History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 94

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 94

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W. C. Lefever, a son of John Lefever, was born in this township in 1836. In 1866 he married Lizzie Mackey, a native of Ross county. Mr. Lefever taught school in Missouri before the war. He entered the army as private, and was mus. tered out with the rank of lieutenant- colonel.

J. D. Lefever was born in this township in 1838. In 1865 he married Cornelia Lay. Mr. Lefever served during the war about three years in the Seventy second Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Jonathan Spohn was born in Perry county, Ohio, January 10, 1822. He came to Sandusky county in 1843. In 1844 he married Elizabeth Brunthaver. Three children are living and one dead-Adam, Jacob A., and Mary E., all live in this county; Francis M. died at the age of eighteen. Mr. Spohn worked at black- smithing some time, but has been farming

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

a number of years. He has a good farm of seventy-six acres, situated on the turn- pike, two miles east of Fremont. Mr. Spohn is a Democrat in politics, and be- longs to the Lutheran church.

Benjamin Colwell was born at Poolville, New York, in 1810. In 1829 he came to Ohio, stopping first in Seneca county. He then removed to Huron county, and from there to York township, this county, where he resided five years. In 1849 he removed to Green Creek township, which has been his home since that time. He married, in 1830, Lydia Philo. Two chil- dren are living-Sarah (French) and Frank E., both in this township. William E. died in the army, having been a member of the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry; John, the second child, died when fourteen years old. Mr. Colwell engaged in the merchant tailoring business in Clyde for three years. Joseph and Mary Philo came to this county with Mr. Colwell and lived here until their decease.

William Hughes, a native of Philadel- phia, died in 1875, aged about seventy- three. He married Mary Ann Ramsey, by whom he had a family of eight chil- dren, four of whom are living-James, C. J., Melvina E. (Spade), and George. Mrs. Hughes came to Ohio from Pennsyl- vania, where she was born, with her parents, Charles and Sarah (Hughes) Ramsey. There were four children in this family, who are still living, Mrs. Hughes being the oldest. Her parents first settled in Ohio in Columbiana county, and moved to Sandusky county in 1830.

Daniel Pocock was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, in 1813. Five years later his father came to Ohio and settled near Canal Dover, in Tuscarawas county. In 1834 he married Elizabeth Malone, by whom he had twelve children, five of whom are living-Levi and Elias in Green Creek township; Mary Ann (Walters), in

Indiana; Elijah in Riley, and George in Green Creek. His first wife having died he married Rebecca Pocock, and has four children-Eliza J., Ruth E., Daniel I., and Eve A. Mr. Pocock settled in this township in 1845.

Sidney Tuck was born in Wayne county, New York. . In 1835 he settled on Butternut Ridge, in Seneca, with his parents, John and Eunice Tuck. The same year he introduced the first steam threshing machine ever in this part of the State. In 1851 Mr. Tuck married Lydia Lee, a native of Seneca county. Their family consists of three children-Elva (Colwell), Ward, and Harry. Mr. Tuck carried on wagon-making and farming. He died June 29, 1880, aged sixty-two years.

Alexander Kernahan, a native of Irc- land, settled in this county in 1854. He died June 3, 1876, aged seventy-five years. His widow, Mrs. Hannah Kernahan, is still living. She is the mother of three children, who are living-James, Eliza, and Ambrose, all residents of Green Creek. James Kernahan was born April II, 1830, in Onondaga county, New York. Eliza Kernahan was born in the same locality January 7, 1832. Ambrose Ker- nahan was born in Livingston county, New York, July 19, 1836. He married Eliza- beth Mckinney, a native of that county.

Constantine Meyer was born in Ger- many in 1836. He settled in this county in 1854. In 1858 he married Barbara Schreiner, who bore four children-Ezra, Caroline, Ida, and Clara, all living. For his second wife he married Sarah Schu- pert, who bore four children-Rawley (de- ceased), Frank, Wesley, and Lilly. His third wife was Margaret Schuster, with whom he is now living. She has one child -Gertie.

Richard E. Betts was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1829. His parents

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

were Zachariah and Maria Betts. In 1834 Richard came to Ohio with them. They located in Seneca county. In 1852 Mr. Betts was married to Lavinia Donaldson, daughter of George and Ann Donaldson from Pennsylvania. Her parents came to Ohio at an early date; lived in Pickaway county, then in Seneca county, and, in IS33, moved to this county and township. Three of their nine children are living, Mrs. Betts being the oldest. Susanna (Dixon) and Samuel Donaldson reside in Indiana. Mr. Donaldson followed black- smithing many years.

