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 91
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 91
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Mr. Stebbens owns one of the finest farm residences in the township. He is a man widely and favorably known, and is esteemed highest by those who know him best.
Horatio S. Todd and his widowed mother (who was a sister of the Strongs), with two or three daugh- ters, came from Cortland county, New York, about the year 1835. He purchased of Jacob Goodrich a part of lot fifteen in the third section, the same now occupied by E. W. Boise, and resided there until his death.
Roswell Stebbins, also from Cortland county, New York, arrived soon after Mr. Todd, and purchased a portion of the same lot, on which he lived until his death. His son Almeron now lives on the place.
N. C. Monroe purchased a part of lot eleven, about 1836, and resided there until about 1865, when he sold to J. D. Collins and removed to Michigan.
James D. Collins, a carpenter and joiner, came from Ashtabula county in about 1844, and purchased near the southeast corner of lot number twelve, and built a house in the grove on the south side of the road. He also built a shop near by. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Francis Strong. She lived but a short time and died childless. He then married Maria Webster, and has since had three children, a son and two daughters. The son, Albert, was killed
387
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
by lightning when he was about twenty years old, in a barn at Enterprise, in which he had taken shelter from a thunder shower. The daughters, Maria and Jane, are still living.
The Joseph Russell house was built by Moses Bemiss; another house then stood between the Welsh and Bemiss' houses. These places have often changed occupants, Joshua Ballard, Prosper Cravath, C. B. Smith, Eber Rathburn and David Claxton, were among them. Smith and Rathburn occupied them for several years, and used the old store on the corner for a wagon shop. Moses Bemiss bought the Smith place and built a house, and also built a joiner shop on the southwest part of his lot, which he occupied several years and sold to I. S. Russell.
The lot next west of R. B. Russell's, on the oppo site side, was sold by Mr. Russell to the Presbyterian Church society, for a parsonage lot, in 1841. A house and barn were built that year, and have since been used by the pastors of that church. The lots next west, afterwards owned by Wm. Houle and Dr. Harcy, were purchased of Stephen Russell, by David and Hiram Root, about 1827. The first building erected was built by the Roots for drying hemp, and the next one for a treading mill and hemp manufac- tory. For a time the hemp business excited consid- erable interest, but soon failed, and the Roots sold to Colonel James Smith and went south. Colonel Smith fitted up the drying house for a dwelling, and after- ward sold it to Alexander Taylor, and purchased a farm in Ridgefield.
Mr. Babcock purchased a lot on the south line of Stephen Russell's land, east of the turnpike, where he remained but a short time. The house was after- wards occupied by Gideon T. Mallory, I. I. Fulkerson, Benjamin Morris, and others.
FIRST EVENTS.
Mary Ann Strong, daughter of Francis and Mary Curtis Strong, was the first child born in the town- ship. The date of her birth was August 3, 1817. She became the wife of Isaac D. Collins in 1840, and died a short time afterwards. The pioneer nuptials were those of Burwell Fitch and Susan Hawks, cele- brated in the winter of 1816 and 1817. They settled in Sherman township, where they resided until their death. The next marriage was that of Ira Bassett and Polly Hand, which took place in the spring of 1817. Miss Polly had previously engaged to marry Burwell Fitch, and, in fulfillment of the contract, accompanied him to a justice of the peace, at Huron. But she had made a confession to a friend that she did not love her betrothed, and that her promise to marry him was due to undue persuasion by friends. The friend to whom she confided her secret took occa- sion to inform the justice concerning the matter, and when the party appeared before him, he questioned them apart as to their willingness to enter into the holy bonds of matrimony, one with the other. Fitch, like Barkis, was willin', but, on learning that his
affianced regarded the proposed relation with repug- nance, which she frankly confessed to the magistrate, wisely released her from the promise. Undaunted by the failure of his first enterprise in this direction, he immediately laid siege to the heart of Susan Hawks, with the result above stated.
The first building erected was the log dwelling of Conrad Hawks, built in 1808. The first frame house was erected by Colonel Nathan Strong, in the year 1817, on the Bemiss place. The first brick dwellings were those of John F. Adams and Horatio Long, built in 1827.
ORGANIZATION.
