York Township

York Township

Section sixteen, township four, range seventeen, was sold in June, 1849, for a" average of eight dollars per acre, and had been in part previously under the ninetynine years lease.

THE most striking feature of the topography of York is the three parallel ridges or sand bars extending in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction. The township itself embracing an area of six miles square, lies in the southeast corner of the county and is bounded on the north by Townsend township, on the east by Erie and Huron counties, on the south by Seneca county, and on the west by Green Creek township. No streams of sufficient size to furnish water-power for mills flow through this territory. The sand ridges give the surface an undulating appearance, and the porous character of the drift formation overlymg a heavy stratum of limestone contributes to the dryness of the fertile soil. It is unnecessary to elaborate on geological theories concerning the origin of the sand bars. They are merely accumulations of fragments and disintegrated particles of rock, washed together by powerful waves and currents during the last period of geological history when the water of the lake basin covered all this region of country. Such bars of gravel and sand are yet forming near the shores of the great lakes. At the present time events of real and traditional history in York are located by these sand bars, and it will therefore be necessary to know their location.

The crest of North ridge trends through Green Creek in a northeasterly direction, and extends across the northwest corner of York and southeast corner of Townsend into Erie county. South ridge takes a parallel course, and its crest is about two miles southeast from the crest of North ridge. About the same distance toward the southeast trends Butternut ridge, beginning near the southeast corner of Green Creek and losing its identity near the pike in York. The name Butternut ridge was, very naturally, applied in consequence of the number and size of the white walnut, or butternut trees, which shaded its surface before the day of railroads and lumber markets.

Nowhere in the county did the primitive forest appear more hospitable than in York. West of the Sandusky River was, seemingly, an endless reach of dismal swamp, steaming with vapors poisoned by decaying vegetation. But here, trees grew to graceful size, and shaded soft grasses. The perfume of wild flowers wakened birds to song, and the fleet-footed deer gave gayety to the scene. Propitious nature welcomed with open arms all who came to build homes for themselves and an heritage for their children.

The soil of York is a sandy loam intermixed with small particles of limestone, and is unexceptionable for agricultural purposes. The upper rock stratum is limestone of superior quality and more than ordinary thickness. An outcrop occurs near Bellevue which supplies large quantities of stone, both for building and for making lime. Land commands a higher price per acre in York than anywhere else in the county. Nowhere in Ohio can be found better improved farms.

The Settlement

ment of York were somewhat peculiar. The improvement of tlie Fireland district had commenced before the War of 1812, and was well progressed while Indian camp fires were yet burning on the other side of the line. After the restoration of peace with Great Britain real estate took a rise in the Fireiands which induced emigrants to camp over on the Congress lands until they should be surveyed and offered for sale. Many, too, who had cleared farms and built houses in Huron, were induced to sell and begin again the trials of pioneer life. The ridges of York were favorite places for squatters, who put up temporary buildings, and made small clearings with the expectation of buying the land when in market, thus saving the value of their improvements. But men were selfish then as now, and it frequently happened that the most cherished hope of an industrious squatter who had cleared and cultivated, cheered on by the anticipation of being the rightful and legal owner, was blasted by one who had risen earlier, and secured a front place at the land ofifice when the book of entries was opened. The scene is said to have been highly exciting when the turnpike lands were placed upon the market. Horses were rode at full speed to the ofifice, where a lively contest for turns ensued. Each man had his lot picked out, but each suspected his neighbor of having envious eyes, a suspicion which, in many cases, proved well founded. The feeling of hatred caused by what was considered a transgression of lights was in a few instances lasting, and the cause of neighborly feuds in later years. The scramble for land was conducted with as much ardor and self-interested feeling then, as the scramble for office at the present time, although the assertion may appear to a casual observer of affairs extravagant. We know of no more accurate way of

It will be necessary, in order to understand the dates here given, to know the method of making entries on the books in the recorder's office. The United States land office gave each purchaser a certificate of entry and receipt of payment. These certificates entitled the holder to a patent from the United States. They were also filed in the auditor's office, and imder the law, five years from their date, the profjerty, of which they stood as a receipt of payment, was listed on the tax duplicate, and recorded in the book of entries. It will appear, therefore, that the date of record given in the following table of Congress lands, is five years later than the real purchase at the land office.

But the turnpike lands embracing a strip one mile wide on each side of the pike, were ceded by the United States to the State of Ohio for the purpose of constructing a pike road from the Western Reserve through the Black Bwamp. These lands were offered for sale at the land office at Perrysburg in 1826, and were taxable from the date of entry. They were at once listed on the duplicate, and the date of record is also the date of purchase.

Skction. Acres

The settlement of York proper began in 1822. The squatters whose shabby cabins for three years had broken the monotony of continuous forest, cannot be called settlers, nor would it be prudent to attempt to chronicle their comings and goings. A squatter community, such as York was from 18 19 to 1822, would be a fruitful field for the study of character. Here were the class of people who may be termed the overflow of civilization - families driven from time to time from the public domain by legal owners. They push a little further along, crowding the savage before them. Their improvements are never of mucii value. A cabin, eiglit by ten feet in the clear, built of round logs, with a rough puncheon door and two holes over \\ hich white paper was pasted, . the only windows. A mixture of mud and leaves filled the cracks, and the earth shorn of grass' and smoothed down by bare feet, made a floor unnecessary. Squatters of this class farmed very little. In an Indian clearing, if one chanced to be in the neighborhood, or in a field prepared by cutting out the underbush and deadening the larger trees, they planted corn. Corn was the complement of game in their table-fare. Hunting and storytelling was the only occupation of this class of semi-civilized vagabonds. The women, rather from necessity than choice, were more industrious than the men. However much the children might be neglected in other particulars, and, indeed, were neglected, they had to be fed, and the mothers had to do it. They hoed the corn, harvested it, and cracked it on a block, while the men, rather as a pleasure than a duty, shot game and brought what could not be traded for whiskey, or some other luxury, to the cabin, where hands already over worked, prepared it for the table. It is often asked, \" How did these people live?" When life loses every motive except existence, man becouies a very simple sort of animal. Culture and ambition are the creators of wants, to supply which toil, even hardship, is cheerfully endured. These people never aspired to the ownership of property, to the enjoyment of travel nor to the refinement of education. Good clothes would have made them uncomfortable and good houses miserable. The woods was their chosen paradise, and cabins preferable to a " house of many mansions. " We cannot, of course, fathorn the life of people and understand what circumstances have been their guides along the highway of existence. Crime, laziness, and disease are - possible causes of their degradation.

But a respectable class of people also were known as squatters. Brave, industrious men and women left pleasant abodes and planted in the forest the germs of that civilization which is already bearing golden fruit. They bore with patience, not only the hardships which nature imposed, but also the depredations of the vagrants who had gone before. The progress of material development is like the march of an invading army. Retreating barbarism is followed by a horde of half-breed camp-followers pressed closely by the skirmishers of the pursuing forces.

Legal barriers, for a while, prevented the rank and file of the pioneer army from occupying the fertile country beyond the limit of the Firelands. But when these barriers had been removed, the way was already opened by squatters in name, but settlers in reality.

tiers of this township, removed from Fultonville, New York, in the fall of 182 2, arriving at Bellevue, October 15th. Reentered land near the central part of the township.

A. D. Follett, ti son of EHphalet Follett, of Huron county, settled in this township soon after the settlement of Mr. Smiih. His family is of Norman origin, and came into England with ^A'illiam the Conqueror. One of the descendants was attorney general to Queen Victoria and member of Parliament for the city of Exeter. His monument in Westminster Abbey bears the inscription, "Sir William Webb Follett, Kt." The grandfather of Abel D. Follett was murdered at Wyoming during the Revolution. That day of dreadful butchery is one of the most barbarous episodes of American history. It was more than an Indian m.assacre. It was inspired, planned, and conducted by Tories, which has become synonymous with treason. Among four hundred brave patriots who marched to the defence of their wives and children was Eliphalet Follett. 'I'he murderous horde of allied savages and Tories surrounded this brave company, of whom only twenty succeeded in cutting their way through the lines. One of these was Follett; but a bullet cut him down before reaching the opposite side of the Susquehanna. Mrs. Follett escaped the massacre of the women and children which followed, and with an old horse started toward the east, taking her six children, the oldest of whom was thirteen, and the youngest two. Before she had progressed far her arm was broken by an accident, but by heroic perseverance she succeeded in rescuing the family, which has become well known in the annals of Huron and Sandusky counties. Abel D. Follett, who settled in York, was a grandson of Eliphalet Follett, and son of Eliphalet Follett, jr., who settled in Huron county about

The school section number sixteen was settled mostly by poor people, who may be classed as "good, bad, and indifferent." Some lived by begging, sonre by stealing, and a few by working. After the lines of ownership began to become marked many of the old squatters took to the school section, feeling sure that their days would be spent before the uncharitable hand o{ industrious landlords would defile, with axes and phnvs, this last haven of wandering humanity.

