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 52
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 52
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The following is one of many incidents in the life of Mrs. Smith, which are. worthy of record, as illus- trating the perils which surrounded the homes of the pioneers: One day while her husband was in the har- vest-field, Mrs. Smith left the house for a few moments and on her return saw a huge black snake crawling across the head-board of the bed on which her young- est child lay sleeping. The reptile disappeared under the floor of the house. Mrs. Smith raised one of the puncheons, and with the tongs, throw the snake out on the hearth, where it was seized and killed by the dog.
The two families previously mentioned, with their hired men, Jacob Rush and Cyrus W. Marsh, were the only inhabitants of the township at the time of Hull's surrender, in August, 1812. A short time
after that event, another transpired which occasioned feelings of great apprehension and alarm, not only to the pioneers of Greenfield, but to the inhabitants of the entire Reserve. Information came, and spread rapidly, that the British and Indians were approach- ing the settlements, with intent to massacre the inhabitants. A large party had been seen landing at Huron, which was supposed to be the forces of the enemy. Johnny Appleseed brought the dreadful intelligence to Greenfield. After the surrender of Detroit, he was engaged by the settlers of this town- ship and New Haven to go to Huron for the news once a week. One morning, about nine o'clock, he returned, riding rapidly, and shouting, "Run for your lives ! The Indians are killing everybody and burning their property !"
Intense excitement ensued, and preparations for flight were immediately begun. Clothing, bedding and some other household goods, were packed up, the cattle collected, and at evening, with teams and wagons, a start was made for New Haven. The progress of the travelers was slow, and it was late in the night when they reached the house of Caleb Palmer. Besides the family of Mr. Palmer, there were then living in New Haven a family by the name of Woodcock, Alvan Coe and wife, Luther Coe and James Melntyre. The next day (Saturday) the whole company started south, with four teams and wagons. For a distance of fifteen miles, a road had to be cut every rod of the way. It was an exceedingly wet time, too, and the streams were much swollen, ren- dering them difficult of passage, the teams and stock being compelled to swim across some of them. The company reached the Black Fork, a branch of the Muskingum river, by evening of the first day, and pitched their tent on the bank for the night. Hun- gry and worn with fatigue, their clothing and bedding drenched with rain, which had been almost continuons during the journey, and haunted with visions of the red coat and scalping-knife, the situation of the fugitives was indeed a deplorable one. They slept upon the wet ground as best they could, and the next morning pushed on. In the evening of the second day, while making preparations for a night's rest, a report reached them that they were being pursued by Indians, who were only a short distance behind them.
The wagons with their stores were left in care of two of the men and the rest of the p .. rty pressed on, the women and children riding npon the horses. Af- ter proceeding a short distance it was decided to bring up the wagons, and the teams with two men returned for them. Fredericktown, Knox county, was finally reached, when they learned of the falsity of the last alarm, which arose from the fact of a fleeing party frantically shouting for help, who had lost their way in the woods.
After a week's rest in Fredericktown the families of r. Read and Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Alvan Coe Mre- turned to Mansfield and started for Trumbull county by way of Wooster.
SAMUEL McCAMMON, M.D.
The late Dr. Samuel McCammon was for many years a resident of Greenfield, and his good qualities both as man and physician were almost universally liked and respected. Very few, indeed, were those who could be counted in any other category than that of his friends.
Dr. MeCammon was born near Pittsburg, Pa., Jan. 3, 1821, and his parents, Samnel and Elizabeth McCammon, who were at that time living upon a farm, moved two years later to Richland Co., Ohio, and settled in the vicinity of Mansfield.
When his son was four years of age the father died. When the boy became twelve years of age he began an apprenticeship at the saddle-making trade, at which he afterward worked for a short time. But having a strong desire for study, it was gratified by an attendance at the common schools in Mansfield and Fredericktown.
His taste soon turned toward medical subjects, and he determined to become a physician. His first in- struction in this especial field of science was received in Norwalk, under the now venerable Dr. John Tifft, and began in December, 1842. He afterward attended two courses of lectures at the Willoughby (Lake County) Medical College.
