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 68
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 68
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After his marriage Mr. Cunningham taught for one year, assisted by his wife, the public schools of Milan. He then went to Urbana, Illinois, where three of his brothers were residing, and secured the position of superintendent of the public schools of that city. His leisure hours he gave to the study of law. In June of 1869 he was admitted to practice by the su- preme court of Illinois, and in the following month removed to Emporia, Kansas, where he has since re- sided. He and the writer were in partnership for a short time' in the law and real-estate business. In the spring of 1870 he was elected police judge and held the office two years. In 1872 he was elected to the office of probate judge, which position he filled for six years with great acceptability. The republicans nominated him for representative to the State legis- lature in 1878, but he was defeated by a few votes, the greenbackers uniting with the democrats for this purpose.
*He is a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Emporia, and was chosen lay dele- gate to the general convention of that church which convened at Baltimore in 1876.
He has four children living: Maud, born January 12, 1868; Mabel, December 11, 1871 ; Ella, June 24, 1875; Ralph E., May 27, 1878.
SHERMAN.
ORIGINAL OWNERS.
FOR explanation of the following table the reader is referred to the history of Wakeman township:
SHERMAN, TOWN NUMBER THREE. IN THE TWENTY- FOURTH RANGE.
CLASSIFICATION No. 1, SECTION 1.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
John Saunders
18
10
Stephen Lockwood
211
18
10
Dan'l Finch, 2 losses
122
11
122
14
Seth Seymour'sh'rs 157
4
1
155
4
1
Ebenezer Gregory
9
Matthew Mallery
157
12
0
150
12
0
Josiah Thatcher
6
516
12
18
Matthew Keeler
165
10
10
100
0
0
Mary Smith
17
5
0
514
46
=
10
1016 137
Thomas Fitch's h'rs 415
0
=
11
4
23/4
Hannah Brown
6
6
6
2
8
Mary Roscoe
14
0
0
11
0
0
Daniel Lyman
368
8
184
3
10
Nathan Jarvis
259
6
59
11
3
Footing of Classification No. 1 £1,344 0
CLASSIFICATION NO. 2, SECTION 2.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't classed.
Peter Betts
6
1016
Samuel Middlebrook 11
53/4
Seth Ahbott
55
7
3
55
3
Richard Dunning
10
6
26
10
6
Nathan Hyatt, Jr.
19
11
29
19
11
Joseph Olmstead
9
0
6
9
18
Elizabeth Rogers
1-4
0
928
11
0
James Olmstead
6
4
4
3
3
0
Lemnel Brooks
287
13
282
15
4
Elizabeth Fitch
10
5
10
2
Daniel Gregory
18
18
41
18
18
8
Stephen Keeler, Jr.
95
25
1
3
David Reed
126
1:6
4
Solomon Morehouse
5
11
11
0
Nathan Hoyt
180
6
Jedediah Brown
16:
0
Jedediah Raymond
25
25
3
Jeremiah Webb
0
0
0
5
4 4-8509 . 0
00 0
Samuel Middlebrook 14
9
11
14
11
Ebenezer Whitney
108
13
9
94
10
91/4
Footing of Classification No. 2, £1,344 0
CLASSIFICATION No. 3, SECTION 3.
Original Grantees.
Am't L088.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
Stephen Whitney
19
5
0
Taylor Sherman
19
5
0
Hezekiah Raymond 152
14
4
152
11
4
Moses Raymond
5
0
0
5
0
0
Richard Youngs
31
5
11
31
5
11
Solomon Whitmore
17
17
6
19
9
..
5
19
6
Samuel Marvin
319
3
10
319
3
10
John Jockwood, Jr.
219
14
016
Phineas Miller
219
14
016
Uriah Raymond Jesse Brown
44
0
0
44
0
0
Susannah Butler
6
10
0
Joseph Whitney
182
11
..
182
11
David Seymour
3
19
0
..
3
19
0
John Seymour. Jr.
161
19
161
19
916
Gilbert Bryant
19
1.
