History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers, Part 112

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 112
USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Daniel Reynolds came from New York in 1817, and settled first on lot nine, range eleven, and then on lot twelve, range eight, where he remained until the death of his wife, Phoebe Thorn, in 1846, at the age of sixty-one years. He had four children: Isaac T., Rachel (Mrs. Hiram Judson), Jane, and Polly (Joseph Tucker). He died in Milan in 1870, at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

David Walker came from Connecticut in 1817, and located on section five, range two. They were indus- trious, as they were obliged to be to support their family of eleven children. As he was located on one of the main thoroughfares he opened a hotel, and soon after became postmaster.

Norman Walker, his brother, came two years later and bought a farm near David's, but it seems he could not withstand the climate and died. His daughter married Elsworth Burnham, and her mother resided, until her death, with them.

Joshua Phillips came from Lima, New York, in 1817 with his wife (Rebecca Smith), whom he mar- ried in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was an elder in the Baptist church, and added preaching to his clear- ing away the wilderness, farming, and working at masonry. He purchased lots ten and eleven, range six, and opened the first quarry. They had seven children: Zalumna, Zebah, Joshua, Rebecca (Mrs. J.

S. Lowry), Xenophon, Solomon, and Eliza (Mrs. T. C. Chapman). Zalumna was thoroughly identified with the business interests of an early day, having a store at the heights, and for a time held the office of judge and sheriff, and was once sent to the legislature .. This store was built on the site now occupied by the town hall. It was then a dense forest, and Mr. Phillips paid Prentice K. Loomis seventy-five cents to cut down the trees where he intended to build. J. S. Lowry was the builder, and for many years was regarded as highest authority in architecture. Xen- ophon, for many years, practiced medicine with marked success, and acquired quite a wide fame for his treatment of climatic diseases. In after years, throwing up the practice, he became a voracious read- er and enthusiastic disciple of Parker and Emerson." It is to his industry that we owe many of the personal facts of this portion of the history of our township.

The story of the trials of the Phillips family illns- trate the hardships endured by all early settlers. They moved from the log house on the Chapelle creek where they stopped a short time, to the house MIr. Phillips was preparing. It was not yet finished. It was ten by twelve feet square, made of chestnut logs, split in two through the middle, and notched together at the corners. The floor was made of split logs, and at one end a wide space was left to build a fire. On one side a doorway was cut through, but windows there were none, and at that time none were needed, for the roof had not yet been laid on. The first day of January, 1818, a warm sunny day like May, the family moved into the new bonse. The tall tree tops of the interminable wilderness closed over its roofless walls, and in the interstices the stars shone down on their slumbers. Before morning a storm came up, a cold sleety rain. and the weary father broke his wagon box in pieces to make a temporary roof in one corner under which his household huddled together till the storm had passed.

Mr. Phillips brought three horses and a cow with him, but two of the horses soon died, not being able to bear the exposure and coarse food; all they had was a coarse grass which grew on the wettish lands in branches, and this kept green all winter, and the snow rarely ever was deep enough to prevent grazing. Sometimes elm and basswood were cut down to allow the cattle to feed on the tender branches. After the death of the horses, the one left and the cow mated, and it seemed that they were so lonesome in the wilds that their affection for each other was affecting to be- hold.

One day when Mr. Phillips was on the prairie working at masonry to earn the wheat to feed his fam- ily, the mother sent Zalumna and Zebah for game. They were gone until late in the afternoon, returning without the least success. The former says he never can forget the disappointment of his dear mother, for they had nothing but potatoes, and she baked some for their supper and they ate them with salt.

