USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882 > Part 118
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 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122
Madison has had an uneventful life, and her history will therefore be short. There are none of those exciting episodes to record which throw a whole community into a foment of excitement, and then live in fireside traditions longer than the memory of families themselves. She passes the chronicle of crime to her neighbor Scott, where certainly there is plenty of material to fill it. Madison has been rapidly developed materially against adverse natural conditions. No higher compliment can be paid her first settlers and citizens.
THE SETTLEMENT.
The first lands were entered in Madison in 1830 and 1831. Very few, if any, squatters had penetrated the swamp before that time. This sickly flat, made hideous by the hum of mosquitoes, had no
793
794
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
attractions for the professional rovers, whose general character is delineated in a previous chapter. Settlement here involved sacrifices which no one was willing to endure, except in the hope of building up a home, and providing a heritage for their children. All who came had the necessary resolution to make them wealthy men, but more than half were wanting in the stability necessary for pioneer service; they abandoned their stations and sought a more promising clime. Most of those who remained, the pioneers of today, accomplished in a satisfactory measure the object of their ambition. They have also performed a high mission in life by clearing, plowing, and ditching, thus finishing the work of creation by adapting nature to the use of civilized man.
As a guide to the location of early settlers, as they are mentioned in the foregoing sketch, a list of the original land entries is herewith given. The date of entry in nearly every case antedates the date of record five years. A further explanation is found in connection with York township. What is said there concerning the State turnpike lands does not apply here, there being no pike lands in this township:
The following entries are recorded in 1825:
SECTION.
ACRES.
John W. Allen.
7
160
Joel Benton
25
40
Eli Charles
11
160
Charles F. Gilmore
34
40
E. P. Hathaway
29
160
Richard I. Hayek
20
80
Gideon and James Hath-
away
30
80
Freborn Hathaway
30
79
N. P. Hathaway
19
160
N. P. Hathaway
17
80
Jac Kemerling
2.5
40
David Kepford
18
39
George Lightner
19
39
Marcus Montelius
20
160
Marcus Montelius
11
80
George Orwig
12
80
SECTION. ACRES.
Philip Roush
12
80
Wilson Teeters
34
80
Thomas Withers
22
80
The following entries are recorded in 1836:
SECTION.
ACRES.
Jacob Burkett
18
40
William Blank
9
80
N. P. Hathaway
31
82
Augustus Hastings
29
40
T. P. Johnson
27
80
Joel Kemerling
26
80
Daniel Kratzer
26
158
Isaac Ludwig
25
120
George Orwig
11
40
William Reed
14
40
Merrit Scott
35
160
Daniel Smith 27, 28
80
J. D. Storms
19
80
Jesse Stone
10, 11
80
David Smith
17
40
David Smith, jr
17
80
David Smith
20
80
Morris and John Tyler
20
160
John Topping
22
80
Hector Topping
22
40
A. B. Tyler and C. Petti-
bone
27
80
A. B. Tyler and C. Petti-
15
40
A. Vroornan
10
40
The following entries were recorded in 1837:
SECTION.
ACRES.
Charles Hazleton
22
40
George Sinclair
30
161
George Sinclair
30
40
The following entries were recorded in 1838:
SECTION.
ACRES.
Henry P. Allen
33
160
Joel Russiquire
31
160
Joel Russiquire
32 and 33
80
The following entries were recorded in 1839:
SECTION.
ACRES.
John Burus
29, 32
240
John Brown
25
160
Solomon Burgman
25
160
Christian Burgman
13
80
F. C. Clark
33
40
John Causer
13
160
Benjamin Cramer
33
80
Elias Frank
31
80
Jacob Garn
22, 23, 15
360
bone
795
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
SECTION. ACRES.
