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 97
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 97
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MR. NELSON :
LYME, 18 April, 1776.
Sir-This day week, in the evening, after the post was gone, I received your letter, dated March 5th, which has surprised me very much. You acquaint me therein, that you had sold my tea in Dec. last. Surely you must be mistaken. It must have been your own tea; for how is it possible that you should presume to sell my tea, without my orders-nay, when you knew that I was determined not to sell till I had orders from the congress, as I wrote you from time to time. I had agreed with sundry of my friends here that they should have the tea, as soon as I got liberty to sell it (some one chest, some two. etc.) 1 shall depend on having my tea delivered to me on demand, in New York; which is all at present, from, sir, Your obd't ser't,
J. W. MCCURDY.
Richard L. McCurdy had four brothers and one sister. The names of the former are: John Griswold, Charles Johnson, Robert H. and Alexander Lyndes McCurdy. The name of the sister was Sarah Ann, named for Ann Lord, a maiden aunt, who was quite an eccentric character. When the first child was born to Mr. McCurdy's parents, she was much disap- pointed that it was not a girl, that she might leave the child an inheritance of silver ware-her own property. The second child she fully expected to be a daughter, and when Charles Johnson came to light, he was greeted with but slight tokens of respect by Dame Lord. And now she insisted that the next child should not fail her. But when Robert H. put in an appearance, her chagrin was so great that words failed to do justice to her disgust with mundane
affairs. We are not assured that she acted the part of Betsey Trotwood upon a like memorable occasion, who, upon being informed at the birth of David Copperfield, by the mild Dr. Chilip, that it was not a girl, but a boy, struck him with her bonnet, turned on her heel, and left the house, never to return. However, Miss Lord -- whether from grief and disappointment, we are again not assured-died before the birth of the next child, and it is probably well that she did, for that, too, was a boy.
The MeCurdy homestead in Lyme, Connecticut, is now the residence of Judge Charles McCurdy, meu- tioned above, a brother of Richard Lord. The latter was importuned, at one time, to occupy the mansion with his wife, but they were restrained from doing so by considerations that seemed wise to them. Mr. McCurdy first came to Lyme in 1823, having resided a short time previously in Trumbull county. In 1826, June 19, he was united in marriage with Julia Ann, only daughter of Amos and Rachel Woodward. The McCurdy lands were situated in section two, of Lyme, and Mr. McCurdy became agent for the sale of the same. So soon as he was married, he began the im- provement of a part of them, and in 1827 erected the neat and commodions dwelling where his widow still resides. This house, even at this day, is one of the best and neatest farm dwellings in the township. It is fashioned somewhat after the McCurdy homestead in Connecticut, resembling it in its low ceilings, the arrangement of its apartments, and the quaint, modest and home-like character of its appointments and surroundings. In the work of its construction, he, that was afterwards Judge Brown, of Norwalk, was one of the laborers. A visitor from Connecticut, a Mr. Jessup, was so pleased with its elegant and comfortable demeanor, which seemed to him in such striking contrast to the broad, wearisome stretch of the surrounding prairie, that he christened it the "Diamond of the Desert."
Mr. McCurdy, during the first years of his residence in Lyme, was extensively engaged in the purchase aud sale of fine cattle. He obtained them in the southern counties of the State, brought them to Lyme, and wintered them on Strong's ridge, boarding with Mr. Strong, or Mr. Russell. He was unfortunate with them, and lost many from the murrain, but, never- theless, did the township valnable service in the introduction of a superior kind of cattle.
Mr. McCurdy had, in his boyhood days, a great fondness for the sea, and was eagerly bent upon being a sailor. His father, thinking that a trip on the water would be sufficient to eradicate this love of the ocean, permitted him to make a voyage or two to London, but the liking only grew the stronger. He was finally, however, persuaded to adopt his father's counsels, and thus became a farmer.
The MeCurdy tract was originally quite extensive, and Mr. MeCurdy kept as his own, for many years, about six hundred acres, Mrs. McCurdy being to-day the possessor of six hundred and eleven acres.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
The Lyme church owes its existence mainly to Mr. MeCurdy's efforts and generous liberality. He donated the land upon which the church and cemetery are located, consisting of four acres, and in time and money contributed the principal part of the cost of the first Lyme church edifice, which was scarcely completed before it was burned to the ground. Dis- heartening as this disaster was, Mr. McCurdy was undaunted, and proposed to his neighbors if they chose to assist in the erection of another building, he would contribute the same amount as before. This generous offer was accepted, and in less than a year from the time the first building was burned, the second was ready for occupancy.
