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 76
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 76
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The Inschos, Moses and his wife, Jane, came into Ripley from New Haven township, whither they had emigrated from Knox county, Ohio, and settled on lot sixteen, in the fourth section. Several years later the whole family went to Illinois, where the father died in 1837. The descendants of Moses and Jane Inscho were: Harriet, (deceased,) John, (in Wiscon- sin,) Charity, (Mrs. Myram Crawford, now in New Haven,) Thomas, Tracy, (deceased, ) Jane, deceased,) E. H., resident upon the old place, and David, (de- ceased. )
Abraham Stotts, of Virginia, came into the town- ship in the fall of 1825, and purchased land in lot twelve, section three. John Stotts, his son, came in the spring of 1826, and located on lot eleven, in the same section. Another son of Abraham Stotts, William, came a little later, and still another, Isaac Stotts, arrived a number of years later, and located in section two, lot twenty-one. John and Eve Stotts (Winter) reared a large family, of whom A. D., a prominent citizen of the township, was the eldest. The other members of the family are Isaac, (in Indi- ana,) Elizabeth, (Mrs. M. Keiser, in the same State,) Sarah, (Mrs. M. Mills, New Haven,) Martin K., (in Ripley,) Daniel, (deceased,) Catharine, (Mrs. W. T. Place, in Michigan,) and George, in Ripley. By his second and third wives, John Stotts had two children -Mary Ann and Dessie, the former of whom is in Michigan, and the latter in Fairfield. The descend- ants of Isaac and Jane Stotts are: Mary M., (Mrs. W. Starkey, in Ripley,) Betsey (Mrs. M. Day), Eliza, (Mrs. S. Howard, Ripley,) Abraham, (who died under age), James and Vilanda. Jacob Stotts and his wife, Matilda, also came to the township at an early day, from Guernsey county, and he has one son, Reuben, living here now upon the old homestead, lot six, section two. William Stotts was killed in the woods, a few years after his settlement, by the fall of a burning tree or stub.
Simeon Howard and his wife, Mary Wineburner, came from Pease, Belmont county, Ohio, in 1826,
and settled on the northern line of the township. Their children were : Stephen, who married Eliza, daughter of Isaac Stotts, now resident in Ripley, William, Abby (Mrs. C. Crowell), Mary (Mrs. I. Case), and Anna (Mrs. Noecker), all three of Ripley. Philip Wineburner, a brother of Simeon Howard's wife, came about the same time, but did not take up any land.
Samuel Case and Aaron Service came into the town- ship at an early day-some time previous to 1827. They all settled in section fonr. Samuel Case mar- ried in Ripley his third wife, Margaret Doyle. He had, by his three wives, eighteen children, six by each, eleven of whom are now living, Reuben, Rans- ford, and Sydney are in New York State; Samuel in Michigan, James and Western in this township, Ira in Greenwich, engaged in the milling business; Stephen L. in Henry county, Ohio, Lucy (Young) and Eliza (Howard) in this township, and Polly in the West. Of Stephen Case's descendants, five are living, viz .: Reuben, in Indiana; Nathan, in Michi- gan; Ethan, in New Haven township, where he is proprietor of a grist mill; Israel in Ripley, and Sarah (Mrs. E. H. Inscho), also resides in this township.
Rev. Joseph Edwards, a native of Connecticut, who had been for two years a resident of Greenfield, came into Ripley in 1828, and bought a tract of land which consisted of about nine hundred acres. His home was upon lot twenty-eight in the first section, where he remained until his death. He was a presbyterian minister of the old school, a man of large ability, and led an active life and one full of benefit to the com- munity in which he dwelt. His descendants were: Elizabeth A. (Mrs. Darling), in Missouri; Sarah W. (Mrs. J. Brown), Oberlin; Harriet (Mrs. J. Russ), in Illinois; Francis H. (Mrs. Hubbard), deceased; the Rev. Joseph S. Edwards, deceased, and Cynthia J. (Mrs. George Paine), of Ripley.
Daniel G. Barker; a son of Ephraim F. Barker, of Greenwich, who had settled there in 1818, came to Rip- ley in 1828, and settled upon a farm in lot nine in sec- tion two, which he had bought four years previous. He married Eliza Baker. The children of this pair are: Uri W., deceased; Laura P. (Mrs. J. H. Donaldson), of Ripley; Charles R., also in the township, and Amos T., deceased. Daniel G. Barker is still living upon the farm upon which he settled over fifty years ago.