In 1817, Noah Hill came and purchased lot seven,

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

range seven, of Nathan Smith, a Methodist preacher. He returned to Tioga, Pennsylvania, for his family, and the next year came and made a permanent settle- ment. He was of Connecticut birth, as was his wife, Sukey Butler. They have had eleven children: Horace L .. Edwin I., Elihu P., Benjamin L., Mary Aun, Rachel, Henrietta, Hester C., George S., Noah, Sarah C. and Sterling U. It can be said that this widely connected family, by their sturdy New England ways, industrious habits and liberal ideas, have made a deep impress on the character of the township. Noah died early, and Sterling was killed at the age of twelve years by the falling of the old Parmenter bridge. Edwin and Horace are farmers, and Elihu has retired from his farm and is living at his ease. He served one term as State senator, in 1852-3. Benjamin was an eminent physician, a professor in the Cincinnati Eclectic College, and author of stan- dard works on surgery. He was State representative for one term, and died in California, where he had gone for his health. George is a successful physician. Noah Hill, for many years, was justice, and was well known for his integrity of character. Before coming here, he worked at ship building, and helped build the brig "Commerce," which the famous Cap- tain Riley lost on the coast of Africa. He early saw the evils of intemperance, and for the last thirty years never tasted a drop of any alcoholic drink, not even indulging in lemonade, which, he used to say, he refused out of spite. When the old Congregational church was sold, he purchased it by subscription, and refitted it, making of it a "Free Discussion Hall," and by that noble act making the future character of the towns-people. This hall was destroyed by fire, but not before the people saw the necessity of a free place of meeting, and the town hall, in 1867, took its place. He died in 1864, at the age of eighty years. His wife still survives, at the age of ninety-five.

Timothy Tennant came from Auburn, New York, in 1818, and settled on lot three, range seven, where his son-in-law had began improvements the year pre- vious. His wife was Temperance Pomeroy, of Connecticut, and he was born in Lyme, in the same State. They have had twelve children: Sophia (Mrs. Soper), Charles P., Daniel, Sterling, Henry, Lucy Ann (first wife of Edwin I. Hill), Fanny J. (wife of H. L. Hill), Caroline (wife of R. M. Ransom), Cla- rissa (Mrs. Glenn), and Eliza.

Daniel Tennant came into Berlin, in 1816, when fifteen years of age. He carried the mail, soon after, from Berlin to Fremont, weekly,-Wolverton, the con- tractor, bringing it from Cleveland. He married, in 1833, Caroline Bennett, by whom he had two children. Charles, the only one living, resides on the old home- stead, which is one of the premium farms. His wife dying, he married, in 1858, Mary Ann Blain, of New York, and in 1873 retired from the farm to the Heights. Mr. Tennant was a blacksmith, and brought his anvil with him. His rule of business was never to disappoint a customer. He died in 1845, at the

age of seventy-five, and Mrs. Tennant, who survived him eight years, died while on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Glenn, ın Tiffin.

Thomas Stephens settled, in 1818, on lot eight, range four, where he resided until his death, in 1835. He was the second justice of the peace, and a good - teacher. He taught in the old log school house at the Heights. He left a wife and two children: Lu- cinda (Mrs. Steen), and Polly, the first wife of Wil- liam Poyer. Out of school he was the premium swearer of the town, but in school, nothing would bring swifter or severer punishment than an oath.

Nathaniel Thorp came from Hebron, Connecticut, in 1818, with Moses R. Burnham, and in 1822, pur. chased lot eight and nine, range one. He has been twice married, by his first wife having four children, only Jeremiah is now living, residing on the old homestead. Mr. Thorp had the reputation of being the hardest working man in the township. He died in 1854, aged sixty-two years. Moses and Elsworth Burnham purchased lot three, range six.

John Wetherlow and George Whitney came, in 1819, from Seneca county, New York, and purchased lot ten, range seven. This was the lot on which the first improvement in the township was made, by John Dunbar. Mr. Weatherlow died in 1837, leaving a wife and five children: Lucy (Mrs. A. Halbite), Car- oline (first wife of Captain L. Case), Samuel, William and John.

Jonathan Cobb came in 1819, from Tolland, Con- necticut, and bought of S. Reed, lot seven, range two, where he resided until his death, in 1837, at the age of thirty-six years, He made, for the time he lived, great improvements; built the first framed honse -yet standing,-a mill, and was an energetic business man. He left a wife and three children: Ahira, Ralph L., and Sally (Mrs. Elihu P. Hill).

Oliver Pearl came from Connecticut in 1819, and settled on lot two, range two, and resided there until his death in 1835, where his widow, now in her eighty-sixth year, still resides with their son Addison. They have had ten children, five of whom are now living: Oliver, Ancil H., William, Emeline, Albert, Marilla, Addison, Harriet, and Jerome.

Thomas and Titus Daniels came from Chenango county in 1819, the former settling on lot three, range two, and the latter on lot three, range three, on which they remained.

Cyrus Call came in 1819 as a pioneer Baptist mis- sionary, and contracting to settle as resident pastor, retained that position for ten years. In 1820, he moved his family from Lake county, and purchased lot seven, range five, where he resided until his death in his eighty-eighth year. His wife was Sally Cross, whom he married in New York State. They had nine children: Polly (Mrs. Middleton), Essex, Sally (Mrs. Hanes), Jo, Carlo. Harriet, and Dana C.

