OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Seneca Co., Ohio

Source:
History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 :
embracing many personal sketches of pioneers, anecdotes,
and faithful descriptions of events pertaining to the organization of the county and its progress
Published: Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co.,
1880

HUGH WELCH - For a while, it was a question in the mind of the writer as to which township in the county a sketch of this distinguished pioneer should be attached, because he has now lived in Green Springs some time, but he first located here in Eden, where he drove his stake in the woods near Rocky creek. He has lived longer in Seneca county now than any other man in it. His father was in Washington's army, and so was also his father's neighbor in Huron county, Mr. Seifert. These old revolutionary veterans often talked over their scenes of strife for independence. Both were great admirers of General Washington.
     In the month of February, 1819, Thomas and Hugh Welch, sons of the above-named veteran, started from Huron county to find homes in the wilds of Seneca. They camped out the first night and in the morning found themselves near Honey creek. Vegetation had already started to grow, for in the dense forest a certain degree of warmth was retained, and the ground never froze very hard in the winter. They followed down the stream, and somewhere near the late residence of Mr. William Fleet, they came upon a band of Seneca Indians, who were making sugar, and with them they encamped for the night. On their journey down the creek on the next day, they arrived at Mohawk village, on the Van Meter section, and already spoken of. Van Meter made the Welches welcome at his cabin and directed them to some very eligible land in the neighborhood, which they bought, and turned into homes. Here they opened up the first settlement in Eden township. In June following, two other brothers, Martin and John, also came. Thomas died soon after. John became a member of the Ohio legislature from Seneca county. Hugh and Martin moved to Wyandot county. Martin and John are now also dead, and the Judge in the only survivor of that once large family.
     Hugh Welch was the first postmaster of Eden township, and he held the office at his opening, which was afterwards known as the Olmsted and Richardson place. This was the first postoffice in Seneca county east of the river. Mr. Welch was appointed by President Jackson. John McLean was postmaster-general at that time and signed the commission as such. It is dated August 4, 1825. Mr. Welch sold the Olmsted farm and the Richardson place and moved into Wyandot county, where he was appointed one of the associate judges of Crawford county. Wyandot was then a part of Crawford. This commission is dated September 22, 1834, and is signed by Robert Lucas, governor, and M. H. Kirby, secretary of state. He was re-elected associate judge, and his second commission bears date of February 4, 1842, and is signed by Thomas Corwin, governor, and Samuel Galloway, secretary of state. The judge sold his Wyandot farm and again moved into Seneca County.
     He laid out the town of Mexico soon after he moved into Wyandot; helped to build the M. E. church there; donated the lot upon which it was built, and for a long time and until he sold his property near Mexico, was one of its most influential members.
     Judge Welch was born in Little Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th day of February, 1801. His father's name was Felix, and his mother's name was Margaret Barnes, who came from England. His father was a native of the county of Derry, in Ireland. The parents had six sons and four daughters. Hugh was the fifth son.
     In 1816 the parents moved with their children to Huron county, Ohio, where they lived until the sons found better homes, in Seneca county. Hugh was married on the 18th day of September, 1823, to Polly, second daughter of John Gibson. They had three children: Eliza, married to William A. Watson; a little son who died at the age of about four years, and Maria, who married Frank McBride, and who has two interesting daughters, nearly young women grown. Judge Welch's brother, Martin, was the first stationed minister at Toledo in the M. E. church. The Judge was well acquainted with all the Mohawk Indians on the Van Meter section, and know Charline, who was a nephew of the Brandt's and the bitter, unforgiving foe of the Americans. He carried his hatred to the grave with him. He had the skin of the leg and foot of a child tanned, in which he carried his trinkets. He would not talk to a white man, and died from eating warm bread beyond the Mississippi.
     Judge Welch says that there were three brothers of these Brandt's, Thomas, Paulus and Isaac. Isaac was his favorite. They were both lf about the same height and age; both full of fun and great wrestlers. Van Meter was a generous and noble man, and a great horse fancier.
     Charline was about eighty years old when he left with the Mohawks for the west.
     Mrs. Welch died June 6th, 1869, at Green Springs. She was the first patient at the water cure. From the 8th of October, 1825, hitherto Judge Welch has been a faithful member of the M. E. Church.
Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page

JASPER WHITNEY. Was one of the early settlers in Thompson. He and old father Royer are, perhaps, the only survivors of that class of pioneers. Mr. Royer still resides in Thompson, but Mr. Underhill lives in Wood county as I am informed.
     It is said that many years ago Mr. Whitney, while living in Thompson, near Nathan Whitney, was taken sick very suddenly and, after a short illness, died and was laid out on a cooling-board. The neighbors rendered every assistance possible and the doctor assured them all that Mr. Whitney was dead. A coffin was made and brought to the house and preparations made for the burial. Mrs. Whitney could not persuade herself to believe that her husband was dead, and the funeral was put off to an indefinite time. A consultation of physicians was held at the house and no trace of life could be discovered. The doctors, neighbors and all, tried to prevail on Mrs. Whitney to let the funeral take place, but she was unmoved and insisted that her husband was not dead. Some people now began to doubt whether she had her right mind, and matters began to look serious as to her. She cared but little, however, about the gossip of the neighbors, but kept her sleepless watch by the side of her dead husband, occasionally applying restoratives. In the forenoon of the ninth day she discovered signs of life, and in a short time she succeeded in bringing Mr. Whitney to life.
     With prompt medical aid and good nursing, he was restored to good, vigorous health in a short time. He heard, while lying in this truance, everything that was said near him. and when he recovered sufficiently to express himself, he said a great many ugly things of those who wanted to bury him alive.
     The undertaker refused to take the coffin back, and the family put it up into the loft or the cabin, where for many years thereafter, it was used to keep dried apples in. Several years thereafter the father of Mr. Whitney died and was buried in the same coffin. His name was Gunsworth.
     Mr. Whitney is still living near, and west of Woodville, in Wood county, Ohio.
     The father of my old friend, Samuel Horner, lived on a farm about one mile east of Flat Rock, which had a little spring on it. All the Neighbors came there for water, and kept the spring in bad condition. Mr. Horner thereupon made up his mind to have a well for his own family use, and dug down some six feet, when he came upon a rock. He took a crow-bar and struck the rock, when a stream of water burst up that overflowed the well and formed a constantly running stream. Mr. John Burman lives on the farm now.
Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 629

JAMES R. WILSON, ESQ., is the only lawyer in the place. Happy town! He was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, May 19th, 1825. In the fall of 1826, his father moved with the family to Ohio. He was a native of Ireland, and at the time he came to Ohio was a traveling preacher of the M. E. church. He died on his circuit while holding a protracted meeting. The family moved to Bloom township in April, 1834, and settled in the southeast part of the township, when there were but two families in that part, south, and but one house east for three miles. Mr. Wilson had one brother older than he, and also an older sister. The sister taught school in the neighborhood when only twelve years old. Mr. Wilson helped to clear up his father's farm, and after his death he opened up a farm for himself. In 1856 he moved to Bloomville. In 1857 he was elected justice of the peace and re-elected. In 1866 he was admitted to practice law, and has ever since been a member of the Tiffin bar.
Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 629

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