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Gc 977.101 Er4p v.2 1190741
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02410 4918
A Standard History
of
ERIE COUNTY, OHIO
An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Civic and Social Development. A Chron- icle of the People, with Family Lineage and Memoirs
BY HEWSON L. PEEKE Assisted by a Board of Advisory Editors
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
977.101 Er4p
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1916
v. 2
1190741
Og Dench
History of Erie County
JACOB J. DAUCH. One of the leading manufacturers of Sandusky, and a successful financier, Jacob J. Dauch, has been a commanding figure in the industrial circles of Erie County for many years, and as president of the Ilinde-Dauch Paper Company, and of the Danch Manufacturing Company, is actively identified with two of the important business con- cerns of the city. He was born in the City of Sandusky, a son of Philip Dauch, and the grandson of a prosperous German farmer, who spent his entire life in Wurtemburg, Germany.
Philip Danch, the only member of his father's household to leave the fatherland, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1820, where, after completing his early education, he served an apprenticeship at the cooper and brewer's trade. In 1847 he immigrated to America, being eight weeks crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel. From New York, where he landed, he came directly to Ohio, and after living in Cincinnati three years, and in Springfield one year, he located in Sandusky, and at once established a brewery on the site now oeeupied by the Knebeler-Stang brewery, situated near the Pennsylvania eoal doeks. Other breweries had previously manufactured ale and quiek beer, but he brewed the first lager made in the city. He operated his brewery successfully until 1865, when, having sustained heavy losses through endorsing notes which he had to pay, he gave up his business and retired to a farm in Margaretta Township, where he lived for five years. Removing then to Huron Town- ship, he purchased a farm, and there spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the venerable age of eighty-six years.
The maiden name of the wife of Philip Daneh was Maria Elmora Klotz. She was born in Baden, Germany, in 1831, a daughter of Anthony Klotz, who, in 1833, came with his family to Ohio in pioneer days, set- tling in the vicinity of Springfield, Clark County, where he cleared and improved the farm on which he spent his remaining days. She was bred, edueated and married in Springfield, and now lives on the home farm in Huron Township. To her and her husband ten children were born, two of whom died in infaney. The remaining eight are: Jacob J., Emma Augusta, Regina, Mary Louise, Gustavus, Theodore, William, and Martha.
Obtaining his elementary education in the German and English school located on Camp Street, Sandusky, Jacob J. Dauch afterward attended the rural schools of Margaretta and Huron townships. Subsequently entering the Buckeye Business and Telegraph College, now the Sandusky Business College, he was graduated from that institution in 1876. Re- turning then to the parental homestead, Mr. Danch was engaged in tilling the soil until the spring of 1878, when he accepted a position, at $12 a month, as deck hand on a steam barge. At the end of the season he re- turned to the farm and resumed his former occupation. continuing his agricultural labors. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Dauch removed to San- dusky, and for a time was engaged in the ice business. In the fall of
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
1881 he purchased the Sandusky Business College, and three years later sold out to B. B. Brown, and again went back to the home farm, where, in addition to general farming, he operated a threshing machine and clover huller and baled hay for the neighbors, carrying on a successful business for five or more years.
In 1888 Mr. Dauch, having acquired an interest in the paper manu- facturing business then conducted by Harvey, Hinde & Company, came to Sandusky to devote his time and energies to his new enterprise. Since he became connected with that firm its name has been several times changed, first to Ilinde, Hanson & Company, then to the Sandusky Paper Company; later to Hinde & Dauch; and is now known as the Hinde & Dauch Paper Company, with Mr. Dauch as its president.
In 1880 Mr. Dauch was united in marriage with Mary May Wendt. She was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and as a child came to the United States with her parents, Henry and Martha Wendt, who located in Vermilion, Erie County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Dauch have had five children : Elmora L., Leola E., Henry P. (who died aged twenty-one years), Aletha M., and Wade W. Elnora is the wife of Sidney Frohman, who is treasurer of both the Hinde & Dauch Paper Company, and of the Dauch Manufacturing Company. In national politics Mr. Dauch is a republican, but in local affairs he is independent, voting for the best men and measures. Industrious, enterprising and progressive, he is a self- made man in every sense implied by the term, and deserves credit for the high position he has attained, not only in business circles but as a valued and esteemed citizen.
