USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 19
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After about two years, and before the close of the war, the elder Mr. Carlin and Squire returned to the Maumee. When the war closed the family returned to their old home. Mr. C. was employed about the farm, and in 1821 was mar- ried to Sarah Wolcott. He had made numerous trips to. Findley, buying furs and stock, or whatever was for sale, and in 1826, with his wife and oldest child, William D., who was about four years old, he took up his residence here permanently. When Mr. C. first came, there was but one white family in the place.
Mr. Carlin's ancestors were Welsh, and were always. noted for strong constitutions, and great powers of endur- ance, and Mr. C. himself has been a man of iron constitu- tion, and has endured innumerable hardships and priva- tions.
He followed trading with Indians, and made many ex- cursions to their camps in the wilderness, sleeping on the ground, travelling in all kinds of weather, laying under the trees in winter, obliged to shake the snow from his blankets to prevent being entirely snowed under. Mr. Carlin built the first frame house, and also the first brick house in Find- ley, both on the lot on which he now resides. In 1826 he opened a dry goods store, and in 1828 his brother, Parlee, became connected with him. This partnership existed be-
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tween these two brothers until 1852. The firm of " S. & P. Carlin " was known all over the country.
In 1849 Mr. Carlin was carried off by the California fever, and was one of the first who crossed the plains to that El Dorado, and endured the hardships of that long and severe trip equally well with the younger members of the company. The journey occupied about six months. After a residence of three years in California, without a day's sickness, he returned and continued in the dry goods trade until 1852. Mr. C.'s wife died in 1850, whilst he was yet in California. ·
Mr. Carlin was elected Treasurer of the county in 1830, and by successive elections served eight years. He was a voter at the first election held in the county for county of- ficers. Mr. Carlin was also Post Master for nineteen years. Of an active energetic disposition he delighted to be out doors. The brothers were for years the proprietors of a flouring and saw mill. Mr. C. united with the Methodist Church in 1844, and has been a member ever since.
He has been extensively engaged in farming and rail- roading since he quit the mercantile business. He has lived here long enough to witness the rise and fall of many business firms. He has outlived nearly all his cotempo- raries, and is about the sole link between the past and present. In 1854 Mr. C. married Mrs. D. B. Gardner, with whom he still lives. He was the father of thirteen children, ten by his first, and three by his last wife. Of the first there are but two, Elliott and Mrs. G. W. Myers, and of his second, Fred, who lives in Findley. Dr. W. D. Carlin, son of Mr. C., died at Vicksburg as Surgeon of the 57th Regi- ment.
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Lamb-Morrison.
HENRY LAMB.
Mr. Lamb's ancestors were of German descent, and he was born in Fairfield Co., O., August 16th, 1807, and re- mained in that county until 1830. He was the oldest of nine children, and was occupied as farm hand. In 1830 he came to Findley, then but a very small village, and com- menced clearing up the farm now owned by William Steven- :son, just north of the Strother farm, in this township. Just previous to his emigration to this town, and in the same year, he was married to Mary Pefler, who still lives to cheer his old age. During the first seven years of Mr. Lamb's residence in the county, he lived north of town in the coun- try.
In 1837 he moved into the village, and engaged in the dry goods business, in which he continued for about five years. In 1840 he bought of John McCurdy the frame hotel building on the south-west corner of Main and San- dusky streets, known as "White Hall," and kept "tavern " there until 1849, when the building was burned down. Mr. Lamb then returned to farming, but subsequently engaged for a number of years with his son, Jacob, in the grocery business.
Mr. Lamb is the father of six children, five of whom are yet living, and all reside here except one. No man in the town, perhaps, has experienced so many changes in busi- ness life, as has Mr. Lamb. He has passed through all the ups and downs of pioneer life, and has seen many and great changes wrought in our county. Nearly all his early asso- ciates are gone.
JOHN H. MORRISON
Was born in Uniontown, Pa., and came to Perry Co., O.,
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with his parents whilst quite young. At the age of fifteen years he lost his right arm by an accident. Mr. M. bad a good common school education. He was a lawyer by pro- fession, having studied with Philemon Beecher, at Lancas- ter, Ohio. He first commenced the practice in Bucyrus,. Ohio.
