History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 108

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

visions to eat upon the way. He traversed the entire distance on foot, except when some traveler gave him a ride for a few miles. On the thirteenth day after he left home he arrived in Milan township, Huron county, and immediately engaged to work for Squire Ebenezer Merry. Two weeks after his arrival his father, his oldest sister and her husband, and his youngest brother came. His father took possession of a tract of land previously negotiated for, upon which William engaged to clear ten acres as a compensation for the use of his time during the remaining period of his minority. William returned to New York State the following July, his plans being to settle up some business for his father, do the harvesting on the old farm, and return to Ohio in the fall with the rest of the family. During this summer he made a business trip to Massachusetts; on his return he found his mother quite ill and unable to think of performing the long journey to Ohio. She died in November. His father, who had been advised of her illness, was unable to accomplish the journey from the West in time to be with her during her last moments, but arrived in New York in December.

While at home this winter William took unto himself a wife. He was married on the 7th day of November, 1819, to Mehetable Botsford. She was a native of Connecticut, but her parents were then living in New York. On the last day of February, 1819, arrangements having finally been completed for a return to the new western home, William Fuller, accompanied by his wife and father, started again for Ohio, with a yoke of oxen and a sled upon which were carried the few household goods they were then possessed of. They were twenty-two days upon the road.

William then rented a small log cabin, where he lived the first summer, and began the task of making a home, His

father, never a very healthy man, was taken ill in the month of September, and after lingering a few weeks, died at William's home on the 25th of October, 1819, at the age of fifty-two. Mr. Fuller lived in Milan township until 1824. While there he had cleared about twenty acres, erected a log house and barn, and subdued the land until he had a very fair field of some thirty acres, including ten acres which his father had cleared. For this work he received no pay, except the crops he secured; but as neither he nor his father had made any payment for the land, the only loss was the value of his labor for six years.

In 1823 Mr. Fuller bought forty acres in Green Creek township, southeast of Clyde, moved upon it in the spring of 1824, and began clearing and improving. He had erected a cabin before bringing his family here. In June he was taken ill, and was unable to work until the latter part of August. Then he suffered through the fall with ague. Altogether, the first year was one which might well be deemed discouraging, but the next brought even greater trials and misfortunes. During the following year he was able to do but little work. In August, 1826, his wife was taken ill with a fever, and on the 15th day of the same month his oldest child was killed by the oxen running away with the cart, throwing him out and killing him. The 19th day of August his fourth child was born, and on the following day Mrs. Fuller died, and was buried, together with her dead infant. Mr. Fuller was then obliged to break up housekeeping, leaving his two remaining children in the care of his sister, Mrs. Hammond, until the spring of 1827, when he went back to New York State, and worked at various employments for four years, paying his children's board.

Mr. Fuller married Cynthia Havens, a native of Livingston county, New York,

J. L. Levisee

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May 15, 1831, and returned to his farm, where he continued to reside until March, 1834, when he came to his present place of residence in Townsend township. This, too, was wild, and Mr. Fuller once more had the work of a pioneer to perform. January 23, 1835, death again entered the household, and deprived Mr. Fuller of his wife. Being thus left with a farm to manage and four children to provide for, he could not well abandon house-keeping, and on the 6th of July, 1835, he married his third wife, Marcia M. George, a native of his New York home. She lived just one year from the day of her marriage, and died July 6, 1836.

October 19, 1837, Mr. Fuller was united in marriage to the lady, who presides over his home, Emma M. Levisee, born in Lima, Livingston county, New York.

By his first wife he was the father of four children, one of whom is living. They were Jason H .; David, John, and an infant. Jason H. was born March 1, 1820; died August 15, 1826, as before mentioned. David, born July 8, 1821; married Mary Z. Higley for his first wife, who bore him six children, four of whom survive. His second wife, Eliza J. Plumb, bore two children, who are still living. He died in Townsend, May 18, 1879. John, born April 7, 1823 ; married Eliza Mallory; now resides in Branch county, Michigan; has one child living and one deceased. A son, born August 19, 1826, died in infancy.

Mr. Fuller's second wife bore two children, one of whom is living :. William T., born April 10, 1832; married Mary J. Van Buskirk; resides in Townsend; is the father of six children, three of whom are now living-Cynthia M., born November 2, 1833, died December 22, 1853.