ADDISON H. PEARL. One of the native sons and honored and influ- ential citizens of Erie County to whom it is specially gratifying to accord representation in this publication is Capt. Addison II. Pearl, who is now living virtually retired in the fine little City of Huron and whose is a commanding place in popular confidence and esteem. It was his to represent his native county as a gallant soldier and officer of the Union in the Civil war, and his entire life has been dominated by the same spirit of loyalty and the same integrity of purpose that thus prompted him to go forth in defense of the integrity of the nation. All of consistency is shown in the following appreciative estimate that has been given by one familiar with the life and services of this sterling citizen : "Captain Pearl is one of those intellectual, reliable citizens whom the public loves to honor and whose good deeds and kind acts are imperishable and will perpetuate his memory in the minds of the people long after his life's work has been finished."
Captain Pearl is not only a representative of one of the fine pioneer families of the historic Western Reserve of Ohio, but is a scion of a family that was founded in New England in the colonial era of our national history, the lineage tracing back to staunch English origin and one of the representatives of the name having been a soldier in the warfare against the great Napoleon.
On a pioneer farm in Berlin Township, Erie County, Ohio, Addison H. Pearl was born on the 24th of March, 1830, and concerning condi- tions that then obtained in this section of the state it has well been stated that he was born "at a time when not a single railroad crossed this part of the country, when nearly the entire land was covered with dense forests, and the pioneers were engaged in ditching the swamps and felling the giant forest trees, Captain Pearl having become one of the toilers as soon as he was old enough to work."
Captain Pearl is a son of Oliver and Mary (Sexton) Pearl, both natives of Ellington, Tolland County, Connecticut, where the former was born November 10, 1791, and the latter December 5, 1795, their
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
marriage having been solemnized in their native county in the year 1811. There they began their wedded life in a modest home on a typical little New England farm and to the cultivation of the soil Oliver Pearl there continued to give his attention for eight years, at the expiration of which, in 1819, he traded his Connecticut property for 100 acres of heavily timbered land in what is now Berlin Township, Erie County, Ohio, the township having at that time borne the name of Eldridge and Erie County having been still an integral part of Huron County. He obtained also forty acres of land at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, and this tract is now a part of the City of Cleveland and of immense value.
In the autumn of 1819 Oliver Pearl provided himself with a proper pioneer equipment of teams and wagons and made ready for the long overland journey from Connecticut to his new home in the wilds of Ohio, this primitive means having been employed in the transportation of his wife and three children and the small stock of household goods and minor farm implements. After weary weeks of travel under fre- quently most onerous conditions, the family arrived at the little pioneer farm at the mouth of the ('uyahoga River, but the prevalence of malarial fever in that locality led the sturdy pioneer, in consonance with the advice of established settlers there, to continue his journey through the forest to his other tract of land, now one of the fine agricultural domains of Erie County. To make his way to this land Mr. Pearl was compelled to fell the timber for a considerable distance, in order to permit the passage of his teams and wagons, and on the journey he and his family had occasion to pass through the Indian village that was established on the site of the present Town of Milan, eight miles distant from his old homestead. Making a small clearing on his land, Mr. Pearl there erected a primitive house of round logs, which was replaced as soon as possible with a more pretentious dwelling of hewed logs, the providing of which caused him to be looked upon in the pioneer community as a citizen of opulence. The Huron Indians in the vicinity were in the main friendly and it was no uncommon thing for them to eall at the homes of the white settlers and ask for food or other entertainment. The conditions and exigencies of the pioneer days have been often told in story and historic record, and it is unnecessary in this article to attempt to enlarge upon this topie. With the effective aid of his sturdy sons, Oliver Pearl re- elaimed much of his land to cultivation, and here he continued to reside on his old homestead until after the birth of his tenth child, his death having occurred May 25, 1835, and his name meriting enduring place on the roll of the honored and influential pioneers who initiated and carried forward the arduous work of development and progress in Erie County. Mr. Pearl was a consistent member of the Methodist Church, was instant in kindly deeds and good works, and commanded the high regard of all who knew him, both he and his wife having been prominent in the organization of the pioneer congregation that erected the little Methodist chapel of the neighborhood, and Mrs. Pearl, who long survived her honored husband and passed to eternal rest on the 5th of May, 1884. continued a zealous and devoted member of this chapel until the time of her demise. Of the children all attained to years of maturity except Jerome, and concerning them the following brief data are given :
