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 43
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 43
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HON. TIMOTHY BAKER.
The subject of this sketch, was a native of North- ampton, Mass., where he was born August 5, 1787. He went in 1801 to Utica and in 1805 made his home in Herkimer, N. Y., where, in 1816, he married Miss Eliza Remington, of Fairfield, a union which brought him forty-six years of rare domestic happiness, until her death, which occurred September 27, 1862.
In 1814, he joined some friends in a journey to this county, but with no intention of removing here or of making purchases himself. Passing through Norwalk on an Indian trail, the party found shelter for the night in a log cabin about fifteen feet square, two miles south of the village, with several other similar companies, ten or twelve making their bed on the poles and bark that formed the floor under the prim- itive roof. He again visited Ohio in 1815 and pur- chased several large tracts of land, including the farm
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
in Norwalk, to which he came with his family and his brother, Theodore Baker, September 27, 1819, and where he resided for nearly sixty years, when the shadow of death again fell upon the home, and at the age of ninety years, on January 27, 1828. his earthly life ended.
Others, parents, relatives, and friends, had been borne from his house to their last resting place, but his own family had been spared through all these years, and his six children, one daughter and five sons, with their companions, yet survive him.
The little company of inhabitants in Norwalk em- braced about ten or twelve families when he came, and was very cordially welcomed by them. He en- tered at once earnestly and heartily into all their plans for the advancement of the place, and was for forty years personally connected with nearly every publie enterprise that promised to increase its wealth, its prosperity, or its intelligence.
The tannery that he built in 1820 soon passed to his brother, and in his own business he soon became widely known as a landholder and merchant. "He was also more or less engaged in banking, and was for many years president of the Bank of Norwalk, then one of the most substantial institutions of the kind in Ohio. In 1821 he was chosen by the Legislature an . associate judge (under the old judicial system), and after twenty-one years of service, declined another nomination in 1842. It is but justice to say that during that long period he maintained a standing as a jurist reached by few in that position, his relations to the court being recognized as far more important than were often accorded to associates. This was due alike to his sound judgment, careful investigation, and conscientious regard for justice."
In 1842 he became a member of the First Baptist Church of Norwalk, a relation that he assumed with great self-distrust. The tie thus formed was a source of strength and blessing in the changes that came with the passing years, of which the sweetness of his closing days gave precious evidence.
In his home he was the kind and thoughtful hus- band, the loved and honored father, the genial com- panion, the hospitable friend, practicing in his own life the habits of self-control that he enforced upon his children who recall his life with mingled love and reverence.
GIDEON T. STEWART.
Mr. Stewart was born at Johnston, Fulton county, New York, in 1824, and is therefore nearly fifty-five years ofl. His ancestors, on his father's side, came from the north of Ireland, originally from Scotland. They became the founders of the first academy in Schenectady. New York, which afterwards became Union College. llis mother was the daughter of a distinguished Methodist divine of revolutionary fame,
Rev. Nicholas Hill, Sr., and a sister of the celebrated lawyer of the same name. At the age of fourteen he removed with his father's family to Oberlin, Ohio. He soon entered Oberlin college, but while in his sophomore year, left that institution to commence the study of law, first at Norwalk, and subsequently at Columbus in the office of Chief Justice Swayne of Ohio, now of the United States Supreme court. In Angust, 1846, he commenced the practice of his pro- fession at Norwalk, Ohio, where he now resides. He edited the Whig organ at Norwalk for three years, and was three times elected county auditor by that party. Immediately upon the organization of the Republican party he identified himself with it.
In 1861 he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and purchased the Daily Times of that place, the only Union daily newspaper then published in the north half of that state. He edited it through the war, then sold out and returned to Norwalk, and resumed the practice of law, which he has since continued. He at one time owned one-half of the Toledo Daily Blade, and at another, one-half of the Daily Commercial of that city.
In 1847 he helped organize Norwalk division of the Sons of Temperance, which is still an active working temperance society, and of which he remains a charter member. He has been three times elected presiding officer of the Order of Good Templars in Ohio.
