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 70

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 70
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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

FIRST EVENTS.,

There were births, and probably deaths, among the squatters, of which there is no remembrance: but the first birth among the permanent settlers was a daughter of John and Susan Cline. She was named

Savilla, grew to womanhood, married Simon Yetter and moved frem the township.

The first marriage was that of Eliza Day to James McManigal. Of this couple we only know that they moved to Michigan soon after marriage.

The first death was that of Mrs. Higley, who resided on lot number one. The body was buried near the house, and some two years later it was dis- interred, with the intention of removing it to a more snitable location.

In 1839, a post office was established in the town- ship. John Foglesong was postmaster, and the office was located at his house, on lot number seventeen. This office was finally discontinued and, for years, Richmond township has been without a post office.

Richmond has never had anything in the merean- tile line, except two small groceries, and these have long sinee gone out of existence.

In addition to the hotel already mentioned, Abram Pollinger kept a house of entertainment on lot num- ber seventeen, in third seetion, for a number of years.

In 1848, Amos Ogden built a steam saw mill in the east part of township, on the Tiffin road (lot twelve). This was burned in 1861. Three other mills have been built and are still in operation in the township.

The Tiffin road was the first opened in the town- ship. It was begun in 1836, and completed four years later, and even then it was often a day's work to drive through the township with a loaded team.

ORGANIZATION.

From 1815 to '36. Richmond township was attached to New Haven. At the April election of 1836. Amos Ogden was elected a supervisor for Richmond town- ship. He was the first sworn offieer in the township.

In March, 1836, the householders of the township met at the house of Philip Upp. Eleizor Day acted as chairman and seeretary, and it was resolved .. on mo- tion of Mr. Day, to petition the county commissioners of Huron county, for an organization of the township, under the name of Richmond. The following per- sons signed the petition: Eleizor Day. Jacob Cro- ninger, Joseph Anderson, Hugh Carson, Wm. Carson, N. Carson, William Linglefelter, Israel Randal. God- frey Lake, Elijah Packard, Wm. Hutchinson, George Day. Abram Carey. Amos Ogden, Henry Knavel, James Dailey, Jesse Williams, James Youngs. Charles Skinner, Samuel Spencer. William and Thomas Hill, Solomon Billings. Joseph Light and John Carpenter. The prayer of the petitioners was granted. and an election for township officers ordered. to take place on the fourth day of the following July. The record of this election cannot be found, but it is thought the following persons were elected: Reuben Franklin, William HIntehinson and Jacob Croninger, trustees: Eleizor Day, elerk; Philip Upp, treasurer: among justiees of the peace we find the names of Amos Ogden, Amos Roop, Daniel Franklin, Jeremiah Wil- liams, Huriah Robinson. Michael Lutts. Joseph Beel- man, Daniel Sweetland, S. N. Sage, John Carothers

3.4

DR. WILLIAM ROBINSON.

MRS. HURIAH ROBINSON .

HURIAH ROBINSON .

RESIDENCE OF H. ROBINSON, RICHMOND TP., HURON CO.,O.

293

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

and John Nesbit. The township officers for 1878 are: Hiram Snyder, J. J. Critchett and Alexander Brown, trustees; John Moore, clerk; Lewis Kirk- wood, treasurer; Abner Crawford, assessor; Lewis Ault and Abner Crawford, constables; and sixteen supervisors of highways.

CHURCHES

In 1840-41, there existed a small isolated class of Methodist people, along the line between Norwich and Richmond, who were compelled, for want of a better place, to hold their evening prayer meetings at the houses of the settlers. Benjamin Tanner, of Richmond, was their class-leader, and in December, 1841, he appointed a meeting at the house of Mr. Johnson standing far into the woods. Contrary to expectation, people flocked in, with torches through the woods, from every direction, and filled the cabin to its utmost capacity. Rev. Samuel Allen, a circuit preacher, had casnally heard that John Keesey, a Methodist, was living in Richmond, and he visited him in time to attend the prayer meeting. He preached a fine sermon, and from its good effect he thought best to make another appointment. This was at the school house on Day's Corners, and a class of Methodists were organized at this time, consisting of the following persons: F. D. Read and wife, Seth Read and wife, and John Keesey and wife. The class leader was John Keesey. These meetings continued until the church numbered about fifty members. By deaths and removals this class has become so much reduced in numbers that an organization hardly exists at present. Mr. Allen's sermon at the prayer meet- ing was the first Methodist sermon delivered in the township.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

In the fall of 1838, Rev. Michael Long, of the Brethren faith, held an evening meeting at the house of Jacob Croninger, and preached the first sermon in the township. In 1849, Jacob Bell organized the United Brethren Church, in the red school house in the east part of the township, with the following mem- bers: George S. Williams, James May, Jacob Upp, Henry Weaver, Philip Bash, David Bush and wife, and Reuben Fenton and wife. The same year the church, on lot number eight in the second section, was erected. This is now occupied by this society and the Methodists. The present officers of the United Brethren Church are John Anhmiller, leader; Philip Newman, Margaret Newman and Eliza Daw- son, stewards. The membership is seventy.

