USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 32
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DANIEL JAY MORSE.
Daniel Jay Morse is now living retired in North Fairfield but for many years was closely associated with farming interests in Huron county. Prospering as the years went by he acquired a handsome competence and when relieved of the neces- sity of further labor to provide a means of living, he took up his abode in town, there to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. He is not actively engaged in any busi- ness at the present time, save in loaning money. Few men have longer resided within the borders of the county than Mr. Morse, who is one of the native sons, his birth having occurred in Bronson township, on the 23d of March, 1836. There were still many evidences of pioneer life here at that time, for the railroads had not been built, much of the land was still uncultivated and through the dense forests roamed wild animals, while various kinds of wild game were to be seen. Great changes have since occurred and with the work of general progress and im- provement Mr. Morse has been identified. He comes of a family of English lin- eage. The first of the name of whom we have authentic record was John Morse, who was commissioned a captain in the Colonial army before the Revolutionary war by King George III, and the commission is still in possession of his descend-
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ents. At the time the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppres- sion he became allied with American interests and participated in the war for inde- pendence holding the rank of captain in the Continental army. His grandfather, Ezekiel Morse, was born in Massachusetts and went from New England to Roch- ester, New York, during the war of 1812. He fought with the American troops throughout the war and took up his abode in Rochester when it was a mere hamlet, he and his brother Enoch laying out the main street of the city. He was also one of the first aldermen of Rochester and was closely and prominently connected with the work of development and upbuilding during the formative period. At his death he was taken back to Rochester, where he was accorded a public burial by the city.
Daniel S. Morse, the father of Daniel J. Morse, was born in Washington, Mas- sachusetts, and came to Huron county, Ohio, about 1820 or 1822, making the jour- ney by way of the lake to the town of Huron, where he hired an ox team and in that manner proceeded to Greenwich. He remained there for only a year, however, after which he settled upon a farm in Bronson township, where he remained until called to his final rest. This is the only farm in Bronson township that has never passed out of possession of the family nor never had a mortgage upon it. He dili- gently pursued his work in developing and improving his property and became rec- ognized as one of the leading agriculturists of the community. Moreover, he was a prominent and influential citizen and filled various positions of public trust in his township. He acted for at time as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial and for twenty-six years prior to his death he was the trusted and reliable treasurer of the township. Both he and his wife were consistent mem- bers of the Congregational church, in the work of which he took an active and helpful part, serving for many years as one of the deacons and doing everything in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the society. In early manhood he had married Lucy Jeffords, also a native of Washington, Massa- chusetts, and they became the parents of nine children, Lois, Mary L., Edward, Daniel Jay, Laura, Theodore, Martha, Jacob and Ellen. Of this family Edward, Daniel and Jane are the only ones now living. The homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, which the father long owned and which he left at the time of his death, still remains undivided.
Daniel Jay Morse was reared on the old home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lost of the agriculturist in his efforts to profitably till the soil. When but a boy he took his place in the fields as soon as old enough to handle the plow and continued to engage actively in general farm- ing until he retired from business life. His education was acquired in the public schools and in the school of experience he has also learned many valuable lessons. That his methods of farm work were practical and brought substantial results is indicated in the position to which he has attained among the men of affluence in the county.
In 1859 Mr. Morse was united in marriage to Miss Orpha Watrous, a daugh- ter of Cyrus and Emily (Barber) Watrous, of Erie county, Ohio. Three children were born of that marriage: Charles Watrous, who was born in 1861 and is a rail- road man ; William S., born in 1865 ; and Emma, who was born in 1874 and is now deceased. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Morse was again married on the 22d of
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September, 1907, to Eva Belle Tremley, a daughter of William and Sarah Ann (Hoffmire) Tremley. Mr. and Mrs. Morse are now living in North Fairfield, he having sold his farm and taken up his abode in town, there to enjoy well earned rest. His money is now loaned out and he derives from his investments a good in- come. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist church. His life has always been honorable and upright and has ever been in conformity to a high standard of business principles. Neither has he been indifferent to good citi- zenship but has sought the good of the community through his cooperation in many public measures. He has lived to witness remarkable changes in the county, in- cluding the building of railroads, the introduction of the telegraph and the tele- phone, the adoption of all modern farm machinery and the employment of all mod- ern means for intellectual, aesthetic and moral progress as well. He rejoices in what has been accomplished and has given stalwart support to many movements which have been directly beneficial to this section of the state.
FRANKLIN C. WOOD.
