HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY OHIOBy Aldrich Lewis Cass
Published 1889
HISTORY OF FLORENCE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XXII.
The name of this township was originally Jessup, from Ebenezer Jessup, one of the first owners of the soil. It was subsequently changed to Florence. It is situated directly south of Vermillion, and east of Berlin, and is said to be one of the most fertile townships in the county. It was first surveyed in 1807, but was afterward surveyed by Jabez Wright into lots in 1809.
The surface is rolling, and the soil a sandy loam and clay. Fine timber formerly grew in abundance, and white oak, ash, walnut, hickory, beech and maple were obtained here in large quantities. Quarries of sandstone have been opened in various parts of the township, but one after another have been abandoned until the only one worked a few years ago was that known as the King Quarry. This was peculiarly adventitious to the settlers, as it supplied them with grindstones.
Vermillion River, which has its rise in a little lake of the same name in Ashland county, passes through this township on its way to the lake. There is but one other water course in the township; Chapelle Creek, that rises in Townsend, and entering Florence from Wakeman, a mile and a quarter east of the west town line, empties into Lake Erie.
Wild animals were found here many years after the first settlers came, but larger game like bears and wolves, belonged more to the marshy districts, and were seldom seen here. Deer, wild turkeys and smaller game abounded. The honor of killing the first bear fell upon two of the best shots in the country, Richard Brewer and Christopher Schaeffer. The latter was out with his gun one evening when a bear ran across his path ; as he raised his gun, some snow fell on it, and obscured the sight and the bear got away. The next morning he obtained the assistance of Brewer and two good dogs, and tracked the bear into Berlin. Here he ran into a log and was wounded by Brewer’s shot, which was the signal for the dogs to make the attack. They were worsted, however, and Brewer grabbed the bear by the fur, and plunged his hatchet into his head. At this, he loosed the dogs and rolled over dead. He was an unusually large one, his flesh on his sides measuring six inches. This man Schaeffer was a famous hunter and killed more bears than any one in the township. He was noted for his success in deer hunting, and is said to have killed over a thousand. In one season he killed seventy.
The first settlement was made by Ezra Sprague and family, who came to the mouth of the Huron by water in May, 1809, and then went to Florence through an unbroken wilderness. Here he located and remained till his death. He was from that glorious part of New England which poet and painter have raved over, the Berkshire Hills. There is no reason given why this man should leave a home amid nature’s beauty to build up a new home in a new country.
The Indians kept the settlers in a constant state of alarm and anxiety, and from the year 1810 to 1815 no new families came into the settlement. By this time a road had been opened from Rocky River to Huron, and those who desired could come by the land as well as water. Indians in straggling bands were always coming and going, and life had little cheer. The slightest reports of Indians having been seen in the vicinity filled every heart with alarm, and when war was declared all settlers were apprehensive about their safety. At one time they determined to fortify themselves by assembling in one house, and a block house was selected for this purpose, but some of them thought this movement unwise, and the thing was almost given up, when a circumstance occurred that proved the wisdom of the measure. One of them was moving his family to this house near sundown, and had given his gun to a young man with orders to go ahead and keep a sharp lookout for Indians, while he came on with his team and family.
All went well until they were within half a mile of the fortress, when the report of gun was heard, and the young man came running back, saying he had been shot at by two Indians. The settlers knew from this that they might expect an attack that night, and proceeded to do all in their power to protect themselves. The doors were barricaded, and women and children sent into the chamber. Those who had guns stood ready to fire, and the rest armed themselves with clubs and pitchforks. In the middle of the night the alarm was given, and the Indians approached the building swinging fire-brands in their hands. The settlers had not thought of this mode of attack, and were greatly alarmed at the thought of being forced from the house by fire, or destroyed in the flames. It resulted in no serious danger, and as the young man who said he had been shot at, slept all night, they mistrusted that he must have given a false alarm. What they took to be Indians in the night, must have been sparks blown by the wind.
The trials of those early years cannot be estimated by the citizens of the township today. Clothing, food, household conveniences were all meagre, and barely sufficient for their needs. They had no money but that made by cutting larger money into pieces. The first paper money was Oil Creek bank notes, of six and one fourth, twelve and one-half, thirty-seven and one-half, and fifty cents. This bank soon failed, and all who owned any money lost it. Salt was then worth ten dollars a barrel, and two hundred pounds of maple sugar would purchase two barrels of salt. Tea was then worth two dollars and fifty cents a pound; homespun woolen, four dollars a yard, and everything else in proportion.
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The organization of the township took place in 1817. Ezra Sprague was first magistrate. The first election was held in the log school house, near the residence of John Brooke. The number of voters were seventeen.
