ELIJAH ANDREWS,
was born
in Stark County Ohio, Perry township, September the 23 1823. Moved with
his parents to Wayne (original states Wane) County Ohio in 1834. Was
married
to Lucyette Hale in 1850 and moved to Fulton County in 1851
LUCYETTE (HALE) ANDREWS
was born
in Chautauqua County, New York February 29, 1832 and moved with her
parents
to Ohio in 1838 settled in Copley Center, Summit County, was married to
Elijah Andrews in Akron May the 16 1850 and moved to Fulton County in
1851.
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OBITUARY
Tedrow, Ohio
July 10, 1893
GIDEON AYERS, was born
in Wayne
County April 29, 1834 and died September 9th 1892. At the age of three
years he came to reside in Fulton County and remained here until 1851
when
he went to California and remained in the west fourteen years. Four
years
and eight months of this time he served in the War of the Rebellion. In
1866 he returned and has made Fulton County his home ever since.
Respectfully Eliza Ayers
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ELLIOTT BAYES,
a pioneer
was born in Clinton Township in 1840 and was a son of William W., and
Mary
(Tedrow) Bayes who were born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania and
married
in Holmes County, Ohio and settled in Clinton, Fulton County in 1837
with
one daughter Elizabeth. They had a family of eight children, seven of
whom
are now living. Elizabeth A., Jane, Elliott, Isaac E., enlisted. Mary
died
in 1869 aged fifty four years and William W., died in 1885 aged seventy
six years.
William W., purchased farms
from the government,
one of 160 acres he paid $1.50 per acre, he owned 240 acres in all.
William
W’s father was Thomas who settled in Clinton and was a Justice of the
Peace
and also held other minor offices. William was a prominent and
influential
man very active in all church affairs, services being held at his house
until they could find larger quarters. The town’s elections were also
held
at his log house for several years, such was the public spirit of the
man.
Elliott Bayes was married in 1875 to Frances M. Fraker a daughter of
Squire
William and Nancy A. (Krytzer) Fraker of Clinton Township. They have
had
a family of five children; Helen, Inez, Harry W., H. Blaine., and
Florence
M. Mr. Bayes has a farm of 85 acres and owns a part of the old
homestead
farm he enlisted in the 130th Ohio regiment on the 100 days call
and served for
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THOMAS BAYES
The death of Uncle Tommy Bayes,
as he
was familiarly called occurred at his residence one mile west of town
on
Monday last. (May 6, 1889 – is
penciled
in) His death was not unexpected as he has been in feeble
health for a long time. Mr. Bayes was born in Somerset Co., PA, May
19th
1806. He came with his parents to Ohio about the year 1816. He was
married
to Lamenta Swan November 6th, 1834 and moved to Fulton County in 1837,
settling on the present site of Wauseon, his farm including nearly all
of what is now the business portion. The house in which he lived while
owner of the town site was situated on the east end of what is now the
residence lot of Andrew Clark, fronting on Leggett Street and is
remembered
by the early settlers. He sold the track to Barber, Sargent and Leggett
the proprietors of the town site and purchased the home where he has
since
lived and where he died. He was the father of ten children, six of whom
survive him. His wife died some years ago. He was a man strictly
upright
and conscientious, doing what he believed to be right and just
regardless
of consequences. Possessing a nobility of character attained by few. He
was a member of the M. E. church for 58 years his consistency and
faithfulness
on the line of duty being a model for many. The esteem in which he was
held by the community was attested by the large attendance at his
funeral
which was held at his late residence on Wednesday last nearly 100 teams
being in the procession. Rev. J. H. Fitzwater conducted the services
and
the remains were interred in the Bayes Cemetery.
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WILLIAM W. BAYES,
was born
in Somerset County, Pennsylvania October 1st 1809 and died at his home
near Wauseon, Ohio November 1st 1885 at the ripe old age of 76 years.
The
span of a life, how briefly told, but a life like his is not hidden
when
mother earth receives its fellow dust – a man – such a man as he does
not
cross to live when the pall of death settles upon the brow. Life goes
out
but he lives on in pleasant memories, noble of deeds, active labors,
sweet
mementos of living memories, grateful hearts and only in the rounded
measure
of eternity can such a life be measured and estimated at its time worth.
William Bayes parents
when he was
but eight years old moved to Holmes County, Ohio. In the year 1834 he
was
married to Miss Mary Tedrow and three years after marriage in September
1837 he, with his young wife, came to what is now Fulton County and
what
most this county had been at that early date. My own memory dates back
to a period at least 15 years later and what a vivid picture is
presented
to my mind of great forest, cleared patches, hives and sores, log cabins
with stick chimneys, muddy roads, impossible roads and no roads –
swamps
and soils, bone peckers, cow bells and mosquitoes, corduroy, blue
jeans,
colic and drilling, bare foot men and women or with old shoes strapped
to their feet with cow hide for Sunday. At the time of the arrival of
our
brave young couple into what is now Fulton County, roads were hardly
known,
by ways were cut to suit the occasion, cabins were few, school houses
almost
unknown and the nearest mill at Maumee. Going to mill was attended with
more
hardship and fatigue in those days than a trip to New York now.
His cabin was among the very
first ever
erected in Clinton township, the forest fell before his axe and soon a
little cleared spot, constantly enlarging, developed into the pioneer
farm,
small fields, rail fences and plenty of stumps but fertile soil always
rewarding the husbandman (provided the lakes of water soaked away in
time
for the seed sowing and planting). Mr. Bayes was among the fore most to
look after the intellectual and religious needs of the neighborhood and
continued largely to these ends. His house was the home of the pioneer
preacher and for a time, at least, his cabin was used for church
services.
The Methodist Church in the county round about owed much of its
prosperity
to his efforts and in turn yielded to him a rich foliage of enjoyment.
How those pioneer Methodists enjoyed their church privileges, how they
went to meeting in log cabins, school houses or barns and quarterly
meeting
occasions, how their log cabins were filled with the worshiping guest
come
perhaps from many miles away. Beds were made upon the floor so thick
that
they almost touched each other.
I will remember the time when
the deceased,
Uncle Tommy Bayes and others, used to stop at my fathers log cabin, on
those ever memorable occasions and what found joyous happy meetings
they
had, what happy lives were theirs too. The whole life of Mr. Bayes was
that of the typical pioneer one among this foremost in every good word
and work, a teacher in doing kindly deeds and noble acts. To Mr. and
Mrs.
Bayes were born eight children, all of them living but one and all of
them
among our last and most useful citizens.
The wife of his youth died
June 7, 1869
after which sad event he lost much of his former interest in his
surroundings
and the activities of life; always experiencing much joy in his church
relationship however. His interest never stopped when talking of his
early
struggles and he seemed especially joyous when talking of the pioneer
preachers,
especially Herbert and P. Elder Brooskenridge and some others whose
names
I do not now remember.
He was stricken with
paralysis in December
1883 and hence forward was almost helpless and a constant sufferer
until
death which came nearly two years later. “Uncle Bill” familiarly so
called
by old and young, was one of a few old men whom the writer always
especially
remembered for their just, pure, upright lives and we gladly pay this
memento
of respect to the man. Whose life was always one of pure motives and
whose
memory is a perpetual benediction. Kind, pure generous hearted, old
friend,
hence! And farewell!
Unknown Author
The
following is the
shortened version that actually appeared in the local newspaper
Death of
William W. Bayes
William W. Bayes
was born
in Somerset County, Pennsylvania October 1st 1809. His parents, when he
was eight years old, moved from Pennsylvania to Holmes County, Ohio. In
1834 he was married to Mary Tedrow. To them were born eight children,
all
now living but one. In September 1837, he moved to what is now Fulton
County
and settled on the farm on which he died. His cabin was among the very
first built in Clinton Township. He entered heartily into the work of
clearing
away the forest and developing the resources of the country. He early
saw
the necessity of school and religious training of the children and did
all in his power in that direction. His house was the home of the
pioneer
preachers and his cabin was for a time the church building. By his
influence
and liberal support in the early settling of the county, the M.E.
Church
is largely indebted for its commanding influence in this community. His
wife died June 6th 1869, from that time he lost interest in the
activities
of life. In December 1883 he was stricken down by paralysis from
which he never recovered. After a sever illness of eight weeks he died
November 1st 1885 at the ripe old age of 76 years, 1 month and 1 day,
loved
by all who knew him.
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MRS. MARY BULER
- born
in Orleans County, Vermont February 25, 1821. Moved to this county in
the
spring of 1834, married to Mr. D.L. Buler March 1838, resided on a farm
in Royalton and Amboy Townships until 1881 when they moved to Wauseon
where
she resided to the date of her death, March 20, 1889, at the age of 68
years and 23 days. Mrs. Buler was the mother of five children, only two
of whom are now living; Mrs. Addie Buck of Royalton and Mr. Louis Buler
of Delta this county.
Mrs.
David Lewis
Buler (nee SKINNER)
See bio
for David
L. BULER
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GILMAN CHEADLE,
died December
17th 1891 in his 85 year. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio March 10,
1807. His parents came from Vermont a few years prior to his birth and
were of English decent.
He was left an orphan at an
early age,
dependent on his own exertions. This rough struggle with adverse
circumstances,
left its impression on his character. While developing the aggressive
persistent
combative elements to struggle successfully with the world, the more
noble
and finer sentiments of the mind and heart suffered irreparable loss.
Never
the less his life was brightened by many deeds of benevolence, and
needing
hands stretched out were not passed by unheeded. He married at the age
of 21 years after which he engaged in running a flat boat on the
Muskingum
and Ohio rivers. Where in a few years by active industry and close
application
to business, combined with economy, he had saved several hundred
dollars,
with which, with his young wife and children, he started in the fall of
1834 for the North West country. Winter coming on he stopped in Marion
Ohio till spring, when he again pushed on to the Maumee.
He put up long enough in
Perrysburg to
go to Wapaukonetta to the U.S. Land office, where he entered 440 acres
of land, which he had never seen, and in what is now Fulton County.
Here, his life work commenced
in earnest.
Enduring hardships of which we know very little, but with which all
pioneers
endured uncomplainingly, born up by the hope of finally seeing their
work
crowned with success. Here he cleared up a large farm in that
dense
forest known as the “Six Mile Woods,” mainly by the strength of his own
good right arm. He made a comfortable home for wife and little
ones.
The orchard which he planted have furnished fruit for children,
grandchildren
and great grandchildren, and the maple groves still remains that have
furnished
sweet for all.
Here perhaps his happiest
days were past,
watching the development of his children and the improvement of the
country.
In after years he added to his already large farm so that he was
enabled
to give to each his six remaining children, (three having died in
infancy,
and one in early manhood) 80 acres of land.
In the winter of 1871 he
removed to Wauseon
which became his permanent home and the remainder of his property he
invested
in real estate in that place. He was rather unfortunate in his last few
business transactions but left ample means to satisfy every legal claim
and a competency for his aged widow.
In 1828 he married Susannah
Rockey Feller
who patiently labored by his side, for over sixty years, enduring
privations,
encouraging him with her sympathy and rejoicing in his successes.
She is now tenderly cared for
by her daughter
Mrs. R.S. Sharpe on what was part of their original farm.
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PHEBE COBB
Ottokee March 18th 1889
Mr. D.W. H. Howard
Dear Sir:
In the proceedings of the Fulton
County
Pioneer meeting held in Wauseon February 22nd 1889, I noticed in the
list
of deceased members of the association, for the past year that the name
of my mother Phebe L. Cobb, who died March 16th 1888, was not included.
Thinking perhaps that it was an oversight you will do me a favor to
include
her name with the rest as I am quite sure she was a member of the
Pioneer
association and if such her death ought to be noticed by them.
I remain yours truly,
A.H. Cobb
Answer:
Please enter the name and we
will see
to it at the meeting 22 Aug.
GONE FROM OUR EARTHLY
GATHERINGS
In Memoriam – Phebe Cobb
nee: Knapp
Mrs. Phebe L. Cobb was born
Oct 6th 1820
in New Fairfield, Connecticut –
was married to O.A. Cobb in New
York City
November 1841 – came, with her husband, to what is now Fulton County in
May 1846; died March 16th 1888.She was the mother of six children,
three
died early. Ernest, born 1843, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion. He
was discharged in 1863 from disability; he died in March following soon
after reaching home. Four times she had yielded a loved one to the
Angel
of Death.
