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 118
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 118
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There was for a number of years no minister of the gospel resident in Ruggles, but the Congregational pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Mr. Robbins and others. Rev. E. P. Salmon came as stated supply in 1830, and remained three years. The pastors and supply preachers of the church since the close of his ministry have been as follows: Revs. S. Dunton, William L. Buffett, Benjamin B. Judson, W. T. Chamberlain, O. W. Mather, E. P. Sperry, William F. Millikin, G. C. Judson, L. G. Clark, James Wil- son, John MeCutchan, H. L. Howard. Rev. George G. Fry, is at present the minister in charge of the church. The deacons are: W. C. Sturtevant, Phineas Weston, Homer Peck, and W. C. Ganlt; Justice H. Sackett, Phineas Weston, John Carver, trustees; R. Godfrey, clerk; C. W. Sturtevant, treasurer.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a Protestant Methodist Church, with the follow- ing members: Henry H. Daniels and wife, Ira Paine, wife and daughter, Orrin Stillson and wife, Orrin Cogshall and wife, Electa Weston, Samuel Gault. After about one year's existence as a Protestant Methodist Church, the organization became Meth- odist Episcopal and was taken into the Olivesburgh circuit. Services were held in the town hall until 1871, when the present church edifice was built at a cost of abont four thousand dollars. The first pastor was Rev. James Kellam. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Roseberry. The pastors since then have
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
been Revs. John Kellam, J. Williams, B. D. Jones, A. J. Wells, Geo. McKillip, M. D. Chilson, O. Law- rence and H. G. Dubois. The present incumbent is Rev. S. Z. Kaufman. The class leaders are H. H. Daniels, John Streeter, Frederick Stillson: Samuel Gault, steward; Samuel Gault, Frederick Stillson, John Richards, John Streeter, Frank T. Daniels, trustees. The church has a membership of about fifty persons. Both the Congregational and Metho- dist churches are located at the center.
There is another-the Lutheran-sitnated in the southeast part of the township. It was organized in 1852, and a house of worship was built the same year at a cost of three hundred and sixty dollars.
SCHOOLS.
In 1824 a school house was built eighty rods east of the residence of Daniel Beach, and Betsey Sackett taught school there during the summer of that year. The second school was upon the north line of the township, and was taught by Jacob Roorback.
PHYSICIANS.
The earliest were Drs. Babb and Barker. The physicians from neighboring townships had most of the practice in the early years of Ruggles' existence as a
settlement. Dr. G. W. Paddock practiced here for a short time, and Dr. A. D. Skellenger between two and three years. Dr. O. L. Andrews, farmer and physician, is the only medical man now resident in Ruggles.
RUGGLES CORNERS.
The only village that ever existed in the township was at Ruggles corners, npon the Wooster and Nor- walk road. There were several mercantile and me- chanical concerns at this point, as well as a tavern and quite a cluster of dwelling houses. The place was snstained by the tanning interests of the Nor- walk road, and when the C., C., C. & I. R. R. was established, as it destroyed the wagoning business, the little village soon dwindled away, and eventually entirely disappeared. The people of Ruggles were not sorry for this, because Ruggles corners had al- ways been a reproach to the neighborhood, a place of resort for drinking men and bad characters, sustained by the teamsters, who were nearly all tipplers, and many of them notoriously desperate characters. A double log tavern was built here by one Keeler. It was kept open by him and by others for several years, and was the principal place for the sale of whisky and the resort of whisky drinkers. For the last twenty years no liquor has been sold in the township, a fact of which the people of Ruggles are justly proud.
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DANBURY .*
NAME.
The township was named November 9, 1808, by Philip B. Bradley, of Ridgefield; Taylor Sherman, of Norwalk; Isaac Mills, of New Haven; William Eld- ridge, of New London; Jabez Fitch, of Greenwich; Ebenezer Jesup, Jr., of Fairfield; Guy Richards, of New London, and Ebenezer Avery, Jr., of Groton, all in the State of Connecticut, who met as the board of directors of "the proprietors of the half million acres of land lying south of Lake Erie, called the Sufferers' Land," at the court house in New Haven, Connecticut. Among the business transacted that day, a resolution was passed naming all the townships in the Fire-lands. In and by that resolution, the peninsula north of Sandusky and the island in the Bay of Sandusky, was named Danbury, in honor of the town of Danbury, Connecticut, which was a suf- ferer by fire and devastation during the incursion of the British, in July, 1499.
