USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 98
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Noah Young was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, December 24, 1818. Be- ing the son of a pioneer farmer, he was brought up to hard work, and had few op- portunities for obtaining a school educa- tion. Some idea of his early experiences may be gathered from the following ac- count, it being remembered that Noah was a boy in his seventh year when his parents settled in their new home. The family arrived upon the 25th of February, 1825. A small log cabin had been erected by Mr. Young the same winter. It was built of unhewn logs. In the front side was an opening, without door or glass in it, which served both as a door and win- dow. There was also a small opening in the back part of the cabin, but this, too, had no glass or other substance to keep out the winter winds. Part of a floor had been laid of loose boards, and overhead was a similar floor or scaffold, where the family stowed their goods. The cabin had no chimney or fire-place; the roof was made of "shakes," or long clapboards, held down by poles laid upon them. The sides of the building were "chinked up" without mud or plastering.
Mr. Young well remembers the keen disappointment his mother felt when she arrived, and surveyed the spot that was to be her home. She bore up as long as she could, but finally seated herself and indulged in a hearty cry. But the father at once set about making improvements, and in a few days had the cabin more comfortably fixed, and better suited for human habitation. Then he began clear- ing away the trees, and preparing a spot for a garden and a corn patch. He ex- changed work with his neighbors, and made such progress that, by the 4th of June, he was ready to plant his corn. He | the present day would crave a similar job?
began planting on Saturday, and it being so late in the season, he became so anx- ious to finish the job, that he decided to work on the following day. After break- fast, Sunday morning, he went out to the field, but soon returned to the house, greatly to the surprise of his wife. "What!" exclaimed she, "Aren't you go- ing to finish your planting to-day?" "No," he replied; "if the corn would get ripe by planting to-day, it will have almost time enough to ripen if I put the work off until to-morrow." And he adhered to this de- termination to respect the holy Sabbath, although the necessity for working seemed great.
The corn patch was on the high ground, some two hundred yards from the house. After the corn had begun to grow, the chipmunks, which were numerous, became very troublesome. No corn would be raised if they were allowed to have their way. So little Noah was put in charge of the corn-field, and watched it from before sunrise until after sunset. To a boy less than seven years of age, in the midst of a dense forest where there was only one small, solitary clearing, a charge of this sort could not be the most agreeable thing in the world. He had no company, save when he could coax the dog to go with him. There in the lonely forest he watched patiently day by day, rejoicing as the hours passed by, and the long shad- ows of the trees admonished him that night was near. He did his work faith- fully and well, although his courage was often so tried that when darkness came on, and he was to return to the cabin, he would shout to his mother to come and meet him, and attend him through the woods. For about three weeks he was kept at this employment, and rejoiced when the corn had grown so that watching it was no longer necessary. What boy of
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Again, in the fall, when the corn had begun to ripen, new enemies appeared- blackbirds, raccoons, opossums, besides the squirrels. Blackbirds came in flocks, and were more numerous by far than the ears of corn. These must be kept away, and, of course, the services of the small boy were again in requisition.
Of Mr. Young's school days something deserves to be said. When he was about eight years of age, a young man estab- lished a tuition school in the shoemaker shop of a neighbor. Noah's father decid- ed to allow his son to attend. But he had no book, and no means of procuring one. As a substitute his father took a sheet of foolscap and wrote out the letters of the alphabet as best he could make them, -- he was not an excellent penman,-and furnished with this outfit the boy trudged off to school. One day the master gave him a slight cut with a small stick and ad- monished him to "study." The pupil objected to this treatment and soon after- ward severed his connection with the school. He attended school nine days in all, and learned a part of the alphabet. The following winter he attended school a few days at the house of a neighboring lady, and made a little further progress. The third school he attended about one month, having Webster's spelling-book as his only text-book. When Noah was about seventeen he went to school a por- tion of two terms and began the study of arithmetic and geography. He had just begun to get a little insight into these sciences when the school-house took fire and burned down, thus abruptly ending the termn. A school was not re-established for a year or two. In arithmetic he ad- vanced sufficiently to be able to add a lit- tle, and resolved to pursue his studies at home. By this time he had become a tolerably good reader, and was able to comprehend the most of the first rules in .