Jacob Garn
21, 20
160
John Hazzard
23, 26
160
Josiah Harman
36
160
Charles Hazelton
34
160
Adam Moyer
19
80
George Ickes
25
80
John Moore, jr
18
99
Elias Miller
36
160
Philip Moore
18
39
Jacob Mathews
30
160
Jonas Rishel
14, 35
160
William Reed
23
80
Adam Shaffer
36
160
John Straughan
28
160
David Smith
32, 33
120
Merrit Scott
27
80
Charles Taylor
32
40
Benjamin Yates
28
80
Daniel Spohn
26
160
Jasper Whitney
9,10
320
John Whitford jr
32
160
William Whitford
32
80
Godfrey Wheeland
14
160
Lewis 0. Whitmore
34
160
Edward Webb
28
80
Andrew Wood
53
160
Fred Zepherick
14, 13
160
The following entries were recorded in 1840:
SECTION.
ACRES.
Christian August
80
23
Patrick Byrne
34
40
George Barrier
23, 28
240
Joshua Cope
17
40
Augustus Campbell
24, 26
160
Frederick Clark
3.5
80
Charles Choate
13
160
Augustus Campbell
26
240
Samuel Croaks
13
80
John Dixon
19
159
John Dixon, Jr
19
79
Archibald Esther
3.5
40
J. L. Flack, 2d
13
80
Daniel Forbes
31, 17
200
Jacob Garn
27
80
George Hartman
14
80
James and George Holcomb
27
160
N. P. Hathaway
31, 32
163
George Ickes
25
40
John Kills
34
40
Jacob Kam
24, 23, 15
360
Benjamin Kester
14
80
Daniel Kern
29
80
Joseph Kratzer
7
80
George Lightner
19
39
Jacob Maugas
23
80
In 1840 the following entries were re- corded:
SECTION. ACRES.
Daniel McIntosh
27
80
John Marder.
29
Eli Murry, sr
18
79
Samuel Myers
18
80
J. D. Orwig
12
80
Jacob Poorman
8 and 9
120
Henry Roller
35
60
Calvin Salisbury
31
40
William Smith
44
40
Benjamin Stanton
24
160
Benjamin Stanton
21
80
Jacob Staner
33, 28 and 27
160
George Spencer
31
40
John Teeters.
32
160
Wilson Teeters
34
80
Samuel Warts
24
160
SECTION. 80
ACRES.
The first settler of Madison was Henry P. Allen, who came to the township about 1831 and built a cabin on the King farm. He was a New Englander by birth. Although the first settler he is not remembered with that affectionate interest which would secure for him an extended notice. He left the country in a few years and was afterward drowned.
We are unable to mention in their order the early arrivals. The year 1833 made a great change in the appearance of the township. It is often said that people are like sheep; when one takes the lead the flock follows. This characteristic of human nature demonstrates itself in the settlement of a country. Thus it happens that the first settler of a district, in an historical sense, is the central figure of an important epoch.
The second settler of Madison township, and the first one whose residence was permanent, was David Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1777. He married Catharine Blank, by whom a family of seven sons and six daughters were born. The family in 1821 removed to Columbiana county; Ohio. In 1832 Mr. Smith entered a tract of land in Madison township, and shortly afterward recommenced the life of a pioneer. At the
796
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY
first election, in 1834, he was elected one of the justices of the peace and held the office many years. As will be seen by reference to a previous chapter, he filled the office of county assessor for a number of years. By trade Mr. Smith was a gunsmith, and was a workman of more than ordinary skill. He died in his ninetieth year. Mrs. Smith died at the age of seventy-four.
Daniel Smith was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1814. He is the son of Daniel Smith, whose family settled in Columbiana county in 1821. He entered land in this township, on which he settled, and, in 1834, married Jeanette Holcomb, by whom he had seven children. Mrs. Smith died at the age of forty-eight. He married again in 1863, Mrs. Emma Brobst. Mr. Smith held the office of justice of the peace in Madison township twenty-two years. He was admitted to the Bar in 1874. David Smith, jr., came to the township from Columbiana county with his father and entered a tract of land on which he settled and died.