In March, 1845, he began the practice of medicine in Greenfield, which was quite a thriving, busy vil- lage. He was successful, and slowly but surely built up a practice which gave him a large ride, and brought him the means necessary to a comfortable condition of life. Not long after beginning he was
able to buy the lot where his widow now resides, and later to purchase the farm adjoining.
Dr. McCammon, during the whole of his profes- sional career in Greenfield, was highly esteemed, and his practice was large until toward the close of his life, when, for a few years, his health was impaired by a chronic ailment which made the travel incident to the profession very painful and at times impossible. He practiced in Greenfield more years than any other physician, and for most of the time was the only doctor in the place. He was associated for a period of about one year with Dr. B. F. Morse, who after- ward practiced in Peru township.
The doctor was married, Sept. 7, 1848, to Philene, daughter of Lebo and Polly Blackman, old settlers in Greenfield. She was born in this township, Aug. 27, 1828, and is still living, three of her children being with her. The first-born son of Dr. and Mrs. McCammon, George L., was born June 26, 1851, and died Oct. 3, 1856. The other children are Frank B., born Oct. 5, 1855; Edward L., born Aug. 16, 1858; and Laura, born July 9, 1861.
Dr. McCammon died Aug. 2, 1870, having been sick and confined to his home for several months previous. His last professional call was made in February of the same year.
Although not connected with any church, Dr. McCammon was a man of religions feeling and of strict rectitude of character. . During his sickness he expressed himself as being without fear, and he passed away peacefully and quietly.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Abram Powers, who had returned to Pennsylvania, hearing of the excitement among the settlers of the Reserve, and fearing for the safety of his children, of whom he had three residing on the Fire-lands, came to Ohio, arriving at Mansfield the evening of the day Mr. Reed and family left. But he met there his two daughters, Mrs. Woodruff and Phoebe Powers, who had been residing at the mouth of Huron river. The th latter had been teaching school there. He found them both lying at the point of death, which with the failure to find Mr. Read and family, greatly depressed him. James McIntyre, who was equal to almost any emergency, proposed to overtake them on foot. Mr. Powers expostulated with him, but he insisted on a trial, and did overtake them the next day. Mr. Read and family returned to Mansfield, but soon went to Fredericktown, where they remained during the sum- mer. Mr. Read made several trips during the sun- mer to his house in Greenfield, and he found that it had been entered by Indians and every article of household furniture that had not been removed or concealed was destroyed or carried off.
In December of the same year, Mr. Read returned to Greenfield with his family, but reports were so frequent of Indian depredations . that he soon moved south again, and remained until January 1, 1814, when he returned to his former residence and remained.
Mr. Smith and family, and Mrs. Coe, made the journey to Trumbull county with two horses, Mrs. Smith with two of her children riding on one horse. and Mrs. Coe on the other with the third child, while Mr. Smith accompanied them on foot.
When a few miles beyond Wooster, they stopped at a farm-house in which the terrified inhabitants in the neighborhood had taken refuge from apprehended danger, and while there a false alarm was raised that the Indians had taken Wooster, when the inmates all fled to the woods, with the exception of Mr. Smith and family, who, with their previous experience, de- termined to await, this time, the actual approach of danger. Being very much fatigued by the toilsome journey, and needing rest. they appropriated to their use the vacated beds and were soon asleep. But they were not permitted to rest long, one of the fleeing party returning and insisting on their going to the woods. They started, but in a short time re- turned and again retired, and soon after the whole party returned from the woods. The alarm is said to have arisen from the noise made by a horse pawing in a feed-trough, which was supposed to be the guns of the enemy. The inhabitants were in such a state of agitation that an alarm, however improbable, would cause an immediate flight. Mr. Smith and his company pursued their journey and reached their place of destination in safety. The next fall he returned to Fredericktown for his cattle and goods, which he had left there, but learning of the murder of a family, while traveling over the road which he expected to take, he went back to Vernon without them. Soon
after, Samuel C. Spencer and Cyrus W. Marsh took the property through. Mr. Smith and family re- mained in Vernon until February, 1815, when they returned to their abandoned home in Greenfield. Their house had been used by the Indians as a stable for their horses, but six acres of wheat, which was left in stack a mile or so from the house-the most val- uable, perhaps, of the property abandoned-remained untouched.