As an item of interest in the history of the temper- ance reform, it may be well to say that in 1852, Mr. Stewart presided over a state temperance convention, held at Columbus, for the purpose of organizing an independent prohibition political party: that this convention appointed a committee to call a state nominating convention, but the movement was stopped by the war in Kansas, followed by the war of the rebellion. In 1869 he was a delegate to the Chicago convention, that organized the National Prohibition party, and has ever since been a member of the national executive committee. He has been three times candidate of the Prohibition Reform party in Ohio for supreme judge, and thrice for governor.
He is a clear, logical reasoner, and possessed of excellent executive ability. He is thoroughly posted in political history and economy, and there are few, if any, men in the country who more thoroughly understand the questions relating to temperance.
BARNARD CORTRITE
is a son of Garrett V. and Electa C'ortrite. his father being a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother, of Connecticut. He was born in the town of Phelps. Ontario county, New York. September 25, 1831. 1Ie remained with his parents, devoting himself industri- ously to the occupation of farming until he was
A
CORTRITE
E
RES. & FACTORY OF B. CORTRITE, 119 EAST MAIN ST., NORWALK, O.
MR. D. H. PEASE.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
twenty-two years of age. All the education he re- ceived was "picked up" in a district school, some two miles distant from his home.
Having a natural fondness for machinery, and his father being one of the first to introduce the mowing machine into Ontorio county, young Barnard, when he was but fourteen years old, at the request of a farmer living some twelve miles distant, took his father's mower, and drove to the place, arriving late at night. Going to work in the meadow the next morning, he eut, by noon of the second day, twenty aeres of grass; for which feat he was highly com- plimented in the county newspapers.
In April, 1854, Mr. Cortrite went to Wisconsin, to manage a farm consisting of a section of land, for a gentleman by the name of A. C. Loomis, where he remained until that gentleman's death. He then went to Saginaw, Michigan, and engaged in the Saginaw City mills, as an assistant sawyer, but at the end of three weeks he was promoted to the position of first sawyer, by the proprietor of the mills. Here he east his first vote, in the fall of 1856, for General Fremont. For the rest of that year, after the saw- ing season was over, he employed himself in chopping cord wood, at fifty cents a day.
In 1857, on account of his father's death, he was called home to settle up the estate. After perform- ing this duty, he took the whole family, viz .: His mother, three brothers and three sisters, to Genesee county, Michigan, where they located.
At about this period, Mr. Cortrite became con- nected with the firm of Ledyard & Bennett, of Ply- mouth, Wayne county, Michigan, as salesman and collector during the spring, summer and fall, and during the winter, as manufacturer of fanning mills. With this firm he remained five successive years, dur- ing which time, on the 28th of September, 1860, he was married to Lydia Ann, daughter of Stephen and Sarah Terry, of Plymouth, Michigan. Of this union were born two children, Hattie E. and Sarah A., both of whom are living.
In the year 1864, after a protracted illness, he en- gaged with the firm of Shutts & Ferrier, manu- facturers of machinery, as salesman for a term of three years. While engaged with this firm, he was solicited by Mr. Bennett, one of his former employ- ers, to go to Ohio and engage in the fanning mill business with him, becoming an equal partner and manager. This he did, purchasing land and erecting a factory in the village of Norwalk, Huron county, and entering inte partnership for a term of three years. At the end of this term he purchased Mr. Bennett's interest, and became sole owner of the pro- perty.
During his many years' experience in this business. Mr. Cortrite became convinced that a more perfect mill than those then in use, was needed, and could be constructed. And soon after becoming sole proprietor of the establishment above named, he invented what
is now widely known as the "Eureka Fanning Mill," for which he obtamed letters patent.
This invention has proved eminently successful, and its success is attributable not only to the ingenu- ity of the invention itself, but also to the prudence, energy and financial ability with which the inventor has, for a period of some fourteen years, conducted his affairs. His business has rapidly increased until, with the facilities afforded by his Norwalk factory, and the one recently established by him at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, the average number of his mills sold annually is over one thousand.