Oliver S. died in 1883 and left a family of children: Ansel II. died in 1832, at the age of twenty-two years, he having been a mechanical genius and having been employed as a patternmaker in Cincinnati at the time of his death, his young wife surviving him: Mary A. was a young woman at the time of her death, in 1843; William married and became a farmer in Erie County, whence he later removed to Lorain County, where he continued to be identified with the same vocation until
478
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
his death, in 1883. his widow having survived him by a number of vears and their three sons being still residents of this state; Emeline became the wife of Joseph Ellis and they were residents of Hersey, Osceola County, Michigan, at the time of their death, three children still surviving them and being residents of that state; Albert died while mak- ing a trip through the pine forests of northern Michigan, was twice mar- ried and is survived by a number of children; Marilla became the wife of Stewart Young, both being now deceased and being survived by chil- dren ; Addison H., of this review, was the next in order of birth ; Ilarriet, whose death occurred in 1907, was the wife of Deforest Simpson, and of their three children one son and one daughter survive them ; Jerome died in early youth.
As previously intimated, Captain Addison 11. Pearl early gained in connection with the work of the pioneer farm a full fellowship with arduous toil and endeavor, and after the death of his father he assisted in caring for his widowed mother with all of filial solicitude and devotion. Touching his early educational advantage the following statements have been written: "In winter he attended the subscription schools of the loeality and period and his alert mind and close application enabled him to make rapid and assured advancement in scholastie lore, so that by the time he had reached manhood his store of learning was very thorough for his day and has since enabled him to hold his own with the men of intellectual power and broad information."
About the time he attained to his legal majority the construction of the line of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad was being car- ried forward through this seetion, and Captain Pearl obtained employ- ment under the overseer of this construction work, in 1852, this execu- tive, Mr. Waekman, having later become general superintendent of the railroad mentioned. Captain Pearl was finally assigned to the supervision of the construction of an eight-mile section of the road, and after sever- ing his association with railroad work he resumed his connection with agricultural pursuits. When the Civil war was precipitated he sub- ordinated all personal interests to tender his aid in defense of the Union, and his record as a soldier will inure to the lasting honor of his name, the fortune of war having not left him unscathed, as he lost the sight of his right eye through injury effected by an exploding shell. Concerning his military career and later activities a succinct narrative has been prepared and is well worthy of reproduction, with but slight paraphrase, in this publication, the context being substantially as fol- lows:
"In 1861, on the 4th day of September, his patriotism found dominat- ing manifestation in his enlistment as a private in the Third Ohio Cavalry. Entering the service, he proved to be brave, judieions and skillful in times of danger, and his ability was recognized by his superior officers by con- seeutive promotions accorded to him. He was first appointed assistant commissary of subsistence, by Colonel M. Paramore, commanding the brigade, and afterward he served on the staff of Colonel Long until he was promoted to the rank of captain, Colonel Long having succeeded to the command of the brigade. With marked distinction Captain Pearl served in command of his company, which he led in many a dangerous and sanguinary conflict. He was twice captured, but on each occasion his coolness, conrage and tact enabled him to escape confinement in a Con- federate prison. He was once severely wounded by a bursting shell, and the physical infirmity entailed remains as a tangible mark of his gallant service in perpetuating the integrity of the nation. For eight months Captain Pearl was in charge of the fort barracks and supply station at Columbia, Tennessee. He continued for a protracted period a member of the staff of General Long and for two years and nine months
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
was in active service as a commissioned officer in the United States Army, his serious wound having finally incapacitated him and resulted in his honorable discharge, his period of service having covered three and one- half years.
