History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 97

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 97

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

Among the residents of Clyde are a number of retired farmers, men who spent their best days in hard toil, and are now passing the evening of their life amid the pleasant surroundings of a village. One of the most highly respected citizens of this class is John Lefever. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in . 1807. In 1816 the family removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, where, in 1829, John married Rachel Swope. Three years later he came to this county and settled on one hundred acres of land which he had entered in Green Creek township. On this farm he lived till 1865, when he sold and removed to Clyde. Mrs. Le- fever died in 1847. The family consisted of nine children, seven of whom are living -Louisa, Rebecca, John S., William C., Jacob D., Oscar T., and Jane. Mr. Le- fever married for his second wife, in 1849, Elvira Reed, who was born in Ottawa county, New York, in 1814. Mr. Lefever has frequently been chosen to fill local offices, township trustee, etc. His services on the school board of Clyde since 1868 are worthy of special mention.

William Hamer was born in Geneseo, New York, in 1791. In 1815 he married Kezia Cleveland, who died September 19, 1856. He came to Ohio in 1826, and began keeping tavern at the Corners. Soon after that time he laid out the first town lots in Centreville, now Clyde. He married for his second wife Mrs. Priscilla Blanchard, who is yet living.

GREEN SPRING.

This thriving little village contains be- tween eight and nine hundred people, and is situated partly in the southwestern part of Green Creek township, and partly in Adams township, Seneca county. It is well known as a health resort, the Water Cure and Dr. Brown's Diabetic Cure be- ing among the prominent institutions of the place. The village received its name

from the mineral spring situated near it. The industries of the place are as fol- lows :

Sash and blind factory, Smith heirs, proprietors ; the spoke and hub factory of John Netcher; the furniture manufactory of A. R. Young & Co .; the pork-packing house of J. W. Stinchcomb & Co .; Hahn's tannery; the saw-mills of John Netcher and Levi Huber; the First National Bank, two hotels in the village and one near the Water Cure, two drug stores, two va- riety stores-hardware, groceries, etc .; three groceries, one stove and tinware shop, one harness shop, besides black- smiths' shops, saloons, etc., may be men- tioned among the business interests. Sev- eral attempts have been made to run a newspaper in the village, but each paper has had but a short existence.

M. B. Adams was the first settler in the place, and built the first house. He came from Norwich, Connecticut, in 1834, or perhaps the year previous. His daughter Ellen, who afterwards became the wife of George Backus, and died in Defiance, Ohio, was the first child born in the vil- lage. Mr. Adams remained only a few years, then moved to Defiance, where he died. His widow is still living there.

Daniel H. Dana, born in the State of Vermont, March 29, 1798, moved from New York State and settled at Green Spring in 1834, being attracted hither by a belief that the mineral spring would some day become known and valued. The Indians had been removed a short time previous to his settlement. Mr. Dana obtained an analysis of the spring water, and learned its valuable medicinal qualities. He kept the first store in the place, having his goods in a room of his log-house the first year. The following year he built a frame store on the corner opposite the store now occupied by Mr. Watrous. He also carried on the mer-

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

cantile business in a store on Butternut Ridge, one-half mile east of where Wil- liam Lay resides, at the same time. Mr. Dana built a tannery which he operated in company with Robert Smith. Soon after they erected a shop in which the manufacture of boots and shoes was car ried on quite extensively. Mr. Dana was a useful citizen, and did much toward the advancement and growth of the village. He served as justice of the peace, and was the first postmaster.

In 1823 Daniel H. Dana married Phi- linda Tiffany. Three of their children are living-George T. Dana, Green Creek township; Marian and Mary, Green Spring. Mr. Dana died March 29, 1881, aged and honored. He was an uncle of Charles A. Dana, of the New York Sun.

J. A. Watrous, who was born in New London county, Connecticut, in 1803, came to Green Spring in 1834, from Huron county. Before coming here he married Eunice Stewart, by whom he had four children, only one of whom is living -Mary-wife of Frederick Wheeler, re- siding in Iowa. His daughter Laura, afterwards the wife of William Western, Sandusky City, was the second child born in the village. She died in Michigan. For his second wife Mr. Watrous married Mis. Hannah (Carpenter) Adams. To them were born four children, three of whom are living-Nancy, wife of Fred- erick Durant, in Canada; Alice married D. P. Campbell, and lives near Manches- ter, New Hampshire; Hannah married J. P. Turner, and lives with her parents.