Settled in Ottokee in 1846:
Can the young women of today,
looking
over this county, with its broad acres of cultivated lands, its
pleasant
homes, filled (many of them) with not only the convenience but luxuries
of life, comprehend what it was for a young wife to leave home and
friends
in the East and come here forty-four years ago?
What a demand for courage and
self-sacrifice
for one like her, with a loving heart,
tender sympathies, a keen
appreciation
of all beautiful things, and insatiable thirst for intellectual
advancement,
to leave the enjoyments and advantages found in the neighborhood of
schools,
colleges and public libraries, and go with her husband to build a new
home
in the then, far away wilds of Ohio.
Let the mind drift back to
that period
- forty-four years ago – we stand in the shadow of a forest, broken by
patches of clearing around the rude cabins of the first settlers.
Blazed
trees mark the roads between settlements, winding around swamps and
ravines,
only the east and west roads being regularly laid out. No outlet for
water
falling on a large area of land, it stands in bogs and marshes filling
the atmosphere with miasma poison that spreads disease in early
cabin.
Toledo, then only fourteen
years from its
first settlement, was but a dirty little town remarkable for nothing
save
its unwholesome atmosphere floating up from the filthy Maumee, whose
sluggish
water “Did cream and mantle like a standing pool”. The air of
that
little city by the lake did not then, as now, palpitate with the shriek
of engines and the roll of ponderous freights. It stood in comparative
silence, its wharf being the one important place of the town. For all
direct
eastward travel embarked there and to that point came a great share of
the westward travel, landing there with their goods and shuttles and
pursuing
their course from hence with teams to their destinations.
It was there that Brother
Cobb’s party
disembarked; the importance of the dock to that town can be estimated
from
the fact that he was charged $12.00 for landing his horses and wagons
upon
it. We think of Toledo now as out a few minutes distant from us
but
then the now dragging of a team over wretched roads with the “Six Mile
Woods” to pass through in the trip, made it a dread, even, for stalwart
men.
They arrived in Ottokee in
May 1846, four
years before the place was named, and four years before there was a
Fulton
County. They immediately commenced the building of a frame house, the
first
one erected for miles around and moved in before doors or windows were
made. It was a manes of severe trials, Sickness, privations, hardships,
such as only pioneer life can know. What pin can ever record the
struggles,
the sufferings the heart aches, attending the settlement of a new
country?
The miscreant rising from
standing water
and decaying vegetation brought all forms of malarial disease, not only
to their family but to all the families in reach of them. But such
trials
developed the grandest womanhood; there was courage, strength, and soul
in it, a beautiful unselfishness that almost commands our worship.
The first little school house
was completed
on the corner, just east of D. Number’s Store; (the site should be
appropriately
mark). Mrs. Cobb sufficiently recovered from her first year’s sickness,
taught the first school in it, in 1847. Beginning her labors there for
the community, her whole life was one of helpful blessings to all who
knew
her. Her fine appreciation of intellectual enjoyments, made the
privations
of isolated life more keenly felt. “Dearly bought the hidden
treasure,
finer feelings can bestow hearts
that
vibrate sweetest pleasure, thrill the deepest notes of woe.” But as
fire
refines and brightens the golden ore so trial enlarges and enriches the
soul.
With the love and devotion of
a faithful
wife and mother she hushed the yearning for the old house life and set
earnestly to work to make the new one enjoyable. How grandly well she
succeeded
the many who have shared her hospitality can attest. She was
loved
and respected by all who knew her. An effort to emulate her virtues
will
be the highest tribute we can pay to her memory.
By Julia P. Aldrich
Transcribing
note: This was
written in 1889
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ELIZABETH (nee
DICKSON) STRUBLE,
(married
name Struble)
Elizabeth Dickson was born May
18th 1816
in Bazetta Township Trumbull County Ohio. Left an orphan by the
death
of her father at the age of 12 years she not only supported herself but
aided her mother in caring for a large family until her marriage with
William
Struble which occurred August 20th 1835.
Lived in Trumbull County
until September
1846 when they removed to Henry County, now Fulton, then almost an
unbroken
wilderness and there endured all the hardships incident to pioneer
life.
Much credit is due the deceased for her courage and perseverance in
battling
the trials and troubles that beset them on every hand. Slow to choose
the
privations of a western life, when once the step had been taken nothing
could turn her from the determination to build a home for her children.
Success finally crowned their efforts and a large farm was improved on
which they lived until April 1881 when they removed to Wauseon where
they
resided until her death which occurred December 26th 1889. She was the
mother of 11 children 6 of whom with her husband survive her. Her last
illness was long and severe but was borne with Christian fortitude and
as she assured her life partner she was only going to her Happy
Home.
So-“Call not back the dear
departed,
Anchored safe where storms are
o’er
on the border land we left
her
soon to meet, to part no more.”
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MARY (nee SCOTT)
DOMITIO
(logo on top of letter reads)
MERCHANT TAILOR CLOTHIER
Wauseon, Ohio April 8th 1890
Mr. Thom. Mikesell:
Dear Sir, at your request I
will have you
the following;
Mary Domitio, oldest daughter of
John
and Marieane Scott, was born in Clinton Township, Fulton County Ohio,
July
25th 1840, Married C. Domitio October 2nd 1859, Died April 2nd 1889.
She
was mother of four children, her two first children died and two
youngest
children and husband are a living.
This is not as much of a
history of deceased
as you probably wanted, but it is all I can give you at present.
Respectfully yours
C. Domitio
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STEPHEN ELDREDGE,
was born
in Stark County, Tesearoyas (Tuscawarus) Township, Ohio on the 19th of
December 1824 being about four miles south of Massilon in 1832 or 33,
moved
with his parents to Medina, now Summit County, Bath Township, Ohio in
the
spring of 1839, Moved with an older brother to Wood County, Ohio where
Bowling Green now is built on the 9th day of June 1846. I was married
to
Miss Diantha P. Hunter at Bowling Green by the Rev. W. M. Pinters in
the
spring of 1855 I moved with my family to Fulton County Ohio our family
then consisted of five children, three of them now living. Farming has
been my occupation, have been a member of the M.E. Church since I was
eighteen
years old, average weight 175 - height five feet 8 inch
By Stephen Eldredge
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GEORGE ELY
Another Pioneer Gone
George Ely, an old pioneer of
Brady Township,
Williams County, died February 28th, 1889: aged 77 years. Mr. Ely was
born
in Northumberland County Pennsylvania in 1812 and with his parents came
to Knox County Ohio in 1826, and in 1833 was married to Elizabeth Folck
and in 1835 settled in Brady Township. He entered his land there in an
almost unbroken forest, there
being only two or three settlers
in the
neighborhood that had preceded him.
He cleared up this tract of
land for a
home and has resided upon it ever since, a term of 54 years. His farm
lies
within a quarter of a mile of the Fulton County line and about one mile
from the Franklin M.E. Church.
He raised a family of 7
children to manhood
and womanhood upon this home and buried 4 children in their infancy.
L.G.
Ely of Franklin Twp., is the oldest of this family. Mrs. Riddle, now
one
of the teachers of our public school, is the 3rd daughter. The two
oldest
daughters live near the old homestead, in Williams County and the two
youngest
daughters live in Kansas. A son, George, was a member of Co. C, 100th
Ohio
Regt., and was killed in the battle at Atlanta, August 6th 1864, at the
age of 20 years.
Mr. Ely assisted in the
organization of
Brady Twp., being one of 12 voters at the first election held. He voted
a Whig ticket – the other eleven voted the Democratic ticket. He
has voted the Republican ticket since the organization of the party.
With
the single exception of one twp. election he has voted at every
election
ever held in Brady Township. He subscribed for the first volume of the
New York Tribune, when it was founded by Horace Greeley and continued
his
subscription to that paper without a break, up to and including the
present
year.
Although he never connected
himself with
any church, he was a believer in the atonement, a man of liberal
religious
views, of strict integrity and charitable almost to a fault. He was
loved
and respected by all who knew him.
During the earlier history of
Brady Township,
he held nearly all the different offices of the township. He also held
the office of Commissioner and of County Auditor of Williams
County.
Among the large concourse of
people attending
his funeral were many of the older settlers of the community. There
were
about 75 relatives in attendance. The funeral services were conducted
by
Revs. Baumgardner and Stockton, of West Unity and his remains laid to
rest
in the Franklin Cemetery. His wife, now 75 years of age and with whom
he
lived and enjoyed life a little over 56 years, remains with her
children,
to mourn his loss.
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WILLIAM FRAKER,
was born
in Wayne, County Ohio, January 19th 1822 and died at Pettisville,
Fulton
County, Ohio, February 15th 1891. When but a boy 14 years old he came
to
this county with his parents, then an almost unexplored wilderness and
located near Delta. At the age of twenty he moved to Clinton Township
and
settled upon a farm in Sec. 18, where he lived until within three years
of his death.
In 1844 he married Lydia A.
Fashbaugh who
died about three years afterwards, leaving two children. In 1850 he
again
married Nancy A. Kritzer who with six children still survives him.
Mr. Fraker, was a self made
man, of remarkably,
clear perception and excellent judgment; and was universally esteemed
as
a man of high character and he died equally lamented as he was beloved,
whilst living by all who knew him He held many offices of trust; and
was
one of the first pioneer school teachers in the county, teaching in the
little log cabin school houses. With puncheon floors and school
furniture
made of the same material.
Hunting and fishing was one
of his favorite
amusements and probably no pioneer in the county could relate more
thrilling
adventures, and hair breath escapes. In the wiles of the county, than
he
could.
In politics, he was
conservative; in religion
he was liberal; remembering the great rule to do the greatest good to
the
greatest number. He was a member of the Masonic order for over a
quarter
of a century. He lived to see nearly all the first settlers pass away
and
the growth and full development of what was once a wilderness, changed
into beautiful farms and happy homes.
How often, have many of us
been welcomed
by his kindly voice and hardy hand grasp wherever met. How greatly is
he
missed by all who knew him; and his memory will be justly honored, by
those
who emulate his worthy career.
By Elliot Bayes
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GEORGE GASCHE
OBITUARY MEMORIAL OF THE LATE
GEORGE GASCHE
The unfortunate Queen
Katherine of England,
wife of Henry the eighth said “After my death I wish no other herald,
no
other speaker of my living actions to keep mine honor from corruption,
but such an honest chronicles as Griffith.” Three or four years
before
his death, the late George Gasche said to the writer, “After I am gone
if any one think it worth while to write an obituary notice for me I do
not want them to tell how many dollars I gathered together nor how many
acres of land I acquired, but rather to tell what I did to help make
the
world better.”
George Gasche was the fourth
son of Dr.
Carl (Charles) Gasche a Prussian Surgeon of good standing in his native
country. The subject of this sketch was born in Witzlar, Prussia May
1st
1819. Died January 24th 1895, aged 75 years 8 months and 23 days.
Dr. Gasche brought his family
to America
when George was thirteen years old, locating first in Cumberland Co.,
Penn.,
where George was apprenticed to a shoemaker, serving this man two
years.
His father then removed to Holmes Co., Ohio and located in an 80 acre
farm
which this son helped to clear. He worked at his trade of evenings to
help
secure the money needed to pay for the land in this county which was to
be his permanent home. In 1840 at the age of 21 years he purchased the
farm he owned at the time of his death. Owing to the material condition
of the country at that time he did not locate here until 1855. But he
came
each year and worked a month or more improving his land and getting it
ready for occupation, making the journeys back and forth on foot.
On New Years day 1847 he
married Catherine
Honeberger Gasche, the widow of his brother William also taking the
care
of his brother’s children, Eliza and William. They bought a little home
in Holmes Co., and cleared the land and lived there eight years.
This house was then sold, their little store of goods stowed away in a
canvas covered wagon. The pioneers present are all familiar with the
mode
of travel of that day and know something of the condition of the roads
over which they were obliged to pass and the weather they might expect,
when it is told that they started on their journey on the 12th April
1855
and arrived at their destination the 18th.
It took industry, much hard
labor, and
such economy as his children know little of, to make the comfortable
home
so well known to most of you. He worked faithfully and lovingly to
provide
each of his children with a home. He said frequently that he did not
want
a child of his to be compelled to practice the rigid economy and
self-denial
that he was obliged to when he began to do for himself after he
attained
his majority. He was brought up under the teaching of the
Lutheran
Church.
Also after he began going to
school a
Catholic priest went to the schools twice a week to instruct the
children
in the doctrines of the Roman Church. The parents were careful to
explain
to their children wherein Luther and other Reformers thought the Amish
Church had substituted their own rituals for the teaching of the Bible.
