Huntington, Ohio

In the yeai- 1818, Joseph Sage induced several families to emigrate from their old homes in the cast, with a view to cultivate for themselves farms in the wilderness of the Western Reserve. The first to make the venture was a son-in law of Mr. Sage, John Jjaborie. The place of his nativity was Huntington, Fairfield county, Connecticut, and the date of leaving for Ohio was February 12, 1818. In the company were Joseph Sage, Mr. Laborie, his wife and two children, four young men and a hired man. They started in a sleigh, and found snow in abundance until reaching Hudson, tiieu in Portage county, at which point they arrived four weeks after beginning the toilsome journey. The weather was severe; the coldest known. At Buffalo, the snow was drifted to the chamber windows, and had not thawed a jiarticle for seventeen days. Much of the journey from this point to Ohio was made on the ice. When they reached Hudson, Mrs. Laborie was too unwell to proceed further, and a halt was made until she had sufficiently recovered to resume the journey. Tliey left Stow township on Monday, March 1511), and journeyed on much of the way through the dense forest, with nothing but an occasional marked tree to guide them.

Passage source: History of Lorain County, Ohio, published 1879.

On arriving at Westfield, they put u|) at Mr. Brainard's, then oecupynig a small log house, of l)ut one room, and this was occupied by four families. The addition of the ten jiersons comprising our party, filled the little cabin to overflowing; but a big heart, full of hospitality, made everything seem quite comfortable. Arriving in Sullivan township, they took up their abode in a little log house, built by Henry Chase. This was a distance of one and one-half miles from the lands selected in Huntington township. "They rested that night as emigrants of to-day know nothing about." The house was a cheerless affair, without chimney, door or windows; and the wide spaces between the logs, not being chinked, afforded easy access for the clouds of snow which the furious March winds sent whirling through the air. Here the family remained until a log house had been constructed. This was on lot nineteen, tract two. The family moved into it on April 13th. As the weather was fine, and the men anxious to get a piece of ground ready for planting, the floor was not put down, or dooi', windows and chimneys constructed, until several weeks later. As it was impossible to procure straw for beds, the dry leaves were used instead, and it is said they made a good substitute. Provisions were scarce, especially meat, and although deer, turkeys and other game were plenty, yet at this season of the year they were too poor to eat. About May 1st, Mr. Sage went to Worthington, near Columbus, to purchase stock; and being gone longer than was expected, the pi'ovisions became exhausted, except a small quantity of Indian meal, and the bran from a bushel of wheat; this was mixed with water and baked into a loaf, and on this diet the family subsisted for some three weeks, but at length the needed supplies arrived. Wooster, in Wayne county, was the nearest village, and to this point our settlers were obliged to go to find a store, grist mill, post office or blacksmith shop. The family of IMr. Laborie are: Sarah, born in Milford, Connecticut; she came to Ohio, and died at the age of thirteen years. Anthony, who was a mere babe when the family settled in Huntington, married Laura A. Darry; they have six children, and live on tract two. Jane, who was born in Ohio, became the wife of William Kelsey; they live in Williams county, this State, and have five children. Myra married William S. Preston; they have four cliiklrcn, ;iud live on fcnict oue. Charlotte married William II. Howard; they reside in Rochester townsliiji, this county, and have six children. Emily married (iideon Bliss; they went on a visit to Vermont, and died soon after. James married Louisa Cook, and lives on tract three, they have one child. Perry married Mary A. Cole (deceased); and Alzina, the youngest, married Edwin \V. Williams; they have four children, and reside on tract two. John Ijaliorie is dead. The aged widow yet resides in the township of which she was the pioneer white woman. She has rendered us material aid in mir laliors, for which our thanks are tendered.

Passage source: History of Lorain County, Ohio, published 1879.

A few days after the arrival of the Messrs. Rising, Daniel Tillotson and family put in an appearance at the settlement. A brother, Ira and D. C. Hickok arrived early the following winter, and were soon followed by Henry R. Ferris, Capt. Timothy Culver who settled one mile north of the center; Captain Chauncey Barker and Capt. Benjamin Banning. The former settled on lands some half a mile south of Isaac Sage's son; Barker located near John Laborie's. Joseph Sage returned East, and soon came on with his family, which consisted of a wife, Sarah Kelsey Sage, and the following children: Philomela, wife of Chauncey Barker, deceased; Myra who married George Case, deceased; Marilla who married John Laborie; her husband is dead, and she now lives witb a son, James, in Huntington township; JIarlo P. who married Jusan Mallory; she died, and he married again; he is a minister of the Univeralist faith, and lives on the old homestead. Two or three gi-andchildren also came with Mr. Sage's family, and Thomas H. Case; Erastus Royce came about the same time. Zenas Kelsey and several sons purchased land of Joseph Sage, and settled thereon. The following persons settled north of the center: David Rogers, Zelotus North, Dudley Lewis, Daniel Chapman, William Lang and John Chapman.

Passage source: History of Lorain County, Ohio, published 1879.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Huntington Township - it names this place 24 more 24 times.