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 92

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 92
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 92

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).

Mr. Amsden, F. A. Chapman, and his younger brother were at one time carrying on their operations nenr Detroit and in Conada, along the north shore of Lake Erie. They had secured a valuable pack of furs, which tempted the cupidity of the Indians, by whom they were waylaid, robbed, and taken prisoners. Of course, they watched every opportunity to escape. They managed, by the presentation of some trinkets which they happened to have in their possession, to secure the hearty good-will of an old squaw, who took a time when the Indians wera less than usually vigilant, and assisted the boys to escape by untying the cords with which they were bound. It was midwinter, and, to avoid the least noise, they were obliged to remove their shoes and start in their stocking-fect. The Indians soon discovered their escape, and made after them. Then commenced a race for life. The redskins overtook the younger Chapman, who was never afterward heard from, and who is supposed to have been killed. Ams- den and the other Chapman made for the lake. It being frozen over, they struck across for the opposite shore. With frozon and bleeding feet they arrived at a hamlet on this side, about where Huron or Vermil- ion now is. There they found the friends and refreshment they must. sorely have needed to prolong the lives which their determined energy had saved.

As above stated, Mr. Amsden first established himself at Bellevue, then Amsden Corners, in the latter part of 1823. He was from that time, for several years, associated with F. A. Chapman in general merchandising. Their goods were at first adapted to trading with the Indians, who were then the principal inhabitants. As the Indians decreased, and the white folks multiplied, they continued the busi- ness, increasing it as trade demanded. Beginning in a log but, they finally carried it on in a more pretentious frame building, the first of the kind in this region, a part of it being occupied by Mr. Amsden as a family residence. This boilding was event- ually torn away to make room for the stone block in which the First Nation- al Bank now is.

In this frame building (known as the "Red Store," from the color in which it was painted) the firm of Chapman & Amsden did a prosper- ous business for ten years. Mr. Amsden then sold out his interest to Dr. L. G. Hfarkness, in June, 1833, and went to farmiog, having purchased three hundred acres of land of Mr. Samuel Miller. He afterward did business some years with Mr. Bramwell, in the stone building that was burned down by a fire which swept the ground where the Union Block now stands.

After this (about 1848) he established a store and distillery in Monroe- ville, which proved an unfortunate investment, and left him in comparatively straitened circumstances. Enough, however, was saved to keep him and his family in comfort for the remainder of his days. After a few years spent in comparative retirement in Bellevue, he sold what he had left here und purchased a small farm near Fremont, where he died, Dec. 7, 1876, at the age of seventy-nine years, one month, and twenty-nina days.

Mr. Amsden was a man of great physical energy and endurance, as well as of fine intellectual qualities, and in hia long partnership with Mr. Chap- man took the principal charge of the out-door business, while Mr. Chapman managed the office-work. Mr. Amsden was highly respected for his un- swerving integrity, and genial, affable manners. He was so widoly known for bia sound and reliabto judgment that, for many years, bis advice was uniformly taken before any new enterprise of importance was started. Ilis name had become a household word. Ile was for nearly thirty years a prominent and faithful member of the I. O. O. F. in Bellevue, and afterward in Fremont. At the time of his death appropriate resolutions of sympathy and respect were passed by the order, and a large delegation from the encampment nt Fremont accompanied his remnina to the beautiful ceme- tery at Bellevuo, where they wero deposited amid the ashes of his dead,

-his first wife and sevoral children having preceded him to the Spirit- land.

Mr. Amsden was elected justice of the peace for sevoral terms at Belle- vue, and was also postmaster some years, when he first came to this place, tho post-office being in his store. llis entire education waa received in the common schools of New York; but it was sufficient to fit him for the busi- nesa of teaching, which he followed in his younger days. He was always a liberal supporter of the Protestant Episcopal Church,

A brief genealogical record will close this sketch :

Thomas G. Amsden wna born Sept. 9, 1797, in Ontario Co., N. Y., his father, Isaac Amaden, owning a farm between Geneva and Canandaigua. His ancestors were from Massachusetts, and of English origin. He was twice marriod, his first wife being Lydia Chapman, a sister of F. A. Chap- man, bis partner in business. They were married about the time the firm went into business at Bellevue, which was, as above stated, in the latter part of the year 1823. Of this marriage there were seven children, -Sarah, Mary, Isaac, Thomas (then two that died in infancy), and William.

