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 37
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died in infancy, and La Von, who died at the age of twomys Henry S. Cobb was married in Berlin Township to Isabel Wiggins, who was born either in Connecticut or Long Island, New York. She came to Ohio when a young woman with her parents and was married a few years later. She died about twelve years ago when 'sixty-five years of age. She was also a member of the Baptist Church. Surviving her were four children. All these were born on the old homestead. The oldest, Ralph, now lives in California and has one daughter. Eddie M. has two sisters, Lenora and Josephine, both of whom are unmarried and lived at home and eared for their father until his death, and have since been members of the Missionary Society at Findlay, Ohio, both being devont Methodists.
Eddie MI. Cobb was born on the old homestead June 12, 1865, and grew up there and in addition to his education in the Berlin High School attended a business college at Champaign, Illinois. Subsequently he took charge of his father's farm, and he and his two sisters still own that place. In addition he has 2434 acres in the corporation limits of Berlin Ileights, and has developed that largely as a fruit farm. It was also improved with a substantial home and barns and other buildings.
Mr. Cobb was married in Berlin Township to Miss Minnie Daniels, a native of Michigan, but reared and educated in Berlin Township, to which locality she came with her parents, Titus and JJennie Daniels. Some years later the Daniels family removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where Mrs. Cobb's mother died, but where her father is still in active business and is the owner of considerable property.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cobb were born the following children : Ralph C., who occupies the old homestead already described, married Lydia Hast, and they have a son, Edwin: Anna May is the wife of Earl MeNeil, who is assistant cashier of the Gas Company at Lorain, Ohio, and they have a daughter, Dorothy; Edith (., who is a graduate of the Berlin Heights High School and of the Oberlin Business College, is a stenographer in Oberlin, Ohio; Edwin S., now a student of agriculture in the state university at Columbus: Esther G., a graduate of the Berlin Heights High School in 1915 and now engaged in teach ing : Ilelen, who is a member of the class of 1917 of the Berlin Heights Iligh School. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb and family are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He has for several years given considerable attention to his duties as a member of the school board, and in politics is a republiean.
SETH E. BARDWELL. There is, perhaps, no class of workers whose labor is more important to the general community than that of the farmer, for upon him we depend for our daily bread, the first of life's necessities. There was a time when the farmer was regarded by many people as a rude, illiterate sort of person, whose work consisted mainly of hard manual labor, and who had little or no opportunity for acquir ing anything but the barest rudiments of an education, or for cultivating the higher part of his nature. But all that has passed away. The advent of the railroad, telegraph and telephone, with the introduction of improved farm machinery, the development of the public school sys tem, and the establishment of colleges and other educational institutions all over our land have effected a wonderful change, so that today, almost wherever we go, we find the farmer a thoroughly up-to date individual. with a good public school, often college, education, a subscriber to one or more daily or weekly journals, conversant with the news of the day and able to express an intelligent opinion on many topies aside from
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those connected with his daily avocation. In probably no state of the Union has the agricultural class attained a higher standard than in Ohio, and to this Erie County is no exception. A typical example of the class to which he belongs is Seth E. Bardwell, of Margaretta Town- ship, this county, a progressive agriculturist who has attained prosperity through his own efforts and who holds a high place in the estimation of his fellow citizens. Mr. Bardwell is a native of this county, having been born in Groton Township, December 6, 1844. His parents were Seth and Louise ( White) Bardwell, both natives of Massachusetts. The Bardwell family is of French origin and its genealogy can be traced back in that country some 900 years, the records showing that the ancient form of the name was "De Berdewell." Some of its members seem to have taken up their residence in England, perhaps at the time of the Norman conquest in 1066, for in the line of descent leading to the subject of this sketch we find living there, generations ago, a Sir William Bardwell, who possessed a coat of arms and was a person of some dis- tinction. The first of the family to come to this country settled in New England, probably in Massachusetts, from which state, in 1833, came Seth Bardwell, father of Seth E. He was accompanied by his family and settled first in Margaretta Township, Erie County, Ohio. After a short residence in this township, however, he removed to Groton Town- ship, taking up a location in the woods, the country at that time being thickly timbered. Here he built a log house and set to work to clear a farm. An industrious man, he worked hard to improve his sur- roundings, and in due time his labors bore fruit. The log house was replaced by a neat frame structure, which was among the first of that kind to be built in the township, which fact alone shows his progressive spirit. He was a leader among the early settlers, serving as township trustee, and was a prominent member of the Universalist Church. His death took place in March, 1863, after he had been a resident of the township for about thirty years. Of his large family of children the following now survive: Sophia, wife of James McClarra, residing in Illinois : Mary, who is the widow of B. H. Rogers, formerly of Margaretta Township, and now resides in Akron, Ohio; Seth E., whose name appears at the head of this article; Alma L., widow of Horace V. Ramsdell, late of Bloomingville, Ohio, where she is now living; and Charles F., also a resident of Bloomingville.