David Butler came to Delaware connty from Len- nox, Massachusetts, in 1805, and in 1820 to Berlin. His wife was Abigail Barr, of Massachusetts. He

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

purchased lot five, range twelve, where he resided until an advanced age.

Hiram Judson came from Woodbury, Connecticut, and purchased lot seven, range eleven, in 1821, a val- uable tract reserved on account of the supposed salt spring. In 1825 he married Rachel Reynolds, and has since remained on this farm. They had three children: Elizabeth, Mary, and William. The latter remains on the old homestead. Mrs. Judson died in 1861. Mr. Judson is well preserved at seventy-nine years.

David Butler settled on the western limits of the township in 1822. He had a family of twelve chil- "dren, none of whom now reside in the township. George, for many years, was a farmer, and well known as a farrier. He now resides in Milan,-his daughter, Mrs. William E. Squire, remaining on the homestead.

Cromwell Tillinghast and wife came to Berlin in 1827, purchasing the tract of land on which they have since remained. They have four children : Mary (Mrs. Leman Hine, of Washington, D. C.); -- (Mrs. Fred. Otis, of Chicago); Oliver C., who married Miss Lizzie Reynolds, and remains on the old homestead, and Charles, residing on the Otis place. Two other brothers came from Connecticut at nearly the same time, George and William, and the Otis family came the same year. Joseph Otis purchased the farm of John Thompson, built a saw mill above the Parmenter bridge, and added greatly to the business of the section. Of his family, the three sons, James, Frederick and Edwin, after farm- ing for some years, removed to Chicago, where they have become identified with the business interests of that city, and the daughter, ---- (Mrs. Sherman), resides in Norwalk.

Eliphalet Harris may be ranked with the pioneers of Berlin, although he first settled near Portland, now known as Sandusky. He was born in 1795, at Flushing, Long Island. He came, with his wife, a native of Glastenburg, Connecticut, in 1816, to the present site of Sandusky, then a marsh, covered with ducks and geese. He established the first tannery in the county of Huron; taught the first public school and singing school in the county, and assisted in set- ting up the first press, from which the Clarion was printed for many years, and as deputy sheriff, assisted in the first public execution-that of three Indians. He was a hard-working man, as the clearing of two farms testify, and the story of his struggles with privations and hardships, would make a volume stranger than fiction. On his first farm, near the city, he was one day briskly chopping. His large family were destitute and hungry. There was no meat, and little bread. He could do nothing for them, and chopped away with harder blows to over- come his feelings. Suddenly, he saw a large bear mount a log in the clearing and look at him. It was but the work of a moment to seize his ready gun, and a lucky shot laid bruin dead. Bear steak was the first meat the Ilarris family ate in Ohio. Mr.

Harris had a family of twelve children, only two of whom are residents of the township, William and Daniel. He died at Berlinville, 1857, aged sixty-two. Mrs. Harris died at Norwalk, Ohio, 1876, aged seventy-six.

Nathan Tuttle came from Sempronius, New York, in 1832. He married some ten years previously, Moriah Monroe from Massachusetts. He purchased a portion of the "fraction" and of portions of contigu- ous lots, about a mile directly west of the Heights. They are still living at the ages of seventy-nine and eighty years, well preserved after the hardships they have endured. Of their four children J. M. is at Norwalk, having an elevator there; Lucy is the wife of Henry Hoak; David is in Wakeman, and Hudson resides on the homestead. He married in 1858, Miss Emma D. Rood. They have three children: Rosa, Carl and Clair.

Robert Douglass came from Scotland to Canada, where after residing eighteen years, he removed to New York, and after three years, in 1833, he came to Berlin, purchasing a tract of land on the shore, where he resided until his death. His family con- sisted of eight children: Agnes, Margaret, George, Mary, Isabella, James, Betsey and Letitia. George became an active business man, and for some years before his removal to Toledo, where he now resides, handled a large amount of real estate in this adjoining townships. James is now the only member of the family in the town. He married Cornelia King in 185%, and resides on a farm adjoining the old honie- stead, a part of which he also owns, and is a leading farmer and fruit grower. In 1874, he ran for state representative on the democratic ticket, and although the ticket was lost by two hundred and forty majority, he was elected by thirty-three votes, and re-elected against about similar odds in 1876.

