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SAMUEL ARMSTRONG died at the
home of his brother-in law, W. H. Arthur, at Steuben, Monday
afternoon, Feb. 15, 1897, at 6 o'clock, after a lingering illness.
He was 58 years old and leaves a wife, one daughter and two sons.
DEACON W. S. BARNES of North
Monroeville, Ohio, passed peacefully to his rest at 3:00 P. M.
Wednesday, May 12, 1897. Mr. Barnes was one of
the Pioneer settlers in Northern Ohio, having settled at (Cook's
Corners) North Monroeville in the early days of 1844. He was
born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Aug. 30, 1817, and at his death
was in his eightieth year. He spent the early years of his
life in Gouverneur, N. Y., where, at the age of 23, in 1840, he was
married to Miss Alma G. Hoyt. In 1844 he and his wife
emigrated from New York to Cook's Corners, O., where they
established their home, raised their family, helped organize and
build a church and blessed the community. This couple lived
happily together for more than fifty five years, until Mrs.
Barnes' death a little more than a year ago.
LAURA P. BARKER was born Oct. 13,
1836, in Ripley township, Huron county, Ohio, on the farm still
known as the D. G. Barker farm. She was the only
daughter of D. G. and Eliza Barker. She had three
brothers, one of whom, Amos T. died in childhood.
Laura Barker was happily married to J. H. Donaldson
Mar. 27, 1860, and soon after they made their home on the farm and
in the house where the remainder of her life has been spent.
Her death occurred at the early hour of 1:10 Friday morning, Apr. 2,
1897, after a long and painful illness of heart disease induced by a
severe attack of the grip.
HANNAH THERESA BENEDICT
was born in New Canaan, Conn., Aug. 22, 1846. When two years
of age, her father came to Ohio, settling first in Erie county,
afterward removing to Huron county. On Mar. 28, 1867, she was
married to Judson Perrin. She then came to
Milan, where she has resided to the
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time of her death, which occurred on the morning of Dec. 22,
1896. Besides her husband, she leaves one son and two
daughters.
MRS. JANE MORRISON BERKELEY,
a devoted wife and mother, died Sunday afternoon, May 23, 1897, at
her home at No.
17 Pearl
street, Norwalk, at 3:20 o'clock. She was born June
19, 1819, at Duanesburgh, Schenectady county, New York. She
was married June 30, 1850, to John H. Berkeley. Mr.
and Mrs. Berkeley came at once to Ohio and took up their
residence at Brighton, Lorain county, where they resided for three
years when they moved to Clarksfield, Huron county, where they lived
eighteen years. From Clarksfield they moved to Monroeville,
where they lived until 1875, when they moved to Norwalk, where they
have resided ever since.
Five children were born to them, the oldest having died
in infancy. Four are still living: Watson H. and
William J., of Norwalk, Newton F., of Sandusky, and
John B. Berkeley, of Norwalk.
PHILIP BOEHLER, Monroeville loses
another Pioneer citizen in the death of Mr. Philip Boehler,
which occurred Monday morning, May 31, 1897. Mr. Boehler
was one of the oldest and best known citizens of this section of
Huron county. He was held in high esteem, honored and
respected, and his sudden death has cast a sad gloom over all.
Deceased was born in Kettern Schwalbach, Nassau, Germany, Nov. 7,
1823. He came to America in 1849, and ever since has lived in
Huron county, in the vicinity of Monroeville. On Mar. 14,
1852, he was married to Margaret Seibel, who died June
22, 1883. Six children was the result of this union—four boys
and two girls, all of whom are still living—William, Henry,
Philip, Otto, Minnie, wife of John P. Myer, and Louisa,
wife of Chas. Heyman. On Apr. 7, 1885, he took unto
himself a second wife, who survives him. In addition to his
wife and six children he leaves a step-daughter— Emma
Knobel, three sisters and twenty-three grandchildren.
MRS. ELLEN
BRADY, wife of Capt George F. Brady Sr., of Norwalk,
died at 1:15 o'clock, Aug. 28, 1897, at her home on
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Whittlesey avenue. The deceased was 69 years of
age. She was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, and came to
America in early life. For many years she has been a resident
of Norwalk, where she has a large circle of warm and loving friends.
Besides her husband, she leaves two sons, Martin Brady of San
Francisco and George F. Brady, Jr. of Norwalk, and one
daughter, Mrs. Doud of California.
HARRIET BUCKINGHAM CLARK
was born in Norwalk, Ohio, Mar. 31, 1832, and died at Salem, Oregon,
Jan. 27, 1896. She and her brother Henry crossed the plains to
Oregon in 1851 with Capt. Hiram Smith and wife and was a
member of the Buckeye camp. In 1852 she was married to S.
A. Clark at Portland, Oregon.
ALBERT PALMER CUNNINGHAM
was born Aug. 11, 1832, in Erie county, N. Y., and before he was a
year old was brought with his parents to Clarksfield, where he
resided until he was of full age in 1853, when he went to Champaign
county, Illinois. Here he maintained a home and reared a
family. He entered the army as a lieutenant in Co. B, 176 Ill.
Infantry in 1862, where he served until disability compelled his
resignation in 1864. On Aug. 16, 1855, he was married in
Clarksfield to Ophelia J. Seger, daughter of Albert R.
Seger. He died at Champaign, Ill., on Oct. 12, 1893, of a
disease which had followed him from his army life.
OPHELIA JANE SEGER,
widow of A. P. Cunningham, was born at
Norwalk, O., May 26, 1835, and spent her youth in Clarksfield, where
she was married Aug. 16, 1855. She died at her home in
Champaign, Ill., June 23, 1896.
HERMAN COLLMON was born in Baden,
Germany, Aug. 28, 1832. He served the usual time in the German
army and then in spring of the year 1854, at the age of 22, came to
America and located at Milan. He was united in marriage with
Miss Louisa King, of Huron, in 1855. He enlisted in the
169th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sept. 12, 1864, and was
discharged May 5, 1865, returning to Milan, where he resided until
Sunday morning, Dec. 27, 1896. A wife, six sons and one
daughter survive him.
