USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
கதி -
ic 77.101 194b 1.2 1190739
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
SEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02410 7333
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofhuronco02baug
HISTORY
OF HURON COUNTY OHIO
ITS PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT -
By A. J. BAUGHMAN
With Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens of the County
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
977.101 H94b V.2
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO. 1909
1190739
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. CALEB HATHAWAY GALLUP.
On reviewing the life record of any individual it is interesting to note some- thing of the ancestry from which he sprang and their characteristics, and thus to find the root of his own well developed traits. A contemporary historian has given the following: "John Gallup (1) born 1590, the ancestor of most of our families of that name, came to America from the parish of Mosterne, county Dor- set, England, in 1630. Just before leaving the old for New England, with solemn fasting and prayer, one hundred and forty persons at the new hospital at Plymouth, organized a Congregational church and chose Rev. John Warham and Rev. John Maverick to be their pastor and teacher, and sailed from Plymouth, England, March 20, 1630, in the Mary and John, a ship of four hundred tons, which arrived at Nantasket (now Hull), Massachusetts, May 30. "They were a very godly and religious people and many of them persons of note and figures, being dignified with the title of Mr., which few in those days were. Some of the principal men were Mr. Rosseter, Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Glover, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Gallup and others."
"His wife was Christobel ( full name now unknown), and children were John (2), born in England, Joan, Samuel and Nathan. He became the owner and gave his name to Gallup's island off Boston harbor, by grant from Governor Winthrop, whose wife was a sister of Gallup's wife. A skillful mariner, he became. memorable as commander of the first naval action off Block island, fought in North American waters, to avenge the murder of his friend Captain John Old- ham by Indians in the famous Pequot war of 1637. His son John (2) participated in the naval engagement off Block island and in King Philip's war as a captain, led a company of soldiers into the 'fearful swamp fight' at Narragansett, De- cember 19, 1675 (within the limits of the present town of South Kingston, Rhode Island), where he was killed. His wife was Hannah Lake and children: Hannah, John, Esther, Benadum (3), William, Samuel, Christobel, Elizabeth, Mary and Margaret.
"In the colonial records at Hartford may be found the following: 'February 9, 1652-3, John Gallup in consideration and with respect unto the services his
6
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
father hath done for the country, hath given him up the river of Mistick, which side he will 300 acres of upland.'
"'February 6. 1653-4, John Gallup, hath given him a further addition to his land at Mistick, 150 acres, which he accepts of and acknowledgeth himself satis- fyde for what lands he formerly laide claim unto upon the general neck as a gift of his father's, which as he saith was given to his father by General Stoughton, after the Pequott war.'
"Benadum of the third generation, born in 1655, married Esther Prentice, and their children were Hannah, Esther, Mercy, Benadum (4), Joseph, Margaret and Lucy.
"Lieutenant Benadum (4), born 1693, married Eunice Cobb. Their children were Benadum, Esther, Eunice, Lois, William (5), Henry, Nathan, Ebenezer, Thomas P., Hannah and Sarah.
"William of the fifth generation was living at Kingston, Pennsylvania, with seven children, in 1778, at the time of 'the Wyoming massacre.' His son Hallet, twenty-two years old, escaped death by floating down the Susquehanna river patrolled by hostile Indians, his body under water and face between two rails grasped in his hands. Twin daughters, five years of age, were carried off by the Indians as pretty prizes, but soon recovered by ransom. He was born July 4, 1723, married Judith Reed, their children were Lydia, Hallet, Mary, William (6), Hannah, Sarah and Lucy.
"William of the sixth, born at Groton, Connecticut, married Freelove Hatha- way, a Philadelphia Quakeress, and had William, Hallet (7), James Devine, and Caleb Hathaway.
"Hallet of the seventh generation was an artillery gunner in Captain Thomas' company of Pennsylvania volunteers and served under General William Henry Harrison in the war of 1812. He was born 1796, married Clarissa Benedict, daughter of Platt and Salley DeForest Benedict, first settlers of Norwalk. Their children were Catherine, Mariah, Lydia, Carroll, Sarah, Eliza, Caleb Hathaway (8), and Elizabeth F."