Among the men of Greenwich village, distinguished for exceptional bravery is Franklin C. Wood, the town marshall, who was born November 1, 1877, in Cass township, Richland county, Ohio, and is a son of John W. and Mary E. (Darling) Wood. Both parents were also natives of that township, to which the paternal grandfather, James C. Wood, had come from New York state. He was among the early settlers there and cleared the land of the heavy timber with which it was covered. As the township grew he became prominent in its affairs, and was one of the four that organized the republican party in Cass township. He himself did not serve in the Civil war, but he sent four sons to fight for their country, two of whom died in the service. Kellum succumbed to disease while with his regiment; William died from the effects of a wound received in the battle of Bull Run ; Charles served four years and after the war went to Kan- sas, where he died; and Andrew was in the one hundred days' service, and still lives in Shiloh, Ohio.
John W. Wood, the father of Franklin C. Wood, was too young to enlist. For many years, he was a farmer of Richland county and later of Huron county, and in the year 1906, removed to Greenwich village, where he has since resided with his family, pursuing the carpenter's trade. His wife's father, William E. Wood, was also an early settler in Cass township, Richland county, and was one of the four men who organized the republican party there. He was accidentally killed many years ago, by having his clothing caught in the tumbling rod of the old horse-power thresher. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Wood, became the parents of two children: Florence, who died in infancy ; and Franklin C., the subject of this sketch.
As a young lad and into the period of his young manhood, Franklin C. Wood lived and worked on his father's farm, receiving his education at the district schools of the county. He later entered upon the life and work of farming, which he pursued for several years after his marriage, until 1906, when he came to
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Greenwich village. In August of the following year, he was appointed marshall to fill an unexpired term and in November was duly elected by popular vote to the same office for a term of two years. On more than one occasion, the people have had reason to congratulate themselves on the wisdom of their choice, for Mr. Wood has proved a most valuable officer, but perhaps never more than upon the morning of December 16, 1908, a day that has gone into the annals of the village, when Mr. Wood proved himself a man of stupendous courage and iron nerve. Even as he with all modesty recounts the occurrence, it is one that excites our admiration and wonder. In the early morning of December 16, 1908, while going upon his rounds, Mr. Wood encountered four men in the street, evidently intent upon robbing the banks of the village. Upon accosting them, he was led into a trap between some box cars standing on a side track, and then suddenly found that he was facing a brace of revolvers. He was ordered to throw up his hands, which he did, but his own revolver came up with them and one of the men fell dead from the shot which he pulled. This of course brought the remaining men upon him with renewed force; they fired on him and then engaged in a hand to hand struggle, in the course of which he was overpowered and left for uncon- scious, the men retiring to some distance to look after their fallen comrade. He was not so much used up as appeared, however, but managed to get his guns into working order again, and doubtless would have ended the life of another man, had they not discovered his activity and pounced upon him with increased vin- dictiveness, jumping on him, kicking him and literally trampling him into the ground, where they left him to make their own escape. Unconscious he was in- deed this time, but with the passage of the hours soon gained sufficient power to drag himself to a pool of water from which he revived himself sufficiently to call for assistance. There was immediately great commotion, the wounded mar- shal was put aboard a fast Big Four train, flagged for the purpose, and hurried to the hospital at Galion, where for many days his life hung by a slender thread. After six weeks, he was pronounced to be able to leave the physician's care and to go to his home in Greenwich, but even there the period of his confinement to his bed was prolonged for three months longer. He is now able to be about town, though he is still very weak from the many thrilling experiences through which he has passed the last being the fourth that almost resulted in death to him, though the three preceding ones were merely accidental. On the occasion of the first, he was kicked severely by a horse, the second time a tree fell on him, and on the third, he was caught in some machinery. In each case, he was so badly in- jured, that his life was despaired of, but on each occasion, as on this most recent, he has pulled through. It is needless to say that the three assailants on the night of December 16, escaped, but he who was killed was identified by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, as Edward Quinn, a criminal with a long record, who was sought for in many cities. It is believed that it was the intention of the men to rob at least one of the banks of Greenwich, and in recognition of the marshal's bravery and opportune frustration of the robbers' operations, a purse of substan- tial size was presented to him. The Casualty and Security Company, which carried burglar insurance on the banks, and the Ohio Bankers' Association each contributed one hundred dollars, and the subscriptions of the other banks and from the citzens of the village brought the sum up to twelve hundred and fifty-
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four dollars, which was paid him as a slight appreciation of the value of his services.
On the 12th of December, 1902, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Myrtle G. Martin, a daughter of Joseph and Julia (Weygant) Martin, of New London, where the father is living in retirement after an active life as a farmer. One child, Thelma G., has been born of this union. Mr. Wood and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she is also a member of the Ladies of the Maccabees. To the Knights of the Maccabees, Mr. Wood belongs and to the Greenwich Lodge, No. 640, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In poli- tics, he is a republican and is an effective party worker. After the incident nar- rated above, it is but repetition to say that he is a man of unflinching nerve, of fixed determination, and one who believes in doing right, because it is right, and while these qualities are inestimable they are fully appreciated by Mr. Wood's fellow citizens, a knowledge and satisfaction that is afforded to but comparatively few persons.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN DARLING.