"After the close of his distinguished military career Captain Pearl returned to his old home in Berlin township, but it was long after the war before his strength and vitality were sufficiently restored to enable him to return to the labors of civil life. Ile finally resumed his fruitful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower, and his industry and good management were not denied their reward. He assumed charge of the old home place, where he continued his services until after the death of his loved mother. While thus engaged in the management of the old homestead the Captain took an active interest in political affairs, as a staunch and well fortified advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. At that time Erie county elaimed a definite Denio- eratie majority and the Republicans had little show for the election of their candidates. In 1879 Captain Pearl reluctantly accepted the Repub- lican nomination for representative of his native county in the State Legislature. He made an aggressive canvass and this effective work, as coupled with his unqualified personal popularity, enabled him to over- come the Democratie majority normally given, his election having been eompassed by a majority of 201 votes. During his two years of service as a member of the lower house of the legislature Captain Pearl made a characteristically excellent record, with loyal efforts to promote wise legislation and with assignment to various important committees, includ- ing that on fish and game, and he was made chairman of that body."
Since 1906 Captain and Mrs. Pearl have maintained their residence in the fine little City of Huron, and it may with all of consisteney he said that in their native state their circles of friends is limited only by that of their acquaintance. In 1898 Captain Pearl erected his present attractive and modern residence, and the home is a center of generous and gracious hospitality, with Mrs. Pearl as its popular chatelaine. The captain is affiliated with the lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at East Townsend, Huron County, near the old home farm, and at Huron he is one of the most appreciative and honored comrades of Moses Martin Post No. 649, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is serving as chaplain in 1915. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Pres- byterian Chureh.
In IInron County, on the 19th of September, 1865, Captain Pearl wedded Miss Thirza B. Hyde, who was born in that county on the 11th of December, 1840, and who was a representative of a well-known pioneer family. Mrs. Pearl was summoned to the life eternal on the 30th of April, 1892, and of the children of this union all are living except Emily L., who died in early youth ; Ada is the wife of Dr. Edward D. Arndt, a representative physician at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and they have three children-Louisa, Loma and Mary ; Edwin S. is advertising agent for the Fairbanks Seale Company in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, and his three children are Priscilla, Mary and Edwin S .. Jr. ; Allen S. is secretary of a company engaged in the manufacture of electrical supplies in the City of Chicago, and his children are Gertrude, Allen S., Jr., and Eliza- beth ; William II. is a traveling salesman for the Ilinois Electric C'om- pany and he and his wife maintain their residence in the City of Indian- apolis, Indiana ; they have no children : and Augusta A. is a professional and graduated nurse.
On JJune 12, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Pearl to Mrs. Eliza I. Murphy, widow of Matthew Murphy and a daughter of Capt. Austin A. Kirby, a distinguished and venerable eitizen to whom an individual tribute is paid on other pages of this publication. Mrs.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Pearl first wedded George Kirby, who though of the same family name was not of even remote kinship, and after his death she became the wife of Matthew Murphy, whose death occurred a number of years ago. Mrs. Pearl's only child, Anna M. Kirby, died in infancy.
Captain Pearl has within recent years accorded careful and efficient service in the office of justice of the peace, and he made the same justify its title. Ile has found also satisfaction and occupation in his service as a pension agent, and his abiding interest in his old comrades in arms has been manifested in the earnest and effective efforts he has put forth in seenring pensions for not a few old soldiers meriting such recognition and by obtaining merited increases of pensions for other veterans of the great struggle through which the unity of the nation was preserved. The captain has had no desire for supine ease even in the period of his virtual retirement from active business, and as a notary public he has found much demand for his interposition, besides giving personal atten- tion to the making of collections.
