USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume I > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
Prior to this, from 1815 to 1836, Richmond was attached to New Haven.
In 1837. the township was divided into two school districts, and a frame school house built in each, but a school was only kept in the west one in the win- ter of 1837. The east school house was not completed for a school that winter. These were the first frame buildings in the township.
Di ced by Google
261
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
The Methodist was the first church organization in the township. The first sermon preached in the township was by Michael Long, a preacher of the Breth- ren faith, at the home of Jacob Croninger.
In 1839 a postoffice was established, and James Foglesong was the post- master.
There were births and probably deaths among the squatters, but the first birth among the settlers was that of Savilla Cline, daughter of John and Susan Cline.
The first marriage was that of James McManigal and Eliza Day. The first death was that of the widow Higley.
Section one-the southeast part of it at a very early day was thought to be a lake as decaying Indian canoes were found along its shores by the early white settlers, at this time being almost a worthless piece of land. Along the middle part of the north side cranberries grew in abundance, at the south side is the huckleberry marsh. In a few years the farmers made prairie hay from a part of it, the ground being too soft and miry, it had to be done by hand, mowed with the scythe, carried together and made in stacks, being drawn out during the winter when the ground was frozen hard.
In a few years more ditches were constructed the land being tilled from the edges, corn and potatoes being the principal crops. Only a few years ago Hol- landers settled along the east side beginning to experiment in celery growing which has developed into one of the finest celery gardens of the country. Dur- ing this year a large acreage of the territory has been purchased by Pittsburg parties and was surveyed into one hundred acre lots.
The Tiffin road was the first one opened, it began in 1836, was completed in four years. In many low places trees were cut and laid cross wise in the road, streams had to be forded.
Richmond has only a few miles of railroad, the Sandusky and Newark divi- sion of the Baltimore and Ohio cuts a small corner off the northeast part, we have two men living now in the township who worked on this old road-bed, P. M. Hershiser and John Carrothers. The Chicago division runs from the east side half way across the township. Street car lines we have none. Telephone service is quite well extended through the township, having our centrals at Attica, Chicago and New Washington.
We have the rural mail system and have our mail carried to our doors-one of the best improvements of the day.
A resident of the township writes thus: "We have had such industries as come in a farmer's life, sawmills, cider mills, tile and brick yards, etc. The soil being very productive. the principal crops are wheat, oats, corn potatoes. The growing and baling of hay has become one of the best paying crops to the Richmond farmer. We owe a debt of gratitude to our fore-parents for their Christian zeal and principals taught and instilled into their posterity. Richmond has furnished men and women who have gone out in nearly all the walks of life some of them today filling very honorable and responsible positions. We do not think there will be found in any township in Huron county, finer country residences, better kept farm buildings, well tilled lands, more comfortable homes, better society than in Richmond."
Digitized by Google
262
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
Richmond has never been blessed with any towns save that part of Chicago called Millertown, years ago it had two small groceries.
RIPLEY TOWNSHIP.
Ripley township was so named after the Rev. Hezekiah Ripley, of Con- necticut, who was one of the "sufferers," and who located land in the third section.
Ripley is township number one in range twenty-two. It is bounded upon the south by Richland county, east by Greenwich township, north by Fairfield and west by New Haven.
The first settlement in the township was made a little earlier than 1826. Some of the first settlers were advised to not settle in Ripley on account of the then wild and unbroken forest, inhabited only by a few wandering Indians. But the lands in time were cultivated and is now an industrious and prospering commun- ity. The whole township was formerly covered with a thrifty growth of timber, or in the lower parts with swamp bushes. Most of the timber was maple and beech but there was a great abundance of the other varieties of wood, including oak, ash and walnut.
