Huron County, Ohio - The whole text, 1909 (part 8 of 29)

Richmond is divided into upland and marsh. The upland occupies the north half of the township and a strip across the west side. This was covered with heavy timber. The north shore of the marsh is a bluff, and rises thirty or forty feet above the marsh. The soil is a clay loam, the surface generally undulating, except in the northwest part, where it is broken by streams.

Honey creek rises in the marsh on the north side, east of the center of the township, and runs west along the north shore some two miles, where it enters the woodlands. It leaves the township on the west line and empties into the Sandusky river above Tiffin, in Seneca county.

Originally the marsh covered over one-third of the township and contained about twenty square miles. It was six miles from east to west and over three miles in width, and covered over five thousand acres in Richmond township. These marshes have largely been reclaimed by draining and the soil is now cultivated, being particularly adapted for the growing of celery.

Before the lands of Richmond were offered for sale, the thousands of bushels of cranberries that annually grew on the marsh allured to the north shore a settlement of squatters numbering perhaps twenty families. An important part of their business consisted of picking cranberries, which were sold to the distant settlers. Hunting necessarily claimed a good share of their attention, and as the deer flocked to the marsh to avoid the flies in the summer and the hunters in the winter, their chances for deer hunting were unusually good.

With the sale of their cranberries, deer skins and coon skins, and the product of small patches of potatoes around their cabins, they managed to live, but made no improvements to entitle them to the name of settlers, nor did any of them over become owners of the soil or join in the march of improvement that has since characterized the inhabitants of the township, who are honest and industrious, with good churches and well conducted schools, and the township today stands second to none in moral worth and prosperity.

Near the south shore of the marsh was a point of timbered upland and at the extreme northern point of this stood the cabin of Morehead, the pioneer hunter. His principal livelihood was in trapping and spearing muskrats, and in times of high water, made his daily rounds over the marsh in a small boat kept for that purpose. He was the first and for many years the only inhabitant of Richmond township, and many a weary hunter has sought his cabin and shared his homely fare, which usually consisted of Johnny cake and venison.

The township was organized in 1836, in the month of June, and on the fourth day of July following, the first election of township officers was held.

In 1837, the township was divided into two school districts, and a frame schoo! house built in each, but a school was only kept in the west one in the winter of 1837. The east school house was not completed for a school that winter. These were the first frame buildings in the township.

The Methodist was the first church organization in the township. The first sermon preached in the township was by Michael Long, a preacher of the Brethren faith, at the home of Jacob Croninger.

There were births and probably deaths among the squatters, but the first birth among the settlers was that of Savilla Cline, daughter of John and Susan Cline.

Section one - the southeast part of it at a very early day was thought to be a lake as decaying Indian canoes were found along its shores by the early white settlers, at this time being almost a worthless piece of land. Along the middle part of the north side cranberries grew in abundance, at the south side is the huckleberry marsh. In a few years the farmers made prairie hay from a part of it, the ground being too soft and miry, it had to be done by hand, mowed with the scythe, carried together and made in stacks, being drawn out during the winter when the ground was frozen hard.

In a few years more ditches were constructed the land being tilled from the edges, corn and potatoes being the principal crops. Only a few years ago Hollanders settled along the east side beginning to experiment in celery growing which has developed into one of the finest celery gardens of the country. During this year a large acreage of the territory has been purchased by Pittsburg parties and was surveyed into one hundred acre lots.

The Tiffin road was the first one opened, it began in 1836, was completed in four years. In many low places trees were cut and laid cross wise in the road, streams had to be forded.

Richmond has only a few miles of railroad, the Sandusky and Newark division of the Baltimore and Ohio cuts a small corner off the northeast part, we have two men living now in the township who worked on this old road-bed, P. M. Hershiser and John Carrothers. The Chicago division runs from the east side half way across the township. Street car lines we have none. Telephone service is quite well extended through the township, having our centrals at Attica, Chicago and New Washington.

A resident of the township writes thus: "We have had such industries as come in a farmer's life, sawmills, cider mills, tile and brick yards, etc. The soil being very productive, the principal crops are wheat, oats, corn potatoes. The growing and baling of hay has become one of the best paying crops to the Richmond farmer. We owe a debt of gratitude to our fore-parents for their Christian zeal and principals taught and instilled into their posterity. Richmond has furnished men and women who have gone out in nearly all the walks of life some of them today filling very honorable and responsible positions. We do not think there will be found in any township in Huron county, finer country residences, better kept farm buildings, well tilled lands, more comfortable homes,

Ripley township was so named after the Rev. Hezekiah Ripley, of Connecticut, who was one of the "sufferers," and who located land in the third section.

Ripley is township number one in range twenty-two. It is bounded upon the south by Richland county, east by Greenwich township, north by Fairfield and west by New Haven.

The first settlement in the township was made a little earlier than 1826. Some of the first settlers were advised to not settle in Ripley on account of the ther wild and unbroken forest, inhabited only by a few wandering Indians. But the lands in time were cultivated and is now an industrious and prospering community. The whole township was formerly covered with a thrifty growth of timber, or in the lower parts with swamp bushes. Most of the timber was maple and beech but there was a great abundance of the other varieties of wood, including oak, ash and walnut.

The great abundance of maple trees made this part of the county a favorite camping place for the Indians. They were accustomed to come regularly in the spring and make maple sugar. For a number of years after the whites came, the red man carried on this harmless and not excessively laborious occupation, the nearest approach to anything like industry that they ever undertook. Scme of their bark sap troughs were found in the woods as late af 1830. The Indians also hunted here, but their principal object in visiting what is now Ripley township was to make maple sugar. There were other and better hunting grounds farther east, and their tribes often passed through upon a trail which led to the Black river country, where game was more abundant. The game consisted of deer and occasional bear, and the various smaller animals common to the northern part of Ohio and the entire west. There were wolves, too, and "shack hogs" - both great annoyances to the first settlers. The remains of their habitations found by the early settlers, and the dams still existing, indicated that beavers were quite numerous. Mo remarkable stories are told of experience with the Indians or adventure with wild animals.

There was a settlement in the southwest part of Ripley township, in 1820. Seth Foster, a man by the name of Decker, and another by the name of Jaralman, and a son of the latter, lived there in the year mentioned. Foster and Decker, who were from New York state, returned there after a short residence in the new country. Jaralman died, and his son moved away. Nothing is known in Ripley of those few men, who were its transitory pioneers. The first permanent settlement was made by the families of Moses Inscho, D. Broomback, and James Dickson, in 1825, and the following year. Broomback took up lot thirteen, in section four. He did not remain long in the township. Dickson settled upon lot ten, near Broomback, but not long after moved into the eastern part of the township.

Rev. Joseph Edwards, a native of Connecticut, who had been for two years a resident of Greenfield, came into Ripley in 1828, and bought a tract of land which consisted of about nine hundred acres. His home was upon lot twenty-eight in the first section, where he remained until his death. He was a Presbyterian minister of the old school, a man of large ability.

Abraham Stotts, of Virginia, came into the township in the fall of 1825, and purchased land in lot twelve, section three. John Stotts, his son, came in the spring of 1826, and located on lot eleven, in the same section. Another son of Abraham Stotts, William, came a little later, and still another, Isaac Stotts, arrived a number of years later, and located in section two, lot twenty-one.

The first mill was built about the year 1828, southwest of Delphi, upon a small creek, in which there was usually insufficient water to turn the wheel.

The Rev. Joseph Edwards was the first ordained minister who preached in the township. He preached in 1827, to the first audience gathered for religious instruction, and consisting of twenty persons, representatives of seven families. This meeting was held at the house of Abraham Stotts.

Mrs. Harriet Russ, formerly Miss Harriet Edwards, daughter of the Rev. Joseph Edwards, then living in Greenfield, taught the first school held in the township, in the year 1827, for the sum of fifty cents per week, paid not in money, but labor at clearing land. This school was in the southwestern section of the township. The first school meeting was held also in 1827. A school house was erected in 1832, near the northeastern corner of the township, principally through the efforts of Daniel C. Barker. Sallie Fowler was the first teacher at this school.

The first practitioner of medicine known in the township, was Dr. Moses Saunders, of Peru. He, for a number of years, had the whole of what little practice there was in the settlement. Afterwards, Dr. William M. Ladd, of Fitchville, and Dr. Morton, of Greenwich, practiced in the township. The only resident physician of any note, in Ripley, was Dr. Cyrus Paine, who began here in 1833 and continued in practice for about five years.

