USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume I > Part 30
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The character of the population that took possession of Wakeman was of the genuine Yankee sort : they were, almost without exception, from Connecticut. Most of them came from Southbury, New Haven county, some from Litchfield and Fairfield counties, and a few from other parts of the State.
The first family to take up its abode in the wilderness was that of Augustin Canfield. Mr. Canfield started from New Milford. Litchfield county, with his wife and four children, his brother Burton Canfield, Seymour Johnson and his hired man, for the Firelands on the 29th day of April, 1817. While journeying through the "four-mile woods" west of Buffalo, the emigrants experienced a breakdown, one of the axletrees of the wagon breaking off at the wheel. The company fortunately possessed sufficient mechanical skill to repair the damage, cutting out a piece of timber from a tree and splicing it on to the remaining part of the axle, and thus completed the journey without further mishap.
Many anecdotes are related illustrative of the condition of the roads through Cattarangus swamp, or, more particularly. that portion of it known by early set- tlers as the "four mile woods." A traveler, seeing a hat floating on the mud, pro- cured a pole and tried to secure it, when a voice from below cried out. "Let me alone ; I have a good horse under me, and I shall get through all right."
Mr. Canfield and his associates arrived in Wakeman on the 23d day of May, performing the long journey in about three weeks. He settled on lot number twenty-three in the third section, building his cabin near the location of the pres- ent residence of John G. Sherman. The house was fourteen feet square, built of rough logs, with a roof of elm bark and a floor of the same. Two large boxes, or trunks, placed together constituted the only table in the house, and upon which the scanty meal was spread. The house being without a fireplace, the cooking was done by a log fire outside. This primitive habitation was occupied about six weeks, when it was replaced by a more substantial log house, in which the family lived until 1822, when it was sold, with seventy acres on the south part of the lot, to Justin Sherman, Mr. Canfield taking up his residence on the north part of the same lot, where he spent the remainder of his life.
The next man that penetrated the forests of Wakeman was Amial P. Pierce. He arrived with his family, consisting of wife and four children, and a hired man, about three weeks after the Canfields, making the journey from Connecticut with an ox team. He made his location on the adjoining lot, number twenty-two. He always resided on this location.
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He was a man of large size and of great physical strength, excelling in this respect, any other of the pioneers with the exception of Mr. Bristol. He had borne the rank of captain in Connecticut, and the title was applied to him here for many years, and until that of "Squire," owing to his long service as justice of the peace, was substituted.
The first settlers found this township heavily timbered, the principal varieties being whitewood, white oak, beech, maple, black walnut, butternut, chestnut, hick- ory and basswood. On the river bottoms the sycamore, elm and sugar maple were chiefly found.
Among the early settlers of Wakeman township, were Barzilla S. Hendricks and family, in 1819. Abram Bronson and wife, in 1820. Sheldon smith and family and Burton French, in 1820. Justus Minor and family, in 1821. Chester Manville and Peter Shesman, in 1822. And about the same time came Justin Sherman, Philo Sherman, Leveritt Hill, and others. In 1823, Merritt Hyde, Amos Clark. A few years later came Russell Barnes, William Beers, Sheldon Barnes, Rufus J. Bunce, Johnson Wheeler, Isaac Todd, Elias Bell, Martin Bell, Simeon Brown, Cyrus Strong, Lewis Beers, Bela Coe, Reuben Hall, Mr. Parsons. Also comparatively early in different portions of the township: John Brooks, Jabez Hanford, Hiram Rumsey, Henry T. Peck, Isaac Haskins, Dr. Curtis and Cap- tain Bell.
WAKEMAN.
Wakeman is a town of considerable importance on the Lake Shore Railroad, eleven miles east of Norwalk. It supports a local paper, which is commendable, showing the intelligence of its people.
