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 113

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 113
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 113

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).

The first school in the township was taught by John Leland, in the winter of 1811-12, in a house on the Fitzgerald farm, now Henry Hine's. It would probably be a great curiosity at the present time.

This school was soon suspended on account of the war, the people leaving with their families for places of safety-Cleveland or Pennsylvania. It is said that the panic was so great, that in January, 1814, only four families resided in the township. And yet the Indians were always friendly, and no instance of their depredation is recorded in the township.

The second school house was built of logs, covered with " shakes," on the farm of Daniel Butler, in 1815, and the school was first kept by Sophia Case, and afterwards by Mr. Brady and Mr. Dunn.

The third school house was built near the Burdue spring, east of the Heights, in 1818. This house would now be a great curiosity. It was sixteen feet by twenty, and the logs of which it was built were of all lengths, some running out many feet beyond others. The roof was shakes held down by heavy poles. The floor was made of logs split through the middle. The seats were made of the same, without backs, and the writing desks were of the split slabs, supported by pins driven into the log wall. There were three windows, but as there was no glass, strips were placed across the open- ings and greased newspapers placed over them. The fire place occupied the whole end of the building, and the only limit to the size of the sticks was the strength of the boys to bring them in. There was not a board or a nail in the house. This school was opened by Thomas Stevens, who received ten dollars a month, paid in work on his farm or produce, and by way of gratuity, an occasional " bee" of chopping, hoeing, husking, etc. From this small beginning, the township has made great advance in the interven- ing sixty years. The central district, in 1874, erect- ed a school building at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. This school is graded, and the higher grade has been taught from the beginning by Mr. Job Fish, whose popularity has never waned, but constantly in- creased. There are now ten school houses in the township, valued at twenty-six thousand four hun- dred dollars, and the annual expenditure for school purposes is three thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. The central district supports, besides the main school, one at the "East End," at a cost of one hundred and seventy dollars per year, in a building costing five hundred dollars.

CHURCHES.

THE FIRST CHURCH.

The Methodists held class meetings even earlier than 1812, in private residences, and had occasional preaching from Nathan Smith, Mr. Westhich, Dennis Goddard, - Walker, and later, William Pattee. At one of these meetings the following resolution, which is a most excellent article of faith, was adopted:

" WHEREAS, Our lots, by Divine Providence, are cast in this wilderness land where we are destitute of the preached word, destitute of an able shepherd to take us by the hand, and believing it is our duty, as pro-

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

fessed followers of Christ; and also, feeling it to be our desire, and esteeming it to be our highest privi- lege on earth to do all we can to the declarative glory of God, the advancement of the Redeemer's cause in the world, and the good of souls; and believing that it will most conduce to this glorious end to form our- selves into a conference state, in brotherly compact, and thereby mutually strive to maintain the glory of God, keep the Christian Sabbath, watch over one an- other in love, and be helps to each other in our pil- grimage journey, and finding ourselves to be in union in sentiments; we, therefore, the undersigned, do hereby this day agree to unite in brotherly compact, in the best of bonds, for the purpose above named. March 4, 1818."

This document is in the handwriting of Joshua Phillips, and is signed by him, Robert Wolverton, P. G. Smith, Levi Fuller, Fanny Smith, Rebecca Smith and Luther Harris.

In the following October, some of these met at the residence of Perez Starr, in Florence, with others from that township, and were organized by Elder Warner Goodale into the Baptist Church of Berlin. This organization held its meetings at private resi- dences in Berlin and Florence. Elders French, Hart- well, Hanks, Tucker, Abbott, Rigdon, and Call, preached occasionally.

The first settled minister of the gospel in the town- ship, and in fact between Cleveland and the " Indian Land," was elder Call. He settled on the farm where · he always resided, lot seven, range five, in 1820. He married, before moving from New York State, Miss Sally Cross. Their family consisted of nine children and, including great grandchildren, his descendants number one hundred. He died in 1861 at the age of eighty-eight, and his death was soon followed by that of his wife at the age of eighty.

