    (New    London  county,)   and    married 
Phoebe  Steward.     Then  returning,  he  engaged,  with 
Mr.   Steward,  in   the  tanning  business,  and  in  1827 
bought  the  faim  upon  which   he  at  present  resides, 
lot  eighty-nine,  a  part  of  lot  eighty-eight,  and  a  part   < 
of  lot  eighty,  section  one.     His  wife  died  in  1860. 
The  children  of  this  couple  were:  Lewis,  Polly.  (Mrs.    : 
T.  M.  Chapman,  of   New  Haven,)  Emeline,  Almira,   | 
(wife  of  Dr.  William  Smith,  of   Van  Wert,)  Marion,    I 
(who  married  Elizabeth  Born,  of  Buffalo,  New  Y'ork,)    j 
residing  upon  the  old  homestead,  and  Harriet,  (wife  of   I 
Dr.  Charles  Richards,  of  Joliet.  Illinois).     Lewis  and    j 
Emeline  are  dead.  1 

Enos  Ayres  settled  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  | 
village,  in  1819,  and  engaged  in  cabinet-making.  | 

After  1820  the  settlement  increased  very  slowly  for  j 
a  number  of  years.  It  had  grown  with  considerable  j 
rapidity  until  then,  but  Judge  Wells,  the  principal  ! 
owner  of  th(;  land,  in  that  year  raised  the  price  to   | 


about  tlii-ee  dollars  per  acre,  and  there  seemed  but 
little  inclination  among  would  be  settlers  to  take  it 
at  that  price. 

Judge  Ives,  of  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  one  of  the 
ablest  men  New  Haven  had  among  its  many  alile 
citizens,  came  to  the  village  in  1820,  married  Polly 
Frisbie,  and  resided  there  most  of  his  years.  He  died 
in  1864.  Moses  S.  Beach  came  the  same  year,  and  at 
a  later  date  brought  his  family  to  the  then  growing 
and  active  little  town.  Dr.  John  B.  Johnson  came 
also  in  1820.  He  was  from  Southington,  Connecticut. 
He  married  Roxanna  Andrews,  settled  down  in  the 
village  to  follow  his  profession,  and  was  doing  very 
well  with  prospect  of  fine  success  in  the  .future.  He 
died,  however,  in  1824,  leaving  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren— Jane  E.,  Hermie,  John  B.  and  Wallace.  Jane 
E.  is  the  wife  of  William  F.  Knight,  himself  an  old 
resident  of  the  county.  Wallace  is  in  Buffalo,  and 
the  other  two  are  dead.  Richard  Frisbie  came  t6  the 
township  about  this  time.  He  married  Emma 
Andrews,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Johnson. 

Ives  Rice,  of  Wallingford.  Connecticut,  came  to 
New  Haven  in  1821.  He  mai-ried  Elizabeth  Johnson. 
J.  B.  Lewis,  of  New  London,  Connecticut,  came  into 
New  Haven  in  1822,  but  returned  east  and  remained 
until  the  spi-ing  of  1823.  He  lived  upon  the  town 
plat,  and  was  a  tanner,  until  1833.  when  he  bought  a 
farm — lot  eighty-one,  section  two,  and  made  his 
home  there.  His  first  wife  was  Louisa  White,  and 
his  second,  Susan  Head.  He  has  three  children 
living:  Oscar,  (in  Illinois,)  Leander  H.,  (in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,)  and  James  S.  (at  home.  John  Love- 
land  came  into  the  township  in  June.  1822.  He  was 
a  native  of  Vermont,  but  moved  into  Ohio  from 
Pennsylvania.  He  took  up  lots  thirty-four  and 
thirty-three,  section  two.  He  was  engaged  for  several 
years  in  the  production  of  whisky,  and  distilled  pep- 
permint and  other  essences.  He  married,  in  1824, 
Flora,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Dana,  and  several  j-ears 
after  her  death  married  Calista  Curtiss.  His  children, 
by  both  wives,  are:  John  B.,  (in  Fremont,)  William 
W.,  (in  Michigan.)  Rockwell,  (deceased.)  Almira 
Jane,  (Mrs.  Woodworth,  New  Haven.)  Flora  A.,  (in 
New  Y''ork,)  George  W.,  (in  Richland  county.)  and 
1  Oscar  A.,  on  the  old  homestead. 
I  The  Brewbakers,  from  Pennsylvania  originally,  but 
directly  from  Mansfield,  settled  upon  lot  nine,  section 
:  two.  The  old  gentleniairs  name  was  Andrew,  and 
I  his  sons  were  Andrew,  Jacob,  and  John.  Peter  and 
I  John  Lang  were  among  the  early  settlers.  They 
j  came  from  New  York,  and  lived  in  the  village.  The 
I  first  named  was  an  odd  and  original  character,  who 
had  a  hand  in  almost  every  harem-scarem  adventure 
that  was  enacted  in  his  time.  William  B.  Moore 
was  a  prominent  citizen,  who  arrived  in  1819.  He 
married  Mary  Graham,  of  Greenfield.  Dr.  Pliilo  P. 
Hoy,  Ira  Towne,  John  D.  Loomis.  Merrit  Clark, 
George  Knight,  and  several  others,  who  took  a  lead- 
ing jiart  in  the  affairs  of  the  village,  became  residents 
about  this  time.     Henry  Moore,  of  New  York  State, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


303 


iilso  arrived  in  1819.  Christian  Gulp  settled  about 
the  year  last  mentioned  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
township,  lot  one  hundred  and  fift}--four,  section  one. 
He  was  originally  from  Virginia,  but  had  lived  in 
Ohio  some  time  before  coming  to  New  Haven.  He 
married,  in  Fairfield  county,  Eleanor  Burton.  They 
liad  eight  children,  three  of  whom — Mary  (Mrs.  E. 
Sherman,  of  Plymouth),  Henry,  of  Ripley,  and 
Jacob,  of  Plymouth,  are  living.  Mr.  Gulp  built  a  saw 
and  grist  mill  upon  his  property  about  1834.  He 
died  in  1849,  and  his  wife  in  1870.  John  W.  John- 
ston came  also  in  1822,  or  the  following  year,  from 
Pennsylvania.  He  married  Temperance  Andrews. 
Their  children  were  Elizabeth  (now  in  Allen  county), 
Lucretia  (in  Iowa),  and  John  W.,  who  died  young. 
Jesse  B.  Frost,  who  came  in  at  this  time,  bought  first 
the  F.  M.  Chapman  farm,  and  afterwards  went  on  to 
the  Frisbie  place.  John  Fulkerson,  who  "became  a 
settler  about  1820,  or  possibly  several  years  before, 
was  generally  accredited  with  bringing  the  first  rat 
into  the  township.  At  least  the  one  which  jumped 
from  his  wagon  when  his  goods  were  unpacked  was 
the  first  ever  seen  in  New  Haven.  In  1822.  Horace 
Hough,  who  arrived  from  Connecticut,  bought  the 
Lemuel  Powers  farm.  Ebenezer  Frisbie,  of  Walling- 
ford,  Connecticut,  came  during  the  same  year,  and 
after  occupying  for  a  short  season  several  pieces  of 
ground,  took  the  Maclntyre  farm.  Jasper  M. 
Smalley  came  in  about  1823,  and  built  a  distillery. 
During  the  same  year  came  Bazaliel  Rice  and  his  son- 
in-law,  Jesse  Gaylord,  from  Connecticut,  and  the 
former  took  up  lots  one  hundred  and  four  and  one 
hundred  and  five  in  section  one.  Enoch  Conger,  the 
Presbyterian  preacher,  came  from  New  York;  arrived 
in  1824.  Henry  Steele,  a  blacksmith,  located  the 
same  3ear  in  the  village.  William  C.  Enos,  a  lawyer, 
came  in  also  in  1824,  and  lived  in  the  township  for 
several  years.  The  fact  that  he  was  at  one  time  car- 
ried in  an  uncomfortable  and  undignified  position 
npon  a  rail,  by  a  number  of  his  fellow  citizens,  may 
be  taken  by  some  as  an  indication  that  he  was  not 
popular  among  the  people.  He  had  the  satisfaction 
of  prosecuting  a  number  of  those  who  liad  indulged 
in  the  sport  of  giving  him  a  ride.  Colonel  Elam 
Weeks,  of  New  York  State,  became  one  of  the  com- 
munitv  in  182.5.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Horace 
Hough. 

After  1825,  the  arrivals  became  more  frequent;  the 
land  was  rapidly  taken  up  by  farmer's;  the  village  de- 
veloped; the  newness  of,  the  country  was  gone;  the 
liest  of  the  pioneer  days  passed,  and  the  era  of  staid, 
sober  life,  without  the  privations,  the  pleasures,  or 
the  excitements  of  former  years,  was  begun.  New- 
comers were  given  a  welcoming.  l>ut  it  was  not  such 
as  those  arriving  before  '20  had  received — not  so 
warmly  hospitable  or  cheering. 

HorsKiroLDERs  IX  182G. 

In  tlie  year  1826  there  were,  as  is  shown  by  the 
clerk's  co[iy  of  the  trustees  report,  eighty-six  house- 


holders in  New  Haven  township.  We  give  the  names 
by  school  districts: 

District  No.  1. — Joseph  Darling,  Jr.,  Joseph  Dana, 
Josiah  Gurtiss,  William  Babcock,  Isaac  Fox,  Rufus 

Love,  Nicholas  Doile,  Birge,  Matthew  Smith, 

John  Loveland,  Jacob  Brewbaker,  George  Livengood, 
Joseph  Inscho,  Stephen  Stilwell,  Francis  Stilwell, 
John  Brewbaker,  Joseph  Price,  Elen  Liglitner,  Zuriel 
W.  Harris,  John  Stobz— 20. 

District  No.  2. — Caleb  Palmer,  ilatthew  Bevard, 
John  Falcurson,  Bazaliel  I.  Rice,  Arthur  Sinclear 
Beymer,  Elizabeth  May,  Wm.  Beenier,  Lydia  Pratt, 
David  Powers,  Jesse  B.  Frost,  Benjamin  McFarland, 
Leroy  Reed,  Phelje  Hardin,  Henry  Steele,  John  My- 
ers, George,  Shirel,  James  B.  Lewis,  Andrew  Forbes, 
Almira  Ives,  Moses  S.  Beach,  David  Dow,  James 
Skinner,  Jason  C.  Ames,  Richard  Johnson,  Benj.  M. 
Bartow,  Sarah  Stulley,  Richard  Frisbie,  Roxanna 
Johnson,  Elisha  Steward,  Elam  Weeks,  Ebenezer 
Frisbie,  Enoch  Conger,  Jesse  Gaylord,  Joseph  Skin- 
ner, Reuben  Skinner,  Horace  Hough,  Benjamin  Bar- 
ney— 37. 

District  No.  3. — William  Y'ork,  Luther  Coe,  Rouse 
Bly,  John  Barney,  Henry  Barney,  Benj.  F.  Taylor, 
William  Gould,  Lemuel  Powers,  Gilbert,  Mar- 
tin M.  Kellogg,  Joseph  Wilson,  Hugh  Long,  Matthew 
McKelvey,  William  C.  Enos,  William  Dixon,  Samuel 
Gilchrist,  John  Shaw,  Christian  Gulp,  John  Moore, 
Hannah  Moore,  Villiers  Morrell,  Ezekiel  Rooks,  Wil- 
liam Ellis,  Hepsabeth  Redington,  Charles  Hills,  Al- 
fred Tubbs,  Joseph  Cain,  Eunice  Cain.  —  Linzey — 29. 

INITIAL    FACTS. 

The  first  white  child  born  witliin  the  limits  of 
New  Haven  township,  was  Ruth,  daughter  of  Caleb 
and  Harriet  Palmer.  She  was  Ijorn  April  29,  1813, 
She  married  Jesse  Y'"oungs,  and  is  still  living  in  Mich- 
igan. Judge  Isaac  Mills  gave  her  father  ten  dollars 
to  be  held  in  trust  for  her  until  she  was  of  age. 

George  Beymer  was  the  first  person  who  died  in 
New  Haven.  He  settled  in  the  township  in  1815,  and 
died  June  24,  1817,  after  a  long  illness,  contracted 
while  he  was  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  A  large  fam- 
ily was  bereft  of  a  father  when  he  was  removed,  and 
because  of  this  fact,  and  also  as  it  was  the  first  time 
that  death  had  invaded  the  settlement,  the  occasion 
was  one  of  tlie  intensest  sorrow.  An  old  settler, 
speaking  of  the  funeral,  says  that  it  was  one  of  the 
most  agonizing  experiences  that  he  can  recall  to  mind, 
and  one  of  the  most  solemn.  The  women  who  were 
present  gave  expression  to  their  grief  in  the  most 
heart-rending  manner,  wailing  and  sobbing  during 
the  whole  of  the  sad  service.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  James  Mclntyre.  A  strange 
sight  it  must  have  been  to  have  seen  that  uncoutli. 
earnest  man,  speaking  in  his  peculiar  way  of  religion, 
to  the  little  group  of  people  who  stood  by  the  first 
grave  opened  in  New  Haven. 

The  first  conjile  married  in  the  townsliip.  were 
I   James    Skinner   and    Harriet    Beymer.       They  were 


304 


HISTORY  OF  HUEOX  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


married  in  June.  1817,  at  Reuben  Skinner's  house, 
by  Caleb  Palmer. 

The  first  Masonic  funeral  in  Xe^'  Haven  was  that 
of  Dr.  John  B.  Johnson,  who  died  in  18'34. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Sophia  Barney,  in 

1815.  Joseph  Dana  taught  the  first  singing  school, 
about  1820. 

Caleb  Palmer's  was  the  first  log  house.  The  first 
framed  building  was  a  small  barn  built  by  Royal  N. 
Powers.  The  first  brick  iiouse  was  that  of  J.  K. 
Partello. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Darling,  (a  daughter  of  "  Priest"  Ed- 
wards, of  Ripley),  taught  the  first  Sunday  school 
about  the  year  1830,  upon  what  is,  at  this  writing, 
known  as  the  Henry  Trimner  farm. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  built  by  William  Clark,  on 
lot  sixty-five,  section  two,  in  the  year  1816.  It  was 
afterwards  owned  by  Moses  S.  Beach.  It  has  long 
since  passed  away,  but  the  old  race  can  still  be 
seen. 

The  first  gi-ist  mill  was  built  by  Caleb  Palmer,  in 

1816,  or  the  year  following,  upon  lot  fifty-seven,  sec- 
tion two. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  of  which  any 
information  can  be  gleaned,  was  in  1822.  It  was  held 
upon  the  squai'e,  where  a  green  bower  was  erected 
over  the  speaker's  stand  and  dinner  tables.  Speeches 
were  made,  and  toasts  responded  to.  Caleb  Palmer 
having  one  which  eaased  much  merriment.  Colonel 
Elam  Weeks  was  marshal  of  the  day,  and  George 
Beymer  got  up  the  dinner.  There  was  a  large  crowd 
present,  and  in  the  evening  the  young  people  had  a 
dance. 

The  early  settlers  went  to  Truxville,  (now  called 
Ganges),  in  Richland  county,  to  have  their  milling 
done.  It  was  quite  a  formidable  undertaking  to  make 
a  trip  there  and  back,  and  occupied  at  least  two.  and 
sometimes  three  or  four  days,  although  the  mill  was 
but  ten  or  a  dozen  miles  distant. 

The  first  salt  obtained  was  packed  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Huron,  upon  horses,  and  cost  those  who  bought 
it  about  twelve  dollars  per  barrel. 

The  first  deed  of  laud  in  New  Haven  township  was 
made  early  in  1815,  to  David  and  Royal  N.  Powers. 
It  conveyed  the  land  at  the  center  of  the  township 
upon  which  the  village  of  New  Haven  was  laid  out. 

The  first  cemetery  laid  out  in  the  township  was  the 
one  on  John  Skinner's  farm,  lot  one  hundred  and 
three,  section  one.  It  lies  upon  a  sandy  knoll.  The 
location  is  a  beautiful  one.  and  the  cemetery  is,  and 
has  been,  kept  in  good  condition.  The  earliest  death 
recorded  upon  its  many  stones  was  in  1817. 

The  township  records,  which  date  back  to  1815, 
when  the  fi.-st  election  was  held,  are  still  in  existence, 
and  fill  a  ponderous  volume.  The  records  for  the 
first  six  years  were  transcribed  in  1X21  liy  David 
Powers,  then  township  clerk. 

Tlie  first  justice  of  the  peace,  Caleb  Palmer,  elected 
November  24,  1815,  served  until  1822,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Elisha  Stewart.     Palmer  was  al.so  the 


first  postmaster  in  New  Haven,  and  one  of  the  first 
commissioners  of  Huron  county  in  1815. 

The  first  lawyer  who  located  in  the  townshi)!  was 
Wm.  Clark,  Esq.,  who  settled  as  early  as  181.">. 

The  first  chopping  in  the  township,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  improvement,  was  done  in  1810,  by  William 
McKelvey,  upon  what  is  now  known  as  the  John 
Keiser  farm,  lot  sixt}--five,  section  two.  McKelvey 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Greenfield  township. 

The  first  wheat  was  sown  by  Caleb  Palmer  in  1810 
— before  he  became  a  settler — upon  the  ground  where 
he  afterwards  located  his  home. 

The  first  orchard  was  put  out  upon  the  farm  of 
Reuben  Skinner,  ilr.  Skinner  and  his  son  took  a 
quantity  of  cranberries,  which  they  picked  upon  the 
marsh  or  prarie,  to  Knox  county,  and  exchanged 
them  for  one  hundred  of  very  small  trees.  The  Skin- 
ners made  their  settlement  in  1814.  Some  of  the 
trees,  which  were  set  out  soon  after  this  date,  are 
still  alive  and  in  bearing  condition.  The  orchard  is 
now  the  property  of  John  Skinner. 

ORGANIZATION-    OF   THK   TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  election  in  New  Haven  township  was  held 
on  the  ITth  of  August,  1815.  .John  Barney  was 
chairman:  Josiah  Curtiss  and  Stephen  D.  Palmer, 
judges;  Daniel  Powers  and  James  McIntyre,Jr,, clerks.  . 
Following  are  the  names  of  the  officers  at  that  time 
elected:  Samuel  B.  Cari^enter.  clerk:  Robert  Inscho, 
John  Barney,  Martin  M.  Kellogg,  trustees;  James 
Mclntyre,  Chisim  Ma}-,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Samuel 
Kuapj),  Reuben  Skinner,  fence  viewers:  Stephen  1). 
Palmer,  Henry  Barney,  supervisors:  Calvin  Hutchin- 
son. Samuel  Knapp,  appraisors;  Calvin  Hutchinson, 
constable:  Caleb  Palmer,  treasurer. 

The  officers  in  service  in  1879-are  as  follows:  B.  T. 
Dimm,  clerk;  Theodore  Mills,  treasurer:  Abnei'  Snv- 
der,  assessor;  James  Fitch,  A.  J.  Seydel,  Alexander 
Clark,  constables;  Phillip  Upp,  E.  Skinner,  George 
Strimple,  trustees:  A,  Snyder,  George  Nichols,  Jacob 
Culp,  justices  of  the  peace;  Jesse  Snyder,  F.  M.  Chap- 
man, E.  S.  Case,  Charles  Gannng,  S.  S.  Snyder, 
George  Nichols,  Cyrus  King.  James  Hatch,  members 
of  school  board. 

SOCIAL    AML'SEMKNTS. 

New  Haven  having,  in  early  times,  a  larger  poj)ula- 
tion  than  any  of  her  sister  townships,  it  followed 
naturally  that  the  people  led  a  more  jolly,  social  life 
thijn  in  most  other  communities.  Almost  every 
Saturday  afternoon  was  given  up  to  amusement,  and 
nearly  the  whole  population  was  there  gathered  upon 
the  square  to  indulge  in  various  games,  such  as  ball, 
pitching  quoits,  wrestling,  running,  jumping,  etc. 
Many  a  royal  frolic  was  had  at  the  taverns,  and  many 
a  jovial  crowd  assembled  to  engage  in  some  hilarious 
but  harmless  merry-making.  Wild  pranks  were 
played  by  the  young  men  uj)on  each  other,  and  often 
the  fun  was  earned  into  the  solemn  ranks  of  their 
elders.     Liquor  was  used  more  or  less  freely  on  all  oc- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


305 


casions,  and  perhaps,  some  things  were  doue  under 
its  exciting  influence  which  would  not  have  been  done 
without  it.  Those  who  remember  the  "old  times"  in 
New  Haven,  liowever  substantiate  the  commonly  ac- 
cepted idea  that,  in  spite  of  the  general  use  of  stimul- 
ants, there  was  not  an  excess  of  baleful  result.  On 
one  occasion  nearly  the  entire  population  of  the  village 
went  out  in  sleds  to  a  locality  by  the  side  of  the 
prairie,  to  have  a  winter  picnic,  and  after  having  a 
good  dinner  and  a  happy  time,  returned  to  the  village 
with  the  sled  stakes  bearing  each  an  empty  jug. 
Nearly  all  had  partaken  of  the  contents  of  these  jugs, 
but  not  a  person  was  unduly  or  indecently  affected  by 
it.  The  weddings  and  parties  were  occasions  of  un- 
bounded enjoyment.  There  was  a  lack  of  formality 
and  of  the  artificial  but  plenty  of  honest,  homely 
hospitality  and  good  feeling-.  A  number  of  men 
and  women  would  often  go  in  an  ox  cart  to  the  house 
of  a  friend  where  they  had  been  inVited,  and  there 
meeting  many  other  guests,  would  enjoy  in  a  genuinely 
sociable  way  the  whole  of  a  long,  but  seemingly  short 
evening.  Sometimes  the  accommodations' were  ap- 
parently insufficient  for  the  number  of  guests.  There 
would,  perhaps,  be  no  table  large  enough  to  hold  the 
substantial  supper  or  dinner  that  had  been  provided, 
but  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  take  a  door  from  its 
hinges  and  lay  it  upon  a  couple  of  barrels,  and  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  olden  time  probably  en- 
joyed the  various  good  things,  sot  forth  upon  this  im- 
provised table,  as  their  descendants  do  the  luxuries 
now  more  elegantly  served.  Some  of  the  weddings 
were  great  "'social  events,"  and  others  were  noted  as 
many  are  now-a-days  only  for  their  oddity.  When 
Elisha  Steward  was  married  to  Mary  Rice,  a  boister- 
ous, bacchanalian  crowd  took  forcible  possession  of 
the  groom,  put  him.  upon  a  sled,  where  they  had 
placed  a  keg  of  whisky  and  compelled  him  to  drink 
while  they  drove  away  and  ai'ound  the  country. 

One  of  the  novelties  in  marriages  was  that  of 
Charles  Hooker  and  Hermie  Johnson  by  Dr.  Ben- 
schooter,  justice  of  the  peace.  He  met  them,  and  the 
following  brief  conversation  ensued: 

"  Charlie,  do  you  want  to  marry  Hermie?" 

"Yes." 

•'Hermie,  do  you  want  to  marry  Charlie  Hooker?" 

"I  do." 

"Then,"  said  the  si(uire,  "I  pronounce  you,  ac- 
cording to  the  laws  of  the  State,  man  and  wife." 

DEATH  FROM    "DA.MPS." 

Great  excitement  was  caused  in  1823  by  the  death 
in  a  well  of  two  men  named  Pace  and  Hatch.  They 
had  dug  a  well  for  Henry  Barney,  and,  when  all  was 
in  readiness  to  begin  the  work  of  stoning  it  up,  Hatch 
descended  in  a  tub,  and  just  as  he  reached  the  bottom 
he  was  observed  to  fall  and  become  apparently  insen- 
sible. Pace  immediately  descended  to  rescue  his 
friend,  and  he,  too,  fell  and  expired.  It  was  not  un- 
til then  that  the  liystanders  thought  of  the  "damps," 
or  noxious  gases  in  the  well.     They  knew,'  beyond  the 


possibility  of  a  doubt,  that  both  men  were  dead. 
After  several  hours  had  passed,  their  bodies  were  re- 
covered. Hatch  left  a  wife  and  several  children;  Pace 
was  a  single  man,  and  had,  only  a  short  time  before, 
come  into  the  township  from  Pennsylvania.  This 
casualty  was,  we  believe,  the  first  that  occurred  in 
New  Haven.  It  cast  a  gloom  over  the  whole  com- 
munity. 

DISTILLERIES. 

Whisky  being  an  article  of  common  consumption 
and  in  use,  practically,  as  a  legal  tender,  it  followed 
naturally  that  the  township  should  not  be  without 
places  for  its  manufacture.  A  distillery  was  built 
within  the  present  limits  of  Plymouth  village  in  1825 
by  Lemuel  M.  Powers  and  Martin  Kellogg.  In  1837 
a  number  of  men  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  ex- 
citing, if  not  dignified  act  of  giving  a  fellow  citizen 
a  ride  upon  the  rail,  took  refuge  from  the  sheriff  in 
thi?  distillery,  and  it  was  from  that  time  generally 
known  as  "Fort  Defiance." 

John  Loveland  was  engaged  in  the  production  of 
ardent  spirits  at  a  small  distillery  near  the  site  of  his 
present  residence,  and  as  many  of  the  preachers  in  the 
surrounding  country  were  among  his  patrons  it  is 
reasonable  to'infer  that  he  made  a  very  good  article 
of  whisky.  Several  ministers  were  in  the  habit  of 
drinking  at  his  distillery  and  of  going  to  it  to  have 
their  bottles  tilled.  ?dr.  Loveland  once  paid  his  share 
of  support  to  the  Rev.  Enoch  Conger  in  liquor,  giving 
him  fifteen  gallons  from  his  still.  Jasper  W.  Smal- 
ley  was  also  engaged  in  distilling. 

ROUSE  BLY  AXD  THE    FUGITIVE  SLAVES. 

One  of  the  numerous  ramifications  of  the  "L'nder- 
gronnd  railroad"  passed  through  New  Haven.  Rouse 
Bly  was  one  of  the  brave,  humane  spirits  who  risked 
all,  even  life  itself,  in  befriending  the  jwor,  fleeing 
slaves,  during  the  troublesome  times  beginning  about 
1840.  His  house  was  one  of  the  depots  upon  the 
road  where  many  a  weary  traveler,  who  only  knew  he 
was  going  toward  the  north  star  and  freedom,  stopped 
for  rest  and  refreshment.  Dozens  of  times  Rouse 
Bly  took  men  and  women  through  to  Norwalk  or 
Oberlin  from  his  house  in  New  Haven.  He  often 
had  bands  of  blacks  secreted  about  his  house  or  out- 
buildings, and  his  ingenuity  invented  some  shrewd 
methods  of  concealment.  It  is  related  that  on  one 
occasion  a  number  of  southern  slave  owners,  who  had 
lost  some  of  their  humati  property,  stopped  at  Bly's 
place,  probably  having  suspicion  that  he  was  one  of 
the  "nigger  runners,"  and  made  a  careful  search  of 
the  premises,  looking,  in  the  course  of  their  examin- 
ation, into  the  smoke-house  where,  unknown  to  them, 
and  hidden  by  the  thick  clouds  of  smoke,  the  very 
slaves  they  had  lost,  crouched,  trembling  with  fear. 

RELIGIOUS    MATTERS — EARLY  AND  LATE. 

It  is  altogether  probable  that  the  first  sermon 
delivered  in  the  township  was  by  that  eccentric,  but 
good  man.  Rev.  James  Maclntyre.     He  was  the  only 


306 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


son  of  an  early  settler,  who  bore  the  same  given  name, 
and  came  into, the  county  in  181-1,  from  New  York 
State,  being  then  a  young  man.  He  was  without 
other  education,  theologically,  than  that  which  he 
had  secured  from  reading  diligently  the  few  books 
tliat  fell  into  his  possession.  He  was  awkward,  un- 
couth, illy  clad,  had  a  poor  voice,  was  comparatively 
ignorant,  but  he  was  in  earnest.  The  Bible  was  his 
great  study,  argument  his  forte.  His  style  was  dry, 
plain,  but  forcible  in  reason  and  convincing.  He  was 
a  Methodist,  and  the  creeds  which  he  combatted  most 
persistently,  strongly  and  successfully,  were  those  of 
Galvanism  and  Universalism.  His  argumentative 
artillery  fired  some  telliug'shots  into  the  forts  of  these 
faiths.  He  was  never  stronger  than  when  doing  battle 
against  some  advocate  of  one  or  the  other  belief,  in 
debate.  In  his  utter  disregard  of  dress  and  personal 
appearance,  ^laclntyre  bore  some  resemblance  to 
another  strange  character — "Johnny  Appleseed" — of 
whom  an  account  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  history. 
The  first  impression  created  by  the  appearance  of 
Maclntyre  was,  invariably,  one  of  surprise.  Those. 
however,  who  were  disposed  to  judge  too  hastily,  from 
his  appearance,  that  he  lacked  ability,  were  soon  con- 
vinced to  the  contrary  when  they  heard  him  speak. 
Early  settlers  describe  him  as  a  remarkably  tall,  gaunt, 
ungainly  figure,  with  thin,  peaked  face,  small,  deej) 
set  eyes,  and  sandy  hair.  He  usually  appeared  at 
the  place  where  a  meeting  was  to  be  held,  attired  in 
a  tow  cloth  shirt,  often  worn  in  the  manner  of  a  frock, 
tow  cloth  pantaloons,  one  tow  cloth  suspender,  with 
a  '-bucke^-e"  hat  upon  his  head,  and  barefooted.  He 
was  the  last  man  a  stranger  would  have  picked  out  m 
the  little  group  as  the  preacher.  He  would  begin 
speaking  in  a  cracked,  snueaking  voice,  and  those 
Avho  had  never  seen  him  or  heard  of  hun  before,  would 
imagine  that  they  saw  before  them  some  poor,  cracked 
and  crazed  fanatic.  Wonder  would  soon  change  to 
admiration,  as  the  pioneer  preacher  proceeded  with 
the  argument  of  his  sermon.  He  was,  although  poorly 
educated,  naturally  smart,  energetic  and  earnest.  His 
converts  were  numerous,  and  the  amount  of  good  he 
accomplished,  great.  Apropos,  of  his  extreme  care- 
lessness in  the  matter  of  dress,  it  is  related  that  once 
upon  a  time,  when  Maclntyre  and  some  others  had 
sent  woolen  cloth  away  to  be  dyed,  that  he  marked 
his  piece  with  the  initials  of  his  name,  and  when  it 
was  returned,  had  it  made  into  a  coat,  which  bore 
conspicuously  upon  the  back  the  large  letters  "J. 
M'l,"  Although  the  marking  could  have  been  easily 
removed,  the  letters  being  merely  coarse  yarn  stitched 
upon  the  cloth,  Maclntyre  never  took  them  off,  and 
they  were  visible  to  the  people  of  New  Haven  until 
the  garment  was  worn  out.  The  preacher  could  plead 
law  as  well  as  religion,  it  is  said,  and  was  frequently 
employed  to  do  so. 

Among  the  other  early  preachers  who  are  remem- 
bered in  New  Haven,  were  Benajah  Boardnian, 
Benjamin  Wooley  and  Harry  0.  Sheldon,  of  the 
Methodist  denomination:    Revs.  Enoch  Conger,  Wil- 


liam Matthews,  Alvin  Coe.  Wolf,  and   Ludivicus 

Robbins,  Presbyterians.  Conger  was  a  resident,  for 
a  time,  of  New  Haven,  Coe  settled  in  Greenfield, 
and  Matthews  in  Ashland  county. 

Presbyterian  meetings  were  held  at  John  Barney's 
house  soon  after  the  period  of  Rev.  Maclntyre's 
Methodist  meetings.  These  meetings  were  addressed 
by  Rev.  William  Matthews,  and  it  is  probable  that 
he  was  the  first  Presljyterian  miuistei  who  preached 
in  New  Haven.  The  church  of  this  denomination 
was  organized,  however,  by  Rev.  Enoch  Conger,  who 
united  with  the  presbytery  of  Huron  in  1824,  and  for 
a  time  served  in  New  Haven,  Greenfield  and  Ply- 
mouth townships.  He  was  installed  as  pastor.  This 
church  had  only  a  short  existence.  Whether  it  was 
organized  earlier  or  later  than  the  fii-st  Methodist  class, 
cannot  now  be  determined.  No  records  of  these 
bodies  are  in  existence,  and  no  authentic  information 
can  be  gleaned  in  regard  to  either  of  them. 

The  historian  presents  herewith  such  sketches  of 
the  churches,  alive  and  defunct,  as  he  has  been 
able  to  glean  from  records  and  from  interviews  with 
old  residents. 

M.    E.    CHIKCH. 

The  Methodists  had  an  organization  at  a  very  early 
day,  but  owing  to  the  disappearance  of  the  records 
(if  any  were  ever  kept),  no  facts  are  obtainable  except 
those  which  relate  to  the  comparatively  recent  his- 
tory of  the  church.  The  house  of  worship  was  built 
in  the  season  of  1811  and  1812  at  New  Haven  village, 
at  a  cost  of  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  was 
for  that  time  a  commodious  structure.  Rev.  S,  M. 
Allen  was  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  Paris  circuit 
at  that  time.  The  trustees  or  building  committee 
were  John  Ganung,  William  Howard,  Jacob  Loar, 
Le  Roy  Reed,  and  S.  R.  Parker.  The  present  stew- 
ards of  New  Haven  circuit  (having  in  charge  the 
churches  at  New  Haven  and  Plymouth,  and  one 
other)  are  the  following:  F.  M.  Chapman.  J.  L. 
Y'oung,  J,  K.  Southard,  John  Emmerson,  William 
Kirkpatrick,  Marvin  Seaton.  George  Weaver,  Wil- 
liam Dawson,  and  Samuel  Hook.  The  class  leaders 
of  New  Haven  Methodist  Episcopal  church  are  F,  M. 
Chapman,  J.  K.  Southard,  E.  Dickinson:  trustees, 
Erastus  Dickinson,  George  Mead,  J.  L.  Y'oung,  J. 
K.  Southard,  and  George  Hough.  Rev.  D.  D.  T. 
Mattison  is  at  present  the  preacher  in  charge. 

FREE    WILL     HAI'TIST    (HL'KtH. 

ilay  0.  1838,  a  number  of  persons  assembled  at  the 
school  house  near  Josiah  Curtiss'  house,  and  organ- 
ized themselves  into  a  church  bearing  the  above 
name.  The  original  members  were  ten  in  number: 
Josiah  Curtiss,  Ira  Selden,  Amasa  Blanchard,  Elial 
Curtiss.  Reuben  R.  Curtiss,  Ephraim  Heller,  Jere- 
miah Woodmansie,  Julia  L.  Seidell.  Ann  Heller  and 
Calista  Loveland.  Elder  Jolm  Wheeler  was  modera- 
tor of  the  meeting.  Reuben  R.  Curtiss  was  elected 
as  the  first  clerk,  and  Josiah  Curtiss  and  Ira  Seldeii 
as  deacons.     Elial  Curtiss.  became  the  first  pastor  of 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


307 


tlie  cliurcli.  Meetings  were  held  for  a  time  in  the 
school  house;  but,  in  1843,  the  present  church  edifice 
was  l)uilt,  where  it  now  stands,  on  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  lot  thirty-three,  in  section  two,  at  a  cost  of 
eight  hundred  dollars. 

The  church  has  experienced  many  revivals,  and 
has  had  numerous  accessions  to  its  membership  there- 
from. The  first  was  under  the  preaching  of  Kins- 
man R.  Davis,  and  twenty  persons  converted  by  his 
preaching  joined  the  flock.  Other  notable  revivals 
were  liad  under  the  preaching  of  the  Revs.'  Cyrus 
Courtland,  Oscar  Baker,  John  Ciiambers,  James 
Ashley,  Elder  Moore,  N.  R.  George,  Ezra  Ashley  and 
others.  The  present  pastor  is  Elder  Thomas  Dimm; 
John  Loveland,  Thos.  Clark,  deacons;  John  Love- 
land  and  Thos.  Clark,  trustees  of  the  incorporation; 
John  Loveland,  clerk. 

THE    BAPTIST    CHriiCH 

was  at  one  time  a  flourishing  society,  and  liad  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  and  fifty  members.  A  neat 
chui'ch  building  was  erected  in  184:1,  which  the  Bap- 
tists still  own  and  allow  other  denominations  to 
use,  though  having,  at  the  present  writing,  but  a 
small  membership,  they  do  not  themselves  have  reg- 
ular services.  The  church  was  organized  in  1840,  at 
Deacon  Stowe's  house,  and  its  constituent  members 
were:  Elder  John  Kelley,  Horace  Hough,  Horace 
Stowe,  Wm.  Ganung,  Seldon  Jones,  Timothy  Aus- 
tin, Wm.  Trembly,  George-  H.  Sparks,  Esther  M. 
Kelley,  Martha  Sparks,  Rebecca  Skinner,  Emily 
Rooks,  Freelove  Gardner,  Louisa  Linsey,  Sarah 
Stowe,  Freelove  "Woodworth,  Sarah  Ann  Trembly, 
Martha  Harkness.  In  1858,  the  church  having  be- 
come defunct,  it  was  re-organized  with  following 
members :  Ezra  Stewart,  W.  R.  Partello,  W.  D. 
Gaming,  J.  Gnyselman,  J.  J.  Shivel,  J.  J.  Knight, 
Electa  Gnyselman,  Mrs.  Woodworth,  S.  Knight, 
Polly  Ives,  Eliza  Lisle,  Sarah  Stewart,  Sophia  Partello, 
Ellen  Cleland,  and  George  A.  Knight. 

THE    CHURCH    OF    GOD. 

In  1871,  an  organization  was  effected,  which,  re- 
jecting all  other  appellations,  was  termed  by  its  mem- 
bers the  Church  of  God,  and  by  outsiders,  the  Wine- 
breunarian  Church.  The  church  was  organized  by  D. 
S.  Warner.  Joseph  AVolf  was  its  first  ruling  elder, 
and  Solomon  Kline  the  teaching  elder;  J.  C.  Colwell 
and  T.  S.  Charity  were  deacons.  The  present  officers 
of  the  church  are:  M.  A.  Artman,  ruling,  and  H.  M. 
Linn,  teaching  elder.  The  church  when  organized 
had  neai-ly  fifty  members,  but  at  the  present  writing, 
has  considerably  less  than  that  number. 

THE    rXIVERSALIST   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  December  15,  1878, 
with  the  following  members:  E.  S.  Case,  Harriet  S. 
Case,  Nettie  Case,  Alinda  Gleason,  William  Graham, 
Sarah  Graham,  Newell  Curtiss,  ilary  M.  Curtiss,  D. 
H.    Young,    Angelinc    Young,    Hersilia   J.    Young, 


George  Strimple,  James  K.  Lowther,  L.  Courtland 
Heller,  Elizabeth  Cusack,  George  Graham,  and  J.  H. 
Lowther.  Rev.  T.  S.  Rice  is  pastor;  L.  Courtland 
Heller,  president;  George  Strimple,  treasurer;  E.  S. 

Case,  Angeline  Young  and  Sai-ah  Gi-aham,  trustees. 


The  first  school  taught  in  the  township,  was  by 
Sophia  Barney,  (Latham  Coe's  second  wife).  This 
was  as  early  as  1815,  or  the  year  following.  Tlie 
school  was  held  in  a  small  log  building,  put  up  by 
Caleb  Palmer,  upon  lot  fifty-seven,  section  two. 

John  N.  Sloan  taught,  a  little  later,  in  a  log  build- 
ing which  stood  near  the  present  school  house  on  the 
town  plat.  Among  the  pupils  were,  James,  Joseph, 
John,  Alfred  and  Harrison  Skinner,  and  Maclntyre 
and  Minerva  Beymer.  Mr.  Sloan  had  an  assistant, — 
Louisa  Beymer. 

Joseph  Dana  was  for  many  years  the  teacher  of  an 
excellent  school  at  the  village.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
scholarship  and  had  ii  pecnliar  ability  in,  and  fond- 
ness for,  his  profession.  He  labored,  however,  against 
many  disadvantages.  One  of  them  was  the  absence 
of  the  conveniences  for  writing,  which  are  now 
thought  indispensable.  The  pupils  had  no  paper, 
slates  or  blackboards,  upon  which  to  exercise  their 
chirographic  abilities,  and  traced  their  "pothooks"' 
and  rude  letters  in  sand  strewn  upon  smooth  boards. 

A  school  house  was  built  quite  early  in  the  history 
of  the  township,  which  was,  for  the  time,  an  un- 
usually good  one.  It  was  originally  but  one  story 
high,  but  another  was  added  by  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. Good  schools  have  been  maintained  at  this 
building,  at  the  village,  almost  constantly  since  the 
earliest  recollection  of  the  oldest  residents,  and  just 
at  present  there  is  one,  which  under  the  management 
of  Wm.  F.  Dimm,  is  kept  fully  up  to  the  high 
standard  long  ago  established.  The  district  schools 
throughout  the  township  compare  favorably  with 
those  of  other  places. 


Unlike  most  of  the  early  settlements  New  Haven 
had  a  resident  physician  during  the  first  \-ears  of  its 
existence.  Dr.  Samuel  B  Carpenter  began  practice 
with  Royal  N.  Powers  as  a  partner,  about  1814.  The 
population  increased  very  fast  up  to  1820,  and  they 
enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice.  Neither  of  them,  how- 
ever, depended  entirely  upon  success  in  the  profession 
for  a  living.  Dr.  Selden  Graves  came  into  the  com- 
munity not  long  after  Doctors  Carpenter  and  Powers, 
remained  a  short  time,  and  then  removed  to  Seneca 
county.  Dr.  John  B.  Johnson  arrived  in  1820,  and 
continued  in  practice  until  his  death.  A  Dr.  Brown 
was  for  a  time  in  partnership  with  him.  Dr.  Richard 
Morton  and  Dr.  Tiiomas  Johnston  were  next  in  order 
of  arriral.  Dr.  Lemuel  Powers,  a  brother  of  Royal 
N.,  practiced  for  several  years,  as  did  also  Dr.  Dim- 
mock.  Dr.  Philo  P.  Hoy  was  prominent  in  the 
township  for  some  time,  professionally  and  otherwise. 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Dr.  Price  followed  the  profession  alone,  and  also  in 
company  with  Dr.  Johnston.  At  a  later  day  came 
Drs.  Buck  and  Myers,  E.  Lewis.  E.  L.  Austin,  of 
Plymouth;  Dr.  Cope,  Dr.  Ormsby,  Dr.  F.  G.  Arm- 
strong. Dr.  Xathan  Buckingham,  Dr.  Charles  Rich- 
ards and  Dr.  John  Krehbiel. 

The  present  resident  physician  of  New  Haven  is 
Dr.  D.  W.  Vail,  of  the  Allopathic  school.  He  was 
born  in  Bronsoii  township,  graduated  at  the  Western 
Reserve  Medical  College  in  Cleveland,  and  has  been 
located  here  since  1869. 

KEW    HAVEX    LODGE    SO.   41,   I.   O.   0.   F. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  effected  an 
organization  in  the  township  in  1845.  The  lodge 
above  named  was  instituted  on  July  28th  of  that  j-ear, 
by  Thomas  Spooner,  a  special  deputy,  assisted  by 
several  other  officers.  The  charter  members  were: 
Thomas  Johnston,  Abijah  Ives,  Sumner  P.  Webber, 
Jacob  W.  Clelaud,  Robert  Y.  Askin,  D.  H.  Brinker- 
hoff,  J.  Graham  and  William  V.  B.  Moore.  Follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  first  officers  elected  and  appointed: 
X.  G.,  Thomas  Johnston;  V.  G.,  William  V.  B. 
i\Ioore:  Secretary.  Sumner  P.  Webber;  Treasurer. 
Abijah  Ives;  R.  S.  to  X.  G.,  William  W.  :McVitty; 
L.  S.  to  X.  G.,  J.  W.  Cleland;  R.  S.  to  V.  G.,  Bro. 
Jones;  L.  S.  toY.  G.,  Bro.  Benson;  I  S.  G.,  Merritt 
Clark;  0.  S.  G.,  Ezra  Stewart.  William  Y.  B. 
Moore  resigned  as  Y.  G.,  and  was  appointed  con- 
ductor. Alonzo  Powers  was  made  Y.  G. ;  Warden. 
Charles  E.  Bostwick;  Chaplain,  Dyer  F.  Webber. 
This  lodge  had  a  large  membership,  and  was  for  many 
years  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  Many  of  the 
lodges  in  neighboring  villages  were  an  outgrowth  of 
Xew  Haven,  among  them,  Plymouth  Lodge  of  Ply- 
mouth, Xorth  Star  of  Fairfield,  Rome,  Sharon  of 
Shelbv,  Yeuice  of  Attica,  and  Centertou  of  Center- 
ton.  X'ew  Haven  Lodge  began  to  decline  when  the 
business  interests  of  the  village  waned.  It  never 
lapsed,  however,  from  activity,  and  though  its 
strength  has  been  severely  tried,  still  has  an  exist- 
ence and  prospects  for  a  perpetual  lease  of  life.  Its 
present  membership  is  twenty-seven.  The  officers  are 
as  follows:  X.  G.,  D.  W.  Yail;  Y.  G.,  A.  Snyder;  Re- 
cording Secretary,  0.  F.  Cole;  Permanent  Secretary, 
F.  Layer;  Treasurer,  L.  S.  Heller;  R.  S.  to  X.  G., 
George  Strimple;  L.  S.  to  X.  G.,  J.  L.  Miller;  R.  S. 
to  Y.  G.,  Jesse  Snyder;  L.  S.  to  Y.  G.,  S.  L.  Abbott; 
Warden,  A.  H.  Smith;  Conductor,  W.  Severance; 
Chaplain,  Rev.  J.  R.  Hall;  0.  G.,  J.  Williams;  I.  G., 
C.  Kurtz. 

E.VRLY  MAIL   CARRIERS— STAGE  ROUTES — ROADS. 

It  is  probable  that  a  mail  was  carried  through  Xew 
Haven  as  early  as  1809  or  1810,  and  as  late  as  1813, 
by  a  man  named  Facer.  His  route  was  from  Mans- 
field to  the  mouth  of  the  Huron  river.  Andrew  Brew- 
baker  succeeded  Facer  as  custodian  of  the  mail,  and 
made  trips  over  the  road,  or  rather  trail,  for  two 
years.     It  is  said  that  during  the  whole  of  that  time 


he  saw  only  three  or  four  white  persons  on  the  route, 
though  Indians  were  met  very  frequently.  They  made 
him  no  trouble,  however,  and  were  never  so  much  a 
cause  of  fear  as  were  the  wolves.  The  country  was 
full  of  tJK'se  disagreeable  and  dangerous  animals,  and 
it  is  said  by  old  settlers  that  Brewbaker  seldom  dis- 
mounted from  his  horse,  because  afraid  that  he  would 
be  molested  if  he  did  .*o.  He  was  accustomed  to  i)our 
grain  into  a  basin,  shaped  hollow,  which  he  had 
choi)ped  in  a  fallen  tree,  and  sit  in  the  saddle  while 
his  horse  ate. 

It  was  some  time  during  Brewbaker's  period  of  ser- 
vice that  a  j)Ost  office  was  established  in  the  township. 
The  first  was  a  box  nailed  upon  a  post,  and  thus  lit- 
terally  a  post  office.  Joseph  Dana  was  the  first  jwst- 
niaster.  His  duties  were  not  arduous.  People  who 
expected  mail  matter  were  accustomed  to  go  to  the 
box,  open  it,  examine  the  contents,  and,  if  they  found 
any  letters  addressed  to  themselves,  to  carry  them 
home — a  svstem  which  would  hardly  answer  at  the 
present  time.  Although  Darling  is  generally  spoken 
of  as  the  first  postmaster,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that 
Caleb  Palmer  was  the  first  man  regularly  commis- 
sioned to  fill  that  office.  An  old  receipt  addressed  to 
him,  and  bearing  the  date  May  9,  181G,  and  the  au- 
tograph of  Return  J.  Meigs,  is  still  in  existence. 
Abijali  Ives  was  postmaster  at  a  later  day. 

A  stage  route  was  laid  out  through  the  township, 
north  and  south,  in  the  year  1819.  It  was  only  a 
short  time  anterior  to  this  date  that  the  roads  had 
become  worthy  of  the  name.  They  were  at  first  mere 
trails,  winding  through  the  woods,  but  the  spirit  of 
improvement  was  abroad,  and  regular  roads  were  laid 
.out,  the  timber  cut  and  travel  made  less  tedious. 

The  first  petition  ever  presented  to  the  commission- 
ers of  Huron  county  wa*  from  Xew  Haven  tuuiishij). 
and  read  as  follows: 

HcROS  Cou.sTv.  August  13,  1S15. 
Tu  the  Commissioners  of  said  County  at  their  September  meeting; 

Petitioners,  of  the  inliabitauts  of  Xew  Haven,  liuuibly  slioweth.  That 
there  is  no  laid  out  road  in  these  parts;  Thei-efore.  Keiitlenien,  we  pray 
you  to  appoint  viewers  to  lay  out  a  road  from  tlie  south  I)Liundary  of  the 
township  to  the  mouth  of  Hur'on  river,  Iwginuiiis  at.  or  near,  the  house 
f  f  John  Ba:  ney,  thence  northward  to  the  center  of  Xew  Haven,  thence 
northward  to  Middlefleld's  or  Seth  Browns  on  the  west  branch  of  the 
Huron  river,  thence  near  the  bank  of  the  river  to  Charles  Parker's, 
thence  north,  on  the  most  suitable  ground  for  a  road,  to  the  mouth  of 
Huron  river. 

(Signed)  James  McIsttre,  Jr.,       Daniel  Pratt, 


James  Tooker, 
Henrv  Bar.vev, 
David  Inscho, 


S.  D.  Parmer, 
John  Barney, 

JOSIAH  ClRTIS: 

Jxo.  MclNivKE.  Sr  .  Chisim  May, 

Samcel  B  Carpenter.  Lither  C'oe. 

Saml'EL  Knapp.  TiTis  Brown, 

David  Powers.  Martin  M.  Kellogg, 

William  York,  Calvin  Hitchinson, 
Martin  Burke. 

The  second  road  petitioned  for  in  tlu'  rouuty  was 
by  Isaac  Powers  and  others,  to  run  fnun  the  Great 
Road  to  tlio  Prairie.  This  road  was  :\\><>  hicatrd. 
John  Concklin,  Beldon  Kellogg  and  Jiinu's  .Mcliityiv 
were  viewers,  and  Lutlier  Coe,  surveyor. 

The  third  and  the  seventh  roads  petitioned  for  were 
also  asked  by  residents  of  Xew  Haven  townshi]). 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


309 


NEW   HAVEN   VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  New  Haven  was  laid  out  by  David 
and  Royal  N.  Powers,  upon  the  Sth  of  April,  1815. 
The  plat  was  constructed  upon  the  plan  of  the  town 
l)lat  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  the  village  was 
as  tastefully  and  conveniently  laid  out  as  any  in  the 
State  of  Ohio.  This  was  the  second  town  plat  laid 
out  upon  the  Fire-lands.  The  center  of  the  plat,  an 
oi-en  space,  of  diamond  shape,  was  just  north  of  the 
township  center.  Streets  were  laid  out,  north,  east, 
south  and  west,  from  the  angles  of  this  open  common, 
and  these  were  intersected,  at  right  angles,  by  other 
streets,  all  at  an  equal  distance  from  the  center  of  the 
plat.  Alleys  were  laid  out,  sub-dividing  the  blocks. 
There  were  one  hundred  and  eighteen  lots,  over  sixty 
of  which  were  sold  and  improved  within  the  first  few 
years  of  the  existence  of  the  village.  In  1820,  New 
Haven  was  regarded  as  a  rival,  in  matters  of  trade 
and  manufacture,  of  Norwalk  and  Mansfield.  This 
rivalry  was  maintained  until  the  completion  of  the 
Sandusky,  M  lusfield  and  Newark  railroad,  when, 
fro.)i  a  co:nbination  of  causes,  it  began  to  decline. 

INCORPORATION. 

New  Haven  village  was  incorporated  in  1838  or  '39, 
but  it  is  said  that  officers  were  not  regularly  or  prop- 
erly elected  until  several  years  later.  Wm.  V.  B. 
Moore  was  mayor  in  1839.  No  trace  of  any  official 
mention  can  be  discovered  before  that  date.  The  first 
and  second  pages  of  the  corporation  record  are  gone, 
and  the  first  date  shown  is  1843.  tender  this  date,  by 
reference  to  various  entries,  we  find  that  the  officers 
were  at  that  time  as  follows:  P.  R.  Hoy,  mayor;  R. 
L.  McEwen,  recorder  (or  clerk);  J.  K.  Partello,  J. 
C.  Towne,  Wm.  John,  D.  F.  Webber,  James  Gra- 
ham, trustees  (members  of  council). 

The  officers  during  other  years  are  given  as  taken 
from  the  record: 

1844— R.  L.  McEwen,  mayor;  D.  F.  Webber,  re- 
corder; William  John.  Philo  R.  Hoy,  Wm.  B.  Ames, 
John  D.  Loomis,  Jaco!)  Guyselman,  town  council. 

184.5 — Dyer  F.  Webber,  mayor;  Thomas  Johnston, 
recorder;  Wm.  V.  B.  Moore,  Solomon  Place,  James 
Graliam,  Merrit  Clark,  William  McVitty,  town 
council. 

1846 — Charles  E.  Bostwick,  mayor;  Thomas  John- 
ston, recorder;  Wm.  V.  B.  Moore,  Sumner  F.  Web- 
ber, William  John,  J.  K.  Partello,  John  B.  Johnson, 
town  council. 

1847 — Henry  Buck,  mayor;  Thomas  Johnston,  re- 
corder; J.  K.  Partello,  Sumner  P.  Webber,  Phillip 
Green,  Francis  M.  Chapman,  Merrit  Clark,  town 
council;  Cyrus  Dow  was  appointed  treasurer:  and 
Ambrose  S.  Mallory,  marshal. 

1848— Ralpii  L.  Phelps,  mayor;  R.  H.  Tryon,  re- 
corder; James  Deauer,  Francis  M.  Chapman,  Tru- 
man W.  Crowel,  Elias  C.  McVitty,  Frederick  W. 
Clark,  town  council;  Oscar  A.  Deaner  was  apjiointed 
treasurer,  and  George  Burns  marshal. 


1849 — James  Deaner,  mayor;  R.  H.  Tryon,  re- 
corder; Wm.  Kelley,  Wm.  V.  B.  Moore,  Wm.  John, 
David  Lewis,  John  J.  Vail,  town  council:  Oscar  A. 
Deaner  was  appointed  treasurer,  and  Lucius  C. 
Brown,  mai'shal. 

Only  one  or  two  elections  were  held  after  the  year 
above  shown,  and  the  record,  having  been  mutilated, 
it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  what  officers  were  chosen. 
The  corporation  went  out  of  existence  with  the  de- 
cline of  the  village,  and  no  further  interest  seems  to 
have  been  taken  in  the  matter  of  town  government 
until  1808,  when  the  village  was  reincorporated.  The 
officers  then  elected  were:  Jesse  Williams,  mayor; 
Caleb  Palmer,  recorder;  Joseph  Mills,  Harvey  Me- 
leck,  Alanson  Clark,  Harrison  Skinner,  Stephen 
Page,  town  council;  James  K.  Southard  was  ap- 
pointed marshal.  This  was  the  only  election  held 
under  the  new  incorporation. 

XEW    HAVEX'tj    BEST  DAYS. 

In  "  old  times,''  no  grass  grew  in  the  streets  of 
New  Haven.  The  mercantile  business,  in  which 
Royal  N.  Powers  was  a  pioneer,  fast  increased  in  mag- 
nitude. Hopkins,  Hinman  &  Williams  soon  opened 
a  large  stock  of  goods.  Ives  &  Haskins  followed. 
Other  merchants,  engaged  in  business  at  New  Haven 
at  the  same  time  and  afterwards,  were  T.  W.  Crowell, 
Benjamin  Gosling,  James  Hannan,  T.  C.  McEwen, 
Sumner  Webber,  John  W.  Johnston  and  Dr.  Brown. 

Martin  M.  Kellogg  built  a  two-story  hewed  log 
tavern,  in  1816,  or  the  following  year,  and  George 
Beymer  became  its  first  proprietor.  Soon  after,  two 
framed  buildings  were  erected  for  use  as  the  lodging 
places  of  the  "wayfarer  and  tlie  stranger.'"  Royal  N. 
Powers,  his  brother  Lemuel,  Caleb  Palmer,  William 
D.  Mann,  Stowe,  Fleming,  Barlow,  Snow.  John 
Lang,  Moslier  and  a  Mrs.  Henderson,  are  the  Ijest 
remembered  inn-keepers. 

Manufacturing  was  started  at  an  early  day.  Slioe 
making  was  one  of  the  principal  industries,  and  at 
one  time  there  were  from  forty  to  fifty  journeymen  of 
this  trade  in  the  little  village.  In  those  times,  ship- 
ping shoes  to  New  Haven  would  have  been  regarded 
in  the  same  light  as  sending  coals  to  Newcastle.  A 
Mr.  Andrews  emljarked  in  the  tanning  business,  and 
was  soon  bought  out  by  Steward  and  Mulford.  The 
business  was  prosperous.  Other  trades  were  estab- 
lished, and  their  followers  ftourished.  An  iron 
foundry  Avas  established  by  Towne  and  Loomis,  and 
a  building  erected  in  1833.  It  was  afterward  bought 
out  by  John  Skinner,  and  became,  successively,  the 
property  of  a  Mr.  Frost  and  of  William  John.  Bost- 
wick's  fanning  mill  and  valve  factory,  at  a  later  day, 
added  largely  to  the  business  of  the  village.  Beside 
extensive  manufacturing  interests,  there  were  cabinet 
shops,  a  steam  mill,  an  ashery,  run  upon  a  large 
scale,  etc.  The  principal  business  of  the  jilacc, 
however,  was  the  mercantile.  There  were  at  one  time 
five  dry  goods  stores,  and  it  was  not  an  uncommon 
thing  for  the  largest  of  them  to  have  sales  amounting 


310 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


to  five  liundi-ed  dollars  in  a  single  day.  The  groceries 
and  other  places  of  business,  had  their  proportion  of 
receipts,  and  were  coining  money. 

New  Haven  village  was  on  the  direct  thoroughfare 
from  the  south  to  the  lake,  and  the  merchants  had 
not  only  a  good  home  trade,  but  received  the  liberal 
patronage  of  the  hundreds  of  teamsters  who  drove 
through  witlv  loads  of  produce  from  Mansfield  and 
other  points  in  the  vicinity.  Goods  were,  in  those 
days,  hauled  by  teams  from  Baltimore  and  Philadel- 
phia to  the  lake  ports  north  of  New  Haven,  and  the 
teamsters  upon  their  back  trip  gave  the  preference  to 
this  village,  over  all  others,  as  a  place  to  purchase 
those  articles  they  needed  for  personal  use,  and 
goodsf  or  peoj-ile  living  along  their  line  of  travel 
sor*h. 

These  teamsters  were  men  of  considerable  character 
and  ability.  They  transacted  their  affairs  in  as  busi- 
ness-like a  way  as  does  the  captain  of  a  vessel,  or  the 
officer  of  a  freight  line,  taking  bills  of  lading,  etc. 
They  drove  six-horse  teams  in  front  of  iheir  immense 
wagons,  called  "land  schooners,"  and  were  thus  able 
to  transport  heavy  loads  of  produce  and  merchandise. 
Sometimes  the  roads  for  several  miles  would  be  filled 
with  these  turnouts,  presenting  the  appearance  of  an 
immense  procession  or  caravan.  Many  a  time  the 
diamond,  or  square  common,  in  the  center  of  the  plat, 
was  so  filled  with  these  teams,  and  those  of  farmers 
in  the  vicinity,  who  came  in  to  trade,  that  it  was 
impossible,  well-nigh,  for  a  pedestrian  to  cross  from 
one  side  to  the  other. 

Early  in  the  history  of  New  Haven,  when  there 
were  few  banks  in  the  country,  when  money  was 
scarce,  and  the  skins  of  animals,  beeswax,  and  salts 
or  ashes,  were  the  principal  articles  of  traffic,  David 
Powers,  Royal  N.  Powers  and  M&rtin  .M.  Kellogg, 
established  a  banking  house  and  issued  notes,  the 
lowest  denomination  of  which,  were  valued  at  twenty- 
five  cents.  These  notes  were  put  into  circulation, 
but  after  a  short  time  they  were  not  receivable 
at  par,  and  finally  they  were  taken  in  excliange  for 
goods  by  Royal  N.  Powers,  when  he  opened  a  store. 

THE    DECLINE. 

New  Haven's  prosperity  began  at  an  early  day,  in- 
creased rapidly  and  ceased  suddenly.  Fortune  is 
fickle  with  communities  as  well  as  men.  She  smiled 
upon  this  one  in  its  infancy;  withdrew  her  favor  and 
put  tiie  past  and  present  conditions  of  the  village 
into  a  forcible  and  saddening  contrast.  The  San- 
dusky and  Newark  railroad  was  built  in  the  years 
18-Ir.3  and  184:4.  New  Haven  lay  directly  in  the  way 
of  the  proposed  road,  and  its  people  were  called  upon 
to  aid  tiie  enterprise  to  the  extent  of  a  few  thousand 
dollars.  The  amount  asked  for  would  probably  have 
been  subscribed,  had  it  not  been  for  the  counsel  of 
Judge  Ives.  He  regarded  it  as  impossible  to  build 
the  road  l)y  any  other  route  than  through  the  village, 
}iad  advised  against  extending  any  financial  assistance 


to  the  railroad  company.  The  tavern  men,  too, 
fought  the  proposition  to  have  the  road  come 
through  the  village,  thinking  that  their  business 
would  be  damaged,  when  the  teaming  was  superseded 
by  the  iron-horse.  The  managers  of  the  company 
became  angered  at  the  coolness  shown  by  the  New 
Haven  people,  and  instead  of  running  the  road 
straight  through  from  Sandusky,  south,  as  they  could 
have  done  most  easily  and  cheaply,  made  a  curve  to 
the  westward  and,  leaving  New  Haven  and  Greenfield 
center  in  the  lurch,  entered  the  village  of  Plymouth, 
then  a  smaller  place  than  New  Haven,  much  to  its 
future  advantage. 

Even  after  this  discrimination  against  them, 
the  jieople  of  New  Haven  might  have  secured  a 
greater  benefit  from  the  railroad  than  did  Ply- 
mouth, had  they  been  able  to  look  a  little  way 
into  the  future.  The  track  was  but  a  short  distance 
west  of  the  village,  and  had  warehouses  been  built 
there,  New  Haven  woxtld,  doubtless,  have  led  Ply- 
month  to-day,  for  she  had  the  advantage  of  prestige 
and  of  business  already  established,  and  the  village 
would  have  grown  toward  the  railroad.  In  these 
days,  however,  a  railroad  was  thought  to  be  of  no  ad- 
vantage to  a  town  or  village  unless  it  ran  through  its 
principal  street.  Warehouses  were  built  upon  the 
village  plat,  and  a  track  laid  upon  spiles,  was  run  up 
to  them  from  the  main  line,  cars  were  run  over  them 
a  few  times,  and  then  the  ti:ack  and  the  warehouses 
were  abandoned,  and  then  began  the  decline  that  has 
left  the  village  only  a  shabby  vestige  of  its  former 
superiority. 

The  decay  of  villages,  as  well  as  the  deteriora- 
tion of  men,  is  always  a  melancholy  sight.  New 
Haven,  to-day,  has  many  deserted,  dreary,  weather- 
stained  and  windowless  houses,  which  silently  attest 
that  "better  days"  have  been.  Many  houses  were 
moved  away,  and  are  now  answering  the  purpose 
of  farm  out-buildings,  some  were  torn  down  and 
others  burned.  Only  a  few  of  the  old  edifices  re- 
main in  use  at  the  village. 

New  Haven  has,  however,  retained  the  school  and 
the  church,  while  losing  so  large  an  amount  of  busi- 
ness, and  her  people  are  of  the  class  who,  while  they 
deplore  the  loss  of  activity  which  the  place  has  ex- 
perienced, have  social,  moral  and  religious  resources, 
perhaps  in  a  larger  degree  than  in  more  bustling 
communities,  and  make  the  best  of  what  remains. 

Frederick  Layer  is  postmaster,  and  was  com- 
missioned in  18T4.  There  are  three  stores  ;  that 
of  Theodore  Mills  and  Frederick  Layer  being  the 
largest.  L.  S.  Heller  and  Thomas  J.  Cusaek  divide 
the  balance  of  the  business,  in  the  grocery  line.  The 
harness  maker  is  A.  J.  Seydel;  blacksmiths,  Orrin  T. 
Cole.  T.  S.  Charity,  J.  K.   Partello;  wagon  makers, 

Kurtz    &   Cole  ;  pumps    are   manufactured   by  

Smith.  There  are  no  other  mechanical  industries  in 
the  village,  except  a  saw  mill  built  many  years  ago  by 
S.  K.  Ruth  and  M.  Kieser,  and  which  has  been  run, 
since  1862,  by  L.  Pennington. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


311 


PLYMOUTH    VILLAGE. 

Plymouth,  then  called  Paris,  was  laid  out  in  1825, 
at  the  junction  of  latitude  forty-one  and  Beal's  mili- 
t.ary  road,  by  Abram  Trux,  Jonn  Barney  and  Lemuel 
Powers.  *  It  consisted  of  forty-one  in-lots,  and  lay 
partly  in  New  Haven  township  and  partly  in  Plymouth 
township,  (Richland  county).  The  village  had  a 
rapid  growth.  All  of  the  original  forty-one  lots  were 
sold  within  two  years"  time,  and  several  additions 
were  made  to  the  town  plat.  The  first  frame  building 
in  the  village  .was  erected  by  William  Crall,  and  the 
second  was  built  by  three  young  men  from  Pittsburgh, 
by  the  name  of  Wilson.  The  third  frame  was  erected 
and  inclosed  by  Sylvester  Kellogg,  but  was  sold  to, 
and  finished  by  Matthew  McKelvey,  who  moved  into 
it  the  first  stock  of  goods  opened  in  the  place. 
When  the  plat  was  laid  out  it  included  sixteen  log 
cabins,    occupied    by   Abram  Trux,   Patrick    Lynch, 

Benjamin  W00II3-, Young,   Enos   Rose,   Abuer 

Harkness,  A.  D.  W.  Bodley,  Harlow  Barney,  John 
Barney,  Henry  Barney,  Christian  Culp,  Hugh  Long. 
B.  F.  Taylor,  W.  C.  Enos  and  Lemuel  Powers. 

Lemuel  Powers  was  the  first  physician  in  the  vil- 
lage; W.  C.  Enos,  the  first  lawyer;  Mr.  Curtiss,  the 
first  taylor;  W.  B.  Moore  and  John  Skinner,  the  first 
shoe  makers;  Hugh  Long,  the  first  tanner;  Patrick 
Lynch,  the  first  blacksmith  ;  Robert  Morfoot,  the 
first  bricklayer  and  plasterer;  A.  D.  W.  Bodley,  the 
first  wheelwright;  and  Anthony  McLaughlin  the  first 
cooper. 

A  saw  and  grist  mill  was  built  by  Abram  Trux, 
soon  after  the  village  was  laid  out. 

The  first  tavern  was  built  by  James  Drennan. 
Two  others  were  established  soon  after  this  one,  by 
Jacob  Heller  and  a  Mr.  Lindsey.  Two  distilleries 
were  started — one  by  Lemuel  Powers  and  the  other 
by  M.  McKelvey.  The  latter  was  obliged  to  discon- 
tinue his  business  because  of  an  injury  which  he  re- 
ceived, and  the  former,  being  converted  to  the  total 
abstinence  view,  changed  his  distillery  into  a  hat  fac- 
tory, which  he  conducted  successfully  for  many 
years. 

Among  tlie  oldest  settlers  of  Plymouth  village  are, 
Robert  Morfoot,  W.  W.  Drennan,  B.  B.  Taylor  and 
B.  F.  Day.  B.  Taylor  came  in,  in  the  year  lg2l. 
Drennan,  in  the  year  1825;  he  was  from  Pennsylvania, 
orignally,  and  married  Hannah  BrinkerhofiE,  of 
Owaseo,  New  York.  Morfoot  came  from  Trumbull 
county.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Heller. 
B.  F.  Day  arrived  in  1830.  Another  old  settler  was 
Andy  McLaughlin:  his  wife,  Rhoda,  is  still  living  in 
the  village, — Mrs.   Marshall,  f 

THE    VILLAGE    IN-COKPORATED. 

About  the  year  1834.  the  village  of  Plymouth  was 
incorporated,  but  as  the  records  previous  to  the  year 

"  For  the  facts  here  given,  in  relation  to  the  early  history  of  Plymouth 
village,  the  historian  is  largely  indebted  to  W.  W.  Drennan,  Esq . 

t  Other  early  settlei-s  are  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  township, 
which  includes  half  of  the  village. 


1855,  are  not  in  existence,  the  early  officers  cannot  be 
given.  The  first  mayor  was  probably  A.  D.  W.  Bod- 
ley, and  the  clerk,  at  the  same  time,  Robert  Morfoot. 
We  give  the  officers  elected  in  18T8,  as  a  matter  which 
will  sometime  be  of  interest.  They  are  :  Mayor, 
Jacob  Culp;  clerk,  J.  C.  Beekman;  members  of  coun- 
cil, W.  B.  Cuykeudall,  Wm.  McClinchy,  H.  M.  Par- 
ker, Phillip  Upp,  J.  N.  Fleming,  L.  B.  GuusauUus;  su- 
pervisor, Alexander  Clark;  treasurer,  Daniel  Wyandt; 
marshall,  C.  A.  Beelman. 

When  it  was  proposed  to  change  the  name  of  Paris 
to  that  now  in  use,  it  was  opposed  by  some,  because 
"Plymouth  was  a  damned  Yankee  name,"  "  a  cursed 
Puritan  name,"  etc.  But  the  name  was  adopted, 
nevertheless,  and  with  it  much  of  the  principle  which 
is  alwa3's  associated  in  imagination  with  the  word. 
The  village  took  an  early  stand  upon  the  temperance 
question,  and  for  many  years  was  avoided  by  a  cer- 
tain class,  because  it  was  "fanatical  upon  the  drinking 
question."  Robert  Morfoot  raised  the  first  building 
in  Plymouth,  that  went  up  without  the  aid  of  whisky. 

EARLY    SCHOOLS. 

In  the  same  year  it  was  laid  out,  the  jieople  of 
Paris,  built  a  small  house,  which,  according  to  the 
terms  of  the  subscription,  was  to  be  used  for  school 
and  religious  purposes.  All  denominations  were  en- 
titled to  its  occupancy.  Aaron  B.  Howe  was  the 
first  teacher,  and  is  said  to  have  had  an  excellent 
school,  which  was  so  well  appreciated  that  many  came 
from  a  distance  of  from  two  to  three  miles  to  attend 
it.     A  Mr.  Brown  succeeded  Howe  as  pedagogue. 

Mr.  McKelvey,  in  1830,  erected  a  small  building 
and  established  a  seminary  for  young  ladies.  He  pro- 
cured competent  teachers,  and  the  school  became 
quite  popular  and  useful.  The  young  ladies  of  the 
surrounding  country,  very  generally  took  advantage 
of  the  opportunity  offered  them  of  acquiring  an  edu- 
cation at  this  seminar}'.  An  additional  school  house 
was  built  in  1832,  and  this,  with  "the  old  red  school 
house,"  as  the  one  first  built  was  called,  subserved 
the  needs  of  the  village  until  1851,  when  the  nnion 
school  house  was  erected.  This  building,  it  is  said, 
gave  the  children  of  Plymouth  better  accommodations 
than  were  at  that  time  afforded  in  any  of  the  villages 
of  Huron  or  Richland  counties.  This  was  replaced 
with  the  present  structure  in  1875. 

PLYMOL'TH    Pl'KLIC    SCHOOLS. 

The  superintendents  who  Jiave  had  charge  of  tlie 
schools  since  their  organization  as  union  schools — 
April  6,  1849,— have  been  as  follows:  In  1850,  C.  L. 
Royce  was  chosen  as  the  first  superintendent,  and 
continued  as  such  until  August  4, 1853,  when  Solomon 
Spaulding,was  elected  as  his  successor.  J.  Markham 
was  elected  June  22,  1854;  J.  B.  Oetman.  June  C, 
1857;  Allen  Armstrong,  March  4,  ISiU:  J.  Markham, 
re-elected  September  5,  1865;  W.  A.  Gunsaullus, 
elected  August  9,  1800:  Richard  Parsons.  July  24, 
1871,  and  C.  W.  Butler,  the  present  superintendent. 


312 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


July  6,  1875.  On  Septeml)er  13,  18?5,  the  schools 
were  opened  in  the  new  building,  six  rooms  being 
occupied,  and  an  enrollment  of  three  hundred  and 
fifty  pupils.  There  are  six  teachers  employed,  beside 
the  superintendent.  The  system  of  instruction  fol- 
lowed is  similar  to  that  of  the  most  approved  schools, 
very  simple,  yet  practical,  the  main  object  being, — 
first — to  give  the  pupils  a  good,  common  business  ed- 
ucation. There  is  not  a  rigid  adherence  to  the  i)la)i 
of  any  particular  text  book,  the  work  being  provided 
by  the  superintendent  each  month.  The  course  of 
study  consists  of  thirteen  years ;  after  eight  years  are 
spent  in  the  study  of  the  common  branches,  there 
remain  five  years  for  the  completion  of  the  higher 
studies  of  the  course.  The  schools  are  in  excellent 
grade,  there  being  two  grades,  of  one  year  each,  in  each 
room,  except  in  the  high  school,  which  has  three 
grades.  Since  the  re-organization  of  the  schools  and 
adoption  of  a  course  of  study,  in  1875,  there  has  been 
one  class  of  six  graduated — in  June,  1877.  Hereafter 
there  will  be  a  class  each  year.  A  concise  report  of  the 
schools  has  been  issued  each  year,  since  1875,  showing 
the  condition  of  the  schools  at  the  end  of  the  partic- 
ular year. 

The  schools  are  in  a  thriving  condition.  The  corps 
of  teachers,  at  the  present  time,  stands  as  follows: 
Superintendent,  C.  W.  Butler  ;  high  school,  Mrs.  0. 
W.  Butler;  A  grammar.  Miss  Kate  Tubbs;  B  gram- 
mar. Miss  Nora  Reed ;  A  primary.  Miss  Stella 
Billstein;  B  primarj%  Miss  Sarah  Tucker:  C  primary, 
Miss  Mary  Culp. 

Board  of  Education:  S.  Bloom,  president;  Solomon 
Spear,  secretary;  Wells  Rogers,  treasurer;  Josiah 
Wyandt,  George  Hoffman  and  A.  F.  Plank. 

SCHOOL    BUILDING. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education,  March  4, 
187-1,  it  was  decided  to  submit  to  the  voters  the  pro- 
priety of  building  a  new  school  house.  The  vote  was 
taken,  April  1-1,  and  resulted  by  a  large  majority  in 
its  favor.  The  building  is  a  brick  structure,  three 
stories  high,  and  a  basement.  There  are,  at  the 
present  time,  six  regular  school  rooms,  a  recitation 
room  and  a  superintendent's  office  in  use.  The  rooms 
are  all  well  furnished,  lighted,  heated  and  ventilated; 
halls  wide  and  roomy,  and  the  building,  as  a  whole, 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  State.  Its  cost  was  about 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

DEMOSTHEXEAX    LITEHAKV    SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1875,  in 
connection  with  the  high  school.  It  enrolls  about 
one  liundred  and  fifty  members,  counting  both  present 
and  absent  members.  Its  efforts  have  been  attended 
with  a  marked  degree  of  success.  Its  hall  is  well 
furnished.  Since  its  organization,  the  society  has 
purchased  an  organ,  chandeliers,  books,  and  a  com- 
plete set  of  Zell's  Encyclopedias.  It  is  regarded  with 
much  pride  by  the  patrons  of  the  school. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    OF    PLYMOUTH. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church,  of  Plymouth,  was 
organized  by  Rev.  William  Matthews,  February  23, 
1819,  and  consisted  of  the  following  named  members, 
there  being  forty-one  in  all — twenty  males,  and  twen- 
ty-one females  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Levi  Bodley,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Abram  Van  Houten,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Mack, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bodley,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Vanfleet,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  F.  Wilson,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Joseph  Wilson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Bodley,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Andrew  Dewit,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jesse  Bodley,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jacob  Conklin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Gut- 
tery,  Mr.  and  :\Irs.  Henry  Bodley,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James 
Davis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Garret,  John  Conklin, 
William  Bodley,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Gunsaullus,  Levi 
Gunsaullus,  Abram  I.  Brevier,  Sophia  Bodly,  Hannah 
Bodley,  Dinah  Bodley,  Jane  Bodley  and  Mary  Morrow. 

Nearly  all  of  the  above  named  persons  came  to 
Ohio  from  the  State  of  New  York.  The  following 
named  persons  were  the  first  elders  of  the  church — 
ordained  as  such  July  10,  1819:  Mr.  Levi  Bodley, 
John  Conklin,  Abran  Van  Houten  and  David  Gun- 
saullus. 

As  first  organized,  the  church  was  under  the  care 
of  the  Richland  presbytery,  but  in  August,  1838,  it 
withdrew  from  that  body  and  united  with  the  presby- 
tery of  Huron.  It  continued  to  hold  this  relation 
until  September  16,  1876,  at  which  time  it  returned 
to  its  first  love,  uniting  with  the  presbytery  of 
Wooster,  which  embraces  in  its  territory  the  greater 
part  of  what  was  once  known  as  the  Richland  presby- 
tery. This  relation  the  church  still  holds.  The  first 
church  edifice  was  a  log  building,  erected  in  182-t  or 
'25.  It  stood  about  a  mile  and  a  half  s<iuth  of  the 
present  village  of  Plymouth. 

In  1823,  fourteen  members,  two  of  them  being 
elders  in  the  church,  withdrew,  and  formed  the 
Associate  Reformed  church,  which  has  since  ceased  to 
exist. 

Worship  was  continued  in  the  log  "meeting  house" 
until  about  1836,  at  which  time  the  church  began 
to  hold  its  services  in  the  brick  school  house,  situated 
within  the  present  village  of  Plymouth,  and  now 
occupied  as  a  dwelling  house.  In  1839  the  present 
church  edifice  was  begun,  and  finished  in  the  fall 
of  18-40.  It  was  remodeled  in  1870,  and  is  now  a 
very  convenient  and  comfortable  building. 

In  1853,  twenty-two  members  withdrew,  and  formed 
the  Congregational  church  of  Plymoutli.  The  organ- 
ization of  the  Associate  Reformed«hurch,  in  1823, for  a 
short  time  seriously  retarded  the  growth  of  the  church. 
The  same  is  true  in  regard  to  the  organization  of  the 
Congregational  church.  But  for  the  most  Jiart, 
during-its  sixty  years  of  existence  as  a  church,  it  has 
been  greatly  prospered.  It  has  enjoyed  a  number  of 
very  interesting  revivals,  one  of  especial  interest  in 
1866,  which  resulted  in  the  addition  of  over  fifty 
persons  to  the  church.  Another  during  the  winter 
just  closed,  of  ei|ual  interest;  up  to  the  present  date, 


HISTGRY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


313 


forty-one  have  united  with  the  ehiirch,  and  more  will 
follow  soon. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  ministers  who  have  served 
the  church  since  its  organization,  with  their  time  of 
service,  in  wises  where  it  could  be  ascertained.  The 
dates,  possibly,  may  not  be  exact:  Rev.  Wm.  Mat- 
thews, from  1810  to  1823:  Eev.  Robert  Lee,  1823; 
Rev.  E.  Conger,  from  1824  to  1827;  Rev.  Jacob 
Wolf,  eighteen  months;  Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon,  for  only 
three  months;  Rev.  James  Robinson,  two  years;  Rev. 
Daniel  Higgins,  four  months;  Rev.  E.  Conger,  from 
183G  to  1848;  Rev.  Jonath^in  Cochran,  twenty-two 
months;  Rev.  William  Dempsey,  from  1850  to  1851; 
Rev.  William  Bridgeman,  two  years;  Rev.  J.  M. 
Hayes,  from  1853  to  1856;  Rev.  J.  B.  Fowler,  from 
1857  to  1862;  Rev.  J.  S.  Edwards,  one  year;  Rev. 
T.  J.  Keep,  six  months;  Eev.  John  D.  McCord,  from 
1805  to  18G8;  Rev.  J.  K.  Kost,  from  18ti8  to  1873; 
Rev.  E.  W.  Childs,  one  year;  Rev.  J.  H.  Jones,  from 
187-1:  to  1878.  The  Rev.  C.  E.  Barnes,  serves  the 
church  at  present,  having  commenced  labor  with  the 
charge  in  July,  1878.  The  present  officers  are  as 
follows:  Elders,  Caleb  Brevier,  Charles  Conklin, 
James  Reed,  A.  Bodine,  J.  H.  Packer,  Dr.  T.  S. 
Seeley;  trustees,  Thomas  Willett,  T.  S.  Seeley,  A.  H. 
Hutchinson.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  persons,  and  has  no  debt. 

THE    LUTHERAN    CHURCH 

was  organized  in  the  year  184(1.  Its  original  mem- 
bers were  :  S.  H.  Trangor,  Felix  Fenner,  Jacob 
Harmon,  John  Gross,  David  Ganoung,  Charles  W. 
Powers,  Simon  Turner,  Felix  T.  Fenner,  A.  T^ 
Hills,  G.  A.  Hills,  A.  Denisoii,  Jacob  Plank,  Peter 
Miller,  William  Miller,  Jacob  Miller,  Elizabeth 
Fenner,  Matilda  Fenner,  Caroline  Light,  Maza  Light, 
Mrs.  J.  Miller.  The  first  officers  were:  Deacons,  C. 
W.  Powers,  David  Ganoung;  elders,  S.  H.  Trangor, 
Felix  Fenner.  The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been, 
P.  P.  Lane,  Erastus  Eastman,  J.  Crouse,  G.  H. 
Peters,  D.  Summors,  J.  Selmser,  J.  0.  Hough,  M. 
T.  Willhelm,  S.  F.  Breckrenridge,  J.  H.  Slough,  G. 
W.  Miller,  (the  last  being  in  charge  at  the  present 
writing).  The  church  was  built  in  1843,  at  a  cost  of 
one  thousand  and  six  hundred  dollars,  and  has  been 
improved  and  repaired  several  times  since.  An  addi- 
tion was  made  in  1860,  at  a  cost  of  three  hundred 
dollars,  and  two  years  later  the  auditorium  was 
frescoed  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  church  is  fully  two  hundred.  Present 
officers:  Elders,  S.  H.  Trangor,  Samuel  Fenner,  J. 
Brinkerhoof:  deacons,  Tobias   Trangor,   C.   Fenner, 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH 

of  Plymouth,  came  into  being  at  an  early  day,  but 
not  until  sometime  after  an  organization  had  been 
effected  at  New  Haven.  The  first  house  of  worship 
was  erected  about  the  year  1831,  and  answered  the 
needs  of  the  congregation  until  1867,  when  a  fine 
brick  structure  was  raised,  at  a  cost  of  about   eight 


thousand  dollars.  S.  E.  Parker  donated  a  one  and  a 
half  village  lots,  and  another  was  purchased  by  the 
society.  Eev.  D.  D.  T.  Mattison  is,  at  the  present 
writing,  in  charge.  The  officers  are  as  follows: 
Trustees,  S.  E.  Parker,  Jr.,  Amos  Upp,  B.  Eunnells, 
J.  W.  Bell,  S.  S.  Holtz,  G.  M.  Eidt,  John  Emmer- 
son;  class  leaders,  Joseph  Beachan,  Amos  Upp,  G. 
M.  Eidt,  David  W.  Slocura;  stewards,  John  Emmer- 
son,  William  Kirkpatrick,  Marvin  Seaton.  The 
church  has  a  membership  of  about  ninety  persons. 

PLYMOUTH    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

was  organized  at  the  Lutheran  meeting  house  in 
1846,  the  members  then  subscribing  being:  Thomas 
Bodley,  Ephriam  Robbins,  Harley  Thair,  James 
Doolittle,  Lunian  Knapp,  William  Enderby,  Joshua 
Eutman,  Barbara  Rutman,  Susan  Petit,  Sarah 
Rutman,  Sarah  Enderby,  Betsey  Rutman,  Eliza  Rob- 
bins.  Emily  Eobbins,  Prudence  Case,  Louisa  Case, 
Ann  Knapp,  and  Susan  Inkes.  This  church  has  at 
present  no  organization. 

THE    COXGREGATIOXAL 

is  another  of  the  now  inactive  churches  in  Plymouth. 
It  was  an  outgrowth  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
was  organized  in  1851  with  twenty  members.  Eev. 
E.  P.  Salmon  being  its  first  minister.  A  house  of 
worship  was  built  in  1853. 

ROMAN    CATHOLIC. 

St.  Joseph's  Eoman  Catholic,  was  organized  in 
1872.  by  Eev.  Father  M.  Pitts.  A  neat  frame  church 
building  was  erected  the  same  year.  Those  who  were 
active  in  starting  the  movement,  which  resulted  in 
its  establishment,  and  who  have  since  been  the  promi- 
nent supporters  of  the  church,  were:  Joseph  Mitlen- 
buler,  Wentzel  Waller  and  Jacob  Stracker. 

SOCIETIES. 

PLYMOUTH    AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  June  15,  1855,  with  the 
following  corps  of  officers  :  President,  John  Bodine; 
vice  presidents,  Messer  Barker  and  Levi  B.  Sharer; 
treasurer,  E.  McDonough  :  secretary,  D.  R.  Locke 
(Nasby).  In  1870,  the  organization  was  made  a  joint 
stock  comp  .ny.  It  has  thirteen  acres  of  laud,  located 
in  the  northwest  part  of  Plymouth.  The  grounds  are 
nicely  laid  out,  und  the  company  holds,  annually, 
fairs  which  are  regarded  as  among  the  most  interest- 
ing in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  present  officers 
are  as  follows  :  President,  J.  K.  Brant;  vice  president, 
Joseph  Conley;  treasurer,  A.  B.  Gilson,  with  S.  W. 
Thomas  and  Wesley  Robinson  as  assistants;  secretary, 
J.  Frank  Beelman:  general-  superintendent,  Philip 
Upp. 

HURON    ENCAMPMENT,    NO.    36,    I.    O.    O.    F. 

Early  in  the  history  of  Odd  Fellowship  there  was 
instituted    an    encampment,  called  Huron    Encamp- 


314 


HISTOKY  OF  HUKON  AKD  ElUE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


nieut.  Xo.  3i;.  located  at  Xew  Haven,  and  dividing 
the  jurisdiction  between  Xorwalk,  ou  the  north,  and 
Mansfield,  on  the  south.  For  many  years  the 
organization  flourished,  but  finally,  by  reason  of  its 
funds  becoming  low,  and  because  of  dissensions  among 
the  members,  it  became  feeble.  It  was  removed  to 
Plymouth,  with  the  hope  that  it  might  there  have  a 
more  vigorous  life,  but  its  misfortunes  followed,  and 
about  the  year  1856  its  charter  was  surrendered  by 
W.  W.  Dreunan,  J.  W.  McLaughlin  and  William 
Knott,  who  were  the  principal  officers  at  that  time. 
The  charter  was  returned  upon  the  petition  of  J.  M. 
Beelmau,  William  Davis,  C.  Eschbaugh,  John  Wetz, 
John  E.  Hunter,  H.  B.  Sillimau,  John  H.  Ferguson, 
F.  Portman  and  J.  W.  McLaughlin,  and  the  encamp- 
ment was  re-instituted,  July  1,  1875.  The  following 
officers  were  at  that  timeelected  :  C.  P.,  H.  Beelman; 
H.  P.,  C.  Eschbaugh  I  S.  W.,  J.  M.  Beelmau;  J.  W., 
John  Ferguson;  scribe,  J.  M.  Lazier;  treasurer,  F. 
Portman.  Present  officers  :  C.  P.,  J.  M.  Lazier;  H. 
P.,  G.  Gilbert:  S.  W.,  John  Metz;  J.  W.,  F.  Port- 
man;  scribe,  G.  Miller;  treasurer,  H.  B.  Silliman. 
Xight  of  meeting — first  and  third  Wednesday  of  each 
month. 

PLYMOUTH    LODGE,   NO.    93,   I.    0.    0.    F., 

was  instituted  by  Thomas  Spooner,  G.  M.,  August 
25,1847.  The  first  officers  were:  N.  6.,  Kobert 
McDonougli;  Y.  G.,  E.  0.  Pier;  recording  secretaiy, 
A.  Powers;  permanent  secretary,  J.  W.  Beekman; 
treasurer,  Walter  Burns.  The  lodge  was  in  good  con- 
dition until  1864,  when  the  charter  was  surrendered. 
It  was  returned  in  1871  by  John  A.  Lee,  Deputy  G. 
M.,  and  the  lodge  was  again  organized,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members  :  Daniel  Bremer,  Christian 
Eschbaugh,  John  Metz.  Jacob  Buck,  T.  Portner,  J. 
W.  McLaughlin.  The  officers  elected  were  as  follows: 
K".  G.,  C.  Eschbaugh;  V.  G.,  John  Metz;  recording 
secretary,  D.  Brenner;  permanent  secretary,  J.  W. 
McLaughlin;  ti-easurer,  Jacob  Buck.  The  officers  in 
position  March  1,  1879,  are:  X.  G.,  John  Metz;  V. 
G.,  John  Snyder;  recording  secretary,  William  Jones; 
permanent  secretary,  J.  W.  McLaughlin;  treasurer, 
William  McC'linchy.  Xight  of  meeting,  Friday  of 
each  week. 

RICHL.VXD    LODliE    XO.   201,   F.   AND  A.   M. 

The  charter  for  this  lodge  was  granted  October  19, 
1851.  The  original  members  were:  James  Dreunan, 
Erastus  S.  Spencer,  Rouse  Bly.  H.  L.  Kirtland,  B.  F. 
Day,  Marshal  Webb,  Messer  Barker,  Samuel  Buch- 
anan, John  Weldon.  First  officers:  W.  M  ,  James 
Drennau:  S.  W.,  Erastus  S.  Spencer;  J.  W..  Rouse 
Bly.  The  hall  and  charter  of  this  lodge  were  destroyed 
by  fire  in  May,  18"1,  and  the  charter  was  reissued 
October  19th  of  the  same  year.  The  present  officers 
of  the  lodge  are:  W.  M.,  J.  W.  Webb;  S.  W.,  G. 
Burgoyne:  J.  W.,  Solomon  Sjiear;  Treasurer,  G.  W. 
Hoffman;  Secretary.  J.  W.  McLaughlin;  S.  D.,  T.  J. 
Webber;  J.  D.,  Jacol)   Gulp:  Stewards,  Jacob   Beel- 


man and  C.  W.  BuUer;  Tyler,  ^\■illlanl  McClinchy. 
Stated  communication  on  Monday  evening  on  or  next 
preceding  full  moon  in  each  month. 

PLYMOfTH    CHAPTER    NO.    118,   R.    A.    M. 

The  charter  was  granted  for  Plymouth  Chapter 
October  16,  1869.  Charter  members:  0.  W.  Williams, 
D.  B.  King.  P.  L.  Brink,  Wells  Rogers,  H.  Graham, 
J.  G.  Street,  Solomon  Spear,  J.  K.  Kost,  J.  T.  Barr, 
J.  W.  McLaughlin,  J.  W.  Webb,  T.  L.  Barr,  B.  F. 
Day.  The  first  officers  were:  H.  P.,  0.  W.  Williams; 
King,  J.  W.  McLaughlin;  Scribe,  H.  Graham.  Fol- 
lowing are  the  present  officers  of  the  organization:  H. 
P.,  J.  W.  Webb;  E.  K.,  J.  K.  Smith;  E.  S.,  L.  S. 
Heller;  C.  0.  H.,  P.  S.  Brink;  P.  S.,  G.  Burgoyne; 
R.  A.  C,  J.  C.  Tenner;  G.  M.  3rd  V.,  J.  G.  Street; 
G.  M.  2nd  v.,  William  McClinchy;  G.  M.  1st 
v.,  W.  H.  Bullock;  Treasurer,  Wells" Rogers;  Secre- 
tary, Solomon  Spear;  Chaplain,  J.  W.  McLaughlin; 
Stewards,  W.  H.  Burke  and  L.  D.  Vinson;  Guard,  J. 
W.  McLaughlin.  Stated  communications  on  Friday 
evening,  on  or  next  preceding  full  moon. 

PLYMOUTH    LODGE  NO.   70,   K.   OF  H. 

The  charter  members  of  this  body  were:  J.  W.  Mc- 
Laughlin, A.  Hershiser,  H.  B.  Silliman,  H.  Saviers, 
C.  Eshbaugh,  S.  R.  Bloom,  S.  S.  Smith,  C.  Waite,  J. 
H.  Ferguson,  J.  N.  Beelman,  0.  Tyson.  J.  Westfall. 
They  organized  January  28,  1875,  by  the  election  of 
the  following  officers:  P.  D.,  J.  W.  McLaughlin;  D., 
H.  B.  Silliman;  V.  D.,  A.  R.  Hershiser;  A.  D.,  S.  S. 
Smith;  Guide,  J.  W.  Beelman;  Reporter,  J.  H.  Fer- 
guson; Financial  Reporter,  C.  Eshbaugh;  Treasurer, 
H.  Saviers;  Sentinel,  S.  R.  Bloom.  Following  are 
the  officers  of  1879:  P.  D.,  D.  H.  Seller;  D..  M.  B. 
Beelman;  V.  D.,  S.  R.  Bloom;  A.  D.,  C.  W.  Butler; 
Guide,  C.  A.  Beelman;  Chaplain,  J.  G.  Rhodes;  Re- 
porter, Solomon  Spear;  Financial  Reporter.  J.  A. 
Beelman;  Treasurer.  J.  M.  Lazier:  Guardian.  J.  F. 
Beelman;  Sentinel,  G.  Gebert. 

THE  PLYMOL'TH  GIRLS"  LITERARY  SOCIETY 

was  organized  November  12,  1873.  The  members 
were  thirteen  girls,  from  twelve  to  thirteen  years  of 
age,  their  object  being  to  procure  a  library  for  their 
own  use.  The  first  officers  were  :  Ida  Getman,  pres- 
ident; Arte  McDonough,  vice  president ;  May  Gulp, 
secretary;  Celia  Schonberg,  assistant  secretary;  Rena 
Billstein,  treasurer.  Meetings  were  held  each  week. 
The  first  effort  to  raise  funds  was  a  fancy  fair  held 
December  17.  1873.  The  net  profits  of  this  fair  were 
forty-five  dollars,  with  which  a  book-case  and  a  few 
books-  were  purchased.  By  means  of  socials,  festivals, 
etc..  the  number  of  volumes  has  been  increased  to  six 
liundrecl.  The  present  officers  are:  Lou  Strong, 
prosideut:  Keua  Billstein.  vice  president;  May  Gulp, 
secretary;  Jennie  Gulp,  treasurer.  The  society  has 
now  a  i)leasant  room,  over  the  First  Xatiouaj  l)auk, 
and  tlie  library  is  oiieu  to  all. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


MANUFACTURES. 

The  village  has  always  been  a  i:)rogressive  one.  To- 
day it  possesses  acquired  advunrages,  unexcelled  by 
those  of  any  place  of  its  size.  It  has  fine  schools, 
flourishing  churches,  a  well  ordered  population  to 
support  them,  varied  manufacturing  interests,  and  a 
live  class  of  business  men.  Following  are  the  most 
important  of  the  manufacturing  establishments: 

MARBLE   WORKS. 

The  first  marble  works  in  Plymouth  were  estab- 
lished in  1850,  by  B.  Vinson,  who  did  business  in  an 
extensive  way,  operating  in  Bucyrus,  Norwalk,  and 
other  towns,  as  well  as  Plymouth,  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1874,  when  his  son,  L.  D.  Vinson,  took  charge 
of  the  industry.  Afterwards,  it  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  H.  S.  Vinson,  who  at  present  conducts  it.  He 
has  b.)th  a  theoretical  and  practical  knowledge  of 
marble  working,  and  has  made  many  improvements  in 
this  branch  of  manufacture,  introducing,  among  other 
things,  a  new,  and  superior  polish,  and  a  system  of 
monument  models,  to  be  supplied  to  dealers,  and  by 
which  tiiey  can  take  orders  for  work.  Many  handsome 
specimens  of  Mr.  Vinson's  work  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
towns  of  iiovthern  Ohio. 

THE    NOVELTY    WORKS. 

This  establishment,  known  also  by  the  name  of 
"Northern  Ohio  Bracket  Works,"  occupies  the  upper 
portion  of  the  foundry  building,  near  the  B.  &  0.  R. 
R.  station.  It  was  started  in  1871,  by  Beelman  and 
Bros.,  and  is  now  managed  by  B.  F.  Beelman  & 
Bro.,  who  have  composed  the  firm  for  the  past  three 
years.  The  articles  manufactured  are  brackets,  mirror 
frames,  etc.,  and  they  are  sold  largely  to  dealers 
throughout  the  United  States. 

THE    PLYMOUTH    MACHINE    WORKS. 

The  firm  conducting  this  manufacture,  H.  J. 
Kroenke  and  J.  S.  Farr,  took  possession,  in  1876, 
of  their  present  building,  near  the  B.  &  0.  R.  R. 
station,  erected  in  1869  by  a  joint  stock  company,  for 
a  handle  factory,  and  has  since  then  done  an  active 
business  in  the  production  of  portable  and  stationary 
engines,  saw  mills,  road  scrapers,  lifting  jacks  and 
miscellaneous  machinery. 

WAfiON    AND    CARRIA<4E    MAKINi;. 

Among  the  oldest  followers  of  this  branch  of  man- 
ufacturing is  S.  R.  Parker,  who  began  in  Plymouth 
in  1857.  The  business  is  now  conducted  by  his  son.  S. 
Parker.  Other  firms  in  the  same  trade  are  Webb, 
Burgoyne  &  Co.,  and  Lynch  &  Clark. 

CORN    PLANTER    MANUFACTURERS. 

Two  establishments  are  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  corn  planters.  S.  S.  Smith  began  in  1864.  and  A. 
Medsker  &  Co.  in  1876. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Cabinet  making  is  carried  on  by  John  Beelman  and 
the  firm  of  Kaylor  &  Sweet.  The  planing  mills  are 
operated  by  Andrew  Clark  and  James  Tubbs.  J.  N. 
Slater  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  harness. 
Milling  is  carried  on  by  Koss  Cuj^kendall  and  Henry 
Wolf. 


The  First  National  Bank  of  Plymouth  was  estab- 
lished December  15,  1871,  with  a  capital  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  The  following  gentlemen  composed 
the  board  of  directors:  H.  C.  Breckenridge,  John 
DeViney,  D.  W.  Slocum,  L.  L.  Kilburn,  S.  M.  Rob- 
inson, William  Cuykendall,  Moses  Billstein.  H.  C. 
Breckenridge  was  chosen  president,  John  DeViney, 
vice  president,  and  F.  B.  Tucker,  cashier.  The  com-- 
pany's  present  organization  is  as  follows:  President, 
J.  BrinkerhofE;  vice  president,  S.  M.  Robinson;  cash- 
ier, W.  B.  Cuykendall;  board  of  directors,  .J.  Brink- 
erhoff,  S.  M.  Robinson,  M.  Billstein,  D.  W.  Slocum, 
D.  Wyandt,  H*.  P.  Stentz.  Phillip  Upp. 

PROFESSIONS. 

The  law  is  represented  by  W.  W.  Drennan,  Esq., 
John  W.  Bell,  Esq.,  and  F.  Dow  Gunsaullus,  Esq. 
The  physicians  in  practice  are  Doctors  R.  Bevier,  W. 
H.  Sykes,  J.  A.  Tucker,  James  M.  Fackler,  Samuel 
Holtz,  T.  S.  Seeley,  (dentist). 

BUSINESS  HOUSES,  1879. 

Hotels.— National  House,  George  Connell;  Daniels  House,  George  M. 
Daniels. 

Dry  Goods. —F.  W.  Kirtland  &  Co.,  D.  B.  King  &  Co.,  Kilburn  &  Co., 
W.  O.  Hutchinson  &  Co.,  H.  M.  Parker. 

Groceries.— D.  &  J.  Wyandt,  J.  O.  Brewbaker,  J.  G.  Streit,  G.  M. 
Eidt. 

Drugs.— E.  L.  Austin.  Long  &  Lobb,  John  B.  Gilman,  T.  J.  Webber. 

Boots  and  Shoes.— George  Hanick,  J.  H.  McCormick,  Wells  Rogers. 

Hardware. —  A.  Upp,  H.  C.  Gallup,  (tin  and  sheet  iron),  G.  J. 
Rhodes.  L.  W.  LaDow. 

Eggs.  Poultry,  Butter,  etc.— Jacob  Culp,  James  K.  Smith.  Shupe  Jt 
Dubois. 

Harness.— SchaefTer  &  McKean,  Seller  &  McClinchy. 

Clothing.— Spear  &  Shield,  William  Miller. 

Photographs.— Joseph  Forward. 

Millinery  and  Fancy  Goods.— C.  J.  Poncetor. 

Books,  Stationery,  etc — M.  Webber. 

Livery.— Corr  T.  Smith,  Smith  Lofland. 

Jewelry.- George  W.  Hoffman. 

Meat  Markets.— Bachrach  Bros.,  A.  Knappenberg,  Adam  Mayers, 
Christian  Ericso  n. 

The  present  postmaster  of  Plymouth  is  Myron  Web- 
ber who  was  commissioned  March  LS,  1869. 

The  first  cemetery  in  the  village  was  where  the  Lu- 
theran church  stands.  The  present  cemetery,  which 
is  naturally  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  country, 
was  purchased  and  laid  out,  in  1874,  by  the  Greenlawn 
Cemetery  Association. 

CHICAGO  JUNCTION. 
This  village  of  phenominally  suddei* development, 
owes  its  existence  to  the  railroads.  It  was  formed  in 
the  spring  of  1875,  at  the  junction  of  the  western,  or 
Chicago  division  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad 
with  the  Sandusky,  Mansfield  and  Newark  road,  as  it 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


was  then  called,  which  is  now  operated  also  b_v  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  company.  .  It  was  thought  by 
many  that  a  city  would  soon  grow  here  in  the  woods, 
and  in  fact  there  was  much  to  induce  such  opinion. 
The  railroad  company  erected  extensive  repair  shops 
and  a  round-house,  employed  a  large  number  of  men, 
and  projected  other  works,  which,  had  they  been 
accomplished,  would  have  rendered  necessary  the 
employment  of  many  more.  William  Watson,  a 
farmer  who  had  considerable  land  at  the  Junction, 
laid  out  nine  acres,  in  forty-three  lots,  and  they  were 
quickly  sold  at  from  one  hundred  to  five  hundred  dol- 
lars per  quarter  acre.  John  ililler,  L.  Koutz,  T.  F. 
Frazier,  and  Mr.  Hampshire,  also  laid  out  village  lots 
which,  like  Mr.  Watson's,  were  eagerly  taken  np  at 
fancy  prices  by  people  who  flocked  in  from  all  direc- 
tions expecting  to  realize  a  fortune.  The  village  thus 
formed  had  a  rapid  growtli  for  a  year  and  a  half,  but 
then  the  railroad  industries  diminished  in  importance 
and  things  came  to  a  stand  still.  There  has  been  no 
increase  in  population  or  business  since,  but  instead  a 
falling  off.  Houses  that  once  brought  a  large  rent 
now,  (March,  1879),  stand  unoccupied;  the  railroad 
company  give  employment  to  a  comparatively  small 
number  of  men,  and  as  there  are  no  manufacturing 
establishments  to  maintain  the  business  activity  of  the 
Tillage,  it  has  settled  into  a  condition  of  dullness,  in 
strange  contrast  to  its  former  brief  bustle  and  buoy- 
ancy. The  people,  however,  are  still  hopeful,  and 
believe  that  when  the  railroad  is  finished  through  to 
Pittsburgh  that  there  will  result  an  improvement  in 
the  condition  of  Chicago  Junction,  which  will  rival 
its  most  palmy  days. 

The  people  of  the  place,  as  soon  as  it  had  com- 
menced to  grow,  built  a  school  house'  and  a  church, 
the  former  at  a  cost  of  about  one  thousand  dollars. 
The  church  is  of  the  denomination  known  as 

THE    CHl'RCH    OF   THE    UNITED    BRETHERES. 

It  was  Started  in  18T6  with  seven  or  eight  members 
and  now  has  eighty  or  ninety.  The  first  minister  was 
the  Rev.  W.  A.  Keesey.  He  preached  in  the  congre- 
gation for  three  years,  when  his  place  was  filled  by 
John  W.  Aumiller,  the  present  incumbent.  The 
house  of  worship  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1876,  at 
a  cost  of  about  thirty-six  hundred  dollars.  W.  S. 
Snyder,  W.  A.  Keesey.  Russell  Raynolds,  Phillip 
Faulkner  and  Richard  G.  Richards,  were  the  trustees. 
Tiie  first  class  leader  was  Daniel  Cain,  and  the  first 
steward  L.  D.  Sweetland.  The  present  class  leaders 
are  Charles  Coulthard  and  Daniel  Cain,  and  the  stew- 
ards. Avis  Richards  and  Alice  Burge. 

•    PROFESSIOXS,    BUSINESS    HOVSES    AXD    TRADES. 

The  postmaster  at  Chicago  Junction  is  W.  B. 
Keefer,  who  \v«s  commissioned  January  23,  1875. 

The  physicians  are  A.  R.  Kaufman,  D.  H.  Young, 
Jr.,  and  R.  X.  Raynolds. 

Samuel  Bowleby  put  up  the  first  building  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  had  the  first  store  and  hotel  in  the  village. 


Besides  the  raildroad  eating  house,  tiiere  is  now  one 
gool  hotel,  the  Junction  House,  of  wliieli  William 
Oehm  is  proprietor. 

Following  are  the  business  firms   and   individuals 
engaged  in  the  trades  in  1879. 

Groceries— A.  M.  Fry,  W   S.  Beeltnan,  E.  M.  Nichols,  Allen  Silcox, 
Miss  H,  M.  Jeesup. 
Dry  Goods— King  &  Warner. 
Drugs-E.  a.  Sykes,  EUias  Masou. 
HARDwiRE.— John  Trego. 
MiLi.ixERV.— Mrs.  Flickinger  and  Mrs  Snow, 
Boots  and  Shoes.— M.  J,  Bell,  William  Lenamacher. 
Tailori.vg— S.  Snyder. 

Meat  Markets  —Kellogg  &  Auway,  Lang  &  Grushaber. 
Bakery  axd  Restaurant.— Mrs.  R.  F.  Officer. 
Lh'Ert.— A.  J.  Crawford,  Charles  Stotts.' 
BLACKSMrras  — M.  K.  Trembly,  F.  Hemrich. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


THOMAS  TILLIXGHAST  MULFORD 
was  born  iu  Kingston,  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
May  30.  1798.  He  is  the  third,  in  a  family  of  four, 
the  children  of  Nathan  and  Polly  Tilliughast  Mulford, 
who  were  natives  of  Long  Island.  They  married 
there,  and  eventually  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  as 
above  stated,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
days. 

The  education  of  the  gentleman  wlio  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  acquired  at  the  common  school, 
which,  in  the  new  and  sparsely  settled  locality  where 
the  family  resided  afforded  but  meager  facilities.  The 
opportunities  were,  however,  fully  utilized  and  a  fair 
education  obtained. 

In  the  fall  of  1819,  Mr.  Mulford,  in  com})any  with 
four  young  men  of  his  immediate  neighborhood,  came 
on  foot  to  Ohio.  The  journey  was  an  arduous  one, 
but  in  due  time  it  came  to  an  end.  The  Mecca  of 
their  pilgrimage  was  reached.  Soon  after  arriving  in 
New  Haven  township,  Mr.  Mulford  and  Elisha  Stew- 
ard purchased  a  tannery  in  what  is  now  New  Haven 
village,  and  this  business  Mr.  Mulford  prosecuted  for 
some  sixteen  years. 

In  the  fall  of  18-20,  Mr.  Mulford  visited  Connecti- 
cut, where,  in  Lyme  township.  New  London  county, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  iliss  Phebe,  daughter  of 
Elisha  aud  Mary  Calkins  Steward,  March  25,  1821, 
and  iu  a  few  days  subse(iuent  returned  to  Ohio.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  are:  Lewis,  who  was  born 
June  13,  1822,  deceased;  Polly,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 15.  1824.  She  married  George  Moore,  who  died, 
and  she  became  the  wife  of  Francis  Chapman,  now 
living  in  New  Haven  township;  has  six  children. 
Emeline.  who  was  horn  January  19, 1828.  and  died  in 
infancy:  Almira,  who  was  born  March  23,  1830.  Siie 
married  Dr.  William  Sinitli.  and  now  resides  in  Van 
Wert  ciiuiit)-.  (.Miin:  lier  ehiMrcMi.  living,  are  seven. 
Marion,  wiio  was  born  March  19,  1833.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Born,  of  Butfalo,  New  York,  and  now  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead;  luive  three  children-  liar- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


317 


riet,  who  was  born  ilarcli  19,  1835,  ami  married  Dr. 
Charles  Richards,  uow  residing  at  Joliet,  Illinois. 

In  about  IS'il,  Mr.  Malford  purchased  one  hundred 
and  nine  acres  of  land,  in  lots  number  eight_v-eight 
and  eighty-nine,  in  the  first  section  of  New  Haven 
township,  upon  which  he  located  when  he  retired 
from  the  tanning  business,  and  upon  which  he  still 
resides,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  those  improvements 
and  comforts  he  has  wrought  a  lifetime  to  consummate. 
He  is  now  the  possessor  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
two  acres  of  land.  Mrs.  Mulford  died  September  1, 
1860. 

Politically,  Mr.  Mulford  has  been  a  life-long  member 
of  the  democratic  party.  In  his  township  he  has  held 
numerous  offices,  among  which  is  the  responsible  one 
of  trustee,  an  office  he  has  held  many  years.  His 
elegant  house,  a  fine  view  of  which  appears  in  this 
volume,  was  erected  in  1876,  and  cost  some  three 
thousand  dollars. 


JOHN  SKINNER 


was  born  Feliruary  "24,  18i).5,  in  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  and  is  the  fifth  child  of  Reuben  and  Sarah 
Coleman  Skinuer.  When  John  was  one  year  and  a 
half  old  his  parents  removed  with  their  family  to 
Wheeling,  now  West  Virginia.  Here  they  lived  some 
two  years,  and  removed  to  Knox  couutv.  Ohio,  loca- 
ting near  the  village  of  Fredericktowu.  They  lived 
here  until  1815,  in  February  of  which  year  they  came 
to  Huron  county  and  made  a  permanent  settlement 
in  New  Haven  township,  purchasing  some  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  in  lots  one  hundred  and  three 
and  that  part  of  one  hundred  and  four  west  of  the 
river,  in  the  first  section.  This  was  then  an  entire 
wilderness.  A  log  house  was  soon  constructed  near 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  a  fine  view  of  which  appears  in  this 
volume.  Upon  this  place  the  parents  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days,  the  mother  dying  March  4, 
1841;  the  father  died  April  23,  1861. 

John,  of  whom  these  lines  are  written,  was  edu- 
cated at  common  school.  He  has  been  twice  married: 
he  married  Emeline,  daughter  of  Ebenczer  and  Deb- 
orah Frisbee,  of  New  Haven  township,  in  1832.  and, 
soon  after,  purchased  a  small  piece  of  land  in  the 
fourth  section,  with  the  intention  of  adding  to  it  as 
opportunity  or  necessity  demanded.  The  death  of  his 
wife,  which  occurred  in  1835,  frustrated  his  plans, 
and  he  sold  his  lands,  and,  with  a  brother,  went  into 
the  business  of  merchandising  at  New  Haven.  Soon 
becoming  dissatisfied  with  this  avocation,  he  aban- 
doned it,  and  assumed  charge  of  the  old  farm.  This 
he  still  occupies.  He  was  married  to  his  present 
companion  on  May  4,  1836.  One  child  was  born  of 
the  first  wife:  Emeline.  who  married  Eayer  0.  Stiles, 
and  located  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  where  siie 
died.  The  children  by  present  wife  are:  Ambrose, 
who  died  in  infancy;  William  H.  H.,  who  is  unmar- 


ried and  lives  at  home:  Harriot,  who  married  John 
Blanchard,  is  now  deceased:  Edward  R.,  who  married 
Ellen  Wood  worth,  and  lives  in  New  Haven  township; 
Annie  M.,  who  married  Ralph  C.  Snyder,  and  resides 
in  New  Haven  township;  and  an  infant  sou,  who  died 
unnamed. 

Some  thirty-five  years  since.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skinner 
became  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  New  Haven,  and  Mrs.  Skinner  still  continues  a 
member.  Mr.  Skinner  has  ever  been  an  honest,  up- 
right citizen,  of  the  unpretending  kind,  but  has  been 
selected  by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven  township 
for  some  of  its  most  important  offices. 

Mr.  Skinner,  on  attaining  his  majority,  wheeled 
into  line  with  the  old  whig  party,  and,  on  the  forma- 
tion of  the  republican  party,  became  a  member  of  it, 
and  is  to-day  a  staunch  supporter  of  its  principles. 
During  the  Rebellion  he  was  so  outspoken  in  favor  of 
the  old  flag,  that  he  was  singled  out  for  assassination 
by  the  rebel  society  known  as  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle,  then  having  an  organization  in  New  Haven 
township. 


RICHARD  G.  RICHARDS. 

Prominent  among  the  citizens  of  New  Haven  town- 
ship is  the  gentleman  wlijose  name  appears  at  the  head 
of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  December  18,  1819,  in 
Newport,  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  and  is  the 
fifth  of  a  family  of  fourteen,  the  children  of  Richard 
and  Nancy  Newton  Richards.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  district  school  of  his  birthplace.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  went  to  Joliet.  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming,  an  occupation  in  which  he  has 
since  acquired  the  handsome  competency  he  now  en- 
joys. After  a  sojourn  of  less  than  two  years  iu  Joliet 
he  returned  to  his  native  place.  Here  he  remained 
until  October.  1839.  wiieu  he  came  to  Ohio  and  pur- 
chased, on  February  6,  1840,  the  farm  of  ninety-nine 
acres,  a  portion  of  which  he  still  occupies.  Some 
eighty-four  acres  of  this  land  is  platted,  and  com- 
prises nearly  the  entire  portion  of  the  village  of  Chi- 
cago Junction  lying  southwest  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  railroad.  This  farm,  when  first  located  by  ilr. 
Richards,  was  entirely  unimproved,  and  heavily  tim- 
bered, but  by  hard  work  has  been  brought  to  a  profit- 
able state  of  cultivation.  February  22,  1842,  Mr. 
Richards  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mariah, 
daughter  of  James  and  Eunice  Felton,  who  came 
from  Wayne  county.  New  York  (where  the  daughter 
was  born  February  15,  1820),  locating  in  Norwich 
town-'hip,  immediately  south  of  Havana  village,  in 
1831.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are:  Two  iji- 
fants  who  died  soon  after  birth;  Ethelbert,  wlio  died 
in  infancy;  Avis,  who  lives  at  home;  John  H.,  who 
married  Emma  Fry,  he  died  July  9,  1875:  Charles, 
who  married  Mrs.  Emma  Richards,  and  now  resides 
in  Will  county,  Illinois;  Frank,  now  fitting  for  the 
legal  profession  at  the  Theological  University,  Eving- 


318 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ston,  Illinois,  and  Aaron,  who  resides  with  Charles 
in  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Richards  deceased  May  4,  1874,  of  apoplexy. 
Some  twe^jty-two  years  since  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richards 
became  christians,  and  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Richmond  township,  with  which 
Mrs..  Richards  continued  a  faithful  and  consistent 
member  until  her  death,  and  Mr.  Richards  until  June, 
1878,  when,  for  convenience  in  attending  worship,  he 
withdrew  by  letter  and  united  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  at  Chicago  Junctfon,  toward  the  erection 
of  whose  church  edifice  he  aided  materially. 

In  politics  Mr.  Richards  was  first  an  old  line  whig 
and  afterward  a  republican,  one  of  the  staunch  and 
unwavering  kind. 

Richard  Richards,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  one  of  several  brothers,  natives  of 
Wales,  England.  He  married  there  and  reared  three 
sons  and  one  daughter.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  immediately  subsequent  to  the  close  of  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  settled  not  far  from  Utica, 
New  York,  where  he  remained  during  his  life.  The 
children  were:  David,  who  died  while  crossing  the 
ocean  and  was  buried  at  sea;  Richard,  the  father  of 
the  present  Richard  0.,  who  came  to  Ohio  in  June, 
1839,  locating  in  New  Haven  township,  where  he  died 
in  December,  1843;  his  wife  died  in  July,  1844;  John, 
who  married  Sally  Tanner,  and  died  in  New  York, 
December  18,  1869,  and  Gwyn,  who  married  John 
Jones,  and  died  in  Newport,  New  York. 


JOHN  LOVELAND. 


Prominent  among  the  early  settlers  in  New  Haven 
township,  is  John  Loveland.  He  was  born  in  Nor- 
wich, Windsor  county,  Vermont,  July  39,  1798.  The 
youngest  of  thirteen  children.  His  parents  were 
Joseph  and  Mercy  Bigelow  Loveland,  who  were  both 
natives  of  Connecticut;  were  married  in  that  State  in 
1773,  and  removed  to  Vermont  four  years  later,  where 
they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days.  The  father 
died  in  1813  and  the  mother  in  1834. 

John  Loveland  was  educated  in  the  common  school 
of  his  native  place,  and  the  winter  of  1815  he  Avent 
to  Pennsylvania  and  lived  with  an  older  brother  until 
attaining  his  majority.  During  the  winter  of  1831-32. 
he  came  to  Ohio,  and,  on  June  39th,  arrived  in  New 
Haven  township,  aiid  for  about  two  years  lived  in 
what  is  now  Plymouth  village.  January  34,  1824,  he 
purchased  a  distillery,  and  mill  connected  with  it, 
located  on  Huron  river,  on  the  corner  of  lot  thirty- 
three,  in  the  second  ^section,  in  New  Haven  township. 
On  May  34th,  of  the  same  year,  he  was  married  to 
Flora,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elsa  Dana,  of  New 
Haven  township.  She  died  July  6,  1831,  leaving  two 
children,  John  ,B.,  who  married  Martha  Watts  and 
lives  in  Fremont,  and  William  W.,  who  married  Susan 
Scott  and  lives  in  Van  Buren,  Michigan.  Mr.  Love- 
land was  married  a  second  time  on  November  3, 1831, 


to  Calista,  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Polly  Curtis,  of 
New  Haven.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are: 
George  W.,  who  married  Delila  Parker  and  lives  in 
Plymouth  township,  Richland  county;  Mary  E.,  who 
married  Augustus  Calvin  (deceased);  Elizabeth  C, 
who  married  Jesse  Snyder  (deceased);  La  Fayette, 
who  married  Mary  Cook  (deceased);  Rockwell  R., 
who  married  Roxy  Knight  (deceased);  Almira  J., 
who  married  Edwin  Wood  worth,  now  living  in  New 
Haven  township;  Oscar  A., "who  mai-ried  Hattie  Mal- 
lory  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Flora  A., 
who  married  Henry  Loveland  and  resides  in  the  State 
of  New  York. 

After  prosecuting  the  bu  iuess  of  distillmg  ardent 
spirits  for  some  years,  the  avocation  became  odious 
and  was  abandoned.  Mr.  Loveland  next  built  a  saw 
mill,  which  he  operated  some  time.  In  the  mean- 
time, he  had  purchased  a  farm  of  a  hundred  acres, 
in  lot  thirty-four,  in  the  second  section,  and,  upon 
discontinuing  the  milling  business,  he  began  farming, 
and  in  this  he  has  been  eminently  successful.  He 
now  owns  one  hundi-ed  and  eighty-nine  acres  of  land. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loveland  are  life-long  and  worthy  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  rigid 
adherent  to  the  sterling  principles  of  the  republican 
party. 


WILLIAM  M0T80N, 


son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Motson,  was  born  in 
Boston,  England,  February,  13,  1837.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  and  his  mother 
in  1863.  He  married  Mary  Cooper,  of  Burn,  Eng- 
land, who  was  born  in  February,  1837,  and  in  1853 
emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  worked  at  ditch- 
ing and  under-draining  in  New  Jersey,  for  three 
years,  when  he  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and 
purchased  twenty  acres  on  lot  number  twenty-four  in 
the  third  section  of  New  Haven  township,  building  his 
log  cabin  near  the  location  of  his  present  frame  house. 
This  was  the  first  building  erected  on  what  is  now 
the  town  plat  of  Chicago  Junction,  and  Mr.  Motson 
is  properly  regarded  as  the  founder  of  that  enterpris- 
ing village,  having  struck  the  first  blow  there  for  the 
purpose  of  improvement.  He  added  to  his  first  pur- 
chase of  twenty  acres,  at  various  times,  until  he  ob- 
tained one  hundred  acres,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
railroad,  forty  acres  of  which  he  laid  off  into  village 
lots,  when  the  question  of  a  town  was  no  longer  a 
matter  of  speculation.  He  bought,  at  a  more  recent 
date,  sixty-one  and  a  half  acres  on  the  west  side  of  the 
railroad,  which  lies  in  the  township  of  Richmond, 
and  has  platted  four  acres  of  this.  He  has  paid  for 
his  land,  which  he  has  purchased  at  difierent  times, 
from  twelve  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars 
per  acre,  and  has  sold  a  large  number  of  lots,  the 
price  of  which  has  ranged  from  fifty  to  five  hundred 
dollars.  While  Mr.  Motson  has  been  greatly  bene- 
fitted,   financially,  through  the  circumstance  of  an 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


319 


active  railroad  village  having  grown  up  where  he  was 
the  first  to  locate,  yet  his  success  and  prosperity  are 
largely  attributable  to  his  own  industry  and  prudence. 
He  began  here  without  a  dollar,  and  before  a  village 
was  thought  of  he  had  his  land  paid  for.  Mr.  Motson 
still  follows  farming,  although  a  cousiderable  of  his 
time  is  occupied  in  looking  after  the  interests  of  his 


village  real  estate.  He  possesses  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  as  to  his  capacity  and 
character,  as  attested  in  the  fact  of  his  election  at 
various  times  to  township  offices,  having  served  as 
supervisor  of  highways  for  a  period  of  ten  j^ears. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Motson  have  never  been  blessed  with 
children. 


RIPLEY. 


Ripley  is  township  number  one  in  range  twenty- 
two.  It  is  bounded  upon  the  south  by  Richland 
county,  east  by  Greenwich  township,  north  by  Fair- 
field, and  west  by  New  Haven.  The  towtiship  is 
generally  level  or  gently  rolling,  and  the  soil  is  a  fine, 
rich  clay  loam  which  originally  was  covered  with  a 
very  heavy  growth  of  timber,  and  now  returns 
bounteous  harvests  to  the  farmer.  The  township  is 
generally  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valuable,  agri- 
culturally, in  the  county.  No  streams  of  importance 
flow  through,  or  rise  within  its  bounds. 


The  great  abundance  of  maple  trees  made  this  part 
of  the  county  a  favorite  camping  place  for  the  Indians. 
They  were  accustomed  to  come  regularly  in  the  spring 
and  make  maple  sugar.  For  a  number  of  years  after 
the  whites  came,  the  red  men  carried  on  this  harmless 
and  not  excessively  laborious  occupation,  the  nearest 
approach  to  anything  like  indastry  that  they  ever 
undertook.  Some  of  their  bark  sap  troughs  were 
found  in  the  woods  as  late  as  1830.  The  Indians  also 
hunted  here,  but  their  principal  object  in  visiting 
what  is  now  Ripley  township  was  to  make  maple 
sugar.  There  were  other  and  better  hunting  grounds 
farther  east,  and  their  tribes  often  passed  through 
upon  a  trail  which  led  to  the  Black  River  country, 
where  game  was  more  abundant.  The  game  consisted 
of  deer  and  occasional  bear,  and  the  various  smaller 
animals  common  to  the  northern  part  of  Ohio  and 
the  entire  west.  There  were  wolves,  too,  and  "shack 
hogs" — both  great  annoyances  to  the  first  settlers. 
The  remains  of  their  habitations  found  by  the  early 
settlers,  and  the  dams  still  existing,  indicated  that 
beavers  were  quite  numerous.  No  remarkable  stories 
are  told  of  experience  with  the  Indians  or  adventure 
with  wild  animals. 

OKIfUXAL   OWNERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  read- 
er is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 


KIPLET,    TOWN   NUMBER    ONE,    IN    THE    TWENTY- 
SECOND    RANGE. 

Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 
Original  Grantees .        Am' t  Loss.        Classified  by.  Am't  Classe 


Footing  ot  Classification  No.  1,  SViii 
Classification  No.  3,  Section  2. 

ntees.        Am't  Loss.        Classified  by.  Ar, 

S        s.        d.  .  £ 

1       Lewis  B.  Sturges        265 


David  Jennings,  3d  255 

John  Wasson  161 

Stephen  Jennings,  195 

Grace  Spalding  90 

Eliphalet  Thorp  41)1 

Elizabeth  Sturges  1.50 


1-33      16 


Isaac  Bronson 


Original  Grantees.  Am'i 

£  s. 

Peter  Burr  283  9 

Moses  Jennings  599  12 

Samuel  Beers  96  8 

David  Osborne  21  9 

Wm.  Abigail  Burr  58  IT 

Wm.  Abigail  Burr.Jr  .50  2 

Alep  Kent  1«5  0 

John  Disbrow  15  14 

James  Bennitt  26  3 

Joseph  Bennitt  56  0 

Elias  Bennitt  19  15 


;  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344 
Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 
Am't  Loss.    Classified  by 


Stephen  Jennings 


12 


Peter  Burr  282 

Moses  Jennings  599 
David  Osborne  48 

81 
Samuel  Wakeman       19 

50 
John  Wozord  185 

26 
Joseph  Bennitt  56 

'•  19 

Jabez  Perry's  heirs    14 


Am't  Classed, 
S        s.      d. 


Footmgof  ClaasiflcatioB  No.  3 

£1 

Mi 

0 

Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Am 

t  Classed. 

Rev.HezekhRiple 
Thomas  Staples 
Esther  Lord 
Jonathan  Lewis 

£■ 
r368 

mr 

7 
921 

19     ''i 

Rev.  Hezekh  Ripley  368 
Aaron  Turney            247 

h^nrt!z^    i 

26 
Aaron  Turney              50 
Lathiop  Lewis            26 

210 

49 

Shubael  Gorham            4 

Jonie  Knapp                  0 

19 

d. 

0 
3 

Sturges  Lewis 
Stephen  Turnev 
Sturges  Lewis 
Latlirop  Lewis 
Andrew  Jeiiuing.^ 
Abigail  JeniiiuKs 
Shubael  Liorliam 
Mary  HenfleM 

52 

88 
52 
27 
210 
49 

139 

li  I 

9 
7 
2 
0 

0 

Footing  of  Classification  ! 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


EARLY    SETTLERS. 

There  was  a  settlement  in  the  southwest  part  of 
Ripley  township,  in  1820.  Seth  Foster,  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Decker,  and  another  by  the  name  of 
Jaralman,  and  a  son  of  the  latter,  lived  there  in  the 
year  mentioned,  according  to  the  statement  of  T.  T. 
Mulford,  of  New  Haven.  Foster  and  Decker,  who 
were  from  New  York  State,  returned  there  after  a 
short  residence  in  the  new  country.  Jaralman  died, 
and  his  son  moved  away.  Nothing  is  known  in  Ripley 
of  those  few  men,  who  were  its  ti-ansitory  pioneers. 
The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  by  the  fam- 
ilies of  Moses  Inscho,  D.  Broomback,  and  James 
Dickson,  in  182.5,  and  the  following  year.  Broomback 
took  up  lot  thirteen,  in  section  four.  He  did  not 
remain  long  in  the  township.  Dickson  settled  upon 
lot  ten,  near  Broomback,  but  not  long  after  moved 
into  the  eastern  part  of  the  township. 

The  Inschos,  Moses  and  his  wife,  Jane,  came  into 
Ripley  from  New  Haven  township,  whither  they  had 
emigrated  from  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on 
lot  sixteen,  in  the  fourth  section.  Several  years  later 
the  whole  family  went  to  Illinois,  where  the  father 
died  in  18-37.  The  descendants  of  Moses  and  Jane 
Inscho  were:  Harriet,  (deceased,)  John,  (in  Wiscon- 
sin,) Charity,  (Mrs.  Mja-am  Crawford,  now  in  New 
Haven,)  Thomas,  Tracy,  (deceased,)  Jane,  {deceased,) 
E.  H.,  resident  upon  the  old  place,  and  David,  (de- 
ceased.) 

Abraham  Stotts,  of  Virginia,  came  into  the  town- 
ship in  the  fall  of  1825,  and  purchased  land  in  lot 
twelve,  section  three.  John  Stotts,  his  son,  came  in 
the  spring  of  182(3,  and  located  on  lot  eleven,  in  the 
same  section.  Another  son  of  Abraham  Stotts, 
William,  came  a  little  later,  and  still  another,  Isaac 
Stotts,  arrived  a  number  of  years  later,  and  located 
in  section  two,  lot  twenty-one.  John  and  Eve  Stotts 
(Winter)  reared  a  large  family,  of  whom  A.  D.,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  the  township,  was  the  eldest. 
The  other  members  of  the  family  are  Isaac,  (in  Indi- 
ana,) Elizabeth,  (Mrs.  M.  Keiser,  in  the  same  State,) 
Sarah,  (Mrs.  M.  Mills,  New  Haven,)  Martin  Ji.,  (in 
Ripley,)  Daniel,  (deceased,)  Catharine,  (Mrs.  W.  T. 
Place,  in  Michigan,)  and  George,  in  Ripley.  By  his 
second  and  third  wives,  John  Stotts  had  two  children 
— Mary  Ann  and  Dessie,  the  former  of  whom  is  in 
Michigan,  and  the  latter  in  Fairfield.  The  descend- 
ants of  Isaac  and  Jane  Stotts  are:  Mary  M.,  (Mrs.  W. 
Starkey,  in  Ripley,)  Betsey  (Mrs.  M.  Day),  Eliza, 
(Mrs.  S.  Howard,  Ripley,)  Abraham,  (who  died  under 
age),  James  and  Vilanda.  Jacob  Stotts  and  his  wife, 
Matilda,  also  came  to  the  township  at  an  early  day, 
from  Guernsey  county,  and  he  has  one  son,  Reuben, 
living  here  now  upon  the  old  homestead,  lot  six, 
section  two.  William  Stotts  was  killed  in  the  woods, 
a  few  years  after  his  settlement,  by  the  fall  of  a 
burning  tree  or  stub. 

Simeon  Howard  and  his  wife,  Mary  Wiiieburncr, 
came  from  Pease,   Belmont  couiitv,   Ohio,   in   1820, 


and  settled  on  the  northern  line  of  the  township. 
Their  children  were  :  Stephen,  who  married  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Stotts,  now  resident  in  Ripley, 
William,  Abby  (Mrs.  C.  Crowell),  Mary  (Mrs.  I. 
Case),  and  Anna  (Mrs.  Noecker),  all  three  of  Ripley. 
Philip  Wineburner,  a  brother  of  Simeon  Howard's 
wife,  came  about  the  same  time,  but  did  not  take  up 
any  land. 

Samuel  Case  and  Aaron  Service  came  into  the  town- 
ship at  an  early  day — some  time  previous  to  1827. 
They  all  settled  in  section  four.  Samuel  Case  mar- 
ried in  Ripley  his  third  wife,  Margaret  Doyle.  He 
had,  by  his  three  wives,  eighteen  children,  six  by 
each,  eleven  of  whom  are  now  living,  Reuben,  Rans- 
forcl,  and  Sydney  are  in  New  York  State;  Samuel  ;n 
Michigan,  James  and  Western  in  this  township,  Ira 
in  Greenwich,  engaged  in  the  milling  business; 
Stephen  L.  in  Henry  county,  Ohio,  Lucy  (Young) 
and  Eliza  (Howard)  in  this  township,  and  Polly  in 
the  West.  Of  Stephen  Case's  descendants,  five  are 
living,  viz. :  Reuben,  in  Indiana;  Nathan,  in  Michi- 
gan; Ethan,  in  New  Haven  township,  where  he  is 
proprietor  of  a  grist  mill;  Israel  in  Ripley,  and  Sarah 
(Mrs.  E.  H.  Inscho),  also  resides  in  this  township. 

Rev.  Joseph  Edwards,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who 
had  been  for  two  years  a  resident  of  Greenfield,  came 
into  Ripley  in  1828,  and  bought  a  tract  of  laud  which 
consisted  of  about  nine  hundred  acres.  His  home 
was  u^jon  lot  twenty-eight  in  the  first  section,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death.  He  was  a  presbj^terian 
minister  of  the  old  school,  a  man  of  large  ability,  and 
led  an  active  life  and  one  full  of  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  dwelt.  His  descendants  were: 
Elizabeth  A.  (Mrs.  Darling),  in  Missouri;  Sarah  W. 
(Mrs.  J.  Brown),  Oberlin;  Harriet  (Mrs.  J.  Russ), 
in  Illinois;  Francis  H.  (Mrs.  Hubbard),  deceased;  the 
Rev.  Joseph  S.  Edwards,  deceased,  and  Cynthia  J. 
(Mrs.  George  Paine),  of  Ripley. 

Daniel  G.  Barker'a  son  of  Ephraim  F.  Barker,  of 
Greenwich,  who  had  settled  therein  1818,  came  to  RijJ- 
ley  in  1828,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  lot  nine  in  sec- 
tion two,  which  he  had  bought  four  years  previous.  He 
married  Eliza  Baker.  The  children  of  this  pair  are: 
Uri  W.,  deceased;  Laura  P.  (Mrs.  J.  H.  Donaldson), 
of  Ripley;  Charles  R.,  also  in  the  township,  and  Amos 
T.,  deceased.  Daniel  G.  Barker  is  still  living  upon 
the  farm  upon  which  he  settled  over  fifty  years  ago. 

By  this  time  there  had  come  into  the  township,  be- 
sides those  already  mentioned,  James  and  Conrad 
Lutts,  Lazarus  Evans,  William  Tanner,  Michael 
Artnian,  James  Smith,  Thomas  Walling,  Benjamin 
Holliday,  Ephraim  Powers,  and  Dudley  Scott.  The 
Lutts  brothers  settled  upon  lots  five  and  ten  in  sec- 
tion two,  and  remained  in  the  township  only  a  few 
years.  J.  Smith  and  Holliday  were  squatters  from 
Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  did  not  own  any  land. 
The  latter  lived  for  many  years,  however,  opposite  the 
home  of  A.  D.  Stotts.  Lazarus  Evans  had  liis  resi- 
dence upon  lot  six  in  section  three.  Ephraim  Pow- 
ers settled  upon  lot  twenty-three,  section  two;  William 


HISTORY  OF  HUUOli  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


321 


Tanner  upon  lot  twenty- two,  ;aul  Thoniiis  Walling, 
his  nephew,  upon  lot  tiventy-four.  The.^e  three  were 
from  New  York  State. 

De.acoii  Timothy  Austin,  a  man  of  tine  character, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  one  of  Ripley's  most  hon- 
ored residents,  came  fi-om  Hampshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  18-30,  and  bought  a  large  tract  of  laud- 
about  one  thousand  acres — north  of  Delphi  and  lying 
along  the  new  State  road.  It  was  his  intention  to 
found  an  Austin  settlement,  but  by  one  of  those  seem- 
ingly unaccountable  reversals  of  fortune,  he  failed  in 
his  project.  And  now  noc  one  of  the  family  remains 
in  the  township,  and  even  the  bones  of  those  who 
were  buried  where  the  old  Deacon  owned  so  large  an 
estate  have  been  removed.  Timothy  Austin's  wife 
was  Rebecca  Harris.  Their  children  were:  Horace 
S.,  Dexter,  Minerva,  all  three  deceased;  Homer  J.,  in 
Kansas;  Addison  A.,  in  Wisconsin;  Edward  L.,  in 
Plymouth;  Martha  (Stanley),  in  Illinois;  Mary,  Sarah, 
Dwight  and  Frances,  all  deceased;  and  Eliza  (Eaton), 
in  Missouri. 

John  Bare  and  his  sons,  David,  Thomas  and  .John, 
of  Niagara  county,  New  Y'ork,  came  to  Ripley  in 
1833.  The  father  and  David  took  up  lot  eighteen  in 
section  two,  Thomas  located  on  lot  seven,  and  John 
upon  lots  twelve  and  seventeen:  John  Bare,  Jr., 
married  Amy  Stout  and  they  reared  a  family  of  fifteen 
children — ten  hoys  and  five  girls — all  of  whom  are 
living.  The  eldest,  Cornelia,  (Mrs.  R.  Morehead)  is 
in  Crestline;  David,  in  California;  Hermon,  in  Ripley; 
Jane,  in  Michigan;  Jonathan,  at  Greenwich  Station: 
Wellington,  in  Ripley;  Marietta  (Mrs.  J.  S.  White), 
in  Ripley;  Henr^',  in  Michigan;  Ira,  in  Ripley;  James, 
upon  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati  and  In- 
dianapolis railroad;  Corvis  Minor,  county  clerk  of 
Hillsdale  countj',  Michigan;  Dwight  Mortimer,  in 
Ripley;  Josephine  (Hildebrand),  in  Michigan,  and 
Jessie  at  home.  * 

The  Fowlers — Dennis,  Harvey  and  Caleb — came 
also  in  1833.  They  all  located  in  the  second  section: 
Dennis  and  Caleb  upon  lot  thirteen  and  Harvey  upon 
twenty. 

Walter  Paine  and  his  wife,  Mary  (Ink),  of  Tomp- 
kins county.  New  York,  came  in  in  1833,  and  made 
themselves  a  home  upon  lot  one  section  two.  These 
parents,  both  of  whom  are  dead,  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  as  follows:  Maria  (Mrs.  Hiiikley);  of  Bron- 
son;  Almira,  (Mrs.  J.  Slates);  Ira,  who  married 
Lydia  M.  Knowlton,  and  resides  in  Ripley;  George, 
deceased;  F.  C,  a  farmer  at  Delphi,  who  married 
Mary  A.  Jennings;  Cyrus,  Edwin  and  Warren,  all 
three  deceased;  and  William  C,  in  Clinton,  Illinois. 

Sanford  Sisson,  his  wife  and  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  eight  boys  and  four  girls,  moved  into  Ripley 
from  Wayne  county,  New  York,  in  1833,  and  settled 
upon  the  Michael  Artman  place.  Father  and  mother 
and  seven  of  the  children  are  now  dead.  Several  of 
the  descendants  live  in  Michigan,  one  m  Indiana,  and 
but  one,  L.  P.  Sisson.  of  Greenwich  townsliip,  re- 
mains in  Huron  county. 

41 


During  the  years  lS32-3-i  the  settlement  grew 
more  rapidly.  It  had  then  become  evident  that  the 
township  would  be  well  populated,  and  the  fine  soil, 
good  character  and  reputation  of  the  inhabitants,  and 
other  favorable  conditions,  were  inducements  to  emi- 
grants to  locate  here.  Deacon  Isaac  S.  Ketcham 
came  from  Manlius,  New  York,  and  took  up  lot  fif- 
teen in  section  one.  Alonzo  Slocum  and  Andrew 
Campbell,  of  the  same  place,  located  respectively  up- 
on lots  sixteen  and  one  in  the  above  designated  sec- 
tion. Lewis  Ingersoll  came  about  this  time.  Chris- 
topher Stimple,  of  New  Jersey,  took  up  a  small  farm 
and  afterwards  exchanged  for  the  one  upon  which  he 
at  present  resides.  Francis  Rogers,  the  veteran  mail 
carrier,  came  in  1833. 

David  Maynard  and  wife  and  their  sons,  D.  F., 
Derauzel  Z.,  Thomas,  Ira  and  John  had  all  arrived 
before  1835, — the  first  having  come  in  1831. 

Among  those  who  arrived  a  number  of  years  later 
were  Jesse  Hopkins,  John  C.  Wiiite,  Timothy  Ste- 
vens, now  of  Fairfield,  the  Parrotts  and  J.  R.  Knight, 
a  resident  of  the  county  since  183-4,  and  of  whom  full 
particulars  are  given  in  the  history  of  Bronson. 

Jonathan  H.  Sterling  came  into  Ripley  in  1837  and 
located  upon  the  town  line  in  the  northeast  corner. 
He  lived  there  three  years  and  then  removed  to  Bron- 
son township  and  located  at  Olena,  where  he  has  since 
resided.     He  was  from  Wilton,  Connecticut. 

ORGAXIZATIOX  OF    THE   TOWXSHIP. 

The  township  was  organized  as  soon  as  there  were 
a  sufficient  number  of  voters.  April  2,  183?,  the 
first  township  election  was  held.  The  electors  who, 
upon  that  day,  exercised  their  rights  of  franchise, 
were:  Abraham  Stotts,  James  Dickson,  Aaron  Ser- 
vice, Samuel  Case,  Daniel  Broomback,  James  L. 
Lutts,  Michael  Artman,  Moses  Inscho,  Simeon  How- 
ard, James  Smith,  John  Stotts,  William  Stotts,  Laza- 
rus Evans  and  Conrad  Lutts.  The  judges  were 
Aaron  Service,  ilichael  Artman,  Abraham  Stotts,  and 
the  clerks,  Samuel  Case  and  Benjamin  B.  Holliday. 
The  fourteen  votes  cast  elected  the  following  officers: 
Clerk,  Samuel  Case;  trustees,  Michael  Artman,  Abra- 
ham Stotts,  Aaron  Service;  treasurer,  Daniel  Broom- 
back;  fence  viewers,  James  Dickson,  James  Smith; 
constables,  Lazarus  Evans,  .James  Dickson;  poor  mas- 
ters, James  Lutts,  John  Stotts;  supervisors  of  high- 
ways, Moses  Inscho,  Wm.  Stotts,  Conrad  Lutts. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace,  Simeon  Howard,  was 
elected  August  4,  1837.  He  did  not  serve  in  the 
office,  and  accordingly,  upon  November  13th,  of  the 
same  year,  another  election  ^y■as  held,  and  Benjamin  B. 
Holiday  was  chosen  to  fill  his  place.  He  remained  in 
the  ofiice  sever!\l  years,  and  dischraged  its  duties  very 
s<itisfactorily.  The  present  township  officers  are  as 
follows:  Clerk,  J.  S.  White;  treasurer,  James  R. 
Knight;  trustees,  S.  E.  Peck,  J.  C.  Boardman,  Frank 
Watts;  constables,  Alfred  Nooker,  William  Robinson: 
justices  of  the  peace,  J.  J.  Carney,  J.  P.  Iloufstater; 
board  of    education,     William   P.      Noble.     Frank 


•S2-i 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Watts,  Thos.  Pettit,  Wm.  Lewis:.  C.  W.  Hale.  Enos 
L.  Marsh,  David  Tiuxell,  (reo.  Ellis.  Isaac  Atyco, 
Arthur  Stevens. 

NAME. 

The  township  was  named  after  the  Rev.  Ilezekiah 
Rililey.  of  Connecticut,  who  was  one  of  the  "Suffer- 
ers," and  who  located  land  in  the  third  section. 

THE    FIRST   TEMPERAN-CE   SOCIETY 

was  formed  in  1831,  or  the  following  year,  and  con- 
sisted of  the  family  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Edwards.  A 
short,  terse  constitution  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by 
Joseph  Edwards,  Clarissa  Edwards,  Elizabeth  A. 
Darling,  Sarah  W.  Edwards,  Harriet  Edwards, 
Frances  H.  Edwards,  Joseph  S.  and  Cynthia  J.  Ed- 
wards. Soon  after  a  larger  society  of  which  nearly 
all  the  families  in  the  township  became  members, 
was  formed.  It  was  a  direct  outgrowth  of  the  Ed- 
wards' family  society.  The  township  has  always  had 
an  enviable  character  as  a  temperance  community, 
and  during  most  of  the  years  of  its  existence  no  places 
for  the  sale  of  liquor  have  had  an  existence  within  its 
limits. 

OTHER    ITEMS. 

Henry  Broomback  was  the  first  child  born  in  the 
township.     He  now  lives  in  Plymouth. 

The  fh-st  framed  house  was  Iniilt  by  Deacon 
Timothy  Austin,  one  mile  north  of  Delphi,  in  1831:, 
or  the  following  year,  and  the  first  brick  house  was 
that  of  John  Stotts,  which  stands  upon  lot  eleven, 
section  three. 

The  first  orchard  was  planted  by  Aaron  Service. 

The  first  tavern  was  built  by  D.  E.  Merrill  at  the 
center,  about  1835.     It  was  a  log  building. 

The  first  mill  was  built  about  the  year  1828,  south- 
west of  Delphi,  upon  a  small  creek,  in  which  there 
was  usually  insufficient  water  to  turn  the  wheel. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Edwards  was  the  first  ordained 
minister  who  preached  in  the  township.  He  preached 
in  1827,  to  the  first  audience  gathered  for  religious 
instruction,  and  consisting  of  twenty  persons,  repre- 
sentatives of  seven  families.  This  meeting  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Abraham  Stotts. 

Beside  the  Congregational  and  Methodist  Churches 
still  in  existence,  there  have  been  formed  in  Ripley, 
churches  of  the  Presbyterian,  Christian,  Disciples, 
Baptist,  Wesleyau,  Methodist  and  United  Brethren 
denominations.  Nearly  all  had  an  ephemeral  life. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at  Rev. 
Joseph  Edwards"  house  in  1830.  Tlie  sermon  on  that 
occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon  from  the 
text: 


This  church  had  (|uite  a  nourishing  life  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  l)egan  to  decline,  and  about  twenty 


years  from  the  time  of  its  formation,  was  supplanted 
In-  the  Free  Congregational  Churcli. 

THE    GREAT    REVIV.IL. 

Early  in  1836,  there  were  several  conversions. 
Three  small  churches  were  in  existence  at  this  time, 
and  meetings  were  held  with  more  or  less  regularity 
at  the  houses  of  their  members  and  at  the  log  school 
house;  but  there  had  been,  up  to  this  time,  no  gen- 
eral religious  awakening — no  movement  that  could 
properly  be  designated  a  revival. 

F.  C.  Paine,  who  was  at  that  time,  to  use  his  own 
language,  "a  wicked,  vain  and  almost  thoughtless 
boy,  while  some  forty  miles  from  home,  and  alone 
upon  the  highway,  was  led,  by  God's  spirit,  to  both 
see  and  feel  himself  a  lost  sinner."  Having  reformed 
his  way,  sought  and  found  the  comfort  of  Christian 
religion,  he  was  anxious  that  others  (especially  his 
fellow  youth)  should  walk  in  the  way  he  had  chosen. 
He  exhorted  and  entreated  them  to  serve  God. 
Prayer  meetings  were  held  at  different  places  on  Sun- 
day and  other  days  of  the  week,  and  a  general  interest 
on  the  subject  of  religion  was  created.  The  meet- 
ings were  continued  through  the  summer  and  autumn, 
and,  when  the  first  month  of  winter  had  come,  the 
impression  prevailed  that  extra  means  should  be  re- 
sorted to  and  an  organized  effort  made  for  the  propa- 
gation of  Gospel  truth.  But  when,  where  and  by 
whom,  did  not  appear  an  easy  matter  to  decide  upon. 
Finally  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  two  days'  prayer 
meeting.  The  time  was  fixed  and  the  place  selected. 
The  meeting  was  held  at  the  school  house  east  of  Ed- 
wards' corners,  upon  the  knoll  overlooking  the  swamp. 
The  dimensions  of  the  building  were  eighteen  by 
twenty  feet.  Foreign  help  was  called.  A  messenger 
was  sent  to  Fairfield,  where  "there  were  giants 
(morally)  in  those  days." 

On  one  Saturday  in  February,  a  clear,  warm.  !>eau- 
tiful  day,  the  people  assembled.  Ere  long,  a  group 
of  men  were  seen  coming  from  the  north — from  Fair- 
field. As  they  drew  near  they  were  recognized  as 
Father  Owen,  Elisha  Savage,  William  C.  Huestis 
(afterwards  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
North  Ohio  Conference),  Harrison  Wakeman  and 
Alvin  Allen,  all  strong,  earnest  men,  accustomed  to 
the  work  which  was  to  engage  them  here.  _ 

Father  Owen  led  the  first  meeting,  and  before  the 
people  dispersed  to  attend  their  home  duties,  all  felt 
that  a  good  beginning  had  been  made.  Elisha  Savage 
had  charge  of  the  evening  meeting,  and  various  oth- 
ers took  part.  All  of  the  services  were  marked  with 
deep  solemnity.  Mr.  Huestis  made  a  powerful  exhor- 
tation, and,  when  he  closed,  sighs  and  sol  is  were 
heard  from  every  part  of  the  house. 

Sunday  morning  dawned  clear  and  pleasant,  and  long 
before  the  hour  of  service,  groups  of  people  could  be 
seen  coming  from  all  directions  to  the  place  of  meet- 
ing. Some  were  from  the  immediate  vicinity  and 
came  on  foot,  others  came  on  horseback  from  a  greater 
distance,  and  manv  with  ox-teams.     The  seats  were 


Residence  of  A.D.Stotts 


EY,  HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


3-i-3 


all  taken;  every  available  bit  of  standing  room  within 
the  house  was  occupied  and  a  crowd  stood  at  the  door. 
In  the  evening  more  were  present  than  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  door  was  taken  from  its  hinges  and  the 
sash  from  the  low  windows,  that  those  who  were  un- 
able to  obtain  entrance  might  hear.  Rev.  H.  G. 
Dubois  was  present,  and  took  charge  of  the  meeting. 
His  theme  was  '•'redemption,"  and  ''he  spoke,"  says 
Mr.  Paine,  •'  as  only  H.  G.  Dubois  could  speak  under 
such  circumstances  and  to  such  an  audience."  At 
first  a  death-like  stillness  pervaded  the  room,  but  as 
he  proceeded  it  was  broken  by  sighs  and  gi-oans  and 
prayers.  "  God  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner,"  fell 
from  lips  unused  to  supplication.  Notice  was  given 
that  school  would  be  discontinued  and  more  meetings 
held.  The  service  was  concluded  and  a  meeting  ap- 
pointed for  the  next  day,  but  the  audience  did  not 
disperse  for  an  hour.  Nearly  all  seemed  reluctant  to 
leave. 

The  Monday  meetings  caused  an  increase  in  zeal, 
and  those  who  had  labored  in  the  cause  were  reward- 
ed by  seeing  many  results  of  their  work.  A  large 
number  of  young  people  were  converted,  among  them 
George  Paine,  afterwards  a  local  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  church.  The  day  closed  with  rejoicing  on 
every  side.  Many  were  led  to  take  an  interest  in  the 
services  who  seldom,  if  ever,  had  attended  meetings 
before.  Among  them  was  one  who  had  said  that  "he 
preferred  his  gun  and  the  woods  to  any  of  their  Meth- 
dist  pow-wows."  He  came  to  one  of  the  meetings; 
went  away  in  a  thoughtful  mood;  returned  the  next 
day,  and  before  the  meeting  was  over  he  was  found 
on  his  knees,  unconscious  of  all  that  was  passing 
around  him.  The  meeting  closed  and  he  remained. 
A  few  tarried  with  him  and  prayed.  While  the  hymn 
■'Alas!  and  did  my  Saviour  bleed,"  was  sung,  the  ner- 
vous system  of  the  hale,  strong  man  gave  away;  he 
was  overpowered  and  lay  as  one  dead,  prostrate  upon 
the  floor.  The  news  spread  that  Austin  Taft  was 
converted,  and  had  the  effect  of  increasing  the  al- 
ready widespread  interest  in  the  revival.  The  attend- 
ance increased.  People  came  from  Greenwich,  Fitch- 
ville,  Fairfield,  New  Haven,  Plymouth,  and  Blooming 
Grove.  The  meeting  was  divided  and  subdivided, 
some  gaiiig  north  a  mile  and  a  half  to  a  house  on  the 
farm  of  D.  G.  Parker,  and  others  gathering  at  private 
houses  in  different  parts  of  the  township. 

One  evening  meeting  was  remarkable  for  the  num- 
ber of  the  conversions.  The  excitement  seemed  to 
reach  its  culminating  point.  The  young  converts 
were  zealous  and  enthusiastic;  old  professors  caught 
their  spirit.  Among  them  was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Ed- 
wards, or,  as  he  was  move  commonly  known,  "Priest" 
Edwards,  a  Presbyterian  minister  of  the  old  school. 
He  was  severely  opposed  to  anything  like  excitement 
in  religious  gatherings,  but  on  this  occasion  seemed 
to  have  become  so  thoroughly  infected  with  the  pop- 
ular feeling  as  to  forget  his  theory  and  practice.  He 
praised  God  in  a  loud  voice,  shouted  hallelujah, 
clapped  his  hands,  and  finally  fell  from  his  seat  to  the 


floor.  Many  others  were  affected  in  the  same  manner. 
L.  D.  Seymour  (since  the  Rev.  L.  D.  Seymour  of 
the  North  Ohio  conference)  was,  by  birthright,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  society  of  Friends.  He  had  lapsed  from 
the  teachings  of  his  fathers  and  had  broken  away 
from  all  restraint,  so  far  as  religion  and  morals  were 
concerned.  He  was  proud,  profligate  and  profane. 
He  went  to  the  meeting  to  make  sport,  soon  became 
deeply  interested,  and  began  in  a  course  of  thought 
which  speedily  led  to  his  complete  conversion.  John 
Bare,  still  a  resident  of  Ripley,  was  another  of  the 
converts  of  this  meeting.  The  tavern  keeper  was 
persuaded  to  cease  selling  liquor,  and  the  family  altar 
took  the  place  of  the  bar  in  his  house.  The  whole 
country  for  miles  around,  was  thoroughly  aroused  by 
the  wonderful  revival,  and  after  it  was  over  its  fame 
spread  farther  and  farther,  and  in  places  at  a  consider- 
able distance  religious  teachers  engaged  themselves  in 
similar  movements.  The  meetings  were  discontinued 
on  the  eleventh  day.  Over  one  hundred  persons,  young 
and  old,  had  been  converted.  Most  of  them  joined 
the  infant  churches  of  the  new  settlement.  Some  of 
the  converts  were  from  the  neighboring  townships, 
and  they  carried  home  a  religious  enthusiasm  which 
caused  good  results  in  their  communities.  This  mem- 
orable revival,  interesting  alike  from  the  secular  and 
religious  point  of  view,  was  commemorated  thirty- 
three  and  a  third  years  after  by  a  reunion  held  in 
Ripley.  Only  eleven  of  the  one  hundred  persons  con- 
verted were  present.  A  few  had  fallen  from  the  faith, 
others  had  removed  to  distant  parts  of  the  country, 
some  had  died  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  religion 
they  had  first  found  at  the  meetings  in  the  winter  of 
1837.  The  majority  were  still  members  either  of  the 
church  militant  below  or  of  the  church  triumphant 
above. 

THE  COXIiREGATIOXAL  (JHTRCH 

was  originally  known  by  the  name  of  the  Free  Con- 
gregational Church,  and  was  an  outgrowth  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  founded  upon  the  prin- 
ciple that  slavery  was  wrong,  and  that  it  was  a  part 
of  the  duty  of  the  church  of  God  to  discountenance 
it  and  work  for  its  suppression.  The  church  was 
organized  on  the  ISth  day  of  June,  1851,  and,  in  the 
main,  owed  its  existence  to  the  Rev.  Amos  Dresser, 
of  Oberlin,  who  afterward  became  very  popularly 
known  through  the  whipping  he  received  at  the  hands 
of  a  number  of  chivalric  southern  gentlemen,  because 
of  his  anti-slavery  opinions.  When  the  question  of 
slavery  was  forever  decided,  the  church  drop]ied  the 
distinguishing  portion  of  its  title  and  retained  only 
that  by  which  it  is  known  to-day — the  Congregational 
Church  of  Ripley.  The  original  members  of  this 
church  were:  Harvey  Hubbard,  Henry  E.  Brown, 
Sarah  Hall,  Francis  H.  Hubljard,  Sarah  W.  Brown, 
Joel  Hall,  Mary  Hall,  Justice  Brown  and  Clarissa 
Edwards.  Rev.  Joseph  Edwards  gave  a  piece  of  land 
for  a  church  lot  and  cemetery,  and  a  house  of  worsiiip 
was  built  upon  it  in  1853,  at  an  expense  of  one  thou- 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


simd  dollars.  Three  hundred  dollars  were  furnished 
b}-  the  New  England  Congregational  Union,  and  the 
balance  was  raised  by  subscription.  The  church  is, 
at  present,  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  and  has  a 
membership  of  over  sixty  persons.  The  pastor  is 
Eev.  A.  H.  Leonard;  deacons,  John  Carney,  J.  H. 
Donaldson,  J.  C.  White;  Sunday  school  superinten- 
dent, John  Carney;  assistant,  Enos  L.  Marsh:  secre- 
tary, Louie  Carney.  The  church  trustees  are:  A. 
Hostler.  D.  S.  Bell,  E.  L.  Marsh;  clerk,  John  Carney; 
treasurer,  Ambrose  Frayer. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHrRCH. 

The  first  Methodist  class  in  the  township  was  or- 
ganized at  General  Barker's  house  some  time  during 
the  year  18.35.  Eev.  James  Wheeler  officiated.  The 
class  remained  in  existence  for  some  time,  but  no  re- 
cord has  been  kept,  from  which  the  names  of  the 
constituent  members  or  other  matters  of  interest  can 
be  obtained.  The  present  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  organized  November  14, 1862,  the  service 
upon  that  occasion  being  conducted  by  the  Rev.  L.  S. 
Johnson,  then  of  Plymouth.  The  original  members 
were  F.  C.  Paine,  Mary  A.  Paine,  Sarah  Truxell, 
her  son,  Homer  Truxell,  and  daughter  Mary  Truxell, 
Hannah  Long,  George  Eobbius,  Olive  Jane  Robbins, 
her  daughter  Kate  Robbins,  Atwater  Hough  and 
Mary  Hough.  F.  C.  Paine  was  the  first  class  leader. 
William  Robinson  succeeded  him  two  years  after  the 
organization  of  the  church.  The  pastors  of  the 
church  down  to,  and  including  the  present,  are  as 
follows:  L.  S.  Johnson,  three  years;  J.  T.  Kellum, 
one  year;  A.  K.  Owen,  three  years;  H.  G.  Du  Bois,  one 
year;  C.  C.  Ball,  one  year;  George  MacKillipps,  one 
year;  John  McNab,  one  year;  John  McKeen,  one 
year;  J.  F.  Brant,  one  year;  C.  J.  Eussell,  one  year; 
P.  F.  Graham,  one  year.  The  whole  number  of  per- 
sons connected  with  the  church  since  its  organization 
lias  been  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  present 
membership  is  one  hundred  and  twenty.  The  trus- 
tees are:  S.  E.  Peck,  M.  K.  Stotts,  J.  C.  Boardmau, 
Atwater  Hough  and  J.  C.  McLaughlin;  stewards,  J. 
C.  Boardman  and  E.  H.  Inscho;  class  leaders,  E.  H. 
Inscho,  Joseph  Gleason  and  John  Hale. 

SABBATH    SrllOOL    TNION-. 

Tlic  Saljbath  school  union  of  Ripley  township, 
auxiliary  to  the  county  union,  was  organized  Feb- 
ruary 0,  1875,  since  which  time,  meetings  have  been 
held  (|uarterly  for  the  consideration  of  modes  of  Sun- 
day school  work.  F.  C.  Paine  was  the  first  president 
of  the  society,  L.  S.  Gibson,  secretary.  The  present 
officers  are  :  S.  E.  Peek,  president;  J.  J.  Carney, 
vice-president  ;  A.  Frayer,  treasurer ;  Mrs.  Belle 
Gates,  secretary.  The  union  is,  and  has  been,  one  of 
the  strongest,  most  active  and  most  useful  in  the 
county. 

EAKLV    SCHOOLS. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Russ,  formerly  Miss  Harriet  Edwards, 
(laughter  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Edwards,  then  living  in 


Greenfield,  taught  the  first  school  held  in  the  town- 
ship, in  the  year  1827,  for  the  sum  of  fifty  cents  pei' 
week,  ])aid  not  in  money,  but  labor  at  clearing  land. 
This  school  was  in  the  southwestern  section  of  the 
township.  The  first  school  meeting  was  held  also  in 
1827.  A  school  house  was  erected  in  1832,  near  the 
northeastern  corner  of  the  township,  princpally 
through  the  efforts  of  Daniel  G.  Barker.  Sallie 
Fowler  was  the  first  teacher  at  this,  school. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  practitioner  of  medicine  known  in  the 
township,  was  Dr.  Moses  Saunders,  of  Peru.  He, 
for  a  number  of  years,  had  the  whole  of  what  little 
practice  there  was  in  the  settlement.  Afterwards, 
Dr.  Wm.  M.  Ladd,  of  Fitchville,  and  Dr.  Morton,  of 
Greenwich,  practiced  in  the  township.  The  only  res- 
ident physician  of  any  note,  in  Ripley,  was  Dr.  Cyrus 
Paine,  who  began  here  in  1833  and  continued  in 
practice  for  about  five  years,  giving  very  geiteral  sat- 
isfaction. 

DELPHI. 

Delphi  was  once  quite  an  active  little  village,  and 
its  future  looked  roseate  enough  to  satisfy  nearly  all 
that  it  would  one  day  be  a  thriving  place.  It  had 
two  or  three  taverns  or  hotels,  in  its  most  prosperous 
days,  and  several  well-stocked  stores.  The  railroads, 
however,  developed  other  places  at  the  expense  of 
Delphi,  and  for  the  past  score  of  years  or  more,  its 
interests  have  waned.  It  has,  at  present,  two  stores, 
kept  by  "Uncle  William"  Robinson  and  George  E. 
Miller,  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop,  kept  by  James 
Irwin,  and  another  by  Charles  Harrison.  The  first 
store  in  Ripley  township  was  opened  here  hy  Uvat 
Close. 

ROADS. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  the  first  settlement  was 
made  there  was  but  one  road  jn  the  township  upon 
which  travel  was  possible.  This  was  the  one  running 
east  and  west  through  the  center.  The  timber  had 
been  chopped  along  the  line,  but  the  road  was  unim- 
proved, and  it  was  only  with  difficulty  that  vehicles 
could  be  moved  over  it.  The  road  cut  through  the 
township  for  Harrison's  army  to  pass  through,  was 
grown  over  with  bushes  and  small  timber,  and  it  was 
allowed  to  remain  in  this  condition  for  some  time' 
after  the  settlement  was  commenced.  Many  of  the 
early  settlers  cut  their  way  into  the  township  through 
the  primeval  forest. 

POSTAL    MATTERS. 

There  was  a  mail  route  thron.uli  Rii)ley  befmv  the 
township  was  settled,  u\un\  which  a  man  went  cmce  a 
week,  between  ^lansfiehl  and  Norwalk.  Thv  tirst 
eastern  mail  was  carried  from  New  Haven  tlircmuh 
Ripley,  Greenwich,  Rugglesand  Sullivan.  For  a  few 
years  the  settlers  were  obliged  t<i  go  to  the  older 
settled  townsliii)s  for  their  mail;  but  about  1830  a 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


8-^5 


post  office  was  established  at  the  locality  now  known 
as  Edwards'  Corners,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Edwards 
was  made  postmaster.  When  Delphi  begun  to  be  a 
place  of  trade,  the  post  office  was  removed  there,  and 
designated  as  Ripleyville — the  name  by  whicii  it  has 
ever  since  been  known.  Tliere  is  another  post  office 
in  the  township,  upon  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cin- 
cinnati and  Indianapolis  railroad,  named  Carson. 

MANUFACTURING  INTERESTS. 

The  water  power  of  the  township  being  insignifi- 
cant, there  have  never  been  any  very  successful  flour- 
ing or  saw  mills  run  by  this  power,  and  for  the  same 
and  other  reasons  no  branch  of  manufacturing  has 
ever  been  extensively  carried  on.  There  are  now  two 
saw  mills  in  the  township — one  at  Delphi,  at  present 
owned  by  David  Truxell  and  John  Howard,  built  in 
1860,  and  one  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township, 
upon  lot  twenty-one,  section  three,  owned,  for  the 
past  three  years,  by  Robert  Maynard.  These,  and  a 
small  manuftlctory  of  drain  tiles,  owned  by  Hubbard 
Hoak  and  located  at  Delphi,  are  the  only  manufactur- 
ing interests  that  Ripley  possesses. 

STOCK  RAISING. 

A  far  more  important  line  of  business  in  this  town- 
ship is  the  raising  of  blooded  stock  by  a  number  of 
enterprising  men.  So  extensively  has  this  branch  of 
tlie  farmer's  calling  been  carried  on  that  it  has  made 
Ripley  famous,  wlierever  in  our  State  an  interest  is 
taken  in  the  improvement  of  cattle,  sheep  and  horses, 
particularly  the  former  classes  of  animals. 

S.  W.  Thomas  is  deserving  .  of  the  credit,  in  all 
probability,  of  owning  the  finest  flock  of  sheep  in 
Ohio.  Mr.  Thomas,  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
came  to  Ripley  in  1854,  and  about  ten  years  later 
began  the  business  of  raising.  He  selected  from  the 
flocks  of  the  following  gentlemen  in  Addison  county, 
Vermont:  Messrs.  C.  D.  Lane,  C.  W.  Mason,  W.  H. 
Cojk,  Tyler,  Stickney  &  Son,  E.  G.  Farnham,  S.  J. 
North rup  &  Sou,  F.  &  L.  E.  Moore,  Rockwell  &  San- 
ford,  Hall  &  Holden,  J.  A.  Wright,  H.  Jones,  George 
W.  Paine,  C.  P.  Crane,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Hayward  and  H. 
M.  Perry  (the  Culting  fiock)  and  a  few  others.  These 
purchases  were  followed  up  in  the  jxars  1865  and 
1866,  also  in  1871,  1877,  1878  and  1879,  the  objcft 
constantly  aimed  at  being  the  improvement  of  the 
flock  through  the  introduction  of  the  best  blooded 
stock  procurable.  In  purchasing,  Mr.  Thomas  has 
spared  no  pains  to  secure  the  best  sheep  in  the  coun- 
try, often j)ay:ng  as  high  as  one  liundred  dollars  per 
head,  and  in  one  instance  one  hundred  and  fifty  for 
ewes.  The  rams  used  in  the  flock  have  cost  from 
three  to  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  a  piece.  The 
flock,  at  this  writing,  consists  of  something  over  two 
hundred  and  .forty  sheep.  Of  these,  some  of  the 
ewes  shear  as  heavy  as  seventeen,  eighteen,  nineteen 
and  even  twenty  pounds  of  wool,  and  the  rams  from 
twenty-four  to  twenty-eight  pounds  a  piece.  Mr. 
Thomas'  sales  of  sheep,  during  1878  and  the  first  two 


or  three  months  of  1879,  have  amounted  to  upwards 
of  four  thousand  dollars.  Although  giving  most  of 
his  attention  to  sheep  raising,  Mr.  Thomas  has  a  very 
good  herd  of  short  horns  (Durhams).  He  commenced 
breeding  cattle  in  1874. 

A  man  who  makes  more  of  a  specialty  of  cattle 
breeding  is  W.  P.  Noble,  formerly  of  Richland  coun- 
ty, but  for  the  past  fifteen  years  a  resident  of  Ripley. 
He  has  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  the 
south  part  of  Ripley,  upon  which  are  to  be  seen  some 
of  the  best  specimens  of  thoroughbred  Durham  oattle 
that  the  country  cail  produce.  He  has  also  quite  a 
herd  in  Morrow  county.  Mr.  Noble  also  raises  some 
fine  wooled  sheep  of  the  Spanish  Merino  variety. 
There  are  several  other  farmers  in  the  township  who 
have  some  remarkably  fine  thoroughbred  cattle, 
among  whom  J.  S.  White  is  particularly  deserving  of 
mention. 

Sol  Lofland.  the  veteran  breeder  and  trainer  of 
running  horses,  is  also  a  resident,  and  has  been  for 
over  thirty  years,  of  Ripley.  He  has  upon  his  farm 
about  thirty-five  head  of  valuable  horses. 

PATRONS    OF   HUSBANDRY. 

Ripleyville  Grange,  No.  707,  was  organized  March 
16,  1874.  with  sixteen  memliers.  Following  are  the 
first  officers  elected:  S.  E.  Peck,  master;  D.  S.  Wash- 
burn, overseer;  William  Baker,  lecturer;  Stephen  Case, 
steward;  B.  L.  Alverson,  assistant  steward;  J.  M. 
Maynard,  chaplain;  0.  G.  Hall,  secretary;  E.  Bene- 
dict', treasurer;  J.  Sattisou,  gate  keeper;  Mrs.  M.  A. 
Hall,  Ceres;  Mrs.  H.  E.  Maynard,  Pomona;  Mrs. 
Sarah  Washburn.  Flora;  Mrs.  S.  E.  Peck,  stewardess. 
The  grange  has  now  a  membership  of  forty-five 
persons.  Following  are  the  ladies  and  geutlen^en  in 
office  in  1879:  Ira  Paine,  master;  James  R.  Knight, 
overseer;  G.  L.  Childs,  lecturer;  Robert  Watts,  stew- 
ard; John  Howard,  assistant  steward;  Mrs.  Mary 
Childs,  chaplain;  David  Lyon,  treasurer; 'Mrs.  A.  D. 
Stotts,  secretary;  David  Truxell,  gate  keeper;  Mrs. 
Ira  Paine,  Ceres;  Robert  Watts,  Pomona;  Mrs.  S. 
Washburn,  Flora;  Mrs.  John  Howard,  stewardess. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


F.  C.   PAINE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  disclaims  the  j^osscssion 
of  any  (pialities  that  entitle  him  to  the  mention  that 
his  friends  believe  should  be  made  of  him.  He  says 
that  the  most  *:hat  can  be  claimed  for  him,  is  that  he 
is  one  of  that  number  whose  effort  and  aim.  thus  far 
through  life,  have  been  to  make  the  world  l)etter  for 
his  having  been  in  it. 

F.  C.  Paine  Avas  born  November  23.  1819.  at  En- 
field, Tompkins  county,  New  York.     In  the  spring 


326 


HISTOKY  OF  HUROJS'  AAU  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  1833,  he  removed,  with  his  father's  family,  to 
Ripley,  Huron  eountv,  Ohio,  which  county  has  ever 
since  been  the  place  of  his  residence.  Ripley  was  then 
an  almost  unbroken  forest.  All  of  the  educational 
advantages  afforded  in  the  township,  were  small 
schools  held  in  two  rude  log  huts.  The  following 
winter  after  his  aiTival,  with  Cobb's  spelling  book, 
the  English  reader,  Kirkham's  grammar  and  Dabol's 
arithmetic  under  his  arm,  he  sought  to  avail  himself 
of  the  advantages  offered  by  these  small  schools. 
The  teacher  informed  him  that  he  was  not  hired  to 
give  instruction  in  grammar,  but  would  do  all  he 
could  for  his  new  pupil,  in  arithmetic.  Before  night 
the  teacher  found  a  limit  to  his  ability  in  this  branch 
of  education,  the  bridge  which  it  was  impossible  to 
pass  being  one  of  the  hardest  sums  in  simple  division. 
At  night  young  Paine  graduated,  and,  after  that, 
studied  at  home  under  the  direction  of  his  father, 
taking  as  his  school  hours,  the  evening  time,  when  he 
lay  in  front  of  the  fire-place  and  conned  his  books 
over  by  the  ruddy  blaze  of  a  huge  log  fire.  This  was 
because  his  days  were  occupied  in  chopping. 

In  the  fall  of  1836,  he  commenced  teaching,  his  first 
school  being  at  Couatnt's  corners,  near  where  the 
village  of  Greenwich  station  is  now  located.  He 
taught  seventy-two  days,  and  received,  therefor, 
thirty  dollars. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  he  made  a  profession  of  re- 
ligion and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.* 
Two  years  later,  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  In  the 
fall  of  18-12,  he  was  received  into  (what  was  then 
known  as)  the  Michigan  conference,  and  was  stationed 
at  Toledo.  After  several  months,  his  health  failed 
him,  and  with  the  advice  of  several  physicians,  he 
abandoned,  very  reluctantly,  the  idea  of  making  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel,  his  calling  through  life. 

October  13,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Jen- 
nings, of  Fairfield  township,  formerly  of  Fairfield, 
Connecticut.  They  had  no  children,  but  what  was 
their  misfortune  may  have  been  much  to  the  benefit 
of  many  with  whom  they  have  met  in  life.  Whether 
their  love  and  kindness  have  been  the  more  freely  be- 
stowed upon  others,  because  children  of  their  own 
have  not  claimed  it,  cannot  be  known,  but  certain  it 
is  that  they  have  been  kind  and  careful  in  providing 
for  the  poor  and  those  in  distress. 

Mr.  Paine,  though  a  farmer,  is  a  lover  of  the  beau- 
tiful, and  one  who  is  ever  finding  the  beautiful  in  the 
simple  and  wonderful  things  that  lie  around  him  in 
his  every  day  life.  He  has  preached  occasionally  but 
most  of  his  efforts  have  been  in  the  interests  of  the 
Sunday  school  cause.  Through  his  efforts,  to  a  great 
extent,  was  formed  the  Huron  County  Sunday  School 
Union.  Several  churches  have  grown  out  of  Sunday 
schools  organized  by  him.  He  has  acte<i  in  the  capac- 
ity of  Sunday  school  superintendent  for  forty  years. 

Tlie  term  "radical"  is  properly  applied  to  Mr.  Paine. 
Policy  has  never  made  him  act  contrary  to  his  convic- 

•  See  religious  history  of  Ripley— "The  Great  Revival." 


tion  of  duty.  Early  in  life  he  embraced  anti-slavery 
sentiments  and  fearlessly  defended  them.  He  was 
waylaid  by  some  of  his  neighbors,  one  dark  night, 
near  Edward's  corners,  and  treated  to  a  shower  of 
eggs,  for  having  publicly  expressed  his  opinion  on  that 
subject.  "  Tlie  nigger  man,"  was  the  term  frequently 
applied  to  him.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  James  G. 
Birney,  an  ex-slaveholder.  After  the  formation  of 
the  republican  party  he  affiliated  publicly  with  that 
organization,  and  all  through  the  dark  days  of  the 
Rebellion  he  stood  firm  for  the  Union,  and  with  influ- 
ence and  means  advocated  the  cause  of  the  north. 
Since  the  organization  of  the.prohibition  party  his 
sympathies  and  efforts  have  been  naturally  with  that 
body.  Though  now  in  his  fifty-fourth  year  he  has 
never  purchased  a  glass  of  anything  that  w^ould  intox- 
icate. His  firm  conviction  is,  that  to  a  great  extent 
the  church  is  responsible  for  the  prevalence  of  intem- 
perance throughout  the  nation.  His  motto  is  "prohi- 
bition," and,  as  he  says,  for  this  he  faithfully  works  and 
prays,  fully  believing  in  the  good  time  coming,  and  in 
the  fulfillment  of  the  master's  promise:  "  That  every 
plant  not  planted  by  his  Heavenly  Fathers'  hand 
shall  be  rooted  up." 


A.  D.  STOTTS. 


Illustrative  of  the  success  that  attends  lionest, 
manly,  well-directed  endeavor,  industry  and  the  con- 
scientious adherence  to  duty,  is  the  life  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  A.  D.  Stotts,  of  Ripley  township.  His 
grandfather,  Abram,  and  father,  John  Stotts,  natives 
of  Maryland,  but  for  some  time  resident  in  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  came  to  New  Haven  in  1821,  and  in  the 
year  1826,  moved  into  Ripley  where  there  were  not 
more  than  half  a  dozen  families  of  pioneers.  John 
Stotts  had  married  Eve  Winter,  of  Virginia,  and  A. 
D.  Stotts  was  the  first  born  of  this  family  of  nine 
children.  He  was  one  year  old  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Huron  county.  He  grew  up  in  Ripley, 
following  the  hard  routine  of  farm  life  from  the  time 
he  was  old  enough  to  drive  a  horse,  and  under  his 
father's  care  and  direction,  early  became  accustomed 
to  the  active  habit  of  life  which  he  has  ever  since 
followed.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  "was  liis 
own  man,"  and  as  a  start  in  life,  his  father  offered 
him  his  choice  between  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
in  cash  and  a  piece  of  land  uncleared,  which  consisted 
of  fifty  acres,  with  the  condition,  however,  that  if  he 
chose  the  latter,  he  should  give  in  return  two  years' 
labor.  He  took  the  land,  and  after  his  agreement 
with  his  father  was  fulfilled,  began  the  labor  of  i)re- 
paring  it  for  farm  purposes,  whicli  in  time  he  accom- 
plished to  his  satisfaction.  He  turned  all  of  the  avails 
that  he  could  spare  from  this  small  farm  into  tlie  pur- 
chase of  various  small  parcels  of  land  adjoining  his 
first  possession,  and   finally  through    thrift,  and    by 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


327 


many  slowbnt  successful  steps,  accumulated  the  large 
property  of  -n-hich  he  is  now  owner. 

The  old  house  which  is  shown  in  illustration,  Mr. 
Stotts  built  when  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old, 
and  it  answered  the  needs  of  himself  and  family  up 
to  1867.  when  he  erected  the  spacious  and  elegant  brick 
residence  which  has  since  been  his  home.  The  brick 
house,  south  of  his  residence,  (which  appears  in  the 
plate)  was  the  house  of  his  father.  Upon  his  death, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  bought  out  the  other  heirs 
and  thus  came  into  jjossession  of  the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Stotts  was  married  October,  23,  1850,  to  Mary- 
ette,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  Boughton,  of  Fitch- 
ville  township,  who  is  still  the  partner  of  his  joys  and 
sorrows.  Their  children  are:  Flora  A.  (Mrs.  Hop- 
kins), of  Ripley;  Dellie  E.  (Mrs.  F.  A.  Hilton),  of 
Coldwater,  Michigan;  Clarence  Eugene  and  Elmer 
A.,  the  two  last  named  at  home. 

Mr.  Stotts  IS  one  of  those  men  to  whom  the  trite 
term,  ''self-made,"  is  ajDpropriately  applied.  He  had 
only  the  most  narrowly  limited  advantages  for  an 
early  education,  there  being  no  school  of  any  kind  in 
the  township  until  after  he  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  his  father  being  unable  to  give  him  any  instruc- 
tion, even  in  the  rudimentary  branches.  Though 
lacking  these  advantages  in  youth,  he  supplied  them 
as  best  he  could  in  later  life,  and  has  attained  much 
of  that  most  valuable  education  of  all,  which  comes 
from  observation,  e.^qjerienee,  and  general  reading  of 


books — and  men.  Whatever  he  has  attained  has  been 
by  his  own  unaided  efforts.  Beside  achieving  an 
iudependence,  so  far  as  pecuniary  position  is  con- 
cerned, he  has  made  for  himself  a  character  and  rep- 
utation that  place  him  in  the  highest  regard  of  the 
people  who  know  him  best.  The  feeling  of  confidence 
in  his  judgment  and  probity  is  attested  by  the  fact 
that  he  has  not  only  been  called  upon  to  serve,  in 
otfices  of  trust,  in  the  township  in  which  he  resides,  but 
has  been  chosen  to  fill  an  important  place  in  the  civil 
list  of  the  county.  He  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner in  1875,  and  re-elected  in  1878  for  a  term  of 
three  years. 

Politicall}-,  Jlr.  Stotts  was  a  Democrat  until  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  an  unswerving  supporter  of  the  cause 
which  that  organization  espoused. 

He  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  his  Christianity  is  of  that  type  which  is  a  credit 
alike  to  its  professor  and  to  the  faith. 

Mr.  Stotts  has  now  lived  in  Ripley  longer  than  any 
other  resident ;  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
its  interests,  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  its  solidly 
worthy  citizens,  a  man  who  has  worked  hard  and 
lived  well,  in  the  best  significance  of  the  term, 
and  who  is  appreciated  for  his  earnestness,  sincerity 
and  honesty. 

His  father,  John  Stotts,  died  May  16,  1863,  and 
his  mother  in  March,  1856. 


FITCHVILLE. 


FiTiHViLLE.  known  originally  as  town  number  two, 
range  twenty-one,  is  situated  in  the  southeast  quarter 
of  Huron  county,  and  is  bounded  upon  the  north  by 
Hartland,  east  by  New  London,  south  by  Greenwich, 
and  west  by  Fairfield.  The  surface  is  rolling  and  the 
drainage  good.  The  soil  is  clay  with  a  plentiful  ad- 
mixture of  sand  and  gravel,  which  predominate  upon 
the  ridges.  It  was  originally  heavily  timbered  with 
oak,  walnut,  hickory,  maple,  black  and  white  ash, 
beech,  basswood,  elm  and  other  varieties  of  trees. 
The  Vermillion  river,  which  heads  at  two  little  lakes 
near  Savannal),  in  Ashland  county,  enters  the  town- 
ship near  the  southeast  corner,  flows  near  the  center, 
and  then  northward  and  on  through  Hartland, 
Clarksfield.  Wakeman,  and  Erie  county  to  the  lake. 

ORIGINAL  OW"XERS. 

For  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 


Original  Grantees. 

Peter  C-yphus 
David  Bush 
Jeremiah  Chapman 
Jlarj-  Peck 
Reuben  Rundal 
Daniel  Palmer 
Abraham  Close 

Joseph  Close 
Timothy  Finch 
Samuel  Palmer 
Benjamin  Husted 
John  Loudon 
William  Lee 


William  Waters  11 

Israel  Knapp,  Jr  4 

Jeremiah  Mead  18 

Timothy  Lockwood  10 
Peter  Brown  3 

Silas  Belts  317 

Hannah  Fitch's  h'rs  141 
Thomas  Fitch's  h'rs  415 
Ebenezer  Fitch  2 

Mindwell  Hitchcock  18 
Thomas  Hitchcock  33 
Jonathan  Connery  63 
Zaccheus  Mead  9 

Deborah  Close  12 

Nathaniel  Finch  27 

James  Barnes  51 

William  Rundal  81 

Hannah  Rundal  45 

Anna  Rundal  4 


Classification  No.  1,  Sectios  1 
Amt  Loss.       Classified  by. 


■William  Knapp 


Classification  No,  3.  Section  : 


Thomas  Hitchcock 


8  Zaccheus  Mead 
11 

3  I    Nathaniel  Finch 

10J4  H'rs  of  Jas.  Barnes 

1  H'rs  of  Wm.  Run  al 

0  " 

0  I    John  Mackay,  Jr. 


Footing  of  Classification  No   1,  £1,344 


Classification 
Original  Grantees.        Am't  Loss. 

£  s.  d. 

IsraelWood                182  0  H 

Odle  Close                   '257  10  3 

Samuel  Seymour       195  15  3 

Rev.  Jo't'n  Murdock   79  14  4 

Drake  Seym  ur          123  19  5 

Nehemiah  Brown         94  16  2 

Deborah  Brush            31  5  1 

Roger  Southerland       10  12  2 

Mary  Town                     4  10  0 

Joanna  Reynolds         12  2  0 

William  Marshall        14  IC  11 


No.  2,  Section  2, 
Classified  btj. 

David  Wood.  Jr.        1 
Gideon  Close  i 

Samuel  Seymour       1 
Rev.  J.  Murdock 
Drake  Seymour         I 
Benj.  Brush,  Nehe- 
miah &  Mai.  Brown 

Benjamin  Brush 


Rev. 


f  illiam  Seward  25 


Timothy  Rundal 
Charles  Knapp 
John  Hobby 
Isaac  Howe 
Jonah  Mead 
Reuben  Holmes 
Elisha  Belcher 


Benj.  Brush.  Nehe- 
miah &  Maj.  Brown 
John  Mackay,  Jr. 


John  Hobby 
Isaac  Howe 
J  onah  Mead 
Samuel  Sevmou 
Elisha  Belcher 


Footing  of  Classiflcalion  No.  -2.  £1.344 


Original  Grantees. 


Josiah  Thatcher 


.Abigail  Weeks 
Josiah  Thatcher 
Daniel  McAuley 
Auley  Mc.^uley 
Thos.  Fitch's  heirs 
Royer  Southerland 
Henry  Studwell 
Jonathan  and  Am- 
brose Reynolds 
Rufus  Avery 
David  Austin,  Esq. 
Abiah  Allen 
William  Lyon 
Charles  Sabin 
William  Ward 
John  Cottin 
Zacheriah  Candy 
Silas  Hotchkiss 
■William  Trowbridge    1 
Silas  Kimberly 


Ann  Hays  ; 

Danl  Thatcher's  h'rs 
Peter  Quintard  i: 

Hezekiah  WTiitlock 


M 


193 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,.S4.5 


Original  Grantees. 

£ 
William  Blake  3 

Jacob  Conkling  63 

Eben  Knapp  147 

John  Mead  162 

Sarah  Mead  71 

Susannah  Reynolds  18 
Lydia  Fitch  19 

Thos.  Fitch's  heirs  415 
Hannah  Fitch's  h'rs  141 
Ephraini  Burr  95 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 
(  Loss.    Classified  by. 
d.  ; 
3    ;   Jabez  Fitch 


Andrew  Sturges 
William  Bush 
Isaac  Bush 
Charity  Banks 
Samuel  Bush 
.'ames  Brundage 
James  Cunningha 
Peter  Cyphus 
Hannah  Rundal 
Samuel  -Ask 
Obadiah  Banks 


13 


Banks 


Daniel  Caiter 
Thomas  Davis 
Daniel  Darson 
James  Ferris 
Timothy  Ferris 
Solomon  Finney 
Ann  Gregg 
Reuben  Holmes 
Isaac  Holmes 
Moses  Husted,  Jr. 
Meeting  House 
J'n'thn  Hubbard.Jr 
Nathaniel  Hobby 
Thomas  ,Iohnsoh 


Eunice  Knapp 
John  Knapp 
Ezekiel  Knapp 
Widow  Kincn 
Enos  Lockwood 
Caleb  Lyon 
Joseph  Lockwood 
Hannah  Lockwood 


10      13      10 


:  Lynn 


;  of  Classification  No 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS. 


Fitchville  was  first  settled  in  the  summer  of  1817. 
Peter  ilead,  Abraham  Mead  and  Amos  Reynolds  were 
the  pioneers.     They  made  their  beginning  upon  the 

(328) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


329 


east  line  of  the  township,  upon  the  farms  now  occu- 
pied by  tlie  willow  of  Peter  Mead  and  by  John  Golden, 
Peter  Mead  taking  up  lot  thirteen  and  Amos  Rey- 
nolds lot  fourteen,  both  in  section  one.  The  Meads 
came  to  Ohio  from  Carmel,  Putnam  county.  New 
York,  but  were  originally  from  Connecticut,  and 
Reynolds  was  from  Westchester  county.  They  were 
obliged  to  cut  a  road  into  the  township.  Immediately 
upon  their  arrival  they  prepared  the  ground  for  a  crop 
of  corn,  and  then  built  log  cabins  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  their  families,  who,  while  they  were  plant- 
ing had  had-  no  shelter  but  that  of  the  wagons. 
Abraham  Mead,  after  clearing  several  acres  of  land, 
became  dissatisfied  with  his  location,  and  wishing  to 
get  as  near  the  center  of  the  townshijfas  possible,  he 
measured  it  off,  each  way,  by  the  use  of  a  rope  and 
pocket-compass,  and  took  possession  of  the  land  lying 
near  the  center,  and  upon  which  the  little  village  of 
Clinton  was  afterward  built.  Here  he  resided  about 
twelve  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Nor- 
walk  where  he  died  in  18-51,  aged  seventy-six  years. 
His  wife's  name  was  Deborah  Barker.  They  had  six 
sons:  Alson,  William,  Sanford,  Madison,  Joel,  and 
David:  and  three  daughters:  Mary,  Samantha,  and 
Arvilla,  one  of  whom  married  John  Bell,  now  of  Rip- 
ley. All  of  the  sons  ai-e  dead  but  David,  who  resides 
in  Fairfield.  Peter  Mead  died  in  Fitchvilie,  in  185i. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  reared  a  large  family  of 
children,  of  whom  the  living  are:  Norman,  Edward 
B.,  Fanny  (Mrs.  G.  Jackson,  of  Ottawa  county),  An- 
geline,  (Mrs.  Eaton,  in  Michigan),  and  J.  F.,  who 
lives  upon  the  old  homestead  in  Fitchvilie.  Those 
deceased  are:  Newberry,  Varney  P.,  Cyrus,  Zaccheus, 
and  ^lary. 

The  Palmers  came  in  ISIS.  They  were  from  Fair- 
field county,  Connecticut.  Rundel,  Alvah,  Seeley 
and  Linus  came  first,  in  the  spring,  and  Samuel 
Palmer  came  in  the  fall,  bringing  with  him  Rundel's 
wife  and  four  children:  Isaac,  Samuel,  Mary  and 
Marcus;  and  two  of  his  sisters:  Adelia  and  Hannah. 
Twenty-five  persons  bearing  the  name  of  Palmer  came 
during  the  year  1818. 

Seeley  settled  upon  lot  three  in  section  one,  where 
he  now  resides,  and  married  Nancy  Post,  by  whom 
he  had  a  large  family  of  children:  Delia  (Mrs.  C. 
Curtiss  of  Norwalk),  William  (in  Fairfield),  Augusta 
(Mrs.  D.  Doran),  Beecher  (who  is  in  the  South), 
Dennison  (in  New  London),  Burdette  (at  home), 
Julia  (Mrs.  D.  Curtis^',  dead),  Lucy  (Mrs.  Hem- 
enwax  of  New  London),  Eliza  (at  home),  and 
Nancy  (Mrs.  Saver  in  Missouri).  Linus  Palmer 
married  Jemima  Rowland.  Rundel  Palmer  suf- 
fered a  very  sad  loss  in  the  death  of  his  little  five 
year  old  son,  Marcus,  in  1823.  The  boy,  who  lived 
at  the  home  of  his  uncle,  Samuel  Palmer,  was  sent 
upon  an  errand,  and  upon  his  way  back,  met  an  older 
brotlier,  who  was  going  out  shooting.  He  followed 
him,  and  a  very  violent  storm,  of  hail  and  sleet,  aris- 
ing, he  became  separated  from  his  brother,  lost  his  way 
and  perished  from   the   cold.     The  Palmers,  becom- 


ing alarmed  at  the  child's  absence,  went  out  to  search 
for  him,  and  aroused  their  neighbors,  who  joined 
them,  but  they  were  unable,  after  long  tramping 
through  the  woods,  to  discover  him,  and  knowing 
that  if  he  had  not  found  his  way  to  some  place  of 
shelter,  he  must  be  dead,  they  returned  to  their  homes. 
The  next  day  the  lifeless  body  of  the  boy  was  found. 
Besides  the  children  of  Rundel  Palmer  and  wife  above 
named,  there  were  born  after  their  arrival,  Nathan, 
David  and  Alvah.  Samuel  Palmer  settled  upon  lot 
two  in  section  one,  cleared  up  his  farm,  and  experi- 
enced his  full  share  of  the  hardship  and  privation  of  a 
pioneer's  life.  He  married,  in  1832,  Eliza  0.  Curtiss, 
from  Connecticut,  who  died  about  two  years  later. 
He  took  for  his  second  wife,  in  1844,  Anna  Lyon, 
who  was  the  partner  of  his  joys  and  ti-ials  until  18T6, 
when  death  removed  her.  Samuel  Palmer't:  children 
were:  Preston,  Marcus  and  Samuel.  The  last  named 
died  when  young,  the  second  son  died  in  1876,  and 
the  oldest,  now  the  only  one,  is  living  at  the  old 
homestead.  Abijah  Palmer  settled  upon  lot  six,  sec- 
tion two.  He  came  also  in  1818,  and  was  from  Ca- 
yuga county,  county  New  York.  His  wife's  name  was 
Clarinda  Reynolds.  Their  children  were  :  Robert, 
Nathaniel,  David,  (all  three  dead,)  Tamia,  Caroline, 
Ann  (Mrs.  Ebenezer  Osborne),  Maria,  Ruth  (Mrs. 
William  Burras),  Phebe  and  Hiram.  Alvah  Palmer 
died  in  1827.  Rundel  Palmer  settled  upon  lot  thirty- 
three,  section  four.  He  died  in  1876.  William 
Palmer  located  north  of  the  center,  in  1837,  bringing 
his  wife  and  four  children.  The  Palmers  were  noted 
abolitionists. 

In  1819,  Gilbert  Martin,  Wm.  W.  Watrous  and 
Charles  Lyon  arrived.  The  first  named  of  these  three 
brought  with  him,  from  Green  county,  New  Y'ork, 
his  family,  and  they  made  their  home  upon  lot  twenty- 
four,  section  four.  Martin  died  about  ten  years  later. 
Lyon  was  from  Cayuga  county,  New  Y'ork.  His 
family  consisted  of  his  wife,  Deborah,  and  nine  chil- 
dren. Others  were  born  later.  The  names  of  those 
living  are:  Levi,  Daniel,  Charles  and  Abigail.  Wat- 
rous married  a  Miss  Strong,  and  reared  a  large  family. 
Their  home  was  upon  lot  ten,  section  four.  Mr. 
Watrous  came  from  Madison  county.  New  Y'ork,  to 
Ridgefield  township,  in  1818,  and  from  there  to  Fitch- 
vilie. J.  N.  and  Henry  Pickard  arrived  about  this 
time,  from  Cayuga  connty.  New  York,  and  located 
upon  lot  nine,  section  two.  Joseph  removed  west 
about  1840,  and  Henry  also  left  the  township.  Absa- 
lom H.  Coleman  came  in  1820,  from  Cayuga  county, 
New  Y'ork,  and  located  upon  lot  four,  section  two. 
He  brought  with  him  a  large  family  of  daughters, 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  married  not  long  after,  and 
it  is  to  be  presumed  that  some  of  them  did  not  make 
'•good  matches,"  for  their  father  used  to  remark  that 
'•the  devil  had  been  owing  him  a  grudge  for  a  long 
time,  and  had  finally  paid  him  off  in  sons-in-law." 

The  Curtiss's  made  their  trip  to  Ohio  in  a  novel 
way.  The  plan  was  proposed  by  Jotham  AY.  Curtiss, 
the  father  of  Hiram  A.,  Joseph  C,  Lyman,  Jotham 


330 


HISTORY  OF  HUROISi  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  Arthur.  The  project  was  to  come  by  boat,  and 
the  family  set  about  making  one  in  tlie  spring  of  1820, 
at  Paris,  Oneida  county.  New  York.  When  com- 
pleted, this  boat  was  mounted  upon  wheels  and  hauled 
to  Wood  creek,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles.  From 
thence  it  was  worked  down  stream  to  Oneida  lake, 
where  the  passengers  and  crew  went  on  board.  The 
party  consisted  of  Jotham  W.  Curtiss,  his  son  Hiram 
A.,  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  aljout  a  year  old, 
Joseph  C.  Curtiss  and  three  young  men,  whose  point 
of  destination  was  Geauga  county.  The  boat  was 
plentifully  laden  with  provisions,  and  the  trip  proved 
a  very  pleasant  one.  It  was  made  by  carrying  the 
boat  around  the  rapids  in  the  Oswego  river,  and 
around  the  falls  and  rapids  of  Niagara.  It  was  less 
fatiguing,  but  not  less  dangerous,  than  the  land  trip 
•would  have  been.  After  stopping  at  the  mouth  of 
Grand  river  to  allow  tlie  three  men  to  disembark,  the 
boat  ran  into  the  mouth  of  the  Huron.  After  Hiram 
A.  Curtiss  and  family  had  landed,  the  boat  was  sailed 
to  Detroit  and  back  to  Sandusky  City,  where  it  was 
sold,  and  ultimately  went  into  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  revenue  collector,  by  whom  it  was  used. 

Jotham  W.  Curtiss  bought  land  in  Fitchville,  and 
intended  to  settle  here,  but  he  returned  east,  and  died 
in  Madison  county.  New  Y^ork.  His  son,  Hiram  A., 
and  wife,  Catharine  (Nesel),  located  in  Fichville,  upon 
lots  tweutv-five  and  twenty-six,  section  two.  Jotham 
went  west,  and  died  there.  He  was  for  a  long  time 
unheard  of,  but  was  met  in  the  Rocky  mountains  by 
the  exploring  party  of  which  John  C.  Fremont  was 
the  head,  and  is  spoken  of  in  that  officer's  report. 
Joseph  C.  Curtiss  bought  land  in  Fitchville — lots 
twenty-four  and  twenty-eight,  section  two— at  an 
early  day,  but  located  in  Norwalk,  where  he  remained 
until  183-2,  when  he  became  a  merchant  in  Fitchville, 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  village.  He  is  now 
dead.  He  married  Lucina  Ward,  of  New  Y^ork  State. 
Lyman  married  Harriet  Heil.  Arthur  W.  took  up 
lot  eighteen,  in  section  three,  but  went  west  about 
twenty  years  ago.  He  married  Lucia  Russell.  There 
were  three  daughters  in  this  family  :  Rlioda,  (Mrs. 
Calvin  Parker,)  Arvilla,  (Mrs.  L.  Knopp.)  and  So- 
phronia,  (Mrs,  Chauucey  Crane).  All  three  are  dead, 
as  are  also  all  of  the  brothers,  except  Arthur.  The 
descendants  of  Hiram  A.  Curtiss  and  wife  are: 
Jotham,  Eliza  (Mrs.  R.  Knowltou,)  Susan  (Mrs.  C. 
Maiz,)  all  dead;  Hiram  A.  (living  in  Iowa),  Henry, 
(in  Wisconsin),  Lucina,  (Mrs.  Johnson,  in  Richland 
county),  Frank  (Mrs.  Smith,  in  Kansas),  and  a 
daughter,  Amelia  (in  Fairfield),  by  Mr.  Curtiss' 
second  wife— Mary  Carpenter.  Joseph  C.  Curtiss' 
descendants  are:  Mary  Jane  and  J.  C,  both  dead; 
S.  AV.,  living  in  Fitchville,  and  carrying  on  business 
at  his  father's  old  store;  Lyman,  deceased;  Dwight 
A.  (in  Toledo),  and  Jane  (in  New  Y^rk  State),  a 
daughter  by  Mr.  Curtiss'  second  wife,  Mrs,  Allen. 

Joseph  Washburne  and  his  wife  Sally  (Tomkins), 
came  from  Ulster  county.  New  York,  in  1820,  and 
located  upon  the  land  which  is  included  in  the  south- 


west part  of  Clinton  incorporation.  Mr.  Washburne 
died  in  1853,  and  his  widow  is  still  living.  Their 
children  were:  Adelia,  (Mrs.  J.  Phillips)  in  Illinois: 
Nancy  (Mrs.  E.  Baker),  in  Kansas:  James,  in  Mich- 
igan; Sarah  Jane  (Mrs.  Dr.  Skellinger),  of  New  Lon- 
don: and  Elijah,  living  upon  the  farm  adjoining  the 
old  homestead.  Two  brothers  of  Mr.  Washburne"s. 
Walter  and  Robert,  came  tnto  tlie  county  sometime 
after  his  arrival. 