For a number of years after the first settlement was made there was but one road in the township upon which travel was possible. This was the one running east and west through the center. The timber had been chopped along the line, but the road was unimproved, and it was only with difficulty that vehicles could be moved over it. The road cut through the township for Harrison's army to pass through, was grown over with bushes and small timber, and it was allowed to remain in this condition for some time after the settlement was commenced. Many of the early settlers cut their way into the township through the primeval

There was a mail route through Ripley before the township was settled, upon which a man went once a week, between Mansfield and Norwalk. The first eastern mail was carried from New Haven through Ripley, Greenwich, Ruggles and Sullivan. For a few years the settlers were obliged to go to the older settled townships for their mail; but about 1830 a postoffice was established at the locality now known as Edwards' Corners, and the Rev. Joseph Edwards was made postmaster. When Delphi begun to be a place of trade, the postoffice was removed there, and designated as Ripleyville.

Ridgefield township, according to the original survey and numbering, is township number four, and range twenty-three. Ranges commence at the east line of the reserve, and five miles to the range. Townships are numbered from south to north, consequently the east line of the township is one hundred and fifteen miles from the east line of the state, and the south line of the township is fifteen miles north of the southern base line of the Connecticut Western Reserve and Firelands. The township as a whole is quite level, it might be termed a plateau, but along the streams there are some high banks, or bluffs, the streams having worn deep channels, and in the northeast corner of the township it is somewhat broken or rolling.

Ridgefield township was divided into four sections, and these were again divided into two-hundred-acre lots, making twenty lots in each section.

The east branch of the Huron river enters the township from the south, crossing the southern boundary on lot six, in section one. course is slightly east of north, flowing from the township on the east line, lot two in the second section. The west branch of the Huron river is formed from two streams, which cross the south line of the township; one on lots one and six in section four, and the other on lot sixteen in the same section. Uniting on lot seven they form the main stream. This flows a general northerly direction to near the center of Monroeville village. Here the course changes to due east, thence a northeasterly direction, and, after many devious turnings, crosses the north line of the township on lot fifteen in the second section. Another stream flows from the southwest, and empties its waters into the west branch, in Monroeville village. This is known as Frink run, from the fact that William Frink was the first to build a habitation on its bank. Frink run and the west branch of the Huron river divide the township, and on the northeast side of these streams the land is of the nature of prairie, and generally of a deep rich soil, with small islands and groves of small timber. Another small stream enters the township from the west, flows east-northeast and empties into the west branch on lot fifteen, section second. It is called Seymour brook, from the fact that a man named Seymour was killed by the Indians, in 1812, while engaged in cutting a beetree, which stood on its banks. the south and east side of Frink run and the west branch of the Huron river, the lands were heavily timbered, and possess a

Main Street, Looking East From James Street New London, Ohio

Numerous parties of the Wyandot and other tribes of Indians had a habitation in early times along the river. They passed the time in hunting, fishing, making baskets? ax helves, etc., and were generally quiet and peaceable, except when under the influence of "fire-water," or whisky. During the War of 1812, two inmates of the Parker block house in Milan, Seymour and Pixley, were engaged in cutting a "bee-tree," standing on the south side of the small stream flowing through the Clary farm. They had nearly completed their labors, when they were fired upon by a party of cowardly Indians, and Seymour instantly killed. Pixley ran, but becoming entangled in the brushwood, was captured, and remained a prisoner for many months.

William Frink is thought to be the first white man that contracted for land Ridgefield township, for the purpose of settlement. His contract is dated 1811, and was for the south part of lot number five in the fourth section. Frink built the first house in the township. It was of logs and stood near the site of the house now owned by Samuel Clock. Frink was more hunter than farmer, and when Seth Brown came into the township, in the spring of 1812, Frink sold his contract and left the county. Very little is now known of his history. either before or since he left the township, except that he was eventually found dead in Seneca county. He was one of those characters who prefer the solitude of the wilderness.

Ridgefield township was organized the first Monday in December, 1815, and comprised the territory now included in the townships of Ridgefield, Sherman, Lyme, and the south half of Oxford. The first election was held in the spring of 1816, at the house of Joseph F. Read, on lot sixteen in section two.

The pioneer wedding in the township was Thomas Dickey to Miss Elizabeth Myers. It transpired in April, 1819. This couple died in Ridgefield, the wife in 1854, and the husband, January 10, 1879.

The first school house in the township was erected on lot number two hundred and seventy-two, in Monroeville village. It was, doubtless, built of logs, but the date of its construction, the writer could not ascertain. George Burt was the first teacher and he was paid ten dollars per month for his services.

In 1818 a Baptist church was organized in Ridgefield township, composed of members residing in the territory now embraced in Huron and Erie counties. The meetings of this body were held in different localities until 1835 when, by mutual consent, the church was permanently located in Norwalk. This was the first church organization in the township.

The first house in the township was built by Richard and Henry Burt, in 1817. The sawmill was built first, and the gristmill soon afterward.

In the first section of Ridgefield township, on lots number two and three, are found remains of ancient earthworks. It will be remembered the east branch of Huron river enters the township from the east on the corner of lot number three. In the first section there is a stream known as the Peru branch, which flows into the east branch on lot number three, where its course is turned north. These streams make three high banks or bluffs, which lie nearly in a triangular form. Upon these are earthwork fortifications of a circular form. There was also on lot number eighteen in the second section, on the east side of the west branch of the Huron river, an ancient mound of small size.

In the fourth section is located a circular earthwork, enclosing an area of, perhaps, ten acres. The indications are that a stockade formerly surmounted the present embankment. Immediately south of this are a number of mounds. In these, as in the others mentioned above, human bones have been found, indicating to a certainty that these elevations are the burial places of a race formerly inhabiting the country, but long since extinct.

Four Corners

Dr. Daniel Tilden was undoubtedly the pioneer settler at the "Corners." The date of his coming was in 1817 or 1818. The next settler was, without doubt, the grandfather of Jay Cooke. Lewis Stone was the next settler and Martin Vroman the fourth.

Colonel James Smith settled at "Four Corners" in 1828. He purchased the hemp machine property in 1832; made brick for several years, removed to Monroeville in 1837.

The corners did not settle rapidly ; in fact, the foregoing are all who may be regarded as pioneers: John Seymour, now of Lyme township, bought the Vroman property, and to him belongs the honor of selling the first merchant goods at the "corners." He sold to Lewis Stone. The second store was established by John K. Campbell in about 1835.

As early as 1830, and possibly earlier, the old stone school house was built. Prior to this, however, a school was held in one room of Martin Vroman's house. The teacher was a man named Perkins. This was as early as 1825. Religious services were held in the school house until the erection of the present church.

| Sherman township is number three, range twenty-four, and was thus named in honor of Taylor Sherman, one of the directors of the Firelands company. The

It is bounded as follows: on the north by Lyme township, south by Norwich township, east by Peru township, and west by the townships of Thompson and Reed, in Seneca county.

The surface is generally level, and the soil principally clay. Along the borders of the streams it is mixed with yellow sand, and is easily tilled. Away from the streams the soil is harder to work, but is productive, and improves very much with proper culture. This township contains but little waste land.

Daniel Sherman, (son of Taylor Sherman and uncle of General W. T. Sherman) Burwell Fitch and Samuel Seymour, were the first white settlers of the township. The year of their arrival was 1812. They were from Norwalk, Connecticut, and the last end of their journey was over what was then known as the Portage road, their teams being the first which traveled over it. The first night after leaving Newcomb's in Bronson, was spent in the woods. They were not accustomed to this sort of a life, and were disturbed and considerably alarmed at the noise of the wild animals with which the surrounding woods abounded. They immediately commenced improvements, in the second section. The first clearing was made on Sherman's land, and the next on that of Burwell Fitch. Tpe first house in the township was built on the land of the latter.

Most of the early settlers located in the first, third and fourth sections, the second not being in the market. Mo particular effort was made by the original owners to draw settlers that way, except, perhaps, by the Lockwoods. In 1814, land was held at one dollar and fifty cents per acre. - Blanchard came this year and bought fifty acres of land. Daniel Sherman gave him fifty acres more to induce him to settle, and the year following he began clearing his farm.

At the first meeting of the commissioners of Huron county, held August I815, Sherman was attached to Greenfield township, and in December of the same year was detached, and together with the south half of Oxford was united with Ridgefield. About the year 1820 it was united with Norwich, but no record is given of it. March 6, 1827, Norwich was detached, and Sherman has since remained a distinct township. The first general election, while united with Norwich, was held in October 10, 1820.

The first school was taught by George Hanford in about 1824 or 1825 a building standing on lot number eighteen in the third section. There were some eight or ten scholars in attendance. In 1827 or 1828 the township was divided into two school districts, termed the east and west districts. The first school house was built on lot number nineteen in the first section, and the first public school was taught by Sarah Mason, one of the early settlers of Norwalk. She received the first public money that ever came into the township for school purposes, and was paid off in silver half dollars. She had fourteen or fifteen

The first sermon preached in Sherman township was, without doubt, by Rev. Alva Coe, at the house of Daniel Sherman. It was early in the settlement. The Methodist ministers were early upon the scene, and organized a church. Meetings were held at private houses, usually at Joseph La Barre's and William Williams'.

