USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49
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Since the date of the settlement of 1833, there has been a large acquisition of population. In 1834, David Duncan, from Onondaga county, N. Y. ; also John Blain and Jerry Duncan, from the same place; Lorenzo Abbott, Seneca Corbin, from New York; Park White and his son David White, Jonathan Gil-
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
son, Clark Gilson, James Hallett, John Labounty, Samuel Purdy, Joseph Richey, Nathaniel Welch and Harry Welch. In the year of 1835 there came Hiram Bartlett, who first emigrated from Cooperstown, Otsego county, State of New York, in 1826, and settled at Port Lawrence (now Toledo). He re- sided there nine years before he came to Amboy township. Calvin Skinner, Cyrus Fisher, Horatio Stevens and Caleb Renilie came from Niagara county, N. Y. George Barnett, Chapman, Griswold and Koons, whose given names could not be ascertained, were also among the early settlers. Horatio Stevens settled upon section twenty-nine, afterwards owned by Stephen Haughton. Alfred Gilson settled on section nineteen. Samuel Keeler, father of Solomon Keeler, a banker at Toledo, was among the settlers of 1835. Joseph Richey was also a settler of this period ; and Marmaduke Bunting may be placed as among this class, as it is admitted he was a very early settler. The Blains and Duncans were all from Lodi, first lock on the canal east of Syracuse, Onondaga county, N. Y. David White, a son of Park White, became a noted hunter in the wilds of this county, but since the advancement of civilization and the wood- man's ax, game in later years has become so scarce as to yield no profit. He sought the wilderness of Northern Michigan, and makes hunting profitable. Lorenzo Abbott came through from Maumee, with nothing but a pocket com- pass for his guide, and found the land of his choice, and entered the same and lived upon it until he sold it to Sullivan Johnson, in 1843. When Hiram Bart- lett came to this township, July 31, 1835, from Port Lawrence, Lucas county, he had four children, to wit : Elizabeth, who married a son of Deacon Keeler, the banker of Toledo, and now resides at Elkhart, Ind. ; Julia Ann, the wife of Norman H. Tripp, of Amboy, now living on section sixteen ; Hannah F., who became the wife of George Gale, and has since died, and Hiram Russell Bart- lett, who now occupies the homestead of his father. The father died about 1875
There was one very important incident in the life of Hiram Bartlett, which is worthy of some note. It seems that in early life he learned the hatter's trade, and, on arriving at twenty-one years of age (as it was customary to have birth- day parties), he had a party to commemorate the event. Rum was customary at the sideboard, and was drank freely by all members of society in those days. Having seen the iniquity of so free a use of rum and other strong drinks, he was resolved beforehand to total abstinence. On that day, to make strong the vow, he took a bottle, filled it with rum, corked and sealed the same, and then and there declared, before the company present, that he would never taste any alcoholic drinks during his future existence, unless to save his life, and not then until it was decided by a council of five doctors that it was necessary ; if so decided that it was necessary, the bottle was to be opened and the prescrip- tion to be made therefrom. Russell Bartlett died in the fall of 1875. The bot- tle remained unopened at his death, and so still remains. It is now in the pos- session of his son, Russell Bartlett, a prosperous citizen of Amboy township.
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Between 1836 and 1840 came Job Duvall, who settled upon section nine. He came from Erie county, N. Y. He now sleeps with the dead. He was highly respected in the whole township. His widow lives where he first set- tled. Tunis Lewis, John Lewis and Charles Welch are found to be among the settlers of this period. John Richey settled on section seventeen ; William Ir- win on section fourteen.
Charles C. Tiney was born in Washington county, N. Y., April 26, 1809, and his wife, Electa Whitten, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., December 28, 1813. They settled in Fulton county in 1838, on section thirty.
Calvin HI. Potter settled in Amboy township in 1842. Since he came to this county he has cut and brushed six miles of road, four rods wide, through heavy timber, and has cleared his farm of one hundred acres. He was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., August 2, 1822.
Morey S. Potter and Minerva, his wife, parents of Calvin II. Potter, settled in Fulton county in 1842. They have a numerous following of grand and great-grandchildren, many of them living in Amboy and adjacent townships. The old people were living on their farm in Amboy but a short time ago, each at a very advanced age.