John Reed was probably the next arrival in the township. He was followed by James Holcomb, a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio in 1824 and settled in Portage county. He was married to Dorcas Trumbull and had a family of seven children. In the summer of 1832 he removed with the family to Madison, where he lived until the time of his death. Only three of the children are living, George W., Moses V., and Gideon H. George W., the oldest child living, is yet a resident of Madison township. He was born January 11, 1808. He was married, in 1836, to Catharine Smith, daughter of David Smith. Two of their three children are living-David and Eli.
David Reeves, a native of New York, settled first in Columbiana county, and
then, in 1832, removed with his family to Madison. There seems at this time to have been a stampede from Columbiana county to Madison. It will be remembered that about the same time Washington township was filling up with people from Perry county, most of whom were native Pennsylvanians. Mr. Reeves was county surveyor eleven years. He died in 1847. The family consisted of thirteen children, five of whom are living, one-Eli-in this township. The Reeves settlement was in the south part of the township, near the present village of Rollersville.
Fred C. Clark settled in Madison about 1833. After a short period he sold to Luther Chase, and removed to Wood county. The farm was transferred by Chase to John Dean.
Jacob Staner came to Madison in 1833, and settled where Smith's sawmill is now located. He removed to Fremont in about ten years, and opened a tavern.
George Ickes, one of the oldest of the pioneers of Madison, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1800. He settled in Madison township with his family about 1833. He married Margaret Croyle in 1821, and had a family of thirteen children, ten of whom are living, viz: Henry, Adam, Catharine, Thomas, Barbara, Sarah, Michael, Margaret, Sophia, and George. Mrs. Ickes died in 1867.
William Whitford settled in the south part of the township in 1833. He was one of the proprietors of the surveyed village of Rollersville. He lived in the township until his death.
Benjamin Yates moved into the town-ship from Columbiana county about the same time. He removed from here to Michigan.
Another of the Columbiana county colony who came in 1833, was Angus Campbell, a native of Scotland. He was
797
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
a Scotch Presbyterian of the strict school. He died in 1868 at the age of sixty-four years: His wife survived him nine years. Eight of their eleven children are still living.
Caleb Taylor and William Burkett settled in Madison in the year 1833. Both had families, and became respected citizens.
The census duplicates of Jackson, Washington, and Madison register the name Garn oftener than any other. Jacob Garn, the progenitor of the Garns of Madison, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1799. In 1824 he married Elizabeth Bittle, and two years later emigrated to Ohio. After spending two years in Richland, and five years in Seneca county, the family settled in Madison in 1833. It was at Mr. Garn's resi- dence that the first election was held in 1834, also succeeding elections for a number of years. This family is characteristic, at least for size. The children numbered sixteen, fourteen of whom are living-eleven boys and three girls. One boy and one girl lire dead. Mr. Garn died in 1879 at the ripe old age of eighty years. Mrs. Garn, the mother of this large family, is yet living on the homestead. The children living are: Andrew and John (twins), Sandusky county; Milton and Lizzie (Turley), Wood county; Margaret (Barker), Elijah and Adam,
Sandusky county; Peter and Samuel,
Williams county; Susannah (Warner), California; Daniel, David and Levi, Sandusky county.
Abraham Shell was one of the earliest settlers of Scott township, but is classed among the pioneers of Madison because more of his life was spent here than any- where else in the State. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1803. He married Lydia Fought and came to Scott township about 1829, and remained two years, then moved to Columbiana county. Mr. Shell returned
to the county and settled in this township in 1832, where he remained till 1849, then removed to Erie county, and died there in 1851. The family consisted of eight children, five of whom are living, viz: Elias, Illinois; John, Nebraska; Absalom, Ballville; Jonathan, Ballville; and Isadore, Madison. Absalom, who is a well-known citizen of Ballville township, was born in 1839. He married, in 1859, Elizabeth Glass.
