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 99
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 99
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William Robinson, Sr., a native of Delaware, mar- ried Lytica Coleman, and in May, 1832, arrived in Norwich township. He settled on lot twenty-seven, in the second section. He lived here twenty-five years, and removed to Fitchville township, in this county, where he died August 10, 1864. Mrs. Rob- inson died the February following. The children of this couple are: James, Thomas, Christina, Martha, Anna, Huriah, John, Eliza, Jordon, Wesley and Aaron, who all grew to maturity. Seven are now living.
In the spring of 1833, Charles B. Niver, came from Seneca county, New York. IIe purchased six hun- dred acres of land in section one. On lot twelve of this purchase he built a log house, and toward fall returned east for his family, with whom he arrived in Norwich, about September 20, of the same year. His wife was Emily Moore. They have bad five children: Laura Jane, who married Edward Knapp; she is not
living. Marvin, who lives at home; John, who mar- ried Thalia Reed; he is also deceased. Albert E., who married Etta Green, and lives on the west part of the original homestead; and Mary who yet remains at home. Mr. Niver's first wife is deceased. His present companion was Prudence Douglass.
John Niver, a brother of the above, came to Ohio with the family. He remained about one year, and then returned to his eastern home. After two or three years he came again to Norwich, married Sarah White, and began life on the south part of the original purchase, where he still resides. He also lives with his second wife. He has seven children.
A short time after John began settlement, another brother, Dennis, came on. His wife was Marietta Parsons. They had at this time six children. He settled on the eastern portion of the tract where he still lives. The children now number nine.
Guy C. Boughton, of West Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, married Harriet Sprague, of Middlebury, "Addison county, Vermont. In 1815, he removed to Ohio, locating in Grafton township, Lo- rain county. Here the family lived some eight years, and then settled in Eaton township, same county. In 1834, they located in Norwich towhship, on lot thirty-eight. Three children were born prior to this date, viz: Axie, N. J. and Darwin who still lives on the old homestead. and with him the aged mother. Two children, Julia and Jefferson, were born in Nor- wich. The father died November 7, 1854.
In 1827, Nelson Pratt and two brothers, Parley P. and Orson (afterward prominently connected with Mormonism), came from Columbia county, New York, and located in Amherst, Lorain county. After two years, Nelson settled in Peru township, this county. In 1835 or '36, he became a resident of Nor- wich township, locating at, or near where is now Havana village. In the last named year, he married Finette, daughter of Frederick Delano, one of the pioneers. From this marriage one child, a son, was born, this was Edwin D., who married Elizabeth Slyer, and lives on lot thirty-four. Nelson Pratt has been three times married, as follows: Azubah Spalding, Marietta Ensign, and Mrs. Mary Ann Felton who lied in 1872. Two children, daughters, were born of the second marriage.
Henry Niles married Lucretia Miner by whom he had eight children: Henry, Cyrus, Daniel, Sands, John HI., Lucretia, Cyntha, Philura and David.
In 1299 or 1800, the family settled in Halifax. Vermont, where they remained until 1831. At this time they removed to Ohio, locating in Greenfield township in this county.
In the month of February, 1834, they made a permanent settlement in Norwich township. This was on the farm now occupied by the widow and heirs of the son, John H. On the 20th day of the March following, while engaged in rafting logs on the mill pond near his house, he fell into the water, and was drowned before assistance could reach him.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
MR, JOHN H. NILES.
John H., son of the above, is entitled to more than a passing notice. He was born at Halifax, Vermont, June 25, 1809. He began life as an operative in a chair factory. Coming to Ohio as before stated, he devoted a portion of his time to school teaching. In 1836, he was united in marriage to Miss Marian P. Nichols by whom eleven children were born; eight are still living: Sanford P., Ellen D., Lucretia M., John M., Henry H., Clark E., Charles F., and Philura R. Malcom, another son, was in the Union army during the rebellion, and died at Knoxville, Tennessec. Mr. Niles was the historian of the Fire- land's Historical Society, and in that capacity did much to preserve the relics of by-gone days. He wrote the sketch of Norwich, from which we have drawn quite extensively facts and data not obtainable elsewhere. He was repeatedly in office-having been for twelve years justice of the peace and half that number of years county commissioner. He died Feb- ruary 14, 1878. He was a member of the Masonic order, having become such many years since. He was a charter member of Attica Lodge, in fact, it was largely due to his efforts that this lodge was formed. His funeral obsequies were conducted under the auspices of the fraternity and was numerously attended.
