USA > Ohio > Erie County > 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 chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs > Part 2
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In 1842 Captain Kirby wedded Miss Elizabeth Ann Robinson, who died in 1847 and who was survived by two infant children, Rhoda C. and Elizabeth A., both of whom eventually married and became residents of the City of Detroit, Michigan. The care of the motherless children was at onee entrusted to their aunt, Miss Mary Maria Robinson, who was reared and educated in the City of Syracuse, New York and whose marriage to Captain Kirby was solemnized October, 1847. Of this union were born four children : Isabella, who is the wife of Jabez Wright ; Austin A .. who is a resident of Detroit, Michigan: Eliza I, who is the wife of Capt. Addison HI. Pearl, of Iluron, concerning whom individual mention is made on other pages of this work ; and Flora MI., who died in 1874. Mrs. Kirby was born in the year 1825 and was summoned to the life eternal May 26, 1900, she and her husband having celebrated their golden wed- ding anniversary on the 25th of October, 1897, and the oceasion having been made notable in the social annals of Huron, where the venerable couple had a circle of friends that was limited only by that of their acquaintances. Of Mrs. Kirby it has been said that she was one of those gracious and gentle women who "spent her life in caring for her family and doing good deeds wherever she could find an opportunity. She was so cheerful, so interesting, so lovable that her presenee always seemed to brighten and cheer all with whom she came in contaet, and her counsel
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was sought, on account of her wise, well guarded opinions and her high ideals of right and duty."
JAMES ANDERSON. It is a grateful distinction to have spent three- quarters of a century in one community, and when those years have been filled with worthy accomplishment and with that old-fashioned spirit of loving kindness, such a career becomes one deserving of admiration and worthy of perpetuation in any history of a county in which it has been spent. Seventy-six years of the lifetime of James Anderson has been spent in Huron Township of Erie County, and his home has been on his present farm in section 22, two miles east of the Village of Huron, on a beautiful site overlooking the broad expanse of Lake Erie, since 1839. More than the psalmist's span of years have given him a host of associations and memories that make this locality for him "the fairest part of the world." His has been both a useful and honorable eareer. Within the lines of normal but concentrated business activity he has won the prosperity that is most men's ambition, and with admiration for his capabilities in business affairs his fellow citizens also commend his fine integrity and his valuable citizenship. And the honor and eredit that go to him are also shared by his good wife, whose life has had special distinctions of its own, and who is one of the true noblewomen of Erie County.
James Anderson was three years of age when his family located in this section of Erie County and of the 150 acres acquired by his father only thirty were in an improved condition. A log house, long since disap- peared, occupied the site, and there was a frame barn 30 by 40 feet which is still standing and is one of the old landmarks along the lake shore. A portion of the 150 acres was in Berlin Township. All this land descended to James Anderson, who now owns 250 aeres, and it comprises one of the most beautiful farms to be found anywhere along the shores of Lake Erie. For a distance of 1,800 feet the farm borders on the lake shore, and in that state is found one of the finest bathing beaches in Northern Ohio, bearing the name by which the farm is also known: Lake View. As a country home Lake View has manifold attraetions. Around the house is a broad expanse of lawn and shade trees, with a beautiful hedge of honeysuckle and many elimbing rose vines. Mr. Anderson put up a modern residence in 1880, following the destruction by fire on July 4 of that year of the large brick home which his father had constructed in 1854. The home is only part of a beautiful setting such as no description ean well overdraw. But the distinguishing eharac- ter of these beautiful material surroundings is the spirit and atmosphere lent by seventy-five years of continuous occupation by the Anderson family. No name means so much in Erie County as an expression of that kindly faith, rugged honesty and stability of character which are the most noteworthy assets of any community, than that of "Uncle" James Anderson, a title of affection which descended to him from his father, who was also known by the pioneers as Uncle James Anderson.