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DR. E. N. HAWLEY
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BIOGRAPHICAL
E. N. HAWLEY, M. D.
Having made careful preparation for the practice of medicine Dr. Hawley is now successfully following his profession in Norwalk, his ability bringing him prominently before the public in this connection. A native of Erie county, Ohio, he was born August 18, 1856. His father, Noah M. Hawley, was born in Con- necticut and went to Rochester, New York, with his parents, remov- ing thence to Erie county, Ohio, when twenty years of age. On this trip he also accompanied his parents and his father Allen Hawley. died in Erie county at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He served as a general in the Revolu- tionary war, giving effective aid to the colonists in their struggle for indepen- dence. He came of the same family as the Hawleys, well known in Connecticut. In Ohio Noah M. Hawley turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and throughout the remainder of his life was connected with farming interests in Erie county, being numbered among the representative tillers of the soil in that portion of the state. He died in 1888, at the age of seventy-six years, having long survived his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Olive Sayles and who passed away in Erie county in 1845. Later he married again, his second union being with Abigail Mowry. Dr. Hawley of this review, has one own sister, Laura, and three half-sisters and one half-brother-Dr. Charles A. Hawley, now living in Washington, D. C.
In the country schools Dr. E. N. Hawley pursued his early education and afterward attended the normal school at Milan, Ohio. He then taught in a district school for two years and for one year was employed as a teacher in the Milan Normal College, but he regarded this merely as a preliminary step to other professional labor for it was his purpose to become a member of the medical fraternity. He studied medicine for one year in the Bellevue Medical College of New York city, after which he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and ma- triculated in the medical department of the State University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881. He then commenced practice in Sandusky, where he continued for a year, and subsequently spent six years in Wakeman, Huron county, but seeking a broader field of labor he removed to the county seat
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and for twenty years has been successfully following his profession in Nor- walk.
His ability in his chosen field of labor is widely recognized, both by the mem- bers of the medical fraternity and the general public. He is very careful in the diagnosis of a case, is conscientious in the performance of all professional duties and in all of his work is actuated by a broad spirit of humanitarianism. The scientific side of the profession also makes strong appeal to him and he closely studies every phase of his work, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress as manifested in the work of the medical fraternity. He belongs to the County and State Medical Society, the Cleveland Academy of Medicine, and the American Medical Association.
In 1900 Dr. Hawley was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Riley, a daughter of John Riley, an old resident of Norwalk. They have one son. Edwin Charles Riley, born October 3. 1904. Dr. Hawley is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and other organizations. He has been termed a good man and a good citizen-a high measure of praise, in- dicating as it does fidelity and honor in all the relations of public and private life.
HON. GEO. T. THOMAS
Hon. George T. Thomas, ex-speaker of the Ohio house of representatives and recognized as one of the republican leaders of the state, is now engaged in the practice of law at Norwalk, where he has followed his profession since April, 1887, save for the period of his service as probate judge. He was born at Green- wich, Ohio, September 11, 1856, and is a son of Uri Baker and Ellen ( McOmber) Thomas. The former was born October 24, 1818, and was a son ~{ George and Adeline (Baker) Thomas. George Thomas was born in Rhode Island, May 9, 1795, and on the 16th of August, 1812, married Adeline Baker in Otsego county, New York. She was born November 25. 1796. They reared a family of nine children and Mr. Thomas became a well-to-do farmer of Otsego county, New York. About 1858 he removed westward to Ohio and settled on a farm in Green- field township, Huron county. Throughout his entire life he carried on general agricultural pursuits and he died at Greenwich, November 5. 1882. He had long survived his wife, who died April 30. 1859. Their children were as follows: an infant daughter, who was born September 4. 1813, and died the same day ; another daughter, who was born and died on the 14th of March, 1815; George Hull, who was born April 15, 1816, and died in February, 1905; Uri Baker, the father of George T. Thomas : Levi Ward, who was born January 19, 1821, and died in 1861 ; a son, who was born and died June 3, 1823 ; Sylvanus Ward, who was born Jan- uary 20, 1825, and died in May, 1885: Washington Lafayette, born April 15. 1827; Adeline Alvira, born March 30. 1829; Andrew Jackson, who was born February 3. 1832, and died November 9, 1891 ; Lucena Icebenda, born February 24, 1835 : and Walter B. Wallace, who was born December 18, 1839, and died April 4, 1862.
