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 61
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 61
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of practice, and he has been in almost constant prac- tice of his profession ever since, in Townsend and the adjoining townships. His professional success may be easily inferred from his extended ride and his very busy life,- having had over twenty-five years of practice.
He was elected justice of the peace in 1859, and has held the office continuously since that time -- twenty years.
He was commissioned lieutenant in the One Hund- red and Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fa itry in the early part of the late war, and was soon promoted to a captaincy in the One Hundred and Sixtv-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
He was elected to the State legislature in 1823, and se ved in that capacity two years.
In early life Doctor Martin was an abolitionist, and in 1852, voted for John P. Hale for president. He has been a staunch republican since the organization of that party. The repeated expressions of confi- dence, by his party, and his prominence in political circles in town and county, give better proof of his unswerving patriotism and real merit than anything the writer can say. .
The doctor springs from a Quaker ancestry which will explain, to some extent, at least, his pronounced anti-slavery convictions in his early manhood.
To properly estimate such a character, we must bear in mind that the church, society, and the two great political parties were intensely pro-slavery, and all alike ready to rend the man who had the temerity to stand and talk, and vote for human rights. "To remember those in bonds as bound with them," created the bitterest antagonisms as well as social ostracism, and was considered sufficient cause for personal abuse and cruel persecutions in many cases, both in the church and out of it. This fact will add a special luster to the early manhood of Dr. Martin.
RIDGEFIELD.
THE following history is prepared from personal interviews with early settlers, the public records, and the sketch of the early settlement of Enos Rose.
Ridgefield township is described on the records of the original Connecticut Reserve as number four in range twenty-three. It is bounded on the north by Oxford township, Erie county; sonth by Peru; east by Norwalk, and west by Lyme townships. The township is generally level, except along the streams. Here are found in many places high banks or bluffs. In the northeast corner of the township the surface is broken or rolling.
STREAMS.
The East branch of the Huron river enters the township from the south, crossing the southern boundary on lot six, in section one. Its course is slightly east of north, flowing from the township on the east line, lot two in the second section. The West branch of the Huron river is formed from two streams, which cross the south line of the township; one on lots one and six in section four, and the other on lot sixteen in the same section. Uniting on lot seven they form the main stream. This flows a gen- eral northerly direction to near the center of Monroe- ville village. Here the course changes to due east, thence a northeasterly direction, and, after many de- vious turnings, crosses the north line of the township on lot fifteen in the second section. Another stream flows from the southwest, and empties its waters into the West branch, in Monroeville village. This is known as Frink Run, from the fact that William Frink was the first to build a habitation on its bank. Frink Run and the West branch of the Huron river divide the township, and on the northeast side of these streams the land is of the nature of prairie, and generally of a deep rich soil, with small islands and groves of small timber. Another small stream enters the township from the west, flows east-northeast and empties into the West branch on lot fifteen, section second. It is called Seymour Brook, from the fact that a man named Seymour was killed by the Indians, in 1812, while engaged in cutting a bee-tree, which stood on its banks. On the south and east side of Frink Run and the West branch of the Huron river, the lands were heavily timbered, and possess a deep, rich, loamy soil, not excelled, perhaps, by any town- ship of the Fire-lands in productiveness.
The township is underlain with a slate rock, from seven to ten feet below the surface.
In the early settlement of the township, game of all kinds was very plenty, as were also fish in the streams. It is related that Major David Underhill, with his men, in one day, caught two wagon boxes
full of fish. At the present day fish enough abound, especially those shy fellows, the black bass, to render exercise with the rod attractive; but unless the law is rigidly enforced, and persons prevented from shoot- ing them during certain seasons, this delicious fish will soon become extinct.
Ridgefield township was divided into four sections, and these were again divided into two-hundred-acre lots, making twenty lots in each section.
ORIGINAL OWNERS.
For an explanation of the following table the read- er is referred to the history of Wakeman township:
CLASSIFICATION No. 1, SECTION 1.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
Isaac Burr
23
5
0
Phillip B. Bradley
23
5
155
5
Hezekiah Nichols
394
10
394
10
John Squire. Jr.
