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 48

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 48
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 48

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).

Ezekiel Phillips was one of the earliest permanent settlers in this section. He arrived with his family from Ontario county, New York, in 1830, and settled on lot number seven on the section line. He died in Hartland in July, 1856. His widow, after his death, made her home with her son-in-law, Parley K. Post. She died October 1, 18:7, in the eighty-seventh year of her age. There were nine children, five of whom are yet living, as follows: Mrs. Post, in Hartland; Mrs. Hoppock and Mrs. Burgess, in Wisconsin, Mrs. John Clawson, in Clarksfield, and C. N., in Mich- igan.

Parley K. Post came from Madison county, New York, to Hartland in September, 1831. He bought the "betterments" of John Ford, who had cleared about five acres where Mr. Post now lives, and had built a shanty across the road. His brother-in-law, Luther Toogood, moved into the house soon after, and occupied it until the next spring, and Mr. Post lived. with them. Toogood then located a short dis- tanee south of where Abram Phillips now resides, and Mr. Post's parents came on from New York and moved into his house. October 22, 1835, he married Amy Phillips, daughter of Ezekiel Phillips, and erected a log house near where his frame house now stands, which he built in 1850.

His father, Isaiah Post, died July 25, 1838, and the mother two years subsequently. They had a family of thirteen children, three of whom are living, viz: Mrs. E. Chandler, in Townsend, Isaiah. in Wisconsin, and Parley K., in this township. The latter has held the office of township trustee in Hartland for a period of twenty-two years.

In March, 1832. Daniel Robbins, with his family of wife and two children, and his wife's sister, arrived from Wayne county, New York. Mr. Robbins settled on lot number nine in the third section, erecting his shanty on the location of the present residence of Lewis Moore. When he moved into his cabin, it was, indeed, a primitive dwelling, being unchinked, and without a door, window or chimney. He resided here five years, and then sold and moved to Norwich, and finally to Bronson on the west town line, where he has since lived.

Peres Miner moved on to the place now occupied by Henry L. Moore, on lot twenty-six in the third sec- tion, in the spring of 1833. He had lived in Nor- walk township a number of years previous, and mar- ried there the widow of Hanson Read who was the first settler in Greenfield. Miner resided in Hartland ahont eight years when he moved to Bronson. There a few years after he lost his house by fire, and he moved to Enterprise, and finally to Norwich town- ship where he subsequently died.

Stephen Knapp and three sons, and Andrew Bishop settled in the third section about the year 1833.

Henry Silcox moved into the township from Cayuga county, New York, in 1834. He and his wife both died in this township many years ago. Two of their children are now living in this township, and one in Michigan.

Thomas Manahan, with his wife and four sons-a daughter remaining at the east-came from Cayuga county, New York, to this county, in the summer of 1833. He lived in the township of Norwalk about two years, and then purchased and settled in Hart- land, on lot number twelve in section number three. He died while east on a visit to his daughter in December, 1858, at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Manahan lived to the advanced age of nearly ninety- five. She died at the residence of her son, George W. Manahan, in Norwalk township, December 18, 1822. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over sixty years, and of the Hartland Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly forty years. They raised a family of five children, all of whom are now living, as follows: Sarah Ann (Mrs. Worthing) in Norwalk; George W. in the south part of the town- ship of Norwalk; Charles W. in Norwalk, who is at the head of the dry goods house of Manahan, Taber & Co. Henry H. married Mary J. Chapin, a native of Virginia, and resides in Bronson township. Lewis married Sarah Chapin, a consin of Mrs. Henry H. Manahan, and resides near Olena in Bronson. The sons have been among the active business men of the county for many years.

Joseph Moore, a native of Cherry Valley, New Jer- sey, removed with his family from Tompkins county, New York, to this county, in 1833. He settled in Norwalk township, on lot number five in the first section. In 1855, he sold his farm and moved to Hartland, locating with his son, Lewis Moore, on the farm now occupied by the latter, on lot nine, section three. He died on this farm October 5, 1816, aged nearly ninety years. Mr. Moore was a good citizen, an exemplary christian and an efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Moore died in 1854.

