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 30

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 30
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 30

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).

After spending six weeks upon the road (five days resting at Avery, the old county seat.) they reached Major Underhill's on the 22d day of February, 1816. The Huron river was then so high that Mr. Cole could not eross with his family and teams to his own house, so he took them to Dr. Pierce's house (the Benjamin Newcomb place), and soon after purchased that place, and remained there so long as he lived.

1818 .- In this year Mr. Cole took a prominent part in the movement which culminated in the removal of the county seat to Norwalk, of which a more particu- lar account is given in another part of this history.

On the 9th of February, 1820, Mr. Cole was en- gaged hauling a large saw-log, to which four yoke of oxen were attached, by a chain, into Underhill's saw- mill yard; finding it was likely to strike another log which projected partly over the road, he attempted to jump over the chain, and in doing so one of his limbs was caught between the logs, and so terribly ernshed that he died two days afterwards.

DAVID GIBBS AND HENRY LOCKWOOD.

David Gibbs and Henry Lockwood were natives of Norwalk, Connecticut, and were brothers-in-law, Mrs. Gibbs being Lockwood's sister.

In the summer of 1815, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Lockwood. his father, L. Lockwood, and Stephen Lockwood, left Norwalk, Connecticut, to look up homes in Ohio. . After visiting and examining several places they at last, after ten week's travel and prospecting, arrived at Abijah Comstock's place in Norwalk, Ohio, on the 16th day of July. 1815. There they met Major David Underhill, Levi Cole and Dr. Joseph Pierce, who had

*This was probably Captain John Boalt's place, on the corner of what is now Medina street, and the "Old State Road," where the sexton's house stands, on the grounds of Woodlawn Cemetery.

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

been at work that day clearing ont a road to the sand ridge, on which Norwalk now is located.

After spending abont a week in examining lands belonging to L. Lockwood, in Norwalk township, they selected a site for a home on the hill just south of the first creek, on the section line road going north from the present "Alling's Corners," and on the east side of that road. During the months of Angust, September and part of October, they cleared off and put into wheat about six acres of land, and put up a large double log house.

There were then three families living in the town- ship, those of Abijah Comstock, Benjamin Newcomb and Samnel B. Lewis. Gibbs and the two Lockwoods boarded at Comstock's while engaged in making their improvements. Provisions were scarce. Salt was not to be obtained, for there was then none in that part of the country, and as a consequence the family and boarders frequently were compelled to use meat that was more odorous than palatable. Bread, milk and potatoes was their only other reliance.

When the walls of the honse were up ready for the roof, they let to Benjamin Newcomb a contract for its completion, and started back to Connecticut.

At this time, the sand ridge from Alling's or Gibb's Corners to Major Underhill's place (the present Isaac Underhill farm) was covered sparsely by oak trees, forming what was called an "oak opening." Whor- tleberry bushes and columbo grew in abundance, the root of the latter being used by the inhabitants as a tonic in bilious diseases. The oak trees were of the scrub variety, specimens of which may yet be seen both in the east and west ends of the village.

On the 24th day of January, 1816, they left Nor- walk, Connecticut, with their families, and arrived at their new home in Norwalk, Ohio, on the 30th of April, having been ninety-five days in making the journey. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, their daughter Eliza (now Mrs. Pruden Alling, yet living in Norwalk), then five years old; their son David, three years old; Mr. Henry Lockwood, his wife and their little child Henry; and Lewis Keeler, who came along as a teamster in charge of the bag- gage wagon, drawn by two yoke of oxen.

Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Lockwood, with their chil- dren, were provided with a substantial wagon, covered with oil-cloth, lined with blankets, carpeted and pro- vided with spring seats; very comfortable and decent, and drawn by a heavy span of bay horses. They were well clothed, and provided with abundant blankets and a foot stove. Their provision chest contained cold chickens, hams, hard biscuit, pies, dough-nuts by the bushel, tea, coffee, pickles, dried fruit, pre- serves, and all the necessary etceteras, so they were "well-to-do" in the world.

On the 20th of February, in crossing Cattaraugus creek, west of Buffalo, on the ice, their baggage wagon broke through near the west shore. One yoke of oxen, a horse which they had purchased on the way as a leader for the ox team, and many of their

house-keeping articles, were lost. In this dilemma they were assisted by some friendly Indians, who, by diving and fishing with poles, brought up most of the lost articles, among them a box of log chains, axes, plow-shares, kitchen ware, etc. They were paid for their services thirty or forty dollars. They also brought up the bodies of the two oxen, gave up the hides and shoes, but eagerly accepted the carcasses for food. This mishap caused a halt of about a week, during which little Henry Lockwood sickened and died. Soon afterwards, at Fredonia, little David Gibbs was taken severely ill, and after lingering twelve days also died. The trouble was "camp dysentery," and several others of the party were also attacked, but all recovered.