the book. But in addition, the mysterious words, "carry one for every ten," stopped short his progress, though he puzzled many hours over their meaning. At length he obtained the assistance of a young man who explained away the difficulty; and from that time onward he pursued the study of arithmetic alone, and became master of the greater part of the book. When he was twenty years of age, the school house having been rebuilt and a teacher procured, Mr. Young resumed his attendance for the most of two terms. He studied by fire-light at home and gained quite a reputation for scholarship among the neighbors. At the age of twenty-four the directors of his school dis- trict urged him to become their teacher for the winter term, assuring him that he was qualified for the position, although English grammar and other branches, now taught in every school, were subjects which he had never investigated. After some hesitation Mr. Young accepted their offer, and the directors took him before Mr. Stark, the examiner, at Fremont, and as- sured this official that they considered the young man competent to instruct in their school. Upon this recommendation a certificate was granted and Mr. Young entered upon his duties. He taught three terms very successfully, though to qualify himself for his work he often studied until late at night to be sure that none of the scholars should catch him tripping over any difficulties in the lessons for the next day. Thus ended his school education ; but careful reading and a habit of thought- fully considering all that he peruses, has made Mr. Young a man of good general information.
Mr. Young's father, at his death, be- queathed a portion of his farm to his son, and soon after attaining his majority Noah took possession and began work for him- self. September 11, 1842, he was married
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
to Orlintha Brown, daughter of Jeremiah and Olive (Hutchins) Brown. Mrs. Young was born in Oswego county, New York, May 27, 1824, and came to San- dusky county with her parents. She died April 15, 1870. She was a woman of in- dustry and economy, a fitting companion and helpmate to her husband, and bore a good reputation as a wife and mother. To her were born eleven children, ten of whom are living. Norman, the first child, died when about twelve years of age. The others are living, located as follows: Emeline, wife of Walter Huber, Green Creek; Norton, Green Creek ; Sidney and Charles, Ballville ; Chauncy, Steuben county, Indiana; Olive, wife of Oliver Huss, Green Creek; Burton, Edwin, Nancy, and Villa Viola, Green Creek.
Mr. Young's second marriage took place April 7, 1872, when he wedded Miss Louisa Braund, daughter of Edward and Ann Braund, natives of England. Mrs. Young was born in Devonshire, England, June 3, 1834. She belongs to the church of the United Brethren, of which Mr. Young has been a prominent member for many years. About twenty years ago he was licensed as an exhorter by the quarter- ly conference of this church, and during the past fifteen years has been a licensed local preacher.
Mr. Young was formerly a Democrat, but since the war he has voted with the Republicans. He has never sought office but has served in various local offices.
Mr. Young has always believed in tem- perance and practiced it. He has never used liquor, except as a medicine, and does not know the taste of tobacco. His large family of children have been reared properly and carefully. None of the sons use tobacco or liquor, and profane language was never heard in his household. Mr. Young enjoys a contented mind and has no enemies.
THE BAKER FAMILY.
A portrait is presented of the first known representative of the family which made the first permanent settlement in this town- ship. Samuel Baker, sr., emigrated from New York State to Sandusky county in the winter of 1818, bringing with him a famlly of five children, namely: Samuel, Sarah Ann (Brown), Cincinnati; Almira (Grover) Michigan; Samantha (Shields), Fremont ; Amelia (Simpers), Iowa. Samuel Baker, jr., oldest child of Samuel Baker, was born in New York in 1802. Rugged labor from boyhood gave himn a constitution capable of enduring the experiences of pioneer life. At the age of sixteen he was placed in the midst of an unbroken forest, with no other society than the home circle. Clearing and planting was his only occu- pation, but every working day of the year was diligently occupied.
In September, 1826, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Elizabeth Cleveland, a lady also accustomed to the privations of the country, being a daughter of Clark Cleveland, one of the earliest settlers of this part of the county. The fruit of this union was eight children, as follows: Sam- uel Baker was born February 20, 1827, married Emeretta Rathbun; died June 1, 1855, leaving two children of whom is living Emma (Wadsworth).
Clark Baker, born May 20, 1828; mar- ried Nancy Vroaman; died November 14, 1873, leaving three children - Ward, Nellie, and Evangeline.
