USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 119
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As a guide to the location of early set- tlers, as they are mentioned in the fore- going 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 ex- planation is found in connection with York township. What is said there con- cerning the State turnpike lands does not apply here, there being no pike lands in this township :
SECTION.
ACRES.
Philip Roush
12
8c
Wilson Teeters.
34
8c
Thomas Withers. .
22
8c
The following entries are recorded in 1836:
Jacob Burkett
SECTION. 18
40
William Blank.
9
8c
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
40
William Reed.
14
40
Merrit Scott
35
160
Daniel Smith.
27, 28
80
J. D. Storms.
19
80
Jesse Stone
IO, II
80
David Smith
17
40
David Smith, jr.
17
80
David Smith
20
80
Morris and John Tyler ..
20
I60
John Topping.
22
80
Hector Topping.
22
40
A. B. Tyler and C. Petti-
bone.
27
80
A. B. Tyler and C. Petti- bone
15
40
B. Vroornan
IO
40
The following entries were recorded in 1837 :
SECTION.
ACRES.
Charles Hazleton
22
40
George Sinclair
30
I61
George Sinclair.
30
40
The following entries were recorded in 1838:
SECTION. ACRES.
Henry P. Allen
33
I60
Eli Charles
II I60
Charles T. Gilmore
34
40
E. P. Hathaway
29
I60
Richard I. Hayck
20
80
The following entries were recorded in 1839:
SECTION.
ACRES.
John Burus
29, 32
240
--
John Brown.
25
160
N. P. Hathaway.
17
80
Jac Kemerling .
25
40
David Kepford.
18
39
F. C. Clark
33
40
George Lightner.
19
39
John Causer.
13
160
Marcus Montelius.
20
160
Benjamin Cramer
33
80
Marcus Montelius.
80
Elias Frank
3I
82
George Orwig
80
Jacob Garn.
22, 23, 15
360
7
160
Joel Benton
25
40
Joel Russiquire.
31
160
Joel Russiquire .
32 and 33 80
Gideon and James Hath- away
30
80
Freborn Hathaway.
30
79
N. P. Hathaway.
19
160
Solomon Burgman.
25
160
Christian Burgnian
13
80
The following entries are recorded in 1825:
SECTION. ACRES.
John W. Allen
ACRES.
795
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
SECTION.
ACRES.
SECTION.
ACRES.
Jacob Garn ..
21, 20
I60
John Marder.
29
80
John Hazzard
23, 26
160
Eli Murry, sr.
18
79
Josiah Harman ..
36
160
Samuel Myers.
I8
80
Charles Hazelton
34
165
Adam Moyer
80
George Ickes.
25
80
John Moore, jr.
I8
79
Elias Miller ..
36
160
Philip Moore.
I8
39
Jonas Rishel.
14, 35
160
Jacob Poorman.
8 and 9
120
William Reed.
23
80
Henry Roller.
35
160
Adam Shaffer ..
36
160
Calvin Salisbury.
31
40
John Straughan.
28
160
William Smith.
34
40
David Smith
32, 33
I20
24
150
Merrit Scott
27
80
Charles Taylor
32
40
Benjamin Yates.
28
80
Jasper Whitney.
9, 10
320
John Whitford jr.
32
160
William Whitford.
32
Godfrey Wheeland.
14
160
Lewis O. 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.
23
80
Patrick Byrne ..
34
40
George Barrier.
23, 28
240
Joshua Cope
I7
40
Augustus Campbell
24, 26
160
Frederick Clark ..
35
80
Charles Choate.
13
160
Augustus Campbell .
26
240
Samuel Croaks.
I3
80
John Dixon.
19
159
John Dixon, jr.
19
79
Archibald Esther
35
40
J. L. Flack, 2d
13
80
Daniel Forbes.
31.17
200
Jacob Garn ..
27
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 Karn.
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
Benjamin Stanton
21
80
Daniel Spohn
26
160
Jacob Staner
33, 28 and 27
160
George Spencer
31
40
John Teeters
32
160
Wilson Teeters
34
80.
Samuel Warts.
24
160
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 remem- bered 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 or- der 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 his- torical sense, is the central figure of an im- portant epoch.
The second settler of Madison town- ship, 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 Mad- ison township, and shortly afterward re- commenced the life of a pioneer. At the
Jacob Mathews
30
I60
J. D. Orwig.
12
80
Benjamin Stanton
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 gun- smith, 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 en- tered land in this township, on which he settled, and, in 1834, married Jean- ette 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 ad- mitted to the Bar in 1874. David Smith, jr., came to the township from Columbi- ana 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 Port- age county. He was married to Dorcas Trumbull and had a family of seven chil- dren. In the summer of 1832 he re- moved 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 Janu- ary II, 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 I
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 remem- bered that about the same time Washing- ton 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 thir- teen 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 saw mill 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 set- tled in Madison township with his family about 1833. He married Margaret Croyle in 1821, and had a family of thirteen chil- dren, 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 set- tled in Madison in the year 1833. Both had families, and became respected citi zens.
