Halsey Hulburt Homestead

J. H. then lived with his mother until he attained his major years. Early in life he manifested great love for a horse, and, at the age of 10, he began riding races, which he kept up until 19. and, being an expert driver, he drove and fitted horses for the speed ring ; for several years has driven some very important races, where a high rate of speed and a large amount were at stake ; in 1861. was offered $1,000 and expenses to go to California and drive Sherman, Jr., in a single race where $15,- 000 was wagered ; he went and won the race. L"pon his return home came upon the steamship America, on her trial trip, having on board 900 passengers. Shortly after leaving Graytown, they were caught in a gale and came near being "swamped lost their rudder, and were for several weeks without the use of engine or rudder, being, as sailors would say, " waterlogged." While on this trip, came on to the illfated Golden Gate, and took aboard her passengers and crew. He succeeded in reaching his destination, losing his baggage and effects, j For several years past, he has been engaged in | buying and selling horses ; his superior judg- j ment combined with his ripe experience have j sefved to cause his opinion to stand as an ! oracle among the lovers of fine horses ; his exj tensive acquaintance with horsemen and deal- ! ers has given him an enviable reputation in i that direction. Persons at a distance often send orders for him to fill., for fancy matched- : teams, trotters or heavy draft, and are furnished and guaranteed to suit. He is now en- | gaged in farming and raising horses for the market, which are of superior kind and quality, they having taken some flattering premiums at j the State and agricultural fairs. May 1, 1854, j was married to Julia Ilosmer, born in Guils> ford Township, May 1, 1S3S, daughter of Judge Hosraer, of Seville, one of the old pioneers of the county. Her mother's maiden name was Lucy Hays, who was one of the pioneer school teachers in the southern part of the county. After Mr. Taylor was married, he located in Seville until 1S72, when he moved to his farm, consisting of 100 acres, located one-half mile west of Seville ; has three children - Wallace E., Hubert E. and Maude B.

Passage source: History of Medina County and Ohio, Containing a History of the State of Ohio, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... a History of Medina County, Giving an Account of Its Aboriginal Inhabitants ... Pioneer Incidents, Its Growth, Its Improvements, Organization of the County ... Biographical Sketches; Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers and Prominent Men, Etc., Etc. .., published 1881.

J ACOB WIDEM AN, farmer and stock-raiser: P. O. Seville ; was born Jan. 23, 1826. in Markham, near Toronto, Canada West, the seventh child born to his parents, who were Jacob and Hannah (Geisinger) Wideman, who were natives of Bucks Co., Penn., and emigrated to that province at or near the beginning of the present centur}*. To them were born eleven children, who were Sarah, Barbara. Mary, Phillip, Daniel. Ludwick, Jacob, Catharine, Henry, John and George, all of whom attained maturity, and came to this State with their parents. Sarah was the wife of John Leatherman, who settled in Wadsworth; she died in 1879; Barbara, Mrs. Bartshee, in Guilford ; Mary, now in Spencer; Phillip, in Indiana ; Daniel, in Lorain Co.; Ludwick, in Seville ; Catharine, Mrs. Ephraim Wright ; Henry, in La Fayette ; John died in 1879, never married; George in Michigan. Jacob was about 1 year old when he left Canada with his parents, who settled in Guilford Township and purchased 200 acres of land, which the}' cleared up, remaining on the same until their death, which occurred Oct. 28, 1855, and April 18, 1879, respectively. They were among the solid and highly respected citizens in that locality, and identified with its religious interests, both being members of the M. E. Church. Jacob grew up under the paternal roof ; attaining his major years, remained upon the farm. At the age of 27, was married to Martha A. Webster, w'hich event was celebrated in April. 1853. She was born in Clearcreek Township, Ashland Co., Ohio, May 12, 1833. She was the fourth of a family of ten children born to Francis E. and Rachel (Cowell) Webster. He was born in New Jersey, she in Greene Co., Penn. They came West about the year 1829. He was a shoemaker by trade, but carried on farming also. To them were born four children, who are Cordelia, Mrs. Smith ; Harriet, Mrs. Wideman, in Wooster; Martin V., in Michigan, and Mrs. Jacob Wideman, the wife of this subject Parents died in Lorain Co., he in 1879. she seven years previous. Since Mr. Wideman was married, he has made several j changes. After one year's residence on the home farm, then moved to North Chatham, purchasing a farm, lived nine years; then returned to Guilford, lived four years ; sold out. moved ! to Seville, lived one year ; then purchased a j farm in Wayne Co., where he lived seven years, then traded farm and came to his present farm j in 1876. Has now 227 acres of good land, and is among the best farmers in the township, as | well as one of its first-rate citizens. Is raising the best of stock, consisting of Durham cattle, full-blooded Cotswold sheep, and the best of horses, of the Percheron. Jersey. Eclipse, Hiatoga and Hambletonian. Has three children - Justin, Altha 0., Mrs. Foskett. in Wellington, and Elmer E.

Passage source: History of Medina County and Ohio, Containing a History of the State of Ohio, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... a History of Medina County, Giving an Account of Its Aboriginal Inhabitants ... Pioneer Incidents, Its Growth, Its Improvements, Organization of the County ... Biographical Sketches; Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers and Prominent Men, Etc., Etc. .., published 1881.

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 Westfield Township - 16,017 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.