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REV. GEORGE WASHINGTON BROWN.
By the Rev. J. H. Pitezel, of Norwalk.
The Rev. George W. Brown
was born at Monroeville, Ohio, Aug. 29, 1815 and died at Abingdon,
Ill., July 23rd, 1893 at the age of nearly seventy-eight. His
father's ancestors were Danes, but became, in the revolutions of
Europe, Puritans. Some of them came over in the Mayflower.
On his Mother's side they were English and settled in old
Connecticut long before the Revolutionary war. His maternal
grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, three yeas in the
continental army and two years in a sloop of war on the ocean.
After that war his grandfather moved to the territory of Michigan
and settled on the River Rasin, near Monroe city. The whole
family were taken prisoners by the British and Indians, when Hull
surrencered his army at Detroit, but afterward made their escape in
open canoes, across the head of Lake Erie into Ohio. Mr.
Brown's parents were Seth Brown Sen. and Sarah Ann.
Mr. Brown was converted in Norwalk, O., in 1834,
and united with the Methodist Episcopal church, being then a student
of the old Norwalk Seminary. In 1838 he was admitted on trial
into the Michigan Annual Conference M. E. C. In 1840 he was
ordained a deacon and in 1842 an Elder. For 16 years he
preached in connection with the Michigan Conference, thence two
years in Northern Ohio, living at Monroeville. He moved to
Illinois, where he
[Page 128] -
was actively employed in the work until 1862, when he was appointed
a Chaplain in the U. S. Army.
After one year he resigned his commission and again
entered heartily into his life work in connection with the Central
Illinois Conference. In 1882, he took a superannuated
relation. In 1884 he was stricken with paralysis and after
nine eyars of great suffering passed to his reward.
August 22nd, 1843 he was married to Miss Amanda M.
Irons, of Ann Arbor, Mich., who accompanied her late husband to
the Kewawenon Indian Mission, Lake Superior. The fruits of
this marriage were two daughters, Amelia M. and Lena, both of
whom preceded the father to the land where is no death.
Amelia left behind an only daughter, who survives with an infant
the only linial descendants. Mr. Brown was distantly
related to the nonagenarian, the venerable Abert Brown of
East Norwalk.
Want of space obliges me to omit many things of interst
in the long and eventful life of my old friend, Rev. George W.
Brown.
-----------
JOHN
G. SHERMAN
Mr. John G. Sherman,
one of the best known residents of Huron county, died Friday
evening, May 26, 1893, of heart trouble, after an illness of several
months.
Mr. Sherman was born in Wakeman, Nov. 14, 1830,
in the old homestead of Justin Sherman, his father, where he
has ever since resided and where he died. In March, 1851, he
was married to Miss Julia G. Beecher. One child was
born to them, a daughter, Florence. In Noveber, 1858,
he married a second wife, Miss Elizabeth D. Miller, of New
London. Three children were born them them, John M., Julia
E. and Mary B., the latter of whom died in January, 1889.
The deceased was an enterprising, honorable, whole
souled gentleman, and had a host of friends throughout Huron county.
He was a half brother of Mr. N. G. Sherman, of Norwalk.
[Page 129] -
GENERAL FRANKLIN SAWYER
[Page 130] -
GENERAL FRANKLIN SAYWER.
A Brave Soldier and a Talented Lawyer.
By Hon. F. R. Loomis, of Norwalk.
General
Franklin Sawyer was born in Auburn, Crawford county, Ohio, July
13, 1825. He remained upon his father's farm until his
seventeenth year when he became a student at Norwalk Seminary, and
in 1844 he attended Granville College. In 1845 he commenced
the study of law at Norwalk, and was admitted to the bar in 1847.
Three years later he was elected prosecuting attorney of Huron
county, and in 1854 he formed a law partnership with Col. G. H.
Safford, which continued until the breaking out of the
rebellion.
In 1860, at the instance of Governor Dennison, Gen.
Sawyer organized the Norwalk Light Guards, which, on the 20th of
April, 1861, became Company , of the 8th O. V. I., and he was
commissioned its captain.
The regiment was re-organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio,
on the26th of May, 1861, for three years service, and Captain
Sawyer was made major of the newly organized regiment.
This regiment was sent to the front in Ju e, and from
that time forward, for more than three years, was conspicuous for
gal-
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[Page 133] -
ROBERT
W. STEVENSON.
Robert W.
Stevenson, who was superintendent of the Norwalk schools for
eleven years, from 1860 to 1871, died quite suddenly at his hoe in
Columbus, Monday, Mar. 6, 1893, of heart disease. He had been
superintendent of the Columbus schools for eighteen years having
been there ever since leaving Norwalk, with the exception of three
years which he spent in Wichita, Kansas.
Mr. Stevenson returned to Columbus last fall
from Wichita, and was engaged in the insurance business at the time
of his death.
