USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 56
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The Huron river occupies a valley nearly a hundred feet below the general level, and from eighty rods to a mile in width. The bottom lands lying along this river are very rich, but subject to sudden, and during wet seasons, frequent inundations, that prove very damaging to the young corn and other cereals. This sort of damage has been much more common of late from the fact that the uplands are now so thoroughly drained by artificial means as to conduct the water to the river faster than it can be carried off. The valley of the Hu- ron River is quite picturesque, both above and below Milan village. The banks above are quite generally precipitous on one side or the other of the river. The shale rock crops out from many of these banks, while the river below in places flows over a solid bed of the same formation. Occasional spheres of sulphite of iron are found imbedded in the river banks, or the banks and beds of creeks flowing into the river.
.
493
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
Drippings of sulphur, and also of alum, are found in banks of small streams connected with the Huron River, but none are within the limits of Milan township or Erie county. Below Milan village, about three-fourths of a mile, and on the opposite side of the valley directly at the foot of the North Milan Hill, is a natural gas spring that has been known for many years to send forth an unremitting flow of gas, though the pressure is very light, partly owing, no doubt, to the nature of the underlying rock, which is shale and fuil of seams and cracks.
The gas when lighted sends up a flame from one to three feet in height, depending on the amount of surface covered by the vessel used in concentrat- ing it. Small boys have occasional larks by the light of this natural illumi- nant gathered in a keg with tight sides, no bottom, and a small hole in the top for a jet.
To the southeast of Milan, and close to the Huron county line, on the Butman farm is a cold spring of considerable size, at one time believed to possess medicinal properties, which it no doubt does in an equal degree with many others that have built and supported magnificent sanatariums, while Milan has neglected the natural advantages of which she has so many.
This township is crossed from east to west by the " Nickel Plate Railroad," which divides it in nearly equal parts, and passes over the Huron River on a high trestle at Fries's Landing, near the lower locks of the old canal. A branch of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, running from Norwalk to Huron, parallel to the Huron River (and almost as crooked at one time) crosses the township in a northerly direction.
The township is crossed by the Sandusky-Milan road running from the village in a northwesterly direction, by two Huron roads, one paralleling the river on the western side, by the Monroeville-Huron road, the Monroeville- Milan road, and by the Cleveland road from Milan eastward. There is also a road running across from Spear's Corners through Fries's Landing to Berlin, and numerous others of minor importance in other parts of the township
The township is five miles square, and consequently contains sixteen thou- sand acres, all of which lies within the limits of the original Fireland grant. The appended table will show the amounts lost in Norwalk, Conn., by the original grantees. The values are given in the currency units of the time, and in reducing them to present currency values it will be necessary to take into consideration the then great purchasing power of money.
The township was divided for the purpose of distribution into four sections, and all valued at £5,377 8s. od. The claimants or their heirs and assignees received grants of territory in direct ratio to the portion that their losses were of the entire loss ; so while they were not given the full value of their claims in pounds, shillings, and pence, they were doubtless quite as well off as they would have been had the township been appraised at a figure high enough to 63
494
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
satisfy the sum of their claims. Guy Richards, et. al., received by purchase inheritance, etc., one-fourth of the whole grant, or at least £1,344 75. Sam- uel Hughes, William Mansfield, the heirs of J. Forbes, and the distributing committee received another one-fourth; E. Avery, jr., et al., J. Kinsman, J. Short, R. Gallup, B. Trumbull, and Jno. S. Miller, one-fourth, and the re- mainder was taken by S. Harris's heirs, Jno. S. Miller, Seth Sear's heirs, the committee and Robert Latham.
LOSSES OF ORIGINAL GRANTEES.
LOSS.
£. s. d.
{. s. d.
Alley, Wm
9 4 4
Ledyard, A
142 7 10
Allyn, Philip
9 15
53
Luddington, E
408 6 7
Avery, Rufus
132 18 +
Lyman, D
368
7 8
Barnes, Jno
84 6 7}
Mansfield, N
3 10
6
Beebe, W
9
9
8
Mansfield, W
47 17 9
Beebe, J
236 2
6
McEver, J.
600 0 0
Bird, S.
42 2
5
Mc Williston, Rev
Bonticon, T., jr
13
8
O
Miles, A
5 8 0
Brown, S.