The expense of this enforced sojourn at Fredonia was over five hundred dollars, provisions being scarce and high, codfish fifty cents per pound, and other things in proportion.

Their house was built double, with a hall through the center open at both ends; the window sash were slats fastened together, and set with greased paper instead of glass; the doors were rough slabs split out of logs; and the first table was a square one, with no leaves, hewed out of a black-walnut log.

After the privation and sufferings and sorrows of their long, exhausting march, this homely two-roomed house seemed to these weary travelers a very palace and haven of rest; and not only to them, but to many who came after. At one time, for some days, their families were increased to forty souls. Among them were the families of Platt Benedict, seven per- sons; and Captain John Boalt, father of the late Charles L. Boalt, thirteen persons, of whom nine were down with the agne.

For all this numerons family Mrs. Gibbs did the cooking, baking, etc., with rude and limited utensils designed for less than one-fourth of that number; whilst Mrs. Lockwood ministered to the sick with means for their comfort equally limited. But they had strength given them for the task, and were blessed and happy in their labors of love. They were at one time short of provisions, and had to send to Cleveland for flour and pay twenty-five dollars per barrel, and for pork about the same; the families in the mean- time subsisting, for a week, on milk and potatoes alone.

Mr. Lockwood remained in Norwalk only a few years, and then removed to Milan. Mr. Gibbs was elected the first justice of the peace in Norwalk town- ship in April, 1817, and was appointed county clerk in 1825, and continued to hold that office until his death, at Norwalk, March 16, 1840, aged fifty-one years, nine months and twenty-four days. His wife, Elizabeth L. Gibbs, died at Norwalk October 4, 1873, aged eighty-two years, six months and eleven days. They were the parents of ten children, viz: An in- fant, died in Connecticut; David, died at Fredonia in 1816; a little danghter, died in 1832, aged one year, seven months and twenty-two days; James B., died

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

August 3, 1850, aged twenty-eight years, two months and thirteen days; Ralph M., died August 16, 1854, aged thirty years and sixteen days (of cholera); Mrs. Eliza Alling, now living at Norwalk, the only sur- vivor of 1816: David, now living at Le Mars, Iowa; Roswell, now living at Troy, Miami county, Ohio; Charles (Rev.), now living at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Mrs. S. L. Adams, now living at Clarksfield, Huron county, Ohio.

FIRST MARRIAGE.

In Vol. 1. of Marriage Records of Huron County, on page nine, appears the following entry:

William Gallup and Sally Boalt were joined in marriage on the 2d day of May, 1819, by

DAVID W. HINMAN, Justice Peace.

Upon a careful examination of the record of mar- riages, the foregoing is found to be the first one in which the marriage was solemnized in the township, between parties, both residents. And Henry Lock- wood, Esq., in an article published in the Pioneer of May, 1859, on page twenty-eight, says: "About the marriages we are uncertain. Hallet and William Gal- lup were among the first."

William Gallup was born at Kingston, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and, in 1816, in com- pany with his brother Hallet, came to Ohio, but not to Norwalk until 1818. He built the old frame block of stores now occupied by Link's grocery. James Seeley's shoe store, and the Casper Brothers. It was one of the first ventures in the new village to provide business rooms for renting. The second story was used by him as a cabinet shop and furniture ware- room. He was the contractor who built the "Old Court House," now Central Hotel, on Whittlesey avenne. He died at Tiffin, Ohio, January 15, 1858.

Sally Boalt was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, and came to Norwalk, Ohio, with her father's family, in 1817. She was a sister of Charles L. Boalt and daughter of Captain John Boalt, who made his first settlement in this township upon the present ceme- tery property. And there in their new double log house she was married.

Her death occurred at Osborn, Greene county, Ohio, January 26, 1871. Her husband's remains were then taken from Tiffin, and, with hers, brought to Nor- walk, and, side by side, laid away to rest within about twenty rods of the site of the log house where they were married.

FIRST BIRTH.

Soon after Hull's surrender at Detroit in August of 1812, Thomas, son of Abijah Comstock, was born on section two of Norwalk. When he was only a few days old, his parents had to flee from their home to escape the Indians, which they did just in time, tak- ing him and their other valuables with them, for the night after their departure their house was burned. This was the first white child born in Norwalk, and that pioneer is yet living, a resident of Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio.

