History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 99

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A. D. Follett, a son of Eliphalet Follett, of Huron county, settled in this township soon after the settlement of Mr. Smith. His family is of Norman origin, and came into England with William the Conqueror. One of the descendants was attorney general to Queen Victoria and member of Parliament for the city of Exeter. His monument in Westminster Abbey bears the inscription, "Sir William Webb Follett, Kt." The grandfather of Abel D. Follett was murdered at Wyoming during the Revolution. That day of dreadful butchery is one of the most barbarous episodes of American history. It was more than an Indian massacre. It was inspired, planned, and conducted by Tories, which name has become synonymous with treason. Among four hundred brave patriots who marched to the defence of their wives and children was Eliphalet Follett. The murderous horde of allied savages and Tories surrounded this brave company, of whom only twenty succeeded in cutting their way through the lines. One of these was Follett; but a bullet cut him down before reaching the opposite side of the Susquehanna. Mrs. Follett escaped the massacre of the women and children which followed, and with an old horse started toward the east, taking her six children, the oldest of whom was thirteen, and the youngest two. Before she had progressed far her arm was broken by an accident, but by heroic perseverance she succeeded in rescuing the family, which has become well known in the annals of Huron and Sandusky counties. Abel D. Follett, who settled in York, was a grandson of Eliphalet Follett, and son of Eliphalet Follett, jr., who settled in Huron county about

1820. Abel D. and Laura Follett removed to California.

The school section number sixteen was settled mostly by poor people, who may be classed as "good, bad, and indifferent." Some lived by begging, some by stealing, and a few by working. After the lines of ownership began to become marked many of the old squatters took to the school section, feeling sure that their days would be spent before the uncharitable hand of industrious landlords would defile, with axes and plows, this last haven of wandering humanity.

Sid Perry was a character in his day. He was an industrious visitor, especially about butchering time. Jeremiah Smith used to make a custom of saving the hogs' heads and bony meat, knowing that Sid's complaints of poverty and ingratitude of the world would be forced into his ears soon after the last squeal of the dying swine had ceased. Sid was a zealous Baptist, and always wanted to lead the singing. He had a nasal, high-keyed voice, and stretched out his syllables to a distressing length. He seemed to think of his wicked neighbors when he sang:

I long to see the season come

When sinners shall come marching hum.

Speaking of ardent church members calls to mind another early settler whose piety exceeded his education. Adam Brown lived on the ridge, and was in most respects a worthy man. Revivals always conquered his nerves. He had but one speech, which was delivered, seemingly with fear, certainly with trembling. His tearful sincerity drowned laughter even among the sinners, when he began his stereotype speech by saying: "Brethren and cistern, I tell you 'ligion is good, I know it by knowledge experimental."

There never was enough business along the pike to make taverns a necessity. They were to be found every mile or two.

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Most of them were poor concerns, while others made comfortable stopping-places.

Henry McMillen had a cooper shop west of the Centre. It was an easy matter to get out staves and make barrels from the fine, straight timber in which the forest abounded. Barrels, too, were in considerable demand in Lower Sandusky, and Portland (now Sandusky), also a great many were used for shipping potash, which was extensively manufactured in the east part of this county.

Rollin Benson sold the first goods in the township. He brought with him from the East a stock of cotton fabrics and notions, also a barrel of whiskey, which was a necessary article of merchandise. When the whiskey, calicoes, muslins, etc., had been disposed of, the frontier merchant shut up store and moved away.

John Davenport was one of the first squatter settlers in the county. He lived on what is now known as the Nathan P. Bridseye farm, and then removed further north, where he entered land and died. His family went west. Davenport was the first postmaster in York, which was also the first post office in the east part of the county.

The Tuttles were early settlers of the southwest part of York and southeast part of Green Creek. They were of a sporting disposition, and often at raisings or log- rollings demonstrated considerable combativeness.

The years 1824 and 1825 were sickly in York. Three of the prominent settlers were among the first to die. Mr. and Mrs. Longwell died in 1824, and Seth M. Murray in 1825.

Dr. L. Harkness was the physician for all this part of the country at that time. He found considerable difficulty in obtaining medicine. On one occasion he declared that he would give his horse for a bottle of quinine.

Oliver Comstock was an early settler on the North ridge, probably having come there before the land was in market.

Dr. Avery was the first physician in the township, but gave most of his attention to farming and clearing land.

