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 86
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 86
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ZELOTUS BARRETT.
MRS. MARY B. BARRETT.
ZELOTUS BARRETT
was one of the honored and honorable pioneers of New London, a man who, from the first to the last of his long residence in the community, was ever identified with good projects, and aided almost every interest, material or moral, that the people around him had at heart.
He was born in Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1798, and lived with his parents until the death of his father, in 1814. Two years after that he came to Huron County and settled iu Clarksfield, taking up one hundred acres of land, which is now owned by his youngest daughter. He added fourteen hundred acres more to his original purchase, and be- came one of the largest land-holders in this part of the county.
April 1, 1821, Mr. Barrett married his first wife, Miss Betsey Smith, who bore him two children,- Philander and Smith Sherman. Philander lives in Clarksfield, and Smith Sherman upon the old home- stead in New London township. Mr. Barrett's first wife died in 1839, and he married, in 1840, the widow of Enoch Newkirk, nce Miss Mary, daughter of John Roorback, of New London. Of this union were born three children, viz., Betsey Ann, Martha M., and William A., all of whom are still living; the last named in Kansas, and the other two in Huron County.
The following just, and not overdrawn, tribute to the memory of the late Zelotus Barrett appeared in Vol. XIII. of the Fire-Land Pioncer, and is from the pen of Dr. A. D. Skellenger, of New London,
a man who was well qualified to judge, from many years' acquaintance :
"Even as a youth he served his country in the war of 1812-15, and long enough to become a pen- sioner. . .. Mr. Barrett was one of the first three that voted the Abolition ticket in New London. His life throughont was that of a man of energy and versatility,-at one time a captain in militia, at another a banker (the first in New London), at another the owner of fifteen hundred acres of land, and for thirty years of his life a money-lender to the poor, and to those in financial distress. With the ex- ception of a short time in Huron, and a sojourn of three and a half years in Milan, he lived for sixty years in New London, identified in all things with its history and progress. He was most of his life a Methodist, but while living at Milan joined the Presbyterian Church, with which he ever after re- mained. He died in his seventy-ninth year, re- gretted by all who knew him, and followed to his last resting-place by a long concourse of the citizens among whom he lived."
Mrs. Mary Barrett, widow of the late Zelotus Barrett, was born Jan. 29, 1820, in Paoli, Ind., and removed to Ohio in 1830, her parents settling in New London, one mile and a half from the village. As already stated, her maiden name was Mary Roor- back, and when she married Mr. Barrett she was the widow of Enoch Newkirk, who was a connection of the famous Daniel Boone. Mrs. Barrett is still liv- ing in New London.
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BARRETT'S CHAPEL.
RES. OF THE LATE ZELOTUS BARRETT, NEW LONDON , HURON Co., OHIO,
367
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
place in October, 1815, at the house of Almon Ruggles, at Vermillion; although this event was not known to those settling in the second and fourth sections till after they had reached the end of their journey. The other cause, a "rumored illegality" of the pur- chase by Richards of the Douglass estate or claim, which we will next notice.
COPY OF DEED FROM NAT. RICHARDS TO DAVID COIT.
"To all people to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
KNOW YE, that I, Nathaniel Richards, of the town and county of New London, and State of Connecticut, as administrator of the estate of Nathan Douglass, late of New London, did, by order of the conrt of pro- bate for the district of New London, for the consideration of two hun- dred thirty-eight pounds thirteen shillings. (£238 13s. 0d.) lawful money, received, to my full satisfaction, of David Coit, of New London, the State of Connecticut, do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm, unto the said David Coit, all the right, title or share, that the said Nath. Richards, as administrator aforesaid, has, or ought to have, in, or to a certain tract of land lying on or adjoining Lake Erie, which was granted by the gen- eral assembly of the State of Connecticut; at their session in May, 1792, to Nathan Douglass and many others; the whole grant being half a million of acres, the Nathan Douglass proportion of it being about three thousand one hundred and eighty-two (3,182) acres; being the whole of Nathan's rights therein, be the same more or less. The amount of his, Nathan Douglass' loss, as allowed and ascertained by a committee on the losses, being £941 11s. 9d., as from the record of assembly appears, etc., etc., etc, to have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises, with the appartenances thereof, unto him, the said David Coit, and his heirs and assignees forever, to his and their own proper use and behoof. # # # (as nsual to the close).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 11th day of March, Anno Domini 1797. NAT. RICHARDS.
