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 90
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
Isaac Spore was one of nine children of his parents. He was born in Albany County, New York, on the highest point of Helderburg Mountain, on August 20, 1833, and he was nineteen years old when he eame with his parents to Ohio. He had a fairly good education for that time, obtained in the schools of Albany County, and after coming to Ohio he entered Oberlin Academy, after which he tanght school for some time. After his marriage, however, he turned his attention to farm life and settled on the farm which was his wife's property. It was situated on the State Road in Florence Township, and on the opposite side of the road was a 68-acre tract which he owned himself. Mr. Spore died on May 7. 1900, at the home place. He was one of the dependable men of
1064
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
the town, straightforward and just, manifesting in his every-day life those sterling traits that ever mark the man of Holland ancestry.
Mr. Spore was married in this township and county to Elizabeth Judson. She was born in the house in which she took up her married life, and she has spent her days there down to this time. She is the daughter of James and Betsy (Burr) Judson, and she was born June 16, 1837. Iler parents were natives of Connecticut.
It is more than ninety years since James Clarke Judson settled in Erie County. He was for a great many years one of the leading men of Florence Township and his work as a surveyor in particular has left its permanent impress on the lines and subdivisions of a considerable portion of this county. He is honored by a number of descendants in this and other states.
Born in Ballston Springs, New York, April 10, 1795, James Clarke Judson was a son of Andrew and Charlotte (Clarke) Judson, both of Monroe, Connecticut. They moved back to Monroe from Ballston Springs soon after the birth of their son. Andrew Judson was a son of Ephraim, and the line is traced baek through successive generations with Deacon John, Deaeon Ephraim, John, Joseph, and William. Wil- liam was the founder of the family in America in the year 1634. Char- lotte Clarke was a daughter of Capt. James Clarke. Her ancestors preceding Captain Clarke were Zeehariah, James, James, James, and the last named James signed the fundamental articles of agreement at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1639.
James C. Judson married Betsy Burr, a daughter of John and Jerusha ( Beardsley) Burr. She was born December 16, 1798. After their marriage they lived at Brookfield, Connecticut, where he was occu- pied with his trade as blacksmith, until the spring of 1825. He then emigrated to Florence, Huron County, now Erie County, Ohio, bringing his wife and baby and the family of his wife's parents. Mr. Judson settled on a farm a mile west of Florence Corners. Two years later he went back to Connecticut on horseback and returned by horse and wagon as far as Buffalo and by boat from there to Huron, bringing with him his eldest daughter, who had been left behind on account of illness.
In 1835 Mr. Judson sold the west part of his farm, on which he had built a frame house, now occupied by Prof. Job Fish. The following year he built another house farther east, where he and his wife spent the rest of their days.
Mr. Judson's services as a surveyor, an art in which he had become skilled, were in mueh demand in the new country of Erie County. His name appeared frequently on the county records as engineer of many of the roads in Erie and IIuron counties. He was a charter member of the Episcopal Church at Wakeman, and was a faithful attendant until the decline of that church, when he and his family worshiped with the Methodist Church at Florence.
Ile was much respected in the community and his counsel was fre- quently sought by those in trouble. Hle settled many estates and was guardian of several children and their estates. He was of a genial disposition and a good playmate for all children who visited at his home.
Mrs. Judson died February 23, 1885, and he followed her on April 1, 1885. Their children were: Nancy J., born in 1822; Burr, born in 1824; Antoinette, born in 1829; Albert W., born in 1831; Elizabeth, born in 1837; and Charlotte, born in 1839. Of this family the only survivor is Mrs. Elizabeth Spore, who lives on the old home. Nancy married Russell W. Butler and died in Norwalk, September 26, 1909. Burr married for his first wife Sarah Bissell, and for his second wife Melissa Jones, and he died in Crown Point, Indiana, in 1899. Antoi-
1065
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
nette married William W. Bissell, of Clarksfield, and died March 10, 1914. Albert W. married for his first wife Cynthia Scott and for his second wife Mary Ann Fish, and he died in Sandusky, April 22, 1904. Elizabeth married Isaac Spore. Charlotte died young.
