History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 92

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Their corn was long-eared, and had eight rows of grains, sometimes entirely blue, some almost black, and some a mixture or white, blue, and black. It is raised in this county yet sometimes, the seed having come from the Indians.

Their kettles were of copper or brass, and held from ten to fifteen gallons. These were used for making sugar and hominy. They made considerable sugar which was used for sweetening corn. They tapped the trees by cutting in notches with hatchets, and made troughs of elm bark, for catching the sap. Canoes were made of the same material.

In the absence of kettles the meat and corn was placed on sticks and roasted. The Indians were particularly fond of roasting ears. They usually ate in smell companies, in relationships rather than in families. At times food was hard to get, the supply of corn having been exhausted, and game scarce in spring time. Occasionally they were driven to the necessity of boiling old deer heads, which were anything but savory.

The boys used for hunting, bows and arrows. The arrows used for shooting low were made with heavy steel points, bought ready made. Feathers set on with a twist were always used on the sharp arrows. They hunted squirrels with a blunt arrow, on which there was no feather. Boys were given the rifle at the age of eighteen. Grown Indians generally hunted with the rifle.

These Indians were almost incessant

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smokers. Smoking is one of the few customs of civilized society to which the red man takes naturally. Drinking stimulants is another. The inference is that all humanity is naturally predisposed to both. The Senecas smoked tobacco and the bark of wahoo, which they called kannakanick. They also smoked the bark of a species of dogwood, and sometimes mixed all three of these articles in the same pipe. They were what has been termed aesthetic smokers, never indulging except when at leisure, which was the greater part of the time.

These Indians did their own tanning. If a hide was dry, they soaked it in the water of a running stream. They then stretched it over a smooth log the size of a man's leg, and with a knife-blade placed in a curved stick, would scrape off all the hair and outside skin; then turning, they scraped off the flesh, and laid the skin out to dry. They then soaked them in deer's brains and warm water worked into a suds. After leaving them to soak two or three days, these self-taught tanners dressed them by rubbing with a stone much like those called axes, which are sometimes ploughed up in the fields. The skins were frequently palled during this operation. The leather thus tanned was colored by digging a hole in the ground, hanging the hides on sticks standing upright in this hole and throwing in burning rotten wood until the color suited.

Judge Welsh says:

When I first knew the Indians, the men dressed in moccasins and leggings, a calico shirt reaching to the knees or hips, and above a jacket, or some garment. The principal dress was, however, one of the Canadian blankets fastened with a belt. The arm was protected with deer-skin from brush in the woods. They wore bracelets and ornaments on the breast. The squaws wore broadcloth long enough to fasten with a belt at the waist. Above they wore a jacket; they had moccasins and leggings. They wore hats got from the whites, when they could get them, otherwise nothing. Leggings were worn much by the whites; rattlesnakes could not well strike through

them. The Indians were fond of paints, using them especially in their war dances. For red they used blood- root; for yellow, some other root, the name of which is not recalled; and for black, coal mixed with grease or oil.

The Indians indulged much in gaming, foot-racing, horse-racing, and wrestling be- ing the favorite sports. The burial customs of the Wyandots were like the whites. The Mohawks buried along Honey Creek, in Seneca county. The body was placed in a sort of box made of slabs or poles. The Sauks, Foxes, and Pottawattomies placed the body in a sitting posture on the ground, and built a pen around of sticks and logs.

SETTLEMENT.

Sometime during the war of 1812 Samuel Pogue, a soldier in General Harrison's army, drove a stake near the spring in the west part of Clyde, and declared his intention of settling at that place after the cessation of hostilities. It is also learned from tradition that after viewing the surrounding country from the elevation on the other side of the creek, he ventured the prophesy that sometime A town would occupy that land. This prophesy was made nearly seventy years ago, when Fort Stephenson and a few army trails were the only evidence, in this county, of the existence of white men; when the forest abounded in the native animals of the locality; railroads existed only in the fancy of dreamy philosophers. But when Mr. Pogue, in 1820, came to take formal possession of the land lie had selected, he found a hastily built cabin occupied by the family of Jesse Benton. Benton had preceded him but a few weeks, and was attracted by the same spring and general surroundings. A squatter's title is possession, and Benton had possession, but being a typical squatter Mr. Pogue surmised his weak point and brought to bear on him the strongest temptation to abdicate the favorite tract.

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The offer of a barrel of whiskey accom- plished the purpose, and the cabin was vacated. Benton built a cabin further up the creek, and put out a tavern sign. This was an ideal pioneer tavern. One of the early settlers of York township informs us that he once stopped at Benton's when the table fare consisted entirely of squash. It was not the fault of the proprietor of this forest tavern, for it was simply impossible to obtain other food.