L. B. Chapin came from Connecticut in 1841, and purchased a part of the Mulinick lot. He wasa man of culture, and had practiced law. He set a good example by his thorough farming, and well kept farm. He died in - Leonard resides with Mrs. Chapin on the old homestead, and L. S. on the farm once owned by Charles Hine. Leonodus, the only other surviving child, resides in the west, and is actively engaged in railroad building.

TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.

On the first day of April, 1816, the first town meeting was held in Thompson's mill. A strange assembly of only thirteen rough men in grotesque costume, patched and mended until the fabric could not be distinguished, or of enduring buckskin, with coon skin caps and fawn skin vests. They had con- cluded that the township needed a government, and they did not wait for the State to supply them, but felt fully competent to make such a government themselves. The judges were not troubled to count the votes, as every voter was elected to office. and some had two. The following is the list of township

MILTON LAUGHLIN.

MRS. MILTON LAUGHLIN.

MILTON LAUGHLIN.

The grandparents of Mr. Laughlin came from Ireland, with their family of eleven sons, and settled in Georgetown, Pa. The date of their immigration is uncertain, but it must have been over a century ago. John, one of the oldest of this large family, married Elizabeth Iloak, sister of John Hoak, and after a few years joined the party of adventurers who left Walnut Creek, Pa., for the Huron River. He removed from the bottom-lands of the river to Milan, then an Indian village, and remained there two years. Ho becamo greatly attached to the Indians, and they to him. He was an excellent hunter, and they admired his dexterity. His children played and were one with the Indian children. When his little son, Benjamin, was taken sick he was doctored by the Indian medicioe-man, and, when he died, was buried by the Indians after their custom.

Mr. Laughlin was fortunate in maintaining the most friendly relation with the Indians, and never but once broko with them. Once, while hanting, he shot one of their dogs for a wolf, and narrowly es- caped the vengeance of its owner.

In 1810 he built a small log house on Lot 8, which has since been known as the Laughlin place, and moved there with his family. It was a desperate struggle for existence ; want and discase were con- tinually near at hand. The children, unacclimated, were the greatest sufferers.

Ilenry, one of the nhlest, succumbed to fever, and was buried on the high bank of Huron Hiver. While here news camo of Hull's sur- render, and the settlers fled for their lives, expecting the Indiana would rush down upon them. Mr. Laughlin and family started for the old home in Pennsylvania, with such provisions as they could carry, and on horseback or on foot pursued their way through the interminable forest cia Mansfield, Ilis rifle was his dopendence for support, and they camped wherover night overtook them. Soon after they reached their destination, on Christmas day, 1813, the weary mother gave birth to a son, who is the subject of this aketch. After two years the family returned.

In 1814 they built a hewed log house, near the Corners, on the same farm, where he resided until his death. He was passionately fond of hunting, and very pious ; a quiet, taciturn man, who sbrank not from lahor. There was no fruit except wild crab-apples and frost-grapes ; turnips were used for fruit, and sometimes tho children would go into the woods and search for ground-nats or wild potatoes for their dinner.

Their only sugar was made from the maple, and quoer tastes were established by familiarity with Indian diet. They cooked their meat in the syrup.

This section was heavily timbered. Oaks which made seventy-fivo rails to tho cut, and four hundred years of age, were common. Ver- min abounded. In one fall Mr. Milton Laughlin killed seventy- five opossums, several hundred squirrels, and twelve deer, besidea wild turkeys and coons which he did not count. Where the school- house now stands his father killed a bear. The children in this in- teresting family were as followa,-Katie, Henry, John, Nancy, Benja-

min, Annio, Betsey, Milton, and Belinda. As corn was pounded into meal in a mortar made in a stump hollowed out by fire, the feeding of such a family was no ordinary task.

Milton Laughlin was cradled and brod under such conditiona and surroundings. He became a hard-working, persevering, deter- mined man, with a good bit of the silent, undemonstrative habit, as would be expected from such conditions. He married, Nov. 28, 1837, Mary B. Krom, of Ulster Co., Pa., formerly of New York City. In consideration of paying certain debts, his father gave him a part of the old farm. These debts amounted to more than tho land was worth, but he struggled through. When he moved from his father's house he carried his household goods on a wheelbarrow. He worked on his farm during the summer, and in the ship-yard at Milan during the winter. He was a sawyer, and helped to saw the timber for the loeks on the canal. Ile often made $4.40 per day, while tho average wages were hut $1.50 per day. Ilis efforts were admirably seconded by his wife, and, hy perseverance, industry, and attention to business, he has gained the title of West Berlin banker, though he says he never had a dollar given him.