Daniel  and  Austin  Ward  came  from  New  York 
State  in  1820,  or  the  following  year.  The  first 
named  settled  upon  lot  seven,  in  section  four,  and  re 
mained  in  the  township  but  a  few  years,  Austin 
Ward  took  up  lot  seventeen  in  section  three,  and  he 
and  his  wife,  Zetta  Green,  reared  a  large  family  of 
children.  He  was  noted  for  his  liberality  to  the  poor. 
Instances  are  related  of  liis  refusal  to  sell  hay  or 
grain,  when  a  good  price  was  offered,  because  he 
thought  that  some  poor  familes  would  be  in  need  of 
the  same  and  unable  to  procure  elsewhere. 

John  and  Lewis  Barnes  settled  in  1820  or  "21,  re- 
spectively upon  lots  seventeen  and  twenty-one  in  sec- 
tion one.  They  were  from  Vermont.  John  died  in 
Ruggles.  He  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
three — Mrs.  Ruth  Reynolds,  James  and  Cyrus  are 
living  in  Fitchville.  Lewis  also  had  a  large  family — 
Nelson  and  Hiram  are  living  in  the  township,  and 
Seymore  and  Sarah  (Mrs.  G.  Mead)  are  in  Greenwicli. 
Their  father  died  in  1858. 

Henry  Hickok,  who  located  upon  lot  nine,  section 
four,  was  the  first  lilacksmith  in  the  township.  He 
came  from  New  Y'ork  State,  in  1822.  He  died  about 
1830,  leaving  quite  a  family,  of  whom  William  .and 
Phebe  (Mrs,  B,  Sherwood)  are  rtsident  in  the  township. 

Henry  Morgan  came  into  the  township  in  1824, 
from  Sunkerfield,  New  Y'ork,  and  his  wife,  Phebe,  is 
still  living,  Morgan  took  up  lot  thirty-five  in  section 
three,  lived  there  five  or  six  years,  and  then  bought  a 
new  farm,  upon  which  he  soon  after  died,  Ebenezer 
Green,  of  Cayuga  county.  New  Y''ork,  came  in  the 
same  year  as  Morgan,  and  settled  upon  lot  thirty-five, 
section  three,  Allen  Johnson,  of  Greene  county,  the 
same  State,  came  in  and  located  upon  lot  thirty-seven, 
section  three,  bringing  with  him,  his  wife  and  a  large 
family  of  children,  all  of  whom  were  sick  the  first 
season.  Four  or  five  years  after  his  arrival,  Johnson 
went  to  Peru  township,  but  returned  to  Fitchville, 
and  died  in  the  township,  some  years  later. 

Joseph  Barker  arrived  in  Fitchville  in  1824,  after 
stopping  two  years  in  Geauga  county  and  a  short 
time  in  Sandusky  City,  He  was  originally  from  Con- 
necticut, but  removed  to  Ohio  from  New  Y'ork. 
His  wife  was  Charlotte  Hadley.  The  pair  had  a 
large  family  of  children,  of  whom  six  are  now  living. 
viz  :  Nelson,  in  Ripley  :  Joseph,  Laura  (Mrs.  1. 
White),  and  Sarah  (Mrs.  Bush),  in  Michigan;  Julia 
Ann  (Mrs.  H.  Arnert),  in  Fitchville;  and  Eliza  (Mrs. 
E.  Knopp).  in  Fairfield.  The  Barker  family  settled 
upon  lot  twenty-seven  in  section  four.  A  brother  of 
Joseph  Barker — James — came  about  the  same  time. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


331 


Jabez  Denton  and  wife,  of  York  State,  and  for- 
merly from  Connecticut,  settled  in  18"-i5,  upon  lot 
seven,  section  two.  The  father  and  mother  both 
died  in  the  township,  and  their  five  children  moved 
away.  Ashbcl  G.  Post  arrived  in  18--25,  and  settled 
upon  lot  thirty-two,  section  three.  He  married 
Tamia  Palmer.  He  removed  from  Fitchville  to  Ber- 
lin, and  from  there  to  Norwalk,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. Mr.  Post's  father  came  into  the  township  a 
little  earlier  than  himself,  but  did  not  live  long.' 

Ebenezer  Osborne  came  in,  in  182.5,  and  took  up  lots 
twenty-eight  and  twenty-nine,  section  three.  He 
came  by  the  way  of  the  Erie  canal,  which  was  just 
then  opened.  From  Buffalo,  the  party  of  which  Mr. 
Osborne  was  one,  and  which  also  included  the  Allen 
Johnson  family  and  Miss  Nancy  Post — a  half  sister  of 
Mrs.  Johnson — who  afterward  married  Seeley  Palmer, 
traveled  up  the  lake  shore  to  Ashtabula,  and  from 
there  came  to  Fitchville,  by  the  way  of  Eldridge. 
Mr.  Osborne  married,  in  1826,  Ann,  daughter  of 
Abijah  Palmer.  They  had  three  children:  Albert, 
Mary  and  Ebenezer.  Mary  is  dead,  and  the  sons  are 
living  west.  Ebenezer  Osborne  was  a  native  of  Wind- 
ham, Greene  county,  New  York. 

JoseiDh  C.  Washburne,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Philena 
Washburne,  of  Greenwich,  and  a  native  of  Allen 
county.  New  York,  moved  into  the  extreme  northeast 
corner  of  the  township  in  1826.  His  father  had  iiere 
bought  about  seven  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  it  was 
a.portion  of  this  tract  that  Joseph  C.  took  as  his  farm. 
He  married  Debbie  Ann  Sutton,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children:  George,  living  with  liis  father  upon 
the  homestead,  Jane  Ann  (Mrs.  H.  Hooper),  and 
Marietta,  (Mrs.  C.  Berry,  of  New  London). 

Abel  F.  Eaton  and  his  wife,  Sylvia,  who  is  still 
living,  also  came  in  from  Greenwich  townshij),  in 
1826,  and  two  brothers  of  Mr.  Eaton,  Isaac  and 
William,  came  in  a  little  later.  Isaac  took  up  lot 
twenty-three,  section  four.  Abel  F.  settled  upon  lot 
forty-three,  section  three,  cleared  up  his  farm,  built  a 
log  house,  and  afterward  a  frame  dwelling.  He  died 
in  1873.  The  children  of  Abel  and  Sylvia  Eaton 
were  six  in  number.  The  two  who  are  living  are: 
Eli  D.,  in  Michigan,  and  Mary  Jane  (Mrs.  Rathburn), 
in  Fitchville. 

Amos  Green  and  his  wife.  Esther,  of  Cayuga 
county.  New  York,  came  in,  in  1826,  and  settled 
upon  lot  fifteen,  section  one,  but  afterward  removed 
to  lot  eleven,  section  two.  Their  children  were: 
Zalmon,  Louisa,  Daniel,  Lewis  G.,  Almira  (Mrs. 
Barnes),  Julia  Ann  and  Cyrus  C,  the  last  named  of 
whom  is  the  only  one  living.  Zalmon,  married 
Rachel  Weeks;  Lewis,  Amy  Fancher,  and  Cyrus  C, 
Abigail  Tower. 

Mr.  Cyrus  Green  says,  that  in  1826,  when  he  came  to 
the  township,  forty  families  were  residents.  There 
were  seven  in  section  one-:  thirteen  in  section  two;  eight 
in  section  three,  and  twelve  in  section  four.  Of  this 
number  those  of  whom  we  have  not  already  spoken. 


are  Charles  Pierce,  Francis  Keyes,  J.  McKinley,  David 

Bennett,     David    Sherwood,    Higgins,    Azial 

Stevens,  Tid,  Samuel  Woodruff,  Reulien  Tower 

and  John  Pratt.  The  years  of  their  arrival  cannot 
be  definitely  stated,  but  their  location  is  correctly 
given.  Most  of  them  remained  Imt  a  short  time  in  the 
township.  Charles  Pierce  came  from  Green  county. 
New  Y'"ork,  and  died  about  ten  years  after  his  arrival. 
He  cleared  up  a  farm  in  lot  nine,  section  one.  Francis 
Keyes  settled  upon  lot  twenty  and  twenty-two,  sec- 
tion two,  and  J.  McKinley  upon  lot  twenty-eight  in 
the  same  section.  They  both  joined  tlie  Mormons. 
David  Bennett  and  David  Sherwood  settled  re- 
spectively upon  lots  forty-five  and  forty-two  in  section 
two.  Reuben  Tower  located  upon  lot  twenty,  section 
three,  but  went  west  at  an  early  day;  Higgins  was 
upon  lot  forty  in  section  two,  and  Tid  upon  lot  twenty- 
seven  in  section  foui-.  Aziel  Stevens  who  lived  for  a 
few  years  on  lot  three  in  section  two,  and  partially 
cleared  up  a  farm  there  was  another  Mormon  recruit. 
Samuel  Woodruff,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  for  a  few 
years  a  resident  of  the  township,  and  owned  a  farm 
in  lot  one,  section  four.  John  Pratt  lived  upon  the 
southeast  corner  of  lot  twenty  in  section  three,  but 
moved  west  about  ten  years  after  his  arrival  in  Fitch- 
ville. 

The  family  of  Matthew  Laughlin  came  in  in  1818, 
from  near  Marietta,  and  settled  upon  lot  twenty-three, 
section  three.  Matthew  and  Nancy  Laughlin  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  nine  are  living.  Following  are 
their  names  and  places  of  residence:  Martha  Jane  and 
David,  in  Nebraska;  Lydia  Rosaunah  (Mrs.  R.  W. 
Beckwith,  of  Fitchville);  John  S.,  also  in  Fitchville; 
Thomas  J.,  in  Nebraska;  Matthew  Elver,  the  Fitch- 
ville physician;  Nancy  M.  and  Rosabella,  also  in 
Fitchville,  and  Mary  R.,  in  Nebaaska. 

Among  those  who  came  in  at  a  later  day  were  the 
Hauxhurst's,  Joseph  Studwell  and  R.  C.  Johnson. 
Studwell  came  in  183.5,  from  Cayuga  countj-.  New 
Y'ork,  bringing  his  wife  and  two  children.  He  still 
lives  in  Fitchville.  R.  C.  Johnson  came  in  the  same 
year,  from  New  York  State,  (with  his  father  William, 
who  died  in  1867),  and  his  mother,  and  originally  lo- 
cated in  Hartland  township,  from  whence  he  moved 
to  Fitchville.  Samson  Hauxhurst  and  his  wife,  Su- 
san, came  in  1835,  from  Ulster  county.  New  Y'ork, 
and  located  upon  lot  twenty-seven,  section  four.  Of 
their  children,  Philip  lives  in  Fitchville;  Elenora 
(Lofland),  in  Nebraska;  Martha  (Mrs.  J.  Sprague), 
in  Hartland;  Mary  Jane,  in  Nebraska,  and  Minerva 
(Mickey),  in  Fitchville;  Sarah  is  dead. 

Warren  Reynolds,  his  wife  and  four  children,  came 
from  Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  in  1832,  and  set- 
tled in  the  second  section,  upon  the  farm  where  Sam- 
uel Eliston  now  lives.  Mrs.  Reynolds  died  in  1837, 
and  Mr.  Reynolds  married,  a  year  later,  Ruth  Barnes, 
of  Fitchville.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  six  children, 
only  one  of  whom  is  now  alive,  (T.  M.,  who  married 
Melissa  Sholes,  and  who,  since  1853,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Hartland  township. 


332 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Owing  to  the  fact  that  most  of  the  original  owners 
of  the  township  put  up  the  price  of  their  hinds  too 
high,  the  township  did  not  fill  up  fast  with  settlers, 
until  after  1830.  Emigrants,  who  could  get  as  good 
lands  in  Sandusky  and  Seneca  counties,  or  in  Michi- 
gan, as  there  was  in  Fitcliville,  and  that,  too,  at  from 
eiglit  to  ten  shillings  per  acre  less,  very  naturallj 
passed  on  further  w^est  to  begin  the  pioneer  life.  The 
laud  owners,  finally,  seeing  that  they  had  been  work- 
ing against  their  own  interests,  reduced  their  price, 
and  from  1830  to  1834,  settlers  could  buy  at  almost 
their  own  terms.  In  the  year  first  named,  the  town- 
ship had  a  population  of  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  souls,  and  after  tliat  time  the  population  rose 
quite  rapidly,  until  after  184-^  or  1843,  when  it 
decreased. 

ORGAXIZATIOX. 

In  early  times,  Hartland,  Fitchville  and  Greenwich, 
were  grouped  together,  or  attached  for  civil  and  judi- 
cial purposes.  Hartland  was  detached  about  1820, 
and  connected  with  Olarksfteld.  Fitchville  was  de- 
tached, iu  1828,  from  Greenwich  and  organized  as  a 
separate  township.  The  records  being  lost,  it  is 
impossible  to  give  a  complete  list  of  the  officers 
elected.  Rundel  Palmer  was  tlie  first  justice  uf  the 
peace,  and  Samuel  Palmer,  clerk. 

Those  holding  township  offices  in  1879  are:  E. 
Palmer,  clerk;  C.  C.  Green,  treasurer;  B.  Filkins, 
assessor;  J.  L.  Laughlin,  James  Barnes,  J.  E.  Chan- 
dler, trustees;  C.  C.  Green,  J.  F.  Townseiid,  justices 
of  the  peace;  John  Abbott,  S.  M.  Knowlton,  con- 
stables. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was 
Varney  P.,  son  of  Peter  and  Alice  Mead. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Deborah,  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Mead.  She  died  July  23,  1823.  Another  of 
this  family,  Mary  Mead,  died  in  November  of  the 
same  year,  aged  seventeen. 

Robert  Golden  and  Rosannah  Washburn,  a  sister 
of  Joseph  Washburn,  were  the  first  couple  married. 

The  Meads  built  the  first  log  house,  and  Ludovicus 
Robbins  the  first  framed  dwelling.  The  latter  was 
about  the  year  1827,  upon  lot  seventeen,  section  three. 

The  first  orchard  was  planted  upon  the  farm  where 
Samuel  Palmer  now  lives,  by  his  brother  Alvah,  the 
trees  being  grown  from  seed. 

MIRDER  OR  SUICIDE. 

Along  in  the  years  1829  or  1830  it  became  notorious 
through  the  settlement  that  there  was  quite  an  inti- 
macy existing  between  one  Towne,  who  lived  just 
over  the  line  in  New  London,  and  the  wife  of  a  man 
Ijy  the  name  of  Morris,  who  liad  settled  about  two 
and  a  quarter  miles  east  of  the  river,  on  the  center 
road.  It  was  not  generally  believed,  tliough,  that 
there  was  anything  criminal  in  their  relations.  One 
morning  a  startling  discovery  was  made.  A  young 
girl,  who  had  gone  out  to  drive  some  cows  through 


the  woods,  passing  near  Morris'  house,  saw  through 
the  window  the  body  of  a  man  suspended  from  the 
ceiling.  She  fled,  in  teiTor,  and  gave  the  alarm.  The 
nearest  neighbors  went  to  the  house,  and  found  Mor- 
ris a  ghastly  corpse.  Tlie  body  was  cold:  life  wa.s 
gone.  The  skeiu  of  yarn  with  which  he  had  l)een 
hung  was  cut,  the  body  taken  down,  Jlrs.  Morris  was 
found  (at  Towne's  house),  and  preparations  were 
made  for  the  funeral,  tlie  neighbors  mourning  that 
their  friend  had  committed  the  terrible  act  of  self- 
destruction.  Sometime  after  the  burial,  the  notion 
was  developed  that  possibly  Morris  was  not  a  suicide, 
but  the  victim  of  a  murder.  The  remains  were  taken 
from  the  grave,  an  examination  made,  and  the  phy- 
sicians gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  death  had  ensued 
from  suffocation,  and  not  from  strangulation.  The 
theory  was  that  Towne,  who  was  a  large  and  vei-y 
powerful  man,  had  gone  to  the  house,  overpowered 
Morris,  or  perhaps  found  him  asleep,  smothered  him 
with  the  bed  clothing,  and  then  suspended  the  body 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  de- 
ceased had  committed  suicide.  Towne  was  arrested, 
tried  and  convicted:  got  a  new  trial  and  escaped  upon 
some  legal  technicality.  Upon  regaining  his  freedom 
he  left  the  country  and  has  never  since  been  seen  or 
heard  of.  Mrs.  Morris  also  disappeared.  This  affair 
created  intense  excitement  in  Fitchville,  and  in  the 
neighboring  townships,  and  it  was  long  before  it 
ceased  to  be  a  topic  of  common  conversation  and  spec- 
ulation. There  were  very  few,  however,  who  did  not 
feel  sure  that  Morris  was  murdered. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  people  of  Fitchville  sought  early  to  establish 
in  their  midst  the  institutions  of  religion  and  educa- 
tion to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  in  their 
eastern  homes.  There  is,  peAaps,  not  another  exam- 
ple in  the  county  of  such  an  early  establishment  of  a 
church  after  settlement.  The  pioneers  entered  the 
wilderness  in  1817,  and  in  the  summer  of  1819  the 
first  church  was  organized — 

THE    COXCiREUATIOXAL. 

The  prime  movers  were  two  missionaries,  Rev. 
John  Seward  and  Rev.  Joseph  Treat,  sent  out  by  the 
Connecticut  missionary  society.  When  the  church 
was  formed  it  had  seven  memliers:  Rundel  Palmer, 
Robert  Palmer,  Delia  Palmer,  Mary  Mead,  Clarinda 
Palmer,  Tamia  Palmer  and  Deborah  Mead.  A  revival 
occurred  in  1821,  and  many,  who  at  that  time  expe- 
rienced religion,  became  connected  with  the  church. 
Rev.  Alviu  Coe,  the  celebrated  Indian  missionary,  {of 
whom  much  is  said  in  the  liistory  of  Greenfield  town- 
ship) was  the  first  pastor.  Those  who  occupied  tlie 
position  after  him  were:  A.  H.  Betts,  L.  B.  Sullivan, 
James  Mcilaster,  Ludovicus  Robbins,  John  Beach, 
Samuel  Dunton.  Wm.  Taylor,  W.  W.  St.  John.  U.  T. 
Chamberlain,  Dr.  Marcus  Palmer,  Henry  Cobb, 
J.  Saxby,  Wm.  Westorvelt,  M.  Waldo,  J."m.  Van 
Waggoner,    Wm.    Bridgeman,  Messrs.    Findley  and 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


333 


Wright,  Wm.  Johnson,  0.  Burgess,  J.  C.  Thompson 
and  Wm.  Westervelt  (a  second  engagement).  Ruudel 
Palmer  was,  for  many  years,  one  of  the  strong  pillars 
of  the  church,  and  frec^uently  served  in  the  capacity 
of  minister.  Meetings  were  held  until  about  1830  in 
private  houses,  but  in  that  year  a  small  church  was 
erected,  north  of  the  present  village.  About  18-13 
or  1843,  a  small  house  of  worship  was  built  in  the 
village,  which  obtained  the  name  of  "'Grospel  Shanty." 

THE  PRESBVTERIAN 

element  organized  a  church,  which  remained  active 
for  several  years,  but,  finally,  about  18-16,  as  it  became 
weak,  the  church  edifice  which  had  been  built  by  this 
denomination,  was  sold  to  the  Cougregationalists,  by 
whom  it  is  used  at  the  present  time.  The  church  has 
now  a  membership  of  about  seventy  persons.  The 
present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Wells,  and  the  fol- 
lowing are  the  officers:  C.  0.  Crittenden,  James 
Barnes,  Leander  Mead,  deacons;  M.  E.  Mead,  clerk; 
M.  E.  Mead,  treasurer;  James  Barnes,  L.  Hibberd, 
C.  B.  Russell,  trustees. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL. 

A  Methodist  class  was  formed  in  1S22,  by  Dennis 
Goddin,  circuit  preacher,  at  T.  B.  White's  house. 
AVilliam  W.  Watrous,  of  Fitchville,  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  movement  which  resulted  in  this  organi- 
zation, and  Thomas  B.  White  and  wife,  from  Green- 
wich, were  among  its  strongest  supporters.  The 
Ijreachers,  most  prominent  in  the  early  meetings  were 
the  Rev.  James  Mclntyre  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pettit. 
The  denomination  had  at  one  time  over  a  hundred 
members  in  the  township,  in  four  classes.  The 
present  church  edifice,  built  over  thirty-five  years 
ago,  is  a  commodious  structure,  kept  ii.  good  rejjair, 
and  located  upon  the  Norwalk  road,  in  Clinton  village. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  is  Rev.  A.  H.  V.  Boothe, 
and  the  following  are  the  officers:  P.  Hauxhurst,  Her- 
bert Mickey,  stewards;  P.  Hauxhurst,  John  Abbott, 
class  leaders;  Herbert  Mickey,  William  A.  Kiiapp, 
Hauxhui'st,  James  Boothe,  and  John  Abbott,  trus- 
,  tees. 

THE    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

was  received  into  fellowship  by  the  council,  in  1838, 
August  16th.  Following  are  the  first  members:  F. 
P.  Hall,  Henry  Barnhart,  Sally  Barnhart,  Hiram 
Barnum,  Isaac  B.  Barnum,  Betsey  Barnum,  Wil- 
liam Joliuson,  Melinda  Johnson,  Abigail  Barber, 
Betsey  Royce,  Joel  Blakeman,  Lydia  Watkins.  The 
first  person  baptized  was  Huldah  Foote.  Elder  F.  P. 
Hall  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  and  Hiram 
Barnum  the  first  deacon.  The  church  edifice  was 
built  in  18-43,  or  the  following  year,  and  is  still  in  use. 
Elder  Hall,  the  first  pastor,  is  at  present  again  in 
charge  of  the  church.  The  officers  are:  R.  W.  Beck- 
with,  deacon;  R.  Laughlin,  clerk;  Mrs.  L.  R.  Beck- 
with,  treasurer;  R.  W.  Beckwith.  Robert  Anderson, 
Ealph  C.  Johnson,  trustees. 


All  of  these  three  churches  are  located  in  the  village 
of  Clinton.  There  is  another  in  the  township — the 
North  Congregational, — situated  upon  lot  thirty- 
seven,  section  two,  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
township,  in  which  vicinity  most  of  its  members 
reside.  It  was  organized  in  1852,  as  an  evangelical 
church,  with  eleven  members,  but  was  made  a  Con- 
gregational church  some  years  later.  Elder  Dimm, 
of  New  Haven,  was  the  first  pastor.  The  church 
building  was  erected  in  1856,  at  a  cost  of  about  nine 
hundred  dollars.  The  church  had  once  as  many  as 
sixty  members,  but  now  has  not  more  than  a  third  of 
that  number.  The  pulpit  is  at  present  supplied  by 
Rev.  G.  W.  Wells,  of  the  Fitchville  Congregational 
church.  The  deacons  are:  William  Lee  and  William 
Chase. 

Beside  the  Presbyterian  organization,  alluded  to 
above,  the  only  church  that  has  l)eeii  formed  in 
Fitchville,  and  which  is  not  now  in  existence,  was 
the  Free  Will  Baptist. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  the  township  was  held 
by  Allen  Johnson,  at  his  house,  in  1825,  the  pupils 
being  Edward  and  Benjamin  Green,  Barnard  Johnson, 
Louisa  Johnson  and  Sarah  Palmer.  Mr.  Johnson's 
assistants  were  Ebeuezer  Osborne  and  Zetta  Green. 

EARLY    SCHOOL. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  in  a 
little  log  building,  a  short  distance  south  of  the 
center.  Tli£  building  served  the  double  purpose  of 
school  house  and  place  of  worshii)  for  many  years. 
Samuel  Palmer  taught  the  first  school  here  in  the  year 
1824,  his  pupils  being  from  the  families  of  Rundel 
and  Abijah  Palmer,  Charles  Lj'ou,  Abraham  Mead, 
Gilbert  Martin  and  Joseph  Washburne. 

The  township  has  at  present  the  usual  district 
schools,  and  there  is  at  Clinton  a  union  sdhool. 


The  first  physician  who  settled  in  the  township, 
was  Dr.  William  M.  Ladd  who  arrived  in  the  spring 
of  1822,  and  made  his  home  at  the  cabin  of  Abraham 
Mead.  He  soon  achieved  quite  a  reputation  for  ability 
in  his  profession,  and  had  a  ride  which  extended  over 
half  a  dozen  or  more  townships.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  constitution  and  well  qualified  mentally  as  well 
as  physically  to  lead  the  life  of  a  pioneer  man  of 
medicine.  He  passed  through  many  hardships,  sel- 
dom slept  undisturbed  through  a  whole  night,  made 
long  rides  in  all  kinds  of  weather  and  overall  kinds  of 
roads  or  trails.  When  the  Cleveland  and  Columbus 
Railroad  was  comi)leted,  he  removed  to  New  London 
where  he  died  in  1853. 

Dr.  S.  W.  Baker  came  to  Fitchville  before  Dr. 
Ladd's  departure,  and  went  into  partnership  with  him. 
Dr.  Timothy  Gibson  who  began  pi-actice  about  1840, 
remained  until  1856,  and  was  very  successful.  He 
removed  to  Norwalk.  Dr.  D.  D.  Vanrecton  who 
came  later,  had  also  an  extensive  practice.  He  was 
followed    by  Doctors  Charles  Chamberlain,   Kester, 


334 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


now  of  New  London;  Gregg,  G.  W.  Nobles  and 
others  who  remained  for  short  periods.  Tlie  last 
named  was  a  partner  for  a  time  of  Dr.  M.  E.  Laugh- 
len,  the  present  senior  physician  of  Fitchville.  Dr. 
Laughlen  came  into  the  township  when  a  bo}^  with 
his  parents;  attended  the  Cleveland  and  Cincinnati 
colleges,  and  began  practice  here  in  1850.  In  part- 
nership with  Dr.  Gibson,  Dr.  Nobles  and  others,  and 
alone  he  has  had  an  experience  of  nearly  thirty  years 
of  professional  duty.  He  belongs  to  the  Electie 
school.  Dr.  J.  F.  Wickham,  of  the  same  school, 
came  to  the  township  in  18T8. 

CLIXTOX  IXCORPORATION. 

Clinton  village  was  laid  out  in  183-2,  upon  the  land 
of  Abraham  Mead,  Joseph  Washburne,  Eundel 
Palmer,  Dr.  Ladd  and  Nathan  Palmer,  and  a  few 
j-ears  later — the  time  can  not  be  definitely  stated -be- 
cause of  the  loss  of  the  records — the  village  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature,  and  officers  reg- 
ularly elected.  The  first  mayor  was  Eundel  Palmer. 
Owing  to  the  lack  of  interest  and  to  the  deterioration 
of  the  village,  the  corporation  government  was  allowed 
to  lapse  once  or  twice,  but  has  beea  most  of  the  time  in 
effect,  and  is  at  present.  The  otficers  elected  in  1878 
were:  Philo  Pierce,  mayor;  H.  S.  Green,  treasurer; 
W.  A.  Smith,  recorder;  S.  W.  Curtiss,  John  Hickok, 
H.  Palmer,  C.  B.  Lamplin,  M.  E.  Lamplin,  Frank 
Jones,  council:  Sherman  Knowlton,  marshal. 


The  first  tavern  built  in  the  township,  Avas  the 
Clinton  House,  whicli  was  named  after  the  incorpo- 
rated village  of  Clinton.  It  was  built  in  1833,  by 
Hiram  A.  Curtiss.  It  was  a  frame  building,  of  fair 
size,  two  stories  in  height.  This  was,  for  a  number 
of  years,  the  only  place  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
wayfarer  and  the  stranger,  and  was  well  patronized. 
After  Curtiss,  Hiram  Odell  was.  for  a  time,  the  laud- 
lord  of  this  house,  and  he  gave  place  to  Union  Wliite 
and  his  brother  Daniel. 

A  few  years  after  the  building  of  the  Clinton  House, 
probably  in  1837  or  '38,  Union  and  Daniel  "White, 
erected  the  large  hotel  since  known  as  the  Mansion 
House. 

The  Fountain  House  was  built  by  Euudel  Palmer 
for  a  dwelling  house,  but  was  converted  into  a  hotel 
and  conducted  as  such  by  his  sons  Isaac  and  Nathan 
for  five  years. 

J.  C.  Curtis  l)uilt  the  next  liotel,  the  present  resi- 
dence of  his  son,  S.  W.  Curtis,  and  was  its  proprietor 
for  a  number  of  years.  Tliis  house  was  known  as 
Washington  Hall. 

All  of  these  buildings  are  still  standing,  but  not 
one  of  them  is  in  use  as  a  hotel.  During  tlie  best 
days  of  the  village  three  of  them  were  open  for  the 
convenience  of  travelers. 

There  is  at  present  a  comfortable  and  clieery,  but 
unpretentious,  hotel   in    Fitchville,  which    bears    tlie 


old  name  Washington  Hall,  and  of  which  R.  Mitchell 
is  "mine  host."  Mr.  Mitchell,  an  old  gentleman, 
who  well  knows  what  a  traveler  likes,  from  many  years 
of  journeying  upon  the  road,  and  also  from  extensive 
experience  as  landlord,  came  to  Fitchville  in  1850; 
was  host  at  the  Mansion  and  the  Fountain  Hotels  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  since  1860  has  been  cheering 
the  coming  and  speeding  the  parting  guest  at  his 
present  stand. 

BUSIXESS    HOUSES,     £.\RLY    AXD     LATE. 

In  the  fall  of  1830,  Union  White  came  into  the 
township,  erected  a  small  building,  and  opened  a 
store,  which  was  the  first  in  the  township.  His  stock 
was  from  the  store  of  Buckingham  &  Sturgis  of  Nor- 
walk,  who  had  an  interest  in  the  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1832,  their  interest  was  purchased  by  J.  C. 
Curtiss,  and  the  firm  name  became  White  &  Curtiss. 
The  first  purchase  of  goods  by  this  firm  was  in  New 
York,  and  they  were  transported  by  the  Hudson  river. 
New  York  and  Erie  canal,  and  Lake  Erie,  to  Huron, 
from  which  point  they  were  hauled  in  wagons  to 
Fitchville,  at  an  expense  of  from  three  to  four  or  five 
shillings  per  hundred  weight.  From  New  York  City 
to  Huron  the  transportation  cost  from  one  dollar  and 
fifty  cents  to  two  dollars  per  hundred.  The  goods 
bought  were  of  the  kinds  for  which  it  was  known 
there  would  be  a  ready  market,  such  as  staple  groce- 
ries, and  the  commonest  kinds  of  calico,  sheeting,  etc. 
Brown  sheeting  was  sold  at  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  cents  per  yard;  calico  from  two  to  four  shillings, 
and  satinet  from  six  to  four  shillings.  Iron  was  eight 
cents  per  pound;  nails  from  nine  to  twelve  cents;  tea 
from  ten  to  fourteen  shillings;  pepper,  four  shillings; 
coffee,  two;  loaf  sugar  from  two  to  two  and  sixpence, 
and  whisky  from  four  to  five  shillings  per  gallon. 
There  being  but  little  money  in  circulation  these  ar- 
ticles were  very  generally  paid  for  in  deer,  coon  and 
muskrat  skins  and  black  salts,  which  were  made  from 
ashes  by  almost  every  family.  Messrs.  White  &  Curtiss 
bought  these  salts  in  large  quantities,  and  manufac- 
tured them  into  pearlash,  which  they  sent  to  the  east- 
ern market.  In  1835  the  firm  dissolved  partnership, 
and  each  member  built  a  good  commodious  store,  and 
began  business  alone.  They  both  continued  in  busi- 
ness for  many  years,  from  time  to  time  enlarging 
their  stocks  as  patronage  increased.  Both  were  ener- 
getic, go-a-head  men,  and  they  made  Fitchville  the 
principal  trading  point  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  county.  Since  the  establishment  of  these  stores, 
both  during  their  continuance  and  after  their  propri- 
etors had  gone  out  of  business,  many  men  have  been 
engaged  in  mercantile  enterprises  in  Fitchville,  and  in 
tlie  most  prospsrous  days  of  the  village  there  were  as 
many  as  five  dry  goods  and  grocery  stores,  all  doing  a 
good,  paying  business.  Among  those  who  have  been 
longest  and  most  prominently  identified  with  the 
business  of  the  place  were;  Hall  &  Roberts,  B.  S. 
Mitchell,  R.  Fox,  D.  White,  Reynolds  &  Beckwith, 
and  E.  E.  Lyon. 


|V1RS. PHILIP  ^AWXHURST. 


PHILIP  HAWX HURST. 


Residence  OF    PHILIP    HAWXHURST,  nrcHViLLE.Hi-iRON  CoO. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


335 


There  are  at  present  three  good  stores — those  of  C. 
C.  Green  &  Son,  S.  W.  Cnrtiss  &  Son,  and  L.  Lyons. 

GRIST  AND  SAW.  MILLS. 

The  first  mill,  of  which  any.  information  is  given, 
was  a  verj'  primitive  one,  which  was  in  existence  in 
18-25,  and  was  the  property  of  J.  N.  Pickard.  It  was 
a  simple  but  ingeniously  constructed  substitute  for 
the  grinding  apparatus  in  common  use  at  that  time 
in  older  settlements.  Instead  of  the  nether  mill  stone 
of  proverbial  hardness,  there  was  a  large  and  solid 
oak  stump,  so  hollowed  out  on  toj)  as  to  contain  a  half 
bushel  or  more  of  corn.  Suspended  over  this  from  a 
spring  pole  there  was  a  heavy  wooden  pestle  with 
which  the  miller,  by  main  strength,  crushed  the  corn 
tiiat  his  few  neighbors  brought  him  to  be  converted 
into  coarse  meal.  Whenever  one  of  the  old  settlers 
became  too  fastidious  to  live  upon  cracked  corn,  he 
had  to  go  a  considerable  distance  to  obtain  finer  meal 
or  flour.  They  often  went  to  the  Cold  Creek  mill, 
and  others  at  an  equally  great  distance. 

In  1838,  however,  the  people  were  supplied  with 
good  flour  and  other  mill  products  at  home.  During 
that  year  a  large  mill  was  built  upon  the  Vermillion 
liver  near  the  center  by  Stephen  Pomeroy  and  Reuben 
Fox,  at  an  expense  of  nearly  ten  thousand  dollars, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  these  men  made  flour  for 
the  eastern  market  as  well  as  for  home  consumption, 
and  had  the  reputation  of  manufacturing  an  excellent 
article.  They  did  a  large  business,  but  their  enter- 
prise was  not  a  very  profitable  one,  because  of  the 
constant  outlay  necessai-y  to  repair  and  keep  in  good 
condition  the  dam  and  race,  which  were  frequently 
injured  by  floods.  This  mill  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Belden  Scott,  then  became  the  property  of  Ira  Scott, 
after  that  of  Strong  &  G-raves,  and  was  bought  from 
them  by  H.  F.  Palmer,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Mr. 
Stevens.  The  present  proprietor  is  H.  F.  Crow, 
who  rents  the  mill  to  Ford  &  Summerton,  who 
operate  it. 

A  saw  mill  was  built  as  early  as  1830  by  the  Palm- 
ers— William.  Rundel  and  Samuel — near  the  center, 
and  a  few  years  later  Seeley,  Lyon  and  Amos  built 
one  upon  the  river  about  two  miles  north  of  the  cen- 
ter. Large  quantities  of  lumber  were  turned  out  by 
these  two  mills  for  from  five  to  seven  dollars  per 
thousand  feet.  Both  of  these  mills  were  abandoned 
many  years  ago.  The  only  saw  mill  in  the  township 
at  present  is  one  a  few  rods  south  of  the  center  of 
Clinton  village,  which  was  built  in  1856  by  R.  S. 
Miles,  its  present  owner.  It  was  operated  successive- 
ly by  Schuyler  Marshall,  D.  D.  Wood  and  D.  Palmer. 
The  power  is  steam. 

PRESEXT  MAXL'FACTIRIXG. 

Besides  the  flouring  and  saw  mills  al)ove  spoken  of, 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  Fitchville  ai'e  unim- 
portant. The  people  look  back  with  regret  to  the 
time  when,  besides  the  mills,  there  was  an  establish- 
ment for  carding  wool  and  dressing  cloth,  an  exten- 


sive tannery,  and  some  other  industrial  concerns. 
The  town  now  has  a  cabinet  making  shoj),  run  by 
John  Abbott,  a  wagon  shop,  by  Henry  Freeman,  the 
ashery,  built  by  J.  C.  Curtiss  and  now  owned  by 
Daniel  Sheldon,  and  a  cheese  factory — last,  but  not 
least.  This  is  the  property  of  E.  L.  Tucker.  The 
building,  which  stands  by  the  side  of  the  flouring 
mill,  was  built  by  him  in  1807.  The  factory  was  in 
operation  two  years,  and  then  work  was  suspended 
for  five  years.  In  1875,  the  manufacture  of  cheese 
and  butter  was  again  commenced,  and  since  then  has 
been  successfully  carried  on.  Four  hundred  and 
fifty  to  five  hundred  cows  are  milked  for  this  factory 
during  each  season,  lasting  from  the  first  of  April  to 
tiie  first  of  December,  and  about  one  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  of  cheese  is  manufactured  each  year. 
Besides  this,  about  twenty  thousand  pounds  of  butter 
is  made  annually.  The  products  of  the  factory  are 
principally  sold  in  Cincinnati. 

CEMETERIES. 

The  principal  cemetery  of  Fitchville,  whicii  occu- 
pies the  summit  and  slope  of  a  gently  rising  hill,  upon 
the  Norwalk  road,  in  the  north  part  of  Clinton 
incorporation,  was  laid  out  about  1826,  or  tiie  follow- 
ing year.  Alvali  Palmer,  who  died  in  1827,  was  the 
first  person  buried  there,  and  Louisa  Green  the  second. 
The  land  was  owned  by  Abraham  Mead,  and  was 
bought  by  the  township.  This  burial  place,  where 
rest  many  of  those  pioneers  and  early  settlers  of 
Fitchville  who  have  passed  over  to  the  "silent  ma- 
jority," includes  about  three  acres  of  land.  Another 
cemetery,  first  used  as  a  private  burial  place,  is 
upon  the  McKillip  farm — lot  thirty-seven,  section 
three.  It  was  deeded  to  the  township  by  Austin 
Ward.  One  of  the  earliest  burials  was  in  lot  nine, 
section  two,  where  there  is  now  a  small  burying 
ground.  Dr.  Pickard's  remains  were  interred  there 
about  the  year  1825. 

Before  the  present  cemetery  upon  the  Norwalk  road 
was  set  apart  for  use,  a  number  of  burials  were  made  in 
a  little  inclosureat  the  junction  of  the  Norwalk  road 
with  the  north  and  south  road,  in  what  afterwards 
became  Clinton.  When  the  village  had  commenced 
to  grow,  the  remains  interred  here  were  removed  to 
the  larger  cemeteiy  then  established. 

POSTAL  MATTERS. 

Before  the  people  of  Fitchville  had  a  post  office  of 
their  own,  they  were  obliged  to  go  to  Xorwalk  for 
their  mail  matter.  About  the  year  1828  the  first  post 
office  was  established  in  the  townsliip,  and  Rundel 
Palmer  commissioned  as  postmaster.  He  kept  the 
office  in  his. dwelling  house.  The  present  postmaster 
is  S.  W.  Curtiss.  A  post  office  was  established  at  the 
north  settlement,  upon  the  Norwalk  road,  about  the 
year  1837,  and  maintained  for  a  few  years.  Henry 
ilorgan  was  postmaster.  The  first  mail  that  was 
carried  thmugli  Fitchville  was  from  some  point  east 
to  Tiffin. 


336 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ROADS — STAGE    LINE. 

A  number  of  the  first  settl.ers  made  their  homes 
upou  the  line  of  the  north  and  south  center  road,  and 
this  was  the  first  route  of  ti-avel  upon  which  any  la- 
bor was  Ijestowed  in  the  township.  The  next  was 
the  road  running  east  and  west  through  the  center. 
The  road  from  Wooster  to  Norwalk  was  laid  out  in 
1826,  but  there  was  scarcely  any  improvement  made 
upon  it  until  1832,  and  it  was  by  no  means  easy  of 
travel.  The  route  most  traveled  by  the  early  resi- 
dents of  Fitchville,  when  they  wished  to  go  to  Nor- 
walk or  beyond,  was  a  trail  which  led  from  Abijah 
Palmer's,  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  to  a  point 
about  a  mile  west  of  Olena,  and  thence  westerly  to 
the  old  State  road,  which  passes  through  the  center 
of  Fairfield  and  Bronson  townshijis.  When  the  Nor- 
walk and  Wooster  road  was  improved,  it  was  done  by 
the  labor  of  persons  who  made  the  lowest  bids  for  the 
jobs,  and  they  were  paid  from  a  fund  made  iTp  by  a 
large  number  of  personal  subscriptions.  About  six 
hundred  dollars  were  raised,  and  nearly  the  whole  of 
that  amount  was  expended  upon  that  part  of  the 
hig+iway  lying  between  Norwalk  and  Fitchville. 
Samuel  Palmer  cut  the  timber  upon  about  three  miles 
of  this  road.  The  road  became  the  principal  thor- 
oughfare for  the  people  of  Richland,  Holmes,  and 
portions  of  Wayne  and  Knox  counties  to  carry  their 
produce  over  to  Huron  and  other  points,  where  there 
was  a  market  for  it. 

The  enterprise  of  running  a  line  of  stages  through 
from  Wooster  to  Norwalk  was  undertaken  at  this 
time  by  Union  White,  J.  C.  Curtiss,  and  an  Ashland 
man.  They  commenced  by  running  a  two-horse 
hack  each  way  twice  a  week,  but  afterwards  a  four- 
horse  stage  coach  was  put  on  the  route  by  a  man 
named  Myers,  to  whom  was  also  given  a  contract  for 
carrying  the  mail.  In  _183'4,  and  for  many  years 
after,  the  people  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  this 
heavy  stage,  often  well  loaded  with  passengers,  dash 
swiftly  or  wallow  slowly,  as  the  case  might  be,  through 
the  settlement. 

FITCHVILLE    (JRASGE,    XO.   550. 

was  organized  February  9,  187-4,  with  thirty-nine 
charter  membei's.  Following  is  a  list  of  the  first 
officers:  Phillip  Hawxhurst,  master;  Preston  Palmer, 
overseer;  U.  B.  Thomas,  lecturer;  Hialmer  Griffin, 
steward;  S.  W.  Curtiss,  assistant  steward;  Charles 
Kimberly,  chaplain;  R.  C.  Johnson,  treasurer;  E.  E. 


Lyon,  secretary;  S.  B.  Palmer,  gate  keeper;  Mrs.  P. 
Hawxhurst,  Ceres;  Mrs.  Charles  Kimberley,  Pomona; 
Mrs.  U.  B.  Thomas,  Flora. 


Biographical  Sketches, 


SAMSON  AND  PHILIP  HAWXHURST. 
were  from  New  York  State,  and  the  son  was  born 
there  in  1829.  Samson  Hawxhurst  came  to  Ohio  in 
1834,  and  purchased  land  upon  which,  a  year  later, 
when  he  removed  his  family,  he  made  his  home.  He 
first  lived  in  a  log  house  which  he  built  himself,  and 
although  he  had  been  a  carpenter  by  trade,  he  easily 
became  accustomed  to  the  life  of  a  pioneer  farmer 
when  he  came  to  Fitchville.  and  ever  since  has  fol- 
lowed that  occupation.  He  is  still  living  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years,  an  honored  denizen  of  Fitch- 
ville township. 

Philip  Hawxhurst  married  in  1854,  the  4th  of 
May,  his  first  wife,  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  Martin  Den- 
man,  and  four  children  were  the  offspring  of  this 
union,  of  whom  only  one  is  living.  Bell  M.,  who  was 
born  blind,  and  now  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  in 
spite  of  her  great  affliction  and  disadvantage,  is  still 
cheerful  and  happy,  and  enjoys  the  benefits  of  a  finely 
cultivated  mind.  The  mother  of  this  child  died 
September  11,  1867,  and  in  1870— June  7th— Mr. 
Hawxhurst  took  as  his  second  wife,  the  widow  of  G. 
Webster,  nee  Mary  Weekes,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Weekes.  Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawxhurst  with 
a  view  of  their  residence  are  to  be  seen  upon  another 
page  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Hawxhurst  is  living  at  present,  in  a  new  house 
upon  the  old  farm  purchased  by  his  father  in  1833, 
and  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  neighborhood, 
taking  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  township 
and  m  church  and  society.  He  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1855,  and  has  since  been  one  of 
its  most  active  as  well  as  consistent  members,  and  has 
for  a  number  of  years  held  the  office  of  steward. 

He  is  a  repulilican  in  politics,  and  during  the  war, 
was  in  the  hiindri'd  days"  service,  serving  as  a 
sergeant. 


GREENWICH. 


PHYSICAL   FEATURES    AND    SOIL. 

Gkeenwigh  township,  known  originallj'  as  town 
number  one,  range  twenty-one,  is  bounded  upon  the 
north  by  Fitchville;  east  by  Ruggles,  Ashhmd 
county;  south  by  Ashland  and  Richland  connties; 
and  west  by  Ripley.  Its  surface  is  low  and  quite 
level  for  the  most  part,  though,  in  some  places,  it  is 
slightly  uneven.  The  principal  streams  are  the  east 
and  west  branches  of  the  Vermillion  river.  The  for- 
mer flows  through  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town- 
siiip;  the  latter,  formed  by  the  union  of  the  two 
streams,  enters  upon  the  south  line,  and  thence  flows 
north  into  RiiJley.  It  again  enters  the  township  near 
the  intersection  of  the  east  and  west  center  and  the 
Ripley  town  line  road,  and  from  thence  flows  north- 
erly and  diagonally  across  the  third  section,  and,  re- 
ceiving the  added  volume  of  water  from  a  number  of 
small  streams  that  drain  a  large  portion  of  the  town- 
ship, becomes,  by  the  time  it  reaches  the  north  line, 
a  water-course  of  considerable  size.  The  soil  is  a  rich 
clay  loam,  very  valuable  to  the  agriculturist.  There 
is  no  waste  land  in  the  township,  as  the  low  places 
are  easily  drained. 

OKIGINAL   OWSERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 


GREENWICH, 

TOWN    NUMBER    ONE,    RANGE   1 

ONE. 

Classification 

No.  1,  Sectio.v  1. 

Oi-iginal  Grantees. 

Ar 

n't  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

-4 

£ 

s 

d. 

£ 

Titus  Mead 

95 

5 

2 

Titus  Mead 

95 

Andrew  Mead 

36 

0 

0 

Andrew  Mead 

36 

Benjamin  Hobby 

34 

13 

5 

.34 

11 

0 

0 

11 

Ebenezer  Hobby 

.39 

11 

Ebenezer  Hobbv 

Bezaleel  Brown 

«7 

15 

^ 

Levi,  Nathaniel  anc 
Bezaleel  Brown 

6? 

Thomas  Hobby 

69 

19 

3 

Jabez  M.  and  Heze- 
kiah  Hobbv 

69 

John  Mead 

m 

9 

9 

Amy,  Molly;  Eliza- 
beth Allen,  Willie 
*  Mehitable  Seth 

Vi& 

Jeremiah  Mead,  Jr 

92 

15 

Jerimiah  Mead,  Jr. 

92 

John  Addington 

10 

0 

John  Addington 

10 

Peter  Mead,  Esq. 

1.38 

19 

9 

Peter  and  Zachariah 

M.  Mead 

138 

Peter  Mead,  Jr. 

41 

4 

10 

Peter  Mead 

41 

Walter  Butler 

0 

0 

3 

Hannah  Havs 

1 

13 

3 

1 

David  HalloL-k 

15 

0 

Abraham  Knapp 

0 

0 

3 

Justus  Sacket 

1« 

5 

Justus  Sacket 

333 

Deliverance  Mead 

39 

0 

3 

Roft,  Eph.,  Jabez 
and  Zenos 

Mathew  Mead 

CI 

13 

8 

Richard  Mead 

61 

Deliverance  and 

Jared  Mead 

■MO 

0 

0 

Jared,  Robert,  Eph. 
Jabez  and  Zenos 

300 

Stephen  Palmer 

0 

1 

Richard  Mead 

Joseph  Hobby,  Jr. 

31 

9 

0 

Ezekiel  Lockwood 

13 

1 

Sam'l  Rundel 

4 

6 

Nath'l  Raynolds 

15 

6 

' 

Silas  Mead 

r.3 

^ 

Silas  Mead,  Jr.,  and 
Abner 

63 

Footing  of  Classification  No 


Classification  ] 


Isaac  Anderson  44 

Mary  Austin  3 

John  Dunn  15 

Uriah  Field  313 

Joshua  Franklin  36 

Joseph  Ferris  7 
Jabez  Holmes 

Reuben  Holmes  33 

Ebenezer  Howe  13 

5Iills  Hobby  6 

Hannah  Lockwood  39 

Martin  McDonald  4 

Hannah  Mead  3 
Charles  .Mead 

Daniel  Ogden  115 

Joseph  Palmer  100 

Sarah  Parsons  5 
Nathl  Raynolds,  Jr.  10 

Oliver  Sherwood  10 

Jesse  Sullen  6 
Jeremiah  and  John  W. 

Palmer  9 

William  Town  3 

Oliver  Tomkins  7 

John  Weeks  9 

John  Clapp,  Jr.  139 

Thomas  Clapp  3.33 

Francis  Nash  648 

Hannan  Ritch  9 

Charles  Knapp  11 
Eliphalet  Mead,  Jr.    95 


\  Classed. 

s.        d. 
10       OJi 


Allen,  William  and 

John  Clapp 
Thomas  Clapp 
D  aniel  Purdy 
John  Mackey,  Jr. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344 
Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Original  Grantees.  A 

£ 

Jonas  .Mead  20 

Sibbel  Mead  86 

Peter  Husted  86 

Ebenezer  Holmes  9 

Elizabeth  Mead  13 

Ebenezer  Howe  13 

Nehemiah  Mead  55 

Thomas  Seym  ur  65 

John  Belts  303 

Johiel  Mead  5 

Eliphalet  Mead  5 
Johiel  and  Eliphalet 

Mead  85 

Benjamin  Mead  111 

Jabez  Sherwood  47 

Gilbert  Lyon  16 

Charles  Brundage  3 
Job  Iceland 

Elizabeihlngersoll  68 
Nathaniel  Ingei  soil   59 

Anna  Ingersoll  14 

StephenTJavis  112 

Hannah  Close  38 

Heth  Peck  9 

James  Lyon  58 

Ezekiel  Lockwood  9 

James  Lyon,  Jr.  7 

Cobb  Lyon,  Jr.  29 

Reuben  Jlerritt  25 
Nathaniel  Mead  .3rd  18 
Hannah  Mead 

Ebenezer  Mead  5 

Eliphalet  Mead  95 


Noah  &  Jonas  Mead  20 


Johiel  Mead,. 
Calvin  Mead 
Johiel  Mead 


Benjamin  Sherwood  -. 
Gilbert  Lyon  1 

Uriah  Field 


t  Classed, 
s.        d. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1.344 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  ' 


Original  Grantees. 
Nehemiah  Mead 


Thomas  studwell 
Abagail  Mead 
Jerusha  Mead 
.\nn.i  Ingersoll 


Classified  by. 
Noah  i  Jonas  Mead 


Noah  *  Jonas  Mead, 

also  I  Bronson 
Noah  &  Jonas  Mead 


338 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


S 

^ 

d. 

£ 

». 

d. 

James  Brown 

15 

^ 

5 

Noah  *  Jonas  Mead 
also  Sam'l  Middle 

brook 

0 

0 

Joseph  Chambers 

9 

0 

0 

Noah  *  Jonas  Mead 

4 

4 

William  Hubbart 

16 

.3 

16 

2 

3 

Abigail  Ruiidel 
Denham  Palmer 

3 

2 

0 

3 

a 

0 

a 

6 

8 

a 

6 

8 

Ebenezer  Whelplej 

S 

8 

8 

Daniel  Darrow 

19 

4 

4 

Eph..Jabez4Zenos 

8 

10 

6 

Joseph  Hobby,  Jr. 

31 

9 

0 

.. 

13 

6 

10 

Ezekiel  Knapp 

S 

10 

17 

9 

Joseph  Lockwood 

ai 

19 

6 

13 

Reuben  Merritt 

•35 

9 

10 

17 

9 

Ebenezer  Mead 

5 

IS 

4 

3 

3 

0 

Kathl  Raynolds 

47 

15 

6 

8 

15 

5 

Joseph  Sackett 

13 

li 

6 

0 

John  Town 

15 

11 

7 

0 

0 

Ezra  Marshall 

56 

1 

9 

56 

1 

9 

Abraham  Mead 

IT 

19 

Rob't.  Eph.,Jabez 

and  Zenos  Mead 

17 

19 

5 

Francis  Wilmot 

6 

0 

0 

6 

0 

Deliverance  Mead 

39 

0 

3 

1 

4 

John  Gregg 

213 

Richard.  Rob't,  Eph 
raim.  Jabez  and 

Zenos  Mead 

213 

8 

Isaac  Holmes,  Jr. 

95 

16 

11 

95 

16 

11 

Amos  Mead.  Dr. 

180 

4 

8 

Richard  5Iead 

LSO 

4 

Daniel  and  Joshua 

Smith 

SIS 

13 

6 

JaredJIeadiNath' 

Hibbert 

218 

la 

6 

Daniel  Smith 

76 

3 

4 

Jared  Mead 

76 

3 

Jared  Mead 

6.8 

0 

68 

0 

Josnua  Smith 

149 

Nath'l  Hibbert 

149 

4 

Nathl  Hibbert 

3 

3 

3 

6 

Jonathan*  Ambrose 

Reynolds 

18 

' 

• 

4 

- 

^ 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1..'J44 


BEFORE    THE    WHITE    MAN. 


Greeuwich  was.  undoubtedly,  at  au  early  day, 
covered  with  a  heavy  forest,  in  which  the  oak  and 
other  hard  timber  trees  predominated,  as  the  remains 
of  fallen  mouarchs  of  the  woods  indicated  to  the  first 
settlers,  though  back  as  far  as  anything;  is  known  of 
the  county,  most  of  the  trees  were  beeches,  maple  and 
other  varieties  of  soft  woods.  Although  the  forest 
abounded  in  game,  the  Indians,  it  is  supposed,  did 
not  come  here  with  the  intention  of  following  the  hunt, 
but  the  locality  was  a  favorite  one  for  maple  sugar 
making,  and  they  frequently  pursued  this  calling,  the 
nearest  approach  to  anything  like  an  active,  industrial 
occupation  that  ever  received  their  attention.  The 
Indians  had  temporary  camping  places  in  various 
parts  of  what  is  now  Greenwich,  where  they  resorted 
in  the  spring  and  remained  until  the  flow  of  sap,  in 
the  sugar  maples,  had  ceased.  They  made  troughs 
to  receive  the  sap  from  the  bark  of  beech  trees,  and 
evaporated  it  in  small  kettles,  most  of  the  labor  be- 
ing performed  by  the  squaws.  Farther  east,  in  the 
Black .  river  vicinity,  were  the  favorite  hunting 
grounds  of  the  red-men  who  belonged  to  the  great 
tribe,  a  portion  of  Avhich  made  its  headquarters 
around  Upper  Sandusky.  They  journeyed  every  year 
to  these  hunting  grounds,  and  the  paths  they  trod 
were  still  visible,  only  a  few  years  since,  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  township.  As  they  always  fol- 
lowed the  same  trail,  and  invariably  passed  in  single 
file,  a  depression  of  the  earth  was  caused,  which  was 
very  easily  noticeable.  Strange  is  it  that  we  look  at 
the  time  when  the  first  settlers  came  into  the  forest 
as  so  long  ago,  and  here  we  have — or  had  until  very 
recently — the  foot  path  of  a  race  of  beings  who  have 
been  literally  crowded  from  their  old  haunts  into  a 
wilder  west,  and  who  liave  well  nigh  passed  out  of 
existence  as  a  people. 


The  Indians  wiio  had  enjoyed  the  wildness  and  the 
loneliness  of  the  great  stretch  of  country  where  they 
had  freedom  to  go  and  come  as  they  pleased,  to  hunt 
and  fish,  where  they  could  roam  unseen  by  the  white 
man.  and  without  fear  that  their  forest  was  to  be  in- 
vaded by  him — holding  sole  possession  of  the  forest, — 
led  in  their  way  a  happy,  healthful  existence.  And 
who  can  say  that  when  the  time  came,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  working  of  a  great  destiny,  which  has 
carried  civilization  from  ocean  to  ocean,  they  did  not 
feel  a  more  intense  pain  in  abandoning  their  domain, 
the  scenes  with  which  they  were  familiar,  than  their 
stoicism  allowed  them  to  show,  or  than  they  have 
generally  been  accredited  with  by  the  people  who 
have  seen  so  much  and  know  so  little  of  them.  They 
yielded,  however,  without  bad  feeling,  and  abided 
strictly  by  the  treaty.  The  pioneers  of  the  white  race 
had  many  things  to  fear,  many  things  to  contend 
with,  but  the  enmity  of  the  Indian  was  not  one  of 
thein.  They  committed  no  depredations,  and  though 
they  were  often  among  the  settlers  during  the  first 
few  years  of  their  residence  in  the  new  country,  not  a 
single  instance  is  narrated  of  any  unpleasant  feeling 
between  the  races,  or  of  any  evil  deeds  being  commit- 
ted l)y  the  red  men. 

BEARS.    W0LVE6,    AND    DEER. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  game  of  all 
kinds  was  abundant.  Deer  were  so  numerous  that 
they  were  frequently  seen  in  droves  of  from  a  score 
to  fifty.  A  good  hunter  like  David  W.  Briggs  would 
kill  as  many  as  eight  or  ten  a  day  when  lucky,  and  in 
the  season  would  bring  down  three  or  four  hundred. 
Briggs  kept  the  settlers  pretty  well  supplied  with 
venison,  and  it  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  him 
to  have  half  a  dozen  or  more  frozen  carcasses  hanging 
outside  of  his  house  at  once.  He  was  hired  by  Mr. 
Beach,  a  pioneer  of  Ruggles,  one  time  to  do  a  day's 
shooting,  Beach  having  a  number  of  men  at  work  for 
him  and  nothing  in  the  house  for  them  to  eat.  Briggs 
was  to  report  for  duty  at  Beach's  house  before  break- 
fast, and  to  have  two  dollars  for  his  day's  hunting. 
He  arrived  there  as  he  had  agreed  to,  and  told  his 
employer  that  he  had  killed  two  deer  on  the  way  over, 
giving  directions  for  finding  the  carcasses  in  the 
woods.  Beach  told  him  he  might  call  it  a  day's  work 
and  quit,  which  he  did,  thus  earning  two  dollars  be- 
fore breakfast,  by  doing  what  any  sportsman  would 
travel  a  hundred  miles  to  do  now-a-days. 

As  late  as  1853,  when  John  M.  Carl  came  into  the 
township,  deer  were  so  numerous  that  he  was  able,  on 
some  occasions,  to  kill  two,  or  even  three,  in  a  day. 
Briggs  at  this  time  had  given  up  hunting  because,  as 
he  said,  "game  had  grown  so  scarce."  Beside  deer, 
there  were  all  the  varieties  of  small  game  common  to 
a  new  country.  Wolves  were  a  great  source  of  an- 
noyance. They  committed  numerous  depredations, 
some  of  them  quite  boldly.  The  first  was  at  John 
Banks'.  He  was  keeping  bachelor's  hall  in  a  small 
log  cabin,  and  a  pack  of  wolves  killed  a  cow  and  a 


H.G.Washburn. 


|^RS.f^  G.WASHBUf?N. 


Residence  of  HENRY  G.Wy 


WALTER  WASHBUf^N 


Greenwich ,f^u RON  Co.,0. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


339 


calf,  only  ii  few  rods  away.  Banks  heard  them,  but 
being  a  rather  timid  man,  allowed  them  to  continue 
their  wicked  work  undisturbed.  In  the  morning  it 
was  found  that  they  had  eaten  the  larger  part  of  both 
animals.  The  wolves  attacked  sheep  more  often  than 
any  other  kind  of  stock,  though  there  were  many  in- 
stances of  their  killing  small  pigs,  or  shoats,  and 
calves.  "Dead  fall"'  and  steel  traps  were  set  for 
them  and  quite  a  number  were  caught.  It  is  said, 
and  generally  believed,  that  one  wolf,  called  "Old 
Grum,"  from  the  peculiar  deep,  heavy  tone  of  his  howl- 
ing, which  the  early  settlers  could  always  recognize, 
led  most  of  the  fatal  forays  against  the  sheep  flocks. 
Andrew  Brewbaker,  a  famous  hunter  of  New  Haven, 
killed  a  very  old  wolf  once  in  Ripley  township  which 
he  said  was  •'  Old  Grum."  It  was  a  notable  fact  that 
after  the  demise  of  that  wolf  the  depredations  upon 
the  farmers' flocks  ceased  altogether.  Bears  were  not 
numerous;  only  once  in  awhile  was  one  killed.  Briggs 
probably  brought  down  the  first  that  ever  fell  before 
a  hunter's  rifle  in  the  township.  He  was  on  his  way 
to  Henry  Carpenter's  house,  and  had  arrived  at  a 
junction  in  the  trails  where  he  exijected  to  meet  Ben- 
jamin Kniffin.  Not  seeing  him  as  he  had  anticipated 
he  sat  down  upon  a  log  and  began  eating  hickory  nuts, 
with  which  the  ground  was  covered.  Presently  he 
saw  a  good-sized  bear  eating  hickory  nuts,  too,  and 
leveling  his  gun,  cracked  bruin's  skull  with  a  well 
directed  ball.  A  very  large  bear  was  killed  by  Henry 
VVashburne.  He  was  in  the  woods  one  day",  not  very 
far  from  his  house,  when  his  attention  was  averted  by 
the  noise  made  by  an  old  sow  and  her  litter  of  pigs. 
Presently  he  saw  the  sow  coming  through  the  weeds 
and  low  brush,  evidently  very  much  scared.  In  close 
pursuit  was  the  cause  of  her  terror,  a  huge  bear,  which 
when  he  caught  sight  of  Washburne  stood,  for  a  mo- 
ment, erect  upon  its  hind  feet  perfectly  still.  Wash- 
burn raised  his  gun  and  fired,  the  shot  taking  effect 
in  the  bear's  throat,  and  causing  a  wound  from  which 
the  blood  spurted  twenty  feet  high,  sprinkling  the 
green  leaves  overhead  with  crimson.  Some  hunting 
dogs  that  had  been  on  the  animal's  trail  came  up  and 
made  a  ferocious  attack  upon  the  bear,  but  wounded 
as  he  was  the  huge  brute  dealt  terrific  blows  with  his 
paws,  and  nearly  killed  one  of  them  before  his  own 
life  blood  had  flown. 

A  curious  instance  of  a  bear's  ability  to  carry  off  a 
heavy  load  is  cited  by  John  B.  Barker,  who,  though 
not  an  eye  witness,  had  credible  information  of  the 
occurrence.  Varney  Pearce,  one  day,  hearing  a  pig 
S([ueal,  and  suspecting  mischief,  ran  and  alarmed 
Ephraim  Barker,  the  pig's  owner,  and  David  \V. 
Briggs.  They  set  out  for  the  place  where  the  hogs 
were  accustomed  to  lie  in  the  woods,  and,  sure  enough, 
one  was  missing.  They  followed  in  the  direction 
from  whence  the  squealing  came,  and  soon  came  in 
sight  of  the  cause.  A  huge  bear  had  one  of  the 
shotes,  weighing  seventy  or  eighty  pounds,  in  his 
arms,  and  was  walking  away  with  his  live  capture  just 
as  a  man  would.     At  times  Bruin  needed  rest.     Then 


he  would  lay  the  pig  upon  the  ground  and  hold  it 
securely  with  his  fore  paws,  for  a  few  seconds.  When 
ready  to  move  again,  he  would  hug  the  porker  to  his 
brdast,  and  trudge  on.  The  men  watched  these 
maneuvers  for  some  time,  followed  the  bear  for  half 
a  mile,  and  then  Briggs,  securing  a  good  chance,  shot 
him.  The  pig  was  alive,  but  so  injured  by  its  captor's 
claws  that  Mr.  Barker  was  obliged  to  kill  it. 

SEVERITY    OF    LIFE. 

The  trials  of  those  men  and  women  who  turned 
their  backs  upon  the  places -of  their  nativity,  and 
sought  to  hew  them  out  homes  in  the  wilderness, 
cannot  be  fully  appreciated  at  the  present  day.  Many 
of  them  had  but  little  to  begin  with.  Those  who  had 
much  were  scarcely  better  off,  for  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  life  were  not  procurable.  The  early 
settlers,  of  whom  we  shall  treat  presently,  after  suc- 
ceeding, through  almost  infinite  'rouble,  in  clearing, 
a  ffew  acres  of  ground  and  raising  a  small  crop  of 
wheat  or  other  grain,  were  far  from  being  in  a  condi- 
tion to  defy  want.  They  had  still  to  procure  articles 
which  were  equally  necessary.  If  the  weather  had 
been  dry  for  some  time,  they  were  obliged  to  go  to 
Cold  creek  to  have  their  grain  ground,  and  the  trip 
there  and  back,  about  seventy-five  miles,  occupied 
eight  or  ten  days.  Two  yoke  of  oxen  were  required. 
The  price  of  carrying  a  bushel  of  wheat  was  fifty 
cents.  Money,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  in 
sums  sufficient  to  pay  taxes,  or  buy  those  few  articles 
which  are  indispensable  to  the  "family  or  individual. 
Daniel  Fancher  relates  that  he  worked  three  years, 
and  did  not  receive,  during  that  time,  three  shillings 
in  money,  but  took  grain,  flour,  meat,  and  other 
articles,  which,  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement, 
Were  regarded  almost  as  a  legal  tender.  Henry  Wash- 
burne once  took  a  large  load  of  wheat  to  Sandusky, 
consuming  a  week  in  making  the  round  trip,  and 
exchanged  it  for  one  barrel  of  salt,  six  milk  pans,  two 
pounds  of  tea,  and  the  cloth  for  two  shirts.  With 
these  few  articles,  which  would  seem  but  poorly  to 
pay  for  the  grain,  and  the  lime  spent  in  getting  to 
the  market,  he  returned,  feeling  very  well  satisfied. 
He  had  done  fully  as  well  in  his  Ijarter  as  others  were 
able  to  do.  Many  of  the  settlers  reallv  suffered  foa- 
the  want  of  those  things  which  a  few  shillings  would 
have  boug!  t.  Luxuries  were  un thought  of.  The  un- 
ceasing and  hard  grind  of  daily  laboi'  was  necessary  to 
accomplish  the  task  that  lay  before  the  pioneers — the 
maintenance  of  life  and  the  development  of  the  new 
country,  which  they  so  subdued  as  to  make  a  rich 
inheritance  for  their  children.  And  yet,  with  all  their 
hard  labor,  with  the  severe  simplicity  of  their  lives, 
with  hardships  and  privations  unnumbered  and  unre- 
corded, the  lives  spent  in  the  fulfillment  of  duty  were 
mide  up  more  largely  of  pleasure  than  of  pain,  were 
fuller  of  joy  than  sorrow,  and  as  they  drew  to  a  close, 
there  was  the  profound  satisfaction  in  every  honest, 
toiling  pioneer's  heart,  of  having  accomplished  a  great 
and  tangible  good. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


EARLY  SETTLERS  AND   THEIR  DESCEXDAXTS. 

The  first  settler  in  Greenwich  was  Henry  Carpen- 
ter, who  came  from  Ulster  county.  New  York,'  in 
1817,  and  located  upon  lot  twenty-two,  in  section  two. 
He  died  in  the  fall  of  the  following  year,  from  over 
exertion  at  a  house  raising,  leaving  a  wife  and  four 
children.  His  widow  married  Abraham  Mead,  of 
Fitchville,  and  died  in  1825.  Of  his  four  children, 
Henry  is  dead,  Sarah  (Mrs.  B.  Huick),  is  in  Norwalk, 
Adna,  the  first  child  born  in  the  township,  is  in  Iowa, 
and  David  in  Missouri. 

Varuey  Pearee,  Esbon  Husted  and  Cyrus  Mead, 
arrived  in  the  early  spring  of  1818.  They  were  sin- 
gle men,  and  kept  bachelor's  hall.  Pearee,  who  was 
from  Massachusetts,  settled  upon  lot  twenty-five,  sec- 
tion one,  but  afterward  removed  to  the  third  section, 
where  he  took  up  a  place  upon  wliich  he  lived  until  his 
death  in  1833.  He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  peace, 
and  held  that  office  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  married 
M^ry  Rusco,  and  the  pair  had  several  children,  none 
or  whom  are  now  living  in  the  township  or  vicinity. 
Cyrus  Mead  had  a  large  tract  of  laud,  south  of  the 
center.  He  sold  out  his  location  to  the  Clark's,  from 
Florence,  but  they  were  unable  to  pay  for  it,  and  he 
returned  from  the  east,  whither  he  had  gone  upon 
selling,  took  back  the  land  and  lived  upon  it  until 
1853,  when  he  died.  Husted  was  not  a  permanent 
settler. 

The  second  family  that  moved  into  Greenwich  was 
that  of  Ephraim  F.  Barker,  of  Cayuga  county.  New 
York.  He  came  in  March,  1818,  bringing  with  him 
his  wife,  Hannah,  and  eight  children  (one  was  born  in 
Greenwich),  Barker  settled  upon  lot  twenty  nine,  in 
section  three,  upon  the  north  line  of  the  township, 
and  after  a  number  of  vears"  residence  there,  removed 
to  lot  seven,  in  the  same  section,  where  J.  S.  Berry  now 
lives,  upon  the  center  road,  north  of  the  village.  His 
children  were:  Alzina  (Mrs.  D.  W.  Briggs),  now  liv- 
ing in  the  township:  Daniel  G.,  in  Ripley;  James  and 
David,  both  dead;  Abiah  Anthony,  for  many  years  a 
noted  scout  and  pilot  of  the  plains;  John  B.,  now 
residing  in  Greenwich;  Sallie  (Potter), deceased;  Mary 
Ann  (Hess),  deceased;  and  Samantha  (Chamberlain), 
in  Sullivan,  Ashland  county.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Bar- 
ker died  in  1819.  He  married  a  second  wife.  Eliza- 
beth Artman,  and,  two  years  after  her  death,  took  as 
his  third  wife  Betsey  Hasey,  whom  he  also  outlived, 
Ephraim  F.  Barker  died  in  1860,  and  his  remains^were 
interred  by  the  side  of  his  three  wives  in  the  Fitch- 
ville cemetery. 

D.  W.  Briggs  came  in  the  fall  of  1818,  from  Wash- 
ington county.  New  York,  (he  was  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachu-setts),  and  made  himself  a  home  upon  lot  thirty- 
six,  in  section  three.  He  married  Alzina,  eldest 
daughter  of  Ephraim  F.  Barker,  who  is  still  living. 
Briggs  died  in  1801.  He  had  thirteen  children,  nine 
of  whom  are  living  as  follows:  George.  Daniel  and 
Jacob,  in  the  west;  Maria  (Mrs.  J.  Woodward),  in 
Hancock  county;  Sarah  (Mrs,  J.  Hayncs),  in  Green- 


wich; BathenafMrs,  C,  Plainer),  in  Hancock  county; 
Zoa  (Mrs.  M.  Kahar).  in  Michigan;  Mary  (Mrs.  A. 
J  Warner),  in  Richland  county,  and  Caroline  (Evans), 
I   in  Greenwich. 

Upton  and  Town  Clark  arrived  in  the  township  in 
1818,  and  made,  during  the  following  few  years,  some 
improvements  upon  a  place,  south  of  the  center, 
bought  of  Cyrus  Mead,  They  removed  to  Florence 
township  in  1853. 

John  Mead  brought  his  family  from  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  in  1819.  and  located  upon  lot  thirty- 
eight,  section  one.  where  he  owned  four  hundred  acres 
of  laud.  He  only  lived  a  short  time.  His  children, 
John,  Brush,  Edward  and  Ann,  are  living. 

In  the  spring  of  1820,  Benjamin  Rusco  and  John 
Banks,  of  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  emigrated  to 
the  township.  Rusco  bought  the  Briggs  location. 
He  has  no  descendants  living  in  the  township.  Banks 
located  south  of  the  center,  went  east  and  married  a 
cousin  of  Ritsco"s.  and  after  her  death  removed  from 
the  township.  - 

Thaddeus  Fancher  and  his  wife  Sally  (Mead)  came 
from  Ulster  county.  New  York,  in  1820,  their  sou, 
Daniel  G.,  having  arrived  the  year  before.  They  lo- 
cated upon  lot  twenty-one,  section  one.  and  Daniel 
G.  upon  lot  four  in  the  same  section.  The  children 
of  Thaddeus  S.  Fancher  were:  Mary  (Mrs.  Conrad 
Lutts),  deceased;  Mead,  also  deceased;  Daniel  G., 
Thaddeus  S.,  living  in  Ruggles;  Eliza  (widow  of 
Hiram  Townseud),  living  in  Cleveland;  William,  in 
Michigan;  Amy  (Green),  deceased:  Sally  (Mrs.  Gar- 
rett Mead),  in  Greenwich,  and  Matthew,  deceased, 
Daniel  G,  Fancher  married  Polly  Mitchell,  and  raised 
a  family  of  children,  of  whom  all  but  Moses  are  liv- 
ing. They  are  Lovana.  Sally,  Belinda,  Emily,  and 
Jane.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah  Mitchell — no 
i-elation  to  the  first. 

Henry  Washburne  came  to  Greenwich  in  1819,  and 
settled  upon  lands  which  his  father,  Joseph  Wash- 
burne, had  selected  two  or  three  years  before  —  lot 
twenty-six,  section  two.  He  was  from  Ulster  county. 
New  York.  He  died  in  1849.  and  his  wife,  Mary 
(Craft),  in  182G.  Their  children  were:  Philena  (Mrs. 
R.  Griffin),  deceased:  C.  A.  Washburne,  who  resides 
at  the  center  of  section  number  two  of  Greenwich 
township,  where  he  has  a  large  farm;  Henry  C,  in 
New  London,  and  Mary  (^Mrs,  William  Sutton),  upon 
the  old  Washburne  homestead.  Henry  Washburne 
was,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  largest  land-owner 
in  Greenwich.  His  father,  Joseph  Washburne,  who 
first  visited  the  township  in  1816  or  181T,  to  purchase 
and  locate  lands,  came  out  in  1821  to  remain  perma- 
nently, and  at  the  same  time  came  all  the  rest  of  his 
family — his  wife,  Philena  (Carpenter),  and  their 
children,  Benjamin,  Joseph  C,  James,  William,  and 
Phebe,  Benjamin  (now  deceased),  who  had  married, 
in  the  east,  Huldah  Birds-all,  settled  upon  lot  twenty- 
nine,  section  two,  Joseph  C,  married  Debbie  Ann 
Sutton,  and  removed  in  1826  to  Fitchville,  James, 
whose  wife  was  Marv  Birdsall,  settled  in  New  Lon 


LllSTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


341 


dou.  William  married  Betsey  Morrell  and  remained 
upon  the  old  farm  with  his  parents  until  1838,  when 
he  died.  Phebe,  deceased,  married  Alanson  Sutton. 
Joseph  Washburne  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  ninety, 
and  his  wife,  Philena,  in  1839. 

Abel  F.  Eaton,  who  came  also  in  1S20,  and  located 
near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  removed 
to  Fitchville  in  1826.  His  house  was  burned  a  year 
or  so  before  that  date. 

Jeremiah  Rusco  came  to  Greenwich  in  1821,  when 
his  brother  Benjamin,  who  had  previously  made  a 
settlement  and  then  gone  east,  returned.  He  and 
his  bi-other  bought,  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents  per  acre,  nine  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
land,  which  was  about  equally  divided  between  the 
third  and  fourth  sections.  Several  years  later,  the 
brothers  induced  their  father  and  mother,  and  all 
the  rest  of  their  family,  to  come  to  this  township  and 
make  it  their  home.  Xoue  of  the  original  'pioneers 
of  this  family  are  left.  Two  sons  of  Jeremiah  Rusco, 
are  living,  however,  one  of  them,  Gilbert  L.,  on  a 
portion  of  the  old  estate,  lot  sixteen,  section  three, 
and  another,  Benjamin,  in  Nebraska. 

Solomon  Doud  and  Hiram  Doud  came  from  Ca- 
yuga county.  New  York,  to  Greenwich,  in  1821,  and 
the  last  named  returned,  soon  after,  to  his  native 
State,  and  remained  there.  Solomon  Doud  brought 
his  family  out  the  following  year,  and  after  living 
for  a  time  at  the  center,  bought  a  farm  in -section 
three,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  18-49. 
His  family  consisted  of  his  wife,  Polly,  Laura  (who 
afterward  married  B.  Rusco  and  who  is  now  dead), 
Nancy  (Mrs.  D.  G.  Barker,  in  Greenwich),  Samuel 
(now  a  respected  citizen  of  New  London),  John  (de- 
ceased), and  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Freeman,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas). 

Mordecai  W.  Jenuey,  of  New  Bedford,  Massachu- 
setts, originally,  but  for  sometime  a  resident  of  Cayuga 
county,  New  York,  arrived  in  1818,  and  took  up  lot 
twenty  in  section  four.  His  brother,  Obadiah.  came 
shortly  after,  and  remained  in  the  township  a  short 
time,  and  then  removed  to  Norwalk.  John  Jenney 
came  in  several  years  later — about  1823 — and  settled 
upon  lot  forty-two,  section  one. 

Hiram  Townsend,  of  Massachusetts,  settled,  orig- 
inally, in  New  Haven,  but  removed  from  there  to  this 
township  in  the  summer  of  1819.  He  took  up  the 
farm — lot  six,  section  three — upon  a  portion  of  which 
the  village  of  Greenwich  station  has  lately  been  built, 
and  resided  there  until  1871,  when  he  died.  He 
married  Eliza  Fanclier,  who  is  still  living' at  this 
writing.  His  children,  still  living,  are  as  follows  : 
Hiram,  at  Black  river;  Oscar,  in  Cleveland,  who  was 
at  one  time  president  of  the  C,  C,  C.  &  L  Railroad, 
and  now  of  the  Tuscarawas  Talley  Railroad:  Horace, 
a  lawyer,  in  Memphis;  Mary  (Mrs.  J.  Bradner).  and 
Saraii  (Mrs.  B.  Coutant),  both  in  Cleveland. 

James  Mitchell,  of  New  Y'ork,  arrived  in  1821, 
with  his  wife  and  family.  He  located  upon  lot  four- 
teen in  section  four.     He  died  iu  1844,  at  the  age  of 


seventy-two  years,  and  his  wife  in  1863,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four.  '  Their  oldest  daughter,  Betsey,  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Higgins,  and  removed  to  Florence,  thence 
to  Vermont.  The  only  descendants  of  Jas.  Mitchell, 
who  remain,  of  a  large  family,  are:  Hezekiah  and 
William,  at  Peru;  Moses,  in  Michigan,  and  Betsey, 
above  spoken  of.  One  of  the  daughters,  Amanda, 
married  a  certain  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,  a  derical 
fraud,  named  Ralph,  was  cruelly  deserted  by  him, 
and  died. 

During  the  years  1820-21,  the  settlement  was  in- 
creased by  the  arrival  of  Joshu.i  Banks,  T.  B.  White 
and  Robert  0.  Saulsbury,  Eleazer  L.  Saulsbury  and 
a  few  others.  Those  named  were  all  from  Cayuga 
county.  New  York.  Banks  settled  south  of  the  cen- 
ter; White,  upon  lot  twenty-eight,  section  three,  and 
Saulsbury  (Robert  0.),  upon  lot  six,  .section  two. 
Eleazer  L.  Saulsbury  remained  but  a  short  time. 
His  only  descendant,  remaining  in  the  township,  is  a 
daughter,— Almira— the  wife  of  E.  GiSord.  •  White 
can-ied  on, -for  many  years,  his  trade,  that  of  makir^ 
chairs  and  spinning-wheels.  Robert  0.  Saulsbury 
was  a  cooper,  by  trade,  and  made  the  first  barrels  in 
the  township.     He  sold  out  and  left  in  1833. 

Benjamin  Kniffin,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
the  early  settlers,  came  to  the  township  first  in  1818, 
from  Cayuga  county.  New  l^ork,  and  made  a  small 
beginning  upon  the  town  line  where  U.  B.  Thomas 
now  lives.  He  soon  returned  east,  and  remained 
there  until  1820,  when  he  again  came  to  Greenwich. 
He  married  in  Cayuga  county.  New  Y^ork,  Bloomey 
Caroline  Hobby,  and  in  1824,  he  brought  his  wife  to  his 
new  home.  At  the  same  time  came  his  parents,  James 
and  Sarah  Knitfin,  and  the  remainder  of  the  family 
one  brother  and  four  sisters.  James  Kniffin  purchased 
eight  hundred  acres  of  land  lying  west  of  the  center, 
and  north  of  the  east  and  west  center  road,  and  this 
property  was  divided  among  his  children,  most  of  it 
being  still  in  possession  of  some  of  their  descendants. 
Beside  Benjamin  Kniffin,  the  children  of  James  and 
Sarah  were:  Daniel,  Phebe,  Charity,  Debbie  and 
Amy.  Daniel  married  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Rusco, 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  and  after  his  wife's 
death,  removed  to  Iowa.  He  died  in  1ST8.  Only 
one  of  his  descendants,  Daniel,  is  in  Greenwich. 
Phebe  (deceased)  married  a  man  named  Sutherland, 
and  removed  to  Ruggles.  Charity  (also  deceased) 
married  C.  Brady  who  was  accidentally  shot  in  1824, 
and  for  her  second  husband,  married  Daniel  Osborne. 
Debbie  (Smith)  lives  in  Buffalo,  and  Amy  (Carver) 
in  Ashland  county.  Benjamin  Kniffin  remained  all 
of  his  life  in  this  township.  He  was  a  very  active 
man,  carried  on  a  great  many  enterprises  of  dift'erent 
natures,  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  three  terms, 
and  otherwise  cook  a  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  the 
community.  He  died  in  18T7,  having  survived  his 
wife  four  years.  Their  children  were:  Louis  Hobby, 
Benjamin  F.,  Hannah  Maria,  Charles  B..  and  James 
E.  and  Sarah  F.,  twins.  Louis  Hobby  and  Charles 
B.  are  farmers  in  this  township;  Benjamin  F.  is  in 


34-i 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Williams  county;  Hannah  Maria  and  James  E.  are 
dead,  and  Sarah  F.  (Mrs.  H.  M.  Krytser)is  a  resident 
of  Greenwich. 

Charies  Brady  who  married  Charity  Kniffin:  came 
from  Westchester  connty.  New  York,  in  1823,  to 
Scipio,  Cayuga  county,  where  he  remained  until  1824, 
when  he  came  on  to  Greenwich  with  the  Kniffins,  and 
located  upon  a  portion  of  this  land.  ■  In  December  of 
the  same  year,  Brady  was  instantly  killed  by  the  dis- 
charge of  his  gun  while  on  his  way  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Benjamin  Kuitfin,  to  Washburne's  mill.  The 
gun  lay  upon  the  load,  and  in  pulling  it  towards  him, 
he  struck  the  trigger,  and  the  discharge  took  effect  in 
his  side. 

Ezra  Smith,  who  came  to  the  township  in  1824, 
brought  in  the  first  stock  of  goods,  and  had  a  store 
for  a  short  time  near  Washburne's.  He  removed  to 
Macksville.  He  also  had  an  ashery.  Rufus  Sheldon 
located  upon  lot  forty-sis,  section  one,  in  the  same 
year.  He  was  from  Scipio,  New  Y'ork.  Joshua  Frost 
came  at  the  same  time  and  settled  near  the  east  line 
of  the  township,  in  section  two. 

Brundage  Knapp,  who  came  in  the  year  1825,  and 
located  upon  lot  twenty-four,  section  three,  removed, 
in  1836,  to  Bronson,  and  went  from  there  to  Fair- 
field.   He  lived  to  be  over  ninety-four  years  of  age. 

Among  the  early  residents  of  the  town  was  John 
Paul,  or,  as  he  was  commonly  called,  -'Old  Paul," 
the  son  of  a  Hungarian  nobleman,  who,  having  left 
home  at  an  early  day,  had  followed  tlie  life  of  a  roam- 
ing adventurer,  and  fought  as  a  soldier  of  fortune  in 
several  of  the  armies  of  Europe,  finally  being  sent  a 
prisoner  by  the  British  to  Canada,  from  whence  he 
came  to  this  county.  He  died  about  1830,  a  very  old 
man. 

AVillis  R.  Smith  came  to  Greenwich  in  1824,  from 
Sciopio,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  bringing  his  wife, 
Ann  Underbill,  and  five  small  children  in  a  Pennsyl- 
vania wagon  to  Buffalo,  where  they  embarked  in  a 
schooner  for  Sandusky.  This  family  settled  upon  lot 
two,  section  three,  where  four  of  the  descendants  of 
Willis  R.  Smith  now  reside,  viz:  Daniel,  Amelia, 
Sarah  and  Annie.  Another  son,  William,  married 
Asnath  Rusco,  and  is  now  living  in  Greenwich,  on 
lot  twenty-two,  section  four.  The  two  oldest  chil- 
dren, Alfred  and  Phebe,  are  dead.  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried J.  E.  Golden,  lives  in  Ripley.  Willis  R.  Smith 
died  the  third  month,  11,  1871.  He  was,  during  his 
long  residence  in  the  township,  one  of  its  staunch, 
true  men,  respected  by  all.  His  wife  died  second 
month,  24,  1874.  Both  were  natives  of  Wes'tchester 
county.  New  Y'ork. 

Alanson  and  Aranson  Sutton,  of  Cayuga  county. 
New  York,  came  in  1824.  The  former  settled  upon 
lot  thirty-nine  in  section  one,  and  the  latter  upon  lot 
si.Kteen,  section  four.  Alanson  married,  for  his  first 
wife,  Phebe,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Washburne,  and 
for  his  second,  Ann  Parker.  They  have  four  child- 
ren living,  all  in  Greenwich:  Mary  (Mrs.  J.  Dills), 
Emma,  Grant  aiul  Josie.     Aranson  Sutton   married 


'  Emeline  Brady.    Both  are  dead.   Their  children  living 

are:  Charles  A.,  who  resides  upon  the  place  his  father 

settled  ;  Charity    (Townsend),    in    Cleveland :   Mary 

!    (Nobles),  in  Fitchville;  Sarah  (Reynolds),  in  Seneca 

1   county,  Ohio;  and  Louisa  (Fancher),  in  Greenwich. 

Cyrus  G.  Mead  came  into  the  township  in  1825, 
bringing  with  him  from  White  Plains,  New  York, 
Shadrach  H.  Reed,  then  seventeen  years  of  age.  In 
time  Reed  bought  of  Mead  lot  twenty-seven  in  his 
tract  of  laud,  and  in  1831  he  married  Sadie  Rusco, 
who  died  twenty  years  later.  Mr.  Reed  is  still  living 
and  his  family  consists  of  Dr.  D.  H.  Reed,  of  Fair- 
field; Mrs.  A.  E.  Griffin,  of  Bellefontaine;  and  H.  E. 
Reed  of  Greenwich.  Charles  E.  Reed  died  in  1854, 
and  A.  S.  in  1847. 

Richard  Marshall  arrived  in  1827,  or  the  following 
year,  from  Medina  county.  He  was  a  brother-in-law 
of  Dr.  Morton.  He  is  now  dead.  Four  of  his  chil- 
dren, Richard,  Morton,  Margaret  (Mrs.  Williams), 
and  Frances  Ann,  live  in  the  township.  Benjamin 
Belding  came  about  the  same  time  as  Marshall,  from 
Westchester  county.  New  Y''ork.  He  located  upon 
lot  thirty-three  in  section  two.  He  died  in  New 
London,  whither  he  moved  when  the  C,  C,  C.  &  I. 
R.  R.  was  constructed.  He  had  a  large  family,  but 
none  of- them  remain  in  the  township. 

Walter  Wasburne,  (a  nephew  of  Joseph,)  camr  into 
Fitchville  in  1833,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in 
1866.  He  had  a  large  family,  of  whom  one  son, 
Henry  G.  came  into  the  county,  in  1830.  He  first 
located  in  Fitchville,  but  shortly  afterward  came  into 
Greenwich,  and  took  up  and  cleared  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides— lot  eleven,  section  three.  He  mar- 
ried Ann  Maria  Van  Benschooteu,  of  Berlin,  township, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children,  who  are  still  living — 
D.  S.,  now  in  Riple  ,  Alice  E.  (Gaskins),  in  ]Maine, 
and  Jay,  in  Fitchville. 

The  GifEords  came  into  the  township  at  different 
dates,  ranging  from  1829  to  1865,  though  Edward, 
who  came  during  the  last  mentioned  year,  had  settled 
in  Ripley  in  1837.  He  married  Almira,  a  daughter 
of  Eleazer  L.  Saulsbury,  and  is  at  present  living  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Greenwich  station.  Joseph 
Gifford  (deceased)  came  in  1829,  and  his  brother, 
Humphrey,  arrived  in  1831.  They  settled  upon  lot 
forty-eight,  in  section  one.  The  former  married 
Silva  Jenney,  and  the  latter  her  sister,  Jane.  Abram 
Gifford  came  in  1832,  and  Micajah  in  1843. 

William  Carl  came  from  Greenwich,  Fairfield 
county,  Connecticut,  in  1830,  by  the  lake  route  from 
Buffalo  to  Sandusky,  which  so  many  of  the  emigrat- 
ing families  of  this  period  chose.  He  brought  with 
him  his  wife,  Martha,  and  seven  children:  Mary  Jane 
(now  Mrs.  R.  Griffin),  Daniel  H.,  John  M.,  Nathan, 
Rhoda  Ann  (S.  S.  Hawkins),  Elvira  (B.  H.  Fowler), 
in  Ripley,  and  William,  who  resides  where  his  father 
settled — lot  four,  section  four.  All  of  these  descend- 
ants are  living  in,  or  near,  Greenwich,  except  Rhoda 
Ann,  who  died  in  1867.  Two  daughters  were  born 
after  the  Carls  emigrated  to  this  township,  Emma 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


343 


and  Sarah,  who  are  uow  in  "Wood  county,  Ohio. 
William  Carl  died  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  his  wife  March  35,  1879,  aged  eighty-six. 

Luther  Mead  came  in  1830,  and  settled  upon  lot 
thirty-one,  section  three — laud  that  his  father  had 
bought  many  j'ears  before.  Marcus  E.,  William, 
Leander  and  Annie  are  his  children,  and  live  in  the 
township.     Joseph  died  in  1850. 

Amos  Mead  and  his  wife.  Catharine,  came  from 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  in  1831,  and  .settled  upon 
lot  five,  in  section  one.  Garrett  V.  Mead,  his  son,  is 
still  living  where  he  settled,  lot  six,  in  the  same 
section.  He  married  Sallie  Fancher,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Daniel, 
iu  Kansas;  Hiram,  in  Hartland  township;  Aaron,  in 
Kansas;  Moses  B.,  in  Berea,  and  Eliza  Jane  (Fish), 
in  Monroeville. 

S.  P.  Haviland  and  his  wife,  Lovina,  and  two  sons, 
came  to  Greenwich  in  1831,  from  Putnam  county. 
New  York,  and  took  up  laud  iu  lot  twenty-six,  section 
two.  Mr.  Haviland  afterwards  bought  lot  twenty, 
section  four,  at  the  center,  where  he  now  resides. 
His  children  are:  Samuel,  iu  Toledo;  William.  B.. 
postmaster  at  Greenwich  station;  Alfred  S.,  in  Kan- 
sas, and  Nelson  M.,  iu  Toledo. 

Lorenzo  aud  Samantha  Barritt,  of  Mendon,  Monroe 
county.  New  York,  settled  upon  lot  thirty,  section 
one.  in  1832.  Mr.  Barritt  was  a  prominent  man  iu  the 
militia,  aud  held  commissions  as  lieutenant  aud  cap- 
tain. He  died  in  1878.  His  children  were  Zelotes 
E.,  who  lives  in  Greenwich;  Synthia  C.  (Mrs.  P. 
Welch),  of  Ripley;  Mary  L.  (Mrs.  N.  Smith),  in  this 
township;  Clarissa  and  Walter,  both  deceased. 

Abijah  and  Abiagail  Griffin  arrived  iu  1833,  from 
Hunter,  Greene  couutj'.  New  Y'ork,  bringing  with 
them  four  children.  Mr.  Griffin  purchased,  of  Robert 
0.  Saulsbury,  lot  ten,  iu  section  two,  and  there  made 
his  home.  His  children,  who  came  with  him  to  Ohio, 
were:  Phebe  (Mrs.  Williamson),  of  Norwalk,  mother 
of  Hon.  J.  A.  ^Yilli''l™■*o'l=  Tamer  (Mrs.  J.  Kings- 
bury), who  died  iu  1854;  Robert  B.  and  Riley,  iu 
Greenwich.  An  elder  brother,  Ezekiel,  moved  iu,  lu 
the  spring  of  1826,  and  lived  iu  the  township  until 
his  death  in  1871. 

Dr.  Henry  Reynolds  arrived  in  1836,  from  Catta- 
raugus county.  New  Y'ork.  He  has  five  children  liv- 
ing: Russell,  a  physician,  at  Chicago  Junction; 
Lavilla  (Mrs.  J.  Sutton),  in  this  township;  Hannah 
<York),  iu  Ruggles;  Cornelia  (Hurlburt),  aud  Robert 
H.,  a  physician,  at  Greenwich  station.  William,  a 
sou  who  died,  was  a  physician.  The  family,  for 
several  generations,  has  seemed  to  have  a  peculiar 
bent  for  the  study  of  medicine. 

Moses  M.  and  Abigail  Burgess,  of  Greene  county. 
New  York,  and  their  daughter,  Abigail  Ann,  came 
to  this  township  iu  1838,  and  made  themselves  a  home 
upon  a  farm  in  the  Mead  tract,  purchased  of  Na- 
thaniel Brown.  All  these  are  now  living  in  the 
township.  Abigail  married  a  Watson.  Of  the  chil- 
dren born  in  the  township,  Emory  I.  is  living  iu  this 


township,  Egbert  N.  was  a  volunteer  iu  the  uuion 
army,  aud  died  in  the  service. 

John  Ellis  and  wife  arrived  in  1838,  from  Onon- 
daga county.  New  I'ork,  and  his  brother,  Wm.  B. 
Ellis,  cauie  three  ^-ears  latei'.  The  first  named  had 
married  Rachel  Rickart,  aud  the  latter  her  sister 
Esther.  They  have  large  farms  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  township.  John  Ellis' children  are:  Sid- 
ney H.,  iu  Ripley;  Therza  B.,  John  R.  and  Martin, 
iu  this  township;  Clara  Leone  and  Paliua,  iu  Ripley, 
and  Sarah,  in  Richland  county.  Wm.  B.  Ellis"  chil- 
dren are:  George  W.,  Eliza  Ann,  Irwin.  Lilly  and 
Emma.  M.  A.  Hall  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  (Robin- 
son), came  from  Steuben  county,  iu  1840,  and  took 
up  a  piece  of  land — lot  two,  section  four, — where  they 
now  reside,  then  owned  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Edwards, 
of  Ripley.  Gideon  B.  Coutant  came  to  the  township 
in  1843,  aud  his  brother,  at  a  later  date.  Adam  and 
Barbara  Breuneman,  and  their  son,  John,  came  in 
1844,  from  Richland  county,  where  they  had  removed 
ten  3-ears  previous  from  Lancaster  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  located  upon  lot  six,  section  four;  John 
married  Barbara  Rickart,  aud  lives  upon  the  farm 
where  he  first  settled  with  the  old  folks.  They  are 
both  dead. 

A  large  aud  prominent  family  who  became  resi- 
dents in  the  township,  at  a  much  later  day,  was  that 
of  George  Thomas,  of  Otsego  county.  Now  Y'ork. 
LTri  B.  came  iu  1846,  the  other  later.  George  H.  is 
in  Fairfield;  S.  W.,  iu  Ripley;  Washington  L.  and 
Adaliue  (Hills),  iu  Michigan;  Andrew  J.,  in  Bronson, 
and  Beuda  L.  in  Hartland.  One  son,  Walter  W.,  was 
killed  in  the  army. 

ORGAXIZATION. 

Greeeuwich  was  attached,  in  1815,  to  New  Haven, 
or  was  within  the  jurisdiction  of  that  township  (for 
civil  purposes).  In  1819,  Greenwich,  Fitchville  and 
Hartland  were  uuited,  and  an  election  was  held  in 
that  year,  at  the  house  of  Thomas  B.  White,  for  the 
purpose  of  choosing  officers  for  the  territory  included 
within  the  three.  Hartland  was  detached  in  1820, 
aud  iu  1823,  Greenwich  was  separated  from  Fitchville 
and  organized  as  a  separate  towuship,  the  first  election 
being  held  at  Thomas  B.  White's  house,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers  elected:  Jeremiah  Rusco,  Heury  Wash- 
burue,  trustees;-  David  W.  Briggs,  clerk  ;  Varney 
Pearce,  justice  of  the  peace:  Ephraim  F.  Barker, 
constable. 

The  township  received  its  name  from  the  town  of 
Greenwich,  Connecticut. 

Following  are  the  officers  of  1878:  0.  Travis, 
H.  Horr,  Willis  Sisson,  trustees;  H.  Travis,  treas- 
urer; William  B.  Haviland,  clerk;  H.  M.  Krytser, 
J.  B.  Smith,  justices  of  the  peace;  James  Sutton, 
Frank  E.  Hopkins,  constables. 

FIRST    F.\CT.S. 

Adua  Carpenter,  sou  of  Henry  Carpenter,  was  the 
first  white  child  born  in  the  township.     He  is  now 


344 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


living  in  Iowa.  Samantha  Barker  was  probably  the 
second,  a  child  of  Upton  Clark,  third,  and  C.  A. 
Washburne  the  fourth. 

Henry  Carpenter,  father  of  the  first  born,  was  the 
first  person  who  died  in"  the  township.  His  death, 
caused  by  over  exertion,  occurred  in  November,  1818. 
He  WHS  buried  in  a  coffin  constructed  of  hewed  black 
walnut  planks.  Hannah  Barker  died  from  child 
birth,  May  2.3,  1819,  and  she  was  the  second  person 
whose  demise  the  little  band  of  pioneers  were  called 
to  mourn.  The  coffin,  in  whicii  her  remains  were 
buried,  was  made  from  the  boards  of  a  wagon-box, 
which  were  rudely  stained  with  logwood. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township,  was  that  of 
David  W.  Briggs  and  Alzina,  daughter  of  E.  F.  and 
Hannah  Barker.  They  were  made  one  by  Squire 
Rundel  Palmer,  of  Fitchville,  in  August,  1819. 
Briggs  died  in  1861.  His  is  widow  still  living,  and 
in  Greenwich. 

The  first  log  cabin  was  built  in  1817,  near  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township.  Henry  Carpenter 
built  the  first  permanent  residence,  a  log  house,  a 
little  later  in  the  same  year.  The  first  frame  house 
was  built  by  Joseph  Washburne,  in  18'27,  on  lot  twenty- 
seven,  section  two,  and  the  first  brick  house  was 
erected  at  the  center,  by  Cyrus  G.  Mead. 

The  first  tavern  was  built  at  the  center  by  Benja- 
min Kniffiu,  who  also  had  a  store  there.  The  store 
opened  by  Ezra  Smith,  near  Joseph  Washburne's,  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  in  the  year 
1834.  was  the  first.  He  sold  goods  there  for  four 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Peru  (IVIacksville),  where 
he  followed  the  business  for  twelve  years  more,  when 
he  died. 

Many  of  the  orchards  in  the  township  and  vicinity 
were  planted  with  trees  that  were  grown  from  the  seed 
sown  by  Alzina  Barker  (Mrs.  Briggs),  upon  the  Car- 
penter place,  in  1818.  All  of  the  seeds  were  selected 
from  greening  apples,  but  not  a  single  apple  borne  by 
any  of  the  trees  raised  from  those  seeds  has  produced 
an  apple  having  any  resemblance  to  the  fruit  from 
which  rhey  sprung.  Ephraim  Barker  and  Varney 
Pearce  brought  trees  from  Xorwalk  in  1819,  and 
it  was  from  one  of  these  that  the  first  apples  were 
picked  that  ripaned  in  the  township.  Mordecai 
Jenney,  at  a  later  period,  started  a  nursery  upon 
his  land,  and  supplied  from  it  many  farmers  with 
fruit  trees. 

The  first  building  tliat  was  raised  witliout  the  use 
of  whisky  was  a  log  barn,  put  up  by  Willis  Smith. 
Those  who  assisted  in  the  work  were  told  upon  the 
start  that  contrary  to  custom  no  liquor  would  be 
given  out,  but  they  took  hold  willingly,  worked  hard 
and  wore  furnished  with  a  substantial  dinner  and 
supjier  by  Mrs.  Smith.  A  fine  field  of  grain  owned 
by  Mr.  Smith  became  ready  for  the  sickle  when  he 
was  bedridden  with  rheumatism,  and  he,was  obliged 
to  depend  upon  his  neighbors  to  save  the  crop  from 
going  to  waste.  It  seemed  for  several  days  as  if  the 
saving  of    the   harvest  could   not   be  accomplished 


unless  Mr.  Smith  sacrificed  his  principles  and  fur- 
nished the  men  whisky;  but  he  adhered  to  the  line  of 
what  he  considered  conscientiously  his  duty,  and 
finally,  one  bright  morning,  the  neighbors  were  seen 
at  work  gathering  the  fully  ripened  grain,  and  soon  it 
was  safely  stored  away. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  Joseph  Washburne,  in 
1833,  near  where  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati 
and  Indianapolis  railroad  crosses  the  Vermillion  river, 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township.  It  was  both 
a  saw  and  grist  mill.  The  iron  parts  Mr.  Washburne 
brought  from  the  east,  and  the  stones  he  had  roughly 
chiseled  from  "hard  heads"  found  near  by.  They 
ground  slowly  but  not  exceeding  fine.  No  other  grist 
mill  was  built  in  the  township  until  a  very  recent  date. 
The  Ruscos  built  the  second  saw  mill  in  1827,  upon 
the  west  branch  of  the  Vermillion,  near  what  is  now 
known  as  the  diagonal  or  angling  road.  Both  of 
these  mills  were  destroyed  many  years  ago.  The 
Rusco  mill  was  burned. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was  gotten 
up  by  Ephraim  Barker,  Solomon  Doud,  and  others, 
and  held  at  the  center,  in  1823.  Nearly  all  of  the 
people  in  the  township,  and  many  from  the  neighbor- 
ing settlements  were  present.  Briggs,  the  famous 
hunter,  supplied  the  venison  for  the  dinner,  and 
Ephraim  Barker  cooked  it.  Speeches  were  made,  not 
unlike  the  Fourth  of  July  oratorical  pyrotechnics  of 
more  recent  times,  and  the  celebration  proved  a  very 
agreeable  affair. 

RELIGIOUS    51ATTEES. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  the  first  settlers  came 
into  Greenwich,  there  was  no  regularly  ordained 
minister  living  in  the  township,  and  when  there  w^as 
preaching,  it  was  by  some  of  the  ministers  from 
neighboring  townships.  Religious  meetings  were 
held  frequently,  and  preachers  of  all  denominations 
had  assurance  when  they  came  here  that  they  would 
be  met  by  audiences  of  large  size  (for  these  times)  and 
gladly  listened  to.  The  township  has,  at  the  present 
day,  a  large  element  of  Quaker  population,  and  many 
of  its  earliest  pioneers  were  of  this  people.  The  first 
Quakers,  or  Friends,  as  they  call  themselves,  came  to 
Greenwich  in  1818,  just  eighteen  years  after  the  first 
Friends'  settlement  in  Ohio.  They  organized  the  first 
society  for  the  purpose  of  religious  worship — one 
which  has  been  strongly  sustained  through  all  of  its 
more  than  sixty  years'  existence,  and  which  is  to-day 
in  a  most  healthful  and  fiourishing  condition. 

THE    FKIEXDS'    CHURCH 

was  organized  in  1823.  The  first  meeting  was  held 
at  Joseph  Washburne's  house.  The  society  then 
consisted  of  Joseph  Washburne  and  his  three  sons: 
Benjamin,  Henry  and  James,  R.  and  J.  L.  Frost,  Henry 
Carpenter  and  John  Jenney.  After  a  year  or  so,  the 
place  of  meeting  was  changed  to  Henry  Washburne's 
house,  and  then  to  James  Kniffin's,  where  the  Friends 
met  for  several  years,  or  until  they  had  built  a  log 


HISTOllY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


345 


chnrch  upon  ;i  lot  given  for  the  purpose,  by  James 
Kniffin.  This  lot  was  the  one  still  owned  by  the 
society,  and  is  located  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
rods  east  of  the  center.  The  log  church  which  was 
built  in  1834:,  gave  place  in  184.5,  to  a  commodious 
and  comfortable,  but  plain,  frame  structure,  which  is 
the  present  place  of  worship  of  a  society,  numbering 
about  two  hundred  souls.  The  society  holds  meet- 
ings every  Sabbath  and  Fifth  day.  The  present 
ministers  of  the  church  are:  Rachel  Washburne,  Al- 
fred Bartlett,  Prudence  D.  Hathaway  and  George 
Bartlett.  Joseph  Coutant,  Humphrey  Clifford,  James 
Bartlett,  Daniel  Smith,  Phebe  Ann  Bartlett,  Phebe 
Coutant,  Lovina  Haviland,  Sarah  Giflord  and  Phebe 
Healy,  elders.  Joseph  Coutant,  Daniel  Smith  and 
Thomas  Eddy,  trustees. 

THE    METHODIST    DENOMINATION 

has  two  organized  churches  in  the  township,  one  in 
the  southeast  quarter  and  one  at  Greenwich  station. 
The  Methodists  of  Greenwich  had,  with  their  brethren 
of  Fitchville,  a  class  organization  at  an  early  day.  It 
was  effected  at  a  meeting  held  at  T.  B.  White's 
house.  The  oldest  organization  now  in  existence  in 
the  township  is  what  is  known  as  the  Nineveh  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  the  majority  of  whose  mem- 
bers live  in  section  one,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
township.  It  was  organized  in  1836,  by  the  Rev. 
John  Quigley,  circuit  preacher,  and  was  constituted 
by  the  following  members:  Asel  Mead  and  wife, 
Henry  Lyon  and  wife,  .and  Mrs.  John  Hess,  at  whose 
house  the  church  was  organized.  Samuel  Doud  and 
wife,  and  G.  V.  Mead  and  wife,  were  received  into 
membership  at  an  early  date  after  the  establishment 
of  the  church.  Preaching  was  had  at  Mrs.  Hess' 
house  for  a  number  of  years,  then  at  Daniel  Bloomer's 
and  Samuel  Doud's,  and,  after  that,  in  the  log  and 
framed  school  houses  in  the  vicinity  until  1858,  when 
the  church  building  now  in  use  was  erected,  at  a  cost 
of  about  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  The 
trustees  at  this  time  were  Isaac  Smith,  David  Sutliff, 
Aranson  Sutton,  M.  M.  Burgess,  James  Sutton, 
Daniel  G.  Fancher  and  Samuel  Doud. 

The  Rev.  John  Quigley  was  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church.  John  K.  Brown  was  the  first  class  leader. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Daniel  Bloomer,  Franklin  Sizer 
and  M.  M.  Burgess,  under  whose  management  a  great 
revival  occurred  in  1857,  by  which  the  church  grew 
from  a  membership  of  less  than  a  score  to  over  ninety. 
The  church  was  then  divided  into  four  classes.  It 
has  now  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred  persons. 
The  class  leaders  are  Samuel  G.  Watson,  David  Sut. 
liff,  John  StrimiDle,  Daniel  Shoup;  Emory  J.  Burgess, 
David  Sutliff,  stewards;  Samuel  G.  Watson,  William 
Striniple,  Shadrach  H.  Reed,  Daniel  Shoup,  David 
Sutliff,  John  Strimple,  Z.  B.  Coutant,  trustees. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Greenwich 
Station  was  organized  in  1809  by  Rev.  A.  K.  Owen, 
who,  during  the  winter  of  that  year,  held  a  protract- 
ed meeting  at  the  school  house  opposite  the  present 


church  edifice.  The  North  Greenwich  class,  oi-gau- 
ized  in  1860  by  the  Rev.  John  Kellam,  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  GrcQpwich  Station  organization,  and 
soon  after  the  Edward's  corners  (Ripley)  class,  organ- 
ized in  1837,  came  into  the  union.  After  a  strong 
organization  had  thus  been  effected,  steps  were  taken 
toward  building,  with  the  result,  that  in  the  summer 
of  1871  the  present  church  edifice  was  completed  and 
dedicated.  The  cost  was  about  S4,500.  The  pastors 
of  the  church  since  the  close  of  McKean's  charge 
have  been  Revs.  H.  G.  Dubois,  George  McKillip,  C. 
C.  Ball,  John  McNabb,  J.  F.  Brant,  C.  R.  Russel 
and  P.  F.  Graham,  the  present  incumbent,  who  also 
preaches  at  the  Universalist  Church.  The  present 
officers  of  the  church  are  as  follows:  N.  Carl,  0.  S. 
GriSin,  Alice  Nickerson,  James  McMillen,  J.  F. 
Welch,  class  leaders;  F.  B.  Nickerson,  M.  A.  Hall, 
0.  S.  Griffin,  stewards;  B.  H.  Fowler,  Sunday  school 
superintendent;  N.  D.  Welch,  L.  P.  Sisson,  B.  H. 
Fowler,  John  Jenney,  Z.  E.  Barrett,  E.  McCullow, 
trustees. 

No  denominations  other  tlian  the  Friends  and  the 
Methodists  have  church  organizations  in  the  town- 
ship.    Other  churches  have  existed  for  short  periods. 


The  first  school  was  taught  by  James  Nixon,  who, 
with  his  father,  Robert  Nixon,  was  obliged  to  leave 
Ireland  at  the  time  of  the  Irish  revolution,  and 
chose  America  as  the  country  in  which  to  begin  life 
anew,  and  drifted,  by  some  chance,  to  this  locality. 
The  school  was  held  in  an  abandoned  log  house,  one 
mile  south  of  the  center,  in  the  winter  of  1820-21. 
About  1825,  a  school  house  was  built  at  the  center, 
and  Tracy  Case  was  the  first  teacher  who  occupied  it. 
The  second  school  house  was  built  by  James  Mitchell's 
i-esidence,  near  the  center  of  section  four.  Willis  R. 
Smith,  assisted  by  his  wife,  gave  instruction  in  writing 
to  a  number  of  young  men  isome  of  them  married), 
in  the  winter  of  1834-25.  About  a  dozen  men  at- 
tended this  school.  It  was  held  evenings,  in  Mr. 
Smith's  house,  which  he  fitted  up  for  the  purpose, 
with  writing  desks  made  of  slabs,  which  were  fastened 
to  the  wall  as  sloping  shelves.  Some  of  these,  then, 
young  men  have  become  well  off.  All  of  them  have 
owned  farms  in  the  township  and  been  successful  in 
life. 

The  township  has  nine  regular  school  districts  and 
one  special  district,  the  village  of  Greenwich  station, 
which  was  incorporated  as  a  special  school  district  in 
1877.  Graded  schools  were  established  in  the  village 
in  that  year.  The  board  of  education,  then  elected, 
consisted  of  Oscar  Travis,  E.  J.  McCullow,  R.  H. 
Reynolds,  John  R.  Judson  and  H)-att  Travis.  The 
first  superintendent  was  W.  C.  Kincel.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  incumbent,  J.  E.  Young. 
The  number  of  youth,  of  school  age,  in  the  special 
district,  in  1877.  was  one  hundred  and  seventy;  it  is 
now  over  two  hundrrd  and  feu.  and  the  average  daily 
attendance  is  on^  hundred  and  tliirtv-l'our. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


THE    MEDICAL    PKOFESSION. 

Dr.  Richard  Morton  was  the  first  resident  physician 
in  the  township,  and  came  in  about  the  year  1825,  at 
first  practicing  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Moses  C. 
Sanders,  of  Peru,  who  was  quite  popular  among  the 
men  of  his  time  in  Greenwich.  Dr.  Campbell,  of  Fair- 
field, had  some  practice  in  Greenwich  at  an  early  day, 
and  so  also  had  Dr.  Wm.  McLadd,  of  Fitchville,  and 
Dr.  .Johns,  of  New  Haven.  There  was  for  a  short 
time  in  the  settlement  a  physician  by  the  name  of 
George  W.  Sampson,  who  made  his  home  with  Ben- 
jamin Washburne.  Lovana  Mitchell,  who  came  into 
the  township  with  her  husband,  James  Mitchell,  in 
1821,  before  there  were  any  physicians  there,  was  very 
useful  in  the  capacity  of  midwife,  and  deserves  the 
gratitude  and  kindly  recollection  of  the  community. 
She  often  traveled  alone  and  afoot  at  night,  by  the 
light  of  a  torch,  utterly  regardless  of  the  weather,  and 
her  fearlessness  and  power  of  ph)'sical  endurance  were 
only  equalled  by  her  professional  skill.  It  is  said 
that  she  never  lost  but  one  patient.  She  died  in 
1863,  in  her  eighty-fourth  year. 

Among  the  physicians  who  practiced  in  the  town- 
ship for  short  periods  were  Dr.  Wm.  Rice,  who  was  a 
partner  of  Dr.  ilorton,  and  Dr.  Andrews,  of  Ruggles. 
Dr.  G.  Hutchins  and  Dr.  Owen  were  also  among 
those  who  might  be  termed  transient  residents.  Dr. 
Henry  Reynolds,  of  New  York  State,  began  practice 
in  1836,  and  has  practiced  constantly  in  the  township 
and  surrounding  country  since,  until  within  three  or 
four  years.  Dr.  S.  R.  Haviland,  who  came  in  1831, 
has  also  practiced  most  of  the  time  since  his  settle- 
ment. 

The  physicians  now  resident  in  Greenwich  are  Drs. 
Amos  Ewing,  R.  H.  Reynolds  and  D.  W.  Rumbaugh. 
Dr.  Ewing,  of  the  allopathic  school,  who  has  been  in 
practice  in  the  village  since  1868,  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Cleveland  Medical  College;  Dr.  Reynolds,  a  son  of 
Dr.  Henry  Reynolds,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Eclectic 
School  of  Cincinnati,  and  has  been  in  practice  since 
18T1.  Dr.  Rumbaugh  came  in  the  latter  part  of  1878. 
He  is  of  the  allopathic  school,  and  received  his  medi- 
cal education  in  the  St.  Louis  and  Cleveland  colleges. 

SOCIETIES. 

THE    GREENWICH    FAIR    ASSOCIATIOX. 

This  association  was  organized  in  April,  1875,  when 
a  meeting  was  held  at  which  it  was  moved  and  adopted 
that  an  association  should  be  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  holding  a  union  fair,  in  the  township,  sometime 
in  June  of  that  year.  The  organization  was  perfected 
l)v  the  election  of  the  following  officers:  M.  B. 
Thomas,  president;  L.  P.  Sisson,  vice  president;  W. 
A.  Hosslei^  secretary:  John  S.  Berry,  treasurer;  J. 
W:  Beach,  (Ruggles),  H.  C.  Washburne,  (New  Lon- 
don). William  P.  Noble,  (Ripley),  William  A.  Knapp, 
(Fitchville).  George  H.  Thomas,  (Fairfield),  William 
Sutton,  S.  -McCnllow,  H.  J.  Gifford,  A.  H.  Leonard, 


(Greenwich),  and  John  Stoner,  (of  Butler  township, 
Richland  county),  directors.  Grounds  were  leased  of 
the  land  and  building  association  upon  which  tlie  fair 
association  erected  suitable  buildings,  and  here  fairs 
have  been  regularly  held  every  season  since  the  incep- 
tion of  the  plan.  These  fairs  have  annually  been 
held  in  the  spring  or  early  summer,  and  the  exhibi- 
tions, especially  in  the  stock  department,  have  been 
of  a  character  which  justly  entitles  the  association  to 
much  credit.  The,  officers  elected  in  1878,  are  as  fol- 
lows: B.  H.  Fowler,  president;  L.  P.  Sisson,  vice 
president;  W.  A.  Hossler,  secretary;  John  S.  Berry, 
treasurer:  W.  J.  Beach,  W.  Hannah,  D.  D.  Wash- 
bui'ne,  H.  Horr,  William  A.  Knapp,  directors. 

HUROX    GRAXfiE,    XO.    186. 

The  Patrons  of  Husbandry  effected  an  organization 
under  the  above  name,  October  30,  1873,  the  charter 
members  being:  Frank  Salisbury,  C.  A.  Washburne 
and  wife;  H.  Griffin  and  wife;  D.  D.  Washburne 
and  wife;  H.  J.  Gifford  and  wife,  William  Sut- 
ton, Miss  0.  Wickofl,  Miss  Martha  Salisburj-,  E. 
Culbertsou,  Preston  Palmer,  W.  J.  Washburne  and 
wife,  J.  A.  Fiost  and  wife,  A.  Jennings,  J.  Strim- 
ple  and  wife,  and  Miss  L.  Frost.  The  first  officers 
elected  were:  J.  A.  Frost,  master;  H.  J.  Gifford,  over- 
seer; J.  Strimple,  secretary;  Frank  Salisbury,  trea- 
surer; D.  D.  Washburne,  lecturer;  A.  D.  Jenney, 
chaplain;  H.  Griffin,  steward;  H.  Griffin,  assistant 
steward;  W.  J.  Washburne,  gatekeeper;  Carrie  Wic- 
koff,  lady  assistant  steward;  :Martha  Salisbury,  Flora; 
Mrs,  H.  J.  Gifford,  Ceres;  Margaret  Washburne,  Po- 
mona. Following  are  the  present  officers;  J.  A. 
Frost,  master;  H.  Horr,  overseer;  H.  E.  Reed,  lec- 
tui-er  J.  Stri  pie,  chaplain;  W.  H.  Sisson,  secretary; 
H.  D.  St.  John,  steward;  J.  R.  Ellis,  gate  keeper; 
Mrs.  H.  Horr,  lady  assistant  steward;  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Sisson,  Pomona;  Mrs.  G.  W.  Ellis,  Flora;  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Sutton,  Ceres;  C.  H.  Horr,  treasurer.  Number  of 
members,  forty-eight. 

LAXD  AXD  BlILllIXG    ASSOCIATIOX. 

This  organization,  which  has  operated  most  power- 
fully and  favorably  in  the  interests  of  Greenwich, 
particularly  tlie  village,  was  incorporated  by  speciul 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1873,  and  the  company  was 
organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  thirteen  thousand. 
The  incorporators  were:  L.  P.  Lisson,  L^.  B.  Thomas, 
Lorenzo  Barrett,  A.  Ewing,  J.  B.  Smith,  W.  A.  Hos- 
sler, W.  T.  Smith  and  S,  W.  Thomas.  The  first 
officers  elected  were  the  following,  who,  by  the  way, 
still  remain  in  their  several  places:  U.  B.  Thomas, 
president;  J.  B.  Smith,  secretary;  J.  W.  Richardson, 
treasurer.  The  object  of  the  association  was  the  en- 
couragement of  local  business  interests  and  the  devel- 
opement  of  the  village.  With  this  end  in  view,  the 
association  purchased  the  Townsend  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  adjacent  to  the  village, 
and  laid  off  forty  acres  of  it   in  town  lots.     These 


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SUTLIFF 

Residence  or  DAVID  SUTLIFF,  Greenwich,  |^uRON  co,o 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


347 


lots,  or  a  great  proportion  of  them,  were  qnickl}'  dis- 
posed of,  at  reasonably  remunerative  figures,  to  good 
parties,  and  upon  them  were  built  the  comfortable 
and  beautiful  homes  which  now  form  the  new  village 
upon  the  northwest  side  of  the  C.  C,  0.  &  I.,  R.  R. 
The  first  building  was  erected  in  1ST4.  The  village 
of  Greenwich  had,  in  that  year,  a  population  of  but 
seventy  souls,  and  now  has  upwards  of  five  hundred 
and  fifty — an  increase  which  is  directly  attributable 
to  the  stimulating  effect  of  the  land  company's  enter- 
prise. The  full  title  of  this  organization,  under 
which  it  was  incorporated,  was  the  Greenwich  land 
company  and  building  association,  but  this  name  im- 
plied more  than  was  covered  by  the  scope  of  the  com- 
pany's intention.  It  was  not  designed  that  the  com- 
pany should  be  a  building  association,  but  simply  a 
land  company,  and  it  has  only  given  encouragement 
to  building  enterprises  by  the  loan  of  its  otherwise 
unemployed  capital. 

GREENWICH    LODGE,    XO.    640,    I.    0.    O.    F. 

This  lodge  was  instituted  July  6,  1876,  with  the 
following  charter  members:  J.  M.  Maynard,  William 
Jackson,  L.  M.  Palmer,  Eugene  Pennington,  M.  A. 
Palmer,  J.  A.  Frost,  James  Skain,  G.  T.  Cupit,  T. 
C.  Adams,  C.  R.  Barber  and  A.  S.  Gilson.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected  for  the  first  term:  William 
Jackson,  N.  G. ;  L.  M.  Palmer,  V.  G. ;  T.  C.  Adams, 
R.  S.;  J.  A.  Frost,  P.  S.;  M.  .B.  Lee,  treasurer.  The 
present  officers  are  as  follows:  M.  B.  Lee,  N.  G. ;  N. 
0.  Griphy,  V.  G.;  E.  S.  Pennington,  R.  S. ;  H.  N. 
King,  P.  S. ;  L.  M.  Palmer,  treasurer. 

CEMETERIES. 

There  are,  including  private  burial  lots,  at  least 
twenty  places  for-the  burial  of  the  dead  in  the  town- 
ship. The  first  gi-ound  set  apart  for  a  cemetery  was 
in  lot  twenty-four,  section  four,  in  laud  owned  by  H. 
G.  Mead.  Yarney  Pearce,  acting  as  his  agent,  allowed 
the  establishment  of  a  cemetery  at  this  location  about 
the  year  1824;  but  when  Alead  came  to  the  township 
sometime  after  he  denied  the  privilege.  At  a  later 
date  Joseph  Washburne  granted  a  piece  of  ground 
near  his  home  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township. 
James  Kniffin  donated  the  land  now  included  in  tlie 
Friends'  cemetery.  The  only  burial  place  of  which 
the  township  has  control  is  in  a  piece  of  land  near  the 
center  of  lot  twenty-two,  first  section,  now  owned  by 
M.  M.  Burgess,  but  in  the  possession  of  Thaddeus 
Fancher  at  the  time  it  was  set  apart  for  the  purjiose 
of  a  cemetery. 

POSTAL  MATTERS. 

The  first  mail  was  carried  through  tiie  township  in 
1829,  and  for  three  years  thereafter,  by  Robert  Inscho, 
of  New  Haven.  He  went  once  a  week  between  New 
Haven  village  and  Medina  county,  upon  horseback. 
The  first  post  office  was  established  at  the  center,  and 


Benjamin  Kniffin  was  the  first  man  who  held  the 
commission  of  postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rufus  Sheldon.  About  the  time  that  the  Cleveland, 
Columbus,  Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis  railroad  was 
constructed,  a  post  office  was  established  at  the  station 
and,  in  fact,  was  kept  in  the  railroad  building  for 
some  time,  Hmim  Townsend  being  postmaster.  He 
was  succeeded  by  John  Barnes,  in  whose  charge  and 
that  of  George  Stedwell,  the  office  remained  nearly 
all  the  time  until  William  B.  Haviland,  the  present 
postmaster,  was  commissioned. 


But  little  was  done  in  road-making  in  this  township, 
which  now  has  from  fifty-five  to  sixty  miles  of  road- 
way, until  1820.  The  north  and  south  center  road 
was  the  first  laid  out.  The  line  was  established  in 
1820  but  only  a  small  portion  of  it  had  been  chopped 
and  cleared  half  a  dozen  years  later.  The  east  and 
west  center  road  was  the  second  one  laid  out.  It  was 
surve\'ed  and  opened  through  the  county.  What  is 
known  as  the  "angling  road"  was  ordered  to  be  laid 
out  in  answer  to  the  petition  of  Ephraim  Barker  and 
others  in  1828  or  1829. 

VILLAGE  OF  GREENWICH  STATION; . 

Greenwich  Station  is  the  only  village  in  the  town- 
ship. It  is  located  upon  the  Cleveland,  Columbus, 
Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis  railroad,  about  one  mile 
from  the  west  towu  line,  and  upon  the  east  and  west 
center  road.  It  would  undoubtedly  have  become  a 
large  village  by  this  time  had  it  not  been  for  the  pe- 
culiar repugnance  that  the  principal  land  owner,  Hi- 
ram Townsend,  had  toward  any  improvement  which 
would  have  stimulated  growth.  The  village  has  had 
almost  its  entire  growth  since  1874,  and  has  in  that 
time  increased  from  a  small  cluster  of  houses  to  a 
village  of  about  five  hundred  population.  As  it  is 
surrounded  by  a  rich  country  and  has  within  its  limits 
the  elements  of  enterprise,  it  is  probable  that  it  will 
achieve  in  the  near  future  quite  an  importance  as  a 
trading  place  and  become  a  good  sized  borough. 
Greenwich  Station  was  incorporated  in  February, 
1879.  It  has  at  present  three  hotels.  The  Seydel 
House,  the  first  one  built  in  the  place,  is  the  principal 
one,  and  now  kept  by  Samuel  Seydel,  who  has  been 
its  landlord  for  two  j'ears,  and  a  resident  in  the  neigh- 
borhood all  his  life.  The  Thompson  House  is  kept 
by  T.  Thompson,  and  the  LTnion  House,  kept  by  An- 
drew Thompson.  Richard  Culver  erected  a  ware- 
house and  elevator  at  the  station,  which  is  at  present 
and  has  been  for  the  past  twelve  years,  managed 
by  John  W.  Richardson,  who  does  a  large  business  in 
handling  grain.  Greenwich  is  also  one  of  the  leading 
places  for  the  shipment  of  cattle  on  the  Cleveland. 
Columbus,  Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis  railroad,  and 
large  numbers  are  handled  here  every  year.  Follow- 
ing are  the  firms  and  individuals  engaged  in  niercan. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


tile  business  and  the  trades  at  this  writing — April, 
18T9: 

Dry  Goods.  Groceries  axd  Country  PRODtcE.— W.  A.  Hossler. 

Dry  Goods  Alone. — J.  S.  Arnold. 

Drigs.— Dr.  A.  W.  Burtch. 

Groceries.— F.  B.  Nickerson,  also  dealer  in  drugs. 

Hardware,  Stoves,  *c.— Milo  B.  Lee. 

Boots,  Shoes  and  Clothing. —J.  B.  Healy 

Contkctionery  a>"D  Cigars— E.  J.  Howell. 

Harskss.— William  Wells. 

Fresh  and  Salted  Meats— W.  A.  Ball. 

FrRXiTURE.— John  Hines. 

MiLiJXKRY.— Miss  Adams,  Mrs.  J.  Hines.  Mrs.  Sherbaue 

Blacksmithing.— A.  Evrett,  Aranson  Kiiiffln,  George  Abbott 

Wagon  Making.— H.  Ferry,  H.  Brown 

THE     MAXUFACTIRIXG    INTERESTS 

of  the  township  are  slight.  The  principal  flouring 
mill  is  located  in  the  village,  and  was  built  in  1872, 
b_y  Ira  Case,  being  the  first  in  the  township  since  the 
old  Washbume  mill.  He  sold  it  to  John  Kincel,  and 
he  to  David  Harvey,  who  is  the  present  owner,  though 
Mr.  Case  is  still  in  charge,  as  practical  miller.  There 
is  a  small  flouring  mill  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
township,  in  what  is  known  as  Xinevah.  There  are 
three  saw  mills.  One  is  owned  by  David  Harvey, 
and  is  run  in  connection  with  his  grist  mill.  The 
other  two  are  both,  also,  located  in  the  village,  and 
are  owned  respectively  l>y  Banks  &  Kuiffiu  and  Jacob 
Helmkee. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


HENRY  G.  WASHBURN 

is  one  of  that  class  of  men  whose  biography  is  a  type 
of  the  history  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived, 
and  an  illustration  of  the  sturdy,  thorough-going 
manner  of  life  that  the  early  settlers  led — a  man  who 
has  attained  to  liis  present  position  of  honor  and  in- 
dependence through  his  own  hard  labor,  and  a  con- 
scientious following  of  the  highest  dictates  of  moral- 
ity. He  began  life  with  two  great  elements  of  suc- 
cess— a  good  name  and  the  willingness  to  work. 
These,  and  the  happy,  healthful  condition  of  mind 
which  naturally  attends  the  other  qualities,  were  his 
only  advantages. 

In  order  that  he  should  be  properly  represented, 
we  shall  follow  the  genealogy  of  the  family  from  the 
first  known  down  to  the  present  representatives.  The 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  James 
Washburn,  of  Westchester  county,  New  York,  was 
born  in  1766,  and  removed  to  Ulster  county  in  1805. 
His  wife,  Judah  Griflin,  was  born  in  1767.  Their 
children  with  the  dates  of  their  birth  were  as  follows: 
Walter,  1790;  Phebe,  1791;  Joseph,  1794;  Hannah, 
1796;  Robert,  1798:  Henry,  1800;  Betsey,  1804;  Ro- 
sannah,  1806;  Sally  Ann,  1808.  All  of  these  children, 
except  Henry  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years,  grew 
up  to  be  men  and  women.     Only  two  are  now  living: 


Rosannah  (Mrs.  Robert  Golden),  resident  in  New 
London  town.ship,  and  Sally  Ann  (Mrs.  M.  Deuman), 
of  Springfield,  Ohio.  Walter  Washburn,  the  father 
of  Henry  G.,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Greenfield, 
Ulster  county,  New  York,  when  at  an  early  age,  and 
in  November,  1809,  took  in  marriage  Nellie  Van  Ben- 
schooten.  The  offspring  of  this  union  were:  Julia 
Ann,  born,  1811,  (now  Mrs.  D.  Carpenter  in  Miss- 
ouri); Henry  G.,  born,  1813:  Louisa  R.  (Mrs.  C.  Ben- 
jamin, of  Sandusky),  1816;  John  (now  in  ifissouri), 
1819;  Hannah  Jane  (deceased),  1822,  and  Maria, 
1824.  Walter  Washburn's  wife  died  in  1825,  at  the 
age  of  forty-three  years,  and  her  remains  were  buried 
in  the  Wawasink  (Ulster  county)  burying  grounds. 
Walter  Washburn  married  Mrs.  Polly  Van  Ben. 
schooten,  net-  Hendricksou,  as  his  second  wife. 
Their  children  were:  Charlana,  born  18.31;  Rosannah. 
18.33;  Joseph  Nelson,  1835:  Harriet  Helen,  1838:  Gil- 
bert Eugene,  1840;  Mary  Elizabeth,  1844;  Judah 
Ann,  1847,  and  Susan  Enieline,  1850.  Walter  AVash- 
burn  came  to  Ohio  in  1833,  bringing  his  wife  and 
seven  children  and  his  mother.  The  journey  was  by 
the  water  route,  and  was  pleasant,  but  without  marked 
event.  The  family  arrived  at  Huron  some  time  in 
May,  and  immediately  went  to  Fitchville  where  Mr. 
Washburn's  brother,  Joseph,  had  settled  in  the  year 
1820.  Mr.  Washburn  spent  upon  his  farm  in  that 
township  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  May  21,  1865,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  loved  aud  respected  by 
all.  He  was  a  quiet,  unassuming  man  who  took  no 
part  in  politics  or  public  affairs,  though  he  ever  had 
an  interest  in  the  accomplishment  of  those  results 
best  for  the  community  and  the  world  at  large.  He 
was  a  man  of  refined  and  rigid  morals,  but  though  of 
religious  nature  and  feeling,  was  at  no  time  connected 
with  any  church.  His  preference  was  for  the  Quaker 
Church,  or  Society  of  Friends,  and  his  life  was  prac- 
tically conformed  to  their  faith. 

Henry  G.  Washburn  came  to  Fitchville  in  1830, 
three  years  before  his  father,  and  remained  there  two 
years,  working  for  his  L'ncle  Jo.seph,  at  all  kinds  of 
labor  that  the  early  settlers  found  to  perform.  It 
was  here  that  he  grew  into  the  habits  of  industry  and 
energetic  action,  which  he  has  ever  since  retained, 
and  which  have  made  him  the  successful  farmci-  and 
good  citizen  that  he  is.  He  worked  hard,  spent 
nothing,  and  the  result  was,  that  he  was  able,  with 
his  two  years"  earnings,  to  pay  for  a  hundred  acres 
of  land,  where  he  now  lives,  upon  the  Ripley  township 
line.  That  purchase  was  the  beginning  in  the  accu- 
mulation of  a  lai-ge  property.  The  land  first  pur- 
chased at  a  cost  of  two  dollars  per  acre,  was  the 
nucleus  of  a  large  farm,  and  the  humble  beginning 
made  there,  led  to  a  most  prosperous  life.  The 
young  man,  after  securing  this  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  by  two  years  hard  work,  spent  several  more  in 
preparing  it  for  cultivation.  He  cleared  away  the 
heavy  timber,  got  the  ground  into  good  condition  for 
bearing  crops,  and  built  the  log  house,  to  which, 
several  years  later,  he  brought  his  bride.     He  mar- 


i?^ — t-i y 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ried,  in  1842,  Ann  Maria,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Rebecca  Van  Benschooten,  of  Berlin  township,  Erie 
county,  who  is  still  his  helpmate.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  this  pair,  viz:  D.  S.,  born  April  8, 
1843,  now  a  prominent  resident  of  Ripley  township; 
S.  Minerva,  born  March  13,  1845,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years;  Alice  E.,  born  December  14, 
1849,  now;  and  Jay,- a  resident,  at  present,  of  Fitch- 
ville,  born  April  14,  1852. 

D.  S.  Washburn  married.  January  24,  1867,  Sarah 
J.  Macomber.  They  have  three  children,  viz:  Anna 
Maud,  born  September  24,  1868;  Earnest  Linton, 
born  August  1,  1870;  and  Inez,  August,  1,  1871. 

Alice  E.  Washburn  married,  July  10,  1878,  W.  E. 
Gaskin. 

Jay  Washburn  married,  June  20,  1873,  Mary  E. 
Bi'ady.  They  have  one  child,  Howard  W.,  born 
August  11,  1874. 

Henry  G.  Washburn  is  known  as  one  of  the  substan- 
tial men  and  most  worthy  citizens  of  Greenwich,  and 
is  universally  respected  for  the  sterling  qualities  he 
possesses.  He  is  known  to  be  the  friend  of  all  good 
works,  and  while  being  of  a  too  retiring  nature  to 
take  active  part  in  public  matters,  has  a  lively  in- 
terest in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  interests  of  the 
people,  either  locally  or  in  a  general  way,  and  is  un- 
usually well  informed  upon  all  current  issues.  He 
has  always  been  a  hard  worker — one  of  that  class 
which  seems  to  have  been  especially  adapted  to  the 
stern,  severe  task  of  I'eclaiming  the  wilderness  and 
bringing  it  into  the  prosperous  condition  of  the 
Western  Reserve  of  to-day.  Moral  example,  as  well 
as  material  labor,  has  contributed  to  the  creation  of 
the  present  prosperity  and  social  well  being  of  our 
comparatively  new  northern  Ohio  settlements,  and 
through  this  means,  as  through  the  other,  Mr.  Wash- 
burn has  brought  to  bear,  as  one  among  many,  his 
proportion  of  influence  and  force. 


WILLIAM  BENSON  ELLIS, 

a  son  of  Clark  and  Thursa  Ellis,  was  born  in  Pompey, 
Onondaga  county,  New  York,  October  7,  1819.  He 
made  a  brief  visit  to  Huron  county,  for  the  first  time, 
in  1840,  but  returned  to  New  York  and  remained 
there  until  the  follbwnng^season,  when  he  removed  to 
Greenwich  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
had  but  two  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  money  that 
he  had  earned,  and  yet  he  succeeded,  after  being  in 
the  township  two  years,  in  accumulating  enough 
money,  in  addition  to  what  he  brought  with  him,  to 
purchase  fifty-five  acres  of  land.  He  cleared  and 
fenced  about  thirty  acres,  and  built  upon  it  a  log 
house.  Having  thus  provided  himself  with  a  home, 
he  was  ready  for  a  wife,  and  he  procured  one  in  the 
l^erson  'of  Mrs.  Esther  Rickard,  who  was  born  in 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio.     The  date  of  their  marriag 


was  April  17,  1843.  There  have  been  born  to  them 
seven  children,  viz. :  George  Washington,  born  Decem- 
ber 14,  1843;  Eliza  Ann,  July  16,  1845;  Julia  Aresta, 
May  3,  1847,— died  March  20,  18G7;  Irvin  Henry, 
September  30, 1852;  Ira  Benson,  April  1, 1856;  Lillie, 
September  18,  1858;  Emma  Adelaide,  June  23,  1865. 
The  three  sons  and  oldest  daughter  are  married,  and 
live  near  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Ellis  has  bought 
from  four  to  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  now  man- 
ages about  two  hundred,  having  given  the  remainder 
to  his  children.  His  present  residence  was  built  in 
1856. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ellis  is,  and  has  always,  been  a 
democrat.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Martin  Van 
Buren,  and  has  ever  since  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  country,  and,  though  he  has  never 
sought  or  held  office,  believes  it  to  be  the  duty  of 
every  citizen  to  exercise  his  right  of  suffrage,  and  to 
do  so  intelligently.  He  has  alwas  been  a  hard-work- 
ing, industrious  man,  and  his  success  has  been  due  to 
no  cause  but  his  own  efforts  and  judicious  economy. 


JOHN  ELLIS, 


a  sou  of  the  same  parents  as  William  Benson  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Onondaga  county.  New  Y'ork,  August 
18,  1816,  and  after  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  worked 
out  by  the  month,  at  three  dollars  per  month,  until 
he  was  nineteen,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
carjjenter  trade.  He  afterward  followed  this  calling 
until  1839,  when  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Greenwich  township,  upon  a  farm  of  fifty  acres,  which 
he  had  purchased  the  year  before,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  George,  of  his  uncle  Ellis,  at  the  rate  of 
five  dollars  per  acre.  The  same  land  is  now  in  pos- 
session of  his  son,  Sidney  H. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  married  about  two  yeai-s  after  com- 
ing into  Ohio,  to  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of  Henry 
Rickert,  born  in^  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  of 
this  uuiou,  eight  children  were  born — four  boj's  and 
four  girls,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living,  and  all 
resident  within  a  radius  of  three  miles  from  the  old 
homestead.  The  names  of  these  descendants  are:  S. 
H.,  T.  B.,  J.  R..  Martin,  C.  L.,  Lina  and  S.  C. 
Hiram  died  when  four  years,  eleven  mouths  and 
fifteen  days  old. 

Mr.  John  Ellis  has  been  long  and  favorably  known 
in  Greenwich,  has  held  various  offices  of  trust,  and 
has  carried  on  extensively  and  successfully  the  busi- 
ness of  farming.  To  his  little  farm  of  fifty  acres,  he 
has  added  from  time  to  time,  through  the  avails  of 
hard  labor  and  judicious  management,  enough  to 
make  the  total  acreage  of  his  land  over  five  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  This  large  property,  which  his 
industry  and  enterprise  liave  acquired,  he  has  divided 
among  his  children,  except  two  hundred  acres,  which 


350 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


he  manages  and  keeps  in  good  shape,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three. 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis,  and  a  view  of  their 
old  home,  appear  upon  another  page  of  this  history, 
as  a  deserved  memorial  of  two  most  estimable  persons. 


JOSEPH  SUTTON. 


Joseph  Sutton,  the  father  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
July  8,  1790,  in  Westchester  county,  New  York,  and 
emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Seneca  county  when 
quite  a  young  boy.  He  married,  November  17,  1811, 
Gabbrina  Gillispie,  who  was  born  in  Tompkins  county, 
October  20,  1790.  She  died  November  12,  1827. 
They  had  nine  children,  Joseph  being  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth.  He  was  born  in  1821,  upon  the  7th 
of  April:  and  moved  with  his  father  to  Jackson 
county,  Michigan,  in  1832.  Joseph  Sutton,  Sr.,  died 
there  m  1836,  and  young  Joseph,  with  two  brothers 
and  one  sister,  came  to  Ohio.  They  arrived  in  Green- 
wich township  July  19,  1836.  Joseph  lived  one  year 
with  his  uncle,  Henry  Sutton,  and  worked  upon  his 
farm  by  the  month.  He  continued  working  for 
id  for  various  persons,  for  seven  years.     He 


was  economical  as  well  as  industrious,  and  in  184.5  he 
had  become  able  to  purchase,  and  pay  for,  one  hun- 
dred and  eiglity  acres  of  land.  Later,  by  a  continu- 
ance of  the  same  thrifty  habits  that  gave  him  his 
favorable  start,  he  added  enough  to  his  possession  to 
make  him  the  owner  of  over  three  hundred  acres  of 
land.  His  principal  occupation  has  always  been  farm- 
ing, and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing of  his  class  in  Greenwich.  He  has,  for  fourteen 
years,  been  assessor  of  personal  property,  and  has 
held  other  oflBces  of  trust.  He  was  captain  of  a  com- 
pany of  colored  soldiers,  in  the  one  hundred  and 
sixty-sixth  regiment,  Ohio  infantry,  and  also  of  a 
company  of  home  guards. 

The  family  with  which  Mr.  Sutton  connected  him- 
self, by  marriage,  was  that  of  Neser  Sutherland,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Ruggles  township,  who  was 
born  in  Westchester  county.  New  York,  August  14, 
1786,  and  who  died  December  29,  1848.  His  wife's 
Hame  was  Phebe.  She  was  born  October  11,  1789, 
and  died  October  23,  1854.  Amy,  one  of  the  seven 
children  of  this  couple,  born  July  2,  1824,  was  mar- 
ried to  Joseph  Sutton  October  30,  1845,  and  is  still 
living  with  him.  They  have  four  children,  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  viz:  Ambrose  Guy,  Hattie  G., 
William  Neser  and  John  J.,  all  of  whom,  except  the 
eldest,  located  in  Kansas,  are  living  with  their  father 
and  mother. 


MR    IcbtPH  bDirON 


Mrs.  Joseph  Sutton. 


FAIRFIELD 


None,  save  those  who  can  look  back  in  their  owu 
lives  to  the  days  when  they  made  a  settlement  in  the 
forest  of  a  new  countrj-,  can  have  anything  like  an 
adequate  appreciation  of  the  toilsome  labor,  privation, 
danger  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  deep  sense  of  isola- 
tion that  the  pioneers  of  the  Western  Reserve  ex- 
perienced. There  was  a  great  deal  to  be  done,  and 
very  little  to  do  it  with.  Food  was  scarce,  and  some- 
times it  was  difficult  to  obtain  a  sufficient  amount  to 
alleviate  hunger.  It  is  said  that  some  of  the  early 
settlers  followed  the  cows  around,  and  selected  leaves 
and  plants  that  they  ate,  for  greens,  knowing  that  the 
instinct  of  the  animals  would  lead  them  to  avoid  any 
thing  of  a  poisonous  nature.  The  pioneers  of  Fair- 
field were  obliged  to  make  a  five  days'  trip  to  Cold 
Creek,  Margaretta  township,  to  get  their  milling 
done.  There  was  but  little  money  in  the  country, 
and  but  little  to  buy  even  had  money  been  plenty. 
Nearly  all  manufactured  implements  brought  a  very 
high  price,  and  the  settlers  often  managed  to  do  the 
work  of  clearing  and  tilling  the  soil,  with  the  tools 
which  their  descendants  would  not  think  of  using. 
Notwithstanding  the  hard  life  they  led,  the  severe 
toil  that  was  necessary  to  procure  even  the  commonest 
conveniences  of  existence  the  pioneers  were  happy 
upon  their  frugal  fare,  and  healthful, — -physically  and 
morally.  They  passed  minor  difficulties  without 
noticing  them,  and  met  and  overcame  the  more  for- 
midable ones  bravely.  The  first  few  pioneers  lent 
willing  aid  to  those  who  came  after  them,  and  thus 
the  severity  of  the  settlers'  experience  was  moderated 
by  degrees  until  the  community  had  attained  a  fair 
growth,  and  the  advantages  of  civilization  had  been 
secured. 

ORIGIXAL    OWNERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 

TOWN  NUMBER  TWO.  IN  THE  TWENTY-SECOND  RANGE. 


Classification  i 


Original  Grantees. 


John  Turnej-  5-.'6 

Isaac  Turney  20 

Widw  Mary  Penfleld  139 


Am't  Classed. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,  £l,ai4 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  2. 
Original  Grantees.       Am't  Loss.        Classifier!  by.  Am't  Ckissed. 


Samuel  Burr 
John  Smedley 
Nathan  Bennett 
Jabez  Disbiow 
Seth  Meeker 


Ebenezer Jessup,Jr.  481 
Jos.  Smedley  ITG 

John  Noyes  l-"i 


Joseph  Gunn  4 

Daniel  Hickoli  6 

Benjamin  Hickok  9 

Alexander  Seward  5 

Preserve  Wood  3 

Judith  Taylor  1 

Bethiah  Jiidd  1 

Moses  Knapn  4 

Hannah  Lockwood  2 

John  McLean  528 

John  Allen  545 

Thaddeus  Benedict,  .349 

Abial  Phillips  6 

Nathan  Taylor,  Jr.  4 

Samuel  Wood  1 

Hannah  Wood  4 

John  McLean  528 

David  Wood  288 

Thomas  Taylor  32 

Samuel  Smedley  415 

John  McLean  528 

Mary  Bascum  32 
Rev.  Noah  Whitman    28 

Hannah  Andrews  15 

Jones  Benedict  1 

Comfort  Wildman  11 

Robert  Bened'ct  2 

Benjamin  Curtiss  4 

Joseph  Bebee  12 

Daniel  Merritt  36 

Jerusha  Mead  7 

Nathaniel  Merrit  46 

Joseph  Mead  39 

Shadrach  Mead  42 

Abigail  Mead  6 


John  McLean 


Alexander  McLean    126      U 


David  Minor 
Samuel  Smedley 
Committee 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1.344 
Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 
Original  Grantees.        Am't  Loss.        Classified  bi/.  An 


Thaddeus  Bui 


Original  Grantees. 

Thaddeus  Burr 
Andrew  Elliott 
Frecilla  Burr 
Gersham  Burr 
Ann  Dimon 
Nathan  Bulkley 
Shadraeh  Mead 


I  Gersham  Burr 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  ' 
Am't  Loss.        Classified  by. 


Am't  Classed, 


Gersham  Burr 
A.  Eliott's  heirs 
Frecilla  Burr 
Gersham  Burr 
Ebenezer  Durian 
David  Judson 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4.   £1,344         7       0 
THE  FIRST  SETTLER  A  WOMAN. 

The  first  clearing  in  the  township  was  made  by  a 
widow  woman,  of  foreign  birth,  named  Sample,  and 
the  boys  in  her  family  of  nine  children — John,  Martha, 
Betsey,  James,  William,  Anna,  Samuel,  Nancy  and 
David.  They  came  from  Newark,  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  year  1816,  and  settled  on  lot  tliirty-six, 
in  the  third  section.  The  widow  was  a  ttoman  of 
very  remarkable  ability,  and  of  strong  constitution. 
The  family  was  very  poor,  and  Mr'^.  Sample  and  her 
l)oys  and  girls  were  compelled  to  live  in  a  manner 
which  many  i)eople  would  consider  impossible.  It  is 
related,  upon  the  best  of  authority,  that  tlie  boys 
wont  liare-footed  all  of  one  winter,  while  they  were 
chopping  timber  and  extending  tiie  clearing  in  which 
their  rude  cabin  stood.  Tliey  heated  large  chips  by 
the  fire,  and  carrying  them  to  the  place  where  they 
were  intending  to  fell  a  tree,  stood  upon  tlieiii  until 

(351) 


353 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


they  grew  cold,  and  then  heated  them  again  and 
again,  until  their  da_y's  work  was  done.  Day  after 
day  they  labored  under  this  disadvantage,  which  less 
hardy  people  would  regard  as  insurmountable.  The 
mother  of  these  boys  was  their  equal,  if  not  superior, 
in  energy  and  spirit,  and  was  ingenious  as  well.  She 
out-reaped  a  man  in  the  grain  field  in  1817,  and 
clothed  her  family  in  cloth  which  she  wove  from  the 
silk  of  wild  nettles.  Mrs.  Sample  married  Jacob  Rush, 
who  died  soon  after.  Her  daughter  Martha,  married 
Amos  Harkness.  The  mother  removed  to  the  west, 
and  lived  to  be  nearly  a  hundred  years  old. 

Jane  Harkness,  one  of  the  children  of  Amos  and 
Martha  (Sample),  married  John  Parrott,  of  Ripley. 
Slie  is  the  only  one  of  the  descendants  of  the  Sample 
family  in  the  vicinity. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Jacob  Rush  came  in  the  year  1816,  or  early  in 
1817,  and  settled  upon  lot  thirty-three,  in  section 
three.  He  married  the  widow  Sample.  Rush  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania, 

Eliphalet  W.  Day  and  his  wife,  Abigail  MofiBtt, 
came  in  the  spring  of  1817,  and  took  up  land  in  lots 
two  and  eleven,  section  three.  They  were  from 
Cayuga  county.  New  York.  A  brother,  Asa  Day, 
came  at  the  same  time,  but  soon  returned  to  New 
York  State.  The  children  who  came  with  them  were 
Lovila  (who  married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Shippey, 
and  is  now  dead),  Laura  (Mrs.  Samuel  B.  Turner, 
also  dead),  Joel  (in  Wisconsin),  Hosea  (in  Missouri), 
Isaac  (in  New  Haven  township),  and  Abigail  (Mrs. 
C.  C.  Parsons,  of  Hartland).  Those  born  after  re- 
moval to  Fairfield  were  John  M.  (dead),  W.  H.  H. 
(in  Indiana),  Wilson  (in  Hartland),  and  B.  T.,  who 
resides  upon  the  old  homestead.  Eliphalet  W.  Day 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  the  first  in  the  town- 
ship. He  had  a  large  share  in  the  work  of  improving 
the  township  and  advancing  the  interests  of  its  peo- 
ple. He  died  irt  18-lG,  having  survived  his  wife  twelve 
years. 

Amos  Harkness,  of  Pennsylvania,  settled,  in  1817, 
upon  lot  fourteen,  section  three. 

Spencer  Baker  and  his  wife,  Betsey  Foote,  came 
from  Onondaga  county  New  York,  in  1819,  being 
twenty-three  days  upon  the  road.  They  had  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  died  when  quite  young. 
Those  who  arrived  at  age  were  Lydia,  Lurintha, 
Loro,  Lncinda  and  Lewis.  They  took  up  land  on 
lot  twenty-three,  section  three.  AVilliam  Baker,  a 
brother,  came  at  tjie  same  time,  bringing  his  wife, 
Leah  Davis.  He  settled  on  lot  one,  section  three,  in 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  township.  They  had  no 
children.  Five  other  brothers  came  within  the  next 
few  years — Siimson,  George,  Sylvester,  Jefferson  J.  and 
Abijah.  Jefferson  had  married  Samantha  Adams. 
He  located  upon  lot  ten,  section  three.  George's 
wife  was  Maria  Moflfitt.  He  took  land  in  hit  twelve, 
section  three,  Samson  in  lot  tiiiity-s('v<'ii.  and  Abijah 
in  lot  thirty-eight,  same  section. 


Phillip  Moffitt,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  for 
several  years  a  resident  of  Onondaga  county,  came  in 
early  in  1819,  with  his  wife,  Hannah  Baker,  taking 
up  land  in  lot  fourteen,  section  three.  After  living 
in  Fairfield  fifteen  years,  they  removed  to  Crawford 
county. 

Aaron  Smith  moved  to  Fairfield  in  1820,  bought 
Spencer  Baker's  farm,  in  lot  twenty-three,  section 
three,  and  lived  there  for  thirty-five  years.  He  died 
in  1855,  and  his  wife  in  1851.  A  daughter,  the  wife 
of  Frederick  Parrott,  lives  upon  the  old  homestead. 

Havilah  Smith,  a  cousin  of  the  above,  of  Cayuga 
county.  New  York,  came  with  his  wife,  Sally  Har- 
wood,  in  1822,  and  settled  on  lot  twenty-two,  section 
three.  After  making  some  improvements  under  great 
disadvantages,  he  sold  out  to  Reuben  M.  Cherry,  for 
one  hundred  dollars,  and  removed  to  the  eastern  part 
of  the  township  where  he  bought  land  of  Joseph 
Crawford.  He  cleared  up  this  farm,  and  sold  it  to 
Israel  P.  Weeks,  and  then  bought  a  little  north  of  the 
center  of  the  township,  upon  the  old  State  road,  lot 
thirty-one  and  a  part  of  lot  thirty.  Beginning  with 
nothing  he  became  eventually  one  of  the  richest 
farmers  in  the  township.  His  children  who  arrived 
at  age,  were:  Joseph,  Walter,  Harriet,  Lucy  and 
Matilda. 

John  Cherry  and  Permelia  Adams,  his  wife,  of  Seni- 
j^ronius.  New  York,  came  into  Fairfield  in  1821. 
They  moved  with  an  ox  team,  brought  a  drove  of  a 
dozen  or  more  cows,  a  number  of  sheep,  etc.  They 
located  on  lot  thirty-five,  in  section  three.  Mr.  Cherry 
was  one  of  the  hardest  workers  among  the  pioneers. 
He  had  four  children  whose  names  were:  Phebe  Mi- 
nerva, John,  William  Adams,  and  Emma  Cemantha. 
Two  brothers  of  John  Cherry,  William  and  Reuben 
M.,  the  former  born  in  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
and  the  latter  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  be- 
came residents  of  Fairfield  soon  after  the  arrival  of 
John. 

Reuben  M.,  and  his  wife,  Berilla  Snow,  came  in 
1823,  and  bought  out  Havilah  Smith,  on  lot  twenty- 
two,  section  three.  They  had  four  children:  Eunice 
(afterward  Mrs.  0.  Tayton,  of  Wood  county,  Ohio); 
Udolpha  (Mrs.  T.  F.  Hildreth,  of  Sandusky);  Lu- 
cinda  (Mrs.  J.  Mitchell)  and  Eugene.  Mr.  Ciierry 
died  in  1850,  and  his  widow  is  still  living,  at  this 
writing. 

William  Cherry  and  wife,  Hannah  Foote,  came  into 
the  township  in  June,  1825,  and  settled  on  lots  twenty- 
seven  and  twenty-eight,  section  three.  Their  children 
were:  Adaline  (Mrs.  Homer  Austin);  Milton,  and 
Byron.  Mr.  Cherry  died  in  1859.  Before  coming 
to  Ohio,  William  Cherry  spent  some  time  in  teaching 
school,  and  at  one  time  had  as  a  pupil  Millard  Fillmore, 
afterwards  President  of  the  United  States.  Later  in 
life  he  corresponded  with  Mr.  Fillmore,  and  once  en- 
tertained him  at  his  house  in  Fairfield. 

Jeremiah  Kingsbury  and  his  wife,  Ellen  Pen  field, 
of  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  settled  in  IS21, 
upon  lot  sixteen,  section  three. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


353 


Eleazer  Joues  and  his  wife,  Mari;i  Keith,  settled  in 
the  same  yeai\  or  the  one  following,  upon  lot  thirty- 
foxir. 

The  Crawforcls — John,  Joseph  and  James,  came  in 
about  this  time,  but  did  not  remain. long. 

Samuel  Foote,  of  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  came 
to  Fairfield  in  Februarj',  1819,  in  company  with 
Spencer  Baker  and  Philip  Moffitt.  He  returned  to 
New  York  State,  and  brought  his  family  to  the  home 
he  had  provided  for  them,  in  1823.  He  took  up  lot 
nine,  section  three.  The  family  consisted  of  eight 
children:  Delia,  Franklin,  Hevceilia,  Maria,  Henry, 
Ramus,  Alma  and  Lyndon. 

Hosea  Shippj',  of  Scmpronius,  New  York,  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers,  but  did  not  long  remain  in  the 
township.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Irwin  came  in, 
and  lived  for  a  short  time  at  Hoyt's  Corners. 

Ransom  B.  Ellsworth,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  his 
wife,  Eliza  Prentiss,  of  Onondaga  county.  New  York, 
came  to  Fairfield  in  1831,  settling  on  lot  thirty-three, 
section  three.  Mr.  Ellsworth  soon  sold  out,  and  re- 
moved to  Peru  where  he  is  living  at  this  writing. 

Col.  William  Greenfield  was  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent of  the  early  comers,  and  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising.    He  arrived  in  June,  1823,  with  his  wife, 

Cole,  of  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  and  took 

up  land  in  lots  three,  four  and  five,  section  four.  He 
did  much  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  community, 
and  was  unsparing  in  efforts  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  township.     He  died  about  18.50. 

About  the  same  time  that  Ellsworth  and  Greenfield 
became  residents  of  the  township,  several  others 
entered  the  settlement.  John  Dimmitt,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  settled  upon  lot  twenty-six  iu  section  three. 
He  was  married  to  Angelina  Hinkley.  Clark  Berry 
and  his  brother,  Spencer,  of  Onondaga  county.  New 
York,  arrived  in .  1823,  and  the  former  settled  upon 
lot  twenty-six,  section  two.  His  children  w-ere:  John 
S.,  in  Greenwich;  Jefferson,  Danford  W.,  and  Clark 
Wheaton,  dead;  Chauncey,  in  New  London,  and 
Celia  (Mrs.  N.  K.  Carpenter),  iu  Michigan.  Silas 
Adams,  the  grandfather  of  Clark  Berry,  and  his  wife, 
Sally  Wheaton,  came  a  year  or  so  later,  and  located 
upon  lot  sixteen  in  section  three.  Their  children 
were:  Sally,  Betsey,  Prudence,  Millie  and  Samantha 
(Mrs.  J.  Baker);  all  are  dead,  but  the  last  named. 

Gardner  Eldridge  and  his  wife.  Charity  Bentley, 
came  from  Sempronius,  Cayuga 'county.  New  York, 
in  1822,  and  located  upon  lot  twenty-one,  in  section 
three.  George,  a  brother  of  Gardner,  came  at  the 
same  time. 

Benjamin  Lee,  of  Niles,  Cayuga  county.  New  York, 
bought  land — lot  four,  section  three — in  1833,  and 
in  the  following  year  moved  his  family  into  Fairfield. 
His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Warner  Smitli. 
They  raised  a  large  family. 

In  182-1  quite  a  number  of  settlers  arrived.  Philo 
B.  Scott  and  Henry  W.  Brown,  of  New  York  State, 
located  upon  adjoining  lots — thirty-six  and  thirty- 
seven,  in  section  two.     Jacob  Huick,  of  Pennsylvani:;, 


took  up  lot  two,  in  the  same  section.  Nathaniel 
Burdick  and  his  wife,  Sally  Doud,  took  up  their 
residence  upon  lot  five,  in  section  three.  Peter  Adams 
and  his  wife,  Esther  Morey,  were  from  Cayuga  county. 
New  York.  They  took  up  lot  twenty-one,  section 
three.  A  man,  rejoicing  iu  the  highly-colored  name 
of  Wright  Blue,  took  up  lot  seven,  in  section  four, 
and  after  remaining  five  or  six  years,  went  further 
west. 

Asa  and  Orson  Carpenter,  of  New  York  State, 
arrived  in  1835,  and  tiie  former  purchased  land  in  lot 
thirty-two,  section  two.  John  Carpenter  also  came 
in  at  an  early  day. 

During  the  year  1826,  the  settlement  was  largely 
increased.  Elijah  Price,  of  Cayuga  county,  New 
Y^ork,  took  up  lot  seventeen,  section  two.  Samuel 
Pentield,  of  Connecticut,  came  during  this  year, 
and  brought  with  him  three  sisters.  He  was  the 
first  wagon-maker  in  the  township.  Nathan  Tread- 
well,  also  of  Connecticut,  came  in  the  same  year, 
and  married  a  sister  of  Samuel  Penfield  soon  after. 
He  settled  upon  lot  twenty-two,  in  section  one. 
Isaac  De  Witt,  of  Onondaga  county.  New  Y'ork,  took 
up  lot  thirty-seven,  in  section  four.  His  brothers 
came  at  the  ^ame  time,  but  soon  moved  away. 

Walter  Hoyt  and  Alvin  Whitten  arrived  in  1827. 
Both  were  from  Cayuga  county,  New  York.  The 
first  mentioned  bought  about  five  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  the  Whiting  tract,  northwest  corner  of  the 
fourth  section.  He  married  Caroline  Benson,  before 
coming  to  Fairfield,  and  she  dying,  in  1838,  he  took 
as  his  second  wife  Betsey  Cole,  of  Cayuga  county. 
His  children,  by  both  wives,  were:  Ichabod,  Elma, 
Mercy,  Bradley,  Alma  and  Charles.  Alvin  Whitten 
married,  in  1832,  Leah  Snow.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren: Corodon,  Berrilla,  Emma,  and  another,  who 
died  young.  Mr.  Whitten  was  seriously  hurt  by  the 
discharge  of  a  gun  on  the  -Ith  of  July,  1839. 

Selden  Joues,  a  New  Y''ork  man,  came  about  this 
time,  but  moved  into  Ripley  after  a  short  residence 
in  the  township. 

Walter  Branch  arrived  in  1828.  He  was  born  in 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  and  had  lived  in  various 
localities  in"  that  State.  When  he  came  into  Fairfield 
he  purchased  lots  forty  and  forty-one,  in  section  three. 
He  represented  Huron  county  in  the  legislature  in 
the  session  of  1838-9,  and  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
Fairfield.  He  was  married  in  1831  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  Abijah  Benson,  then  of  New  York  State,  afterward 
a  resident  of  Fairfield.  She  was  the  mother  of  six 
children — Walter,  Vine,  Prudence,  Augustus,  Mary 
and  Louisa.  The  first  three  died  young.  Mrs. 
Branch  died  in  1843,  and  Captain  Branch  (he  ob- 
tained the  title  in  the  war  of  1812  (married  Pliilo 
Dexter,  by  whom  he  had  several  children. 

Henry  Randall  came  to  Fairfield  previous  to  1827. 
He  was  killed  at  a  barn  raising  in  1828.  Henry  W. 
Brown  came  about'this  time,  and  located  east  of  the 
center. 

The  rapid  increase  in  the  size  of  the  settlement  be- 


354 


HISTOKY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


gan  about  1830.  Christopher  Irwin  came  from  Vir- 
ginia, and  settled  upon  lot  thirty,  section  three.  He 
married  a  sister  of  Elijah  Price.  Eliah  Price  and  his 
brother,  William,  came  soon  after.  They  were  fi-om 
Cayuga  county.  New  York.  Elijali  settled  upon  lot 
thirteen,  section  two,  and  his  brother  soon  removed 
to  Clyde.  Chauncey  Tuttle,  of  Onondaga  county, 
New  I'ork,  settled  upon  lot  sixteen,  sectiou  four. 
Timothy  West,  of  Cayuga  county,  and  his  sons, 
George  E.,  William  and  Sexton  P..  came  into  the 
county  early  in  1831,  and  took  up  their  residence 
upon  lot  tweuty-one,  section  four.  Ebenezer  Foote, 
the  father  of  Samuel  Foote,  came  and  l)rought  his 
family  in  1832.  His  wife's  name  was  Lydia  Gage, 
and  his  children  were:  Betsey,  Daniel,  Ramus,  Abi- 
gail, Rhoda,  Sylvia,  Marcus  and  Luke,  twins.  Alma, 
Electa  (afterward.--  Mrs.  S.  Adams),  Verona  (Mrs  D. 
Johnson)  and  Ebenezer,  Sherwood  Wakemau,  of 
Tompkins  county,  settled  upon  lot  seventeen,  section 
one.  His  father,  John,  and  three  other  sons,  Wm. 
H.,  Bradley  and  Eli,  came  with  him  at  the  same  time. 
Benjamin  Hildreth.  from  the  same  county,  settled 
upon  lot  fourteen  also,  in  section  one.  H.  L.  Moul- 
ton,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  for  some  time  a 
resident  of  New  York,  took  up  lot  three,  section  four. 
David  Johnson  came  at  the  same  time  as  the  Foote 
family,  and  settled  upon  lot  twenty-two,  sectiou  four. 
His  wife,  at  that  time,  was  Sylvia  Foote,  He  after- 
ward married  Verona.  Johnson  was  from  Cayuga 
county,  Joseph  K.  Owen  and  liis  wife,  Elizabeth,  of 
Orange  county,  New  York,  took  u\)  lut  thirteen,  sec- 
tion one,  in  lS3i.  Walter  Holmes  settled  upon  lots 
eighteen  and  nineteen,  in  sectiou  four,  James  Hop- 
kins and  his  wife,  Sarah  Jane  Owen,  of  Tompkins 
county,  New  York,  took  up  lots  seventeen  and  twenty, 
section  four.  Elisha  Savage  came  in  at  the  same 
time.  The  Rev,  Wm,  C,  Huestis  and  his  wife,  Han- 
nah Owen,  of  Perry,  Wyoming  county.  New  York, 
came  during  the  same  year.  Their  land  was  in  lots 
twenty-one  and  eight,  section  one.  J,  W,  is  now  in 
Fairfield,  and  another  son,  William,  in  Indiana. 
Reuben  Burras  and  his  father-in-law,  Peleg  Standish, 
came  at  this  time.  Wm.  Bowen,  of  Cayuga  couutj', 
brought  in  a  large  family,  and  took  up  his  residence 
upon  lots  twenty-two  aud  twenty-three,  section  four, 
Isaac  Godfrey,  of  Onondaga  couuty,  bought  some 
property  of  Colonel  Greenfield,  at  Steam  Cornere. 
Solomon  and  Margaret  Davis  and  a  son,  James,  set- 
tled at  the  center.  They  were  from  Onondaga  couuty, 
L.  D.  Allen,  Esq.,  of  Ulysses,  Tompkins  county. 
New  York,  came  during  this  year.  He  married  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  John  DeBow.  He  has  been  justice 
of  the  peace  for  twenty-seven  years:  has  held  the  office 
of  township  clerk,  and  was  sheriff  of  Huron  county  iu 
1864.  Thomas  Place  came  from  the  same  couuty  as 
Squire  Allen.  He  located  upon  lot  thirty-nine,  sec- 
tion four.  His  son,  T,  W,,  now  lives  in  the  town- 
ship. John  Barnes  settled  during  this  year.  Israel 
P.  Weeks,  also  of  Tomjikins  county,  settled  in  1835, 
upon   lot   thirty-seven,  section   two.     E,  D,  Tanner 


took  lot  nine,  .section  one,  A.  C.  Taylor,  of  tlie  same 
county  in  New  York,  came  during  the  same  year  as 
the  above,  to  North  Fairfield.  George  Silliman,  of 
Conuecticut,  came  in  1836.  A.  E.  Smith,  came  in 
the  same  year  from  New  York  State,  and  bought  the 
Jones  farm.  John  DeBow,  of  Seneca  county,  came 
in  the  spring  of  1836,  but  soon  after  moved  to  Indi- 
ana, where  lie  died,  Hawley  S.  Belden  came  iu  tiie 
same  year  from  Ontario  county,  New  York.  Abijah 
Benson,  of  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  came  iu 
1833.  He  was  a  soldier  iu  the  war  of  1812,  and  lield 
a  captain's  commission. 

Among  tliose  who  came  in  at  a  later  period,  we 
mention  William  and  Hannah  Parrott  aud  their  son. 
Frederick  Parrott,  natives  of  England,  who  took  up 
the  farm  in  lots  twenty-four  and  twenty-five,  section 
three.  Lyman  Peck,  of  Herkimer  county,  wlio  took 
up  lots  forty-two  aud  forty-three,  sectiou  two,  and 
Davis  Miller,  who  came  in  the  same  year  from  Wash- 
ington county.  New  York.  Peck  married  Merilda 
Mead,  a  daughter  of  David  Mead.  Clinton  McKel- 
logg  came  in  1844. 

BEAR    KILLIXG    EXTKAORIiIX Ali Y. 

When  the  settlement  was  new,  bears,  deer,  wolves 
and  other  animals  were  found  in  great  abundance. 
The  bears  made  hunting  something  more  than  a  dil- 
letanti  amusement;  the  deer  afforded  food  for  the 
table  aud  clothing  for  the  hunters;  the  wolves  were 
simply  an  annoyance,  aud  the  miuor  animals  lent 
variety  to  the  sport  of  hunting  and  to  the  larders  of 
the  pioneers'  houses.  Several  bears  were  killed  in 
the  township.  We  narrate  one  instance,  as  it  is 
somewhat  novel  one,  and  although  seemingly  outside 
of  the  realm  of  probability,  if  not  of  possibility,  is 
vouched  for  by  those  whose  word  is  above  suspicion  of 
unreliability.  George  Eldridge,  while  passing  through 
the  woods,  one  day,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, where  the  Jenning's  farm  now  is,  saw,  at  a 
little  distance,  a  full  grown  bear  standing  upon  the 
trunk  of  a  large  fallen  tree.  He  raised  his  rifle,  took 
a  steady  aim  and  fired.  The  bear  "fell  down  behind 
the  tree,  and  Eldridge,  not  knowing  wiiether  he  had 
killed  him  or  not,  reloaded  his  gun.  He  had  no  balls 
and  so  put  in  a  beech  slug.  He  had  no  sooner  got 
his  gun  iu  readiness  for  use,  then  lie  saw  the  head  of 
bruin  raised  above  the  tree  trunk.  Tie  fired,  and  the 
animal  dropped  froni  sight.  The  hunter  prudently 
loaded  a  second  time  and  as  quickly  as  possible,  for 
in  those  days  no  man  felt  safe  when  in  the  woods  un- 
less provided  for  any  emergency.  After  ramming 
the  second  beech  slug  home,  he  waited  a  few  seconds, 
and  was  rewarded  with  a  third  shot,  which,  like  the 
former  ones,  apparently  took  effect.  Again  the  i^ear 
fell  from  the  log.  Reloading  the  rifle,  Eldridge  went 
cautiously  forward  to  see  whether  the  three  shots 
fired  liad  quite  ended  the  animal's  life,  and  on  reach- 
ing the  tree  trunk  and  looking  over  it,  was  surprised 
to  find  three  dead  bears  instead  of  one.  He  had  sup- 
posed, all  of  the  time,  that  there  was  but  one  bear  in 


r 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


355 


the  viciuity,  tliiit  the  tirst  and  second  shots  hiid  only 
slightly  wounded  him,  and  that  he  liad  each  time, 
after  recovering  his  surprise,  again  claniered  upon 
the  tree  to  recounoiter  the  enemy.  The  trio  consisted 
of  a  she  bear  and  two  cabs,  more  than  half  grown. 
The  old  bear  weighed  four  hundred  ponrnds,  and 
her  flesh  furnished  food  for  several  families.  This 
bear  killing  episode  was  commonly  looked  upon  as 
something  reflecting  great  credit  upon  Mr.  Eldridge. 
He  was  a  good  marksman,  but  probably  his  success 
in  this  instance  depended  as  much  upon  "good  luck," 
or  the  kindness  of  fate,  as  upon  his  ability.  Killing 
three  bears  in  a  period  of  time  measured  by  about  as 
many  minutes,  and  with  only  three  shots,  two  of 
them  with  bits  of  wood  in  the  place  of  leaden  ball, 
is  a  feat  not  often,  if  ever,  equaled.  The  adventure 
became,  and  was  for  a  long  time,  the  subject  of  much 
wonder  throughout  the  neighboi-hood. 

A    MURDER   TRIAL. 

About  the  year  1825,  there  was  great  excitement  in 
the  community  caused  by  the  wide-.spread  suspicion 
that  a  murder  had  been  committed.  A  certain  peri- 
patetic philosopher  named  "Tug"  Carpenter,  who 
went  from  house  to  house  through  the  settlement, 
making  and  mending  shoes,  was  missing.  Search 
was  made,  but  he  could  not  be  found.  He  had  been 
making  his  home  at  the  house  of  Wright  Blue.  Thus 
far  he  could  be  traced,  and  uo  further.  There  were 
some  who  believed  that  he  had  been  foully  dealt  with 
l)y  Blue,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  suspicion 
grew  stronger,  as  evil  thoughts  when  cherished  always 
will.  Finally  Wright  Blue  was  arrested  and  tried  be- 
fore Eleazer  Jones  for  murner.  The  excitement  of 
the  trial,  however,  was  destined  to  be  brought  to  a 
speedy  and  pleasantly  melo-dramatic  close.  While 
the  inquiry  was  progressing,  "Tug,"  the  innocent 
cause  of  considerable  anxiety,  walked  into  the  midst 
of  the  little  assemblage.  Blue  burst  into  tears  upon 
this  sudden  and  complete  clearing  away  of  the  dark 
cloud  that  had  hung  over  him,  but  soon  regained 
composure  and  received  the  kindly  congratulations  of 
his  friends  upon  the  happy  ending  of  what  had 
threatened  to  be  a  very  serious  affair. 

FOURTH    OF    JULY,    1823. 

On  tlie  Fourth  of  July,  1832,  about  four  hundred 
jieople  from  Norwalk,  Greenfield,  Monroe,  Fitchville, 
New  Haven,  Bronson  and  other  townships,  joined 
with  the  residents  of  Fairfield  in  a  very  enjoyable 
celebration.  A  liberty  pole  one  hundred  and  five  feet 
long  was  I'aised,  and  the  assemblage  was  addressed  in 
patriotic  style  by  Dr.  M.  C.  Saunders.  The  dinner 
was  cooked  .n  a  huge  caldron  kettle  by  Captain 
Phillip  MoSitt.  It  consisted  of  venison,  potatoes  and 
some  other  articles  in  small  quantities  stewed  np  to- 
gether. Whortleberries,  which  grew  in  abundance, 
was  furnished  for  desert.  Many  life-long  acquain- 
tances and  friendships  were  made  between  the  pio- 
neers, who  gathered  upon  this  occasion  from  nearly 


all  parts  of  the  county.  Since  tlien  there  have  been 
larger  and  more  ambitious  celebrations  in  Fairfield, 
but  never  one  more  enjoyable.  The  meeting  was 
held  upon  Eliphalet  W.  Day's  farm. 

FIRST    EVE.NTS. 

The  child  first  born  in  the  township  was  John,  son 
of  Eliphalet  W.  and  Abigail  Day.  He  was  born  in 
April,  1819.  The  first  child  born  who  lived  to  be 
twentj'-one  years  of  age,  was  W.  H.  H.,  a  son  of  the 
same  parents.     He  was  born  in  1830. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child  of  Benjamin 
Barker,  in  May,  1833.  There  were  five  other  deaths 
during  the  same  year — Eleanor  Eldridge,  John  Day 
(the  first  born),  another  child  from  the  same  family, 
a  child  of  John  and  Permelia  Cherry,  and  one  of 
Samuel  and  Eliza  Foote. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Amos  Harkness  to 
Maltha  Sample,  in  1817.  The  first  couple  married 
by  Squire  Ellsworth,  the  first  justice  of  the  peace, 
was  Oliver  Shippey  and  Hannah  Bentley,  in  1833. 

The  first  law  suit  between  Fiiirfield  parties  was 
caused  by  the  fact  that  Gardner  Eldridge  left  some 
syrup  exposed  in  iiis  sap  bush,  and  that  a  certain  ox, 
the  property  of  Amos  Harkness,  loving  it  not  wisely 
but  too  well,  drank  thereof  to  excess  and  died.  The 
case  was  settled  by  the  defendant  agreeing  to  chop 
for  the  plaintiff  four  acres  of  timber.  Eldridge  being 
in  poor  health,  the  witnesses  relieved  him  from  his 
task  and  did  the  chojiping  themselves  to  the  plain- 
tiff's satisfaction. 

The  first  log  cabin  was  built  liy  the  Samples  upon 
lot  thirty-six  in  section  three.  The  first  frame  build- 
ing was  erected  by  Aaron  Smith.  It  is  still  in  use  as 
a  corn-house  upon  the  farm  of  Frederick  Parrott, 
who  lives,  by  the  way,  in  a  house  built  in  1830,  and 
in  which  his  wife  was  born.  The  tirst  framed  barn 
and  house  was  built  by  Spencer  Baker,  about  1836. 
The  first  brick  houses  were  those  of  Havilah  Smith 
and  L;  T.  Benson. 

The  first  tavern  was  built  about  1835,  and  is  still 
standing,  a  part  of  the  Fairfield  House.  "  Tlie  first 
landlord  was  Otis  Thornton. 

The  first  chopping  was  made  where  Frederick  Par- 
rott's  house  stands. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Fairfield  township  was  named  after  Fairfield,  Con- 
necticut. It  was  detatched  from  Bronson,  and  or- 
ganized in  1833,  the  election  being  held  at  a  school 
house  in  the  third  section,  and  the  folloAving  voters 
taking  part  in  the  choice  of  officers:  1,  Philip  Moffitt; 
3,  William  Baker;  3,  George  Baker;  4,  Nathan  Baker; 
5,  Spencer  Baker;  6,  William  Sample;  7,  Isaac  De 
Witt:  8,  Aaron  Smith;  9,  John  Crawford:  10,  Joseph 
Crawford:  11,  Ransom  B.  Ellsworth;  13,  Henry  W. 
Brown;  13,  Philo  B.  Scott:  14,  Eliphalet  W.  Day; 
15,  Amos  Harkness;  10,  John  Sample;  17,  Ira  Bron- 
son; 18,  John  De  Witt;  19,  Jacob  Rush;  30,  Eleazer 
Jones;  31,  Gardner  Eldridge;  33,  John  Cherry. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Eliphalet  W.  Da\"  was  clerk  of  the  election.  Ran- 
som B.  Ellsworth  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace; 
Philip  Moffitt,  Spencer  Baker  and  Ransom  B.  Ells- 
worth, trustees;  Eleazer  Jones,  clerk;  Spencer  Baker, 
constable. 

The  township  oflBcers  elected  in  1878,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Wilbur  Huson,  clerk:  Leonard  Carpenter,  P. 
L.  Mitchell,  T.  AV.  Place,  trustees;  J.  G.  Oates, 
assessor;  David  Johnson,  treasurer;  L.  D.  Allen,  J.  G. 
Oates,  justices  of  the  peace;  M.  A.  Tattle,  John 
Snyder,  Jr.,  constables:  B.  T.  Day,  Edgar  Bun-ows, 
Samuel  L.  Harvey,  J.  Q.  Woodworth,  Isaiah  Cline, 
C.  McKellogg,  H.  H.  McKibben,  W.  R.  Smith,  Em- 
met Hinkley,  school  board. 

PHYSICIAL    FEATIRES. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  quite  level,  except 
in  the  northwest  portion  where  there  are  ridges  and 
curiously  formed  hills.  The  soil  throughout  is  rich, 
and  there  is  no  waste  laud.  The  whole  township  was 
originally  covered  with  an  unusually  heavy  growth  of 
timber — maple,  beech,  whitewood  and  black  waluut, 
the  last  two  varieties  being  found  in  great  quantity. 
Black  waluut  was  so  common  that  it  was  used  m 
large  quantity  for  fence  rails  by  the  earliest  settlers. 
Many  of  these  old  rails  have  since  been  worked  up 
into  furniture  and  house  finishing  material.  The 
jH-incipal  stream  in  the  township  is  a  tributary  of  the 
Huron  river,  and  flows  westward  through  sections 
one  and  four,  thence  northward  through  section  three 
into  Brouson.  Fords  creek  runs  through  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  township,  and  empties  into  the 
Huron  river  in  Greenfield  township.  There  is  a 
sandstone  formation  underlying  the  whole  township, 
and  it  occasionally  crops  out  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
be  available  for  use.  There  are  stone  quarries  in  the 
first,  second  aud  third  sections,  but  none  of  them  are 
worked  upon  an  extensive  scale. 

Upou  the  farm  of  Clark  Berry  there  is  a  salt  well. 
Some  of  the  early  settlers  took  water  from  a  spring 
at  this  place,  and  boiled  it  down,  securing  a  small 
quanity  of  salt.  The  Grovers  afterward  bored  a  well 
here,  but  lost  their  drill  in  the  hole,  and  abandoned 
the  enterprise. 


The  center  road,  north  and  south,  was,  as  originally 
cut  through  the  forest,  the  Harrison  road.  It  was 
made  by  the  General's  troops,  aud  subsequently  was 
straightened  and  improved.  In  1825,  when  the  new 
State  road  was  laid  out  eleven  miles  through  Fairfield 
and  portions  of  Ripley  aud  Bronsou,  the  residents  of 
this  township  gave  material  assistance  to  the  enter- 
prise. Benjamin  Lee,  Jonathan  Kingsbury,  R.  M. 
Cherry,  William  Clierry,  Silas  Adams,  Eleazer  Jones, 
Samson  Baker,  William  Greenfield,  Clark  Berry  and 
Samuel  Foote,  gave  their  services.  The  road  cost  one 
Imndred  dollars  per  mile.  The  west,  or  ridge  road, 
was  laid  out  at  an  early  day. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CIU-RCH. 

The  earliest  religious  organization  in  Fairfield  was 
a  Methodist  class,  formed  in  1822.  It  had  less  than 
half  a  dozen  members.  From  this  small  beginning 
has  grown,  by  a  stead}'  but  slow  advancement,  a 
strong  church,  numbering,  in  1879,  one  hundred  and 
and  five  members.  At  one  time  every  professor  of 
religion  in  the  town  was  a  member  of  this  church. 
Its  old '  members  were  untiring  in  their  exertions  to 
increase  the  strength  of  the  society,  and  those  whom 
they  brought  into  the  church,  maintained  the  same 
high  standard  of  zealous  activity.  A  house  of  worship 
was  built,  which  cost  one  thousand  six  hundred 
dollars.  Many  revivals  have  been  had,  and  the 
Christian  spirit  of  the  church  has  never  been  suffered 
to  abate.  The  present  organization  is  as  follows  : 
Rev.  E.  J.  V.  Boothe,  Rev.^H.  B.  Palmer,  Rev.  J.  T. 
Kellam,  superannuated,  ministers;  Theodore  Bough- 
ton,  J.  H.  Curtiss,  C.  H.  Chapman,  Amos  Curtiss, 
J.  W.  Felton  and  Hiram  Tooker,  class  leaders;  C.  H. 
Chapman,  Theodore  Boughton  and  W.  H.  Pinckney, 
stewards;  M.  M.  Hester,  recording  steward  ;  A.  C. 
Taylor,  Oliver  Ganung,  Jonathan  Heustis,  E.  R. 
Cherry,  C.  H.  Chapman,  Theodore  Boughton,  J.  H. 
Curtiss,  trustees:  0.  L.  Calvin,  Sunday  school  super- 
intendent. The  house  of  worship  of  this  so  ciety  was 
built  in  1844. 

THE    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

was  organized  January  1,  1832.  Upon  that  day  there 
assembled  at  Samuel  Footers,  the  following  persons, 
who  became  the  constituent  members  of  the  church: 
Henry  Terry,  Jacob  Hicks,  Frederick  Hicks,  William 
Baker,  Selden  Jones,  George  T.  Foote,  Eben  Guthrie, 
Samuel  Foote,  Epanetus  Starr,  Jeremiah  Kingsbury, 
Sally  Kingsbury,  Roxanna  Terry.  Lois  Hoyt.  Rebecca 
Jones,  Eliza  Hicks,  Rachel  Hicks.  Elizabeth  Sum- 
merlain,  Cemantha  Baker,  Sally  Berdick,  Eliza  Foore, 
Huldah  Starr,  Avis  Beam,  Leah  Baker,  Esther  Foote 
and  Mrs.  Lovell — twenty-five  in  all.  Soon  after  its 
organization,  the  church  was  divided,  a  number  of  its 
members  living  in  Bronson,  and  desiring  to  form  a 
church  of  their  own  in  that  township.  A  conference 
was  also  formed  at  New  Haven,  which  withdrew 
some  from  the  Fairfield  church.  Notwithstanding 
these  adverse  circumstances,  the  church,  after  an  ex- 
istence of  twenty-five  years,  had  a  membershii)  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  persons.  About  1860,  the  church 
began  to  decline  and  sufEerred  the  loss  of  many  mem- 
bers A  good  church  edifice  was  built  upon  a  valuable 
lot,  and  kept  in  excellent  repair.  The  church  has 
always  been  characterized  for  its  liberality  and  has 
probal)ly  spent  more  money  for  its  own  expenses  and 
for  charity,  than  any  other  in  the  town.  It  has  now, 
one  hundred  aud  seventy-six  members.  Its  pastor  is 
Rev.  T.  J.  Siegfried.  B.  H.  Hinkley,  R.  Whitney, 
deacons;  Miss  Hattie  Brown,  Sunday  school  sujut- 
intendent;  A.  D.  Stotts,  P.  L.  Mitchell,  R.   McDon- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


357 


aid,  E.  Taylor,  E.  Price,  trustees ;  R.  Whitney, 
clerk;  C.  Taylor,  assistant:  P.  L.  Mitchell,  treasurer. 
The  present  church  edifice  was  l)uilt  in  1830  and 
1840. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  February  23,  18-11,  by 
Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon.  A  meeting  was  held  at  Abijah 
Benson's,  upon  that  day,  and  tlie  following  persons, 
in  attendaoce,  were  the  original  members  of  the 
church:  Abijah  Benson,  Freelove  Benson,  Jonathan 
Fessenden,  Clarissa  Fessenden  and  Phebe  W.  West. 
Others  were  received  soon  after  the  organization,  and 
the  church  had  a  vigorous  growth.  A  church  was 
erected  in  1849,  or  the  following  year.  The  church 
has  now  seventy-five  resident  members.  Rev.  J.  G. 
Aikman  is  pastor.  Following  are  the  officers  of  the 
church  and  society:  A.  E.  Smith,  William  Tilton, 
deacons;  T.  W.  Place,  church  clerk:  J.  G.  Gates, 
society  clerk;  William  Tilton,  Charles  H.  Kimberly, 
T.  W.  Place,  J.  S.  Jennings,  L.  Conger,  trustees; 
C.  Goodrich,  superintendent  of  Sunday  sciiool. 

THE    DISCIPLE    CHURCH 

was  organized  May  20,  1854,  Elder  Henry  Dixon 
officiating.  It  started  into  being  with  twenty-eight 
members,  and  after  an  existance  of  nearly  twenty-five 
years  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven.  Rev.  Henry  Dixon  was  the  first  pastor.  The 
society  erected  a  brick  church  in  North  Fairfield  in 
1857,  the  cost  of  which,  including  the  furniture  and 
lot,  was  about  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
The  present  jDastor  is  the  Rev.  H.  N.  Allen;  D.  H. 
Reed,  Isaiah  Cline.  elders;  George  Cline,  Thos.  Leak, 
W.  H.  Johnston,  Charles  Rose,  P.  C.  Parker,  dea- 
cons; Edward  Hopkins,  clerk;  P.  C.  Parker,  treasu- 
rer; D.  H.  Reed,  Wm.  H.  Johnston,  Jacob  Ganung, 
Isaiali  Cline,  trustees;  George  Seidel,  Sunday  school 
superintendent. 

SECOND  ADVENT  CHURCH. 

Tiie  four  churches  hitherto  spoken  of  are  all  in  the 
village  of  North  Fairfield.  The  Second  Advent 
Church  is  a  mile  and  a  quarter  east  of  the  center 
and  a  little  distance  north  of  the  east  and  west  center 
road,  upon  lot  thirty-seven,  section  two.  Most  of  its 
members  live  in  that  portion  of  the  township,  though 
some  are  in  adjoining  towns.  This  church  was  or- 
ganized in  June,  1855.  T'he  constituent  members  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  Fairfield  and  vicinity  were 
W.  H.  Wakeman.  Estlier  Wakenian,  Chauncey  Tut- 
tle  and  wife,  James  Davis  and  wife,  William  Godden 
and  Lucinda  Godden,  Joseph  Barker  and  wife,  Ste- 
phen Treadwell  and  Catharine  Treadwell,  twelve  in  all. 
The  first  minister  of  this  church  was  Rev.  John  M. 
Judson.  Elder  G.  W.  Stetson  next  had  charge,  and 
he  was  followed  by  H.  C.  Smith,  Luther  C.  Kerr  and 
E.  F.  Sergisson.  The  churcli  edifice  was  built  in 
18GT,  when  the  church  formed  itself  into  a  body  cor- 
porate with  power  to  hold  property.     Tlie  building 


cost  about  nine  hundred  dollars.  Following  are  the 
present  officers  of  the  church:  L.  Peck,  Wm.  Che- 
ney, deacons;  AVm.  Cheney,  John  Harvey,  Thomas 
Hiukley,  trustees;  David  Harvey,  treasurer;  John 
Harvey,  clerk;  L.  Peck,  T.  Hinkley,  Byron  Cherry, 
business  committee. 


It  is  proljable  that  Jonas  -Leonard,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  who  had  settled  in  Bronson,  taught  the 
first  school  in  Fairfield,  about  1824.  The  school 
house  was  in  the  northwest  quarter,  or  third  section. 
The  township  is  now  well  provided  with  district 
schools,  and  the  union  schools  of  North  Fairfield 
afEord  higher  instruction  to  those  who  desire  it. 
These  schools  were  organized  February  21,  1849,  tlie 
board  of  education  then  elected  consisting  of  George 
Silliman.  S.  W.  Edwards,  L.  D.  Allen,  N.  Burch, 
Walter  Branch  and  Jacob  Ganung.  The  main  school 
building  was  built  in  the  year  1851,  and  cost,  with 
the  lot  upon  which  it  stands,  twelve  hundred  dollars. 
Several  years  later,  two  wings  were  added,  whicii 
largely  increased  the  capacity  of  tlie  building.  The 
whole  property  is  now  valued  at  about  three  thousand 
dollars.  The  first  superintendent,  under  the  pi-esent 
system,  was  P.  Mead  Benham.  The  other  principals 
of  the  school  have  been:  D.  R.  Whitcomb,  Mrs.  Lucy 
Oldfield,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Edwards,  .John  Judson,  A. 
Williams,  L.  S.  Thompson.  W.  Hayhurst.  H.  W.- 
Owen, Delilali  Palmer,  William  Griffitli,  J.  H.  Packer, 
William  Griffith  and  J.  A.  Cobban.  E.  W.  Coit, 
the  present  incumbent,  was  placed  in  authority  in 
1877.  His  assistants  at  the  present  time  are  Miss 
Hattie  Browai  and  Miss  Flora  Fairchikl,  teacliers, 
respectively,  of  the  primary  and  intermediate  depart- 
ments. The  primary  school  has  about  fifty  pupils; 
the  intermediate  forty-five,  and  the  high  school  forty. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  physician  who  })racticed  in  Fairfield  was 
Dr.  Moses  Saunders,  of  Peru.  The  first  resident 
physician  was  Dr.  J.  X.  Campbell.  He  was  a  regu- 
larly and  thoroughly  educated  medical  man.  He 
came  to  the  townsliip  in  1832,  was  received  as  a  partner 
by  Dr.  Saunders,  and  opened  an  office  at  the  center. 
The  country  was  at  that  time  a  wilderness  for  miles 
each  way.  A  year  later  the  doctor  removed  to  Green- 
field's corners  (North  Fairfield).  He  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  with  great  success.  The 
partnership  existing  between  Dr.  Saunders  and  hinir 
self  was  dissolved  in  1834,  and  in  the  same  year  he 
erected  an  office  building  which  he  occupied  until 
1837.  when  it  was  burned.  The  doctor  had,  during 
his  long  practice,  iuany  office  students,  who  received 
great  benefit  from  his  e.xcellent  education  and  exam- 
ple. He  was  married  in  1835  to  Miss  Levanthia  W. 
Sniitii.  and  sometime  after  her  decease  married  Jane 
Smith  (no  relation  to  his  first  wife).  His  children 
were  D.  N.,  Annabel.  Joseph  Read  and  Oscar  Kent. 
The  eldest  (D.  N.)  now  lives  upon   a  farm  of  over 


358 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


a  huudred  acres,  in  lot  twenty-three,  section  two. 
Dr.  Campbell,  after  a  long,  useful  and  blameless  life, 
died  July  23,  1868. 

Following  Dr.  Campbell,  came  Doctors  James  La 
Dow,  Abraham  Bronson,  Park  Leonard,  K.  R.  Fuller, 
Edward  Webb,  Mulford  Skinner,  Jacob. W.  Long  and 
others,  who  had  a  more  or  less  long  residence  and 
practice  in  the  township.  None  of  them  are  now  in 
practice  in  Fairfield.     The  resident  physicians  are  Dr. 

D.  H.  Reed  and  Dr.  D.  M.  Keith.  Dr.  Keith  is  of 
the  Eclectic  school.  He  came  from  Pern  in  1853. 
Dr.  Reed  belongs  to  the  Homeopathic  school,  and  has 
been  in  Fairtield  since  1853.  He  began  practice  in 
1854.  He  was  born  in  Greenwich.  Both  of  these 
physicians  have  an  extensive  practice. 

FAIRFIELD    LODGE    XO.   261,  F.   AXD  A.   il., 

was  organized  October  23,  1854,  and  the  following 
were  the  fii'st  officers  elected:  H.  W.  Owen,  W.  M. ; 
Elisha  Seymour,  S.  W. ;  William  C.  Huestis,  J.  W. ; 
S.  S  Smith,  S.  D.;  N.  W.  Thayer,  J.  D.;  H.  E. 
Stevens,  tyler.  The  lodge  has  been  in  a  prosperous 
condition  ever  since  its  organization,  and  now  has  a 
list  of  fifty  members  in  good  standing.  Following  is 
a  list  of  the  officers  in  service  in  1879:  Jonathan  W. 
Huestis,  W.  M.;  Alexander  C.  Taylor,  S.  W.;  B.  T. 
Day,  J.  W. ;  Wilber  Huson,  treasurer;  J.  D.  McCord, 
secretary;  0.  L.  Colvin,  S.  D.;  William  H.  Smith,  J. 
D. ;  J.  McCord,  tyler. 

NORTH    FAIRFIELD    URAXGE    XO.  806. 

The  North  Fairfield  Grange  P.  of  H.  was  organized 
April  7,  1874,  with  the  following  charter  members: 
C.  P.  Irwin,  D.  F.  Irwin,  James  Woodworth,  Frank 
Wright,  George  Hinman,  J.  W.  Cook,  A.  L.  Sim- 
mons, Clarence  Conover,  S.  Wakeman.  A.  R.  Wright, 
J.  A.  Cherry,  E.  Hoyt,  J.  Hinkley,  E.  Hinkley,  P. 
L.  Mitchell,"  E.  B.  Mitchell,  0.  Ganung,  L.  Adams, 
T.  W.  Place,  Mrs.  N.  D.  Irwin,  Mrs.  N.  Cook,  Mrs. 
A.  L.  Simmons,  Mrs.  M.  Conover,  Mrs.  S.  S.  Wood- 
worth,  Mrs.  S.  Wakeman,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Wright,  Mrs. 
J.  E.  Wright,  Mrs.  P.  Cherry,  Mrs.    E.    Hoyt,    Mrs. 

E.  Hinkley,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Mitchell,  Mrs.  H.  Ganung, 
Mrs.  L.  Adams,  Mrs.  R.  M.  Place,  Mrs.  E.  B. 
Mitchell,  Mrs.  E.  Hinkley.  The  following  officers 
were  elected:  P.  L.  Mitchell,  worthy  master;  J.  A. 
Cherry,  overseer;  C.  P.  Irwin,  lecturer;  Lyndon 
Adams,  steward;  Frank  Irwin,  assistant  steward; 
Frank  Wright,  chaplain;  Sherwood  Wiikeman,  secre- 
tary; E^lmon  Hoyt,  treasurer;  James  Woodworth,  gate- 
keei)er;  Mrs.  J.  (;ook,  Ceres;  Mrs.  M.  Conover, 
Pomona;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Mitchell,  Flora;  Mrs.  A.  R. 
Wright,  lady  assistant  steward.  The  Grange  con- 
ducted a  co-operative  store  in  North  Fairfield  for 
about  one  year  from  April  1,  1877. 

.M  A  X  f  FACT f  K I X li  ITER .V  ESTS. 

Fairfield  has  some  quite  extensive  manufacturing 
interests,  but  the  most  prosperous  days  of  the  town 
were  long  ago.     Important  enterprises  were  projected. 


Some  never   advanced   to   completion;    others    were 
realized. 

Ebenezer  Foote,  Sampson  Baker  and  Dr.  Campbell, 
built,  in  1834,  a  steam  saw  mill.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  the  manufacturing  interest  at  what  is  now 
the  village  of  North  Fairfield,  then  named  "'Steam 
Corners,"  and  later  "Steamburg."  In  the  period  be- 
tween 1847  and  1850,  there  were  six  steam  powers  at 
North  Fairfield,  and  five  dry  goods  stores.  Besides 
Foote's  steam  mill,  there  was  a  wool  carding  estab- 
lishment, the  property  of  Nelson  and  William  Tur- 
ner; a  grist  mill,  run  by  Whitten  and  Rowland;  an  oil 
mill,  started  by  George  Silliman;  an  iron  foundry,  the 
property  of  A.  J.  and  E.  Wakeman,  and  a  machine 
shop,  owned  by  R.  Seymour. 

THE  OLD    CHAIR  FACTORY. 

Messrs.  Ruggles,  Kirtland  &  Burr  bought  out,  in  ' 
1850,  the  cabinet  making  interest  of  Nelson  and  Wil- 
liam F.  Turner,  and  began,  upon  a  large  scale,  the 
manufacture  of  chairs.  The  business  proved  a  re. 
munerative  one  for  the  men  engaged  in  it,  and  a  very 
vahiable  aid  to  the  advancement  of  the  general  busi- 
ness of  the  place.  The  firm  employed  as  many  as 
fifty  men  during  the  time  of  its  most  successful  busi- 
ness, and  never  less  than  twenty-five  or  thirty.  It 
was  a  severe  blow  to  the  village,  as  well  as  the  com- 
pany, when,  in  the  winter  of  1856-7,  the  factory  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  loss  sustained  by  Messrs. 
Ruggles,  Kirtland  &  Burr  was  so  large  that  they  were 
unable  to  resume  business  upon  the  ample  scale  they 
had  before  conducted  it,  and  so,  in  a  single  night. 
North  Fairfield  lost  forever  its  most  valuable  manu- 
facturing establishment,  and  one  which,  had  it  re- 
mained, might,  very  probably,  have  become  the  nucleus 
.around  which  other  extensive  works  would  have  clus- 
tered in  time. 

XORTH    FAIRFIELD    PLOW    AXD    IROX    WORKS. 