In 1843 came Sullivan Johnson, who has been twice honored with election to the sheriff's office of Fulton county. He has, ever since he came to the township in 1843, been a very active man in all matters that pertain to the development of its resources, and is a leader in his political party. He has been successful in honorably obtaining a fair share of this world's goods, and has seen his children well settled around him. He now resides on the section formerly owned by Lorenzo Abbott, who first entered the same, and came to reside thereon July 31, 1835.
Norman N. Tripp first visited Amboy in 1838. He was then a young man, and stayed here for a short time. He returned in 1847. He married Julia Ann Bartlett, daughter of Hiram Bartlett, and settled upon section six- teen, where he now resides. He has been a life-long Democrat and a man of much influence in the township and the county. Mrs. Tripp has some very interesting relics of her grandparents, such as family apparel, linen, table cloths, and sheets, which were made over one hundred years ago. She shows the work of her grandmother-Hannah Walker Fisher, of Providence, R. I. - a miniature pair of woolen hose and mittens, which Mrs. Tripp wore in her babyhood, sixty-five years ago.
Hezekiah Culver, Caleb Satterly, Thomas Cahoe, Daniel L. Bueler, and possibly others whose names cannot be ascertained, came prior to 1850.
Present Residents .- In naming the present settlers upon the soil of Amboy, there need only be mentioned those who have become prominently iden- tified in its industries as agriculturists and in other pursuits, to wit : Sulli- van Johnson, Norman N. Tripp, Lewis Bueler, James Santee, Miles Kahle,
56
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
George Clark, John Richey, George Johnson, George Duvall, Peter Ottgen, Ira Smedes, Alfred Dennis, Charles Blain, Benjamin Blain, Robert Blain, Fred. Broadbeck, George Robinson, Hubert Robinson, Harvey Gunn, Adam Mohr, Herbert Ottgen, Peter Reis, William Beverly, S. P. Knapp, - Smallman, Charles Tiney, Albert Allen, G. N. Carter, Thomas Cahoe, McLean Duncan, William Myers, Samuel Duncan, Nathaniel Welch, William Nevitt, Russell Bartlett, Peter Mohr, Peter Shug, Charles Blain, jr., James O'Neil, Daniel Hal- lett, James Hallett, James Hallett, jr., S. M. Reynolds, John Willey, Joseph Feltz, Christian Ottgen, Christian Ottgen, jr., John Hartell, Peter Kohl, a preacher, Darius Higley, John Reis, E. Bunting, E. F. Bartley, J. L. Molish, S. R. Myers, N. Justice, J. Stillwell, John Broadbeck, George Reis, and many others.
Primitive Structures .- The first inhabitants of this township, as did of many others of later settlement, built their first habitations of round logs, gen- erally twelve by sixteen feet in size ; still some were a little larger, and were covered with elm bark when shakes could not be obtained easily. A few oth- ers were built of bark. These answered for their immediate necessities until they could secure a harvest for the coming winter. As soon as they saw their families provided with something to eat, they built for themselves an improved structure, which lasted these residents for many years. Some of these primi- tive structures are still standing as evidence of the truth of what is here said. The more modern log houses were built of larger dimensions and with double roof, and many of them were quite roomy, and were palatial when compared with the first. The logs were often hewed upon the inside and put under a good shingle roof. The cracks were chincked, and then plastered upon the inside and outside, some with clay and others with lime and sand.
With these houses the people were well satisfied for many years, or until they got their farms well improved, and not until within the last twenty years have they begun the more modern structure. The fathers and sons in nearly .all the first families were good citizens. Many of them were brought up to the German habits of patience, perseverance and industry, and these qualities have accumulated good possessions, and are prepared to lay aside the mantle for their children and journey to another future home-their everlasting home over the river of death. .
Metamora .- Frank O'Neal built the first house in Metamora. Hezekiah Culver sold the first goods here in 1848, and possibly the first in the town- ship. This was in a very carly day. Culver and Compton & Co. built the first grist-mill, in 1845, and the only one ever built in the township, the latter in 1850. It is now owned and run by Eli Bunting.
William Bailey was the first physician in Metamora. He settled near the German church, west some two miles from the town. Jonathan Saunders was one of the original proprietors of the village. His son, Clark Saunders, has
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there, at the present time, a drug store. A physician named Pomeroy, used to practice medicine in the village at a very early day. He was a very old man at the time, and, after a few years of practice died, and was buried there.