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JOHN S. COPSEY, one of Norwalk's
old and much esteemed citizens, died at his home on the state road
at an early hour yes terday morning. Mr. Copsey was
born in England in 1820 and came to this country when he was 26
years of age. He came almost immediately to Norwalk where he
engaged at his trade as stone mason. The deceased leaves a
wife and two children, Louis Copsey and Mrs. Ida E. Ferris,
all of this city.
MATTHEW COSTELLO, an old and
well-known resident of Norwalk, died at his home,
33 State
street, at 2 o'clock June 15, 1897. Mr. Costello
was born in Kilkinney county, Ireland, but came to this country
with his parents when but four years of age, and settled in Norwalk
township. About forty years ago he came to Norwalk and built
his home on State street, where he has since resided.
HOMER C. CLARY
was born Dec. 25, 1825. on the home farm in Ridgefield
township, Huron county O., where he died May 25, 1897, being
therefore 71 years and 5 months old. He was the son of
Daniel Clary and Mary Wilcox Clary, who came to Ohio from New
York state in 1817, and were both “Fire lands Pioneers.” He
was married to Laura Humphreys Oct. 17, 1850, who was the
daughter of Decius Humphreys and Laura Adams Humphreys, who
came from Connecticut in 1843, and arrived in Monroeville June 1st
of that year. They were relatives of Col. David Humphreys,
Gen. Geo. Washington's private secretary and staff officer.
Mr. and Mrs. Clary have always resided on the farm purchased
by Daniel Clary of Major David Underhill.
MARY A. DRIVER was born Mar. 8,
1827, in Howard county, Maryland, and came to Erie county, Ohio, six
years later. In 1856 she was married to James Fisher,
the fruits of this union being four daughters and one son, all now
living. Mr. Albora Bartlett, who lives in Huron, O.;
Alice Hill and Mrs. Nellie Richardson, both of whom live
in Michigan; E. W. Fisher, who is in business in Cleveland,
O., and Mrs. Lucy Hart of East Norwalk, at whose home the
deceased spent her declining years.
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EPHRAIM EASLEY, a well known
colored citizen of Norwalk, died Mar. 30, 1897. He was born in
Henry county, Kentucky, Oct. 10, 1839, and was over 57 years of age.
He enlisted in Company K. 88th regiment, colored infantry Sept. 1,
1864, when 25 years of age and remained till the close of the
rebellion.
He came to Norwalk in 1862, having in the early
part of that year a very exciting escape from slavery. When a
young man in his teens he was sold, with the other members of his
family to Mrs. McPike, of Palmyra, Mo., a daughter of his
former owner in Kentucky and in the early part of 1862 he and a
number of other colored men made their escape and started for the
free state of Ohio. Their departure was soon noticed and a
squad of white men started in hot pursuit overtaking the fugitives
on a bridge over a stream near the eastern part of Missouri.
Both parties were armed and a battle ensued and number of white men
as well as colored men were killed. Easley however
succeeded in escaping and came directly to Norwalk, which has ever
since been his home. On the fourth of July 1886, he lost his
arm by the premature discharge of a cannon at a G. A. R. meeting in
New London, his eyesight also being partially destroyed at the same
time.
MRS. LUCY DEMING FULLER.
widow of the late S. B. Fuller, of Norwalk, died at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Geo. W. Rose, in Kansas City, Mo.,
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1897. She was a daughter of the late Amos
Deming, a prominent resident of Bronson township, this county.
She was born in Avon, Livingston county, New York, Apr. 20, 1827,
and came with her parents to Ohio in 1832, residing on her father's
farm in Bronson township for a number of years. She was
married May 1, 1849, to Mr. Fuller, and was a resident of
Prospect street for over forty-six years. Three daughters were
born to her, only one of whom, Mrs. G. W. Rose, survives her.
Five sisters and one brother are living, as follows: Mrs. L. E.
Squire, of Cleveland; Mrs. Mary Buell, of Albert Lea,
Minn.; Amos Deming, Jr., of Saugatuck, Mich.; Mrs. I. T.
Ray, of Norwalk; Mrs. Matilda Johnson, of Milwaukee,
Wis.; Mrs. Hattie E. Lamk, of Rock Falls, Ill.
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MRS. ANA MARIA FINN, died at
Elyria, Friday, Nov. 27, 1896, aged eighty-two years and ten months.
She was the daughter of Dr. Benjamin A. Joslin and wife, of
Troy, New York, and was married to John R. Finn, of Buffalo,
Feb. 21, 1836, and came to Norwalk the September following, where
Mr. Finn was cashier of the Bank of Norwalk and afterwards its
president. They remained in Norwalk until the spring of 1846,
when the affairs of the bank were closed up when they removed to
Painesville, Mr. Finn accepting the cashiership of the Bank
of Geauga. In 1849 they removed to Sandusky, where Mr. Finn
was treasurer of the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail Road Co. for one
year, removing then to Elyria where he was cashier of the branch of
the State Bank, and afterwards vice president of the State Bank of
Ohio until it closed its business. Mrs. Finn was
the sister of Mrs. John Gardiner and of Augustus Joslin,
of this city. She leaves one son, John L. Finn.
MRS. LAURA ANN FRENCH died at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Beckwith in Fostoria, O.,
at noon, May 27, 1897, aged 78 years, 10 months and 23 days.
Mrs. French was for many years a resident of Wakeman and the
widow of Erastus French.
HENRY GEROW, , an old resident of
Townsend township, died Dec. 7, 1896. Mr. Gerow was
born in New York city, Nov. 24, 1822, and had just passed his 74th
birthday. When a lad of but eleven years, he came with his
parents to this state and they settled upon the farm where he has
ever since resided. He married a Miss Thompson, who
with one son, Wallace, and one daughter, Lucy, survive
him.
MRS. DUCKWORTH HARGRAVES,
aged 77 years, died at her home on Corwin street, Norwalk, O., Mar.
26, 1897. The deceased was a native of North Oswald-Twistle,
Lancashire, England, and came with her husband to this country in
1849. Mr. and Mrs. Hargraves settled at Milan, Erie
county, where they lived for a few years, going from lhere to Mt.