At  present  the  principal  manufactory  of  the  village, 
and  one  of  the  leading  ones  in  the  county,  is  "Tiie 
North  Fairfield  Plow  and  Iron  Works."  The  building 
was  erected  in  1847,  by  J.  A.  and  E.  Wakeman,  and 
as  then  constructed  consisted  of  an  upright  brick, 
two  stories  high  in  front,  and  three  in  the  rear;  sixty- 
five  by  twenty-eight  feet  in  size,  with  a  one-story 
moulding  room,  fifty  by  forty  feet  in  dimensions. 
The  Messrs.  Wakeman  manufactured  stoves,  plows, 
and  did  general  foundry  work,  carrying  on,  for  two 
years,  a  heavy  business.  The  works  Avere  then  closed 
and  remained  idle  until  1855,  when  they  were  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  N.  Burch,  of  Eaton,  Madison  county. 
New  York,  who  at  once  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  stoves  from  new  and  then  beautiful  patterns.  He 
[  saw  that  the  country  was  in  need  of  better  plows  than 
were  then  being  put  upon  the  market,  and  made  ar- 
rangements to  manufacture  the  Curtiss  Iron  Beam 
Plow.  The  plow  department  was,  for  a  number  of 
years,  conducted  by  Mr.  Robert  Park,  who  rented  a 


if  the  foundry  building  and  bought  castings  of 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Burch.  This  was  the  first  introductiou  of  the 
Oiu-tiss  plow  in  Ohio.  About  1862,  Mr.  Park  sold  his 
interest  in  the  plow  business  to  Mr.  Burch,  who  soon 
after  enlarged  the  building  by  putting  up  an  addition 
two  stories  high,  besides  basement,  and  in  size 
twenty-four  by  forty-two  feet.  From  this  date,  the 
manufacture  of  plows  has  constituted  the  princiiwl  busi- 
ness, the  manufacture  of  stoves  being  almost  entirely 
abandoned.  The  Curtiss  plow  was  manufactured 
until  1873,  when  Mr.  Burch  invented  and  patented 
a  new  one,  upon  which  he  bestowed  his  own  name. 
It  combines  the  best  qualities  of  iron  and  modern 
beam  plows,  and  has  been  manufactured  in  large 
quautity  to  fill  the  demand.  N.  Burch  sold  out  in 
1875,  to  his  son,  Charles  A.  Burch,  and  removed  to 
Toledo,  where  he  embarked  in  the  same  business. 
The  son  having  grown  up  in  the  jilow  business,  was 
well  qualified  to  keep  up  the  reputation  which  the 
plows  of  the  Fairfield  foundry  had  gained,  and  he 
has  done  so.  He  continued  the  business  alone  until 
the  summer  of  1878,  when  heassociated  with  himself, 
as  partners,  D.  "\V.  Slocum  and  S.  J.  Stevens,  under 
the  firm  name  of  C.  A.  Burch  &  Company.  The 
new  firm  went  to  work  at  once  to  make  arrangements 
for  increasing  their  business.  They  put  up  a  sub- 
stantial brick  addition  to  the  building  and  made  ex- 
tensive repairs  throughout,  put  in  new  machinery  in 
the  place  of  the  old  and  considerable  in  addition. 
They  have  increased  their  facilities  for  manufactur- 
ing so  largely  that  they  have,  at  the  present  writing, 
ability  to  make  twenty-five  plows  per  day. 

SAW  AXD    GRIST  MILLS. 

The  first  saw  mill  in  the  township  was  the  property 
of  Philip  Moffatt  and  was  located  on  the  west  road, 
and  built  about  the  year  1828.  The  first  grist  mill 
was  that  of  Reuben  Draper  and  John  Mitchell,  and 
was  located  at  Steamburg  (North  Fairfield).  At  pres- 
ent there  are  but  two  saw  mills  in  the  township:  that 
of  Isaac  D.  Small  &  Son,  about'  one  hundred  rods 
north  of  the  village  center,  and  another  owned  by 
Hanvill  &  Taylor,  a  mile  north.  With  the  former 
there  is  also  a  ^-ist  mill.  The  I.  D.  Small  mill  was 
built  about  1855  by  Elisha  Seymour. 

CHEESE  FACTORIES. 

Tlie  only  regular  cheese  factory  in  the  township  ig 
owned  by  B.  H.  Tcrrill,  by  whom  it  was  started  in 
1877.  Tills  factory  uses  the  milk  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  cows,  and  Mr.  Terrill  turn* out  a  ''full 
cream  "  cheese  for  wliich  he  finds  a  good  home  de- 
maud.  The  principal  market  is  Norwalk,  and  the 
villages  of  the  county  and  vicinity.  Tlie  factory  is 
located  upon  tlie  township  line,  north  of  North  Fair- 
field. 

R.  M.  Hopkins  has  a  dairy  factory  upon  his  farm 
in  lot  thirty,  section  two.  where  he  makes  both  cheese 
and  butter.     The  dairy  was  started  in  1870. 

Weber  Pinkney  and  Oliver  Ganung  have  a  similar 


dairy  upon  lot  thircy-eight,  section  three,  which  tiiey 
started  in  the  spring  of  1878. 

MISCELLAXEOfS. 

Frederick  Parrott  has  a  machine  shoif,  near  his  res- 
idence, on  lot  twenty-four,  section  three,  where  he 
has  carried  on  Ijusiuess  for  a  number  of  years. 

A  turning  estaljlislimeiit  and  chair  factory  in  North 
Fairfield  is  owned  by  Hantill  &  Allen. 

David  H.  Piatt  has  been  iu  the  carriage  making 
business  since  1838.  Others  engaged  in  the  same  in- 
dustry are  J.  H.  Curtiss,  William  Harris  and  .John 
Madden. 

NORTH  FAIRFIELD  VILLAGE. 

The  first  store  in  the  township  was  opened  at  the 
center  in  the  year  1831,  by  Ezra  Smith,  of  Macksville, 
but  soon  after  several  enterprising  men  made  efEoi-ts 
to  establish  a  village  at  what  was  then  known  as 
Greenfield's  corners.  They  were  so  far  successful  as 
to  create  all  that  now  exists  in  North  rairfield,.and 
in  fact  much  more,  for  the  village  was  at  one  time 
a  flourishing  business  center,  and  had  bright  prospects 
of  future  prosperity.  William  Greenfield,  Samson 
Baker,  Walter  Branch  and  Samuel  Foote  were  largely 
instrumental  in  securing  the  location  of  various  indus- 
tries at  this  place.  Horace  S.  Moulton  opened  the 
first  store  at  Greenfield's  corners,  in  1832.  Union 
White,  of  Fitchville,  Woodworth  and  Holmes,  Clark 
Sexton,  A.  R.  Eastman,  and  a  nir.n  by  the  name  of 
West,  began  at  an  early  day.  D.  S.  Stevens  opened  a 
dry  goods  store  in  1838.  Manufactories  were  estab- 
lished, and  the  village  developed  for  a  few  j-ears  at  a 
rate,  which,  had  it  been  long  continued,  would  have 
produced  a  little  city.  A  newspaper.  The  Fairfield 
Gazette,  was  established,  and  had,  for  a  time,  a  fair 
patronage.  The  first  copy  was  issued  April  23,  1856, 
by  Robert  McCune.  Afterwards  the  paper  was  under 
the  charge  of  J.  Ralph  Robinson,  and  still  later  of  0. 
B.  Chapman.  He  moved  it  to  Bellevue.  The  causes 
of  Fairfield's  failure  to  liecome  all  that  its  residents 
fondly  hoped,  were  numerous.  Chief  among  them 
was  the  building  of  railroads  all  around  the  village, 
at  a  distance  of  ten  or  a  dozen  miles,  and  the  failure 
of  the  projected  Clinton  extension,  which  was  (upon 
paper)  a  link  in  a  long  chain  extending  from  New 
York  to  the  great  west.  Over  seventy  thousand  dol- 
lars of  Fairfield  money  went  out  of  existence  with  this 
bubble.  The  Milan  canal  was  another  failure.  The 
largest  manufactory  in  the  little  village — the  chair 
factory — and  the  steam  mill,  built  at  an  early  day, 
vanished  in  fire^ended  in  smoke.  Other  evils  assisted 
in  thwarting  the  plans  of  the  would-be  founders  of  a 
city,  and  slowly,  but  surely,  the  last  hope  of  making 
North  Fairfield  a  large  and  live  business  town  passed 
away.  All  that  was  left  the  people  was  the  reason- 
al)le  certainty  that  the  village  would  always  be,  what 
it  now  is,  a  peaceful  and  pleasant  home,  in  which 
there  will  never  be  an  excess  of  bustle  and  din  and 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


sordid  strife,  but  always  well  being,  good  manners 
and  better  morals. 

North  Fairfield  village  contains  four  of  the  five 
churches  which  have  come  into  existence  in  tlie  town- 
ship, and  mosi  of  the  manufactories. 

Following  is  a  list  of  tlie  business  houses  in  North 
Fairfield,  in  1870: 

Tin  axd  Hardware.— B.  F.  Roberts. 

Groceries.— David  Johnson. 

Dry  Goods.  Ctroceries.  Boots  axd  Shoes,  etc  — C.  Rowley. 

Boots  and  Shoes.— I.  B.  Rice. 

Drugs.— C.  H.  Chapman. 

Groceries.— D.  S.  St«vens. 

Produce,  Groceries  and  Clothing.- W.  S.  Felton 

Groceries  and  Dry  Goods— E.  Hoyt  &  Co. 

H.iRDWARE,  Tin,  etc.— Reed  Bros  (A.  P.,  A.  L.  and  C.  S.) 

Groceries.— L.  Carr. 

Shoes.— O.  L.  Colvin. 

Livery.— A.  P.  Reed. 

U.'JDERTAKING.- W.  H.  Johnson. 

Dentist.— DuttoD  Jones. 

Hotel.— Fairfield  House,  A.  H.  Stringham,  proprietor. 

Blacksmiths  —H.  Woodworth,  Richard  Price,  and  William  Fullman_ 

Cooper.— J.  T.  Parker. 

Meat  Markets.— Odell  Bros.,  J.  Wood,  Burton  &  Mott. 

PO.ST    OFFICE. 

Walter  Branch  was  the  first  iiostmaster.  He  was 
commissioned  January  1,  1829.  He  held  the  office 
four  years,  and  then  resigned  in  favor  of  Horace  L. 
Moulton.  The  other  postmasters,  down  to  and  in- 
cluding the  present  occupant  of  the  office,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Z.  B.  Stilson,  Horace  L.  Moulton  (reappointed), 
David  Johnson,  Thomas  Smith,  D.  L.  Stevens,  Frank 
Evans,  Moses  Tompkins,  Dwight  Kellogg  and  Isaac 
Harrington. 

CEMETERIES. 

The  first  cemetery  laid  out  was  the  one  in  lot  eleven, 
section  three,  upon  the  ridge  road,  near  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  township.  The  first  settlers  located  in 
this  vicinity,  and  the  little  piece  of  ground  was  set 
apart  for  burial  purposes  at  an  early  day.  There  is 
another  cemetery  upon  the  same  road — lot  one,  sec- 
tion four;  one  on  the  Bronson  town  line  road — lot  six, 
section  three;  and  one  in  North  Fairfield  village,  just 
east  of  the  corners.  This  is  under  the  charge  of  the 
township. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


WILLIAM   BAKEK. 

Prominent  among  the  pioneers  of  Fairfield  was 
William  Baker,  son  of  Abijah  and  Mary  Baker,  of 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  born  May  10,  1T97,  and  re- 
moved with  ills  parents  to  Onondaga  county,  New 
York,  when  a  lad.  Here  he  grew  up  and  received  a 
good,  common  education.  When  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he'  married  Leali,  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Margaret   Davis,  who  was  born   in    Orange  county, 


September  22,  1797,  and  was,  therefore,  his  junior  by 
four  mouths  and  twelve  days.  This  marriage  occurred 
upon  the  12th  of  February,  1818,  and,  in  the  follow- 
ing year  the  young  couple  removed  to  Ohio  and  com- 
menced almost  empty-handed  the  struggle  for  the 
formation  of  a  comfortable  home  in  the  wilderness. 
At  that  time  there  were  but  five  families  in  the  town- 
ship; not  a  single  road  was  laid  out,  and  scarcely  an 
acre  of  land  was  cleared.  Upon  one  side  there  were 
dangers,  difficulties,  disadvantages,  upon  the  other 
two  brave  people  to  meet  them,  empty-handed  to  be 
sure,  but  full  of  strength,  anticipation  and  laudable 
ambition.  The  days  were  full  of  toil;  they  brought 
many  privations,  few  jjositive  pleasures,  yet  they 
rounded  into  years  of  happiness  to  be  looked  back 
upon  tenderly  and  lovingly,  when  poverty  had  changed 
to  pleuty,  and  the  wild  forest  that  they  cut  their  way 
through  with  difficulty  when  they  made  their  settle- 
ment had  been  cleared  away  to  make  place  for  luin- 
dreds  of  happy,  thrifty  homes. 

William  Baker  and  his  wife  bore  the  brunt  in  the 
battle,  and  they  both  lived  to  realize  the  condition 
that  they  labored  to  bring  about  and  witness  the 
changes  and  improvements  that  they,  perhaps,  but 
vaguely  anticipated.  The  wife  is  still  living  upon  the 
old  farm  which  became  the  home  of  these  pioneers 
two  years  after  their  arrival.  The  husband  did  not 
pass  away  until  1859.  His  long  career  of  useful  ac- 
tivity closed  upon  the  11th  of  February  in  that  year, 
over  half  a  century  from  the  time  of  his  arrival. 
During  his  more  than  fift_y  years'  residence  in  the 
community  he  was  looked  upon  as  a  man  of  solid 
worth  and  strict  integrity.  His  religious  faith  was 
that  of  the  Disciples,  and  he  was  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  church.  He  held  aloof  from  public  affairs, 
not  from  lack  of  interest,  but  rather  because  of  retir- 
ing nature,  and  his  life  was  quiet,  but  active  and  in- 
dustrious to  its  close. 


ISAAC   DE  WITT 


is  a  representative  of  the  second  generation  of  the 
pioneers.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Betsey  De  Witt, 
and  was  born  in  Fairfield  in  the  year  1833.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Sample,  and  she  was  a 
daughter  of  the  first  woman  who  became  a  resident 
of  the  township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  began 
life  with  but  few  of  the  advantages  that  the  people 
even  of  a  new  country  possess,  but  good  habits,  in- 
dustry and  thrift,  won  for  him  the  race  in  which 
many  have  failed  who  have  had  less  to  contend  with. 
He  has  all  of  his  life  been  a  resident  of  his  native 
township,  and  is,  to-day,  one  of  its  representative 
farmers.  Isaac  De  Witt  married  Mrs.  Abigail  Morse, 
by  whom  he  has  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Their  names  are:  William  Augustus, 
Jennie  Almira,  Isaac  Ellsworth,  Duane  Edwin  and 
Harry  Elmer. 


Wm.  Baker. 


jWRSlEOH  D.BAKER. 


HISTOEY  OF  HUEON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


361 


CLINTON  McKELLOGG 
was  born  October  8,  1837,  in  Jefferson  county,  New 
York,  and  came  to  Pern,  Hnron  county,  Ohio,  1844, 
with  an  uncle.  At  this  time  he  was  an  orphan,  and 
he  lived  with  his  uncle  a  short  time  when  he  went 
away  to  work  on  a  farm  by  the  month.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  had  saved  one  hundred  dollars  from 
his  wages,  having  no  other  patrimony.  He  married 
November  14,  1850,  Eveline  Mead.  Mrs.  xMcKellogg 
was  born  April  23,  1831,  in  Bronson,  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Alson  Mead,  and  granddaughter  of  Abraham 
Mead,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Huron  county. 

He  came  to  this  county  with  his  family,  consisting 
of  his  wife  and  ten  children,  at  a  very  early  period. 
They  passed  through  great  and  almost  unendurable 
vicissitudes,  the  children  all  attaining  mature  age. 
Alson  Mead,  during  these  years  of  severe  labor  and 
great  hardships,  contracted  an  illness  which  left  him 
a  cripple. 

He  married  and  located  in  Bronson,  working  at 
shoe-making  for  a  number  of  years,  till  he  became 
possessed  of  means  to  purchase  a  farm.  He  lived 
there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  January  6,  1865. 
He  left  seven  children  and  a  fine  property.  Mrs. 
McKellogg  is  a  life  member  of  the  American  Bible 
Society. 

Mr.  McKellogg  worked  different  farms  on  shares 
until  he  was  able  to  purchase  one  of  his  own,  buy- 
ing a  small  farm  in  Fitchville,  and  exchanging  that 
for  one  in  the  eastern  part  of  Fairfield,  and  finally 


selling  that  and  buying  the  one  he  now  occupies, 
which  is  situated  one  mile  south  of  the  center  of 
Fairfield. 

The  original  farm  had  sixty-four  acres,  and  the 
rest  has  been  added  at  five  several  times.  The  only 
son  of  this  family,  Frank  E.  McKellogg,  is  a  student 
at  Oberlin  college.  His  parents  intend  to  remove  to 
Oberlin  this  present  year,  to  afford  him  the  benefit  of 
a  home  while  pursuing  the  remainder  of  his  college 
course,  and  also  to  give  their  only  daughter,  Ida,  the 
best  educational  advantages  possible. 

Mr.  McKellogg  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Fairfield.  He  is  a  representative  self-made  man,  hav- 
ing raised  himself  from  poverty  to  affluence.  Ener- 
getic and  determined,  he  is  always  found  at  the  head 
of  all  enterprises  in  which  he  is  engaged.  He  and  his 
wife  are  active  members  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  their  large  and  elegantly  furnished  house  is  opened 
to  many  social  entertainments. 

Mr.  McKellogg  has  for  some  time  owned  the  great- 
est amount  of  farm  stock  of  any  one  individual  in 
Fairfield.  He  is  a  shrewd  dealer,  a  close  buyei-,  and 
a  successful  operator  in  this  line  of  business.  His 
fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  is  well  sit- 
uated for  this  business.  It  is  watered  by  a  beautiful 
stream,  which  affords  living  water  for  his  herds  of 
animals  all  the  year.  Besides  the  church  and  Sab- 
bath school,  Mr.  McKellogg  interests  himself  in  the 
common  schools  and  the  judicial  interests  of  his  im- 
mediate district  and  the  countrv  surrounding. 


NEW    LONDON.* 


In  presenting  to  the  public  a  history  of  the  town- 
ship of  Xew  Loudon  we  regard  as  proper  to  preface 
our  work  by  a  list  of  the 


ORIGINAL   OWNERS. 


For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  read- 
■  is  referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 

TOWX  XUMBER    TWO,   RANGE  TWENTY. 


Oriyiiial  ( 


Classificatios  No.  1,  Section 
Am' t  Loss.        Classified  bi/. 


NatUaniel  Richards  2.55 


Robert  Kennedy  350 

Temperance  Moore  24  3  0  ,          "              "  24 

Timothv  Durfev  20  14  0              "              "  20 

Thomas  Hopkins  198  IT  H              "              "  198 

Lvdia  Latimore  27  8  6              "              "  27 

John  Jlorris  29  16  0              "              "  29 

Laurance  Martin  55  18  6              "              "  55 

■Walter  Welch  59  19  0  ,          "              "  59 

Henrr  Deshoe  900  0  2       Ester  Cleveland  332 

Guv  Richards  i  Son  811  8  0  ,    Samuel  Mather,  Jr.  356 

Isaac  Champlain  142  3  3       Sylvester  Mather  94 


Foo 


r  of  Classification  ] 


1.  £1,: 


Classification  No.  2,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees.        Am' t  Loss.  Chissifled  by.  Am' t  Classed. 

£       s.        d.  £  s.  d. 

Mary  Hurlburt           212      13       0    '  Nathaniel  Ledyard  212  13  0 

Roger  Gilson               884      18       6^  ■■                 "  l.*4  8  6^ 

James  AngeU             169       2       2  '                 ■'  169  2  3 

Nathan  Bailey             20       3      lOi^  -                 ■•  20  8  10^ 

Samuel  Coit                  19       8       6  ■'                 "  19  8  6 

Elizabeth  B^ebe           16       6       0  "                 "  16  6  0 

B'nj.jiCarbLedy'id200       0       0  "                   ■  150  0  0 

Ester  Conlclin               -39       1       6  "                 "  39  1  6 

John  Brown                 29       5       8  "                 "  29  5  8 

Henry  Mason               27      18       0  "                 •'  27  IS  0 

Benjamin  Vose              6       8       6  "                 "  6  S  6 

Serg-t  Dan'l  Eldridge    119  "                 '■  119 

John  Starr                     . .      19       6  "                 "  19  6 

Nathan  Sholes              .        15       3  "                 "  ..  15  3 

Tho's  Mansfield.  Esq  601      16       0  "                  "  466  14  6 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344  7  9 

Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees.       Am't Loss.  Classified  bij  Am' t  Classed 


Nathan  Douglas  941  11 

Patrick  Robertson  3  0 

Solomon  Rogers  101  4 

Robert  Kennedy  3.'J0  0 


Nathaniel  Richards 


Footing  o(  Classification  No.  3.  £1,314 


Classification  1 

^0.  4,  Section  4. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Ebenezer  Ledyard 

Esq. 
Youngs  Ledyard, 

JIary  Ward 
Sarah  Stedman 

£       s. 

1151        3 

75       0 
74        6 
21      13 
38       0 
14 

d. 

0 
7 
2 
0 
2 

1  Sathl  Ledyard 

1  i:  I 

Footing  of  Classification  I 


The  town.^hip  very  naturally  took  the  name  of  -\>(/' 
London  from  the  fact  that  N.  Douglass,  X.  Richards, 

»  By  A.  D.  Skellenger,  M.D. 


and  the  Ledyards,  were  the  principal,  or  largest  orig- 
inal proprietors,  or  sufferers;  and  they  resided  in  Xew 
London,  Connecticut.  The  name  of  the  township 
has  never  been  changed  since  its  first  settlement. 

N.VTIRAL    APPEARANCE,    ETC. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level, 
though,  in  many  portions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  water 
courses,  it  is  quite  rolling,  and  other  portions  may  be 
classed  as  gently  undulating.  It  was  originally,  with 
the  exception  of  a  small  portion  in  the  fourth  section, 
known  as  the  cranberry  marsh,  all  densely  covered  by 
timber.  The  principal  varieties  of  wood  were  black 
walnut;  elm  of  several  varieties,  rock,  red  and  white; 
maple — hard  and  soft:  Ijeech;  oak — white,  yellow  and 
black:  basswood,  whitewood,  hickory,  white  and  black 
ash,  cherry,  dogwood  and  willow.  There  has  been  no 
particular  change  in  the  forest,  except  the  almost  en- 
tire disai^pearance,  by  use.  The  soil  is  very  produc- 
tive— well  adapted  to  grass,  small  grains,  corn,  veg- 
etables and  berries — clayey,  or  marl,  with  a  slight 
preponderance  of  the  clay,  and,  in  the  third  section, 
sandy;  wliile  rich,  deep  muck,  is  abundant  in  the 
fourth  section.  It  is  about  equally  well  adapted  to.the 
the  dairy  products,  hay,  grain  or  stock  raising. 
Fruits  of  several  kinds  and  varieties  do  well.  In 
short,  for  fertility  and  productiveness,  very  few,  if 
any  town  on  the  Fire-lands,  can  surpass  this.  At  an 
early  day  in  the  settlement  of  the  township,  quite  a 
large  portion  of  the  third  and  fourth  sections  were 
deemed  as  low  land  and  swampy:  uow,  all  or  nearly 
all  is  drained  and  is  tillable. 

The  streams  running  through  tiie  town  arc  two. 
One  running  northwardly  through  the  fourth  and 
third  sections,  is  formed  by  Skellenger's  creek,  Knowl- 
ton"s  creek  and  Carpenter's  creek,  uniting  with  the 
Vermillion  river  in  the  township  of  Clarksfield,  as 
its  east  branch;  and  Rawson's  creek,  uniting  with 
other  small  streams  and  making  East  creek,  a  west 
branch  of  Black  river.  The  various  creeks  and 
streams  are  fed  by  many  springs,  which  render  this 
section  of  the  county  quite  well  watered. 

BEASTS    OF   THE    FOREST. 

When  the  first  white  men  settled  in  Xew  London, 
the  black  bears  and  wolves  were  the  most  formidable; 
deer,  raccoon,  otter,  sable  and  gray  fox,  wild  turkeys, 
beaver,  wild  cat,  hedgehog  and  fishers,  or  pekans, 
abounded  to  a  limited  extent.  The  deer  and  wild 
turkeys  became  far  more  abundant  about  183"2.  evi- 
dently coming  into  the  town  from  the  east:  antl  the 
wolves  appeared  to  follow  the  deeu 

(362) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


363 


Tliere  were  camping  grounds  on  farms  in  the  second 
section,  but  no  villages.  The  hunters  of  the  Dela- 
ware and  Wyandot  nations  frequented  their  old 
grounds  for  a  few  years  after  the  white  man  came. 
In  their  intercourses  they  were  very  kind  and  friendly, 
and  gave  no  cause  for  trouble  or  alarm.  Honesty 
and  friendship  are  characteristics  of  the  red  men  of 
America,  till  deceived  or  betrayed  by  the  whites! 

EARLY    SETTLERS    AND    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  settlement  of  this  township  was  delayed  by  the 
war  of  1813-15,  and  again  from  the  disputes  of  title 
from  1820  to  "25,  which  will  be  more  fully  noticed 
hereafter,  it  being  the  cause  of  the  greatest  law  suit 
ever  affecting  the  settlers  on  the  Fire-lands. 

Mr.  Abner  Green,  wife,  and  wife's  three  daughters, 
were  the  f3rst  white  settlers.  The  family  moved  into 
the  township  on  foot  in  the  month  of  February,  A.  D. 
1815,  and  located  on  lot  number  ten,  third  section, 
near  the  northwest  corner  of  said  lot.  Here  Mr. 
Green  erected  the  first  log  house — a  small  cabin- 
using  basswood  bark  as  covering  or  roofing.  His 
furniture,  or  rather  cooking  apj^aratus,  and  farming 
tools  and  implements  were  few  and  very  simple.  His- 
tory tells  us  they  were  conveyed  on  his  back  in  a  box 
or  "chest  captured  from  General  Proctor."  Green 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Vermont  at  a  day  suiSciently 
early  for  him  to  be  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  though 
the  date  of  his  birth  is  unknown — probably,  about 
1758.  He  served  also  during  the  war  of  1812  as  ser- 
geant. His  wife,  a  Mrs.  Van  Deusen,  was  a  widow 
lady,  and  mother  of  several  children  at  the  time  she 
was  married  to  Mr.  Green.  One  of  the  daughters — 
Hannah — married  Nathan  Canada  March  17,  1817. 
The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  by  one  David 
Abbott,  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Another  of  the  daugh- 
ters. Miss  Margaret,  was  plaintiff  in  a  breach  of 
promise  case  at  her  father's  house,  Mr.  J.  P.  Case, 
justice  of  the  peace.  It  was  a  very  exciting  affair, 
as  it  was  the  first  lawsuit  in  the  township.  The  de- 
fendant, Mr.  Henry  Bates,  finally  settled  the  suit  by 
giving  to  Miss  Margaret  a  horse.  The  next  year  the 
State  of  Ohio  made  an  effort  to  vindicate  its  dignity 
by  having  Miss  Margaret  arrested,  indicted,  and  tried 
at  the  log  court  house  at  the  first  county  seat  below 
Milan,  for  the  crime  of  •infanticide.  The  jury  pro- 
nounced her  not  guilty.  Thus  we  have  in  the  early 
history  of  this  young  but  unfortunate  girl  two  jioints 
to  be  noticed:  She  was  the  first  plaintiff  in  New  Lon- 
don, and  the  first  defendant  in  a  criminal  case  in  old 
Huron  county.  Her  subsequent  career  has  passed 
from  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant. 

Mr.  Green  cleared  some  two  or  three'acres  of  ground 
in  1815,  and  raised  the  first  crop  of  corn  in  the  town- 
ship, and  the  historian  is  informed  he  had  a  good 
crop,  cultivated  by  the  use  of  the  ax  and  the  hoe. 
He  was  noted  as  an  honest,  industrious,  patriotic,  and 
religious  person,  often   holding  religious   meetings, 


and  the  then  boys  say  he  did  good  preaching  •'  as  a 
Methodist,  and  at  times  swore  for  a  change."  He 
also  erected  a  cabin  and  lived  for  a  few  years  on  lot 
number  twenty-four,  second  section.  Thence  in  1823 
he  moved  to  the  southern  part  of  Ohio,  and  died 
about  1826,  from,  as  is  supposed,  the  effect  of  a 
wound  received  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Maiden,  under 
General  William  H.  Harrison. 

August  15,  1815,  Mr.  Hosca  Towusend,  from  Ty- 
ringham,  Massachusetts,  came  and  located  on  lot  num- 
ber twenty-three,  in  the  third  section.    He  remained  a 


few  weeks,  returned  to  the  east,  and  remained  until 
the  ith  of  February,  1816,  when,  with  an  ox  team 
and  wagon,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Hiram,  he 
again  set  out  for  his  Ohio  home.  He  was  fifty-two 
days  on  the  road,  arriving  in  New  London  March  28, 
1816.  Mr.  Townsend  l)rought  with  him  irons  which 
made  the  first  plow  used  in  New  London  soil,  and,  as 
such,  first  time  used  to  work  on  the  road  just  south  of 
William  Prosser's,  on  the  little  hill,  then  very  steep, 
south  of  the  creek;  also,  apple  .seeds  which  he  planted 
the  same  year.  He  and  his  brother  Hiram  bachelored 
it  for  two  years.  The  first  season  they  planted  four 
acres  of  corn.  When  harvested,  a  portion  was  fed  to 
the  oxen,  a  portion  ground  in  the  hand-mortar  and 
beech  stump  grist  mill,  for  their  own  food,  and  the 
other  portion  was  sold  to  the  red  hunters  for  English 
specie  (crowns)  worth  one  dollar  and  six  cents  per 
bushel.  He  put  out  the  first  orchard  in  1820  and 
1822;  and  built  the  first  frame  house  in  1826.  He 
was  born  in  Grcenbush,  May  25,  179-4;  married  Miss 
Sophia  Case,  (the  first  school  teacher,  born  April  26, 
1798),  March  25,  1821.  Mrs.  Townsend  died  March 
2,  1875.  Mr.  Townsend,  now.  May,  1879,  is  living 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  A.  S.  Johnson,  in  the  village 
of  New  London,  aged  eighty-five  years.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  1815,  and  draws  a  soldier's  pension. 

During  the  year  1815,  the  following  persons  settled 
in  New  London:    In  November,  Mr.  Isaac  P.  Case, 


364 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


wife,  aud  Sophia,  Philothe  and  Eliza,  daughters,  and 
Ti-acey,  a  son,  settled  on  lot  fourteen,  section  three. 
Mr.  Simeon  Munson  and  family,  on  lot  seven;  Mrs. 
Porter,  mother  to  Mrs.  Betsey  or  Elizabeth  Scribner, 
and  Philo  T.  and  Aurora  Porter,  (two  brothers); 
Sherman,  Austin  and  ilajor  Smith  (three  brothers. 
Major  but  six  years  of  age)  all  came  at  the  same  time, 
and  in  the  company  of  Mrs.  J.  P.  Case,  and  all  set- 
tled in  the  third  section.  They  were  from  Connecti- 
cut, though  at  this  immediate  move  from  near  Spring- 
field, Clarke  county,  Ohio,  by  the  way  of  the  Maumee 
route. 

One  or  two  days  later  in  November,  1815,  Mr.  An- 
thony Hendryx  aud  family,  and  Benjamin  Hendryx, 
a  brother,  and  his  family,  came  from  New  York,  and 
settled  on  lots  thirteen  and  eighteen,  in  the  third 
section;  also,  about  the  same  time,  John  Hendryx  and 
his  brother  Thomas,  aud  their  families,  from  Brigh- 
ton. Monroe  county.  New  York,  settled  in  the  second 
section, — John  on  lot  number  tweuty-three,  and 
Thomas  on  lot  number  eighteen.  Many  others  whose 
names  are  forgotten,  came  and  settled,  and  some 
moved  in.  in  the  year  1815. 

During  the  year  1816,  William  Sweet  arrived,  who 
came  in  January,  with  his  family,  from  Brighton, 
in  Monroe  county,  New  York,  and  settled  on  lot  fif- 
teen, third  section;  made  a  large  and  permanent  im- 
provement; put  out  a  large  orchard  in  1822.  He 
filled  several  township  offices  with  credit  to  himself, 
and,  in  1831,  sold  to  Abram  Prosser,  and  moved  to 
Erie  county,  Ohio. 

Also,  in  July,  1810,  Mr.  John  Covey  and  Phebe,  his 
wife  (daughter  of  Abram  Hendryx),  and  family,  then 
consisting  of  Polly,  John,  Hannah,  Benjamin  and 
Phebe,  came  from  Steuben  county.  New  York,  and 
settled  on  lot  seven,  section  four,  now  owned  by  T.  B. 
Hemenway,  on  which  is  the  first  cemetery,  and  also 
the  New  London  agricultural  association  grounds  and 
track  are  located.  He  lived  on  this  lot,  and  made 
quite  an  improvement,  setting  out  a  large  orchard, 
but,  as  he  had  no  valid  title  to  his  farm,  (Devil)  John 
Hendryx.  as  the  phrase  is  by  the  early  settlers,  "bought 
it  out  from  under  him"'  in  1829.  In  1837,  he  and  his 
wife  moved  to  Michigan.  His  family  married  as  fol- 
lows: Polly,  the  eldest  daughter,  married,  Decem- 
ber, 181T,  Mr.  John  Day,  and  settled  on  lot  number 
twenty,  section  one;  John,  the  eldest  boy,  married 
Alzina  Day,  daughter  of  widow  Day,  of  Clarksfield, 
for  his  first  wife  (wife  and  two  children  soon  died), 
and  for  his  second  wife  he  married  ^lary  McConnell, 
daughter  of  James  McConnell,  of  Rochester,  and  now 
lives  near  Coldwater,  Michigan;  Hannah  married 
Daniel  Higgins,  of  New*  London,  afterward  a  "lively 
Mormon;'"  Phebe  married  Ansel  Barber,  and  Benja- 
min married  Martha  Ann,  daughter  of  Simeon  Mun- 
son. and  all  live,  or  did,  near  Coldwater,  Michigan. 
Polly  (Mrs.  Day)  soon  died,  and  was  buried  on  her 
fathers  farm,  which  was  the  first  burial  in  the  village 
cemetery.  As  a  family,  history  informs  us.  they  were 
kind  and  obliging.     Richard   Bailey  settled  on  lot 


number  one,  section  four,  remained  a  few  j-ears,  and 
sold  to  Paul  Lebo,  and  Paul  Lebo  sold  to  J.  McClave. 

1817. — There  were  many  additions  to  the  pioneers 
of  the  township  during  the  third  year  of  its  settle- 
ment, a  few  only  have  we  space  to  specify,  amoiig 
whom  we  will  name:  February  22,  1817,  Mr.  Henry 
Anderson,  from  Livington  county.  New  York,  and 
Mrs.  Russell,  her  sons  Alcott  and  Charles,  from  the 
same  county;  and  about  the  same  time,  came  Paul 
Pixley,  and  Ariel  his  son,  and  their  families,  from 
Brighton,  New  York;  Nathan  Munson,  Steven  Post 
and  A.  Miner,  from  the  State  of  New  York,  and  lo- 
cated as  follows:  Anderson,  on  lot  number  eighteen, 
third  section;  Mrs.  Russell,  on  lot  number  seven, 
third  section;  Alcott,  a  boy,  lived  with  Anderson; 
Paul  Pixley,  on  a  part  of  same  lot  and  section;  Ariel 
Pixley,  settled  on  lot  number  ten,  same  section;  and 
Post,  on  number  eighteen. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  Mr.  Josiah  Day  and  his 
brother,  John,  came.  Josiah  settled  on  lot  number 
twenty-five,  first  section,  where  he  soon  established  a 
manufactory  of  black  salts,  or  potash;  and  in  after 
years,  in  company  with  Mr.  Tracy  Case,  did  quite  an 
extensive  trade  in  ashes,  potash  and  cotton  goods  and 
family  groceries.  He  always  lived  on  this  place. 
Was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1855;  died  October 
14,  1855,  an  honest  man,  even  to  the  dividing  of  the 
last  cent!  John  Day  settled  on  lot  twenty,  first 
section. 

Ezekiel  Sampson  aud  William  Merrifield  aud  their 
families,  from  Brighton,  New  York,  arrived  in  De- 
cember, 1816.  Sampson  located  on  lot  number  eight, 
fourth  section;  and  William  Merrifiuld  located  on  lot 
number  three,  second  section. 

Mr.  Solomon  Hubbard,  (a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812-14,)  from  Livingston  couuty.  New  York,  born 
1789,  in  Connecticut,  came  to  Florence,  February  12, 
1816.  The  next  spring,  April,  1817,  he  traded  his 
farm  with  Mr.  Nathan  Smith,  who  located  on  lot 
number  five,  third  section,  in  1816.  Mr.  Smith  came 
on  to  said  lot  under  a  contract  with  Nat.  Ledyard, 
and  erected  a  house.  He  had  a  large  family  of  daugh- 
ters, and  thought  he  could  educate  them  better  in 
Florence  than  in  New  London,  which  is  said  to  be 
the  motive  that  resulted  in  swapping  farms.  Mr. 
Solomon  Hubbard,,  by  the  enforcement,  in  court,  of 
the  Ledyard  "contract"  with  Smith,  obtained  a  deed 
of  fifty  acres  as  a  gift.  Miv  Hubbard  filled  several 
important  offices.     He  died  January  16,  1829. 

J.  B.  Hubbard,  a  son,  born  August  27,  1817,  and 
now  living  in  Cincinnati,  is  the  oldest  white  male, 
living,  born  in  the  township.  His  son,  Holsy,  born 
in  New  York,  April  11,  1815,  now  lives  on  the  lot, 
aud  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  respected  citi- 
zens of  all  the  living  early  pioneers.  He  has  several 
times  filled  the  office  of  township  trustee;  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  for  three  terms,  and  from  1869 
to  1875,  six  years  (two  terms),  was  one  of  the  most 
reliable  and  energetic  county  commissioners.  He 
has  reared  a  family  of  five  boys — S.  G.,  Joseph  B., 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


J^  "^^        .^■ 


^/^p  ^i^/i^^^cC 


Alfred,  Edward  E.  and  Frank  E.,  and  three  girls — 
Julia  M.,  MarsiumB.  and  Arminta  D.;  five  children 
are  living.  S.  G.  died  October  11,  1849;  Joseph  B. 
died  November  5,  ISG-l,  and  Alfred  died  November 
15,  1864.  Solomon  Hubbard's  children  were  five, 
three  boys  and  two  girls:  Holsy,  Joseph  B.,  Solomon, 
Charlotte  M.  and  Rebecca,  four  of  whom  are  living. 
Solomon  died  in  March,  18(34:.  Mr.  Holsy  Hubbard 
now  owns  three  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  of  land. 
In  the  month  of  August,  the  same  year  (1817), 
Deacon  Isaac  Sampson  and  wife,  and  family,  consist- 
ing of  Ezekiel  (who  came  in  1816),  and  Sally,  Isaac, 
John,  Roxy  and  Marium,  arrived  in  the  township, — 
second  section,  and  after  remaining  a  few  years, 
moved  on  to  lot  three,  fourth  section.  He  was  a 
brick  manufacturer  and  stone  mason;  made,  burned, 
and,  in  part,  constructed  the  brick  house  in  Ruggles 
township, — the  first  brick  dwelling  ever  erected  in 
all  this  portion  of  the  then  county  of  Huron,  for 
Deacon  Harvey  Sackett,  in  the  year  1834.  The 
children  married,  as  follows:  Ezekiel  to  Polly,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Merrifield;  Sally  to  Enos  Smith,  of 
Florence,  January  5,  1819;  Isaac  to  Patty  Hendryx, 
daughter  of  Old  Anthony,  in  1823,  and  in  after  years 
went  west  with  the  Mormons;  Roxey  to  Archibald 
Bates,  about  182G;  John  to  Miss  Townsend,  and  went 
to  Illinois  at  the  "Nauvoo  Mormon  Emigration,"  and 
Marium,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  married  to  Gani- 
malia  Townsend,  and,  in  company  with  Truman  and 
Archibald  Bates,  in  1833,  went  to  Indiana.     Ezekiel 


and  family  moved  to  Iowa.  Lewis,  their  youngest 
sou,  has  just  closed  his  second  term  as  member  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States.  Deacon  Isaac  Samp- 
son died  at  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  in  1838,  and 
Ezekiel  in  Keokuk  county,  Iowa;  Polly,  his  widow, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three,  in  February,  1871,  at 
Sigourney,  Iowa. 

Joseph  Merrifield  and  his  son-in-law,  Nathan  Hoyt, 
came  in  July,  and  erected  a  log  cabin-  on  lot  number 
two,  fourth  section  (Thomas  Hendryx  had  previously 
entered  the  same  lot,  but  as  he  had  made  no  improve- 
ments, it  cost  only  a  trifle  to  " jump  his  claim.") 
Their  families  came,  December  23,  1817.  from 
Brighton,  New  York.  The  names  of  the  children  of 
Mr.  Joseph  ]\Ierrifield  are:  Polly  (Mrs.  Ezekiel  Samp- 
son): Betsey  (Mrs.  Nathan  Hoyt),  and  William,  wlio 
were  married  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Lydia 
(who  married  Peter  Kinsley  March  13,  1820);  James 
Ji.,  Joseph  Seymour  and  Lewis.  They  all  lived  for 
several  years,  and  most  of  them  all  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  in  New  London;  and  some  of  their  cliil- 
dren  and  grandchildren  to  this  day  are  here  among 
us — good  and  highly  respected  citizens. 

1818. — Faucis  Keyes  and  family — wife  and  four 
children,  from  Vermillion  (though  formerly  from  the 
State  of  Massachusetts),  came  in  the  month  of  Nov- 
ember, and  settled  on  lot  number  six  in  fourtli  sec- 
tion. His,  was  the  fourth  log  cabin  in  that  portion 
of  the  township,  now  in  the  village — the  first  liaving 
been   built  by  John  Corry;   the  second   by   Ezekiel 


366 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Sampson;  the  tliinlbyJosepli  Merrifield.  Mr.  Keyes 
put  out  his  orchiird,  in  1820,  which  was  the  second 
one  put  out  in  tlie  village.  The  names  of  his  four 
children  were:  Ursula,  the  eldest  daughter,  who 
married  James  0.  Merrifield;  Mary,  married  Lewis 
Merrifield  in  1828,  and  the  two  boys.  Perry  and  Har- 
rison (as  their  sisters  had  married  brothers),  con- 
cluded to,  and  did,  marry  sisters,  by  the  name  of  Sher- 
rick.  Mrs.  Keyes  brought  with  her  from  the  old 
Bay  State,  that  common  destroyer — consumption,  of 
which  she  died  in  May,  1819.  Her  death  is  noticed 
as  the  first  white  adult  of  the  township.  Her  chil- 
dren and  her  grandchildren  still  continue  to  die  of 
consumption,  showing  in  this  instance,  a  remarkable 
tendency  that  consumption  is  hereditary. 

Mr..  Keyes,  in  .July  of  the  same  year,  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Scribner.  He  sold  his  improvements  in 
1821,  to  James  0.  Merrifield  and  Peter  Kinsley,  and 
moved  to  the  east  part  of  Fitchville  township, 
whence,  in  1834:,  as  history  relates,  he  and  his  wife, 
and  his  two  boys  and  their  wives,  were  swept  along 
by  the  mighty  and  popular  wave,  the  Mormon  emi- 
gration, to  the  far  west,  where  they  and  hundreds  of 
others  hoped  to  find  the  land  of  promise,  wherein 
saints  of  the  Most  High  could  enjoy  freedom  to 
worship  God,  and  not  be  persecuted  as  they  had  been 
in  Huron  county. 

Peter  Kinsley,  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  July  12, 
1797,  and  Henry  Bates,  an  Englishman,  both  deserted 
the  British  army,  and  under  fire  of  their  guns,  swam 
the  Niagara  river  in  1815;  and  in  the  fall  of  1818, 
both  came  to  New  London.  Kinsley,  during  the 
winters  of  1818  and  1819,  taught  the  first  school  in 
the  fourth  section. 

Abram  Dayton  Hendryx,  wife  and  family,  came  in 
1817,  and,  as  the  oldest  inhabitants  say,  they  lived  "all 
over" — first  on  lot  number  nine,  then  on  lot  number 
three,  then  to  Sullivan,  then  back  to  New  London, 
from  one  section  to  another.  He  was  the  father  of 
John  M.,  who  married  Eunice,  daughter  of  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Day,  (who  also  came  to  the  township  in  1817. 
Dr.  Samuel  Day  was  the  father  of  John,  Sally,  Josiah, 
Eunice,  Ephraim  and  William,  who  all  came  about 
the  same  time;  and  afterward,  in  New  London,  the 
father  of  Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Almira,  Elijah  (who 
had  fits),  Charles,  Samuel,  Matilda,  Huldah  and 
Polly,  and  three  others  that  died;  eighteen  in  all. 
Dr.  Day  made  and  exported  the  first  potash,  or  black 
salts,  from  this  township,  in  1821.  Dr.  Day  died 
December  31,  1839.)  Sophia,  who  married  John 
Town,  and  settled  on  lot  twenty-five,  fourth  section, 
and  afterwards  went  to  the  State  of  Michigan;  George, 
who  married,  in  Ruggles,  Perwilla  Stevens  from 
Knox  county;  Sally,  had  John  Fisher  for  her  first, 
and  Cummings  for  her  second  husband,  now  living 
with  Mrs.  Kannauss,  a  granddaughter,  in  the  city  of 
Cleveland;  and  Anna,  the  oldest  girl,  married  Ben- 
jamin DeWitt,  of  Plymouth.  The  fee  for  this  mar- 
riage, to  Isaac  P.  Case,  justice  of  the  peace,  in  absence 
of  any  money  (a.s  negotiated  by  one  Simson,  DeWitt's 


debtor),  was  a  fine  "dog"  pup,  afterwards  becoming 
"old  Bose,"  one  of  the  most  respected  members  in 
"old  Squire  Case's"  family,  and  of  the  neighborhood. 

Samuel  Sherman  and  family,  in  1818,  settled  on 
lot  number  eighteen,  third  section.  Mr.  Sherman 
and  his  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Leonard,  were  very 
hard  and  industrious  laborers.  A  son-in-law,  by  the 
name  of  Braynard,  put  up  the  frame  barn  now  stand- 
ing directly  north  of  the  residence  of  Leonard  Gold- 
ing.  It  is  said  of  the  Sherman  family  that  they 
"cleared  more  land  than  any  pioneers  of  the  town- 
ship." 

Ml-.  Willis  Case,  wife  and  family,  consisting  of 
Charles,  Leonard  and  George,  came  in  1818,  and  set- 
tled on  lot  number  fourteen,  third  section.  He  was 
a  brother  of  I.  P.  Case.  Many  of  his  grandchildren 
are  still  living  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Zelotes  Barritt  came  to  New  London  in  181(i, 
and  kept  "hall"  with  one  Simeon  Blackman,  on  the 
same  lot  that  Abner  Green  occupied.  Mr.  Barritt 
first  owned  and  cleared  a  farm — lot  number  six, 
fourth  se'ction — in  Clarksfield.  Though  for  the  last 
fifty  years  of  his  life,  he  owned,  and  for  most  of  the 
time  lived,  and  died  on,  lot  number  ten,  third  section, 
in  New  London. 

Jac(jb  Roorback  came  to  New  London  in  1823, 
spent  a  short  time  and  went  Ruggles  in  1823  or  2i. 
John  Roorback  and  family  came  to  New  London  in 
1826,  and  settled  on  lot  thirteen,  first  section.  He 
was  father  to  John  W.  and  Frederick  S. 

Clark  Winans  settled  on  lot  number  ten,  third 
section,  1825,  but  soon  sold  to  Z.  Barritt.  Benjamin 
Hendryx,  living  on  lot  number  twenty-three,  second 
section,  after  firing  off  his  gun,  as  he  supposed,  blew 
in  it,  and  it  discharged,  killing  him.  This  was  in 
1823,  and  he  was  the  first  man  shot  in  town.  John 
Akright  and  Jacob  Akright  came  in  1823.  B. 
Crampton  and  wife  came  and  settled  on  lot  number 
twenty-four,  third  sec-tion,  in  1816. 

The  family  of  Abner  Case,  a  brother  of  I.  P.  Case, 
a  wounded  soldier,  came  to  the  township  at  an  early 
date;  also  the  family  of  Blackman,  who  settled  mostly 
in  the  second  section.  Ansel,  Ira  and  Simeon  Black- 
man,  and  families,  are  supposed  to  have  settled  about 
1818,  also  Abram  Prosser,  David  Loveland,  John 
Tainter  and  Captain  Wm.  Blackman,  on  lot  number 
nineteen,  second  section;  Phillip  Sworthout  in  fourth 
section,  and  Eldeii  Beujamiu  B.  Brackenbury  and 
John  Hooker,  in  the  third  section.  Wm.  C.  Spauld- 
ing  settled  on  lot  number  seven,  third  section  (Sim 
Munsou  owning  it  before  this  time),  and  by  hiin  was 
erected  the  first  frame  store  in  the  township,  on  the 
same  lot.  It  can  still  be  seen  as  a  part  of  the  barn  of 
Tjyman  Dunks.  Tracy  Case  was,  at  one  time,  a  part- 
ner of  Spaulding.  They  purchased  most  of  their 
goods  at  Huron,  Milan  and  Vermillion.  The  further 
immediate  settlements  of  this  township  became  much 
retarded,  and,  in  fact,  we  may  say,  almost  entirely 
suspended.  There  were  two  events  operating  as 
causes — the  death  of  Nathaniel  Ledvard,  which  took 


ZELOTUS   BARRETT. 


MRS.    MARY   B.    BARRETT. 


ZELOTUS  BAERETT 


was  one  of  the  honored  and  lionorable  pioneere  of 
New  London,  a  man  who,  from  the  first  to  tlie  last 
of  his  long  residence  in  the  community,  was  ever 
identified  with  good  projects,  and  aided  almost  every 
interest,  material  or  moral,  tliat  the  jjeople  around 
him  had  at  heart. 

He  was  born  in  Mendon,  Jlonroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  24,  1798,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  1814.  Two  years  after  that 
he  came  to  Huron  County  and  settled  in  Clarksfield, 
taking  up  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  wliich  is  now 
owned  by  his  youngest  daughter.  He  added  fourteen 
hundred  acres  more  to  his  original  purchase,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  largest  land-holders  in  this  part  of 
the  county. 

April  1,  1821,  Mr.  Barrett  married  his  first  wife, 
Miss  Betsey  Smith,  who  bore  him  two  children, — 
Philander  and  Smith  Sherman.  Philander  lives  in 
Clarksfield,  and  Smith  Sherman  upon  the  old  home- 
stead in  New  London  township.  Mr.  Barrett's 
first  wife  died  in  1839,  and  he  married,  in  1840,  the 
widow  of  Enoch  Ncwkirk,  nee  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  Roorback,  of  New  London.  Of  this  union 
were  born  three  children,  viz.,  Betsey  Ann,  Martha 
M.,  and  AVilliam  A.,  all  of  whom  are  still  living; 
the  last  named  in  Kansas,  and  the  other  two  in 
Huron  County. 

The  following  just,  and  not  overdrawn,  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  the  late  Zelotus  Barrett  appeared  in 
Vol.  XIII.  of  the  Fire-Land  Pioneer,  and  is  from 
the  pen  of  Dr.  A.  D.  Skellenger,  of  New  London, 


a  man  who  was  well  qualified  to  judge,  from  many 
years'  acquaintance : 

"  Even  as  a  youth  he  served  his  country  in  the 
war  of  1812-15,  and  long  enough  to  become  a  pen- 
sioner. .  .  .  Mr.  Barrett  was  one  of  the  first  three 
that  voted  the  Abolition  ticket  in  New  London. 
His  life  throughout  was  that  of  a  man  of  energy  and 
versatility, — at  one  time  a  captain  in  militia,  at 
another  a  banker  (the  first  in  New  London),  at 
another  the  owner  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land, 
and  for  thirty  years  of  his  life  a  money-lender  to  the 
poor,  and  to  those  in  financial  distress.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  a  short  time  in  Huron,  and  a  sojourn  of 
three  and  a  half  years  in  Milan,  he  lived  for  sixty 
years  in  New  London,  identified  in  all  things  with 
its  history  and  progress.  He  was  most  of  his  life 
a  Methodist,  but  while  living  at  Milan  joined  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  he  ever  after  re- 
mained. He  died  in  his  seventy-ninth  year,  re- 
gretted by  all  who  knew  him,  and  followed  to  his 
last  resting-place  by  a  long  concourse  of  the  citizens 
among  whom  he  lived." 

Mi-s.  Mary  Barrett,  widow  of  the  late  Zelotus 
Barrett,  was  born  Jan.  29,  1820,  in  Paoli,  Ind.,  and 
removed  to  Ohio  in  1830,  her  jjai-ents  settling  in 
New  London,  one  mile  and  a  half  from  the  village. 
As  already  stated,  her  maiden  name  was  Mary  Roor- 
back, and  when  she  married  Mr.  Barrett  she  was  the 
widow  of  Enoch  Newkirk,  who  was  a  cormection  of 
the  famous  Daniel  Boone.  Mrs.  Barrett  is  still  liv- 
ing in  New  London. 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


place  in  October,  1815,  at  the  house  of  Almon  Rnggles, 
at  Vermilliou;  although  this  event  was  not  known 
to  those  settling'  in  the  second  and  fourth  sections 
till  after  they  had  reached  the  end  of  their  journey. 
The  other  cause,  a  "rumored  illegality"  of  the  pur- 
chase by  Richards  of  the  Douglass  estate  or  claim, 
which  we  will  nest  notice. 

COPY    OF    DEED  FROM  XAT.    RICHARDS  TO   DAVID  COIT. 

"To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come.  Greeting: 

Know  ye,  that  I,  Nathaniel  Richards,  of  the  town  and  county  of  New 
London,  and  State  of  Connecticut,  as  administrator  of  the  estate  of 
Nathan  Douglass,  late  of  New  London,  did,  by  order  of  the  court  of  pro- 
bate for  the  district  of  New  London,  for  the  consideration  of  two  hun- 
dred thirty-eight  pounds  thirteen  shillings.  (£*3S  Vis.  Od.)  lawful  money, 
received,  to  my  full  satisfaction,  of  David  Coit,  of  New  Loudon,  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  confirm,  unto  the  said 
David  Coit,  all  the  right,  title  or  share,  that  the  said  Nath,  Richards,  as 
administrator  aforesaid,  has,  or  ought  to  have,  in,  or  to  a  certain  tract 
of  land  lying  on  or  adjoining  Lake  Erie,  which  was  granted  by  the  gen- 
eral assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,- at  their  session  in  May,  1792,  to 
Nathan  Douglass  and  many  others;  the  whole  grant  being  half  a  million 
of  acres,  the  Nathan  Douglass  proportion  of  it  being  about  three  thou  sand 
one  hundred  and  eighty-two  (3,183)  acres;  being  the  whole  of  Nathan's 
rights  therein,  be  the  same  more  or  less.  The  amount  of  his,  Nathan 
Douglass'  loss,  as  allowed  and  ascertained  by  a  committee  on  the  losses, 
being  £941  lis.  9d..  as  from  the  record  of  assembly  appears,  etc.,  etc., 
etc  ,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  and  bargained  premises, 
with  the  appurtenances  thereof,  unto  him,  the  said  David  Coit.  and  his 
heirs  and  assignees  forever,  to  his  and  their  own  proper  use  and  behoof. 
■'    '•'    *    (as  usual  to  the  close). 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  mv  hand  and  seal  the  11th 
day  of  March,  Anno  Domini  1T97.  Nat.  Richards. 

Signed,  sealed  and  dated  in  the  presence  of  | 
Georoe  Colfax,  Guv  Richards.  f 

Neil)  London  county,  ss.; 

New  Lo.ndon,  March  11th,  1797. 
Personally  appeared,  Nat.  Richards,  signer  and  sealer  of  the  fore- 
going instrument,  and  acljnowledged  the  same  to  be  his  tree  act  and 
deed  before  me.  Gry  Richards.  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

ON   THE   SAME    DAY — COIT   TO    RICHARDS. 

"Know  all  men  by  these  jiresents.  That  I,  David  Coit,  of  the  town  and 
county  of  New  Loudon,  for  divers  good  causes  and  considerations  there- 
unto moving,  especially  for  the  sum  of  £-MS  13.s.  Od.,  lawful  money,  re- 
ceived, to  my  full  satisfaction,  of  Nat.  Richards,  of  New  London,  in  the 
county  of  New  London  and  State  of  Connecticut,  have  remised,  released 
and  forever  quit-claimed,  and  do,  by  these  presents,  forever  tor  mj-selt 
and  my  heirs  jointly  and  absolutely  remise  and  forever  quit-claim  unto 
the  said  Nathaniel  Richards,  and  to  his  heirs  and  assignees  forever,  all 
such  right  or  title  as  I,  the  said  David  Coit,  have  or  ought  to  have,  in  a 
certain  tract  of  land  lying  on  or  adjoining  hake  Erie,  which  was  granted 
by  the  general  assembly  of  the  State  ot  Connecticut,  at  their  session  in 
May ,  1793,  to  Nathan  Douglass  and  many  others. "  '•'  "  '"  (The  same 
description  to  close  as  the  former  one.  Executed  on  March  11,  1797,  and 
witnessed  by  the  same  witnesses,  and  before  the  same  justice  of  the 
peace.) 

DECREE    OF    COURT. 

After  nearly  thirty  years  the  aljove  deed  was  de- 
chired  illegal,  and  the  terrible  effects  will  Ije  apparent 
from  the  following  copy  ot  tiie  record  of  the  court 
and  tlicir  several  decrees: 


I'K'KETI'    I.ATTIMER    TO    WILLIAM    P.   CLEVELAND, 
DEED,    ETC..   ETC. 

To  all  to  icliom  these  presents  shall  come,  Greeting: 

Whereas.  William  P.  Cleveland,  executor  of  the  estate  of  James 
Lewis,  deceased,  Charles  R.  Lewis  and  George  A.  Lewis,  by  said  Cleve- 
land, and  their  next  f  rieud,  heretofore  filed  their  bill  ot  complaint  in  the 
Court  ot  Common  Pleas  of  Huron  County,  sitting  as  a  Court  ot  Chan- 
cery, against  Nathaniel  Richards.  Benjamin  Huntington  and  Henry 
Channing,  praying  the  sale  and  foreclosure  of  a  claim  against  lands  in 
said  bill  described,  as  four  thousand  oue  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  in  the 
20th  range,  2nd  township,  and  third  section,  in  the  county  of  Huron,  and 
two  thousand  twenty-nine  acres  in  20th  range,  and  township,  1st  section, 


amounting  in  all  to  six  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  (6180)  acres ; 
and,  whereas,  the  said  Huntington  at  a  subsequent  term  of  said  court 
had  also  filed  his  cross-bill  of  complaint  against  said  Cleveland,  Charles 
R.  and  George  A .  Lewis,  Nathaniel  Richards  and  Henry  Channing,  pray- 
ing that  said  lands  might  be  sold,  and  foreclosed  for  his  benefit  and  tor 
the  satisfaction  ot  a  certain  debt  owing  him  f  i  om  said  Richards,  and 
secured  on  said  land;  and,  whereas,  the  said  court,  at  their  October 
term,  1833,  on  the  hearing  of  said  bill  and  cross-bill,  made  their  inter- 
locutory decree,  ordered  the  Master  Commissioner  ot  said  Court,  that 
by  the  oaths  of  five  freeholders,  in  said  bill  mentioned,  to  cause  said 
land  to  be  appraised  by  lots;  and,  whereas,  the  Master  Commissioner  ot 
said  Court,  in  obedience  ot  said  decree,  and  b^-  virtue  of  decretal  to  bim 
directed,  did  cause  the  following  lots  ot  land  to  be  appraised  by  the 
oaths  of  freeholders,  to  wit:  lots  No.  1,  3,  3,  4,  6;  south  part  8,  11,  13^ 

16,  17,  19,  '30,  31,  23,  34.  in  the  third  section  ot  said  town;  and  lots  No. 
7;  north  part  ot  8,  9:  south  part  of  10,  13,  14,  15;  south  part  18;  north 
part  18,  33,  were  appraised,  subject  to  the  rights  of  settlers  thereon, 
being  in  the  section  aforesaid;  and  lots  in  the  first  section,  No.  14,  15, 16 

17,  18,  east  part  of  30,  21,  22,  23,  24,  and  the  west  part  ot  lot  No.  30,  east 
part  of  No .  25,  and  west  part  of  25,  appraised  subject  to  the  rights  of 
settlers  thereo'n;  and  that,  having  made  his  report  of  his  proceedings  to 
said  Court  ot  Common  Pleas,  asd  they  having  inspected  the  same,  and 
being  satisfied  that  said  appraisal  had  in  all  respects  been  conducted 
agreeable  to  said  decree,  at  their  August  term,  A.  D.,  1834,  made  a  tur- 
tliur  decree  in  the  premises,  by  which,  among  other  things,  it  was  or- 
dered, that  the  Master  Commissioner  do  proceed  and  sell  said  mortgaged 
premises,  he  giving  thirty  days'  notice  as  is  required  by  the  act  regulating 
judgments  and  executions.  That  he  set  up  each  lot  separately,  and 
that  so  much  ot  said  land  as  has  been  "contracted"  he  shall  sell  snbject 
to  said  "contracts,'"  and  that  he  report  his  proceedings  thereon. 

And,  whereas,  I,  Pickett  Lattimer,  Master  Commissioner  as  aforesaid, 
did  in  obedience  to  said  decree,  and  by  virtue  of  a  decretal  order,  ad- 
vertise and  oflfer  said  lands  tor  sale  .according  to  the  command  in 
said  order;  and  that  having  struck  off  and  sold  all  the  right  and  title  of 
Nathaniel  Richards  in  and  to  the  following  land,  to  William  P.  Cleveland, 
who  bid  by  his  agent,  Eben  Newton,  and  was  the  highest  bidder,  to  wit: 

Ko.  of    Ko.  of    At  per     Amount-       No.  of    No.of    At  per     Amount- 
lot,        acres.      acre.         ing  to.  lot.        acres,      acre.       ing  to. 

1  160)4-.S1.''5!^..-8192-1"  16 187)4. ..S  -91     ...8176.63 

3 158    ...      83H...  1:31.5:314  17 157J4...  1.3314...  309.99)4 

3 165)4...   83)4...  137.77  19 Wo)4...   1.00  ...  165.50 

4 165^...  1.33%...   330.66  20 167J4...  1.00  ...  167.75 

6 IBS  ...1.50  ...253.00  21 166)4...   SSH- ■  •  138.B0J^ 

8 60     ...  8.00     ...  130.00  23 157     ...  1.17     ...  183.69 

11 168^:-       66)4...  113.30  34 171^^...      91     ...156.06 

13 160    ...  1.50  "...  240.00  25 173J^...      83)^...  144.43J^ 

situated  in  said  third  section. 


Lot 


.158 


"  9..166H. 
"  10..  86)i. 
Gore  13..  169)4. 


.S360.56        Lot     14..169H 

.  359.31  "      15. .173}^ 

.  353.85       S.  pt.  18..  83^..' 

.    92.92       N.  pt.l8..  83J4 

.  132.75       Lot     33..169y 

1  subject  to  the  rights  of  those  having 


S136.73 
.  14:3  68 
.    39.15 


14  170    ...$1.17    ...S193.90  20 91     ...S1.17    ...$106.47 

15 159     ...      63>4...  1-32  31  21 179)4. ..  1  33)4...  239. 33^ 

Hi 172)4...  1.4-3)4...  245.91  23 169)4.      1.42)4...  241. 63^ 

17 16:3^...  1.42^...  233.98  23 171>4...  1.25^...  214.91?4 

15  ...   .165J4  ..  1.25^...  808.03  34 173,1^...  1.03>4...  188.08 

19 165)4...      8:3^...  1-37.77 

situated  in  said  first  section. 


W.  p't30  I  ,  i,,^ 
E.  p'f35fl=8>^- 


175.35      W. 


.  01314 


situated  in  said  first  section  subject  to  rights  ot  those  having  contracts 
therefor;  and  having  reported  my  proceedings  thereon,  and  said  Court 
having  at  their  October  term,  1834,  inspected  said  report,  and  being  sat- 
isfied that  said  sale  had,  in  all  respects,  been  conducted  in  conformity  to 
said  decree, — Ordered  that  the  Master  Commissioner  make,  execute  and 
deliver  to  said  Wm.  P.  Cleveland  a  deed,  conveying  to  him  all  the  right 
ami  title  ot  said  Nathaniel  to  the  above  descril)ed  land  subject  to  the 
rights  aforesaid : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Pickett  Lattimer,  Master  Commissioner  as  afore- 
said, by  virtue  ot  said  decretal  order,  and  for  and  in  consideration  of 
80,96i;.83,  received,  to  my  full  satisfaction,  of  William  P.  Cleveland,  do 
grant,  bargain  and  sell  to  the  said  William  P.  Cleveland,  all  the  riglit  and 
title  of  said  Nathaniel  Richards  in  and  to  the  aforesaid  lots  ot  land  situ- 
ated in  the  first  and  third  sections  of  New  London,  and  in  the  count.v  of 
Huron,  subject  to  the  right  of  those  holding  "contracts'"  thereof,  be  the 
same  more  or  less;  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  and  bargained 
premises  to  his  own  proper  use  and  behoof  in  as  full  and  perfect  a 
maimer  as  I  could,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  aforesaid,  convey  the  same. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  ISth  day 
of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-flve. 
Signed,  sealed  and  acknowledged.  ]  Pickett  Lj 

and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  I  Master  C'( 

Harvey  G.  Morse,  f 

Simeon  B.  Sturoes,  J 

Acknowledged  before  Enos  Gilbert,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Received  for  record  May  21st,  18i5;  recorded  June  2Ist,  1833. 

ICHABOD  Marshal,  Recorder. 

[Copie<l  by  A.  D.  Sfcellenger  from  the  Record  of  Deeds,  pages  3T9  and 
880.  April  25,  1879.  j 

It  was  by  the  above  decree  that  John  Miller,  Sr., 
who  was  a  son  of  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Douglass, 
came,  in  1825,  in  possession  of  several  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  New  London  township,  making  him  the 
wealthiest  person  in  the  township,  as  he  was  also  the 
most  respected. 

Below  is  a  list  of  a  few  deeds  given  for  land  in  the 
third  section,  with  the  date  of  the  transfer  and  the 
names  of  the  parties  and  the  number  of  lot  and  num- 
ber of  acres: 

By  decree  of  court  to  Solomon  Hubbard,  lot  5,  175  acres,  1822. 

By  decree  of  court  to  Hiram  Blackman,  lot  10,  86)^  acres,  Oct.  3,  1832. 

Simeon  Blackman  to  Solomon  Hubbard,  N.  E.  corner  lot  10,  10  acres,  Apr. 

10. 1823. 
Simeon  Blackman  to  Ariel  Pixley.  N.  p't  lot  10,  12!^  acres,  Apr.  20,  1824. 
Heirs  of  James  Lewis  to  Henry  Anderson,  one-half  of  lot  18,  one-half  of 

166H  acres.  April  1,  1823. 
Heirs  of  James  Lewis  to  Hosea  Townsend,  one-halt  of  lot  23,  I6914  acres 

April  1,  1825. 
Heirs  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  Ariel  Pixley,  S.  half  lot  10,  86^  acres,  July 

10,  1829. 
Heirs  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  John  Hooker,  W.  part  lot  17,  50  acres,  July 

2, 18.30. 
Heirs  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  William  Sweet,  lot  15, 173)4  acres,  March.  1, 

1831. 
William  Sweet  to  Abram  Prosser,  lot  10,  1  acre,  July  11,  1831. 
William  Sweet  to  Abram  Prosser,  lot  13,  173  acres,  July  11,  1831. 
Heirs  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  Pickett  Lattimore,  lots  1,  2  &  4,  4789:i  acres, 

June  9,  18.30. 
Heirs  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  Philo  T.  Porter,  N.  pt  lot  8,  104  acres,  Oct. 

2,5.  1830. 
Hi  s  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  Jos.  B.  Brackenburg,  E.  p't  lot  22, 78J^  acres. 

May  1*.  is:)l. 
H'rs  of  Natlian  Douglass  to  Harris  Peck,  part  lot  12, 27  acres,  May  2, 1829_ 
H  rs  'jf  Nathan  Douglass  to  Wm.  C.  Spaulding,  part  lot  7,  50  acres,  June 

7,  1831. 
Jos.  B.  Brackenburg  to  Hosea  Townsend,  p't  lot  22,27  acres,  June  20, 1831. 
Heirs  of  Nathan  Douglass  to  John  Harmond,  N.  W.  part  lot  11,  55  acres, 

June  3, 1831. 
H'rs  of  Nat'n  Douglass  to  J.  W.  and  B.  Parks,  ri.  W.  p't  lot  11,  131  71-100 

acres,  Oct.  4,18.31. 
H'rs  of  Nat'n  Douglass  to  Geo.  Minor,  E.  p't  lot  17,  56  acres,  Dec.  1,  1832, 
H'rs  of  Nat'n  Douglass  to  Isaac  P.  Case,  S.  p't  lot  14,  Slfi  acres,  July  11, 

John  Miller  to  Tracy  Case.  N.  part  lot  14,  81!4  acres,  March  11,  1833. 
John  Miller  to  Tracy  Case,  part  lot  6,  8iy,  acres,  March  11,  1833. 

The  ((uestion  of  title  disposed  of.  New  London  now 
rapidly  settled. 

Jolin,  Archibald,  and  Truman  Bates,  and  sister. 
Charity  (Mrs.  Phillip  Sworthout),  first  settled  on  the 
town  line  road  in  the  fourth  section  about  1826. 

Ale.xander  McConnell  and  wife,  and  family — J.  (J., 
J.  A.,  Martha,  and  William,  came  to  New  London  in 
1831:  settled  on  lots  number  seventeen  and  eighteen, 
first  section.  The  lot  had  been  occupied  by  one 
Odell  before  .McConnell  bought  it.  J.  A.  and  J.  C. 
are  dead.  William  now  lives  on  lot  number  eighteen; 
married  M.  A.  Roorback  in  1840,  and  is  the  father  of 
Mary  (Mrs.  Carvey),  Alexander  K.,  J.  F.,and  A.  E. 
Mr.  William  McConnell  is  among  the  best  men  of  the 
township,  having  filled  several  offices. 


Elisha  Noble  and  family  came  and  settled  on  lot 
number  fifteen,  first  section.  Died  1836,  or,  as  his 
son  and  others  say,  was  murdered  by  Dr.  McMillen, 
of  Clarksfield,  who  amputated  his  leg  and  did  not 
ligate  the  artery,  and  he  bled  to  death. 

Robert  Gordon  came  in  1831:  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  First  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  in  1833. 
Settled  on  lot  number  twenty-two,  second  section. 
Lockwood  and  Chauncy  Shaw,  in  1834,  settled  on  lot 
number  four,  second  section.  David  Rumsey  on  lot 
number  nineteen,  second  section,  in  1835.  George 
Rumsey  came  in  1837,  and  John  Hosmer  in  1835, 
settling  on  lot  number  twenty-five,  second  section. 
John  Hofstatter  settled  on  lot  number  fifteen,  second 
section,  in  1844.  Captain  Henry  King  came  in  1839, 
and  his  family  in  1840.  B.  L.  Mead,  in  1843,  locat- 
ing on  lot  number  twenty-four,  fourth  section.  N. 
Runyan,  in  1836;  J."  Bradley,  1839;  Stephen  Kil- 
burn,  in  1840,  and  many  more  about  this  time.  Dyer 
Barrett,  in  1835,  lot  seventeen,  in  second  section; 
Daniel  Hemenway,  in  1835,  settling  on  lot  twenty- 
three,  section  first. 

Mrs.  John  Wanzer  Hendryx  hung  herself  in  1834. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  ELECTION  OF  OFFICERS. 

The  township  of  New  London  was  organized  in 
1817,  and  the  first  election  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  William  Sweet,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April. 
William  Sweet,  Isaac  P.  Case  and  Solomon  Hubbard 
were  trustees;  Sherman  Smith  was  township  clerk; 
Hosea  Townsend  and  B.  Cramptou  were  appraisers; 
Philo  T.  Porter  was  constable,  and  H.  Towusend 
acted  as  lister.  Mr.  I.  P.  Case  was.  made  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  tradition  has  it  that  he  was  elected 
at  an  election  held  in  Florence,  and  he  was  elected 
unanimously,  by  one  rote,  and  that  unanimity  was  cast 
by  Solomon  Hubbard.  But  Mr.  H.  Townsnd  says  such 
a  notion  is  only  fiction,  and,  of  course,  untrue.  The 
early  records  of  the  township  wore  burned,  with  all 
the  furniture  in  the  house,  at  the  time  Sherman 
Smith  and  brother's  house  was  burned,  in  1818  or  "19, 
and  the  want  of  any  record  compels  us  to  say  we  do 
not  know  who  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1818.  It 
is  conceded  there  was  no  fall  election  in  1817.  The 
first  State  election  was  held  in  1818,  and  the  poll  book 
shows  twenty  votes,  which  at  the  ratio  now  given  for 
boys,  girls,  and  -n'omen,  (and  many  of  the  early  pio- 
neers had  large  families  of  boys  and  girls)  would  give 
the  town  some-n'here  from  sixty  to  one  hundred 
inhabitants. 

Mr.  Hosea  Townsend  furnishes,  as  a  record  made 
by  his  wife,  the  following  correct  list  of  a  few  of  the 
earlier  marriages,  with  the  dates,  and  by  whom  the 
interesting  and  solemn  hymeneal  knots  were  tied: 
Ira  Blackman  to  Lovina  Smith,  daughter  of  Nathan 
Smith,  October  20,  1816,  by  E.  Sprague,  of  Florence, 
justice  of  the  peace;  Town  Clark  to  Philotha  Case, 
December  20,  1816,  by  the  same  justice  of  the  peace; 
Nathan  Canada  to  Hannah  Van  Deusen,  March  17, 
1817,  by  David  Abbott,  justice  of  the  peace:  Z.  Nor- 


H[STOt!,Y  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ton  to  Cynthia  Post,  of  Clarksfield,  October  1-4, 1818, 
by  Isaac  P.  Case,  justice  of  the  peace;  Enos  Smith  to 
Sally  Sampson,  January  5,  1819,  by  I.  P.  Case,  justice 
of  the  peace;  Francis  Keyes  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Scrib- 
ner,  July  — ,  1819,  by  I.  P.  Case,  justice  of  the  peace; 
Mr.  Upson  Clark  to  Sally  Day,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Day,  December  28,  1819,  by  I.  P.  Case,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace;  Peter  Kinsley  to  Lydia  Merrifield, 
March  13,  18-^0;  John  Hooker  to  Laura  Anderson, 
March  23,  1820,  by  Isaac  P.  Case;  Hosea  Townseud 
to  Miss  Sophia  Case,  March  25,  1821,  by  I.  P.  Case, 
justice  of  the  peace;  John  Day  to  Miss  Polly  Corey, 
December  16,  1817,  by  Esquire  Ralston,  of  Richland 
county,  at  uncle  A.  Hendryx's,  in  Haneytown,  now 
Savannah. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  birth  occurred  on  the  29th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1816.  Unto  John  Hendryx's  wife  was  born  a 
son.  It  died,  of  what,  we  know  not,  having  lived 
only  a  few  months.     No  name. 

Mrs.  Eunice  Knapp,  daughter  of  I.  P.  Case,  born 
August  10,  1817,  is  the  oldest  person  born  in  the 
township  and  living  in  the  village. 

Mr.  Joseph  B.,  son  of  Solomon  Hubbard,  born 
August  27,  1817,  is  the  oldest  male  born  in  New 
London. 

The  first  adult  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Francis 
Keyes,  who  died  of  consumption  in  May,  1819,  and 
was  buried  on  their  own  lot,  near  .John  King's  or- 
chard. Mrs.  Polly  Day,  daughter  of  John  Corryand 
wife  of  John  Day,  died  in  the  autumn  of  1820,  and 
was  buried  on  her  father's  farm,  being  the  first  buried 
iu  the  village  cemetery. 

The  first  house  erected  was  by  Abner  Green,  on  lot 
number  ten,  third  section,  February,  1815,  and  the 
first  frame  house  by  Hosea  Townseud  on  lot  number 
twenty-three,  third  section.  The  first  frame  barn 
was  built  by  I.  P.  Case,  and  the  first  log  store  (a 
building  24x36)  in  1819,  on  his  place.  The  first 
frame  store  was  "William  C.  Spaulding's,  on  lot  num- 
ber seven,  third  section.  The  first  boy  born  in  a 
frame  house  in  the  town  was  Ira  Townseud. 

The  first  corn  was  raised  by  Abner  Green,  and  the 
first  wheat  carried  to  mill  was  by  Hosea  Townseud, 
to  Uniontown,  now  Ashland.  The  first  Hour  and 
meal  was  obtained  at  Florence. 

The  first  manufacturer  of  boots  and  shoes  was  I. 
P.  Case,  in  1815.  The  first  black  salts  or  potash  was 
made  by  Josiah  Day  aiid  his  father.  Dr.  Samuel  Day. 
The  first  orcharcls  from  the  seeds  were  planted  by  H. 
Townsend,  William  Sweet,  John  Corry,  and  Francis 
Keyes,  in  1820  and  '22.  The  first  grist  mill  was  put 
up  by  Captain  William  Blackman  in  1826,  and  was  a 
small  concern — two  sand-stones  turned  by  hand.  The 
first  brick  building  was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1865  and 
in  the  summer  of  1866.  Was  used  by  Thomas  Smith 
as  a  cellar.  The  Masonic  Hall  was  built  the  fol- 
lowing year.  The  first  brick  store  was  built  l)y  C. 
W.  Gregory  in  the  village  in  1866.     Tiie  first  brick 


j  block  of  stores  was  built  by  Z.  Barritt  in  1867.  The 
first  quarrel  or  fight  was  betweeu  Dan  Higgins  and  I. 
J.  Webber.  Webber  knocked  the  wind  out  of  Hig- 
gins, but  he  recovered.  The  first  man  killed  at  a 
raising  was  Simeon  Munson,  in  1828.  The  first  arrest 
for  forgery  was  one  Bailey,  and  he  was  acquitted  by 
proving  he  could  not  write.  Peter  Kinsley  had  a 
fight  with  R.  Bailey,  and  Peter  was  the  first  to  go  to 
jail;  nothing  serious.  The  first  hotel  was  kept  by 
Peter  Kinsley,  a  double  log  house  with  many  addi- 
tions; he  also  used  it  as  a  store.  The  first  frame  hotel 
was  kept  by  Henry  King  in  1840.  The  first  brick 
hotel  was  erected  by  J.  A.  and  J.  C.  McConnell  in 
1869-70,  and  first  "kept  by  M.  Motter.  The  first 
township  clerk  was  Sherman  Smith,  in  1817.  The 
first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Isaac  P.  Case,  from 
1818  to  1851.  The  first  mill  of  any  magnitude  was 
erected  by  John  Bates;  was  moved  into  the  village 
by  Peter  Kinsley  and  J.  S.  Merrifield  in  1833,  and 
was  known  as  the  "horse  mill."  In  1838-9  we  had 
in  Ohio  the  first  and  greatest  drouth,  the  streams 
becoming  dried  up.  It  was  then  the  wisdom  of  the 
"  horse  mill  "  investment  became  manifest.  The  mill 
ran  day  and  night,  Sunday  not  excepted.  The  first 
importation  of  blooded  cattle  from  southern  Ohio 
was  by  John  Miller,  in  1835,  and  were  descendants  of 
the  English  importation  of  Durhams  in  1817.  The 
first  saw  mill  was  built  by  I.  P.  Case,  the  second  one 
by  John  Miller,  in  1826,  and  the  third  by  Robinson, 
in  1834.  The  first  steam  saw  mill  was  built  by  T. 
B.  Hemenway  in  1857;  the  first  steam  grist  mill  was 
built  by  0.  G.  Remington  in  1861-2.  The  first  rail- 
road was  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  and  Indianapolis, 
afterward  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati  and 
Indianapolis,  in  1850. 

The  first  road  opened  was  the  Read,  a  military  road 
from  the  south  side  of  the  county  to  the  lake  on  the 
west  line  of  New  Loudon,  in  1812.  The  second  road 
was  for  the  passage  of  the  army  of  General  Wm.  H. 
Harrison's  division,  1814,  through  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  township.  The  first  road  made  by  the 
pioneers  was  what  is  known  as  the  Clarksfield  road  to 
Ruggles,  commenced  1816. 

The  first  mail  matter  was  obtained  at  Huron,  Judge 
Jabez  Wright,  postmaster,  Dr,  Richard  P.  Christo- 
pher keeping  the  office  for  the  judge.  The  next  was 
obtained  at  Norwalk.  The  first  mail  route  was  from 
Tiffin  to  New  London — a  man  in  southern  Ohio  tak- 
ing the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail,  but  mistaking 
New  London  for  London  in  the  central  part  of  the 
State,  he  gave  up  his  contract,  and  it  was  then  car- 
ried by  Sipiire  Palmer,  of  Fitchville,  from  Fitchville 
to  Tiffin  and  back,  once  a  week;  and  by  Tracy  Case 
and  Hosea  Townsend  from  Fitchville  to  the  office  of 
I.  P.  Case,  postmaster,  for  the  revenue  of  the  office. 
This  was  under  J.  Q.  Adams'  administration.  Under 
Jackson's  administration  Peter  Kinsley  officiated  as 
postmaster  at  '"Kinsley  Corners,"  or  Merrifield's  Set- 
tlement. The  first  route  through  the  township  was 
from  Florence  to  Uniontown,  or  Ashland;  contractor. 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES^,   OHIO. 


Dr.  George  Baker;  carried  bj  Paul  Lebo.  and  others. 
There  is  a  dispute  as  to  who  kept  the  first  post  office, 
some  say  Peter  Kinsley,  and  others  T.  Case,  and  some 
I.  P.  Case.  Probably  one  got  it  away  from  the  other. 
Robert  Van  Vranken  is  postmaster  in  1879. 

The  first  school  house  was  in  the  third  section,  on 
lot  number  thirteen,  in  1816,  and  Miss  Sophia  Case, 
daughter  of  I.  P.  Case,  was  the  first  teacher,  and  had 
fifteen  scholars.  The  first  school  house  in  the  fourth 
section,  or  in  the  tillage,  was  on  lot  two.  a  little 
north  of  B.  B.  Mead's  residence,  and  Peter  Kinsley 
taught  the  first  school  in  1818;  he  had  about  twenty 
pupils.  There  are  now  in  the  village  three  buildings 
for  schools,  and  in  the  township  five,  and  four  joint 
sub-districts.  The  village  and  township,  by  act  of 
legislature  in  March,  1879,  constituted  all  the  terri- 
tory into  a  special  New  London  school  district. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHl'RCH. 

The  first  religious  organization  was  in  the  log 
school  house  where  Miss  Sophia  Case  was  teaching: 
organized  by  Mr.  James  Haney,  in  1816,  a  Methodist 
from  Savannah  (then  known  as  Haneytown).  Mr. 
Haney  had  about  thirty  listeners.  Probably  this  was 
the  first  class,  and  from  which,  as  a  nucleus,  the 
Methodist  Church  sprang.  The  north  branch  of  it 
erected  a  brick  church  in  1875-6:  the  south  branch 
erected  a  "wood-meeting"  house  in  1845,  and  has 
now  about  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  members.  At 
the  present  time  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society  of 
the  village  are  at  work  on  the  foundation  for  a  brick 
church  edifice,  seventy-six  by  seventy-five  feet,  with 
tower  and  bell.  Samuel  Doud,  Mr.  Joseph  Hemeu- 
way  and  Rev.  W.  L.  Phillips  are  the  building  com- 
mittee. May,  1879. 

THE    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

was  organized  in  1818,  in  the  Peter  Kinsley  school 
house.  Elder  French  was  their  first  preacher.  Among 
the  first  members  are  mentioned  Joseph  Merrifield 
and  wife.  Deacon  Isaac  Sampson  and  wife,  John  Corry 
and  .wife,  Ezekiel  Sampson  and  wife,  Thomas  and 
John  Heudryx  and  their  wives,  Wm.  Merrifield  and 
wife,  Richard  Bailey  and  wife,  and  several  of  the 
younger  mothers  of  the  above  families,  making  in  all 
some  twenty  or  twenty-five  members.  This  church 
has  always  kept  up  its  organization,  though,  for  the 
need  of  members  and  funds,  much  of  the  time  they 
have  not  been  able  to  pay  regular  preachers.  Their 
building  in  the  village  was  raised  in  1844,  but  not 
completed  for  some  time  afterward.  In  1829,  many 
of  the  members  went  off  to  the  Disciple  Church, 
and  from  1831  to  1834,  joined  the  popular  religious 
revival  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints,  or  Mormon  emi- 
grants. Rev.  P.  F.  Hall  preached  to  them  many 
years.     Rev.  J.  M.  Davies  is  now  their  pastor. 

THE    MORMONS. 

The  first  meeting  house  or  temple  of  worship 
erected  and  dedicated  was  in  the  year  1829  or  '30.     It 


was  an  immense  log  structure  located  on  the  south 
side  of  the  highway,  between  H.  Townsend  and  J. 
Hookers.  Among  its  early  members  were  Elder  Rig- 
don,  Elder  Benj.  B.  Brackenbury  and  wives,  Dan. 
Higins,  Thos.  Hendryx,  Francis  Keyes  and  family, 
the  Reeds,  the  Stevens  and  many  others,  their  mem- 
bership reaching  nearly  one  hundred.  For  several 
years  they  had  many  converts,  baptising  by  immer- 
sion as  many  as  eight  and  ten  on  many  Sabbaths  in 
succession.  Their  meetings  were  largely  attended, 
and  the  worship  as  sincere  as  any  professed  followers 
of  Christ  in  the  town.  Like  the  early  disciples,  their 
property  was  mostly  in  common.  There  was  no 
polygamy!  But  persecution  and  a  desire  to  inherit 
the  promised  land  induced  them  to  emigrate  west  in 
1834.     Many  remained  behind. 

FREE  WILL    BAPTISTS. 

The  next  churcli  building  and  society  to  be  noticed, 
is  "  The  first  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  of  New 
London."  It  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1833, 
by  Elder  Thomas  Carlton. 

The  first  members  of  this  church  were  twelve  in 
number,  as  follows:  Mr.  Robert  Gordon,  Jr.,  Lorenzo 
Tainter  and  mother.  John  M.  Hendryx  and  wife,  L. 
H.  Nol)le,  Parley  Pease  and  wife,  and  Miss  L.  Pease 
(a  daughter),  Ed.  H.  Gordon,  Rufus  Monger  and 
Thomas  Slieldon.  The  building  was  a  very  large  log 
structure  on  lot  number  seventeen,  second  section. 
It  took  the  name  of  the  "Old  Abbey;"  as  a  society; 
it  flourished,  and  appeared  to  do  great  good.  In 
1842,  the  membership  numbered  one  hundred  and 
two.  As  a  Baptist  church,  it  was  different  from  the 
Latter  Day  Saints,  though  coming  on  immediately 
after,  and  like  them,  drew  an  immensely  large  con- 
gregation. On  one  Sabbath,  in  the  winter,  in  the 
creek  near  H.  D.  Barrett's,  in  a  hole  in  the  ice,  the 
preacher  baptized  thirty-five,  and,  I  am  told  by  Mr. 
H.  D.  Barrett,  he  would  have  staid  and  immersed  as 
many  more,  if  they  had  come  forward.  But,  like 
most  emotional  bodies,  it,  like  the  Mormons,  has 
now  almost  passed  from  the  organizations  of  the 
township.  A  few  of  the  members  belong  to  a  branch 
in  Rochester,  and  others,  like  sheep  without  a  shep- 
herd, have  no  church  fellowship.  The  organization 
died  in  1857. 

THE    INIOX    CHLRCH    OR    MEETING    HOUSE 

was  erected  on  lot  number  ten,  northeast  corner,  in 
1853-8;  among  the  early  organizers  were  A.  Johnson, 
Butts  and  H.  Hulibard:  some  were  t^niveralists,  or 
restorationists,  Free  Will  Baptists,  L'nited  Brethren, 
Adveutists;  and  any  religionist  of  a  moral  character, 
when  not  previously  engaged,  could  preach  in  the 
L^nion  Church.  Many  excellent  men  have  occupied 
the  pulpit.  Al)Out  four  or  five  years  ago,  the  Lord 
struck  by  his  mighty  fluid — electricity, — and  tore  out 
the  west  end,  and  sliattered  the  jnilpit.  but  it  is  now 
repaired,  and  used  liy  any  and  all  religionists,  when 
not  engaged. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


371 


OTHER    CHURCH    ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  Disciples  orgiinized  about  1803,  but  did  not 
continue. 

The  Congregatioualists  organized  about  1807  or  S, 
but  could  not  support  a  preacher,  and  now  hold  no 
meetings. 

The  Catholics  organized  about  1850,  and  have 
regular  worship  once  in  about  two  weeks.  The 
church  building  is  on  High  street.  Father  Gal  van 
is  priest  at  present. 

ODD    FELLOWS. 

New  Loudon  Lodge,  No.  615,  I.  0.  0.  F.  was 
instituted  in  the  village  of  New  London,  July  14, 
1875,  by  Most  Worthy  Past  Grand  Master,  A.  C. 
Deuel.  The  charter  members  were:  N.  H.  Under- 
bill, A.  Zuber,  H.  D.  Chapin,  W.  R.  Brundage,  A.  E. 
Bennington,  P.  H.  Hoag,  Dorr  Twaddle  and  A.  D. 
Skellenger — eight  members.  On  the  first  evening, 
the  following  were  initiated:  J.  M.  Bliss,  Elias  Cul- 
bertson,  Preston  Palmer  and  L.  L.  Brundage.  The 
first  officers  were:  A.  Zuber,  N.  G. ;  A.  D.  Skellenger, 
V.  G. :  H.  D.  Chapin,  P.  and  R.  S. ;  N.  H.  Uuder- 
hill,  P.  G.;  W.  R.  Brundage,  treasurer;  A.  E.  Ben- 
nington, I.  G.  For  the  first  three  years  it  held  its 
meetings  in  a  small  room  over  the  Firpt  National 
Bank,  but  in  July,  1878,  the  lodge  moved  into  its 
present  very  excellent  and  commodious  rooms  in  the 
south  part  of  Barritt's  block,  owned  by  George  W. 
Knowlton.  Up  to  the  present  time,  with  about 
fifty  members,  they  can  report  no  deaths,  and  no  ex- 
pulsions. The  officers  for  1879  are :  J.  M.  Bliss,  N.  G. ; 
Elias  Culbertsou,  V.  G. ;  R.  A.  Coats,  R.  S. ;  A.  D. 
Skellenger,  P.  S. ;  A.  Zuber,  treasurer;  E.  W.  Mes- 
senger, 0.  G. ;  E.  E.  Washburn,  I.  G. ;  W.  R.  Mc- 
Caleb,  P.  G.;  William  Dobson,  C;  M.  D.  Stevens, 
W. 

BANK. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  New  London,  has  a 
capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  was  organized 
March  18,  1872.  John  Ransom,  is  president,  and 
M.   IT.   Smith,  cashier. 

FREE    AND    ACCEPTED    MASONS. 

Floral  Lodge,  No.  260,  F.  and  A.  il.,  is  a  lodge  of 
many  years  growth,  having  first  been  instituted  in 
Fitchville,  in  1854.  It  was  moved  to  New  London 
in  the  fall  of  1860.  December  18th,  first  meeting. 
Held  meetings,  for  one  year,  over  the  Thomas  Smith 
store,  and  the  next  year  completed  their  present  rooms 
above  the  First  National  Bank  building,  and  their  for- 
mer hall.  Floral  Lodge  now  numbers  about  one  hun- 
dred members.  Its  officers  for  1879  are:  E.  F.  Moore, 
W.  M.;  Willis  Wood,  S.  W. ;  W.  E.  Minor,  J.  W.;  G. 
E.  Washburn,  ti-easurer;  G.  W.  Ransom,  secretary; 
Leroy  Thompson,  S.  D. ;  Frank  Ames,  J.  D.;  C. 
Witt,  Tyler;  W.  L.  Phillips,  chaplain;  C.  H.  Church, 
S.  Gettle,  stewards;  C.  Starbird,   Leroy  Thompson, 


J.  M.  Rawson,  finance  committee;  L.  Kilburn,  J.  H. 
Beattie,  William  Wood,  grievance  committee. 

New  London  Chapter,  No.  110,  R.  A.  M.,  was  in- 
stituted in  the  fall  of  1807.  Convocations  are  held 
on  Friday  evenings,  in  Masonic  Hall,  on  or  before 
full  moon  in  each  month.  The  present  officers  are 
E.  F.  Moore,  AI.  E.  H.  P.;  J.  H.  Beattie,  E.  K. ;  A. 
E.  Peet,  E.  S. ;  Willis  Wood,  C.  of  H. ;  W.  L.  Brick- 
ley,  P.  S.;  H.  Kester,  R.  A.  C;  W.  Wood,  M.  of  3rd 
V. ;  W.  E.  Minor,  M.  of  and  V. ;  C.  H.  Church,  M. 
of  1st  v.;  C.  Starbird,  treasurer;  G.  W.  Ransom, 
secretary;  C  Witt,  Guard;  C.  H.  Church,  W.  L. 
Brickley,  J.  H.  Beattie,  finance  committee;  J.  H. 
June.  R.  Dowman,  W.  E.  Minor,  grievance  com- 
mittee. 

THE    KNKiHTS    OF    HONOR. 

Welcome  Lodge  No.  337,  New  London,  Ohio,  was 
organized  February  25,  1876.  Charter  members  and 
first  officers:  H.  C.  Kilburn,  dictator;  L.  T.  Gilbert, 
vice  dictator;  W.  W.  Minor,  assistant  dictator;  L. 
Kilburn,  past  dictator;  G.  E.  Weber,  chaplain;  A. 
Zuber,  guide;  W.  L.  Brickley,  guardian;  J.  F. 
Laning,  reporter;  C.  Starbird,  financial  reporter;  D. 
R.  Sackett,  treasurer;  D.  White,  sentinel;  G.  W. 
Andrews,  examining  physician;  and  W.  E.  Minor, 
Ira  Leggett,  W.  W.  Vangorder,  J.  H.  Beattie  and 
Chas.  H.  Church.  C.  Starbird,  J.  H.  Beattie,  C.  H. 
Church,  first  trustees.  The  lodge  now  has  thirty 
members;  one  death,  G.  W.  Bradley.* 

Present  officers:  Ira  Leggett,  dictator;  J.  F.  Allen, 
vice  dictator;  A.  Zuber,  assistant  dictator;  A.  Zuber, 
past  dictator;  H.  C.  Kilburn,  chaplain;  L.  T.  Gil- 
bert, guide;  H.  G.  Skinner,  guardian;  J.  F.  Laning, 
reporter;  C.  T.  King,  financial  reporter;  D.  R. 
Sackett,  treasurer;  C.  Starbird,  sentinel;  G.  W.  An- 
drews, examining  physician;  J.  H.  Beattie,  C.  H. 
Church  and  W.  W.  Minor,  trustees.  The  lodge 
meets  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  on  Monday  evening  every 
week. 

THE    G.    &    R.    C.    OR   CONFIDENTIAL    X.     \.     X. 

The  M.  W.  G.  Council  of  G.  &  R.  C.  of  New  Lon- 
don, Ohio,  was  organized  at  New  London,  A.  D.  1870, 
by  the  M.  W.  G.  L.  of  the  United  States.  Charter 
members  and  officers:  A.  D.  Skellenger,  L. ;  Thomas 
Smith,  V.  L. ;  H.  D.  Chapin,  U. ;  G.  L.  Gregory,  S. ; 
John  F.  Day,  W.;  G.  E.  Washburn,  J.  G.;  H.  G. 
Skinner,  0.  G.;U.  B.  Thomas,  R. ;  W.  E.  Minor,  X.; 
W.  D.  Golding,  X. ;  J.  M.  Bliss,  X. ;  C.  C.  Post,  X. ; 
W.  W.  Redfield,  X.X.  treasurer.  Very  little  is  com- 
prehended by  the  common  citizen  regarding  the  ob- 
jects or  purposes  of  the  G.  &  R.  C.  Council.  Some 
of  them  have  only  obtained  to  the  degree  of  "X;" 
some  to  the  standing  of  "X.  X.,"  while  a  few  have 
attained  the  elevation  of  -'X.  X.  X."  They  are  re- 
ported   to  be  a  very  secret  order,  attending  to  only 


•;'  Bradley's  benefit  was  paid  (two  thousand  dollars)  to  his  mother. 
Mrs.  Phebe  Bradley,  at  Strongsville,  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio. 


372 


HISTOKY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


their  own  business.  Tlie  order,  where  known,  is 
regarded  as  very  sound  financially,  numbering  in 
New  London  about  eighty  digits  or  X's.  Theigoun- 
cil  has  a  convocation  ui^on  the  summons  of  the  L., 
V.  L.,  or  M.  W.  G.  L.  X.  X.  X.  The  place  and 
time  can  be  known  only  to  an  X.,  X.  X.,  or  X.  X. 
X.  The  utmost  secrecy  obtains  regarding  the  tran- 
sactions within  the  council,  but  they  are  suspected 
and  believed  to  aim  at  a  very  high  grade  of  excellency 
in  character  and  knowledge.  Stipend,  ten  dollars 
L.  X.  X.  X. 

SONS    OF   TEMPERANCE. 

The  X'ew  London  Division  X'o.  3,  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance, was  organized  November  15,  18T8,  with  the 
following  charter  members:  W.  P.  Curtiss,  Mrs.  W. 
P.  Curtiss,  Mrs.  William  Mackey,  Miss  Fanny  Haz- 
ard. Mrs.  Clay,  George  W.  Barns,  Mrs.  George  W. 
Barns,  M.  M.  Starr,  H.  M.  Cookingham,  0.  F.  Wal- 
ton, Miss  Frank  Rowland,  Miss  Ida  Myers,  Miss  Cora 
Myres,  Mrs.  Dr.  Starbird,  Mrs.  0.  S.  Merrifield,  and 
J.  F.  Allen.  The  first  officers  of  the  division  were 
as  follows:  W.  P.  Curtiss,  W.  P.;  Mrs.  0.  S.  Merri- 
field, W.  A. ;  Miss  Fanny  Hazard,  R.  S. ;  M.  M.  Starr, 
F.  S. ;  G.  W.  Barns,  ti'easurer;  H.  M.  Cookingham, 
conductor;  J.  F.  Allen,  chaplain.  Division  No.  3 
now  has  about  forty  members,  and  its  present  officers 
—1879— are:  M.  M.  Starr,  W.  P.;  Miss  Fanny  Haz- 
ard, W.  A.;  William  Mackey,  chaplain;  W.  P.  Cur- 
tiss, treasurer  and  P.  W.  A. ;  Miss  Carrie  Albaugh, 
R.  S. ;  H.  M.  Cookingham,  conductor;  N.  C.  Under- 
bill, F.  S. :  Cora  Myres,  assistant  conductor;  W.  B. 
King,  1.  S. :  Thomas  Ledget,  0.  S. ;  J.  F.  Allen,  D. 
P.  W.  P.  This  lodge  is  reported  as  being  very  par- 
ticular  as  to  who  are  admitted,  as  many  have  been 
rejected  for  cause;  a  greater  number  than  have  been 
received.      Vivi,  vire! 

GOOD   TEMPLARS. 

The  Good  Templars  have  had  several  organizations 
at  sundry  times,  but  are  now  disbanded;  not,  how- 
ever, because  there  was  no  need  of  temperance  work. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  physician  (if  he  be  so  called)  was  Dr. 
Samuel  Day  in  the  second  section  in  1817  or  1818. 
He  was  a  botanic,  and  did  some  practice  by  the  use  of 
indigenous  plants  and  herbs.  He  died  December  31, 
1839. 

Dr.  Richard  P.  Christopher,  from  Huron,  came 
to  the  fourth  section  in  1824.  He  was  an  educated 
gentleman,  a  very  good,  kind  and  successful  practi- 
tioner. It  is  reported  of  him  that  he  would  find 
nurses  and  watchers  for  his  patients,  and  sometimes 
he  was  met  with  two  women,  riding  his  horse  through 
the  Ruggles  woods,  and  he,  with  a  pill  bag  in  hand, 
on  foot  night  and  day,  going  from  four  to  si.K  miles, 
laboring  to  save  those  who  were  very  sick.  He  died 
about  1829,  and  was  buried  in  tiie  village  cemetery. 


But,  alas,  like  too  many  benefactors  of  his  race,  no- 
tliing  marks  his  resting  place. 

Dr.  Fish  was  here  in  1840;  Dr.  W.  W.  Purkor  in 
1846;  Dr.  Ladd  aljout  the  same  time.  Dr.  Ludd  died 
in  1852,  and  Dr.  Parker  was  killed  in  Iowa  about 
1868.  Dr.  A.  Starbird  came  in  1851;  was  a  very 
successful  physician,  and  died  March  23,  1875.  Dr. 
0.  L.  Andrews  practiced  from  1845  to  1855,  and 
moved  to  Ruggles.  Dr.  G.  W.  Stetson,  from  1851  to 
1855,  is  now  preaching  the  doctrine  of  the  second 
coming  of  Christ,  in  Pennsylvania.  A.  D.  Skellenger, 
M.  D.,  who  came  in  June  23,  1853;  A.  McClellaii, 
M.  D.,  in  November,  1853:  D.  D.  Van  Vechton, 
M.  D.,  in  the  fall  of  1859;  George  W.  Andrews, 
M.  D.,  in  1875.  and  C.  A.  ilills.  a  homeopathic. 
1870,  are  still  practicing  in  New  London. 

VILLAGE   OF  NEW  LONDON. 

This  now  very  interesting,  and  important,  and  rap- 
idly increasing  town,  is  situated  in  the  fourth  section  of 
the  township,  on  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincin- 
nati and  Indianapolis  Railroad,  forty-eight  miles  from 
Cleveland,  seventeen  miles  southeast  from  Norwalk, 
sixteen  north  of  Ashland,  and  eighty-eight  northeast 
of  Columbus. 

Among  the  first  settlers  have  been  named  John 
Corry,  in  1816;  the  Sampson's,  the  Merrifield's,  the 
Hendryx's,  Kinsley's,  Dr.  Christopher  Bates,  W.  S. 
Dewitt,  and  others.  From  1817  to  1822  New  London 
was  called  Merrifield  Settlement;  from  1822  to  1837, 
Kinsley's  Corners;  from  1840  to  1853,  King's  Corners. 
In  1850  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati  and  In- 
dianapolis railroad  commenced  to  ruu.tlirough  the 
town,  and  the  place  grew  rapidly.  In  the  fall  of 
1853,  the  village,  embracing  about  eight  hundred 
acres  of  land,  was  incorporated.  The  first  council 
proceedings  are  i-ecorded  for  December  3,  1853:  R.  C. 
Powers,  mayor;  John  Thorn,  recorder;  J.  Bradley, 
J.  F.  Badger,  A.  Starbird,  Y.  King,  and  A.  D. 
Kilburn,  trustees,  or  councilmen;  A.  A.  Powers, 
marshal;  J.  0.  Merrifield,  treasurer.  In  the  years 
1854  and  1855,  R.  C.  Powers  was  re-elected  mayor. 
In  1856,  Henry  King;  in  1857,  E.  H.  Sanford:  in 
1858  and  1859,  Alexander  Porter;  in  1860,  Daniel  H. 
Fox:  in  1861  and  1862,  J.  M.  Rawsou;  in  1863,  Elihu 
Robinson:  in  1864,  J.  M.  Rawsou;  in  1865  and  1866, 
Alexander  Porter:  in  1867.    L.  Kilburn:  in  1868,  R. 

C.  Powers;  in  1869,  J.  M.  Rawsou:  in  1870,  1871, 
1872  and  1873,  A.  D.  Skellenger:  in  1874  and  1875, 
R.  C.  Powers;   and  in  1876,  1877,  1878  and  1879,  A. 

D.  Skellenger.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  unto  A.  D.  Skel- 
lenger was  awarded  the  first  contract  to  build  one 
hundred  and  sixty  rods  of  oak  side  walk,  the  lumber 
and  work  to  be  furnished  by  said  Skellenger.  for  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  In  1851  the 
village  suffered  from  its  first  serious  fire:  and  again  in 
1872,  November  17th,  property  to  the  value  of  forty 
to  fifty  thousand  dollars  was  destroyed. 

The  "Gregory  House,"  and  what  is  known  as  the 
Union  block,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Rochester  and 


v-^-^^^..^^' 


The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch  was  born  in 
Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  23,  1823.  His  father,  Silas 
J.  Skellenger,  was  born  at  Little  Egg  Harbor,  N.  J.,  Feb. 
3,  1784.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  decision  of 
character.  "Was  a  carpenter  and  ship-joiner  by  trade.  Served 
five  years  as  an  apprentice  with  his  brother-in-law,  Gideon 
Moorehouse,  in  Ludlowville,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  180.5 
he  married  Deborah  Close,  daughter  of  Deacon  Benjamin  Close, 
of  Genoa,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters, — Hannah  (Mrs. 
George  Kellogg,  whose  children  live  near  Keedsburg,  in  Wis- 
consin) and  Sarah  (Mrs.  Kev.  James  Saxby,  whose  children 
live  in  Iowa).  Deborah  died  in  1815,  and  for  his  second  wife 
(the  mother  of  Dr.  Skellenger)  he  married  Mary  King, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  King,  of  Genoa,  Dec.  19,  1818,  who 
was  born  Nov.  1,  1790,  at  Sag  Harbor,  Long  Island,  N.  Y., 
and  who,  with  her  father's  family,  came  to  Genoa  about 
1800. 

There  were  born  of  this  marriage:  Mary  K.  (Mrs.  A.  H. 
Messenger),  Anson  D.,  Samuel  B.,  who  died  in  Yates,  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1847,  Emelinc  A.  (Mrs.  W.  W.  Ful- 
ler, of  Illinois,  who  died  Sept.  15,  1874),  and  Silas  J.,  who 
died  Feb.  24,  1807,  in  New  London,  Ohio.  His  father  and 
family  moved  to  Yates,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1834, 
and  died  May  26,  1835.  His  mother  then  had  the  care  of  five 
young  children,  the  youngest,  Silas  J.,  being  only  three  years  of 
age.  She  managed,  by  much  hard  toil,  great  frugality,  un- 
tiring industry,  and  extreme  economy,  to  support  and  educate 
them  all  until  they  could  care  for  themselves.  Dec.  1,  1842, 
she  married  A.  Wlnegar,  who  died  April  8,  1853,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Winegar  died  in  New  London,  Ohio,  Nov.  11,  1878. 
Dr.  Skellenger  acquired  the  habit  of  reading  when  a  small 
boy  from  the  standing  injunction  of  his  father,  which  was, 
"If  you  are  tired  and  need  rest,  take  a  book  in  your  hand  and 
study,"  and  his  habits  of  industry  and  economy  from  the 
daily  life  of  his  mother.  After  acquiring  a  common-school 
education,  his  love  for  study  led  him,  by  the  effects  of  his  own 
labor  on  a  farm,  and  the  savings  of  wages  as  a  teacher  (for 
he  began  to  teach  winter  schools  when  seventeen  years  of 
age),  to  study  at  Gaines  and  Yates  Academies,  and  Brock- 
port  Collegiate  Institute. 

June  12,  1844,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  I.  Goold,  of 
Albany,  then  of  Lyndonville,  N.  Y.  She  died  June  11,  1848, 
leaving  a  daughter,  Sarah  E.,  now  living  in  New  London. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  resumed  his  studies,  |iar- 
ticularly  medicine,  with  Dr.  (afterward  Prof.)  L.  C.  Dolley, 


of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  March  6,  1850,  he  graduated  with  the 
honors  of  his  class  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute  of  Cin- 
cinnati. During  the  season  of  1850  he  was  a  partner  of  Prof. 
W.  W.  Hadley,  M.D.,  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery,  in  the  city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  During  the  winter 
of  1850-51  the  fame  of  Prof.  Ackley  as  a  surgeon  caused  him 
to  attend  the  Medical  College  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
In  1851,  1852,  and  1853  he  practiced  in  Buggies,  Ashland 
Co.,  Ohio.  Upon  his  thirtieth  birthday,  June  23,  1853,  he 
removed  to  New  London,  where  he  still  resides. 

In  the  fall  of  1874,  attracted  by  the  fame  of  Dr.  D.  W. 
Yandell  and  his  colleagues,  of  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  University  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  he  attended  lectures  at  that 
institution  and  the  City  Hospital.  Surgery,  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years,  has  been  his  favorite  practice,  though  not 
neglecting  the  other  branches  of  his  chosen  profession.  He  is 
considered  a  peer  in  surgery  in  Huron  County  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  profession.  For  his  second  wife  he  married,  Sept. 
25,  1854,  in  Buffalo,  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane  Belding,  daughter  of 
(Honest)  Joseph  Washburn,  of  Fitchville,  Ohio,  with  whom 
he  still  happily  lives.     They  have  no  children. 

He  has  been  honored  by  his  neighbors  with  several  oflSces,— 
twice  township  clerk,  recorder,  and  councilman  in  the  village. 
In  1862-63  was  assistant  assessor  of  United  States  internal 
revenue.  Aug.  14,  1866,  he  was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Peace  Convention  at  Philadelphia,  and  in  1872  an 
alternate  delegate  to  the  Baltimore  Convention  which  nomi- 
nated Horace'Greeley  for  tlie  Presidency.  For  many  years 
he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Whig  and  Republican 
parties;  frequently  a  delegate  to  the  county,  district,  and  State 
conventions.  Being  naturally  conservative,  he,  in  18(i7,  as- 
sociated himself  poHtically  with  the  Democrats.  Has  often 
been  a  candidate  for  county  office;  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives;  twice  candidate  for  probate  judge;  a  justice 
of  the  peace  from  1876  to  1879,  and  is  now  (1879)  in  his  eighth 
year  as  mayor  of  New  London.  He  never  sought  office; 
"he  believes  in  the  ma.\im,  "  The  office  should  find  the  man, 
and  not  the  man  the  office."  Among  his  neighbors  he  is 
not  a  politician.  There  are  three  things  in  his  political 
creed, — more  integrity,  more  indiistrif,  and  more  economy ;  and 
three  that  should  never  be  in  politics — religion,  education,  and 
money.  He  is  a  lover  of  good  society  and  good  government. 
In  business  the  doctor  is  energetic,  to  the  poor  sympathetic, 
and  ever  ready  to  aid  the  needy  as  far  as  his  duty  leads.  He 
is  regarded  as'modest,  honest,  kind,  and  capable. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


373 


Clarksfield  streets,  was  erected  by  C.    W.  Gregory, 

A.  Porter,  A.  McClellan  aud  R.  C.  and  A.  A.  Powers, 
ill  the  year  1873.  The  town  hall  block  was  coiu- 
meuced  iu  the  fall  of  1867,  by  Union  White.  White 
died  November,  1867.  The  block  was  put  up  iu 
1868  by  A.  White,  L.  L.  Doud,  and  the  trustees- 
Jesse  Perkins,  A.  Miner  and  L.  D.  King — of  the 
township,  at  a  cost  of  eighteen  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  C.  E.  Healy  first  manufactured  steam 
engines  in  New  London,  in  1871.  Mr.  D.  J.  C. 
Arnold  is  also  now  making  steam  engines.  W.  P. 
Curtiss  aud  Brother  are  making  tubs,  pails  and 
wooden  ware;  George  W.  Runj^au  is  the  editor  and 
publisher  of  Xetv  London  Record;  T.  B.  Hemenway  is 
planing,  matching  and  sawing  lumber;  W.  W.  Van- 
gorder  erected  his  block  in  1869,  aud  is  a  dealer  and 
manufacturer  of  cabinet  ware  and  furniture;  A. 
W.  Carl  is  in  the  same  business;  L.  W.  Breck,  first 
harness  aud  saddler,  iu  1842,  and  still  carrying  on 
the  business;  John  Wells  and  John  E.  Wells,  and  R. 
Hazard  are  in  the  same  business;  the  drug  business 
is  represented  by  B.  F.  and  C.  Starbird;  Dr.  A. 
McClellan  and  L.  W.  Brickley;  hardware — Washburn 
and  Skinner,  in  their  block,  erected  iu  1875;  E.  H. 
Curtiss  is  now  the  photographer.  The  first  cheese 
factory  was  erected  and  run  by  L.  D.  King,  in  the 
year  1863. 

The  first  cheese  depot  was  established  by  John 
Rawsou,  in  1876,  and  in  1878  there  were  handled  by 
him  in  it  over  seven  hundred  thousand  pounds  of 
cheese.  The  first  window  sash,  door  aud  blinds 
manufactory  was  established  iu  18-53,  by  IM.  Houghton 
aud  J.  F.  Badger;  L.  Bouney  and  A.  Zuber  are  now 
manufacturing  wagons  and  carriages  on  Fitchville 
street,  aud  have  been  for  several  years;  Robert  Fulton 
and  Albaugh,  and  A.  W.  Long  and  Davis  are  m  the 
marble  and  monument  business;  H.  Palmer.  R.  S. 
Giles,  S.  J.  McCready,  J.  Middleswarth,  T.  Wood.  A. 
H.  Messinger,  A.  C.  Kimball,  grocers;  A.  D.  Sackett, 

B.  M.  Spaulding  and  F.  J.  Peck,  restaurants;  Chas. 
H.  Church,  forwairder;  A.  White,  Miner  Brothers, 
merchants;  D.  E.  Sackett,  cigar  manufacturer;  W. 
D.  Golding  and  0.  G.  Carter,  jewellers;  Beattie  and 
Lauing,  and  R.  C."  Powers,  lawyers;  Powers,  Laning 
aud  T.  Case,  Justices  of  the  peace;  W.  E.  Minor, 
townsliip  clerk;  G.  E.  Washburn,  treasurer;  Phil. 
Mann,  St.  James,  S.  L'pson,  of  the  Gregory  House, 
and  A.  D.  Skellenger,  of  the  Skelleuger  House,  hotel 
keepers;  Cy.  King  aud  J.  M.  Rawsou,  dentists;  J. 
M.  Runyau,  M.  Cookingham,  Geo.  W.  Kuowlton  aud 
J.  H.  June,  boot  and  shoe  business;  Dr.  H.  Kester 
Homeo;  H.  Motter.  J.  R.  Soules  and  A.  D.  Skelleu- 
ger. livery  business;  A.  Hendryx,  J.  Fry  and  W. 
Taylor,  blacksmiths:  S.  P.  North,  architect;  J.  Thoiii, 
James  Thorn, -Hearsey.  Flint,  R.  A.  Coats,  Markham, 
Zarker  are  carpenters;  J.  Laniug.  J.  A.  Turner, 
James  Rawsou.  J.  C.  Beattie,  C.  Hazard  and  C. 
Hotchkiss.  brick  and  stone  masons:  William  Mackey 
and  William  Dobson,  meat  market;  L.  T.  (iilbert. 
flouring  mill. 


Present  village  officers:  A.  D.  Skellenger,  mayor; 
C.  A.  Mills,  clerk:  John  King,  John  Middleswarth, 
C.  King,  E.  F.  Moore.  B.  B.  Mead,  J.  F.  Laning, 
councilmen:  M.  B.  Ruuyan,  marshal;  C.  Starbird, 
treasurer;  Henry  Messenger,  street  commissioner. 
The  population  of  the  village  is  estimated  at  twelve 
hundred. 

A  brief  notice  of  a  few  of  the  residents  of  New 
Loudon: 

Samuel  Doud  (sou  of  Solomon  Doud,  who  died 
March,  1849)  was  born  May  29,  1813;  came  to  Green- 
wich in  1822,  and  to  New  London  1866;  lives  on  lot 
uumLer  six,  fourth  section. 

Wm.  McConnell  (son  of  Alex.  McConuell)  came  to 
New  Loudon  1831;  married  M.  A.  Roorback  1840;  is 
the  father  of  Mary  (Mrs.  Carvey),  A.  K.,  J.  F.  aud 
A.  E.,  and  now  lives  on  lot  number  eighteen,  first 
section. 

G.  E.  Washburn,  township  treasurer,  came  to  the 
village  in  186.5  (sou  of  Walter  Washburn,  of  Fitch- 
ville), aud  is  of  the  firm  of  Washburn  &  Skinner;  a 
reliable  man. 

Stephen  W.  Gates  (sou  of  Wm.  Gates)  was  born  in 
Duanesburgh,  New  York,  December  29,  1815;  came 
to  the  second  section  with  his  father's  family;  settled, 
and  now  lives  on  lot  number  nineteen,  same  section. 
Married  a  daughter  of  H.  Townsend — Sarah — now 
dead,  aud  for  second  wife  Mrs.  L.  Belville;  is  the 
father  of  Ella  E.,  boruJauuary  6,  1857. 

Chester  McClave  (son  of  James  McClave,  who  died 
in  Michigan,  1867,)  came  to  the  first  section,  lot 
number  one,  iu  May,  1833.  Chester  was  born  Deccm- 
19,  1825;  married  a  daughter  of  Robert  White,  No- 
vember 13,  1856;  is  the  father  of  Ida,  born  November 
23,  1858,  aud  Charles,  born  June  21,  1859. 

0.  G.  Remington  was  born  iu  New  York,  May  28, 
1823;  married  Miss  Fay,  of  Brouson,  July  12,  1846; 
came  to  New  Loudon  about  1866;  erected  the  first 
steam  grist  mill  in  1861-2,  and  a  brick  dwelling  on 
Fitchville  street,  corner  of  Grant,  iu  1867.  B.  F. 
Remington,  a  sou,  was  born  June  6,  1848. 

A.  S.  Johnson  (son  of  Wm.  Johnson)  was  born 
March  29,  1829;  married  Miss  Philotha  Townsend, 
daughter  of  Hosea  Townsend,  September  24,  1856; 
came  into  New  London  1835;  has  several  times  been 
township  trustee,  aud  member  of  the  village  council; 
is  now  vice  president  of  the  First  National  bank. 

R.  C.  Powers,  Esq.,  sou  of  Isaac  Powers,  of 
Rochester,  Windsor  county,  Vermont,  was  Ijorn 
January  23,  1823.  and  came  to  New  London  in  Nov- 
ember, 1851.  He  was  first  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  in  April,  1856.  Having  been  elected  iu  October 
following,  to  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  of 
Huron  county,  he  resigned  the  office  of  justice  of 
peace  to  take  etfeet  January  1,  1857.  He  filled  the 
office  of  prosecuting  attorney  for  two  terms;  again 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1864,  and  has  filled  it 
ever  since.  He  has  l>een  trustee  of  township,  aud 
township  treasurer.     Iu  iiis  offices,  and  in  his  practice 


374 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  the  law,  he  is  regarded  as  honest,  energetic  and 
competent. 

Ljnian  Dunks,    son   of  Daniel   and   Olive   Dunks, 
was  born    in    East    -Mondon,     Monroe    county,    New 


Mr.  Lyman  Dunks. 

York,  February  18,  1812.  His  father  died  June 
7,  1826,  aged  fifty-five  years.  His  mother  died 
September  5,  18o-i,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  Mr.  L. 
Dunks  was  married  to  Almira  Williams,  November 

26,  1833.     They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children 

five  boys  and  two  girls:  Monroe,  born  February  9, 
1837,  and  Avas  married  to  Miss  Martha  Collins,  Nov- 
ember 1,  1864;  Albert,  born  May  4,  1835,  and  married 
Ellen  Russell,  March  16,  186.5;  George  AV.,  born 
August  12,  1839,  and  was  married  to  Adaline  Murry, 
January  1,  1873;  Caroline  M.,  born  March  18,  1841, 
and  died  July  23,  1865;  Lyman  F.,  born  November 
28, 1846,  and  died  December  7,  1860,  in  his  fourteenth 
year;  Mary  Sophia,  born  September  1,  1850,  and 
married  ^Mr.  John  J.  Leindenau,  January  1,  1874; 
John  N.,  born  June  22,  1854,  and  died  December  22, 
1874,  aged  twenty  years  and  six  months.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dunks  came  to  New  London  from  Mendon,  in 
May,  1837.  They  bought  out  William  C.  Spaulding, 
and  yet  live  on  the  same  farm.  Mr.  L.  Dunks  has 
been,  and  now  is  township  trustee;  a  kind,  honest  and 
respected  family;  are  excellent  citizens:  beloved  bv 
all.  ^ 

Henry  C.  Washburn,  .son  of  Henry .  Wa.<hhurn.  of 
Greenwich,  came  to  New  London  in  1850;  now  lives 
on  lot  number  seventeen,  fourth  section,  and  is  dis- 
tinguished as  a  breeder  of  thoroughbred  short-horn 
cattle. 

E.  E.  Townsend,  son  of  John  Townsend,  and  grand- 
son of  Hosea,  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Samuel 
Curtiss,  and  lives  on  his  grandfather's  farm. 

A.  Peck's  wife,  who  is  the  daughter  of  George 
Miner,  and  granddaughter  of  A.  Miner,  of  early  pio- 


neer fame,  now  lives  on  lot  number  seventeen,  third 
section. 

Hiram  W.  Townsend,  son  of  Hosea,  lives  on  lot 
twenty,  first  section. 

Colonel  George  Bi.ssell  and  wife,  a  daughter  of  S. 
Smith  the  first  town  clerk  (and  now  living),  resides 
on  lot  number  thirteen,  third  section. 

Jesse  Perkins,  an  excellent  farmer  resides  on  lot 
number  two,  fourth  section  (see  sketch). 

C.  W.  Breck,  son  of  L.  W.  Breck,  lives  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  is  the  spicy  correspondent  of  the  Norwalk 
Chfonicle. 

Among  the  more  prominent  inhabitants,  residents 
of  the  township,  should  be  named:  B.  B.  Mead  and 
Charles  King,  trustees  of  township;  Captain  A.  C. 
Potter,  Ambros  Ketchum,  A.   S.  Lilley,  E.  H.  Day, 

0.  S.  Merrifield,  J.  R.  Sutton,  L.  S.  Foster,  Henry 
Knowlton,  S.  S.  Knowlton,  H.  D.  Barritt,  Bushnel 
Post,  George  W.  Foot,  John  King,  A.  Miner,  Walter 
Sutfin,  Joseph  Santley,  John  Cook,  George  0.  Harry, 

1.  L.  Waterhouse,  Leonard  Golding;  George  Legget 
and  Sons,  brick  and  tile  manufacturers;  C.  F.  Barry, 
E.  P.  Barney,  Ira  Liggitt,  S.  Kilburn,  C.  Denham, 
Alexander  Gibb,  D.  N.  Bradley,  George  Jenney,  E. 
G.  Day,  Amos  Darbey,  Z.  Brundage,  H.  Park,  Wil- 
liam Wood  and  A.  W.  Purdy. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


ISAAC  P.  AND  TRACY  CASE. 

Isaac  P.  Case  and  Eunice,  his  wife,  a  daughter  of 
Zaccheus  Tracy,  both  of  New  York  State,  were  the 
parents  of  four  children  previous  to  their  emigration 
to  Ohio,  viz:  Sophia,  Philotha,  Eliza  and  Tracy.  The 
latter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Seneca,  Ontario  county.  New  York,  August  13, 
1806.  He  came  to  Ohio,  when  one  year  old,  with  his 
parents.  They  first  located  in  Cincinnati  about  1807, 
and  from  there  went  into  Champaign  county.  They 
were  not  satisfied  with  this  location,  and  soon  after 
arriving  there  removed  to  Mauniee  City,  which  place 
they  were  obliged  to  flee  from  because  of  the  Indians. 

Isaac  P.  Case,  when  the  war  of  1812  broke  out, 
went  into  the  army  as  fife  major,  and  served  until 
peace  was  restored,  when  he  returned  to  Champaign 
county,  whither  his  family  had  again  gone.  He  came 
to  Huron  county  in  1815  and  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  New  London,  which  cost 
him  two  dollars  per  acre.  His  home  was  then  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest,  which  he  gr.'idually  cleared  away, 
his  son  assisting  him  after  he  became  old  enough.  It 
was  here  that  his  daughter  Eunice  was  born,  about 
three  years  after  his  settlement. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Case  was,  during  the  wliole  of  his  long  career, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the  work  of  de- 
veloping the  resources  of  the  country,  and  was  always 
actively  engaged  in  some  labor  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  Some  idea  of  the  respect 
that  was  entertained  for  him  by  the  people  among 
whom  he  dwelt  may  be  obtained  from  the  fact  that  he 
was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  elected  in  the  town- 
ship of  New  London,  and  that  he  held  the  office  for 
thirty-five  3-ears.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  in  the 
village  and  liis  son  the  second,  each  of  them  holding 
the  office  about  four  years.     He  died  in  1851. 


Tracy  Case  was  married  June  1,  1828,  to  Emeline, 
■daughter  of  John  Knapp,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  three  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters: 
Lorinda,  Eliza  and  Isaac  P.,  two  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing. The  oldest  daughter  died  in  1854.  Isaac  P., 
the  son  of  Tracy  Case,  was  married  in  1852  to  Mary 
L.  Sutfin,  and  Eliza  was  married  in  1850  to  Stewart 
Parker,  and  moved  to  Jlichigau. 

Tracy  Case  married  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Augusta 
M.  Stewart,  January  24,  1879. 

Mr.  Case  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
has  been  twice  elected  township  trustee,  and  has  also 
held  the  office  of  township  clerk.  He  has  been  a 
practitioner  of  medicine  since  1841,  ten  years  of  the 
time  elapsing  since  that  date  having  been  spent  in 
Charlotte,  Michigan. 

The  family  of  which  he  is  a  representative  was  the 
second  in  New  London.  As  such  it  is  identified  in  an 
important  manner  with  the  history  and  growth  of 
this  community,  and  various  facts  in  regard  to  the 
father  and  son  will  be  found  in  the  chajiter  devoted 
to  New  London. 


JESSE   PERKINS, 

of  New  London,  the  son  of  Hoel  Perkins,  an  early 
settler,  has  been  long  and  favorably  known  as  a  resi- 
dent of  the  village  where  he  now  lives.  His  father 
(born  December  17,  1794),  and  his  mother,  Mary  Per- 
kins, (born  May  7,  1795),  came  to  Ohio  from  Greene 
county,  New  York,  in  1835,  and  first  located  in  the 
township  of  Fitchville.  Two  years  later  they  went 
to  New  London,  where  they  lived  until  after  the 
mother's  death,  June  29,  1839,  when  Joel  Perkins  re- 
moved to  Michigan.  From  that  State  he  went  to 
Iowa,  where  he  died.  May  1,  1875.  They  had  ten 
children:  Laura,  Sally,  Jesse,  Lucy,  Harriet,  Harman, 
Russell,  Amos,  Harlow  and  Ward. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biography  was  born  April 
16,  1832,  in  Greene  county.  New  York,  and  was,  con- 
sequently, thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio.  He  grew  up  under  the  usual 
circumstances  of  a  farmer's  boy,  and  possessing  fairly 
good  advantages.  Making  the  most  of  his  opportu- 
nities, he  has  met  with  the  reward  that  naturally  fol- 
lows, and  has  been  successfal  in  nearly  all  of  the 
affairs  of  life.  He  has  followed  industriously  the 
occupation  of  farming,  and  also  the  carpenter  and 
joiner's  trade.  The  house,  of  which  a  view  is  given 
upon  another  page,  was  built  by  him,  upon  his  farm, 
in  1874. 

Besides  his  application  to  his  own  business  affairs, 
Mr.  Perkins  has  given  considerable  attention  to  one 
or  two  public  enterprises,  and  has  taken  a  part  in, 
and  been  occupied  to  a  certain  extent,  with  politics, 
although  he  is  by  no  means  a  professional  politician 
or  seeker  of  place.  He  has  held  office  several  times 
in  the  township  and  corporation  lists  of  New  London, 
and  since  its  establishment  in  1878  has  had  the  man- 
agement of  the  grounds  of  the  New  London  fair  asso- 
ciation, which  he  was  instrumental  in  bringing  into 
existence. 

Mr.  Perkins  married,  in  1857,  Jeannette  Thom, 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Isabel  Thom,  natives  of 
Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  but  then,  and  since  1837, 
residents  of  New  London.  The  father,  who  was  born 
February  13,  1799,  is  still  living  in  Ruggles  township, 
Ashland  county,  and  the  mother,  born  March  26, 1798, 
died  April  23,"l873. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins  have  been  the  parents  of  five 
children:  Darwin,  now  in  Kansas,  Albert,  Lena, 
Leona  and  Freddie.     Lena  Perkins  died  Julv  7,  1863. 


E.  H.  CURTISS, 


of  New  London,  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentleman 
whose  life  has  been  an  eventful  one,  full  of  varied  ex- 
periences. He  was  born  October  G,  1828,  "of  pioneer 
parents,  Charles  and  Jemima  Curtiss,  at  Mendon, 
Monroe  county.  New  York.  His  parents  lived  for  a 
short  time  in   Rochester,  and   then  returning  to  the 


376 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


old  farm  at  Lester,  New  York,  remained  there  until 
their  son  was  four  years  of  age  when  they  removed  to 
Ruggles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtiss  lived  there  all  of  their 
lives,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with 
them  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  i-eceiving 
his  book  education  in  the  common  district  schools  of 
the  township,  and  his  physical  development  upon  the 
homestead  farm.     When   he   turned  his  back  upon 


Mr.  E,  H.  Curtiss. 

home,  and  went  out  into  the  world  to  seek  his  own 
fortune,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Wisconsin,  and 
followed  for  short  periods  several  callings,  but  finally 
settled  down  into  the  study  of  the  daguerreotyping 
trade,  in  which  he  soon  became  proficient.  He  re- 
mained in  Wisconsin,  applying  himself  to  his  chosen 
occupation  until  1857,  when  he  became  anxious  to  see 
more  of  life,  and  particularly  those  phases  so  well 
represented  in  the  then  young  and  undeveloped  State 


of  Kansas.  In  company  with  several  others,  he  made 
the  journey  by  wagon,  and  finding  a  location  favor- 
able to  his  business,  determined  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence there.  This  he  did  in  the  following  Avinter, 
after  a  trip  back  to  Wisconsin.  He  followed  his  trade 
of  picture  making  in  Rock  county,  and  remained 
there  through  the  troublous  time  of  the  great  drouth 
and  famine,  and  through  the  exciting  days  that  pre- 
ceded the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 

In  18G1  he  went  into  the  union  army,  not  to  secure 
bounty,  or  with  any  idea  of  personal  advantage,  but 
because  he  regarded  it  as  his  duty,  enlisting  in  com- 
l^any  F.,  ninth  regiment,  Kansas  cavalry.  He  was 
engaged  most  of  the  time  on  the  detached  service, 
scouting  duty,  and  the  various  lines  of  warfare 
common  to  the  frontier,  but  participated  in  some  large 
battles,  such  as  those  of  Locust  Grove,  Honey  Springs 
(Indian  Territory),  Prairie  Grove,  (in  Arkansas),  and 
others.  He  was  promoted,  after  two  years"  service, 
to  the  captaincy  of  company  G.,  second  regiment, 
Kansas  colored  infantry,  and  remained  in  this  regi- 
ment for  one  year,  when  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  service.  L^pon  leaving  the  army, 
he  visited  the  scenes  with  which  he  was  familiar  in 
Ohio,  Wisconsin  and  Kansas,  and  was  married  in  the 
last  mentioned  State,  at  Neosho  Falls,  to  Martha  E., 
daughter  of  William  Phillips.  He  then  went  to 
Wisconsin,  and  engaged  in  the  photographing  busi- 
ness-: went  to  Iowa;  then  resided  for  two  years  in 
New  London.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period,  Mr. 
Curtiss  again  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  engaged  in 
milling.  It  was  while  living  here  that  his  wife  died — 
May,  1871 — and  that  he  suffered  the  loss  of  his  child. 
Notwithstanding  his  double  affliction,  Mr.  Curtiss 
remained  in  this,  then  desolate,  place  until  1875, 
when  he  went  back  to  Wisconsin.  He  lived  there 
until  April,  1877,  when  he  again  became  a  resident  of 
New  London,  where  he  has  since  lived,  among  the 
few  who  are  left  of  his  boyhood  friends. 


LYME. 


Major  Joseph  Stroxg  stood  sponsor  at  the  chris- 
teumg  of  the  towusliip  whose  history  is  briefly  outlined 
in  the  following  narrative,  while  the  county  commis- 
sioners, on  the  19th  day  of  September,  1819,  per- 
formed the  -priestly  functions,  and  by  weight  of 
official  authority  gave  to  the  new-born  child  the  name 
of  Lyme,  in  honor  of  Lyme,  Connecticut.  There 
was  evidently  rhythm  in  this  name  for  the  early  set- 
tlers of  old  Connecticut;  for  in  New  London  county 
there  are  three  townships  that  bear  the  appellation — 
Lyme,  Old  Lyme,  and  East  Lyme,  while  at  the  mouth 
of  the  beautiful  Connecticut  river,  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  that  stream  and  on  the  Shore  Line  Railroad 
from  New  York  to  Boston,  stands  the  town  of  Lyme. 
Lyme,  Ohio,  can  trace  its  lineage  through  this  town 
on  the  Connecticut  back  to  Old  England,  on  the 
south  coast  of  which  is  situated  the  city  of  Lyme- 
Regis.  From  Lyme,  England,  to  Lyme,  Connecti- 
cut, came,  more  than  two  centuries  ago  (in  1666),  a 
sturdy,  strong-minded,  resolute  people,  and  gave  the 
New  England  town  a  moral  and  intellectual  charac- 
ter it  has  ever  since  retained,  and  which  its  western 
namesake  in  no  small  degree  inherited.  It  was  while 
Major  Strong  was  a  guest  at  the  McCurdy  man- 
sion in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  that  he  resolved  to  fix  the 
name  to  his  home  township.  Richard  McCurdy,  of 
whom  Major  Strong  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  this  locality,  made  the  latter's  stay  while  in 
Lyme  so  pleasant  that  the  Major,  pleased  with  his 
host  and  the  beautiful  village  on  the  banks  of  the 
Connecticut,  resolved  that  he  would  have  the  town- 
ship's name  changed  to  Lyme  upon  his  return.  This 
was  done  in  1819,  as  above  stated.  Prior  to  this  time 
the  township  was  known  as  Wheatsborough,  in  honor 
of  a  Mr.  Wheat,  who  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in 
towns  four  and  five  of  the  twenty-fourth  range. 

ORIGINAL     PROPRIETORSHIP. 

In  the  following  table  are  given:  (1)  m  the  left 
hand  column,  the  names  of  those  original  sutt'erers 
whose  claims  were  satisfied  in  lands  of  this  township, 
with  the  amount  of  each  one's  loss  computed  in 
pounds,  shillings  and  pence;  (3)  in  the  right  hand 
column  are  the  names,  of  those  who  by  inheritance  or 
otherwise  came  into  possession  of  the  original  claims 
as  adjusted,  and  to  whom  the  lands  of  the  township 
were  awarded  by  lot.  For  a  description  of  the  mode 
of  partition  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  general 
Instorv: 


LYME.  TOWN  XUMBER  FOUR,  IN  RANGE  TWENTY 

FOUR. 

Classification  No.  1.  Section  1. 

Original  Grantees.       Am't  Loss.  Classified  by.       Am't  da 

£  s.  d.    I  £  s. 

Benj.  Chester,  ex'r     300  15  0    |  Abishai  Woodward    10  15 

Ichabod  Powers          620  8  0:  •■              "           413  2 

Winthrop  Salton-  Winthrop  Salton 

stall                       1181  16  8  stall                     497  16 

Jeremiah  Miller         25.33  18  10    '  Moses  Warner          422  13 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,  £1,344         7       0 
Classification  No.  2,  Section  2. 
Original  Grantees.       Am't  Loss.  Classified  by.        Am't  Classed, 

d 


Nathaniel  Saltonstall  146 
John  Gordon  1 

John  Hempstead  and 

others  30 

John  McCurdy  1188 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344 

6 

11 

Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss.              Classified  by. 

Am' 

t  Classed. 

£       s. 
Picket  Lattimer          565       7 
Richard  Chapman        73       1 
Peter  Lattimer            317       1 
Joanna  Beebe               2:36       2 
Roger  Gibson                884      18 
Nathaniel  Saltonstall  146       9 

8 

f 

6 

6 

Picket  Lattimer 

£ 

505 
73 
52 

118 

442 
92 

16 

9 
10 

d. 

3 

3 

Original  Grantees. 


Footing  of  Classification  No,  3,  £1,344         7       0 
Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 

Atn't  Loss.        Cla.ssified  by .  Am't  Classed. 

£       s.       d. 


William  Leeds  360 
Elizabeth  Christopher  49 

Joseph  Collins  41 

George  Gibbs  21 

Joseph  Holt  2 

Lydia  Harris  60 

James  Holt  21 

David  Richards  1 

John  Shepherd  76 

Peter  Pe  ry  9 

Edward  Tinker  25 

Mary  Rogers  8 


Benj.  Chester*  ex  r  : 
William  Rogers 
Chapman  Simmonds 
Jeremiah  Miller 


2535 


49 


Winthrop    Salton- 
stall 116 
.\bishai  Woodward  202 


John  S.  Miller 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4  £1,344       7       0 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  persons  named  in  the 
right  hand  column  are  those  who  first  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  lands  in  Lyme  township,  and  that  each 
section  was  purchased  by  them  for  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  forty-four  pounds  seven  shillings,  New 
England  currency;  or,  expressed  in  dollars  and  cents, 
four  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars 
and  sixteen  cents.  The  original  value  of  the  four 
sections  of  Lyme  township  was  therefore  seventeen 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four  dollars  and 
sixty-four  cents. 

(377) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


SETTLEMEXT. 

The  history  of  the  settlement  of  the  west  is  of  con- 
stantly recurring  interest.  The  enterprise,  intre- 
pedity  and  self-denial  of  the  pioneers  who  left  the 
comforts  and  privileges  of  their  eastern  homes  and 
came  to  the  Fire-lauds,  then  a  far-off  region,  asso- 
ciated in  the  minds  of  civilized  people  with  savage 
wild  beasts  and  Indians,  must  always  command  our 
highest  respect  and  admiration.  They  endured  hard- 
ships and  privations  without  number,  not  for  their  own 
advantages  merely — for  they  well  knew  that  old  age 
would  steal  upon  them  long  before  they  should  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  their  toil — but  for  their  children  and  their 
children's  children,  that  to  them  they  might  leave  a 
goodly  heritage.  The  most  of  those  truly,  but  un- 
consciously, heroic  men  and  women,  have  long  rested 
from  their  labors,  but  the  good  they  accomplished 
remains,  the  blessings  they  secured  and  transmitted 
endure,  and  are  now  the  precious  legacy  of  a  happy, 
posperous  and  intelligent  posterity. 

Scattering  settlements  had  been  made  in  all  the 
townships  along  the  lake  shore  prior  to  the  war  of 
1812;  but  the  surrender  of  Detroit  by  General  Hull, 
exposed  that  portion  of  country  to  the  ravages  of 
the  enemy,  that  a  general  exodus  of  the  settlers, 
southward,  followed,  and  it  remained  almost  entirely 
denuded  of  inhabitants  until  the  signal  victories,  on 
both  land  and  water,  of  the  forces  of  the  United 
States,  rendered  it  safe  for  the  former  residents  to 
return  to  their  abandoned  and,  in  many  cases,  runied 
homes. 

The  early  settlement  of  Lyme,  like  that  of  most  of 
her  sister  townships,  was  never  very  rapid.  Much  of 
the  land  was  owned  by  minor  heirs,  and  entangled 
with  unsettled  estates;  more  had  been  bought  up  by 
speculators  and  held  by  them  at  either  so  high  a  fig- 
ure as  to  greatly  retard  immigration,  or  not  offered 
for  sale  at  all;  and  besides  all  this,  government  land 
adjoining,  so  soon  as  it  came  into  market,  could  be 
had  for  less  than  half  the  price  generally  at  which  the 
Fire-lands'  tracts  were  held. 

The  first  settler  was  Conrad  Hawks,  who  penetrated 
the  thick  woods  of  Lyme  in  the  year  1808.  His  lo- 
cation was  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township 
on  the  farm  afterwards  so  long  occupied  by  John  F. 
Adams.  He  remained  in  the  township  about  ten 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Green  Springs,  Seneca 
county. 

In  1809,  Michael  Widner  and  John  Stull  moved  in 
and  settled  near  the  location  of  ^the  Epi.scopal  church, 
the  land  they  occupied  being  now  owned  by  the  heirs 
of  the  late  Richard  L.  McCurdy.  Although  these 
families  appear  to  have  had  but  a  brief  residence  in 
the  township,  they  may  nevertheless  properly  be 
called  settlers,  since  they  made  a  settlement  in  fact, 
and  with  the  evident  intention  of  remaining. 

In  the  spring  of  1811,  Asa  Sherwood  came  (pre- 
sumably) from  Homer,  Courtland  county.  New  York, 
and  settled   in   that  portion  of  the  township  since 


called  the  Sherwood  prairie,  near  the  northwest  cor- 
ner. Two  or  three  years  afterwards  he  moved  to  lot 
number  four,  in  the  second  section,  the  place  now 
owned  by  Calvin  Barnard.  The  change  of  location 
was  made  because  of  the  overflow  of  his  land  in  his 
former  location  in  wet  seasons,  the  water  rising  from 
the  ground  and  submerging  it  to  a  considerable 
depth.     Sherwood  resided  on  the  Barnard  place  until 

1832,  when  he  removed  to  La  Grange,  Indiana. 

The  first  family  that  settled  on  the  ridge  was  that 
of  George  Ferguson,  who  arrived  in  December,  1811. 
He  located  on  the  north  line,  and  resided  there  until 

1833,  when  he  removed  to  Michigan. 

In  1811,  Major  Joseph  Strong  came  from  Manlius, 
Onondaga  county,  New  York,  and,  with  other  gen- 
tlemen, purchased  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
what  now  are  Lyme  and  Groton  townships.  He 
returned  to  the  east  and  the  next  year  came  out 
with  two  sons,  Nathan  and  Leicester.  They  took  up 
their  abode  in  a  block  house,  on  the  bank  of  the 
creek  where  the  stone  mill  and  distillery  were  after- 
wards built,  and  remained  there  for  about  two  years, 
when  Major  Strong  returned  for  the  rest  of  his  family, 
with  whom  he  arrived  in  1815.  He  located  on  three 
hundred  and  thirty  five  acres  of  land,  in  tract  number 
one,  in  the  first  section  of  Groton,  where  Samuel 
Nims  now  lives.  He  died  in  the  year  1835.  His 
wife  died  a  few  j^ears  after  their  settlement.  Their 
son,  Colonel  Nathan  Strong,  married  Harriet  Under- 
bill, daughter  of  Major  David  L^nderhill,  of  Ridge- 
field,  and  settled  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  first 
section  of  Groton,  where,  wdth  his  brother,  Leicester, 
he  carried  on  a  large  farm.  He  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  where  he  afterwards  died.  His  widow,  now 
over  eighty  years  of  age,  lives  with  her  brother,  Isaac 
Uuderhill,  near  Norwalk.  Leicester  Strong  died  un- 
married. One  sou  of  Major  Strong,  L.  E.  Strong, 
was  formerly  a  resident  of  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and  two 
others  and  a  daughter  lived  in  the  west.  Joseph,  Jr., 
died  in  the  early  j-ears  of  the  family's  settlement. 

Charles  Rash  came  in  soou  after  Major  Strong,  and 
lived  with  the  family  for  a  while,  and  then  made  his 
home  with  John  Baker  and  family  for  two  yeai's,  and 
subsequently  with  others.  He  first  purchased  laud 
on  lot  number  sixteen  in  the  third  section  of  Lyme, 
where  Titus  F.  Beebe  lived  at  a  later  date,  and  a  part 
of  the  land  is  still  owned  by  the  family.  He  after- 
wards exchanged  this  farm  with  Major  Strong  for  one 
hundred  acres  on  the  ridge.  lu  1820,  his  brother, 
Livy,  came  out,  and  the  next  year  the  brothers  erected 
a  house  on  the  place,  into  which  Hiram  Baker  and  his 
mother  moved,  and  kept  house  for  them  for  some 
time. 

In  the  winter  of  18U,  Captain  Zadoc  Strong 
moved  in,  and  fixed  his  residence  on  lot  number  two, 
west  of  his  brother,  Major  Strong.  Stepheu  Russell, 
a  son  of  Captain  Strong's  wife,  came  at  the  same 
time,  and  settled  just  west  of  the  present  burying 
ground  on  the  ridge.  Captain  Strong  died  without 
issue,  his  wife  surviving  him  a  number  of  years.    Mr, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


379 


Russell's  first  wife  was  Dolly  Boise  whom  he  married 
in  Courtlaucl  county,  New  York.  She  died  in  Lyme, 
August  7,  1831,  leaving  five  children — two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  surviving  her,  as  follows:  Rufus  B., 
Joseph  S.,  Sarah,  Dolly  and  Samantha.  Rufus  B. 
Russell  married  Betsey  Nims,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mahala  Xims,  and  was  the  father  of  three  children — 
Frederick,  Carrie  and  Julia.  Mr.  Russell  was  an  ex- 
tensive stock  dealer,  and  one  of  the  active  business 
men  of  the  county  for  many  years.  He  was  killed  in 
April,  1870,  by  the  supposed  accidental  discharge  of 
his  gun  in  getting  over  a  fence  while  hunting. 
Joseph  S.  was  a  farmer  and  fruit  raiser  for  a  number 
of  years  in  Lyme,  but  sold  out  in  1870,  and  removed 
to  Oberlin  to  educate  his  children.  Sarah  became  the 
wife  of  William  Cowle,  and  Nancy,  the  wife  of  B.  F. 
Strong,  and  both  are  now  deceased.  Dolly  died  un- 
married. 

In  1815,  about  the  close  of  the  war,  Francis  Strong 
and  John  Baker,  a  brotlier-in-law  of  the  Strongs, 
came  in  from  New  York  with  their  families  and  set- 
tled on  the  ridge,  the  former  locating  on  lot  number 
twelve,  section  three,  a  little  west  of  whei-e  the  Ridge 
meeting  house  now  stands,  and  Baker  on  the  east 
half  of  lot  number  nine,  same  section,  about  a  mile 
west  of  Strong.  Mr.  Strong  died  January,  1845, 
aged  seventy-five,  and  Mrs.  Strong  April  10,  1854, 
aged  seventy-eight.  He  was  twice  married,  and  was 
the  father  of  nine  children. 

Asahel  and  Lyman  purchased  seventy  acres  on  the 
west  part  of  their  father's  lot,  number  twelve,  and 
resided  there  until  1S37  or  '28,  when  they  sold  to 
Jarvis  Stebbins  and  bought  a  few  acres  of  Stephen 
Russell.  Lyman  Strong,  subsequently,  in  connection 
with  John  K.  Campbell,  opened  a  store  at  Russell's 
Corners.  He  was  afterwards  for  a  year  or  two  in  the 
service  of  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  &  Cincinnati  rail- 
road, but  finally  went  to  Cleveland  and  established 
marble  works  there,  in  which  he  has  acquired  a  fine 
property.  Asahel  Strong,  in  1841  or  '42,  sold  to 
William  Cowle,  and,  after  brief  residence  in  different 
places,  also  settled  in  Cleveland,  where  he  afterwards 
died.  Curtis  was  injured  mentally  by  sickness  when 
young,  from  which  condition  he  never  recovered. 
He  died  December  19,  1870.  The  daughters  were 
Salina,  who  became  the  wife  of  Deacon  Joseph  S. 
Pierce,  and  died  April  25,  18.39;  Susan,  now  Mrs. 
William  Holton,  of  Lyme;  Mary  Ann,  who  married 
James  D.  Collins,  and  died  December,  1840;  and  two 
others,  Mrs.  Webster  and  Mrs.  Sowers,  both  deceased. 

John  Baker  was  born  near  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
in  the  year  1705.  He  received  an  injury  while  assist- 
ing in  the  raising  of  a  log  house  in  York  township, 
December  15,  1817,  which  resulted  in  his  death  the 
following  day.  He  was  a  man  of  good  natural  ability, 
and  of  much  excellence  of  character,  and  was  one  of 
the  ten  original  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Lyme,  organized  in  July,  1817.  Mr.  Baker  was 
the  father  of  Hiram  Baker,  who  was  born  at  Homer, 
Cortland  county,  New  York,  in  the  year  1798.     Upon 


the  death  of  his  father,  Hiram  found  himself,  at  the 
eai'ly  age  of  eighteen,  charged  with  the  management 
of  the  farm  and  the  support  of  himself  and  mother, 
and  plans  which  he  had  formed  for  obtaining  an 
education  had  to  be  given  up.  Owing  to  hard  times 
and  various  misfortunes,  he  was  soon  obliged  to  sell 
the  fartn  his  father  had  bought,  getting  some  advance 
upon  cost  for  improvements.  Another  piece  of  land 
was  purchased  on  Butternut  ridge,  and  a  house  put 
up,  into  which  Mr.  Baker  and  his  mother  moved  in 
midwinter,  while  it  was  still  in  an  unfinished  condition. 
The  hardships  of  that  winter  can  better  be  imagined 
than  described. 

Mechanics  of  all  kinds,  but  more  especially  shoe- 
makers, being  scarce,  Mr.  Baker  exercised  the  inge- 
nuity which  he  posessed  in  no  ordinary  degree,  in 
teaching  himself  the  art  of  cobbling,  making  awls  out 
of  fork  tines,  whittling  out  his  own  pegs,  and  using 
other  rude  tools  that  were  at  hand.  He  soon  became 
expert  in  making  the  stoga  shoes  worn  m  those  rough 
days.  He  could  make  two  pairs  a  day.  Men  would 
come  a  long  distance,  bringing  their  leather,  and 
cheerfully  give  a  hard  day's  work  for  the  manufacture 
of  a  pair  of  shoes.  In  this  way  he  cleared  his  farm, 
and  got  it  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

Shoemaking  being  profitable,  he  at  length  sold  his 
farm  and  moved  to  Bellevue — then  known  as  Ams- 
den's  Corners, — purchased  a  lot,  put  up  a  shop,  em- 
ployed a  journeyman  from  whom  he  learned  the  art 
of  cutting  and  making  boots,  and  so  went  into  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  quite  extensively.  By  economy, 
thrift,  and  good  management,  he  acquired  a  nice 
property,  surrounding  his  later  years  with  comfort 
and  plenty.  He  died  December  17,  1874,  at  the  ripe 
age  of  seventy-six  years  and  a  few  months. 

In  1826,  Mr.  Baker  married  Mary  Ann  Forbes,  of 
whom  he  had  three  children:  Arabella,  Henry,  and 
Hiram  F.  The  latter  is  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Local  News.  He  is  an  enterprising  publisher,  and  is 
meeting  with  deserved  success.  Mr.  Baker's  first 
wife  dying  in  1835,  he  afterwards  married  Catharine 
Hagaman,  daughter  of  John  Hagaman,  of  Palmyra, 
New  Y^ork.  Of  this  marriage  two  children  were 
born — John  H.  and  David  A.  The  last  named  was 
killed  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  near  Peters- 
burgh,  Virginia. 

In  1816,  Abner  Strong  joined  the  little  colony  of 
brothers  on  the  ridge,  from  whom  it  took  the  name 
"Strong's  ridge."  He  settled  on  the  place  afterwards 
occupied  by  Orrin  Dole,  and  which  is  now  occupied 
by  his  son  Edwin.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Strong, 
in  1859,  his  sons  resided  on  the  place,  and  of  whom 
Mr.  Dole,  Sr.,  purchased  it.  Pelatiali,  the  oldest  son 
of  Abner  Strong,  lives  near  Bloom ingville,  Erie 
county,  and  is  old  and  very  intirm. 

In  the  year  1816,  Captain  Mark  Hopkins  settled  on 
lot  number  seven,  where,  subsequently,  A.  J.  Morse 
resided.  The  farm  has  since  been  divided,  and  is 
owned  by  several  individuals. 

Wiiat  is  known  as  the  "Woodward  Settlement,"'  in 


380 


HISTOKY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  fourth  section,  was  commenced  in  the  spring  of 
1817,  by  William  and  Gnrdon  Woodward.  Their 
father,  Abishai  Woodward,  of  New  London,  Connec- 
ticut, became  the  owner,  by  purchase,  of  the  claims  of 
the  "Sufferers,"  of  some  some  four  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  sections  one  and  four,  of  this  township.  The 
brothers,  William  and  Gurdon,  came  from  Whites- 
town,  New  York,  to  Huron  in  the  fall  of  1816,  and 
remained  through  the  winter  with  George  and  Jere- 
miah Sheffield,  who  removed  thither  from  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  a  short  time  previous.  The  nest 
spring  they  took  possession  of  their  land,  erecting  a 
cabin,  and  for  two  years  kept  bachelors'  hall.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  time,  the  brothers  returned  to  New 
York  State;  were  married,  and  removed  to  their 
estates.  William's  wife  died  soon  after  his  arrival. 
He  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Susan  Sparrow,  and 
subsequently  removed  to  Louisiana.  A  sketch  of  the 
life  of  Gurdon  may  elsewhere  be  found. 

Amos  Woodward  and  family  came  to  Lyme  in  18a0. 
and  took  up  his  location  a  short  distance  east  of  his 
brother  Gurdon,  on  lot  four,  which  continued  to  be 
his  home  until  his  death,  A  sketch  of  his  life  is 
likewise  elsewhere  given. 

Samuel  Sparrow's  family  came  with  Amos  Wood- 
ward's, in  1820,  making  a  settlement  on  the  Wood- 
ward tract.  Mrs.  Sparrow,  who  was  the  daughter  of 
Dr.  Roe,  an  eminent  physician  of  Dublin,  Ireland, 
died  about  two  3'ears  after  the  family's  arrival  in 
Lyme.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  worth,  and  Mr. 
Sparrow  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  much  intelli- 
gence, but  possessed  of  some  eccentric  qualities.  Their 
children  were  William,  Edward,  Thomas,  Susan  and 
Anna.  William  graduated  at  Kenyon  College,  and 
was  for  many  years  a  professor  in  that  institution  of 
learning,  and  rose  to  high  eminence  as  an  instructor. 
Susan  became  the  wife  of  William  Woodward,  and 
Anna  the  wife  of  Mr.  Mitchell.  The  Mitchells  were 
for  a  time  residents  of  Lyme.  A  son,  Henry,  is  now 
a  citizen  of  Norwalk,  and  a  slaughter,  Mary,  who 
has  inherited  the  best  qualities,  both  of  mind  and 
heart,  of  her  illustrious  ancestors,  resides  with  her 
mother  in  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio. 

At  the  time  of  their  settlement  in  Lyme,  William 
and  Gurdon  Woodward  were  joined  by  George  and 
Jeremiah  Sheffield,  and  all  four  enjoyed  together 
their  baccalaureate  fi-eedom  for  about  two  years,  the 
latter  being  with  them  only  a  part  of  the  time.  The 
Sheffields  were  born  and  brought  up  in  and  about 
New  London,  Connecticut,  amid  the  people  who  suf- 
fered most  from  the  raids  of  British  soldiery.  Geoi-ge 
Sheffield,  the  elder  of  these  two  brothers,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three,  in  the  year  1809,  came  to  Berlin, 
near  the  mouth  of  Huron  river,  where  he  had  secured 
a  piece  of  land.  He  returned  the  same  fall,  reaching 
home  just  in  time  to  see  his  father  die.  In  1813  he 
married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Abishai  Woodward,  and 
sister  of  the  late  Gurdon  Woodward,  at  New  London, 
Connecticut.  Having  decided  to  move  to  Ohio,  in 
1816  he  sent  forward  his  goods  on  a  wagon,  drawn  by 


a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  span  of  horses,  driven  by  his 
brother  Jeremiah  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Buckley. 
Then  himself,  wife  and  one  child,  the  present  George 
W.  Sheffield,  now  residing  in  Bellevue,  Ohio,  followed 
on  in  a  two-wheeled  carriage.  The  latter  party,  ar- 
riving at  Dunkirk,  found  the  Journey  so  fatiguing 
that  he  loaded  family,  horse  and  chaise  upon  a  vessel 
and  landed,  in  due  time,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Huron, 
safe  and  sound.  Another  child,  Betsey,  was  born 
there,  after  which  his  wife,  affected  by  the  malaria  of 
the  new  country,  never  fully  recovered.  She  died 
that  same  fall. 

In  1819  he  was  again  married  to  Thursa  Baker,  sis- 
ter of  the  late  Hiram  Baker,  and  resided  on  his  farm 
in  the  Woodward  tract  until  1832,  when  he  removed 
to  Norwalk.  Various  fortunes  and  misfortunes  befell 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheffield,  for  the  record  of  which  we 
regret  that  we  have  not  sufficient  space.  The  saddest 
of  these,  however,  was  the  burning  of  their  home, 
about  two  years  after  their  marriage,  in  which  they 
not  only  lost  nearly  all  their  household  stuff,  but  the 
little  girl,  Betsey,  then  about  five  years  old,  and  a  lad 
of  fourteen,  named  Harris,  whom  they  had  taken  to 
bring  up,  perished  in  the  flames.  This  calamity  left 
Mr.  Sheffield  almost  completely  broken  up.  The 
neighbors,  however,  turned  in  with  generous  hearts 
and  vigorous  hands  to  relieve  their  necessities.  They 
helped  him  put  up  another  house,  which  he  occupied 
for  several  years.  In  1832  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of 
Huron  county. 

The  year  1834  will  long  be  remembered  as  the  one 
signalized  by  the  first  visit  of  that  fearful  scourge, 
the  cholera,  to  this  country.  On  the  20th  of  August, 
in  that  year,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Sheffield  was  taken  with 
that  fearful  disease,  and  died  in  a  few  hours.  The 
old  family  Bible  contains  a  record  of  her  death  in  his 
own  hand  writing.  On  the  22d  he  was  himself  taken 
with  the  same  disease,  and  died  just  after  midnight 
on  the  23d. 

The  children  by  his  first  wife  were  George  W.  and 
Betsey,  the  little  girl  who  perished  in  the  fire;  by  his 
second  wife,  James  K.,  who  died  in  early  boyhood, 
Betsey,  James  F.,  Sarah  and  Edward. 

George  W.,  the  eldest  son,  is  a  resident  of  Bellevue, 
where  he  leads  a  retired  life,  devoted  to  his  interest- 
ing family  and  his  church,  the  Protestant  Episcopal, 
in  which  he  is  senior  warden.  He  married  Lucy, 
daughter  of  Gurdon  Woodward,  who  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1865.  His  children  are:  Marj-,  who  married 
Henry  Bramwell  and  lives  in  Lincoln,  Illinois; 
George,  who  is  a  promising  young  lawyer,  residing  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts:  Rachel;  Julia,  who  married 
Mr.  Oliver,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio;  James,  and  Lucy. 

Jeremiah  Sheffield,  after  remaining  here  a  short 
time,  returned  to  Connecticut,  where  he  subsequently 
married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Holmes,  and  with  his  fam- 
ily came  to  Lyme  in  1826  and  settled  in  the  first  sec- 
tion. After  a  short  residence  there  he  purchased  the 
Tabor  tract,  in  the  south  part  of  the  fourth  section  of 
Groton.     On  this  he  lived  until  1854,  when  he  bought 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


381 


a  part  of  lot  number  seven  in  the  second  section  of 
Lyme,  erecting  his  house  a  short  distance  west  of 
Lemuel  Moses',  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in 
1860. 

In  1832  he  was  married,  the  second  time,  to  Jeru- 
sha  Jackson,  of  Bucyrus,  Crawford  county.  She 
still  survives,  enjoying  a  hale  and  cheerful  old  age, 
being  one  of  those  active  spirits  who  prefer  to  "wear 
out  rather  than  rust  out."  She  bore  to  Mr.  Sheffield 
seven  children, — Iris,  John,  Cornelia,  William,  Al- 
bert, Edwin  and  Jennie,  of  whom  the  second  and  the 
last  two  mentioned  reside  in  Bellevue.  Jennie  is  the 
wife  of  James  Miller,  attoruey-at-law,  and  Edwin  is 
the  cashier  of  the  Bellevue  Bank,  the  duties  of  which 
oflBce  he  has  discharged  with  great  credit  to  himself 
and  with  marked  success  for  the  bank,  since  the  date 
of  its  organization;  John  is  in  the  real  estate  business. 

That  part  of  the  fourth  section  known  as  the  Salton- 
stall  tract,  comprised  four  lots  of  ninety  acres  each, 
numbers  seventeen,  eighteen,  nineteen  and  twenty. 
The  first  lot  at  the  west  end  of  the  tract  lying  on  the 
county  line,  was  first  settled  by  Eli  Smith;  the  next 
by  Oliver  C.  Polly  and  John  Clemmons;  the  third  by 
George  Gamble,  and  the  fourth  by  L.  Young. 

Gurdon  Williams  came  into  the  township,  and  pur- 
chased as  early  as  1817,  nearly  a  thousand  acres  across 
the  south  side  of  the  fourth  section.  He  subsequently 
brought  in  a  stock  of  goods,  and  opened  a  store  in  a 
log  house  near  the  south  line,  which  he  continued  for 
several  years,  when  he  removed  to  Syracuse,  New 
Y''ork.  This  Williams'  tract  was  sold  out  in  parcels 
to  German  settlers,  among  whom  were  Jacob  and 
Adam  Weikle,  Peter  Arth,  Christian  Lepley,  Charles, 
Henry  and  Philip  BoUenbacher,  Henry  Studt  and 
Peter  Heimbach. 

Jacob  Goodrich  and  family,  in  1817,  settled  on  lot 
number  twenty-two  in  the  third  section,  on  the  place 
now  owned  by  Spencer  W.  Boise,  where  he  lived  for 
many  years,  and  then  moved  to  the  west.  John 
Seelye,  a  young  man,  came  in  with  Mr.  Goodrich,  re- 
mained a  few  j'ears,  and  then  went  to  some  State 
farther  west. 

John  F.  Adams  and  family  came  in  the  spring  of 
1818,  from  Pultney,  Vermont,  and  had  as  fellow- 
travelers  from  Granville,  New  Y'ork,  Asaph  Cooke 
and  family,  who  settled  at  what  has  since  been  called 
Cooke's  corners.  Mr.  Adams  located  on  the  north- 
east corner  lot  of  this  township.  His  wife,  Betsey, 
died  in  the  fall  of  1819,  and  he  subsequently  married 
Chloe  Cooke,  daughter  of  Asaph  Cooke.  She  died  in 
April,  1847,  and  Mr.  Adams  married  for  his  third 
wife,  Caroline  Selover,  in  18-19.  In  18CG.  he  re- 
moved to  Milan  where  he  died. 

In  the  fall  of  1818,  James  Hamilton,  from  Gran- 
ville, New  Y'ork,  settled  on  the  south  line  of  Groton 
township  near  Mr.  Adams'.  His  wife  died  in  the  fall 
of  1819,  and  a  few  years  afterward  he  i-emoved  to 
Monroeville.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children — 
six  sons  and  a  daughter.  They  were  an  intelligent 
and  enterprising  family.     One  son  was  a  merchant  in 


Buffalo,  another  in  Milan,  another  in  Monroeville, 
and  two  in  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin.    Two  were  farmers. 

The  first  settlement  at  Hunt's  Corners  was  made 
in  the  southeast  part  by  several  families  named 
Sutton,  and  the  locality  has  since  been  known  as  the 
"Sutton  Settlement,"  or  Hunt's  Corners.  Levi  Sut- 
ton, a  native  of  Virginia,  bargained  for  the  Moses 
Warren  tract,  consisting  of  eleven  hundred  and  ten 
acres,  for  one  thousand  dollars,  and  came  on  and  took 
possession  in  the  fall  of  1811.  He  made  a  small  im- 
provement and  then  returned  to  his  family,  then  living 
in  Thorn,  Perry  county,  Ohio.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  of  1812,  he,  with  his  brother,  Moses, 
went  into  the  army  where,  for  two  years,  he  was 
engaged  in  hauling  supplies.  In  1814,  he  moved  to 
his  purchase  in  Lyme,  erected  his  house  on  lot  num- 
ber five,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  October  5, 
1852.  Mrs.  Sutton  died  in  August,  1875.  At  the 
close  of  the  war,  Moses  Sutton,  with  his  four  sons: 
Philip,  Isaac,  Levi  and  Moses,  returned  to  Lyme, 
where  they  made  a  settlement,  with  the  exception  of 
Philip,  who  settled  in  Muscash.  The  Suttons  failed 
to  pay  for  all  of  the  land  which  they  first  bargained 
for,  and  from  an  old  map  it  appears  that  A.  Latham, 
Joel  Clark,  Simon  Raymond  and  Joel  Barton  suc- 
ceeded to  the  ownership  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
tract,  while  Betsey  Latham,  Elon  Phay,  J.  and  W.  G. 
Sargent,  John  Barton,  Romeo  Bassett  and  John  Crull, 
took  the  western  and  the  north  part  of  the  central 
portion  of  the  tract,  leaving  the  Suttons  about  three 
hundred  acres  in  the  southern  and  central  portions 
of  the  original  purchase. 

The  children  of  Levi  Sutton  are  as  follows:  Wil- 
liam, who  married  Catherine  Phoenix,  and  now  lives 
in  Texas;  Daniel,  who  died  young;  Elisha  D.,  who 
married  Effie  Lane.  She  died,  and  he  has  re-married. 
He  is  still  living.  Philip  married  Caroline  Clark,  and 
lives  in  New  Haven,  this  county.  Alfred  married 
Sally  A.  Clark,  and  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 
Clarissa  married  Ebenezer  Inscho,  and  lives  in  Wood 
county,  Ohio.  Sarah  Ann  married  Thomas  Clark, 
and  lives  in  Groton  township,  Erie  county.  Jackson 
died  young.  Ira  married  Sylvia  Campbell,  and  lives 
in  Groton.  Levi  married  Caroline  Barnes,  and  lives 
in  Venice,  Seneca  county.  Cj-nthia  Ann  died  young. 
Mr.  Sutton  built  a  saw  mill  on  Frink  run  soon  after 
his  settlement.  This  was  the  first  saw  mill  in  the 
township,  or  for  some  miles  around.  He  passed  his 
life  in  farming. 

Hiel  Hunt  first  came  to  Ohio  in  1816,  remained  at 
Venice  about  two  years,  and  assisted  in  building  the 
first  mills  there.  He  then  located  at  Monroeville, 
but  two  years  afterward  went  Xo  Knox  county,  where 
he  followed  the  trade  of  millwright  for  a  few  years, 
when  he  came  to  the  first  section  of  Lyme,  and  settled 
at  the  corners  which  still  bears  his  name.  He  is  still 
living  on  his  original  location,  ninety-eight  years  of 
age,  an  intelligent  and  respected  old  man. 

West  of  the  corners,  there  lived  at  an  early  day,  the 
following  named  settlers  and  their  families,  to  wit: 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


John  Schock,  on  lots  sixteen,  seventeen,  twenty-two 
and  thirty-four;  John  Sawyer,  on  lot  twenty-three; 
Mary  Lee,  on  twenty-four;  Stephen  Bassett,  on 
twenty-five;  Levi  Lee,  on  twenty-six;  Roswell  R. 
Beebe,  on  twenty-seven;  George  \V.  Mallett,  on  twenty- 
eight;  Hector  Lee.  on  twenty-nine  and  thirty;  Dudley 
Avery,  on  thirty-five,  and  Thadtleus  Brooks  on  thirty- 
six. 

Daniel  Miller  came  into  this  part  of  the  township 
about  the  year  1819,  but  being  unable  to  pay  for  his 
land,  was  soon  succeeded  by  Romeo  Bassett.  Bassett, 
a  few  years  after,  opened  a  store,  mortgaging  his  farm 
to  pay  for  his  goods.  His  enterprise  proved  a  failure, 
which,  not  improbably,  hastened  his  death,  which 
occurred  soon  after. 

In  183J:,  Joseph  Wood  came  from  England,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  the  north  and  south  section 
line.  Mr.  Wood's  has  been  rather  an  eventful  life, 
and  we  append  a  brief  notice  of  it :  He  was  born  in 
Staffordshire,  England,  in  the  year  1809.  His  parents, 
Thomas  and  Hannah  (Gould)  Wood,  were  natives  of 
that  part  of  the  country,  and  his  ancestors,  as  far 
back  as  record  or  tradition  extends,  were  farmers. 
He  thus  '-came  honestly  by"  that  talent  and  aptitude 
for  his  calling,  which  have  given  him  such  marked 
success  as  a  cultivator  of  the  soil  in  his  adopted 
country.  His  father  died  when  he  was  but  ten  years 
old,  leaving  him,  the  only  son,  with  his  mother,  to 
carry  on  the  farm.  After  seven  years  of  widowhood, 
she  married  again,  and  removed  to  another  part  of 
the  country,  where  she  died  in  1875,  at  the  ripe  age 
of  eighty-six. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1830,  he  was  married  to 
Martha  Hulme,  at  Alstonfield,  in  his  native  county, 
where  her  ancestors  had  lived  for  several  generations, 
and  where  her  father  died  after  he  had  passed  his 
ninety-third  year.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  began 
to  think  of  joining  the  great  tide  of  emigration  to 
the  new  world.  His  wife  consenting,  they  set  sail 
in  the  month  of  October,  1833.  This  was  before  the 
time  of  steamships,  and  fifty  eight  days— weary  days 
of  watching  and  waiting  amid  the  monotony  of  ship 
life — were  spent  in  crossing  the  ocean.  This  was 
about  four  times  as  long  as  is  now  required  to  accom- 
plish the  trip.  They  landed  in  New  York  in  Jan- 
uary, 1834:. 

Not  being  under  any  necessity  of  making  an  imme- 
diate settlement,  he  determined  to  take  "a  good 
look"  before  deciding  upon  his  location.  With  this 
object  in  view,  he  wei-t  from  New  York  to  Philadel- 
phia, to  Baltimore  and  Fredericktown,  in  Maryland, 
"staging  it "  across  the  Allegheny  mountains  to  Pitts- 
burgh; thence  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati. 
Finding  nothing  which  quite  satisfied  him,  he  took 
the  stage  to  Huron  county,  where  he  had  a  friend 
living.  Here  he  decided  to  settle,  and  brought  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  one  child,  in  April, 
183-1.  He  purchased  a  farm  of  about  three  hundred 
acres,  four  miles  southeast  of  Bellevue.  This  consti- 
tuted liis  home  for  nearly  five  vears,  when  he  sold  a 


part  of  it  and  took  his  family  back  on  a  visit  to  the 
dear  old  home  in  "  Merrie  England."  They  started 
from  Cincinnati  on  Christmas  Day,  1839,  on  board  a 
sailing  vessel,  by  way  of  New  Orleans,  arriving  at 
Liverpool  April  23,  1840. 

The  next  year  he  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  the 
spring  of  1842  found  him  again  in  Huron  county, 
located  on  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased  near 
Hunt's  Corners,  and  which  constituted  his  home  for 
thirty  years.  During  these  years  he  visited  the  old 
country  six  times  more,  making  in  all  fifteen  times 
that  he  has  crossed  the  "  big  pond  "  in  safety.  Dur- 
ing his  last  visit  but  one,  ten  years  ago,  he  was  in- 
vited to  address  a  public  meeting,  called  to  consider 
the  question  of  emigration,  but  not  being  a  public 
speaker,  he  compromised  with  his  friends  by  embody- 
ing his  views  on  America  in  a  well-written  article, 
which  was  extensively  published  and  eagerly  read  on 
both  sides  of  the  ocean. 

In  1872,  he  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  Bellevue, 
putting  up  a  very  fine  residence  on  West  Main  street, 
where  he  now  enjoys  a  green  old  age  in  comfort, 
peace,  and  plenty. 

In  religion,  Mr.  Wood  has  always  been  a  warm  ad- 
herent to  the  Church  of  England,  and  to  her  lineal 
descendant,  the  Episcopal  Church  of  this  country. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  has  long  been  a 
warden,  of  Trinity  Church,  Lyme. 

He  has  had  eight  children,  only  four  of  whom 
(Julia  Ann,  Thomas  H.,  Louisa  Mary  and  James 
Barnes)  are  now  living.  These  are  all  happily  mar- 
ried and  settled,  and  all  reside  in  this  immediate 
vicinity,  except  the  first  named,  who  lives  in  Michigan. 

On  the  county  line,  south  of  Bellevue,  the  earliest 
settlers  were  John  Miller,  Henry  Bradbrook  and 
Gideon  J.  Mallory.  Miller  located  about  half  a  mile 
south  of  Bellevue,  just  east  of  the  former  residence  of 
Abishai  Woodward.  His  old  frame  house,  now  unoc- 
cupied, is  still  standing.  The  location  of  Henry 
Bradbrook  was  a  short  distance  farther  south,  on  the 
same  lot  (number  five).  Mallory  located  just  south 
of  Bradbrook. 

On  the  Monroe  road,  southeast  of  Bellevue,  were 
originally  John  Moore,  Henry  Common  and  John 
Benn.  Benn  kept  a  tavern  on  the  corners  where  the 
Monroeville  road  intersects  the  turnpike.  Farther 
east,  in  the  second  section,  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  R.  L.  McCurdy's  land,  was  a  pioneer  dwelling,  but 
who  was  the  builder  or  the  first  occupant,  the  writer 
is  unable  to  state.  The  family  of  Stephen  Sawyer 
lived  there  at  an  early  date.  Still  farther  east,  in 
the  same  direction,  near  where  the  Episcopal  Church 
now  stands,  was  the  small  log  cabin  of  Ralph  Bacon, 
a  butcher,  who  lived  there  several  years. 

Ephraim  B.  Morey  became  a  resident  of  Lyme  in 
1820  or  '21,  removing  from  Connecticut.  He  settled 
on  lot  number  three,  in  section  four,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death  in  1868.  He  had  four  sons:  Daniel, 
Rouse,  George  and  Giles,  and  one  daughter,  Emily, 
now  Mrs.  Eugene  Smith.    Daniel  settled  on  the  turn- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


383 


pike  a  few  miles  south  of  Sandusky  City,  where  he 
now  lives;  Rouse,  where  he  now  resides  on  the  south 
part  of  lot  number  five;  George,  first  on  the  north 
part  of  his  father's  farm,  but  now  lives  southeast  of 
Norwalk,  in  Norwalk  township;  Giles  is  deceased. 

Shadrach  Husted  and  several  sous  settled  north  of 
Hunt's  corners,  on  lot  number  one,  about  the  year 
1821.  His  death  was  caused  by  a  fish  bone  lodging 
in  his  throat.  His  sou  Alonzo  occupies  the  south 
part  of  the  farm. 

Dr.  SteiDhens  came  about  1822,  and  purchased  lot 
nine.  He  sold  the  east  half  to  Francis  Holton,  about 
1832  or  1833,  soon  after  which  he  died.  His  son, 
Jacob,  sold  to  Alvah  Nickersou,  who  occupied  it 
until  1867,  or  '68,  and  then  sold  to  Wm.  Holtou. 

George  Hanford  came  in  1824,  and  purchased  the 
south  part  of  lot  thirteen,  on  Strong's  ridge,  on 
which  he  built  and  resided  for  about  ten  years,  when 
he  sold  and  removed  to  Sandusky  county. 

In  the  3'ear  1823,  Samuel  Bemiss  and  his  sons, 
Elijah  and  Rodney,  with  others,  came  from  Onondaga 
county.  New  York,  and  at  first  took  up  their  abode 
with  the  Rash  brothers.  They  subsequently  pur- 
chased and  settled  on  east  part  of  the  Strong  tract, 
where  some  of  the  family  have  since  resided. 

Richard  L.  McCurdy,  son  of  one  of  the  original 
owners,  came  from  Lyme,  Connecticut,  to  Ohio,  in  the 
spring  of  1823.  He  first  stopped  in  Bazetta,  Trum- 
bull county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a  few  months, 
and  came  to  Lyme,  locating  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  his  widow.  He  became  agent  for  his  father, 
and  sold  much  of  the  land  in  the  McCurdy  tract. 
June  19,  1826,  he  married  Julia  Ann  Woodward, 
daughter  of  Amos  Woodward.  Soon  after  he  built  a 
portion  of  the  house  his  widow  now  occupies,  and  in 
December,  1827,  moved  into  it.  Mr.  McCurdy  was 
extensively  connected  with  the  affairs  of  the  township. 
At  his  own  expense,  he  laid  out  the  road,  or  the 
greater  part  of  it,  from  Bellevue  to  Monroeville. 
They  have  had  no  children.  Mr.  McCurdy  died 
August  28,  1869. 

Westley  Knight  came  about  1825.  For  some  time 
he  drove  stage,  and  worked  at  different  places.  He 
bought  a  small  lot  of  Stephen  Russell,  west  of  the 
meeting  house,  on  which  he  built  a  small  house.  He 
sold  out  in  a  few  3ears,  to  Winthrop  Ballard,  and 
bought  on  the  section  line  about  two  miles  north  of 
the  ridge.  Some  three  years  later  he  again  sold  to 
Dr.  Boise. 

John  Seymour,  one  of  tlie  oldest  residents  of  the 
township  at  tlie  present  time,  came  to  Huron  county 
from  Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  with  his 
family,  accompanied  by  Deacon  Moses  Thacher  and 
wife,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Seymour,  in  October,  1825. 
Mr.  Seymour  bought  out  Martin  Vrooman  at  Cooke's 
Corners  where  he  resided  for  nine  years,  when  he  sold 
to  Lewis  Stone  and  Noah  I'oung.  He  spent  the  fol- 
lowing summer  at  Milan,  and  the  next  winter  in 
Massachusetts,  when,  in  April,  1835,  he  returned  and 
settled  in  Lyme,  opposite  the  meeting  house,  where 


he  still  resides.  Mr.  Seymour  was  engaged  here  in 
farming,  broom-making,  and,  in  a  small  way,  in  mer- 
chandise, until  1870,  when  the  infirmities  of  age  re- 
quired cessation  from  active  labor.  Mr.  Seymour 
was  born  in  Kensington,  Hartford  county,  Connecti- 
cut, July  27,  1791,  and  January  5,  1820,  married 
Sarah  A.  Thacher.  To  them  have  been  Ijorn  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living. 
Eliza  Ann  married  D.  W.  Ballard  who  is  deceased,  and 
she  now  resides  in  Chicago.  William  Henry  resides  in 
Hardin  county,  Oliio.  George  W.  lives  in  Lyme  with 
his  father.  John  A.  is  a  Presbyterian  clergyman, 
located  at  Cleveland.  Sarah  M.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Blair,  a  wealthy  hardware  merchant  of  Chi- 
cago, and  Ellen,  is  the  wife  of  James  M.  Stults,  of 
Lyme. 

Mr.  Seymour  held  the  office  of  township  clerk  for 
thirty-three  years,  and  has  been  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Lyme  for  over  fifty 
years. 

In  1826  Colonel  James  Smith  moved  in  with  his 
family,  from  Gibson,  Pennsylvania,  and  after  living 
with  .John  Seymour,  at  Cooke's  corners,  for  one  year, 
removed  to  Lyme,  and  settled  on  the  ridge,  north  of 
the  meeting  house.  Subsequently  he  sold,  and 
moved  into  Ridgefield,  locating  near  the  east  line  of 
Lyme. 

A  few  years  after,  he  returned  to  this  township,  and 
purchased  the  Francis  Strong  place,  where  he  after- 
wards resided.  He  died  October  6,  1866,  and  Mrs. 
Smith,  July  9,  1868.  There  were  seven  children,  six 
sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows :  James  D., 
Martin,  Robert,  Eugene,  Chas.  D.,  Edwin  and  Emma. 
James  was  engaged  for  several  years  in  the  forwarding 
business  at  Milan.  He  married  a  daughter  of  George 
Lockwood,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Toledo, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  His  wife  and  seven 
children  survived  him.  Martin  went  to  California, 
and  still  resides  there.     Robert,  who  married  Frances 

C.  Wright,  occupies  the  old  homestead,  in  Lyme. 
Eugene  married  Emily  Morey,  and  was  engaged  in 
trade,  in  Bellevue,  for  many  years.  Chas.  D.  lives 
on  the  place  formerly  occupied  by  Dr.  Smith.  He 
married  Mary  Choat.     Mary  became  the  wife  of  James 

D.  Follett,  formerly  of  Bellevue,  now  of  Allegan, 
Michigan. 

In  1826  or  '27,  William  Fitch  came  from  near  New 
London,  Connecticut,  and  settled  on  the  corner  where 
the  road  running  from  Hunt's  corners  crosses  the 
ridge.  He  resided  there  until  his  death,  in  1850. 
Philo  H.  Schuyler,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Fitch,  now  lives  on  the  place. 

An  Englishman,  by  the  name  of  Mapes.  came  in 
about  1827,  and  made  a  beginniug  on  the  ridge,  south 
of  the  Monroe  road,  and  near  the  township  line.  He 
became  discouraged,  and  removed  to  Fremont. 

Caleb  C.  Williams  subsequently  settled  on  the  jilace, 
and  resided  there  until  his  death,  about  1867. 

A  little  further  north,  near  the  corner  of  the  Mon- 
roeville and  east  line  road.  Jonathan  Prentiss  settled 


384 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  resided  until  his  death.  His  sons  still  live  on  the 
place,  or  in  the  neiojhborhood. 

Richard  Meginson,  a  native  of  England,  came  m 
about  the  year  1828,  and  located  on  lot  number  four, 
second  section.     Some  of  the  family  yet  live  there. 

Noah  Young  first  settled  on  lot  nine,  remained  a 
few  years,  and  then  sold  to  Thomas  Ashton.  Benja- 
min Fish  settled  on  the  same  lot  a  little  further 
north. 

Jarvis  Stebbins,  foi'merly  from  Ivlassachussetts, 
came  to  Lyme  in  1827,  and  bought  the  farm  now 
owned  by  James  Jones.  He  went  east  after  his  fam- 
ily in  the  fall,  and  on  October  8th,  returned  to  Lyme 
with  them.  In  1875,  he  went  to  Kansas,  and  died 
at  the  residence  of  his  son,  in  Coyville,  Wilson 
county,  that  State,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  always  accounted  a  great  hunter.  Mrs. 
Stebbins  died  December  9,  1859.  They  had  three 
children:  Abigail,  wife  of  D.  Cowle;  Amos,  married 
Ellen  Hutchinson,  lives  in  Kansas;  S.  Warren,  mar- 
ried Kate  Allen,  and  now  lives  in  Kansas. 

Stephen  Sawyer  and  family,  with  his  brother,  James, 
came  to  America,  from  Kent  county,  England,  in  the 
year  1819;  they  sailed  in  a  vessel  belonging  to  one  of 
the  Griswold's,  of  Lyme,  Connecticut.  Mrs.  Sawyer 
was  attended  by  a  Mrs.  Orsetti,  a  French  lady,  as 
nurse.  They  came  westward,  overland,  by  way  of 
Pittsburgh,  crossing  the  Alleghany  moutains,  their 
point  of  destination  being  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Reach- 
ing the  Ohip  river,  they  purchased  a  rude  vessel  and 
sailed  down  that  stream,  landing  in  due  course  of 
time  at  Cincinnati,  then  a  rude  village.  They  re- 
mained there  but  a  short  time,  pushing  on  down  the 
Ohio,  a  distance  of  twenty-two  miles,  to  North  Bend, 
where  Stephen  and  his  brother  took  a  job  of  clearing 
forty  acres  of'  land  for  General  William  Harrison. 
The  Sawyei's  were  butchers  and  farmers  in  Eng- 
land, but  knew  nothing  of  chopping  and  clearing. 
However,  they  resolutely  clung  to  their  task  and 
completed  it.  After  remaining  there  for  about  two 
years,  they  concluded  that  tl  ey  had  seen  enough  of 
America,  and  resolved  to  return  to  old  England. 
They  started  east,  and  at  Cincinnati  invested  the 
bulk  of  their  earnings  in  a  four-horse  wagon  in  which 
they  journeyed  across  the  mountains  back  to  New 
York  City.  Arriving  at  that  metropolis,  Mrs.  Sawyer 
expressed  a  wish  to  visit  her  sister,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Griswold,  then  living  at  Lyme,  Connecticut.  The 
way  she  came  to  have  a  sister  married  and  living 
in  Connecticut,  happened  in  this  way:  Henry  Gris- 
wold, son  of  Governor  Roger  Griswold,  of  Connec- 
ticut, was  captain  of  the  ship  which  brought  the  Saw- 
yers to  America.  He  took  a  great  liking  to  the 
Sawyers,  and  especially  to  Mrs.  Sawyer,  who  was 
an  aristocratic  lady  and  of  much  refinement.  He 
ventured  to  ask  her,  one  day,  if  she  had  a  sister,  and 
she  replied  she  had,  and  gave  him  a  letter  of  intro- 
duction to  her.  Y'oung  Griswold  returned  to  Eng- 
land, made  the  ac(iuaintanee  of  tlie  lady— Miss  Lans- 
dale — which  led  to  courtship,  engagement,  and  mar- 


riage, and  she  came  to  Connecticut  the  wife  of  Henry 
Griswold. 

Mrs.'  Sawyer's  wish  was  no  sooner  made  known  than 
t  was  executed,  and  the  Sawyer  family  made  their  way 
to  Lyme,  Connecticut.  The  visitors  were  urged  to  re- 
main at  Lyme,  and  the  Sawyers  having  a  knowledge 
of  the  butcher's  trade,  were  influenced  to  establish  in 
that  business  at  Lyme.  Here  tliey  remained  fur  a 
number  of  years,  and  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
McCurdys,  who  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  Lyme 
township,  were  induced  to  come  hither,  which  they 
did  in  November  of  1826.  They  first  settled  and 
lived  for  three  years  on  the  northwest  part  of  the  Mc- 
Curdy  tract  near  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Julia 
A.  McCurdy.  They  then  removed  to  lot  number  fif- 
teen m  the  first  section,  where  they  resided  until  Mr. 
Sawyer's  death,  January  7,  1870.  The  Sawyers  were 
for  many  years  engaged  in  driving  cattle  to  the  sea- 
board, mainly  to  Philadelphia.  His  sous,  Stejihen 
and  James,  purchased  nearly  six  hundred  acres  of  the 
Hart  tract.  Mrs.  Sawyer's  death  occurred  January  5, 
1867. 

The  children  were:  William,  who  married  Caroline 
Chapman  and  is  now  dead;  John,  who  married  Sarah 
Ann  Richie,  and  is  also  dead;  Stephen  married  Mrs. 
Jane  Tice,  and  he  is  now  deceased,  and  his  widow 
now  lives  in  Lyme;  Charles  married  Rachel  A.  Gates, 
and  occupies  a  part  of  the  old  homestead;  Dorothy 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Mallett,  and  lives  in 
Lyme;  Emma  married  Joseph  Young  and  resides  in 
Ridgefield  township;  Betsey  A.  died  unmarried;  Dr. 
Isaac  Sawyer  married  Sarah  Toll,  and  resides  in  Mon- 
roe, Michigan,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine;  James  is  a  resident  of  Lyme;  Augustus  H. 
married  Abby  Ames,  and  is  deceased;  George  married 
Julia  Ann  Wood,  and  now  resides  at  Grass  Lake, 
Michigan. 

The  Sawyer  family  have,  ever  since  their  settlement 
in  Lyme,  been  prominently  identified  with  the  affairs 
of  the  township.  They  were  a  numerous  family,  and 
all  wide-awake,  stirring,  intelligent  people.  Nearly 
all  of  them  acquired  a  handsome  property,  and  one  of 
the  family,  Isaac,  has  gained  a  wide  and  well-deserved 
reputation  as  a  skillful  surgeon.  He  lives  at  Monroe, 
Michigan,  where  he  takes  rank  as  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  that  place,  and  his  medical  practice,  es- 
pecially in  the  line  of  surgery,  extends  to  many  (puir- 
ters  of  the  State.  George  Sawyer  is  a  kind,  generous 
hearted  man,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him 
well.  At  his  residence  his  uncle,  James  Sawyer,  died 
in  1875.  He  had  lived  a  bachelor  all  his  days,  finding 
a  comfortable  home  with  his  brother  until  the  latter's 
death,  when  he  was  invited  to  his  nephew's  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephen  Sawyer  were  both  worthy 
members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

Asa  Nims  and  wife  and  several  sons  and  their  fami- 
lies arrived  in  1827,  and  purchased  the  Major  Strong 
place.  The  widow  and  children  of  Elihu  Nims,  who 
died  soon  after  his  arrival,  took  the  west  part  of  the 
land,  which  was  subsequently  sold  and  is  now  owned 


DAVID  WILLIAMS. 


Daniel  Williams,  the  father  of  David,  was  born  near 
Philadelfihia,  Pa.,  in  1783,  where  he  resided  with  his  father 
and  mother  until  liis  majority.  His  father's  name  was  David, 
who  was  of  Welsh  extraction,  and  his  mother's  name  was 
Margaret  Lyons.  He  married  Miss  Catharine  Henney,  of 
German  parentage,  then  living  in  Centre  Co.,  Pa.  In  1813 
he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  at  Kouseburg,  Waj'ne  Co. 
There  were  at  the  time  only  five  families  in  the  township, 
and  one  old  Quaker  was  the  only  resident  of  Wooster,  Ohio. 

In  process  of  time,  by  industry  and  perseverance,  he  was 
able  to  purchase  land  and  to  build  a  grist-mill,  and  had  fair 
prosperity.  In  1833  he  removed  to  the  Fire-Lands,  and  settled 
about  two  miles  southeast  of  Bellevue,  purchasing  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land,  about  a  mile  west  of  his  location,  just 
across  the  Huron  County  line,  called  the  oak  openings.  He 
raised  a  family  of  stalwart  sons,  whose  industry  and  ability 
to  accomplish  herculean  feats  of  labor  were  a  source  of  great 
profit  to  him.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  June  27,  1858,  he  was 
the  possessor  of  seven  hundred  acres  of  good  farming  land, 
much  of  it  under  cultivation. 

His  children  were  Anna 
Catharine,  John  Adam,  Da- 
vid, Betsey,  Ellen,  John,  Jo- 
seph, Wm.  Henry,  Daniel, 
Adam,  Levi,  and  Lydia. 

Of  the  sons,  John  is  at 
present  residing  near  Milan, 
Ohio,  a  well-to-do  farmer. 
Joseph  died  some  years  ago, 
leaving  his  family  a  goodly 
inheritance;  he  was  an  ex- 
cellent man,  strictly  upright, 
and  he  will  ever  be  gratefully 
remembered  by  those  who 
knew  him  well.  Adam  re- 
sides near  Bellevue,  and  has  a 
family  of  three  industrious, 
hard-working  boys  ;  one  of 
them,  William,  the  oldest,  is 
married.  Levi  died,  many 
years  since,  of  typhoid  fever. 
David,  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  was  born  in  Centre 
Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  10,  1810. 

In  1833  he  married  Ke- 
bocca,  daughter  of  Zadok  and 
Kuth  Elliott,  then  residing 
in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  Her 
parents  were  of  English  ori- 
gin, and  settled  in  Maryland 
at  an  early  day. 

Soon  after  his  father's  re- 
moval to  Huron  County,  Da- 
vid came  likewise,  and  settled  near  Hunt's  Corners.  A  few 
years  later  he  removed  to  the  oak  openings  tract,  in  Seneca 
County,  and  engaged  in  the  burning  of  lime.  He  found  it  to 
be  a  profitable  business,  but  in  184.5  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  have  his  house  burned  by  accident,  destroying  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  household  goods,  and  consuming  $500  in 
nionej'. 

This  event  is  fresh  in  the  mind  of  the  writer,  who  was  then 
less  than  three  years  old.  It  was  on  a  Sunday.  He  had  been 
with  his  parents  to  church.  When,  on  returning,  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  house,  and  saw  it  enveloped  in  flames,  he  will  never 
forget  the  look  of  anguish  in  his  mother's  face,  for  her  infant 
child,  hardly  six  months  old,  bad  been  left  at  home  with  the 
nurse,  as  also  her  two  oldest  children,— the  one  ten  and  the  other 
eight  years  of  age.  That  anxious  look  was  indelibly  stamped 
ui>on  the  memory  of  childhood,  as  also  the  sight  of  the  burning 
dwelling,  from  which  smoke  and  flames  were  angrily  leaping, 
and  the  fury  of  speed  with  which  the  horses  were  urged  onward. 
Tlie  mother  arrived  to  find  that  the  babe  had  been  rescued 
from  the  flames  by  the  heroic  act  of  the  hired  man,  just  in 


time  to  save  its  life.  The  subsequent  life  of  Mr.  Williams  wjis, 
for  the  most  part,  that  of  a  well-to-do  farmer.  His  neighbors 
accorded  him  the  praise  of  being  the  most  intelligent  tiller 
of  the  soil  in  his  township, — an  intelligence,  combined  with 
an  indefatigable  industry,  that  resulted  in  keeping  his  fields 
in  most  excellent  condition,  and  in  yielding  him  generous 
returns  for  his  labor. 

His  wife,  and  the  mother  of  his  children  (and  no  mother 
was  fonder  of  her  own  than  was  she),  died  Oct.  6,  1854.  Six 
sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  to  them,  as  follows  :  Daniel 
P.,  April  26,  1835;  Esther  A.,  March  16,  1837  ;  John,  Sept. 
G,  1839;  William  W.,  April  28,  1842;  Hamilton  Z  ,  July  2, 
1844;  Theodore  F.,  Dec.  7,  1846;  Louis  A.,  Jan.  22,  1849; 
and  Kosa  B.,  March  14,  1851. 

Daniel  married  Marj'  J.  Burns,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren,— James  and  Burton.     He  died  Nov.  9,  1862.     Hewasan 
exceptionally  promising  young  man,  a  good  writer,  and  a  for- 
cible speaker.     He  was  a  great  admirer  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
for  whom  he  voted  for  President  in  1860,  and  was  a  delegate 
to     the     Democratic     State 
Convention,held  that  year  at 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  which 
State  he  was  then  a  resident. 
Esther   A.  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Forney,  and  resides  at 
Marshalltown,  Iowa,  where 
she  has  a  pleasant  and  com- 
fortable  home.      She  has  a 
family    of    five   children, — 
four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
John  died  Dec.  14,  1844. 
William   W.   is  the  pub- 
lisher of  this  volume.      He 
married  Susan  C,  daughter 
of  Bourdett  Wood,  of  Belle- 
vue,  Ohio,    April    9,    1868, 
who  died  Nov.  5,  1872.     He 
lias  two  children, — Bourdett 
W.  and  Susan  E. 

Hamilton  Z.  married  Flor- 
ence, daughter  of  Horatio 
Adams,  Sei)t.  12, 1870.  They 
have  two  children. 

Theodore  F.  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  M.  Eck- 
hart.  They  have  three 
children. 

Louis  A.  married  Jessie, 
daughter  of  H.  M.  Sinclair. 
She  died  in  July,  1873.  He 
has  one  child, — Grace. 

The  last  three  named  are 
associated  with  William  W., 
in  the  publication  of  county  histories.     Rosa  B.  married  Mel- 
ville Warner,  of  Wooster,  Ohio.     They  have  one  child. 

Mr.  Williams,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  married  Eliza, 
widow  of  Nathan  Cook,  July  29,  1855.  She  bore  him  one  son, 
—Charles,  born  July  30, 1860,  now  in  the  junior  year  of  Kenyon 
College,  Gambler,  Ohio.  With  Mrs.  Cook's  introduction  into 
the  family  of  Mr.  Williams  came  her  threechildren, — Collins  C, 
now  deputy  postmaster  and  insurance  agent,  Bellevue  ;  James 
D.,  residing  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  he  is  associated  with  his 
wife's  father,  Mr.  W.  R.  Little,  in  the  hardware  business  ;  and 
Ella,  who  became  the  wife  of  E.  J.  Sheffield,  and  died  April  3, 
1876.  She  was  a  lady  of  many  admirable  traits  of  character. 
Mr.  Williams  died  Feb.  18,  1871,  and  his  widow,  Jan.  3,  1879. 
He  gave  to  all  his  children  a  fair  education.  None  of  his  boys 
seemed  inclined  to  follow  his  chosen  avocation  of  farmer,  and 
he  therefore  sold  his  farm,  after  the  marriage  of  the  youngest 
son,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Bellevue.  He  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  whose  support 
he  was  a  liberal  contributor.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  judg- 
ment, strong  convictions,  and  faultless  life. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


385 


by  Calvin  Barnard;  Worthington  took  the  middle 
part,  on  wiiich  he  now  resides,  and  Samuel  the  east 
part,  which  the  family  now  occupy.  Asa  Nims  died 
in  the  year  1840,  and  Mrs.  Nims  in  1847. 

Horatio  Long,  in  1827  or  about  that  time,  pur- 
chased a  few  acres  of  land  on  the  line  between  the 
farms  of  Zadoc  Strong  and  Abner  Nims,  where  he 
settled  and  set  up  a  tannery,  which  he  carried  on  in 
connection  with  shoemaking  for  ten  or  twelve  years, 
when  he  purchased  additional  land  and  afterwards 
established  a  nursery  and  engaged  extensively  in  the 
cultivation  of  fruit. 

Winthrop  Ballard  settled  on  lot  numlier  one,  sec- 
tion two,  in  the  year  1828.  A  family  of  the  name  of 
Markham  had  previously  occupied  the  lot  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Horace  B;dlard  came  about  the  same 
time  and  located  on  lot  number  fourteen,  in  the  third 
section,  having  for  some  time  previous  lived  on  But- 
ternut i-idge. 

John  C.  Kinney  came  in  about  the  year  1828,  and 
built  his  dwelling  near  the  corner  of  lot  number 
eleven,  and  put  up  a  blacksmith  shop  near  the  corner 
of  lot  number  twelve  or  thirteen.  He  subsequently 
sold  to  Martin  Blodgett  and  removed  to  the  corners 
west  of  Stephen  Russell's,  where  he  resided  until 
1835  or  "36,  when  he  sold  to  Ebenezer  Welch. 

In  1830,  M.  N.  Marvin,  from  New  London,  Con- 
necticut, settled  on  lot  number  eleven,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death,  when  the  family  removed  from 
the  township. 

Ralph  and  John  Stults  came  in  the  year  1831,  from 
New  York  State,  and  settled  on  the  Blodgett  place,  lot 
number  ten,  second  section.  A  few  years  after  John 
died  and  Ralph  changed  his  location  to  the  south 
part  of  the  farm,  where  he  afterwards  lived.  He 
died  in  September,  1856.  His  widow  and  three  of 
the  seven  children  are  still  living. 

