History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 107

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Elisha Haff was born in 1844. In 1871 he married Eliza Fuller, and has four children: Myrtie, Elver, Zedie, and Mabel.

Reuben Haff was born in Townsend township in 1846. In 1867 he married Laura Crippen, and has two children living-Ortiff and Elisha.

Fred Haff was born in Townsend in 1852. He married Eva Plumb, of this township, in 1875, and has two children-Edith and Claude.

H. A. Sanford was born in Ontario county, New York, March 4, 1822. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1832, and settled in Townsend township, his present residence. In 1853 he married Mary Rice, daughter of Daniel and Ann Rice, of this township. To them have been born three children- Merritt, who married Mary Beebe, daughter of Enoch and Jane Beebe, and resides in Townsend; Alma L., the wife of Eugene Winters, Eaton Rapids, Michigan; and Jennie,

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Townsend. Mr. Sanford has held several offices, such as treasurer, trustee, etc.

G. W. Sanford, son of Zachariah and Mary Sanford, was born in Townsend township, February 2, 1840. He lived at home until he began work for himself. In 1863 he married Miss Adaline Hawkins, daughter of Hiram Hawkins, of Townsend. He has been residing on his present farm since 1868. Politically Mr. Sanford is a Republican.

James Lewis removed from Ontario, county, New York, in 1833, and settled in the northeast corner of Townsend. He retired from the farm some time since and is now living at Clyde.

Benjamin Hooper, another of the settlers of 1833, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1787. He emigrated to America in 1833 and settled in Townsend the same year. His family consisted of four daughters and one son.

Edward Chambers, a native of Ireland, removed from Boston, Massachusetts, and settled in Townsend township on the farm now occupied by Andrew Smith, in 1845. He married Mary Hooper, who is still living at Clyde. Three of their children are living-F. R. Chambers in Townsend, A. B. Chambers, Hannibal, Missouri, and Mary A. Chambers, Clyde. Edward Chambers died in March, 1879. F. R. Chambers was born in Townsend township in 1847. He married, November 1, 1880, Annie Mahr, daughter of G. P. and Anna M. Mahr, of this township.

Isaiah Golden was born in Pike county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. In 1823 his father removed to Wayne county, Ohio, and thence to Huron county. Mr. Golden, in 1840, came to this county and settled in Townsend township. He married for his first wife, Lucy H. Gifford. For his second wife he married Sarah Ann Short. The fruit of this marriage is four children living-Seth, Townsend township; Polly

Ann (Burr), Putnam county; Ora and Eva, Townsend. Names of children deceased- Franklin, Delilah, Jeremiah and Edward.

Z. P. Brush was born at Danbury, Con- necticut, in 1816. His father's family soon after removed to New York, whence Z. P. emigrated to Erie county, Ohio, in 1836, and in 1841 married Almira Tibbals. He removed to Townsend the next spring, and settled on the farm on which Abraham Townsend had made the first improvement in the township. After Townsend removed, this farm was owned by Zeno Tibbals, the father-in-law of Mr. Brush. The Brush family consists of five children living-Z. T., commercial traveler; Joseph B., Townsend; Mildred (Nichols), Kansas; James Z. and Allie, Townsend.

The White family settled in Townsend township about 1843. Lytle White was a native of the State of New York. He married, in Townsend, Mrs. Ann Kittle, nee Winters, who still survives him. To them was born Benjamin L., who now resides in this township. By her former marriage Mrs. White had one child, Mary, deceased. Mrs. White was born in Canada in 1799.

Charles W. White was born in Prussia, in 1840. In 1848 he came to Sandusky county with his father, and in 1865 married Catharine Wahl. Three children are living- Charles F., William R., and Ella. Mr. White was elected to the office of infirmary director in 1878, and has also served his township as trustee.

Joseph Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1830, and settled in Townsend township. In 1864 he married Caroline Wadsworth. Four children of this union are living-J. Henry, Anna, Addie, and Bertie. Joseph Miller died in March, 1881, aged sixty-eight years.

W. W. Fuller, son of David Fuller, and

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grandson of the venerable William Fuller, was born in this township in 1847. In 1873 he married Clara Stone, and has a family of two children, Raymond and Zella. Mr. Fuller has filled the offices of township assessor, trustee, and treasurer.