Jacob Stem, originally from Carroll county, Maryland, was an early settler. He moved to Green Spring from Tiffin. Three of his daughters still reside in the village. Mr. Stem built the second store erected in the place-the building now occupied by Mr. Watrous, as a tin shop. He also built the first saw-mill and the

first grist-mill north of the village. For use in the saw-mill he took the water from the sulphur spring. This mill was erected very near the old mill which the Govern- ment built for the use of the Indians.

The place settled slowly. Other early comers were Phineas Adams, Wilcox, Robert Smith, and Jacob Huber. Wilcox acted as clerk in Stem's store. Robert Smith became one of the leading citizens, and a most successful business man. General McPherson came to this place when a boy fourteen years old, and clerked for A. M. Stem and Robert Smith, the successors of Jacob Stem in the mercantile business, until he was about twenty.

The post office was established in 1837, Daniel H. Dana, postmaster. The peti- tioners were allowed a post office on con- dition that it should pay current expenses. Mr. Watrous acted as mail-carrier the first year, carrying the mail from Hamer's Corners, now Clyde, twice a week in sum- mer and once a week in winter. The proceeds of the office during this year were thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, and this amount was paid to Mr. Watrous for his services, the postmaster receiving no compensation whatever.

Mr. Todd began wagon-making and Elisha Alvord succeeded him in the bus- iness. The first blacksmith in the place was Ephraim Porter, who remained only two or three years. J. A. Watrous was his successor. The first hotel was kept by Roswell George, in 1838. It was built by Colonel Bradley. The first shoemaker was Jacob Huber, now living in Green Creek township. A lot was donated him by Jacob Stem, on condition that he engage in his trade upon it.

The first church was built by the Meth- odists in 1853. Doctor Wheeler was its prime mover. The other churches of the village are the Presbyterian, the United Brethren, and Catholic-all of recent date

Alfred Hutchinson.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

The village was incorporated in 1873. John A. Wright was the first mayor and served about two months. His successors have been O. L. Bartlett, Gideon Gordon, C. S. Burton, and J. S. Myers.

The school district has recently voted to assess its tax-payers to the extent of twenty thousand dollars, and has given .bonds for that amount for the purpose of erecting a school-building. Work has already begun. The school-building will be leased and used as an academy for tuition schools. The school to be free to scholars in the district.

BIOGRAFHICAL SKETCHES,

ALFRED HUTCHINSON.

Nathaniel Hutchinson was a native of Massachusetts, and passed his life in Cam- bridge in that State. He was the father of John, Thomas, and Joseph Hutchin- son, who moved to Clark county, Ohio, about the year 1818. John remained only a short time in this State, but went to southern Indiana and settled on the Wa- bash, where both he and his family fell victims to the fever. Thomas remained in Ohio some twenty years, then removed to Lagrange county, Indiana, and died in that State.

Joseph Hutchinson, the father of the subject of this biography, was born April 21, 1782. He was married in his native State in the month of October, 1805, to Mary A. Hodgman, who was born in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, October 10, 1783. She was left an orphan while very young, and was brought up in the family of Mr. Adams until her marriage. After coming to this State Joseph Hutchinson resided in Clark county until 1827, and in April of that year moved to Green Creek town- ship, Sandusky county. He was a me-

chanic, and followed his trade through life. After locating upon his land in this county he went to Monroeville, Huron county, and there worked at his trade about six years. At the end of this period he re- turned to Green Creek and remained here until his death. Joseph Hutchinson was the father of eight children, three of whom are living at present. Following are their names and dates of birth: Mary A., born September 9, 1807, married June 14, 1829, to Asahel Franklin, Clark county; died in May, 1848. Joseph H., born April 17, 1809, died November 24, 1823. (He was killed by being thrown from a horse.) Charlotte, born February 7, 1811. Feb- ruary 10, 1831, she married S. S. Kellogg, in Huron county, where they resided sev .. eral years. She died in Huron county, in February, 1854. Louisa, born Septem- ber 12, 1814, became the wife of Elisha Lake; resided in Huron county until her husband's death; married Charles Petty, and now resides in Woodbury county, Iowa. Josiah B., born November 30, 1817, died May 28, 1836. Alfred, born September 17, 1820. Phebe M., born May 29, 1825 ; married Noble Perin, who died in Ander- sonville prison. She now resides in Green Creek township. Joseph, jr., born May 29, 1830; was killed by falling from a loaded wagon, the wheels of which passed over him.