The fruit of this marriage are Ransom, born June 9, 1839, married Sarah Springer, Aug. 8, 1860, residea in Milan township; Naney T., born June 16, 1842, married, April 14, 1868, to Wm. Squire, of Milan, died April 19, 1875 ; Jane, horn Jan. 23, 1843, married George Hooper, and resides in Michigan ; William F., born Feb. 5, 1849, died a soldior, in South Carolina, March 2, 1865 ; Willis, born June 29, 1859 ; and Bertha E., born March 14, 1868.

Of his father's family, he is the only surviving son. It is said of his sistor Nancy, now Mrs. Sands, when a small girl she went after the cows, and while gathering wild grapes, too tempting to pass, became lost. She was so completely turned around that, when sho was told the right way by a man she met near Old Woman Creek, she would not believe him, and kept on her own way. The neighbors hunted for her all night without auccess, but the next day IIonry discovered her track on tho bank of the creek, and followed it, finding her in Florence, eight milos away, where she found shelter in a rude cahin.

Mr. Laughlin was reared a Methodiat, but is now eclectic in re- ligion, and from remarkable phenomena in his own house became a believer in Spiritualism. In 1853 he built a large briek residence, and is now prepared to enjoy the fruits of hia long and patient toil. Ile has been an eye-witness of the numberless changes of sixty years, which have converted the trackless wild into fields laden with harvest ; instead of deer and bear, the horse, ox, and sheep; instead of blazed trees to mark the line of travel, good, broad highways ; streams havo been bridged ; towns, villages, and beautiful homes have been built. In short, the " desert has been made to blossom like the rose."

Some faint idea of this change may be seen from this fact: in 1827, John Laughlin paid $270 for his one hundred acres of land, and paid a tax on the same that year of $3.10. The same land is now valued at $10,000, and in 1876 the taxea were $85.96.

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

officers: John Laughlin, Samuel . Reed and John Thompson, trustees; Henry Brady, clerk ; John Hoak, treasurer; Daniel Butler, constable; Lybeus Storrs, lister and appraiser; Christopher Brubaker and Thos. Starr, path masters; John Hoak and S. S. Reed, fence viewers; Heironymus Mingus and Christopher Brubaker, poor masters.

The new government was afraid of the poor tax, and at once proceeded to " warn Rachel Taylor to de- part the township of Eldridge." Who Rachel was, or when she was expected to go in the wilderness, is not stated, nor whether the officers were satisfied with a show of authority and allowed her to remain.

The population rapidly increased, so that, when in 1826, the trustees first divided the town into school districts according to the law passed the preceding year, there were eighty-nine families then in the farm districts.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first postmaster was Jeduthan Cobb, in 1820. The mail was then carried on horseback from Cleve- land to Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, by Robert Wolverton. He afterwards ran a sort of coach or hack, carrying the mail and passengers.

After Walker built his hotel, or tavern, as it was then called, Mr. Beebe secured the contract for carry- ing the mail. He ran a line of stages through on the telegraph road, and the coming and going of these ponderons vehicles was quite an event in the monot- ony of the life of those days.

The wide territory to the north of Berlinville, which has now two post offices, then had none, and it was a great convenience when an office was granted at the center. This office gave the present name to the place, for, as there were so many Berlins, some other name had to be given to avoid confusion, and Berlin Heights was suggested by the high lands, overlooking the lake, on which it was situated.

Elihu P. Hill was the first postmaster, succeeded by William Pearl, and by Jesse S. Davis, who has retained the position for the last twelve years.

The first hotel was built by David Walker, on the old Walker farm. The second was erected at Berlin- ville, on the site of the present one, by David Coulter. It was built of hewn logs. He sold to Geo. Roberts, father of George Roberts of Milan, who sold it to Harry Walker. Each owner added improvements.

The next was built near, or on, the site of Mr. Grumman's house and store, of logs, by Calvin Hig- gins, who started a tannery, the first in the township and the last.

The first hotel at the Heights was the present Davis House, erected by Mr. Jesse I. Davis in 1855, and occupied, except for a short interval, by him since that time.

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History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers, Part 112

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company Number of Pages: 726

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company
Number of Pages: 726