There were five children, three sons and two daughters, three of whom are living, as follows: Mrs. Jonathan White in Kansas, and Lewis and Henry L. in Hartland. The latter was elected sheriff of Huron county in October, 1853, on the last whig ticket, and was the only nominee on the ticket elected. He was re-elected in 1855, and at the close of his second term, he purchased the farm in Hartland on which he has since lived.

William Johnson, his wife and seven children, came to Hartland, from the state of New York, in the year 1835, and located lots number seventeen eighteen and a part of twenty, of the Latimer and Lane tract, in the first section. Mr. Johnson died February 24, 1867. and Melinda, his wife, died September 14, 1842. Of the seven children, six are living, as follows : R.

199

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

C. Johnson resides in Fitchville; Mrs. G. A. Ransom in Hartland; Mary J. Prosser in New London: Eliza J. Barns in Fitchville; A. S. Johnson in New Lon- don, and Lewis Johnson in Clarksfield. Catharine (Foot) died in New London in February, 1877.

Charles and George Smith moved in from New York and settled in this section a short time previous to the arrival of Mr. Post. They resided here a number of years and then removed to Lorain county, and finally to the west.

A family by the name of Harrington settled about the same time on lot number eleven. A few years he subsequently married Mary Jackson, who came to Hartland with the family of Thomas Manahan in 1833.

Abram Phillips came to Huron from near Buffalo, New York, with his family, in August, 1835. He re- mamed a year in Huron and then settled in Hartland, where he has since lived, on lot six in the first section. He built his present brick house in 1849, which was the first brick building erected in the township.

Mr. Phillips was born in Windham, Greene county, New York, June 11, 1799. He married, January 1, 1823, Jane Robinson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1804. They have reared a family of nine children, all of whom are living.

In the spring of 1836, Calvin O. Chaffee, his wife and child, Bartlett Davis and wife, Benjamin G. and George Haines and their families came to this county from near Springfield, Mass., consuming four weeks in the journey.

Mr. Chaffee, the first year after his arrival, rented the place on which Mr. Tilton now lives, in Bronson. He then purchased and settled in Hartland, where his widow now resides,-lot number twenty-five, section number three-where he continued to reside until his death, in January, 1877. He was born April 29, 1811. Mrs. Chaffec was born at Palmer, Mass., March 27, 1808. She was married to Mr. Chaffee, March 19, 1833. The number of children born to them was seven, six of whom are living. The two sons, D. E. and Charles MI., operate the saw-mill opposite the old homestead.

Mr. Davis first located a short distance north of his present residence. flis wife died April 10, 1850, and after, he sold to Isaac Powell and moved to Fitchville.

George Haines remained in Bronson a short time and then settled in Ripley. The most of the family died of typhoid fever soon after, which was brought among them by a young man from the south.

Benjamin Haines died in Bronson about the same time of the same disease.

In the fourth section the first settler was Isaac Frayer who moved in from Greene county, New York, in 1832. He settled on the southwest corner of lot number nineteen. He occupied his original location until his death in December, 1874. Mrs. Frayer died in the early years of their settlement. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are living, viz: Ambrose Frayer in Ripley, Mrs. Beardsley, Mrs. Goff, and Mrs. Robbins in Norwalk.

Across the road from Frayer, Darins Cherry located at an early date. He afterwards sold out and moved to Fitchville where he is now living.