Signed, sealed and dated in the presence of ¿ GEOROE COLFAX, GUY RICHARDS.
New London county, ss .:
NEW LONDON, March 11th, 1797.
Personally appeared, Nat. Richards, signer and sealer of the fore- going instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed before me. GUY RICHARDS, Justice of the Peace.
ON THE SAME DAY-COIT TO RICHARDS.
"Know all men by these presents, That I, David Coit, of the town and county of New London, for divers good causes and considerations there- unto moving, especially for the sum of £238 13s. 0d., lawful money, re- ceived, to my full satisfaction, of Nat. Richards, of New London, in the connty of New London and State of Connecticut, have remised, released and forever quit-claimed, and do, by these presents, forever for myself and my heirs jointly and absolutely remise and forever quit-claim unto the said Nathaniel Richards, and to his heirs and assignees forever, all such right or title as I, the said David Coit, have or onght to have, in a certain tract of land lying on or adjoining Lake Erie, which was granted by the general assembly of the State of Connecticut, at their session in May, 1792, to Nathan Douglass and many others." * * * (The same description to close as the former one. Executed on March 11, 1797, and witnessed by the same witnesses, and before the same justice of the peace.)
DECREE OF COURT.
After nearly thirty years the above deed was de- clared illegal, and the terrible effects will be apparent from the following copy of the record of the court and their several decrees:
PICKETT LATTIMER TO WILLIAM P. CLEVELAND, DEED, ETC., ETC.
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Whereas, William P. Cleveland, executor of the estate of James Lewis, deceased, Charles R. Lewis and George A. Lewis, by said Cleve- land, and their next friend, heretofore filed their bill of complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Huron County, sitting as a' Court of Chan- cery, against Nathaniel Richards, Benjamin Huntington and Henry Channing, praying the sale and foreclosure of a claim against lands in said bill described, RS fonr thonsand one hundred and fifty acres, in the 20th range, 2nd township, and third section, in the county of Huron, and two thousand twenty-nine acres in 20th range. 2nd township, 1st section,
amounting in all to six thonsand one hundred and eighty (6180) acres; and, whereas, the said Huntington at a subsequent term of said court had also filed his cross-bill of complaint against said Cleveland, Charles R. and George A. Lewis, Nathaniel Richards and Henry Channing, pray- ing that said lands might be sold, and foreclosed for his benefit and for the satisfaction of a certain debt owing him from said Richards, and secured on said land; and, whereas, the said court, at their October term, 1823, on the hearing of said bill and cross-bill, made their inter- locutory decree, ordered the Master Commissioner of said Court, that by the oaths of five freeholders, in said bill mentioned, to canse said land to be appraised by lots; and, whereas, the Master Commissioner of said Court, in obedience of said decree, and by virtue of decretal to him directed, did canse the following lots of land to be appraised by the oaths of freeholders, to wit: lots No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6; sonth part 8, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24. in the third section of said town; and lots No. 7; north part of 8, 9: south part of 10, 13, 14, 15; sonth part 18; north part 18, 23, were appraised, subject to the rights of settlers thereon, being in the section aforesaid; and lots in the first section, No. 14, 15, 16 17, 18, east part of 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and the west part of lot No. 20, east part of No. 25, and west part of 25, appraised subject to the rights of settlers thereon; and that, having made his report of his proceedings to said Court of Common Pleas, and they having inspected the same, and being satisfied that said appraisal had in all respects been conducted agreeable to said decree, at their August term, A. D., 1824, made a fur- thur decree in the premises, by which, among other things, it was or- dered, that the Master Commissioner do proceed and sell said mortgaged premises, he giving thirty days' notice as is required by the act regulating judgments and executions. That he set up each lot separately, and that so much of said land as has been "contracted" he shall sell subject to said "contracts." and that he report his proceedings thereon.
