Shannon, Ohio

L. C. Ball was a settler in Sandusky township in 1823. He left his home in New York in 1818, with a view to locating in the West, Detroit being his objective point. Being without means, he employed the natural method of travelling. High water intercepted his progress at Lower Sandusky, where he found ern- ployment at general work. He soon engaged at the then profitable trade of blacksmithing in James Kirk's shop, and afterwards built a shop of his own. In 1823 Mr. Ball married Eveline Patterson, and settled on a farm just below the corporation, where he lived, raised a family, and died. Mrs. Ball remains on the homestead. The children are: Eveline, Alvira, Thaddeus, Oscar, Lysander C, and Sarah (Emerson). -

Passage source: History of Sandusky County, Ohio, published 1882.

George Shannon, a son-in-law of James Whittaker, is mentioned in connection with Indian events of the War of 18 12, in the general history, but that event gives us an interest in the personal history of the family. Mr. Shannon was a native of Schenectady, Schoharie county, New York, and was born in 1787. He came to Lower Sandusky in 1809, and married Mary, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Whittaker, by whom he had eight children, three of whom are living - -James, residing in Oregon; John, in this township: and William, inAVood county. Mr. Shannon lived in a cabin on the Whittaker Reserve when James, the oldest son, was born. In 1812, when the Indian troubles began, he sought safety for his family on the Scioto, having refused to accompany the Whittakers in Fort Stephenson, believing that that post would eventually be captured. His return to harvest the corn crop, and adventure with the savages while thus engaged, is narrated elsewhere. When the war had closed, Mr. Shannon returned from the Scioto, and settled on a piece of land given him by Mrs. Whittaker. He built a cabin near the river, in which he moved the entire family, now consisting of several children. Posterity must forgive us for stating that, on account of an old prejudice, Mr. Shannon frequently incurred the wrath of his mother-in-law, and the relation between the two families was not always lovely. The Indians usually camped on the river bank near the Shannon cabin. Mrs. Shannon's "life in the woods" had familiarized her with their language and habits, and enabled her to detect signs of danger. One day, while her husband was at work, an Indian yell startled the family. She called to Mr. Shannon, who did not hear at first, and, before she could repeat the warning, an angry savage had almost approached the house. There was no time for evading. Shannon was now facing the Indian, who drew forth a concealed tomahawk, and, with a double oath, said, in good English: "Now I going to kill you!" Shannon sprang forward, caught the handle of the drawn tomahawk in one hand and the strong arm of his savage antagonist in the other. A vigorous but brief struggle followed, in which the redskin was prostrated. Shannon was now master of the situation. He wrenched the hatchet from his antagonist's hand, raised the weapon, and was already directing a deadly blow, when the savage cried: "Friendship." By a quick movement. Shannon changed his fatal aim, and the tomahawk, just clearing his enemy's head, was buried in the ground. Again seizing the weapon. Shannon ordered the Indian into the house, and then gave him a chair. Shannon also sat down, laying the tomahawk on the table at his side. He then asked the Indian why he came to kill him.

Passage source: History of Sandusky County, Ohio, published 1882.

and was brought to Sandusky, with his parents, after the close of the war. In 1840 he married Eveline Patterson, dau^h ter of Alvord and Julia Patterson, who removed from New York to Ohio in 1833. The fruit of this union was nine children, four of whom are Hving. Mr. Shannon has always had a fondness for the woods, and had a reputation, in early times, as an expert and successful hunter. Even inhis old age he mourns the loss of hunting grounds.

Passage source: History of Sandusky County, Ohio, published 1882.

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 Sandusky Township.