Dr.  Charles  Smith  came  into  the  township  from 
Granville,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1836.  He  was  formerly 
from  "Westfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born. 
He  married  Mehitabel,  sister  of  John  Seymour,  the 
fruit  of  which  union  was  three  sous,  viz:  Charles,  who 
died  in  infancy;  George  E.,  who  adopted  the  profes- 
sion of  his  father,  and  James  B.,  a  farmer.  Dr. 
Smith  settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Ballard 
lot,  but  owned  additional  land  on  the  north  prairie. 
He  was  a  good  physician,  and  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  public  spirit.  He  died  in  Lyme,  in  March,  1861. 
His  first  wife  died  on  1854,  and  he  subsequently  mar- 
ried the  widow  of  Lemuel  Morse. 

In  1836  or  1837,  Dr.  Otis  Boise  came  from  Cort- 
land county.  New  Y'ork,  and  lived  for  a  number  of 
years  on  the  Ballard  place,  and  practiced  medicine 
awhile  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Charles  Smith.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Oberlin,  where  he  practiced 
his  profession  several  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Lyme  and  took  up  his  residence  on  the  south  part  of 
lot  number  thirteen,  formerly  owned  by  George  Han- 
ford.  In  about  the  year  1858,  he  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, where  he  afterwards  died.    His  widow  now  lives 


with  her  sou  Spencer  W.,  who  sold  the  old  homestead 
to  the  present  owner,  Delos  Eaton,  in  1867  or  '68. 

Ebenezer  Welch  came  in  about  1830,  and  pur- 
chased the  blacksmith  shop  of  John  C.  Kenney.  He 
married  Mary  Hubbell,  daughter  of  Esquire  Hubbell, 
of  Monroeville,  and  bought  a  house  and  lot  south  of 
Russell's  tavern,  which  he  enlarged  and  occupied 
until  his  death,  December  8,  1865.  He  followed  his 
trade  of  blacksmith.  His  wife  sold  the  place  to  Wm. 
Walter  in  1870.  A  part  of  this  house  was  built  by 
Martin  Blanding,  of  Hartford,  Pennsylvania,  in  about 
1828.  He  remained  but  a  short  time,  when  he  sold 
out  and  returned  east. 

Rev.    E.    Conger  came   from   Ridgefield    in   about 

1831,  and  purchased  a  few  acres  on  lot  number  twelve, 
on  which  he  built  a  house.  He  resided  there  until 
1836,  when  he  sold  and  removed  to  Fremont. 

George  Morehead  moved,  from  Harrison  county. 
West  Virginia,  into  the  southern  part  of  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  several  years.     He  came  to  Huron  county  in 

1832,  locating  in  Lyme  township  about  1842.  His 
family  consisted  of  wife  and  one  child,  Mary,  who 
married  Piiilip  Heymaiin,  and  lives  in  Wood  county. 
Mr.  Morehead  located  at  Hunt's  Corners  in  1842.  He 
was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  contracted,  in 
the  swamps,  a  fever  which  rendered  him  a  cripple 
through  life.  He  died  May  2,  1873.  Mrs.  Morehead 
died  in  about  1838.  Two  children  were  born  subsequent 
to  their  locating  in  Huron  county:  Emily,  who  mar- 
I'ied  Joseph  Morris,  and  lives  in  Illinois,  and  Andrew 
J.,  who  is  the  only  son  of  the  family  living  in  the 
township. 

Daniel  Williams  came  to  Ohio,  from  Center  county, 
Pennsylvania,  with  his  family,  in  the  year  1813. 
He  settled  at  Rouseburg,  Wayne  county,  and  re- 
sided there  until  August,  1833,  when  he  removed 
to  Lyme,  and  settled  on  lot  number  two,  where 
Martin  Hayward  now  lives.  He  sold  the  farm  to 
Hayward  in  1855,  after  which  he  and  his  aged  wife 
made  their  home  with  their  son,  John  Williams,  near 
Milan,  and  where  they  died,  he  in  June,  1858,  and  she, 
February,  18C2.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children : 
David,  the  eldest  son,  resided,  for  a  number  of  years, 
in  the  southwest  part  of  section  four,  on  lot  twenty- 
four,  on  which  he  erected  a  substantial  brick  dwelling. 
He  was  residing  in  Bellevue  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  February,  1871.  Adam  Williams,  in  1850,  settled 
on  lot  number  three,  in  the  third  section,  and  still 
resides  there. 

In  1837,  or  about  that  time,  Henry  Hayward  located 
on  lot  number  six,  in  the  fourth  section;  S.  W. 
Standart,  on  number  seven;  Prosper  Twist,  on  eleven, 
and,  at  an  earlier  date,  Needhara  Standart  on  lot 
twelve;  Joseph  Wood  occupied  lot  thirteen. 

Several  families  came  to  Lyme  from  England  in 

1833,  prominent  among  which  was  that  of  Daniel 
Cowle  who  emigrated  from  Devonshire  in  the  fall  of 
the  above  year.  He  located  on  seventy-eight  and  one- 
half  acres  in  lot  three,  section  two.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  wife  and  four  children,  viz:  Hannah,  who 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


married  John  Meginson,  and  lives  in  Lj'me,  on  the 
east  part  of  the  McCurdy  tract;  Samuel,  who  died 
single;  Mary  Ann,  who  also  died  single,  and  Daniel, 
who  married  Abigail  Stebbins,  and  lives  on  the  old 
homestead.  He  has  in  his  possession  some  very 
interesting  family  relics,  among  which  iS  a  sabre  of 
fine  workmanship,  which  his  father  carried  in  the 
French  wars.  Mr.  Cowle  died  December  2d,  1858, 
aged  seventy-three.     Mrs.  Cowle  died  in  about  1849. 

John  Bragg  arrived  about  the  same  time,  and  set- 
tled on  number  four  in  the  same  section.  John 
Lewis,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  occupied  for  several 
years  a  house  of  Wiuthrop  Ballard  on  the  ridge, 
south  of  the  road,  where  he'  died,  and  his  family  re- 
moved to  the  Gurdon  Woodward  place — lot  number 
nine  in  the  fourth  section.  The  children  were: 
"William,  John,  Irwin,  Richard  and  Libby,  the  most 
of  whom  were  remarkable  for  their  talents  as  mus- 
ciaus,  William  having  been,  for  years,  one  of  the  most 
noted  violinists  in  the  United  States. 

George  Richey  came  about  the  same  time  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  on  lot  four  in  section  two. 

John  Wright  came  from  England  in  1833,  and 
worked  for  some  time  for  William  Holtou,  Richard 
Woolway  and  Stephen  Russell.  He  purchased  land 
in  Groton,  on  the  old  Sandusky  road,  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  north  of  the  ridge,  and  entered  largely  into 
farming.  He  purchased  much  land,  and  accumulated 
property  very  fast.  He  married  Betsey  Foi-d,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Mary  Ford,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children.  Three  died  in  childhood,  and  seven — three 
daughters  and  four  sons  are  still  living:  Alfred, 
Josephine,  Eliza,  Emma,  Aubery,  Hubert  and  George 
A.  Alfred  married  Mary  Ann  Meginson,  and  lives 
on  the  old  homestead;  Josephine  married  William 
Xims;  Eliza  married  Frederick  B.  Russell,  and  lives 
in  Plymouth;  Emma  is  married,  and  resides  in 
Toledo.  Mr.  Wright,  some  years  since,  bought  the 
Winthrop  Ballard  farm  on  which  he  moved  with  his 
family.  No  man  in  the  township  has  had  a  more  suc- 
cessful career.  His  indomitable  perseverance,  united 
with  rare  judgment,  has  assisted  him  in  amassing  a 
handsome  property.  His  lauds  of  which  he  owns 
nearly  twenty-five  hundred  acres,  lie  mostly  in  Erie 
county,  and  are  for  the  most  part  of  unsurpassed 
fertility,  especially  adapted  to  the  growing  of  corn. 

James  Ford,  a  Protestant  Methodist  preaoher,  came 
from  England  in  1833  and  purchased  the  Ferguson 
farm,  lot  number  four,  fourth  section  of  Groton.  He 
died  soon  after,  leaving  the  money  for  the  payment- 
of  the  farm  on  deposit  in  a  bank  in  New  York  city. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  woman  of  much  energy  of  char- 
acter, subsequently  obtained  the  money  and  paid  for 
the  farm,  settled  the  estate  of  her  deceased  husband, 
and  so  managed  as  to  raise  a  family  of  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  became  useful  members  of  society.  Mrs. 
Ford  died  February  19,  1870. 

In  1833,  H.  R.  Jerome  settled  on  lot  number  two, 
in  the  second  section.  He  finally  removed  to  Michi- 
gan.    Ranar  Knox  came  soon  after,  and  purchased 


the  Hanford  jilace,  where  he  resided  until  his  removal 
to  Missouri. 

Barney  Campbell,  brother  of  John  K.,  settled  on 
lot  number  eleven,  which  had  previously  been  pur- 
chased by  Silva  and  Frith.  Subsequently,  Dr.  B.  G. 
Rushton  settled  on  the  lot,  and  occupied  it  until  his 
death. 

Alfred  Stebbins  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  but 
lived  for  son?e  time  in  Gorham  township,  Ontario 
county,  Xew  York.  There  he  was  married,  February 
13,  1831,  to  Eliza  Fanning.  Early  in  May,  1835,  he 
came  to  Clarksfield,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  until  fall,  living  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
widow  Harland  and  her  sons.  In  the  fall  he  came  to 
Lyme,  and  lived  at  a  number  of  places  on  Strong's 
ridge,  first  buying  a  small  piece  of  ground,  upon  which 
he  built  a  house.  This  he  exchanged  for  fifty  acres 
of  land  now  owned  by  Mrs.  William  Holton.  In 
1838.  after  various  changes,  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  lot  twenty-three,  upon  which  he 
permanently  settled.  He  afterwards  purchased  four 
acres  adjoining,  upon  which  be  erected  the  fine  brick 
residence  where  he  now  resides.  One  child,  Calista, 
was  born  previous  to  his  coming  to  Ohio.  She  married 
Delos  Eaton,  and  now  lives  in  Lyme.  After  he  came 
to  Ohio,  three  children,  that  are  still  living,  were  born: 
Julia  L.,  ma^'ried  S.  E.  Nims;  Cornelia  married 
Samuel  Stevens,  and  Sabra  married  David  B.  Nims. 
All  are  now  residents  of  Lyme.  While  living  in 
Clarksfield,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stebbins  were  attacked  by 
wolves,  when  on  their  way  to  church,  but  succeeded 
in  keeping  them  at  bay,  and  arrived  at  their  destina- 
tion in  safety. 

Mr.  Stebbens  owns  one  of  the  finest  farm  residences 
in  the  township.  He  is  a  man  widely  and  favorably 
known,  and  is  esteemed  highest  by  those  who  know 
him  best. 

Horatio  S.  Todd  and  his  widowed  mother  (who 
was  a  sister  of  the  Strongs),  with  two  or  three  daugh- 
ters, came  from  Cortland  county.  New  York,  about 
the  year  1835.  He  purchased  of  Jacob  Goodrich  a 
part  of  lot  fifteen  in  the  third  section,  the  same  now 
occupied  by  E.  W.  Boise,  and  resided  there  until  his 
death. 

Roswell  Stebbins,  also  from  Cortland  county,  New 
York,  arrived  soon  after  Mr.  Todd,  and  purchased  a 
portion  of  the  same  lot,  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
death.     His  son  Almeron  now  lives  on  the  place. 

N.  C.  Monroe  purchased  a  part  of  lot  eleven,  about 
1836,  and  resided  there  until  about  1865,  when  he 
sold  to  J.  D.  Collins  and  removed  to  Michigan. 

James  D.  Collins,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  came 
from  Ashtabula  county  in  about  18'44,  and  purchased 
near  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  number  twelve,  and 
built  a  house  in  the  grove  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road.  He  also  built  a  shop  near  by.  He  married 
Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Francis  Strong.  She  lived 
but  a  short  time  and  died  childless.  He  then  married 
Maria  Welister,  and  has  since  had  three  children,  a 
son  and  two  daughters.     The  son,  Albert,  was  killeil 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


387 


by  lightning  when  he  was  about  twenty  years  old,  in 
a  barn  at  Enterprise,  in  which  he  had  taken  shelter 
from  a  thunder  shower.  The  daugliters,  Maria  and 
Jane,  are  still  living. 

The  Joseph  Russell  house  was  built  by  Moses  Bemiss; 
another  house  then  stood  between  the  Welsh  and 
Bemiss'  houses.  These  places  have  often  changed 
occupants,  Joshua  Ballard,  Prosper  Cravath,  C.  B. 
Smith,  Eber  Rathburn  and  David  Claston,  were 
among  them.  Smith  and  Rathburn  occupied  them 
for  several  years,  and  used  the  old  store  on  the  corner 
for  a  wagon  shop.  Moses  Bemiss  bought  the  Smith 
place  and  built  a  house,  and  also  built  a  joiner  shop 
on  the  southwest  part  of  hii  lot,  which  he  occupied 
several  years  and  sold  to  I.  S.  Russell. 

The  lot  next  west  of  R.  B.  Russell's,  on  the  oppo 
site  side,  was  sold  by  Mr.  Russell  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  society,  for  a  parsonage  lot,  in  1841.  A 
house  and  barn  were  built  that  year,  and  have  since 
been  used  by  the  pastors  of  that  church.  The  lots 
next  west,  afterwards  owned  by  Wm.  Houle  aud  Dr. 
Harcy,  were  purchased  of  Stephen  Russell,  by  David 
and  Hiram  Root,  about  1827.  The  first  building 
erected  was  built  by  the  Roots  for  drying  hemp,  and 
the  next  one  for  a  treading  mill  and  hemp  manufac- 
tory. For  a  time  the  hemp  business  excited  consid- 
erable interest,  but  soon  failed,  and  the  Roots  sold  to 
Colonel  James  Smith  and  went  south.  Colonel  Smith 
fitted  up  the  drpng  house  for  a  dwelling,  aud  after- 
ward sold  it  to  Alexander  Taylor,  and  purchased  a 
farm  in  Ridgefield. 

Mr.  Babcock  purchased  a  lot  on  the  south  line  of 
Stephen  Russell's  land,  east  of  the  turnpike,  where 
he  remained  but  a  short  time.  The  house  was  after- 
wards occupied  by  Gideon  T.  Mallory,  I.  I.  Fiilkerson, 
Benjamin  Morris,  and  others. 

FIRST     EVENTS. 

Mary  Ann  Strong,  daughter  of  Francis  and  Mary 
Curtis  Strong,  was  the  first  child  boi'n  in  the  town- 
ship. The  date  of  her  birth  was  August  3,  1817. 
She  became  the  wife  of  Isaac  D.  Collins  in  18-10,  and 
died  a  short  time  afterwards.  The  pioneer  nuptials 
were  those  of  Burwell  Fitch  and  Susan  Hawks,  cele- 
brated in  the  winter  of  1816  and  1817.  They  settled 
in  Sherman  township,  where  they  resided  until  their 
death.  The  next  marriage  was  that  of  Ira  Bassett 
and  Polly  Hand,  which  took  place  in  the  spring  of 
1817.  Miss  Polly  had  previously  engaged  to  marry 
Burwell  Fitch,  and,  in  fulfillment  of  the  contract, 
accompanied  him  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  at  Huron. 
But  she  had  made  a  confession  to  a  friend  that  she 
did  not  love  her  betrothed,  and  that  her  promise  to 
marry  him  was  due  to  undue  persuasion  by  friends. 
The  friend  to  whom  she  confided  her  secret  took  occa- 
sion to  inform  the  justice  concerning  the  matter,  and 
when  the  party  appeared  before  him,  he  questioned 
them  apart  as  to  their  willingness  to  enter  into  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony,  one  with  the  other.  Fitch, 
like   Barkis,   was   willin',  but,  on  learning  that  his 


aflBanced  regarded  the  proposed  relation  with  repug- 
nance, which  she  frankly  confessed  to  the  magistrate, 
wisely  released  her  from  the  promise.  Undaunted  by 
the  failure  of  his  fii-st  enterprise  in  this  direction,  he 
immediately  laid  siege  to  the  heart  of  Susan  Hawks, 
with  the  result  above  stated. 

The  first  building  erected  was  the  log  dwelling  of 
Conrad  Hawks,  built  in  1808.  The  first  frame  house 
was  erected  by  Colonel  Nathan  Strong,  in  the  year 
1817,  on  the  Bemiss  place.  The  first  brick  dwellings 
were  those  of  John  F.  Adams  and  Horatio  Long, 
built  in  1827. 

ORGAXIZATIOX. 

Prior  to  1816,  the  township  was  attached  to  Ridge- 
field for  election  purposes.  Ridgefield  was  formed  in 
1815,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  and 
was  made  to  include,  in  addition  to  its  own  territory, 
and  the  present  townships  of  Lyme,  the  south  half  of 
Oxford,  together  with  the  township  of  Sherman.  In 
1816  the  north  half  of  the  township  was  annexed  to 
Whoatsborough.  In  1818  the  south  half  was  so  an- 
nexed. Wheatsborough  included  a  large  part  of 
Groton  also.  In  1819  the  name  was  changed  to  Lyme, 
and  on  the  third  day  of  April,  1820,  a  I'egular  meet- 
ing of  the  electors  of  Lyme  was  held  at  the  school 
house  in  the  Strong  settlement,  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  township  officers.  The  following  were  elected: 
James  Hamilton  and  George  Sheffield,  justices  of  the 
peace;  Stephen  Russell,  township  clerk;  Nathan 
Strong,  Gurdon  Williams  and  Chester  Hamilton, 
trustees;  Joseph  Strong  and  Zadock  Strong,  overseers 
of  the  poor;  Joseph  Strong  and  James  Hamilton, 
fence  viewers;  Gurdon  Williams,  lister;  Gurdon  Wil- 
liams and  Chester  Hamilton,  appraisers  of  property; 
Lester  Strong,  Joseph  Kinney,  Gurdon  Woodward  and 
Levi  Sutton,  supervisors  of  highways;  Gurdon  Wil- 
liams and  Chester  Hamilton,  constables;  Francis 
Strong,  treasurer. 

Chester  Hamilton  did  not  ajjpear  to  be  duly  quali- 
fied within  the  time  prescribed  bylaw,  and  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  trustees,  held  June  3,  1820,  John  F.  Ad- 
ams was  appointed  in  his  ijlace. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  township  trustees,  held  March 
5,  1824,  Mark  Hopkins,  George  ShefBeld,  and  Ira 
Bassett  were  appointed  grand  jurors,  and  Abner 
Strong  and  Charles  Rash,  petit  jurors. 

At  the  regular  election  held  April  5,  1S24,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  township  officers,  thirty-three 
qualified  electors  w'ore  present.  At  this  time  it  was 
voted  that  the  supervisors  request  those  subject  to  poll 
tax  to  woi"k  two  days  extra  in  draining  the  prairies 
for  the  preservation  of  health.  Also,  that  the  super- 
visor should  solicit  subscriptions  from  nonresident 
land-holders  for  this  purpose. 

At  the  fall  election,  held  October  11,  1825,  fift}-- 
two  electors  were  present.  At  this  time  Ebenezer 
Merry  had  fifty  votes  for  senator  in  the  State  legisla- 
ture, and  Eleutheros  Cook  had  fifty  votes  for  rcpresen- 
tative. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


All  adjourned  meeting  of  the  trustees  was  held 
July  23,  1S26,  at  which  the  Job  of  building  a  bridge 
across  the  deep  run  brook  was  let,  and  turnpiking.  in- 
cluding said  bridge,  six  rods,  the  same  to  be  raised 
eighteen  inches  above  the  surface  of  the  ground;  the 
bridge  to  be  twelve  feet  long  and  sixteen  feet  wide;  the 
whole  to  be  completed  by  the  loth  of  October,  1826. 
The  work  was  let  to  Levi  Sutton  for  the  sum  of  five 
dollars,  sixty-two  and  one-half  cents. 

There  were  jJresent  at  the  October  election,  1826, 
fifty-eight  voters.  Alexander  Campbell  received  the 
full  number  of  votes  cast,  for  governor.  Eleutheros 
Cook  received  fifty-seven  votes  for  representative  in 
congress.  David  Campbell  had  fifty-seven  votes  for 
State  representative. 

The  township  officers  for  ]879  are:  A.  Morehead 
and  E.  0.  Merry,  justices  of  the  peace;  Charles  D.. 
Smith,  clei-k;  John  S.  Wise,  Daniel  Cowle  and 
Charles  Sawyer,  trustees;  E.  L.  Dole,  treasurer;  E. 
0.  Merry,  assessor;  Jerry  De  Witt  and  John  Demp- 
sey,  constables. 

CHURCHES. 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  first  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lyme  was  organ- 
ized in  Jul}',  1817,  by  Revs.  John  Seward,  John 
Treat  and  Alvin  Coe,  missionaries  from  Connecticut, 
as  a  committee  sent  by  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  river. 
They  came  about  one  hundred  miles  through  the 
woods  for  that  purpose. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Francis 
Strong,  July  15,  1817,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Treat.  The 
following  persons  were  examined  and  approved: 
Susannah  Baker,  Phebe  Root,  Dinah  Strong,  Anna 
Ferguson  and  Anna  Silvey.  The  meeting  adjourned 
till  the  ITth  of  July,  when  John  Baker,  Francis 
Strong,  Wm.  Richey,  Wm.  Ferguson  and  Jacob  Good- 
rich, were  also  examined.  These  persons,  with  the 
exception  of  Anna  Silvey,  who  was  ijot  present  at  this 
meeting,  subscribed  to  the  articles  of  faith  and  cove- 
nant presented  by  the  Grand  Rfver  Presbytery.  After 
divine  services,  the  chui-ch  held  a  meeting  at  which  a 
constitution  and  articles  of  faith  were  adopted.  They 
then  made  choice  of  John  Baker  as  moderator,  Jacob 
Goodrich,  clerk,  and  Wm.  Richey  and  Francis  Strong, 
as  standing  committee. 

From  the  formation  of  the  church,  in  July,  1817, 
they  met  in  the  log  school  house,  with  very  little 
preaching,  until  1820,  when  Lott  B.  Sullivan,  a  can- 
didate for  the  ministry,  came  among  them,  and  was 
employed  temporarily.  On  the  39th  of  March,  the 
cluirch  and  society  gave  him  a  call  to  settle  with  them 
as  pastor.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  June  14th,  of  the  same  year.  During 
his  pastorate  of  about  three  years,  fourteen  members 
were  added  to  the  church.  For  the  two  years  follow- 
ing his  departure,  there  was  no  regular  preaching. 
Sabbath  school  and  day  schools  were  established. 


In  the  spring  of  1824,  Rev.  Enoch  Conger,  from 
Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  came  to  the 
county,  and  located  at  New  Haven  and  Greenfield, 
and,  in  the  summer  of  that  year,  Rev.  John  Beach 
came  and  located  in  Lyme  and  Peru.  Mr.  Beach 
preached  one-fourth  the  time  at  the  log  school  house 
in  Lyme.  His  family  lived  in  Peru,  wjiere  he  labored 
one  half  of  the  time.  The  remainder  of  the  time  he 
preached  in  the  framed  school  house,  at  Cook's 
Corners. 

The  people  of  Lyme  and  Ridgefield  were  desirous 
of  having  a  minister  all  the  time  and  made  application 
to  both  Mr.  Beach  and  Mr.  Conger  to  settle  with 
them,  leaving  the  matter  with  the  two  ministers  to 
decide  which  should  come.  Mr.  Conger  accepted 
the  call  and  commenced  his  labors  in  October,  182G. 
He  continued  as  pastor  nine  years,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Randolph  Stone,  who  labored  with  the 
church  six  months.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Xeno- 
phon  Betts,  who  remained  about  three  and  one-fourth 
years.  In  April,  ISil,  Rev.  S.  W.  Barritt  succeeded 
him;  he  remained  about  four  and  one-half  years,  and 
was  followed  by  Rev.  H.  N.  Bissell,  in  November, 
184.5.  Mr.  Bissell  continued  in  charge  eight  and 
one-half  years,  and  was  succeeded,  in  July,  1854,  by 
Rev.  Theophilus  Packard,  who  remained  its  jDastor 
about  one  and  one-half  years.  In  January,  1S56, 
Rev.  E.  B.  Gilbert  came.  He  was  followed  by  Rev. 
J.  B.  Sheldon,  both  of  whom  served  one  and  one- 
half  years.  Rev.  E.  D.  Smith  came  in  January, 
1860,  and  remained  three  years.  He  was  succeeded. 
May  25, 1864,  by  Rev.  W.  T.  Hart,  the  present  pastor. 

In  1870-71,  dissensions  arose  in  the  church,  which 
finally,  by  vote,  in  1872,  withdrew  from  the  Presby- 
tery, and  united  with  the  Congregatioualists,  at  the 
same  time  changing  their  name. 

Tlie  log  school  and  meeting  house  was  built  in 
1818,  and  the  first  brick  school  house  in  1828,  at  a 
cost  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  church 
was  built  in  1835,  and  cost  two  thousand  and  six 
hundred  dollars.  The  parsonage  and  outbuildings 
cost  one  thousand  dollars. 

From  1817  until  1870,  there  were  received  into  the 
church  three  hundred  and  ninety-seven  members. 
One  hundred  and  j^hirty-eight  have  died,  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  have  been  dismissed.  Some 
have  wandered  off.  The  total  membership  in  1870 
was  eighty-nine.  Since  that  time  sixtj--one  have  been 
received  into  the  church. 

TRINITY    PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

Trinity  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  organized 
September,  1836.  The  constituent  members  were: 
Amos  Woodward  and  wife,  Rachel;  Stephen  Sawyer  and 
wife,  Dorothy:  Mary  Arlington,  James  Sawyer,  Mat- 
thew Marvin  and  wife,  Sarah,  Joseph  Wood  and 
wife,  Jonathan  Prentiss;  Mrs.  Julia  Ann  McCurdy, 
and  possibly,  others  whose  names  are  forgotten. 
The  first  services  were  held  as  early  as  1822,  in  one 
room  of  the  liouse  of  Amos  Woodward,  who  read  tlie 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


service,  as  appointed  in  the  Prayer  Book.  There 
were  but  four  communicants  in  the  township  at 
that  time.  On  February  16,  1833,  Rev.  John  P. 
Bosman  held  service  in  the  house  of  Richard  L.  Mc- 
Curdy.  In  January,  1836,  Rev.  E.  Punderson  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  parish,  and  preached  every  third 
Sunday  in  the  school  house,  where  the  church  was 
organized,  and  where  meetings  were  held  until  the 
erection  of  the  first  church  in  1846,  ou  ground  given 
by  R.  L.  McCui-dy.  This  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
present  ohe,  and  cost  some  one  thousand  two  hundred 
dollars.  It  was  first  occupied  ou  Christmas  Da}-, 
1846.  In  the  February  following,  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  Work  was  begun  soon  after,  on  a  new  church 
which  was  partly  completed,  and  first  occupied  on 
Christmas,  1847.  This  cost  about  one  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars.  The  Rev.  J.  Rice  Taylor,  of  Milan, 
preached  the  first  sermon.  Rev.  Mr.  Punderson  re- 
mained in  charge  four  years,  when  he  went  away,  and 
was  gone  one  year.  He  then  returned  and  located  in 
Bellevue,  preaching  in  this  parish  until  1847.  Since 
that  time  the  following  clergymen  Jiave  officiated: 
Rev.  H.  Powers,  three  months;  Abram  Bronson,  six 
montlis;  Rodolphus  K.  Nash,  two  years;  George  S. 
Davis,  two  j^ears;  Moses  Hamilton,  twelve  years;  De 
Witt  C.  Howard,  two  years,  and  Jeremiah  Karcher, 
five  years,  and  is  the  present  rector  and  resident  at 
Monroeville. 

The  officers  on  organization  were:  Amos  Woodwai'd, 
senior  warden,  and  Stephen  Sawyer,  junior  warden; 
Gurdon  Woodward,  Matthew  Marvin,  Jonathan 
Prentiss,  George  Frith  and  James  Sawyer,  vestrymen. 
The  present  wardens  are :  Edwin  Prentiss,  senior 
warden  and  Sylvanus  Mallett,  junior  warden. 

EARLY    INDUSTRIAL    PURSUITS. 

In  1818,  Asaph,  Erastus  and  Israel  Cook  came  with 
their  father,  who  settled  at  Cook's  corners,  near  the 
eastern  line  of  Lyme.  They  built  a  large  treading 
mill  and  dry  house  for  dressing  and  cleaning  hemp 
without  rotting.  TJiis  business  excited  considerable 
interest  and  was  expected  to  prove  profitable  to  the 
owners  and  the  community.  Smaller  mills  were  erected 
at  Monroeville,  and  at  other  points,  one  by  Horace 
Johnson,  one  by  David  Root,  and  others.  The  hemp 
was  at  first  thought  to  be  as  strong  as  the  best  Rus- 
sian hemp,  and  commanded  about  the  same  price; 
but,  by  experience  in  using,  it  was  found  that  it 
would  not  bear  friction  when  dry,  and,  when  wet, 
rope  made  from  it  became  loose  and  spongy,  and 
could  not  be  used  as  cordage  for  vessels.  The  price 
fell  and  the  market  failed  entirely,  many  who  en- 
gaged in  it  suffering  loss  and  disappointment. 

In  1817,  Gurdon  Williams  came  as  a  peddler  from 
Connecticut.  He  was  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  Lyme  township.  In  1822  or  '23,  he  brought  on  a 
stock  of  goods  and  opened  a  store  in  a  log  building 
near  the  south  line  of  the  township,  in  the  southwest 
part,  where  he  continued  in  business  about  eight 
years,  in  the  meantime  improving  his  property.     He 


afterwards  sold  out  and  became  a  wholesale  dealer  in 
salt  at  Syracuse,  New  York. 

In  early  days,  goods  came  from  Buffalo  to  Huron 
in  vessels  during  the  summer,  and,  in  the  winter^  by 
land  in  wagons.  Articles  in  use  then  brought  high 
prices.  Whisky  was  made  in  the  country,  and  sold 
for  two  shillings  per  gallon;  salt  was  five  dollars  per 
barrel;  tea,  fourteen  to  sixteen  shillings  per  pound; 
calico  and  sheeting,  five  shillings  per3'ard;  axes,  three 
dollars  each;  hoes,  nine  shillings;  nails,  one  shilling 
and  sixpence  to  two  shillings  and  sixpence  per  i^ound. 

Goods  were  sold  on  the  ridge  about  1823,  but  the 
first  regular  store  opened  there  was  in  1827,  by  Strong 
&  Boise.  It  was  located  near  the  house  of  R.  B. 
Russell.  They  continued  in  business  one  year  and 
sold  to  Nathaniel  Markham.  He  built  a  frame  store 
at  RusselFs  corner  and  continued  in  trade  several 
years.  J.  K.  Campbell,  L.  Strong  and  others  con- 
tinued the  business  for  a  number  of  years,  but  the 
trade  finally  centered  at  Bellevue. 

Some  time  about  1823,  Romeo  Bassett,  who  owned 
a  farm  iu  the  southeast  part  of  the  townsliip,  mort- 
gaged his  property  for  a  stock  of  goods,  and  opened  a 
store,  having  as  clerk  or  partner  Richard  R.  Sutton. 
He  failed  in  business,  and  soon  died. 

Lyman  E.  Strong  and  Levitt  Boise  brought  a  stock 
of  goods  to  Lyme  about  1828,  after  the  opening  of 
the  Sandusky  and  Colnmbus  pike,  and  opened  a  store 
in  a  log  house  belonging  to  Mr.  Russell,  on  or  near 
the  ridge.  Later  they  built  a  store  north  of  the  ridge 
road,  and  opposite  Abner  Strong's  tavern,  ndiich  they 
occupied  for  a  short  time,  when  they  sold  to  Nathan- 
iel Needham.  After  a  few  j-ears  he  sold  to  Lyman 
Strong  and  De  Witt  Ballard,  who  continued  the  busi- 
ness two  or  three  years  and  then  closed  out.  The 
store  room  was  afterwards  occupied  as  a  wagon  shop, 
and  for  other  business. 

Pelatiah  Strong,  son  of  Abner  Strong,  exchanged 
his  farm  for  a  stock  of  goods  and  opened  them  iu  a 
store  built  by  John  C.  Kinney,  near  his  blacksmith 
shop,  but  continued  in  trade  only  a  short  time,  when 
he  sold  to  I.  and  T.  West.  This  store  changed  hands 
several  times,  and  was  finally  closed  and  converted 
into  a  dwelling  house. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  built  in  tlie  south  part  of  tlie 
township  on  Friuk  run  by  Levi  Sutton,  iu  1814  or 
1815.  Another  saw  mill  was  built  about  1830,  on  a 
creek  which  drains  the  prairies  in  the  west  part  of 
the  township  in  Bellevue.  It  was  afterwards  used 
for  a  brewer}",  and  is  now  a  part  of  the  distillery  of 
Chapman  and  Woodward. 

A  tannery  was  built  about  1827,  by  Horatio  Long, 
on  a  few  acres  of  land  purchased  by  him  near  the  line 
of  Abner  Nims  andZadoc  Strong.  He  carried  on  the 
business  of  tanning  and  shoemaking  some  ten  or 
twelve  years,  when  lie  discontinued  the  business  and 
became  a  farmer. 

John  C.  Kinney  came  to  Lyme  about  1828,  and 
opened  a  blacivsmith  shop  near  the  corner  of  lot  twelve 
or  thirteen.     He  afterwards  sold  to  Martin  Blodgett. 


390 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


BELLEVUE. 


ITS    LOCATION. 


About  one  half  of  the  viHage  lies  in  Huron,  and  the 
otlier  one  half  in  Sandusky  county.  The  county 
line  road,  or  that  part  of  it  lying  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  village,  being  called  West  street,  divides 
the  town  into  nearly  equal  divisions.  The  center  of 
this  road  is  the  western  limit  of  the  Fire-lands  and  of 
the  Western  Reserve.  The  eastern  half  of  Bellevue 
is  situated  in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  Lyme 
township,  and  the  western  half  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  York  township,  Sandusky  county.  The  south- 
western corner  of  Erie  county,  and  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  Seneca  county,  lie  adjoining  the  extreme  north- 
east and  southwest  limits  of  the  village.  The  town  is 
situated  on  the  southern  branch  of  the  Toledo  and 
Cleveland  division  of  the  Lake  Shore  railroad. 


The  post  office  was  first  known  as  York  X  Roads, 
and  the  village  was  called  Amsden's  C'ornei's,  in  honor 
of  T.  G.  Amsden,  its  first  merchant.  It  continued  to 
be  so  known  until  the  year  1839,  when,  upon  the 
completion  of  the  Mad  River  and  Lake  Erie  railroad 
to  this  point,  it  was  changed  to  Bellevue.  The  pre- 
vailing opinion  among  old  settlers  is  that  it  was  so 
named  in  honor  of  James  H.  Bell,  the  civil  engineer 
who  surveyed  the  route  through  this  place  for  the 
Mad  River  road.  Some,  however,  claim  that  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  road,  and  the  chief  residents  of  the 
town  agreed  upon  the  name  of  Bellevue,  because  the 
signification  of  the  word  made  it  an  appropriate  name 
for  the  village,  which,  by  reason  of  its  location  and 
surroundings  well  merited  a  name  which  means  "  a 
beautiful  view."  At  all  events  the  name  has  a  musi- 
cal ring,  and  no  resident  of  the  place  can  regret  that 
it  was  so  called. 

ITS   FIKST   SETTLERS. 

The  year  181.5  marks  the  date  when  Mr.  Mark 
Hopkins,  the  first  settler  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  Bellevue  as  now  established,  came  to  this  locality. 
He  came  hither  with  his  family  and  accompanied  by 
a  bachelor  brother,  from  Genessee  county,  New  York, 
and  built  a  log  house  on  land  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Peter  Bates. 

Elnathan  George,  from  the  same  place,  was  the 
next  settler.  He  purchased  one  acre  of  land  embrac- 
ing, with  other  contiguous  ground,  the  lot  whereon 
now  stands  the  Tremont  House.  He  gave  a  cow  m 
excliange  for  his  purchase.  Here  was  built  by  Mr. 
George  the  second  building  of  the  town,  in  the  year 
1816.  In  the  following  year  he  built  an  addition  to 
his  dwelling  and  opened  his  house  as  a  tavern. 

The  third  new-comer  was  Returu  Burlingsoii,  who 
selected  land  on  the  Sandusky  county  side,  and  in  the 
year  1817  built  him  a  log  dwelling,  and  started  a 
blacksmith  shop.    His  purchase  comprised  what  is  now 


known  as  the  Herl  property.  Mr.  Burlingson  was  a 
resident  of  Bellevue  for  many  years,  but  finally  left 
for  California. 

In  the  year  1819  Mr.  John  C.  Kinney  completed  a 
log  house  near  the  present  site  of  the  Bellevue  bank 
building. 

This  year,  1819,  marks  the  date  of  the  arrival  of 
two  very  important  new-comers — men  who  were  iden- 
tified with  the  history  of  our  village,  and  to  whom, 
more  than  any  other  two  men,  was  it  indebted  for  its 
prosperity.  These  men  were  Thomas  G.  Amsden  and 
Frederick  A.  Chapman.  The  Chapmans  came  first 
to  Ohio  in  1814,  soon  followed  by  Mr.  Amsden,  and, 
establishing  their  headquarters  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Huron  river,  carried  on  a  very  successful  traffic  with 
the  Indians,  exchanging  with  them  goods  and  articles 
of  which  the  red  men  stood  in  need,  for  pelts  and  furs. 
Besides  trading  with  the  Indians,  they  were  engaged 
in  hunting  and  trapping.  They  were  daring  and  in- 
trepid, full  of  push  and  energy,  with  excellent  busi- 
ness abilities,  and  though  they  were  young  men,  they 
accumulated  considerable  means  for  those  days. 
Mr.  Chapman's  father  and  brother  followed  him 
to  Ohio  in  a  year  or  two  after  his  own  arrival  and 
settled  at  or  near  the  present  town  of  Huron,  in  Erie 
county.  In  1819  Mr.  Amsden  and  Mr.  Chapman 
came  to  this  locality  and  began  the  purchase  of  prop- 
erty at  this  point,  and  did  all  in  their  power  to  attract 
settlers  hither. 

However,  they  continued  their  traffic  with  tlie  In- 
dians and  Frencli,  and  for  two  years  Mr.  Amsdeu 
made  his  headquarters  at  Carrion  river,  now  Port 
Clinton.  In  1821  he  established  himself  at  Detroit, 
and  during  the  latter  part  of  1833  he  carried  on  a 
mercantile  business  at  Green  Bay  for  Mr.  Daniel 
Whitney.  In  1833  he  returned  to  this  locality.  He 
brought  with  him  a  stock  of  goods  belonging  to  Mr. 
Whitney,  and  opened  the  first  store  at  this  point  in 
N-evember,  1833.  This  was  Bellevue's  pioneer  store, 
and  the  business  was  carried  on  in  the  building  erect- 
ed by  Mr.  Burlingson,  which  stood  on  ground  now 
occupied  by  the  town  hall.  In  1835  he  formed  a  co- 
partnership with  Mr.  Chapman,  and  the  firm  pur- 
chased the  stock  of  goods  of  Mr.  Whitney.  They 
opened  a  store  at  the  same  time  at  Castalia,  Mr. 
Chapman  taking  charge  of  the  business  at  that  point, 
and  Mr.  Amsdeu  of  the  business  at  this  point.  It 
was  at  this  time  that  the  village  received  its  name  of 
"Amsden's  Coiners." 

In  the  meantime  Charles  F.  Drake  had  settled  here, 
and. in  the  year  1823  purchased  of  the  government 
the  east  one-half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
twenty-five  of  what  now  is  York  township,  emln-acing 
the  greater  part  of  the  present  village  on  the  Sandusky 
county  side,  and  in  1833  Captain  Zadoc  Strong  en- 
tered for  Dr.  James  Strong  the  eighty  acres  next  west. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Chapman  was  among  the  first  citi- 
zens of  the  place.  Like  his  brother,  he  had  traded 
witii  the  Indians,  and  when  he  aiTived  here  for  the 
purpose  of  making  this  his  home,  he  had  some  means. 


THOMAS   G.  AMSDEN. 


There  is,  perhaps,  no  name  more  familiar  to  the  older  residents  of  Bcllevuo 
than  that  of  Amsdcn,  the  place  having  first  been  called  "Amsden's  Cor- 
ners," from  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  opened  here  the  first  store,  in  the 
fall  of  1823. 

On  first  coming  to  this  county,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  ISIO,  Mr. 
Amsdcn  became  associated  with  F.  A.  Chapman  and  one  or  two  brothers  of 
the  latter  (who  had  immigrated  to  Ohio  a  little  before)  in  the  perilous  but 
strangely  attractive  business  of  hunting,  trapping,  and  trading  with  the 
Indians.  They  extended  their  operations  as  far  west  as  Detroit,  Maclvinaw, 
and  Green  Bay.  The  adventures  experienced  by  these  young  men  (who 
were  hardly  more  than  boys  at  the  time),  if  properly  written  out,  would 
form  a  volume  of  romance  full  of  thrilling  interest.  We  have  space  for 
only  one  incident,  which  had  a  sad  and  tragic  termination  for  one  of  the 
party.  In  after-years  it  was  often  related  to  their  friends  by  the  two  sur- 
vivors, and  has  been  put  on  record  by  a  local  chronicler.     (See  A'ote.) 

Mr.  Amsden,  F.  A.  Chapman,  and  his  younger  brother  were  at  one  time 
carrying  on  their  operations  near  Detroit  and  in  Canada,  along  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Erie.  They  had  secured  a  valuable  pack  of  furs,  which 
tempted  the  cupidity  of  the  Indians,  by  whom  they  were  waylaid,  robbed, 
lid  taken  prisoners.     Of  course,  they  watched  every  opportunity  to  i 


re  less  than  usually  vi^^il  mt, 

the  cords  with  which  the\ 
.  the  least  noise,  they  wtre  ob 


who  took  a  time  when  the  Indians 
assisted  the  boys  to  escape  by  untyi 
bound.  It  was  midwinter,  and,  to  av 
to  remove  their  shoes  and  start  in 
their  stocking-feet.  The  Indians  soon 
discovered  their  escape,  and  made 
after  them.  Then  commenced  a  race 
for  life.  The  redskins  overtook  the 
younger  Chapman,  who  was  never 
afterward  heard  from,  and  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  killed.  Ams- 
dcn and  the  other  Chapman  made 
for  the  lake.  It  being  frozen  over, 
they  struck  across  for  the  opposite 
shore.  With  frozen  and  bleeding 
feet  they  arrived  at  a  hamlet  on  this 
side,  about  where  Huron  orVcrinil- 
ion  now  is.  There  they  found  the 
friends  and  refreshment  they  must 
sorely  have  needed  to  prolong  the 
lives  which  their  determined  energy 


had! 


ved. 


As  above  stated,  Mr.  Amsden  firs 
established  himself  at  Bellevue,  thei 
Amsden  Coineis,  in  the  latter  pii 
of  182.?.  He  was  from  that  time  1 
several  year-,  as-ociateJ  with  F  V 
Chapman  in  geneial  iiKi  li  i  \i  ii 
Their  goods  wore  it  In  t  1  |  1  i 
trading  with  the  In  Inn 
then  the  principal  inhibit  u  t  V  il 
Indians  decreased,  and  then  Im  I  II 
multiplied,  they  continue  1  tin  1  u  i 
ness,  increasing  it  as  trade  Jmi  in  U  I 
Beginning  in  a  log  hut,  thL\  tiniil' 
carried  it  on  in  i  more  prelLnti  u 
frame  building,  the  first  of  the  km 
in  this  region,  a  part  oi  it  1  in 
occupied  by  Mr  Amsden  a&  i  tiuiih 
residence.  This  building  v.  i>  e\  ent 
ually  torn  away  to  make  room  for  tli 
stone  block  in  which  the  First  Natu  n 
al  Bank  now  is 

In  this  frame  building  (known  i 
the  "Red  '^toie,'  from  the  color  u 
which  it  wis  painted)  the  firm  of  Chapman  X  Amsden  did  a  piosper- 
ous  business  for  ten  yeari..  Mr.  Amsden  then  sold  out  his  interest  tu  Dr. 
L.  (i.  Ilarkncss,  in  June,  183.'!,  and  went  to  farming,  having  purchased  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  of  Mr.  Samuel  Miller.  He  afterward  did  business 
somcycars  with  Mr.  liraiiiwcll,  in  the  stone  building  that  was  burned  down 
by  a  fire  whioli  swept  the  ground  where  the  Union  Block  now  stands. 

After  this  (about  1S48)  he  established  a  store  and  distillery  in  Monroe- 
ville,  which  proved  an  unfortunate  investment,  and  left  him  in  comparatively 
straitened  circumstances.  Enough,  however,  was  saved  to  keep  him  and 
his  family  in  comfort  for  the  remainder  of  his  days.     After  a  few  years 


— his  first  wife  and  several  children  having  preceded  him  to  the  Spirit- 
land. 

Mr.  Amsden  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  terms  at  Belle- 
vue, and  was  also  postmaster  some  years,  when  he  first  came  to  this  place 
the  post-office  being  in  his  store.  His  entire  education  was  received  in  the 
common  schools  of  New  York ;  but  it  was  sufficient  to  fit  him  for  the  busi- 
ness of  teaching,  which  he  followed  in  his  younger  days.  He  was  always 
a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

A  brief  genealogical  record  will  close  this  sketch: 

Thomas  G.  Amsden  was  born  Sept.  9,  1797,  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  T.,  his 
father,  Isaac  Amsden,  owning  a  farm  between  Geneva  and  Canandai'gua. 
His  ancestors  were  from  Massachusetts,  and  of  English  origin.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Lydia  Chapman,  a  sister  of  F.  A.  Chap- 
man, his  partner  in  business.  They  were  married  about  the  time  the 
firm  went  into  business  at  Bellevue,  which  was,  as  above  stated,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  1823.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  seven  children, 
— Sarah,    Mary,  Isaac,   Thomas    (then   two    that   died   in   infancy),   and 

Sarah  married  the  Hon.  J.  P.  Shoemaker,  living  at  Amsden,  Mich.,  a 
place  so  called  from  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  once  owned  the  land 
on  which  the  place  is  situated.  They  have  five  children, — three  boys  and 
two  gills 

Mirj  mariied  Abishai  ^\oodnai 
Ma>  26,  1S47  Mr  AVoodn  ud  is 
of  Btllciiie,  now  owning  the  BraniHell   Place,  which  he  has  rebuilt  and 

gieatlv  improi  ed.     They  have  seven 

\  children, — Gurdon,    Mary,    Thomas, 

derti  ude,  Abishai,  Cornelia,  and  Alice 
Sarah, — as  interesting  and  promis- 
ing a  family  a  i  any  patriarch  could 
desire 

I-aac  married  Cornelia  Birdseye,  in 
Sandusky  County,  and  now  resides  in 
Fiemont,  where  he  is  doing  a  pros- 
perous bu'inci  in  the  lumber  trade. 
The\  hive  file  children,— three  girls 

ihonn-  «as  married  in  Monroe- 
Mile,  Tiid  hid  three  children.  He 
died  ■some  jean  since  in  Bellevue. 

Uilliimmirried  in  Fremont.  Dur- 
ing the  late  H  ir  he  enlisted  in  the 
irnn  lud  wis  soon  made  captain  in 
the  id  Ohio  C  ivalry.  In  the  spring 
1  ls(  2  he  WIS  prostrated  by  camp 
I  I  iiiai  Corinth,  Miss.  He  was 
I  111  ii.'ht  to  a  hospital  in  Cincin- 
III  1  tliencc  to  his  home  in  Fre- 
1  lit,  nhi.e  he  died,  June  19,  1862. 
Ill  boilj  lies  with  kindred  dust  in 
I  lie  Belleiue  Cemetery.  He  was  a 
III  t  piomising  young  man, — one  of 
ilii  many  noble  spirits  who  freely 
lUied  up  their  lives  to  save  the  life 
1  the  republic 
Air   Am«den  s  first  wife  died  about 


\  lev 


Ha 


spent  i 
nd  pur 


all  far 


the 


■ue.  he  sold  what  he  had  left  here 
t.  where  he  died,  Deo.  7,  1876,  at 
;iiid  twenty-nine  days. 
I  in  orgy  and  endurance,  as  well 
I  n^'  partnership  with  Mr.  Chap- 
loor  business,  while  Mr.  Chapman 


Mr.  Amsden  was  a  man  n  I    j 

as  of  fine  intellectual  qualiiii  -,  ml 

man  took  the  principal  charge  of  th 

managed  the  office-work.  Mr.  Amsden  was  highly  respected  for  his 
swerving  integrity,  and  genial,  affable  manners.  He  was  so  widely  known 
for  his  sound  and  reliable  judgment  that,  for  many  years,  his  advice  was 
uniformly  taken  before  any  new  enterprise  of  importance  was  started. 
His  name  had  become  a  household  word.  He  was  for  nearly  thirty  years  a 
pniininont  imd  faithful  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  in  Bellevue,  and  afterward 
in  Fremont.  At  the  timeof  his  death  appropriate  resolutions  of  sympathy 
and  respect  were  passed  by  the  order,  and  a  large  delegation  from  the 
encampment  at  Fremont  accompanied  his  remains  to  the  beautiful  ceme- 
tery at  Bellevue,  whore  they  were  deposited  amid  the  ashes  of  his  dead, 


u  he  had  five  chil- 
Iward,  Lizzie,  Mag- 
the  first  two  being 


Emily   IS  married  to  Charles  Cul- 
len,  who  is  engaged  in  a  successful 
drygoods  trade  in  Delta,  Fulton  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  ilso  owns  a  flouring- 
niill     He  commenced  life  as  an  errand 
nid   bitncen  pluck  and  luck,  he  has  gradually 
[0  tne  lop  round  in  the  ladder  of  fortune. 
Ohio,  where  he  has  a  music-store,  and  is  also 
business.     He  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
place,  of  which   he   was  made   warden  when 
He  was  married  in  Seville,  and 


boy  in  Mr   Am    l>ii       t  u 
worked  his  way  u]i  almost 

Edward  lives  at  Canton, 
engaged  in  the   real-estate 
Episcopal  Church  in    that 
he  was  but  little  more  than  twenty-one. 
has  one  child, — a  daughter. 

Lizzie  is  unmarried,  and  lives  with  her  mother  at  Fremont. 

Maggie  died  in  Bellevue,  about  eleven  years  old. 

Hattie  married  a  Mr.  Ross,  in  Fremont.     She  has  two  lit 
is  also  living  with  her  mother. 


Note. — We  have  found  some  confusion  of  recollection  and  i 
the  interesting  adventure  related  above.  In  the  "  Chats  alwut  the  Old  Folks,"  piib- 
lisbed  in  tho  Bellevue  Locnl  News  during  the  years  1875  nuU  1876,  this  story  is  re- 
lated as  if  only  F.  A.  Chapman  and  a  younger  brother  were  concerned  in  it,  and  ns  if 
the  event  occurred  in  the  vicinity  of  Green  Bay.  But  the  children  of  Mr.  Ameden 
state  so  positively  that  thoy  have  often  heard  their  father  speak  of  taking  part  in 
this  adventure,  that  we  have  felt  warranted  in  associating  his  name  with  it.  In 
other  respects,  wo  have  followed  substantially  the  account  contained  in  the  "  Chats." 
But,  from  conversations  that  we  have  had  with  the  oldest  living  pioneers,  we  are 
rather  inclined  to  tho  opinion  that  the  capture  took  place  near  Detroit,  instead 
of  Green  Bay;  that  only  Amsden  and  F.  A.  Chapman  were  captured  at  this  time, 
both  escaping  in  the  manner  related;  and  that  tho  adventure  in  which  Alfred 
Chapman  lost  his  life  occurred  at  another  time,  at  a  point  farther  west,  and  in  com- 
pany with  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Allen,  who,  in  endeavoring  to  escape  from 
the  Indians,  along  with  young  Chapman,  was  compelled  to  leave  the  latter  to  his 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


391 


He  purchased  a  large  tract  of  laud,  a  part  of  it  lying 
within  the  present  limits  of  the  village.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong,  native  ability,  and  was  always  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town.  He 
possessed  the  ability  to  accumulate  property,  and 
died  worth  a  good  many  thousands  of  dollars.  He 
dealt  largely  in  real  estate,  and  in  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  sheep,  horses  and  cattle.  He  and  'Sir.  Bourdett 
Wood  together  purchased  large  tracts  of  land  in  the 
west.  He  was  universally  esteemed  for  his  sound 
business  integrity,  and  for  his  liberality  in  the  sup- 
port of  benevolent  enterprises.  He  donated  the  lands 
upon  which  the  old  Baptist  church  stands,  and, 
in  many  ways,  proved  himself  a  staunch  friend  of  all 
institutions  whose  object  is  the  enlightenment  and 
elevation  of  man. 

His  daughter  Angeliue,  in  1846,  married  the  Rev. 
James  M.  Morrow,  a  pro  .iueut  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  a  chaplain  in 
the  late  war  for  about  two  years,  and  was  connected 
with  the  Ninety-ninth  Ohio  Infantry.  While  in  the 
service  he  came  home  several  times  on  various  benevo- 
lent errands  for  the  soldiers  of  liis  regiment — the  last 
time,  in  December,  1863.  Returning  January  ith, 
he  was  fatally  injured  in  a  railroad  collision  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  to  whicli  place  he  was  taken,  and  died 
there  February  12,  1864.  His  widow  resides  in 
Bellevue. 

THE    GROWTH  OF  BELLEVUE. 

From  1825  to  1840,  the  growth  of  the  village 
was  slow,  and  it  was  not  until  about  the  time  of  the 
building  of  the  Mad  River  railroad  to  this  place, 
in  1839,  that  the  advancement  of  the  town  received 
any  considerable  impetus.  This  was  an  event  of  no 
little  importance  to  the  prospects  of  the  place,  and  in 
1835,  in  view  of  the  approaching  completion  of  the 
road,  the  land  of  the  village  on  the  Huron  county  side 
was  purchased  of  Gurdon  Williams  by  F.  A.  Chapman, 
T.  G.  Amsden,  L.  G.  Harkness,  and  others,  who  lent 
their  best  efforts  to  the  advancement  of  the  place.  The 
decade  from  1830  to  1840,  witnessed  a  number  of 
important  arrivals  in  Bellevue — men  who  became  per- 
manently identified  with  the  town,  and  to  whom  its 
rapid  prosperity  was  in  no  small  measure  due.  Dr. 
L.  G.  Harkness,  who  had  bee'n  a  practicing  physician 
in  the  western  part  of  York  township,  came  in  1833. 
Abram  Leiter  came  the  same  year.  J.  B.  Higbee  and 
Benjamin  and  David  Moore  came  in  1835.  William 
Byrnes  came  in  1835.  H.  H.  Brown  was  at  this  time 
the  hotel  keeper,  and  was  very  active  in  his  efforts 
to  assist  the  growth  of  the  place.  In  1835,  the  popu- 
lation of  the  village  could  not  have  exceeded  a  hun- 
dred people,  while  in  1840,  a  year  after  the  completion 
of  the  Mad  River  railroad,  it  numbered  not  less  than 
five  hundred,  and  at  the  date  of  its  incorporation, 
1851,  about  eight  hundred. 

Cuyler  Greene  came  here  from  New  York  State  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two,  where  he  was  born  March  10, 
1811.     Upon  his  arrival  he  was  engaged  as  salesman 


for  Chapman  &  Harkness,  and  afterwards  superin- 
tended for  Mr.  Chapman  the  old  stone  tavern,  since 
called  the  Exchange  Hotel.  He  built  the  old  stone 
blacksmith  shop,  that  for  so  many  years  stood  where 
the  Bellevue  bank  building  now  is.  In  later  years  he 
became  the  landlord  of  the  Exchange  Hotel,  and  then 
of  the  Bellevue  House,  and  then  purchased  the  farm 
!  on  the  pike,  two  miles  east  of  town,  now  known  as 
the  Richards  farm.  After  a  residence  here  of  some 
years,  he  bought  the  Hollister  farm,  on  the  ridge,  east 
of,  and  near  Monroeville.  where  he  died  December  3, 
1848.  February  17,  1836,  he  married  Tryphena  Fol- 
lett,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Malcom  C,  who 
resides  in  Boston,  where  he  is  in  prosperous  business; 
William  E. ,  who  has  for  many  years  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  business  life  in  Bellevue;  Ferguson,  who 
died  April  3,  18T5;  and  Frank  B.,  who  died  Septem- 
ber 26,  1847.  Cuyler  Greene  is  said  to  hare  been  a 
man  of  good  business  talents,  and  his  wife,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Goodson,  was  an  estimable  lady,  whom  every  one 
who  knew  her  esteemed  for  her  excellence  of  character 
and  her  devotion  to  every  worthy  object  and  laudable 
enterprise. 

In  1835,  came  J.  B.  Higbee,  who  is  elsewhere  re- 
ferred to,  Benjamin  and  David  Moore  and  William 
Byrnes  and  others.  Few  men  are  more  extensively 
known  in  Bellevue  and  the  surrounding  country  than 
David  Moore.  He  and  his  brother  came  here  from 
Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  both  have  lived 
right  here  for  a  period  of  upwai'ds  of  forty-four  years. 
David  Moore  has  been  the  village  undertaker  for 
nearly  the  entire  length  of  that  time,  and  very  faith- 
fully and  satisfactorily  has  he  performed  every  trust 
of  this  nature,  and  when  we  add  that  he  has  attended 
the  burial  of  nearly  two  thousand  persons,  old  and 
young,  during  these  years,  the  compliment  is  not 
small.  Benjamin  Moore  made  the  Journey  hither,  a 
distance  of  four  hundred  miles,  on  foot,  in  the  mid- 
dle of  winter,  the  snow  being  eighteen  inches  deep, 
and  performed  this  pedestrian  feat  in  eleven  days. 
This  illustrates  the  energy  and  spirit  of  those  sturdy 
men  who  develoj^ed  this  country,  and  mastered  all 
obstacles  on  the  road  to  fortune.  Mr.  Moore  has 
followed  a  variety  of  pursuits;  has  been  carpenter  and 
Joiner,  been  in  the  Jewelry  business,  sold  dry  goods, 
conducted  a  livery  establishment,  run  a  line  of  hacks 
to  and  from  Toledo,  kept  a  hotel,  managed  a  fai"m, 
and  dealt  in  real  estate.  He  has  been  successful  and 
has  acquired  a  handsome  property. 

William  Byrnes  entered  the  employ  of  Cuyler  Greene 
when  he  first  came  to  Bellevue,  in  the  old  stone 
blacksmith  shop,  but  in  six  mouths'  time  bought  out 
his  employer,  and  for  ten  years  he  hammered  away  at 
the  anvil  and  pounded  out  a  fine  fortune,  amply  pro- 
viding for  a  life  of  retirement  which  he  led  for  many 
years,  and  for  the  maintenance,  in  a  comfortable  home, 
of  his  family.     He  died  February  6,  1877. 

In  1852,  the  Toledo,  Norwalk  and  Cleveland  rail- 
road was  located  through  Bellevue,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  completed,   and  the  cars  came  whistling 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


through  here  from  the  four  points  of  tlie  compass — 
north,  south,  east,  and  west.  New  impetus  to  the 
life  of  the  village  was  given  by  this  event,  and  the 
town  rapidly  increased  in  population.  The  country 
had  also  been  rapidly  settled,  and  Bellevne,  situated  in 
the  midst  of  a  fine  wheat  growing  country,  came  to 
be  an  important  market  for  the  shipment  of  grain. 
The  Higbee  flouring  mill  was  erected  in  1850,  and 
other  manufacturing  enterprises  were  soon  estab- 
lished. The  Mad  River  road  was  lost  to  the  place  in 
1855,  but  the  detriment  to  business  on  this  account 
was  not  serious.  The  town  continued  to  enlarge  and 
populate,  while  the  surrounding  country  in  every 
direction  became  thickly  settled  with  an  industrious 
farming  population. 

INCORPORATION. 

The  town  was  incorporated  by  act  of  legislature 
January  35,  1851,  its  charter  limits  embracing  an  area 
of  about  one  mile  from  east  to  west,  by  about  one- 
half  mile  from  north  to  south,  the  center  of  the  area 
being  the  central  point  of  intersection  of  Main  street 
with  the  county  line.  In  the  month  of  February,  24:, 
1851,  the  following  were  chosen  the  village  officers: 
Abraham  Leiter,  mayor  ;  S.  L.  Culver,  recorder ; 
Thomas  G.  Amsden,  Eliphalet  Follett,  Benjamin  F. 
McKim,  David  Armstrong  and  .Joseph  M.  Lawrence, 
trustees.  The  corporate  limits  wer«  enlarged  in  1869, 
so  as  to  be  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  east  to  west 
and  from  north  to  south.  The  present  village  officers 
are:  Peter  Brady,  mayor;  H.  F.  Baker,  clerk;  J.  A. 
Higbee,  John  Scullen,  William  West.  .Joseph  Egle, 
C.  D.  Stoner  and  E.  H.  Smitli.  cnnncilmen:  William 
Mayue,  marshal. 

DISTINCT    CLASSES    OF    POPULATION. 

The  village  has  a  population,  to-day,  of  about 
three  thousand  and  inhabitants.  This  population 
embraces  not  less  than  four  distinct  classes  of  people, 
each  of  which  is  represented  by  about  the  same 
number  of  individuals.  First  three  are  those  of 
American  birth,  whose  parents  came  to  this  region  at 
an  early  day,  from  New  England  or  New  York  State, 
and  who  were  the  real  pioneers.  Representative  fam 
ilies  of  this  class  are  the  Chapmaus,  the  Woodwards, 
the  Harknesses,  the  Woods  (tlie  Bourdett  branch),  the 
Sheffields,  the  Greenes,  the  Bakers,  etc.  Second,  there 
are  the  Pennsylvania  people,  many  of  whom  came, 
likewise,  at  an  early  day — a  thrifty,  sober  and  indus- 
trious class.  They  are  represented  by  the  Moores, 
the  liillii.-hes.  the  Sherciis,  the  Leiters,  the  Boyers, 
the  Kerns,  i^tc.  Third,  came  the  English,  England 
born,  of  whom  may  be  mentioned  theGreenslades,  the 
Wills,  the  Heals,  the  Fords,  the  Maynes,  the  Joints, 
the  Radfords,  etc. ;  and  the  Germans,  who,  perhaps, 
outnumber  any  other  one  class;  of  these  may  be 
mentioned  the  Egles.  Ruffings,  the  Bebriechers, 
the  Liebers,  the  Webers,  the  Ailers,  the  Setzlers,  etc. 
The  Yankees  were  the  first  to  arrive,  then  the  Penn- 
sylvania Dutch  people,  then  the  Germans,  and  lastly 


the  English.     We  append  here  brief  sketches  of  one 
or  two  Germans,  and  of  one  or  two  Englishmen. 

J.  H.  Weber  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1842,  and 
came  to  this  country,  when  a  lad,  in  185-3.  He  first 
located  in  Tiffin,  and  that  town  and  Fremont  were 
the  places  of  his  residence  for  the  next  six  years. 
His  occupation  was  type  setting.  He  followed  this 
trade  until  his  removal  to  Bellevue,  in  the  winter  of 
1859-60.  Arriving  here,  he  began  immediately  in 
the  business  which  he  has  ever  since  followed — that 
of  groceries  and  general  merchandise.  He  clerked 
two  years  for  J.  Murschel,  and  then  went  into  part- 
nership with  that  gentleman,  in  which  relation  he 
remained  one  yeai',  when  Mr.  Murschel  went  out  of 
,'  the  firm,  and  Mr.  Weber  took  a  junior  partner  to 
\  assist  him  in  conducting  the  business.  In  18?6,  he 
I  began  entirely  alone,  and  has,  since  then,  built  up  a. 
large  and  lucrative  business  in  groceries,  crockery,  etc. 
He  has  also  conducted  a  branch  store  at  Wiuamac,^ 
Indiana,  and  has  been  engaged  in  an  enterprise  at 
La  Rue,  Ohio,  where  he  and  two  other  gentlemen 
have  had  a  large  saw  mill  in  operation,  working  into- 
lumber  the  timber  from  a  tract  of  land,  including 
seven  hundred  acres  bought  by  the  firm-.-  - 

Mr.  Weber's  career  has  not  been  one  of  uninter- 
rupted success,  but,  on  the  contrary,  he  has  met  with 
several  adverse  circumstances.  By  the  fire  in  1875, 
he  lost  his  store,  and  it  was  this  misfortune  of  his 
which  led  to  an  improvement  in  the  business  portion 
of  Bellevue,  which  may  justly  be  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  important  made.  He  built  up  in  connection 
with  Wise  &  Gross,  the  Union  block,  upon  Main 
street,  of  which  he  owns  the  four  westerly  stores,  one 
of  which  is  occupied  by  himself  at  present.  He  pos- 
sesses, in  a  lai'ge  measure,  the  confidence  of  his  fellow 
German  citizens  who  are  in  the  habit  of  consulting 
him  on  matters  of  importance  to  them. 

Joseph  Egle,  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influ- 
ential German  citizens,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany, 
April  28,  1828.  When  he  was  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  he  came  to  America  and  located  in  Norwalk, 
Ohio.  In  1854,  be  removed  to  Bellevue  and  began 
business  for  himself  in  the  grocery  line.  This  de- 
partment of  mercantile  business  he  pursued  diligently 
and  successfully  for  ajjout  ten  years,  when  he  went 
into  the  hardware  business,  which  at  present  engages 
his  attention,  and  which  he  has  followed  continu- 
ously from  the  time  he  entered  it.  He  has  shown 
rare  business  ability,  and,  by  the  exercise  of  this 
quality,  has  accumulated  a  large  property. 

Roger  Greenslade  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England, 
in  1829,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1854,  arriving 
in  Bellevne  in  June  of  that  year.  He  came  here  poor, 
but  he  possessed  the  elements  of  success:  industry, 
sobriety,  economy.  His  first  engagement  was  with 
Eddison  Brown,  working  on  the  bench  at  cobbling 
and  making  boots  and  shoes.  He  afterwards  worked 
for  Patrick  Hearl.  and  Abram  Leiter  until  about  the 
year  1864,  when  he  established  himself  in  business, 
and  has  been  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  on  his  own 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


393 


account  ever  since.  He  has  occupied  his  present 
stand  for  tlie  last  thirteen  years.  Not  only  has  thrift 
crowned  Mr.  Greenslade's  efforts,  but  he  has  lived  an 
exemplary  life;  has  raised  a  family  of  children  that_ 
are-a  credit  to  the  community,  one  son,  James,  being 
the  eflScieut  superintendent  of  the  Bellevue  public 
schools;  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  church 
and  schools,  and  deservedly  occupies  a  high  place  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  is  junior 
warden  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church,  and  no  mem- 
ber is  more  regular  in  his  attendance  upon  the  service 
of  that  church.  These  are  not  merely  empty  words 
of  praise:  they  are  plain  statements  of  fact.  He  is  the 
oldest  resident  on  the  'pike,  having  purchased  his 
present  location  in  18-57,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  This  shows  that  he  is  not  given  to  fre(|uent 
changes. 

Perhaps  no  English  born  resident  of  the  village  has 
has  had  more  prosperity  than  George  Wills,  who  ar- 
rived here  from  Devonshire  in  1851.  He  has  been 
the  village  butcher  nearly  the  whole  time  since  his  ar- 
rival, and,  having  only  enough  means  to  enable  him 
to  get  here,  he  has,  by  close  application  to  business, 
being  at  his  post  of  duty  early  and  late,  accumulated 
a  handsome  competence.  A  man  who  has  won  suc- 
cess by  such  fidelity  to  business  as  Mr.  Wills  has 
shown,  deserves  this  word  of  mention  in  this  history 
of  Bellevue. 

The  Heals,  who  were  respectable  people  in  England, 
have  maintained  well  their  credit  here,  all  being  very 
worthy  townspeople.  Of  Enoch  Heal's  family,  the 
women,  mother  and  daughters,  are  skillful  milliners. 
The  oldest  daughter  married  James  Smith,  who  died 
in  the  service  of  his  country;  another  married  Dr. 
Lantermau,  a  physician,  who  is  rapidly  rising  into 
prominence  as  a  practitioner;  another  married  Ed- 
ward Miller;  another,  George  Beckwith;  anothei', 
Ralph  Boyer,  who  is  an  enterprising  yonng  business 
man,  and  the  leading  jeweller  of  the  place. 

In  addition  to  the  four  classes  of  people  that 
we  have  named,  there  is  the  Celtic  population,  of 
which  Mr.  Peter  Brady  is  the  most  prominent  repre- 
sentative. He  came  here  in  1859  and  has  been  in 
business  since  18C3.  His  business  has  rapidly  grown 
until  it  takes  precedence  of  any  other  of  the  kind  in 
the  city,  and  ranks  among  the  leading  hardware  stores 
of  Sandusky  or  Huron  counties.  Mr.  Brady's  popu- 
larity with  the  people  of  Bellevue  is  evidenced  from 
the  fact  that  he  has  served  the  village  for  a  number  of 
years  as  councilman,  and  for  the  past  five  years  has 
been  mayor  of  the  town.  He  has  been  elected  for 
three  successive  terms  to  the  office  which  is  the  high- 
est in  the  gift  of  his  fellow  townsmen — a  no  slight 
testimonial  to  the  efficiency  and  ability  of  his  service. 

CHURCHES. 
FIRST    CONGREGATIOXAL   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  first  organized  on  September  20, 
1836,  by  a  committee  from  the  Presbytery  of  Huron, 


and  was  started  as  a  Presbyterian  Cliurch  on  what 
was  known  as  the  accommodation  plan, — that  is  a 
church  under  the  care  of  a  Presbtery,  but  which  re- 
ceived and  dismissed  its  members,  and  transacted 
other  business,  not  by  a  vote  of  the  elders  but  by  a 
vote  of  the  whole  church. 

The  number  of  male  members  at  the  organization 
was  nine;  five  of  these  brought  letters  from  the  church 
at  Lyme,  Ohio;  three  from  churches  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  one  from  Norwalk. 

Among  many  important  resolutions  adopted  on  the 
day  of  the  organizatior.,  was  one  declaring  that  the 
manufacture  or  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  was  an 
immorality  w^hich,  if  practiced  by  any  member  of  this 
church,  made  him  liable  to  discipline  the  same  as  if 
guilty  of  any  other  immorality. 

The  church  continued  under  care  of  Presbytery 
ten  years,  and  then,  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  learn  from 
the  records,  with  much  unanimity,  decided  to  separate 
itself  from  its  Presbyterial  connection,  and  become  a 
regular  Congregational  Church.  This  action  was 
taken  March  7,  1846. 

The  first  pastor  called  by  the  church  after  the  re- 
organization, was  Rev.  A.  D.  Barber  who  was  installed 
by  a  council  October  19,  1853.  Mr.  Barber's  salary 
was  four  hundred  dollars,  and  parsonage,  which  shows 
that  the  society  had  a  parsonage  at  that  time.  This 
pastorate  continued  five  years.  In  the  following  year 
after  Mr.  Barber's  departure,  the  church  called  the 
Rev.  James  W.  Cowles,  and  offered  him  a  salary  of 
seven  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Cowles  served  tlie  church 
about  three  years,  and  was  succeeded  on  October  30, 
1863,  by  Rev.  John  Safford. 

During  this  pastorate  the  house  of  worship  was  re- 
moved, enlarged  and  repaired.  The  work  was  com- 
pleted in  the  fall  of  1865,  and  immediately  afterwards 
the  church  invited  Mr.  Safford  to  become  its  installed 
pastor  with  an  increase  of  three  hundred  dollars  in 
salary.  Mr.  Safford  accepted  the  call,  but  seems  to 
have  continued  in  the  pastoral  relation  only  about  a 
3'ear. 

When  the  house  of  worship  was  originally  built, 
it  seems  that  the  pews  were  sold  with  the  understand- 
ing that  the  buyers  became  permanent  owners.  This 
arrangement  was  a  source,  afterwards,  of  much  in- 
convenience to  the  society.  The  owners  were  not  all 
induced  to  give  their  pews  up  again  to  the  society 
until  some  time  in  1868. 

After  the  departure  of  Pastor  Safford  in  1867,  the 
Rev.  S.  B.  Sherrill  was  called,  and  was  acting  pastor 
from  December,  1867,  until  some  time  in  1873,  a 
period  of  nearly  six  years.  The  successor  of  Mr. 
Sherrill  was  the  Rev.  J.  W.  White,  whose  letter  ac- 
cepting the  call  of  the  church  is  dated  February  28, 
187-1.  Mr.  White's  labors  did  not  begin  until  some 
time  after  this  acceptance,  and  closed  near  the  end  of 
1878.  continuing  with  the  church  a  little  more  than 
four  years.  Within  two  months  after  Mr.  White's 
resignation,  the  church  called  Rev.  S.  W.  Meek,  who 
was  installed  in  the  pastoral  office  by  the  council  ou 


394 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


February  11,  1879,  having  begun  his  labors  with  the 
church  on  tlie  1st  of  January,  previous. 

The  church  has  been  blessed  at  various  times  in  its 
history  by  revivals.  In  the  year  1854,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  D.  Barber,  thirty-seven  were 
received  into  membership  of  the  church.  In  1850, 
twenty-two  were  added  to  the  church.  Again,  in 
1861,  the  church  was  visited  by  a  revival  which  re- 
sulted in  the  addition  of  twenty  to  the  membership. 
In  the  year  1865,  during  the  labors  of  Mr.  Safford, 
seventeen  were  received  into  membership;  and  in  1870, 
under  Mr.  Sherrill's  labors,  twenty-three  connected 
themselves  with  the  church.  In  1873,  the  year  that 
Mr.  Sherrill  closed  his  labors,  forty-five  names  were 
added  to  the  roll. 

One  pleasant  feature  in  the  records  of  this  church 
is  the  frequency  with  which  the  word  "unanimously"' 
occurs  in  describing  the  passage  of  important  resolu- 
tions and  the  calling  of  ministers. 

In  common  with  Congregational  churches  in  gen- 
eral, the  only  creed  recognized  by  this  church  as 
having  any  binding  authority  upon  the  consciences  of 
its  members  is  the  Bible.  But  as  a  convenient  state- 
ment of  its  understanding  of  the  Bible  on  the  great 
foundation  doctrines  of  christianit}',  it  has  adopted, 
and  places  in  the  hands  of  its  members  and  inquirers, 
what  is  known  as  the  Ohio  Congregational  Manual. 

The  church  has  a  uniform  record  of  sterling  ortho- 
doxy from  the  beginning. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH, 

of  Bellevue,  was  formed  in  the  year  18.39.  The  first 
class  was  composed  of  James  Anderson,  his  wife, 
Betsey,  and  daughter,   Melissa;  Alvin   Anderson,  his 

wife,  Harriet,  and  daughter,  Adaline;and Mann 

and  daughter.  Meetings  were  held  at  this  time  in 
the  stone  school  house,  standing  on  the  site  at  present 
occupied  by  the  school  building,  near  the  Episcopal 
church.  In  about  1845,  this  church  erected  a  sub- 
stantial brick  edifice,  at  a  cost  of  some  five  thousand 
dollars.  This  building  is  at  present  owned  by  the 
German  Lutheran  society.  After  organization,  how- 
ever, the  church  fitted  up  a  room  in  the  second 
story  of  the  warehouse  standing  where  the  Richards 
and  Egle  block  now  stands,  and  this  was  occupied 
until  the  building  of  the  church  as  before  stated. 

The  present  elegant  church  edifice  was  completed 
during  the  summer  of  1868,  and  was  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Simpson  on  August  17,  of  that  year,  and  cost, 
including  real  estate  and  parsonage,  some  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  Among  the  largest  contributors 
to  the  erection  of  the  church  are:  Messrs.  Anderson, 
Higbee,  Williams,  Dole,  Adams  and  Huffman.  The 
first  resident  minister  was  Rev.  Oliver  Burgess,  who 
remained  two  years.  Father  Anderson  gives  from 
memory,  the  following  names  of  ministers  who  have 
preached  to  this  church  in  Bellevue:  Wilson,  Camp, 
Pierce,  Hill,  Cooper,  Fast,  Start,  Fant,  Pounds, 
Breakfield,  Thompson,  Worden,  SpafEord,  Morrow 
and  Cables. 


In  1852,  when  the  ministers'  "historical  record" 
begins,  the  church  reported  a  membership  of  two 
hundred  and  twelve,  and  three  hundred  scholars  in 
attendance  at  Sal)bath  school.  Rev.  Samuel  Beatty, 
pastor.  September  18,  1852,  it  was  formally  organ- 
ized as  a  station,  with  the  following  board  of  stewards: 
H.  R.  Adams,  Alvin  Anderson,  Jesse  Haskell,  W.  W. 
Stilson,  J.  B.  Higbee,  Orrin  Dole  and  Barney 
Campbell.  Its  leaders  were  Jesse  Haskell,  B.  Camp- 
bell, 0.  Dole,  David  Williams  and  W.  Curtiss. 
Superintendent  of  Sabbath  school,  W.  W.  Stilson. 
1853 — William  M.  Spafford,  pastor.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1854  by  Rev.  Wesley  J.  Wells.  The 
following  are  'the  pastors  from  that  time  until  the 
present,  (1879):  1855— John  A.  Mudge;  1857— Wm. 
Richards;  1859— Asbury  B.  Castle;  1861— Daniel 
Stratton;  1862— Simon  P.  Jacobs:  1863— Elmore  Y. 
Warner;  1865 — Garretson  A.  Hughes;  1868 — Elmore 
Y'.  Warner;  1871— Elvero  Pearsons.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Searles.  T.  C.  Warner  succeeded 
him,  remained  three  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
G.  W.  Pepper,  who  is  the  present  pastor,  and  was 
appointed  at  the  Wellington  conference,  in  1879.  The 
present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  eighty; 
average  attendance  at  Sunday  school,  one  hundred 
and  ninety;  R.  Carpenter,  supei-intendent.  The 
stewards  of  the  church  are:  Thomas  Gardner,  Horace 
Place,  A.  Anderson,  John  Grimes,  R.  H.  Boyer, 
William  L.  Hilbish,  John  Limbach,  Jacob  Decker 
and  Conrad  Linck.  J.  B.  Higbee,  A.  Anderson,  E.  L. 
Dole,  H.  R.  Adams,  Jacob  Decker,  J.  C.  Sheffield, 
Adam  Williams  and  S.  Patterson,  trustees;  Enoch 
Heal,  W.  L.  Hilbish,  John  Limbach  and  S.  Patterson, 
class  leaders. 

PROTESTAXT    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

Before  there  was  any  parish  organization  in  Belle- 
vue, the  Rev.  Ephraim  Punderson  officiated  from  the 
year  1842  to  that  of  1847;  but  not  until  April,  1851, 
was  the  parish  duly  organized  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bronson. 
Messrs.  T.  6.  Amsden  and  John  Grimes  were  chosen 
wardens;  Messrs.  F.  A.  Chapman,  G.  Woodward  and 
G.  W.  Sheffield,  vestiymen;  and,  on  Sei^tember  10, 
1851,  this  parish  was  received  into  connection  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  1852,  Rev.  R.  K.  Nash  was  chosen 
rector  and  the  church  building  was  begun  and  enclosed. 
Mr.  Nash  having  resigned  in  1854,  the  building  re- 
mained unfinished.  In  the  spring  of  1857,  an  effort 
was  made  to  open  the  church,  and  a  rector  was  called. 
Rev.  M.  Hamilton  took  charge  of  the  church  on  the 
fii'st  Sunday  in  July,  1857. 

Improvements  were  made  in  the  church  building, 
an  old  debt  paid  oS,  and  the  church  was  consecrated 
by  Bishop  Bedell,  in  January,  1861. 

The  lot  and  buildings  cost  about  three  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.  In  July,  1869,  the  parish  be- 
came self-supporting,  and  the  following  year  repairs 
and  improvenuMits  were  made,  at  a  cost  of  one  thou- 
sand four  hundred  dollars. 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


395 


Tlie  first  Sunday  school  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
M.  Hamilton  in  1857,  and  continued  with  increasing 
prosperity  under  liis  care. 

A  marked  improvement  in  this  ciuirch  is  now  in 
contemplation.  The  walls  are  to  be  frescoed,  a  recess 
chancel  and  a  memorial  window  are  soon  to  beautify 
the  clmrch. 

The  present  officers  are:  Geo.  W.  Sheffield,  senior 
warden;  Roger  Greeuslade,  junior  warden;  Abishai 
Woodward,  Amos  Woodward,  E.  J.  Sheffield,  W.  .T. 
Heal  and  James  H.  Greenslade,  vestrymen. 

ST.   PAUL'S  REFORMED  CHURCH. 

The  members  of  St.  Paul's  Reformed  Church  origin- 
ally worshiped  at  the  Free  Chapel,  a  few  miles  west 
of  BelleTue.  Some,  a  goodly  number,  were  also 
members  of  the  Zion's  Church,  in  Thompson  town- 
ship, Seneca  county.  In  February,  18C2,  Rev.  Eli 
Keller  comm3nced  to  preach  in  Ballevue.  Services 
were  held  in  the  old  school  building,  owned  by  Mr. 
George  Weickart,  afterwards  in  the  old  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  then  again  in  the  old  school  house. 
At  this  time,  a  weekly  prayer  meeting  was  well  sus- 
tained, and  a  Sunday  school  organized.  August  16, 
1863,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  chapel,  it  was  resolved 
that  a  church  should  be  built  in,  or  near,  Bellevue, 
and  measures  taken  to  select  a  site  and  procure 
building  funds.  The  corner  stone  of  the  church  was 
laid  on  the  19th  of  June,  1864.  On  the  19th  of  June, 
1865,  the  church  was  dedicated:  sermons  by  Rev.  M. 
Kieffer,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  H.  Rust,  D.  D.  The  cere- 
monies of  laying  the  corner  stone  were  performed  by 
Rev.  E.  Keller,  the  pastor. 

Some  time  iu  the  fall  of  1865,  the  St.  Paul's  Re- 
formed Congregation  was  organized  by  the  election 
of  a  consistory  of  elders  and  deacons.  Since  1865, 
the  following  persons  served  respectively  as  elders, 
deacons  and  trustees,  viz:  Jacob  Bunn,  Levi  Koruer, 
D.  S.  Arnold,  John  Hilbish,  H.  Kiminel,  Isaac  Kern, 
elders;  John  Bunn,  David  Hoch,  Moses  Miller,  Joseph 
Zieber,  John  Bowman,  Aaron  Walters,  Wm.  Kuauss, 
John  Deck,  Benjamin  Bunn,  W.  C.  Smith,  Wilham 
Aigler  and  J.  Ferdinand  Smith,  deacons;  David 
Hoch,  Harrison  Wilt,  Elias  Schmidt,  Henry  Stetler, 
John  Deck,  Aaron  Walters,  Jacob  Aigler  and  Fred- 
erick Smith,  trustees.  The  Sunday  school  \yas  organ- 
ized in  thsold  VVeickirt  school  house;  superintendent, 
a  Mr.  Albert.  Since  1865,  Mr.  John  Hilbish  has 
been  the  superintendent,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year,  when  Rev.  J.  H.  Derr  officiated  as  head  of  the 
school. 

In  the  year  1873,  July  1,  Rev.  Eli  Keller  resigned 
the  pastorate,  having  served  the  people  for  a  period 
of  eleven  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joshua 
H.  Derr,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1873.  His  pas- 
torate continued  for  four  and  a  half  years,  closing 
his  services  June  3,  1877.  During  this  pastorate  the 
congregation  suffered  serious  damage  in  their  church 
edifice  by  a  severe  storm,  which  took  off  auout  one- 
third  of  the  roof  and  also  broke  down  the  gable  end 


to  the  square.  This  much  injured  the  ceiling  and 
the  interior  in  general.  A  cost  of  about  one  thou- 
sand dollars  restored  and  much  improved  tlie  now 
beautiful  and  commodious  church. 

The  congregation  owns  the  cemetery  adjoining  the 
church,  and  a  large  and  comfortable  parsonage.  The 
present  pastor.  Rev.  N.  H.  Loose,  took  charge  of  the 
congregation,  August  1,  1877.  The  interests  of  the 
church  are  prosperous  and  encouraging. 

EVANGELICAL   LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  organ- 
ized January  7,  1866,  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.  The  directors  were  Adam  Zehner,  Christian 
Engel  and  Philip  Biebricher.  The  trustees  were 
Jacob  Beiler,  Charles  Beiler  and  John  Weis.  Rev. 
Jacob  Dornberer  was  instrumental  in  its  organization 
and  remained  its  pastor  three  years,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  C.  Buechler,  who  has  remained  as 
pastor  ten  years.  At  its  organization  there  were 
thirty-nine  members.  The  present  membership  is 
about  f orty-fi  ve.  They  also  have  a  prosperous  Sunday 
school  of  some  seventy  members,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  David  Meyers.  Soon  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church,  the  present  building  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Methodist  society  for  two  thousand 
dollars.  Since  that  time  some  six  or  seven  hundred 
dollars  have  been  exjiended  in  refitting  and  repairing 
it. 

SALEM  EVAXGELICAL  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  Bellevue  under  tlie 
ministration  of  Rev.  L.  W.  Hankey,  in  the  summer 
of  1875.  The  congregation  purchased  the  building 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Baptists,  for  three  thousand 
dollars.  They  then  expended  six  or  eight  hundred 
dollars  in  repairing  and  refitting  it.  At  first,  and 
until  the  spring  of  1879,  the  church  was  a  mission. 
The  last  spring  it  was  cut  loose  from  missionary  aid, 
and  is  now  self  supporting.  The  present  membership 
is  seventy-five.  Thirty-one  accessions  were  made  dur- 
ing the  last  year.  The  church  has  had  four  pastors: 
Rev.  L.  W.  Hankey;  S.  B.  Spring,  who  remained 
eight  months;  G.  W.  Meisee,  who  remained  one  year, 
and  Rev.  I).  C.  Eckerman,  the  present  pastor,  who 
has  been  in  charge  a  little  more  than  two  years. 
There  is  connected  with  the  church  a  Sunday  school 
of  seventy  three  members,  of  which  the  pastor  is  su- 
perintendent. Regular  services  of  the  church  are 
held  twice  each  Sunday.  The  church  government  is. 
very  similar  to  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  but 
there  are  some  diffeiences  on  minor  points. 

CHURCH    OF   THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION. 
(ROMAN  CATHOLIC.) 

About  1853,  Rev.  'James  Vincent  Conlin,  stationed 
at  Sandusky,  established  a  mission  in  Bellevue,  and 
held  services  some  three  or  four  yeai-s,  when  Rev. 
Punsliell,  of  Norwalk,  came,  and  then  for  a  short 
time  Father  Boff  officiated.  Father  Tighe,  of  San- 
dusky, came,  and  bought,  from  J.  B.    Higbee,  the 


39G 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


building  they  now  occujiy  as  a  church,  and  perfected 
an  organization.  The  first  resident  priest  was  Eev. 
James  Monaghan,  who  remained  some  seven  or  eight 
years.  While  in  charge,  he  bought  a  house  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Flagler,  for  the  use  of  the  priest.  Father  Ma- 
hony  came  nest  and  remained  some  five  years.  He 
pui-chased  ground  for  burial  purposes,  and  built  a 
school  house.  Father  Mears  next  came;  he  bought  a 
house  and  lot  on  the  corner  of  Center  and  Broad 
streets,  with  the  intention  of  building  a  church.  He 
remained  about  three  years  and  was  succeeded  by 
Father  Bowles,  who  also  remained  three  j'ears.  The 
church  was  then  attended  by  Father  Rudolph,  of 
Clyde,  for  about  three  mouths,  when  the  present 
priest,  Father  MoUoy,  came,  and  has  officiated  for 
three  years.  The  congregation  comprises  about  one 
hundred  and  ten  families.  The  church  still  owus 
the  lot  Ijought  by  Father  Mears,  and  at  one  time  it 
owned  the  lot  on  which  stands  the  present  union 
school  building. 

HISTORY    OF   THE    BELLEVUE    PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.* 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the  records  of  the 
early  history  of  the  Bellevue  schools  have  been  lost. 
The  data  for  the  following  article  have  been  furnished 
by  some  of  the  older  citizens,  and  are  as  correct  as 
can  be  obtained  outside  of  the  school  records.  The 
first  building  that  was  used  for  school  purposes  was  a 
little  log  house  that  stood  on  the  Hei'l  property,  just 
west  of  Mr.  John  Baker's  residence.  Here  a  school 
■was  opened  in  the  fall  of  1827.  by  a  gentleman  named 
Harris,  from  Milan.  In  the  following  year  (1838), 
Miss  Clemence  A.  Follett,  (now  Mrs.  Frederick  Chap- 
man), taught  school  iu  the  same  building.  In  those 
days  the  village  was  known  as  Amsden's  corners,  and 
consisted  of  the  Exchange  Hotel,  a  frame  building 
just  east  of  it,  a  double  log  house,  where  Mr.  Gi-een- 
slade's  store  stands;  the  houses  now  occupied  by  Dr. 
Harris  and  Mr.  John  Ries,  and  a  few  scattered  log 
huts.  The  scholars  came  to  Miss  Follett's  school 
from  the  country  for  miles  around,  walking  to  school 
along  the  "trails"  of  the  woods,  and  bringing  their 
dinners  with  them.  Iu  this  school  the  girls  spent 
half  an  hour  each  day  in  learning  to  sew.  It  was  a 
pleasant  little  school,  and  Mrs.  Chapman  still  recalls 
with  delight  the  days  she  passed  as  teacher  in  the  log 
school  house.  In  the  following  year,  1829,  Miss 
Julia  Follett  taught  in  the  same  log  school  house. 

The  next  school,  of  which  we  can  find  any  record, 
was  taught  in  the  "old  stone  school  house,"  that 
stood  on  West  Main  street  where  the  brick  school 
house  now  stands.  The  land  was  donated  by  Chap- 
man and  Amsden,  and  the  building  was  probably  built 
by  the  Chapmans — Nathaniel  and  Frederick — Dr.  L. 
G.  Harkness  and  Mr.  Thomas  G.  Amsden,  as  we  find 
these  names  are  closely  associated  with  the  early  ed- 
ucational interests  of  the  town  as  well  as  with  its  bus- 
iness and  social  interests.  The  "stone  school  house" 
was  built  about  1832.     In  the  fall  of  1835,  Mr.  J.  B. 


•By  J.  M.  Oreenslade,  Superintendent. 


Higbee  commenced  to  teach  in  this  building,  and 
taught  two  years.  Mr.  Higbee  seems  to  have  been  a 
successful  teacher;  at  least  he  was  not  "carried  out" 
by  the  boys,  which  misfortune  did  happen  to  the  gen- 
tleman who  preceded  him.  We  are  unable  to  learn 
who  succeeded  Mr.  Higbee,  but  the  building  still  con- 
tiuued  to  be  used  for  school  purposes  until  the  "old 
brick  school  house  "  was  built,  after  which  the  "stone 
school  house"  was  unoccupied  for  several  years.  For 
some  years  before  the  ' '  old  brick  "  was  built,  the  in- 
creasing number  of  pupils  compelled  the  directors  to 
rent  rooms  in  different  parts  of  the  town  to  be  used 
for  school  rooms. 

At  one  time  a  school  was  taught  in  a  frame  build- 
ing that  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Mr.  P. 
Biebricher's  grocery  store.  The  building  was  origin- 
ally built  for  a  warehouse  by  Mr.  James  Bell.  It  was 
afterwards  moved,  and  the  upper  rooms  used  for  school 
rooms  during  the  week  daj's,  and  by  the  Methodist 
society  for  services  on  Sunday.  About  the  Sime  time 
Miss  Town,  now  Mrs.  Kent,  of  Toledo,  taught  a  very 
successful  private  schools  for  girls,  on  JEonroe  street, 
in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  James  Piircell. 

In  1845  the  number  of  scholars  had  increased  to 
such  an  extent  that  the  school  directors  saw  the  ne- 
cessity of  providing  better  accommodations  than  those 
afforded  by  the  stone  school  house  and  rented  rooms, 
so  they  purchased  of  Chapman,  Amsden  and  Hark- 
ness the  lot  on  which,  the  same  year,  they  built  the 
"old  brick  "  school  house.  The  contract  for  erecting 
the  building  was  let  to  Mr.  A.  Leiter.  It  was  at  first 
intended  to  build  only  a  one  story  building,  but  while 
in  process  of  erection  Mr.  J.  M.  Lawrence  offered  to 
raise  it  to  a  two  story  building,  providing  the  upper 
rooms  could  be  used  for  the  Baptist  society.  His 
proposition  was  accepted,  the  directors,  at  the  same 
time,  reserving  the  privilege  of  buying  the  U2:)per  part 
when  the  growth  of  the  school  required  it.  The 
building  was  used  as  a  district  school  until  1851,  when 
the  present  sjstem  of  union  schools  was  organized  in 
accordance  with  the  law  of  1849. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  union  schools  was 
Rev.  Mr.  Waldo,  an  eccentric,  old  gentleman.  He 
wore  a  wig  which,  of  course,  furnished  endless  sport 
to  his  pupils.  He  was  also  in  the  habit  of  lecturing 
his  scholars  every  morning  before  beginning  the  day's 
work. 

During  Waldo's  administration  iu  the  year  1851-2, 
Miss  Gardner  was  assistant  superintendent,  and  the 
two  lower  grades  were  taught  by  two  sisters,  Mrs. 
Covil  aud  Miss  Wilkinson.  Mr.  Waldo  was  succeeded 
iu  the  fall  of  1852,  by  Mr.  Harvey  Holton  who  is 
well  and  favorably  remembered  by  many  of  our  citi- 
zens. Mr.  Holton  was  superintendent  several  years, 
and  was  a  successful  teacher.  His  assistant  in  the 
high  school  was  Miss  Celestia  Gould,  now  Mrs. 
Spencer  Boise.  Mr.  Holton  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Jerome  Drury  who  taught  two  3ears,  from  the  fall  of 
1855  to  the  spring  of  1857.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Edward  Bradley  who  was  suijerintendent  for  ouo 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  C0UNT;IES,  OHIO. 


397 


year  in  1857-8.  In  the  fall  of  1858,  the  Hubbard 
Brothers  came  to  Bellevue,  and  secured  positions  in  our 
schools,  Dwight  Hubbard  as  superintendent,  and  E.  B. 
Hubbard  as  teacher  in  the  stone  school  house.  Mr. 
Dwight  Hubbard  held  his  position  one  year  and  one  term 
from  the  fall  of  1858,  to  December,  1859.  His  place 
was  supplied  during  the  remainder  of  the  school  year, 
by  Mr.  Henry  Bramwellfor  the  second  term,  and  Dr. 
Cornell  for  the  third  term.  The  last  superintendent 
in  the  old  brick  school  house  was  Mr.  Ellis  who  held 
the  position  from  the  fall  of  1860  to  the  spring  of 
1862.  After  the  high  school  building  was  built,  the 
old  brick  school  house  was  sold,  and  has  since  been 
used  as  a  tenement  house. 

In  1850,  the  "old  stone"  school  house,  which  had 
been  unoccupied  for  several  years,  was  refitted  and 
continued  to  be  used  for  school  purposes  until  re- 
placed by  the  present  brick  building.  During  these 
years  several  teachers  were  employed;  among  others 
was  Mrs.  Eliza  Cook,  who  taught  in  the  stone  school 
house  two  years,  in  1856  and  "57,  until  her  marriage 
with  Mr.  David  Williams  in  the  fall  of  1857. 

In  the  same  building,  Mr.  E.  B.  Hubbard,  who  is 
now  a  prominent  druggist  of  Tiffin,  taught  three 
years,  from  the  fall  of  1858  to  the  spring  of  1861. 
Mr.  Hubbard  is  remembered  as  a  very  successful 
teacher,  and  still  keeps  up  his  interest  in  educational 
matters,  being  at  present  president  of  the  board  of 
education  of  Tiffin,  Ohio. 

The  German  school  was  first  started  as  a  private 
enterprise  in  1860,  and  was  held  in  the  house  now 
used  as  a  residence  by  Mr.  John  Warren.  The  first 
German  teacher  that  taught  here  was  Mr.  Ludwick, 
who  is  considered  as  the  best  German  teacher  that  we 
have  ever  had.  The  German  school  was  partially 
united  with  the  union  schools  in  1860,  but  received 
for  a  year  or  two  only  fifty  dollars  from  the  public 
funds.  Mr.  Ludwick  was  followed  by  Mr.  Cobelli, 
who  taught  the  German  school  after  it  was  moved  to 
the  "old  stone"  school  house.  Mr.  Menges  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Cobelli,  and  taught  for  several  years,  and 
was  a  successful  teacher.  Mr.  ilenges  was  followed 
by  Mr.  Rabe,  and  Mr.  Rabe  by  Mr.  Beck,  who  re- 
signed in  October,  1875.  Mrs.  Beck  was  employed 
as  assistant  in  the  German  department  at  the  same 
time.  Her  place  is  filled  by  Miss  Bessie  Radford, 
who  has  had  charge  of  the  English  branches  in  the 
German  department  since  October,  1875. 

Mr.  Jacob  Frenz  succeeded  Mr.  Beck  in  Novem- 
ber, 1875,  and  retained  his  position  nearly  three 
years.  His  successor,  Mr.  Henry  Ebertshauser,  is 
the  present  principal  of  the  German  department. 
The  German  schools  occupy  the  two  lower  rooms  of 
the  school  building  on  West  Main  street.  The  classes 
recite  alternately  in  English  and  German  branches 
during  the  day. 

The  high  school  building  was  erected  in  1861,  al- 
though it  was  not  ready  for  use  until  the  fall  of  1862. 
The  contract  was  so  poorly  filled  that  the  contractor 
was  obliged  to  put  on  the  second  roof  within  a  year. 


and  before  the  board  of  education  would  accept  the 
building.  Mr.  Edward  Bradley  was  the  superintend- 
ent at  the  opening' of  the  high  school  building  in  the 
fall  of  1862.  Mrs.  Bradley  taught  at  the  same  time  in 
a  lower  grade,  and,  also,  during  the  following  year. 
Mr.  Bradley  was  superiiltendent  one  year  in  the  high 
school  building.  After  him  came,  Mr.  Highland, 
from  September,  1863,  to  June,  1864;  Mr.  J.  B.  Love- 
land,  from  September,  1864,  to  June,  1867;  Mr. 
Avery,  from  September,  18G7.  to  June,  1868;  Mr. 
Lovelaud,  from  from  September,  1868,  to  June, 
1869;  Mr.  L.  C.  Laylin,  from  September,  1869,  to 
June,  1875;  Mr.  E.  E.  Phillips,  from  September,  1875, 
to  June,  1877;  Mr.  J.  M.  Greenslade,  from  Septem- 
ber, 1877  to  the  present  time.  The  assistant  super- 
intendents, since  the  occupation  of  the  high  school 
building,  have  been:  Miss  Stella  Sumner,  from  Sep- 
tember, 1862,  to  June,  1864;  Miss  L.  M.  Bates,  from 
September,  1864,  to  December,  1875 — a  little  more 
than  eleven  years;  Miss  L.  E.  Boalt,  from  December, 

1875,  to  June,  1876;  Mrs.  Phillips,  from  September, 

1876.  to  June,  1877;  Mr.  T.  A.  Thayer,  from  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  to  June,  1878;  Mr.  D.  Ross  Boyd,  from 
September,  1878,  to  the  present  time.  In  the  lower 
grades  we  find  that  Miss  Julia  Moore,  now  Mrs. 
Julia  Merry,  taught  from  the  fall  of  1862  to  Decem- 
ber, 1866.  Miss  Lydia  Haskell  taught  in  different 
grades  about  two  years.  Miss  L.  M.  Bates  has  charge 
of  the  A  and  B  grammar  grades.  Mrs.  E.  H.  Wood 
has  taught  in  different  grades  since  1869,  with  two 
intermissions — one  of  four  years,  and  the  other  of  one 
year.  She  now  has  charge  of  the  C  and  D  grammar 
grades.  Miss  Jennie  Howard  has  taught  in  our 
schools  since  1874,  and  now  has  the  Intermediate  de- 
partment. Miss  Julia  Merry  has  been  connected,  as 
teacher,  with  the  schools  since  1868,  and  has  charge 
of  the  A  primary  grade.  Miss  Jennie  Moore  has 
had  the  charge  of  the  B  primary  since  1875.  The 
Bellevue  schools  now  occupy  two  buildings — the  high 
school  building  and  the  brick  school  building  on 
West  Main  street,  which  was  built  in  1871,  and  en- 
larged in  1875.  These  buildings  are  not  large  enough 
to  accommodate  the  number  of  pupils  so  that  the 
bourd  of  education  will  this  year  enlarge  the  high 
school  building,  which  will  even  then  afford  only  tem- 
porary relief.  The  schools  which  started  with  four 
departments  in  1852,  will  next  year  have  nine,  and 
most  of  these  having  two  grades. 

Among  those  that  deserve  mention  for  long  and  faith- 
ful service  as  school  directors,  are  Mr.  William  McKim 
Mr.  David  Moore,  Dr.  J.  W.  Goodson,  Mr.  A.  Leiter, 
Mr.  William  Lieber  and  Mr.  John  Wise.  The  present 
board  of  education  is  comprised  of  the  following 
members :  Mr.  David  Moore,  Mr.  Henry  Weber,  Mr. 
E.  J.  Sheffield,  Mr.  Joseph  Sherck, 'Mr.  AV.  W. 
Williams  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Greene. 

For  several  years  previous  to  1877.  the  course  of 
study  which  had  been  prepared  for  the  schools,  had 
been  disregarded  altogether,  as  not  being  suited  to 
the  wants  of  the  schools.     The  result  was  that  the 


398 


HISTORY  O*"  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


teachers  aud  scliolais  worked  at  a  disadvantage;  and 
their  efforts  were  ill-directed,  or  entirely  wasted. 
The  evil  effects  of  this  lack  of  system  were  especially 
noticeable  in  the  high  school,  where  the  scholars  pur- 
sued such  studies  as  were  agreeable,  without  any  re- 
gard to  previous  training,  or  the  relation  of  the  differ- 
ent studies  to  each  other.  The  board  of  education 
recognizing  the  value  and  necessity  of  systematic 
work  in  our  schools,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  29th 
of  July,  18T7,  adopted  the  present  course  of  study; 
and  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Bellevue  public 
schools,  and  ordered  them  to  be  published.  The  schools 
are  at  present  in  excellent  condition.  In  the  lower 
grades,  the  aim  is  to  give  thorough  instruction  in 
the  common  branches.  In  the  high  school,  all  of  the 
studies  are  pursued  tliat  are  commonly  found  in  a 
good  high  school  course.  Especial  attention  is  paid 
to  the  languages  and  the  natural  sciences.  Through 
the  liberality  of  the  board  of  education,  the  superin- 
tendent has  been  able,  during  the  last  two  years,  to 
accumulate  considerable  apparatus  and  supplies  for 
the  illustration  of  the  natural  sciences. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Among  the  oldest  practioners  of  medicine  in  the 
township,  were  Doctors  Stevens,  Otis,  Boise  and 
Chas.  Smith,  of  Lyme.  Cotemporary  with  them, 
and  earlier,  were  Doctors  Kittredge,  Sanders  and  Til- 
den,  who  visited  the  township  occasionally. 

Dr.  L.  G.  Harkn«ss  was  the  first  physician  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  history  of  Bellevue.  He 
was  born  In  Salem,  Washington  county.  New  York, 
April  1,  1801,  educated  for  his  profession  in  the 
State  of  his  nativity,  and  came  west  in  1823.  He 
located  upon  tlie  ridge,  in  Lyme  township,  and  became 
associated,  professionally,  with  Dr.  Stevens.  He 
removed,  afterward,  to  the  village  of  Bellevue,  and 
n^t  long  after  abandoned  his  practice.  He  continued 
to  reside  here,  however,  and  the  story  of  his  life  is 
quite  fully  told  elsewhere  in  this  history. 

In  1835,  Dr.  Daniel  A.  Lathrop  came  to  Bellevue, 
from  his  birthplace,  Montrose,  Susquehanna  county, 
Pennsylvani;i,  and  almost  immediately  became  a  very 
successful  practitioner,  taking  up  Dr.  Harkness'  ride, 
and  having  all  of  the  business,  which  that  physician 
formerly  attended  to,  upon  his  hands.  He  not  only 
took  Dr.  Harkness'  place,  but  filled  it,  and  enjoyed 
as  extensive  a  piactice,  perhaps,  as  any  physician 
who  ever  located  in  the  village.  It  extended  over  a 
long  term  of  years,  too,  and  really  did  not  terminate 
until  a  short  time  before  the  Doctor's  departure  from 
town,  in  1861,  though  he  was  not  actively  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  profession  for  two  or  three  years 
previous  to  that  date.  Tlie  Doctor  returned  to 
Montrose,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  is  now  located. 
He  is  a  graduate  of  a  Philadelphia  college. 

The  physicians  who  followed  him  were  numerous. 
Wesliall  only  speak  of  those  most  prominently  identi- 
fied witli  the  history  of  the  town.  A  Dr.  Gray  came  in 
and  remained  a  short  time.     Dr.  W.  W.  Stillson  was 


in  practice  for  a  number  of  years  and  removed  to 
Clyde,  where  he  is  at  present  in  practice.  Dr.  Amos 
Woodward,  a  native  of  Lyme,  began  practice  in  1846, 
and  after  six  or  seven  years  retired,  though  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  village  and  has  long  been  one 
of  its  leading  citizens.  Dr.  Charles  Richards,  now  of 
Binghamton,  New  York,  came  in  soon  after  Dr. 
Woodward  began  practice,  and  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  Lathrop,  afterwards  entering  into  practice. 

Dr.  John  W.  Goodson,  now  in  Sterling,  Rice 
county,  Kansas,  began  the  study  of  medicine  in 
Bellevue  about  1840,  and  completed  his  professional 
education  at  Buffalo,  there  receiving  his  diploma. 
He  immediately  returned  to  Bellevue  and  entered  into 
practice,  taking,  almost  from  the  first,  a  prominent 
position,  both  in  the  medical  fraternity  and  in  general 
society.  He  had  a  lucrative  practice  and  accumulated 
a  fine  property.  He  was  for  a  time  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  Seventy-second  Regiment  0.  V.  I.,  and  was 
with  Grant's  army  before  Vicksburg.  The  doctor 
was  a  native  of  England  and  was  born  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1817.  He  came  to  this  country  when  a  lad  ^ 
thirteen  years  of  age.  He  is  now  represented  here  by 
three  children — Mr.  F.  L.  Goodson,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hig- 
bee  and  Miss  Nettie  Goodson.  F.  L.  Goodson  is  the 
village  postmaster,  now  serving  his  third  term  He 
is  popular  both  as  a  man  and  an  officer. 

Dr.  Ralph  A.  Severance  begun  practice  in  Bellevue 
in  1854.  He  was  a  native  of  Greenfield,  Massachu- 
setts, and  read  medicine  there  with  Dr.  Brigham, 
who  was  afterwards  in  charge  of  one  of  the  great 
asylums  for  the  insane.  He  attended  lectures  in  New 
York  city,  and  graduated  from  Bowdoiu  college,  Bow- 
doin,  Maine,  with  the  class  of  1831.  He  first  went 
into  pn:ctice  at  Rockingham,  Vermont,  and  remained 
there  twenty-three  years,  coming  directly  from  that 
place  to  Bellevue,  which  has  ever  since  been  his  home 
and  in  which  village  he  has  constantly  practiced  since 
1854.  He  is  now  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his 
life  and  the  forty-eighth  of  his  practice.  Dr.  Sever- 
ance is  now  in  the  third  year  of  his  presidency  of  the 
Delamater  Medical  Society,  is  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
Medical  Society,  and  of  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation. His  practice  here  has  been  very  extensive 
aud  he  is  esteemed  both  professionally  aud  as  a 
citizen. 

Dr.  J.  J.  Hartz  who  came  to  Bellevue  in  1852.  was 
one  of  the  most  eminent  men  of  the  profession  who 
have  practiced  in  this  part  of  the  State.     He  was  born 
in  Versailles,  France,  in  1798,  and  received  his  medi- 
cal education  at  the  University  of  Heidelberg.     After 
I   coming  to  this  country  he  traveled  through  the  south, 
I   was  for  a  short  time  a  resident  of  Charleston,  and  a 
I   transient  resident  of  Texas.     For  a  number  of  years 
before  coming  to  this  village  he  was  located  in  Por- 
l  tage  county,    and  at  Upper  Sandusky,   in   both   of 
j   which    neighborhoods  he  had  a  very  extensive  prac- 
I   tice.     He  rendered  efficient  service  at  Sandusky  dur- 
ing   the    prevalence   of    the    cholera    there,    going 
I    upon    the  request   of  some  of  the  local   physicians. 


HISTORY  OP  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


399 


During  the  whole  of  his  long  service  in  the  profes- 
sion in  Bellevue,  he  was  regarded  by  all  as  a  man 
of  marked  ability  in  his  profession,  and  as  a  gen- 
tleman of  rare  worth  in  all  of  the  affairs  of  life.  He 
was  a  man  of  liberal  culture  outside  of  medicine,  and 
was  a  remarkable  linguist,  speaking  with  iiueney 
seven  languages.  He  was  ever  the  courteous,  pol- 
ished, dignified  gentleman,  and  won  the  admiration 
and  esteem  of  all.  He  died,  in  1865,  of  consumption, 
such  of  liis  patients  as  were  able,  comiug  to  see  him, 
whom  he  treated  even  up  to  the  hour  when  he  breathed 
his  last;  such  was  their  confidence  in  his  skill.  He 
was  a  surgeon  as  well  as  physician. 

Dr.  H.  L.  Harris,  born  June  30,  1819,  in  Oxford- 
shire, England,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Starling  Medical 
College  of  Columbus,  and  received  his  diploma  in 
1848.  Next  to  Dr.  Severance,  he  is  the  oldest  prac- 
titioner in  the  place.  He  was  in  practice  in  South 
Bend,  and,  in  1849,  removed  to  Flat  Rock,  where  he 
remained  until  1859,  when  he  came  to  Bellevue.  He 
has  enjoyed  a  very  fine  practice  and  is  much  esteemed 
by  all  who  know  him. 

Quite  a  number  of  physicians  have  practiced  in  the 
Tillage  for  a  short  term  of  years  and  then  removed  to 
other  points,  among  whom  may  be  named  Drs.  Zen- 
dry,  Carpenter,  Heppurn,  Hayes  and  Frost..  The 
physicians  of  Bellevue  are,  at  present,  as  follows: 
Drs.  Ralph  A.  Severance,  H.  L.  Harris,  Geo.  L. 
Lanterman,  W.  S.  Robinson,  G.  V.  Parmelee  (suc- 
cessor of  Dr.  Carpenter)  and  Chas.  Sandmeister.  The 
dentists  are  Drs.  E.  D.  and  Alexander  Lord.  Dr.  G. 
N.  Harcy  is  a  regular  practitioner  of  medicine  in 
the  township,  and  is  located  on  Strong's  ridge. 

BELLEVUE  CEMETERY. 

This  cemetery  was  begun  about  the  time  of  tlie 
first  laying  out  of  the  village  of  Bellevue,  in  1835,  on 
land  given  for  the  purpose  by  Messrs.  Chapman,  Hark- 
ness  and  Amsden,  who  were  the  first  proprietors  of 
the  land  on  which  the  town  is  now  situated.  The 
first  burial  in  this  ground  was  that  of  Rebecca  Chris- 
topher, who  died  March  30,  1836.  At  the  time  of 
giving  the  land  for  this  purpose,  the  owners  fenced  it. 

In  1855,  the  village  authorities  purchased  some- 
thing more  than  five  acres  of  land  and  made  an  addi- 
tion to  the  cemetery,  which  now  contains  over  seven 
acres.  The  old  part  was  laid  out  in  good  form  as  far 
as  practicable,  with  walks  and  paths  between  the  lots, 
but  no  uniformity  had  been  observed  in  first  laying 
it  out,  and  it  was  not  possible  to  arrange  it  according 
to  the  best  order,  still  it  was  much  improved.  The 
addition  was  laid  out  in  good  shape,  and  lots  staked 
off,  which  have  been  disposed  of  from  time  to  time. 
When  the  last  purchase  was  made  a  board  of  trustees 
was  elected,  consisting  of  W.  H.  King,  mayor  of  the 
village  at  the  time,  Barney  York,  Lowell  Chandler 
and  D.  Moore,  for  terms  of  one,  two  and  three  years. 
One  trustee  is  now  elected  yearly.  The  board,  at  pres- 
ent, consists  of  D.  Moore,  Joseph  Sherck  and  Martin 
Gross.     Most  of  the  religious  denominations  of  the 


town  burv  their  dead  in  this  cemetery,  as  it  is  situ- 
ated in  a  better  location  than  any  other  ground  in  the 
vicinity.  D.  Moore  is  superintendent  of  the  cemetery, 
and  has  acted  in  that  capacity  most  of  the  time  since 
its  organization. 

FIRE    DEPARTMEXT. 

In  June,  1870,  the  village  council  of  Bellevue  pur- 
chased a  second-hand  hand  fire  engine,  a  hose  cart  and 
several  hundred  feet  of  hose  from  the  authorities  of 
Tiffin,  for  the  sum  of  about  three  hundred  dollars. 
A  fire  company  was  organized  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Goodson, 
foreman;  Charles  Nicolai,  first  assistant:  B.  Benn, 
second  assistant,  and  J.  H.  Webber,  secretary.  In 
1874,  council  appointed  as  chief  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, A.  B.  Smith,  who  served  in  that  capacity  lor 
one  year.  In  1875  William  R.  West  succeeded  him, 
he  also  remaining  one  year.  Charles  Nicolai  was  ap- 
pointed in  1876  and  served  until  1879,  when  C.  C. 
Cook  was  appointed.  A  first  class  Silsby  rotary  steam 
fire  engine  was  purchased  in  1875,  with  a  hose  cart 
and  one  thousand  feet  of  hose,  at  a  cost  of  about  four 
thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  In  May,  1879,  the 
companies  were  re-organized  and  formed  into  one 
company,  under  one  set  of  officers,  but  one  division 
was  assigned  to  the  engine,  another  to  the  hose,  and 
another  to  the  hook  and  ladder.  The  officers  elected 
were  John  Eichhorn,  foreman;  John  Toomy,  first  as- 
sistant; William  Estnaur,  second  assistant;  John  L. 
Painter,  secretary;  William  Mayne,  engineer  and 
treasurer.  The  "  hooks  "  were  first  organized  in  1877, 
more  as  a  sporting  company,  though  active  at  fi^-es. 
C.  C.  Cook  was  captain;  John  M.  Enright,  foreman; 
Seth  H.  Cook,  assistant  foreman;  J.  C.  Morrell.  sec- 
retary, and  Thomas  Rudd,  treasurer.  Under  this  or- 
ganization they  ran  for  prizes  twelve  times,  and  were 
successful  iu  eleven  runs.  Their  fastest  time  was 
made  in  Norwalk,  when  tliey  had  a  man  at  the  top  of 
a  thirty  foot  ladder,  after  a  run  of  forty  rods,  in  thir- 
ty-four and  one-half  seconds.  On  the  re-organization 
of  the  fire  department  the  hooks  became  a  jMrt  of  that 
organization,  but  still  retain  their  sporting  organiza- 
tion. Under  the  organization  of  May,  1879,  the  fire 
company  assumed  the  name  of  the  Ever  Ready  Fire 
Company,  No.  1,  of  Bellevue.  The  steamer,  hose 
cart  and  ladder  trucks,  are  kept  in  the  lower  story  of 
the  fine  city  hall,  and  are,  as  the  name  of  the  comjia- 
ny  implies,  ever  ready  for  duty. 


SOCIETIES. 


IKDEPENDE> 


UriEK  OF  ODD  FELLOWS. 


The  charter  of  Bellevue  Lodge,  No.  123,  I.  0.  0. 
F.,  was  granted  July  21,  1848.  Tiie  following  are 
names  of  the  charter  members:  William  W.  Stilson, 
A.  Leiter.  M.  H.  Seymour,  R.  C.  McElhany  and  P. 
G.  Sharp.  The  lodge  was  instituted  November  9th, 
of  the  same  year,  by  Grand  Master  McElwin,  when 
the  following  officers  were  elected:  A.  Leiter,  N.  G. ; 
Wm.  W.  Stilson,  V.  G. ;    W.  H.  Seymour,  R.  S. ;  R. 


400 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


C.  McElhauy,  P.  S.;  P.  G.  Sharp,  treasurer.  The 
N.  G.  appointed  C.  Cone,  Con.;  T.  Baker,  warden; 
F.  H.  Cone,  I.  G.:  J.  Hoover,  0.  G.;  J.  L.  Hunt, 
R.  S.  to  N.  G. :  S.  G.  Culver,  L.  S.  to  N.  G. ;  H.  G. 
Harris,  R.  S.  S. ;  C.  D.  Dwight,  L.  S.  S. ;  B.  F. 
Taylor,  R.  S.  to  V.  G. ;  C.  L.  Cook,  L.  S.  to  V.  (i. 
Meetings  are  held  Monday  evenings  of  each  week. 
The  present  membership  is  fifty.  Officers  for  1879 
are:  John  H.  Mayne,  N.  G. ;  John  Painter,  V.  6.; 
Thomas  Thornloe,  R.  S.;  John  Earls,  P.  S.;  George 
Schuster,  treasurer.  The  society  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition. 

FREE    AXD    ACCEPTED    MASONS. 

A  charter  was  issued  by  the  grand  lodge  at  its 
session  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  October  26,  1855,  for 
Bellevue  Lodge,  No.  3v3,  F.  and  A.  Masons.  The 
charter  members  were:  W.  B.  Disbro,  L.  W.  Frary, 
L.  8.  Chandler,  M.  Peters,  D.  A.  Lathrop,  James 
Cady,  W.  B.  Dimick  and  C.  B.  Gambles.  The  first 
officers  were:  W.  B.  Disbro,  W.  M.;  L.  W.  Frary, 
S.  W. ;  L.  S.  Chandler,  J.  W.  The  present;  officers 
are:  John  Cowle,  W.  M. ;  Charles  Welsh,  8.  W. ;  C. 
C.  Cook,  J.  W.;  S.  P.  Gaugler,  secretary;  R.  A.  Sev- 
erance, treasurer;  Stephen  Birdsall,  S.  D. :  L.  Haxton, 
J.  D. ;  E.  0.  Merry,  Tyler. 

ROYAL  ARCH  MASOXS. 

A  charter  was  issued  for  Bellevue  Chapter,  R.  A.  M., 
No.  113,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  October  17,  1868.  The 
charter  members  were:  D.  M.  Harkness,  J.  K.  Rich- 
ards, R.  A.  Severance,  W.  W.  Beymer,  W.  E.  Greene, 
M.  A.  Barnes,  H.  Peck  and  John  Cowles.  The 
following  officers  were  appointed:  R.  A.  Severance, 
high  priest;  H.  Peck,  king:  W.  E.  Greene,  scribe. 
.  The  present  officers  are:  R,  A.  Severance,  H.  P.; 
John  Cowle,  king;  D.  M.  Harkness,  scribe;  \V.  E. 
Greene,  captain  of  host;  C.  C.  Cook,  prin.  sojourner; 
Charles  Welsh,  R.  A.  Capt.;  Eugene  Smith,  Gr. 
Master  3d  vail;  Charles  Nicolai,  Gr.  Master  ad  vail; 
Thos.  H.  Wood,  Gr.  Master  1st  vail;  J.  A.  Higbee, 
secretary;  H.  C.  Moll,  treasurer;  E.  0.  Merry,  guard. 

KXIGHTS    OF    HOXOR. 

Bellevue  Lodge  No.  957,  Knights  of  Honor,  was 
organized  March  8,  1878,  with  the  following  charter 
members:  H.  X.  Richards,  R.  A.  Boyer,  F.  L.  Good- 
son,  R.  Greenslade,  W.  H.  Kern,  G.  S.  Lanterman, 
H.  F.  Baker,  G.  A.  Beckwith,  H.  B.  Acker,  E.  H. 
Smith,  T.  H.  Wood,  J.  W.  Close,  Wm.  Mayne, 
Joseph  Scherck,  E.  W.  Dorsey,  T.  C.  Wood,  C."  D. 
Smith,  W.  H.  Dimick,  Joseph  Bannister,  Thomas 
Thorneloe,  C.  H.  Welch.  The  first  officers  were:  H. 
F.  Baker,  P.  D.;  E.  H.  Smith,  D.:  H.  N.  Richards, 
V.  D.;  George  A.  Beckwith,  A.  D.;  R.  Greenslade, 
chaplain;  R.  A.  Boyer,  guard;  F.  L.  Goodson,  R. ; 
W.  H.  Kern,  F.  R.;  Joseph  Scherck,  treasurer;  W. 
H.  Dimick,  guardian;  Wm.  Mayne,  sentinel.  The 
lodge  was  instituted  by  H.  R.  Shomo,  grand  dictator 
of  Ohio.     Meetings  are  held  Wednesday  evening  of 


each  week  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  thirty-seven.  Officers  for  1879  are:  E.  H. 
Smith,  P.  D.;  H.  N.  Richards,  D.;  R.  A.  Boyer,  V. 
D. ;  W.  H.  Kern,  A.  D. ;  Rev.  D.  C.  Eckerman,  chap- 
lain; W.  H.  Benn, -guard;  W.  H.  Dimick,  R.;  H.  Z. 
Fisher,  F.  R. ;  H.  B.  Acker,  treasurer;  J.  P.  Korner, 
guardian;  and  James  Bannister,  sentinel.  This  society 
is  in  a  fine  condition  financiallv. 


Chapman,  Harkness  &  Company  for  some  years 
prior  to  1852,  Harkness  &  Company  from  1852  to 
1868,  and  H.  M.  Sinclair  from  1868  to  1873,  carried 
on  a  business  comprising  some  of  the  features  of 
banking;  but  it  was  not  until  1871  that  a  house  was 
established  with  the  clearly  defined  object  of  doing  a 
strictly  banking  business.  On  the  22d  of  May,  of 
1871,  was  organized  the  banking  firm  of  Wood, 
Woodward  &  Company,  Bourdett  Wood,  Abishai 
Woodward  and  E.  J.  Sheffield  being  the  partners. 
Prior  to  that  time,  there  was  no  bank  in  Bellevue  that 
pretended  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  various  classes  of 
borrowers  of  money.  H.  M.  Sinclair  &  Company, 
grain  buyers  and  flouring  merchants,  kept  a  bank  of 
deposit  and  exchange,  but  did  not  aim  to  accommo- 
date the  borrowing  public,  so  as  to  supply  the  needs 
of  every  applicant  who  could  furnish  adequate  se- 
curity. There  was,  therefore,  a  want  felt  for  just 
such  a  business  institution  as  the  Bellevue  bank 
proved  to  be.  Its  career  has  been  one  of  rapidly 
growing  prosperity.  The  partnership  was  a  strong 
combination,  and  inspired  its  patrons  with  confidence. 
Mr.  Wood  was  a  man  of  wealth,  an  old  citizen,  known 
and  esteemed  far  and  near,  and  Mr.  W^oodward  had 
long  been  identified  with  business  interests  in  Bellevue, 
and  was  universally  respected  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  man 
of  sound  judgment  and  unquestioned  integrity,  while 
Mr.  Sheffield  had  been  in  the  employ  of  H.  M.  Sin- 
clair &  Company  for  a  number  of  years,  had  grown 
familiar  with  the  details  of  the  banking  business, 
and  had  become  favorably  known  to  the  farmers  and 
the  business  public.  With  these  primary  qualifica- 
tions, he  united  others  very  essential  to  the  successful 
managing  officer  of  a  banking  house.  He  was  careful 
as  to  his  securities,  made  the  art  of  pleasing  a  study, 
thoroughly  acquainted  himself  Avith  the  responsibility 
of  his  patrons,  and  kept  the  business  in  such  admira- 
ble condition  as  to  be  able  and  ready  to  supply 
every  application  for  a  loan  that  came  accompanied 
with  proper  evidence  of  security.  The  result  has 
been  that  the  bank  has  steadily  increased  in  its  busi- 
ness operations  and  grown  in  favor  with  its  patrons. 
The  firm  opened  their  bank  in  the  room  now  occu- 
pied by  the  First  National  Bank,  but  in  1875,  pur- 
chased, of  Mr.  Woodward,  the  site  of  the  present 
building,  and  erected  the  fine  brick  block  wherein 
the  bank  is  now  located.  In  September,  1876,  the 
bank  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  State  legislature, 
and  commenced  business  October  2,  1876,  as  a  stock 
company.     The  capital  stock  with  which  the  bank 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


401 


organized  was  one  hundred  tliousand  dollars,  Messrs. 
Wood,  Woodward  and  Sheffield  becoming  the  largest 
stockholders.  The  company  included  many  of  the 
leading  business  men  in  the  place  and  several  of  the 
ablest  farmers  in  the  vicinity.  A  board  of  directors 
was  chosen  September  23,  1876,  consisting  of  Bourdett 
Wood,  Abishai  Woodward,  E.  J.  Sheffield,  Andrew 
Smith,  A.  C.  Beckwith,  and  the  following  year  two 
more  directors  were  added,  viz:  D.  M.  Harkness  and 
J.  B.  Higbee.  Bourdett  Wood  was  chosen  president; 
Abishai  Woodward,  vice-president;  and  E.  J.  Shef- 
field, cashier;  and  these  gentlemen  are  the  present 
officers,  with  Abishai  Woodward,  Jr.,  as  teller.  The 
stockholders  of  this  bank  in  number  represent  not 
less  than  one  million  three  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
two  of  the  directors,  Mr.  Wood  and  Mr.  H.arkness, 
representing,  together,  three-fourths  of  a  million. 

The  First  National  Bank  was  organized  September 
30,  1875,  the  capital  stock  being  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  directors  are :  J.  T.  Worthington,  Dr. 
Amos  Woodward,  J.  B.  Higbee,  William  McKim, 
■Joseph  Egle  and  J.  K.  Richards.  J.  T.  Worthing- 
ton is  president,  and  E.  H.  Brown  the  efficient 
cashier. 

DRY    GOODS. 

In  this  line  of  business.  Mi-.  Anthony  Ruffing, 
Messrs.  Boyer  &  Eichhorn,  and  Hilbish,  Harsch  & 
Co.,  supply  the  needs  of  the  denizens  of  Bellevue  and 
surrounding  country.  Mr.  Ruffing  has  been  in  Belle- 
vue since  1856,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  dry 
goods  business,  either  as  a  clerk,  partner  or  sole  pro- 
prietor, ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  five  or  six 
years.  No  man  in  Bellevue  is  more  attentive  to  his 
business.  Of  a  quiet  and  reserved  disposition,  he, 
nevertheless,  is  very  industrious  and  energetic,  and 
has  built  up  a  very  successful  trade.  He  enjoys  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  all  classes  of  citizens.  Mr. 
Joseph  Boyer,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Boyer  &  Eichhorn,  has  been  in  the  dry  goods  business 
since  1863,  at  which  time  he  connected  himself  with 
Applegate  &  Company.  In  1865,  he  took  the  lead- 
ing place  in  the  business,  and  the  firm  was  thereafter 
known  as  J.  H.  Boyer  &  Co.,  until  1868,  when  Mr. 
Eichhorn  was  received  as  a  partner.  Both  these  gen- 
tlemen are  peculiarly  well  adapted  to  the  pursuit  they 
follow,  and  enjoy  a  generous  share  of  the  community's 
patronage.  Hilbish,  Harsch  &  Co.  have  but  recently 
established  themselves  in  this  business. 

E.  M.  Wolf,  the  village  clothier,  came  to  Bellevue 
in  1863,  and  established  himself  in  business  in  the 
same  room  he  now  occupies.  He  has  not  changed 
his  place  of  bnsiness  a  single  time  in  all  these  years, 
and  his  prosperity  is  proof  that  he  is  poi)uhir  with 
his  patrons. 

MANUFACTURING. 

FLOUR. 

Messrs.  Higbee  &  Company  are  the  proprietors  of  a 
business  industry  of  great  value  and  importance  to 

51 


the  prosperity  and  growth  of  Bellevue.  The  sur- 
rounding country,  for  many  miles  north,  south  and 
west,  can  with  difficulty  be  excelled  as  a  wheat  pro- 
ducing country.  The  soil,  a  mixture  of  sand  and 
clay,  with  a  substratum  of  limestone,  contains  all  the 
needed  ingredients  for  the  abundant  gi'owth  of  this 
cereal.  The  senior  member  of  this  firm,  in  the  year 
1849,  taking  cognizance  of  the  fact  that  this  was  an 
excellent  wheat  district,  and  that  Bellevue  might  give 
birth  to  a  business  that  would  stimulate  the  produc- 
tion of  this  grain,  undertook  the  erection  of  a  flour- 
ing mill.  He  was  connected  in  this  enterprise  with  a 
Mr.  Lawrence,  and  on  the  first  of  January,  1850,  the 
stone  mill,  with  four  run  of  stone,  and  a  building 
thirty-six  by  eighty  feet  on  the  ground  and  sixty  feet 
in  height,  was  opened  to  the  public.  Hither  came 
the  farmers  with  their  wheat  and  found  a  ready  active 
market.  In  1853,  Mr.  Higbee  purchased  his  partner's 
interest,  and  continued  the  business  single  handed. 
In  1859,  his  mill  was  burned  but  was  immediately  re- 
built. In  later  years  L.  F.  Harris,  and  his  son, 
J.  A.  Higbee,  were  admitted  as  partners.  Mr.  Har- 
ris soon  withdrew,  Mr.  Higbee  and  his  son  continuing 
the  business.  In  1873,  or  early  in  1874,  the  Higbee's 
purchased  the  mill  of  H.  M.  Sinclair  &  Co.,  and  re- 
ceived Mr.  T.  L.  Branan  as  a  partner.  Higbee  &  Co., 
in  the  persons  of  J.  B.  Higbee,  J.  A.  Higbee  and  T. 
L.  Branan,  became  the  proprietors  of  these  two  large 
fine  flouring  mills,  the  largest  industry  of  the  kind  un- 
der one  management  in  Northern  Ohio.  The  old  mill, 
or  the  stone  mill,  had,  in  the  meantime,  been  enlarged, 
and  at  this  time  contains  nine  run  of  stone,  and  has 
a  producing  capacity  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  barrels 
of  flour  per  diem,  while  the  Sinclair  mill  produces  two 
hundred  barrels.  Worked  to  their  full  capacity,  every 
working  day  in  the  year,  these  mills  would  turn  out 
about  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  barrels  of  flour 
per  year.  The  firm,  besides  supplying  the  home  de- 
mand, ship  about  seventy-five  thousand  barrels  yearly. 
This  flour  goes  to  all  points  along  the  Lake  Shore 
road,  east,  and  into  Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  the 
New  England  States.  They  tell  us  that  they  purchase 
not  less  than  five  liundred  .thousand  bushels  of  wheat 
per  yeai'. 

In  addition  to  their  milling  business,  this  firm  is 
the  largest  grain  buyers  and  shippers  in  this  section 
of  the  State.  They  own  two  large  elevators  at  this 
point  and  one  in  Clyde.  In  addition,  they  ship  grain 
from  all  the  principal  points  along  both  branches  of 
the  Lake  Shore  road  between  Toledo  and  Cleveland. 
This  house  is  likewise  interested  as  an  equal  partner 
with  Mr.  T.  R.  Butman  in  the  hitter's  patents  of  hot 
blast  furnace  automatic  doors  and  rocking  grates, 
which  are  marvels  in  their  way.  They  act  as  pre- 
ventives of  smoke,  and  save  both  labor  and  fuel. 
The  firm  have  their  main  office  at  this  place  with  a 
branch  office  at  Cincinnati.  These  doors  and  grates 
are  in  great  demand.  Mr.  J.  B.  Higbee,  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm,  has  been  identified' with  the 
1  growth  and  prosperity  of   Bellevue  for  upwards  of 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


forty-five  years,  aud  history  may  candidly  record  for  )  these  gentlemen.     They  have  always  been  industrious, 

him  the  fact  that  he  has  always  been  a  public-spirited  j  hard-working  men,  aud  rank  among  Bellevue"s  best 

citizen,  making  liberal  investments  in  various  kinds  citizens. 

of  business  promotive  of  the  growth  of  the  place.  '  fukxitire. 


William  and  B.  F.  McKim  came  here  from  Seneca 
county.  New  York,  in  1849,  and  started  a  cooper  shop 
in  a  log  house,  near  the  present  residence  of  Mr. 
William  Patterson.  Here  they  carried  forward  a 
small  business  for  about  three  years  when  they  built 
them  a  shop  on  the  gi'ound  now  occupied  by  the  re- 
sidence of  B.  F.  McKim,  and  after  remaining  here  for 
two  years  longer,  they  built  a  shop  near  Messrs. 
Higbee  &  Co.'s  stone  mill.  Having  secured  the  trade 
of  the  latter  named  firm  for  whom  they  made  flour 
barrels,  tlieir  business  gradually  prospered,  and  was 
conducted  with  good  success  for  five  years,  when  B. 
F.  McKim  was  induced  to  accept  the  position  of  fore- 
man of  the  shops  of  Messrs.  Harkness  &  Co.,  dis- 
tillers, which  position  he  filled  with  much  credit  for 
fourteen  years.  In  the  meantime  William  kept -the 
old  business  going.  The  two  brothers,  about  the 
year  1§09,  decided  to  resume  their  co-partnership  re- 
lations, and  at  the  same  time,  to  enlarge  their  business. 
They  purchased  the  shops  near  the  present  Power 
building  from  H.  M.  Sinclair  &  Co.,  at  that  time  the 
owners,  and  soon  fitted  up  one  of  the  buildings  for 
the  reception  of  machinery.  Hitherto  barrel  making 
had  been  done  exclusively  by  hand.  From  this  time 
forward  they  were  enabled  to  greatly  augment  the 
amount  of  their  production  without  increasing  the 
labor  and  expense.  At  the  time  of  this  purchase, 
they  employed  twenty-five  men.  In  1871,  the  Belle- 
vue  Power  Company,  having  completed  their  build- 
ing, the  McKim  Brothers  rented  a  portion  of  the 
same,  and  purchasing  new  machinery,  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  barrels  on  a  much  larger 
scale  than  hitherto  had  been  known  to  theiu.  To-day, 
he,  who  visits  their  works,  will  be  astonished  at  the  ex- 
tent and  scope  of  their  business.  They  employ  an 
average  of  sixty  men,  and  their  producing  capacity 
is  four  hundred  barrels  per  day.  It  requires  nearly 
two  thousand  dollars  per  week  to  pay  for  labor,  ma- 
terial, expense,  etc.  Their  goods  are  shipped  to 
Chicago,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Baltimore,  New-  York 
and  other  eastern  markets.  A  novel  feature  of  their 
business  is  the  shipment  of  barrels  in  the  knock  down. 
After  a  barrel  is  made,  it  is  taken  to  pieces,  each 
stave,  hoop  and  head  carefully  numbered,  and  in  this 
way  the  goods  are  shipped  to  distant  markets.  By 
this  procedure  they  are  enabled  to  ship  four  hundred 
ban-els  in  a  single  car  load,  whereas,  by  the  former 
method  they  can  ship  but  one  hundred. 

Most  of  their  barrels  are  for  oil,  but  they  make  a 
great  many  flour  barrels,  aud  in  the  season  a  large 
number  of  eider  barrels.  Last  fall  their  manufacture 
of  this  kind  of  barrel  reached  the  numljcr  of  twenty- 
one  thousand. 

No  business  house  deserves  prosijerity  more  than 


Wood  Brothers  &  Sawyer,  Wood,  Sawyer  &  Com- 
pany, The  Bellevue  Furniture  Company,  and  Wood 
&  Smith,  represent  the  changes  that  have  occurred 
in  the  business  of  manufacturing  furniture  in  Belle- 
vue. In  the  year  1871,  J.  B.  Wood,  T.  H.  Wood 
and  George  Sawyer,  forrned  a  copartnership,  under 
the  title  of  Wood  Brothers  &  Sawyer,  rented  power 
and  bench  room  of  tlie  Bellevue  Power  Company, 
and  having  purchased  the  requisite  machinery,  began 
the  business  of  the  manfacture  of  furniture  for 
the  wholesale  trade.  In  February,  of  1873,  the  firm 
was  enlarged  by  the  admission  of  W.  W.  Williams, 
and  was  thereafter  known  as  Wood,  Sawyer  & 
Company,  until  the  year  1875,  when,  in  the  month 
of  September,  it  was  changed  to  the  Bellevue  Furni- 
ture Company,  the  business  having  been  converted  into 
a  stock  company,  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  thirty- 
seven  thousand,  five  hundred  dollars.  More  than 
one-half  of  this  stock  was  owned  by  two  individuals 
of  the  company,  the  president,  and  the  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  more  than  one-half  the  remainder  by 
the  three  persons  who  composed  the  firm  of  Wood 
Brothers  &  Sawyer.  In  the  winter  of  1876,  the 
company  resolved  to  vacate  tlie  Power  Company's 
building,  and  an  engine,  boiler  and  shafting  were 
purchased,  and  Mr.  Williams"  building,  on  Kilbourne 
street,  was  put  in  shape  to  receive  the  machinery,  and 
the  business  from  thenceforward  was  carried  on  in 
said  building.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  the  company 
decided  to  abandon  the  business.  The  prices  of 
furniture  had  undergone  a  constant  decline  since  the 
fall  of  1873,  until  they  had  reached  fifty  per  cent.,  or 
more;  the  failures  of  dealers  had  been  numerous,  and 
despite  the  utmost  caution  the  losses  of  the  company 
from  this  cause  were  many  thousands  of  dollars.  In 
closing  out,  Mr.  B.  Wood,  who  liad  sustained  by  far 
the  greatest  loss,  purchased  the  machinery  and  goods 
of  the  company,  and  came  into  possession  of  the  Wil- 
liams' block.  He  thereupon  rented  the  building  and 
machinery  to  T.  H.  Wood  and  E.  H.  Smith,  who  have 
conducted  the  business  since  January  29,  1878,  and 
now,  that  prices  and  material  have  reached  an  almost 
unvarying  standard,  the  gentlemen  are  in  a  fair  way 
to  make  the  business  prosperous  aud  remunerative. 
They  demand  of  their  workmen  that  every  article 
produced  shall  be  without  a  flaw,  and  their  goods  are 
giving  excellent  satisfaction.  We  trust  that  a  future 
historian  may  record  for  them  a  success  which  shall 
vary  through  many  succeeding  years  only  as  it  sliall 
grow  more  and  more  abundant. 

FOl'XDRY    AXD  AGEICTLTfRAL    WORKS. 

A  foundry  was  started  on  Southwest  street,  near 
Main,  about  1873,  by  Woodward  &  Mayne,  for  the 
manufacture  of  plows  and  other  agricultural  iniple- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


403 


ments.  Some  two  years  after  starting,  their  foundry 
burned  down.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt,  and  is 
still  in  o)ieration,  in  the  manufacture  of  plows  and 
points,  and  such  other  castings  as  may  be  ordered, 
though  they  do  no  general  foundry  work.  They  also 
have  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop  in  connection  with 
their  foundry,  and  turn  out  quite  a  number  of  bug- 
gies and  wagons  yearly.  At  present  they  deal  spe- 
cially in  agricultural  implements,  keeping  the  best 
makes  of  mowing  machines,  rakes,  drills,  etc.  As 
the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Bellevue  is  largely  de- 
voted to  agricultural  pursuits,  thei-e  is  and  has  been 
a  good  demand  for  articles  in  which  they  deal. 

DISTILLERIES. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  county  a  small  dis- 
tillery was  started  near  Bellevue.  The  grain  used 
was  ground  at  Clear  Creek  and  the  still  was  run  bv 
hand.     This  was  previous  to  1836. 

In  October,  1849,  Chapman,  Harkness  &  Company 
built  the  first  large  distillery,  with  a  capacity  of  sixty 
bushels  of  grain  per  day.  This  was  run  until  1852, 
when  it  was  sold  to  D.  M.  Harkness,  who  formed  a 
partnership  with  L.  G.  Harkness  and  H.  M.  Flagler. 
It  was  then  increased  to  a  capacity  of  six  hundred 
bushels  of  grain  daily,  and  was  run  under  this  man 
agement  until  1864,  when  it  was  purchased  by  H.  M 
Sinclair.  Since  that  time  it  has  not  been  run  contin 
uously  and  is  now  abandoned  as  a  distillery. 

In  1853,  Chapman,  Woodward  &  Company  bnilt 
another  distillery,  with  a  capacity  for  six  hundred 
bushels  daily.  This  distillery  has  been  run  most  of 
the  time  since  built  and  is  still  in  operation. 

The  original  cost  of  these  distilleries  was  not  far 
from  thirty  thousand  dollars  each. 

CAKRIAGE   WORKS. 

In  April,  1876,  Dehe  S.  Reiling  purchased  the 
Gooper  shop  on  the  corner  of  North  West  and  Castalia 
streets,  and  converted  it  into  a  carriage  shop.  They 
built  an  addition  to  the  building  then  on  the  ground, 
and  have  since  that  time  done  a  large  business,  prin- 
cipally in  making  and  repairing  carriages  and  buggies. 
Their  shop  is  eighty-four  by  twenty-six  feet,  a  part  of 
it  being  two  stories  in  height;  under  the  rear  portion 
of  the  building  is  the  smith  and  ironing  shop.  A 
ready  sale  is  found  for  their  manufactures,  mostly 
among  the  farming  community  of  Bellevue,  San- 
dusky and  Norwalk.  They  turn  out,  yearly,  from 
fifty  to  sixty  carriages  and  buggies,  besides  doing  a 
large  business  at  repairing.  At  this  time,  spring  of 
1879,  they  employ  nine  men,  and  need  more  shop 
room  than  they  have.  Both  members  of  the  firm  are 
practical  men,  and  understand  every  detail  of  the 
business,  and  though  they  started  in  a  very  unpropi- 
tious  time,  a  good  measure  of  success  has  attended  the 
earnest  perseverance  they  have  shown. 

THE   EARMER'S    elevator. 

Early  in  1875,  the  farmers  living  in  the  vicinity 
of  Bellevue  formed   a  joint   stock  company  for  the 


purpose  of  erecting  an  elevator  that  should  be  under 
their  own  control,  and  from  which  they  could  ship 
their  grain  if  they  thought  best,  or  could  sell  on  the 
street  if  prices  offered  suited  them.  The  charter 
members  of  this  company  consisted  of  seventeen  per- 
sons, and  stock  was  subscribed  to  the  amount  of  five 
thousand  dollars. 

A  building  about  twenty  four  by  sixty  feet  was 
erected  and  completed  September  11,  1875.  An  en- 
gine house  was. also  built  and  an  engine  provided  for 
hoisting  grain  and  running  a  cleaner  and  a  mill  for 
grinding  feed.  The  cost  was  about  nine  thousand 
dollars,  a  part  of  it  being  paid  from  earnings  of  the 
elevator  after  its  completion.  The  building  and  at- 
tachments were  put  in  charge  of  John  Decker,  who, 
the  first  season,  received  and  shipped  some  four  hun- 
dred thousand  bushels  of  grain. 

On  the  night  of  April  10,  1878,  the  elevator  was 
burned.  A  new  one  was  immediately  commenced, 
and  was  in  running  order  about  August  1,  1878,  but 
the  feed  mill  and  cleaner  were  not  replaced.  "Mr. 
Decker  continued  as  manager  until  November,  1878, 
when  Messrs.  Wood  &  Close  took  charge.  The  first 
of  .January,  1879,  they  leased  the  elevator,  the  stock- 
holders reserving  the  right  to  use  it  for  their  own 
grain,  on  paying  the  lessees  one  cent  per  bushel  for 
elevating  and  storing.  Since  the  1st  of  January, 
Wood  &  Close  have  shipped  (to  May  15,  1879,)  about 
one  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain.  They  also 
sell  clover  and  grass  seed,  plaster,  cement,  etc.  They 
are  enterprising,  reliable  young  men,  and  are  build- 
ing up  a  promising  business. 

The  stock  company  is  managed  by  a  board  of 
directors  consisting  of  nine  persons,  three  of  whom 
form  an  executive  committee.  It  is  believed  by  the 
members  of  the  company  that  since  the  erection  of 
the  elevator,  prices  for  grain  have  ruled  firmer,  and 
thus  the  patrons  have  received  benefit  from  the  invest- 
ment. 

There  are'  two  elevators  in  the  building,  both  run 
by  horse  power,  two  horses  being  usecJ.  This  is 
found  much  more  economical  than  an  engine,  and 
answers  the  purpose  equally  well. 

WATER    WORKS. 

The  village  of  Bellevue  is  situated  in  a  compara- 
tively level  country,  with  no  hills  and  no  elevated 
land  from  which  to  obtain  water  by  means  of  springs  or 
natural  reservoirs.  Underlying  it  is  a  limestone  for- 
mation, full  of  cracks  and  seams,  by  means  of  which 
the  surface  water  is  effectually  drained  off,  thus  form- 
ing a  fine  system  of  drainage  for  farms,  but  giving 
the  town  the  reputation  of  a  dry  place.  On  the  pur- 
chase of  a  hand  fire  engine,  in  18G9,  cisterns  wei'e 
built  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  but  the  supply  of 
water  was  not  thought  adequate.  About  that  time 
the  subject  of  some  system  of  water  works  was  agi- 
tated, and  the  village  authorities  caused  an  experi- 
mental well  to  be  bored,  but  tlic  drill  became  stuck 
and  it  was  given  up. 


404 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


In  ism,  tlie  village  council  submitted  the  question 
of  a  reservoir,  to  be  fed  by  a  large  ditch  on  the  eastern 
border  of  the  corporation,  to  the  people  for  a  vote, 
which  resulted  almost  unanimously  in  its  favor,  only 
two  votes  being  recorded  against  the  question.  An 
ordinance  was  then  parsed  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  water  works,  and  providing  for  the  issue  of 
bonds  of  the  village,  not  to  exceed  the  amount  of 
forty  thousand  dollars,  the  same  to  expire  in  1880. 
A  special  election  was  held  July  5,  1873,  for  the  elec- 
tion of  three  trustees,  for  one,  two,  and  three  years. 
J.  W.  Goodsou,  A.  B.  Smith,  and  B.  Moore  were 
elected,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  work  out  the 
plan.  A  lot  of  five  acres  was  purchased  from  McKim 
and  Bates,  with  the  right  of  way  to  the  ditch  before 
mentioned.  Two  more  acres  were  subsequently  added 
to  the  first  purchase,  making  the  present  area  seven 
acres.  In  digging  out  the  reservoir,  the  dirt  was 
piled  up  around  the  sides,  making  a  substantial  em- 
bankment. The  gravel  in  the  side  of  the  ridge  was 
struck  in  some  places,  and  when  the  reservoir  is  full , 
the  water  filters  through  the  gravel  into  the  ridge  for 
a  great  distance,  forming  an  almost  inexhaustible 
supply,  for  one  season  at  least. 

In  1875,  water  conductors  were  laid  through  Main 
street,  but  it  was  found  that  there  was  not  sufficient 
pressure  to  furnish  all  the  water  that  was  needed.  In 
1877,  a  tank  house  of  brick  was  built,  thirty-two  feet 
high,  and  surmounted  by  a  boiler  iron  tank,  twenty- 
five  feet  high  and  eighteen  feet  in  diameter,  capable 
of  holding  fifty  thousand  gallons  of  water.  A 
Kuowles  engine  and  pump  were  purchased,  for  the 
purpose  of  forcing  the  water  into  the  tank. 

About  thirteen  thousand  feet  of  main  pipe  have  been 
laid.  For  some  time  after  the  construction  of  the 
reservoirs  the  people  of  the  town  got  along  with  their 
former  facilities  for  obtaining  water,  but  many  are 
now  using  from  the  pipes,  and  the  number  is  increas- 
ing weekly.  There  are  fifteen  hydrants  for  nse  in 
case  of  fire,  and  water  is  used  by  two  mills  and  two 
factories.  The  present  receipts  amount  to  about  six 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum. 

Though  an  ordinance  was  passed  authorizing  the 
issue  of  bonds  of  the  village  for  forty  thousand  dollars, 
but  about  twenty-four  thousand  dollars  have  been  is- 
sued. The  total  cost  of  the  works  thus  far  has  been 
twenty-three  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  The 
report  of  the  w^ter  works  trustees,  made  January  1, 
1879,  shows  the  sum  of  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  sixty  dollars  and  forty-five  cents  in  the  treasury, 
to  the  credit  of  this  fund.  It  is  expected  that  the 
receipts  will  pay  all  future  expenses  in  the  way  of 
laying  mains  and  making  necessary  repairs. 

POWER   HOUSE. 

In  1871,  some  of  the  capitalists  of  Belleyue  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  erecting  a  large  building,  putting 
in  an  engine  and  suitable  machinery,  and  renting  to 
any  j)ersons  or  companies,  who  required  jiower  for 
manufacturing  purposes,  such  part  of  the  building  as 


they  might  need  for  carrying  forward  the  business  in 
which  they  were  engaged.  A  subscription  paper  was 
started  and  the  names  of  eighty-seven  persons  were 
obtained.  It  was  the  intention  to  start  with  a  capital 
stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  though  it  was  found 
that  this  amount  would  not  be  required,  and  but 
thirty  thousand  dollars  were  called  in.  Some  few  of 
the  signers  of  the  subscription  did  not  finally  take 
shares,  though  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six  were 
taken. 

A  contract  was  made  August  8,  1871,  for  a  build- 
ing forty  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  two  stories  in 
height,  and  thirty  feet  to  the  roof.  This  was  com- 
pleted in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  An  engine  house 
was  also  built,  twenty  by  thirty  feet  in  size,  the  total 
cost  being  about  thirty  thousand  dollars,  including 
the  land  on  which  the  building  was  erected. 

About  two-thirds  of  the  building  was  leased  to 
Wood,  Sawyer  &  Company  as  a  furniture  manufacto- 
ry; a  part  to  Ferguson  Greene  for  a  feed  mill,  and  the 
balance  to  McKim  Brothers  in  connection  with  their 
barrel  factories.  In  1874,  an  addition,  forty-four  and 
one-half  feet  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and  three 
stories  in  height,  was  erected  with  the  expectation  of 
an  increased  .number  of  renters.  Wood,  Sawyer  & 
Company  rented  the  third  story  in  addition  to  what 
they  already  had,  and  McKim  Brothers  took  one-third 
of  the  lower  story.  Murray  &  Beck  rented  a  part  of 
the  second  story  for  use  as  a  door,  sash  and  blind  fac- 
tory. A  short  time  after  this,  in  1876,  Wood,  Sawyer 
&  Company  organized  the  Bellevue  Furniture  com- 
pany, and  moved  their  factory  into  a  building  on  Kil- 
bourne  street.  Murray  &  Beck  followed  them  and 
rented  a  part  of  their  building.  F.  Greene  gave  up 
his  business  on  account  of  failing  health,  and  at  the 
l^resent  time  McKim  Brothers  are  the  only  occupants 
of  the  power  building. 

At  the  time  the  addition  was  built  the  income  from 
the  rental  of  the  building  and  power  was  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars.  At  the  present  time  there 
is  no  income  to  stockholders,  but  the  receipts  pay  all 
expenses.  Possibly,  with  the  advent  of  better  times 
in  the  future,  manufacturers  maybe  induced  to  come 
here  and  engage  in  business  that  will  fill  the  building 
with  the  busy  hum  of  machinery. 

BL'SINESS    DIRECTORY    OF    BELLEVUE. 

L.uvYEKS.— P.  N.  Schuyler,  J.  B.  Miller. 

Physiciak'S. — G.  S.  Lauterinan,  H.  L.  Harris.  W. 
S.  Robinson,  G.  V.  Parmelee,  R.  C.  Hunter.  R.  A. 
Severance,  Dr.  Sandemeister. 

Prixtixg  Offices. — H.  F.  Baker  &  Son.  pub- 
lishers Belh'vne  Local  Xeirs;  Stoner  &  Thompson, 
publishers  Bellevue  Gazette. 

Photographs. — S.  P.  Gaugler,  A.  H.  A.  Smith. 

Post  Office. — F.  L,  Goodson,  postmaster. 

Jewelers. — R.  A.  Boyer,  Breitmaier  &  Son. 

IxsuKAXCE. — C.  C.  Cook.  G.  Dangleiseu,  E.  0. 
Merry,  Wm.  Lieber,  A.  J.  Stahl. 


.y/cecuy,:^a.y'^ 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERJE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


405 


Milliners.— Miller  S.  Baker,  Mrs.  J.  U.  Mayue, 
Mrs.  E.  Lauterman,  Miss  M.  V.  Henry. 

Dressmakers.— Mrs.  Humphrey,  Mrs.  Ileynolds, 
Mrs.  R.  Carpenter,  Miss  M.  V.  Henry,  Mrs.  Curtiss. 

Butchers. — George  Wills,  M.  Goodman,  Joseph 
Boehler,  Zehner  and  Bollenbacher. 

Hotels. — Exchange,  W.  W.  Howard,  proprietor; 
German,  D.  Jacobs,  proprietor. 

Ftrxitl-re. — Wise  and  Gross,  C.  F.  Murray,  Wood 
and  Smith,  manufacturers. 

Undertakers. — Wise  and  Gross,  D.  Moore. 

Painters. — C.  F.  Burgess,  Barber  Brothers,  L. 
Haxton,  S.  Headings,  Philip  Salter. 

Boots  and  Shoes. — R.  Greenslade,  Justus  Oehm, 
C.  D.  Stoner,  A.  Frenz. 

Shoemakers. — George  Rudd,  J.  A.  Bossier,  M. 
Murr,  John  Fiegelist. 

Merchant  Tailors  and  Clothiers. — Wilham 
Gross,  J.  B.  Higbee,  E.  M.  Wolf. 

Tailors. — F.  Heitzwabel,  B.  Prim,  F.  Knapp, 
B.  Baumau,  John  Cowle. 

Blacksmiths. — John  Painter,  Ochs  and  King, 
Roger  Enright,  John  Enright,  Stephen  Burdsall. 

Druggists. — Goodson  and  Co.,  Close  and  Harji- 
ster. 

Banks. — First  National  Bank,  J.  T.  Worthiugton, 
jiresident;  Amos  Woodward,  vice  president;  E.  H. 
Brown,  cashier.  Bellevue  Bank,  Bourdett  Wood, 
president;  Abishai  Wood,  vice  president;  E.  J.  Shef- 
field, cashier. 

Dentists. — A.  R.  and  E.  D.  Lord. 

Dry  Goods. — -Boyer  &  Eichhorn,  Hilbish,  Harsch 
&  Co'.,  Smith  &  Greene,  A.  Ruffing. 

Hardware. — Joseph  Egle,  Peter  Brady. 

Grocers. — J.  H.  Weber,  Frank  Loomis,  John 
Ries,  W.  H.  Kern,  Hilbish,  Harsch  &  Co.,  Richards 
&  Place,  A.  Leiter  &  Co.,  G.  Dangeleisen,  Ailer 
Bros.,  John  Setzler,  Martin  Hnfi,  P.  Biebricher,  E. 
Heim,  G.  W.  Hock. 

Livery  Stables. — Samuel  Miller,  E.  W.  Miller. 

Barbers. — M.  Warch,  C.  Smith. 

Bakers. — John  Baker,  W.  Leishner. 

Harness  Makers. — Sherck  &  Molland,  G.  Schus- 
ter. 

Stoves  and  Tinware.— P.  Bradj-,  G.  A.  Beck- 
■with,  Joseph  Egle. 

Miscellaneous. — A.  Hornig,  marble  dealer;  Kern 
&  Benfer,  agricultural  imj^lements;  Higbee  &  Com- 
pany, produce  dealers  and  millers;  Woodward  & 
Mayne,  agricultural  implements  ;  Joseph  Edrich, 
cooper;  Wood  &  Close,  grain  dealers  and  elevator; 
McKim  Brothers,  manufacturers  of  barrels,  office  in 
power  building,  near  railroad  ;  S.  Patterson,  tanner; 
J.  T.  Worthington,  distiller ;  Joseph  Derr,  wagon 
maker  ;  Thomas  Thorneloe,  builder  and  contractor; 
Samuel  Tate,  feather  renovator;  C.  Witherick,  dray- 
man; J.  M.  Trumbauer,  tobacco  dealer;  J.  C.  Shef- 
field, real  estate  and  loan  agent;  Mrs.  Smith,  hair- 
dresser; A.  Frenz,  crockery;  F.  F.  Beuner,  produce 
dealer;  Mrs.  J.  Orwig,  hairdresser;  John  Baker,  ice 


cream  parlors:  Dehe  &  Reiling,  Bellevue  coach  and 
carriage  works;  Joseph  Strayer,  ornamental  plasterer; 
Wm.  Screech,  lime  kiln  and  quarry;  John  Painter, 
wagon  maker;  Arthur  Vial,  painter  and  paper  hanger; 
John  Greenslade,  painter  and  paper  hanger;  F.  Wer- 
nej",  carpet  weaver;  F.  May,  cigar  manufactory;  Ben- 
jamin Moore,  real  estate. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


FREDRICK  A.  CHAPMAN. 

Mr.  F.  A.  Chapman  came  into  this  part  of  the 
country  when  he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
during  the  turbulent  times  of  the  last  war  with 
England.  He  was  first  engaged,  with  one  or  two  of 
his  brothers,  and  T.  G.  Amsden,  in  hunting,  trapping 
and  trading  with  the  Indians,  and  their  operations 
extended  over  a  large  portion  of  the  northwest,  reach- 
ing as  far,  at  least,  as  Green  bay,  on  Lake  Michigan. 
The  dangers  attendant  upon  such  a  calling,  and  the 
romantic  adventures  which  made  it  so  attractive  to 
the  young  and  daring,  are  well  illustrated  by  a 
thrilling  incident,  which  the  reader  will  find  recorded 
on  another  page  of  this  work,  in  the  biographical 
sketch  of  Mr.  Amsden,  who,  as  above  stated,  was 
associated  with  the  Chapman  brothers  in  this  exciting 
and  perilous  Inisiness.  Having  already  related  it  in 
connection  with  the  notice  of  Mr.  Amsden,  it  will  not 
be  neceasary  to  reproduce  it  here. 

Soon  after  reaching  his  majority,  Mr.  Chapman 
went  into  the  dry  goods  trade  in  Bellevue,  with  Mr. 
Amsden.  Together,  they  carried  on  a  successful 
business  for  many  years.  Never,  perhaps,  did  the 
mental  qualities  of  two  men  more  completely  sup- 
plement each  other,  thus  forming  that  happy  combi- 
nation which  alone  can  render  a  business  partnership 
either  satisfactory  or  successful.  Mr.  Chapman's 
business  tact  enabled  him  early  to  see  the  value  of 
real  estate,  of  which  he  secured  here  a  generous  slice, 
while  prices  were  cheap.  Its  rise  in  value,  afterwards, 
together  with  a  business  well  managed,  provided  his 
family  with  comfort  and  plenty. 

Mr.  Chapman  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  Connecticut, 
March  10,  179G.  His  father's  name,  as  we  are 
informed,  was  Michael,  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  Hawley,  a  physician  of  considerable  note  in 
those  days.  Before  coming  to  Ohio,  they  resided  for 
a  number  of  years  (not  ascertainable)  in  Ontario 
county.  "New  York.  Tlie  parents  settled  in  Huron 
county  some  five  or  six  years  after  their  sons  came 
here. 

On  the  10th  of  May.  1830,  Mr.  Chapman  was  mar- 
ried to  Clemeuce  A  Follett,  daughter  of  Eliphalet  and 
Tryphena  (Dimick)  Follett,  who  had  migrated  from 
western  New  York  to  Huron  county  about  six  years 
before.     The  family  came  to  western  New  York  from 


406 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Bennington,  Vermont.  Mrs.  Chaimian's  mother  died 
in  1833,  but  her  father  survived  till  1851. 

The  name  Follett  is  of  Norman  origin,  coming  into 
England  about  the  time  of  William  the  Conquerer,  and 
ever  since  honored  in  English  annals.  It  is  signal- 
ized by  a  monument  in  Westminster  Abbey,  erected 
at  the  Queen's  expense,  to  the  memory  of  Sir  William 
Webb  Follett,  Kt.,  who  was  buried  in  the  north 
transept  of  that  historic  pile  as  recently  as  the  year 
1845.  This  nobleman,  as  we  have  been  informed, 
was  a  relative  of  the  Huron  county  Folletts.  "He 
was"  (we  quote  from  an  "historical  description  of 
Westminster  Abbey"),  "at  the  time  of  his  decease, 
representative  in  Parliament  for  the  city  of  Exeter, 
and  attorney  general  to  Queen  Victoria.  Of  unblem- 
ished conduct  in  every  relation  of  life,  of  manners 
gentle  and  prepossessing,  combining  with  great  legal 
knowledge,  and  extraordinary  powers  of  persuasive 
eloquence,  he  attained,  with  the  esteem,  admiration, 
and  good  will  of  all  who  witnessed  his  brilliant  career, 
the  highest  eminence  as  an  advocate  and  a  parlia- 
mentary speaker.  The  general  hope  and  expectation 
that  he  was  destined  for  the  highest  honors  of  the 
law,  were  blighted  by  his  untimely  death.  Died  June 
28,  1845,  aged  forty-eight." 

The  hope  and  expectation  alluded  to  in  this  extract, 
were  that  Sir  William  was  destined  to  become  Lord 
High  Chancellor  of  England.  Two  years  ago  two 
daughters  and  two  granddaughters  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chapman,  while  on  a  visit  to  the  land  of  their  fore- 
fathers, had  the  pleasure  (and  an  exquisite  pleasure 
it  must  have  been  to  them)  of  looking  upon  this  mon- 
ument, erected  by  royal  gratitude  to  the  memory  of 
their  distinguished  relative,  and  one  of  the  daughters 
(Mrs.  Davis)  took  great  pains  to  learn  all  facts  con- 
nected with  the  life  of  the  distinguished  Mr.  Follett, 
and  to  her  we  are  indebted  for  the  book  from  which 
the  above  extract  is  taken. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  j-evolutionary  war,  the 
ancestors  of  Mrs.  Chapman  were  living  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, near  the  scene  of  that  shocking  tragedy,  the 
Wyoming  massacre,  in  which  her  grandfather,  Eli- 
piialet  Follett,  was  killed.  This  massacre  occurred, 
as  our  readers  will  remember,  July  3,  1T78. 

The  grandfather,  Eliphalet,  was  born  January  16, 
1731,  in  Windham,  Connecticut.  He  there  married 
Elizabeth  Dewey,  on  the  8th  of  March,  17G4.  She  was 
born  July  14,  1743,  and  either  she  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  or  her  father's  family  must  have  removed 
to  that  State  soon  after  her  marriage.  As  above 
stated,  this  couple,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  were  residing  in  the  Wyoming  Valley, 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  owned  a  large  farm,  and 
had  a  family  of  six  children.  They  must  have  set- 
tled in  that  place  immediately  after  their  marriage — 
or  perhaps  he  may  have  gone  there  Ijefore  that,  and 
got  his  farm  under  cultivation. 

One  of  the  forts  thrown  up  by  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  charming,  but  ill-fated  region,  in  order 
to  protect  themselves  from  their  allied  foes,  the  Indi- 


ans and  Tories,  was  situated  on  his  farm  near  Kings- 
ton; and  when  it  was  ascertained  that  these  savage 
allies  were  approaching,  he  was  among  the  first  of 
those  who  rallied  for  the  defence  of  their  homes  and 
their  loved  ones.  Who  has  not  read  the  history  of 
chat  terrible  contest,  and  of  the  more  terrible  slaugh- 
ter and  burning  which  followed?  In  the  list  of  those 
who  were  killed  on  that  day  never  to  be  forgotten,  is 
the  name  of  Eliphalet  Follett.  The  manner  of  his 
death,  too,  has  been  recorded.  He  was  one  of  the 
four  hundred  who  accompanied  Col.  Zebulun  Butler, 
the  commander  of  the  patriots,  when,  accepting  the 
invitation  to  a  parley,  he  went  out  to  meet  his  tracher- 
ous  cousin,  John  Butler,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
savages.  He  was  one  of  the  twenty  who,  alone,  of  all 
that  four  hundred,  succeeded  in  cutting  their  way 
through,  after  they  had  been  basely  deceived,  sur- 
rounded and  attacked,  on  all  sides,  by  the  demoniac 
allies.  The  most  of  this  twenty  escaped  by  swimming 
across  the  Susquehanna  river,  but  Follett  was  shot 
while  in  the  water.  His  body  was  recovered  and 
buried,  and  portions  of  his  clothing,  together  with 
the  knee-buckles  and  the  shoe-buckles,  which  he  wore 
at  the  time,  were  afterwards  sent  to  his  family. 

Many  of  the  women  and  children  were  butchered 
or  consumed  in  the  flames,  but  the  wife  and  children 
of  Eliphalet  Follett  were  among  those  who  were  per- 
mitted to  escai^e.  The  sufferings  which  they  under- 
went, are  well  nigh  inconceivable.  With  only  an  old 
horse,  with  a  feather  bed  for  a  saddle,  (obtained  by  the 
aid  of  a  friendly  Indian)  that  heroic  woman  made  her 
way  fifty  mites,  in  the  direction  from  which  succor 
was  expected*  with  six  children, — the  oldest,  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  the  youngest,  two  years  of  age. 
The  older  children  led  or  carried  the  younger,  and 
two  who  were  enfeebled  by  sickness,  rode  with  their 
mother.  A  painful  accident  added  to  her  torture. 
Before  they  had  gone  far  from  the  scene  of  the  mas- 
sacre, the  horse  stumbled,  and  she  was  thrown  from 
his  back,  and  in  the  fall  her  arm  was  broken.  Three 
or  four  days  days  elapsed  before  a  phj'sician  could  be 
found  to  set  the  broken  limb.  ^How  she  could  con- 
tinue her  journey,  under  such  distressing  circum- 
stances, it  is  impossible  to  imagine,  but  by  her  in- 
domitable energy^ and  resolution,  with  the  blessing  of 
God,  she  was  enabled  to  persevere  until,  at  the  end  of 
the  fifty  miles,  she  met  the  baggage  train  sent  out  by 
Gen.  Sullivan  for  the  relief  of  the  refugees. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  she  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing her  friends  at  Pownal,  Bennington  county,  Ver- 
mont. There,  six  months  after  the  tragic  death  of 
her  husband,  she  gave  birth  to  another  son,  who,  in 
process  of  time,  became  the  father  of  Mrs.  Chapman. 
The  six  children  born  in  Penns^dvania  were,  in  the 
order  of  their  ages,  Martin,  Betsey,  Charles,  Elipha- 
let, Jr.,  Benjamin  and  James.  Eliphalet,  Jr.,  having 
died  a  few  months  after  the  posthumous  child  was 
born,  it  was  decided  to  call  the  last  Eliphalet,  in  or- 
der that  the  name  might  be  preserved  in  the  family. 

We  have  gleaned  the  most  of  the  foregoing  facts 


^^ 


^-Z^^S^*-!-!.^ 


'^-^-^t^c.^-t^n^^C^ 


^JCc^Vu  cJ     ^^6^^t/^otM~a^cC' 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


407 


from  a  book  of  records  mid  reminiscences  in  manu- 
script, partly  compiled,  but  mostly  composed,  by  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Bull,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Chapman,  \yho,  at  the 
time  of  writing  it,  was  residing  at  La  Salle,  Illinois. 
She  died  at  that  place  some  four  or  five  years  ago. 
The  work  evinces  much  talent  and  would  make  a 
readable  volume  in  print.  If  the  poet,  Campbell, 
had  had  access  to  it  he  might  have  avoided  some  of 
the  mistakes  which  he  fell  into  in  writing  his  "Ger- 
trude of  Wyoming"  and  he  would  have  found  in  it 
plenty  of  incidents  quite  as  romantic  as  those  which 
form  the  basis  of  that  affecting  story. 

The  children  of  Eliphalet  Follett,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Chapman,  were:  Dewey  E.,  Abel  D.,  Julia, 
Clemeuce  A.,  Mary,  Thede,  Elizabeth,  Tryphena  and 
Fannie.  Dewey  E.  died  at  Alton,  Illinois,  in  1860. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Bull.  They  had  two  children: 
Francis,  who  married  a  Mr.  Jiloyer,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  Harmon,  who  is  a 
leading  lawyer  of  Brainard,  Minnesota.  Abel  D- 
lives  in  California.  He  married  Laura  Smith.  They 
have  one  child  living,  Clemenee,  who  married  an  el- 
der in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Follett  buried  three  children:  Clemenee,  Ellen  and 
Edward.  Julia  is  spoken  of  in  the  sketch  of  Dr.  L. 
G.  Harkness,  and  Clemeuce  A.  elsewhere  in  this  me- 
moir. Mary  married  Mason  Bull  and  resides  at  La 
Salle,  Illinois.  They  had  two  sons  killed  in  the  army 
and  buried  two  others,  and  have  two  still  living:  Fol- 
lett Bull,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Ottawa,  Illinois,  and 
Dewey,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis.  Thede  married  Wil- 
liam Harkness,  a  nephew  of  Dr.  L.  G.  Harkness,  and 
resides  with  her  husband  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  They 
have  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Daniel,  Arabella 
and  Florence.  Elizabeth  married  John  McKee  and 
lives  in  Upper  Sandusky.  Tiiey  have  one  son  living: 
John,  who  resides  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  Tryphena  mar- 
ried Cuyler  Greene,  by  whom  she  has  had  three  child- 
ren: Eliphalet,  Malcolm  and  Ferguson.  Mr.  Greene 
died  in  1848,  and  she  married,  for  her  second  hus- 
band, Dr.  J.  W.  Goodsou,  by  whom  she  had  one 
child:  Nettie,  now  living  with  Mrs.  J.  A.  Higbee. 
Fannie  married  Calvin  Merrels  and  resides  at  Alton, 
Illinois.  One  child,  Julia,  died  five  years  ago,  and 
three,  Franklin,  Luella  and  Charles,  are  still  living. 

The  members  of  the  Follett  family,  from  the  grand- 
father of  the  above  named  children  down,  have  all 
been  exemplary  christian  men  and  women,  devoted  to 
tlie  churche;  of  their  choice.  Mrs.  Chapman  is  the 
only  one  of  her  father's  family  who  became  a  com- 
municant of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and 
her  fidelity  to  this  branch  of  the  Christian  church  has 
ever  been  of  the  truest  kind. 

Mr.  F.  A.  Chapman  was  married  to  Clemenee  A. 
Follett  on  the  tenth  of  May,  1830.  They  have  had 
eight  childrea,  as  follows:  1.  Arabella,  married  to 
iDr.  A.  Woodward,  one  of  the  "solid  men"  of  Belle- 
vue.  They  have  two  daughters:  Louise  and  Arabella. 
2.  Julia  T.  married  Charles  Roberts,  and  died  with- 
out issue  in   1855.     3.    Louisa  C.   married  Cuyler 


Greene,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Rushville,  New  York.' 
He  died  a  few  years  after  their  marriage  and  she  is 
now  living  with  her  mother  in  the  old  home.  4. 
Frederick  A.  lived  to  be  a  young  man  and  died  in 
1861.  5.  Nellie  married  George  R.  Finch,  a  whole- 
sale merchant  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  She  died  ilay 
30,  1869,  leaving  one  child — Clemenee.  6.  MaryG., 
who  married  the  widower  of  her  sister  Nellie,  and  has 
three  children:  Nellie,  George  C.  and  William.  7. 
Florence  married  John  H.  Davis,  a  banker  doing  busi- 
ness in  Wall  street.  New  York  City.  They  have  one 
daughter— Flora  C.  8.  Kate  married  R.  W.  Mat- 
thews, of  Boston.  He  is  now  engaged  in  business  in 
Toledo,  Ohio.  They  have  had  two  children:  Kittie, 
who  died  in  November,  and  Frederick  C. 

Mr.  Chapman  died  in  1861  of  apoplexy.  He  was 
public  spirited  and  generous  almost  to  a  fault:  always 
ready  to  assist,  with  money  or  advice,  those  who  need- 
ed assistance.  He  won  the  esteem  and  good  will  of 
all  who  knew  him,  and  died  deeply  regretted  by  his 
fellow  citizens.  His  widow  still  resides  in  the  beau- 
tiful and  luxurious  home  which  he  had  provided, 
highly  esteemed  by  hosts  of  friends  for  maify  ami- 
able qualities.  And  her  devotion  to  the  church, 
though  not  the  church  of  her  ancestors,  is  the  most 
peecious  inheritance  which  their  deep  religious  nature 
has  transmitted.  Amid  the  pinvations  of  pioneer 
life,  with  which,  in  her  maiden  days,  she  was  brought 
in  contact;  in  her  home  life  as  wife  and  mother,  and 
in  the  later  years  of  her  life,  Mrs.  Chapman  has  ever 
shown  herself  to  be  an  amiable,  kind  hearted,  gener- 
ous christian  woman. 


GURDON   WOODWARD 

was  of  English  ancestry  and  New  England  birth. 
His  parents  were  Abishai  and  Mary  Spicer  Woodward. 
The  Woodwards  settled  in  New  London,  Connecticut, 
at  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  that  State,  and 
Abishai  Woodward,  the  father  of  Gurdon,  was  a 
leading  citizen  of  the  town  of  New  London  during 
and  following  the  revolutionary  period.  Though  not 
of  the  number  whose  losses  from  fire  by  British  sol- 
diery were  compensated  by  a  donation  of  western 
lands  made  by  the  State,  yet  he  became  the  owner, 
by  purchase,  of  a  large  amount  of  these  claims,  and, 
upon  the  partition  of  the  Fire-lands,  he  acquired  pro- 
prietorship of  more  than  four  thousand  acres,  all 
lying  in  sections,  one  and  four  of  what  now  is  Lyme 
township.  The  father  of  eleven  children,  he  gave  to 
each  an  equal,  undivided  interest  is  these  lands.  To 
the  ownership,  by  his  fati)er,  of  western  territory,  is 
due  the  fact  of  Gurdon's  coming  to  this  locality.  Mr. 
Woodward.  Sr.,  came  into  the  possession  of  his  lands 
November  9,  1808,  the  date  when  partition  was 
effected,  and  died  the  following  year. 

Gurdon  Woodward  was  born  February  21,*  1795,  in 
I  New  London,  Connecticut,  and,  at  the  age  of  four- 


408 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


teeu,  immediately  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  went 
to  reside  at  Whitestown,  New  York.  There  he 
learned  the  trade  of  millwright.  His  educational 
advantages  were  not  the  best,  yet  he  made  wise  im- 
provement of  such  as  were  afforded,  and  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  practical  branches  then 
taught,  and,  for  his  day,  was  more  than  an  average 
scholar. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  last  war  with  England, 
he  volunteered  his  services  in  behalf  of  his  country, 
served  her  with  fidelity,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Sackett's  Harbor, 
New  York.  This  was  in  1815.  He  had  at  this  time 
reached  the  age  of  twenty  years.  His  mind  now 
turned  with  eager  thoughts  toward  the  distant  west. 
At  Whitestown,  New  York,  lived,  at  this  time,  a  young 
lady  to  whom  he  had  become  attached.  Miss  Mary 
Shepard  .Savage,  youngest  daughter  of  John  and 
Rachel  Shepard  Savage.  She  became  his  betrothed. 
Amos,  the  oldest  brother  of  Gurdon,  who  was  the 
youngest  son,  had  married  Rachel,  the  oldest  sister  of 
Mary,  who  was  the  youngest  daughter. 

In  1S16,  Gurdon  Woodward  started  for  the  lands 
of  his  inheritance,  and,  after  a  temporary  stay  in 
Huron,  where  his  sister  Betsey  and  her  husband,  Mr. 
George  SheflBeld,  located  in  the  same  year,  he  came 
on  to  Lyme  in  the  spring  of  1817,  and  made  a  selec- 
tion of  his  lands.  His  first  night  in  Lyme  township, 
then  Wheatsborough,  was  spent  by  the  remains  of  an 
Indian  camp  fire — his  dog  and  gun  his  only  com- 
panions— upon  the  very  ground  which  was  afterwards 
to  be  his  home  during  many  of  the  years  of  his  life. 
His  dreams,  that  first  night,  must  have  been  filled 
with  thoughts  of  far-away  Whitestown,  and  of  the 
loved  one  who  awaited  there  his  return. 

Two  years  of  heroic  toil  were  now  spent  in  fitting 
his  chosen  heritage  for  the  advent  of  her,  who,  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  was  to  be  his  bride.  A  log 
house  was  erected  and  portions  of  the  land  cleared  and 
fenced.  The  day  finally  came  when  he  retraced  his 
steps  to  his  former  home,  Oneida  county,  New  York, 
and  there,  at  the  village  of  Whitestown,  on  the  14th 
day  of  April,  1819,  he  united  his  fortunes  in  holy 
matrimony  with  those  of  Miss  Mary  Shepard  Savage. 
Westward  the  star  of  love,  as  of  empire,  took  its  way. 
Waiting  only  to  receive  the  congratulations  of  their 
friends,  the  happy  pair  started  for  their  western  Ohio 
home,  the  husband,  however,  coming  some  weeks  in 
advance  of  the  wife,  who  came  accompanied  by  Amos 
Woodward,  Gurdon's  oldest  brother.  Tlieir  journey 
hither,  thus  taken  separately,  was  their  only  wedding 
tour,  and  the  first  days  of  their  wedded  life— in  their 
wilderness  home — their  honeymoon.  Those  first  sum- 
mer days  which  the  young  bride,  then  only  eighteen, 
passed  in  the  rude  but  comfortable  home  which  her 
lover  had,  with  dauntless  perseverance,  prepared  for 
her,  must  have  been  in  striking  contrast  to  the  life 
she  had  spent  in  her  father's  home  in  Whitestown. 
Yet  whoxian  doubt  that  they  were  happy  days? 
^   With  energy  and  determination,    enduring   many 


severe  privations,  and  denied  innumerable  comforts 
to  which  they  both  had  been  accustomed,  they  strove 
together  to  better  their  worldly  fortunes,  to  improve 
the  condition  of  their  farm  and  its  surroundings,  to 
beautify  their  home,  and  to  make  life  attractive. 
Heaven  smiled  beuignantly  upon  their  constant  love 
and  patient  labor.  Seven  children  blessed  the  former, 
and,  as  a  result  of  the  latter,  the  rude  log  cabin,  in 
which  their  wedded  life  began,  gave  place,  in  time, 
to  a  large,  substantial  and  comfortable  dwelling — at 
the  time  of  its  erection,  perhaps,  the  best  in  the  town- 
ship. Their  beautiful  home  they  christened  "Wood- 
lawn."  Here  they  dwelt  together  for  forty  years,  and 
here  were  born  to  them  all  their  children:  Lucy, 
Abishai,  Amos,  William,  Mary,  Rachel  and  Julia  M. 

In  1859,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodward  removed  to  Belle- 
vue,  and,  purchasing  the  Dr.  Lathrop  property,  on 
West  Main  street,  spent  there  the  remainder  of  their 
days,  receiving  kind  attentions  from  relatives  and 
friends.  Each  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  the  former 
dying  December  8,  1874,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his 
life,  and  the  latter  February  25, 1879,  nearly  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age. 

On  the  fiftieth  anniversary  day  of  their  marriage, 
April  14,  1869,  their  relatives  and  numerous  friends 
assembled  at  their  pleasant  home  to  celebrate  their 
golden  wedding.  It  was  a  time  of  joyous  greetings 
and  hearty  congratulations.  The  aged  pair  could 
look  back  upon  a  happy,  well-spent  life,  and  regard 
with  pleasure  their  present  condition,  blessed  with 
every  comfort  that  hearts  could  wish.  Death  had 
robbed  them  of  three  of  their  children,  Lucy,  William 
and  Julia,  and  hence  their  happiness  was  tempered 
with  sad  recollections,  but  their  surviving  sons  and 
daughters  were  all  happily  situated  in  life — a  fact 
that  must  have  been  of  great  gratification  to  them. 
In  their  declining  years,  their  four  children  and  their 
grandchildren  ministered  to  them  with  devoted  atten- 
tions; and  rarely  in  this  life  is  seen  so  marked  an 
exhibition  of  filial  affection  as  was  shown  Mrs.  Wood- 
ward by  her  sons  and  daughters  during  the  four  years 
of  her  widowhood. 

Of  the  children,  Lucy  became  the  wife  of  George 
Shefiield ;  Abishai  married  Mary  Amsdeu,  the  second 
daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  G.  Amsden,  and  is  vice 
president  of  the  Bellevue  bank,  and  universally  es- 
teemed by  his  fellow-townsmen;  Amos  married  Ara- 
bella, eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Frederick  A.  Chapman; 
he  is  vice  president  of  the  First  National  bank,  and  a 
man  of  wealth  and  influence;  William  died  at  about 
the  age  of  fifteen;  Mary  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Hamilton;  Rachel  married  Mr.  Boardman,  who  died 
some  years  ago;  he  was  a  man  of  culture  and  intelli- 
gence, and  was  a  resident  of  Lincoln,  Illinois,  at  the 
time  of  his  death;  Julia  M.  died  in  early  womanhood. 

Gurdon  Woodward  was  a  man  of  marked  and  clearly 
defined  characteristics.  Of  commanding  person,  he 
was  possessed  of  sound  judgment,  a  strong  will  and  an 
inflexible  purpose.  In  politics,  he  was  a  staunch  adhe- 
rent to  the  Democratic  faith,  and  never  swerved  from 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


fidelity  to  party  and  Jacksonian  principles.  In  reli- 
gion, though  not  a  communicant,  he  was  active  in 
church  affairs,  and  liberal  in  sustaining  its  service. 
He  was  ever  a  kind  and  devoted  husband  and  an 
affectionate  father.  Of  Mrs.  Woodward's  religious 
and  domestic  life  the  biographer  can  say  notliing 
more  to  the  purpose  than  to  quote  the  following  just 
worjJs  taken  from  an  obituary  notice  published  in  the 
Standard  of  the  Cross,  at  the  time  of  her  decease, 
and  written  by  one  who  knew  her  intimately:  "Amidst 
the  trials  and  deprivations  of  pioneer  life,  she  ever 
retained  the  grace  and  culture  of  her  early  life.  She 
loved  the  church,  and  as  soon  as  opportunity  offered, 
received  the  apostolic  rite  of  confirmation  by  Bishop 
Mcllvaine.  There  was  nothing  ostentatious  in  her 
piety,  yet  she  did  not  hide  it  under  a  bushel,  but  let 
her  light  shine  before  others.  She  took  a  deep  inter- 
est in  all  that  related  to  the  prosperity  of  the  church. 
She  loved  with  a  pure  and  earnest  affection.  In  every 
relation  of  life  she  was  admired  and  loved,  but  it  was 
as  a  Christian  woman  that  they  who  loved  her  best, 
love  now  to  think  of  her.  In  her  decease  the  com- 
munity in  which  she  lived  has  lost  a  generous  bene- 
factor, the  church  a  devout  and  exemplary  member, 
and  her  domestic  and  social  circle  a  most  kind  and 
warm-hearted  relative  and  friend.  '  Blessed  are  the 
dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth,  yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors.'" 


THE  EEV.  MOSES  HAMILTON. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  is  a  native  of  the 
"Emerald  Isle,"  having  been  born  near  Belfast,  in  the 
year  1839.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years,  that  is  to  say, 
in  the  summer  of  1849,  he  came  to  Ohio.  For  two 
years  he  taught  school  in  Zanesville,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1851,  entered  the  sophomore  class  in  Kenyon 
College,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
185-1,  with  the  first  honor  of  his  class.  In  1856,  he 
was  made  a  deacon  of  the  Protest&nt  Episcopal 
Church  in  Rosse  Chapel,  Gambler,  by  Bishop  Mc- 
llvaine. 

After  spending  several  months  in  missionary  work 
in  Henry  and  Defiance  counties,  he  was  ordained  a 
presbyter  at  Piqua  in  1857.  Soon  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  that  year,  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  joint  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Bellevue,  and  Trinity  Church,  Lyme — the 
former  a  position  which  he  has  ever  since  held.  On 
the  2-lth  of  April,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  the  late  Gurdon  Woodward,  of  Bellevue. 
They  have  had  five  children — four  daughters  and  a 
son,  all  of  whoTn  are  living. 

In  his  pastoral  calling  Mr.  Hamilton  is  an  active, 
energetic  and  faithful  worker.  As  a  preacher  he  is 
plain,  practical  and  forcible,  and  takes  comprehensive 
views  of  the  subjects  on  which  he  discourses. 


AMOS  WOODWARD, 

the  eldest  son  of  Abishai  and  Mary  Spicer  Woodward, 
was  born  in  New  London,  Connecticut,  January  25, 
1780.  His  father  and  mother  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  there  were  five  sons  and  six 
daughters — Amos,  Abishai,  Eben,  William,  and  Gur- 
don; Hattie,  Alithea,  Alice,  Marj',  Betsey  and  Anna. 
The  Wood  wards  are  of  English  descent.  Their  names 
are  to  be  found  among  those  who  came  to  settle  in 
the  valley  of  Connecticut  at  an  early  day.  Abishai 
Woodward,  the  father  of  Amos,  was  a  skillful  and 
competent  draughtsman,  and  drew  designs  for  many 
of  the  elegant  houses  that  were  erected  in  New  Lon- 
don during  the  period  immediately  preceeding  and 
following  the  revolutionary  struggle.  That  he  is  a 
prominent  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  is  attested  by 
the  fact  that  he  held  for  many  years  the  office  of  alder- 
man in  his  native  village.  Although  his  name 
does  not  occur  among  those  of  the  original  Fire-lands 
sufferers,  he  acquired  ownership,  by  purcliase  of  a 
large  number,  or  amount,  of  claims,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  partition  of  the  lands,  received  more  than  four 
thousand  acres,  so  that  he  was  enabled  to  give  to  each 
of  his  eleven  children  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
acres.  These  lands  were  aparted  to  him  chiefly  in 
section  four  of  township  twenty-four,  now  known  as 
Lyme  township.  The  partition  of  lands  among  the 
sufferers,  or  their  assignees,  was  effected  by  a  lottery 
plan.  Through  the  workings  of  this  singular  dis- 
tribution of  the  sufferers'  lands,  the  township,  now 
called  Lyme,  became  the  place  of  residence  of  the 
Woodwards.  Hither  came  first  Gurdon  and  William 
in  1817,  followed  by  Amos  in  1830.  The  last  named 
resided  in  New  London,  at  the  house  of  his  parents, 
until  the  year  1804:.  Two  years  previous  he  had 
visited  Whitestown,  New  York,  where  he  met,  for 
the  first  time,  t,he  lady  who  afterwards  became  his 
^ife, — Miss  Rachel,  eldest  daughter  of  John  and 
Rachel  Shepard  Savage. 

And  here  we  pause  to  note  a  rather  striking  coinci- 
dence: Amos  and  Gurdon,  brothers,  the  oldest  and 
the  youngest  sons  of  Abishai  and  Mary  Spicer  Wood- 
ward, were  married,  the  former  to  Rachel  the  eldest, 
and  the  latter  to  Mary  the  youngest,  daughters  of 
John  and  Rachel  Shepard  Savage.  Thus  brothers 
wedded  sisters,  the  oldest  brother  the  oldest  sister, 
the  youngest  brother  the  youngest  sister. 

Amos  came  to  reside  permanently  in  New  York 
State  in  1804.  He  settled  in  Venion,  the  home  of  Miss 
Savage,  and  next  yeai-,  February  6th,  the  lovers  were 
married.  The  following  year,  December  16, 1806,  was 
born  to  them  their  only  child— save  one  who  died  in 
early  life, — Julia  Ann  Woodward,  who  is  still  living, 
the  widow  of  Richard  L.  McCurdy,  inLymetownship, 
nearly  seventy-three  years  old.  He  remained  a  res- 
ident of  Vernon  until  the  year  1811,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Whitestown,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business.  This  he  successfully  carried  on  for 
nine  years,  when,  in  1830,  he  removed  to  Ohio.     His 


410 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


brothers,  Gurdou  and  William,  had  the  advantage  of 
prior  choice  iu  selecting  their  lauds,  and  chose  tim- 
bered tracts.  Amos,  iu  making  his  selection,  chose 
a  moiety  of  prairie  with  timber,  and  thus  his  lands  were 
not  all  in  one  body.  He  selected  for  his  homestead,  a 
tract  lying  two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Bellevue,  and  about  a  half  mile  directly 
east  of  his  brother  Gurdon's  home.  Here  was  erected 
the  first  large  frame  house  in  the  township,  iu  the  year 
1821.  The  occasion  of  raising  the  frame  for  this 
structure,  was  an  important  event  in  the  township. 
Word  was  sent  far  and  near,  and  perhaps  all  the  set- 
tlers in  the  township,  and  many  from  adjoining  town- 
ships, were  present.  The  custom,  everywhere  preva- 
lenc  in  those  days,  of  making  free  use  of  good 
whisky,  was  observed,  and  the  frame  was  speedily 
placed  in  position.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  one  of 
the  raising-bee  party  mounted  aloft  and,  standing  upon 
one  of  the  cross-beams  with  whisky  jug  in  hand, 
which  he  swung  to  and  fro  with  great  zest,  cried  out 
in  stentorian  tones:  ''I  christen  this  building  'Julia 
Ann's  delight  forever.'"  Here,  in  this  new  Ohio 
home,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  Woodward  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  wedded  life.  The  husband  died 
February  21,  1841,  and  the  wife  October  1,  18.54. 

Amos  Woodward  was  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind 
and  lived  and  died  a  worthy  communicant  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church.  He  was  ever  very 
active  iu  behalf  of  the  church,  and  soon  after  his  ar- 
rival in  Ohio,  interested  himself  and  others  iu  the 
organization  of  the  church  of  his  choice.  On  the 
20th  of  January,  1821,  he  assisted  iuthe  organization 
of  the  first  church  in  Norwalk,  and  was  made  its 
senior  warden.  The  parish  also  chose  him  as  one  of 
its  lay  readers.  In  1824,  he  was  choseu  one  of  the 
county  commissioners,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  both  of  which  positions  he  filled 
with  much  credit  to  himself  and  acceptability  to  the 
people.  He  was  a  steadfast  friend  of  Bishop  Chase, 
and  he  and  that  good  man,  together,  selected  the  site 
for  Kenyou  college,  of  which  Mr.  Woodward  was  one 
of  the  first  trustees. 


RICHARD  LORD  McCURDY. 

The  excellent  lady,  w-ho  is  the  widow  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  permitted  the  wi'iter  to  see  an  in- 
teresting genealogical  record,  that  shows  the  descent 
of  the  McCurdj'S;  through  the  wife  of  Rev.  Stephen 
Johnson,  to  be  direct  from  the  learned  divine  and  fa- 
mous writer.  Rev.  John  Diodati,  who  was  from  the 
Italian  nobility,  and  who  lived  at  Geneva  in  the  time 
of  John  of  Barneveld.  The  ancestral  families  which 
this  tree  of  genealogy  exhibits  to  tlie  observer  are  very 
numerous,  and  includes  many  worthy  and  distin- 
guished people.  Among  these,  in  addition  to  the 
Diodatis,  may  be  mentioned  the  Griswolds,  the  Wil. 


loughbys.  the  Digbys,  the  Pitkins,  the  Wolcotts.  the 
Ogdens  and  the  Mitchells. 

The  McCurdy  homestead,  in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  is 
described  in  the  following  words,  by  an  able  writer  iu 
Harper's  Monthly ,  of  February,  187C: 

'"Side  by  side  with  if  (the  Mather  homestead) 
"stands  the  oldest  house  in  Lyme — a  landmark  which 
has  been  protected  with  generous  care.  Like  Sydney 
Smith's  ancient  greeu  chariot,  with  its  new  wheels 
and  new  springs,  it  seems  to  grow  younger  each  year. 
It  is  the  residence  of  Hon.  Charles  Johnson  McCurdy, 
LL.  D.,  an  eminent  jurist,  who  was  for  many  years 
in  the  Connecticut  legislature,  was  speaker  of  the 
house,  lieutenant'governorof  the  State,  L'nited  States 
minister  to  Austria,  and  for  a  long  period  judge  of 
the  supreme  court.  It  was  he  who,  when  lieutenant 
governor  of  Connecticut,  iu  1848,  originated  and  car- 
ried into  effect,  through  the  legislature,  that  great 
change  in  the  common  law,  by  which  parties  may  be- 
come witnesses  in  their  own  cases,  a  change  which  has 
since  been  adopted  throughout  this  country  and  in 
England. 

"This  antique  dwelling  has  the  low  ceilings  and  the 
bare  polished  beams  of  the  early  part  of  the  last  century 
Its  doors  and  walls  are  elaborately  carved  and  paneled. 
In  the  south  parlor  is  a  curious  buffet,  built  with  the 
house,  containing  a  rare  collection  of  china  from  an- 
cestral families.  Between  the  front  windows  stands 
an  elegant  round  table  which  descended  from  Gov- 
ernor Matthew  and  Ursula  Wolcott  Griswold,  and 
around  which  have  sat  from  time  to  time  the  six  gov- 
ernors of  the  famih'.  The  whole  house  is  a  museum 
of  souveneirs  of  preceding  generations.  In  the  north 
chamber  is  a  rich  and  unique  chest  of  drawers,  which 
belonged  to  the  Diodati  wife  of  Rev.  Stephen  John- 
son; also  mirrors,  tables,  pictures  and  other. relics  of 
great  antiquity.  This  apartment  was  occupied  by 
LaFayette  at  two  distinct  eras  in  our  national  history — 
for  several  days  during  the  revolution,  wheil  he  was 
entertained  by  John  McCurdy,  while  resting  his  troops 
in  the  vicinity;  and  in  1825,  as  the  guest  of  Richard 
McCurdy  and  his  daughter  Sarah,  while  on  his  mem- 
orable journey  to  Boston." 

This  interesting  dwelling  descended  from  John  Mc- 
Curdy, the  grandfather,  to  Richard  McCurdy,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  within  its 
time  honored  precincts  was  born  Richard  Lord  Mc- 
Curdj',  on  the  27th  day  of  May,  1802.  His  mother 
was  L^rsula  (Griswold)  McCurdy,  the  Griswold  family 
of  which  she  was  a  member  having  furnished  to  the 
State  two  governors.  He  was  christened  Richard  in 
honor  of  his  father,  and  Lord  in  honor  of  his  grand- 
mother, Mrs.  John  McCurdy,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Lord,  one  of  the  supreme  judges  of  the  State. 
An  interesting  story  is  told  by  Mrs.  McCurdy.  of 
Lyme,  concerning  the  marriage  of  her  husband's 
grandfather  with  the  daughter  of  Judge  Lord.  The 
Lords  were  very  wealthy,  of  ancestral  lineage,  and  at 
the  time  among  the  most  consequential  of  the  Connec- 
ticut  families.      The    daughter   was   very    beautiful, 


HiSTOKV  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  GUU.\TIE8,  OHIO. 


411 


while  her  lover  was  proud  spirited  and  a  man  of  abil- 
ity. When  married,  the  judge,  her  father,  made  her 
a  present,  as  she  and  her  husband  supposed,  of  a  gen- 
erous portion  of  the  elegant  furniture  with  which'  the 
Lord  mansion  was  adorned.  As  the  ox  carts,  then  in 
use,  were  about  to  be  driven  away  with  their  valuable 
cargoes,  ilr.  Lord,  taken  with  some  strange  freak, 
summoned  his  servants  to  him  and  said:  "  I  call  you 
to  witness  that  these  goods  are  loaned,  not  ijiven." 
"  Dump  the  carts,  dump  the  carts !"  replied  the 
haughty  MeCurdy,  and  Mr.  Lord,  seeing  him  to  be 
in  dead  earnest,  and,  most  likely,  admiring  his  spirit, 
said,  '•  Xever  mind  !  Go  on!   They  are  yours  !  " 

It  was  this  same  John  McCurdy,  whose  spirit  of 
resistance  to  the  arbitrary  measures  of  Great  Britain 
found  ready  and  indignant  expression  on  the  eve  of 
the  Kevolutionary  struggle.  It  was  under  his  roof 
that  the  first  published  article  was  written  pointing 
toward  unqualified  rebellion,  should  an  attempt  be 
made  to  enforce  the  odious  stamp  act.  Lender  his 
roof,  too,  the  soldiers  of  Washington's  army  found 
safe  retreat.  Having  a  store,  he  told  them  to  help 
themselves  to  anything  they  wished,  and  when  remu- 
neration, after  close  of  the  war,  was  offered  him,  he 
refused  it.  The  following  letter  shows  plainly  the 
character  of  the  man,  many  of  whose  traits  his  grand- 
son, Richard  L.,  inherited.  He  dealt  largely  in  tea, 
and  his  London  house  shipped  it,  per  his  orders,  to 
him  in  care  of  a  Mr.  Xelson,  of  Xew  York ;  and  it  seems, 
that  at  one  time  the  demand  upon  Mr.  Nelson  for  tea 
being  urgent,  he  took  the  liberty  of  selling  some  of 
Mr.  McCurdy's  tea,  which  called  forth  the  following 
letter: 

Lyme,  18  April,  1776. 
Mr.  Nelson  : 

S!>— This  day  week,  in  the  evening,  after  the  post  was  gone. 
I  received  your  letter,  dated  March  5th,  which  has  surprised  me 
very  much.  You  acquaint  me  therein,  that  you  had  sold  iny  tea  in  Dec. 
last.  Surely  you  must  be  mistaken.  It  must  have  been  ymr  oioitea; 
for  how  is  it  possible  that  you  should  presume  to  sell  mij  tea,  without 
iny  orders— nay,  when  you  knew  that  I  was  determined  not  to  seU  till  I 
had  orders  from  the  congress,  as  I  wrote  you  from  time  to  time.  I 
had  agreed  with  sundi-y  of  my  friends  here  that  they  should  have  the 
tea,  as  soon  as  I  got  liberty  to  sell  it  (some  one  chest,  some  two.  etc . )  I 
shall  depend  on  having  my  tea  delivered  to  me  on  demand,  in  New 
York;  which  is  all  at  present,  from,  sir,  Your  obd't  ser't, 

J.  W.    McCURDY. 

Richard  L.  McCurdy  had  four  brothers  and  one 
sister.  The  names  of  the  former  are:  John  Griswold, 
Charles  Johnson,  Robert  H.  and  Alexander  Lyndes 
McCurdy.  The  name  of  the  sister  was  Sarah  Ann, 
named  for  Ann  Lord,  a  maiden  aunt,  who  was  quite 
an  eccentric  character.  When  the  first  child  was 
born  to  Mr.  McCurdy's  parents,  she  was  much  disap- 
pointed that  it  was  not  a  girl,  that  she  might  leave 
the  child  an  inheritance  of  silver  ware — her  own 
property.  The  second  child  she  fully  expected  to  be 
a  daughter,  and  when  Charles  Johnson  came  to  light, 
he  was  greeted  with  but  slight  tokens  of  respect  by 
Dame  Lord.  And  now  she  insisted  that  the  next 
child  should  not  fail  her.  But  when  Robert  H.  ])ut 
in  an  appearance,  her  chagrin  was  so  great  tliat  words 
failed    to   do   justice   to    her  disgust  with  mundane 


affairs.  We  are  not  assured  that  she  acted  tlie  part  of 
Betsey  Trotwood  upon  a  like  memorable  occasion,  who, 
upon  being  informed  at  the  birth  of  David  Copperfield, 
by  the  mild  Dr.  Chilip,  that  it  was  not  a  girl,  but  a 
boy,  struck  him  with  her  bonnet,  turned  on  her  heel, 
and  left  the  house,  never  to  return.  However,  Miss 
Lord — whether  from  grief  and  disappointment,  we 
are  again  not  assured — died  before  the  birth  of  the 
next  child,  and  it  is.  probably  well  that  she  did,  for 
that,  too,  was  a  boy. 