Sid Perry was a character in his day. He was an industrious visitor, especially about butchering time. Jeremiah Smith used to make a custom of saving the hogs' heads and bony meat, knowing that Sid's complaints of poverty and ingratitude of the world would be forced into his ears soon after the last squeal of the dying swine had ceased. Sid was a zealous Baptist, and always wanted to lead the singing. He had a nasal, high-keyed and sti^etched out his syllables to a distressing length. He seemed to think of his wicked neighbors when he sang:

Speaking of ardent church members calls to mind another early settler whose piety exceeded his education. Adam Brown lived on the ridge, and was in most respects a worthy man. Revivals always concjuered his nerves. He had but one speech, which was delivered, seemingly with fear, certainly with trembling. His tearful sincerity drowned laughter even among the sinners, when he began his stereotype speech by saying: "Brethren and sistern, I tell you 'ligion is good, I know it by exknowledge 'perimental."

Henry McMillen had a cooper shop west of the Centre. It was an easy matter to get out staves and make barrels from the fine, straight timber in which the forest abounded. Barrels, too, were in considerable demand in Lower Sandusky, and Portland (now Sandusky), also a great many were used for shipping potash, which was extensively manufactured in the east part of this county.

RoUin Benson sold the first goods in the township. He brought with him from the East a stock of cotton fabrics and notions, also a barrel of whiskey, which was a necessary article of merchandise. When the whiskey, calicoes, muslins, etc., had been disposed of, the frontier merchant shut up store and moved away.

John Davenport was one of the first squatter settlers in the county. He lived on what is now known as the Nathan P. Bridseye farm, and then removed further north, where he entered land and died. His family went west. Davenport was the first postmaster in York, which was also the first post office in the east part of the county.

The Tuttles were early settlers of the southwest part of York and southeast part of Green Creek. They were of a sporting disposition, and often at raisings or log rollings demonstrated considerable combativeness.

The years 1824 and 1825 were sickly in York. Three of the prominent settlers were among the first to die. Mr. and Mrs. Longwell died in 1824, and Seth M. Murray in 1825.

Dr. L. Harkness was the physician for all this part of the country at that time. He found considerable difficulty in obtaining medicine. On one occasion he declared that he would give his horse for a bottle of quinine.

William Christie settled on the farm on which John Davenport first settled. It next came into possession of his son-inlaw, Nathan P. Birdseye.

David Acklar, though generally a fair sort of a man, was in the habit of much drinking, and when under the influence of the beverage, so much used by the pioneers, was disposed to be quarrelsome. He had the reputation of being a fighter.

Gideon Brayton was a large, goodnatured settler of the north part of the township. His presence at a log-rolling or raising was an assurance that fun would be plentifully intermingled with the work. He came to York about 1825.

The first tavern on the pike was opened by Reuben Pixley, who had a family of six sons - Reuben, Elanson, Alvah, George, Theron, and Charles. The Pixley's were a very religious family, and kept the York Centre tavern after the fashion of the times.

Courtland rounty, Nt:w York, in the year 1798. His father, John Baker, was one of the early settlers of Lyme tfjwnship. In 1817, while assisting to raise a loghouse in York, he received an injury which resulted in his death the following day. Hiram thus found himself at the early age of eighteen, charged with the management of the farm and support of his mother. In the course of a few years he was obliged to sell the farm his father had purchased, getting some advance for the cost of im[)rovements. He purchased a tract on Butternut ridge, in this county, and moved into an unfinished log-house in midwinter. Mechanics of all kinds were scarce, and Mr. Baker finding himself in need of shoes began cobbling with an awl made of a piece of fork-tine, pegs whittled out with a penknife, and common knives and hammers. He soon became expert in making the fashionable stoga shoes of the day. He could make two pair a day. His neighbors, and everybody within a distance of several miles were neighbors in those days, cheerfully gave a day's work for a ])air of shoes and furnish the leather. In this way Mr. Baker soon succeeded in getting his farm under a good state of cultivation. Shoemaking being profitable, he sold his farm and moved to Bellevue, where he employed a journeyman and learned the trade regularly. T<>ventually his business became quite extensive antl brought sufficient accumulation of property to make old age comfortable. He died in 1874. In 1826 Mr. J5akcr married Mary Ann Forbes, by whom he had three. children - Arabella, Henry, and Hiram F., the last named being editor of the Bellevue Local News. Mr. Baker's first wife dying in 1835, he married, in 1836, Catharine Hagaman, daughter of John Hagaman. She was born in 181 5. John H., her oldest child, died in 1880 leaving a wife and one child,

I^lder John Mugg settled on the South ridge in 1822. Being a man of more than ordinary piety and a devout member of the Ba])tist church he at once began to plan for the organization of a religious society. His desire was realized in 1825, as will be seen further along in this chapter. He eventually became a preacher and exhorter. He bore the reputation of being a truly good man. His children were: Thomas, John B., William, Marcus, and Jesse, sons, and two daughters, Mary (Bennett), and Harriet (Colvin). Thomas, Mary, and Jesse died in Indiana; Marcus became a prec"icher and removed to Michigan, where he died; William farmed on the South ridge until his death; Mrs. Colvin died in this township. John 15. Mugg, who was more intimately identified with the affairs of York than any of the other children, was born in New York in 1801. He married, in 1823, Susan Wheeler, and soon after removed to Ohio and settled in this township; but after a residence in the pioneer country of two years, they returned to New York, where they remained till 1836. Returning to York, they settled on the farm on which he died. Their family consisted of nine children, only two of whom are living - William A. and George H., the last named of whom was born in 1838, married Adelia Hitt in i860, and has three children - Elmer E., Luella E., and Susan M. He was in the nursery business in Green Creek township from 1872 to 1874.

In October, 1822, a party of four men, W'illiam McPherson, his brother-in-law Norton Russel, Lyman Babcock, and James Birdseye, left their homes in Ontario county, New York, for the purpose of seeking new homes in the West. All, except Mr. Russel, were married, but left their families behind until a location could be selected. At Buffalo they engaged passage on a packet, but fearing robbery and personal violence at the hands of the crew, they concluded at the harbor at Ashtabula that safety was preferable to ease, and started for the Sandusky territory on foot. After two or three weary days' walkmg Mr. Birdseye, who was the oldest member of the party, became exceedingly tired, and throwing himself down by the roadside, insisted that his hips had penetrated his body at least two inches. But the tiresome journey was at last finished, and as a result of it the county gained four good citizens. They each entered a quarter section of land, all in York, except Mr. McPherson, who Settled in Green Creek. All except Mr. Russel returned to New York for their wives. A full sketch of the Birdseye family is found at the conclusion of this chapter. Further mention is made of Mr. McPherson in connection with Green Creek. Mr. Babcock was a worthy and respected citizen of York for many years. Mr. Russel married, in 1825, Sibyl Mc- Millen, a daughter of Samuel McMillen, of Green Creek. The wedding ceremony was performed by James Mclntyre, the Methodist preacher of this circuit for that year. He had by this time made considerable improvement on his farm on the North ridge, where he lived and raised a family of seven children, viz: John N. and William M., Clyde; Charles P., York; Phoebe S., wife of William Mugg, York; Sarah R. (Bell), Clyde; Mary M. (Taylor), Colorado Springs; and Belle R. (Culver), Cleveland. The children and grandchildren held a reunion at Mr. Russel's residence in Clyde, June 15, 1 88 1, the occasion being the eightieth anniversary of his birth. Twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandchild are living.