And, whereas, I, Pickett Lattimer, Master Commissioner as aforesaid, did in obedience to said decree, and by virtue of a decretal order, ad- vertise and offer said lands for sale according to the command in said order; and that having struck off and sold all the right and title of Nathaniel Richards in and to the following land, to William P. Cleveland, who bid by his agent, Eben Newton, and was the highest bidder, to wit:
No. of No. of lot . acres. acre.
At per Amount- ing to.
lot.
acres. acre.
Amount- ing to.
1 . . 16014 . . . $1.7516. .. $192.17
16 18776 ... $ .91
$176.62
2 .. .. 158 ... 8314. . . 131.5316
17 .. .. 15716. .. 1.3313. .. 209.9916
3 . . . . . . 16516. .. 8314 . .. 137.77
19, .. 16516. .. 1.00 ... 165.50
4. . . . . . 16516. .. 1.3316 ... 220.66
20 ...... 16734 ... 1.00 167.75
6. ..... 168 ... 1.50 . .. 252.00
21. .. 16616. . . 8314. . . 138.60%
8 ...... 60 ... 2.00 ... 120.00
22 ... .157 .. 1.17 183.69
11 ...... 16834 : .
6616. .. 112.20
24 ..
1713% .. 91 .. 156.06
12. .. .. 160 ... 1.50 .. 240.00
25. ..... 1731%. ..
8314. . . 144.4316
situated in said third section.
Lot 7 .. 158
.$360.56
Lot 14 .. 16914
.$126.72
"
8 .. 107
259.31
= 15 .. 17316 ..
143 62
9 .. 1661%.
352.85
S. pt. 18 .. 8314.
39.15
10 .. 861%. .
92.92
N. pt. 18. . 8314 ..
39.15
Gore 13 .. 1691%.
132.75
Lot 23 .. 16974
180.57
situated in third section subject to the rights of those having contract for the same.
No. of No. of At per lot. acres. acre.
Amount- iny to.
lots.
acres. acre .
ing to.
14
.. 170 .. $1.17 .. $198.90
20
91 . . $1.17 ... $106.47
15. ... 159 8314. .. 132 31
21. . . . .. 17916. .. 1 3316 .. . 289.3216
16 .. ... 17216. .. 1.4216 ... 245.91
22 ... .16916. 1.4216. .. 241.5815
17 . . . . . . 16316. .. 1.4216. .. 232.98
28 .. . .. 17114. .. 1.2516. .. 214.9194
18 ... . 16534 .. 1.2516. .. 208.02
24 1734 .. 1.04-4. .. 188.08
situated in said first section.
W. p't20 t E. p't 25 ( 15812
.. $175.35
W.p't25 .. 8214
... $116.6616
situated in said first section subject to rights of those having contracts therefor; and having reported my proceedings thereon, aud said Court having at their October term, 1824, inspected said report. and being sat- isfied that said sale had, in all respects, been conducted in conformity to said decree,-Ordered that the Master Commissioner make, execute and deliver to said Wm. P. Cleveland a deed, conveyiug to him all the right and title of said Nathaniel to the above described Innd subject to the rights aforesaid :
Now, therefore, I, Pickett Lattimer, Master Commissioner as afore- said, by virtue of said decretal order, and for and in consideration of $6,966,83, received, to my full satisfaction, of William P. Cleveland, do grant, bargain and sell to the said William P. Cleveland, all the right and title of said Nathaniel Richards in and to the aforesaid lots of land sitn- ated in the first and third sections of New London, and in the county of Huron, subject to the right of those holding "contracts" thereof, be the same more or less; to have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises to his own proper use and hehoof in as full and perfect a manner as I could, by virtue of the authority aforesaid, convey the same.
No, of No. of At per Amount
19 . . . . . . 1651%. .. 8344 . . . 137.77
No. of No. of At per
368
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
Signed, sealed and acknowledged. and delivered in the presence of HARVEY G. MORSE, SIMEON B. STURGES,
PICKETT LATTIMER, Master Commissioner.