One child was the fruit of the third marriage, Jason. E., born July 1, 1836, died September, 1836.

His present wife has borne three chil-

dren, two of whom are living. Taylor, born March 29, 1840, married Angeline Stone, resides in York, has one child. James, born October 13, 1844, married Betsey Richards, resides near his parents, has one child. Albert, born June 22, 1846, died September 26, 1849.

Mr. Fuller had his full share of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Commencing in a new country, while not of age, he fought his way onward against many difficulties and severe trials. In the days when wheat was only twenty-five cents per bushel, and groceries were held at enormous prices, salt being nine and eleven dollars per barrel, it was hard for a man to make and pay for a home. But all this is past and gone. His industry, activity and patience were rewarded in time. Mr. Fuller has been a successful business man. Though physically somewhat enfeebled by age and the results of years of toil, his mind is clear and cheer- ful, and he is passing the evening of his days among the scenes of his former struggles and triumphs, happy and contented. Each of his five sons who grew to manhood and married, were helped to a farm by their father.

Mr. Fuller was a Democrat until 1856, but since that time has voted with the Re- publicans. In religion he is a believer in the doctrine of universal salvation.

Mr. Fuller, wherever he is known, is recognized as a just and honorable man, and is respected by old and young.

THE LEVISEE FAMILY.

Aaron Levisee was born in the State of New Jersey, June 19, 1774, to which State his father, James Levisee, had previously moved from Connecticut. Soon after Aaron's birth his parents returned to Connecticut, and there his father died.

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Aaron Levisee was the oldest of a family of six sons and three daughters. He passed his boyhood in Connecticut and Massachusetts principally. Before he was twenty-one he engaged as a clerk on a sailing vessel, and followed the sea about three years, visiting many foreign countries. He acquired a very fair education, and, after quitting the sea, followed the profession of teaching, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, until he was married. While teaching at Lanesborough, in the latter State, he had for a pupil the lady who afterwards became his wife. One day he punished this scholar for some trivial fault, and a month later they were married. In his twenty-fourth year he was united in marriage to Anna Lyon, daughter of Thomas and Thankful Lyon, both natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. Levisee was born at Lanesborough, May 13, 1778. After their marriage they lived a short time in Massachusetts, then went to Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, where they remained a few years, thence moved to Charleston, Ontario county, New York, now Lima, Livingston county, where Mrs. Levisee's parents had moved before them. In this last-named place John L. Levisee was born. In 1822 the family moved from Ontario county to Allen, Allegany county, in. the same State, where Mr. Levisee died on the 18th of June, 1828. The widow moved, with her family, to Sandusky county, Ohio, arriving in Townsend township the 10th day of October, 1832. Here Mrs. Levisee resided until 1844, and then removed to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thankful Botsford, north of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she died July 3, 1845. There were seven daughters and two sons in. the family. Six daughters arrived at maturity, and two are yet living. Both of the sons are living at this date (September, 1881).

The names of the children of Aaron

Levisee, in the order of their ages, were: Almedia, Eveline, Thankful, Eliza Ann, John L. and Sarah L. (twins), Sarah Sophia, Emma Maria, and Aaron Burton.

Thankful and Emma M. are the surviving daughters. The former is the wife of David Botsford, and resides in Washtenaw county, Michigan. Emma Maria is the wife of William Fuller, Townsend township. Mrs. Botsford was seventy-seven years old July 15, 188r, and Mrs. Fuller sixty-three March 24, 1881. The youngest son, A. B. Levisee, whose name was rendered familiar in the Louisiana election controversy of 1876-77, is now a lawyer at Fargo, Dakota Territory. He was born March 18, 1821.

The records of the deceased members of this family are as follows: Almedia, born August 1, 1799, married Ezra Lyons in 1819, resided in Livonia, Livingston county, New York, until 1831, then moved to Townsend township, where she died June 28, 1853; Eveline, born June 21, 1801, married Hubbard Jones in Livingston county, New York, moved to Townsend in 1842, died June 13, 1873; Eliza Ann, born May 6, 1806, married for her first husband Jonathan Wisner, resided in Allegany county, New York, until 1834, when she removed to Townsend, having previously married her second husband, Joseph Cummings, and died November 6, 1838; Sarah L., born July 4, 1809, lived to be a little over four years old; Sarah Sophia, born February 14, 1815, came to Ohio some time after her mother, married Charles Gillett in Townsend, moved to Steuben county. Indiana, died March 16, 1847.