Vernon. While at the latter place, Mr. Hargraves
enlisted and served throughout the war. Upon his return from
the field in 1865, another change of residence was made and the
worthy couple became residents of Norwalk. Besides her
husband, who is an
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invalid, the deceased is survived by three children, one son, Wil
liam, of Allentown, Pa., and two daughters, Mrs. Alice Morehouse
of this city, and Miss Selina, who lives at home.
DR. SIDNEY P. HILDRETH died
Thursday afternoon, Feb. 25, 1897. Dr. Hildreth, who
was one of the best known men in Norwalk, was born in Ulysses,
Tompkins county, New York, Nov. 17, 1822. When about twenty
years of age he moved with his parents to Ohio, settling on a farm
in Fairfield township, this county.
The Doctor while a lad was of a very thoughtful and
studious nature and acquired a good education. He took up the
study of medicine and when a young man graduated from a Cleveland
medical college. He did not follow the practice of medicine
very long, having formed a liking for dentistry and in after years
became one of the most expert and skillful dentists in the country,
following his chosen profession until about a year ago when the
disease, which ended his life, had assumed a serious type.
The Doctor practiced dentistry in Mansfield for a while
when he went to Franklin, Tennessee, where he formed a partnership
with Dr. Cliff, who also went from Mansfield. At the
latter place Dr. Hildreth had a large practice and was one of
the prominent business men of that city. In connection with
his regular business of dentistry he entered the editorial ranks,
and for a year or more wrote the leading editorials of one of the
lead ing papers of Franklin.
While a resident of Franklin he formed the acquaintance
of a Miss Mary Field, whom he afterwards married. The
two resided in Franklin until the early years of the war when they
moved from that place to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where they lived until
they moved to Norwalk about the year 1868. The wife to whom
the Doctor was devotedly attached, died in this city Mar. 1, 1885,
in the house where the Doctor has just died.
The Doctor was always a public spirited citizen and
occupied positions of trust and honor, such as mayor, waterworks
trustee, member of the board of education and township trustee, and
he was honest and faithful to them all.
Dr. Hildreth was a man of many natural
gifts and attain ments, and a great student of nature. His
mind was intellect-
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ually bent and he was a great reader of scientific
works, so much so that he was often consulted as a person of
authority on many subjects. As a lover of fruits and flowers no man
in Norwalk was his equal. As a friend to the poor and
destitute no person in our city had a more open heart, and his
charities, though boundless, were given often without display or
ostentation. As a kind and thoughtful neighbor, he was loved
by everybody who knew him. The place that he filled in the
hearts and memories of Norwalk people will take many years to fill.
His home and his garden, adorned with many fruits and flowers with
the per fume of many odors and beautiful with many colors, were fre
quented by many visitors to whom the genial and learned Doctor
always extended a hearty welcome, and who never departed empty
handed, but carried away with them mementoes of the place, and of
his thoughtful generosity.
ABRAM D. JENNEY.
ABRAM D. JENNEY was born at
Acushnet, near Fair Haven, Mass., May 19, 1813, the son of John
and Catherine Jenney. At an early age he came with the
family to Scipio, in the western part of New York, and from there to
Greenwich township, Huron county in 1824. He is the youngest
of ten children, four of whom were boys. His brothers were
Benjamin, Obediah and Mordeai, all of whom became well
known in the vicinity where they resided. Obediah was
for a long time a resident of Norwalk. Abram and
Benjamin lived in Greenwich, where they have been leading
members of the Friends church, and influential and highly respected
citizens. In 1841 Abraham married Sallie A.,
daughter of Henry Griffin, of Fitchville township. Her
death occurred in 1895.
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MRS. JULIA B. JACKSON died at
her home at Monroeville Thursday morning, Oct. 8, 1896, at 6
o'clock, after a lingering illness with a complication of diseases.
Her age was 72 years. Deceased was the wife of the late
William R. Jackson who was a brigade quartermaster of the Third
Ohio Cavalry during the late war, and whose death occurred in 1877.
She was born in Norwalk, but early in life moved to Monroeville,
where she has since resided. She leaves three children to
mourn her loss, Theodore W. of St. Augustine, Fla., Mrs.
E. O. Friend of Norwalk, and Mrs Walter Brown of
Monroeville. She was a sister of Theo. Williams and
Mrs. B. A. Gardiner of Norwalk.
MRS. SALLIE VALLEN KEISER
was born at North Hampton, Summit county, O., Aug. 27, 1821, and was
married to Enos Keiser at Akron, Dec. 21, 1839, and died at
Norwalk July 5, 1897. The deceased had been in poor health for
several years and for the past three months has been confined to her
bed. Although she suffered continually, yet she bore it all
patiently, happy at being with her children, whom she loved
devotedly, and who, in turn, were unceasing in their attentions to
her.
MRS. DINA KNAPP, relict of J.
D. Knapp, died Thursday evening, June 10, 1897, at ten o'clock,
at her old home. Mrs. Knapp was born in Sophronia,
Cayuga county, New York, in 1810, and came to Ohio, soon after,
coming through Milan when an Indian wigwam was all the building
there and a log house all the building in the locality where Norwalk
city now numbers its thousands of inhabitants.
PICKETT E. LATIMER of North
Linwood avenue, Norwalk, died at his home Dec. 22, 1896.
Mr. Latimer was a descend ant of one of Norwalk's pioneer
citizens. His father, the late Pickett Latimer, came to
this county from Connecticut, and was one of the first who settled
the land upon which this city now stands. The old homestead
occupied the present site of Gardiner's Music Hall, and there the
deceased was born Oct. 13, 1834. Mr. Latimer was
educated in the schools of Norwalk, spent his youth and young
manhood in this city, marrying in 1886, Apr. 28, Miss Myrtle E.
Watkins, also of this city. Mr.
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Latimer is survived by his wife and two sisters, Mrs. T.
H. Morse of Cleveland, and Mrs. R. E. Hallock, of Boise
City, Idaho.
JAMES CANNON LOCKWOOD
JAMES CANNON LOCKWOOD, was
born Nov 14, 1814, at Norwalk, Conn., and came with his parents to
Ohio and settled on the old state road eighty rods north of Allings
Corners, at Norwalk, in 1818, and the next year moved into Milan.