Seth E. Bardwell was reared on his parents' farm in Groton Town- ship, this county, acquiring his education in its public schools and in a school at Bellevue, Ohio, which he attended for a short time. In May, 1864, being then under twenty years of age, he enlisted in the service of the United States for 100 days, during which time, or a little longer, he did guard duty at Arlington Heights, Washington, District of Colum- bia. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned home to Groton Township, where he engaged in agriculture, remaining there until 1891. He then removed to Margaretta Township and has here continned his farming operations up to the present time, owning a good farm of 200 acres, with substantial and convenient buildings, located on Maple Avenue. A progressive and public spirited citizen, he has served on the board of education, and enjoys the confidenee and good will of his neighbors and fellow townsmen. He is a member of the Grand Army Post at Castalia, in which he now holds the office of quartermaster, having formerly served as commander.
Mr. Bardwell first married Celesta M. Thompson of Groton Township, a daughter of William and Hannah Thompson, who came to that locality from Pennsylvania. Of this first union three children were born, all of whom are now living, namely: Ethel B., wife of O. S. Alcott, of
Por: 'Samuel'. Mark's.
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Sandusky, Ohio; Seth A., a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and Alvah E .. also residing in Cleveland. Mr. Bardwell married, secondly, Rebecca Neill, who is his present wife. She was born in Margaretta Township, this county, the daughter of Lewis and Gennesaret (Gaw Neill. her father being a native of Maryland and her mother of Sandusky, Ohio. Although born in Maryland, Lewis Neill was reared in Margaretta Township, where he died a few years ago. Ilis wife survived him and is still living, being now in her seventy-seventh year-an interesting old lady whose recollections extend back to pioneer days in this locality. Their children are as follows: Isabel, wife of Il. A. Winters, of San- dusky, Ohio; Rebecca, wife of Seth E. Bardwell: Anna, who married F. W. DeYo and resides with her husband in Margaretta Township : and Lewis, ('harles and Scott B., who all reside in Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Bardwell is one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of Margaretta Township, where he has now resided for twenty-four years. ITis industry, perseverance and integrity have brought their reward, and now, in the sunset of life, he finds himself in comfortable eirenmstances, honored by his fellow men, and with children who are a blessing to his declining years.
REV. SAMUEL MARKS, D. D. Impotent are mere words and appreci- ative phraseology of sentiment to pay just tribute to the theory of such a man as the late and revered citizen and pioneer whose name initiates this paragraph and who served for more than forty years as rector of Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, at Huron, one of the attractive little cities of Erie County. He was a man of the highest intellectuality and broadest mental ken, his life was one of signal consecration to the work of the Divine Master and to the aiding and uplifting of his fellow men. ITis character was the positive expression of a strong, loyal and noble nature; charity, tolerance and deep human sympathy remained with him as constant guests; he was ever mindful of those "in any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body or estate"; he remembered those who were forgotten ; he fought the good fight and kept the faith ; his gen- tleness of spirit blossomed through in kindly words and kindly deeds- in short, his life was an inspiration and an incarnate beatitude. Of all those who have lived and labored in Erie County, there has been none whose achievement has been more fruitful and benignant, none whose memory shall be held in higher or more enduring affection and honor than this gentle shepherd, this faithful friend, this great and noble soul. Doctor Marks was one of the pioneer clergymen of the Episcopal Church in Northern Ohio, and now that he has passed forward to his reward and entered into the life eternal, his influence continues in ever widening angle of beneficence in the community in which he long lived and labored, while to the older generation, with whom he came in personal contaet. there remains consolation and compensation in the memory of his beau- tiful life and of the privilege which was theirs to know and touch the same. Doctor Marks entered into eternal rest on the 28th of February. 1882, and well it may be said that "his works do follow him." lle was a valiant soldier in the War of 1812, and was afterwards a pensioner.