The great abundance of maple trees made this part of the county a favorite camping place for the Indians. They were accustomed to come regularly in the spring and make maple sugar. For a number of years after the whites came, the red man carried on this harmless and not excessively laborious occupation, the nearest approach to anything like industry that they ever undertook. Some of their bark sap troughs were found in the woods as late af 1830. The Indians also hunted here, but their principal object in visiting what is now Ripley township was to make maple sugar. There were other and better hunting grounds farther east, and their tribes often passed through upon a trail which led to the Black river
country, where game was more abundant. The game consisted of deer and occasional bear, and the various smaller animals common to the northern part of Ohio and the entire west. There were wolves, too, and "shack hogs"-both great annoyances to the first settlers. The remains of their habitations found by the early settlers, and the dams still existing, indicated that beavers were quite numerous. No remarkable stories are told of experience with the Indians or adventure with wild animals.
There was a settlement in the southwest part of Ripley township, in 1820. Seth Foster, a man by the name of Decker, and another by the name of Jaral- man, and a son of the latter, lived there in the year mentioned. Foster and Decker, who were from New York state, returned there after a short residence in the new country. Jaralman died, and his son moved away. Nothing is known in Ripley of those few men, who were its transitory pioneers. The first perman- ent settlement was made by the families of Moses Inscho, D. Broomback, and James Dickson, in 1825, and the following year. Broomback took up lot thirteen, in section four. He did not remain long in the township. Dickson settled upon lot ten, near Broomback, but not long after moved into the eastern part of the township.
Rev. Joseph Edwards, a native of Connecticut, who had been for two years a resident of Greenfield, came into Ripley in 1828, and bought a tract of land which
Di zedby Google
263
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
consisted of about nine hundred acres. His home was upon lot twenty-eight in the first section, where he remained until his death. He was a Presbyterian minister of the old school, a man of large ability.
Abraham Stotts, of Virginia, came into the township in the fall of 1825, and purchased land in lot twelve, section three. John Stotts, his son, came in the spring of 1826, and located on lot eleven, in the same section. Another son of Abraham Stotts, William, came a little later, and still another, Isaac Stotts, arrived a number of years later, and located in section two, lot twenty-one.
Henry Broomback was the first child born in the township. He now lives in Plymouth.
The first framed house was built by Deacon Timothy Austin, one mile north of Delphi, in 1834.
The first brick house was that of John Stotts, which stands upon lot eleven, section three.
The first orchard was planted by Aaron Service.
The first tavern was built by D. E. Merrill at the center, about 1835. It was a log building.
The first mill was built about the year 1828, southwest of Delphi, upon a small creek, in which there was usually insufficient water to turn the wheel.
The Rev. Joseph Edwards was the first ordained minister who preached in the township. He preached in 1827, to the first audience gathered for religious instruction, and consisting of twenty persons, representatives of seven families This meeting was held at the house of Abraham Stotts.
Mrs. Harriet Russ, formerly Miss Harriet Edwards, daughter of the Rev. Joseph Edwards, then living in Greenfield, taught the first school held in the town- ship, in the year 1827. for the sum of fifty cents per week, paid not in money, but labor at clearing land. This school was in the southwestern section of the township. The first school meeting was held also in 1827. A school house was erected in 1832, near the northeastern corner of the township, principally through the efforts of Daniel G. Barker. Sallie Fowler was the first teacher at this school.
The first practitioner of medicine known in the township, was Dr. Moses Saunders, of Peru. He, for a number of years, had the whole of what little practice there was in the settlement. Afterwards, Dr. William M. Ladd, of Fitch- ville, and Dr. Morton, of Greenwich, practiced in the township. The only resi- dent physician of any note, in Ripley, was Dr. Cyrus Paine, who began here in 1833 and continued in practice for about five years.
For a number of years after the first settlement was made there was but one road in the township upon which travel was possible. This was the one running east and west through the center. The timber had been chopped along the line, but the road was unimproved, and it was only with difficulty that vehicles could be moved over it. The road cut through the township for Harrison's army to pass through, was grown over with bushes and small timber, and it was allowed to remain in this condition for some time after the settlement was commenced. Many of the early settlers cut their way into the township through the primeval forest.
Digliced by Google
264
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
The first store in Ripley township was opened here by Uvat Close.