The class of United Brethren at Union Bethel was organized in abont 1870. Meetings were held, for several years prior to this, in the school house in this locality. The members of this class were: P. B. Keesey and wife, B. Hawn and wife, J. Hoyles, wife and daughter, James Thompson and wife, E. W. Fast, wife and two daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Mc Bride, Daniel Rogers, Mrs. Crabb, Mrs. Finley Leonard, Mrs.

Hannah Pearch, Sarah Keesey, and Truman and Viola Fuller. The present membership is twenty- five. Church officers: Hewey Blair, leader; J. W. Sage, steward. The Union Sabbath school is presided over by Finley Leonard. The following are among the ministers who have preached to both United Brethren congregations in the township: Rev. G. Hoover, William Nevil, William Mathers, George T. Seyler, John Auhmiller. -- Steamen, - Bender, - Ramsey and Klingel.

THE CHURCH OF GOD

was organized by the Rev. William Shafer in about 1855. Constituent members: Abram Pollinger and wife, James Shinaberger and wife, Leonard Allaman and wife, Christian Fetterhoof and wife, Sarah Pol- linger and Mrs. Elizabeth Brandt. Meetings were held in the school house in district number five until the erection of the "Bethel" in 1860. This building is located on lot number eighteen in the third sec- tion. It was built by subscription, and is open to all religious denominations. The membership of the Church of God is thirty. Officers: Abram Pollinger, elder; Joseph Wolf and Lewis Rapp, deacons. The ministers who have presided over that church, are R. H. Bolton, John Senseneg, John L. Jenner, Martin Mowen, D. S. Warner, Jacob Ankerman, J. S. Mc- Kee. George Wilson, W. H. Oliver and William Bur- chard.

THE ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Meetings were held in the summer of 1857, by the Rev. William Schmakero, in the house of Daniel Drehers. The following summer the church now occupied by this society, on lot number twenty-two, was constructed. This cost one thousand dollars, and soon after its completion, the church was organized with the following members: Peter Lepley and wife, Daniel Dreher and wife, John and Simon Dick and wives, William Miller and wife, W. Albright and wife, William Ritz and wife, Conrad Craft and wife, Frederick Goosh and wife, John Waltz and wife, Lorenz Koutz and wife, Frederick Lander and wife. and Christiana Sissinger. The membership at present (1878) is nearly the same as when first organized. Ministers: Charles Miller, Charles Smith, - Brown- walt. - Kramer, O. K. Ulrich and Jacob Kreigher.

SCHOOLS.

In 1834. Richmond township was divided into two school districts, and a frame school house built in each, but a school was only kept in the west one. then standing at Day's corners, on lands now owned by John Waltz. Eliza Day was the first teacher. Her scholars were: Jonathan Jacob, David, Susan, Hannah, and Lydia Croninger, William, Eliza, and Charles Day, Charles, Margaret, and Mary Ann Cline, Andrew and Elizabeth Anderson. and Elizabeth Lingerfelter. The east school house was not completed for a school that winter. These were the first frame buildings in the township, and were well furnished and comforta

294

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

ble. Richmond has now as fine a lot of school build- ings as any township in the county, nearly all of brick.

DEFEAT OF THE SQUATTER.

In 1837, Eleizor Day was elected justice of the peace, and served three years. In 1840, W. H. Pond was elected, served three years, and was a candidate for re-election in 1843. He was wholly and entirely in the interest of the squatter element. At this time two parties, equal in numbers, stood sternly opposed to each other morally. Amos Roop was the opponent of Mr. Pond. Two elections had been held, and both resulted in a tie vote. But at the third the Pond party had increased its strength, so that he was sure of receiving two majority. But to his surprise, when the votes were counted the two majority were in favor of Mr. Roop. An investigation was had, and a suit brought before Esquire Coglazier, of Plymouth, con- testing the election. The court, however, ruled that Roop was legally elected. The defeat of Pond was the defeat of the outlaw party, and the death blow to squatter rule in Richmond township, a sort of moral revolution, as it were. Her good men breathed freer. The civilizing influence of Mr. Roop's judicial ad- ministration scattered the squatters and those who had gathered to their standard, like chaff before the wind, and Richmond assumed a moral position among her sister townships.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HURIAH ROBINSON

