USA > Ohio > Fulton County > The County of Fulton: A History of Fulton County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships; Also a Biographical Department. > Part 22
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The main water course for the streams of this township is upon its extreme western boundary, and is called Bean creek, to which
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the streamlets of the greater part of the township lead in a westerly direction and empty therein. The waters of the eastern part are discharged mainly into Ten Mile creek, which is formed in part from the waters of the township of Royalton and Amboy, and tend generally east. In the township of Chesterfield the streams are prin- cipally ditches or drains through the prairies so prominent in the openings of the township, and wherever there is any large area of sand deposits. All the waters of this township find their way to the Maumee Bay by two widely different outlets : Ten Mile creek, run- ning directly east near the state line to the Maumee Bay, and the western waters through Bean creek, running in a southwesterly course to Defiance, into the Maumee river, and thence to the Mau- mee Bay, where they discharge into Lake Erie. The waters of the eastern part of the township flow over a very gentle slope in their long run for an outlet, as the eastern portion has but a slight inclina- tion eastward toward Lake Erie, while the western part of the town- ship has quite a marked inclination westward towards Bean creek, with a general, but a very slight dip southward. Chesterfield has an altitude of about two hundred and thirty-five feet above the water level of Lake Erie. There is no outcropping of rock, but a few glacial boulders in the township. The drift overlying the rock is from one hundred and sixty to one hundred and eighty feet in depth, the largest share of which is the Erie or blue clay.
The Detroit Southern railroad traverses about five miles of the central portion of the township, with a station known as Oak Shade. The Toledo & Western electric railway is also a "common carrier," traversing the northeastern part of the township.
The township is fairly well supplied with well kept roads. In the early days, the territory of Chesterfield was a popular hunting ground, the heavy timber in portions of it affording excellent cover and favorite resorts for all the larger game found in the country. Even after the general settlement had progressed for some years, large game was plentiful and hunters were well rewarded for the time spent in their favorite sport. Heavy timber of the usual varie- ties found in the county covered a good portion of the township, this being relieved only by small patches of prairie in the "openings."
It is known that Chesterfield Clemons and his family were the first white settlers within the limits of Chesterfield township. . They selected their home here, October 6, 1834. Mr. Clemons was a native of New York, being born in Ontario county, that State, in 1797, and in 1821 emigrated to Painesville, Ohio, from whence he came to this county as stated. Animated by the true pioneer spirit, as he must have been, Chesterfield Clemons and family bravely penetrated into an almost undisturbed wilderness of what was then southern Lenawee county, and commenced to make a home for himself and family. His faithful and untiring industry, privations and hardships, were largely instrumental in converting a howling wilderness into a flourishing and enlightened community. Mr. Clem- ons came in the morning of life with his children and wife, possessed
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of little else than willing hands, stout hearts, and sincere and honest desires. This family endured trials and dangers, sorrows and tribu- lations, unknown to the later settlers, because they were alone in the wilderness with no thought save to grapple with their dangers and adversities. Chesterfield Clemons lived but a short time to see the fruits of his labor, or the wilderness blossom as a rose. He died at his home in Chesterfield township in the year 1842. The first election held in the township was ordered at the house of Chesterfield Clemons, and he was accorded the honor, which now stands as a monument to his memory, of having the new township named for him-Chesterfield.
One of the earliest settlers of Chesterfield township was Garner Willett, who is spoken of more at length in another chapter. His father-in-law, or rather the man who was destined to become such, Daniel Parsons, came to the township in 1834, and lived to prosper and spend his last days in ease. Definite information as to the date of settlement of many of the early pioneers is not obtainable, since early records of the township seem to have been imperfectly kept. The first school teacher in the township was Flavel Butler; Lyman L. Beebe built and operated the first mill. Mr. Beebe was born in West Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York, July 7, 1808, and was one of the pioneers of Fulton county, where he settled in 1840, and purchased six acres of wild land in section 27, Chesterfield township, at three dollars per acre. He built the first steam saw mill in the township, in 1844, and twelve years after built one in section thirteen. His first mill was located on what is known as the Crittenden farm, on the south side, and the second he conducted for a number of years and then abandoned it.
George P. Clark was born in Rhode Island, and settled in Ches- terfield township in 1834. He located upon section twenty-three, but some years later he sold out and went to Michigan, where he died in 1872.