On the Sunday after the death of Rev. Samuel Marks there was deliv- ered in the church of which he had so long been the revered rector, a sermon that drew inspiring lessons from his life, the same having been given by a younger and valued friend of the deceased, the Rev. Marcus Alden Tolman, rector of St. Mark's Church, Manch Chunk, Pennsylva- nia. The necessarily preseribed limitations of a sketch of this order do not permit more than the briefest of quotations from this sermon of trib- ute, but the following words therefrom may properly be perpetuated in this connection : "The memory of the Rev. Samnel Marks is intertwined
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with all of the interests and with all of the history of this community. I need not even mention his many virtues, nor speak of those remarkable traits of character which combined to make him so tenderly loved while living and so widely and sincerely mourned at death; for they were known to you all, and for many years you were permitted to see them shine through the outward acts of a noble Christian life. 0 Oh. * the blessedness of having such a man for a pastor! What rieh and abundant fruit should follow these forty years of such careful and such prayerful culture ! What a grand harvest of souls should be gathered from this ground first broken by such saintly hands! Weep not that he is gone, but rather rejoice that he was permitted to remain so long! Long will the loving memory of such a spiritual father be cherished in this parish, and long, being dead, he will continue to speak."
It is known that Doctor Marks was a scion of an old and patrician family of Irish lineage and of Protestant faith, one that in Ireland was prominently identified with the Established Church of England, but no definite data concerning the family record are available. Dr. Marks was born at Marktown, Ireland. on the 19th of November, 1797, and thus was nearly eighty-five years of age at the time of his death. From a memoir published in the year 1901 are taken, with slight elimination and para- phrase, the following extracts :
"It is now eighteen years since the village of Iluron said farewell to the grandest character that has ever made this town a permanent abid- ing place. And these long years have only added luster to the name of Samuel Marks, who came to this place away back in the early days of its history and to whose genius and eloquence Huron owes lasting homage. Mr. Marks eame of that class of highly eultured Irish stock that has made the Irish people famous. His early education was plain but correct ; his early teachings were calenlated to develop strength of character and self-reliance. At an early age he turned his eyes and hopes toward America, and at the first good opportunity he crossed the great ocean and landed in New York. Here he found a wide field for his genius and took up the ministry of God. In Susquehanna . County, Pennsylvania, he received the orders of the deaconate of the Protestant Episcopal Church on the 14th of May. 1824, at the hands of Bishop White, and on the 11th of May of the following year Bishop White con- ferred upon him ordination to the priesthood, in St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia. Ile began his missionary work in Northern Pennsylvania, then a remote and sparsely settled portion of the Keystone State, and there lie continued his labors for a number of years. He continued his zealous services in Pennsylvania until he was called to the Diocese of Michigan, of which the Rt. Rev. Samuel MeCoskry was bishop. There he worked faithfully and cheerfully, as one of the pioneer clergymen of his church in Michigan Territory until he accepted the call extended by the parish at Huron, Ohio, his official assumption of the position of rector of Christ Church having taken place in 1839, though the records of the parish show that he had here conducted the first services for the little congregation in the spring of 1837, this service having been conducted in a house at the corner of South and Ohio streets. The formal call for him to assume the pastoral charge of the parish was given April 11. 1839. and the present seemly and dignified church edifice was completed in the following year. In 1846 Dr. Marks became rector of a church at Racine, Wisconsin, but in 1849 he returned to Huron, where he continued his faithful services until the close of his long and useful life, his pastorate having thus covered a period of forty years. He was not only the spiritual guide and devoted friend of his own flock but was also the wise and valued counselor of all the people of this place and the surrounding country. He was noted for his wit and humor, his