But before proceeding with this sketch it is proper that we should go back to mention the first family in the township-the Bakers. Samuel Baker, sr., emigrated from New York to Ohio in the winter of 1818 with a family of one son and four daughters. This was the first family to penetrate the woods of Green Creek and begin life among the Indians. The oldest son, Samuel, who died recently, was acquainted with the life of this community from its beginning. A biography of the family will be found in this volume. The Cleveland family settled in this township soon afterwards. A biographical sketch is given in this chapter.

Samuel Pogue was accompanied to the township by his stepson, Lyman F. Miller, Silas Dewey, Giles Thompson, and Amos Fenn. The farm on which lie built his cabin and commenced a clearing was purchased at the first Government sale. After the death of Mr. Pogue it came into possession of his stepson, Lyman Miller, and his son-in-law, George R. Brown, who, after the railroads were built laid it out in lots, as will be seen further along.

These first families, Clevelands, Bakers, Pogue, Dewey, and Fenn, were not squatters in the common sense of that term. They came with the idea of staying-improving their farms and buying the land when it was placed upon the market. The squatter, in the commonly accepted sense of the term, was one who found a place

to live in the wild country where he could supply the simple wants of his appetite without the inconvenience of hard labor. He reasoned well that it would be folly to stir his blood by swinging an axe for the benefit of the man who would eventually crowd him off. This class of squatters became a peculiar people. Living between the savage red man and the hard working pioneer, they became semi-savage. It should, therefore, be remembered that there is a wide difference between "squatters" and "squatter settlers," of which last-named class the pioneers of Green Creek belong. Thus having given a glimpse of the beginning of white occupation, we will now proceed to sketch briefly the general settlement of the town- ship.

Amos Fenn was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in September, 1793. His educational facilities were limited, but a taste for reading led him to employ his leisure time in the acquisition of informa- tion, so that he became a remarkably well posted man. At the age of fifteen, his father having died, he was apprenticed at the trade of house carpentering. In 1817 he came to Ohio, and landed first at the mouth of the Huron, then went to Ogontz Place, now Sandusky. He was accompanied on this journey by Silas Dewey, with whom he afterwards came to Green Creek. While at Sandusky he made the acquaintance of W. B. Smith, whose sister he married. In February, 1820, he joined the party consisting of the Pogue family, Silas Dewey, and Giles Thompson, and came to Clyde. Mr. Camp was at that time making the survey of the Indian purchase, and found Mr. Fenn a valuable employee. When the land came into market; Mr. Fenn made a purchase and started an improvement. He was in the habit of saving the odds and ends of time. He occupied bad weather in the manufacture

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of chairs, which were in demand. Their substitution for slab benches was greatly appreciated by the labor-burdened settlers. Mr. Fenn served as justice of the peace for a period of eighteen years from 1843. He was also a local preacher of the Methodist church. Mrs. Fenn died in June, 1839. In 1840 he married Mrs. Brace, of Erie county, who is yet living. Mr. Fenn died January 16, 1879.

Lyman Miller removed from New York with his mother, his father having died some years before, and settled at Huron. His mother was married to Samuel Pogue at Huron, who in 1820 came to Green Creek. Mr. Miller attended the first school in the township, which was taught by Joshua Fairchilds. In 1835 he married Melissa Harkness, daughter of Dr. Harkness, of the Corners. His connection with the founding of Clyde is noticed in this chapter.

Giles Thompson, who lived on the op- posite side of the creek from Mr. Pogue, was a man of good character. His wife was an invalid.

Jonathan Rathbun, grandfather of Saxton S. Rathbun, one of the oldest residents of the county, came to Sandusky county in 1820, and settled on what is now known as the Persing farm. He had four sons-Clark, Chaplin, Lucius, and Martin. Clark remained a few years, and then returned to New York. Chaplin lived and died in this township, on the place where S. S. Rathbun now lives. Lucius remained in the township, and reared a large family. He died in Michigan. Martin lived in the township a number of years, moved to Michigan, and died there. The daughters were: Sally, Marvel, Eliza, and Laura. Sally married Roswell Merrill, lived in Green Creek some years, and then returned to New York. Marvel married Lyman Jones, and lived and died in the township. Eliza married Anon Mil-

liman, resided in Green Creek some time, and died in Michigan. Laura married John Davidson, and died in this town-ship.

Chaplin and Lucinda (Sutliff) Rathbun came from Lorain county in 1824. They were born in New York State. Of their children one son and four daughters are living, viz: Saxton S., Janet (Cleveland), and Catharine (Huss), Green Creek S Sarah (Foster) and Eliza (Hunter), in Indiana.