is the sixth child of William and Latitia Coleman Robinson, who removed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, soon after it became a State,

first locating in Lenton township, Coshocton county, where the subject of this sketch was born, March 2, 1816. In 1828, the family removed to Marion county, where they remained until 1832, when they came to. Huron county, arriving in Norwich township on May 5th of that year. Eventually the parents removed to Fitchville township, where Mr. Robinson died in Oc- tober, 1864; his wife following him in February sub- sequent. Huriah derived his education in the com- mon schools of Northern Ohio, and after obtaining his majority he engaged in the vocation of farming. On January 16, 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Phebe Wade Johnson, of Richmond township, by whom the fol- lowing children were, born: Hannah, who married John Nesbitt, and resides in Richmond; William J., who is now clerk of the Morton House, at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Emily O., who is deceased; Vol- ney J., who married Emeline Post, of Norwich, and lives in Richmond; Eugene, deceased; Robert, do- ceased; Frank, who married Caroline Croxton, lives in Richmond; Josephine, deceased; and Martha E., who married F. B. Tanner, deceased, leaving two children.

In January, 1843, Mr. Robinson purchased the farm in lot number thirty-seven, in the second section, upon which he still resides, and which he has brought from a " howling wilderness" to a profitable state of cultivation. He now owns one hundred and forty- eight acres.

Politically, Mr. or Esquire Robinson, as he is usu- ally called, is a firm adherent to the principles of the democratic party. In his township he has always occupied a prominent position in its politics, and be- ginning with the office of justice of the peace, which he held twelve years, he has held every township of- fice, except constable, and during his service as justice of the peace had but one case appealed. A fine view of his residence appears in this volume.

8.80.RR

RESIDENCE OF WM. MOTSON , CHICAGO JUNCTION , HURON CO., O.

RESIDENCE OF DANIEL SWEETLAND, RICHMOND TP. HURON CO.O

NEW HAVEN.

THE time that has passed, since the pioneer first walked in the wilderness by the side of the Huron, is almost three score years and ten. Strange and startling scenes, in life dramas, have been enacted upon its brink, before and since then. The Indian, glorying in his wild freedom and holding undisputed possession of the forest, has here lain in wait for the deer to come and drink, has fought the bear and fol- lowed the stealthy panther. Human blood has flowed by the side of the stream. The white man came, and with hard labor rolled together the logs for a humble home. The prattle and the laughter of little children mingled with the musical babbling of the river. The sound of the ax was heard along the shore, and the crashing of falling timber shook the earth. The forest melted away before the march of the army of peace. The country was dotted with human habita- tions; a village grew up and became a busy mart. The church and school house appeared. Where once were no sounds but those of nature, there had come the hum of industry, the bustle of trade, a hurrying to and fro, the greetings of man with man, the ac- tivity impelled by varied human interests. The river was stopped that it might gather strength to turn the mill. There were births, marriages, deaths, the ever occurring joys and griefs of humanity,-the change and mutation of life and time. The village arose and well nigh faded from existence again; houses rotted away; men who were babes when the the country was new, grew old and went down to their graves. In the midst of change only the river went on un- changed, like the poet's brook, for-

"Men may come and men may go; But I go on forever."

Were the fullfilment of the task possible, it would be a pleasant duty to present to the reader of to-day, carefully trimmed outlines of the characters of those men and women, whose lives were passed in pre- paring the wilderness for the present generations; but we shall, however, present some of the facts of pioneer life, and strive to perpetuate, at least the names, of those who bore the brunt in the great struggle of subdning a new country-who surmounted its obstacles and faced its dangers bravely.

The history of New Haven has for several reasons a peculiar interest. It was the first township settled, within the territory at present consisting of Huron county. The village was the first one formed and the plat the first laid out within the present limits of the county. Two other villages have been developed -one to a considerable size by a slow growth, since the star of New Haven's hope waned; the other, a small one, recently and quickly. In addition to

these facts, the red-man enters prominently into the recital of the first settlers' experience, and Jonathan Chapman-"Appleseed Johnny"-occupies a large share of attention, because New Haven was more of a home for that strange philanthropist of the western forest, than any other he possessed after entering upon the life service that made him famous through- out the country.

SITUATION, STREAMS, SURFACE, FEATURES.