Metamora has had a post-office for many years, and the only one in the township up to about 1880, when Siney post-office was established upon the western line, giving two post-offices in the township. The present industries of the village are, one saw-mill, one hotel, kept by Peter Holben ; four dry good stores, owned by James Gurnsey, Edward Duvall and Fred. Prickett. The town also supports one barber shop. There is being built a large cheese- factory, which can be well supported by the farming community. The present physicians of the village are Dr. S. M. Clark, Dr. Foster, Dr. Tompkins and Dr. Markham.
There is one Methodist Episcopal church, which was built in 1870, and is in a good condition, with a large membership. There is also one United Brethren church, which sustains a fair membership. It was built in 1874.
Amboy township, aside from the two church organizations in the village of Metamora, has one Catholic church, called St. Mary's, built in 1864, upon sec- tion 26, and connected therewith is a cemetery specially dedicated for Catholic burials. The country here surrounding is chiefly populated by Irish and some French families, who were originally of that faith when they left their native land and made America their home. They have, in the main, made good citi- zens ; they have been prosperous, and the township has been benefited by their settling here. Many have a fair share of this world's goods, acquired by their frugality and industry during the few years they have been upon the soil.
The Methodist Episcopal church, upon the town line between Amboy and Royalton, was built in 1867. It has a small number of worshipers, and has sustained itself under adverse circumstances. The Reformed Church of Zion was built by the German residents, about 1870. This society and the church edifice is due to the labors of Peter Kohl, who is yet living in the township at the advanced age of seventy- five years. The church building is located upon section 9.
Schools .- There are five school districts in the township, located as follows : one upon the south side of section 4 ; one upon section 7 ; one upon section 16; one upon section 29; one upon section 26, and a special district at Meta- mora. All have well-built houses, some of which have been lately built.
Industries .- The only industry in the township, outside of the village of Metamora, is agriculture. There is connected with that one cheese-factory, lo- cated upon section 7, called the Amboy cheese- factory. Benjamin Davis, of Royalton, is the proprietor. It was opened for business in 1868, and has made the milk production very profitable to the farming community in a large part of the township. The factory is in a flourishing condition at this time.
John Reis, upon the eastern part of the township, carries on the tile and
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
brick making business to quite a large extent. The brick and tile there man- ufactured are entirely used by the farmers. There is not any other very prom- inent industry in the township.
Official Roll .- Upon the organization of this township, in 1837, at the first election held, Peter C. Lewis of section 9, and Cyrus Fisher of section 29, were elected justices of the peace. Stephen Haughton was the first county officer from the township, and served as county commissioner three years ; Abram B. Thompson was twice elected county commissioner and served six years ; Sul- livan Johnson was twice elected sheriff and served four years, making, for all incumbents, thirteen years of official service for Fulton county from Amboy.
CHAPTER XLIII.
HISTORY OF CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP.
T HIS township was organized at a session of the board of commissioners, held at Toledo, June 4, 1837, by taking all of towns nine south, range one and two east, and all of town ten south ; ranges one and two east, excepting a strip one mile wide from the west side of towns nine and ten south, range one east, and embracing all the territory described from the " Harris line " on the north, to the " Fulton line " on the south. The first election under this or- ganization was held at the residence of Chesterfield Clemons, and the officers fully assumed jurisdiction, and held the same until March 6, 1838, when, at a commissioners' meeting held at Toledo, the whole of towns nine and ten south, range one east, was set off and erected into the township of Gorham. Then Chesterfield relinquished her jurisdiction to the territory so set off. Again, at a commissioners' session held at the city of Maumee, June 5, 1843, the whole of town ten south, range two east, was taken from Chesterfield, and with other territory south, was organized into the township of Dover. The town- ship of Chesterfield for several years thereafter exercised municipal control over the balance of the territory. At some unknown date since the organiza- tion of Fulton county, the commissioners thereof struck off and set to Gorham the west half of fractional section 7, and the west half of section 18, lying west of Bean Creek, leaving the present township of Chesterfield as she exists to-day. Chesterfield, as her boundaries exist at present time, contains a small fraction of sections 1, 2 and 3, south of the " Harris line," and the balance of sections 7, 8 and 9, south of the same line, and all of sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, excepting therefrom the west half of sections 7 and 18 set off
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FULTON COUNTY.
to Gorham, and contains a fraction less than twenty-nine sections of land, or an area of 18,467 acres valued at $354,550. This township with all its alter- ations was made while under the municipal control of Lucas county, except the west half of sections 7 and 18, which was set off to Gorham by the com- missioners of Fulton county since 1850.