19
2
0
Miller, J
5,071 17 71
Cheels, J
75 II 6
Minor, E
348 17 4
Church, R
52 11 10
Morrison, A
IO0
Cunningham, C.
125 9
3
Neal, O.
91 14 6
Forbes, J
173 13
I
Oaks, M.
19 6 4
Gallup, R
6
6
Pardee, L.
3 15 0
Gardiner, D.
II
O O
Painter, F
If 0 0
Gardinier, T.
22
2 O
Prentice, A 566 -
6
Greenough, William.
27 14
6
Saltonstall, G
1,440 0 0
Griswold, M
IO
O
O
Saltonstall, R
1,800 0 0
Hancock, A
140 3
6
Sears, S.
13 19 7
Harris, R
63 o O
Harris, S.
177 7
5
Short, J
276 14 0
Hempsted, N.
7
Ī
IO
Skinner, B
ISO 0 0
Hills, E
16 II
6
Smith, N
9 12 0
Holt, A
18 II 2
Stanton, T
0 8 00
9
Hoy, E.
I 17 O
Stewart, J . 13 18
6
Holtzworth, E
46
8 O
Tilley, J .
1,535 10
3
Hughes. A
37 12 5
Whitney, J.
158 16 3
Hutts, J
I
5 0
Woodward, J., jr
740 19 11
Johnson, J.
13 9
4
York, H ...
4 4 10
Shreman, A
29 15
0
There are numerous pleasant drives in this vicinity, and one may, with an easy carriage and good horse, view as many beautiful little nooks in the vales opening into Huron River valley as perhaps could be found almost anywhere in the West. There is a double charm in the frequent transition from culti- vated fields, flowering orchards, and cosy farmsteads to the wooded slopes that appear so frequently between Milan and Monroeville. A little winding stream: that shall be nameless (from force of circumstances), comes down to the river about half way between the towns in a lovely little valley whose curves and!
495
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
turns, precipitous banks, mossy knolls, and green slopes, mixed in intricate combinations of form, would afford a fine subject for the artist's brush. Indeed it is not uncommon for Eastern men to sketch during summer in these shady vales.
Three fine iron bridges span the Huron River in the township-one above, one below, and one directly opposite Milan. The lower two bridges were built by Erie county, and the upper one by Huron and Erie together.
The earliest authenticated occupation of Milan was by the Moravian In- dians, but there are many earthworks and graves in this vicinity that were so old as to have large trees growing upon them when the first white settlers came here in the earliest years of the present century. As early as the year 1787 Zeisberger, a Moravian missionary, took refuge from hostile Indians with his tribe near Fries's Landing. He built a town there and called it New Sa- lem, but remained only about six years, when he was compelled to remove fur- ther south, where he died a few years later. In 1804 Rev. C. F. Dencke, a Moravian missionary from Canada, established the Indian village of Paynoth- ing or Pequotting, on the ground where Milan now stands. They remained here until about 1810, when on account of white immigration they removed to Canada, never again to return to the banks of the old Huron, on whose bor- ders their huts once stretched in a broken line to a point some three or four miles below Milan.
E. Merry came to Milan in 1811, being but two years later than Jared Ward, and but one year later than David Abbott, both of whom had settled at Fries's Landing, then, and for many years afterward, known as Abbott's Crossing and Ward's Landing. Indeed, these names have stuck through all these years of development, and though followed by the name county seat (owing to court being held near there when Huron and Erie counties were one), and by the name of Avery, these old names are not uncommon at the present time among the old settlers of this township.
The first officers of Milan (Avery), as far as can be ascertained from data at hand, were elected near Abbott's, the election being held at the house of J. B. Flemmond, while Milan was a part of Huron township, before their separation, which was accomplished in 1820. There was probably no great amount of formality in this election. Jabez Wright and David Abbott were chosen jus- tices ; F. W. Fowler, constable, and Almon Ruggles, recorder.