Prior to 1816, the township was attached to Ridge- field for election purposes. Ridgefield was formed in 1815, at the first meeting of the commissioners, and was made to include, in addition to its own territory, and the present townships of Lyme, the south half of Oxford, together with the township of Sherman. In 1816 the north half of the township was annexed to Wheatsborough. In 1818 the south half was so an- nexed. Wheatsborough included a large part of Groton also. In 1819 the name was changed to Lyme, and on the third day of April, 1820, a regular meet- ing of the electors of Lyme was held at the school house in the Strong settlement, for the purpose of electing township officers. The following were elected: James Hamilton and George Sheffield, justices of the peace; Stephen Russell, township clerk; Nathan Strong, Gurdon Williams and Chester Hamilton, trustees; Joseph Strong and Zadock Strong, overseers of the poor; Joseph Strong and James Hamilton, fence viewers; Gurdon Williams, lister; Gurdon Wil- liams and Chester Hamilton, appraisers of property; Lester Strong, Joseph Kinney, Gurdon Woodward and Levi Sutton, supervisors of highways; Gurdon Wil- liams and Chester Hamilton, constables; Francis Strong, treasurer.
Chester Hamilton did not appear to be duly quali- fied within the time prescribed by law, and at a meet- ing of the trustees, held June 3, 1820, John F. Ad- ams was appointed in his place.
At a meeting of the township trustees, held March 5, 1824, Mark Hopkins, George Sheffield, and Ira Bassett were appointed grand jurors, and Abner Strong and Charles Rash, petit jurors.
At the regular election held April 5, 1824, for the purpose of electing township officers, thirty-three qualified electors were present. At this time it was voted that the supervisors request those subject to poll tax to work two days extra in draining the prairies for the preservation of health. Also, that the super- visor should solicit subscriptions from non-resident land-holders for this purpose.
At the fall election, held October 11, 1825, fifty- two electors were present. At this time Ebenezer Merry had fifty votes for senator in the State legisla- ture, and Elentheros Cook had fifty votes for represen- tative.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
An adjourned meeting of the trustees was held July 23, 1826, at which the job of building a bridge across the deep run brook was let, and turnpiking. in- cluding said bridge, six rods, the same to be raised eighteen inches above the surface of the ground; the bridge to be twelve feet long and sixteen feet wide; the whole to be completed by the 15th of October, 1826. The work was let to Levi Sutton for the sum of five dollars, sixty-two and one-half cents.
There were present at the October election, 1826, fifty-eight voters. Alexander Campbell received the full number of votes cast, for governor. Eleutheros Cook received fifty-seven votes for representative in congress. David Campbell had fifty-seven votes for State representative.
The township officers for 1879 are: A. Morehead and E. O. Merry, justices of the peace; Charles D .. Smith, clerk; John S. Wise, Daniel Cowle and Charles Sawyer, trustees; E. L. Dole, treasurer; E. 0. Merry, assessor; Jerry De Witt and John Demp- sey, constables.
CHURCHES.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first Presbyterian Church of Lyme was organ- ized in July, 1817, by Revs. John Seward, John Treat and Alvin Coe, missionaries from Connecticut, as a committee sent by the Presbytery of Grand river. They came abont one hundred miles through the woods for that purpose.
The first meeting was held at the house of Francis Strong, July 15, 1817, by Rev. Mr. Treat. The following persons were examined and approved: Snsannah Baker, Phebe Root, Dinah Strong, Anna Ferguson and Anna Silvey. The meeting adjourned till the 17th of July, when John Baker, Francis Strong, Wm. Richey, Wm. Ferguson and Jacob Good- rich, were also examined. These persons, with the exception of Anna Silvey, who was not present at this meeting, subscribed to the articles of faith and cove- nant presented by the Grand River Presbytery. After divine services, the church held a meeting at which a constitution and articles of faith were adopted. They then made choice of John Baker as moderator, Jacob Goodrich, clerk, and Wm. Richey and Francis Strong, as standing committee.
From the formation of the church, in July, 1817, they met in the log school house, with very little preaching, until 1820, when Lott B. Sullivan, a can- didate for the ministry, came among them, and was employed temporarily. On the 29th of March, the church and society gave him a call to settle with them as pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained and installed June 14th, of the same year. During his pastorate of about three years, fourteen members were added to the church. For the two years follow- ing his departure, there was no regular preaching. Sabbath school and day schools were established.