To Isaae Spore and his wife five children were born, of whom brief mention is made as follows:
Arthur M. Spore is secretary of the American Crayon Company of Sandusky. He married Minnie Porter, daughter of Joseph Porter, who was for years master meehanie for the Big Four Railroad. They have children as follows: Charlotte R., Howard J., Leland P., Esther L , and Judson P.
Clarenee J. Spore was educated in Oberlin Academy. Ile is a pros- perous farmer of Florence Township, occupying a part of the old Spore place. He married Carrie M. Church, and they have a son, Harold C., a graduate of Oberlin College, class of 1914, and now an instructor of the physical training department in that institution.
Herbert C. Spore lives in Oberlin. He is a graduate of the Berlin High School, and also attended the Indiana State Normal at Valparaiso, Indiana, and the Ohio State Normal at Athens, Ohio. For many years afterward he was engaged in teaching, but is now successfully iden- tified with agricultural pursuits. He married Amy Walker Barlin, and they have three children. Arthur W. Spore, a graduate of Oberlin Business College, is now with the Goodyear Rubber Company, in their office at Akron, Ohio. Jessie is a graduate of Oberlin College, and is now a director of physical training at the Central High School of Min- neapolis, Minnesota. Mabel is now a student in the Oberlin IIigh Sehool.
Charlotte C. is the wife of Frank E. Peck, who is connected with the state hospital at Massillon, Ohio. They have no children.
Nellie A. is a graduate of Oberlin. She finished the grade schools at the age of fifteen, taught sehool for awhile, then entered Oberlin College, and later taught in that institution. She has since perfected herself in the department of physical training, and was employed as a director in physical eulture at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She was there employed from September, 1894, until June, 1908, with the excep- tion of one year when she had leave of absence. In 1909, owing to ill health, she gave up her much loved work and is now living at home.
JOHN D. MICHEL, of the younger generation of farmers, is a native of Erie County and so much impressed with its agricultural and resi- dence advantages that, like hundreds of others, he has never been able to see that he could better himself by making a change of location. His entire career has been devoted to the pursuits of the soil, and through intelligent and well-directed lahor he has worked his way to a position of prestige, being at this time the owner of 130 aeres of good land, and the objeet of the regard and esteem of a wide circle of friends.
Mr. Michel was born in the City of Sandusky, Ohio, December 11, 1886, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Link) Michel. His father was born in Germany, where he was well educated and brought up in the wine industry, a business of which he mastered every detail. However, he was not satisfied with the opportunities for advancement to be found in his native land, and accordingly resolved to try his fortune in the land across the ocean, with the result that in his eighteenth year he emigrated to the United States. From his landing port of New York, he made his way to Sandusky, Ohio, where he soon secured employment in the business with which he was familiar, and being industrious, will- ing and trustworthy, made rapid advancement until he became the Vol. II-38
1066
IIISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
proprietor of a business of his own. Mr. Michel was connected with the wine industry at Sandusky for more than twenty years and established a reputation as a substantial and reliable business man, but in 1892 turned his attention to farming and took up his residenee in Perkins Township. As a farmer he proved successful for the same reasons that he had gained prosperity in his other business-he was industrious, thrifty and true to engagements, he earried on his business operations under modern methods, and he inspired confidence in others by his integrity. After a long and useful career he passed away in 1908. Mr. Michel was a democrat, but not a politician. He married Miss Mary Link, who was born at Sandusky, Ohio, daughter of Morris and Mary Link, late residents of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Michel became the parents of eight children, namely: Theresa; Emma, who is the wife of George Schwanger: Joseph: John D., of this notice; Edith, who is the wife of Earl Hart : Mary ; William ; and Leona.
John D. Michel was six years of age when brought to Perkins Town- ship by his parents, and here he was reared on the homestead place. Ile was given good educational advantages, attending the publie schools and then taking a course at the Sandusky Business College, following which he returned to the home place and took over its management. He has made a success of his ventures and his 130-acre tract of land is under a high state of eultivation, producing large erops annually and giving generous returns for the labor expended upon it. While he has fol- lowed general farming principally, Mr. Michel has not overlooked any opportunities for enlarging the scope of his work, and the various depart- ments of farming have always received attention from him. His meth- ods are progressive, his labor is energetic, and this combination has brought about very compensatory results. Mr. Michel is a democrat, but his activities in public affairs have been confined to casting his vote and to supporting movements for educational and civic advancement.
