USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 35
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 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Fraternally he is connected with Wilson Todd Post, No. 359, G. A. R., and in specifically professional lines he is associated with the Huron County Medical Association and also with the Ohio State Medical Association. The Young home is one of the most attractive in the village. Mrs. Young is a refined and cultured lady and both Dr. and Mrs. Young are prominent in the social and intellectual life of the community. Their library is well supplied with current literature and the works of the best authors, while the Doctor's volumes treating of professional subjects, are very numerous, giving him light upon the intricate and involved questions that continually arise in daily practice.
JOSIAH LAWRENCE.
Prominent among the pioneers and substantial citizens of Bronson town- ship and Huron county, we present the name of Josiah Lawrence, whose pa- rents, Timothy and Calista (Todd) Lawrence, came to Huron county in early pioneer times and entered the tract of land which is now the home of the subject of this review. Timothy Lawrence was born in Stanford, Connecticut, in 1800, and in 1832 made a permanent location in Huron county. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and, coming here as he did when the work of development, im- provement and building was at its height, he found ample opportunity to put
MR. AND MRS. TIMOTHY LAWRENCE
------------- ---
359
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
into practice his knowledge of the builder's art. This proved of great advantage to him, as he was thus able to earn a good living ere he could realize a profit from his farming operations. For several years he also did auctioneering, being en- gaged in the sale of farm property. In early times he was a whig, later an aboli- tionist and eventually gave his support to the republican platform. He was a man of much influence in his community, ever ready to assist in any movement or measure calculated to benefit his locality or prove of help to his fellowmen. He was an expert with the sword and in 1830 commanded a company of light artillery at Auburn, New York. His children were: Josiah, of this review ; and Delia. Mr. Lawrence departed this life January 30, 1882, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years, and thus the community lost one of its most highly respected pioneer men. His wife survived for a number of years, her death occurring in February, 1899, when she, too, had reached a very ad- vanced age, being eighty-six years old.
Josiah Lawrence received his education through the medium of the common schools and was reared to the duties of the home farm, assisting his father from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He has always lived on the farm which is still his home, it being the place of his birth. The tract consists of one hundred and thirty acres, located in Bronson township. It is improved with substantial buildings and everything about the place is kept in good repair. The only interruption to his farm work was at the time of the Civil war, when Mr. Lawrence served one hundred and thirty days as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Blake of Medina county and Captain Martin. The company was engaged during this time principally in guard duty. After returning from the war Mr. Lawrence resumed his farm labors and as time passed and his financial resources permitted he increased his holdings un- til he now owns altogether three hundred and ten acres of as good land as can be found in Huron county. He has always been a noted wood chopper and yet chops several cords of wood each winter.
In October, 1867, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage to Miss Alice New- man, and the children born to them were : Even, who was born in 1868 and married Charlotte Hinely ; and Mary, who was born in December, 1869, and is now en- gaged in teaching in the Benedict school of Norwalk. The mother of these chil- dren died in June, 1870, and in March, 1871, Mr. Lawrence was again married, his second union being with Miss Maggie Baird, by whom he had one child, Levinia, now the wife of Daniel Stone. Her mother passed away in June, 1878, and in De- cember, 1879, Mr. Lawrence married Miss Nancy Rowland, who died on the 12th of May, 1909.
Mr. Lawrence has always given his political support to the republican party and for the past twelve years has served as township trustee. He is also a member of the board of health and was real-estate assessor in the year 1900. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church and he belongs to the Grand Army post. Fond of travel, he has visited twenty different states of the Union and contemplates a visit to California in the winter of 1910-11. Having spent his entire life in Huron county, in the years which have passed, Mr. Lawrence has seen wonderful changes as the county has taken on the evidences of an ad-
360
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
vanced civilization, and he has not only been a witness of this transformation but has largely aided in the labors which have transformed the wild tract into a splen- did agricultural district, while thriving and enterprising cities and villages have grown from mere hamlets. Now at the age of seventy-five years he is surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life and can look back over his long and honorable business career without regret. He has ever lived at peace with his fellowmen and all who know him esteem him for his genuine personal worth.