The first death in the township, was a child of R. S. Paine, date not remembered. The body was interred in Lyme township. The second death was the wife of Daniel Sherman, in 1821. She was buried on the farm of her husband, in what is now the burying ground, in lot number six in the third section.

The first frame house in the township, was built by Henry M. Read, soon after 1820. It was located on Slate run. Coles Bloomer built the first brick house in Sherman township.

Daniel Sherman received a commission as postmaster, but did not accept the office. Rufus S. Paine was next commissioned, and became the first postmaster. After a few years, the office was removed to Weaver's corners, and C. A. Bloomer was duly commissioned postmaster. In 1871, a mail route was established from Beilevue to Lodi, and afterward an office was established at the German settlement, called Bismark, one mile south of the center, with C. Westrick postmaster.

In about 1835, Messrs. Isaac and David Underhill of Ridgefield township, established a store at Weaver's corners. This closed out after a few years.

Few of the present inhabitants can appreciate the privations endured by the pioneer settlers of Sherman township. Their milling was done at Eldridge, Cold Creek, and sometimes Greenfield. Wheat and corn were the principal productions, but there was no market. At one time thirty-six bushels of corn were paid for one barrel of salt. Not many of the necessaries, and fewer of the luxuries, of life were enjoyed by them. Wolf scalps and Owl creek bills constituted a large portion of the currency.

The Indians were not very numerous in this township, but were often seen in hunting parties after the war. At one time they had a camp in the township. Among their number was the noted chief, Seneca John. An Indian trail ran northwest and southeast through the township, and was visible for many years.

Townsend township derives its name from Kneeland Townsend, who owned the greater part of the land in the first settlement. He was, prior to coming to Ohio, a merchant in New Haven, Connecticut, and was a man highly respected for his integrity, business habits and general uprightness of character.

The surface of the township is generally level with slight undulations in the second and third sections. The soilis a clay loam, with a mixture of sand in the northern and northwestern portions. The streams small, the largest being

Rattlesnake creek, a tributary of the Huron, flowing through the west part of the township. The name originated from the large number of rattlesnakes that were formerly found along the stream. There are two other branches of the Huron in the western part, and La Chapelle, a tributary of the Vermillion, in the eastern part. The stream is said to have derived its name from a Frenchman who discovered it, and explored it to its source.

Townsend was originally clothed with a magnificent growth of timber, the principal varieties of which were white oak, whitewood, ash, hickory, black walnut, butternut, beech maple. The manufacture of white oak staves was an important industry of this township for many years. The staves were usually marketed at Milan, and so extensive was the business that the product was known as "Townsend wheat."

The first election for township officers was held, in pursuance of an order of the supreme court, October 15, 1820, at the house of Benjamin Bailey. Jasper Miles, Abijah Barber, and Isaac R. Wright were judges, and Frederick Perring and Royal Munger, clerks of election. Township officers were elected as follows: Frederick Perring, clerk; Abijah Barber, David Lee, and Benjamin Bailey, trustees; Thomas E. Fletcher and Isaac R. Wright, overseers of the poor; Royal Munger and David C. Lewis, fence viewers; Hiram Bailey, appraiser of property; Samuel Sherman, lister; Abijah Barber, treasurer.

The earliest settlements in the township were made in the north part, in section number three, and George Miller is generally accorded the honor of being the first settler. He removed with his family from Pennsylvania to Milan, (then called Avery,) Erie county, Ohio, in 1809, and remained there until 1811, when he came to Townsend, and took up his abode on lot number five. His log cabin was the first habitation for the abode of civilized people in the township. Mr. Miller was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1765.

Soon after Miller, came William Burdue and family. Burdue was also a native of Pennsylvania, and was born November 26, 1782. March 28, 1809, he married Elizabeth Blazer, who was born September 26, 1791. 1810 he removed with his family, consisting of wife and one child, to the vicinity of Milan, then called Indian Village, but remained there only one year, when he moved into Townsend, making his location on lot number four, in section three.

The first postoffice was established in 1833 or 1834, with Daniel Phillips as postmaster, who kept the office in his house, on lot ninety-two, in the first section. The office was called East Townsend, which name it has retained until the present time, for the reason that there was an office in Sandusky county of the name of Townsend.

The first east and west mail through Townsend was carried, on foot, by a man of the name of Coles, whose trip extended from Akron to Norwalk. At first his mail bag consisted of a large sized pocket book, locked with a padlock of about the size of a silver half dollar, but the first trip he made through Townsend his "mail bag" was entirely empty. An early mail carrier was a man by the name of Waldron, and on one of his trips through the woods he threw the mail bag at a deer, knocking it down, and before the animal could regain his feet he jumped upon it and cut its throat with a pocket-knife. A man by the name of De Bow carried the mail from Norwalk to Medina, back in the twenties. His route passed within twenty or thirty rods of Thomas Fletcher's house, on the creek, south of the Medina road. Fletcher cut a mortise in a large white oak tree, on the road, for the reception of his mail, and made an arrangement with the mail carrier to blow his tin horn whenever his contained any mail. The arrangement was faithfully carried out by De Bow, and the sound of his horn became as familiar as the song of the whippoorwill.

The earliest doctors who practiced in the township were doubtless from the surrounding towns. The first resident physician was Dr. C. B. Stanton, who located at the center, and began to practice in 1847.

The different settlements in Townsend were so separated from each other that election days were the only occasions on which they met together. Men and boys attended the election as a holiday, bringing their rifles with them to shoot at target. As but few votes were polled and but little excitement, politically, prevailed, they had plenty of time to engage in sports.

At the presidential election, when Jackson was elected president, there was a grand wrestling match between the two political parties. It was a close contest, but the administration party prevailed, who regarded the result as significant, and the affair came very near ending in a general fight.

Although the first settlers in Townsend were among the first in the county, the township was nevertheless much more slowly settled than many others. The land was difficult to bring under subjection, being generally wet and very heavily timbered, and the township was generally shunned by the earlier emigrants. Many who did take up land, and ran in debt for it, were compelled, after years of hard toil and privation, to give up the struggle, thus losing the improvements they had made. When the land was once cleared and drained, it was found to be very productive, and in the character of its soil the township now ranks among the best in the county.

A. substantial, two-story brick town hall was erected in the summer of 1870, at the center, costing four thousand five hundred dollars. The plan was drawn and the building erected by E. Kinney, architect and builder, living at Townsend center.

William Townsend, one of the original proprietors of the township, put up a block house at the center, in which he opened a store 1822 or 1823. It was furnished from his store in Sandusky, which he established in the winter of 1819-20, bringing his first goods from New Haven, Connecticut, in a sleigh.

A store was subsequently kept here a short time by Kneeland Townsend, brother of William Townsend, and still later by James Arnold, who continued in merchandise for a number of years.

There are two villages in the township, of nearly equal size, called Townsend center and Collins, the latter situated on the railroad, half a mile north of the center. At Townsend center there are two churches, two stores, one millinery shop, one blacksmith shop, one school house, one sawmill, one bee-house, one violin manufacturer and one architect and builder.

At Collins there are one general store one grocery, one tin shop, one millinery store, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, two shoe shops,

The pioneer mill of Townsend was established by William Burdue. He brought with him from Pennsylvania a pair of small millstones and set up a hand mill for grinding grain. The rude contrivance was a great convenience to the early settlers, who were thus saved many miles of travel, through dense woods to get their milling done.

The first wedding in Townsend was that of Dr. Lyman Fay, of Milan, and Miss Caroline Kellogg, daughter of Orisimus Kellogg, of this township. This event occurred at the house of the bride's father, July 21, 1816, David Abbott, Esq., tying the nuptial knot.

William and Elizabeth Burdue were the parents of the first white children born in the township. They were twins, were born in the year 1816, and lived only a few months. The next birth was that of Roxena Goodell, daughter of David and Electa Goodell. She was born June 19, 1817, married Amherst Ordway, January 24, 1838, and died in Wood county, Ohio, May 1876. A birth also occurred in one of the Barber families in 1817.

The first tavern was opened by Moses D. Fowler, in the southwest part of town, on the Medina road, about the year 1834. On the southeast corner of the cross roads, where the west line road intersects the Medina road, stands the old "Blue Fly" erected by William Thompson. It was originally painted blue. Some one facetiousiy dubbed it "the blue fly," and the place has been known by that name. Thompson kept it as a tavern for five or six years when he sold it to Theodore Williams, of Norwalk.

The first school house was built in the Barber settlement, about the year 1818. The first school teacher is not known with certainty, but is generally supposed to have been Jasper Miles, who taught a winter school. Miss Polly Barber kept the first summer school. Lucy Tenant was among the earliest school teachers in the township.