Walter Davlin was born in Erie county in 1833, his father having been one of the pioneers in that part of the State. In 1862 he married Ann J., daughter of John Whitmore, and four years later settled permanently in this township. His children are: William, Marcia, Sadie, Margaret, and Ann J. Mrs. Davlin had two children by a former marriage, Carrie and John. Mr. Davlin is postmaster at Whitmore Station.

Giles Ray removed from Erie to Sandusky county in 1866, a few months before he had married Sophia Brown, the fruit of which union is four children-Scott, Jesse, Sophia, and Eva. Mr. Ray served three years in the army, being mustered out as a corporal. Giles Ray is son of Alexander Ray, now living in Clyde. Giles was born in Erie county in 1841. Mrs. Ray is a native of the same county, and was born in 1844. Her father, Orlando Brown, still resides in that county.

James Black was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventeenth Ohio, and served three and one-half months. He settled in this county in 1865.

Manasseh Prentice was born in Erie county, Ohio, in 1827. He is a son of Levi and Mary Prentice. Levi Prentice was born in Madison county, New York, in 1801; died in Erie county, Ohio, in 1834. His wife, Mary Hartwell, was born in Canada in 1808; died in 1872. Manasseh was the oldest of their five children. He married Elizabeth W. Barnes in 1846, and resided in Erie county until 1867, when he became a resident of Townsend. There are seven children

living-Maria A. (Hamilton), Mary E. (Hersey), Alice W. (Norman), Henry N., D. B., Olive J. B., and Nellie G.

A TORNADO.

The 11th of April, 1834, is memorable in the annals of Green Creek and Town-send townships. Warm thunder-showers interspersed by intervals of hot sunshine had prevailed during the day, until about the middle of the afternoon, when a cloud of midnight blackness overhung the thick forest in the neighborhood of Green Creek. As this huge mass of blackness approached the earth, trees surged, then reeling fell, some twisted to pieces, others torn from the ground. Like a great ball, it rolled in a northeasterly direction. The rugged trees of the forest for a moment seemed to offer resistance to its progress, then snapped and were broken like bone between the lion's teeth. Smaller trees and shrubs bowed obeisance to the passing giant, but were crushed beneath the ruins of their stronger neighbors. The earth trembled and trees bowed down for half a mile on either side of its path.

The course was on across the pike and down through Townsend crossing the North ridge road near the county line. Its path proper was, less than a quarter of a mile wide, although the effect of the storm was traceable for half a mile on either side. Not a tree was left standing in the path, but shattered timber lying in every direction covered the ground. One cabin was scattered and its pieces carried on the bosom of the winds. The roof of one house on the ridge, although not in direct line of the storm, was blown off, and the good housewife's feathers filled the air like snow in a winter storm.

The tornado fortunately did not pass over a thickly settled portion of country. So far as is known but one life was lost-that of Mr. Keiser, of Townsend; Stephen Gillett had his arm broken by a

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falling tree. He was holding to a stump to keep from blowing away, when a limb struck his extended arm. The movement of the black cloud was very rapid, and its demonstrations caused great excitement. The date we have given is from the diary of a trustworthy lady who still lives in Townsend.

A CRIMINAL EPISODE.

A curious episode of early times in Townsend was the treatment of a thief who entered the cabin of Mr. A. C. Jackson, carried out some clothing and the gun, and left the house in danger of being burned. Mr. Jackson was away from the house and Mrs. Jackson was out on the farm, when a stranger, who had the night before been the recipient of the household's hospitality, entered and committed the crime spoken of. On Mrs. Jackson's return she aroused the neighborhood. The woods were carefully searched and the man found, but the gun and bundle of clothes, which included all the spare wearing apparel of both members of the family, were not so easily found. The culprit was asked to tell where the missing articles could found, be with the understanding that restoration should requite the crime. The place of the gun's concealment was faithfully described, but not so with the clothing. The neighbors, exasperated with this deception, again seized the robber, and with cudgels and switches began to inflict punishment. To free himself from torture, the thief again, although not yet willing to tell the truth, deceived his executioners, who retaliated by plying their cudgels with heavier strokes to his body, already bruised to blackness.