916 0
46
10
15
614
Footing of Classification No. 3, €1,344 0
CLASSIFICATION NO 4, SECTION 4.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss. Classified by.
Am't Classed
£
S.
d.
€
8.
d.
Eliakim Raymond
two losses
378
5
3
Eliakim and George Raymond George Raymond 1
378
5
3
James Ferris
4:2
13
3
5
10
Ann Gregg
13
12
1
44
2
6
Enos Lockwood
13
15
0
.6
6
0
Theophilus Lockw'd
0
0
=
0
12
5
16
9
Jonath'n & Ambrose Reynolds
81
1
8
1
4
Gold John Sellick
13
18
0
19
5
0
John Seymour
315
5
0 James Seymour 345
5
0
Nath') Raymond, Jr
141
5
13/ N'th'l Raymond, Jr 144 John Kellogg
9
0
Nath'l Benedict. Jr. 152
1
3 Nath'l Benedict, Jr 152
1
3
Widow Abigail and
Widow Hannah
51
1.
3
Josiah Wentworth 151
16
0
Nath'l Raymond, Jr. 95
7
114
Footing of Classification No. 4, €1,344 7 0
NAME.
Sherman is township number three, in range twenty- four, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Lyme township, south by Norwich township. east by Peru township, and west by the townships of Thomp- son and Reed, in Seneca county. It was named in honor of Taylor Sherman, Esq., one of the directors of the Fire-lands Company, and originally a large land holder in the township. The name was given at a meeting of the directors, held at New Haven, Con- nectient, November 9, 1808. At this time the lands were divided by lot among those holding "sufferer's" claims.
The surface is generally level, and the soil princi- pally clay. Along the borders of the streams it is mixed with yellow sand, and is easily tilled. Away from the streams the soil is harder to work, but is productive, and improves very umch with proper cul- ture. This township contains but little waste land.
SETTLEMENT.
The following is principally from the "Memoirs of Sherman," by John E. La Barre:
Daniel Sherman, (son of Taylor Sherman and uncle of General W. T. Sherman) Burwell Fitch and Samuel Seymour, were the first white settlers of the township. The year of their arrival was 1812. They were from Norwalk, Connecticut, and the last end of their jour- ney was over what was then known as the Portage road, their teams being the first which travelled over it. The first night after leaving Newcomb's, in Bronson, was spent in the woods. They were not accustomed to this sort of a life, and were disturbed and consider- ably alarmed at the noise of the wild animals with which the surrounding woods abounded. They im-
. (284)
€ 180
S.
d
£
8. 3
9
0
Sarah Morehouse
6
4
4
James Keeler
4
048
Thadd'ns Morehouse
80428940 2 1
1714785 1 8 5 4
603 6 0
William Raymond
5
19
0
19
0
Nathan Adams
5
0
Thomas Fitch
387
11
11
11
Nathan Mallery
Shadrach Mead
1
Enos Mead 12
John Kellogg
9
0
Jonathan Bulkley 54
17
3 Bulkley
11
G
Adle Close's Adm'r
19
10
3
8
d
David Boalt
5
121
11
134
124
11
134
6
10
d
8.
0
7
0
Jas. Small Olmstead
18
180
162
17
6
5 134
£ 241
S
400
12
Hannah Fitch's h'rs 141
0
0
d.
29
..
285
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
mediately commenced improvements, in the second section. The first clearing was made on Sherman's . land, and the next on that of Burwell Fitch. The first house in the township was built on the land of the latter.