By this time there had come into the township, be- sides those already mentioned, James and Conrad Lutts, Lazarus Evans, William Tanner, Michael Artman, James Smith, Thomas Walling, Benjamin Holliday, Ephraim Powers, and Dudley Scott. The Lutts brothers settled upon lots five and ten in sec- tion two, and remained in the township only a few years. J. Smith and Holliday were squatters from Belmont county, Ohio, and did not own any land. The latter lived for many years, however, opposite the home of A. D. Stotts. Lazarus Evans had his resi- dence upon lot six in section three. Ephraim Pow- ers settled upon lot twenty-three, section two; William
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Tanner upon lot twenty-two, and Thomas Walling, his nephew, upon lot twenty-four. These three were from New York State.
Deacon Timothy Austin, a man of fine character, and for a number of years one of Ripley's most hon- ored residents, came from Hampshire county, Massa- chusetts, in 1830, and bought a large tract of land- about one thousand acres-north of Delphi and lying along the new State road. It was his intention to found an Austin settlement, but by one of those seem- ingly unaccountable reversals of fortune, he failed in his project. And now not one of the family remains in the township, and even the bones of those who were buried where the old Deacon owned so large an estate have been removed. Timothy Austin's wife was Rebecca Harris. Their children were: Horace S., Dexter, Minerva, all three deceased; Homer J., in Kansas; Addison A., in Wisconsin; Edward L., in Plymouth; Martha (Stanley), in Illinois; Mary, Sarah, Dwight and Frances, all deceased; and Eliza (Eaton), in Missouri.
John Bare and his sons, David, Thomas and John, of Niagara county, New York, came to Ripley in 1832. The father and David took up lot eighteen in section two, Thomas located on lot seven, and John upon lots twelve and seventeen: John Bare, Jr., married Amy Stont and they reared a family of fifteen children-ten boys and five girls-all of whom are living. The eldest, Cornelia, (Mrs. R. Morehead ) is in Crestline; David, in California; Hermon, in Ripley; Jane, in Michigan; Jonathan, at Greenwich Station; Wellington, in Ripley; Marietta (Mrs. J. S. White), in Ripley; Henry, in Michigan; Ira, in Ripley; James, upon the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and In- dianapolis railroad; Corvis Minor, county clerk of Hillsdale county, Michigan; Dwight Mortimer, in Ripley; Josephine (Hildebrand), in Michigan, and Jessie at home.
The Fowlers-Dennis, Harvey and Caleb-came also in 1833. They all located in the second section: Dennis and Caleb upon lot thirteen and Harvey upon twenty.
Walter Paine and his wife, Mary (Ink), of Tomp- kins county, New York, came in in 1833, and made themselves a home upon lot one section two. These parents, both of whom are dead, had a large family of children, as follows: Maria (Mrs. Hinkley); of Bron- son; Almira, (MIrs. J. Slates); Ira, who married Lydia M. Knowlton, and resides in Ripley; George, deceased; F. C., a farmer at Delphi, who married Mary A. Jennings; Cyrus, Edwin and Warren, all three deceased; and William C., in Clinton, Illinois.
Sanford Sisson, his wife and a family of twelve children, eight boys and four girls, moved into Ripley from Wayne county, New York, in 1833, and settled upon the Michael Artman place. Father and mother and seven of the children are now dead. Several of the descendants live in Michigan, one in Indiana, and but one, L. P. Sisson, of Greenwich township, re- mains in Huron county.
During the years 1832-3-4 the settlement grew more rapidly. It had then become evident that the township would be well populated, and the fine soil, good character and reputation of the inhabitants, and other favorable conditions, were inducements to emi- grants to locate here. Deacon Isaac S. Ketcham came from Manlins, New York, and took up lot fif- teen in section one. Alonzo Slocum and Andrew Campbell, of the same place, located respectively up- on lots sixteen and one in the above designated sec- tion. Lewis Ingersoll came about this time. Chris- topher Stimple, of New Jersey, took up a small farm and afterwards exchanged for the one upon which he at present resides. Francis Rogers, the veteran mail carrier, came in 1832.
David Maynard and wife and their sons, D. F., Derauzel Z., Thomas, Ira and John had all arrived before 1835,-the first having come in 1831.
Among those who arrived a number of years later were Jesse Hopkins, John C. White, Timothy Ste- vens, now of Fairfield, the Parrotts and J. R. Knight, a resident of the county since 1824, and of whom full particulars are given in the history of Bronson.