Acknowledged before Enos Gilbert, Justice of the Peace.
Received for record May 21st, 1825; recorded June 21st, 1825.
ICHABOD MARSHAL, Recorder.
[Copied by A. D. Skellenger from the Record of Deeds, pages 379 and 880, April 25, 1879.1
It was by the above decree that John Miller, Sr., who was a son of a daughter of Nathan Douglass, came, in 1825, in possession of several thousand acres of land in New London township, making him the wealthiest person in the township, as he was also the most respected.
Below is a list of a few deeds given for land in the third section, with the date of the transfer and the names of the parties and the number of lot and num- ber of aeres:
By decree of court to Solomon Hubbard, lot 5, 175 acres, 1822.
By decree of court to Hiram Blackman, lot 10, 8616 acres, Oct. 3, 1822.
Simeon Blackman to Solomon Hubbard, N. E. corner lot 10, 10 acres, Apr. 10, 1823.
Simeon Blackman to Ariel Pixley, N. p't lot 10, 1216 acres, Apr. 20, 1824. Heirs of James Lewis to Henry Anderson, one-half of lot 18, one-half of 16616 acres, April 1, 1825.
Heirs of James Lewis to Hosea Townsend, one-half of lot 23, 16914 acres April 1, 1825.
Heirs of Nathan Douglass to Ariel Pixley, S. half lot 10, 8616 acres, July 10, 1829.
Heirs of Nathan Douglass to John Hooker, W. part lot 17, 50 acres, July 2, 1830.
Heirs of Nathan Douglass to William Sweet, lot 15, 17316 acres, March. 1, 1831.
William Sweet to Abram Prosser, lot 10, 1 acre, July 11, 1831.
William Sweet to Abram Prosser, lot 15, 173 acres, July 11, 1831.
Heirs of Nathan Douglass to Pickett Lattimore, lots 1, 2 & 4, 47834 acres, June 9, 1830.
Heirs of Nathan Douglass to Philo T. Porter, N. p't lot 8, 104 acres, Oct. 25, 1830.
H'is of Nathan Douglass to Jos. B. Brackenburg, E. p't lot 22, 7816 acres, May 18, 1831.
H'rs of Nathan Douglass to Harris Peck, part lot 12, 27 acres, May 2, 1829. H'rs of Nathan Douglass to Wm. C. Spaulding, part lot 7, 50 acres, June 7, 1831.
Jos. B. Brackenburg to Hosea Townsend, p't lot 22, 27 acres, June 20, 1831. Heirs of Nathan Douglass to John Harmond, N. W. part lot 11, 55 acres, June 5, 1531.
H'rs of Nat'n Douglass to J. W. and B. Parks, S. W. p't lot 11, 134 71-100 acres, Oct. 4, 1831.
A'rs of Nat'n Douglass to Geo. Minor, E. p't lot 17, 56 acres, Dec. 1, 1832, H'rs of Nat'n Douglass to Isaac P. Case, S. p't lot 14, 8434 acres, July 11, 1829.
John Miller to Tracy Case. N. part lot 14, 8116 acres, March 11, 1833. John Miller to Tracy Case, part lot 6, 8216 acres, March 11, 1833.
The question of title disposed of, New London now rapidly settled.
John, Archibald, and Truman Bates, and sister, Charity (Mrs. Phillip Sworthout), first settled on the town line road in the fourth section about 1826.
Alexander McConnell and wife, and family-J. C., J. A., Martha, and William, came to New London in 1831: settled on lots number seventeen and eighteen, first section. The lot had been occupied by one Odell before McConnell bought it. J. A. and J. C. are dead. William now lives on lot number eighteen; married M. A. Roorback in 1840, and is the father of Mary (Mrs. Carvey), Alexander K., J. F., and A. E. Mr. William McConnell is among the best men of the township, having filled several offices.