S. S. Rathbun was born in Livingston county, New York, in 1813. In 1835 he married Barbara Huss. She bore hire eleven sons and two daughters. The daughters and five of the sons are still living, viz: Norton G., Green Creek; Saxton Burton, Green Creek; Chaplin L., Ballville; Mary Lucinda (Storer), Green Creek; Martin Brace, Green Creek; Orvilla (Sackrider), Green Creek; and John E., Ballville.

Norton G. Rathbun was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, September 19, 1839. He is a son of Saxton S. and Barbara Rathbun, of this township. Mr. Rathbun was brought up and educated in Green Creek township. When young he travelled for some time in the West. He was married December 25, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Hufford, daughter of Cornelius and Mary Hufford, of Ballville township. They have three children-Edwin, Arthur, and Herman. Mr. Rathbun was elected county commissioner in 1878, and is at present serving in that capacity. Previously he was superintendent of the infirmary.

Samuel McMillan came from Livingston county, New York, to Thompson township, Seneca county, in 1818, where he improved a farm and planted apple and peach seeds. In 1821 he purchased a tract of land near the present site of Clyde, and removed there with his family, consisting of a wife and five children. He brought to the

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township the first fruit trees-the growth from the seeds planted in Seneca county. Their children settled as follows: Samuel, in Central Ohio; Henry (deceased), in the western part of Clyde; Sibyl, wife of Norton Russell, York township; Nancy, widow of Elder Isaac May, Townsend; Luther P. settled in Wisconsin, where he died; Betsy died at Amsden's Corners, in 1818.

Henry McMillan married Sophia Beau- camp, a native of Guernsey Island, France. Their family consisted of seven children, only two of whom are living-Nancy and Mary. Nancy married Ezra Hall, who was born in Vermont, in 1829. He came to Clyde in 1852, being employed under a contract to lay railroad iron on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. He has made Clyde his home since that time. In 1853 he was married to Nancy McMillen, who was born in 1833. He is now engaged in gardening at Clyde. Their family consisted of one child-William. Mary McMillen is married to Gideon Rhodes, of Clyde. They have two children.

The following list of voters shows who were residents of the township in 1822. The poll is of the fall election: Samuel S. Baker, Benjamin Collings, Joshua Woodard, Samuel Uttley, Samuel Pogue, Josiah Rumery, Levi F. Tuttle, Silas Dewey, John J. Quackenbush, Jared

H. Miner, Clark Cleveland, Moses Cleveland, Clark Cleveland, jr., Jesse Benton, Roswell Merrell, Jacob H. Benjamin, Jonathan Rathbun, Andrew McNutt, Lucius Rathbun, and Levi Sawyer. The whole number of votes at this election was twenty. At the first election, held the preceding spring, there were seventeen votes cast, but the list of names was not preserved. At the election held in the spring of 1823, thirty-two votes were polled. As these poll sheets approximately indicate the changes and increase of population, the

full list is given: Jared H. Miner, Moses Cleveland, Josiah Rumery, Andrew Matoon, Abram Mauleray, Rozel Merrel, Samuel Pogue, Andrew McNutt, Levi Fox, Levi F. Tuttle, Jacob Wessels, James Guinall, Levi Dunham, John J. Quackenbush, Lucius Rathbun, Samuel McMillan, George Jones, Joshua Woodard; Samuel S. Baker, George Kemp, Albert Guinall, Samuel Baker, Jesse Emerson, Harris Reed, Hiram Baker, Jesse Benton, Alexander McMurray, Jonathan Rathbun, Benjamin Collins, Gideon P. Chauncy, Clark Cleveland, Abraham Spunn.

We add one more list of electors, that of the October election, 1831: George S. Beven, William Helens, William McPherson, Nathan Worster, Boston Shoup, John J. Quackenbush, Silas Grover, Amos H. Hammond, Luther Porter, Elisha Babcock, Reuben Tilson, Silas Dewey, Elial Curtis, Hiram Hurd, James Morrill, Lucius Rathbun, Hugh Graham, Isaac W. Brown, John Netcher, William Netcher, George Hemp, Jacob Wessels, Jacob Daggot, John Monroe, Chaplin Rathbun, George Jones, Orsanus Barnard, Hiram Rice, Shubel Reynolds, James Gruinall, James Rumery, Erastus Tuttle, Elijah Buell, Jared Hoadley, Samuel McMillen, Jason Judd.