Danbury was not organized as a township until some years after the war of 1812. The tract of land known as the peninsula, was owned at an early day, by Hon. Zalmon Wildman and E. W. Bull. It orgin- ally embraced the broad strip of land situated on the north of Sandusky Bay to the west of its outlet, and was bounded on the east, north and west by Lake Erie, and was connected to the main land by a nar- row neck on the west near the Portage river. The western boundary of the Fire-lands cut off. a narrow strip of land on the west side of the township, though as the township is now organized, the western line is that of the Fire-lands survey. The original township embraced about seven and one-half miles, extending from Marblehead west, and a width of some six miles, giving an area of a little less than thirty square miles.
The tract of land containing some six hundred acres, and situated west of the harbor, and north of the old Portage river bed, was organized as a town- ship, with the name of Catawba Island, on the de- veloping grape culture at a later date. It is connected to the main land by a bridge which stretches over the west harbor.
The eastern portion of the township of Danbury is underlain by a strata of limestone rock, filled with fossils. Over several hundred acres in the center of the east part of the peninsula, the limestone rock is entirely uncovered, or at best covered with a scant soil, which produces very little vegetation. With this exception the soil is very productive. There are «leep grooves ent in this limestone formation, in some places wide enough to allow of a wagon being driven
through them. The gullies were made by the wear- ing of heavy masses of ice glaciers, in an age of which man can only conceive, but give no history. This limestone is constantly undergoing changes, from the effects of frost and the unceasing action of the waves on the shore of the lake.
ANCIENT MOUNDS.
There are several mounds of earthwork and stones on the peninsula, the most notable of which is situ- ated on the northwest side of Catawba island, in the original tract named Danbury, but just without the boundary of the Fire-lands. The largest of these is on a bold promontory, connected by a narrow neck of land to the island. On the summit of this rocky elevation, near the edge of the promonotory, stands the ruins of a circular mound of smallish stone, which has the appearance of being thrown together loosely, as no masonry is perceptible. It is abont sixty-five feet through the base, and fifteen feet high. In the center was a cone, some thirty feet in diameter. Between this cone and the wall is the appearance of a walk some twelve feet wide, and extending from the entrance on the east entirely around the cone. Old settlers say that when first discovered, there was another walk around the cone, and above the one now seen, and that the top was a flat surface. West of this mound, and situated on an elevated part of the rocky shore, two similar mounds of stone may be seen, but no evidences of the walks which appear on the first one. These mounds are situated near the old camp-meeting ground.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Soon after the close of the revolutionary war, a few French Canadians settled on the peninsula, obtaining subsistence, after the manner of the Indians, by hunting, trapping and fishing. During Wayne's campaign toward the Maumee, they became alarmed, and returned to the Canada shore. A portion of them afterwards returned to their homes, and purchased lands of the legal owners. Others bought lands on another section of the Peninsula. At length, most of them gathered together and formed a settlement at the mouth of All Saints' creek, where some of their descendants now live.
Epaphroditus W. Bull, of Danbury, Connecticut, in 1808, bought, of the original proprietors of the "half millions acres," that part of the peninsula sit- nated east of Meadow brook, and including the island in the bay of Sandusky, which was for many years known as Bull's Island. It is now the property of Mr. Johnson. and is known as Johnson's Island.
* Ottawa county, but part of the Fre-lands.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Mr. Bull arranged with Mr. Benajah Wolcott, a native of Danbury, Connecticut, but at that time residing in New York City, to come to the western wilds and start a colony on his new purchase.