The whipping in this wise continued for more than an hour, the poor man suffering excruciating torture all the time. At last he was released on the promise of working for Mr. Jackson in the clearing to the value of the stolen property. This

arrangement was effected largely through the intervention of William Tew, who adjudged the man crazy, and insisted on his release. The thief worked for a few days according to contract, but soon became tired of the clearing and was never seen afterwards. The goods were sometime after found in Huron county.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first road laid out through the township followed the ridge from the Cold Creek mill, and intersected the pike at Hamer's tavern. Stages followed this road to Sandusky, and, made the cabin of A. C. Jackson an intermediate stopping place. Addy Van Nest also kept public house at which the stage occasionally "put up."

There was another road through the township further north cut out just so wagons could be drawn through during the War of 1812.

The first sermon was preached by Harry O. Sheldon in the Jackson neighborhood. Services were occasionally held after this under direction of Methodist circuit riders.

The first cemetery was laid out by William Tew, sr., on his farm.

The first school was taught in an un- finished log house in the south part of the township by Miss Sally Cleveland.

The first permanent school-house was built on the Lemmon farm about 1826.

Rachel Mack taught a summer school at Beebe's, which was attended by the children of that neighborhood. She also did such needlework as the simple wants of the pioneer mothers required.

An early marriage was solemnized by Ebenezer Ransom, the first justice of the peace, which, on account of the brevity and directness of the ceremony reflects credit upon that honorable magistrate. Mr. Putnam, accompanied by his betrothed entered the homely cabin, and after announcing

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their errand were joined according to the following formula: "Do you take this here woman for your wife?" "Yes," was the reply. "Do you want this here man for your husband?" The bride, whose costume was beautifully simple, sighed a faltering "Yes." "You're married," was the squire's blunt conclusion. The parties most interested seemed to doubt the fact, however, and held the floor, when the justice, to end the matter, said: "See here, you may think that business short but it's done just as right as if it took half an hour. "

The pioneers in Townsend or elsewhere had great difficulty to secure the cash necessary to purchase such articles as could not be obtained in exchange for farm products. Furs always commanded ready money, and in consequence the woods and marshes were thoroughly searched during the killing season. The manufacture of black salt or potash was the only profitable use of timber in that early day, and Mr. Richardson, Mr. Holbrook, and others, who had kilns found the industry profitable. Black salt always sold for cash in the market at Milan.

Hogs were generally fattened in the woods on acorns and nuts.

Each settler owning stock had a peculiar "ear mark," which was registered in a book kept for the purpose by the township clerk. It was against the law for any one to kill marked animals of any kind. But hogs frequently strayed away and were lost. Young pigs as they grew became wild and even dangerous; these it was allowable to kill, being classed as "wild hogs." An old settler declared to the writer that he would rather meet a bear in the woods than an enraged wild boar. They fought with that dumb determination which makes even a weak enemy formidable.

The practice of allowing cows to pasture

in the weeds has been the cause of dis- tressing misery and sickness in Townsend, both on the east and west sides. Milk- sickness was, during the early settlement, a disease wholly beyond the control of physicians. Even Indian remedies were employed, but to no purpose, for the wisest of the tribes could not cure their own strong and vigorous kin when afflicted with this dread disease. We do not mean to convey the idea that the disease was in all cases fatal. Many recovered, but in almost every case with enfeebled constitutions.

Other diseases greatly afflicted the pio- neers and retarded the progress of im- provement. Decaying logs were throwing off poisoned vapors, and stagnant pools, formed by fallen timbers damming the natural water channels, became malaria fountains. But in this respect Townsend was no worse than other parts of the county. Since tame grasses have taken the place of wild herbs and plowed fields occupy the soil once covered by damp forest, milk sickness has become a disease known only in tradition, and the general health of the township is good.

The first marriage in the township was that of Rebecca Tew and Ephraim K. Townsend.

The first barn in the township was built by Zeno Tibbals on the farm now owned by Z. P. Brush.

A collection of houses on the ridge road became known as "Coopertown," taking its name from the occupation of the Starks family, by whom one of the houses was occupied. They carried on the coopering business on an extensive scale. But coopering was not the only industry carried on at this hamlet. William Willis had a shoe-shop, and William Wales had a wagon-maker's shop. Goods of a general character were sold here by Benjamin Bacon and William Willis.

C. G. Sanford

Lydia Sanford

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This village ceased to thrive after the completion of the railroads in 1852.