A well impoved farm of ninety acres pays tribute to the labor and care be- stowed upon it by William Franklin Darling, one of Ohio's native sons, whose birth occurred in Richland county, January 2, 1856. He is a son of William and Lydia (Shoup) Darling, both natives of Richland county, Ohio, the former born in 1811. The father, who was the second white child born in that county, spent his entire life within its borders, passing away in 1874. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Lydia Shoup, while for his second wife he chose Miss Leah Wagner, a native of Crawford county. Two children were born unto the first union, Mary and William F.
No event of especial importance came to vary the routine of life for William Franklin Darling during the period of his boyhood and youth, which were spent on his father's farm amid the scenes and environments of rural life. He attended the district schools in the acquirement of his education, and under the capable di- rection of his father received thorough business training which well equipped him for the practical and responsible duties of life. He remained at home until his marriage and in the year following that event, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides and which has been in his possession for the past thirty-two years. He has directed his entire energies toward its further improvement, has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and has erected substantial, modern buildings, while upon the place are found all of the conveniences and accessories that go to make up a model farm. In the management of his affairs, he manifests excellent business ability, and his close application and untiring industry are the salient elements in the prosperity which he now enjoys.
Mr. Darling was united in marriage on the 30th of December, 1876, to Miss Catherine Wentz, who was born November 27, 1854, in Richland county, Ohio, her parents being Solomon and Catherine (Firewood) Wentz. She had three sisters and two brothers all younger than herself, namely: Mary, George, Anna,
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Clara and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Darling became the parents of three children, as follows : Effie, who was born in 1877, and married Joseph Hodge, by whom she has three children: Adon, Alice and Martha; Pearl, whose birth occurred in 1884; and Mary, born in 1890. The family are members of the Lutheran church at Shiloh, Ohio, in the work of which they are interested and to the support of which they are generous contributors. Mr. Darling gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but has no desire for office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business interests in which he is meeting withi signal suc- cess, being now ranked among the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Ripley township.
CALVIN WHITNEY.
The life record of Calvin Whitney was beautiful in its symmetry, in its pur- poses and its accomplishments. In him keen discernment and powers of manage- ment were well balanced with a charitable spirit and broad humanitarianism. Be- cause of this his work was of the utmost value in the public life of Norwalk and his history constitutes an important chapter in the annals of the city. He was born in Townsend, Huron county, Ohio, September 25, 1846, and was one of the six children of Charles and Roxanna ( Palmer) Whitney. The father's birth oc- curred in Shelby, Richland county, Ohio, on the 23d of September, 1812, and his father was Henry Whitney, who was born in 1791 in Norwalk, Connecticut. There he married Miss Lucy Grumman and in 1819 they made their way to the western border of civilization-for so it then seemed-and settled in Shelby, Rich- land county. The family is of English origin and was founded in this country by Henry Whitney, who emigrated irom England, where he was born, about 1620 He became one of the early residents of New England where his family was rep- resented for successive generations in the vicinity of Norwalk, Connecticut, until the removal to the west was made by Henry Whitney, who was the first of the name in Ohio.
Calvin Whitney in his boyhood days worked on the home farm and attended the country schools. He was apt and diligent in his studies, manifesting special fondness for mathematics and, encouraged by a loving mother, he mastered the elements of an English education and at the age of fifteen was much better equipped by mental training for the duties of life than most boys of his age. Lessons of industry, perseverance and integrity were also impressed upon his mind and in the course of years bore rich fruit. He was but eighteen years of age when he started out in life on his own account, undertaking the task of operating a small farm on the shares, but a hail storm ruined his crops and he concluded that Prov- idence did not intend him to follow farming. Therefore, in 1865 with his capital amounting to about four hundred dollars, he embarked in the hardwood lumber business, in which he soon established a credit and by which he won success from the start. His patronage grew rapidly until his sales aggregated about two hun- dred thousand dollars annually. He possessed superior ability for judging and
Calvin Whitney
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buying lumber and because of this was enabled to make judicious investments and profitable sales.