[Page 134] -
BURTON
M. CANFIELD
By John G. Sherman
Burton M. Canfield
was the first white child born in Wakeman, April 18th, 1818.
The house was situated on the site of the residence of John G.
Sherman, and was the first permanent log edifice. Here he
lived with his parents and family until about 1822 when his father,
Augustine Canfield, removed to the farm adjoining on the
north, where he remined with his parents until he became of age when
he was employed by Mr. Merrit Hyde to take charge of a stock
of goods. He was engaged in trade until about the year 1855.
Some portion of the within time, however, was spent in farming.
Mr. Canfield was married about June 20th, 1847, to Miss
Louise Cunningham, in Wisconsin, and soon came to Wakeman to
reside. Three children, two daughters and one son, were born
to them, two of whom are now living at present. Mrs.
Canfield died some three years ago. Mr. Canfield
was an indulgent father, and a kind and accommodating neighbor.
Since the death of Mrs. Canfield he has lived with his
son and family. He died in Youngstown, Ohio, Aug. 13th, 1892,
aged 74 years and 4 months. Of a family of five
children, one brother, C. C. Canfield, and one sister,
Mrs. Caroline Barr, survive him.
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RACHEL
HATHAWAY WASHBURN
Rachel Hathaway Washburn
died in Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, Friday morning, Dec. 22d,
1893, in the 89th year of her life. She had made her home in
Salem with her daughter, Mrs. E. A. Benedict for the past ten
years. Mrs. Washburn whose first husband was Caleb
Hathaway, lived for many years in Erie county, where she was
well known as a minister in the Society of Friends She
outlived nearly all of her own generation of pioneers, but is
remembered in much love by many of the younger generation, having
lived to see her children's children unto the third and fourth
generation.
Of a family of eight children, three sons and two
daughters survive her, and over thirty grand-children and
twenty-great grand-children. The widow of her oldest son,
Peter, still resides on the old farm with her daughter, Mrs.
Wm. Rosekelly.
Mrs. Washburn was buried in the family plot in the
Milan cemetery, Thursday, Dec. 29th, 1893.
[Page 135] -
Rachel Hathaway Washburn was born in northern
New York in the year of our Lord 1805, and came with her parents,
when quite young, to Ohio among the early pioneers of the Western
Reserve. Her first husband was Caleb Hathaway with whom
she lived a quarter of a century in Milan, Erie county, and by the
side of whose boy hers is laid to rest. Since the death of her
second husband she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. E.
A. Benedict, in Salem, Ohio, where she died Friday morning, Dec.
22d, 1893. Five of her eight children survive her with thirty
grand-children, all of whom, without one exception, are professed
Christians.
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JOHN HOWE.
Mr. John Howe died
at the residence of his son, C. A. Howe, No. 76 West street,
Saturday morning, July 11th, 1891, after an illness of six weeks, at
the age of 86 years and 5 months. Short services were held at
the house, July 14th, and the deceased laid at rest in the family's
place of burial in the Monroeville cemetery.
----------
WILLIAM
G. MEAD.
William G. Mead, one
of the old pioneers of Huron county, died at his home in Bronson
Township, about five miles from Norwalk on the Fairfield road, at
2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22nd, 1893, aged 84 years.
The deceased had lived on his farm in Bronson for about fifty years
and was well known throughout the entire county. A nuber of
years ago he ran for Congress on the prohibition ticket, in his
district, against Charles Foster. Mr.
Mead was a widower, his wife having died a number of years ago.
The only remaining member of the family is one son, Capt. A. M.
Mead, a prominent lumber dealer who was at his father's bedside
at the time of his death.
Mr. Mead was always active and zealous in church
and other good work. He was, for many years, a prominent
member and class-leader in the Methodist church. He was a man
of pleasant ways and cheer-leader in the Methodist church. He
was a man of pleasant ways and cheerful disposition and made many
friends. He was quite a figure upon the streets of Norwalk and
his ind, fatherly face will be much missed.
[Page 136] -
GEORGE
B. HAUGHTON
From the Norwalk Chronicle
George B. Boughton,
for more than forty years a resident or Norwalk, died on Tuesday
morning, Dec. 12th, 1893, very suddenly, while sitting quietly in a
chair at his residence, No.
143 Whittlesey
avenue. In September, 1892, he suffered an attack of
dropsy, and his health was extremely poor after that time, although
for a few days immediately previous to his death he had been feeling
exceptionally well for him.
George B. Houghton was born in Westminster,
Vermont, Dec. 30th, 1826; he came to Ohio in 1850 to assume the
duties of a responsible position on the Lake Shore railway, then in
process of construction; he took up his residence in Norwalk at that
time and has lived here ever since. When the railway was
completed he was appointed roadmaster, a position he held for nearly
forty years. In 1859 he married Miss Carrie Eggleston;
to them were born six children, five of whom survive.
