History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 97

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Mr. James Cleveland and his wife Jeanette had born to them ten children, six sons and four daughters, namely: James B., who married Julia Parmeter, still living, and has one son and one daughter; Eliza, who married A. J. Harris, and died in 1861, leaving one son; Clark R. Cleveland, who married Sarah Hearl, with whom he is still living, and has seven children, three daughters and four sons; George D. Cleveland, who married Rosa Metts, who is dead, leaving one son and two daughters; Lucinda,

who married Horace Tyler, with whom she is still living, having a family of two daughters and one son living; Chaplin S. Cleveland, who married Susie West, with whom he is still living, and has two sons and three daughters living; John H. Cleveland, who married Helen Starks, and died October 28, 1879, leaving one daughter; Sarah, who. married Charles Sackrider, still together, and have one son; Mary married George Crosby, still living together, and have one child, a daughter; Charles Cleveland, who never married, and who died on the 14th day of December, 1879. Mrs. James Cleveland, who gives the data of this notice, says there are of James Cleveland's family two great- grandchildren which were not noticed in the foregoing list.

Mr. and Mrs. James Cleveland were what may be termed workers. Both were active and incessant in their efforts to prepare for old age and also for assisting their children to their start in life. At the time of Mr. James Cleveland's death, which occurred on September 1, 1878, himself and wife, by their hard work and care, had accumulated very near four hundred acres of land, with dwellings comfortable, several orchards, three barns, and other property in abundance. The children now living are all settled and comfortable within a distance of not over four miles from the mother, who is now healthy, vigorous, lively and intelligent at the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. Cleveland is a woman below the medium size, and in her best days weighed about one hundred and twenty pounds. She never shrank from any work she could do for the advancement of the family. When clearing up their farm she assisted by hauling rails with a yoke of oxen and laying them up into fences, while her husband cut down the trees and split the timber into rails. One season when help

Rev. Noah Young

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was not to be had Mrs. Cleveland fastened her child on her back with a shawl and carried it with her while she planted and hoed corn in the field. Her first calico dress she obtained by picking strawberries and bringing them from home on foot, a distance of about eight miles, to Lower Sandusky. These she traded to Jesse S. Olmsted for twelve and one-half cents a quart, and thus paid for her calico dress pattern of five yards at twenty-five cents per yard. When her husband died he left an estate worth about thirty thousand dollars and owed no man a cent. The widow now enjoys a handsome support from the land and other property left by her husband. Five generations have lived in the vicinity and chiefly on the farm which she and her children now occupy: First, Clark Cleveland, sr .; second, James Cleveland (the subject of this sketch); third, James Cleveland's children; fourth, James Cleveland's grand children; fifth, James Cleveland's great grand children, of which there are now two. Surely few localities can show as well in permanent residence and numbers as the Cleveland neighborhood in Green Creek township, and few boast of better citizens than the Cleveland settlement.

NOAH YOUNG.

Among the earliest settlers in Sandusky county were the Young family. Charles Young was born in Berkeley county, Vir- ginia, February 28, 1789. He passed the most of his youthful days in Pennsylvania. At an early date he came to Ohio, took up a tract of wild land in Pickaway county, and entered upon the work of a pioneer. His wife was Nancy Scothorn, a native of Pennsylvania. After living some years in Pickaway county, they moved to Seneca county, and remained one year. In 1825

Mr. Young came to Sandusky county with his family, and located upon a quarter section which he had previously purchased in Green Creek township. His son is still living upon a part of the old place. To Charles and Nancy Young were born three sons and six daughters, namely: Noah, Nathan, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Susan, Mary, Nancy, Lewis I. C., and Elsie. Nathan died when an infant. Rebecca married James Huss, and died in Texas. She was the mother of two children, who are still living. Elizabeth married Matthew Hutchins, and now resides in Ballville township. She has four children living and three deceased. Susan became the wife of Milton Brown, and died in Steuben county, Indiana. She bore one child who is still living. Mary married James Fowl, and died in Ballville. One child living. Nancy now resides in California. She is the wife of James Rollins, and the mother of two children living. Lewis I. C. resides in Steuben county, Indiana. He is the father of six children, four of whom are living. Elsie married Hubbard Curtis, and lives in California. She has five children living, and one deceased. The parents of this family of children had their share of the rough experiences of pioneers. When they came to Sandusky county the whole region was little more than a wilderness. Indians were far more numerous than white people. Their toil and hardships were similar to those which almost all of the early settlers encountered, but they lived to see a great change wrought upon the face of the country.