15
16
15
16
Samuel Burr and
35
17
6
35
17
6
David Burr
394
10
7
155
5
1
Samuel Camp
38
17
10
38
12
10
Timothy Keeler 2d
5
0
51
9
0
David Rockwell 2d
3
9
10
0468084 1 6 0 4
.6
1
18
James Scott
Samuel Lockwood
108
14
468026 17 0
0
3
12
0
Sarah Morehouse
189
18
9
Jared Olmsted
18
14
8
Samuel Smith
18
15
2
Nathan Smith
14
1
Abraham Rockwell
10
4 3
10
Jonah Foster
10
3
10
Elihu Derorest
2
0
0
Timothy Keeler 2d
2
0
Samuel Keeler 2d
1
1
7
S
Thaddeus Rockwell 26
18
0
Job Smith
3
10
4
Footing of Classification No. 1 £1,344
CLASSIFICATION NO. 2, SECTION 2.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
Jabez Raymond
332
9
0
Amos Cook
332
0
0
Isaac Keeler
194
0
0
51
12
6
John Woodward
838
17
3
838
17
3
Gurdon Bradley
66
10
0
66
10
0
Azariah Bradley
19
0
19
2
Benjamin Pardee
89
12
0
..
22
Samuel Bishop, Esq. 13
13
3
Footing of Classification No. 2, £1,341
CLASSIFICATION NO. 3, SECTION 3.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
Josiah Raymond
239
9
3
Amos Cooke
239
9
3
Jon'th'n Fitch's h'rs 195
0
U
195
0
0
Robert Waters,
two losses
17
15
1
12
15
7
17
10
Thos. Benedict, Jr.
10
1
9
10
0
3
10
Jolın Knapp
6
10
0
1
12
0
0
4
..
7
0
-
Timothy Wildman
Daniel Taylor. Esq.
656
11
7
4 .
18
Daniel Taylor, Esq.
656
0
Heirs of Elisha
323
9
0
Jeremiah Dunning
2
0
Heirs of Elisha
Whittlesey
0
Samuel Gregory 61
16
10 Heirs of Caleb Starr
61
16
10
Footing of Classification No. 3. £1,314
7
0
(253)
-
-
8.
d.
€
d.
Anthony Anniball
155
5
0
56
7
0
David Rockwell
4
6
17
5
Bartholomew Weed
8
13
18
6
18
6
Daniel Coley
1
18
Phillip B. B adley
20
20
9
0
John Barnum
5
0
. 4
6
8
4
John Gregory
4
1
4
0
1
David Pierce
3
Her heirs
189
6
9
Samuel Olmstead
Abraham Rockwell
10
4
4
Jonah Foster
10
2
13
4
2
13
4
Nathaniel Starr
4
Abigail Wood
18
11
4
H'rs Timothy Taylor 145
10
1
4
Christiana Starr
6
1
1.2
46040020 0 0
Daniel Stevens
Steph'u Trowbridge
d.
£
8
d
Isaac Keeler
191
0
142
Ezra Starr
1214
8
d.
€
S
7
0
13
13
0
Charles Peck
6
4
..
5
12
8
108
14
4
17
10
Timothy Benedict
6
John Squire, Jr.
Seth Smith
56
44
7
0
Ephraim Barnum
10
6 6272 2
155
10
66
4
4
4
Whittlesey
4
13
d.
£
254
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
CLASSIFICATION No. 4, SECTION 4.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed- €
Daniel Smith
183
1
6
Job Smith
100
0
0
Benjamin Northrup
159
6
102
7
6
Gamaliel Northrup
87
13
18
0
29
8
Ebenezer Stebbins
19
0
..
2
0
0
Jesse Benedict
11
10
2
=
11
10
2
Benjamin Smith
4
14
0
4
14
0
Ichabod Doolittle
5
15
1
5
15
4
Simeon Stewart
69
10
10
David and Darling Stewart
69
10
10
Daniel Smith 3d
30
19
10
30
19
10
Sarah Litsby
13
..