The Congregational Church was organized by Rev. A. H. Betts and S. B. Sullivan in 1823, with nine members. A. H. Betts preached occasionally until 1829, when Everton Judson preached one-third of the time for two years; then E. Barber preached for one year, Joseph Crawford for two years, and in 1840 was succeeded by J. C. Sherwin, who remained until 1851. He was very active and successful, and was dearly be- loved by all the community. He was succeeded for a short time by James Scott, who was followed in 1852 by G. C. Judson, who remained about one year. John Parlin followed until 1854, when F. A. Demming was installed and remained until 1857. He was then suc- ceeded by E. M. Cravath, who remained until 1863, when he entered the army as a chaplain. T. B. Pen- field occupied the desk for 1864, and George Candee from 1865 to 1869. Sidney Bryant remained but a few months, and J. C. Thompson took his place and remained one year, and was succeeded by Henry Brown, whose ministry was very short. In 1821 Levi Loring accepted of the call and remained until 1874. A. D. Ilail followed, remaining until 1878, when he departed to Japan as a missionary. N. S. Wright is

the present stated supply. Nathan Chapman was the first clerk of the church. Francis West retained that office for thirty years. This church, from its forma- tion, was congregational, but for reasons which, in its infancy, were thought best for union and success, it became united with the presbytery and remained in such nnion until 1865, when it withdrew and united with the Ohio N. C. Association. Since its first or- ganization, about three hundred have united with the church, but death and removals have reduced the number to about sixty. The first deacons were John Fuller and Jonas Matthews, elected in 1835. The present edifice was erected in 1845.

The Baptist Church was really founded and sus- tained until 1833, by Elder Joshua Phillips, when at his own request he was dismissed. In 1833, Elder Algood was secured to preach one-half the time; in 1837, Elder Wood preached one-half the time, and in 1838, Elder P. Latimer was secured. In 1839, he became a settled minister. Under him the first great revival occurred. In 1840, H. C. Sylvester took Latimer's place, and was succeeded in 1842 by Elder Warren, under whose ministry aided by Elder Weaver, a celebrated evangelist, the most wonderful revival, ever witnessed in the township, took place. It was not only the greatest but the last, and all efforts ap- pear to have no appreciable effect in producing like results. In 1844, Elder Blake was called by the church. In that year the first Sabbath school was organized. Blake was succeeded in 1845, by Elders Storrs and Bloomer: followed in 1847, by Henderson; 1848, by Wilder; 1851, by Willoughby. During his yearly ministry the church struck on the rock of slavery. By a vote of seventeen to two, it declared that it withheld the hand of fellowship from all slave holders. Since that time it has not wielded the in- finence of its early years.

The Methodists built a chapel in the eastern part of the township in 1837, and in 1850 one in the western. This division was a great inconvenience, and the western was sold for a school house, and, in 1870, a brick edifice erected at the Heights. On ac- count of the itinerant system adopted by that church, it would be difficult to give a list of preachers who have occupied the pulpits of that sect.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician was Dr. George G. Baker, who came from Connecticut in 1822. He remained but a short time, removing to Florence, and from thence to Norwalk, where he remained and became identified with the interests of that important town. He was very successful in treating the malarial fevers, which were not well understood by the early practitioners, and his ride extended over a wide territory. The early settlers still speak of him in terms of heartfelt gratitude, and perhaps no physician has since attained as strong hold on the confidence of the community.

Physicians from neighboring towns came at the early call of suffering, and as it ever is, in new coun-

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

tries, the quack flourished apace. Among the names of the early doctors of medicine, a fuller notice of whom belongs to the history of other townships, are: Drs. Guthry, Harkness and Fay. Daniel Butler also practiced, and David Butler dealt in roots and herbs. Xenophon Phillips began practice in -, and for many of years held almost a monopoly. He was a gentle, unassuming man, and had remarkable success in malarial fevers. His methods were not orthodox, a combination of electrician, botanic, Thompsonian, and common sense.

Berlin is noted for its healthfulness, and physicians have a proverbial hard time within its limits. After Dr. X. Phillips retired, Prof. B. L. Hill and Dr. Geo. S. Hill gained a wide practice. At present there are three physicians in the township: M. M. Benschoter, at Stone's corners, began practice in 1862, and recently, Dr. Eldridge, Allopath, Dr. Collier, Ho- meopath, have established themselves at the Heights,

Lawyers never received a fat living in Berlin. T. C. Chapman has, for many years, transacted the legal business of the communinty.