Mr. Young died December 10, 1841. Mrs. Young died some years later at the home of her youngest son in Steuben county, Indiana, aged about sixty-three years. She was a sincere Christian and a lady of most excellent character. Although Mr. Young was a member of no church, he was a man of upright principles,

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strictly honest in business, obliging and agreeable in his personal address, and died a most respected citizen.

Noah Young was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, December 24, 1818. Being the son of a pioneer farmer, he was brought up to hard work, and had few opportunities for obtaining a school education. Some idea of his early experiences may be gathered from the following account, it being remembered that Noah was a boy in his seventh year when his parents settled in their new home. The family arrived upon the 25th of February, 1825. A small log cabin had been erected by Mr. Young the same winter. It was built of unhewn logs. In the front side was an opening, without door or glass in it, which served both as a door and window. There was also a small opening in the back part of the cabin, but this, too, had no glass or other substance to keep out the winter winds. Part of a floor had been laid of loose boards, and overhead was a similar floor or scaffold, where the family stowed their goods. The cabin had no chimney or fire- place; the roof was made of "shakes," or long clapboards, held down by poles laid upon them. The sides of the building were "chinked up" without mud or plastering.

Mr. Young well remembers the keen disappointment his mother felt when she arrived, and surveyed the spot that was to be her home. She bore up as long as she could, but finally seated herself and indulged in a hearty cry. But the father at once set about making improvements, and in a few days had the cabin more comfortably fixed, and better suited for human habitation. Then he began clearing away the trees, and preparing a spot for a garden and a corn patch. He exchanged work with his neighbors, and made such progress that, by the 4th of June, he was ready to plant his corn. He

began planting on Saturday, and it being so late in the season, he became so anxious to finish the job, that he decided to work on the following day. After breakfast, Sunday morning, he went out to the field, but soon returned to the house, greatly to the surprise of his wife. "What!" exclaimed she, "Aren't you going to finish your planting today?" "No," he replied; "if the corn would get ripe by planting today, it will have almost time enough to ripen if I put the work off until tomorrow." And he adhered to this determination to respect the holy Sabbath, although the necessity for working seemed great.

The corn patch was on the high ground, some two hundred yards from the house. After the corn had begun to grow, the chipmunks, which were numerous, became very troublesome. No corn would be raised if they were allowed to have their way. So little Noah was put in charge of the cornfield, and watched it from before sunrise until after sunset. To a boy less than seven years of age, in the midst of a dense forest where there was only one small, solitary clearing, a charge of this sort could not be the most agreeable thing in the world. He had no company, save when he could coax the dog to go with him. There in the lonely forest he watched patiently day by day, rejoicing as the hours passed by, and the long shadows of the trees admonished him that night was near. He did his work faithfully and well, although his courage was often so tried that when darkness came on, and he was to return to the cabin, he would shout to his mother to come and meet him, and attend him through the woods. For about three weeks he was kept at this employment, and rejoiced when the corn had grown so that watching it was no longer necessary. What boy of the present day would crave a similar job?

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Again, in the fall, when the corn had begun to ripen, new enemies appeared-blackbirds, raccoons, opossums, besides the squirrels. Blackbirds came in flocks; and were more numerous by far than the ears of corn. These must be kept away, and, of course, the services of the small boy were again in requisition.

Of Mr. Young's school days something deserves to be said. When he was about eight years of age, a young man established a tuition school in the shoemaker shop of a neighbor. Noah's father decided to allow his son to attend. But he had no book, and no means of procuring one. As a substitute his father took a sheet of foolscap and wrote out the letters of the alphabet as best he could make them, he was not an excellent penman, and furnished with this outfit the boy trudged off to school. One day the master gave him a slight cut with a small stick and admonished him to "study." The pupil objected to this treatment and soon afterward severed his connection with the school. He attended school nine days in all, and learned a part of the alphabet. The following winter he attended school a few days at the house of a neighboring lady, and made a little further progress. The third school he attended about one month, having Webster's spelling-book as his only textbook. When Noah was. about seventeen he went to school a portion of two terms and began the study of arithmetic and geography. He had just begun to get a little insight into these sciences when the school- house took fire and burned down, thus abruptly ending the term. A school was not re-established for a year or two. In arithmetic he advanced sufficiently to be able to add a little, and resolved to pursue his studies at home. By this time he had become a tolerably good reader, and was able to comprehend the most of the first rules in