Sarah marriod the Hon. J. P. Shoemaker, living at Amaden, Mich., a place so called from the subject of this sketch, who once owned the land on which the place is situated. They have five children,-three boys and two girls.

Mary married Abishai Woodward, son of the late Gurdon Woodward, May 26, 1847. Mr. Woodward is a prominent banker and business-man of Bellevue, now owning the Bramwell Place, which he has rebuilt and greatly improved. They have seven children,-Gurdou, Mary, Thomas, Gertrude, Abishai, Cornelia, and Alice Sarah,-as interesting and promis- ing a family as any patriarch could desire.

Isaac married Cornelia Birdseye, in Sandusky County, and now resides in Fremont, where he is doing a pros- perous business in the lumber trade. They have five children,-three girls and two boys.

Thomas was married in Monroe- ville, and had three children. Ho died some years since in Bellevue.

William married in Fremont. Dur- ing the Inte war he enlisted in the army, and was soon made captain in the 3d Ohio Cavalry. In the spring of 1862 he was prostrated by camp fever, near Corinth, Miss. He was first brought to a hospital in Ciucin- nati, and thence to his home in Fre- mont, where he dicd, June 19, 1862. His body lies with kindred dust in the Bellevue Cemetery. He was a most promising young man,-one of the many noble spirits who freely offered up their lives to save the lifo of the republic.

Mr. Amsden's first wife died about 1841. A few years subsequently he married Miss Harriet Wiles, of Mon- roeville, by whom he had five chil- dreu,-Emily, Edward, Lizzie, Mag- gic, and Harriet, the first two being twins.

Emily is married to Charles Cul- len, who is engaged in a successful drygoods trade in Delta, Faltou Co., Ohio, where he also owns a flouring- mill. Ile commenced life as an errand boy in Mr. Amsden's store, and, between pluck and luck, he has gradually worked his way up almost to the top round in the ladder of fortune.

Edward lives at Canton, Ohio, where ho has a music-store, and is also engaged in the real-estate business. He is an ardent supporter of the Episcopal Church in that place, of which he was made warden when he was but little more than twenty-one. Ile was married in Seville, and has one child,-a daughter.

Lizzie is unmarried, and lives with her mother at Fremont. Maggio died in Bellevue, about eleven years old.

Hattie married n Mr. Ross, in Fremont. She has two little girls, and is also living with her mother.

NOTE,-We have found some confusion of recollection and statement in regard to the interestiog adventure related above. In the " Chats about the Old Folks," pub- lished in the Bellevue Local News during the years 1875 and 1876, this story is re- lated as if only F. A. Chapman and a younger brother were concerned in it, and as if the event occurred in the vicinity of Greeo Bay. But the children of Mr. Ameden etate so positively that they have often heard their father speak of taking part in this adventure, that we have felt warranted in associating his neme with it. In other respects, we have followed substantially the account contained in the "('hats." But, from conversations that we have had with the ohlest living pioneers, we are rather inclined to the opinion that the capture took place near Detroit, instead of Green Bay; that only Amaden and F. A. ('hapman were captured at this time, hoth escaping io the manner related; and that the adventure in which Alfred Chapman lost his life occurred at another time, at a point farther west, and in com- pany with a young man by the name of Allen, who, in endeavoring to escape from the Indians, along with youog Chapman, was compelled to leave the latter to bis fate.

391

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

He purchased a large tract of land, a part of it lying within the present limits of the village. He was a man of strong, native ability, and was always recog- nized as one of the leading men of the town. He possessed the ability to accumulate property, and died worth a good many thousands of dollars. He dealt largely in real estate, and in the purchase and sale of sheep, horses and cattle. He and Mr. Bourdett Wood together purchased large tracts of land in the west. He was universally esteemed for his sound business integrity, and for his liberality in the sup- port of benevolent enterprises. He donated the lands upon which the old Baptist church stands, and, in many ways, proved himself a staunch friend of all institutions whose object is the enlightenment and elevation of man.