During the years of 1877-8, Mr. C. erected and completed the fine residence, a view of which appears on another page of this work, and which the people of Norwalk properly regard as an ornament to their village. He has also made many improvements npon his factory buildings and the surrounding grounds, which are indicative of his artistic taste, as well as of his pecuniary ability.
In the year 1822, Mr. Cortrite made a publie pro- fession of religion and united with the M. E. church, of which he is still an active member.
DAVID HARLOW PEASE.
D. H. Pease was born in Somers, Connecticut, November 9, 1826, and at the time of death, January 13, 1872, was in the forty-sixth year of his age.
His early years were spent in his native town, and in addition to such knowledge as he could obtain at the public school, he pursued his studies for two years at the village academy at Wilbraham, Massa- chusetts.
He came to Norwalk, Ohio, m 1852, and was en- gaged in the book and drug business until 1863, when he was elected county auditor, and filled that posi- tion with remarkable fidelity for three successive terms until 1869, since which time, until his death, he was actively engaged in merchandise.
So, few words express in general terms the story of Mr. Pease's life. He was not a man to limit his cares or his labors to his own or his family's well be- ing. With an earnest desire to promote the welfare of all within the reach of his influence. he combined a rare judgment, an indomitable perseverance and re- markable efficiency. While yet a young man, he de- termined to do what one man could to promote the cause of temperance, and his time, labor, means and counsel have been freely given, year after year. to further this great object. He was active in the for- mation of the Young Men's Library and Reading Room Association, and at the time of his death. was one of its most efficient and valuable officers. His in- terest in the Fire-land's Historical Society was unflag- ging for years. His duties as secretary of the society and editor of the Pioneer, occupied much of his val- uable time, and this he freely gave from some time
23
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
in the year 1860, when he was chosen editor of the Pioneer, to the time that he was compelled by weak- ness to lay aside his pen. In early manhood he made up his mind that whatever was excellent in character or elevating and ennobling in tendency, was generally connected with the Christian church. He, therefore, sustained the public worship of God by his example and most generous contributions, and his counsel and personal presence could always be depended upon in sustaining the Sabbath school. He was foremost in every good work, and counted no sacrifice to great for the public good. Such characters as Mr. Pease's are not common : it is only here and there that such a man is vouchsafed to a community. Genial and happy in his home-a kind neighbor, a wise and faithful citizen-we miss his presence in our as- semblages-we miss his counsels and his labors. He has gone from us in the prime of life and in the midst of great usefulness, but has left to the com- munity the rich legacy of a pure and upright life. Let us imitate his example and emulate his virtues.
JOHN LAYLIN.
John Laylin was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1491. His parents removed to Beaver, Pennsylvania, in 1796. In March, 1810,
LITTLE
his father sold his farm and started for the "lake country," taking with him all his family, except John, who remained behind until June of the same year to receive a payment for the farm, which became due at that time. John hired out during the summer to a farmer at ten dollars and fifty cents per month, and attended school during the following winter. In the spring his grandfather, Abraham Powers, and
Hanson Reed, decided to follow John's parents to the frontier. Accordingly they started overland through the wilderness, taking with them such house- hold goods and other property as they could carry. John accompanied them, assisting in driving stock and in other ways rendering them aid during their long, tedious journey. The party at length arrived at Cuyahoga portage. They then learned that John's father and party had stopped there the previous spring, on their way to the frontier, and raised a crop of corn, and in the fall had removed to the mouth of Black river, on the lake shore. John remained with his grandfather's party until they reached Greenfield, Huron county, where they settled. He remained with Hanson Reed one month, to assist him in plant- ing corn. He then started alone and on foot, by Indian trails, to join his father's family, near Black river. While on this lonely journey, sleeping on the bank of the Vermillion river, he was surrounded by wolves, but, by the greatest vigilance, and kindling a fire, he kept them at bay until morning. In October, 1811, the family removed to West Berlin, Erie county. During the following winter, Mr. Laylin taught school, receiving his board and one dollar and a quar- ter tuition per scholar, as compensation.