Elisha Noble and family came and settled on lot number fifteen, first section. Died 1836, or, as his son and others say, was murdered by Dr. MeMillen, of Clarksfield, who amputated his leg and did not ligate the artery, and he bled to death.
Robert Gordon came in 1831; was one of the organ- izers of the First Free Will Baptist Church in 1833. Settled on lot number twenty-two, second section. Lockwood and Chauncey Shaw, in 1834, settled on lot number four, second section. David Rumsey on lot number nineteen, second section, in 1835. George Rumsey came in 1837, and John Hosmer in 1835, settling on lot number twenty-five, second section. John Hofstatter settled on lot number fifteen, second section, in 1844. Captain Henry King came in 1839, and his family in 1840. B. L. Mead, in 1843, locat- ing on lot number twenty-four, fourth section. N. Runyan, in 1836; J. Bradley, 1839; Stephen Kil- burn, in 1840, and many more about this time. Dyer Barrett, in 1835, lot seventeen, in second section; Daniel Hemenway, in 1835, settling on lot twenty- three, section first.
Mrs. John Wanzer Hendryx hung herself in 1834.
ORGANIZATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The township of New London was organized in 1817, and the first election was held at the house of Mr. William Sweet, on the first Monday in April. William Sweet, Isaac P. Case and Solomon Hubbard were trustees; Sherman Smith was township clerk; Hosea Townsend and B. Crampton were appraisers; Philo T. Porter was constable, and H. Townsend acted as lister. Mr. I. P. Case was made a justice of the peace, and tradition has it that he was elected at an election held in Florence, and he was elected unanimously, by one vote, and that unanimity was cast by Solomon Hubbard. But Mr. H. Townsnd says such a notion is only fietion, and, of course, untrue. The early records of the township were burned. with all the furniture in the house, at the time Sherman Smith and brother's house was burned, in 1818 or '19, and the want of any record compels us to say we do not know who was elected in the spring of 1818. It is conceded there was no fall election in 1817. The first State election was held in 1818, and the poll book shows twenty votes, which at the ratio now given for boys, girls, and women, (and many of the early pio- neers had large families of boys and girls) would give the town somewhere from sixty to one hundred inhabitants.
Mr. Hosea Townsend furnishes, as a record made by his wife, the following correct list of a few of the earlier marriages, with the dates, and by whom the interesting and solemn hymeneal knots were tied: Ira Blackman to Lovina Smith, daughter of Nathan Smith, October 20, 1816, by E. Sprague, of Florence, justice of the peace; Town Clark to Philotha Case, December 20, 1816, by the same justice of the peace; Nathan Canada to Hannah Van Deusen, March 17, 1812. by David Abbott, justice of the peace; Z. Nor-
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JESSE PERKINS.
MRS. JESSE.PE
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RESIDENCE OF JESSE PERKINS , NEW LONDON, HURON CO.,O.
369
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
ton to Cynthia Post, of Clarksfield, October 14, 1818, by Isaac P. Case, justice of the peace; Enos Smith to Sally Sampson, January 5, 1819, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; Francis Keyes to Mrs. Elizabeth Scrib- ner, July -, 1819, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; Mr. Upson Clark to Sally Day. daughter of Dr. Samuel Day, December 28, 1819, by I. P. Case, jus- tice of the peace; Peter Kinsley to Lydia Merrifield, March 13, 1820; John Hooker to Laura Anderson, March 23, 1820, by Isaac P. Case; Hosea Townsend to Miss Sophia Case, March 25, 1821, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; John Day to Miss Polly Corey, December 16, 1817, by Esquire Ralston, of Richland county, at uncle A. Hendryx's, in Haneytown, now Savannah.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first birth occurred on the 29th day of Febru- ary, 1816. Unto John Hendryx's wife was born a son. It died, of what, we know not, having lived only a few months. No name.
Mrs. Eunice Knapp, daughter of I. P. Case, born August 10, 1817, is the oldest person born in the township and living in the village.
Mr. Joseph B., son of Solomon Hubbard, born Angust 27, 1817, is the oldest male born in New London.