Keziah Baker, born in March, 1831; married, first, William Hoel, who died leav- ing one child, Samuel ; married, second, Edwin Gittins, by whom two children were born, one living -- Clark. Mrs. Gittins died July 7, 1859.
Sarah Ann Baker, born August 26, 1833; married Solomon Knauss, who died in 1865. The family consists of three children-Clark, Elizabeth, and Solomon.
Samuel Bakers
Samuel W. Chapin.
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
Napoleon Baker was born June 7, 1836; married, first, Cynthia Leach, after her death, Diana Weaver; has a family of five children - Frank, Susan, Thomas, Abbie, and James.
Abigail Baker, born July 9, 1838, mar- ried Franklin Short; died September 30, 1864, leaving one child-Flora.
James Baker, born August 28, 1842; married Alice Hayes, and has a family of six children - Ella, Joseph, Elizabeth, Ellsworth, James, and Anna.
Jeremiah Baker, born February 24, 1844; married to Norman Ellsworth and has six children - Elizabeth, Florence, Nellie, Frederick, Norman and George.
Mr. Baker died April 5, 1880. Mrs. Baker continues to reside on the old homestead, surrounded by her large family of children and grandchildren. Samuel Baker was a man of quiet habits and un- assuming manners. He was a farmer and wasted little time on outside affairs. His many friends will recognize in the portrait the plain, honest old gentleman who but a short time ago finished life's duties, hav- ing attained to the ripe old age of seventy- eight.
THE CHAPIN FAMILY.
The grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Deacon Samuel Chapin and his wife, whose maiden name was Josselyn, of Litchfield county, Massachusetts. Dea- con Chapin moved from Massachusetts to Cayuga county, New York, in 1792, his be- ing the third white family to settle in that county. Samuel Chapin was an upright and devout man, and was a deacon of the Baptist church for many years. He was married twice, the second time to Mrs. Whitney, and was the father of seven chil- dren. Calvin C. Chapin, his oldest son and first child, was the father of Samnuel
W. Chapin. Luther lived in Cayuga county, New York, until he reached a ripe old age. Electa married Peter Stiles, moved to Michigan in 1834, and died in Genesee county in that State. Chauncy moved to Michigan about the same date and died there in 1873, in Genesee county. Samuel also went to Michigan and died there, at Ann Arbor. He was a post- master and justice of the peace in New York State, and an active business man, although a farmer the most of his days. Willard lived in Perry, New York, and was a tanner and currier by trade. He served as postmaster several years. In 1849 he died of the cholera. Sibyl married and remained in New York State until her death.
Calvin C. Chapin was born in Litch- field county, Massachusetts, October 22, 1780. He received a fair common school education. When about twenty years of age, he married Rhoda Crofoot, a native of Massachusetts. In 1817 he moved to Kanawha county, West Virginia, where he remained about four years, and then went to Gallia county, Ohio. There his wife died April 16, 1830, in the town of Green, aged about fifty-two. In the fall of 1831 he moved to Bellevue, Sandusky county, and after changing his location several times, lived with his son, S. W. Chapin, during the last fourteen years of his life, and died at his home in Green Creek township, December 28, 1864. He was a man of restless disposition and was never long contented without a change of abode. He was married twice, the second time to Mrs. Adaline Russell. By his first marriage six children were born. Asenath, born June 1, 1802, married John McKeen in Gallia county and died there ; Pamelia, born May 8, 1804, mar- ried, in West Virginia, Oglesbury Higgin- bottom ; Amarilous, born June 16, 1806, remained single. She died at the home
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
of her brother Samuel in September, 1835; Robert P, born May 18, 1808, lived in Gallia county several years, died in Steu- ben county, Indiana, about the year 1845; Samuel Willard, born April 10, 1812; Mary Jane, born April 15, 1822, married Henry H. Manahan, and resides in Nor- walk township, Huron county. Samuel and Mary are the only survivors. The others all died of consumption.
Samuel W. Chipin was born in Aurelius, Cayuga county, New York. He received a limited common school education in a log school-house. But in the school of experience he has been well taught, and reading and practice have stored his mind with a good supply of practical informa- tion. He passed his boyhood at home until old enough to work, when he began business life by working out upon a farm, -a hard means of earning a livelihood, as every farmer's boy who has tried it can testify. This life he followed for eleven years, working in a shoemaker's shop in the winter time toward the close of this period. He worked on the Ohio canal along the Scioto Valley three summers, commencing when sixteen years of age.