Caleb Hathaway Gallup is a representative of the eighth generation of Gallups in America and was born in Norwalk, Ohio, May 10, 1834. He was reared to hard work on a farm and his first school experience was in the Nor- walk Union schools, which he attended during the winters of 1850, 1851 and 1852. In 1853, he filled a position in the office of the Huron county clerk and then, resuming his interrupted education, matriculated at Denison University, Granville, Ohio, in 1854, entering for the scientific course. In the fall of that year, he was transferred to the same class and course at Madison University, now Colgate, at Hamilton, New York, where he promoted the founding of Mu chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. On the completion of his course, he was graduated in 1856 with the degree of Bachelor of Science and followed this by preparations for the bar as a student in the office of Worcester & Pen- newell in Norwalk, Ohio. There he remained until the fall of 1857. when he entered the law school of the Cincinnati College and was graduated therefrom with the Bachelor of Law degree on the 15th of April, 1858.
Mr. Gallup was admitted to practice before the bar of Michigan, July 19, 1859, and in 1860 was elected prosecuting attorney of Huron county, Michigan, which
7
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
office he held by re-election for ten consecutive years. During that same period, in 1866-7, he represented his district in the state legislature and left the impress of his individuality and clear insight into public affairs upon the legislative en- actments of that section. Among other laws and resolutions enacted on his initia- tion, was a law for the relief of a stranded colony of educated Germans, an off- shoot or protege of the "Economites" of Harmony, Pennsylvania, giving the head of each family a forty-acre homestead of state lands. He also introduced a law appropriating ten sections of state land for the navigable improvement of the outlet of the River Du Fill in Huron county, Michigan, and a joint resolu- tion calling for the construction by the general government of a harbor of refuge on Lake Huron at or near Point Au Barques.
Mr. Gallup's labors and efforts throughout his entire life have largely been of service to the general public. In 1868 he procured by. personal solicitation of resident citizens along the route the donation and erection of seventy miles of telegraph poles, from Lexington to Port Austin, Michigan, and through his in- fluence, with Anson G. Stager, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, the completion of the first telegraph line of the west coast of Lake Huron-a work that has been of immeasurable benefit to the citizens of that locality.
In the meantime, Mr. Gallup had done military service as deputy United States marshal, from 1863 to 1865 inclusive, in which connection, he was active in enforcing the draft during the war. He was himself drafted, but was ordered back to the service of the marshal. Again he was identified with military af- fairs, when in 1877 hc became a member of the Ohio National Guard and so con- tinued for five years, or until 1882.
Mr. Gallup has been married twice. He first wedded Kate V. Vredenburgh, a representative of an old New York Dutch family, the wedding being celebrated June 20, 1860. They had one son, Richard Carroll, who was nineteen months old at the time of the mother's death, on the 25th of May, 1863. On the 3d of November, 1869, Mr. Gallup wedded Helcn Alphena Glover, a niece of the Hon. Joel Parker, "war governor" of New Jersey. The death of his second wife, April 8, 1872, leaving him with a daughter, Mabel Parker, eighteen months old, and a son, Herbert Alpheus, four days old, caused his return to his old home in Nor- walk, Ohio.
Since again taking up his abode in Norwalk, Mr. Gallup has been prominently and actively interested in business affairs and in other interests relating to the welfare and progress of the community. From 1873 until 1883, he was connected with the promotion and construction of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, and for three years, beginning in 1877, served on its board of directors. In 1888, he was associated with other substantial business men in founding the financially successful Home Savings & Loan Company of Norwalk, at which time he was chosen president and one of the directors, his official connection therewith con- tinuing to the present. He has also extended his efforts to other fields of activity, becoming one of the dircctors and a member of the executive committee of the Toledo, Fremont & Norwalk Electric Railway at the time of its construction in 1899. He thus served until its sale in 1901 to the Lake Shore Electric Company.
