USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 36
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This action of the society in reducing his salary and the consequent resignation involved a great change in the circumstances of Mr. Badger's life. He afterwards received an appointment from the Massachusetts Missionary society, and com- menced labors as a missionary among the Indians at Sandusky. This change involved a removal of his family, and there were many hardships endured agaiu in entering upon a new life. He began building a hoat of three tons burden. finished and launched it, loaded it, and passed down to Austin's Mills, where he was obliged to unload and draw the hoat over the dam and load again. It often stuck on the rapids, and they were obliged to get into the water and lift hard at the boat to get it down the river. They succeeded, however, and passed up the lake to Cleveland, where they arrived on Saturday night. Here Mr. Badger preached on Sunday. During the week they made out with great hardship to reach Sandusky. He says, " My labors with the Wyandot people from upper Sandusky to a place eight miles below Detroit were very fatiguing, exposed as I was to rains and heavy dews and camping in the woods." In October, 1807, he went with his wife to Pittsburgh, and was taken unwell, and was confined five weeks with sickness. On his return quite a company went with him to Sandusky, all on horseback, camping out four nights on the way. He says in his journal, " Under many discouraging circumstances I continued to labor in the mission, visiting and preaching in their villages, more than one hundred miles apart from each other." In the year 1808 he came to the determination to move his family back to Austinburg. The missionary board thought it was best that he should take a tour to the east to solicit donations. He accordingly started with his wife on the 1st of November, on horseback, to visit friends in New England, and ar- rived at Blanford on the 15th. During this visit the Connecticut Missionary society became sensible that they had erred and their missionary had suffered by their means. At a meeting of the board a compensation of two hundred and twenty-four dollars was paid to him, and a donation of one hundred dollars was given to him for his mission. His labors among the Indians were very useful. His influence among them was such that intemperance was very much removed. The chief, Blue Jacket, complained bitterly of the traders, and, through Mr. Bad- ger's advice and co-operation, those who were disposed to sell liquor were driven away from the reservation. As a missionary he adapted himself to the people. He helped them build their houses, went into their corn-fields and hoed corn with them, mended their broken plows and utensils, and assisted them in this way. He prescribed for the sick, comforted the dying, and sympathized with them in all of their troubles. He gained a great influence over them. They generally listened to his advice, and were respectful in religious services. Occasionally there is a record of a few rude savages entering into the meetings and shouting the war-whoop, and so trying to make disturbance; but the sentiment of the chief and most of the tribe was friendly to the missionary's labors. He continued here, laboring faithfully, until the year 1809, when he received a letter from his wife that his house was hurned, and almost all the clothing and furniture destroyed. This distressing circumstance made it necessary for him to leave the mission. He got home about the middle of November, and found his family without a house, de- pending on a neighbor for temporary lodgings, and were in great want of clothing as the cold season grew on. By the help of neighbors they soon got up a cabin, moved into it with hut one chair, and without hedstead, or table, knife, fork, or spoon, hut these and other necessary articles for housekeeping were soon procured. Mr. Badger spent the winter in preaching in a few settlements in Ashtabula County. In April, 1810, he moved to Ashtabula, where he preached half the time and missionated in other settlements. Having made an exchange of land with Nehemiah Hubbard, he commenced making a home. He had a good garden, raised some corn, and was comfortably situated. At this time there was no organized church in Ashtabula village, but Mr. Badger alternated in his preaching between Kingsville and this place. It is said that after the burning of the school-
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
house on the east side a meeting was held one Sabbath on the banks of the Ash- tabula river, near where the iron bridge now stands. The preacher took for his pulpit a tree which was leaning over the water, and the people were scattered about on the grass. During Mr. Badger's stay in this place he started a book- store, but was not successful in it, and soon sold out.