In 1836 he moved to Findley, and at once offered his. professional services to those of the new settlements who. were so unfortunate as to have serious disagreements with. their neighbors. Mr. Morrison soon gained a wide reputa- tion as an active and fearless practitioner, and had his full share of clients. He was indefatigable in the interests of his clients, and left nothing undone to gain success. He. was aggressive in his conduct of a case, and showed no. mercy to opposing counsel. Fluent of speech, often elo- quent, always sarcastic in his criticisms of counsel and wit- nesses, he had a powerful influence with juries.
Many of his professional acts were marked with an ec- centricity that would scarcely be tolerated by courts of this day. His presentations of a case to a jury, and his com -- ments on the evidence of witnesses was presented with a bluntness which often bordered on rudeness, and his treat -. ment of courts was sometimes of an impetuous kind.
Yet Mr. Morrison was a kind-hearted man, social in his: feelings, warm in his friendships, and honest in all his deal- ings. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and in his day stood high as a lawyer, never deserting a client, never refusing to aid any one who appealed to him for coun- sel or advice. He had as compeers in his profession at the bar here, such men as J. H. Godman, C. W. O'Neal. Edson Goit, A. F. Parker, Jude Hall, W. M. Patterson, A. H. Big-
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Morrison-Wilson.
elow, M. C. Whitely, E. Brown, J. E. Rosette, Count Coffin- berry, Wm. Gribben and some others.
Mr. Morrison died in April, 1854, leaving a wife and five children, who still survive him.
JAMES H. WILSON
Was the son of James Wilson, and the third son of five children, and was born in York Co., Pa., where he resided until August, 1832, when he came to Findley. On the next day after his arrival here he bought the lots on which the Commercial House now stands, together with an unfin- ished two-story frame building thereon, for the sum of seven hundred dollars. This same frame building afterwards be- came the celebrated " Western Caravansary " tavern, and was the immediate predecessor of the Commercial House.
For about a year after Mr. W. came here he worked at · the carpenter trade; he then engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of S. & P. Carlin. After an experience of eighteen months in this line, he put up a frame building on the present site of the Carnahan Block, having exchanged his first purchase for these corner lots, and went into the mercantile business on his own account, in which he re- mained for eighteen years. In the meantime, in 1848, he put up a large three story brick building-the largest build- ing then in the town, except the Court House-and known as the Melodeon Building, which has just been torn down and removed, to give place to the magnificent block of T. & W. R. Carnahan. In this building were two store rooms on first floor, offices on second floor, and a public hall on third floor. In this building Mr. Wilson had his business room until he retired from the trade.
After retiring from mercantile business, Mr. W. was for
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many years engaged in farming, and looking after his real estate interests, owning quite an amount of valuable lands. In 1847 Mr. Wilson laid out into lots, an eighty acre tract of land on the east side of Eagle Creek, which he called East Findley. The entire plat of the eighty acres, except five lots, has been sold, and nearly all the lots built upon.
Mr. Wilson, whilst engaged in the dry goods business made many trips to New York City for goods. The travel was made in wagons to the lake at Sandusky City; thence to Buffalo by lake, by stage to Lockport, by canal to Albany, and by the Hudson to New York City, occupying from nine to twelve days each way. Goods shipped at New York would arrive in Findley in from two to four weeks, if there was no delay en route.
When Mr. Wilson came to Findley, there were about a dozen white families here, amongst whom were Squire and Parlee Carlin, Dr. Rawson, Frederick Henderson, Jonathan Parker, William Taylor, W. L. Henderson, Mathew Reighly, Wilson Vance, Christian Barnd and John W. Baldwin. In 1840, Mr. W. married Susan E. Hutchison, who deceased July 8, 1880.
Mr. Wilson has for the past sixteen years been connected with the First National Bank, of Findley, as a stock-holder and director, and has practically retired from business. For many years after he came to the county, his business was such as to extend his acquaintance, and he perhaps knew every grown person in the county.
Mr. Wilson united with the Seceder Church when about fifteen years of age, and is still a member of that organiza- tion, which is now known as the United Presbyterians. After his removal to Findley, there being no society of his church here, he united with the church at Cannonsburg, of
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Henry Byal.
which he is still a member. Mr. Wilson, by industry and economy, has amassed a fortune, and is quietly enjoying it.