There was a mail route through Ripley before the township was settled, upon which a man went once a week, between Mansfield and Norwalk. The first eastern mail was carried from New Haven through Ripley, Greenwich, Ruggles and Sullivan. . For a few years the settlers were obliged to go to the older settled townships for their mail; but about 1830 a postoffice was established at the locality now known as Edwards' Corners, and the Rev. Joseph Edwards was made postmaster. When Delphi begun to be a place of trade, the postoffice was removed there, and designated as Ripleyville.
RIDGEFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Ridgefield township, according to the original survey and numbering, is township number four, and range twenty-three. Ranges commence at the east line of the reserve, and five miles to the range. Townships are numbered from south to north, consequently the east line of the township is one hundred and fifteen miles from the east line of the state, and the south line of the town- ship is fifteen miles north of the southern base line of the Connecticut Western Reserve and Firelands. The township as a whole is quite level, it might be termed a plateau, but along the streams there are some high banks, or bluffs, the streams having worn deep channels, and in the northeast corner of the township it is somewhat broken or rolling.
Ridgefield township was divided into four sections, and these were again divided into two-hundred-acre lots, making twenty lots in each section.
It is bounded on the north by Oxford township, Erie county ; south by Peru ; east by Norwalk, and west by Lyme townships.
The east branch of the Huron river enters the township from the south, crossing the southern boundary on lot six, in section one. Its course is slightly east of north, flowing from the township on the east line, lot two in the second section. The west branch of the Huron river is formed from two streams, which cross the south line of the township ; one on lots one and six in section four, and the other on lot sixteen in the same section. Uniting on lot seven they form the main stream. This flows a general northerly direction to near the center of Monroeville village. Here the course changes to due east, thence a northeasterly direction, and, after many devious turnings, crosses the north line of the town- ship on lot fifteen in the second section. Another stream flows from the south- west, and empties its waters into the west branch, in Monroeville village. This is known as Frink run, from the fact that William Frink was the first to build a habitation on its bank. Frink run and the west branch of the Huron river divide the township. and on the northeast side of these streams the land is of the nature of prairie, and generally of a deep rich soil, with small islands and groves of small timber. Another small stream enters the township from the west, flows east-northeast and empties into the west branch on lot fifteen, sec- tion second. It is called Seymour brook, from the fact that a man named Seymour was killed by the Indians, in 1812, while engaged in cutting a hee- tree, which stood on its banks. On the south and east side of Frink run and the west branch of the Huron river, the lands were heavily timbered, and possess a
Di zed by Google
-
L
EAST MAIN STREET, LOOKING EAST FROM JAMES STREET, NEW LONDON. OHIO.
Digmoed by Google
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FILMDAT.UNS R L
Digitized by Google
267
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
deep. rich, loamy soil, not excelled perhaps, by any township of the Firelands in productiveness.
The township is underlain with a slate rock, from seven to ten feet below the surface.
In the early settlement of the township, game of all kinds was very plenty. as were also fish in the streams.
Numerous parties of the Wyandot and other tribes of Indians had a habita- tion in early times along the river. They passed the time in hunting, fishing, making baskets, ax helves, etc., and were generally quiet and peaceable, except when under the influence of "fire-water," or whisky. During the War of 1812. two inmates of the Parker block house in Milan, Seymour and Pixley, were en- gaged in cutting a "bee-tree," standing on the south side of the small stream flowing through the Clary farm. They had nearly completed their labors, when they were fired upon by a party of cowardly Indians, and Seymour instantly killed. Pixley ran, but becoming entangled in the brushwood, was captured, and remained a prisoner for many months.
William Frink is thought to be the first white man that contracted for land in Ridgefield township, for the purpose of settlement. His contract is dated in 1811, and was for the south part of lot number five in the fourth section. Frink built the first house in the township. It was of logs and stood near the site of the house now owned by Samuel Clock. Frink was more hunter than farmer, and when Seth Brown came into the township, in the spring of 1812, Frink sold his contract and left the county. Very little is now known of his history. either before or since he left the township, except that he was eventually found dead in Seneca county. He was one of those characters who prefer the solitude of the wilderness.