John L. Levisee was born on the 4th of July, 1809. He passed his early life upon the farm. He being the oldest son, and until 1821 the only son, a large share of the work and care of the farm devolved upon him when quite young. He attended

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the common schools when he could spare time from manual labor. His father was taken ill when John was about ten years of age, and from that time forward the young man's cares and duties were numerous. After his father's death he worked by the month farming, during two seasons, in Lima, his former home. Then, in the fall of 1831, he started for Ohio, and arrived in Townsend township on the 29th of October. Here be purchased, with some of the proceeds of his father's estate and his own earnings, eighty acres of land, the farm which is still in his possession. He erected a log cabin, then returned to New York. The next year his mother, with her two sons and Emma Maria, came and settled upon the purchase. Of course the country was wild. But one road in the township had been cut out, and the general aspect of the whole region might well be described by the inelegant but expressive words, "a howling wilderness." John began chopping, and continued through the winter and many succeeding seasons clearing away the forest and making field land. Hard work and a simple diet was the rule in those days. Meat was scarce except when, occasionally, a deer or wild turkey was shot. Wheat was little raised, and flour was an article not much in use. Cornbread was the staple food. He secured a good crop of corn the first season after he began his farming operations, and from that time onward the family managed to live very comfortably.

May 10, 1836, Mr. Levisee married Diana Stanley, daughter of Asa and Anna Stanley, of York township. She was born in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York, October 25, 1810. To them were born nine children, viz: Sarah, born May 5, 1838; married for her first husband James Olds; for her second, Joseph Carter; is now living with her third husband, Emanuel

Roush, near Hastings, Michigan. Anna, born July 28, 1840, married Hiram Blood in 1862; resided in Sparta, Kent county, Michigan; died November 30, 1874. Elizabeth, born October 27, 1842, married James A. Downing in 1865; resides at Whitmore Station. Eliza, born August 18, 1844, married Wallace Downing in 1866; lives in Clay township, Ottawa county. Mary Jane, born October 23, 1846, married Winfield Thomas in 1872; died August 28, 1873, in Townsend township. Civilia, born January 30, 1849, died September 22, 1853. David, born November 21, 1850, married Austany M. Cable in 1873; resides in Fremont. Chauncy, born May 23, 1855, married Mrs. Angeline McCreery in 1879; lives at home with his father.

Mrs. Levisee died July 4, 1855. She was a good wife and a kind mother, nobly assisting in supporting the family and putting by something for future use. She united with the Protestant Methodist church when young and lived a faithful Christian. After her death Mr. Levisee remained single eleven years, his daughter taking charge of household affairs.

November 15, 1866, he was married to the lady who now shares his home-Mrs. Statira E. Cable, nee Reynolds, who was born in Sheffield, Lorain county, June 7, 1830. Her parents were Shubal and Elizabeth Reynolds. Her father is deceased; her mother now resides in Fulton county, this State. This union has been blessed with two children, one of whom is living-Francis A., born July 12, 1868; and Willie, born July 12, 1870. Willie died December 14, 1870.

Mr. Levisee has followed agricultural pursuits principally. For a few years he worked at carpentry, but managed his firm at the same time. He has now re-tired from active business. His son, Chauncy, has charge of the farm, and

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Mr. Levisee is enjoying a season of rest after years of almost constant labor.

In politics Mr. Levisee is a consistent adherent to the principles of the Republican party. He has voted at every Presidential election since 1832. In religion he is a Universalist, firm in the faith and pronounced in his views. He is an enemy to cant and hypocrisy, but respects true Christians of whatever name or order.

Mr. Levisee has a valuable and well- selected library, and is a diligent reader of newspapers. A good memory and a habit of careful, constant observation of men and things have given him a discriminating, sound judgment and a reliable stock of useful information.

FRANKLIN RICHARDS.