HENRY BYAL
Is the oldest son of John Byal, and was born in Stark County, Ohio, on the 23d of March, 1817. His father's family were of French descent, and his maternal grand- father, Conrad Newstetter, was a Hessian, and was one of Gen. Burgoyne's life guards. Mr. Byal came to this county in 1832, his father was a miller and farmer, and on his emi- gration to this county, settled on lands adjoining the pres- ent Infirmary Farm. Mr. B.'s father erected a saw mill on the Blanchard in 1832, and in this mill Henry worked for seven years. When not water enough to run the mill, he worked on the farm. He had only a common school educa- tion, and taught school one term.
In 1842 Mr. Byal was married to Doratha Comer, daugh- ter of the late Isaac Comer, and immediately removed to the farm now owned by Conrad Renninger, and commenced life in the woods. In a few years, by the untiring industry of himself and wife, he had cleared up a large tract of land, and had an elegant new farm. After five years resi- dence here he rented his farm, and in company with the late Edson Goit, he removed to Ottowa, in Putnam County, and engaged in the dry goods business. In this business he re- mained seven years, in the towns of Ottowa, Gilboa, and Pendleton, all in Putnam Co., O
He returned to Findley in 1853, and went into the store of the late Edson Goit.
In the spring of 1854 he was elected a Justice of the Peace in Findley township, and held the office for three consecutive terms. Mr. B., although still living in Findley, claims to be a farmer. He is dealing quite extensively in
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History of Hancock County.
lands in this, Wood, and Henry Counties, owning now about one thousand acres, the care of which occupies nearly all his time.
Mrs. Doratha Byal having died in 1860, Mr. Byal mar- ried Miss Mary Lamb in 1862, who is still living.
In 1866 Mr. Byal united with the Presbyterian Church in Findley, of which he has ever since been a member, and is at present a ruling elder. He is the father of four chil- dren, only one of whom-Mrs. S. D. Houpt-is now living.
WILLIAM L. HENDERSON.
Mr. Henderson was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1797, and with his parents came to this country, and settled at Mt. Eaton, Ohio. He had the advantages of a good ed- ucation for his day. He came to Findley in 1829, and at once assumed a prominent place amongst the early settlers. In 1838 he was elected Auditor of the county, which office he held for four years, and then resigned. In 1842 he was appointed Clerk of the Common Pleas Court, which office he held for six years. In 1830 he was appointed Surveyor of the County, which office he held for eight years. Thus for eighteen consecutive years he filled a county office, and always acceptably to the people.
He was a man of strong constitution, and robust health. He had most decided convictions, and was not slow in de- fending any opinion he may have formed. He was not easily swerved from any course hs had marked out. After a long and active residence here, he went to Kansas, where he died in 1861, at the age of sixty-four years.
DR. DAVID PATTON
Was born at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1800, and when about
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Patton-Newell.
twenty-one years of age, began the study of medicine. He was a man of more than average ability, and had in addi- tion a very fair English education, all of which enabled him to direct his energies to the best advantage.
After finishing his medical course, he practiced in Car- rolltown, Carroll Co., O., for several years. In 1837 he came to Findley, and at once opened up an office, and an- nounced himself as ready to render his professional services to any who might need them. Dr. Patton was a man well read in his profession, and soon succeeded to a fair practice, which increased as time went on. After a number of years practice here, he removed to Tiffin, but remained there only a short time, when he returned to Findley, and again went into practice.
Some years later he went to Iowa, where he remained, however, but a few years, when he returned to Ohio, and located near Cleveland, where he died in 1878. The Dr. was of Irish descent, a whole-souled, brusque sort of a man. Social, good-natured and jovial, he always had hosts of friends. He was somewhat literary in his tastes, and for a time was editor and proprietor of the Western Herald. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian.
HUGH NEWELL
Was the youngest of thirteen children, of Hugh and Margaret Newell, and was born in Washington Co., Pa., April the 8th, 1804. His father was a farmer, in which business young Hugh was reared. The elder Mr. Newell was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Such was his hatred of the tories, that he would not permit his children to associate with their children. No wonder then that with the teachings of such a 'father, that his son Hugh was
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History of Hancock County.
in all his life, the firm friend of freedom, and always loyal to the government, and a lover of his country. In 1814, Mr. Newell came to Ohio and located at Mt. Vernon, in Knox County. He was engaged in selling goods, and in manufacturing fanning mills. In December, 1826, he was married to Sallie Thrift, and came to Findley ten years later.