At the age of 14 he went into the employ of Nathan Jenkins as
clerk in dry goods and general supply store, and at 21 bought him
out, and always remained in that business. In December, 1835,
he was married to Louise Choate, daughter of George W.
Choate, who was a noble woman, and they both took an active
interest in all that pertained to Milan's welfare. She died in
June, 1876. About that time he became interested in vessel
property and was active in that until his death. He also
established a bank known as "The Milan Banking Co." He married
his second wife, Mrs. Mary Van Norman, in August 1880.
His death occurred Nov. 27, 1890, at the age of 76, leaving his
widow and one son, Jay, surviving him.
MRS. A. P. MOWRY died at the family
residence on Seminary street, Milan, O., on Friday, Mar. 12, 1897,
at 12:30 o'clock,
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aged 82 years, – months, and 4 days. Betsey M. Adams
was a daughter of Seth Adams, one of the pioneers of Milan
township, and was born at Smithfield, N. Y., Apr. 8, 1814. She
came with her parents to Milan at an early date and was united in
marriage with A. P. Mowry at Huron, Dec. 31, 1838, by Rev.
Everton Judson, first pastor of the Presbyterian church of this
place. She was a consistent member of such church from its
organization to the time of her death.
DAVID McGUCKIN died Dec. 3, 1896.
The deceased was born in Townsend in September, 1840, and at the
outbreak of the war he enlisted in Co. B, 55th O. V. V. I.
While in the service he was taken ill with pneumonia and was sent
home. Upon recovering his health he enlisted in the 25th, O.
V. V. I. and was promoted to Lieutenant in his company. At the
close of the war he was married to Miss Mary Amsdell, who
with three daughters and one son survives him. The children
are Mrs. F. B. Cole, Misses Carrie and Myrtle,
and Philip McGuckin, all of this city. He also leaves
two brothers, James and Emmett McGuckin, of
Norwalk, and three sisters, Mrs. Alice Templar,
of Norwalk, Mrs. Levi Thomas, of Hartland and Mrs. James
Palmer, of Toledo.
ORLANDO T. MINARD, died Jan. 26,
1897. The deceased was born in Connecticut, May 10, 1822.
In 1831 he came to Ohio with his parents settling in Erie county.
Up to 1883 he resided on West Main street, but in that year he
purchased the fine property on Benedict avenue, where he has ever
since resided. In 1880 he was elected mayor of Norwalk and was
re-elected in 1882. The people of this city have also honored
him on numerous occasions by electing him to other local offices,
all of which he filled ably and well. Mr. Minard
was married Oct. 31, 1850 to Miss Emily Chandler, of Florence
township, who survives him. No children were born of this
union, but three children of others, left parentless, found with
them a home of kindness.
H. P. NELSON, of Bronson township, one
of the most prom inent farmers in Huron county, died Saturday
afternoon, May 15, 1897, at his home on the Old State road, aged 69
years. He had
[Page 141] -
been in poor health for some time, but his condition was not
considered alarming until very recently. The deceased was born
in Peru township in 1828 and had always made his home in this
county. He was a brother of Mrs. B. Nyman, of Norwalk.
MRS HARRIET P. OSBORN died
Nov. 16, 1896. The deceased was one of the most highly
respected and most beloved ladies of Norwalk. She was ever
foremost in all charitable and temperance work, and her advice and
help will be greatly missed by her associates and co-laborers in all
good works. The deceased was born in Tompkins county, New
York, Mar. 1st 1826, and there she was married in 1850 to the late
Wakeman O. Osborn. The young couple came at once to
North Fairfield, Huron county, where they resided until 1863, when
they moved to Norwalk. They lived for many years on their farm
on Washington street, but in 1882 they moved into the city, where
Mr. Osborn died in September 1887. The deceased leaves
three children: Frank Osborn, of Howard, Kansas; Mrs.
Heber Hanford, of Duluth, Minn; and Charles Osborn, also
of Howard, Kansas, all of whom were present at the time of her
death.
JOHN R. OSBORN, one of the oldest
pioneer attorneys and residents of Lucas county, died at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. B. E. Bullock, 1018 Huron Street,
yesterday afternoon, July 5, 1897. The deceased was born at
Columbus, O., Apr. 1, 1813. He was the son of Ralph Osborn,
who for twenty years was auditor of the state. Mr. Osborn
removed to Toledo in 1837, and at once entered into a law
partnership with Judge Tilden, under the name of Tilden &
Osborn. He remained in Toledo for five or six years, when
he removed to Norwalk, taking up his practice in that city. He
came back to Toledo in 1857 and accepted a position with the Wabash
railway and also officiated as attorney for the road. In 1891
he retired from the position and has since that time been in
declining health. His wife died in this city in 1884.
The deceased leaves six children to mourn their loss, two sons and
four daughters. During Mr. Osborn's residence in
Norwalk he was one of the town's foremost and most energetic
citizens and one of the most popular men in Huron county. He
was a man of great ability and fine attainments and he built up a
large and lucrative law practice. In the late 40's and early
50's
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he was the political editor of the Reflector, and his strong and
vigorous editorials are still well remembered by our older readers.
MINOT PIERCE of Wakeman was killed
by a Lake Shore & Michigan Southern train at the railway crossing
near the resi dence of William Perrin, a mile and a half east
of this city, Dec. 31, 1896. Mr. Pierce was, perhaps,
the best known and wealthiest farmer in Wakeman township.
Eighty years ago, Ainile Platt Pierce, a sturdy New England
farmer, together with his brave wife and two little sons, of whom
Minot was the youngest, a lad of three years, left their home in
Southburg, Conn., to rear for themselves a home in what was then the
wilderness of the west. After a long and tedious journey,
during which they suffered many privations and escaped many dangers,
the little family which had traversed the whole distance in an
ox-cart, arrived at what was then an unbroken forest scarcely even
explored. There they found one white man had already taken up
his abode and there the Pierces concluded to make their
future home. The second settler in that place, Mr.
Pierce set industriously to work, building his primitive log
habitation and clearing the necessary land to cultivate for his
family's sustenance. With rare foresight he preempted a large
tract of the land which, in later years, became a valuable holding.