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Of this family Uri Baker Thomas, the father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation and in addition to tilling the soil he raised and dealt in live stock and in wool. He was married April 16. 1849, to Miss Ellen R. McOmber, who was born May 21, 1829, near Castleton, Vermont. Both acquired a fair education in the schools of their native states, but neither were college graduates. Mr. Thomas came to Ohio in the year 1846 and settled on his farm in Greenwich town- ship, Huron county, where he continued to live until his death, July 14. 1904. Ile long survived his wife who passed away March 25, 1861. By his first marriage there were born five children: Orr Uri, who was born May 30, 1850. and died February 10, 1904; Spencer, who was born in 1852 and died in infancy ; George T., of this review ; Dora Ellen, who was born August 16, 1858 and died in May. 1887 ; and Luna A., who was born in 1860 and died in infancy. The mother of these children having departed this life in 1861, the father was married in 1864 to Miss Myra B. Stowe. Their children were Walter S., who died in infancy ; and Myra Augusta. The latter was born June 3, 1869, and is now the wife of Professor Lewis E. Akeley, of the University of South Dakota, at Vermillion, that state.
George T. Thomas attended the district schools and also the preparatory schools of Oberlin college. Later he was a student in the preparatory depart- ment of Buchtel college, at Akron, Ohio. He spent about a year in each place but did not graduate and in addition to the common branches he studied algebra, plain geometry, physical geography, Greene's analysis of the English language. physics, or the elements of philosophy, history, and later under Professor Matti- son at Berea, Ohio, studied Latin to some extent. He has since supplemented his studies by considerable reading and by the study of law. After leaving school he was a teacher in the common or district schools for a number of terms, covering a period of about four years, this being his initial step in professional service.
On the 10th of April, 1880, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Em- ma J. Miller, a resident of Fairfield township, Huron county, and removed from his father's farm to the village of Greenwich in August, 1880. While engaged in teaching school he took up the study of law and after thorough preliminary read- ing was admitted to the bar February 2, 1886. He removed from the village of Greenwich to Norwalk in 1887 and here entered upon the practice of law, which he has followed continuously since save for six years, during which time he was probate judge of Huron county, so acting from February 9, 1891, until February 9. 1897. In his practice he is regarded as a safe counsellor and a strong advo- cate, his arguments being based upon a reasonably comprehensive knowledge of the law, while his application of legal principles is correct. His ability has brought him into prominence among the foremost representative citizens of this section of the state.
Mr. Thomas has long been recognized as one of the prominent representatives of the republican party in this part of Ohio. He has been called upon to fill var- ious local offices and later higher political honors have awaited him. He served as mayor of the village of Greenwich from 1882 until 1884; was township clerk of Greenwich township for one term, in 1884-5; was a member of the board of education of the Greenwich village district in 1885; and treasurer of the board for one term. In 1891 he was chosen probate judge and by reelection was con-
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tinued in the office for six years. For three terms he represented Huron county in the state legislature, taking his seat on the Ist of January, 1900, and thus serv- ing until January 1, 1906. During the last term of two years, from January 1, 1904, until January 1, 1906, he was the speaker of the Ohio house of representa- tives. A strict parliamentarian, his rulings were always just, fair and equitable, winning him the respect of the opposition as well as the members of his own party. He has been an influencing power in republican politics in Ohio for many years and served as chairman of the Huron county republican executive committee for three years, from 1894 until 1896 inclusive. His opinions carry weight in party counsels and he is recognized as a public speaker of ability and is clear, strong and convincing in argument in any position he assumes.
On the 10th of April, 1880, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Emma J. Miller, at Norwalk, Ohio. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Jones) Miller, of an English family who emigrated from England abut the year 1849 and settled in Fairfield township, Huron county, Ohio. They reared a family of nine children. six sons and three daughters, and Mrs. Thomas, who is the eldest daughter, was born December 13, 1859. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been born an only child, Alton O. Thomas, who is a graduate of the Norwalk high school and of the Buchtel college at Akron, Ohio, of the class of 1902.
Mr. Thomas is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having taken the degrees of the subordinate lodge and the encampment. He has twice been representative in the grand lodge and also in the grand encampment for two terms. He is now past counsellor in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is an alert, enterprising man, quickly utilizing the opportunities which are presented in the legal and in the political arena, and in a profession where advancement must de- pend entirely upon individual merit he has attained high rank.
ORRIN M. DOANE.