Ridgefield township was organized the first Monday in December. 1815, and comprised the territory now included in the townships of Ridgefield, Sherman, Lyme, and the south half of Oxford. The first election was held in the spring of 1816, at the house of Joseph F. Read, on lot sixteen in section two.
Schuyler Van Rensselaer was the first postmaster in Ridgefield township.
The first white child born in the township of Ridgefield, was a son to Seth and Sarah Brown, born August 29, 1815.
The pioneer wedding in the township was Thomas Dickey to Miss Elizabeth Myers. It transpired in April, 1819. This couple died in Ridgefield, the wife in 1854, and the husband, January 10, 1879.
The first school house in the township was erected on lot number two hun- dred and seventy-two, in Monroeville village. It was, doubtless, built of logs, but the date of its construction, the writer could not ascertain. George Burt was the first teacher and he was paid ten dollars per month for his services.
In 1818 a Baptist church was organized in Ridgefield township, composed of members residing in the territory now embraced in Huron and Erie counties. The meetings of this body were held in different localities until 1835 when, by mutual consent, the church was permanently located in Norwalk. This was the first church organization in the township.
The first house in the township was built by Richard and Henry Burt, in 1817. The sawmill was built first, and the gristmill soon afterward.
0kg (60 by Google
268
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
A grist and sawmill was next built by George Myers, in the northeast part of the township. These were located on the Huron river.
Major Underhill built a sawmill soon after. This was on the east branch. lot three, section one.
In the first section of Ridgefield township, on lots number two and three, are found remains of ancient earthworks. It will be remembered the east branch of Huron river enters the township from the east on the corner of lot number three. In the first section there is a stream known as the Peru branch, which flows into the east branch on lot number three, where its course is turned north. These streams make three high banks or bluffs, which lie nearly in a triangular form. Upon these are earthwork fortifications of a circular form. There was also on lot number eighteen in the second section, on the east side of the west branch of the Huron river, an ancient mound of small size.
In the fourth section is located a circular earthwork, enclosing an area of, perhaps, ten acres. The indications are that a stockade formerly surmounted the present embankment. Immediately south of this are a number of mounds. In these, as in the others mentioned above, human bones have been found, in- dicating to a certainty that these elevations are the burial places of a race for- merly inhabiting the country, but long since extinct.
FOUR CORNERS.
Dr. Daniel Tilden was undoubtedly the pioneer settler at the "Corners." The date of his coming was in 1817 or 1818. The next settler was, without doubt, the grandfather of Jay Cooke. Lewis Stone was the next settler and Martin Vroman the fourth.
Colonel James Smith settled at "Four Corners" in 1828. He purchased the hemp machine property in 1832 : made brick for several years, removed to Monroe- ville in 1837.
A postoffice was established here as early as 1835, and Edward Cook com- missioned postmaster.
The corners did not settle rapidly ; in fact, the foregoing are all who may be regarded as pioneers : John Seymour, now of Lyme township, bought the Vro- man property, and to him belongs the honor of selling the first merchant goods at the "corners." He sold to Lewis Stone. The second store was established by John K. Campbell in about 1835.
As early as 1830, and possibly earlier, the old stone school house was built. Prior to this, however, a school was held in one room of Martin Vroman's house. The teacher was a man named Perkins. This was as early as 1825. Re- ligious services were held in the school house until the erection of the present church.
A society of the Sons of Temperance was established at quite an early date, and also a lodge of the I. O. G. Templars.
SHERMAN TOWNSHIP.
Sherman township is number three, range twenty-four, and was thus named in honor of Taylor Sherman, one of the directors of the Firelands company. The
0kg xed by Google
269
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
name was given at a meeting of the directors held at New Haven, Connecticut, November 9, 1808.
It is bounded as follows : on the north by Lyme township, south by Norwich township, east by Peru township, and west by the townships of Thompson and Reed, in Seneca county.
At this time the lands were divided by lot among those holding "sufferer's" claims.