Mr. Pierce was the last of the original pioneers of Wakeman
township and is survived by four children—Mrs. Sarah Baldwin
of Syracuse, N. Y., Mrs. Mary Breckenridge of Oklahoma,
Stanley Pierce of this city, and Elmer Pierce, who
resides at home.
CHARLES H. PATRICK died Sunday
evening, Jan. 10, 1897, at 3:15 at the residence of Mrs. S. J.
Patrick. The deceased was born at Lyons, N. Y., Feb. 15,
1881, and came to Nor walk with his parents in 1834, and ever since
has made this his home except 11 years spent in California, from
1849 to 1860. He crossed the plains to that country with his
brother, D. R. Patrick, at the breaking out of the gold
excitement. Shortly after his return to Norwalk he engaged in
the furniture business with F. H. Boalt under the firm name
of Patrick & Boalt, in the building now occupied by F. B.
Case's tobacco factory.
[Page 143] -
Later he entered the employ of The Peters
Clothing com pany, in their Bellevue store, and was afterward
manager of their store at Port Clinton. Returning to Norwalk
he became clerk at the St. Charles hotel, which position he occupied
at the time of His illness.
MRS. MARY A PATCH, a pioneer
resident of Huron connty, died at her home in Clarksfield, Tuesday
afternoon at 5 o'clock, April —, 1897. The deceased was the
widow of the late William A. Patch, and was one of
Clarksfield's very earliest settlers. Several years ago she
sustained a severe fall, from the effects of which she never fully
recovered. She leaves one son, Thomas B. Patch, of
Clarksfield, and two daughters, Mrs. Libbie Bunce also of
that place, and Mrs. A. R. Wildman, of Cleveland. The
deceased was an aunt of Judge S. A. Wildman, Mrs. C. P.
Wickham and Mrs. J. Q. Adams, of this city.
MISS SARAH A. PERRY was born
at Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., Apr. 19, 1824. She died June 21,
1897, aged 73 years, 2 months, and 2 days. She came to Ohio
with her parents in 1832 and settled on the farm in Peru township
now owned and occupied by her brother, C. O. H. Perry, where
she has been a continuous resident for more than 65 years.
PETER J. REMLINGER was born in
Edenberg Canton Rovahbach, Department D. E., LaMoselle, France, Aug.
16, 1840. He came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian
Remlinger, to America, in 1847, and settled in Richland county;
where they resided but a short time when they came to Milan.
Mr. Remlinger was for several years a clerk in
the store of J, C. Lockwood, of Milan, afterwards a partner
with James H. Rule in the grocery business, in Norwalk, in
which township he has since resided ; most of the time as a farmer.
In October, 1862, he was united in marriage with
Miss Christine Edwards, of Norwalk, who, with eight children,
survive him; two children, a son and a daughter preceded him.
MRS. MARY WRIGHT-RANSOM. A
distressing accident occurred _____, 189_, in Perkins township,
which resulted in
[Page 144] -
the instant death of Mrs. Mary Wright-Ransom, one of
the pioneer residents of that township. Mrs. Ransom,
who was eighty years of age, started to go to the cellar of her
residence and missed her footing and fell to the foot of the
stairway, striking in such a manner that her neck was broken.
The deceased was the mother of De Los C. Ransom, a well-known
retired capitalist of Sandusky.
MRS. JOHN F. RANDOLPH.
The large circle of friends and acquaintances of Mrs. John F.
Randolph, Jr., will be pained to learn of her death, which
occurred at 2:35 o'clock Oct. 9, 1896, after a long illness, at her
home on the Old State road. The deceased was a daughter of
Philo Comstock, one of the pioneer settlers of Huron county.
She was married to Capt. John F. Randolph, Sept. 29, 1862,
and for a number of years, when Capt. Randolph was recorder
of the county, resided in this city. She was a lady of rare
beauty of character, a devout christian, a kind neighbor and devoted
friend, and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Besides her husband, she leaves two children, a son living in
Boston, and a daughter, Miss May Randolph, and other near
relatives. She was a grandaughter of Nathan S. Comstock,
the first white settler of Norwalk township.
JOHN RAY, SR., was born at
Glenmorning, Tyron county, North of Ireland, Nov. 25, 1827, and died
Oct. —, 1896. He was of Scotch-Irish parentage. When
about six years of age he removed with his parents to Cornwall,
Canada, where he received his early education. About nine
years later he removed to Burlington, Vermont. He served two
years as an apprentice merchant tailor. At the age of eighteen
he enlisted as a volunteer in the Mexican war. He was
transferred to Governor's Island, New York, where he was drilled for
service. He sailed with Gen. Taylor's army to
Matamoras, Mexico, where he took part in the first battle on the
plains of Palo Alto, on the banks of the Rio Grande. He
participated in every subsequent battle of the campaign on the Rio
Grande. After the campaign there he was transferred with Gen.
Taylor's troops to Gen. Scot, who landed his army at
Vera Cruz, Mar. 29, 1847. He took an active part in the
bombardment of that city, after which the army took
[Page 145] -
up its triumphant march to the City of Mexico.
He participated in every battle up to the storming of the castle of
Chapultepec and was with the army to enter the City of Mexico, the
capture of which city ended the war. Mr. Ray had been a
member of Capt. James Duncan's battery, which fired the
salute when the Mexican colors were lowered and the American flag
raised over the place of Montezumas. He afterward enlisted as
a private in Co. A, Second Regiment, United States artillery, and
was honorably discharged from service on teh12th of October, 1848.
He then returned to his former home at Burlington, Vt., when he
learned the trade of milling, which he followed for some time.
Later he went to Perth county, Ont., and on the 11th of November,
1851, he married Mary Jane Henderson, of which union eight
children were born - two sons and six daughters. He was
engaged in farming, having purchased 200 acres of wood land.
He united with the Presbyterian church in Perth county in 1856.
He afterward moved to Monroeville, Ohio, and two years later he came
to Erie county, where he has since resided. He took up farming
here, whihc he followed up to the time of his death.