James Anderson, whose father was a Scotchman and his mother an English woman, was born in the Surrey district of England January 25, 1836. Though now rapidly approaching the age of four seore he is still vigorous and a remarkable exponent of the rational and simple life. He has an unfaded memory and within the last two years has made several trips out over the state and has spent the winter in Florida. His parents were James and Sarah (Baden) Anderson. His father was born in Perthshire, Scotland, at Clackmannon October 7. 1798. The mother was born in Dorking near London, England, October 20, 1802. The Anderson elan was one of distinction in Scotland and for generations
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its representatives have dignified their clanship. James Anderson, Sr., was married at Dorking in Surrey, and before leaving the old country two children were born. One of them a daughter, Sarah, was born in February, 1837. Not long after that the little family took passage on the sailing vessel Manchester which after seven weeks on the ocean landed them in New York City. Thence they proceeded up the Hudson River, across New York State by the Erie Canal to Buffalo and then on the lake boat Reindeer to Iluron. The senior Anderson left his little family at Iluron and set out prospecting for a new home. He went to Mansfield, Ohio, which was then a leading market and popular center but his investigations did not satisfy him. In the course of this pros- pecting he kept in mind the advice of the captain of the Reindeer, who told Mr. Anderson that good land could be found in the vicinity of luron. Such a location would have many obvious advantages, particu- larly on account of its convenience to Iluron as a market point. Mr. Anderson, Sr., was a man of some means and was thus enabled to give a great deal of consideration to the matter of choice of a future home. one which would fulfill his ideals. After much search he located the place above described, and in that choice made no mistake, since it was his own happy home for many years and is still the cherished seat of the Anderson family in Erie County. After making his location James Anderson, Sr., went to work with the vigor characteristic of his nature, and in time cleared up and improved a splendid farm. He was a fine type of the early pioneer, attended to his business, prospered, and at the same time was a sympathetie and kindly neighbor and a sterling and most upright citizen. He was a man of influence in local affairs, and in political matters not only adopted those principles which made Northeastern Ohio such a stronghold for the Union, but also impressed his belief and ideals upon his neighbors. From the very beginning of the republican party he was one of its staneh advocates and loyally sup- ported its platform of principles, which he lived to see triumph by foree of the Union army. He was one of the leading early Presbyterians of his community, and in 1854 assisted in organizing the Presbyterian Church in Iluron, was one of its first elders, served in varions official capacities, and gave liberally for the support of the church. James Anderson, Sr., met an accidental death on October 5, 1866. He was driving a span of young horses attached to a wagon loaded with barrels. One of the barrels was dislodged from its position, rolled down and struck one of the horses, frightening them to a runaway. Mr. Anderson fell and the wagon passed over his head, and he died a few hours later. His widow survived him ten years, and passed away in the Centennial vear of 1876, She was well fitted to bear the responsibilities of pioneer- ing in a new country, gave character to their early home, and was a devoted mother and greatly loved throughout her community. To their union, after they came to America, were born two sons. Thomas was born in 1843 and died the same year, while John was born in December. 1846, and died in the following year. The only daughter, Sarah, died in May, 1863. a few months after her marriage to Marcellus Atherton.
In 1863 James Anderson, Jr., was married at Huron to Miss Miranda Bartlett. She was born in Fairport, Ohio, April 14, 1837, grew up in Ohio, was educated in the schools of that time, and represented a fine ok family. One of her ancestors was a signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and she was also related to the noted Toombs family of Georgia, one of whom was Senator Toombs, prominent as a whig senator in the United States Congress before the war and subsequently one of the leaders of the Southern Confederacy. Mrs. Anderson, who died many years ago, was the mother of five children. Sarah is the wife of
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Charles Seth Brown, proprietor and manager of the Standard Advertis- ing Magazine of Chicago, and well known in the field of advertising; they have a family of one son and one daughter. The daughter, Matie A., who is unmarried and lives at the Anderson home, is a well educated woman and until recently has been active in her profession as a nurse. Carrie I. is the wife of M. II. Laylin, a prominent railroad man of Mas- silon, being assistant trainmaster and superintendent of motive power for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway. James Corbin, the only living son, lives at Cleveland. where he is purchasing agent for the E. W. Fisher wholesale plumbing house; he is married and has one son and two daughters, the son being James Anderson, Jr., and it is noteworthy that this is the twelfth James in the successive lineage of the Anderson family. Burton Baden, the youngest child of James Anderson, was killed at the age of seventeen by the discharge of a gun while he was getting upon a wagon; he was at that time attending high school.