Silas Richards, the father of Franklin, was a native of Connecticut and passed his days in that State. April 28, 1805, he married Mary Rogers, daughter of John Rogers, a Connecticut soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer by occupation, and an honest, honorable man. Both Mr. and Mrs. Richards attained a ripe old age, the widow surviving the husband a few years. They reared a large family of twelve children, whose names were as follows: Harriet B., Frances A., Franklin, Ira J., Cynthia H., Archibald, Mary, Calista E., Silas, Esther R., Patience, and Frances M. Of these there are four survivors, viz: Franklin, Townsend township; Archibald, Clyde; Esther, the wife of Abraham Darrow, New London county, Connecticut; and Frances M., the widow of Samuel Darrow, in the same county and State.

Franklin Richards was born in Waterford, New London county, Connecticut, February 24, 1809. There he lived until 1834, working at farming the greater part

of the time. He received a limited common school education. His father was a poor man, and Franklin was accustomed to hard and faithful labor from boyhood. In the month of September, 1834, Mr. Richards and his brother Archibald came to Sandusky county and commenced improving land in Townsend township which they had bought previously. They were both young men and unmarried. During the winter they hired their board at the house of their cousin, Lester Richards. In the spring of 1835 they erected a log-cabin in which it was their intention to live and keep bachelor's hall. One day on returning from a visit to their cousin's they found that their house with all its contents had been destroyed by fire. Mr. Richards lost a considerable sum of money in the flames. This was not a pleasing prospect to a young man, to be placed in the midst of a large forest without a dwelling-place, until one could be made by his own labor or earnings. However they built a small shanty and lived in it, doing their own housework, until a new house could be erected. In this way passed the first years.

In 1837 Archibald married and established a home of his own. Franklin lived alone until July 1, 1838; when he was united in wedlock to Diantha May, who continued his faithful helpmeet and de-voted wife until May 8, 1879, when she passed from earth and its sorrows in the sixtieth year of her age.

Of the hardships and perplexities of the first years which Mr. Richards spent in Ohio, it need only be said that by unceasing persistency and courage he was enabled at length to accomplish the purpose which brought him to the new country to establish a home. Rugged toil and exposure gave him a constitution capable of enduring much physical strain. He never yielded to discouragement or despondency,

Mrs. Dr. Richards

Dr. Richards.

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and in due time had the satisfaction of seeing his efforts to gain prosperity rewarded. He planned judiciously, saved carefully, and worked diligently. Now, the possessor of a fine home and a comfortable property, with a mind of quiet contentment, he lives at peace with all men in the same place where his early trials were experienced and his later successes achieved.

Mr. Richards has never been much of a politician. Formerly a Democrat, he now votes with the Republicans, but believes in electing the best men to office, regardless of party. In his religious views he is a Baptist, though he has never united with the church.

Mrs. Richards was a member of the Free- will Baptist church in her youth, but afterwards joined the regular Baptists. She was a sincere and devoted Christian, a noble mother, a good neighbor, and one whose acquaintance and friendship was valued by all. We close this sketch with something of her family history.

Diantha May was born in Livingston county, New York, October 10, 1819. She was the third child of Isaac and Rachel (McMillan) May, and at the time her parents came to Ohio, in 1822, she was the oldest of the two surviving children. Her father was born in Vermont, October 5, 1796, and died in Townsend township, November 5, 1874. Rachel McMillan was born

in New Hampshire, January 5, 1797, and died in York town-ship, November 13, 1829. They were married in New York State, where the parents of each had moved when they were but children. Mr. and Mrs. May resided in Livingston county until 1822, and in that year moved to Thompson township, Seneca county, Ohio, and the following year settled on the North ridge, near the northern line of York township, being among the very first settlers. In

1831 the family moved to the eastern part of Townsend township, and in 1833 to the southwestern part, where they continued to reside until the death of Mr. May. By his first marriage Isaac May was the father of seven children-a son who died in infancy, Emily, Diantha, Emily. Louisa, Mary Ann, James H., and William. Three survive, viz .: Mrs. Emily Louisa Tew, Townsend township; Mrs. Mary Ann Mason; and James H. May, Lenawee county, Michigan.

Mr. May married his second wife, Mary McMillan, a sister of his first, in 1830. This union resulted in ten children-Sophronia, Cynthia, Laura Ann, Rosetta, and Hiram, all deceased; and Mrs. Laura Maria Vine, Townsend; Marilla May, Lenawee county, Michigan; Mrs. Emeline Elliot, Jackson county, Kansas; Theron R. May, Lenawee county, Michigan; and Mrs. Ida Kidman,. Townsend, still surviving.

