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Biographies
Source:
- 1808 -
History
of
THE FIRELANDS,
comprising
HURON and ERIE COUNTIES,
OHIO
with
ILLUSTRATIONS and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
of
Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers
W. W. Williams
- 1879 -
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Residence of Ebenezer Lawrence,
Norwich Tp.,
Huron Co., OhioLeft to Right
Willis T. Lawrence
Mary M. Richards
Mrs. Clarinda Lawrence
Ebenezer Lawrence |
EBENEZER LAWRENCE.
The subject of the following sketch is the only one of the
pioneers of Norwich township now living. He was born
Dec. 8, 1808, in Westford, Chittenden county, Vermont, and
is the third of a family of five, the issue of Wilder and
Roxanna Woodruff Lawrence, (for further data of whom,
see Norwich history). He was eight years of age when
he came with his parents to live in their wildwoods home.
His education was derived, principally, in the little log
school house, in what is now district number eight, of
Norwich township.
His life has been that which usually falls to the lot
of a pioneer, one of hardship and labor. He has chopped,
alone, one hundred and twenty-five acres of heavy timber,
and assisted in logging some six hundred acres more.
The farm in lot thirty-three, in the second section, which
he now occupies, is the same his father began improvements
on in 1819 and is in a profitable state of cultivation.
Mr. Lawrence was married, Oct. 15, 1843,
to Clarinda, daughter of Rouse and Mary Barney Bly.
She was a native of Springfield, Richland county, Ohio.
The children of this marriage are two - Willis T.,
who was born July 11, 1844; he married Francis
Richards. Mary M., who was born Oct. 5,
1847; she married Edgar Richards. Both
children reside in Norwich, but a short distance from the
old homestead.
Mrs. Lawrence, some eleven years since,
united with the Congregational Church in Greenfield
township, and continues to the present a consistent and
worthy christian. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, and
also their children and wives. are members of Live Oak
Grange, No, 747, P. of H. Politically, Mr. Lawrence
is an old time Jackson Democrat. He has seen what few
can boast of, a dense and howling wilderness gradually
disappear and be made to "blossom as the rose."
Rouse Bly, father of Mrs.
Lawrence, was born in Herkimer county, New York, in
1794. He came to Ohio in 1817, and located in Richland
county. He married Mary Barney of New
Haven township, Huron county, Ohio. Four children were
born in Richland county - Mary, Lysander M.,
Semantha, and Clarinda. In 1825, he
removed to, and permanently located in, New Haven township,
where three children were born - Matilda, Mary
and Alvin. Mrs. Bly died on Mar.
5, 1829, aged twenty-five years, and he married Mrs.
Sophia Coe, by whom he had six children, two
ony alive. She died in September, 1852. Mr.
Bly died Sept. 4, 1866.
Source: 1808 History of The Firelands
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page facing 421 |
George Lawrence |
GEORGE LAWRENCE
was born in Genoa, Cayuga county, New York, Mar. 1, 1805,
and was the sixth child in a family of nine children of
Samuel and Hannah Lawrence, both of whom were natives of
Connecticut. Samuel's father's name was
Timothy, of New England birth, and English ancestry,
(being a descendant of John Lawrence, born in
England) and of the third or fourth generation.
Solomon Dibble, of French extraction, was the
grandfather of our subject on the maternal side.
Mr. Lawrence settled in Huron county, Ohio, on the farm
where he now resides, in the year 1831, - coming by way of
wagon to Montezuma, to Buffalo by the Erie canal, and to
Sandusky by Lake Erie. He purchased, in all, some one
hundred and forty acres, began clearing and improving, and
has become one of the substantial farmers of Huron county.
Was married Jan. 23, 1831, to Rhodema Smith, daughter
of Lockwood and Fanny Smith, of Genoa, New York.
By this union were born four children, viz: Minor, Alonzo
E., George A., and Alice Elizabeth, all of whom
are living. All are married, and residing in the
vicinity of their early home, - the eldest having charge of
the old homestead and farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence
are both members of the First Presbyterian Church of Peru
and vicinity, having joined that body of 1832. Mr.
Lawrence was appointed deacon in 1834, and has held the
office successively until the present time. In
politics, Mr. Lawrence is a republican, ever having
been a faithful exponent of its principles. He cast
his first presidential vote for John Quincy Adams.
Mr. Lawrence is now seventy-four years of age, and
quite well preserved for one who has met with the struggles
of a pioneer life.
Source: 1808 History of The Firelands
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page 241
Note: On Page 277 it mentions:
The dwelling of Mr. George Lawrence is built of stone
obtained from one of these quarries.
Also see page 231 for George Lawrence family. |
Thomas Lawrence |
THOMAS LAWRENCE.
Thomas Lawrence, eldest son of Samuel
Lawrence, was born in South Salem (now Lewisboro'),
Westchester Co., N. Y., May 8, 1794. His father was
born in Fairfield Co., Conn., Jan. 25, 1760. At
sixteen years of age he commenced service as a soldier in
the Revolutionary war, and was in many engagements at the
closing of that struggle. His father, Capt. Samuel
Lawrence, settled at South Salem, Westchester Co., N.