Fort Avery was the seat of Huron county when it embraced all the Fire- lands. The commissioners appointed by the Legislature to fix the county-seat were Solomon Griswold, E. Quimby and S. Clark, neither of whom were resi- dents of the county. The location was made in 1811, but through some sort of influence a change was made soon after the first term of court was held here. Historians claim that the change was made on account of the trouble experi- enced in securing good drinking water; but this is only an argument in sup-
496
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
port of the theory that our forefathers were better judges of the quality of old rye than of water, for the purest and best wells of water from which the writer has ever enjoyed a drink, are in the immediate vicinity on either side of the river. Mixter's, Hathaway's, Ristiner's, Rev. Geo. Bartlett's, A. Paul's, Page's, Ruggle's, Morgan's, Sand's and Fries's wells contain the very purest water in almost inexhaustible quantities.
The first court was held at this point in 1815, when old Huron county was barely organized, and the seat of justice was removed to Norwalk in 1818. There are excellent reasons for thinking it probable that this removal was part of a plan for the aggrandizement and financial success of three of the early pro- prietors of the town of Norwalk. An agreement strengthening this view of the case has already been published, though probably not for the purpose which it has so well accomplished.
Fort Avery, on a hill east of the old canal, and not over a mile from the Abbott home, was a military post during the War of 1812. Not a few legends have been told, and one story at least has been written concerning the exciting times that here followed Hull's surrender of Michigan. Of course the fort lying so near the lake was exposed to attacks from marauding Indians ; English pioneers from the surrounding section were sheltered here at different times from the murderous savages. This fort or block house was at all times guarded by United States soldiers in greater or less force during the second war for independence, but its accommodations were quite insufficient at times for those seeking the shelter of its walls. A guard named Seymour, was shot here by Indians, and his comrade taken prisoner while they were out felling a bee-tree to break up the monotony of camp life, and vary in a slight degree the sameness of camp diet. The first military company on the Western Reserve was probably organized here.
The elder E. Merry who afterward became founder of (Beatty) Milan, oc- cupied this block-house with his family and others during the war. Their house warmings and New Year's day festivities were the delight of the young and old of neighboring families ; Jared Ward, Thomas Jeffry, Hosmer Merry and others participating with zeal. These people all kept their boats, for though emigration in those days was comparatively tedious, the advantages of travel by water were very great. Time, indeed, was of little account as compared with immunity from savage attack, land fevers, and the weariness occasioned by passing in any accessible vehicle. Railroads were of course unknown here, as in other parts of the world, and good wagon roads were almost unheard of.
The Abbotts owned at one time eighteen hundred acres of land near Fort Avery, and were widely known and respected. The venturesome and self- reliant spirit of those times is very clearly set forth in a little story repeated among the Fireland sketches, with the sanction of witnesses who are regarded as entirely reliable. It seems that the Abbotts and Wards each had cows in
497
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
considerable numbers, and it was a custom of the young people to bring their large butter tubs to the river for cleansing or other purposes. On one occa- sion Miss Lucy Abbott actually climbed into one of these butter tubs and pad- dled it across the river, which is about fifteen feet deep, with her hands. This exploit was not more daring than the ride of a pioneer young lady across the same stream on the back of an ox, and was probably only one of many such frolics suggested by the vigorous health and buoyant spirits of the bright, buxom backwoods maidens of this time and section. Mr. Ward, it is said, had a dug- out, or log canoe, fifty feet long. His kind and honored son, Elam Ward, who in those days helped propel it, still tells the story of his rugged experiences to neighbors in East Milan, where he now resides.
This point on the river is of peculiar interest from the fact that it is the nat- ural head of navigation, is the place first settled in the township, and the scene of the first and latest operations in ship-building, which will be discussed at the proper time in this article.
The village of Beatty (Milan) was laid out in 1814, by E. Merry, father of E. Merry, jr., residing in Milan until the time of his death in 1888, and of Elizabeth, who resided with her brother. In 1816 Mr. Merry with J. C. Smith and Isaac Tupper began erecting a saw and grist-mill near town; the former, who was a large land owner and a man of considerable enterprise, bought out his partners before the mill was completed, and finishing it alone, operated it for some time to the satisfaction of residents for miles around. In 1819 Mr. F. W. Fowler, to whom we are indebted for many facts mentioned in this sketch, re- moved to Milan village from Abbotts, and in 1820 he opened a public house which accommodated boarders up to 1842. In 1823-1827 the mouth of Huron River was improved by subscription and governmental aid.