Orrin M. Doane, a well known and prosperous resident of Bronson township, has been engaged in operating machinery for the threshing and pressing of hay throughout the greater part of his business career. He was born on the 7th of February, 1851, a son of Elon Doane, who in early manhood made his way from New York to Ohio, becoming one of the first settlers of Huron county. The district was still largely wild and undeveloped but with characteristic energy he set to work, cleared a tract of land for farming purposes and was successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. When he was called to his final rest in 1892 the community mourned the loss of one of its most worthy and respected pioneer residents. He and his wife reared a family of six sons and three daughters.
Orrin M. Doane attended the common schools in pursuit of an education and on starting out in life on his own account took up the work of general farming. During the greater portion of his business career, however, he has devoted his attention to the operation of machinery for the threshing and pressing of hay,
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making extensive purchases of hay, which he presses and bales and then sells to shippers. In all of his undertakings he has met with a gratifying and well mer- ited measure of prosperity, owing to his untiring industry and capable manage- ment and is widely recognized as one of the substantial, progressive and repre- sentative citizens of his community.
On the 23d of December, 1873, Mr. Doane was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Templer, whose birth occurred May 11, 1856. Her father, Valentine Templer, was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, on the 12th of May, 1832, being the youngest of nine children. On the 29th of December, 1853, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Christie Ann McDonald, whose birth oc- curred in Schnectady, New York, April 27, 1828, and by whom he had six chil- dren. In 1865 he brought his family to Ohio and continued an honored and respected resident of Huron county until the time of his demise, which occurred in 1895. Though not affiliated with any church, he was a man of high moral character, whose exemplary life well entitled him to the regard and esteem which were uniformly accorded him. His wife passed away at her home in Olena on the 13th of July, 1906. The marriage of Orrin M. and Harriet A. (Templer) Doane has been blessed with the following children: Arthur E., who was born July 1, 1874; George L., whose natal day was September 26, 1878; Mrs. Anna M. Garner, who was born on the IIth of December, 1880; and Roy V., whose birth occurred January 14, 1894. The family are well known in the county and Mr. Doane and his wife have many warm friends who esteem them for their genuine worth and many good qualities.
HENRY K. WHITE.
Henry K. White, a substantial and representative farmer of Bronson town- ship, was born September 25, 1846, in Steuben, Greenfield township, Huron county. He is a son of William White, who was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, February 15, 1811, and was a son of Nathaniel and Nancy A. White. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade and built the courthouse at Sandusky, Ohio, about 1833. He afterward removed to Huron county where he cut the timber and built a log house for himself. As the years passed and the country became thickly settled his carefully managed business affairs made him quite a wealthy man. He mar- ried Lucy Holland, who was born in Ireland July 2, 1814, a daughter of John Holland, who came from the Emerald Isle to Ohio. In the family of William and Lucy (Holland) White were the following children : Thomas, Lewis, Frances, Maria, Samuel, Henry, Fred, Jane and Charles.
Henry K. White has spent his entire life in this county, where he was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His life has been a busy and useful one, his business affairs being capably managed so that he has won a fair measure of success. He has also been quite active in other lines. He has always been a dem- ocrat in politics, taking an active and helpful interest in the party. He is asso- ciated with his brother, Fred A. White, in the ownership of a farm on which they
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live and they also have the agency for various kinds of fertilizers, having been connected with that line of business for more than ten years. They have also handled agricultural implements and machinery and have been very successful in that branch of their business. They also have some good track horses and some well bred colts.
Fred A. White, his brother's partner in business, was born in Greenfield township, Huron county, April 6, 1856, and was reared in the usual manner of farm lads who divide their time between the acquirement of an education and the work of the farm. On the 12th of December, 1878, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah Kennedy, who was born in September. 1856. She is a daugh- ter of John and Priscilla ( Fitzgerald ) Kennedy, of Richland county, Ohio. They have become the parents of a daughter, Minnie May, who was born July 13. 1880. and is now the wife of Claude A. Terry, of Elyria, Ohio. Fred A. White and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and his political allegiance is given to the democracy, but he never seeks nor desires office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He and his brother have resided upon the farm where they now live for forty-six years and keep the property in most mod- ern and up-to-date shape. They are well known as excellent farmers and horse- men and their business affairs, capably conducted, are winning for them sub- stantial financial reward.