In the spring of 1824, Rev. Enoch Conger, from Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, came to the county, and located at New Haven and Greenfield, and, in the summer of that year, Rev. John Beach came and located in Lyme and Peru. Mr. Beach preached one-fourth the time at the log school house in Lyme. His family lived in Peru, where he labored one half of the time. The remainder of the time he preached in the framed school house, at Cook's Corners.
The people of Lyme and Ridgefield were desirous of having a minister all the time and made application to both Mr. Beach and Mr. Conger to settle with them, leaving the matter with the two ministers to decide which should come. Mr. Conger accepted the call and commenced his labors in October, 1826. He continued as pastor nine years, when he was suc- ceeded by Randolph Stone, who labored with the church six months. He was succeeded by Rev. Xeno- phon Betts, who remained about three and one-fourth years. In April, 1841, Rev. S. W. Barritt succeeded him; he remained about four and one-half years, and was followed by Rev. H. N. Bissell, in November, 1845. Mr. Bissell continued in charge eight and one-half years, and was succeeded, in July, 1854, by Rev. Theophilus Packard, who remained its pastor about one and one-half years. In January, 1856, Rev. E. B. Gilbert came. He was followed by Rev. J. B. Sheldon, both of whom served one and one- half years. Rev. E. D. Smith came in January, 1860, and remained three years. He was succeeded, May 25, 1864, by Rev. W. T. Hart, the present pastor.
In 1820-71, dissensions arose in the church, which finally, by vote, in 1822, withdrew from the Presby- tery, and united with the Congregationalists, at the same time changing their name.
The log school and meeting house was built in 1818, and the first brick school house in 1828, at a cost of four hundred and fifty dollars. The church was built in 1835, and cost two thousand and six hundred dollars. The parsonage and outbuildings cost one thousand dollars.
From 1817 until 1870, there were received into the church three hundred and ninety-seven members. One hundred and thirty-eight have died, and one hundred and thirty-six have been dismissed. Some have wandered off. The total membership in 1870 was eighty-nine. Since that time sixty-one have been received into the church.
TRINITY PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church was organized September, 1836. The constituent members were: Amos Woodward and wife, Rachel; Stephen Sawyer and wife, Dorothy; Mary Arlington, James Sawyer, Mat- thew Marvin and wife, Sarah, Joseph Wood and wife, Jonathan Prentiss; Mrs. Julia Ann McCurdy, and possibly, others whose names are forgotten. The first services were held as early as 1822, in one room of the house of Amos Woodward, who read the
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
service, as appointed in the Prayer Book. There were but four communicants in the township at that time. On February 16, 1833, Rev. John P. Bosman held service in the house of Richard L. Mc- Curdy. In January, 1836, Rev. E. Punderson as- sumed charge of the parish, and preached every third Sunday in the school house, where the church was organized, and where meetings were held until the erection of the first church in 1846, on ground given by R. L. McCurdy. This stood on the site of the present one, and cost some one thousand two hundred dollars. It was first occupied on Christmas Day, 1846. In the February following, it was destroyed by fire. Work was begun soon after, on a new church which was partly completed, and first occupied on Christmas, 1847. This cost about one thousand six hundred dollars. The Rev. J. Rice Taylor, of Milan, preached the first sermon. Rev. Mr. Punderson re- mained in charge four years, when he went away, and was gone one year. He then returned and located in Bellevue, preaching in this parish until 1847. Since that time the following clergymen have officiated: Rev. H. Powers, three months; Abram Bronson, six months; Rodolphus K. Nash, two years; George S. Davis, two years; Moses Hamilton, twelve years; De Witt C. Howard, two years, and Jeremiah Karcher, five years, and is the present rector and resident at Monroeville.
The officers on organization were: Amos Woodward, senior warden, and Stephen Sawyer, junior warden; Gurdon Woodward, Matthew Marvin, Jonathan Prentiss, George Frith and James Sawyer, vestrymen. The present wardens are: Edwin Prentiss, senior warden and Sylvanus Mallett, junior warden.
EARLY INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
In 1818, Asaph, Erastus and Israel Cook came with their father, who settled at Cook's corners, near the eastern line of Lyme. They built a large treading mill and dry house for dressing and cleaning hemp without rotting. This business excited considerable interest and was expected to prove profitable to the owners and the community. Smaller mills were erected at Monroeville, and at other points, one by Horace Johnson, one by David Root, and others. The hemp was at first thought to be as strong as the best Rus- sian hemp, and commanded abont the same price; but, by experience in using, it was found that it would not bear friction when dry, and, when wet, rope made from it became loose and spongy, and could not be used as cordage for vessels. The price fell and the market failed entirely, many who en- gaged in it suffering loss and disappointment.