SEBASTIAN PURCELL.
That the farms of Ohio are valuable investments, furnishing a substantial means of subsistence to those who have thereon settled, has been proven again and again in the fact that Ohio's native sons remain within her borders. To this class belongs Sebastian Purcell, who was born December 17, 1847, on the farm where he has spent his life and which is his present place of residence.
His parents, John and Margaret Purcell, were both born in Germany and on coming to America in 1846, settled in Huron county, Ohio, having purchased the farm, then containing one hundred and seventeen acres, which has since been in possession of the family. It is situated in Peru township, and to the original purchase has been added some twenty-three acres. In the family of John and Mar- garet Purcell, there were four children : John, now deceased; Kathryn, who mar- ried Peter Wallrath and resides at Logansport, Indiana ; Anna, who married Mat Grimmer and resides in Peru township; and Sebastian, the subject of this review The father of this family passed away in 1861, when only forty-two years of age, while the mother, long surviving, died in 1881, when seventy-three years old. John Purcell was greatly interested in the work of general improvement in his own county and in addition to his farming operations, built a number of bridges and for some time heid the position of road supervisor of Peru township, giving his time and service in the building of good roads in this locality.
Sebastian Purcell was reared under the parental roof, assisting his father in the fields during the summer seasons, each fall looking forward to an abundant harvest as the reward of the summer's toil. In the winter months, he sought an education in the district and Catholic schools and in this way spent the day of his youth. In early manhood took upon himself the responsibilities of the agri- culturist, following this occupation as a life work. Carefully saving his earnings each year, at length he was enabled to make the old homestead his own, having purchased the farm from his father and, taking great interest in the place, from time to time he has added needed improvements and in the fall of 1909, he ex- pects to erect a modern residence on his property.
On the 17th of February, 1872, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Purcell and Miss Margaret Brown, who was born in Sherman township in 1850, her parents being Fred and Margaret (Pirring) Brown. Unto this union have been born seven children, namely: Albert and Edward, who are yet at home with their parents ; Tracy, who married Martin Habenmeier and is living at Norwalk ; Theodore, of Chicago Junction, Ohio, who married Anna Bishop and has one
361
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
child, Anna ; Olive, living at home; Tillie, of Norwalk, Ohio, who married Mat Zurcher and had two children, Edward and Robert, who died when five months old, August 8, 1909, and Alfonse, who is living at home.
Mr. Purcell has followed general agricultural pursuits all his life and is now ably assisted in this field of activity by his sons, Albert, Edward and Alfonse. In religious faith, he is a Catholic and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, firmly believing in the principles of its platform as conducive to the best forms of government. His son Alfonse is a member of the Knights of Columbus of Norwalk, but Mr. Purcell devotes his time and energies exclu- sively to his business, and success has been the reward of his labors.
DWIGHT M. BARRE.
Industry, energy and thrift have characterized the labors of Dwight M. Barre, who is today the owner of eighty acres of well improved and valuable land sit- uated in Ripley township, Huron county, in which township he was born on the 20th of July, 1848. His parents were John and Amy (Stout) Barre, natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively, the former born in 1805, while the lat- ter's birth occurred in 1809. John Barre was the son of John Barre, Sr., whose family consisted of the following children: Dwight, David, Herman, Jonathan, Wellington, Henry, Ora, Lyman, James, Corvis, Cornelia, Jane, Marietta, Jose- phine and Jessie. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Jonathan and Lydia (Mitchell) Stout, whose family of six children included: Amy, Jonathan, David, Eliza, Emily and Hannah.
Dwight M. Barre was reared on the old home farm, his youthful days being passed in a manner similar to that of most farm boys who assisted in the work of the fields and at the same time had the opportunity of acquiring a fair English education in the district schools. After laying aside his text-books, he continued to devote his attention to agricultural interests and has made this occupation his life work. His well kept farm of eighty acres is one of the valuable farming properties of the township and in its neat and attractive appearance indicates the thrift and industry of its owner. Close application, systematic methods and in- telligently directed energy have been the salient characteristics in the success which he now enjoys and he occupies a foremost place among the progressive and influential agriculturists of the community. He is also known in the financial circles of Greenwich as a stockholder in the First National Bank of that city.