Schools did not receive much attention during the first years of the history of the township, and the first school house was built at Sprague’s Corners, on land owned by J. Brooks. The first teacher was Ruth Squire, and her school was supported by the parents of the scholars. This school house was after wards demolished and rebuilt on the south side of the road. The second school house was located half a mile west of Birmingham, and this also had a lady for its first teacher. There is a historic account of her tribulations with certain individuals because she insisted on opening the school with prayer.
Churches have been started at various times, until nearly all denominations have been represented in this township. The first meetings were held at the house of Eli S. Barnum, at Florence Corners, under the care of itinerant ministers. The first religious society organised was under Congregational auspices. This meeting was also held at the house of Mr. Barnum, and was conducted by a missionary named Loomis. This society included members from Vermillion, Wakeman and Clarksfield, as well as Florence. The present Congregational Church was organized January 7, 1832, by a committee of the Presbytery of Huron, consisting of the J. B. Bradstreet, Xenophon Bitts and Samuel Dunton.It had at that time seventeen members, and Uriah Hawley was chosen clerk.
The church building was completed in 1842, costing $2,012. The lot upon which it was located was donated by Jessup Wakeman. For several years this church had to depend on preachers from the neighboring towns. In 1842 the first regular pastor. Rev. Eldad Barber, was called to take charge of it and remained in charge until 1871, almost thirty years. He was followed by Hubbard Lawrence who remained until 1878, and he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hale, and he by Rev. Mr. Wright. The church never became very large, and fifty years after its organization its membership numbered few, if any more, than when it started.
The first Congregational Church of Birmingham was originally presbyterian. Seven years later it adopted the congregational form of government, but continued under the care of the presbytery until 1874, when it withdrew. Eldad Barber was the first preacher. Revs. Goodell and Carlisle followed him, and he in turn succeeded them. The last preacher was C. C. Creegan, of Wakeman, and after a time services were abandoned, and the building was occupied by the Methodist Episcopal society.
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The Methodists at first held their meetings in the old log school house one mile from Florence Corners, as early 1816 or 1817, at which Rev. Nathan Smith usually officiated. In the past fifty years this society has grown, and more than one now are flourishing where this feeble one started.
There has also been a Baptist Church started and organized as far back as 1818, by a minister from Richland county, Rev. John Rigdon. At the same time another Baptist Church was organized in Lorain county, when meetings were held in the school house about a mile east of Birmingham. The Baptists from Florence finally united with these, and in July, 1837, the resolution of the church of Henrietta, a branch was organized at Birmingham consisting of nine members. The society was called the Henrietta and Birmingham Baptist Church. In May, 1840, this branch organized into an independent church.
The Church of the Disciples was organized at Birmingham with forty members in 1845. It continued to prosper, and increased its membership from forty to seventy, when one of its preachers, Sidney Rigdon, became a convert to Mormonism and drew off one half the church. A building was erected the same year in which the society was organized, costing twelve hundred dollars. For many years there was no service.
The Evangelical Church was formed twenty years ago with a membership of about twenty. They did not build until 1866.
The postoffice was at Florence Corners, in the days when the first mail route through the township extended from Cleveland to the county seat on the Huron River. Eli S. Barnum was first postmaster.
The first store was opened at Birmingham by Erastus Butler, and in the tax reports of 1826 he was the only trader mentioned. His capital at that time was eighteen hundred dollars. Two years later another name was added, that of Cyrus Butler, with a capital of five hundred dollars. The year following Ferris & Wood, of Florence Corners were assessed on seven hundred and fifty dollars. In 1830 J. V. Vredenburg came in with a capital of six hundred dollars; J. L. Wood with six hundred and Charles P. Judson with seven hundred.
Iron was manufactured in this township from ore obtained in Vermillion by a pioneer of Florence, Cyrus Butler, who was at one time owner of the old mills at Birmingham, and had a forge near his mills. The works were carried off by a freshet.
An ax factory was also located there for a short time, under the care of a man named Pratt.
Birmingham and Florence Corners are the only villages in the township, and the former has been a place of considerable business activity, but it failed to secure a railroad, and has gradually grown more and more stagnant. The quality of the inhabitants is indicated by the fact that the Prohibition party counts several adherents among their number, and it is said there is not a saloon in the township.
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Birmingham has a population at present of about three hundred and fifty, and has two schools well supported. There is a Methodist Episcopal Church, a Congregational Church and an Adventist organization. The first is the only one that has a pastor at the present time.
A handle factory has been started here and several changes in a business way. It has also a hotel, a blacksmith shop, three stores, one saw mill and several smaller industries.
Footnote: Surnames are printed in Bold Print
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