Josiah Harman came to Madison with his brothers, Frank and Merritt, about 1833. Josiah taught school, and had a good reputation for awhile. What finally became of him is not known.
Benjamin Cramer settled on the Whitney farm about 1833. He soon became discouraged and removed to Michigan.
Jasper Whitney was born in Ontario county, New York, November 8, 1803. He settled in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1825, and in 1826 married Elizabeth Gunwer, a native of Switzerland. During his residence in Seneca county he had a severe attack of sickness. For fourteen days he was unconscious and apparently lifeless. The physician pronounced him dead, and every preparation was made for the funeral- coffin, shroud, and all. Mrs. Whitney, however, insisted on delay. Her judgment and resolution prevented what happens more frequently than people generally suppose- burial before death. Mr. Whitney has never fully recovered his strength, but has raised a large family and attained to a ripe old age. He has cleared four hundred acres of land since coming to Ohio. The family consisted of ten children, seven of whom are still living. Following are their names: Edwin, Emily, and an infant daughter, all deceased; Amelia (Spooner), Wood county; Erastus, Laporte county, Indiana; Ezra, Cass county, Iowa; Ann, Washington township; Mary A. (Russell), Madison; Ellen
798
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
(Klotz), Wood county; and Ami E. (King), Madison township. Besides the severe and almost fatal illness above described, he has suffered some severe injuries. In 1840, while riding a horse, Mr. Whitney was thrown off and broke his left leg. Again, in 1858, he was thrown from a wagon and broke the same limb, besides receiving such injuries upon his head that he was for a long time un- conscious. Some six weeks after, while still suffering from the effects of this accident, he was in the barn watching the men who were threshing, when the horses ran over him and broke his other leg.
Ami M., seventh child of Jasper and Elizabeth Whitney, was born in Seneca county in 1842. He came to Madison with the Whitney family in 1852. He married, in 1862, Julia Damschrader, who was born in Toledo in 1844. Two children are living Mary M., and Martha A. Mr. Whitney removed to Washington township in 1869.
Elias Miller settled in Madison township about 1834. He died in this township.
Charles Hazleton came to the township in 1834. He was a native of Vermont. He married, in Madison, Mary Wolcutt, and is now living In Illinois.
Jeremiah King was one of the most useful men who ever lived in Madison. He was born in Rhode Island in 1805. In 1826 he married Mary Dean, of Massachusetts, and in 1834 they came to Sandusky county and purchased a farm in Madison township. Being dissatisfied with the country they returned to the East, but afterwards came back and settled on the farm in Madison. He was killed May 6, 1856, at Aspinwall, while crossing the Isthmus of Panama. He had been justice of the peace twelve years, and was county commissioner several years. He was a leader in urging forward public
improvements. He was a machinist by trade.
Louis O. Whitman was the owner of a saw- mill. He settled about 1835.
Charles T. Gilmore, a native of New England, came to Madison about 1835. He returned to the East five years afterward.
I. D. Storms settled in Madison about 1836. He died five years later. The family removed to Michigan.
Peter and Jacob Kimmerling, born of Pennsylvania parentage, in Union county, came to this county in 1836. Peter married, in Union county, in 1833, Elizabeth Hartzell, who died in 1859, leaving thirteen children, viz: William, Catharine, James, John, Edward, Margaret, Mary, Julia A., Ellen, Bennel, Peter, Henry and Sarah. He married for his second wife, Catharine Unger in 1861, and by her had a family of five children-Saloma, Samantha, Abram, Jacob F., and Lillie M. Mr. Kimmerling left the farm a few years ago and began keeping hotel in Gibsonburg. His family are all married except three. William, Sarah, Bennel, Henry, and Peter are dead.