Few men have taken so active a part in the work of general progress and improvement as Mr. Gallup. All matters of general concern elicit his interest
S
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
and whenever his judgment sanctions, he gives to a measure his hearty support and co-operation. In 1877, he became a life member of the Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sciences, and since 1878, has served as a member of its board of trustees, acting as chairman of the board throughout the entire time and as treas- urer of the institution, since 1901. In 1879, he wrote a history of Norwalk for W. W. Williams' "History of Huron and Erie Counties," and because of his deep research into the annals of the county, no man is more competent to write upon historical subjects in this locality, than he. Mr. Gallup has also been a life member of the Firelands Historical Society since 1876 and a member of its board of trustees, librarian, curator of its museum and editor of its publications, since 1888. In 1889, he became a member of the board of trustees of the Huron county Children's Home Association and has been its treasurer since 1902. He is likewise a member of the Young Men's Library and Reading Room Association, of Norwalk, controlling the Free Public Library, and has been a member of its board of trustees and chairman of its executive committee, since 1903. He is a member of the Norwalk Board of Commerce and of the National Geographical Society, and is a life member of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society, of which he was elected a member of its board of trustees and executive com- mittee on the 2d of March, 1909. Hon. E. O. Randall, secretary and editor of that society, in comment on his selection as a trustee said: "Mr. Gallup is known throughout the country for his historical scholarship and for the active and ex- tensive work he has done in connection with the Firelands Historical Society, of which he has been an influential and official member for a number of years. He has always been an enthusiastic student of Ohio and western history and has written much that is interesting and accurate concerning the early settlement of the Buckeye state."
CHARLES P. WICKHAM.
Charles P. Wickham, who by the consensus of public opinion is regarded as a high type of American manhood and citizenship, has for many years been en- gaged in the practice of law in Norwalk and throughout the entire period has been numbered among the representative members of the Huron county bar. His birth occurred in this city, September 15, 1836. He is the oldest of the thirteen children of Judge Frederick and Lucy (Preston) Wickham, both of whom were descended from Puritan ancestry. In the paternal line was Governor Winthrop, an early colonial governor of Massachusetts. The first representative of the Wickham family in the middle west was William Wickham, a native of Rhode Island, who with an instinctive love of the sea, settled on the shores of Lake Ontario at Sodus Point. His four sons, John, Thomas, Frederick and Sam- uel Wickham, were there reared and when they had attained their majority, all except Thomas removed to Huron, situated on one of Lake Erie's natural harbors. Samuel Wickham sailed on the lakes, being thus engaged up to the time of his death. John Wickham engaged in lake commerce and was also the owner of one of the largest fish packing establishments on the lake. Frederick Wickham
-
C. PACKham
3 1833 02410 7333
11
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
removed to Norwalk and later became proprietor of the Norwalk Reflector, a paper which had been established as the Huron Reflector by Samuel Preston, whose daughter Lucy he had married. In the roomy, old-fashioned house in the center of the town, the upper floor of which was used as a printing office, were born the six sons and seven daughters of this marriage.
This number included Charles P. Wickham who, after acquiring his early edu- cation in the public schools, attended the Norwalk Academy. He longed for a college education, but the expense attending, the support of a large family, pre- vented the father from enabling the son to carry out his wishes in this direction. He prepared for a professional career by attending the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in April, 1858. He then entered upon the active practice of his profession in his native state and, with the exception of the period spent at the front during the Civil war, has been a continuous representative of the Huron county bar to the present time. He is widely recognized as one of the most important, best known and highly respected lawyers in this part of the state, confining his attention to the active practice of his profession. He is the president and director of the A. B. Chase Company, of Norwalk, manufacturers of pianos.
In August, 1860, Mr. Wickham was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Wildman, a daughter of Frederick A. and Mariette (Patch) Wildman, natives of Danbury, Connecticut. By this union there are six living children, four sons and two daughters, namely : Charles P., Jr., who is a general life insurance agent at Norwalk; Grace W., the wife of C. C. Curran, a well known artist of New York city ; Louis W., an attorney at law and late prosecuting attorney of Huron county . Winthrop H., a mining engineer and merchandise broker, now residing in Denver, Colorado ; Romeyn D., a practicing attorney, who is now in partnership with his father ; and Mary G., at home.