The mother of these children died in February, 1851. Mr. Hutchinson died in January, 1855. They were both mem- bers of the Baptist church from their youth up, and were honored and esteemed for their integrity, industry, uprightness, and worth.

Alfred Hutchinson attended the com- mon schools when a boy. At the age of eighteen he commenced learning the trade of brick-laying and plastering, working at this employment in summer and attending school in winter until he became of age.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

Mr. Hutchinson followed his trade about thirty years in this vicinity, and since quit- ing it has been engaged in farming.

He was married, April 6, 1843, to Mary Dirlam, daughter of Orrin and Annis (Gibbs) Dirlam. Mrs. Hutchinson is the fourth of a family of seven children, and was born August 18, 1823. Her mother died in Massachusetts when Mrs. Hutch- inson was only six years of age. Her father came to Ohio and was a resident of Green Creek many years. He is still liv- ing in Lorain county at an advanced age.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hutchinson are the parents of four children, two of whom are living, viz .: Zemira, born December 2, 1844; served in company A, Seventy-sec- ond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in prison at Florence, South Carolina, Octo- ber 30, 1864. Charles B., born March 21, 1848; married Emma Strickland, daughter of Franklin and Hannah Strick- land, of Green Creek, and resides near his parents. He is the father of four chil- dren, three of whom are living-Aleck, Claude (deceased), Chellie, and Lottie. The next of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hutchinson was a son, born May 30, 1851, who died in infancy. Frede- rick, the youngest, now living at home, was born January 28, 1861.

Mr. Hutchinson and wife have never united with any church, but in their work and in their lives they are recognized as friends to truth and religion. Mr. Hutch- inson is a temperance man and a sound Republican. During the past years he has held various township offices, all of which he has filled acceptably. Both he and his wife are nicely situated in a pleasant home, and are now able to enjoy with tranquil minds the fruits of their toil and industry.

HON. OLIVER MCINTYRE.

This departed worthy citizen of San-

dusky county was born in Otsego county, State of New York, on the 19th day of Jan- uary, 1802. His father's name was Oliver McIntyre, and his mother's name was Mary Hitchcock, a widow, whose maiden name was Miller. The subject of this sketch was married on the 12th of April, 1831, to Miss Maria. Tyler, of Otsego county, New York, who died at Fremont on January 14, 1849. Mary, his oldest daughter, was born in Otsego county, and with his wife and this daughter he immigrated, and settled in Townsend township in 1835, where the following other children were born, namely: George T. and Winfield G. After locating in Town- send, Mr. McIntyre taught school winters and worked by the day in the summer for about twelve years. Here Mr. McIntyre bought land and settled, and thus taught and labored, serving meantime as justice of the peace for a number of years, and until he was elected county treasurer of Sandusky county, in the fall of 1847. He served as treasurer four consecutive years, and no man ever served more faithfully, nor accounted for the funds of the county with more sincere honesty than he did.

Mr. McIntyre was married a second time on the 25th day of February, 1851, to Mrs. Margaret Bement, of Sandusky, whose maiden name was Margaret Heep, her first husband, George D. Bement, hav- ing died several years before, and about the same time Mr. McIntyre's first wife died, and of the same disease, erysipelas. By this second marriage he had one son, named Wallace, now living, who is unmar- ried. He lives with his mother, and is a devoted helper.

Mr. McIntyre, shortly before his second marriage, bought the Hawk farm on Green Creek, and settled on it, and was residing there at the time. This farm was situated on the east side of Green Creek. He sold this farm April 1, 1875, and purchased

@ Mc Intyres

JAMES CLEVELAND.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

one on the west side of the creek, to which he immediately moved, and there lived until the time of his death, which was nearly a year after his removal. He died on the 11th day of September, 1876.