The result of his early teaching and his own study on the subject was
that
he believed in the “Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man”.
When his father settled in
this country
in 1832, Jackson was President. The father said to his older sons “We
will
join no political party until we have had time to study the political
history
of the parties of the country. Dr. Gasche had carefully studied the
history
of the United States before he decided to emigrate and before the law
permitted
him to become a citizen he had made himself and older sons familiar
with
the political history of the nation.
In his early years George
Gasche was generally
classed as a Democrat yet he was always an independent voter. When his
party nominees or the platform did not suit him, he would vote for that
which did suit him, in whatever party he found it. Always anxious to
promote
the well being of the masses and willing to lend a helping hand to any
society or organization which proposed to do this work, it was to be
expected
by all who knew him best that he would become a staunch Granger when he
joined that society when it was first organized in Wauseon. Members of
that Society know how faithfully he did his part to make that
organization
a power for good to all classes. I do not know of a just cause which
the
Grange campaigned which did not receive the hearty support of George
Gasche.
He served one term as
commissioner, being
elected to this office by the independent voters of the county. For
several
years he was a member of the County Board of Agriculture, favoring
those
measures which stood for the improvement of Agriculture, Education and
good morals. Being strong in the faith that told abstinence from
intoxicating
liquors and narcotics was beneficial to the individual, and that
mandatory
prohibition was the state and nations best way of regulating and
controlling
of intoxicants and narcotics for drink purposes, it was only natural
that
he should ally himself with the Prohibition Party. He looked upon a
political
party as only a means by which men declared their belief as to what set
of principles they wanted embodied in the laws of the state and nation.
His political maxim was the greatest good to greatest number of people.
Not being an aspirant for office he said he could always register his
convictions
on morel questions in his ballot.
He once said “Those children
honor their
parents most who give them the least cause for grief or shame. I have
always
tried to live so that when all of this earth is past, and I meet my
mother
in the future world I can say to her, if it is necessary for children
to
say such things there with a clear conscience, mother I have never
dishonored
your teaching and example, nor brought disgrace upon my fathers name.”
This man was a great lover of
the beautiful
in nature and art and music. He said to me when we started to the
World’s
Fair, “We can not see and hear all that is there. I want to see the
best
pictures, the fine laces and porcelains and Italian stationary, the
flowers
and hear the best music. If there is any time left we will give it to
some
of the useful exhibits.” He was touched most by the paintings of home
life
and the music that touched the affection and home life.
He was a sturdy, rugged,
courageous man
and yet he was singularly tender and affectionate, without being
demonstrative.
Only those who knew him most intimately knew how careful he was to
avoid
everything that might hurt any ones feelings.
“The fine spirit cannot
always sleep in
dust,
Whose essence is ethereal, they
may try
To darken and degrade it; it may
rust
Dimly while, but it can not
wholly die;
And, when it wakens, it will
send its
fire
Intense, forth and higher.”
Written
by Eve (Gorsuch) Gasche wife of
William
Gasche the stepson and nephew of George.
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MICHAEL HANDY
is
the subject of this sketch, became a citizen of Fulton County in the
year
1840 (It was Pike Twp in Lucas Co. then) and resided here
continuously
until his death, less than a year ago, and was therefore, one of
our citizens for upwards of 45 years, a third longer than the average
years
of man, and more than half the duration allotted by Holy Writ to him.
He
was a native of New York and was born about the time of the outbreak of
our second war with England. Deprived by death of a mother's
assistance,
counsel, and love at the age of ten years, he may truly be said to have
been abandoned to fight life's battle alone. How he grew to
manhood's
estate and succeeded in acquiring an education which well fitted him to
discharge with dignity, honor and success the duties of a learned and
influential
profession may best be left to the consideration of those, who like
him,
similarly situated, have won for themselves in society, high and
respected
names, and dying shall leave, as he did, an honored record and the
memory
of having served well their day and generation.
Mr. Handy successfully
served and
benefited society in three ways: as a teacher, as a farmer, as a
lawyer.
Which of the three is the most exalted and useful I do not pretend to
decide;
but I do know that to act well one's part in any position or in any
capacity,
is where honor is to be found.
In 1836 he was married
to Mary Ann
Bryant, a most excellent woman, and the best of help mates, the mother
of his children, and the sharer of all his joys and grief for 44
years.
Together they came to Fulton County, then unformed and the land of
self-denial,
of privation and of hardship; wild, sparsely settled and extending but
a savage and unpromising welcome to the hardy pioneers who ventured
into
the wilderness of North-western Ohio. But along with others, not
many of whom remain among us he confronted all the ills and
inconveniences
of a life almost primitive in its conditions, and grew and thrived with
the North-west, winning a name for enterprise, integrity and ability
throughout
all its borders until at the date of his death, none among us was
better
known or more highly esteemed than Squire Handy.
Mr. Handy probably came
first into
public notice as a school teacher, and we all whose memory runs back to
the early history of Fulton County, know he was a good one
But alone and coordinate with his duties as a teacher he farmed, he
labored
and cleared a farm, interspersing these agreeable and useful duties by
occasionally trying a suit at law in some Justice's Court, or
pettifogging
as it is sometimes called. In 1852 he was admitted to the bar and
became a full-fledged lawyer, practicing continually from that time
until
his death, and always rated, and deservedly, among the foremost
attorneys
at law at the Fulton County Bar.
As to official position, that was something to which he never aspired,
and although endowed with native gifts beyond the common run, and
adding
hereunto the learning and acquirements of many years of laborious
research
and study both in the domain of the law and the fields of general
literature,
yet he was not forward to seek political preferment choosing rather the
arduous duties of his profession. Hence he held but few offices,
but all of them which he did hold, he honored.
In disposition he was genial, kind and sunshiny, never crowding or
imposing
on any body, but with that true and manly sense of self worth, which
would
not brook imposition. What is commonly called a grumbler he was
not.
There is ‘bread and work for all’ he often said.
Less than a year ago, as to his bodily presence, he passed away; but
his
memory, that of a hale, hearty and true man, still survives with
us.
We miss his hearty greeting, his buoyant, sunshiny ways. In our
County
Courts, at our Pioneer, and all our citizens meetings, his
sturdy,
genial voice is stilled forevermore; for us all , the light of his eyes
gone out; but we can not and should not forget his excellent name, his
sterling manhood and all the good of that life so well and so worthily
spent for the forty-six years of arduous undertaking and labor among
us,
the friends, neighbors, and colaborers of his pioneer days; all indeed
of whom in but a few years more will be spoken of only as the
Fulton
……?
----- a line is missing here--------------
and the night of death and the
rays of
the eternal morning with their shadow and glory soon must come.
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MARCUS H. HAYES,
was born
in Bloomfield, New York on June 7th 1822, he lived there until he was
12
or 13 years of age, at which time his father moved to Brunswick, Medina
Co., Ohio, they lived there about one year. The family then came to
Litchfield
in the same county, in this township he lived until he was about 21
years
of age, but being of an energetic enterprising nature he wanted a
larger
field and the west at that time offering great opportunities. He bought
a team and went west to the State of Iowa, here he engaged in teaming
for
a year and then returned east and married Caroline McKenzie, this was
in
the year 1843. During the following year he with his young wife sought
a house in the western states and located in a town called Guttengurg
Iowa.
Here Mr. Hayes engaged in the mercantile business and did an extensive
and profitable trade exchanging his goods and wares for furs. I am
unable
to say how long he lived in Iowa but it must have been 12 or 13 years,
he then came to this county and was twice elected county Sheriff and is
always spoken of as an able and efficient officer. He was one of the
moving
spirit of anything that he engaged in he was a man of more than
ordinary
ability. He was strictly conscientious in all his dealings, a friend
you
could depend upon and the best of a neighbor in short his record is one
to be proud of. We ought as bands of pioneers and without doubt do
cherish
the remembrance of this one of our beloved band who with us faced the
privations
and hardships incident to a new country. The ties of friendship are
more
closely drawn around this band than those who now live to enjoy the
fruits
of their labor. May we each so live and act that when we to shall pass
away that the verdict may be “we have lost a good man or a good woman”
as the case maybe. For the good mothers who lives in these early times
deserve just as much if not more praise than the men and we can truly
say
that when Bro. M. H. Hayes “passed to that beyond from which no
traveler
returns” we lost a good man.
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CHARLES HARRISON
To the pioneers of Fulton Co.,
Ohio
Our Brother Charles Harrison
is dead the
deceased with his family came from the State of New York in the year
1846
and settled in York Twsp. On the farm where he resided till his death
September
19th 1891 aged sixty seven years.
Brother Harrison was genial
and of very
industrious habits, a kind husband and father always a true friend in
time
of need.
With hard labor and his
skillful management
he acquired considerable of this worlds goods.
He was a man that will be
missed, both
at the social gathering and the counsel halls.
A man that held positions of
trust and
always filled them with honor and when I speak of him I want to be
understood
that he was one of York Twsp. first men.
Respectfully yours Stillman
C. Biddle
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JOHN HARRISON was born in
Yorkshire
England February 20, 1814, in the year 1826 when a boy with his parents
he immigrated to America, they settled in Livingston County State of
New
York.
When about twenty one years
of age Mr.
Harrison came to Ohio and settled in Summit County where he married
Elisabeth
Wardley February 19, 1837, at the time he was a blacksmith by
trade.
In the year 1845 with his
small savings
and family he came to what is now Fulton County. There entered and
settled
lands in York Township of which he made a beautiful and well paying
farm,
which he occupied till June 1871 then he removed to Wauseon. Where he
lived
a retired life till May fifth 1893 when death relieved him, buried in
Wauseon
Cemetery.
To him and his wife Elisabeth
was born
six children, Eliza, Addie, Olivia, Alfred, DeEtta and John R. of which
four of them together with Mrs. Harrison survive him. Mr. Harrison was
of moral culture, tender and affectionate to his family, industrious
habits,
sought home pleasures, was a fine farmer, always provided and lived
well.
Their latch string out and noted for company and a good time they
always
had, of which your humble writer had full experience.
Stillman C. Biddle
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CHESTER HERRICK
– Wauseon,
Ohio April 5th 1886
The death of Chester Herrick,
or Uncle
Chet as he was familiarly called by all who knew him, occurred at Delta
March 26th and he was buried in the Etna Cemetery on the 28th. A man
who
has been a resident of the Maumee Valley for over half a century and
one
who has performed his full share of the labor with the perseverance and
privation necessary to change a wilderness country, a country almost
uninhabited
to a thickly settled and highly cultivated one, as is this valley of
the
Maumee at the present time, certainly deserves more than a passing
notice.
After a life of 93 years he lays his head upon mother earth and says
“My
work is done”, Uncle Chet was born at Northfield, Massachusetts March
27th
1793, and moved to the Maumee Valley with his wife, Miss Mary Ann
Walker,
in 1833 or 1834 and after teaming a short time for Elijah Herrick (a
near
relative) he rented and moved on the Hollister farm, a short distance
below
Presque Isle, (Wayne’s battle ground of Fallen Timbers) where he
continued
to reside until about the year 1843, when he purchased of Valentine
Winslow,
(and I think) Mrs. Richardson, the widow of Isaac Richardson who
was murdered at Rochteboult (Rushteboo) the farm of 200 acres upon
which
he lived, in Pike Township, until a short time previous to his
death.
The Hollister farm was
principally river
flats and well adapted to the raising of corn, which was the staple
crop
of the country, (perhaps excepting the crop of coon skins, otter and
deer
skins) for many years and the rent which was paid to the owner for the
use of the land was 13 to 15 bushels of ears of corn per acre delivered
at the ware house below Ft. Meigs. Uncle Chet had a severe affliction
of
inflammation of the eyes while yet a young man, from the effects of
which
he never entirely recovered rendering his sight very imperfect and at
times
more or less painful during his whole life. Not withstanding this great
inconvenience and affliction with the accumulated savings from his
fields
of corn of nearly a score of years and with that “Yankee spirit” (for
which
the descendants of the Pilgrims are noted) moved with his wife to his
new
and comparatively unimproved land in the “six mile woods” over roads
almost
impassable, going into the log cabin erected by the first settler of
the
land. With industry and perseverance and long days of labor; no 7 or 8
hours then for a day’s work, and a dollar a day, but 12, 14 and often
16
hours of continuous hard work, in a few years cleared away the forest;
broke the wild prairie, ditched and fenced the land, and put up
comfortable
buildings, in which he spent his declining years. Uncle Chet was a good
neighbor, always accommodating the needy when it was possible, strictly
honest and upright in his dealings and always held in high esteem by
the
leading citizens and businessmen of the early settlers, such men as
John
and Frank Hollister, Gen, John E. Hunt, Robert A. Forsyth, Dr. Conant,
John C. Allen, Judge S.H. Cately, Capt. David Wilkinson and the many
others
of the businessmen of the country. The wife who shared all his early
hardships
and performed her full share of the hard work, necessary to accomplish
so much, met an unfortunate death, by drowning in a well July 5, 1866.