Daniel Sherman went to Lancaster in the fall of 1812. He returned in December, and the war having ensued, made his home in the block house of Charles Parker, west of Milan. There, in 1813, he married Abby Guthrie, and in March, 1814. returned to his home in Sherman township. He continued to reside in the township until 1825. Mrs. Sherman died in 1821, and was buried in the township burial ground. This was the first burial, and the second death in the township. In 1824 he married Laura Hubbell, and in February, 1825, removed to Ridgefield township, locating on the farm now occupied by S. D. Fish. Here he died September 27, 1864. Mrs. Sherman died December 31, 1876. Their children were as fol- lows: Betsey, who was born November 5, 1814; mar- ried C. B. Hall, and is now deceased. William S., who was born January 20, 1817, removed to Mansfield, where he died September 24, 1876. George Edwin, born in 1819, died July 6, 1831. Harriet E., who was born April 24, 1825; married Sidney D. Fish, and lives on the old homestead; and Charles W., who was born in 1827, and died in 1836.
Taylor Sherman visited the township which bears his name, one season, during which he was taken with the "lake fever." He returned to Connecticut, and after lingering some time, he finally died from its effects.
Burwell Fitch died in Sherman. He had four chil- dren: Mary Ann, who married Buck Chandler, of Bellevue. He died and she became the wife of Eph- raim Felton, of Norwich; Susan, who married Alonzo Husted, of Lyme; Betsey, who married William West, of Fairfield, and Eliza, who married William Burns and moved to Iowa.
Samuel Seymour was killed by the Indians. (See history of Ridgefield township.)
Most of the early settlers located in the first, third, and fourth sections, the second not being in the market. No particular effort was made by the orig- inal owners to draw settlers that way, except, per- haps, by the Lockwoods. In 1814, land was held at one dollar and fifty cents per acre. - Blanchard came this year and bought fifty acres of land. Daniel Sherman gave him fifty acres more to induce him to settle, and the year following he began clearing his farm. Mr. Blanchard had no children, except a son by adoption named Samuel, who lived for a time in Sandusky, and from there he went Michigan. Mr. Blanchard died in Sherman. Rufus S. Paine moved into the township during the year 1816 or '17, and bought Blanchard's one hundred acres, on which he settled and lived until his death. Edwin Hanford, an early settler, died in Sherman, leaving three children, George, Edwin, and James. The following are among the early settlers: Valorous Richardson,
H. Dascomb, who had a wife, was a baker. He soon removed to Sandusky, and from thence to the west. William Frink, the noted hunter, after whom Frink's run was named, had no family in Sherman. He died many years since in Seneca county, with his trusty rifle by his side. Captain Howard moved on to lots eleven and sixteen in the third section at an early date. He remained four or five years, and removed to Hartford. James Lewis and a man named Samuel Rice were living in the township in 1817.
On May 19, 1817, Jonathan Fitch left Norwalk, Connecticut, for Ohio, in company with Adam Swan and John and Seth Keeler. The three horses owned by the party were harnessed in one team, and with this the journey was performed. Near Morristown, New York, they were overtaken by Captain Husted and Ezra Wood, who were also en route for Ohio by team. The company continued together until June 10th, when, having reached a point near Big Beaver bridge, Messrs. Husted and Wood took the right hand road to Clarksfield, while the remainder of the com- pany continued on to Mansfield, in Richland county. Jonathan Fitch soon after came on to Major Under- hill's in Ridgefield township, and from there to Sher- man township, where he took up his abode with Burwell Fitch. At this time there were four families on the fourth section. John Chany owned lot num- ber nine, Nathan Shippy lot number three, Burwell Fitch lot number eight, and Jonathan Fitch pur- chased lot number thirteen. After making some im- provements on his farm, Jonathan Fitch returned to Connecticut in the fall to get a helpmate. When near Pittsburg he met the companion of his former "voy- age," Captain Husted and family, then "moving" to Ohio. Mr. Fitch married Hannah Raymond on the 2d day of April, 1818, and started soon after, by team, on the return trip to Ohio, which State was reached in due time, without accident or material incident, other than those usually occuring in an over land journey to the western wilderness. We have no history of Mr. Fitch and wife, after reaching Sherman township.
