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 56
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 56
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The next settler on this road was Bethuel Cole, brother of David Cole, previously mentioned. He moved in with his family from Ontario county, New York, in October, 1823, and settled on lot number nineteen. Mr. Cole built a snug, hewed log honse, where the dwelling of his son-in-law, T. J. McCague, now stands. There was merely a blind path south of them where the State road now is. The loneliness and privations of the settlers were promotive of sym- pathy and neighborliness, and the people in those days, living five miles or more apart, exhibited a more truly friendly concern for one another than do many who dwell on the same lot nowadays. Mrs. Cole in- forms the writer that they were frequently visited by settlers in Fitchville, and they were always as glad to see them as if they had been long absent relatives.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
They would, of course, stay over night, as such a journey and such visits as were made in those days could not be finished in a single day. Mr. Cole died on his original location in 18:3, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. Mrs. Cole, now an octogenarian, still occupies the old homestead, making her home with her son-in-law, T. J. McCague.
In June, 1826, Caleb Heath and family, and his wife's father, Andrus Porter, and family, joined the settlement in this part of the township. Heath set- tled on lot twenty, while Mr. Porter bought one hun- dred acres of David Cole, on which he located. He died on this farm in 1857, and his wife afterward, both aged eighty-eight. Heath, many years ago, removed to Indiana, where he and his wife both subsequently died.
Attrusha Cole, brother of David and Bethuel, arrived in February, 1829, and settled on lot number twenty-two, section number three, where he has since resided. He came out first in 1818. He is now nearly eighty years of age. His wife died in Janu- ary, 1876.
The first settlement in section two was made by David Clark in 1816. He emigrated to Ohio from Middletown, Connecticut, and took up some four hundred acres of land in the above section, building his cabin on lot number one. He died in Bronson, about the year 1830, quite advanced in life. His wife died afterwards. There were five sons and a dangh- ter, who"became the wife of Mr. John Laylin, of Norwalk. One of the sons now lives in Iowa, and is the only surviving member of the family.
Joel Blish and family, of wife and three children, came to Ohio from Hartford, Connecticut, in the fall of 1822. He remained in Berlin township until May, 1824, and then removed to this township, loca- ting at first on the State road, opposite where David Cole then lived. Two or three years afterward he changed his location to lot number twenty-six, in the same section (seeond), purchasing his land of the heirs of David Clark, and resided there until 1854, when he moved to the village of Norwalk, where he has since lived. He has arrived at the advanced age of nearly eighty-eight.
In the same vicinity a man by the name of Harmon Roscoe had settled a short time previous to the ar- rival of Mr. Blish. He remained several years and then removed to Clarksfield.
John 'Lyon and family, from Tompkins county, New York, settled a short distance north of the cen- ter, on the 'east side of the road, in the year 1828. After a residence there of some twenty years he moved back to New York, where both he and his wife subsequently died.
The first settlement in the first section of this township was made in 1823, by Jonathan IIull. He died in 1828.
Alva Munsell came in and settled in 1827 or '28. Seven or'eight years afterward he moved out of the township.
Samuel Hull, brother of Jonathan, located just east of Munsell in the spring of 1830. Many years afterward he moved to Seneca county.
Jacob Hicks settled on lot number twenty-seven in 1828, and a year or two afterward built a saw mill on High Bridge creek. His little three-year-old daughter was drowned in this creek in the spring of 1833. While the people in the neighborhood were at a meet- ing in the school house, one Sunday morning, a mes- senger arrived with the startling announcement that "Little Martha Hicks is missing." The congregation went immediately over to the house and began a search for the missing child. Her foot prints were traced to the edge of the stream, and shortly afterward, about a mile below, her dead body was found floating among some drift wood. It is supposed she started to go to the mill, where her father and brothers were at work, the stream being so high from recent rains as to en- danger the property.
Mr. Hicks was a man of intelligence and influence, and served some years as justice of the peace. He moved into Peru township in 1838.
Daniel S. Morse, formerly from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, came to Bronson from Monroe county, near Rochester, New York, in September, 1830. He settled a short distance north of Esquire Hicks, on lot number twenty-nine, in the first section, where Mr. Vroman now lives. Six years afterward he moved on to the State road, just north of the creek, where he has since resided. Mr. Morse has filled the office of justice of the peace two terms, and was township clerk a number of years. He is now seventy-three years of age, and his health is somewhat impaired.