Mr. Houghton was a devoted member of the
Baptist church; he planned the church building on East Main street,
and was chairman of the building committee when it was erected,
seventeen years ago.
In his death Norwalk loses one of her best respected
citizens.
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SAMUEL
J. ROGERS.
From the Norwalk Press.
Samuel J. Rogers, a
well known and respected citizen of Norwalk, died at his home, No.
40 Norwood avenue, at 4:30 o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 21st,
1893, of kidney trouble. The deceased was sixty-seven years of
age and had been sick for three months.
Mr. Rogers was born in Watertown, Jefferson
county, N. Y., Mar. 24, 1826. When he was eleven years of age
he removed to Ohio with his parents and settled in Ripley township.
About a year later they moved to Norwalk township two miles out of
town where Mr. Rogers resided on a farm until 1871, when he,
removed to Norwalk, where he has since lived in retirement.
In 1851, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss
Fannie M. Wilson. Besides his wife, the deceased leaves
one daughter, Mr. J. M.
[Page 137] -
Vaughn, of Norwalk, and three sons Fremont, who lives on his
father's farm; Dayton, who resides in Emporia, Kansas; and Dr.
Frank Rogers, who lives in Bowling Green. The latter was
sent for, and arrived at his father's bedside, ten minutes before
his death.
Mr. Rogers also leaves four grand-children and
six sisters. The latter are Mrs. Sarah Northrop, of
Norwalk; Mrs. E. T. Wade, of Bowling Green; Mrs. H. A.
Gray, of Emporia, Kan.; Mrs. N. A. Johnson, of
Leavenworth, Kan.; Mrs. C. H. Critchett, of Jamestown, N. Y.;
and Mrs. A. N. Sawyer, of Nevada, Ohio.
A member of the family has given us the following
characteristics of Mr. Rogers.
His views were always radical, devout
and outspoken in all his beliefs, religious or political, and never
feared the loss of friends in his stand for rights of people or
things. He admired frugality, economy and honesty of purpose
in any one, and above all, the poor and oppressed one held a warm
place in his heart.
Though not a soldier in the Civil war, all who knew him
at these times, remember his enthusiastic words for the abolition of
slavery, and his great love for Lincoln, Wade, Staunton and
Chase.
Not always strong and a great part of
the time in sickness, he was one of the hardest workers in Huron
county and endeavored to forge out a home for his own, and always
felt dearly for their welfare.
He lived a busy life, and said he was tired and
worn out, and rest came gently to him.
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HARVEY CURTISS.
By I. M. Gillett, of Norwalk
One of the oldest pioneers
of the Firelands, Harvey Curtiss, of Huron, Erie county, died
Monday, Feb. 1st, 1892, at his home, aged 85 years. Mr.
Curtiss was born in Huron in 1807 and lived there all his life.
He was the father of Mrs. A. Sigourney of Norwalk.
Mr. Curtiss was the first white child born in
Huron township. He was born near the residence of the
Winthrop H. Wright. Mr. Curtiss remembered hearing
the guns the day of Perry's victorious battle. (See
Firelands Pioneer, Vol. 12, 1876).
[Page 138] -
MRS.
ELIZABETH HIGGINS FARR.
From the Norwalk Reflector
The death of Mrs.
Elizabeth Higgins Farr, at a little after 6 o'clock, Tuesday
evening, July 25th 1893, was a very sudden one, causing a painful
shock not only to her family, but to many friends in all parts of
the city of Norwalk. She had not been sick long and few knew
of the anxiety with which her symptoms had been watched by those
nearest to her; she was at church Sunday and had not been missed by
those accustomed to see her, when the news rapidly spread that she
was dead.
The acute pains which caused her such agony, and which
she endured with remarkable fortitude, reached her heart, and in an
instant she had passed from that she was dead.
So many of her years have been devoted to alleviating
the the sorrows, sufferings and hunger of the erring and unfortunate
that it is fitting to briefly recount a few of the events of her
life.
Elizabeth Higgins was born in Bath, N. Y., June
17th, 1823. Her mother dying when she was quite young, she and
a younger sister came to Norwalk in 1835 to make their home with
their grandfather, Rev. David Higgins the pioneer
Presbyterian minister. During most of the nearly sixty years
that have elapsed, her home has been in the vicinity of the corner
of West Main and Pleasant streets, where she died.
In 1855 she married Joseph M. Farr, one of the
founders of the Norwalk Experiment, who died in 1873.
She was for fifty years a member of the Presbyterian
church, and during nearly all this long period she has been a
faithful and beloved teacher in the Sunday school, always in her
place unless sick or out of town. As a worker in the
temperance cause, in the relief society, among the poor, with those
confined in the jail, and among the unfortunate, the sick and the
dying, in every walk of life, her labors have been constant and
marked by that tender sympathy and that forgetfulness of self which
attested their genuineness. She rests from her labors but her
works do follow her.