Jonathan H. Sterling came into Ripley in 1837 and located upon the town line in the northeast corner. He lived there three years and then removed to Bron- son township and located at Olena, where he has since resided. He was from Wilton, Connecticut.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
The township was organized as soon as there were a sufficient number of voters. April 2, 1827, the first township election was held. The electors who, upon that day, exercised their rights of franchise, were: Abraham Stotts, James Dickson, Aaron Ser- vice, Samuel Case, Daniel Broomback, James L. Lutts, Michael Artman, Moses Inscho, Simeon How- ard, James Smith, John Stotts, William Stotts, Laza- rus Evans and Conrad Lutts. The judges were Aaron Service, Michael Artman, Abraham Stotts, and the clerks. Samuel Case and Benjamin B. Holliday. The fourteen votes cast elected the following officers: Clerk, Samuel Case; trustees, Michael Artman, Abra- ham Stotts, Aaron Service; treasurer, Daniel Broom- back: fence viewers, James Dickson, James Smith; constables, Lazarus Evans, James Dickson ; poor mas- ters, James Lutts, John Stotts; supervisors of high- ways, Moses Inscho, Wm. Stotts, Conrad Lutts.
The first justice of the peace, Simeon IIoward, was elected August 4, 1827. He did not serve in the office, and accordingly, npon November 12th, of the same year, another election was held, and Benjamin B. Holiday was chosen to fill his place. He remained in the office several years, and dischraged its duties very satisfactorily. The present township officers are as follows: Clerk, J. S. White; treasurer, James R. Knight; trustees, S. E. Peck, J. C. Boardman, Frank Watts; constables, Alfred Nooker, William Robinson; justices of the peace, J. J. Carney, J. P. Hloufstater; board of education, William P. Noble, Frank
41
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES. OHIO.
Watts, Thos. Pettit, Wm. Lewis. C. W. Hale, Enos L. Marsh, David Truxell, Geo. Ellis, Isaac Atyeo, Arthur Stevens.
NAME.
The township was named after the Rev. Hezekiah Ripley, of Connecticut, who was one of the "Suffer- ers," and who located land in the third section.
THE FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY
was formed in 1831, or the following year, and con- sisted of the family of the Rev. Joseph Edwards. A short, terse constitution was drawn up and signed by Joseph Edwards, Clarissa Edwards, Elizabeth A. Darling, Sarah W. Edwards, Harriet Edwards, Frances H. Edwards, Joseph S. and Cynthia J. Ed- wards. Soon after a larger society of which nearly all the families in the township became members, was formed. It was a direct outgrowth of the Ed- wards' family society. The township has always had an enviable character as a temperance community, and during most of the years of its existence no places for the sale of liquor have had an existence within its limits.
OTHER ITEMS.
Henry Broomback was the first child born in the township. He now lives in Plymouth.
The first framed house was built by Deacon Timothy Austin, one mile north of Delphi, in 1834, or the following year, and the first brick house was that of John Stotts, which stands upon lot eleven, section three.
The first orchard was planted by Aaron Service.
The first tavern was built by D. E. Merrill at the center, about 1835. It was a log building.
The first mill was built about the year 1828, south- west of Delphi, upon a small creek, in which there was usually insufficient water to turn the wheel.
RELIGIOUS.
The Rev. Joseph Edwards was the first ordained minister who preached in the township. He preached in 1824, to the first andience gathered for religious instruction, and consisting of twenty persons, repre- sentatives of seven families. This meeting was held at the house of Abraham Stotts.
Beside the Congregational and Methodist Churches still in existence, there have been formed in Ripley, churches of the Presbyterian, Christian, Disciples, Baptist, Wesleyan, Methodist and United Brethren denominations. Nearly all had an ephemeral life. The Presbyterian Church was organized at Rev. Joseph Edwards' house in 1830. The sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. E. P. Salmon from the text:
"Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give ye the Kingdom."
This church had quite a flourishing life for a num- ber of years, but began to decline, and about twenty
years from the time of its formation, was supplanted by the Free Congregational Church.
THE GREAT REVIVAL.
Early in 1836, there were several conversions, Three small churches were in existence at this time, and meetings were held with more or less regularity at the houses of their members and at the log school house; but there had been, up to this time, no gen- eral religious awakening-no movement that could properly be designated a revival.