Frederick Hicks and Ira Hull came in from the State of New York in the year 1828. They settled to the north of Mr. Morse. Hicks, about the year- 1849, moved to Michigan. Hull afterwards moved on to the State road, but finally removed to some western State.
Orrin Hicks arrived in the spring of 1830; subse- quently married Sallie Gregory, and settled on the lot adjoining Mr. Morse on the north. He moved to Norwich in a few years, and finally to Iowa.
Abner Sylvester and family moved in from Court- land county, New York, in September, 1831, and settled on lot number thirty-five in the first section. The place is now owned by N. S. Hakes. The set- tlers were so few in that part of the township that it required two days to raise their house. Mr. Sylvester was a pioneer Baptist preacher. He rode all through this region of country, preaching in Bronson, Fair- field, Peru, Huron county, Berlin, Erie county, and in Lorain county, traveling much of the way through unbroken forest, with nothing to guide him but blazed trees. In 1846 they moved to Olena, and four years afterwards returned to New York, where they resided until 1866, when he removed to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he and his wife now live, aged re- spectively seventy-nine and seventy-three. Mr. Syl- vester preached for the Baptist Church in Bronson
.
ALVIN BRIGHTMAN.
Alvin Brightman, son of Daniel Brightman and Elizabeth Bronnell, was born Jan. 11, 1818, in the town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y. He removed with his parents to Bronson, Huron Co., in the month of February, 1822. He was the youngest of a family of eight children,-a twin, his brother Al- fred, surviving him a little more than two years. Was united in marriage, Dec. 8, 1842, to Pamelia C. Douglass ; to them were born four children, three daughters and one son, all of whom are still living except the eldest, she dying at the age of seven years.
At the age of eighteen Mr. Brightman experi- enced religion, subsequently uniting with the Pres- byterian Church, of which he was always a member and a liberal supporter.
He was a Republican in politics, and served two terms as county commissioner ; was also president of the Huron County Agricultural Society three years. He always lived on the same farm purchased by his father, and died very suddenly, at the age of fifty- seven years and eight months. He was a kind and affectionate husband, an indulgent father, a good neighbor, and a man much respected.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
for twenty years, and is highly respected by all who know him. Mrs. Sylvester is a woman of much force of character and of earnest piety.
J. D. Knapp, from Onondaga, Onondaga county, New York, came to Bronson in the spring of 1830. He married, October 22, 1832, Diana, daughter of Abijah Rundell, and settled where he now resides. They have raised a family of seven children, all of whom are living.
Daniel Sumerlin was an early settler on the place now occupied by Charles Herrick. The family came from the State of New York. They finally moved to Seneca county.
Thomas Lawrence came to this township from Westchester township, New York, with his family, consisting of his wife and three children, in June, 1833. He lived for a few months on lot thirty-five, in the fourth section, after which he purchased a farm half a mile west of where Olena has since been built. There he continued to reside until his death, which occurred February 22, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Mr. Lawrence was a man of the best type, industrious, persevering and public- spirited. He was, moreover, a true Christian, and was, from the date of its organization, a most effi- cient member of the Presbyterian Church at Olena.
He was married a third time, and his widow, with a son, G. B. Lawrence, now occupies the old homestead.
James R. Knight was one of several sons of a wid- owed mother, who came to Norwalk in 1824. The same year he went to Bronson, and worked there until of age. He moved to New Haven in 1837, and to Ripley, where he now resides, in 1863. His first wife was Clarissa Burch; his second, Louisa Fuller. Several of his children died young. George A. and Clara are living at home. Mr. Knight made and sold, about the year 1835, the first spring wagon sold in Norwalk.
Daniel Angell, a native of Rhode Island, removed from the State of New York to Fairfield township in June, 1832, and settled on the farm now occupied by Reuben Carpenter on the Norwalk and Fairfield road, now called the new State road. He resided there some eight years, when he removed to Bronson, loca- ting at Olena, where his son Ephraim kept tavern a number of years, as mentioned elsewhere. Ephraim Angell subsequently exchanged the hotel property for the farm he now occupies, and his parents afterwards lived with him. Daniel Angell died, in 1854, aged seventy-two, and Mrs. Angell in 1875, in her eighty- ninth year.
In July, 1836, Ephraim Angell married Eliza J. Adams, daughter of Peter Adams, of Fairfield. Mr. Adams moved to that township from Cayuga county, New York, in 1825, and began on a place a mile and a quarter north of the village of North Fairfield. He afterwards located more permanently on a farm of three hundred acres southwest of the same village. He died there September 10, 1851. Mrs. Adams died in August, 1850.