AUSTIN A. KIRBY. A strong, loyal and noble spirit was that which found indwelling in the mortal tenement of Captain Kirby, who was one of the most venerable and honored pioneer citizens of Erie County at the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1903, and who was a distinguished figure in the marine navigation service of the Great Lakes for many years, one of the numerous citizens of Northern Ohio who have "gone down to the sea in ships and done business on great waters." His period of residence in Erie County covered more than half a century and he had gained precedence as one of the most able and best known vessel commanders that ever operated on our great inland seas.
Captain Kirby was born at Genoa, Cayuga County, New York, on the 15th of September, 1817, and was a son of Silas and Rhoda (Soule) Kirby, both natives of New Bedford, Massachusetts, where the former was born in 1792 and the latter in November, 18II, their other children who attained adult age having been Allen N., Stephen R., Sarah and Frederick. Silas Kirby was a son of Restcom and Mary ( Rogers) Kirby, the former born March 30, 1770, and the latter in the year 1789. Resteom Kirby was a son of Barnabas and Elizabeth ( Allen) Kirby, whose respect- ive dates of nativity were December 2, 1744, and the year 1788. Barna- bas Kirby was a son of Silas and Elizabeth Kirby, who immigrated from England about the middle of the eighteenth century and became the founders of the American branch of this sterling old Colonial family of New England.
Captain Kirby was a boy at the time of the family removal to Sack- etts Harbor, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario, and when he was a lad of but twelve years he initiated his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes. In 1835, when only seventeen years of age, he became master of the schooner Commodore Decatur, and in the following winter he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Oswego, New York, from which port he sailed to Lake Erie ports for the ensuing three years. In the spring of 1839 he went with his parents to the newly admitted State of Michigan and his father became one of the pioneer settlers in Ingham County, in which is now situated the capital city of that commonwealth. The captain was not, however, to be drawn from his allegiance to the lakes and prevailed upon to remain in an inland section of Michigan. In 1840, at Detroit, that state, he became master of the schooner Inde- pendence, and he continued in command of vessels of this type until 1844, in which season he sailed as mate of the propeller New York. Thereafter he was engaged in farming in Michigan until 1847, when he again resumed his aetive association with navigation service on the Great Lakes. For four years he was master of the sehooner Forrest, and later
3 1833 02410 4918
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IIISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
he became commander of the schooner Plymouth, which sailed from IIuron, Erie County, Ohio, and which was wrecked and lost in 1852. Thereafter Captain Kirby had command in turn of the schooner Ithaca and the propeller Mount Vernon, and at the close of the navigation season of 1854 he resumed his association with the agricultural industry, only to abandon this vocation in 1856, when he assumed command of the J. P. Kirtland. Thereafter he returned to his Michigan farm, upon which he remained until 1863, when he removed with his family to Erie County, Ohio, and established his home in the little lake port Village of Huron. The following year he sailed on the bark Alice, of Detroit, on the route between Buffalo and Chicago. lle was master of the schooner Union for four years and then purchased the H. C. Post. a vessel of which he had personal command until he sold the same, in 1870. In 187I he had charge of the tug Odd Fellow and in the opening of the following season of navigation he became master of the propeller E. B. Ward, Jr. In 1873 Captain Kirby became commodore of the extensive feet and shipping interests of Eber B. Ward, of Detroit, with many vessels and vast interests under his supervision. He continued his able and faithful service in this important position until the death of his employer. Captain Ward, in 1875. In May of that year he accepted the position of master of the propeller Minneapolis, plying between Grand Ilaven, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was one of the fine steamers of the day, was operated in connection with the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad, and was kept in commission throughout the entire year. The captain retained this command until 1880, when he permanently retired from the maritime service and purchased a fine farm in Ionia County, Michigan. This property he soon afterward sold, and he then returned with his family to Erie County. Ohio, and estab- lished his home at Iluron, where he passed the remainder of his long and useful life. IIe paid his first visit to this port in 1836, when he was a youth of eighteen years, and he always held secure place in the esteem of the citizens of Erie County. In later years he served as mayor of the eity and as justice of the peace, and while a resident of Michigan he had held various publie offices of minor sort. The eaptain was a staunch republican, and he was a charter member of the IIuron Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
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