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high scholarship, his splendid oratorieal powers, his unfailing sympathy and kindliness and his abiding love for "all sorts and conditions of men." Dr. Marks vitalized both the spiritual and temporal activities of his parish and was a loved and commanding figure in the communal life in general. Ile was beloved by all the people and when he died his church considered his loss almost irreparable. On the 2d of March, 1882, his funeral services were held at Christ Church, amidst the great- est outpouring of mourners that ever attended a funeral in Huron. Eight clergymen of the Episcopal Church assisted in the impressive obsequies, as did also Erie Commandery of Knights Templars, of San- dusky ; Science Lodge, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, of the same city ; and Marks Lodge, of Huron, which Masonic body was named in honor of Dr. Marks, who had served as its chaplain from the time of its organi- zation until his death. No man ever knew him that did not respect this man, the most illustrious character, the highest, noblest and most beloved of all citizens ever claimed by Huron." The Masonic order has erected a monument to his memory.
The subject of this memoir received the degree of Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his long and fruitful service and his high intellectual attainments. He continued a close and appreciative student till the close of his life and his reading covered the broadest field of standard litera- ture, the while he always kept in close touch with the questions and issues of the day and was known for his civic loyalty and liberality. The doctor accumulated a specially large and valuable private library, both ecclesiastical and general, and prior to his death he had divided the same among a number of Episcopal parishes in Ohio, the larger and more select portion having been given to the church at Gambier, where is situtated the venerable and historie church institution known as Ken- von College. In making this splendid bequest to various parishes Doctor Marks was greatly assisted by Bishop MeElvaney, of the Diocese of ( 'leveland, in which the Huron parish is included.
Doctor Marks was twice wedded. In Pennsylvania, as a young man, he married Miss Anna Bostwick, who died within a comparatively short time after their home had been established at Huron and who was in middle life at the time of her demise. She was survived by three chil- dren, William, Eliza and Charles, but the two last mentioned died when young. William passed the closing years of his life in the City of Toledo, where he had married a widow with one child, no children of his own having survived him.
At Milan, this county, on the 28th of March, 1842, was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Marks to Miss Emmeline Minuse, who was born in New York City, on the 3d of March, 1802, and who was a representative of fine old Holland Dutch stoek in the Empire State, she having been a young woman when she accompanied her parents on their removal to Erie County, Ohio, where the family home was established at Milan. She was graduated in a female seminary at Jamaica. Long Island, when eighteen years of age, and she was a woman of high ideals, admirable mental powers, deepest Christian devotion and zeal and unvarying sym- pathy and kindliness. She proved to her distinguished husband a true helpmeet, and in the community that was long her home her memory is held in reverent affection by those who came within the sphere of her gracious and gentle influence. She did not long survive the shock and bereavement of her husband's death, and was summoned to eternal rest on the 4th of July, 1884, at the old homestead on Williams Street in Huron. Doctor and Mrs. Marks had no children, but all children were the objeets of their tender affection and solicitude.
Mrs. Marks was a daughter of George and Mary ( Craig) Minuse, the former of whom were born in New York City and the latter in the
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('ity of Philadelphia, their respective dates of nativity having been June 20, 1771, and February 15, 1780. Their marriage was solemnized in New York City, and concerning their children the following brief data are entered : George, Jr., who was born October 3, 1800, died young : Emmeline, Mrs. Marks, was the next in order of birth; Alfred was born December 10, 1804, married and was survived by a number of children : Horatio, who was born June 26, 1807, is more specifically mentioned in a following paragraph; Mary B., who was born January 8, 1810, became the wife of Alexander MeClure and after his death she resided in Iluron for thirty-eight years, her death having occurred when she was eighty- five years of age, in the old Marks homestead on Williams street; she had no children; Elizabeth, who was born February 17, 1812, died when a young woman; and Stephen, who was born August 27, 1814, died at the age of twenty-eight years.