New Haven is township number one, range twenty- three, and was generally so known until it received its name. It is bounded upon the north by Greenfield, on the east by Ripley, south by Plymouth township, (Richland county), and west by Richmond. The principal stream within its limits is the Huron river, which flows in a northerly and easterly direction through the eastern part of the township, and thence on to the lake. Almost one fourth of the township, section number four, the southwest quarter, was orig- inally a wet prairie or marsh, which, until it had been improved by extensive and systematic drainage, was uninhabitable and untillable. It abounded, at an early day, in willow thickets, cranberries and rattlesnakes, of the kind commonly called "Saugers." As the land was improved, the rattlesnakes and cranberries and marsh grass gave place, in a large measure, to the production of other and more useful articles, and now a large portion of the once wild waste is cultivated, and gives the farmer a rich reward for his labor in grass, grain and corn. The marsh feeds a small stream, known as Marsh run, which is a tributary to the Huron river.

Stone appears at the surface in the southern part of the township, near Plymouth village, and has for many years been quite extensively quarried for use in the i. mediate vicinity. It is most commonly found in thin layers, more suitable for flagging than for building purposes.

The surface of the township is generally level, but in some portions is slightly rolling. The soil in the north and eastern parts is a mixture of clay and sand, nnexcelled for general agricultural pu poses. In the southwest it is a black sandy loam.

An unusually heavy growth of timber originally covered this territory. The river forms a distinct dividing line between the oak and beech lands. The beech trees are still abundant upon the east side, and oak, hickory, ash, maple and other hard timber upon the west.

ABORIGINAL REMAINS.

Early settlers speak of the remains of an old fortiti- cation, plainly visible before the plowshare had

(295)

296

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

levelled them with the surrounding plain. It was upon land owned by the heirs of David Dow, and situated within the limits of the town plat. The embankments were of circular form, very plainly marked, and trees of a large growth were standing upon them fifty years ago.

THE CONNECTICUT "SUFFERERS" AND THE FIRST

OWNERS OF THE SOIL.

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.

Samuel Squire, Jr.

Elisha T. & Is'ac Mills 32 .6

Amos Jesup

Horton Reynolds

Richard Camp

Isaac Mills

241

Jadock Benedict

Abijah Barnum

Nathaniel Gregory

316

Shudduck Morris

Benjamin Shove

Joseph P. Cook

1016 8

Elizabeth Henry or Henrick

Thomas Benedict

Caleb Baldwin

03/

Aaron Stone

Benjamin Wood

John Porter

Elias Shipman

Jonathan Williams

Thomas Wilson

Committee Jno N. Wadsworth

James Lane

Martin Patchin

Lois Wells

Jotham Williams

Thomas Wilmot

Abraham Tuttle, Jr.

Thos. Punderson, Jr.

Israel Bunnil

16 0

Cornelius Thayer

Isaac Thompson

Thomas Benham

140

Abraham Tuttle

Corn'l's Cunningham

Committee

Rhoda Dennison

William Nuyes

Ebenezer Peck

Ebenezer Peck Committee

Samuel White

Daniel Brown

William Trowbridge

James Bradley ..

Footing of Classification No. 1 £1,344 7

CLASSIFICATION NO. 2, SECTION 2.

Original Grantees.

Am't Loss.

Classified by.

Am't Classed.

Abigail Andrews

David Abbott

Joseph Adams

Lucy Barker

Joseph Bishop

Elias Buck

Peter Bulkley

Timothy l'. Bonticon

. ..

Ama Clinton

Levi Clinton

John Carew

William Doak

Samuel Dunwell

Samuel Dwight

Sarah Davenport

Hamlin Dwight

Martin Gatier, dec'd

Samuel Goodwin

Hannah Hotchkiss

Ebenezer Hull

Richard Johnson

11 10

€

Mark Leavenworth

Samuel Little

Phebe Milier

William Miles

Mary Miles

Mo.es Thompson

Stephen Tuttle

Michael Vaun

David Austin, Jr

Paul Noyes

Nathan Smith

John Austin

John Pease

Noah Tucker

Isaac Mills

93 19

David Ph pps

Archibald Austin

Justin Hobart

Ezra Peekit

Matthew Benedict

101

Sallew Pell

Mary Greenslate

Rebecca Crowfut

Matthew Crowfut Thomas Starr

200

Benjamin Sperry

113

Joseph Benedict

15 15

Footing of Classification No. 2, £1,344

CLASSIFICATION No. 3, SECTION 3.

Original Grantees.

Am't Loss.

Classified by.

Am't classed.