Benjamin Briggs and family were the first settlers on the fourth section. They were from Barnard, Windsor county, Vermont. His family consisted of a wife and six children, four of whom came with him. The date of his settlement in Norwich was 1836. His oldest son, Elijah, settled in Peru in 1833. Benjamin Briggs died of a cancer in 1842. His wife died January 10, 1875, aged eighty-six years. The children were: Aliphal, she married in Vermont,
and still resides there. Benjamin Jr., who married Clarissa Brown, and lives in Kansas. Alexander, who married Rosella Doton; she died, and he married his present wife, Phebe Ann Curtis, of Ithica, New York, and now lives on the old homestead, lot thirty-two. They have one child, Jessie C. Susan married William E. Dean ; she died and he married the youngest daughter, Eliza J. They now live in Iowa. Alexander Briggs still drives the first covered buggy ever in Norwich township. It is not handsome, but is apparently as enduring as the deacon's memorable "one horse shay."
John Hall, from Sussex county, New Jersey, mar- ried, on July 12, 1829, Miss Phebe Purdy, of Penn- sylvania, and settled some three years later on the farm now occupied by George Bowen, Norwich town- ship. In 1838 he purchased lands in lot eleven, sec- tion third, and upon these remained until his death, which occurred October 28, 1874. He was aged sev- enty-four. His widow and heirs still reside there. The children were eleven in number, but two of whom are now living: Mary and Sarah Ellen, who live at home. The others were: Richard, Daniel, Marilla, Jane, Ebenezer, Julia, Anna, Elizabeth, John, James, and Phebe Anna.
John S. Hester was born in Columbiana county, Ohio. He married Lucinda M. Hildreth, of Fair- field, this county, but a native of New York State. They settled in Norwich in 1842, immediately after marriage. The location was on ninety acres of land in lot thirty-seven, where he yet lives. The children are five in number. The eldest, Charles T., died at Fairfax hospital. He was a member of Company HI, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guards. The remainder of the family are: Eliza
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
W., who married S. R. McConnell, and lives in Bur- lington, Iowa: Susan, who died young; Julia L., who married William Dougherty, and lives in Newark, Ohio, and Hattie R., who lives at home.
H. J. Doolittle, of Halifax, Vermont, married Emily Wheeler, of the same place, and in 1846 came to Ohio. He purchased sixty-five acres in lot thirty- four, in the second section, and still occupies the same premises. The comfortable frame dwelling he now occupies was built by him in 1868.
James Trimmer, from Washington county, Penn- sylvania, came to Ohio in May, 1834. He settled in Peru township, this county. In 1835, he married Louisa E. Smith, of Greenfield township. In 1847, he came to live in Norwich. His first stop was on the farm now occupied by H. C. Niver. He now lives on lot six, in section one. The children born to this couple are five, three of whom are hving; these are: Thomas C., who married Mary J. Chan- dler, lives in Norwich. Essington T., who married Nettie Wheeler; she died, and he married Lona Smith, and now lives in Michigan. Charles E., who married Anna West, and lives with his parents. Of other early settlers we find the names of Jesse Woodruff, Russell Woodruff, James McCornell, William Gregory, Alpha Stout.