Boundaries .- This township is bounded on the north by the State of Micli- igan ; on the east by Royalton ; on the south by Dover, and on the west by Gorham township. It is situated between the townships of Gorham and Roy- alton, and the township of Dover and State line of Michigan, and is wholly upon the disputed territory claimed respectively by Ohio and Michigan, and settled by the Congress of the United States in December, 1836.
The same history as expressed in Royalton township applies full well to to the township of Chesterfield, except that, in the last years of this disputed agitation of territorial control by Michigan, these lands were, in the winter of 1834, placed under the township jurisdiction of Seneca and remained so until December, 1836, when to the Harris line it became a part of Ohio, and lost the name of Seneca, and was unorganized territory until 1837, when it was given the name of Chesterfield.
First Settlers .- Chesterfield Clemons was the first settler of this township. He and his family, on the 6th day of October, 1834, entered the township and located upon the west part of section 14, town nine south, range two east. He was born in Ontario county, State of New York, in 1797, and in 1821 married Fannie Downing, and soon after emigrated to Paynesville, O., from whence they came to this county as stated. Six daughters were born to them during their wedded life. Animated by the true pioneer spirit, as he must have been, Chesterfield Clemons and family bravely penetrated into an almost undisturbed wilderness of then southern Lenawee county, and commenced to make a home for himself and family. His faithful and untiring, industry, privations and hard- ships, have, we doubt not, been instrumental in converting a howling wilder- ness into a flourishing and enlightened commonwealth. Mr. Clemons came in the morning of life with his children and wife, possessed of little else than will- ing hands, stout hearts, and sincere and honest desires. This family endured trials and dangers, sorrow and tribulations, unknown to the later settlers, be- cause alone in the wilderness with no thought save to grapple with their im- mediate necessities. Chesterfield Clemons lived but a short time to see the fruits of his labor, or the wilderness blossom as the rose. He died at his new home in Chesterfield in the year 1842. Ilis widow subsequently married the Hon. Samuel Gillis. She is the mother of Mrs. James S. Dean, Mrs. Delevan C. Gillis, lately deceased ; Mrs. John S. Butler, Mrs. Gidcon Clark, and Mrs. James Hough, deceased. Judge Samuel Gillis died about twelve years since, and Mrs. Fannie (Clemons) Gillis died at her son-in-law's residence at Morenci, Mich., about two years ago. She was born May 17, 1803, in the State of New
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
York. Among the settlers was Garner Willett, who located on the southeast quarter of section 9, town nine south, range two east. He was born Decem- ber 20, 1816, in Somerset county, N. J. In 1835 Garner Willett left his home at the age of nineteen years. He had only thirty-five dollars and his gun when he started west visiting Adrian, Mich., and many places in Ohio, view- ing the country and killing deer, wandering to Chesterfield in 1837. In 1839 he was joined by his father, David Willett, and family. He was present at the organization of Chesterfield township June 4, 1837. In 1845 he married Harriet Parson, who with her parents, came from Maine and settled in Ches- terfield in 1834. Daniel and Esperance Parsons, parents of Garner Willett's wife, came to Chesterfield in the fall of 1834, and lived to prosper and spend their last days in ease. The nearest grist-mill of those days was at Tecumseh, Mich., thirty miles away.
George P. Clark and his wife Elizabeth settled in this county in the fall of 1834; they were both born in Rhode Island. He located upon section twen- ty-three, but some years later he sold out and went to Michigan and there died in 1872.
Alanson Briggs and wife, Lucinda (Cadwell) Briggs, came to this county in 1834 and settled upon section twelve. He came from the State of New York, city of Utica.
In the fall of 1836 a mail route was established and run from Toledo, O., to Lima, Ind., over the old territorial road, sometimes called the Vistula road, being the first mail service in the township. The distance was one hundred and ten miles, and the mail was carried twice a week. There was but one post-office between the two terminal points. After passing four miles west of Morenci, Mich., the road lay through a continuous stretch of unbroken forest for thirty- three miles. John S. Butler, then a boy of about eleven years, carried the mail on horseback twice each week for a number of years.