John Steffey came to Ohio when quite a young man. He married Eve Pocock and has a family of seven children- Christina (Vice), Michigan; Sarah (Stokes) and Catharine (Miller), Riley township; Calvin and Edward, Green Creek; Levi, Riley township, and Mary Ann (Wykoff), Toledo. Calvin married Emily Gilbert and has four children living-Jesse, \V. WV., and Allen and Ellen (twins).

MILLS ON GREEN CREEK.

The inhabitants of this township were at first wholly dependent upon the mill on Cold Creek for flour. The slow pro- cess of grinding made it extremely incon- venient, and sometimes caused actual suf- fering, for the consumption of breadstuffs was faster than the simple machinery of this pioneer mill could produce them. It was, therefore, a great relief to the inhab- itants of Green Creek, particularly those living in the western part, to have a mill in their own neighborhood.

Sometime between 1821 and 1823 Josiah Rumery built a dam on Green Creek, and with a small buhr began grind- ing wheat and corn. Customers were compelled to assist at bolting their own flour, as that part of the work at that time had to be done with hand bolts. The flour, in a sanitary point of view, was bet- ter than that produced by modern mills.

The coarse bolts removed only the use- less hull, leaving the hard but nutritious substance of the grain in the flour. Bread made of this flour was rougher but had more of the muscle producing elements in it. Mr. Rumery removed from Green Creek about 1830, his mill by that time having become inadequate to the neces- sities of the increasing population.

Another mill was built on Green Creek further down by Mr. Emerson about 1825, but was used as a saw-mill only until Mr. Wilks purchased the site. He attached a grist-mill, which was in operation until 1852, when the building of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad necessitated its removal.

Jacob Stine built a mill on the east branch of Green Creek in 1836, which is still in operation.

OTHER INDUSTRIES.

Mr. Kneeland Harnden has established a successful industry-that of ice-packing. He began packing this agreeable summer luxury in the winter of 1875. In the win- ter of 1880-81 he stored away about two thousand tons. Mr. Harnden was born in Ruggles township, Huron county, in 1841, and in 1849 came to Sandusky county with his father's family. In 1865 he married Hattie Fuller. The fruit of this union was two children-Minnie and John.

The largest saw-mill in the township is owned by Walter Huber. It was for- merly owned by Huber & Ellsworth, and has been in operation since 1873. The capacity of this mill is sixteen hundred feet per day. . The proprietor was born in this county and has lived here nearly all his life. He married, in 1866, Emeline Young, by whom he has a family of four children, viz: Ida, Vernon, Edith, and Floyd. Mr. Huber built in 1881 the largest, and perhapsthe finest farm-house in the township.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY

JOHN LAY TREED BY WOLVES.

No animal is more annoying to the pio- neers of a country than wolves. The bear is stronger and more dangerous when met, but with the first sound of the wood- man's axe he emigrates to the wild seclu- sion for which his nature yearns. He never seeks the destroyer of his home, and only meets him when retreat is impos- sible. But howling wolves prowl about seeking what they may devour. Fifty years ago sheep, pigs, and young cattle were not safe, even within the cabin door- yard. There is not a county in Ohio which at some period of the settlement did not pay a bounty for the scalps of these camp followers of the army of the wilderness, whose peculiar business it seems to have been to obstruct the march of improvement by doleful howling and nocturnal depredations. The record of their presence and conduct is found in the commissioners' journal in every court- house, whether among the hills or in the flat country. The Black Swamp was no exception. An incident is told which in- dicates that in this neighborhood they be- came even more bold and daring than their character would lead us to expect. Romance writers have given startling de- scriptions of wolves attacking grown men, and an actual occurrence in this locality proves that these writers' fictions have been limited to the realm of possibility.

Mr. John Lay, about 1833, set out one evening on a hunt for his cows, which had straggled off far into the thick woods of the northern part of Thompson township and did not return. He wandered along narrow paths, his attention being so wholly occupied with the object of his search that the decline of the sun was not no- ticed, and darkness coming on unexpect- edly found him a considerable distance from any settler's cabin and several miles from home. To retrace his steps seemed

the only intelligent course of action. But while standing a moment trying to com- prehend the situation, the distant howl of a wolf sent whirling his meditations. An echo seemed to come from the other side, then another and another, till the dark air quivered with dismal, doleful barking. The howling grew louder and more savage. Shortly, stealthy steps and the shaking of bushes became discernible amid the general noise. The benighted farmer, armed only with a strong club, stood his ground, determined to fight, until there gleamed through the underbrush seemingly two balls of fire, illuminating a scarlet tongue and uncov- ered tusks. Fright banished the resolve to fight, and the central figure of our pic- ture made industrious progress toward the top of a small tree. By the time he had obtained safe footing among the branches, the hungry beasts were running and jump- ing to and fro beneath, snar ling and gnash- ing their teeth. Night progressed. The besieging beasts, whose horrid confusion of noises gradually died into a low, dreary cry, one by one stole mournfully away in search of other prey.