FRANKLIN D. READ
FRANKLIN D. READ was the first
white child born in Huron county, which event occurred April 25,
1812, in what is now Greenfield township, of which his father,
Hanson Read, was one of the first, if not the first settler.
He married Miss Melvina Fitzgerald, a native of New York
state, May 6, 1834 and they reared five children. In his youth
he learned the trade of a stone mason, though nearly, or quite his
entire life was spent as a farmer. In the early days when wild
game abounded, he gained considerable fame as a hunter, and his
ability
[Page 146] -
as a naturalist was widely recognized. He died Aug. 13,
1891, at Norwalk, Ohio.
MRS. ELLEN SUTCLIFFE.
Our community was terribly shocked on nonday morning Dec. 14, 1896,
upon learning of the deth of one of our oldest poineers - Mrs.
Ellen Sutcliffe, who was struck by the 8:30 o'clock B. & O.
passenger train and instantly killed.
Deceased was born in Middleham, England, May 14, 1810,
came to this country in 1833, and in 1834 was married to Matthew
Clark. Four children was the result of this union, only
one of whom, Thomas Clark, is now living. The husband
was accidentally killed in a grain elevator at Monroeville, in 1847.
MRS. AURA K. SIMMONS, widow of
the late Hon. Chas. B. Simmons, of North Fairfield, and
mother of Dr. Sherman E. Simmons, of Norwalk, who had been in
feeble health for several months, died Friday afternoon, February
19, at the home of her son, in this city. Mrs. Simmons,
who was the daughter of George and Mary Palmer, and the last
remaining member of her immediate family, was born in Ashland, Ohio,
Dec. 30, 1820. In her younger days she was engaged in
educational work and taught school in various parts of Huron and
Richland counties. It was at New Haven, this county, while in
charge of the schools at that place, that Miss Palmer met and
married Charles B. Simmons, a prominent and wealthy farmer of
Greenfield township, in 1852. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Simmons,
with their son Sherman, moved to North Fairfield.
Mr. Simmons died at that place in 1896 when Mrs. Simmons
moved to Norwalk to reside with her son.
ELIZA WILES STRUTTON, wife
of Louis D. Strutton, died Aug. 18, 1897, at the family home
on North Pleasant street. The deceased was born in London,
England, July 17, 1825, and on Dec. 19, 1846, she was married to
Mr. Louis D. Strutton in Lambeth parish, London. Three
years later Mr. and Mrs. Strutton came to America and settled
in Norwalk, which has ever since been their home. There were
born to them four sons and four daughters.
[Page 147] -
HIRAM PEREZ STARR was born at
Birmingham, Erie county, Ohio, on Oct. 10, 1822, where he died on
May 12, 1897. Through most of the last half century he was one
of the most prominent and influential citizens of that place,
representing it in many offices and trusts, evincing the general
confidence in his business qualifications and personal integrity.
He served the county for a long time as one of its infirmary
directors and was vice president and director of the Firelands
Historical Society. For many years he was Master of Gibson
Lodge No. 301 of Masons and one of its main fraternal pillars.
He was president of the board of educaiton and always zealous in
promoting the interests of the public schools. His strong home
attachments were shown by the remarkable fact, that he spent his
wole life and died where he was born at the old homestead in which
he welcomed the old Pioneers of the Firelands at one of their public
meetings several years ago. He was father of P. H. Starr
of this city. In all the organized associations and
enterprises for the public good, which his presence and efforts have
so often cheered and sustained, his absence will be deplored.
MRS. JOSEPH STRAYER died at
the family home on Orchard street, Bellevue, Tuesday morning, Oct.
27, 1894, at 6 o'clock, aged 57 years, 7 monghs and 11 days.
Mary Jane Crouse, daughter of Peter and Rebecca Crouse,
was born Mar. 16, 1839, at Brush Valley, Center county, Pa., and
with her parents came to Ohio in the summer of 1847. Jan. 14,
1858, she was united in marriage with Joseph Strayer, the
husband who now survives her. To this union were born eight
children, three sons and five daughters, of whom six survive.
NATHAN GOULD SHERMAN
died Nov. 8, 1896, at his home in Norwalk, Ohio, in the 87th year of
age. Mr. Sherman was one of the very oldest residents
of the Firelands. He was born in Woodbury, Litchfield county,
Conn., Aug. 28, 1810. He came overland with his parents at the
age of 12 from New England to the new home in Wakeman, Huron county,
Ohio, where Justin, the father of N. G. Sherman lived
until his death in 1865. He was a merchant farmer and has left
us some interesting notes in his journal, viz.: "I started
from South
[Page 148] -
Britain, Conn., Aug. 22, 1822, and arrived in Wakeman, Sept. 14,
1822." "Fruit trees set out Apr. 15, 1823." "Barn
raised May 24, 1823." "Saw mill raised on Chappelle creek,
1824." "Cider mill raised Sept. 11, 1824." "House raised
May 9, 1827, abandoning log house." "store raise May 11,
1839." "Saw mill raised on Brandy creek Sept. 10, 1842."
Mr. N. G. Sherman was very early identified with one of
Norwalk's institutions, for we find in a catalogue of the Norwalk
academy for 1829 that his name appears as an assistant under Mr.
John Kennan, principal. In 1832 he was a young merchant in
the flourishing village of Vermillion, which place was laid out by
him and Ebenezer Warner. About this time Jessup W.
Scott was publishing at Florence, Erie county, a semi-weekly
paper called "The Ohio and Michigan Register and Emigrants' Guide,"
and Mr. Sherman undertook on foot a trip to Connecticut in
the interests of Mr. Scott's paper. His route passed
through Buffalo and Utica and his journal contains an exceedingly
interesting account of the journey, during which he secured 252
subscribers to the Register and Guide. In 1835 he was in the
mercantile business at Florence with his father under the firm name
J. Sherman & Son. A little later the firm became
Sherman & Pierce, his father having retired form the firm.