So rapidly did the township fill up after the initial, improvements had been made that it is impossible even to give the names of all settlers, even those who built permanent homes. This part of the county has been particularly favored with a progressive, energetic class of people who have accumulated wealth, and given praise worthy attention to matters of general culture and refinement. Brief mention of some of the leading families will not be inappropriate in this connection.

Elisha and Prudence (Hinkley) Babcock came from Middlesex, Ontario county, New York, in 1823, and settled on

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Butternut Ridge in Green Creek township, where they lived and died. They were among the very first settlers, and located in the then almost unbroken wilderness. They came by team all the way from New York State, from Buffalo going a part of the distance upon the ice, and arrived in the township in the month of March. The first few weeks after their arrival the family lived in an old sugar shanty until a cabin could be erected. After he had arrived and settled down, Mr. Babcock found himself with a cash capital of just two shillings.

Elisha Babcock died in 1841, aged fifty- four years; Mrs. Babcock in 1857, aged seventy-four. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters. Their oldest child, Esther, was married to Mr. Walldorff in New York State before her parents came to Ohio, and remained there until tier decease. Laura became Mrs. Chapel, and afterwards the wife of J. C. Coleman, of Fremont. She is also dead. Clark, who married Ann Lee, died in Porter county, Indiana. Hiram married Mary Ann Lay, and after her decease Josephine Woodruff. He died upon the old place in Green Creek township about nine years ago. He has seven children living-three in this county, viz: Thomas, Green Creek; Margaret (Leslie); Michigan; Prudence (Drown), Pennsylvania; Mary (dray), Wood county; Mahala (Craig), Iowa; Clementine, and Harry, Green Creek.

Merlin Babcock, the only representative of the original family, was born in 1819, and now resides in York township. For his first wife he married Almira Dirlam. There were three children by this marriage: Sarah (Craig), Franklin county; Callie (Kinney), York township, and Frank, Clyde. For his second wife Mr. Babcock married Agnes Donaldson. John, the only child by this union, is now a resident of Colorado.

Adam Smith, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1820. and four years later settled in the western part of Green Creek. He died in 1854. Mrs. Smith, whose maiden name was Fanny Johnson, died in 1879. Their children were Mary (Brunthaver), Catharine (Preston), Samuel, Adam, and David.

Noah and Mary (Burkolder) Huss, natives of Pennsylvania, settled in Fairfield county in 1822, and in 1825 in Green Creek township. Two of their sons and four of their daughters are still living, viz: Mrs. Eleanor Hawk, Green Creek; James Huss, Centreville, Michigan; Mrs. Barbara Rathbun and Mrs. M. J. McIntyre, Green Creek; Jacob Huss, in California, and Mrs. Martha Conelly in Iowa.

Joseph Hawk was born in Pickaway county, in 1814. He came to Sandusky county in 1825. He married for his first wife Sarah Tillotson, by whom he had, four children. For his second wife he married Martha Harris, by whom he had eight children, all of whom are living. Mr. Hawk has always given his exclusive attention to farming.

Truman Grover was born in New York, March 13, 1810. He came to Green Creek in 1826, and in 1835 married Catharine Swart. Their family consists of seven children, viz: Eunice (Perin); Milo, Frank, Margaret (Clapp), Enos, Melvina (Hart), and Ella. Ransom died at the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Grover has probably made more railroad ties than any man in the township, having furnished the ties for twenty-eight miles of the Michigan & Dayton; while for the Cleveland, Sandusky & Cincinnati, he furnished all the bridge and culvert timber from Green Spring to Castalia. Commencing in 1838 he worked about three years on the old Ohio railroad.

One of the old residents, William E. Lay, was born in Seneca county (now

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Tompkins county), New York, October 20, 180g. His parents, John and Mary Lay, moved to Ohio in 1816; stopped in Huron county a little over a year; moved to Seneca county and remained there until 1828, when they came to Sandusky county: John Lay died at the age of eighty-four, his wife at the age of seventy-six. William E. Lay was married, April 11, 1-833, to Margaret Lee, of Adams township, Seneca county. They have had eleven children, nine of whom survive. The oldest, Minerva, died in infancy; Harkness N., resides at Clyde; Elizabeth, at home; Cornelia (Lefever), Green Creek; Henry S., at home; Clementine, at home; Frank, died at Savannah, Georgia, while in his country's service, in the nineteenth year of his age. He was in the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was a prisoner at Andersonville, and the hardships and deprivations of that prison doubtless caused his death. Harkness was a member of the same regiment and was also imprisoned. Fidelia married Cyrus Alexander, Erie county. Alice is the wife of Cyrus L. Hamden, Clyde. William B. and Mabel are at home.