the book. But in addition, the mysterious words, "carry one for every ten," stopped short his progress, though he puzzled many hours over their meaning. At length he obtained the assistance of a young man who explained away the difficulty; and from that time onward he pursued the study of arithmetic alone, and became master of the greater part of the book. When he was twenty years of age, the school house having been rebuilt and a teacher procured, Mr. Young resumed his attendance for the most of two terms. He studied by fire-light at home and gained quite a reputation for scholarship among the neighbors. At the age of twenty-four the directors of his school district urged him to become their teacher for the winter term, assuring him that he was qualified for the position, although English grammar and other branches, now taught in every school, were subjects which he had never investigated. After some hesitation Mr. Young accepted their offer, and the directors took him before Mr. Stark, the examiner, at Fremont, and assured this official that they considered the young man competent to instruct in their school. Upon this recommendation a certificate was granted and Mr. Young entered upon his duties. He taught three terms very successfully, though to qualify himself for his work he often studied until late at night to be sure that none of the scholars should catch him tripping over any difficulties in the lessons for the next day. Thus ended his school education; but careful reading and a habit of thoughtfully considering all that he peruses, has made Mr. Young a man of good general information.

Mr. Young's father, at his death, be- queathed a portion of his farm to his son, and soon after attaining his majority Noah took possession and began work for himself. September 11, 1842, he was married

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to Orlintha Brown, daughter of Jeremiah and Olive (Hutchins) Brown. Mrs. Young was born in Oswego county, New York, May 27, 1824, and came to Sandusky county with her parents. She died April 15, 1870. She was a woman of industry and economy, a fitting companion and helpmate to her husband, and bore a good reputation as a wife and mother. To her were born eleven children, ten of whom are living. Norman, the first child, died when about twelve years of age. The others are living, located as follows: Emeline, wife of Walter Huber, Green Creek; Norton, Green Creek; Sidney and Charles, Ballville; Chauncy, Steuben county, Indiana; Olive, wife of Oliver Huss, Green Creek; Burton, Edwin, Nancy, and Villa Viola, Green Creek.

Mr. Young's second marriage took place April 7, 1872, when he wedded Miss Louisa Braund, daughter of Edward and Ann Braund, natives of England. Mrs. Young was born in Devonshire, England, June 3, 1834. She belongs to the church of the United Brethren, of which Mr. Young has been a prominent member for many years. About twenty years ago he was licensed as an exhorter by the quarterly conference of this church, and during the past fifteen years has been a licensed local preacher.

Mr. Young was formerly a Democrat, but since the war he has voted with the Republicans. He has never sought office but has served in various local offices.

Mr. Young has always believed in tem- perance and practiced it. He has never used liquor, except as a medicine, and does not know the taste of tobacco. His large family of children have been reared properly and carefully. None of the sons use tobacco or liquor, and profane language was never heard in his household. Mr. Young enjoys a contented mind and has no enemies.

THE BAKER FAMILY.

A portrait is presented of the first known representative of the family which made the first permanent settlement in this township. Samuel Baker, sr., emigrated from New York State to Sandusky county in the winter of 1818, bringing with him a family of five children, namely: Samuel, Sarah Ann (Brown),

Cincinnati; Almira (Grover) Michigan; Samantha (Shields), Fremont; Amelia (Simpers), Iowa. Samuel Baker, jr,, oldest child of Samuel Baker, was born in New York in 1802. Rugged labor from boyhood gave him a constitution capable of enduring the experiences of pioneer life. At the age of sixteen he was placed in the midst of an unbroken forest, with no other society than the home circle. Clearing and planting was his only occupation, but every working day of the year was diligently occupied.