"The Western Reserve Union Institute," was established at Collins, in 1855, chiefly through the efforts of W. S. Hyde. The institution derived its support from the tuition of its pupils, and was not incorporated. It had an existence until about the year 1870, when the building was purchased by the township, and has since been used as a district school.

The first saw mill in this township was built by David Lee, 1820. It was located on lot seventy-three, in the fourth section, on Rattlesnake creek. "There are, at the present time, three saw mills in operation. The mill near the center was erected by James Arnold, in the winter of 1848-49. When completed, he sold it to William Humphrey, who operated it until his death, in 1874, when it passed into the hands of George Bargus, the present owner.

The sawmill of L. V. McKesson was established by Cyrus Minor, in 1856. He operated it for five or six years, when he sold to James McCullough, who, a year subsequently, moved the machinery away. A man by the name of Funk afterwards bought the building and fitted it up for a grist mill, which he carried on for three years, and then removed the machinery to Mt. Vernon.

Mrs. Caroline Fay gave the following account of their flight on hearing of Hull's surrender: "The sad news was announced at my father's dwelling at the hour of midnight of the 8th of July. The elder members of our family arose and set themselves to work immediately, making preparations to flee for their lives. At ten o'clock in the morning we were all ready and commenced our flight from the savage foe which we imagined was in close pursuit. We directed our course for Cuyahoga, Portage county. It had been raining quite hard all of the previous night. After traveling four or five miles we fell in company with four families of our acquaintance. We got twelve miles on our journey by dark, and pitched our tents and partook of our evening meal, and were obliged to spread our beds on the wet ground, and in the morning they were nearly covered with water caused by the rain that had fallen during the night. There we were, in unbroken wilderness, and an unfrequented road of seventy-five miles to our place of destination. We were obliged to ford all the streams that lay in our path or to stop and cut trees and bridge those that were flooded by the recent rain. We were on our journey eight days and seven nights without seeing so much as a log cabin, expecting every night when we lay down to rest to be tomahawked and scalped before morning by the Indians. Many of the youth of our company were so much fatigued by travel that they could not stand alone when they first rose in the morning. One night we camped near a sugar camp where some one had made sugar the previous spring and spread our beds on some bark that was lying on the ground. To my astonishment, when I arose in the morning, I saw a blacksnake peeping out his head from under the bed that I had rested upon. removing the bed the men killed seven large snakes."

It lies generally rolling, especially the east half, and was heavily timbered with oak, beech, maple, basswood, elm, black walnut, cherry, etc. The soil is clayey with a mixture of sand sufficient to make it easy to till.

Vermillion river enters the township from the south near the center of the town line, and running a wonderfully crooked course, passes about a mile east of the center and leaves the township a short distance west of the section line. Brandy creek enters the south line of the township, in the southwest part, and forms a junction with the Vermillion a short distance northeast of the center of the town. Chapelle creek rises in Townsend, enters this township south of the center road and leaves it a mile and a quarter east of the northwest corner. The stream is said to have derived its name from a Frenchman by the name of De La Chapelle, who discovered and explored it to its source, long before the country was settled.

Wakeman was attached to Florence for township purposes until February, 1824, at which time, on petition of the inhabitants, it was set off by the county commissioners, and organized independently. The election was held at the log school house near Mr. Canfield's, in April following.

The first road was that along the west town line, called the "Reed road," a man of that name having opened it. The first road within the township was that along the line of the first settlements, called the New London road. It is a mile east of the west line road, and runs a generally north and south direction. It was opened by the settlers, being at first merely underbrushed and originally ran a more crooked course than it now does, in order to avoid swales and steep hills. The east and west center road was opened west of the center in 1825 or 1826, and east of the center a few years after.

The first religious meeting in Wakeman was held at the house of Augustin Canfield, Sunday evening, January 10, 1819. Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, a missionary, was the preacher. Mr. and Mrs. Canfield, Dr. Clark and wife led the singing. They were the pioneer choir of Wakeman for many years.

The first church organization was formed at the house of Mr. Pierce, October 25, 1822, by Rev. A. H. Betts and Rev. Joseph Treat. The society was of the Congregational order.

The first wedding in Wakeman was that of Marshall Johnson and Marinda Bradley. They were married in October, 1820, at the house of Abram Bronson, Dr. Clark performing the ceremony. The next couple married was Nathaniel Hine, of Berlin, and Ruth Sherman, in the winter of 1821.

The first death in the township was that of Mrs. Hendricks, mother of Mrs. Abram Bronson, which occurred in 1820. The death of Mr. Bronson occurred a short time after that of Mrs. Hendricks.

The first burial ground was on the southwest corner of the crossroads, near where Mr. Mordoff later lived. Some of the bodies were afterwards taken up and removed to other burial grounds, and the former ground was abandoned for that purpose. The first interment in the cemetery at the center was that of Mrs. Justus Minor.

The first frame building in the township was the barn of Justin Sherman, in 1823. The first completed frame house was built by Mr. Sherman in 1827. The erection of a frame house had previously been commenced by Sheldon Barnes, but before it was finished, it was taken down and removed elsewhere.

The first and only murder committed in the township was 1843. The victim was the wife of Alexander Lawtha. She was strangled to death the hands of her husband, assisted by John Simpson, a neighbor. The body of the woman was thrown into a well, and when found, the prints of the fingers on her neck could be plainly seen. The murderers were convicted of the crime, and Lawtha was sentenced to the penitentiary for life, but before his removal to the county jail, he cut his throat with a razor, but before death he made a confession of his crime. Simpson was sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of ten

The first settlers went to Esquire Merry's mill in Milan township to get their grinding done,a distance of fourteen miles as the road originally ran. Subsequently, and until the erection of a gristmill by Burton Canfield in 1824, they obtained their grist at Ruggles' mill in Florence, and at Husted's mill in Clarksfield. In 1823, Burton Canfield built a sawmill on the Vermillion, east of Wakeman village. The next year he added a frame grist mill with one run of stone. The mill stones were made out of the ordinary "hard head" stone by Elder Phillips, a pioneer Baptist preacher of Berlin. He took the job for thirty-five dollars, and realized less than a shilling a day, the stone proving harder than he had estimated.

A sawmill was built on the La Chapelle in 1823 by Justin Sherman. This and the Canfield mill were erected at the same time, but the Sherman mill sawed the first log. On the same stream there were formerly three other sawmills, one built by Esquire Pierce about the year 1833, one by C. C. Canfield in 1840, and one by B. M. Canfield in 1848. That of C. C. Canfield was in operation for thirty years, and did an extensive business.

The first school was opened by Mrs. Dr. Clark in her own house, in the summer of 1818. Her scholars were Calvert C., Royal R. and Sarah Ann Canfield; Lemuel B., Bennett and Minott Pierce. Mrs. Clark taught for one dollar per week, and boarded herself. Her wages were paid, not in money, but in the products of the soil, the usual legal tender in those early times. The school was also kept by Mrs. Clark in the log house of Mr. Canfield. The scholars would each carry an ear of corn to school which the teacher would boil for them, this constituting the only dinner they had. School was kept in Wakeman only a few weeks in the year, and the children, or at least the boys, the eldest of whom was not more than ten years of age, attended a school in Florence, traversing an unbroken forest for a distance of three miles. In the year 1820 the first school house was built, of logs of course, on the farm of Augustin Canfield.

The log school house served the double purpose of a place of teaching and a house of worship for about nine years, when it was replaced by a comfortable frame school house, twenty-two by twenty-six feet in size, with a genuine shingle roof. The meeting to consider the question of its erection was held at the old school house, January 29, 1829. Bela Coe was chosen moderator of the meeting, and Augustin Canfield, clerk. It was decided to build the house by a tax, the cost of which was to be one hundred and seventy dollars. Among other things it was resolved that "we will have a chimney in said house," that "a writing desk shall be attached to the side of the house," etc. It was also stipulated that the house should be opened on the Sabbath to the Congregational and Methodist churches, each to occupy it one-half of the time, "but if it so happens that one denomination does not want to occupy their half of the time, and the other does more, it shall be their privilege to do so." The house had a kind of dedication by a union service of the two churches on Christmas eve, 1829, the Rev. Xenophon Betts and True Pattee officiating on the occasion. The house was trimmed with evergreens and illuminated. The first teacher in the new school house was J. M. Root.