Uncle Chet retained his vigor both of body and of mind up to the time
of
his death, which is remarkable at the age of 93 years; often walking
from
Delta to his farm (four miles) during the years of his life. In passing
his farm, in August of his 90th year, I found him following the plow
drawn
by two large and fast walking horses and it seemed no great effort for
him to keep up, and I noticed that he turned as straight and perfect a
furrow as he had years before. He was always noted as a good ploughman,
in fact, a good farmer in every respect; always keeping the best breeds
of livestock when it was much more difficult to obtain them than at the
present time. In the industrious life of this old man is repeated the
history
of many of the early pioneers; they leave an inheritance to the coming
generations that if preserved and followed and fully appreciated will
surely
lead on to virtuous industry and happy lives. The old man sleeps well;
“He sleeps the sleep that knows no waking.”
Written by Col.
DresdenWinfield Huston
Howard
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ELIJAH
HERRICK, Biography
Elijah Herrick was born in
Stillwater,
Saratoga Co., New York December 12th 1809. In 1822 he came with his
father
to the present vicinity of Waterville on the Maumee, owing to the
unhealthiness
of the climate his father soon returned to New York leaving Elijah and
his brother William behind. He worked for a short time across the river
from Waterville and among other things made 4,000 rails at 80 cents per
hundred. He also worked at blacksmithing and made the ironworks for the
sailing vessel Ante___? built by Daniel Hubble. When about twenty
years old he kept bachelors hall and raised corn on the big flats near
Turkey Foot Rock.
In 1831 he was married to
Orra Sophronia
Noble by whom he had four children, one of which, a daughter, was
living
at the time of his death.
He now bought teams and
went to teaming,
moving many pioneers into the woods.
In 1836 he moved to
Perrysburg and took
a contract to haul goods for John Hollister, taking the most of them up
the river to Defiance and Fort Wayne. One time Asa Miller had goods
frozen
in at Manhattan which he wished to take to Fort Wayne, they loaded two
teams and Mr. Miller tacking an ax went with them, they were thirteen
days
chopping their way through and five days coming back, for which Mr.
Herrick
received $100.00 Mr. Miller bearing all the expenses. He also hauled
the
first load of goods from the Maumee to Adrian Michigan unloading them
in
a log cabin which had a blanket hanging up for a door.
In 1841 he moved to Miami and
with his
partner established the first line of boats on the canal between Toledo
and Providence. In 1843 his wife died and in 1844 he was married to
Abigail
Allen to whom five children were born. They lived for a few weeks at
Perrysburg,
and came the same year (1844) to the present homestead in Fulton
Township,
Fulton Co. When he came to Fulton Co., it also was very new with a
small
clearing here and there but he in common with the other pioneers soon
brought
it to a good state of cultivation.
Mr. Herrick’s school
advantages of course
were limited but having obtained the rudiments of an education he was
able
by his superior natural ability to make up for the deficiency of early
mental training. He held a number of offices and among others was
Justice
of the Peace for twelve years.
His was a long and eventful
life for a
private one, and the period of time over which the years of his life
extended,
saw wonderful changes in the physical, and industrial , social and
intellectual
life of the county. When he came a boy of twelve years to the Maumee he
found it a vast wilderness abounding in swamp and full of malaria, he
lived
to see it cleared drained and made as productive and healthy as any
place
in the country. When he came he found it inhabited mostly by Indians,
he
lived to see it peopled by persons of the highest intelligence and
morality.
He found the country with scarcely any educational or religious
advantages,
he lived to see it well provided with schools and churches. In the
beginning
of his life the best moods of travel were the stage couch and canal
packets
at its close we have the swift steam and electric car and the speediest
means of communications was the fast boy now we talk face to face be
the
distance long or short by means of the telegraph and the telephone and
_____ ? it is not to much to say that he did his part to bring about
these
privileges and blessings.
Several years ago under the
pastorate of
Rev S. L. Klotzs he united with the United Brethren Church and in hope
of the eternal life, died July 31, 1891, at his home in Fulton Township
Fulton Co., Ohio.
Written by his Son in law
Rev. Lucius
E. Willson, Feb 19th 1892
Lucius was married to Anna Herrick,
Elijah's
daughter with his 2nd wife Abigail
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DRESDEN WINFIELD
HUSTON HOWARD
Transcription of his hand
written letter
On the evening of 11th of
June 1821, the
emigrants Thomas Howard, (grandfather of D.W. H. Howard) with his daughter
Mrs.
Sidney Nelson and the families of his sons Edward and Richard (the
families
of Alexander and Robert coming, later from White River Indiana) landed
at Fort Meigs. The only children were D.W.H. Howard and Sidney
Howard
ages 5 and 14 years. They purchased land at the Grand Rapids of the
Maumee
(18 miles above the Fort) and moved into their cabins in the winter of
1822 and 23; this was the first settlement on the south side if the
river
above the old Indian Mission (8 miles below) and exactly opposite the
Indian
village of Tein-jo-a-no. The only white settlers and neighbor for miles
was Peter Manor who lived on the Indian Reservation opposite.
Edward Howard entered the lands at Aetna (now Winameg) in 1833 and
built
the old Etna Block house. Soon after there was established an Indian
trading post in which Merrill Wilkinson and D.W.H. Howard were the
traders
of the establishment until Wilkinson died, when the goods and trade was
sold to other parties. The Indians trade was soon after destroyed by
the
removal of the Indians by the U.S. Government to their lands west of
the
Mississippi, D.W.H. Howard aided in removing the Indians and followed
there
soon after and entered the fur trade with the people in the west.
D.W.H.
Howard moved to the farm at Etna (Aetna) where he still remained in
1882.
Mr. Oliver Verity use the
above as you
may deem, as the history since the above date is well known to yourself
you can add what ever you wish. I would much rather you would put what
I have written in your own language; and of course make all these
biographies
brief.
Very Truly,
Dresden W. H. Howard
FUNERAL
OF COL.
HOWARD
LAID
TO REST
IN A TOMB FASHIONED BY HIMSELF
Impressive
Services at the Old Homestead
The
Colonel’s Last Christmas Gifts
1897
Obituary - Eulogy
click
to go there
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NANCY
(SEVERANCE) JACOBY
Again one of the very first
pioneers of
Fulton County has passed to the great majority. Mrs. John Jacoby
departed
this life, from heart disease, at her residence in southwestern Gorham,
on Sunday, June 10, 1888, being 58 years, 9 months and 3 days old. The
funeral services were held on Tuesday, from the Franklin M. E. Church,
and the body laid to rest in the Franklin Cemetery. Rev. J. P. Stocton
conducted the services.
Mrs. Nancy Jacoby was
born in Crawford
County, Ohio September 7, 1829 and came to what is now Gorham Twp.,
with
her parents Mr. and Mrs. David Severance, some say in the winter of
1834-5,
and others say 1835-6; and settled in section 36, then of Hillsdale
Co.,
Michigan but afterward attached to Springfield Twp., then it was in
Brady
and afterwards in Mill Creek Twps, all of Williams Co., and finally in
Gorham Twp., Fulton County.
Thus, in the death of Mrs.
Jacoby, Gorham
looses one of the very first, if not the first settler, and there are
few
who have lived within the limits of Fulton Co., longer than she.
She became the wife of John
Jacoby on June
14, 1846, when not yet 17 years old. They settled at first on Sec. 26,
but soon moved to their old farm on Sec. 35, where she lived till her
death,
residing in this same neighborhood over 53 years, and never living over
half a mile from the place where her parents first settled.
There have been born to
Mr. and Mrs.
Jacoby, 8 children, 6 of whom, with Mr. Jacoby, survive her, two little
ones having passed beyond, each when about 5 years old. She also leaves
a number of grand children and 2 great grand children, and many other
relatives
and friends to mourn her loss. A number of years ago, Mrs. Jacoby
became
a member of the Baptist Church and lived consistent with her faith and
was held in high esteem by all her many friends.
“Life’s fit full fever is
over, she rest
in peace”
June 12,
1888
Fritz
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ALMON M. LEE
Obituary of one of Fulton County
Pioneers
On the morning of August 21st
1896, at
the age of 56 years, 8 months and 9 days, Almon M. Lee passed suddenly
but peacefully over the river of death, beloved by all who knew him.
He was born in Gorham
Township, Fulton
County, Ohio, December 12, 1840, and has ever since lived in Fulton
County.
He was united in marriage to
Martha M.
Gorham August 11, 1867, and to them were born two sons and one
daughter,
George W.; Vernon L.; and Inez M. ; whom, together with the widow, two
brothers, three sisters, his daughter in law and three grand children
survive
to mourn his untimely loss.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee began
housekeeping
in Chesterfield Township on a farm, and continued their farm life until
about three years ago. When they removed to Wauseon, Mr. Lee having
been
elected to the office of County Recorder, the duties of which he
assumed
in January 1894. So well did he fulfill the duties of that responsible
office that he was unanimously renominated for a second term by the
convention
assembled.
Previous to his said election
Mr. Lee was
active in the affairs of his township, having held the office of
trustee,
clerk and land appraiser; taught several terms of school in his
neighborhood,
was an honored and respected citizen, and had the good will and
confidence
of all his neighbors.
Mr. Lee took an active part
in the organization
of the Chesterfield Grange, of which he served as Master for several
years.
He was also a member of the Morenci Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons,
members of which lodge, together with the Wauseon lodge, officiated at
his burial.
He was a faithful
husband, a devoted
father and a kind and loyal friend.
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THOMAS LINGLE
Death of Thomas Lingle
Born in Mifflin Co. PA
October 21st 1807,
when nine years of age, he moved with his parents to Center Co. PA. In
1832 he came to Melmore Seneca Co., from thence he moved to Fulton Co.
Ohio, then Lucas Co., Ohio in the year 1835. At the age of 21 he
learned
the carpenter trade; He found employment at Grand Rapids (then
Providence)
and Gilead in working at his trade, until January 7, 1838 at this date
he married Lucinda Williams daughter of Elisha and Hannah Williams. He
then located 2 miles south of Wauseon on the farm now owned by
Stutsman.
In 1853 he moved on the farm 5 miles south of Wauseon where he lived
until
his death which occurred March 23rd 1886.
His family of children
once consisted
of seven sons and four daughters, of which three sons and one daughter
survive him and were present with him at the time of death to cheer and
comfort him in his last moments. He endured all the toils, privation
and
cares incident to pioneer life.
We can truly say of his life,
that it was
continual strife to endure all these things and never enjoy the
blessing
of good health. For many years he has been an invalid, and at times
suffered
much. Not with standing, he was patient under affliction, became
reconciled
to death, (only regretting to leave his companion) we bid farewell to
another
pioneer believing that he lies peacefully at rest from all his labor.
IN MEMORIAM
LUCINDA WILLIAMS daughter
of Elisha
and Hannah Williams, born in Fairfield Co., March 26th 1819 my parents
moved to Sidney, Shelby Co., the same year in 1825 moved to Seneca Co.,
Ohio, in 1835 moved to Lucas Co now Fulton Co., united in Marriage with
Thomas Lingle Jan 8, 1838 the result of the union being 11 children, 7
sons and 4 daughters four are now living three sons and one daughter
one
of the early settlers of the Fulton Co., Experienced the hardships and
privations incident to pioneers as this Township now is, was the first
married.
Lucinda Lingle
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JOHN McLAUGHLIN
A Short
Biography of John
McLaughlin
John McLaughlin was born in
Perry County,
Pennsylvania December 23, 1812, moved with his parents to Richland
County
Ohio in 1823.
He married Margaret Cline
December 22,
1834 and moved from Richland County to Brady Township, Williams County,
Ohio in 1836 at that time there were only three families settled in
Brady
Township.
At the first election held in
Brady Township
he was elected Township Clerk, and served as such several years. When
Fulton
County was formed in 1850 he was struck off into Franklin Township,
Fulton
County. He was frequently elected in Franklin Township as the trustee
and
township assessor which offices he always fitted with honor to himself
and to the satisfaction of he constituents.