Mr. MeCurdy died very suddenly at his residence, Angust 28, 1869. On Friday he was in Bellevue, with a load of grain, and returned home in the evening, with a telegram and letter from New York friends, announcing the pleasing fact that they would arrive here for a short visit, on the Monday following. On Saturday, following his trip to Bellevue, and before his relatives had arrived, he died. His friends came, not with glad hearts to enjoy a pleasant visit in his delightful home. as they had intended, but with sad and stricken hearts to follow his remains to the quiet churchyard.
BOURDETT WOOD,
the eldest son of Jasper and Elizabeth (Boylston) Wood, was born at Manlius Square, New York, on the 19th day of February, 1803. The Woods are of English origin. Four brothers came to this country about two centuries ago, three of them settling in Massachusetts, and one of them in Virginia. Aaron, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, with three brothers, had emigrated to the State of New York a short time preaching the revolutionary strug- gle, and had settled on the German flats just above Schenectady. All four of the brothers were sol- diers in the revolutionary war, and took part in in the memorable battle of Monmouth. Aaron Wood was the father of seven children, as follows: Thaddeus, Benjamin, Jasper, Rebecca, Dorathea, Aaron and Homer. Thaddeus was a lawyer of dis- tinction and ability. He was, in his time, not only the recognized leader of the bar in Onondaga county, where he resided, but was esteemed as one of the best lawyers of the State. He was an active participant in the war of 1812, and, by reason of meritorious ser- vice, was elevated to the rank of brigadier general in 1818, and to the rank of major general in 1820. Jasper Wood, the father of Bourdett, was born in the vear in which the war for Independence was declared, 1176, at Lenox, Massachusetts, where he lived until fourteen years of age, when he went to New York State in the service of a Mr. White, the founder of
Whitestown, near Utica, that State. Here he con- tinued to reside for eight or ten years, and then re- moved to Manlius Square where he remained until 1815, the date of his removal to the far west. After a temporary stay at Erie, Pennsylvania, of one year's duration, he came on with his family to Huron county, and settled at Bloomingville. Here he pur- chased a large tract of land, consisting of about one thousand eight hundred acres for which he paid about two thousand dollars. Soon after this, the Govern- ment lands in the adjoining county of Sandusky came into market, and were sold to purchasers at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. This reduced the value of Mr. Wood's lands so as to render them com- paratively worthless. He died in 1821. He was a man of rather superior education and abilities; was a good surveyor, and could speak the Iroquois language with considerable fluency. His wife's name was Elizabeth Boylston, whom he married May 3, 1802. The Boylstons were also English people, and were among the first settlers of Boston. They gave their name to many places connected with the early history of that metropolis, such as Boylston Common, Boyls- ton Square, etc. Boylston Bank, Boylston street- places that are still thus designated. The Boylstons were a very intelligent and well-to-do class of people, and many representatives of the family are now living in Massachusetts, all occupying honorable stations in life.
Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Wood were the parents of six children : Bourdett, Adaline, Julianne, Juliette, Worthington and Aramenta. Mrs. Wood died in 1834.
Bourdett received his given name from the Bourdett family, of Fort Lee, New Jersey.
At the age of sixteen he was bound for a term of four years to Judge Timothy Baker, of Norwalk, Ohio. After an expiration of two years, his father having died, through the kindly efforts in his behalf, made by Mrs. Baker, he was released from this ser- vice. The maintenance of his father's family chiefly devolved upon him, and he was brought in close con- tact with the utmost severity of labor.
Mr. Wood has been a successful man. To trace his career and bring to light the discovery of how he ac- complished so much in the direction of getting on in the world, is an interesting undertaking. His father died when Bourdett was a young man eighteen years of age, and not only left him no inheritance. but placed him in a position where he must, by the labor of his own hands and the employment of his own wits, provide, not for himself alone, but for others depend- ent upon him for the necessaries of life. Could the young man, the day after his father's death, have had his future career in life disclosed to him; could lie have seen himself standing on the verge of that ca- reer, penniless and seemingly powerless, and then have followed his course through a term of fifty or nearly sixty years, to behold himself the possessor of hundreds of thousands of dollars of this world's
Bourdell Wood
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
goods, he would undoubtedly have disbelieved the revelation. Yet this is what he has accomplished. The acquisition of great wealth furnishes in itself no marvel, for many men become possessors of it. Some inherit it; some have it thrust upon them by kind fortune or good luck; and some obtain it by a sys- tematic course of robbery, in which knavery, extor- tion, and theft, in its various forms, have their part to play.