2
13
Jemima Keeler
18
10
6
Amos Smith
34
10
6
John Smith
13
16
8
Daniel Smith
6
16
Prue Northrup
4
4
0
Matthew Northrup
4
4
0
James Northrup
53
17
4
0
4
23
0
4
Gamaliel Northrup
87
13
14
12
0
Abijah Smith
16
14
Wm. Rockwell 2d Abijah Rockwell
8
Nathan Godfrey
250
0
Thomas and Simon Conch, Jr.
250
0
9
Thomas and Simon Conch, Jr.
10
0
0
Thomas and Simon Conch, Jr.
10
0
0
David Comstock
313
18
0
Heirs T. & S. C. Jr. 313
18
0
Andrew Comstock
5
4
00
Betty Comstock
5
1
8
Matthew Gregory
12
9
Matthew Gregory
12
9
Elnathan Gregory
31
6
116
Heirs of Caleb Starr
31
6
116 1
Mary Hayes
9
16
0
3
16
0
Fountain Smith
158
15
10
1
4
Nathan Hendrick
19
18
3
1
0
0
Elizabeth Rogers 2d
1
5
0
0
Josiah Wentworth 151
16
0
..
6
216
Footing of Classification No. 4, £1,344
7 0
INDIANS.
Numerons parties of the Wyandotte and other tribes of Indians had a habitation in early times along the river. They passed the time in hunting, fishing, making baskets, ax helves, etc., and were generally quiet and peaceable, except when under the influence of "fire-water," or whisky. Then they were ugly and quarrelsome, behaving themselves, as Mr. Mes- senger states, just like white folks. During the war of 1812, two inmates of the Parker block house in Milan, Seymour and Pixley, were engaged in cutting a " bee tree," standing on the south side of the small stream flowing through the Clary farm. They had nearly completed their labors, when they were fired upon by a party of cowardly Indians, and Seymour instantly killed. Pixley ran, but becoming entangled in the brushwood, was captured, and remained a prisoner for many months.
SETTLEMENT.
William Frink is thought to be the first white man that contracted for land in Ridgefield township, for the purpose of settlement. His contract is dated in 1811, and was for the south part of lot number five in the fourth section. Frink built the first house in the township. It was of logs and stood near the site of the house now owned by Samnel Clock, Frink was more hunter than farmer, and when Seth Brown came into the township, in the spring of 1812. Frink sold his contract and left the county. Very little is now known of his history, either before or since he left the township, except that he was eventually found dead in Seneca county. He was one of those characters who prefer the solitude of the wilderness.
1 -21
19
10
0
Stephen Norris
Hannah Seymour
18
3
=
5
15
Daniel Smith
183
4
6
Daniel Smith ..
83
4
6
John Keeler
23
..
53
17
4
1
David Rockwell
8
4
6
1
Abijah Rockwell
3
5
2 22
James Trowbridge
1
4
James Trowbridge Committee
1
Seth Brown was a go-ahead Yankee. Prior to the date last mentioned, he went to New Orleans, but finding the yellow fever prevailing there, he "stood not on the order of his going," bnt beat a precipitate retreat northward. He traveled the entire distance to Ridgefield, on foot, with no companion but his trusty rifle, a safeguard in danger as well as an assist- ant in procuring food in the wilderness. Arriving at the township, he purchased the land as before stated, and in the spring of 1812, broke a piece of prairie and planted it to corn-the first in the township. The Indians were exceedingly troublesome, and in the summer, Brown became connected with the army, going as far west as Monroe, Michigan ; here he be- came acquainted with a young widow (Mrs. Sarah Tuttle), whom he married, and with whom he returned to Ridgefield in the spring of 1813, and began the battle of life, in the first house in the township. Mr. Brown, it is said, thinking of his good fortune at Monroe, applied the name to the village of his creation. . The family of this couple were four: George W., who was the first white child born in the township, is now living in Illinois; John S., who lives in Price county, Minnesota; Seth, who died in Monroeville in 1849, of cholera; and Emily Jane, who married James Hamilton, Jr., and died in Monroeville May 30, 1857. Seth Brown, Sr., at one time carried the mail from Huron to Sandusky, He died in Monroeville August 20, 1821; his wife died November 18, 1849.