They had their trials and
hardships incident
to all new country. No roads only as they made them, little or no money
only what entered their land and brought them out here. He worked hard
to clean up his farm; his house was always the shelter for the traveler
and new settlers. He always lent a helping hand to the new settlers,
him
and his kind wife, had always a kind word and a helping hand for the
poor
and needy and those in distress. He raised a large and
respectable
family and all are doing well. He was a kind husband and father, a good
neighbor, and no enemies; he was strictly temperant in all things.
He departed this life very
suddenly on
the 2nd day of May 1887, he got up apparently as well as usual, and he
did his chores, ate his breakfast and was dead before noon. He leaves
the
wife of his youth to morn his loss also 5 sons and 3 daughters, on son
killed in the army, a good man has gone.
Franklin August 18th 1887
James S. Riddle
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JANE (VAUGHN)
MERRILL
History of the Birth, Life,
and Death of
one of the Fulton Co., Pioneers
Jane Vaughn Merrill was
born in Holmes
County, Ohio May 5th 1829 and in 1835 moved with her parents, Alexander
and Rebecca Vaughn, and younger sister, Mary, to Fulton County, Ohio,
then
Lenawee Co., Michigan, where the remainder of her life was passed and
the
greater portion on the farm, which her father entered at Monroe,
Michigan
in 1834. In the 15th day of October1848 she was united in marriage to
Osias
Merrill. In 1850 she, with her husband, moved to and resided on a 40
acre
farm in Amboy Township one year, and in 1852 to a heavy timbered 80
acres
in Fulton Township, where she resided four years and in many ways
assisted
in converting it into a comfortable home. But her attachment to the old
home farm, where she had spent her youthful hours in witnessing an
entire
new country transformed, form from a rude wilderness to a fair
state
of cultivation, induced her husband to purchase a portion of it, which
has been ever since been her permanent home, although she resided at
Ottokee
three years from 1867 to 1870 and at Wauseon two years, from 1889 to
1891.
On the morning of December 28th, 1893, at the age of 64 years, 7
months,
and 23 days, she passed peacefully away. She leaves a husband, Osias
Merrill,
three sons and one daughter; Horace A. Merrill, of Toledo, Ohio; James
E. Merrill, Frank C Merrill, and Minnie Merrill Biddle, of Fulton Co.,
Ohio. Also three brothers and two sisters, James C. Vaughn, Edward and
Caleb Vaughn, of Fulton County; Mrs. Mary Springer, of Wauseon, Ohio,
and
Mrs. Bell Bailey of Branch Co., Michigan, also fifteen grandchildren.
By Osias Merrill
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MARY (JONES)
MIKESELL
Mrs. Mary (Jones) Mikesell died
at her
home near Wauseon Friday evening, March 11, aged 72 years, 8 months, 22
days. Deceased was born in Shreve, Wayne County, Ohio, June 17, 1814,
and
moved with her parents William and Elizabeth Jones, to this county in
1834;
was married to Adam Mikesell, at Perrysburg, Ohio, September 12, 1837,
and settled on the land that he purchased of the Government, pioneers
in
the undeveloped portion of what was then Lucas but now Fulton County,
where
now stands the old homestead adjoining the village of Wauseon. She was
the mother of nine children, five sons and four daughters, three sons
and
one daughter preceded her to the silent and unknown world. William and
Charles as soldiers gave their lives in defense of their country, one
falling
at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain, and the other was drowned in the
Cumberland
River. She lived to see nearly all the early settlers in the new
country
of upwards of fifty years ago pass away and to witness springing up
about
her a new generation and new life. Her husband died 27 years ago since
which time she has remained a widow and managed the farm. Her funeral
was
largely attended Sunday afternoon, March 13, from her late residence,
conducted
by Rev. Fitzwater, pastor of the M.E. church and her remains laid by
the
side of her husband in their last resting place in the family burying
ground
on the farm.
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GEORGE MILLER
A Short biography of
George Miller
George Miller was born at
Siblengen Switzerland
December 6th 1812, His parents were not very well of in this world and
had to work hard for a living, and He learned the milling business and
worked for a very low wages at different places until he became a man.
When he concluded he would try and make his way to America, walking all
the way to Harve, France from there he sailed to America, was 65 days
on
the ocean and landed at New York with just 3 cents in his pocket and no
friends, he started out to hunt work. He walked as far as Madison, New
Jersey where he got a chance in a mill and worked there for about six
months,
when the mill burned down he then made his way west to Ohio into what
was
then Lucas County. He Chopped 10 areas of very heavy timberland,
cleared
it and fenced it for $100 with which he entered 80 acres of land at
$1.25
per acre what was then called the Cottonwood Swamp. He then went and
worked
on the Maumee Canal until he took the fever and had a hard attack of
it.
A man by the name of Bremen, a Prussian, tool sick also but
convey
home and took Miller with him and took care of him. He afterwards
married
Bremen’s daughter probably in the latter part of 1837 or 38. They soon
after settled on his land in Franklin Township where they could not see
the sun for the big trees till near 10 o’clock until he got his farm
cleared
up. The country was very new at that time, no roads only as they made
them
through the swales and swamps; and their provisions they had to go to
Defiance
for in a canoe along the winding course of Bean Creek nearly 100 miles.
They had their trials and hardships incident a new country. He lived on
his farm until he did clear it up and made it like a garden, raised a
large
and respectable family having had 16 children by one women of this
number
7 died in infancy. Two died since, Mary died at the age of 24,
Doritha
Sciles (nee Miller) at the age of 34. 3 girls and 4 boy yet living,
Rev.
Fredrick Miller (at one time school examiner of this county) is now
living
in California and preaching there. John lives in Lucas County and
George
is in Wood County and the 3 girls near the old place. Mrs. Mariah
Miller
died October 16th 1872 aged 49 years, George Miller since died
September
28th 1886 at his home in Franklin Township in his 74th year. Mr. Miller
was a very honest conscious man, I will relate one little circumstance,
he had engaged some fruit trees from one of my boys that was dealing in
fruit trees at the time, when the trees were delivered at Archbold,
Miller
went after them and said he could not pay for them now till fall, my
son
told him all right and let him have the trees. Some six months
afterwards
he called with me and said he owed my son for some fruit trees, as the
book was left in my hands I got it and found the trees delivery and it
was marked paid for. Mr. Miller said it was a mistake for he had not
paid
for them and here was the money, I asked him if he had given a note he
said no told me to pay it when I could I wish we had more such men.
James S. Riddle
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KATHERINE ANN
(DOWNS) MINICH
was born April 1st 1818 in the County of Ross in the State Ohio, and in
April 1824 she with her parents moved to Seneca county Ohio. In the
year
1839 she was married to Peter Minich and in the same year she moved to
them Lucas but now Fulton County. Here she resided the remaining part
of
her life. She died December 17th 1890 at the age of 72 years 8 months
and
16 days.
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BENJAMIN PERSING,
was born
in Sussex County New Jersey September 7th 1809, at the age of 10 he
moved
with his parents into Northumberland County Pennsylvania and worked
with
his father in a distillery for about 12 years.
He was married to Sarah Ely in
the spring
of 1833, in 1836 he moved to Marian County Ohio. He brought all he had
of these world goods including his wife and 2 children in a one horse
wagon
and had just money enough to bring him through. He worked on a saw mill
and farm for 10 years. In September 1846 he bought in Franklin Township
now Fulton County and moved on his farm, (then in the woods) cleared up
his farm and put good buildings on it, raised a large and respectable
family
and lived on it until after the death if his wife in 1872. Since then
he
has lived with he children, the most part of the time with his son
Hamilton
until he death which was February 10th 1887. He and his wife joined the
Presbyterian Church in Mt. Gillion Marian County in Ohio in 1837, they
were among the charter members in the Presbyterian Church in Mill Creek
Township Williams County Ohio (but was struck off into Franklin
township
Fulton County Ohio). Both were working members in the church as long as
they lived.
They raised a large and
respectable family,
Mr. Persing was an honest man very coconscious and although he was
parentally
raised in a still house he became a very strong temperance man and
would
not touch tast or handle the vile stuff.
He was a kind husband a kind
father and
a good neighbor.
FranklinTwp,
August 17th 1887, written by James S. Riddle
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ISRAEL POCOCK,
was born
in Tuscaranas County Ohio may 30th 1830, and died June 10th 1888 aged
58
years and 11 days.
He came to Clinton Township,
Fulton (then
Lucas) County in 1842, where he has ever since resided with the
exception
of the last two years residence in York Township before his death. He
was
a good husband, Parent, neighbor and much respected citizen. He was
married
to Miss S. L. Merchant of Paulding County Ohio in 1854, who with six
children,
four girls and two boys survive him.
The deceased was a prominent
citizen in
local affairs; was a member of North Star Grange and of the County
Grange.
The funeral conducted by Rev.
J.H. Fitzwater
was held at the M.E. Church of which the deceased was a member for the
past 15 years.
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AMOS RATHBUN
Death of
Amos Rathbun
“V.I.P.” gives the Morenci
Observer of
September 3, 1887, the following notice of the death and history of an
old Fulton County citizen:
“And still another of the
aged pioneers
of Royalton Township has been called over to the majority –– Amos
Rathbun,
who departed this life August 18, 1887, and was buried at Weston on the
20th. He leaves an aged wife and eight children, four sons and four
daughters,
to mourn the loss of one who gave them the example of an honest,
industrious
and honorable life. In life he had the pleasure of seeing his sons and
daughters all grow up to respected men and women. Few men, if
any,
have performed more hard labor than Amos Rathbun. Having been born at
Salem,
Connecticut January 20th 1812, and growing to manhood among the thrifty
New
Englanders, he was prepared when
he came
to the almost unbroken wilderness of Ohio in 1837, to endure the
hardships
incident to a pioneer life. Only a few of the old settlers are left to
tell the story of that life in the cabins built of logs, where the deer
bounded past the door and the sweet sleep came after a hard day’s work
which was broken only by the howling wolf. But they who still remain
will
testify that Amos Rathbun did his part of laying low the stately trees
and converting the forest into broad and beautiful fields. The first
schoolhouse
in the neighborhood was built by him, of logs. On the corner of his
farm,
one mile south of Lyons, the plank for the benches being split and
hewed
smooth with an ax. His farm, upon which he lived at the time of his
death,
was purchased without his having seen it, but he was so well pleased
with
the location and soil that he frequently declared that he could not
have
been better suited had he “looked before he leaped.” In politics he was
a Republican, having joined that party at its birth and ever afterwards
adhering to its principles. During his last illness, which lasted
something
over a year, he was not disposed to murmur, but bore his sufferings
which
at times were intense, with great patience, only a few tears now and
then
trickling down the withered and wrinkled cheek and a half suppressed
sigh
as he clasped a kind and loving hand, told of what it cost him to part
with those so near and dear to him and take that long journey from
which
no traveler ever returns. And thus “one by one” the old pioneers
pass away, and only a few years more and these beautiful farms will be
all that is left to remind us of those who, more than all others have
helped
to build up and aggrandize this nation of ours.
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JAMES STEELE RIDDLE
was
born at Pittsburgh, PA June 29, 1812; Moved with his parents to Ohio in
1819 into what was then called Coshocton County Hardy Township the
county
was very new and thinly inhabited. Hardy Township at that time
was
12 mile long and 6 wide and in 1820 pooled 24 votes at the state
election.
Bears and wolves were very plenty it was very common for hunters to
kill
several bears through hunting season and wolves we could hear
frequently
at night seen also a plenty. Not a sawmill within 15 or 20 miles
of us. Not a grist mill near than the same distance.
The first wheat we raised my father cut with a sickle and dryed part of
it in the sun scraped a place of (off) on the ground and thrashed it
with
a flale and cleaned it up with a sheet folded at the ends and one at
each
end and made wind to blow the chaff out.
My father and I took
it on horse
back up to Jone’s log cabbin mill in Wayne Co. 15 miles and when we got
there the mill was shut down and the miller (Mr Jones) gone but we went
to the house and told Mrs Jones and she came down and ^ the grist
(that was John Jones mother and Polly[Adam) Mikesell's mother near
Wauseon)
We got home after dark and mother baked some cakes for supper we though
it was good ( as we had lived mostly on potatoes for than a week).
Schools were scarce in
those days.
My father used to teach in the winter in some log cabbin that they
would
fix up and the scholars would come from one to four miles to
school.
Holmes County was formed (I
think in 1825)
and was composed of one teer of townships six miles wide off of Wayne
County
and two teers off of Coshocton County and a strip off of the west side
of Tuscarawes County and a strip off the east side of Richland
County.