Robert Brown was one of the earliest settlers in this quarter of the township and is the only one of those who took up land on the road on which he lives, now occupying his original location. He was born in New London, Conn., January 24, 1805; married March 12, 1826, Eliza Chapel of the same place who was born February 16th, of the same year. He came to Huron county in 1831 and resided in Greenfield and Fairfield five years and then came to Hartland where he made his first purchase of land, on lot number sixteen in the Mercer tract. His cabin was built of logs and with "stick" chimney after the style of the period, and stood in the midst of these large stumps and girt about with dense woods. Mr. Brown had nothing to begin with but his character and industry, and his necessities required a great deal of hard labor in those early days. His tax the first year was twenty-seren cents, paid on a cow and a pair of steers. He is the father of nine children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Brown died in Hartland, January 22, 1877.

Rowland Searles and family, and subsequently his father, John Searles, and his family, settled on lots number twenty-two and twenty-three of the fourth section, respectively, in the year 1835. They were from the state of New York. John Searles died many years ago. Rowland Searles is now living across the road from his first location, on lot seventeen, and is aged about seventy.

Nathaniel S. Tompkins, from Greene county, New York, moved in soon after the Searles', and settled on half of lot number twenty-two. He and his wife both died on this place, and none of the family are now left in Hartland.

Three families by the name of Price-father and two sons- settled on this road about the year 1835, but none of them are now living in the township.

In the fall of 1835, Azael Welch moved in from New York, and settled on the west end of the road. He is dead, and but one member of the family now re- mains in the town.

Ambrose Royce came to the Fire-lands from New York State, lived a few years in Fairfield, and in 1836 settled in Hartland, on the west part of lot fifteen, where his widow now lives. He died a few years since.

John Ernsberger was an early settler in this por- tion of the township, and is still living on his original location, a mile east of Olena.

The returns of the county assessor, of the white male inhabitants in Huron county over the age of twenty-one years, in the year 1822, gives the following list of such inhabitants in this township :

Henry Pickard. Joseph P. Owen

Samuel Wellman. Libeus Stoors. Samuel White.

Eli Barnum.

Francis Wayal Nathan Miner.

Sylvester Waldron.

Elnathan Waldron Jesse Taintor.

Lucien Taintor.

Crawford White. Jouathan Waldron.

James Thomas.

Elijah Bills. William Howard.

Arthur Howard.

Daniel Miner. Peter James

Josiah Kilburn.

James White

200

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first white child born in the township, was a child of Jared Tolls, in 1818.

The first couple married was Elijah Bills and Mary Howard, daughter of Captain William Howard. This event occurred June 2, 1822, at the residence of the bride's parents,-John Beatty, Esq., performing the nuptial ceremony,

The first death was that of Jared Tolls, who died in the fall of 1818, from eating too freely of wild plums. He was buried on his farm, in a coffin made out of Daniel Bills' wagon-box, as there was no Ium- ber to be had. A small apple tree sprout was planted at the head of the grave, which grew to be a large tree, but it has been removed, and the exact location of the grave is now unknown.

THE FIRST SAW MILL

was built by Judah Ransom, on Indian creek, in the spring of 1826.

There are at the present time four saw mills in the township, viz: The Chaffee mill, in the third sec- tion; the Miles mill, near the north town line; the Miles mills, at the center, and the Thomas mills, at Olena. The latter, the oldest, was built by John Langan in 1840 or 1845. There has never been a grist mill built in Hartland, and the early settlers sometimes experienced a great deal of difficulty in getting their grinding done. There were grist mills in some of the adjacent townships, but they were at rest much of the time in consequence of dry weather, and at such times trips to Cold creek, and occasionally even to Mansfield, sixty miles distant, and through almost unbroken forests, were necessary to get grind- ing done. Families whose supply of flour would be exhausted before the return of the grist from the mill, would enjoy a week's variety of pounded wheat or "jointed corn."

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school house was built in the fall of 1821, on the ground that is now occupied by the Ridge burying ground. The size of the house was sixteen by twenty feet, with puncheon floor. The door, seats and writing desks were also made of puncheons, and greased paper served as glass for the windows.

The first school was kept by Cyrus Munger, in the winter of 1821-22. The families of Josiah Kilbourn, William Howard, Daniel Bills, Joseph Osyor, Nathan Miner and Samnel White were represented in the school.