In the fall of 1835, Henry H. Coit, son of the proprietor, surveyed the fourth section, and opened it for settlement. The same fall, George W. Haxton and a brother-in-law began on the farm afterwards owned by Christopher Post. About this time, and later, the following came: Franklin D. and Seth Read, Daniel Robbins, John Numan, Horatio N. Owen, Martin G. Owen, James L. Couch, Wakeman R. Slater, Aaron Wheeler, Lyman Austin, - Joiner, Hartner - Miller. There may be others.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first birth was that of two twin children of Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, on the 24th of October, 1817. They lived in the house with Hosea Harnden. But one of these infants survived its birth, and that only a few hours.
The first person born in the township that survived its birth was Owen Fletcher, son of John Fletcher, February 22, 1818. eleven days subsequent to the time Fletcher, Rossman and Moore moved into the town- ship. He died near Toledo, a few years since. of the small pox, leaving no family except a wife.
The first marriage in the township was that of An- gustns Cook to Miss Martha Fletcher, March 3, 1819. The marriage contract was solemnized at the " sur- veyor's house," where her father lived, by Richard Burt, Esq., of Monroeville. The wedding was at- tended by nearly all the settlers in the township, who enjoyed a friendly social afternoon visit. Augustus Cook was born in Onondaga connty, New York, and came to Norwich in December, 1818. His wife, Mar- tha, was born in Otsego county, New York, and came
to Norwich with her father, John Fletcher. Mr. and Mrs. Cook lived in the township until 1821, when they removed to Michigan, in which State he died August 14, 1878, leaving a wife and seven children.
The first death was an infant son of Wilder Law- rence, February 19, 1817, ouly nine days after their arrival in the township. It was buried on the bank of Mud run, some twenty rods northeast of the pres- ent burying ground. Soon after, Chauncey Woodruff buried a son at the same place. One of these child- ren was born in Trumbull county while the parents were enroute from the State of New York. The first adult person that died in the township was Richard Moon, in the fall of 1819. Elder J. Wheeler, then a resident of Greenfield, preached the funeral sermon. This was the first burial that had been attended with religions services. The body was interred on the bank of Mud run.
The first frame building in the township was built in 1832. It was a barn and now stands on the farm of Lewis Bodelier.
The first frame dwelling house was built by Cyrus Niles, where Charles Clark now lives. It was de- signed as a dwelling house and cabinet shop. It was built in 1835 and burned the following year.
The first brick house was built by John Bowen, Sr.
The first post office was established in 1822. It was North Norwich, so named to avoid repetition, there being a Norwich post office in Muskingum county. Naum Gilson was the postmaster for perhaps twenty years.
In 1848, post offices were established on the Mans- field and Sandusky Railroad, at Havana and Center- ton in the township, and the North Norwich office was abolished in 1858. The present postmaster at Havana is F. Van Horn: a brother, W. S. Van Horn, is the postmaster at Centerton.
The first corn was planted, on lot seven in the third section, by Messrs. Lawrence and Woodruff. This was in the spring of 1817.
Naum Gilson sowed the first wheat in the township. This was on lot twenty-eight in above section, the fall following the arrival of Mr. Gilson in the town- ship.
Asa Gilson, Naum Gilson, Jonas Gilson, George H. Woodruff and Joseph Read, each planted or set ont orchards in 1827. The Gilsons brought their apple seeds with them, and raised the trees. Joseph Read procured his trees in Norwalk township, and G. H. Woodruff purchased his of Morris Read, of Sher- man.
Ira Halloway opened a small store on the corners, near the meeting house, in 1835. He remained long enough to sell out his stock of goods, and retired from the business.
In 1840, William L. Fish opened another stock of goods in the same house. He continued in business some five years.
H. L Dov little
Vers & Doolittle
RESIDENCE OF HARVEY J. DOOLITTLE, NORWICH TP., HURON CO ., OHIO.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
HAVANA.