Noah P. Hathaway was born in Massachusetts in 1801. He married Nancy Payne in 1823, and in 1836 came to Ohio and settled in Madison township, where he lived until 1858. He then removed to the present site of Helena, where he remained two years, afterwards becoming a resident of Scott. Fostoria was his home for twelve years from 1862. The family consisted of six children-Rowena P. (Merrick), Attica, Indiana; Ann P. (Thomas), Rollersville; Avis (Thompson), Rollersville; Adelaide C. (deceased); Helena M. (Lloyd), Fostoria, and Sylvanus P., Scott township. Mr. Hathaway killed the last wolf seen in Sandusky county, in 1858.
About 1836 Freeborn, Gideon and
799
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
James Hathaway settled in Madison, and Philip in Scott.
William Blank settled in 1836. He died in the township nine years ago. George Lightner settled about the same time.
David Kepford, a stone mason from Pennsylvania, came into Madison in 1836. He moved west from here.
Esquire Plumb settled west of the present village of Gibsonburg.
Joseph Slates was born in Carroll county, Maryland, in 1809. He married Elizabeth Fleck in Pennsylvania. In 1854 he moved to this county and resided in Jackson, then in Washington township, moving thence to Madison, where he now resides. The family consists of nine children living: Catharine, Madison township; Elizabeth (Snyder), Washington township; Rebecca (Garn), Williams county; Jennie (Allen), Defiance county; Lucinda (Klotz), Scott township; Ellen (Klotz), Madison township; Lydia A. (Krotzer), Wood county; William, Madison township; and Jacob, Michigan.
William Slater was born in Pennsylvania in 1837, and came to Ohio with his parents. In 1873 he married Emeline Metzger, who died in 1874, leaving one child, Joseph.
D. P. Hurlbut, a native of Vermont, was born in Chittenden county in 1809. He came to Ohio in 1832 and settled in Geauga county. After about one year he left the State and did not return till 1837, when he settled in Madison township. He married, in 1834, Maria Woodbury, a native of New Hampshire. Nine children blessed this union, seven of whom are living, viz: Wheeler W., Emily A., Emory A., George M., Henry K., Phebe M., and John L. Mr. Hurlbut purchased his farm at one dollar an acre, land which would now bring in the market eighty times that amount.
We have now sketched in a general way the first settlement of the township. We have given our readers as much information concerning those who went before and prepared the way for rapid improvement, and progress, as our space and information can supply. It takes time and labor to improve a country. The working pioneer really enlarges the world by just as many acres as he clears and reduces to the use of civilized society. But there is a class of later settlers who deserve some attention, those who have carried on the battle commenced by the pioneer army. This class is so large that we can mention but a few families.
William Driftmeyer, son of Lewis and Isabella Driftmeyer, was born in Germany in 1816. He came to America in 1842, and settled in Maklison township. He married, in 1843, Mary Cook, also a native of Germany. The fruit of this union was eight children, viz: William (deceased), Henry, Mary, Eliza, Sarah, Frederick, Sophia, and Louis. Mr. Driftmeyer is one of the many foreign-born citizens who have earned by labor and economy, a handsome estate, with no other start than a healthy body and determined purpose. He came to this county without a cent, but is now one of the wealthy men of the township.
John W. Hutchinson, son of William Hutchinson, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1832. In 1853 he married Rebecca Naylor, a daughter of Samuel Naylor, and a native of Medina county, Ohio. He settled in 1853, in Madison township. Three of their six children are living-William W., Willard B., and Charles. Mr. Hutchinson engaged in merchandising at Rollersville one year, and is now carrying on undertaking and farming. Mr. Hutchinson assisted in building the house now used as the Methodist church, the first frame building erected, in Gibsonburg.
800
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
A. H. Tice, son of Peter Tice, was horn in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. He married Catharine Noggle in 1844, and in 1853 settled in Jackson township. In 1858 he removed to Madison. The family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are still living, viz: Malinda, Emeline, Andrew J., Elizabeth, James B., George W., Sarah J., Hattie, and Alpha. Mr. Tice served as magistrate of Madison township nine years.