Mr. Miehel was married in Perkins Township to Miss Florence Odell, of West Huron, Ohio.
WALTER H. TAYLOR. In Berlin Township, along Rural Route No. 2 out of Berlin Heights, is situated the large and well kept farm and beau- tiful country residenee of Walter HI. Taylor and wife. The Taylor family with its various connections may properly be elassed among Erie County's pioneers, since they have been identified with this locality more than eighty years. A great deal of the progress in material improvements and the npbuilding and maintenance of institutions in Berlin Township since that time ean be credited to a comparatively few families like the Taylors.
The first settler of the name in Northern Ohio was Alfred Taylor, grandfather of Walter II. He was born in Westport, Connecticut, in 1794, and was of New England ancestry. Baek in Connectieut he was a member of the state militia and a leader in the local military band. and among the old settlers was partienlarly known for his activities as a musician and band leader in both Erie and Iluron counties. In Jan- mary, 1823. Alfred Taylor married Sallie R. Bennett, of Westport. Con- nectient. She was born August 10, 1800, and died in Berlin Township in 1857. In 1858 Alfred Taylor returned to Connecticut where he mar- ried Lovina Crossmond, who died in Berlin Township about four years after her husband. After his first marriage Alfred Taylor beeame a contractor for the construction of pike roads and docks. While he lived in Connecticut four children were born to him: Theodore, James, Ben- jamin S., and one that died when two years of age while the family were on their way to the West, in October, 1832. In starting for Ohio they
1067
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
went through the Connecticut country by wagons and teams, traveled up the Hudson River on a boat, and were on a canal boat on the Erie Canal when this infant child died, and its body was laid to rest along the banks of that canal. From Buffalo the family proceeded up the lake to Sandusky, and thus came on to what is now Berlin Township, where Alfred Taylor bought 100 acres of wild land on the Townsend Road, not far from the villages of Berlin and Berlin Heights. For a number of years they lived the simple existence of pioneers, their home was a log cabin, and hard work and considerable privations were endured. Alfred Taylor improved his land and later replaced the log cabin with a substantial frame house, which had the somewhat unusual feature of two open fireplaces. This house is still standing, and one of the fire- places can still be used. A number of years later Alfred Taylor bought the old Minard farm across the road, and that is the farm home first men- tioned as the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Walter II. Taylor. Alfred Taylor had many years of usefulness and honorable esteem in Erie County. He died at his farm home in 1879. His first wife had passed away about middle age. Alfred Taylor was eighty-four years of age when he died, and his second wife was past eighty. They were members of the Congregational Church, and in politics he supported the whig party as long as it was in existence and afterwards the republicans. In many ways he exerted an influence as a citizen. Ile was regarded as the most expert snare drum player in Erie County, and under his leadership the local band gained a reputation which some of the older settlers will still recall with pleasure. Alfred Taylor also built and owned the band wagon which carried the company of musicians around all over Huron and Erie counties. This band was regarded as invaluable for political campaign purposes and every big rally and other political assemblages of fifty or sixty years ago was not complete withont Mr. Taylor's musicians.
Benjamin S. Taylor, a son of Alfred and father of Walter, was born in Connectieut, November 7. 1823, and died on his farm in Berlin Town- ship, January 25, 1912. He was twelve years of age when he came with his family to Erie County. His brother Theodore died when a young man and still unmarried, and his brother James married but died without children. Benjamin Taylor should be remembered as a successful farmer and stock raiser, one who made a success by hard work. and whose activities and character were such as to command esteem and respect. For a number of years he owned and occupied a farm west of Berlin Village, but died at the house of his son Walter. The distinction belongs to him of having installed the first steam sawmill in Berlin Township, and he conducted it for many years, and from it furnished the lumber which entered into the construction of many boats at Milan and Ifmron. Like his father before him, he possessed a character of positive quality, tried to observe the strict ideals of honesty and justice. but was always generous and helpful to those who showed any tendency to work and help themselves. In politics he was a democrat. On May 9, 1849. Benjamin S. Taylor was married in Huron County to Miss Harriet Phillips. She was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, November 29. 1823, when five years of age went to New York State. and in 1834 came with her parents to HIuron County, Ohio. Before her marriage she was a popular teacher, and her death occurred April 22, 1899. Her parents were Benjamin and Hannah Phillips, both natives of Connecticut. On coming to Ohio they bought a farm in Huron County, and lived there the rest of their days. Benjamin Phillips was for many years an invalid before his death, but both he and his wife attained advanced years. Mrs. Taylor was a member of the Congregational Church, and that faith
1068
ILISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
was the preference of her husband. It should be noted that Benjamin Taylor grew up as a republican and held to that political doctrine for many years, but finally left the party and became a democrat.