Eight years subsequent (1848), the Sandusky and Mansfield Railroad having been completed through the township, Horatio N. Owen built a store and warehouse on the railroad, at the point now known as Havana. He began the mercantile and produce busi- ness, and continued in the business many years. It is believed the township owes much of its present pros- perity to the opening of business at Havana. This village is situated about half a mile from the north- east corner of the township. It is seventy-six feet and one-third above Monroeville station, and two hundred and twenty-three feet and one-half above the lake level at Sandusky bay. The business at this point not before mentioned, is as follows: General ยท merchandise-F. Van Horn and Dailey Brothers; groceries-F. Zoll, Mrs. Bowman and J. Amend; millinery-Mrs. White; boots and shoes-F. Fernice, M. Slaughter and Felix Zoll; harness shop-Jacob Amend; furniture and undertaking-Gotlieb Bitzer; wagon maker-Calvin Coil; blacksmiths-John Bech- tel, William Jenkins and Jacob Kroup.
CENTERTON,
four miles south of Havana, received its name from the railroad company, in consequence of its being the central station between Sandusky City and Mansfield. It is seventy-one feet and one-half above Havana, and two hundred and ninety-five feet above Lake Erie. The business interest at Centerton is represented by A. Gage, dry goods and notions. Mr. Gage is also an extensive dealer in staves; W. S. Van Horn, gro- ceries and crockery; A. F. Sweatland, tinware and stoves. James Wurst is the village blacksmith.
ORGANIZATION.
Norwich was attached to Greenfield township in 1818, and, in the year following, Naum Gilson was elected supervisor for the township. He was the first sworn official. In 1820, the township of Sherman was organized, with Norwich attached. The April election was held at the house of Captain Hanford, in Sherman. The Norwich men, feeling dissatisfied at being required to go so far to election, rallied their forces, outnumbered the Sherman voters, and elected two trustees and the township clerk, in Norwich; Beckwith and Medad Woodruff were the trustees, and Jesse Woodruff, clerk. The next election was held at the house of Alvin Blodgett, in Norwich. A com- promise was then effected, and the elections were afterwards held at the house of Burwell Fitch, in Sherman. In 1820, Russell Woodruff, of Norwich, was elected justice of the peace, and 'tis said he served the entire term of office (three years) withont issuing a single process. In 1828, Asa Gilson was elected to the office of justice of the peace. He did not qualify. From that time until 1831, the office was vacant. In this year, Calvin Powell was elected. He was succeeded, in 1834, by William Robinson,
who served until 1849. In 1857, Wesley Robinson was elected, and is still in office. L. W. Benham is also a justice of the peace in the township.
In 1827, Norwich was detached from Sherman and organized as a separate township. The first election. held in April of that year, was at the log school house near the former residence of George H. Wood- ruff, and for many years were held there. The quali- fied electors at this election were: Asa Gilson, Angus- tus Cook, Medad Woodruff, Naum Gilson, Joseph Read, Russell Woodruff, Wilder Lawrence and G. H. Woodruff. The officers elected on the occasion, so far as we are able to ascertain their names, were: Augustus Cook, clerk; Wilder Lawrence, Asa Gilson and Russell Woodruff, trustees. The only strife at this election, was over the election of a supervisor, there being but one in the entire township. Joseph Read and Wilder Lawrence each received an equal number of votes. The judges decided the contest by casting lots, declaring Joseph Read duly elected.
In preparing for the fall election, Augustus Cook, the township clerk, in company with Joseph Read, made a trip to Norwalk for the purpose of procuring the new ballot box, law books, etc., belonging to the township. Two yoke of oxen were attached to a wagon and driven along, as Read designed, to bring back a load of boards with which to construct a floor, doors, etc., for his cabin. The ballot box and books were put into a bag and placed on the load. While fording Slate Run, on the return, the wagon was overturned. After buffeting the stream, and carry- ing out the floating lumber, they discovered that the bag and its precious contents had floated down the stream, and gave chase. Far down the run it was seen bounding along in the current; Cook plunged in, and soon brought it safely ashore. The officers for 1878 are: Ezra Pruden, E. P. Snyder and Theo- dore F. Niver, trustees; Erving Tillson, clerk; Wil- liam Brown, treasurer; Miles Gregory, assessor; W. S. Sweatland and Allen Van Lew, constables, and thirty supervisors.
CHURCHES.