THE FIRST GRIST MILL.

The sufferings for the want of mills to grind the corn and wheat were not the least the pioneers were called upon to endure. The nearest mill was at River Raisin, and thither, in boats, they carried their grain. It is related that in one of their expeditions they stopped for the night at one of the Sister Islands. The wind was very high, and the boat broke from its moorings and drifted far out into the lake. It was a terrible prospect for those hardy men, left alone on desert island, and the entire yearly supply for their families irretrievably lost. 'Some of them sat down and wept like children. The wind changed, and in the morning the boat drifted back, and they went on their way rejoicing, but they always referred their deliverance to the hand of a merciful providence. Such long journeys were not often undertaken. The primitive Indian method of pounding grain in a mor- tar, was adopted, or, at best, hand mills used. This was followed, in Milan, by a horse-power mill, and at length the proprietors of Berlin,-Eldridge, Fosdick and Miner,-through their agent in Cleveland, J. Walworth, to improve their property, built a mill, in 1810, just above the Parmenter bridge on the Old Woman creek. It was the first grist mill on the Fire- lands. This mill was twenty by twenty-five, built of logs, and had one run of stone. To the pioneres, who had so long beaten their grain in mortars, or ground it in hand mills, no mill could make better flour. The Starr Brothers and Mr. Seymour built it, and soon after its completion, John Thompson, who built the old Parmenter house, the second frame house in the township, purchased it, and was patronized by a wide territory. The stream, dammed in its forest fast- nesses, then ran the mill nine months in the year. The rain-fall was no greater than at present, but now the forests are removed, ditches opened, and the |

stream sweeps down in almost irresistible floods, and scarcely for a single moment in the year is there water sufficient to turn the mill wheel.

This John Thompson was a character. He was a giant in stature; had been a wild youth, but had re- formed. His fingers were drawn up and he could not straighten them. When the boys came into the mill, to wonderingly gaze on the strange wheels while their bags of corn were being ground, they would ask him how his hands came so fashioned. He would say to grab toll, and illustrate it by taking out of the hopper. "Old Man Burdue" and his family were very super- stitious, and Thompson delighted to make them be- lieve he was a wizard. The mill was locked with an old padlock that needed a key, for the trouble was to make it keep together, but in his hands it became bur- glar proof, for he had made believe it was bewitched. The Burdues and many others were often half ter- rified when Thompson would walk up to the mill door, make three waves of his hand, muttering to himself, then shout "open," as he struck the door with his fist, and the lock would fly apart. Burdue had bought a new scythe, and one day while using it Thompson came along. He wanted to buy it, for a new scythe was difficult to obtain. The old man would not sell. "Very well," said Thompson, "it shall never do you any good." Soon Burdue laid down his scythe and went to another part of the field. Thompson seized the opportunity, and with his knife cut the edge completely off. The old man returned and resumed his mowing. The scythe would not cut. He used the whetstone over and over again, but it would not cut the grass. Then, in despair, he threw it down, crying, "just as I knew it would be. Thomp- son's spell'd it!"

The difference between the millers of our day and this pioneer, is as great as between the steam mills they run and the old log mill with its rude wooden water wheel.

If Burdue was superstitious, he was a strong and determined man. A good story is told of him and Mr. Eldridge. He had purchased a lot of land, where now the creamery stands, of the latter, made a partial pay- : ment, and bound him to give a deed when he received one hundred bushels of wheat, then worth two dol- lars per bushel. The next year when Eldridge came to look after his lands, Burdue was ready with his wheat, worth thirty-seven cents per bushel, and eager for his deed. Eldridge explained that it would be ruinous, and endeavored to put him off. But the "old man" was not to be thwarted. He told Eldridge that he " must make up his mind to give him the deed, or he would never leave town alive." Those who knew him were sure that he would keep his word, and El- dridge became so fully assured that he made the deed and left the almost worthless wheat.

BERLIN INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTS, ETC.