F. C. Paine, who was at that time, to use his own language, "a wicked, vain and almost thoughtless boy, while some forty miles from home, and alone upon the highway, was led, by God's spirit, to both see and feel himself a lost sinner." Having reformed his way, sought and found the comfort of Christian religion, he was anxious that others (especially his fellow youth) should walk in the way he had chosen. He exhorted and entreated them to serve God. Prayer meetings were held at different places on Sun- day and other days of the week, and a general interest on the subject of religion was created. The meet- ings were continued through the summer and autumn, and, when the first month of winter had come, the impression prevailed that extra means should be re- sorted to and an organized effort made for the propa- gation of Gospel truth. But when, where and by whom, did not appear an easy matter to decide upon. Finally it was decided to hold a two days' prayer meeting. The time was fixed and the place selected. The meeting was held at the school house east of Ed- wards' corners, upon the knoll overlooking the swamp. The dimensions of the building were eighteen by twenty feet. Foreign help was called. A messenger was sent to Fairfield, where "there were giants (morally) in those days."
On one Saturday in February, a clear, warm. beau- tiful day, the people assembled. Ere long, a group of men were seen coming from the north-from Fair- field. As they drew near they were recognized as Father Owen, Elisha Savage, William C. Huestis (afterwards a minister of the Methodist Church, North Ohio Conference), Harrison Wakeman and Alvin Allen, all strong, earnest men, accustomed to the work which was to engage them here.
Father Owen led the first meeting, and before the people dispersed to attend their home duties, all felt that a good beginning had been made. Elisha Savage had charge of the evening meeting, and varions oth- ers took part. All of the services were marked with deep solemnity. Mr. Huestis made a powerful exhor- tation, and, when he closed, sighs and sobs were heard from every part of the house.
Sunday morning dawned clear and pleasant, and long before the hour of service, groups of people could be seen coming from all directions to the place of meet- ing. Some were from the immediate vicinity and came on foot, others came on horseback from a greater distance, and many with ox-teams. The seats were
S. OF THE LATE JOHN'S
INTAY
A.D. STOTTS.
RESIDENCE OF A. D. STOTTS
SCALES& CATTLE BARN.
MRS.A. D. STOTTS
I
EY, HURON COUNTY, OHIO.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
all taken; every available bit of standing room within the house was occupied and a crowd stood at the door. In the evening more were present than in the morn- ing. The door was taken from its hinges and the sash from the low windows, that those who were un- able to obtain entrance might hear. Rev. H. G. Dubois was present, and took charge of the meeting. His theme was " redemption," and "he spoke," says Mr. Paine. " as only H. G. Dubois could speak under such eireumstances and to such an audience." At first a death-like stillness pervaded the room, but as he proceeded it was broken by sighs and groans and prayers. "God be merciful to me, a sinner," fell from lips unused to supplication. Notice was given that school would be discontinued and more meetings held. The service was concluded and a meeting ap- pointed for the next day, but the audience did not disperse for an hour. Nearly all seemed relnetant to leave.
The Monday meetings caused an increase in zeal, and those who had labored in the cause were reward- ed by seeing many results of their work. A large number of young people were converted, among them George Paine, afterwards a local preacher in the Methodist church. The day closed with rejoicing on every side. Many were led to take an interest in the services who seldom, if ever, had attended meetings before. Among them was one who had said that "he preferred his gun and the woods to any of their Meth- dist pow-wows." He came to one of the meetings; went away in a thoughtful mood; returned the next day, and before the meeting was over he was found on his knees, unconscious of all that was passing around him. The meeting closed and he remained. A few tarried with him and prayed. While the hymn "Alas! and did my Saviour bleed, " was sung, the ner- vous system of the hale, strong man gave away; he was overpowered and lay as one dead, prostrate upon the floor. The news spread that Austin Taft was converted, and had the effect of increasing the al- ready widespread interest in the revival. The attend- ance inercased. People came from Greenwich, Fitch- ville, Fairfield, New Haven, Plymouth, and Blooming Grove. The meeting was divided and subdivided, some going north a mile and a half to a house on the farm of D. G. Parker, and others gathering at private houses in different parts of the township.
One evening meeting was remarkable for the num- ber of the conversions. The excitement seemed to reach its culminating point. The young converts were zealons and enthusiastic; old professors caught their spirit. Among them was the Rev. Joseph Ed- wards, or, as he was more commonly known, "Priest" Edwards, a Presbyterian minister of the old school. He was severely opposed to anything like excitement in religious gatherings, but on this occasion seemed to have become so thoroughly infected with the pop- ular feeling as to forget his theory and practice. He praised God in a loud voice, shouted hallelujah, clapped his hands, and flually fell from his seat to the
floor. Many others were affected in the same manner.