The surface is generally level, and the soil principally clay. Along the borders of the streams it is mixed with yellow sand, and is easily tilled. Away from the streams the soil is harder to work, but is productive, and improves very much with proper culture. This township contains but little waste land.
Daniel Sherman, (son of Taylor Sherman and uncle of General W. T. Sher- man) Burwell Fitch and Samuel Seymour, were the first white settlers of the township. The year of their arrival was 1812. They were from Norwalk, Con- necticut, and the last end of their journey was over what was then known as the Portage road, their teams being the first which traveled over it. The first night after leaving Newcomb's in Bronson, was spent in the woods. They were not accustomed to this sort of a life, and were disturbed and considerably alarmed at the noise of the wild animals with which the surrounding woods abounded. They immediately commenced improvements, in the second section. The first clearing was made on Sherman's land, and the next on that of Burwell Fitch. The first house in the township was built on the land of the latter.
Most of the early settlers located in the first, third and fourth sections, the second not being in the market. No particular effort was made by the original owners to draw settlers that way, except, perhaps, by the Lockwoods. In 1814, land was held at one dollar and fifty cents per acre .- Blanchard came this year and bought fifty acres of land. Daniel Sherman gave him fifty acres more to induce him to settle, and the year following he began clearing his farm.
At the first meeting of the commissioners of Huron county, held August 1, 1815, Sherman was attached to Greenfield township, and in December of the same year was detached, and together with the south half of Oxford was united with Ridgefield. About the year 1820 it was united with Norwich, but no record is given of it. March 6, 1827, Norwich was detached, and Sherman has since remained a distinct township. The first general election, while united with Norwich, was held in October 10, 1820.
The first election on record after the separation from Norwich was held April 6, 1829, at which time fifteen votes were cast.
The first school was taught by George Hanford in about 1824 or 1825 in a building standing on lot number eighteen in the third section. There were some eight or ten scholars in attendance. In 1827 or 1828 the township was divided into two school districts, termed the east and west districts. The first school house was built on lot number nineteen in the first section, and the first public school was taught by Sarah Mason, one of the early settlers of Norwalk. She received the first public money that ever came into the township for school purposes, and was paid off in silver half dollars. She had fourteen or fifteen scholars.
Dly Zed by Google
270
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
The first sermon preached in Sherman township was, without doubt, by Rev. Alva Coe, at the house of Daniel Sherman. It was early in the settlement. The Methodist ministers were carly upon the scene, and organized a church. Meet- ings were held at private houses, usually at Joseph La Barre's and William Williams'.
There was at one time a large and flourishing lodge of Good Templars in the township. This has gone out of existence.
The first death in the township, was a child of R. S. Paine, date not remem- bered. The body was interred in Lyme township. The second death was the wife of Daniel Sherman, in 1821. She was buried on the farm of her husband, in what is now the burying ground, in lot number six in the third section.
The first frame house in the township, was built by Henry M. Read, soon after 1820. It was located on Slate run. Coles Bloomer built the first brick house in Sherman township.
The pioneer "tavern" was opened by Coles and Albert Bloomer, in 1834. The present "Sherman house" was established by David Weaver.
Daniel Sherman received a commission as postmaster, but did not accept the office. Rufus S. Paine was next commissioned, and became the first postmaster. After a few years, the office was removed to Weaver's corners, and C. A. Bloomer was duly commissioned postmaster. In 1871, a mail route was estab- lished from Bellevue to Lodi, and afterward an office was established at the German settlement, called Bismark, one mile south of the center, with C. West- rick postmaster.
In about 1835. Messrs. Isaac and David Underhill of Ridgefield township, established a store at Weaver's corners. This closed out after a few years.
Few of the present inhabitants can appreciate the privations endured by the pioneer settlers of Sherman township. Their milling was done at Eldridge, Cold Creek, and sometimes Greenfield. Wheat and corn were the principal produc- tions, but there was no market. At one time thirty-six bushels of corn were paid for one barrel of salt. Not many of the necessaries, and fewer of the luxuries, of life were enjoyed by them. Wolf scalps and Owl creek bills consti- tuted a large portion of the currency.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.