USA > Ohio > Huron County > Norwalk > History of Norwalk township, Huron county, Ohio taken from Williams' History of Huron and Erie counties > Part 19
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In 1853, Judgo Stickney was appointed assistant ad- jutant-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, on the staff of' Dlaj .- Gen. James A Joues, 17th Divis on Ohto Volunteer Militia, and was commissioned by Gov. Chase. He also acted as in- spector general of division.
Judge Stickney, on coming to Norwalk, became a boarder at the Mansion House, then kept by Obadiah Jenney. Esy., and, to the surprise of all. has remained unmarried, and a constant boarder at one hotel, now over thirty-seven years.
Though not a communicant he has long been an attend- ant at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Norwalk, and has served several years as vestryman and elerk of the vestry, yet charitable and liberal in his religious views toward all church organizations.
Judge Stickney has always had an extensive law practice. and been especially successful as a collection lawyer, and, in the settlement of estates and matters of guardianship, he has been, through his profissional life, regarded as an upright man. ile is a gentleman of taste and culture, kind and benevolent, esteemed by all who know him, and is au cininently popular member of society.
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Dranken Sanger
The subject of this sketch was born in Auburn, Crawford Co., Ohio, July 13, 1825. His parents, Erastus and Sally Sawyer, were natives of the State of New York. His father's ancestors emigrated to this country from Lancashire, England, and his mother's (whose maiden name was Snider) from Hol- land. lfis parents were pioneers in that then wilderness country. He has one brother, Allanus, older, and one sis- ter, Mrs. Lucy Kellogg, younger, than himself, who reside in Crawford County.
He remained upon hiz father's farm until his seventeenth year, employed in the hard work of the new country, and attending the common school of the neighborhood when there happened to be one. In 1843 he was a student at Norwalk Seminary, and the next year at Granville College, supporting himself during this time, and while studying law, by teaching school winters. In 1845 he commenced the study of the law at Norwalk, and was admitted to the Bar in 1847, and soon had a respectable practice.
In 1850 he was elected prosecuting attorney, which office be held two years, during which time he was successful in breaking up a noted gang of horse thieves, counterfeiters, and professional witnesses who infested the county.
In 1854 he formed a partnership with George HI. Safford, which continued until both threw up the profession to enter the army. The firm did an extensive and successful business.
In 1850, at the instance of Gov. Dennison, Mr. Sawyer organized a military company known as the Norwalk Light Guards, and on the 16th day of April, 1861, was ordered into the service for three months, and reported with his company at Camp Dennison as Co. "D," Sth Ohio Volunteers. The regiment soon reorganized for three years, and he was pro- moted to major, and soon after to lieutenant-colonel. In July the regiment went to Western Virginia and participated in the campaign of that summer. S. S. Carroll, of the U.S.A., was appointed colonel, and took the regiment into the valley in the spring of 1801, where it fought conspicuously in the battle of Winchester. Col. Carroll was there given the com- mand of a brigade, and from this time the regiment was in command of Col. Sawyer. It was then ordered to Harrison's Landing, and became part of the 2d Corps. Ile commanded the regiment in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Morton's Ford, the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania, and in innumerable skirmishes. In most of these battles he was assigned to difficult positions, and in every instance was complimented by his superior officers for his gallant conduct. At Gettysburg, he was ordered to drive out a rebel force posted in an in- portant position in front of Hancock's battle-line, which was hand-omely done with the bayonet, though at a heavy loss. This position he maintained for two days unsupported, and far in advance of the lity, although three times attacked by superior foree ; and finally, charging an advancing column of rebels, took a number of prisoners and three battle-flags. In this battle, and also the battle of Antietam, over one-half of
his men engaged were killed or wounded. His horse was shot from under him at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Locust Grove. He was severely wounded at Gettysburg. Morton's Ford, and Spottsylvania, at the latter place the wound dis- abling him from further service and partially paralyzing the left side. During the draft-riots he was sent to the city of New York with his regiment, and occupied a position on Brooklyn Heights until the consummation of the draft.
Promotion was several times tendered him, but he preferred to remain with his " gallant oid 8th." His popularity with his men was unbounded, his ability as an officer was con- ceded, and his absolute bravery in battle unquestioned. The rank of hrevet brigadier-general was conferred for meritorious conduct during the war.
In the fall of 1864 he visited the Ohio troops on the line of the Mississippi, New Orleans, Kentucky, Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Georgia, on a special commission from Gov. Brough. He then acted as assistant judge advocate in the office of Judge Advocate Gen. Holt, at Washington, until the close of the war, and the triumphal return of the Union army to Washington, in June, 1805.
In 1865 he was elected representative to the Legislature for Huron County on the Republican ticket, and served two sessions. Was a member of the committees on finance, schools, and the agricultural college fund. The Clereland Leader, in a review of this Legislature, said of him: " Few men in the State achieved a brighter reputation in the recent war than Gen. Sawyer, the member for Huren. As a legislator lic is chiefly distinguished for his ability in presenting his case and ' dumfonnding' his adversary, if anybody has the temerity to oppose him. For real humor, as well as solid argument, he has few superiore. Sometimes his rare blending of humor and argument would convulse with laughter the entire house, and upset the gravity of' everybody within hearing."