In March, 1817, Rev. Alvin Coe preached the first sermon in the township. He was of Presbyterian faith. In 1818, Charles Numan and Charles West- lake, who are said to have been missionaries, passed through the township occasionally, and preached at the house of Hosea Harnden, as they stayed over night with him.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1820, Dennis Goddard came through the town- ship looking for such Christians as had strayed be- yond the pale of the Methodist church. He found only one within the limits of the township, Mrs. Nabby, wife of Asa Gilson, who belonged to the Metli- odist church in Saratoga county, New York. In her log cabin, Mr. Goddard organized the first class of the Methodist Episcopal church. Iler husband was ap-
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
pointed class leader, which position he occupied until his death in 1848. The original members of this class were: Asa Gilson, Nabby Gilson, Naum Gilson, Sally Gilson, Elisha Ellis and wife, Jonas Gilson and wife, Benjamin Moore and wife, and Sarah Ormes, mother of Nabby and Sally Gilson. In the summer time, for several years, they held their meetings in the bark- covered school house by the creek, and in the winter time they were held alternately at the houses of the settlers, until the school house was built in 1824, in which the meetings were afterwards held regularly until the erection of a meeting house; this was in the year 1837. The trustees at that time were: Sam- nel Parrish, Naum Gilson, Simeon Spalding, Pardon B. Worden, John S. Hester, Samuel Hester, George A. Fish and Thomas Reed. This class does not have an existence at present, and the abandoned church edifice is going to decay. An election of trustees is, however, kept up with commendable regularity. The present ones are: J. Mehrling, John S. Hester and N. Murray.
A second class of the Methodist Episcopal church was formed in the southeastern portion of the town- ship, at an early date-1841. In the year 1842, they erected a fine brick church edifice, at a cost of three thousand dollars. This is located at the village of Cen- terton, on the Lake Erie Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The trustees at the building of the church were: W. H. Vogle, John Idler, Jacob Burdge, Benjamin Tanner and Pierce Bowen. The present ones are: George Niver, W. B. Keefer, Dr. E. V. B. Buckingham, Daniel Sweatland and Ben- jamin Tanner. The present membership is about fifty. Rev. H. B. Palmer is the present minister. Daniel Sweatland is the superintendent of the Sab- bath school, the average attendance of which is fifty children. The writer made extra effort to obtain the data of this church, but met with indifferent success.
THE UNITED BRETHTEN CHURCH
was organized on the sixteenth day of February, 1859, with the following members: Thomas Reed and wife, Mary E. Wheeler, Perry Pixley and wife, Burr Gor- ham and wife, John Bowen and wife, William Brown and wife, W. K. Bowen and wife, William Ford and wife, Elvira Taylor, Uriah Ford, Sanford Place and Adam Marsh. Thomas Reed was the first class leader. The present leader is Frank Ball. Following are the ministers, entire, who have presided over the destinies of this church: Samuel Jacoby, J. F. Seyler, F. S. Aultman, S. T. Lane, D. G. Ogden, G. Bender, A. M. Stemen, Gideon Hoover, William Nevil, Wil- liam Mathers, O. H. Ramsey, John Aumiller and the present pastor, A. J. Klingel. In the year 1861, a neat little meeting house was erected on lot twenty- one, third section ; this cost six hundred dollars. Trustees: Burr Gorham, Thomas Reed and William Brown. The first and last are still occupying the position. James Dennison has succeeded Mr. Reed. Present membership, twenty-one. Superintendent of
Sabbath school, N. Murray; average attendance thirty children.
SCHOOLS.