The second settler in Ridgefield township was Sanders Littlefield. He was originally from Crown Point, New York, but was living in Erie county, same State, when he emigrated to Ohio. This was in the spring of 1851. Accompanied by his daughter, Celia, he came by team to Ridgefield. Halting near the site of the residence of the late William R. Jack- son, a rude habitation was improvised from the wagon-box, and in this some three weeks were passed while a log cabin was being constructed. In the fall following, a son-in-law, George Pierce, arrived and occupied the cabin, Mr. Littlefield and daughter (Celia). returning East, going the entire distance on horse- back. The subsequent spring he removed perma- nently to Ohio, with his family, which consisted of a wife and four children, (One son, Ray S., remained East ) Of the children who came with the parents: Ledyard married Mary Read, and in 1828 returned to New York, where he died, leaving four children, (Ann, Leason, Minerva and Darwin); Celia married Deodatus Hubbell: Diantha married Lewis Arnold, and is now deceased; Minerva married Theodore Hawkins, and resides in South Haven, Michigan. After remaining a short time on the original location, Mr. Littlefield removed north, on the ridge, and located permanently on the farm now owned by S. D. Fish. Here he died on March 10, 1818. Mrs. Lit- tlefield returned to the State of New York, where she died.
John Sowers, the next settler in Ridgefield, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, where he lived
€
8.
d.
8.
d.
73
1
Thaddeus Rockwell
26
Hope Rhods
1 178 3
10
0
18
Lydia Gilbert
34
13
Matthew Keeler
6
8
ISAAC UNDERHILL.
David Underhill was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., May 19, 1765. llis father, Abram Underhill, was a captain in the Revolu- tionary war and a member of the Constitutional Convention of Ver- mont, having previously removed to Dorset, in that State. When twenty-six years of age, David went to Herkimer Co., N. Y., and located land in the township of Norway.
The following year he married Polly Osborn, of Goshen, N. Y., and settled upon his purchase. He cleared up this farm, and subsequently another in the same county. Through ill-considered kindness, in be- coming bail for an acquaintance, he lost his property, which induced him to come West. He came to Ohio first, in the spring of 1810, leaving his family behind. He made his stopping-place at Esquire Abbott's, at the old county-seat, while he explored the surrounding country with a view to settlement. He returned East, and the next year came out and purchased thirty-six hundred acres in township No. 4, range No. 23 (Ridgefield), at seventy-five cents an acre. In the summer of 1812 he made a beginning on his land, building a cabin oo the bank of the Huron River where the saw-mill near the water-works now stands. He distinctly heard, while at work here on the day that Gen. Hull surrendered Detroit, the engagement with the British on the river below the fort, and went to Mr. Abbott's to consult about the occurrence.
A messenger soon after arrived with the report that the British and Indians had been seen landing at Huron, and warning the inhabitants to seek safety in immediate flight.
They all started southward, bat before traveling far were overtaken hy a party of men, at first supposed to be forces of the enemy, but who proved, on inquiry, to be the released prisoners of Gen. Hull on their way to Mansfield. They were the party which disembarked at lluron, and the majority of the fleeing inhabitants returned to their homes.
Until the removal of his family, in 1816, Major Underhill made an annual trip to his Western parchase, asaally bringing out with him a stock of goods, which he could sell on the journey, and taking back a stock of furs.
In 1815 he was accompanied on his Western trip by his son-in-law, Horace Morse, Levi Cole and son, and Dr. Joseph Pearce. In that year he built a part of his double log house, at the raising of which all the men in the county within a radius of fifteen miles attended, and yet the number, including the party above mentioned, was only sixteen. le arrived with his family Feb. 22, 1816, his log cabin furnishing temporary shelter during his absence to Martin Kellogg and family.
Major Underhill'e was the usual stopping-place for the judges and some of the lawyers (Platt Benedict accommodating the rest) during the sessions of the court in the early days of Norwalk.