DAVID B. NIMS.
David B. Nims, a farmer of Lyme township. Huron county, and the owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres of land that lies partly in this county and partly in Erie. was born on this farm, November 18, 1841, the son of Worthing- ton and Betsy ( Barnard) Nims. Both parents were born in Shelborn. Massa- chusetts, 1803 being the year of the father's birth. He came to this part of the country with his father at the age of twenty, selecting Strongs Ridge as his first abiding place. A few years later, he bought the farm his son now lives upon. Here he built first a log cabin, which he replaced some time later by a frame house, built on that section of the farm that lay in Groton township, Erie county. for the line dividing that county from Huron, passes through the farm. In this house, David B. Nims was born, but as the years passed and brought their meas- ure of success in increased returns from the soil, this frame house ceased to sat- isfy, and Mr. Nims built a third house, a large and substantial one, which is now the home of his son and has well withstood the wear of time. Three children were born to Mr. Nims: William, deceased; Helen, the wife of Melvin Wood; and David B. He was a man prominent in the work of the Lyme Congregational church and when death called him, in 1896, he left many to regret his loss.
David B. Nims has always lived in Lyme township with the exception of a very short period. His education was derived in the district schools, but the more vital lessons for his preparation for life were obtained at home under the wise guidance of his parents. From his childhood, he has been learning the things that meant success in a farmer's life and wittingly chose agriculture as his vocation in life. When he first left the tutelage of the home and engaged in farming for himself. it was on a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Milan, Ohio. After
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DAVID B. NIMS
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a year's residence upon this, he sold it to purchase another, of one hundred and forty-five acres, in Huron county, buying it of Mr. Burr. Upon this, he lived and worked for perhaps ten years, when he was called home by the death of his brother to take charge of the farm where he has lived ever since, during the time having made many improvements that have increased the value of the land.
In November, 1866, Mr. Nims was united in marriage to Miss Sabra Steb- bins, a daugliter of Alfred and Eliza (Fanning) Stebbins of Lyme township. One child has been born to the couple, Alfred Nims, whose birth occurred on the 20th of September, 1870. When he grew to manhood, he married Miss Jessie Wills, a daughter of George Wills. The couple make their home with his father on the farm.
Mr. Nims and his family are staunch members of the Lyme Congregational church, and in their daily lives put in practice those things which are taught es- pecially on the first day of the week. A member of the older generation of those who till the soil, Mr. Nims is yet active in all his work and progressive, being quick to see and grasp any opportunity that will mean the improvement of his land and an increase in the returns that it will render him.
MERRITT H. HYDE.
Merritt H. Hyde, a well known and successful agriculturist of Wakeman township, where he owns an excellent tract of land comprising ninety-two acres, has also been extensively engaged in threshing since 1895. This farm has re- mained his place of residence from his birth to the present time, his natal day being August 7, 1862. His parents were Merritt M. and Elizabeth (Church) Hyde. The paternal grandfather, Merritt Hyde, came with his family to Huron county from Connecticut in 1816, making the entire journey by ox team. The farm on which he took up his abode is the one which is now in possession of our subject. At the time of his arrival here, there were only thirteen white people in Wakeman township and the land was all covered with timber. He traded his Connecticut property for Firelands in this county and became possessed of about four hundred acres of land at one time, on which not a stick had been cut. The first necessary task was the erection of a cabin home and with the assistance of the few neighbors a rude dwelling was soon constructed. Then began the work of cutting down the trees and preparing the land for cultivation and, by dint of hard and unremitting labor, this, too, was accomplished. Merritt Hyde was a man of strong character, who faced the hardships and privations of pioneer ex- istence with undaunted courage and a resolute spirit. The country was yet thickly populated with Indians and he did considerable trading with the red men. For a time he served as an Indian agent for the government and his official duties some- times called him as far as the head of Lake Superior. In those early days he often found the struggle for existence a difficult one, but as time passed by and the district was gradually opened up to civilization, his efforts were rewarded with success and he became a prosperous and influential citizen, possessing a Jarge fortune at the time of his death. His labors proved an important factor
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