Mrs. May is still living with Theron and Marilla, in Michigan; Isaac May was a minister of the Free-will Baptist denomi- nation, and preached in this vicinity until within a few years preceding his death. He is well remembered by many who have listened to his sermons. The family had their full share of hardships. They came here when it required the utmost effort to feed and clothe a family. The daughters used to work in the field doing manual labor, and often worked out for the neighbors.

Mrs. Franklin Richards bore twelve children, five of whom are living. We subjoin a copy of the family record:

Simon G., born July 12, 1839; died in Libby prison December 2, 1863, a member of the One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Silas L., born December 10, 1840; married Josie Kennedy, March 4, 1869; resides in York township.

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Theron R., born November 8, 1842 ; died November 30, 1842.

Charles M., born February 28, 1844; married Phebe E. Rhodes, June 1, 1865, who died December 25; 1873; married Florence Kellogg, October 20, 1894; re-sides in Townsend, near his father.

James P., born February 20, 1846; married Rachel E. Harvey, June 24, 1868, who died April 5, 2873 ; married Alice Straight, September 12, 1874; resides in Jackson county, Kansas.

Joseph D., born February 16, 1848; died March 26, 1848.

Frances a, born June 1, 1849; married Charles E. May, March 1, 1870; lives in Townsend near her old home.

Milo S., born August r, 1852; died August 24, 1852.

William A., born September 4, 1853; died June 4, 1870.

Benjamin F., born June 26, 1855; died April 18, 1866.

Mary C., born September 30, 1857; died December 20, 1866.

Imogene D., born August 8, 1861; married Ekin Ridman, September 4, 1878; lives with his father.

ALONZO THORP.

Among the leading, public-spirited men who have lived in this county, but are now gone from us to return no more, there are few more deserving of notice in this work than he whose name heads this article.

Alonzo Thorp was born in Ontario county, New York, on the 9th day of September, 1817. He was the son of John and Jane (Wager) Thorp, and was the second of a family of nine children. His early life was spent in New York, working and attending school. When about eighteen years of age he came to

Ohio, and engaged in teaching school in different parts of this county in winter, and working in summer. He taught several terms of school and writing school, and is remembered gratefully by many of his old pupils. He came here poor, but with a determination to get a start in the world, and he believed an education to be essential for becoming a useful citizen. Therefore he used his first earnings to pay his expenses at Milan high school, where he attended several terms.

In 1837 Mr. Thorp's parents followed him to this county, and settled in Town-send township. He then made his home with them until 1842, when he married, and commenced farming for himself. His first wife was Miss Eliza Cole, daughter of Hon. Matthew Cole, a man well known to old residents. He served as a member of the legislature, and in other public offices. By this marriage Mr. Thorp became the father of one son and two daughters. John C. Thorp was born April 12, 1843, died of consumption at the home of his father, November 6, 1869. Alma E. Thorp, born December 11, 1844, was married in March, 1865, to Dr. George Salzman, and now resides in Kenton, Ohio. Gertrude H. Thorp, born December 25, 1847, died at home January 20, 1873, of consumption. Mrs. Thorp died in April, 1850.

In 1857 Mr. Thorp married Mrs. Mary E. Ames, widow of Elon G. Ames, of York township, and daughter of Medad and Armida (Waller) Brush, who were among the early settlers in Green Creek township. Her parents were both natives of Connecticut, but lived in Pennsylvania until they came to this State. Mr. Thorp had no children by this marriage.

In 1852 Mr. Thorp moved from Town-send township to the village of Clyde, where he engaged quite extensively in the lumber business. He owned and operated a saw-mill, and was also considerably in-

Alonzo hospo.

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY

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terested in farming and stock-raising. In 1863 he was elected a member of the Legislature from this county, and served a term of two years in a manner highly creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. He also held various township offices at different periods. While residing in Townsend, in 1856, he was elected justice of the peace and served one term.

In May, 1873, Mr. Thorp moved upon the farm where his widow still resides, in Green Greek township, and lived there until his decease. He died January 28, 1879, in his sixty-second year. He was an energetic, active man, of unblemished character and reputation. Having fought

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 108

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