The first quarry was opened by Joshna Phillips on the land now owned by J. M. Stahl. He had sold

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

the land to Eldridge, reserving the use of the quarry for one year, in order to get out stone for himself a house. Elder Phillips made that year a busy one, for he quarried stone, and had teams haul them out, and for many years, had stone to supply the demand- It was not, however, known that the ledge of sandstone which crops out northeast of the Heights, and forms a grand escarpment, was one of the most valnable in the State. It remained for George A. Baillie to de- velop this fact. The enterprise was a great one for one man to undertake, as the strata dip from the es- carpment, and over twenty feet of strippings had to be cleared from a wide area before the desirable qual- ity of stone could be obtained. The wonderful gravel-bed contiguous, tempted the Lake Shore Rail- road to extend a branch from a point east of Ceylon, overcoming the heavy grade by skillful engineering, into the very heart of the quarry.

The stone has been found everything to be desired. It is practically inexhaustible, and the strata are from six inches to eight feet in thickness. By General Gilmore's tests it will bear a crushing force of 14.250 per square inch, and E. E. Myers, the well known architect, says: "He regards it as one of the best sand- stones he has ever seen or used. It withstands the strongest acids; heat and cold, and grows harder, and of finer tone by age and exposure. Mr. Baillie ship- ped in 1878, four hundred car loads, mostly to New York.

Mr. J. S. Lowry began a few years since, working . anew the quarry on the farm originally of H. Ham- mond, and with sufficient outlay this, too, will furnish an inexhaustible supply.

In an early day grindstones were manufactured to a considerable extent, and a wide local demand sup- plied, but although the grit is good, the business has long been discontinued.

DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Berlin has not been devoted to dairying, and little attention was given to the factory system established in townships on the eastern portion of the Reserve. · Under the influence of Melvin Stone, the Berlin creamery was established in 1877, with a patronage of two hundred and fifty cows. It had the advantage of an abundant spring of water which flowed from the earth at a temperature of - . This factory brought the art of butter making up to a higher standard than possible to be obtained even by experts, with the conveniences which a farm house supplies, and of course a higher price is obtained for the article, ranging from seven to fifteen cents per pound. This increase in price more than covers the entire cost of manufacture and sale. The patronage of the cream- ery for 1878 was three hundred and forty cows, an increase of ninety, and notwithstanding low prices, the business was entirely satisfactory.

The Berlin fruit box manufactory was established in 1863, and has been a leading interest. It was first run in connection with the sorghum business, began

the year previous, and which was continued until 1866. In the year 1864 ten thousand gallons of sor- ghum syrup were made. The manufacture of apple barrels was also a part of the business. In 1866, six thousand were made. In 1868, the box business had so largely increased that all other interests were closed out. Additions and improvements in buildings and materials have been constantly made and the product increased until now eighty thousand feet of timber are annually required, and employment given to twenty- five persons. Samuel Patterson has been connected as leading partner and business agent with the firm from the beginning, and its success is due mainly to his enterprise and inventive genius.

FRUIT GROWING.

The pioneers at an early day were determined to have orchards, and began to plant trees before the ground was cleared of the forest. Canada was the nearest place where apple trees could be obtained, and, in 1812, John Hoak and Mr. Fleming, of Huron, crossed the lake and returned with a boat load of trees. Some of these are still growing in the orchard of Henry Hoak and the old Burdue farm. Three pear trees on the farm of Mr. Hoak from this ship- ment are of monstrous growth and still vigorous, being quite unlike the weakly stock we now endeavor to keep alive by constant doctoring. One of them is seventy feet in highth, and measures eighteen inches above the ground, eight feet seven inches in circum- ference; another, somewhat less tall, measures over seven feet. They rarely fail to bear, and yield from thirty to fifty bushels of pears each. Some of the old apple trees are still vigorous, and one of these measures over nine feet in circumference. From this small beginning, Berlin has become famous for the perfection of its various fruits, and the skill of its horticulturists. The proximity of the lake prevents damaging frosts, and the soil is well adapted for the apple, peach and grape.

COMMUNISM.