In the spring of 1812 war was declared between England and the United States. A meeting of the citizens of that and the surrounding counties was held to provide means for defence. A petition, ask- ing for assistance from the governor of Ohio, was forwarded, and a company of "minute men" was organized for home defence. Mr. Laylin joined the company, and on the next day it marched to the peninsula off Sandusky to ascertain if there were any Indians in the vicinity. Mr. Laylin was pre- vented joining this expedition by severe sickness. From the entire company of thirty, only four or five survived the expedition. Nothing was heard of the poor fellows until their whitened bones were found in the following September by a detachment of Com- modore Perry's victorious troops, In August, General Hull surrendered to the British, which was not known among the settlers until a small British fleet appeared off Huron, from which some of the prisoners taken were sent in small boats to the shore.
The greatest consternation prevailed. In the panic which followed, the family fled to Mount Vernon, At Mansfield, they met a regiment hastening to the protection of the citizens on the border, and Mr. Laylin joined these troops. After his term of enlist- ment had expired, he rejoined his father's family at Mount Vernon. Here he learned the mason's trade. He was fond of reading and study and, not being confined closely at his trade, found time to avail himself of the advantages of a public library. He became a great student of ancient and modern history. He also watched with deep interest the great dis- coveries in science and the inventions of genius. It was during this time that his most lasting political and religious opinions were formed. In the mean-
C. H. GALLUP.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
time, his father's family had removed to Norwalk, but he remained in Mount Vernon until 1812, when he was called home by the death of his father. In October, 1818, he married Olive Clark, wife of Daniel Clark, of Bronson. Mr. Laylin then settled near Norwalk, on a farm which he had previously bought, where he passed the most active and useful portion of his life. During the years that followed he was a most zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sabbath school, having made that the church of his choice. Nearly all religious services, prior to the erection of a church edifiee in the village, were held at his house. He was appointed superin- tendent of a Sabbath school in the neighborhood, which position he filled for a number of years. Dur- ing the year 1841, he was sorely bereaved in the death of his wife and two children. There remained of the family six children: two sons and four daughters.
Six years afterward, Mr. Laylin married Mrs. Mary Weyburn States, of Hartland, who proved an excel- lent wife and mother. In the strength of her affee- tion she gathered into her love the remains of two broken families and was a true mother to them all.
Soon after his second marriage he removed to a residence on Medina street, Norwalk, where he re- mained until his death.
His faithful wife died April 16, 1877, after a long, painful illness, which baffled skill, love and care. For several years her husband's infirmity, and his desire to have her by him, confined her to the pre- cints of home. She was its light and strength. Her worth was manifest in the high esteem and reverence in which she was held by all her family. Mr. Laylin survived the death of his wife but a few days. He died, peacefully, April 26, 1877. There remain of his children: Elvira, Mrs. Richard Elliott: Celestine, Mrs. W W. Hildreth: Olive, Mrs. M. L. Carr; Marriette, Mrs. F. Gard; and Marie, Mrs. Frank Evans. His sons, Theodore and Lewis C., are residents of Norwalk.
Mr. Laylin was a man of untiring energy and per- severence. Favored with few early advantages for mental culture, he availed himself to the utmost of what he had. Strength and definiteness were leading characteristics of his mind. He held decided and independent judgments on all religious and political questions that from time to time stirred publie thought during his long life.
Ilis life covers almost the entire national period of our history. He was born in the second year of Washington's first term, and was over eight years old when he (Washington) died. He was eligible to vote for fifteen presidents. His life runs baek through Victoria's long reign-past William and George IV. to the middle of the stupid misrule of George III. Louis XVI. was still a monarch, the French reign of terror was yet unknown, and the great battles of Na- poleon unfought. Nicholas and two Alexanders had not yet eome to the throne of Russia. and the Empire of Austria was yet unborr. He has seen : pr ng into
being the wonderful mechanical inventions and seien- tific discoveries that have so materially changed the economy of life.
He received from his mother religious mstruction which, at eighteen, ripened into definite conversion. His religious convictions were welded in the white heat of early controversy, and ever bore the marks of their origin. He died firm in the faith that he would awaken amid the glories of his heavenly home.