Soon after the organization of the county the commisioners divided the
townships and made 14 out of 8 and we was struck off into Monroe
Township.
My father was elected JPclerk at the first election and held the office
for several years.
I was married in Wayne County
Ohio to Matilda
Siddons on the 22nd of November 1833 by Wm Jewell. Served several
years as constable and Deputy Sheriff was elected Captain of the
Nashvill
guards (a rifel company) served 7 years as such.
Moved to Lucas County (Now
Fulton) in 1845
had one shilling in my jacket when we landed had no house had five
chickens
got my cabbin raised and got into it on the 16th of April. Cooked by a
log in front of the house ( had no stove no money to buy one) Mister
Swartzentruver
(Switzentriver in 1850 census and Swartzendruber in later marriage
records)
lent us a ten plate stove to keep us warm had it all summer until we
got
a fireplace and chimney then we cooked in the fire place for several
years.
My neighbors were all
good to furnish
me provisions but when I was working for them I could not clear
land
(as my land was all very heavy timberd). I went up to Wm.
Richards
in Chesterfield and cut and split rails for fourty cents one bushel and
a peck for a hundred rails.
I used to go to old Jacob
Wilden’s and
chop cord wood (hard wood) for 31 cts a cord & pile the brush and
board
myself and took my pay in denums at 44 cts for yard and sheeting
at 22 cts ft.
I used to make lap shingles
28 inches long
for $4 per M find my own timber and board my self. I frequently
would
???? (looks like “nive”) out 200 and fetch them into the house and
shave
at night by fire place and made light by burning the ???? (no
word
there, probably something that means the scrap wood) this line
was
written up the side margin
In April 1847 I was elected
Twp assessor
constable and justice of peace and supervision. They nominated me
for assessor and Doctor Kendall for JP and asked me if I would not
serve
as constable as they nominated J J Clark and he said he could not do
the
buisneys (business). I said I did not care.
Mr Darby and I were at the
table as clerks
and knew nothing of their plans and when we went to count out the
Justice
box the 1st ballot was James S. Riddle. We though it was a
mistake but the next one was the same and so on for several votes and
some
for Kendall and when we got through Riddle was 27 votes ahead.
Served
4 terms as JP 4 or 5 assessor one as appraiser 6 years as Infirmary
Director.
The 3 years after I came here
I had a long
spell of sicnys (sickness) first the fever then the augue (Ague -
Malarial
fever) was pretty bad for two seasons (as I never had any sicknes
before).
My wife and I celebrated our
50th anniversary
in Nov 1883. Our children were all present that were alive (C C
having
died March 18th 1876). We have 6 children 4 boys & 2
girls.
J Q the oldest born in Holmes County Oct 1835 C C Jany 1838 Thos H May
1840 Mary Jane 1842 Louisa Oct 1844 J Irving 1847 (in this
county). Thos H has been in Terre Haute IA since 1868 at
present
land agent for R R Lands and other lands. Also loans money for
Eastern
firms. J Irving is there since 73 is Insurance agent for the
Phenix
of Brooklin for the whole state of IA.
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JAMES F.
ROGERS Died
– at his home in German twp., January 1st 1893, at 8 o’clock, A.M.
James
Ferris Rogers, aged 78 years and 13 days.
James F., son of Jonathan and
Martha (Haviland)
Rogers, was born in Patterson Township, Putman County, N.Y., December
10th
1814, where with his parents he resided until the winter of 1819-1820,
when with them he moved to the township of Tyrone, Steuben Co., N.Y.
Here
with his parents he remained until the autumn of 1832, when with them
and
the rest of their family he moved to Reed Township, Seneca County,
Ohio,
where four miles east of the site of the present village of Republic,
the
father entered an eighty acre farm and began its improvement and
cultivation.
In 1838, James F., purchased of one Nathan Dix, for the sum of $175,
eighty
acres of land then in Lucas County, but now in German Twp., Fulton
County,
Ohio.
In the fall of 1839 Mr.
Rogers, A.S. Fleet,
John Baker, one Gehring and a McEaton, founder of Eatonburgh, better
known
as Edinburgh, all residents of Seneca County, came together in a wagon
to German Twp., where and when Mr. Rogers first saw the land he had
purchased
the previous year. After remaining a few weeks and doing some under
brushing
on his land he returned to Seneca County. In the autumn of 1840 he came
again to German and there erected on his new farm a neat little cabin
of
16x18ft, into which Mr. Albert S. Fleet, with his wife moved soon after
its erection. After the completion of the cabin Mr. Rogers again
returned
to Seneca County March 8th 1840. Prior to the building of the above
named
cabin, Mr. Rogers with one William Simmons left the village of Melmore
in Seneca County and drove all the way to Steuben Co., N.Y, in a
cutter.
There and then for the first time he became acquainted with his future
excellent wife, Miss Eliza Crosson, daughter of James Crosson, of
Orange
Twp., Steuben County N.Y. They were married in April 1842. During the
time
that elapsed from their first acquaintance to their marriage,
correspondence
by letters was kept up between them, not withstanding the fact that
then
on every letter sent 25 cents postage had to be paid and only 50 cents
could be obtained for a common day’s labor. The spring and summer of
the
year of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rogers spent in the service of a
Mr.
Sylvanus Arnold, a wealthy farmer and merchant of Melmore, Seneca
County.
In the fall of that year (1842) they moved to German Twp., and began
house
keeping in the little cabin he had built in 1840. One George Blackman
moved
them to their new home. Their personal effects, all told, consisted of
one cow, one chest, containing his clothing, a small trunk with his
wife’s
apparel; a box with a meager supply of house hold goods and another
with
a part of a set of cooper tools. These, with $1.50 in his pocket,
and an indebted of $25.00 constituted the total invoice of his “goods
and
chattels.” Thus, without money or friends, with no improved land, in
the
deep unbroken wilderness, with wolves howling hideously about their
lone
cabin at night, without roads, churches, school houses, mills, stores,
or post offices, did this plucky couple begin pioneer life in this
township
fifty years ago. Mr. Rogers was a man however of robust constitution
and
great energy and activity. When he came to German Twp., there were but
about a dozen votes in the entire township. Maumee was then the county
seat, and many a weary trip thither did Mr. R. perform in order to do
jury
service, pay taxes and carry the ponderous poll book freighted with the
expressed sovereign will of German’s electors. In the Spring of 1843,
Mr.
Rogers was chosen overseer of the poor, the next spring a twp., Trustee
and from that time up to almost the time of his death he was almost
constantly
a public officer of some (missing sentence’s) ?? the duties of the
office,
he soon resigned. He was a man of clear head and noble principles and
was
trusted, respected and loved by all who knew him. He and wife became
members
of the M. E. church, at Elmira in 1857 and both remained active loyal
members
up to death. In zealous service and liberal contribution, both in
church
and Sabbath school, Mr. Rogers was an example and a power for good. He
was one of the Stewards in the church of his choice at the time of his
death. His faithful wife died about 1862 leaving the following
children:
Elmer H., Frank H., Martha H., James O., and Marcus P., all of whom are
still living. Their oldest child, Eunice Lillian a young lady
remarkable
for her intelligence, goodness and rare beauty died in 1857 age about
14
years. Sometime after the death of his first wife, Mr. Rogers married a
Miss Anna Sauerbeck by whom he has the following children: Henry O.,
Arnold
J.F., Thomas W., Charles E., William W., and Grace L.P. Of all these
none
are living except Thomas W., who died only a few months since. His
second
wife, an intelligent, affectionate, active woman, died about a year and
a half ago.
Many incidents of Mr.
R’s., pioneer
life might be related, many of them common to pioneer life in the back
woods. One of the difficulties arose from distance of mills and markets
and the absence or badness of roads. Said he to the writer “It was very
often worth more than the market price of grain to get it to the mill
and
back again, or to deliver it at the market, owing to the distance and
the
condition of the roads. At one time” said he “I carried a bushel of
corn
five miles to Birds mill and brought the meal home on my back, through
the dense forest and over innumerable logs” Pork, he said, used to be
hauled
by ox teams to Maumee and there sold for
1¼ cents per pound.
Wheat, he said,
was taken in the same way to the same place, and there sold for 50
cents
a bushel and this not infrequently the farmer had to take in trade. To
reach Maumee from German Twps., they had to go by way of Ottokee,
Weir’s
tavern, Watkins and Swanton, three full days being required to make the
round trip. Ten cents, he says was more difficult to get then, than is
a dollar now, and yet, say he, to purchase store goods a dollar then
had
vastly less purchasing power than it has now. He maintained that
farmers
can now better afford to raise and sell wheat for 25 cents a bushel
than
they could fifty years ago for 50 cents a bushel. Until nearly fifty
years
of age Mr. R. used tobacco in large quantities. Last year he wrote a
private
letter to the New Hampshire Anti Tobacco Gem., at Melvin. It was so
good
the Editor published it though not at all written for publication.
Though
the letter has once before appeared in the Republican we produce it
again
as evidence of the worth of our departed friend. Here it is:
“Archbold, Ohio June 1892”
SIR: - When I was 45 years
old, I had used
tobacco over 30 years, smoked and chewed. For the last 32 years I have
not used it in any form. I was an abject slave to the habit. I was
thoroughly
convinced of the sinfulness of the habit and was by God’s help enabled
to abandon its use instantaneously and have not used a particle since,
for which I am thankful for sustaining grace. I do abhor and detest the
vile stuff. It has done more to sustain and encourage the drink habit
than
any other one thing. I fear prohibition of the drink traffic never will
be reached until the tobacco mills are stopped. I would be glad to see
every branch of the Christian Church sending orders for anti tobacco
literature.
Hope you will be encouraged to battle on. I am in my 78th year. God
bless
you in your work.
J. F. Rogers.
His funeral was held here on
the 4th. A
large concourse of friends, neighbors and relatives were present. Rev.
F.M. money preached an able discourse from these beautiful and
appropriate
words “Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him.” Gen.
5,
24. Verily a good man has died, “Sustained and soothed by an
unfaltering
trust” our dear old friend “approached his grave like one who wraps the
drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
J.W.R.
Mrs. ANNA
ROGERS
(nee Sauerbeck)
Archbold February 24, 1886
L. W. Brown, Secretary of
Pioneer Association,
Dear Sir,
My wife Anna was born
in Switzerland
November 17, 1839, came to Fulton County 1847, married to James F.
Rogers
March 21, 1863. The mother of Henry O., Thomas W., Charles E., William
W., and Grace L. Rogers.
If this is to voluminous,
omit whatever
you think proper.
Yours Truly James F. Rogers
ANNA ROGERS (nee Sauerbeck)
OBITUARY
Died May 18, 1891, at her
residence in
German Township, Fulton County, Anna Rogers, wife of James F. Rogers.
She
was born in Switzerland, Canton Schafhausen, November 17, 1839, and
came
with her father, Jacob Sauerbeck, to America in 1849; was married about
the year 1857 to a Mr. Fisher, father of W. G. Fisher. Some years
after
the termination of this marital relation, she became, March 21, 1863,
the
wife of James F. Rogers, one of German Township’s earliest and most
worthy
citizens. They had six children, five boys and one daughter, all of
whom
survive their mother, From very early life to her quiet, exemplary
death,
she was a devout Christian and a faithful church member, first of the
German
Reformed and then of the M.E. Church. She was a faithful worker in the
Sabbath School, and a woman of deep convictions with the full courage
of
her convictions. As a wife and active sympathetic friend in sickness
and
in need, she will be greatly missed. For years with her venerable
husband
she has been a member of the Fulton County Pioneer Association.
Her funeral was very largely
attended.
Marcus Rogers, recently of Texas, Elmer, Henry, and Charles Rogers of
Ft.
Wayne, and Mrs. Kennedy (nee Rogers) of Michigan, were present. Rev. W.
E. Collett preached an able sermon from the 17th verse of the 22nd
chapter
of Revelations; the deceased having herself selected that text for a
funeral
discourse. She also selected some of the hymns used on the occasion and
dictated other things regarding her burial. She was buried in Union
Cemetery
west of the village of Burlington. Farewell, old friend “God be With
You
Till We Meet Again.”