The first school house was built in the spring of 1819. It was located on the east bank of Slate run, west of and near where stands the former residence of George H. Woodruff, on lot six. This cabin was of logs, rude and uncouth, and covered with elm bark, in size, some twelve by sixteen feet. It had neither floor, windows or desks. A row of split oak benches constituted the furniture, and the unchinked spaces between the logs served for windows. Miss Aurilla Lindsey taught the first term of school. This was in the summer following the erection of the house. Her pupils were as follows: Phoebe Chapman, Mrs. Martha Cook, (the new bride), her two sisters, Eleanor and Betsey Fletcher, Sabin Kellogg, Louisa Ellis, Mans- field and Brazilda Cook, Hosea and Drazilla Harnden. The school was supported, as they all were at this early date, by subscription, and proved so expensive that no attempt was made for another until 1824. Another log school house had been constructed mean- while, on the corners, a few rods south of the present meeting house. In this, Mrs. Patience Ellis taught a term in the summer, and Augustus Cook in the winter, of 1825.
SOCIETIES.
In 1832 the temperance pledge was circulated and signed by a few persons. The Washingtonians next attempted their good work in the township. In 1848 a Division of the Sons of Temperance was organized. The charter members were: John H. Niles, Charles Spalding, A. B. Gilson, James Trimmer, James Morton, O. H. Burlingham, Jackson Kelley, Edmond Burlingham, George W. Burdick, Travis Kelley, Amos O. Gilson, John S. Hester, George H. Wood- ruff, Chauncey Woodruff and Abram De Groff. This society flourished finely for a time, at one period num- bering fifty members. It was abandoned in 1850.
In 1855 a lodge of I. O. O. G. Templars was organ- ized. This proved an effective aid in the temperance work. It disbanded in 1863.
Live Oak Grange, No. 747, P. of H., was organized March 23, 1874, by State Deputy J. W. Barrack, with the following charter members: N. Murray, William K. Bowen and wife, John M. Bowen and wife, George Bowen and wife, James W. Reed and wife, James Murray and wife, E. P. Snyder and wife, John Bowen and wife, Isaac Robinson and wife, William Brown and wife, Wesley Robinson and wife, and E. D. Pratt. The first officers were: Wesley Robinson, master; Nelson Murray, lecturer; J. W. Reed, steward; John M. Bowen, assistant steward; William Brown, chap- lain; William K. Bowen, treasurer; James Murray, overseer; E. P. Snyder, secretary: George Bowen, G. K .; Mrs. Mary C. Murray, Ceres; Mrs. M. Bowen, Pomona; Mrs. Libbie Reed, Flora; Mrs. Alice Bowen, lady assistant steward. Their hall, which is situated
JOHN S. HESTER.
MRS. JOHN S.HESTER.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN S.HESTER, NORWICH TP, HURON CO.,O.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
on the corner of lot number thirty-five, was erected in the summer of 1876, and cost, complete, six hun- dred dollars. The regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The present membership is fifty-seven. The officers for 1878, are: Nelson Murray, master; James Reed, over- seer; Mrs. J. S. Hester, lecturer; Lyman Austin, stew- ard: William K. Bowen, assistant steward; Horace Robinson, chaplain; William Brown, treasurer; E. P. Snyder, secretary; Z. B. Slater, gate keeper; Mrs. A. E. Niver, Ceres; Mrs. Z. B. Slater, Pomona; Mrs. George Bowen, Flora; Mrs. E. Richards, lady assist- ant steward.
Centerton Lodge, No. 607, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized on the 4th day of July, 1875, with charter members as follows : Dr. E. V. B. Buckingham, Albert Gage, W. S. Van Horn, John Miller, C. L. Rolfe, G. H. Miller, William H. Frost, N. H. Nichols, E. C. Trim- mer, Franklin Wood, and A. T. Sweatland. The first elective officers were: C. L. Rolfe, N. G .; W. S. Van Horn, V. G .; Dr. E. V. B. Buckingham, R. S .; John Miller, P. S., and Albert Gage, Treasurer. The pres- ent membership is forty-five. The stated communi- cations, are on Thursday evening of each week, in Odd Fellows' Hall, over A. Gage's store. The officers for 1878, are: Niles Gregory, N. G .; Samuel Snyder, V. G .; George Barber, R. S .; Lyman Benham, P. S., and A. Gage, treasurer. This society is, we under- stand, in a harmonious and highly flourishing con- dition.
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