Samuel Storer was born near the city of Portland, Maime, January 22, 1807. He came to Ohio with his parents, Joseph and Charlotte Storer, who were among the pioneers. They settled at Zanesville in 1816; remained there ten years, moving to Cuyahoga county in 1827. Mr. Storer moved to Sandusky county in 1863. He was married, in 1831, to Sarah J. Fish, a daughter of James Fish, the first permanent settler in Brooklyn, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. They have seven children living, and three deceased, viz: Samuel Elisha (deceased); Sarah (Pool), Green Creek; Miranda P. (Cunningham), Clyde; James, Cleveland; Mary J. (Clapp), Green Creek; Susan M. (deceased); Charles W., Green Creek; John W. (deceased); Henrietta

(Huss), Green Creek; and Benjamin A., a physician at Republic, Seneca county, While Mr. Storer was in Brooklyn he carried on the business of tanning; since he settled in this county he has been a farmer. Mr. Storer is a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Francis and Sarah (Swope) Ramsey came from Fairfield county, Ohio, to San. dusky county in 1830. Three of their children are living-David, in Green Creek; Jane, in Clyde; and Frank, in Kansas. George died at Clyde in 1879.

David Ramsey was born in Fairfield county in 1820. He married Sarah Ann York, by whom he had two children-Ella (Waugh) and Euphemia (Combs). Mr. Ramsey married, for his second wife, Charlotte McHenry, by whom he had three children, two of whom are living, Belle and Grace. Mr. Ramsey has served in various local official capacities.

Willard Perin was born in Massachusetts in 1802. The family removed to New York, and thence to Ohio in 1833. In 1833 Willard married Lucy Gale, and lives on the same farm on which he settled that year. Mrs. Perin died July 31, 1881, aged seventy. Their children are: Willard Henry, born in 1833, killed by a threshing machine in Michigan in 1862; Dolly Rebecca, born 1835, the wife of James B. Drown, Green Creek; William Taylor, born 1837; Fernando C., born 1839, died in Michigan in 1863; Austin G., born 1841, resides at Green Creek; Lucy A., born 1844, married Milo Grover, Green Creek; Bloomy E., born 1847, married John Shaw, Green Creek; Genevra A., born 1850, Green Creek.

John T. Perin, brother of Willard, was born in 1820. He came to this county in 1833. In 1848 he married Miss Gale, by whom he has four children.

William T. Perin, son of Willard Perin,

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married Eunice Grover, of this township, and has five children-Perry, Willie, Fannie, Frank, and Bertie.

Christian Huss was born February 21, 1815, and married, in 1837, Catharine Rathbun, who was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1818. Her parents removed thence to Lorain county, and a few years later to Sandusky county. Ten of her twelve children are living, viz .: Chaplin, Eliza (Morrison), Noah B., Burr, Maurice L., Jane (McMillan), Oliver P., Barbara (Young), Saxton, and Christian E. Christian Huss died in 1864, aged forty-nine years. He came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1824.

Hosea and Mary (Harrington) Harnden came to the county about 1835, and lived about one year on what is now the Hildwein farm. Then they moved and lived in different parts of the State until 1849, when they returned to the township and settled where Kneeland Harnden now lives. Jonathan Harnden, son of Hosea, came with his parents. He married Nancy Smith in Huron county, and was the father of nine children, six of whom are living, located as follows: Hosea and Kneeland, Green Creek; Smith, in Ottawa county; Alexander and Cyrus L., Clyde, Mary (Tuttle), Clyde. Jonathan Harnden died in 1867, aged fifty-two years, and Nancy Hamden in 1873, aged fifty-eight. Kneeland Harnden was born July 3, 1841, in Huron county, now Ashland county, and came to Sandusky county with his parents. In 1865 he married Hattie Fuller of Townsend township. They have two children, Minnie and John.

David Hawk was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio with his parents, Conrad and Elizabeth Hawk, when five years old. They lived in Huron county, and. later came to Sandusky county. In 1819 David Hawk married Peanar Buss, barn in Pennsylvania in

1812. Mr. Hawk died, in 1855, aged fifty years. He was the father of fourteen children, thirteen living: David, Green Creek; John, California; Mary (Hutchins), Ballville; Lewis, died in Andersonville prison-was in the Seventy-second Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Noah, Green Creek; Charles, Iowa; George, Green Creek; Elizabeth (Parker), Iowa; James, Green Creek; Eliza (Scholey), Clyde; Clementine (Flora), Green Creek; Clarissa (Moore), Wood county; Cyrus, Green Creek; Alice (Young), Green Creek.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 92

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