In May, 1867, he was appointed one of the registers in bankruptcy for the Northern District of Ohio, which office he has held during the existence of the act, a period of over twelve years, being regarded as a careful and impartial officer. He has also during this period continued successfully in his law practice. Gen. Sawyer has always taken a lively interest in the prosperity of Norwalk. He was a trustee of the Nor- walk Institute for several years, and until it was discontinued on account of the non-popular public-school system, and was then for fifteen years a member of the board of education of the union schools.
As a lawyer he oceupies a prominent position at the Bar, and is regarded as a man of strict integrity ; he is an interest- ing speaker and ready debater, and a thorough student of literature and history.
He was married to Lucinda M. Lathrop, Jan. 20, 1848, who died June 12, 1854. Nov. 29, 1855, he was married to Eliza- beth B. Bostwick, of Delaware Co., N. Y., who died Jan. 6, 1878. He has one son, Frank, who is being educated for the profession of the law.
A & Posh
Among the pioneers of the Fire-Lands, whose long residence and active labors have made them conspicuous, none occupy a more prominent position, and deservedly so, than Ashbel G. Post. Coming bere at a time when the then infant settlement was devoid of all those improvements that now add to the convenience and comfort of the people; when the present county of Huron was almost without roads and bridges; when it required hard and persistent labor, toil, and care to make the soil produce enough for the bare necessities of life,-he has lived to witness all the various developments now existing, and in his life and character has assisted in this great work of progress.
Ashbel G. Post is the second child and only son of Ashbel Post, the latter of whom was born in Old Saybrook, Conn., in the year 1767, and died in Huron Co., Ohio, Ang. 14, 1823.
His mother was Betsey Phelps, who died May 26, 1796, in the nineteenth year of her age. Ashbel G. Post was born in Greene Co., N. Y., May 20, 1796, and is consequently in the eighty-third year of his age. His father and uncle, Col. Ezra Post, were among the pioneers of Greene Co., N. Y. The latter had been in the Revolutionary war, and also held a colonel's commission in the army during the war of 1812, and was a member of the Legislature of the State of New York during the palmy days of De Witt Clinton.
Ashbel Post was a man of a somewhat changeable disposi- tion, but of great personal integrity. For seven years he was master of a salling vessel out of Boston. He subsequently married again and settled on a small farm in Middlesex Co., Conn., and afterward was proprietor of a hotel in the village of Cromwell. In 1821 he came to Chio, and located between six and seven hundred acres of land in Fitchville. He erected a log cabin, and proceeded to make the necessary improve- ments preparatory to moving his family, and had nearly com- pleted his arrangements to go East for thera when, on the 14th of August, 1823, he died. He left behind him a reputation for industry and perseverance which, bad he lived, would have resulted in much happiness and comfort for bis family
It was in July, 1828, that Ashbel @. Post first came West. He was then a young man, ardent in his desire to succeed, and willing to assume the arduous duties of the pioneer. After visiting his father and looking around some, with the inten- tion of coming out to settle, he returned East and soon received the melancholy intelligence of his father's death. In Novem- ber following he returned to the Fire-Lands, and obtaining his share of his father's estate he went to work, paid off the re- maining incumbrance, and from that time all through his active business life succeeded well. In 1836 he. removed to Berlin township (now Erie County), where be purchased four hundred acres of land, of which he made the best farm io what now constitutes the two counties of Huron and Erie, and for several years he took the first premium for the most highly cultivated, the best improved, and the neatest farm, thus de- monstrating his ability as a good, practical farmer.
Mr. Post has been three times married. His first wife was Tamia Palmer, with whom he was united Nov. 15, 1824. She died April 1, 1836. They had five children, namely ; Sanford G., now resides in Nevada; Fanny P, married and lives in Michigan ; Eleanor, married and resiles in Vermil- ion ; Wesley (deceased ) ; William II., How resides at home.
For his second wife, Mr. Post married Ellea S. Parmenter. who died March 28, 1855, leaving one daughter, Louisa l'., who now resides in Wood Co., Ohio. They had also one son, James A., who died young, For his third partner in life, Mr. Post married Mes. Fanny M. Platt, of Connecticut, Sept. 24, 1855. In 1829, Mr. Post was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1832. He is a Democrat in politics, and in religion liberal.
In 1855, Mr. Post sold his six hundred aeres in Erie County, and after traveling and visiting his Eastern home, in 1859, he settled in his present residence in Norwalk.
The main characteristics of his long and eminently us AU Is are his industrious habits, his indomitable energy, and his uncompromising personal integrity. These good qualities he will leave as a worthy example for future generations to fd- low, and as an imperishable legacy to his children.
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RESIDENCE OF A. G. POST , No. 77 WEST MAIN ST., NORWALK, O.
4040
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