His danghter Angeline, in 1846, married the Rev. James M. Morrow, a pro ... inent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a chaplain in the late war for about two years, and was connected with the Ninety-ninth Ohio Infantry. While in the service he came home several times on various benevo- lent errands for the soldiers of his regiment-the last time, in December, 1863. Returning January 4th, he was fatally injured in a railroad collision near Dayton, Ohio, to which place he was taken, and died there February 12, 1864. His widow resides in Bellevue.

THE GROWTH OF BELLEVUE.

From 1825 to 1840, the growth of the village was slow, and it was not until about the time of the building of the Mad River railroad to this place, in 1839, that the advancement of the town received any considerable impetus. This was an event of no little importance to the prospects of the place, and in 1835, in view of the approaching completion of the road, the land of the village on the Huron county side was purchased of Gurdon Williams by F. A. Chapman, T. G. Amsden, L. G. Harkness, and others, who lent their best efforts to the advancement of the place. The decade from 1830 to 1840, witnessed a number of important arrivals in Bellevue-men who became per- manently identified with the town, and to whom its rapid prosperity was in no small measure due. Dr. L. G. Harkness, who had been a practicing physician in the western part of York township, came in 1833. Abram Leiter came the same year. J. B. Higbee and Benjamin and David Moore came in 1835. William Byrnes came in 1835. H. H. Brown was at this time the hotel keeper, and was very active in his efforts to assist the growth of the place. In 1835, the popu- lation of the village could not have exceeded a hun- dred people, while in 1840, a year after the completion of the Mad River railroad, it numbered not less than five hundred, and at the date of its incorporation, 1851, about eight hundred.

Cuyler Greene came here from New York State at the age of twenty-two, where he was born March 10, 1811. Upon his arrival he was engaged as salesman

for Chapman & Harkness, and afterwards superin- tended for Mr. Chapman the old stone tavern, since called the Exchange Hotel. He built the old stone blacksmith shop, that for so many years stood where the Bellevue bank building now is. In later years he became the landlord of the Exchange Hotel, and then of the Bellevue House, and then purchased the farm on the pike, two miles east of town, now known as the Richards farm. After a residence here of some years, he bought the Hollister farm, on the ridge, east of, and near Monroeville, where he died December 3, 1848. February 17, 1836, he married Tryphena Fol- lett, by whom he had four children: Malcom C., who resides in Boston, where he is in prosperous business; William E., who has for many years been actively en- gaged in business life in Bellevue; Ferguson, who died April 3, 1825; and Frank B., who died Septem- ber 26, 1847. Cuyler Greene is said to have been a man of good business talents, and his wife, afterwards Mrs. Goodson, was an estimable lady, whom every one who knew her esteemed for her excellence of character and her devotion to every worthy object and laudable enterprise.

In 1835, came J. B. Higbee, who is elsewhere re- ferred to, Benjamin and David Moore and William Byrnes and others. Few men are more extensively known in Bellevue and the surrounding country than David Moore. He and his brother came here from Union county, Pennsylvania, and both have lived right here for a period of upwards of forty-four years. David Moore has been the village undertaker for nearly the entire length of that time, and very faith- fully and satisfactorily has he performed every trust of this nature, and when we add that he has attended the burial of nearly two thousand persons, old and young, during these years, the compliment is not small. Benjamin Moore made the journey hither, a distance of four hundred miles, on foot, in the mid- dle of winter, the snow being eighteen inches deep, and performed this pedestrian fent in eleven days. This illustrates the energy and spirit of those sturdy men who developed this country, and mastered all obstacles on the road to fortune. Mr. Moore has followed a variety of pursuits; has been carpenter and joiner, been in the jewelry business, sold dry goods, conducted a livery establishment, run a line of hacks to and from Toledo, kept a hotel, managed a farm, and dealt in real estate. He has been successful and has acquired a handsome property.

William Byrnes entered the employ of Cuyler Greene when he first came to Bellevue, in the old stone blacksmith shop, but in six months' time bought out his employer, and for ten years he hammered away at the anvil and pounded out a fine fortune, amply pro- viding for a life of retirement which he led for many years, and for the maintenance, in a comfortable home, of his family. He died February 6, 1877.