In the year 1829 the inhabitants of Wakeman attained to the felicity of a weekly mail. Isaac Todd and Cyrus Minor drew up, or caused to be drawn up, a petition for the extension of the mail route from Grafton, Lorain county, to Norwalk, and carried it to Grafton to obtain the signatures of the settlers along the proposed route. After the mail was established, the settlers along the line turned out and under-brushed a road from Wakeman to Grafton. The first mailcarrier was one Cole, who carried the mail once a week, making his journeys on foot. The first trip he made through Wakeman he stopped at Isaac Todd's, whose house was the first on his route west of La Grange. No mail bag being visible, Mr. Todd inquired about it. "Oh, I've got it," replied the carrier, and he reached in his pocket and drew forth a large-sized pocket-book, on which was a padlock about the size of a silver half dollar. Mr. Todd, naturally taken aback at the apparent unimportance of the enterprise he had labored hard to establish, said: "You don't mean to say you carry the mail in that?" "Yes," rejoined Cole, "and it's large enough; there's nothing in it!" The route was established, and the mail-carrier had to make the trip, although there was not an item of mail to carry. It was not long, however, before a more capacious mail bag was substituted for the pocket-book.

A man by the name of Waldron afterwards carried the mail. He frequently stopped at Joseph French's, and on one occasion brought the family a piece of venison. On being asked where he got it he replied that he "shot the deer with the mail bag." He came upon the animal while browsing in the top of a fallen tree, struck it in the head with the bag, which so frightened the deer that he caught it and cut its throat with his knife.

The first postoffice was established January 1833, with Justin Sherman, postmaster, who kept the office in his house. He served for seven years and three months, when he was succeeded by Merritt Hyde, and the office was moved to his dwelling, west of the center.

As already stated, Dr. Harmon M. Clark was the first physician that practiced in the township. He had been engaged in the practice of medicine before he came to this country, and was a surgeon or assistant surgeon in the United States navy in the War of 1812.

The first store in Wakeman was kept by Justin Sherman near the center, on lot forty-five. He erected the building in 1839, and sold the first goods on the third day of July, 1841. His goods were purchased in New York city, and transported by way of Hudson river, Erie canal and Lake Erie to Huron, and thence to Wakeman by team.

The principal species wild animals originally found in the forests of Wakeman, were the bear, deer, wolf, wild-cat and fox. Bears, though not numerous, were occasionally seen. Deer were very numerous, and were frequently captured. They were the settlers' main dependence for meat, while their skins were used as an article of clothing by the male inhabitants. Suits made wholly of buckskin were worn only when absolute necessity required, a single wetting and drying making them very uncomfortable. It was more generally used for facing the exposed portion of the pantaloons.

The first election of a school board, of which there is a record, occurred Octobert 31, 1828, when Augustin Canfield was elected clerk; Justin Sherman, Philo Sherman and Samuel Bristol, directors.

Until 1827, the township constituted one school district. The location of the first school house being determined by the center of the population, it was built in the third section, as previously stated. In the spring of the above year a second school district was erected, embracing nearly three-fourths of the township, and a log school house built at the center of town. A few years after a frame school house was built there.

The first year of the settlement, wheat was two dollars and potatoes one dollar and seventy-five cents per bushel, pork thirty dollars per barrel, and oftener of the "shack" variety than otherwise. Until the land was brought under cultivation provisions were generally obtained in the surrounding earlier settlements.

'The character of the population that took possession of Wakeman was of the genuine Yankee sort; they were, almost without exception, from Connecticut. Most of them came from Southbury, New Haven county, some from Litchfield and Fairfield counties, and a few from other parts of the State.

The first family to take up its abode in the wilderness was that of Augustin Canfield. Mr. Canfield started from New Milford, Litchfield county, with his wife and four children, his brother Burton Canfield, Seymour Johnson and his hired man, for the Firelands on the 29th day of April, 1817. While journeying through the "four-mile woods" west of Buffalo, the emigrants experienced a breakdown, one of the axletrees of the wagon breaking off at the wheel. The company fortunately possessed sufficient mechanical skill to repair the damage, cutting out a piece of timber from a tree and splicing it on to the remaining part of the axle, and thus completed the journey without further mishap.

Many anecdotes are related illustrative of the condition of the roads through Cattaraugus swamp, or, more particularly, that portion of it known by early settlers as the "four mile woods." A traveler, seeing a hat floating on the mud, procured a pole and tried to secure it, when a voice from below cried out, "Let me alone; I have a good horse under me, and I shall get through all right."

Mr. Canfield and his associates arrived in Wakeman on the 23d day of May, performing the long journey in about three weeks. He settled on lot number twenty-three in the third section, building his cabin near the location of the present residence of John C. Sherman. The house was fourteen feet square, built of rough logs, with a roof of elm bark and a floor of the same. Two large boxes, or trunks, placed together constituted the only table in the house, and upon which the scanty meal was spread. The house being without a fireplace, the cooking was done by a log fire outside. This primitive habitation was occupied about six weeks, when it was replaced by a more substantial log house, in which the family lived until 1822, when it was sold, with seventy acres on the south part of the lot, to Justin Sherman, Mr. Canfield taking up his residence on the north part of the same lot, where he spent the remainder of his life.

The next man that penetrated the forests of Wakeman was Amial P. Pierce. He arrived with his family, consisting of wife and four children, and a hired man, about three weeks after the Canfields, making the journey from Connecticut with an ox team. He made his location on the adjoining lot, number twenty-two. He always resided on this location.

He was a man of large size and of great physical strength, excelling in this respect, any other of the pioneers with the exception of Mr. Bristol. He had borne the rank of captain in Connecticut, and the title was applied to him here for many years, and until that of "Squire," owing to his long service as justice of the peace, was substituted.

The first settlers found this township heavily timbered, the principal varieties being whitewood, white oak, beech, maple, black walnut, butternut, chestnut, hickory and basswood. On the river bottoms the sycamore, elm and sugar maple were chiefly found.

Among the early settlers of Wakeman township, were Barzilla S. Hendricks and family, in 1819. Abram Bronson and wife, in 1820. Sheldon smith and family and Burton French, in 1820. Justus Minor and family, in 1821. Chester Manville and Peter Sherman, in 1822. And about the same time came Justin Sherman, Philo Sherman, Leveritt Hill, and others. In 1823, Merritt Hyde, Amos Clark. A few years later came Russell Barnes, William Beers, Sheldon Barnes, Rufus J. Bunce, Johnson Wheeler, Isaac Todd, Elias Bell, Martin Bell, Simeon Brown, Cyrus Strong, Lewis Beers, Bela Coe, Reuben Hall, Mr. Parsons. Also comparatively early in different portions of the township: John Brooks, Jabez Hanford, Hiram Rumsey, Henry T. Peck, Isaac Haskins, Dr. Curtis and Captain Bell.

Having made careful preparation for the practice of medicine Dr. Hawley is now successfully following his profession in Norwalk, his ability bringing him prominently before the public in this connection. A native of Erie county, Ohio, he was born August 18, 1856. His father, Noah M. Hawley, was born in Connecticut and went to Rochester, New York, with his parents, removing thence to Erie county, Ohio, when twenty years of age. On this trip he also accompanied his parents and his father Allen Hawley, died in Erie county at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He served as a general in the Revolutionary war, giving effective aid to the colonists in their struggle for independence. He came of the same family as the Hawleys, well known in Connecticut. In Ohio Noah M. Hawley turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and throughout the remainder of his life was connected with farming interests in Erie county, being numbered among the representative tillers of the soil in that portion of the state. He died in 1888, at the age of seventy-six years, having long survived his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Olive Sayles and who passed away in Erie county in 1845. Later he married again, his second union being with Abigail Mowry. Dr. Hawley of this review, has one own sister, Laura, and three half-sisters and one half-brother - Dr. Charles A. Hawley, now living in Washington, D. C.

In the country schools Dr. E. N. Hawley pursued his early education and afterward attended the normal school at Milan, Ohio. He then taught in a district school for two years and for one year was employed as a teacher in the Milan Normal College, but he regarded this merely as a preliminary step to other professional labor for it was his purpose to become a member of the medical fraternity. He studied medicine for one year in the Bellevue Medical College of New York city, after which he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and matriculated in the medical department of the State University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881. He then commenced practice in Sandusky, where he continued for a year, and subsequently spent six years in Wakeman, Huron county, but seeking a broader field of labor he removed to the county seat

His ability in his chosen field of labor is widely recognized, both by the members of the medical fraternity and the general public. He is very careful in the diagnosis of a case, is conscientious in the performance of all professional duties and in a! of his work is actuated by a broad spirit of humanitarianism. The scientific side of the profession also makes strong appeal to him and he closely studies every phase of his work, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress as manifested in the work of the medical fraternity. He belongs to the County and State Medical Society, the Cleveland Academy of Medicine, and the American Medical Association.

In 1900 Dr. Hawley was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Riley, a daughter of John Riley, an old resident of Norwalk. They have one son, Edwin Charles Riley, born October 3, 1904. Dr. Hawley is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and other organizations. He has been termed a good man and a good citizen - a high measure of praise, indicating as it does fidelity and honor in all the relations of public and private life.