It is impossible for the young people of the present day to understand the conditions of living in the new settlement. The first settlers in Greenfield were among the first in the county, and they were com- pletely isolated from all the appliances of civilization. The nearest mill, at which grinding was done, was at Owl Creek, a great many miles distant, through an unbroken forest. The grain was ground in the order of its reception at the mill, and sometimes several days would be consumed in going to mill and back. It was customary for one person to take the milling of the entire neighborhood, when going with a team. While there are no instances of suffer- ing from want of necessary food, in the history of this township, provisions were by no means plenty. Wheat was at one time three dollars per bushel, and other articles of food in proportion. William McKel- vey on one occasion went to Owl Creek to buy some pork, and could only find some of the " shack " va- riety, for which he paid forty-four cents per pound. The meat was a poor substitute for that of the domes- tic hog, being spongy and of ill flavor. For fresh meat the early settlers had venison and other wild game so plenty at times as to become a drug.
In the matter of necessary clothing, the pioneers experienced a greater difficulty. The families, in general, came well furnished with wearing apparel, but a year or two of wear and tear in the woods sadly diminished their stock. Flax could be raised, and summer clothing of tow, butternut-dyed, and bleached linen could be manufactured when a weaver could be found to do it ; for, although every woman was a spinner, only here and there was one weaver, and each family had to await its turn. The old garments were often worn to rags before the new cloth could be put through the loom.
To obtain the material for winter clothing was still more difficult. The introduction of sheep was at- tended with much difficulty. They were not safe from wolves, and the new, wet lands proved un- healthy to them. The summer clothing would often have to answer for winter wear, or other expedients be resorted to. Buckskin, either wholly or in part, frequently served as material for winter apparel, but garments made entirely of it were never popular. The pantaloons would frequently be wet to the knees, and when dry would be as stiff and uncomfortable as if made of tin.
Cyrus W. Marsh, of whom mention has been made, in 1816 erected a house, which he opened as a tavern, on the hill, just north of the river, on the center road.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
This was the first public house in the township. A short time afterwards he moved to Sandusky eity (then called Ogontz Place), and built there in the fall of 1817 the second framed house in the place. In 1822, in connection with Constant Barney, of that place, he commenced running a line of stages from Sandusky to Columbus, through Milan, Norwalk, Mansfield and Delaware. In opening their enterprise they announced to the public that, "being an infant establishment, and fostered only by an infant patron- age, the subscribers have chosen rather to consult the strength and efficiency of their carriages and steeds, than their elegance or beauty. As the country grows older, and their patronage increases, they pledge themselves to improve, both in the expedition of traveling and in style of their establishment.
"They will endeavor to select the best houses on their route for the refreshment of their passengers; and every attention will be paid to promote their ease, comfort and accommodation." The enterprise was kept up for eight or ten years. Mr. Marsh carried the mail also, and was the first mail carrier on this route.
Bildad Adams and family moved in from Vermont in the spring of 1815, and located in the north part of the township, on the center road, opposite where the tavern of Cyrus W. Marsh formerly stood. In June following, Henry Adams, Elihu Clary and William Smith began the settlement of Peru town- ship, and boarded at Mr. Adams' while they were building them a shanty in that township. A daughter, Naney Adams, taught the first school in the township of Peru, at Macksville, in the summer of 1818. Mr. Adams was one of the first three commissioners of Huron county, and was a man of local influence. He died in the township of Milan, about the year 1828.
Seba Mather and wife, his brother Horace and wife and their parents, moved together from Marlboro, Windham county, Vermont, to this township in the summer of 1815. The three families located on a tract of land sonth of the center, where Seba Mather opened a short time afterward a public house, * which he kept until 1820, when he discontinued it and established the mills east of the center, mention of which is made elsewhere. He carried on an extensive business at these mills for nearly thirty years, when he sold them and retired to his farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life. He died August 20, 1814, at the advanced age of eighty-eight. His wife, father, mother and a brother Horace, preceded him. Mr. Mather's barn, erected in 1820, was the first frame building in the township.