In 1852, the Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland rail- road was located through Bellevue, and in the follow- ing year completed, and the cars came whistling

392

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

through here from the four points of the compass --- north, south, east, and west. New impetus to the life of the village was given by this event, and the town rapidly increased in population. The country had also been rapidly settled, and Bellevue, situated in the midst of a fine wheat growing country, came to be an important market for the shipment of grain. The Higbee flouring mill was erected in 1850, and other manufacturing enterprises were soon estab- lished. The Mad River road was lost to the place in 1855, but the detriment to business on this account was not serious. The town continned to enlarge and populate, while the surrounding country in every direction became thickly settled with an industrions farming population.

INCORPORATION.

The town was incorporated by act of legislature Jannary 25, 1851, its charter limits embracing an area of abont one mile from east to west, by abont one- half mile from north to sonth, the center of the area being the central point of intersection of Main street with the county line. In the month of February, 24, 1851, the following were chosen the village officers: Abraham Leiter, mayor ; S. L. Culver, recorder ; Thomas G. Amsden, Eliphalet Follett, Benjamin F. MeKim, David Armstrong and Joseph M. Lawrence, trustees. The corporate limits were enlarged in 1869, so as to be about one mile and a half from east to west and from north to south. The present village officers are: Peter Brady, mayor; H. F. Baker, clerk; J. A. Higbee, John Scullen, William West, Joseph Egle, C. D. Stoner and E. H. Smith, councilmen: William Mayne, marshal.

DISTINCT CLASSES OF POPULATION.

The village has a population, to-day, of abont three thousand and inhabitants. This population embraces not less than four distinct classes of people, each of which is represented by about the same number of individuals. First three are those of American birth, whose parents came to this region at an early day, from New England or New York State, and who were the real pioneers. Representative fam ilies of this class are the Chapmans, the Woodwards, the Harknesses, the Woods (the Bourdett branch), the Sheffields, the Greenes, the Bakers, etc. Second, there are the Pennsylvania people, many of whom came, likewise, at an early day-a thrifty, sober and indns- trions class. They are represented by the Moores. the Hilbishes, the Sherchs, the Leiters, the Boyers, the Kerns, etc. Third, came the English, England born, of whom may be mentioned the Greenslades, the Wills, the Heals, the Fords, the Maynes, the Joints, the Radfords, etc .; and the Germans, who, perhaps, ontnumber any other one class; of these may be mentioned the Egles, Ruftings, the Bebriechers, the Liebers, the Webers, the Ailers, the Setzlers, etc. The Yankees were the first to arrive, then the Penn- sylvania Dutch people, then the Germans, and lastly

the English. We append here brief sketches of one or two Germans, and of one or two Englishmen.

J. H. Weber was born in Germany, in 1842, and came to this country, when a lad, in 1853. He first located in Tiffin, and that town and Fremont were the places of his residence for the next six years. His occupation was type setting. He followed this trade until his removal to Bellevue, in the winter of 1859-60. Arriving here, he began immediately in the business which he has ever since followed-that. of groceries and general merchandise. He clerked two years for J. Murschel, and then went into part- nership with that gentleman, in which relation he remained one year, when Mr. Murschel went out of the firm, and Mr. Weber took a junior partner to assist him in conducting the business. In 1876, he began entirely alone, and has, since then, built up a. large and lucrative business in groceries, crockery, etc. He has also conducted a branch store at Winamac, Indiana, and has been engaged in an enterprise at La Rne, Ohio, where he and two other gentlemen have had a large saw mill in operation, working into lumber the timber from a tract of land, including seven hundred acres bonght by the firm .--

Mr. Weber's career has not been one of uninter- rupted success, but, on the contrary, he has met with several adverse circumstances. By the fire in 1875, he lost his store, and it was this misfortune of his which led to an improvement in the business portion of Bellevue, which may justly be regarded as one of the most important made. He built up in connection with Wise & Gross, the Union block, upon Main street, of which he owns the four westerly stores, one of which is occupied by himself at present. He pos- sesses, in a large measure, the confidence of his fellow German citizens who are in the habit of consulting him on matters of importance to them.