CALEB H. GALLUP.
In Lorraine, part of the debatable territory be- tween the French and German people; wasted and seared and searred by many battles, now in possession of one people and then of the other, there is an ancient family of the name of Kolopp. From time immemo- rial the tradition has been handed down by its mem- bers, from generation to generation, that one of their number went to western Europe as a follower of Wil- liam, Duke of Normandy, and never returned. This tradition was recently imparted to the writer by the Rev. Peter Kolopp. a member of that family now in charge of St. Peter's (Catholie) eburch of Norwalk.
Hume, in his history of the "Conquest," says: " The situation also of Europe inspired William with hopes that, besides his brave Normans, he might em- ploy against England the flower of the military force which was dispersed in all the neighboring states. France, Germany and the Lower countries, by the progress of the feudal institutions, were divided and sub-divided into many prineipalities and baronies. *
* * A military spirit had universally diffused itself throughout Europe; *
* multitudes crowded to tender to the duke their services, with that of their vassals and retainers." (Hume's History of England, Boston edition of 1854, volume one, pages one hundred forty-one and two. ) Readers of history will remember that these movements of "William the Conqueror" were crowned with success at the battle of Hastings, October 14. 1066.
As corroborative of the tradition in the Kolopp family of Lorraine, a tradition also exists in the Gal- lup family of America that the founder of the Eng- lish branch came into England at the Conquest, from France. This tradition has often been related to the writer by the late Ilallet Gallup of Norwalk.
The different spelling of the name by the two fan- ilies is no indication of a difference in origin. In those early days education was confined to the monas- teries, and family names were perpetuated by the me- dium of their children more than by written records. Afterwards, as education became more general, and men learned to write their names, the manner of spelling them was purely arbitrary, depending upon the sound, or the fancy of the individual. Kolopp is a eorreet phonetie spelling of the German pronuncia- tion of Gallup.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Early in the seventeenth century, and previous to 1636, two brothers, John and William Gallup, came over to this country from England and settled at Boston, then but an infant settlement. John was an English sailor and soon became a Massachusetts fish- erman, and with his little fishing smack became historie in the Indian troubles of that time-1636- (Palfrey's History of New England, volume one. page four hundred fifty-eight; Life and Letters of John Winthrop, pages one hundred fifty-eight, two hun- dred, and three hundred eighty-seven). He died at Boston about 1652, without issue.
Soon after the settlement of New London, Connec- ticut, and about 1648, William, who is supposed to have married at Boston, became a resident of that part of New London since called Groton, where he brought up two sons, Hallet and William (second), and probably other children.
In 16:5, Hallet received warning, from a friendly Indi in, of the trouble soon to culminate in that historic event known as "King Phillip's war." That warn- ing was the present of a wampum belt, or rather, a belt made out of the long coarse hair of the black bear, ornamented with white beads set in the form of a "W." This indicated war. He raised a company of soldiers and took them into that "direful swamp fight " of December 19, 1775. The following quota- tion shows his fate:
" The legislature of the colony, in a representation of the services they had performed in the war, say: ' In that signal service, the fort fight, in Narragan- sett, as we had our full number in proportion to the other confederates, so all say they did their full pro- portion of service. Three noble soldiers, Seeley, courageous Marshall and bold Gallup, died in the bed of honor; and valiant Mason, a fourth captain, had his death's wound. There died many brave officers and sentinels, whose memory is blessed, and whose death redeemed our lives.'" (Barbor's Connec- ticut Historical Collections, page 21; see, also, Pal- frey's History of New England, volume III, page 177).
William (second) survived the war and raised a large family, one of which was a son named William (third), who also raised a family of two boys, William (fourth) and Hallet (second), and ten daughters, of whom there were six twins.
This William (third) removed from Groton, Con- necticut, to Kingston, Pennsylvania, in October, 1224, and was living there at the time of the " Wyom- ing massacre," of July 3, 1218. His son Hallet (second) was in the fight, and escaped by floating down the Susquehanna river, with his body under water and his face protected from view, between two rails grasped in his hands.
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