In 1817, Gurdon Williams came as a peddler from Connecticut. He was owner of a large tract of land in Lyme township. In 1822 or '23, he brought on a stock of goods and opened a store in a log building near the south line of the township, in the southwest part, where he continued in business about eight years, in the meantime improving his property. He
afterwards sold out and became a wholesale dealer in salt at Syracuse, New York.
In early days, goods came from Buffalo to Huron in vessels during the summer, and, in the winter; by land in wagons. Articles in use then brought high prices. Whisky was made in the country, and sold for two shillings per gallon; salt was five dollars per barrel; tea, fourteen to sixteen shillings per pound; calico and sheeting, five shillings per yard; axes, three dollars each; hoes, nine shillings; nails, one shilling and sixpence to two shillings and sixpence per pound.
Goods were sold on the ridge about 1823, but the first regular store opened there was in 1827, by Strong & Boise. It was located near the house of R. B. Russell. They continued in business one year and sold to Nathaniel Markham. He built a frame store at Russell's corner and continued in trade several years. J. K. Campbell, L. Strong and others con- tinued the business for. a number of years, but the trade finally centered at Bellevue.
Some time about 1823, Romeo Bassett, who owned a farm in the southeast part of the township, mort- gaged his property for a stock of goods, and opened a store, having as clerk or partner Richard R. Sutton. He failed in business, and soon died.
Lyman E. Strong and Levitt Boise brought a stock of goods to Lyme about 1828, after the opening of the Sandusky and Columbus pike, and opened a store in a log house belonging to Mr. Russell, on or near the ridge. Later they built a store north of the ridge road, and opposite Abner Strong's tavern, which they occupied for a short time, when they sold to Nathan- iel Needham. After a few years he sold to Lyman Strong and De Witt Ballard, who continued the busi- ness two or three years and then closed out. The store room was afterwards occupied as a wagon shop, and for other business.
Pelatiah Strong, son of Abner Strong, exchanged his farm for a stock of goods and opened them in a store built by John C. Kinney, near his blacksmith shop, but continued in trade only a short time, when he sold to I. and T. West. This store changed hands several times, and was finally closed and converted into a dwelling house.
The first saw mill was built in the south part of the township on Frink run by Levi Sutton, in 1814 or 1815. Another saw mill was built about 1830, on a creek which drains the prairies in the west part of the township in Bellevue. It was afterwards used for a brewery, and is now a part of the distillery of Chapman and Woodward.
A tannery was built about 1827, by Horatio Long, on a few acres of land purchased by him near the line of Abner Nims and Zadoc Strong. He carried on the business of tanning and shoemaking some ten or twelve years, when he discontinued the business and became a farmer.
John C. Kinney came to Lyme about 1828, and opened a blacksmith shop near the corner of lot twelve or thirteen. He afterwards sold to Martin Blodgett.
390
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
BELLEVUE.
ITS LOCATION.
About one half of the village lies in Huron, and the other one half in Sandusky county. The county line road, or that part of it lying within the corporate limits of the village, being called West street, divides the town into nearly equal divisions. The center of this road is the western limit of the Fire-lands and of the Western Reserve. The eastern half of Bellevue is situated in the extreme northwestern part of Lyme township, and the western half in the southwestern part of York township, Sandusky county. The south- western corner of Erie county, and the northeast cor- ner of Seneca county, lie adjoining the extreme north- east and southwest limits of the village. The town is situated on the southern branch of the Toledo and Cleveland division of the Lake Shore railroad.
ITS NAME.
The post office was first known as York X Roads, and the village was called Amsden's Corners, in honor of T. G. Amsden, its first merchant. It continued to be so known until the year 1839, when, upon the completion of the Mad River and Lake Erie railroad to this point, it was changed to Bellevue. The pre- vailing opinion among old settlers is that it was so named in honor of James H. Bell, the civil engineer who surveyed the route through this place for the Mad River road. Some, however, claim that the pro- prietors of the road, and the chief residents of the town agreed upon the name of Bellevue, because the signification of the word made it an appropriate name for the village, which, by reason of its location and surroundings well merited a name which means "a beautiful view." At all events the name has a musi- cal ring, and no resident of the place can regret that it was so called.