Townsend post office was established in 1824 with William Tew, sr., in charge as postmaster. In 1853, after the completion of the Cleveland, Sandusky & Cincinnati railroad, the office was removed to the neighborhood of York Station and placed in charge of Josiah Munger. Whitmore Station was made a post office with Walter Davlin in charge upon the completion of the Sandusky extension of the Lake Erie & Western railroad. York Station is a small hamlet on the Cleveland, Sandusky & Cincinnati railroad near the center of the township. Here, as almost everywhere else, religious worship was instituted by the Methodists. Harry O. Sheldon and other circuit riders preached to the Townsend people as early as 1824. The first church was built by the Methodists, in 1848, with Daniel Wilcox as circuit preacher. The meeting- house stands on the North ridge road.

There is a society of United Brethren in the north part of the township. Circuit preachers and supplies have held service in the school- houses in that community for many years, but no house of worship was built till 1870.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

CARMI G. AND LYDIA SANFORD.

Zachariah Sanford, father of the San-fords of this county, and a Townsend pioneer, was born near Saybrook, Connecticut, in the year 1990. At the age of eighteen he left Connecticut, with his widowed mother, and settled in Madison county, New York. He married Mary P. Mantor, who was born in Massachusetts in 1998. The newly-wedded couple settled on a farm in Ontario county, New

York, which was their home till the fall of 1832, when, with their family, they removed to Ohio, and settled in this township. Mr. Sanford purchased an eighty acre lot entirely covered with native forest. The father and sons made an opening for a log cabin upon their arrival, and during the winter prepared a tract for spring crops. On this farm Mr. Sanford lived until his death, which occurred May 6, 1862. His wife, Mary Sanford, died March try, 1868. They reared a family of seven children-five sons and two daughters.

Elias M. was born July 19, 1817. He died in Townsend township May 31, 1843, leaving a wife and one child.

Carmi G. was born December 28, 1818.

Henry A. was born March 4, 1820. He married Mary Rice, daughter of Daniel Rice, and lives on the homestead farm.

Sally M. was born December 27, 1826.

William B. was born April 7, 1828. He resides in Riley township.

Almira was born July lo, 1832. She was married to Samuel H. Tibbals, and died without issue.

George W. was born February 2, 1839. He resides in Townsend township.

Zachariah Sanford was a man of quiet temperament, unobtrusive and hospitable. In his family he was kind and indulgent; in intercourse and dealing with his neighbors he avoided anything like conflict. It has been said of him that he died without an enemy.

Mrs. Mary Sanford was an excellent mother. She was a woman of deep religious convictions, being in this respect like his mother, who made her home for many years in the Sanford residence.

Bible reading was especially encouraged in the family. Carmi G., while a boy, was given a sheep as a prize for having read the entire Bible through.

Carmi G. Sanford was in his fourteenth

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year when the family removed to Ohio. His educational advantages in New York were limited, and in this county still more meagre. He worked industriously on his father's farm until young manhood. His first purchase of land was a tract of forty acres, Which he still owns. He married, March 9, 1844, Lydia Allyn, and settled on a farm, for which he traded three years before. Only a small portion of this farm, located three-fourths of a mile north of his present residence, was cleared. The cabin was made entirely of logs and puncheons, except one door, which was made of the boards of a store-box. In this cabin they lived for about ten years. Mr. Sanford removed to his present residence in 1863, retaining possession of the old farm. By economy and industry he has accumulated real estate, until at present he owns four hundred acres of well-improved land. Mr. Sanford has always been an advanced farmer, keeping pace, in methods and machinery, with the times. In politics he has been active, and is looked upon as a leader. A Whig by inheritance, he became a Republican from principle. During the war he spent time and money in the encouragement of enlistments and support of the families of soldiers in the field. When the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was formed, Mr. Sanford was chosen captain of the largest company, C, composed of volunteers from Riley and Townsend townships. At the regimental organization at Fremont, he was chosen to the position of lieutenant-colonel, and Nathaniel, a brother of William E. Haynes, was elected colonel. Through the caprice of Colonel Wiley, Mr. Sanford was dismissed before being mustered into the service.

Since the war Mr. Sanford has remained an active Republican, by which party he was elected to the offices of county infirmary director and county commissioner.

He had previously served his township as clerk and justice of the peace. He is a member of Clyde Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and of Erie Commandery No. 23, located at Sandusky.