Samuel Bell, a son of Abraham Bell, was born in Cecil county; Maryland, in 1823. He came to Ohio and settled in Ottawa county in 1834, where he lived till 1862, when Madison became his home. In 1846 Mr. Bell married Catharine Correll, of this county. Seven children blessed this union, five boys and two girls, all living-Sarah E. (Lloyd), Scott; William, Ottawa county; James O., Ottawa county; Mary F. (Edmunds), Bradner, Wood county; Melvin E., Ottawa county; Andrew and Elmer, Madison.
Robert R. Webster was horn in Ontario county, New York, June, in 1807. He came to Ohio in 1841, and settled in Erie county. Ten years later he moved to Toledo, and lived there till 1867, when with his family he settled in Madison township. He married, for his first wife, Amelia McMillen; after her death he married Elizabeth Daum, widow of John P. Daum. The fruit of both marriages was sixteen children, eleven of whom are living. Mr. Webster may truthfully be called a veteran soldier, having served three and one-half years in the Florida war, one year and a half in the Mexican war, and two years in the Rebellion, in the Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Thomas Lattimore was born in this county in 1829, but while quite young his parents moved to Ottawa county. He married, in 1852, Susan Park, of Ottawa
county, by whom four children were born, one boy and three girls, who are living, viz: Elva V., Nancy E., Thomas O., and Susan. In 1879 Mr. Lattimore returned to his native county, and settled in this township.
GIBSONBURG.
The construction of the Tiffin, Toledo & Eastern Railroad (now the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago) seemed to create all along the line a craze for towns. For this, as well as for the disappointment which has or inevitably will result, the projectors of the road are responsible. It will be remembered that as an inducement to secure a free right of way, depots were promised at almost every road crossing, and flourishing towns pictured at every point. Burgoon, Millersville, Helena, and Gibsonburg-four towns within a distance of ten miles-have for ten years been contesting for supremacy. All except one are flourishing villages for their age, and good markets. But if the enterprise and business of the four could be consolidated into two, there would be a reasonable hope of growth beyond the limits of a village. From experience has been deduced the adage: "The fittest survive." History is not the place for prophesy. We therefore content ourselves with brief outlines.
The founder of Gibsonburg was fortunately a man who knew the methods necessary to accomplish the ends in view; in other words, he was a business man. As a result, his town was given a start which attracted the attention of other enterprising business men, who have assumed management of affairs, and are furnishing the food necessary to nourish a rapid and healthy growth. In ten years a population of six hundred has been brought together, who are fed by solid and productive industries.
To William H. Gibson, of Tiffin, be-
801
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
longs the honor of founding this town, which bears his name. After the railroad had been located, General Gibson purchased a tract of ninety acres, and early in August, 1871, surveyed forty acres into t town lots. Associated with him in laying out the town, as at first platted, August 5, 1871, were T. D. Stevenson and J. F. Yeasting.
A post office was at once secured, T. D. Stevenson being commissioned to take charge of the office. He was succeeded in 1873 by F. W. Dohn, the present incumbent.
The first store was opened in 1871, by Zorn & Hornung, in their own house which was also the first business building in the place.
P. H. Zorn, the senior member of this firm, was born in Germany. He came to America in 1849, and located at Fremont, where he was employed at making shoes. He married Margaret Stotz and afterwards located at Hessville, where he opened a shop and worked at the trade. By economy and industry he was enabled in a short time to purchase a stock of boots and shoes. This was the beginning of a successful mercantile career. Adam Hornung, who had learned the shoemaker's trade in Mr. Zorn's shop, was received as a partner, and the business enlarged to a general store. The store at Gibsonburg was at first placed under the management of Mr. Hornung, and conducted as a branch. The rapid growth of the village soon induced the firm to consolidate at Gibsonburg, and Mr. Zorn became a resident of the village. Merchandising has been continued uninterruptedly since, the only change in the firm being the admission of Henry Zorn into the partnership, in 1877.
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.