After leaving the service of Mr. Baker, Mr. Wood's first employment was in working for Charles F. Drake, of Bloomingville, for two months, for a barrel of salt and a side of sole leather, each of which was equivalent to about three dollars and fifty cents, and would buy a good two year old steer. The following summer he raised five or six acres of corn. This he was persuaded to apply in the payment of a colt, which Mr. Caldwell had obtained at a cost of eleven dollars, and for which Mr. Wood was influenced to give twen- ty-five dollars. About one half this money he got together by putting up four tons of hay for Mr. Cald- well, at one dollar and fifty cents per ton, and by chopping twenty-five cords of wood at twenty-five cents per cord. In piling this wood he showed him- self to be a novice, for he made but about fifteen cords of it, the wood being put up very closely. Eben Dennis, who was present when it was measured, and who took a friendly interest in the boy, said to Bour- dett, slyly: "You are a little fool to pile wood in that way; now you go ahead and chop more, and by and by, when the old man Caldwell is not around, I'll come and show you how to cord wood." He did so, readily extending the pile so as to include the requi- site twenty-five cords. In process of time he got his colt paid for, and was by and by enabled to buy an old horse, and then exchanged his colt and horse for a yoke of oxen, thus providing himself with a team. In 1823, at the age of twenty, he raised a fair crop of corn, and then went sailing. He sailed to Sault St. Marie, and acted in the capacity of cook. The mate had laid in a barrel of whisky to supply the soldiers in garrison at St. Mary's, and Bourdett was promised half they could make if he would draw the whisky for those who purchased it.
He had the good fortune to obtain quite a nice little sum of money in his sailing operations. This money he invested in calves. In 1825, he worked in the Bloomingville brick yard for Dr. Strong. In 1826, he returned to Manhus, New York, and was employed in making water lines for the Oswego canal, the build- ing of which had at that time just been commenced. In 1827, he bought fifty-seven acres of land for two hundred and fifty dollars, a part of the old Wood homestead in Oxford, now owned by his son Thomas. On this purchase he was enabled to pay sixty dol- lars. In 1829, he carried the mail from Sandusky to Bucyrus, receiving four dollars and fifty cents per trip
On the first day of January, 1829, he was married to Miss Rhoda IIarrington, daughter of Mr. Seth
Harrington. Industrious and frugal, Mrs. Wood furnished valuable assistance to her husband in his efforts to get a start in life. He soon found himself the possessor of surplus funds, which he generously loaned to his neighbors upon application. Finally, old man Coggswell said to him: "Charge for the use of your money. It is no use to keep a cow unless you milk her." Adopting this sage advice, he began to loan money in small sums, and the accruing interest soon began to tell in his favor. About the year 1840, he began to buy and sell stock. He and Uncle Nat. Chapman associated themselves together in the busi- ness of buying horses and sheep, for cash, in Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, bringing them to Huron and Erie counties, and selling them on credit to re- sponsible farmers. And in 1844, he and Mr. Chapman began the purchase of western lands. About this time they secured fifteen hundred acres of the Wyan- dott reservation, and in 1853 they bought twenty- three hundred acres in Iowa, mostly in Tama county. He began the purchase of lands also in Erie county, buying and selling, and always reaping a gain.
In 1846, he removed to Bellevue with his family, and from this time forward made money-lending the leading specialty of his business. In 1871 he asso- ciated himself with Abishai Woodward and E. J. Sheffield in the banking business, under the firm name of Wood, Woodward & Co., and when the bank was reorganized as a stock company, Mr. Wood was made president of the institution-a position he still retains.
Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of the follow- ing children: 1. Jasper, born November 15, 1829. He is a resident of Bureau county, Illinois, and a very successful farmer and stock raiser. 2. Emeline Adelia, born May 6, 1831. She is the wife of Peter G. Sharp, and resides near Stockton, California. 3. Richard Boylston, born December 2, 1832, was killed at the battle of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, February 25, 1864. He was captain of a company of cavalry sol- diers, and a gallant soldier, a brave and efficient offi- cer. 4. Henry Bourdett, born July 25, 1834, died April, 1873. 5. Elizabeth Malvina, born March 19, 1836. She is the wife of Adam Burgett, a wholesale boot and shoe merchant of Toledo, Ohio. 6. Benja- min Lester, born June 21, 1838. 7. Florella Sophia, born September 2, 1840, died May 14, 1866, of con- sumption. She was a young lady of much attractive- ness and superior mental qualities. 8. Thomas Cor- win, born April 21, 1842. He resides in Bellevue. 9. Susan C., born August :, 1844. She became the wife of W. W. Williams April 9, 1868, and died of consumption November 5. 1872. In the western home in which she lived during her wedded life, she won many friends, by whom her memory is cherished with pleasing recollections. 10. Julia Louisa, born Feb- ruary 28, 1847. She is the wife of James B. Wood, of Bellevue, Ohio, whose home she renders blessed.