David Lovell emigrated with his family to this township in the fall of 1815. He located four lots in the second section, crecting his house near the river on lot thirty-four. He subsequently sold three of
the lots, and, after the east road was opened, built a log house, where his son Ethan now lives, on lot twenty-eight. He erected a brick house here at an early day, which he occupied until his death, which occurred November 16, 1830, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. Mr. Lovell was a man of excellent prin- ciples and of extensive information. Mrs. Lovell died July 14, 1848, aged seventy-two years and six months. Few women equaled her in courage and resolution. She made three journeys to her former home in Pennsylvania on horseback and alone, and once in company with her husband. Mr. Lovell had sold his farm in Pennsylvania, mostly on time; and the payments not being met, the journeys were made for the purpose of collecting them. The object of the visits, however, was unsuccessful; the farm had to be taken back eventually and disposed of at a pecu- niary sacrifice.
Three of the six children of the family are living. Mrs. Edward H. Lowther and Ethan Lovell reside in this township, the former a short distance east of Greenfield center, and the latter ou the old homestead; Mrs. Guthrie lives in Fairfield.
Nathan Warner removed from Massachusetts to Greenfield in the above year. He resided in the town- ship until 1853, when he removed to Laporte county, Indiana.
Eli Halliday moved into the township from Ver- mont in 1816, and settled on the Shourd place, as now called, on the east road. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, excellent character, and did much to promote the moral welfare of community, and was efficient in establishing the first religious society in Greenfield. He finally moved to Huron, Erie county, where he died in 1850.
Daniel Halliday moved into the township the same year, remained seven or eight years, when he removed to Ridgefield.
Samuel C. Spencer and family arrived from Trum- bull county in 1816, and located east of the center of Greenfield, where Samuel Morris now resides. About the year 1836, he sold his farm and removed to In- diana, where he subsequently died.
A family by the name of Evans, formerly from Pennsylvania, moved into the township from the southern part of this State, soon after the close of the war, and located in the southeast part of the town. The father died there, and his wife also sub- sequently. The rest of the family removed to Illinois.
Robert Ford and Thomas Irvin came in about the same time as the Evans'. They married subsequent to their arrival two daughters of the family and set- tled in the same locality. They all moved to Illinois simultaneously.
Amos Harkness settled in Greenfield in 1816; after- wards moved to Fairfield township.
Robert Inscho arrived in Greenfield from Pennsyl- vania in 1816. He removed to Indiana about the year 1850.
William Carkhuff, from the same State, came to
"It is thought by some that this tavern was opened before that of Cyrus W. Marsh, which we have stated, on the authority of Mrs. Smith, lo have been the first In the township.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
this township in 1815 or '16. He was then unmar- ried, but he subsequently married and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Elias Easter. He was elected sheirff of Huron county in 1835, and took up his residence in Norwalk. He moved to Indiana in 1848, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Silas Bowers settled in the east part of the town- ship in 1816. The life of this pioneer eame to an untimely end under the following painful cireum- stances: Seeing some deer feeding within the eleared area around his cabin, one morning in the winter of 1818, he took his gun and started out to shoot them. The deer fled at his approach, but he followed, and finally shot one of them near where the village of North Fairfield now stands. He dressed the animal, and suspending the remainder of the carcass to a sap- ling, started homeward with the hide and "saddle." Mr. Bowers was naturally physically weak, and having started out before breakfast, was poorly qualified for such a toilsome journey through the dense forest. His physical energies gradually wasted away and he was forced to abandon his load, and left it a short distance west of the east branch of the Huron. A little further on he tried to build a fire of some leaves and bark to warm himself, for the weather was very cold. Not succeeding, he sought a place to rest by the side of a fallen tree, after which he wearily pressed on towards home. He traveled until near the present residence of James Cook, when becoming too weak to proceed farther, he sat down on the butt-end of a tree that had been recently cut down, rested his head upon a stump, and in that position he was found two days afterwards, evidently frozen to death.