The  McCurdy  homestead  in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  is 
now  the  residence  of  Judge  Charles  McCurdy,  men- 
tioned above,  a  brother  of  Richard  Lord.  The  latter 
was  importuned,  at  one  time,  to  occupy  the  mansion 
with  his  wife,  but  they  were  restrained  from  doing  so 
by  considerations  that  seemed  wise  to  them.  Mr. 
McCurdy  first  came  to  Lyme  in  1823,  having  resided 
a  .short  time  previously  in  Trumbull  county.  In  1826, 
June  19,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Julia  Ann, 
only  daughter  of  Amos  and  Rachel  Woodward.  The 
McCurdy  lands  were  situated  in  section  two,  of  Lyme, 
and  Mr.  ]\IcCurdy  became  agent  for  the  sale  of  the 
same.  So  soon  as  he  was  married,  he  began  the  im- 
provement of  a  part  of  them,  and  in  1827  erected  the 
neat  and  commodious  dwelling  where  his  widow  still 
resides.  This  house,  even  at  this  day,  is  one  of 
the  best  and  neatest  farm  dwellings  in  the  township. 
It  is  fashioned  somewhat  after  the  McCurdy  homestead 
in  Connecticut,  resembling  it  in  its  low  ceilings,  the 
arrangement  of  its  apartments,  and  the  quaint, 
modest  and  home-like  character  of  its  appointments 
and  surroundings.  In  the  work  of  its  construction, 
he,  that  was  afterwards  Judge  Brown,  of  Norwalk, 
was  one  of  the  laborers.  A  visitor  from  Connecticut, 
a  Mr.  Jessup,  was  so  pleased  with  its  elegant  and 
comfortable  demeanor,  which  seemed  to  him  in  such 
striking  contrast  to  the  broad,  wearisome  stretch  of 
the  surrounding  prairie,  that  he  christened  it  the 
"Diamond  of  the  Desert." 

Mr.  McCurdy,  during  the  first  years  of  his  residence 
in  Lyme,  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  fine  cattle.  He  obtained  them  in  the  southern 
counties  of  the  State,  brought  them  to  Lyme,  and 
wintered  them  on  Strong's  ridge,  boarding  with  Mr. 
Strong,  or  Mr.  Russell.  He  was  unfortunate  with 
them,  and  lost  many  from  the  murrain,  but,  never- 
theless, did  the  township  valuable  service  in  the 
introduction  of  a  superior  kind  of  cattle. 

Mr.  McCurdy  had,  in  his  boyhood  days,  a  great 
fondness  for  the  sea,  and  was  eagerly  bent  upon  being 
a  sailor.  His  father,  thinking  that  a  trip  on  the 
water  would  be  sufficient  to  eradicate  this  love  of  the 
ocean,  permitted  him  to  make  a  voyage  or  two  to 
London,  but  the  liking  only  grew  the  stronger.  He 
was  finally,  however,  persuaded  to  adopt  his  father's 
counsels,  and  thus  became  a  farmer. 

The  McCurdy  tract  was  originally  quite  extensive, 
and  Mr.  McCurdy  kept  as  his  own,  for  many  years, 
about  six  hundred  acres,  Mrs.  McCurdy  being  to-day 
the  possessor  of  six  hundred  and  eleven  acres. 


4li 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  Lyme  church  owes  its  existeuce  maiiih-  to 
Mr.  McCurdy's  efforts  and  generous  liberality.  He 
donated  the  laud  ujion  which  the  church  and  cemetery 
are  located,  consisting  of  four  acres,  and  in  time  and 
money  contributed  the  principal  part  of  the  cost  of 
the  first  Lyme  church  edifice,  which  was  scarcely 
completed  before  it  was  burned  to  the  ground.  Dis- 
heartening as  this  disaster  was,  Mr.  McC'urdy  was 
undaunted,  and  proposed  to  his  neighbors  if  they 
chose  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  another  building,  he 
would  contribute  the  same  amount  as  before.  This 
generous  offer  was  accepted,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
from  the  time  the  first  building  was  burned,  the 
second  was  ready  for  occupancy. 

Mr.  McCurdy  died  very  suddenly  at  his  residence. 
August  28, 1869.  On  Friday  he  was  in  Bellevue,  with 
a  load  of  grain,  and  returned  home  in  the  evening, 
with  ;i  telegram  and  letter  from  New  York  friends, 
announcing  the  pleasing  fact  that  they  would  arrive 
here  for  a  short  visit,  on  the  ^Monday  following.  On 
Saturday,  following  his  trip  to  Bellevue,  and  before 
his  relatives  had  arrived,  he  died.  His  friends  came, 
not  with  glad  hearts  to  enjoy  a  pleasant  visit  in  his 
delightful  home,  as  they  had  intended,  but  with  sad 
and  stricken  hearts  to  follow  his  remains  to  the  quiet 
churchyard. 


BOURDETT  WOOD, 

the  eldest  son  of  Jasper  and  Elizabeth  (Boylston) 
Wood,  was  born  at  Manlius  Square,  New  York,  on 
the  19th  day  of  February,  1803.  The  Woods  are  of 
English  origin.  Four  brothers  came  to  this  country 
about  two  centuries  ago,  three  of  them  settling  in 
Massachusetts,  and  one  of  them  in  Virginia.  Aaron, 
the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  with 
three  brothers,  had  emigrated  to  the  State  of  New 
Y'ork  a  short  time  preaching  the  revolutionary  strug- 
gle, and  had  settled  on  the  German  flats  Just  above 
Schenectady.  All  four  of  the  brothers  were  sol- 
diers in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  took  part  in 
in  the  memorable  battle  of  Monmouth.  Aaron 
Wood  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Thaddeus,  Benjamin,  Jasper,  Rebecca,  Dorathea, 
Aaron  and  Homer.  Thaddeus  was  a  lawyer  of  dis- 
tinction and  ability.  He  was,  in  his  time,  not  only 
the  recognized  leader  of  the  bar  in  Onondaga  county, 
where  he  resided,  but  was  esteemed  as  one  of  the  best 
lawyers  of  the  State.  He  was  an  active  participant 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and,  by  reason  of  meritorious  ser- 
vice, was  elevated  to  the  rank  of  brigadier  general 
in  1818,  and  to  the  rank  of  major  general  in  1820. 
Jasper  Wood,  the  father  of  Bourdett,  was  born  in  the 
year  in  which  the  war  for  Independence  was  declared, 
1776,  at  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  where  he  lived  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  New  Y'ork 
State  in  the  service  of  a  Mr.   White,  the  founder  of 


Whitestown,  near  L'tica,  that  State.  Here  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  for  eight  or  ten  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Manlius  Square  where  he  remained  until 
I  1815,  the  date  of  his  removal  to  the  far  west.  After 
I  a  temporary  stay  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  of  one  year's 
duration,  he  came  on  with  his  family  to  Huron 
county,  and  settled  at  Bloomingville.  Here  he  pur- 
!  chased  a  large  tract  of  land,  consisting  of  about  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  acres  for  which  he  paid  about 
two  thousand  dollars.  Soon  after  this,  the  Govern- 
ment lands  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Sandusky  came 
into  market,  and  were  sold  to  purchasers  at  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  This  reduced  the. 
value  of  Mr.  Wood's  lands  so  as  to  render  them  com- 
paratively worthless.  He  died  in  1821.  He  was  a 
man  of  rather  superior  education  and  abilities;  was  a 
good  surveyor,  and  could  speak  the  Ii-oquois  language 
with  considerable  fluency.  His  wife's  name  was 
Elizabeth  Boylston,  whom  he  married  May  3,  1802. 
The  Boylstons  were  also  English  people,  and  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Boston.  They  gave  their 
name  to  many  places  connected  with  the  early  history 
of  that  metropolis,  such  as  Boylston  Common,  Boyls- 
ton Square,  etc.  Boylston  Bank,  Boylston  street — 
places  that  are  still  thus  designated.  The  Boylstons 
were  a  very  intelligent  and  well-to-do  cjass  of  people, 
and  many  representatives  of  the  family  are  now  living 
in  Massachusetts,  all  occupying  honorable  stations  in 
life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jas.oer  Wood  were  the  parents  of  six 
children :  Bourdett,  Adaline,  Julianne,  Juliette, 
Worthingtou  and  Arainenta.  Mrs.  Wood  died  in 
1834. 

Bourdett  received  his  given  name  from  the  Bourdett 
family,  of  Fort  Lee,  New  Jersey. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  bound  for  a  term  of 
four  years  to  Judge  Timothy  Baker,  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio.  After  an  expiration  of  two  years,  his  father 
having  died,  through  the  kindly  efforts  in  his  behalf, 
made  by  Mrs.  Baker,  he  was  released  from  this  ser- 
vice. The  maintenance  of  his  father's  family  chiefly 
devolved  upon  him,  and  he  was  brought  in  close  con- 
tact with  the  utmost  severity  of  labor. 

Mr.  Wood  has  been  a  successful  man.  To  trace  his 
career  and  bring  to  light  the  discovery  of  how  he  ac- 
complished so  much  in  the  direction  of  getting  on  in 
the  world,  is  an  interesting  undertaking.  His  father 
died  when  Bourdett  was  a  young  man  eightten 
years  of  age,  and  not  only  left  him  no  inheritance,  but 
placed  him  in  a  position  where  he  must,  by  the  labor 
of  his  own  hands  and  the  employment  of  his  own  wits, 
provide,  not  for  himself  alone,  but  for  others  depend- 
ent upon  him  for  the  necessaries  of  life.  Could  the 
young  man,  the  day  after  his  father's  death,  have  had 
his  future  career  in  life  disclosed  to  him;  could  he 
have  seen  himself  standing  on  the  verge  of  that  ca- 
reer, penniless  and  seemingly  powerless,  and  tiien 
have  followed  his  course  through  a  term  of  fifty  or 
nearly  sixty  years,  to  behold  himself  the  possessor  of 
hundreds    of   thousands   of    dollars   of    this   world's 


/^^>-t^i-^06^^    /^^^mr^^ 


^,J/^S^,^^2it'M^rr 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


413 


goods,  he  would  uudoubtedly  have  disbelieved  the 
revelation.  Yet  this  is  what  he  has  accomplished. 
The  acquisition  of  great  wealth  furnishes  in  itself  no 
marvel,  for  many  men  become  possessors  of  it.  Some 
inherit  it;  some  have  it  thrust  upon  them  by  kind 
fortune  or  good  luck;  and  some  obtain  it  by  a  sj's- 
tematic  course  of  robbery,  in  which  knavery,  extor- 
tion, and  theft,  in  its  various  forms,  have  their  part 
to  play.  ' 

After  leaving  the  service  of  Mr.  Baker,  Mr.  Wood's 
first  employment  was  in  working  for  Charles  F. 
Drake,  of  Bloomingville,  for  two  months,  for  a  barrel 
of  salt  and  a  side  of  sole  leather,  each  of  which  was 
equivalent  to  about  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  and 
would  buy  a  good  two  year  old  steer.  The  following 
summer  he  raised  five  or  six  acres  of  corn.  This  he 
was  persuaded  to  apply  in  the  payment  of  a  colt,  which 
Mr.  Caldwell  had  obtained  at  a  cost  of  eleven  dollars, 
and  for  which  Mr.  Wood  was  influenced  to  give  twen- 
ty-five dollars.  About  one  half  this  money  he  got 
together  by  putting  up  four  tons  of  bay  for  Mr.  Cald- 
well, at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  ton,  and  by 
chopping  twenty-five  cords  of  wood  at  twenty-five 
cents  per  cord.  In  piling  this  wood  he  showed  him- 
self to  be  a  novice,  for  he  made  but  about  fifteen  cords 
of  it,  the  wood  being  put  up  very  closely.  Eben 
Dennis,  who  was  present  when  it  was  measured,  and 
who  took  a  friendly  interest  in  the  boy,  said  to  Bour- 
dett,  slyly:  "  You  are  a  little  fool  to  pile  wood  in  that 
way;  now  you  go  ahead  and  chop  more,  and  by  and 
by,  when  the  old  man  Caldwell  is  not  around,  I'll 
come  and  show  you  how  to  cord  wood."  He  did  so, 
readily  extending  the  pile  so  as  to  include  the  requi- 
site twenty-five  cords.  In  process  of  time  he  got  his 
colt  paid  for,  and  was  by  and  by  enabled  to  buy  an 
old  horse,  and  then  exchanged  his  colt  and  horse  for 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  thus  j^roviding  himself  with  a  team. 
In  1823,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  raised  a  fair  crop  of 
corn,  and  then  went  sailing.  He  sailed  to  Sault  St. 
Marie,  and  acted  in  the  capacity  of  cook.  The  mate 
had  laid  in  a  barrel  of  whisky  to  supply  the  soldiers 
in  garrison  at  St.  Mary's,  and  Bourdett  was  promised 
half  they  could  make  if  he  would  draw  the  whisky 
for  those  who  purchased  it. 

He  had  the  good  fortune  to  obtain  quite  a  nice  little 
sum  of  money  in  his  sailing  operations.  This  money 
he  invested  in  calves.  In  1825,  he  worked  in  the 
Bloomingville  brick  yard  for  Dr.  Strong.  In  1836, 
he  returned  to  Manluis,  New  York,  and  was  employed 
in  making  water  lines  for  the  Oswego  canal,  the  build- 
ing of  which  had  at  that  time  just  been  commenced. 
In  1837,  he  bought  fifty-seven  acres  of  land  for  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  a  part  of  the  old  Wood 
homestead  in  Oxford,  now  owned  by  his  son  Thomas. 
On  this  purchase  he  was  enabled  to  pay  sixty  dol- 
lars. In  1839,  he  carried  the  mail  from  Sandusky 
to  Bucyrus,  receiving  four  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
trip. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1839,  he  was  married 
to   Miss  Rhoda  Harrington,    daughter  of  Mr.  Seth 


Harrington.  Industrious  and  frugal,  Mrs.  Wood 
furnished  valuable  assistance  to  her  husl)and  in  his 
efforts  to  get  a  start  in  life.  He  soon  found  himself 
the  possessor  of  surplus  funds,  which  he  generously 
loaned  to  his  neighbors  upon  application.  Finally, 
old  man  Coggswell  said  to  him:  "Charge  for  the  use  of 
your  money.  It  is  no  use  to  keep  a  cow  unless  you 
milk  her."  Adopting  this  sage  advice,  he  began  to 
loan  money  in  small  sums,  and  the  accruing  interest 
soon  began  to  tell  in  his  favor.  About  the  year  1840, 
he  began  to  buy  and  sell  stock.  He  and  Uncle  Nat. 
Chapman  associated  themselves  together  in  the  busi- 
ness of  buying  horses  and  sheep,  for  cash,  in  Holmes 
and  Tuscarawas  counties,  bringing  them  to  Huron 
and  Erie  counties,  and  selling  them  on  credit  to  re- 
sponsible farmers.  x\nd  in  1844,  he  and  Mr.  Chairman 
began  the  purchase  of  western  lands.  About  this 
time  they  secured  fifteen  hundred  aci-es  of  the  Wyan- 
dott  reservation,  and  in  1853  they  bought  twenty- 
three  hundred  acres  in  Iowa,  mostly  in  Tama  county. 
He  began  the  purchase  of  lauds  also  in  Erie  county, 
buying  and  selling,  and  always  reaping  a  gain. 

In  1846,  he  removed  to  Bellevue  with  his  family, 
and  from  this  time  forward  made  money-lending  the 
leading  specialty  of  his  business.  In  1871  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  Abishai  Woodward  and  E.  J. 
Shefiield  in  the  banking  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Wood,  Woodward  &  Co.,  and  when  the  bank 
was  reorganized  as  a  stock  company,  Mr.  Wood  was 
made  president  of  the  institution — a  position  he  still 
retains. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  1.  Jasper,  born  November  15,  1839. 
He  is  a  resident  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  and  a 
very  successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  2.  Emeline 
Adelia,  born  May  6,  1831.  She  is  the  wife  of  Peter 
G.  Sharp,  and  resides  near  Stockton,  California.  3. 
Richard  Boylston,  born  December  3,  1833,  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Tunnel  Hill,  Georgia,  February  35, 
1864.  He  was  captain  of  a  company  of  cavalry  sol- 
diers, and  a  gallant  soldier,  a  brave  and  efficient  offi- 
cer. 4.  Henry  Bourdett,  born  July  35,  1834,  died 
April;  1873.  5.  Elizabeth  Malvina,  born  March  19, 
1836.  She  is  the  wife  of  Adam  Burgett,  a  wholesale 
boot  and  shoe  merchant  of  Toledo,  Ohio.  6.  Benja- 
min Lester,  born  June  31,  1838.  7.  Florella  Sophia, 
born  September  7,  1840,  died  May  14.  1866,  of  con- 
sumption. She  was  a  young  lady  of  uauch  attractive- 
ness and  superior  mental  qualities.  8.  Thomas  Cor- 
wiu,  born  April  37,  1843.  He  resides  in  Bellevue. 
9.  Susan  C,  born  August  7,  1844.  She  became  the 
wife  of  W.  W.  Williams  April  9,  1868,  and  died  of 
consumption  November  5,  1873.  In  the  western  home 
in  which  she  lived  during  her  wedded  life,  she  won 
many  friends,  by  whom  her  memory  is  cherished  with 
pleasing  recollections.  10.  Julia  Louisa,  born  Feb- 
ruary 38,  1847.  She  is  the  wife  of  James  B.  Wood, 
of  Bellevue,  Ohio,  whose  home  she  renders  blessed. 

On  the  first  day  of  January  last,  the  relatives  and 
friends   of  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Wood  assembled  at   their 


414 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


residence  in  Bellevue,  and  celebrated  with  them  their 
golden  wedding.  The  occasion  was  one  of  the  pleas- 
antest,  to  all  participants,  that  ever  took  place  within 
that  quiet  village. 

Mr.  Wood  is  now  in  his  seventy-seventli  year,  but 
possesses  as  much  vitality  as  the  average  man  of  tifty. 
He  has  hardly  ever  known  a  sick  day,  and  the  pros- 
pect that  a  dozen  years  or  more  may  yet  be  added  to 
his  days  is  not  discouraging.  Physically,  so  sound 
and  well-preserved,  he  is  no  less  so  mentally.  He 
attends  to  all  the  details  of  his  extensive  business, 
and,  though  his  memory  is  becoming  treacherous,  his 
judgment  is  as  unerring,  his  discernment  as  acute, 
his  reasoning  faculties  as  sound,  as  they  ever  have 
been. 

Mr.  Wood  is  a  man  of  clearly-deiined  traits  of  char- 
acter and  mental  characteristics.  In  manner,  often 
abrupt  and  blunt,  he  nevertheless  possesses  a  kindli- 
ness of  heart  that  is  rarely  found  beneath  so  rough 
an  exterior.  Xo  man  in  need,  whom  he  believes  to 
be  deserving,  has  ever  appealed  to  him  in  vain. 
Schooled  in  the  methods  of  money-lending,  and  hav- 
ing become  naturally  cautious  and  careful  as  to  his 
securities,  he  has  loaned  money  to  hundreds  of  people, 
who  had  no  security  to  offer  him,  and  toward  whom 
he  has  stood  wholly  in  the  light  of  their  benefac- 
tor. The  number  of  persons  who  will  accord  to 
him  the  praise  of  being  thus  their  friend  in  need, 
assisting  them  to  get  started  in  life,  is  by  no  means 
small.  He  has,  in  this  way,  lost  thousands  of  dollars, 
sometimes  without  benetiting  those  he  designed  to 
help,  but  oftener  bestowing  a  benefit  that  has  aided 
those  struggling  with  adversity  to  regain  their  feet, 
and  at  last  to  reach  a  sure  and  safe  foundation.  Per- 
haps it  is  only  just  to  say  that  no  other  man  in  this 
community,  had  he  double  the  amount  of  means, 
would  take  half  the  risks  thus  incurred  by  Mr. 
Wood. 

On  his  seventieth  birthday  he  gave  to  each  of  his 
eight  children  the  neat  little  sum  of  ten  thousand 
dollars. 

Mr.  Wood  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  a  position  he  tilled  with  much  credit,  no 
decision  of  his  having  ever  been  reversed  by  a  supe- 
rior court.  He  generally  votes  with  the  republican 
party,  but  has  little  confidence  in  men  who  gain  power, 
believing  that  as  a  general  rule  politicians  are  chiefly 
concerned  in  feathering  well  their  own  nests,  and  that 
the  best  of  them  make  the  well  being  of  the  people, 
whose  interests  they  should  faithfully  serve,  a  secon- 
dary object.  Had  he  his  way  he  would  revolutionize 
the  methods  of  conducting  affairs,  and  so  simplify 
governmental  and  punitory  matters  as  to  greatly  cur- 
tail expenses  and  lessen  crime. 

He  is  not  a  member  of  any  church,  but  Mrs.  Wood 
has  been  for  many  years  a  faithful  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  The 
two  daughters  that  died,  were,  and  the  three  daugh- 
ters that  still  live,  are  communicants  of  the  same 
church. 


DR.  L.  G.  HARKXESS. 

Dr.  Harkuess  has  been  for  many  years  intimately 
connected  w-ith  Bellevue,  and,  possesing  business  tact 
of  a  superior  order,  he  accumulated  here  a  fine  prop- 
erty, becoming,  in  fact,  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in 
town.  He  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  nine  child- 
ren, his  father  dying  while  he  was  still  an  infant.  His 
sister  Elir-abeth,  who  also  lived  for  many  years  in 
Bellevue,  took  charge  of  the  family,  and  did  all  a 
mother  could  have  done  in  bringing  him  up.  She 
was  best  known  as  "  Aunt  Elizabeth  Harkness,"  and 
lived  many  years  on  Centre  street,  near  the  old  Meth- 
odist church,  where  she  managed  alone  her  little  do- 
mestic affairs,  the  friend  of  all,  and  loved  by  all  who 
knew  her.  She  never  married,  and  was  thus  enabled 
to  give  time  and  care  in  the  assistance  of  others,  amid 
the  sorrows  and  trials  of  domestic  life.  She  was  a 
lady  of  superior  intelligence,  educated  and  refined. 
She  lived  to  be  some  eighty-five  years  of  age  and  died 
at  the  residence  of  her  brother  in  the  year  1864. 

The  doctor  was  born  in  the  town  of  Salem,  Wash- 
ington county.  New  York,  April  1,  1801,  and  conse- 
quently he  is  now  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
After  graduating  at  Union  College  he  was  educated 
for  the  medical  profession  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  came  west  in  1823,  as  so  many  other  young  men 
have  done  who,  having  fitted  themselves  for  the  busi- 
ness of  life,  launched  out  into  the  world  to  build  up 
their  fortunes  and  achieve  that  destiny  whicli  Provi- 
dence had  in  store  for  them. 

On  arrival  in  this  county  he  went  into  business  with 
Dr.  -Stevens,  and  located  on  the  ridge  in  Lyme  town- 
ship. The  following  spring  the  doctor  removed  to 
the  western  part  of  the  township,  where  he  followed 
the  practice  of  his  profession  nearly  ten  years  or  until 
1833.  This  comprised  about  all  the  time  he  was  ex- 
clusively devoted  to  the  medical  practice. 

In  1832,  the  doctor  moved  to  this  part  of  the  town- 
ship, and,  in  connection  with  Judge  Chapman  and 
Mr.  Amsden,  purchased  the  laud,  and  laid  out  the 
town  of  Bellevue.  He  considers  it  still  his  home,  al- 
though for.  the  last  few  years,  since  the  breaking  up 
of  his  family  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  has  resided 
temporarily  with  his  children  in  Cleveland. 

Shortly  after  coming  to  Bellevue,  he  relinquished 
the  practice  of  medicine,  and  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Judge  Chapman,  who  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandizing.  Under  the  name  of 
Chapman  &  Harkness  they  carried  on  business  until 
the  fall  of  1852,  when  he  formed  a  co-partnership 
with  D.  M.  Harkness  and  H.  M.  Flagler  under  the 
name  of  Harkness  &  Co.  Since  1870,  the  doctor  has 
not  been  actively  engaged  in  business. 

About  the  year  1854,  he  built  the  line  residence  on 
West  street,  near  the  railroad,  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Gray,  and  occupied  it  till  within  a  few  years. 

He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  in  York  township 
in  1824.  There  were  only  thirteen  voters  polled  at 
that  election,  and  were  all   for  John  Quincy  Adams. 


VA/.yyt^^-^7 


y^^a>t/^/t^^. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


415 


Now  the  voters  in  the  township  number  about  seven 
hundred — such  has  been  the  rapid  increase  in  popuhx- 
tion.  The  doctor  has  voted  at  every  presidential 
election  since  1824,  the  number  of  such  elections  be- 
ing fourteen,  and  at  every  State  election,  save  one 
when  he  was  absent  from  the  State. 

Dr.  Harkness  married  Julia,  daughter  of  Eliphalet 
Follett,  a  very  pleasant,  sociable  lady,  who,  whether 
amid  the  privations  and  trials  of  pioneer  life,  or  the 
more  pleasant  surroundings  and  comforts  which 
wealth  affords,  ever  showed  herself  a  true  lady,  with 
a  pleasant  word  and  cordial  greeting  for  all.  She  died 
in  1870.  They  had  seven  children:  Isabella,  Follett, 
Mary,  Lamon,  Julia,  Tryphene  and  Louisa. 

Isabella  was  married  to  D.  M.  Harkness  in  1849. 
She  died  in  1869.     Follett  died  while  yet  a  child. 

Mary  married  Henry  M.  Flagler,  son  of  Isaac 
Flagler,  who  died  about  three  years  ago.  Henry 
was  engaged  in  the  produce  business  here  in  Bellevue, 
several  years,  with  Barney  York.  Finally,  however, 
he  went  to  Cleveland,  where  he  has  turned  his  busi- 
ness talent  to  good  account,  and  become  one  of  the 
most  able  business  men  in  the  city,  occui^ying  the 
position  of  secretary  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company, 
the  heaviest  kerosene  oil  rectifying  company  in  the 
world.  They  have  two  children  living,  Jennie  and 
Harry.  Carrie,  the  favorite,  died  at  three  years  of 
age. 

Lamon  died  when  some  six  or  seven  years  old. 

Julia  married  B.  H.  York,  who  is  associated  with 
the  Union  Elevator  Company  in  Cleveland,  where  he 
resides,  and  is  also  prospering.  They  have  three  bright 
children:  Georgie,  Robbie  and  Roy. 

Tryphene  grew  up  to  be  a  very  interesting  j"Oung 
lady,  not  only  in  appearance,  but  in  sweetness  of 
disjjosition  and  manner,  winning  the  love  and  esteem 
of  all.  She  died  when  about  eighteen,  too  frail  a 
flower  for  the  rude  blasts  of  this  world. 

Louisa,  the  youngest,  married,  about  four  years 
■'ago,  Mr.  G.  S.  Wheaton,  of  Cleveland,  who  is  doing 
a  good  business  in  that  city,  and  who  surrounds  her 
with  every  comfort  that  heart  can  wish. 


ORRIN  DOLE. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Orrin  Dole,  was  born 
in  Shelburne,  Franklin  count}',  Massachusetts,  No- 
vember 1,  1806.  His  father,  Enoch  Dole,  was  born 
in  the  same  town,  and  his  mother  in  Bucklaud,  the 
same  county.  During  his  early  life  he  learned  the 
cooper  trade  with  his  father,  and  worked  at  that 
business  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Dole  was  mar- 
ried in  Shelburne,  October  18,  1827,  to  Luciuda 
Kemp.  Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom 
five  are  still  living.  Their  names,  in  the  order  of- 
their  birth,  are  as  follows:  Daniel  W.,  was  born 
April  i,  1829,  in  Shelburne,  Massachusetts;  is  now 


living  in  Manteno,  Illinois,  where  lie  i,s  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business.  Fidelia  J.  was  born  in  Deer- 
field,  Massachusetts,  March  21,  1831;  died  October 
30,  1876.  Harriet  A.  was  born  in  Deerfield,  August 
6,  1833;  died  September  30,  1872.  George  S.  was 
born  in  Deerfield,  September  20,  1835;  lives  in  Lyme 
township,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  about  a  mile  from 
the  late  home  of  his  father.  Orrin  was  born  August 
3,  1837,  in  New  Salem,  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, and  now  lives  in  Elyria,  Lorain  county,  Ohio; 
he  has  quite  a  reputation  as  a  detective,  and  is  em- 
ployed by  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  Railroad  in  many  cases, 
where  energy  and  tact  are  required,  to  feri-et  out 
criminals,  and  has  been  very  successful.  Edwin  L. 
was  born  April  21,  1842,  in  Ashfield,  Franklin  county, 
Massachusetts,  and  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead; 
he  is  a  large  manufacturer  of  cider  and  cider  vinegar, 
having  pressed,  in  1878,  three  thousand  two  hundred 
and  fifty  barrels  of  cider,  and  stored  nine  hundred 
barrels  for  vinegar.  Henry  S.  was  born  in  Lyme, 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  died  at  the  old  homestead, 
same  county,  April  12,  1865,  of  quick  consumption; 
he  was  seized  with  pneumonia,  while  serving  his 
country  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  which  produced 
the  disease  in  this  fatal  form.  Julia  E.  was  born  in 
Lyme,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  June  21,  1848;  she  is 
now  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Stocking,  who  is  preparing  for 
the  ministry  at  Oberlin  theological  seminarv. 

The  first  two  years  after  their  marriage,  Jlr.  and 
Mrs.  Dole  lived  in  Shelburne,  the  village  in  which  they 
were  married.  They  then  removed  to  Deerfield, 
where  they  remained  about  six  years,  when  they  re- 
turned to  Shelburne,  remaining  one  vear.  They  then 
went  to  New  Salem  for  about  three  years;  then  to 
Conway  for  one  year;  then  back  to  Shelburne  for  an- 
other year.  They  then  moved  to  Ashfield,  where  they 
remained  about  three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1843, 
they  decided  to  find  a  home  for  their  growing  family 
in  the  western  country,  and  in  May,  of  that  year,  re- 
moved to  Lyme,  Huron  county,  Ohio.  They  rented 
a  place  for  a  short  time,  when  Mr.  Dole  bought  the 
improved  farm  of  :Mr.  Chester  Hamilton,  a  half  mile 
north  of  the  place  where  Mrs.  Dole  now  lives,  with 
her  son  Edwin.  They  remained  on  this  farm  some 
ten  years,  when  they  removed  to  the  present  home- 
stead, about  a  mile  east  of  Bellevue,  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  which  Mr.  Dole  had  purchased  some  two  years 
previously.  In  1866,  he  exchanged  his  first  farm 
with  his  son  George,  for  land  in  Illinois,  which  he 
bought  some  time  before.  He  owned  four  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  in  Illinois,  which  he  divided  among 
his  children,  giving  to  each  of  his  three  eldest  sons 
one-fourth  of  this  property,  on  condition  that  they 
should  live  on  it  three  years;  and  divided  the  remain- 
ing one-fourth  between  his  two  daughters,  Fedlia  J., 
and  Harriet  A. 

Mr.  Dole  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  New  Salem,  Massachusetts,  in  1834. 
and  continued  a  faithful  and  consistent  member  of 
that  church  during  his  life.     After  his    removal    to 


416 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Ohio  he  joined  the  church  organized  in  Lyme,  and 
tooic  an  active  part  in  all  the  enterprises  connected 
with  the  churcli.  He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
church,  and  for  many  years  was  a  class  leader,  until 
his  hearing  became  impaired,  when  he  gave  it  up. 
He  was  always  foremost  in  any  good  work  belonging  | 
to  the  church,  and  contributed  largely  toward  the 
erection  of  the  present  beautiful  chnrr-h  edifice,  that 
is  an  ornament  to  Bellevue. 

He  was  never  a  man  of  sound  health :  in  fact,  he  j 
hardly  knew  what  good  health  was.  He  was  predis- 
posed to  consumption,  and  suffered  much,  but  was 
always  cheerful  and  uncomplaining.  His  disease 
gradually  bore  him  down  until  he  was  obliged  to  take 
to  his  bed  the  9th  of  October,  1871.  He  lingered 
along,  a  constant  sufferer,  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred JIarch  1(5,  1873,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

His  wife,  the  mother  of  his  children,  still  lives  at 
the  old  homestead,  in  the  township  of  Lyme,  near  the 
prettv  village  of  Bellevue,  with  her  son,  Edwin  L. , 
in  a  beautiful  home,  blessed  with  loving  grandchil- 
dren, and  surrounded  Ijy  the  friends  of  nearly  forty 
years. 

Mr.  Dole  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  but  did  not  follow 
that  business  long  after  his  marriage.  While ^  a  resi- 
den  of  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  he  was  for  a 
number  of  years  engaged  in  teaming  to  Boston  for 
the  merchants  of  the  county  in  which  he  lived, 
bringing  to  them  the  merchandise  they  dealt  in,  and 
delivering  in  Boston  the  articles  they  received  in 
trade,  consisting  of  pork,  beef,  butter,  etc.  After 
being  a  resident  of  Ohio  for  a  number  of  years, 
in  1856,  he  built  a  wooden  cider  mill,  and  began 
the  manufacture  of  cider  for  his  neighbors.  Two 
years  later  he  put  up  a  four-horse  mill,  and  began 
buying  apples,  being  the  first  man  in  the  vicinity, 
who  engaged  in  this  business.  He  stored  at  first  a  few 
barrels  of  vinegar,  at  first  some  fifteen  or  twenty  in  a 
season,  until,  in  a  few  years,  he  put  up  one  hundred 
and  fifty  barrels  at  a  time.  He  continued  this  busi- 
ness until  his  death,  when  his  son,  Edwin  L.,  suc- 
ceeded to  it,  and  continues  to  carry  it  forward.  He 
now  has  a  fine  steam-power  cider  mill,  and  in  1878, 
as  stated  above,  made  a  large  amount  of  cider,  and 
stored  many  barrels  of  vinegar, 

Orrin  Dole,  senior,  was  always  a  cjuiet,  unobstrusive 
man,  and  a  man  of  great  energy  for  one  who  was 
atflicted  as  he  was,  and  so  great  a  sufferer. 

Tlie  work  he  accomplished  evinces  the  spirit  he 
possessed. 


D.   M.  HARKXE.SS, 


capitalist,  the  son  of  Dr,  David  Harkness,  was  born 
at  Milan,  Ohio,  September,  1822,  His  father  died  in 
182.5,  when  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  Salem, 
Washington  county,  New  York,  where  he  lived  in 
the  home  of  his  father's  mother  until  the  marriage  of 
his  mother  witli  Rev,  Isaac  Flagler,  of  Seneca  county. 


New  York.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Flagler  removed  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  then  a  lad  of  fifteen,  accompanied  them. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Bellevue,  and, 
in  the  following  summer,  entered  the  store  of  Chaji- 
man  &  Harkness,  in  whose  employ  he 'remained  until 
the  summer  of  1840,  when  he  went  to  Lansingburg, 
New  York,  At  that  place  he  remained  about  one 
year,  engaged  as  a  clerk  a  part  of  the  time,  and  part 
of  the  time  as  "devil  "  in  tlie  office  of  the  Lansing- 
burg Gazette. 

In  18-il,  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  was  employed  by 
L,  G,  Harkness  &  Co,,  as  salesman  in  their  store  at 
Republic,  Ohio,  a  position  he  continued  to  hold  until 
the  spring  of  18-45,  That  his  services  at  Republic 
were  held  in  higu  esteem  by  his  employers,  is  attested 
by  the  fact  that  in  the  year  last  named,  he  received, 
much  to  his  surprise,  an  invitation  from  the  firm  to 
join  them  as  a  partner  in  their  large  and  growing 
business.  This  he  did,  the  firm  becoming  Chapman, 
Harkness  &  Co,  A  young  man  of  fine  abilities,  cor- 
rect habits  and  a  laudable  ambition,  he  applied  his 
mind  with  much  industry  and  energy  to  a  careful  study 
of  the  business,  with  the  details  of  which  he  soon  be- 
came familiar,  and  was  their  master.  So  large  a  meas- 
ure of  success  for  the  next  half  dozen  years  crowned 
his  efforts,  that  he  was  enabled,  in  1852,  to  purchase 
the  entire  business  of  Chapman,  Harkness  &  Co,  He 
immediately  formed  a  copartnership  with  Dr,  L.  G, 
Harkness  and  his  half-brother,  H,  M,  Flagler,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Harkness  &  Company.  The  busi- 
ness rajjidly  grew  in  extent  and  importance,  and  the 
firm  for  many  years  conducted  a  successful  and  ex- 
tensive business  in  general  merchandise,  grain  and 
manufacturing. 

-  In  the  fall  of  1849,  he  married  Isabella,  daughter  of 
Dr.  L.  G.  Harkness,  by  whom  he  had  five  children. 
Three  died  in  infancy,  and  his  only  daughter,  Katie, 
an  interesting  child,  died  in  February,  1864,  at  the 
age  of  eight  years  and  six  months.  This  sad  event 
was  followed  by  the  death  of  his  wife  in  July  of  the 
same  year,  Isabella  Harkness  is  a  loved  name  in 
Bellevue,  Her  kindness,  active  benevolence  and 
amiability  won  for  her  universal  regard.  She  was  a 
woman  of  deep  religious  convictions,  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church,  and  was  very  ear- 
nest and  active  in  every  good  cause  and  work.  She 
lent  her  best  energies  to  the  support  of  all  enterprises 
of  a  benevolent  character,  and  was  a  devoted,  loving 
daughter,  wife  and  mother.  Such  is  the  concurrent 
testimony  of  all  who  knew  her.  Thus,  in  so  brief  a 
lapse  of  time,  Mr,  Harkness  was  bereft  of  those  who 
were  dearer  to  him  than  life  itself;  yet  providence 
spared  to  him  one  son,  William  L,,  who  bids  fair  to 
do  honor  to  the  name  of  Harkness,  He  is  a  young 
man  of  fine  parts,  just  on  the  verge  of  his  majority, 
and  is  now  completing  his  collegiate  studies  at  Yale 
College, 

Mr.  Harkness"  army  experience  was,  for  the  most 
part,  that   of  brigade   quartermaster,    under  General 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


417 


R.  P.  Buckliuid.  Returning  to  Bellevue  in  1863,  he 
rendered  valuable  service  to  his  country  by  way  of 
raising  recruits  and  zealously  and  ably  maintaining,  by 
vote  and  voice,  the  cause  of  the  Union. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Harkiiess  sold  his 
business  to  H.  M.  Sinclair,  and  retired  from  active 
business  life.  A  man  of  ample  means,  iiis  time  is 
mainly  spent  in  looking  after  his  monied  investments, 
and,  whenever  a  political  contest  is  at  hand,  iu  zeal- 
ously  aiding  the   cause  of  Republicanism.     He  is  a 


staunch  party  man,  and  undoubtedly  wields  more  in- 
fluence in  Republican  councils  than  any  other  man  in 
the  county.  He  is  not,  and  never  has  been,  an  as})i- 
rant  for  office. 

Mr.  Harkness  is  a  man  of  excellent  judgment,  and 
his  opinions  of  men  and  things  are  widely  sought  for 
and  highly  esteemed  for  their  soundness.  He  is, 
moreover,  a  man  of  much  decision  of  thought  and 
character,  and  has  no  difficulty  in  expressing  his  ideas 
in  strong,  terse,  fluent,  and  emphatic  language. 


NORWICH 


In  the  preparation  of  the  following  sketch  access 
has  been  had  to  John  M.  Niles'  "Memoirs."  Town- 
•ship  number  three  in  range  twenty-four  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Sherman  township,  on  the  south  by 
Richmond  township,  on  the  east  by  Greenfield  town- 
ship, and  on  the  west  by  Reed  and  \'enice  townships 
of  Seneca  county. 

The  surface  features  are  of  a  general  rolling  nature. 
The  highest  grounds,  or  crests  of  the  ridges,  are  all 
on  one  plane,  with  a  northward  descent.  Along  the 
streams,  which  run  about  thirty  feet  below  the  general 
level,  the  surface  is  more  broken  and  uneven.  The 
bottom  lands  are  narrow,  seldom  exceeding  twenty 
rods  in  width,  through  which  the  streams  flow  in  a 
tortuous  course. 

STREAMS. 

Mud  run,  the  largest  in  the  township,  rises  in  Sen- 
eca county.  It  enters  Norwich  township  near  the 
southwest  corner  and  flows  a  generally  northeasterly 
course  to  lot  number  twenty-eight,  where  it  curves  to 
the  northwest  and  crosses  the  northern  boundary  line 
on  lot  number  forty.  It  derives  its  name  from  the 
muddy  appearance  of  its  banks  and  the  absence  of 
stone  and  gravel  in  its  bed. 

Slate  run  also  rises  in  Seneca  county,  flows  across 
the  western  line  of  the  township  on  lot  number  thirty- 
four,  runs  northeasterly  across  section  third,  and^inites 
with  Mud  run  on  lot  number  thirty-eight.  It  received 
its  name  from  the  slate  rock  over  which  it  runs.  These 
streams  are  tributary  to  Huron  river.  Other  small 
streams  exist  in  the  township,  but  as  they  are  wholly 
unimportant  we  omit  description. 

The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  varying  from  light  clay  on 
the  ridges  to  black  loam  between  them.  The  whole 
is  well-adapted  to  agriculture.  The  suljsoil  is  brick 
clay.     A  few  '■cat  swamps,"  of  a  few  acres  each,  lie 


in  the  southeast  part  of  the  township.     The  whole 
township  was  originally  heavily  timbered. 

"  The  township  is  situated  on  the  outcrop  of  the 
black  slate  rock,  and  occupies  a  middle  position  be- 
tween the  sandstone  on  the  east  and  the  limestone 
on  the  west.  The  slate  rock  dips  to  the  east  and  runs 
under  the  sandstone,  which  appears  on  the  surface 
about  five  miles  east,  in  the  township  of  Greenfield. 
The  limestone  which  lies  under  the  slate  rises  to  the 
surface  about  five  miles  west,  m  the  township  of  Reed 
in  Seneca  county.  Above  the  slate  rock,  for  about 
fifteen  feet,  the  subsoil  contains  a  large  quantity  of 
water-worn  limestone  of  the  buff-colored  variety,  con- 
taining numerous  fossils,  such  as  coral  and  shellfish 
of  many  species.  Along  the  streams  are  numerous 
sulphur  springs.  Sometimes  they  appear  in  the  bed 
of  the  streams,  and  at  others  rise  to  the  surface  of  the 
bottom  lands,  forming  deer  licks.  Big  lick,  the  long- 
est in  the  township,  lies  near  the  center  of  section  four 
and  contains  nearly  an  acre." 

ORIGIXAL    PROPRIETOHSHIP. 

On  the  9th  day  of  November,  1808,  the  township 
of  Norwich  received  its  name,  and  was  so  called,  it  is 
thought,  in  honor  of  its  Connecticut  namesake.  At 
the  same  time  it  was  divided,  as  were  each  of  the 
thirty  townships  comprising  the  Fire-lands,  into  four 
sections.  Norwich  was  drawn  by  nineteen  persons. 
Roswoll  Saltonstall  was  the  principal  owner  of  sec- 
tions one  and  four,  Joseph  Coit  of  section  two,  and 
Russell  Hubbard  and  Gurdon  Saltonstall  of  section 
three.  From  the  time  the  grant  was  made  (1792)  to 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  many  of  the  grantees 
had  sold  their  claims  or,  at  their  decease,  left  them 
for  distribution  among  their  heirs  who,  in  many  in- 
stances, sold  them  to  siicculators  or  suffered  them  to 
be  sold  for  taxes. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


For  explanation  of  the  following  table,  the  reader 
er  is  referred  to  the  Lvme  history: 


..   t 


liamson  neitlier  finished  the  house  nor  occupied  it; 
fact,  notliins  furtiier  of  hi,s  history  is  kno\yn. 


Classification  No.  1, 


Classified  by. 
Daniel  L.  Coit 


Original  Grantees.        Am' 

£ 
Christ'r  Lefflngwell     25 

Elizabeth  Plumb        lor  la  u    , 

Joseph  Childs               75  11  6           " 

Ruth  Harris                  63  0  0 

Elizabeth  Holzworth  48  8  0    i       " 

Hath'l  Hempstead         7  1  10    I       " 

Winth'pSaltonstall  1181  16  8           "              " 

James  Young                13  2  0           " 

Rebeecah  Church        52  11  10           " 

Matthew  Griswold       10  0  0 

Roswell  Saltonstall   1800  0  0       John  Kinsman 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  1. 
Classification  No.  3,  Section  8. 
Original  Grantees.  Am' t  Loss.    Classified  by. 


Joseph  Coit 
Joshua  Coit 
Chrisfr  Lefflngwell 


!98      18       5     I  Daniel  L.  Coit 
40       0       0     I      '■ 
■25       0       0     I      " 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  2, 
No.  3,  Section  3. 


Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss.    Classilied  by. 

Am 

(  Classed. 

Russell  Hubbard 
Joanna  Beebe 
Phillip  Allen 
Giu-don  .Saltonstall 
Elizabeth  Plumb 

£       s.      d.     \ 
1012       0       3       Daniel  L.  Coit 
236       2       6           " 
9      15     ■  sm      " 
1«0       0       0^       ■■ 
197      19        0      1      " 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3. 

,£ 

59 

4 

561 

66 

13        0 
10        9 

£1,344 

7        0 

Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss.     Classified  by. 

Am 

t  Classed. 

Roswell  Saltsonsta 
James  Pennyman 

£       s.      d.   1 

1 1800       0       0       Daniel  L.  Coit 

137      10       7     1      " 

1446      14       7     1" 

1012       0       3     1     •• 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  4 

£ 
589 
137 

1^ 

s.      d.- 
19        0% 

10  7^* 

11  41-4 

£1,344 

7        0 

As  early  as  1815,  Daniel  L.  Coit.  son  <.if  Joseph 
Coit,  had  become,  by  heirship  and  purchase,  the 
owner  of  the  township  of  Norwich,  excepting  a  portion 
of  the  -first  section.  The  proprietors  of  this  were: 
Frederick  and  Thomas  Kinsman,  William  Leppen- 
well,  and  possibly  others.  In  1815,  Daniel  L.  Coit 
sold  sections  two  and  three,  comprising  the  north  half 
of  the  township,  to  Judge  Canfield,  of  Connecticut, 
who  soon  after  sold  the  same  to  James  Williams, 
Phillip  E.  Hopkins,  and  David  W.  Hinman. 

In  the  spring  of  181G,  Messrs.  Williams,  Hopkins, 
and  Hinman  surveyed  the  two  sections  into  one  hun- 
dred acre  lots.  These  were  in  size  one  hundred  and 
sixty  rods  east  and  west  by  one  hundred  rods  north 
and  south,  making  five  tiers  of  eight  lots  each  in  a 
section,  and  numbering  from  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  sections.  Hopkins  was  the  surveyor.  These 
gentlemen  also  laid  out  a  village.  It  was  named  Bar- 
badoes,  and  was  situated  on  the  west  end  of  lot  thirty- 
eight  in  section  second,  and  the  adjoining  portion  of 
lot  six  in  the  third  section.  The  survey  was  completed 
in  June.  The  surveying  party  built  a  small  log  house, 
the  first  in  the  township,  on  lands  now  owned  by 
Kinsman  Bowen.  The  same  year,  John  Williamson 
put  up  the  walls  and  roof  of  a  hewed  log  house  ou  tlie 
village  plat,  near  wl  ere  Durwin  Boughton's  house 
now  stands.  That  was  long  known  as  the  "village 
lioiise,"  thougli  no  other  was  built  on  the  ])lat.     Wil- 


A  small  band  of  the  Seneca  Indians,  with  Seneca 
John  at  tlieirhead,  .sometimes  made  their  camp  in  the 
township.  John  could  speak  a  little  English.  He 
was  honest  and  trusty,  but  others  of  the  tribe  were 
drunken  and  thievish.  Their  dead  were  usually 
enclosed  in  a  bark  coflin,  and  buried  near  their  camp. 
There  were  a  few  conical  mounds  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  township  when  fii-st  settled.  These  were 
believed  to  have  been  burial  places  for  the  dead, 
and  have  long  since  disappeared. 

SETTLEMENT. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  181G,  Chauncey  Woodruff 
and  Wilder  Lawrence,  with  their  respective  families, 
left  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  for  the  wilderness 
of  Ohio.  After  a  tedious  journe}',  they  reached 
Trumbull  county,  where  they  rested  until  the  severe 
months  of  winter  had  passed.  Chauncey  Woodruff 
and  his  son,  George  H.,  came  on  to  Norwich  and 
selected  lots  for  future  homes.  The  son  remained  at 
New  Haven  while  his  father  returned  for  the  family. 
On  the  8th  of  February,  1817,  Woodruff  and  Law- 
rence arrived  in  New  Haven;  and,  on  the  10th,  started, 
with  their  families,  for  Norwich.  Accompanied  by  a 
few  friends,  they  journeyed  on,  and  before  night  ar- 
rived at  the  "village  house"  before  mentioned.  This 
consisted  of  but  the  walls  and  roof;  holes  had  been 
cut  for  a  door  and  fire-place.  Oak  puncheons  had 
been  prepared  for  a  floor,  and  lay  near  by  under  the 
snow,  which  was  then  about  one  foot  deep.  A  few 
were  soon  fished  out  and  placed  in  position  and  a  fire 
started.  Blankets  were  hung  up  for  a  door,  and  sup- 
per prepared,  over  which  tiie  company  made  merry. 
In  laying  in  stores  for  the  occasion,  a  jug  of  the 
"ardent"  had  been  procured,  and  doubtless  added 
much  to  the  jollity  of  the  evening  within  the  cabin, 
while  without  the  wolves  made  night  hideous  with 
their  incessant  howling. 

Lawrence  and  Woodruff  remained  at  the  "village 
house"  until  they  had  cleared  and  planted  a  field  of 
corn,  ou  lot  seven,  and  erected  for  themselves  log 
houses.  Mr.  Lawrence  took  up  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  in  sections  two  and  three.  He 
built  his  house  on  lot  thirty-three,  in  the  former  sec- 
tion, and  upon  these  lands  he  died,  January  8th,  1847; 
his  wife  died  five  years  later.  The  children  were 
nine  in  number:  Sarah,  Maria,  Wilder  J.,  Hiram, 
Susan  and  Lydia,  are  dead.  -Ebenezer  married  Cla- 
rinda  Bly,  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  has  two 
children,  a  son  and  daughter.  Anna  married  Levi 
Reed,  and  lives  in  Reed  township,  Seneca  county, 
Ohio:  and  Charlotte  married  Edward  McGloau,  and 
lives  in  Henry  county,  Ohio. 

Jesse  Woodruff  soon  followed  his  brother,  Chaun- 
cey, into  the  township,  and  began  life  in  the  wilder- 
ness, erecting  his  log  cabin  ou  lot  six.  section  three. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON   AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


now  occupied  by  Lewis  Bodelier.  Chauncey  Wood- 
ruff died  in  1868. 

Naum  Gilson  came  froni  Saratoga  county,  New 
York,  to  Norwich,  in  June,  1817.  Contracting  for 
lot  number  twenty-eight,  in  section  two,  he  Ijegan  the 
construction  of  a  hewed  log  house  thereon.  To  obtain 
the  necessary  assistance  at  the  "raising,"'  settlers  from 
the  adjoining  townships  were  invited.  It  is  said  that 
the  rafters  upon  this  house  were  the  first  raised  in  the 
township.  After  the  house  was  finished,  Mr.  Gilson 
cleared  a  piece  of  ground,  which  he  sowed  to  wheat, 
the  first  grown  in  the  township.  In  the  fall  of  1818, 
Mr.  Gilson  returned  to  his  former  home,  in  Saratoga 
county,  where  he  soon.af  ter  married  Miss  Sally  Ormes, 
formerly  from  Massachusetts.  Early  in  the  following 
spring  the  journey  to  Ohio  was  begun.  The  mode 
of  transit  was  the  usual  one  of  the  period,  viz. :  a 
stout  wagon,  drawn  by  oxen  and  one  horse.*  .A  long 
time  was  consumed  on  the  road.  The  streams, 
swollen  by  the  spring  rains,  were  often  impassable, 
or  at  best,  forded  with  difficulty,  rendering  progress 
slow  and  full  of  danger.  A  brother,  Asa,  with  wife 
and  two  children,  formed  a  part  of  the  "goodlie 
companie"  that  finally  reached  Norwich,  and  became 
permanent  settlers  and  prominent  actors  in  the  pioneer 
life  of  the  township.  .Jonas  Gilson,  another  brother, 
came  on  soon  after.     He  settled  on  lot  thirty-seven. 

In  1830,  Joel  Gilson,  father  of  the  above  mentioned, 
arrived  in  Norwich.  He  had  been  for  years  a  collec- 
tor for  the  United  States  government  of  continental 
money,  and  on  reaching  Norwich,  took  up  his  abode 
on  lot  thirty-seven,  now  owned  by  John  S.  Hester. 
A  son,  John,  accompanied  'him,  and  settled  on  lot 
twenty-seven,  at  present  owned  by  Wesley  Robinson. 

Naum  Gilson  was  ever  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  colony.  He,  on  finding  the  first  land  contracts 
worthless,  rod^  on  horseback  to  Liverpool,  Lorain 
county,  to  meet  Coit,  the  real  proprietor.  He  was 
accompanied  by  Jesse  Woodruff,  and  by  their  efforts, 
arrangements  were  consummated,  whereby  the  settlers 
were  allowed  to  re-purchase  their  farms  at  the  old 
rate,  (two  dollars  per  aci-e)  they  losing  what  they  had 
before  paid.  Mr.  Gilson  was  the  first  postmaster, 
and  held  the  office  for  many  years.  He  died  June 
14,  1864,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Mrs.  Gilson  died 
March  3,  1876,  aged  eighty-five  years.  The  children 
are  as  follows:  Giles  James,  who  died  young;  Elon 
W.,  ex-treasurer  of  Huron  county,  who  married  Betsey 
M.  McKelvey,  resides  at  Norwalk;  have  two  chil- 
dren: Arza  B.,  who  married  Eliza  A.  Baker,  of 
Medina  county,  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  His 
family  consists  of  one  child,  "Little  Dot,"  and  a 
niece,  Miss  Ella  S.  Baker.  Mr.  Gilson  is  connected 
with  the  musical  association  of  the  county,  and  is  its 
president.  The  writer  is  under  obligations  to  this 
gentleman  for  material  aid  in  the  collecting  of  data 
for  this  history.  The  remaining  children  of  Naum 
Gilson  are:  Sarah  A.,  who  married  E.  P.  Ilalliday, 
resides  in  Wood  county,  Ohio;  Eugenia  M.,  who 
married  Dr.  Abram  De  Grofl,  lives  in  Grand  Ledge, 


Michigan,  and  Ardelia  A.,  who  married  S.  W.  Owen, 
and  resides  in  Norwalk,  this  county. 

During  the  summer  of  1817,  Hosea  Harnden  began 
life  on  lot  thirty-seven,  section  two,  now  owned  by 
John  S.  Hester. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1818,  John  Fletcher, 
Bartholomew  Rossman  and  Benjamin  Moore  moved 
their  families  into  the  surveyor's  house  in  the  north- 
west part  of  the  township.  John  Fletcher  began  on 
lot  thirty-eight,  afterwards  owned  by  Peter  Brown, 
B.  Rossman  made  a  commencement  on  lot  thirty-one, 
same  section,  while  Moore  settled  on  lot  twenty-three, 
and,  as  fast  as  possible,  erected  cabins  on  their  pos- 
sessions and  removed  their  families  from  their  cramped 
and  uncomfortable  quarters  in  the  surveyor's  house. 
The  same  year,  Elisha  Ellis  began  on  lot  twenty- 
eight;  Augustus  Cook,  of  whom  more  anon,  began  on 
lot  thirty-nine:  Beckwith  Cook  settled  on  lot  forty. 

In  1819,  Asa  Gilson  located  on  lot  thirteen,  section 
three,  where  his  widow.  Aunt  Nabby,  still  lives.  The 
following  came  this  year:  Jabez  F.  Ivory,  Daniel 
Farman,  James  Loomis,  Loab  Lindsey,  Alvin  Blod- 
gett.  Dr.  Hurlbert,  and  possibly  others. 

The  settlers  were  poor  and  bought  their  land  on 
credit.  No  deeds  had  been  given,  and  a  written 
agreement  constituted  the  title.  A  few  acres  of 
clearing,  or  perhaps  a  log  cabin,  constituted  their 
only  property.  These  were  often  bartered  to  new 
comers  for  a  little  money,  or,  perhaps,  a  team  or  a 
rifle..  Trading  lots  and  moving  from  one  to  another, 
when  they  had  so  little  to  move,  was  almost  as  easily 
done  as  swapping  rifles,  and  it  was  not  uncommon 
for  two  or  three  individuals  to  succeed  each  other  on 
tlie  same  lot  in  as  many  years. 

In  1820  or  '31,  a  difficulty  broke  out  about  the  title 
to  the  land,  that  nearly  ruined  the  settlement.  When 
Daniel  L.  Coit  sold  the  north  half  of  the  township  to 
Judge  Canfield,  in  181.5,  it  was  on  a  credit  of  ten 
years.  A  deed  was  given  and  a  mortgage  taken  on 
the  land  for  security.  He  became  dissatisfied  with 
Canfield's  management,  commenced  suit  against  him 
to  recover  the  title,  enjoined  Williams,  Hopkins  and 
Hinman  from  making  further  sales,  and  caused  writs 
of  ejectment  to  be  served  upon  all  the  settlers  who 
had  taken  possession  under  them.  Williams,  Hop- 
kins and  Hinman  becoming  satisfied  that  their  title 
was  worthless,  sought  a  compromise  that  they  might 
save  themselves  the  expense  of  surveying  the  land. 
They,  however,  failed,  and  were  finally  obliged  to 
abandon  the  enterprise. 

The  litigation  continued  until  1836.  Coit  recov- 
ered the  title,  but  nearly  all  the  settlers  had  gone. 
Those  who  remained  were:  Wilder  Lawrence,  Jonas 
Gilson,  George  H.  Woodruff,  Jesse  Woodruff,  Naum 
Gilson,  Augustus  Cook  and  Asa  Gilson.  They  had 
made  no  more  improvements  than  were  necessary  to 
furnish  them  a  living;  for  thoy  expected  to  be  com- 
pelled to  pay  for  not  only  the  land,  but  what  im- 
provements they  had  made,  should  the  territoi-y  be 
j   again  put  into  the  market.     The  deserted  Melds  soon 


420 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


grew  up  to  briars  aud  bushes,  and   the  fences  and 
cabins  passed  into  i-uius. 

In  the  spring  of  1827,  Coit  re-surveyed  the  two 
sections,  aud  sold  the  laud  to  the  settlers,  old  aud 
new,  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  acre.  New  set- 
tlers came  iu,  and  those  who  had  remained  through 
the  stampede  began  improvements  iu  earnest,  laying 
out  roads,  setting  out  orchards,  etc.,  feeling  assured 
there  was  no  further  danger  of  losing  the  product  of 
those  ten  years  of  labor  and  hardship. 

John  Bowen,  from  Mariou  county,  this  State,  was 
among  these  settlers.  He  married  Christina  Robin- 
son and  settled  on  lot  tweuty-three,  section  three, 
l)uilding  his  log  house  a  few  rods  east  of  the  site  of 
his  present  comfortable  home.  Mr.  Bowen  built  the 
secojid  brick  kiln  in  the  township,  aud  for  many 
years  prosecuted  the  business.  This  venerable  couple 
have  eight  children,  all  living.  Martha  Jane.  Agnes, 
John  il.,  William  K.,  Henry  C,  Sarah  E.,  George 
and  Melinda  C. 

Frederick  Gorham  came  from  Vermont,  and  with  a 
wife  and  three  children,  settled  on  lot  twenty-seven, 
Norwich  township,  in  1828.  This  farm  is  now  owned 
by  David  Nichols. 

In  1830,  the  first  section  began  to  settle.  Ebeuezer 
Brown  made  a  commencement  on  the  lot  now  owned 
by  A.  F.  Rulisson.  Zachariah  Burrell  erected  his  log 
cabin  on  the  lot  afterwards  ow-ned  by  John  Gunns. 
Ezra  Prudeu  and  family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and 
eleven  children,  came  from  the  State  of  New  York  to 
Ohio,  in  1831.  He  located  on  lot  number  thirty-six, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death,  iu  1854.  His  wife 
had  died,  in  1849.  Of  the  children,  we  are  able  to 
give  the  following:  John,  the  eldest,  married  Ann 
Enuis,  and  lives  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  Silas  married 
Sally  Thomjjsou;  he  lives  in  Michigan.  Ezra,  Jr., 
married  Naomi  Adaline  Oweu;  he  lives  on  lot  thirtj'- 
four,  section  four.  They  have  two  children:  Charles 
F.,  and  Charlotte  A.  William  married  Maria  Pratt, 
aud  lives  in  Indiana;  and  Jonas,  who  lives  in  Putnam 
county.  The  following  children  are  dead:  Mary.' 
Elizabeth,  Gabriel,  Eugene,  Benjamin  and  Rachel. 

William  Robinson,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Delaware,  mar- 
ried Lytica  Coleman,  and  in  May,  1833,  arrived  in 
Norwich  township.  He  settled  on  lot  twenty-seven, 
in  the  second  section.  He  lived  here  twenty-five 
years,  and  removed  to  Fitchville  township,  in  this 
county,  where  he  died  August  10,  186-1.  Mrs.  Rob- 
inson died  the  February  following.  The  children  of 
this  couple  are:  James,  Thomas,  Christina,  Martha, 
Anna,  Huriah,  John,  Eliza,  Jordon,  Wesley  and 
Aaron,  who  all  grew  to  maturity.    Seven  are  now  living. 

In  the  spring  of  1833,  Charles  B.  Niver,  came  from 
Seneca  couuty,  New  York.     He  purchased  six  hun-   i 
dred  acres  of  land  in  section  one.     On  lot  twelve  of 
this  purchase  he  built  a  log  housCj  and  toward  fall   1 
returned  east  for  his  family,  with  whom  he  arrived  iu   j 
Norwich,  about  September  20,  of  the  same  year.     His 
wife  was  Emily  Moore.     They  have  had  five  children: 
LnuraJane,  who  married  Edward  Knapp;  she  is  not    | 


living.  Marvin,  who  lives  at  home;  John,  who  mar- 
ried Thalia  Reed;  he  is  also  deceased.  Albert  E., 
who  married  Etta  Green,  and  lives  on  the  west  part 
of  the  original  homestead;  and  Mary  who  yet  remains 
at  home,  Mr.  Niver's  first  wife  is  deceased.  His 
present  companion  was  Prudence  Douglass. 

John  Niver,  a  brother  of  the  above,  came  to  Ohio 
with  the  family.  He  remained  about  one  year,  and 
then  returned  to  his  eastern  home.  After  two  or 
three  years  he  came  again  to  Norwich,  married 
Sarah  White,  and  began  life  on  the  south  part  of  the 
original  purchase,  where  he  still  resides.  He  also 
lives  with  his  second  wife.     He  has  seven  children. 

A  short  time  after  John  began  settlement,  another 
brother,  Dennis,  came  on.  His  wife  was  Marietta 
Parsons.  They  had  at  this  time  sis  children.  He 
settled  on  the  eastern  portion  of  the  tract  where  he 
still  lives.     The  children  now  number  nine. 

Guy  C.  Boughtou,  of  West  Stockbridge,  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  married  Harriet  Sprague,  of 
Middlebury,  "Addison  county,  Vermont.  In  1815,  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Grafton  township,  Lo- 
rain county.  Here  the  family  lived  some  eight  years, 
and  then  settled  in  Eaton  township,  same  county. 
In  1834,  they  located  in  Norwich  towhship,  on  lot 
thirty-eight.  Three  children  were  born  prior  to  this 
date,  viz:  Axie,  N.  J.  and  Darwin  who  still  lives  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  with  him  the  aged  mother. 
Two  children.  Julia  and  Jefferson,  were  born  in  Nor- 
wich.    The  father  died  November  7,  1854. 

In  1827,  Nelson  Pratt  and  two  brothers.  Parley  P. 
and  Orson  (afterward  prominently  connected  with 
Mormonism),  came  from  Columbia  couuty.  New 
York,  and  located  in  Amherst,  Lorain  county.  After 
two  years.  Nelson  settled  in  Peru  township,  this 
county.  In  1835  or  '36,  he  became  a  resident  of  Nor- 
wich township,  locating  at,  or  near  where  is  now 
Havana  village.  In  the  last  named  year,  he  married 
Finette,  daughter  of  Frederick  Delano,  one  of  the 
pioneers.  From  this  marriage  one  child,  a  son,  was 
born,  this  was  Edwin  D.,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Slyer,  and  lives  on  lot  thirty-four.  Nelson  Pratt  has 
been  three  times  married,  as  follows:  Azubah  Spalding, 
Marietta  Ensign,  and  ]\Irs.  Mary  Ann  Felton  who 
died  in  1872.  Two  children,  daughters,  were  lioru 
of  the  second  marriage. 

Henry  Niles  married  Lucretia  Miner  by  whom  he 
had  eight  children:  Henry,  Cyrus,  Daniel,  Sands, 
John  H.,  Lucretia,  Cyntha,  Philura  and  David. 

In  1799  or  1800,  the  family  settled  in  Halifax. 
Vermont,  where  they  remained  until  1831.  At  this 
time  they  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Greenfield 
township  iu  this  county. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1834,  they  made  a 
permanent  settlement  iu  Norwich  township.  This 
was  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  the  widow  and  heirs 
of  the  son,  John  H.  On  the  2()th  day  of  the  :Maroh 
following,  while  engaged  in  rafting  logs  on  the  mill 
pond  near  his  house,  he  fell  into  the  water,  and  was 
drowned  before  assistance  could  reach  him. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


/ 


Mr,  John  H.  Niles, 


^/Ir.        ^/l.     .y^    (7%^^^. 


John  H.,  sou  of  the  above,  is  entitled  to  more  than 
a  passing  notice.  He  was  born  at  Halifax,  Vermont, 
June  25,  1809.  He  began  life  as  an  operative  in  a 
chair  factory.  Coming  to  Ohio  as  before  stated,  he 
devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  to  school  teaching.  lu 
1836,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Marian  P. 
Nichols  by  whom  eleven  children  were  born;  eight 
are  still  living:  Sanford  P.,  Ellen  D.,  Lucretia  M., 
John  M.,  Henry  H.,  Clark  E.,  Charles  F.,  and 
Philura  R.  Malcom,  another  son,  was  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  rebellion,  and  died  at  Kuoxville, 
Tennessee.  Mr.  Niles  was  the  historian  of  the  Fire- 
land's  Historical  Society,  and  in  that  capacity  did 
much  to  presgi-ve  the  relics  of  by-gone  days.  He 
wrote  the  sketch  of  Norwich,  from  which  we  have 
drawn  quite  extensively  facts  and  data  not  obtainable 
elsewhere.  He  was  repeatedly  in  office — having  been 
for  twelve  years  justice  of  the  peace  and  half  that 
number  of  years  county  commissioner.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1878.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  having  become  such  many  yeai-s  since.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  Attica  Lodge,  in  fact,  it 
was  largely  due  to  liis  efforts  that  this  lodge  was 
formed.  His  funeral  obsequies  were  conducted  under 
the  auspices  of  the  fraternity  and  was  numerously 
attended. 

Benjamin  Briggs  and  family  were  the  first  settlers 
on  the  fourth  section.  They  were  from  Barnard, 
Windsor  county,  Vermont.  His  family  consisted 
of  a  wife  and  six  children,  four  of  whom  came 
with  him.  The  date  of  his  settlement  in  Norwich 
was  1836.  His  oldest  son,  Elijah,  settled  in  Peru  in 
1833.  Benjamin  Briggs  died  of  a  cancer  in  18-12. 
His  wife  died  January  10,  1875,  aged  eigiity-six  years. 
The  children  were:  Aliphal,  she  married  in  Vermont, 


and  still  resides  there.  Benjamin  Jr.,  who  married 
Clarissa  Brown,  and  lives  in  Kansas.  Alexander,  who 
married  Rosella  Doton;  she  died,  and  he  married  his 
present  wife,  Phebe  Ann  Curtis,  of  Ithica,  New  York, 
and  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  lot  thirty-two. 
They  have  one  child,  Jessie  C.  Susan  married 
William  E.  Dean  ;  she  died  and  he  married  the 
youngest  daughter,  Eliza  J.  They  now  live  in  Iowa. 
Alexander  Briggs  still  drives  the  first  covered  buggy 
ever  in  Norwich  township.  It  is  not  handsome,  but 
is  apparently  as  enduring  as  the  deacon's  memorable 
"one  horse  shay." 

John  Hall,  from  Sussex  county,  New  Jersey,  mar- 
ried, on  July  12,  1829,  Miss  Phebe  Pnrdy,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  settled  some  three  years  later  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  George  Bowen,  Norwich  town- 
ship. In  1838  he  purchased  lands  in  lot  eleven,  sec- 
tion third,  and  upon  these  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  October  28,  1874.  He  was  aged  sev- 
enty-four. His  widow  and  heirs  still  reside  there. 
The  children  were  eleven  in  number,  but  two  of  whom 
fare  now  living:  Mary  and  Sarah  Ellen,  who  live  at 
home.  The  others  were:  Richard.  Daniel,  Marilla, 
Jane,  Ebenezer,  Julia.  Anna,  Elizabeth.  John,  James, 
and  Phebe  Anna. 

John  S.  Hester  was  born  in  C'oluml;iana  county, 
Ohio.  He  married  Lucinda  M.  Hildrcth,  of  Fair- 
field, this  county,  but  a  native  of  New  York  State. 
They  settled  in  Norwich  in  1812,  immediately  after 
marriage.  The  location  was  on  ninety  acres  of  land 
in  lot  thirty-seven,  where  he  yet  lives.  The  children 
are  five  in  number.  The  eldest,  Charles  T.,  died  at 
Fairfax  hospital.  He  was  a  member  of  Company  H, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  Ohio  Na- 
tional Guards.    The  remainder  of  the  family  are:  Eliza 


422 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


W.,  who  married  S.  R.  McConnell,  aud  lives  iu  Bur- 
lington, Iowa:  Susan,  who  died  young;  Julia  L.,  who 
married  William  Dougherty,  and  lives  in  Newark, 
Ohio,  and  Hattie  R.,  who  lives  at  home. 

H.  J.  Doolittle,  of  Halifa.x,  Vermont,  married  Emily 
Wheeler,  of  the  same  place,  -and  in  1846  came  to 
Ohio.  He  purchased  sixty-five  acrrs  in  lot  thirty- 
four,  in  the  second  section,  and  still  occupies  the  same 
premises.  The  comfortable  frame  dwelling  he  now 
occupies  was  built  by  him  in  1868. 

James  Trimmer,  from  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, came  to  Ohio  in  May,  1834.  He  settled  in 
Peru  township,  this  county.  In  1835,  he  married 
Louisa  E.  Smith,  of  Greenfield  townsliip.  In  1847, 
he  came  to  live  in  Norwich.  His  first  stop  was  on 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  H.  C.  Niver.  He  now 
lives  on  lot  six,  in  section  one.  The  children  born 
to  this  couple  are  five,  three  of  whom  are  living; 
these  are:  Thomas  C,  who  married  Mary  J.  Chan- 
dler, lives  in  Norwich.  Essington  T.,  who  married 
Nettie  Wheeler;  she  died,  and  he  married  Lona  Smith, 
aud  now  lives  in  Michigan.  Charles  E.,  who  married 
Anna  West,  and  lives  with  his  parents.  Of  other  early 
settlers  we  find  the  names  of  Jesse  Woodruff,  Russell 
Woodruff,  James  McCornell,  William  Gregory,  Alpha 
Stout. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  Henry  H.  Coit,  sou  of  the 
proprietor,  surveyed  the  fourth  section,  and  opened 
it  for  settlement.  The  same  fall,  George  W.  Haxton 
and  a  brother-in-law  began  on  the  farm  afterwards 
owned  by  Christopher  Post.  About  this  time,  and 
later,  the  following  came:  Franklin  D.  and  Seth 
Read,  Daniel  Robbins,  John  Numan,  Horatio  N. 
Owen,  Martin  G.  Owen,  James  L.  Couch,  Wakeman 
R.  Slater,  Aaron  Wheeler,  Lyman  Austin,  - —  Joiner, 
Hartner Miller.     There  may  be  others. 

FIKl^T    EVENTS. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  two  twin  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dickinson,  on  the  "24th  of  October,  1817. 
They  lived  in  the  house  witli  Hosea  Harndeu.  But 
one  of  these  infants  sui'vived  its  birtli,  ami  tliat  only 
a  few  hours. 

The  first  person  born  in  the  township  that  survived 
its  birth  was  Owen  Fletcher,  son  of  John  Fletcher, 
February  22, 1818,  eleven  days  subsequent  to  the  time 
Fletcher,  Rossman  and  Moore  moved  into  the  town- 
ship. He  died  near  Toledo,  a  few  years  since,  of  the 
small  pox,  leaving  no  family  except  a  wife. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  Au- 
gustus Cook  to  Miss  Martha  Fletcher,  Marcli  3, 1819. 
The  marriage  contract  was  solemnized  at  the  "sur- 
veyor's house,"  where  her  father  lived,  by  Richard 
Burt,  Es(|.,  of  Monroeville.  The  wedding  was  at- 
tended by  nearly  all  the  settlers  in  the  township,  who 
enjoyed  a  friendly  social  afternoon  visit.  Augustus 
Cook  was  born  in  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  and 
came  to  Norwich  in  December,  1818.  His  wife,  Mar- 
tha, was  born  in  Otsego  county.  New  York,  and  came 


to  Norwich  with  her  father,  John  Fletcher.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cook  lived  in  the  township  until  1871,  when  they 
removed  to  Michigan,  in  which  State  he  died  August 
14,  1878,  leaving  a  wife  and  seven  children. 

The  first  death  was  an  infant  son  of  Wilder  Law- 
rence, February  19,  1817,  oply  nine  days  after  their 
arrival  in  the  township.  It  was  buried  on  the  bank 
of  Mud  run,  some  twenty  rods  northeast  of  the  pres- 
ent burying  ground.  Soon  after,  C'hauncey  Woodruff 
buried  a  son  at  the  same  place.  One  of  these  child- 
ren was  born  in  Trumbull  county  while  the  parents 
were  enroute  from  the  State  of  New  York.  The  first 
adult  person  that  died  in  the  township  was  Richard 
Moon,  in  the  fall  of  1819.  Elder  J.  Wheeler,  then  a 
resident  of  Greenfield,  preached  the  funeral  sermon. 
This -was  the  first  burial  that  had  been  attended  with 
religious  services.  The  body  was  interred  on  the 
bank  of  Mud  run. 

The  first  frame  building  in  the  township  was  built 
iu  1832.  It  was  a  barn  and  now  stands  on  the  farm 
of  Lewis  Bod«lier. 

The  first  frame  dwelling  house  was  built  by  Cyrus 
Niles,  where  Charles  Clark  now  lives.  It  was  de- 
signed as  a  dwelling  house  and  cabinet  shop.  It  was 
built  in  1835  and  burned  the  following  year. 

The  first  brick  house  was  built  by  John  Bowen,  Sr. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  1827.  It  was 
North  Norwich,  so  named  to  avoid  repetition,  there 
being  a  Norwich  post  office  in  Muskingum  county. 
Naum  Gilson  was  the  postmaster  for  perhaps  twenty 
years. 

In  1848,  post  offices  were  establislied  on  the  Mans- 
field and  Sandusky  Railroad,  at  Havana  and  Center- 
ton  in  the  township,  and  the  North  Norwich  office 
was  abolished  iu  1858.  The  present  postmaster  at 
Havana  is  F.  Van  Horn;  a  brother,  W.  S.  Van  Horn, 
is  the  postmaster  at  Centerton. 

The  first  corn  was  planted,  on  lot  seven  in  the  third 
section,  by  Messrs.  Lawrence  and  Woodruff.  This 
was  in  the  spring  of  1817. 

Naum  Gilson  sowed  the  first  wheat  in  the  township. 
This  was  on  lot  twenty-eight  in  above  section,  the 
fall  following  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Gilson  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Asa  Gilson,  Naum  Gilson,  Jonas  Gilson,  George  H. 
Woodruff  and  Joseph  Read,  each  planted  or  set  out 
orchards  in  1827,  The  Gilsons  brought  their  apple 
seeds  with  them,  and  raised  the  trees.  Joseph  Read 
procured  his  trees  in  Norwalk  township,  and  G..  H. 
Woodruff  purchased  his  of  Morris  Read,  of  Sher- 
man. 

Ira  Halloway  opened  a  small  store  on  the  corners, 
near  the  meeting  house,  in  1835.  He  remained  long 
enough  to  sell  out  his  stock  of  goods,  and  retired 
from  the  business. 

In  1840,  William  L.  Fish  opened  another  stock  of 
goods  in  the  same  house.  He  continued  in  business 
some  five  vears. 


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Residence  of  HARVEY  j.  DOOLlTTLE,fJoRwiCHTp..HuRONCo.,OHio. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


433 


HAVANA. 

Eight  years  subsequent  (1848),  the  Saudusky  and 
Mansfield  Railroad  having  been  completed  through 
the  township,  Horatio  N.  Oweu  built  a  store  and 
warehouse  on  the  railroad,  at  the  point  now  known  as 
Havana.  He  began  the  mercantile  and  produce  busi- 
ness, and  continued  in  the  business  many  years.  It 
is  believed  the  township  owes  much  of  its  present  pros- 
perity to  the  opening  of  business  at  Havana.  This 
village  is  situated  about  half  a  mile  from  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  township.  It  is  seventy-six  feet 
and  one-third  above  Monroeville  station,  and  two 
hundred  and  twenty-three  feet  and  one-half  above  the 
lake  level  at  Sandusky  bay.  The  business  at  this 
point  not  before  mentioned,  is  as  follows:  General 
•merchandise — -F.  Van  Horn  and  Dailey  Brothers; 
groceries — F.  Zoll,  Mrs.  Bowman  and  J.  Amend; 
millinery — Mrs.  White;  boots  and  shoes — F.  Fernice, 
M.  Slaughter  and  Felix  Zoll;  harness  shop — Jacob 
Amend;  furniture  and  undertaking — Gotlieb  Bitzer; 
wagon  maker — Calvin  Coil;  blacksmiths — John  Bech- 
tel,  William  Jenkins  and  Jacob  Kroup. 

CENTERTON, 

four  miles  south  of  Havana,  received  its  name  from 
the  railroad  company,  in  consequence  of  its  being  the 
central  station  between  Sandusky  City  and  Mansfield. 
It  is  seventy-one  feet  and  one-half  above  Havana,  and 
two  hundred  and  ninety-five  feet  above  Lake  Erie. 
The  business  interest  at  Centerton  is  represented  by 
A.  Gage,  dry  goods  and  notions.  Mr.  Gage  is  also 
an  extensive  dealer  in  staves;  W.  S.  Van  Horn,  gro- 
ceries and  crockery;  A.  F.  Sweatland,  tinware  and 
stoves.     James  Wurst  is  the  village  blacksmith. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Norwich  was  attached  to  Greenfield  township  in 
1818,  and,  in  the  year  following,  Naum  Gilson  was 
elected  supervisor  for  the  townshii^.  He  was  the  first 
sworn  official.  In  1820,  the  township  of  Sherman 
was  organized,  with  Norwich  attaclied.  The  April 
election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Captain  Hanford,  in 
Sherman.  The  Norwich  men,  feeling  dissatisfied  at 
being  required  to  go  so  far  to  election,  rallied  their 
forces,  outnumbered  the  Sherman  voters,  and  elected 
two  trustees  and  the  township  clerk,  in  Norwich; 
Beckwith  and  Medad  Woodrufi'  were  the  trustees,  and 
Jesse  Woodruff,  clerk.  The  next  election  was  held 
lit  the  house  of  Alvin  Blodgett,  in  Norwich.  A  com- 
jH-omise  was  then  effected,  and  the  elections  were 
afterwards  held  at  the  house  of  Burwell  Fitch,  in 
Sherman.  In  1820,  Russell  Woodruff,  of  Norwich, 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  'tis  said  he 
served  the  entire  term  of  office  (three  3'ears)  without 
issuing  a  single  process.  In  1828,  Asa  Gilson  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  did 
not  qualify.  From  that  time  until  1831,  the  office 
was  vacant.  In  this  year,  Calvin  Powell  was  elected. 
He  was  succeeded,   in  1834,  1)V  William  Robinson, 


who  served  until  1849.  In  1857,  Wesley  Robinson 
was  elected,  and  is  still  in  office.  L.  W.  Benham  is 
also  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township. 

In  ]827,  Norwich  was  detached  from  Sherman  and 
organized  as  a  separate  township.  The  first  election, 
held  in  April  of  that  year,  was  at  the  log  school 
house  near  the  former  residence  of  George  H.  Wood- 
ruff, and  for  many  years  were  held  there.  The  quali- 
fied electors  at  this  election  were:  Asa  Gilson,  Augus- 
tus Cook,  Medad  Woodruff,  Naum  Gilson,  Joseph 
Read,  Russell  Woodruff,  Wilder  Lawrence  and  G.  H. 
Woodruff.  The  officers  elected  on  the  occasion,  so 
far  as  we  are  able  to  ascertain  their  names,  were: 
Augustus  Cook,  clerk;  Wilder  Lawrence,  Asa  Gilson 
and  Russell  Woodruff,  trustees.  The  only  strife  at 
this  election,  was  over  the  election  of  a  supervisor, 
there  being  but  one  in  the  entire  township.  Joseph 
Read  and  Wilder  Lawrence  each  received  an  equal 
number  of  votes.  The  judges  decided  tiie  contest  by 
casting  lots,  declaring  Joseph  Read  duly  elected. 

In  ])reparing  for  the  fall  election,  Augustus  Cook, 
the  township  clerk,  in  company  with  Joseph  Read, 
made  a  trip  to  Norwalk  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
the  new  ballot  box,  law  books,  etc.,  belonging  to  the 
township.  Two  yoke  of  oxen  were  attached  to  a 
wagon  and  driven  along,  as  Read  designed,  to  bring 
back  a  load  of  boards  with  which  to  construct  a  floor, 
doors,  etc.,  for  his  cabin.  The  ballot  box  and  books 
were  put  into  a  bag  and  placed  on  the  load.  While 
fording  Slate  Run,  on  the  return,  the  wagon  was 
overturned.  After  buffeting  the  stream,  and  carry- 
ing out  the  floating  lumber,  they  discovered  that  the 
bag  and  its  precious  contents  had  floated  down  the 
stream,  and  gave  chase.  Far  down  the  run  it  was 
seen  bounding  along  in  the  current;  Cook  plunged 
in,  and  soon  brought  it  safely  ashore.  The  officers 
for  1878  are:  Ezra  Pruden.  E.  P.  Snyder  and  Theo- 
dore F.  Niver,  trustees;  Erving  Tillson,  clerk;  Wil- 
liam Brown,  treasurer;  Miles  Gregory,  assessor;  W. 
S.  Sweatland  and  Allen  Van  Lew,  constables,  and 
thirty  supervisors. 

CHURCHES. 

In  March,  1817,  Rev.  Alvin  Coe  preached  the  first 
sermon  in  the  township.  He  was  of  Presbyterian 
faith.  In  1818,  Charles  Numan  and  Charles  West- 
lake,  who  are  said  to  have  been  missionaries,  passed 
through  the  township  occasionally,  and  preached  at 
the  house  of  Hosea  Harnden,  as  they  stayed  over 
night  with  him. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

In  1820,  Dennis  Goddard  came  through  the  town- 
ship looking  for  such  Christians  as  had  strayed  be- 
yond the  pale  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  found 
only  one  within  the  limits  of  the  township,  Mrs. 
Nabby,  wife  of  Asa  Gilson,  who  belonged  to  the  Meth- 
odist church  in  Saratoga  county,  Ncav  York.  In  her 
log  cabin,  Mr.  Goddard  organized  the  first  class  of  the 
Methodist  Episcoj^al  church.     Her  husband  was  ap- 


i-u 


HISTORY  OE  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


pointed  class  leader,  which  position  he  occupied  until 
his  death  iu  1848.  The  original  members  of  this  class 
were:  Asa  Gilson,  Nabby  Gilson,  Naiim  Gilson,  Sally 
Gilson,  Elisha  Ellis  and  wife,  Jonas  Gilson  and  wife, 
Benjamin  Moore  and  wife,  and  Sarah  Ormes,  mother 
of  Nabby  and  Sally  Gilson.  In  the  summer  time,  for 
several  years,  they  held  their  meetings  in  the  bark- 
covered  school  house  by  the  creek,  and  in  the  winter 
time  they  were  held  alternately  at  the  houses  of  the 
settlers,  until  the  school  house  was  built  in  1824,  in 
which  the  meetings  were  afterwards  held  regularly 
until  the  ei-ection  of  a  meeting  house;  this  was  in 
the  year  1837.  The  trustees  at  that  time  were:  Sam- 
uel Parrish,  Naum  Gilson,  Simeon  Spalding,  Pardon 
B.  Worden,  John  S.  Hester,  Samuel  Hester,  George 
A.  Fish  and  Thomas  Reed.  This  class  does  not  have 
an  existence  at  present,  and  the  abandoned  church 
edifice  is  going  to  decay.  An  election  of  trustees  is, 
however,  kept  up  with  commendable  regularity.  The 
present  ones  are:  J.  Mehrling,  John  8.  Hester  and 
N.  Murray. 

A  second  class  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
was  formed  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  town- 
ship, at  an  early  date — 1841.  In  the  year  1842,  they 
erected  a  fine  brick  church  edifice,  at  a  cost  of  three 
thousand  dollars.  This  is  located  at  the  village  of  Cen- 
terton,  on  the  Lake  Erie  Division  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad.  The  trustees  at  the  building  of 
the  church  were:  W.  H.  Vogle,  John  Idler,  Jacob 
Burdge,  Benjamin  Tanner  and  Pierce  Bowen.  The 
present  ones  are:  George  Niver,  W.  B.  Keefer,  Dr. 

E.  V.  B.  Buckingham,  Daniel  Sweatland  and  Ben- 
jamin Tanner.  The  present  membership  is  about 
fifty.  Rev.  H.  B.  Palmer  is  the  present  minister. 
Daniel  Sweatland  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
bath school,  the  average  attendance  of  which  is  fifty 
children.  The  writer  made  extra  effort  to  obtain  the 
data  of  this  church,  but  met  with  indifferent  success. 

THE    rXITED    BRETHTEN    CHURCH 

was  organized  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  February,  1859, 
with  the  following  members:  Thomas  Reed  and  wife, 
Mary  E.  Wheeler,  Perry  Pixley  and  wife,  Burr  Gor- 
ham  and  wife,  John  Bowen  and  wife,  William  Brown 
and  wife,  W.  K.  Bowen  and  wife,  William  Ford 
and  wife,  Elvira  Taylor,  Uriah  Ford,  Sauford  Place 
and  Adam  Marsh.  Thomas  Reed  was  the  first  class 
leader.  The  present  leader  is  Frank  Ball.  Following 
are  the  ministers,  entire,  who  have  presided  over  the 
destinies  of  this  church:  Samuel  Jacoby,  J.  F.  Seyler, 

F.  S.  Aultman,  S.  T.  Lane,  D.  G.  Ogden,  G.  Bender, 
A.  ^L  Stemen,  Gideon  Hoover,  William  Nevil,  Wil- 
liam Mathers,  0.  H.  Ramsey,  John  Aumiller  and  the 
present  pastor,  A.  J.  Klingel.  In  the  year  1861,  a 
neat  little  meeting  house  was  erected  on  lot  twenty- 
one,  third  section  ;  this  cost  six  hundred  dollars. 
Trustees:  Burr  (iorhani,  Thomas  Reed  and  William 
Brown.  The  first  and  last  are  still  occupying  the 
position.  .James  Dennison  has  succeeded  Mr.  Reed. 
Present  membership,  twenty-one.     Superintendent  of 


Sabbath  school,  N.  Murray;  average  attendance  thirty 
children. 


The  first  school  house  was  built  in  the  spring  of 
1819.  It  was  located  on  the  east  bank  of  Slate  run, 
west  of  and  near  where  stands  the  former  residence 
of  George  H.  Woodruff,  on  lot  six.  This  cabin  was 
of  logs,  rude  and  uncouth,  and  covered  with  elm  bark, 
in  size,  some  twelve  by  sixteen  feet.  It  had  neither 
floor,  windows  or  desks.  A  row  of  split  oak  benches 
constituted  the  furniture,  and  the  unchinked  spaces 
between  the  logs  served  for  windows.  Miss  Aurilla 
Lindsey  taught  the  first  term  of  school.  This  was  in 
the  summer  following  the  erection  of  the  house.  Her 
pupils  were  as  follows:  Phoebe  Chapman,  Mrs.  Martha 
Cook,  (the  new  bride),  her  two  sisters,  Eleanor  and 
Betsey  Fletcher,  Sabin  Kellogg,  Louisa  Ellis,  Mans- 
field and  BrazildaCook,  Hosea  and  Drazilla  Harnden. 
The  school  was  supported,  as  they  all  were  at  this 
early  date,  by  subscription,  and  proved  so  expensive 
that  no  attempt  was  made  for  another  until  1824. 
Another  log  school  house  had  been  constructed  mean- 
while, on  j;he  corners,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  present 
meeting  house.  In  this,  Mrs._Patience  Ellis  taught  a 
term  in  the  summer,  and  Augustus  Cook  in  the 
winter,  of  1825. 


In  1832  the  temperance  pledge  was  circulated  and 
signed  by  a  few  persons.  The  Washingtonians  next 
attempted  their  good  work  in  the  township.  In  1848 
a  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  was  organized. 
The  charter  members  were:  John  H.  Niles,  Charles 
Spalding,  A.  B.  Gilson,  James  Trimmer,  James 
Morton,  0.  H.  Burlingham,  Jackson  Kelley,  Edmond 
Burlingham,  George  W.  Burdick,  Travis  Kelley, 
Amos  0.  Gilson,  John  S.  Hester,  George  H.  Wood- 
ruff, Chauncey  Woodruff  and  Abram  De  Groff'.  This 
society  flourished  finely  for  a  time,  at  one  period  num- 
bering fifty  members.     It  was  abandoned  in  1850. 

In  1855  a  lodge  of  I.  0.  0.  G.  Templars  was  organ- 
ized. This  proved  an  effective  aid  in  the  temperance 
work.     It  disbanded  in  1863. 

Live  Oak  Grange,  No.  747,  P.  of  H.,  was  organized 
March  23,  1874,  by  State  Deputy  J.  W.  Barrack,  with 
the  following  charter  members:  N.  Murray,  William 
K.  Bowen  and  wife,  John  M.  Bowen  and  wife,  George 
Bowen  and  wife,  James  W.  Reed  and  wife,  James 
Murray  and  wife,  E.  P.  Snyder  and  wife,  John  Bowen 
and  wife,  Isaac  Robinson  and  wife,  William  Brown 
and  wife,  Wesley  Robinson  and  wife,  and  E.  D.  Pratt. 
The  first  otficers  were:  Wesley  Robinson,  master; 
Nelson  Murray,  lecturer:  J.  W.  Reed,  steward;  John 
M.  Bowen,  assistant  steward;  William  Brown,  chap- 
lain; William  K.  Bowen,  treasurer:  James  Murray, 
overseer;  E.  P.  Snyder,  secretary:  George  Bowen, 
G.  K. ;  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Murray,  Ceres;  Mrs.  M.  Bowen, 
Pomona;  Mrs.  Libbie  Reed,  Flora;  Mrs.  Alice  Bowen, 
lady  assistant  steward.     Their  hall,  which  is  situated 


JOHN  S.HESTER. 


/^RS.  JOHN  SfiESTZn. 


RESfDENCE  or  JOHN  S  HESTER  Norwich  TpHuhonCo  0 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


425 


on  the  corner  of  lot  number  thirty-five,  was  erected 
in  the  summer  of  1876,  and  cost,  complete,  six  hun- 
dred dollars.  The  regular  meetings  are  held  on  the 
second  and  fourth  Saturdays  of  each  month.  The 
present  membership  is  fifty-seven.  The  officers  for 
1878,  are:  Nelson  Murray,  master:  James  Reed,  over- 
seer; Mrs.  J.  S.  Hester,  lecturer;  Lyman  Austin,  stew- 
ard; "William  K.  Bowen,  assistant  steward;  Horace 
Robinson,  chaplain;  William  Brown,  treasui-er;  E.  P. 
Snyder,  secretary;  Z.  B.  Slater,  gate  keeper;  Mrs.  A. 
E.  Niver,  Ceres;  Mrs.  Z.  B.  Slater,  Pomona;  Mrs. 
George  Bowen,  Flora;  Mrs.  E.  Richards,  lady  assist- 
ant steward. 

Centerton  Lodge,  No.  G07,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organ- 
ized on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1875,  with  charter  members 
as  follows  :  Dr.  E.  V.  B.  Buckingham,  Albert  Gage, 
W.  S.  Van  Horn,  John  Miller,  C.  L.  Rolfe,  G.  H. 
Miller,  William  H.  Frost,  N.  H.  Nichols,  E.  C.  Trim- 
mer, Franklin  Wood,  and  A.  T.  Sweatland.  The  first 
elective  officers  were:  C.  L.  Rolfe,  N.  6.;  W.  S.  Van 
Horn,  V.  G. ;  Dr.  E.  V.  B.  Buckingham,  R.  S. ;  John 
Miller,  P.  S.,  and  Albert  Gage,  Treasurer.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  forty-five.  The  stated  communi- 
cations, are  on  Thursday  evening  of  each  week,  in 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  over  A.  Gage's  store.  The  officers 
for  1878,  are:  Niles  Gregory,  N.  G. ;  Samuel  Snyder, 
V.  G. ;  George  Barber,  R.  S. :  Lyman  Benham,  P.  S., 
and  A.  Gage,  treasurer.  This  society  is,  we  under- 
stand, in  a  harmonious  and  highly  flourishing  con- 
dition. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  physician  who  settled  in  Norwich  town- 
ship was  Dr.  Hurlburt.  He  located  on  lot  number 
forty,  in  the  second  section,  in  1825.  He  practiced  in 
the  township  until  his  death,  in  1828. 

The  present  medical  staff  of  Norwich  township  is 
composed  of  M.  Tompkins,  James  Henderson,  James 
Hutchinson,  and  E.  V.  B.  Buckingham. 

INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

In  1834,  Peter  Brown  put  in  operation  the  first  grist 
mill  in  the  township.  This  was  proiielled  by  horse 
power,  and  it  is  said  did  a  good  business.  In  1830, 
Benjamin  Moore  built  a  saw  mill  on  Slate  run,  on  the 
west  end  of  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  G.  H. 
Woodruff.  Two  years  later,  Thomas  Bennett,  erected 
another  saw  mill  on  the  same  stream,  and  in  1840,  Ira 
Wood  built  a  tliird  mill  on  the  same  stream.  These 
mills  were  all  eventually  carried  away  by  the  high 
water. 

In  1842,  Miner  Atherton  built  a  steam  saw  mill  on 
the  fourth  section.  James  L.  Couch  built  another 
steam  saw  mill  in  the  same  section,  a  few  years  later. 
In  1840,  John  Idler  built  a  steam  saw  mill  at  Center- 
ton.  This  was  burned  in  1850,  and  rebuilt  in  1857, 
by  Messrs.  Idler  &  Hester.  It  was  again  burned  in 
1859,  and  rebuilt  the  same  year.  At  this  point  John 
Miller  has  a  steam  saw  mill  and  barrel  heading  man- 
ufactory.    At  Havana,  Lester  Gregory  has  a  steam 


saw  mill,  and  H.  V.   Owens  a  machine  and  repair 
shop. 

ROADS  AND  MAIL  ROUTES. 

The  first  road  opened  to  the  township  was  that 
made  by  General  Beall  and  his  army,  in  1812,  leading 
from  Wooster  to  Fremont,  through  New  Haven  and 
Norwich.  The  trail  came  into  the  township  at  the 
southeast  corner  and  ran  northwesterly  by  the  village 
plat,  and  left  the  township  on  the  north  side,  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  east  of  the  northwest  corner. 
Hopkins  made  a  survey  of  the  trail,  and  located  the 
present  road,  leading  past  the  residences  of  Wesley 
Robinson  and  John  S.  Hester. 

The  first  post  route  through  the  township  extended 
from  Tiffin  toFitchville.  It  w;is  established  in  1827. 
Adam  Hance  carried  the  m;iil. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


CHARLES  T.  HESTER. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  the  oldest  of  six 
children,  and  only  son  of  John  S.  and  Lucinda  Hes- 
ter, and  was  born  in  Norwich,  Huron   county,  Ohio, 


April  17,  1843.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  of 
his  father,  with  an  attendance  of  a  few  months  iu 
each  year  at  school  in  the  neighborhood.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen,  he  became  a  student  of  Baldwin  University, 
Berea,  Ohio.  A  year  later  the  writer,  a  year  his 
senior,  became  a  student  at  the  same  college,  and  a 
member  of  the  same  class,  and  for  a  time  was  his 
room-mate.     Charles  was  a   vouug  man  of  excellent 


426 


HISTORY  0-F  HURON  AXD  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


pai'ts.  His  mind  was  active,  his  thought  comprehen- 
sive, and  he  readily  acquired  the  mastery  of  any  sub- 
ject with  which  he  grappled.  He  ranked  among  the 
very  best  in  his  classes.  So  mature  was  his  mind  that 
he  found  his  most  congenial  associates  in  those  of  his 
fellow  students  who  were  older  than  himself,  and  in 
more  advanced  studies.  He  had  equal  facility  in  the 
mastery  of  the  various  branches  of  study,  whetJier 
mathematics,  the  classics,  or  the  sciences.  Unosten- 
tatious and  unassuming,  he  always  commanded  the 
respectful  attention  of  his  companions,  whenever  he 
engaged  with  them  in  conversation,  and  his  opinions 
were  those  of  sound  judgment  and  wise  discretion, 
and  were  wholly  free  from  narrow-mindedness.  In- 
deed, Charles  Hester  was  as  promising  a  young  man 
at  the  time  he  left  his  alma  mater  as  any  whose  voice 
had  ever  resounded  in  echoes  from  the  walls  of  Bald- 
win University.  Intellectually,  he  had  no  peer  among 
his  fellows,  while  socially  he  was  genial,  fond  of  the 
humorous,  if  it  did  not  smack  of  the  low  and  vulgar. 
His  was  an  affectionate  and  generous  nature,  and  he 
loved  his  friends  with  a  feeling  of  the  warmest  attach- 
ment. 

The  fall  of  1863  was  the  last  term  in  which  he  at- 
tended college.  The  following  wnnter  he  taught 
school  in  his  father's  neighborhood,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1864  went  to  Cleveland  to  attend  a  course  of  com- 
mercial instruction,  where,  as  usual,  he  made  rapid 
progress.  He  left  school  to  enter  the  one  hundred 
days'  service,  and  to  do  what  lay  in  his  power  for  the 
success  of  that  cause  then  so  dear  to  every  patriot 
heart — the  vanquishing  of  the  rebellious  South,  and 
the  consequent  establishment  of  the  Union  upon  the 
firm  foundation  of  equal  rights  for  all.  He  enlisted 
in  Company  H,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
Ohio  National  Guards.  While  the  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Richardson,  near  Washington  City,  he 
was  taken  ill  with  typhoid  fever,  and  being  subse- 
quently removed  from  the  camp  hospital  to  the  gen- 
eral hospital  at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Virginia,  he  died 
there  on  the  17th  day  of  August,  1864.  The  care  and 
attention  which  he  needed  during  his  illness  seemed 
to  be  inadequately  provided.  But  the  writer  sjjares 
comment  on  so  painful  a  subject.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  the  home  of  his  sorrow-stricken  parents  in 
Norwich,  and  his  funeral  was  largely  attended  by 
relatives,  neighbors  of  the  family,  and  school  friends 
of  Charles.  The  memory  of  that  sad  day  is  vivid  in- 
deed. A  quiet  little  church  filled  with  a  people  whose 
faces  were  grave  and  whose  hearts  were  sympathetic; 
a  father  and  a  mother  bowed  in  the  agony  of  grief  at 
the  loss  of  their  only  son, -and  sisters  mourning  bitter- 
ly the  loss  of  their  only  brother;  the  preacher,  the 
deceased's  alma  mater's  pl-esident,  whose  words  sought 
to  administer  consolation;  and  then  Charles  T.  Hester 
was  taken  to  the  quiet  cemetery  and  covered  from 
siglit,  amidst  a  silence  most  solemn  and  impressive, 
broken  only  by  the  sobs  and  cries  of  grief  which  could 
not  be  repressed. 

Charles  had  always  lieen  a   dutiful    son,    and    his 


father  found  in  him,  in  the  later  years  of  his  life,  a 
wise  and  prudent  counselor.  His  mind  had  reached 
such  maturity  and  had  so  accustomed  itself  to  inde- 
pendent and  original  channels  of  thought,  that  he  was 
enabled  to  render  his  father  much  service  in  matters 
requiring  counsel:  while  to  his  sisters,  he  was  not 
only  a  companion,  but  a  protector  and  a  loving,  kind 
and  considerate  brother.  None  knew  Charles  Hester, 
but  to  admire  and  love  him.  Had  he  lived,  his  career 
must  cei'tainly  have  been  one  of  distinction.  He 
possessed  every  qualification — ability,  learning,  a 
hatred  of  wrong  and  wrong-doing,  a  love  of  the  right 
and  of  right-doing,  warm  attachment  to  his  friends, 
habits  of  thought  and  industry,  a  nature  generous, 
a  character  unblemished  and  a  name  untarnished. 


JOHN  S.  HESTER. 


Martin  He.^ter.  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  September  6,  1787.  When  twenty 
j-ears  of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Columbiana  county.  Two  jears  afterwards, 
March  30,  1809,  he  married  Mary  M.  Stough,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  John  Stough,  a  Lutheran  clergyman,  who 
came  to  Columbiana  county  with  his  family  in  1806. 
She  was  born  in  "The  Glades"  (now  Marj'land),  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1780.  In  1814,  Mr.  Hester  and  family  set- 
tled in  Orange  township,  Richland  (now  Ashland) 
county,  where  he  entered  a  quarter  section  of  govern- 
ment land.  They  resided  there  until  1827,  when  they 
removed  to  Bronson,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  son, 
Martin  M.  Hester,  where  the  father  and  mother  si5ent 
the  I'emainder  of  their  days.  Mr.  Hester  died  Janu- 
ary 31,  1870,  and  Mrs.  Hester  June  25,  1863.  They 
were  pioneers  in  that  true  sense  of  breaking  up  the 
native  forest,  removing  the  obstructions  to,  and  pre- 
paring the  way  for,  the  march  of  civilization,  and  in 
establishing  society  on  a  sound  basis.  In  the  estab- 
lishment of  schools,  religious  societies,  aud  all  those 
institutions  tending  to  promote  the  general  welfai-e  of 
society,  none  were  more  zealous  and  efficient  than 
they.  They  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  whom 
they  lived  to  see  settled  in  life  and  who  are  still  living, 
John  S.  Hester,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  the 
oldest  of  the  family,  was  born  near  New  Lisbon,  Col- 
umbiana county,  Ohio,  November  8,  1810.  In  the 
acquirement  of  his  limited  education  he  enjoyed  only 
the  advantages  of  the  rude  common  schools  of  the 
time.  At  eighteen  he  began  work  for  Mr.  Aro  Dan- 
forth,  of  Bronson,  to  learn  the  carpenter  aud  joiner's 
trade  and  continued  thus  engaged  for  three  years,  for 
which  term  of  service  he  received  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  and  his  board,  furnishing  his  clothing 
himself.  '  He  then  began  work  at  his  trade  on  his  own 
account,  which  he  followed  for  several  years  and  a 
portion  of  the  time  was  employed  in  the  building  of 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


lake  vessels  at  Huron.  In  April,  18.36,  having  deter- 
mined to  settle  upon  a  farm,  he  made  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land,  which  consicted  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  lot  number  thirty-eight  in  the  third  section  of 
Norwich,  but  which  he  exchanged,  before  making  set- 
tlement, for  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  resided. 
October  13,  183G,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jane 
S.  Pancost,  of  Bronson,  who  died  a  few  months  after 
— May  15,  1837.  He  married  for  his  second  wife, 
AprilC,  1843,  Lucinda  M.  Hildreth,  the  oldest  of 
nine  children  of  Benjamin  and  Susan  (Colegrove) 
Hildreth,  and  who  was  born  in  Tompkins  county. 
New  York,  August  31,  1816.  The  family  removed 
to  Fairfield  township,  Huron  county,  in  the  year  1833, 
where  the  father  died  September  30,  1853.  Mrs. 
Hildreth  died  in  Franklin,  Tennessee,  March  10, 
1855. 

They  were  for  many  years  members  of  tlie  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  one  son  of  their  seven  surviv- 
ing children,  Rev.  T.  F.  Hildreth,  is  a  distinguished 
minister  of  the  church,  now  resident  of  Jackson, 
Michigan.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester  were  born  five 
children — one  son  and  four  daughters,  as  follows: 
Charles  T.,  born  April  17,  1813,  of  whom  a  biograph- 
ical sketch  is  elsewhere  given;  Eliza  W. ,  born  March 
31,  1846,  married  January  16,  1ST3,  S.  R.  McConnell, 
and  now  resides  at  Burlington,  Iowa;  Susan  H..  born 
October  37,  1847,  died  November  5,  1853;  Julia,  born 
August  15,  1851,  married  William  Doughert}^  of 
Mansfield,  October  6,  1869,  and  at  present  resides  at 
Newark,  Ohio;  Hattie  R.,  born  October  10,  1856,  re- 
sides with  her  parents.  Mr.  Hester  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1835,  and  since  his 
settlement  in  Norwich  he  has  continuously  filled  some 
office  in  the  church.  His  parents  were  members  ot 
tlie  same  society  for  many  years  and  until  their  death, 
and  all  their  children,  children-in-law  and  some  of 
their  grandchildren  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Hester  is  a  man  of  thought,  settled  convictions 
and  progressive  ideas.  He  has  given  each  of  his  chil- 
dren a  liberal  education,  one  of  whom,  Mrs.  McCon- 
nell, graduated  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University, 
ladies'  department,  in  the  summer  of  1866.  The 
writer  of  this  sketch  was  well  acquainted  with  this 
lady  during  her  school  days.  She  was  an  exception- 
ally bright  and  attractive  young  lady,  and  one  of  the 
aptest  scholars  he  ever  knew.  IMuch  superior  was  she, 
in  this  regard,  to  her  classmates  of  her  own  sex, — for 
at  Baldwin  University,  Berea,  Ohio,  where,  previous 
to  her  graduation  at  Delaware,  she  was  for  several 
years  a  student,  the  classes  were  represented  by  both 
sexes.  She  excelled,  especially  in  mathematics,  and  in 
scholarship  usually  outranked  the  best  minds  among 
her  gentlemen  friends  and  classmates. 

Mr.  Hester,  in  having  thus  been  a  liberal  patron  of 
a  higher  education,  gives'  proof,  not  only  of  his  ap- 
preciation of  the  advantages  which  a  careful  and 
systematic  training  has  for  the  mind,  but  also  of  the 
loving  generosity  toward   his  family   whirh    lias  ever 


characterized  him.    And  in  all  this  he  is  most  heartily 
joined  by  Mrs.  Hester. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester,  in  their  declining  years,  are 
enjoying  the  quiet  happiness  which  should  come  to 
those  who  have  ever  lived  at  peace  with  men  and  in 
flie  fear  and  favor  of  God.  They  continue  to  reside 
in  the  comfortable  farm  dwelling  in  Norwich,  a  view 
of  which  may  elsewhere  be  seen,  and  which  Mr.  H. 
erected  with  his  own  hands — dug  the  cellar,  drew  the 
stone,  and  assisted  in  laying  the  foundation  walls, 
hewed  and  hauled  the  timbers,  planed,  mortised  and 
fitted  the  doors  and  windows,  helped  to  erect  the 
frame  and  lay  the  xoof.  Their  daughter,  Hattie,  an 
interesting  young  lady,  resides  with  her  parents — 
their  only  child  and  companion.  May  a  ripe  old  age 
be  attained  unto  by  each  of  them. 


EBENEZER  LAWRENCE. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  the  only  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Norwich  township  now  living.  He 
was  born  December  8,  1808,  in  Westford,  Chittenden 
county,  Vermont,  and  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  five, 
the  issue  of  Wilder  and  Roxanna  Woodruff  Lawrence, 
(for  further  data  of  whom,  see  Norwich  history).  He 
was  eight  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  live  m  their  wildwoods  home.  His  education  was 
derived,  principally,  in  the  little  log  school  house,  in 
what  is  now  district  number  eight,  of  Norwich 
township. 

His  life  has  been  that  which  usually  falls  to  the  lot 
of  a  pioneer,  one  of  hardship  and  labor.  He  has 
chopped,  alone,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of 
heavy  timber,  and  assisted  in  logging  some  six  hun- 
dred acres  more.  The  farm  in  lot  thirty-three,  in  the 
second  section,  Avhich  he  now  occupies,  is  the  same 
his  father  began  improvements  on  in  1819,  and  is  in 
a  profitable  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Lawrence  was  married,  October  15.  1843,  to 
Clarinda,  daughter  of  Rouse  and  Mary  Barney  Bly. 
She  was  a  native  of  Springfield,  Richland  county, 
Ohio.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are  two — Willis 
T.,  who  was  born  July  11,  1844;  he  married  Francis 
Richards.  Mary  M.,  who  was  born  October  5, 
1847;  she  married  Edgar  Richards.  Both  children 
reside  in  Norwicii.  but  a  short  distance  from  the  old 
homestead. 

Mrs.  Lawrence,  some  eleven  years  since,  united 
with  the  Congregational  Church  in  Greenfield  town- 
ship, and  continues  to  the  present  a  consistent  and 
worthy  christian.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence,  and  also 
their  children  and  wives,  are  members  of  Live  Oak 
Grange,  No.  747,  P.  of  H.  Politically  Mr.  Lawrence 
is  an  old  time  Jackson  Democrat.  He  lias  seen  what 
few  can  boast  of,  a  dense  and  howling  wilderness 
gradually  disappear  and  be  made  to  ■•blossom  as  the 
rose." 


428 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Rouse  Bly,  father  of  Mrs.  Lawrence,  was  bom  in 
Herkimer  county.  New  York,  in  1794.  He  Ciime  to 
Ohio  in  1817,  and  located  in  Richland  county.  He 
married  Mary  Barney  of  New  Haven  township,  Huron 
county,  Ohio.  Four  children  were  born  in  Richland 
county— Mary,  LysanderM.,  Semantha,  and  ClarindaT 
In  1825,  he  removed  to,  and  permanently  located  in, 
New  Haven  township,  where  three  childi-en  were  boru 
— Matilda,  Mary  and  Alvin.  Mrs.  Bly  died  on  March 
5,  1829,  aged  twenty-five  3-ears,  and  he  married  Mrs. 
Sophia  Coe,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  two  only 
alive.  She  died  in  September,  1852.  Mr.  Bly  died 
September  4,  1866. 


JAMES  H.   DAILEY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  boru  in  Shawanguuk 
township,  Ulster  county,  New  York,  July  16,  1817. 
His  paternal  ancestors  were  of  Irish  and  German  ex- 
traction, and  those  on  his  mother's  side  were  origin- 
ally from  England  and  Holland.  His  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Sarah  (Terwilliger)  Dailey,  who  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  James  was  the  eld- 
est. In  the  fall  of  1822,  Mr.  Dailey  removed  with  his 
family  from  Ulster  to  Cayuga  county,  and  the  follow- 
ing spring  to  Livingston  county,  New  York,  where 
he  located  in  the  township  of  Mount  Morris.  He 
l^m-chased  a  squatter's  right  on  what  was  called  the 
Indian  reservation,  the  land  not  then  being  for  sale. 
He  resided  there  four  years,  wlieu  he  moved  to  the 
west  side  of  the  Genesee  river  in  the  township  of  Lei- 
cester, where  he  settled.  In  the  fall  of  1833  he  came 
to  Ohio  to  select  a  location  for  settlement,  and  pur- 
chased of  Henry  Terry,  of  Bronson,  the  whole  of  lot 
number  twenty-four  and  the  west  half  of  twenty-three 
in  the  third  section  of  Greenfield  towmship,  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  to  which  he  removed  with  his  family 
in  the  spring  of  1834.  .  He  continued  to  live  here  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  May  28,  1864,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years,  surviving  his  wife  four  years, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  sixtj'-three.  The  youth  of  the 
subject  of  this  memoir  was  spent  in  the  hard  work  of 
farming  at  that  early  period,  and  he  enjoyed  but  few 
opportunities  for  the  acquirement  of  an  education. 
With  the  exception  of  one  term  at  the  Norwalk  Sem- 
inary, subsequent  to  his  arrival  in  Greenfield,  he  ob- 
tained his  education  at  the  common  schools  of  Mount 
Morris,  New  York.  From  1839  to  1847  he  taught  a 
country  school  during  the  winter  season,  working 
upon  the  farm  through  the  summer.  October  16, 
1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Esther  Howard, 
daughter  of  Hosea  and  Heppy  Howard,  of  Oneida 
county,  New  York.  She  was  born  January  15,  1819, 
and  emigrated  with  her  father  to  Ohio  in  1836.  The 
children  born  of  this  marriage  were  two  sons,  Henry 
K.  and  Lewis  C.  Dailey,  who  were  born,  the  former 
June  12,  1845,  and  the  latter  October  11.  1847.     His 


wife  died  December  27,  1860,  and  he  married  for  his 
second  wife,  January  2,  1862,  Elizabeth  J.  Thomp- 
son, who  has  borne  him  two  children,  viz. :  Ida,  who 
was  born  March  31,  1865,  and  died  October  1st  of  the 
same  year,  and  Benjamin  T.,  born  October  22,  1806. 

After  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Dailey  settled  on  forty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead  in  Greenfield,  where  he 
continued  to  live  until  1870,  when  he  moved  to  the 
village  of  Havanna,  in  Norwich  township,  having  the 
3'ear  previous  purchased  of  Seymour  T\'.  Owen  his 
residence,  together  with  about  twenty  acres  of  land. 
This  change  of  location  was  made  in  order  that  he 
might,  in  a  measure,  be  released  from  the  care  and 
labor  of  the  farm,  and  that  better  educational  advan- 
tages might  be  had  for  his  children.  In  1870  he 
bought  the  grain  warehouse  of  Joseph  Hayes,  and 
also  the  building  in  which,  in  connection  with  his 
brother,  John  L,  Dailey„  he  opened  a  general  store  in 
the  fall  of  1878,  and  which  they  continue  to  carry  on. 

Mr.  Dailey  has  added  to  his  original  purchase  of 
forty  acres  of  land,  until  he  now  owns  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  lying  in  Greenfield  and  Norwich 
townships.  While  farming  has  been  his  chief  occu- 
pation, yet  his  enterprise  and  industry  have  been  man- 
ifested in  other  undertakings.  He  was  a  stock  dealer 
or  drover  for  several  years,  and,  as  before  stated,  is 
now  engaged  in  merchandise  and  also  in  the  grain 
business  at  Havanna. 

In  1838  he  embraced  the  religious  tenets  of  the 
Disciples'  denomination,  and  a  few  years  after  united 
with  the  church  at  North  Fairfield,  and  continues  a 
consistent  member.     In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 


A.   B.   GILSON, 


of  Norwich,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  traces  his  lineage 
back  to  a  goodly  origin.  His  grandfather,  Joel,  and 
grandmother,  Sarah  Adams  Gilson,  were  married  Oc- 
tober 3,  1771,  and  the  dates  of  their  respective  births 
were  1748  and  1751.  Joel  Gilson  was  a  collector  of 
continental  money,  and  when  congress  passed  the 
law  repudiating  it,  he  had  in  his  possession  about 
forty  thousand  dollars  in  this  currencj-,  which  he  lost. 

The  children  of  Joel  and  Sarah  Gilson  were:  Joel, 
Jr.,  Seth,  Sarah,  Jonas,  John,  Jesse,  Asa,  Rhoda, 
Nahum  and  Anna. 

Nahum  Gilson,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  April 
27,  1793,  and  in  1819  moved  to  Norwich  township, 
beginning  as  a  single  man  the  hard  life  of  a  pioneer, 
and  succeeding  in  hewing  from  the  forest  a  home, 
which,  in  his  later  years,  was  a  very  pleasant  one,  and 
contained  but  little  to  suggest  the  privation  and  toil 
by  which  it  had  been  secured.  He  sowed  the  first 
wheat  in  the  township.  His  wife,  Sally  Ormes  Gil- 
son, was  born  in  Northumberland,  Massachusetts, 
January  12,  1792,  and  she  was  married  in  February, 
1819,  and  immediatelv  came  with  her  husband  to  his 


-f  :'^ 


James  H.Dailey. 


MRS.  James  H.Dailey. 


RESIDENCE   or   JAMES    H     DAILEY  HAVANA    HUTO.N  to  U 


6- 


John  Bowen 


Mrs. John  Bowen. 


Residence  OF   JOHN  BOWEN  ,  Norwich  Tp,  (Huron  Co, Ohio. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  BRIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


newly  fonud  home.  The}-  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children. 

Nahum  Gilson,  in  1830,  became  agent  for  Hon. 
John  W.  Allen,  of  Cleveland  (where  the  latter  is  still 
residing,  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age),  for 
the  sale  of  some  two  thousand  acres  of  land,  situ-ated 
in  Norwich  township.  Mr.  Allen  had  purchased  the 
land  at  one  dollar  per  acre,  and  authorized  Mr.  Gilson 
to  i^lace  it  in  the  market  at  two  dollars  per  acre.  This 
Mr.  Gilson  did,  disposing  of  the  last  lot  to  Mr.  James 
Robinson.  Mr.  Allen  speaks  in  very  high  terms  of 
praise  as  to  the  straightforward,  business  like  manner 
in  which  this  trust  was  executed. 

A.  B.  Gilson  was  boi'u  in  Norwich  township,  April 
33,  1827,  and  grew  up  enjoying  the  usual  advantages 
and  suffering  the  usual  disadvantages  of  the  farmer 
boy.  He  secured  a  common  school  education,  and  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  began  teaching,  being  examined 
by  and  securing  his  first  certificate  from  Judge  Stick- 
ney.  His  first  school  was  in  the  village  of  Havana, 
and  the  amount  of  his  wages  was  eleven  dollars  per 
month,  he  finding  his  own  board.  He  taught  thirteen 
succeeding  winters,  with  the  exception  of  one  season, 
and  his  last  school  was  in  the  district  in  which  he  re- 
sides. There  was  something  of  a  disparity  between 
the  remuneration  at  the  beginning  and  the  end  of 
this  long  term  of  school  life;  for  his  last  school  teach- 
ing was  paid  for  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  day, 
and  the  teacher  boarded.  He  began  teaching  music, 
also,  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  has 
taught  almost  continuously,  in  one  form  or  another, 
ever  since.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Huron  County 
Jfusical  Association. 

When  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out,  Mr.  Gil- 
son patriotically  devoted  his  best  energies  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  Union  cause.  In  the  fall  of  1863,  he 
raised  a  company  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  men. 
He  was  elected  captain,  and  received  his  commission 
from  Governor  David  Tod.  On  the  occurrence  of  the 
re-oi"gauization  he  was  made  major,  but  the  force 
being  consolidated  with  other  regiments  he  was  retired 
and  came  home. 

He  is  the  oldest  man  now  living  in  Norwich,  who 
was  born  there.  Mr.  Gilson  is  an  active,  stirring 
man,  now,  as  he  ever  has  been — a  man  of  affairs,  and 
one  who  labors  for  the  general  good,  as  well  as  for 
personal  success.  He  is  both  liberal  minded  and  lib- 
eral hearted. 

He  married  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Mr.  Chauncey 
Baker  and  Mrs.  Rhoda  (Webster)  Baker,  of  Granger 
township,  Medina  county,  born  February  20,  1842. 
The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  in  Cleveland, 
February  8,  18G2,  by  Prof.  Samuel  Foljambee.  This 
couple  have  one  child,  Ada  B.,  a  beautiful  little  girl, 
born  December  25,  1875. 

E.  W.  Gilson,  brother  of  A.  B.,  was  treasurer  of 
Huron  county  from  1874  to  1878.  He  was  also  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  his  own  township  for  thirteen 
years,  and  held  the  office  of  township  clerk  for  fifteen 


years,  possessing  the  confidence  of  the  people  to  such 
a  degree  that  ir.en  of  both  parties  gave  him  their  cor- 
dial SUpplU't. 


JOHN  BOWE^v. 

John  Bowen,  only  child  of  Constant  and  Agnes 
Bowen  (whose  maiden  name  was  Parker),  was  born 
in  Salem  countj-.  New  Jersey,  March  11,  1805. 
When  about  a  year  old,  his  parents  started  on  a  jour- 
ney to  the  distant  west,  as  Ohio  was  then  called. 
His  mother  died  during  the  journey  through  Penns^-l- 
vania,  and  w'as  buried  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
mountains.  The  father,  with  his  infant  child,  re- 
mained in  Pennsylvania  about  a  year,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  worked  in  a 
furnace  at  New  Lisbon  for  a  few  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Coshocton  county,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  1821.  He  subsequently  resided  in  Rich- 
land county  a  year,  and  a  few  years  in  Crawford 
county,  and  then  removed  to  Scott  township,  Marion 
county,  where  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  and 
settled.  He  married  his  second  wife  (Sarah  Hill)  in 
1819,  by  which  union  there  were  born  nine  children, 
only  one  of  whom  survives — a  son,  now  living  in  In- 
diana. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  married,  in  Marion 
county,  Ohio,  March  11,  1832,  Christena  Robinson, 
daughter  of  William  and  Lucretia  Robinson,  who  was 
born  March  11,  1813.  It  will  be  noticed  as  a  some- 
what singular  circumstance  that  the  birth  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bowen,  as  well  as  their  marriage,  occurred 
on  the  same  day  of  the  same  month.  About  eighteen 
months  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bowen  settled  on  the 
place  where  he  still  resides.  He  found  the  land  still 
heavily  timbered,  and  by  no  means  easy  to  bring 
under  cultivation,  but  he  was  strong  of  heart  and 
sturdy  of  limb,  and  the  labor  and  hardship  necessary 
in  the  acquisition  of  a  home  in  the  woods  possessed 
for  him  no  insuperable  difficulties.  Indeed,  he  was 
offered  by  his  father  the  gift  of  a  farm  in  Indiana  if 
he  would  remove  thither  and  abandon  what  seemed 
to  him  a  hopeless  task;  but  he  declined,  preferring, 
rather,  to  remain  where  he  had  "  stuck  his  stakes," 
and  with  nothing  to  begin  with  but  his  axe,  his  own 
strong  hands,  and  the  assistance  of  his  efficient  wife, 
get  a  home  out  of  the  woods. 

Mr.  Bowen,  in  an  early  day,  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  brick,  and  was  also  a  brick  mason,  and 
followed  the  trade  to  a  considerable  extent,  more 
especially  in  the  erection  of  chimneys.  He  burnt  the 
seeoud  kiln  of  brick  that  were  made  in  Norwich,  and 
built  on  William  Robinson's  log  house,  in  the  fall  of 
1834,  the  pioneer  brick  chimney  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Boweu's  chief  occupation,  however,  has  been  that 
of  farming,  and  his  life  has  been  one  of  steady,  plod- 
ding toil,  in  which  his  wife  has  been  a  cheerful  and 


430 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


efficient  helper.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
intr  named  children:  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  of  whom  survive,  to  wit:  Martha  Jane,  now  Mrs. 
William  Spencer,  of  Venice,  Seneca  county,  born  De- 
cember .5,  1832:  Agnes,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Hoffman, 
of  the  same  township,  born  July  6,  1834::  John  Morris, 
born  March  25,  1837;  William  Kinsman,  born  De- 
cember 29,  1838,  both  of  Norwich;  Henry  C,  born 
November  2,  1840.  residing  in  Reed  township,  Seneca 
county:  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  November  15,  1842, 
married  Henry  Gibson,  July  3,  18C6,  who  works  the 
farm  of  his  father-in-law;  George,  born  May  29,  1847, 
whose  residence  occupies  the  lot  on  which  stood  the 
first  house  in  Norwich,  the  old  block  house,  built  by 
the  surveyors  as  early  as  1814  or  1815;  Melinda  Chris- 
tena,  born  November  2,  1850,  now  Mrs.  William  J. 
Williams,  of  Reed,  Seneca  county. 


HARVEY  JONATHAN  DOOLITTLE. 

was  born  in  the  township  of  Montague,  Franklin 
county,  Massachusetts,  on  the  5th  day  of  April,  1815. 
His  parents  were  Calvin  and  Polly  (Larrabee)  Doolit- 
tle,  who  removed  to  Northfield  township,  in  the  same 
county,  perhaps  one  year  subsequent  to  Harvey's 
birth.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  the 
family  removed  to  Alstead,  New  Hampshire,  where 
Mrs.  Doolittle  died,  in  September,  1833,  and  the 
family  was  broken  up. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  remained  at 
Alsted  some  six  years,  when  he  went  to  Vermont, 
where  he  met  his  fate  and  was,  on  April  28,  1844, 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emily,  daughter  of  Minor 
and  Huldah  (Thurber)  Wheeler,  who  was  born  in 
Halifax,  Vermont,  September  19th.  1818.  No  chil- 
dren have  blessed  this  union,  though  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Doolittle  have  reared  several  children;  one,  William 
Ricker,  married  Mary  Read,  and  lives  at  home,  hav- 
ing an  interest  in  the  old  homestead.  They  have  one 
child — Clemmis.  In  the  spring  of  1845,  Mr.  Doo- 
little and  wife  came  to  Ohio,  and  located  in  Norwich 
township,  and  some  four  years  later  purchased  the 
farm,  in  the  second  section,  which  he  still  occupies, 
owning  sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  lot  number  thirty- 
four.  This  farm  was  unimproved,  but  by  dint  of 
well-directed  effort  is  now  nearly  all  under  a  profit- 
able state  of  cultivation.  The  sulistantial  dwelling, 
a  view  of  which  appears  in  another  portion  of  this 
volume,  was  built  in  18G6. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doolittle,  ten  years  after  settling  in 
Norwich,  became  members  of  the  Churcli  of  United 
Brethren,  and  have  continued  faithful  and  consistent 
Christians  until  the  present.  Tiieyare  also  members 
of  Live  Oak  (frange,  No.  747,  which  holds  its  sessions 
in  Norwich  towushi]!.  Politically,  Mr.  Doolittle  be- 
lieves in  wiiatcvcr  will  produce  the  greatest  good  to 
the  greatest  number. 


Mr.  Wheeler,  father  of  Mrs.  Doolittle,  died  on  the 
5th  day  of  September,  1823,  in  Halifax.  Mrs.  Wheeler 
remained  east  until  about  1849,  when  she  came  to 
Ohio,  residing  with  her  daughter  (Mrs.  Doolittle), 
until  her  death,  February  2.  18G4. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doolittle  reached  Ohio,  they 
had  little  to  begin  a  life  in  the  wilderness  with,  ex- 
cept strong  hands  and  willing  hearts,  but  by  persever- 
ing and  well-directed  effort  they  have  acquired  their 
presetit  competency. 


WESLEY  RORINSON 

is  the  ninth  of  a  family  of  eleven,  the  children  of 
William  and  Latitia  Coleman  Robinson,  for  further 
data  of  w  hom  see  sketch  of  Huriah  Robinson  in  this 
volume.  With  the  exception  of  one  term  at  the  semin- 
ary in  Norwalk,  the  education  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  acquired  at  common  school,  and  his  life 
work  has  been  that  of  a  farmer.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Norwich  township,  in  the  spring  of  1832, 
who  located  on  the  farm  he  still  occupies.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  four  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  of 
land  in  the  second  section.  His  fine  brick  residence,  a 
view  of  which  is  given  in  this  work,  was  completed 
during  the  summer  of  1871,  and  cost  complete  nearly 
five  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  united  in  marriage  on  April  5, 
1846,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac  H.  and  Sally 
Cassady  Bennett,  of  Reed  township,  Seneca  count}-, 
Ohio,  by  whom  the  following  children  were  born: 
William,  who  was  born  March  30, 1847.  He  married 
Susan  Bennington.  Isaac  H.,  who  was  born  Febru- 
ary 8,  1849;  married  Isadore  Bramble.  George  A., 
who  was  born  November  26,  1852,  married  Francis  E. 
Eddy;  and  Daniel  Bennett  Guy,  who  was  born  June 
19,  1855,  and  remains  at  home  unmarried.  The  chil- 
dren all  reside  in  Norwich  township.  Some  twenty 
years  since  Mr.  Robinson  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  United  Brethren,  and  continues  until  the  present 
a  worthy  Christian. 

He  became  a  member  of  Richland  Lodge  No.  201, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  which  holds  its  sessions 
at  Plymouth.  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  and  still 
affiliates  there.  In  the  fall  of  1876,  he  became  an 
Odd  Fellow  in  Centerton  Lodge  No.  607.  He  was 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  Live  Oak  Grange  No. 
747  of  Norwich  township.  He  was  elected  Master  on 
its  organization  March  23,  1874,  and  now  occupies 
that  position.  Some  ten  years  since  Mr.  Robinson 
made  purchase  of  some  American  Merino  sheep,  and 
has  since  devoted  considerable  time  to  the  breeding 
of  this  fine  variety.  He  has  now  a  flock  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-two. 

Mr.  Robinson  is  a  democrat  in  jiolitics,  and  in  the 
local  affairs  of  the  township  has  filled  many  import- 
ant offices,  among  which  he  is  now  serving  his  twelfth 
year  as  justice  of  the  peace. 


HISTORY 

OF 

Towns  and  Villages  in  Erie  County, 


SANDUSKY   CITY. 


In  1812,  the  Hon.  Zalmon  Wildman,  of  Danbury, 
Connecticut,  having  an  undivided  interest  in  section 
one  of  Canon  township  (now  Richmond)  to  which 
had  been  annexed  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three  acres  of  land  ofE  tlie  east  end  .of  the  frac- 
tion lying  between  town  six,  range  twenty-three  (Per- 
kins), and  Sandusky  bay,  to  give  to  that  section  an 
equal  average  value  with  all  other  sections  of  the 
"Fire-lands,"  located  his  whole  interest  i-n  the.annexed 
fraction,  by  proceedings  in  partition,  amounting  to 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  This 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  were 
known  as  "The  City  Tract".  The  war  of  1812  inter- 
vened. 

PORTLAND. 

In  181G,  Judge  Wildman  laid  out  a  small  village 
jjlat  on  the  south  shore  of  the  bay,  at  about  the  center 
of  the  tract,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Portland.  He 
immediately  put  up  a  two-story  frame  building,  which 
was  finished  early  m  1817.  It  afterwards  was  known 
as  "the  old  white  store."  It  stood  on  ground  now 
covered  by  the  east  end  of  "Reber's  block."  In  the 
summer  of  181T,  William  B.  Smith  built  the  first 
dwelling  house  on  the  ground,  next  west  of  the  hotel 
now  known  as  "Scott's  American."  In  tlie  fall  of  the 
same  year,  Cyrus  W.  Marsh  put  up  a  section  of 
the  rear  part  of  what  he  afterwards  named  "The 
Steam  Boat  Hotel."  It  afterwards  received  the 
name  of  "Porter's  Verandah",  then  "Raymond's 
Hotel",  then  its  present  name,  "Scott's  American.'" 
Mr.  Marsh  was  the  first  tavern  keeper  in  the  place. 
He  came  to  Sandusky  from  Greenfield,  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  in  which  he  first  settled.  He  came  there  from 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  The  first  brick  was  built, 
also,  by  William  B.  Smith,  in  front  of  the  frame  he 
had  before  put  up.  It  still  remains.  The  first  stone 
dwelling  was  built  by  the  late  Eleutheros  Cooke  in 
1821-2,  which  is  now  occupied  by  Olds  &  Hunting- 
ton, as  a  bookstore,  on  lot  two,  Columbus  avenue. 
This  small  village  was  called  "Portland,"  l)ut  was,  in 
fact,  the  beginning  of  Sandusky  City.  The  ground 
embraced  by  the  village  plat  was  widely  known  as 
"The  Ogontz  Place",  in  memory  of  an  Indian  chief. 
x)f  the  Ottawa  tribe,  who  had  dwelt  on  the  place  with 


his  tribe,  more  or  less,  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  and  fore  part  of  the  present  century.  The 
southern  shore  of  the  bay  and  "Peninsula'",  on  the 
opposite  side,  had  been  occupied  at  times  by  several 
tribes,  but  mostly  frequented  by  the  Wyandots  and 
Otto  was. 

During  the  fore  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  the 
French  traders  were  with  the  tribes,  but  about  the 
middle  of  that  century,  they  were  succeeded  by 
English  traders.  In  1810-12,  an  American  trader  by 
the  name  of  John  Garrison  became  the  trader  there. 
But  none  of  these  traders  are  entitled  to  the  name  of 
"pioneer  white  settlers"  of  the  place.  They  were 
only  "squatters"  for  trade  purposes. 

The  late  Judge  Isaac  Mills,  of  ]Si"ew  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, setting  up  a  claim  to  an  interest  in  the 
"City  tract",  a  compromise  followed  by  which  he  ac- 
quired an  interest  of  an  undivided  fourth  part. 

SAXUfSKT  CITY. 

In  1818,  these  joint  proprietors  laid  out  a  much 
larger  plat,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Sa|idusky  City. 
It  was  bounded:  north,  by  the  bay;  east,  by  Meigs; 
west,  by  Shelby;  and  south,  by  Monroe  streets.  To 
this,  many  additions  have  been  made  from  time  to 
time,  designated  by  as  many  fancy  names,  such  as 
"Western  Liberties,"'  "Southwark,"  etc.  The  city 
having  broken  over  all  these  additions,  the  bounds  of 
the  city,  in  1872,  were  extended  to  the  original  limits 
of  the  fraction,  between  the  north  line  of  Perkins 
township  and  Sandusky  Bay,  five  miles  in  length 
and  about  two  miles  in  width,  containing  about  four 
thousand  acre?.  The  whole  area  is  generally  level  and 
unbroken.  The  part  covered  by  the  original  plat  of 
Sandusky  City  was  mostly  prairie,  with  clusters,  or 
small  islands,  of  small  second  growth  of  timber  of 
various  kinds,  but  mainly  of  oak  and  hickory  and 
hazel  bushes.  There  is  a  very  gradual  ascent  from 
the  bay  shore  to  the  central  park,  to  an  elevation  of 
thirty  or  forty  feet.  Here  it  is  nearly  an  exact  level, 
but  soon  begins  a  very  slight  descent  to  the  east  and 
south.  The  whole  fraction  constituted  the  township 
of  Portland  for  many  years  before  it  was  all  included 
in  the  city.  The  west  part  of  the  fraction  was  heavily 
timbered;  the  east  portion  was  mostly  prairie,  with 
occasional  islands  of  timber,  mostly  of  small  growth. 

(431) 


432 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Tlie  soil  is  a  rich  black  loam.  A  small  part,  mostly 
embraced  in  the  original  city  plat,  is  underlain  by 
limestone,  at  a  depth  of  from  a  few  inches  to  several 
feet.  The  stone,  at  a  greater  or  less  depth,  is  to  be 
found  in  all  parts  of  thepreseut  city  bounds.  Within 
the  original  city  plat,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  present 
bounds,  are  found  extensive  quarries  of  the  limestone 
suitable  for  building,  paving  streets  and  making  lime. 
Such  as  are  unfit  for  these  purposes  are  used  in  con- 
structing docks.  The  stone  is  of  a  light  gray  and 
blue.  They  are  found  in  layers  of  an  inch  to  several 
feet  in  thickness,  increasing  in  thickness  as  the  depth 
increases.  Both  stone  and  lime  are  exported  in  great 
quantities. 

PIOXEER    SETTLERS. 

The  first  settlers  were  William  B.  Smith,  Moses 
Farwell,  Cyrus  W.  INIarsh.  These  were  certainly 
there  as  early  as  1817.  During  1818,  they  were  re- 
enforced  by  the  following:  John  Weeden,  George  and 
Wesley  Anderson,  Lyman  Farwell,  Samuel  and 
Leicester  Walker,  Abner  Lyman,  Ebenezer  Ransom, 
Hector  Kilbourn,  Captain  Ezra  Wells,  Joshua  Martin, 

Haskins,  Benjamin  Grey,  Isaac  Darling,  Nathan 

T.    Jennings,    William    Townsend,    William    Hull, 

Daniel  Newton, Clemons  and   his  sons,    John, 

Andrew,  Alexander  and  Elijah,  and  Benajah  Wolcott. 
Between  1818  and  the  spring  of  1822,  accessions  were 
made  as  follows:  William  Kelley,  Wyat  and  Alfred 
Hartshorn,  Darius  C.  Henderson,  John  Wheeler, 
James  Galoway,  Sylvanus  A.  Cone,  William  J.  Bills, 
Frederick  Devoe,  John  N.  Sloane,  John  G.  Gruulief, 
Galen  Atkins,  David  and  John  K.  Campbell,  Sarah 
Henderson,  lAbner  Root,  Eleutheros  Cooke,  Milton 
Jennings,  Thomas  McGee,  Amos  McLouth  and  F. 
D.  Parish,  and  probably  a  few  others. 

The  first  merchant  was  Zalmon  Wildman  (by  Moors 
Farwell).  then  followed  William  Townsend  and  Jen- 
nings &  Darling.  McMurry  and  Wm.  Kelly,  drug- 
gists. Tavern  keepers:  1.  Cyrus  W.  Marsh;  2.  E. 
Wheeler  and  Galloway;  3.  Mrs.  Sarah  Henderson  and 
hers  on-in-law.  Colonel  Abner  Root.  John  N.  Sloane, 
jeweler.  Darius  C.  Henderson,  John  G.  Grunlief  and 
Colonel  Thorp,  bakers.  Samuel  and  Leicester  Walker, 
and  Abner  Lyman,  carpenters  and  foiners.  Wm. 
Kell\-,  stone  mason.  S.  H.  Stearns,  Samuel  Penne- 
well,  tanners  and  curriers.  Galen  Atkins,  shoemaker. 
Milton  Jennings  and  Alexander  Clemons,  cabinet 
makers.  Abner  Root,  saddle  and  harness  maker. 
Sylvanus  A.  Cone,  butcher. 

The  first  physician  was  George  Anderson,  who  com- 
menced practice  in  1818.  He  was  from  the  State  of 
New  York,  having  been  a  pupil  of  Dr.  White,  of 
Cherry  Valley.  He  was  the  only  physician  in  the 
place  for  many  years.     He  died  of  the  cholera  in  183-1. 

Eleutheros  Cooke  was  the  first  lawyer  in  the  place. 
He  had  resided  in  Bloomingville  three  or  four  years, 
removed   to   Sanduskv    in    tlie  fall   of   18-21.     F.    D. 


Parish  followed  in  the  spring  of  1822.  The  next 
accession  occurred  about  1825-(j — Lucas  S.  Beecher 
and  John  F.  Campbell;  others  appeared  from  time 
to  time,  too  fast  to  admit  of  enumeration. 


Early  attention  was  given  to  this  subject  by  the 
pioneers.  The  first  school  was  opened  in  a  log  cabin, 
on  lot  one,  Wayne  street,  in  1818.  Miss  Sallie 
Stimpson  was  the  teacher.  It  was  sustained  by  those 
who  furnished  the  scholars.  In  1819  or  "20,  Messrs. 
Jennings  &  Darling  put  up  a  small  frame  school 
house  on  the  west  end  of  lot  number  seven,  Washing- 
ton Row,  on  the  south  end  of  which  now  stands  the 
Cooke  house.  The  lot  was  sold  in  1828,  and  the  pur- 
chaser made  terms  with  the  owners  of  the  school 
house,  and  converted  it  into  a  dwelling.  In  the  same 
year,  Isaac  Darling  built  a  similar  school  house  on 
ground  now  covered  by  the  Episcopal  Church.  This 
was  used  both  for  schools  and  religious  meetings  by 
all  denominations,  until  1836,  when  it  was  removed 
to  Mr.  Darling's  lot,  number  eleven,  on  Wayne  street, 
where  it  now  constitutes  a  part  of  the  southern  dwell- 
ing on  that  lot.  Schools  up  to  this  time,  and  even 
later,  were  select  schools,  sustained  by  such  as  sent 
scholars.  A  widow  lady,  by  the  name  of  Boyse, 
taught  select  schools  for  many  years  with  great  suc- 
cess. 

In  1838,  a  stone  building  was  commenced  by  an 
association  of  individuals,  designed  for  an  academy 
and  other  purposes,  as  the  owners  might  from  time 
to  time  determine.  The  builders  united  in  a  joint 
stock  company,  in  shares  of  twenty  dollars  each. 
Fifty-two  persons  subscribed  for  one  to  ten  shares 
each.  The  building  was  of  stone,  three  stories,  in 
height.  It  remained,  however,  mostly  in  an  unfin- 
ished state.  In  1834,  the  first  floor  at  the  east  end 
was  finished  into  one  room,  with  desks  and  raised 
seats,  and  used  by  the  Congregational  Church  for 
meetings;  and  it  was  used,  for  a  time,  by  ^liss  Niells, 
for  a  select  ladies'  school.  In  1838-9,  by  arrange- 
ment with  the  stockholders,  it  was  appropriated  for  a 
temporary  court  house  for  the  then  newly  organized 
county  of  Erie.  It  was  used  as  such  for  over  thirty 
years,  till  the  present  new  court  house  was  finished. 
It  is  now  used  by  the  city  schools.  Soon  after  the 
erection  of  this  academy  building,  the  schools  were 
organized  under  the  State  laws,  and  the  schools  of 
the  city,  from  primary  to  the  high  school,  compare 
favorably,  to  say  the  least,  with  those  of  other  cities 
in  the  State. 

I'L'BLIC     LIHRARY. 

As  early  as  1S2T,  a  library  association  was  organ- 
ized, and  a  small  number  of  books  collected.  F.  D. 
Parish  was  the  librarian  till  1840,  when  the  books 
then  remaining  were  transfered  to  the  Sandusky 
Lyceum  association.  Afterwards  the  library  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  young  men's  library  association, 
and,  bv   the  latter,  it  was   transferred  to   the  ladies' 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


433 


library  association.     This  is  now  tlie  only  public  library 
of  the  city,  save  those  connected  with  the  schools. 

RELIfilOrS  AXn    KEN-EVDLENT    IXSTITfTIOXS. 

The  present  First  Congregational  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1819,  by  the  name  of  "The  First  Christian 
Church  of  Sandusky."  It  has  been  claimed  that  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  formed  in  1818. 
There  is,  however,  no  evidence  of  its  formation  that 
year.  It  is  plainly  inferable,  from  tiie  fact  of  its 
being  recorded  as  -'The  First  Christian  Church  of 
Sandusky,"  that  the  Congregational  was  the  first 
organized  in  the  place;  that  no  other  Christian  church 
then  existed  in  the  place.  But  it  is  certain  that  a 
Methodist  Church  or  class  was  in  existence  at  an  early 
day  in  Sandusky.  The  few  members  of  each  of  these 
churches  worshiped  together  in  temporary  places, 
until  1830.  When  there  was  no  preaching,  the  Sab- 
bath exercises  were  mostly  conducted  by  Samuel 
Walker,  Congregationalist,  and  Wm.  Kelley,  Metho- 
dist. In  1830,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
erected  the  first  church  building  in  the  place.  It 
was  a  small,  one-story  frame  building,  and  stood  on 
ground  now  in  part  covered  by  a  still  smaller  building 
of  stone,  south  of  the  "Bently"  building,  now  owned 
by  the  Germans.  This  small  stone  edifice  was  put 
up  by  the  Wesleyans  in  181:9-50. 
:  §The  First  Congregational  Church  edifice  was  com- 
menced in  1835,  and  finished  in  1836.  It  was  of 
stone,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  with  single  tower,  and  occu- 
pied ground  now  covered  by  the  west  end  of  the 
present  enlarged  structure,  built  in  1856.  The  Epis- 
copal edifice  was  also  put  up  in  1836;  is  of  stone,  and 
has  been  since  much  enlarged.  The  present  towers 
were  added  in  1856-T.  The  church  was  organized 
in  1835. 

The  next  church  formed  consisted  of  the  late  John 
Beatty,  Esq.,  and  his  associates,  who  seceded  from 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  leaving  but  two 
male  members  (D.  H.  Tuttle  and  Daniel  Van  Fleet), 
and  a  few  females.  The  new  body  was  named  "The 
Methodist  Society,"  more  generally  known,  however, 
as  "Beatty's  Church."  The  edifice  is  now  owned  by 
a  German  church,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
West  block;  was  put  up  also  in  1836,  principally  by 
Squire  Beatty.  The  upper  part  of  it,  however,  was 
not  finished  off  till  1856,  which  was  done  by  the 
Baptists,  who  had  purchased  it.  After  a  few  years, 
most  of  the  seceders  returned  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  the  "Methodist  Soci'ety"  was 
changed  to  "Wesleyan  Methodist,"  and  occupied  the 
basement  of  the  Beatty  edifice,  till  it  was  sold  to  the 
Baptists,  in  1856.  It  then  built  the  small  stone 
edifice  before  refered  to. 

In  1852,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organ- 
ized, mostly  by  a  colony  from  the  Congregational 
church.  The  church  edifice  was  built  in  1854—5. 
In  1854:,  the  Baptist  Church  was  organized,  and  in 
1856,  it  purchased  the  Beatty  edifice,  and  finished  otf 
and  occupied  the  audience   room   for  several  years. 


The  edifice  was  finally  sold  to  a  Protestant  German 
Church.  The  Baptists  now  own  the  small  frame 
building  next  south  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  there  are  five  (perhaps 
more)  Protestant  German  churches  of  different  de- 
nominations, each  of  which  has  a  house  of  worship, 
mostly  of  stone. 

There  are  now  two  Roman  Catholic  churches  in  the 
city,  the  first  having  been  organized  in  1846.  In  1848 
its  stone  edifice  on  Tiffin  avenue  was  built,  and  en- 
larged in  1853.  It  consists  mainly  of  Irish  and  a  few 
others  who  choose  to  have  services  conducted  in  the 
American  language.  That  society  has  put  a  very  large 
and  costly  edifice  of  stone  on  the  corner  of  Columbus 
avenue  and  Jefferson  street,  with  a  parsonage  of  stone 
adjoining.  The  second  one,  consisting  of  Germans, 
was  organized  in  1855.  Their  first  stone  edifice,  on 
the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Jackson  streets,  was  built 
in  1856.  They  have  put  up  a  second  one,  now  just 
finished,  the  largest  and  most  expensive  church  struc- 
ture in  the  city.  It  stands  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  same  streets. 

TEMPERANCE    SOCIETIES. 

The  first  movement  in  this  reformation  was  made 
by  F.  D.  Parish.  The  meeting  was  held  on  the  even- 
ing of  January  1,  1881.  A  constitution  and  pledge 
of  abstinence  from  ardent  spirits  were  adopted  and 
signed  by  Isaac  Darling,  Rev.  William  Runnels,  Sam- 
uel Pennewell,  R.  J.  Jennings,  John  Beatty,  Isaac 
Booram,  Moors  Farwell,  F.  D.  Parish,  John  X.  Sloane, 
John  Davis  and  James  Forman.  First  officers:  F.  , 
D.  Parish,  president;  Farwell,  Sloane  and  Darling, 
vice  presidents;  Samuel  PennewijU.  secretary.  Other 
names  were  soon  added.  The  enterprise  has  met  with 
various  and  signal  success,  and  the  struggle  still  con- 
tinues. Otiier  societies  have  since  been  formed  ex- 
cluding all  liquors  that  produce  intoxication. 

SECRET    SOCIETIES. 

What  are  known  as  secret  societies  are  too  numerous 
in  the  city  to  admit  of  enumeration,  or  to  be  named. 
They  generally  claim  to  be  benevolent  societies,  but 
the  public  being  excluded,  that  character  is  not  gen- 
erally conceded  to  them.  A  Masonic  society  existed 
in  the  place  as  early  as  182-2.  The  original  members, 
as  remembered,  were  Hector  Kilbourne,  George  An- 
derson, William  Hull,  William  Kelly,  William  P. 
Smith,  and  Leicester  Walker.  After  the  occurrence 
of  the  Morgan  affair  in  the  State  of  New  York  in 
1826,  the  society  was  not  known  to  have  meetings  for 
twenty  years  or  more.  Others  have  greatly  multiplied 
since  that  time.  As  understood  by  the  writer,  these 
secret  clubs  have  no  valid  claim  to  the  character  of 
benevolent  organizations,  certainly  not  outside  their 
membership. 

There  has  been  organized  a  truly  benevolent  society 
called  the  "Calvary  Hospital."  or  some  similar  title. 
It  is  understood  to  have  originated  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Farr,  late  rector  of  Grace  church.     Yet  it  is  said  not 


434 


HISTORY  OF  HUHO^  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


to  be  of  sectarian  origin  or  cliaracter.  Otiier  benev- 
olent societies  exist  in  tlie  different  Christian  churches. 
In  183.3  the  late  Major  John  G.  Camp  and  0. 
Follett,  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  Thomas  Neill,  of 
Maryland,  by  purchase,  became  joint  proprietors  of 
one-eighth  undivided  interest  in  the  then  city  plat. 
This  for  a  time  had  a  favorable  influence  in  the 
ir.crease  of  population  and  in  stimulating  the  business 
of  the  city.  But  several  years  thereafter,  there  ap- 
peared'a  conflicting  claim  of  an  interest  in  the  whole 
"city  tract."  by  other  parties,  from  which  followed  a 
litigation  in  the  courts  of  the  State  for  several  years. 
This  in  some  degree  retarded  the  growth  of  the  place. 
The  controversy  was  finally  compromised  and  fully 
.settled,  and  the  titles  in  the  tract  became  unques- 
tionable. 

LOCAL  TRADE. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  from  the  beginning 
there  was  considerable  trade  in  stone  and  lime.  The 
fish  and  ice  trade  had  their  origin  with  the  settlement. 
All  and  each  of  these  branches  of  trade  have  kept 
pace  with  the  growth  of  the  city,  and  the  improve- 
ments of  the  country.  They  have  now  become  very 
heavy,  the  different  articles  being  exported  to  all  parts 
of  the  State  and  country.  There  are  several  firms  in 
each  branch  of  the  trade.  The  lumber  trade  has  also 
grown  into  large  proportions.  There  are  now  five  or 
six  different  yards,  where  all  descriptions  of  lumber, 
principally  pine,  to  any  amount  and  variety  wanted, 
can  be  obtained.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  is 
doing  an  extensive  transportation  trade  of  coal  and 
iron  ore.  from  the  upper  lakes  and  the  south,  to  and 
through  the  city. 

MAXTFACTURING. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city  have  not 
received  the  attention  their  importance  demands. 
There  are,  however,  in  active  opej-ation,  several 
establishments  in  which  are  made  almost  every  kind 
of  articles,  composed  mainly  of  wood. 

Messrs.  James  and  Chester  Woolworth  have  one  for 
the  making  of  handles  for  almost  every  article  of 
which  handles  necessarily  constitute  a  part. 

Messrs.  Woolsey  &  Son  (successors  to  Hubbard, 
Pierce  &  Woolsey)  make  principally  hubs  and  spokes 
for  carriages  and  wagons.  The  Sandusky  Wheel 
Company  also  produce  the  same  articles,  and  all  other 
parts  of  carriages  and  wagons. 

W.  F.  Converse,  and  others,  manufacture  various 
kinds  of  agricultural  imi)lements,  and  some  other 
articles,  with  a  foundry  connected. 

The  Sandusky  Tool  Company  make  carpenter  and 
joiner's  tools  of  all  descriptions,  and  have  recently 
added  other  articles,  such  as  agricultural  implements, 
including  a  patent  hoe  of  extra  excellence  and  value. 

The  export  trade  of  these  establishments  is  very 
extensive,  extending,  not  only  to  all  parts  of  our  own 
coui.try,  but  to  foreign  lands — to  Europe,  Asia,  Africa, 
Australia,  etc. 


Mr.  J.  C.  Butler  also  manufactures  window  frames, 
sash,  doors,  etc.,  and  does  a  large  and  thriving  busi- 
ness in  this  line.  He  has  a  planing  machine  in  con- 
nection. There  are  other  planing  machines  in  suc- 
cessful operation. 

George  Barney  (successor  to  Klots  &  Kromer)  has 
a  very  extensive  foundry  and  machine  manufactory, 
of  large  proportions,  and  is  doing  a  heavy  business  in 
his  line.  There  is,  also,  a  file  factory,  by  Mr.  Byer, 
of  some  importance. 

Some  years  since,  a  very  large,  substantial  frame 
building  was  built  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  city, 
near  the  railroad  depot,  adjoining  the  track  of  the 
Lake  Shore  railroad,  and  all  necessary  machinery  and 
other  fixtures  of  every  description  required  for  the 
manufacture  of  steel,  rails,  etc.,  known  as  the  Liliken 
Steel  Works.  All  the  work  is  of  the  most  substantial 
and  durable  character.  Liliken  steel  rails  were  made 
for  some  time,  but  in  18T3-4  the  works  were  sus- 
pended, and  are  still  idle.  The  works  were  put 
up  by  a  company  from  the  State  of  New  Y'ork. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  state,  that  the  city,  within 
a  few  years  past,  constructed  works  to  supply  the 
whole  city  with  water.  The  water  is  taken  from  the 
bay  into  a  stand  pipe,  by  a  powerful  engine,  located 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  at  a  cost  of  between 
three  hundred  thousand  and  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  They  are  regarded  as  the  best  works  of  the 
kind  in  the  State,  perhaps  in  the  country. 


There  have  been  five  banks  in  the  city;  three  still 
exist.  The  first  was  established  in  1834.  William 
Townsend  was  the  first  president,  Robert  Whitney 
the  first  cashier.  The  majority  of  the  stock  was 
owned  in  the  city  of  New  Y'ork  and  in  Albany,  New 
Y'ork.  Those  in  the  city  of  New  Y'ork  were  agents 
there  of  the  bank.  The  institution  did  a  large  and 
successful  business  for  some  years.  The  second  presi- 
dent was  Oran  Follett:  second  cashier.  W.  W.  Weth- 
erell.  Finally,  Mr.  Dan.  Higgius,  one  of  the  stock- 
holders and  directors,  secured  the  proxies  of  the  foreign 
stockholders,  and  officered  and  managed  the  bank  to 
please  himself.  At  the  same  time,  his  indebtedness 
to  the  bank  largely  exceeded  the  amount  of  his  stock. 
Some  of  the  stockholders  and  officers  of  the  bank, 
knowing  Mr.  Higgins  well,  and  his  connection  with 
the  bank,  expected  a  failure  under  his  management, 
and  sold  their  stock,  resigned  their  offices  and  retired 
from  all  connection  with  the  institution.  The  failure 
soon  followed. 

The  second  bank  was  known  as  the  City  Bank  of 
Sandusky.  S.  W.  Torry  was  the  first  president.  — 
Flint,  cashier.  Mr.  Torry  failed  and  retired.  The 
concern  finally  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  Mr.  Robinson, 
then  manager  of  the  Sandusky,  ilansfield  and  New- 
ark railroad,  and  the  late  John  G.  Camp,  Jr.  Under 
their  management  a  failure  soon  followed. 

Immediately  after  the  present  system  of  national 
banking  was  authorized.  Mr.  A.  H.  Moss  and  others 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


435 


started  the  First  National  bank  of  Sandusky;  and  L. 
S.  Hubbard  and  others  originated  the  Second  National 
bank.  A  few  years  since  Mr.  L.  Cable  and  his  asso- 
ciates established  the  Third  National  bank.  The 
most  of  the  stock  of  this  bank  is  owned  by  Germans. 
These  banks  are  still'in  successful  business,  and  are 
sound  beyond  all  reasonable  question.  L.  S.  Hub- 
bard deceased  a  few  years  since  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  brother,  R.  B.  Hubbard. 

COMMERCE  AXD  TKAVEL. 

From  tlie  first  settlement  of  Portland,  succeeded 
by  Sandusky  City,  an  active  commerce  opened  with 
other  lake  ports,  and  more  especially  with  Detroit. 
The  territory  of  Michigan  was  then  first  settling,  and 
so  large  and  rapid  was  the  immigration  into  that  re- 
gion that"  its  products  fell  far  short  of  the  home  de- 
maud.  That,  for  a  time,  was  the  principal,  if  not 
tlie  only,  market  for  the  surplus  products  of  Nortliera 
Ohio.  Small  crafts  soon  began  daily  trips  to  Detroit. 
The  two  first  schooners  engaged  in  this  service  were 
built  in  the  east:  one  at  Schenectady  ("The  Fire- 
fly"), and  the  other  at  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  ("The 
Sylph "),  both  of  thirty  or  forty  tons.  Each  was 
taken  up  the  Mohawk  to  Rome,  thence  through  a 
two  mile  canal  into  Wood  creek,  through  Oneida  lake 
and  down  Oswego  river  to  the  falls  (now  Fulton), 
from  which  they  were  transported  to  Lake  Ontario, 
up  that  lake  and  Niagara  river  to  the  falls,  drawn 
around  the  falls,  and  then  up  the  river  and  Lake  Erie 
to  Sandusky  bay.  In  ci.rly  times  merchandise  and 
goods  followed  the  same  route.  For  several  years  so 
constant  and  pressing  were  the  demands  for  provisions 
in  the  territory  that,  in  the  winter,  when  the  ice  was 
of  sufficient  strength,  sleighs  often  passed  up  the  lake 
and  river  to  Detroit  from  Sandusky.  One  heavy  mer- 
cantile firm  of  Detroit  (Levi  Cook  &  Brother)  estab- 
lished a  branch  at  Sandusky,  which  was  continued 
for  several  years. 

This  early  trade,  with  concurrent  causes,  directed 
the  travel  to  this  point  when  bound  to  the  interior  of 
this  State,  to  the  south  and  to  Washington  City.  The 
entrance  to  the  bay,  by  nature,  was  open  to  crafts  of 
all  sizes  on  the  lake.  This  travel  became  so  large, 
constant  and  increasing,  that  the  first  tavern  keeper, 
Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  put  on  a  line 
of  public  conveyances  from  Sandusky  through  Milan, 
Norwalk  and  Mansfield  to  Delaware,  .where  it  con- 
nected with  a  line  to  Columbus,  south,  east  and  west. 
Constant  Barney,  of  Monroeville,  was  for  a  time  as- 
sociated with  Mr.  Marsh.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
at  this  period  the  whole  country  was  new  and  the 
roads  much  in  a  state  of  nature.  There  was  little  or 
no  travel  by  wheels.  All  was  done  upon  horses.  The 
condition  of  the  country  and  the  state  of  the  roads 
are  plainly  indicated  in  the  advertisement  of  the  new 
stage  line,  the  only  one  from  Northern  Ohio  to  the 
south,  found  in  the  Sandusky  C'/arion,  volume  one, 
number  fifteen,  July  31,  1832.  This  first  stage  line 
carried  the  Unifed  States  mails  southward  once  a 


week,  and  is  described  as  follows:  "Leave  Pcn-tland 
[then  often  so  called]  each  Monday,  8  a.  m.,  arrive  in 
Mansfield  Tuesday,  4  p.  m.,  Delaware,  Thursday,  10 
a.  m.,  where  it  will  meet  the  stage  from  the  south 
which  will  convey  passengers  to  Columbus  the  same 
evening.  Returning:  Leave  Delaware  Thursday,  2  p. 
m.,  reach  Mansfield  Friday,  10  a.  m.,  and  Portland 
Sunday.  11  a.  m."  The  plucky  proprietors,  full  of 
liojie  of  growth  and  success,  continued:  "Being  an 
infant  establishment,  and  fostered  only  by  an  infant 
patronage,  the  subscribers  have  chosen  to  consult 
rather  the  strength  and  efficiency  of  their  carriages 
than  their  elegance  or  beanty.  As  the  country  grows 
older,  and  the  patronage  increases,  they  pledge  them- 
selves to  improve  both  in  the  expedition  of  traveling 
and  the  style  of  their  establishment."'  The  writer 
takes  pleasure  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  fair  fulfill- 
ment of  this  pledge  to  improvements.  The  sound  of 
the  tin  horn  at  "11  a.m.  Sunday"  is  still  ringing 
in  his  ears. 

The  travel  did  increase  considerably  from  year  to 
year,  but  not  very  largely  till  the  completion  of  the 
New  York  canal  in  1825-6.  The  travel,  as  well  as 
commerce,  did  very  materially  increase  from  that 
noted  event.  The  travel  through  to  Cincinnati  and 
south  then  became  so  wonderfully  stimulated  that  the 
proprietors  of  other  principal  hotels  in  Sandusky, 
Colonel  A.  Root  and  others  at  Urbana  and  along  the 
line,  about  1820-T.  put  on  a  line  of  stages  from  San- 
dusky, through  Lower  Sandusky  (now  Fremont), 
Tiffin,  Urbana  and  to  Springfield,  connecting  there 
with  the  line  from  Columbus  to  Cincinnati.  This 
was  through  a  still  more  newly  settled  region  and  un- 
improved roads.  It  was  nevertheless  kept  up  for 
several  years,  till  the  travel  and  business  were  diverted 
to  a  different  point  and  a  more  easy  mode  of  travel. 

MERCHANDISE,  ETC. 

The  transportation  of  merchandise  to  the  interior 
of  the  State  and  south  did  not  increase  very  largely 
till  the  opening  of  the  New  York  canal.  From  that 
date  the  increase  was  very  marked.  Sandusky  was 
then  the  only  point  on  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake 
at  which  merchandise  and  property  for  the  interior 
and  south,  was,  or  could  be  landed.  So  manifest 
was  this  sudden  influ.x  of  freight  for  Cincinnati,  and 
further  south,  that  two  business  men  of  that  city. 
Gill  &  Gregory,  came  to  Sandusky  at  once,  put  up  the 
large  stone  block  on  the  corner  of  Water  street  and 
Jackson  street  slip,  built  a  dock,  and  did  a  large  share 
of  the  forwarding  business.  The  condition  of  busi- 
ness in  Sandusky  in  1828  is  well  set  forth  by  a  corre- 
spondent in  the  city,  in  an  article  published  in  Kil- 
bourn's  Ohio  Gazetteer,  published  in  1820.  Having 
described  the  situation  of  the  town,  he  proceeds: 

"In  the  town  are  seven  common  mercantile  stores, 
a  drug  store,  a  printing  office,  besides  the  usual  me- 
chanics, good  i)ublic  houses,  etc.  Here  is  also  a  ship 
yard  where  sliip-building  is  carried  on  to  a  consider- 
alilc  extent.     Also,  an  extensive    rope  walk.     Here, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


also,  are  eight  or  nine  wharves,  alongside  of  which 
steamboats  and  other  vessels,  navigating  the  lake, 
load  and  unload,  as  this  is  the  great  point  of  landing 
and  eml)arkatiou  between  the  Mississipjoi  countrj  and 
the  State  of  New  York;  and  as  the  several  steamboats 
navigating  Lake  Erie  between  Buffalo  and  Detroit, 
regularly  stop  here  to  land  and  receive  passengers; 
and  also,  as  it  has  the  best  harbor  on  the  southern 
shore  of  Lake  Erie  between  Buffalo  and  Detroit,  it 
has  become  a  town  of  considerable  importance.  By  a 
statement  in  the  newspaper  printed  here,  it  appears 
there  were  four  hundred  and  thirty-nine  arrivals  of 
vessels  at  this  port  during  the  year  1838;  and  during 
the  same  period  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
twenty-three  large  wagons  averaging  a  ton  each,  were 
loaded  by  the  commission  merchants  here,  with  drv 
goods  and  groceries,  for  merchants  in  the  interior  of 
Ohio,  for  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Alabama,  Arkanas  and  Missouri." 

The  writer  fully  indorses  the  substantial  accuracy 
of  this  statement  in  tlie  Gazetteer,  and  adds  several 
particulars. 

1.  During  all  this  time,  Sandusky  Bay  and  the 
entrance  into  it  were  wholly  in  their  natural  condi- 
tion. Not  a  dollay  had  been  expended  for  their  im- 
provement; while  the  mouths  of  the  rivers,  for  most 
part  of  the  time  in  the  business  season,  were  closed 
up  by  sand  bars,  which,  at  times,  were  so  high  and 
compact  that  loaded  wagons  often  passed  across  them. 

2.  The  writer  remembers  to  have  frequently  seen 
boxes  of  goods,  marked  for  different  places  in  the 
interior,  and  southern  portions  of  this  State,  and  the 
several  States  mentioned  by  the  correspondent  of  the 
Gazetteer. 

3.  Scores  of  large,  wide-tyre  wagons,  with  four  to 
six  horse  teams  to  each,  arranged  for  the  night  on  the 
public  parks  and  vacant  lots  around  the  parks. 

4.  The  ship  yard  referred  to  was  first  established  by 
Capt.  William  Jones,  from  Black  River,  with  his 
sons.  He  built  several  large  schooners  and  steam- 
boats. He  continued  the  business  until  the  Ohio 
canal  was  so  far  completed,  and  the  mouth  of  the 
Cu}-ahoga  river,  so  much  improved  that  Cleveland 
became  the  point  of  landing  goods,  designed  for  the 
interior  and  the  south,  when  Captain  Jones  left 
Sandusky,  and  carried  on  the  same  business  in  Cleve- 
land. Ship  building  has  nevertheless  been  carried  on 
at  Sandusky,  more  or  less,  by  Captain  Dibble,  Stewart 
Bell,  Captain  Monk  and  others.  The  travel  to  and 
through  Sandusky  ha^  been  largely  increased  by  the 
attractions  in  the  islands  in  Lake  Erie,  and  the  pen- 
insula on  main  land,  as  places  of  summer  resort  for 
health,  and  for  holding  religious  meetings  and  con- 
ventions of  various  kinds.  These  health  and  pleas- 
ure seekers  began,  many  years  ago,  to  visit  the  is- 
lands. Mr.  Kelley  first  built  a  house  of  entertain- 
ment to  meet  this  demand.  But  the  tide  set  so 
rapidly  to  Put-in-Bay  Island,  that  the  enterprising 
hotel  keeper,  Mr.  West,  soon  constructed  a  large 
commodious  public  house  on  that  island.     To  him. 


doubtless,  belongs  the  credit,  more  than  to  any  other 
one  man  of  attracting  large  companies  of  visitors. 
He  took  the  lead,  and  others  followed.  Mr.  West 
now  keeps  the  Junction  hotel  at  the  Shelby  Junction, 
the  Pnt-in-Bay  house  having  been  burned  down,  and 
not  yet  re-built,  though  the  Beebe  house  is  still  in 
blast,  and  accommodations  are  extensive.  The  de- 
ligjitfully  fitted  up,  of  what  is  called  "Lake  Side," 
on  the  peninsula,  also  attracts  large  parties  for  pleas- 
ure and  health,  but  this  is  used  mostly  for  holding 
religious  and  Sabbath  school  assemblages. 

(tHOWTH  and  POPrLATIOX. 

The  growth  of  the  place,  in  wealth  and  population, 
has  not  been  rapid,  but  generally  quite  slow,  yet  con- 
stant. This  is  really  unaccountable,  in  view  of  its 
many  superior  natural  advantages;  but  the'  cause  is 
easily  explained.  It  is  attributable  mainly  to  a  single 
and  notable  occurrence,  which  constitutes  a  very  im- 
portant part  of  the  historical  record  of  the  city. 

Sandusky  City,  as  already  stated,  is  located  on  the 
south  shore  of  Sandusky  bay,  on  ground  gradually 
rising  from  the  shore  to  the  distance  of  sixty  to  sev- 
enty rods,  to  the  central  parks,  where  the  ground  is 
level  for  some  distance,  and  then  very  slightly  descends 
to  the  south  and  east,  without  a  single  obstruction  to 
the  opening  of  streets,  or  the  erection  of  buildings, 
to  any  desirable  distance,  even  beyond  the  enlarged 
bounds  of  the  city.  The  bay  is  eighteen  miles  in 
length,  furnishing  ample  room  for  the  safe  and  con- 
venient anchorage  of  all  the  water  craft  that  could 
ever  be  required  for  commercial  and  naval  purposes,  at 
the  same  time,  without  being  crowded;  with  easy  en- 
trance and  egress  from  and  to  the  lake,  and  also  afford- 
ing space  for  cheap  and  convenient  wharfage  for  a 
distance  of  three  to  four  miles,  and  even  further,  if 
needed.  There  was  no  other  natural  harbor  within 
the  State,  on  the  shore  of  the  lake.  It  had  no  possi- 
ble natural  rival. 

Had  all  these  natural  advantages,  and  facilities  for 
all  branches  of  business  remained-  as  nature  left  them, 
Sandusky,  beyond  all  question,  would  have  been  at 
this  day,  equal  at  least  in  population  and  business  to 
those  of  Cleveland  and  Toledo  united.  What,  then, 
occurred  to  interrupt  and  frustrate  this  naturally  in- 
evitable event  ?  To  the  general  public  of  the  present 
generation  the  question  is  unanswerable.  Let  us,  then, 
make  inquiry.. 

As  early  as  1820,  the  subject  began  to  be  agitated 
of  connecting  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio 
river  by  a  canal.  As  a  result,  the  mind  of  the  people 
generally  became  fixed  upon  a  single  route,  the  central 
one,  as  manifestly  presenting  the  shortest,  the  most 
direct,  and  the  least  expensive.  That  was,  therefore, 
the  only  one  thought  of,  by  all  intelligent  citizens,  in 
all  parts  of  the  State. 

At  length  a  law  was  passed  authorizing  a  survey 
for  this  purpose,  and  commissioners  were  appointed 
to  procure  a  survey  and  estimate,  and  report.  Alfred 
Kelly,  of  Cleveland.  Micajah  T.  Wniiams.  of  Cincin- 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


iiati,  (both  members  of  the  State  Senate)  and 

Buckingham,  of  Putnam,  opposite  Zanesville,  were 
appointed  commissioners.  They  first  employed  the 
services  of  James  Cleddes,  a  distinguished  engineer, 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  make  the  proposed  sur- 
vey, estimate,  etc.  By  direction,  he  made  surveys 
and  estimates  of  three  routes.  First,  what  was  known 
as  the  central,  from  the  mouth  of  Scioto  river,  up  the 
valley  of  that  river  to  the  summit,  and  down  the  San- 
dusky river  to  the  lake.  Second,  the  route  which  the 
Ohio  canal  was  finally  located.  Third,  that  known 
as  the  Miami  route,  from  Cincinnati  to  the  Miami  of  the 
lakes,  or  Maumee.  The  report  of  this  engineer  was  de- 
cidely  in  favor  of  the  central  route,  as  the  most  di- 
rect, the  shortest,  and  the  least  expensive;  the  sum- 
mit of  which  was  also  several  hundred  feet  lower  than 
those  of  the  others.  This  report  was  not  satisfactory 
to  the  commissioners,  especially  to  Kelly  and  Wil- 
liams. It  was  well  understood  by  these  public  officers, 
that  as  nature  had  arranged  it,  the  northern  termina- 
tion of  the  route  of  the  carrying  trade  between  the 
lake  and  the  river,  was  as  sure  of  being  at  Sandusky, 
as  the  daily  rising  of  the  sun.  The  termination  of 
the  canal  there,  would  be  only  following  the  lead  of 
providence,  and  add  to  the  already  decided  advan- 
tages then  existing.  Therefore,  something  most  de- 
cisively efficient  must  be  done  to  change  the  order  of 
nature,  by  fixing  the  northern  termination  of  the 
main  canal  at  the  mouth  of  Cuyahoga  river,  and  there 
construct  artificial  works  in  place  of  a  harbor.  The 
first  step  towards  the  accomplishing  of  that  object, 
must  necessarily  be  the  discharge  of  Judge  Geddes, 
who,  doubtless,  was  unwilling  to  ruin  his  character 
as  a  civil  engineer  by  a  compliance  with  the  wishes  of 
the  commissioners.  Geddes  was,  therefore,  dismissed, 
and  another  engineer  from  New  York  State,  Judge 
Bates,  was  engaged  to  aid  in  their  scheme  of  fraud. 
The  report  of  the  commissioners  the  next  year,  recom- 
mended the  construction  of  two  canals  instead  of  one. 
One  to  commence  at  Portsmouth,  thence  up  the 
Scioto  valley  to  a  point  eleven  miles  below  Columbus, 
thence  a  diagonal  route  leading  over  two  summits, 
instead  of  one,  and  terminating  at  tlie  mouth  of  Cuy- 
ahoga river;  and  the  other,  the  Miami  route,  termi- 
nating at  Cincinnati,  and  the  Miami  of  the  lakes.  At 
the  same  time,  they  recommended  the  improvement  of 
the  Muskingum  river,  by  slack  water  navigation 
from  its  enti'ance  into  the  Ohio,  up  to  Zanesville. 
All  this  was  by  agreement  of  the  commissioners,  by 
which  the  residence  of  each  officer  would  be  especially 
benefitted.  To  accomplish  their  purpose,  it  will  be 
noticed,  it  was  made  tiie  interest  of  the  representa- 
tives of  the  counties  through  or  near  which  one  or 
the  other  of  the  canals  was  to  pass,  and  the  votes 
of  the  old  counties  on  the  Muskingum  river,  were 
secured  by  the  work  on  that  river.  To  make  sure, 
also,  of  the  vote  of  Franklin  county,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  the  capital,  a  feeder  was  to  be  opened  from 
the  point  of  divergence  from  the  Scioto  valley,  up -to 
Columbus,  eleven  miles. 


REASONS  GIVEX. 

As  already  stated,  there  was  a  sufficient  number  of 
votes  in  the  legislature,  by  fixing  motives  of  interest  in 
them,  yet  it  was  deemed  necessary  and  expedient,  to 
place  on  record  some  reasons  for  this  unexpected  and 
extraordinary  change  and  measure.  Several  reasons 
were  set  forth  in  their  reports:  1.  The  first  and  prin- 
cipal pretext  for  the  abandonment  of  the  most  direct, 
the  shortest  and  least  expensive  route  was,  "insuffi- 
ciency of  water  on  the  summit  of  that  route,"  This 
was  obviously  a  mere  pretext.  Water  was  as  abun- 
dant on  that  route  as  on  either  of  the  lines  adopted. 
Reservoirs  were  indispensable  on  all  the  routes,  and 
on  the  Cleveland  route  two  were  necessary;  and  the 
reservoirs  on  both  the  lines  chosen  were  to  cost  double 
of  that  on  the  central  route. 

2.  To  fortify  their  claim  of  want  of  sufficient 
water  on  the  Sandusky  route,  they  were  very  particu- 
lar to  enumerate  all  the  sources  of  waste  of  water 
from  the  reservoir,  such  as  "leakage,  soakage,  absorp- 
tion and  evaporation."  These  causes  of  waste,  un- 
doubtedly, exist  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  in  all 
artificial  bodies  of  water,  but  the  commissioners 
did  not  feel  bound  to  mention  the  fact  that  the 
reservoir  on  the  central  route  would  be  wholly 
exempt  from  waste  of  water  from  all  the  causes 
mentioned,  save  the  single  one  of  "evaporation." 
The  subsoil  of  the  gravel  to  be  covered  by  the 
reservoir,  would  be  an  "impervious  blue  clay;" 
but  this  important  fact  was  carefully  concealed  by  the 
crafty  commissioners.  They  also  failed  to  report  that 
the  reservoir  on  this  route  would  necessarily  be  upon 
prairie  lands,  no  timber  to  rot  and  decay,  to  produce 
diseases  in  the  neighborhood,  as  on  the  other  routes. 

3.  Another  reason  assigned  for  the  opening  of  two 
canals  through  the  State,  in  place  of  one  was,  that  a 
much  larger  number  of  farmers  would  be  benefitted, 
a  canal  being  thereby  brought  "to  every  man's  door." 

4.  It  was  reported  that  an  ample  harbor  could  be 
constructed  at  the  mouth  of  Cuyahoga  river,  at  a 
moderate  outlay  of,  say  sixty  thousand  dollars.  This 
amount  is  given  by  memory;  it  may  fall  a  little  short 
or  be  a  little  in  excess. 

But,  as  before  stated,  tiie  members  of  the  assembly 
were  not  influenced  by  any  of  these  fictitious  rea.sons. 
The  scheme  had  been  carefully  and  shrewdly  arranged 
to  fix  and  make  sure  votes  enough  to  carry  out  the 
plan.  The  votes  were  given  to  promote  their  own 
interests,  and  those  of  their  cons.tituents.  The  large 
minority  of  the  peojile  were  to  be  made  to  pay  for 
their  own  loss,  and  build  up  the  waste  places  of  the 
State.  No  argument  was  needed  on  the  floor  of  either 
house.  Tiie  requisite  votes  were  pledged  outside. 
The  character  of  the  transaction  was  fully  discussed, 
and  pointed  out,  at  the  time,  in  the  Sanrhiskii  Chtrion, 
by  the  editor  and  correspondents.  Tiie  writer  remem- 
bers that,  in  one  of  his  own  communications  on  the 
subject,  Tt  was  urged  that  the  scenes  enacted  on  the 
passage  of  the  bill  were  only  the  exhibition  of  what. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


had  beeu  in  i-eheai'sal  for  weeks  or  months  before  the 
exhibition,  which  was  emphatically  true. 

Thus  the  State  was  involved  in  a  debt  of  millions 
and  millions  of  dollars,  in  amount  three  or  four  times 
larger  than  what  the  single  central  route  would  have 
cost;  and  this  enormous  debt,  after  the  lapse  of  over  a 
half  century,  is  sfiU  unpaid,  to  the  amount  of  six  mil- 
lions. And,  at  this  time,  the  State  is  in  utter  per- 
plexity what  to  do  with  its  two  long  canals,  neither  of 
which  has  ever  paid  the  interest  on  its  cost.  The 
wisest  of  our  public  men  are  unable  to  determine  what 
can  be  done  with  them,  some  advising  to  wholly  aban- 
don them  as  entirely  worthless,  and  waste  no  more 
money  upon  them.  Instead  of  the  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars, the  State  has  expended  from  ten  to  twenty  times 
that  amount,  and  the  general  government  has  con- 
tributed thousands  to  the  same  object;  and  yet  it  is 
not  in  a  condition  to  answer  the  demands  of  the  busi- 
ness unnaturally  brought  there;  and  the  narrow  river, 
all  around  the  '•  Ox  Bow,"  wholly  inadequate  to  meet 
the  want*  of  commerce,  every  ci-aft  that  enters  must 
either  back  out,  or  warp  around  with  line  or  other- 
wise. To  remedy  the  still  existing  insufficiencies,  the 
general  government  is,  from  time  to  time,  making 
large  appropriations  to  make  additional  improvements 
and  to  aid  in  constructing  an  artificial  harbor  in  the 
open  lake;  and,  even  with  that  addition,  the  whole 
works  will  not  be  equal  to  the  natural  advantages  and 
facilities  existing  at  Sandusky. 

Now,  it  is  evident  to  all,  that,  had  the  central 
route  alone  been  opened,  terminating  in  Sandusky 
bay,  Sandusky  City,  at  this  moment,  would  have  been 
much  larger  in  population  and  in  all  kinds  of  busi- 
ness than  Cleveland  now  is,  and  probably  larger  than 
Cleveland  and  Toledo  united;  and  the  State  and  na- 
tional government  would  have  been  exempt  from  the 
heavy  contributions  to  create  artificial  facilities  for 
making  a  city,  contrary  to  the  ordinance  of  nature, 
and  to  provide  unnatural  commercial  privileges  for  it. 
At  Sandusky  there  would  have  been  no  call  for  State  or 
national  aid  to  any  considerable  amount,  and  no  neces- 
sity for  burdening  the  citizens  with  large  contributions, 
or  with  heavy  taxes,  to  grade  high  bluffs  to  get  to  and 
from  the  place  of  commercial  business  and  travel, 
to  fill  up  valleys,  ravines  or  swails  to  make  suitable 
ground  for  streets  and  buildings,  or  to  extend  the 
bounds  of  the  city,  or  yet,  for  the  construction  of  via- 
ducts, the  enormous  figures  of  two  and  a  half  millions 
of  dollars,  nor,  indeed,  for  any  other  improvements 
by  way  of  sujiplying  the  deficiencies  of  nature. 


Avery  large  jnirt  of  the  tiirough  travel  and  carry- 
ing trade  having  been  tiiu.<  diverted  from  Sandusky 
by  opening  the  Ohio  canal,  tiic  citizens  and  the  in- 
habitants of  the   westerly  ]);n-ts  of  tiie  State   turned 


their  attention  to  railroads.  Charters  were  secured 
for  two,  one  for  a  line  from  Sandusky  to  Dayton, 
first  called  the  Mad  River  and  Lake  Erie,  (now  the 
Cincinnati,  Sandusky  and  Cleveland),  and  the  other 
from  Sandusky  to  Newark,  known  as  the  Sandusky, 
Mansfield  and  Newark  (now  the  northern  division  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio).  Both  of  these  terminate 
at  Sandusky.  The  northern  division  of  the  Lake 
Shore  Road  passes  through  the  city.  The  road  to 
Newark  was  first  built  only  to  Monroeville,  and  was 
constructed  by  bedding  large  logs  in  the  ground, 
hewed  flat  on  the  top,  and  scantling  spiked  to  the 
logs.  Light  coaches  were  moved  by  horse  power — 
two  horses  in  single  file.  A  few  }-ears  sufficed  to  fin- 
ish up  this  device. 

The  Mad  River  line  was  commenced  in  1835. 
Abut  1839  it  was  finished  to  Bellerue,  and  a  stage  line 
jrat  on  from  that  point  to  Columbus,  which  was  trans- 
ferred to  Republic  tind  Tiffin  respectively  as  the  road 
progressed.  As  the  line  was  extended,  it  drew  an  in- 
creased amount  of  travel  and  freight  business.  When 
completed  to  Dayton,  much  the  largest  part  of  the 
business  to  the  south  was  reclaimed  from  the  Cleve- 
land line.  The  opening  of  the  line  toward  and  to 
Newark  had  a  similar  effect.  This  re-division  was  so 
manifest  and  complete,  that  the  Cleveland  Herald 
earnestly  called  the  attention  of  the  business  men  of 
that  city  to  the  fact,  and  admonished  them  that  with- 
out a  railroad  from  their  city  to  the  south,  the  travel 
and  carrying  trade  would  inevitably  be  done  through 
Sandusky.  This  produced  the  desired  effect.  A 
railroad  was  made  in  quick  time  to  Columbus,  con- 
necting there  with  the  Little  Miami  road  to  Cincin- 
nati. Instead,  howevei',  of  locating  it  on  the  most 
direct  course  to  Columbus,  it  was  shrewdly  given  a 
j  southwesterly  course  to  Crestline  and  Gallon,  with 
the  purpose  of  cutting  off  business  from  Sandusky 
and  carrying  it  to  their  city.  The  intended  end  was, 
in  fact,  secured  by  the  plan,  and  Cleveland  was  saved 
from  a  c^uick  and  ruinous  decline,  and  again  cheeked 
the  prospects  of  the  more  rapid  growth  of  her  only 
rival  city.  All  this  time,  the  rapid  increase  of  the 
prospects  of  the  growth  of  Cleveland  had  attracted 
the  attention  of  capitalists,  and  rescued  that  city  from 
threatened  disaster,  and  it  has  grown  to  its  present 
dimensions  and  splendor. 

The  present  inhabitants  of  Cleveland  are  not  ac- 
countable for  the  monstrous  fraud  committed,  or  the 
wrong  done  to  Sandusky,  to  the  whole  of  the  central 
north  of  the  State,  and,  indeed,  to  the  whole  State, 
but  they  are  enjoying  their  present  prosperity  as  a 
direct  result  of  the  original  stupendous  fraud  of  Kelly 
and  Williams,  and  have  hitherto,  and  are  still,  de- 
pendent upon  the  State  and  Nation  for  aid  in  build- 
ing up  their  city,  in  spite  of  the  vastly  superior 
advantages  in  every  respect  of  a  neighboring  city. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH, 


F.   D.  PARISH. 

F.  D.  Parish  (Francis  Drake)  was  born  in  Naples 
(theu  Middletown),  Ontario  county,  New  York,  De- 
cember'-iO,  1796;  second  son  of  Elishaand  Lois  Wilder 
Parish. 

During  his  early  infancy  his  parents  removed  to  a 
new  farm  in  the  central  part  of  South  Bristol,  the 
town  next  north  of  Naples,  in  the  same  county. 
Upon  this  farm  he  grew  to  manhood,  assisting  in  its 
improvement  and  cultivation. 

In  the  spring  of  1820,  he  emigrated  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  entered  the  law  office  of  a  near  relative,  in 
which  he  read  law  for  two  years'.  In  May,  1822,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  the  same  month  he 
settled  and  opened  a  law  office  in  Sandusky  City,  then 
in  Huron,  but  now  in  Erie  county.  That  city  was 
his  post  office  address  for  over  a  half  century:   during 


the  greater  portion  of  that  time  he  was  engaged  in  tlie 
practice  of  his  profession.  In  1852,  however,  he  re- 
tired from  the  practice,  mostly  on  account  of  a  grow- 
ing disease  in  the  throat,  though  it  did  not  prove  to  be 
as  serious  as  was  at  first  apprehended.  After  that 
date  he  passed  most  of  his  time  upon  a  farm  near  the 
city,  and  upon  which  he  resided  from  1866  to  1875. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year,  having  rented  his  farm,  he 
removed  to  Oberlin.  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
still  resides. 

Though  the  throat  complaint  mentioned  is  not  en- 
tirely healed,  it  was  greatly  relieved  and  benefitted  by 
his  exercise  in  the  open  air;  and  doubtless  he  has  pro- 
longed his  life  for  many  years  by  leaving  the  profes- 
sion, and  by  his  outdoor  exercise.  His  health  is  other- 
wise good,  and  the  vitality  and  vigor  of  body  and  mind 
are  continued  to  him. 


VERMILLION. 


This  towusliip  was  named  after  the  principal  river 
emptying  into  the  lake  through  its  territory,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake  Erie;  south  by  Flor- 
ence and  Berlin  townships;  east  by  Brownhelm  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  and  west  by  the  township  of 
Berlin.  The  surface  of  the  township  is  level  in  the 
northern  portion,  while  in  the  south  part  it  is  broken 
with  alternate  sandy  ridges  and  low  lauds.  The  soil 
is  variable,  and  embraces  sandy  loam,  gravel  and  clay 
marl.  Numerous  stone  quarries  abound  in  the  town- 
ship, which  produce  an  excellent  quality  of  stone. 
Iron  ore  has  also  been  found  in  paying  quantities. 

STREA3IS. 

These  are  the  Vermillion,  La  Chapelle,  and  Sugar 
creek.  The  first  and  largest  of  these  rises  in  Ash- 
land county;  runs  north  through  the  eastern  part  of 
Huron  and  western  part  of  Lorain  counties,  emptying 
into  Lake  Erie  near  the  east  line  of  Vermillion  town- 
ship. It  was  named  by  the  Indians,  in  consequence 
of  a  paint  which  they  found  along  its  banks.  Sugar 
creek  was  so  named  from  the  fact  that  a  mound  stood 
at  its  mouth  which  resembled  a  sugar  loaf,  and  also 
that  the  Indians  made  sugar  from  the  extensive  sugar 
orchards  along  the  stream.  La  Chapelle  rises  in 
Huron  county,  and  passes  through  the  townships  of 
Wakeman,  Florence,  and  Vei-million. 

ORIGINAL  OWNERS. 

For  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  township: 

VERMILLION,  TOWN  NUMBER  SIX,  IN  RANGE  TWENTY. 


Orkjlaal  Gi 

Simon  Wolcott 
Giles  Mumford 

Bridget  Harris  » 

George  Newcomb  23 

Elizabeth  Plumb  It 
Guy  Richards  i  Sons  81 

Amos  Lester  1 

Edgecomb  Lee  4 

James  Young  !■ 

Lydia  Avery  15 

Widow  Nelson  S 


Classification 
'xntees.        Am^t  Loss. 
£       s.        d. 
1083       9       1 


0.  1,  Section  1, 
Classified  by. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  I,  Sl.Ui 

Classification  No.  2,  Section  2. 

Ani't  Loss.        Classified  by.  Ar 

£       s.        d.  £ 

33H       4       7       Guy  Richards  336 


Lodowick  Champlin    1 1 


John  Crocker 
Nathaniel  Harris 
John  Harris  id 
Walter  Harris 
Grace  Harris 
Dlodate  Little 
Richard  Lattimer 
Lewis  Minor 
Christopher  Prince 


Footing  of  Classiflcaiii 


Class 

FICA 

rioN 

Vo.  3,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees. 

An 

't  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Am 

(  Classed 

£ 

s 

d 

£ 

g 

d. 

Widow  Nelson 

63 

10 

0 

Guy  Richards 

39 

i 

0 

Roger  Gibson 
William  Coit 

884 

18 

358 

0 

9 

44 

17 

10 

36 

18 

8 

Joseph  Harris,  Jr. 
Stephen  Colver 

•■) 

15 

0 

5 

15 

0 

3 

0 

3 

16 

0 

John  Gordon 

16 

8 

11 

Jonathan  Colfax 

13 

11 

3 

is 

11 

3 

Robert  Manwaring 

3! 

R.  Manwaring-s 

h'rs  21 

Samuel  Belden 

1771 

15 

6 

Fred  Stanley 

322 

12 

8 

Amos  Rogers 

31 

1 

8 

31 

8 

Henrv  Deshon 

900 

3 

John  Prentice 

288 

13 

Henry  Deshon 

Daniel  Hershaw 

288 

13 

8 

Walter  Welch 

19 

Guy  Richards  ' 

19 

11 

Eliza  Seabury 

177 

11 

0 

Eliza  Seabury 

"io 

5 

3 

Footing 

of  Classification  No.  3, 

£1^^" 

~-r 

""o" 

Classification 

No.  4,  Section  4 

Original  Grantees. 

Am-i  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

All 

7  classed. 

£ 

s. 

£ 

s 

d. 

Christopher  Prince 

512 

4 

Guy  Richards 

199 

8 

■IH 

Joseph  Plumbe 

•24 

16 

34 

16 

0 

Green  Plumbe 

43 

19 

43 

19 

3 

Stephen  Rougette 

37 

8 

37 

6 

1 

?vTuir"sk^n°!eT 

9 

19 

9 

19 

5 

15 

15 

0 

11 

Adam  Shapeley 
Robert  Smith 

20 

20 

17 

10 

24 

34 

18 

0 

Daniel  Tinker 

23 

17 

.. 

22 

17 

6 

John  Ward 

17 

17 

5 

Lucretia  Wolf 

16 

16 

0 

Speary  Douglass 

350 

0 

.350 

0 

8 

15 

8 

15 

Simon  Wolcott 

1083        9        1     '       " 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  4 

532 

17 

"H 

£l,:i44g 

"^ 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  following  is  principally  from  the  sketches  p  ub 
lished  in  the  Pioneer  by  William  H.  Crane  and  Hon. 
Benjamin  Summers:  "  William  Haddy  came  in  1808; 
William  Austin,  George  and  John  Sherarts,  Enoch 
Smith,  and  Horatio  Perry  in  1809;  Almon  Ruggles, 
Solomon  Parsons,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Barlow  Sturges, 
Deacon  John  Beardsley.  and  James  Cuddeback  in 
1810.  Peter  Cuddeback  and  others  in  1811.  They 
came  with  teams  principally.'" 

Captain  William  Austin  located  about  half  a  mile 
west  of  the  mouth  of  Vermillion  river.  'T  is  said 
that  he  often  held  Commodore  0.  H.  Perry  on  his 
knee  when  a  baby.  Captain  A.  was  a  mrii  of  energy, 
and  built  one  of  the  first  boats  launched  from  these 
shores,  and  sailed  her  before  and  during  the  war  of 
1812.  He  died  many  years  since.  The  children  were: 
Joliu,  (leorge,  William,  Jedediah,  Sally,  Betsey, 
Nancy,  and  Pollv. 

George  Sherrats  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and  located 
some  half  a  mile  west  of  Captain  Austin's.  He  was 
esteemed  as  industrious,  honest  and  pious,  and  an  ex- 
cellent citizen.  The  children  were:  Christina,  Betsey, 
Catharine,  George,  Jr.,  Polly,  Rebecca,  Jacob,  John, 
Hannah,  Rachel,  Barbara  and  Sophia. 

John  Sherarts  and  wife,  Elizabeth,  located  on  the 
lake  sTiore,  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  river,  where 
they  remained  until  1818,  when  they  removed  from 
the    township.     The  children    were:    Mary,    Betsey, 

(440)  " 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


441 


Cathariue,  David,  Caroline,  John,  Jane  and  An- 
geline. 

Enoch  Smith  settled  on  the  ridge  where  Henry 
Todd  now  lives  (lot  three,  section  two).  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Florence  township.  The  cliildren 
were:  William,  Rebecca,  Laura,  Lyman,  Amanda, 
Henry  and  John. 

Horatio  Perry  came  from  Cleveland  and  settled  on 
the  farm  next  west  of  Captain  Austin's.  He  married 
Miss  Prentiss,  who  died  young,  leaving  a  daughter, 
Sophia.  When  thirty  years  of  age,  he  became  so 
broken  down  with  hard  work  that  he  was  compelled 
to  ceiise  farm  labor.  He  married  Miss  Smith  and  re- 
moved to  Elyria,  Lorain  county. 

Hon.  Almon  Ruggles,  who  was  the  surveyor  of  the 
Fire-lands,  settled  on  the  lake  shore,  midway  between 
Vermillion  and  Huron  rivers.  In  1808,  he  married 
Miss  Annis  Dibble,  of  Brookfield,  Connecticut,  by 
whom  one  child  (Rebecca)  was  born  previous  to  lo- 
cating in  Ohio.  Judge  Ruggles  for  many  years  acted 
as  land  agent  for  the  proprietors  of  the  Fire-lauds. 
After  the  organization  of  Huron  county,  he  was  its 
first  recorder.  This  was  in  1809.  He  was  appointed 
associate  judge  of  Huron  county  in  1815,  State  sena- 
tor in  1816,  and  re-elected  in  1818.  In  1824  he  was 
elected  representative.  Judge  Ruggles  was  not  famous 
as  an  orator,  but  possessed  good,  practical  abilities, 
and  in  all  positions  of  honor,  trust  or  profit  filled  by 
him,  he  gave  general  satisfaction.  He  built  a  mill 
for  the  proprietors  in  1809.  This  was  near  the  south 
line  of  Florence  township,  on  the  Vermillion  river, 
and  was  soon  carried  away  by  high  water.  In  1811- 
13,  he  built  a  mill  near  the  northeast  corner  of  Flor- 
ence township,  on  La  Chapelle  creek,  which  was  a 
great  benefit  to  the  settlers  for  many  miles  around. 
His  wife  died  in  1815,  leaving  two  children,  Rebecca 
and  Betsey,  and  he  married  Mrs.  Riioda  Buck,  by 
whom  two  children  were  born,  Charles  and  Richard. 
Judge  Ruggles  died  July  17, 1840,  aged  seventy  years. 
His  second  wife  died  in  1851. 

Solomon  Parsons  came  with  wife  and  children  from 
Delaware  county,  New  York.  He  was  advanced  in 
life,  and  Mrs.  Parsons  died  early  in  1812.  The  chil- 
dren were:  Levi,  Burton,  Ira,  Sarah  and  Pheba,  who 
resided  in  Vermillion  for  many  years,  the  sons  hold- 
ing many  offices  of  responsibility  both  in  the  town- 
ship and  county. 

Benjamin  Brooks,  with  a  family,  consisting  of  a 
wife  and  three  children,  settled  on  the  farm  next 
east  of  George  Sherarts',  afterwards  occupied  by  a 
son.  Mr.  Brooks  was  a  captive  amongst  the  Indians 
for  many  years  in  his  younger  days,  and  well  ac- 
quainted with  their  manners,  customs  and  traditions. 
He  died  a  few  years  subsequent  to  locating  in  Ver- 
million, leaving  three  children:  Jonathan,  Joseph 
and  Betsey. 

Captain  Barlow  Sturges  and  wife,  Eunice,  with  a 
son,  Frederick,  and  his  wife,  Charlotte,  settled  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Vermillion  river,  where  they  opened  a 
hotel  and  established  a  ferry.     Captain  Sturges  died 

56 


a  few  years  subsequent  to  settlement,  and  the  son  in 
1818.  They  were  seafaring  men,  of  good  abilities 
and  generous  impulses. 

Deacon  John  Beardsley  settled  on  lot  number  twelve, 
in  the  second  section.  He  was  a  good  and  useful  man, 
and  fully  devoted  to  his  Christian  duties.  He  first 
introduced  religious  meetings  into  the  different  neigh- 
borhoods round  about,  by  holding  reading  meetings, 
which  he  conducted  by  singing,  prayers,  reading  a 
sermon,  etc.,  and  which,  in  the  absence  of  regular 
clergy,  was  very  beneficial  in  keeping  up  the  form, 
and,  to  some  extent,  the  spirit  of  religion,  and  steady- 
ing the  ark  of  the  Lord  in  the  wilderness. 

Deacon  Beardsley  died  of  lockjaw,  in  the  year 
1831.  His  children  were:  Philo,  Joseph  Smith  and 
Clement,  Sophia,  Joseph  Smith  the  second,  Harriet, 
Seth,  Maria,  John  and  Irene.  James  Cuddebaok  set- 
tled half  a  mile  west  of  the  river.  He  was  indus- 
trious, prudent  and  an  honest  citizen.  He  died  many 
years  since;  children:  Rhoda,  Hannah,  James,  Emily, 
Sarah  and  Paulina.  The  son,  who  was  a  deaf  mute, 
was  run  over  by  the  cars  at  Vermillion,  in  the  spring 
of  1862. 