Mr. Barre laid the foundations for a happy home life in his marriage on the 22d of December, 1876, to Miss Ella Wolcott, a native of Massachusetts, her birth occurring in that state in 1855. Mrs. Barre is a daughter of Renseller and Augusta (Miller) Wolcott, both natives of the old Bay state, the former's birth occurring in 1830 while the latter was born in 1837. She was a sister of George and Esther Wolcott and her grandparents on the paternal side were Thomas and Sally (Williams) Wolcott. Her mother was the daughter of Jeremiah and Eliza- beth (Olds) Miller, in whose family were the following: Augusta, Alfred, George, Frank, Emma, Susan and Hattie. On the paternal side, Mrs. Barre comes from
ir k; ne
11 r
362
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
a family which was founded in America in 1620, representatives of the name hav- ing been active in the affairs of this country in early colonial days. Several mem- bers of the Wolcott family were governors of Connecticut, one was secretary of the treasury under Washington's administration while still another was numbered among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barre have been born two children, Walter and DeWitt.
The family are members of the Congregational church, in which Mr. Barre is serving as treasurer, and he and his wife occupy a high place socially in the community in which they reside. Fraternally, Mr. Barre is a Mason, while in politics he gives stalwart support to the republican party, being in hearty sym- pathy with its principles and purposes. Having passed his entire life in this township, his life record is well known to his fellow citizens, whose respect, con- fidence and good will he enjoys in no limited degree.
FRANK O. BRIGGS.
A representative of the worthier agricultural class of Huron county, Frank O. Briggs cultivates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Green- wich township. He was born December 7, 1857, on this property, though his has not been a continuous residence there and he is a son of George W. and Joanna (Kniffin) Briggs and grandson of David Briggs. The grandfather was one of the very early pioneers of the county, a justice of the peace for many years, and a great hunter and trapper, following this business all over northern Ohio and Michigan. He dealt largely with the Indians and secured their friendship by his kind and honorable dealing. George W. Briggs was the first white child born in Greenwich township. He accompanied his father on his long hunting trips and experienced the fidelity and medical skill of the Indians. On one of the trips, the boy took a severe case of the measles and the father, not knowing what to do, finally took him to an Indian camp where he left him. When he returned the boy had completely recovered. David Briggs finally settled down in Huron county, where he died in 1864. George W. married, as stated, and lived for a time in Huron, but the inherited spirit of adventure caused him to listen to the siren of the gold fields in the great west, and in 1864 he crossed the plains to Idaho City, the many thrilling experiences being to him like the smoke of battle to the war horse. Mr. Briggs remained in the west until 1876, his wife and children staying in Huron county. The whole family then spent three years in Idaho, at the end of which time the mother returned. In 1882, Frank and his father also came back, giving up frontier life permanently and settling on a farm in Greenwich township. George W. Briggs died here in 1901, aged eighty-one years, the wife having pre- ceded him the year before at the age of eighty. The daughter, Jennie, is now Mrs. T. A. Jenney, residing in California.
Frank O. Briggs, of this review, was reared in Greenwich township and re- ceived a good district school education before going west. Just before returning, he married Miss Eliza Stierman, of Idaho City, June 22, 1882, a daughter of William and Anna (Otten) Stierman. Mr. Stierman was one of the California
363
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
"49ers," and there his children were born. Two children form Mr. Briggs' family : William and Gladys, both still at home.
The later life of Mr. Briggs is briefly told. He engaged in farming for a few years, after his return from the west, then handled agricultural implements at Greenwich village in company with W. J. Richards, under the firm name of Richards & Briggs. Again the call of the west was heeded, and in 1886, the family went back to Idaho, engaging in the dairy business at Rocky Bar. After five years there, they returned to their Greenwich farm, where they have since held continuous residence. However, the spirit of the grandsire is strong, and in 1906 Mr. Briggs returned to Idaho, taking his family, where they spent some eighteen months in hunting and tramping, his son showing his prowess by killing three of the five bears secured, together with numerous other large game.