During the War of 1812, Mr. Badger's services were sought for on account of his acquaintauce with the country and his influence over the Indians. General Perkins was then at Huron. Several officers wrote very urgently to Mr. Badger, inviting him to visit them. He went, and found the sick and wounded badly situ- ated ; but he soon got help, and made the block-house comfortable, and provided bunks and attendants for the siek. In a few days General Harrison came. With- out being consulted on the subject, he was appointed chaplain for the brigade and postmaster for the army. He was very useful even in military service. When the army moved from Huron to Sandusky, he, with a guard of twenty men and several axe-men, marked out the road, and afterwards piloted the army to San- dusky. After the building of Fort Meigs, on the Maumee, the men began to be sick. Major E. Whittlesey, afterwards congressman for this district, was taken very sick, and given up to die. Mr. Badger took him to his own tent, and took care of him day and night. By careful nursing and the skillful practice of the surgeon he was, by the blessing of God, restored to health. Mr. Badger soon resigned his position and returned home. He never quite approved of the war, and said many things against it, and so gained the epithet of "old Tory." After his return home, two of his sons were taken with the epidemic which had pre- vailed in the army. The youngest one died. Mr. Badger continued to preach in Ashtabula and neighboring settlements until about the last of July, 1818. At this time his wife was taken suddenly ill. She lingered a few days in painful sickness, and died on the 4th of August. Of her Mr. Badger says, "She was a disereet wife and affectionate mother ; a consistent Christian, beloved as a friend and neighbor. She bore with Christian patience and fortitude the trials we had to encounter with our young family in this uncultivated land. On her devolved almost exclusively the task of forming their youthful minds, and storing them with principles of piety and virtue, and this she performed with unwearied fidel- ity." At this date the autobiography ceases. Mr. Badger married again in 1819, and his second wife, Miss Abigail Ely, survived him a few months. He removed from Ashtabula to Kirtland in 1822, and preached alternately here and at Chester. At the age of sixty-five he received a call from the people of Gus- tavus. He organized a church here of twenty-seven members. This was April 27, 1825. In October following he was regularly installed pastor of the church by the presbytery of Grand River. Rev. Dr. Cowles preached the sermon. Dur- ing his pastorate he held a protracted meeting, in which many were converted, and the church was much strengthened. He was appointed postmaster at this place. As the mail came in on the Sabbath, he sent in to the government a remonstrance, and declared his purpose to resign unless he was relieved from this secular care on the Sabbath. His remonstrance was so far successful as to secure such a change of the route as to cause the arrival of the mail at Gustavus on another day of the week. Mr. Badger resigned his pastoral relation at the end of ten years, in 1835. He was then seventy-five years old, and the infirmities of age were ereeping upon him. The church, when organized, consisted of twenty-seven members. During Mr. Badger's ministry forty-eight were added, of whom twenty-eight were by pro- fession. The veteran missionary removed to the home of his daughter, at Plain, Wood county, who had married a minister. During his residence here, which ineluded ten years more of his life, no particular incidents occurred. It was a season of quiet retirement, though he continued to preach almost every Sunday in destitute places. He organized a church in Milton, and supplied them about a year. His last sermon was preached in Plain, on the day of the fast proclaimed by the President. He enjoyed great peace and serenity of mind. His language was uniformly that of praise, and his constant theme the goodness of God and the glories of the future state.
His missionary life precluded study, but he always took an interest in literary advantages. The Social library in Ashtabula was established mainly through his efforts. During his stay in Plain, Wood county, he was able to procure a gift of books from the east, and succeeded in establishing what has since been incorpor- ated by the name of the Badger library. His religious character was his most remarkable trait. It gave him a gentleness and patience and depth of character which are rarely possessed. His words were always full of feeling, but amid all his trials and disappointments no bitterness mingled with them. Hc had a sub- missive, quiet, and loving spirit. Few men have undergone more hardships, and yet few have been more useful. His memory is still cherished among the citizens of many communities, and the scenes of his former homes are redolent with his praise. His life was a sweet savor, and, though the blossoms of his hope were often crushed, they emitted a swcet perfume. During the last days of his life he seemed to live in the visions of the future. At one time, when he was apparently
unconseious, his granddaughter put her hand upon his head, when he exclaimed, with a groan, "Oh, why did you call me back ? I thought I was in heaven !" He died as the righteous die. His path was the path of the righteous, growing brighter to the perfect day. Surely we can say of him, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, and their works do follow them."