Mrs. Sanford is the daughter of Isaac and Permelia Allyn, and was born March 20, 1828. Isaac Allyn was born in Connecticut, September 21, 1786. He left home at the age of eighteen years, and settled, after travelling to various places, in Eric county. About 1820, in company with Jonas Gibbs, he came to this county, and settled on the prairie in the north part of Riley township. He raised horses and cattle for market, frequently making large sales. He also engaged largely in raising hogs, and in pork packing. Mr. Allyn made his home in the Gibbs' family for a few years, and then kept bachelor's hall in a cabin on his own place until he was married, which event took place June 12, 1827.

Permelia Allyn, daughter of Cyrus Downing, was born June 24, 1795, in Win- dom county, Connecticut. Before she was two years old her parents removed to New York, where they lived till 1809, at which time they came to Ohio and settled near Huron.

On account of Indian hostilities, the family was compelled to leave this new home and take refuge in the fort at Cleveland. Permelia married, in April, 1813, Jeremiah Daniels. About twenty families lived at Huron at this time. They were compelled by hostile Indians to leave their homes nine times during one year. Mr. Daniels having deceased, Permelia married Isaac Allyn, in 1827. The fruit of this union was three children-Lydia (Sanford), born March 20, 1828; Isaac M., born February 8, 1832, living in Riley township; and Permelia (Sanford), born November 6, 1537, died June 25, 1881.

William Fuller

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Isaac Allyn died January 30, 1839. Mrs. Allyn survived him many years, the date of her death being September 18, 1874. She was a hard worker, and a woman of good business ability. She carried on her husband's stock business for several years after his death. One year she salted with her own hands more than one hundred barrels of pork. Mrs. Allyn, during the last year and a half of her life, made her home with her daughter Lydia.

Mrs. Sanford is naturally a happy and cheerful woman. She takes great interest in the welfare of her family. Her home is one of the most attractive in the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford have had seven children, three of whom are living-Mary P., born April 24, 1846, died in infancy; Winfield Scott, born August 16, 1847, married Eliza McCartney, and has three children, resides in Sandusky; Flora A., born February 3, 1850, married James Gaw, died February 28, 1872; Morgan C., born July 25, 1861, resides at home; Kate L., born November 7, 1864, died March 1, 1868; Hattie M., born January 24, 1868, lives at home; Charles G., born January 24, 1871, died October 6, 1872.

WILLIAM FULLER.

On another page will be found a good likeness of one of the few pioneers now living. One by one he has seen the first settlers carried to their long home, old and young, grave and gay, strong and feeble, from the gray-haired grandsire to the tottering infant. Yet he remains, almost the last of a noble race, the heroic race of pioneers.

Jason Fuller was born in Connecticut, May 24, 1767. He moved to Massachusetts when quite a young man, and settled in what is now Franklin county. There

he married Philanda Taylor and resided until 1816, when he moved with his family to Ontario county (now Livingston county), New York, where his wife died in 1818, on the 5th of November, at the age of forty- nine. Jason Fuller and wife were the parents of eight children, all of whom lived to be married, and all had families excepting the oldest daughter. We will briefly mention each in the order of their ages: Cynthia married Silas Pratt, in Massachusetts, moved to Sandusky county in 1824, and died here. Rachel married Amos Hammond in New York State; died in Michigan. Philanda was the first wife of James Morrill, and died in Massachusetts. Electa married

James Morrill, and is now living in Kansas; she was eighty-four, May 24, 1881. William was the next child and oldest son. John married, in Green Creek town-ship, Rhoda Powell; moved to Nebraska, and died there. Betsey married Ichabod Munger in New York State; died in Michigan. Thomas married Margaret Evart in New York; died in Michigan.

Thus it will be seen there are but two members of the family surviving. Jason Fuller followed the occupation of farming through life. Both he and his wife were honest, upright people, and members of the Baptist church. They were kind and loving parents, and tenderly and carefully reared their large family.

William Fuller was born in Hawley, Hampshire county, Massachusetts (now Franklin county), on the 23d of January, 1799. There he lived until the fall of 1816, attending school and assisting his father on the farm. He went with his parents to New York State, and resided there until February, 1818; then, at the age of nineteen, on foot and alone, he started for Ohio, then the "far West." He carried in a package upon his back a few articles of clothing and some pro-

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 107

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