Walter H. Taylor was one of five children. The daughter Mary died after her marriage to E. K. Fisher, and was survived by her hus- band and three children, all of the latter being now married. Ellen is the wife of J. D. Fisher, of Berlin Township, and their children are: Carrie, who was born December 25, 1878, was educated in the Milan Iligh School, at the state university and the training school in Cleve- land, and is now a missionary in Liberia ; and Lloyd, who is an engineer on the Lake Shore Railway and is married and has two children, Mary C. and James W. The daughter Cora is still unmarried. Eva is the widow of E. E. Waldron and lives at Norwalk, Ohio, and has one daughter.
Walter H. Taylor was born on his father's old farm west of the Vil- lage of Berlin, June, 1854. His education came from the old Normal School at Milan, and when ready to take up the serious responsibilities of life he received by the will of his grandfather 100 acres, a tract of land which has already been referred to. Since then Mr. Taylor has followed an active and progressive career as an agriculturist, and there are few better bodies of farm lands in Berlin Township. All the land is in cultivation except six acres of native timber. His group of farm buildings is a feature that at once attracts the attention of all passers by. The residence is a large building containing fourteen rooms, and there are also two large and substantial barns, one of them a bank barn 40 by 50, and a horse barn stands on a foundation 30 by 40 feet.
In Henrietta Township of Lorain County, September 10, 1879, Mr. Taylor married Miss Nettie Jane Courrier. She was born in Berlin Township of Erie County not far from the home in which she now lives on January 28, 1857, a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Vanderpoole) Courrier. Both her parents were born in New York State, but were married in Erie County. Her father died in Henrietta Township of Lorain County in 1876 at the age of forty-two, and her mother in Huron County in 1904 at the age of sixty-seven. They were members of the Christian Church, but later joined the Methodists, and her father was a republican. Mrs. Taylor grew up in Lorain County, and has proved herself an unusually capable mistress of the fine home over which she presides. She and her husband attend the Congregational Church. In national polities Mr. Taylor is a republican, and has rendered some good service to the community through nine years as township trustee. He is a past commanding officer in the Knights of the Maccabees, belonging to the order at Norwalk.
LEVI ARNOLD. The following sketch contains the important facts in the life and family record of a former Erie County citizen whose name always stood for all that is honest and of good report in this community, for successful thrift and business integrity, and for a posi- tion which all must respect. The Arnold family has been identified with Erie County since pioneer days, the early generation having made homes out of the wilderness and the late Levi Arnold himself was a product of a log cabin home and a log schoolhouse, but like many others of that generation apparently suffered little handicap in a life of abun- dant prosperity and civic usefulness.
At the old Arnold home in Milan Township Levi Arnold passed away December 19. 1900. in his sixty-eighth year. He was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, March 6, 1833. a son of Ira and Eliza ( Harrison) Arnold. His father was born near Lake Champlain, New York, and was reared in the home of a well-to-do unele in Northeastern New York. In that same
LEVI ARNOLD
1069
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
locality his wife was born and reared, and after their marriage there they moved west to Ohio about 1830. They located on a tract of new land in Ashtabula County, spent several years in a log cabin home, but after effecting some improvements on their first farm they sold out and located in Knox County, Ohio, and still later came to Erie County, this being in about 1840. Their first location was near Union Corners in Milan Township, and there the children received most of their school advantages. Later the family moved to Spears Corners in the same township, and a year later the parents moved to Oxford Township, where the father purchased his last farm and home. He died there when seventy years of age, and the mother attained the venerable age of ninety-three. Both stood high in their community, were loved and respected, and came to a serene old age. In spite of her advanced years the mother continued smart and active all her days, was a great talker, and members of the younger generation delighted to hear her stories of early times in Ohio. She was very domestie, and for many years rarely left her own home and fireside. She and her husband were both mem- bers of the Spiritualist faith. Their children were: Mary, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-four; Levi; Spencer, now deceased, who served as a soldier in the Union army and for a time was on guard duty at Johnson's Island, and is survived by one daughter; Phoebe Ann, who died when a child; Norman, who is now living in Eastern Ohio and has a family of sons and daughters.