Alanson Briggs kept a hotel for several years to accommodate the immi- grants, who were rapidly filling up the country. It was located upon the premises now owned by Eleazer Clark. Briggs was a colonel of the State militia of Ohio, which at a later period held general muster at /Etna, in Pike township. Alanson Briggs died in 1879, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, Lucinda, died in the early days of the township.
John S. Butler, a son of Asa H. and Sarah (Daggett) Butler, who first set- tled in Gorham township in 1835. When about eleven years of age he was indentured to Alanson Briggs until he became twenty-one. While here at Alanson Briggs's he was the post-boy on the route from Toledo to Lima, in the State of Indiana, and for several years ran over the route twice a week, a distance of one hundred and ten miles. He says he fell into the St. Joseph River, which he had to cross, with the United States mail on top of him. Once in carrying the mail, he was chased by wolves several miles, but was
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glad to be rid of their company, as he did not like their music. He also helped Alanson Briggs clear up the farm where now lives James H. Turner. He married Lovina, a daughter of Chesterfield and Fannie Clemons, on June 14, 1846. He was born in Wayne county, N. Y., May 18, 1824. He is a suc- cessful farmer of Chesterfield township, located on section thirty-two.
Harlow Butler, in 1835, came west on a land hunt, and located himself on a farmi on section twenty-eight. While on his way through Ohio in the time of the Toledo war, he was seized and taken prisoner, but soon released and went on his way rejoicing. He returned with his family to Ohio, and settled upon the lands he first located in 1836. Harlow Butler was born in West Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y., January 4, 1798, and his wife, Mary (Hick- ox) Butler, was born at the same place December 28, 1803. It is said that Harlow Butler's was the fourth family in the township. Mr. Butler planted an orchard on his farm from apple seeds washed from the pumice before leaving New York. He lived to see the trees bear fruit and ate their apples and drank their cider for thirty years before his death, which occurred at his home in Chesterfield many years ago. He was one of that class of men who were an honor to the township, and was a very useful man in society.
Darwin E. Butler settled in Chesterfield township in 1836. He came from West Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y. He was a machinest and music teacher, and was a very useful man to the whole township. He married in Chesterfield, November 12, 1843, Aurelia Hibbard. He died at his home in the township in the spring of 1886. His wife survives him.
John B. Roos and Elizabeth (Benner) Roos came to this township in 1836, and settled upon section twenty-four, where John died in 1859, and his wife in 1872. Both were born in Dutchess county, N. Y.
John P. Roos, son of John B. and Elizabeth, came with his parents to this township in 1836. In 1849, January 25, he united in marriage with Emily L. Noble, who came from Genesee county, N. Y. John P. Roos is a man of un- blemished character and large influence, and is signally prosperous in all his business relations.
William Onweller and his wife, Susannah, came to this county in 1835 and settled upon section twenty-three of Chesterfield township. They came from the State of Maryland. William Onweller was a very industrious citizen, and accumulated quite a property. He died March 20, 1864, at his home in the township, devising his estate to his son William, who is a very prosperous farmer of the township. During the last year he built one of the finest brick houses of the county upon the old homestead of his father.
Samuel Stutesman came to this township in 1837. He was born in Wash- ington county, Md., August 29, 1806. He came to this county without much means, but, by industry and steady perseverance as a farmer, acquired a large landed estate, and in his declining years is able to enjoy life in ease. He set- tled upon section fourteen.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Heman A. Canfield, and his wife, Amanda G. Canfield, both of whom were born in New York State, came to this county in 1838, and settled upon the farm now owned by John S. Butler, on sections thirty-two and thirty-three. Mr. Canfield for many years has been one of the foremost citizens of the town- ship in all its business relations ; by his honesty, sobriety, and untiring indus- try has acquired a fair competence ; has raised a fine family, and has twice been honored by his county with the office of county commissioner. In 1860 Mr. Canfield sold his farm in Chesterfield and removed to Gorham, where he again came in contact with the forest, and had to clear himself a farm, which he has successfully done, and may now, in his advancing years, enjoy the com- forts of a well-earned competency.
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