In 1827-1828 B. N. Abbott built the schooner Mary Abbott, at the home of the family on the river. In 1829 he made a prosperous voyage to New York City via Huron River, Lake Erie, the Erie Canal and the Hudson River, disposing of a load of Ohio produce, and purchasing a cargo of goods needed in the West, he returned in safety to his home. H. N. Jenkins built the schooner Louisa Jenkins, across the river at about the same time, but he confined his navigating expeditions to the river and Lake Erie.
A charter was granted the Milan Canal Company, which in 1828 proposed to dig a canal some three or four miles long, so that the village might be reached by such sailing craft as had been navigating the river up to Ward's Landing and Abbotts. E. Merry, Ralph Lockwood, George Lockwood, T. Baker and J. Wright were named in the charter as commissioners to open books for subscriptions to the stock. The subscribers assembled at the home of F. W. Fowler on August 27, 1831, and elected the following directors: E. Merry, E. Andrews, George Lockwood, D. Hamilton and F. W. Fowler. Work was begun on the canal in 1832, and completed, after numerous delays
7
498
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
and discouragements, in 1839. This artificial water way was considered of vast importance at that time, as indeed it was from the fact that there were no rail- roads, and it afforded an outlet for immense quantities of grain. It cost Milan a great deal, however, in later years, when it made her citizens too independent to even allow the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad the right of way through the town, and that great commercial thoroughfare passed four miles to the south through the then comparatively unimportant village of Norwalk.
The organization of the old canal company is still continued for the pur- pose of holding the charter privileges for the W. and L. E. R. R. Co.'s right of way, but it is many years since the old canal bed would float even a row boat, except in times of freshet, when the river overflows its banks. The first vessel to arrive at Milan by the canal was quite a curiosity to the people, and its captain as great a hero as the proudest heart could wish. Captain Moran was the bold navigator, and his schooner, the Kewaune, of one hundred and fifty tons, arriving on the 4th of July, 1839, was met by a procession of five hundred people with music and banners, and her captain was presented with an American flag by Miss Maria Butman, acting for the patriotic ladies of Milan.
With the opening of the canal Milan at once became almost as well off in commercial interests as if she had been a lake port, indeed in the matters of se- curing the grain of the interior, and lumber for ship building, there was an evi- dent advantage in lying some eight or nine miles from the lake.
A scheme to connect Milan with Columbus, by a railroad from the head of the canal through Norwalk and other villages, was inaugurated at about the time the old Mad River Railroad was built, but for some unaccountable reason the project fell through.
Soon after the canal was finished the enterprising citizens of Milan began active steps in the direction of permanent improvements and substantial busi- ness projects. Warehouses were erected along the upper canal basin, and the buyers of grain were rewarded with a trade that covered a section reaching in a southerly direction for over a hundred miles. Great covered wagons, drawn by four or more horses, came in trains to town, and Milan held the greater part of their trade, though at times considerable numbers of the farmers passed on down the river to Huron, in anticipation of a higher price for their grain.
The canal gave quite an impetus to ship building as well as commerce. The fine white oak timber in the vicinity was utilized for this purpose by nu- merous builders, at their yards on either side of the basin, below the hill on which the village stands. J. P. Gay was among the first prominent builders, constructing a number of government sailing boats previous to the civil war. E. Merry was at one time connected with this firm under the title of Merry & Gay, but they were unfortunate in their contracts and the business was sus- pended. Henry Kelley, for many years a prominent and public-spirited citi- zen of Milan, owned a ship-yard at the foot of the ridge on which the resi-
IT
499
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
dence of J. C. Lockwood now stands. Captain Kelley has since erected a fine brick business block in 'Milan, and improved several farms in the vicinity, be- sides beautifying his house and grounds in the village. For many years he has acted as a member of the council, and was at one time an honored com- missioner of Erie county. His respected wife, Betsey Kelley, died in Milan in 1888. A son, Frank H. Kelley, is at present a resident of the village, owning and managing a farm about a mile east of town.
J. C. Lockwood, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Milan, was at one time connected with the ship-building interests here, and was for many years in the general mercantile trade. The latter business was afterward transferred to his nephews, Frank C. Smith and R. M. Lockwood, who now conduct it very successfully at the old corner, directly at the top of the hill where the Sandusky road enters the village.