Joseph George, the oldest man now living in Clyde, and also one of the earliest pioneers, was born in Vermont, in 1795. He belonged to the volunteer militia of New York, when the British made the raid through Western New York and burned Buffalo, and at that time he was on the march. The war over, he married Sarah McMillen, and in 181 9 came to Ohio, first stopping where Bellevue now is, at the frontier tavern kept by his cousin, Elnathan George. He first settled in Thompson township, but after a few years bought turnpike land, near the centre of York, which he improved after the fashion of the day. The land was not well adapted to agriculture and was therefore sold by Mr. George after a residence of nine years, at an advance barely covering the cost of improvements. This has since become a valuable tract on account of inexhaustible deposits of fine gravel. It is now owned by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad company. Soon after Mr. George moved to York an incident occurred which shows the friendly disposition of the Indians who roamed through the extensive woodlands, hunting. Mrs. George started on horseback to the cabin on the pike, where Rollin Benson was disposing of a small stock of goods. In sight of the little store her horse frightened and threw her violently to the ground, inflicting a severe stunning and painful bruises. A party of Indians loafing near by seeing what had happened promptly qame to her rescue, carried her to Amsden's Corners, and summoned medical aid. Mr. George removed from York to Townsend, where he lived thirtythree years, and then retired in Clyde, where he yet resides in the fullness of his years, being in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Mrs. George died in 1880, hav- ing borne a family of fourteen children, thirteen of whom came to maturity. Nine are yet living: Lorenzo D., Allen county, Indiana; Alfred, Bowling Green, Ohio; Rev. Norton R., Hill City, Kansas ^ Joseph, jr., Clyde; Mrs. x'\rchibald Richards, Clyde; Mrs. Joseph Whitehead, Clyde; Mrs. George McFarland, Bowling Green, Ohio; Mrs. Milton Gaskill, Medina, Michigan; and Mrs. James May, Fairfield, Michigan.

John Riddell, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to New York in 1824, at the age of twenty-four years. He married, in New York, in 1828, Laura Haynes, and three years later removed to Ohio and settled in York township, near York centre. They had one child, William B., who was one year old when his parents came to Ohio. In 1853 he married Barbara Cupp, and has a family of three children: Ida (Angel), Emma, and John C. John Riddell is one of the few old settlers still living. His wife died about nine years ago. He belongs to the Christian church. His son, W. B. Riddell, does a good farming business.

Isaac Slocum was born in Rhode Island, in 1775. He married, in Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Patrick, and they emigrated to Huron county, Ohio, in 1824, settling in Lyme township, where they remained five years, and then, in 1829, removed to York. Mr. Slocum died in York in 1858. The family consisted of twelve children, five of whom are living, viz : Isaac, in Minnesota; William, in Iowa; Abel, in Wisconsin; Giles, in Minnesota; Elizabeth, the only daughter living, is the widow of Mason Kinney, and lives in York township.

Mason Kinney was born in 1806. In 1833 he married Elizabeth Slocum, by whom he had a family of seven children, six of whom are living: Mary, George, Sarah (Bachman), William, Joseph, and

Prominent among the Penns\lvania German families of this township are the Harpsters. Jacob Harjister was born in Pennsylvania in 181 1. He came to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Seneca county, where he lived five years, and then made York his permanent residence. He married, in 1838, Elizabeth Mook, and has a family of four children - Frederick, Jacob D., Benjamin F., who live in Kansas, and Eliza S., wife of Henry Miller, of York township.

Isaac Parker and family emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1842, and remained in Huron county one year, then came to York township. Mr. Parker married Elizabeth Mook, also of Pennsylvania. He is still living; his wife died several years ago. They had nine children, seven of whom are living - Levi, in York township; Isaac, in Michigan; Jackson, in Erie county; Solomon, in Michigan; Anna (Rupert), in Michigan; Andrew, in the W^est; and Henry, in Iowa.

Levi Parker was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. In 1861 he married Caroline Michael, to whom seven children were born - George, Charles, Isaac, Mary, Oren, Emma, and Nettie.

Ephraim Sparks was born in New Jersey in 1790. He settled in Pennsylvania, and there married Sarah Cook in 18 13. Four years later they removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where Mrs. Sparks died, in 1828, and her husband in 1871. Four of their seven children are still living, two in this county - Randall and Isaac. The latter resides in Clyde. David died in Carroll county, Ohio, in February, 1881. The daughters now living are: Mrs. Elizabeth Tressel, Tuscarawas county, and Mrs. Mary Neal, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.

nia in 18 14. He married Ann Wingate in 1835, ^"d settled in York township, his present residence. Mr. Sparks has served as justice of the peace six years, and has held other local offices. He is the father of eight children, only two of whom are living. Lemuel, the oldest, enlisted in company B, Seventy-second Ohio infantry, November 9, 186 1, and participated in the battle of Shiloh. He died in camp before Corinth, May 16, 1862, in the twentysixth year of his age. Catharine died January 5, 1S58, in her nineteenth year; Albert died May 31, 186 1, in his twentieth year. Leslie E. was mustered in as a member of company M, First regimt-nt Ohio Heavy Artillery; he was drowned in the Tennessee River, near Loudon, Tennessee, June 2, 1864, in the twenty-first year of his age. Melissa died November 6. 1869, in her twenty-second year; Elinda Jane died April 25, 1872, in the twenty-second year of her age. The surviving children are Wilbur L., born February 27, 1854, and Ella B., born June 15, 1859; both reside at home.

Samuel Shutts was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1797. His family moved to New York while he was young. He married in New York, and in 1847, with his wife and five children, removed to Sandusky county, and settled in York township, where his wife died in 1855, leaving five children - Oliver J., Mary, Sarah H., John, and Emma. Mr. Shutts removed to Ballville township in 1861. Oliver J., the oldest child, was born in New York in 1828; he married, in 1859, Margaret Barlow, of York townshij); their children are all deceased. Mr. Shutts was one of the founders of the Diabetic Cure at Green Sprmgs.

John Mook was born in Pennsylvania in 1765. He was married in Pennsylvania, in 18 18, to Mary Baughy, and in 1836 removed to Western New York. Li 1844 they came to Ohio, and settled in this township. Seven of their nine children are yet living - Mary, wife of Isaac Parker, York township; Abraham, New York State; Effie, wife of Lewis Burgess, New York State; Solomon, living in Illinois; Sampson, in New York, and Benjamin, in York township. The last named was born in Pennsylvania in 1820; he came to Ohio with his parents, and in 1848 mairied Susan Boyer, who was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. Their family consists of nine children, viz.: Simon B., Fidelia, Malcomb, Samuel E., EltTier J., Clara, Emma and Emerson (twins), and William G. Mr. Mook made carpentering a business while living in New York. John Mook, father of the Mooks of this township, died in 1848. His wife survived him ten years.

William, the only living child of William and Mary Mills, was born of Jersey parentage, in 1809. He married Cornelia Berry in 1857, and has a family of two children - Eliza J., Huron county, and Mary E., York township.

William Dymond was born in England, in 181 1. He married Elizabeth Greenslade, in 1838. The family consists of eleven children, viz.: James, resides in Kansas; John, Huron county; Anna (Coleman), Clyde; William, jr., Kansas Richard, died in 1872; Samuel; Alice (Clacknor); Alfred, York township; Elizabeth (Stutler), Toledo; Mary, Frank, and Frederick, York township. Mr. Dymond is a mason, and followed that trade thirty years. He has resided in this county since 1848.

James F. Smith was born in New York, in 1809. He removed to Pennsylvania in 1823, where he married, in 1833, Elizabeth Alexander. They settled in Huron county, Ohio, in 1843, ^"d removed to York township five years later. Six of their eleven children are living, viz: Mary

J., York township; Charles, Kansas; John, Kansas; Alice, York township; Samuel and Clara B., York township. Mr. Smith is a carpenter, and \yorked at that trade twenty years. He has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of lime for about twenty years.

Joseph P. Roush was born in Pennsylvania, in 1814. In 1839 he married Catharine Kreisher, and with his family moved to York township in 1856. Five children are living and two are dead. Charles F. and James P. reside in York township; John Henry, at Lindsey; Mary E. (Williams), in Huron county; and William A., in York. Alice and George W. are deceased. Mr. Roush attends his farm, but during the winter works at tailoring. He has about two hundred acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Roush, and Charles, belong to the Reformed church. Mrs. Williams is a Methodist.

Gideon Billman and family, originally from Berks county, Pennsylvania, moved to Sandusky county in 1848, and settled where the sons now live, in York township. Mr. Billman married Hannah Donner, and to them were born si.x sons and three daughters. Three of the sons and all of the daughters survive. George resides near Buir Oak, Michigan; John and George, on the home farm; Susan is the wife of John Bauchman, York township; Sarah is the wife of Joseph Smith, Erie county; Mary Jane, the wife of Henty Toogood, resides in Sturgis, Michigan. The father and mother have both died within the past si.x years.