Peter  Cuddeback  and  his  wife  Jane  were  of  the 
Dutch  stock  of  the  Mohawk,  and  settled  two  miles 
west  of  the  river.  LTncle  Peter  and  aunt  Janey  were 
noted  far  and  wide  for  thrift  and  unbounded  hospi- 
tality. Although  their  children,  to  the  number  of 
near  a  dozen,  were  usually  at  the  family  board,  scarcely 
ever  did  they  fail,  for  a  meal,  to  also  supply  the  want 
of  visitors,  travelers,  immigrants,  or  any  others  who 
would  partake  of  their  good  cheer.  They  had  enough 
for  each  and  for  all;  and  it  seemed  to  be  the  peculiar 
delight  of  aunt  Janey  to  cook  for  and  wait  on  her 
friends,  and  she  counted  all  strangers  and  new-comers 
as  such,  as  well  as  those  of  longer  standing.  Peter 
Cuddeback  died  in  1833.  The  children  were:  James 
J.,  Polly,  Sallie,  Hiram,  Fanny,  Nathan,  Norman, 
Jane  and  Permilla. 

Rufus  Judson  located  in  Vermillion  in  1811  or  1812. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer.  He  had  four  sons: 
Charles  P.,  Wakeman,  Eli  S.,  and  George.  Mrs. 
Judson,  an  excellent  woman,  was  lost  on  the  Lake 
while  returning  from  Buffalo. 

The  foregoing  are  all  who  may  be  strictly  consid- 
ered pioneers.  Among  later  settlers  are:  About  1815, 
a  man  named  Wilcox  built  a  cabin  on  the  north  half 
of  lot  number  two  in  the  second  section,  where  he  re- 
mained a  short  time.  Jonah  Barton,  and  his  son,  Jo- 
nah, Jr.,  built  a  cabin  about  the  same  time,  near  the 
center  or  lot  number  eleven,  in  the  same  section. 
Tiie  old  gentleman  went,  some  years  after,  to  reside" 
with  his  children  in  Milan,  and  died  there.  Jonah, 
Jr.,  married  Hannah  Allen,  and  became  a  resident  of 
the  ridge,  just  east  of  the  cemetery,  where  he  died  in 
1833,  leaving  several  children. 

A  man  named  Burroughs  made  an  opening  and 
raised  a  house  in  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  number 
one.  He  left  the  county  in  1818.  Samuel  and  Jesse 
Sanders  settled  near  where  Sugar  creek  crosses  the 


442 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


north  ridge,  as  early  as  1815  or  181C,  and  Benjamin 
Duraud.  a  little  farther  west  on  the  same  ridge. 

Almon  Keeler  and  wife,  Mahitabel,  were  from 
Newtown,  Connecticut,  and  settled  next  east  of  Ruf  us 
Judsou,  about  1816  or  1817.  He  was  killed  by  the 
fall  of  a  tree  about  1821  or  1822,  leaving  a  wife  and 
four  children. 

In  the  spring  of  ISIT,  Eli  Winton  moved  into  the 
house  built  by  Wilcox.  He  was  a  miller.  During 
the  winter  of  1817  or  1818  he  moved  to  the  block 
house  on  lot  number  three.  The  children  were  seven 
in  number.  About  this  time  John  Miller,  a  sailor, 
from  Connecticut,  settled  on  La  Chapelle  creek, 
about  a  mile  from'the  lake.  He  had  two  sons:  John 
and  Isaac,  who  were  mighty  hunters.  A  daughter, 
Ann,  married  Joseph  Brooks. 

In  November,  Mark  Summers,  also  from  Newtown, 
located  in  the  township.  His  wife  was  Dinah  Bots- 
ford.  He  was  possessed  of  sufficient  mechanical 
genius  to  make  anything  in  wood  and  iron,  from  a 
nail  to  rifle,  gun,  lock,  stock  and  barrel,  and  from 
a  rake  tooth  to  an  old-fashioned  bull  plow.  His  wife 
died  in  1842;  he,  in  1855,  aged  ninety  years.  Children: 
Sally;  Benjamin,  who  succeeded  Esquire  Wells  in 
the  justiceship  for  six  years,  was,  for  a  few  years,  as- 
sociated judge  of  the  district,  before  and  at  the  time 
Erie  was  set  off,  and  twice  represented  the  Fire-lands 
district  in  tiie  lower  house  of  assembly;  Betsey  and 
John. 

Philo  Wells,  Esq.,  was  from  Dutchess  county. 
New  York.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Lewis,  from 
Connecticut.  Settled  in  the  township  in  1818.  He 
is  still  living.  His  wife  died  in  18-18,  and  he  married 
for  his  second,  Mrs.  Smith,  also  from  Connecticut. 
The  children  were:  George,  Lewis,  Wheeler,  Eliza 
and  Emeline.  Lewis  is  at  present  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Vermillion  village. 

Joel  Crane,  Esq.,  first  settled  in  Florence,  near  the 
south  line  of  Vermillion,  and  subsequently  in  this 
township.  His  wife  was  Olive  Mitchell.  The  children 
were:  Simeon  M.,  Ann,  Edward  and  William  H.,  who 
married  Harriet  Chandler.  Joel  Crane  died  in  1844, 
and  his  wife  in  1857. 

Captain  Harris  and  his  wife  were  aged  when  they 
located  in  Vermillion.  The  four  children  that  came 
with  him  were:  Amos,  who  became  a  physician,  set- 
tled in  Milan,  married  Miss  Goodrich,  reared  a  fam- 
ily, and  died  in  1843;  Abagail,  who  married  Rev. 
John  Monteith,  afterward  connected  with  Elyria 
schools;  Abraham,  removed  westward;  and  Delpha, 
who  married  Rev.  Mr.  Burbank. 

Jesse  Ball  first  settled  on  the  lake  shore.  He  mar- 
ried Susan  Gilbert.  Eleven  children  were  born  to 
them;  Horace,  Orissa,  Sally,  Susan,  Jesse,  Jr.,  Eli, 
Julia,  Ann,  Harriet,  Eliza  and  Emily. 

Benjamin  Munn  and  wife  settled  on  the  North 
ridge,  near  Sugar  creek.  He  died  a  few  years  later, 
and  his  widow  returned  East. 

Amason  Washburn  married  Sallie  Whitney,  and 
located  in  Vermillion   township  in  1810.     He   united 


blacksmithing  and  farming,  and  by  persevering  in- 
dustry and  frugality  obtained  a  competence.  The 
children  were:  Wheeler,  David  L.,  who  married  Irena 
Beardsley;  Charles,  who  married  Sally  Ball;  Marietta, 
who  married  Benajah  Butler;  Benjamin  S.,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Brobeck:  Betsey,  who  married  James  Mor- 
doff;  Delpha,   who  married  John    Harrison;  James, 

who  married Webster,  and  Amason,  Jr. 

Capt.  Josiah  S.  Pelton  located  in  Vermillion  in 
1818.  He  was  originally  from  near  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, but  had  removed  to  Euclid,  Cuj-ahoga 
county  (where  his  wife  died),  previous  to  finally  set- 
tling in  Vermillion.  He  had  been  in  the  West  India 
trade  as  captain  of  a  trading  vessel.  He  was  far  ad- 
vanced in  life,  and  ill  prepared  to  begin  life  in  a  new 
counti-y,  although  he  was  possessed  of  fine  talents, 
and  quite  extensively  read.  The  oldest  son,  Josiah 
S.,  Jr.,  became  the  manager  and  main  support  oif  the 
family,  and  being  a  good  financier,  became  compar- 
atively wealthy.  He  man-ied  ]\Ii-s.  Sophia  Leonard, 
of  Buffalo,  New  York.  The  remainder  of  the  chil- 
dren are:  Allen,  who  married  Fanny  Cuddebtick; 
Sylvester  A.,  who  married  Eunice  Sturges;  Austin, 
who  married  Sarah  Sturges;  Franklin,  who  married 
Eliza  Davis:  Phoebe,  who  married  Anson  Cooper; 
Charlotte,  who  married  Levi  Parsons;  and  Lucy,  who 
became  the  wife  of  John  Miller.  Of  later  settlei-s, 
Moses  Tod  came  from  East  Haven,  Connecticut,  to 
Vermillion,  arriving  May  28,  1835.  He  purcha-sed 
the  farm  first  owned  by  Enoch  Smith,  ilr.  Todd 
died  December  22,  1848,.  aged  eighty-tliree.  Mrs. 
Todd  died  in  1857,  aged  eighty-nine.  The  childi-en 
are:  Sarah,  Woodward,  Henry,  Charlotte  D.,  jmd 
Isaac  and  Kneeland  (twins),  who  are  all  yet  living. 

FIRST     EA-EXTS. 

The  first  white  child  bora  in  the  township  of  Ver- 
million was  John  Sherrats,  in  1809.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood and  removed  to  Van  Bureu  county,  Michigan. 

The  first  couple  married  was  Catherine  Sherarts  to 
Bud  Martin,  in  the  spring  of  1814.  Both  are  now- 
dead. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  stranger — name  not 
known — at  the  house  oi  Barlow  Sturges,  in  the  win- 
ter of  1810-11.  The  following  year  the  wife  of  Solo- 
mon Parsons  died.  This  was  the  first  death  of  an 
actual  settler  in  Vermillion. 

The  first  house  in  the  township  was  erected  in 
1808,  by  William  Hoddy.  It  was  of  logs,  and  stood 
on  the  lake  shore,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and 
the  second  by  Captain  William  Austin,  a  short  dis- 
tance west. 

Peter  Cuddeback  built  the  first  frame  house,  in 
1818.  In  1821,  Captain  Austin  built  a  stone  house, 
the  first  in  the  township,  and  to  Horatio  Perry  be- 
longs the  honor  of  having  erected  the  first  brick 
house  in  the  township. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Judge  Ruggles,  a  post  office 

was  early  established  in  Vermillion.     Judge  Ruggles, 

!  it  is.  thought,  was  the  first  commissioued  jiostmaster. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


U3 


T!ie  mails  were  curried  on  foot,  first,  by  a  Mr.  Leach. 
The  present  postmaster  is  Henry  Baxtine. 

The  first  orchard  was  planted  in  1813,  by  Peter 
Guddeback,  on  the  farm  afterwards  occupied  by  his 
son,  J.  J.  Cuddeback. 

Captain  William  Austin  opened  the  first  public 
house,  says  Wm.  H.  Crane,  at  or  near  the  mouth  of 
the  river.  At  present  (1879)  there  is  but  one  hotel 
in  the  township.  This  is  the  "Lake  House,"  located 
in  the  village,  W.  I.  Irish,  proprietor. 

C.  P.  Judson  put  in  the  first  stock  of  goods.  His 
store  was  located  in  the  village.  At  present  the 
business  houses  are  as  follows:  Lewis  Wells,  and 
Delker  &  Englebrecht,  dry  goods,  etc.;  Ed  Kane 
and  John  King,  groceries;  Dr.  F.  C.  McConnelly 
and  others,  drugs;  a  hardware,  furniture,  jewelry 
and  several  millinery  stores,  with  a  number  of  boot 
and  shoe  and  blacksmitii  shops. 

or(;anizatiox. 

The  first  record  of  an  election  bears  date  April  6, 
1818.  It  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Hon.  Almon 
Ruggles,  who  was  elected  township  clerk.  Peter 
Cuddeback  and  James  Prentiss  were  judges  of  the 
election,  which  resulted  as  follows:  Francis  Keyes, 
John  Beardsley,"  and  Rufus  Judson,  trustees;  Peter 
Cuddeback,  treasurer;  Jeremiah  Van  Benschoter  and 
Horatio  Perry,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Peter  Cudde- 
back and  Francis  Keyes,  fence  viewers;  Peter  Cudde- 
back, lister  and  appraiser;  Stephen  Meeker,  appraiser; 
George  Sherrats,  Francis  Keyes,  William  Van  Ben- 
schoter, and  James  Prentiss,  supervisors. 

Mr.  Cuddeback  seems  to  have  carried  off  the  honors 
of  office  on  this  occasion,  probably  with  great  opposi- 
tion, as  the  emoluments  were  nothing  and  the  public 
crib  empty;  in  fact,  it  was  soon  after  resolved  that  all 
township  officers  perform  their  duties  free  of  expense 
to  the  township. 

The  township  officers  for  1879  are:  John  H.  Far- 
ber,  Jesse  Ball,  and  S.  A.  Pelton,  trustees;  Otis  H. 
Tilden,  clerk;  Franklin  Pelton,  treasurer;  David  Ha- 
ber,  assessor;  Conrad  Nuhm,  L.  W.  Champney,  and 
L.  P.  Walker,  constables;  Otis  H.  Tilden.  M.  J."  Trin- 
ter,  and  Lemuel  Goldsmith,  justices  of  the  peace;  and 
eight  supervisors. 


The  first  religious  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Captain  William  Austin  in  the  spring  of  1810,  by  the 
Rev.  Josei)h  Badger,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  mis- 
sionaries in  northeastern  Ohio,  and  identified  with 
the  churches  during  the  first  twenty-five  years  of  set- 
tlement. The  first  church  organized  in  the  township 
was  the  Congregatinnal,  February  20,  1818.  The  first 
meeting  house  was  built  near  the  center  of  the  town- 
ship in  the  spring  of  1838,  and  on  the  33d  day  of 
May,  the  same  year,  the  first  pastor.  Rev.  Harvey 
Lyon,  was  installed.  The  first  class  of  the  MetUodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  formed  in  the"  fall  of  1831. 
Members:  John  Myers  and  wife,  Miss  Zuba  Jackson, 


and  subsequently  Mrs.  Davis  and  Mrs.  Julia  Sum- 
mers, wife  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Summers.  John  My- 
ers was  the  leader  of  the  class.  Rev.  Henry  0. 
Sheldon  and  Edward  Thompson  were  the  first  min- 
isters. There  are  at  present,  in  addition  to  the  above, 
four  German  churches,  but  of  these  we  have  no  sta- 
tistics. • 


The  first  school  house  was  built  on  the  lake  shore 
in  the  spring  of  181-1.  Miss  Susan  Williams  taught 
a  term  of  school,  the  first  in  the  township,  the  sum- 
mer following  the  erection  of  the  school  house. 
Among  her  scholars  were:  J.  J.  Cuddeback,  Jacob 
Sherarts  and  Joseph  Brooks. 

The  village  school  district  was  made  a  sjiecial  dis- 
trict at  the  March  meeting  of  the  board  of  education 
in  1851,  and  was  re-organized  in  1873,  April  14th 
of  which  year  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  school  build- 
ing. Work  was  begun  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  the 
building  was  completed  in  1874:.  It  is  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  and  cost,  with  grounds  and  furniture, 
some  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  The  school  com- 
prises three  grades,  primary,  intermediate  and  gram- 
mar, and  employs  four  teachers. 

The  present  board  of  education  is  composed  of  the 
following:  J.  C.  Gilchrist,  president;  Otis  H.  Tilden, 
clerk;  H.  G.  Delker,  treasurer:  William  McGraw 
and  G.  W.  Lavoo,  directors. 


Ely  Lodge,  No.  434.  F.  and  A.  Masons.  The 
charter  of  this  body  was  issued  November  9,  1868. 
On  September  7,  1870,  the  building  was  burned  in 
which  the  lodge  convened,  and  with  it  tlie  charter, 
records,  jewels  and  furniture.  The  present  charter 
was  issued  October  'i2,  1870,  and  contains  the  follow- 
ing names:  Dr.  F.  C.  McConnelly,  E.  H.  Anders, 
Thomas  W.  Green,  Stephen  Van  Winkle,  Homer 
Durand,  R.  Case,  James  Nicholl  and  Alfred  Smith. 
The  officers  on  charter  were:  E.  H.  Anders,  W.  M. ; 
Dr.  F.  C.  McConnelly,  S.  W.;  Thomas  W.  Green, 
J.  W.  The  society  has  a  present  membership  of 
thirty-five,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  It 
meets  on  the  first  and  third  Wednesday  of  each 
month.  The  officers  for  1879  are:  Dr.  F.  C.  Mc- 
Connelly, W.  M.;  M.  M.  Pelton,  S.  W.;  J.  J. 
Patchet,  J.  W.;  C.  B.  Summers,  secretary;  L.  Body, 
treasurer;  H.  Sturdevant,  S.  D. ;  B.  Parsons,  J.  D.; 
William  Bolams,  tyler;  W.  S.  Irish  and  Royal 
Harris,  stewards.  Dr.  McConnelly  was  the  founder 
of  this  lodge,  and  has  occupied  his  present  position 
the  greater  ])art  of  the  time  since  its  formation. 

Kceing  Lodge  No.  543,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted 
November  35,  1873,  with  the  following  charter  mem- 
bers: J.  M.  King,  N.  Fischer,  V.  Gerlach,  Charles 
Leimbach,  John  Englebrecht,  J.  Krapp,  A.  Trinter, 
Charles  Nagle,  M.  Herman,  C.  Bachman,  L.  Body, 
A.  Heusner,  J.  Englebrecht,  J.  Schade  and  J.  Miller. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Tlie  ofiScers  ou  organization  were:  J.  M.  King,  N. 
G. :  y.  Gerlach.  V.  G. ;  J.  Krapp,  P.  Sec. ;  Charles 
Nagle,  R.  Sec,  and  X.  Fisclier,  treasurer.  Present 
membership,  twentv-oue;  meetings,  Tliursday  evening 
of  each  week.  The  officers  for  1879  are:  A.  Trinter, 
N.  G. ;  J.  Gerlach,  V.  G. :  C.  Bachmau,  R.  S. ;  John 
Englebrecht,  P.  S.,  and  J.  M.  King,  treasurer. 

Temperance  societies  have  several  times  effected  an 
organization  in  the  township.  None  are  now  in 
operation. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  to  represent  the  medical  profession  in  Ver- 
million township  was  Dr.  Strong,  who  came  very 
eui-ly,  but  of  him  we  have  no  record. 

Prominent  among  physicians  of  a  later  date  was  A. 
E.  Merrell,  at  present  probate  judge  of  Erie  county. 

F.  C.  McConnelly,  M.  D.,  began  his  practice  in 
Vermillion,  immediately  after  receiving  his  degree,  in 
1851.  He  soon  acquired  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
practice,  which  still  continues.  Two  other  physicians 
reside  in  the  township  at  present:  B.  F.  Bondand  A. 
McMillan. 

IXDUSTKIAL    PUKSUITS. 

George  Sherrats  built,  in  the  years  1809-10,  the 
first  flouring  mill  in  the  township.  This  was  pro- 
pelled by  hand,  and  commenced  to  grind  wheat  in 
the  spring  of  1810.  Shortly  after,  Peter  Cuddeback 
built  a  similar  mill,  and  for  three  years  or  more  the 
inhabitants  of  this,  and  some  of  adjoining  townshi]^, 
patronized  these  mills  extensively.  No  other  grist 
mills  have  been  built  in  the  township. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  erected  by  Job  Smith,  on 
La  Chapelle  creek,  in  1819. 

In  1830  or  '31,  Messrs.  Ford,  Sanford,  Tracy  and 
others,  of  the  Geauga  Iron  Company,  puc  in  operation 
at  Vermillion  village  the  Huron  Iron  Company.  This 
grew  to  be  an  extensive  business,  and  was  in  opera- 
tion until  1855. 

It  was  succeeded  by  the  Vermillion  furnace,  under 
the  ownership  of  Philo  Tildeu,  who  was  afterward 
associated  with  D.  R.  Paige.  Some  fifty  thousand 
dollars  were  invested  in  the  business,  and  an  average 
of  sixty  men  employed.  The  furnace  ceased  business 
in  1865.  ! 


Two  cheese  factories  have  had  an  existence  in  the 
township,  and  one  is  still  in  operation.  This  is  what 
is  known  as  the  Switzer  factory,  is  located  on  lot 
numljer  three,  in  the  second  section,  and  began 
business  in  April,  1877,  with  a  patronage  of  one 
hundred  cows.  Christopher  Bauman  is  the  manu- 
facturer. The  milk  is  made  into  one  cheese  daily, 
and  these,  when  cured,  are  marketed  in  the  cities  of 
New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Chicago.  Fischer  & 
Company  have  a  sash,  door  and  blind  manufactory  in 
the  village. 

VERMILLION  VILLAGE, 

situated  at  the  mouth  of  Vermillion  river,  was  incor- 
porated by  a  special  act  of  legislature,  in  1837.  The 
first  record  of  an  election  bears  date  April  6,  1839, 
when  the  following  were  elected:  Joseph  B.  Clarke, 
mayor:  William  B.  Andrews,  recorder;  Noah  Loomis, 
treasurer;  Chris.  Grover,  A.  W.  Melsheimer,  A.  B. 
Smith,  Charles  Burr  and  Barlow  Sturges,  trustees. 
The  officers  for  1879  are:  Charles  B.  Summers, 
mayor;  Otis  M.  Tilden,  clerk;  Franklin  Pelton, 
treasureis  David  Newbury,  Henry  Jackson,  A.  A. 
Edsou,  Charles  Martin,  George  Krapp  and  J.  C. 
Gilchrist,  councilmen. 

SHIPPING  INTERESTS,    ETC. 

It  was  many  years  after  settlement  before  anything 
was  done  toward  improving  the  harbor  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Vermillion  river.  Action  was  finally  taken  by 
the  government,  and,  in  about  1841  or  1842,  Major 
Borus  came  on  and  built  a  pier  and  dredged  the  chan- 
nel, and  several  years  later  a  light  house  was  con- 
structed and  further  dredging  pei-formed,  giving  some 
fourteen  feet  of  water  in  the  channel. 

The  first  boat  of  any  kind  was  built  by  Captain 
William  Austin,  as  early  as  1815.  She  was  named 
the  "Friendship,"  and  was  of, 4)erhaps,  thirty  tons 
capacity.  We  have  no  knowledge  of  her  subsequent 
career.  After  the  harbor  was  improved,  ship  build- 
ing was  extensively  prosecuted.  Alva  Bradley,  now 
of  Cleveland,  was,  without  doubt,  the  largest  builder, 
and,  in  company  with  Ahira  Cobb,  constiucted  many 
sail  and  steam  crafts. 


FLORENCE. 


ORIGINAL  OWNERS. 

For  explauatioii  of  the' following  table  the  reader 
referred  to  the  history  of  Lyme  township: 

FLORENCE,  TOWN    NUMBER   FIVE,   RANGE  TWENTY. 


Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 


Original  Grantees.       Am'tLc 

£       s. 
Abigail  Aimour  6       0 

Reuben  Coe  aS     16 

Jonathan  Coe 
Humphrey  Denton 
Isaac  Davis 
Sylvanus  Ferris 
Josiah  Ferris 
Moses  Ferris 
Ezra  Finch 
Pack  Ferris 

Charles  Green  19T      li 

Abel  Gould  113      10 

Joseph  Wakeman  16"  3 
Abigail  Hubbel  1T6      13 

Jabez  Thorp  14T      IS 

Charles  Green  19T      12 

Nathaniel  Benedict  359  13 
John  Gregory,  Jr.  221  11 
Benj.  Isaac's  heirs  406  8 
Col.  Steph'n  St.  John  713       6 


Ain't  Classed. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,  £1,344 


Jabez  Thorp                147  18 

Jonathan  Darrow       254  5 

Samuel  Squire            412  15 

Col.  Steph'n  St.  John  713  6 


Mary  Lockwood  2 

Cyrus  Bissry  12 

Sarah  Eversley  26 
Stephen  G.  Thatcher  13 

John  Richards  7 

Gershom  Pritchard  31 
Capt.  Phin.  Hanford    43 

Ezra  Waterbury  11 

Hannah  Gregory  13 

Daniel  Sturges  1 

John  Phillow  1 

Daniel  Webb  1 

Nathan  Burrill  2 

Betty  Jarvis  2 

John  Eversley  11 
Thos.  Fitch's  heirs  415 
Charles  Green             197 

Joseph  Hubby.  Jr.  25 
Nathaniel  Husted 
William  Jacobs 
Jo-hua  Knapp 


lesup  Wakeman 


in 
IIH 


Israel  Lockwood 
William  Lockwood 
Andrew  Marshall 
Caleb  Mead 
Thomas  Mesnard 
Jesse  Mead 
Henry  Mead 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Am't  classed. 


Samuel  Squire 
Ann  Hull 
Solomon  Sturges 
Francis  D.  Swords 
John  Wilson 
Hezekiah  Sturges 
Henry  Mead 
John  Mesnard,  Jr. 
James  Moe 
Henry  Marshall 
Angus  McCall 


Jesup  Wakeman 


2    I    Isaac  Bronson 


Elkana  Mead 
John  Mysnard 
Theophilus  Peck,  Jr.     .. 
Solomon  Purdy 
James  Phillips 
Thomas  Rich 
Jonathan  Ravnolds 
Oliver  Fairchild 
John  Parrott 
Thos.  H.  Wakeman      239 
Thomas  Fitch's  heirs  415 
Hannah  Fitch's  heirs  141 
Stephen  and  Hooker 

St.  John  31 

Fountain  Smith  153 

Mathew  Benedict,  Jr.  218 
Samuel  Benedict,  Jr.  7 
Nathaniel  Benedict  4 
PhilUp  Corbon  10 

Joseph  Gun  4 

Benj.  Hitchcock  9 

Alexander  Stewart  5 
Nath'l  Taylor,  3d  15 

Mathew  Taylor  23 

Preserved  Wood  3 

Elijah  Wood  2 

Matthew  Willis  3 

Matthew  Benedict  176 
Daniel  Hickok  6 

Ebenezer  Haytt  76 

Daniel  Haytt  9 


Ebenezer  Jesup,  Jr.  6      19 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 


Original  Grantees. 

An 

't  Loss. 

Classified  by.               Am 

t  Classed. 

£ 

, 

rf 

£ 

s 

rf 

vid  Haytt 

Ebenezer  Jesup,  Jr.    2 

644 

Ebenezer  Jesup,  tw( 

Jabez  Hubbel 

32 

16 

H 

17 

lY 

m 

H 

29 

13 

''^ 

Hezekiah  Sturges 

.532 

8 

3 

Joseph  Wakeman     36 

Ehjah  Abel 

719 

4 

4 

Thos.  H.  Wakeman 

6 

1(1 

Isaac  Bronson         221 

13 

John  Perry 

6 

I',' 

Aaron  Jennings 

100 

(1 

0 

Nathan  Beers 

145 

1 

0 

175 

Footing  of  Clssiflcation  1 


The  name  of  the  township  was  originally  Jesup, 
after  Ebenezer  Jesup,  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  its  soil.  From  some  dislike  of  the  gentleman,  the 
name  was  subsequently,  at  a  meeting  by  the  inhabi- 
tants, changed  to  Florence. 

PHYSICAL    FEATURES. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  rolling. 
The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam,  with  a  more  clayey  soil  in 
some  portions.  Sandstone  underlies  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  township,  and  several  quarries  have  been 
opened.  The  King  qnarry,  on  lot  number  three,  in 
the  third  section,  and  one  on  the  Vermillion,  in  the 
fir.st  section,  are  the  only  quarries  now  worked  to  any 
extent.  Tiie  former  is  owned  by  Joseph  King,  and 
was  opened  some  thirty  years  ago.  Grindstone  were 
formerly  quite  extensively  made  from  this  quarry. 
The  principal  varieties  of  native  timber  were  wiiite- 
'ft-ood,  white  oak,  hickory,  black  walnut,  chestnut, 
beech,  maple,  cherry,  ash  and  basswood. 

The  principal  stream  is  the  Vermillion  river,  •n-liicli 
heads  in  a  little  lake  of  the  same  name  in  Ashland 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


county.  The  origin  of  the  name  is  not  known,  but 
it  is  thought  by  some  to  have  been  derived  from  a 
red  clay  found  in  many  places  along  the  banks  of  the 
river.  The  stream  flows  through  the  eastern  part  of 
the  township,  its  general  course  being  north,  and 
empties  into  Lake  Erie.  La  Chapelle  creek,  the  only 
other  water  course  in  the  township  worthy  of  men- 
tion, rises  in  Townsend,  and,  entering  Florence  from 
Wakeman  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  east  of  the  west 
town  line,  flows  through  the  west  part  of  the  town- 
ship, and  finally  into  Lake  Erie. 


For  a  number  of  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  first 
settler  in  Florence,  deer,  wolves,  wild  turkeys,  and 
smaller  game  too  numerous  to  specify,  were  found  in 
great  abundance.  Bears,  though  not  infrequently 
seen,  were  not  so  numerous  as  in  more  marshy  town- 
ships. The  honor  of  killing  the  first  bear  naturally 
fell  to  Richard  Brewer  and  Christopher  Shaeffer,  two 
of  the  best  shots  in  the  county.  Shaeffer  was  out 
with  his  gun  one  evening,  when  a  bear  suddenly  loped 
across  his  path  a  short  distance  in  front  of  him.  Just 
as  he  raised  his  rifle  to  fire,  a  little  snow  dropped 
from  the  bi-anch  of  a  small  tree  above  him  upon  the 
barrel  of  his  gun,  obscuring  the  sight,  and  the  bear 
got  away.  The  next  morning  he  obtained  the  assist- 
ance of  Brewer,  and  with  two  good  dogs  they  tracked 
the  bear  into  Berlin,  whei-e  they  found  him  in  a  marsh. 
The  bear  ran  to  a  log,  which  he  had  no  sooner  reached 
than  Brewer  fired,  but  only  wounding,  not  killing, 
him.  The  report  of  the  gun  was  the  sig:nal  for  the 
onset  of  the  dogs.  They  seized  the  animal  as  he  tried 
to  escape,  but  were  being  badly  worsted  in  the  en- 
counter, when  Brewer  grabbed  the  bear  by  the  fur 
and  plunged  a  hatchet  into  his  head.  He  released 
the  dogs,  rose  upon  his  hind  legs,  gave  one  piercing 
howl,  and  fell  over  on  his  back  dead.  The  bear  was 
an  unusually  large  one,  the  flesh  on  his  sides,  it  is 
said,  measuring  six  inches,  Shaeffer  subsequently 
killed  a  bear  in  Florence,  the  only  one  ever  killed  in 
the  township.  He  has  probably  killed  more  deer 
than  any  man  in  the  county,  often  following  them  by 
day  and  by  night.  He  killed  by  actual  count  one 
thousand  deer,  after  which  he  kept  no  record.  The 
last  year  that  he  hunted,  and  when  deer  were  less 
numerous  than  formerly,  he  shot  seventy.  One 
method  of  his  hunt  at  night  was  to  fix  up  a  torch  of 
some  kind  which  would  attract  the  deer  within  range 
of  his  gun. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  family  that  settled  in  the  township  was 
that  of  Ezra  Sprague.  Mr.  Sprague  was  born  in  Al- 
ford,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  March  27, 
1185,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1807.  The  same  year 
he  married  Harriet  A.  Oris  wold,  of  Windsor  town- 
ship, Ashtabula  county,  and  resided  in  the  vicinity  of 
Grand  River  until  the  spring  of  1809,  when,  with  his 
wife  inul  une  cliild.    he  came  to   this  tnwnsliip.      lie 


settled  where  his  daughter,  Laura,  now  lives  on  lot 
number  thirty-eight  in  the  fourth  section,  and  resided 
on  his  original  location  until  his  death.  He  died 
January  C,  1856,  Mr.  Sprague  was  a  man  of  strong 
traits  of  character.  He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the 
peace  in  the  township,  and  afterwards  held  the  posi- 
tion of  associate  judge  of  Common  Pleas  for  fourteen 
years.  In  the  early  years  of  his  official  duties  he  rode 
to  court  on  horseback  with  a  blanket  doubled  up  for 
a  saddle  and  strips  of  basswood  for  stirrups. 

Mrs.  Sprague  died  January  23,  1853,  aged  seventy- 
one.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  only  two 
of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Mrs.  H.  F.  Merry  at  San- 
dusky City,  and  L;iura  Sprague  in  this  township  on 
the  old  homestead.  The  sons,  Simon  H.  and  Solo- 
mon G.  Sprague,  were  well  known  residents  of  this 
township  for  many  years.  The  former  was  the  oldest 
of  the  family,  and  was  born  prior  to  their  settlement 
in  Florence.  He  died  January  17,  1874.  His  widow- 
still  resides  in  the  township.  Solomon  G.  Sprague 
was  born  May  9,  1816,  married  Mary  Collins  Decem- 
ber 15,  1857,  and  died  January  27,  1876.  His  family 
still  reside  in  Florence. 

In  July,  1809,  Eli  S.  Barnum  and  his  sister,  Rachel, 
Rufus  Judson  and  family,  Charles  Betts  and  Joseph 
Parsons,  arrived  from  Danbury,  Connecticut.  Bar- 
num located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  what  is  now 
called  Florence  Corners,  and  was  the  first  settler  at 
that  place.  He  subsequently  married  Miss  Root,  then 
of  Henrietta,  sister  of  Mrs.  Calvin  Leonard.  He 
was  the  proprietors  agent  for  the  sale  of  the  lands  of 
this  township,  and  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 
postmaster  at  Florence  Corners  for  many  years.  He 
finally  removed  to  Cleveland,  where  he  died, 

Rufus  Judson,  after  a  residence  for  a  few  years  near 
Florence  Corners,  moved  to  tlie  lake  shore,  as  did 
also  Judge  Meeker,  who,  for  a  short  time,  lived  in 
Florence.  Charles  Betts  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
south  part  of  the  township,  where  he  lived  alone  for 
many  years,  being  a  bachelor.  His  brother,  Isaac, 
finally  came  out,  and  occupied  the  house  with  him. 
One  day,  while  Charles  was  sitting  at  the  table,  eating 
his  meal,  Isaac,  impelled  by  a  desii-e  to  secure  his 
property,  struck  him  upon  the  head  with  the  shar]i 
edge  of  a  post  ax,  cutting  through  his  skull,  and  kill- 
ing him  instantly.  He  then  concealed  tlio  body  under 
the  barn,  where  it  was.  a  short  time  after,  discovered. 
The  murderer  was  sent  to  the  iieniteiitiary,  and  died 
there. 

Joseph  Parsons  settled  a  short  distance  west  of 
Ezra  Sprague,'  afterwards  called  Sprague's  corners. 
He  kept  bachelor's  hall  there  a  number  of  years.  His 
wife  could  not  be  induced  to  exchange  'the  old  liome 
for  a  life  in  the  woods  of  Florence,  and  slie  always 
remained  in  Connecticut,  His  son  subsequently 
came  out  with  his  family,  and  occupied  the  house 
with  his  father  a  number  of  years,  when  they  all  re- 
moved to  the  lake  shore. 

In  1810,  John  Brooks.  Sr..  Joseph  Sears  and 
.leremiah    Wilson,    and   tiieir    families,    were  added. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


447 


Mr.  Brooks  located  at  Sprague's  corners,  on  lot 
thirty-SBTen.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution, 
and  was  in  several  important  engagements,  amongst 
others  those  of  White  Plains  and  Monmouth,  and 
was  twice  wounded.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
one.  His  son,  John  Brooks,  Jr.,  married  Adeline 
Squire,  and  settled  a  short  distance  south  of  Florence 
corners,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road.  They  are  both 
deceased,  and  the  last  of  the  family  moved  to  Kansas 
a  short  time  since.  Joseph  Brooks,  another  son, 
married  a  daughter  of  Eli  S.  Barnum,  and  settled 
across  the  road  from  his  brother  John. 

In  1811,  Town  Clark  with  his  widowed  mother, 
with  several  younger  children,  and  George  Brooks, 
her  son-in-law,  and  his  family  of  wife  and  child, 
moved  in  from  Onondaga  county,  New  York.  The 
Clark  family  bought  and  settled  where  Mrs.  Solomon 
G.  Sprague  resides.  Seven  years  after,  Mrs.  Clark 
married  a  Mr.  Downing,  and  removed  to  Michigan. 
Mrs.  John  Hill,  aged  seventy-six,  is  the  only  member 
of  the  family  now  living  in  the  township.  George 
Brooks  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  township. 
In  1836,  he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  afterwards 
started  for  California  and  died  on  the  way. 

These  were  the  only  inhabitants  of  the  township 
until  after  the  war.  They  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  Fire-lands,  and  their  situation  was  one 
of  complete  isolation,  shut  off  by  woods  from  neigh- 
bors in  every  direction.  To  obtain  their  grinding, 
they  had  to  travel  on  foot  through  an  unbroken  forest 
to  Newburgb,  near  Cleveland.  Ezra  Sprague,  when 
making  such  a  joui-ney,  on  one  occasion  lost  his  way 
near  where  Elyria  now  is,  and  lay  out  in  a  storm  all 
night.  He  had  been  sick  with  ague  for  some  time 
previous,  but,  it  is  said,  after  the  drenching  he  re- 
ceived that  night  he  never  suffered  another  shake. 

Although  the  pioneers  of  Florence  never  suffered 
for  provisions  to  the  endangerment  of  life,  yet  they 
were  compelled  to  live  in  the  simplest  manner. 
Grated  or  •'jointed"  corn,  potatoes  and  milk  consti- 
tuted the  only  articles  of  food  they  had  for  weeks  at  a 
time.  A  wild  onion  grew  abundantly  on  the  river 
bottoms,  and  other  wild  but  hardly  edible  vegetables 
were  frequently  gathered,  and  gave,  at  least,  variety 
to  the  meal.-  All  kinds  of  provisions  were  high  dur- 
ing the  early  years  of  settlement  of  the  township,  and 
they  could  not  be  procured  short  of  Huron  or  San- 
dusky. Pork  sold  for  twenty  dollars  per  barrel,  flour 
for  si.\teen  dollars,  tea  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
pound,  and  salt  ten  dollars  per  barrel.  Joab  Squire 
once  carried  two  hundred  pounds  of  maple  sugar  to 
Sandusky,  which  he  exchanged  for  two  barrels  of 
salt,  the  trip  re<iuiring  three  days.  At  another  time 
he  went  to  Huron  and  bought  twenty-five  pounds  of 
bacon  at  twenty-five  cents  per  pound,  and  lugged  it 
home  on  his  back. 

There  was  scarcely  any  money  in  circulation,  and 
exchanges  were  made  principally  in  the  products  of 
the  soil.  The  first  specie  currency  which  circulated 
amonir  the  settlers  of  Florence,  was  what  was  called 


"cut  money."  A  silver  dollar  was  cut  into  ten  or 
twelve  pieces  and  passed  for  shillings,  a  kind  of  in- 
flation that  was  popular  with  all.  The  first  paper 
money  which  the  settlers  were  unfortunate  enough  to 
possess,  was  the  notes  of  the  Owl  Creek  bank,  in  the 
denominations  of  six  and  u  fourth,  twelve  and  a  half, 
thirty-seven  and  a  half,  and  fifty  cents.  The  bank 
was  of  the  wildcat  description,  and  soon  collapsed. 

Perhaps  the  greatest  hardship  endured  by  the  first 
settlers  was  in  the  matter  of  necessary  clothing. 
Common  factory  cloth  was  worth  fifty  cents  a  yard, 
for  which  one  bushel  of  wheat  was  usually  exchanged. 
Home-made  woolen  cloth  was  four  dollars  per  yard. 
Flax  was  raised,  and  summer  clothing  manufactured, 
but  suitable  material  for  winter  wear  was  not  so  easily 
provided,  sheep  being  ditficult  to  raise  in  the  new 
country.  The  masculine  portion  of  the  inhabitants 
depended  almost  entirely  on  buckskin  for  clothing 
material,  and  although  it  answered  very  well  the  pur- 
pose of  wear  and  tear  in  the  woods,  it  was  anything 
but  comfortable  to  the  wearer.  After  a  wetting  and 
drying,  the  garments  would  be  as  stiff  as  if  made  of 
sheet-iron. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  the  inhabitants 
lived  in.  almost  constant  fear  of  Indian  massacre. 
1811,  the  settlers  joined  in  the  erection  of  a  block 
house,  just  north  of  the  present  residence  of  Mrs. 
Solomon  Sprague.  It  was  used  as  a  dwelling  by  Mrs. 
Clark  and  her  family,  but  was  the  fortress  to  which 
the  inhabitants  fled  for  safety  in  the  hour  of  danger. 
Whenever  a  report  of  the  approach  of  Indians  reached 
the  settlement,  the  settlers  would  remove  their  fami- 
lies to  the  block-house,  and  they  would  all  remain 
there  for  days  at  a  time.  On  one  occasion,  while  a 
man  was  going  with  his  family  to  the  fort,  a  circum- 
stance occurred,  which  created  the  greatest  excite- 
ment. A  young  man,  with  a  gun,  was  sent  some 
distance  ahead  of  his  family  to  keep  a  look-out  for 
Indians.  When  within  half  a  mile  of  the  block- 
house, the  report  of  a  gun  was  heard,  and  the  young 
man  came  running  back  with  the  intelligence  that  he 
had  seen  two  Indians,  one  of  whom  shot  at  him,  at 
the  same  time  showing  a  bullet-hole  in  his  coat.  The 
alarm  spread  rapidly,  and  all  the  inhabitants  collected 
at  the  block-house,  and  made  every  preparation  they 
could  for  an  attack  which,  they  expected,  would  be 
made  that  night.  The  women  aud  children  were  sent 
into  the  room  above  while  the  men  with  guns,  pitch- 
forks and  clubs,  awaited  below  the  expected  assault. 
During  the  night  the  alarm  was  given  by  the  occu. 
pants  of  the  second  story  that  Indians  with  fire-brands 
were  approaching  in  the  direction  of  a  small  building 
that  stood  near  the  house  with  the  evident  intent  of 
setting  it  on  fire,  whicli  would  communicate  it  to  tiie 
fortified  building.  Thus  amidst  the  greatest  excite- 
ment they  spent  the  night,  no  one  in  tiie  house  show- 
ing any  disposition  to  sleep,  except  the  individual 
whose  coat  had  been  pierced  with  a  bullet  the  evening 
before,  which  fact  was  regarded  as  significant,  aud  no 
savages  appeared.     As  the  morning  dawned,  the  fact 


448 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


also  began  to  dawn  upon  their  minds  that  they  were 
the  victims  of  a  cruel  hoax,  and  that  the  said  indivi- 
dual had  shot  the  bullet  through  his  coat  to  give  the 
appearance  of  credibility  to  his  story.  This  sus- 
picion proved  to  be  correct,  but  what  punishment,  if 
any,  was  inflicted  upon  the  offender  we  are  unable  to 
record.  The  alarm  of  Indians  carrying  fire-brands 
grew  out  of  the  fact  that  sparks  and  cinders  were 
carried  by  the  wind  in  the  direction  of  the  block- 
house from  a  burning  log  heap.  When  the  surrender 
of  Detroit  occurred,  the  settlers  removed  their  fami- 
lies to  Cleveland.  The  men  remained  in  the  town- 
ship, all  working  together,  with  their  guns  close  by,  on 
a  single  farm  to  be  the  better  prepared  for  any  attack 
that  might  be  made,  while  one  of  their  number  was 
stationed  as  a  sentinel  to  watch  the  approach  of 
danger.  But  the  enemy  had  not  the  temerity  to  come 
within  range  of  their  guns. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  the  township  settled 
more  rapidly.  One  of  the  first  families  that  moved  in 
was  that  of  Lambert  Shaeffer,  formerly  from  Scho- 
harie county,  Xew  York.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1812, 
stopping  at  Painesville,  where  he  carried  on  black- 
smithing  until  the  war  was  over,  when  he  removed  to 
this  township,  arriving  in  February,  1815.  He  set- 
tled on  the  Vermillion,  in  the  first  section,  where  Mr. 
Graves  now  lives.  He  moved  into  a  cabin  which 
stood  on  his  purchase  and  formerly  occupied  by  Jere- 
miah Wilson,  who  left  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
Shaeffer  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  Christopher,  in 
this  township,  about  twenty-six  years  ago,  his  wife 
previously.  They  had  seven  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  tlie  east.  Three  are  yet  living,  viz:  Mrs.  Rich- 
ard Brewer  and  Christopher  Shaeffer  in  this  town 
ship,  and  Elias  in  Illinois. 

William  Blackman  moved  in  about  this  time.  He 
was  originally  from  Connecticut,  but  removed  to  To- 
wanda  creek,  New  York,  in  1802,  and,  before  the  war, 
settled  near  Buffalo,  which  lie  saw  burned  bv  the  Brit- 
ish. After  his  arrival  with  his  family  in  this  township, 
he  lived  for  a  year  in  the  block-house  with  widow  Clark 
and  family.  He  then  purchased  and  settled  in  the 
third  section,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Mason 
place,  but  afterwards  changed  his  location  to  the  Ver- 
million, in  the  first  section,  where,  in  connection 
with  Harley  Mason,  he  established  a  saw-mill.  Meet- 
ing with  some  reverses,  he  went  to  Xew  London,  and, 
later,  to.  Indiana.  He  finally  returned  to  Florence, 
and  died  at  the  house  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Denman. 

One  of  the  prominent  pioneers  of  Florence  and  a 
resident  of  the  township  for  fifty-two  years  was  Joab 
Stiuire.  Mr.  Squire  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Connecticut,  November  2,  17?T.  In  1799  he  married 
Mary  Buckley,  and  in  1815  emigrated  to  the  West. 
During  the  most  of  this  time  his  life  was  upon  the 
sea.  For  several  years  he  commanded  a  veSsel  of 
which  he  was  the  owner,  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade 
from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  to  Charleston,  South 
Carolina.  Once,  while  passing  around  Cape  Cod,  his 
vessel  was  wrecked  in  a  storm,  on  Nantucket  Shoals, 


and  Captain  Squire  and  his  wife  narrowly  escaped 
drowning.  The  loss  of  his  vessel  was  a  serious  re- 
verse to  him,  but  he  secured  an  interest  in  another 
and  continued  on  the  sea  until  the  war  commenced. 
In  April,  1815,  he  started  with  his  family  for  this 
township,  where  he  had  previously  purchased  a  tract 
of  land.  After  a  tedious  journey,  most  of  the  way  by 
water,  he  arrived  at  Cleveland  in  July,  1815,  which 
was  then  a  place  of  a  few  small  buildings,  giving  lit- 
tle promise  of  the  splendid  city  it  has  since  become. 
He  came  from  Cleveland  by  lake  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Vermillion,  and  thence  by  land  to  this  township.  He 
settled  on  lot  number  twenty-nine  in  the  fourtli  sec- 
tion, where  he  resided  until  his  death.  When  he  ar- 
rived here  his  family  consisted  of  his  wife  and  nine 
children,  the  youngest  less  than  a  year  old.  Babies 
had  to  be  rocked  then  as  now,  and  having  no  cradle, 
Mrs.  Squirfe  rocked  hers  in  a  sap  trongii.  Mr.  Squire 
was  twice  married  and  was  the  father  of  sixteen  child- 
ren, all  but  one  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age.  He  died 
March  31,  1867,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  burying 
ground  on  the  old  homestead.  Five  of  the  children 
survive,  as  follows:  Mrs.  William  Tillinghast,  former- 
ly of  Berlin,  now  of  Toledo;  Julius,  in  Ottawa  coun- 
ty; Julia  (a  twin  sister  of  Julius),  now  wife  of  Ed- 
win A.  Denton,  of  Florence;  Joab,  a  practicing  ph}-- 
sician  at  East  Toledo;  and  Benjamin  B.,  in  Wakeman. 

During  the  year  1816  several  accessions  were  made 
to  the  settlement.  One  of  these  was  Daniel  Chandler, 
who  came  in  from  Orange  county.  New  York.  He 
was  then  unmarried,  but  in  October,  1818,  he  married 
Sally  Summers,  daughter  of  Mark  Summers,  who 
settled  in  Vermillion  the  year  previous.  After  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Chandler  settled  down  where  his  widow 
still  resides,  half  a  mile  west  of  Birmingham.  He 
died  there,  October  21,  1869,  aged  seventy-eight. 
Mrs.  Chandler  is  now  eighty-one.  They  had  thirteen 
children,  ten  of  whom  are  living. 

Jonathan  Bryant,  the  same  year,  settled  in  the 
gecond  section,  a  short  distance  south  of  the  Harrison 
burying-ground.  He  soon  after  moved  to  Birming- 
ham, and  resided  there  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Mr.  Bryant  was,  for  many  years,  a  justice  of  the  peace 
of  this  township. 

John  Denman,  a  native  of  England,  came  to 
Florence  from  Sullivan  county.  New  York,  in  1816, 
making  the  journey  afoot,  with  his  knapsack  on  his 
back.  Three  years  afterward,  he  married  Marinda 
Blackman,  and  settled  on  lot  number  seventy-eight, 
in  the  first  section,  ei-ecting  his  cabin  where  the  apple 
orchard  now  is,  southeast  of  the  present  frame  house. 

Tiiat  orchard  he  planted  from  seed  that  he  brought 
from  the  East  in  his  knapsack.  Mr.  Denman  died  on 
his  original  location,  March  23,  1878,  within  two  days 
of  eigli ty-.se ven  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Denman  still 
occupies  tiie  old  homestead,  aged  seventy-six.  They 
had  a  family  of  fifteen  children,  who  lived  to  mature 
age,  and  were  married.     Twelve  are  now  living. 

In  the  same  year,  Harley  Mason,  and  his  brother 
Chauneey,  with  a  one-horse  wagon  and  a  few  tools. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


449 


came  in.  Hurley  was  a  millwright,  and  had  started 
for  Cincinnati  to  obtain  work  at  his  trade.  When  he 
got  to  Florence,  he  found  William  Blackmail  engaged 
in  the  erection  of  a  saw  mill  on  the  Vermillion,  and 
he  went  in  partnership  with  him.  After  the  mill  was 
built,  he  traded  his  interest  in  it  to  Blackman,  for 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  Hiram  Smith.  December 
29,  1819,  he  married'  Susan  Cahoon,  daughter  of 
AVilber  Cahoon,  a  pioneer  of  the  township  of  Avon, 
Lorain  county.  Mr.  Mason  was  one  of  the  active 
business  men  of  the  township.  He  was  much  engaged 
in  milling,  and  was  also  a  large  owner  of  land.  He 
died  in  February,  1851.  His  widow  still  survives, 
and  lives  with  a  son,  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
place  on  which  her  husband  first  located.  There 
were  twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  viz. : 
Wilber  T.,  Norman  and  Lodema,  wife  of  John  Poyer, 
in  this  township ;  Charles,  in  Clyde,  'Ohio;  and 
Huldah  (Mrs.  John  Marsh),  in  Iowa. 

Chauncey  Mason,  who  came  in  with  his  brother, 
Harley,  lived  on  rented  land  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Michigan. 

In  tlie  fall  of  1816,  Bowen  Case  came  to  Florence, 
from  Auburn,  New  York,  with  Aaron  Parsons  and 
family.  Parsons  settled  where  Job  Fish  now  lives. 
He  finally  moved  to  Wakeman,  ajid  his  widow  now 
resides  there.  Mr.  Case  married,  December  25,  1829, 
Amanda  Brumdadge,  of  Vermillion,  and  settled  half 
a  mile  north  of  Florence  corners.  He  resided  there 
until  twelve  j-ears  ago,  when  he  moved  to  the  corners, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  now  aged  seventy- 
four,  and  is  living  with  his  second  wife. 

The  first  settlers  at  Birmingham,  formerly  called 
Mecca,  were  Perez  Starr  and  Uriah  Hawley,  who 
settled  there  in  1816.  Starr  came  from  Portage 
county,  and  his  brothers,  William,  Jared  and  Dudley, 
came  in  about  the  same  time.  Hiram,  a  son  of  Perez 
Starr,  occupies  the  place  on  which  his  father  settled. 
Hawley  located  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  Charles 
Bristol.  He  subsequently  moved  to  Brownhelm,  and 
finally  to  Iowa,  where  he  died.  Starr  and  Hawley 
were  both  active  business  men,  and  some  of  their 
enterprises  are  elsewhere  mentioned. 

Isaac  and  John  Furmau  and  their  families  came 
into  the  township  in  1817.  The  former  settled  a 
short  distance  east  of  Sprague's  corners,  and  always 
lived  there  afterwards.  John  settled  on  the  river,  but 
finally  moved  to  Richland  county. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  Richard  Brewer  and 
his  brother  Peter,  and  his  family,  moved  in  from 
Delaware  county.  New  York.  Peter  Brewer  located 
where  widow  Harrison  now  lives.  Richard  married 
Nancy  Shaefier,,  daughter  of  Lambert  Shaeffer,  and 
began  pioneer  life  on  the  hill  just  north  of  his  brother. 
He  now  lives  west  of  Birmingham,  on  the  road  to 
Florence  corners,  aged  ninety  years — one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  the  township. 

Asahel  Parker  and  family  settled  near  where  Mrs. 
James  Wood  now  lires,  in  the  year  1818.     He  died 


many  years  ago,  and  liis  son  William  W.,  residing  in 
Florence,  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  family. 

In  the  summer  of  1818  William  Carter  and  family 
moved  in  from  New  York  and  settled  at  the  "forks 
of  the  river,"  above  Birmingham.  He  died  there  in 
1853. 

Jedediaii  iliggins  and  several  sons  and  their  fami- 
lies came  into  the  township  in  1819  and  settled  in  the 
same  locality.  Aaron  Higgins  established  a  tannery 
there  at  an  early  date,  but  subsequently  moved  it 
down  the  river  to  Birmingham,  where  he  afterwards 
erected  a  large  frame  building  and  carried  on  shoe 
making  in  connection  with  his  other  business.  The 
works  were  finally  destroyed  by  fire. 

Chester  King  and  family  emigrated  to  Florence 
from  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1819,  the  journey, 
which  was  made  with  a  horse  team  and  wagon,  con- 
suming six  weeks.  Mr.  King  first  settled  on  the 
present  location  of  the  Mason  family  burying  ground. 
A  few  years  afterwards  he  changed  his  location  to 
Chapelle  creek,  where  he  subsequently  had  a  saw  mill 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  soon  after  moved  to  the 
place  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Joseph  King,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  In  tlie  early 
years  of  his  settlement  Mr.  King  was  much  of  the 
time  at  work  in  his  mill,  and  often  remained  at  work 
there  until  late  into  the  night.  Once,  when  returning 
home  with  a  piece  of  venison,  he  was  pursued  by  a 
pack  of  wolves,  the  hungry  animals  crowding  so 
closely  upon  his  footsteps  that  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  his  meat  and  run  for  dear  life  for  his  home. 
Mr.  King  was  born  in  Hartford  county,  Connecticut, 
in  1784.  He  married  Jemima  Smith,  of  Lyme,  Con- 
necticut, and  was  the  father  of  seven  children.  He 
died  in  Florence  in  March,  1861,  and  his  wife  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1854.  Four  of  the  children  are  now  living,  as 
follows:  Chester  C,  in  Vermillion;  Hiram,  at  Hills- 
dale, Michigan;  Rosanna  E.,  married  John  E.  Fuller 
(deceased),  and  resides  at  Norwalk;  Joseph,  living  in 
Florence  on  the  old  homestead,  married  January  1. 
1850,  Melona  Masters,  of  Berlin.  They  have  two 
children  living  and  one  deceased. 

In  1824,  Jacob  ShofF  came  into  the  township  from 
Guildhall,  Vermont.  January,  1829,  he  married  (his 
first  wife  having  died  in  Vermont)  Sally  Haise,  whose 
father,  John  Haise,  settled,  about  the  year  1826,  a 
mile  north  of  Florence  corners.  Mr.  Shoff  settled  on 
the  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  father-in-law  on  the 
north,  where  Jeremiah  Baker  now  lives.  He  resided 
here  until  about  thirty  years  ago,  when  he  moved  a 
little  west  of  Birmingham,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  May  9,  1859.  Mrs.  Shoff  survives,  aged 
seventy-two.  There  were  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  and  three  in  this  township.  Horatio  N. 
Shoff  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Shoff  House,  on  the  old 
Russell  stand,  in  Birmingham.  He  erected  the  build- 
ing in  1872,  the  former  building  occupying  the  same 
site,  having  burned  down  the  fall  before. 

George  W.  Clary  has  resided  in  this  township  for 
nearly  forty  years.     His  father.  Colonel  Elihu  Clary, 


450 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


was  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  Fire-lands, 
being  tlie  first  settler  of  Peru  township,  Huron 
county.  Mr.  Clary  was  married  to  Eliza  Chandler  in 
1844.  and  resides  a  mile  south  of  Birmingham. 

.John  Hill,  a  native  of  England,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1819.  He  resided  in  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  until  1834,  when  he  removed  to  Florence, 
having,  the  year  before,  purchased  a  farm  on  lot 
forty-eight  in  the  fourth  section.  He  died  on  this 
place  March  5,  18T9.  His  first  wife  died  in  1842, 
and  he  subsequently  married  the  widow  of  Henry 
Bishop,  formerly  Miss  Clark,  whose  widowed  mother 
came  to  Florence  in  1811. 

Silas  Wood  was  a  resident  of  the  township  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  was  prominently  identified  with 
its  industrial  interests.  He  came  to  Ohio  from  Penn- 
sylvania, with  his  jDarents,  in  1824,  who  settled  in 
Greenfield,  Huron  county.  He  soon  after  began  work 
for  Seba  Mather,  who  was,  at  that  time,  operating  a 
fulling  factory,  on  Huron  river,  east  of  Greenfield 
Center.  Mr.  Wood  continued  in  his  employ  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then  entered  into 
the  employ  of  Hawley  &  Whittlesey,  proprietors  of  a 
clothing  factory  at  Terryville,  and  a  year  afterwards 
became  a  partner.  That  was  in  the  fall  of  1826.  In 
1827,  he  married  Hannah  Ennes,  whose  parents  had 
come  to  Birmingham  a  few  years  previous.  After 
continuing  in  the  clothing  factory  some  six  years,  he 
sold  and  removed  to  Berlin,  where  he  lived  on  a 
farm  for  a  year,  and  then  purchased  and  settled  in 
Henrietta,  on  the  Calvin  Leonard  farm,  where  he 
resided  about  twenty  years.  He  then  took  up  his 
residence  at  Birmingham,  where,  the  year  before,  he 
had  established  a  store  in  connection  with  L.  S. 
Griggs.  He  soon  after  erected  the  present  stone 
grist  mill  at  Birmingham,  and  subsequently  the  saw 
mill,  having  previously  disposed  of  his  store.  A  year 
or  two  after  the  completion  of  the  mill,  he  sold  a  half 
interest  to  Hiram  Arnold,  and  a  few  years  later  the 
rest  to  a  Mr.  BarUett.  He  then  re-engaged  in  trade 
at  Birmingham,  in  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 
He  died  suddenly,  with  goods  in  his  hands,  October 
30,  1866.     Mr,^.  Wood  died  on  the  22d  of  November, 

18:3. 

Mr.  Wood  was  a  man  of  great  energy  of  character, 
and  acquired  a  fine  property.  He  was  the  father  of 
five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Mrs. 
Althida  Arnold  and  George  S.  Wood,  at  Birmingham, 
and  Mrs.  Hannah  A.  Kline  and  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Strauss, 
at  Oberlin. 

David  L.  Hill  settled  where  he  now  lives,  (lot  num- 
ber eleven,  section  three),  in  1832.  The  counti'y  was 
still  quite  new  in  that  quarter,  and  he  had  nothing  to 
begin  with  in  the  woods  but  his  ax.  He  has  labored 
hard  all  his  life,  and  his  industry  and  economy  have 
been  rewarded  by  the  acquirement  of  a  fine  property. 
He  was  born  July  22,  1791,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  His  first  wife  died  December  18,  1875, 
and  he  married  for  his  second  wife,  December  31, 
1877,  Mrs.  Hall,  widow   of  Aaron    Hall,  with   whom 


he  is  now  living.     Mr.    HiJl    is  the  father  of  eight 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

EAKLY   KVEXTS. 

Caroline,  daughter  of  Ezra  Spragne.  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  the  township.  The  date  of  her 
birth  was  "Mny  13,  1810.  She  became  the  wife  of  H. 
F.  Merry,  of  Sandusky  City,  (now  deceased).  Mrs. 
Merry  is  now  living  with  a  daughter  at  Sandusky. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Thomas  Starr  and 
Clementina  Clark.  They  were  married  in  the  spring 
of  1814,  by  Esquire  Abijah  Comstock.  The  ceremony 
took  place  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  mother,  in 
the  old  block-house.  It  is  said  that  every  body  in  the 
township  attended,  and  the  house  was  not  crowded 
either.  The  next  couple  married  was  John  Brooks, 
Jr.,  and  Adaline  Squire.  They  were  married  by  Rev. 
Nathan  Smith,  the  first  minister  in  the  place.  The 
date  of  the  marriage  the  writer  is  unable  to  state,  but 
it  probably  occurred  in  1815  or  1816. 

The  first  person  that  died  in  the  township,  was  the 
mother  of  Judge  Meeker,  the  date  of  which  is  not 
known.  She  was  buried  on  the  banks  of  the  La 
Chapelle.  The  second  death  was  that  of  Sally  Brooks, 
daughter  of  John  Brooks,  Sr.     She  died  in  1813. 

The  first  burying  ground  was  on  Uriah  Hawley"s 
land,  a  short  dista'nce  south  of  his  house,  where  he- 
buried  his  wife,  September  18,  1818.  Ten  or  fifteen 
persons  were  subsequently  buried  there,  but  as  there 
was  no  road  leading  to  the  ground,  the  present  burying 
place  was  selected,  and  the  bodies  removed  there,  from 
the  old  burying  ground,  in  1825. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Wolverton  started  the  first 
blacksmith  shop,  which  was  of  rather  a  unique  char- 
acter. He  had  his  anvil  on  a  stump,  and  rigged  his 
bellows  up  between  two  trees.  He  frequently  changed 
his  location,  so  that,  it  is  said,  his  shop  was  co-exten- 
sive with  the  township.  A  traveler  passing  along  one 
day,  lost  a  shoe  from  his  horse's  foot,  and  inquired  of 
a  man  he  met  if  there  was  a  blacksmith  shop  near  by. 
"Yes,"'  was  the  reply,  "you  are  are  in  it  now,  but  it 
IS  three  miles  to  the  anvil."  Wolverton  also  opened 
at  Florence  corners  the  fii'st  public  house.  He  was 
succeeded,  a  short  time  afterwards,  by  J.  Baker,  who 
kept  a  tavern  at  the  corners  for  many  years.  He 
built  the  large  framed  building  there,  on  the  southeast 
corner,  which  he  formerly  kept  as  a  tavern,  now 
occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  his  son.  At  Birmingnam, 
Charles  L.  Russell  kept  hotel,  where  the  Shot!  House 
now  stands,  for  many  years. 

EARLY    SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  at  Sprague's  Corn- 
ers on  land  owned  by  John  Brooks,  Sr.,  lot  number 
thirty-seven,  section  four.  The  first  teacher  was  Ruth 
Squire,  daughter  of  Joab  Squire,  and  afterwards  wife 
of  Erastus  French,  of  Wakeman.  The  school  derived 
its  support  from  the  parents  of  the  scholars,  who  paid 
in  proportion  to  the  number  sent.  The  school  bouse 
was  subsequently  taken   down,  and    rebuilt    on    the 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


451 


south  side  of  the  road.  Adaliue  Squire,  a  sister  of 
Rutli,  who  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  John 
Brooks,  Jr.,  was  also  one  of  the  earliest  teachers. 

The  second  school  house  built  in  the  township  was 
located  half  a  mile  west  of  Birmingham,  and  Rhoda 
Root  kept  the  first  school  in  it.  Her  practice  of 
opening  the  school  with  prayer  was  the  cause  of  some 
displeasure  to  a  certain  individual,  and  a  school  meet- 
ing was  held  on  one  occasion,  to  consider  his  griev- 
ance, which  resulted  in  the  teacher  being  sustained. 
A  few  }'ears  after,  a  school  house  was  erected  in  the 
village  of  Birmingham. 


The  earliest  religious  meetings  were  held  at  the 
house  of  Eli  S.  Barnum,  at  Florence  Corners,  at 
which  itinerant  preachers  officiated.  ^ 

The  first  religious  societj'  organized  was  of  the  Con- 
gregational order.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Barnum,  a  missionary  by  the  name  of  Loorais 
officiating  on  the  occasion.  The  society  included 
members  from  tliis  township,  Vermillion,  Wakemau, 
and  Clarksfield.  The  present  Congregational  church 
at  Florence  corners  was  organized  January  7,  1833, 
by  a  committee  of  the  presljytery  of  Huron,  consist- 
ing of  J.  B.  Bradstreet,  Xenophon  Betts,  and  Samuel 
Dunton.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers who  joined  at  the  time  of  the  organization: 
Charles  Whittlesey  and  wife,  David  Shaver  and  wife, 
Simeon  Crane  and  wife,  Uriah  Hawley,  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Baker,  Mrs.  Tryphena  Leonard,  Mrs.  Ruth  Hines, 
Mrs.  Mary  Barnum,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Dunton,  Mrs. 
Alice  Olds,  Mrs.  Hannah  Haise,  Mrs.  Betsey  Thomp- 
son, Jolm  Phillips  and  wife.  Uriah  Hawley  was 
chosen  clerk. 

The  church  building  was  completed  in  1842,  cost- 
ing two  thousand  and  twelve  dollars,  the  lot  for  which 
was  donated  by  Jessup  Wakeman.  The  church  for 
several  years  after  its  organization  was  supplied  by 
preachers  from  neighboring  towns.  The  first  regular 
pastor  was  the  Rev.  Eldad  Barber,  who  was  called 
October  10,  1842.  He  officiated  as  pastor  of  the 
church  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  his  labors  ended 
only  with  his  death,  in  the  spring  of  187  L.  He  was 
followed  by  Hubbard  Lawrence,  who  continued  until 
April,  1878.  Rev.  Mr.  Hale  then  preached  for  the 
church  until  August  of  the  same  year,  since  when 
Rev.  Mr.  Wright  has  officiated  as  pastor.  The  pres- 
ent membership  of  the  church  is  fourteen.  Thomas 
A.  JIcGregoris  church  clerk. 

The  First  Congregational  church,  in  Birmingham, 
was  originally  of  the  Presbyterian  order,  and  was  or- 
ganized in  tlie  year  1838,  by  a  committee  consisting  of 
Philo  Wells  and  Mr.  Xenophon  Betts.  of  Vermillion, 
and  Joseph  Swift,  of  Henrietta.  The  members  were: 
Philo  Wells  and  wife.  Calvin  Leonard  and  wife, 
Joseph  Swift  and  wife;  Xenodhon  Betts  and  wife,  and 
a  few  others  whose  names  are  not  remembered.  In 
February,  184.5.  the  church,  by  amendment  of  its 
charter,   adopted  the  congregational  form,  but  con- 


tinued under  the  care  of  the  presbytery  until  Jan- 
uary, 1874,  when  it  withdrew  therefrom.  Eldad 
Barber  was  probably  the  first  preacher.  Rev.  Good- 
ell  and  Carlisle  preached  at  a  later  date,  after  which 
Mr.  Barber  again  officiated.  The  last  pastor  was  Rev. 
C.  C.  Creegan,  of  Wakeman.  The  membership  at 
present  is  about  twenty-five.  Charles  Graves  is  clerk 
and  A.  Lawrence,  deacon.  The  society  do  not  hold 
regular  services  at  present,  and  their  building  is  occu- 
pied by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society,  Rev.  Mr. 
Royce  officiating  once  in  two  weeks.  The  Sabbath 
school  numbers  about  sixty  scholars.  David  Leonard 
is  superintendent. 

The  Methodists  held  meetings  at  the  old  log  school 
house,  one  mile  south  of  Florence  corners  as  early  as 
1810  or  1817,  at  which  Rev.  Nathan  Smith,  the  first 
preacher  in  the  township,  usually  officiated.  There 
are  now  two  societies  of  this  denomination  in  the 
township,  one  at  Florence  corners  and  another  at 
Birmingham.  The  writer  is  unable  to  give  the  facts 
of  their  organization,  although  applying  personally 
to  many  who  were  supposed  to  be  able  to  furnish  the 
necessary  information.  And  a  letter,  with  postage 
enclosed,  addressed  to  the  (jastor  of  the  church  at 
Florence  corners,  who  is  said  to  have  the  early  records 
of  both  churches,  fails  to  elicit  the  courtesy  of  an  an- 
swer. 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  ISIS,  at  the 
house  of  Luther  Norris,  by  John  Rigdon,  a  minister 
from  Richland  county,  and  their  meetings  were  held 
alternately  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Norris  and  at  Florence 
corners.  About  the  same  time,  a  Baptist  society  was 
formed  in  Henrietta,  Lorain  county,  where  meetings 
were  held  in  the  school  house  about  a  mile  east  of 
Birmingham,  and  the  Baptists  in  Florence  subse- 
quently united  there.  In  July,  1837,  by  resolution 
of  the  church  in  Henrietta,  a  branch  was  organized 
at  Birmingham,  consisting  of  the  following  membeVs: 
James  and  Catharine  Daly,  Henry  and  Mary  Howe, 
John  and  Ann  Blair,  Richard  and  Catharine  Laugh- 
ton  and  Hannah  Brown,  and  the  society  was  called 
the  "Henrietta  and  Birmingham  Baptist  Church." 
In  May,  1840.  the  branch  at  Birmingham  organized 
independently. 

The  Disciples  church  at  Birmingham,  was  organ- 
ized in  1845,  with  about  forty  menibers.  It  continued 
prosperous,  under  the  labors  of  able  men,  the  mem- 
bershiij  increasing  to  about  seventy,  when  Sidney 
Rigdon,  one  of  its  preachers,  embraced  the  doctrine  of 
Mormonism,  and  drew  off  about  one-half  of  the 
churcli.  A  house  of  worship  was  erected  the  same 
year,  in  which  the  society  was  organized,  costing 
about  tuelve  hundred  dollars.  Almon  Andress,  now 
of  Birmingliam,  was  tlie  first  elder  of  the  church,  and 
has  continued  as  such  for  nearly  fifty  years.  Jouatlian 
Bryant  officiated  in  the  same  cajjacity  for  some  time, 
and  Silas  Wood  was  deacon.  No  regular  services 
have  been  held  for  some  time. 

The  Evangelical  church,  in  the  the  first  section,  was 
formed  about  twenty  years  ago,  at  the  school  house 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


just  east  of  Mr.  Clary's,  with  a  membership  of  about 
twenty.  In  18GC,  the  pi'esent  house  of  worship,  on 
the  county  line,  was  erected,  and  cost  about  nine 
hundred  dollars.  The  membership  at  present  num- 
bers about  what  it  did  originally.  Rev.  George  Has- 
senflug  is  pastor. 

POST    OFFICE. 

The  first  mail  route  througii  the  township  extended 
from  Cleveland  to  the  old  county  seat  on  Huron  river. 
The  post  office  was  at  Florence  corners,  and  Eli  S. 
Barnum  was  the  first  postmaster.  He  kept  the  office 
in  his  dwelling,  and  continued  postmaster  for  many 
years.  His  successors  have  been  William  F.  Perry, 
Jeremiah  Baker,  and  George  P.  Baker  who  continues 
to  hold  the  office. 

Cyrus  Butler  was  the  first  postmaster  at  Birming- 
ham.   G.  W.  Chandler  is  the  present  incumbent. 

TOWNSHIP    ORGANIZATION. 

Florence  was  organized  as  aai  independent  township 
April  7,  1S17.  The  first  election  for  township  officers 
was  held  at  the  log  school  house  one  mile  south  of 
Florence  corners.  Joab  Squire  was  elected  clerk; 
Eli  S.  Barnum,  John  Brooks,  Sr.,  and  Isaac  Furman, 
trustees;  Ezra  Sprague,  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
number  of  votes  polled  was  seventeen. 

The  township  officers  elected  on  April,  1879,  are  as 
follows:  W.  J.  Rowland,  clerk;  E.  B.  Peck,  George 
Taylor  and  A.  B.  Denman,  trustees;  John  H.  Poyer, 
treasurer;  Charles  A.  Heale,  assessor;  H.  G.  Thomp- 
son and  N.  G.  Taft,  justices  of  the  peace. 

MILLS    AND    MANl'FAC'TrRES. 

In  the  summer  of  1809,  Almon  Ruggles  and  his 
brother,  in  fulfillment  of  a  contract  with  the  propri- 
etors of  the  township,  erected  a  grist  mill  on  the 
Vermillion  near  the  south  town  line.  The  mill  was 
no  sooner  put  in  oi^eration,  than  a  sudden  freshet 
swept  mill,  dam  and  everything  before  it.  In  1811, 
the  Messrs.  Ruggles  began  the  erection  of  another 
mill,  on  the  La  Chapelle,  near  the  north  line  of  the 
township,  which  was  completed  the  next  year.  The 
mill  proved  a  great  convenience  to  the  settlers  not  only 
in  this,  but  in  adjoining  and  more  distant  townships, 
as  no  grinding  could  be  obtained  short  of  Newburg 
or  Cold  creek.  The  proprietors  subsequently  added 
a  saw  mill.  A  number  of  years  afterwards,  the  mills 
were  bought  by  Harley  Mason,  who  also  built  another 
saw  mill  on  the  same  stream,  a  short  distance  above. 
The  first  saw  mill  in  the  township  was  built  by  Eli 
S.  Barnum,  on  the  La  Chapelle,  in  the  summer  of 
1810.  On  tiie  same  creek  a  saw  mill  was  built,  at  an 
early  date,  by  Job  Smith.  Smitii  was  an  early  settler 
in  Berlin,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Brownhelm. 
The  mention  of  his  name  recalls  the  following  story: 
He  is  said  at  one  time  to  have  purchased  a  stock  of 
goods  in  New  York,  for  wiiich  he  agreed  to  pay  the 
owner  five  hundred  coon  skins,  "taken  as  they  run," 
by  which  the  merchant  naturally  understood  an  aver- 


age lot.  But  it  appears  that  Smith  attached,. in  this 
instance,  at  least,  a  very  different  meaning  to  the 
phrase.  The  skins  not  being  delivered,  the  dealer 
came  on  to  investigate  the  matter,  and  inquired  of 
Smith  when  he  would  fulfill  his  contract.  "Why," 
said  Smith,  "you  were  to  take  them  as  they  run;  the 
woods  are  full  of  them,  take  them  when  \-ou  please  !" 

The  mill  built  by  Smith,  was  afterwards  owned  and 
run  for  many  years  by  Chester  King.  In  1816, 
William  Blackman  erected  a  saw  mill  on  the  Ver- 
million, above  the  forks  of  the  river,  where  the  stone 
quarry  now  is.  Before  completing  it,  Harley  Mason 
came  in  and  purchased  a  half  interest.  Soon  after  it 
was  finished.  Mason  sold  his  interest  to  Blackman, 
receiving  in  exchange  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Hiram  Smith.  This  proved  a  for- 
tunate transaction  for  Mason,  and  e(iually  unfortunate 
for  Blackman,  for  shortly  afterwards  a  freshet  carried 
away  the  dam,  mill  and  all,  leaving  the  owner  without 
a  dollar  in  the  world.  He  then  removed  to  New 
London,  where  he  bettered  his  fortunes. 

In  1816,  Perez  Starr,  and  his  brother  Dudley, 
erected  a  saw  mill,  and  the  next  year  a  grist  mill,  on 
the  Vermillion,  on  or  near,  the  site  of  the  present 
grist  mill  at  Birmingham.  Perez  bought  his  brother 
out  shortly  afterwards,  and  carried  on  the  business 
for  a  number  of  years,  when  they  were  bought  out  by 
Cyrus  Butler,  who  operated  them  until  his  death. 
The  next  owner  was  Ahira  Cobb,  who  subsequently 
traded  them,  with  other  property,  to  a  man  of  the 
name  of  Dunham,  of  Cleveland,  for  property  in  that 
city.  The  mills  burned  dawn  while  Dunham  owned 
them,  and  the  mill-seat  was  afterwards  purchased  by 
Silas  Wood,  who,  at  the  time,  owned  a  stone  grist 
mill  farther  up  the  river,  built  by  Wines  &  Walker. 
This  he  then  took  down  and  moved  to  Birmingham, 
and  erected  the  present  grist  mill,  having,  the  year 
previous,  in  ISo-l,  built  a  saw  mill  there.  These 
mills  are  now  owned  by  G.  H.  Arnold. 

EARLY  STORES. 

The  first  store  in  the  township  appears  to  have 
been  opened  at  Birmingham,  by  Erastus  Butler,  In 
the  county  assessor's  list  of  merchants  and  traders, 
with  their  assessed  capital,  in  Huron  county,  for  the 
year  1826,  he  is  the  only  trader  mentioned  for  this 
township.  The  amount  of  his  capital  as  given  was 
eighteen  hundred  dollars.  In  1828,  the  name  of  Gyrus 
Butler  appears  with  only  a  capital  of  five  hundred 
dollars.  In  1829,  Ferris  &  Wood,  of  Florence  Cor- 
ners, were  assessed  on  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
In  1830,  J,  V.  Vredenburg  with  six  hundred  dollars, 
J.  L.  Wood,  six  hundred  dollars,  and  Charles  P. 
Judson,  seven  hundred  dollars,  are  mentioned. 

Cyrus  Butler,  a  pioneer  merchant  of  Florence,  and 
at  one  time  the  owner  of  the  old  mills  at  Birming- 
ham, had,  at  one  time,  a  forge,  a  short  distance  below 
the  mills,  and  manufactured  bar  iron  for  a  few  years, 
the  ore  for  which  was  obtained  in  Vermillion.  The 
works  finally  went  oil  in  a   freshet.     An  ax  factory 


HISTOHY  OF  HURON    AND  ElilH  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


453 


was  formerly  carried  on  tliere.  for  a  .short  time,  by  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Pratt. 

Birmingham,  as  we  have  seen,  from  the  mention  of 
some  of  its  early  enterprises,  was  once  a  place  of  con- 
siderable business  activity.  It  had,  among  its  busi- 
ness men,  such  men  as  Perez  Starr,  Ahira  Cobb, 
Uriah  Hawley,  Silas  Wood  and  others, — men  of  great 
energy,  business  experience  and  property.  The  vil- 
lage neglected  the  opportunity,  once  presented,  of 
securing  a  railroad  and  its  glory  has  long  since  de- 
l)arted.  And  at  Terryville,  where  once  was  heard  the 
busy  hum  of  industry,  is  now  a  collection  of  only  a 
few  old  houses. 

Birmingham  is -now  a  place  of  some  two  hundred 
and  fifty  inhabitants,  with  three  churches,  two  school 
houses,  one  grist  mill,  one  saw  mill,  one  hotel,  one 


drug  and  hardware  store,  one  general  store,  one  gro- 
cery, one  millinery  and  fancy  goods,  one  furniture 
shop,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  carriage  shop,  two 
wagon  and  repair  shops,  one  cooper  shop,  one  cigar 
factory,  one  meat  market,  one  tailor  shop. 

At  Florence  Corners  there  are  two  churches,  one 
school  house,  two  general  stores,  one  harness  shop, 
two  blacksmith  shops,  one  shoe  shop. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  three  saw  mills  in  the 
township,  viz:  Wilber  T.  Mason's  on  the  La  Chapelle, 
Edwin  Botsford  near  Florence  Corners,  and  Eli 
Grave's  southwest  of  Birmingham. 

There  are  two  cheese  factories — those  of  George  P. 
Baker  near  Florence  Corners,  and  George  Van  Fleet 
at  Birmingham. 


GROTON. 


This  township,  which  is  number  five,  in  range 
twenty-four,  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Margaretta, 
south  by  Lyme  township,  Huron  county,  east  by  Ox- 
ford township,  and  west  by  the  townships  of  York 
and  Townsend,  in  Sandusky  county. '  It  was  origi- 
nally a  part  of  Wheatsborough,  called  so  in  honor  of 
the  gentleman  who  owned  the  greater  part'  of  the 
land  contained  within  its  limits. 

PHYSICAL    FE.VTUKES. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  level,  about  one-half 
being  prairie,  while  the  northern  portion  is  covered 
with  small  timber.  The  soil  of  the  south  half  is  a 
black  muck,  slightly  mixed  with  sand  and  very  pi'o- 
ductive.  In  the  remaining  portion  of  the  township  a 
limestone  soil  prevails,  and  here  is  found  limestone  in 
considerable  quantities. 

Only  one  stream  of  water  is  found  in  the  township. 
This  is  Pipe  creek,  which  rises  in  Lyme  township 
and  flows  in  a  general  northeasterly  direction  across 
Groton  and  into  Oxford.  The  stream  was  named  by 
the  Indians,  by  reason  of  a  soft  stone  found  ^n  its 
bed  from  which  pipes  were  formed. 

OiilGINAL   OWKERSHIP. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
Groton  township.  For  explanation,  see  general  his- 
tory. 


GROTON,  TOWX  NUMBER  FIVE,   RANGE  TWENTY-FOUR- 


Classification  No.  1.  Sectio.v  1. 

Original  Grantees. 

Amt  Loss. 

Classijiecl  bi/. 

An- 

clawed. 

S 

s. 

d. 

£ 

5 

({ 

Latham  Avery 

103 

5 

6 

Latham  Avery 

Thankful  Avery 

21)3 

16 

8 

;;       ;; 

183 

g 

8 

Amos  Avery 

12 

2 

2 

12 

2 

2 

George  Avery 

8 

a 

•' 

8 

8 

2 

Ruth  Holliday 

43 

11 

3 

■• 

43 

11 

3 

Elizabeth  Latham 

15 

12 

6 

15 

12 

6 

h'zekiel  Bailey 

2 

19 

5 

a 

19 

5 

Alexander  Kidd 

9 

5 

11 

9 

5 

11 

Daniel  Williams 

7 

13 

0 

13 

0 

Christopher  Wood- 

bridge 

3 

0 

3 

0 

Benajah  Lester 

a 

7 

2 

Samuel  Chester 

io 

6 

C 

io 

6 

6 

Daniel  Eldridge 

4 

u 

0 

" 

4 

14 

0 

Benjamin  Avery 

:i 

19 

0 

3 

19 

0 

Jason  Chester 

20 

18 

0 

ao 

18 

0 

John  mx 

0 

8 

0 

Elizabeth  More 

02 

10 

9 

62 

10 

9 

Nancy  More 

30 

10 

3 

"       " 

30 

10 

2 

Rebecca  Minor 

6 

11 

6 

11 

Mary  More 

10 

13 

6 

10 

1.) 

6 

John  (or  Jonathan' 

Latham 

94 

18 

9 

94 

18 

9 

James  Bailey 

10 

0 

a 

10 

0 

Captain  Edward  La- 

tliam 

8 

4 

8 

Thomas  Starr 

1 

1 

6 

1 

1 

6 

Experience  Ward 

19 

5 

a 

19 

r. 

Benjamin  Chester 

442 

3 

OH 

Starr  Chester 

147 

8 

Jephama  Pratt 

147 

8 

442 

■3 

'8H 

James  Dennison 

147 

7 

8 

Elisha  Prior 

34 

12 

11 

Elisha  Prior 

34 

12 

11 

Nathan  (or  Nath'l) 

Seabury 

Jl 

18 

Nathaniel  Seabur\ 

3 

18 

Elizabeth  Seabury 

11 

q 

Elizabeth  Seabury 

137 

10 

Thankful  Avery 

26.3 
Fc 

16 
oting 

Of  c 

Ebenezer  Lester 

80 

8 

0 

» 