HON. HORACE WILDER,
one of several sons of a farmer of limited means, was born upon a spur of the " Berkshire hills" in West Hartland, Connecticut, August 20, A.D. 1802. In 1819 he entered, and in the class of 1823 graduated, at Yale college with honor. He almost immediately entered as a law-student the office of the Hon. Elisha Phelps,"of Simsbury, Connecticut, where he pursued the study of his profession until the spring of 1824, when he went to Virginia, and for about two and a half years was there employed in teaching a " family" school in the family and upon the plantation of Mrs. Morton, of Stafford county. It is believed that the Hon. James A. Seddon, secretary of war of the Confederate States, was one of his pupils. During this period he devoted his leisure hours to the study of the law, books being procured for him at an office in Fredericksburg. In January, 1826, he was " licensed" to practice in the courts of Virginia, but in the fall of that year he returned to Hartland, where he remained during the winter, aud iu the spring of 1827 left for Ohio, where he had determined to make his future home. His first poiut was Claridon, Geauga county, at which place he had a sister (Mrs. Judge Taylor) residing. Shortly before this, Edson Wheeler, Esq., of East Ash- tabula, Ashtabula County, a lawyer of character and influence, had deceased; and, after inquiry and consultation with members of the bar in the vicinity, Mr. Wilder located at that place. Never having "practiced," by the law of the State he was compelled to wait a year before admission.
HON. HORACE WILDER.
At the August (1828) term of the superior court in Geauga county he was duly admitted to the bar, in the mean time doing his professional business in the name of a friend. In October, 1833, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Ashtabula County, and in the fall of 1834 was elected representative to the State legislature,-the only office of a political character ever held by him. In 1837 he removed to Couneaut. In 1833 he married Phebe J. Coleman, the eldest daughter of the late Elijah Coleman, M.D., well known to all the residents of the county of the past generation. Mrs. Wilder died in 1847. He never re-married. Mr. Wilder, during the entire period of his active life, devoted himself exclusively to his books and professional duties, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, and at a comparatively early day earned for himself an enviable reputation as a sound and skillful lawyer, a safe and prudent counselor, and an honest and hon- orable man. In 1855 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for the third subdivision of the ninth judicial district (composed of the counties of Ash- tabula, Lake, and Geauga), to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge R. Hitchcock, and in 1856 was again elected to the same position for tlie full term of five years.
In 1862, soon after his term expired, Judge Wilder was appointed by the late Governor Tod draft commissioner for the county of Ashtabula, and as such super- intended aud conducted the first draft of troops made in the couuty.
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
In the spring of 1863 he removed to Ashtabula and formed a copartnership, in the practice of the law, with E. H. Fitch, Esq., under the name of Wilder & Fitch. This business arrangement was of but brief duration, for, in December, 1863, Judge Wilder was appointed by Governor Tod a judge of the supreme court, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Gholson, and in the fall of 1864 was elected to the same position for the balance of Judge Gholson's term.
In 1865, Judge Wilder resumed practice at Ashtabula. In May, 1867, he retired from active business and removed to Red Wing, Minnesota, where he has since resided with and as part of the family of his younger brother, E. T. Wilder, between whom, even for brothers, very intimate relations have always existed.
In politics, Judge Wilder was a Whig so long as the Whig party existed. After it disappeared he affiliated with the Republican party until some years subsequent to the close of the war, when, dissatisfied with the policy of that party towards the south. he has since been more nearly in harmony with the Democratic party, though not fully identified with it.
In early life Judge Wilder was, in religious matters, inclined to adopt views not in all respects deemed orthodox, but in later years these opinions have been entirely changed, and he now is and for some years has been a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church.
His decisions from the bench are enduring testimonials to his familiarity with the law and to the accuracy of his legal acquirements. Both his natural and acquired ability peculiarly fitted him for the duties of a judge. In scholarship thorough, in judgment sound, his knowledge of the law extensive, and its exactness unques- tioned, in character irreproachable, and to business scrupulously attentive, he was a jurist who honored the position he filled.