L. D. Seymour (since the Rev. L. D. Seymour of the North Ohio conference) was, by birthright, a mem- ber of the society of Friends. He had lapsed from the teachings of his fathers and had broken away from all restraint, so far as religion and morals were concerned. He was proud, profligate and profane. He went to the meeting to make sport, soon became deeply interested, and began in a course of thought which speedily led to his complete conversion. John Bare, still a resident of Ripley, was another of the converts of this meeting. The tavern keeper was persuaded to cease selling liqnor, and the family altar took the place of the bar in his house. The whole country for miles around, was thoroughly aroused by the wonderful revival, and after it was over its fame spread farther and farther, and in places at a consider- able distance religious teachers engaged themselves in similar movements. The meetings were discontinned on the eleventh day. Over one hundred persons, young and old, had been converted. Most of them joined the infant churches of the new settlement. Some of the converts were from the neighboring townships, and they carried home a religious enthusiasm which caused good results in their communities. This mem- orable revival, interesting alike from the secular and religious point of view, was commemorated thirty- three and a third years after by a reunion held in Ripley. Only eleven of the one hundred persons con- verted were present. A few had fallen from the faith. others had removed to distant parts of the country, some had died still in the enjoyment of the religion they had first found at the meetings in the winter of 1837. The majority were still members either of the church militant below or of the church triumphant above.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
was originally known by the name of the Free Con- gregational Church, and was an outgrowth of the Presbyterian Church. It was founded upon the prin- eiple that slavery was wrong, and that it was a part of the duty of the church of God to discountenance it and work for its suppression. The church was organized on the 18th day of June, 1851, and, in the main, owed its existence to the Rev. Amos Dresser, of Oberlin, who afterward became very popularly known through the whipping he received at the hands of a number of chivalrie southern gentlemen, because of his anti-slavery opinions. When the question of slavery was forever decided, the church dropped the distinguishing portion of its title and retained only that by which it is known to-day-the Congregational Church of Ripley. The original members of this church were: Harvey IIubbard, Henry E. Brown, Sarah Hall, Francis H. Hubbard, Sarah W. Brown, Joel Hall, Mary Hall, Justice Brown and Clarissa Edwards. Rev. Joseph Edwards gave a piece of land for a church lot and cemetery, and a house of worship was built upon it in 1853, at an expense of one thou-
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
sand dollars. Three hundred dollars were furnished by the New England Congregational Union, and the balance was raised by subscription. The church is, at present, in a very prosperous condition, and has a membership of over sixty persons. The pastor is Rev. A. H. Leonard; deacons, John Carney, J. H. Donaldson, J. C. White; Sunday school superinten- dent, John Carney; assistant, Enos L. Marsh; secre- tary, Louie Carney. The church trustees are: A. Hostler, D. S. Bell, E. L. Marsh; clerk, John Carney; treasurer, Ambrose Frayer.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first Methodist class in the township was or- ganized at General Barker's house some time during the year 1835. Rev. James Wheeler officiated. The class remained in existence for some time, but no re- cord has been kept, from which the names of the constituent members or other matters of interest ean be obtained. The present Methodist Episcopal Church was organized November 14, 1862, the service upon that occasion being conducted by the Rev. L. S. Johnson, then of Plymouth. The original members were F. C. Paine, Mary A. Paine, Sarah Truxell, her son, Homer Truxell, and daughter Mary Truxell, Hannah Long, George Robbins, Olive Jane Robbins, her daughter Kate Robbins, Atwater Hough and Mary Hongh. F. C. Paine was the first class leader. William Robinson succeeded him two years after the organization of the church. The pastors of the church down to, and including the present, are as follows: L. S. Johnson, three years; J. T. Kellum. one year: A. K. Owen, three years; H. G. Du Bois, one year; C. C. Ball, one year; George MacKillipps, one year: John McNab, one year; John McKeen, one year; J. F. Brant, one year: C. J. Russell, one year; P. F. Graham, one year. The whole number of per- sons connected with the church since its organization has been one hundred and fifty, and the present membership is one hundred and twenty. The trus- tees are: S. E. Peck, M. K. Stotts, J. C. Boardman, Atwater Hough and J. C. MeLaughlin; stewards, J. C. Boardman and E. H. Inscho; class leaders, E. H. Inscho, Joseph Gleason and John Hale.
SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
The Sabbath school union of Ripley township, auxillary to the county union, was organized Feb- rnary 6, 1825, since which time, meetings have been held quarterly for the consideration of modes of Sun- day school work. F. C. Paine was the first president of the society, L. S. Gibson, secretary. The present officers are : S. E. Peck, president; J. J. Carney, vice-president ; A. Frayer, treasurer ; Mrs. Belle Gates, secretary. The union is, and has been, one of the strongest, most active and most useful in the county.
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