On the first day of January last, the relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Wood assembled at their
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
residence in Bellevue, and celebrated with them their golden wedding. The occasion was one of the pleas- antest, to all participants, that ever took place within that quiet village.
Mr. Wood is now in his seventy-seventh year, but possesses as much vitality as the average man of fifty. He has hardly ever known a sick day, and the pros- pect that a dozen years or more may yet be added to his days is not discouraging. Physically, so sound and well-preserved, he is no less so mentally. He attends to all the details of his extensive business, and, though his memory is becoming treacherous, his judgment is as unerring, his discernment as acute, his reasoning faculties as sound, as they ever have been.
Mr. Wood is a man of clearly-defined traits of char- acter and mental characteristics. In manner, often abrupt and blunt, he nevertheless possesses a kindli- ness of heart that is rarely found beneath so rough an exterior. No man in need, whom he believes to be deserving. has ever appealed to him in vain. Schooled in the methods of money-lending, and hav- ing become naturally cautions and careful as to his securities, he has loaned money to hundreds of people, who had no security to offer him, and toward whom he has stood wholly in the light of their benefac- tor. The number of persons who will accord to him the praise of being thus their friend in need, assisting them to get started in life, is by no means small. He has, in this way, lost thousands of dollars, sometimes without benefiting those he designed to help, but oftener bestowing a benefit that has aided those struggling with adversity to regain their feet, and at last to reach a sure and safe foundation. Per- haps it is only just to say that no other man in this community, had he double the amount of means, would take half the risks thus incurred by Mr. Wood.
On his seventieth birthday he gave to each of his eight children the neat little sum of ten thousand dollars.
Mr. Wood was for a number of years a justice of the peace, a position he filled with much credit, no decision of his having ever been reversed by a supe- rior court. He generally votes with the republican party, but has little confidence in men who gain power, believing that as a general rule politicians are chiefly concerned in feathering well their own nests, and that the best of them make the well being of the people, whose interests they should faithfully serve, a secon- dary object. Had he his way he would revolutionize the methods of conducting affairs, and so simplify governmental and puuitory matters as to greatly cur- tail expenses and lessen crime.
He is not a member of any church, but Mrs, Wood has been for many years a faithful and consistent member of the Protestant Episcopal church. The two daughters that died, were, and the three dangh- ters that still live, are communicants of the same church.
DR. L. G. HARKNESS.
Dr. Harkness has been for many years intimately connected with Bellevue, and, possesing business tact of a superior order, he accumulated here a fine prop- erty, becoming, in fact, one of the wealthiest men in town. He is the youngest of a family of nine child- ren, his father dying while he was still an infant. His sister Elizabeth, who also lived for many years in Bellevue, took charge of the family, and did all a mother could have done in bringing him up. She was best known as " Aunt Elizabeth Harkness," and lived many years on Centre street, near the old Meth- odist church, where she managed alone her little do- mestic affairs, the friend of all, and loved by all who knew her. She never married, and was thus enabled to give time and care in the assistance of others, amid the sorrows and trials of domestic life. She was a lady of superior intelligence, educated and refined. She lived to be some eighty-five years of age and died at the residence of her brother in the year 1864.
The doctor was born in the town of Salem, Wash- ington county, New York, April 1, 1801, and conse- quently he is now in the seventy-ninth year of his age. After graduating at Union College he was educated for the medical profession in the State of New York, and came west in 1823, as so many other young men have done who, having fitted themselves for the busi- ness of life, launched ont into the world to build up their fortunes and achieve that destiny which Provi- dence had in store for them.
On arrival in this county he went into business with Dr. Stevens, and located on the ridge in Lyme town- ship. The following spring the doctor removed to the western part of the township, where he followed the practice of his profession nearly ten years or until 1832. This comprised about all the time he was ex- clusively devoted to the medical practice.