Mr. Wolcott and his family, consisting of his wife, two daughters and one son, and accompanied by two hired men, named Bishop and Osborn, left Connecti- cut, in a sleigh, February 13, 1809. They arrived in Cleveland in March, but the lake being ice bound, the family were unable to proceed farther, and re- mained there until about the first of May. Mr. Wol- cott, accompanied by Bishop and Osborn, proceeded to the peninsula, by land, to prepare a house for those left in Cleveland, make garden, and arrange as far as possible for a permanent home. In May, Mr. Wol- cott returned to Cleveland for his family, and the lake being open, secured passage on a small schooner, the "Sally" of Cuyahoga, for their home. A severe storm assailed them, while on the vessel, and they narrowly escaped shipwreck, but finally were able to secure safety by running into Black river, where they remained until the weather became settled, when they proceeded on their voyage, arriving in Sandusky bay on the evening of the 8th of May, and the next day landed at what was then known as the "Middle Orchard," on the peninsula, near where now stands Fox's dock. Wolcott and his family were the first settlers in Danbury. At that time there were three ' orchards in the peninsula, planted by the French and Indians. The east orchard was owned by an Indian, named Notaway, but was afterwards bought by Mr. Bull. The west orchard was owned by Frenchman, named Stacey.
In the spring of 1810, a man named Lee settled on a place now known as Hartshorn's. Mr. Ball, Mr. Saunders and Major Parsons came during the same year.
In April, 1811, Joseph Ramsdell and wife, with four sons, John, Jacob, Horace and Valentine, and, accompanied by Abiathar Sherley and wife, left Oswego, New York, in an open boat, arriving at the peninsula in June.
Several families moved to Danbury previous to the war of 1812, but the precise date of their coming can- not now be ascertained.
The first birth among these settlers was a daughter to Abiathar Sherman. She is now Mrs. Atwater, of Huron, Erie county, Ohio.
Mr. Wolcott died in 1843. His eldest daughter married Truman Pettibone (who was the first justice of the peace in Danbury) in Cleveland in 1814. They settled in Danbury, where he died July 22, 1830.
When Mr. Wolcott came to Danbury, there were two white men there, a Frenchman, named Stacey, and a cattle-buyer, named Patterson. In 1811, three men settled on Bull's Island. It was contemplated to build a town on the island, and, about this time, Mr. Saunders opened a small stock of goods. James Stevens also lived on the island.
Large numbers of hogs were slaughtered on the
peninsula by B. Thompson. They were driven there from the south.
The custom house was kept on the main land, west of the island, by Colonel P. P. Ferry.
The second daughter of Mr. Wolcott was born at Danbury, Connecticut, December 17, 1798, and was married to Joseph Ramsdell in November, 1817. They settled on the peninsula in 1811, where they resided until 1825, when they moved to Blooming- ville, where Mr. Ramsdell died.
Valentine Ramsdell was killed while piloting a party of soldiers on the peninsula, in a skirmish with the Indians, some time in September, 1812. Horace Ramsdell died at Bloomingville, January 29, 1872, at the age of seventy-nine. Mr. Bull died in Cleveland, in October, 1812, from the effects of exposure in fleeing from the peninsula, and from anxiety to protect the frontier. Bishop, who came with Mr. Wolcott, was killed by the Indians. Osborn settled in Cleveland, where he died.
In 1816, Colonel S. M. Lockwood came from Al- bany, New York, and commenced the laborious work of hewing out a home on the peninsula. He erected a log house near the present Hartshorn residence, and in October of the same year his family, consisting of a wife, three sons and a daughter, started from Al- bany for Buffalo, New York, in wagons. Owing to severe weather they remained in Buffalo nearly three months, when they secured passage in the small schooner " Aurora," but were twice driven back by storms, which finally drove the vessel ashore on the sand. Their household goods were removed, and a third time they started, this time on the sloop " Nau- tilus," but were again driven back by storm. Finally, in January, 1817, they started in sleighs, and came through to their new home in a two weeks' journey from Buffalo.
At this time the settlers on the peninsula were Ros- wald and Truman Pettibone, Abijah Wolcott, Alfred and Charles Richards, Harry and Artemadorus Fuller, John and Jacob Ramsdell, also their father and un- married brother Horace. Ezra Lee also resided on the peninsula and ran a ferry across the bay to "Ogontz Place," now Sandnsky.
In 1829, Talmage Waterbury came to the peninsula from eastern New York, with his family, consisting of a wife, two sons and three daughters. In 1830 or 1831, he erected a wind mill in Portage township for Colonel Lockwood, which was used for the purpose of grinding plaster. It was run a number of years and was finally replaced by a steam mill.
FIRST MARRIAGE.