James Ford and family came from Tompkins county, New York, to Bronson in the fall of 1833, and settled on lot thirty-five in the first section, opposite where Norman S. Hakes now lives. The land is now owned by Mathias Hester. Mr. Ford died in this township in 1845, and Mrs. Ford after- wards married Amos Deming, with whom she is now living at the center of Bronson.
Alexander McPherson, at the age of twenty-five, emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, to the United States in the year 1830. He married, May 2, 1833, Hannah McKnight, of Seneca county, New York, and resided in that State until the year 1839, when he removed to the Fire-lands, settling first in the town- ship of Ruggles, but removing eighteen months afterwards to Bronson. He located in this township on lot number seventeen, in the first section, and re- sided there until 1866, when he moved to the place he now occupies-lot number nine in section three. Mr. McPherson has creditably filled various offices of public trust. He was a Republican Representa- tive from- this county to the State Legislature at the session of 1860-61; has also been coroner of the county, and was elected justice of the peace in 1843, and again in 1868. He is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Mrs. McPherson died June 4, 1876. Wil- liam McPherson (father of Alexander McPherson) and his family arrived in Bronson in 1833, and settled on lot number nineteen in the first section, where they afterwards resided. Mrs. McPherson's death occurred in 1853 at the age of seventy-six, preceding her husband a few years, who died at the age of eighty-four. Of the six children, three are now liv- ing and in this township, viz: Alexander, Elizabeth, and William. The latter occupies the old homestead. Elizabeth married Andrew McPherson, a cousin, and resides on lot number ten in section two.
Benjamin Haines came from Massachusetts with his brother George and family, Bartlett Davis and wife, and Calvin O. Chaffee and family in the spring of 1833. Hc settled where his son-in-law, Charles Herrick, now lives. His brother, after a short resi- dence in Bronson, settled in Ripley, where most of the family died of a malignant disease communicated to the family by a young man from one of the Southern States. Benjamin Haines died soon after of the same disease. Mr. Chaffee and Mr. Davis set- tled in Hartland, and the latter and the widow of the former are still living there.
In November, 1837, Isaac E. Town, with wife and one child, moved into Bronson from Onondaga county, New York, and settled where he now resides-on the Norwalk and Olena road. This part of the township was then very new, the road had only been cut out, and a team would hardly be seen to pass once a month. The settlers assisted each other in their logging, and Mrs. Town herself has burned log-heaps many a night until twelve o'clock. On the land which they pur- chased stood a poor apology of a house, which an unele of Mr. Town had built for a son. The door
30
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
and window were made of puncheons, the roof was of bark, and the floor consisted of a single board. In this the family took un their abode, and began pioneer life. One night, shortly afterward, the family were awakened by a noise in the direction of their grist- which Mr. T. had brought home from mill the day before-and on investigation it was discovered that a hog had got into the house and sadly reduced their stock of breadstuff.
Mr. and Mrs. Town have had an old-fashioned family of twelve children, nine of whom are living, and all but two settled in life, but widely scattered.
Mr. Town was born January 16, 1812, and Mrs. Town February 3, of the same year.
Joseph Park and family, consisting of his wife and six sons, emigrated from the county of Donegal, near Londonderry, Ireland, to Bronson in the year 1847. He made his location in the first section, on lot num- ber twenty-one, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred November 6, 1860, aged fifty-eight. Mrs. Park died January 1, 1861, at the age of fifty-six. Of their six children, five are yet living, as follows : Joseph, in Bronson, on the road running from Olena to Norwalk ; Robert, on the south line of the township ; James, in Hartland, one mile east of Olena ; William Henry, (U. S. gauger,) in Cincinnati, and Alexander on the old homestead in Bronson, a mile and a quarter north of Olena. Matthew died January 20, 1844, unmarried.
The first German settler in the township was Peter Seifert, who came from Cayuga county, New York, in the fall of 1814. He settled on lot number five, in the third section, but after a few years returned to New York, where he died in 1828. He was in the service of the United States during nearly the whole of the Revolutionary war. There was no general emigration of Germans, or other foreigners, to Bron- son, however, until 1828. That year several families moved in, the first of which were those of Peter Bowers, Joseph Carobin, and Anthony Phillips, who emigrated from France. Peter Bowers located where his son Peter now lives. He died there in the year 1844. There is now a considerable German popula- tion in the township, mostly in the northwest part.