FIRST DEATH.

In all the researches made by the writer after data from which to compile the history of Norwalk, the first death of which he has found any record, was that of Angeline Lewis. She was the daughter of Samuel B. and Amy Lewis; born at South Salem, Westchester county, New York, probably in the fall of 1814; was brought by her parents to Norwalk in the spring of 1815. and died September 1, 1817. She was probably the child stolen by two squaws, and rescued by her mother, of which an account is given in the history of Samnel B. Lewis.

THE FIRST SAW AND GRIST MILL.

In the spring or summer of 1815, Hanson Reed, then living in Greenfield, purchased of Samnel B. Lewis, the place upon which Mr. Lewis had erected a house the previous year.

He soon moved in with his family, and in 1816 or 1817, commenced building a saw mill on the creek which runs through the present L. B. Mesnard and S. J. Rogers farms, on the north side of the Fairfield road, and a few rods to the west of the stone bridge over that creek. In erecting this mill, he was assisted by his father-in-law, Mr. Abraham Powers. Soon after its completion, it was destroyed by fire. The two men then made a workshop of the house, and commenced work on the machinery of another mill, and in about five weeks had it completed, running and doing a good business, but when the fall rains came on, a freshet swept away their dam. They were now without funds, all having been put into building and re-building, but were not discouraged; the dam was soon replaced, and then they began to plan for a grist mill attachment to the saw mill, and carried their plans into execution in a year or two afterwards.

These were the first mills erected in the township. The old frame was taken down several years ago, but the old dam is destined to remain, perhaps, for cen- turies, for it forms part of the road embankment across the ravine.

MURDER OF WOOD AND BISHOP.

Early in April, 1819, John Wood, a married man, keeping tavern at Venice. George Bishop, a sin- gle man, by occupation a sailor, living in Danbury, Abiather Shirley, and Barnabus Meeker, organized a hunting and trapping expedition to the " Peninsula," now part of Ottawa county.

They made their camp in a little cabin near the bank of the Portage, then called "Carrying River," about twelve miles from its mouth. About the mid- dle of April, Meeker and Shirley left the camp, and returned to their homes, Wood and Bishop still re- maining to prosecute their enterprise. Being well supplied with traps, ammunition, and camp equip- page, and being expert in hunting and trapping, they were quite successful, and had accumulated quite a

CHARLES B. STICKNEY.

The subject of this sketch was born at Moira, Franklin Co., N. Y., Jan. 20, 1810. He was the oldest of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of Charles and Betsey Stickney.

His father, Capt. Charles Stickney, was born at Corn- wall, Addison Co., Vt., May 17, 1785, and his mother, whose maiden name was Pierce, at New Salem, Franklin Co., Mass., April 11, 1790. They were married in the town of Dickinson, Franklin Co., N. Y., April 11, 1809. Both are now dead. They were of English descent. His father's earliest ancestor in America was Willianı Stickney, who came to this country, in 1637, from Hull, Yorkshire, Eng- land, and settled with his family at Rowley, Mass. From him it is believed that all bearing the name of Stickney in America are descended.

Mr. Stickney's early years were required by his father on his farm, where he remained until his twenty-first year, engaged in hard work, and receiving only a district-school education, when he was given his time, $5.50 in money, and the blessing of his kind parents, with which he started forth to seek his fortune.

He entered the academy at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., then in charge of Rev. Asa Brainard, where he remained nearly four years, supporting him- self in the mean time by teaching school winters.

His health having be- come impaired from close application, he reluctantly left the academy and came to Ohio. He reached Ash- tabula County, where he was taken sick at the house of his maternal uncle, Jesse Pierce, in the town of Say- brook, his sickness contin- uing for nearly six months.

Recovering his health somewhat, he adopted the teaching of penmanship as a means of livelihood, and taught in different places in Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Southern Ohio.

In the year 1841 he visited his brother, Hon. E. T. Stickney, at Scipio, Seneca Co., Ohio, and, meeting with a former fellow-student of Potsdam Academy, the late Jairus Kennan, Esq., who was then practicing law at Norwalk, he was induced to enter his office, and commence the study of law. He arrived at Norwalk, Nov. 13, 1841, and pursued his studies with Mr. Kennan. Was admitted to the Bar Aug. 1, 1844, and subsequently to practice in the Federal Courts, at Cleveland, April 12, 1860.