On June 7, 1887, Mr. James Anderson married Miss Mary Davey, who is one of the best known women of Erie County. Mrs. Anderson is noteworthy not only for the beauty of her faec but also for the fine tex- ture of mind and heart. and has a cherished place in the affections of many who were at one time her pupils when she was engaged in educa- tional work. Miss Davey was born in Huron County, Ohio, near Milan, in 1848. She comes of sturdy stock, of the class which gave to the Middle West many of its strong men and women. Her father, John Davey, was born in Cornwall, England, October 7, 1818, and was a descendant of Sir Humphrey Davey. In early manhood he came to the United States, located in Ohio, and was married at Castalia in Erie County to Miss
Elizabeth Palmer. She was of New England aneestry and was born December 18, 1822, at Chenango, New York, and when ten years of age came with her family to Erie County, Ohio. She was a daughter of James and Amy (Ackhorn) Palmer. James Palmer was born in New York State, of Scotch-Irish stock, while his wife was of German parent- age. After coming to Erie County James Palmer and wife spent their lives near ('astalia, where he was a hotel man, and also a skilled mechanic. After their marriage John and Elizabeth Palmer spent most of their lives on a farm near Milan, where he died at the age of sixty-five, and she passed away at the age of eighty-three in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anderson.
Mrs. Anderson grew up in this part of Northern Ohio, and was well educated in the public schools and in Normal School. She began teaching at the age of fifteen, and spent eighteen years of her life in that noble profession, largely in Erie County. Her work has left many indelible influences for good upon the lives of those whom she helped to train. Mrs. Anderson also developed her artistie taste, was for several years engaged in artistic work, and has more than a local reputation as an artist with the brush, and has more than ordinary skill and style as a writer. Many of her old pupils keep in elose touch with her, and almost every year there are gatherings, usually at some picnic resort, where Mrs. Anders' n once more presides over a company of her former pupils and renews the many pleasing associations of their earlier relationship. She naturally takes great pleasure in the fact that some of her former scholars have attained prominence in the professions and in politics. In her position as head of the Anderson home she has done much to enrich its associations with the cultured life of Northern Ohio. Mrs. Anderson has interested herself in the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in Erie County, and has also been a prominent member of the Patrors of Husbandry, being past master of both the Berlin Heights And the Huron Granges. She has also performed a valuable service as
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Government crop reporter for some years, and has filled the position of assistant steward of the State Grange. She is now secretary of the Board of County Visitors. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church at IIuron, in which Mr. Anderson for a number of years held the office of elder, until declining health and the burden of years made it necessary for him to retire. He has always been an active republican and has voted at nearly all the elections sinee the formation of that party.
This sketch should not be closed without mention of another mem- ber of the Anderson family circle. This is Eberhardt Liebermann, who has for more than forty years lived at the Anderson place, is looked upon as one of the family, had helped to rear children and grandehil- dren, and all love him as a real kinsman. Ile was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, about seventy years ago, and eame to the United States when about twelve years of age.
J. STEWART MCDONALD. One of the features of the Standard History of Erie County which will be generally appreciated is the interesting chapter on the Grange movement, prepared and contributed to the publi- cation by J. Stewart MeDonald. There is probably no better known and influential figure in the country life of Erie County than Mr. McDonald, who oecupies a fine homestead near the Village of Huron. He has spent all his life in this section of Ohio, has for many years been a leader in the Patrons of Husbandry, and is credited with having accomplished more as an organizer and leader in the promotion of the Grange and in the maintenance and extension of its work in Erie and adjoining eoun- ties than any other individual.
He comes of very old Scotch aneestry. His grandfather, Rev. Daniel MeDonald, was born in Connecticut, but of Seoteh parentage. Becoming a minister in the Episcopal Church, he spent his life in that work. From Conneetieut he finally moved to New York State, and was pastor of churches at Auburn and other communities. Rev. Daniel MeDonald married Miss Phoebe Talmage, who was born near Cheshire, Connectieut. Several years after the death of her husband she eame out to Norwalk, Ohio, and died in Huron County when a very old woman. She was de- voted to the Episcopal Church and was a very active assistant to her hus- band in his ministerial service. She was the mother of the following sons : Alexander James, William T., Henry, James, Daniel and Andrew. Rev. Daniel MeDonald, by a previous marriage to a sister of his first wife, had one son, Samuel Perey MeDonald, who was a college graduate, as was also his half-brother, William T., and both became men of promi- nenee and influence. William T. MeDonald was educated for a physi- cian, graduated from Hobart College, but did not practice that profes- sion long.