In 1832 Mr. Chapin came to Sandusky county, which has sir.ce been his home. He was married, February 14, 1835, to Jane Tuttle, daughter of Van Rensselaer Tuttle, of Green Creek township. They had but one child, that died in infancy. In 1835 Mr. Chapin leased a farm and began work for himself. His wife died April 30, 1836, aged about twenty-two years. This great loss destroyed his home, and Mr. Chapin again became a wanderer and a day-laborer for three years.
May 21, 1839, he married Sarah A. Dirlam, daughter of Orrin and Annis (Gibbs) Dirlam. Her parents were both natives of Massachusetts, and Mr. Dir- lam moved to Green Creek township in 1833.
This union was blessed with six chil- dren, two of whom are living: Fatima, born March 21, 1840; married, in 1863, Fernando Perin, of Green Creek; after his decease, married Oscar Lefever; she now resides in Liscomb township, Marshall county, Iowa. Corydon C., born Decem- ber 10, 1841; died September 5, 1849. Willard, born March 30, 1844; enlisted in March, 1864, in the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died in Memphis September 14, 1864. Willie, twin to Wil- lard, died an infant. Ralph H., born August 3, 1854, resides in Clyde, and is engaged in the livery business, a member of the firm of Chapin & Gray. The next, a son, born February 8, 1858, died in in- fancy.
Mrs. Sarah A. Chapin died September 10, 1873, aged fifty-five years.
Mr. Chapin is now living with his third wife, to whom he was united in marriage September 16, 1874. Her maiden name was Emma H. Meacham, second daughter of Dr. A. G. and Polly (Gault) Meacham. Dr. Meacham was a native of Vermont, moved to Adams township, Seneca county, near Green Spring, in 1841, and practiced a number of years in this vicinity. From here he went to Illinois, where he died. Mrs. Meacham, a native of New York, is still living at Green Spring. Mrs. Chapin was born in Booneville, New York.
Mr. Chapin is a Universalist in his religious belief, though his parents were Baptists. He is liberal in his views, and a friend to every true religious faith. In politics he is a thorough Republican, and a strong temperance advocate.
Mr. Chapin is a self-made man. What he has gained in this life he has earned, and earned, too, by toil, and frequently by hardship. Now nearly three score and ten, he can look back with pleasure upon a busy life, without regret for idle days, for these he never had. He has cleared and
Dr. J. L. Browns
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
improved over one hundred acres, and early and late has been active in working in the forest or the field.
DOCTOR J. L. BROWN.
Dr. J. L. Brown was born in Oneida county, New York, August 31, 1829, His parents were Charles and Anna (Phelps) Brown, of New England birth, and both descended from the Plymouth colonists. His grandfather, General John Brown, was a distinguished soldier of the Revo- lutionary war; his father served in the War of 1812, and the doctor himself was in the late Rebellion. His father and mother went to New York State with their parents when but children, and there were brought up and married. In 1832 they removed thence to Ashtabula county, Ohio. Both are now deceased.
Doctor Brown is the youngest of a fam- ily of six children. His father was a teacher by profession, and under his in- struction each of his children received their first educational training. The doc- tor attended school at the Jefferson Acad- emy until he was eleven years of age, then continued his studies at Austinburg Institute, in Ashtabula county, working for his board in the family of a dairyman, where night and morning he milked seven cows and drove them to pasture a distance of two and one-half miles. His employer allowed him no lights, and as a substitute for these necessary articles in a student's outfit, while driving the cows he gathered hickory bark and made it serve instead of candles. His room contained a large fireplace, and in this he built the bark fire, by the light of which he studied, having suspended a large board in front of the fire-place to protect himself from the heat. By this dim light he prepared his daily lessons, often sitting up until late at night. In this manner he passed the
winter, making good progress in his stud- ies.
At the age of twelve, at the request of his mother, he was taken into the family of Rev. Mr. Austin, a Presbyterian min- ister, there to be educated for the ministry of that denomination. Here he remained about one year. At the end of this period he decided that he never could become a clergyman, having no taste for such a life; besides, he was already firmly convinced that he never could accept the teachings of the Presbyterian church.