During his long residence in Ashtabula County he gained the warm friendship of a large circle of acquaintances, by whom he is still remembered with strong affection.
HON. ORRAMEL H. FITCH,
the subject of this sketch, was the only child of Azel and Fanny Fitch. His father was a farmer and merchant, and for many years engaged in the southern trade. During the War of 1812 he invested largely in woolen manufacturing. The peace of 1815 threw open our markets to foreign goods, and the English manufacturers flooded the country with their woolens at low prices, for the purpose of destroying the American manufactories, then in their infancy. In the crash which followed he lost nearly all of his property.
The subject of this sketch was born on the 12th of January, 1803, on Goshen Hill. a beautiful spot, surrounded by a farming community, in the town of Lebanon, New London county, Connecticut. He was of English descent, and of Puritan stock, being a lineal descendant of the Rev. James Fitch, the first min- ister and one of the first company of settlers in Norwich, Connecticut, that township having been granted to him and his father-in-law, Major John Mason, and thirty-three associates, by Uncas, the noted Mohegan chief, for their assist- ance against their bitter enemies the Pequods. At a subsequent period Owaneco. the son and successor of Uncas, in acknowledgment of favors received from Mr. Fitch, granted to him a tract of land five miles in length and one mile in breadth, within the present limits of Lebanon, a portion of which, comprising the old homestead, was occupied by the family for several generations.
The subject of this sketch, from his childhood until his twenty-fourth year, with the exception of four summers, when he worked upon his father's farm, was either a student or a teacher,-teaching to raise money to meet in part his expenses. Among other schools taught by him, he was for some months an assistant teacher in Masonic Hall seminary, in Richmond, Virginia; was for a short time engaged as teacher of languages in Westfield academy, Massachusetts, and during one winter as principal of Union academy, in Windsor, Connecticut.
In the spring of 1824 he commenced the study of law, in the office of Augustus Collins, Esq., in Westfield, Massachusetts, where he remained two years. He then went to Norwich, Connecticut, and entered the law-office of the Hon. Calvin Goddard, who was at that time one of the most distinguished lawyers in the State, and continued under his instruction until March 16, 1827, when, having passed a satisfactory examination, he was admitted to the bar and licensed to practice in the courts of that State. He had decided not to settle in New England, but to seek his fortune in the west ; and in May following he bid adieu to his friends and commenced his journey in search of a future home in Ohio. He reached Cleveland on the 13th day of May; from there he went to Canton, Stark county, where, and in its vicinity, he spent nearly a year. His parents had made arrangements to come west and live with him, and wished him to settle in the northern part of the State, where the manners and customs of the people, who were principally from New England, were similar to their own. In accordance with their wishes he sought a location near Lake Erie, and having
received some favorable information respecting Ashtabula (which, however, proved partially incorrect) he selected it as his future residence. He came to Ashtabula on the 29th of March, 1828, a stranger, without a single friend or acquaintance, and took up his abode here, where he has continued to reside for the last half-century.
His parents came in the fall of 1829, and resided with him during the remainder of their lives. His mother, who was a woman of true piety and exalted worth, died October 19, 1831. His father survived her for several years, and closed an active, industrious, and virtuous life September 10, 1842.
Photo. by Blakeslee & Moore, Ashtabula, O.
HON. ORRAMEL H. FITCH.
The subject of this sketch was admitted to the bar of Ohio at Cincinnati, on the 19th day of May, 1828, and commenced the practice of law at Ashtabula, which he continued with fair success for many years. In 1838 he entered into a copartnership with M. M. Sawtell, which continued two years. In 1860 his son, Edward H. Fitch, having graduated at Williams college, read law, and been admitted to the bar, became associated with him in business. which continued until January, 1863, when. by an arrangement with Judge Horace Wilder to take his place in the firm, he retired entirely from the practice of law, and has not since been engaged in it.