Alanson Briggs came to this township in 1834, and settled upon section five. He came from the State of New York, city of Utica. He kept a hotel for several years to accommodate the immigrants who were rapidly filling up the country, the building being located on the premises afterward owned by Elizur Clark. Mr. Briggs was a colonel of the State militia of Ohio, which at a later period held general muster at Aetna, in Pike township. Alanson Briggs died in 1879.
In the fall of 1836 a mail route was established and run from Toledo to Lima, Indiana, over the old territorial road, sometimes called the Vistula road, being the first mail service in the township. The dis- tance was one hundred and ten miles and the mail was carried twice a week. There was but one postoffice between the terminal points, and after passing four miles west of Morenci, Michigan, the road laid through a continuous stretch of unbroken forest for thirty-three miles. John S. Butler, who is spoken of in the chapter on Early Set-
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tlements, was then a boy of about eleven years and carried the mail on horseback twice each week for a number of years.
The Butler family was quite prominent among the early settlers. Harlow Butler was born in West Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York, January 4, 1798. He was seized with the western fever in 1835, and on his way to Ohio in the time of the Toledo war, was taken prisoner, but was retained only a short time. He settled with his family in Chesterfield township in 1836, and planted a nursery with apple seeds, which his son, Derwin E., had washed out in 'Bloom- field, before leaving the old home. For sixty years the orchard thus started has been one of the best bearing ones in the township. The members of the Butler family were pioneers in the truest sense, as they were the fourth to settle in Chesterfield township. For a long time the family was dependent upon the rifle of the father and the eldest son, Derwin E. Harlow Butler was the first justice of the peace in the township, and the first and only school examiner under the old regime. In the latter capacity he issued the first forty-seven certificates to teachers, and as justice of the peace he held the first law-suit, which was Simmons vs. The State of Ohio, for settling on school land. The oldest son, Derwin E. Butler, was born in Catarau- gus county, New York, May 28, 1822, and came with his parents to Chesterfield township in 1836. He was a machinist and music teacher and was a very useful man to the community. He died at his home in the township in the spring of 1886.
John B. Roos was born in Duchess county, New York, in 1791, and came to this township in 1836, settling upon section twenty-four, where Mr. Roos died in 1859. A son, John P. Roos, came with his parents to the township.
William Onweller was born in Maryland, May 29, 1811, and came to Fulton county in 1835, settling upon section twenty-three of Ches- terfield township. He was a very industrious citizen and accumulated considerable property. He died March 20, 1864.
Samuel Stutesman came to the township in 1837 and settled upon section fourteen. Heman A. Canfield came in 1838 and settled upon the farm afterwards owned by John S. Butler, on sections thirty-two and thirty-three. Jacob Boynton came in 1835 and bought of Ches- terfield Clemons some thirty acres of land, which was afterwards owned and possessed by Elizur Clark. He afterward sold out and moved from the county.
Alfred C. Hough was born in Onondaga county, New York, and came to Chesterfield township in 1836, where he settled on section twenty-one. He held the office of auditor of Fulton county, serving with satisfaction to the people and credit to himself, and was the first school examiner, while the territory belonged to Lucas county. He was several times honored by the people of the township in an election to important positions.
James M. Hough was born in Onondaga county, New York, June 10, 1819, and came to the territory when a young man, settling upon section twenty-one, where he raised a fine family. He filled for a
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time the position of postmaster at Oak Shade and also township treasurer.
George W. Patterson was born in New Hampshire, and came with his family to this county in September, 1838, settling in Ches- terfield township upon section thirty-one, where he lived many years. In 1849 he sold out and settled in Dover township, where he died in 1869.
Jeremiah Sheffield and his wife, Sarah, were married in Newburg, Orange county, New York, on October 10, 1838, and started the same month for Ohio, landing in Chesterfield, November 11, 1838, where, with the aid of John P. Roos and Charles Smith, they selected the land upon which they lived the remainder of their lives.
Nathaniel Parsons and family came to Chesterfield in February, 1835. At one time Mr. Parsons went to mill at Tecumseh, thirty miles away, and the mother divided what bread they had in the house among the children, and the family lived on fractional rations while he was gone.
James S. Dean, Sr., came to this township in October, 1838, from Chemung county, New York, and settled upon sections twenty-four and twenty-five. Nehemiah Cone came in 1835 and settled on section twenty-four. Gersham Livesay came in 1836 from Elmira, Chemung county, New York. David Lee came in 1837. He was the father of Peleg S. Lee, who became noted as a cheese manufacturer of Fulton county. David Lee lived upon his farm in Chesterfield town- ship until his death in 1850.