During his term of study he was associated with the late Ezra M. Stone in the preparation of a large number of cases in bankruptcy, under the then existing bankrupt law of the United States.

After he commenced practice he was several times a can- didate for prosecuting attorney, always running ahead of his ticket, but not being able to overcome the party odds against him.

The new constitution of Ohio created the Court of Pro- bate, and upon its going into operation, in 1851, Mr.

LITTLE

Stickney was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the new office of judge of said court, and was elected over his competitor, Hon. F. Wickham, by thirty-one majority, having run ahead of his ticket about five hundred votes. He performed the duties of his office faithfully and satis- factorily to all for the term of three years, and was again nominated in 1854. The newly-formed Republican and Know-Nothing parties swept the field, the general majority of the party in Huron County being about sixteen hundred, but the majority for his competitor, Hon. F. Sears, was cut down to about eight hundred.

He has served several terms as a member of the com- mon council, and in April, 1874, was elected mayor of Norwalk, and served two years, being an acceptable and popular officer.

He was for several years school examiner for Huron County, and a member of the Board of Education of the Union School for four years, during which time he was clerk of the Board. He has at all times taken a deep interest in educational matters. He is also a member of the Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sci- ences, of which he has been president.

He became a member, by initiation, April 30, 1845, of Huron Lodge, No. 37, I. O. O. F., and has been a prominent and respected member of the order, hold- ing many of its important offices.

On Feb. 20, 1856, he was elected Most Worthy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, serving one term with distinguished ability. For his faithful and efficient services in this office he received from the Grand Lodge its beautiful and costly medal.

In 1858, Judge Stickney was appointed assistant ad- jutant-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, on the staff of Maj .- Gen. James A Jones, 17th Division Ohio Volunteer Militia, and was commissioned by Gov. Chase. He also acted as in- spector-general of division.

Judge Stickney, on coming to Norwalk, became a boarder at the Mansion House, then kept by Obadiah Jenney, Esq., and, to the surprise of all, has remained unmarried, and a constant boarder at one hotel, now over thirty-seven years.

Though not a communicant he has long been an attend- ant at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Norwalk, and has served several years as vestryman and clerk of the vestry, yet charitable and liberal in his religious views toward all church organizations.

Judge Stickney has always had an extensive law practice, and been especially successful as a collection lawyer, and, in the settlement of estates and matters of guardianship, he has been, through his professional life, regarded as an upright man. Ile is a gentleman of taste and culture, kind and benevolent, estcemed by all who know him, and is an eminently popular member of society.

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

stock of skins of the fur-bearing animals, then numer- ous in that wild, unsettled region.

At that time there was a camp of Ottawa Indians on the bank of the " Miami of the Lakes," (now Mau- mee River). About the middle of April, three mem- bers of that tribe, named Negosheek, (Ne-go-sheek), Negoneba, (Ne-gon-e-ba), and Negossum, (Ne-gos- sum), the last a boy of about seventeen years of age, started on an expedition to the mouth of the Portage river, and while passing down the river in their canoes, discovered the trapper's camp, and, no doubt, with their usual cunning, became fully posted as to its valuable contents. They stayed around the mouth of the river a day or two, "loafing," and the two old- estdrinking whisky, the boy doing what he could to prevent their getting drunk. On their return up the river, Negosheek plotted the murder of Wood and Bishop, and the plunder of their camp. Negoneba consented and agreed to assist; the boy, Negossum, remaining passive from fear of Negosheek, who was a "bad Indian" when drunk. On the morning of Wednesday, April 21, about two hours before daylight, they reached the cabin of the trappers, and, stealthily approaching, Negosheek and Negoneba drew aside the blanket which hung as a curtain over the door- way, entered, and finding the trappers asleep, each singled out his victim, and with their ever present tomahawks, quickly sent the two white mien to a hap- pier hunting ground. Then calling in Negossum, the boy, who had remained outside, Negosheek com- pelled him to strike the legs of one of the dead men with the handle of his tomahawk, so that he should feel that he too was a party to the crime, and from fear of the consequences as to himself, keep it a secret.

They now plundered the camp of its contents, con- sisting of a gun, tea-kettle, spider, some flour, a blanket, tow-shirt, a handkerchief, two powder horns and powder, nine traps, three dozen muskrat skins, some pork, and from one of the men three dollars in silver money. They hid the kettle, spider, flour, traps and gun on the west side of a small stream called Crane Creek, and selling the skins to a French trader, named Guy, who was stationed a few miles away, then immediately started for their camp on the Maumee.

