149 - PHOTO - PICTURESQUE CLARKSFIELD 150 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 151 A large majority of the early settlers of Huron county like those of other parts of the Western Reserve were of Connecticut birth. This gave a fixed character to the inhabitants. The old stock has given way to younger generations, but the same traits of character remain unchanged to any great extent. It is therefore not strange that many of the people of the county today are so nearly like, in many ways, the people of the Wooden Nutmeg State. The early settlers of Huron county were a good people ; generally speaking I believe they were Christians, yet they indulged in habits that didn't unchristianize them then, but would do so now. I refer to the use of strong drink. Everybody drank then. Even preachers imbibed and nothing was thought of it. But if a preacher used it as a beverage now he would lose his ministerial standing and pastorate as soon as the fact was known. I am speaking of Huron county. Whiskey was regarded as one of the necessary adjuncts of a log-rolling or a house- raising. No one dared for several years to undertake either without having the well filled jug in evidence. But the time came when the Yankee settler was convinced that the use of whiskey, even on these occasions, was evil and only evil and determined to put it away. But he thought of his slashing covered with logs ready to be put into heaps to burn, and his log barn which he could not get along without, vet, true to his convictions, when the invitations to his log rolling or raising went out, he said "no whiskey." He was told that his logs would not be rolled nor his building raised but they were, possibly with less help, but we venture with more safety. So the time honored custom was gradually wiped out and today the whiskey jug is not a drawing card, especially to the rural people of our county. It is difficult for us to understand the trials and hardships that the pioneers of this county had to undergo in a journey from the east to this place. No public conveyances, no railroads, and even the stage. coach was only thought of as a future possibility. The journey then required weeks and sometimes months, and was supposed to be full of danger from start to finish, and the danger was not over when here for the country was infested with wild animals while roving bands of Indians were a menace to the lives of the early settlers. In view of these facts we do not wonder that the "good-byes" were often pathetic in the extreme. A lady and her husband emigrated to Huron county in 1829 and settled in Ripley township where they builded for themselves a home which they occupied until called to the one not made with hands. I have a letter in my possession bearing date of November 26, 1829, written by this lady to her friends in the east, after she was settled in her little log cabin in her Huron county home. In this she recounts the sad partings from her friends, the trials and perils of her journey and the hardships attendant on the beginning in those days of a home in the woods. Seventy-five years later a granddaughter of this lady went 'round the world with less misgivings and forebodings on the part of herself and friends. The Indians frequently committed depredations and the lives of the settlers that came within their power were not always safe. A true incident which occurred in another part of the county illustrates what I mean. The story is of a woman, and I have it from her own lips, who was alone in her cabin one bright day and while seated at her little wheel spinning an Indian came in at the open door and stepping to her side with raised tomahawk, said in his broken English, "Me tomahawk you." The lady made no outcry and her wheel kept running, but the 152 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Indian who regarded the situation as one of bravery on the part of the woman said, "brave woman, me no tomahawk you." The Indian left the cabin and the., woman was unharmed save a bad scare. The settlers most of all feared the wild animals and the Indians, now tie fear of the country people is about equally divided between the lightning rod agent and all other members of that family, the trolley car and the automobile. The spinning wheel was a necessity and used in every household, but now if in the house at all it is stowed away in the garret out of sight or in the parlor as an ornament, according to the taste of the owner. The food of the settler was of the plainest kind, consisting chiefly of mush and milk, Johnny cake or bread of coarsely ground flour or meal. Venison was common and a little later on shack fatted pork was not hard to obtain. In the course of time more dainty dishes were in evidence, especially for company. The following incident occurred about this time, if it ever did occur : A young man called unexpectedly on his best girl. The evening family meal was about ready, hut now that they had company something better must be prepared, so the mush and milk were set aside. When supper was called the young man was asked to say grace and this is what he said : "The Lord be praised how. I'm amazed to see how things have mended ; short-cake and tea for supper I see, where mush and milk were intended." Dogs did not frgure in the early history of tie county for then they were not taxed, so we have no means of knowmg how many there were, but according to the auditor's late report there are now one thousand, one hundred and ten. It is fair to presume, however, that some got away just before the assessor made-his rounds. Then there were no railroads, now there are one hundred and sixty miles of main track' and ninety-eight miles of siding, making a total of two hundred and fifty-eight miles, with a valuation of two million, four hundred and ninety thousand dollars, which brings a revenue to the county by way of taxes of fifty-two thousand, two hundred and four dollars. Money was scarce among the early settlers and hard to get. About-the only money crop was black salts or potash. This was made from ashes obtained by the burning of log heaps and had a market value. Now our money comes through other and various sources. Then the matter of postage was- burdensome to the settlers, sometimes being as high as twenty-five cents per letter. Now two cents will carry a letter anywhere within the domains of "Uncle Sam." Besides we have free rural mail delivery, which was not even in the dreams of the early settler. Then telegraphs and telephones were unknown, now they are so common and useful that they have long since ceased to be a novelty. The observance of Christmas time was brought to this county by the early pioneers. The children were not forgotten on these occasions. I fancy I see a row of little stockings hanging in the little log cabin in the woods' They hang near the fire-place to be convenient for Santa Claus who was supposed to come down the chimney. Stockings are hung now and filled with gifts more elaborate and costly, yet the children then were no less happy than now. Sometimes sadness comes to our homes even on these occasions ; now more frequently than then because there are more chances- for accidents. A little boy HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 153 in Cleveland on the day before last Christmas went shopping for Christmas toys. On hngs return home in getting off the car in some way he fell under the wheels which crushed his lower limbs and otherwise severely injured him. As they pngcked him up he said, "I'm killed, I'm killed," but raising one 'hand, in which he tightly held a little cart, he said, "This is for brother Willie ; give it to him and tell him I bought it for him." It must be remembered that Huron county was heavily timbered and a portion of which must be cleared away before even the cabin of the settler could be erected ; then, acre after acre must be cleared for the growing of crops. From our point of view this would seem like a Herculean task and but few if any of our young people today would have the courage to undertake it. But the heroes and heroines of nearly a hundred years ago labored on overcoming obstacle after obstacle and as a result of their well directed efforts we have today fertile farms, pleasant and happy homes dotted all over Huron county. We owe a debt of gratitude to these people the fruits of whose efforts we so richly enjoy. MEMORIAL DAY MUSINGS. The graves of soldiers are, in a certain sense, like those of the saints, on an equality. The place where an officer is buried, like that of a private, is simply the grave of a soldier. Death obliterates all rank, class and distinction. The grave of an humble christian is on an equality with that of a prelate, for—"The graves of all His saints He blest." While in death all are equal, each while living has his individual part and place. Upon a bloody page of history is recorded American bravery and devotion to principle excelled nowhere else in the annals of the world. It is the story of the Alamo. For several days the Mexican army under Santa Ana had bombarded the fortress, and on February 23, 1836, the Alamo was stormed—four thousand infuriated Mexicans against one hundred and eighty-three Americans (Texan patriots). Charge after charge had been repelled and for every patriot killed, a dozen Mexicans bit the dust. When the Mexicans entered the last enclosure, but six of the defenders of the Alamo were alive-Crockett and five of his comrades. Santa Ana's chief of staff then implored Crockett to surrender and thus spare the lives of his comrades and himself. But Crockett would not surrender. And when the Mexicans made the final charge, the last man of the little hand of patriots was shot down. The Alamo was taken, but its capture cost Santa Ana one thousand and five hundred of his army of four thousand men. Every man of the little American band of the defenders of the Alamo died at his post. Thermopylae had its messenger of defeat—the Alamo had none. "Remember the Alamo," was the rallying cry of the Texan patriots when General Houston defeated Santa Ana at Jacinto, which victory assured the independence of Texas and its annexation to the American Union. Gen. Sam Houston, in after years, in a speech at San Antonio, said that, "Whatever state gave us birth, we have one native land and one flag." This patriotic sentiment struck a responsive chord in the vast audience before him, and as the American flag was displayed from the Alamo, thousands of smaller flags were waved—the greatest flag scene in American history. The thunder of 154 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY cannon was answered by the thunder of voices and the clapping of hands. In answer to this demonstration, Governor Houston said : "Far off, far off, yet louder than any noise on earth, I hear from the dead years and the dead heroes of the Alamo the hurrahing of spirit-voices and the clapping of unseen hands," Patriotism has ages for its own, and the history of heroic deeds lives after nations perish. There was a law in ancient Greece that "He that receives his death while fighting in the front battle shall have an annual oration spoken in his honor." But Americans need no decree to honor their soldier dead. Prompted by the fulness of grateful hearts they decorate their graves each returning May time No matter if those graves are beneath the sleeping shadows of the pines or beneath the sun-kissed verdure of unsheltered sod, whether in the beautiful cemeteries of the North, or whether they are simply unmarked graves in the chastened South, or in the islands of the sea, whether the storms rage over them or whether the birds fill the air with the melody of their songs, the hallowed graves of American soldiers are everywhere revered and honored. WAR EVENTS AND INCIDENTS. The first battle of the civil war was fought at Phillippi, West Virginia, June 3, 1861. In that engagement the Union troops, under command of Colonel Kelley, defeated the rebels, killing fifteen of their men. While this battle was comparatively small in the number of men engaged, it was of great importance in shaping the events which followed and occupies a conspicuous place in the history of the war of the rebellion. The victory there won was as inspiring to the North as it was discouraging to the South. Phillippi is an historical name. This is not the Phillippi where Brutus fell, but the Phillippi where the Union troops conquered. There was a Scotch tradition that— "Which spills the foremost foeman's life, That party conquers in the strife." The fate of the battle was often anticipated in the imagination of the combatants by observing which party first shed blood. It is said that the Highlanders under Montrose were so deeply imbued with this notion, that on the morning of the battle of Tippermoor, they murdered a defenseless- herdsman, whom they found in the fields, merely to secure an advantage which they thought was of so much consequence to their party. They also believed that the fate of a war hung upon the result of its first battle. This Scottish tradition was verified in the American war of the rebellion, as it had frequently been in the clannish contests be. tween the Highlanders and Lowlanders of Scotland 'centuries ago. The day following the morning after the battle of Phillippi a captain of the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry had charge of the troops picketing gone of the roads. with instructions to arrest any person who attempted to enter or leave the town. While the people of that vicinity knew that Colonel Potterfield and his rebel force were stationed at Phillippi, and that the Union troops were in possession of Graf. ton, and that the armies being so near to each other a battle might be expected at any time, when the cannonading began at early dawn upon the 3rd day of HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 155 June, it awakened the country people of Barbour county as they had never been aroused before. After the noise and smoke of battle had ceased and passed away, men attempted to go to town to learn the result. In so doing, twenty-three men were placed under arrest by the Richland county officer before mentioned. The officer took his prisoners into the town and reported at headquarters. He was ordered to take them out and have them shot. War business was new to all then, and there had been no time to learn the rules, regulations and laws governing the same. This order seemed an unnecessarily murderous one, and the young captain was reluctant to carry it into execution. Then his knowledge of the law came to his relief, that although he had been ordered to have the men shot, no time had been set for the execution. Therefore, he concluded to defer carrying out the order, hoping to have it revoked. It happened during the day that a higher officer took command at Phillippi, to whom the Richland county captain presented the case and the order was revoked and the prisoners were permitted to return to their homes. It was fortunate for those, prisoners that the Richland county captain was a gentleman of humane feeling. Some officers might have hastily executed the order without an effort to have it reconsidered and recalled. A story is told that early in the eighteenth century, in a Scotch camp, an orderly who had charge of burying the dead after a battle, reported to the young laird of Lochnow, who was in command, saluted and said : "Sir, there is a heap of fellows lying out yonder who say they are only wounded and won't let us bury them like the rest. What shall we do ?" "Bury them at once," replied the commander, "for if you take their word for it they won't be dead for a hundred years to come." The orderly saluted and started off to carry out the order, and the commander had to dispatch a counter order in haste to prevent his joke from becoming a tragedy. Another incident has been given. Prisoners were once brought before Sir William Howard, who was an enthusiastic mathematician. Sir William was deep in his studies when the prisoners were marched into the castle court yard, and a lieutenant ran in to get orders for their disposal. Enraged at being interrupted in his studies, Sir William exclaimed, "Hang the prisoners !" and went on with his work. After he had finished his problem he went down to learn about the prisoners and with what they had been charged, and was horrified to learn that his exclamation, "Hang the prisoners," had been taken for an order and that the prisoners had all been executed. A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE. A Huron county romance in real life, although ungarnished in the narration, may be more interesting to many readers than would be an embellished tale of foreign fiction. Thomas Ream and Kathryn Rolfe were children and schoolmates in the antebellum years and their parents were neighbors and owned farms in one of the most beautiful townships of Huron county. 156 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The children were friends from their infancy. Their confidence in and attach. ment for each other showed the beauty of that faith and love which someti sets two hearts voyaging on the wondrous sea of the future. Thomas was born in 1840 and Kathryn a few years later. A school incident occurred in the winter of 1850 that was as amusing to the scholars as it was embarrassing to Thomas and Kathryn. He had written her a note which was against the rules of the school, and being intercepted by the teacher, was read aloud, as follows: "Dear Kate: I take my pen in hand to inform you that I slipped a big apple in your dinner basket and when you eat it please think of me. The pizen vine climbs a holler stump, And you are as sweet as a sugar lump. Your lover, Tom The scholars laughed when this was read, which the teacher thought was the proper thing for there to do, but Kate cried and Tom looked defiant. However, the incident only drew them closer in the bonds of affections and increased their attachment for each other. Those were the good old school days of a generation agone, when children went to school to work—to study and to recite—with corn-pone and spare-ribs for a noonday lunch, with an occasional recreation of an hour on the dunce block, for discarding "thumb-papers" and soiling books, or for other acts of omission or commission. "Oh were you ne'er a schoolboy, And did you never train To feel that welting on the back You hope ne'er to feel again!" Thomas was a bright, capable boy, and his parents intended him for one of the learned professions. But how differently things turn out often from what was intended—how people are moulded and changed by circumstances and events ! The memorable spring of 1861 ushered in the great war of the rebellion, just as Thomas was preparing to enter an eastern college. The patriotic blood of a revolutionary ancestry flowed warmly through Thomas' veins, and he promptly responded to his country's call for troops to defend its flag. That war is long since a thing of the past, and since then the north and the south have marched together against a common foe, and step by step have kept time to the mingled notes of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Dixie," blending into the noblest battle hymn that ever thrilled and inspired soldiers to deeds immortal. Thomas was one of the first to enlist and in a few days he must leave for the front. But first he must bid Kathryn good-bye, and felt as though he could not leave until he first had an open avowal of the love he knew to be his. He called at the house, but was informed that Kathryn had gone down the gravelled HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 157 walk towards the stream. He followed and found her sitting upon the bank, looking pensively over the sparkling waters of the Huron river, as they rippled over the pebbled bottom and coursed gracefully with a musical murmur between the green banks. There was a sadness in the. greeting of these young people, for each felt that was their last meeting—at least for years. They talked at first upon indifferent topics, each dreading to mention the subject of the war, and as he sat and watched her sweet face in a fading sunlight, he almost regretted that he had placed himself in a position that forced him to leave her. The sunset faded out and the moon threw the shadows of the trees at their feet, and a spell of peace seemed to hover over the earth, making them almost forgetful of the coming war and of the uncertainties of the future. Love interviews, proposals and betrothals are difficult to narrate and describe, especially by one who has never passed through nor witnessed such scenes ; therefore, suffice to state sententiously that ere this couple parted, they were engaged, looking forward to their marriage at the close of the war. And thus they separated, she to go to her quiet home, he to take his place in the grand army of the Union, as it went forth to put down the rebellion. Six years later Thomas and Kathryn met again, but under unlooked-for circumstances and conditions. In one of the great battles of the war, Thomas was wounded, captured and confined for two years in a southern prison and for many months all his friends in the north knew of him was that he was among the "missing." During the interim, other trouble was added to Kathryn's sorrow. Her father's health failed, and a change of climate—a trip to California—was recommended. Kathryn was to go with him and this, she felt, would place her farther from her soldier-lover, whom she confidently believed still lived, and as she prepared for the journey, she hoped each evening that word would come from him on the morrow. But none came, and it was months after she was on the Pacific coast ere news reached Farmer Ream that his son was in Libby prison. But Thomas lived through that terrible imprisonment, was finally exchanged, took his place again in the ranks and served from the beginning to the end of the war. If Thomas ever wrote to Kathryn after he was taken prisoner, she never received his letters and time and events drifted them from each other and kept them apart. Kathryn's father's health came back to him and he concluded to make California his permanent home, and while the daughter rejoiced over her father's restoration, she still grieved for her lover and was in doubt and suspense as to his fate. She, however, found comfort m her household cares and consolation in the observance of her Christian duties. She regularly attended religious service and one summer evening she was especially devout, and as she looked at the cross, the chancel lights seemed like resplendent stars casting a halo of glory upon the altar. She knelt and worshiped, forgetful of earthly cares and of earthly sorrow. But, presently she was startled, imagining she heard her lover's voice in the litany responses. In. vain she looked over the small congregation, but he was not there. She then realized it was only a fancy or delusion caused by the mind being over-strained with anxiety and suspense—an auricular phantasm resultant from tense of brain and nerve. 158 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY After four years of war peace came again to the land, and the boys in blue came "marching home." Thomas was with the number and was the hero of that neighborhood, and was loved by the young maidens for the dangers he had passed. Among the lyoung ladies who smiled bewitchingly upon the returned soldier was Ellen Moore, whose father, during Thomas' absence, had moved into the neighborhood and bought a farm whose broad acres covered the valley and skirted the hills. Ellen, even as a girl, was as plain as her name, but one of he most estimable of her sex. Ellen was the very opposite of Kathryn, for the latter was talented, brilliant and beautiful and capable of adorning any station in life. The beautiful girl on the Pacific coast was neglected; if not forgotten, and Thomas Ream paid court to the matter-of-fact Ellen Moore, and within the year they were married. In the meantime, Kathryn Rolfe, hearing of Ream's return, waited long and impatiently for him to visit her. She had given him her love, had promised to be his bride and how prayerfully, how hopefully, how despondently at times, she had wafted during five long years for his return and for the fulfillment of his promise. But as he came not she must come to him, she must see him once more, must hear from his own lips if he still loved her. She crossed the continent and arrived in her old home village on a Saturday night. The next day she accompanied the family to church. A few moments later a bride and groom entered the church, it being their "appearance" day. The groom was Thomas Ream and the bride was Ellen Moore, that was. This pen will not attempt to describe the feelings of disappointment, of chagrin and of sorrow that may have swayed poor Kathryn's mind, or how the blow may have bruised her heart. Upon leaving the church their eyes met for a moment, then they passed on. What each read in the other's eyes is among the things that are sealed. Kathryn returned home, where, a few years later, she married a prominent lawyer, and they live and rank with the best of the people in the city at the Golden Gate. Thomas Ream and wife settled upon a farm, have prospered in the world and seem to be happy. As the purpose of this article is to state facts, not to explain actions, no cause can be given for Ream's actions in discarding the girl whom he loved in hie youth. In his courtship with her he looked hopefully forward to a professional career, in which he expected to succeed, for, as Bulwer wrote, in the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves for a bright manhood, there is no such word as fail. But wheh he concluded to be a farmer, as his father was before him, then he wanted a wife whose mind would be content with counting the profits on butter and eggs, rather than attending club meetings, dances and theaters. There may still be a romantic warm spot in Ream's heart for the Kathryn of long ago, who has no connection with his present life. 159 - PHOTO - CENTRAL AND SOUTH SIDE OF FIRE-PROOF MUSEUM, NORWALK 160 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 161 PIONEER MEN AND WOMEN OF OHIO. BY A. J. BAUGHMAN. PAPER READ AT THE MEETING OF THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY HELD AT CLARKSFIELD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1899. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:— I have read of the "Firelands ;" I have from passing trains looked with admiration upon your fertile fields and well-kept farms, and from the late Rev. D. Bronson, whose early life was passed in this part of the state, and who was my rector, for eighteen years, I learned much that was interesting of the early history of your county. I know your first settlers came from Connecticut, and I have never yet known a people who were ashamed of a New England ancestry. I cone from old Richland county-from the crest of the great "divide," the water-shed between the lake and the gulf. I come from a county made somewhat famous as having been for a number of years the home of John Chapman-better known as "Johnny Appleseed"-who came west abreast with civilization and planted nurseries along our streams and throughout our valleys that the pioneers and their children might enjoy the fruits of the earth. Johnny lived an exemplary Christian life and was a benefactor of his race. He loved to ramble in the forests, to listen to the singing of the birds, to look at the stars, and in his Swedenborg faith, commune with ministering spirits and angels. Chapman's death was in harmony with his blameless life. When the death-angel touched him with his cold finger, Johnny's eyes shone with light supernal, a smile wreathed his lips as they moved in prayer and a halo seemed to crown him with the glory of a saint as he passed from the life here to the life eternal. Since then, more than fifty years have come and gone down the echoless aisles of time, but the story of "Johnny Appleseed" is told from generation to generation, and his good deeds live anew every springtime in the beauty and fragrance of the appleblossoms he loved so well. I claim a lineal right to speak for the pioneers of Richland county, for my, grandfather Baughman was the first white settler in the Blackfork Valley, near the historic old Indian village of Greentown, now in Ashland county. And my mother's father—Capt. James Cunningham—built the third cabin in Mansfield, boarded the surveying party that platted the town site, and later served his country as a captain in the war of 1812, as his father—John Cunningham (an Irishman) had served as a soldier in all the long and bloody struggle of the war of the Revolution. Europe was peopled by larger bodies of men moving from one country to another. But America was settled by a slower process. Those men emigrated collectively—here they came severally, and were called "pioneers," because they fore- ran the column of civilization. The pioneers of Ohio were men of "brain and brawn," of courage and perseverance. Of their, work, adventures and achievements enough has not been written, for theirs was not the age of literature. It has been said that the annalist of that period left his note-book to his son, who lost it while moving farther west. We know, however, that they endured privations, that they encountered dangers, that they worked hard and accomplished much. 162 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The early history of Ohio tells of a period in the settlement of American when civilization crossed the crest of the Alleghenies in its march across the continent as "Westward the Star of Empire took its Way." Ohio, being on the frontier, was, in part, the battleground of the war of 1812, and the result of the conflicts, engagements and battles may be summarized in the dispatch of the immortal Perry : "We met the enemy, and they are ours." During that war a great number of volunteers passed through our part of Ohio, and observed the gentle swell of its uplands, the fertility of its valleys, the magnificence of its forests, its copious springs and abounding streams, and when the war was over, many who had traversed the country as soldiers returned after their discharge, entered land, built cabins and made Ohio their home. We feel grateful as a people and proud as a nation when we reflect upon the wonderful achievements of the century ! In all the history of the world we find no parallel to American progress. Beautiful cities have supplanted the wigwam villages of a hundred years ago, and where unbroken forests then spread their leafy branches, and tangled weeds held undisputed sway in the valleys, the land is now teeming with its wealth of fruitful orchards and fields of golden grain. As I have spoken of men as pioneers, permit me in conclusion to pay a tribute to the women of that period. The pioneer women did not clerk in stores, but she sold butter and eggs, knit socks and made garments and ministered to the wants and comfort of her family. She did not write shorthand, nor keep books, but she wrote on the unstained tablet of the human heart that line upon line and precept upon precept by which life is made a holy thing, and which, if a soul heeds, it may bask in the Father's house in which there are many mansions. She did not build memorials in brick and stone, but she built that best earthly house—a home, in which children grew up in her love and care. The pioneer woman did not ride a wheel, but she had a spinning-wheel, and the thread she spun was fine and smooth, and the hum of the spinning was music sweet to the household. The pioneer woman did not build hospitals, but her .cabin was a wayside inn, and she herself was both physician and nurse. And not in her own home o but wherever fever burned or disease wasted, there her hand ministered, for e true pioneer woman was a sister of mercy and a friend of the poor. The pioneer woman did not paint on china, but there are pictures in our memory in which our dear old pioneer mother is the central figure ; pictures that all the storms of life cannot blot, nor scorching sunlight fade. Pictures of 'home, pictures of the scenes of our childhood, pictures dear to every man who loved his mother. After the reading of the paper by Doctor Shelden, Judge Wildman arose and spoke as follows : "I am told that in the absence of the Hon. Rush R. Sloane, as president of the Firelands Historical Society; the duty devolves upon me, as first vice-president, of presiding at your gathering today. It is a great delight to me to come back to Clarksfield where I was born and where I spent some of the happiest years of my boyhood, as many of you know, especially of the older people here, and to see so many familiar faces and so many familiar places. In a letter which I received some days ago from Doctor Weeks, he suggested that it is now one hundred years since the organization of what is known as the Northwest HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 163 Territory, comprising what is now the state of Ohio and some of the other states of the Union ; he also suggested that this would be a fit occasion for the presentation of a talk or paper upon the event which is now one hundred years gone,-the beginning of organized government in the territory embraced in that great extent of what was then mainly a wilderness, known as the Northwest Territory. Doctor Weeks has prepared a paper on this subject and it will be read at this time." PIONEER TIMES. A description of a pioneer log-cabin and of the pioneer home-life, may not be without its interest to the reader of the present day. The location of the cabin decided upon, the space cleared away, and suitable timber having been selected, felled, partially hewn, and cut into proper lengths, it remained to "raise" the cabin. Word having been given out, the settlers for miles around gathered to their new neighbor's clearing, glad to lend a helping hand. A man of experience in such matters was selected as captain or leader ; other expert men, axe in hand, were posted at the corners to cut saddles or notches in the logs that they might lie more firmly and closer together, the ends of the logs often overlapping and projecting for a foot or more. The logs having been previously drawn to a convenient nearness by oxen, to the major part of the company was assigned the duty of conveying the logs to the intended structure ; sometimes the combined strength of the party sufficed to lift them up and carry them, but oftener skids and handspikes were called into use ; in either case the work was done with a will scarce needing the energetic tones and sharp commands constantly used by the leader. Accidents were not uncommon ; severe strains often resulted from one man trying to out-do another, while sometimes a log slipped or fell, striking a man down in its descent, and breaking his leg or arm. The log-carriers were sometimes divided into squads, or parties, each having a particular end to keep up, and the resulting rivalry made the task a short one, the building being rarely over a single story in height. The cabin fairly raised, and the roof poles put in position, the remaining work of finishing the cabin could be performed more leisurely without the help of so many hands. The roof was made by laying small logs or saplings, the tamarack being often used, which were placed lengthwise. These formed a support for the shingles or "shakes," as they were often called. These were much longer than the shingles of later years, and, when laid, about three feet was exposed to the weather. They were generally rived or split out of straight-grained, full-grown white-oak trees. Nails being then almost unknown, and those few forged by hand, their use was out of the question, and the shingles were secured by laying poles or logs to keep them in position. The chimney was often composed of "cats and clay," the cats in question not being the familiar _household tabby, but small sticks split to a regular size. The base was formed of stone, often undressed bowlders, and on this superstructure the chimney was built, generally outside, and at the end of the cabin, the cats forming a framework which was heavily daubed and plastered with clay. As for openings, the door usually was rived planks, unless the neighborhood was the happy possessor of a "thunder-gust" sawmill. The hinges and latches were made of wood. Glass was a luxury rarely met with. Some- 164 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY times greased paper served as a substitute, and the windows were small, the usually open door being another medium for the admission of light. Often, for months, the ground served for a floor, but, after a time, boards or "puncheons" were split out for that purpose; they were hewed a little, consequently they were never very smooth, often quite shaky. Holes were bored in the logs and pegs driven in, on which to hang the various articles of wearing apparel and house. hold use--a place to hang the rifle not being forgotten. These pegs served as a support for shelves and even for beds. But regular bedsteads, cheap and coin• mon enough looking these days, were soon introduced, many settlers bringing them with them from Connecticut, and, for the children, "trundle-beds" were in common use. The cabin generally consisted of but a single room. In the warmer months much of the work of cooking, washing, etc., was performed outside, under the friendly shade of some convenient tree. At other times the one room served the purpose of kitchen, dining-room, parlor, closet and bed-room combined. The larger boys generally slept in the garret, access being had by a flight of rude stairs or a ladder ; and in the winter season the snow often found its way between the loosely placed shingles, so that in going to bed they "made tracks" with alacrity. Rude benches, long enough to seat, two or three persons, made of planks split and shaved, served as chairs. In the plank, holes were bored and sticks inserted, to serve as legs or supports. Household utensils were as scanty as the furniture, a single pot or skillet often having to do duty many times over in preparing a meal. Tinware was scarce and dear, stoves of course unknown, and as for saving fuel, that was of but little moment, the huge fireplaces admitting a stick as long and as heavy as a man would care to carry, The fire on the hearth is one of the pleasant memories of early days; on a winter's evening, with familiar faces grouped around, the scene is most inviting. Is the sacrifice of old comforts to modern plans always without loss? The bright light of the blazing logs often rendered candles or lamps unnecessary, and the fire being easily kept up and rarely suffered to die out for months together, the modern invention of matches, now indispensable, was more easily got along without. Clocks were the luxury of the few, but were a few years later introduced and sold at high prices by peddlers, the housewife noting the hours by the sunlight streaming through the open door or window and casting a shadow of the wall upon the floor. The food of the settler was "johnny-cake" and mush, or bread of coarsely. ground flour or meal. Milk was freely used, butter often dispensed with and rarely of the best quality, and cheese unknown. Pork and venison were always at hand ; wild turkey, squirrel and other game easy to obtain. Sugar from the maple was frequently to be had, and tea and coffee were often replaced by decoctions of sassafras, spice-bush and parched corn. As for food, the variety and manner of cooking were quite tolerable to those settlers fortunate in having a good start and a little money, otherwise they often suffered for necessaries, an being put on short rations was not an uncommon experience. In respect to clothing, the contrast with the present time was more notic Deerskin was largely used for men's clothing. It would wear a long time, its adaptability was sadly lessened by the ease with which it would absorb water. A man getting a pair of deerskin trousers thoroughly wet would soon find th HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 165 lengthened and dangling at his heels so as to seriously interfere with locomo- tion, and, after hanging them up to dry at night, would, on the following morn- ing, find them almost as stiff as if made of cast iron. The loom and spinning wheel were found in every household, and the women, besides making and knitting yarn, made cloth of flax and wool, often combining the different materials into a coarse fabric known as linsey-woolsey. The barks of trees furnished coloring matter, and the making of the garments was completed without calling into requisition any greater skill than the household afforded, But these "home manufacturers" could not "compete" with the "pauper labor" of New England ; and first came the calicoes and brown muslins, dear at first, doubly so from cost of transportation, handling, and especially from the scarcity, but very soon so cheap no one could afford to invest money to make them. Not long afterwards satinets and jeans were introduced for men's wear, and very soon the loom had no further place in the household, and the spinning wheel was soon afterward laid aside. More recently the sewing machine, books of patterns. and ready-made boots, hats and clothing have come into general use, the latter commodity no longer content with becoming the apparel of men, but of women also. The settler provided with shelter, the work of clearing, grubbing and burning away the forest and inclosing his fields must be commenced. This is to be his main vocation, especially in the winter season, for long years to come. He must rise early and work late, nor is the labor itself easy or inviting. As timber. and wood have no marketable value, they are simply an incumbrance to be got rid of occasionally, however, a fine tree is saved for rails or other use. The manner of clearing, too, is different from that of later years. A shorter, less laborious method must be adopted—the labor of felling the trees is often avoided by "girdling" or "deadening" them. The ascent of the sap being arrested by cutting notches entirely around the trunk, the tree dies, and the trunk becomes dry and is burned in much less time than if it was felled in the first instance and allowed to lie on the damp ground ; and besides, after a time many of the trunks are blown over, and the labor of chopping them down avoided. Some trees, the beech and maple for instance, begin to topple and fall after the third year. Grain and other crops were often raised in the girdling. After a time the number of fallen trunks interferes with cultivation, and selecting a dry time, they are set fire to. This burning is systematically done ; a hundred fires are set, and the woods and skies are soon darkened by the smoke. To watch and tend the fires, to cut down an occasional "stub" which is left standing, is the work of the settler, which is prolonged far into the night, when the bright flames light up the surrounding forests, and make a scene of beauty upon which he loves to linger and look. In order to facilitate the burning of the larger logs, fires are set at different points so as to burn them in two. In some places this is called "niggering!" When the work is sufficiently advanced, the settler invites his neighbors, who turn out with the same alacrity and willingness they would to a raising. With long hand-spikes, the burning logs are rolled together into great heaps. Working in the smoke, treading on hot ashes and embers, facing blazing fires, and at the same time exerting all the strength they possess, the task is no 166 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY light or easy one ; but the work is done with a will, and a hearty "now all together" that shows them in earnest. The task accomplished, the scene is often changed into merry-making ; a hearty supper is prepared, and liquid refreshments are not wanting. RUGGLES, FORMERLY 1N HURON COUNTY. Ruggles township was so called after Judge Almon Ruggles, the surveyor of the Firelands. In 1815, eight years before the first settlement in the township, Judge Ruggles owned five hundred and eighty-two acres in the second section. Barlow Sturges also owned one hundred and twenty acres. This is all the account given of the land holders at that time. Ruggles belonged to Huron county until the erection of Ashland county in 1846, to which county it has since been attached. The central portions of the township are level, the eastern and southern slightly undulating, the western and northern considerably broken and uneven. It was originally a dense forest, of which the beech constituted the greater part. though the maple, elm, basswood, hickory, whitewood and ash were by no means wanting, while the higher lands abounded with the finest oaks, and along the streams grew the black walnut, the butternut and the sycamore. In the central portions of the township the soil is clayey, while in other parts it is for the most part a gravelly loam, and well adapted to either grazing or the raising of grain. There are two stone quarries, one in the north part on Mr. Charles Curtiss' farm ; the other in the west part, on Wakeman Beach's farm. The township is free from marshes or waste lands, while it is excellently well drained by the Vermillion river and its tributaries. The main stream crosses the south line nearly two miles east of the southwest corner, and flows northwestwardly, leaving the township just south of the northwest corner. Its principal tributary, Buck creek, comes from Troy, crosses the east line three-fourths of a mile south of the center road, and runs northwestwardly to the north part of the township, when it receives the waters of another creek, which drains the southeast corner, and then runs westerly to join the Vermillion. In the southern part, Whetstone creek runs west to the Vermillion. Another creek, west of the river, runs northeast till it joins the main stream. In 1823, Mr. Daniel Beach and Bradford Sturtevant came to Ruggles with a view of purchasing lands, and in June of the year above named, bought of Messrs. Jesup and Wakeman, of Connecticut, six hundred and forty acres in the southwest corner of section three, Mr. Beach taking the western and smaller part. This pioneer settler of Ruggles accomplished much towards the rapid settling up of his township, and his memory is gratefully cherished by the people of Ruggles. Benjamin D. Green was the first blacksmith who settled' in Ruggles. He gave up blacksmithing for the carpenters' trade. He was a prominent man in the community, held several important offices, and was a major in the militia. The first birth was that of Wakeman J. Beach, the son of Daniel Beach, bo January 11, 1825. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 167 The first marriage did not take place until the year 1832, when, on the 18th day of June, Mr. James Poag, widower, was united in marriage to Miss Laura C. Smith. The ceremony was performed by Daniel Beach, Esq. The first death occurred in 1826, in which year Mr. Cyrus Sanders, a single man, and a nephew of Mr. B. Sturtevant, died of bilious fever. The first saw mill was built by Daniel Beach in 1824, on the Vermillion river, one hundred rods north of Ruggles' Corners. This mill was of great benefit to the early settlers. Mr. Beach built a grist mill also, near the site of the saw mill, in 1831 or '32, to which steam was subsequently attached. The first store in Ruggles was opened by Josiah Botsford at Ruggles' Corners, one and one- half miles west of the center, in about the year 1831. The first post-office was established one-half mile south of the Corners. Prior to 1826, Ruggles was attached to New London for civil purposes, but at the date named it was , detached and organized, the first election occurring January 2d of that year. There were just a dozen residents who participated in thngs first election, as follows : Perry Durfee, Harvey Sackett, Norman Carter, Truman Bates, Reuben Fox, B. Sturtevant, Jacob Roorback, Abraham Ferris, Justice Barnes, Daniel Beach, Ezra D. Smith, and Aldrich Carver. Mr. E. D. Smith was chosen clerk ; H. Sackett treasurer ; J. Roorback, D. Beach, and A. Carver, trustees ; B. Sturtevant and H. Sackett, overseers of the poor ; J. Barnes and A. Ferris, fence viewers ; Reuben Fox and Perry Durfee, appraisers of property; N. Carter, constable, and T. Bates, supervisor,—thirteen offices filled with twelve individuals. Mr. Sackett had the honor of filling two positions. Another election was held April 3d, when Mr. Ferris was made treasurer, Mr. Bates constable. and Messrs. Fox and Sturtevant supervisors, and Harvey Sackett justice of the peace. The other offices remained filled as above. In 1824 a school house was built eighty rods east of the residence of Daniel Beach, and Betsey Sackett taught school there during the summer of that year. The second school was upon the north line of the township, and was taught by Jacob Roorback. The only village that ever existed in the township was at Ruggles corners, upon the Wooster and Norwalk road. There were several mercantile and mechanical concerns at this point, as well as a tavern and quite a cluster of dwelling houses. The place was sustained by the tanning interests of the Norwalk road, and when the C., C., C. & I. R. R. was established, as it destroyed the wagoning business, the little village soon dwindled away, and eventually entirely disappeared. The first religious services were held at Harvey Sackett's house soon after the settlement of the township by Lodovicus Robbins. Not long after a Methodist class was formed, of which there remains no record, and in regard to which no authentic information can be obtained. The first church organization in the township was that of the Congregational in 1827. NEW LONDON. This interesting and rapidly growing town is situated seventeen miles from Norwalk, the county-seat. 168 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The first settler of what is now the village of New London was John Corey who erected the first log cabin. This was in 1816. The Sampson's, the Merrifields, the Hendryx's, Kinsley's, Dr. Christopher Bates, W: S. Dewitt, and others. From 1817 to 1822 New London was called Merrifield Settlement; from 1822 to 1837, Kinsley's Corners ; from 184o to 1853, King's Corners. In 1850 the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis railroad commenced to run through the town, and the place grew rapidly. In the fall of 1853, the village, embracing about eight hundred acres of land, was incorporated. The first council proceedings are recorded for December 3, 1853 ; R. C. Powers, mayor ; John Thorn, recorder; J. Bradley, J. F. Badger, A. Starbird, V. King, and A. D. Kilburn, trustees, or councilmen ; A. A. Powers marshal ; J. 0. Merrifield, treasurer. In 1851 the village suffered from its first serious fire ; and again in 1872, November 17th, property to the value of forty to fifty thousand dollars was destroyed. The village was incorporated in 1853. At this date, 1909, New London contains about one thousand five hundred inhabitants, mostly descendants of New .England and New York families. New London is located on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and St. Louis and Northern Ohio railways, forty-seven miles southwest of Cleveland. The town is progressive, having about two miles of brick paved streets, owns its electric lighting plant and has a number of good factories. Its postoffice receipts exceed twelve thousand dollars annually. Fine rural free delivery routes radiate from this postoffice. The village is surrounded by a good grazing and farming country where high grade cattle and sheep are bred. A business peculiar to New London farmers is the breeding of ferrets which are shipped to all' parts of the Unite States, commanding good prices and enriching those engaged in that business. MONROEVILLE. The village of Monroeville was laid out on September 29, 1817. It was then named Monroe, and continued to be called by that name until the establishment of a postoffice, when the name was changed to Monroeville. In 1836 an addition of one hundred and forty-one lots was added. The village was incorporated. in 1868, and the first election was held. The following sketch of Monroeville was prepared for the Spectator and Mr, L. 0. Simmons has kindly given permission for it to be used in this work: What is now the beautiful and enterprising village of Monroeville, was an unimproved waste, inhabited only by the wild beasts of the forests and wandering bands of red men. Lordly trees stood upon the sites of residences of today, and there was nothing here, per se, to create or sustain a town. The Huron river rippled onward then as now, but no village was reflected in its clear transparent waters. But a change was fast approaching. Change, which is as inevitable as time itself, goes hand in hand with civilization, and is the constant companion of the pioneer. ORIGIN OF THE TOWN. In the year 1816, a man by the name of Sowers, with his family, emigrated from the state of Maryland to this locality. About the same time Seth Brown 169 - PHOTO - MAIN STREET, MONROEVILLE 170 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 171 and Schuyler Van Ransalear came here from the state of New York. The land comprising the present site of the village of Monroeville, was purchased by the above-named gentlemen, with a view to its improvement for agricultural purposes—to make for themselves and families homes. Soon after they were joined by others, among whom was one Richard Burt, who proceeded at once to erect a saw and grist mill, and which were in operation as early as 1816. These mills were located, and comprise the original of the mill of The Heyman Milling Co. of the present day. This was the nucleus of greater things ; the starting point, the origin of our now populous village. Messrs. Sowers, Brown, and Van Ransalear caused the survey of the village plat, which was soon occupied, and prom inent among whom, and as the first to locate here, were the following : Seth Brown, Schuyler Van Ransalear, Richard Burt, Dr. Cole, a Mr. Fuller, Daniel, John and James Sowers, and John S. Davis. Mr. Van Ransalaer opened a small store, and to him belongs the honor of inaugurating mercantile pursuits, and from which insignificant establishment have sprung the many business houses of today. Verily its progeny has been prolific. Buckley Hutchins, another of the early settlers of the place, kept the first tavern, not one of the modern concerns like those of the present day, where the blase guest sits down to a dozen courses, but a humble structure in which the fare was of a primitive character. where corn pones and venison formed the staple diet. Mr. Van Ransalear was lhe first postmaster. The Baptists organized the first church society, and were closely followed by the Presbyterians and Methodists. Monroeville, like all other towns in a new country, was subject to many annoyances and inconveniences ; the mail, for instance, put in an appearance quite infrequently, and before the days of stages and railroads, was carried on horseback or on foot from settlement to settlement, and the arrival of the postman in those times was hailed as a gala-day by the inhabitants. As the years roll by there is a gradual increase in the population, and some new features of improvement adds to the importance of the place. For many years there was little to attract or encourage immigration. Situated in the midst of a forest, and surrounded by savages and wild beasts, the settlement of the country was attended with no litle peril and risk of life. There were no markets, and the resources for the growth and improvement of the locality were limited in character, and the growth of the new village was extremely slow, and for many years traffic with the Indians constituted a very important item in the business transactions of our merchants. Many amusing scenes and anecdotes might be related of pioneer life, but as it is our purpose to chronicle briefly that of an historical nature, we will leave the romantic to those. whose ability, augmented by the experience of early years, is greater than our own. As the surrounding country became more and more developed, there was a corresponding increase in the population of the town, also an expansion of business matters. The building of the railroads in after years marked a new. era in the affairs of Monroeville. It not only infused new life in business matters, but was the means of a more rapid development of the surrounding country. It opened up new and hitherto unapproachable markets, and placed us upon the plane of equality with other and oldertowns, and was in every respect a consummation that had been long and devoutly wished. Better than all, however, was the fact that Monroeville and surrounding country contained within themselves 172 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY sustaining force, the soil was of the richest possible character ; it was peopled with a hardy and industrious race of men and women, who had their competence to acquire, and whose daily labor was a labor of love. Every tree that was felled was a step toward prosperity, every acre in cultivation was a guerdon of success. And so these noble men and women toiled on, creating for the generation of today an inheritance time shall not dim. This, then, in rude outline, has been the history of Monroeville. We have not aimed, nor have we time or space to give fragments of minutiae. We must ignore anecdote and incident, those particulars which go to make up the warp and woof of history ; nor are the columns of a newspaper the suitable place for their preservation. Our sphere of action as journalists is vastly different from that of the historian. MONROEVILLE OF TODAY. But what is Monroeville of today? we are asked. We answer : a beautiful and enterprising village of about two thousand inhabitants, a place whose appearance has nothing of the speculative or ephemeral—a substantial, well-built town. Located at the junction of the L. S. & M. S., Lake Erie division of the B. & 0. R. R. and W. & L. E., the best of facilities for shipping are secured. The Huron river, upon whose border the town so gracefully reposes, is susceptible of improvement, and even now furnishes a motive power for driving machinery of industrial enterprise. The streets are regularly'' laid out, many of which, with their abundance of shade trees, present a beautiful and attractive appearance. The business streets are lined with substantial two and three story brick blocks, whose appearance will compare favorably with those of any town of like size in the state. A stroll throughout the town discloses little to remind one of the past. Many of the residences are really elegant, and nearly all are attractive. The streets, stores, churches and dwellings are all neat and present an appearance that is quite metropolitan. The humble church of half a century ago must have planted good seed, for as its fruit we see today seven church edifices, mostly 'of a superior character ; we can only name them, however : Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Evangelical, Reformed and Catholic. The modest district school has grown with the passing years. Its .score of scholars, with their cabin for a schoolroom, has increased to many hundreds, and we find today an elegant substantial brick structure, provided with all modern conveniences, and affording advantages for an education that in those early days would have been confined to the wealthy alone. In brief, we present a town attractive m itself, and from its surroundings a place equal to any town in tl state for business advantages. OLD RESIDENTS. But we have little to remind us of the vast. The buildings of that early day are gradually yielding to the growing tooth of Time. Of the first or original settlers none are left, and only a few of those who came a little later remain. Some of those early pioneers have moved away, while others are quietly sleeping in the grave. Change is written upon everything. Soon nothing but the memory of those early settlers will be left to remind us that they ever. existed. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 173 But they will have with themselves the consciousness that they have not lived in vain. Their efforts and actions, coupled with the efforts of those of an earlier generation, have made Monroeville what it is, nor have they any reason to feel ashamed of the achievements of a life time of labor, as it stands todav a bright jewel in the diadem of the state. CHICAGO JUNCTION. The town of Chicago Junction was .formed in the spring of 1875, and its location is at the junction of the Chicago Division of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad with the Mansfield-Columbus Division of the same road. It was thought by many that a city would soon grow up in the woods, and there was much to induce such an opinion, for the railroad company erected extensive repair shops and a roundhouse and employed a large forces of men. The company also projected other works, which if they had been accomplished would have necessitated the employment of many more men. But their anticipations were not realized and the town did not grow. The people of the place, as soon as the town began to grow built a school house and a church, to keep in touch with the educational and religious interest of the age. The following sketch of the town is from the Chicago Times, a newspaper of which the citizens of Chicago Junction is justly proud : Chicago is not an old town, so to speak. On the first day of January, 1874, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company opened up for traffic a portion of its Chicago extension, then known as the Baltimore,. Pittsburg and Chicago Railway, extending westward as far as Deshler. Chicago Junction was established as the eastern terminus of this new division. The station business was transacted in a one-story frame building about fifteen by twenty-five feet, which comprised freight, ticket, telegraph offices, passenger depot, baggage and freight rooms. Railway employes boarded in Centerton and with farmers in the neighborhood. On the 4th day of July following, the first load of stone for the first building in Chicago Junction was hauled for the hotel and grocery of S. L. Bowlby, and this little building-afterward consumed by fire-the pioneer establishment of the town was opened to the public September 7, 1874. In December, 1874, the railroad was completed to the Windy City, and about the same month temporary shops were erected consisting of an engine house and two small buildings to be used as blacksmith and machine shops, all frame buildings, and giving employment to sixty men. Owing to the severe winter of 1874-5 there was very little work done upon t44 e many new business houses and dwellings that were in course of erection. Early in the year 1875 the railroad company laid the foundation for the large brick depot and hotel, shown elsewhere in this edition of the Times, and same was opened to the public in September following. During the summer of 1875 work was commenced on the foundation of the permanent shops of the railroad company and in April, 1876, the machinery and tools were moved into the new buildings: The opening of the Chicago extension, building of the shops, depot, etc., created a great boom in property. Town lots were laid out in all directions and within a year many properties had increased in value three-fold and sold at fabulous prices. 174 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Business had sprung up in various places and everything pointed to a prosperous future. All went well until December 8, 1877, when nearly one-half of the town was consumed by fire. The fire originated in what was known as Mason's news and book store on Front street and in less than two hours fifteen business houses and a large number of dwellings, were reduced to ashes, and the business interests received a severe blow. In the spring of the following year the livery stable of A. T. Crawford was burned by incendiary and in the fall following the saloon of Messrs. Hoffman and Trimble and the shoe store of William Simmermacher were destroyed by fire, and following soon after was the burning of the Ohms hotel and saloon. Thus in the period of one year one-half the business portion of the thriving village was destroyed by fire, leaving many of the victims bankrupt. New buildings of a more substantial nature were erected and all went well until the winter of 1881-2 at which time an epidemic of smallpox was introduced by Lloyd Dillon, a passenger brakeman, who had contracted the disease in Chicago, Illinois, and which resulted in seventeen cases, six of which proved fatal. Many of the inhabitants left town (luring this epidemic and farmers gave the place a wide birth for months afterwards. Thus it will be seen that the town's pioneer days were not void of trouble and disaster. The town was incorporated in the fall of 1882, by electing Samuel Snyder, mayor ; N. B. Parker, clerk; W. B. Keefer, treasurer ; and A. R. Nichols, Otis Sykes, F. J. Gunther, George H. Miller, Elias Mason and William Carpenter, councilmen. All of these men except two, Mr. Nicholas and. Mr. Mason are alive to day, a fact worthy of note. Ex-mayor Snyder is now living at Sunbury, Pennsylvania. At the time of incorporation the town had a population of about eight hundred. During the years intervening between 1882 and 1888 nothing of importance transpired to change the monotony of life in a country town. People were waiting for the completion of the Akron extension of the Baltimore & Ohio, which occurred in 1900. Following the opening of this division the town took on nen life and its growth up to this time has been phenomenal. No town in this section has enjoyed a more rapid and substantial growth. During the last eight years the town has been provided with all the mode comforts enjoyed by people of the larger cities. The telephone was introduced: 1898, waterworks installed in March 1899, electric lights December two, paved streets 1c00, natural gas for fuel and lights in 1903, additional street paving it 1904 and electric railroad in 1905. During the last ten years all the principal streets have been placed to a permanent grade and today these streets are lined with beautiful shade trees, uniform stone walks, and on every lot you will find well kept homes. This briefly tells the history of Chicago Junction a town with a future. That Chicago is one of the most enterprising towns in the state of Ohio without saying. Her people are patriotic to a degree not excelled by any other municipality in this section, and the strides which the town has made are such as to be a source of gratification to every man in the city who has the interest of his home town at heart. It is not very many years ago that Chicago was a mere straggling hamlet, making no pretensions to anything above the ordinary small village. Its population HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 175 did not consist of more than a few hundreds of people and the conditions were crude at best with not a very inviting future to those desiring to make this place their permanent abode. Conditions, however, have materially changed these things, so that today the stranger sees a town built in a solid and substantial manner—good buildings and fine streets with every modern convenience that will inure to the happiness of those who call it home. The residences are such as to do honor to any community and the entire town is such today as to reflect credit on those who have been instrumental in building it up from its former insignificant position. What the city needs more than anything else is factories. Efforts along the line of securing labor employing institutions should be made in a concerted and effective manner. And we believe that should our people agitate this matter sufficiently there would be no question as to the success attending the efforts of those most concerned. Our location is such as to make this town a good manufacturing point-our railway facilities are such as to warrant the belief that manufacturers would find every convenience at their doors—and the country surrounding the town is such as to find no superior within the confines of the great state of Ohio. Is it not therefore reasonable to believe that with energy and activity great things may be hoped for and done along the line of securing manufacturing concerns which means so much to the present and the future welfare of any community which truly hopes to become more than ordinary. In the matter of churches Chicago has every leading denomination represented, Methodist, Catholic, United Brethren, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Free Methodist. The pulpits are filled by men well qualified to discharge their duties and these ministers have doubtless done much good to bring the moral tone of the community up to a high standard. The public schools of the town are a credit to the corporation and reflect nothing but praise on our people and those who administer the affairs of our educational institutions. The teachers are all men and women with a high purpose— well prepared to discharge the functions of their offices, and the results are seen in the efficiency and capacity of the scholars who are yearly matriculated. Schools, and particularly good schools, should have every encouragement to the end that the community as a whole may be better for the results obtained. The population of Chicago is at least four thousand. Its growth has been steady for the past ten years and it is safe to say that we have now at least the above number of people within the corporate limits of the town. The city government has always been good. City officials have spent their time without recompense in furthering the cause of Chicago's growth, so that it is fair to assume that the conditions which have prevailed in the past will continue in the future. No town of a like population has better streets than has this city. A large part of the city is already paved and more is under contemplation. This has given the town a good reputation among those who visit the place, and it certainly adds to the prestige of the place to be fully abreast of the times in every way. The banking institutions of this city are ample for the accommodation of the public. The banks of this town have always been conservatively managed and 176 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY have enjoyed a high degree of prosperity. The deposits at the several institutions are such as to show that this section has enjoyed a long season of prosperity which shows no sign of abatement. The railroad interests of Chicago are most important to the healthy expansion of the town. Indeed the town was created by the B. & O. system and the prement prosperity of the place is largely owing to the vast, interests of this company located at this point. The B. & O. has made this town the junction point for its lines from Chicago, Illinois, Pittsburg, Baltimore and Columbus and as a consequence the shops, round house, division terminal and the like are located in this city. Each year the business of the company becomes heavier and all of these facts have a direct bearing on the prosperity of the town. The S. N. & M. traction company completed their tracks into this city, the line running from Sandusky on the north to Mansfield on the south. This line opens up a lot of good country which will be tributary to Chicago and doubtless will do not a little to stimulate trade. It also gives the town another outlet for its passenger traffic, express and freight and will result in the long run in good to the commuity as a whole. Promoters are now working on plans for an electric line to Bucyrus and if their ideas become a reality it means much to Chicago's future. Traction lines are a modern necessity, their construction is being rapidly pushed throughout the country and it behooves any community to get as many of them as possible. Another important branch of industry in this section is celery growing. There is in this vicinity vast sections of muck land and much of this in late years has been drained and planted in celery. The work of reclamation is steadily going forward and the celery industry is becoming a business of great magnitude. The development of the three thousand acres of marsh land by Pittsburg Capitalists will add materially to the growth of Chicago. Chicago has a bright future and our business men and capitalists should be on the alert and see that every good move is given encouragement. The public utilities of Chicago are in line with her other possessions and rank well up with the best wherever found. We have a fine system of water works a well equipped fire department, sewers, electric lights, natural gas for light and heat, telephone and telegraph service, ample hotel accommodations and every accessory that will conduce to the happiness and the well being of society. In the matter of papers the community is well served by the Times which numbers among its constituency fifteen hundred families in this city and adjoining country. The Times aims to serve the people in every worthy way-to be abreast of the times constantly and give its readers the benefit of its best efforts file upbuilding of the town. The agricultural resources of the country adjacent to Chicago is such as to make of the community a most prosperous region. No better land can be found in the state of Ohio than we have here, and our farmers are such as to develop the sections to its fullest. The farming community is well-to-do, a fact which is evidenced by the large deposits—all indicating that they have had and are haying most prosperous seasons. Taking the town as a whole and the environments HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 177 of the place and a better location cannot be found for either residence or factory sites. We confidently believe that the future holds in store for us better things than the past has given us, and to this end let every citizen of this place strive, in order that our ambitions may be realized. From the beginning of the formation of the town, the residents thereof sent their children to the Sykes district and elsewhere to school until there became so many of them, there were not sufficient accommodations for them ; then Motson's hall was rented and also the old buildings now occupied by Mr. Heilman as a residence. In 1880 the township board of New Haven erected two school houses for the better accommodation of the pupils. One on the east side of the B. & 0. in which the east side school is now taught, and another on the site of the present brick building, These answered till 1883, when the voters of the two districts and that part of Richmond township within the corporate limits of the village, decided by a majority vote to organize themselves into a separate village school district. A school board was elected at the spring election of 1883, and they began as a separate and distinct district April 16th of the same year. Several attempts were made to annex more territory to the district, but they all failed until the spring of 1891, when a commission was appointed by the probate judge, which held a meeting. and on July 7, 