In the returns of the enumeration of the white male inhabitants, over the age of twenty-one years, in Huron county in 1822, as made by George Sheffield, county assessor, the following persons are given as such inhabitants of Bronson:
Jonathan Hull.
William Taylor.
Albert Southard Abijab Rundle.
Alvan Munsell.
Samuel Halstead.
Nathan Tanner.
Timothy Taylor.
Jeremiah Rundle.
Apollos Fay. Robert Morton.
Briant Johnson.
Andrew Porter
Ethan Powers.
Simon Ammerman.
Ira Porter.
Lemon Cole
Henry Beam.
Daniel W. Warren.
Frederick Sears.
Samuel Parisb.
Thomas Warren.
Peter Seifret.
Jacob Taylor
Wmn. W. Beckwith.
Ezra Herrick.
Eben Guthrie.
Daniel L. Clark. Jabez Clark.
Nathan SutlitY. Abel Herrick.
Jonas Leonard.
Armon Roscoe.
.
Thomas Ilagaman.
Edward E. Cole.
Henry Terry.
James V. Hagaman.
James Corbett.
Halsey Terry. Lemuel Siphert.
John B. Hoskins.
Tilly Poyer.
Martin Kellogg.
Joshua Poyer.
Phineas Guthrie.
Job T. Reynolds.
David Cole.
Lot Herrick.
John Buchanan.
Elijah Slocum.
Prince Haskell
James Elsby. Warren Miner.
William Huyck.
Robt. S. Southgate.
Lester Clark
Eph W. Herrick.
Perez Miner.
Daniel Sumerliu
Halsey Clark.
Daniel Brightman.
Caleb Heath.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first white child born in Bronson was Timothy T. Newcomb, son of Benjamin and Stata Newcomb. He was born July 6, 1816, the next day after the burial of his father, who was killed by the kick of a horse, as previously mentioned. He married, Sep- tember 9, 1840, Frinda Goodell, of Shalersville, Ohio, and moved to Hiram, Ohio, where they have since resided
The first couple married was Lott Herrick and Lola Sutliff. This event occurred October 16, 1818, at the house of Nathan Sutliff, Robert S. Southgate, justice of the peace, performing the nuptial ceremony. They settled on the north line of the township. but some years afterward removed to Indiana, where both subsequently died.
At a later hour of the same day Judge Southgate united in marriage John Laylin, of Norwalk, and Olive Clark, daughter of Daniel Clark.
The first death was that of Benjamin Newcomb, who was killed by the kick of a horse, July 4, 1816, the circumstances of which have already been given.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Bronson was kept by Lola Sut- liff, in the log barn of Martin Kellogg, in the sum- mer of 1818. Her scholars were Maudane, Lucy, Rebecca and Polly Kellogg; Lucy, Jane, Tina, Elean- or and John Ammerman; Peggy and John Welch. The teacher received seventy-five cents per week, her wages being paid by the parents in proportion to the number of children sent.
The first school-house was built (of logs, of course) on the north part of Nathan Sutliff's farm, a short distance west of the present frame, in the fall of 1819. Martin Kellogg taught the school in it the next win- ter, and was the first male teacher in the township. The house was unfinished at the time he opened his school, and he and Wm. W. Beckwith put it in eon- dition for occupancy. He had about twenty scholars and received fifteen dollars per month.
The earliest religious meetings were held at this school-house, and a remarkable revival occurred there in the winter of 1823-24, when twenty-one heads of families were converted and afterwards united with the church.
The first school-house erected for the benefit of the State road settlement, was built on the north town hne. One of the most efficient early teachers in this house was Esquire John Dounce, who lived in the southern part of Norwalk township. He taught sev- eral terms and is remembered as an excellent teacher.
The first sehool-house built for the accommodation of the settlers in the first section, was erected on the
James Cole.
David Conger.
John Hagaman.
Joel Blish
John Collis
Jabez Denning
---- -
LEISTER SMITH.
MRS. LEISTER SMITH.
RESIDENCE OF LEISTER SMITH, BRONSON TP., HURON CO.,O.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
farm of Esquire Jacob Hicks on lot twenty-seven, just south of the creek. The house was subsequently moved south to the corners, on the southeast corner of Elder Sylvester's farm. The earliest settlers in the fourth section were sent to Macksville to school.
CHURCHES.