William Christie settled on the farm on which John Davenport first settled. It next came into possession of his son-in-law, Nathan P. Birdseye.

The Utbey family settled early on the North ridge.

David Acklar, though generally a fair sort of a man, was in the habit of much drinking, and when under the influence of the beverage, so much used by the pioneers, was disposed to be quarrelsome. He had the reputation of being a fighter.

Doctor James Strong and Charles F. Drake purchased in the name of Z. Story a lot now occupied by the west part of the village of Bellevue.

Gideon Brayton was a large, good-natured settler of the north part of the township. His presence at a log-rolling or raising was an assurance that fun would be plentifully intermingled with the work. He came to York about 1825.

Return Burlingson was one of the early settlers of Bellevue. He afterwards moved to California, where he died.

Deacon Raymond was one of the first settlers on the pike. He was a local preacher and farmer.

The first tavern on the pike was opened by Reuben Pixley, who had a family of six sons-Reuben, Elanson, Alvah, George, Theron, and Charles. The Pixley's were a very religious family, and kept the York Centre tavern after the fashion of the times.

Wesley Anderson was the popular land- lord of the pike at a later date. He moved from York to Hamer's Corners, in Green Creek. Hiram Baker was born at Homer,

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Courtland county, New York, in the year 1798. His father, John Baker, was one of the early settlers of Lyme township, In 1817, while assisting to raise a log-house in York, he received an injury which resulted in his death the following day. Hiram thus found himself at the early age of eighteen, charged with the management of the farm and support of his mother. In the course of a few years he was obliged to sell the farm his father had purchased, getting some advance for the cost of improvements. He purchased a tract on Butternut ridge, in this county, and moved into an unfinished log-house in midwinter. Mechanics of all kinds were scarce, and Mr. Baker finding himself in need of shoes began cobbling with an awl made of a piece of fork-tine, pegs whittled out with a penknife, and common knives and hammers. He soon became expert in making the fashionable stoga shoes of the day. He could make two pair a day. His neighbors, and everybody within a distance of several miles were neighbors in those days, cheerfully gave a day's work for a pair of shoes and furnish the leather. In this way Mr. Baker soon succeeded in getting his farm under a good state of cultivation. Shoe- making being profitable, he sold his farm and moved to Bellevue, where he employed a journeyman and learned the trade regularly. Eventually his business became quite extensive and brought sufficient accumulation of property to make old age comfortable. He died in 1874. In 1826 Mr. Baker married Mary Ann Forbes, by whom he had three children-Arabella, Henry, and Hiram F., the last named being editor of the Bellevue Local News. Mr. Baker's first wife dying in 1835, he married, in 1836, Catharine Hagaman, daughter of John Hagaman. She was born in 1815. John H., her oldest child, died in 1880 leaving a wife and one child,

Grace. David A., the second son, was a member of the Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry and was killed near Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864.

Elder John Mugg settled on the South ridge in 1822. Being a man of more than ordinary piety and a devout member of the Baptist church he at once began to plan for the organization of a religious society. His desire was realized in 1825, as will be seen further along in this chapter. He eventually became a preacher and exhorter. He bore the reputation of being a truly good man. His children were: Thomas, John B., William, Marcus, and Jesse, sons, and two daughters, Mary (Bennett), and Harriet (Colvin). Thomas, Mary, and Jesse died in Indiana; Marcus became a preacher and removed to Michigan, where he died; William farmed on the South ridge until his death; Mrs. Colvin died in this township. John B. Mugg, who was more intimately identified with the affairs of York than any of the other children, was born in New York in 1801. He married, in 1823, Susan Wheeler, and soon after removed to Ohio and settled in this township; but after a residence in the pioneer country of two years, they returned to New York, where they remained till 1836. Returning to York, they settled on the farm on which he died. Their family consisted of nine children, only two of whom are living- William A. and George H., the last named of whom was born in 1838, married Adelia Hitt in 1860, and has three children-Elmer E., Luella E., and Susan M. He was in the nursery business in Green Creek township from 1872 to 1874.