The first adult death was that of Mrs. Francis Keyes, who died of consumption in May, 1819, and was buried on their own lot, near John King's or- chard. Mrs. Polly Day, daughter of John Corry and wife of John Day, died in the autumn of 1820, and was buried on her father's farm, being the first buried in the village cemetery.
The first house erected was by Abner Green, on lot number ten, third section, February, 1815, and the first frame house by Hosea Townsend on lot number twenty-three, third section. The first frame barn was built by I. P. Case, and the first log store (a building -24x36) in 1819, on his place. The first frame store was William C. Spaulding's, on lot num- ber seven, third section. The first boy born in a frame house in the town was Ira Townsend.
The first corn was raised by Abner Green, and the first wheat carried to mill was by Hosea Townsend, to Uniontown, now Ashland. The first flour and meal was obtained at Florence.
The first manufacturer of boots and shoes was l. P. Case, in 1815. The first black salts or potash was made by Josiah Day and his father, Dr. Samuel Day. The first orchards from the seeds were planted by H. Townsend, William Sweet, John Corry, and Francis Keyes, in 1820 and '22. The first grist mill was put up by Captain William Blackman in 1826, and was a sinall concern-two sand-stones turned by hand. The first brick building was erected in the fall of 1865 and in the summer of 1866. Was used by Thomas Smith as a cellar. The Masonic Hall was built the fol- lowing year. The first brick store was built by C. W. Gregory in the village in 1866. The first brick
block of stores was built by Z. Barritt in 1867. The first quarrel or fight was between Dan Higgins and I. J. Webber. Webber knocked the wind out of Hig- gins, but he recovered. The first man killed at a raising was Simeon Munson, in 1828. The first arrest for forgery was one Bailey, and he was acquitted by proving he could not write. Peter Kinsley had a fight with R. Bailey, and Peter was the first to go to jail; nothing serious. The first hotel was kept by Peter Kinsley, a double log house with many addi- tions; he also used it as a store. The first frame hotel was kept by Henry King in 1840. The first brick hotel was erected by J. A. and J. C. McConnell in 1869-70, and first kept by M. Motter. The first township clerk was Sherman Smith, in 1817. The first justice of the peace was Isaac P. Case, from 1818 to 1851. The first mill of any magnitude was erected by John Bates; was moved into the village by Peter Kinsley and J. S. Merrifield in 1833, and was known as the "horse mill." In 1838-9 we had in Ohio the first and greatest drouth, the streams becoming dried up. It was then the wisdom of the " horse mill " investment became manifest. The mill ran day and night, Sunday not excepted. The first importation of blooded cattle from southern Ohio was by John Miller, in 1835, and were descendants of the English importation of Durhams in 1817. The first saw mill was built by I. P. Case, the second one by John Miller, in 1826, and the third by Robinson, in 1834. The first steam saw mill was built by T. B. Hemenway in 1857; the first steam grist mill was built by O. G. Remington in 1861-2. The first rail- road was the Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis, afterward the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, in 1850.
The first road opened was the Read, a military road from the south side of the county to the lake on the west line of New London, in 1812. The second road was for the passage of the army of General Wm. H. Harrison's division, 1814, through the northeast cor- ner of the township. The first road made by the pioneers was what is known as the Clarksfield road to Ruggles, commenced 1816.
The first mail matter was obtained at Huron, Judge Jabez Wright, postmaster, Dr. Richard P. Christo- pher keeping the office for the judge. The next was obtained at Norwalk. The first mail route was from Tiffin to New London-a man in southern Ohio tak- ing the contract for carrying the mail, but mistaking New London for London in the central part of the State, he gave up his contract, and it was then car- ried by Squire Palmer, of Fitchville, from Fitchville to Tiffin and back, once a week; and by Tracy Case and Hosea Townsend from Fitchville to the office of I. P. Case, postmaster, for the revenue of the office. This was under J. Q. Adams' administration. Under Jackson's administration Peter Kinsley officiated as postmaster at "Kinsley Corners," or Merrifield's Set- tlement. The first route through the township was from Florence to Uniontown, or Ashland; contractor,
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