Wallace McIntyre, the son by the last marriage, was born at the farm on Green Creek on the 11th day of December, .1857, and is a bright and promising young man, devoted to the maintenance and comfort of his widowed mother. Although an ardent Democrat, when the news came that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, Oli- ver McIntyre's patriotism submerged his party predilections, and a more thorough and patriotic Union man could not be found in the county.

One day a member of his party, who had publicly uttered disloyal sentiments and denounced the war, was waited upon by a committee, who wished to save him from violent treatment. The accused came with the committee, a large crowd following, and was placed on a dry goods box in the middle of Front street, and asked to declare his sentiments, while a Union man floated the Stars and Stripes over him. The man made a satisfactory statement and apology. The writer was then standing near Oliver McIntyre, who, pale with excitement, and flashing eyes, in a voice half-choked with emotion, turned to the writer, and said: "Homer, thank God! there is yet power in that old flag, and we can save the country!"

JAMES CLEVELAND.

This early settler in Green Creek town- ship was born March 14, 1806, at Mount Morris, State of New York. His father was Clark Cleveland, sr., and his mother was Jemima (Butler) Cleveland. When James was at the age of eighteen · years, his father removed with his family

from Mount Morris to Huron county, Ohio, and settled and remained there sev- eral years. Mr. Cleveland, the father, lost the title to the farm he settled on in Huron county, and then removed to Green Creek township, Sandusky county, where he bought land of the Government, eighty acres, on which he made improvements and remained until the day of his death, which occurred in 1831.

Clark Cleveland, sr., left surviving him the following named children: Abigail, who married Oliver Hayden, not living; Cozia, who married William Hamer, not living; Moses, not living; Sally, who mar- ried Benjamin Curtis, was left a widow and afterwards married Alpheus McIntyre, not now living; Clark, jr., married Eliza Grover, and left six children, four girls and two boys,-parents both dead; Polly, who married Timothy Babcock, not liv- ing; Betsey, who married Samuel Baker, and is now living, a widow aged about sev- enty-eight years.

James Cleveland, the subject of this sketch, resided with his father until he was twenty-five years of age, at which time he married Jeanette Rathbun, sister of Saxton S. Rathbun, of the same township, on the 3d day of March, 1831. At the time of his marriage James Cleveland had earned and saved sufficient money to purchase forty acres of land, which was part of what was known as the Sawyer land. On this forty acres he began his married life. For about five years he worked on this farm in making improvements and supporting his family. He then, in company with his wife's father (Chaplin Rathbun), rented a saw-mill on Green Creek, about two or three miles from his farm, and during the winter kept his family in a house near by the mill. There was connected with the saw-mill a small grist-mill, in which they also took an interest by lease. In this way Mr. Cleveland supported his family

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

and obtained sufficient lumber to build a barn on his farm the next year After he left the mills, having run them one winter, he returned to his farm and continued working and improving it, and also pur- chased more land adjoining him.

About the year 1841, when the road bed of the Maumee and Western Reserve turnpike was being graded and made ready for macadamizing, Mr. Cleveland took a contract to grade a half mile of the road, next east of the present residence of Charles Clapp, esq. He again moved his family to his place of work and there kept them about five months, when he moved back again to his farm. His pay for his job on the road was in certificates of in- debtedness under the authority of the State and was not realized in cash. He realized about six hundred dollars for his work. This scrip, or most of it, he traded to Edward Whyler, then a merchant at Lower Sandusky, and bought nails, glass, and such articles of hardware as were then used in building frame houses. He then set about build- ing a frame dwelling of good proportions which he finished in the year 1845, and occupied until his death. Meantime he kept on buying land and adding to his possessions quite rapidly, proving himself to be an active, vigilant, and industrious citizen.

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. Har- ris, 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 Cleve land, 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 pre- pare 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 hun- dred acres of land, with dwellings com- fortable, 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. Cleve- land 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 lay- ing them up into fences, while her hus- band cut down the trees and split the timber into rails. One season when help

Rev. Tranh young -

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

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 oc- cupy : 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 chil- dren, of which there are now two. Surely few localities can show as well in perma- nent residence and numbers as the Cleve- land neighborhood in Green Creek town- ship, 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 Hutch- ins, and now resides in Ballville town- ship. 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. re- sides 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 chil- dren 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. Al- though Mr. Young was a member of no church, he was a man of upright principles,

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

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

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 97

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