Before the war of 1812, a dealer in cattle between the south and Malden, Canada, named Patterson, brought from Kentucky an attractive young girl of marriageable age, whom he considered as his proper- ty. He sold her to a Frenchman, named Stacey, for a wife. There was at that time no magistrate or cler- gyman nearer than the far east, but this seemed to
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
make no difference to either of the parties, and ar- rangements were made for housekeeping without any ceremony to bind the parties, and thus they lived un- til two children were born to them. During the year 1811, Major Spafford visited the settlers on the pen- insula and, on learning the state of affairs, his New England sense of propriety was much shocked. He called on the Staceys for the purpose of arranging matters on a sounder basis, for the honor of the new settlement. After some conversation regarding the matter, he requested the couple to stand up, and in the presence of the toddling children as witnesses, pronounced them man and wife. He was afterwards asked if he thought the marriage regular, and replied that he did not, as he had no authority to' celebrate such contracts, but it was the best he could do under the circumstances, and perfectly satisfied the parties themselves, who seemed to think it all right, and that they were legally married.
EARLY RECORDS.
There seem to be no records accessible, at least none have been found, earlier than 1819. In that year an enumeration was made of the male inhabitants of the township of Danbury, and the total number was found to be sixty-seven.
The poll book of an election held October 10, 1820, contains the names of but eight voters. The candi- dates for election were: Ethan A. Brown, governor; Lyman Farwell, State representative; Peter Hitch- cock, representative in congress; John Boalt, coroner. Each of the candidates received a solid vote. No great interest seems to have attended this election, although at an election for justice of the peace held in April of the same year, thirty-one votes were polled.
Before the war of 1812, taxes were paid at Cleve- land. The tax collector did not come around to col- lect them, but they were sent to him. Mail was car- ried by a man named Leach, who made the trip from Cleveland, via Huron, to Maumee.
THE CHOLERA.
Sandusky had been started previous to 1832, the name having been changed from Ogontz Place to Portland before 1822, and at a later date to Sandusky. There was quite a settlement, consisting of log and frame houses, log school house, and corporation log jail. In 1832, the schooner Ligure, from Buffalo, arrived. The evening after her arrival one of the passengers, an old lady, was attacked with cholera, and died before morning. Captain Wadsworth was seized with the same disease and died. From this time the disease spread on shore, and a board of health was organized, with Moses Farwell at the head. The vessel was condemned, and taken some two miles ont into the bay, where it was proposed to burn it and thus get rid of the plague, but the owner, Wil- liam Townsend, of Sandusky, made a strong effort to
save his property which was successful, and the order for its destruction was revoked.
The cholera soon broke out on the peninsula, and proved terribly fatal. The first victim was Robert Rose, an Englishman, who went to Sandusky, where he indulged in a drunken debauch which lasted three days. Soon after reaching his home on the peninsula he was seized with the dread disease, and lived but a few hours. The plague spread rapidly, in one case sweeping away an entire family-that of the Steeles. The wife and daughter of Talmage Waterbury also died, and in the fall of that year the b.oken family returned to their old home in New York.
JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
As a part of the original tract of land bought by E. W. Bull, in connection with the township of Dan- bury, is the island in Sandusky Bay known after his purchase as Bull's Island. It is located about three miles north of Sandusky and one mile from the Peninsula. This island was settled in 1811, three men building cabins there at that time. It was at one time thought a desirable situation in which to found a town, and steps were taken to lay the surface out into village lots, but the needs of the new coun- try did not seem to demand a town here, inasmuch as Ogontz Place or Sandusky was already becoming settled. The island contains some three hundred acres, about one hundred and fifty of which was leased by the United States Government during the war of the rebellion, and was used as a military prison for the confinement of prisoners of war. The camp was on the south side of the island, looking toward Sandusky, and was on ground sufficiently rolling to admit of free drainage. In the center of the camp was a fine parade ground of some five or six acres. West of this were the offices, chapel, hospital and, officer's quarters, and on the east side were the bar- racks for the prisoners. On the north and south sides were the barracks for the guard. A strong twelve-foot fence was built around this ground, in- closing a space of some fifteen acres. Within about three feet of the top of this fence was a walk three feet wide, which was constantly traversed by the guard. The barracks and out-honses covered nearly or quite one-third the inclosed space, leaving a pleas- ant open grass plat of the remainder. The quarters were left clean and orderly, and the grounds did not present the appearance of neglect.