Berlin Heights, at one time, became widely known on account of a socialistic or Free Love society organ- ized there. Only a single citizen of the township be- came identified with this movement, this agitation being drawn from widely remote States. They added to their restlessness and impatience with existing cus- toms and usages, more than ordinary intelligence.

It was some time after the first gathering that a community was established. The first, called Point Hope Community, was commenced in 1860, had about twenty members, and lasted less than a year. The second, called the Industrial Fraternity, com- menced, in 1860, with twenty members, lived about six months. The third, the Berlin Community, or Christian Republic, commenced in 1865, had twelve adult members and six children and lived about one year.

REA

MRS. HUDSON TUTTLE.

HUDSON TUTTLE.

The city which decorates a park with fine statuary does more to elevate the standard of public merals and correct taste than does the erection of a score of costly churches. The life of one sincerely honest, pure, and consistent man in a community, whe is not an idelater te mammen, and who has a heart to feel and an intellect to work for public wesl, with the moral courage te combat error on all occasions and under all circumstances, does more te educate mankiod up te higher planes of thought, and modes of life and culture, than does the endowment of a public school. Such a man is the subject of this sketch. He was born in 1836, in a log cabin on the farm where he now re- sides, and where he has always lived. His parents came to Ohio in 1830, pur- chased a tract of woodland, and from the forest carved out the home now owned by Mr. Tuttle.

His opportunities for acquiring an education were exceedingly meagre. His entire school-days did not reach quite fourteen months, and his school attend- ance was interrupted by sickness and long vacations incident to country schools. At the age of sixteen he became a medium. His mediumship began with moving of tables and other objects, but rapidly culminated in a highly sensitive and impressional state, in which he always writes and usually speaks. He was a frail, sensitive, and reticent boy, and even now shrinks freni netoriety or prominence. Brief as were his school-days, frail as was his boyhood, sensi- tive and reticent as was his youth, modest and retiring as is his mature mau- hood, few men of his age and opportunities are so widely and favorably known in this country, and among the schelars in Europe. His first werk, "Life in the Spheres," was written and published while he was yet ie his teens.

While the public was wondering over this strange story of the " Beyond," he was preparing the first volume of the " Arcana of Nature." We are told that the manuscript for this volume was three times written and indexed before it was acceptable to the intelligences dictating it ; and each time he was instructed to burn it and try again, he nnhesitatingly ebeyed.

Though weary with physical toil, when his gnides came he was at once re- freshed, elastic, happy, and wrote far into the night. The first volume of the " Arcana of Nature" was published in 1860. Two editions were soon exhausted. It was at once translated into German, and the advanced minds of that country saw in this work a solution of the problem for which the thinking world had been so long looking. In the preface of this werk Mr. Tuttle says, with charac- teristic modesty :

" For years I have been led through the paths of science by invisible guides, who have manifested the earnest zeal of a father for a feeble and truant child. . . From these invisible authers I draw the concealing veil, and to them dedicate this volume."

The writer well remembers how the world stood aghast when this werk ap- peared. All whe knew or had seen this country boy were amazed. Some praised, but more ridiculed and condemned. A farmer bey, without books, education, apparatus, and with none of the appliances of the schools, nor even cultivated surroundings, Inunches upon the world a work at once philosophical and profound, commencing with the construction of the atom, and ending with the laws of spirit-lifs.

The ideas it contained of evolution antedated Darwin by two years, and his ideas of force were greatly in advance of the science of the time. The second volume of the " Arcana" soon followed, and in 1866 he published "Origin and Antiquity of Man," said to be a work of great merit.

About the same time, in conjunction with his wife, he published "Blessoms of our Spring," a poetical werk containing, as its title implies, their early poems. His next works were "The Career of the Christ Idea in History," y." " Career of the God Ides in History," and "Career of Religious Ideas ; Their Ultimates the Religion of Science," which followed each other in quick succession. Next came the " Arcana of Spiritualism," s manual of spiritual science and phileso- phy, wherein he condensed the study and best communications of fifteen years of mediumship.

In 1874, Mr. Tuttle and wife published a volume of "Stories for our Chil- dren," supplying them with montal food free from theological dogmatism.

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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 113

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