George Billman was married, in 1876, to Mary Ann Boop, a native of Groton township, Huron county. They have live sons - Joseph, James, George, Cloyd, and Frank. Mr. Billman and his brother are Democrats. They worked at fencemaki ng several years, and have been carrying on the same business in connection with

M. J. Tichenor removed from New York to York township in 1851. He was born in 182 I, and, in 1827, married Joanna Torrence, a daughter of ^Villiam H. and Salome Torrence. Nine children blessed this union - Mary A. (Tea), Clyde; Helen (Kline), York township; Zachariah, Kansas; Salome (Lemmon), Townsend township; George, Ida, Elizabeth (Haff), Jessie, and John, York township. Mr. Tichenor was an active, energetic citizen until his death. Mrs. Tichenor continues a resident of York.

Jacob Kopp was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. In 1 85 1 he removed to Erie county, Ohio, and in 1859 to York township. He married Matilda E. McCauley in 1853. The fruit of this union is six children, as follows: John P., Minnesota; Frances (Hoy), Erie county; Benjamin F., Anna E., Abraham L., and Alice E., ^ork township. Mr. Kopp is a Republican. He and his family belong to the Reformed church. He has five hundred and fiftyfour acres, and does an extensive farming business. Commencing with little, he is now in very good circumstances as the reward of his untiring energy.

One of the first of the "Pennsylvania Dutch" settlers in York was .A.dam Jordan. He was horn in 1803, and in 1829 married, in Pennsylvania, Sophia Orwig. They came directly to York and settled on the larm on which he died in 1861. She died in 1872. Their family consisted of eight children, viz : Sarah (Weaver), Lucas county; Martin, Lucas county; Lucy (Mc- Cauley), York township; Joseph, Mary, Hannah M., James, and George W. live in York township.

William Frederick was born in Pennsylvania in 1796. He married, in 1835, Catharine Kline, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1809. In 1 86 1 they removed to York, where they still live. Their eight children are: George, York township; Jesse, Maumee, Ohio; William, jr., York township; James, Michigan; Samuel, York township, and Henry, Riley township. Reuben and Robert are dead. Mr, Frederick, though well advanced in years, enjoys good health.

Godfrey Deck, one of the later settlers of this county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. He married Christiana Bixler in 1827; settled in York in 1864. He had a family of five children. He died in York in 1871. She is yet living. John, the oldest child, was born in Pennsylvania in 1828. In 1852 he married Sarah Klingman, who bore a family of eight children, five of whom are living: A. H. and Sarah C, York township; Anna M. (Bradley), Canada; John F. and William G., York township. The names of those that are deceased were Christiana, Charley, and Joseph. All died young.

Edward Kern was born in Pennsylvania in 1825. He came to Ohio in 1833, and settled in Seneca county, where he married Sarah Stetler in 1846. In 1871 he removed to York township. His family consists of six children, viz: A. J. and Jacob H., Seneca county; Samuel E., York township; Mary F., wife of John Swartz, Michigan; Laura E. (Stewart), York township, and Abbie E. (Ebbersol), Missouri. Mr. Kern's parents were George Jacob and Elizabeth (Shuck) Kern, both natives of Pennsylvania. After coming to Ohio they lived and died in Seneca county. They brought up a family of five sons and five daughters. All, excepting three daughters, are still living. The sons are: Yost, St. Joseph county, Michigan; George, Bellevue; Isaac, Seneca county; Edward, York township; Bennel, in Iowa. The daughters: Sophia, deceased; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of John Romick, Seneca county; Hannah, wife of George Heater, Bellevue; Mary married Jacob

Jacob Hilbish, a native of Pennsylvania, came to York township in 187 1, and settled on the farm which he now occupies. He married Susannah Paulin, also a native of Pennsylvania. They have had six sons and three daughters, viz: Harriet, wife of Nathan Knauer, Pennsylvania; Agnes, wife of Daniel Cleckner, Seneca county; Ammon, Pennsylvania; Aaron, in the West ; Matilda, wife of George Hassenplug, York township; Charles, Kansas; Wilson, at home; James, Indiana; David, Illinois. Mr. Hilbish has a good farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, situated near town, and does a good farming business.

A Wedding Episode

A wedding in a new country is a particularly interesting event. Our pioneer fathers and mothers had no newspapers to interest them with the events of the world at large, nor did many of them have books to occupy an occasional hour stolen from the clearing or farm. Similar surroundings and pursuits effected a kind of homogenity in the community. These two circumstances conduced to a social feeling and interest which it is impossible to appreciate at the present day. Marriage is the second great event in the life of an individual, and the one in which people generally are more interested than any other. It is but natural, therefore, that in a community bound together by personal friendship and social unity, the prospect of a wedding became the family talk of every cabin.

The story of an early wedding in York, as told by a gay and favorite beau among the red-cheeked lasses of the time, furnishes a pleasing episode to the naturally dry chronicle of prosy facts.

tired of the changeless succession of events at her home in New York, and captivated by the romance of border life as pictured in the letters of her sister, Mrs. Knickerbocker, from York, resolved upon a visit to the new Sandusky country. Having packed the plainest articles of her wardrobe she started upon the long journey, and in a few weeks was the guest of her sister's cabin home. She at once conqueied the rural beaux, while on the other hand the strong and manly knights of the forest found favor in her sight. Mr. Piatt, from Huron county, pushed his suit most ardently and won the pearl. The pain of jealousy was part of the price, for he suspected Norton Russel of being a rival and feared the issue. The load bore heavily upon Mr. Piatt's heart. One day he and Mr. Russel were teamnig together. Determined to know whether his companion was a stumbling-block in the way of his most cherished ambition, he asked in the most confidential manner possible the exact status of affairs. On being informed by Mr. Russel that there was no cause for anxiety, deep melancholy took rapid wings and the pathway of the lovers was straight and clear until the eventful weddijig day. That consummation is best told in the following lines, written by another:*

Most slowly with his trembling hand, To where Ohio's laws provide How weddings shall be sanctified; What forms the Justice sage shall guide; What questions ask the groom, the bride; \\''hat costs assess when they are tied.

Religious .Societies

Be it remembered tliat on the twenty-third day of June, 1825, a number of Christian brethren of the order of Free-will Baptist, met in the town of York, county of Sandusky, for the e.xpress purpose of being organized into a church compo.sed of the following biethren, to wit: Elder John Mugg, Jered H. Miner, Jeremiah P. Brown, Moses George, Abner Walker, James Benton, Thomas Mugg, John B. Mugg, Elisha B. Mugg, Polly Brown, and Lydia Miner. These brethren, agreeably to the rules of the New Testament, were organized mto a church, and received by the right hand of Christian fellowship from Elder Bradford.

The society thus formed was known as the Free-will Baptist church of York townshijx Meetings were held at the houses of Jeremiah Brown and John Mugg until the log-school house (the first one on the south ridge) was built. In 1855 the meeting-house on the south ridge was built, but the organization has been losing its membership gradually, until but one remains - Mrs. Jeremiah Smith. Sunday-school continues to be held in the meeting-house during the summer months. The cemetery, which is one of the oldest in the north part of the township, was donated by John Calvin. Tryphena C. Smith was the first person buried in this cemetery. This church, in its early history, being the only religious society, collected, into its membership nearly everybody in the neighborhood.

The ne.xt religious society organized in York, was the Christian church, the first members of which were James Haynes and wife, Moses George and wife, and John Riddcll and wife. Elder Mallery was the first j:)reacher. He was succeeded by Elder Vail, who removed from New York to Huron county in 1839, and took charge of the churches in this part of the Stale. He had been a Methodist during the first years of his clerical life, but became a zealous preacher of the denomination which he afterwards joined. Under I'^.tder X'ail's ministry the Free chapel was built in 1842. In 1849 he removed to York, where he died in 1878. Polder Manville succeeded to the pastorate. The meeting-house is the oldest in the township. Services are held regularly.

Emanuel Evangelical church is composed mostly of Pennsylvanians. Isaac Parker was a member of the church in Pennsylvania, and after settling in York, collected the families of Michael Waltz, Jacob Harjxster, David Harjister and John Orvvig and formed a class, which met in private houses. Rev. Mr. Nevil was the first preacher. This was about 1850. In i860 the frame church on the pike was built. The organization of a class at Bellevue divided the membership, but each year has brought new accessions, so that there are about eighty members at present. The first class leader was John Orwig. Succeeding leaders have been Reuben Parker, Daniel Loudenschlager, John Null, Daniel Mook, Henry Mook, Michael Finsinger and Jere Filhering.

The United Brethren began holding meetings in the southwest part of York. As the Pennsylvania element of the population grew the membership increased until in 1863 the class had acquired sufficient strength to build a meeting-house. The house and class took the name "Mount Carmel" and is supplied by the pastor of Clyde circuit.