At the age of thirteen he entered a drug store for a term of five years; of this time four months of each year was allowed to himself, and this time he improved to the best advantage, continuing his studies and preparing himself for a teacher. When fifteen years old he taught his first term, thus aiding himself in furthering the great object of his life, the practice of med icine. At the age of eighteen he attended his first course of medical lectures. At twenty he was united in marriage to Miss Mary N. McIntyre, a lady still younger than himself. Soon after taking this step he imbibed the western fever, which was raging in his vicinity in those days, came to Fort Seneca, Seneca county, Ohio, and there began the practice of medicine, with a fortune of one dollar and seventy cents as the sum total of his worldly pos- sessions. He practiced medicine in this obscure little village for a period of eight years. Not satisfied with the slow growth of the place, in the fall of 1859 he re- moved to Green Spring. The following winter he graduated from the Cleveland Medical College, and pursued his profes- sion until the winter of 1862-63, when he was called to examine the Western troops at Fort Dennison. Soon after arriving there he enlisted as a volunteer surgeon, and in that capacity was given charge of the One Hundred and Sixteenth
82
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Ohio Volunteer Infantry; stationed at Winchester, Virginia, where he continued until June 16, 1863, when he was taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester, Gen- eral Milroy being in command. The doctor was then sent to Richmond with other prisoners, and confined in that his- torical prison, "Castle Thunder," under grave charges preferred by the rebels. These charges not being sustained, after nineteen days of dungeon life he was re- moved to Libby prison and put on equal footing with other prisoners of war. Here he was kept seven months and twenty-two days. At the expiration of this time he was exchanged, and returned to his regi- ment in Virginia, where he found awaiting him a commission as post surgeon of that department, having to report monthly to Washington the sanitary condition of all the hospitals from Martinsburg, Virginia, to Harper's Ferry. This arduous duty Dr. Brown performed with honor to him- self and fidelity to the Nation, until the troops were all returned from these points to Richmond and vicinity. He then re- turned to his home and family at Green Spring, and soon after commenced his present business.
Dr. Brown has attained great renown for his marvellous cures of diabetes. A little girl was his first patient and after her cure, he received patients from far and near, compelling him to remove from the place he then occupied to his present institution, which is situated in the most pleasant part of the village. The Health Resort is fitted, furnished, and arranged in the best manner, and secures to his pa- tients the most possible enjoyment. The rooms are well ventilated, the grounds pleasant and shaded, and everything is carefully superintended by the doctor and his wife. Many patients have expressed their gratitude to Dr. Brown by presenting him with sworn testimonials, that others
afflicted might know where to obtain relief. The doctor's practice is very large; the patients he has treated are numbered by thousands, and come from all parts of the land. All the credit for his successful career, however, should not be given to the doctor alone: his faithful wife has assisted and co-operated with him, proving a faithful and constant helpmate.
Dr. Brown is, and has ever been, the sincere friend of the suffering and op- pressed. Previous to the war he was a pronounced anti-slavery man, and worked with every means at his command to put down the nefarious traffic in human lives With his father, and his brother, the late O. P. Brown, he made addresses through- out a large portion of this State, urging the people to vote and work for the free- dom of the slaves. As a "boy orator" the doctor gained a wide reputation. Nor did his work consist in talk alone; for while the celebrated underground railroad was in operation, he assisted many a poor negro to gain his :berty. The doctor is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
CHARLES CLAPP AND FAMILY.
Charles Clapp was born in Somerset- shire, England, November 30, 1812. When nine years of age he emigrated to this country with his parents, Ambrose and Hannah (Bartlett) Clapp. They located in Onondaga county, New York, and re- sided there until 1849, when they came to Clyde, in this county. Charles Clapp is the fourth child of a family of five sons and three daughters. He has three brothers and one sister living. Matthew, his oldest brother, resides in Onondaga county, New York; Joseph, younger than Charles, lives in Oakland county, Michigan; and Robert, the youngest of the four brothers, resides
Hers. Matilda Clapp.
Charles Clafins
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
at Clyde. Mrs. Hannah Kernahan, of Green Creek, is the only sister living. She is older than Mr. Clapp.
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