In October, 1822, a party of four men, William McPherson, his brother-in-law Norton Russel, Lyman Babcock, and James Birdseye, left their homes in Ontario county, New York, for the purpose of

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seeking new homes in the West. All, except Mr. Russel, were married, but left their families behind until a location could be selected. At Buffalo they engaged passage on a packet, but fearing robbery and personal violence at the hands of the crew, they concluded at the harbor at Ashtabula that safety was preferable to ease, and started for the Sandusky territory on foot. After two or three weary days' walking Mr. Birdseye, who was the oldest member of the party, became exceedingly tired, and throwing himself down by the roadside, insisted that his hips had penetrated his body at least two inches. But the tiresome journey was at last finished, and as a result of it the county gained four good citizens. They each entered a quarter section of land, all in York, except Mr. McPherson, who settled in Green Creek. All except Mr. Russel returned to New York for their wives. A full sketch of the Birdseye family is found at the conclusion of this chapter. Further mention is made of Mr. McPherson in connection with Green Creek. Mr. Babcock was a worthy and respected citizen of York for many years. Mr. Russel married, in 1825, Sibyl McMillen, a daughter of Samuel McMillen, of Green Creek. The wedding ceremony was performed by James McIntyre, the Methodist preacher of this circuit for that year. He had by this time made considerable improvement on his farm on the North ridge, where he lived and raised a family of seven children, viz: John N. and William M., Clyde; Charles P., York; Phoebe S., wife of William Mugg, York; Sarah R. (Bell), Clyde; Mary M. (Taylor), Colorado Springs; and Belle R. (Culver), Cleveland. The children and grandchildren held a reunion at Mr. Russel's residence in Clyde, June 15, 1881, the occasion being the eightieth anniversary of his birth. Twenty- two grand-

children and one great-grandchild are living. Joseph George, the oldest man now living in Clyde, and also one of the earliest pioneers, was born in Vermont, in 1795. He belonged to the volunteer militia of New York, when the British made the raid through Western New York and burned Buffalo, and at that time he was on the march. The war over, he married Sarah McMillen, and in 1819 came to Ohio, first stopping where Bellevue now is, at the frontier tavern kept by his cousin, Elnathan George. He first settled in Thompson township, but after a few years bought turnpike land, near the centre of York, which he improved after the fashion of the day. The land was not well adapted to agriculture and was therefore sold by Mr. George after a residence of nine years, at an advance barely covering the cost of improvements. This has since become a valuable tract on account of inexhaustible deposits of fine gravel. It is now owned by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad company. Soon after Mr. George moved to York an incident occurred which shows the friendly disposition of the Indians who roamed through the extensive woodlands, hunting. Mrs. George started on horseback to the cabin on the pike, where Rollin Benson was disposing of a small stock of goods. In sight of the little store her horse frightened and threw her violently to the ground, inflicting a severe stunning and painful bruises. A party of Indians loafing near by seeing what had happened promptly came to her rescue, carried her to Amsden's Corners, and summoned medical aid. Mr. George removed from York to Townsend, where he lived thirty-three years, and then retired in Clyde, where he yet resides in the fullness of his years, being in the eighty- seventh year of his age. Mrs. George died in 1880, having

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borne a family of fourteen children, thirteen of whom came to maturity. Nine are yet living: Lorenzo D., Allen county, Indiana; Alfred, Bowling Green, Ohio; Rev. Norton R., Hill City, Kansas, Joseph, jr., Clyde; Mrs. Archibald Richards, Clyde; Mrs. Joseph Whitehead, Clyde; Mrs. George McFarland, Bowling Green, Ohio; Mrs. Milton Gaskill, Medina, Michigan; and Mrs. James May, Fairfield, Michigan.

John Riddell, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to New York in 1824, at the age of twenty-four years. He married, in New York, in 1828, Laura Haynes, and three years later removed to Ohio and settled in York township, near York centre. They had one child, William B., who was one year old when his parents came to Ohio. In 1853 he married Barbara Cupp, and has a family of three children: Ida (Angel), Emma, and John C. John Riddell is one of the few old settlers still living. His wife died about nine years ago. He belongs to the Christian church. His son, W. B. Riddell, does a good farming business.

Isaac Slocum was born in Rhode Island, in 1775. He married, in Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Patrick, and they emigrated to Huron county, Ohio, in 1824, settling in Lyme township, where they remained five years, and then, in 1829, removed to York. Mr. Slocum died in York in 1858. The family consisted of twelve children, five of whom are living, viz : Isaac, in Minnesota; William, in Iowa; Abel, in Wisconsin; Giles, in Minnesota; Elizabeth, the only daughter living, is the widow of Mason Kinney, and lives in York township.