A daughter, two sisters, two brothers, and many
sorrowing relatives and friends remain to mourn the loss of one of
the best of women; but they sorrow not as those without hope, for
such a noble Christian life poinots ever heavenward, and a
triumphant faith such as hers beckons ever onward beyond the skies,
to where she as gone "to be forever with her Lord."
LIZZIE H. FARR
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BAXTER
ASHLEY
Baxter Ashley was
born at Deerfield, Mass., Nov. 9, 1806, where he resided until he
was eleven years of age, when he moved with his father's family to
Greenfield, Ohio. They left Deerfield in Noveber, 1817, and
arrived at Greenfield in January, 1818, coming the whole distance of
an ox team and one horse. Mr. Ashley came to Milan in
the spring of 1826. He was a tailor by trade, and followed
that vocation for twenty-three years. In 1849 he entered the
jewelry business, in which business he remained for forty years,
until 1889, when he gave up all business cares and went to Tennessee
to ake his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mattie Hathaway.
Mr. Ashley was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah Wilber, in the spring of 1830. To them were born two
sons, Ward H. and Leban.
Mrs. Ashley died Aug. 24, 1835. Jan. 1, 1839,
he was united in marriage with Marcia Sturdevant. To
them were born seven children, four daughters and three sons, five
of whom survive him.
Mr. Ashley was a member of the Presbyterian
church for more than half a century, and most of that time he was a
prominent deacon of that church. He departed this life at the
home of his son, Edward, in Buffalo, N Y., Sunday, Dec. 11,
1892.
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JOEL
BLACKMAN.
From the Norwalk Chronicle.
Joel Blackman died,
on Monday evening Nov. 20, 1893, at the residence of Geo. W.
Watros, his son-in-law, No. 70 East Seminary St., Norwalk Ohio,
aged 93 years.
The deceased was born in Columbus, N. Y., 1801.
In 1815 his parents came with him to Ohio. In 1867 he removed
to this city.
On Sept. 12, 1830, he was united in marriage to Miss
Wealthy Tilden who preceded hi mto the grave in 1879. Two
children were born to them - Wm. Blackman, of Lebanon, Kan.
and Mrs. Ruth Watros of this city.
Mr. Blackman was a member of the M. E. church,
this city, and his wife was one of conscientious and consistent
christianity.
[Page 140] -
THOMAS
HARRISON.
By H. P. Starr, of Birmingham
Thomas Harrison died
at his home in Florence township, Erie county, on Monday, July 6th,
1891, aged 78 years.
Thomas Harrison was born in Amsterdam,
Montgomery county, N. Y., Apr. 28th, 1813. He came to Florence
in 1835 from Michigan, and joined his parents who had preceded him.
Sept. 13th, 1837, he was married to Miss Ruth H. Hine and
settled on the farm where he lived fifty-four years. To this
union were born two sons and five daughters, all except the oldest
daughter and youngest son having preceded him to that bourne whence
no traveller returns.
His daughter, Mrs. Mary Butman, of Galesville,
Trempealeau county, Wis., was present at his funeral, she having
been with him several weeks during his illness. His son
Lucius lives near and was also with him. His companion for
fifty-four years and the two children, besides a host of friends,
mourn the loss of a faithful and loving husband, father and friend.
He was a member of Gibson Lodge, F. & A. M., he being
the first person made a Mason in the lodge, in 1856.
His funeral was held at the house Thursday, the 9th,
the services being conucted by the Masons in their very
interesting and instructive ritual.
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HON.
EVERT BOGARDUS.
From the Norwalk Chronicle
Hon. Evert Bogardus,
of North Monroeville, one of the widely known residents of Huron
county; a man hwo has honored his county in official position; who
has been identified prominently in past years with political,
temperance and Sunday school work, in Huron county, died on
Saturday, June 25th, 1892, after a long continued illness, resulting
from la grippe, aged 78 years and 9 months.
Mr. Bogardus was a man of pure, personal
character, a Christian an of intelligence and probity, and his death
will be lamented by a wide circle of admiring friends.
Mr. Bogardus represented Huron county in the
Ohio General Assembly for two terms, first in 1870-71 and the second
time in
[Page 141] -
1876-77. His record as a member of that body was one of strict
faithfulness to his official trust. He was also commissioner
of Huron county for two successive terms. He had been
identified prominently with temperance and Sunday School work in
years past, and he was president of the Firelands Historical Society
in 1886, '87, '88 and '89. Probably no man in Huron county was
more highly respected than he; his death mars the departure from
among us of a truly good man
The funeral services of the deceased were held on
Tuesday, June 28th, 1892, at 2 p.m., and were very largely attended
by his neighbors and by friends in Huron and Erie counties.
The remains were laid to rest in the North Monroeville cemetery.