Source changes here: from History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with Portraits and Biographies of Prominent Citizens and Pioneers, by Everett, Homer, published 1882; 7,003 words in this source stream.

York Township

Section sixteen, township four, range seventeen, was sold in June, 1849, f°r an average of eight dollars per acre, and had been in part previously under the ninetynine years lease.

THE most striking feature of the topography of York is the three parallel ridges or sand bars extending in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction. The township itself embracing an area of six miles square, lies in the southeast corner of the county and is bounded on the north by Townsend township, on the east by Erie and Huron counties, on the south by Seneca county, and on the west by Green Creek township. No streams of sufficient size to furnish water-power for mills flow through this territory. The sand ridges give the surface an undulating appearance, and the porous character of the drift formation overlying a heavy stratum of limestone contributes to the dryness of the fertile soil. It is unnecessary to elaborate on geological theories concerning the origin of the sand bars. They are merely accumulations of fragments and disintegrated particles of rock, washed together by powerful waves and currents during the last period of geological history when the water of the lake basin covered all this region of country. Such bars of gravel and sand are yet forming near the shores of the great lakes. At the present time events of real and traditional history in York are located by these sand bars, and it will therefore be necessary to know their location.

The crest of North ridge trends through Green Creek in a northeasterly direction, and extends across the northwest corner of York and southeast corner of Townsend into Erie county. South ridge takes a parallel course, and its crest is about two miles southeast from the crest of North ridge. About the same distance toward the southeast trends Butternut ridge, beginning near the southeast corner of Green Creek and losing its identity near the pike in York. The name Butternut ridge was, very naturally, applied in consequence of the number and size of the white walnut, or butternut trees, which shaded its surface before the day of railroads and lumber markets.

Nowhere in the county did the primitive forest appear more hospitable than in York. West of the Sandusky River was, seemingly, an endless reach of dismal swamp, steaming with vapors poisoned by decaying vegetation. But here, trees grew to graceful size, and shaded soft grasses. The perfume of wild flowers wakened birds to song, and the fleet-footed deer gave gayety to the scene. Propitious nature welcomed with open arms all who came to build homes for themselves and an heritage for their children.

The soil of York is a sandy loam intermixed with small particles of limestone, and is unexceptionable for agricultural purposes. The upper rock stratum is limestone of superior quality and more than ordinary thickness. An outcrop occurs near Bellevue which supplies large quantities of stone, both for building and for making lime. Land commands a higher price per acre in York than anywhere else in the county. Nowhere in Ohio can be found better improved farms.

The Settlement

ment of York were somewhat peculiar. The improvement of the Fireland district had commenced before the War of 1812, and was well progressed while Indian camp fires were yet burning on the other side of the line. After the restoration of ' peace with Great Britain . real estate took I .a rise in the Firelands which induced emi- j grants to camp over on the Congress lands until they should be surveyed and offered for sale. Many, too, who had cleared farms and built houses in Huron, were induced to sell and begin again the trials of pioneer life. The ridges of York were> favorite places for squatters, who put up j temporary buildings, and made small clear- j ings with the expectation of buying the land when in market, thus saving the value of their improvements. But men were selfish then as now, and it frequently happened that the most cherished hope of an industrious squatter who had cleared and cultivated, cheered 'on by the anticipation of being the rightful and legal owner, was blasted by one who had risen earlier, and secured a front place at the land office when the book of entries was opened. The scene is said to have been highly exciting when the turnpike lands were placed upon the market. Horses were rode at full speed to the office, where a lively contest for turns ensued. Each man had his lot picked out, but each suspected his neighbor of having envious eyes, a suspicion which, in many cases, proved well founded. The feeling of hatred caused by what was considered a transgression of rights was in a few instances lasting, and the cause of neighborly feuds in later years. The scramble for land was conducted with as much ardor and self-interested feeling then, as the scramble for office at the present time, although the assertion may appear to a casual observer of affairs extravagant.

It will be necessary, in order to understand the dates here given, to know the method of making entries on the books in the recorder's office. The United States land office gave each purchaser a certificate of entry and receipt of payment. These certificates entitled the holder to a patent from the United States. They were also filed in the auditor's office, and under the law, five years from their date, the property, of which they stood as a receipt of payment, was listed on the tax duplicate, and recorded in the book of entries. It will appear, therefore, that the date of record given in the following table of Congress lands, is five years later than the real purchase at the land office.

But the turnpike lands embracing a strip one mile wide on each side of the pike, were ceded by the United States to the State of Ohio for the purpose of constructing a pike road from the Western Reserve thro .gh the Black Bwamp. These lands were offered for sale at the land office at Perrysburg in 1826, and were taxable from the date of entry. They were at once listed on the duplicate, and the date of record is also the date of purchase.

Section

called settlers, nor would it be prudent to ; attempt to chronicle their comings and goings. A squatter community, such as York was from 1819 to 1822, would be a fruitful field for the study of character. Here were the class of people who may be termed the overflow of civilization - families driven from time to time from the public domain by legal owners. They push a little further along, crowding the savage before them. Their improvements are never of much value. A cabin, eight by ten feel in the clear, built of round logs, with a rough puncheon door and two holes over which white paper was pasted, | the only windows. A mixture of mud and leaves filled the cracks, and the j earth shorn of grass and smoothed down I by bare feet, made a floor unnecessary, j Squatters of this class farmed very little. ! In an Indian clearing, if one chanced to be in the neighborhood, or in a field prepared by cutting out the underbush and deadening the larger trees, they planted corn. Corn was the complement of game in their table-fare. Hunting and storytelling was the only occupation of this class of semi-civilized vagabonds. The women, rather from necessity than choice, were more industrious than the men. 1 However much the children might be neglected in other particulars, and, indeed, were neglected, they had to be fed, and the mothers had to do it. They hoed the corn, harvested it, and cracked it on a i block, while the men, rather as a pleasure than a duty, shot game and brought what could not be traded for whiskey, or some other luxury, to the cabin, where hands already over worked, prepared it for the table. It is often asked, "How did these people live?" When life loses every motive except existence, man becomes a very simple sort of animal. Culture and ambition are the creators of wants, to supply which toil, even hardship, is cheerfully endured. ThesNe people never aspired to the ownership of property, to the enjoyment of travel nor to the refinement of education. Good clothes would have made them uncomfortable and good houses miserable. The woods was their chosen paradise, and cabins preferable to a " house of many mansions. " We cannot, of course, fathom the life of people and understand what circumstances have been their guides along the highway of existence. Crime, laziness, and disease are possible causes of their degradation.

But a respectable class of people also were known as squatters. Brave, industrious men and women left pleasant abodes and planted in the forest the germs of that civilization which is already bearing golden fruit. They bore with patience, not only the hardships which nature imposed, but also the depredations of the vagrants who had gone before. The progress of material development is like the march of an invading army. Retreating barbarism is followed by a horde of half-breed camp-followers pressed closely by the skirmishers of the pursuing forces.

Legal barriers, for a while, prevented the rank and file of the pioneer army from occupying the fertile country beyond the limit of the Firelands. But when these barriers had been removed, the way was already opened by squatters in name, but settlers in reality.

tiers of this township, removed from Ful- , tonville, New York, in the fall of i822,arriv" ing at Bellevue, October 15th. He entered i land near the central part of the township.

A. D. Follett, a son of Eliphalet Foliett, j of Huron county, settled in this township | soon after the settlement of Mr. Smith, j His family is of Norman origin, and came j into England with William the Conqueror. One of the descendants was attorney gen- j eral to Queen Victoria and member of 1 Parliament for the city of Exeter. His j monument in Westminster Abbey bears j the inscription, "Sir William Webb Foliett, i Kt." The grandfather of Abel D. Follett ! was murdered at Wyoming during the | Revolution. That day of dreadful butchery is one of the most barbarous episodes of American history. It was more than an Indian massacre. It was inspired, 1 planned, and conducted by Tories, which ! name has become synonymous with trea- j son. Among four hundred brave patriots j who marched to the defence of their wives j and children was Eliphalet Follett. The ; murderous horde of allied savages and j Tories surrounded this brave company, of : whom only twenty succeeded in cutting their way through the lines. One of these ; was Follett; but a bullet cut him down be- , fore reaching the opposite side of the Susquehanna. Mrs. Follett escaped the massacre of the women and children which followed, and writh an old horse started toward the east, taking her six children, the oldest of whom was thirteen, and the youngest two. Before she had progressed far her arm was broken by an accident, but by heroic perseverance she succeeded in rescuing the family, which has become well known in the annals of Huron and Sandusky counties. Abel D. Follett, who settled in York, was a grandson of Eliphalet Follett, and son of Eliphalet Follett, jr., who settled in Huron county about

The school section number sixteen was settled mostly by poor people, who may be classed as "good, bad, and indifferent." Some lived by begging, some by stealing, and a few by working. After the lines of ownership began to become marked many of the old squatters took to the school section, feeling sure that their days would be spent before the uncharitable hand of industrious landlords would defile, with axes and plows, this last haven of wandering humanity.