Horatio Minuse was a youth at the time of the family immigration to Erie County, and his father became one of the early pioneer settlers in what is now Milan Township, where a farm was reelaimed by him from the forest wilds. Horatio was reared to maturity under the conditions and influences of the pioneer epoch and as a young man he went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, as a pioneer in a section that was then wild and very sparsely settled. In that state, on the 2d of March, 1834, was sol- emnized his marriage to Miss Lney A. Conroe, who was born in Vermont, on the 26th of September, 1811, her parents having been pioneers, first in Ohio and later in Wisconsin, the closing years of their lives having been passed at Green Bay. Horatio Minuse and his wife finally returned to Ohio and after living a few years on a farm near Groton, Erie County, they settled in Milan Township, Mr. Minse having become not only one of the substantial farmers of the county but also having early be- come interested in the enterprise of boat-building, with which he con- tinued to be identified several years. Ile died at his home in the Village of Milan, on the 25th of December, 1872, and his widow passed away December 20, 1874, both having been devout communicants of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church and Mr. Minuse having been a stalwart in the camp of the republican party. They were persons of strong and upright character and commanded the unqualified esteem of all who knew them. In the following paragraph is given sueeinet reeord concerning their children :
George, who was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, December II, 1834, married but had no children, his death having occurred May 12, 1876; Mary R., horn at Green Bay, July 1, 1836, is the widow of LeGrand Saunders and she now resides in the home of her daughter in Marion County, Oregon; Horatio, Jr., who was born at Groton, Erie County, Ohio, June 3, 1838, was formerly engaged in the livery business at Milan, this county, where he is now living retired, his only child being a daughter; Emmeline was born at Groton, April 11, 1840, is the widow of George A. Budd, who died at Huron, where she and her daughter, Emmeline Margaretta, and her sister Luey continue their residence, her son Jay being a resident of the City of Cleveland and her daughter Mary Craig being the wife of Charles Skinner of Cmeinnati, a younger daugh- ter, Lucy L., being the wife of Edwin J. Howard, an attorney of that city : the next is Dr. G. A. Budd of Frankfort, Kentucky, and the young- est child was Sallie Paeker, who died aged six years. Miss Luey Minuse was born in Groton, this county, on the 5th of December, 1843, and is a resident of IIuron, as already noted ; Eliza Marks, the next in order of birth, was born November 16, 1845, at Groton, and her death occurred September 26, 1858: John C., who was born in the City of Sandusky, in November, 1847, died unmarried when a young man; Jennie Lind.
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the youngest of the children, was born April 24, 1853. is the wife of Edward E. Gandern, of Elyria, this state, and they have three daughters.
It is most pleasing to record that the fine old homestead that was for so many years the abiding place of Rev. Samuel Marks passed to the ownership of his niere, Miss Lney Minnse, who cherishes his memory and that of his devoted wife with a truly filial sentiment and who care- fully safeguards the gracious memories and hallowed associations of the old home place. Like her sisters and brothers, Miss Minuse received excellent educational advantages in her youth, and all have held to the faith of the Episcopal Church, in which she is a devout communicant of Christ Church and an active worker in the parish of which her uncle was long the rector. After the death of her parents Miss Minnse resided for some time in the home of her sister Emmeline, Mrs. Budd, at Elyria, and thereafter she was with her aunt, Mrs. Marks, at Huron until 1886, after which she was in the home of another aunt, Mrs. Mary B. MeClure. in this place. Through inheritance and devisement by wills Miss Minuse has come into the possession of a comfortable fortune, and in 1906 she purchased her present fine home, which is one of the most beautiful and modern in the city of Huron, the same being eligibly situated on Center Street. Her sister, Mrs. Budd. has resided with her many years, and both are gracious gentlewomen who are prominent in the social activi- ties of the community and whose cirele of friends is limited only by that of their acquaintances.
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