It was about this time that the Ohio railroad company was organized
and the road was nearly finished from Vermillion to Ashland through
Florence and Wakeman. From 1855 to 1865 he moved to Norwalk,
where he has since resided. His first vote was for Henry lay
in 1832 and he ahs voted for every Whit and Republican presidential
candidate since. On the 9th of November, 1896 he wrote to
Governor McKinley: "I now have one vote in reserve for
you." Great was his disappointment when he realized he could
not cast it but he ordered out the flag on "Flag Day" and lived to
hear of the Republican victory. Mr. Sherman was one of
the early directors of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway and to him
belongs much of the credit for the construction of same. For a
number of years he was also director and acting president of the
First National bank. By his first wife, Elizabeth Otis,
of Berlin, who died in 1881, he had four
[Page 149] -
children - Dora, who died in 1873; Otis, who died in
1877. His second wife, Hattie Phillips, son of
Walter G., and daughter Mary, wife of Birchard A.
Hayes, survive him.
MR. GILES SCOTT, a well known
resident of Clarksfield, O., who came to Norwalk two weeks ago for
medical treatment, died on Wednesday morning July 14, 1897, at 3
o'clock, at the home of his son in law, C P. Ronk, No. 9
Foster avenue, aged 69 years. Mr. Scott had been a
resident of Clarksfield sixty years, having moved to that place when
he was nine years of age. He was one of the pioneer farmers of
that township and was a man highly respected by all who knew him.
MRS. FANNY SMITH, an aged and
respected resident of this city and the wife of Hiram Smith,
died at her home 57 Cline street, at 6 o'clock last evening, June
26, 1897. Mrs. Smith was 72 years of age. She was
born in Clarksfield township, Ohio, and was the daughter of Levi
Barnum, one of the early settlers of that place. Aug. 10,
1854, she married Mr. Smith and has since resided in Norwalk,
her husband having been for 35 years a superintendent of waterworkds
for the Lake Shore Ry.
MRS. MARIA STRATTON. A
dispatch announces the death of Mrs. Maria Stratton, aged 85
years, at the home of her son, Colonel H. G. Stratton, in
Spokane, Washington. Mrs. Stratton was the daughter of
Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, years ago a congressman from this
district, and subsequently comptroller of the currency.
Elisha Whittlesey and Platt Benedict were the founders of
the city of Norwalk, having purchased the land upon which the ity of
Norwalk having purchased and land upon which the city is located in
1815 and in the following year Platt Benedict erected the
first house here. To the far sightedness of these two
patriarchs are the thanks of the people due for the rows of stately
maples which adorn Main street. In honor of Mr. Whittlesey
were the Whittlesey building and Whttlesey avenue
named and Benedict avenue was named in honor of Mr.
Benedict.
SAMUEL
SHERMAN was born in the state of Vermont, in 1778. He
came to Huron county, Ohio, in 1817. In 1820 he was married to
Miss Polly Barbour, a native of Delaware, who
[Page 150] -
came to this county in 1818, when 19 years of age. Their first
home was in Townsend. It was a log cabin in the woods, and
contained only one room, 14 feet square. It was not only the
kitchen, bed-room and parlor, but also a miniature factory - for
here stood the old fashioned loom and spinning wheel, on which she
spun the wool and wove the cloth from which their clothing was made.
In the construction of this house there was nothing
SAMUEL SHERMAN & MRS. SAMUEL SHERMAN
of iron, not even a nail, and no sword board or
timber. The woods around the home abounded in bears, wolves,
deer and other wild animals, and less than a mile distant was an
Indian camp. In 1831 they removed to their home on the Medina
road, two and a half miles east of Norwalk. Here Mr.
Sherman died in 1880, and Mrs. Sherman in 1888.
They were both, from their youth, esteemed members of the Baptist
church. There were born to them seven children, only two of
whom are now living: Mrs. Harriet Roberts, widow of Warren
D. Roberts, and Mrs. Lucy S., wife of Rev. G. E.
Leonard, D. D.
CHRISTOPHER STRIMPLE died
at the home of his youngest daughter, Mrs. N. Z. Tanner in
Greenwich, O., Feb. 28, 1897,
[Page 151] -
aged 89 years, 8 months and two days. Having been born in
Huntendon County N. J., June 30, 1807, was married to Mrs. Ann
Stout Apr. 14, 1832. In 1835 he with his young wife and
one child left his native state crossing the Allegheny mountains and
journeying to the then far wilderness west in a one horse wagon,
reached Greenfield township Huron county Ohio, in the fall of 1835,
where he removed to Ripley township, upona wild tract of land which
he converted into a beautiful home, lying three fourths of a mile
south of the Center of Ripley. They worked together, the
trials and hardships of life incident to a new country seeing it
rapidly changing from a whil and dreary wilderness to a land of
beautiful homes, until Apr. 29, 1873 his companion in the lonely
journey west and their early hardships was called from labor to her
rest at the age of 64. To them were born five children, one
son, Mr. Stacy Strimple of Shiloh and four daughters, Mary
now wife of Wm. Burge of New Haven, Martha J. wife of
S. P. Dickey died Feb. 28, 1888, aged 49, Letitia wife
of N. Z. Tanner of Greenwich.
MRS. LAURA TURNER died at
Havana, Ohio, May 28, 1897, in her 73d year. For 60 years she
had been a memer of the Baptist church. She leaves one child,
a daughter, three grandchildren, with numerous relatives and
friends.
JUSTUS TITUS a pioneer resident of
Kelley's Island, died at his home on that island Jan. 20, 1897 in
the eightieth year of his age.
SAWYER P. TOWNE. It wa with
deep regret that the people of thi city learned of the death of
Sawyer P. Towne, which occurred (Wednesday) morning July 7,
1897, at 2 o'clock, at his home on Milan street, after a long
illness with stomach trouble. The deceased was well known to
the people of this city and vicinity and was exceedingly popular
with all classes. He was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., July 8,
1826. He came to Ohio in 1846.
MRS. CHARLOTTE WATSON widow
of Richard T. Watson, died Thursday evening June 3, 1897, at
8:30 o'clock at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.