Upon his arrival in Findley, he went into the store of Green & Reed, and remained with them for about a year. He and Frederick Henderson then were engaged in the manufacture of bedsteads. In 1838 he went into the mer- cantile business on his own account, and was engaged in that occupation for about eighteen years, a portion of that time in partnership with the late Frederick Henderson. By industry, economy and fair dealing, he always controlled a large trade, and was enabled to accumulate quite a large property.
Mr. Newell made quite a number of trips to New York for goods in that early day. Such a trip meant hard travel for two or three weeks, by wagon, lake, canal and river; no palace cars, no restaurants, no comfortable hotel rooms. When goods were shipped at New York they were expected at Findley in about three weeks.
Mr. N. has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for about forty-six years, and his life has always been consistent, and his example has been worthy of imita- tion. He has always been a leading member in the church. He is the father of three children, all living. Hannah is the wife of Henry Brown, Esq., of Findley, and Margaret is the wife of Rev. Samuel Mower, a travelling Methodist minister, and his son Starling resides in Indian- apolis, Indiana.
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Henderson-Cory.
FREDERICK HENDERSON
Was a native of Muskingum County, O., and came to this town with his wife and Jonathan Parker, in October, 1831. Mr. H. was a tall fine looking man, very courteous in his manner, and affable in conversation, and considerate of the feelings and opinions of others.
He was a cabinet maker by trade, and carried on that business for a number of years. In 1840 he and Mr. New- ell formed a co-partnership in the dry goods trade, and oc- cupied the room on the corner of Main and Main Cross streets, now occupied by Frank Karst. This partnership lasted for six years. Mr. Henderson then withdrew from the firm, and went into business alone. He occupied a frame building on the site of the present room of W. S. Hall, on Main street.
Mr. H. was one amongst the earliest members of the Presbyterian Church in Findley, and in 1837 he was chosen one of the elders. He remained a member until his death. He was a very successful business man, and accum- ulated a large property. Dying he left a wife and four chil- dren.
JUDGE DAVID J. CORY
Is a native of Warren County, Ohio, and was born April 17, 1801. His parents were of Dutch descent, and came to Ohio, the North- West Territory, in 1796, and settled eight miles above Cincinnati. Mr. Cory's father was a farmer and stock raiser, and also a large land dealer. In- deed the Judge says that his father invested all his money in lands, for the reason as he said, that water would not drown it, and fire would not burn it, hence it was safer than
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History of Hancock County.
1
any other kind of property. The Judge himself has been a farmer and dealer in real estate ever since his boyhood.
In 1803. the family moved to Honey Creek, in the vicinity of Dayton, in which locality they remained until 1834. The Judge was married in April, 1827, to Mrs. Martha Meek, and with her he removed to Williams County, in what is now a part of Henry County, on the Maumee River, about eighteen miles above Perrysburg. Here he remained until November, 1848, when he came to Findley. He had passed through this county in 1816, with a drove of cattle, and had slept in the old Fort. When the Judge's family removed from Dayton to the Maumee, they did so with teams, passing through on Hull's Trail, and were fifteen days on the road, or rather in the woods, as there was not much that could be called a road on the entire route.
When Mr. C. came to Findley, he engaged in farming and real estate transactions, his father having been one of the proprietors of the town, left a valuable landed estate to look after. The Judge was also a large stockholder in, and President of the Bank of Findley, the first institution of the kind organized here. He was also one of the leading spirits in the projection, location, and building of what is now the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, and was for many years a Director in that organization. Indeed there were but few public enterprises that he was not prominently identified with, and took the lead in. Liberal, just, honor- able and far-seeing, he was always a safe leader.
He signed the petition to the Legislature praying for the formation of the new county of Henry, and helped to or- ganize the same, and was appointed one of the first Judges of the Common Pleas Court of that county. His associates were Pierre Evans and - Waite, a brother of the pres-
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Judge Cory.
ent Chief Justice of the United States. On his emigration to the Maumee, he found but very few families in the pres- ent bounds of Henry County, but during his fourteen years residence there, much of the county was improved, roads opened and numerous settlements made all over the county, and especially along the river.