In the fall of 1828 he was engaged by H. Lowry to write the editorials for his paper, the Western Journal, for about two years; but his name was not made public, and his connection with the paper was unknown, even to his friends. He was afterwards, for about five years, editor of the Ashtabula Sentinel.
In 1835 he was married to Miss Catharine MI. Hubbard, only daughter of William Hubbard, Esq., who had recently removed to Ashtabula from Holland Patent, New York. She died, much lamented, on the 29th of November, 1859.
In 1832 he was elected justice of the peace, which, by successive elections, he held for nine years. Very few of the many decisions rendered by him during this period were reversed by the higher courts.
In 1837, and again in 1838, he was elected to represent the county in the State legislature, and at the close of his second term he declined a re-election.
During the years 1841 and 1842 he was prosecuting attorney for the county.
He was never an office-seeker. Residing during his youth in a community where it was neither popular nor respectable for a candidate to flaunt his claims or his fitness for office before the people, he never electioneered for himself, nor was he ever present at a political nominating convention when he was a candidate for office.
Always feeling a deep interest in the prosperity of the town, he was for many years one of the most active and efficient supporters of every measure which in his opinion was calculated to benefit its people.
In 1848 he aided in the organization of the Farmer's bank of Ashtabula. He was elected a member of its first board of directors, and the following year was elected its president, which office he has held in that and its successor, the Farmer's National bank, until the present time.
In 1861 he was appointed by Mr. Chase, secretary of the treasury, agent of the government for obtaining subscriptions to the national loan authorized by congress in that year.
Fond of natural history and scientific research, in 1854 he became a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has usually
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l'hoto. by Ryder, Cleveland.
S. A. NORTHWAY.
Photo. by Ryder, Cleveland.
E. II. FITCH.
Photo. by Loomis, Jefferson,'Ohio.
Photo. by Blakeslee & Moore, Ashtabula, O.
W. P. HOWLAND.
CHAS. BOOTH.
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
attended its annual meetings, and is now a fellow of that society. Devoting a portion of his leisure hours to scientific pursuits, he has collected (mainly, how- ever, by the aid of a scientific friend) a small but valuable collection of minerals, fossils, shells, and corals, which furnished him many hours of quiet enjoyment.
In politics he was an old-line Whig, and since the dissolution of that party has been an adherent of the Republican party, although for some years past he has not taken an active part in politics.
Taught in early childhood, by a pious mother, the great truths of divine reve- lation, those teachings were never forgotten, and no doubt had an important influence upon his whole future life. In 1836 he united with the Presbyterian church in Ashtabula, and for many years past has been a ruling elder in that church.
HON. HAMILTON BLOSS WOODBURY
is the eldest of a family of six children. His parents were Ebenczer B. Wood- bury, who was born in New Hampshire, and removed to Ohio in 1811, and Sylva Woodbury, born in Cazenovia, Madison county, New York, and came to Ohio in 1816. They were living in Kelloggsville, this county, when the subject of this sketch was born November 27, 1831. They, however, removed to Jefferson after a term of years, and the mother is yet a resident of that village, the father having died August 14, 1870. Judge Woodbury was educated in the common and select schools of Ashtabula County. When seventeen years of age he entered the law- office of his father at Kelloggsville, and began the study of the profession in which to-day he occupies a high position. In the year 1852, at the September term of the district court of Ashtabula county, he was admitted to practice. Some twelve years since, he was admitted to practice in the United States courts. In 1854 he was elected a justice of the peace for the township of Monroe, this county, and re-elected in 1857. In October of that year he removed to Jefferson, where he still resides. Has held numerous offices ; among these we may mentiou trustee of the township and mayor of the village. In April, 1873, he was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of Ohio. He now occupies the position of common pleas judge of the third subdivision of the ninth judicial district of Ohio, having been elected in January, 1875, and again re-elected in October of the same year. On the 5th of September, 1863, he was by his excellency Gov- ernor David Tod commissioned as licutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Militia, which position he held until the disbanding of the organization.
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