Sid Perry was a character in his day. He was an industrious visitor, especially about butchering time. Jeremiah Smith used to make a custom of saving the hogs' heads and bony meat, knowing that Sid's complaints of poverty and ingratitude of the world would be forced into his ears soon after the last squeal of the dying swine had ceased. Sid was a zealous Baptist, and always wanted to lead 'the singing. He had a nasal, high-keyed voice, and stretched out his syllables to a distressing length. He seemed to think of his wicked neighbors when he sang:

Speaking of ardent church membets calls to mind another early settler whose piety exceeded his education. Adam Brown lived on the ridge, and was in most respects a worthy man. Revivals always conquered his nerves. He had but one speech, which was delivered, seemingly with fear, certainly with trembling. His tearful sincerity drowned laughter even among the sinners, when he began his stereotype speech by saying: "Brethren and sistern, I tell you 'ligion is good, I know it by exknowledge 'perimental."

Henry McMillen had a cooper shop west of the Centre. It was an easy matter to get out staves and make barrels from the fine, straight timber in which the forest abounded. Barrels, too, were in considerable demand in Lower Sandusky, and Portland (now Sandusky), also a great many were used for shipping potash, which was extensively manufactured in the east part of this county.

Rollin Benson sold the first goods in the township. He brought with him from the East a stock of cotton fabrics and notions, also a barrel of whiskey, which was a necessary article of merchandise. When the whiskey, calicoes, muslins, etc., had been disposed of, the frontier merchant shut up store and moved away.

John Davenport was one of the first squatter settlers in the county. He lived on what is now known as the Nathan P. Bridseye farm, and then removed further north, where he entered land and died. His family went west. Davenport was the first postmaster in York, which was also the first post office in the east part of the county.

The Tuttles were early settlers of the southwest part of York and southeast part of Green Creek. They were of a sporting disposition, and often at raisings or log rollings demonstrated considerable combativeness.

The years 1824 and 1825 were sickly in York. Three of the prominent settlers were among the first to die. Mr. and Mrs. Longwell died in 1824, and Seth M. Murray in 1825.

Dr. L. Hark ness was the physician for all this part of the country at that time. He found considerable difficulty in obtaining medicine. On one occasion he declared that he would give his horse for a bottle of quinine.

William Christie settled on the farm on which John Davenport first settled. It next came into possession of his son-in- ; law, Nathan P. Birdseye.

David Acklar, though generally a fair sort of a man, was in the habit of much drinking, and when under the influence of I the beverage, so much used by the pioneers, was disposed to be quarrelsome. He had the reputation of being a fighter.

Gideon Brayton was a large, goodnatured settler of the north part of the ! township. His presence at a log-rolling or raising was an assurance that fun would be plentifully intermingled with the work.

The first tavern on the pike was opened by Reuben Pixlev, who had a family of six sons - Reuben, Elanson, Alvah, George, Theron, and Charles. The Pixley's were a very religious family, and kept the York Centre tavern after the fashion of the times.

Courtland county, New York, in the year 1798. His father, John Baker, was one of the early settlers of Lyme township. In 1817, while assisting to raise a loghouse in York, he received an injury which resulted in his death the following day. Hiram thus found himself at the early age of eighteen, charged with the management of the farm and support of his mother. In the course of a few years he was obliged to sell the farm his father had purchased, getting some advance for the cost of improvements. He purchased a tract on Butternut ridge, in this county, and moved into an unfinished log-house in midwinter. Mechanics of all kinds were scarce, and Mr. Baker finding himself in need of shoes began cobbling with an awl made of a piece of fork-tine, pegs whittled out with a penknife, and common knives and hammers. He soon became expert in making the fashionable stoga shoes of the day. He could make two pair a day. His neighbors, and everybody within a distance of several miles were neighbors in those days, cheerfully gave a day's work for a pair of shoes and furnish the leather. In this way Mr. Baker soon succeeded in getting his farm under a good state of cultivation. Shoemaking being profitable, he sold his farm and moved to Bellevue, where he employed a journeyman and learned the trade regularly. Eventually his business became quite extensive and brought sufficient accumulation of property to make old age comfortable. He died in 1874. In 1826 Mr. Baker married Mary Ann Forbes, by whom he had three children - Arabella, Henrv, and Hiram F., the last named being editor of the Bellevue Local News. Mr. Baker's first wife dying in 1835, he married, in 1836, Catharine Hagaman, daughter of John Hagaman. She was born in 1815. John H., her oldest child, died in 1880 leaving a wife and one child,

Elder John Mugg settled on the South ridge in 1822. Being a man of more than ordinary piety and a devout member of the Baptist church he at once began to plan for the organization of a religious society. His desire was realized in 1825, as will be seen further along in this chapter. He eventually became a preacher and exhorter. He bore the reputation of being a truly good man. His children were: Thomas, John B., William, Marcus, and Jesse, sons, and two daughters, Mary (Bennett), and Harriet (Colvin). Thomas, Mary, and Jesse died in Indiana; Marcus became a preacher and removed to Michigan, where * he died; William farmed on the South ridge until his death; Mrs. Colvin died in this township. John B. Mugg, who was more intimately identified with the affairs of York than any of the other children, was born in New York in 1801. He married, in 1823, Susan Wheeler, and soon after removed to Ohio and settled in this township; but after a residence in the pioneer country of 1 two years, they returned to New York, j where they remained till 1S36. Returning | to York, they settled on the farm on which he died. Their family consisted of nine

- children, only two of whom are living - j William A. and George H., the last j named of whom was born in 1838, mar- | ried Adelia Hitt in i860, and has three 1 children - Elmer E., Luella E., and Susan M. He was in the nursery business in Green Creek township from 1872 to 1874.

In October, 1822, a party of four men, William McPherson, his brother-in-law , Norton Russel, Lyman Babcock, and James Birdseye, left their homes in Ontario seeking new homes in the West. All, except Mr. Russel, were married, but left their families behind until a location could be selected. At Buffalo they engaged passage on a packet, but fearing robbery and personal violence at the hands of the crew, they concluded at the harbor at Ashtabula that safety was preferable to - ease, and started for the Sandusky territory on foot After two or three weary days' walking Mr. Birdseye, who was the oldest member of the party, became exceedingly tired, and throwing himself down by the roadside, insisted that his hips had penetrated his body at least two inches. But the tiresome journey was at last finished, and as a result of it the county gained four good citizens. They each entered a quarter section of land, all in York, except Mr. McPherson, who settled in Green Creek. All except Mr. Russel returned to New York for their wives. A full sketch of the Birdseye family is found at the conclusion of this chapter. Further mention is made of Mr. McPherson in connection with Green Creek. Mr. Babcock was a worthy and respected citizen of York for many years. Mr. Russel married, in 1825, Sibyl Mc- Millen, a daughter of Samuel McMillen, of Green Creek. The wedding ceremony was performed by James McIntyre, the Methodist preacher of this circuit for that year. He had by this time made considerable improvement on his farm on the North ridge, where he lived and raised a family of seven children, viz: John N. and William M., Clyde; Charles P., York; Phoebe S., wife of William Mugg, York; Sarah R. (Bell), Clyde; Mary M. (Taylor), Colorado Springs; and Belle R. (Culver), Cleveland. The children and grandchildren held a reunion at Mr. Russel's residence in Clyde, June 15, 1881, the occasion being the eightieth anniversary of his birth. Twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandchild are living.