A FRIEND
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JOSEPH SHADLE
of Dover
Township, one of the first settlers of this township was born in
Lebanon
County, PA August 16, 1815 and was son of Phillip and Mary Shadle who
had
long been upon the soil of Pennsylvania. Joseph Shadle was married
October
17, 1833 to Jane Burke who was the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Burke
and was born February 29, 1812. In 1836 himself an a young wife left
Lebanon
County PA and settled in Wayne County Ohio, Here he worked for several
years on a farm upon shares and made a few dollars ahead. He then came
to Fulton County and with his past few years earnings purchased 160
acres
of land upon section two, township seven, north R size east, paying
therefore
the sum of $400.00 and the November following 13, 1845 himself and
family
came to Dover Township Fulton County and settled upon his purchase and
immediately erected a log house. He afterwards added to the first
purchase
several times until at one time he was the owner of 600 acres of land,
the major portion of which he has cleared and built thereon. He
established
his sons with homes to begin life, he has always been able to provide
enough
for his family to eat and ware since he has bee here and occasionally a
share to the more unfortunate. He has had a family of ten Children
Hosea
A., Richard B. Rebecca, and William Allen. May A, Ferdinand, Luther,
Emeline
Harvey and Florence, whom are all living except Rebecca who pass to
higher
life at 50 years of age.
He and wife have lived to see
all their
children properly settled in the race for life and he still retains a
hold
upon 120 acres of land for their declining years. He is one of the
successful
farmers of Dover Township.
He had four sons who
enlisted in
the volunteer infantry, Richard in the 14th Ohio volunteer infantry,
Hosea
enlisted in the 67th Ohio volunteer infantry, Allen in the 100th Ohio
volunteer
infantry and Ferdinand enlisted in 10th Ohio volunteer infantry, and
all
were honorably discharged.
Joseph Shadle has many times
been honored
by his township with the Office of Trustee and Constable and once with
Land Appraiser and later with the Office of Justice of the Peace, but
did
not qualify he has been elected twice to the office of County
Commissioner,
and served his people six years. In this time he was instrumental in
establishing
a county infirmary for Fulton County.
Mr. Shadle has always since
1845 been active
in assisting in all the improvement of the township, in schools,
churches
and morel societies and the development of the county. He has given
liberally
of his means and donated bountifully of his labor for roads etc… He has
been prominent as a grate harmonizer in his neighborhood and always a
friend
to the unfortunate in sickness, poverty and despair.
He was originally a Democrat
but later
a strong and active Republican but at present an untiring worker for
prohibition
of liquor, tobacco and a defender of the home against the Saloon. He is
today thankful that he has lived to see his township grow from a
wilderness
to a garden settled up with intelligent and worthy people nearly all of
whom are in comfortable circumstances, the saloon banished and not a
place
in his township were liquor is permitted to be sold.
OLD PIONEER IS DEAD
JOSEPH
SHADLE
Dies at his Home in Dover
Settled in Fulton County in 1845
He was over 86 Years Old
Joseph Shadle of Dover
Township was called
to his reward Tuesday night after a brief illness, at the age of 86
years,
3 months and 3 days. He was a son of Philip and Mary Shadle, the former
of Pennsylvania, the later of Ireland, and was born in Lebanon County,
PA., August 16, 1815. He was married in the same state, Oct 18 1833, to
Jane Burke, who was born in Lancaster County, PA., Feb 29, 1812. Their
family consisted of ten children: Hosea, Richard, W. Allen, Luther,
Harvey,
Ferdinand, Wichita, Kansas: Mrs. W. Onweller, Morenci, Mich: Mrs. G.H.
Miley Wauseon; Mrs. Emma Brown, Butler, Ind,; Mrs. S.O. Warren, a
daughter
died in Washington in 1888.
Mr. Shadle settled in this
county in 1845
and has lived here ever since. He has filled the offices of County
Commissioner,
Justice of the Peace, and Constable. His wife died only a few weeks ago
at the age of over 89 years. The funeral will be held from the church
at
Ottokee, Friday, Mrs. Carpenter, the inspirational speaker of Detroit,
will officiate.
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BENJAMIN SKEELS –
The subject
of this notice was born in Chiguga? (no county in N.Y. by that
spelling)
County N.Y. on the 23rd day of June in the year 1810. He moved to
Seneca
County Ohio in 1832, that county then was a wilderness.
He was married to Caroline
Hall in the
year 1835, by this union there were four sons born – Roswell C. now
living
in Wauseon; Nelson who lost his life on the battle field near Atlanta,
Georgia on the 22nd of July (no year given) he was Captain of Co. E
68th
Reg.; William S. who lives on his farm in York Township, Fulton County;
Lyman H. now resides in Iowa.
His wife died May the 27th
1844, he afterward
married Delilah Huffman to this union were born on son Alfred T. who
now
lives on the old homestead, and two daughters Sarah and Caroline now
living
in Wauseon.
He moved to what is now
Fulton County April
20, 1840, then Lucas County, here began the trials of pioneer life in a
new country. When he reached his farm he had three dollars in money,
with
wife and two children. In one week he was living in his own cabin
without
a saved board in the house, the doors and window casings were hewed
boards.
He was a man always very much interested in the improvement of the
county;
he took an active part in the building up of schools and of roads in
the
township. He also did much in establishing the church of this new
country.
His home was the home of the pioneer ministers. He also was very much
interested
in the establishment of the Fulton County Fair, he being a life member
of the same.
He was active in life, very
firm in his
convictions of right. He died November the 21st 1888 on the same farm
he
moved into in1840 at the age of 78 years 4 months and 27 days.
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WILLIAM H. STEVENS
OBITUARY
The bugle has again sounded
“lights out”
for another hero who has joined the enrollment of the immortals. Wm H.
Stevens was born in Richland County, Ohio November 14, 1841, died May
7,
1901. At the age of ten years he came to Fulton County with his parents
and settled near Spring Hill where he grew to manhood. He was one of
six
brothers who all responded to their country’s call. In the early summer
of the first year of the war, a day in July 1861, Billy Stevens
enrolled
himself in the patriot army of the Republic in Co. D. 44 Ill Regiment,
commanded by E. L. Hayes, and while engaged in the battle of
Perryville,
KY, he lost his left arm. He has held many positions of trust, among
others
the office of County Recorder, which office he filled for three
successive
terms.
“Soldier, rest; thy warfare
o’er,
Sleep the sleep that knows no
breaking,
Dream of battlefields no
more,
Days of danger, nights of
waking.”
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WILLIAM STRUBLE
was born
in Brookfield Township, Trumbull County, Ohio June 16th 1814. At 14
years
of age he learned the shoemakers trade which occupation he followed for
several years. On August 20th 1835 he was united in marriage with
Elizabeth
Dickson: from which union there were ten children; eight of whom grew
to
man and womanhood. He came to the Maumee Valley in the full of 1846 at
which time the struggle of his pioneer life began, he settled in the
woods
of what was then Henry County, soon South York Fulton County where he
cleared
and put under cultivation the farm on which he lived many years. With
other
pioneers he endured privations and hardships which would appall the
hearts
of the young men of today. With a large family and with no other income
but from his daily labor, it required a heroic struggle to provide the
necessaries of life. He often referred to the darkest days of his
pioneer
life when for two years himself and family prostrated the greater part
of the time with that very coin man desires of early days – fever and
ague
but by patience, determination and hard work the obstacles were one by
one overcome.
He built and operated an
ashery and made
pearl ash which lightened the burden of debt in a very marked degree.
While
he could not be counted among the wealthy he acquired a competency
which
enabled him to live at ease when the infirmities of old age began to
settle
upon him.
He was for many years
previous to his death
a member of the United Brethren Church; he served the township two or
three
terms as trustee. In 1881 he rented his farm to his son and moved to
Wauseon
where he lived until the death of his wife which occurred December 26th
1889. He spent one year with his son at the farm; returning at the end
of that time to Wauseon where the last three years of his life was
spent
with another son.
Sometime previous to his death
he realized
that his life work was over and often expressed a desire to join the
companion
who had shared his joys and sorrows for more than fifty years.
He bore his sufferings with
Christian patience
and seemed only waiting for the summons which came December 24th
1893.
“He was waiting for the
morning of that
blessed day to dawn
when the sadness and the sorrow
of this
fearful life were gone.
He was waiting, worn and weary,
with the
battle and the strife,
hoping when the war was ended to
receive
a crown of life.
Watching, hoping, and trusting,
ever for
a home of boundless love,
Spike a pilgrim looking forward
to the
land of life above.”
By R.C. Skeels
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OLIVER B. VERITY
Our friend and brother Oliver B.
Verity
was born Schaghticoke, Rennsselaer Co., NY January 8th 1815, he
departed
this life November 9th 1889 which makes his earth life 77 years. He was
first born of nine children; he received the principal part of his
education
in the county where he was born in the common school which he traveled
from 2 to 3 miles daily to attend.
In 1830 he, with his parents,
moved to
Cayuga County, NY, in 1831 they moved to Lysander, Onondago N.Y. where
in the fall of 1835 he entered the school room as teacher and taught
during
winter term until 1842. On the 28th of February 1838 he was married to
Celoma Scofield of Connecticut then residing in Onondago Co., N.Y.,
happily
have they always lived through clouds and sunshine. To them were born
six
children, four of them having passed on many years since. In 1843 our
brother
with his wife and 2 children left their homes in the East and came to
what
is now Fulton County, arriving in Gorham Twps., May 2 and has been a
citizen
of this county ever since.
He taught school winters
until 1858; the
first spring after he came here he was elected township clerk of Gorham
Township and was successively elected to same office 9 years. He was
chosen
District assessor and made the assessments in 1853. In 1836 he was
chosen
School Examiner for Gorham and served until 1852, when he was chosen
County
School Examiner and served eight years.
In 1856 he was elected
Justice of the Peace
for Gorham Township; in 1857 he was elected Probate Judge which office
he filled until 1870 a period of 12 years. In 1870 he was chosen
assistant
Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, to tale the census, he was
elected
Justice of the Peace for Dover Township in 1870 and served until 1876,
in April 1874 he was selected as superintendent of the Fulton County
infirmary
and remained there until March 1, 1880. In 1880 he was again
elected
Justice of the Peace for Dover Township.
During the War he was on of
the Military
Committee of this county, he was secretary of the Agricultural Society
of Fulton County for 12 years to him are we indebted for many pages of
useful history which has taken months and years to compile.
For many years he has been an
active member
of the Masonic Fraternity and patrons of Husbandry and ?.
And now his active pen lies
useless, at
the table the chair is empty, his work in Manual form is ended. In the
enterprizing Days of Modern Spiritualism he became interested and a
thourough
investigation convinced him of the truthfulness of its teachings , it
became
an absolute knowledge with him, with him he verily believed that he
would
enter a higher plane of life and a grander field for the display of his
intellectual and spiritual culture.
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THOMAS WARDLEY
Not Dead but Sleeping
Mr. Wardly was born in Lyons,
Wayne County,
N.Y. June 27th 1818, moved to Genesse, County, N.Y. in 1830, and in
1836
he removed to Medina County Ohio. In 1840 he removed to York Township,
now Fulton County, where he has since resided. In February 1852 he was
married to Miss Jane Kane who survives him, five daughters and two sons
were born to him. One daughter and one son have preceded him to that
rest
beyond. 1869 he united with the Presbyterian Church at Delta and in
1882
was elected to the Eldership of said church, which position he held the
remainder of his life.
April 12th 1887 he
departed this
life aged 68 years 9 months and 15 days such is a brief sketch of the
life
of our pioneer brother. But it tells nothing of his life of industry,
of
upright and honest dealing with his neighbors of Christian example and
tender care of his family, of love and affection for his companion, his
unblemished character as a member of the church and the months of
wonderful
suffering of that dreadful disease cancer which ended his life. All of
which he patiently bore looking forward to the coming rest, reckoning
that
the pain of his disease was not to be compare to the joys of the world
to come. His remains were laid to rest in the Delta Cemetery.
Respectfully,
Stillman C. Biddle
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JEREMIAH McLANE
WILLIAMS
was born Sidney, Shelby County Ohio April 25, 1822, was there 10 or 11
year. In October 1835 moved to Lucas County Ohio now Fulton County,
Clinton
Township, married Matilda Biddle March 25, 1844?( very light hard to
read)
We have had 6 children; 2
girls, 4 boys,
5 now living, we now live on the same land our father entered Sec. 36
in
Clinton Township. I never have been intoxicated nor smoked or chewed
tobacco,
never been so sick that I couldn’t walk out the door.
August 23rd, 1886 J.M.