1891, the territory petitioned to be added to the district was annexed with several additional tracts. Immediately after the district had been organized in 1883, the school board proceeded to erect another frame building near to the one before mentioned on the site of the present brick building. It was completed, and school opened in the fall with three teachers. Two years after it was found necessarry to have another teacher, and a room was provided in the old Hackett building on Main street. The town grew rapidly, and in 1886 the necessity of a large central brick building was agitated. March 8, 1887, on motion of C. B. Tudor, the board decided unanimously to submit to the voters of the district a proposition to issue bonds to the amount of thirteen thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a two-story brick, eight room building. The proposition was carried at the April election of the same year. At their next meeting and subsequent meetings the board tried to select a site, but were a tie on every ballot. They submitted the location to the voters of the district, and at a special election, May 31, 1887, they selected the present site. Bonds were issued to the before mentioned amount and sold June loth, the same year to Spitzer & Company of Toledo, for the sum of thirteen thousand one hundred and eighty-one dollars. Work was pushed forward and the building enclosed before holidays: It was completed the following summer, and schools opened in it September 1888. On April 19, 1888, the board sold three thousand dollars additional bonds by special act of the legislature for the purpose of seating the house in part, paying architect, purchasing heating apparatus, paying for site, and other necessary expenses. Without manufactures no country can be truly great and prosperous. Without agriculture no country may hope to build up for itself any considerable manufacturing interests. Without both of these we cannot expect the arts, the sciences and literature to progress. It is therefore essential that both of these factors enter in a country's wealth—they are interdependent on each other ; each 178 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY gives and receives sustenance from the other, and imparts its beneficent influence in a hundred ways that educate, enlighten and tend to the general happiness . prosperity of the people. Manufacturers create an urban population—they the life blood of business, flowing through all the arteries of trade and commerce. They dissipate provincialism, produce a desire for the arts, create a taste fl higher education, give a literature to its people and act as the great conserve of the strength and independence of a nation. Agriculture alone is like a ship without a rudder. It is always subject the caprices and whims of those who purchase farm products, and has no absolute autonomy of its own. Where the nation has both manufacturers and agriculture, and exports the products of both industries, besides supplying its own demands, it becomes a nation which stands alone ; that recognizes no master say its own people and whose prosperity and progress attain the height of hum achievement in everything possible through human endeavor. The same things are true of a city or town in a lesser degree as they are o nations—hence how important it is that a city or town strive to create a manufacturing center in its midst whose mills and shops draw tribute from eve clime and from every people. It effects a conquest which all the wars of the ages have failed to accomplish, it is the one mightily lever that has made easy accomplishment our present magnificent civilization. How necessary it is then for the people of a town or a city to work in hat mony and unison for their mutual good. There should be but one spirit animaling the people when any question resolves itself into one affecting the prosper ity of the community in which they live. They should lay aside all petty jeal ousies of disposition in the endeavor to secure new factories, which means great, wealth, greater happiness and greater progress toward the goal of earthly attainment. Chicago as a city is an ideal place for a large manufacturing center. The is absolutely no reason why it should not become such, providing its people show a disposition equal to that displayed by some of its neighbors. Secure factories and you secure more wealth, more everything that is reckoned in the sum and substance of human happiness. The Hotel Sheidley is a modern hotel property in every way and possess., all the conveniences which a first-class hostelry should have. The Deer Lick Mineral Springs, located right on the edge of this town, are one of the greatest future assets which this town possesses. These springs are located in one of the most beautiful sections of woodland to be imagined, the springs proper being in a basin surrounded with sloping hillsides and fine timberland. Chicago Junction has had marked improvements within the past few years. It has two school buildings, six churches, two dry goods stores, seven groceries, three drug stores, four physicians, two banks, .four or five good hotels, three hardware stores, two furniture stores, three millinery stores and a number of manufacturing plants. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad company has erected a large, attractive and commodious Y. M. C. A. building, of which the citizens are justly proud. 179 - PHOTO - CELERY FIELD, CHICAGO, OHIO 180 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 181 same company has also recently erected a large round-house and additional shops, being one of the largest round-houses and most complete shops of the kind in the state, at a very large expense, and are still contemplating further improvement at an early date. A large tract of land of over three thousand acres, about two miles south of Chicago Junction, which was formerly known as the "marshes," has been reclaimed by drainage and is now under cultivation, mostly in celery, but other garden products are also grown in large quantities. The citizens look forward hopefully to the celery product as an important adjunct to the business interests of the place. To Mr. L. E. Simmons, the editor of the Times, and to Dr. A. R. Lydy our thanks are due for the information and courtesies received during a visit made to their town in the interest of this work. There is no field in this section of the state which possesses greater possibilities, and for which the future holds in store such rich promise as the marsh lands southwest of this town. It has only been a few years since that this land was brought prominently before the public by Mr. H. C. Johnson, who acquired a considerable tract and began to experiment in its development. The process was naturally tedious, because the old timers throughout the region regarded the property as practically worthless and unfit for cultivation. Mr. Johnson in visiting the various sections of the country where celery, onions, etc., were grown saw that the land in the region, known as the marsh, possessed features which made it superior to any land under cultivation for the production of celery and kindred vegetation. He began to acquire a large section of the property and in a small way opened up several small sections, planting celery and onions. The results obtained were such as to justify every hope entertained of the property in the first place, as the product was such as to make enormous returns from the labor given to cultivation of the land. By dint of strenuous exertions Mr. Johnson succeeded in interesting a number of Hollanders from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to come here and the success of these people was such as to soon attract others to the field. The result is shown today in a good sized village near the borders of the marsh containing one of the thriftiest and most prosperous people to be found within the state of Ohio. Where before their advent nothing but a rank growth of vegetation existed, there is now magnificent tracts of celery land under cultivation. While but a very small portion of the land is yet under cultivation, yet the work done thus far gives promise that at no very distant date every acre of this territory will be taken up and utilized to its greatest extent. Large purchases by Pittsburg capitalists have been made in this tract involving a heavy expenditure of cash. This fact along with the work already accomplished as just noted with the great success of there working the land combine to place these lands in the very front. Of the original holdings of Mr. Johnson amounting to twelve hundred acres, two hundred and fifty to three hundred acres are under cultivation and of this last there are one hundred acres in celery, onions, etc. The number of acres planted by each gardener averages about six, and it will surprise the average reader to know that on each acre planted the average returns have been greater than three hundred dollars. This year, the writer inter- 182 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY viewed a number of the gardeners as to the income from their tracts. One gentleman stated that his returns had been very close to five hundred dollars per acre from a part of his field. Another gentleman with eight acres stated that his gross receipts would be very close to three thousand dollars. W. B, Keefer has seven and a half acres. This he has put out for him, pays all the expenses incident to the crop, and his gross receipts for the past three years have averaged two thousand, five hundred dollars for the time stated per year. His profits during this time have averaged very close to eight hundred dollars per year for the seven and a half acres, and this without any labor or exertion on his part. Where in all the world is it possible to make such profits, and where such enormous returns are possible, the means leading to them are sure to be early exhausted. It is only necessary to say in this connection that these celery lands about Kalamazoo are selling today for three hundred dollars per acre, while the land in this vicinity can be bought at prices which 'are ridiculous in comparison. Another point 'to be looked at is the fact that these lands are one day nearer the big eastern markets than the Kalamazoo territory, and have all about them a large chain of fine cities, making one of the best markets in the world in which to dispose of the product. The soil here is richer, is of a more spongy nature, never overflows, and in many other ways has the advantage of the Michigan fields, all of which means much to the man who buys this property, and its value in ten years time. Nearly all those who have bought land of Mr. Johnson came here with very little means. Today their homes are such as to be a credit to any community, and they have within them such evidence of thrift as would reflect creditably on any old community. One of the leading bankers of this town told the writer that one of the residents of the marsh was in debt this spring. He I had just made some extensive improvements and had but lately come here. He was compelled to make a small loan and owed for material at several places. This season's crop of celery puts him entirely out of debt and he' has up to date a balance of nine hundred dollars and one-half of his celery still to harvest. Where, under heaven's dome, is it possible to do better, and be in the midst of one of the most populous sections of the greatest states in the union. For the sake of getting a more intelligent conception of this large section we I append herewith some figures which will show the possibilities of the section. On the area already under cultivation, consisting of one hundred acres, more or less, the returns are now over three thousand dollars per annum. One man and his family can care for about six acres of land and the 'average income will amount to not less than three hundred dollars per acre, all depending on the care given the soil and the industry and intelligence of the man who works it. This tract of land with an annual product of three hundred dollars per acre means a large revenue for this community than could be expected from manufacturing enterprises. A family to every six acres means an added population of one thousand farmers with their families or a total population of between six and seven thousand. And this estimate is conservative, not inflated and can be verified by actual results at a score of different farms in the marsh. Two crops celery are harvested every year, as high as seven hundred bushels of onions and three hundred bushels of potatoes have been raised to the HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 183 acre. Such productiveness is beyond the average man and usually he will not believe it until the facts are made indubitable. This can be easily demonstrated by a visit to the fields under cultivation, and every facility will be given to make verification easy. The depth of the soil on these lands run from eight to twelve feet ; it is splendidly drained and an abundance of splendid water is easily obtained. They are not situated in remote parts but are adjacent to lines of railway which skirt the property on the northeast and south. Chicago, Ohio, is within two miles of the property, so that every facility is at hand to make life pleasant and the profits the highest possible. When Mr. Johnson bought this property he was regarded as foolish, but developments have shown the wisdom of his purchase and the immeasurable good which it will ultimately -do this town. Another feature about this property is the fact that it is not necessary to go to the wilds of Oklahoma or some other equally remote section in order to get a farm at a small price-a farm not of hundreds of acres but one which will produce more wealth to the acre than any land in the United States devoted to staple crops. You are within the limits of civilization ; you have the greatest market in the world at your doors and for a few hundred dollars it is possible for you to buy sufficient land to make you an income which you could not hope to get from hundreds of acres of ordinary farm lands. These are considerations worthy of your careful thought. A few years and the chance of a life time will be gone, for it will not be many years until this property will be a veritable garden spot entirely off the market, or held at such figures as to make its purchase prohibitive by the man of small means. NORWALK. Norwalk, the county seat of Huron county, takes its name from Huron, Connecticut. The inhabitants of that town having suffered great loss by the British, burning and destroying property in that town, in the Revolutionary war, were in part compensated for their loss by lands in Ohio, called the Firelands, and organized as Huron county in 1818, containing half a million of acres. Their loss was estimated at eighty-six thousand, two hundred and ninety-six dollars. Norwalk is a beautiful city, fifty-six miles west of Cleveland, about ninety-five miles north of Columbus, and fifty-seven miles east of Toledo. One of the chief attractions of Norwalk is its principal avenue, Main street, which is two miles in length and is beautifully shaded by rows of maple trees. The center is the business portion, with court house, school buildings and churches. Much taste is evinced in the private residences and churches, and in adorning the ground around them with shrubbery and flowers. As a whole the city is one of the most beautiful and attractive in Ohio. The town is often called "Maple City," on account of the beautiful maple trees that line the streets. The town is an important station on the Michigan Southern and the Wheeling & Lake Erie railroads. It also has a number of electric railroads as given elsewhere. 184 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Platt Benedict was the founder of the town. He was from Danbury, Connecticut. His death occurred October 25, 1866, at the age of ninety-one years, sev months and seven days. He was four years old when the British red-coats came to his native town to do mischief, having burned Norwalk, Connecticut on their way. Perhaps it was this incident that indirectly paved the way to his founding an Ohio Norwalk. When he came out here in 1817, he was seven weeks on the journey coming out, with his family and household goods, the latter stowed away in a wagon drawn by oxen. About a mile west of the village were some ancient fortifications. The town is surrounded by rich farming lands, has a fine commercial trade, and considerable manufacturing interests. The site of Norwalk was first visited with a view to founding a town, by Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, Platt Benedict, and one of two others, in October, 1815. The place was then in the wilderness, and there were but a few settlers in the county. The examination being satisfactory, the town plat was laid out in the spring following, by Almon Ruggles, and lots offered for sale at from sixty to one hundred dollars each. In the fall of 1817, Platt Benedict built a log house with the intention of removing his family there, but in his absence, it was destroyed by fire. He reconstructed his dwelling shortly afterwards, and thus the founding of the village was commenced. In the May following Norwalk was made the county seat, and the public buildings subsequently erected. The year after a census was taken and the population had reached one hundred and nine. In the first few years of the settlement church organizations were formed, the Methodist being the first, a class being formed in 182o. In 1821, the Episcopal church was instituted. From that time to the present the town has grown with the progressive increase of the county. As Norwalk is so thoroughly sketched in the Centennial write-up, further notice here is unnecessary. EARLY HISTORY OF BELLEVUE AND ITS PROGRESS. Bellevue is located on the north and south line between the counties of Huron and Sandusky, being on the west line of the Connecticut Western Reserve, one hundred and twenty miles west of the east line of the state of Ohio, and one hundred and two miles east of its western boundary, and is twelve miles south of Sandusky Bay. It is on the line of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, forty-five miles east of Toledo and sixty-seven miles west of Clevelandi Immediately eastward lie the prairies, and, adjacent, on the west are what was in early times Called the "Oak Openings," and the vicinity on all sides is first class farming land of hardly surpassed fertility and beauty. The limestone formation—Silurian period—crops out a little east of town, and its comb on edge, of varying width, from two to four miles, extends in a line nearly north and south from near Sandusky Bay, some fifteen miles southward. The limestone is amply covered by the "drift" adapting the region to farming uses, but the rock is very much fractured and tilted, forming innumerable crevices and caves, and so thick is the formation that these caves and crevices HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 185 form usually an abundant under drainage to the said limestone region and there are no streams of any considerable length on the surface. At different places these caverns cay be entered by passages leading down to the great reservoir of waters below. This is what is consequently called the "sink-hole" region, and is beyond question the source of the splendid springs of unfailing and abundant water power to the mills of Gold Creek and Venice and the village of Bellevue whenever the times comes, may, by means of the proper machinery, easily procure from this great natural reservoir an abundant supply of clear, cold water. The titles to land in the Huron county portion of the village have an interesting history, going back to the charter of Charles the II., king of Great Britain, in A. D. 1662, known as the Connecticut charter, and involving also interesting events in the Revolutionary war, and subsequent accounts of congress and of the state of Connecticut ; but we have not space to pursue the subject. Huron county was created by the act of February 7, 1807, and included all the "Firelands," viz., five hundred thousand acres off the west end of the Western Reserve, and was to be organized when the legislature should think proper, but till then, was to remain as it then was, attached to Portage and Geauga counties for judicial purposes. The War of 1812, and other causes deferred the organization of Huron county, until the 31st of January, 1815. The territory now embraced in Lyme and Groton townships was first organized as the township of Wheatsborough, being named after Mr. Wheat, who owned a large tract in what is now Groton. In A. D. 182o, Lyme township was organized, embracing its present territory and also a strip one mile wide next north thereof now a Dart of Groton. In 1840, its limits were fixed as they now are. Sandusky county was part of an old Indian territory, and was organized April 1, 1820. EARLIEST SETTLERS. John Baker and his son, Hiram, Mark Hopkins, Elnathan George, Return Burlinson, Charles F. Drake, James and John Kinney, Henry Williard, Thomas G. Amsden, Frederick Chapman, Dr. Amos Amsden, N. Chapman and Dr. L. G. Harkness are among the first settlers in the vicinity and of the above named pioneers only three are still living, namely, Hiram Baker, Thomas G. Amsden and Dr. L. G. Harkness. FIRST SETTLERS WHO BUILT LOG CABINS IN WHAT IS NOW BELLEVUE. The first settler within the present limits of Bellevue was Mark Hopkins, of Genesee county, New York, who with his family located in the fall of 1815, where Peter Bates now livls and built the first log cabin. In February, 1815,, John Baker, from Cortland county, New York, located some two and one-half miles northeast from this place. The next settler was Elnathan George, who came with his family in the spring of 1816, from Genesee county, New York. He purchased one acre of land of Gurdon Williams, for which he gave him a cow, and built the second 186 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY log house and fixed his home on the lot where the Tremont block still stands. The next year he put up an addition to his dwelling, making it a "double-loghouse," and opened a tavern. The settlements in this region were yet very sparse, but the main line of travel between the east and west was the Strong's Ridge road to this point. Return Burlinson next came and fixed his home, on what is now known as the Herl property, on the Sandusky county side in A. D. 1817, and started a blacksmith shop. He at first bought two acres and afterwards bought eleven one-hundredths of an acre more at the southeast corner of the same and built the third log house thereon, and which stood partly in what is now Main street, a little westward from the southwest corner of the present Exchange hotel and nearly opposite the head of Kilbourne street. A year or two after Mr. John Kinney completed a log house, near D. Moore's present blacksmith shop, making the fourth habitation of this kind. He also followed blacksmithing. Charles F. Drake, in 1822 purchased of the United States "fractional-eighty," being the east one-half of southeast quarter of section twenty-five in York township, embracing most of the present village on the Sandusky side, and about the same time Captain Zadoc Strong "entered" for Dr. James Strong the eighty acres next west. In the division of the Firelands among the "sufferers" that part next to Bellevue fell to the Latimers, or they became the assignees of the same, and it was known as the "Latimer tract." Gurdon Williams purchased of the Latimers in 1816, and Elnathan George bought of Williams. Elnathan George sold his house to Charles F. Drake, Drake to James Kinney, brother to John, Kinney to Hiram Baker, who remodeled it into a frame building in 1831. Baker then transferred it to Mrs. Parmelee, Mrs. Parmelee to Lowell Chandler, who erected the Tremont house in 1836. It passed through several hands and was then again purchased by Lowell Chandler. Shortly after, Mr. J. Egle purchased it and is still its proprietor. The building was occupied as a hotel but a few years, when Mr. Chandler remodeled it into stores, which are now occupied by W. R. West and J. L. Reis. THE FIRST FRAME BUILDING. The first frame building on the Sandusky county side, was erected by Chapman & Amsden, on the ground where the Bellevue bank now stands, and was used by them as a store, T. G. Amsden using the upper portion of this building as a dwelling house. The next frame building on the same side was a dwelling house built by N. Chapman, about 1829, in the rear of Goodson & Hubbard's drug store. When the present block was erected this building was moved to the corner of Castalia and North streets. The third frame house Mr, Return Burlinson erected on the lot now owned by Mrs. Herl, where it still stands. Hiram Baker built the first frame building on the Huron county side, in the year 1831, on, the land on which the Tremont block is situated. This building was burned shortly after. He immediately built another frame house on the same spot, which was occupied by himself and Mr. D. H. Fitch. That building now comprises the east part of the long building east of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1834, Mr. Fitch built another frame building. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 187 THE FIRST ROAD THROUGH BELLEVUE. In the fall of 1815, when Mr. Baker came here, there were scarcely any public roads, although Indian trails were very thick. He and his son, Hiram, cut a road through the woods from Russel's Corners to Strong's Ridge, where they lived, to the stone quarries, about one mile west of town, and in the spring of 1817 Hiram Baker was one of the party who commenced the road through to Burd's, near Clyde, at which place, and also at Cook's Corners, they put up guide boards, directing travelers to and from Lower Sandusky through Strong's settlement, as it had usually gone from Cook's Corners to Pipe creek and up the North Ridge. At this time there was not a settler between here and Fremont, or Lower Sandusky, as it was then called. FIRST STORES. Thomas G. Amsden, who came into this country in December, 1819, in company with Nathaniel and Frederick Chapman, has the honor of starting the first store, which was opened in November, 1823, in a good sized log building. When he first came into the country, he was engaged in traffic with the Indians and French. FIRST HOTELS. It was very essential for the weary traveler to have some place to rest and refresh himself, and to provide for this, Mr. Elnathan George threw open the doors of his log "mansion" and invited all who were in need of refreshments for the "inner man," to make themselves at home under his roof. This was done somewhere about 1816, from which time the first hotel takes its date. In 1829 the Exchange was built and opened by Chapman & Harkness. FIRST DEATH, BIRTH AND MARRIAGE, SERMON AND CHURCH. In the spring of 1817, Mrs. Mark Hopkins was bitten by a massanger, causing her death very shortly after. A few hours before her death she gave birth to a daughter—Jeannette Hopkins. The child grew up to womanhood here. Said birth and death were the first in Bellevue. The first marriage was that of Israel Markham to Louise Leonard, in 1818, at a house on the lot recently owned and occupied by H. M. Sinclair as his residence. The first sermon was by Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, in 1818 or 1819, at the house of Elnathan George. The first meeting house was on the lot where the Congregational church now stands, and was built about A. D. 1837. FIRST SCHOOL The first school was opened about the year 1830, at which date the first school house was built, or rather the log building formerly used by Mr. Kinney as a blacksmith shop, was remodeled. It stood in the angle of intersection of Monroe and West streets. 188 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The first manufacturing establishment was a blacksmith shop, owned by Return Burlinson. Next was the shoe shop of H. Baker. After this Nathan Colwell built a wagon shop. His brother soon followed him and made wagons in a log building a few rods east of the Methodist Episcopal church. A saw mill was next erected by ,Chapman & Amsden, near the distillery. A postoffice was established here in 1830, with Frederic Chapman as postmaster and went by the name of "York Cross Roads." In 1831, Chapman & Amsden put in operation a tannery: The first cabinet shop was opened by David and Benjamin Moore, who for some time were the only furniture dealers in Bellevue. The first practicing physicians were Drs. Harkness and Lathrop, and a Mr. Kent opened the first law office. The first mill in Lyme township, was built in 1818, by John Baker, and was used only to grind corn. Its construction was as follows : In the first place he took a large white oak stump,, perfectly sound, and built a fire on the top or rim of the stump, with chips, etc. This he kept burning directed in such a manner as to form a hole, mortar like, which would hold about one-half bushel of corn. He then set up a crotch a short distance from it which supported a spring pole. To the end of the hole he attached a pestle, with a pin through the handle. About three quarts of corn was Put in the mortar at a time, and the churn-like operation of grinding would commence. People used to come miles to grind corn enough to keep them alive until such times z as they could get to Cold creek. The finest of the ground corn was used for cake, and the coarsest for mush. FIRST ELECTION IN LYME TOWNSHIP. The first election in Lyme township was held in a log school house, on the Ridge in April, 1820. The following were the officers elected: James Hamilton and George Sheffield, justices of the peace; Nathan Strong, Gurdon Williams and Chester Hamilton, trustees ; Joseph and Zadoc Strong, overseers of the poor; J. Strong and J. Hamilton, fence viewers ; Gurdon Williams, Lester G. Williams and E. Hamilton, appraisers of personal property; G. Williams and C. Hamilton, constables ; Frances Strong, treasurer, and George Sheffield, clerk. "RATTLESNAKE DEN OR CAVE." This cave, situated near the west border. of Lyme township, was discovered by Gurdon Woodward, in 1817. While hunting one day he saw a wild cat run into a hole, and on removing a stone, discovered the cave. "It is one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet in depth. At that part the clear water of the subterranean stream, or river, runs north. The cave appears to be formed, or part at least, by the washing away of the rocks or stones underneath, and the falling down of them from above. This process going on from year to year, will remove a large amount of stone. The descent into the cave is sometimes steep and difficult, and in other places it is a greatly inclined plane. The opening is not in one room, but diversified. It extends north and south with the 189 - PHOTO OF EPISCOPAL CHURCH 190 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 191 course of the water a considerable distance. 'Its width is from one to four feet. In former times, hundreds of rattlesnakes made this their -den." THE FIRST PAPER. Bellevue's first paper was started in 1851, by G. W. Hopkins, in a small room in the second story of the Howard Mansion, on Monroe street. It lived only three or four months. It was a five column sheet, and bore the title of Bellevue Gazette, and Huron, Seneca, Erie and Sandusky Advertiser. Its motto was "Open to all." The next attempt to establish a paper was made by a Mr. Chapman, about thirteen years ago, which also proved a failure. His paper was called the Bellevue Independent. In '67, E. P. Brown started the Bellevue Gazette, which has been prospering ever since, and is now one of the ablest conducted local journals in the United States. THOROUGHFARES. By a treaty between the United States and the Indians, the latter among other stipulations, ceded to the former the right of way for a road one hundred and twenty feet wide from the "west" line of the Western Reserve, to the foot of the lower rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, also the land to the extent of one mile on each side of said roadway. The United States afterwards ceded the same to the state of Ohio for the same purpose. In 1824 said road was laid out and established on its present line, making its eastern terminus here in connection with the "Strong's Ridge" road, and its construction immediately commenced. This was the great starting point towards making a village here. From Thomas G. Amsden the place was called "Amsden's Corners," and when the principal roads were established here, it was .called "York Cross Roads." The last name was the one by which it was known abroad and received in the transmission of letters and goods. The first postoffice here was called "York Cross Roads." The Kilbourne road through the influence of Colonel Kilbourne and principally under his management was laid out and established about 1830, from Sandusky City to Upper Sandusky, running in a right line some sixteen or seventeen miles from Sandusky City to near the line between Sandusky and Seneca counties, where was a slight change in its direction to Melmore, etc. It crossed the west line of the Firelands just ten miles from Sandusky, and passed into Sandusky county, going about two miles west of Amsden's Corners, and near the present residence of Amos Carver,. and thence on, as aforesaid. Frederick Chapman, and others at once took measures to change its location, and in 1832 procured a change, so that, starting at a point in its original line about eight miles southwest, it was laid directly to York, Cross Roads, and in approaching the place, the chimney of the "Stone House," (now Exchange hotel,) was an object of direction of its central line. Between Sandusky City and said point of deviation to this place, the "Kilbourne" was never opened on its first line. Said change in its direction bringing its terminus here gave the "Corners" an- 192 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY other lift. Soon after a road was laid out hence to Sandusky City, on a route near Parkertown, and corresponding very nearly with the subsequent line of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad. But this was reviewed and changed, resulting in the establishment of the present road to Cold Creek or Castalia The old Strong's Ridge road, or more properly "trail," at first ran along the high ground south of Alfred Stebbins', to the sawmill, near the present site of Woodward's distillery, and thence to where Main street now crosses the county line. This accounts for the awkward angle at which Monroe street comes to the center. The Strong's Ridge road was afterwards straightened upon its present line and thus we see how it is that there is no known, line in the village which conforms to any point of the compass known to the science of navigation. Up to this (late the town had grown up "by guess." WHEN BELLEVUE WAS SURVEYED AND LAID OUT. In the year 1835, the land on the Huron county side consisting of fifty acres, owned by Gurdon Williams, was purchased by F. Chapman, James Hollister, Josiah Hollister, Thomas G. Amsden, L. G. Harkness and Pickett Latimer, and during tlyear was surveyed and laid out into village lots by David Camp. The lots varied in size and price, fifty dollars being the average price for a quarter acre lot. In 1839 Chapman & Amsden, who at that time owned a large quantity of land west of the county line, had, it also surveyed and laid out. These lots were somewhat larger. In order to induce people to locate here, they put their prices at the lowest figures possible,; giving long time, at the same time taking great care never to sell to parties who wished to buy the land to speculate on, their principal object being to build up a village. MAD RIVER AND LAKE ERIE RAILROAD. The Mad River & Lake Erie railroad, was completed from Sandusky City to this place in 1839. James H. Bell, a civil engineer in the employ of said railroad company, was authorized to name the station here. He Called it Bellevue, as at once suggestive of his ow name, and his idea of the appearance of the place. Said railroad was extended to Republic and Tiffin, in 1841, and soon after reached Its connection with the Little Miami railroad at Springfield., The line of the Mad River. & Lake Erie railroad was changed between. Tiffin and San- dusky, and laid by way of Greenspring, Clyde and Castalia, in 1855, and the track upon lthe Bellevue route taken up. INCORPORATION OF BELLEVUE. The town of Bellevue was incorporated by the act of the legislature, passed January 25, 1851, and its charter limits were about a mile from east to west along Main street, and extending about one-quarter of a mile on either side of the same, embracing nearly equal portions of Huron and Sandusky counties. A. government was organized February 24, 1851, with the following officers: mayor, Abraham Leiter ; recorder, Samuel Z. Culver ; trustees, Eliphalet D. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 193 Follett, Benjamin F. McKim, David Armstrong, Joseph M. Lawrence and Thomas G. Amsden, The Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland railroad was located through this place in 1852 and completed the following. year. A new era was now dawning in the history of the village, and from the time of the completion of the Lake Shore road, dates the substantial progress of Bellevue. The quick eye of the enterprising settler was equal to the emergency. Shops and business establishments were erected with characteristic energy for the manufacture of such commodities as the exigences of the place and its growing facilities rendered necessary. When the town was incorporated, its population was about eight hundred, but at the present time it numbers three thousand, five hundred and is constantly increasing with corresponding vitality, and evidences of commercial progress are manifested on vet hand. In 1869 its corporate limits were much enlarged, being made about one mile and a half square, and still being nearly equally divided by two counties, We have not set forth in as nearly as possible their order of occurrence the principal business events which have happened in the history of Bellevue since the arrival of the first settlers, in 1815. Every event we have stated, carries with it some present interest in connection with the city's rise and progress, especially to old settlers. Could the little company of settlers in 1815, amid the privations of their log cabins and the hardships of forest life, have been told that in fifty years from that time Bellevue would be what it now is, it would have required a strong faith to believe it. Most of the early settlers have passed away, but their memories and works live green in the hearts of many left behind. There are still a few remaining, however, in whose breasts doubtless, linger happy memories of their early struggles, as with a glow of pardonable pride they gaze u on the prosperity of the city they have helped to build up, and witness her rapidly extending importance and probable destiny. Capital and enterprise abound, and on every hand there teems evidence of a vigorous prosperity, the end of which the future alone can reveal. The history of the past few years is the index to that future and judging by the past, it is hut just to say that, under the protecting guidance of a beneficent Providence, Bellevue is destined to become one of the most accumulative and progressive cities in northern Ohio. BELLEVUE OF TODAY. Bellevue today can justly boast that she has within her borders over five thousand souls, a prosperous industrial activity and untold wealth in the agricultural community surrounding.: The growth of Bellevue has not been of a mushroom variety, but a steady, substantial increasing in the number of homes and residents. Contrast the classified business list of Bellevue in 1873 with that of today, and the reader has a most forcible exhibit of the increase in mercantile pursuits. The past thirty years have been fraught with most important developments. Three railroads in addition to the one then existing have been laid through the town, and the longest electric line in the world traverses our main street. Manufacturing has become an important factor in our welfare, and the future seems to hold all things desired by the most optimistic. 194 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The people of Bellevue have been lavishly liberal for public and civic improvement. We feel safe in saying that no town of equal population has spent so much money for public betterments and social conveniences than our little city. Within the last seven years a reservoir has been added to our waterworks equipment at a cost exceeding thirty thousand dollars ; a water conduit costing seven thousand dollars has enlarged our water shed ; water mains have been extended until the whole town is afforded ample fire protection and all who wish, can have use of city water. This later work has entailed an expense approaching twenty thousand dollars. This year a contract was let for reinforcing our reservoir banks with concrete walls, and this work, when completed, will reach fifteen thousand dollars in expense. Several miles of street paving has been laid, and this year four streets have thus been improved and the aggregate cost of this work for the last few years is over one hundred thousand dollars. Bellevue can boast that she has as many miles or more miles of paved streets than any town of its size in the state. A new city hall and fire department headquarters have been erected in the time specified and their total cost was over twelve thousand dollars. Sewers and sink-holes have been constructed and drainage improved with consequent expense. All other work incident to a growing town has been prosecuted promptly and successfully and permanently accomplished. The people of Bellevue gave generously to the establishment of a Y. M. C. A. and a free public library. Both of these institutions, to which all of our citizens may point with pride, were financed in one brief period, three years ago. We doubt if such a thing could be accomplished in a town twice the size of Bellevue in the same length of time. Bellevue's contribution to these institutions was close to twenty thousand dollars—a liberal giving to a worthy cause for our advancement. Last year one of the central school buildings received alterations and additions, that cost nearly twelve thousand dollars. The new central school building which was erected, but a few years ago, caused an outlay of over thirty thousand dollars. Private individuals have also spent money in that time in the improvement of real estate holdings. Manufacturers have added to their plants and new, plants have been established. PLYMOUTH. Plymouth was founded without design, and is situate at the intersection of the State road and Beall's trail, thirty-five miles south of Sandusky. The main street of the village is the county line between Huron and Richland. Owing to its situation a number of houses were built at the intersection of the roads mentioned, and m time the question of organizing a village was successfully mooted. The town was first called Paris, but upon its organization in 1825 its name was changed to Plymouth. The village was incorporated in 1834, but the records previous to 1855 are not in existence. The postoffice of the village is south of Main street, which places it in Richland county. Although the town is about half and half in each county, perhaps the greater number of business houses are on the north, or Huron county line. To show the interest taken by the founders of the town in education, it is only necessary to state HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 195 that the same year the town was laid out a school house was built, and m 183o a 'allies seminary was founded, and the young ladies of the surrounding country ery generally took advantage of the opportunity afforded them of acquiring a seminary education. In 1875 the common schools were opened in a fine new building of six rooms and three hundred and fifty pupils were enrolled. Plymouth now has two steam railroads and a trolley line. At irregular intervals for years past reports have been made of the discovery of coal near Plymouth. But such "discoveries" never materialized. And reports have been circulated that the shaft had been "salted." It is a legitimate part of the work of the geological survey to expose and prevent frauds, but not to assert that any particular individual has perpetrated a fraud. Thin seams of carbonaceous matter or beds of bituminous shale may be reached by boring. Coal, if discovered in that locality, would have to be found below the carboniferous conglomerate, beneath which stratum coal has never been found in paying quantities. In the ante railroad days, "going to the lake" meant a trip to Portland or Huron by teams and wagons, and these teams passed through Plymouth in long processions enroute to the lake. What a change the inaudible and noiseless foot of time has made since then. Monteith's lake, two miles south of Plymouth, is the head waters of the Huron river. The Sandusky, Norwalk & Mansfield trolley line passes through Monteith's grounds, and the place is now a picnic and summer resort and is called the Huron Valley Amusement Park. LIST OF TOWNSHIPS 1N HURON COUNTY. Nineteen in number. (Alphabetically arranged.) Bronson, Clarksfield, Fairfield, Fitchville, Greenfield, Greenwich, Hartland, Lyme, Norwalk, New London, New Haven, Norwich, Peru, Richmond, Ridgefield, Ripley, Sherman, Townsend, Wakeman. BRONSON TOWNSHIP. Bronson township still retains its original name. In the spring of 1817, Norwalk and Bronson were incorporated as a township for business and held their first election at Hanson Reed's. The township derived its name from Isaac Bronson, one of the principal owners of the land. The township, while generally level, is diversified by the branches of the Huron in the western part. In this portion of the township the soil is a loamy clay mixed with gravel, while the eastern half is mostly clay. Sandstone of the newer formation underlies a considerable portion of the township, and is quarried in some portions to a considerable extent. The varieties of timber were whitewood, hickory, beech, white ash, black walnut, the oak in several varieties, butternut, basswood, elm, sycamore, chestnut, and some other kinds of less importance. Several of the eastern branches of the Huron river run through the township, their general 196 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY course being northwest. The stream called East branch crosses the southwest corner of the township, and another crosses the northeast corner, while High Bridge creek flows from the southeast part to the northwest. The animals of the forest were the bear, deer, wolf, wild cat, fox, raccoon, opossum, etc. The wild turkey was the principal bird, and was quite abundant, Bears were not infrequently seen, but were not often killed. Deer were numerous, and venison was a common article of food with the earlier settlers. Their skin was an article of clothing, as well as of trade. Two deer skins would suffice to make a pair of pantaloons, and one would face a pair. The facing was done by sewing the neck of the hide on to the seat, and the half of the balance on the front of each leg, with a strip around the bottom. The woods abounded in wolves, and they were a great annoyance to the farmer. It was usual to pen their sheep up at night, in rail pens, built near the house, for to leave them out at night was to insure their destruction. Rattlesnakes also were very numerous in the first settlement of the township, more especially in the vicinity of the streams. The first habitation erected in Bronson, for the abode of civilized people, was the log cabin of the squatter, John Welch, built in the summer of 1815. He came from Pennsylvania with his family and located west of the creek, opposite Mr, Kellogg's. His parents and his brothers came in soon after, some of whom located in Peru, but none of the family made a permanent settlement. OLENA VILLAGE. In the southeast part of the township, on the Hartland line, is the village of Olena, the first house in which was built by William H. Burras, in 1832. He purchased sixteen acres of land on the southeast corner of the cross-roads, and put up a log house. He married Ruth Palmer, daughter of Abijah Palmer, of Fitchville, September 22, 1835, and moved into his log cabin, previous to which he had occupied with his parents. Samuel Burras, an older brother of William, came With his family from the state of New York a short time afterward, and first located on the old State road. but soon after bought a short distance southeast of Olena and erected a log house, which was one of the first buildings in the place. Among the earliest houses built at Olena, besides those mentioned, were those of Joel Wooley, on the southwest corner of the cross-roads ; Hiram Allen, on the northwest corner, and John Moore a short distance west of Allen. The first tavern at Olena was kept, in a small way, by Benjamin Drake in a log house some twenty rods south of the corners about the year 1835. In 1840, Daniel Angell bought out Drake, and his son, Ephraim Angell, continued the tavern about two years, when he bought the sixteen acres of William H. Burras and erected a framed hotel on the southeast corner of the cross-roads and kept a tavern there for ten years. Andrew Godfrey built a frame tavern on the southwest corner and kept the first postoffice there. The tavern business at this point, in the olden times of wagon trade was something immense. Mr. Angell reports that he used frequently to keep over a single night more than a hundred teams and teamsters. The rate was fifty cents, including supper and breakfast for a man and four-horse team. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 197 The first store at Olena was occupied by Noah Close, but at what date we are unable to determine. The business, however, was not extensively carried on until about 185o, when C. W. Manahan and Courtland Cannon established a store on the southeast corner in the building formerly occupied as a hotel by Mr. Angell. They continued some two years and until the death of Cannon when Lewis Manahan became a partner of his brother. The village was formerly called Angell's Corners and continued to be so called for several years, when, at a public meeting of the citizens, the name was changed to Olena. We date the actual settlement of the township from the arrival of Benjamin Newcomb and family, who moved in in the winter of 1815-16 and settled on lot number four, section number three. The next settler was Martin Kellogg. He and his family consisting of his wife and three daughters. The first white child born in Bronson was Timothy T. Newcomb, son of Benjamin and Stata Newcomb. He was born July 6, 1816, the next day after the burial of his father, who was killed by the kick of a horse. The first couple married was Lott Herrick and Lola Sutliff. This event occurred October 16, 1818, at the house of Nathan Sutliff. The first death was that of Benjamin Newcomb, who was killed by the kick of a horse, July 4, 1816. The first school in Bronson was kept by Lola Sutliff, in the log barn of Martin Kellogg, in the summer of 1818. Her scholars were Maudane, Lucy, Rebecca and Polly Kellogg ; Lucy, Jane, Tina, Eleanor and John Ammerman ; Peggy and John Welch. The teacher received seventy-five cents per week, her wages being paid by the parents in proportion to the number of children sent. The first school-house was built of logs on the north part of Nathan Sutliff's farm in the fall of 1819. Martin Kellogg taught the school in it the next winter and was the first male teacher in the township. The house was unfinished at the time he opened his school, and he and William W. Beckwith put it in condition for occupancy. He had about twenty scholars and received fifteen dollars per month. The earliest religious meetings were held at this school-house, and a remarkable revival occurred there in the winter of 1823-24 when twenty-one heads of families were converted and afterwards united with the church. The first school-house erected for the benefit of the State road settlement was built on the north town line. The first postoffice was established at the center of the township about the year 1829 or '30. John Lyon was the first postmaster. In the early settlement .of the township the settlers obtained their grinding usually at the grist mill of David Mack, at Macksville, sometimes at Carkhuff's mill in Greenfield, and occasionally even at Mansfield, There have been a number of sawmills erected in the township. There were formerly five in operation on High Bridge creek at the same time. CLARKSFIELD TOWNSHIP. BY DR. T. E. WEEKS. In dividing the Firelands in 1808 the township of Clarksfield was assigned to the holders of the original claims of one hundred and seventeen persons whose 198 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY claims amounted to eight thousand, three hundred and thirty-nine pounds, worth then twenty-seven thousand, seven hundred and ninety-seven dollars, but these claims had been scaled down to seventeen thousand, nine hundred and twenty-four dollars, which is a little more than a dollar an acre. After the state of Ohio had incorporated the company known by the long name of the "Proprietors of the Half Million Acres of Land Lying South of Lake Erie, Called Sufferers' Land," the directors assessed a tax of two cents on the pound on the original losses for the purpose of defraying the necessary expense of surveying and dividing the lands. Many of the owners failed to pay this trifling tax and the lands were sold at "Publick Vendue," as the deeds state, in 18o8. Comfort Hoyt, Jr., was one of the tax collectors and among other claims sold to Zadock Starr claims amounting to seven hundred and forty-seven dollars for ten dollars and six cents ; to Ezra Wildman claims amounting to five hundred and sixty-nine dollars for seven dollars and eighty-four cents ; to John Dodd claims amounting to eight hundred and sixty-two dollars for nine dollars and sixty-four cents, and other claims at like discounts. This indicates that the original claimants were often indifferent or too poor to pay the tax. Undoubtedly the most of the original sufferers or their heirs realized but little from the grant of the land. When the drawing for the division of the Firelands was made on the 9th of November, 18̊8, the several sections of Clarksfield township were drawn by the following persons and their claims entitled then. to the number of acres opposite their names :

The township was named from James Clark, who was one of the greatest sufferers from the incursions of the British in the Revolutionary war. The township contains more than sixteen thousand acres, as it is a little more than five miles square. At the first meeting of the commissioners of Huron county, held at the county seat north of Milan, near Abbott's bridge, on the 1st day of August, 1815. Ver- 199 - PHOTO OF MILL DAM IN JANUARY, CLARKSFIELD 200 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 201 million township was organized to contain the whole of the twentieth range, that is, the townships of Vermillion, Florence, Wakeman, Clarksfield, New London and Ruggles. It also included "all of that portion of Huron county east of the Firelands," which was a considerable of the present county of Lorain. March 2, 1818, New London township was organized to comprise the townships of Ruggles, New London and Clarksfield. March 8, 1820, the commissioner "ordered that townships number three, in the twentieth and twenty first ranges (Clarksfield and Hartland), be and the same are hereby organized into a separate township with all the privileges belonging thereto, by the name of Bethel." In 1826 the two townships were organized under their present names. At the December meeting of the county commissioners in 1815 a road was ordered to be laid out as follows : "Beginning at the end of the north and south road which is now laid out from the lake to the south line of Jessup (now Florence), thence to continue through the twentieth range to the south line of said twentieth range through the settlement in New London." This road was cut out during the winter and is the one upon which the village of Clarksfield is located. The settlement in New London was south of the present town of New London. On the 28th day of March, 1816, two brothers, Hosea and Hiram Townsend, left Florence with an ox team on their way from Massachusetts to New London, and are said to have been the first persons to drive a team over this road. In 1810 Benjamin Stiles of New York city purchased of John Dodd one thousand, two hundred and ninety-five acres of land in Clarksfield township, at one dollar per acre. In 1817, Samuel Husted purchased of John Dodd an undivided interest in seven hundred and eight-two acres for one thousand, six hundred dollars. At this time all of the third section except one tier of lots on the south side was owned in common by Ezra Dibble, Comfort Hoyt, Jr., Timothy Chittenden, Jr., Benjamin Stiles and Samuel Rusted. May 14, 1817, they quit claimed to each other definite portions of this land, Chittenden getting five hundred and ninety-five acres ; Dibble & Hoyt, six hundred and ninety-three ; Stiles, one thousand, three hundred, and Rusted, seven hundred and fifty-two. May 19, 1817, John Dodd sold to Nathaniel and Ezra Wood, brothers, of Danbury, Connecticut, a piece of land in common in the second section, to contain one hundred and twenty-six acres, for two hundred fifty-two dollars and fifty-six cents. Another deed located the land in lot seventeen and Nathaniel soon sold his interest to Ezra. In the same year, 1817, Abraham Gray purchased of Dodd and Dibble lot thirteen in the second section (the lot next east of the Daniel Rowland farm). In September, 1817, Benjamin Benson purchased lot seven in the third section for, three hundred and thirty-five dollars. In 1811 Comfort Hoyt, Jr., deeded to his son Simeon one hundred and fifty-nine acres of lot six in the fourth section and to his daughter Dolly lot four in the same section. This land which comprises the north part of Andrew Blackman's farm and the farm of George Smith was given by her to the First Congregational church in 1826, but was deeded back to the heirs of Comfort Hoyt in 1844. In 1817, a number of the men who became pioneers of Clarksfield owned land here and in this year we find the first attempt to make a break in the forest. Samuel Hosted was a stirring man of thirty-eight years of age and with a growing family, living at Danbury, Connecticut, and he decided to set up a home for himself on the 202 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY land he owned in Ohio—that land of promise so far away from civilization. Ezra Wood, a young man whose wife was a niece of Mrs. Husted, also desired to see the new country. These two men started from Danbury in a one-horse wagon May 19, 1817. The narrative of their journey has fortunately been preserved in print. We quote from the narrative of Jonathan Fitch in the Firelands Pioneer of June, 1864: "On the 19th day of May, 1817, I left Norwalk, Connecticut, for Ohio, in company with Capt. Adam Swan, his Irishman Kelley and John and Seth Keeler. We went by the way of New York city, which we reached about noon on the loth. After resting a few hours we crossed the river to -what is now Jersey, City, and reaching Morristown We put up for the night. Moving forward the next morning, we arrived at the top of a long hill about mid-day when we stopped by the wayside, fed our horses and resorted to our provision chest. While eating we discovered two men in a one-horse wagon ascending the hill. As they came near they raised the shout : 'Hurrah for Ohio !' They proved to be strangers to us, but we were not long in making their acquaintance. They were Captain Husted and a Mr. Wood (given name not remembered). They hailed from Danbury, Connecticut, and were bound for Ohio. Learning at Norwalk of our departure, they had hastened to overtake us. Our numbers being thus increased to, seven, we moved on over hills, valleys, rivers and mountains to Pittsburg, which we reached the 8th of June. Here we rested for the Sabbath. Monday we traveled on to the west side of the Big Beaver bridge, where our new acquaintances left Us, taking to the right hand road to go to Clarksfield, Huron county, while Awe kept on direct to Mansfield, Richland county. We arrived at Mr. Giles Swans north of Mansfield June 17th." In the same year Mr. Fitch started back to Connecticut on horseback. He and another man left Mr. Swan's, near Mansfield, November To, 1817. He says : "On our journey east of Pittsburg we met an ox team with household goods. I told Smith it must be Captain Rusted, but the driver was a stranger to me. We soon, however, met three horse teams. I raised a hurrah for Captain Rusted, and in response he dropped his lines and waded through the mud to reach me upon my horse. He said he was overjoyed to see one he knew. A Mr. Starr, I think, was with him. After a brief interview we bade each other farewell and went on our ways." Husted and Wood went to Florence and stopped with Major Barnum, another Danbury man who had come to Florence eight years before. Fitch says that his party reached Mansfield June 17th and we may reasonably suppose that Rusted and Wood reached Florence about the same time. Making Florence their headquarters, they came over into the woods of Clarksfield on Husted's land and worked for six weeks, preparing the timbers for a log cabin and clearing off the trees adjoining. Six men raised the house and these men were probably from Florence. Wood says that Rusted cut the first tree and built the first house in the township, and E., M. Barnum, who came two years later, also says that Rusted put up the first house. We find no reason to dispute this claim. Husted and Wood went back to Danbury after this. There is considerable uncertainty in regard to the first actual settler in the township, but we believe the weight of evidence is in favor of the statement that the family of Stephen Post was the first to live here, although Ezra Wood, Benjamin Benson and E. M. Barnum, who have written sketches of the pioneer settlement of the township. fail to, mention Mr. Post, but Simeon Hoyt, who came in HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 203 1817, says that Mr. Post was here when he came. Although we believe Mr. Husted built the first house his family did not come until some months afterward. Bushnell Post, a son of Stephen, tells' the story of his father's journey to Ohio in the following words : "In the year 1815, down in the Empire state and in the rich valley of Genesee, there lived a family of Posts, a family of Miners, a family of Russells and a family of Andersons, all neighbors, or what was called neighbors in those early days, for though some miles of wooded roads lay between them, yet their social gatherings and their friendly greetings proclaimed them neighbors lndeed. These four families consisted of the following persons : Stephen Post, my father ; Sally Post, my mother ; sisters Cynthia and Anna, brothers Isaiah, Stephen and William, and the baby, sister Lucinda ; and connected with the family as a hired man at this time was Zara C. Norton, in all nine persons. Asel Miner and his wife, Polly Miner, George Miner, Joel and Albert Miner make up a family of six. The Russells were three in number ; the mother and the two sons, Olcott and Charles ; and in the other was Henry Anderson, his wife and a daughter, Laura, and connected with the family was Simeon Munson, who came down from Ohio to help move them. The sum total of persons were twenty-two. Some time in the month of December, 1815, these four families came together with their goods packed and piled on three or four sleds, and one wagon was loaded with goods, and these loads were to be hauled by three or four ox teams and two spans of horses. Around were gathered, six cows, three hogs and one pet sheep. The little lads, with sticks in their hands, were behind to drive the drove, the women and little children were tucked in among the goods, the drivers were at their post, with their faces set toward the frozen waters of Lake Erie, and with a crack of the whip they move on over the creaking snow. * * * They reach the place where the great city of Cleveland now stands, and—what do they find? One solitary log hotel down on the bottoms of the Cuyahoga river, but are told that there are a few houses up on the hills. On, on, we trace them ; we hear the little lads complain of sore feet and weary limbs, the little children cry with cold and hunger, the mothers with anxious care, can but heave a sigh, and the father's whoa, haw, gee, with energy rings out along the wooded way. The most serious mishap happens as they near the mouth of the Vermillion, where an ox sled capsized on the uneven ice that was cracked and bulged here and there, and scattered its contents over the ice just as the shades of night were setting thick and fast. A box of axes found a crack in the ice and slumped through and found a resting place in the gravelly bed of the lake: The goods were gathered up that night lest a wind should spring up and ice, goods and all be among the missing ere the dawn or another day. But the ice was there ; the crack was found and the box of axes wa fished out of eight or ten feet of water the next morning. Arriving at what known as Sprague's corners in Florence, my father's family put up for the rest of the winter—it now being the last of December or some time the first of January, 1816 while the other three families held on for New London. In the spring of this year our family moved to New London and into the house belonging to Benjamin Hendricks and near the west line of the farm now owned by George Bissell. Here they raised corn, potatoes and garden sauce on the little opening that Hendricks had made, and during that fall they built a house in the southwest corner of Clarksfield, and the foundation logs were laid very near where now stands the 204 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY next and trim white house of Mr. Dunning. They moved to this round log structure some time that fall or winter-the opening of 1817—there being but one white person living in the township at the time, he being an old bachelor who had a shanty on the place now owned by Mrs. Baldwin—a Mr. Osmer by name who was there when our family moved into that good old log home built beneath the shades of the towering trees of southwest Clarksfield. * * * And here, above all other events on the first day of June, 1817, the first white child of the township was born—my youngest sister, Almira. Here, too, occurred the first wedding of the township, Zara C. Norton, being wedded to my oldest sister, Cynthia, and the knot was tied by 'Squire Case of New London. This wedding is down in the pioneer book of this county as having taken place in New London. But this is a mistake ; it took place in the first log house built in Clarksfield, it being the one built by the hands of my father. * * * The nearest mill was eighty miles away, down on Owl creek, were my father went once the first year we lived in New' London with a wagon loaded with corn and wheat and a pair of oxen and one horse hitched ahead of them to haul the load, my oldest brother riding the horse to lead the way and Philo T. Porter bringing up the rear with another ox team hauling another wagon like loaded. Well, they made the trip and returned home in three weeks, being delayed by high waters, where they found hungry, anxious friends awaiting them. Our ,people lived on the Clarksfield farm two years, but the trouble to get to mill caused them to move to Richland county and settle near where Hayesville now is. Here they lived for two years." In another article Mr. Post tells about his father's family coming to Ohio and says that it was in 1816 that they started from their home in the east and 1817 when they went to New London and moved into a house built by a Mr. William Hendrix, "and where on June 1st a little sister was born." "Here they tarried for only a short time, until a house could be built on a section of land in the southwest corner of Clarksfield, where they moved in the fall and where they lived for a year or two." Our readers will notice that there are some differences in these two statements. One makes the date of their arrival in New London and Clarksfield a year later than the other. One says that the baby sister was born in Clarksfield, and the other that she was born in New London; one says that the house they moved into was built by Benjamin Hendriks, the other by William Hendrix. [The latter was a son of the former.] These discrepancies lessen the historical value of the statements and we must look for corroborating evidence. Dr. Skellenger says that the younger Stephen Post said that they came to Clarksfield in 1816, but he (Skellenger) upon investigation thinks it was a year later. In the history of New London township Dr. Skellenger says that Stephen Post, Henry Anderson and Mrs. Russell and her sons came to New London in 1817. It seems the most reasonable to suppose that Mr. Post came to Clarksfield in the fall of 1817, after spending the summer in New London. Zara C. Norton, who came to Ohio with the family of Stephen Post, was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, November 15, 1799. He was married to Cynthia Post October 14, 1818, by Esquire Case of New London, and this was the first, wedding in Clarksfield. After their marriage they lived with Mr. Post, went to Richland county with him and came back with him, but then settled in a log house on the north side of the town line road east of Barrett's Corners, on a farm now owned HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 205 by Edward Hubbard. The little red house was built by Mr. Norton in later years. In 1829 he was licensed to exhort and to preach in 1833. At this time he went on the circuit as a Methodist minister and was away from home much of the time. In 1840 he was admitted to conference and in 1841 he was assigned to a circuit in Williams county and remained for two years, but the family remained on the farm. In the fall of 1817 Simeon Hoyt and Smith Starr started from Danbury, Connecticut, with their families, in a Wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and one horse and after a journey lasting six weeks they reached Clarksfield in October. Hoyt settled on his farm in the south part of the township where Sherman Smith afterward lived and died. It will be, remembered that Mr. Hoyt was one of the party of surveyors who surveyed the Firelands in 1806 and later. In 1809 Comfort Hoyt, the father of Simeon, and one of the original proprietors of the Firelands, came out to see the land and was taken sick at Huron. Simeon sent to Cleveland for a doctor. After a" while he recovered so as to be able to travel. Simeon had intended to remain longer, but was obliged to return to Connecticut with his father. Years afterward, when he was seventy years of age, Comfort Hoyt came to Ohio on horseback to visit his children, and returned to Connecticut the same way. In describing his experiences Simeon says: "I came with an ox team in company with Smith Starr. We were six weeks on the road. I had previously purchased the land on which I moved. It was nearly all a wilderness at that time. A few families were living in New London and Stephen Post in this town. We found it hard times. Provisions were scarce and high, and no roads. How we ever lived I can hardly tell, but we did, and in a few years became situated very comfortably." Also in anther letter : "My family the first year comprised eleven persons, and it was no easy- matter to provide provisions for so large a household. We obtained some flour from Richland county and some from Huron, and made use of pounded corn some of the time. After the first year we were not troubled for the necessities of life." . Smith Starr, who came with Simeon Hoyt, was a son of Peter, son of Samuel, son of Samuel, son of Josiah, son of Thomas, son of Dr. Comfort Starr, who came from England to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1634, and later to Boston. He was born at Ridgefield, Connecticut, and was married to Joanna Knapp in 1805. When they came to Clarksfield they had a number of children, John T., the oldest, being eleven years old. They first moved into the log house which Captain Rusted had built in June until their own house could be put up. This was built on the south hill near the site of the fine frame house which he built afterwards and which was his home until his death. It is now owned by Grant Johns. He was a shoemaker by trade, and brought leather on his back from the nearest tannery, some thirty miles distant. His shop and tools were destroyed by fire, so he gave up the business and built a sawmill on the bank of Spring brook in 1819, the first sawmill in the town. He was a useful Man in the community and served as postmaster for many years. The first of November, 1817, Samuel Rusted again started from Danbury, Connecticut, for Ohio, but this time he brought his family of wife and six children with him. Hester Paul and Jachim Morris must have come with them as members of the family. Eli Seger and family also accompanied them. The Mr. Starr which Fitch mentions as being with Husted was not Smith Starr. Mary Jane 206 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Husted was only six weeks old when they started and her cradle was a basket hung from the top of the covered wagon and she is said to have been the least trouble of any of the children. Probably the swaying of the wagon as it passed over the rough roads kept her cradle rocking. They Were six weeks on the road. Husted drove an ox team with a white horse ahead. This animal lived for many years afterward and was known by the name of "Knitting Work," on account of her nipping kind of a gait. A piece of their wagon is still preserved by the youngest son. They came by the way of Pittsburg, Petersburg, Canfield, Rocky River, Ridgeville and Black river, as an old account book shows. Husted furnished the means to pay Seger's way and charged him fourteen dollars for carrying a chest three hundred miles. He went into his own log cabin which stood near the brow of the hill north of the Hollow, near Albert Stone's house. After a few years he built the first frame house in the township in the Hollow, near the brick store. The old log house was used for a school house. Benjamin Benson was a butcher in New York city. He was a member of the First Troop of Horse Artillery under Colonel Joseph Bogart in the war of 1812, and spent a little time in camp when the troops were called out to defend the city against an expected attack of the British, but did not see active service. He purchased a piece of land here in Clarksfield in the summer of 1817. He started for Ohio October 14, 1817. He says : "Traveling was very expensive, even when a man drove his own team, owing chiefly to the great flood of emigration