The Milan Banking Company represents J. C. Lockwood and Lucius Stod- dard, the latter for years a confidential clerk, and afterward a partner with Mr. Lockwood. Mr. Stoddard is cashier of the bank, and Mr. Lockwood its presi- dent. The latter gentleman is still a very large real estate and ship owner. Mr. Stoddard possesses considerable capital. Among the first and last ship- builders is Valentine Fries, a self-made man, who came to Milan about the year 1849, and began the grocery business in a small way. Careful attention to the details of his business, and steady, hard work, together with the strict- est integrity, gave Mr. Fries the necessary means to enlarge his business, and to invest a limited amount of money in vessel property. The time was op- portune, and he soon saw his means increasing rapidly. Taking the hint promptly he increased his marine investments. In the seventies and eighties he built at Fries's Landing (formerly called Wards and Abbotts), several of the largest and finest sailing vessels on the lakes, including the Marion Page, the Golden Age, etc. He also built the steam barge Charles Foster, all of which, with other valuable vessels, he still owns. Mr. Fries was very active, as trustee of the township, in bringing about the graveling of the flats north of Milan, an improvement that has been a very great benefit to farmers on that side of the town from the fact that the roads prior to this improvement were next to impassable every spring and fall, for several weeks.
Never a suave man, but always outspoken and vigorous, the subject of this sketch has strong personal friends, and such enemies as he may have made must grant the respect that such a character always commands. Mr. Fries owns numerous farms, one of which, the old William Blake place, in North Milan, he was fitting up for a home when the loss of his wife led to a change of plan, and he has since lived at the now deserted ship-yard, and at a farm lying a mile or two east of Abbott's Bridge.
Milan township and village have always been noted for the intelligence of the people, and the strength of their religious organizations, as well as for the
500
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
general and early interest taken in popular education. The Presbyterian Church of the present was organized at Spear's Corners, in 1818, under the name of the First Congregational Church of Huron, Rev. W. Williams and Alvin Coe, of Connecticut, presiding. The first members of the church were William Spears and wife, Gilbert Sexton and wife, Mrs. Eleanor Adams and her sons, William and Philo. Meetings were held alternately at the residences of S. Adams and Mr. Spears, for some time. The settlement in this section of the township was quite flourishing in an early day, but increasing population and business at Milan led to the removal of the church to that town. In 1824 H. Buckingham and J. Demund were elected deacons of the church, which was changed in 1825 to a Presbyterian organization, and William Spears, J. Demund and D. Everett elected ruling elders. There were but thirty-seven members at this time, but in 1829 the Rev. E. Judson inaugurated a revival that led to a great many accessions. The church was incorporated in 182S, and a substantial church edifice was completed in 1837, by contributions of work and material. In an early day services were conducted by the following named gentlemen : Revs. A. Coe, C. Pitkin, J. Seward, A. H. Betts, William Sanford and J. Treat. The second regular pastor was Rev. T. L. Shipman (Rev. L. B. Sullivan having officiated in the Spears neighborhood). The suc- cession that followed Rev. Shipman was Revs. J. S. Demund, W. M. Adams, E. Judson, N. Barrett, J. M. Hayes, A. Hartpence, J. H. Walter and the able young pastor, Rev. W. L. Swan, recently called to Warren, O. The longest ministry was that of Rev. Walter, who began his work in 1855, and con- tinued in the service nearly thirty years, when he removed to a charge in the suburbs of Cincinnati. He was an able and beloved pastor, and left many warm friends behind when he departed for his new field of labor. The place of worship was burned in the spring of 1888, and worship then begun in the beautiful little chapel erected in 1887, by j. C. Lockwood.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1830, and the church building was erected in 1845. It has always been fortunate in the pastors as- signed, and has had a membership that, though never large, has always been drawn from a very intellectual portion of the community. The church build- ing stands at the west side of the town on Church street. It is a modest little structure, but very tastefully painted within and quite well calculated to ac- commodate the usual number in attendance. It was remodeled to some extent and greatly improved through the efforts of Mrs. J. C. Lockwood, in 1888. This church began work in the Jeffrey neighborhood long before the establish . ment of a regular society at Milan, indeed it is probable that they were at work there before Milan was of any account as a town. Revs. Gurley, Mun- ger, McIntyre and Tillotson were among the first to minister to this denomi- nation in Milan township. Among the later pastors are the Reverends Jewett, Gallimore and Wuestenberg, the present popular occupant of the pulpit.
10-04
501
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
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