The following, regarding the death of the Hon. Evert
Bogardus, is found in the record of the proceedings of the 26th
annual eeting of the Firelands Historical Society, on page 30, Vol.
VII, Firelands Pioneer:
RESOLUTIONS:
Hon. L.
C. Layton offered the following resolutions in honor of the
Hon. E. Borgadus, our former president for four years, recently
deceased.
Resolved,
That the members of the Firelands Historical Society have
learned with feelings of sincere sorrow the news of the departure of
our former president of this society and our co-worker in its
interests, the Hon. Evert Bogardus, whose death occurred on
Saturday, June 25th, 1892, aged 78 years and 9 months, at his home
in North Monroeville, after an illness of several months' duration.
Resolved, That in his demise our society has
lost an ever earnest friend and supporter; one whose counsels were
always wise and whose intelligent efforts for the success of the
society will be greatly missed.
Resolved, That we herein desire to express our
sincere appreciation of him as a friend, and a man deservedly
promient in public affairs; a Christian gentleman whose life is
worthy of imitation; whose intelligence and ripe experience have
given his name place among the most honored pioneers of the
Firelands.
Resolved, That as a mark of our appreciation we
direct that these resolutions be place upon the records of this
society and that they be published with the proceedings of this
annual meeting and that copies of them be sent to the family of the
deceased.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
[Page 142] -
NELSON
BROWN
Nelson Brown was
born in Ontario, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1810. In 1820 he
moved with his parents to Berlin township, Erie Co., from which
place he moved to Norwalk township in the neighborhood of ilan and
settled on a farm, the land of which he cleared and resided upon,
until he came to Norwalk village, in April 1866, and occupied the
house which had since been his home,
No. 24 Bank St.
On Jan. 8, 1865 he was married to Harriet E. Stoakes
in Milan O. He was the father of ten children, nine of
whom survive him, viz.: Silas T. Brown and Frank J.
Brown of Norwalk township; Mrs. Lou Searles of Norwalk,
Jessie W. Brown and Mrs. Edith Justice of Chicago,
Fred T. Brown of Fremont, Neb.; Mrs. Frank Butt and
Miss Lois E. Brown of Chicago and Miss Susie O. Brown of
Norwalk.
Mr. Brown died at 6:20 p.m., Friday, Mar. 17th,
1893, aged 82 yrs., 4 mo. 22 days.
He is a representative of the pioneer class that
cleared for us the forest lands and made possible our broad and
fruitful farms. When he began his active life in this
vicinity, Milan and Norwalk were but the merest halets. He was
industrious and incessantly active until incapacited by parallysis;
dividing his tie between the farm and the vocation of a mason in
which trade he was a skilled workman. The first brick buildings in
this vicinity were built in part by him.
He was kindhearted as a husband and father but a rigid
disciplinarian and earnestly strove to bring up his children to
lives of integrity and honor.
He was a great sufferer during the latter part of his
life, and his constant pain made his parting from earth easier, for
he often expressed the desire to die.
He is the last of a family of six brothers; though two
sisters, Mrs. Sarah Gardner of Dartford, Wis., and Mrs.
Lavinda De Groff of Vineland N. J., yet survive, and with his
wife and children mourn his loss.
The funeral services were held at his late residence
No. 24 Bank St., Monday, Mar. 20th, 1893 at 2 p.m., conducted by
Rev. C. Gallimore of Norwalk, after which the body was taken to
Milan for interment.
[Page 143] -
DR.
OBEDIAH PRENTISS
From The Norwalk Chronicle
Dr. Obediah Prentiss
of East Main street, Norwalk, Ohio, who has been in failing health
for several years past, but who has been unusually feeble for a few
weeks, with a combination of difficulties, chiefly la grippe
and diabetes, died on Friday morning, Dec. 29, 1893, at 1:30
o'clock, after a few day's confinement to his home, aged 72 years.
His funeral services were conducted at his late
residence on Saturday morning, Dec. 30, 1893, by Rev. C. S. Aves
of St. Paul's Episcopal church in Norwalk and his remains were taken
to Kipton, Ohio, for interment beside his mother, of whom he was
exceeding fond.
Dr. Prentiss was born at Lowville, New York, Nov
6th, 1821. In 1837, with his parents, he moved to Camden
township, Lorain county, where he lived many years. In 1848 he
graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College and at once went to
Ashtabula and practiced his profession for six years, then removing
to Monroeville, Huron county, where he lived until 1881, when he
moved to Norwalk, where he has since resided.
He was married in 1845, at Jefferson, Ohio, to Miss
Harriet D. Webster, sister of C. M. Webster of Norwalk.
His wife survives him as do two children, Dr. C. M. C. Prentiss
of Chicago, Ill., and Mrs. L. D. Lindsley of Norwalk, O.