Alexander James MeDonald, father of J. Stewart MeDonald, was horn in Cheshire, Conneetient, in 1814. Ile died a few days after easting his vote for James A. Garfield in 1880. After the election he started out to visit a sister of his mother in Cheshire, Connecticut, and died while on the way in the home of one of his cousins in Lyon, New York, very suddenly, passing away in the arms of his wife. In early youth he had accompanied his parents to New York State, grew up and received his education there, and then apprenticed himself to a wagonmaker in Schenectady, serving from the age of eighteen for three years, and each year his wages amounted to only $10, while he boarded himself, but at the expiration of the three years drew his entire $30 from his employer. During the early '30s he came out to Northern Ohio and located at. Huron, where he took up the aetive work of his trade. He was one of the very capable mechanies of that early time, and made the repairs
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and also manufactured entire implements for a large community of farmers in that community. He conducted a successful enterprise and continued managing his shop at Huron until 1857. Selling out, he then bought a small tract of land about a mile and a half south of Huron in Huron Township, and turned his attention to farming. From time to time his land was increased until it comprised a fine estate, on which he erected a large modern and attractive home. This farm has been the scene of the agricultural activities of his son, J. Stewart. During the lifetime of the father the estate consisted of 162 acres, and is now the property of his son.
Born in Huron, December 14, 1852, J. Stewart MeDonald has since the age of five lived on the old McDonald homestead. He grew up in these surroundings, acquired an education partly from books and partly from actual experience in the work of the woods and the field, and has thoroughly absorbed the spirit of the country and is one of the most sincere and earnest advocates of the attractiveness and wholesomeness of country life. Since the death of his father he has owned and operated a farm, and his own thrift and common-sense ability have effected numer- ous improvements and have kept him constantly in view as one of the leaders in agricultural enterprise. His work has been that of a general farmer, and he is not only a student of the best methods of increasing soil production but also of those larger movements which so intimately affect the life of the farmer. He has also given considerable attention to the raising of fruit and vegetables.
Every movement that means better living conditions and a higher degree of intelligence and morality in the community has the ready support and co-operation of Mr. McDonald and his sterling wife. They are charter members of the Patrons of Husbandry, Huron Grange No. 1385, which was organized in 1892 with Mr. MeDonald as the first master. He has held that office continuously for the past sixteen years, and the position has not only been one of honor but one of serious responsibility and effective leadership on the part of its possessor. Mr. McDonald is also a member of the Farmers' Institute. Thus there is probably no one better constituted as an authority to write upon the Grange movement in Erie County. Politically he has always acted with the republican party, and has rendered that great organization more than lip service. He has been for many years chairman of the township republican committee, and for six years served as township trustee, and for a long time was a member of the school board. Fraternally he is well known in Masonic circles in Erie County, belonging to Marks Lodge, F. & A. M., at Huron ; Milan Chapter, R. A. M .; Sandusky Council, R. & S. M., and Sandusky Commandery of the Knights Templar.
Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, by their marriage, have a daughter, Helen Marion, who, after graduating from the Huron High School, went to the Oberlin College and graduated from that institution in 1913, specializing in the department of physical culture and has made that her special field in educational work. She has been the director of athletics and physical culture in the Y. W. C. A., San Antonio, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Donald are active members of the Episcopal Church at Huron. This was the church of both his grandfather and father, and he has given it every expression of his religious nature and activity. The church was organized in 1827, and he is now one of the three senior wardens, and has held that post in the church for a number of years. His daughter is a member of the same religious faith.
CAPT. JOHN M. WILLSON. Erie County had no finer character among its old settlers than the late Capt. John M. Willson, whose last years were spent in quiet retirement at the beautiful home overlooking Lake
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Erie near Huron in section 3 of Berlin Township, where Mrs. Willson is still living at the venerable age of past fourscore. For half a cen- tury Captain and Mrs. Willson had lived together as man and wife, and they fully deserved the wealth of affection and esteem that sur- rounded them both in early and later years.