Stoutenburgh. Besides her parents, her two daughters,
Mrs. Lida and Charlotte Watson and
[Page 152] -
her son George Watson, she leaves three sisters,
Mrs. Parmelial Anderson and Mrs. Sarah Ward, of New York
and Mrs. Mary Stoutenburgh, of Norwalk. Mrs. Watson
was about 52 years of age and was married 29 years ago to Richard
T. Watson, then a dry goods merchant in Norwalk. A year
later she moved with her husband to Salina, Kansas, where she made
her home until after her husband's death and until about four years
ago, when she came to Norwalk with her children as stated. She
had many friends who have sympathized with her through her long
illness and who mourn her death.
MR. JOHN WILHELM died Nov. 6,
1896, at his home in Peru on Friday morning at 4 o'clock at the age
of 77. He has been a resident of Peru nearly 60 years, and
highly respected by all. He leaves two sons and one daughter
living and many grandchildren.
MRS. PHOEBE WOLVERTON died
Friday morning ____ 189_, at her home in West Huron, she was an old
settler of this county. She was 77 years of age, and nearly
sixty years of that time she had lived in this county.
Her husband, Gursham Wolverton, died many years ago.
JOHN W. WICKHAM, SR., brother of
Hon. W. F. Wickham, of the Reflector, died Saturday
morning, Aug. 28, 1897, at his home in Huron. The deceased was
born in New York city, Oct. 13, 1806, and came to Huron in 1833,
where he has ever since resided. He was the leading citizen of
Huron, and was actively engaged in business there for half a
century; and by his energy, untiring industry and far-sighted
ability built up a trade that reached out to all parts of the Untied
States.
HARRIET E. WILSON, daughter of
the late Levi and Lucy Wilson and granddaughter of the late
Martin Kellogg, was born in Norwalk township, Dec. 10, 1841.
On Nov. 6, 1861, she was married to Amasa Heath, to whom she
bore four sons, Henry, Wilson, Edward and Fred, all of
whom survive her. Her husband died Jan. 9, 1886. She
died Aug. 12, 1897, leaving, besides her immediate family, three
sisters and one brother.
[Page 153] -
MRS. FREDERICK WICKHAM.
At the age of 70
MRS. FREDERICK WICKHAM
died at her home No. 38 West Main street, Norwalk, June 19, 1897.
Lucy Bancroft Preston was born at Nassau, N. H., Mar. 27,
1814, and the old building in which she was born is still standing
and is now Old Bull's Head hotel. She came, at the age of six
years, with her father Samuel Preston, a book publisher and a
brother, Charles A. Preston, to Norwalk her mother having
previously died. The party came overland from the New England
states to Buffalo, N. Y., where they took ship to Milan. The
Preston family spent the summer with an uncle, a Mr.
Taylor, who had previously located in this county and who lived
on the site now occupied by the German Catholic church at the
settlement. As winter approached they returned to Buffalo
going on the first steamship ever on Lake Erie, the famous "Walk in
the water." The Prestons, on their return to Ohio, the
following year, settled in a house now stands at the corner of
Ford and Hester streets. Samuel Preston and his
son, under the firm name of S. & C. A. Preston, established
the Reflector in 1830 and from the very first number Miss
Preston was interested and anxious for its success, and did all
in her power at that time and ever since to make it a publication of
merit. At the age of 21 she married Frederick Wickham,
who was at that time a mate on a vessel sailing on Lake Erie, and
who when his ship was in the Milan port walked over to Norwalk to
visit his sweetheart who was the pride and the belle of the village.
Mr. Preston as a marriage gift presented his daughter with
the residence, 38 West Main Street,
[Page 154] -
and the young couple went to live in the home which
they have continuously occupied during the 62 years of their married
life. She is the second oldest resident of the city having
lived in Norwalk 78 years, and during all that time she has been a
devout christian, a loyal woman and a devoted mother. Every
new arrival in the community was a new friend, every needy or
suffering resident went to her for succor, a kind and loving word
was given to all and assistance rendered where needed, and in this
manner without study or effort this grand woman drew to herself the
largest and most devoted circle of friends possessed, perhaps by any
resident of Huron county, and now through ripe with the fullness of
age as she lies dead, her decease is regretted and sorred by all who
knew her. She was the mother of thirteen children - six sons
and seven daughters, al now living but one son who died in infancy;
grandmother to thirty-seven descendants, twenty-nine of whom are now
living; and great-grandmother to eighteen, fourteen of whom are now
living. This is a remarkable record - of sixty-eight
descendants, fifty-five are surviving.
MRS. EMILY ADAMS WILCOX,
widow of the late Ashal H. Wilcox and oldest child and
daughter of the late Henry and Anna Adams, who were among the
earliest pioneer of Huron county, died, Friday morning, Jan. 29,
1897, at her home in Peru township, aged 82 years. She was
born Sept. 27, 1814, in Rowe, Mass., and came to Huron county with
her parents, when only two years of age. She and her husband
resided at Shaw's Mills, near this city for a short time before
moving to Peru. Mrs. Wilcox had been a resident of this
county for over eighty-one years, and lived on the farm where she
died most of that time. Her father was one of the oldest and
best known residents of Huron county, and he was one of three men
who felled the first tree in Peru township. She leaves a
sister and three children, Mrs. R. A. Bloome, of Norwalk;
F. E. Wilcox, of Peru, and Mrs. Emma J. Herbert, of
Ottaawa, Kansas.
CALVERT C. WARNER, an honored
and respected citizen of this city, died at his home on Bank street
at an early hour Saturday morning, July 17, 1897. The deceased
was born in Dutchess
[Page 155] -
county, New York, Sept. 9, 1821, and resided in New York state until
1872, at which time he came to Norwalk to work in the Maple City
Flouring Mills. In 1840 he had married Miss Eunice V.
Latting of his native town, who died Mar. 3, 1887. The
worthy couple were the parents of five children, two of whom,
Edgar A. and William H., were killed in the service of
their country during the war of the rebellion. The remaining
three, T. Clinton and Charles L., and Mrs. C. E.
Power, of Norwalk, and I. V. Warner, fo Branchport, N. Y.
SARAH BUCKINGHAM WOODWORTH
was born in Norwalk, Ohio, June 8, 1836, and died at Salem, Oregon,
Nov. 6, 1890, of Paralysis. In 1858, with her mother and
brother Allen she went to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama.
In 1858 she wa married to C. S. Woodworth, of Salem, Oregon.
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