In April, 1826, the township was erected by the trustees into one school district, called Distriet No. 1. The following were at that time honseholders of the district: Josiah Kilbourn, William Howard, Daniel Miner, Elijah Bills, Samuel White, Jesse Taintor, Nathan Miner, Sylvester Waldron, Libeus Stoors, Allen Mead, Eli Barnum and IIenry Piekard.

RELIGIOUS.

The first sermon preached in Hartland was by the Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, a Congregational home mis- sionary. The first regular religions services were held at the house of Joseph Waldron, in the summer and fall of 1821, at which the Revs. True Pattee and James McIntyre, Methodist circuit preachers, offi- ciated.

After the school house was built, on the ridge, in the fall of 1821, the meetings were held there. There was at this time but one Methodist family in the township. In 1824, a few Free Will Baptist families moved into the township, among which was that of Allen Mead, a preacher of that denomination. They soon after began to hold meetings, and, under the preaching of Mead, Elder Wheeler of Greenfield, and Rev. Mr. Carlton, quite a revival followed, resulting in the organization of a church in Clarksfield, with which the Baptists in Hartland united. The Free Wills thus took the lead, and maintained it for a num- ber of years.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

of West Hartland was organized at the house of Perez Miner, in the year 1832, by Rev. Leonard Hill, and consisted of four members, as follows: Mrs. Perez Miner, James Read, F. M. Kilbourn and wife. Daniel Stratton, of Norwalk township, was appointed class leader.

This was the first church organized in the town- ship. The earliest preachers who officiated for this church were Edward Thompson (afterwards bishop), Diem, Disbro, Kellum, Barkdull, Heuster, Jones, Wells, Breckenridge and Gurley. The church has now a membership of about fifty. The Rev. George A. Weber, resident at Townsend center, is the pastor. The church building was erected in 1873, and cost about two thousand three hundred dollars.

A Sabbath school, the first in the townshin, was organized by Rev. True Pattee, in 1834. It is now in a flourishing condition. D. E. Chaffee is the superin- tendent. There was a class formed in the fourth section at an early date, and subsequently another at the center of the town. The former did not continue long, the members going to Olena, and the latter, after a few years, disbanded.

In about the year 1852 or 1853, a Wesleyan preacher, by the name of Royce, came in and formed a class, but not being able to sustain preaching, the class ex- isted but a few years.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH

at the center was organized by Rev. Mr. Davis, in the spring of 1865, and consisted of the following members, to-wit: Elon Done and wife, Joseph Briggs and wife. G. W. Patchen and wife, James Blakeman and wife, J. B. Darling and a few young members, whose names cannot now be recalled. They held their meetings at the center school house until 1867, when the present church building was erected at a

201

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

cost of about twelve hundred dollars. In 1877 the church enjoyed an extensive revival, the number of conversions being abont one hundred. The member- ship for a year or two has been diminishing, and the society is not at present in as prosperous a condition as formerly.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

The original name of the township was Canterbury. It was annexed to Clarksfield (formerly Bethel) until April, 1826, when it was detached and organized for independent action under the name of Hartland.

The election for township officers was held at the school house on the ridge. Eli Barnum and Daniel Miner were chosen elerks of election, and Nathan Miner, Josiah Kilbourn and Allen Mead, judges.

The result of the election was as follows: Daniel Miner, township clerk; Nathan Miner, Josiah Kil- bourn and Jesse Taintor, trustees; Lebens Stoors and James White, overseers of the poor; Elijah Bills and Lebeus Stoors. fence viewers: Allen Mead and Lebens Stoors, appraisers of property; Allen Mead, lister; Allen Mead, treasurer; Nathan Miner and Daniel Miner, supervisors of highways. Arthur Howard was elected constable, and, to provide him employment, on the 24th day of May following Eli Barnum was elected justice of the peace.