The doctor was one of the best known physicians in
Huron county, and formerly had an extensive practice. He was
genial, affectionate and generous, easily approached and friendly to
everybody; kind to the poor and afflicted and had a large circle of
warm and companionable friends.. He will be greatly missed by
many to whom he has been a very kind and helpful friend
The doctor was a member of the Huron County Board of
Pension Examiners and the second member of the new board to pass
away within a few weeks.
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PHILO
COMSTOCK
On Thursday morning, Nov.
17th, 1892, Philo Comstock, one of the oldest and best known
residents of Milan, died, aged 84 years.
[Page 144] -
Philo Comstock was born in new Canaan, Conn.,
Feb. 5th, 1809, and came to Oiho in 1828, making his home in the
house his grandfather, Thomas Comstock, had built, on the Old
State Road, near Milan; this house is without doubt the oldest in
Huron county.
Mr. Comstock was married Dec. 25th, 1832, and
his wife is still living. He resided on his farm in the
northern part of the township until 1875, when he moved into the
village of Milan, having laid by enough money, to support himself
and family, by hard pioneer labor.
Mr. Comstock was one of the organizers of the
First Presbyterian church of Milan. At his death he was the
oldest member of it, and had been for many years one of its elders.
His upright life has been for many who lived and respected him.
He leaves a wife and four children. One of these
is Edward A. Comstock of Norwalk. The other three are
daughters, two of them, Mrs. Randolph, of Oberlin, and
Mrs. Leveya of Cleveland, being married. His unmarried
daughter resides with her mother in Milan.
----------
MANLY K.
COLE
Manly K. Cole,
probably the oldest resident of Bronson township, died on Saturday
morning, Apr. 29, 1893, at 10:30 o'clock, at his home, on the old
family homestead, a short distance south of the Norwalk water works,
where, or near where, he had lived since 1816.
He leaves a wife and five children, and strange to say
his is the first death in the family.
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REV
LEMUEL BISSELL
Rev. Lemuel Bissell,
for forty years a missionary to Indian under the American Board,
going there from Milan, died June 28th, 1891, of heart failure.
Mrs. Gaston and Miss Rosanna Bissell both of Milan,
are sisters of the deceased. Many in Norwalk have pleasant
recollections of Mr. Bissell, who came home from India once
or twice during his long career of usefulness in that far off
country.
[Page 145] -
MARTIN KELLOGG
MARTIN
KELLOGG
From the Norwalk Reflector.
Martin Kellogg, of
Bronson township, Huron county, probably the oldest of Ohio's
millions of inhabitants, died on Wednesday, Aug. 17th, 1892, about 5
o'clock p.m., upon the farm where he had resided for upwards of
three-quarters of a century, at the remarkable age of 105 years, 10
months and 27 days.
He had been in his usual health up to within a week
when he became unable to eat or sleep.
The deceased was the son of Martin Kellogg and Lucy
Dunhara, and was born Sept. 21st, 1786, in Bethel township,
Windsor county, Vermont. He was married Dec. 7th, 1809,
[Page 146] -
to Lucy Fay, of Barnard township, the next south of Bethel,
Mr. Kellogg's birthplace. On the 17th of June, 1815,
with his wife and three children, Mr. Kellogg left the Green
Mountain state for Ohio. they first stopped at Avery, then the
county-seat of Huron county, but shortly after moved onto the
Underhill farm just west of Norwalk. On the 17th of June,
1816, the family moved into a log house located on the site of the
house in which Mr. Kellogg died.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg twelve
children, eight of whom are now living, viz.:
Mrs. Mandana Harding, of Furniss county,
Nebraska; Mrs. Lucy Thompson, of Norwalk; Mrs. Polly
Thomas, of Elmore, Ohio; Aaron F. Kellogg, of Greenfield,
Huron county; Mrs. Eleutheria Familiar of Fairfield, Huron
county; Lyman Kellogg, of Norwalk.
Mr. Kellogg's first presidential vote was cast
for James Madison in 1808. Upon the birth of the
Republican party he became an active and earnest member of that
organization, and continued to vote with that party until 1876 when
he voted for Peter Cooper, the Greenback candidate for
president.
He united with the M. E. church when a young man, but
for the past forty-six years has been associated with the
Universalist church in which faith he was a firm believer.
A full account of Martin Kellogg's life and
history, together with a most interesting account of his centennial
celebration, will be found in Volume IV of the Firelands Pioneer,
commencing with page 20.
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HENRY BROWN.
From the Norwalk Chronicle.
[Page 147] -
[Page 148] -
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CHARLES
SIDNEY BROWN
On Thursday morning, Feb.
4th, 1892, Charles S. Brown, one of the most prominent and
best known farmers in Huron county, died at his home, on his farm in
Ridgefield township, about two miles west of Norwalk city, after an
illness of several months. His age was eighty-three years.
Mr. Brown was one of the many pioneers of Huron
county; coming to Norwalk from Madison county, N. Y., in 1835.