asslflcation  No.  1,^1^7" 

~~~ 

~ 

Ct.ASSlFICATION 

No.  a,  Section  2. 

Original  Grantees. 

Amt  Imss. 

Classified  by. 

Ani-t 

Claused. 

£ 

s 

d 

1 

£ 

g 

d. 

John  Deshon          1 

1T7 

6 

2 

Samuel  Wheat,  of 

1     New  London 

.177 

6 

2 

Eliphalet  Harris 

20 

12 

15 

1 

20 

12 

It 

John  Deshon  &  Co. 

550 

10 

0 

1 

146 

8 

5 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  2.  £1,344 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OUIO. 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Alexander  Reed  60 

Guv  Richards  4  Son  81 1 

Isaac  Champlin  143 

Gersham  Thorp  9 


Classi.ried  by.        Am't  Classed 


1S8 


iMary  S.,  Enoch  T. 
I  and  Samuel  H .  9 

Parsons,  children  31 
1  of  Enoch  Parsons,  14 
I  Esq..  Middletown.  227 


Footing  of  Classification  No 


Classification 


Original  Grantees.       Am't  Loss.        Cla.'^ified  by 


Alexander  Reed 
Jabez  (or  Jos.)  Minor 
James  Culver 
James  Matthews 
William  Brooks 
Joseph  Owen 
James  Pitman  1 

John  Champlin  1 

Percy  Beers 
Anthon.v  Mitchell 
John  Tiller 
Stephen  Hempstead 
Lvdia  Beebe  : 

Abigail  Bell 
John  Springer 
Lvdia  .Johnson 
Marj-  Xewbury 
William  Stark 
Nathaniel  Dickersou 
Joanna  Holt 
Mary  Lewis 


Abigail  Bell  6 

John  Springer  17 

Lvdia  .Johnson  21 

M'arv  Newbury  14 

William  Stark  17 
Nathaniel  Dickinson   13 

Jonathan  Holt  35 

Mary  Lewis  o 

Joseph  Hurl  butt  965 

John  Deshon  &  Co.  556 

Bethia  Talmon  63 

John  Spencer  58 


Samuel  H.  P.  Lee 


[Ys  Sam'l  Tabor.  Jr. 


Sam'l  Wheat.  Esq. 
John  Lord 
George  Chapman 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1,343      16 


SETTLEMENT 


The  first  settlement  iu  Grotou  township  (then 
Wheatsborough)  was  made  on  Pipecreekby  Jonathan 
Sprague,  Squire  Richey,  and  others  iu  1809.  In  1811, 
Captain  Seth  Harrington,  for  many  years  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  of  his  township,  moved  in  from 
Conneant,  Ohio,  with  his  family.  He  was  originally 
from  Rliode  Island,  but  settled  iu  Pennsylvania  a  few 
years  prior  to  1800,  when  he  removed  to  Couneaut, 
where  he  resided  until  his  departure  for  the  Fire-lands. 
He  raised  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  one  daugh- 
ter (Rhoda)  became  the  wife  of  Bourdett  Wood. 
Among  other  early  settlers  may  be  named  the  follow- 
ing: Hiram  Blackman,  George  Furgersou,  Alexis 
Jackson,  William,  James,  and  John  McCord,  Thomas 
Morris,  Israel  Putnam,  Samuel  Spry,  Nathaniel  Cow- 
an, Phineas  Dunham,  and  others. 

ORGAXIZ.VTIOX. 

An  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  Mc- 
Cord June  2,  1834,  and  on  that  day  the  first  oflScers 
of  the  towiLship  were  elected,  viz. :  Nathaniel  Chap- 
man, Bishop  Stebbins,  and  Nathan  Strong,  trustees; 
Hiram  Deyo,  clerk;  Stephen  Crippen,  treasurer; 
Stephen  Crippen,  ju.stiee  of  the  peace;  Joshua  Lace, 


constable;  Elaphall  Topjjen,  George  Cook,  and  Orange 
Potter,  fence  viewers:  James  Bemiss,  James  More- 
craft,  poor  masters.  There  are  but  seven  men  living 
in  the  township  at  present  who  were  here  at  the  time 
of  this  election,  and  who  were  old  enough  to  vote. 
They  are  tlie  following:  Pierson  Magill,  Madison  S. 
Harrington,  Harvey  Wood,  Ephraim  Hastings,  Dr. 
John  P.  Deyo.  Samuel  Nims,  and  Worthington  Nims, 

FIRST    EVEXTS.* 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  of  Gro- 
tou was  Ann,  daughter  of  George  Furgerson.  She 
grew  to  womanhood,  married  a  man  named  Phillip.*, 
and  remaved  to  Michigan. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Standish  Wood,  and 
the  body  was  interred  in  a  coffin  made  of  boards  from 
a  wagon  box.  "After  the  wagon  boxes  were  gone, 
George  Sprague  and  Seth  Harrington  made  several 
coffins  from  puncheons  dressed  down  with  an  ax  to 
something  like  boards." 

Squire  Richey  felled  the  first  tree,  and  built  the 
first  log  house  in  the  township.  The  first  frame 
house  was  built  by  Seth  Harrington,  in  1817. 
.  It  was  necessary,  in  early  times,  for  convenience  in 
making  change,  to  cut  a  dollar"  into  four,  six  or 
eight  parts. 

The  first  settlers  received  their  letters  and  mail 
matter  from  Cleveland  post  office,  and  tlie  first  mail 
route  from  that  point  to  Deti'oit  passed  through  Gio- 
ton,-  at  or  near  the  center,  east  and  west.  Jolin  Pax- 
ton  carried  the  mail  in  1814. 

The  first  orchard  was  planted  by  Jonathan  Sprague. 

Dr.  George  Hastings  located  in  the  townshiji,  and 
commenced  practice  as  early  as  1810,  and  remained 
many  years.     He  died  in  October,  1864. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  S()uire  Richey, 
who  was  elected  in  1816. 

The. first  store  was  opened  at  Pipe  creek,  at  one 
time  quite  a  village,  by  John  Wheeler,  of  Sandusky, 
in  about  1830.  There  are  at  present  two  stores  in 
the  township. 

A  post  ofEce  was  not  established  until  about  1854, 
previous  to  which  time  the  residents  of  Grotou  town- 
ship received  their  mail  at  Bloomingville.  Rev.  Zar 
Patch,  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
denomination,  was  the  first  commissioned  postmaster. 
This  office  is  now  located  at  the  center  of  the  town- 
ship.    A.  J.  Hastings,  postmaster. 

The  "seven  mile  house"  is  the  first  hotel,  and  only 
one  in  the  township.  It  is  located  on  lot  number  six 
in  the  second  section,  and  was  constructed  by  John 
Powell,  in  1831  or  '3-2. 

CHrRCHES    AXD    SCHOOLS. 

Religious  meetings  were  early  held  in  the  dwolliugs 
of  the-  settlers,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gurley  and  others.  Tiio 
jjioneer  church  organization  was  that  of  Metliodist,  and 
met  in  the  northeast  corner  of  tlie  township,  where  is 

*A  portion  o£  this  history  is  taken  from  the  Fire-Lands  Pioneer. 


f '^  ^^ 


fvlRS.fvlARIAH    RICHARDS. 


R.Q.RICHARDS. 


Residence  of    R.G-.  RICHARDS, Chicago  Junction, fiuRON  Co., 0. 


msi'OUY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


455 


now  the  church  edifice.  This  is  situated  on  lot  num- 
ber twelve  in  the  second  section,  and  was  erected 
some  twenty  years  since.  Another  church  is  located 
on  lot  number  thirty-five  in  section  third. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Elijah  F.  Flinney,  in 
1818,  who  was  paid  at  the  rate  of  fourteen  dollars  per 
month  for  his  services.  Among  the  scholars  were  the 
Harringtons.  ilcGills,    Paxtons,   etc.     Groton   town- 


ship has  now  ten  school  houses,  nearly  all  of  which 
are  new. 

IXDUSTRIAL    PrKSriTS. 

Early  in  the  settlement  a  grist  mill  was  built  on 
Pipe  Creek,  by  Eli  and  Edward  Eord,  and  a  distillery 
just  above  it  on  the  same  stream.  A  tannery  was 
also  built  on  the  same  stream,  by  Truman  Bonney; 
and  there  was  at  one  time  a  cabinet  shop  of  ample 
proportions. 


PERKINS. 


This  township,  which  is  described  as  number  six  in 
range  twenty-third,  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Port- 
land township,  which  it  formerly  embraced;  south  by 
Oxford  township;  east  by  Huron  township,  and  west 
by  the  township  of  Margaretta.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  one  of  its  largest  owners,  Hon.  Elias  Per- 
kins of  New  London,  Connecticut.  The  following 
sketcii  is  prepared  from  matter  published  in  the  Fire- 
lands  Pioneer,  by  F.  D.  Parish,  Esq.,  and  others: 

PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY. 

The  township  is  generally  level,  tliougji  in  some 
parts  it  is  gently  undulating  with  slight  ridges  of 
sand.  The  principal  one  extends  from  about  the 
center  of  the  east  line,  in  a  southwesterly  direction, 
through  the  first  and  part  of  the  fourth  sections,  into 
the  northeast  part  of  Oxford  to  Bloomingville.  Near 
the  line  dividing  those  sections  there  is  a  curve  grad- 
ually to  the  west.  It  is  also  broken  occasionally  by 
narrow  depressions  or  swails.  Its  soil  is  of  great  fer- 
tility and  consists  mostly  of  black  alluvial  earth.  Lit- 
tle clay  is  found.  The  ridges,  as  before  stated,  Are 
mainly  composed  of  sand.  Perkins  ranks  among  the 
most  productive  in  the  county. 


Tliere  are  no  marshes  or  waste  land  in  the  township 
and  no  considerable  streams  of  water.  Two  small 
streams,  however,  are  found  in  the  northwest  part. 
Pike  creek  flows  from  Margaretta  township,  entering 
Perkins  near  the  southwest  corner  of  section  three. 
It  flows  a  generally  northeasterly  direction  and  emp- 
ties its  waters  into  the  bay  just  west  of  Sandusky. 

Pipe  creek  enters  the  south  part  of  the  township  on 
section  four.  Its  course  is  in  a  northeasterly  direc- 
tion. During  the  wet  portion  of  the  year  these  streams 
drain  the  township  effectually,  but  in  tlie  dry  seasonsi 
little  or  no  water  is  found  in  either. 


TOWN  NUMBER  SIX,  RANGE  TWEXTV-THIJEE. 


Classification  No. 
fees.       Am'tLoss. 


Jonathan  Douglass    1440      14 
Bri.lget  Harris  24      19 

Michael  .Melally  94       4 


I,  Sectio.n  1. 
Chtssijied  bij. 


Ca'han'l  S.  Perkius, 
Tho's  S.  Perkins, 
Llicretia  W.  Per- 
kins and  Ellen  E. 


Elias  Perkins 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  1,   £1,344 


Classification  No.  i.  Section  3. 


Original  Grantees. 

.4;ii 

t  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

£ 

s 

d. 

Edward  Hallum 

10 

16 

Edward  Hallum 

Edward  and  John 

Hallum 

310 

9 

8 

3 

John  Hallum 

417 

10 

0 

Edward 
Maiy' 

Sa^''. 

F.  Hallum  3 

John  Hallum  and  B. 

Harris 

300 

0 

0 

" 

2 

Benjamin  Harris 

19 

9 

5 

" 

ELenezer  Douglass 

ir 

9 

4 

Peter  Robertson 

SI 

12 

2 

Rosman  Lawrence 

54 

0 

0 

Thomas  Jones 

40 

10 

William  Higgins 

4 

11 

0 

" 

Lydia  Green 

12 

18 

0 

Sam'l  Lattimer 

44 

r 

6 

Amasa  Earned 

18 

0 

:; 

Michael  Love 

33 

0 

0 

Joshua  Potter 

8 

14 

5 

Nathl  Thorp 

3 

13 

5 

" 

Judah  P.  Spooner 
Edward  and  George 

31 

12 

0 

Hallum 

315 

0 

0 

Original  Grante> 
Nathaniel  and  Thos 


John  Hallum 


For  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
referred  to  the  history  of  Wakeman  townsliip: 


Joseph  Hurlbut 
John  Penwest 
Michael  Mulnlly 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,344 

7        OH 

Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 

.4m'(  Loss.        Classified  by.              Am 
^    £       .       rf   1                                      £ 

t  Classed, 
s.        d. 

'2834       3       0       Mary  S.  Woodbridge. 
1         Lucretia  M.  WoSd- 
bridge   and  Nath'l 
1         S.  Woodbridge       1-344       7       0 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1.344 

7       0 

Classification  No.  4,  Section  4. 

Am-t  Loss.        Classified  by.               Am 
£       .,.        rf,                                             £ 

t  Classed. 

a.       d. 

^3S34       5       0 

417      10        0 

965        8       3 
"94        4        7 

Mary  S..  Lucretia M. 
and  Nath-1  Wood-^^ 

Edward,  John,  Abby 
H.    Eliza    A.  and 
Mary  HaUum          14 
Hannah  Patten        474 
Oliver  Champion     22:i 
Samuel  Green           8C 

3  10 

14        3 

4  11 

8        6 
18        7 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  4  £1,:J44 


HISTORY  OF  HUROK  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


SETTLEMKXT.  t 

The  first  permanent  settler  in  Perkins  township  | 
was  Tliomas  James.  He  located  here  in  1810,  in  the  ' 
south  part  of  the  t'oui'th  section.  James  was  of  Irish 
hirth,  and  came  to  America  a  few  \-ears  prior  to  the 
above  date,  first  settling  in  New  England.  He  pur- 
chased his  land  in  Connecticut,  and  it  proved  to  be  a 
valuable  tract.  He  was  accompanied  by  John  Beatty, 
Esq.,  another  Irishman,  whose  object  was  to  explore 
the  country,  wFth  a  view  to  purchase.  They  traveled 
through  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State 
resided  James  Forsyth,  a  brother-in  law  of  Beatty, 
who  came  with  them  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Oxford 
township.  This  company  left  Northumberland, 
Pennsylvania.  June  3,  of  the  above  year.  They  passed 
through  Pittsburgh,  and  thence  to  Cleveland,  where 
they  arrived  on  July  3.  Of  this,  the  beautiful  "Forest 
City,"  Mr.  Forsyth  says:  "The  town  was  small, 
there  was  not  a  good  looking  house  in  it,  and  but  few 
of  any  kind."  The  same  historian  continues:  "After 
some  trouble,  we  crossed  the  Cuyahoga  river.  John 
Beatty  remained  behind  to  settle  the  ferriage,  and  in 
crossing  in  a  canoe,  he  fell  out  and  narrowly  escaped 
being  drowned.'"  They  crossed  the  mouth  of  the 
Vermillion  and  Huron  rivers  on  sand  bars.  While 
Forsyth  and  Beatty  went  with  Wright  and  Rnggles, 
prospecting,  James  went  directly  to  the  lands  he  had 
already  purchased,  which  he  reached  the  same  month 
(July).  Perhaps  a  mouth  previous,  two  or  three 
families  had  squatted  on  lands  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood.    They  were  but  transient  settlers,  however. 

In  1813,  four  families,  refugees  from  Canada,  which 
they  left  rather  than  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  came 
into  the  township  and  settled  near  each  other  in  the 
northeast  corner.  Their  names  were:  Christian 
Winters,  John  Freese,  Stephen  Russell  and  David 
Cummings.  They  all  lived  many  years  in  the  town- 
ship, some  of  them  during  life. 

The  largest  colony  of  settlers  came  in  the  fall  of 
1815.  John  Beatty,  before  mentioned,  made  a  large 
investment  of  lauds  in  Perkins  township,  including 
nearly  all  of  section  one,  and  removed  thereto  this 
year.  He  was  accompanied  by  the  following  persons 
and  their  respective  families:  Julius  House,  Joseph 
and  Jesse  Taylor,  Eleizur  Bell,  Plinney  Johuson, 
Harvey  Covell,  Roswell  Eddy,  Roswell  Hubbard, 
Holsey  Aikens,  and  Richard  P.  Christopher.  Two 
single  men,  William  Robinson  and  William  R.  Bebee, 
were  also  of  the  company.  Eleazur  Lockwood,  who 
came  from  Canada,  some  years  before,  and  resided 
elsewhere,  settled  in  Perkins  the  same  year.  Then 
settlers  came  from  Connecticut,  mostly  from  Hartford 
county.  They  came  the  whole  distance  by  ox  teams, 
fourteen  in  number.  All  who  came  with  Beatty,  as 
well  as  Eleizur  Lockwood,  purchased  laud  of  him  and 
located  in  the  same  neighborhood,  on  or  near  the 
sand  ridge  before  described  as  passing  through  sec- 
tions one  and  four.  Beatty  located  near  the  east  line 
of  the  township.  Of  the  settlers.  Bell  and  Robinson 
died  at  an  earlv  dav. 


Soon  after  1815  the  following  families  located  in 
the  same  neighborhood:  Asa  Wickhani,  Thomas  Ir- 
vine, Hope  Tucker,  William  Dickinson,  Roger  and 
Alva  Fox,  and  others. 

In  the  spring  of  181? Watkius  came  on  with 

his  family,  and  located  on  lam,!  he  bouglit  of  Mr. 
Beatty  in  section  four.  The  fall  following,  Justus 
Allen  arrived  with  a  large  family,  and  built  a  hewed 
log  house.  The  next  year  he  built  a  frame  barn,  and 
opened  a  hotel.     He  died  in  the  fall  of  IS'-JO. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  Rogers  came  from  the 

State  of  New  York  with  his  family,  and  moved  into  a 
log  house  built  by  Mr.  Sprague,  near  the  sulphur 
spring.  Himself  and  four  children  died  the  subse- 
quent fall. 

In  1821,  Hubbard  HoUister  and  Lodowick  Brown 
arrived  in  the  township,  and  Captain  H.  W.  Bush 
came  in  1825  or  '2G.  But  the  principal  settlement  in 
the  township  for  many  years  was  that  on  the  ridge 
before  mentioned;  and,  in  honor  of  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens,  it  obtained  the  name  of  ''  House's 
settlement."  Because  of  the  origin  of  the  people,  it 
was  called  the  "  yankee  settlement;"  and  jet  again, 
owing  to  the  abundant  production  of  an  indispensa- 
ble vegetable,  it  was  sometimes  designated  as  the 
"potato  settlement." 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township,  or,  at  least,  among 
these  settlers,  was  that  of  Christopher,  son  of  Plinney 
Johnson,  in  1817,  and  the  second  was  a  daughter  of 
Harvey  Covell,  afterward  the  wife  of  Dwight  Buck. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  William  Robinson  to 
Rhoda  House,  and  it  occurred  in  181 T.  Both  ai-e 
long  since  deceased.  The  next  was  that  of  William 
R.  Bebee  and  Miss  Minei'va  Bell. 

The  first  post  office  established  within  the  town- 
ship was  in  1817.  John  Beatty,  Esq.,  was  postmaster, 
and  distributed  the  mails  from  his  log  cabin.  A  dry 
goods  box,  with  some  shelves  added,  was  used  to  con- 
tain the  letters  and  papers.  It  is  said  he  never  re- 
ported to  the  department,  and  declined  to  make  any 
returns.  He  was  removed  and  the  office  discontinued 
in  perhaps  1818  or  '19.  The  inhabitants  received 
their  mail  at  Sandusky.  An  office  was  established  on 
the  Bloomingville  road,  with  Ralph  Borders,  post- 
master.    This  was  discontinued  many  years  since. 

The  first  dry  goods  store  first  opened  in  this  town- 
ship was  by  John  Beatty  at  his  dweJling  at  a  very 
early  period;  aud  second  by  Julius  House,  Esq.,  who 
opened  a  very  limited  assortment  near  his  residence 
at  the  corners.  Neither  of  these  were  continued  very 
long. 

The  first  public  road  laid  out  and  opened  through 
the  township,  was  doubtless  that  to  Bloomingville, 
and  on  to  Fremont;  second,  from  Milan  to  Sandusky, 
and  third,  from  Bloomingville  to  Sandusky. 

The  only  mill  erected  in  the  township  was  a  saw- 
mill on  Pike  creek,  a  few  rods  below  the  present 
crossing  of  the  road  from  Sandusky  to  House's  settle- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


457 


ment,  near  the  county  poor  horn 
John  Beattv  in  1817  or  '18. 


It  was  built  by 


ORGAXIZATXO 


In  the  spring-  of  1817.  the  settlers  voted  at  Bloom- 
ingville.  In  October  following,  an  election  was  held 
in  the  log  school  house  near  Jesse  Taylor's.  John 
Freese,  Julius  House  and  Eleazur  Lockwood  were 
judges,  and  John  Beattv  and  Richard  P.  Christopher, 
clerks.  In  the  subsequent  spring  the  township  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  same  place.  John  Beatty  was 
elected  clerk;  Eleazur  Lockwood,  John  Freese  and 
Julius  House,  trustees:  William  R.  Bebee  and  Ros- 
well  Hubbard,  constables:  John  Dillingham  and  Har- 
vey C'ovell,  fence  viewers.  The  first  justice  of  the 
peace  was  Julius  House,  who  officiated  for  many 
years. 


The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  township  was  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery,  a  Methodist  minister,  then 
residing  in  Cleveland.  This  was  in  1816.  Many  of 
the  colony  that  came  in  the  fall  of  1815  were  of  the 
Methodist  faith,  and  a  class  was  organized,  it  is 
thought,  the  same  fall.  This  has  been  continued 
without  interruption  from  that  to  the  present  time. 
Among  the  preachers  of  an  early  day  wjio  occasionally 
visited  the  settlement  were:  William  Gurley,  True 
Pattie.  James  Mclntyre,  and  Harry  O.  Sheldon,  of 
the  Methodist,  and  Alva  Coe,  the  noted  missionary 
among  the  Indians,  who  was  of  the  Congregational 
church.  It  is  believed  that  no  religious  denomina- 
tion other  than  the  Methodist  have  ever  had  an  or- 
ganization in  the  township. 

The  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  about 
1830  or  18.31  by  Judges  Moors,  Farwell.  and  F.  D. 
Parish,  of  Sandusky. 


The  next  winter  after  the  arrival  of  the  colony,  a 
log  school  house  was  put  up  near  the  present  corners, 
and  a  school  was  kept  in  it  that  winter  by  Dr.  Rich- 
ard P.  Christopher,  a  graduate  of  Yale  college.  His 
compensation  was  sixteen  dollars  per  month,  which 
was  paid  by  the  patrons  of  the  scliool  in  proportion 
to  the  number  sent  by  each  family.     The  next  sum- 


mer the  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Ann  Beatty,  who 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  James  Johnson. 

To  the  credit  of  this  yankee  colony  it  should  be 
recorded  that  schools  have  been  kept  open  eight 
months  in  each  year  from  tliat  time  to  the  present. 


The  first  to  settle  in  Perkins  township  was  Dr. 
Richard  P.  Christopher,  who  was  cue  of  the  company 
that  came  from  Connecticut  in  1815,  as  above  related. 
He  was  a  man  of  liberal  education,  being  a  Yale  grad- 
uate in  the  class  of  1814.  Among  the  graduates  of 
that  class  were  many  men  of  mark  in  after  life. 

Dr.  Christopher  acquired  a  wide  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. He  died  many  years  since,  in  the  neighborhood 
wliere  lie  first  settled  and  practiced. 

SHIP    BUILDIXU. 

Elizur  Bell,  one  of  the  colony  of  1815,  was  from 
Middlebury,  Connecticut,  and  was  a  ship  carpenter. 
In  the  township  of  Huron,  some  two  miles  west  of 
the  river,  lived  a  man  named  Montgomery,  and  with 
him,  Abijah  Hewitt.  These  men  conceived  the  idea 
of  building  a  small  schooner,  and  approached  -Mr. 
Bell  to  build  it  for  them.  It  was  proposed  to  build 
it  near  Montgomery's  house,  about  one  and  one-half 
miles,  in  a  direct  line  from  the  lake  shore.  And  it 
was  finally  constructed,  wliere  desired,  during  tlie 
\vinter  and  spring  of  1816.  The  craft  being  ready 
for  its  destined  element,  the  question  of  pressing  im- 
portance recurred,  how  shall  she  attain  to  her  desti- 
nation. To  avoid  obstructions  lying  in  the  way,  it 
became  necessary  to  convey  this  boat,  which  was  of 
some  seventy-five  tons  burden,  a  distance  of  about 
four  miles,  to  the  bank  of  the  lake,  to  do  this,  run- 
ners were  affixed  to  the  craft,  rollers  were  prepared 
to  place  under  the  runners,  forty  yoke  of  oxen  were 
attached,  twenty  yoke  to  each  runner,  and  in  due 
time  the  lake  was  reached  and  the  "Polly,"  named 
in  honor  of  the  wife  of  the  master  builder,  safely 
launched  upon  its  placid  bosom.  What  ultimately 
became  of  this  craft  is  not  definitely  known,  except 
that  she  was,  in  1818,  seized  by  the  United  States 
collector,  at  Sandusky,  for  alleged  breach  of  the  rev- 
enue laws,,  and  lay  for  some  months  in  tiie  cove  of 
Sandusky  Bay. 


MILAN 


MiLAX  is  town  mimher  five  in  i-ange  rweiitv-two. 
It  is  bounded  on  tlie  nortii  by  Huron,  east  by  Berlin, 
south  by  Xorwalk,  and  west  by  Oxford.  Its  surface 
is  moderately  even,  except  along  the  river,  where  it  is 
rolling  and  affords  a  fine  variety  of  landscape.  The 
streams  are  the  Huron  river  and  several  very  small 
tributaries.  The  river  flows  through  the  township 
diagonally  from  the  southwest  to  the  northeast  corner. 

ORIGINAL  OWNERS. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  original  drawing  of  the 
land  in  Milan  township,  showing  who  were  the  first 
owners  of  the  soil  and  also  the  original  owners  of  the 
sufferers  claims  here  compensated: 


Classification  No.  1,  Section  I 
'  Loss.        Classified  by. 


Guy  Richards  et  at. 


Original  Grantees. 

Phillip  Allyn  ~9  13 

Walter  Beebe  9  9 

Thomas  Gardiner  22  8 

David  Gardiner  11  0 

Abigail  Holt  18  11 

Jas.  McEver's  heirs  600  0 

Gurdon  Saltonstall  1440  0 

CorTs  Cunningham     62  14 


Footing  of  Classification  No 

Classification  No.  2,  Section 

Original  Grantees.  Am't  Loss.     Classified  bi/. 

£ 


Elam  Luddington  408 

Abigail  Hughes  37 

Samuel  Bird  42 
Timthy  Bonticon.  Jr.  13 

Henrv  York  4 

Levi  Pardee  3 

Amos  Morrison  1 

Joseph  Hutts  1 

Elenor  Hoy  1 

Alice  Miles  5 

Stephen  Brown  19 

William  Alley  9 

Xehemiah  Smith  9 

Adonijah  Sherman  29 

Elijah  Painter  14 

Matthew  Oaks  19 

Jonah  Mix  15 

Jabez  Johnson  13 

Elijah  Hills  16 

William  Greenough  27 

W'illiam  Mansfield  47 

Nathan  Mansfield  3 

Johiel  Forbes  173 

Daniel  Lyman  368 
Rev.  McWilliston 

John  Whitney   Esq  158 
John  Woodward.  Jr.  74ii 


Samuel  Hughes         408       6 


William  Mansfield       47 

3 

Johiel  Forbes'  heirs  173 


Original  ffriintees. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 
Am't  Loss.    Classified  by. 


7ii\   Guy  Richards*  others  3 
6    !   Ebenezer Averv,  Jr., 

and  others  59 


Ann  Hancock  140 

Given  Neal  91 
Bathsheba  Skinner    ISO 

James  Stewart  13 

James  Tilley  1533 

Rebecca  Church  52 

.Matthew  (friswold  10 
Elizabeth  Holzworth    46 

:;athl  Hempstead  7 
Thankful  Stanton 

Roswell  Saltonsiall  1800 

•loanna  Short  270 

Robert  Gallup  11 


John  Kinsman  81 

iib      14       (I       Joanna  Short  10 

1!        ''       6       Robert  Gallup  11 

84       0       71^    Benjamin  Trumbull    50 
535      18       1%    John  S.Miller  444 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  ill, .344 


Original  Grantee 

Sarah  Harris 
Jeremian  Miller 
Ephraim  Minor 
Seth  Sears 
Rufus  Avery 
Amos  Ledyard 
Amos  Prentice 


Classification  No.  4    Section, 
Am't  Loss.      Classified  by. 


Am't  Classed. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1,344       7       0 
AXCIEXT    KEMAIX.S. 

When  and  by  whom  the  strange  earth-works  and 
fortifications,  scattered  through  America,  were  made, 
will  ever  be  a  matter  of  conjecture,  but  from  their 
nature  and  the  fact  that. there  are,  or  were,  no  Indian 
traditions  concerning  them,  it  has  become  a  common 
belief  that  they  were  the  work  of  a  superior  race, 
which  has  passed  away  and  left  no  other  sign  of  its 
existence.  They  have,  therefore,  the  interest  of  the 
romantic,  and  to  every  mind  form  a  more  or  less 
faacinating  subject  for  reflection  and  wonder — a  sub- 
ject upon  which  nothing  can  be  known,  and  which  is, 
therefore,  rich  in  suggestion  for  the  imagination. 

In  the  township  of  Milan  there  were  three  clearly- 
defined  fortifications  when  the  first  settlers  came  into 
the  country,  and  they  are  still  not  entirely  leveled  by 
the  plowshare.  All  three  were  upon  the  high  banks 
of  the  Huron;  the  first  in  the  second  section,  near 
the  north  line,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  river;  the 
second  in  the  first  section,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  and  the  third  in  the  fourth  section,  on  the' 
Daniels  farm,  more  lately  occupied  by  Mrs.  Morrill. 
F.  W.  Fowler,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Milan,  describes 
the,?e  earth-works,  as  first  seen  by  him,,  to  have  been 
from  two  to  four  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
Large  trees  were  growing  upon  some  of  these  em- 
bankments. Xear  these  forts  were  mounds  or  hil- 
locks, which  were  found  to  contain  human  bones, 
promiscuously  thrown  togetlier,  as  if  a  large  number 
of  bodies  had  been  buried  at  one  time.  The  skull 
bones,  when  found  entire,  were  shown  by  measure- 
ment to  be  larger,  upon  the  average,  than  those  of 
the  present  race,  and  all  exhibited  marks  that  would 
indicate  that  life  had  been  taken  in  deadly  combat. 
Scattered  among  the  skulls  and  vertebrfe,  and  arm 
and  leg  bones,  were  stone  pipes  and  fragments  of 
burnt  clay.  Other  than  these  poor  mortal  remains, 
and  the  few  trinkets,  three  was  nothing  in  the  ancient 
sepulchres  to  testify  of  the  luitiiiv  of  the  vanished 
race. 

THE    IXIUAXS    AND    MORAVIAN    MISSIONARIES. 
"  What  tales,  if  there  be  tongues  in  trees, 
These  giant  oaks  could  tell 
Of  beings  born  and  buried  here.  " 

The  fertile  lands  along  the  Huron  afforded  suiisis  t 
ence  to  the  Indians  long  before  the  advent   of   the 

(458) 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


459 


white  mail.  The  early  settlers  speak  of  having  found 
fine  fields  free  from  timber  all  along  the  river,  and 
say  that  the  imderbnsh  was  so  cleared  from  the  forests 
that  the  deer,  as  they  bounded  along,  could  be  seen 
half  a  mile  off  through  the  steady  vistas.  The  priuci- 
l)al  Indian  village  was  where  the  town  of  Milan  was 
since  located,  but  there  were  smaller  settlements  ex- 
tending from  the  north  line  of  the  township  as  far  as 
Ridgefield.  There  were,  undoubtedly,  a  thousand 
red  men  in  this  group,  principally  of  the  Delaware 
and  Ottawas, — the  latter  commonly  called  Tawas. 
Here,  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  most  other  localities 
where  the  Indians  have  been  known  to  have  had 
permanent  villages,  they  followed  in  a  rude  way  the 
arts  of  peace  during  the  intervals  between  their  ex- 
tended hunting  journeys;  here  was  to  be  seen  the 
domestic  side  of  the  savage  nature;  here  burned  the 
council  fires  of  the  chiefs,  and  here  were  celebrated 
the  religious  rites  of  a  race  that  is  now  scarcely 
known,  except  through  scanty  historical  savings,  and 
the  vague,  often  unreliable  traditions  of  the  early 
whites,  transmitted  through  the  generations  of  their 
descendants. 

To  this  village  and  its  outlying  settlements,  lying 
upon  the  high  banks  of  the  Huron, 'and  surrounded 
by  charming  natural  scenery,  more  beautiful,  then, 
than  now,  came  the  Moravian  missionaries  in  1787. 
Their  old  mission  stations  upon  the  Tuscarawas  and 
Muskingum  rivers  being  broken  up  by  the  persecu- 
tion of  the  white  settlers,  they  had  wandered  from 
one  place  to  another,  and  finally  a  few  of  them  under 
the  guidance  of  the  Rev.  Christian  Frederick  Dencke 
started  a  new  mission  on  the  spot  where  Milan  now 
stands.  The  Indian  name  of  the  village  was  Pequot- 
ting,  and  the  mission  was  regarded  as  a  branch  of  the 
Gnadeuhutten  mission.  The  mission  house  was  upon 
the  lot  adjoining  that,  on  which  the  Presbyterian 
Church  was  afterwards  built.  The  chapel,  sur- 
mounted by  a  bell,  stood  near  by.  Indian  David  oc- 
cupied a  house  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  there 
were  fifteen  other  houses  belonging  to  those  interested 
in  the  mission, — the  Christian  Indians.  The  Rev. 
Christian  Frederick  Dencke  who  had  charge  of  this 
mission,  has  been  described  by  those  who  knew  him, 
as  a  man  of  great  learning  and  most  thoroughly  de- 
voted to  the  cause  in  which  he  labored.  He  taught 
his  followers  the  rudiments  of  education  as  well  as 
the  tenets  of  his  religion.  According  to  all  accounts, 
he  was  a  very  kind,  warm-hearted  man,  courteous, 
generous  and  hospitable.  He  was  a  native  of  Iceland, 
and  his  father  was  a  missionary  in  that  country. 

The  Indians  who  belonged  to  this  mission,  it  should 
be  borne  in  mind,  were  only  a  small  part  of  the  num- 
ber living  in  the  settlement.  Comparatively  little 
seems  to  have  been  accomplished  in  making  converts 
among  the  mass  of  these  savages,  though  some  of 
them  were  christianized.  Doubtless,  many  more 
might  have  been  added  to  the  little  flock,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  disturbing  influence  of  the  white  man's 
arrival.     The  Indians,  shy  always  of  their  pale  faced 


brother,  though  treated  here  with  the  utmost  friend- 
liness, began  to  leave  the  settlement  when  the  pioneers 
came,  in  the  year  1809,  and  l)y  the  following  year  only 
a  very  few  remained.  Those  belonging  to  the  mission 
removed  to  Canada. 

There  was  also  another  Moravian  missionary,  with 
a  small  band  of  Indian  followers,  in  the  township 
from  1787  to  1793.  Their  settlement  was  upon  the  east 
side  of  the  Huron,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
north  of  the  old  county  seat,  and  was  known  as  New 
Salem.  David  Zeisberger,  of  whose  life  and  works, 
as  well  as  tliose  of  Dencke,  much  is  said  elsewhere  in 
this  history,  was  the  missionary  in  charge  of  this 
settlement. 

THE    PIOXEERS    AXD    THE    WAR    OF    ISl'-i. 

Two  }-ears  after  the  survey  was  made,  David 
Abbott  bought  a  tract  of  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
lying  in  section  number  two,  and  upon  both  sides  of 
the  river.  Jared  Ward  became  the  first  resident  of 
Avery,  now  called  Milan,  settling  upon  this  tract  of 
land  in  the  same  year,  and  immediately  beginning 
preparations  for  farming  upon  the  Indian  bottom. 
John  Walworth,  of  Cleveland,  purchased  the  same 
year  a  large  tract  of  land,  which  he  soon  after  sold  to 
Charles  Parker,  who  moved  in  with  his  family  in  1810. 
Seelick  Comstock  came  the  same  year.  A  number  of 
families  located  as  squatters  upon  the  lands  that  had 
been  occupied  and  in  a  measure  tilled  by  the  Indians. 
Three  of  them— Starr,  Laughlin,  and  Burdue,  after- 
wards bought  lands  in  Berlin  township,  but  most  of 
them  moved  away  during  the  war,  not  to  return. 
Three  settlements  were  formed  which  made  the  points 
of  a  triangle,  of  which  Milan  afterwards  formed  the 
center.  Another  settlement  was  commenced  in  1811, 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  by  Thomas 
Jeffrey,  Josiah  Smith,  Dydimus  and  Elijah  Kinney, 
and  George  Colvin.  These  settlements  filled  up  rap- 
idly, so  that  prior  to  the  war  of  1812,  the  number, 
including  unmarried  men,  was  not  far  from  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five.  Following  are  the  names  of 
those  who  were  heads  of  families,  as  given  by  the 
Hon.  F.  W.  Fowler,  of  Milan.  In  section  one:  Hos- 
mer  Merry,  Reuben  Pixley,  G.  Harvey.  Section! wo: 
David  Abbott,  David  Barrett.  Jared  Ward,  Elijah 
Pollock,  James  Leach,  Nathaniel  Glines,  Alexander 
Mason,  A.  Collins.  Section  three:  Thomas  Jeffrey, 
Josiah  Smith,  William  Smith,  Phineas  Tillottson, 
George  Colvin,  Dydimus  Kinney,  Elijah  Kinney, 
Stephen  Kinney,  David  Smith.  Section  four:  Charles 
Parker,  Winslow  Perry.  James  Payne.  W.  Hubbard, 

James  Guthrie,    William   Howard,  A.    Wilson,  

Eldridge.  With  a  Ijeautiful  location  and  a  fertile 
soil,  an  unusually  large  number  of  settlers,  and  nearly 
all  of  them  of  the  class  ([Ualified  to  make  the  commu- 
nity one  of  good  character,  the  pioneers  naturally 
looked  forward  to  a  pleasant  and  profitable  residence 
in  their  new  homes.  But  their  hopes  were  blasted  by 
the  declaration  of  war  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain, 
which  caused  the  wildest  alarm  and  utmost  anxiety 


4(1(1 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


tlironghout  the  siiarscly  settled  frontier,  and  created 
grave  apprehensions  in  the  older  settlements,  more 
remote  from  the  probable  scene  of  tlie  strife. 

But  little  need  here  be  said  of  the  incidents  of  that 
war,  for  a  chapter  elsewliere  is  devoted  to  the  subject. 
The  wild  and  hurried  flight  of  the  people  from  Milan 
township,  and  all  of  the  country  adjacent  and  north- 
ward, though  from  a  false  alarm,  was  none  the  less 
terrible,  for  the  flying  people  had  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve they  were  pursued  by  the  British  soldiers  and 
their  red  allies.  After  Hull's  surrender  the  red  coats 
were  seen  landing  men  upon  the  lake  shore,  and  im- 
mediately those  who  saw  this  sight,  becoming  panic 
stricken,  fled  through  the  country  southward,  carry- 
ing with  them  the  terrible  tidings.  The  flight  was 
instantaneous  and  universal,  all  going  in  the  direction 
of  Mansfield.  By  the  time  they  reached  the  State 
road,  leading  south,  the  only  one  then  open,  night 
had  come  on.  The  company  had  increased  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  road  was  thronged  for  half  a  mile. 
Many  had  left  without  sufMcient  clothing,  or  food  for 
their  needs,  abandoning  everything,  that  they  might 
save  life.  About  midnight  the  panic  was  arrested  by 
the  appearance  in  the  rear,  of  men  carrying  packs  but 
not  armed.  It  was  not  long  before  they  were  discovered 
to  be  Huirs  surrendered  and  disarmed  soldiers,  who 
by  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  were  landed  that  they 
might  return  home.  In  the  morning,  after  consulta- 
tion, a  greater  part  of  the  crowd  who  had  left  their 
homes  continued  upon  their  way  to  MansHeld,  and 
the  remainder,  returning  to  Avery,  (Milan),  secured 
their  effects  the  best  way  they  could,  and  then  passed 
down  the  lake  to  Black  River  and  other  points.  Tlie 
men  then  made  up  a  company  and  returned  to  Huron. 
Joseph  Quigley,  of  Black  River,  was  elected  captain  of 
this  company,  and  David  Barrett,  of  Milan,  lieutenant. 

After  the  arrival  of  some  scattering  companies  and 
the  main  army,  General  Perkins  established  Camp 
Avery  on  the  east  side  of  the  Huron  river,  on  lands 
owned  by  Ebenezer  Merry.  Those  among  the  soldiers 
who  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  were  then  dis 
banded  that  they  might  attend  to  their  home  duties, 
though  it  was  conditioned  that  they  should  still  re- 
main subject  to  call  in  case  of  need. 

The  soldiers  remained  at  this  camp  until  the  fol- 
lowing winter,  a  company  of  rangers  also  being 
stationed  at  a  block  house  that  was  built  in  section 
four,  of  Milan  township,  upon  the  farm  of  Charles 
Parker.  They  had  the  double  duty  to  perform  of 
protecting  themselves  from  the  British  soldiers  and 
the  property  in  the  vicinity  from  the  roving  plun- 
derers, who  were  mostly  Indians  who  had  formerly 
lived  in  the  vicinity.  Many  times  the  settlers  had  to 
abandon  their  homes  and  take  shelter  in  the  fort. 
Once  a  portion  of  the  army  was  dispatched  after  the 
enemy  to  the  peninsula.  They  found  and  attacked 
them  there.  It  was  in  tliis  engagement  that  Alex- 
ander !Mason  lost  iiis  life,  as  did  also  Mr.  Ramsdell 
and  Daniel  Mingus.  Two  men,  by  the  names  of  Sey- 
mour and  Pi.xley,  who  went  out  from  Parker's  block 


house  one  morning,  to  cut  down  a  bee-tree,  were  over- 
whelmed by  Indians  who  lay  in  ambush.  Seymour 
was  killed  and  his  companion  taken  prisoner.  He 
afterwards  said  that  most  of  the  Indians  had  been 
among  the  residents  of  the  village.  Indians  were 
constantly  lurking  about,  and  danger  was  present 
upon  every  side.  The  settlers  were  in  constant 
anxiety,  and  every  unusual  sound  was  feared  to  be 
the  signal  for  a  terrible  onslaught  and  massacre. 
Fortunately  there  was  no  such  general  attack,  though 
almost  every  day  there  was  some  minor  evil  deed 
committed,  or  some  occurence  to  cause  alarm.  When 
peace  came  it  brought  such  a  sense  of  relief  that  most 
of  those  who  had  remained  away,  during  the  war,  re- 
turned to  this  favored  locality  of  their  adoption. 
Other  settlers  came  in  from  the  east,  society  was 
formed,  religious  organizations  •  sprang  into  being, 
a  village  was  laid  out,  industry  progressed  in  old  and 
found  new  channels,  too.  Then  began  the  period  of 
Milan's  prosperty.  The  growth  and  development  of 
the  farming  interests  were  as  rapid  as  was  usual  in 
other  townships,  and  the  progress  of  the  village  its 
and  manufacturing  and  commercial  interests  some- 
thing quite  phenomenal. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

There  is  reason  to  believe,  but  not  positive  knowl- 
edge, that'  the  first  white  child  born  to  any  of  the 
permanent  settlers  of  Milan,  was  a  daughter  of 
Lazarus  Young,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Amhoi-st  Mil- 
liman,  of  Townsend,  Huron  county. 

The  first  physicians  were  Doctors  Goodwin  and 
Guthrie.  Before  their  arrival  in  the  settlement,  people 
in  need  of  medical  attention  were  obliged  to  send  to 
Cleveland,  from  which  place  a  Dr.  Long  frequently 
came  to  Milan. 

The  first  military  company  upon  the  Fire-lands, 
was  formed  in  the  fall  of  1811,  and  met  for  its  first 
muster  on  April  1st,  following,  at  John  B.  Flem- 
mond's.  David  Barrett,  of  Milan,  was  elected  captain 
of  this  militia  organization. 

Two  deaths  occurred  in  the  township  in  the  summer 
season  of  1811.  Both  were  children,  one  from  the 
family  of  George  Miller,  and  the  other  from  that  of 
David  Barrett. 

The  first  log  liouse  was  built  by  a  party  of  young 

men,  Barrett,   Nathaniel  Glines,   Seth  Hayes, 

Ebenezer  Hayes,  F.  W.  Fowler,  Stephen  Worthington 
and  L.  Durand,  in  1810,  and  was  located  in  section  two. 
This  was  the  first  improvement  by  white  inhabitants 
in  the  township,  except  the  beginning  made  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  by  Jared  Ward. 

The  first  framed  building  was  a  barn  built  by  David 
Abbott.  The  first  framed  dwelling  was  also  built  by 
Mr.  Abbott.  This  is  also  said  to  have  been  the  first 
residence,  other  than  a  log  cabin,  upon  the  Fire-lands. 

ORGAXIZATIOX. 

Tiio  tuwiisliip  of  Avery  was  originally  connected 
with   Huron,  and  included   under   that   name.     The 


HISTORY  OF  nUKON  A^STD  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


first  election  was  held  at  John  B.  Fleman's  (or 
Flemmond's),  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  and  about 
two  miles  from  the  lake.  Jabez  Wright  and  David 
Abbott  were  elected  justices  of  the  peace;  F.  W. 
Fowler,  constable,  and  Almon  Ruggles,  recorder. 

THE    OLD    (OUXTY    SEAT. 

The  legislature  passed,  February  7,  1809,  an  act 
authorizing  the  erection  of  Huron  county — embrac- 
ing all  of  the  Fire-lands.  Upon  the  29th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1811,  the  legislature  appointed  as  commissioners 
to  fi.x  the  seat  of  the  county:  E.  Quinby,  of  Trumbull 
county,  Stephen  Clark,  of  Geauga,  and  Solomon 
Griswold,  of  Ashtabula.  They  were  ordered  to  make 
returns  or  reports,  of  the  action  they  had  tiiken,  to  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  to  be  held  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  and,  in  pursuance  to  this  order,  they,  upon 
'June  15,  1811,  reported  that  they  had  fixed  upon 
Avery  township  for  the  seat  of  justice.  The  exact 
location  was  at  Camp  Avery,  about  a  mile  below  the 
site  of  Milan  village.  The  first  court  was  held  at 
this  point,  or  at  the  residence  of  David  Abbott,  in  the 
fall  of  1815  (in  which  year  the  county  was  organized). 
Considerable  dissatisfaction  was  expressed  Ijy  thos.e 
who  attended  this  court,  because  there  was  no  good 
water  procurable,  and  it  was  suggested  by  somebody, 
familiar  with  the  country,  that  there  was  a  fine  ridge 
running  through  Norwalk  townshij],  and  that,  in  all 
probability,  good  water  could  there  be  found.  Thus 
was  begun  the  movement  that  resulted  in  the  removal 
of  the  county  seat  from  Milan  township,  which  was 
accomplished  in  1818,  by  a  process  similar  to  that  by 
which  it  was  originally  located.  [It  is  needless  to 
say  anything  further  upon  this  subject,  in  the  history 
of  ^lilan,  as  the  facts  are  fully  set  forth  in  the  chap- 
ter upon  Norwalk.] 

A  court  house  was  was  commenced  in  1817,  upon 
the  Abbott  farm,  but  was  never  finished.  It  stood 
for  many  years. 

RELIGIOrs. 

The  earliest  religious  meetings  in  Milan  other  than 
those  held  by  the  Moravian  missionaries  were  irregular 
gatherings  at  barns  and  private  houses  addressed  by 
various  itinerant  preachers.  Among  them  was  the 
Rev.  Milton  Badger  who  preached  in  the  Abbott 
settlement  before  the  war,  and  was  chaplain  at  Fort 
Avery  during  the  war.  The  Methodists  organized  a 
class  in  the  Jeffrey  neighborhood  as  early  as  1816, 
and  Thomas  Jeffrey  was  its  leader.  The  Rev.  Father 
Gurley,  Rev.  Manger,  the  earnest  and  eccentric 
James  Mclntyre,  Rev.  Mr.  Tillottson,  "who  spoke 
under  the  influence  of  spirits — from  a  bottle",  were 
among  the  early  preachers  of  this  denomination. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  under  the 
name  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Huron, 
Api'il  25,  1818,  in  a  log  house  at  Spear's  corners,  the 
preachers  presiding  upon  that  occasion  being  the  Rev. 
William  Williams  and  Rev.  Alvin  Coe,  of  the  Con- 
•itctiLUt  Missionary  Society.     The  first   members  of 


the  church,  all  of  them  deceased  many  years  ago, 
were  William  Spears  and  his  wife.  Love,  Gilbert  Sex- 
ton and  his  wife  Deborah,  William  and  Pliilo  Adams 
and  their  mother,  Eleanor.  In  1819,  the  church  re- 
ceived a  number  of  accessions.  Religious  services 
were  held  every  Sunday,  alternately  at  the  houses  of 
Mr.  Spears  and  Seth  A.  Adams,  and  later  at  the  log 
houses  built  in  the  neighboj-hood.  In  1823,  the 
church  removed  from  Spears'  corners  to  Milan,  and 
changed  its  name  to  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Milan.  The  first  officers— two  deacons — were  ap- 
pointed in  1824.  They  were  Henry  Buckingham  and 
Joseph  Demond.  In  the  following  year,  the  church 
changed  the  form  of  its  government  to  the  Presby- 
terian, and  elected  three  ruling  elders:  William  Spears, 
Josei)h  Demond  and  David  Everett.  At  this  time 
there  were  thirty-seven  members.  After  the  removal 
of  the  church  to  the  village,  meetings  were  held  in  a 
school  house  which  stood  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by 
the  town  hall,  and  subsecjuently  in  the  yellow  school 
house.  The  call  for  services  was  the  blowing  of  a 
jiorn.  An  era  of  unwonted  prosperity  dawned  upon 
the  church  in  1829,  beginning  under  the  preaching 
of  Rev.  Everton  Judson.  A  new  impulse  was  given 
to  the  church  which  had  lapsed  somewhat  from  its 
past  prosperous  condition,  and  a  strong  feeling  of 
interest  was  awakened  in  the  village  which  had,  then, 
about  four  hundred  inhabitants. 

In  1838,  the  legislature  incorporated  the  First 
Presbyterian  Society  of  Milan,  but  no  movement  was 
made  to  erect  a  church  until  1835,  when  a  few  citi- 
zens convened  at  the  suggestion  of  N.  M.  Standart, 
Esq.,  to  devise  measures  to  secure  tins  object.  The 
result  was  the  completion,  two  years  later,  of  the 
present  substantial  house  of  worship,  the  expense 
being  about  eight  thousand  dollars.  The  first  minis- 
ter who  labored  with  this  congregation  was  the  Rev. 
Lot  B.  Sullivan,  who  preached  at  Spear's  corners  and 
in  the  Adanls  neighborhood.  For  some  time  after, 
the  church  was  destitute  of  a  pastor,  and  was  sup- 
plied with  occasional  preaching  by  Revs.  Alvin  Coe, 
Caleb  Pitkin,  J.  Seward,  Alfred  H.  Betts,  Wm.  San- 
ford  and  J.  Treat.  The  next  regular  pastor  was  the 
Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman.  Those  who  followed 
were  Isaac  S.  Demund,  W.  M.  Adams,  Everton  Jud- 
son, Newton  Barrett,  J.  M.  Hayes,  Alanson  Hart- 
pence,  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  J.  H.  Walters, 
who  was  installed  October  7,  1856,  although  he  began 
preaching  to  the  society  as  early  as  May,  1855.  The 
Rev.  Everton  Judson,  who  began  his  labor  with  the 
church  in  1829,  continued  his  relation  until  removed 
by  death  in  18-18,  and  his  services  were  very  largely 
instrumental  in  building  up  the  church  to  a  condi- 
tion of  prosperous  and  active  life. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
1830,  and  the  house  of  worship  erected  in  1845.  The 
church  has  increased  to  a  membership  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

St.  Luke's  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  1846, 
and  a  year  later  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  which 


io-i 


HISTOKY  OF  UUKOX  AKD  ERIE  COUNTIE«,  OHIO. 


was  destroyed  in  1867  by  fire.  A  new  building  was 
immediately  erected  upon  the  site  of  the  old  one. 

Tiie  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  built  in  1860. 
More  recently  tiiere  have  been  formed  two  other 
churches  in  the  township,  the  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed Society  of  Friends.  All  of  the  churches  es.- 
cept  these  two  are  in  Milan  village. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  Milan,  and  one  of  the 
earliest  in  the  Fire-lands,  was  organized  at  Spear's 
corners  in  the  spring  of  1818,  and  was  afterward 
under  the  superintendency  of  Philo  Adams.  Sunday 
schools  have  been  regularly  niaintaiued  in  the  village 
since  1830,  and  also  tiiroughout  tiie  township  during 
a  ])iirtion  of  each  year. 

EARLY    .SCHUOLS. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  undoubtedly 
that  in  the  Abbott  settlement,  taught,  before  the  war. 
by  a  Miss  Gilbert,  from  Xewburg,  afterward  Mrs. 
Dr.  Goodwin. 

In  the  winter  of  islT.  a  school  liouse  was  built  in 
the  Spear  settlement,  and  a  school  was  held  in  it  by 
.Marshall  Miller. 

The  first  school  in  Milan  village  was  opened  in  the 
spring  of  1819.  in  a  new  barn  owned  by  Ebenezer 
Merry,  and  was  taugiit  by  Miss  Susan  Wilhams.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year,  a  school  house  was  built 
upon  the  spot  where  many  vears  later  the  Eagle  tavern 
was  located,  and  where  the  town  hall  now  stands. 
In  1S"24.  the  old  yellow  school  house  was  built. 

HUROy    IXSTITUTE. 

Huron  Institute,  whicli  owed  its  existence  to  the 
extensive  revivals  of  religion  in  the  churches  of  Huron 
Presbytery  in  the  years  1830  and  "31,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  iu  1832.  It  was  proposed  to 
raise  four  thousand  dollars  at  the  start  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  a  site  and  erecting  a  building  for  the 
use  of  the  institution,  and  the  people  of  Milan,  on 
condition  that  the  school  should  be  located  in  their 
village,  promised  to  give  one-half  of  this  amount. 
Tlie  pledge  was  fully  realized,  and  the  expectation  of 
the  friends  of  the  movement  was  more  than  satis- 
fied, for  tJie  school  became  a  very  thriving  concern. 
The  ijeople  being  anxious  that  the  school  should  be 
established  at  once  and  it  being  impossible  that  the 
institute  building  could  be  finished  before  the  fall  or 
winter  of  1S3'2,  the  first  term  was  opened  in  April,  of 
that  year,  in  the  otfice  of  J.  Smith,  Esq.  Six  stu- 
dents were  present  at  the  opening,  and  before  the 
(juarter  was  finished,  twenty-five  were  enrolled.  The 
Rev.  E.  Barber  was  made  principal.  The  second 
quarter  began  with  thirty-six  pupils,  and  before  the 
year  was  ended,  over  ninety  n^mes  were  upon  the  roll 
— forty-six  males  and  forty-four  females.  During  the 
third  year,  the  building  having  before  that  time  been 
furnished  and  amj^le  accommodations  thus  afforded, 
the  number  of  students  was  as  high  as  one  hundred 
and  twenty-seven.  It  was  the  desire  of  tlie  the  trus- 
teeff  of  the  institute  to  place  education   within   the 


!  reach  of  all  who  would  avail  themselves  of  it,  and  in 
this  they  succeeded  as  nearly  as  was  possible.  The 
tuition  was  fixed  at  four  dollars  per  quarter  in  the 
classical  department,  and  at  three  dollars  in  the  Eng- 
lish and  female  department,  and  ilie  principal  took 
it  upon  himself  to  furnish  instruction  from  the  avails 
of  the  tuition  bills.  Board  was  furnished  by  many 
of  the  best  families  in  Milan  at  merely  nominal  rates. 
Xo  student  was  ever  refused  admission  or  dismissed 
because  too  poor  to  pay  ids  way  in  the  institute. 
Rev.  i\Ir.  Barber's  assistant,  during  the  first  j'ear, 
was  Henry  Ballentine,  afterwards  a  missionary  to 
India.  Benjamin  Judson  succeeded  him,  and  re- 
mained in  the  institute  until  1835.  Mrs.  C.  B. 
Stuart  and  Mrs.  E.  A.  Hubbard  w^ere  also  connected 
with  the  school  during  this  period.  In  the  summer 
of  1835.  Mr.  Barber  resigned,  on  account  of  sickness, 
his  position  as  principal,  and  S.  C.  Hickok  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  place.  He  remained  in  charge  until 
1839.  Henry  W.  Williams  was  elected  principal  in 
1843,  and  Rev.  Lemuel  Bliss  in  18i8.  Two  years 
later,  Robert  Bliss,  a  Boston  gentleman,  was  chosen 
to  this  place,  but  he  resigned  in  a  few  days,  and  T. 
S.  Bradley,  of  Auburn  theological  seminary,  became 
the  manager  of  the  school  in  his  stead.  He'  was  fol- 
lowed by  Nathan  Barrows,  Dwight  Sayles  and  John 
McKee.  In  1858.  the  trustees  leased  tlie  building  to 
Rev.  Asa  Brainard  and  S.  F.  Newman  for  the  pur- 
pose of  a  normal  school.  The  school  was  successfully 
conducted  by  these  gentlemen  in  partnership,  and 
after  Mr.  Brainard's  death,  by  Mr.  Newman  alone, 
until  1871,  when  it  came  under  the  management  of 
the  present  teacher.  Miss  Delia  Palmer,  who  now  has, 
in  the  old  building,  a  flourishing  school. 

A  very  valuable  work  has  been  accomplished  by  the 
old  institute,  and  many  have  cause  to  look  back  to  it 
lovingly  and  thankfully,  as  the  Alma  Mater  which 
well  prepared  them  for  the  world.  At  the  time  it 
was  established  it  was  the  only  school  on  the  Reserve. 
west  of  Hudson,  wliere  young  men  could  be  prepared 
for  college. 

THE    rXIOX    SCHOOLS 

were  established  in  18-19.  under  the  law  passed  in 
that  year,  and  the  following  board  of  education  was 
elected:  Daniel  Hamilton,  .James  H.  Kennedy,  George 
Barney,  Hiram  Mcilillau,  S.  F.  Taylor,  Harry  Chase. 
The  first  superintendent  was  C.  F.  Royce.  The  main 
school  building,  still  in  use,  was  erected  in  1850,  and 
j  the  "old  yellow  school  house,"  built  before  tliat  time, 
was  moved  to  its  present  location  and  remodeled. 


The  first  wagon  road  was  cut  out  and  cleared  by 
Ebenezer  Hayes  and  F.  W.  Fowler  in  the  winter  of 
1810-11,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Huron  river  on  the 
east  side,  up  the  river  to  the  Abbott  farm,  and  thence 
southerly,  past  the  farms  of  Ebenezer  and  Hosmer 
Merry  and  Gundin  Perrin,  to  the  north  and  south 
sectio'.!  line  of  Norwalk. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Tlie  Columliia  ru;ul  \v:is  openeil  tlie  t^ame  winter, 
from  the  east  side  of  the  month  of  the  river  to  the 
east  line  of  the  Fire-lauds,  where  it  joined  a  road 
from  Columbia  township,  Loraiu  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1811,  another  road  was  laid  out  in 
the  western  part  of  the  towushij)  bv  Jabez  Wright, 
Jared  Ward  and  Cliarles  Barnum.  It  lead  from  the 
lake  shore,  west  of  the  mouth  of  the  river,  southerly 
past  the  farms  of  Wright  and  Ward,  to  the  residence 
cit  Charles  Parker,  in  the  fourth  section  of  Milan,  and 
thence  up  the  river  to  Monroeville,  and  from  that 
point  southerly  to  New  Haven,  on  nearly  the  same 
line  that  is  traveled  to-day. 

M  I  L  A  N   VILLAGE. 

In  1816,  say  several  accounts,  (but  in  1817  as  shown 
by  the  records  in  the  court  house),  Ebenezer  Merry, 
who  came  into  the  township  in  181-1,  laid  out  the 
town  of  Milan,  originally  known  as  Beatty  after  the 
first  owner  of  the  land.  He  also  began  the  same  year, 
or  perhaps  the  previous  year,  in  company  with  Isaac 
Tni)per  and  Job  C.  Smith,  the  erection  of  the  first 
grist  juill  in  the  township,  upon  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent mill.  Before  the  mill  was  completed  he  pur- 
chased his  partners'  interests  and  thus  became  sole 
owner.  Previous  to  the  building  of  this  mill,  people 
had  to  go  a  great  distance  for  their  grist,  or  grind  it 
by  some  rude  method  at  home.  The  mill  brought 
people  to  this  locality  from  all  directions  and  was 
reallv  the  nucleus  around  which  grew  the  village. 
The  location  of  the  village,  too,  was  a  pleasant  one, 
and  people  being  quick  to  appreciate  this  fact,  and  to 
expect  a  fast  growth,  the  lots  were  soon  sold  off.  By 
the  year  1819  quite  a  number  of  houses  had  been 
built.  The  first  stock  of  goods  was  brought  in  the 
same  year  by  James  Williams,  P.  R.  Hopkins  and 
David  W.  Hinman.  A  large  distillery  was  built  by 
William  B.  Mason  and  Moodey  Mears.  F.  W.  Fowler 
began  keeping  a  public  house — the  first  one  built — in 
1831.  Joseph  M.  Choate  set  in  operation  a  carding 
machine  and  fulling  works.  Needham  Standart,  af- 
terwards of  the  firm  of  Standart  &  Hamilton,  opened 
a  store  in  which  he  did  a  large  business  for  years. 
Ralph  and  George  Lockwood,  who  were  doing  busi- 
ness in  Norwalk  township  (Gibbs'  Corners),  opened  a 
store  in  a  large  double  dwelling  house.  Mr.  Ralph 
Lockwood  became  postmaster  of  Merry's  Mills,  as  the 
place  was  then  called,  and  remained  seventeen  years 
in  that  office.  Henry  Lockwood  began  the  hatting 
business  in  1824.  The  Lockwood  block,  afterward 
burned,  was  built  as  early  as  1837.  In  1833  there 
were  ten  stores  in  the  place.  The  Eagle  tavern, 
which  occupied  the  piesent  site  of  the  town  jiall,  was 
opened  in  183-1. 

These  facts  afford  something  of  an  idea  of  what 
Milan  was  during  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence, 
but  there  are  others,  relatiing  to  the  vessel  building, 
to  the  great  grain  trade,  and  in  her  commerce,  that 
make  a  still  more  favorable  showing  of  her  importance. 


COMMERCE — THE    MIL.iN    CANAL. 

A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Milan,  and  the  town- 
ship adjoining,  was  held  at  the  house  of  F.  W.  Fowler, 
as  early  as  1833,  to  take  into  consideration  the  project 
of  building  a  harbor  at  the  mouth  of  the  Huron,  for 
the  safe  entrance  of  all  lake  craft.  As  a  committee 
to  examine  into  the  feasibility  of  tlys  plan,  the  fol- 
lowing men  were  appointed:  George  W.  Choate, 
Philo  Adams,  N.  P.  Mason,  SchiiylerA'an  Rensselafer, 
David  Gibbs,  Frederick  Forsyth,  N.  M.  Standart, 
James  Williams  and  Ralph  Lockwood.  A  meeting 
was  subsequently  held,  at  which  this  committee  made 
a  report  favoring  the  pKOJect,  and  a  company  was 
regularly  organized  to  prosecute  the  work.  Five 
directors  were  elected,  as  follows:  Jabez  Wright, 
Philo  Adams,  H.  N.  Jenkins,  N.  M.  Standart,  B.  N. 
Adams.  The  work  was  begun  in  1824,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Charles  Wheaton,  of  Milan,  and 
when  he  died,  the  following  fall,  Zebulou  Stevens,  of 
Huron,  was  elected  to  his  place.  The  work  was 
carried  on  until  the  company's  money  was  exhausted, 
and  shortly  after  the  national  government  took  it  up 
a'nd  completed  it. 

AVe  have  been  thus  particular  to  speak  of  this 
enterprise,  because,  though  not  strictly  belonging  to 
Milan  township,  it,  nevertheless,  was  a  project  ju 
which,  as  shown  above,  Milan  people  were  interested, 
and  one  which  did  much  to  develop  the  town  and 
bring  aboat  other  improvements. 

Vessel  building  was  commenced  in  Milan  in  1837. 
In  that  year  Benjamin  N.  Abbott  Iniilt  the  schooner 
Mary  Abbott,  and  in  1839  loaded  her  Avith  produce, 
which  he  took  to  New  York  city,  by  the  way  of  the  lake 
to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by  the  New  York  and  Erie  canal. 
He  returned  with  a  cargo  of  merchandise.  This  was 
the  first  vessel  to  make  the  trip,  and  the  only  one. 
About  the  same  time  H.  N.  Jenkins  built  the  schooner, 
Louisa  Jenkins,  at  Lockwood's  landing,  and  upon  her 
maiden  trip  took  a  load  of  wheat  to  Buffalo. 

The  legislature  at  its  session  of  1838  granted  a 
charter  for  the  formation  of  a  company  to  build  a  ship 
canal  from  Merry's  mill  pond  to  the  navigiible  waters 
of  the  Huron,  and  a  tow  path  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  to  its  mouth;  the  commissioners,  named  in  the 
charter,  for  receiving  subscriptions  being  Jabez 
Wright,  Ebenezer  Merry,  Ralph  Lockwood,  George 
Lockwood  and  Timothy  Baker.  In  the  summer  of 
1831,  books  were  opened  at  Milan  for  subsciptions  to 
the  Milan  Canal  Company's  stock,  and  a  sufficient 
amount  was  immediately  secured  to  warrant  the  per- 
fection of  the  organization.  At  a  meeting  held  at 
F.  W.  Fowler's  house  August  37,  1831,  the  following 
five  directors  were  elected:  Ebenezer  Merry,  Ebenezer 
Andrews,  George  Lockwood,  Daniel  Hamilton  and  F. 
W.  Fowler.  The  work  was  commenced  in  1833,  but, 
for  want  of  means,  Avas  not  completed  until  1839. 
The  Fourth  of  July  of  that  year  was  a  gala  day  for 
Milan,  for  it  was  so  realized  by  the  passage  of  the 
first  boat  tiirouo;li  the  canal.      Earlv  in  the  morning 


404 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  schooTiei"Kewaune.  Captain  Jloran,  arrived  in  the 
eaiiul  basin,  and  was  moored  at  the  dock.  She  was 
sahUed  with  the  firing  of  cannon.  Later  the  people  of 
the  village  assembled  in  fn.mt  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  forming  in  a  eoliinui,  with  a  band  of 
music  at  the  head,  marched  through  the  village  and 
down  the  hill  to  the  canal  wharf  where  the  Kewaune 
lay.  Captain  Moran  was  saluted  in  behalf  of  the 
ladies  of  .Milan,  by  Miss  Maria  Butmau,  and  presented 
with  a  national  flag  for  his  vessel.  The  citizens  then 
went  aboard  the  Kewaune  and  her  lighter,  the  Water 
Witch  and  the  two  boats  with  flying  colors,  bands 
playing,  and  cannon  firing,  sailed  down  the  canal  to 
the  river.  Upon  their  return  a  procession  was  again 
formed,  and  all  went  to  the  Eiigle  tavern,  then  kept 
by  Jennings  &  Kline,  where  they  partook  of  a  dinner, 
and  drank  toasts  to  the  future  prosperity  of  Milan. 
and  the  canal. 

The  completion  of  this  canal  caused  Milan  to 
become  a  great  point  for  vessel  building,  and 
made  it  the  market  for  all  the  wheat  and  other 
products  that  the  country  did  not  need  for  home  con- 
sumption. A  great  impetus  was  given  to  all  ii}- 
dustries.  In  the  autumn,  farmers  thronged  all  of 
the  roads  leading  to  Milan,  bringing  in  their  grain. 
Many  came  from  a  distance  of  seventy  or  eighty 
miles  south.  The  roadway  down  to  the  warehouse 
was  often  blockaded  with  teams,  and  the  square 
luicked.  Some  of  the  wagons  had  in  them  loads  of  a 
hundred  bushels  of  grain,  and  were  drawn  by  four  or 
six  horses.  Six  or  seven  hundred  wagons  have  arrived' 
in  one  day.  As  many  as  twenty  sail  vessels  have  been 
loaded  in  a  single  day,  and  as  much  as  thirty-five 
thousand  bushels  of  grain  put  on  board.  The  total  re- 
ceipts from  canal  tolls  were  one  hundred  and  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  the  dividead  to  stockholders,  was 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  The  value  of  exports  in 
1844,  was  eight  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars,  mostly  in  wheat  and  flour.  The  value  of 
imports,  for  the  same  time,  was  six  hundred  and 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  In  1853,  there  were  three 
thousand  seven  hundred  barrels  of  salt  imported.  In 
18.55,  stoves  were  shipped  to  the  number  of  eight 
hundred  and  seveut}--eight  tliousaud.  In  1856, 
four  hundred  and  ten  thousand  bushels  of  grain 
were  shipped,  and  the  aggregate  of.  grain  shiijped  in 
eleven  years,  from  1853,  was  nearly  five  million 
l)ushels. 

Railroads  began  to  draw  away  the  business  of 
Milan  in  1850,  and  in  1854  the  C.  &  T.  (now  the  L. 
S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.),  tapped  all  of  the  thoroughfares 
leading  in  from  the  south.  Thus,  was  Milan  practi- 
cally ruined,  as  a  business  town,  though  still,  from  its 
loveliness  of  location,  neatness  of  keeping,  and  good 
character  of  people  and  institutions,  left  a  desirable 
place  of  residence.  Its  growth  was  greatest  between 
the  the  years  1840  and  1850,  when  it  rose  from  a  vil- 
lage of  five  hundred  inhabitants  to  one  of  over  thirteen 
hundred.  Fifty  or  sixty  houses  were  built  in  1849 
and  the  following  year. 


INCORPORATIOX. 

The  village  came  into  being  as  a  municipal  corpo- 
ration, in  1833,  the  act  of  the  legislature  being  passed 
February  23d,  and  the  first  election  held  April  6th. 
George  Lockwood  and  John  S.  Butmau  were  judges, 
and  William  S.  Hyde,  clerk.  The  following  is  a 
transcript  from  the  poll  book: 

'The  said  election  was  held  open  until  three  o'clock,  on  said  6th  day 
of  April,  when  the  votes  were  counted  and  it  was  found  that  John  Smith, 
(tanner),  had  received  a  plurality  ot  all  the  Votes  for  mayor,  and  that 
the  other  officers  elected  liad  been  as  follows:  Trustees,  Ebenezer 
Merrry,  Henry  Lockwood,  Giles  Chapin,  John  Smith,  (carpenter),  Phi- 
lander Wilber;  Recorder,  Nathan  Jenkins." 

The  first  ordinance  passed  was  for  the  assistance  of 
the  Milan  Canal  Company,  and  it  was  voted  that 
twenty  bonds,  each  for  one  thousand  dollars,  be  issued 
for  this  purpose. 

THE  FAMILIES  OF  EREXEZER  AND  HO.S.MER  MERRY. 

The  Merry  families,  of  Milan,  were  among  the 
most  prominent  of  the  early  settlers  and  most  con- 
spicuously identified  with  the  growth  of  the  township. 
Ebenezer  Merry,  the  elder  of  the  brothers  who  came 
to  Milan,  was  born  in  East  Hartford,  Conue(jticut, 
July  21,  IT 73,  and  his  family  removed  soon  after  to 
Kinderhook,  New  York.  In  1792,  he  went  to  the 
"Genesee  country,"  and  five  years  later  made  another 
advancement  into  the  wilderness,  stopping  in  Mentor, 
(now  in  Lake  county),  where  he  began  clearing  land. 
In  1800,  he  returned  to  western  New  I'ork,  and  there 
married  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
Adams.  She  was  born  in  Tinmouth,  Vermont,  on 
the  17th  of  August,  1780,  and  had  removed  to  Y'ork 
State  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  The  _voung  couple 
immediately  set  out  for  their  western  home,  accom- 
panied by  Hosmer  Merry,  a  brother  of  Ebenezer,  and 
made  the  wedding  trip  in  twelve  days,  following  the 
Indian  trail  and  sleeping  iii  Indian  wigwams,  upon 
the  ground;  or,  if  they  were  fortunate  enough  to  find 
them,  in  the  cabins  of  the  white  settlers.  They 
arrived  in  Mentor,  May  26th.  Of  the  three  families 
then  in  that  place,  two,  those  of  Jared  Ward  and 
Charles  Parker,  afterward  removed  to  Milan.  After 
a  residence  of  fourteen  years,  Mr.  Merry  moved  to 
this  township,  then  called  Avery,  and  located  upon 
the  Huron  river,  about  two  miles  below  the  present 
village  of  Milan.  This  village,  as  related  already, 
was  platted  by  Mr.  Merry,  and  its  rapid  and  substan- 
tial improvement  was  attributable  almost  entirely  to 
his  energy  and  judicious  management  of  affairs. 
Himself  and  wife  here  led  a  happy,  busy  life.  Mrs. 
Merry  was,  in  all  that  the  term  can  possibly  imply,  a 
true  help-meet  to  her  husband.  She  never  failed,  on 
her  part,  but  met  every  duty  and  every  danger  bravely, 
and  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  a  pioneer's  life  was 
the  true  wife,  the  loving  mother  and  tlie  kind  friend. 
Whether  in  the  rude  log  cabin,  upon  the  farm,  or  in 
the  more  commodious  quaFters  at  the  village,  whither 
they  moved  in  1819,  she  was  equally  at  home,  equally 
active,  efl!icient  ahd  cheerful.     Nine  children  were  the 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


fruit  of  this  union,  viz:  Sarah  (Mrs.  Merrill),  now 
in  Milan;  Mary  (Mrs.  Jacob  Stevens),  also  in  Mi- 
lan; Julia  (Mr3.  Ruggles),  died  October  11,  1874; 
Martin,  in  Iowa;  Samuel,  in  Milan;  Luc}'  (Mrs.  J. 
B.  Pier),  in  Texas;  Elizabeth,  in  Milan;  Ebenezer, 
auditor  of  Erie  county,  and  Charlotte,  who  died, 
August  1,  1835. 

Mr.  Merry  died  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  Clark  Waggoner,  of  the  Toledo  Commerrial, 
speaking  of  him  in  Jthe  article  which  appeared  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1879,  in  regard  to  his  widow's  death,  said  in- 
cidentally: "It  is  due  to  Mr.  Merry,  to  say  that  his 
remarkable  capacity  as  a  business  man,  was  always 
pervaded  and  directed  by  a  clear  conscientiousness 
and  recognition  of  the  rights  and  interests  of  others, 
fully  justifying  Rev.  Everton  Judson,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  the  choice  of  his  text,  for  a  fu- 
neral discourse,  to  wit:  Proverbs  xxii.  1:  "A  good  name 
is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches,  and  loving 
favor  rather  than  silver  or  gold.'  His  repeated  elec- 
tions to  a  seat  in  the  Ohio  legislature  and  two  elections 
as  associate  judge  (which  latter  he  declined),  indi- 
cate his  standing  with  his  fellow  citizens." 

Mrs.  Charlotte  Merry  attained  the  great  age  of 
ninetj'-eight  years,  five  months  and  twenty-two  days. 
She  died  on  the  morning  of  February  8,  1879,  and 
her  funeral  took  place  upon  the  11th.  The  sermon 
was  preached,  on  this  occasion,  by  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Walter,  and  fi-om  the  same  text  which,  thirty-three 
years  before,  had  formed  the  subject  for  the  funeral 
discourse  over  her  husband. 

Hosmer  Merry,  a  younger  brother  of  Ebenezer, 
though  not  so  widely  known  and  not  taking  as  active 
a  part  in  public  affairs,  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
of  character.  He  was  born  at  Kinderhook,  New 
York,  in  179.3.     He  came,   as    heretofore   stated,  to 


Mentor,  with  his  brother.  He  was  then  seventeen 
years  of  age.  He  retui'ned  to  Genesee  county  when 
twenty-one,  and  tliere  married  Miss  Sarah  Frost,  who 
was  born  in  Watertown,  Connecticut,  October  "28, 
1787.  He  came  to  Milan  in  1810,  and  removed  his 
family  there  in  the  following  year.  He  located  upon 
a  farm  one  and  a  half  miles  below  the  village,  and 
here  remained  most  of  the  time  during  the  war,  and 
was  engaged,  among  others  of  the  township,  in  the 
army,  for  a  considerable  time,  most  commonly  acting 
as  teamster  and  transporting  goods.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  to  visit  the  American  vessels  after  Commo- 
dore Perry's  victory.  He  used  to  relate  that,  on 
arriving  near  the  fleet,  and  being  uncertain  whether 
the  battle  had  terminated  favorably  to  the  American 
or  British  vessels,  they  ceased  rowing,  and  upon  being 
assured  that  Commodore  Perry  had  won  the  fight,  an 
old  revolutionary  hero,  by  the  name  of  Harvey,  sprang 
to  his  feet  and,  swinging  his  hat,  shouted.  "Row, 
boys,  for  God's  sake  row." 

Mr.  Merry  moved  to  Oxford  township  in  1833. 
His  first  wife  died  in  August,  1825,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren, viz:  Ebenezer  0.,  now  in  Bellevue;  Henry  F., 
now  deceased;  Fanny,  in  Indiana;  George,  in  Michi- 
gan ;  William,  in  Indiana,  and  Betsey,  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Merry  married,  in  1826,  Sarah  Reed,  who, 
upon  his  death,  married  Hon.  F.  W.  Fowler,  of  Milan. 
By  her  he  had  two  children:  Mary  Ann,  now  in  Find- 
ley,  and  Stephen,  deceased. 

Mr.  Merry  died  in  Oxford,  August  23,  1835,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two  years.  He  was  a  man  well  liked,  and 
one  who  did  much  for  the  settlement  and  improve- 
ment of  the  localities  in  whidi  he  lived.  He  was 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Oxford  township  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  His  son,  E.  0.  Merry,  is  at  present  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for^Lyme  township. 


OXFORD/' 


ToAVN.sHip  numl)er  five,  in  range  twenty-three,  is 
bounded  on  the  north  Ijy  Perkins  township,  on  the 
south  by  Ridgefield,  east  by  Mihiu  and  west  by  the 
township  of  Groton.  The  surface  of  the  township  is 
level,  except  along  the  course  of  the-  streams.  The 
soil  for  the  greater  part  is  a  black  loam,  which  is  rich 
and  productive.  In  the  east  and  northern  portions  a 
sandy  soil  predominates. 


The  only  stream  of  importance  touching  this  town- 
ship is  the  Huron  river.  This  flows  through  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  township  from  the  west.  Two 
other  small  streams  are  found  in  Oxford:  Pipe  creek, 
which  flows  through  the  northern  and  western  part  of 
tha  township,  and  Crab  Apple  creek.  The  course  of 
this  stream  is  through  the  southeast  part  of  the  town- 
ship, emptying  into  Huron  river. 

ORIGIXAL   OWNERS. 

For  explanation  of  the  following  table,  the  reader 
er  is  referred  to  tlie  Lvme  historv: 


OXFORD — TOWN'  XUMBER    FIV: 
THREE. 


;aXGE  twenty- 


Classification  No.  1,  Sectio-  1. 
Original  Grantees.        Ain't  Loss.        Classified  by.  AmH  Classed. 

£       s.       d.  £       s.       d. 

„     ,  [EbenezeriLydia   980      H       6 

Titus  Hurlburt  196       3       0         |  Goddard  David 

James  McEver'a  h'rs  600       0       0        ^  Ward.  Mary  Jewit 

I  and  Purdori  J. 
„   ^  L  Hurlburt  2.34       0       0 

M.  Duniont  263      10       8       Hezekiah  Ripley       129      15       6 


Footing  o£  Classification  No.  1,  £1,344 


Classification  No.  2,  Section  8. 


Original  Grantees. 


ephen 
cnard  1 


'  Loss.        Classified  by.  Am't  Classed. 

d.  £  s.  d. 

Stephen  Holt 

David  Jlumford  318       5       9       D.  Uumfords  heirs  31S  5  9 

James  Rogers  455      16       5       James  Rogers  453  16  5 

Daniel  Holt  38       2       6 32  2  6 

Eldridge  Chester  6     11       0       Elisha  Chester  6  n  0 

Daniel  Chester  19      15       6    ■  '•  '•  19  15  6 

Thomas  Chester  . .      15       5  "  "  .  15  5 

William  Latham  45       2       2       James  Mitchell  4  10  2W 

10  5  4H 


Samuel  W'alworth        10      11 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  2,  £1,314 
Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 


Origitial  Grantees.       Am't  Loss.        Classified  by. 


Abigail  Potter 
James  Miller 
David  Manwaring 
Samuel  Belden 
M.  Dumont 


11  I  George  Potter  5T3  4 

0  I  His  heirs  51  3 

C  ;  Samuel  Belden  104  15 

8  I  Hezekiah  Ripley  133  15 


13  0  1  JohnMor 

Charles  Chester  6      19  0  Charles  Chester 

Jonathan  Haven  11       9  0  :  Elisha  Chester 

Samuel  Walworth       10     11  6  |  James  Mitchell 

John  Gordon  1      16  3  t  George  Potter 


Footing  of  Classiacation  No.  3,  £1,344 


•  Compiled  from  the  "Memoirs  "  by  F.  D.  Drake,  Esq. 


Classification  No.  4,  Section  4, 

Original  Grantees.        Am't  Loss.        Classifiedby.  Am't  classed 

£       s.        d.     \  £       s.        d. 

Samuel  Beldeu          ITTl      15       6      |  Samuel  Belden  1-344       ;       0 

FootiDgof  Classification  No.  4,  £1,:«4       7       0 
SETTLEMENT. 

Tiie  township  was  tirst  colonized  in  the  month  of 
February,  1810,  by  six  families  from  Conneaut,  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania.  They  were:  Jonathan  Sprague, 
Sr.,  a  man  far  advanced  in  years,  who  had  been  a 
lieutenant  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and  origi- 
nally from  the  State  of  Vermont.  He  erected  a  cabin 
on  the  east  bank  of  Pipe  creek,  about  one  fourth- of  a 
mile  west  of  Bloomingville.  A  son,  Jonathan,  Jr., 
and  three  families  of  Dunham's,  settled  between  ilr. 
Sprague"s  and  the  present  Bloomingville.  Linas  En- 
sign settled  on  the  east  bank  of  Pipe  creek,  about  one 
mile  southwest  of  Bloomingville,  on  the  farm  after- 
wards occupied  by  John  Paxton. 

In  the  mouth  of  July  of  the  same  year,  Thomas 
James,  from  Xew  London,  Connecticut,  and  James 
Forsyth,  from  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
moved  into  the  township.  James  settled  on  a  tract 
of  land  he  had  previously  purchased,  some  half  a  mile 
northeast  of  Bloomingville.  James  Forsyth  settled 
about  one  half  mile  southwest  of  Bloomingville,  and 
one  fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  Pipe  creek.  During  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  Nathan,  Standish  and  Ruel 
Wood  located  about  half  a  mile  east  of  Bloomingville. 
The  next  year  Thomas  Hamilton,  Dr.  Waitsell  Has- 
tings and  John  Dillingham  settled  at  Bloomingville, 
and  Samuel  McGill  about  one  mile  southwest  of  them. 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  this  year,  Jabez 
Wright  and  Almon  Ruggles  survej-ed  the  township. 
Benjamin  Drake  was  in  the  county  at  the  time,  and 
assisted  as  chain  bearer,  and,  while  so  employed,  pur- 
chased the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son,  F.  D.  Drake 
(lot  fifteen,  section  four).  There  were  large  acces- 
sions to  the  colony  this  year,  and  many  from  Con- 
neaut, Penns}-lvania,  located  in  Groton  township. 

The  next  year,  the  w^ar  with  Great  Britain  checked 
emigration,  and  the  cowardly  surrender  of  the  traitor, 
Hull,  at  Detroit,  shortly  afterward  exposed  the  thinly 
scattered  settlements  of  northwestern  Ohio  to  the 
depredations  of  the  Indians.  The  inhabitants  were 
greatly  alarmed,  and  many  of  them  fled  to  the  older 
settlements  for  safety.  The  larger  number  of  those 
who  fled  from  this  section  went  to  Mansfield,  convey- 
ing their  provisions  and  household  goods  on  pack- 
horses  and  in  wagons,  driving  their  stock.  Benjamin 
Drake  was  with  this  company;  the  roads  were  bad 
and  progress  slow  and  tedious.  The  women  and  chil- 
dren suffered  much,  during  this  march,  from  exposure, 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  that  annual  pest  of  the  new  settlements  of  the 
west,  fever  and  ague.  This  exodus  was  conducted 
with  military  precision,  and  the  cavalcade  dulj'  arrived 
at  Mansfield. 

A  small  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  remained  in 
Oxford,  and  in  connection  with  some  from  Cold  Creek 
and  adjacent  settlements  erected,  in  the  fall  of  this 
year  (1812),  a  block  house  in  Bloomingville.  This, 
like  other  structures  of  its  class  erected  during  this 
period  at  the  west,  although  generally  occupied  by  a 
few  persons,  was  not  calculated  to  be  permanently 
garrisoned,  but  was  merely  a  place  of  refuge  to  which 
the  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring  settlements  fled  in 
case  of  sudden  alarm.  Immediately  after  the  battle 
on  the  peninsula  (fall  of  1813),  the  settlers  became  so 
much  alarmed  that  they  erected  an  additional  block 
house  at  Bloomingville,  and  enclosed  both  with  pick- 
ets, and  because  of  its  greater  security  it  became  a 
place  of  resort  for  transient  persons  and  the  settlers 
of  the  surrounding  country. 

From  the  time  of  "  Hull's  infamy"  until  the  close 
of  the  war  bat  small  additions  were  made  to  the  per- 
manent settlers  in  Oxford.  Soon  after  the  battle  of 
the  peninsula,  Jasper  Wood  (father  of  Bourdett  Wood, 
of  Bellevue),  and  Worthington  Wood,  now  of  Michi- 
gan, moved  into  the  township,  and  bought  out  old  Na- 
than Wood,  who  had  previously  settled  a  short  distance 
east  of  Bloomingville.  Greene  Parker,  a  local  Meth-. 
odist  preaclier,  settled  about  one  half  mile  east  of  the 
present  village  of  Enterprise,  on  a  point  of  land 
formed  by  the  junction  of  Slate  run  with  Huron 
river.  He  was  the  first  settler  in  this  portion  of  the 
township. 

The  family  of  Benjamin  Drake  wei'e:  Caleb,  who 
married  Widoiv  Buel  (did  not  locate  in  Ohio);  Charles 
F.,  who  married  Maria  Livingston  and  died  on  Ca- 
tawba Island;  Benjamin,  who  deceased  single;  Joshua, 
who  married  Charlotte  Gibbs,  and  lives  in  Livingston 
county,  Missouri;  Frederick  D.,  who  married  Eliza 
Smeath,  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  and  is  the  only 
one  of  the  family  residing  in  the  township;  James, 
who  married  Catharine  Smeath,  and  lives  in  Missouri; 
Sarah,  who  married  Dr.  Amos  Amsden,  is  dead; 
Nancy,  who  married  Dr.  Daniel  Tilden,  is  dead,  and 
Deborah,  who  married  Shepard  Patrick.  Benjamin 
Drake  died  December  22,  1844,  aged  seventy-nine 
years.     Mrs.  Drake  died  July  31,  1844. 

BLOOMINGVILLE 

is  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township, 
and  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of  Pipe  creek,  on 
the  line  of  an  Indian  trail,  that  seems  to  have  been  a 
favorite  camping  ground,  long  previous  to  the  settle- 
ment of  the  country,  for  Indians  and  traders,  in  their 
journeyings  between  the  mouth  of  Huron  river  and 
Lower  Sandusky,  the  ground  being  high  and  dry,  and 
an  abundance  of  wood,  water  and  feed  in  the  vicinity. 
The  village  dates  from  1811,  but  was  not  laid  out 
or  named  until   as  late  as  1817.     This  was  done  bf 


Abiathar  Shirley  and  Abner  Youngs.     At  one  time 
its  future  was  very  promising. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  store  in  the  township  was  opened  by 
Nathan  Wood,  at  Bloomingville,  in  1811,  and  after- 
ward, successively  by  Peter  Vanness,  and  Faley  & 
Johnson.  In  1818,  Samuel  B.  Caldwell  and  a  young 
man,  named  Owens,  brought  on  a  large  stock  of 
goods.  Owens  soon  returned  east,  and  Charles  F. 
Drake  became  associated  with  Caldwell,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  conducted  by  this  firm  for  many  years. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  at  Blooming- 
ville as  early  as  1810.  Aaron  Bigsby  was,  doubtless, 
the  first  postmaster. 

The  first  fruit  trees  in  the  township  were  planted 
by  Jonathan  Spragne,  who  established  a  nursery  on 
Pipe  creek.  This  was  prior  to  the  war  of  1813.  Many 
orchards  in  this,  and  adjoining  townships,  were  formed 
from  trees  procured  at  this  nursery. 

Abiathar  Shirley  opened  a  hotel  at  Bloomingville, 
as  early  as  1813. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Israel  Harrington. 
He  was  elected  in  1811,  and  lived  west  of  Pipe  creek, 
in  what  is  now  Groton  township. 

Owing  to  the  sparsely  settled  condition  of  the  Fire- 
lands  at  this  time,  election  precincts  were  almost 
boundless.  What  is  now  embraced  in  the  townships 
of  Oxford,  Groton,  Perkins  and  a  part  of  Margaretta, 
was  then  one  precinct,  and  elections  were  held  at 
Bloomingville,  then  called  Wheatsborough.  In  1836, 
Groton  effected  a  separate-organization. 

CHURCHES    AND    SCHOOLS. 

The  first  sermon  delivered  within  the  limits  of 
the  township  of  Oxford,  was  by  Father  Gurley, 
who  located  in  the  township  at  an  early  period.  He 
was  a  Methodist,  and  was  zealous  in  the  cause  of 
religion.  He  died  but  recently.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Smith  was  the  second  minister  to  locate  in  the  town- 
ship. 

The  township  has  had  no  church  organization  until 
recently.  The  Lutheran,  near  Front's  station,  is  the 
first  one,  and  was  formed,  perhaps,  ten  years  since. 
This  has  now  a  large  membership  and  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition.  Near  the  same  place  is  also  located 
a  church  of  the  Catholic  faith. 

The  first  school  house  in  the  township  was  erected 
in  1810,  and  stood  about  half  way  between  Pipe 
creek  and  Bloomingville.  In  this,  a  term  of  school 
was  kept  in  the  winter  of  1811,  by  Joseph  Alby. 
The  building  was  still  standing  in  1815,  and  Mr. 
Drake  says,  "for  a  literary  institution.it  looked  hard 
indeed." 


In  the  yea.r  1870,  the  Oxford  Center  Lodge  of  Good 
Templars  was  organized  by  Isaac  DeLamater,  Esq. 
This  was  prosperous  and  flourishing  for  a  time,  but 
in  consequence  of  the  removal   of  many  of  its   most 


468 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


active  members,  its  charter  was  surrendered  in  Feb- 
ruary, IST-t.  During  its  existence  nearly  one  hundred 
persons  became  members  of  it. 

On  January  20,  1872,  an  organization  of  this  order 
was  eSected  at  Bloomingville,  by  A.  M.  Collins,  with 
W.  M.  Hills,  W.  C.  T.  During  the  subsequent 
spring,  rooms  were  prepared  in  the  upper  part  of 
Mrs.  Mary  James  residence.  We  understand  this 
society  has  also  passed  out  of  existence. 

PHYSICIAXS. 

The  first  doctor  to  locate  iu  the  township  was  Wait- 
sell  Hastings,  who  came,  as  before  stated,  in  1811. 
He  eventually  removed  to  near  Parkertowu,  in  Groton 
township,  where  he  died  a  few  years  since.  Dr. 
Strong  succeeded  him,  and  practiced  some  years.  He 
is  now  deceased.  Dr.  Carpenter  came  next,  and  was 
the  only  physician  iu  the  township  for  many  years. 
He  moved  west  and  died.  His  son,  Samuel  B.  Car- 
penter, succeeded  him.  Dr.  George  Carpenter  came 
next.  Dr.  Isaac  Rogers  was  the  first  practitioner  of 
the  botanic  school;  he  lived  in  the  township  some 
twenty  years.  The  present  physician  is  M.  J.  Love, 
recently  removed  from  Monroeville. 

IMPKOVEMEXTS. 

The  improvements,  if  they  deserve  the  name,  made 
by  the  first  settlers,  were  of  the  most  primitive  kind: 
a  rude,  ill-constructed  log  cabin,  covered  with  shakes, 
as  they  wei-e  called,  with  stable,  etc.,  of  the  same  or- 
der of  architecture,  together  with  a  few  acres  of  laud 
enclosed  for  cultivation,  did,  iu  most  cases,  constitute 
the  sum  total  of  improvements.  The  procuring  of 
a  bare  subsistence  made  a  large  draft  on  the  time  of 
the  i^ioneer.  Until  nearly  the  close  of  the  war  most 
of  the  meal  (little  flour  being  used),  consumed  by  the 
inhabitants,  was  transported  by  water  from  Cleveland 
to  the  mouth  of  Huron  river,  and  thence  conveyed 
on  pack-horses  to  its  place  of  destination.  Tea,  cof- 
fee and  sugar  were  almost  entirely  unused. 

SICKXESS. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  Fire-lands 
suffered  more  from  sickness  than  all  other  causes. 
During  the  months  of  August  and  September,  in  every 
year,  bilious  and  intermittent  fever,  and  ague  and 
fever,  prevailed  to  a  great  extent.  The  change  of 
climate,  water  and  mode  of  living,  created  a  general 
predisposition  to  disease,  and  all  were  affected,  some 
years  more  thau  others,  so  much  so  that  long  after- 
wards, one  year  in  particular  was  referred  to  as  the 
sickly  season..  AVhole  families  would  be  prostrated  at 
the  same  time,  and  not  one  in  the  house  be  able  to 
give  another  a  glass  of  water. 

HOSI'ITALITY. 

A  sense  of  mutual  dependence,  their  solitary  mode 
of  life,  and  perhaps  other  causes,  produced  a  friend- 
ship and  hearty  good  will  for  each  other  among  the 
earlv  settlers,  that  never  exists  in  the  older  and  more 


densely  populated  settlements.  The  latch-string  was 
always  out,  and  the  traveler  was  received  with  the  most 
cordial  welcome,  and  partook  of  the  best  the  cabin 
afforded,  generally  pretty  coarse  fare,  '-without  money 
and  without  price."  The  raising  of  a  building  col- 
lected most  of  the  men  from  a  wide  circuit;  and  if  a 
.settlei',  from  sickness  or  other  cause,  was  unable  to 
plow,  plant  or  harvest  in  season,  his  neighbors  would 
collect  and  do  his  work  for  him;  those  living  six  or 
eight  miles  apart  even,  were  considered  as  neighbors. 
In  all  their  gatherings,  and  they  were  frequent,  the 
most  perfect  equality  and  good  will  prevailed. 


Among  the  most  prominent  evils  and  hardships 
incident  to  the  settlement  of  the  Fire-lands,  was  that 
of  procuring  bread,  even  of  the  coarsest  kind.  Even 
as  late  as  1820,  there  were  not  mills  sufficient  to  sup- 
ply the  wants  of  a  rapidly  increasing  population. 
Ebenezer  Merry  had  erected  a  mill  at  Milan,  Major 
Frederick  Faley  one  at  Cold  Creek,  near  the  present 
village  of  Venice,  and  I  believe  there  was  one  near  the 
head  of  the  creek,  and  a  man  named  Powers  had  built 
one  on  Huron  river,  in  Greenfield  township.  These 
were  all  small  affairs,  with  one  run  of  stone.  The 
machinery  and  dams  were  rude,  ill-constructed,  and 
out  of  order  a  great  portion  of  the  time.  The  roads 
were  almost  impassible  for  wagons,  and  even  danger- 
ous for  a  single  horse,  with  a  bag  of  grain  and  a  rider 
on  his  back. 

Mr.  Drake  says:  "I  was  of  that  age  when  not  large 
enough  to  do  a  man's  work  on  the  farm,  but  still  large 
enough  to  go  to  mill,  and  is  was  a  duty  I  was  gener- 
ally detailed  to  perform.  The  followijig  expedition  to 
Powers"  mill  will  show  how  it  was  done.  The  mill 
stood  in  the  woods,  and  resembled  an  old  fashioned 
tan  house.  The  basement,  contaming  the  machinery, 
was  uniuclosed,  the  upper  story  boarded  up  barn  fash- 
ion, and  constructed  inside  with  more  regard  for  con- 
venience than  beauty.  The  presiding  genius  of  the 
establishment  was  constructed  on  the  same  principles 
— one  leg  being  much  shorter  than  its  mate.  He  was 
old  and  cross.  Millers  were  then  as  absolute  as  the 
'Autocrat  of  all  the  Russias.'  Tiiere  was  no  appeal 
from  their  decisions,  and  as  it  was  a  matter  of  bread, 
if  not  butter,  people  were  willing  to  submit  to  a  great 
deal  to  secure  so  desirable  a  consummation.  The 
state  of  the  roads  and  the  distance  most  jjersons  came, 
made  it  neceasary  to  spend  one  night  at  the  mill. 
The  night  I  was  there  I  found  some  ten  or  twelve 
others,  and  we  all  camped  down  wherever  a  vacancy 
could  be  found  among  the  bags.  The  regular  click- 
ing of  the  hopper,  the  surging,  gushing  sound  of  the 
water,  as  it  escaped  from  the  mill  wheel,  the  noise  of 
people  talking  and  traveling  around  hunting  for  bags, 
and  the  singing  of  mosquitoes,  produced  a  concert  of 
discordant  sounds  that  precluded  the  possibility  of 
sleep.  Still  there  was  no  complaining:  it  was  consid- 
ered as  a  necessary  evil.  The  next  night  when  I  lay 
"down   at  home  on   a  comfortable  bed,  I  could    have 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


460 


■said  with  honest  Sauclio  Panza:  '  Blessed  is  the  man 
that  invented  sleep."" 

Dr.  Carpenter  built  a  saw  mill  on  Pipe  creek  many 
years  since.  A  run  of  stone  was  subsequently  added, 
for  the  grinding  of  coarse  feed. 

A    BAXK — ALMOST. 

No  one  residing  on  the  Fire-lands  at  present,,  when 
all  kinds  of  produce  are  convertible  into  cash,  can 
form  an  idea  of  the  vexations  anS  inconveniences  en- 
dured by  the  early  settlers,  for  want  of  a  circulating 
medium.  Previous  to  the  oi^ening  of  the  Erie  canal, 
and  the  establishment  of  commercial  relations  through 
that  channel  with  eastern  cities,  there  was  no  cash 
market  for  any  kind  of  produce.  A  bushel  of  corn 
would  not  buy  a  yard  of  muslin,  coarse  enough  to 
sift  meal  through.  A  man  might  own  a  hundred 
head  of  cattle,  an  unlimited  number  of  .hogs,  and 
territory  large  enough  for  a  German  principality,  and 
not  be  able  to  raise  money  enough  to  pay  his  taxes 
without  great  effort. 

I  think  it  was  in  1817,  that  Charles  Lindsay  re- 
moved from  Dayton  to  near  the  head  of  Cold  creek. 
He  had  been  an  official  in  a  wildcat  institution,  that 
issued  "promises  to  pay,"  never  redeemed,  under  the 
name  of  the  "Dayton  manufacturing  company." 
The  word  "manufacturing"  was,  doubtless,  used  for 
the  same  reason  that  Captain  Cuttle  always  read 
a  large  book,  /.  e.,  because  ii  looked  res23ectable. 
Lindsay  suggested  to  some  of  the  influential  inhabi- 
tants,lthe  great  benefit  that  would  result  to  the  coun- 
try by  establishing  a  bank  at  Bloomiugville — at  that 
time  a  flourishing  village.  The  move  was  a  popular 
one.  A  meeting  was  called,  the  neeessarv  stock  sub- 
scribed. Lindsay  was  employed  to  engineer  things, 
get  the  engraving  done  and  procure  a  charter,  while 
Messrs.  South,  Shirley,  Youngs  and  others,  proceeded 
to  the  erection  of  a  banking  house.     On  repairing  to 


Columbus,  it  was  found  that  a  law  had  recently  passed 
prohibiting  the  granting  of  further  bank  charters  for 
the  space  of  twelve  months.  The  bills  were  already 
printed,  but  nothing  further  was  done  except  to  sell 
the  property  and  abandon  the  enterprise. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


MR.  PERCIYAL  B.  SALISBURY 

was  born  at  Henderson,  Jefferson  county,  New  York, 
January  37,  1818.  He  was  educated  at  Theresa  in 
the  same  county.  In  1839,  he  engaged  in  teaching 
in  Adams,  New  Y'ork,  and  on  March  2, 1842,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Stella  Willard,  of  Adams.  He  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Oxford  township,  at 
Four  Corners,  where  he  has  been  identified  with  all 
matters  of  public  interest.  During  the  early  years 
of  his  residence  in  the  county,  he  was  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools.  During  the  war  he  was  a  thorough 
Union  man  and  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  govern- 
ment. His  family  consisted  of  three  children:  Newel 
B.,  who  was  a  member  of  the  One  hundred  and 
twenty -third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  fell  in  the 
service ;  Brainard  W.,  who  married  Miss  Jennie 
Todd,  and  is  now  connected  with  the  Exchange  Bank 
of  Monroeville;  and  Emma  A.,  who  married  H.  6. 
Cowles,  and  now  lives  at  Big  Rock  Iowa. 

Mr.  Salisbury  died  March  16,  1879.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  refined  and  cultivated  taste,  and  early 
in  liie  became  a  Christian.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church  at  Four  Corners,  and  4  faith- 
ful earnest  worker. 


HURON 


The  town  of  Huron,  sitiuited  at  the  month  of  Huron 
river,  fifty  miles  west  of  Cleveland,  or  the  mouth  of 
Cuyahoga  river,  and  about  ten  miles  east  of  the  mouth 
of  Sandusky  bay,  has  probably  been  settled  longer 
than  any  other  town  on  the  Fire-lands. 

The  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake  Erie, 
east  by  Berlin  township  (formerly  called  Eldridge), 
south  by  a  part  of  Berlin  and  Milan  townships,  west 
by  Perkins  and  Portland  townships  (now  Sandusky), 
and  northwest  by  Sandusky  bay.  Huron  river  runs 
through  the  eastern  portion  of  the  township,  in  a 
northwardly  direction,  till  within  about  one  mile  of 
the  mouth,  when  the  channel  takes  a  northeast  direc- 
tion, till  it  empties  into  Lake  Erie. 

AS    A    HAKBOR. 

Huron  has  been  considered  an  important  point  on 
account  of  the  shipping  facilities,  by  lake  navigation, 
which  it  affords  to  the  surrounding  farming  country. 
Huron  river  is  one  of  the  best  harbors  on  the  south 
shore  of  Lake  Erie.  The  ordinary  depth  of  water  in 
the  channel  is  usually  about  fifteen  feet,  and  fre- 
quently even  greater,  and  when  3'ou  get  "inside," 
(as  the  sailors  say),  there  is  room  for  all  the  shipping 
on  Lake  Erie. 

PHYSK-'AL  FEATURES. 

There  are  about  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  marsh  land 
within  the  boundaries  of  Huron  township:  three  hun- 
dred in  the  Hui-on  river  valley,  the  remainder  border- 
ing on  Sandusky  bay,  all  of  which  is  irreclaimable, 
from  the  fact  that  the  land  is  all  lower  tlian  the  sur- 
face of  the  lake  and  consequently  affected  by  the  rise 
and  fall  of  its  waters. 

The  land  east  of  Huron  river  at  the  time  of  the 
first  settlement  of  the  early  pioneers,  was  covered  with 
a  dense  forest,  about  half  of  which  was  what  is  termed 
second  growth,  the  balance  heavy  timber;  much  of  it 
being  white  oak,  has  been  used  for  ship  timber. 

About  two  miles  west  of  Huron  river  is  Saw  Mill 
creek,  a  stream  of  considerable  magnitude,  the  outlet 
of  prairie  drainage,  and  which,  at  a  time  when  the 
waters  of  the  prairies  were  discharged  more  slowly, 
previous  to' the  extensive  opening  of  prairie  ditches, 
saw  mills  for  the  manufacture  of  lumber  have  been 
known  to  run  the  greater  portion  of  the  year.  But 
since  the  advantage  to  farm  land  of  a  thorough  sys- 
tem of  drainage  has  been  taken  into  consideration, 
most  of  the  water  falling  upon  the  land  within  twenty 

•  By  Dr.  Geo.  Haskins. 


miles  of  the  lake  is  discharged  therein  in  the  course 
of  a  week.  The  southwest  part  of  the  township  is 
mostly  prairie.  The  northwestern  part,  except  the 
marshes  bordering  on  Sandusky  bay,  is  timber  land. 

ORIGINAL   OWNERS. 

For  an  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Lyme: 

HtTRON,  TOWN  NUMBER  SIX,  IN  RANGE  TWENTY-TWO. 

Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 


Original  Grantees 

All 

■t  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Aint 

Classed. 

£ 

s 

d.    1 

£ 

s.       d. 

Peter  Lattimer 

317 

i 

6     h  The  heirs  of  Wil- 

364 

4       7 

John  Lester 

35 

19 

7              Ham  Stewart, 

37 

19       7 

JohQ  Welch 

40 

10 

0     1   1      late  of  New 

46 

10       0 

Joseph  Hurlbut 

965 

8 

3     1    f     London.  Con- 

149 

0      10 

Samuel  Brown 

8     j        necticut,  (de- 

18       6 

Samuel  Lattimer 

nio        19 
Footing 

5     1  J      ceased) 
of  Classification  No.  1,  £1 

519 

13       6 

344 

r      0 

Classification  No.  2,  Section  i. 

Original  Crranfees 

An 

'(  Los.s.           Classified  by. 

.4  m  7 

Classed. 

£ 

g 

rf. 

£ 

s.       d. 

Jeremiah  Miller    - 

,535 

18 

10 

William  Winthrop, 
New  York  _^ 

360 
105 

li  i 

John  Ewing 

m 

0 

'6 

Heirs  of 

800 

0       0 

John  Barr 

'^ 

11 

■* 

William  Gale,  New 
London 

n 

11         4 

EbenGoddard 

Heirs  of      • 

' 

0        U 

Original  Grantees. 


Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,344         7       0 

Cl,ASSIFICATION   NO.   3,    SECTION   3. 

Am't  Loss.  Classified  by.        Am' t  Classed. 


" 

■ 

■ 

1  Heirs  of  Richard 

' 

Joseph  Paekwood 

817 

5 

4 

William  Parkin,  817 

5 

4 

Bathsheba  Smith 

465 

14 

10 

1   V     late  of  New  Lon- 407 

10 

6 

Richard  Potter 

•382 

2 

3 

1     don.  Connect!-    119 
1  J,    cut,  (deceased) 

11 

" 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,-344 

0 

CLASSIFICATION  NO.   4,   SECTION  4. 

Original  Grantees 

Am't  Los.i. 

Classified  by.        Am't 

CTa.wc/- 

£ 

s 

d. 

£ 

s. 

rf. 

Samuel  Lattimer 

910 

19 

5 

Heirs  of  William 
Stewart,  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut  341 

5 

11 

Richard  Potter 

382 

■i 

' 

Heirs  of  Richard 
Parkin*,  de- 
ceased                  262 

11 

1 

Thomas  Bowlay,  o 

Boyd 

Ann  Hancock 

49 

17 

1 

49 

17 

1 

140 

3 

93 

9 

0 

Richard  Stroud 

•i3 

15 

0 

23 

15 

0 

Eben  May 

15 

16 

1 

15 

16 

Widow  Austus  Piner  48 

0 

0 

48 

0 

0 

Bathsheba  Skinne 

I, SO 

0 

0 

"            60 

0 

0 

Jabob  Fenk 

130 

8 

10 

130 

8 

10 

Ichabod  Powers 

620 

8 

0 

206 

16 

0 

Jeremiah  Miller 

3,5:35 

IS 

10 

William  Winthrop, 
New  York                62 

8 

0 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  4,  £1,344         7       0 
EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  precise  date  of  the  first  occupation  of  Huron 
by  white  settlers  is  uncertain.  It  is  known,  however, 
that  the  French  had  a  trading  post  at  the  moutli  of 
Huron  river  about  the  year  A.  D.  17-t'.i.  but  it  was 
abandoned  previous  to  the  Revolution. 

(470) 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  EKIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


471 


The  Moravian  missiouaries,  consisting  of  a  few 
Tvliite  settlers  and  ludiaus,  located  on  a  part  of  the 
sontheast  corner  of  Huron  and  the  northeast  corner 
of  Milan  townships.  They  also  abandoned  their  set- 
tlement previous  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and 
probably  before  the  French  occupied  their  trading  post 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  though  there  were  a  few 
Moravian  Indians,  with  a  white  preacher  and  his  fam- 
ily in  their  midst,  in  1808. 

The  beginning  of  the  present  settlement  was  in  the 
year  1805.  John  Baptiste  Flemoned,  or  Fleming,  first 
came  to  Huron  that  ye.ir,  but  Mr.  Hosea  Townseud, 
of  New  L.)ndou,  says  that  Flemoned  claimed  to  have 
come  to  Huron  in  1790.  He  was  born  in  Montreal, 
Lower  Canada,  about  the  year  1770,  of  French  par- 
ents. He  located  on  the  east  haul?  of  Huron  river, 
about  two  miles  from  the  mouth,  on  lot  number  fif- 
teen, section  first.  The  land  is  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Simon  Knight.  He  opened  a  small  stock  of  goods 
for  the  purpose  of  dealing  with  the  Indians,  exchang- 
ing with  them  for  furs  and  of  supplying  them  with 
such  articles  of  merchandise  as  their  necessities  re- 
quired. 

In  the  arrest,  trial  and  execution  of  the  two  Indi- 
ans, Negonaba  and  Negosheek,  at  Norwalk,  May  21, 
1819,  for  the  murder  of  John  Wood  and  George 
Bishop,  Mr.  Flemoned  was  ons  of  the  most  important 
witnesses,  interpreter,  guide,  and  one  of  the  execu- 
tioners. The  weary  pioneer,  always  found  welcome 
hospitality  in  his  store  and  cabin,  and  the  early  sur- 
veyors, in  1806,  found  rest  and  repose.  He  also  as- 
sisted in  their  second  survey.  It  has  been  said  that 
he  died  in  1830,  but  according  to  the  most  reliable 
data  he  died  about  the  year  1837,  leaving  a  wife  and 
three  daughters:  Eliza,  Jane  and  Lydia.  His  eldest 
married  John  McCarty.  After  his  (McCarty's)  death 
she  married  John  Miller  and  lived  on  the  old  farm 
till  about  1851,  then  moved  to  Wood  county,  Ohio. 
The  condition  or  whereabouts  of  the  two  younger  is 
not  known  to  the  writer.  Mrs.  Flemoned  died  about 
twelve  years  subsequent  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Flemoned. 

Jared  Ward  and  family  came  into  the  township  in 
the  spring  of  1808,  lived  on  a  part  of  the  Flemoned 
farm,  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Widow 
McMillen,  until  the  following  j-ear — 1809.  He  then 
bought  a  part  of  David  Abbott's  land,  in  Avery  [now 
Milan]  township,  near  the  Hathaway  neighborhood, 
where  his  son,  Elam  Ward,  now  resides.  Mrs.  Betsy 
Collins,  late  the  wife  of  Isaac  Collins  and  a  daughter 
of  Jared  Ward,  remembered  the  time  when  her  father 
came  to  Huron;  was  then  in  the  fourth  year  of  her 
age.  She  resided  in  Milan  from  the  time  of  her  par- 
ents' residence  there  until  1858. 

Mrs.  Collins  was  born  in  Painesville,  Ohio,  in 
1804,  was  married  to  Mr.  Isaac  Collins  in  Milan. 
They  moved  to  Huron  in  1858,  where  she  resided 
until  her  death,  September  1,  1877.  Mr.  Isaac  Col- 
lins was  in  Huron  in  1812,  but  made  only  a  short 
stay;  went  the  same  year  to  Columbus,  Ohio;  came 
back  to  Milan  in  1818.     He  helped  raise  the  court 


house  at  the  old  county  seat.  He  assisted  at  J.  B. 
Flemoned's  funeral.  Came  to  Huron  in  1858,  where 
he  now  resides. 

Almon  Ruggles  visited  the  Fire-lands  a  few  years 
prior  to  moving  his  family  to  Huron  in  June,  1808. 
Jabez  Wright  also  came  to  Huron  in  1808.  The 
same  year,  these  gentlemen  commenced  the  survey  of 
the  township,  laying  it  off  in  sections  and  lots  in 
course  of  that  and  succeeding  years,  completing  the 
survey  in  1810. 

Mr.  Jabez  Wright  was  born  in  1780,  near  Copen- 
hagen, New  York.  After  he  came  to  Huron,  he 
married  Miss  Tamar  Ruggles,  a  relative  of  the  late 
Judge  Almon  Ruggles.  He  located  on  the  west  bank 
of  Huron  river,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
lake,  on  laud  now  known  as  Wright's  river  farm,  and 
owned  by  his  son,  Winthrop  H.  Wright,  and  where 
W.  H,  Wright  was  born,  in  December,  1813. 

Mr.  Wright  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Huron  township,  the  exact  date  is  not  definitely 
known;  he  was  subsequently  appointed  one  of  the 
associate  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  for 
Huron  count}'.  He  was  land  agent  for  William  Win- 
throp, of  New  York  city,  who  had  acquired  the  title 
of  the  whole  township.  Mr.  Winthrop  died  about 
the  year  1826,  when  the  laud,  Ijy  Mr.  Winthrop's  will, 
went  to  his  nephew,  Wm.  H.  Winthrop. 

Mr.  Wright  moved  on  to  the  lake  shore  in  1815, 
about  one  mile  west  of  the  mouth  of  Huron  river. 
In  the  year  1832,  he  built  the  first  brick  house  that 
was  erected  in  the  township.  He  continued  to  act 
as  laud  agent  for  Wm.  H.  Winthrop  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  December  16,  1840,  which  was  caused  by 
falling  from  the  lake  bank  on  a  dark  night.  Judge 
Wright  was  an  exemiDlary  citizen,  highly  respected, 
and  all  who  knew  him  sadly  mourned  his  sudden  and 
untimely  death.  Mrs.  Wright  died  in  1849,  at  the 
house  of  her  youngest  son,  Ruggles  Wright.  Of 
their  five  children,  there  are  now  three  living:  Win- 
throp H.,  the  eldest,  and  Ruggles,  the  youngest,  and 
Mrs.  Abigail  Vance,  youngest  daughter  (widow),  liv- 
ing in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio.  The  eldest  daugh- 
ter, Lucy,  married  General  John  W.  Sprague;  died 
in  Troy,  New  York,  May,  1844.  Douglas,  the  second 
son  of  Judge  Wright,  died  at  the  brick  house  resi- 
dence, January  11,  1856. 

Cyrus  Downing  and  family,  consisting  of  wife  and 
two  children,  came  to  Huron  in  November,  A.  D. 
1809.  He  located  on  the  lake  shore  on  land  now 
owned  by  W.  H.  Wright,  somewhere  near  Mr. 
Wright's  present  dwelling,  where  he  resided  until  the 
summer  of  1812,  when  he  left  and  went  to  Cleveh.nd 
soon  after  Hull's  surrender,  where  he  died  the  next 
winter.  Mrs.  Downing  afterwards  married  a  ilr. 
Parker,  of  Milan.  The  Indians  were  quite  numerous 
about  Huron  at  that  time,  and  somewhat  troublesome 
about  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  war,  but  became 
more  shy  after  hostilities  commenced.  Jeremiah 
Daniels  came  to  Huron  about  the  same  time  as  Down- 
ing.    Mr.  Daniels  carried  the  mail  from  Huron  to 


47i 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Cleveland,  making  weekly  trips.  He  married  Pauline 
Downing  in  the  spring  of  1813,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  and  owned  by  Mr.  William  J. 
Hinde,  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Huron  village. 

Major  Hiram  Russel  came  to  Huron  in  the  winter 
of  1809  and  1810;  built  a  log  house  on  land  afterward 
owned  by  Jeremiah  Van  Benschoter,  now  owned  by 
Mr.  Van  Benschoter's  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Widow 
Stapleton  and  Mrs.  James  Paxton.  Mr.  Russel  occu- 
pied his  house  as  a  tavern  and  store,  which  was  the 
first  tavern  kept  in  Huron.  It  was  opened  to  the 
public  in  1810.  The  same  year  Mr.  Russel  com- 
menced building  a  vessel,  of  about  forty  tons'  burthen, 
near  his  house.  It  is  said  that  there  was  but  a  very 
small  amount  of  iron  used  in  the  building,  wooden 
pins  being  used  instead  of  spikes.  Mr.  Russel  was 
assisted  by  Jonathan  Sprague  (father  of  the  late  Jon- 
athan S.  Sprague,  Esq.),  who  did  what  blacksmith 
work  was  required.     The  vessel  was  finished  in  1811. 

Jonathan  Sprague  came  into  the  township  with  his 
family  in  1810.  Located  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
a  few  rods  above  the  railroad  bridge. 

Mr.  Russel  built  another  vessel,  which  he  completed 
in  the  spring  of  1813.  She  was  named  •'  The  Fair 
American."  It  is  said  that  this  vessel  was  sold  to  the 
British  government,  and  delivered  to  the  British 
agents  at  Buffalo  soon  after  being  completed. 

Mr.  Russel  cleared  a  field  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Mr.  William  G.  Sage.  This  field  was  afterwards 
abandoned,  and  in  1845  was  covered  with  a  thick 
growth  of  timber.  The  land  on  this  farm,  like  much 
land  east  of  the  river  in  this  township,  was  a  light 
sandy  soil,  and  was  considered  by  the  early  settlers 
nearly  worthless.  It  is  now  known  to  be  the  best 
farm  land  on  the  Western  Reserve.  Russel  left  Huron 
soon  after  the  war  commenced. 

In  1809,  Asa  Smith  visited  the  country  in  and 
around  Huron,  and  moved  into  the  township  in  June, 

1810,  from  Romulus,  Seneca  county,  New  York.     In 

1811,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  at  the  first 
election  held  in  the  township  after  its  organization. 
Mr.  Asa  Smith  located  not  far  from  the  present  resi- 
dence of  W.  H.  Wright,  one  mile  west  of  the  mouth 
of  the  river.  He  was  born  in  Massachusetts;  his  wife 
in  Rhode  Island;  they  lived,  for  a  time,  on  Long 
Island:  afterwards  moved  to  Romulus,  New  York, 
and  from  thence  to  Huron.  They  had  six  children 
when  they  came  to  Huron,  one  of  whom,  William  B., 
was  born  on  Long  Island,  August  1.5,  179G.  Mr. 
Asa  Smith  died  at  his  residence,  in  Huron.  August 
30,  181.5.  His  wife  died  August  3(i,  184-2,  in  San- 
dusky. 

Jonathan  S.  Sprague,  Esq.,  came  to  Huron  with 
his  family  in  1810,  from  Canada.  He  settled  on  tlie 
farm  now  owned  by  Henry  Holsanr.  He  married 
Miss  Mahala  Daly.  He  afterward  bought  an  adjoin- 
ing farm,  of  Judge  Charles  Standart.  Jonathan  S. 
Sprague  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  talents;  he 
had  not  the  benefit  of  a  common  school  education; 
yet  he  was  hold  in  so  high  estimation  bv  his  friends  and 


associates  that  he  was  frequently  elected  to  offices  of 
trust.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
eighteen  years  in  succession,  at  the  termination  of 
which  he  refused  to  serve  in  that  capacity  any  longer; 
his  health  was  very  much  impaired  for  several  of  the 
last  years  of  his  life.  He  died  at  his  house,  on  the 
Standart  fai-m,  on  January  15,  1861.  Mrs.  Sprague- 
died  at  the  house  of  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Isaac  Dur- 
ham, in  April,  1872,  near  the  village,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years. 

In  January,  1816,  Reed  &  Sandford,  merchants,  of 
Erie,  Pennsylvania,  opened  a  store  of  goods  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  east  side.  It  was  man- 
aged by  ^Ir.  Francis  Graham,  assisted  by  John  B. 
Flemoned. 

Mr. -William  B.  Smith,  and  his  mother,  kept  a 
public  house  at  that  time  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  Mr.  Smith  remembered  hearing  the  report  of 
Perry's  guns  on  the  10th  of  September.  1813,  and,  in 
company  with  his  father,  started  for  Put-in-Bay  the 
next  morning,  arriving  there  the  following  morning, 
where  Perry's  fieet,  with  their  prizes,  were  moored. 
Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  Huron  in  June,  1819,  and 
moved  to  Sandusky  soon  afterward,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  always  Jiighly 
esteemed  as  one  of  Ohio's  best  citizens  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  elected  treasurer  of  Erie  county  in  1840. 
He  died  in  Sandusky,  September  25,  1878.  Mrs. 
Smith,  a  most  estimable  lady,  survives  her  husband. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

It  is  uncertain  when  the  first  post  office  was  estab- 
lished at  Huron.  A  letter  from  the  venerable  Francis 
Graham,  above  mentioned,  of  Ashland,  Ohio,  saj's  : 
•'  I  went  to  Huron  in  November,  '15,  (probably  1815) 
where  I  spent  four  years  of  my  life.  L^ncle  Sam  gave 
us  a  post  office  early  in  1817;  office  on  the  east  side, 
and  x\sa  Sandford  postmaster,"  which  was  probably 
the  first  regularly  established  post  office  in  Huron. 

The  first  public  school,  it  is  said,  was  taught  by 
Calvin  Coe,  in  the  winter  of  1810-11,  and  afterward 
by  Miss  Tamar  Ruggles  (later  Mrs.  Jabez  Wright). 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Coe  was  afterward  ordained 
preacher  of  the  gospel,  and  as  such  was  the  first  who 
served  in  that  capacity  in  Huron. 

About  the  year  1815,  Mr.  William  Chapman  opened 
a  school  near  his  house,  on  lot  twenty-five,  section 
tiiree,  and  continued  for  a  few  years.  Mr.  Winthrop 
H.  Wright  remembers  attending  as  a  pupil. 

The  first  public  highway  in  the  township  was  on 
the  east  side  of  tlie  river,  surveyed  by  Jabez  Wright, 
beginning  at  the  lake  shore,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  running  southward.  The  survey  was  made  in 
1810. 

William  Winthrop,  former  owner  of  Huron  town- 
ship, built  a  saw  mill  on  Saw  Mill  creek,  two  and  a 
half  miles  west  of  the  river,  in  1819. 

In  1819,  N.  M.  Standart  and  Cyrus  Butler  opened 
a  store  of  drv  goods  and  groceries  on  the  west  side 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


473 


of  the  river.  In  1820,  they  parted.  Staiiclart  went 
to  Milan,  and  Butler  went  to  Norwalk. 

In  1824,  N.  M.  Standart  and  Daniel  Hamilton 
built  a  store  in  Huron.  Charles  Standart  aud  Philo 
Adams  served  as  clerks  till  1825.  Mr.  Adams  had 
moved  to  Huron  in  the  spring  of  1824  to  board  the 
men  working  on  the  harbor,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Hnron  Harbor  company. 

In  1825,  Philo  Adams  moved  ou  to  his  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  except  a  short  residence 
in  Milan,  keeping  a  hotel. 

In  the  fall  of  1825,  Charles  Standart  aud  George 
H.  Gibbs  purchased  Standart  &  Hamilton's  stock  of 
goods.  The  firm  continued  fifteen  months,  when 
Gibbs  retired.  Standart  continued  the  business  till 
1828,  when  he  discontinued  the  store,  built  a  ware- 
house and  dock,  and  commenced  storage  and  com- 
mission business. 

EARLY    RESIDENTS. 

Judge  Staudart  says  that  when  he  first  went  to 
Huron,  in  October,  1824,  there  was  one  frame  house 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  occupied  by  Philo 
Adams,  who  boarded  the  men  working  on  the  harbor, 
a  log  building  occupied  by  the  Green  family,  and 
a  small  cabin  on  the  bank  of  the  lake  occupied  by 
Captain  Reed,  the  first  shipbuilder  of  Huron.  There 
were  on  the  east  sicle  otlier  log  buildings,  occupied  by 
ditlerent  individuals;  among  whom  were  Benjamin 
Gould,  a  catfishermau,  and  Jeremiah  Van  Benscho- 
ter,  up  the  river.  There  were  several  other  families 
located  in  different  parts  of  the  township  about  the 
time  Standart  came  to  Huron,  which  we  have  not 
heretofore  mentioned.  E.  M.  Granger  lived  on.  tlie 
farm  afterward  owned  by  Mr.  Standart.  George 
Downing  lived  near  Granger;  Mr.  John  Hughes  and 
family  near  the  west  line.  William  Chapman,  the 
Everetts,  Woolvertons,  Swifts,  and  some  other  farm- 
ers settled  in  the  township  about  the  same  time. 
David  Everitt  came  to  the  Fire-lands  in  1824.  He 
lived  in  Milan  a  few  years;  is  now  a  resident  of  Huron 
township,  and  about  eighty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Tower  Jackson  came  to  the  Fire-lands  April 
14,  A.  D.  1819,  and  soon  after  located  in  Milan.  He 
was  married  November  18,  1832,  to  Miss  Sarah  Clock, 
of  Monroeville.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1826,  he  moved 
to  Huron.  He  entered  into  partnership  with  Henry 
\V.  Jenkins,  selling  dry  goods  aud  groceries,  continu- 
ing in  business  with  Jenkins  for  a  few  years.  About 
1830,  he  went  into  partuership  with  Mr.  Richard  E. 
Colt.  The  firm  invested  considerable  money  in  the 
encouragement  of  various  industries;  quite  extensively 
in  vessel  building.  They  built  the  steamboat  Dela- 
ware, bringing  her  out  in  1834.  Mr.  Jackson  re 
mained  in  Huron  till  1846,  when  he  went  to  Racine, 
Wisconsin;  and  two  years  later  removed  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Jackson  died,  in  A.  D.  1854.  He 
is  now  a  resident  of  Huron,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of 
his  age,  where,  it  is  to  be  hoped  by  his  many  friends, 
he  will  continue  his  residence.     He  married  a  second 

60 


wife.  Miss  Lucy  Button,  previous  to  returning  from 
Cleveland.  Mr.  Jackson  built  the  Huron  House, 
about  1830,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Wall 
streets.  Li  1840,  he  built  the  American  House,  on 
the  corner  of  Main  aud  Lake  streets.  The  Huron 
House  has  been  moved,  and  is  now  occupied  as  stores. 
The  American  was  burned.  Henry  W.  Jenkins  came 
in  quite  an  early  day;  the  precise  time  is  not  known. 
He  dealt  in  dry  goods  and  groceries,  invested  some  in 
vessel  stock;  built  the  Ohio  Hotel,  and  was  an  active 
worker  in  assisting  to  build  up  the  town.  He  left 
Huron  sometime  after  1840,  went  to  Cincinnati,  from 
thence  to  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  aud  commenced  the 
carrying  business  across  the  Isthmus,  aud  died  there 
about  1850. 

The  Oiiio  Hotel,  above  mentioned,  stood  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Wall  streets,  and  was 
destroyed  by  fire  ou  the  Fourth  of  July,  1854. 

Buel  B.  Jones  came  to  Huron  about  1835  or  '36; 
sold  dry  goods  and  groceries  for  a  few  years,  after 
which  he  rented  the  Ohio  hotel,  which  he  kept  for 
two  or  three  years,  then  moved  away. 

Mr.  John  W.  Wickham  (of  the  firm  of  Wickham 
&  Compq^iy),  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  13, 
180C;  was  "reared  to  manhood  in  Sodus,  at  the  mouth 
of  Great  Sodus  Bay,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He 
came  to  Huron  in 'the  autumn  of  1833;  commenced 
the  forwarding  and  commission  business,  buyiug  aud 
shipping  grain  aud  other  farm  productions.  He  also 
opened  a  store  of  dry  goods  and  groceries,  but  after  a 
few  years  discontinued  selling  goods.  The  firm  are 
now  carrying  on  a  very  extensive  fishery;  also  dealing 
in  lumber  and  buyiug  grain.  They  give  employment 
to  a  great  number  of  Huron  laborers.  Mr.  Wickham 
is  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  now  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business.  Mrs.  J.  W.  Wickham  is  also  a  Huron 
pioneer  from  infancy,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Schuyler 
Van  Rensselaer,  deceased,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  Huron  county.  He  came  to  Huron  in  the 
spring  of  1833.  He  assisted  Mr.  Abiatha  Shirley  in 
making  the  plat  of  Huron  in  A.  D.  1833. 

"PHYSICIAXS. 

The  physicians  were  not  very  numerous  among  the 
early  Huron  pioneers.  Dr.  Ansolem  Gutherie  was 
the  first  Huron  physician  who  attempted  to  locate  in 
the  town.  He  came  in  1813,  and  remained  until 
1817,  when  he  removed  to  Canada.  It  is  not  known 
whether  there  were  any  other  resident  physicians  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  for  several  years  after  Dr. 
Gutherie  left. 

An  old  gentleman,  called  Doct  McCrea.  from  New 
Jersey,  located  near  the  west  line  of  the  township, 
near  the  Stone  House  (so  called),  doing  some  medical 
business  in  that  vicinity.  We  think  he  went  back  to 
New  Jersey. 

Dr.   Charles  H.   Legget  came   to   Huron  in   1830; 

practiced  in  the  village  and  vicinity  till  May  29,  1832. 

He   was  drowned   in   Huron  river,  together  with  his 

i   wife:  supposed  to  have  been  caused  by  the  accidental 


47-1 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


upsetting  of  a  small  boat,  iiear  Wright's  river  farm — 
no  other  person  was  present  when  the  accident  oc- 
curred. It  was  not  discovered  till  the  following 
morning,  when  the  citizens,  alarmed  at  their  pro- 
longed absence,  discovered  the  boat,  dragged  the 
river,  and  recovered  their  remains. 

After  Dr.  Legget's  death,  there  were  a  great  many 
physicians  who  came  to  Huron  at  different  periods 
with  a  view  of  locating,  as  our  Huron  marshes  and 
their  various  surroundings  looked  inviting  to  the  doc- 
tors who  aspired  to  professional  notoriety;  but  in 
time  discovered  that  "all  was  not  gold  that  glittered,'' 
that  the  marshes  were  on  a  level  with  Lake  Erie, 
and  that  their  pure,  glittering  waters  would  not  pro- 
duce miasmata  worth  a  cent;  or,  in  other  words, 
Huron  was  a  very  healthy  town,  and  would  support 
only  a  limited  uiimber  of  physicians.  Therefore,  as 
there  were  so  large  a  number  of  medical  men  who 
attempted  a  permanent  location  and  failed,  I  will 
only  mention  the  few  who  have  weathered  the  hard- 
ships of  a  pioneer  life,  and  those  who  reside  here  at 
the  present  time. 

Dr.  George  S.  Haskiu,  now  practicing  medicine  in 
Huron,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rupert,  Vermont, 
August  27,  1805.  He  came  to  the  Fire-lands  m  1831, 
landing  at  Sandusky;  in  June,  18.32,  he  came  to 
Huron  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Joseph  Caldwell  came  to  Huron  in  the  spring 
of  1833.  .He  continued  the  medical  practice  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  June  13,  1866,  in  the  seventy- 
fifth  year  of  his  age,  much  lamented  by  many  friends. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Cushing,  now  a  medical  practitioner,  came 
to  Huron  in  1865  and  commenced  business. 

Dr.  H.  E.  McNirtt,  now  practicing  medicine  in 
Huron,  commenced  in  18T4. 


There  are  now  five  church  edifices  within  the  village 
corporation  limits,  and  one  on  the  west  line  of  the 
township,  which  was  erected  by  the  late  Mr.  John 
Graham,  assisted  by  the  citizens  of  West  Huron  and 
some  others. 

John  Graham  was  of  Irish  nationality.  He  came 
into  the  township  about  the  year  1833,  and  located  on 
the  Cummings  farm,  lot  number  twenty-seven,  section 
fourth.  His  religion  is  said  to  have  been  that  of  a 
Wesleyan  Methodist.  His  character  was  that  of  a 
strictly  honest  man.  He  was  highly  esteemed  by  all 
liis  neighbors.  He  died  about  the  year  A.  D.  1856, 
in  the  month  of  October.  Mrs.  Graham,  a  very  es- 
timable lady,  seventy-three  ^-ears  of  age,  survives  her 
husband.     She  resides  ou  the  old  homestead. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing  we  have  learned  that 
Mr.  Graham's  ancestors  were  of  Scotch  descent,  hav- 
ing emigrated  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Of  the  five  churches  in  Huron,  the  Protestant 
Episcopal,  called  "Christ's  Church  "'  (a  brick  edifice), 
was  built  in  1838.  In  1839,  this  church  edifice,  un- 
der the  ministry  of  Rev.  Samuel  Murks  (the  iireseut 


rector)  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God 
by  Bishop  McIIvaine,.D.  D.,  D.  C.  L.  Wiudens:  J. 
W.  Wickham  and  S.  P.  McDonald. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  built  in  1853. 

The  German  Lutlieran  was  erected  about  1860. 

The  :\Iethodist  in  1871. 

The  German  Evangelical  in  A.  D.  1875. 

The  Presbyterians  have  recently  engaged  Rev.  Mr. 
Snowdon,  of  West  Vill,  Ohio. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hassenpflug  has  charge  of  the  Ger- 
man Evangelical  Church. 

The  other  ciiurches  .are  not  under  the  care  of  any 
regular  established  clergyman. 

THE    CHOLERA. 

The  natural  advantages  of  the  Huron  harbor  and 
the  favorable  location  for  a  business  town,  began  to 
attract  attention  soon  after  tlie  close  of  the  war  with 
England,  and  when  the  United  States  made  appro- 
priation for  the  improvemeivt  of  the  harbor,  in  1827, 
immigration  rapidly  increased  till  1834,  when  a  seri- 
ous impediment  to  l)usiness  occurred  by  the  appear- 
ance of  Asiatic  cholera,  wholly  suspending,  for  a  few 
months,  all  varieties  of  industry,  except  the  care  of 
the  sick.  That  year  the  emigration  from  Europe, 
principally  from  Germany,  was  a  perfect  flood,  and  at 
every  steamboat  landing  theJe  were  sick  and  dying 
in  numbers  so  great  as  to  drive  a  great  jiortion  of  tlie 
inhabitants  from  town. 

There  were  then  five  practicing  physicians  in  the 
village,  one  of  whom  died  of  the  disease;  three  others 
left.  Dr.  George  S.  Haskin  only  remaining.  Finally, 
as  autumnal  frosts  made  their  appearance,  the  mon- 
ster disease  disappeared,  and  business  increased  with 
redoubled  vigor,  and  in  a  very  short  time  all  was  life 
and  animation. 

Huron  village  has  a  population  of  about  one  thou- 
sand and  five  hundred;  the  whole  township,  includ- 
ing the  village,  about  four  thousand. 

The  present  board  of  township  officers  are:  Wm. 
G.  Sage,  Blake  W.  Griffin,  Geo.  W.  Harris,  trustees; 
Thomas  M.  Sprowl,  township  clerk;  John  W.  Wick- 
ham, treasurer;  Thomas  J.  Harris  and  Levi  Peck, 
justices  of  the  peace. 

The  officers  of  the  village  corporation  are:  A.  H. 
Winchell,  mayor;  J.  L.  Brooks,  recorder;  Jabez 
Wright,  John  Aicher,  Philo  McMillen,  Charles  Hey- 
man  and  Jacob  Guuzevhauser,  town  council. 

At  the  April  election  for  the  present  year — 1879 — 
there  has  been  some  ch:inge  in  tlie  township  board  of 
officers.  The  following  were  elected,  viz. :  Wm.  G. 
Sage,  Blake  W.  Griffin  and  Henry  Halliday,  township 
trustees;  J.  L.  Brooks,  clerk;  John  W.  Wickham,  Jr., 
treasurer;  J.  L.  Brooks  elected  as  the  third  justice  of 
the  peace,  in  addition  to  Harris  and  Peck. 

The  officers  of  the  village  corporation  are  the  sumo 
as  above. 

In  reviewing  the  early  history  of  the  Fire-hmd 
pioneers,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  sketch,  we  are 
forced  to  look  with  admiration   at   the  stern,    manly 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


character  of  nearly  every  early  pioneer.  Their  power 
of  enduring  hardship  and  privation,  the  cheerful 
and  determined  fortitude  of  their  onward  struggles, 
without  a  thought  of  looking  back,  but  always  looking 
ahead  with  unyielding  determination,  seem  to  be  al- 
most nuiversal  characteristics  of  the  early  Fire-lands 
pioneers. 

How  hard  it  would  seem  to  any  of  our  well-to-do 
neighbors  of  the  present  day,  to  be  set  back  into  tlie 
rude  log  cabin  with  only  one  room,  eighteen  by 
twenty  feet,  a  log  fire  blazing  on  the  hearth;  would 
we  be  as  happy  as  we  can  imagine  the  early  pioneer 
to  have  been  when  thus  situated?  In  our  imagina- 
tion we  can  see  a  pioneer  family  enjoying  the  rude 
comforts  of  such  a  primitive  condition.  The  family 
consisting   of   father,   mother   and  half   a  dozen,  or 


more,  children.  The  sturdy  head  of  the  family  sit- 
ting at  a  rough  table,  after  a  hard  day's  work,  read- 
ing from  a  much-worn  old  family  Bible.  The  mother 
with  knitting-work  in  hand,  and  half  a  dozen,  or 
more,  children  respectfully  listening;  and  later  in 
the  evening,  we  can  see  the  boys  climbing  up  the 
ladder  on  their  way  to  bed  in  the  chamber  overhead. 
The  mother  hearing  the  "now  I  lay  me  down  to 
■  sleep."  and  affectionately  tucking  up  the  covering  of 
three  or  four  little  fellows  in  their  trundle  beds. 
But,  oh,  how  swiftly  time  flies,  and  w^  often  feel 
that  it  matters  but  little  how  swiftly.  We  may  re- 
call the  pleasant  memories  of  the  past  and  of  our 
youth,  but  seldom  find  the  man  who  would  wish  to 
live  the  same  life  over'asain. 


BERLIN 


The  original  name  ©f  Berlin  was  Eldridge,  from  one 
of  its  earliest  proprietors.  He  became  unpopular,  so 
much  so  that  in  1833  the  people  petitioned  the  com- 
missioners of  Huron  county  to  change  the  name,  sta- 
ting as  a  reason  that  they  did  not  desire  to  perpetuate 
the  name  of  an  unworthy  man.  It  seems  the  people 
were  mistaken,  for  those  intimately  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Eldridge  remember  him  as  a  pleasant  gentleman. 
He  purchased  the  eastern  half  of  the  township  as  a 
speculation,  and  the  taxes,  imposed  unequally,  rested 
so  heavily  on  unimproved  lands,  improvements  being 
exempted,  that  he  was  unable  to  pay  his  taxes,  and 
was  ruined  by  owning  a  half  of  one  of  the  best  town- 
ships on  the  Fire-lands.  Rumors  camo  from  Con- 
necticut that  he  had  been  guilty  of  forgery  to  redeem 
his  credit,  and  possibly  the  innate  hatred  the  settler 
felt  toward  the  land  speculator,  was' at  the  root  of  tlie 
popular  sentiment.  The  petitioners  suggested  Lyme 
as  a  desirable  name,  but  as  there  was  already  a  town 
by  the  same  name  in  the  county, — it  then  being 
a  part  of  Huron  county,  the  commissioners  objected. 
It  was  at  the  time  of  the  Milan-Bjrlin  treaty.  Noah 
Hill,  who  alwaj's  was  deeply  interested  in  politics, 
suggested  that,  as  the  county  had  Milan,  it  should 
have  Berlin,  too,  and  Ihus  the  town  was  named. 

PHYSICAL    FEATURES. 

The  township,  as  first  surveyed,  was  five  miles 
square,  but  received  additions  of  territory  extending 
its  boundaries  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie.  The  sur- 
face is  level,  except  the  valleys  formed  by  the  streams, 
from  the  lake  to  the  ridge,  where  it  rises  from  fifty  to 

•>  By  Hudson  Tuttle.  " 


one  hundred  feet,  and  then  extends  southward  nearly 
as  level  as  before.  This  ridge  was  once  undoubtedly 
the  ancient  shore  of  the  lake.  It  extends  through  the 
township  from  northeast  to  southwest,  and  at  the 
"  pinnacle  "  the  base  of  the  bluff  is  sixty  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  lake,  and  its  slope  presents  three  distinct 
terraces,  or  shore  lines,  at  the  respective  heights  of 
one  hundred,  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  one  hundred 
and  ninety-five  feet  above  the  level  of  the  lake.  These 
indicate  successive  periods  of  subsidence. 

There  are  indications  of  salt  in  many  places  in  the 
township.  There  is,  in  fact,  a  line  of  so-called  "licks" 
parallel  with  the  ridge.  The  two  most  noted 
among  early  hunters  as  the  resort  of  deer,  were 
located  on  lands  occupied  by  Nathan  Tuttle  and 
Ezekiel  Sayles.  Between  these  a  deep  path  was  worn 
by  the  deer.  These  licks  present,  during  dry  seasons, 
a  saline  efflorescence  crusting  the  surface.  That  on 
the  Sayles  land  was  in  the  valley  of  the  Old  Woman 
creek,  and  the  early  settlers  dug  a  pit,  into  which 
they  sank  a  section  of  a  hollow  tree,  and  the  salt 
water  came  in  sufficient  quantities  to  allow  them  to 
make  salt  in  a  small  way.  Salt  then  being  difficult 
to  obtain,  and  costly,  this  was  quite  advantageous. 
The  belief  in  the  value  of  this  salt  spring  was  so  strong 
iu  the  mind  of  the  early  proprietor,  Fosdick,  that  the 
surrounding  land  was  withheld  from  sale  for  many 
years.  At  a  later  day  Prof.  B.  L.  Hill,  and  others, 
made  explorations,  but  without  results,  the  site  of 
the  old  spring  being  obliterated  by  floods,  and  they 
were  unable  to  find  it.  However,  they  obtained  salt 
water. 

The  surface  formation  is  almost  exclusively  of  the 
drift,  and  in  places  boulders,  often  of  large  size,  are 
thickly  scattered. 


4Tfi 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  soil  of  the  portion  south  of  the  ridge  is  sandy, 
mixed  with  fields  of  loam  running  almost  into  clay. 
The  western  part,  below  the  ridge,  is  also  sandy, 
either  yellowish  or  black,  and  the  northeastern  portion 
is  clayey,  as  it  is  along  the  shore,  which  is  iinequaled 
for  the  production  of  wheat.  There  is,  thus,  the 
greatest  variety  of  soil,  and  the  farmer  is  enabled  to 
grow  whatever  crop  he  pleases,  having  soil  adapted 
for  all. 

There  a1-e  two  streams  or  creeks  in  the  township, 
the  C'liapelle,  running  through  the  eastern  portion, 
and  the  Old  Woman  creek,  which  has  two  branches, 
the  east  and  west,  arising  in  Townsend,  and  flowing 
northward  through  the  central  portion,  uniting  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  the  heights,  and 
emptying  into  the  lake.  From  this  union  to  the  lake, 
the  stream  is  like  a  canal,  with  wide  and  marshy 
borders.  The  name  of  the  latter  stream  is  said  to 
have  been  given  because  an  old  squaw  was  drowned 
at  its  mouth. 

There  are  four  small  marshes,  two  of  which  have 
been  reclaimed,  and  when  land  becomes  more  valuable, 
no  doubt  but  the  others  will  be  also.  The  surface 
was  heavily  timbered,  and  tlie  forest  presented  almost 
an  herculean  task  to  the  pioneers.  Oak  was  the  pre- 
vailing growth,  plentifully  mixed  with  ash,  elm, 
hickory,  basswood,  walnut,  whitewood.  and.  along 
the  streams,  butternut  and  sycamore. 


There  are  three  small  villages  in  the  township. 
Berlinville,  on  the  old  State  road,  in  the  old  times 
of  stage  coaches,  was  a  busy  little  centre,  with  good 
tavern,  store,  and  the  only  post  office  in  the  township. 
Berlin  Heights  is  the  largest,  and  is  the  natural  centre, 
towards  which  the  people  gravitate.  It  has  three 
stares,  an  hotel,  saloon,  several  manufactories,  a  saw 
and  grist  mill,  three  churches  and  a  fine  graded 
school.  It  is  noted  for  its  intelligence  and  enterimse. 
Directly  north  of  the  Heights,  on  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S. 
R.  R.,  is  Ceylon,  a  place  that  started  up  and  grew 
rapidly  for  a  time.  It  has  two  stores,  two  saloons, 
an  hotel,  saw  mill  and  post  office. 

MAIL    FACILITIES. 

The  mail  is  carried  by  hack  from  Ceylon,  on  the 
northern  divison,  via  Berlin  Heights,  Berlinville, 
East  Xorwalk,  to  Norwalk,  on  the  southern  Division, 
giving  all  these  places  the  advantage  of  morning  and 
evening  mails.  The  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.  passes 
through  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  and  sends 
a  spur  south  to  the  quarries  and  gravel  bed.  Th-e 
advantages  of  extending  this  spur  to  the  Heights  are 
so  apparent,  that  it  certainly  will  be  done  at  no 
distant  day. 

CEMETERIES. 

There  are  six  burial  grounds  in  the  limits  of  the 
township — two  at  the  Heights,  under  the  control  of 
the  township;  one  at  Berlinville:  one  in  the  southeast 


'  part,  known  as  the  Chapel  ground;  one  east  of  Har- 
per's corners,  known  as  the  Peak  ground:  and  one 
at  the  mouth  of  the  ChapsUe  creek,  directly  on  tli? 
lake  shore,  which  is  being  rapidly  wa5iied  away. 

aborktIkal  races. 

The  Indians  were  not  the  aborigin:il  rac3.  They 
were  preceded  by  that  mysterious  people,  the  mound 
builders.  Interesting  fortifications,  I'eferable  to  this 
pre-historie  race,  are  found  on  the  farm  originally 
owned  by  Curtis  Beuschooter,  on  the  summit  of  the 
high  bank  of  the  creek,  and  this  earthwork  has  great 
interest  as  having  evidently  been  built  to  protect 
against  incursions  of  an  enemy,  who  would  come 
by  water  from  the  lake,  and  traces  of  works  lower 
down  show  that  at  that  time  the  water  stood  at  a 
much  higher  level,  and  the  wide  marsh  was  then  a 
bay,  opening  with  a  wide  month  into  the  lake.  There 
were  mounds  on  the  farm  of  Jasen  Thompson,  with 
graves,  and  the  present  site  of  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Henry  Hoak  seems  to  have  been  an  ancient  sepulcher. 
He  has,  in  making  excavations,  brought  to  light  sev- 
eral fragmentary  skeletons,  one  of  which  has  especial 
interest  from  its  remarkable  state  of  preservation  and 
rare  peculiarities.  It  was  buried  deeper  than  the 
others,  so  that  it  was  enveloped  in  the  clayey  subsoil, 
and  hence  had  been  better  protected  than  those 
enveloped  in  the  loose  sand.  The  skull  of  this  speci- 
men measures  but  nineteen  inches  in  circumference, 
which  would  almost  indicate  it  was  idiotic,  and  is 
remarkably  low.  The  arms  are  of  unusual  length, 
the  under  jaw  extremely  massive,  and  the  iieight  less 
than  four  feet.  Yet  the  individual  evidently  was  not 
idiotic,  as  she  had  attained  an  extreme  old  age,  which 
the  idiot  savage  cannot  do. 

In  1852,  Mr.  H.  L.  Hill,  in  cutting  an  oak,  discov- 
ered three  hacks,  made  by  a  small  ax.  and  found  that 
there  were  two  hundred  and  eighteen  annual  rings  on 
the  outside  of  it.  This  would  carry  the  age  of  the 
markings  back  to  the  earliest  French  voyageurs,  in 
fact,  much  earlier  than  has  been  supposed  those  hardy 
adventurers  penetrated  this  remote  region.  Now,  the 
farmer,  turning  with  his  iron  plowshare  the  mellow 
fields,  often  find's  the  flint  arrow  head,  the  stone  ax, 
the  spear  point,  alike  of  red  man  and  mound  builder, 
and  if  of  reflective  mind  may  moralize  over  the  decay 
of  races  in  that  dim  past,  of  which  these  mute 
weapons  only  remain. 

THE  earliest  PIONEERS. 

A  party  of  adventurers  built  and  launched  a  rude 
boat  at  the  mouth  of  Walnut  creek,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1808.  They  were  John  Hoak.  John  JIcLaughlin. 
George  Miller,  Nathaniel  Burdue,  Benjamin  Pratt, 
Mr.  Richie,  and  Howard.  They  sailed  up  the  lake 
in  the  spring,  bringing  provisions,  farming  tools  and 
thirty  barrels  of  whisky.  They  encountered  severe 
weather  and  had  to  cast  overboard  their  whisky,  but 
when  the  storm  subsided,  they  cruised  about  and 
gathered  it  up  again.     When  they  reached  the  mouth 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


of  the  Huron  river,  the  sand-bar  shut  them  out,  so 
they  had  to  dig  a  canal  to  get  their  boat  in.  They 
selected  a  field  on  the  Kline  and  Minus  farm,  and 
planted  eighteen  acres  of  corn;  after  hoeing  it,  they 
hired  an  Indian  to  guard  it,  while  they  went  after 
their  families.  They  returned  in  the  fall  in  their 
boat,  but  their  families  came  by  land,  under  the  es- 
cort of  Henry  Hoak,  father  to  John  Hoak.  He  was, 
witliout  doubt,  the  oldest  of  all  the  pioneers,  having 
been  born  in  1745.  He  remained  until  his  death,  in 
1832,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  with  his  son,  and 
■was  a  most  exemplary  and  pious  man.  The  majority 
of  this  venturesome  party  settled  finally  in  Berlin,  in 
1810-11,  leaving  the  Huron  bottom  lands  on  account 
of  overflows. 

John  Hoak,  who  settled  on  tiie  Kline  farm  for  two 
years,  moved  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son 
Henry;  built  one  of  the  first  houses,  in  1810.  Onl}' 
four  whites  were  present  at  the  raising  of  the  great 
logs  of  which  it  wus  constructed,  but  Silas  David,  an 
Indian  chief,  with  his  tribe,  assisted.  They  were 
forbidden,  by  him.  to  taste  of  liquor  until  the  work 
was  done,  then  they  drank  and  held  a  pow-wow  to 
their  heart's  content.  One  was  so  riotous  they  built 
a  i^en  of  rails  around  him,  covered  it  over  and  left 
him  till  morning. 

John  Hoak  had  ten  children,  only  one  of  whom, 
Henry,  remains  in  the  township.  John  Hoak,  with 
the  remainder  of  his  family  living,  removed  to  La- 
grange county,  Indiana,  where  he  died  in  1859,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  made  a  kiln  of 
brick,  on  his  farm,  in  1813,  the  first  on  the  Fire- 
lauds. 

The  first  white  settler  within  the  limits  of  the 
township  was  Mr.  John  Dunbar,  unless  a  Mr. 
Tillison,  who  owned  the  land,  which  afterwards  was 
the  homestead  of  Curtis  Benschoter,  preceded  him. 
The  Tillison  family  were  very  hospitable,  and  it  is 
said  Mrs.  Tillison  once  told  a  guest  if  he  would  not 
stay  to  supper  she  would  "knock  him  down."  This 
rude  hospitality  showed  itself  in  ways  that  would 
offend  the  more  fastidious  tastes  of  the  j^resent.  One 
night  John  Thompson  was  caught  at  the  Tillison 
cabin  by  a  terrible  storm.  He,  of  course,  did  not 
want  to  face  the  storm,  and  Tillison  said  they  had 
lU)  spare  bed.  Mrs.  Tillison  was  adequate  to  the 
emergency:  "I  say.  Till,"  said  she,  "Tompk  can 
sleep  with  us,"  and  he  did.  Another  story  told  of 
this  family  made  many  a  hearty  laugh  around  the 
blazing  hearths  of  the  pioneers.  The  whole  family, 
with  their  guests,  would  sit  in  a  circle,  and  above 
their  heads,  suspended  by  a  cord  from  the  rafters, 
was  a  jug  of  whisky.  This  arrangement  saved  the 
trouble  of  waiting  on  any  one,  for  the  jug  was  swung 
round  and  round,  from  mouth  to  mouth,  till  all  were 
satisfied. 

John  Dunbar  came  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
1809,  and  purchased  the  farm  afterwards  known  as 
the  Weatherlow  farm.  His  brother,  Isaiah,  came  with 
him.     He  soon  after  moved  to  the  center,  on  the  place 


occupied  by  Dr.  X.  Phillips.  The  D unbars  disappeared 
and  left  no  trace. 

Perez  and  Tiiomas  Starr  came  from  Couuecticut  m 

1810,  and  built  a  mill  on  the  lauds  now  owned  by 
H.  L.  Hill.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year,  Thomas 
Starr  built  a  house  on  the  farm  uow  owned  by  J.  S. 
Lowry.  The  night  before  the  raising,  the  snow  fell 
six  inches  deep,  and  he  feared  no  one  would  come, 
but  his  fears  were  vain.  In  those  days  the  neighbor- 
hood extended  five  miles  in  every  direction,  and  early 
in  the  morning,  '-'old  Mr.  Burdue"  made  his  appear- 
ance, whooping  like  an  Indian,  with  four  gallons  of 
whisky,  and  soon  after,' the  hands  came  from  Florence 
and  Milan,  and  after  the  job  was  finished,  enjoyed 
the  "old  r_ye"  in  a  way  which  would  not  be  satisfactory 
to  the  Good  Templars.  The  StaiT  brothers  kept  bach- 
elor's hall  for  a  time.  In  1812,  Tiiomas  was  drafted 
into  the  army,  from  which  he  returned,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1814,  married  Clementina  Clark,  of  Florence. 
He  moved  to  the  center  part  of  the  township.  Thomas 
Starr  was  a  blacksmith,  and  used  to  go  to  Huron  and 
Vermillion  to  work  on  vessels.  He  did  the  iron  work 
on  the  first  deck  vessel  built  this  side  of  Erie.  When 
he  returned  home  at  night,  he  carried  torches,  not 
only  to  show  him  the  way,  but  to  keep  off  the  wolves, 
which  howled  around  him.  His  eldest  son,  William 
Eldridge,  born  in  January,  1815,  was  the  first  male 
child  born  in  the  township. 

John  McLaughlin,  who  came  with  the  earliest  ad- 
venturers, settled  on  the  western  border  of  the  town- 
ship, on  the  lands  adjoining  McLaughlin's  corners, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1849, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  wife  died  in 
1836.  The  only  survivor  of  his  family,  in  the  town- 
ship, is  Milton  McLaughlin. 

Nathaniel  Burdue,  or  "Old  Mr.  Burdue,"  as  he 
was  called  by  everybody,  settled  near  the  spring  now 
used  by  the  creamery.  While  living  on  the  Huron 
river,  he  set  out  one  Sunday,  with  a  piece  of  soap  in 
his  pocket,  saying  he  should  travel  until  he  found  a 
spring  of  soft  water,  and  there  he  should  locate.  In 
the  afternoon  he  came  to  this  beautiful  spring,  and 
at  once  decided  to  make  his  home  by  its  side.  His 
orchard  was  the  first  to  bear  in  this  section.  Apples 
were  then  scarce,  and  Mr.  Burdue  watched  his  orchard 
with  such  vigilance  that  he  became  associated  in  the 
minds  of  the  boys  with  Cloven-foot  himself. 

William  Fitzgerald  came  from  New  York  in  1810, 
accompanied  by  Joel  Simpson,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Henry  Hine.  None  of  his 
descendants  remain. 

Hierouymus  Miugus  came  from  New  York  State  in 

1811,  and  Aaron  Fox  and  his  wife  came  at  the  same 
time.  The  eldest  sou  of  Mr.  Mingus-was  killed  in  1813, 
in  the  battle  on  the  Peninsula.  The  second  sou, 
Jacob,  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
his  son,  Benjamin.  The  third  son,  James,  married 
Phebe  Darley,  and  settled  in  Townsend,  Huron  county. 
He  was  the  Nimrod  of  those  davs.     Aaron  Fox    and 


478 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


wife  reside  iu  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  on 
the  farm  the\-  selected  in  the  wilderness. 

John  Thompson  came  from  Pennsylvania  at  an 
early  day,  and  in  1813  married  the  widow  Hubbard. 
This  marriage  was,  probably,  the  first  in  the  town- 
ship, although  the  honor  is  disputed,  it  being  claimed 
that  Lazarus  Young  and  Becky  Langhlin  have  the 
honor. 

In  1811,  occurred  the  first  birth  and  the  first  death. 
Milan  has  claimed  Mrs.  Millerman  as  the  first  child, 
but  Berlin  has  that  honor.  Her  father,  Lazarus 
Young,  was  such  a  moving  planet  that  it  is  difficult 
to  decide,  but  there  is  little  doubt  thai  she  was  born 
on  Berlin  soil.  The  death  was  accompanied  with 
horrible  circumstances.  The  wife  of  John  Dunbar, 
while  her  husband  was  absent,  in  a  state  of  insanity 
threw  herself  into  the  fire,  made  of  large  logs,  placed 
against  one  side  of  the  house.  Her  screams  brought 
Mr.  Dunbar  to  the-  house,  and  he  quickly  took  her 
from  the  flames  and  placed  her  on  the  bed  while  he 
could  go  after  assistance,  but  she  wildly  ran  after 
him.  All  that  day  he  shouted  for  help,  not  daring 
to  leave  her,  but  not  until  near  night  did  any  assist- 
ance come  to  the  terribly  afflicted  family  in  their  re- 
mote cabin.  She  died  that  evening,  and  was  buried 
on  the  banks  of  the  Old  Woman  creek,  where  now  is 
the  township  burying  ground.  Mr.  Dunbar  then 
lived  on  the  place  afterwards  occupied  by  Dr.  X. 
Phillips,  and  the  splendid  spring  which  gushes  out 
from  the  hill  was  long  known  as  tlie  "  Dunbar 
spring." 

Jeremiah  Benschooter  was  a  native  of  Sempronius, 
New  York,  as  was  his  wife,  Sally  Weatherlow,  whom 
he  married  in  1808.  He  came  to  Berlin  in  1811,  and 
settled  on  lot  twenty,  fourth  section.  They  had 
thirteen  children:  Harry,  Milo,  Ensign,  William, 
Curtis,  Aaron,  Weatherlow,  Harriet,  Delia,  Betsey, 
Jeremiah,  Sarah  and  Mary  Ann.  Curtis  Benschooter 
passed  nearly  his  whole  life  on  his  farm,  removing  to 
the  Heights  in  his  declining  age.  He  died  in  1877, 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  His  son,  Moses  M., 
resides  at  Stone's  corners,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  physicians  in  the  vicinity. 

Othaniel  Field  came  iu  1810,  and  purchased  section 
nine,  range  six,  of  Samuel  White,  who  had  made 
considerable  improvements,  by  way  of  clearing.  Field 
was  a  Vermont  man,  and  industriously  devoted  him- 
self to  corn  raising,  so  much  so  that  the  destitute 
new-comers  gave  his  place  the  name  of  Egypt.  For 
a  long  time  he  kept  bachelor's  hall,  and  his  eccentric 
ways  still  linger  in  the  memories  of  those  who  knew 
him.  He,  after  many  years,  married,  but  had  no 
children.  He  died  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine,  his  wife  surviving  until  1876. 

Stephen  Meek(;r  settled  on  lot  ten,  section  four,  in 
1811,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1849.  having 
been  preceded  by  his  wife  by  only  a  few  weeks.  He 
worked  at  blacksmithing,  and  kept  a  public  house, 
and  for  several  years  held  the  office  of  judge.  He 
married  Polly  Piatt,   in  170!!.     They  had  seven  chil- 


dren: Barney,  Hezekiah,  Edward,  Hanford,  Grissel, 
Maria  and  George  T. 

Daniel  Butler  came  to  Berlin  in  1814,  from  Cleve- 
land, to  which  place  he  came  from  Massachusetts,  in 
1811.  Losing  his  wife,  he  returned  to  Massachusetts 
in  1816,  and  married  Jemima  Bishop.  They  had  six 
children,  and  he  had  two  by  his  first  wife.  The  chil- 
dren by  the  second  marriage  were:  Amanda,  Climena. 
Lueinda,  Daniel,  Charles  and  Harriet,  none  of  whom 
are  at  present  living  in  the  township.  He  was  an 
able  man,  and  was  the  first  who  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  or,  at  least,  the  second.  For 
many  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1854, 
in  his  seventy-fifth  year,  he  had  been  subject  to 
insanity,  which  had  a  religious  aspect,  and  caused 
him  to  take  his  own  life.  He  received  a  revelation 
to  build  a  house  fifty  by  one  hundred  feet,  for  the 
second  coming  of  Christ,  and  not  being  able  to  build 
the  whole,  built  a  quarter,  and  thus,  for  years, 
his  family  lived  in  this  most  awkward  tabernacle. 
This  building  lately  has  fallen  in  ruins  and  been 
destroyed.  His  son  Daniel  inherited  his  father's 
tendencies,  and  at  last  put  an  end  to  his  own  life,  in 
the  same  manner,  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four. 

Samuel  Reed  came  in  1815.  He  was  five  weeks  on 
the  lake,  from  Buffalo  to  Huron.  He  bought  the 
farm  now  owned  by  J.  S.  Lowry,  where  he  lived  till 
spring,  whn  he  went  to  Milan  to  work'  on  Merry's 
mill,  his  wife  working  for  the  workmen.  In  1816, 
he  removed  to  Florence;  in  1817,  he  purcliased  the 
lot  seven,  range  two  of  section  two,  and  made  the 
first  clearing  on  the  farm  of  Juduthan  Cobb,  to  whom 
he  sold  it  in  1820,  and  removed  to  Oxford  iu  this 
county. 

Nathan  Harris  was  born  in  Berrytown,  Connecticut, 
where  he  arried  Betsey  Moon,  and  moved  to  the 
then  far  west,  stopping  at  Perry,  New  York,  and 
reaching  Berlin  iu  1815.  They  had  eleven  children: 
Thomas,  Emma  (Mrs.  Sanders),  Betsey  (Mrs.  John 
Meeker),  Hiram,  Nathan,  Anna  (Mrs.  Storrs).  Mrs. 
Harris  died  in  1845,  and  in  1846,  Mr.  Harris  removed 
to  Indiana  where  he  died  in  1858. " 

The  war  having  closed,  and  no  danger  to  be  appre- 
hended from  Indians,  the  tide  of  immigration  poured 
westward,  and  the  unoccupied  lands  were  rapidly  ap- 
propriated. 

Samuel  Lewis  came  from  New  York,  near  Seneca 
lake,  in  1816.  He  married  Elizabeth  Hine,  and  pur- 
chased lot  nineteen,  section  fourth,  which  remained 
in  his  possession  until  his  death,  in  1851,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five.  He  left  a  wife,  now  Mrs.  Oliver  Peak,  and 
six  cliildren :  Lyman,  Charles,  Baldwin,  Luther. 
Clarinda,  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Raws),  none  of  whom  now 
reside  in  the  township.     They  had  lost  four. 

Lewis  Jones  came  from  New  York,  Bushkill,  in 
1816.  and  purchased  lot  seven,  range  five,  and  after 
a  few  years  removed  to  lot  twelve,  range  six;  he,  after 
a  time,  removed  to  Wood  county.  His  wife,  Hannah 
Ewiliken,  was  a  native  of  Ulster  county.  New  York. 
They   had   eight  children:    Levi,  now   living  in  this 


i^i^^e'i-(f 


"^UL^L^  a  S^^. 


l^.C^TTl^^i'lZig^'^ 


BENJAMIN    SUMMERS. 


Benjamin  Summers  was  of  Revolutionary  ancestry.  His  parents 
were  from  Newtown,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  where  his  ancestors  had 
lived  for  three  generations.  His  grandfather,  Benjamin  Summers, 
was  the  son  of  Samuel  Summers,  and  wa«  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
sons  and  three  daughters.  His  ancestor,  Benjamin,  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  the  old  French  «ar.  He  was  too  old  for  general  service 
during  the  Revolution,  but  was  active  in  getting  recruits;  was  in 
command  of  a  company  of  Silver  Gray  Minute-Men,  and  was  out  in 
the  service  at  the  time  the  British  were  chased  to  their  shipping  after 
the  burning  of  Fairfield,  Danbury,  and  Norwalk. 

Mark  Summers,  the  father  of  Benjamin,  was  born  May  21,  1765, 
at  Newtown,  Conn.,  and  in  179-  fixed  his  home  among  the  rough 
hills  of  Middletown,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.  Here  his  son  Benjamin 
was  born,  May  21,  1801.  In  his  ninth  year  he  was  sent  back  to  the 
old  family  home  at  Newtown,  that  he  might  attend  school ;  thither, 
also,  his  parents  soon  after  removed,  in  order  to  educate  their  children. 
They  remained  there  seven  or  eight  years.  In  the  mean  time  Benja- 
min had  acquired  "  a  good  common-school  education,  and  a  couple  of 
years  in  Latin,  mathematics,  and  surveying." 

In  the  fall  of  1817,  Mark  Summers  and  his  family  removed  to  the 
West,  arriving  at  their  home  on  the  Fire-Lands,  Nov.  17,  1817,  after 
a  journey  of  forty  days  in  the  wilderness,  pitching  their  tent  in 
Vermillion  township.  The  land  which  he  had  purchased,  three  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  lay  in  Jessup  (now  Florence)  township.  It  was  a 
little  too  far  in  the  woods,  and  to  be  nearer  to  neighbors  they  bought 
a  half-lot  in  Vermillion,  which  spot  became  the  permanent  home  of  the 
family.  One  inducement  to  buy  the  half-lot  was  that  there  was  a 
clearing  of  two  or  three  acres  and  a  dwelling-house  thereon.  The 
house  was  a  log  hut  of  one  story  and  one  room,  and  they  "  moved  in 
with  the  family  already  occupying,  making  in  all  fifteen  in  one 
room,  and  most  of  the  time  two  hired  men  in  addition." 

Benjamin  taught  the  district  .•school  part  of  the  winter  of  1819,  and 
occasionally  afterward.  In  the  winter  of  1824-25  he  clerked  in  a 
store  in  Milan,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Olive  Stevens,  of  that  place, 
recently  from  Sheffield,  Mass.  She  lived  but  a  short  time  after  their 
marriage.  Mr.  Summers  married  his  second  wife.  Miss  .Tulia  Burr, 
April  4,  1827.  She,  also,  like  his  former  wife,  had  had  the  advan- 
t»ge8  of  a  New  England  education. 

Mr.  Summers'  health  was  never  very  firm,  he  being  afflicted  with 
rheumatism,  which  partially  disabled  him  for  years.  He  succeeded, 
however,  very  well  in  business,  and  soon  became  a  leading  man  in 
his  community;  filled  various  offices,  was  justice  of  the  peace  three 
terms,  and  in  the  winter  of  18.'!7  was,  by  the  State  Legislature,  elected 
associate  judge  of  Huron  County.  Mr.  Summers  was  a  Whig,  and 
the  Legislature  by  which  he  was  elected  was  Democratic.  The  office 
was  unsolicited  and  unexpected  by  him.  Judge  Summers  took  his 
seat  at  the  March  term,  1837.  At  the  Legislative  session  of  1838-39, 
the  Democrats,  being  in  power,  set  ofi'  to  Erie  County  what  is  now  its 
eastern  portion,  and  thus  Judge  Summers  was,  as  claimed  by  the 
Democrats,  legislated  out  of  office,  he,  by'the  change  in  county  lines, 
being  no  longer  a  resident  of  Huron  County.  Various  legal  questions 
were  raised;  but  Judge  Summers  and  Judge  Choate,  of  Milan,  whoso 
ca«e  was  similar,  continued  to  act  as  associate  judges  of  Huron 
County.  The  case  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court,  where  a  difference 
of  opinion  existed.  After  some  two  years  a  political  change  gave 
.  majority  in  the  Supreme  Court,  and 


opin 
bet 


Choate  were  ousted.  At  the  solicitation  of  his  party  friends.  Judge 
Summers  consented  to  be  the  Whig  candidate  of  his  district  for  rep- 
resentative in  the  Legislature.  He  was  elected  in  1844,  and  re- 
elected in  1845,  and  was  by  his  friends  asked  to  he  a  candidate  for 
State  Senator  in  1846,  but  declined  the  nomination.  It  "  did  not  pay" 
in  any  sense,  and  he  very  much  disliked  the  cabaling,  intrigue, 
and  "tin-pan"  which  seemed  almost  inseparable  from,  or,  at  least, 
too  much  practiced  in,  political  life.  From  this  period  Mr.  Summers 
was  a  prominent  mnn  (to  whom  the  "widow  and  the  orphan"  came 
for  advice  and  counsel),  but  preferred  private  life,  was  successful  aa 
a  farmer,  keeping  up  with  the  times  in  his  reading  and  observation 
of  men  and  things.  His  health  seemed  firmer,  and  he  realized  the 
ease  of  competence  and  the  happiness  of  home.  Realizing  the  benefits 
of  an  education,  he  gave  to  his  children  such  advantages  as  were  in 
his  power.  He  was  among  the  early  members  of  the  Fire-Lands 
Historical  Society,  filled  various  offices  in  the  same  from  time  to  time, 
was  one  of  its  efficient  supporters,  and  furnished  various  contributions 
for  its  magazine. 

His  temperament  wa«  nervous-bilious,  and  he  suffered  much  from 
nervous  headaches,  which  interfered  with  his  labors  and  literary  pur- 
suits. He  had  a  great  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  read  everything  within 
his  reaeh  :  had  a  general  knowledge  on  most  subjects,  without  confining 
himself  to  any  one  line  of  thought.  His  farming  was  after  the  style 
of  his  reading.  He  delighted  in  improvements,  was  fond  of  intro- 
ducing new  and  superior  fruits,  grains,  vegetables,  ornamental  trees, 
etc.  He  did  not  confine  himself  to  mie  production.  When  his  curiosity 
and  ambition  were  satisfied  with  producing  the  finest  and  greatest 
variety  of  peaches,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  culture  of  grapes, 
and  so  on.  The  money  value  of  a  thing  was  not  it*  chief  value  to 
him.  He  was  not  visionary,  however,  or  reckless,  but  cautious,  and 
commonly  succeeded  in  whatever  he  undertook.  Though  not  a  read 
lawyer,  he  had  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of  legal  principles,  and  his 
views  on  legal  questions  were  much  respected  and  sought  after  by  his 
neighiwrs  and  friends.  He  was  just,  punctual,  and  forbearing  in  his 
dealings  and  intercourse,  firm  where  duty  required,  but  yielding 
where  no  principle  would  be  sacrificed;  hence  he  was  the  uncompro- 
mising enemy  of  slavery  and  every  pretext  for  oppression,  a  reliable 
friend,  a  rather  "  inconvenient  enemy,"  an  accommodating  neighbor, 
and  kind  and  indulgent  in  his  domestic  relations.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  consistent  and  active  member  of  a  Christian  church,  but  was 
naturally  somewhat  skeptical  on  some  points  of  orthodoxy,  and  for  a 
time  seemed  to  delight  in  controversy  on  these  points.  In  later  years 
he  disliked  this  controversy,  and  earnestly  sought  to  return  to  the 
faith  of  his  earlier  manhood.  Advancing  years  enfeebled  the  health 
of  himself  and  wife.  They  sold  the  oM  homestead  and  removed  to 
Berlin  Heights,  where  they  resided  two  or  three  years  until  the 
decease  of  his  faithful  wife,  who  had  been  a  true  helpmeet  for  forty- 
seven  years,  on  Nov.  19,  1874.  By  this  event  his  home  was  broken 
up;  his  health  also  gave  way.  and  for  ten  months  he  was  an  intense 
sufferer.  These  last  mtmths  were  spent  with  his  children,  "  far  away 
from  the  Fire-Lands,"  and  they  learned  to  know  him  better  and  rever- 
ence his  character  more  and  more  as  the  days  of  his  pilgrimage  drew 
to  a  close.  He  departed  this  life,  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  intellectual 
faculties,  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  wife  of  Rev.  G.  H.  H»r- 
tupee,  D.D.,  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  Aug.  11,  1875,  in  the  seventy-fifth 
year  of  his  age. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


470 


towiishii);  Alvah  J.,  Morris,  Betsey  (wife  of  Captain 
Kelley,  of  Milan),  Polly  (Mrs.  Green,  now  of  Town- 
send),  Gideon,  Amos  and  Hannah. 

Aaron  Benschoter  and  wife  came  from  Neversink, 
New  York,  in  1816,  with  their  family.  William, 
Daniel,  and  a  daughter  mho  married  Oliver  Peak. 
They  were  middle-aged  when  they  came,  and  lived  to 
advanced  age.  William  purchased  lot  twenty-seven, 
range  four,  when  both  he  and  his  wife  died,  in  1833. 
Their  daughter,  Esther,  married  Joel  Fox,  and  is  the 
only  member  of  the  family  remaining  in  the  township. 
Oliver,  Alanson  and  Betsey  D.,  moved  to  the  West. 
Daniel  purchased  lot  twelve,  range  eight,  and  soon 
after,  losing  his  wife,  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
Hezekiah  Smith.  They  had  six  children:  Gardner, 
Leauder,  Sheffield,  Hoffman,  Cordelia  and  Eliza. 
Gardner  and  Hoffman,  only,  reside  in  the  township, 
the  latter  remaining  on  the  old  homestead.  Mrs. 
Benschoter  died  in  IST?. 

In  1816,  Baswell  Wood  and  James  Kellogg  came 
from  Tolland,  Connecticut.  James  Kellogg  settled 
on  lot  seven,  range  one.  He  had  three  children: 
James,  Arlica  (Mrs.  Keeler),  Lydia  (Mrs.  John  An- 
derson). He  died  in  1821,  his  wife,  Nancy  Wood, 
several  years  later.  Baswell  Wood  settled  on  lot 
eight,  range  third,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  in  1851,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  He  had  six 
children  :  Andrew,  Nancy,  Sally  (Mrs.  Nehemiah 
Smith),  Margaret  and  Baswell.  Mrs.  Wood  and  her 
youngest  child  died  in  1818.  Andrew  Wood  resided 
in  the  township  until  his  death,  iu  ISTi.  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight. 

Jared  Hine  came  in  1816  from  Litchfield,  Connec- 
ticut, and  purchased  lot  eleven,  range  eight,  which 
he  made  his  permanent  home.  In  1815  he  married 
Betsey  Miner,  of  his  native  town,  and  the  next  year 
moved  to  the  far-off  wilderness  of  Ohio.  His  laud 
was  first  settled  by  Fitzgerald,  who  sold  to  Anson 
Fox,  who  sold  to  Hubbard,  from  whom  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Hine.  These  owners  had  each  made 
some  improvements.  Yet  the  country  was  then  wild 
enough,  and  the  first  night  the  young  couple  stayed 
in  their  new  home  they  were  disturbed  by  a  prowling 
bear.  One  night,  hearing  a  scream  in  the  forest, 
ilrs.  Hine,  thinking  it  was  her  brother  was  lost, 
went  to  the  door  and  blew  a  horn.  Every  time  she 
stopped  the  scream  answered  nearer,  until  Mr.  Hine, 
whom  she  liad  awakened,  thinking  it  no  human 
voice,  told  her  that  she  had  better  come  in.  It  was 
a  panther;  and,  although  they  were  secure,  the  night 
was  passed  anything  but  pleasantly.  Mr.  Hine  was 
an  energetic  man  and  upright  citizen,  and  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  fifteen  years.  He 
was  the  third  chosen  to  that  office.  He  died  iu  18-41:, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  They  had  but  one  child, 
Henry  W.,  who  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 
In  1817,  Jared  was  joined  by  his  brothers  Sheldon, 
Nathaniel  and  Charles,  and,  the  next  year,  Sheldon 
returned  to  Connecticut  and  married  Sally  Osborne, 
returning  with  his  brother  Amos. 


The  journey  from  Connecticut  in  those  days  was  a 
greater  undertaking  than  a  voyage  to  Japan  would  be 
at  present,  and  consumed  almost  as  much  time.  They 
were  forty  days  on  the  road,  driving  ox  teams.  When 
Sheldon  arrived  with  his  bride  he  found  the  log  house 
he  had  left,  with  all  the  stores  for  the  coming  j'ear, 
had  been  burned.  This,  united  with  ague  by  which 
he  was  prostrated,  was  enough  to  discourage  any  or- 
dinary man,  but  these  pioneers  were  heroic  in  their 
endurance,  and  by  sheer  pluck  and  perseverance  con- 
quered the  wilderness. 

Sheldon  Hine  purchased  lot  eight,  range  eight,  of 
Joshua  Poyer,  and  resided  there  until  his  death  in 
1854,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-six.  He  suffered  from 
malarial  disease  of  the  new  country,  and  his  untiring 
industry  exposed  him  recklessly  to  all  kinds  of  weather. 
He  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  Old  Woman  creek,  where 
he  worked  night  and  day,  and  also  a  cider  mill.  The 
saw  mill  was  not  only  a  great  accommodation  to  the 
people  but  of  profit  to  him.  He  soon  became  pos- 
sessed of  large  tracts  of  land  in  various  parts  of  the 
township.  Mrs.  Hine  still  survives,  enjoying  a  green 
old  age.  She  had  seven  children:  Lucius  A.,  who 
devoted  his  life  to  reform:  Horatio  S. ;  Daniel  N. ; 
Theodore  B.,  now  in  Toledo,  but  still  owning  the  old 
homestead;  Leman  G.,  now  praeting  law  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C;  Julia  (Mrs.  S.  T.  Burnham),  now  living 
in  Saginaw;  Laura  F.  (Mrs.  Powers),  now  living  in 
Kansas. 

Amos  Hines  purchased  lot  nine,  range  eight,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  iu  1854,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years.  He  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  Old  Woman 
creek,  which  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  jieople. 
Before  leaving  Connecticut  he  married  Polly  Allen. 
They  had  three  children:  Lorenzo,  Allen,  and  Mary 
(Mrs.  Simms),  who  only  survives.  Jilrs.  Hine  still 
resides  in  the  old  homestead,  which  she  keeps  in  ex- 
cellent repair.  It  is  an  old  fashioned  Connecticut 
farm  house,  the  first  brick  house  erected  in  the  town- 
ship except  Judge  Meeker's,  on  the  lake  shore,  which 
was  built  first,  but  before  that  section  became  a  part 
of  Berlin. 

Nathaniel  Hine  staid  only  for  a  short  time  iu  Ber-  . 
lin,  removing  to  Florence  where  he  was  drowned  in 
1826,  leaving  a  wife  and  three  children. 

Charles  Hine  purchased  lot  eight,  range  eleven,  the 
farm  now  owned  by  L.  S.  Chapiu.  He  was  twice 
niarried,  but  was  childless.  He  died  in  1855,  aged 
fifty-six  3'ears.  His  second  wife,  a  few  years  since, 
maiTied  Mr.  George  Butler,  of  Milan. 

Oliver  Peak  was  born  in  Starksburg,  Vermont,  iu 
1707,  and  came  to  Berlin  in  1817.  He  had  previously 
married  ]\[ary  Benschoter,  daughter  of  Aaron  Ben- 
schoter. He  purchased  lot  eighteen,  section  four, 
which  he  alwaj's  retained.  They  had  five  children: 
Daniel,  George,  Mary  J.  (Mrs.  George  Douglas,  now 
of  Toledo),  and  Amy.  George  is  the  only  one  now 
residing  iu  the  township,  being  one  of  tlic  most  in- 
fluential and  enterprising  farmers. 

Oliver  Peak  came  into  the  wilderness  with    little 


4  80 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


means,  but  by  industry  and  economy  amassed  con- 
siderable wealth,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
all  liis  family  more  than  usually  prosperous.  His  first 
wife  died,  and  he  married  the  widow  of  the  late 
Samuel  Lewis  with  whom  he  lived  till  his  death.  He, 
for  manv  years,  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  an 
upright,  honorable  and  patriotic  citizen. 

Reuben  Brooks  came  with  Mr.  Peak  from  Xew 
York,  and  for  a  time  both  held  the  same  lot  of  land. 
He  afterwards  purchased  lot  seventeen  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  about  18G0.  Only  one  sou, 
Absalom,  is  now  a  resident  of  the  town. 

Hezekiah  Smith  was  born  in  Waterford,  Conneeti- 
cut,  in  1776,  and  married  Rebecca  Miner,  of  that 
place.  Their  son,  Paul  G.,  came  to  Berlin,  and  set 
tied  on  lot  eleven,  range  two,  in  1817,  and  the  next 
year  Mr.  Smith  with  his  family  came  and  settled  on 
lot  ten.  range  one.  He  built  a  frame  house  which 
was  one  of  the  first.  He  resided  on  this  farm  until 
his  death  in  1829,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  and  his 
wife  died  in  18.34:,  aged  sixty-three.  They  had  eleven 
children:  Paul  G.,  Turner  M.,  Xancy,  Rebecca,  Maria, 
Nehemiah,  Patty  (Mrs.  Benjamin  Smith),  Hezekiah, 
Theodore,  Henry  and  Emeline.  Turner  M.  pur- 
chased lot  ten,  range  two,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  Before  removing  from  Connecticut,  he  mar- 
ried Anne  Whiteman.  They  had  three  children: 
Gurdon,  and  Lucas,  now  residing  in  Minnesota,  and 
Horace  who  is  a  progressive  farmer,  still  holds  the 
homestead,  which  he  has  brought  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  where  he  says  he  shall  remain  until 
he  dies.  He  has  made  a  speciality  of  Herefords,  and 
has  a  splendid  herd. 

Daniel  Rej-nolds  came  from  New  York  in  1817,  and 
settled  first  on  lot  nine,  range  eleven,  and  then  on  lot 
twelve,  range  eight,  where  he  remained  until  the 
death  of  his  wife,  Phoebe  Thorn,  in  1846,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-one  years.  He  had  four  children:  Isaac  T., 
Rachel  (Mrs.  Hiram  Judson),  Jane,  and  Polly  (.Joseph 
Tucker).  He  died  in  Milan  in  187i3,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-one  years. 

David  Walker  came  from  Connecticut  in  1817,  and 
located  on  section  five,  range  two.  They  were  indus- 
trious, as  they  were  obliged  to  be  to  support  their 
family  of  eleven  children.  As  he  was  located  on  one 
of  the  main  thoroughfares  he  opened  a  hotel,  and 
soon  after  became  postmaster. 

Norman  Walker,  his  brother,  came  two  years  later 
and  bought  a  farm  near  David's,  but  it  seems  he 
could  not  withstand  the  climate  and  died.  His 
daughter  married  Elsworth  Burnham,  and  lier  mother 
resided,  until  her  death,  with  them. 

•Joshua  Phillips  came  from  Lima.  New  York,  in 
1817  with  his  wife  (Rebecca  Smith),  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts.  He  was  an  elder  in 
the  Baptist  church,  and  added  preaching"  to  his  clear- 
ing away  the  wilderness,  farming,  and  working  at 
masonry.  He  purchased  lots  ten  and  eleven,  range 
six,  and  opened  the  first  quarry.  They  had  seven 
children:  Zalumna,  Zebah,  .Joshua,  Rebecca  (Mrs.  J. 


S.  Lowry),  Xenophon,  Solomon,  and  Eliza  (Mrs.  T. 
C.  Chapman).  Zalumna  was  thoroughly  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  an  early  day,  having  a 
store  at  the  heights,  and  for  a  time  held  the  office  of 
judge  and  sheriff,  and  was  once  sent  to  the  legislature.. 
This  store  was  built  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  town  hall.  It  was  then  a  dense  forest,  and  Mr. 
Phillips  paid  Prentice  K.  Loomis  seventy-five  cents 
to  cut  down  the  trees  where  he  intended  to  build.  J. 
S.  Lowry  was  the  builder,  and  for  many  years  was 
regarded  as  highest  authority  in  architecture.  Xen- 
ophon, for  many  years,  practiced  medicine  with 
marked  success,  and  acquired  quite  a  wide  fame  for 
his  treatment  of  climatic  diseases.  In  after  years, 
throwing  up  the  practice,  he  became  a  voracious  read- 
er and  enthusiastic  disciple  of  Parker  and  Emerson." 
It  is  to  his  industry  that  we  owe  many  of  the  personal 
facts  of  this  portion  of  the  history  of  our  township. 

The  story  of  the  trials  of  the  Phillips  family  illus- 
trate the  hardships  endured  by  all  early  settlers. 
They  moved  from  the  log  house  on  the  Chapelle  creek 
where  they  stopped  a  short  time,  to  the  house  Mr. 
Phillips  was  preparing.  It  was  not  yet  finished.  It 
was  ten  by  twelve  feet  square,  made  of  chestnut  logs, 
split  in  two  through  the  middle,  and  notched  together 
at  the  corners.  The  floor  was  made  of  split  logs,  and 
at  one  end  a  wide  space  was  left  to  build  a  fire.  On 
one  side  a  doorway  was  cut  tiirough,  but  windows 
there  were  none,  and  at  that  time  none  were  needed, 
for  the  roof  had  not  jet  been  laid  on.  The  first  day 
of  January,  1818,  a  warm  sunny  day  like  May,  the 
family  moved  into  the  new  house.  The  tall  tree  tops 
of  the  interminable  wilderness  closed  over  its  roofless 
walls,  and  in  the  interstices  the  stars  shone  down  on 
their  slumbers.  Before  morning  a  storm  came  up,  a 
cold  sleety  rain,  and  the  weary  father  broke  his  wagon 
box  in  pieces  to  make  a  temporary  roof  in  one  corner 
under  which  his  household  huddled  together  till  the 
stoj-m  had  passed. 

Mr.  Phillips  brought  three  horses  and  a  cow  with 
him,  but  two  of  the  horses  soon  died,  not  being  able 
to  bear  the  exposure  and  coarse  food;  all  they  had  was 
a  coarse  grass  which  grew  on  the  wettish  lands  in 
branches,  and  this  kept  green  all  winter,  and  the  snow 
rarely  ever  was  deep  enough  to  prevent  grazing. 
Sometimes  elm  and  basswood  were  cut  down  to  allow 
the  cattle  to  feed  on  the  tender  branches.  Alter  the 
death. of  the  horses,  the  one  left  and  the  cow  mated, 
and  it  seemed  that  they  were  so  lonesome  in  the  wilds 
that  their  affection  for  each  otlier  was  affecting  to  be- 
hold. 

One  day  when  Mr.  Phillips  was  on  the  prairie 
working  at  masonry  to  earn  the  wheat  to  feed  his  fam- 
ily, the  mother  sent  Zalumna  and  Zebah  for  game. 
They  were  gone  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  returning 
without  the  least  success.  The  former  says  he  never 
can  forget  the  disappointment  of  his  dear  mother,  for 
they  had  nothing  but  potatoes,  and  she  baked  some 
for  their  supper  and  they  ate  them  with  salt. 

In  1817,  Xoah  Ilill  came  and  purchased  lot  seven. 


HISTOKY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


481 


range  seven,  of  Nathan  Smith.,  a  Methodist  preacher. 
He  returned  to  Tioga,  Pennsylvania,  for  his  family, 
and  the  next  year  came  and  made  a  permanent  settle- 
ment. He  was  of  Connecticut  birth,  as  was  his  wife, 
Sukey  Butler.  They  have  liad  eleven  children: 
Horace  L..  Edwin  I.,  Elihu  P.,  Benjamin  L.,  Mary 
Ann,  Rachel,  Henrietta,  Hester  C,  George  S.,  Noah, 
Sarah  C.  and  Sterling  U.  It  can  be  said  that  this 
widely  connected  family,  by  their  sturdy  New  England 
ways,  industrious  habits  and  liberal  ideas,  have  made 
a  deep  impress  on  the  character  of  the  township. 
Noah  died  early,  and  Sterling  was  killed  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years  by  the  falling  of  the  old  Parmenter 
bridge.  Edwin  and  Horace  are  farmers,  and  Elihu 
has  retired  from  his  farm  and  is  living  at  his  ease. 
He  served  one  term  as  State  senator,  in  1852-3. 
Benjamin  was  an  eminent  physician,  a  professor  in 
tlie  Cincinnati  Eclectic  College,  and  author  of  stan- 
dard works  on  surgery.  He  was  State  representative 
for  one  tei"m,  and  died  in  California,  where  he  had 
gone  for  his  health.  George  is  a  successful  physician. 
Noah  Hill,  for  many  years,  was  justice,  and  was 
well  known  for  his  integrity  of  character.  Before 
coming  here,  he_  worked  at  ship  building,  and  helped 
build  the  brig  "Commerce,"  which  the  famous  Cap- 
tain Riley  lost  on  the  coast  of  Africa.  He  early  saw 
the  evils  of  intempei-ance,  and  for  the  last  thirty  j'ears 
never  tasted  a  drop  of  any  alcoholic  drink,  not  even 
indulging  in  lemonade,  which,  he  used  to  say,  he 
refused  out  of  spite.  When  the  old  Congregational 
church  was  sold,  he  purchased  it  by  subscription,  and 
refitted  it,  making  of  it  a  "Free  Discussion  Hall," 
and  by  that  noble  act  making  the  future  character  of 
the  towns-people.  This  hall  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
but  not  before  the  people  saw  the  necessity  of  a  free 
place  of  meeting,  and  the  town  hall,  in  1867,  took  its 
place.  He  died  in  1804,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 
His  wife  still  survives,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five. 

Timothy  Tennant  came  from  Auburn,  New  York, 
in  1818,  and  settled  on  lot  three,  range  seven,  where 
his  son-in-law  had  began  improvements  the  year  pre- 
vious. His  wife  was  Temperance  Pomeroy,  of 
Connecticut,  and  he  was  born  in  Lyme,  in  the  same 
State.  They  have  had  twelve  children:  Sophia  (Mrs. 
Soper),  Charles  P.,  Daniel,  Sterling,  Henry,  Lucy 
Ann  (first  wife  of  Edwin  I.  Hill),  Fanny  J.  (wife  of 
H.  L.  Hill),  Caroline  (wife  of  R.  M.  Ransom),  Cla- 
rissa (Mrs.  Glenn),  and  Eliza. 

Daniel  Tennant  came  into  Berlin,  in  181G,  when 
fifteen  years  of  age.  He  carried  the  mail,  soon  after, 
from  Berlin  to  Fremont,  weekly, — VVolverton,  the  con- 
tractor, bringing  it  from  Cleveland.  He  married,  in 
1833,  Caroline  Bennett,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. 
Charles,  the  only  one  living,  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, which  is  one  of  the  premium  farms.  His  wife 
dying,  he  married,  in  1858,  Mary  Ann  Blain,  of  New 
York,  and  in  1873  retired  from  the  farm  to  the 
Heights.  Mr.  Tennant  was  a  blacksmith,  and  brought 
his  anvil  with  him.  His  rule  of  business  was  never 
to  disappoint  a  customer.     He  died  in  1845,  at  the 


age  of  seventy-five,  and  Mrs.  Tennant,  who  survived 
him  eight  years,  died  while  on  a  visit  to  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Glenn,  in  Tiffin. 

Thomas  Stephens  settled,  in  1818,  on  lot  eight, 
range  four,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1835. 
He  was  the  second  justice  of  the  peace,  and  a  good 
teacher.  He  taught  in  the  old  log  school  house  at 
the  Heights.  He  left  a  wife  and  two  children:  Lu- 
cinda  (Mrs.  Steen),  and  Polly,  the  first  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Poyer.  Out  of  school  he  was  the  premium 
swearer  of  the  town,  but  in  school,  nothing  would 
bring  swifter  or  severer  punishment  than  an  oath. 

Nathaniel  Thorp  came  from  Hebron,  Connecticut, 
in  1818,  with  Moses  R.  Buruham,  and  in  1822,  pur. 
chased  lot  eight  and  nine,  range  one.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  by  his  first  wife  having  four  children, 
only  Jeremiah  is  now  living,  residing  on  the  old 
homestead.  Mr.  Thorp  had  the  reputation  of  being 
the  hardest  working  man  in  the  township.  He  died 
in  1854,  aged  sixty-two  years.  Moses  and  Elsworth 
Burnham  purchased  lot  three,  range  six. 

John  Wetherlow  and  George  Whitney  came,  in  1 819, 
from  Seneca  county.  New  I'ork,  and  purchased  lot 
ten,  range  seven.  This  was  the  lot  on  which  the 
first  improvement  in  the  township  was  made,  by  John 
Dunbar.  Mr.  Weatherlow  died  in  1837,  leaving  a 
wife  and  five  children:  Lucy  (Mrs.  A.  Halbite),  Car- 
oline (first  wife  of  Captain  L.  Case),  Samuel,  William 
and  John. 

Jonathan  Cobb  came  in  1819,  from  Tolland,  Con- 
necticut, and  bought  of  S.  Reed,  lot  seven,  range 
two,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1837,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-six  years.  He  made,  for  the  time  he 
lived,  great  improvements;  built  the  first  framed  house 
— yet  standing, — a  mill,  and  was  an  energetic  business 
man.  He  left  a  wife  and  three  children:  Ahira, 
Ralph  L.,  and  Sally  (Mrs.  Elihu  P.  Hill). 

Oliver  Pearl  came  from  Connecticut  in  1819,  and 
settled  on  lot  two,  range  two,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death  in  1835,  where  his  widow,  now  in  her 
eighty-sixth  year,  still  resides  with  their  son  Addison. 
They  have  had  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Oliver,  Ancil  H.,  William,  Emeline,  Albert, 
Marilla,  Addison,  Harriet,  and  Jerome. 

Thomas  and  Titus  Daniels  came  from  Chenango 
county  in  1819,  the  former  settling  on  lot  three,  range 
two,  and  the  latter  on  lot  three,  range  three,  on 
which  they  remained. 

Cyrus  Call  came  in  1819  as  a  pioneer  Baptist  mis- 
sionary, and  contracting  to  settle  as  resident  pastor, 
retained  that  position  for  ten  years.  In  1820,  he 
moved  his  family  from  Lake  county,  and  purchased 
lot  seven,  range  five,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
in  his  eighty-eighth  year.  His  wife  was  Sally  Cross, 
whom  he  married  in  New  Y''ork  State.  They  had 
nine  children:  Polly  (Mrs.  Middleton),  Essex,  Sally 
(Mrs.  Hanes),  Jo,  Carlo,  Harriet,  and  Dana  C. 

David  Butler  came  to  Delaware  county  from  Len- 
nox, Massachusetts,  in  1805,  and  in  1820  to  Berlin. 
His  wife   was  Abigail   Barr,  of  Massachusetts.     He 


482 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


purchased  lot  five,  range  twelve,  wliere  he  resided 
until  au  advanced  age. 

Hiram  Judson  came  from  Woodbury,  Connecticut, 
and  purchased  lot  seven,  range  eleven,  in  1821,  a  val- 
uable tract  reserved  on  account  of  the  supposed  salt 
spring.  In  182.5  he  married  Rachel  Reynolds,  and 
has  since  remained  on  this  farm.  Tiiey  had  three 
children:  Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  William.  The  latter 
remains  on  the  old  homestead.  Mrs.  Judson  died  in 
1861.  Mr.  Judson  is  -n-ell  preserved  at  seventy-nine 
years. 

David  Butler  settled  on  the  western  limits  of  the 
township  in  1822.  He  had  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
"  dren,  none  of  whom  now  reside  in  the  township. 
George,  for  many  years,  was  a  farmer,  and  well  known 
as  a  farrier.  He  now  resides  in  Milan, — his  daughter, 
Mrs.  William  E.  Squire,  remaining  on  the  homestead. 

Cromwell  Tilliughast  and  wife  came  to  Berlin  in 
1827,  purchasing  the  tract  of  land  on  which  they 
have  since  remained.  They  have  four  children  : 
Mary  (Mrs.   Leman   Hine,  of   Washington,  D.    C); 

"■—  (Mrs.  Fred.  Otis,  of  Chicago);  Oliver  C,  who 

married  Miss  Lizzie  Reynolds,  and  remains  on  the 
old  homestead,  and  Charles,  residing  on  the  Otis 
place.  Two  other  brothers  came  from  Connecticut 
at  nearly  the  same  time,  George  and  William,  and 
the  Otis  family  came  the  same  year.  Joseph  Otis 
purchased  the  farm  of  John  Thompson,  built  a  saw 
mill  above  the  Parmenter  bridge,  and  added  greatly 
to  the  business  of  the  section.  Of  his  family,  the 
three  sons,  James,  Frederick  and  Edwin,  after  farm- 
ing for  some  years,  removed  to  Chicago,  whei'e  they 
have  become  identified  with  the  business  interests  of 

that  city,  and  the  daughter. —  (Mrs.  Sherman), 

resides  in  Norwalk. 

Eliphalet  Harris  may  be  ranked  with  the  pioneers 
of  Berlin,  although  he  first  settled  near  Portland, 
now  known  as  Sandusky.  He  was  born  in  1795,  at 
Flushing,  Long  Island.  He  came,  with  his  wife,  a 
native  of  Glastenburg,  Connecticut,  in  1816,  to  the 
present  site  of  Sandusky,  then  a  marsh,  covered  with 
ducks  and  geese.  He  established  the  first  tannery  in 
the  county  of  Huron;  taught  the  first  public  school 
and  singing  school  in  the  county,  and  assisted  in  set- 
ting up  the  first  press,  from  which  the  Clarion  was 
printed  for  many  years,  and  as  deputy  sheriff,  assisted 
in  the  first  public  execution — that  of  three  Indians. 
He  was  a  hard-working  man,  as  the  clearing  of  two 
farms  testify,  and  the  story  of  his  struggles  with 
privations  and  hardships,  would  make  a  volume 
stranger  than  fiction.  On  his  first  farm,  near  the 
city,  he  was  one  day  briskly  chopping.  His  large 
family  were  destitute  and  hungry.  There  was  no 
meat,  and  little  bread.  He  could  do  nothing  for 
them,  and  chopped  away  with  harder  blows  to  over- 
C(jine  his  feelings.  Suddenly-,  he  saw  a  large  bear 
mount  a  log  in  the  clearing  and  look  at  him.  It 
was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  to  seize  his  ready  gun, 
and  a  lucky  shot  laid  bruin  dead.  Bear  steak  was 
the  first  moat  the   Harris  familv  ate  in   Ohio.     Mr. 


Harris  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  only  two  of 
wiiom  are  residents  of  the  township,  William  and 
Daniel.  He  died  at  Berliuville,  18.57,  aged  sixty-two. 
Mrs.  Harris  died  at  Norwalk.  Ohio,  1876,  aged 
seventy-six. 

Nathan  Tuttle  came  from  Sempronius,  ^ew  York, 
in  1832.  He  married  some  ten  years  previously, 
Moriah  Monroe  from  Massachusetts.  He  purchased 
a  portion  of  the  "fraction"'  and  of  portions  of  contigu- 
ous lots,  about  a  mile  directly  west  of  the  Heights. 
They  are  still  living  at  the  ages  of  seventy-nine  and 
eighty  years,  well  preserved  after  the  hardships  they 
have  endured.  Of  their  four  children  J.  M.  is  at 
Norwalk,  having  an  elevator  there;  Lucy  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Hoak;  David  is  in  Wakeman,  and  Hudson 
resides  on  the  homestead.  He  married  in  18.58,  Miss 
Emma  D.  Rood.  They  liave  three  children:  Rosa, 
Carl  and  Clair. 

Robert  Douglass  came  from  Scotland  to  Canada, 
where  after  residing  eighteen  years,  he  removed  to 
New  Y'ork,  and  after  three  years,  in  1833,  he  came  to 
Berlin,  purchasing  a  <;ract  of  land  on  the  shore, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  children:  Agnes,  Margaret,  George, 
Mary',  Isalaella,  James,  Betsey  and  Letitia.  George 
became  au  active  business  man,  and  for  some  years 
before  his  removal  to  Toledo,  where  he  now  resides, 
handled  a  large  amount  of  real  estate  in  this  adjoining 
townships.  James  is  now  the  only  member  of  the 
family  in  the  town.  He  married  Cornelia  King  in 
1857,  and  resides  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  old  home- 
stead, a  part  of  which  he  also  owns,  and  is  a  leading 
farmer  and  fruit  grower.  In  187-4,  he  ran  for  state 
representative  on  the  democratic  ticket,  and  although 
the  ticket  was  lost  by  two  hundred  and  forty  majority, 
he  was  elected  by  thirty-three  votes,  and  re-elected 
against  about  similar  odds  in  1876. 

L.  B.  Chapiu  came  from  Connecticut  in  1841,  and 
purchased  a  part  of  the  Mulinick  lot.  He  was  a  man 
of  culture,  and  had  practiced  law.  He  set  a  good 
example  by  his  thorougli  farming,  and  well  kept  farm. 

He  died  in .     Leonard  resides  with  Mrs.  Chapin 

on  the  old  homestead,  and  L.  S.  on  the  farm  once 
owned  by  Charles  Hine.  Leonodus,  the  only  other 
surviving  child,  resides  in  the  west,  and  is  actively 
engaged  in  railroad  building. 

TOWXSHIP    IKIVEKXMENT. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  1817,  the  first  town 
meeting  was  held  in  Thompson's  mill.  A  strange 
assembly  of  only  thirteen  rough  men  in  grotesque 
costume,  patched  and  mended  until  the  fabric  could 
not  be  distinguished,  or  of  enduring  buckskin,  with 
coon  skin  cai^s  and  fawui  skin  vests.  They  had  con- 
cluded that  the  township  needed  a  government,  and 
they  did  not  wait  for  the  State  to  supply  them,  but 
felt  fully  competent  to  make  such  a  government 
themselves.  The  judges  were  not  troubled  to  count 
the  votes,  as  every  voter  was  elected  to  office,  and 
some  had  two.     Tlie  following  is  the  list  of  township 


MILTON    LAUGHLIN. 


MRS.    MILTON   LAUGHLIN. 


MILTON   LAUGHLIN. 


The  grandparents  of  Mr.  Laughlin  came  from  I'p»'''°'i' ""^ /.^/''^ 
family  of  eleven  sons,  an.l  settled  in  Georgetown,  Pa.  The  date  of 
their  immigration  is  uncertain,  but  it  must  have  been  oyer  a  cen  ury 
ago  JohnT  one  of  the  oldest  of  this  large  family,  married  Eluabeth 
Uoak,  sister  of  John  Hoak,  and  after  a  few  years  joined  the  party  of 
adventurerswho  left  ^^^Un.a  Creek    Pa     for^^ 

;^;;^'l^':;^^*";:V;:t;;:^:"He\eeame  gr^tly  attaeh^d 
to  the  Indians,  and  tl,ey  lu  bin,.  He  was  an  excellent  hunter,  and 
thev  admired  bis  dexterity.  His  cbild.cn  played  and  were  one  w  th 
theyaamirea  ^.^  ^.^^^^  ^^^^  Benjamin,  was  taken  s.ck 


Indi! 


doctored  by  the  Indian  mcdb 


-man,  and,  when  he  died,  was 


family, 
were  con- 
ted,  were  the  greatest 


buried  by  the  Indians  after  their  custom.  ,    <•  ■      „ 

Mr  Lau-hlin  was  fortunate  in  maintaining  the  most  friendly 
relation  with  the  Indians,  and  never  but  once  broke  w.tlj  them.  Once, 
wWle  hunting,  he  shot  one  of  their  dogs  for  a  wolf,  and  narrowly  es- 
caped the  vengeance  o^^^^s  °'J^^^^^^^  ^^  j^^j  g^  ^jjj^jj  jjs  since  been 
known  as  the  Laughlin  place,  and  moved  there  w,-  -"  —•'" 
It  was  a  desperate  struggle  for  existence  ;  want  and  d 
tinually  near  at  hand.  The  children,  unaccl 
'"HeTry,  one  of  the  oldest,  succumbed  to  fever,  and  was  buried  on  the 
high  bank  of  Huron  lUver.  While  here  news  came  of  Hull  s  sur- 
render, and  the  settlers  fled  for  their  lives,  expecting  the  Indians 
would  rush  down  upon  them.  Mr.  Laughlin  and  family  started 
for  the  old  home  in  Pennsylvania,  with  such  provisions  as  they  could 
carry,  and  on  horseback  or  on  foot  pursued  their  wny  through  the 
interminable  forest  via  Mansfield.  His  rl/te  was  h.s  dependence  or 
sui.port,  and  they  camped  wherever  night  overtook  tlu-in.^  N3.m  aitei 
thev  reached  their  destination,  on  Christmas  day,  IM.),  lie  «t.i.v 
mother  gave  birth  to  a  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Alter 
two  years  the  family  returned. 

In  1814  they  built  a  hewed  log  home,  near  the  Corners,  on  the  same 


ately  fond  of 


farm,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 

huTt  ng,  and  vera  pious  ;  a  quiet,  taciturn  man,  who  shrank  not  rom 
labor  There  was  no  fruit  except  wild  erah-appJes  arii  froel-grape,  ; 
turn  ps  were  used  for  fruit,  and  sometimes  the  children  would  go 
into  the  woods  and  search  for  c,ro,iud.m,tH  or  wild  potatoes  for  their 

'^''ThdV  only  sugar  was  made  from  the  maple,  and  queer  tastes  were 
established  by  firailiarity  with  Indian  diet.     They  cooked  their  ™e„, 

'"  TMsTection  was  heavily  timbered.  Oaks  which  made  seventy-five 
rails  to  the  cut,  and  four  hundred  years  of  age,  were  euu.mun.  x  ci- 
min  abounded.  In  one  fall  Mr.  Milton  Laughlin  killed  ^evei.iy- 
five  opossums,  several  hundred  squirrels,  and  twelve  deer,  in  -nies 
wild  turkeys  and  coons  which  ho  did  not  count.  \M"  re  ilie  ''H";'!- 
house  now  stands  his  father  killed  a  bear.  The  children  in  thi,  n- 
terestin»  family  were  as  follows,-Katie,  Henry,  John,  Nancy,  Benja- 


min Annie,  Betsey,  Milton,  and  Belinda.  As  corn  was  pounded  into 
Seal  in  a  mortar  made  in  a  stump  hollowed  out  by  fire,  the  feeding 
^'Amon^'rX'warSrrn'd  bred  under  such  conditions 
and  urroundings.  He  became  a  hard-working,  persevermg,  deter- 
mined man,  with  a  good  bit  of  the  silent,  undemonstrative  hab  t  as 
wouM  be  expected  from  such  conditions.  He  married  Nov.  28  183, 
Marv  B  Krom,  of  Ulster  Co.,  Pa.,  formerly  of  New  lork  City.  In 
conslllration  of  paying  certain  debts  his  f^t'^'^^f  ^^t^LTtas 
the  f,ld  farm.  These  debts  amounted  to  more  than  th«  >"'!,"»' 
worth  but  he  struggled  through.  When  he  moved  from  his  &thcr 
house  he  carried  hit  household  goods  on  a  "^eelbarrow.     He  worked 


says  I 


^The'ruiront  rrrii^^kre  Kansom,  born  June  M«39  -rri^^ 
Sarah  Springer,  Aug.  8,  1860,  resides  in  Milan  township  :  Nancy  i., 
born  June  16,  1842,  married,  April  14, 1868,  to  Wm.  Squire,  of  Milan, 
died  April  19  1875  Jane,  born^Jan.  23, 1843,  marriedGeorge  Hooper, 
and  re  les  in  Michigan  ;  William  F.,  born  Feb.  5, 1849,  died  a  so  d.or 
^n  South  Carolina,  March  2,  1865  ;  Willis,  born  June  29,  1859  ;  and 


Bertha  E.,  born  March  14,  1868  .   .        ^^^      j,. 

Of  his  father's  family,  he  is  the  only  surviving  son      It  i 
his  sister  Nancy,  now  Mrs.  Sands,  when  a  small  girl  she  went  after 
and  while  gathering  wild  grapes. 


tempting 


said  of 


pass. 


the  cows,  and  while  gathering  wiia  grapes,  i'j^  '".'"I'l  "^ Jh„,r  =i,„ 
leeame  lost.  She  wa?  so  completely  turned  ground  hat,  when  he 
was  told  the  right  way  by  a  man  she  met  near  Old  Woman  Creek,  ho 
",„,j  _.»  u„i:„.,„  !,;„,    on,!   Upnt  on  her  own  way.     The  neighbois 


would  not  beli"eve  him.and  kept  on  her  own  7/'/-  ^:J"°  °;'|J'^^„ 
hiintad  for  her  all  night  w  thout  success,  but  the  next  day  Uonry 
drs"cofered  he/track  on  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  foUowed  it  finding 
her  in  Florence,  eight  miles  away,  where  she  found  shelter  in  a  rude 
"^m't.  Laughlin  was  reared  a  Methodist,  but  is  now  eelcclic  in  re- 
ligion, and  from  remarkable  phenomena  in  his  own  house  became  a 
ugion,  anu^      .,_„.„      ^^  'jgjj  ^e  built  a  large  brick  residence. 


Spiritualii 


toil. 


and"i?now  p|-^par7d'to"enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  long  and  patient  ' 
He  h.  s  been^an  eye-witne  s-of  the  numberless  changes  of  sixty  years, 
which  have  cSnve'rted  the  trackless  wild  into  fields  !»<»- jnth  harv-es  ; 
instead  of  deer  and  bear,  the  horse,,ox,  and  sheep  ;  instead  of  blazed 
trees  to  mark  the  line  of  travel,  good,  broad  highways  ;  streams  have 
beenbrired-  t"«..-.  -H-.'^-  and  beautiful  homes  have  been  built. 
Tn^hort   the'-  1       i     1-    '■■"  made  to  blossom  like  the  rose."         _ 

'Vome  faint   M .n,e  maybe  seen  from    this   fact:    m 

1827,  John 
and  paid  i 


for  his  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
le  that  year  of  $3.10.     The  same  land  is  now 
valued  at  $10,000,  and  in  1876  the  taxes  were  $85.96. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


*83 


officers;  John  Laiighlin,  Samuel .  Reed  and  John 
Thompson,  trustees;  Henry  Brady,  clerk;  John  Hoak, 
treasurer;  Daniel  Butler,  constable;  Lybeus  Storrs, 
lister  and  appraiser;  Christopher  Brubaker  and  Thos. 
Starr,  path  masters;  John  Hoak  and  S.  S.  Reed, 
fence  viewers;  Heironymns  Mingus  and  Christopher 
Brnbaker,  poor  masters. 

The  new  government  was  afraid  of  the  poor  tax, 
and  at  once  proceeded  to  "warn  Rachel  Taylor  to  de- 
part the  township  of  Eldridge. "  Who  Rachel  was, 
or  when  she  was  expected  to  go  in  the  wilderness,  is 
not  stated,  nor  whether  the  officers  were  satisfied  with 
a  show  of  authority  and  allowed  her  to  remain. 

The  population  rapidly  increased,  so  that,  when  in 
182G,  the  trustees  first  divided  the  town  into  school 
districts  according  to  the  law  passed  the  preceding 
year,  there  were  eighty-nine  families  then  in  the  farm 
districts. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  postmaster  was  Jeduthan  Cobb,  in  1830. 
The  mail  was  then  carried  on  horseback  from  Cleve- 
land to  Lower  Sandusky,  now  Fremont,  by  Robert 
Wolverton.  He  afterwards  ran  a  sort  of  coach  or 
hack,  carrying  the  mail  and  passengers. 

After  Walker  built  his  hotel,  or  tavern,  as  it  was 
then  called,  Mr.  Beebe  secured  the  contract  for  carry- 
ing the  mail.  He  ran  a  line  of  stages  through  on  the 
telegraph  road,  and  the  coming  and  going  of  these 
ponderous  vehicles  was  quite  an  event  in  the  monot- 
ony of  the  life  of  those  days. 

The  wide  territory  to  the  north  of  Berlinville, 
which  has  now  two  post  offices,  then  had  none,  and  it 
was  a  great  convenience  when  an  ofiBce  was  granted  at 
the  center.  This  office  gave  the  present  name  to  the 
place,  for,  as  there  were  so  many  Berlins,  some  other 
name  had  to  be  given  to  avoid  confusion,  and  Berlin 
Heights  was  suggested  by  the  high  lands,  overlooking 
the  lake,  on  which  it  was  situated. 

Elihu  P.  Hill  was  the  first  postmaster,  succeeded 
by  William  Pearl,  and  by  Jesse  S.  Davis,  who  has 
retained  the  position  for  the  last  twelve  years. 

The  first  hotel  was  built  by  David  Walker,  on  the 
old  Walker  farm.  The  second  was  erected  at  Berlin- 
ville, on  the  site  of  the  present  one,  by  David  Coulter. 
It  was  bi;ilt  of  hewn  logs.  He  sold  to  Geo.  Roberts, 
father  of  George  Roberts  of  Milan,  who  sold  it  to 
Harry  Walker.     Each  owner  added  improvements. 

The  next  was  built  near,  or  on,  the  site  of  Mr. 
Grumman's  house  and  store,  of  logs,  by  Calvin  Hig- 
gins,  who  started  a  tannery,  the  first  in  the  township 
and  the  last. 

The  first  hotel  at  the  Heights  was  the  present  Davis 
House,  erected  by  Mr.  Jesse  I.  Davis  in  1855,  and 
occupied,  except  for  a  short  interval,  l)y  him  since 
that  time. 

The  first  school  in  tlie  township  was  tauglit  by 
John  Leland,  in  the  winter  of  1811-13,  in  a  house  on 
the  Fitzgerald  farm,  now  Henry  Hine's.  It  would 
probalily  be  a   great  curiosity   at  the  present  time. 


This  school  was  soon  suspended  on  account  of  the 
war,  the  people  leaving  with  their  families  for  places 
of  safety — Cleveland  or  Pennsylvania.  It  is  said  that 
the  panic  was  so  great,  that  in  January,  1814,  only 
four  families  resided  in  the  township.  And  yet  the 
Indians  were  always  friendly,  and  no  instance  of  their 
dej^redation  is  recorded  in  the  township. 

The  second  school  house  was  built  of  logs,  covered 
with  "  shakes,"  on  the  farm  of  Daniel  Butler,  in  1815, 
and  the  school  was  first  kept  by  Sophia  Case,  and 
afterwards  by  Mr.  Brady  and  Mr.  Dunn. 

The  third  school  house  was  built  near  the  Burdue 
spring,  east  of  the  Heights,  in  1818.  This  house  would 
now  be  a  great  curiosity.  It  was  sixteen  feet  by  twenty, 
and  the  logs  of  which  it  was  built  were  of  all  lengths, 
some  running  out  many  feet  beyond  others.  The  roof 
was  shakes  held  down  by  heavy  poles.  The  floor  was 
made  of  logs  split  through  the  middle.  The  seats 
were  made  of  the  same,  without  backs,  and  the  writing 
desks  were  of  the  split  slabs,  supported  by  pins  driven 
into  the  log  wall.  There  were  three. windows,  but  as 
there  was  no  glass,  strips  were  placed  across  the  open- 
ings and  greased  newspapers  placed  over  them.  The 
fire  place  occupied  the  whole  end  of  the  building,  and 
the  only  limit  to  the  size  of  the  sticks  was  the 
strength  of  the  boys  to  bring  them  in.  There  was 
not  a  board  or  a  nail  in  the  house.  This  school  was 
opened  by  Thomas  Stevens,  who  received  ten  dollars 
a  month,  paid  in  work  on  his  farm  or  produce,  and 
by  way  of  gratuity,  an  occasional  "bee'.'  of  chopping, 
hoeing,  husking,  etc.  From  this  small  beginning, 
the  township  has  made  great  advance  in  the  interven- 
ing sixty  years.  The  central  district,  in  1874,  erect- 
ed a  school  building  at  a  cost  of  thirteen  thousand 
dollars.  This  school  is  graded,  and  the  higher  grade 
has  been  taught  from  the  beginning  by  Mr.  Job  Fish, 
whose  popularity  has  never  waned,  but  constantly  in- 
creased. There  are  now  ten  sciiool  houses  in  the 
township,  valued  at  twenty-six  thousand  four  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  the  annual  expenditure  for  school 
purposes  is  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty 
dollars.  The  central  district  supports,  besides  the 
main  school,  one  at  the  "East  End,"  at  a  cost  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  dollars  per  year,  in  a  building 
costing  five  hundred  dollars. 

CHURCHES. 

THE  FIRST  CHUKCH. 

The  Methodists  held  class  meetings  even  earlier 
than  1813,  in  private  residences,  and  had  occasional 
preaching  from  Nathan  Smith,  Mr.  Westhich,  Dennis 

Goddard,   Walker,  and  later,  William  Pattee. 

At  one  of  these  meetings  the  following  resolution, 
which  is  a  most  excellent  article  of  faith,  was 
adopted : 

"Whereas,  Our  lots,  by  Divine  Providence,  are  cast 
in  this  wilderness  land  where  we  are  destitute  of  the 
preached  word,  destitute  of  an  able  shepherd  to  take 
us  by  the  hand,  and  believing  it  is  our  duty,  as  pro- 


484 


HISTORY  OF  IIUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OiilO. 


fessed  followers  of  Christ;  and  also,  feeling  it  to  be 
our  desire,  and  esteeming  it  to  be  our  liigliest  privi- 
lege on  earth  to  do  all  we  can  to  the  declarative  glory 
of  God,  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  cause  in 
the  world,  and  the  good  of  souls;  and  believing  that 
it  will  most  conduce  to  this  glorious  end  to  form  our- 
selves into  a  conference  state,  iu  brotherly  compact, 
and  thereby  mutually  strive  to  maintain  the  glory  of 
God,  keep  the  Christian  Sabbath,  watch  over  one  an- 
other iu  love,  and  be  helps  to  each  other  iu  our  pil- 
grimage journey,  and  finding  ourselves  to  be  in  union 
in  sentiments;  we,  therefore,  the  undersigned,  do 
hereby  this  day  agree  to  unite  in  brotherly  compact, 
in  the  best  of  bonds,  for  the  purpose  above  named. 
March  4,  1818. '" 

This  document  is  iu  the  handwriting  of  Joshua 
Phillips,  and  is  signed  by  him,  Robert  Wolverton,  P. 
G.  Smith,  Levi  Fuller,  Fanny  Smith,  Rebecca  Smith 
and  Luther  Harris. 

Iu  the  following  October,  some  of  these  met  at  tlie 
residence  of  Perez  Starr,  in  Florence,  with  others 
from  that  township,  and  were  organized  by  Elder 
Warner  Goodale  into  the  Baptist  Church  of  Berlin. 
This  organization  held  its  meetings  at  private  resi- 
dences in  Berlin  and  Florence.  Elders  French,  Hart- 
well,  Hanks,  Tucker,  Abbott.  Rigdon,  and  Call, 
preached  occasionally. 

The  first  settled  minister  of  the  gospel  iu  the  town- 
ship, and  iu  fact  between  Cleveland  and  the  •'  Indian 
Land,"  was  elder  Call.  He  settled  on  the  farm  where 
he  always  resided,  lot  seven,  range  five,  in  1820.  He 
married,  before  moving  from  New  York  State,  Miss 
Sally  Cross.  Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children 
and,  including  great  grandchildren,  his  descendants 
number  one  hundred.  He  died  in  1861  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eiglit,  and  his  death  was  soon  followed  by  that 
of  his  wife  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

The  Congregational  Church  was  organized  by  Rev. 
A.  H.  Betts  and  S.  B.  Sullivan  in  1823,  with  nine 
members.  A.  H.  Betts  preached  occusionally  until 
1829,  when  Everton  Judson  preached  one-third  of  the 
time  for  two  years;  theu  E.  Barber  preached  for  one 
year,  .Joseph  Crawford  for  two  years,  and  in  1840  \yas 
succeeded  by  J.  C.  Sherwin,  who  remained  until  1851. 
He  was  very  active  and  successful,  and  was  dearly  be- 
loved by  all  the  community.  He  was  succeeded  for  a 
short  time  by  James  Scott,  who  was  followed  in  1852 
by  G.  C.  Judson,  who  remained  about  one  year.  John 
Parlin  followed  until  1854,  when  F.  A.  Demming  was 
installed  and  remained  until  1857.  He  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  E.  M.  Cravath,  who  remained  until  1863, 
when  he  entered  the  army  as  a  chaplain.  T.  B.  Pen- 
field  occupied  the  desk  for  1864,  and  George  Candee 
from  1865  to  1869.  Sidney  BiTant  remained  but  a 
few  months,  and  J.  C.  Thompson  took  his  place  and 
remained  one  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Henry 
Brown,  whose  ministry  was  very  short.  In  1871  Levi 
Loring  accepted  of  the  call  and  remained  until  1874. 
A.  D.  Hail  followed,  remaining  until  1878,  when  he 
de])arted  to  Jajjan  as  a  missionary.     N.  S.  Wright  is 


the  present  stated  supply.  Nathan  Chapman  was  the 
first  clerk  of  the  church.  Francis  West  retained  that 
office  for  thirty  years.  This  church,  from  its  forma- 
tion, was  congregational,  but  for  reasons  which,  in  its 
infancy,  were  thougiit  best  for  union  and  success,  it 
became  united  with  the  presbytery  and  remained  in 
such  union  until  1865,  when  it  withdrew  and  united 
with  the  Ohio  N.  C.  Association.  Since  its  first  or- 
ganization, about  three  hundred  have  united  with  the 
church,  but  death  and  removals  have  reduced  the 
number  to  about  sixty.  The  first  deacons  were  John 
Fuller  and  Jonas  Matthews,  elected  in  1835.  The 
present  edifice  was  erected  in  1845. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  really  founded  and  sus- 
tained until  1833,  by  Elder  Joshua  Phillii^s,  when  at 
his  own  request  he  was  dismissed.  In  1833,  Elder 
Algood  was  secured  to  preach  one-half  the  time;  in 

1837,  Elder  Wood  preached  one-half  the  time,  and  in 

1838,  Elder  P.  Latimer  was  secured.  In  1839,  he 
became  a  settled  minister.  Under  him  the  first  great 
revival  occurred.  In  1840,  H.  C.  Sylvester  took 
Latimer's  place,  and  was  succeeded  in  1842  by  Elder 
Warren,  under  whose  ministry  aided  by  Elder  Weaver, 
a  celebrated  evangelist,  the  most  wonderful  revival, 
ever  witnessed  in  the  township,  took  place.  It  was 
not  only  the  greatest  but  the  last,  and  all  efforts  ap- 
pear to  have  no  appreciable  efEect  in  producing  like 
results.  In  1844,  Elder  Blake  was  called  by  the 
church.  In  that  year  the  first  Sabbath  school  was 
organized.  Blake  was  succeeded  in  1845,  by  Elders 
Storrs  and  Bloomer;  followed  in  1847,  by  Henderson; 
1848,  by  Wilder;  1851,  by  Willoughby.'  During  his 
yearly  ministry  the  church  struck  on  the  rock  of 
slavery.  By  a  vote  of  seventeen  to  two,  it  declared 
that  it  withheld  the  hand  of  fellowship  from  all  slave 
holders.  Since  that  time  it  has  not  wielded  the  in- 
fluence of  its  early  years. 

The  Metliodists  built  a  chapel  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  township  in  1837,  and  in  1850  one  in  the 
western.  This  division  was  a  great  inconvenience, 
and  the  western  was  sold  for  a  school  house,  and,  in 
1870,  a  brick  edifice  erected  at  the  Heights.  On  ac- 
count of  the  itinerant  s}stem  adopted  by  that  church, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  give  a  list  of  preachers  who 
have  occupied  the  pulpits  of  that  sect. 

PHYSICIAKS. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.'  George  G.  Baker,  who 
came  from  Connecticut  iu  1822.  He  remained  but  a 
short  time,  removing  to  Florence,  and  from  thence 
to  Norwalk,  where  he  remained  and  became  identified 
with  the  interests  of  that  important  town.  He  was 
very  successful  in  treating  the  malarial  fevers,  which 
were  not  well  understood  by  the  early  practitioners, 
and  his  ride  extended  over  a  wide  territory.  The 
early  settlers  still  speak  of  him  in  terms  of  heartfelt 
gratitude,  and  perhaps  no  physician  has  since  attained 
as  strong  hold  on  the  confidence  of  the  community. 

Physicians  from  neighboring  towns  came  at  the 
early  call  of  suffering,  and  as  it  ever  is,  in  new  coun- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


485 


tries,  the  quack  flourished  apace.  Among  the  names 
of  the  early  doctors  of  medicine,  a  fuller  notice  of 
whom  belongs  to  the  history  of  other  townships,  are : 
Drs.  Gutliry,  Harkness  and  Fay.  Daniel  Butler  also 
practiced,  and  David  Butler  dealt  in  roots  and  herbs. 

Xenophon   Phillips  began  pi-actice  in ,  and  for 

many  of  years  held  almost  a  monopoly.  He  was  a 
gentle,  unassuming  man,  and  had  remarkable  success 
in  malarial  fevers.  His  methods  were  not  orthodox, 
a  combination  of  electrician,  botanic,  Thonipsonian, 
and  common  sense. 

Berlin  is  noted  for  its  healthf ulness,  and  physicians 
have  a  proverbial  hard  time  within  its  limits.  After 
Dr.  X.  Phillips  retired,  Prof.  B.  L.  Hill  and  Dr. 
Geo.  S.  Hill  gained  a  wide  practice.  At  present 
there  are  three  physicians  in  the  township:  M.  M. 
Benschoter,  at  Stone's  corners,  began  practice  in  1863, 
and  recently,  Dr.  Eldridge,  Allopath,  Dr.  Collier,  Ho- 
meopath, have  established  themselves  at  the  Heights, 

Lawyers  never  received  a  fat  living  in  Berlin.  T. 
C.  Chapman  has,  for  many  years,  transacted  the  legal 
business  of  the  communiuty. 

THE  FIRST  GRIST  MILL. 

The  sufferings  for  the  want  of  mills  to  grind  the 
corn  and  wheat  were  not  the  least  the  pioneers  were 
called  upon  to  endure.  The  nearest  mill  was  at  River 
Raisin,  and  thither,  in  boats,  they  carried  their  grain. 
It  is  related  that  in  one  of  their  expeditions  they 
stopped  for  the  night  at  one  of  the  Sister  Islands. 
The  wind  was  very  high,  and  the  boat  broke  from  its 
moorings  and  drifted  far  out  into  the  lake.  It  was 
a  terrible  prospect  for  those  hardy  men,  left  alone  on 
desert  island,  and  the  entire  yearly  supply  for  their 
families  irretrievably  lost.  Some  of  them  sat  down 
and  wept  like  children.  The  wind  changed,  and  in 
the  morning  the  boat  drifted  back,  and  they  went  on 
their  way  rejoicing,  but  they  always  referred  their 
deliverance  to  the  hand  of  a  merciful  providence. 
Such  long  journeys  were  not  often  undertaken.  The 
primitive  Indian  method  of  pounding  grain  in  a  mor- 
tar, was  adopted,  or,  at  best,  hand  mills  used.  This 
was  followed,  in  Milan,  by  a  horse-power  mill,  and  at 
length  the  proprietors  of  Berlin, — Eldridge,  Fosdick 
and  Miner, — through  their  agent  in  Cleveland,  J. 
Walworth,  to  improve  their  property,  built  a  mill,  in 
1810,  just  above  the  Parmenter  bridge  on  the  Old 
Woman  creek.  It  was  the  first  grist  mill  on  the  Fire- 
lands.  This  mill  was  twenty  by  twenty-five,  built  of 
logs,  and  had  one  run  of  stone.  To  the  pioneres,  who 
had  so  long  beaten  their  grain  in  mortars,  or  ground 
it  in  hand  mills,  no  mill  could  make  better  flour.  The 
Starr  Brothers  and  Mr.  Seymour  built  it,  and  soon 
after  its  completion,  John  Thoriipson,  who  built  the 
old  Parmenter  house,  the  second  frame  house  in  the 
township,  purchased  it,  and  was  patronized  by  a  wide 
territory.  The  stream,  dammed  in  its  forest  fast- 
nesses, then  ran  the  mill  nine  months  in  the  year. 
The  rain-fall  was  no  greater  than  at  present,  but  now 
the   forests  are   removed,   ditches   opened,   and   the 


stream  sweeps  down  in  almost  irresistible  floods,  and 
scarcely  for  a  single  moment  in  the  year  is  there 
water  suflScient  to  turn  the  mill  wheel. 

This  John  Thompson  was  a  character.  He  was  a 
giant  in  stature;  had  been  a  wild  youth,  but  had  re- 
formed. His  fingers  were  drawn  up  and  he  could  not 
straighten  them.  When  the  boys  came  into  the  mill, 
to  wonderingly  gaze  on  the  strange  wheels  while  their 
bags  of  corn  were  being  ground,  they  would  ask  him 
how  his  hands  came  so  fashioned.  He  would  say  to 
grab  toll,  and  illustrate  it  by  taking  out  of  the  hopper. 
"Old  Man  Burdue"  and  his  family  were  very  super- 
stitious, and  Thompson  delighted  to  make  them  be- 
lieve he  was  a  wizard.  The  mill  was  locked  with  an 
old  padlock  that  needed  a  ke}',  for  the  trouble  was  to 
make  it  keep  together,  but  in  his  hands  it  became  bur- 
glar proof,  for  he  had  made  believe  it  was  bewitched. 
The  Burdues  and  many  others  were  often  half  ter- 
rified when  Thompson  would  walk  up  to  the  mill 
door,  make  three  waves  of  his  hand,  muttering  to 
himself,  then  shout  "open,"  as  he  struck  the  door 
with  his  fist,  and  the  lock  would  fly  apart.  Burdue 
had  bought  a  new  scythe,  and  one  day  while  using 
it  Thompson  came  along.  He  wanted  to  biiy  it, 
for  a  new  scythe  was  difficult  to  obtain.  The  old 
man  would  not  sell.  "Very  well,"  said  Thompson, 
"it  shall  never  do  you  any  good."  Soon  Burdue  laid 
down  his  scythe  and  went  to  another  jiart  of  the  field. 
Thompson  seized  the  opportunity,  and  with  his  knife 
cut  the  edge  completely  off.  The  old  man  returned 
and  resumed  his  mowing.  The  scythe  would  not  cut. 
He  used  the  whetstone  over  and  over  again,  but  it 
would  not  cut  the  grass.  Then,  in  despair,  he  threw 
it  down,  crying,  "just  as  I  knew  it  would  be.  Thomp- 
son's spell'd  it  I'" 

The  difference  between  the  millers  of  our  day  and 
this  pioneer,  is  as  great  as  between  the  steam  mills 
they  run  and  the  old  log  mill  with  its  rude  wooden 
water  wheel. 

If  Burdue  was  superstitious,  he  was  a  strong  and 
determined  man.  A  good  story  is  told  of  him  and  Mr. 
Eldridge.  He  had  purchased  a  lot  of  land,  where  now 
the  creamery  stands,  of  the  latter,  made  a  partial  pay- 
ment, and  bound  him  to  give  a  deed  when  he  received 
one  hundred  bushels  of  wheat,  then  worth  two  dol- 
lars per  Ijushel.  The  next  year  when  Eldridge  came 
to  look  after  his  lands,  Burdue  was  ready  with  his 
wheat,  worth  thirty-seven  cents  per  bushel,  and  eager 
for  his  deed.  Eldridge  explained  that  it  would  be 
ruinous,  and  endeavored  to  jjut  him  off.  But  the  "old 
man"  was  not  to  be  thwarted.  He  told  Eldridge  that 
he  "  must  make  up  his  mind  to  give  him  the  deed,  or 
he  would  never  leave  town  alive."  Those  who  knew 
him  were  sure  that  he  would  keep  his  word,  and  El- 
dridge became  so  fully  assured  that  he  made  the  deed 
and  left  the  almost  worthless  wheat. 

BERLIN    INUrSTRIES    AXl)    PRODUCTS,    ETC. 

The  first  quarry  was  opened  by  Joshua  Phillips  on 
the  laud  now  owned  by  J.  M.  Stalil.     He  had  sold 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


the  land  to  Eldridge,  reserving  tlie  use  of  the  quarry 
for  one  year,  in  order  to  get  out  stone  for  himself  a 
house.  Elder  Phillips  made  that  year  a  busy  one, 
for  he  quarried  stone,  and  had  teams  haul  them  out, 
and  for  many  years,  had  stone  to  sujiply  the  demand- 
It  was  not,  however,  known  that  the  ledge  of  sandstone 
which  crops  out  northeast  of  the  Heights,  and  forms 
a  grand  escarpment,  was  one  of  the  most  valuable  in 
the  State.  It  remained  for  George  A.  Baillie  to  de- 
velop this  fact.  The  enterprise  was  a  great  one  for 
one  man  to  undertake,  as  the  strata  dip  from  the  es- 
carpment, and  over  twenty  feet  of  strippings  had  to 
be  cleared  from  a  wide  area  before  the  desirable  qual- 
ity of  stone  could  be  obtained.  The  wonderful 
gravel-bed  contiguous,  tempted  the  Lake  Shore  Rail- 
road to  extend  a  branch  from  a  point  east  of  Ceylon, 
overcoming  the-heavv  grade  by  skillful  engineering, 
into  the  very  heart  of  the  quarry. 

The  stone  has  been  found  everything  to  be  desired. 
It  is  practically  inexhaustible,  and  the  strata  are  from 
six  inches  to  eight  feet  in  thickness.  By  General 
Gilmore's  tests  it  will  bear  a  crushing  force  of  14.250 
per  square  inch,  and  E.  E.  Myers,  the  well  known 
architect,  says:  "He  regards  it  as  one  of  the  best  sand- 
stones he  has  ever  seen  or  used.  It  withstands  the 
strongest  acids;  heat  and  cold,  and  grows  harder,  and 
of  finer  tone  by  age  and  exposure.  Mr.  Baillie  ship- 
ped in  1878,  four  hundred  car  loads,  mostly  to  New 
York. 

Mr.  .J.  S.  Lowry  began  a  few  years  since,  working 
anew  the  quarry  on  the  farm  originally  of  H.  Ham- 
mond, and  with  sufficient  outlay  this,  too,  will  furnish 
an  inexhaustible  supply. 

In  an  early  day  grindstones  were  manufactured  to 
a  considerable  extent,  and  a  wide  local  demand  sup- 
plied, but  although  the  grit  is  good,  the  business  has 
long  been  discontinued. 

DAIRY    PRODUCTS. 

Berlin  has  not  been  devoted  to  dairying,  and  little 
attention  was  given  to  the  factory  system  established 
in  townships  on  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Reserve. 
■  Under  the  influence  of  Melvin  Stone,  the  Berlin 
creamery  was  established  in  1877,  with  a  patronage  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  cows.  It  had  the  advantage 
of  an  abundant  spring  of  water  which  flowed  from 

the  earth  at  a  temperature  of  .     This  factory 

brought  the  art  of  butter  making  up  to  a  higher 
standard  than  possible  to  be  obtained  even  by  experts, 
with  the  conveniences  which  a  farm  house  supplies, 
and  of  course  a  higher  price  is  obtained  for  the  article, 
ranging  from  seven  to  fifteen  cents  per  pound.  This 
increase  in  price  more  than  covers  the  entire  cost  of 
manufacture  and  sale.  The  patronage  of  the  cream- 
ery for  1878  was  three  hundred  and  forty  cows,  an 
increase  of  ninety,  and  notwithstanding  low  prices, 
the  business  was  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  Berlin  fruit  box  manufactory  was  established 
in  180.3,  and  has  been  a  leading  interest.  It  was  first 
run  in  connection  witli  the  sorghum  business,  began 


the  year  previous,  and  which  was  continued  until 
1866.  In  the  year  1864  ten  thousand  gallons  of  sor- 
ghum syrup  were  made.  The  manufacture  of  apple 
barrels  was  also  a  part  of  the  business.  In  1866,  six 
thousand  were  made.  In  1868,  the  box  business  had 
so  largely  increased  that  all  other  interests  were  closed 
out.  Additions  and  improvements  in  buildings  and 
materials  have  .been  constantly  made  and  the  product 
increased  until  now  eighty  thousand  feet  of  timber  are 
annually  required,  and  employment  given  to  twenty- 
five  persons.  Samuel  Patterson  has  been  connected 
as  leading  paitner  and  business  agent  with  the  firm 
from  the  beginning,  and  its  success  is  due  mainly  to 
his  enterpriseand  inventive  genius. 

FRUIT    GROWIXG. 

The  pioneers  at  an  early  day  were  determined  to 
have  orchards,  and  began  to  plant  trees  before  the 
ground  was  cleared  of  the  forest.  Canada  was  the 
nearest  place  where  apple  trees  could  be  obtained, 
and,  in  1813,  John  Hoak  and  Mr.  Fleming,  of  Huron, 
crossed  the  lake  and  returned  with  a  boat  load  of 
trees.  Some  of  these  are  still  growing  in  the  orchard 
of  Henry  Hoak  and  the  old  Burdue  farm.  Three 
pear  trees  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Hoak  from  this  ship- 
ment are  of  monstrous  growth  and  still  vigorous, 
being  quite  unlike  the  weakly  stock  we  now  endeavor 
to  keep  alive  by  constant  doctoring.  One  of  them  is 
seventy  feet  in  highth,  and  measures  eighteen  inches 
above  the  ground,  eight  feet  seven  inches  in  circum- 
ference; another,  somewhat  less  tall,  measures  over 
seven  feet.  They  rarely  fail  to  bear,  and  yield  from 
thirty  to  fifty  bushels  of  pears  each.  Some  of  the 
old  apple  trees  are  still  vigorous,  and  one  of  these 
measures  over  nine  feet  in  circumference.  From  this 
small  beginning,  Berlin  has  become  famous  for  the 
perfection  of  its  various  fruits,  and  the  skill  of  its 
horticulturists.  The  proximity  of  the  lake  prevents 
damaging  frosts,  and  the  soil  is  well  adapted  for  the 
apple,  peach  and  grape. 

COMMUNISM. 

Berlin  Heights,  at  one  time,  became  widely  known 
on  account  of  a  socialistic  or  Free  Love  society  organ- 
ized there.  Only  a  single  citizen  of  the  township  be- 
came identified  with  this  movement,  this  agitation 
being  drawn  from  widely  remote  States.  They  added 
to  their  restlessness  and  impatience  with  existing  cus- 
toms and  usages,  more  than  ordinary  intelligence. 

It  was  some  time  after  the  first  gathering  that  a 
community  was  established.  The  first,  called  Point 
Hope  Community,  was  commenced  in  1800,  had 
about  twenty  members,  and  lasted  less  than  a  year. 
The  second,  called  the  Industrial  Fraternity,  com- 
menced, in  1860,  with  twenty  members,  lived  about 
six  months.  The  third,  the  Berlin  Community,  or 
Christian  Republic,  commenced  in  1865,  had  twelve 
adult  members  and  six  children  and  lived  about  one 
year. 


HUDSON    TUTTLE. 

HUDSON 

The  city  which  decorates  a  park  with  fine  statuary  docs  more  to  elevate  the 
staoJard  of  imblic  morals  and  correct  taste  than  docs  the  erection  of  a  score 
of  costly  churches.  The  life  of  one  sincerely  honest,  pure,  and  consistent 
man  in^  community,  who  is  not  an  idolater  to  mammon,  and  who  has  a  heart 
rftcland  an  "nteleot  to  work  for  public  weal,  with  the  moral  courage  o 
r^mhat  error  on  all  occasions  and  under  all  circumstances,  does  more  to  educate 
m^kndim  to  higher  planes  of  thought,  and  modes  of  life  and  culture,  than 
Tcs  the  ei'idowmeTit  of  a  public  school."  Such  a  man  is  the  subject  ofjh.s 
sketch.    He  was  born  in  1836,  i     -  '*     ' 


MRS.    HUDSON   TUTTLE. 


„.„  ... .„  .,  ._^  the  farm  where  1 

.  has  .always' lived.    His  parents  came  to  Ohio  in  1830,  pur- 
t  of  woodland,  and  from  the  forest  carved  o-  "-'—"" """i 


the  home  DOW  owned 
exceedingly  meagre. 


rinoitunitiesforacquiringan  educatu-     --- 

"      'reach  quite  fourteen  months,  and  his  school  attend 

■  ■       ss  and   long  -=--   =■-:.>--   * "»- 

)  became  a  m* 


;  mediumship  began 


ol-days  did  l 
ance  was   interrupted   by 
schools.     At  the.age  of  sixt_. 

with  moving  of  tables  and  other  objects,  but  rapidly  cuiniiu.-ueu  .;■»■■■»"■; 
senlithe  and  impressional  state,  in  which  he  always  writes  and  usually  speaks. 
He  was  a  frail,  sensitive,  and  reticent  boy  and  even  now  '"'""'ff' f™"' ""'^si 
or  prominenc;.  Brief  as  were  his  school-days  frail  as  was  hs  boyhood  sens  - 
five  and  reticent  as  was  his  youth,  modest  and  retiring  as  '"' '™.°':™".  °„"'" 
hood,  few  men  of  his  age  and  opportunities  are  so  widely  'V''*  f""f 'j '^"°"° 
in  this  country,  and  among  the  scholars  ,n  Europe.  His  first  woik,  Life  m 
the  Spheres,"  was  written  and  published  while  h( 

While  the  public  was  wondering  over  this  strai 
was  prcnariii"  the  fii-st  volume  of  the  "  Arcana  of  ^l 
th"e  manuscript  for  this  volume  was  three  times  writl 
was  acceptable  to  the  intelligences  dictating  it ;  and  ea 
to  burn  it  and  try  again,  he  unhesitatingly  obeyed 

Though  weary  with  physical  toil,  when  his  guidei 


TUTTLE 


nd  in  the  highest  and  best  sense  of  the  word,  arc  helpmeets  to  (Mch 
„u,e.     Tim?  homefs  a  centre  of  reformatory  influenco  m  Northern  Ohio. 
Their  generous  and  cordial  hospitality  seems  imbounded 
of^?sle;^^"™--i«en":Tf":s''re!f^ 
"zS^k^t^^  T^^f^^  ^-t.l  Of  the  li.  Of 

in  1839,  on  the  farm  where  her  mother  passed  her  childhood. 
Wm-  fntber  wis  a  native  of  East  Canaan,  Conn.,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1S3C. 
Hel  fatl'e'  Mas  a  natne  o^^  ,  ,  ^^  „,^,  ^v.^tern  Eeserve 


■iL'-iSrlS^Sr^lI^^^SS-^SS^'c^menced  in  the  cause  of  1 
,ew7ai'.i;,but  in  latter  years  bavewidened_and  become  more  gcner^^^^^^^ 


I  literary  character. 


,•  powers  developed,  and  her  dramatic  work  has  been 


volumes  of  poems,  "  Blossomi 


and  V 


the  night.    The  first  volume  of  the 


la  of  Nu 


h.austed. 

at  country 

thinking  world  had 


this  work  a  solution  of  the  problem  for  which  the  thinking  w^orio  naa 
'long  looking.  In  tho  preface  of  this  work  Mr.  Tuttle  says,  with  charac- 
:e  by  invisible  guides. 


teristic  modesty 


this 


Sed    in    mo"e  rMlculed  Tnd  "condemnedr'T  famer  boy,  without  books 

Suca?i;.n,  apparatus,  and  with  none  of  the  appli.ances  "/. '''■^;;'l°°'!j„"°; '^^^^^^ 

™!l'p\rn^n"d%rmte°n^«rt^rn°^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

'""^t  ^I't:^^^  of  e  0.  t  on  antelat   1  Da    ^  _by  t   o  yea^s^andh  s 

deas  of  force       r    gr     tl  1  an  e  of  th 

ol  neof  tie     A  o     f  11       d  a 

Ant  I    ty  of  Ma  1       I  k    t  g 


lor  of  two  volumes  o:  poems,  i.iut.»u...n  ".  ""•  "•;•"■•=;..-■■■ 
production,  as  the  title  implies,  and  ".Gazelle,"  a  ^/o^.  f,"'<' K*'''''"": 
bed  anonymously.    "  The  Lyceum  Guide,';  a  book  for  "le  use  of/unday 

schools  organized  after  the  plan  of  Al 

and  she  was  the  principal  contnbutor, 

has  been  universal! 

It  had  a  wide  sale.     i. -  --       .  ,    ^,.   ^ 

fire"  but  the  demand  for  the  book  is  such  that „'.„f„,.„„.. 

3Ki;i^^i;s=^?h^  i^!?i:t/o?^r;^os!^s^1dS 

fur  instructor  totrolda^  With  its  orchestra, banners  marching 

^This  MV°of'tlotand  sa"ys  she  has  received  great  benefit  pers.,nally, 


her  songs  and  1 


ompositn 


1800  1 


orks     ere     Tl  c  C 


of  tletl 
ireer  of  Eel 
ed  each  otl  £ 


Blossoms 
15  p  en  s 


let    e  farm  of  bet  v 
syards    vhicli  i 
se  better  crops  ( 


1  e    f     stones  for  our  CI  1 
11    ol  g  cal  dogn  at  sm 
n     t  n  table  are    perhaps 

f  tl       r    s  an  1  Steeple 


d  tl 


dramatic  readings.    Her  ly 
to  music  uy  eminent  composers,  among  w'honi  a.o  •'7''"  "•,;;,'",■•:'."•„"■  jt 

^i-at^ii%k^^'s^ii"^~fof  h^"^ 

Perfy,  of  Milan,  Ohio.    Among  the  more  popular  ol  Ihesc  conipositions  are 
reforn  "tory  jo  rnals  Ind  freq  ently  t"  the  secular  nress      She  has  had  a 


f  Mac  ul 


f    enl 

11   e<l   at 

11  r  nte  selj  n  o  b  dlj  sj  p  t  t 
e  e-»at  1  ty  and  c  n  plete  adajtal 
S  th  tl  e  n      s    r    stulv  for  present  I 

li  ct  a   to  b    on  e       sp     t  the  pers 

D  s  r  bl    as       1  s  i  al  t      t  s  not 
or  1  e    nfom  1  at  t      ,e    1    1 


ader  lavngfi    si  ed  he  course 

Cr  t  cs  saj  of  her       She 

ly  Le     8    nor  n  the  1  ero  c 

Dr  dge    and  tl  e  trag  c  story  of 

and  seno  CO     c  si  e  renders 


!  personal  s  perv  sion 

r  have  a  bette   knowledge  of  s    1 

„  „„  „„„  „ The  farm  of  co  rse  n  ust  rcce    e  1  8  at 

the  daj   and  1  si  terary  1  I  or  s  n  oatly  performed  at  n_gl  • 

In  1867  he  was  un  ted    n  n  ar: 
poetic  and  artistic  talent.    They 


Kood   a  lady  of  rare 


tie  — K  so  Ca  1  and  1  ttle  Clare   and  tho  more  s    re 
neglected  by  Mrs.  Tuttle,  amid  all  her  literary  and  c 


HISTORY  OF  HUKON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


48^ 


So  far  as  testing  communism  was  concerned,  the 
attempt  was  an  utter  failure.  The  drifting  to  this 
section  of  so  many  individuals,  who,  to  use  their  own 
phrase,  were  "intensely  individualized,"  and  who  re- 
mained after  the  complete  failure  of  their  schemes, 
has  had  an  influence  o\\  the  character  of  the  town. 
They  engaged  in  fruit  growing,  have  multiplied  the 
small  farms,  and  added  to  the  prosperity  and  intel- 
lectual life  of  the  people.  From  the  beginning  their 
honesty  never  was  questioned,  however  mistaken 
their  ideas. 

Johnson's  C}'clopedia  makes  a  strange  blunder, 
when  it  says  that  a  flourishing  community  of  Spiritu- 
alists is  located  at  Berlin  Heights.  It  refers,  of 
course  to  the  socialistic  society,  which  wa«  not  spirit- 
ualistic in  any  sense  of  the  word.  Spiritualism  does 
not  teach  communism  in  any  form,  and  some  of  the 
most  zealous  opposers  of  the  socialists  were  among 
the  spiritualists.  It  is  true  that  some  of  the  social- 
ists claimed  to  be  spiritualists,  and  others  claimed  to 
believe  in  various  church  doctrines,  and  some  were 
atheists. 

The  Berlin  people  are  noted  for  tolerance,  but  it 
may  be  presumed  that  the  socialists,  with  their 
strange  ideas,  did  not  always  find  their  jjaths  strewn 
with  roses,  and  the  citizens  still  retain  fresh  in  their 
memories,  how,  when  Francis  Barry  attempted  to 
mail  a  number  of  the  obnoxious  Age  of  Freedom, 
twenty  Berlin  women  siezed  the  mail-sack  in  which 
he  had  brought  it  on  his  shoulder  to  the  office,  and 
made  a  bonfire  in  the  street.  The  following  jour- 
nals Avere  successively  started  by  the  socialists  and 
ran  brief  careers:  Social  Revolutionist,  conducted  by 
J.  S.  Patterson,  1857;  Age  of  Freedom,  commenced 
in  1858,  Frank  and  Cordelia  Barry  and  C.  M.  Over- 
ton, editors;  Good  Time  Coming,  1859,  edited  by  J. 
P.  Lesley  and  C.  M.  Overton;  the  Xeiv  Eejmblic, 
1863,  edited  by  Francis  Barry;  The  Optimist,  and 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,  1869,  Thomas  Cook,  editor; 
The  Principia,  or  Personality,  1868,  N.  A.  Brown, 
editor;  the  New  Campaign,  1871,  C.  M.  Overton, 
editor;  The  Toledo  Sun,  moved  from  Toledo  to  Ber- 
lin Heights  in  1875,  by  John  A.  Laut. 

Besides  these,  two  local  newspapers  were  published 
for  some  time:  The  Biilkfiii.  by  W.  B.  Harrison, 
commenced  in  1870;  and  the  Indr.r,  by  F.  .J.  Miles, 
commenced  in  1875. 

In  1851,  the  Ark  of  Temperance  was  established  in 
Berlin,  and  perhaps  nothing  excited  a  greater  and 
more  permanent  influence  over  the  morals  and  intel- 
lectual culture  of  the  people.     The  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance excluded  women,  and  hence  failed.     Mr.  S.  0. 
Kellogg  conceived  the  happy  idea  of  establishing  an 
order  wherein  the  sexes  should  be  equal.     The  result   I 
of  his  thinking  was  the  "Ark,"  of  which  the  Good   i 
Templars  is  a  faint  imitation.     The  movement  was  a 
great  success.     The  organization  at  one  time  num-   ; 
bered  over  eight  hundred  members.     The  grand  ark 
began  establishing  subordinate  arks,  and  had  the  mat- 
ter been  pushed  there  was  no  reason  why  it  had  not 


become  as  wide  as  the  country.  For  many  years  the 
ark  at  the  Heights  was  maintained,  and  to  the  attrac- 
tions of  the  impressive  ritual  was  added  not  only 
social,  but  a  high  order  of  intellectual  life. 

SOLDIERS   OF    BERLIN. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  soldiers  who 
are  dead,  furnished  by  Berlin  in  the  defence  of  the 
country,  and  from  it  something  may  be  learned  of  the 
sacrifice  of  life  and  money  made  in  the  holy  cause  of 
liberty  by  this  township: 

Revolution — Orley  Benschoter,  Hieronomus  Min- 
gus,  Aaron  Van  Benschoter. 

War  of  1813 — Russell  Ransom,  Nathaniel  Griffin, 
Ephraim  Hardy,  Prosper  Carey,  George  Whitne}-, 
Joshua  Phillips,  P.  T.  Barber,  Jacob  Mingus,  Na- 
thaniel Burdue,  H.  Dunbar,  T.  Miller. 

War  of  the  Rebellion — Wm.  Lowry,  Sam.  McGur- 
kin,  Richard  MuUeneaux,  Curtis  Mulleuaux,  Myrou 
Rice,  George  Burgess,  L.  L.  Hardy,  D.  D.  Stage,  W. 
A.  Keith,  Spafford  Penny,  J.  Woodward,  Osro  J. 
Lowell,  J.  Hall,  J.  Daniels,  Elisha  Jenkins,  W. 
Swartz,  Diodot  Ransom,  George  Johnson,  S.  Seelej', 
C.  A.  Graves,  E.  Huffman,  E.  Hardy,  Fred  Huntley, 
James  Smith,  P.  K.  Loomis,  Geo.  L.  Fowler,  Horace 
Hill,  John  Laughlin,  J.  Smith,  H.  Smith,  Darius 
Smith,  Charles  Elwood,  Henry  Elwood,  Aaron  Hall, 
Lucius  Smith,  Dau'l  Weatherslow,  Oliver  Benschoter, 
Frank  Beniis,  William  Bellamy. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


HON.  ALMON  RUGGLES. 

Few,  if  any,  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  country, 
are  more  deserving  a  place  in  history,  and  none  filled 
more  prominent  and  important  positions,  or  had  more 
varied  and  interesting  experiences,  than  did  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  came  to  this  country  from  Dan- 
bury,  Connecticut,  to  survey  the  "Sufferer's  Lauds," 
so-called,  in  1805.  His  first  surveys  were  made  under 
orders  of  his  principal,  and  proved  unsatisfactory  to 
the  committee,  and  he  was  then  chosen  by  the  com- 
mittee as  chief,  and  the  survey  was  made  the  second 
time,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  In  this 
survey  he  called  to  his  aid  Judge  Wright,  of  New 
York,  who  had  charge  of  one  branch  of  the  work.  In 
addition  to  his  salary,  he  was  permitted  to  select  one 
mile  square  any  where  on  the  lake  shore,  within  the 
limits  of  the  Fire-lauds,  at  one  dollar  per  acre.  He 
selected  the  land, — a  portion  of  wliich  is  now  owned 
by  his  only  surviving  son,  Richard  Ruggles,  on  the 
lake  shore,  in  the  township  of  Berlin.  The  beautiful 
grove,  known  as  "Ruggles'  Grove,"  was  spared  by  his 
order,  and  is  now  a  fit  monument  to  his  memory,  and 
in  sight  of  which  his  ashes  repose. 


488 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


He  was  an  expert  swimmer.  When  it  became 
necessary  to  cross  a  stream  he  could  not  ford,  he 
would  tie  his  wardrobe  into  as  small  a  bundle  as  pos- 
sible, cross  the  stream  with  them,  and  return  for  his 
compass. 

His  father  was  Ashbel  Ruggles,  a  descendant  of  one 
of  three  brothers  who  came  from  Scothind,  but  just 


yy%71.tr/ c.  {^^^9'/ 


what  year  is  not  known.  His  motlier  was  a  Bostwick. 
Almon  was  a  twin.  His  brother  Alfred  died  in  infancy. 
His  father  was  in  indigent  circumstances  when  he 
was  a  boy,  and  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  who 
was  a  Presbyterian  deacon,  and  very  parsimonious. 
He  refused  to  give  young  Ruggles  an  education,  or  to 
even  give  him  an  opportunity  to  acquire  one.  He 
obtained  his  first  book  by  catching  wood  chucks, 
tanning  the  skins,  and  braiding  them  into  whip-lashes 
for  the  market.  As  Providence  helps  the  man  who 
helps  himself,  so  this  young  man  was  prospered.  Six 
months  was  the  sum  of  his  school  days,  yet  by  appli- 
cation, he  litted  himself  for  teaching,  and  taught  in 
an  academy  for  some  time.  The  very  obstacles  to  be 
overcome,  gave  him  that  energy  and  strength  of 
character  which  ever  after  characterized  his  public 
and  private  life.  He  was  a  self-made  man  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word.  His  own  early  struggles  with 