In 1834, 1835, 1836 and up to 1840, many came to the township of Chesterfield that have not been heretofore named, who had much to do with improving the country. Mention of some of these will be made, who have been particularly identified with the township. They were: Nathaniel Butler, Hiram Butler, Manley Hawley, Flavel But- ler, Daniel Fausey, James Aldrich, Hyson Aldrich, Cicero H. Shaw, James M. Bates, George W. Roos, Thomas Welch, Isaac Stites, Ben- jamin Stites, William Stites, William Richards, Lothrop Briggs, who first settled what was afterward known as the Dean farm; James Livesay, Joel Briggs, son of Lothrop Briggs; Warren Beebe, George W. Kellogg, Azariah Shapley, Daniel F. Turner, Amaziah Turner, Philip Whitehead, Joseph Thorpe, father of Washington, Lewis and Jesse Thorpe, who became prominent farmers of the township; Samuel Ranger, who came in 1835; Elizur B. Clark, Mrs. Ama Welch, Gideon Clark, Marietta Turner, and Adaline Whaley. All of the last five named were children of George P. Clark and his wife, Elizabeth. Amaziah Turner came in 1835, settled on section six- teen, and died many years ago. George W. Bates was born in Liv- ingston county, New York, April 4, 1825, and settled in Chesterfield township in 1842. He became quite prominent as a farmer and dairyman, and filled the position of township trustee for five years.
Elizur B. Clark was born in Orleans county, New York, January 16, 1826, and although young at the time of settlement, he was an early pioneer of Chesterfield township. The family settled in Fulton
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county in 1834, but afterward moved to Michigan, where the father, George P. Clark, died on September 13, 1872. Returning to Fulton county, E. B. Clark became a man of character and influence and filled several offices of trust in the township, being highly respected by his neighbors.
From 1840 until 1850 there came to this country and settled in Chesterfield, David Marks, who came from Ashland county, Ohio; William E. Pennington, from Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1847; Ephraim Pennington came with his son William. The father was a soldier of the Revolution, and died at his son's residence, aged ninety years; Josiah Lee, in 1845, settled on section twenty-two; Peter Powers, and his wife, Julia A. (Kennedy) Powers, in 1849, on section nineteen; Harry L. Smith and his wife, Eunice; Charles Bowen in 1843; he came from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and married in this county to Miss Julia A. Baldwin; William Lee and family, in 1846; they came from Gorham; William A. Williams and his brother, Edward, in 1845; Ezra Mead and William E. Parmalee, in 1840; Thomas Cuff and Asahel Kennedy in 1840; John W. Bradley, James H. Turner, Jesse Thorpe, Washington Thorpe, Chauncey Bulkley, Asahel Scofield, John Moffett, Fletcher Bishop, Lewis A. Lee, Almon M. Lee, Charles Mckenzie, Clarkson Warne, Lafayette Sherman, Peter Romans, Oliver Todd, Oliver Griffith, John H. Martin, Moses LaRue, Daniel Clock, Samuel Stout, William Holben, William Lee, James Martin, John Smith, Isaac Jones, Peter Jones, Jackson Jones, I. Schoonover, Holloway H. Beatty, and his sons, Sidney S. Beatty and Whitfield Beatty, who came from Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1845. Eustice Leggett, John Stites, Samuel Gillis, who under the present constitution was honored as the first probate judge of the county. He died many years ago.
David Marks was born in Ashland county, Ohio, August 28, 1837, and came with his parents to Fulton county, eight years later. He belonged to Company H of the Third Ohio Cavalry, during the war of 1861-65, and served as General Wood's body guard, dispatch car- rier, etc., until discharged on account of illness in 1862. Afterwards he re-enlisted in the one hundred days' service.
Josiah Lee, a pioneer farmer of Chesterfield township, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, October 16, 1823. He moved to what was then Lucas county, in 1845, where he remained for over three years, when sickness in his family compelled him to return to Holmes county. In 1855 he moved to Fulton county and settled in Chester- field township on section twenty-two, at which time he purchased 120 acres of land, a farm that he afterwards increased to 157 acres. He held different offices of trust in the township during a period of twenty years, among them being the office of assessor for three years.