Mason Kinney was born in 1806. In 1833 he married Elizabeth Slocum, by whom be had a family of seven children, six of whom are living: Mary, George, Sarah (Bachman), William, Joseph, and

Erastus W. All the children, except Joseph, live in York township.

Prominent among the Pennsylvania German families of this township are the Harpsters. Jacob Harpster was born in Pennsylvania in 1811. He came to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Seneca county, where he lived five years, and then made York his permanent residence. He married, in 1838, Elizabeth Mook, and has a family of four children-Frederick, Jacob D., Benjamin F., who live in Kansas, and Eliza S., wife of Henry Miller, of York township.

Isaac Parker and family emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1842, and remained in Huron county one year, then came to York township. Mr. Parker married Elizabeth Mook, also of Pennsylvania. He is still living; his wife died several years ago. They had nine children, seven of whom are living- Levi, in York township; Isaac, in Michigan; Jackson, in Erie county; Solomon, in Michigan; Anna (Rupert), in Michigan; Andrew, in the West; and Henry, in Iowa.

Levi Parker was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. In 1861 he married Caroline Michael, to whom seven children were born-George, Charles, Isaac, Mary, Oren, Emma, and Nettie.

Ephraim Sparks was born in New Jersey in 1790. He settled in Pennsylvania, and there married Sarah Cook in 1813. Four years later they removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where Mrs. Sparks died, in 1828, and her husband in 1871. Four of their seven children are still living, two in this county- Randall. and Isaac. The latter resides in Clyde. David died in Carroll county, Ohio, in February, 1881. The daughters now living are: Mrs. Elizabeth Tressel, Tuscarawas county, and Mrs. Mary Neal, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.

Randall Sparks was born in Pennsylva-

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nia in 1814. He married Ann Wingate in 1835, and settled in York township, his present residence. Mr. Sparks has served as justice of the peace six years, and has held other local offices. He is the father of eight children, only two of whom are living: Lemuel, the oldest, enlisted in company B, Seventy-second Ohio infantry, November 9, 1861, and participated in the battle of Shiloh. He died in camp before Corinth, May 16, 1862, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. Catharine died January 5, 1858, in her nineteenth year; Albert died May 31, 1861, in his twentieth year. Leslie E. was mustered in as a member of company M, First regiment Ohio Heavy Artillery; he was drowned in the Tennessee River, near Loudon, Tennessee, June 2, 1864, in the twenty-first year of his age. Melissa died November 6, 1869, in her twenty-second year; Elinda Jane died April 25, 1872, in the twenty-second year of her age. The surviving children are Wilbur L., born February 27, 1854, and Ella B., born June 15, 1859; both reside at home.

Samuel Shutts was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1797. His family moved to New York while he was young. He married in New York, and in 1847, with his wife and five children, removed to Sandusky county, and settled in York township; where his wife died in 1855, leaving five children-Oliver J., Mary, Sarah H., John, and Emma. Mr. Shutts removed to Ballville township in 1861. Oliver J., the oldest child, was born in New York in 1828; he married, in 1859, Margaret Barlow, of York township; their children are all deceased. Mr. Shutts was one of the founders of the Diabetic Cure at Green Springs.

John Mook was born in Pennsylvania in 1765. He was married in Pennsylvania, in 1818, to Mary Baughy, and in 1836 removed to Western New York. In 1844

they came to Ohio, and settled in this township. Seven of their nine children are yet living-Mary, wife of Isaac Parker, York township; Abraham, New York State; Effie, wife of Lewis Burgess, New York State; Solomon, living in Illinois; Sampson, in New York, and Benjamin, in York township. The last named was born in Pennsylvania in 1820; he came to Ohio with his parents, and in 1848 married Susan Boyer, who was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. Their family consists of nine children, viz .: Simon B., Fidelia, Malcomb, Samuel E., Elmer J., Clara, Emma and Emerson (twins), and William G. Mr. Mook made carpentering a business while living in New York. John Mook, father of the Mooks of this township, died in 1848. His wife survived him ten years.

William, the only living child of William and Mary Mills, was born of Jersey parentage, in 1809. He married Cornelia Berry in 1857, and has a family of two children-Eliza J., Huron county, and Mary E., York township.

William Dymond was born in England, in 1811. He married Elizabeth Greenslade, in 1838. The family consists of eleven children, viz .: James, resides in Kansas; John, Huron county; Anna (Coleman), Clyde; William, jr., Kansas Richard, died in 1872; Samuel; Alice (Clacknor); Alfred, York township; Elizabeth (Stotler), Toledo; Mary, Frank, and Frederick, York township. Mr. Dymond is a mason, and followed that trade thirty years. He has resided in this county since 1848.