Joseph Purdy came from the State of New York to Huron county, Ohio, in 1818, locating in Sherman township in February of that year. In 1822, he re- moved to Townsend township. Some three years later he went to Cleveland and engaged in merchan- dising. This occupation was soon abandoned, and Huron county again became the home of the family. The parents finally settled in Branch county, Michi- gan, where they both died. The children are: Horace, who married Sally Thompson and removed to Michi- gan, where he died; Ransom, who married Sally P. Bennett, and died in Bellevue, this county; and Major, who married Hannah Bennett, purchased a farm in lot number twenty-four, in section three, and still occupies it. Here the writer found him, hale and hearty; and, although time has changed his once jetty locks to a silvery hue, yet has left his mind un- impaired. He is the oldest settler now living in the
286
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
township, and to him the writer is indebted for many items of historical interest. Mrs. Purdy died Sep- tember 3. 1874. Of the family the following are now living: Charles. Norman, Harriet and Nancy.
Ransom Purdy purchased the farm now known as the Purdy homestead in 1822, and lived upon it until about 1865, when he put his two sons on the farm and removed to Bellevue, where he died March 23, 1872, aged seventy-six years. The family are: Diana, who married Lewis Betterly, lives in Michigan; Wil- liam S .. who married Mary Harris, of Lorain county, lives in Sherman: Daniel M., who married Rachel Davenport, lives in Michigan: Mary, who died in in- fancy; and Eliza, who married H. L. Harris, M. D., of Bellevue, Ohio.
Reuben Blooomer came to Huron county in Octo- ber, 1817, and with a family consisting of a wife and seven children, located in Ridgefield township. Here he remained six years, removing in 1823 to Sherman township. He located at Weaver's corners, on the lot now occupied by Jacob Heyman. Here the par- ents died: Mrs. Bloomer, July 24, 1826, and Mr. Bloomer, June 20, 1836. Of the children, we learn Susan, the eldest, became the wife of Moses Sowers, and now lives in Lexington, Richland county; Coles A., the next, married Charlotte Johnson, and died in 1869; Albert. died in September, 1839; Emma J., is now the wife of Albert Brown, of Monroeville; Charles B., married Caroline C. Dimick, and died in 1865; George, married Sally A. Johnson, and lives on lot number ten in the third section. He is the only member of the family now living in Sherman township; has nine children, and John, the young- est, lives in Galion.
Jabez Brant, a native of New Jersey, moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and resided for four or five years at Londonville and vicinity, and subsequently, for a few months, at Jeromeville, near Ashland. In 1831, he purchased a farm in the southwest corner of Sherman township, and the next year two sons, Clark and John K. Brant, arrived and began the work of clearing. They had a few acres cleared and the logs ent for a house, when the rest of the family arrived. A log house was soon rolled up,-the family, in the meantime, taking shelter under a shed built by the side of a tree. This family made the first improve- ment in this corner of the township. In 1860, they removed to Branch county, Michigan, where the father died some five years later. Mrs. Brant died in Sherman in 1842. Mr. Brant remarried, his second wife dying in Michigan. Ten children were born, seven of whom are now living. John K., who lives in Greenfield, is the only one of the family now re- siding on the Fire-lands. He is a progressive farmer, and as president of the Plymouth agricultural society, a position which he has held for the past ten years, has done as much to promote the interest of agri- culture as any other man, perhaps, in the county.
Brace Jones came from Windsor county, Vermont, to Ohio, arriving in Sherman township in January,
1838. He purchased a farm in lot number six in the third section the following June, and lived here until his death, September 26, 1848. Mrs. Jones died March 19, 1865. The children are; Lncien and Susan E., who occupy the old homestead; Lucretia, who married Pardon Brightman, and lives in Sherman; and Sarah, who died in 1838.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first death in the township, was a child of R. S. Paine, date not remembered. The body was in- terred in Lyme township. The second death was the wife of Daniel Sherman, in 1821. She was buried on the farm of her husband, in what is now the burying ground, mn lot number six in the third section.
The first frame house in the township, was built by Henry M. Read, soon after 1820. It was located on Slate rnn. Coles Bloomer built the first brick house in Sherman township. This is now occupied by George Bloomer.