Joseph George, the oldest man now living in Clyde, and also one of the earliest pioneers, was born in Vermont,' in 1795. He belonged to the volunteer militia of New York, when the British made the raid through Western New York and burned Buffalo, and at that time he was on the march. The war over, he married Sarah McMillen, and in 1819 came to Ohio, first stopping where Bellevue now is, at the frontier tavern kept by his cousin, Elnathan George. He first settled in Thompson township, but after a few years bought turnpike land, near the centre of York, which he improved after the fashion of the day. The land was not well adapted to agriculture and was therefore sold by Mr. George after a residence of nine years, at an advance barely covering the cost of improvements. This has since become a valuable tract on account of inexhaustible deposits of fine gravel. It is now owned by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad company. Soon after Mr. George moved to York an incident occurred which shows the friendly disposition of the Indians who roamed through the extensive woodlands, hunting. Mrs. George started on horseback to the cabin on the pike, where Rollin Benson was disposing of a small stock of goods. In sight of the little store her horse frightened and threw her violently to the ground, inflicting a severe stunning and painful bruises. A party of Indians loafing near by seeing what had happened promptly came to her rescue, carried her to Amsden's Corners, and summoned I medical aid. Mr. George removed from | York to Townsend, where he lived thirty- I three years, and then retired in Clyde, ing borne a family of fourteen children, thirteen of whom came to maturity. Nine are yet living: Lorenzo D., Allen county, ( Indiana; Alfred, Bowling Green, Ohio; | Rev. Norton R., Hill City, Kansas, Joseph, jr., Clyde; Mrs. Archibald Rich- j ards, Clyde; Mrs. Joseph Whitehead, Clyde; Mrs. George McFarland, Bowling Green, Ohio; Mrs. Milton Gaskill, Medina, Michigan; and Mrs. James May, Fairfield, Michigan.

John Riddell, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to New York in 1824, at the age of twenty-four years. He married, in New York, in 1828, Laura Haynes, and three years later removed to Ohio and settled in York township, near York centre. They had one child, William B., who was one year old when his parents came to Ohio. In 1853 he married Barbara Cupp, and has a family of three children: j Ida (Angel), Emma, and John C. John | Riddell is one of the few old settlers still living. His wife died about nine years ago. He belongs to the Christian church. His son, W. B. Riddell, does a good farming business.

Isaac Slocum was born in Rhode Island, in 1775. He married, in Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Patrick, and they emigrated to j Huron county, Ohio, in 1824, settling in Lyme township, where they remained five years, and then, in 1829, removed to York. Mr. Slocum died in York in 1858. The family consisted of twelve children, five of whom are living, viz : Isaac, in 1 Minnesota; William, in Iowa; Abel, in Wisconsin; Giles, in Minnesota; Elizabeth, the only daughter living, is the widow ot Mason Kinney, and lives in York township.

Mason Kinney was born in 1806. In 1833 he married Elizabeth Slocum, by whom he had a family of seven children, six of whom are living: Mary, George, Sarah (Bachman), William, Joseph, and *

Prominent among the Pennsylvania German families of this township are the Harpsters. Jacob Harpster was born in Pennsylvania in 1811. He came to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Seneca county, where he lived five' years, and then made York his permanent residence. He married, in 1838, Elizabeth Mook, and has a family of four children - Frederick, Jacob D., Benjamin R, who live in Kansas, and Eliza S., wife of Henry Miller, of York township.

Isaac Parker and family emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1842, and remained in Huron county one year, then came to York township. Mr. Parker married Elizabeth Mook, also of Pennsylvania. He is still living; his wife died several years ago. They had nine children, seven ot whom are living - Levi, in York township; Isaac, in Michigan; Jackson, in Erie county; Solomon, in Michigan; Anna (Rupert), in Michigan; Andrew, in the West; and Henry, in Iowa.

Levi Parker was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. In 1 86 1 he married Caroline Michael, to whom seven children were born - George, Charles, Isaac, Mary, Oren, Emma, and Nettie.

Ephraim Sparks was born in New Jersey in 1790. He settled in Pennsylvania, and there married Sarah Cook in 1813. Four years later they removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where Mrs. Sparks died, in 1828, and her husband in 1871. Four of their seven children are still living, two in this county - Randall and Isaac. The latter resides in Clyde. David died in Carroll count}', Ohio, in February, 1881. The daughters now living are: Mrs. Elizabeth Tressel, Tuscarawas county, and Mrs. Mary Neal, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.

nia in 1814. He married Ann Wingate in 1835, anc* settled in York township, his present residence. Mr. Sparks has served as justice of the peace six years, and has held other local offices. He is the father of eight children, only two of whom are living. Lemuel, the oldest, enlisted in company B, Seventy-second Ohio infantry, November 9, 1861, and participated in the battle of Shiloh. He died in camp before Corinth, May 16, 1862, in the twentysixth year of his age. Catharine died January 5, 1858, in her nineteenth year; Albert died May 31, 1861, in his twentieth year. Leslie E. was mustered in as a member of company M, First regiment Ohio Heavy Artillery; he was drowned in the Tennessee River, near Loudon, Tennessee* June 2, 1864, in the twenty-first year of his age. Melissa died November 6. 1869, in her twenty-second year; Elinda Jane died April 25, 1872, in the twenty-second year of her age. The surviving children are Wilbur L, born February 27, 1854, and Ella B., born June 15, 1859; both reside at home.

Samuel Shutts was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1797. His family moved to New York while he was young. He married in New York, and in 1847, with his wife and five children, removed to Sandusky county, and settled in York township, where his wife died in 1855, leaving five children - Oliver J., Mary, Sarah H., John, and Emma. Mr. Shutts removed to Ball ville township in 1861. Oliver J., the oldest child, was born in New York in 1828; he married, in 1859, Margaret Barlow, of York township; their children are all deceased. Mr. Shutts was one of the founders of the Diabetic Cure at Green Springs.

John Mook was born in Pennsylvania in 1765. He was married in Pennsylvania, in 1818, to Mary Baughy, and in 1836 removed to Western New York. In 1844 they came to Ohio, and settled in this township. Seven of they; nine children are yet living - Mary, wife of Isaac Parker, York township; Abraham, New York State; Effie, wife of Lewis Burgess, New York State; Solomon, living in Illinois; j Sampson, in New York, and Benjamin, in York township. The last named was born in Pennsylvania in 1820; he came to Ohio with his parents, and in 1848 mairied Susan Boyer, who was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. Their family consists of nine children, viz.: Simon B., Fidelia, Malcomb, Samuel E., Elmer J., Clara, Emma and Emerson (twins), and William G. Mr. Mook made carpentering a business while living in New York. John Mook, father of the Mooks of this township, died in 1848. His wife survived him ten years.

William, the only living child of William and Mary Mills, was born of Jersey parentage, in 1809. He married Cornelia Berry in 1857, and has a family of two children - Eliza J., Huron county, and Mary E., York township, j William Dymond was born in England,

! in 1811. He married Elizabeth Green- I slade, in 1838. The family consists of j eleven children, viz.: James, resides in Kansas; John, Huron county; Anna (Coleman), Clyde; William, jr., Kansas Richard, died in 1872; Samuel; Alice (Clacknor); Alfred, York township; Elizabeth (Stutler), Toledo; Mary, Frank, and Frederick, York township. Mr. Dymond is a mason, and followed that trade thirty years. He has resided in this county since 1848.

James F. Smith was born in New York, in 1809. He removed! to Pennsylvania in 1823, where he married, in 1833, Elizabeth Alexander. They settled in Huron 1 county, Ohio, in 1843, and removed to ! York township five years later. Six of i their eleven children are living, viz: Mary

J., York township; Charles, Kansas; John, Kansas; Alice^ York township; Samuel and Clara B., York townshio. Mr. Smith is a carpenter, and worked at that trade twenty years. He has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of lime for about twenty years.

Joseph P. Roush was born in Pennsylvania, in 1814. In 1839 he married Catharine Kreisher, and with his family moved to York township in 1856. Five children are living and two are dead. Charles F. and James P. reside in York township; John Henry, at Lindsey; Mary E. (Williams), in Huron county; and William A., in York. Alice and George W. are deceased. Mr. Roush attends his farm, but during the winter works at tailoring. He has about two hundred acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Roush, and Charles, belong to the Reformed church. Mrs. Williams is a Methodist.

Gideon Billman and family, originally from Berks county, Pennsylvania, moved to Sandusky county in 1848, and settled where the sons now live, in York township. Mr. Billman married Hannah Donner, and to them were born six sons and three daughters. Three of the sons and all of the daughters survive. George resides near Burr Oak, Michigan; John and George, on the home farm; Susan is the wife of John Bauchman, York township; Sarah is the wife of Joseph Smith, Erie county; Mary Jane, the wife of Henry Toogood, resides in Sturgis, Michigan. The father and mother have both died within the past six years.