The late Levi Arnold grew up and received his education in Milan Township. He was a small boy when the family came to this county, and on reaching his majority he made choice of farming as his regular vocation. IIe bought over 100 acres of land in Oxford Township prior to his marriage and during the Civil war time. Subsequently he sold this and for a few years was a renter. He then bought his permanent home on the Milan Road near the Village of Avery, containing eighty- two acres of well situated and fertile land. Here he and his wife not long afterward took up a special industry of growing strawberries. At one time he had about twenty-five acres in this erop, and many carloads of splendid fruit shipped over Ohio and other states came from the Arnold farm. During the season there were frequently between 150 and 200 people engaged in picking the berries, and a day's yield was not infrequently as high as 300 bushels. Mr. Arnold laid the basis of a substantial fortune as a pioneer strawberry grower. Ile also conducted general farming operations, getting large crops of grain, and in later years planted a considerable acreage in potatoes. The material improvements which he effected on the place are still in evi- denee. They comprise large barns, other buildings for the shelter of tools and implements and the storage of erops, and a commodious two- story twelve-room house, with basement under all and with every modern convenience. For many years Mr. Arnold served as a director in the County Fair Association, and the pick of his fields was frequently exhibited at local fairs. In politics he was a strong republican.
In 1858, at Spears Corners, he married Rachel Everitt. Mrs. Arnold was born at Spears Corners June 12, 1839, grew up and received her education there and her entire life has been spent in Erie County. When only fifteen years of age she was given charge of a school and continued teaching four years. She proved a most capable helpmate to her husband, and deserves a large share of the credit for the upbuilding of the farm and the abundance which rewarded the efforts of herself ard husband. She has proved her ability as an independent manager of this fine farm since the death of her husband. Mrs. Arnold is a daughter of David and Abigail (Sweasey) Everitt, both of whom were
1070
IHISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
born in New Jersey, and after their marriage and in the early '30s came to Erie County, Ohio. Her father was a blacksmith by trade and had one of the early shops at Spears Corners. Some years later, about 1855, he bought a good farm in Huron Township, and that was the scene of his later years. He was eighty-six when he died and had been hale and hearty up to the last. In politics he was a republican. llis wife lived to be seventy-six. While they belonged to no church they were people of the finest quality of morality and most helpful members of the community. In their family of thirteen children one son and six danghters reached maturity, married and had children of their own. Mrs. Arnold has one living sister, Mrs. Abbie A. Rowley, who lives at Lorain, Ohio, and who has a son, Allison Rowley, superintend- ent of the steel works.
To the marriage of Levi Arnold and wife were born five children. Clinton, who is a well educated man, has lived in Chicago for a num- ber of years and is one of the well known edneators of that city: his daughter, Bessie, is the wife of Dr. James Hanson, a physician at San- dusky, and they in turn have a son named James F. Wilbert, the seeond child, is now the practical manager of his mother's fine farm in Milan Township, and by his marriage to Lonise Loekwood has two children named Harold and Dorothy. Charles Arnold, who has also attained prominence in educational circles, is a graduate of the State University at Columbus, has taken post-graduate work in Harvard Uni- versity, and is now professor of mathematics at the University of Ohio; he married Leora Burrington, and their daughter, Helen, is now eleven years of age. The two other children, Iva and Frank, both died young. Mrs. Arnold and family attend the Presbyterian Church and her husband was also regular in his worship in the same denomination. For a number of years both Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were active members of the Milan Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry.
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.