poverty,  gave  him  active  sympathies  with  the  poor 
pioneers  of  this  country.  All  regarded  him  as  a 
friend,  and  many  of  them  depended  on  liim  for  sup- 
port in  all  emergencies.  He  had  a  store  of  general 
merchandise,  and  trusted  all  those  who  could  not  pay. 
It  is  said  of  him  tliat  he  might   have  been  very  rich. 


had  he  been  disposed  to  grind  the  face  of  poverty. 
He  preferred  to  live  more  unselfishly,  and  merit  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellows.  He  not  only 
encouraged  the  early  settlers  with  material  aid,  but 
with  cheerful  looks  and  kind  words.  He  was  always 
jolly,  and  enjoyed  fun,  and  all  enjoyed  his  society. 
He  represented  this"  senatorial  district  in  the  State- 
legislature  in  1816-17-19,  when  the  district  consisted 
of  the  counties  of  Ashtabula,  Geauga,  Portage, 
Cuyahoga  and  Huron,  and  in  1820,  when  it  consisted 
of  Cuyahoga  and  Huron.  He  was  associate  judge  for 
several  years,  under  the  old  constitution.  His  ability, 
his  integrity,  his  knowledge  of  the  country  and  people, 
eminently  qualified  him  for  the  places  he  filled,  and  it 
is  said  of  him,  that  in  all  his  public  life,  no  official 
misconduct  stained  his  record,  or  cast  a  shadow  on  his 
character.  He  was  an  earnest  worker  in  the  whig 
party,  and  a  personal  friend  of  General  Harrison. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  second  wife  was  a  wid- 
ow, Mrs.  Rhoda  Buck  nee  Sprague.  He  has  two 
living  children:  Mrs.  Dr.  Phillips,  of  Berlin  Heights, 
and  Richard,  who  married  Miss  Eleanor  E.  Post,  of 
Berlin.  He  lives  on  the  homestead.  Charles  married 
Miss  Mary  Douglass  for  his  first  wife,  and  Miss  Julia 
Mallory  for  his  second.  He  was  a  member  of  no 
church,  but  was  equally  liberal  with  all,  opening  his 
dwelling  for  meetings  and  for  the  entertainment  of 
the  ministers.  He  was  too  large  a  man  for  wrong- 
doing, and  too  liberal  and  kind  to  treat  any  with 
incivility.  Such  a  life  never  ends,  so  long  as  grate- 
ful children  and  grandchildren  walk  in  its  echoes. 
Such  men  can  walk  fearlessly  and  confidingly  down 
into  the  great  future  to  meet  whatever  awaits  them 
there.  He  passed  in  to  the  ''Beyond, "'.July  17,  1840, 
in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 


REV.   PHINEAS  BARKER  BARBER 

was  born  in  Greenwich,  Washington  county.  New 
York,  June  33,  1793.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  en- 
listed as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  with  Captain 
Cook,  in  the  New  York  militia,  and  was  honorably 
discharged.  The  command  of  Captain  Cook  did  effi- 
cient service,  and  suffered  much.  At  the  time  of  his 
decease  he  was  drawing  a  pension  for  service  rendered 
during  that  war. 

In  1815,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he  purchased 
his  first  farm  in  Lock,  Cayuga  county.  New  York. 
June  3,  1819,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Orpha 
Morse,  daughter  of  Judge  Morse,  of  the  same  county, 
by  whom  he  hid  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living. 

In  1830,  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  family,  and  set- 
tled in  Berlin,  where  he  lived  until  his  decease.  June 
26,  1836,  his  wife  died,  and,  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1837,  he  married' RoxanaS.  Heath,  who  survives  him. 
He  was  converted  to  Christianity  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
tliree,  and   entered    tlie    ministrv   of   the   Methodist 


p.  B.B>\RBER. 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


489 


E])iscopal  Clinrch,  at  the  age  of  tweuty-six,  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death  was  a  zealous  worker  in  the 
vineyard  of  the  church. 

His  ministry  commenced  in  Ohio,  at  a  time  when 
he  could  stand  in  his  own  door  and  shoot  deer  and 
other  game,  which  he  frequently  did.  In  those  days, 
he  traveled  through  the  woods  on  foot  to  fill  his  ap- 
pointments, and  preached  in  churches,  school  houses 
and  private  dwellings.  He  preached  in  nearly  every 
township  in  Erie  and  Huron  counties,  and  had  two 
or  more  preaching  places  in  each  township. 

To  the  fulfillment  of  his  duties  as  a  minister,  he 
brought  a  cultured  and  cheerful  mind,  rare  energy  of 
character,  industry,  economy  and  hospitality.  His 
liberality  knew  no  bounds  but  an  empty  purse. 
These  traits  of  character  were  crowned  with  love  for 
God  and  humanity.  His  piety  and  courage,  as  well 
as  his  faith  and  hope,  are  conspicuous  at  every  stage 
of  his  history.  During  the  fifty-eight  years  of  his 
ministry,  he  never  received  a  dollar  for  preaching, 
and  he  supported  his  family  by  hard  labor  on  his 
farm.  He  was  unflagging  in  his  energies  and  untiring 
in  his  labor  of  love.  No  embassador  of  Jesus  Christ 
ever  sounded  forth  his  messages  with  more  faithful- 
ness or  fervor. 

His  endurance  was  wonderful.  He  preached  every 
Sunday,  and  his  appointments  were  from  five  to 
twenty  miles  apart.  He  also  attended,  on  an  average, 
three  funerals  each  week,  and  uniformly  suffered  with 
the  sick  headache  after  preaching.  He  pressed  for- 
ward, sowing  the  seed  for  future  harvest,  in  obedi- 
ence to  what  he  conceived  to  be  his  duty.  He  planted 
in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  withheld  not  his 
hand — exerting  a  wide  influence. 

It  is  said  of  him,  that  he  married  more  couples  and 
administered  spiritual  consolation  to  more  of  the  sick, 
and  preached  more  funeral  sermons  than  any  other 
man  who  ever  lived  in  his  field  of  labor.  He  lived  in 
the  affection  and  confidence  of  his  people  and  neigh- 
bors. He  held  various  oSices  of  trust,  and,  at  one 
time,  lacked  but  ten  votes  of  being  elected  representa- 
tive of  his  county  in  the  State  legislature;  and,  on 
one  occasion,  was  nominated  for  State  senator.  He 
improved  and  beautified  his  home  with  his  own  hands, 
built  his  own  house  and  barns,  and  assisted  in  build- 
ing the  old  Berlin  Chapel,  in  18.35,  and  various  other 
churches. 


He  was  a  Christian  gentleman,  never  trifiing,  yet 
always  cheerful,  and  fond  of  relating  pleasant  anec- 
dotes. He  was  a  great  reader,  and  had  few  equals  as 
such  in  the  general  literature  of  his  time.  His  doc- 
trinal habits  and  modes  of  thought  followed  him  to 
the  end.  The  character  of  this  war-worn  pioneer  was 
one  of  the  purest  and  brightest  history  records.  In 
short,  his  life  presents  an  instance  of  self-sacrificing 
devotion  to  his  conviction  of  right  and  duty,  of  which 
history  has  but  few  parallels.  His  long  and  useful 
life  was  full  of  labor  and  adorned  with"  love. 

On  the  2d  day  of  May,  1877,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four,  he,  escaped  the  thraldom  of  his  earthly  body, 
and  entered  upon  the  spiritual  inheritance  provided 
for  all  the  redeemed. 


ROXANA  S.   BARBER 

was  born  in  ilarch,  1810,  in  Kingwood,  New  Jersey, 
on  the  Atlantic  coast..  Her  father  was  Richard 
Heath,  light  horseman.  In  those  days  of  military 
ambition,  the  New  Jersey  militia  powdered  their  wigs 
and  presented  a  gay  appearance.  She  came  to  Gene- 
seo.  New  York,  in  1837,  and  to  Florence,  Ohio,  in 
1835.  The  family  landed  at  Huron  in  November  of 
that  year.  There  being  no  mode  of  conveyance  in  the 
country  at  that  time,  they  walked  from  Huron  to 
Florence,  where  they  purchased  a  farm.  June  27, 
18.37,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rev.  Phineas  B. 
Barber,  with  whom  she  lived  until  his  decease,  a 
period  of  forty  years,  enduring  the  hardships  of  a 
pioneer  life,  and  doing  double  duty,  while  her  hus- 
band was  from  home,  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
The  wives  and  mothers  who  suffered  the  hardships  of 
pioneer  life,  who  faced  danger,  want  and  suffering 
with  such  unfaltering  trust  and  christian  fortitude, 
will  never,  can  never,  be  appreciated,  not  even  by 
grateful  children,  until  they  put  on  the  glorious  robe- 
of  immortality,  and  their  reward  will  not  come  until 
they  enter  the  glories  of  the  upper  sanctuary.  Two 
children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union.  Carrie  C.  mar- 
ried Newton  Andress  in  18G3;  lives  at  Berlin  Heights. 
Phineas  B.  deceased  in  1869.  Mrs.  Barber  resides 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Andress. 


MARGARETTA. 


Margaeetta  is  the  northwest  township  in  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Sandusky 
bay,  on  the  east  by  Sandusky  City,  Perkins  and  Ox- 
ford townships,  on  the  south  by  Groton.  and  on  the 
west  by  Sandusky  county  and  the  bay.  Range 
twenty-four,  township  six. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURE8. 

The  surface  features  of  the  township,  as  a  whole, 
may  be  called  level,  although  some  parts  of  it  are 
high  land  and  some  gently  rolling.  The  west  half  of 
the  first  section  is  rolling  and  thinly  timbered,  and  is 
what  is  generally  known  as '  'oak  openings,"  with  a  clay, 
sandy,  or  limestone  soil,  or  some  combination  of  these, 
and  sand,  gravel  and  limestone  ridges  occasionally. 
The  northeast  part  was  heavily  tiniljered  and  level 
having  a  muck  soil  with  clay  subsoil,  very  rich  and  pro- 
ductive. The  second  section  was  heavily  timbered 
land,  except  the  south  part,  which  was  oak  openings 
with  a  gradual  descent  to  the  north.  The  third  section 
is  mostly  prairie  with  some  strips  of  timber.  It  used  to 
be  called  a  marsh,  but  by  making  a  channel  for  Cold 
creek,  buiding  the  railroad,  and  making  several  large 
ditches  through  it,  has  made  it  good  farming  and 
grazing  land.  The  fourth  section  is  "openings"  land, 
except  the  northwest  corner,  which  extends  on  to  the 
prairie.  The  "openings"  were  timbered  with  oak  and 
hickory,  with  occasionally  a  -n^lnut,  ash,  elm  and 
basswood.  The  timbered  land  was  covered  with 
white,  black,  yellow,  swamp,  pin  and  burr  oak,  black 
walnut,  hickory,  black  and  white  ash,  elm,  basswood 
and  some  chestnut,  butternut  and  maple.  Limestone 
ridges  crop  out  in  some  places  on  the  openings,  so  as 
to  make  the  land  difficult  to  cultivate,  but,  generally 
speaking,  the  soil  produces  a  good  quantity  and  a 
very  superior  quality  of  wheat,  oats  and  potatoes, 
with  average  corn,  clover  and  timothy,  while  the 
heavily  timbered  land  is  superior  for  grass,  corn, 
wheat,  when  under-drained,  and  other  heavy  crops. 
There  is  a  fraction  of  land  along  Sandusky  bay,  from 
one  to  two  miles  wide,  that  is  north  of  Sandusky 
county,  which  belongs  to  ^largaretta,  and  forms  the 
northwest  part  of  the  township.  The  east  half  is 
timbered,  the  west  half  prairie  and  marsh ;  when  the 
lake  is  high  a  portion  of  it  is  overflowed  with  water; 
when  not  under  water,  it  produces  a  coarse  grass  of 
but  little  value. 

There  is  a  small  stream  called  Pike  creek  (from  the 
])ike  fish  which  are  found  in  it  in  early  spring  floods), 
which  enters  tlie  township  near  the  southwest  corner 
of  section  one,  aiid  runs   in  a  northeasterly  course 


through  this  section  and  'into  Perkins  township, 
emptying  into  Sandusky  bay,  about  a  mile  west  of 
the  city,  and  this  is  known  as  Mill's  creek.  Quite  a 
large  area  of  territory  is  drained  by  this  stream, 
which,  in  time  of  high  water,  afforded  sufficient 
power  to  run  a  couple  of  saw  mills,  in  an  early  day, 
one  of  which  has  been  but  recently  torn  down.  There 
are  two  smaller  streams  which  rise  in  the  northern 
part  of  section  three  and  empty  into  Sandusky  bay. 
Their  waters  are  strongly  impregnated  with  some 
mineral,  generally  supposed  to  be  sulphur. 

The  most  important  stream  in  the  township  is  Cold 
Creek  (so  called  from  the  fact  of  its  water  being  cold), 
having  its  source  a  little  west  of  the  center  of  the 
township,  runs  about  forty  rods  in  a  southwesterly 
course,  then  turns  north,  and  empties  into  Sandusky 
Bay.  Its  whole  length  in  a  straight  line  would  be 
about  three  miles.  In  its  natural  channel  it  ran 
through  a  piece  of  flat  land  or  prairie  heretofore 
mentioned,  converting  several  hundred  acres  into  a 
quagmire  and  uiuskrat  garden.  It  now  runs  nearly 
its  whole  length  through  an  artificial  channel  or  mill 
race,  and  affords  sufficient  power  to  run  two  grist 
mills  of  four,  and  one  of  six  run  of  stone.  Cold 
creek  rises  north  of  the  ridge,  boiling  up  from  a  great 
depth  in  a  large  volume  evidently  from  crevices  in 
the  limestone  rock.  About  a  half  mile  north  of  the 
head  of  this  stream,  formerly  there  was  a  small,  nar- 
row stream  (which  one  could  step  over  without  any 
effort),  that  came  up  in  the  form  of  a  spring  after 
the  erection  of  the  first  mills  at  the  head  of  Cold 
creek.  By  raising  the  water  at  its  fountain  head,  this 
small  stream  was  greatly  enlarged,  and  excavated  for 
itself  a  basin  forty  feet  in  diameter,  and  what,  seems 
most  unaccountable,  exposed  to  view  large  trees  in  a 
prostrate  position  at  the  bottom  of  its  bed.  How 
these  trees  came  there  in  that  position  we  leave  for 
savants  to  answer.  As  the  waters  of  this  stream 
(which  now  assumed  the  name  of  Little  Cold  creek) 
increased  those  of  Cold  creek  proper,  decreased, 
which  led  irresistibly  to  the  conclusion,  that  there 
was  a  subterranean  connection  between  the  two,  so 
that  in  order  to  secure  sufficient  water  for  the  mill  on 
Cold  creek  proper,  this  stream  was  dammed  up  to 
bring  their  waters  to  a  level.  Afterwards  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  connect  the  two  springs  by  a 
channel  so  as  to  bring  the  water  from  this  spring  to 
the  mill,  but  when  done,  the  water  ran  the  wrong  way, 
and  the  larger  stream  emptied  into  the  smaller  instead 
of  the  smaller  into  the  larger,  as  was  intended,  which 
necessitated  building  the  mill  where  it  now  is  at  the 
lower  spring,  making  one  stream  of  the  two.  The 
waters  of    these    springs    are  strongly    impregnated 

(490) 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


witli  mineral  substances,  and  wheneyer  the  water 
drips  ou  to  anything,  it  is  quickly  coated  over  with  a 
substance  which  becomes  hard  as,  and  assumes  the 
character  of,  limestone  in  all  manner  of  singular  and 
grotesque  shapes  and  forms  which  are  much  prized  as 
curiosities. 

A  spring  called  Rockwell  spring,  similar  to  Cold 
creek,  but  much  smaller,  rises  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  four,  near  the  base  of  a  limestone  bluff,  and 
runs  in  a  westerly  direction  and  empties  into  Pickerel 
creek,  in  Sandusky  county.  It  affords  sufBcient 
power  for  a  flouring  mill  with  two  run  of  stone.  The 
water,  to  an  ordinary  observer,  is  precisely  like  that 
of  Cold  creek. 

Margaretta  belongs  to  the  same  limestone  forma- 
tion as  Sandusky,  Kelley's  Island,  and  Marblehead; 
the  whole  of  it  is  underlaid  with  the  rock,  and  it 
crops  out  in  many  places  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
township.  A  soft  limestone  is  found  in  several  places 
in  section  one,  which,  when  burned,  made  a  superior 
quality  of  lime,  and  formerly,  when  wood  was  plenty, 
was  burned  in  large  quantities  for  home  consumption, 
and  sent  to  the  counties  south  of  here  quite  exten- 
sively. 

TEOUT     RAISING. 

In  the  fall  of  1870,  Mr.  John  Hoyt,  proprietor  of 
tiie  Castalia  paper  mills  (sinced  burned),  procured  a 
couple  of  thousand  eggs  of  the  brook  or  speckled 
trout,  made  hatching  troughs,  and  thoroughly  tested 
the  practicability  of  raising  trout  in  Cold  creek,  and 
was  entirely  successful  in  his  venture.  The  following 
year  he  went  into  the  business  more  largely,  and  as  a 
result,  from  one  end  to  the  other  the  stream  is  now 
well  stocked  with  fine  trout.  Some  salmon  have  been 
put  in  by  the  State,  but  very  few  of  them  have  been 
seen.  The  Castalia  Sporting  Club,  a  company  of  gen-' 
tlemen  from  Cleveland,  have  leased  the  fishing  privi- 
leges of  the  lower  end  of  the  stream,  from  Mr.  R. 
Heywood,  so  far  as  he  controls  it.  The  State  built  a 
fish  hatchery  house,  but  were  unsuccessful,  from  some 
cause  unknown  to  the  author.  The  upper  portion  of 
the  stream,  including  the  two  ponds,  has  been  leased 
for  twenty  yeai's  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  Marga- 
retta and  the  adjacent  townships,  and  some  from 
Sandusky,  who  have  incorporated  a  stock  company 
to  protect  and  propagate  trout  to  stock  this  and  other 
streams  in  this  locality.  The  name  of  the  organiza- 
tion is  the  "Cold  Creek  Trout  Club."" 

ORIGINAL  OWNERS. 

For  explanation  of  the  following  table  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Lyme  township: 

MARGARETTA,   TOWN    NUMBER    SIX,    RANGE    TWENTT- 
FOVR. 

Classification  No.  1,  Section  1. 

Original  Grantees.       Am't  Loss.        Classified  by.  Am't  Classed. 

£       s.        d. 


Abraham  Lockwood 


I  Jesup  Wakeman  < 


Footing  of  Classification 


Classification  No.  2,  Section  2. 


Original  Grantees. 

An 

'tLoss. 

Classified  by. 

Am' 

Classed. 

£ 

g 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Hezekiah  Hanford 

3 

8 

Edward  Jesuji  & 
Jesup  Wakeman 

328 

3 

8 

James  Fitch,  Jr. 

6 

6 

Isaiah  Marvin 

158 

10 

0 

100 

0 

0,, 

Col.  Stephen  St.  John  713 

7 

142 

13 

3^ 

Asa  Hoyt 

381 

17 

0 

381 

17 

0,^ 

Ebenezer  Lockwood 

82 

2 

48 

4 

6H 

Footing  of  Classification  No.  3,  £1,344 

7 

0 

Classification  No.  3,  Section  3. 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss. 

aassified  by. 

Am 

t  classed. 

£ 

s 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Ebenezer  Lockwood 

82 

2 

This  whole  class  is 

17' 

1!4 

Thomas  Fitch 

387 

14 

5H 

classified  by  Jesup  77 

10 

iojI 

Thos.  Fitch's  heirs 

415 

3 

0 

Wakeman,  Ebene 

■  31 

6H 

Hannah  Fitch's  h-rs 

141 

2 

zer  Jesup,  Jr.,  and  10 
Edward  Jesup,  say 

14 

iiH 

Stephen  «  Hooker 

St.  John 

30 

1 

6 

Jesup     Wakeman    4 

0 

0 

John  Rich 

21 

0 

one-half  &  the  oth 

-  21 

0 

Joseph  Beers 

90 

17 

0 

er  half  by  Eben'z'r  11 

1 

lOH 

Widow  Eunice  More 

Jesup.  Jr.,  and  Ed 
ward  Jesup. 

house 

68 

7 

0 

68 

7 

0 

Gruman  Morehouse 

6 

11 

6 

11 

6 

Solomon  Sturges 
Jos.  Sturges'  heirs 

319 

3 

279 

5 

9 

339 

15 

203 

7 

3 

Ebenezer  Bulkley 

7 

2 

John  Hicklin 

20 

8 

20 

9 

Daniel  Jennings 

32 

2 

32 

2 

1 

Jesse  Morehouse 

16 

6 

16 

6 

Hannah  Morehouse 

18 

18 

8 

Joseph  Wakeraan 

4 

0 

4 

0 

0 

Francis  Bradley  3d 

2 

10 

10 

6 

Cornelius  Stratten 

1 

5 

5 

3 

William  Thorp 

3 

0 

3 

0 

0 

Rnth  Burr 

3 

19 

3 

19 

6 

Hezekiah  Sturges 

532 

15 

13 

5H 

David  Jennings 

27 

18 

10 

13 

11 

4 

House  of  Peter  Bulk 

ley  &  Jos.  Sturges 

91 

0 

91 

0 

0 

Ebenezer  Morehouse  83 

8 

83 

8 

3. 

Jeremiah  Jennings 

196 

12 

11 

196 

12 

11 

Francis  Forgue 

151      16        0 
Footing  of  Cla 

ssiflcationNo.  3  £1, 

78 

0 

IT" 

7 

0 

Classification 

lo .  4,  Section  4 . 

Original  Grantees. 

Am't  Loss. 

Classified  by. 

Am 

t  Classed- 

d. 

£ 

d. 

Abigail  Wynkoop 

59 

13 

0 

Jesup  Wakeman 

19' 

5 

Hezekiah  Sturges 

583 

8 

3 

118 

6 

3^ 

Andrew  Wakeman 

207 

14 

207 

14 

Isaac  Jennings 

281 

1 

4 

281 

4 

Ebenezer  Bartram 

144 

10 

3 

8H 

William  Dimon 

625 

8 

1 

William  Dimon 

625 

8 

1 

Footing  of  Clssifioation  No.  4,  £1,344       7       0 

In  1811,  Messrs.  Jesup  and  Wakeman  sold,  by 
contract,  the  township  to  Major  Frederick  Falley  at 
seventy-five  cents  per  acre.  Major  Falley  sold  several 
farms,  and  introduced  many  settlers  while  the  town- 
ship was  in  his  possession,  but  failing  to  raise  the  pur- 
chase money,  he  surrendered  it  to  the  proprietors  in 
1820.  They  appointed  the  late  Hon.  Jabez  Wright 
their  agent,  and  he  sold  several  farms.  About  1837, 
Ebenezer  Jesup  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  town- 
ship, and  his  son,  Ebenezer  Jesup,  Jr.,  resided  there 
from  1839  to  July,  1831,  and  in  connection  with 
Judge  Wright  sold  about  seven  thousand  acres  of  land 
to  setders  at  from  three  to  five  dollars  per  acre.  On 
the  25th  of  July,  1831,  the  remainder,  thirteen  thou- 
sand acres,  was  sold  to  R.  H.  Heywood  and  the  late 
John  G.  Camp,  at  one  dollar  per  acre.  At  this  time 
there  was  but  a  small  portion  of  the  township  under 
cultivation.  It  was  generally  supposed  that  the  oak 
openings  were   worthless,  and  the  land  between  that 


492 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


and  the  bay  too  wet  for  cultivation.  A  few  oi)euiiig 
lots  had  been  sold  the  year  before  by  Mr.  Jesup  and 
small  imijrovements  began,  but  Calvin  Smith,  who 
knew  their  value  as  wheat  land,  bought  two  lots  at 
two  and  a  half  dollars  per  acre,  put  in  a  lai'ge  crop  of 
wheat,  and  the  result  was  surprising  to  many,  and 
gave  the  land  value,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  hun- 
dred acres  of  prairie  used  for  grazing.  The  land  is, 
at  this  writing,  1879,  all  in  the  hands  of  farmers,  and 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  much  of  it  being 
owned  by  small  farmers,  who  are  mostlv  Germans. 


Margaretta  was  first  called  Patterson,  on  the  map 
issued  by  the  Fire-lands  Company,  soon  after  their 
lands  were  surveyed.  It  was  so  named  for  Hugh 
Patterson,  a  British  Indian  trader,  who  talked  of 
purchasing  the  township.  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  a 
pioneer  missionary  of  the  Western  Reserve,  who 
labored  among  the  Wyandot  Indians  most  of  the 
time  from  1805  to  1810,  speaks  of  him  as  exerting  a 
most  pernicious  influence  in  trying  to  prejudice  them 
against  the  United  States  government  and  the  mis- 
sionary, by  telliug  them  falsehoods,  and  trying  to 
persuade  them  to  join  the  British  against  the  United 
States.  He  says:  "On  the  28th  of  Jul}-,  1805,  the 
head  chief,  Cra'ae,  sent  for  me.  to  write  for  him. 
After  we  had  taken  sui^per,  one  of  the  women  made  a 
candle  of  beeswax,  and  I  seated  nwself  on  the  floor, 
beside  a  bench,  and  wrote  as  dictated  by  the  old  chief, 
through  an  interpreter.  He  addressed  the  governor 
at  Detroit,  giving  an  account  of  one  Williams,  and 
requested  that  Williams,  and  Hugh  Patterson,  and 
one  other  person,  be  removed  from  among  them 
without  delay,  as  they  were  constantly  contriving  mis- 
chief, and  troubling  his  people." 

At  a  meeting  of  some  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
Fire-lands,  at  Huron,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1812,  after 
contemplating  the  glorious  union,  and  the  stirring 
events  of  the  American  revolution,  they  resolved, 
unanimously,  that  it  was  wrong  for  a  towusliip  on  the 
Fire-lands  to  bear  the  name  of  so  vile  a  man  as  Pat- 
terson, and  it  was  referred  to  Major  Frederick  Falley 
(who  held  a  contract  of  purchase  for  the  township  at 
that  time)  to  find  another  name.  He  replied  that 
his  mother,  his  sister,  and  several  neices  were  named 
Margaret,  and  that  the  name  of  the  township  should 
be  Margaretta,  and  it  was  accordingly  so  named. 


We  do  not  know  of  there  having  been  any  Indian 
village  or  settlement,  to  any  great  extent  of  recent 
date,  in  this  township,  but  we  have  seen  corn  hills 
which  would  indicate  that  some  of  the  land  here  was 
cultivated  by  them,  and  the  mounds  and  forts  indi- 
cate that  at  some  period  Margaretta  was  largely  pop- 
ulated by  Indians.  Mr.  Dan  Putnam,  of  Iowa,  in- 
forms us  that  Major  Falley  told  him  that  there  were 
forty  pack  horses  cut  off  by  the  Indians  at  the  spring, 
ouf  mile  northeast  of  the  head  of  Cold  creek,  and  that 


the  horses  belonged  to  some  men  who  came  there  to 
trade;  but  he  does  not  state  at  what  time  nor  give  any 
particulars. 

Upsn  Hull's  surrender  in  August,  1812,  the  people 
all  left  the  township,  some  going  south,  others  east. 
William  Andrews  was  preparing  a  field  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  for  wheat,  just  east  of  the  buryiug  ground, 
at  the  time,  and  left  it.  but  some  of  them  returned  in 
time  to  put  in  forty  acres  of  it.  Mr.  Pollock  says 
they  harrowed  in  the  wheat  carrying  their  guns  on 
their  backs. 

Some  time  in  May,  1813,  sixteen  Indians,  in  three 
birch  bark  canoes,  landed  at  Pickerel  creek,  some  ten 
or  more  miles  west  of  Cold  creek,  headed  by  the 
chief,  Pontiac,  on  a  war  excursion.  They  looked 
about  the  settlement  until  the  second  day  of  June, 
when  a  favorable  opportunity  presented  itself  for  the 
accomplishment  of  their  purpose.  There  were  at 
this  time  but  three  families  and  two  young  men,  who 
kept  bachelors'  home,  in  town,  numbering  twenty- 
nine,  men,  women  and  children  all  told.  There  were 
three  houses  at  Cold  creek  at  the  time:  Mr.  Snow's, 
a  little  below  the  head  of  the  creek,  on  the  right  bank; 
Mr.  Butler's,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream, 
twelve  rods  or  so  east;  Mr.  Putnam  lived  one-half 
mile  down  the  creek  on  the  prairie  near  where  the  C. 
S.  &  C.  railroad  crosses  the  creek.  On  the  day  men- 
tioned all  the  men  were  at  work  jn  different  places, 
remote  from  any  house  and  from  each  other.  Dan 
Putnam  and  Horace  Markham  were  plowing  east  of 
where  the  burying  ground  now  is.  Mr.  Uriel  Put- 
nam and  his  two  sons,  Uriel  and  Ira,  and  Mr.  Snow 
and  his  two  sons,  Alanson  and  Henry,  were  planting 
corn  one  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  place  last  men- 
tioned. Richard  Fowler,  Samuel  Markham  and  Wm. 
Pollock  were  planting  corn  one  mile  northeast  of  Cold 
creek  (now  Castalia),  and  Henry  Grass,  an  apprentice 
to  the  tanner  trade,  was  at  work  near  the  present  res- 
idence of  Dr.  Luce,  a  little  north  and  west  of  the 
head  of  the  creek.  AVhile  the  men  were  thus  em- 
ployed, and  in  no  position  for  defence,  the  women 
and  children,  twelve  in  number,  were  assembled  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Snow.  About  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  says  Mrs.  Putnam,  the  first  she  saw  was 
the  house  full  of  Indians,  one  of  whom  seized  her  by 
the  hair  and  led  her  out  of  the  door,  while  another  in 
like  manner  seized  Mrs.  Butler.  Mrs.  Snow,  who 
was  confined  to  her  bed  by  illness,  and  near  to  ac- 
couchment,  was  pulled  out  of  the  house  in  the  same 
rough  manner  as  the  others.  They  were  then  asked 
if  they  would  go,  and  they  replied  that  they  would. 
Mrs.  Putnam  says:  "  I  was  then  satisfied  that  they 
would  not  kill  any  one  who  could  travel."  Three 
Indians  then  came  in  with  Henry  Grass,  taken  while 
at  work  as  stated  before.  His  account  was  that  the 
first  he  knew  he  was  in  the  hands  of  three  Indians. 
The  children  were  at  play  out  of  doors,  and  when 
they  saw  the  Indians  they  tried  to  secrete  themselves, 
but  were  soon  driven  from  their  hiding  places  and 
drove  oft'  witli  tlieir  mothers.     They  took  their  pris- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


493 


■oners  down  the  creek,  perhaps  forty  rods,  and  crossed 
on  a  mill  dam.  Immediately  after  crossing  the  creek 
two  boys,  Charles  Butler  and  Robert  Snow,  about  two 
years  old  and  the  youngest  of  tbe  families,  were  killed 
and  scalped,  their  bodies  stripped  of  clothing  and 
thrown  into  a  bunch  of  hazel  bushes  at  the  foot  of  a 
black  oak  tree.  A  few  rods  farther  on  Julia  Butler, 
four  years  old,  was  killed.  From  there  they  took  a 
southwesterly  course,  and  came  out  near  what  is 
known  as  the  Moorecraft  place,  where  they  killed  Mrs. 
Snow  on  account  of  her  inability  to  travel.  Smith 
Butler  was  also  killed,  but  his  body  was  not  found 
until  the  next  fall,  and  we  have  not  learned  the  ex- 
act spot  nor  his  age,  but  he  must  have  been  ten  or 
more  years  old.  The  Indians  designed  to  keep  him  a 
captive,  but  he  tried  to  escape  from  them  and  was  so 
turbulent  that  they  killed  and  scalped  him. 

The  party  that  pursued  them,  the  next  day  knew 
that  young  Butler  was  killed,  for  they  found  his  pan- 
taloons, which  had  been  handled  with  bloody  fingers. 

We  will  now  go  back  to  the  house  from  w-hich  the 
captives  were  driven.  After  the  women  had  been 
taken  out,  a  few  Indians  collected  all  the  clothing  and 
other  property,  including  a  side-saddle,  emptying  the 
beds  on  the  floor  for  the  sake  of  the  ticks,  and  broke 
the  crockery  on  the  floor.  They  took  all  they  could 
carry,  compelling  Henry  Grass  to  carry  a  pack  load, 
and  left  for  their  canoes  at  Pickerel  creek.  Meantime 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Putnam,  a  half  a  mile  down  Cold 
creek,  were  Mary  Putnam,  aged  twelve  years;  Ezra 
Putnam,  ten;  Frank  Putnam,  eight;  and  George 
Butler,  eight.  About  an  hour  after  the  attack  they 
came  up  to  Snow's  house,  saw  the  situation  of  things 
and  went  immediately  to  the  field  where  Dan  Mark- 
ham  and  Horace  Putnam  were  at  work,  and  told  them 
that  the  Indians  had  been  at  Snow's  house,  plundered 
it,  and  taken  all  the  inmates  captive.  Markham  went 
with  the  children  to  the  place  where  Mr.  Putnam  and 
Snow  were  at  work  with  their  sons,  while  Putnam 
hunted  up  Fowler,  Pollock  and  Sam  Markham.  Both 
parties  repaired  immediately  to  the  plundered  house, 
and  saw  the  ruins.  It  being  about  sunset  they  imme- 
diately went  to  Pipe  creek,  the  nearest  settlement,  five 
miles  southeast,  and  gathered  all  the  available  force 
to  pursue  the  Indians  the  next  day.  In  the  morning 
the  party  having  beeu  increased  by  Captain  Seth  Har- 
rington, Capt.  Sam  Magill,  James  and  John  MeCord, 
and  three  or  four  more,  proceeded  forthwith  to  follow 
the  trail  and  found  the  bodies  of  the  murdered  ones 
as  above  described.  After  passing  the  high  bluff  near 
tiie  line  of  Sandusky  county,  and  getting  into  the 
woods  they  took  a  northerly  course  and  came  out  on 
tlie  Bay  shore,  near  the  mouth  of  Pickerel.  There 
tliey  found  that  the  Indians  had  put  their  booty  and 
captives  aboard  their  canoes  and  taken  to  the  watei-, 
so  that  they  could  do  nothing  more  in  pursuit,  and 
returned  to  perform  the  painful  duty  of  burying  their 
slaughtered  friends.  The  bodies  of  the  killed  were 
stripped  of  clothing,  their  heads  broken  in  by  the 
tomahawk,  and  scalped. 


The  captives  were  hurriedly  driven  along,  and  those 
who  were  not  able,  as  has  been  said,  were  killed;  they 
were  quietly  taken  one  side  by  an  Indian,  and  dis- 
patched, so  that  the  survivors  should  not  be  witnesses 
of  the  scene.  At  Pickerel,  after  they  had  put  their 
plunder  and  captives  aboard,  they  crossed  the  bay  to 
a  point  which  is  a  mile  and  three-quartei-s  from  Port- 
age river  or  one  of  its  branches.  Here  the  whole 
party  disembarked,  the  canoes  unloaded  and  carried 
overland  to  Portage  river.  It  took  six  Indians  to 
carry  the  three  canoes,  and  ten  were  employed  in 
driving  the  captives,  and  carrying  the  plunder.  This, 
says  Mrs.  Putnam,  was  the  hardest  part  of  the  captiv- 
ity, for  she  was  obliged  to  run  and  carry  her  boy. 
This  was  about  daybreak  on  the  third  of  June.  The 
names  of  the  captives  were  Mrs.  Mary  Putnam,  aged 
fifty  years;  Mrs.  Butler,  thirty;  Henry  Grass,  eighteen; 
Hannah  Page,  fourteen;  Electa  Snow,  fifteen;  Laura, 
ten;  ^Yillard  Snow,  six;  Oiiin  Putnam,  four.  The 
last  named,  the  youngest,  would,  doubtless,  have  been 
killed  had  it  not  been  for  the  resolution  of  his  mother 
in  keeping  him  with  her,  and  the  assistance  rendered 
by  Grass  in  helping  to  carry  him.  On  the  arrival  of 
the  party  at  Portage  river,  the  canoes  were  launched, 
and  they  went  down  the  river  to  the  lake,  and  up  the 
lake  some  distance  where  they  landed,  and  the  Indians 
cooked  food,  and  ate,  offering  some  to  their  captives, 
which  was  refused.  They  also  stretched  the  scalps 
taken,  on  wooden  hoops,  and  hung  them  in  the  sun 
to  dry,  remaining  there  over  night.  In  the  morning 
they  took  to  their  crafts,  and  went  to  Maiden,  and 
from  there  to  Detroit  where  the  captives  were  deliverd 
up  to  the  British  Indian  agent  by  the  name  of  Iron- 
side. They  suffered  no  violence  from  their  captors, 
except  to  travel  much  faster  than  was  comfortable. 

After  leaving  their  homos,  they  were  three  days  on 
their  way  to  Detroit,  and  during  that  time,  took  no 
food.  They  were  asked  by  the  agent  how  they  fared, 
and  whether  they  had  been  given  anything  to  eat; 
they  replied  that  they  had  eaten  nothing,  though 
food  had  been  offered  to  them;  "Ah,"  said  he,  "if 
you  had  been  with  them  a  month,  you  would  eat  with 
them;  you  have  not  been  long  enough  with  them." 
After  their  arrival  at  Detroit,  they  fared  well,  and 
staid  there  until  General  Harrison  moved  his  army  on 
to  Maiden  in  the  fall,  which  opened  communication 
witli  Detroit,  aud  then  Snow,  Putnam  and  Butler 
went  after  them,  aud  all  the  captives  returned  safely, 
except  Henry  Grass,  who  being  a  Canadian,  went  to 
his  father's  home  in  Canada.  The  friends  of  the 
prisoners  frequently  heard  of  them  by  deserters  who 
left  Detroit,  but  they  could  not  communicate  any 
thing  to  them,  as  Detroit  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
British. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  John  Ward,  of  Margaretta, 
and  George  Bishop,  of  Danbury,  were  trapping  in 
Danbury,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  two  harbors.  They 
had  collected  a  few  skins,  and  lay  down,  in  tlieir 
temporary  hut.  tor  the  night.  Three  straggling 
Ottawa  Indians,  to  obtain  their  little  pittance  of  furs, 


494 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


laid  their  plans  to  kill  the  trappers.  After  complet- 
ing their  arrangements,  the  two  oldest,  Ne-go-sheek 
and  Xe-gon-a-ba,  armed  with  clubs,  singled  out  each 
his  victim,  and  with  a  well  directed  blow  upon  the 
head  they  despatched  their  innocent  victims.  They 
then  forced  their  younger  companion,  Ne-ga-sow,  to 
beat  the  bodies  with  a  club  (as  he  had  been  merely  a 
spectator  to  the  tragedy),  that  he  might  think  that 
he  was  participator  in  the  crime,  and  so  refrain  from 
exposing  them.  With  the  assistance  of  some  other 
Indians,  they  were  arrested  in  a  few  days.  The  two 
murderers  were  convicted,  and  hung  at  Norwalk, 
June,  1819.  The  youngest  was  acquitted.  Ward 
left  a  widow  to  mourn  his  untimely  fate.  Bishop 
was  a  single  man. 

SETTLEMENT. 

Docartus  P.  Snow,  a  native  of  Vermont,  we  think, 
came  from  the  State  of  New  York,  to  Margaretta,  in 
the  spring  of  1810.     He  felled  the  first  tree  and  built 

the  first  log  house,  settling  on  lot  in   the  third 

section.  It  is  said  (we  suppose  it  is  true)  that  the 
proprietor  of  the  township  donated  to  him  one 
hundred  acres  of  laud,  in  consideration  of  his  build- 
ing a  grist  mill,  on  Cold  creek,  in  those  early  days. 
He  died  in  1829.  His  widow  (being  his  second  wife) 
married  Philip  S.  Cowell,  and  still  resides  on  the  lot 
which  Mr.  Snow  took  x:p.  Four  of  his  children  are 
dead,  namely:  Henry,  Alanson,  Electa  and  Laura. 
Where  his  other  two  sons  reside  I  do  not  know. 

Uziel  Putnam  came  into  the  township  in  1810  or 
1811,  from  the  State  of  New  York.  He  lived  on  Cold 
creek,  below  Mr.  Snow's.  After  the  return  of  his 
wife  from  captivity,  he  lived  on  lot  number  twenty- 
three,  section  one.  About  two  years  afterward  he 
bought  fifty  acres  of  land  on  tlie  east  side  of  Cold 
creek,  where  he  lived  several  years.  In  1821,  he 
moved  to  Sandusky  county,  and  was  killed  by  being 
thrown  from  a  sleigh,  in  1^23.  His  wife  survived 
him  but  a  year  or  two.  His  sons  now  live  in  the 
western  States.  Horace  and  Samuel  Markham  came 
here  with  Mr.  Putnam,  and  afterward,  with  their 
father,  settled  in  Groton  township. 

Thomas  Lord  came  to  Margaretta  from  Conneaut, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1810,  built  a  log  house  on  lot  twenty- 
three,  first  section,  in  1811,  and  returned  to  Conneaut 
in  1813. 

Israel  Harrington  built  a  log  house  on  lot  twenty- 
three,  first  section,  in  1813,  and  moved  to  Lower 
Sandusky  the  nest  year.  William  Andrus  built  a 
house  on  the  south  side  of  the  head  of  Cold  creek,  in 
1811,  and  began  preparations  for  putting  in  one 
hundred  acres  of  wheat,  but  he  and  his  men  were 
driven  off  by  the  surrender  of  Hull,  and  he  did  not 
return..  Charles  Butler  came  to  Margaretta  in  1811 
or  '12.  located  on  the  bank  of  Cold  creek,  near  the 
head  of  the  Venice  mill-race,  and  moved  to  the  head 
of  the  creek  in  the  sjiring  of  1813.  Ricliard  Fowler 
lived,  temporarily,  in  Margaretta  in  1813.  He  came 
from    Massachusetts,  and    returned   there.       Charles 


Wilson,  a  carpenter,  was  herein  1811.  From  whence 
he  came,  how  long  he  stayed,  or  where  he  went, 
we  cannot  learn.  William  Pollock  was  here  in  1811, 
'13  and  '13.  The  three  last  were  unmarried.  In 
1814,  Mr.  Fitch  built  a  house  east  of  the  head  of  Cold 
creek,  and  commenced  the  dairy  business  with  one 
hundred  cows,  •  but  did  [not  succeed  well.  He  had 
sickness  in  his  family,  and  lost  a  little  girl.  He  left 
the  same  year,  and  it  was  understood  that  he  was  from 
eastern  Ohio. 

James  Vanness,  from  the  State  of  New  York,  settled 
on  lot  one,  section  one,  in  1814,  and  lived  there  until 
about  1830,  when  he  left,  and  died  in  Fremont  about 
1849. 

Ebenezer  Hartwell  came  to  Margaretta  from  Can- 
ada, June,  1815;  settled  on  lot  seven,  section  one.  He 
died  about  1850.  His  sons,  Richard,  John,  and  Hen- 
ry, now  reside  in  Iowa.  Two  of  his  daughters,  the 
wife  of  Hiram  Barnes  and  the  widow  of  Stephen  Rog- 
ers, now  reside  in  the  township.  One  of  his  daugh- 
ters, the  wife  of  Isaac  Smith,  lives  in  Indiana. 

Abram  Towusend  came  here  from  Canada  in  1816; 
settled  on  lot  fifteen,  section  one.  He  sold  to  James 
Duncan,  and  moved  to  Townsend,  Sandusky  county, 
in  1818. 

Andrus  Parker  came  to  this  township  from  Con- 
neaut, Pennsylvania,  in  the  spring  of  1815,  and  lived 
on  the  bank  of  Cold  creek  at  the  head  of  the  Venice 
mill  race  one  year.  He  then  moved  to  lot  sixteen, 
section  two,  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  1838. 
His  son  Elihu  now  resides  on  lot  twenty,  first  section. 
His  other  sons,  Andrus,  Washington,  and  Greene, 
have  gone  west. 

Philip  Sutton  settled  on  the  northwest  corner  lot 
of  the  township,  and  moved  from  there  about  1821. 
Peter  Dunham  settled  on  lot  two,  section  two,  in 
1816,  and  died  in  1830.  Two  men,  named  Shipy  and 
Spencer,  were  early  settlers  in  that  vicinity.  Jonas 
Lewis,  same  place,  from  1817  to  "32.  Eli  Hunt  and 
John  Hugh  settled  near  the  saw  mill  west  of  Venice. 
Thomas  "Morris  located  on  lot  thirty,  first  section,  in 
181G,  and  left  for  Indiana  in  1833.  Dougal  Campbell 
located  on  lot  thirteen,  first  section,  in  1816,  and  died 
in  1853;  some  of  his  children  still  reside  here.  L.  F. 
Allen,  now  a  resident  of  Black  Rock,  New  York,  re- 
sided in  Margaretta  from  March,  1818,  to  1832.  Har- 
vey Fowler  settled  on  lot  twenty-four  in  section  one, 
in  the  fall  of  1818,  and  resided  there  until  his  death, 
February  18,  1875.  Ira  Barnes  came  here  in  1818; 
located  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township.  Henry 
Cole  came  here  in  1815,  and  died  in  1830.  Thomas 
McColough  came  in  1817,  and  died  in  1850.  A.  M. 
Porter  came  in  1817,  and  died  in  Sandusky.  Samuel 
Walker  settled  on  lot  seven,  second  section,  in  1816, 
and  died  in  1S31.  Pliny  Brown  located  on  lot  seven 
in  section  two,  and  lived  there  all  his  life;  he  died  in 
December,  1860.  His  wife  died  three  or  four  years 
after.  George  R.  Crittenden  came  here  from  Detroit 
in  1814,  and  left  for  the  west  part  of  Michigan  in 
1828.     Mr.  Curdv  located  on  lots  twentv-two  and  six- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


495 


teen,  first  section,  in  1818,  and  James  Duncan  on  lot 
fifteen,  same  section,  at  the  same  time.  Tiiey  both 
left  for  Indiana  about  1821. 

Richard  Falley  located  on  lot  twenty,  section  two, 
in  1818,  and  died  there  in  1835.  A  young  man  by 
the  name  of  Coolige  came  here  in  1816  and  died  in 
1817.  John  Cowell  located  in  the  northwestern  j^art 
of  the  township  in  1818,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death,  in  the  summer  of  1871.  PhiliiJ  S.  Cowell 
came  about  1820,  and  located  at  Castalia,  and  lived 
there  until  his  death,  in  1869.  Major  Fi-ederick 
Falley  erected  a  frame  for  a  house  and  raised  a  large 
barn  in  1818,  the  first  frame  building  built  on  farms 
in  the  township.  Both  were  standing  until  quite  re- 
cently. 

Joshua  Pettiugill  and  his  son  Samuel  came  here 
about  1816,  and  about  half  a  mile  below  Mr.  Snow's, 
on  Cold  creek.  They  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and 
lived  on  the  Cove  east  of  Sandusky  during  the  war  of 
1813.  Both  died  in  Towusend,  Sandusky  county, 
several  years  since. 

Of  these  first  settlers,  the  following  took  part  in 
the  Revolutionary  War  and  1812:  Major  Frederick 
Falley.  when  but  eleven  years  old,  accompanied  his 
father  as  fifer  in  the  company  of  which  his  father  was 
captain,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  After 
Genei-al  Washington  came  into  the  command  of  the 
army,  he  returned  home  with  iiis  father,  who  was  em- 
ployed by  the  government  in  the  manufacture  of  fire- 
arms during  the  war.  He  died  in  Margaretta,  July 
3,  1828,  aged  sixty-four. 

Samuel  Drew,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  came  to 
Margaretta  about  1830,  and  resided  here  several  years. 
He  was  a  pensioner  and  died  some  years  since.  Cap- 
tain Andrus  Parker  was  in  the  army  at  the  taking  of 
Burgoyne. 

Thomas  Caswell  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  on  the 
frontier,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  died  here  in 
1853. 

Henry  Jones  served  one  campaign  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  died  here  a  few  j'ears  ago. 

John  L.  Wilner,  who  was  an  early  resident  here, 
was  in  the  army  at  Fort  Meigs  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Elihu  Parker  served  eighteen  months  at  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812.     He  still  resides  here. 

FIRST    EVEXTS. 

Robert  Snow,  son  of  D.  P.  Snow,  was  doubtless  the 
first  white  child  born  in  Margaretta.  He  was  born 
in  1811.  Charles  Butler  was  born  the  same  year,  but 
whether  here  or  in  Canada  w^e  cannot  say. 

Tlic  first  marriage  in  the  township  -was  that  of 
Charles  Butler  and  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Capt.  An- 
drus Parker.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Wil- 
liiim  Richey,  Esq.,  of  Groton  township,  in  the  spring 
of  1816.  The  second  marriage  was  that  of  Dan  Put- 
nam and  Louisa  Ensign,  of  Groton,  at  which  cere- 
mony the  same  justice  officiated. 

The  first  deaths  were  those  murdered  by  the  Indi- 
ans, June  3,  1813,  a  particular  account  of  which  has 


been  given.  The  second  death  was  that  of  Mrs. 
Butler  who  never  recovered  from  the  effects  of  her 
captivity  by  the  Indians.  We  do  not  know  whether 
or  not  there  were  any  religious  services  at  these 
burials. 

The  first  house  was  built  of  logs  at  the  head  of  Cold 
creek,  section  three,  by  D.  P.  Snow,  in  1810. 

The  first  stone  building  was  built  by  Thomas  S. 
Thomas,  near  the  head  of  Cold  creek,  about  1833, 
and  is  now,  1879,  occupied  by  V.  Palmer.  It  was  a 
small  dwelling  house. 

A  weekly  mail  route,  from  Sandusky  City  to  Lower 
Sandusk}',  was  established  in  1825.  The  mail  was 
carried  on  horse  back,  by  Cyrus  W.  Marsh,  and  Sam 
B.  Carpenter  was  the  first  postmaster  in  Margaretta. 
Carpenter  was  succeeded  by  Elisha  A.  Hubbard  (now 
of  Newport  Center,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,)  in  1837. 
He  held  the  office  until  1843,  and  was  followed  by 
Daniel  P.  Russel.  The  name  of  the  first  post  office 
established  was  Margaretta,  and  was  changed  to  Cas- 
talia, in  1843.  In  1810,  Cleveland  was  the  nearest 
post  office.  In  1811,  one  was  established  at  Blooming- 
ville,  Oxford  township,  which  was  the  nearest  one 
until  1825.  T.  C.  Adams  is  the  present  incumbent, 
May,  1879. 

In  1811,  Maj.  Fred.  Falley,  (who  had  been  trading 
for  five  years'  at  different  points  on  the  Reserve),  got 
his  effects  together  at  Cold  creek,  and  started  the 
first  store  in  Margaretta,  trading  principally  with  the 
Indians.  He  soon  after  went  into  the  service  of  the 
government  as  a  contractor  to  furnish  supplies  for  the 
army.  In  1816  and  1817  the  village  of  Venice  was 
built  on  the  Bay  shore,  at  the  mouth  of  Cold  creek, 
and  several  stores  were  established.  About  1824, 
Chapman  &  Amsden,  of  Bellevue,  opened  a  small 
store  at  Cold  creek,  and  operated  for  a  year  or  two. 
In  1834,  Burr  Higgins  commenced  trading  here,  and 
continued  until  1855,  when  he  sold  out  to  Samuel 
Ainslie,  who  brought  in  a  good  stock  and  did  a  re- 
spectable business. 

In  1839,  Davidson,  Hadley  &  Company  opened  a 
small  store  at  Cold  Creek,  and  did  business  about  a 
year.  Russell  &  Burton,  H.  and  F.  Vandercook, 
Cleveland  &  .Rice,  Robert  Whitney,  Harley  Long, 
J.  W.  Barnum,  William  Bardshar,  W.  c"  Baker, 
William  Grove,  and  others,  too  numerous  to  mention, 
have  done  business  at  Cold  Creek. 

Numerous  drinking  saloons  have  been  doing  a 
thriving  business  from  an  early  day,  of  which  our 
graveyard  has  made  a  record. 

Very  little  money  was  in  circulation  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  country.  Skins  and  furs  were  the 
principal  articles  of  exchange.  The  community  here, 
as  well  as  elsewhere,  suffered  by  the  worthless  banks 
chartered  by  the  State  after  the  war,  and  the-  large 
amount  of  shinplasters  (shilling  bills)  issued  by  irre- 
sponsible parties.  Change  was  made  by  cutting  a 
dollar  into  ten  shilling  pieces,  to  some  extent.  From 
1813  to  '15,  the  people  in  tliis  section  of  the  country 
had  no  saw  or  grist  mill,  and  the  meal  liad  to  be  made 


496 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,"  OHIO. 


by  pouiidiug  the  corn  in  mortars,  or  grating  it.  They 
had  a  hand  shell  mill  at  Cold  Creek,  which  was  used 
in  General  Wayne's  army  for  grinding  corn.  From 
1821  to  '26,  the  inhabitants  suffered  for  want  of  a 
market  for  their  produce.  Grain  would  not  buy  goods 
at  any  price,  so  that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
that  the  settlers  could  clothe  their  families.  Deer 
skins  were  used  for  men  and  boys,  and  he  that  had  a 
whole  suit  of  cloth  was  far  in  advance  of  the  times. 
Ladies  then  thought  it  no  disgrace  to  spin  wool  and 
flax,  and  home-made  goods  were  the  order  of  the  day. 
In  1831,  Captain  Andrus  Parker  put  up  twenty  bar- 
rels of  pork  and  shipped  it  to  Montreal,  for  which  he 
never  received  one  dime.  Moses  Kimball,  Esq.,  who 
resided  in  Venice,  in  1818,  and  was  afterward,  for 
several  years,  auditor  of  Huron  county,  in  1821 
invested  one  thousand  dollars  in  pork  and  took  it  to 
Montreal,  and  in  five  years  afterward  recovered  one 
hundred  and  thirty  dollai-s,  after  paying  an  attorney 
sixty  of  it  for  collection. 

The  emigration  which  commenced  in  1825,  and  the 
sale  of  the  government  lands  to  the  southwest  of  us, 
brought  some  money  into  the  country,  and  made  a 
limited  demand  for  the  surplus  produce,  but  until  the 
opening  of  the  Erie  canal,  there  was  no  regular  cash 
market.  Goods  were  enormously  high  :  coffee,  forty 
cents  per  pound  ;  a  common  wooden  pail,  one  dollar 
and  a  half,  and  shirting,  fifty  cents  per  yard. 

ORCtAJTIZATIOX. 

Margaretta  was  organized  with  Danbury  (north  of 
the  bay),  December,  1815,  by  Nathan  Cummings, 
Frederick  Falley  and  Bildad  Adams,  commissioners  of 
Huron  county.  Danbury  had  a  separate  organization 
two  years  after.  The  first  election  for  township  offi- 
cers was  held  in  December,  1815,  at  a  house  occupied 
by  a  man  named  Hughes,  and  situated  one-half  mile 
above  Venice  on  the  north  side  of  the  race,  but  we 
have  no  record  of  the  officers  elected  then.  The  elec- 
tion for  justice  of  the  peace  was  contested,  set  aside, 
and  none  was  elected  and  qualified  until  ISIT,  when 
J.  Hughes  was.  We  do  not  know  the  number  of 
votes  cast  at  the  election,  nor  any  of  the  official  acts 
of  the  first  magistrate.  The  following  ar^  some  of 
the  early  magistrates  and  the  dates  of  their  commis- 
sions: M.  Whitman,  June  24,  1819;  Alex.  M.  Porter, 
July  27,  1822;  A.  B.  Youngs,  August,  1822;  Charles 
Lindsley,  May,  1823;  Harvey  Fowler,  April,  1824; 
Pitts  Brown,  May,  1825;  Harvey  Fowler,  April,  1827; 
Henry  Cole,  May,  1828;  Joseph  Wilson,  February  7, 
1830;  Charles  Lindsley,  March,  1830:  Wm.  McCart- 
ney, February,  1833;  Harley  Long,  January,  1833. 
Present  officers,  1879:  Daniel  Loverin  and  William 
Jones,  justices  of  the  peace;  L.  Billings,  W.  H.  Neill 
and  Charles  Heimlich,  trustees;  L.  M.  Coughenour, 
clerk;  Henry  Moore,  treasurer:  \V.  II.  II.  Shurran, 
assessor. 

CHfKCHES. 


We  are  unable  to  say  when  ov  who 
gious  meeting   was   held,   or  who  pr 


he  first  reli- 
led  the  first 


sermon.  The  first  religious  organization  was  a  Meth- 
odist class,  on  Muscash,  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  township.  In  January,  1819,  a  Presbyterian 
church  was  organized  in  Margaretta  and  Groton  by 
Rev.  John  Seward,  who  had  no  stated  ministry.  Its 
principal  members  soon  removed  from  this  vicinity, 
and  in  a  few  years  it  became  extinct.  A  small  Bap- 
tist society  was  organized  in  or  about  the  year  1823. 
Its  members  resided  in  Margaretta,  Groton  and 
Oxford.  This  was  the  only  church  which  sustained 
regular  Sabbath  worship  in  the  township  for  several 
years.  It  had  preaching  only  a  part  of  the  time. 
Deacon  Richard  Falley  was  the  most  prominent  mem- 
ber, and  it  was  mainly  through  his  persevering  efforts 
that  the  church  was  sustained  through  years  of  dark- 
ness, shedding  its  moral  influence  upon  all  around. 
After  a  few  years  its  members  became  scattered.  Dea- 
con Falley's  health  failed,  and  after  his  decease  most 
of  the  remaining  members  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  which  was  organized  about  the  year 
1835,  by  Rev.  Hiram  Smith,  from  Westfield,  Massa- 
chusetts. The  first  jDiembers  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
Fowler,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plinny  Brown,  Mrs.  Amanda 
Hubbard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  Fowler.  Revs.  Brown, 
Keep,  Miller,  senior  and  junior,  were  among  those 
who  first  preached  to  this  society,  but  the  Rev.  Hiram 
Smith  was  with  them  a  good  portion  of  the  time  up 
to  1865,  and  his  influence  was  widely  felt,  for  he  had 
the  respect  and  love  of  all,  without  regard  to  sect  or 
class.  He  was  ever  ready  to  share  their  joys  and  sor- 
rows, and  by  his  self-sacrificing  spirit  endeared  him- 
self to  every  one.  A  pure  and  conscientious  chris- 
tian, his  everyday  life  consistent  with  his  calling,  he 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  any  who  knew  him.  He 
has  retired  from  the  ministry,  and  now  resides  in 
Hillsdale,  Michigan.  This  society  occupied  the  stone 
chapel  for  quite  a  time  and  aftei'wards  their  present 
church,  both  of  them  located  in  Castalia. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Sprague  is  the  present  pastor.  About 
1850,  two  years  after  the  building  of  the  present  Con- 
gregational church,  the  Methodists  built  a  frame 
church  at  Castalia,  which  flourished  for  a  short  time, 
but  run  down  gradually  and  no  regular  services 
were  held  after  1860.  Recently  it  has  been  sold  and 
converted  to  other  uses. 

CASTALIA  UXIVERSALIST  CHURCH. 

This  society  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  George  R. 
Brown,  October  12,  1862,  with  the  following  mem- 
bers: Mrs.  Thomas  Caswell,  Mrs.  B.  H.  Rogers,  Mrs. 
J.  D.  McKim,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Graves,  Mrs.  George 
White,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  White,  Mrs.  Ann  Graves,  Mrs. 
Stephen  Rogers,  Daniel  Rice,  Leonard  Drake,  Stephen 
Rogers,  R.  H.  Rogers,  Mrs.  Daniel  Rice,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Daniel  McDougal.  The  following  officers  were 
chosen:  D.  McDougal,  S.  Rogers  and  D.  Rice,  trus- 
tees; Mrs.  George  White,  treasurer:  R.  H.  Rogers, 
clerk;  In  LSG7,  the  society  erected  a  neat  and  com- 
modious church  building,  on  land  donated  by  Wil- 
Gravcs,  on  lot  thirty-one,  section  one,  at    a  cost  of 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


■197 


foiu-  tliousaiul  two  hundred  dollars,  and  was  ded- 
iciited  February  3,  18fi8.  at  which  time.  sufiBcient 
funds  were  raised  to  clear  the  church  of  debt.  Mr. 
Brown  was  pastor  at  this  time  and  for  several  years 
afterward,  and  was  their. pastor  at  the  time  of  his 
deatli,  some  years  since.  B.  F...Eaton  was  thej^astor 
in  1878. 

CHURCH  OF  OUR  REDEEMER,  AT  VEXICE.   * 

The  first  permanent  organization  of  a  parish,  was  an 
election,  of  wardens  and  vestrymen  in  June,  1866.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  July  5,  18.66,  the  Rev. 
Charles  Ogden  was  invited  and  accepted  a  call  to  take 
charge  of  the  parish.  On  the  17th  day  of  July,  1866, 
ground  was  broken  for  the  present  stone  edifice,  and 
the  corner  stone  laid  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brouson,  assisted 
by  the  Rev.  Charles  Ogden,  on  the  31st  day  of  August, 
1866.  The  parish  duly  organized  was  incorporated 
under  the  State  laws,  on  the  13th  day  of  October, 
1866,  and  admitted  in  union  with  the  diocese  of  Ohio. 

The  Church  of  Our  Redeemer  was  consecrated,  by 
the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  June  3,  1867. 
The  church  was  erected  by  Russell  H.  Heywood,  as  a 
memorial  to  the  departed  of  his  family,  at  a  cost,  in- 
cluding the  iron  fence,  of  twelve  thousand  dollars, 
which,  with  a  glebe  of  fifteen  acres,  was  deeded  to  the 
wardens  and  vestry  on  the  day  of  the  consecration. 
Oa  the  8tli  day  of  July,  1867,  the  Rev.  Charles 
Ogden  resigned  his  position  as  rector,  and  is  now  in 
the  diocese  of  Vermont.  The  Rev.  George  S.  Chase 
accepted  a  call  to  the  rectorship  of  the  parish  Septem- 
ber 37,  1867,  and  resigned,  on  account  of  his  health, 
Novembei'lS,  1868,  and  is  now  Warden  of  the  theo- 
ligical  seminary  at  Fairabault,  Minnesota.  On  the 
5th  day  of  October,  1874,  the  Rev.  .George  Bosley 
accepted  a  call  as  rector,  and  on  the  39th  day 
of  July,  1876,  resigned.  He  now  has  charge  of  a 
parish  at  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  The  church  has  been 
open  for  services  on  all  Sundays  since  its  erection, 
either  by  clergymen  or  lay  readers,  until  July,  1878. 
There  have  been  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  baptisms 
since  the  organization  of  the  church,  and  fifty-six 
confirmed,  several  of  whom  have  gone  to  their  final 
account,  and  many  removed  to  other  parishes. 


The  first  school  house  was  built  of  logs,  on  lot 
twenty,  second  section,  at  the  junction  of  the  Venice 
and  Cold  creek  roads,  in  the  fall  of  1818,  by  Captain 
Andrus  Parker  and  some  of  his  neighbors.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Thomas  McCullough,  at  fifteen 
dollars  per  month,  in  the  winter  of  1818-19,  and  he 
was  paid  by  those  who  patronized  the  school.  There 
were  twenty-five  scholars  that  winter.  Schools  were 
ccintinued  here  only  about  two  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1831,  Rev.  Alvin  Coe,  who  had  previously  collected  a 
number  of  Indian  children  at  Greenfield  and  given 
them  instruction  in  the  English  language,  moved  his 


Communicated  by  R.  H.  Heywood . 


school  to  Venice,  because  he  could  get  a  more  suita- 
ble building  there,  and  he  continued  the  school  about 
six  months,  teaching  all  the  children  in  the  vicinity 
that  came  to  him  for  instruction. 

In  1836,  a  log  school  house  was  built  one  hundred 
rods  south  of  the  present  school  house  in  sub-district 
number  two,. and  a  school  was  taught  in  it.  generally 
two  terms  in  a  year,  until  one  was  built  on  tlie  present 
site  in  1835. 

Some  of  the  best  district  schools  that  have  ever 
been  taught  in  tlie  township  were  taught  in  those 
days.  .  The  following  are  a  few  of  the  first  teachers: 
A.  W.  0.  Brion,  of  Maine;  Jonathan  Fuller,  James 
F.  Wilson,  and  John  W.  Falley,  the  two  latter  since 
cpiite  successful  physicians. 

In  districting  the  township  under  the  first  scliool 
law,  the  first  and  second  sections  were  made  the  first 
district;  the  third  and  fourth  the  second;  Venice  the 
third,  and  Muscash  (the  northwest  corner  of  the 
township),  the  fourth.  There  are  now  eleven  sub- 
districts  and  four  fractional,  in  ten  of  which  good, 
substantial,  commodious,  and  comfortable  school 
buildings  have  been  built.  In  one  fractional  district 
the  hous^.  is  in  Groton.  Good  schools  are  now  taught 
nine  months  in  the  year.  The  enumeration  in  tlie 
township  in  1878  was  eight  hundred  and  seventeen; 
the  attendance  five  hundred  and  four.  Attendance 
at  the  high  school,  forty-eight.  In  May,  1872,  the 
voters  of  the  township  decided  by  ballot  to  establish 
a  central  high  school,  and  use  the  second  story  of  the 
school  building  in  sub-district  number  eight  (Cas- 
talia)  for  that  purpose.  The  bo.ird  of  education  had 
built  this  large  school  building  the  year  before,  which 
is  a  credit  to  the  township,  and  is  universally  ap- 
proved of  now,  though  it  met  with  some  opposition 
at  the  time.  Four-month  sessions  are  held  every 
winter,  which  have  proved  of  great  benefit  to  the 
voung  men  and  ladies  of  this  place. 


About  the  year  1833,  a  temperance  society  was  or- 
ganized. The  meeting  was  addressed  by  Revs.  E. 
Conger  and  L.  B.  Gurley,  after  which  about  fifteen 
signed  tl>e  pledge,  and  organized  the  first  temperance 
society  in  Margaretta.  Since  then,  several  other 
temperance  organizations  have  been  effected:  one  in 
1859,  and  two  others  since. 

Much  good  has  been  done  by  the  societies,  for  they 
began  with  fifteen  members,  and  now  the  majority  of 
the  people  in  the  township  are  friends  of  temperance. 

Margaretta  Grange  No.  488,  P.  of  H  ,  was  organized 
January  30,  1873,  with  twenty-seven  charter  members. 
The  following  were  the  first  officers:  W.  W.  Miller, 
W.  M.;  E.  D.  Graves,  0.;  N.  E.  Prentice,  L.;  M.  F. 
Brown,  S.;  John  White,  A.  S.;  J.  B.  Witter,  C;  E. 
D.  White,  treasurer;  R.  F.  Fowler,  secretary;  S.  H. 
Rogers,  G.  K.;  Mrs.  E.  D.  Graves,  Ceres;  Ellen 
White,  Pomona;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Miller,  Flora;  Mrs.  L. 
S.  Graves,  L.  A.  S.  The  Grange  is  still  flourishing 
with  the  following  members  as  otHccrs:  J.  B.  Wit- 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ter,  M.;  G.  Ray,  0.:  F.  Nelson  Pi-entice,  L. :  J.  C. 
Rogers',  S.;  w".  H.  Neill,  A.  S.:  Mrs.  H.  Weyrangh, 
C. :  0.  Ransom,  treasurer;  J.  Atwater.  secretary;  D. 
Witter.  G.  K. 


Dr.  Hartshorn  settled  in  Margaretta.  at  Venice,  in 
the  year  1817,  and  died  in  Sandusky  county  some 
years  since.  Dr.  Samuel  Carpenter  settled  in  Castalia 
in  1824,  and  was  the  second  physician  in  Margaretta. 
He  left  the  place,  and  died  a  few  years  ago,  and  his 
body  was  brought  here  for  interment.  M.  J.  Mors- 
mau  located  at  Castalia  in  1836,  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  James  F.  Wilson  was  a  very 
popular  and  successful  physician  hei'e  for  many  3'ears. 
Dr.  R.  C.  Luce  has  been  here  a  long  time,  and  has 
had  a  large  practice,  and  is  still  here.  J.  D.  McKim 
was  very  successful  and  popular;  he  died  here.  W. 
F.  Story  occupies  his  old  place,  and  is  considered  a 
very  skillful  practitioner,  and  though  reticent,  is 
highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen. 

VILLAGES. 

The  village  of  Venice  is  situated  on  the  south  shore 
of  Sandusky  Bay,  one  mile  west  of  the  east  line  of 
ilargaretta.  It  was  laid  out  by  Major  Fred.  Falley, 
and  some  of  its  lots  sold  at  a  high  price  in  the  winter 
of  1816  and  "17.  Improvements  were  immediately 
commenced  and  pushed  forward  vigorously.  Two 
large  warehouses,  two  commodious  public  houses, 
stores,  shops  and  dwellings  were  erected,  and,  in  a 
few  mouths,  several  hundred  inhabitants  had  col- 
lected from  the  east  and  south  to  participate  in  the 
building  of  the  village.  The  most  prominent  early 
settlers  of  Venice  were  Major  Oliver  Barrett,  from 
New  York;  Anthony  Banning,  from  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio;  Charles  Lindsley,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Smith,  were  engaged  in  mercantile  business:  another 
merchant,  by  the  name  of  Reed:  three  brothers  Went- 
worth,  two  Ackins,  and  many  others, — mechanics, 
transient  persons  and  settlers  whose  names  are  for- 
gotten. 

During  the  summer  of  1817.  the  place  was  built 
and  the  mill  race  commenced,  to  bring  Cold  creek  to 
the  present  site  of  Venice  mills.  The  summer  of 
1818  was  quite  sickly,  and  the  people,  being  unac- 
climated,  it  proved  disastrous  to  the  further  progress 
of  the  village.  Major  Barrett,  Dr.  Wentworth  and 
others  died,  many  left  the  place  as  best  they  could, 
and  it  became  almost  a  deserted  town,  and  did  not 
revive  until  the  building  of  the  mill  in  1824.  It  is 
now  widely  known  from  the  flouring-mills  located 
there. 

In  1836,  the  village  of  Castalia,  at  the  head  of  Cold 
creek,  was  laid  out  by  Davidson,  Hadley  &  Co.,  and 
had  a  gradual  growth  for  about  twenty  years,  after 
which  time  it  retrograded  to  some  extent,  and  now 
there  is  but  one  store  there  but  that  does  a  large  busi- 
ness. T.  C.  Adams  &  Bro.  is  the  firm.  In  its 
])almiest  days,  there  were  four  stores,  two  groceries, 


one  di'ug  shop,  two  churches  and  a  daily  mail — now 
there  are  two  mails  per  day. 

rXDl'STlUAL    PCR.SUIT8. 

Cold  creek  affords,  in  some  respects,  superior  water 
power.  It  is  not  much  affected  by  floods  and  drouths, 
being  fed  by  subterraueous  fountains.  There  is  a 
fall  of  fifty-seven  feet  from  its  head  to  the  baj',  forty- 
nine  feet  being  used  by  the  three  mills  which  it 
it  propels.  In  November,  1810,  D.  P.  Snow  put  a 
corn  grist  mill  in  operation  near  the  head  of  Cold 
Creek,  a  few  rods  above  where  the  present  upper  dam 
is.  It  ground  corn  until  August,  1812,  when  the 
settlers  were  driven  away  by  Hull's  surrender,  and  it 
was  not  used  afterward.  This,  though  a  grist  mill, 
which  secured  him  his  land,  by  contract  with  the 
proprietor  of  the  township,  would  now  be  called  a 
frail  structure.  It  was  built  of  logs,  and  the  burrs 
were  made  from  rocks  found  near  by,  by  Linus 
Ensign,  a  citizen  of  Groton.  Mr.  Daniel  Putnam 
says  it  would  grind  from  ten  to  fifteen  bushels  in 
twenty-four  hours.  We  suppose  this  to  have  been 
the  first  grist  mill  on  the  Fire-lands. 

In  1811,  Major  Frederick  Fally  raised  the  frame  of 
a  saw  mill.  Its  site  is  now  the  pond  at  the  head  of 
the  Venice  mill-race.  He  was  prevented  from  com- 
pleting it  by  the  war. 

In  1815,  this  mill  site  was  purchased  liy  Eli  Hunt, 
who  put  a  saw  mill  in  operation,  with  a  run  of  stone 
in  one  corner,  with  an  apparatus  for  bolting.  We 
believe  this  to  have  been  the  first  saw  mill  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Fire-lands,  and  furnished  the  first 
lumber  for  this  region. 

In  the  early  part  of  1819.  Joshua  Pettingill  put  in 
operation  a  grist  mill  on  Cold  creek  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  below  its  head.  This  mill  was  quite  an  advance 
upon  any  that  had  been  started  before  it.  and  in  very 
dry  seasons  it  did  most  of  the  grinding  that  was  done 
on  the  Fire-lands.  The  power  w\as  a  screw  wheel, 
and  it  had  a  head  of  only  three  feet.  It  was  in  ope- 
ration about  ten  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1822,  Daniel  Mack  erected  a  saw  mill 
a  few  rods  below  where  Snow's  mill  had  been,  with 
one  run  of  stone  in  the  corner  for  grinding.  About 
1824,  he  built  a  substantial  grist  mill,  with  two  run 
of  stone.  Some  time  after  his  death,  February  12, 
1826,  the  mill  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  German  by 
the  name  of  Weber,  in  or  about  the  year  1827.  After 
Mr.-  JIack  built  his  mill,  years  of  litigation  followed,  - 
between  him,  and  others,  and  Mr.  Pettingill,  for  the 
latter's  damaging  them  by  flowing  the  back  water 
upon  them,  which  was  terminated  in  1832  by  the 
whole  mill  interest,  and  five  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
land,  passing  into  the  hands  of  Burr  Higgins.  Mr. 
Higgins,  having  the  entire  control  of  the  water  power, 
improved  his  mill,  which  did  the  work  of  a  good  cus- 
tom mill  until  about  1848.  In  1835,  Higgins  sold 
his  entire  interest  to  Davidson,  Hadley  &  Company, 
who  held  it  until  1838,  when  the  whole  property 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Burr   Higgins  and   ilarshall 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO. 


409 


Burton,  wUo  built  a  stone  mill  below  the  lower  spriuo;. 
and  ccgiducted  this  water  to  it.  The  stone  mill  was 
built  in  1839,  and  had  four  run  of  stone.  It  did  a 
good  business  up  to  the  time  Mr.  Hojt  bought  it,  in 
186-4,  and  changed  hands  several  times.  Before  the 
railroad  was  built,  the  Hour  from  tliis  mill  was  boated 
down  the  mill-race  to  the  bay. 

In  1848  and  '49,  a  cotton  factory  was  built  at 
Castalia,  and  put  in  operation  for  two  or  three  years. 

In  May  or  June,  1864,  John  Hoyt  bought  the  mill 
property  at  Castalia,  and  organi^ied  a  stock  company 
for  the  manufacture  of  paper.  Castalia  Paper  Com- 
pany was  the  name  of  the  company,  and  }{t.  Hoyt 
himself  was  the  chief  stockholder  and  the  manager  of 
the  coneerji.  He  moved  the  old  cotton  factory  down 
to  the  stone  flouring  mill,  and  built  some  additions 
to  them,  and  in  about  a  year  had  in  operation  a  first 
class  mill  for  the  manufacture  printing  of  paper.  It 
had  a  capacity  of  about  a  ton  per  day,  and  run  continu- 
ously, day  and  night.  untilJuly,  1874:,  whenitburued, 
and  was  not  rebuilt. 

In  the  spring  of  18T5,  the  water  power  was  pur- 
chased for  eight  thousand  dollars,  by  some  of  the  lead- 
ing and  most  enterprising  citizens  of  Margaretta, 
namely:  C.  Caswell,  J.  B.  Witter,  J.  G.  Snowdeu,  E. 
D.  White,  S.  H.  Rogers,  Philip  Erbe,  T.  C.  Adams, 
and  J.  D.  Chamberlin  (the  latter  formerly  operated 
the  old  flouring  mill),  and  they  incorporated  the  Cas- 
talia Milling  Company,  and  proceeded  immediately  to 
build  a  first  class  flouring  mill,  on  the  most  modern 
approved  plan.  The  building  is  a  substantial  frame, 
built  on  the  foundation  of  the  old  stone  mill,  three 
full  stories,  besides  basement  and  attic.  The  capacity 
of  the  mill  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  barrels  per 
day.  They  keep  it  running  night  and  day,  and  are 
usually  behind  in  their  orders.  Since  the  mill  was 
built  the  company  have  put  up  an  elevator,  with  a  ca- 
pacity for  storing  twenty  thousand  bushels  of  wheat, 
and  fitted  up  with  all  the  modern  appliances  for  con- 
venience in  handling  grain. 

In  February,  1818,  Eli  Hun)  sold  his  interest  in 
the  mill  west  of  Venice,  to  Samuel  H.  Smith,  of 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1831,  Smith  purchased 
the  mill  seat  at  Venice,  with  its  improvements,  and 
built  a  grist  mill  there  with  two  run  of  stone.  In 
1832  and  1833,  and  1838  and  1839,  his  whole  interest 
was  transferred  to  E.  Jesup,  who  occupied  it  until 
1831.  In  the  same  year  H.  Fowler  built  a  saw  mill 
on  Pike  creek,  which  was  in  operation  up  to  about 
1866,  when  it  was  abandoned  and  the  dam  torn 
down. 

The  old  mill  at  N'onice,  with  Cold  creek  from  the 
bay  to  Pettingill's  mill,  with  five  hundred  acres  of 
land,  w.as  })urchased  on  June  14,  1831,  by  Russell  H. 
Heywood,  of  Buffalo,  New  York.  The  winter  of 
1831-3  was  the  coldest  known  in  Northern  Ohio,  and 
all  the  mill  streams,  except  Cold  creek,  were  frozen 
up.  Southern  Michigan  as  well  as  Northern  Ohio 
were  dependent  on  in  ill  on  the  this  stream  for  their 
grinding.      In    January,   1833.    the    Venice    flouring 


mill  was  begun,  and  conipleted  June  1.  1833.  with 
three  run  of  French  burrs  for  merchants"  and  tiiree 
for  custom  work.  The  completion  of  the  mill  es- 
tablished the  first  permanent  cash  market  for  wliear 
on  the  Five-lands.  With  much  labor  from  January 
to  June,  enougii  wheat  was  got  together  from  Huron, 
I  Richland,  Wayne,  Holmes,  Knox.  Seneca  and  other 
counties,  to  make  one  thousand  barrels  of  Hour 
I  before  harvest.  Tell  a  farmer  in  those  days  r.hat 
I  seventy-five  cents  cash  per  bushel  would  be  paid  for 
!  wheat  at  Venice,  and  he  would  reply  with  a  look  of 
incredulity,  -'You  don't  catch  me  there;  if  four  loads 
I  of  wheat  are  carried  there,  the  i)rice  will  be  put  down 
r  to  three  shillings,  payable  in  goods  at  whatever  price 
!  the  seller  chooses  to  put  on  them."  The  first  one 
hundred  barrels  of  flour  in  the  merchant  work  was 
put  into  extra  new  barrels  painted  with  China  Ver- 
million, taken  on  anew  scow  to  a  new  vessel,  shipped 
to  Buffalo,  and  put  on  a  new  canal  boat,  and  was  all 
the  freight  the  vessel  and  canal  boat  had  (at  that  lime 
nearly  all  the  freighting  was  merchandise  and  emi- 
grants to  the  West).  It  went  to  New  York  as  clean 
as  when  it  left  the  mill.  On  its  arrival  in  New  York, 
hundreds  of  people  wont  to  see  it,  the  flrst  shiptnent 
of  extra  flour  from  Ohio,  and  some  predicted  that, 
in  time,  Ohio  might  furnish  them  with  several  thou- 
sand barrels  of  flour  a  year.  The  one  hundred  bar- 
rels were  distributed  to  as  many  different  persons,  at 
one  dollar  per  barrel  above  the  best  Genesee  flour 
made  at  Rochester.  The  harvest  was  unusually  early, 
and  the  season  very  dry  that  year,  and  the  mill  was 
put  to  its  utmost  capacity  forhome  consumption  until 
after  the  fall  rains,  many  bringing  their  grists  one 
hundred  miles.  In  one  instance,  two  men  left  Han- 
cock county  on  Monday  morning,  and  brought  up  at 
Venice  the  next  Sunday,  in  search  of  a  mill  that  had 
water  to  grind.  On  that  day  Mr.  Heywood  had  as- 
sembled all  his  men  in  the  mill  to  have  religious  ser- 
vice conducted  by  a  minister  from  Norwalk,  and 
noticed  two  men  come  in  with  whips  in  their  hands, 
travel  worn  and  dusty  in  appearance,  who  took  part 
in  the  services.  After  the  conclusion  of  the  service, 
they  inquired  for  the  proprietor,  who  was  pointed  out 
to  them,  and  they  told  this  story:  "We  left  home  last 
Monday  morning,  leaving  all  behind  us  sick  and  ut- 
terly destitute  of  flour,  and  traveled  ever  since  to  find 
a  mill  that  had  sutticient  water  to  grind  our  wheat, 
We  have  fifteen  bushels  aiiiece.  How  soon  can  you 
grind  it  for  us?"  Turning  to  the  clergyman,  Mr.  Hev- 
wood  said:  '"What  shall  I  do?  ■'"  he  replied:  "(iriuil  it 
for  them  as  soon  as  possible,"  which  he  did,  and  they 
were  soon  on  their  way  home  rejoicing.  For  three 
weeks,  so  great  was  the  demand  upon  him  that  he 
could  not  shut  down  his  mills  Sundays,  which  is 
and  always  has  been  his  custom. 

Much  of  the  fiour  made  in  Ohio  before  184(i  was 
sent  West  for  market.     In  1830.  Oliver  Newbury  pur- 
chased five  huiulred  barrels  of  flour  at  eight  dollars 
per  barrel,  and  took  it  to  Chicago,  and  sold  it   for 
wenty  dollars  per  barrel,  citizens   holding  a  public 


500 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


meeting,  thanking  him  for  not  asking  fifty.-    It  was    j 
all  the  flour  they  had  for  the  winter.  | 

The  second  mill,  one  find  one-half  miles  west  of  | 
south  of  Venice,  was  commenced  in^  1839  and  com- 
pleted in  1841,  with  eight  run  of  stone,  at  a  cost  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  This  was  a  wooden  structure 
and  was  destroj-ed  by  fire  in  1848.  Another  mill,  of 
brick  and  stone,  was  raised  on  the  same  spot  in  1852, 
with  six  run  of  stone.  The  eastern  part  of  the  Ven- 
ice mill  was  changed  in  1836  for  merchant  work.  The 
capacity  of  the  mills  is  sufficient  to  make  seventy-five 
thousand  barrels  of  flour  during  the  season  of  navi- 
gation, consuming  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 
in  the  purchase  of  wheat.  This  was  doubtless,  until 
quite  recently,  the  most  extensive  business  enterprise 
on  the  Fire-lands.  The  wheat  was  brought  in  wagons 
until  the  completion  of  the  Mud  River  &  Lake  Erie 
railroad  to  Tiffin.  Much  of  it  was  brought  so  great 
a  distance  and  over  so  bad  roads  as  to  bring  but  little 
profit  to  the  owners.  But  it  furnished  them  with 
money  to  jjay  their  taxes.  In  one  instance  a  man 
came  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  with  a  four-horse 
team  and  twelve  bushels  of  wheat,  the  balance  of  his 
load  being  feed  for  his  team  and  himself,  he  camping 
out  every  night.  When  he  had  sold  his  wheat  at  the 
mill  he  went  over  to  the  store  with  his  nine  dollars, 
talking  thus  to  himself:  "My  wheat  was  worth  noth- 
ing at  home.  If  I  had  lived  decently  coming  here  I 
should  have  spent  it;  if  I  live  decently  going  home  I 
shall  spend  it;  but  I  must  have  money  to  pay  my 
taxes  and  buy  a  barrel  of  salt.  What  is  the  price  of 
this  sheeting?"'  A  boy  answered:  "A  sixpence." 
"  Yes,  my  wheat  was  worth  something.  I  could  have 
got  a  yard  of  cloth  like  that  for  a  bushel  at  home." 
These  mills  are  in  operation  now,  the  upper  one  for 
custom  work,  however.  The  lower  mill,  at  Venice, 
has  been  during  the  last  year  entirely  remodeled  and 
new  machinery  put  in  from  top  to  bottom,  and  every- 
thing of  the  latest  and  most  approved  pattern.  Noth- 
ing seems  to  be  wanting  to  make  first  class  flour. 
The  improvements  were  designed  by  the  superintend- 
ent, John  Heywood,  grandson  of  R.  H.,  and  are  a 
model  of  compactness  and  mechanical  skill  in  utiliz- 
ing space.  The  wheat  is  taken  into  the  mill  at  a  sink 
on  one  side  of  the  building  and  elevated  directly  to 
the  hopper  of  the  scales,  and  from  there  to  the  bins 
above.  When  wanted  for  grinding  it  goes  to  the 
basement  and  is  run  through  two  fan  and  sieve  clean- 
ers and  one  wheat  duster  (all  the  dust  carried  out  of 
the  rriill),  elevated  to  the  floor  above,  run  through  the 
heater,  and  from  there  to  the  stones,  where  there  is 
still  another  appliance  for  cleaning  as  it  is  fed  out  of 
the  hopper.  All  the  dust  from  these  cleaners  is  car- 
ried in  air-tight  fulics  outside  the  building.  There 
are  three  run  of  wlieat  Imnvs  and  two  of  middling; 


eight  reels;  with  one  hundred  and  forij-four  yards 
(forty  inches  wide)  of  bolting  cloths,  three  mkldling 
purifiers  and  one  bran,  duster.  It  seems  as  i if; every- 
thing that  human  ingenuity  could  devise  to -get  all 
Jhe  flour  from  the  wheat,,  and  make  it  of  .the  very 
best  quality,,  were  here  in  the  least  space  possible  and 
arranged  to  be  easy  of  access,  and  perfectly  simple  in 
construction.  Eussel  H.  Heywood  is  still  the  propri- 
etor and  general  manager,  and  is  now  [187-9]  eighty- 
two  years  old..' and  has  operated  these  mills  forty- 
eight  years  in  succession,  which  speaks  more  .for  him 
than  this  pen  can  write. 

In  the  j-ear  -1811,  Charles  Butler  began  tanning 
leather  near  the  Venice  mills.  In  the  springof  1813, 
he  removed,  to -the  head  of  Cold  creek  and  occupied  a 
tannery  there,  built  by  Major  Frederick  Falley,  that 
year.  This  tannery  was  of.  great  service  to  the  early 
settlers  in  furnishing  them  with  an  •  article  that  was 
indispensable.  It  was  continued  with  various  suc- 
cess until  about  1835-.  Some  of  the  early  operators  of 
this  establishment  were  :  Charles  Butler,  Moses 
Nichols,  George  Crittenden,  Henry  Cole,  Esq.,  A. 
M.  Porter,  Esq. ,  and  Thom^is  McCullough.  Abou t 
1832.,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Richard  Falley,  au  I 
soon  after  to  Elisha  Hubbard,  who  carried  it  on  for 
several  years. 

In  1833,  a  small  distillery  was  started  at  the  heal 
of  Cold  creek,  by  Dr.  L.  B.  Carpenter  and  his  brother. 
S.  C.  Carpenter.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of  Chap- 
man and  Amsden,  of  Bellevue.  soon  after,  and  from 
them  to  J.  R.  Johnson,  and  was  abandoned  about 
1830. 

Wm.  P.  Mason,  of  Milan,  built  a  distillery  in  Venice, 
in  or  about  the  year  1824.  It  was  in  operation  some 
eight  years,  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  Anson  Cor- 
bett,  of  Sandusky  City,  and  was  abandoned  at  his 
death.  It  was  designed  to  be  an  establishment  of 
considerable  capacity,  and  in  some  years  a  good  deal 
was  done.  The  distillation  of  alcohol  was  one  of  the 
methods  employed  to  bring  the  surplus  produce  into 
the  Eastern  markets,  as  it  was  much  easier  to  trans- 
port whisky  than  corn. 

Large  quantities  of  flour  barrels  were  formerly 
made  at  Venice  and  Castalia.  for  the  use  of  the  mills. 

BURIAL    PLACES. 

The  Castalia  cemetery  was  located  on  lot  thirty- 
three,  fourth  section,  June  14  or  15.  1813.  and  the 
first  interments  were  those  massacred  by  the  Indians. 

Oak  Lawn  cemetery,  one-half  mile  west  of  Venice, 
on  lot  twenty,  second  section,  was  located  about  181b. 

There  is  a.  private  burying  ground  of  the  Graves 
family,  located  near  the  southwest  corner  ofiot  eight, 
fourth  section.  •  . 


RUGGLES/ 


The  tou-nship  received  its  uauie  in  honor  of  Hon. 
Almoii  Ruggles,  the  surveyor  of  the  Fire-hinds, 
associate  judge  at  one  time  of  Hu-ron  county,  and  a 
member  of  both  branches  of  the  State  legislature. 
He  was  also  the  first  recorder  of  Huron  county. 
Judge  Ruggles,  in  1815,  was  the  owner  of  a  consid- 
erable tract  of  laud  in  section  two  of  this  township. 

NATURAL    FEAXrKE.S. 

We  quote  substantially  as  follows  from  Mr.  Samuel 
C.  Sturtevant's  excellent  history  of  Ruggles,  pub- 
lished in  the  June  number  (1864)  of  the  Fire-lands 
Pioneer:  -'The  central  portions  of  the  township  are 
level,  the  eastern  and  southern  slightly  undulating, 
the  western  and  northern  considerably  broken  and 
uneven.  It  was  originally  a  dense  forest,  of  which 
the  beech  constituted  the  greater  part,  though  the 
maple,  elm,  basswood,  hickory,  whitewood  and  ash 
.were  by  no  means  wanting,  while  the  higher  lands 
abounded  with  the  finest  oaks,  and  along  the  streams 
grew  the  black  walnut,  the  butternut  and  the  sj^ca- 
more." 

In  the  central  portions  of  the  township  the  soil  is 
clayey,  while  in  other  parts  it  is  for  the  most  part  a 
gravelly  loam,  and  well  adapted  to  either  grazing  or 
the  raising  of  grain.  There  are  two  stone  quarries, 
one  in  the  north  part  on  Mr.  Charles  Curtiss"  farm; 
the  other  in  the  west  part,  on  Wakeman  Beach's  farm. 
The  township  is  free  from  marshes  or  waste  lands, 
wliile  it  is  excellently  well  drained  by  the  Vermillion 
river  and  its  tributaries.  The  main  stream  crosses 
the  south  line  nearly  two  miles  east  of  the  southwest 
corner,  and  flows  northwestwardly,  leaving  the  town- 
ship just  south  of  tile  northwest  corner.  Its  prin- 
cipal tributary,  Buck  creek,  comes  from  Troy,  crosses 
the  east  line  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  the  cen- 
ter road,  and  runs  northwestwardly  to  the  north  part 
of  the  township,  when  it  receives  the  waters  of  an- 
other creek,  which  drains  the  southeast  corner,  and 
then  runs  westerly  to  join  the  Vermillion.  In  the 
southern  part,  Whetstone  creek  runs  west  tothe  Ver- 
uiillion.  Another  creek,  west  of  the  river.,  runs 
northeast  till  it  joins  the  main  stream. 

SETTLEMENT. 

In  1833,  Mr.  Daniel  Beach  and  Bradford  Sturtevant 
came  to  Ruggles  with  a  view  of  purchasing  lands,  and 
in  June  of  the  year  above  named,  bought  of  ilessrs. 

*Ashland  County,  but  part  of  the  Fire-lands. 


Jesup  and  Wakeman,  of  Connecticut,  six  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
three,  Mr.  Beach-  taking  the  western  and  smaller 
part.  IV[r.  Beach  was  the  pioneer  settler  of  this 
township.  Born  in  Warren,  Litchfield  county,  Con- 
necticut, in  liSo,  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  made  the 
journey  to  Ohio  on  foot,  remaining  at  Canfield,  Ma- 
honing county,  for  one  year.  He  then  returned  to 
Connecticut,  and  on  tRe  first  day  of  January,  1810, 
he  was  united  to  Miss  Lorinda  Sacket.  He  exchanged 
his  Connecticut  farm  of  forty  acres,  which  his  father 
had  given  him,  for  two  hundred  lying  near  Talmadge, 
then  Portage,  but  now  Summit  county,  Ohio,  whither 
he  removed  in  1811.  In  July  28,  1823,  he  left  Tal- 
madge, with  his  wife  and  five  children,  and  equipped 
with  two  yokes  of  oxen,  set  out  for  Ruggles,  arriving 
at  his  place  of  purchase  on  Saturday,  August  2nd. 
Mr.  Beach  was  accompanied  by  Eleazar  Sackett  and 
Ezra  Smith.  The  five  children's  names  were  Cyrus 
S.,  Reuben  K.,  Cordelia  M.,  Harriet  Z.,  and  Daniel 
B.  Upon  their  arrival  Cyrus  and  Reuben  found  fire 
at  a  deserted  Indian  camp,  with  which  their  first  meal 
was  cooked.  After  regaling  themselves  with  supper 
the  men  of  the  party  began  the  erection  of  a  rude 
cabin,  ten  by  fifteen  square.  It  was  built  of  poles, 
and  was  finished  that  night,  but  was  without  a  roof. 
This  building  was  but  a  temporary  structure.  In  a 
few  days  they  built  a  log  house,  but  when  completed 
discovered  that  it  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  road. 
They  took  it  down,  but  having  no  time  to  rebuild 
Commenced  clearing  and  preparing  for  a  crop.  They 
soon  had  five  acres  sown  to  wheat,  and  thereupon 
they  rebuilt  their  house,  having  lived  in  the  log  cabin 
for  six  weeks.  The  succeeding  winter  Mr.  Beach  em- 
ployed hands  enough  to  enable  him  to  chop  one  hun- 
dred acres  which  he  cleared  the  next  summer.  In 
the  fall  he  set  out  a  large  number  of  apple  trees.  Mr. 
Beach  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  in  his  old  age 
gave  his  home  of  three  hundred  acres  to  his  sons, 
Wakeman  and  William,  with  the  stipulation  that 
they  should  pay  all  his  debts,  which  they  were  soon 
able  to  do.  Mr.  Beach's  wife  died  Xovember  10, 
1856,  and  in  May,  1858,  he  married  Mrs.  Frances 
Peck,  with  whom  he  lived  un  till  his  death,  May 
21,  1862.  This  pioneer  settler  of  Ruggles  accom  - 
plished  much  towards  the  rapid  settling  up  of  his 
township,  and  his  memory  is  griitefully  cherished  liy 
the  people  of  Ruggles. 

Of  his  children,  Cyrus  S..  married  Xorali  Gates, 
and  their  children  were:  Cynthia,  M;irii)ii,  Xorali  C, 
and.  Wakeman. 

(501) 


302 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES.  OHIO 


Reiibeu  K.  luiirriuil  Faiiny  Curti.ss.  Children: 
George,  Coluuibus,  William.  Irena.  Miles  and  Mary. 

Harriet  Z.  married  Rolliu  A.  Curtis.*.  Cluldreu: 
Charles  (dead).  Horace,  Frederica.  Fanny  and  Har- 
riet. 

Cordelia  M.  married  Isaac  Cowell.  Cliildren:  I>ut- 
ton,  Daniel,  Lorinda,  Betsey.  .lane,  Norah  and  Wil- 
liam.    His  sou,  Daniel,  died  young.  ; 

Wakemau  J.  married  Phcbe  Ann  Washbnrn.  i 
Children:  Diora,  Wanda,  and  Mary  Alice.  , 

Bradford  Sturdevant  was  the  second  pioneer  settler 
of  Ruggles,  coming  into  the  town.ship  in  August,  1833.  j 
Ms.  S.  was  born  in  Warren,  Connecticut,  March  10,  j 
1786,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Carter,  I 
January  1,  1809.  He  removed  to  Summit  county,  j 
Ohio,,  in  181G,  where  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  j 
Ruggles.  He  built  a  log  hous«  on  his  purchase,  two 
miles  west  of  the  center,  and  in  September  brought 
thither  liis  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  live  | 
children.  Hecaniewitli  ox  teams,  bringing  with  him 
twelve  head  of  cattle  and  twenty  sheep.  The  follow- 
ing January  he  returned  to  Summit  county,  and 
brhughtback  with  him  a  drove  of  a  dozen  hogs,  mak- 
ing the  journey  in  one  week,  without  assistance.  Mi-. 
Sturtevant  built  the  first  framed  building  in  the 
township.  This  was  his  house,  and  was  twenty- 
one  feet  st^uare,  and  is  still  standing.  In  1836  he 
took  up  a  temporary  residence  in  Milan,  Erie  county, 
whither  he  removed  so  as  to  educate  his  children. 
He  returned  to  his  Ruggles  home  in  1844.  Mr. 
Sturdevant  was  one  of  the  sterling  men  of  Rug- 
gles,— his  life  an  exemplary  one.  He  lived  and  died 
universally  esteemed  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him.  His  children  were:  1,  Carleton  H.,  who  mar- 
ried Lydia  Peck,  and  died  November  27,  1848;  to 
them  were  born  six  children.  2,  Morcia,  who  mar- 
ried B.  Ashley,  of  Milan;  to  them  were  born  seven 
children.  3,  Harriet,  who  died  while  attending 
school  at  Hudson,  Ohio.  4,  Sarah,  who  married  Dr. 
Galpin,  of  Milan,  and  is  now  dead.  5.  Isaac,  who 
married  Adelaide  Carter,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children;  William  C,  James  Wilson  and  Mary  L.  6, 
Martha,  who  was  born  May  17,  1825,  and  was  the 
first  female  child  born  in  the  township.  She  married 
Horace  Taylor,  at  one  time  a  missionary  in  Southern 
ludia.  They  had  four  children.  Of  these,  William 
B.  married  Anna  Wolcolt;  they  had  four  children.         > 

Another  early  settler  was  Jacob  Roorback,  who  | 
came  here  in  1823.  and  bought  four  hundred  acres  of  j 
land  in  section  two.  Mr.  Roorback  died  March  21,  ! 
1850,  and  his  wife  about  the  same  time.  Tiieir  only  j 
ciiild.  Sarah,  became  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Purdy,  whose  ; 
children  are:  Alexander  W..  William.  A.  "('..  and  ! 
John  H. 

Justus  Barnes,  of  Cornwall,  Connecticut,  settled  in 
Ruggles.  in  1824.  one  mile  west  of  the  Center.  He 
remained  but  a  few  year.-.  His  oldest  son.  Sedgwick. 
is  living  in  Clarkstield. 

Reuben  Fo.x  came,  in  1S24.  from  Warren,  Connec- 
ticut, when.- Ii..'  had   marrird    Mi-.^    .Mina    M.    Smith. 


January  1.  1S23.  He  had  a  very  unpleasant  journey, 
suffering  much  from  severe  weather.  They  came 
from  Buffalo  to  Cleveland  in  a  schooner,  and  were 
sixteen  days  making  the  trij).  being  delayed  greatly 
by  storms.  They  arrived  in  Ruggles  Xovembcr  4. 
1824.  and  took  up  liieir  first  residence  in  a  log  silmol 
house,  the  only  one  the  township  afforded  at  this 
time.  They  made  .settlement  one  mile  south  (if  Rug- 
gles' Corners.  They  had  onr  child  ai  linn  time, 
Caroline,  and  three  were  borne  to  tluMu  after  they 
came  into  the  township. 

Ezra  D.  Smith,  from  Warreii,  Connecticut,  settled 
in  Ruggles  at  about  the  same  time  Mr.  Fox  came. 
He  resided  here  uith  In.-;  family  until  183T.  when  he 
removed  to  Illinoi.-. 

Abraham  Ferris,  from  Vates  county.  New  York, 
came  to  Ruggles  in  1824.  The  journey  was  made  as 
far  as  Buffalo  by  wagon,  thence  by  water  to  Sandusky. 
They  embarked  on  the  schooner  "  Union."  Captain 
Johnson  eommandiiig.  and  were  driven  bv  a  storm  to 


Mr.  Philetus  Ferris. 

Detroit,  returning  to  Sandusky  after  the  storm  had 
abated,  where  they  arrived  the  last  of  October,  after 
being  on  the  water  for  three  weeks,  reaching  New 
London  the  second  day  of  Noveml)er.  1824,  and 
Ruggles  on  the  tirst  day  of  Ueci^mber  following.  Tin- 
family  consisted  at  this  time  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferris, 
and  five  children:  Laura.  Philetus,  Samuel.  Sarah 
and  Lois.  A  selection  was  nuide  of  lot  eighteen,  of 
section  three,  the  purchase  having  been  made  of 
Messrs.  Jessup  &  Wakeman.  Lois  and  fjaura  died 
soon  after  their  arrival  in  Ruggles,  and  .Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ferris  both  died  in  the  year  18.')ii.  the  latter  in 
August,  and  the  former  in  September.  Two  of  their 
children,  Samuel  and  Laura,  reside  in  the  township  of 
Fitchville,  Huron  county,  while  Philetus.  Israel.  Eras- 
tus,  Elias  and  Elmira  are  residents  of  Ruggles.  Tlu- 
last  five  were  born  in  this  township.  Jesse  died  in 
180i>. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


503 


Andrew  Clark  aud  James  Jemison  settled  in  the 
south  part  of  section  four  in  1824.  Isaac  Sampson,  a 
revolutionary  soldier,  with  his  two  sous,  Isaac  and 
.John,  settled  on  section  three  in  the  spring  of  1825. 

Norman  Carter,  from  Warren,  Connecticut,  came 
to  Rnggles  in  1824,  and  bought  lot  twenty-six,  of 
section  four.  In  182T,  having  in  the  meantime  lived 
a  ]iart  of  I  lie  time  in  Ruggles,  and  the  other  part  in 
Portage  county,  he  returned  to  Connecticut,  married 
Loviua  Hopliius,  and  returned  to  Ohio.  After  a 
temporary  residence  in  Portage  county,  he  removed 
to  Kuggles,  and  added  to  his  former  purchase  the 
east  half  of  lot  seventeen.  Their  children  were: 
Huldah  Adelaide  aud  Sarah  Loviuia.  The  former 
married  Isaac  Sturtevunt.  aud  the  latter  William 
Gault. 

Aldrich  Carver  settled  on  lots  ten  and  eighteen,  in 
section  four,  in  the  year  1S25.  Mr.  Carver  ttrst  came 
to  Huron  county  in  1818,  and  in  the  foUowiug  year 
was  one  of  the  party  who  went  to  ]Maumee  and  cap- 
tured the  Indians  who  were  afterward  hung  at  Nor- 
walk.  Returning  to  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  he 
married  Amy  Knitfeu,  in  1821.  He  settled  in  Green- 
wich, Huron  county,  iu  1822.  They  have  four 
children:  Jane,  Fanny,  Pha?be  and  John. 

Harvey  Sackett  made  settlement  in  Ruggles  iu  1825. 
He  tlrst  settled  in  Tallmadge,  with  his  father,  in  1811, 
wlience  he  returned  to  Connecticut,  the  place  of  his 
t)irrh.  in  1816,  and  married  Thalia  Eldred,  April  2, 
181 T,  aud  brought  his  bride  to  Tallmadge.  In  coming 
from  this  jjlace  to  Ruggles,  in  1825,  he  consumed 
eight  days,  the  journey  being  made  with  ox  teams. 
The  following  were  the  children  of  Mr.  Sackett  by 
his  first  wife:  Dimmes  M.,  Erastus  T.,  Erasmus  M. 
and  Irene  C.  .Mrs.  Sackett  died  in  184.3.  and  Mr. 
Sackett  married  .Mrs.  Mary  Van  Vrauken,  widow  of 
(rarrett  Van  Vranken,  April  12, 1844.  A  son,  Justus 
H..  was  horn  iu  1848.  Mr.  Sackett  resided  for  two 
years  in  Ashland,  from  1861  to  1863;  returning  to 
Ruggles  iu  the  vear  last  named. 

Before  18311  the  settlement  had  increased  so  that  the 
towushi]!  had  a  population  of  two  hundred  aud 
.seventy-one  souls.  Ten  years  later,  the  township  had 
reached  a  population  of  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  foi-ty-four. 

Hezekiah  Barber  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He 
was  a  Baptist  minister,  aud  came  iu  from  Townsend 
township,  settling  upon  lot  tive,  section  three,  where 
he  built  H  log  house,  and  set  out  a  nice  orchard.  He 
remained  only  a  few  years,  aud  then  removed  to  y^ew 
York  Stale. 

K/.ekiel  Samson  located  upon  lot  nine,  section  three, 
and  after  living  there  for  several  years,  removed  to 
Illinois,  where  he  died.  John  Samson  settled  upon 
I  lie  west  half  of  lot  ten,  section  three,  and  Isaac  Sam- 
sou  on  the  east  half.  Isaac  Samson,  Sr.,  settled  with 
his  son.  .lohu.  He  was  a  revolutionary  soldier  and  a 
brick  mason  bv  occupation.  Tjie  Samsons  all  re- 
moved to  the  West. 

Truman  Bates  came  in  from  the  adjoining  township 


of  New  London,  and  took  up  lot  twenty-three,  sec- 
tion three.  He  joined  the  Mormons,  as  did  several 
others  from  this  township,  but  becoming  dissatisfied 
with  their  principles  and  practices,  left  them,  and  re- 
turned to  Ruggles. 

Archibald  Bates  settled  on  lot  number  sixteen,  sec- 
tion three,  and  for  some  time  operated  an  ashery,  and 
manufactured  the  first  pearlash  in  the  township. 

Samuel  Monroe  came  from  Springfield,  Portage 
county,  in  1824,  and  settled  upon  lot  nineteen,  sec- 
tion — ,  though  he  soon  after  sold  out,  and  removed 
to  lot  twenty-three,  where  he  lived  many  years.  He  is 
now  living  in  Iowa  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  children  were:  Sarah, 
Polly,  Isabella,  Hester,  Martha,  Annabelle,  John  and 
Samuel.  They  all  removed  to  Iowa,  except  Sarah, 
wife  of  Philetus  Ferris,  and  Martha,  who  is  in  Ful- 
ton county  of  this  State. 

Taylor  Peck  and  his  wife,  Jerusha,  came  to  Ruggles 
from  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  in  1826,  and 
located  upon  lot  seventy-eight,  section  three.  They 
had  four  children:  Lydia,  Lucy,  Homer  aud  Emily 
J.,  and  a  fifth  son,  Miles  J.,  was  born  after  their  ar- 
rival iu  the  township.  Mrs.  Peck  died  in  1835,  and 
Mr.  Peck  took  as  his  second  wife,  Francis  Beach,  of 
Medina  county.     Mr.  Peck  died  in  1854. 

Salmon  Weston  and  his  wife  Mercy  emigrated 
from  Connecticut  to  Ruggles  in  1828,  and  settled 
upon  lot  nineteen,  section  one,  being  the  first  settlers 
iu  the  eastern  part  of  the  township.  Salmon  Weston 
died  1864.  A  sou.  Phineas,  now  resides  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Isaac  Hazen  came  from  Warren  county,  Connecti- 
cut,   in   1829,  and  located  upon   lot  ,  section 

-.     He  died  in  1832.     A  son,  Amos,  now  lives 

in  the  township.     Lewis  Crow  came  in  1830. 

In  1832  came  Jacob  Hirschiug  and  Wm.  Potter, 
both  from  Genesee  county.  New  York.  They  located 
in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  section  two. 
During  the  same  year  came  Ackley  Knowlton  and 
Benjamin  Greene  from  Yates  county.  New  York, 
Thomas  Bowman  aud  James  Lindsley,  from  Aber- 
deenshire, Scotland,  and  a  number  of  others, 

Eli  Fost  came  in  1833  and  located  in  section  one. 
He  died  in  1875.  He  had  twelve  children,  of  whom 
five  now  live  in  the  township.  Bolser  Mather,  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  came  in  the  same  year,  is  noted 
as  being  the  father  of  twenty-six  children,  nineteen 
of  whom  are  living. 

John  Wist  came  in  1837:  died  in  1S7G.  Theron 
Potter,  in  1838.  Orrin  Cogshall,  in  1835,  from 
Litchfield,  Connecticut,  bringing  his  wife  and  two 
children,  Mary  J.  and  Josephine.  Elias  Culbertson, 
in ;  James  T.  Carney,  in  1835,  aud  Jlildad  Crit- 
tenden in  1836. 

The  first  log  house  at  the  Center  was  built  by  Enoch 
Taylor,  of  Warren,  Connecticut.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  lived  until  the  year  1875. 

Daniel  Smith,  who  came  to  the  township  at  an 
early  day,  was  the  first  shoemaker. 


504 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Beujamin  D.  Greeu,  now  living  in  Iowa,  was  the 
first  blacksmith.  He  located  at  Ruggles'  Corners. 
He  gave  up  blacksmithing  for  the  carpenters'  trade.- 
He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  commnnity;  held 
several  important  offices,  and  was  a  major  in  the 
militia. 

FIRST    EVENTS. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  Wakeman  J.  Beach,  the 
son  of  Daniel  Beach,  born  January  11,  1835.  Mr. 
Beach  grew  to  manhood  in-  Ruggles,  and  has  spent 
most  of  his  life  in .  Ruggles,  though  he  has  travelled 
quite  extensively.  He  married  Phcebe  Ann  Wash- 
burn (daughter  of  James  Washburn),  of  New  London, 
December  2-i,  1853,  and  now  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. 

The  first  marriage  did  not  take  place  until  the  year 
18.32,  when,  on  the  ISth  day  of  June,  Mr.  James 
Poag,  widower,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura 

C.  Smith.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Daniel 
Beach,  Esq. 

The  first  death  occurred  in  1826,  in  which  year 
Mr.  Cyrus  Sanders,  a  single  man,  and  a  nephew  of 
Mr.  B.  Sturtevant,  died  of  bilious  fever. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  built  by  Daniel  Beach  in 
1824,  on  the  Vermillion  river,  one  hundred  rods 
north  of  Ruggles'  Corners.  "  This  mill  was  of  great 
benefit  to  the  early  settlers.  Mr.  Beach  built  a  grist 
mill  also,  near  the  site  of  the  saw  mill,  in  1831  or  "32, 
to  which  steam  was  subsequently  attached.  The  first 
store  in  Ruggles  was  opened  by  Josiah  Botsford  at 
Ruggles'  Corners,  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  the 
Center,  in  about  the  year  1831.  The  first  post-office 
was  established  one-half  mile  south  of  the  Corners  in 
,  Mr.  6.  W.  Curtiss  being  postmaster. 

ORGAXIZATIOX. 

Prior  to  1826.  Ruggles  was  attached  to  New  Lon- 
don for  civil  purposes,  but  at  the  date  named  it  was 
detached  and  organized,  the  first  election  occurring 
January  2d  of  that  year.  There  were  just  a  dozen 
residents  who  participated  in  this  first  election,  as 
follows:  Perry  Durfee,  Harvey  Sackett,  Norman  Car- 
ter, Truman  Bates,  Reuben  Fo.x,  B.  Sturtevant,  Jacob 
Roorback,  Abraham  Ferris,  Justice  Barnes,  Daniel 
Beach,  Ezra  D.  Smith,  and  Aldrich  Carver.     Mr.   E. 

D.  Smith  was  chosen  clerk;  H.  Sackett,  treasurer;  J. 
Roorback,  D.  BeacJi,  and  A.  Carver,  trustees;  B. 
Sturtevant  and  H.  Sackett,  overseers  of  the  poor;  J. 
Barnes- and  A.  Ferris,  fence  viewers;  Reuben  Fox  and 
Perry  Durfee,  appi-aisers  of  property;  N.  Carter,  con- 
stable, and  T.  Bates,  supervisor, — thirteen  offices 
filled  with  twelve  individuals.  Mr.  Sackett  had  the 
lionor  of  filling  two  positions.  Another  election  was 
held  April  3d,  when  Mr.  Ferris  was  made 'treasurer, 
Mr.  Bates  constable,^and  Messrs.  Fox  and  Sturtevant 
supervisors,  and  Harvey  Sackett  justice  of  the  peace. 
The  other  offices  remained  filled  as  aliovc. 


RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  at  Harvey 
Sackett's  house  soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship by  Lodovicus  Robbins.  -Not  long  after  a  Meth- 
odist class  was  formed,  of  which  there  remains  no 
record,  and  in  regard  to  which  no  authentic  informa- 
tion can  be  obtained. 

The  first  church  organization  in  the  township  was 
that  of  the  Congregational  in  1827.  Upon  the  11th 
of  January  of  that  year,  eleven  persons,  all  of  whom 
had  letters  from  other  churches,  associated  themselves 
under  the  name  of  the  Congregational  church  of 
Ruggles.  They  were  Harvey  Sackett,  Ezra  D. 
Smith,  Norman  Carter,  Reuben  Fox,  Rachel  Curtis, 
Lorinda  Beach,  Jerusha  Peck,  Thalia  Sackett,  Mina 
Fox,  Cynthia  Smith,  and  Sarah  Sturtevant.  The 
meeting  was  held  at  Mr.  Sackett's  house,  and  the 
ministers  were  the  Revs.  Ephraim  T.  Woodruff  and 
Lodovicus  Robbins.  The  church  was  organized  on 
"the  plan  of  union,"  a  system  in  vogue  among  the 
Presbyterian  and  Congregational  churches  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  Western  Reserve?,  and  was  at  first 
connected  with  the  presbytery  of  Huron,  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  which  it  remained  until  1867,  when  it 
united  with  the  Central  North  Congregational  con- 
ference of  Ohio.  For  many  years  the  people  of  this 
church  assembled  for  worship  in  the  houses  of  mem- 
bers or  in  the  log  school  houses,  but  in  1855  a  church 
was  erected  (the  present  town  hall),  which  was  for 
the  time  an  amply  commodious  structure. 

There  was  for  a  nnmber  of  years  no  minister  of  the 
gospel  resident  in  Ruggles,  but  the  Congregational 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robbins  and 
others.  Rev.  E.  P.  Salmon  came  as  stated  supply  in 
1830,  and  remained  three  years.  The  pastors  and 
supply  preachers  of  the  church  since  the  close  of  his 
ministry  have  been  as  follows:  Revs.  S.  Duuton, 
William  L.  Buffett,  Benjamin  B.  Judson,  W.  T. 
Chamberlain,  0.  W.  Mather,  E.  P.  Sperry,  William 

F.  Millikin,  G.  C.  Judson,  L.  G.  Clark,  James  Wil- 
son, John  McCutchan,  H.  L.  Howard.     Rev.  George 

G.  Fry,  is  at  present  the  minister  in  charge  of  the 
church.  The  deacons  are:  W.  C.  Sturtevant,  Phineas 
Weston,  Homer  Peck,  and  W.  C.  Gault;  Justice  H. 
Sackett,  Phineas  Weston,  John  Carver,  trustees;  R. 
Godfrey,  clerk;  C.  W.  Sturtevant,  treasurer. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized 
as  a  Protestant  Methodist  Church,  with  the  follow- 
ing members:  Henry  H.  Daniels  and  wife,  Ira  Paine, 
wife  and  daughter,  Orrin  Stillson  and  wife,  Orrin 
Cogshall  and  wife.  Electa  Weston,  Samnel  Gault. 
After  about  one  year's  existence  as  a  Protestant 
Methodist  Church,  the  organization  became  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  and  was  taken  into  the  Olivesburgii 
circuit.  Services  were  held  in  the  town  hall  until 
1871,  when  the  present  church  edifice  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  about  four  Ijionsand  dollars.  The  first  pastor 
was  Rev.  James  Kellam.  He  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.    Mr.   Roseberry.     The   pastors  sine?  then  hav,' 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


505 


been  Revs.  John  Kellam,  J.  Williams,  B.  D.  Jones, 
A.  J.  Wells,  Geo.  McKillip,  M.  D.  Chilson,  0.  Law- 
rence and  H.  G.  Dubois.  The  present  incumbent  is 
Rev.  S.  Z.  Kaufman.  The  class  leaders  are  H.  H. 
Daniels,  John  Streeter,  Frederick  Stillson;  Samuel 
Gault,  steward;  Samuel  Gault,  Frederick  Stillson, 
John  Richards,  John  Streeter,  Frank  T.  Daniels, 
trustees.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  about 
fift}'  persons.  Both  the  Congregational  and  Metho- 
dist churches  are  located  at  the  center. 

There  is  another — the  Lutheran — situated  in  the 
southeast  part  of  the  township.  It  was  organized  in 
1853,  and  a  house  of  worship  was  built  the  same  year 
at  a  cost  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  dollars. 


In  1834:  a  school  house  was  built  eighty  rods  east  of 
the  residence  of  Daniel  Beach,  and  Betsey  Sackett 
taught  school  there  during  the  summer  of  that  year. 
The  second  school  was  upon  the  north  line  of  the 
township,  and  was  taught  by  Jacob  Roorback. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The  earliest  were  Drs.  Babb  and  Barker.  The 
physicians  from  neighboring  townships  had  most  of 
the  practice  in  the  early  years  of  Ruggles'  existence  as  a 


settlement.  Dr.  G.  W.  Paddock  practiced  here  for  a 
short  time,  and  Dr.  A.  D.  Skellenger  between  two 
and  three  years.  Dr.  0.  L.  Andrews,  farmer  and 
physician,  is  the  only  medical  man  now  resident  in 
Ruggles. 

RUGGLES    CORXERS. 

The  only  village  that  ever  existed  in  the  township 
was  at  Ruggles  corners,  upon  the  Wooster  and  Nor- 
walk  road.  There  were  several  mercantile  and  me- 
chanical concerns  at  this  point,  as  well  as  a  tavern 
and  quite  a  cluster  of  dwelling  houses.  The  place 
was  sustained  by  the  tanning  interests  of  the  Nor- 
walk  road,  and  when  the  C,  C,  C.  &  I.  R.  R.  was 
established,  as  it  destroyed  the  wagoning  business, 
the  little  village  soon  dwindled  away,  and  eventually 
entirely  disappeared.  The  people  of  Ruggles  were 
not  sorry  for  this,  because  Ruggles  corners  had  al- 
ways been  a  reproach  to  the  neighborhood,  a  place  of 
resort  for  drinking  men  and  bad  characters,  sustained 
by  the  teamsters,  who  were  nearly  all  tipplers,  and 
many  of  them  notoriously  despera^te  characters.  A 
double  log  tavern  was  built  here  by  one  Keeler.  It 
was  kept  open  by  him  and  by  others  for  several  years, 
and  was  the  principal  place  for  the  sale  of  whisky  and 
the  resort  of  whisky  drinkers.  For  the  last  twenty 
years  no  liquor  has  been  sold  in  the  township,  a  fact 
of  which  the  people  of  Ruggles  are  justly  proud. 


DANBURY. 


The  township  was  named  November  9,  1808,  by 
Philip  B.  Bradley,  of  Ridgefield;  Taylor  Sherman,  of 
Xorwalk;  Isaac  Mills,  of  Xew  Haven:  William  Eld- 
ridge,  of  Xew  London;  Jabez  Fitch,  of  Greenwich; 
Ebenezer  Jesuji,  Jr.,  of  Fairfield;  Guy  Richards,  of 
Xew  London,  and  Ebenezer  Avery,  Jr.,  of  Grotou, 
all  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  who  met  as  the  board 
of  directors  of  "the  proprietors  of  the  half  million 
acres  of  land  lying  south  of  Lake  Erie,  called  the 
SufEerers"  Land,"  at  the  court  house  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.  Among  the  business  transacted  that 
day,  a  resolution  was  passed  naming  all  the  townships 
in  the  Fire-lands.  In  and  by  that  resolution,  the 
peninsula  north  of  Sandusky  and  the  island  in  the 
Bay  of  Sandusky,  was  named  Danbury,  in  honor  of 
the  town  of  Danbury,  Connecticut,  which  was  a  suf- 
ferer by  fire  and  devastation  during  the  incursion  of 
the  British,  in  July,  1799. 

Danbury  was  not  organized  as  a  township  until  some 
years  after  the  war  of  1812.  The  tract  of  land 
known  as  the  peninsula,  was  owned  at  an  early  day, 
bv  Hon.  Zalmon  Wildmanand  E.  W.  Bull.  Itorgin- 
ally  embraced  the  broad  strip  of  land  situated  on  the 
north  of  Sandusky  Bay  to  the  west  of  its  outlet,  and 
was  bounded  on  the  east,  north  and  west  by  Lake 
Erie,  and  was  connected  to  the  main  land  by  a  nar- 
row neck  on  the  west  near  the  Portage  river.  The 
western  boundary  of  the  Fire-lands  cut  off.  a  narrow 
strip  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  township,  though 
as  the  township  is  now  organized,  the  western  line  is 
that  of  the  Fire-lands  survey.  The  original  township 
embraced  about  seven  and  one-half  miles,  extending 
from  Marblehead  west,  and  a  width  of  some  six  miles, 
giving  an  area  of  a  little  less  than  thirty  square  miles. 

The  tract  of  land  containing  some  six  hundred 
acres,  and  situated  west  of  the  harbor,  and  north  of 
tlie  old  Portage  river  bed,  was  organized  as  a  town- 
ship, with  the  name  of  Catawba  Island,  on  the  de- 
veloping grape  culture  at  a  later  date.  It  is  connected 
to  the  main  land  by  a  bridge  which  stretches  over  the 
west  harbor. 

The  eastern  portion  of  the  township  of  Danbury  is 
underlain  by  a  strata  of  limestone  rock,  filled  with 
fossils.  Over  several  hundred  acres  in  the  center  of 
the  east  part  of  the  peninsula,  the  limestone  rock  is 
entirely  uncovered,  or  at  best  covered  with  a  scant 
soil,  which  produces  very  little  vegetation.  With 
this  exception  the  soil  is  very  productive.  There  are 
<leep  grooves  cut  in  this  limestone  formation,  in  some 
jilaces  wide  enough  to  allow  of  a  wagon  being  driven 

*  Ottawa  county,  but  part  of  the  Fre-lands. 


through  them.  The  gullies  were  made  by  the  wear- 
ing of  heavy  masses  of  ice  glaciers,  in  an  age  of  which 
man  can  only  conceive,  but  give  no  history.  This 
limestone  is  constantly  undergoing  changes,  from  the 
effects  of  frost  and  the  unceasing  action  of  the  waves 
on  the  shore  of  the  lake. 

AXCIEXT    MOUXDS. 

There  are  several  mounds  of  earthwork  and  stones 
on  the  peninsula,  the  most  notable  of  which  is  situ- 
ated on  the  northwest  side  of  Catawba  island,  in  the 
original  tract  named  Danbury,  but  just  without  the 
boundary  of  tlie  Fire-lands.  The  largest  of  these  is 
on  a  bold  promontory,  connected  by  a  narrow  neck  of 
land  to  the  island.  On  the  summit  of  this  rocky 
elevation,  near  the  edge  of  the  promonotory,  stands 
the  ruins  of  a  circular  mound  of  smallish  stone, 
which  has  the  appearance  of  being  thrown  together 
loosely,  as  no  masonry  is  perceptible.  It  is  about 
sixty-five  feet  through  the  base,  and  fifteen  feet  high. 
In  the  center  was  a  cone,  some  thirty  feet  in'diameter. 
Between  this  cone  and  the  wall  is  the  appearance  of  a 
walk  some  twelve  feet  wid'e,  and  extending  from  the 
entrance  on  the  east  entirely  around  the  cone.  Old 
settlers  say  that  when  first  discovered,  there  was 
another  walk  around  the  cone,  and  above  the  one  now 
seen,  and  that  the  top  was  a  flat  surface.  West  of 
this  mound,  and  situated  on  an  elevated  part  of  the 
rocky  shore,  two  similar  mounds  of  stone  may  be  seen, 
but  no  evidences  of  the  walks  which  ajjpear  on  the 
first  one.  These  mounds  are  situated  near  the  old 
camp-meeting  ground. 

EAKLY    SETTLEMEXT. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war,  a  few 
French  Canadians  settled  on  the  peninsula,  obtaining 
subsistence,  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians,  by 
hunting,  trapping  and  fishing.  During  Wayne's 
campaign  toward  the  Maumee,  they  became  alarmed, 
and  returned  to  the  Canada  shore.  A  portion  of  them 
afterwards  returned  to  their  homes,  and  purchased 
lands  of  the  legal  owners.  Others  bought  lands  on 
another  section  of  the  Peninsula.  At  length,  most 
of  them  gathered  together  and  formed  a  settlement 
at  the  mouth  of  All  Saints'  creek,  where  some  of  their 
descendants  now  live. 

Epaphroditus  W.  Bull,  of  Danbury,  Connecticut, 
in  1808,  bought,  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
"half  millions  acres,"  that  part  of  the  peninsula  sit- 
uated east  of  Meadow  brook,  and  including  the  island 
in  the  bay  of  Sandusky,  which  was  for  many  years 
known  as  Bull's  Island.  It  is  now  the  property  of 
Mr.  Johnson,    and    is    known    as   Johnson's  Island. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


507 


Mr.  Bull  arranged  with  Mr.  Benajah  Wolcott,  a  native 
of  Danbiiry,  Connecticut,  bnt  at  that  time  residing  in 
New  York  Cit)-,  to  come  to  the  western  wilds  and 
start  a  colony  on  his  new  purchase. 

Mr.  Wolcott  and  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife, 
two  daughters  and  one  son,  and  accompanied  by  two 
hired  men,  named  Bishop  and  Osborn,  left  Connecti- 
cut, in  a  sleigh,  February  13,  1809.  They  arrived  in 
Cleveland  in  March,  but  the  lake  being  ice  bound, 
the  family  were  unable  to  proceed  farther,  and  re- 
mained there  until  about  the  first  of  May.  Mr.  Wol- 
cott, accompanied  by  Bishop  and  Osborn,  proceeded 
to  the  peninsula,  by  land,  to  prepare  a  house  for  those 
left  in  Cleveland,  make  garden,  and  arrange  as  far  as 
possible  for  a  permanent  home.  In  May,  Mr.  Wol- 
cott returned  to  Cleveland  for  his  family,  and  the 
lake  being  open,  secured  passage  on  a  small  schooner, 
tlie  "Sally"'  of  Cu3'ahoga,  for  their  home.  A  severe 
storm  assailed  them,  while  on  the  vessel,  and  they 
narrowly  escaped  shipwreck,  but  finally  were  able  to 
secure  safety  by  running  into  Black  river,  where  they 
remained  until  the  weather  became  settled,  when  they 
liroceeded  on  their  voyage,  arriving  in  Sandusky  bay 
oil  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  May,  and  the  next  day 
landed  at  what  was  then  known  as  the  ••Middle 
Orchard,"  on  the  peninsula,  near  where  now  stands 
Fox's  dock.  Wolcott  and  his  family  were  the  first 
settlers  in  Danbury.  At  that  time  there  were  three 
orcjiards  in  the  peninsula,  planted  by  the  French  and 
Indians.  The  east  orchard  was  owned  by  an  Indian, 
named  Notaway.  but  was  afterwards  bought  by  Mr. 
Bull.  The  west  orchard  was  owned  by  Frenchman, 
named  Stacey. 

In  the  spring  of  1810,  a  man  named  Lee  settled  on 
a  place  now  known  as  Hartshorn's.  Mr.  Ball,  Mr. 
Saunders  and  Major  Parsons  came  during  the  same 
year. 

In  April,  1811,  Joseph  Ramsdell  and  wife,  with 
four  sons,  John,  Jacob,  Horace  and  Valentine,  and, 
accompanied  by  Abiathar  Sherley  and  wife,  left 
Oswego,  New  Y''ork,  in  an  open  boat,  arriving  at  the 
peninsula  in  June. 

Several  families  moved  to  Danbury  previous  to  the 
war  of  1813,  but  the  precise  date  of  their  coming  can- 
not now  be  ascertained. 

The  first  birth  among  these  settlers  was  a  daughter 
to  Abiathar  Sherman.  She  is  now  Mrs.  Atwater,  of 
Huron,  Erie  county,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Wolcott  died  in  1843.  His  eldest  daughter 
married  Truman  Pettibone  (who  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Danbury)  in  Cleveland  in  1814.  They 
settled  in  Danbury,  where  he  died  July  22,  1830. 

When  Mr.  Wolcott  came  to  Danbury,  there  were 
two  white  men  there,  a  Frenchman,  named  Stacey, 
and  a  cattle-buyer,  named  Patterson.  In  1811,  three 
men  settled  on  Bull's  Island.  It  was  contemplated 
lo  build  a  town  on  the  island,  and,  about  this  time, 
Mr.  Saunders  opened  a  small  stock  of  goods.  James 
Stevens  also  lived  on  the  island. 

Lirge  numbers  of  hogs  were  slaughtered  on  the 


peninsula  by  B.  Thompson.  They  were  driven  there 
from  the  south. 

The  custom  house  was  kept  on  the  main  land,  west 
of  the  island,  by  Colonel  P.  P.  Ferry. 

The  second  daughter  of  Mr.  Wolcott  was  born  at 
Danbury,  Connecticut,  December  17,  1798,  and  was 
married  to  Joseph  Ramsdell  in  November,  1817. 
They  settled  on  the  peninsula  in  1811,  where  they 
resided  until  1825,  when  they  moved  to  Blooming- 
ville,  where  Mr.  Ramsdell  died. 

Valentine  Ramsdell  was  killed  while  piloting  a 
party  of  soldiers  on  the  peninsula,  in  a  skirmish 
with  the  Indians,  some  time  in  September,  1812. 
Horace  Ramsdell  died  at  Bloomingville,  January 
29,  1872,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  Mr.  Bull  died 
in  Cleveland,  in  October,  1812,  from  the  effects  of 
exjiosure  in  fleeing  from  the  peninsula,  and  from 
anxiety  to  protect  the  frontier.  Bishop,  who  came 
with  Mr.  Wolcott,  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  Osborn 
settled  in  Cleveland,  where  he  died. 

In  1816,  Colonel  S.  M.  Lockwood  came  from  Al- 
bany, New  York,  and  commenced  the  laborious  work 
of  hewing  out  a  home  on  the  peninsula.  He  erected 
a  log  house  near  the  present  Hartshorn  residence,  and 
in  October  of  the  same  year  his  family,  consisting  of 
a  wife,  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  started  from  Al- 
bany for  Buffalo,  New  l'"ork,  in  wagons.  Owing  to 
severe  weather  they  remained  in  Buffalo  nearly  three 
months,  when  they  secured  passage  in  the  small 
schooner  "Aurora,"  but  were  twice  driven  back  by 
storms,  which  finally  drove  the  vessel  ashore  on  the 
sand.  Their  household  goods  were  removed,  and  a 
third  time  they  started,  this  time  on  the  sloop  ''Nau- 
tilus," but  were  again  driven  back  by  storm.  Finally, 
in  January,  1817,  they  started  in  sleighs,  and  came 
through  to  their  new  home  in  a  two  weeks'  journey 
from  Buff,alo. 

At  this  time  the  settlers  on  the  peninsula  were  Ros- 
wald  and  Truman  Pettibone,  Abijah  Wolcott,  Alfred 
and  Charles  Richards,  Harry  and  Artemadorus  Fuller, 
John  and  Jacob  Ramsdell,  also  their  father  and  un- 
married brother  Horace.  Ezra  Lee  also  resided  on  the 
peninsula  and  ran  a  ferry  across  the  bay  to  ''Ogontz 
Place,"  now  Sandnsky. 

In  1829,  Talmage  Waterbury  came  to  the  peninsula 
from  eastern  Ne\v  York,  with  his  family,  consisting 
of  a  wife,  two  sous  and  three  daughters.  In  1830  or 
1831,  he  erected  a  wind  mill  in  Portage  township  for 
Colonel  Lockwood,  which  was  used  for  the  purpose  of 
grinding  plaster.  It  was  run  a  number  of  years  and 
was  finally  replaced  by  a  steam  mill. 

FIRST    MARRIAGE. 

Before  the  war  of  1812,  a  dealer  in  cattle  between 
the  south  and  Maiden,  Canada,  named  Patterson, 
brought  from  Kentucky  an  attractive  j'oung  girl  of 
marriageable  age,  whom  he  considered  as  his  proper- 
ty. He  sold  her  to  a  Frenchman,  named  Stacey,  for 
a  wife.  There  was  at  that  time  no  magistrate  or  cler- 
gyman nearer  than  the  far  east,  but  this  seemed  to 


508 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


make  no  difference  to  either  of  the  jiarties,  and  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  housekeeping  without  any 
ceremony  to  bind  the  parties,  and  thus  they  lived  un- 
til two  children  were  born  to  them.  During  the  year 
1811,  Major  SpafEord  visited  the  settlers  on  the  pen- 
insula and,  on  learning  the  state  of  affairs,  his  New 
England  sense  of  propriety  was  much  shocked.  He 
called  on  the  Staceys  for  the  purpose  of  arranging 
matters  on  a  sounder  basis,  for  the  honor  of  the  new 
settlement.  After  some  conversation  regarding  the 
matter,  he  requested  the  couple  to  stand  up,  and  in 
the  presence  of  the  toddling  children  as  witnesses, 
pronounced  them  man  and  wife.  He  was  afterwards 
asked  if  he  thought  the  marriage  regular,  and  replied 
that  he  did  not,  as  he  had  no  authority  to'  celebrate 
such  contracts,  but  it  was  the  best  he  could  do  under 
the  circumstances,  and  perfectly  satisfied  the  parties 
themselves,  who  seemed  to  think  it  all  right,  and  that 
they  were  legally  married. 

EARLY    RECORDS. 

There  seem  to  be  no  records  accessible,  at  least  none 
have  been  found,  earlier  than  1819.  In  that  year  an 
enumeration  was  made  of  the  inale  inhabitants  of  the 
township  of  Danbury,  and  the  total  number  was 
found  to  be  sixty-seven. 

The  poll  book  of  an  election  held  October  10,  1820, 
contains  the  names  of  but  eight  voters.  The  candi- 
dates for  election  were:  Ethan  A.  Brown,  governor; 
Lyman  Farwell,  State  representative;  Peter  Hitch- 
cock, representative  in  congress;  John  Boalt.  coroner. 
Each  of  the  candidates  received  a  solid  vote.  No 
great  interest  seems  to  have  attended  this  election, 
although  at  an  election  for  justice  of  the  peace  held 
in  April  of  the  same  year,  thirty-one  votes  were 
polled. 

Before  the  war  of  1812,  taxes  were  paid  at  Cleve- 
land. The  tax  collector  did  not  come  around  to  col- 
lect them,  but  they  were  sent  to  him.  Mail  was  car- 
ried by  a  man  named  Leach,  who  made  the  trip  from 
Cleveland,  via  Huron,  to  Maumee. 

THE    CHOLERA. 

Sandusky  had  been  started  previous  to  1832,  the 
name  having  been  changed  from  Ogontz  Place  to 
Portland  before  1822,  and  at  a  later  date  to  Sandusky. 
There  was  quite  a  settlement,  consisting  of  log  and 
fr.ime  houses,  log  school  house,  and  corporation  log 
jail.  In  1832,  the  schooner  Ligure,  from  Buffalo, 
a-rived.  The  evening  after  her  arrival  one  of  the 
passengers,  an  old  lady,  was  attacked  with  cholera, 
aid  died  before  morning.  Captain  Wadsworth  was 
.•seized  with  the  same  disease  and  died.  From  this 
time  the  disease  spread  on  shore,  and  a  board  of 
health  was  organized,  with  Moses  Farwell  at  the  head. 
The  vessel  was  condemned,  and  taken  some  two  miles 
out  into  the  bay,  where  it  was  proposed  to  burn  it 
and  thus  get  rid  of  the  plague,  but  the  owner,  Wil- 
liam Townsend,  of  Sandusky,  made  a  strong  effort  to 


save  his  property  which  was  successful,  and  the  order 
for  its  destruction  was  revoked. 

The  cholera  soon  broke  out  on  the  peninsula,  and 
proved  terribly  fatal.  The  first  victim  was  Robert 
Rose,  an  Englishman,  who  went  to  Sandusky,  where 
he  indulged  in  a  drunken  debauch  which  lasted  three 
days.  Soon  after  reaching  his  home  on  the  peninsula 
he  was  seized  with  the  dread  disease,  and  lived  but  a 
few  hours.  The  plague  spread  rapidly,  in  one  case 
sweeping  away  an  entire  family — that  of  the  Steeles. 
The  wife  and  daughter  of  Talmage  Waterbury  also 
died,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  the  b.okcu  family 
returned  to  their  old  home  in  New  York. 

.JOHNSOX'S    ISLAND. 

As  a  part  of  the  original  tract  of  land  bought  by 
E.  W.  Bull,  in  connection  with  the  township  of  Dan- 
bury,  is  the  island  in  Sandusky  Bay  known  after  his 
purchase  as  Bull's  Island.  It  is  located  about  three 
miles  north  of  Sandusky  and  one  mile  from  the 
Peninsula.  This  island  was  settled  in  1811,  three 
men  building  cabins  there  at  that  time.  It  was  at 
one  time  thought  a  desirable  situation  in  which  to 
found  a  town,  and  steps  were  taken  to  lay  the  surface 
out  into  village  lots,  but  the  needs  of  the  new  coun- 
try did  not  seem  to  demand  a  town  here,  inasmuch 
as  Ogontz  Place  or  Sandusky  was  already  becoming 
settled.  The  island  contains  some  three  hundred 
acres,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  which  was 
leased  by  the  United  States  Government  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  and  was  used  as  a  military  prison 
for  the  confinement  of  prisoners  of  war.  The  camp 
was  on  the  south  side  of  the  island,  looking  toward 
Sandusky,  and  was  on  ground  suflflciently  rolling  to 
admit  of  free  drainage.  In  the  center  of  the  camp 
was  a  fine  parade  ground  of  some  five  or  six  acres. 
West  of  this  were  the  offices,  chapel,  hospital  and 
officer's  quarters,  and  on  the  east  side  were  the  bar- 
i-acks  for  the  prisoners.  On  the  north  and  south 
sides  were  the  barracks  for  the  guard.  A  strong 
twelve-foot  fence  was  built  around  this  ground,  in- 
closing a  space  of  some  fifteen  acres.  Within  about 
three  feet  of  the  top  of  this  fence  was  a  walk  three 
feet  wide,  which  was  constantly  traversed  by  the 
guard.  The  barracks  and  out-houses  covered  nearly 
or  (juite  one-third  the  inclosed  space,  leaving  a  pleas- 
ant open  grass  plat  of  the  remainder.  The  quarters 
were  left  clean  and  orderly,  and  the  grounds  did  not 
present  the  appearance  of  neglect. 

INDIAX  SKIRMISHES. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  the  peninsula  was  the 
scene  of  two  skirmishes  with  Indians.  The  inhabi- 
tants were  obliged  to  seek  safety  in  flight,  some  going 
toward  Cleveland,  and  others  to  the  block  house  at 
Mansfield.  A  regiment  was  encami^ed.  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Richard  Hayes,  of  Hartford,  Trum: 
bull  county,  Ohio,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Huron  river, 
and  about  three  miles  below  Milan.  A  detachment  of 
men  was  sent   to    Lower    Sanduskv.    now    Fremont, 


HISTOKY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


)09 


where  tliey  took  possession  of  the  stockade  which  was 
afterwards  named  Fort  Stephenson.  This  fort  had 
been  deserted  upon  the  surrender  of  General  Hull,  at 
Detroit,  and  was  unoccupied  until  this  time.  Some 
provisions  had  been  left  there,  and  September  26th, 
Major  Frazier  sent  four  small  boats  and  eighteen  men 
with  a  cargo  of  beef  and  pork,  for  the  use  of  the  sol- 
diers at  Camp  Avery,  near  Milan.  Owing  to  the 
prevalence  of  a  severe  storm  on  the  lake  they  landed 
on  Bull's  Island,  and  sent  six  men  in  one  boat  to  re- 
connoiter  on  the  peninsula.  Two  of  the  Ramsdells 
were  among  them,  and  they  proceeded  cautiously  to 
their  former  residence.  From  a  cornfield  they  saw  a 
party  of  forty-seven  Indians  regaling  themselves  on 
roasting  ears  of  corn  and  honey.  They  returned  to 
the  island,  and  with  their  comrades,  hastened  across 
to  Cedar  Point,  and  sent  messengers  to  Camp  Avery. 
The  soldiers  arrived  at  the  camp  Sunday  evening  about 
five  o'clock.  Volunteers  were  immediately  called  for 
and  sixty-four  men  responded.  Thirty  minutes  was 
allowed  for  supper,  and  just  at  dark  the  expedition 
moved  off.  It  was  near  four  o'clock  in  the  morning 
when  the  party  reached  Cedar  Point.  The  boats  were 
unloaded  and  the  command  embarked,  steering  for 
Middle  Orchard.  With  the  addition  of  the  men  at 
Cedar  Point  the  total  number  was  seventy-two  men. 
The  boats  were  left  under  charge  of  a  corporal,  who 
was  directed  to  hide  with  them  in  a  clump  of  rushes 
about  half  the  distance  to  Bull's  Island.  The  corpo- 
ral and  two  men  soon  went  over,  to  the  main  laud  for 
fruit,  and  accidentally  discovered  several  cauoes  filled 
with  Indians  coming  down  the  bay.  They  immedi- 
diately  returned  to  their  comrades,  and  leaving  the 
two  larger  boats  hurried  the  two  small  ones  across  to 
Cedar  Point.  The  large  boats  were  scuttled  by  the 
Indians. 


The  party  that  had  marched  to  attack  the  Indians 
at  Ramsdell's  house,  found  they  had  left  that  place, 
and  did  not  attempt  a  pursuit.  On  their  return  the 
party  was  divided  into  three  divisions,  and  after  secur- 
ing some  wheat  that  was  left,  started  on  their  return 
to  the  boats.  One  party  was  surprised  by  ambushed 
Indians,  and  Valentine  Ramsdell  was  killed  by  then- 
first  volley,  and  one  man  disabled.  Tlie  remainder  of 
the  men,  nine  in  number,  took  to  the  trees,  and 
adopted  the  Indian  system  of  warfare.  As  soon  as 
the  first  volley  was  fired,  the  other  twodivisions  came 
rapidly  to  the  assistance  of  their  comrades.  A  retreat 
was  made  to  the  orchard,  and  the  dead  and  wounded 
were  carried  off  the  field.  Near  the  middle  orchard 
I  two  Indians  were  seen,  who  ran  away  as  if  afraid  of 
being  pursued.  Several  men  started  after  them,  but 
were  called  back  by  their  more  prudent  comrades. 
They  had  no  sooner  stopped  than  a  volley  was  fired 
by  a  large  party  of  savages,  from  an  ambush  behiud 
some  fallen  timber,  but  fortunately  not  a  man  was 
struck.  After  some  irregular  skirmishing  about 
twenty  of  the  men  sought  shelter  in  a  log  house,  and 
the  rest  passed  on  to  the  landing  place,  whence  they 
finally  managed  to  reach  the  point  of  the  peninsula. 
The  guard  on  Cedar  Point  came  with  the  two  small 
boats,  and  took  them  across,  one  boat  load  at  a  time. 
They  then  proceeded  to  the  Huron  river,  and  sent  a 
squad  of  men  to  Camp  Avery  for  assistance.  Jt  was 
not  until  the  first  of  October  that  the  relief  could  be 
sent  to  the  party  on  the  peninsula.  When  it  reached 
them,  they  were  found  safe  in  the  log  house,  the  Indi- 
ans having  retired.  They  did  not  seem  to  have 
noticed  the  men  who  passed  down  the  point,  or  they 
would,  undoubtedly,  have  massacred  them.  In  this 
skirmish  five  men  were  killed,  and  six  wounded. 


KELLEY'S  ISLAND; 


DESCRIPTION. 

The  township  of  Kelley's  Island  is  au  island  in  Lake 
Erie,  is  one, of  the  eleven  townshijjs  composiuo-  the 
county  of  Erie,  and  is  situated  in  latitude  forty-one 
degrees  thirty-five  minutes  north,  and  longitude  five 
degrees  forty-two  minutes  west  from  Washington,  the 
north  shore  of  the  Island  being  but  one  and  one-half 
miles  from  the  boundary  line,  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  is  part  of 
the  tract  of  land  known  as  the  ''Connecticut  Western 
Reserve. " 

THE    ISLAND    XOT     A     PART    OF   THE    FIRE-LANDS. 

Upon  the  survey  of  the  Fire-lands,  some  of  the 
grantees  claimed  that  the  south  shore  of  Sandusky 
bay  should  be  their  north  line.  But  this  claim  the 
Western  Reserve  Land  Company  resisted,  and  con- 
tended that  the  said  Fire-lands  should  be  bounded  on 
the  n*rth  by  the  territorial  line  (the  northern  boun- 
dary of  the  Reserve),  which  was  also  the  line  of  boun- 
dary between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and, 
therefore,  should  include  in  the  Fire-lands  the  islands 
of  Lake  Erie  lying  east  of  the  west  line  of  the  West- 
ern Reserve  tracts,  and  south  of  the  territorial  line. 

The  islands  thus  situated  were  Island  No.  6,  also 
known  as  Cunningham's  (now  Kelley's)  Island  and 
the  Buss,  or  Put-in-Bay  Islands.  The  matter  wa; 
finally  compromised  by  the  parties  interested,  the 
Fire-land  proprietors  agreeing  to  establish,  as  their 
north  line,  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  deducting, 
however,  the  waters  of  Sandusky  Bay. 

The  Peninsula  of  Marble  Head,  in  Danbury  town- 
ship and  a  part  of  Van  Rensalaer  township,  both 
now  in  Ottawa  county,  were,  by  this  compromise,  in- 
cluded in  the  Fire-lands,  although,  like  the  islands, 
were  not  considered  of  any  particular  value.  Thus 
the  Bass  Islands  and  Cunningham's  Islands,  though 
'lying  directly  north  of  the  Fire-lands  and  between 
that  tract  and  the  -territorial  line,  were  thrown  out 
and  never  became  a  part  of  the  Fire-lands,  but  re- 
mained a  part  of  the  Western  Reserve.  Cunning- 
liani's  Island,  therefore,  still  remaining  a  part  of  the 
Western  Reserve,  was  held  by  the  company,  as  were 
some  other  townships,  as  an  "equalizing"  township 
so-called.  The  origin  of  these  e((ualizing  townships 
was,  that  in  dividing  the  land  of  the  Reserve  com- 
l)any  among  the  different  proprietors,  the  divisions 
were  necessarily  somewhat  unequal,  and  these  equal- 
izing townships  were  divided  pro  rata  among  such  as 


it  was  supposed  had  not  received  their  share  in  the 
division.  ■ 

Thus  Cunningham's  Island,  which  at  that  time 
was  supposed  to  be  of  little  value,  was  divided  in  lots 
among  the  different  individuals  who  were  proprietors 
in  the  Western  Reserve  Land  Company  or  their  heirs, 
to  whom,  in  this  division  of  the  Western  Reserve 
land,  the  township  of  Carlisle,  then  in  Huron,  now  in 
Lorain  county,  had  been  set  off,  and  to  which  town- 
ship the  island  had  been  annexed  for  equalizing  pur- 
poses. The  cedar  and  mulberry  stakes  and  trees 
marking  the  lines  and  corners  of  the  lots  into  which 
the  island  was  divided  (thirteen  in  number)  are  some 
of  them  still  standing,  and  one,  a  mulberry  stake 
marking  the  corners  of  three  lots,  bearing  tlje  sur- 
veyor's mark  and  date  of  March,  1819,  plainly  legible, 
was  in  its  place  a  year  or  two  since. 

This  survey  of  the  islands  was  made  by  Judge 
Jabez  Wright,  of  Huron,  and  the  aggregate  number 
of  acres  in  the  thirteen  lots,  into  which  the  islands 
was  divided,  was  twenty-eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight. 

The  data  contained  in  the  foregoing  were  obtained 
from  several  sources,  but  mostly  from  records  of  lands 
of  the  Reserve,  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  at   Hartford. 

We  now  leave  the  beaten  tracks  of  recorded  history 
and  statistics,  and  emerge  upon  the  fields  of  persona,l 
narrative  and  tradition. 

The  following  narrative  from  the  personal  recollec- 
tions of  Mr.  Henry  Ellithorpe,  and  the  recollections 
and  traditions  of  those  wTio  preceded  him  as  inhabit- 
ants of  the  islands,  will  be  found  of  interest  to  many 
of  the  present  day,  particularly  these  who  will  recog- 
nize the  locations  named,  and  is  doubtless  as  authen- 
tic as  any  information  that  can  be  obtained  at  this 
late  day,  in  the  absence  of  any  manuscript  or  other 
recoi'ds.  Such  of  the  incidents  as  are  related  as 
coming  under  the  personal  observation  of  Mr.  Elli- 
thorpe can  be  relied  upon;  and  the  discrepancies  and 
inaccuracies  that  may  occur  will  be  those  in  which 
tradition  takes  the  place  of  personal  observation,  and 
perhaps  in  some  of  the  dates,  as  we  must  not  look  for 
entire  accuracy  in  dates  where  no  written  record  was 
kept,  and  when  som'e  of  the  dates,  like  portions  of  the 
narrative,  are  also  traditionary. 

CUNNINGHAM. 

The  first  white  settler  upon  the  island,  of  whom 
anything  is  known,  was  a  Frenchman  by  the  name  of 
Cunningham.     He  was  an  Indian   trader,   so  called, 

(510) 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIK  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


511 


buying  of  the  Indians  their  furs,  maple  sugar  and 
jieltry,  and  furnishing  them  in  exchange  such  articles 
as  thej'  needed  or  fancied,  as  blankets,  trinkets,  and 
doubtless  also  whisky,  in  those  days  considered  a  sta- 
ple article  in  the  stock  of  an  Indian  trader.  This 
Cunningham  came  to  the  island  about  the  year  1808, 
as  nearly  as  can  now  be  ascertained.  He  made  a  small 
clearing,  and  built  a  cabin,  or  trading  shanty,  near  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  present  Estes  farm;  i-emained 
here  until  the  year  1812,  about  the  time  of  the  declara- 
tion of  war  with  Great  Britain,  which  was  on  the 
ISth  of  June  of  the  year  when  he  left.  There  is  a 
legend  that  he  became  involved  in  an  affray  with  the 
Indians  in  which  he  was  badly  wounded  but  escaped 
to  the  peninsula  where  he  soon  after  died  of  his 
wounds.  But  this  was  not  sustained  (according  to 
Mr.  Ellithorpe)  by  the  accounts  of  Poschile  and  Bebo, 
who,  it  will  hereafter  be  seen,  came  to  the  island 
some  two  years  after  Cunningham,  and  who  claimed 
that  he  left  the  island  at  the  same  time  they  did,  upon 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  that  he  was 
killed  in  some  one  of  tlie  skirmishes  with  British  and 
Indians  on  the  peninsula. 

From  this  man  Cininingliam  the  island  took  its 
name,  not  because  he  held  any  claim  of  ownership, 
but  merely  to  distinguish  it  from  the  other  islands  in 
the  vicinity.  It,  however,  retained  the  name,  "Cun- 
ningham's Island,'"  was  kiiown  by  no  other,  was  so 
put  down  on  the  maps  of  the  State  and  of  the  United 
States,  until  it  was  erected  into  a  township  of  Erie 
county,  and  its  name  changed  to  the  one  it  now  bears, 
by  act  of  the  legislature,  passed  January  21,  1810,  as 
in  the  course  of  this  history  will  hereafter  appear. 

POSCHILE   AND  BEBO. 

In  the  year  ISIO,  two  other  Frenchmen  (heretofore 
iieferred  to),  Poschile  and  Bebo.  settled  upon  the 
island.  Bebo  cleared  a  piece  of  land,  and  built  a 
caljin  on  the  southwest  point  of  the  island,  a  little 
to  the  nortii  of  what  is  now  known  as  Cai'penter's 
maple  grove.  Poschile  also  made  a  clearing,  which 
extended  from  the  ravine  near  the  residence  of  W. 
S.  Webb,  to  a  point  near  the  present  site  of  N. 
Kelley  &  Co"s  upper  wharf. 

The  road  running  along  the  south  shore  of  the 
island  is  north  of  the  site  of  his  cabin,  which  has  long 
since  been  washed  away  by  the  waters  of  the  lake. 
Bebo  and  Poschile  both  left  the  island  in  1812.  The 
former  was  taken  prisoner  l)y  the  Indians,  during  the 
war,  but  made  his  escape,  or  was  released,  and  re- 
turned to  the  peninsula.  Both  of  these  persons  died 
some  years  since.  At  the  time  of  tlie  war,  and  while 
in  command  of  the  "Army  of  the  Northwest,"  General 
Harrison  kept  a  guard  stationed  on  the  west  point  of 
the  island,  for  the  purpose  of  observing  the  move- 
ments of  the  British  and  Indians  on  the  lake.  The 
camp  occupied  by  tliis  guard  was  situated  upon  the 
clearing  made  by  Bebo,  and  in  1828  tlie  cedar  tent 
stakes  were  yet  standing,  marking  the  site  of  the  en- 
cami^ment. 


It  was  in  the  harbor,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
island,  making  preparations  for  the  anticipated  con- 
flict, which  followed  on  the  10th  day  of  September, 
1814,  tliat  Perry  lay  with  his  fleet  for  a  time  previous 
to  that  event.  Here  he  received  on  board  the  Thirty- 
six  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky  volunteers 
from  General  Harrison's  army;  and  here  he  was  visited 
by  General  Harrison,  who  was  accompanied  by  his 
aids,  Cass  and  McArthur,  for  the  purpose  of  holding 
an  interview  in  relation  to  the  expected  naval  engage- 
ment, ever  afterwards  known  as  tlie  "Battle  of  Lake 
Erie,"  which  resulted  so  gloriously  to  the  American 
flag,  and  which,  being  followed  by  the  victory  of 
Harrison,  on  the  Thames,  over  the  British  and 
Indians,  under  Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  virtually 
closed  the  war. 


It  is  not  known  that  there  were  any  persons  resid- 
ing on  the  island  permanently  from  the  time  Cun- 
ningham, Poschile  and  Bebo  left,  in  1812,  until  the 
year  1818,  when  a  man,  named  Killam,  came  to  the 
island  with  his  family  and  one  or  two  men.  The 
houses  which  had  been  built  on  the  island,  by  the  set- 
tlers who  preceded  him,  having  been  burned  during 
tiie  war,  Killam  built  a  cabin  on  the  Poschile  clearing, 
a  short  distance  northeast  from  the  site  of  the  Poscliile 
cabin.  The  foundation  of  the  chimney,  of  the  Killam 
house,  is  still  visible. 

The  steamboat  "Walk-in-the- Water,"  tlie  first  ever 
built  upon  the  lakes,  was  built,  or  "came  out"  this 
year  (1818),  and  Killam  was  employed  in  furnishing 
her  with  fuel,  which  had  to  be  "boated  out"  to 
the  steamer;  the  timber  was  all  red  cedar,  and  was 
cut.  the  most  of  it,  from  the  west  half  of  lot 
six.  the  iiresent  county  road,  known  as  "Division 
street,"  bounding  the  eastern  edge  of  the  "slash,''  or 
clearing  made  in  cutting  the  wood.  About  the  time 
that  Killam  moved  to  the  island  (in  1818),  a  Captain 
Coit  also  came,  with  a  sail  boat,  and  found  partial 
employment  in  ferrying  passengers  to  and  from  San- 
dusky and  the  island  for  the  steamboat,  as  the  latter 
did  not  go  into  Sandusky  every  trip,  but  sent  and  re- 
ceived her  Sandusky  and  Venice  passengers  in  this 
way, — the  latter,  it  is  said,  having,  at  that  time,  been 
as  important  a  point  as  the  former. 

The  "  Walk-in-the- Water  "  was  wrecked  on  the  I'.Uh 
of  October,  1820,  iiaving  gone  ashore  at  Point  Albino, 
and  the  trade  in  cedar  wood  was  destroyed,  as  was  also 
the  passenger  business,  at  least  so  far  as  the  foreign 
travel  by  the  steamboat  was  concerned,  and  it  is  not 
probable  that  the  local  trade  in  that  line  was  very 
heavy  or  remunerative  at  that  early  day. 

Killam  and  his  family  left  tiie  island  in  the  year 
1820,  after  the  loss  of  "The  Steamboat,"  as,  being 
the  first  and  only  one,  she  was  distinctively  called,  as 
did  also  Captain  Coit,  and  it  is  not  known  that  there 
were   any  permanent    residents    here   until   tlie  year 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


BARXVM    AND  GRUMMETS. 

There  were,  however,  at  times,  between  these  dates, 
two  men  on  the  island  who  had  been  employed  by 
Killam  in  getting  out  wood.  l)ut  they  could  hardly 
be  called  residents  after  Killam's  departure,  as  they 
made  the  island  their  home  only  as  their  necessities 
re(iuired,  for  the  purpose  of  ''appropriating"  cedar 
and  disposing  of  it  in  exchange  for  the  necessaries  of 
life,  one  large  item  of  which  with  them  was  whisky. 
The  names  of  the  parties  were  Barnum  and  Grum- 
mets, as  the  latter  was  called,  though  this,  it  is  said, 
was  not  his  true  name. 

Barnum,  after  Killam's  departure,  built  a  cabin 
on  what  has  ever  since,  from  that  circumstance,  been 
called  Barnum's  Point,  on  the  east  end  of  the  island, 
the  location  being  not  far  from  the  beach  on  the  J. 
E.  Woodford  farm.  The  bottom,  or  foundation  logs, 
of  red  cedar,  still  mark  the  site  of  this  cabin,  a  few 
rods  northeast  of  the  former  residence  of  Mr.  Wood- 
ford. 

Some  difficulty  having  arisen  between  these  parties 
a  bitter  antagonism  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the 
killing  of  Grummets  by  Barnum,  as  the  latter  stated 
it,  by  his  shooting  the  former  with  a  rifle  at  a  mo- 
ment when  be  (Grummets)  was,  rifle  in  hand,  watch- 
ing an  opportunity  to  kill  Bai'num  as  he  made  his 
appearance  at  the  door  of  his  cabin.  One  cause  of 
the  trouble  was  stated  to  be  a  quarrel  over  some  cedar. 
Another  was  said  to  be  in  relation  to  a  certain  female 
who  occasionally  came  to  the  island,  and  lived  with 
Barnum.  It  is  probable  that  both  had  their  influ- 
ence. Barnum  himself  informed  authorities  of  the 
killing;  an  examination  was  had,  and  he  was  dis- 
charged, there  being  no  evidence  beside  his  own 
and  he  claiming  justification  in  the  plea  of  self-de- 
fense. He  stated  that  he  disposed  of  the  body  of 
Grummets  by  placing  it  in  a  leaky  skiff,  which,  bal- 
lasted with  a  quantity  of  stone  sufficient  to  insure  its 
sinking  when  it  should  reach  deep  water,  he  sent 
adrift  during  the  prevalence  of  a  strong  southwest 
wind,  thus  precluding  the  possibility  of  Grummets 
troubling  him  any  further.  There  was  also  a  legend 
that  the  body  of  Grummets  was  found  on  the  island 
at  a  place  privately  indicated  by  Barnum,  and  that  it 
was  taken  possession  of  by  a,  then,  prominent  San- 
dusky physician  for  anatomical  purposes.  The  killing 
of  Grummets  occurred  in  the  latter  part  of  1825  or 
early  in  1826.  Barnum  was  living,  a  few  years  since, 
at  some  place  in  Connecticut. 

FIRST    PERMANENT    LETTERS. 

In  1826,  Elisha  Ellis  and  Peter  Shook  obtained  from 
Eld  red,  (one  of  the  original  proprietors  under  the 
Western  Reserve  Company),  contracts  for  two  small 
])ieces  of  land  situated  in  the  southwest  corner  of  lot 
ten.  These  contracts  comprised  a  part  of  the  farm 
now  owned  by  James  Estes, — Ellis'  lands  being  lo- 
cated on  the  east  part  of  the  Estes'  farm,  and  Shooks' 
on  the  west.     Ellis  Ijuilt  a  house  on  his  lot,  and  with 


his  wife  moved  into  it.  The  chimney  foundations  of 
this  house  were  visible  a  few  years  since  a  short  dis- 
tance east  of  Mrs.  Estes'  fonner  residence.  Shook 
never  settled  upon  the  island ;  in  fact,  never  re- 
turned after  his  pitrchase,  made  no  payments  nor 
improvements,  thus  forfeiting  his  contract.  In  1827 
Mr.  Ellis  and  wife,  and  Samuel  Beardsley  and  wife, 
(who  lived  in  the  house  with  Ellis),  composed  the 
total  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  island.  In  February  of 
1828  Mrs.  Beardsley  died,  and  was  buried  on  the 
banks  of  the  lake,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  house. 
In  June  of  1828,  Mr.  Henry  Ellithorpe  came  to  the 
island  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  business 
of  raising  stock,  the  entire  territory  being  then  a 
'•free  commons. '" 

During  the  fall  of  this  year,  two  young  ladies, 
neices  of  Mrs.  Ellis,  Mary  Kellogg  and  Abigail 
Brooks  (who  came  to  the  Islands  during  the  preced- 
ing summer),  were  taken  sick  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Ellis.  Mary  Kellogg  died  and  was  buried  near  Mrs. 
Beardsley.  Abigail  Brooks  was  taken  to  Sandusky 
and  died  there  soon  after  her  removal.  The  place  of 
interment  of  Mrs.  Beardsley  and  Mary  Kellogg  has 
long  since  disappeared,  having  been  washed  away  by 
the  encroachment  of  the  waters  of  the  lake. 

During  the  winter  of  1828-9  Mr.  Ellis  and  wife. 
Mr.  Henry  Ellithorpe,  and  Frank  Saunders,  who 
worked  for  Ellis,  were  the  only  inhabitants. 

In  the  summer  of  1829,  Ira  B.  Henderson  and 
family  moved  to  the  island,  remained  a  short  time, 
and  left.  During  the  winter  of  1829-30  Mr.  Ellis 
and  wife,  Henry  Ellithorpe  and  E.  T.  Smith,  (known 
as  '-Tinker  Smith,")  formed  the  total  population,  the 
latter  having  come  here  during  the  preceding  sum- 
mer or^all.  In  June  of  18.30,  Nicholas  Haskins  and 
wife,  and  eight  or  nine  children,  and  soon  after 
Luther  Ladd,  wife  and  four  children,  and  William 
Goodwin,  wife  and  three  children,  became  residents 
of  the  island.  Haskins  built  a  cabin  near  the  west 
edge  of  the  South  Pond,  on  tbe  site  known  as  the 
"Old  Burying  Ground'"  on  the  farm  of  Addison 
Kelley.  Ladd  built  near  the  point  where  the  Hunt- 
ington Quarry  Railroad  track  crosses  the  road,  and 
Goodwin  moved  into  the  house  built  and  occupied  by 
Killam. 

On  the  2Cth  of  December,  1830,  Henry  Ellithorpe 
was  married,  at  Sandusky,  to  Elizabeth  Xeal.  He  re- 
turned to  the  island  with  his  wife  in  January,  1831. 
crossing  on  the  ice  with  an  span  of  horses  and  sleigh, 
and  also  bringing  with  him  six  head  of  cattle.  Mr. 
Ellithorpe  and  wife  lived  in  the  same  house  with  Mr. 
Ellis  daring  the  balance  of  the  winter,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1831  he  built  a  cedar  house  on  the  bank  of 
the  lake,  on  the  south  side  a  few  rods  west  of  the 
mouth  of  the  creek  known  as  the  "Tiber."  into  which 
he  moved  about  the  middle  of  April.  1831.  In  this 
house  was  born  on  the  sixth  day  of  October,  1832, 
Cyrus  Ellithorpe,  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Elli- 
thorpe, '-The  first  white  child  born  on  the  Island, "• 
according  to  the  narrative  of  Jlr.  Ellirhoriie. 


c^^        ^^^ 


Sae\  Kelley,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Waller  Dean,  was  born  at  West- 
field,  Mass.,  April  5, 1789 ;  removed  to  Martinsburg,  N.  Y.,  while  quite  young. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  was  married  to  Datus  Kelley.and  removed 
directly  to  Rockport,  Ohio,  where  she  lived  twenty-five  years,  one  of  the  fore- 
most women  in  acts  of  benevolence,  and  in  giving  cheer  and  assistance  to  the 
despondent  in  the  trials  and  privations  of  their  new  homes  in  the  wilderness. 
She  would  often  take  her  baby  in  her  lap  and  ride,  on  horseback,  six  or  eiglit 
I  neighbor's  to  take  care  of  the  sick.    Her  example  in  industry  and 


onomy  had  much  1 


\  Island  (now  Kelley's),  where  she 

eonly  nurse  and  doctor  for  many 

The  number'of  namesakes  she  lias  in'variuus  families  on  the  island  is 

I  testimonial  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  she  was  regarded.    She  died  March 

;i^l8C4,  having  survived  her  golden  wedding  three  years. 


Daniel  Kelley, 

Jr.,  was  a  clothier,  had  some  int.: 

■est  in  a  f 

in  comfortable  ci 

■cumstances  for  the  times  in  whic 

.  he  lived 

si-lf  blessed  with 

a  large  family  of  crowing  boys, 

-fi.v  in  1 

their  fortune  he 

resolved  to  try    life  in  a  new  c. 

untry,  an 

Hii'J,  when  Datu 

was  but  one  year  old,  he  moved 

vith  his  r. 

N.  Y.     HereDat 

s  remained  until  he  was  twenty 

lieving  Lowville 

too  frosty  a  region  for  iirosperon 

s  agricult 

in  his  turn,  to  m 

country 

And  that,  iu  the 

pring  of  1810,  be  took  bis  iiack  i 

pon  bis  ba 

foot  for  the  Wes 

,  prospecting.     He  arrived  in  Cleveland,  tl 

of  three  or  four 

hundred  souls  and  containing  fo 

ir  frame 

1810.   He  did  not,  however,  find  a  place  that  entire 

y  pleased 

Lowville  the  same  season.    Be  seemed,  1 
couraged  in  seeking  for  a  home  in  the  West,  for  we  find  1 
foot,  with  his  pack,    "  ^ 


1  the  I 


Lewi  I 


t  Oswego,  from  whence  he 
1  from  there  walked  to  Black  Rock,  and  took  a  vessel  for  Cleveland,  where 
he  arrived  in  May.  This  time  he  was  as  unsuccessful  as  before  in  finding  a 
place  that  suited  his  idea  of  a  home,  but  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  country 
in  general  that  he  concluded  to  return  home,  take  to  himself  a  wife,  and  run 
the  risk  of  finding  the  desired  location  afterward;  trusting,  as  all  sensible 
swains  should,  in  the  greater  wisdom  of  woman  to  "  guide  to  the  right  place." 
Aug.  21,  1811,  the  family  record  states:  Datus  Kelley  married  Sara  Dean,  of 
Martinsburg,  N.  Y.  The  following  year  Mr.  Kelley  and  bride,  with  a  Miss 
Dean,  sister  of  Mrs.  Kelley,  sailed  for  Cleveland,  in  the  schooner  "  Zephyr." 
They  anchored  off"  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga,  and  were  IiuuIlhI,  ti'','tther 
with  their  freight,  in  small  boats,  and  at  once  comni'iH  .■.]  li  .n-  k-    i  I;i„'  in  ;i 

warehouse  until  the  right  spot  could   be  found  ti.  Inra  ■    ■  ! I'   -  ^^  is 

found  about  eight  miles  west  of  Cleveland,  on  ;tli.    lakr -!  li  i     i 

chased  ono  hundred  and  sixty-fouracres  of  lani],  ;tl  s;i>  1    !  M      ,    ■  <■ 

is  now  known  as  the  "Gov.  Wood  farm."    Tho  fainilv   :,   i   \\    i  1 

into  a  little  cabin  on  an  adjoining  farm  until  a  bouse  r  n  i  I  i  nili,  \  in,  li 
took  just  ten  days.  At  this  time  there  was  no  nearer  i^mh m. m  u  tlu  ,i-t 
than  Cleveland,  and  on  the  west  than  Black  River,  twenty  mil-  s  aw.vx.  TIu- 
Indians  Bwurmed  along  the  shore  in  summer,  but  disappear'  1  in  umi   i. 

When  tho  great  fright  which  followed  Hull's  surrender  >u*pt  alun-  th.:- 
shore  of  Lake  Erie  and  depopulated  all  the  settlements,  Mr.  Kelloy  thouglit 
the  Indians  too  friendly  to  do  much  harm,  and  did  not  leave  his  home;  but 
once  he  pulled  the  latch-string  in,  and  put  a  nail  over  the  latch  for  safety, 
ter  his  latch-string  hung  outside,  and  friend  or 
'  time  of  day  or  night. 

In.l813,  Mr.  Kelley  was  drafted,  but  hired  Chester  Dean  as  a  substitute, 
paying  him  his  wages  in  addition  to  his  pay  from  the  government  Times  were 
hard,— flour  cost  J20  per  barrel,  very  poor  cotton-cloth  75  cents  per  yard,  and 


alkhfo 


everything  else  iu  proportion.  Mr.  Kelley  resided  here  twenty  yeara,  during 
which  time  he  converted  his  foi'est  home  into  a  beautiful  and  well-regulated 
farm.  During  a  part  of  this  time  he  assisted  in  making  surveys  of  portions 
of  the  "  Reserve." 

In  the  year  1833,  Datus  Kelley,  in  ( 
Cunningham's  Island  (now  Kelley's), 
into  market  the  red  cedar  timber  w 

island,  and  only  si 

port,  to  the  island  were  usually  made 

where  he  took  boats  fur  the  island. 

In  ls;JG,  Mr.  Kelley  moved  his  family  to  his  island  home, 
surrounded  by  bis  children  and  children's  children,  until  his  death.  His 
first  efl'ort,  by  way  of  public  improvements,  was  in  buildin;;  docks  fur  a 
steamboat  landing,  which  were  commenced  in  1833,  and  much  enlarged  in 
1835. 

He  always  maintained  that  education  and  habits  of  industry  aud  sobriety 
were  essential  moans  to  success  in  life,  and  ninch  of  the  prosperity  of  the 
island  is  due  to  his  precepts  and  example  in  these  matters.  Hence,  as  soon 
as  his  docks  were  made  to  aii-wrr  ilu-  piui^MM-,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the 
erection  of  a  school-houso.     '!lii< -vl-  il,     first   frame  Imilding  on  tho  island, 


foot  to  the  point  on  the  uiain  U 
he  rosi' 


The  hou 


till    St.1 


and  was  erected  at  the  exi' -"-      i  '!i 
ing,  north  of  George  Kell    >  i    •  ~ 

country;  hence  his  sclmnM, 
reading  was  so  extensive  thii  i  w  iii 
and  geography,  or  of  scicntiin  and  religious  subjects.  As  an  evidence  of  the 
interest  Mr.  Kelley  felt  iu  matters  uf  public  education,  in  its  unrestricted  sense, 
he  left  behind  him  an  enduring  testimonial.  He  erected  at  his  own  expense 
a  commodious  and  neatly  fiiiislied  and  furnished  stone  chapel  or  hall.  This 
he  gave  into  keeping  of  triistei-s,  to  be  used  by  the  islanders  for  school  pur- 
poses, and  for  all  worthy  ,  >I'j,xt-^,  loth  r'lioi,,n5  -md  secular. 

i~  ill  hirn.  Mr,  Kelley  was  an  energetic,  practical 
ii  his  ]>ii^iii(>s  plans  successfully,  insomuch  that 


Asdner 


■the  fai 


Jos 


,  Conn 


among  the  first  settlers  of 
a  1724,  and  married  Abigail 


Daniel  Kelley,  Sr.,  son  of  Joseph,  was  horn 
Reynt.lds,  at  Norwich,  Conn. 

Daniel,  Jr..  son  of  Daniel,  Sr.,  was  born  at  Nonvich,  Nov.  27, 1755,  and  mar- 
ried Jemima  Stow.    He  died  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Aug.  7, 1831,  at  the  age  of 

Datus  Kelley,  son  of  Daniel,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  April  24, 


,  M;i.-.     Th. 


died  Jan.4, 1»36.    Samuel,  born  Jun...     :-:",  :  .  :  ' 
born  June  10,1819;  married  Geur^-  i      ll  ;■-  ■    ■ 
children.    Caroline,  horn  April  i:.   l    . 
7,  1S44;  have  had  four  children.     1'  I 

S.  Webb,  Sept.  10,  1845 ;  have  had  ll iii  ii     , 

182G  ;  married  Hannah  Farr,  May  21,  l,v.T  ;  tia\  e  o\v 
Sept.  7.  1828,  married  Lydia  RenUngton,  Aug.  7,  ] 
Marcella  Dean,  March  20, 1856 ;  have  two  children. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


The  site  of  this  house,  originally  six  or  eight  rods 
from  the  bank  of  the  lake,  has  disappeared — tlie  red 
cedar  logs,  of  which  the  house  was  built,  having  been 
cut  up  and  sold  for  fence  posts  nearh'  thirty  years 
after  its  erection.  It  will  be  observed  that  in  the  state- 
ment, that  "Cyrus  Ellithorpe  was  the  first  white 
child  born  on  the  Island,"  the  narrative  of  Mr.  Elli- 
thorpe has  been  followed.  In  this  connection  it  is  as 
well  to  state  that  there  was  a  legend  that  in  the  fall 
of  1814,  a  Mr.  Allen  with  his  wife  came  to  the  is- 
land, intending  to  make  it  their  home,  that  during 
the  winter  Mrs.  Allen  and  her  cJiild,  a  day  or  two 
old,  died,  and  were  buried  by  the  husband  and  father, 
who,  by  this  calamit}',  was  left  the  only  living  being 
upon  the  island;  that  after  performing  alone  and  un- 
assisted the  mournful  duty  of  the  interment  of  his 
wife  and  child  he  left,  and  it  is  not  known  that  he 
ever  returned.  Of  course,  as  at  this-  late  day  any 
verification  of  this  statement  is  impossible,  it  must  be 
treated  as  a  legend,  and  not  as  history. 

In  April  of  1833,  Benjamin  A.  Napier  moved  to 
the  island  with  his  family,  and  bringing  with  him  five 
or  sis  men,  who  came  with  the  ostensible  purpose  of 
working  for  him.  Napier  had,  in  the  summer  of 
1832,  visited  the  island,  and  warned  the  inhabitants 
that  (as  he  claimed  ownership)  they  were  all  tres- 
passers upon  his  property,  and  that  he  should  treat 
tiiem  as  such  by  ejecting  them  from  the  island  at  no 
distant  day. 

In  consequence  of  the  location  being  considered 
unhealthy;  Mr.  Ellis  had,  in  the  fall  of  1832,  vacated 
his  own  house,  moving  into  the  same  house  with 
Goodwin,  and  Napier,  upon  his  arrival  in  the  spring 
of  1833,  had  taken  possession  of  the  Ellis  house, 
which  he  occupied  until  October  of  the  same  year, 
when  he  was  ejected  therefrom  by  legal  process  by 
D.  and  I.  Kelley,  who  had  previously  acquired,  by 
purchase,  whatever  of  interest  Ellis  might  have  held 
in  the  property.  The  land  they  had  purchased  of 
Eldred,  and  Ellis  held  only  a  claim  for  improvements, 
or  perhaps  that  of  occupation  by  contract.  This  pur- 
chase and  transfer  of  Ellis'  right  was  for  the  purpose 
of  acquiring  possession,  in  order  to  enable  them  to 
take  legal  measures  for  the  ejectment  of  Napier.  But 
we  have  anticipated  somewhat  in  this  matter  of  the 
ejectment  of  Napier,  and  it  becomes  necessary  for  the 
preservation  of  clironological  order  to  retrace  our 
steps. 

In  Jnne  of  1833,  Burr  Higgins  and  Captain  Judah 
\V.  Ransom,  of  Sandusky,  held  an  interview  at  Nor- 
walk  with  the  agents  of  some  of  the  principal  owners 
of  Cunningham's  island,  with  a  view  to  its  purchase, 
if  satisfactory  terms,  title,  etc.,  could  be  obtained. 
This  interview,  after  some  negotiation,  was  unpro- 
ductive of  results,  and  no  purchase  was  effected. 
Among  the  agents  of  the  owners  present  at  the  inter- 
view at  Norwalk  was  Mr.  Allen,  son-in-law  of  General 
Perkins,  of  Warren,  the  latter  of  whom  was  one  of  the 
largest  owners  of  lands  of  the  island. 


THE  ADVENT  OF  THE  KELLEYS. 

Upon  Mr.  Allen's  return  home,  he  introduced  the 
subject  of  the  sale  of  the  island  to.  Mr.  Irad  Kelley, 
of  Cleveland,  recommending  the  purchase  as  a  good 
investment.  The  latter,  it  appears,  had  for  some 
time  been  favorably  impressed  with  the  future  value 
of  the  ]jroperty,  and  had  called  the  attention  of  his 
brother,  Mr.  Datus  Kelley,  of  Rockport,  to  the  mat- 
t3r,  and  upon  this  application  of  Mr.  Allen  they  con- 
cluded to,  and  did,  visit  the  island  with  reference  to 
its  purchase. 

The  difficulties  that  followed  the  advent  of  Napier 
upon  the  island,  that  beset  the  inhabitants  consequent 
upon  his  claim  of  ownership,  the  seizure  of  their 
stock,  etc.,  without  legal  process,  and,  as  they 
claimed,  without  the  shadow  of  equitable  right,  ren- 
dered it  imperative  that  something  should  be  done  to 
put  a  stop  to  this  forcible  appropriation  of  their  prop- 
erty. They  were  naturally,  therefore,  very  anxious 
that  some  one  should  purchase  the  island,  in  order  by 
this  means  to  hjn-e  the  matter  of  title  definitely  set- 
tled. They  claimed  none  themselves,  not  even  that 
of  squatters  on  unoccupied  lands,  but  they  did  claim 
ownership  in  the  stock  which  they  had  raised  and 
were  pasturing  at  "free  commons'*  upon  the  island. 
Upon  the  arrival,  therefore,  of  the  Messrs.  Kelley 
upon  their  visit  for  examination,  it  may  be  readily 
assumed  that  the  interested  jjarties  were  not  backward 
in  pointing  out  the  desirability  of  the  purchase.  It 
is  probable  that  they  did  not  require  it  to  be  thus  im- 
pressed upon  them.  However  that  may  be,  the  result 
of  the  visit  of  Messrs.  Datus  and  Irad  Kelley  was 
that  they  concluded  to  purchase,  provided  satisfactory 
terms  and  titles  could  be  obtained. 

As  a  result  of  their  investigations,  the  first  purchase 
of  lands  on  the  islands  were  effected,  as  appears  by 
date  of  contract,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  August, 
1833,  of  John  A.  and  Mary  Rockwell,  and  Alfred  E. 
Perkins,  through  Simon  Perkins,  their  attorney,  and 
consisted,  as  detailed  in  said  contracts,  of  lots  num- 
bered "  two,  three,  four,  five,  six  and  seven,  and  the 
west  part  of  lot  eight,  and  containing  fourteen  hundred 
and  forty-four  and  ninety-two-hundredths  acres,"  or 
almost  one  lialf  the  total  area  of  the  island,  for 
which  they  paid  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  and  thirty-five  hundrcdtlis  dollars,  or  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents  per  acre. 

Other  purchases  then  followed,  until  the  fee  of  the 
entire  remainder  of  the  islands  was  obtained  (through 
the  principals  or  their  attornej-s)  of  the  different 
owners,  these  subse((uent  purchases  having  been 
effected  as  fast  as  the  names  of  the  different  owners, 
or  their  agents,  could  be  ascertained,  within  a  short 
time  following  the  date  of  the  original  purchase. 
Upon  obtaining  possession  of  the  island,  the  ^lessrs. 
Kelley  proceeded  to  effect  the  expulsion  therefrom  of 
Benjamin  A.  Napier,  by  ejectment,  from  the  lands, 
upon  whicii  he  had  no  legal  or  equitable  claim,  the 
possession  of  which  he  attempted  forcibly  to  retain. 


5U 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


These  proceedings  led  to  a  protracted  litigation,  in 
which  the  question  of  title  was  thoroughly  investi- 
gated by  the  courts,  and  eventuated  in  a  more  full 
and  satisfactory  confirmation  of  the  same  to  the 
purchasers.  Perhaps  these  would  have  been  obtained 
had  no  such  controversy  arisen.  Still  the  claimant 
l^ersisted  in  his  illegal  acts  until  a  conviction  on  a  crim- 
inal charge,  and  narrow  escape  from  the  consequences 
thereof,  induced  his  final  absence  from  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

During  the  fall  of  the  year  1833,  was  erected 
a  double  log  house,  for  a  boarding  house,  which  stood 
upon  the  bank  immediately  in  front  of  the  site  of  the 
'■  Island  House."  Mr.  Luther  Dodge,  with  his  fam- 
ily, occupied  the  boarding  house  upon  its  completion, 
he  having  been  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
interests  of  the  Messrs.  Kelley,  and  having  moved  to 
the  island  a  short  time  previously.  During  the 
winter  of  this  year,  the  present  wood  dock  was 
commenced,  and  enough  completed  to  afiord  a  landing 
for  steamboats,  which,  in  the  following  spring,  com- 
menced ••wooding"  therefrom.  '  During  the  j^ear 
following,  3Ir.  Julius  Kellev,  son  of  Mr.  Datus 
Kelley,  was  in  charge,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother,  Mr.  Addison  Kelley,  who,  from  that  date 
until  the  removal  lo  the  island  of  Mr.  Datus  Kelley, 
in  1836,  remained  in  charge  of  the  business  of  the 
firm. 

A  short  time  after  the  building  of  the  south  side 
wood  dock,  was  built  the  stone  dock  at  the  north 
side,  and,  a  few  years  subsequently,  by  Horace  Kelley, 
the  dock  now  owned  by  Mr.  Charles  Carpenter. 

ORGAXIZATIOX. 

At  this  date,  and  up  to  the  winter  of  1837-8,  the 
island  constituted  a  portion  of  the  township  of  Dan- 
bury,  and  was  included  within  the  limits  of  Huron 
county.  During  the  winter  of  183T-8,  was  created 
the  county  of  Erie,  and  the  island,  as  a  part  of  Dan- 
bury  township,  was  set  off  into  that  county. 

On  the  21st  of  January,  1840,  in  accordance  with 
the  prayer  of  a  petition  to  the  legislature  to  that 
effect,  it  was  enacted  that  "all  that  tract  and  terri- 
tory of  laud  known  as  Cunningham's  Island,  situated 
on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Erie,  within  the  county  of 
Erie,  be  and  the  same  is,  hereby  constituted  a  town- 
siiip  to  be  known  and  distinguished  as  the  township 
of  Kelley's  Island." 

By  section  second  of  the  same  act,  the  islands, 
known  as  the  Bass  Islands,  were  constituted  a  town- 
ship called  Van  Ren%alaer,  in  the  said  county  of  Erie. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1840,  was  passed  the  act 
creating  the  county  of  Ottawa,  which  county  in- 
eluded  within  its  boundaries  the  new  island  town- 
sliips  of  Kelley's  Island  and  Van  Rensalaer. 

The  first  election  for  organization  as  the  township 
of  Kelley's  Island,  was  held  on  "the  first  Monday  in 
April,"  IS-tO.  The  total  number  of  votes  polled  was 
fifteen.  Chester  Stocking,  Walter  Beardsley  and 
Ephraim  T.  Smith  were  appointed  judges,  and  George 


C.  Huntington  and  Addison  Kelley.  clerks.  Addison 
Kelley,  Oliver  Emory  and  Walter  Beardsley  were 
elected  trustees;  Horace  Kelley,  treasurer;  Datus 
Kelley,  clerk;  John  Titus  and  Hezekiah  Bickford, 
overseers  of  the  poor:  Chester  Stocking.  George  Wires 
and  Henry  Provost,  fence  viewers;  Joseph  Willett, 
constable;  Henry  Harris,  supervisor  of  highways. 
George  C.  Huntington  was  elected  justice  of  tlie 
peace,  his  bonds  being  filed  and  accepted  on  the  8tli 
of  June  following. 

In  May,  1840,  "An  election  was  also  held  for  county 
oflicers  for  the  new  county  of  Ottawa,  and  the  re- 
turns duly  made  to  the  temporary  seat  of  justice  at 
Port  Clinton." 

As  the  population  of  the  island  increased,  and  as  its 
business  connections,  from  its  geographical  position, 
were  entirely  with  Sandusky  (nothing  but  legal, 
township,  and  jury  matters  calling  the  inhabitants  to 
Port  Clinton),  its  political  connection  with  Ottawa 
county  became  very  irksome,  and  determination  was 
formed  to  effect  a  separation  therefrom,  and  its  rein- 
statement as  a  township  of  Erie  county.  A  petiti^ju 
was,  therefore,  presented  to  the  legislature  to  that  ef- 
flect,  and  in  February.  18-1.5,  was  passed  by  that  body, 
an  act  which  "set  off  that  tract  and  territory  of  land 
known  as  the  township  of  Kelley's  Island  into  the 
county  of  Erie."  Thus,  within  the  space  of  some 
seven  years,  or  from  the  winter  of  1837  and  183S  to 
that  of  1811  and  1815,  the  island  formed  a  component 
part  of  two  townships  and  four  counties,  counting 
Erie,  first  and  second  time  as  two,  and  it  is  remarked, 
"that  of  four  children  of  Mr.  Addison  Kelley,  b'ln/ 
in  the  same  house,  no  two  were  natives  of  the  same 
township  and  county."  But.  as  in  detailing  the  his- 
tory of  the  organization  of  the  township,  the  natural 
order  has  been  anticipated,  return  will  be  made  to  a 
few  events  that  occurred  prior  to  that  date. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  AXD  GROWTH  OF  THE  IsLAXD. 

The  Messrs.  Kelley,  after  perfecting  their  title  to 
the  fee  of  the  entire  island,  and  obtaining  posseision 
of  the  same,  commenced  a  system  of  improvements, 
in  the  building  of  wharves,  etc.,  to  facilitate  the  sale 
of  the  products  of  the  island,  such  as  wood,  cedai', 
stone,  etc. 

Aware  that  the  encouragement  of  emigration  would 
the  more  rapidly  develop  the  resources  and  enhance 
the  value  of  their  purchase,  they  at  once  proceeded 
to  place  their  lands  in  market,  at  fair  prices,  and  upon 
liberal  terms  of  payment,  at  the  same  time  endeavor- 
ing to  make  judicious  discrimination  as  to  charac- 
ter for  thrift,  industry,  etc.,  of  such  of  the  settlers  as 
might  wish  to  become  purchasers.  The  result  of  this 
care  has  ever  been  a|)pareut. 

The  earliest  purchasers  of  lands  directly  from  Dr. 
I.  Kelley,  were  Addison  Kelley,  John  Titus.  Jani?s 
Hamilton.  Julius  Kelley,  Horace  Kelley,  J.  E. 
Woodford,  G.  C.  Huntington,  Patrick  Martin,  Ber- 
nard McGettigan.  S.  S.  Duelle  and  James  Estes, 
most  of  whom,  or  their  descendants,  are  still  occupy- 


t^t^A^^^T-T^^^^. 


lJ?~ 


-^_Z^\-J 


CHARLES   CARPENTER. 


Charles  Carpenter,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Kelley's  Isl- 
and, where  he  has  resided  for  over  thirty-five  years,  was 
born  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  Oct.  19,  1810.    His  ancestor, 
on  his  father's  side,  came  to  America  in  the  ship  Bevis, 
about  1655. 

His  father,  Gardner  Carpenter,  a  resident  of  Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  was  for  a  short  time  paymaster  under 
General  Washington  ;   was  postmaster  ^  , 

of  Norwich  for  fifteen  years;  was  an 
extensive  merchant  and  ship-owner  in 
the  West  India  and  European  trade ; 
but,  by  disasters  at  sea  during  1812-15, 
lost  nearly  all  his  property.  He  died 
April  26,  1815. 

He  married  Mary  Huntington,  Oct. 
29, 1791.  This  lady,  mother  of  Charles 
Carpenter,  was  descended  from  the  first 
white  male  child  born  in  Southeastern 
Connecticut. 

The  Carpenter  family  were  heirs  to 
the  great  Carpenter  estate  in  England, 
and  the  family  coat-of-arms  is  cut  upon 
some  of  the  tombstones  in  Massachu- 
setts. 

Mr.  Carpenter  was  a  prominent  hor- 
ticulturist, and  was  appointed  by  the 
Grape-growers'  Association  to  represent 
to  the  Ohio  Legislature  the  necessity  of 
obtaining  and  publishing  the  grape  sta- 


tistics of  the  State,  to  which  was  also  added  agricultural 
statistics  as  now  taken.  He  assisted  F.  R.  Elliott  in  organ- 
izing the  fruit  and  floral  department  of  the  first  Ohio 
State  Fair  at  Cincinnati,  and  has  since  been  identified 
more  or  less  with  it, — frequently  solicited  to  superintend 
it.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Cincinnati  and 
other  horticultural  societies. 
^^^  From  an  early  day  he  took  a  deep 

^^ ,  interest  in  the  artificial  propagation  of 

fish  ;  was  active  and  prominent  in  in- 
ducing the  State  to  experiment  in  the 
propagation  of  white-fish,  and  at  pres- 
ent has  charge  of  the  branch  of  the 
State  Fish  Hatchery,  on  Kelley's  Isl- 
and. He  was  an  enthusiastic  advocate 
of  grape-culture,  and  the  pioneer  in 
this  portion  of  Ohio,  having  planted 
the  first  acre  of  grapes  on  the  island ; 
and,  perhaps,  no  person  has  had  a 
greater  variety  under  cultivation  at  one 
time. 

Charles  Carpenter  married  Caroline 
Kelley,  second  daughter  of  Datus  and 
Sarah  Kelley,  at  Kelley's  Island,  Nov. 
7, 1844.  Mr.  Carpenter  resides  on  the 
form  purchased  by  him  nearly  thirty- 
five  years  ago.  Much  of  the  success  in 
fruit-culture,  to  which  Kelley's  Island 
is  largely  devoted,  is  due  to  him. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


ing  portions  of  the  land  purchased  at  tliat  early  day. 
That  the  possibilities  of  the  future  of  the  islands, 
high  as  was  the  estimate  put  upon  them  at  that  time, 
were  not  fully  appresiatsd,  W:i5,  in  after  years,  fully 
developed.  The  sales  of  wood,  cedar  and  stone, 
repaid  many  times  the  amount  of  the  entire  purchase, 
and  the  tillable  land,  ft  strong  limestone  soil,  proved 
to  be  of  superior  quality.  And  though  the  wood  and 
cedar,  as  articles  of  commerce,  have  long  since 
disappeared,  the  stone  trade,  from  the  small  beginning 
of  D.  and  I.  Kelley,  with  one  wharf,  has  developed 
into  proportions  of  which  some  idea  may  be  formed 
when  it  is  stated,  that  the  par  value  of  the  capital 
stock  of  the  stone  companies  was,  at  their  organiza- 
tion, about  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  business 
furnishing  employment  to  over  one  hundred  men. 

GRAPE   CTLTURE. 

But  another  element,  not  at  that  time. appreciated, 
because  univnown,  was  destined  to  enter  into  the  ques- 
tion of  future  values,  and  effect  an  entire  revolution  in 
the  agricultural  prospects,  business  and  pursuits  of 
the  people.  It  had  been  observed  that  at  many  places 
on  the  island,  wild  grape  vines  were  abundant,  of 
unusual  size  and  thrifty  growth.  Acting  upon  this 
observation,  Mr.  Datus  Kelley,  about  the  year  1842, 
procured  a  number  of  vines  of  the  Isabella  and 
Catawba  variety,  from  Rockport,  his  former  residence, 
and  setting  them  in  his  garden,  developed  in  due 
time  the  adaptability  of  the  islands,  both  as  to  soil 
and  climate,  to  the  culture  of  the  grape. 

Mr.  -  Charles  Carpenter,  who  had  purchased  the 
farm  of  Horace  Kelley,  and  who  was  a  practical  fruit 
cultnrist,  becoming  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
the  grape  culture,  and  sanguine  of  its  success  on  the 
island,  set  out  the  first  acre  of  grapes  planted  as  a 
field  crop,  and  enthusiastically  urged  his  neighbors  to 
do  likewise.  The  first  wine  from  the  product  of 
his  vineyard  was  made  in  1850,  in  the  old  log  house, 
his  former  residence,  with  such  primitive  appliances 
in  the  shape  of  press,  etc.,  as  were  at  his  command. 

The  effect  of  the  demonstration  that  the  grape 
culture  would  be  successful  were  soon  apparent. 
Small  vineyards,  the  nucleus  of  larger  ones,  dotted 
the  island.  Large  profits  for  a  time  resulted .  from 
the  sale  of  the  frnit,  packed  in  boxes  for  table  use. 
Farms  divided  in  five  and  ten  acre  lots,  were  parcelled 
out  to  different  owners,  the  price  of  land,  under  the 
impetus  thus  given  it,  advanced  three  to  four  hun- 
dred per  cent.,  and  within  a  few  years  there  were 
nearly  one  thousand  acres  set  to  vines.  The  excess 
of  supply  over  demands,  for  table  use,  as  also  in  the 
([uality  of  the  crop  for  that  purpose,  directed  attention 
to  tiie  manufacture  of  wine,  and  there  were,  in  course 
of  time,  erected  on  the  island,  cellars,  which,  includ- 
ing those  of  the  Kelley's  Island  Wine  Company,  are 
capable  of  storing  half  a  million  gallons  of  wine. 

The  present  average  crop  of  grapes  is  about  seven 
hundred  tons,  nearly  all  of  which  is  manufactured 
into  wine.     In  1800,  was  organized,  the  Kelley's  Island 


Wine  Company,  having  a  capital  of  one  hundred  tliou- 
sand  dollars,  and  possessing,  by  the  terms  of  its  char- 
ter, the  privilege  of  jncreasing  its  capital  stock  to  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  cellar  built  and 
owned  by  Mr.  Charles  Carpenter  was  rented  by  the 
company,  and  the  manufacture  of  wine  commenced 
therein  in  the  fall  of  the  above  named  year.  The 
oflQcers  of  the  company  were:  Addison  Kelley,  presi- 
dent; George  C.  Huntington,  secretary;  A.  S.  Kelley, 
treasurer;  and  C.  W.  Farciot,  superintendent.  The 
business  proving  very  successful,  it  was  deemed  ad- 
visable by  a  majority  of  the  stockholders  to  increase 
the  capital  stock  to  the  full  amount  allowed  by  the 
charter.  Accordingly,  in  1871,  books  were  opened 
for  subscriptions  to  the  new  stock.  Very  nearly  the 
full  amount  was  soon  taken,  and  a  new  and  larger 
cellar,  in  addition,  was  built,  with  all  the  improve- 
ments and  appurtenances  necessary  to  the  prosecution 
of  the  business  on  a  large  scale, — the  cellars,  when  fin- 
ished, having  a  storage  capacity  of  some  four  hun- 
dred thousand  gallons,  and  being,  in  point  of  capacity 
and  completeness  of  machinery  and  outfit,  the  finest 
establishment  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  wine  in 
the  State.  The  ofiBcers  of  the  company  at  the  time 
of  the  increase  of  capital  stock,  were:  Addison  Kelley, 
president:  Norman  Kelley,  vice  president;  A.  S. 
Kelley,  secretary;  Erastus  Huntington,  treasurer,  and 
C.  W.  Farciot.  superintendent. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  18T6,  the  upper  stories  of 
the  two  cellars,  which  were  adjoining,  were  destroyed 
by  fire,  entailing  a  heavy  loss  (with  no  insurance)  on 
the  company.  New  roofs  were  immediately  placed 
upon  the  two  buildings,  the  machinery  placed  in  the 
first  one,  where  the  business  of  pressing  was  resumed 
and  where  it  has  since  remained.  The  lower  rooms 
of  each  cellar  being  arched,  were  not  injured  by  the 
fire,  and  are  now  used,  as  before,  for  the  storage  of 
wine. 

ABORIGOXAL    ANTIQUITIES. 

That  the  island  was  a  favorite  place  of  residence 
and  resort  of  the  aborigonal  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try Is  well  established,  not  only  by  the  legends  that 
have  descended  to  us  from  successive  generations  of 
the  past,  but  in  very  marked  degree  by  the  remains 
of  mounds,  burial-places,  fortifications,  implements, 
which  are  found  at  different  points  upon  the  island. 
The  residence  grounds  and  garden  of  Mr.  Addison 
Kelley  were  evidently  once  the  site  of  a  populous 
village,  as  the  i-emains  of  broken  pottery,  pipes, 
stones  indented  upon  the  edges— probably  for  use  as 
sinkers,  for  fishing  lines  or  nets,  of  some  kind,  and 
other  articles  of  rude  manufacture  for  household  and 
other  purposes,  found  there,  suflBciently  attest. 

On  the  premises  of  Mr.  Andrew  Cameron  at  the 
west  bay,  are  found  similar  evidences  of  occupancy 
by  this  prehistoric  race. 

On  the  Huntington  farm  are  still  plainly  visible 
the  remains  of  a  circular  earth  work,  which,  before 
suffering  from  the  encroachments  of  the  waters  of  the 


510 


HISTOEY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


lake,  enclosed  some  seven  acres  of  laud.  The  family 
residence  of  the  late  G.  C.  Huntington  stands  very 
nearly  in  the  center  of  this  enclosure. 

But  the  most  interesting,  because  enduring  and 
intelligent,  evidences  of  occupation  of  the  island,  by 
the  predecessors  of  civilization,  are  the  numerous 
rocks, — "inscription"  and  others, — bearing  upon  the 
surfaces,  marks  of  the  rude  handiwork,  of  these  peo- 
ple of  a  past  age. 

Of  many  of  these  rocks  the  surfaces,  are  covered 
with  saucer-like  depressions,  evidently  worn  there  in 
the  process  of  manufacturing,  or  grinding  down  with 
the  aid  of  sand,  the  stone  hatchets  or  "fleshing 
knives"  used  by  the  natives,  of  which  numbers  have 
been  found,  as  the  surface  of  the  earth  in  the  vicinity 
has  been  disturbed  by  the  plow  in  the  course  of  years 
of  cultivation. 

If  these  mute  evidences  of  the  patient  toil  of  the 
race,  who  preceded  the  whites,  as  denizens  of  this 
this  region,  in  the  preparation  of  the  implements 
necessary  in  the  social  economy  of  its  existence,  are 
a  matter  of  interest  to  the  students  of  the  past, 
much  more  of  interest  is  the  study  of  the  records  of 
this  people,  as  graven  upon  the  "Inscription  Rocks,"' 
when  considered  in  the  light  of  intelligent  transla- 
tion. Of  these  rocks,  two  have  been  discovered. 
One,  upon  the  shore  of  the  "North  Bay,"  has  cut 
upon  its  surface,  merely  one  or  two  figures,  smoking 
pipes,  andis  supposed  to  have  no  particular  historic 
significance. 

The  other,  on  the  south  side,  standing  in  the  water, 
near  the  shore,  on  land  formerly  owned  by  Mr.  Addi- 
son Kelley  (and  who,  in  his  transfer  of  the  lauds, 
conditioned  that  "Inscription  Rock"  should  be  pre- 
served from  all  needless  injury,  and  free  to  all  vis- 
itors), is  an  object  of  interest  sceond  to  none  in  the 
field  of  antiquarian  reseai'ch. 

Tlie  following,  condensed  from  a  "pen  portrait," 
by  Mr.  Kelley,  is  given  as  conveying  an  intelligent 
description  in  a  few  words.  This  "InscriiJtion  Rock'- 
lies  on  the  south  shore  of  Kelley's  Island,  in  Lake 
Erie,  about  sixty  rods  east  of  steamboat  landing.  The 
rock  is  thirty-two  feet  in  greatest  length,  twenty-one 
feet  in  greatest  breadth,  and  its  surface  eleven  feet 
auove  the  water  in  which  it  sets.  It  is  part  of  the 
same  stratification  as  the  island,  from  which  it  has 
been  separated  by  lake  action.  The  top  presents  a 
smooth  and  polished  surface,  like  all  the  limestone 
of  tliis  section,  when  the  soil  is  removed,  suggesting 
the  idea  of  glacial  action;  upon  this  surface  the  in- 
scriptions are  cut,  the  figures  and  devices  are  deeply 
graven  in  the  rock.  Schoolcraft's  "Indian  Antiqui- 
ties" says  of  it:  "It  is,  by  far.  the  most  extensive,  and 
well  sculptured,  and  best  preserved  inscription  of  the 
antiquarian  period  ever  found  in  America."  It  is  in 
the  pictographic  character  of  the  natives;  its  leading 
symbols  are  readily  interpreted.  Tlie  human  figures, 
the  pipe-smoking  groups,  and  other  figures,  denote 
tribes,  negotiations,  crimes  and  turmoils,  which  tell 
a  story  of  thrilling  interest  connected  with   the  occu- 


pation of  this  section  by  the  Eries,  the  coming  of  the 
Wyandots,  of  the  final  triumph  of  the  Iroquois,  and 
flight  of  the  people  who  have  left  their  name  on  the 
lake.  In  the  year  1851,  drawings  of  the  inscriptions 
were  made  by  Colonel  Eastman,  United  States  army, 
who  was  detailed  by  government,  to  examine  them 
on  the  representation  of  General  M.  C.  Meigs.  Copies 
of  the  inscriptions  were  made,  and  submitted  to 
Shingvank,  an  Indian  learned  in  native  pictography, 
by  whom  they  were  deciphered  and  a  full  translation 
was  given,  which  was  published  in  Colonel  Eastman's 
work,  but  which  is  too  long  for  insertion  here. 
These  inscriptions  were  first  discovered  about  the  year 
183-i,  by  Charles  Omsted,  of  Connecticut,  who  ob- 
served them  while  trailing  and  studying  the  glacial 
groves.  Since  then,  the  rock  has  been  visited  by 
thousands  of  persons,  and  has  become  much  worn, 
and  some  portions  of  it  so  nearly  obliterated  that  a 
photograph,  taken  at  this  time,  would  give  but  an 
imperfect  repesentation  of  it.  Still,  it  is  yet.  and 
for  many  years  must  remain,  an  object  of  interest  to 
the  antiquai'ian. 

STEAMBOATS. 

The  increase  of  population  and  business  demanding 
better  facilities  for  intercourse  with  Sandusky  than 
that  afforded  by  the  sail  boat,  the  passage  by  which 
was  uncertain,  uncomfortable,  and  often  dangerous, 
the  substitution  of  steam  power  became  not  only  de- 
sirable but  necessary.  Accordingly,  on  the  1st  of 
May.  1846,  under  the  supervision  of  Captain  Dibble, 
of  Sandusky,  was  commenced  the  building  of  a 
steamer,  appropriately  named  at  the  launching  the 
"  Islander."  The  "Islander"  was  built  and  owned  on 
the  island.  Her  topsides,  deck  beams,  and  decks 
were  of  red  cedar;  her  measurement  was  seventy-two 
tons,  with  an  upright  high-pressure  engine  built  by 
Camp  and  Johnson,  Sandusky.  Her  total  cost  was 
something  over  six  thousand  dollars.  She  made  her 
first  trip  October  16, 1846,  under  command  of  Captain 
George  W.  Orr,  who  commanded  her  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  season,  until,  becoming  too  small  for  the 
business,  she  was  sold  in  1854.  Upon  the  sale  of  the 
"Islander,"  the  construction  of  another  boat  was  soon 
after  commenced.  This  steamer,  like  the  "Islander,'" 
was  also  built  on  the  island  by  Captain  Dibble,  her 
model  being  made  by  Captain  Bates,  of  Milan.  She 
was  named  the  "Island  Queen;"' cost  eighteen  thou- 
sand dollars,  measured  one  hundred  and  seventy-two 
tons,  and  made  her  first  trip  in  June,  1855.  Her  en- 
gine, similar  in  plan  and  construction  to  that  of  the 
"Islander,'"  was  built  by  N.  G.  Olds.  The  "Island 
Queen'"  was  also  commanded  by  Captain  Orr  (with 
the  exception  of  one  season),  until  sold  in  1866.  Slie 
was  thought  by  some  at  the  time  of  her  building  to 
be  too  large  for  the  route,  but  it  was  demonstrated 
that  the  contrary  was  the  case.  An  episode  in  the 
history  of  the  "  Queen"  was  her  capture  and  sinking 
by  the  rebels  in  September  of  1864,  and  her  recovery 
in  a  comparatively  uninjured  condition   a  few  days 


HISTORY  OF  HUEON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


51T 


after  her  attempted  destruction.  This  boat,  like  her 
predecessor  the  "  Islander,"  was  in  commission  as  a 
steamboat  and  barge  for  over  twenty  years  of  contin- 
uous service,  thus  attesting  the  good  quality  of  the 
material  and  care  used  in  their  construction. 

In  September,  1866,  a  company  composed  of  stock- 
holders in  the  "Queen.""  and  others,  was  formed,  who 
purchased  the  steamer  "Evening  Star,"  and  placed 
her  on  the  Island  route.  The  "Star"  was  a  new  boat 
of  three  iiundred  and  forty-one  tons  measurement, 
with  a  beautiful  model,  a  low  pressure  beam  engine, 
and  cost  fort3'-five  thousand  dollars,  with  an  addi- 
tional one  thousand  dollars  expended  in  fitting  her  for 
the  route.  Her  speed  was  fine,  and  her  carrying 
capacity  unequaled,  carrying  out  of  Sandusky  on 
occasion  of  excursions,  as  many  as  twelve  hundred 
passengers  at  a  time.  She  was  commanded,  succes- 
sively by  Captains  Magle,  Kirby  and  Brown,  and  was, 
with  the  "Reindeer,"  belonging  to  the  same  company, 
sold  in  1872,  since  which  time  the  islanders  have  held 
no  interest  in  the  steamboat  route. 

CHANGES. 

As  a  commentary  on  the  changes  that  time  has 
effected  in  the  affairs  of  the  island,  it  is  interest- 
ing to  point  to  the  five  good  school  buildings  that 
have  succeeded  the  single  small  one,  at  which,  at 
an  early  day,  the  youth  of  the  few  families  resident 
here  were  instructed  in  the.rudiments  of  an  English 
education:  to  the  fine  stone  structure,  built,  and 
with  the  lot  donated  to  the  township  by  Datus  and 
Sara  Kelley,  and  known  as  Kelley's  Hall,  (for  the 
use  of  which  no  charge  was  to  be  made  unless 
admission  was  charged  for  at  the  door);  to  the  four 
houses  of  public  worship,  each  now  supporting  a  min- 
istor,  which  have  succeeded  the  old  school  house,  and 
the  discourses  in  which  were  pioneered  by  the  reading 
of  Blair's  sermons  as  a  Sunday  exercise,  by  Mr.  Datus 
Kelley,  Mr.  Huntington  and  others;  to  the  Island 
House,  a  fine  summer  hotel,  built  in  18'i'4,  but  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1877,  and  the  two  hotels  still  receiv- 
ing guests  within  their  hospitable  doors;  and  to  the 
tide  of  travel,  that  furnishes  employment  to  the  several 
fine  steamers  composing  the  different  island  lines. 
All  these  considerations,  unnoticed  or  unthought  of 
by  the  casual  visitor,  who  only  sees  the  current  of  life 
as  it  flows  in  present  channels,  is  fully  appreciated  by 
the  early  resident  here,  who  has  observed  all  these 
changes,  who  now,  as  at  that  early  day.  still  makes 
tliis  pleasant  locality  his  home. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


GEORGE  W.  WIRES, 

whose  portrait  appears  in  this  work,  was  born  at 
O^rangeville,  Genesee  county,  New  York,  October  5, 
1812.     He  came  to  Ohio,  and  on  Kellev's  Island  was 


married  to  Susan  Fox,  May  16,  1843.  She  was  born 
at  Gosfield,  Essex  county,  Ontario,  Canada.  To 
them  have  been  born  ten  children,  as  follows:  Charles 
Cook,  born  at  Danbury,  June  11,  ISiS;  Mary  J.,  at 
Daubury,  October  6.  18i6,  and   died  at  North  Bass, 


Mr  Geo,  W,  Wires. 


August  7,  1863;  Adaline  A.,  at  Kelley's  Ishmd,  Sei> 
tember,  8,  1848;  Lovina  E.,  at  Danbury,  September 
30,  1850;  William  Tell,  at  North  Bass,  November  30, 
1852;  Simon  P.,  at  North  Bass,  September  12,  1854; 
George  W.,  Jr.,  December  9,  1856;  Olive  L.,  April 
20,  1859;  Andrew  J.,  March  16,  1861;  Elsie  Rose, 
April  17,  1863. 

Mr.  Wires  bought  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
and  one-half  acres  of  laud  on  North  Bass,  of  Horace 
Kelley,  at  five  dollars  per  acre,  and  moved  on  to  the 
island,  with  his  family,  in  May,  1849,  and  conse- 
quently was  the  second  permanent  settler  on  the 
island.  They  came  in  a  small  sail  boat,  and  landed 
on  the  south  side  of  the  island.  They  had  no  roof  to 
cover  their  heads,  but  finding  some  boards  and  other 
lumber,  which  had  washed  ashore,  they  soon  made 
themselves  quite  a  comfortable  shanty,  by  placing  a 
pole  into  a  couple  of  crotches,  and  setting  the  boards 
endwise  against  it.  They  found  sufficient  lumber  to 
make  the  sides  and  one  end,  and  thus  lived  until  a 
more  commodious  structure,  for  a  home,  could  be 
built.  They  brought  with  them  what  was  then  a 
great  luxury,  "a  cook  stove."  This, was  set  up  out- 
side the  shanty,  and  for  a  table  they  used  a  barrel 
with  a  board  across  the  top.  Thus  they  lived,  like 
kings  and  princes,  until  their  new  home  should  be 
built.  Mrs.  Wires  says,  in  referring  to  these  early 
times  on  the  island,  that  they  were  happy  days  and 
full  of  comfort.  The  eldest  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wires,  Charles  Cook,  married  Mary  Hitchcock,  No- 
vember 5,  1863.  She  was  born  November  19,  1849, 
They  have  born  to  them:  Addie  Bell,   November  14, 


518 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


1872;  Oran,  born  December  9,  1874.  and  died  in  in- 
fancy; George  A.,  born  August  16,  1876. 

Lovina  E.  Wires  married  George  W.  Hallock,  Xo- 
vember  13,  1876,  at  North  Bass.  They  have  one 
child,  Edna  P.,  born  August  2,  1877.  They  now 
live  on  the  north  side  of  the  island. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wires  are  noAv  living  on  nearly  the 
center  of  the  island,  in  a  beautiful  home  situated 
amid  luxuriant  vineyards;  and  surrounded  by  their 
children  and  many  friends,  they  are  content  and 
happy  with  their  part  and  lot  in  life. 


ROSWELL  NICHOLS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  son  of  David 
Nichols  and  Mary  Johnson,  and  was  born  at  Char- 
mount,  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  December  0, 
1806.  Here  he  lived,  battling  with  the  stern  realities  of 
New  England  farm  life,  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years 
of  age.  He  was  married  to  Achsah  Scott,  January  16, 
1831.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  Scott  and 
Achsah  Dickenson,  and  was  born  at  Lebanon,  New 
Hampshire,  March  29,  1806.  They  commenced  their 
married  life  at  Charmount,  where  they  lived  three 
years,  from  which  place,  in  May,  183-t,  they  moved 
to  Northfield,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  ten  years, 
and  then  moved  to  North  Bass,  one  of  the  Bass 
islands,  in  Lake  Erie.  They  arrived  here  in  a  sail 
boat.  May  22,  1844.  The  family  consisted  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nichols,  with  one  child,  and  Mrs.  Nichols" 
mother.  They  were  the  first  family  who  settled  upon 
the  island,  and  were  the  only  family  for  five  years. 
Here  they  commenced  actual  pioneer  life,  with  all  its 
hardships  and  privations,  located  as  they  were  on  an 
island  isolated  from  the  outside  world.  In  the  fol- 
lowing September,  Mrs.  Nichols'  mother  went  back 
to  Northfield,  and  for  five  months  Mrs.  Nichols  saw 


no  woman's  face. save  her  own.  Thus,  almost  solitary 
and  alone,  did  they  live  for  five  years,  until  another 
family  made  its  appearance  on  the  island. 

They  had  remained  but  a  short  time  on  the  island 
when  Dr.  C.  D.  Townsend,  who  now  lives  upon  the 
island,  then  a  young  man,  made  his  appearance,  as 
agent  for  A.  Champion,  of  Rochester,  New  York, 
who  then  owned  the  island.  Of  this  agent,  Mr. 
Nichols  leased  the  whole  island,  consisting  of  about 
eight  hundred  acres,  for  a  term  of  ten  years,  the  con- 
sideration being  that  he  (Nichols)  should  pay  the 
taxes. 

A  few  years  later,  Mr.  Nichols  bought  of  Horace 
Kelley,  who  had  purchased  the  island,  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  acres  of  land,  at  a  little  less  than  five 
dollars  per  acre.  Upon  this,  he  built  a  residence, 
where  they  now  live.  .  They  have  had  born  to  them 
two  children:  David  I.,  born  July  4,  1834,  at  North- 
field,  Ohio.  He  married,  April  22,  1855,  Catharine 
Becker.  To  them  was  born,  September,  1857, 
Achsah  Violanta.  She  married  William  Dell  Smith, 
November  6,  1872.  They  had  Angle  C,  born  April 
4,  1874;  Roswell  N,  born  February  7,  1876;  Rollin 
D.,  born  December  10,  1877.  David  I.  Nichols  en- 
listed as  a  sharpshooter  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
in  1863,  and  died  at  Nashville.  Tennessee,  in  August, 
1864. 

Sarah  J.,  the  only  daughter  of  Roswell  and  Achsah 
Nichols,  was  married  to  Proctor  Graham,  April  2, 
1844,  by  whom  she  had  one  sou,  Menzo  W.,  born 
April  20,  1845;  second,  she  married  G.  W.  Cushma, 
in  1850;  to  them  was  born  Benjamin  F. ,  January  7, 
1851;  Achsah,  born  January  14,  1854;  Laura  C, 
February  7,  1858;  James  A.,  September  21,  1860: 
Erastus    D.,  October   9,   1862. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  are  living  quietly  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  their  pleasant  island  home,  surrounded  by 
many  neighbors  and  friends,  as  the  rich  reward  of 
their  earlv  toil  and  labor. 


PUT-IN-BAY. 


THE  TVLNE  ISLANDS  OF  LAKE  ERIE. 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  AN  ISLAND. 

"  And  glitters  o'er  the  liquid  miles. 
The  jeweled  ring  o£  verdant  isles. 
Where  generous  Nature  holds  her  court 
0£  ripened  bloom  and  sunny  smiles." 

To  the  imagination  there  is  something  attractive  in 
the  very  name  of  island.  Robinson  Crusoe  on  the 
main  hind  would  lose  the  crown  of  his  glory.  It  is 
the  island,  the  island,  that  fills  the  boyish  heart  with 
wondering  interest.  For  children  of  a  larger  growth, 
Reade  takes  up  the  tale,  and  his  hero  and  heroine 
(but  ordinary  mortals  in  London)  are  invested  with  a 
strange  romance  when  thrown  together  upon  an  is- 
land. Young  love  reads,  young  love  dreams,  and 
young  love  wjshes — 

"  For  thee  and  me, 
Alone  sweet  isle  amid  the  sea." 

The  representative  Lady,  type  of  the  many  isolated 
hearts  who  gave  their  love  to  some  unattainable  ideal, 
lived  upon  an  island.  The  master,  whose  exquisite 
words  are  like  chords  of  music,  placed  hev,  knowing 
what  he  did. 

"  Where  the  lilies  blow 
Round  an  island  there  below: 
The  island  oC  SUalote." 

"Isles  of  the  blest!"  sighed  the  ancients,  as  they 
looked  out  over  the  unknown  ocean,  seeing  in  the 
hazy  clouds  of  the  horizon  the  purple  shores  of  ever- 
lasting rest.  And  who  among  us,  when  traveling  sad 
and  weary  over  the  waters,  has  not  fallen  into  silence 
at  the  sight  of  far,  blue  islands,  mingling  the  Psalm- 
ist's wish:  "0  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove:  for  then 
would  I  fly  away  and  ))e  at  rest,"  with  dreams  of  the 
star  islands  in  the  sea  of  infinite  space,  whither  we 
may  be  going  after  death,  and  where  our  loved  ones 
may  even  now  be  awaiting  us. 

The  islands  forming  the  township  of  Put-in-Bay 
are  ten  in  number,  viz:  Ross  Isle,  alios  South  Bass, 
alias  Put-in-Bay;  Floral  Isle,  aiias  Middle  Bass  Isle; 
Isle  St.  George,  alias  North  Bass;  Rattlesnake  Isle, 
Sugar  Isle,  Strontian,  aJias  Green  Island;  Glacial 
Isle,  alias  Starve  Island:  Ballast  Isle.  Gibraltar  and 
Buckej'e  Island. 

The  earliest  wliite  inhabitants  known  to  have  occu- 
pied tliese  islands  were  French — si.\  families.  They 
lived  on  Ross,  or  Put-in-Bay  island,  previous  to  the  war 
of  1815.  when  the  British  and  Indians  drove  them  to 
the  main  shore.  They  did  not  return  to  the  islands. 
When  on  the  islands,  they  cultivated  the  soil,  and 
raised  splendid  wheat.     One  of  their  wheat  fields  is 


■By  Dr. 


D.  K.  Towusend. 


now  (18T9)  covered   with  a  second  growth  of  forest 
trees,  forty  feet  iiigh. 

peery's  victory. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1813,  Commodore 
Oliver  Hasard  Perry  cast  anchor  in  Put-in-Bay.  with  his 
fleet  consisting  of  the  brig  Lawrence,  of  twenty  guns; 
the  Niagara,  Captain  Elliot,  of  twenty;  the  Caledonia, 
Lieutenant  Turner,  three;  the  schooner  Ariel,  of  four; 
the  Scorpion,  of  two.  and  two  swivels;  the  sloop 
Trippe,  and  schooners  Tigress  and  Porcupine,  of  one 
gun  each;  making  a  fleet  of  nine  vessels  and  fift3'-four 
guns.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September,  the 
enemy  were  discovered  bearing  down  upon  the  Amer- 
ican squardron.  which  immediateh'  got  under  weigh, 
and  stood  out  to  meet  them.  The  superiority  was  de- 
cidely  on  the  side  of  the  British.  The  Americans 
had  three  more  vessels,  but  that  was  much  more  than 
counterbalanced  by  the  size  of  those  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  number  of  their  guns.  Their  fleet  consisted 
of  the  Detroit,  Captain  Barclay,  of  nineteen  guns  and 
two  howitzers;  the  Queen  Charlotte,  of  seventeen 
guns.  Captain  Fennis ;  Lady  Provost,  Lieutenant 
Buchan,  of  thirteen  guns,  and  two  howitzers;  the 
brig  Hunter,  of  ten  guns:  the  sloop  Little  Belt,  of 
three:  and  tiie  schooner  Chippewa,  of  one  gun  and 
two  swivels;  in  all,  six  vessels  and  sixty-three  guns. 
The  Americans  stood  out  of  the  bay.  The  British 
fleet  had  the  weather-gage;  but  the  wind  soon  after 
changed,  and  brought  the  American  fleet  to  wind- 
ward. The  line  of  battle  was  formed  at  eleven,  and 
fifteen  minutes  before  twelve,  the  enemy's  flag-ship, 
the  Queen  Charlotte,  opened  her  fire  upon  the  Law- 
rence, which  she  sustained  for  ten  minutes,  before  she 
could  approach  near  enough  for  her  carronades  to  re- 
turn. She.  therefore,  bore  up,  making  signals  for 
i  the  other  vessels  to  hasten  to  her  support,  and  about 
I  twelve,  brought  her  guns  to  bear  upon  the  enemy. 
j  The  squadron  could  not  be  brought  up  to  her  as- 
j  sistance,  and  she  was  compelled  to  fight  for  two  hours, 
!  with  two  ships  of  equal  force.  The  contest  was,  not- 
I  withstanding,  kept  up  with  unshaken  courage,  and 
devotion  which  deserves  admiration.  By  this  time, 
the  Lawrence,  which  had  *o  long  borne  the  fire  of 
the  whole  British  force,  had  become  entirely  unman- 
ageable: every  gun  was  dismounted,  and.  with  the  ex- 
ception of  four  or  five,  her  whole  crew  either  killed  or 
I  wounded.  Captain  Perry  now.  with  admirable  presence 
I  of  miud.  resolved  to  shift  his  flag.  He  manned  his 
small  boat,  taking  his  flag,  passed  through  the  con- 
ceutricated  fire  of  the  enemy,  unhurt,  to  the  Niagara. 
At  this   critical  moment,   the  wind  had   freshened. 

(519) 


5-^0 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Perry  now  bore  down  upon  the  enemy  with  a  fresh 
ship,  leaving  Captain  Elliot  to  bring  into  action  the 
rest  of  the  fleet.  Perry  parsed  ahead  of  the  Detroit, 
Queen  Charlotte  and-  Lady  Provost,  poured  a  de- 
structive broadside  into  each  from  his  starboard,  and 
from  his  larboard  guns  into  the  Chippewa  and  the 
Little  Belt.  In  this  manner,  cutting  through  the 
line,  he  was  within  pistol  shot  of  the  Lady  Provost, 
and  rained  so  heavy  a  fire  as  to  compel  her  men  to 
run  below.  At  this  moment,  the  Caledonia  came  up, 
and  opened  her  fire;  several  others  of  the  sijuadron 
were  enabled,  soon  after,  to  do  the  same.  The  issue 
of  a  campaign,  the  mastery  of  the  sea,  the  glory  and 
renown  of  two  rival  nations  matched  for  the  first 
time  in  a  squadron,  were  the  incentives  to  the  con- 
tests. It  was  not  long  before  the  scale  turned  in 
favor  of  Perry.  His  flag-ship,  Lawrence,  bearing  in 
mind  the  injunction — "Don't  give  iqj  the  ship" — the 
remnant  of  her  crew,  with  bleeding  hands,  spread  her 
flag  to  the  breeze,  and  with  failing  breath  rejoiced. 

The  ••'Queen  Charlotte,"  having  lost  her  captain 
and  all  her  principal  officers,  by  some  mischance  ran 
foul  of  the  "Detroit."  They  were  compelled  to  sus- 
tain, in  turn,  an  incessant  fire  from  the  "Niagara" 
and  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron.  The  flag  of 
Captain  Barclay  was  soon  struck,  and  those  of  the 
"Queen  Charlotte,"  the  "  Lady  Provost,"  the  "Hun- 
ter" and  the  "Chippewa"  came  down  in  succession. 
The  "Little  Belt"  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  pur- 
sued by  two  gunboats  and  captured. 

Thus,  after  a  contest  of  three  hours,  was  this  im- 
portant naval  victory  achieved,  in  which  every  vessel 
of  the  enemy  was  captured.  Perry  returned  to  Put- 
in-Bay with  the  combined  fleets,  and  from  there  made 
his  memorable  report  to  his  government:  "  FT'i?  have 
met  the  enemy  and  they  are  ours."  We  have  been 
thus  particular  in  giving  this  historical  event  in  this 
connection,  because  it  was  strictly  within  the  Juris- 
diction of,  and  the  waters  of,  Put-in-Bay  townshiix 
The  officers  slain  in  the  battle  were  buried  on  the  shore 
of  the  bay.  Both  American  and  British  lie  side  by 
side  in  peace.  A  willow  tree,  set  by  their  comrades, 
mark  their  graves:  their  monument — the  country. 

Tiie  islands  now  assume  the  dignity  of  values. 
Island  No.  1 — Ross  Isle,  al.ias  South  Bass,  alias  Put- 
in-Bay. Island  No.  3 — Floral  Isle,  alias  Middle  Bass 
Isle.  Island  No.  3 — Sugar  Island.  These  three  islands 
were  attached  to  Avon  township,  Lorain  county,  to 
equalize  values  in  the  distribution  of  the  sufferers" 
lands  by  the  State  of  Connecticut,  known  as  the  Con- 
necticut Reserve.  Pierpont  Edwards,  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  drew  Avon  township,  and  became  pos- 
sessed of  the  three  above  described  islands.  His  son, 
A.  P.  Edwards,  in  the  year  1831,  first  took  possession 
of  the  islands.  In  183^2,  Mr.  Edwards  built  the  Put- 
in-Bay dock;  1833,  he  put  in  the  west  dock,  and  in 
1834  built  the  first  frame  house,  known  as  the  Manor 
House.  The  business  of  the  islands  for  several  years 
was  agriculture  and  the  manufacture  of  cord  wood. 
In  18.J3.  Mr.  Edwards  sold  to  the  United  States  gov- 


ernment Strontian,  alias  Green  island,  for  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  dollars.  In  18.54,  the  government 
built  the  first  light  house  on  Green  island.  This 
light  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  evening  of 
1863  and  morning  of  18G4;  rebuilt  in  1864. 

Phillip  Vroman  was  the  first  school  director,  and 
built  on  South  Bass  isle  the  first  school  house  in  185.5: 
also,  on  Isle  St.  George,  a  frame  school  house  in  1857. 
A.  I.  Jones  was  the  first  school  teacher  in  Put-in- 
Bay.  In  1854,  J.  D.  Rivera  purchased  South  Bass 
isle.  Middle  Bass  isle.  Sugar  island.  Ballast,  and  Gib- 
raltar islands,  for  which  he  paid  forty-five  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Rivera  continued  to  make 
improvements  by  clearing  land  and  building  houses 
for  his  tenants. 

Now  we  come  to  a  new  era  in  the  business  of  the 
group."  Actual  settlers  commenced  the  purchase  of 
the  land,  until  now  very  little  had  been  done  toward 
the  improvement  of  the  islands;  in  fact,  it  was  not 
known  what  was  the  best  use  to  put  the  lands  to. 
Farming  would  not  pay — the  seasons,  as  a  general 
rule,  being  too  dry.  It  was  not  known  then  that 
such  a  climate  was  a  perfect  paradise  for  the  vine. 
Grapes  will  not  bear  wet  feet;  they  love  the  islands, 
and  will  make  them  their  permanent  home.  In  1858, 
Phillip  Vroman,  Esq..  L.  Harms,  Esq.,  Lawrence 
Miller,  Esq.,  and  J.  D.  Rivera  commenced  the  culti- 
vation of  the  vine.  Several  acres  of  vineyard  were 
set,  and  their  success  was  all  that  could  be  desired. 
The  same  vines  are  in  a  healthy,  flourishing  condition 
at  the  present  time.  The  three  or  four  pioneers  com- 
mencing the  business  as  an  experiment  in  1858  on 
Put-in-Bay  isle,  have  increased  to  seventy-one  grape 
growers,  practical  and  successful,  as  the  result  of  five 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  vineyard  on  the  island,  and 
the  vintage  of  1S7S — one  million  two  hundred  and 
thirty-one  thousand  pounds  of  grapes — gathered  on 
Put-in-Bay  island  alone  shows.  The  varieties  on  Put- 
in-Bay are:  three  hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  of 
Catawba,  fiftj'-four  acres  of  Delaware,  ninety  acres  of 
Concord,  and  some  twelve  acres  miscellaneous, — Ives, 
Nortons,  Clinton,  etc. 

Within  the  last  three  years  the  cultivation  of  the 
peach  has  begun  to  assume  the  importance  it  deserves. 
Sixty  acres  are  now  set  to  peach  trees,  and  more  will 
be  put  out  annually.  All  fruits,  of  whatever  kind, 
raised  on  the  islands,  possess  a  superior  quality  over 
like,  and  all  kinds,  grown  on  the  main  shore.  The 
quality  of  the  soil,  natural  drainage,  and  surrounding 
climatic  influence,  has  settled  the  fact. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  18G0.  V. 
Dollar,  postmaster. 

Put-in-Bay  Township  was  organized  at  the  June 
session,  18G1,  taken  from  Van  Rensselaer,  and  com- 
prises ten  islands,  viz  :  Ross,  alius  South  Bass,  alias 
Put-in-Bay  Island,  one  thousand  five  hundred  acres  ; 
Floral  Isle,  alias  Middle  Bass,  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  :  Isle  St.  George,  alias  North  Bass,  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  ;  Rattlesnake,  sixty  acres  ; 
Sugar  Isle,  thirty  acres :  Strontian,  alias  Green  Isle, 


LORENZ   MtJLLER. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  son  of  Lorenz  Verena 
Miiller,  and  was  born  at  Schopfheim,  Wiesenthal,  Baden, 
Germany,  Sept.  11, 1831.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
he  came  to  America,  and  in  1854  located  on  South  Bass 
(Put4n-Bay)  Island,  where  he  was  married.  May  26, 1860, 
to  Henriette,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Henriette  Foye.  She 
was  born  at  Braunschweig,  Germany,  June  30, 18-12.  She 
came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  in  185-1,  and  with 
them  to  South  Bass  Island  in  1855,  where  she  still  resides, 
on  tlie  east  part  of  the  island,  in  the  beautiful  home  which 
her  husband  and  herself  so  industriously  built  up.  Tliey 
had  born  to  them  four  sons,  as  follows : 

George  Frederick,  born  May  2,  1861  ;  Frank  Joseph, 
born  Sept.  1, 1862;  Henry  Theodore,  born  Oct.  11, 1873  ; 
Lorenz,  born  Oct.  26,  1875. 

We  can,  perhaps,  pay  no  better  tribute  to  this  estimable 
man  than  to  quote  a  few  lines  written  by  one  who  knew 
him  well,  and  published  at  the  time  of  his  death : 

Put-in-Bay,  Feb.  28. 

It  is  painful  in  no  small  degree  to  record  the  death  of 
Lorenz  Miiller,  of  this  place.  He  was  engaged  in  hauling 
materials  for  a  new  building,  and  by  overwork,  it  is  sup- 
posed, brought  on  bilious  pneumonia,  which  terminated  his 
life  in  eight  days.  Had  he  known  the  nature  of  his  dis- 
ease, his  life  might  have  been  saved ;  but  he  mistook  it  for 
common  cold,  and  thought  to  work  it  ofiF  as  he  had  often 
done  before.  This  so  aggravated  the  disease  that,  when  he 
gave  up,  he  was  past  all  help,  and  told  his  physician  that 
hb  case  was  hopeless.  The  doctor,  Charles  D.  Townsend, 
encouraged  him,  and  soon  both  entertained  hopes  of  his 


recovery  ;  but  the  disease  set  in  again  with  renewed  energy 
and  soon  brought  him  to  death.  He  died  on  Friday,  Feb. 
26, 1875,  and  was  buried  on  Sunday,  the  28th.  His  funeral 
was  attended  by  over  three  hundred  persons,  being  the 
largest  ever  seen  on  these  islands.  He  was  comparatively 
a  young  man,  and  with  high  hope  and  great  energy  to  com- 
plete the  schemes  of  his  life.  The  whole  community  is 
deeply  moved  by  his  death,  partly  because  it  was  so  unex- 
pected, but  mainly  because  of  the  great  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held  by  his  friends  and  neighbors.  His  whole  life  was 
a  practical  commentary  on  the  noble  virtues  of  an  upright 
man.  He  commenced  his  course  at  the  bottom  round  of 
the  ladder,  and,  by  honest  industry  and  fliir  means,  acquired 
a  handsome  fortune.  But  the  peculiar  beauty  of  his  life 
is  that,  while  earnestly  and  eagerly  engaged  in  the  pursuit 
of  wealth,  he  never  manifested  a  sordid  selfishness  so 
common  in  business-life,  but  always  so  dealt  that,  while  his 
property  increased,  others  could  not  but  rejoice  at  his  pros- 
perity, and  no  man  ever  said  of  him  that  he  acquired  his 
gains  by  sharp  dealing  or  unfair  means.  His  honesty  and 
liberality  were  the  remark  of  all  who  knew  him.  No  poor 
man  seeking  to  rise  by  his  own  endeavors  ever  asked  of 
him  assistance  and  did  not  receive  it.  Indeed,  they  did 
not,  in  his  neighborhood,  have  to  ask  assistance ;  it  was 
rendered  without.  And  many  owe  their  success  in  life 
to  his  helping  hand.  In  his  death  this  community  has 
lost  one  of  its  most  loved,  most  able,  and  most  important 
men.  It  docs  not  often  fall  to  the  lot  of  man  to  be  so 
deeply  and  so  extensively  mourned  at  his  death  as  is  Lorenz 
Miiller. 


-  sr«~ 


SIMON  FOX. 


John  Fox  was  born  March  20,  1793,  and  mai-riecl 
Rachel  Stuard,  who  was  born  in  Febrnaiy,  1796. 
They  had  twelve  children,  as  follows :  Charles,  born 
July  8,  1814;  James,  born  July  12,  1816;  Mary 
Ann,  born  Oct.  9,  1818;  Susan,  born  March  12, 
1821;  Simon,  born  Dec.  13,  1823;  Peter,  born 
April  7,  1826;  Barbara,  born  June  21, 1828;  Julia, 
born  Jan.  4,  1831 ;  Margaret,  born  March  4,  1833; 
Jane,  born  Jan.  31, 1836 ;  William,  born  March  19, 
1838;  Adaline,  born  March  9,  1841. 

Simon  Fox,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the 
third  son  of  John  Fox  and  Rachel  Stuard,  and  was 
born  at  Gosfield,  Essex  Co.,  Ontario,  Canada.  He 
married,  Oct.  11,  1857,  Elizabeth  Sullivan,  who  was 
born  at  North  Williamsburg,  Dundas  Co.,  Ontario, 
Canada.  They  have  children  as  follows :  Nannie, 
born  at  Put-in-Bay,  July  15, 1858;  Diantha  F.,  born 
Jan.  18,  1864,  and  died  Nov.  20,  1875;  Frank  W., 
born  September,  1867 ;  Stuard,  born  Nov.  13,  1873. 

Simon  Fox  came  to  North  Bass  in  1852,  and,  in 
conjunction  with  his  brother  Peter,  bought  two-thirds 
of  the  island,  from  which  they  sold  off  from  time  to 
time  to  actual  settlers.     Simon  still  retains  fifty-five 


acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  island  for  a  permanent 
home.  Having  great  faith  in  the  climate  and  soil 
for  grape-culture,  he  planted  out,  in  1860,  the  first 
acre  of  grapes  on  the  island,  and  has  steadily  in- 
creased until  he  has  now  twenty  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion. Besides  the  grapes,  he  pays  considerable  atten- 
tion to  other  fruits,  of  which  he  has  an  abundant 
supply  in  their  pi-oper  seasons.  In  addition  to  his 
farm  and  vineyards,  he  carries  on  a  fishing  business, 
the  annual  sales  of  which  are  about  $2000. 

Mr.  Fox's  beautiful  home  is  located  on  the  east 
side  of  the  island,  his  residence  standing  but  a  few 
hundred  feet  from  the  lake,  the  land  gradually  slop- 
ing down  to  the  water's  edge.  He  has  a  tower  which 
overlooks  the  island  and  gives  a  beautiful  view  of 
the  whole  group.  A  windmill  throws  water  to  all 
parts  of  his  extensive  grounds.  These,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  wharf,  fish-  and  boat-houses,  all  models 
of  neatness  and  convenience,  make  this  one  of  the 
most  homelike  and  desirable  spots  on  the  island. 
Here,  amid  these  beautiful  surroundings,  lives  Simon 
Fox,  with  his  estimable  family,  dispensing  hospitality 
to  all  who  may  chance  to  come  within  their  domain. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


521 


twenty  acres  ;  Ballast  Isle,  ten  acres  ;  Gibraltar,  five 
acres  ;  Buckeye  Isle  and  Glacial,  alias  Starve  Island, 
about  two  acres  each  :  three  thousand  one  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  acres  in  the  township. 

The  first  election  for  township  officers  was  held  in 
1861  :  Trustees  John  Stone,  Esq.,  William  Rehberg, 
Esq.,  and  Peter  Fox.  Esq.;  justices  of  the  i^eaee, 
Simon  Fox,  Esq. ;  clerk,  V.  Dollar,  Esq. :  treasurer, 
Philip  Vroniau,  Esq.;  constable,  William  Axtei, 
Esq. ;  supervisor,  George  Caldwell,  Esq.  ;  twenty- 
five  votes  polled.  There  is  at  the  present  time,  1879, 
a  voting  population  of  two  hundred  iu  the  township, 
and  a  population  of  one  thousand  three  hundred. 
There  is  a  nice  church  and  parsonage  on  Put-in-Bay. 
Also,  the  islands  are  well  supplied  with  first-class 
school-houses  and  teachers.  Put-iu-Bay  Island  Wine 
Company  built  their  cellar  in  1871,  with  a  storage 
capacity  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
gallons.  In  1878  the  company  pressed  seventy-five 
thousand  gallons.  The  principal  private  cellars  are 
Max  Van  Doren,  eight  thousand  gallons ;  Lawrence 
Miller's  estate,  stone-arched  cellar,  twenty  thousand 
gallons  ;  also,  Casper  Schraidt's  cellar,  fifteen  thous- 
and gallons  capacity. 

Hotels. — Put-in-Bay  House  commenced  in  1864. 
Messrs.  Moore  &  West  made  additions  to  the  Manor 
House  in  1868;  Captain  Moore  sold  to  Dr.  Elder. 
The  new  firm,  Messrs,  West  &  Elder,  made  exten- 
sive improvements ;  in  1870,  Colonel  Sweeney  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Dr.  Elder,  changing  the  firm 
to  Messrs.  West  &  Sweeney.  Shortly  after  parties 
from  Cincinnati  purchased  an  interest,  and  the  new 
firm  of  Messrs.  Sweeney,  West  &  Co.  was  started. 
The  hotel  had  now  grown  to  the  caj^acity  of  eight 
hundred  guests,  with  a  possibility  of  one  thousand. 
This  house  was  destroj'ed  by  fire  August  31,  1878. 
Beebe  House. — Henry  Beebe,  Esq.,  purchased  of 
Captain  Cooper  his  hotel  in  1871,  and  immediately 
commenced  the  erection  of  the  present  building.  It 
is  pleasantly  located,  ^fronting  the  bay,  and  can  ac- 
commodate four  hundred  guests.  The  Hunker 
Hotel  is  pleasantly  situated,  fronting  the  gi'ove  on 
the  bay,  built  in  1871,  A.  Hunker,  proprietor,  and 
can  accommodate  one  hundred  and  fifty  guests. 
There  are  several  others  of  less  pretensions,  besides 
private  boarding  houses,  where  visitors  may  find  a 
quiet  home.  In  1864,  A.  B.  Richmond  established 
the  Putin-Bay  Mu.seum,  with  a  collection  of  ten 
thousand  curiosities  collected  from  all  parts  of  the 
world. 

I  expected  to  give  the  statistics  of  the  fisheries,  but 
owing  to  the  dealers  failing  to  furnish  tlie  necessary 
figures,  as  they  agreed  to,  we  will  not  be  able  to.  In 
1854,  five  pounds  were  all  that  was  used  ;  now,  in 
1879,  fifty-five  pounds  are  annually  fished  in  this 
township.  Mr.  A.  J.  Stoll,  of  Sandusky,  sent  to  me 
the  number  of  pounds  of  fish  handled  by  him  from 
this  township  in  1878,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifteen 
pounds.     The  five  or  six  other  dealers  failed  to  send 


figures.  Messrs.  Idler  &  Webster  have  a  very  fine 
store,  dry  goods  and  groceries,  crockery,  &c. ;  ^Ir. 
Chris.  Dollar  a  shoe  store  ;  Clinton  Idler,  Esq.,  Cus- 
tom-House  officer.  So,  you  see.  Uncle  Sam  has  not 
left  us  entirely  out  in  the  cold. 

Ballast  Isle  is  owned  by  the  Cleveland  Club;  they 
have  a  fine  club  house,  and  the  island  is  pretty  well 
covered  with  cottages,  where  their  owners  from  the 
Forest  City  go,  and  while  away  an  idle  hour  on  their 

BEAUTIFUL    ISLE    OF    THE    iyEX. 

Floral  Isle,  alias  Middle  Bass  Isle. — The  first  land 
purchased  by  actual  settlers  on  this  island,  was  made 
by  Mr.  John  Lutes  and  William  Rehberg,  Esq.,  in 
1857.  William  Rehberg  bought  fifty  acres  on  the 
west  i^oint,  and  John  Lutes  purchased  one  hundred 
acres  on  the  east  point  of  the  island,  both  to  secure 
fishings,  not  knowing  then  the  intrinsic  value  of  the 
land.  On  the  17th  of  October,  1859,  Andrew  Wehrle, 
Esq.,  Joseph  Miller,  George  Caldwell  and  William 
Rehberg  purchased  the  balance  of  the  island,  six 
hundred  acres,  for  which  they  paid  twelve  thousand 
dollars,  and  immediately  commenced  improving  their 
lands,  and  selling  to  actual  settlers.  All  of  the  above 
named  party  commenced  the  cultivation  of  the  vine, 
and  each  set  small  vineyards.  The  pioneers,  with 
their  small  beginnings,  did  not  fully  realize  the  im- 
portance of  their  work;  the  two  or  three  acres  set  in 
1860,  is  now,  1879,  represented  by  four  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  ot  vinevard,  viz. :  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  acres  of  Catawba:  Delaware,  seventy-two  acres; 
Concord,  sixty-one  acres;  balance — Ives,  Norton, 
Clinton,  etc. ;  number  of  pounds  of  grapes  in  1878, 
one  million  three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  thousand. 

In  1863,  Andrew  Wehrle,  Esq.,  pressed  the  first 
wine;  on  New  Year  eve  his  neighbors  called  in  to 
sample  his  wine,  and  occasionally  through  the  even- 
ing, rejDeated  the  course,  when,  lo,  there  was  left 
none  to  sample;  the  experiment  proved  a  stimulant, 
resulting  in  all  hands  going  into  the  culture  of  the 
vine,  which  has  grown  to  vast  proportions  above  the 
most  sanguine  expectations  of  all  parties.  The  first 
barrel  sampled  is  now  represented  by  the  pressing  of 
1878 — three  hundred  thousand  gallons.  Andrew 
Wehrle,  Esq.,  commenced  the  manufacture  of  wine 
in  1865,  in  his  cellar  under  his  dwelling  house.  He 
pressed  five  thousand  gallons;  his  business  rapidly 
increasing,  made  it  necessary  to  build  a  cellar.  In 
1870,  he  built  a  solid  arched  cellar  of  thirty  thousand 
gallons'  capacity;  business  still  increasing.  Mr. 
Wehrle  took  as  partners  M.  Werk  c&  Sons,  under  the 
firm  of  Wehrle,  Werk  &  Sons.  In  1871,  the  new  firm 
built  four  new  arched  cellars,  and  up  to  the  present 
time  (1879)  three  additional  cellars,  which  give  a 
storage  capacity  of  over  three  hundred  thousand 
gallons,  and  no  room  to  spare  iu;  addition  to  aljove, 
the  firm  are  now  having  built  in  Cincinnati  two  casks 
of  the  storage  capacity  of  twenty-five  thousand  gal- 
lons, which  casks  will  be  set  up  in  the  cellar  now  be- 
ing prepared  for  them  at  the  firm's    Golden    Eagle 


52-i 


HISTOEY  OF  HUKON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


Wine  cellars  on  Middle  Bass  Isle.  There  is  located 
on  the  laud  of  William  Rehberg,  Esq.,  west  point  of 
Floral  Isle,  the  Toledo  and  Lake  Erie  Boating  and 
Fishing  Association.  They  have  a  commodious  club 
surrounded  by  cottages  owned  by  the  members,  where 
they  come  and  spend  the  summer  with  their  families. 
Post  office  established  in  lS6i;  Andrew  Wehrle,  Esq., 
postmaster. 

Isle  St.  George,  alias  North  Bass,  is  four  miles 
north  of  Put-in-Bay,  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of 
Middle  Bass,  and  lies  directly  in  route  of  steamers 
plying  to  and  from  Detroit  and  Sandusky.  Roswold 
Nichols,  Esq.,  was  the  first  permanent  settler  on 
the  Island.  In  184-i  he  moved  to  the  island.  In  1845 
he  took  a  lease  of  the  island.  Dr.  C.  DeKay  Town- 
send  made  his  first  trip  to  the  islands  for  that  purpose. 
It  took  a  plump  week  to  make  the  round  trip.  No 
steamboats  in  those  days.  A  Mr.  Demmon,  of  Roch- 
ester, New  York,  owned  the  island  and  sold  it,  includ- 
ing Rattlesnake  Isle,  to  Horace  Kelley,  for  twenty- 
eight  hundred  dollars.  1849,  George  W.  Wires, 
Esq.,  purchased  of  Mr.  Kelley  one  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-two acres,  at  five  dollars  an  acre.  Same  year,  Ros- 
wold Nichols  bought  of  Kelly  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen acres,  at  five  dollars  per  acre.  1853,  Simon  Fox 
and  Peter  Fox  purchased  the  balance  of  the  island, 
five  hundred  acres,  for  which  they  paid  three  thousand 
dollars.  1858  and  1859,  they  set  the  first  grapes, 
about  one  acre,  which  proved  a  perfect  success.  Still 
the  island  moved  slow  until  1860,  when  the  interest 
in  the  fruit  business  induced  Dr.  Townsend,  J.  K. 
Drake,  E.  Kinney,  George  H.  Smith,  W.  D.  Lindsly, 
Charles  K.  Minor,  Davis  Smith,  Esq.,  H.  G.  Fox, 
Esq.,  to  invest  largely,  and  go  to  work  with  the 
earlier  inhabitants  to  develope  the  latent  wealth  of 
the  island.  The  result  is  four  hundred  and  five  acres 
of  vineyard,  viz:  two  hundred  and  five  acres  of  Ca- 
tawba; one  hundred  and  thirteen  acres  of  Delaware; 
thirty-four  acres  of  Concord;  ten  acres  of  Schraidt's 
seedling;  ten  acres  Norton's  Virginia;  fifteen  acres 
Clintons;  ten  acres  Ives"  Seedling,  Wilder,  Salem  and 
lona.  In  1878,  one  million  pounds  of  grapes  were 
gathered.  In  1859,  Captam  H.  G.  Fox  purchased 
Rattlesnake  Isle,  containing  sixty  acres,  for  one  thous- 
and dollars.  He  planted  one  acre  of  Catawba  grapes. 
Afterward  he  sold  the  island  to  David  Hammond, 
Esq.,  who  resides  on  the  island — the  only  family. 

Post  office  established  on  Isle  St.  George,  in  1873; 
Peter  Fox,  postmaster. 

In  1871,  the  people  of  the  island  built  a  solid,  dou- 
ble arched  wine  cellar,  fifty  by  one  hundred  feet.  In- 
cluding the  structure  over  the  cellars,  this  will  store 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  gallons  of 
wine.  At  the  present  time  grape  buyers  from  abroad 
purchase  all  the  grapes  raised,  principally  for  wine. 
The  grapes  raised  on  this  island  command  a  better 
price  than  those  raised  elsewhere,  because  of  their 
superior  quality.  The  perfect  drainage,  fine  elevation 
above  the  lake,  and  properties  in  the  soil,  gives  this 
island  a  decided  advantage  over  all  other  localities. 


The  educational  privileges  are  represented  by  our 
public  school  system.  The  first  school  teacher  was 
Miss  Marion  Dutcher,  in  1857. 

Isle  St.  George  is  set  ofE  by  the  legislature  into  a 
separate  precinct,  some  forty  votes.  The  steamboat 
accommodation  is  perfect.  The  steamboat  "Jay 
Cooke,"  G.  A.  Brown,  master,  makes  daily  trips 
between  Sandusky  and  the  Islands,  lying  at  Put-in- 
Bay  nights;  steamboat  "Alaska,"  L.  B.  Goldsmitli, 
master,  daily  trips  from  Detroit  to  Sandusky,  touch- 
ing at  the  Islands  each  way;  steamboat  "'  Chief 
Justice  Waite,"  E.  McNelley,  master,  through  the 
business  season,  daily  from  Toledo  to  Pat-in-Bay. 
We  must  not  slight  the  "  Golden  Eagle,"  Fred. 
Magle,  master.  She  is  the  early  bird,  and  late, 
always  on  the  wing ;  and  the  steamboat  "B.  B. 
Ferris,  Captain  Fre3'ensee,  from  Put-in-Bay,  via  the 
Peninsula  route  to  Sandusky,  daily. 

There  is  not  another  rural  district  in  any  State, 
or  country,  that  will  compare  with  the  improvements 
here,  that  depends  on  the  product  of  the  soil  for  a 
business.  Put-in-Bay  township,  as  a  summer  resort, 
take  it  all  in  all,  has  no  equal.  The  sanitary  condi- 
tions are  very  fine.  Of  one  thing  there  remains  no 
doubt,  and  that  is,  although  there  is  nothing  striking 
or  grand  in  the  scenery  of  these  islands,  yet,  taken 
altogether,  they  form  a  scene  of  surpassing  loveliness 
and  beauty.  There  is  always  a  quiet,  dream-like 
stillness  resting  on  the  calm  water,  in  the  shade  of 
the  trees  and  vines,  so  much  in  contrast  with  the 
bustle  and  excitement  of  city  life,  that  it  comes  to  the 
excited  brain  like  a  sweet  rest  to  the  traveler,  at  the 
close  of  a  long  and  toilsome  journey. 

But  here,  on  this  Peninsula  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
and  upon  its  islands,  the  grape  flourishes  in  unri- 
valed luxuriance,  and  even  the  banks  of  the  Ohio, 
the  first  stronghold  of  the  Catawba,  have  been  forced 
to  yield  a  precedence  to  its  northern  rival.  Many 
crops  are  useful,  but  few,  in.  themselves,  beautiful. 
Digging  potatoes,  for  example,  can  never  figure  on 
the  poet's  page.  But  everything  connected  with  a 
vineyard  is  full  of  beauty,  whether  it  be  the  green 
leaves  and  twining  tendrils  of  the  spring,  the  bunches 
slowly  tui'ning  in  the  hot  midsummer  sun,  the  first 
picking  in  early  fall,  when  the  long  aisles  are  filled 
with  young  girls,  making  merry  over  their  work,  or 
the  last  in-gathering  of  the  Indian  summer,  when  the 
late  ripening  bunches,  hanging  on  the  trellises,  shine 
through  the  vineyards  in  red-purple  gleams,  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach.  Nothing  can  be  more  lovely  than 
the  islands  in  this  golden  season.  Dionysius  himself 
would  have  loved  them.  The  water  is  blue  and  tran- 
quil, for  even  in  a  gale  the  fury  does  not  enter  here 
among  the  land-locked  harbors.  On  all  sides  stand 
the  islets,  some  large,  some  small,  some  vine-clad  and 
inhabited,  others  rocky  and  wild.  The  trees  glow 
with  color,  and  sweeping  down  to  the  water's  edge, 
send  a  brilliant  reflection  far  out  from  shore.  And  ' 
over  all  is  spread  the  dreamy  haze  of  Indian  summer. 


HISTORY  OF  HURON  AND  ERIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


523 


more  beautiful  when  resting  on  the  water,  or  deepen- 
ing here  and  there  upon  an  island,  than  it  ever  can  be 
upon  the  level  main  land. 

Gibraltar  island,  a  rock  in  the  water,  the  key  to 
the  bay,  where  Commodore  Perry  placed  his  sentinel, 
is  crowned  by  a  villa,  whose  tower  forms  a  picturesque 
point  in  the  landscape,  and  upon  its  summit  is  a 
memorial  of  the  immortal  Perry,  placed  there  by  Jay 


Cooke,  Esc 
Lake  Erie. 


overlooking  the  scene  of  the  battle  of 


'  Where  the  great  Lake's  sunny  smiles, 
Dimple  round  its  hundred  isles, 
And  Gibraltar's  granite  ledge, 
Cleaves  the  water  like  a  wedge; 
Ringed  about  with  smooth,  gray  stonei 
Over  waters,  island  strown, 
Over  silver  sanded  beach. 
Leaf-locked  bay  and  misty  reach, 
Watch  and  ward  Gibraltar  keeps." 


'i  Jfoy,  J^W/-^^.      ^^' 


^Ayc^yVUX'V^'     J  riV)^  A^'U/. 


HISTOEY  OP  HUKON  AND  EEIE  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


CHARLES  DeKAY  TOAVNSEND,  M.  D. 

Boni  ill  the  city  of  Albany,  State  of  New  York, 
Febrnary  13,  1820;  first  son  of  Solomon  DeKay 
Townsend,  born  in  New  York  City,  May  25, 1784,  and 
Esther  Mary  Cannon,  his  wife,  born  in  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, December  7, 1793;  married  August  28,  1814, 
to  whom  four  children  wei'e  born,  viz. :  Sarah  Cannon 
Townsend.  first  daughter,  born  July  27,  1815,  dejDart- 
ed  this  life  August  11,  1815,  aged  sixteen  days;  Sarah 
Cannon  Townsend,  second  daughter,  born  June  27, 
1817,  departed  this  life  October  29,  1841,  aged  twen- 
ty-four years  and  four  months;  Charles  DeKay  Town- 
send,  first  son,  born  February  13,  1820;  Absalom 
Cannon  Townsend,  second  son,  born  December  8, 1822. 

Solomon  DeKay  Townsend,  fourth  son  of  Absalom 
Townsend,  born  November  21,  1743,  and  Helen  De- 
Kay, his  wife,  born  August  33,  1846.  Solomon  De- 
Kay Townsend  died  1834,  aged  fifty-one  j^ears  and 
eleven  months.  Esther  Mary  Cannon  Townsend  died 
1853,  aged  sixty  years  and  ten  months. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  having  received  a  fair 
education,  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  and 
surgery  under  the  tuition  of  his  uncle,  Charles  D'. 
Townsend,  M.  D.,  at  Albany,  New  York;  attended 
lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  graduated 
A.  D.  1842.  While  a  student  he  made  a  trip  to  Nor- 
walk, Huron  county,  Ohio,  year  1840.  for  the  purpose 
of  looking  after  his  mother's  estate  (Charles  L.  Boalt, 
Esq.,  of  Norwalk,  and  George  Reber,  Esq..  of  San- 
dusky City,  our  attorneys), — his  mother,  in  common 
with  others,  seeking  relief  by  an  equal  distribution  of 
the  Fire-lands,  as  represented  in  the  annexation  on 
Sandusky  bay.  Business  all  satisfactory,  he  pur- 
chased a  horse,  saddle  and  bridle,  and  started  for  his 
eastern  home,  six  hundred  miles,  on  horseback. 

1840 — Who,  that  saw  the  log  cabin  in  the  woods, 
log  cabins  on  wheels,  log  cabins  everywhere,  with 
Tippecanoe  and  Tyler,  too,  would  be  likely  to  forget 
the  political  crusade  to  Fort  Meigs.  He  met  them 
on  their  winding  way.  Messrs.  Boalt  and  Reber 
made  a  request  of  the  eastern  claimants,  to  select  a 
suitable  person  and  send  him  to  Ohio  to  assist'  them, 
and  to  attend  to  outside  oflSce  work  pertaining  to  their 
law  suits.  Dr.  C.  D.  K.  Townsend  was  chosen,  and 
immediately  went  west  in  1S42,  witli  his  liorse  and 


sulky.  He  drove  to  Sandusky  City,  where  lie  re- 
mained nearly  two  years,  when  the  case  was  ready  for 
a  hearing.  Sandusky  not  suiting  the  Doctor  for  a 
field  of  practice,  he  went,  in  the  year  1844,  to  the  city 
of  Rochester,  New  York,  and  opened  an  office  on 
Exchange  street.  To  attend  to  his  mothers  estate, 
the  Doctor  moved  back  to  Sandusky  City  in  1846. 
The  year  1849  was  a  memorable  one  for  Sandusky, 
and  all  concerned.  The  first  case  of  cholera  in  San- 
dusky, July  1st,  was  Mrs.  Allen.  Dr.  Tilden  attend- 
ed and  the  patient  died.  The  second  case  was  Mrs. 
Hiram  Allen's  daughter-in-law.  Di\  Townsend  was 
called  and  the  patient  recovered.  The  cholera  be- 
came very  bad,  and  the  inhabitants,  panic  stricken, 
left  by  every  available  means  and  in  every  direction. 
Doctor  Townsend  stood  at  his  post  of  duty  and  made 
his  headquarters  at  the  mayor's  office.  John  M. 
Brown,  Esq.,  was  mayor  of  the  city.  '  He  stood  at  his 
post  while  thousands  fled;  watched  over  and  cared  for 
the  stricken  city  and  its  inhabitants.  Several  physi- 
cians left  the  city,  others  became  exhausted.  Dr. 
Townsend  waited  no  longer  to  be  sent  for.  but  sought 
after  and  attended  the  afflicted  wherever  found,  until 
relievbu  by  volunteer  physicians  from  abroad.  His 
brother,  A.  C.  Townsend,  also  rendered  valuable  as- 
sistance. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1854,  Charles  DeKay  Townsend, 
M.  D.,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Sherman  Combes,  widow  of  W. 
W.  Combes,  M.  D.,  second  daughter  of  John  Sher- 
man, Esq.,  and  Margaret  Hinchman,  his  wife,  were 
united  in  marriage  at  Ridgeville,  Lorain  county, 
Ohio.  To  them  were  born  three  children,  viz. :  Hel- 
ena, fii-st  daughter,  born  June  6,  1855:  Virginia,  sec- 
ond daughter,  born  February  14, 1857;  Orion  DeKay, 
first  son,  born  February  2,  1859. 

The  Doctor  continued  in  the  active  duties  of  his 
profession  till  the  year  1865,  when  failing  health 
caused  him  to  change  his  business,  and  with  his  fam- 
ily he  moved  to  Put-iu-Bay  township,  Ottawa  county, 
Ohio,  and  purchased  land  on  Isle  St.  George,  where 
he  may  be  found,  unless  absent  on  professional  busi- 
ness, engaged  in  the  culture  of  the  vine  and  other 
fruits. 

"Hooked:  aside  the  tlust  cloud  rolled; 
The  Master  seemed  the  builder,  too: 
Up-springing  from  the  ruined  old 


ERRATUM. 

Page  113-Total  for  Wheatsborough  "  $111,60,"  instead  of  ?;3.80. 
Page  130— First  birth  was  December  12,  1813. 
Page  138-Read  ]5th  of  "May,"  instead  of  April. 
Page  183— Read  "  Dr.  John  Wood,"  instead  of  John  McLean. 
Page  137— Read  •' forty-five  times."  instead  <  t  forty. 
Page  !■)"- Read  Huron  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No.  "","  instead  of  1. 
Page  148-C'harter  returned  "  1845,"  instead  of  1818. 

Page  180— To  children  of  William  Gallup  (5th)  add,  after  Mrs.  Lyttle,  "Eliza 
(Mrs.  Frederick  Hunt),  now  of  Orodelfan,  Colorado." 


2990 


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