In September, 1861, Mr. Wickham bade adieu to his young wife and with pa- triotic ardor, offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of the Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for four years. He rose from private through the ranks of first lieutenant, captain and major to that of lieutenant colonel, receiving in addition thereto a brevet commission direct from the president, "for gallant and meritorious services in Georgia and the Caro- linas." He participated in a number of important engagements, including the second battle of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and all of the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, includ- ing the siege and surrender of the latter place, followed by the march to the sea, which exposed the weakness of the southern Confederacy. He inspired the sol- diers under him with much of his own valor and bravery and made a most credi- table record throughout his long military experience. He is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion.
At the close of the war Colonel Wickham returned to Norwalk and entered upon the private practice of his profession. In 1866, he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county and two years later was re-elected, so that his incumbency continued until 1871. In 1880, he was elected judge of the common pleas court of the fourth judicial district, was re-elected in 1885, and sat upon the bench until 1886, when he resigned to become a candidate for congress from the four-
12
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
teenth district. He was elected in that year and re-elected in 1888, proving an active working member in the national halls of legislation. It is a notable fact that to each office to which he has been called, he has also been re-elected-proof positive of his ability and fidelity in the discharge of his duties. His entire offi- cial service has been in the direct path of his profession and the record is an un- tarnished one. Since his retirement from office, he has continuously and success- fully practiced in Norwalk and has ever maintained a foremost place in the ranks of her leading attorneys. He is a man of broad scholarly attainments, an able speaker at the bar, in congress and on public occasions on which he has been called to address the people at large. He stands as a splendid representative of American manhood and citizenship, a high type of the Christian gentleman who is actuated in all that he does by lofty purposes and principles.
HAMILTON A. LOWTHER.
Hamilton A. Lowther, a farmer of Greenfield township and the owner of ninety acres of land on which he lives, was born in this township about half a mile from his present place of residence in a southerly direction. February 4, 1861, was the day of his birth and Jackson and Susan (Tower) Lowther were his parents. His pa- ternal great-grandfather was a resident of New York city and was a prize fighter by profession. He achieved quite a reputation in his day for physical strength and prowess, and his name was frequently that of the victor in boxing contests. He was also a man of considerable wealth, which he one time put to the service of a friend, only to find that his trust was misplaced, for the latter jumped his bond and Mr. Lowther had to forfeit the sum of money he had guaranteed. His son Edward came to this part of Ohio from New York at an early day. He secured a grant of land from the government and immediately set about clearing it and making it ready for habitation. For lack of a better home he lived for many years in a log cabin which he had himself erected. His son, Jackson Lowther, the father of our subject, was born here and has passed all his life in this county. His wife was also of Ohio nativity, Sandusky having been her birthplace. Her cares as a faith- ful wife and mother were brought to an end in 1904, and a husband and three chil- dren have since mourned her loss. The latter are Hamilton A .; Hermie, the wife of Elvin McCord, of Sherwood, Ohio; and Nora, the wife of Henry White of this county. Mr. Lowther still follows farming despite his seventy years and is a member of the Universalist church.
This township has always been the home of Hamilton A. Lowther, and to the schools here does he owe the education he was able to acquire in the intervals be- tween the busy seasons on the farm, for he was reared at home and early was given his tasks to perform about the house and in the fields. He follows diversi- fied farming, which has brought him more than a mere living. Of late years the hard work has been lightened by the assistance of his sons, who are promising young men and display an aptitude for farming.
On the 17th of December, 1889, was performed the ceremony that made Ham- ilton A. Lowther and Miss Nellie Fewson man and wife. Mrs. Lowther is a
13
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
daughter of Michael and Sarah (Daly) Fewson, well known citizens of Green- field township. Three children have been born of this union: James, Harry and Jay, all of whom live at home. A hard worker, a careful manager and thrifty farmer, Mr. Lowther is one of those that raise the standard of Greenfield town- ship as a great farming community.
MRS. AMANDA J. SKILTON.