Hon. Geo. T. Thomas

Hon. George T. Thomas, ex-speaker of the Ohio house of representatives and recognized as one of the republican leaders of the state, is now engaged in the practice of law at Norwalk, where he has followed his profession since April, 1887, save for the period of his service as probate judge. He was born at Greenwich, Ohio, September 11, 1856, and is a son of Uri Baker and Ellen (McOmber) Thomas. The former was born October 24, 1818, and was a son ^t George and Adeline (Baker) Thomas. George Thomas was born in Rhode Island, May 9, 1795, and on the 16th of August, 1812, married Adeline Baker in Otsego county, New York. She was born November 25, 1796. They reared a family of nine children and Mr. Thomas became a well-to-do farmer of Otsego county, New York. About 1858 he removed westward to Ohio and settled on a farm in Greenfield township, Huron county. Throughout his entire life he carried on general agricultural pursuits and he died at Greenwich, November 5, 1882. He had long survived his wife, who died April 30, 1859. Their children were as follows: an infant daughter, who was born September 4, 1813, and died the same day ; another daughter, who was born and died on the 14th of March, 1815; George Hull, who wes born April r5, 1816, and died in February, 1905; Uri Baker, the father of George T. Thomas ; Levi Ward, who was born January 10, 1821, and died in 1861; a son, who was born and died June 3, 1823; Sylvanus Ward, who was born January 20, 1825, and died in May, 1885; Washington Lafayette, born April 15, 1827; Adeline Alvira, born March 1829; Andrew Jackson, who was born February 3, 1832, and died November 9, 1891; Lucena Icebenda, born February 24, 1835; and Walter B. Wallace, who was born December 18, 1839, and died April 4, 1862.

Of this family Uri Baker Thomas, the father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation and in addition to tilling the soil he raised and dealt in live stock and in wool. He was married April 16, 1849, to Miss Ellen B. McOmber, who was born May 21, 1829, near Castleton, Vermont. Both acquired a fair education in the schools of their native states, but neither were college graduates. Mr. Thomas came to Ohio in the year 1846 and settled on his farm in Greenwich township, Huron county, where he continued to live until his death, July 14, 1904. He long survived his wife who passed away March 25, 1861. By his first marriage there were born five children: Orr Uri, who was born May 30, 1850, and died February 10, 1904; Spencer, who was born in 1852 and died in infancy ; George T., of this review; Dora Ellen, who was born August 16, 1858 and died in May, 1887; and Luna A., who was born in 1860 and died in infancy. The mother of these children having departed this life in 1861, the father was married in 1864 to Miss Myra B. Stowe. Their children were Walter S., who died in infancy ; and Myra Augusta. The latter was born June 3, 1869, and is now the wife of Professor Lewis E. Akeley, of the University of South Dakota, at Vermillion, that state.

George T. Thomas attended the district schools and also the preparatory schools of Oberlin college. Later he was a student in the preparatory department of Buchtel college, at Akron, Ohio. He spent about a year in each place but did not graduate and in addition to the common branches he studied algebra, plain geometry, physical geography, Greene's analysis of the English language, physics, or the elements of philosophy, history, and later under Professor Mattison at Berea, Ohio, studied Latin to some extent. He has since supplemented his studies by considerable reading and by the study of law. After leaving school he was a teacher in the common or district schools for a number of terms, covering a period of about four years, this being his initial step in professional service.

On the roth of April, 1880, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Miller, a resident of Fairfield township, Huron county, and removed from his father's farm to the village of Greenwich in August, 1880. While engaged in teaching school he took up the study of law and after thorough preliminary reading was admitted to the bar February 2, 1886. He removed from the village of Greenwich to Norwalk in 1887 and here entered upon the practice of law, which he has followed continuously since save for six years, during which time he was probate judge of Huron county, so acting from February 9, 1891, until February 9, 1897. In his practice he is regarded as a safe counsellor and a strong advocate, his arguments being based upon a reasonably comprehensive knowledge of the law, while his application of legal principles is correct. His ability has brought him into prominence among the foremost representative citizens of this section of the state.

Mr. Thomas has long been recognized as one of the prominent representatives of the republican party in this part of Ohio. He has been called upon to fill various local offices and later higher political honors have awaited him. He served as mayor of the village of Greenwich from 1882 until 1884; was township clerk of Greenwich township for one term, in 1884-5; was a member of the board of education of the Greenwich village district in 1885; and treasurer of the board for one term. In 1891 he was chosen probate judge and by reelection was con- tinued the office for six years. For three terms he represented Huron county in the state legislature, taking his seat on the 1st of January, 1900, and thus serving.until January 1906. During the last term of two years, from January 1, 1904, until January 1906, he was the speaker of the Ohio house of representatives. A strict parliamentarian, his rulings were always just, fair and equitable, winning him the respect of the opposition as well as the members of his own party. He has been an influencing power in republican politics in Ohio for many years and served as chairman of the Huron county republican executive committee for three years, from 1894 until 1896 inclusive. His opinions carry weight in party counsels and he is recognized as a public speaker of ability and is clear, strong and convincing in argument in any position he assumes.

On the roth of April, 1880, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Emma J. Miller, at Norwalk, Ohio. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Jones) Miller, of an English family who emigrated from England abut the year 1849 and settled in Fairfield township, Huron county, Ohio. They reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, and Mrs. Thomas, who is the eldest daughter, was born December 13, 1859. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been born an only child, Alton O. Thomas, who is a graduate of the Norwalk high school and of the Buchtel college at Akron, Ohio, of the class of 1902.

Mr. Thomas is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having taken the degrees of the subordinate lodge and the encampment. He has twice been representative in the grand iodge and also in the grand encampment for two terms. He is now past counsellor in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is an alert, enterprising man, quickly utilizing the opportunities which are presented in the legal and in the political arena, and in a profession where advancement must depend entirely upon individual merit he has attained high rank.

Orrin M. Doane, a well known and prosperous resident of Bronson township, has been engaged in operating machinery for the threshing and pressing of hay throughout the greater part of his business career. He was born on the 7th of February, 1851, a son of Elon Doane, who in early manhood made his way from New York to Ohio, becoming one of the first settlers of Huron county. The district was still largely wild and undeveloped but with characteristic energy he set to work, cleared a tract of land for farming purposes and was successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. When he was called to his final rest in 1892 the community mourned the loss of one of its most worthy and respected pioneer residents. He and his wife reared a family of six sons and three daughters.

Orrin M. Doane attended the common schools in pursuit of an education and on starting out in life on his own account took up the work of general farming. During the greater portion of his business career, however, he has devoted his attention to the operation of machinery for the threshing and pressing of hay, making extensive purchases of hay, which he presses and bales and then sells to shippers. In all of his undertakings he has met with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity, owing to his untiring industry and capable management and is widely recognized as one of the substantial, progressive and representative citizens of his community.

On the 23d of December, 1873, Mr. Doane was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Templer, whose birth occurred May 11, 1856. Her father, Valentine Templer, was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, on the 12th of May, 1832, being the youngest of nine children. On the 29th of December, 1853, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Christie Ann McDonald, whose birth occurred in Schnectady, New York, April 27, 1828, and by whom he had six children. In 1865 he brought his family to Ohio and continued an honored and respected resident of Huron county until the time of his demise, which occurred in 1895. Though not affiliated with any church, he was a man of high moral character, whose exemplary life well entitled him to the regard and esteem which were uniformly accorded him. His wife passed away at her home in Olena on the 13th of July, 1906. The marriage of Orrin M. and Harriet A. (Templer) Doane has been blessed with the following children: Arthur E., who was born July 1, 1874; George L., whose natal day was September 26, 1878; Mrs. Anna M. Garner, who was born on the 11th of December, 1880; and Roy V., whose birth occurred January 14, 1894. The family are well known the county and Mr. Doane and his wife have many warm friends who esteem them for their genuine worth and many good qualities.

Henry K Where

Henry K. White, a substantial and representative farmer of Bronson township, was born September 25, 1846, in Steuben, Greenfield township, Huron county. He is a son of William White, who was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, February 15, 1811, and was a son of Nathaniel and Nancy A. White. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade and built the courthouse at Sandusky, Ohio, about 1833. He afterward removed to Huron county where he cut the timber and built a log house for himself. As the years passed and the country became thickly settled his carefully managed business affairs made him quite a wealthy man. He married Lucy Holland, who was born in Ireland July 2, 1814, a daughter of John Holland, who came from the Emerald Isle to Ohio. In the family of William and Lucy (Holland) White were the following children : Thomas, Lewis, Frances, Maria, Samuel, Henry, Fred, Jane and Charles.