Few postoffices, possibly not more than one or two, have ever been established in Chesterfield township. But the "star route" system of distribution has been superseded in recent years by the admirable system of rural free deliveries, and the need of country offices is no longer felt.
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CHAPTER XVIII
ROYALTON TOWNSHIP
T HIS is not the largest, nor is it the wealthiest and best improved township in the county. But the soil is largely of what they called in the early days, "low lands," and under the excellent system of underdraining and ditching has become unsurpassed in fertility. The higher lands, though good for grazing fields and reasonably productive in the growth of grain and fruits, are less fertile than the redeemed swamp or marsh lands. The main water courses run through the center of the township, a northeasterly course, and are but a continuation of the waters of Ten Mile Creek, referred to in the history of Amboy township. This stream has its rise in the adjoining town- ship of Chesterfield, on the west. Another prominent water course comes out of Michigan and runs south, just west of the village of Lyons, and empties into Ten Mile Creek. The waters of the greater part of this township empty into Ten Mile Creek, and flow with a gentle slope in their long run for an outlet. The streams upon the southern side find their way south to Swan Creek and Bad Creek, coursing their way down to the Maumee river, and emptying therein, by two different outlets, into Maumee bay. The land was originally covered with a large growth of excellent timber, which, instead of adding to its value in the early days, involved a large amount of labor and expense in the removal and the prepara- tion of the soil for cultivation. Much of this was rolled into log heaps and burned on the ground, a prodigal destruction of much wealth, had it existed in later years. The principal varieties of timber were the black walnut, hickory, sugar maple, burr-oak, butternut, wild cherry and elm, on the lower lands, with oak, ofttimes of a scrubby variety, on the higher or uplands.
Royalton was the fourth township in its organization in the county, being organized June 4, 1837. Since its organization there has been but one change in its size, when the three southern tiers of sections were taken from it and added to the newly created town- ship of Pike. As is well understood, it is in the northern tier of townships and lies between Amboy on the east and Chesterfield on the west, Pike bounding it on the south and the State of Michigan on the north.
There has been a little difference of opinion as to who was the first settler in the township, but Eli Phillips is generally accorded that honor. Mr. Verity, who took a great deal of interest in local
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history and wrote quite extensively upon the subject, thus disposes of the question of the first settlement in Royalton township:
"Coming into the territory, as these early settlers did, from the 'east, by the lake, or the so-called 'white prairie schooner,' upon its southern shore, through Ohio, or from the North, through Can- ada, via Detroit, it was quite natural that these explorations should be solely confined to this territory. Not until 1832, did entries be- gin to be made. In this year Eli Phillips entered his land, and his charter right to it (a deed and seal), was signed by Andrew Jackson, president of the United States. Early in the season of the following year Eli Phillips, with his young wife, started from the vicinity of Adrian for this disputed strip, and located where he had purchased the year before, upon sections ten and eleven, town 9 south, range 3 east, now in the township of Royalton, which was then an un- broken wilderness for at least seventy miles due west, and none nearer on the south than the Maumee river. Who, of today, would be willing to take such a step for a home, then of so little money value, and face the difficulties apparently insurmountable, to make one of greater value? Accustomed as he was to the Berkshire hills of old Massachussets, where he was born, in the land of the Puri- tans and of learning, with his young wife, Vesta (Arnold) Phillips, and children, we must realize that in that time the trial was a severe one; but through all these difficulties there was no repining. Mr. Phillips has kept that land, and he lives upon it today [1888]. It was fifty-four [now seventy-one] years ago that he erected the log cabin, the first of this township, and also the first upon the soil of Fulton county. Very soon after Eli Phillips settled in this town- ship, others followed, and came to stay. Butler Richardson, it is said, was the next to follow Eli Phillips. He came in May, 1834, from Niagara county, New York, and settled upon section 15. He was born in Ontario county, New York, June 30, 1806. In later years he returned to Niagara county, where he was married to Elizabeth McCumber, on October 1, 1839, and came from there to Fulton county, and became one of the successful farmers of Royal- ton township. He had a family of three children. On the first of February, 1866, his son, Chapman, was supposed to have been murdered, while he was caring for the stock. On that fatal morn- ing the barn was set on fire and consumed. His bones were found among the ruins, together with the remains of nineteen head of cattle. Prosecutions were made, but no convictions obtained. At the same time Mr. Richardson lost a large amount of hay and farm utensils."