at that time settling toward the west. The price of oats on the main thoroughfares would average about seventy-five cents a bushel, with hay proportionately dear. Our destination was Clarksfield, Huron county, Ohio, and we arrived at Florence on the 2d day of December, where we were accommodated by Major Barnum with shelter within the body of a log house without chimney or floor or anything but the bare logs with open spaces of three or four inches between them, thus affording very inadequate protection against the rigor of winter, which, after our arrival had begun in good earnest and continued through the months of January and February at a temperature with little variation, bordering upon zero. During this time we built a log cabin and before the spring opened we had removed to our intended future home." This cabin stood near the place where Robert Hurlbut afterward built his house, on the road about a half mile south of the Hollow. Aaron Rowland was born in 1780, in a military camp at Danbury, Connecticut. In 1799 he was married to Deborah Dean of Carmel, New York. They located at Southeast, Putnam county, New York. Mr. Rowland was a miller by trade and operated flouring and sawmills along the Croton river. On the loth day of October, 1818, he started from Southeast in a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and one horse. His family consisted of a wife and six children. Accompanying him was his brother-in-law, Ezra Wood, and family. They reached Clarksfield November 18th. Captain Husted's wife was an aunt to Mr. Rowland and Mrs. Wood, so all hands found shelter in Mr. Husted's log cabin. This addition must have swelled the number of inmates to about twenty. The probability is that the Husted family were glad to see some of their own folks and willing to be crowded for a short time. Mr. Husted charged Mr. Wood four dollars for a week's board for himself and wife. Mr. Rowland found employment at once in Captain Husted's new grist mill. Perhaps he had come here with that understanding. He HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 207 built a log house a little ways north of Husted's house where Ezra Wildman afterwards lived, near the house of Mrs. Hubbell. He operated the mill when there was water and attended to farming at other times until 1822, when he moved to his own land which he had bought before he came here. The first physician to make a settlement in the wilderness of Clarksfield was Andrew McMillan. He was of Scotch parentage but was born in the state of New York. About 1820 he came with his father's family to a farm near Monroeville and in July, 1822, he came to Clarksfield. Joseph Osyer moved from Canada to Berlin and in 1820 to Hartland Ridge, settling on the farm known as the Eno Holiday farm. In 1824 he sold out his place and moved to Clarksfield, living in a log house on the farm of Benjamin Stiles, back of Charles Fisher's house. He used to make many shingles and had a shed near his house where he used to shave the shingles. The Stiles boys and others of the neighborhood used to like to go there and watch him at work. He received two dollars per thousand for his shingles, and the price seems small when we consider that every shingle was split and shaved by hand and made of the very best oak or whitewood timber. On the 3d day Of November, 1820, "the inhabitants of Bethel were legally warned for the purpose of building a bridge across the Vermillion river." This was without doubt the bridge at the "Hollow." In 1825 Joseph Waldron received two dollars for putting up guide boards. In April, 1825, after the separation of the townships the following officers were elected in Clarksfield : Andrew McMillan, clerk ; Asa Wheeler, Jr., Platt Sexton and Sheldon Freeman, trustees ; Samuel Husted and John Hough, overseers of the poor ; Ira Peck and Andrew McMillan, fence viewers ; Smith Starr, Lister and An- drew McMillan, appraisers of property ; Aaron Rowland, treasurer ; Levi Barnum and Stiles Webb, constables ; John Wriker, John Hough, Stephen Post, Ezra Row- land and Harvey Webb, supervisors. In May the trustees divided the township into four school districts and made a list of the householders, forty-four in number. Samuel Stiles, who was born November 13, 1818, was without doubt the first white child born in the township and Bethiah Wheeler was the first girl. Dorothy Benson, who was born January 9, 1819, was probably the third white child born here. The first death, as before stated, was that of Ephraim Seger, which occurred on the 27th or 28th of August, 1818. He had been sent on an errand by his father and when he returned was set to work picking up chips to put on a log heap. He was soon heard to exclaim, "What has bit me !" A large rattlesnake was found in the weeds and was quickly put into the burning log heap. It was found that the boy had been bitten on the wrist and he died three days afterward. In 1820 Horace Bodvvell went down into Levi Barnum's well, a very deep one, on the Abraham Gray place, and was overcome with the "damps," and fell to the bottom. Omri Nickerson went down arid after several attempts succeeded in fastening a rope to the body and it was drawn out, but life was extinct. Two deaths by falling trees, those of Henry Vanderveer and Rodney Blackman, occurred soon after the settlement of the town. The first wedding in the township was that of Zara C. Norton and Cynthia Post, on the 14th day of October, 1818, and the second was that of Obadiah Jenney and Hester Paul. 208 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Captain Husted, who always had an eye to the "main chance," saw the great inconvenience of the absence of a grist mill and soon set to work to supply that deficiency. He began the work of building a mill in April, 1818, and it was finished in September. The dam had a foundation of rock and has not had as many mishaps as the most of mill dams. The mill stood near the center of the present road running west from the village of Clarksfield, in front of the Daniels house and one of the old mill stones is doing duty as a horse block in front of that house. It was made from a granite rock. The mill was an unhandy building, two stories high and all the grain had to be carried up a steep, winding stairway. It had one run of stones. The stream went dry in the summer and those settlers who .did not lay up a supply of flour and meal had to go to some other mill. Before this mill was built the settlers here went to Merry's mill at Milan or to Rich- land county. This mill stood for about twenty years. The first sawmill in the township was built by Smith Starr in 1820. It stood east of the Hollow on the bank of Spring brook, some distance south of the road and some remains of the dam are yet to be seen. The dam once broke and the flood of water cut a channel through the road at the foot of the east hill. About 1823 Levi Barnum built a sawmill on the east branch of the Vermillion river, short distance north of Rowland's Corners. He sold out to Asa Wheeler, Jr., and Joseph Bartholamew in a few years. It thus appears that Clarksfield was well supplied with mills early in the settlement of the township. Benjamin Benson says : "The first trading establishment, if it be worth name, was opened by Richard T. Huyck in the Hollow. He sold rum, a few articles of stone ware, a trifling amount of groceries and called it a store. Some of the inhabitants would meet there ; the rum was good for the men to get drunk on, and but little else." We think Captain Husted must have been the first and principal merchant in town. In a few years (probably after he had built his frame house at the Hollow) he built a store across the street from his house, about where the hotel now stands. About 1830 it was moved further east to make room for the hotel. It was a long, low two story frame building and fronted the east after it was moved. In the latter years of its existence the front part was used for a store and the rear for a dwelling. Mr. Husted's account books contain the names of men of New London, Fitchville, Hartland, Wakeman, Florence and Brighton, as well as Clarks- field. Some of the articles, sold were whiskey, tobacco, flour, horse and ox hides, salt, window sash, potatoes, fish, wooden dishes, cotton cloth, bear skins, kettles, young bears, pups, deer skins, cranberries, hat splints, ox yokes, bear meat, tallow, deer meat (salt, dried and hams), hoes, scythes, hats, apple trees and coffins. Frequent mention of Indians is made. Benson says : "Of money there was but little in use, for the reason that there were no markets for grain, and but little to dispose of if there had been. Labor was reckoned at a dollar per day, but a bushel of wheat would pay for that day's labor, although it was nominally worth but thirty-seven cents. Thus, the products of the soil constituted the articles of traffic, and supplied the place of bank paper, or the better currency of gold and silver coin. Speaking of barter, it would have been truly diverting if a record had been kept of the many queer exchanges that were made both by the men and the women at that early period. And if one should now offer to swap toadstools for old socks or live skunks for 'possum fat, it would not be more ludicrous." 209 - EAST MAIN STREET, NEW LONDON, OHIO 210 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 211 There have been many other stores in the township, but their history will be considered at a later date. The first settlers, coming as they did from New England, were people of considerable education as a rule, and they began to erect school houses very soon after they were established in their new homes. Captain Husted gave Ezra Wood credit for one day's work at school house in December, 1818. The first school house in that township was built of logs, south of the Hollow not far from the Hough house, in 1819 and Miss Alzina Barker was the first teacher. This building was burned in 1829. It was supposed that some of the young men set fire to it in hopes of getting a better building. A frame building was soon afterward built just north of the river on the east side of the road. Soon after the first school house was built at the Hollow another was erected in the Stiles settlement some distance south of the present village of West Clarksfield During the first years the schools were supported by those inhabitants who sent children to school, the expense being borne according to the number sent. But three months of school were taught in a year. During the first four years of the new settlement the inhabitants had to go to Florence, or, perhaps, New London, for their mail. In 1821 a postoffice was established at Clarksfield with Smith Starr as postmaster, and he held that office until 1853, with the exception of two short intervals. In 1834, Asa Wheeler, Jr., sold to Samuel Husted and David Tyler the strip of land at Clarksfield between the river and the east and west road and running from Spring Brook west to the north and south road, for fifty dollars. Husted and Tyler built a saw mill at the west end of this land. The power was derived from water brought by a race from the grist mill race. The mill cost three hundred forty-two dollars and twenty-eight cents, as shown by one of Husted's books. This mill was operated until about 1888, but has now nearly disappeared from the face of the earth. On March 5, 1836, this property wag sold to Virgil Squire and Ebenezer Warner (of Florence) for one thousand, five hundred dollars. On the same day Samuel Husted sold to Squire and Warner the old gristmill property including the pond and race, for one thousand, five hundred dollars. On Septem- ber 30, 1836, Squire and Warner sold both properties to George Lawton and David Tyler for four thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars and on November 16, 1836, Starr sold to Lawton and Tyler the store and two acres of land after- ward occupied by J. J. Cobb, for seven hundred and fifty dollars. On March 4, 1837, Lawton and Tyler sold to Virgil Squire a one-third interest in their property for two thousand, five hundred dollars. In the same year John Hayes sold to Squire, Lawton and Tyler the land where the present grist mill stands, including his store and privilege of water from the mill race, and, at the same time Samuel Husted sold to them the triangular piece of land bounded by the New London road, where it angles to the east, the lot line and the east and west road, with the point near the top of the hill, for one hundred dollars. Mr. Tyler soon sold out his interest. In the fall of 1837 Squire & Lawton began the erection of a grist mill on the premises and it was completed the next year, about September 1st. On the day when the mill was started there was quite a gathering of the inhabitants of the place, and as was usual upon such occasions, the men were ready to indulge in sports. Myron Furlong attempted to jump across the race, which was sixteen feet 212 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY wide and full of water but he undershot the mark and landed in the water. This created a laugh and he excused himself by saying that no man could jump across and that he should have known better than to try. This led to a banter and a bet that a man could be found who would jump across. Ben Patch, who was not a man grown, was sent for and when he came Almanza Hamlin told him what was wanted and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Bennie, I would rather lose a hundred dollars than have you fail." He did not fail, but made the jump easily and the laugh was on Furlong again. The machinery for this mill was hauled by teams from Huron, to which place it had probably been shipped from Pittsburg. It had four runs of stone and was capable of doing a good deal of business while the water lasted. It was driven by a large overshot wheel, which was replaced by a turbine wheel in later years. About 1850 a steam engine was put in for use when the water did not suffice. A few years ago modern roller process machinery was put in and since then all of the stones have been removed and the water power discarded entirely. It still does a large business with the farmers. Squire & Lawton did not have capital enough to carry on the business successfully and the property was heavily mortgaged. In 1842 Lawton sold his interest to Squire for five hundred dollars. On November 25, 1837, Squire & Lawton sold to David Tyler a tract of land fifty-two by one hundred feet, including a building upon it. which stood twenty-six feet east of the mill then building, "with a water privilege of as much water as would spout through an aperture three feet six inches by two inches, with two feet head, but reserving the right to run four stones and two saws." This building is where Mr. Tyler carried on the business of making furniture, drums, coffins and almost anything which could be made from wood. This shop was burned in 1841 and another was erected in the same place, but it has been moved away and converted into a barn. In 1837 Samuel H. Gibson entered into a contract with David Tyler and Samuel Husted, in which Tyler agreed to let Gibson have the "privilege of water on said Tyler's land for use of propelling a wheel for carding and cloth dressing, and also agreed to furnish a shop and fit it in order for the above and put in a fulling mill and furnish one-half of all outgoes, wood, candles, soap, dye wood, dye stuffs, etc., and in turn was to receive one-fourth of the avails of the business." Mr. Husted agreed that when the water should not be sufficient to carry the grist mill and cloth works, to secure the water for the cloth works for the consideration of one-half of Tyler's avails, at the time his water was used for said works. The business of cloth dressing was carried on in the basement of Mr. Tyler's shop until it was burned. Silas Earl then built a cloth mill across the river from the grist mill and carried on the business until a freshet came on New Year's Day of 1847 and wrecked the machinery. He used horse power at first but put in a steam engine later. Virgil Squire kept a store at Clarksfield in 1835. in a building which stood near the foot of the hill north of Smith Starr's, and the business was continued by Squire & Lawton. The building used to face the north, but Cobb had it turned around to face the west and had it painted anew, and he put in the best stock of goods which had been brought to the town. He had a partner, Mr. Buckingham, of Norwalk, until 1843. In 1848 he had the store building moved back and a large two-story building with a basement was erected and then Mr. Cobb enlarged his business until he drew trade from all the surrounding country. Excepting a store at Wake- HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 213 man and another at King's Corners (now New London), Clarksfield offered the chief facilities for trade in this part of the country, until the advent of railroads changed the order of things. Mr. Cobb bought anything which the farmers had to sell and supplied them with nearly everything which could be bought in stores at that time. The most of his produce was shipped at Milan and his goods came from there. He kept several teams busy most of the time. When he moved away he sold out to Tyler & Seger and they were followed in 1858-59 by Sam and Harley Jones. William Stiles carried on the business from 1859 to 1865, followed by J. N. Barnum, Seneca Ronk and Frank Wildman. The building has not been occupied for several years. Winslow Fay opened a store here in 1839 in a new building which he erected on the hill south of Smith Starr's house. He had a partner, one Albert Sherwood, until 1845. Fay sold out to him, but put up a smaller building by the side of the one sold to Sherwood, and carried on a store there for a short time. The first building erected by Fay was fitted for a school house some years after Fay moved away, and now stands at the foot of the hill east of the Cobb store. The second building erected by Fay was cut in two and one-half of it moved to the foot of the hill south of the old Cobb store, the other half stood on the lot north of the Congregational parsonage until recently, when it was torn down. When the Vermillion & Ashland railroad company was building its road north of this place, it bought the Husted store and hired Simeon B. Sturges to carry on the business, but after the company failed the store was sold to Abel D. Howe at sheriff's sale. Seger & Curtiss kept store there at one time. In 1820 Ezra Wildman came from Danbury, Connecticut, to Clarksfield, bringing a load of goods and he made several trips afterward, until he moved here in 1828. It is likely that his brother-in-law, Captain Husted, sold out the goods for him. When Johnson Wheeler bought the Barnum mill north of Rowland's corners, at what came to be known as Hayesville, he car- ried on a store in one corner of the mill, until a building was put up on the east side of the road on the north bank of the ravine, called the "Mansion House," where one room was used for a store. He also carried on a distillery. Albert Seger carried on a foundry at Hayesville for some time and then he and Walter Bates built a foundry at Clarksfield on the north side of the road just west of where the old grist-mill used to stand. We learn that Alvin Coe, a Presbyterian, and William Westlake, a Methodist, were the first regular ministers. Other men visited the new colony and some of these missionary workers saw hard times. David Marks was one of them and in his Memoirs (see page twenty-two) he gives a narrative of his first journey to Ohio. Finding that a Free Will Baptist church had already been established at Milan, he journeyed on to New 'London, Clarksfield and Danbury, where he attended meetings "with some appearance of success." On the 29th and 30th of June, 1822, a general meeting was held at Milan. "Brethren attended from three small churches in Milan, Greenfield and Clarksfield, which were the only Free Will Baptist churches in this part of the country." In August of this year he attended meetings at Clarksfield in addition to other places. It is probable that the first church society organized in the township was the Baptist, but we are unable to learn anything more concerning it than stated above. 214 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY There was a society of Free Will Baptists here at one time. When the Millerite doctrine began to be preached here, some of the members of the Baptist church embraced the new faith but when the prophecy that the world would come to an end on a certain day in April, 1844, did not prove to be true, some of these joined the Congregational church, under the preaching of John Todd. There was a larger society of Close Communion Baptists here, among whom were J. J. Cobb and wife, Robert W. Hurlbut and wife, Ezra Wood, the Fletchers. Aaron and Levi Rowland, Esex Call and family, Asa Percy, William Wood, Ransom Day and wife, Mrs. I. B. Scott and Mrs. Henry Kress, the last two being the only ones to hold their membership when the society disbanded. In 1845 a new school house was built across the street from the Congregational church and the building which had been used was made over into a church. J. J. Cobb helped much in the work. Elder Hall was the first minister in the new church building. The church society was kept up for about ten, years and then there was a division and some of the members withdrew and organized a society at Rowland's corners. About 1837 a Methodist church was organized at East Clarksfield and a church building was afterwards erected at Whitefox corners and is still in use. We have been unable to get any history of the early days of this church. Two other Methodist churches have been built in the township, one at Barrett's corners and the other at West Clarksfield. FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP. Fairfield township still bears its original name. It was so called from Fairfield, Connecticut, where many of those lived who had received the land in payment for loss of property in the Revolutionary war. It was detached from Bronson and organized in 1823. The surface of the township is quite level, except in the northwest portion where there are ridges and curiously formed hills. The soil throughout is rich and there is no waste land. The whole township was originally covered with an unusually heavy growth of timber—maple, beech, whitewood and black walnut, the last two varieties being found in great quantity. Black walnut was so common that it was used in large quantity for fence rails by the earliest settlers. Many of these old rails have since been worked up into furniture and house finishing material. The principal stream in the township is a tributary of the Huron river, and flows westward through sections one and four, thence northward through section three into Bronson. Fords creek runs through the southwest corner of the township, and empties into the Huron river in Greenfield township. There is a sandstone formation underlying the whole township, and it occasionally crops out in such a manner as to be available for use. There are stone quarries in the first, second and third sections, but none of them are worked upon an extensive scale. Deer was very abundant in the early settlement, often from twenty to fifty were seen in half a day. Many were killed and their skins were used for clothing. Wild turkeys were found in great abundance. Wolves were troublesome for the first few years. A few bears were also found. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 215 The present generation can scarcely form an adequate appreciation of the toilsome labor, privation, danger and last, but not least, the deep sense of isolation that the pioneers of the Western Reserve experienced. There was a great deal to be done, and very little to do it with. Food was scarce, and sometimes it was difficult to obtain a sufficient amount to alleviate hunger. It is said that some of the early settlers followed the cows around, and selected leaves and plants that they ate, for greens, knowing that the instinct of the animals would lead them to avoid any thing of a poisonous nature. The pioneers of Fairfield were obliged to make a five days' trip to Cold creek, Margaretta township, to get their milling done. There was but little money in the country, and but little to buy even had money been plenty. Nearly all manufactured implements brought a very high price, and the settlers often managed to do the work of clearing and tilling the soil, with the tools which their descendants would not think of using. Notwithstanding the hard life they led, the severe toil that was necessary to procure even the commonest conveniences of existence the pioneers were happy upon their frugal fare, and healthful,—physically and morally. They passed minor difficulties without noticing them, and met and overcame the more formidable ones bravely. The first few pioneers lent willing aid to those who came after them, and thus the severity of the settlers' experience was moderated by degrees until the community had attained a fair growth, and the advantages of civilization had been secured. The first clearing in the township was made by a widow, of foreign birth, named Sample, and the boys in her family of nine children—John, Martha, Betsey, James, William, Anna, Samuel, Nancy and David. They came from Newark, Licking county, Ohio, in the year 1816, and settled on lot thirty-six, in the third section. The widow was a woman of very remarkable ability and of strong constitution. The family was very poor, and Mrs. Sample and her boys and girls were compelled to live in a manner which many people would consider impossible. It is related, upon the best of authority, that the boys went bare-footed all of one winter, while they were chopping timber and extending the clearing in which their rude cabin stood. They heated large chips by the fire, and carrying them to the place where they were intending to fell a tree, stood upon them until they grew cold, and then heated them again and again, until their day's work was done. Day after day they labored under this disadvantage, which less hardy people would regard as insurmountable. The mother of these boys was their equal, if not superior, in energy and spirit, and was ingenious as well. She out-reaped a man in the grain field in 1817, and clothed her family in cloth which she wove from the silk of wild nettles. Mrs. Sample married Jacob Rush, who died soon after. Her daughter Martha married Amos Harkness. The mother removed to the west, and lived to be nearly a hundred years old. When the settlement was new, bears, deer, wolves and other animals were found in great abundance. The bears made hunting something more than a dilletanti amusement ; the deer afforded food for the table and clothing for the hunters ; the wolves were simply an annoyance, and the minor animals lent variety to the sport of hunting and to the larders of the pioneers' houses. Several bears were killed in the township. We narrate one instance, as it is a somewhat novel one, and although seemingly outside of the realm of probability, if not of 216 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY possibility, is vouched for by those whose word is above suspicion of unreliability. George Eldridge, while passing through the woods, one day, in the northern part of the township, where the Jenning's farm now is, saw, at a little distance, a full grown bear standing upon the trunk of a large fallen tree. He raised his rifle, took a steady aim and fired. The bear fell down behind the tree, and Eldridge, not knowing whether he had killed him or not, reloaded his gun. He had no balls and so put in a beech slug. He had no sooner got his gun in readiness for use, then he saw the head of bruin raised above the tree trunk. He fired, and the animal dropped from sight. The hunter prudently loaded a second time and as quickly as possible, for in those days no man felt safe when in the woods unless provided for any emergency. After ramming the second beech slug home, he waited a few seconds and was rewarded with a third shot, which, like the former ones, apparently took effect. Again the bear fell from the log. Reloading the rifle, Eldridge went cautiously forward to see whether the three shots fired had quite ended the animal's life, and on reaching the tree trunk and looking over it, was surprised to find three dead bears instead of one. He had supposed, all of the time, that there was but one bear in the vicinity, that the first and second shots had only slightly wounded him, and that he had each time, after recovering his surprise, again clambered upon the tree to reconnoiter the enemy. The trio consisted of a she bear and two cubs, more than half grown. The old bear weighed four hundred pounds, and her flesh furnished food for several families. This bear killing episode was commonly looked upon as something reflecting great credit upon Mr. Eldridge. He was a good marksman, but probably his success in this instance depended as much upon "good luck," or the kindness of fate, as upon his ability. Killing three bears in a period of time measured by about as many minutes, and with only three shots, two of them with bits of wood in the place of leaden ball, is a feat not often, if ever, equaled. The adventure became, and was for a long time, the subject of much wonder throughout the neighborhood. The center road, north and south, was, as originally cut through the forest, the Harrison road. It was made by the General's troops, and subsequently was straightened and improved. In 1825, when the new state road was laid out eleven miles through Fairfield and portions of Ripley and Bronson, the residents of this township gave material assistance to the enterprise. The road cost one hundred dollars per mile. The west, or ridge road, was laid out at an early clay. It is probable that 3onas Leonard, a native of Connecticut, who had settled in Bronson, taught the first school in Fairfield, about 1824. Tile school house was in the northwest quarter, or third section. The township is now well provided with district schools, and the union schools of North Fairfield afford higher instruction to those who desire it. The first church in the township was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1822, with a class of less than a dozen members, but owing to the untiring exertions of those few a strong membership soon developed and in time a church edifice was erected. The other denominations came later, and they, too, have prospered. The first postmaster was Walter Branch. He was commissioned January 1, 1829. He held the office for four years, and then resigned in favor of Horace L. Moulton. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 217 The first cemetery was laid out in lot eleven, section three, upon the Ridge road, near the northeast corner of the township. The first settlers located in this vicinity, and the little piece of ground was set aside for burial purposes at an early day. There is another cemetery on the same road—lot one, section four ; one on the Bronson town line road—lot six, section three, and one in North Fairfield village, just east of the corners. Among the early settlers were Eliphalet W. Day. He was born in Connecticut and settled in Fairfield township in 1818. Aaron Smith settled there in 1820, and Philip Moffitt came in 1819. Spencer Baker also came in 1819. Samuel Foote also in 1819. Havilah Smith became a settler in Fairfield in 1821, and John Cherry came at a little earlier date. A log house could be raised in half a day. The raising would be attended by all the settlers, and glad they were of the chance to have another settler added to the population. They took -great pride in doing such a job. During all the chopping and clearing and many log raisings no serious accident occurred until 1828 when Henry Randall had his skull fractured by the falling of a bent at a barn raising, and died within an hour. The Indians would cov to the township and hunt every fall for several years after its first settlernent. They claimed to be friendly, but would go to the cribs and take corn without leave, and were otherwise annoying. NORTH FAIRFIELD VILLAGE. The first store in the township was opened at the center in the year 1831, by Ezra Smith, of Macksville, but soon after several enterprising men made efforts to establish a village at what was then known as Greenfield's corners. They were so far successful as to create all that now exists in North Fairfield, and in fact much more, for the village was at one time a flourishing business center, and had bright prospects of future prosperity. William Greenfield, Samson Baker, Walter Branch and Samuel Foote were largely instrumental in securing the loca- tion of various industries at this place. Horace S. Moulton opened the first store at Greenfield's corners, in 1832. Union White, of Fitchville, Woodworth and Holmes, Clark Sexton, A. R.-Eastman, and a man by the name of West, began at an early day. D. S. Stevens opened a dry goods store in 1838. Manufactories were established, and the village developed for a few years at a rate, which, had it been long continued, would have produced a little city. A newspaper. The Fairfield Gazette, was established, and had, for a time, a fair patronage. The first copy was issued April 23, 1856, by Robert McCune. Afterwards the paper was under the charge of J. Ralph Robinson, and still later of O. B. Chapman. He moved it to Bellevue. The causes of Fairfield's failure to become all that its residents fondly hoped, were numerous. Chief among them was the building of railroads all around the village, at a distance of ten or a dozen miles, and the failure of the projected Clinton extension, which was (upon paper) a link of a long chain extending from New York to the great west. Over seventy thousand dollars of Fairfield money went out of existence with this bubble. The Milan canal was another failure. The largest manufactory in the little village—the chair factory—and the steam mill, built at an„,early day, vanished in fire—ended 218 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY in smoke. Other evils assisted in thwarting the plans of the would-be founders of a city, and slowly, but surely, the last hope of making North Fairfield a large and live business town passed away. All that was left the people was the reasonable certainty that the village would always be, what it now is, a peaceful and pleasant home, in which there will never be an excess of bustle and din and sordid strife, but always wellbeing, good manners and better morals. North Fairfield village contains four of the five churches which have come into existence in the township, and most of the manufactures. The first tavern was built about 1835, and is still standing, a part of the Fairfield house. The first landlord was Otis Thornton. Although North Fairfield failed to get the courthouse and the steam railroad it now has a fine electric line running north and south—the Sandusky, Norwalk & Mansfield. The village contains some fine residences., has a good country trade and supports a printing office. FITCHVILLE TOWNSHIP. Fitchville township is supposed to have received its name from a man named Fitch. who was quite a large land-holder within its limits, and who resided in Connecticut. The land is generally rolling or sufficiently so to make it easy of drainage and good tillage. The soil is various, some portions, being well supplied with clay, others quite sandy, and many of the ridges quite gravelly. The township was formerly well timbered with beech, maple, white-wood, black walnut, oak, hickory, white ash, black ash, bass wood and elm. The Vermillion river heads at a lake near Savannah, Ashland county, enters this township near the southeast corner, passes through near the center, and leaves it a little east of the center. This stream furnished water power and was of great service- to the early settlers. As early as 1825 there was a sawmill built near there which did much towards supplying the settlers with lumber. There was a flouring mill erected at the center at an early date, and there was also an establishment for wool carding and dressing cloth. The flouring mill was later run by steam and furnished considerable flour for the eastern market. The first settlement made in this township was in the summer of 1817, by Peter Mead, Abraham Mead and Amos Reynolds. They made their beginning on the east line of the township. Early in the season of 1818 an addition was made by the arrival of the Palmer family. In 1819 a few more were added to the number of settlers by the arrivals of Gilbert Martin, W. W. Watros, Abijah Palmer and Charles Lyon. In 182o came Jotham Curtiss, J. N. Pickard, Henry Pickard, Absalom Coleman and Hiram Curtiss. Owing to the fact that most of the original owners of the township put up the price of their lands too high, the township did not fill up fast with settlers, until after 183o. The first school in the township was taught in a little log building, a short distance south of the center. The building served the double purpose of school house and place of worship for many years. 219 - PHOTO - PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILL, CHICAGO, OHIO 220 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 221 The first Sunday school in the township was held by Allen Johnson, at his house, in 1825, the pupils being Edward and Benjamin Green, Barnard Johnson, Louisa Johnson and Sarah Palmer. Mr. Johnson's assistants were Ebenezer Osborne and Zetta Green. The people of Fitchville sought early to establish in their midst the institutions of religion and education to which they had been accustomed to in their eastern homes. There is, perhaps, not another example in the county of such an early establishment of a church after settlement. The pioneers entered the wilderness in 1817, and in the summer of 1819 the first church was organized. In early times, Hartland, Fitchville and Greenwich, were grouped together, or attached for civil and judicial purposes. Hartland was detached about 1820, and connected with Clarksfield. Fitchville was detached, in 1828, from Greenwich and organized as a separate township. The principal cemetery of Fitchville, which occupies the summit and slope of a gently rising hill, upon the Norwalk road, in the north part of Clinton incorporation, was laid out about 1826, or the following year. Alvah Palmer, who died in 1827, was the first person buried there, and Louisa Green the second. A number of the first settlers made their homes upon the line of the north and south center road, and this was the first route of travel upon which any labor was bestowed in the township. The next was the road running east and west through the center. The road from Wooster to Norwalk was laid out in 1826, but there was scarcely any improvement made upon it until 1832, and it was by no means easy of travel. The route most traveled by the early residents of Fitchville, when they wished to go to Norwalk or beyond, was a trail which led from Abijah Palmer's, in a northwesterly direction, to a point about a mile west of Olena, and thence westerly to the old State road, which passes through the center of Fairfield and Bronson townships. The enterprise of running a line of stages through from Wooster to Norwalk was undertaken at this time by Union White, J. C. Curtiss, and an Ashland man. They commenced by running a two-horse hack each way twice a week, but afterwards a four-horse stage coach was put on the route by a man named Myers, to whom was also given a contract for carrying the mail. In 1834, and for many years after, the people had the satisfaction of seeing this heavy stage, often well loaded with passengers, dash swiftly or wallow slowly, as the case might be, through the settlement. Before the people of Fitchville had a postoffice of their own, they were obliged to go to Norwalk for their mail matter. About the year 1828 the first post-office was established in the township, and Rundel Palmer commissioned as postmaster. He kept the office in his dwelling house. The first tavern built in the township, was the Clinton Huse, which was named after the incorporated village of Clinton. It was built in 1833, by Hiram A. Curtiss. It was a frame building, of fair size, two stories in height. This. was, for a number of years, the only place for the entertainment of the wayfarer and the stranger, and was well patronized. After Curtiss, Hiram Odell was, for a time, the landlord of this house, and he gave place to Union White and his brother, Daniel. 222 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY A few years after the building of the Clinton House, probably in 1837 or '38, Union and Daniel White, erected the large hotel since known as the Mansion House. The Fountain House was Rundel Palmer for a dwelling house, but was converted into a hotel and conducted as such by his sons, Isaac and Nathan, for five years. J. C. Curtiss built the next hotel, the present residence of his son, S. W. Curtiss, and was its proprietor for a number of years. This house was known as Washington Hall. The first white child born in the township was Varney P., son of Peter and Alice Mead. The first death was that of Deborah, wife of Abraham Mead. She died July 23, 1823. Another of this family, Mary Mead, died in. November of the same year, aged seventeen. Robert Golden and Rosannah Washburn, a sister of Joseph Washburn, were the first couple married. The Meads built the first log house, and Ludovicus Robbins the first framed dwelling. The latter was about the year 1827, upon lot seventeen, section three. In the fall of 1830, Union White came into the township, erected a small building, and opened a store, which was the first in the township. His stock was from the store of Buckingham & Sturgis of Norwalk, who had an interest in the business. In the spring of 1832, their interest was purchased by J. C. Curtiss, and the firm name became White & Curtiss. The first purchase of goods by this firm was in New York, and they were transported by the Hudson river, New York and Erie canal, and Lake Erie, to Huron, from which point they were hauled in wagons to Fitchville, at an expense of from three to four or five shillings per hundred weight. From New York city to Huron the transportation cost from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per hundred. The goods bought were of the kinds for which it was known there would be a ready market, such as staple groceries, and the commonest kinds of calico, sheeting; etc. Brown sheeting was sold at from twenty to twenty-five cents per yard ; calico from two to four shillings, and satinet from six to four shillings. Iron was eight cents per pound ; nails from nine to twelve cents ; tea from ten to fourteen shillings; pepper, four shillings; coffee, two ; loaf sugar from two to two and sixpence, and whiskey from four to five shillings per gallon. There being but little money in circulation these articles were very generally paid for in deer, coon and muskrat skins and black salts, which were made from ashes by almost every family. Messrs. White & Curtiss bought these salts in large quantities and manufactured them into pearlash, which they sent to the eastern market. The first circuit preacher was Dennis Goddin. He formed the first class for the Methodist church at T. B. White's house. The village of Clinton, within this township, was laid out in 1832, and for several years was the principal business place for the southeast part of the county, but railroads made great changes and Clinton is almost forgotten. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 223 GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP. Greenfield township was organized about the year 1815, and then embraced the townships of New Haven, Greenfield, Peru, Norwich and Fairfield, for township purposes, and continued so until each of the above townships contained a sufficient number of inhabitants for separate organization. In the year 1819, the name of this township was changed to Berlin, and continued by that name until 1822, when the name of Greenfield was restored. The reason for giving it the name of Berlin, was owing to there being a Greenfield township in Highland county, with a postoffice of the same name. At the restoration of the original name of the township, the postoffice was called Lafayette, and Joseph Cook was the first postmaster. The office continued to be called Lafayette until 1835, when the name was changed to Steuben.. The surface of the township is generally undulating. The Huron river enters it about a mile west of the southeast corner, runs a winding, but, generally, northwest course through the township, and leaves it a little less than a mile east of the northwest corner. There are several small tributaries, the largest of which is the west branch, which drains the western part of the town. The original varieties of timber, east of the river, were principally white wood, black walnut, beech and maple, with some white oak, butternut and basswood. West of the river, white and black oak, hickory, beech and maple were the leading varieties. The soil is a loam of a sandy or gravelly nature, east of the river, and a clay loam west of it. There is a stone quarry on the east bank of Huron river. It was first opened by Ezra Smith, at an early date. The quarry underlies a considerable tract of land, with a dip to the southeast, extending into Fairfield township, and is sandstone of the newer formation. The stone varies from an inch to twelve inches in thickness, and is largely used for building and flagging. The history of Greenfield has for several reasons a peculiar interest. The time that has passed since the pioneer first walked into the wilderness by the side of the Huron river is almost four score and ten years. Strange and startling scenes have been enacted upon its brink, before and since then. The first person that came into the township of Greenfield, for the purpose of settlement, was William McKelvey, Jr., who arrived from Trumbull county in the year 181o. He purchased one huitred and six acres of land of Caleb Palmer, of New Haven township, on lot number twenty-five, in the second section of this township., paying for it in work. In 1811, he cleared eleven and a half acres and sowed it to wheat. He had harvested his crop and was putting it in stacks when the news of Hull's surrender reached the settlement. He immediately returned to Trumbull county, where his father and the rest of the family were then living, and joined the army as a volunteer for six months. In the spring of 1814 he returned to Greenfield, bringing, with a four-horse team and wagon, his brother-in-law, Truman Gilbert, and his family. His wheat had been burned during his absence, evidently by the Indians. The loss was considerable, as breadstuffs were then high. He afterwards bought fifteen bushels of the wheat left in stack by Erastus Smith, on his flight to Trumbull county, for which he paid forty-five dollars, threshing' it himself. 224 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The township records prior to the year 1828 have been lost, and the following facts relative to the first election for township officers were furnished by one who was present. The election was held at the house of Erastus Smith in the spring of 1816. Joseph Cook was elected township clerk ; Eli Halladay, Bildad Adams and Nathan Warner, trustees ; William McKelvey, constable ; Erastus Smith, justice of the peace. Having no use for a treasurer none was elected. According to the "enumeration of the white male inhabitants of Greenfield above the age of twenty-one years," as returned to the county clerk by Seba Mather, lister, for the year 1819, the number of such inhabitants was one hundred and thirty. Peru was then attached to Greenfield, and is included in the enumeration. Hanson Read built the first house in Greenfield in the spring of 1811. Franklin Read, son of Hanson and Elizabeth Read, was the first white child born in this township. The date was April 25, 1812. The first marriage was that of William Smith to Miss Lovina Pierce, daughter of Alden Pierce, in 1817. Erastus Smith, justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. The first purchasers of the land derived their titles to their farms, in the first and fourth sections, from Isaac Mills, of Connecticut, in the second section from Abecham D. Baldwin and Walter Bradley, of Connecticut, and Tilley Lynd, of Homer, New York. The township of Greenfield was surveyed by Caleb Palmer, of Trumbull county, assisted by Cyrus W. Marsh and B. Newcomb, in the year 1811, and before the war with Great Britain: As stated before, the first house in the township was built by Hanson Reed, in the spring of 1811. This was on section four. The second house was built by Erastus Smith, in November of the same year. The above two families and their hired men, C. W. Marsh and Jacob Rush, were the only white settlers in the township at the time of Hull's surrender. A little later came William McKelvey and his son and son-in-law, Truman Gilbert, came to the township without their families, cleared a few acres and sowed wheat, but did not bring their families until later. The surrender of Hull exposed the whole northwest to the ravages of the enemy. The frontier settlers had to abandon their homes, or run the risk of being massacred by the savages. The first settlers of this township chose the former, and did not return until peace was assured. The first death in the township was that of an infant son of Samuel C. and Nancy Spencer, in the spring of 1816. The child was buried on the farm. Ruth, daughter of David Lovell, was the first person buried in the cemetery at Greenfield Center. Her death occurred February 17, 1818, at the age of nearly fourteen. Dr. Moses C. Sanders, of the township of Peru, was one of the earliest physicians that practiced in this township. The first resident physician was Dr. Henry Niles, who began the practice of medicine in this township in the spring of 1831. The first religious meeting in the township was held at the cabin of Erastus Smith, on the first Sabbath in the spring of 1815, on which occasion the Rev.