George Billman was married, in 1876, to Mary Ann Boop, a native of Groton township, Huron county. They have live sons - Joseph, James, George, Cloyd, and Frank. Mr. Billman and his brother are Democrats. They worked at fence-maki ng several years, and have been carrying on the same business in connection with

M. J. Tichenor removed from New York to York township in 1851. He was born in 1821, and, in 1827, married Joanna Torrence, a daughter of William H. and Sa- . lome Torrence. Nine children blessed this union - Mary A. (Tea), Clyde; Helen . (Kline), York township; Zachariah, Kansas; Salome (Lemmon), Townsend township; George, Ida, Elizabeth (Hafif), Jessie,

Jacob Kopp was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. In 1851 he removed to Erie county, Ohio, and in 1859 to York township. He married Matilda E. McCauley , in 1853. The fruit of this union is six children, as follows: John P., Minnesota; Frances (Hoy), Erie county ; Benjamin F., Anna E., Abraham L., and Alice E., Vork 1 township. Mr. Kopp is a Republican.

He and his family belong to the Reformed : church. He has five hundred and fiftyfour acres, and does an extensive farming business. Commencing with little, he is now in very good circumstances as the reward of his untiring energy.

One of the first of the "Pennsylvania Dutch" settlers in York was Adam Jordan. He was born in 1803, and in 1829 married, in Pennsylvania, Sophia Orwig. They came directly to York and settled on the farm on which he died in 1861. She died in 1872. Their family consisted of eight children, viz : Sarah (Weaver), Lucas county; Martin, Lucas county; Lucy (Mc- Cauley), York township; Joseph, Mary, Hannah M., James, and George VV. live in York township.

William Frederick was born in Pennsylvania in 1796. He married, in 1835, Catharine Kline, who was born in Penn- | sylvania in 1809. In 1861 they removed 1 to York, where they still live. Their eight children are: George, York township; Jesse, Maumee, Ohio; William, jr., York township; James, Michigan; Samuel, York township, and Henry, Riley township. Reuben and Robert are dead. Mr. Frederick, though well advanced in years, enjoys good health.

Godfrey Deck, one of the later settlers of this county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. He married Christiana Bixler in 1827; settled in York in 1864. He had a family of five children. He died in York in 1871. She is yet living. John, the oldest child, was born in Pennsylvania in 1828. In 1852 he married Sarah Klingman, who bore a family of eight children, five of whom are living: A. H. and Sarah C., York township; Anna M. (Bradley), Canada; John F. and William G., York township. The names of those that are deceased were Christiana, Charley, and Joseph. All died young.

Edward Kern was born in Pennsylvania in 1825. He came to Ohio in 1833, and settled in Seneca county, where he married Sarah Stetler in 1846. In 1871 he removed to York township. His family consists of six children, viz: A. J. and Jacob H., Seneca county; Samuel E., York township; Mary F., wife of John Swartz, Michigan; Laura E. (Stewart), York township, and Abbie E. (Ebbersol), Missouri. Mr. Kern's parents were George Jacob and Elizabeth (Shuck) Kern, both natives of Pennsylvania. After coming to Ohio they lived and died in Seneca county. They brought up a family of five sons and five daughters. All, excepting three daughters, are still living. The sons are: Yost, St. Joseph county, Michigan; George, Bellevue; Isaac, Seneca county; Edward, York township; Bennel, in Iowa. The daughters: Sophia, deceased; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of John Romick, Seneca county; Hannah, wife of George Heater, Bellevue; Mary married Jacob

1 He married Susannah Paulin, also a native i of Pennsylvania. They have had six sons and three daughters, viz: Harriet, wife of Nathan Knauer, Pennsylvania; Agnes, wife of Daniel Cleckner, Seneca county; Ammon, Pennsylvania; Aaron, in the West ; Matilda, wife of George Hassenplug, York I township; Charles, Kansas; Wilson, at j home; James, Indiana; David, Illinois.

A Wedding Episode

A wadding in a new country is a particularly interesting event. Our pioneer fathers and mothers had no newspapers to interest them with the events j of the world at large, nor' did many | of them have books to occupy an oc- 1 casional hour stolen from the clearing or farm. Similar surroundings and pursuits effected a kind of homogenity in the I community. These two circumstances 1 conduced to a social feeling and interest which it is impossible to appreciate at the present day. Marriage is the second great ! event in the life of an individual, and the one in which people generally are more interested than any other. It is but natural, therefore, that in a community bound together by personal friendship and social ; unity, the prospect of a wedding became the family talk of every cabin.

The story of an early wedding in York, as told by a gay and favorite beau among the red-cheeked lasses of the time, fur- I nishes a pleasing episode to the naturally dry chronicle of prosy facts.

tired of the changeless succession of events at her home in New York, and captivated by the romance of border life as pictured in the letters of her sister, Mrs. Knickerbocker, from York, resolved upon a visit to the new Sandusky country. Having packed the plainest articles of her wardrobe she started upon the long journey, and in a few weeks was the guest of her sister's cabin home. She at once conquered the rural beaux, while on the other hand the strong and manly knights of the forest found favor in her sight. Mr. Platt, from Huron county, pushed his suit most ardently and won the pearl. The pain of jealousy was part of the price, for he suspected Norton Russel of being a rival and feared the issue. The load bore heavily upon Mr. Platt's heart. One day he and Mr. Russel were teaming together. Determined to know whether his companion was a stumbling-block in the way of his most cherished ambition, he asked in the most confidential manner possible the exact status of affairs. On being informed by Mr. Russel that there was no cause for anxiety, deep melancholy took rapid wings and the pathway of the lovers was straight and clear until the eventful wedding day. That consummation is best told in the following lines, written by another:*

And but few hardy men had raised Their cabin roofs; it chanced a pair Of lovers from an Eastern State Here met, and here agreed to share Their lives, and leave the rest to fate.

Was when the woods leaf, or when the wheat Was ripe, or when the wild geese quit This clime, or 'mid the snow and sleet The day was set; but we judge it Was in the season for bare feet - :

Then on the knee thus raised he put The opened book, and thus stood he As asleep a goose with one web- foot Hid in her wing, while high o'er head Hot beats the sun. Then tracing slow,

Religious Societies

Be it remembered that on the twenty-third day of ]une, 1825, a number of Christian brethren of the order of Free-w'ill Baptist, met in the town of York, county of Sandusky, for the express purpose of being organized into a church composed of the following brethren, to wit: Elder John Mugg, Jered H. Miner, Jeremiah P. Brown. Moses George, Abner Walker, James Benton, Thomas Mugg, John B. Mugg, Elisha B. Mugg, Polly Brown, and Lydia Miner. These brethren, agreeably to the rules of the New Testament, were organized into a church, and received by the right hand of Christian fellowship from Elder Bradford.

The society thus formed was known as the Free-will Baptist church of York township. Meetings were held at the houses of Jeremiah Brown and John Mugg until the log-school house (the first one on the south ridge) was built. In 1855 the meeting-house on the south ridge was built, but the organization has been losing its membership gradually, until but one remains - Mrs. Jeremiah Smith. Sunday-school continues to be held in the meeting-house during the summer months. The cemetery, which is one of the oldest in the north part of the township, was donated by John Calvin. Tryphena C. Smith was the first person buried in this cemetery. This church, in its early history, being the only , religious society, collected, into its membership nearly everybody in the neighbor- ! hood.

The next religious society organized in York, was the Christian church, the first members of which were James Haynes and wife, Moses George and wife, and John Riddell and wife. Elder Mallery was the first preacher. He was succeeded by Elder Vail, who removed from New York to Huron county in 1839, and took charge of the churches in this part of the State. He had been a Methodist during the first years of his clerical life, but became a zealous preacher of the denomination which he afterwards joined. Under Elder Vail's ministry the Free chapel was built in 1842. In 1849 he removed to York, where he died in 1878. Elder Manville succeeded to the pastorate. The meeting-house is the oldest in the township. Services are held regularly.

Emanuel Evangelical church is composed mostly of Pennsylvanians. Isaac Parker was a member of the church in Pennsylvania, and after settling in York, collected the families of Michael Waltz, Jacob Harpster, David Harpster and John Orwig and formed a class, which met in private houses. Rev. Mr. Nevil was the first preacher. This was about 1850. In i860 the frame church on the pike was built. The organization of a class at Bellevue divided the membership, but each year has brought new accessions, so that there are about eighty members at present. The first class leader was John Orvvig. Succeeding leaders have been Reuben Parker, Daniel Loudenschlager, John Null, Daniel Mook, Henry Mook, Michael Finsinger and Jere Filhering.

The United Brethren began holding meetings in the southwest part of York. As the Pennsylvania element of the population grew the membership increased until j in 1863 the class had acquired sufficient strength to build a meeting-house. The house and class took the name "Mount Carmel" and is supplied by the pastor of Clyde circuit.