The farm where he died was the old family homestead for many years
and has been the scene, in bygone years, of many pleasant and happy
social gatherings of young people; Mr. and Mrs. Brown being
very fond of young society.
Charles S. Brown was of a long lived family.
One of his brothers, Henry Brown, of Norwalk, was living at
the time of Charles' death, aged eighty-one years.
Another brother, William P., was living at Freeport, Ill.,
ninety-two years of age at the time of Charles' death, having
been born in 1800. The latter gentleman formerly resided in
Norwalk, and built the old American House, which became a famous
hostelry; it is now a part of the Wheaton block. Mr.
Brown also left a sister, Mrs. J. W. Baker, of Norwalk.
Mr. Brown was a prominent figure among Huron
county people for many years. He was warm hearted, always
friendly and cordial in his manners and had many friends who will
miss his jovial countenance.
He leaves two children; a son, Lloyd, and a
daughter, Mrs. Retta Bishop, both of Norwalk.
[Page 149] -
WILLIAM PITT BROWN
From the Freeport, Ill., Journal
[Page 150] -
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CHARLES GARDNER.
From the Norwalk Reflector
[Page 151] -
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LEMUEL
SHERMAN
From the Norwalk Reflector
The subject of this sketch
was born in Barre, Vt., Sept. 29th, 1811, of sturdy New England
stock. He came to Ohio with his parents early in life, with
the tide of immigration which flowed to the lake region after peace
was established with the British, and the destruction of Tecumseh.
Coalition had banished the fear of the Indians. His
parents settled in what is now Townsend, and belonged to the age of
the "rifle, ax and saddle-bags, when the corn for the family bread
was ground on a grater and the rifle furnished the fresh meat
market."
He was a noted knight of the ax and rejoiced in felling
the giants of the forest. He could ride through Townsend,
Norwalk, Clarksfield and New London townships, pointing out many a
fine farm where he first wrestled with "the forest primeval," and
cleared it off for cultivation.
At twenty-three years of age he married Miss Polly
Jones, who through a married life of fifty-seven years, was a
true helpmeet in all his plans. They setted on a new farm in
Norwalk township, just north of the Medina road. The primitive
log cabin was sheltered from sun and storm by the interlacing
branches of
[Page 152] -
the native forest, which retreated before his sturdy blows.
Here the children of this union were born, all of whom are living -
save one - and were present to receive the patriarch's parting word,
and bear him to his resting place. They are as follows:
Alonzo, Almira, now Mrs. Miles, Luther, Rose, now
Mrs. Read, Almond, Ambrose, Lemuel Riley, Horace; and
Ira, who lived to the age of nine years. Seventeen
grand-children and two great grand-children are living.
Industry and frugality soon brought a competence, the
primitive structures gave place to more pretentious buildings; they
were regarded as forehanded a place for hospital entertainment.
He erected the first sawmill of original water-wheel pattern, over
fifty years ago, and replaced it later by one of stream. The
lumber for all purposes, for miles around, came from that mill.
The influences about his childhood were not religious,
but when a young man he became acquainted with the family of Wm.
Prosser, near New London, and through their influence was led to
a religious life, and his conversion established a Christian
experience and confirmed the inherent integrity of his nature.
His piety was rather persistent than demonstrative, and there was
not money enough to tempt, nor power enough to compel him to do a
thing his conscience disapproved. Like Daniel of old,
he asked not for opinions of others but followed "the law of his
God."
These elements of character carried him during the
slavery contests into the extreme wing of the anti-slavery party.
He was an original abolitionist of the James G. Birney type,
and united with the Wesleyan Methodist church. The chambers of
his house became the parsonage, and his home the place of
entertainment for the early itinerants of that church and their
families. This gave him a personal fellowship with some of the
best minds and purest hearts of that time - Orange Scott, Edward
Smith, Luther Leee, Lucius C. Mattock, Robert McCune and John
McEldowney, most of whom are awaiting him on the other shore.
Like others of that persuasion his faith was shown by works, and
many a "Wellington rescue case," on a small scale, was enacted
through his influence and the co-operation of the neighbors.
Mr. Sherman moved to Norwalk city in 1873, where
he lived, an exemplary citizen and worthy member of the M. E. church
[Page 153] -
until his death, which occurred on Thursday night, Sept. 24, 1894,
after a long illness with Bright's disease of the kidneys.
He has gone to his rest, his memory crowned with the
loving tribute of a large circle of descendants, the reverence due a
veteran pioneer, and the tender remembrance of a kind neighbor and
friend.
----------
MRS.
L. L. BUCKINGHAM
From the Norwalk Reflector.
A letter to the senior
editor of the Reflector, from A. L. Buckingham, of
Salem, Oregon, was received today, Mar. 14, 1892 announcing the
death of his mother, Mrs. L. L. Buckingham. In his
letter he says:
"I write you today (March 8th) to inform you that my
mother died yesterday, Mar. 7th, 1892, aged 91 years, 10 months and
7 days.