Frank O. Briggs is alert and active in the life of his home community, serving the public at times in the different offices of township trustee, assessor and member of the school board. As the present trustee of the township, he is pushing the good roads idea and with much success. He is an active standpatter in republican politics and as a delegate in the conventions of his party is forceful and judicious in outlining party policies.
CALVIN A. HEYMAN.
Calvin A. Heyman, a prosperous young farmer of Sherman township, and the owner of one hundred and ninety-two acres of fine land, in two different farms, was born at Weavers Corners, this township, January II, 1871, and is a son of Jacob and Clara (Longscheid) Heyman. Both parents were born in Germany, but came to this country at an early age with their respective parents. Jacob Heyman, who is still living on two hundred and fifty acres of land at Weavers Corners, was born December 26, 1836, and was sixteen years of age when his parents William C. and Margaret (Upperman) Heyman came to this country. The latter settled at Hunts Corners, where they lived for about one year, moving then to Sherman township, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. This was only partly cleared and the house on it was an old frame building. Here they lived until 1862, when they bought land in this locality of Mr. Weaver, which was their home until death called them, the grandfather at the age of eighty-six, the grandmother at seventy-six. They had ten children: Will- iam, deceased ; John, killed by a barn door falling on him during a storm ; Charles, who lives in Huron, Ohio; Jacob, the father of the subject of this sketch; Jean- ette, who married Philip Stutz, of Three Rivers, Michigan; Philip, deceased ; George, of Sherman township; Henry, of Paulding county, Ohio; Fred, of the same place; and Elizabeth, the wife of William Horn, of Topeka, Kansas.
Jacob Heyman, the father of Calvin A., has lived in this county since he was sixteen years old. He had attended school in Germany, but after coming here was in the employ of various farmers by the year. On the 20th of October, 1861, he was married to Miss Catherine Longscheid, who had come to this county with her parents when fourteen years of age. Her family settled in Sherman town-
364
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
ship, where the parents both died. They had six children : Elizabeth, deceased ; Margaret ; William, deceased ; Anthony; Clara, the mother of our subject, and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Heyman had a family of thirteen children, nine of whom died before they were seven years old. Those living are: Calvin A., of this review ; Clara, the wife of George Setchel, and the mother of one son, Russell; Edward, who was killed in a street car accident at the age of thirty-four ; and Amelia, who lives at home. Jacob Heyman is a man who has been prominent in local affairs. He has been a farmer all his life and has filled several offices within the gift of the people, having served as township trustee, jus- tice of the peace, real estate assessor, treasurer, road supervisor and school direc- tor. He has always voted the democratic ticket and these offices have been be- stowed by the voters of that party. He has been a member of the Reformed church at Hunts Corners and has held office in the congregation the greater part of his life, being the only member now living who helped organize and establish the church in 1865. In short, he is a man, who, possessed of strong qualities, has not hesitated to exert them for the good of the community and the fair name of himself.
Calvin A. Heyman. his son, received his early education in the district schools, after which he attended the Ohio Normal College at Ada. Upon finishing his schooling, he entered upon a period of teaching of perhaps seven years, but he has followed farming the greater part of his life, having been reared under the guidance of a successful farmer and in a farming community, and when he thought of making a home for himself, it was this vocation that he chose. In 1895 he bought his present place from Jacob Hass and immediately set about improving it and increasing its productiveness. Among the other buildings which he has erected is a fine, large barn.
On the 18th of November, 1897, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Heyman and Miss Flora Heyman, a daughter of John Paul and Jeanette (Scheid) Heyman, who were among the early settlers of Lyme township. She is the sister of L. P. Heyman, of whom mention is made in another part of this volume. One child, a daughter, Ethel, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Heyman.
Mr. Heyman and his family are members of the Reformed church of Hunts Corners, in which he has been superintendent of the Sunday school for about eleven years. He is a young man of industry and ability, whose efforts have so far been crowned with well deserved success and for whom the future seems to hold much in store.