On the fifth day of March, 1827, the first settle- ment of the trustees with township officers was made, at which time the following orders were drawn on the treasurer, to wit: To Eli Barnum, for services as clerk of election, thirty-three cents ; to Josiah Kilbourn, for services as trustee, one dollar and sixty-one cents; to Nathan Miner, for services as trustee, two dollars and seventy cents ; to Jesse Taintor, for same service,

one dollar and thirty-three cents ; Daniel Miner, for services as township clerk, including a township ree- ord book, three dollars and thirty-three cents.

PIONEER INTIMIDATION.

The spring election of 1827 was an unusually exeit- ing one, and there is a vague tradition that it was not wholly free from a certain kind of intimidation. The contest was over supervisor of highways, one party wanting all the road-work confined to the ridge, while the other thought some of it onght to be done on the other roads. After a spirited discussion of the question, and before the voting began, a canvass was made to learn the relative strength of the two parties, when it was found the ridge party had six adherents and their opponents seven. One of the seven, whose "infirmity " was well known, was there- upon bargained with by the minority, for a jug of whisky, to vote with them, a penalty being affixed that in case of non-performance of contract by the purchased voter, he should be kieked by his pur- chasers from the polls to his home. The ridge got all the work.

At the election in April of the current year, J. M. Chaffee was chosen township elerk ; J. B. Darling, A. C. Miller and E. R. Brown, trustees ; G. D. Fnl- ler, treasurer; H. M. Hood and Henry L. Moore, justices of the peace.

POST OFFICE.

In 1833 the first post office was established in Hart- land, with Daniel Miner as postmaster, who kept the office in his house, on the ridge, for a period of twen- ty-one years.

The present post office is located at the center of Hartland, L. M. Miles being the ineumbent.

PERU.

ORIGINAL OWNERS.

FOR explanation of following table, see Wakeman history:

PERU, TOWN NUMBER THREE, RANGE TWENTY.

CLASSIFICATION No. 1, SECTION 1.

Original Grantees. Am't. Loss. Classified by.

Am't Classed;

Abel Frisbie

John Woodward,Jr. 740 19 11

Jere. Atwater & Jere. 217 Townsend's heirs

Sarah Hunt

Nehemiah Higgins

Stephen Honeywell

Enos Hotchkiss

Jared Ingersoll

David Murison

Robert Matthews

Susan Mahon

Rachel Russell

Amos Sherman

Hez. Sabin, Jr.

Sarah Stevens

Hannah Sackett

Jeremiah Atwater

Ruth Gordon

Edmond Smith

Thomas Bill

Patience Mix

Oliver Alling

Lydia Johnson

Rev. Chauncey Whit- tlesey

326 6

The heirs at law

326

Newton Whittlesey

Wm. Van Duerson

Jobn Woodward, Jr. 740 19 11

John Woodward

260

Rev. Noah Williston

Committee

S.las Kimberly

9 18 6

Footing of Classification No. 1 £1,344 7 0

CLASSIFICATION No. 2, SECTION 2.

Original Grantees.

Am't Loss.

Classified by

Am't Classed. € S. d

John Mix, Jr.

William J. Vredenburg 9

Ebenezer Huggins

Joseph Howell

Susannah Hotchkiss

Obediah Hotchkiss

Levi Ives

Peter Johnson

Ebenezer Lines

Edward Meloy

265

96 6

Amos Monson

David Osborne

Marstin Parrot

William Punchard

18 1

Jacob Pinto

Ichabod Page

Jeremiah Parmelee

Charles Prindle

William Sherman

Jere. Townsend, Jr.

Daniel Tuttle

Hezekiah Tuttle

Daniel Mansfield

Samuel Gorham Richard Hood

Samuel Huggins

Alvalı Hall

Stephen Trowbridge

Robert Fairchild

Ezra Ford

Henry Gibbs

حد

Christian Hanson

Sumuel Clark

Samuel Cook

Footing of Classification No. 2, &1,344

CLASSIFICATION NO. 3, SECTION 3.