ITS FIRST SETTLERS.
The year 1815 marks the date when Mr. Mark Hopkins, the first settler within the corporate limits of Bellevue as now established, came to this locality. He came hither with his family and accompanied by a bachelor brother, from Genessee county, New York, and built a log house on land now owned and occu- pied by Peter Bates.
Elnathan George, from the same place, was the next settler. He purchased one acre of land embrac- ing, with other contiguous ground, the lot whereon now stands the Tremont House. He gave a cow in exchange for his purchase. Here was built by Mr. George the second building of the town, in the year 1816. In the following year he built an addition to his dwelling and opened his house as a tavern.
The third new-comer was Return Burlingson, who selected land on the Sandusky county side, and in the year 1817 built him a log dwelling, and started a blacksmith shop. His purchase comprised what is now
known as the Herl property. Mr. Burlingson was a resident of Bellevue for many years, but finally left for California.
In the year 1819 Mr. John C. Kinney completed a log house near the present site of the Bellevne bank building.
This year, 1819, marks the date of the arrival of two very important new-comers-men who were iden- tified with the history of our village, and to whom, more than any other two men, was it indebted for its prosperity. These men were Thomas G. Amsden and Frederick A. Chapman. The Chapmans came first to Ohio in 1814, soon followed by Mr. Amsden, and, establishing their headquarters at the mouth of the Huron river, carried on a very successful traffic with the Indians, exchanging with them goods and articles of which the red men stood in need, for pelts and furs. Besides trading with the Indians, they were engaged in hunting and trapping. They were daring and in- trepid, full of push and energy, with excellent busi- ness abilities, and though they were young men, they accumulated considerable means for those days. Mr. Chapman's father and brother followed him to Ohio in a year or two after his own arrival and settled at or near the present town of Huron, in Erie county. In 1819 Mr. Amsden and Mr. Chapman came to this locality and began the purchase of prop- erty at this point, and did all in their power to attract settlers hither.
However, they continued their traffic with the In- dians and French, and for two years Mr. Amsden made his headquarters at Carrion river, now Port Clinton. In 1821 he established himself at Detroit, and during the latter part of 1822 he carried on a mercantile business at Green Bay for Mr. Daniel Whitney. In 1823 he returned to this locality. He brought with him a stock of goods belonging to Mr. Whitney, and opened the first store at this point in November, 1823. This was Bellevue's pioneer store, and the business was carried on in the building erect- ed by Mr. Burlingson, which stood on ground now occupied by the town hall. In 1825 he formed a co- partnership with Mr. Chapman, and the firm pur- chased the stock of goods of Mr. Whitney. They opened a store at the same time at Castalia, Mr. Chapman taking charge of the business at that point, and Mr. Amsden of the business at this point. It was at this time that the village received its name of "Amsden's Corners."
In the meantime Charles F. Drake had settled here, and in the year 1822 purchased of the government the east one-half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-five of what now is York township, embracing the greater part of the present village on the Sandusky county side, and in 1823 Captain Zadoc Strong cn- tered for Dr. James Strong the eighty acres next west.
Mr. Nathaniel Chapman was among the first citi- zens of the place. Like his brother, he had traded with the Indians, and when he arrived here for the purpose of making this his home, he had some means.
THOMAS G. AMSDEN.
Thoro is, perhaps, no namo moro familiar to the older residonta of Bollevuo than that of Amsden, the place having first been called " Amaden's Cor- ners," from the subject of this sketch, who opened here the first stora, in the fall of 1823.
On first coming to this county, in the latter part of the year 1819, Mr. Amadon became associated with F. A. Chapman and one or two brothers of the latter (who had immigrated to Ohio a little before) in the perilous but strangely attractive business of hunting, trapping, and trading with the Indians. They extended their operationa as far west as Detroit, Mackinaw, and Green Bay. The adventures experienced by these young men (who were hardly more than boys at the time), if properly written out, would form a volume of romance fall of thrilling interest. We have space for only one incident, which had a sad and tragic termination for one of the party. In after-years it was often related to their friends by the two sur- vivors, and has been put on record by a local chronicler. (See Note.)
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