FRANK E. WEEKS, M. D.
Among the notable citizens of Clarksfield township, who have not only achieved distinction in the particular work which they mapped out for them- selves but have entered other fields and have devoted themselves to promoting the interests of the community in which they live, is Dr. Frank E. Weeks, a physician. He was born in a log cabin in Henrietta township, Lorain county,
..
DR. F. E. WEEKS
367
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
Ohio, and is the son of Henry H. and Cora L. (Van Camp) Weeks. He is of remotely Dutch descent, for one of his ancestors, Jacobus Kipp, was born in Holland in 1632, and on the 8th of March, 1654, married Miss Maria de la Montaine, in the old Dutch fort in New Netherlands that is now New York. His wife was born near the Maderia islands, January 26, 1637, while her parents were on their way to the new country. Sarah Kipp, daughter of Benjamin and Dorothy (Davenport) Kipp, the latter a grandson of Jacobus Kipp, was married to James Weeks in Newcastle, Westchester county, New York, in 1766. The son of this union, Benjamin Kipp Weeks, was born March 22, 1773, and mar- ried Sarah Thorn, the daughter of Thomas, Jr., and Hannah (Sutton) Thorn. Thomas T. Weeks, a son of Benjamin, came with his family to Ohio in 1837 and settled in Florence township, Erie county, where he engaged in farming. The first piece of land he purchased was heavily covered with timber, and later he bought another tract on which the work of clearing had already been begun and which boasted a double log house. In this the family lived for eight years, while their frame house was building. He had followed the life of a farmer, and his son Henry H. took up the same line of work in Florence township, Erie county. In 1883, Henry H. Weeks removed to Kipton, Lorain county, where he has since resided, living in retirement upon his farm. One son only was born to him and his wife, Dr. Frank E. Weeks.
In the district schools of the county Frank E. Weeks received the fundamentals of a broad education. On leaving these he spent three terms in study at Oberlin University, after which he taught for three winters, working on the farm dur- ing the summer months. In 1880 he took up the study of medicine, entering the medical department of the Western Reserve University at Cleveland, from which he was graduated with the class of 1883. Dr. Edwin E. Beeman, who was at that time practicing in Wakeman, was his preceptor. After receiving his physi- cian's license, Dr. Weeks began the practice of his profession in Kipton, Lorain county. In 1885 he removed to Vermilion, Erie county, and the next year came to Clarksfield, where he has remained ever since and enjoys a large and remuner- ative practice. An able physician, Dr. Weeks is also an exemplary citizen, whose public spirit is an inspiration to many. In politics he is a republican and has ever been active in the affairs of the party, having been for years the Clarks- field member of the republican county committee, and almost invariably the township delegate to the county, district and state conventions. During one term he served the county as coroner, was township clerk for eighteen years and clerk of the school board for twenty years, and is at present a member of the lat- ter body. His literary and historical interests are also extensive, biography and genealogies receiving much of his attention. The Firelands Historical Society appointed him biographer for Huron county, a position he holds to the present. In 1908 he compiled The Pioneer History of Clarksfield, a very complete work, comprising both historical and biographical data, and is now engaged on similar work, which he hopes to publish soon. Perhaps, however, the measure of his public spirit can be estimated in no better way than by the fact that it was through his efforts that the Clarksfield Telephone Company was organized and incor- porated, a concern which has now one hundred and fifty subscribers with long distance connection.
368
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
On the 5th of June, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Weeks to Miss Cynthia A. Judson, the daughter of Albert W. and Mary Ann (Fish) Judson, of Berlin Heights, Erie county, where for a number of years Mr. Judson was civil engineer and surveyor. He died April 22, 1904, but his wife, who survives, lives in Sandusky, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Weeks are the parents of three chil- dren : Charles J., who is married and is a resident of Oberlin, Ohio; Lucy M., a teacher in the Clarksfield schools, who entered Oberlin College in the fall of 1909; and Paul T., also a student at Oberlin.
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.