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BELLEVUE
NEWS EXCERPTS
Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and
Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 8,193
at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated
Bellevue as a Tree City USA.
The Sandusky County portion of Bellevue is part of the Fremont
Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Huron County portion is
part of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical Area. The small
portions of the city that extend into Erie and Seneca counties are
part of the Sandusky Metropolitan and Tiffin Micropolitan
Statistical Areas, respectively. Bellevue is the only municipality
in the state of Ohio to span four counties, and one of only a few
that do so in the United States.
Bellevue was the home of Henry Morrison Flagler when he partnered up
with John D. Rockefeller to start Standard Oil. Flagler later went
on to build the Florida Overseas Railroad, to Key West, Florida. The
property of his former Bellevue residence on Southwest Street is the
current location of the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum.
NOTE: Anything pertaining to Bellevue will
be separated from the rest of the townships as this township is
shared by Erie, Sandusky, Huron and Seneca Counties.
In those other counties the Bellevue links will be the same as here
(eventually) ~ Sharon Wick
Source: Bellevue Gazette
Dated: Feb. 28, 1907
(Contributed by Richard Strecker
(descendant)
CAROLINE SAWYER - OLDEST RESIDENT OF BELLEVUE - GRANDMA
SAWYER TO CELEBRATE HER NINETY-SEVENTH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
On Sunday, Feb. 24, Mrs. Caroline SAWYER, or
Grandma SAYWER, as she is familiarly known, attained her
ninety-seventy year. This aged lady is Bellevue's oldest
Pioneer resident of this section. She enjoys the
distinction of being the first white person born in this city
and nearly her entire life was passed in Bellevue and vicinity.
Although her span of life has been lengthened out far
beyond that allotted to most mortals and covers nearly a
century, Mrs. SAWYER still retains use of her faculties
and is as sprightly as most women of half her years. She
lives by herself in her own suite of rooms on Castalia Street.
She does her own housework, including cooking and is able to do
her own shopping most of the time. Although she has not
been up town this winter as frequently as usual.
Grandma SAWYER keeps herself employed most of
the time in sewing carpet-rags from which rugs are made and
given to her friends. In many homes in Bellevue are found
these rugs. The rags of which were sewn by Grandma
SAWYER's busy hands.
There was no formal celebration at her home Sunday, but
a number of friends and relatives called to extend
congratulations and Mrs. SAWYER took delight in
expressing her thankfulness toward her neighbors and friends and
especially to Mr. and Mrs. PAVLU who lives in part of the
house and show her much kindness and thoughtful consideration.
The Gazette joins with many -- in extending
felicitation to the grey haired pioneer and we sincerely hope
that her days may be lengthened so that she may live to round
out a century. |
Source: Bellevue Gazette
Dated: February 20, 1910
(Contributed by Richard Strecker
(descendant)
The Gazette is sorry to
record a bad accident and attendant injury to Mrs. Caroline
SAWYER, which occurred Friday Afternoon. Mrs.
SAWYER in going out of the back door of her home on
Greenwood Street, slipped on the ice, fell heavy and sustained a
bad fracture of the upper portion of her right femur bone.
Dr. C. L. Harding was summoned and redressed the
fracture, but owning to the extreme age of the patient it is
doubtful if she will be able to stand the shock of so serious an
injury6. Her condition is being made as comfortable as
possible by thye administration of soothing opiates.
Mr. SAWYER is in her 97th year or 98th year of
age. Almost a centenarian and lays well substantiated
claims to being the first white child born on the ground now
includes in Bellevue Corporation boundaries. Her long life
constant activity and generally robust constitution promised
some considerably longer lease of life, and it is hope that she
may survive this serious injury. But even in that event
she would likely be an almost helpless cripple.
He multitude of friends and acquaintance will be
genuinely grieved to hear of her affliction. |
Source: Bellevue Gazette
Dated: Feb. 17, 1910
(Contributed by Richard Strecker
(descendant)
OBITUARY
Caroline CHAPMAN was the first
white child born in what is now known as Bellevue. She was
the daughter of Nathaniel CHAPMAN and Ruth Ann
TOMPKINS, who were married Connecticut. The date of
her birth was Feb. 24, 1816, and had she lived thirteen days
longer she would have reached the age of ninety-four years.
She was born in a frame house which stood on the present site of
J. H. BRINKER's drug store.
In 1843 Caroline CHAPMAN was married to
William SAWYER who died in 1868 and who is buried in Trinity
Church yard in Lyme. Ten children were born of this union.
Five girls and five sons. They were Mary Ann,
Nathaniel, Augustus, Henry, Georgia Ann, Sarah Ann.
All of whom are dead. William CHAPMAN, John Frederick,
Rachiel, Jeannett, now Mrs. W. T. RASTALL, and
Angeline CLEMENCE, now Mrs. Henry S. HORN, Stockton,
Cal. Mrs. SAWYER ahs one brother now living
Nathan CHAPMAN, of Ashland. She has 26 grandchildren
and 17 great-grandchildren, making a total of 47 descendants.
The most of whom are now living.
Mr. D. SAWYER was made a member of the Episcopal
Church by baptism in her infancy. She was made a
communicant & confirmation Feb. 11, 1902 by Rev. Francis
KEYROOKS, D. D. Missionary Bishop of Oklahoma during
the absence of our regular diocesan official business of Europe.
Although it will be noticed that Mrs. SAWYER has
been a communicant for only eight full years. Having died
on the anniversary of her confirmation, she had. She had
been identified with the church ever since she was admitted
thereto by sacrament of Holy Baptism. She will be
gratefully remembered for generations by her many acts of
charity. She gave of her means unsparingly and there are
many here today who could 'rise up and called her blessed' for
her many acts of kindness to them. In accordance with the
orthodox doctrine. ' It is more blessed to give than
receive.' She has won a golden inheritance in that kingdom
not made with her hands. Eternal in the heavens.' It
may be said that if she had a fault it was generosity, and it
was of that kind, so warmly endorsed by our divine Lord.
The kind describe by him as not letting the right hand know what
the left hand doeth.'
Mrs. SAWYER was blessed in other ways. She
was a remarkably active woman who took a keen interest in
everything pertaining to community in which she lived. Her
mind was brilliant to the last, and she left a noble lesson of
industry and thrift. She was the last link that binds us
with the past any many are the wild harrowing tales that she
could tell of the early days of this community when the Indians
dwelt here and wild beasts built their dens in the woods
hereabouts. One or her own uncles, John CHAPMAN was
a martyr to the savage rage of the red men in their fury.
The passing of Mrs. SAWYER will be missed in
many ways. She was a good mother. She was faithful in her
duty toward God. Tenderly we lay away this old pioneer.
She sleeps the sleep of the just. Let up hope and pray
that her rest may be quiet and in the effulgent light of
paradise of God. |
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