Henry K. White has spent his entire life in this county, where he was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His life has been a busy and useful one, his business affairs being capably managed so that he has won a fair measure of success. He has also been quite active in other lines. He has always been a democrat in politics, taking an active and helpful interest in the party. He is associated with his brother, Fred A. White, in the ownership of a farm on which they live and they also have the agency for various kinds of fertilizers, having been connected with that line of business for more than ten years. They have also handled agricultural implements and machinery and have been very successful in that branch of their business. They also have some good track horses and some well bred colts.

Fred A. White, his brother's partner in business, was born in Greenfield township, Huron county, April 6, 1856, and was reared in the usual manner. of farm lads who divide their time between the acquirement of an education and the work of the farm. On the 12th of December, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Kennedy, who was born in September, 1856. She is a daughter of John and Priscilla (Fitzgerald) Kennedy, of Richland county, Ohio. They have become the parents of a daughter, Minnie May, who was born July 13, 1880, and is now the wife of Claude A. Terry, of Elyria, Ohio. Fred A. White and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and his political allegiance is given to the democracy, but he never seeks nor desires office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He and his brother have resided upon the farm where they now live for forty-six years and keep the property in most modern and up-to-date shape. They are well known as excellent farmers and horsemen and their business affairs, capably conducted, are winning for them substantial financial reward.

David B. Nims

David B. Nims, a farmer of Lyme township, Huron county, and the owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres of land that lies partly in this county and partly in Erie, was born on this farm, November 18, 1841, the son of Worthington and Betsy (Barnard) Nims. Both parents were born in Shelborn, Massachusetts, 1803 being the year of the father's birth. He came to this part of the country with his father at the age of twenty, selecting Strongs Ridge as his first abiding place. A few years later, he bought the farm his son now lives upon. Here he built first a log cabin, which he replaced some time later by a frame house, built on that section of the farm that lay in Groton township, Erie county, for the line dividing that county from Huron, passes through the farm. In this house, David B. Nims was born, but as the years passed and brought their measure of success in increased returns from the soil, this frame house ceased to satisfy, and Mr. Nims built a third house, a large and substantial one, which is now the home of his son and has well withstood the wear of time. Three children were born to Mr. Nims: William, deceased; Helen, the wife of Melvin Wood; and David B. He was a man prominent in the work of the Lyme Congregational church and when death called him, in 1896, he left many to regret his loss.

David B. Nims has always lived in Lyme township with the exception of a very short period. His education was derived in the district schools, but the more vital lessons for his preparation for life were obtained at home under the wise guidance of his parents. From his childhood, he has been learning the things that meant success in a farmer's life and wittingly chose agriculture as his vocation in life. When he first left the tutelage of the home and engaged in farming for himself, it was on a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Milan, Ohio. After a year's residence upon this, he sold it to purchase another, of hundred forty-five acres, in Huron county, buying it of Mr. Burr. Upon this, he lived and worked for perhaps ten years, when he was called home by the death of his brother to take charge of the farm where he has lived ever since, during the time having made many improvements that have increased the value of the land.

In November, 1866, Mr. Nims was united in marriage to Miss Sabra Stebbins, a daughter of Alfred and Eliza (Fanning) Stebbins of Lyme township. One child has been born to the couple, Alfred Nims, whose birth occurred on the 2oth of September, 1870. When he grew to manhood, he married Miss Jessie Wills, a daughter of George Wills. The couple make their home with his father on the farm.

Mr. Nims and his family are staunch members of the Lyme Congregational church, and in their daily lives put in practice those things which are taught especially on the first day of the week. A member of the older generation of those who till the soil, Mr. Nims is yet active in all his work and progressive, being quick to see and grasp any opportunity that will mean the improvement of his iand and an increase in the returns that it will render him.

Merritt H. Hyde

Merritt H. Hyde, a well known and successful agriculturist of Wakeman township, where he owns an excellent tract of land comprising ninety-two acres, has also been extensively engaged in threshing since 1895. This farm has remained his place of residence from his birth to the present time, his natal day being August 7, 1862. His parents were Merritt M. and Elizabeth (Church) Hyde. The paternal grandfather, Merritt Hyde, came with his family to Huron county from Connecticut in 1816, making the entire journey by ox team. The farm on which he took up his abode is the one which is now in possession of our subject. At the time of his arrival here, there were only thirteen white people in Wakeman township and the land was all covered with timber. He traded his Connecticut property for Firelands in this county and became possessed of about four hundred acres of land at one time, on which not a stick had been cut. The first hecessary task was the erection of a cabin home and with the assistance of the few neighbors a rude dwelling was soon constructed. Then began the work of cutting down the trees and preparing the land for cultivation and, by dint of hard and unremitting labor, this, too, was accomplished. Merritt Hyde was a man of strong character, who faced the hardships and privations of pioneer existence with undaunted courage and a resolute spirit. The country was yet thickly populated with Indians and he did considerable trading with the red men. Fora time he served as an Indian agent for the government and his official duties sometimes called him as far as the head of Lake Superior. In those early days he often found the struggle for existence a difficult one, but as time passed by and the district was gradually opened up to civilization, his efforts were rewarded with success and he became a prosperous and influential citizen, possessing a large fortune at the time of his death. His labors proved an important factor the work of early development and upbuilding and when he was called to his final rest on the rst of May, 1876, at the age of eighty-one years, the county mourned the loss of one of its most respected and honored pioneer settlers. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sallie Boyd, passed away on the 2d of Feb- 1889, when she had attained the venerable age of ninety-four years and ten months. Both lie buried in the Wakeman cemetery. Mr. Merritt of this review regards as one of his most prized possessions an old family bible tracing the ancestral record back to 1724.

Merritt M. Hyde, the father of Merritt H. Hyde, is a native of Huron county, being born on the farm which continued his home as long as he remained a resident of this community. He followed general agricultural pursuits while living here and was widely recognized as a prominent and representative citizen of Wakeman township. In the year 1883 he removed with his wife and daughter to San Antonio, Texas, and subsequently took up his abode in Fort Worth, that state, devoting his attention to the work of farming. At the end of about two years' residence in the Lone Star state he went to Elkmont, Limestone county, Alabama, where he has since made his home. addition to general agricultural pursuits he is also engaged in the sawmill business, meeting with well merited success in his undertakings. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Church, was a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, and in early life came to Ohio with her parents. She is now deceased, her demise having occurred on the 7th of September, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt M. Hyde reared a family of three children, the record of whom is as follows: Merritt H., whose name initiates this review, was the first in order of birth. William D., a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, has been on the river for almost twenty years and has been a captain on the Lee line of boats on the lower rivers for a number of years. Sarah F. is the wife of Thomas Compton, who is associated in business with her father in Alabama.

Merritt H. Hyde was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools of Wakeman. stated above, he has always continued to reside on the place where he was born and throughout his entire business career he has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits, his farm comprising ninety-two acres of rich and arable land adjoining the village of Wakeman. In 1895 he bought a steam threshing outfit and every season since then has been extensively engaged in threshing, his operations covering Wakeman, Townsend, Clarksfield and other nearby townships. He has threshed in a single season as high as fifty-five thousand bushels of grain, while his average record is fully forty thousand bushels yearly. Alert, enterprising and progressive, he has won a gratifying measure of prosperity in his business interests and is well known and highly esteemed as a prosperous and substantial citizen of his native county.

Mr. Hyde has been married twice. On the 2d of July, 1887, he wedded Miss Martha Wood, a daughter of James and Sarah Wood, of Elkmont, Alabama. The child born of this union, May E., is now the wife of Werner McCoron, of Decatur, Alabama. Mrs. Martha Hyde passed away December 2, 1889, and on the 8th of April, 1893, Mr. Hyde was again married, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Beam, a daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Kessler) Beam, of Wakeman township. Ephraim Beam died on the sth of March, 1908, but his widow still survives and resides Wakeman. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hyde have been born three children, namely: Cora, who is now deceased; Hazel L.; and Merritt L.

Politically Mr. Hyde is a stanch democrat but does not seek office as a reward for his party fealty, preferring to give his undivided attention to his private business affairs. He has an extensive circle of warm friends throughout the community in which his entire life has been spent, and is well entitled to mention in this volume as a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of Huron county.

George Stoll

This gentleman is one of the general farmers and breeders of fine stock in Wakeman township. He is of German birth, from Reinfeldt, Germany, born September 20, 1866, his parents being Joseph and Catherine (Stork) Stoll. They never came to free America, preferring to remain in their own Deutschland.

In 1882 Mr. Stoll landed in Cleveland, but soon went to Henrietta, Lorain county, Ohio, and took up agriculture. The year 1897 saw him in Huron county, near Wakeman, in his present home. In 1800 he considered himself ready to wed, and on October 2d, married Miss Catherine Delafield, of Erie county, the daughter of Anthony and Margaret (Needing) Delafield. Mr. and Mrs. Stoll have a family of two daughters and two sons: Mary, Margaret, William and Harry.