Williams
JEREMIAH
McLANE
WILLIAMS whose death occurred April 15th 1894, was born at Sydney,
Shelby Co., Ohio April 25th 1822, and moved with his parents to Melmon,
Seneca Co., while he was yet small; when about ten years of age he went
to Newark where he worked at the tinner’s and coppersmith’s trades for
his Uncle Richard Harrison until October, 1835, when he came to Lucas
Co.,
now Fulton Co., with his sister Lucinda and boarded with a family
residing
on the old Avary Lamb farm (now owned by Dr. Hollister) 1 ½
miles
east of Wauseon. Occupying his time in chopping and clearing a piece of
land on the south side of the farm lately owned by Elijah Burr, and
erecting
a cabin for his father’s family which came to this County later in the
season; thus clearing the first land in Clinton Township and becoming
the
first white settler. Here he grew to manhood, enduring many of the
hardships
incident to pioneer life and on March 25, 1847 was united in marriage
to
Miss Matilda Biddle.
The following
is the
version that actually appeared in the local newspaper
Jeremiah M. Williams
A GOOD MAN GONE
In the death of Jeremiah M.
Williams the
community mourns the loss of a pioneer of sterling worth and high
character,
whose word in all the years of his active life was equal to any man’s
bond,
whose life stood for probity and honor wherever he was known. A man of
excellent judgment and sound sense, he possessed a sturdy independence
of character that considered right and justice always, and stooped to
no
deception or trickery. Mr. Williams was born at Sidney, Shelby
Co.,
Ohio, April 25, 1822 and moved with his parents to Melmore, Seneca Co.,
while he was yet small and when about ten years of age he went to
Newark,
Ohio, where he worked at the tinner’s trade until October, 1835, when
he
came with his parents to this county, settling on the farm now owned by
Elijah Burr, one mile east of this city, Mr. Williams father being the
first white settler in this township. Here Mr. Williams grew to
manhood,
and shortly after he had attained his majority he made his first
purchase
of land, 15 acres, going in debt for it and working out by slow
degrees,
at hard labor and low wages. To this he added from time to time, until
at his death he was the owner of 284 acres of the best of land, without
encumbrance, He was the pioneer in tile draining in this section and
was
a progressive farmer in every sense. He served as township trustee for
many years and was often entreated to
accept of other positions of
trust for
which his good judgment fitted him, but he invariably declined.
March 25, 1847, Mr. Williams
and Miss Matilda
Biddle were united in marriage. Six children were born to them, five if
whom are still living. Samantha, wife of James Biddle, Calvin, Tilden,
DeWitt and Edward, all residents of Wauseon and vicinity, Mrs. Williams
also survives him. His death occurred last Monday morning, the
result
of disease of the brain with which he has been afflicted some years.
The
funeral was held Wednesday and was largely attended, Rev. Coate
conducting
the services.
Mrs. MATILDA
(Biddle) WILLIAMS,
whose death occurred August 18th 1894, was born in Beaver County,
Pennsylvania
August 16th 1825, and when about one year old moved with her parents to
Homes County, Ohio and nine years later to Wayne County. In 1842 the
family
came to Fulton Co. and located on the farm, apart of which is now owned
by S.C. Biddle of York Township. On March 25th 1847 was united in
marriage
to Jeremiah M. Williams. To them was born two daughters and four sons;
Elizabeth the younger daughter dying at the age of seven years. The
surviving
children; Mrs. Samantha Biddle wife of James M. Biddle. Calvin, Tilden,
Dewitt and Edward E. reside in Wauseon and vicinity.
Tedrow, Ohio
February 20th 1896
Mr. Bayes
Wauseon, Ohio
Dear Sir: Enclosed fine a short biography of
father and mother.
I intended to follow this with a short article on
Pioneer life from
“The Stories of Pioneers”
Beginning with father’s first house and it contents – clearing the
land keeping the family, cost and verity of articles used – going to
mill,
etc.
Markets- kinds of articles sold
Methods of going to market
Beginning of under draining and its evolution and results and many
other items that I thought might be interesting to your association;
but
the grief has put me in such a state that I am unable to do any kind of
mental work – hardly able to even read the daily paper.
Hoping this will answer your purpose at present.
Yours, Etc... D. W. Williams
(This letter accompanied the Williams Biographies above
for Jeremiah
M. Williams and his wife Matilda)
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PETER WISE
Pioneers of Fulton County Ohio
please
note the death of Peter Wise of York Twps., who died March 26, 1885 age
Seventy five years ten months and three days.
The deceased was born in
Union County Pennsylvania
and there married and from then came to Portage County, Ohio thence to
Lucas now Fulton County, Ohio March 25, 1836 settled upon lands entered
form the Government at a cost of $1.25 per acre which was them an
unbroken
wilderness. But by faithful industry he succeeded in making this
unbroken
forest one of the most productive as well a beautiful farm as there is
in that section of the county.
His family consisted of his
wife who died
September 7th 1875 aged 66 years 6 months and 4 days and the mother of
his seven children, three sons and four daughters of which five are now
living.
Brother Wise was a devoted
Christian of
the M.E. faith and man of marked character in being generous in his
habits,
enlightened and accurate in judgments, faithful in public trust and
untiring
in the performance of duty, affectionate, sincere and cordial as a
husband,
father and friend.
And while his children yet
live to appreciate
his worth and mourn his death.
Let us remember him while in
the vigor
of life with his family in his log cabin in the midst of a dense
forest.
Let us remember him in the last hours of affliction, yea let him be
remembered
in history long after his spirit hath taken its flight to that heaven
of
rest in that building not made with hands bit eternal in the heaven.
By
STILLMAN C. Biddle
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GEORGE WRIGHT
was born
in Derbyshire England, November 1st 1802. In 1826 he married Frances
Jones,
at Wrexham, North Wales. Two years later December 10th 1828, his wife
died,
leaving on son George who is still living. On the summer of 1830 he
came
to America and settled in Genesse County, N.Y. They lived in
Mumfordville,
N.Y., four years then removed to Summit County, this State, in the year
1838. In the year 1853 they came to Fulton County and purchased the
William
Jones farm, Four and a Half miles west of Delta, where he lived until
his
death Saturday, March 14th 1885.
He had been afflicted with
rheumatism for
many years, which for several years had disabled him for work. About
four
weeks before his death he fell and had not recovered from the shock and
injury. But it was a heart difficulty that at last took his life.
In September previous (1884)
Mrs. Wright
was prostrated with fever and was expected to depart in advance of her
husband, but she survived him, though confined to her bed, to mourn,
the
short time remaining to her, the loss of her companion. He also left
a
half brother John Wright, in Indiana, a half sister in England; and six
children, as follows: George W. Wright, in Indianapolis, Indiana;
Thomas
W. Wright, in Columbus, Ohio; J.W. Wright, in Texas, Ohio; Charles
Wright,
in Pike Township, this county; and Mrs. Martha A. McClarren, at the
homestead.
He had buried three children before coming to this county.
His neighbors looked upon him
as a man
of honesty and integrity. If he pretended to be a friend they knew he
was
a friend. So prominent was this trait in his relations with family and
acquaintances, that it became inherent also with his children. His
industry,
and that of his family, converted his farm into a fertile garden, His
frugality
left no leaks through which their hard earnings could waste. He was a
peaceable
neighbor and citizen, avoiding public life in person, but possessing
and
exercising nature judgment upon public men and measures.
His usefulness to the county
consisted
mostly in his rearing a family to whom they so largely transmitted his
virtues.
He was a member of the M.E.
Church Delta,
Ohio and the large attendance at his funeral attested the public
appreciation
of the consistency of his life with his Christian profession.
WRIGHT,
ANN (HARRISON)
Mrs. George Wright died at her
home in
York Township, Fulton County, Ohio September 16, 1885 aged seventy four
two months and five days. Mrs. Wright was born in
Yorkshire,
England, came to America in the year ? with her father Robert Harrison
settled in the state of New York. She married to George Wright
July
7 1833, the mother of eight children, six sons and two daughters, of
which
two sons and one daughter survive. They moved to Fulton County March
1853
to which place she lived until death. "God, welcome her through
the
Pearly Gates” “Blessed are they who walk with the Lord”
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JOHN S. YOUNG
born in St
Lawrence County, New York April 3rd 1838, Came to Fulton County May 4th
1853.
HANNAH (LOZIER) YOUNG
born in Holmes
County, Ohio October 1st 1833 moved to Fulton County in 1836.
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Early
Pioneer History of Chesterfield Township
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the back feature on your browser to return to the index
The
first Settler
was Chesterfield W. Clemons of
Ontario
Co., N.Y. he was married at the age of 23, to Miss Fannie
Downing of Ontario Co., N.Y. In July 1821 the young couple
soon
migrated west as far as the vicinity of Painsville, Ohio and there six
daughters were born to them. Animated by the true pioneer spirit Mr.
Clemons
and family bravely penetrated into the almost undisturbed wilderness of
this section of Southern Lenawee and Northern Fulton Counties. It was
on
the sixth day of October 1834 that they arrived in the forest of what
is
now called Chesterfield. Chesterfield Township was organized in the
spring
of 1836 it then included part of Gorham Township and part of Dover
Township.
The first attempt to raise a levy, a tax for school purposes, failed at
the first election, but at the
next it was levied by a majority
vote
of the people.
The first school house that
was build was
placed on the North East corner of the School section south of the
Hawley
Cemetery. The first school teacher was Florence
Butler in the winter of 1837
Remembrances
of Sarah Sheffield
I was married to Jeremiah
Sheffield October 11, 1838 at New Burg Orange Co., New York
and started the same month for Ohio. We were one week on the canal and
one week on the lake, we arrived in Chesterfield November 11, 1838. John
P. Roos Sr. and
Charles Smith
assisted Mr. Sheffield in the selection of his land on which his widow
now resides. It was surveyed by Elias Baldwin
Sr., then the U.S. Surveyor. Indians helped to raise his
house
to three logs high then the whisky was passed and as soon as they
got their drink they left. The house was finished and moved into the
same
month. We done our trading at Adrian, it took one day to go and one day
to come back. We bought hogs and poultry of Mr. Nehemiah
Cone and cow and calf of Chesterfield
Clemons, after whom the Township was named. In August of
1839
Indians had a war dance near the house, consisting of the Indians of
the
vicinity and four hundred from Illinois.We raised a family of ten
children
out of twelve, nine of whom are still living.
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the back feature on your browser to return to the index
Remembrances
of Mrs. Garnet (Parsons) Willett
Her father Mr. Nathanial
Parsons and family came to Chesterfield February 1835, their
nearest neighbor was four miles away. The nearest grist mill was at
Tecumseh.
One time when her father went to mill that their mother divided what
bread
they had and they lived on fractional rations until his return. Their
mother
said if any thing happened that he did not get back when they expected
him that they would have to dig up the potatoes they had just planted
and
eat them. There were no schools but the oldest girl taught the
rest
of the children at home until they were old enough to go away from home
and work for their board and attend school.
Remembrances
of John S. Butler
In 1835 I came to this
township and lived
with Alanson Briggs, I was then 11
years of age. Mr. Briggs was one of the first settlers, my father let
me
live with Mr. Briggs until I was 21 years old. I think I was the first
boy in the township in the fall of 1836 Mr. Briggs took the U. S. Mail
to carry from Sylvania to Lima Indiana which was about 110 miles on
what
was called the Indians road. This road ran from Toledo to Indiana via
of
Morenci Michigan. It was only cut out so that teams could travel it.
Some
of the streams were not bridged, and were bad to cross at times; I
carried
the mail for Briggs. When I first began there were but one Post office
on the whole road but when I left there were nine. When we got four
miles
west of Morenci it was 33 miles before we came to a house and I went
through
twice a week when I could. I fell into the St. Joe River once and the
U.
S. mail on top of me but I got through all right out I did not like
this
company. I helped Mr. Briggs clear the farm Mr. James
H. Turner now lives on. I cannot complain of hard times
only
in the carrying the mail and that was to much for a boy of
fifteen.
Remembrances
of Richard Roos
The woods were well filled
with game which
kept the people from hunger; the Indians would help raise the building
as there were not white men enough. One peculiarity of the red man was
to save enough whiskey from each rising to last the next day, they
would
drink all they could and then fill their mouths and step back from the
crowd and spit it into a bottle to drink the next day.
Martha
Turner was the first white child born in Chesterfield July
29th
1835
The first
marriage was
Sallie
A Clemons to Elias Salisbury
in A.D. 1840
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Thanks
to Barb Voss for her time and volunteering to transcribe
these
Pioneer
Biographies / Obituaries. Her efforts are greatly appreciated.
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