Mrs. Amanda J. Skilton, a well known and highly esteemed resident of Ridge- field township, making her home on her farm of sixty-five acres, was born at Gal- ion, Crawford county, Ohio, her parents being John S. and Catharine (Neff) Da- vis. The family is an old one in this country, several representatives of the name having participated in the Revolutionary war. The place on which Mrs. Skilton lives is a portion of the original farm belonging to her great-grandfather, John Sowers, who owned seven hundred acres of land. The grandfather, John Sow- ers, was an early settler of Huron county, coming here in 1814. John S. Davis, the father of Mrs. Skilton, was born in Maryland in 1808 and passed away in the year 1888. His wife, whose birth occurred in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1822, was called to her final rest in 1890. Their family numbered four children, namely : John S. Jr., who is now deceased; Amanda J., of this review ; Kittie Belle, who has also passed away; and Mary E., who gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Latham and now resides in Monroeville, Ohio.
In 1865, at Galion, Ohio, Amanda J. Davis was united in marriage to Alva S. Skilton, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Wilson) Skilton, of Ravenna, Ohio. At the time of the Civil war Alva S. Skilton enlisted for service in the Union army, returning home at the end of his three months' term. A short time afterward he reenlisted and was soon made captain of Company I, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. He underwent all of the hardships, privations and dangers incident to the life of a soldier, participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and was also a prisoner for a time. At the battle of Pittsburg Landing he received a wound and was sent home to recuperate, again joining the army when his health had been restored. He was captured at Atlanta and was on his way to be ex- changed as a prisoner of war when the news of Lincoln's assassination was re- ceived. When hostilities had ceased and the supremacy of the Union had been es- tablished he returned to Galion and in 1866 came to Monroeville, Ohio, where he became engaged in the grain business and conducted an elevator. For a number of years he was also an engineer on the Big Four Railroad and was widely recog- nized as a most substantial, progressive and respected citizen of his community. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church, in which he served as junior warden ... He attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry and organized the G. A. R. post at Monroeville, of which he was the first commander. His death occurred July 27, 1887.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Skilton were born four children. John D, living in Che- shire, Connecticut, wedded Miss Ida Beistle, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had three
14
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
children : Ilenry A. ; Jane D., who is deceased ; and John D. He is a graduate of the public schools of Monroeville, the Kenyon College and also of Divinity School at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for a number of years was assistant rector to Dr. Bates of St. Paul's church at Cleveland. Later he was assistant rector at the American church at Nice, France, but is now headmaster of the schools of Che- shire, Connecticut. Elizabeth, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Skilton, at- tended Oberlin College and now makes her home with her mother. Mary Grace, who obtained her education in the schools of Gambier, gave her hand in marriage to Clarence 1 .. Powley and resides at Monroeville. Catharine, the youngest mem- ber of the family, who likewise acquired her education at Gambier, lives with her mother.
The different members of the family belong to the Episcopal church, in the. work of which they are deeply and helpfully interested. Mrs. Skilton and two of her daughters live in a commodious and attractive brick residence on her farm of sixty-five acres in Ridgefield township and the place is lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of a model farming property of the twentieth century. She has an extensive circle of friends throughout the community where she has now long resided, her many good traits of heart and mind having endeared her to all with whom she has come in contact.
C. A. SCHEID.
A well improved and highly developed farm of one hundred and forty acres, situated in Sherman township, is the home of C. A. Scheid. His birth occurred in February, 1867, and he has remained a resident of Sherman township through- out his entire life. His parents, Jacob and Barbara (Beilstein) Scheid, who were natives of Germany, became early settlers of Huron county, Ohio. Their family numbered ten children, namely: William and Elizabeth, both of whom are now deceased ; Emma ; C. A., of this review : Henry ; Minnie ; George ; John ; Fred : and Albert.
C. A. Scheid attended the district schools until twelve years of age and then became identified with general agricultural pursuits, in which he has been success- fully engaged to the present time. In 1906 he bought his present farm of one hun- dred and forty acres from his father and has since been busily engaged in its opera- tion, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests of grain. Everything al out the place indicates that he is in touch with the modern spirit of progress which is manifest in agricultural lines.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.