A few years after bis parchase, Major Underhill sold to some of his friends in the East all bat six handred acres of his tract, receiving an advanco on the original price of fifty cents per acre. He subsequently
owacd, in connection with two other men, the third section of Bronson, but disposed of that also.
In the fall of 1817 he erected a saw-mill near where he lived, which was one of the first saw-mills in the country, and which for many years did an extensive business. Daring the first years of their settlement the family suffered much from ague. The country in its new and undrained condition was unhealthy, and the erection of the mill-dam made it still worse in the vicinity of the dwelling, as it caused an overflow of the river-bottoms.
In 1822 he removed to a more healthful location, that which his son Isaac now occupies, erecting a frame house, which constitutes a part of the present dwelling of Mr. Underhill. He died here Oct. 5, 1841, and Mrs. Underhill, Dec. 1, 1850. .
Major Underhill's career was one of great activity and usefulness, and he was estcemed as an honorable man and an enterprising citizen. He assisted in opening the road which runs through Norwalk, and was instrumental in removing the county-seat from Avery.
He was the father of eight children, as follows, in the order of their ages : Thirza, was the wife of Horace Morse, deceased ; Mercy, died unmarried before the removal of the family from New York ; Harriet, widow of Nathan Strong, an early resident of Lyme, lives with her brother, Isaac Underhill, aged eighty-two; Mary, was the wife of Dr. J. A. Jennings ; and Aurelia, wife of A. W. Hulett.
ISAAC UNDERHILL, whose portrait is given in connection with this sketch, was born Jan. 13, 1805. His first business venture was the purchase of a farm of two hundred acres of John C. Hale, an eastern resident, at $2 per acre, and he agreed to make a payment of $50 the next spring. He was puzzled for some time to find a way of securing the $50, bat finally, on a capital of between $6 and $7. com- menced buying deerskins, and on the first lot that he sold at Huron. much of which was bought on credit, he cleared $100; and when the day of payment arrived he was prepared to pay $70 instead of $50, which he did. From that small beginning he has mado the property he now owns, and has purchased back the encumbered homestead of his father, without any assistance through inheritance.
Mr. Underhill was married, March 28, 1851, to Amanda Patten, whose father was an early settler at Dayton, Ohio. She died July 5, 1852, leaving a child who died in January following.
His second wife was Lydia Gregory, whom he married Dec. 27, 1855. She was born April 13, 1830. There were five children bora of this marriage, four of whom are living, ouc having died in infancy. The surviving children are Isaac M., born Sept. 27, 1856; Isabel F., born July 6, 1860; Edwin G., born Oet. 20, 1862; and Arthur, horn March 6, 1867.
David Underhill, the younger of the two sons of Major Underhill, fell from a horse many years ago, injaring his brain and resulting in his mental derangement, from which he has not recovered. Sarah Lonisa was the wifo of A. B. Beaverstock,
255
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
until attaining his majority, when he married and soon after removed to Baltimore county, Maryland. In 1811 he removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, and from there to Ridgefield, Huron county, arriving September 25, 1815. He located on lot four in the fourth section, a portion of which he subsequently caused to be laid out, and now forms a part of Mon- roeville village. Sowers had four sons: John, Jr., who married Chloe Strong (by whom he had four children: Catharine, John, Francis, and Dorcas); his wife died Angust 30, 1830, aged thirty-one years, and he married Mrs. Deborah S. Benedict in October, 1831; had several children by second wife. He died in Monroeville June 3, 1868. Second wife died April 6, 1869. Moses, who married Mrs. Susan Abbott, eventually removed to Richland county, where he died February 16, 1875, leaving two children, George and Bloomer. Daniel, who married Mary McMillan, died in Monroeville October 26, 1877. Mrs. S. died January 20, 1878. (The children were: Mary Ann, John, Agnes, George, Lavina, and Alice.) James, who married Catharine Eastlick, lived in Monroeville some twenty years; removed to Whitley county, In- diana, where he now resides. They have two chil- dren, Mary and Elizabeth.