€

Elisha T. & Isaac Mills

Mabel Johnson

Ebenezer Alling

William Eyers

Caleb Gilbert

816

Benjamin Smith

Nathaniel Kimberly

David Mulford

Benajah Thomas

Andrew Smith

Jon Allen

Mary Stillwell

67066 6 6 6

Thankful Thompson

Committee Joseph Smith 4th

Hannah Mansfield

Titus Beecher

George Smith

Jeremiah McCumber

Jesse Stephens

4 6

William Pheymeit

Phineas Andrus

Thomas Davis

334

Lamberton Painter,

(two losses).

0 0 009

Jonathan Sabin

Timothy Tuttle

David Beecker

Philemon Smith

Azel Kimberly, (two losses)

Peter Bonhier, or

Samuel Tuttle

270

Footing of Classification No. 3. £1,344

CLASSIFICATION NO. 4, SECTION 4.

Original Grantees.

Im't Loss.

Classified by.

Am't Classed.

Elisha T. & Isaac

Samuel Tuttle

270

Mills

216

167

Thomas Wooster

590

Jesse Leavenworth

Abner Austin

. .

Edward Buddington

William Buddington

Samuel Squire, Jr

Footing of Classification No. 4, £1,844

3. 11

Walter Buddington

131

. 5

Major Taylor

Thos H. Benedict Mary Kilby

. .

William Punchard Philip Rexford

Francis Sage

Elizabeth Stillman Timothy Sperry

William Sherman

Joseph Tuttle

David Hunt

514

Zadock Benedict

316

Nath'l Lockwood

12 13

Tim'y & Wm. Jones

143

Elijah King

8. d.

Joseph Darling

8327

000

Phebe Brown

Amos Gilbert

John G odsell

070

0 05410300 1 6 1 3 0

Samuel Barnes

Nathan Catlin

Hannah Bingley

John Richards

Mando Cambridge

John Whiting, Esq. 158

James Bradley

John Bradley, Jr.

Wm. J. Vredenburg 9

Isaac Doolittle

Mary Kimberly

3277

0 0 000

Frederick Harding

Nehemiah Hotchkiss

Daniel Goodsell

Samuell Howell

Isaac Dickerman

4 0

Edward Larkin

1 490 O

Widow Scovil or Scovit

Doctor Timothy Mix

Timothy Jones, Jr

210 1 0

Abigail Starr

11 23

$650006644165 0 4 6 6 0 1 6

William Holmes Isaac Jones

148

Samuel Horton

5000 0 0

Bontieon

James Plant

James Hull

John Goodrich

Daniel Wilmot

Stephen St. John

176

1 120

0 7 0100

- Jack & wife

Samuel Fairchild

162

297

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

A PIONEER'S EXPERIENCE DURING THE WAR OF 1812.

Caleb Palmer was the pioneer of New Haven. He entered, for the purpose of settlement, what was then an unbroken wilderness, before the war, in 1811, and . was, undoubtedly, the first permanent white resident in the territory now included in the bounds of Huron county. He was a typical pioneer, rugged, strong. independent, fearless. He was a surveyor, and in that capacity had tramped through the forests of this part of the country some years before. He bought land in 1810. His family, in 1811, when he made his settlement, consisted of himself, wife and two children. Two men, Woodcock and Newcomb, came at the same time, or soon after, but neither remained long in the township, or was prominently associated with its affairs. Newcomb died in Trumbull county, where he had returned for his family. Woodcock made his home on lot sixty-six, section two, and remained a year or so. No mention of him is made after the close of the war, and it is probable that he did not return to his land after going to Richland county, at the time of the Indian scare. It is difficult to obtain .definite information in regard to Palmer, for he seems to have had a peculiar dislike of leaving anything to posterity concerning himself, and is said to have destroyed many papers, which, were they now in existence, would afford interesting particulars of his early life.

The first few years of Palmer's experience was of the kind that would make the stontest heart quail. Soon after the war began, he went to Lower Sandusky with an ok team, and there learned of Hull's surrender, which left the frontier without defence. He was on his guard on the long drive home, and prepared for the worst. No trouble was, however, experienced. During the war, an almost constant watch was kept by the few inhabitants scattered through the country, and scouts were constantly employed, so that the approach of any large body of redskins might be apprehended, and the settlers given time to flee from their homes. On one occasion, five hostile Indians encamped upon the river bottom, just opposite Palmer's cabin. An attack was momentarily expected, but for some reason, although they were well aware of the existence of the house, they did not come near it, but contented themselves with making a meal from the corn growing near by. The danger may have been overestimated, for it was regularly reported that the woods were full of Indians, and rumors, probably greatly exaggerated, reached the pioneers, of horrible atrocities in various parts of the wilderness.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 70

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company Number of Pages: 726

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company
Number of Pages: 726