The man in the tree found an easy restingplace between two spreading branch- es, and, overcome by fatigue, a deep sleep buried in oblivion all the varying emotions caused by the singular evening's experience. But the place proved an un- safe couch. An unconscious turn re- stored consciousness to the body, which fell prostrate on the ground. The fall resulted seriously. . One leg was broken and his body considerably bruised. He was unable to move, and no cabin was within hearing distance. Patiently he lay, suffering the most excruciating tortures for nearly twelve hours, until his sons, who, having become alarmed by his pro- longed absence were making search, found · him, wholly exhausted.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY

ORGANIZATION.

The county commissioners resolved, at their March session, 1822, to establish the fourth township of the sixteenth range a town corporate. Josiah Rumery, then auditor of the county, issued the following notice :

Notice is hereby given to the qualified electors of township four, range sixteen, known as Green Creek, "to meet the first Monday of April, 1822, at the house of Samuel Baker, and there proceed to elect between the hours of ten and four of said day, town- ship officers as the law directs in such cases made and provided.

Auditor's Office, March 9, 1822.

By order of the commissioners,

JOSIAH RUMERY.

The town meeting system was then yet in vogue. The electorsassembled at the house designated. John Pumphrey, Samuel Kep- ler, and Samuel Baker were appointed to act as judges. No party spirit divided the as- sembly, and no candidates appeared on the field. Nothing in modern politics so nearly approaches one of these old town meetings as a county convention of a party hopelessly in the minority. No one desires to be distinguished above his fellows, and all are anxious that perfect harmony should prevail. The votes show almost entire unanimity. At this first election Jered H. Miner and George Hines acted as clerks. For treasurer, Silas Dewey received seven- teen votes; for trustees, Josiah Rumery received sixteen; Samuel Pogue, seven- teen; and Samuel Baker, fifteen votes Benjamin Collins received fourteen to Joseph Baits one, for constable. Joshua Fairchild and Samuel McMillen received fourteen and thirteen votes respectively for overseers of the poor. For appraiser of property, Samuel Baker received thirteen votes; Samuel Pogue, fifteen : and Samuel McMillen, one. For lister, Samuel Baker had thirteen votes. Jonathan Rathbun and Samuel Uttley were chosen fence- viewers. Jered H. Miner had all the votes except his own for clerk. The vote for

supervisorsstood: Benjamin Collins, eleven; Samuel Uttley, seven; Josiah Rumery, one; and Jonathan Rathbun, three. It appears, from the number of votes some of those present received, that modesty did not prevent them from voting for themselves.

The first justice of the peace was Jered H. Miner. He was the learned man of the early settlement and the selection was entirely proper. This office in some local- ities might be exalted by more care as to the quality of talent selected to fill it.

The first township charge to pass from poor existence was Josph Baits, who died at Baker's tavern. Bills were allowed as follows:

To Samuel Baker, for taking care of Joseph Baits, three dollars and fifty cents, and for boards for coffin. To Abigail Worlley, four dollars for shirt and sheet, and attendance. Amos Fenn, for furnishing coffin, two dollars and fifty cents; and to Jonathan Forbes, M. D., two doilars and ninety-six cents for treating the said Baits; James Guinall, seventy-five cents for nursing; Prudence Benton, same; Polly McMillen; thirty-two cents for washing.

The first list of jurors returned were : Grand Jurors-Albert Guinall, James Guinall, Samuel S. Baker, Joshua Wood- ard, Jonathan Rathbun, John Harris. Petit Jurors-Roswell Merrell, John J. Quackenbush, Samuel Pogue, Jered H. Miner, Moses Cleveland.

AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

A citizens' meeting was held July 23, 1870, in pursuance of a call issued by a number of citizens for the purpose of in- stituting an agricultural fair, independent of the county agricultural association. A constitution was adopted and board of directors appointed as follows: C. G. Sanford, Lyman Miller, David Beard, John Whitmore, George Mugg, Humphrey Whitman, David Neikirk, Charles Bell, Alfred Stibbins, Darwin Groves, J. W. Payne, M. Sanford, O. J. Stultz, and S. V. Hume. A. Throp was chosen president ;

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

S. H. Rhodes, secretary ; and J. T. Chap- man, treasurer.

Sixteen and one-half acres of land were purchased by the board of directors for fair grounds, and preparations at once commenced for the first annual exhibition. Articles of incorporation were filed and recorded July 28, 1870, by J. M. Lem. mon, A. B. French, W. H. Bacon, Henry Nichols, B. Meek, R. F. Patrick, W. W. White, T. W. Reed, and S. H. Rhodes. The articles declared that the object of the association shall be to encourage and promote agriculture, stock-raising, and mechanical and industrial pursuits, and to hold annual fairs for the exhibition of stock and agricultural productions.

The capital stock was fixed at one hun- dred shares at ten dollars each.

The exhibitions at Clyde have uniform- ly been well patronized, and the eleven years of the existence of the association prove the enterprise a success, not so much financially, as in the end for which it was established.

PHYSICIANS.

The first resident physician of Green Creek township was Dr. Forbes, who lo- cated near the corners as early as 1822. He was also a school teacher. As a physician he possessed the confidence of most of the early settlers and was univer- sally well liked as a teacher and a man. Death did not spare him long to the set- tlement.

The next physician was Dr. Henry Niles, who was a graduate of Dartmouth college. He came to Hamer's Corners in June, 1833, and gave his exclusive at- tention to practice for two years. He then removed to a farm on the county line of Seneca and Sandusky, where he continued to practice for a number of years. He died in 1864.

Dr. William G. Harkness was educated in Salem county, New York, and began

practice in Cayuga county, where he re- mained twenty-five years, and then came to Ohio in 1833, settling at Hamer's Corners, where he practiced until his death.

Dr. Seely came from Medina to Hamer's Corners about 1840. £ He continued practice most of the time until his death, in 1867. Most of his patients remember him.

Charles G. Eaton commenced the prac- tice of medicine in Athens county, Ohio, in 1849. After two years he removed to West Virginia, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Clyde and soon won the confidence of the people by his skill in physic. Except during the four years spent in the war, he was in active practice until his death, which occurred in 1875. A biography of him will be found in this volume.

Dr. Treadway was a man of learning, and had the true instincts of a physician. He came to Clyde from Kentucky, and had it not been for his suggestion the vil- lage would be called Hamerville, Middle- town, or some other common name. He remained in practice here but a short time.

J. W. Luse was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania; attended medical lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and at Cleveland, Ohio. He began practicing in Hunting- don county, Pennsylvania, in 1854. In 1857 he came to Clyde and has been in full practice ever since. At several differ- ent times he has been connected with the drug trade here.

Doctors Price, Leet, and Decker each practiced in Clyde, but remained only a few years.

IV. V. Stilson was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in IS15. He studied med- icine in Wayne county, Ohio, and gradu- ated at Cincinnati Medical College. He practiced a short time in Ashland county, then came to Bellevue in 1842, where he

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

had a full practice for thirty years. In 1872 he removed to Clyde. He married, in Ashland county, Elizabeth Cummings.

Corwin Griffin was born in Huron county in 1845. He entered Pulte Med- ical College, Cincinnati, in 1873, and re- ceived the degree of M. D. in 1876. He began practice in Clyde, and possesses a fair share of public confidence. He is the only graduate of the Homoeopathic school, in Clyde.

Dr. Brown removed from Tiffin to Clyde in 1875. He was surgeon for the One Hundred and Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Mrs. Owens and Messrs. Harndon, Robinson, and Soper are the remaining physicians now in practice.

M'PHERSON CEMETERY.

Beneath thicse rugged elms, that yew tree's shade,

Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever laid,

The rude forefathers of our hamlet sleep.

-Gray's Elegy.

Imperishable marble is the fit emblem of that love which survives all that is mor- tal of friends and relatives, that love which is the noblest attribute of the soul. There is something, too, in the unchanging fea- tures of the country to perpetuate the memory of friends who gave animation to every lonely scene. The grave seen from our dooryard, or passed in a lonely walk or drive, arrests our planning and softens the mind to pensive meditation. A wound is kept open, it is true, but it is a wound from which flows sanctifying sorrow. We plant flowers to sweeten the grave, and trees to protect the gentle tear of recollec- tion.

The cemetery at Clyde is fast becoming all that the most loving heart could wish. Public-spirited citizens have supplemented nature's generosity, and the place charms the eye and nurtures the affections.