John Sowers, Sr., had but one daughter, Mary, who married Jesse Davis. One child was born to them, John S. The mother died when he was three weeks old. He lived with his grand parents, and with them came to Ohio. He was then nine years of age. In 1836 he removed to Lexington, Richland county, and in February, 1838, located at Galion. Here he married Catharine Nave, May 17, 1843, and engaged in merchandising. He became largely inter- ested in the banking interest at that point. In May, 1866, he returned to Monroeville, and purchased the residence of S. V. Harkness, where he still resides. He also purchased the brick building occupied by the stores of E. J. Squire and F. H. Drake and the Ex- change Bank. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Davis are: Amanda, who married Captain A. S. Skilton; (have two children, John Davis and Bessie Roby); John and Kittie, who died in infancy, and Mary E., the baby. Mr. Davis is thoroughly identified with the business interests of Monroeville. John Sowers, Sr., died July 23, 1820, aged sixty-three years. Mrs. Sowers died May 21, 1848, aged ninety-three years.
Julius C. Hubbell, of Charlotte, Vermont, mar- ried Sally Barker, and came to Ridgefield, October 13, 1815, locating on lot number seventeen in the second section. When he moved into Ridgeville from Elyria, he came twenty miles without seeing a house. He was at the first election in the township, but was not old enough to vote. There were no mills in the country at that time, and corn, hulled, grated, or pounded, was a common article of diet. He had a family of nine children.
Daniel Page was a native of New Fairfield, Con- necticut, and his wife, Rebecca Moore, of Pownell, Vermont. They were married March 19, 1795. Mr.
Page read medicine in early life, but finally became a surveyor. In 1811 he came to Ohio, locating in Dover, Cuyahoga county, where he opened a hotel. In 1815 Mr. Page bought the farm of Reuben Pixley, in the second section of Ridgefield township, and moved his family thereto in October of that year. He died on this farm in July, 1829. His wife died July 18, 1831. There were two sons and four daughters in the family who lived to maturity. They were as follows: Amanda, who married Henry Dillingham, and removed to Indiana. Lexey had two husbands. Hannah D. was captured by the Indians, and after enduring many hardships, returned to her parents. She married Ezra Herrick, and died in Oakland county, Michigan, leaving seven children. Sophia was twice married, the last time to Amos Felt, of Norwalk. Daniel, who married Louisa Smith, of Oxford; died in Illinois. William, who married Mary Prindle of Oxford, and moved to Calhoun county, Michigan.
Joseph F. Read came to Huron county in 1813. He settled on lot number sixteen in the second section of Ridgefield township, in September, 1814. He afterward moved to lot number seven in the third sec- tion, and occupied a small log cabin, minus floor, chimney and windows. In this he soon commenced keeping a tavern. He subsequently removed to Cass county, Michigan, where he died. He had one son and one daughter. She married Allen Beverstock, and died in Richland county.
A family named Sweatland first settled on lot fifteen in the second section. One daughter and the mother died in July, 1815, and the father in October of the same year. These are believed to have been the first deaths in the township. They were buried on lot fifteen in section one.
Major David Underhill, formerly from Vermont, came from Herkimer county, New York, to Huron county, in 1809-10, and purchased thirty-six hund- red acres of land in section one, Ridgefield township. The deed for this land was made in September, 1811. In 1812, he built a small log cabin on the bank of the river, but, on account of the war, he abandoned it. In 1815, he returned, and built a respectable log house near the site of the first cabin, and the following spring, moved his family on to his possessions, and re- mained there until his death which occurred October 5, 1841. Mrs. Underhill died December 1, 1850. Major Underhill was prominent in the affairs of the township and county. In the spring of 1816, he assisted in opening the road to Monroeville, and he was instrumental in procuring the location of the county seat at Norwalk. The family are as follows: Harriet, who married Nathan Strong, and is now liv- ing on the old homestead; Marian, who married Dr. Junia A. Jennings, and is deceased; Aurelia, who married A. W. Hulet, and is dead; Isaac, who married Amanda Patterson (had one child, this died as did the wife; he then married Lydia Gregory by whom he has four children). He resides in the old farm house.
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