Original Grantees. Am't Loss.

Am't Classed.

Isaac Doolittle

20 :

William J. Vredenburg î

Henry Daggett

14 4

Lydia Kimberly

Sarah Kimberly

Jonas Prentice

Martin Ray

John Scott

Hannah Mix

Moses Mansfield

Thomas Punderson

John Pierpont

Timothy Talmadge

Allice Wise

John Ward

John Warner

John Stover

John R. Throop

Joseph Thompson

Abraham Thompson

John Mix

Samuel Alling

Hesekiah Alling

Jonah Atwater

Elanor Bonticon

33 6

Lemuel Benham

John Lathrop

Elisha Mix

Lorain Alling

15 11

Stephen Johnson

Ansel Truly

Ephraim Robbins

106

Charles Burr

Nehemiah Buddington .

Sarah Goldsmith

256

159

Jeremiah Townsend

Stephen Hotchkiss

. .

Silas Kimberly 9

Footing of Classification No. 3. €1,313 14

CLASSIFICATION No. 4, SECTION 4.

Original Grantees.

Am't Loss.

Classified by

Am't Classed

£ s. d.

€

Abraham Augur

0 8

William J. Vredenburg 60

Eldad Atwater

Abraham Bradley

111

Isaac Bishop

Daniel Bishop

Stephen Bradley

Thomas Burral

Eleazer Brown

John Ohandler

108

Timothy Dwight

Jacob Daggett

Amos Doolittle

Samuel Green

John Miles

William Morson

Stephen Gorham

0 09

Stephen Monson Joseph Mix

256

Richard Tuttle

Enos Johnson

James Lyndes

Abraham Bradley, Jr.

Hanover Barney

6 8267027

Sarah Brown

Jacob Thompson

Moses Wells

Michael Todd

Samuel Robertson

Abraham Tuttle

Classified by.

e s. d

Footing of Clasaification No. 4, £1,344

916

(202)

Jeremiah Townsend

Timothy Townsend

Moses Wells

Samuel Wilmott John White Jr. George Cook

James Murray Mary Horton

Josiah Holley

Amos Hotchkiss

6 6245647 4

614

Nathan Dammer

Caleb.Trowbridge

125 -2

326 6 3

Robert Townsend

Kinstead Mansfield

14 16

Abraham Johnson

538916206 3 5 6 0 2

Sarah Parmelee

Christopher Alling

Israel Bishop

Samuel Griswold

17 S

Henry Daggett

191 1

8397007205-190 7 6 0 7

Mary Pease

890 0 0

Mary Cutler

Heir at law

Jared Hemingway

37 9

Joseph Smith, 3d

Moses Strong

3 308 0

Hannah Sloper

Mary Hubbard

£ s. 9 19

Major Lines

Henry F. Hughes

Stephen Herrick

Mehittibel Osborne

David Cook

£ s. d.

Hezekiah Augur

203

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface of the township is rolling, except in the northwest part, where it is level, and the land somewhat low. The soil is strong and productive, being generally of a loamy nature. In the north part of the town it is more sandy, mixed somewhat with gravel, while much of the south part is clay.

Its principal strea is the river Huron which, rising in Richland county, enters the township about half a mile east of the southwest corner, runs for the most part a general northeasterly course, and leaves the town- ship on lot eight, section three. The east branch of the Huron has its source in Fairfield, enters Peru from Bronson on lot eighteen, section one, flows a north- westerly direction, and unites with the present stream in the township of Ridgefield, about a mile north of the town line. State run comes into the township from Seneca county, flows a northeasterly course into Ridgefield where it unites with the Huron. The streams afford excellent water power privileges which are more or less improved. The principal varieties of timber were originally the oak in several varieties, whitewood, beech, maple, hickory, basswood and buckeye. Along the streams the variety was mostly butternut and black walnut.

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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 48

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