In 1832, the doctor moved to this part of the town- ship, and, in connection with Judge Chapman and Mr. Amsden, purchased the land, and laid out the town of Bellevne. He considers it still his home, al- though for the last few years, since the breaking up of his family by the death of his wife, he has resided temporarily with his children in Cleveland.
Shortly after coming to Bellevue, he relinquished the practice of medicine, and entered into partner- ship with Judge Chapman, who was extensively en- gaged in general merchandizing. Under the name of Chapman & Harkness they carried on business until the fall of 1852, when he formed a co-partnership with D. M. Harkness and H. M. Flagler under the name of Harkness & Co. Since 1870, the doctor has not been actively engaged in business.
About the year 1854, he built the fine residence on West street, near the railroad, now owned by Mr. Gray, and occupied it till within a few years.
He cast his first presidential vote in York township in 1824. There were only thirteen voters polled at that election, and were all for John Quincy Adams.
Ny. Tartinerd
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Now the voters in the township number about seven hundred-such has been the rapid increase in popula- tion. The doctor has voted at every presidential election since 1824, the number of such elections be- ing fourteen, and at every State election, save one when he was absent from the State.
Dr. Harkness married Julia, danghter of Eliphalet Follett, a very pleasant, sociable lady, who, whether amid the privations and trials of pioneer life, or the more pleasant surroundings and comforts which wealth affords, ever showed herself a true lady, with a pleasant word and cordial greeting for all. She died in 1870. They had seven children: Isabella, Follett, Mary, Lamon, Julia, Tryphene and Louisa.
Isabella was married to D. M. Harkness in 1849. She died in 1869. Follett died while yet a child.
Mary married Henry M. Flagler, son of Isaac Flagler, who died about three years ago. Henry was engaged in the produce business here in Bellevue, several years, with Barney York. Finally, however, he went to Cleveland, where he has turned his busi- ness talent to good account, and become one of the most able business men in the city, occupying the position of secretary of the Standard Oil Company, the heaviest kerosene oil rectifying company in the world. They have two children living, Jennie and Harry. Carrie, the favorite, died at three years of age.
Lamon died when some six or seven years old.
Julia married B. H. York, who is associated with the Union Elevator Company in Cleveland, where he resides, and is also prospering. They have three bright children: Georgie, Robbie and Roy.
Tryphene grew up to be a very interesting young lady, not only in appearance, but in sweetness of disposition and manner, winning the love and esteem of all. She died when about eighteen, too frail a flower for the rude blasts of this world.
Louisa, the youngest, married, about four years "ago, Mr. G. S. Wheaton, of Cleveland, who is doing a good business in that city, and who surrounds her with every comfort that heart can wish.
ORRIN DOLE.
The subject of this sketch, Orrin Dole, was born in Shelburne, Franklin county, Massachusetts, No- vember 1, 1806. His father, Enoch Dole, was born in the same town, and his mother in Buckland, the same county. During his early life he learned the cooper trade with his father, and worked at that business for a number of years. Mr. Dole was mar- ried in Shelburne, October 18, 1827, to Lucinda Kemp. Eight children were born to them, of whom five are still living. Their names, in the order of. their birth, are as follows: Daniel W., was born April 4, 1829, in Shelburne, Massachusetts; is now
living in Manteno, Illinois, where he is engaged in the hardware business. Fidelia J. was born in Deer- field, Massachusetts, March 21, 1831; died October 30, 1876. Harriet A. was born in Deerfield, August 6, 1833; died September 30, 1872. George S. was born in Deerfield, September 20, 1835; lives in Lyme township, Huron county, Ohio, about a mile from the late home of his father. Orrin was born August 3, 1837, in New Salem, Franklin county, Massachu- setts, and now lives in Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio; he has quite a reputation as a detective, and is em- ployed by the L. S. & M. S. Railroad in many cases, where energy and tact are required, to ferret out criminals, and has been very successful. Edwin L. was born April 21, 1842, in Ashfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts, and now lives on the old homestead; he is a large manufacturer of cider and cider vinegar, having pressed, in 1878, three thousand two hundred and fifty barrels of cider, and stored nine hundred barrels for vinegar. Henry S. was born in Lyme, Huron county, Ohio, and died at the old homestead, same county, April 12, 1865, of quick consumption; he was seized with pneumonia, while serving his country in the war of the rebellion, which produced the disease in this fatal form. Julia E. was born in Lyme, Huron county, Ohio, June 21, 1848; she is now the wife of J. B. Stocking, who is preparing for the ministry at Oberlin theological seminary.
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