"She was born in Ontario county, N. Y., Apr. 19th,
1810. Her maiden name was Loina Lindsley. She
removed from New York state to Ohio in 1826. About the year
1828 she was a teacher in the old Norwalk Academy which was soon
after destroyed by fire.
"In 1829 she was married to George T.
Buckingham, one of the founders of the Reflector.
She left Ohio in 1856 for Oregon. She twice visited Ohio, once
in 1870 and again in 1880. She was taken sick four years ago,
which settled in her eyes causing blindness, and from that time her
health gradually declined. She was unconscious for about
twelve hours previous to her death."
Mrs. Buckingham will be remembered by many of
Norwalk's older residents. She was the mother of Henry and
Al Buckingham, both of whom have a number of relatives and
acquaintances in Norwalk.
----------
MRS.
JOHN K. CAMPBELL
Mrs. John K. Campbell
died in Rosebury, Oregon, Sunday, Nov. 12, 1893. Her husband,
the late John K. Campbell, was once a very prominent man in
Huron county, previous to the separation of Erie and Huron counties.
He was one of the founders of the Sandusky Register.
[Page 154] -
MRS.
PARIS D. HAYNES
On Thursday, Apr. 7th,
1892, at her home in Bronson township, Huron county, Mrs. Paris
D. Haynes, widow of the late B. G. Haynes, died at the
age of ninety years. Funeral services wehre held from her late
residence in Bronson, Sunday afternoon, Apr. 10th, 1892, at one
o'clock.
The deceased was an aunt of Judge G. R. Haynes,
of Toledo, and Mrs. C. S. Herrick, of Bronson.
----------
MRS. ANNA
YALE.
Entered into rest on Monday
evening, Nov. 13th, 1893, Mrs. Anna Yale, widow of the late
Moses Yale, in the eighty-second year of her age.
After thirteen years of almost entire helplessness,
borne with unfaltering fortitude and submission, the devoted mother
and sympathizing friend fell peacefully to sleep, in the confidence
of certain faith and in perfect peace with the world.
The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon,
November 15, at 1:30 p.m., at her late residence, No. 55 West Main
street, Norwalk, Ohio.
----------
MRS.
MARY D. PERRY
Mrs. Mary D. Perry,
widow of the late Orfus S. Perry, died on Saturday morning
Jan .21st, 1893, at her home, No. 170 East Main street, Norwalk,
aged eighty-nine years.
The deceased was one of the oldest residents of
Norwalk, having lived here continuously for over sixty-nine years,
making her home all these years in the old Perry house on East Main
street, where she died.
She moved to Norwalk from Weston, Conn., in 1826, and
lived here three years, when she moved back to Connecticut. In
1834 she returned to Norwalk and here she has resided ever since.
She was an earnest Christian lady, a member of the
Baptist church, having united with the church in her younger years
under the pastorate of Elder Webster, adn before the weight of eyars
pressed upon her she was interested and active in church work.
She leaves three children, Mrs. Samuel Barnes
and Mrs. W. C. Penfield, of this city, and Mrs. Mary E.
Lee, of Ceirus, California.
[Page 155] -
MRS.
RACHEL RANSOM
After only a week's sickness, starting
with the prevailing influenza, la grippe, and running rapidly into
pneumonia, Mrs. Rachel Ransom, eighty-nine years of age,
widow of the late Oliver Ransom; passed away on Saturday
midnight, Dec. 9th, 1893.
She was born in Connecticut in 1804, and was married in
1819, her maiden name being Hollister. They lived
together seventy-two years, Mr. Ransom dying Mar. 4th, 1891.
About twenty years ago they moved to Norwalk from Berlin. Six
daughters and a son survive. The funeral was held from the
family residence on Tuesday, Dec. 12th, Rev. T. F. Hildreth
conducting it.
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SEELEY PALMER
[Page 156] -
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MRS. F. A. WILDMAN.
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ORANGE
KEELER
Orange Keeler, a
native of Connecticut, died in Edgewood district, Auburn township,
Placer county, California, Jan. 12th, 1892, at the residence of his
son, A. C. Keeler. He was 83 years and ten months of
age at the time of his death.
Of the six sons of Luke and Jemima Keeler,
Orange was the fifth. He emigrated from Norwalk,
Connecticut, in the year 1817, and settled in Norwalk, Ohio, where
he resided and was married. About 1854 he went to California.
Eri Keeler, the third son of Luke and Jemima
Keeler, is the only one living. He is now ninety-five
years of age and is residing with his sister, Mrs. P. Reding,
at Norwalk, O.
[Page 157] -
REV. FREDERICK C. PAINE.
By Mrs. Belle Gates
[Page 158] -
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REV, CHARLES GIBBS.
[Page 159] -
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MRS. MOLANCY PARKER
|
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