In the fall of 1875 the A. B. Chase Company was organized in Norwalk and on account of Mr. Whitney's superior knowledge of the lumber business, his rec- ord as an executive and the fact that he was a rising young business man of keen discrimination, his cooperation was sought as one of the incorporators of the company, which was organized for the manufacture of reed organs with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Whitney became one of its first directors and so continued until April, 1877, when on the death of A. B. Chase, he was elected the president of the A. B. Chase Company and continuously occupied that posi- tion until his demise. He saw the business grow from a comparatively small be- ginning to one of extensive proportions and in foreign lands as well as in America its product has a large sale. In what manner Mr. Whitney filled the presidency and caused a newly organized business company to be recognized as among the responsible, respected and prominent industries of the United States, is history with which nearly every one in Norwalk and every piano man in the country is familiar. A man of great versatility he readily adapted himself to changed con- ditions and to widely different lines of business-and always with success. The word fail had no place in his vocabulary. He knew that when one avenue of advancement seemed closed there were other paths which might be sought out and followed and he never relinquished an honorable purpose.
On the 5th of November, 1868, occurred the marriage of Calvin Whitney and Miss Marian Dean, a daughter of Royal Cady and Marian (Smith) Dean, of Townsend, Huron county, Ohio. They became the parents of four children : Ma- rian Daisy, the wife of E. B. Dillon, of Columbus ; Ruby L., of this city ; Ida C., now the wife of Amos W. Gardiner, of Houston, Texas ; and Warren Calvin, who is a prominent representative of the A. B. Chase Company. He was born in Norwalk, October 9, 1882, was educated in the schools of this city, in Ohio Uni- versity and in Princeton University, in which he was graduated with the class of 1906. He then entered into active relations with the A. B. Chase Company and now spends much of his time on the road in looking after the interests of the firm. He is a bright young man, fitted by education and training to follow in the foot- steps of his father. The wife and mother died November 4, 1901, and on the 25th of August, 1904, Mr. Whitney was married to Mrs. Urania A. Todd, who with the four children survives the husband and father.
Some time prior to his demise Mr. Whitney underwent a severe operation, from which he never fully recovered and after an illness lasting more than a year he passed away on the sixth day of June, 1909. His parents were members of the Baptist church for fifty years and he was reared in a religious atmosphere and became thoroughly in sympathy with work along moral lines. For many years he held membership in the Methodist church and his religion was always of the cheery kind, his life and his example being its exponent. It is not likely that the amount that he has given for charities and the cause of religion will ever be known because of his desire to give of himself and his money without the plaudits of men. However, his contributions to all branches of church work were most gen- erous and he donated ten thousand dollars to the extension fund of the Meth- odist Episcopal church for the building of houses of worship in the far west and,
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giving this in honor of his wife, it is known as the Marian Whitney fund. No tale of sorrow or distress made appeal to him in vain and not only his substan- tial assistance but also his words of encouragement brought hope into the lives of many who fared forward the better for it. He possessed a marvelous memory and superior intellect which were undimmed during his long illness and though he retired from the active management of the Norwalk business he kept in touch with the piano trade of the country and to within a month of his death continued his correspondence with his contemporaries in that field of labor. The community at his death felt that a priceless possession had been taken, for he was a dominat- ing factor in commercial and manufacturing circles and was equally prominent and honored in all of his relations to the public life and its intellectual and moral progress. Ile left the impress of his individuality for good upon the community in such a way that will cause his memory to be enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him for years to come.
MADISON M. FAST.
Madison M. Fast belongs to one of the old and substantial families of Huron county, Ohio, and during his busy life has proven himself worthy of his fore- bears who were brave, self-reliant men. He was born March 26, 1857, on the farm adjoining his present one in Richmond township, and is a son of E. W. and Hannah (Roberts) Fast; a grandson of Jacob and Catherine (Rex) Fast and Jacob and Lucinda Roberts, and great-grandson of the redoubt- able Christian Fast, Revolutionary soldier and Indian fighter. Christian Fast had many remarkable adventures among the Indians, being one of five white men captured by the savages. They camped on the banks of the Maumee river, and shot three of their prisoners, and burned one of them, Colonel Crawford at the stake. Fortunately Christian Fast was able to arouse their super- stitious fears and so they spared his life, staining his skin to resemble their own and putting rings in his nose and ears. They tried to induce him to marry a squaw and become one of them, but the valiant white man watched his opportunity and after six months' captivity, managed to escape one night, swimming across the Maumee river. His captors missed him and tried to stop his escape by firing at him, but although the shots fell all about him in the water, he reached the opposite bank unhurt and was able to reach a white settlement three miles distant, although closely pursued by the Indians.
E. W. Fast, father of Madison M. Fast, is now living on the homestead south of that of Madison M. Fast, who operates it for him, the father having retired from active life after many years, spent in farming. While not enrolled as a member of the United Brethren church, he has always been much interested in its work and a liberal contributor to it, and he donated the land on which stands the present church of the denomination in Richmond township. The church edifice adjoins his house. He and his wife became the parents of the following children : Jane, who married Jacob Walker; Mary, who married Scott Sewalt ;
-
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Madison M., who is mentioned below ; Elmer ; Leroy, who is deceased ; and Ida, who married Weadel Skidmore.
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