The testimony taken at the subsequent trial shows that they soon very indiscreetly divulged their secret to a half-breed Indian, named Chazee, (C'ha-zee), who on going down the river, found the murdered men still lying in their cabin where slain. He went on to the mouth of the river, and informed one Charles C. Tupper, a constable, of the facts, who at once obtained a warrant from Truman Pettibone, a justice of the peace for Danbury township.

Armed with this warrant, and accompanied by An- son Gray, Peter Mauminin, (and perhaps others, though it is not possible at this distant day to ascer- tain whom, or how many), he at once went to the camp of the Ottawas, on the Manmee, and made

known his errand to a friendly Indian, named Sac-e- saw, who at once pointed out the three implicated Indians, and they were promptly arrested, the chief informed of the charge against them, and the long and tedious return march commenced.

On April 30, Tupper returned the warrant to the justice, with the three prisoners, and an examination was at once held, the result of which was the holding of the accused for trial in the court of common pleas. At that examination John B. Flammond, a French trader, acted as interpreter.

Negossum, the boy, was first examined, and con- fessed that he was present with the others when they committed the murder, but protested his innocence. Negoneba was next examined, and confessed that he was one of the men who committed the murder on Portage river nine nights before; claiming that Ne- gossum, the boy, struck one of the men they were murdering, with the handle of his hatchet; and that Negosheek first plotted the murder, and struck the first blow. He also confessed the taking and secret- ing the property, and the sale of some of it. Nego- sheek was next examined, and confessed the crime. He said when sober he had no idea of committing the murder, but on getting drunk, he plotted the attack, and assisted in executing it.

The prisoners were then shackled, and in charge of Tupper and his assistants, started for the county seat, Norwalk.

The party crossed Sandusky Bay on a ferry, kept by a man named Luther Chapin, at "Ogontz Place," . now Sandusky City. They stayed from the evening of April 30th to May 3d, at an inn kept by Cyrus W. Marsh. Their bill of fare, afterwards allowed by the county commissioners, and now on file in the auditor's office, is as follows:

VOUCHER 577.

1819. HURON COUNTY,

Dr. to C. W. MARSH. .

By Mr. Tupper.

April 30. To 1 pt. w'y and seven suppers for Indians on guard . .. $2 87%

To 1 pt. of whisky 25

To 3 suppers for the prisoners 1 12

May 1. To 536 pts. of w'y 6216

To ? breakfasts for the Indians 2 6216

To 2 breakfasts and 2 suppers for himself. 1 50

3. To +1g pts. w'y and 1 lodging. 6:216

To 316 days' board for 2 prisoners 3 50

To 1 day's board for 1 prisoner 50

3. To breakfast for 3 Indians. 1 1216

To 3% pts. w'y and 1 lodging 50

To 1 day's board for Tupper. 75

Tupper. $15 50

May 17. To entertainment ou his return with the prisoner. 1 3114

Capt. Burt's bill, by Tupper's orders ..

While at Sandusky one of the Indians was taken back to the scene of the murder, in order to point out the precise locality of the hidden property, which he did, and nearly all was recovered.

On arriving at Norwalk, there being no jail then. they were all confined in a log cabin owned by Daniel G. Raitt, which then stood on the lot the ". Newman block " now stands on (northwest corner of Main and Hester streets), and a few rods back from Main street.

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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

In this cabin they were kept, with the shackles on, under the guard of Daniel G. Raitt, Charles Soules, Charles C. Tupper, J. G. Thayer. Calvin Bates, and perhaps others whose names are now lost to history. These guards were not all on duty at the same time, but served at different times as a relief to each other.

After being in confinement a short time the Indians planned an escape, and Negoneba and Negossum suc- ceeded in removing their shackles, hiding them behind a log, and by keeping covered up with their blankets and feigning sleep escaped the suspicion of the guards. Raitt was on guard the night of their escape, but at midnight was relieved by Soules. Not long afterward Negosheek asked him to remove his shackles and accompany him outside the building a few steps. Soules removed the shackles from one leg, leaving it fast to the other, and, supposing the two others sound asleep, left the door open as they went out; very soon after he saw the two Indians running away, and at once realized that he had been made the victim of misplaced confidenee; he called to them, and also to Raitt, for the purpose of aronsing him, and as he did so Negosheek jumped up and started to run. Soules had his rifle with him and, as he gave chase, fired at the retreating savage, and before losing sight of him loaded and fired twice more. Satisfied that he had wounded the fellow, and all having escaped. he re- turned to town.

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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 30

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