INDIAN SKIRMISHES.
During the war of 1812, the peninsula was the scene of two skirmishes with Indians. The inhabi- tants were obliged to seek safety in flight, some going toward Cleveland, and others to the block house at Mansfield. A regiment was encamped. under com- mand of Colonel Richard Hayes, of Hartford, Trum: bull county, Ohio, on the east side of the Huron river, and about three miles below Milan. A detachinent of men was sent to Lower Sandusky, now Fremont,
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
where they took possession of the stockade which was afterwards named Fort Stephenson. This fort had been deserted upon the surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, and was unoccupied until this time. Some provisions had been left there, and September 26th, Major Frazier sent four small boats and eighteen men with a cargo of beef and pork, for the use of the sol- diers at Camp Avery, near Milan. Owing to the prevalence of a severe storm on the lake they landed on Bull's Island, and sent six men in one boat to re- connoiter on the peninsula. Two of the Ramsdells were among them, and they proceeded cautiously to their former residence. From a cornfield they saw a party of forty-seven Indians regaling themselves on roasting ears of corn and honey. They returned to the island, and with their comrades, hastened across to Cedar Point, and sent messengers to Camp Avery. The soldiers arrived at the camp Sunday evening about five o'clock. Volunteers were immediately called for and sixty-four men responded. Thirty minutes was allowed for supper, and just at dark the expedition moved off. It was near four o'clock in the morning when the party reached Cedar Point. The boats were unloaded and the command embarked, steering for Middle Orchard. With the addition of the men at Cedar Point the total number was seventy-two men. The boats were left under charge of a corporal, who was directed to hide with them in a clump of rushes about half the distance to Bull's Island. The corpo- ral and two men soon went over to the main land for fruit, and accidentally discovered several canoes filled with Indians coming down the bay. They immedi- diately returned to their comrades, and leaving the two larger boats hurried the two small ones across to Cedar Point. The large boats were scuttled by the Indians.
The party that had marched to attack the Indians at Ramsdell's house, found they had left that place, and did not attempt a pursuit. On their return the party was divided into three divisions, and after secur- ing some wheat that was left, started on their return to the boats. One party was surprised by ambushed Indians, and Valentine Ramsdell was killed by their first volley, and one man disabled. The remainder of the men, nine in number, took to the trees, and adopted the Indian system of warfare. As soon as the first volley was fired, the other two divisions came rapidly to the assistance of their comrades. A retreat was made to the orchard, and the dead and wounded were carried off the field. Near the middle orchard two Indians were seen, who ran away as if afraid of being pursued. Several men started after them, but were called back by their more prudent comrades. They had no sooner stopped than a volley was fired by a large party of savages, from an ambush behind some fallen timber, but fortunately not a man was struck. After some irregular skirmishing about twenty of the men sought shelter in a log house, and the rest passed on to the landing place, whence they finally managed to reach the point of the peninsula. The guard on Cedar Point came with the two small boats, and took them across, one boat load at a time. They then proceeded to the Huron river, and sent a squad of men to Camp Avery for assistance. It was not until the first of October that the relief could be sent to the party on the peninsula. When it reached them, they were found safe in the log house, the Indi- ans having retired. They did not seem to have noticed the men who passed down the point, or they would, undoubtedly, have massacred them. In this skirmish five men were killed, and six wounded.
KELLEY'S ISLAND .*
DESCRIPTION.
THE township of Kelley's Island is an island in Lake Erie, is one of the eleven townships composing the county of Erie, and is situated in latitude forty-one degrees thirty five minutes north, and longitude five degrees forty-two minutes west from Washington, the north shore of the Island being but one and one-half miles from the boundary line, between the United States and the Dominion of Canada, and is part of the tract of land known as the "Connecticut Western Reserve."
THE ISLAND NOT A PART OF THE FIRE-LANDS.
Upon the survey of the Fire-lands, some of the . grantees claimed that the south shore of Sandusky bay should be their north line. But this claim the Western Reserve Land Company resisted, and con- tended that the said Fire-lands should be bounded on the north by the territorial line (the northern boun- dary of the Reserve), which was also the line of boun- dary between the United States and Canada, and, therefore, should include in the Fire-lands the islands of Lake Erie lying east of the west line of the West- ern Reserve tracts, and south of the territorial line.
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