He had only the advantages of a common school educa- tion, but being a man of more than ordinary natural ability and good judgment, he has been a most successful business man, and has added largely to the fortune left him by his father. He is, perhaps, the largest land owner in the county, holding twenty-three hundred acres of land in this and Wood County, together with quite a considerable valuable town property. The Judge's public benefactions to churches and schools and charitable objects, amounts to thousands of dollars. His liberality in gifts to all worthy objects is proverbial.
He is now and has been ever since 1842, a member of the Methodist Church, to the support of which he has con- tributed more than any other man in the county.
Mrs. Martha Cory died February 26th, 1868, and in Sep- tember 1869, the Judge married Miss Ann M. Wright, of Urbana. He is now in his declining years, quietly looking after his business interests, and enjoying life pleasantly.
WILLIAM TAYLOR
Was born in Mifflin County, Pa., May 12th, 1798. His early life was spent on a farm, and his chances for obtain- ing an education were very limited, and his want of educa- tion was a defect which he deplored, and in after life, by a patient application, he to some extent overcome. On the 25th day of April, 1826, he was married to Margaret Pat-
21
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History of Hancock County.
terson, in Bedford County, Pa., and in the same year came to Richland County, Ohio, and located about eight miles from Mansfield, and followed farming. In 1828 he came to Findley, the county having just been organized, and the town having been designated as the seat of Justice.
Here he at once entered into mercantile pursuits, keep- ing on hand a general assortment of such goods as were the most in demand in a new settlement. He was also quite extensively engaged in the fur trade with the Indians and trappers, who were numerous. This trade was a profitable one. Many of my readers will remember the small frame building which stood just south of and adjoining Davis' Opera House, long known as Mefferd's Shop, and afterwards occupied by Dr. Detwiler as a residence. That building Mr. Taylor put up, and occupied as a dry goods store, tavern and family residence.
Mr. Taylor was naturally energetic and industrious. with good judgment and great discernment, of pleasing manner, and with these qualities, he soon commanded a good busi- ness, and accumulated quite a fortune, becoming the owner of much valuable property in both town and country. He took an active part in the early life of the county, being called upon to fill the important offices of County Surveyor, School Examiner, Commissioner and Postmaster of Findley; also Bank Director. In all these positions he ever acquit- ted himself with honor, discharging every duty with fidelity.
He united with the Presbyterian church at Perrysville, O., before his emigration to this county, and in December, 1831, assisted in the organization of the society in this place, and soon after was elected a ruling elder, which office he held at the time of his death.
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Edson Goit.
Mr. Taylor was the father of five children, four of whom are living. Patterson makes his home in Missouri, Char- lotte, wife of Milton Gray, and Minerva, wife of J. S. Pat- terson, reside in Findley, and Milton is in business in Tole- do, Ohio.
EDSON GOIT, SR.,
Was born in Oswego County, State of New York, in 1808, and whilst yet in his infancy, lost his father, and during his boyhood he had but little time or opportunity to improve his mind, but such as he had he made the best possible use of, and by the time he was twenty years old, he taught a dis- trict school, and soon thereafter started for the western country. Ohio then, without railroads or canals, and but few wagon roads, was a long journey from New York, and the first appearance of young Goit after he left his native state with his bundle of raiment tied up in a handkerchief, was at Tiffin, in Seneca County.
He taught school in Tiffin and Fremont, then unpreten- tious villages, and in the mean time pursued the study of law with Abel T. Rawson. In due time, he was admitted to practice, and in looking around for a location, selected Find- ley, then but a village, but a new county seat, as the scene of his future efforts. Mr. Goit made the journey from Tiffin to Findley on foot, staying the first night with a farmer near the present town of Fostoria, and on the second night at the present site of Van Buren, and on the third day reached Findley. He made his home in the family of the late L. Q. Rawson, and waited patiently for six months for a client, but none came.
There was no other Attorney in the place. Mr. Goit was the pioneer of the profession in Findley. Being discouraged
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History of Hancock County.
and disheartened at his lack of business, he announced at the breakfast table, that he would leave the place. But while yet at the table, a rap was heard at the door, and the inquiry was made: " Does a young lawyer board here?"
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