Y., some time previous to the struggle for liberty, and
served through many engagements as a commissioned officer.
The Lawrence family are of English descent, and, so
far as known, were members of the Presbyterian Church,
Capt. Lawrence being an official member of that body.
Our subject removed from South Salem, N. Y., to Huron
Co., Ohio, in 1833; commenced keeping house in a rude log
cabin, without any floor in it, three-quarters of a mile
west of the village of Olena. He soon after purchased
the farm now owned by his son, George B., located
one-half mile west of Olena, on which he ever after lived.
He was thrice married: first, to Clemence Reynolds,
Nov. 27, 1823, who died Nov. 14, 1830; second, to Ada
Bishop, May 24, 1831, who died Mar. 25, 1843, leaving no
family; third, to Drusilla Stone, May 9, 1844.
By the first union was born three children, viz.: John,
born Oct. 17, 1824, died Dec. 25, 1860; Lucinda, born
June 16, 1826, died Mar. 16, 1843; Alonzo, born Sept.
9, 1830, and married, Jan. 1, 1856, to Lois Morse.
The result of this union was four children, viz., Thomas,
Daniel, Edwin, and Mary. George B., son of
Thomas Lawrence and Drusilla Stone, was born
June 7, 1846, and married, Feb. 8, 1869, to Emma J. Green;
to them were born three children, two of whom are living,
viz., Clara and Martin.
Thomas Lawrence was a millwright and carpenter
previous to his removal to Ohio, but, having taught school
in his early manhood, was noted as an extensive reader and
cogent thinker. For forty-six years he was a helpful
member of the Presbyterian Church, and was greatly esteemed
for his benevolence to the needy, and his integrity in the
business relations of life.
It is related of him that his conscientious regard for
the sanctity of the Sabbath once lost him the purchase of a
farm at a good bargain, because he declined to converse on
the subject of the holy day. He died at his home in
Bronson, Huron Co., Feb. 22, 1877, at the ripe age of
eighty-three eyars. His wife survives him, and resides
on the old homestead with her son, George B.
One night, as I lay sleeping
and slumbering on my bed,
A vision then appeared, - a dream came in my
head;
That awful day of judgment I thought had surely
come,
The Judge himself was there, to summon old and
young.I heard myself
called forth by the trumpet loud and shrill;
"Arise, ye sons of men, let your deeds be good
or ill!"
I trembled as I listened, with sorrow, grief,
and woe;
But could not be exempted; to judgment I must
go.
I had not long been there
until Satan came; I thought
He came as my accuser, and all my sins he
brought;
He laid them before the Judge, and claimed me
for his own,
I felt my crimes were great, and exclaimed, "I
am undone!"
The Judge then sweetly said,
"I'll quickly end the strife;
I'll see if the sinner's name stands in the Book
of Life,"
Then the Book of Life was bought, the Judge did
it unvold,
And the sinner's name was there in letters wrote
in gold.
The Judge then gravely said,
"O Satan! Saton! stay!
The sinner's name is here, his sins are washed
away."
Then Satan, trembling, roaring, and in a
dreadful fright,
He said unto the Judge, "Those inditings are not
right."
The Judge then sternly said,
"O Satan, do not lie.
Thou knowest very well that for sinners I did
die.
I died for my chosen; their sins were laid on
me;
In vain dost then accuse them, they are
___ from thee."
Composed by Thomas Lawrence, about 1832. |
Source: 1808 History of The Firelands
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page facing 230 |
Mr. Timothy Lawrence
Mrs. Timothy Lawrence |
TIMOTHY LAWRENCE
was born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, Mar. 16, 1800;
was the fourth child and second son of Samuel and Hannah
Lawrence, who were also of New England birth. When
Timothy was four years old he removed with his
parents to Cayuga county New York, where he lived until
1834, and then removed to Huron county, Ohio, in the town of
Bronson, where he now lives.
Mr. Lawrence was married to Miss Calista Todd,
27th of February, 1831, who was also of New England
parentage. She (Mrs. Lawrence) was born in
Lansing, Tompkins county, New York. To this couple
have been born two children, Josiah and Delia, both
living and married. Josiah had three children.
Delia married E. T. Curtis, of Michigan.
They have one child.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence early united with the
Congregational Church, of which body they are still members,
and under the government of the Presbytery. Mr.
Lawrence was first a whig, and at the organization of
the republican party he identified himself with the same.
Mr. Lawrence is now seventy-nine years of age, and
remarkably well preserved. Mrs. Lawrence is
sixty-seven years, and enjoys excellent health.
Source: 1808 History of The Firelands
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page 240
Note: Mentioned on page 231 in paragraphy about George
Lawrence: His brother Timothy Lawrence came frm the
same place and settled on the lot adjoining in the south in
1833. |
|
JOHN LAYLIN Source: 1808 History of The Firelands
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page 178 |
|
JOHN LOVELAND Source: 1808 History of The Firelandss
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page 318 |
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