Joseph Egle, one of the most prominent and infin- ential German citizens, was born in Baden, Germany, April 28, 1828. When he was twenty-four years of age, he came to America and located in Norwalk, Ohio. In 1854, he removed to Bellevue and began business for himself in the grocery line. This de- partment of mercantile business he pursued diligently and successfully for about ten years, when he went into the hardware business, which at present engages his attention, and which he has followed continu- ously from the time he entered it. He has shown rare business ability, and, by the exercise of this quality, has accumulated a large property.

Roger Greenslade was born in Devonshire, England, in 1829, and emigrated to America in 1854, arriving in Bellevue in June of that year. He came here poor, but he possessed the elements of success: industry, sobriety, economy. His first engagement was with Eddison Brown, working on the bench at cobbling and making boots and shoes. He afterwards worked for Patrick Hearl, and Abran Leiter until about the year 1864, when he established himself in business, and has been in the boot and shoe business on his own

393

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

account ever since. He has occupied his present stand for the last thirteen years. Not only has thrift crowned Mr. Greenslade's efforts, but he has lived an exemplary life; has raised a family of children that are-a credit to the community, one son, James, being the efficient superintendent of the Bellevue public schools; has always taken an active interest in church and schools, and deservedly occupies a high place in the esteem of his fellow townsmen. He is junior warden of St. Paul's Episcopal church, and no mem- ber is more regular in his attendance upon the service of that church. These are not merely empty words of praise: they are plain statements of fact. He is the oldest resident on the 'pike, having purchased his present location in 1857, where he has resided ever since. This shows that he is not given to frequent changes.

Perhaps no English born resident of the village has has had more prosperity than George Wills, who ar- rived here from Devonshire in 1851. He has been the village butcher nearly the whole time since his ar- rival, and, having only enough means to enable him to get here, he has, by close application to business, being at his post of duty early and late, accumulated a handsome competence. A man who has won suc- cess by such fidelity to business as Mr. Wills has shown, deserves this word of mention in this history of Bellevue.

The Heals, who were respectable people in England, have maintained well their credit here, all being very worthy townspeople. Of Enoch Heal's family, the women, mother and daughters, are skillful milliners. The oldest daughter married James Smith, who died in the service of his country; another married Dr. Lanterman, a physician, who is rapidly rising into prominence as a practitioner; another married Ed- ward Miller; another, George Beckwith; another, Ralph Boyer, who is an enterprising young business man, and the leading jeweller of the place.

In addition to the four classes of people that we have named, there is the Celtic population, of which Mr. Peter Brady is the most prominent repre- sentative. He came here in 1859 and has been in business since 1862. His business has rapidly grown until it takes precedence of any other of the kind in the city, and ranks among the leading hardware stores of Sandusky or Huron counties. Mr. Brady's popu- larity with the people of Bellevue is evidenced from the fact that he has served the village for a number of years as councilman, and for the past five years has been mayor of the town. He has been elected for three successive terms to the office which is the high- est in the gift of his fellow townsmen-a no slight testimonial to the efficiency and ability of his service.

CHURCHES.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was first organized on September 20, 1836, by a committee from the Presbytery of Iluron,

and was started as a Presbyterian Church on what was known as the accommodation plan,-that is a church under the care of a Presbtery, but which re- ceived and dismissed its members, and transacted other business, not by a vote of the elders but by a vote of the whole church.

The number of male members at the organization was nine; five of these brought letters from the church at Lyme, Ohio; three from churches in the State of New York, and one from Norwalk.

Among many important resolutions adopted on the day of the organization., was one declaring that the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors was an immorality which, if practiced by any member of this church, made him liable to discipline the same as if guilty of any other immorality.

The church continued under care of Presbytery ten years, and then, so far as we are able to learn from the records, with much unanimity, decided to separate itself from its Presbyterial connection, and become a regular Congregational Church. This action was taken March 2, 1846.

The first pastor called by the church after the re- organization, was Rev. A. D. Barber who was installed by a council October 19, 1853. Mr. Barber's salary was four hundred dollars, and parsonage, which shows that the society had a parsonage at that time. This pastorate continued five years. In the following year after Mr. Barber's departure, the church called the Rev. James W. Cowles, and offered him a salary of seven hundred dollars. Mr. Cowles served the church about three years, and was succeeded on October 30, 1863, by Rev. John Safford.

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 92

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