James F. Smith was born in New York, in 1809. He removed to Pennsylvania in 1823, where he married, in 1833, Elizabeth Alexander. They settled in Huron county, Ohio, in 1843, and removed to York township. five years later. Six of their eleven children are living, viz: Mary.

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J., York township; Charles, Kansas; John, Kansas; Alice, York township; Samuel and Clara B., York township. Mr. Smith is a carpenter, and worked at that trade twenty years. He has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of lime for about twenty years.

Joseph P. Roush was born in Pennsylvania, in 1814. In 1839 he married Catharine Kreisher, and with his family moved to York township in 1856. Five children are living and two are dead. Charles F. and James P. reside in York township; John Henry, at Lindsey; Mary E. (Williams), in Huron county; and William A., in York. Alice and George W. are deceased. Mr. Roush attends his farm, but during the winter works at tailoring. He has about two hundred acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Roush, and Charles, belong to the Reformed church. Mrs. Williams is a Methodist.

Gideon Billman and family, originally from Berks county, Pennsylvania, moved to Sandusky county in 1848, and settled where the sons now live, in York township. Mr. Billman married Hannah Donner, and to them were born six sons and three daughters. Three of the sons and all of the daughters survive. George resides near Burr Oak, Michigan; John and George, on the home farm; Susan is the wife of John Bauchman, York township; Sarah is the wife of Joseph Smith, Erie county; Mary Jane, the wife of Henry Toogood, resides in Sturgis, Michigan. The father and mother have both died within the past six years.

George Billman was married, in 1876, to Mary Ann Boop, a native of Groton township, Huron county. They have five sons-Joseph, James, George, Cloyd, and Frank. Mr. Billman and his brother are Democrats. They worked at fence-making several years, and have been carrying on the same business in connection with

their farming for the last fifteen years.

M. J. Tichenor removed from New York to York township in 1851. He was born in 1821, and, in 1827, married Joanna Torrence, a daughter of William H. and Salome Torrence. Nine children blessed this union-Mary A. (Tea), Clyde; Helen (Kline), York township; Zachariah, Kansas; Salome (Lemmon), Townsend township; George, Ida, Elizabeth (Haff), Jessie, and John, York township. Mr. Tichenor was an active, energetic citizen until his death. Mrs. Tichenor continues a resident of York.

Jacob Kopp was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. In 1851 he removed to Erie county, Ohio, and in 185.9 to York township. He married Matilda E. McCauley in 1853. The fruit of this union is six children, as follows: John P., Minnesota; Frances (Hoy), Erie county; Benjamin F., Anna E., Abraham L., and Alice E., York township. Mr. Kopp is a Republican, He and his family belong to the Reformed church. He has five hundred and fifty-four acres, and does an extensive farming business. Commencing with little, he is now in very good circumstances as the reward of his untiring energy.

One of the first of the "Pennsylvania Dutch" settlers in York was Adam Jordan. He was horn in 1803, and in 1829 married, in Pennsylvania, Sophia Orwig. They came directly to York and settled on the farm on which he died in 1861. She died in 1872. Their family consisted of eight children, viz: Sarah (Weaver), Lucas county; Martin, Lucas county; Lucy (McCauley), York township; Joseph, Mary, Hannah M., James, and George W. live in York township.

William Frederick was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1796. He married, in 1835, Catharine Kline, who was born in Penn- sylvania in 1809. In 1861 they removed to York, where they still live. Their eight

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children are: George, York township; Jesse, Maumee, Ohio; William, jr., York township; James, Michigan; Samuel, York township, and Henry, Riley township. Reuben and Robert are dead. Mr. Frederick, though well advanced in years, enjoys good health.

Godfrey Deck, one of the later settlers of this county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. He married Christiana Bixler in 1827; settled in York in 1864. He had a family of five children. He died in York in 1871. She is yet living. John, the oldest child, was born in Pennsylvania in 1828. In 1852 he married Sarah Klingman, who bore a family of eight children, five of whom are living: A. H. and Sarah C., York township; Anna M. (Bradley), Canada; John F. and William G., York township. The names of those that are deceased were Christiana, Charley, and Joseph. All died young.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 99

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