The pioneer "tavern" was opened hy Coles and Albert Bloomer, in 1834, in the building now owned by B. Leyman. The present "Sherman House" was established by David Weaver. H. Drake is its present host.
Daniel Sherman received a comission as postmaster, but did not accept the office. Rufus S. Paine was next commissioned, and became the first postmaster. After a few years, the office was removed to Weaver's corners, and C. A. Bloomer was duly commissioned postmaster. The present postmaster, at this point, is M. McCrillis, Esq. In 1871, a mail ronte was es- tablished from Bellevue to Lodi, and afterward an office was established, at the German settlement called Bismark, one mile south of the center, with C. West- rick postmaster, who is the present inenmbent.
In about 1835, Messrs. Isaac and David Underhill, of Ridgefield township, established a store at Weaver's corners. This closed ont after a few years. The only mercantile establishment in the township is at Wear- er's corners,-Peter Roth, proprietor.
The first apple trees were set out by Daniel Sher- man in 1817. They were brought from Lancaster by his brother Charles. The second orchard was planted by Horace and Major Purdy, on land now owned by B. Leyman, in about 1819. A number of these trees are still standing.
The first road laid out in the township, was from Mansfield to the center of Sherman, and from there to Venice. This was afterwards vacated. The next, and the first one improved, was from Monroeville, through Sherman to Thompson township in Seneca county.
ORGANIZATION.
At the first meeting of the commissioners of Huron county, held August 1, 1815, Sherman was attached to Greenfield township, and in December of the same year was detached, and together with the south half of Oxford was united with Ridgefield. About the year 1820 it was united with Norwich, but no record
LUCIEN JONES
was born in Barnard, Windsor Co., Vt., March 11, 1812. His father was Brace Jones, and his mother Lucretia Part- ridge Jones. When he was eight years of age his mother died. In 1819 his father married Mrs. Lucy Beebe, formerly Lucy Sanderson. By his first wife his father had four chil- dren,-Amanda, Solon, Lucien, and Stephen; and by his second wife he had three daughters,-Lucretia, Sarah, and Susan. Sarah died in September, 1838, the fall after their removal to Ohio.
Lucien Jones worked at farming with his father in the place of his birth until 1838, when he started with a team and sled for the then far West. He made the journey from Ver- mont to Sherman, Huron Co., Ohio, in twenty-six days. On starting out he was provided with a set of wagon wheels which could be attached to the sled, but was obliged to use them only two days. There was sleighing for some six weeks after his arrival in Ohio, and he can recall not more than one year since that time when there has been such a long season of sleighing.
He purchased the farm in Sherman, Huron Co., Ohio, on which he has since resided. It contained ninety-six acres of land, of which about ten acres were cleared, and ten or twelve more partly cleared and girdled ; the balance of the land was covered with a heavy growth of oak, hickory, and elm, with a sprinkling of other timber common to the country. Two years later he added fifty acres to his first purchase, giving him his present snug farm of one hundred and forty- six acres. A log house was built on his first purchase several years previously by Daniel Sherman, the former owner of the land.
In June of the year he arrived (1838) the rest of his father's family came by way of the canal to Buffalo, N. Y., thence by lake, experiencing uniformly pleasant weather during their journey. His parents lived with him until their death. His father died Sept. 6, 1846, aged seventy-three, and his step- mother March 19, 1865, aged eighty-one years.
The first year after their arrival in the new country all the corn was killed by an early frost, September 1st. Mr. Jones then went with a wagon to the Sciota River, some sixty miles distant, to procure corn and wheat for subsistence until another year should roll around. He paid $1.50 per bushel for corn
and $2.25 for wheat. Thereafter he was enabled to raise enough grain to live on except during one year, about 1859, when the grain was killed by a severe frost in June.
The family lived in the old log house two and one-half years, when they remodeled a frame blacksmith-shop that had been built on another part of the farm, and fitted it up as a home; here they lived until 1863, when the present substantial farm-house was built.