The old burying ground lay to the north and reached to the foot of the elevation

on which the statue of General McPher- son stands. It was formerly owned by the Methodist Episcopal church, and bore the name of Evergreen Cemetery. The site was selected by Mrs. Guinall who, during a supposed fatal sickness, pointed to the spot where she wished to be buried, from the chair on which she was carried to the door for that purpose. The lot was fenced off by her husband, who owned the land, but she was not the first to be buried there. She recovered and was a witness of the burial of her son John in the place selected for her own grave. Mrs. John J. Quack- enbush and Benjamin Collins were the two next buried.

Many moss-covered freestones mark the last resting places of pioneers of this town- ship-places of sacred and hallowed mem- ory. It became necessary, as the village grew and the death roll became longer, to enlarge the boundaries. A cemetery as- sociation was formed in 1867, and Ever- green Cemetery transferred to this associ- ation by the Methodist church. Lands adjacent, extending to the junction of the two streets, were purchased and the lot on the summit of the beautiful natural mound dedicated to the McPherson family, in af- fectionate remembrance of that noble sol- dier and cherished fellow-citizen, Major General James B. McPherson, whose statue, cast in imperishable bronze, testi- fies a grateful people's love, and symbol- izes the immortality of his fame.

THE SCHOOLS.

The first school in the township was taught by Joshua Fairchilds. Jered H. Miner, esq., taught school in 1820 in a cooper shop owned by Abby & Dagget, which stood on the present Persing place. Here the children were gathered, five days in the week, for three months. The only seats were split slabs or puncheons, with- out backs. A large slab was placed along one side for a writing desk. Reading,

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writing, and the elements of arithmetic were taught. The "rule of three" was the stopping point for the pupils of that early day.

In the course of a couple of years a school-house was built on what is now Buck- eye street. Dr. Forbes, an amiable, learned man, was the first teacher, in the winter of 1822-23. There was great dissatisfaction with the location of the house. The settlers of the east part of the neighborhood clam- ored for a school in their vicinity, while those of the west were just as determined to keep it in theirs. In 1825 a house was built near the Corners, much to the dissat- isfaction of the hill residents, and the cause of a fire which destroyed the build- ing a short time afterwards was not regard- ed a mystery. A compromise was made in the location of a new house. It was built near the site of the railroad crossing, but was after a short time moved to the knoll within a few rods of the burial place of General McPherson. This was the last log school-house in Clyde, or at Hamer's Corners, as it was then. Here James B. McPherson, whose statue is the pride of the town and county, received his first in- struction.

After the township was divided into dis- tricts under the general school law, a frame house was built a quarter mile further west, on the hill, which was known as the Dewey school-house.

The first school in the west part of the township was taught by Grant Forgerson, in a school-house which stood a short dis- tance west of the Rathbun place.

The public school law of 1852 went into effect in Green Creek in 1853, since which time comfortable houses have been built, and generally competent teachers provided for the instruction of the youth.

CLYDE SCHOOLS.

The rapid growth of Clyde during the years following the war made it desirable

that a special school district should be or- ganized. The necessary legislation was procured, and on April 8, 1867, the Clyde schools became independent of the town- ship. The new board consisted of A. B. French, Chester Hunter, and C. G. Eaton. The village system was adopted May 30, 1868, with the following named gentlemen as directors: M. Benner, John Lefever, Milo Hunter, D. Terrill, S. B. Taylor, and Smith Motley. The salary of the super- intendent was fixed at one hundred dollars per month, and S. Motley was elected to the position. He served in that capacity until 1870, when the present incumbent, F. M. Ginn, was chosen.

The subject of a new school building was discussed by the citizens as soon as the village system had been adopted. In 1869 plans were submitted, and a new building decided upon. The large and well-arranged three-story brick structure now in use was completed in 1870, and in the fall of that year opened to the pub- lic. Schools began with the following corps of teachers: F. M. Ginn, superin- tendent; Rena Richards, principal of the high school; Jennie Winters, assistant ; Mary Be Muent, grammar; Miss Emma Adams, first secondary; Nettie Reynolds, second secondary; Julia Eaton, first pri- mary; Alice Keating, second primary ; Nettie Van Cleat, intermediate. The principals of the high school have been: Rena Richards, Eliza Bushnell, Miss Hitchcock, Anna Kuhn, Miss Barnaby (five years), Maggie Taggart, Nellie Mc- Donald. The assistants in the new build- ing have been: Edgar Barnett, Emma Taylor, Miss A. L. Snyder, and Emma Londy.

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 94

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040