With the exception of the Catholic Church, the churches in this township are all located at Olena.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
was organized at the log school house, which then stood on the farm of Esquire Hicks, by Elder Phil- lips, of Berlin, in the summer of 1834. There were sixteen persons composing the organization, as fol- lows: Abner Sylvester and wife, Frederick Hicks and wife, - Hinkley and wife, Hiram Newhall and wife, Nathan Stewart and wife, Jacob Hicks and wife, William;Vroman, Abel Richardson, Mr. Barras and Mrs. Barber. Jacob Hicks was elected clerk of the church, and Frederick Hicks deacon. The first and only pastor for nearly twenty years was Elder Sylvester. The school house was used as a place of worship until the erection of the church building at Olena in the year 1842. The church was built by Hiram Newhall, and cost about one thousand dollars. Since Elder Sylvester, Mr. Hull, Mr. Ames, Mr. Critchet, Mr. Gray and Mr. Islip have officiated as pastors. The latter began his labors in the spring of 1878, and continues in charge. The present member- ship is about one hundred. The officers are as fol- lows: H. M. Hood and Mark Ammerman, deacons; Charles Reed, Charles Blackman and George Fuller, trustees; Angus McDonald, clerk.
H. M. Hood is the superintendent of the Sabbath school.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
was organized at the house of Daniel S. Morse, April 23, 1835, by a committee of the Huron Presbytery, consisting of Rev. E. Conger and Deacon Joseph Pierce, and was composed of fifteen members. On the following sixth of June the society met at the school house at the center of town, and elected Daniel S. Morse, John Hagaman and Thomas Lawrence, elders for one, two and three years respectively.
The use of the center school house as a place of worship was objectionable to a few of the inhabitants there, not members of the church, and the place of meeting was soon changed to Angell's Corners (now Olena). The church continned with usual prosperity under the labor of Rev. T. Kennan and Rev. J. Ed- wards until the spring of 1840. At this time, during the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Salmon, the subject of the erection of a house of worship began to be dis- cussed. The church was unanimous as to the neces- sity of a building, but was divided as to the proper place of location. The members living near the center desired it located there, while those in the vicinity of Angell's Corners regarded that the better
location. This division of sentiment resulted in a division of the church, the center portion, under the lead of the pastor, withdrawing and forming a Con- gregational society. The balance of the church ap- plied to the Presbytery for advice, and were advised to continue their meetings, and consider themselves still as the First Presbyterian Church of Bronson, and in connection with the Presbytery. During the year 1841, the church was under the care of Rev. E. Scott. In July, 1842, Rev. E. P. Sperry commenced preach- ing half of the time, and continued his labors three years and a half.
In the spring of 1847, Rev. J. M. Hayes began his labors as pastor, preaching half of the time, and con- tinned with success for three years.
December, 1850, Rev. Joel Talcott became pastor and remained for one year.
Rev. E. Conger began his labors as pastor in Feb- ruary, 1852, preached one-half of the time, and officiated until June, 1855. In August of the same year, the Rev. John Mccutcheon began his pastorate and continued five years. Rev. J. D. McCord began his labors for the church in September, 1861, and continued until March, 1865. In the following May, Rev. Hubbard Lawrence commenced his pastoral re- lation and remained until the spring of 1868. From that time until January 1, 1870, the church was with- out a pastor, during which Rev. Marcus Palmer, a qnondam Indian missionary, supplied the pulpit. At the date mentioned, Rev. T. D. Bartholomew com- menced his service as pastor and officiated until the close of the year 1877. He was succeeded by Rev. A. Cone, whose term of service has not expired.
After the withdrawal of the center members the remnant of the church built a small frame building, which is now used as a Sabbath school room.
In 1861, the present brick church edifice was erected, chiefly through the efforts of Deacon Thomas Lawrence. The building cost something over twenty- three hundred dollars. It contains a fine bell, the cost of which was four hundred and fifty dollars.
The membership of the church is now something over one hundred.
John Ernsberger, N. H. Spencer and James Park are the Deacons. The latter is the superintendent of the Sabbath school.
The Congregational church, soon after their seces- sion from the Presbyterian church, erected a house of worship a mile north of the center, the land of which was donated by Mr. Bethuel Cole. The church con- tinued with a fair degree of prosperity until the organization of the Congregational church at Nor- walk, when it was disbanded.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
at Olena was formed in 1853, by a union of a North - Fitchville class and a Hartland class with some mem- bers from Bronsou and Fairfield. The following are the names of the original members so far as we have been able to get them: M. E. Butler, leader, Mahala
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