During the early years of his life at Sherman, Mr. Jones cut staves and cordwood, which he sold to procure money to pay taxes and furnish needful articles for the comfort of the family.
Lucien Jones has never been a robust man, though he has done much hard labor. He has generally kept hired help, and has been able to work with and oversee them until within the past few years. Some ten or twelve years ago he began to be troubled with sore eyes, and for the past seven years has been unable to perform any hard labor. He consulted eminent oculists in Cleveland, and was treated for several years, with- out any decided improvement, however. He finally consulted Dr. Graeff, of Sandusky, who at once pronounced his eyes covered with cataract; he made an effort to remove the trouble, and for a time with strong hopes of success, but in- flammation set in, and soon all hope was lost. For the past two years he has been unable to use his eyes, and now can only discern the light.
In politics Mr. Jones was a Wbig in early days, and is now a Republican, and has been since the organization of that party.
Mr. Jones has never married. His youngest sister, Susan E., remains with him, and assumes the care of household duties. His eldest sister, Lucretia, married, in 1832, Pardon Brightman, who died in November, 1878. Since her mar- riage she has lived in the southeastern part of Sherman township, and is the mother of seven children.
Ilis life is one of confinement, his only exercise being that which he takes within the walls of his dwelling. He has lived a useful, temperate, industrious life, and now, in the years of his affliction and approaching old age, his youngest sister, in her fidelity and attachment to him, is his comfort and solace.
287
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
is given of it. March 6, 1827, Norwich was detached, and Sherman has since remained a distinct township. The first general election, while united with Norwich, was held October 10, 1820. Asa Gilson, Russell Woodruff, and Abraham Blodget were judges, and Naum Gilson and George Woodruff, clerks. Eight votes were cast-all for Ethan Allen Brown for Gov- ernor, Lyman Farwell for representative, and Asa Sanford for coroner. Printed tickets at this time were unknown. Those used at this election were written evidently by one hand, and are still on file in the office of the clerk of Huron county. At the State election in 1822 fifteen votes were cast for W. W. Irwin, governor.
During the time that Norwich and Sherman were together there was a lack of harmony in local matters, Sherman complaining that Norwich had all the offices. The first and second election for a justice of the peace was declared illegal. At the third, Russell Woodruff was elected.
The first election on record after the separation from Norwich was held April 6, 1829, at which time fifteen votes were cast, and the following persons elected: Reuben Bloomer, Andrew Hanford, and Joseph La Barre, trustees, and Jonathan Fitch, clerk and treasurer. George Hanford was without doubt the first justice of the peace. The officers for 1878 were: John Garharstein, Jocob Haas, and Jacob Hitz, trustees; Milo MeCrillis, clerk; Charles Westrick, treasurer; John Ernst, assessor; Lewis Miller and Coonrod Metz, constables, Milo MeCrillis and William A. Heyman, justices of the peace, and eighteen su- pervisors.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught by George Hanford in about 1824 or '25 in a building standing on lot num- ber eighteen in the third section. There were some eight or ten scholars in attendance. In 1827 or '28 the township was divided into two school districts, termed the east and west district. The first school house was built on lot number nineteen in the first. section, and the first public school was taught by Sarah Mason, one of the early settlers of Norwalk. She received the first public money that ever came into the township for school purposes, and was paid off in silver half dollars. She had fourteen or fifteen scholars, among whom were the daughters of Burwell Fitch, who lived two and one-half miles away through an unbroken wilderness.
CHURCHES.
The first sermon preached in Sherman township was, without doubt, by Rev. Alva Coe, at the house of Daniel Sherman. We cannot give the date, but are 'assured it was early in the settlement. The Methodist ministers were early upon the scene, and organized a church. Meetings were held at private houses, usually at Joseph La Barre's and William Williams', the latter being an active member. as was
also the wife of the former. The organization was kept up for a number of years. After them came the Free Will Baptists, who became quite numerous.
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