George Stoll believes in progress in all things, and his thoroughly tiled farm and fine modern home, with first-class buildings, testify to the success of his theories. His holdings amount to one hundred and forty-three acres of fine, tillable fand, and under the hand of this specialist in fine crops and blooded draft horses, keeps itself in fine trim. His breeding of draft horses has produced some highly commendable specimens of horse flesh.

Although Mr. Stoll is German born, he has become a thoroughly acclimated American, voting the democratic ticket. He is a member of Wakeman Tent, No. 93, Knights of the Maccabees, and is highly respected for his sturdy German traits and his consistent position on the side of improvement and progress.

Benjamin Breckenridge Wickham

Among the younger and more successful members of the Huron county bar, thus representing a profession which has ever had important bearing upon the stable progress and prosperity of every community, is numbered Ben B. Wickham, who was born in Norwalk, October 28, 1875. He is a representative of an old New England family founded in America in early colonial days. His father, Frederick C. Wickham, was born in Norwalk in the house on Main street, which is still standing and which was erected in 1836. The natal day of Frederick C. Wickham was August 5, 1842. His father, Frederick Wickham, Sr., was born in New York city, March 7, 1812, and was for years a sailor on the great lakes, holding official rank in that connection. During 1842 he came to Norwalk and established his home. He had married Lucy Bancroft Preston, a daughter of Samuel Preston, who came from Nashua, New Hampshire, and was a prominent citizen and pioneer newspaper man of Huron county. He established the Norwalk Reflector, one of the oldest newspapers of the state. The Preston family has long been a prominent one in America and gave to the colonies five governors.

Frederick C. Wickham was educated in the public schools of this city and in 1862, when twenty years of age, enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, with which he continued for three years. He was first commissary and afterward became first lieutenant. At Winchester he was captured and remained for seven months in Confederate prisons. Later he was again captured by General Mosby's men near Charleston. He never faltered in the performance of any military duty whether it carried him to the firing line or placed him on the lonely picket line, and when the war was over he was honorably discharged and mustered out in June, 1865. He then returned to Norwalk, where he has since lived, being numbered throughout the intervening years with the prominent, influential and valued residents of the city. Few men have taken a more active part or had more direct influence upon the upbuilding and progress of the community. For eight years he served as postmaster, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. For many years he has been in the printing business and in this connection has been the champion of every movement or measure destined to advance the city's welfare and improvement. In 1865 he was married to Miss Susan C. Adams, a daughter of George Quincy Adams, who at one time served as probate judge of Huron county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Wickham were born a daughter and two sons: Charlotte, now the wife of Frank H. Jones, of Bay City, Texas; Ralph Preston, who died May 1895, at the age of twentyfive years; and Benjamin Breckenridge.

The last named is indebted to the public-school system of Norwalk for the early educational advantages he enjoyed, passing through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1892. He afterward entered the Western Reserve University and was graduated in 1896 from Adelbert College. He taught school for four years, spending one year in the high school at Akron and one year in the high school at Fremont. He also taught for two years in Culver Military Academy, at Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana. Believing, however, that he would prefer the profession of law as a life work, he pursued a course with this end in view in the Western Reserve University and was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in June, 1903. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1902. In February, 1903 he entered upon the active practice of his profession in Norwalk and for a year was a partner of Judge F. H. Jones, but has since been alone, his individual merit, diligence, enterprise and thorough understanding of legal principles being the chief concomi- tants in his enviable success. In the preparation of his cases he has always prepared for defense as well as attack and in his practice has been absolutely fair, never indulging in artifice or concealment, never dealing in indirect methods but winning his victories, which have been many, and suffering his defeats, which have been few, in the open field face to face with his foe. He convinces by his concise statements of law and facts rather than by word painting and so high is the respect for his legal ability and integrity that his assertions in the court are seldom questioned seriously.

On the 16th of October, 1906, at Bellevue, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wickham and Miss Marguerite L. Asay, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of William C. Asay, an attorney of that city. Her grandfather, Dr. Amos Woodward, was one of the best known pioneer citizens of Bellevue, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wickham have two sons: Woodward Adams, born August 15, 1907, and Gurdon Frederick, born June 24, 1909. In his fraternal relations Mr. Wickham is a Mason, belonging to Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 64, E & A. M., and Huron Chapter, No. 7, B. A. M., and is also connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of the Maccabees. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and since 1907 he has been referee in bankruptcy for Huron county. He is not a politician in the sense of office seeking, however, but manifests a deep interest in the science of government and believes in practical politics which causes the individual to uphold the principles and measures which he deems most beneficial in promoting the general good.

L. E. Simmons, the enterprising editor of the Chicago Times, published at Chicago Junction, Ohio, was born in Monroeville, this state, on the 23d of December, 1869, a son of George and Mary Whaley Simmons, who were natives of England. The father became a resident of Monroeville in the '40s and there the family home was established. He conducted a successful grocery business until his death and was recognized as one of the representative merchants of that locality.

L. E. Simmons acquired his education in the schools of Monroeville and in Michigan, living in the latter state for some years with an elder sister. He then turned his attention to his chosen work and has since been identified with newspaper interests. He was in Monroeville for one year with his brother and subsequently went to Norwalk, where for four years he was connected with the Laning Printing Company. Recognizing the fact that there was a good opening at Chicago Junction, he came to this place in 1894 and entered upon journalistic work here as proprietor of the Chicago Times. He has since made good in every sense of the term. The paper was established in 1883 and in eleven years changed hands three times. It was not regarded as a successful venture when he took charge of it but he has made it a credit to the town and county and has demonstrated what can be done by a man who knows and tries.

His previous experience in the printing business had given him thorough and practical knowledge of both the mechanical part and the requirements of newspaper editing and he now sends to his subscribers - and the number is constantly increasing - a clean and interesting journal, devoted to the dissemination of local and general news.

Mr. Simmons was married in 1899 to Miss Julia Simmermacher, a native of Chicago Junction and a daughter of William Simmermacher, one of the pioneers here. They now have two children, Walter and Evelyn. Mr. Simmons is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity and is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. His religious faith is in harmony with the teachings of the Presbyterian church, in which he holds membership. politics he is an independent republican, standing in strong opposition to anything like misrule in public affairs, believing in clean politics and in competent and honest men in office. He is stalwart in his opposition to corruption and machine rule and has had an influential part in placing politics upon a higher plane. He works for the good of the town first, last and always, placing public welfare before partisanship and the interests of the community before personal aggrandizement, the nature and quality of his citizenship being unquestioned, for his patriotism and public spirit are factors easily recognizable in his career.

John Whitman

A feeling of sadness spread throughout Townsend township when on the 3oth of January, 1907, it was announced that John Whitman had passed from this life, for he was long numbered among the substantial and worthy citizens of that section of Huron county. He was born in Euchenberg, Lorraine, France, February 17, 1829, a son of Peter and Catherine Whitman, who spent their entire lives in that country. The son accompanied an uncle, Sebastian Remlinger, to the United States in 1847, being then a youth of eighteen years. He made his first location in Crawford county, Ohio, where he spent a year at farm labor and then took up his abode in Erie county, where he followed similar pursuits. It was while living in the latter place that he formed the acquaintance of Miss Abigail H. Richardson, whom he afterward made his wife, their marriage being celebrated on the 25th of September, 1804. She is a daughter of Joseph and Miranda (Sweet) Richardson. who were natives of Oxford township, Erie countv. The father came to the Buckeve state from Pennsylvania after he had reached vears of maturity and here engaged in general agricultural pursuits, maternal grandfather, William Sweet, came to Huron county from Monroe county, New York, and settled in New London township. There he planted the first orchard in the township, raising a large number of apple trees from the seed. He remained here until 1831 and then removed to Erie county, this state,

Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman located in Wood county, but only spent a year there, after which they spent two years in Norwalk, Mr. Whitman being employed in a large warehouse in that city. In 1868, believing that farm life would prove more congenial to him, he purchased the farm which is still in possession of his family, the place comprising one hundred and thirty-five acres of rich land. In 1879, he erected a modern and substantial brick residence, which is yet considered one of the best in Townsend township. For many years, Mr. Whitman gave his time and attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm and was numbered among the substantial residents of this section of the county.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Whitman was blessed with three children, but only two of the number now survive: Tena H., the wife of Barton Rhoads, who lives with her mother, Mr. Rhoads operating the farm; and Cora M., at home.

Mr. Whitman was a staunch supporter of the republican party and for many years, served as road supervisor and as a member of the school board. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church, but after coming to America, was identified with no denomination. His fraternal relations connected him with Norwalk Lodge, I. O. O. F. In his daily life, he closely followed the principle of the Golden Rule and was numbered among the progressive and public-spirited men of the community. He lived to a good old age, passing away when seventyeight years old, and thus the county lost one of its most honored citizens, while his family mourn the loss of one who was most devoted to their welfare.