John M. Willson was born at Whitestown, Oneida County, New York, July 4, 1825, and lived to be a few weeks beyond seventy-six years of age. He was of an old American family, of Scotch or English origin. His grandfather was Charles Willson, probably a native of Massa- chusetts. The father was Lucius Willson, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and when a young man located in Oneida County, New York. Lucius Willson married Betsey Bateman, a native of New York State. Betsey Bateman was a daughter of Frederick B. and Catherine (Brewer) Bateman, who were natives of Holland and came when young to America, loeating in Erie County, New York, where they married and spent the rest of their lives on a farm near Henpeck, what is now probably called Sandusky, New York. The Batemans were a long lived family. Frederick Bateman had a special fondness for his grand- danghter, Mrs. John Willson, and when one hundred and eight years of age as a mark of his affeetion for Mrs. Willson he walked three miles each way in order to have a photograph taken for her. This photograph shows him as a remarkably well preserved man in spite of more than a eentury of life. Ile lived three years beyond the time of this photograph, and passed away at the age of one hundred and eleven. His wife was also a centenarian. Mrs. Willson has a photograph of this venerable woman when she was nearly a hundred, and her death occurred at the age of one hundred and eight. Frederick Bateman served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and after he was a hundred years of age was granted a pension for his services. Two years after the election of General Grant to the presidency in 1868, Frederick Bateman was invited to become a guest of the President at Washington, and he was preparing to make this trip at the expense of the Government when he died.
In 1833, after their marriage, Lucius Willson and wife eame from Western New York to Ohio, locating at the Village of Vermilion in Erie County. In the following year Lueius Willson died, while still in the prime of life. Ifis widow subsequently removed to Clinton, Michigan, to live with her daughter by marriage, Mrs. D. H. Willson, and died there when seventy years of age. She and her husband were both Baptists.
The death of the father left the mother and her seven small children in straitened eircumstances. The late Captain Willson was at that time nine years old, and the children were all "put out" with different families in the neighborhood. John found a place with a kindly and substantial Lake Erie farmer, Isaac Fowler, who took the pains to erect a log house on his land for the boy and his mother, and both lived there for a number of years. Captain Willson was regarded as one of the Fowler family, and the Fowler children called him Brother John even up to the day of his death. He early gained the respeet of people at home and in the neighborhood by his faithfulness to duty and diligence. but at the age of seventeen, like most boys, determined to make his own way in the world independently. As he had always lived within sight of the blue waters of Lake Erie, he was drawn to the vocation of sailor, and first shipped on the schooner William Woodbridge, commanded by Capt. James Monroe, an old salt originally from Nantucket. He sailed with this master for two seasons, following which he was in the employ of a Vermilion firm, and next with Stevens & Ryan of Milan. He was on the schooner Plymouth from 1848 to 1852 with Capt. A. A. Kirby.
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The Plymouth was sunk in a collision with the passenger steamer North- ern Indiana, being struck amidships and sinking in five minutes in the lake off Cleveland. Luckily all on board were taken to the steamer Northern Indiana, including Captain Willson's wife and baby. Captain Willson while sailing the Great Lakes rose from galley boy to master, and saw much of his service on the lake before the waters had been charted. He was known as a trusty sailor, and one of his captains said when Captain Willson died : "John was a good man, one to be trusted in all kinds of weather, and as good a sailor as ever walked the deck of a vessel." For a number of years Captain Willson was engaged in the fitting out of schooners. He fitted out the Live Oak and the Cape Horn of Huron, the Hawley of Milan, the John Weden of Toledo and many others. In 1858 he retired from this business to the quiet of home life at his wife's beautiful place overlooking Lake Erie. During his absence on the lakes he had left the farm management to Jacob Sarr, a boy of sixteen, who lived in Captain Willson's family for more than nine years, and is now one of the substantial citizens of Northern Ohio. It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful and interesting place than the home in which Captain Willson spent his last years and still occupied by Mrs. Willson. It is a beautiful tract of thirty-six acres, lying along the shore of Lake Erie, and a portion of the old Stephen Meeker homestead.
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