Alden Pierce moved in from Massachusetts in 1816, and resided here until 1832, when he removed to Illinois.
John Pierce moved in the following year, and set- tled in the east part of the township.
Nathaniel Haynes, with his family of wife and six children and his wife's father, emigrated from Wind- ham county, Vermont, to this township in the fall of 1816, and settled on lot number seven in the third section. He died on this farm in the spring of 1844.
In 1817. Levi Savage arrived from the State of New York, and the following year married a daughter of Mr. Haynes and settled on fifty acres now owned by Hiram Smith,
In 1816, a family by the name of Long-four hrothers and two sisters, all grown to adult life, but unmarried-moved into the township from the State of Pennsylvania. The only surviving member of the family-Miss Catharine Long, now almost a centen- arian-is an inmate of the County Infirmary. She is the victim of one of the grossest acts of wrong and injustice that was ever perpetrated in a civilized community. Many years ago the youngest brother, James, came into possession of a legacy of ten thon- sand dollars from Ireland. He was never married, and at his death, some years afterwards, the estate
was inherited by a surviving brother and sister, William and Catharine. . Some years afterward, and when the increasing infirmities of age rendered the care of a farm too laborions for them, they unwisely coneluded to settle upon a nephew. whom they had brought up from childhood, their entire property, re- quiring in return only a verbal promise that he would support them the remainder of their lives. The transfer was made, and subsequently William Long died. In a short time the old lady began to be felt as a burden, the farm was finally sold, everything con- verted into cash that could be, and in September, 1878, the nephew with his family moved to Michigan, leaving their benefactress alone in the house, almost blind and entirely helpless (having broken her limb by a fall a short time previous ) and without an article necessary to physical comfort, except the clothes she wore, and a single chair. A neighbor calling at the honse shortly after the family left, found her almost wild with grief. She begged him to kill her and save her from the humiliation of becoming a county charge. She was taken to the house of one of her neighbors, and kindly cared for a few weeks, and then removed to the infirmary where the writer, in a per- sonal interview, obtained the above facts. The name of the villain who repaid such kindness with such cruel wrong is James Long, and he now resides some- where in Northern Michigan.
Philip Lewis moved his family to this township in 1817, having previously come out, located his land, and erected his cabin. He settled on lot thirty- four in section one, and lived there a number of years, and then bought where his son, Alexander Lewis, now lives. He died here some twenty years since. He served in the war of 1812.
John and Joseph Cook came to this township from Pennsylvania, as early as 1817. Joseph settled on lot thirty in the first seetion. After a residence of about ten years he returned to Pittsburgh, and subsequently went to Cincinnati. He was a man of education, energy and perseverance, and eventually amassed a large property. John settled on lot twenty-four, sec- tion one.
Lemuel Brooks, one of the prominent early settlers of Greenfield, arrived in the fall of 1817. He was then advanced in life, and had served as an officer in the war of the Revolution, and participated in the battle of Quebec. He died in the year 1831, at the age of ninety years. His wife was formerly Esther Sprague. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living.
Eliphalet B. Simmons, a native of Massachusetts, emigrated with his wife and two children, from Del- aware county, New York, to this township, in 1817, arriving July 12th. He purchased his land, in the second section, of Abram D. Baldwin, of Connectient, at two dollars and a half an acre, and took up his residence on lot twenty-two, where John Simmons, his grandson, now resides. Mr. Simmons was a man of great industry, shrewdness and practical judgment,
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
and eventually acquired a large property. He was twice married, and had a family of four children. Harlow E., the oldest, came to this township in the fall of 1819. He started from Massachusetts in October, alone with one horse and a light open wagon, and arrived at the residence of his f.ther in Green- field, in December following. He settled on lot num- ber twenty-one in the second section. He occupied his original location until his death in March, 18:5, aged seventy-seven.
Charles B. Simmons, now residing in the village of North Fairfield, in the seventy-third year of his age, has until recently occupied the old homestead in Greenfield. and was for many years one of the fore- most farmers in the county. He is a gentleman of intelligence and public spirit, and was a republican representative in the State legislature from Huron county, session of 1858-9.
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