In September, 1826, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Elizabeth Cleveland, a lady also accustomed to the privations of the country, being a daughter of Clark Cleveland, one of the earliest settlers of this part of the county. The fruit of this union was eight children, as follows: Samuel Baker was born February 20, 1827, married Emeretta Rathbun; died June 1, 1855, leaving two children of whom is living Emma (Wadsworth).

Clark Baker, born May 20, 1828; married Nancy Vroaman; died November 14, 1873, leaving three children-Ward, Nellie, and Evangeline.

Keziah Baker, born in March, 1831; married, first, William Hoel, who died leaving one child, Samuel; married, second, Edwin Gittins, by whom two children were born, one living- Clark. Mrs. Gittins died July 7, 1859.

Sarah Ann Baker, born August 26, 1833; married Solomon Knauss, who died in 1865. The family consists of three children-Clark, Elizabeth, and Solomon,

Samuel Baker

Samuel W. Chapin

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Napoleon Baker was born June 7, 1836; married, first, Cynthia Leach, after her death, Diana Weaver; has a family of five children- Frank, Susan, Thomas, Abbie, and James.

Abigail Baker, born July 9, 1838, married Franklin Short; died September 30, 1864, leaving one child-Flora.

James Baker, born August 28, 1842; married Alice Hayes, and has a family of six children- - Ella, Joseph, Elizabeth, Ellsworth, James, and Anna.

Jeremiah Baker, born February 24, 1844; married to Norman Ellsworth and has six children-Elizabeth, Florence, Nellie, Frederick, Norman and George.

Mr. Baker died April 5, 1880. Mrs. Baker continues to reside on the old homestead, surrounded by her large family of children and grandchildren. Samuel Baker was a man of quiet habits and unassuming manners. He was a farmer and wasted little time on outside affairs. His many friends will recognize in the portrait the plain, honest old gentleman who but a short time ago finished life's duties, hav- ing attained to the ripe old age of seventy- eight.

THE CHAPIN FAMILY.

The grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Deacon Samuel Chapin and his wife, whose maiden name was Josselyn, of Litchfield county, Massachusetts. Deacon Chapin moved from Massachusetts to Cayuga county, New York, in 1792, his being the third white family to settle in that county. Samuel Chapin was an upright and devout man, and was a deacon of the Baptist church for many years. He was married twice, the second time to Mrs. Whitney, and was the father of seven children. Calvin C. Chapin, his oldest son and first child, was the father of Samuel

W. Chapin. Luther lived in Cayuga county, New York, until he reached a ripe old age. Electa married Peter Stiles, moved to Michigan in 1834, and died in Genesee county in that State. Chauncy moved to Michigan about the same date and died there in 1873, in Genesee county. Samuel also went to Michigan and died there, at Ann Arbor. He was a postmaster and justice of the peace in New York State, and an active business man, although a farmer the most of his days. Willard lived in Perry, New York, and was a tanner and currier by trade. He served as postmaster several years. In 1849 he died of the cholera. Sibyl married and remained in New York State until her death.

Calvin C. Chapin was born in Litchfield county, Massachusetts, October 22, 1780. He received a fair common school education. When about twenty years of age, he married Rhoda Crofoot, a native of Massachusetts. In 1817 he moved to Kanawha county, West Virginia, where he remained about four years, and then went to Gallia county, Ohio. There his wife died April 16, 1830, in the town of Green, aged about fifty-two. In the fall of 1831 he moved to Bellevue, Sandusky county, and after changing his location several times, lived with his son, S. W. Chapin, during the last fourteen years of his life, and died at his home in Green Creek township, December 28, 1864. He was a man of restless disposition and was never long contented without a change of abode. He was married twice, the second time to Mrs. Adaline Russell. By his first marriage six children were born. Asenath, born June 1, 1802, married John McKeen in Gallia county and died there; Pamelia, born May 8, 1804, married, in West Virginia, Oglesbury Higginbottom; Amarilous, born June 16, 1806, remained single. She died at the home

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of her brother Samuel in September, 1835; Robert P, born May 18, 1808, lived in Gallia county several years, died in Steuben county, Indiana, about the year 1845; Samuel Willard, born April 10, 1812; Mary Jane, born April 15, 1822, married Henry H. Manahan, and resides in Norwalk township, Huron county. Samuel and Mary are the only survivors. The others all died of consumption.