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 mar- ried 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 Madi- son in 1833. It was at Mr. Garn's resi- dence that the first election was held in 1834, also succeeding elections for a num- ber 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 are 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 chil- dren 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 chil- dren, five of whom are living, viz: Elias, Illinois; John, Nebraska“; Absalom, Ball- ville ; 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 Whit- ney 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 Gun- wer, a native of Switzerland. During his residence in Seneca county he had a se- vere attack of sickness. For fourteen days he was unconscious and apparently life- less. 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 gen- erally 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 coun- ty, 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 se- vere 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 acci- dent, 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 Madicon with the Whitney family in 1852. He married, in 1862, Julia Damschrader, who was born in Toledo in 1844. Two chil- dren are living-Mary M., and Martha A. Mr. Whitney removed to Washington town- ship in 1869.
Elias Miller settled in Madison town- ship about 1834. He died in this town- ship.
Charles Hazleton came to the township in IS34. 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 Mas- sachusetts, and in 1834 they came to San- dusky 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 im-
provements. 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 after- ward.
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 mar- ried, in Union county, in 1833, Elizabeth Hartzell, who died in 1859, leaving thir- teen 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, Sa- mantha, Abram, Jacob F., and Lillie M. Mr. Kimmerling left the farm a few years ago and began keeping hotel in Gibson- burg. His family are all married except three. William, Sarah, Bennel, Henry, and Peter are dead.
Noah P. Hathaway was born in Massa- chusetts 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 Syl- vanus 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 pres- ent village of Gibsonburg.
Joseph Slates was born in Carroll coun- ty, 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 town- ship; 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, Madi- son township; and Jacob, Michigan.
William Slater was born in Pennsyl- vania 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 chil- dren 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 informa- tion 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 atten- tion, 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 Madison 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 Re- becca Naylor, a daughter of Samuel Nay- lor, 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 merchan- dising 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 born in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. He married Catharine Noggle in 1844, and in 1853 settled in Jackson township. In 1858 he removed to Madi- son. The family consisted of ten chil- dren, 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 Cath- arine Correll, of this county. Seven chil- dren blessed this union, five boys and two girls, all living-Sarah E. (Lloyd), Scott; William, Ottawa county; James O., Otta- wa county ; Mary F. (Edmunds), Bradner, Wood county; Melvin E., Ottawa county; Andrew and Elmer, Madison.
Robert R. Webster was born 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 Mex- ican war, and two years in the Rebellion, in the Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry.
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 pro- jectors 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 dis- tance of ten miles-have for ten years been contesting for supremacy. All ex- cept one are flourishing villages for their age, and good markets. But if the enter- prise 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 fortu- nately a man who knew the methods ne- cessary 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 enterpris- ing business men, who have assumed man- agement of affairs, and are furnishing the food necessary to nourish a rapid and healthy growth. In ten years a popula- tion of six hundred has been brought to. gether, who are fed by solid and product- ive 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 pur- chased a tract of ninety acres, and early in August, 1871, surveyed forty acres into 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 suc- ceeded in 1873 by F. W. Dohn, the pres- ent 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 econo- my and industry he was enabled in a short time to purchase a stock of boots and shoes. This was the beginning of a suc- cessful mercantile career. Adam Hor- nung, 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 resi- dent of the village. Merchandising has been continued uninterruptedly since, the only change in the firm being the admis- sion of Henry Zorn into the partnership, in 1877.
The business of E. Farmer & Co. was established in 1873, by E. Farmer. In 1875 F. W. Dorhn became a partner, and
in 1879 the firm name changed to Far- mer, Dorhn & Co. Since 1880 the style of the firm has been E. Farmer & Co. The senior partner, Mr. E. Farmer, is also extensively engaged in other enterprises. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1842. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after the conclusion of the Rebellion settled in business in Mansfield, Ohio, where, in 1867, he married Jennie Smith. Mr. Farmer removed with his family to Gibsonburg in 1873. He is en- terprising in pushing the various indus- tries in which he is interested and at the same time is a public-spirited citizen.
The first drug store in the village was opened by Carlin & Markle, in 1874. In a short time it passed under the charge of Cribliz & Shull, and the following year was purchased by the present owner, S. B. Stilson, who is a practical business man and trained druggist. Before coming to Gibsonburg Mr. Stilson was engaged in the drug trade for a number of years at Oberlin, Ohio. He was born at Edin- burg, Portage county, Ohio, in 1848. His present business consists of trade in drugs, books, medical instruments, etc.
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