George W. Welsh, another of the pioneers, was born in Mont- gomery county, New York, October 13, 1804, and came from Niagara county, that State, to Royalton in 1834, settling upon sec- tion 15, where he lived and reared a large family. During his life he was called upon to fill the several offices of township trustee, justice of the peace, township clerk, and assessor.
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Barney M. Robinson was another old pioneer of the township. He was born in Dutchess county, New York, March 5, 1812, and with his wife came to this county in 1839. Before locating here, he had been called out by General Brown, of "Ohio and Michigan war" fame, and participated in the military maneuvers of that bloodless affair. But this was not even a taste of war, and on March 1, 1861, Mr. Robinson enlisted in Company I of the Sixty- seventh regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served eleven months, when he was honorably discharged.
Charles D. Smith, who came to this territory during the stormy contest for ownership of the disputed strip, was born in Orange county, New York, July 24, 1811, and came to Fulton county in 1835, settling on section 7. He died at his home in Royalton town- ship, October 21, 1858, in the prime of his manhood. He was a highly respected citizen, and was thrice honored by the people of the county by being elected to the position of sheriff.
Amos Rathbun came to Fulton county in 1837. He was among the men of that time who came to make a home and was ever will- ing to endure the hardships incident to a pioneer life. He was born at Salem, Connecticut, January 20, 1812, and grew to man- hood among the thrifty New Englanders, being fully prepared when he came to Fulton county, as a man, to meet the Indian on equal ground, and subdue an almost unbroken wilderness. Mr. Rathbun built the first schoolhouse in his neighborhood, of logs, with a floor of split puncheons, hewed upon the face, the seats and desks being of the same material. It was built upon the corner of his farm. one mile south of the present village of Lyons. In later years he left the county and settled near Weston, Lenawee county, Michi- gan, where he died August 18, 1887.
Jenks Morey came to this county in 1838, from Mentor, Lake county, Ohio, and settled upon section 9, Royalton township, where a large part of the village of Lyons is now built. He kept the first hotel in the township, in 1850, in a fine wooden structure, in which hotel accommodations were furnished for years. He died after many years of toil in the wilderness, November 15. 1871.
Elias Richardson came to Royalton township May 14, 1836, and settled first upon section 9, but afterwards bought eighty acres adjoining, on section 10, upon which he built a frame house in which he resided the greater part of his life. He was one of the directors of the plank road which was built in 1850, from Toledo to Morenci, Michigan, and built eleven miles of the road. Thomas Richardson came at the same time of his brother Elias, and Hiram Richardson came in 1837, a year later, all of them being from Niagara county, New York. Elias Richardson was twice honored by the people of the county with the office of county commissioner, and served six years.
John Sturtevant came in 1835, Joseph H. Applegate in 1834, and Witt L. Windship in 1835. Benjamin Davis came in .1838, from Dutchess county, New York, and became a very successful farmer
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and business man of the county. Ansel H. Henderson came in 1836. He was born in Niagara county, New York, November 22, 1813, and after settling in Royalton was recognized as a leading man, filling the offices of assessor, township trustee, and other posi- tions of trust.
George B. Brown came in 1836. He was born in Connecticut and was honored by being chosen as the first sheriff of Fulton county. In 1836, there came to this township many families whose mem- bers have been honored citizens. Amos H. Jordan and Henry Jor- dan came from Vermont; A. C. Osborn, who settled on section 15, came from Montgomery county, New York; Jared Hoadley, David L. Buler, who first settled in Royalton township in 1836, and sev- eral years later, 1855, bought a farm in Amboy and moved there; Ebenezer S. . Carpenter, Mordecai Carpenter, Willey Carpenter, John T. Carpenter and Snow Carpenter. "Uncle" Billy Smith came to this township in 1833, with, or soon after, Eli Phillips. Smith was a bachelor. Warren Dodge settled in the township in 1834, coming from New York. Joshua Youngs settled here in 1835. The same year David Wood settled on section 9. Frasier Smalley came in 1834, and in 1835 came William and Charles Blain, brothers, who settled in the eastern part on the line of Amboy and Royalton townships. Alpheus Fenner was born in Berkshire county, Mas- sachussets, July 29, 1813, and settled in Fulton county in 1838, on section 10, of Royalton township, being one of the pioneers of the county. He filled the office of constable and other positions of trust.
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