Samuel W. Chapin was born in Aurelius, Cayuga county, New York. He received a limited common school education in a log school-house. But in the school of experience he has been well taught, and reading and practice have stored his mind with a good supply of practical information. He passed his boyhood at home until old enough to work, when he began business life by working out upon a farm, -a hard means of earning a livelihood, as every farmer's boy who has tried it can testify. This life he followed for eleven years, working in a shoemaker's shop in the winter time toward the close of this period. He worked on the Ohio canal along the Scioto Valley three summers, commencing when sixteen years of age.

In 1832 Mr. Chapin came to Sandusky county, which has since been his home. He was married, February 14, 1835, to Jane Tuttle, daughter of Van Rensselaer Tuttle, of Green Creek township. They had but one child, that died in infancy. In 1835 Mr. Chapin leased a farm and began work for himself. His wife died April 30, 1836, aged about twenty-two years. This great loss destroyed his home, and Mr. Chapin again became a wanderer and a day-laborer for three years.

May 21, 1839, the married Sarah A. Dirlam, daughter of Orrin and Annis (Gibbs) Dirlam. Her parents were both natives of Massachusetts, and Mr. Dirlam moved to Green Creek township in 1833.

This union was blessed with six children, two of whom are living: Fatima, born March 21, 1840; married, in 1863, Fernando Perin, of Green Creek; after his decease, married Oscar Lefever; she now resides in Liscomb township, Marshall county, Iowa. Corydon C:, born December 10, 1841; died September 5, 1849. Willard, born March 30, 1844; enlisted in March, 1864, in the Seventy- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry; died in Memphis September 14, 1864. Willie, twin to Wi1lard, died an infant. Ralph H., born August 3, 1854, resides in Clyde, and is engaged in the livery business, a member of the firm of Chapin & Gray. The next, a son, born February 8, 1858, died in infancy.

Mrs. Sarah A. Chapin died September 10, 1873, aged fifty-five years.

Mr. Chapin is now living with his third wife, to whom he was united in marriage September 16, 1874. Her maiden name was Emma H. Meacham, second daughter of Dr. A. G. and Polly (Gault) Meacham. Dr. Meacham was a native of Vermont, moved to Adams township, Seneca county, near Green Spring, in 1841, and practiced a number of years in this vicinity. From here he went to Illinois, where the died. Mrs. Meacham, a native of New York, is still living at Green Spring. Mrs. Chapin was born in Booneville, New York.

Mr. Chapin is a Universalist in his religious belief, though his parents were Baptists. He is liberal in his views, and a friend to every true religious faith. In politics he is a thorough Republican, and a strong temperance advocate.

Mr. Chapin is a self-made man. What he has gained in this life the has earned, and earned, too, by toil, and frequently by hardship. Now nearly three score and ten, he can look back with pleasure upon a busy life, without regret for idle days, for these he never had. He has cleared and

Dr. J. L. Brown

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improved over one hundred acres, and early and late has been active in working in the forest or the field.

DOCTOR J. L. BROWN.

Dr. J. L. Brown was born in Oneida county, New York, August 31, 1829, His parents were Charles and Anna (Phelps) Brown, of New England birth, and both descended from the Plymouth colonists. His grandfather, General John Brown, was a distinguished soldier of the Revolutionary war; his father served in the War of 1812, and the doctor himself was in the late Rebellion. His father and mother went to New York State with their parents when but children, and there were brought up and married. In 1832 they removed thence to Ashtabula county, Ohio. Both are now deceased.

Doctor Brown is the youngest of a family of six children. His father was a teacher by profession, and under his instruction each of his children received their first educational training. The doctor attended school at the Jefferson Academy until he was eleven years of age, then continued his studies at Austinburg Institute, in Ashtabula county, working for his board In the family of a dairyman, where night and morning he milked seven cows and drove them to pasture a distance of two and one-half miles. His employer allowed him no lights, and as a substitute for these necessary articles in a student's outfit, while driving the cows he gathered hickory bark and made it serve instead of candles. His room contained a large fireplace, and in this he built the bark fire, by the light of which he studied, having suspended a large board in front of the fire- place to protect himself from the heat. By this dim light he prepared his daily lessons, often sitting up until late at night. In this manner he passed the

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 97

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