HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY OHIOBy Aldrich Lewis Cass
Published 1889
HISTORY OF HURON TOWNSHIP.
The township of Huron is irregular in form on account of its bordering on Lake Erie. The greatest length is from east to west, and the greatest width is at the western side where it extends from Milan township on the south across part of Sandusky Bay and the base of Cedar Point to Lake Erie, whose turbulent and shallow waters wash its whole northern side, and at various points on the shores have dug away many acres of once valuable farming land. The Huron River, which enters the township from Milan and flows diagonally across the eastern portion emptying into the lake at the eastern side of Huron village, is a deep stream, with rather abrupt, though not high banks.
The bed of the river is of solid clay, and an old reliable resident tells that he has frequently seen steamers in turning around, purposely run their bows against the side of the river bed in hopes of getting aground sufficiently to turn the boat by reversing the paddle wheels, but the abruptness and slippery nature of the river bed would invariably slide the boat back into the channel.
This river is navigable for the largest class of lake vessels for a distance of about four miles. This fact, in connection with its having accommodated small boats for a much greater distance up from the mouth, is probably the reason that Huron was the site of one of the first, if not the first, town on the Western Reserve. Early travelers, coming up the lake in small boats, found this an easy means of penetrating the back country, and no doubt, in an early day, men crossed to the tributaries of the Ohio River and down to the father of waters, of course making the necessary portages on the journey.
Huron township is not favored with the rich river bottom lands to as great an extent as Milan, although in some places there are considerable areas of these lands. A great portion of the valley near the village is occupied by low marshes, into which the water is blown daily with the regularity almost of tides, by the lake breeze.
Parties, who are perhaps in a better position to judge than the author of this, have estimated the marsh lands in the river valley and on the Sandusky Bay at about fifteen hundred acres, an estimate that is certainly not too high, and possibly not too low.
The western part of this township is prairie land, a portion of the same strip mentioned in the description of Milan, and with a small exception equally fertile. The eastern part is rolling and was quite generally covered with heavy timber, much of which, being oak, has been used in the ship yards at Huron and further up the river.
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Among the traces of the mound builders in this vicinity the old mound west of the river on the W. H. Wright farm, some three miles above Huron, though reduced by plowing and the explorer’s shovel, is probably most easily seen, and has the most definite outline. The whole base occupies nearly an acre, and the top has an area of several square rods. The highest point of this mound is not now over twenty feet above the surrounding field, though it was doubtless much higher at one time. There is also an old earthwork at the mouth of Saw-mill creek, two and one-half miles west of Huron, on land formerly owned by Dr. Haskins. This prehistoric relic is in the form of a fort, and encloses about half an acre. Many stone implements of greater or less value have been unearthed in this vicinity from time to time, but there are no considerable collections among the citizens of the town or township so far as we know.
The original grantees of Huron township lands, like those of Milan, received allotments in proportion to their losses by fire. The valuation of the lands, like those of Milan, was fixed at £s 377 8s. Section one amounting to £ 1 , 344 , 7s, was assigned to the heirs of William Stewart by Peter Lattimer, John Lester, John Welch, Joseph Hurlburt, Samuel Brown and Samuel Lattimer , whose original losses aggregated 2,769, 6s. 5d.
The second section was located by William Winthrop, of New York, and the heirs of William Gale, of New London, Conn. ; Jeremiah Miller, John Ewing, John Barr and Eben Goddard being the original grantees, and their losses amounting to Y3.408, los. 2d.
Section three was granted to Joseph Packwood, Bathsheba Smith and Richard Potter, whose combined losses amounted to ; i,665, 2s. id. The heirs of William Parkins, New London, Conn., received the lands of this section.
Section four was taken by the heirs of Stewart, Parkins and Winthrop, and the original grantees were : Samuel Lattimer, Richard Potter, Thomas Boyd, Ann Hancock, Richard Stroud, Eben May, widow Austus Piner, Bathsheba Skinner, Jabob Eenk, Ichabod Powers and Jeremiah Miller, whose losses aggregated £ 3 , 744 , 7s 4d.
The township was divided for purposes of allotment into four sections, each valued the same ; but as will be seen by a reference to the figures given above, the assignment of each section was an independent transaction, the relations of losses and relief being proportionate in each section, while the amounts lost were greater or less in each case. The valuation of the lands was very low, but no lower than that of Milan, a fact that seems a little strange when the amount of swamp lands is taken into consideration.
The first settlements within the present limits of this township are not very definitely chronicled in history, but it is quite generally believed that a French trading post established at the mouth of the river about 1749 was the first white settlement in this part of the State. This settlement was abandoned previous to the Revolutionary War.
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The early settlement of Huron township was quite intimately connected with that already mentioned in the northeastern part of Milan, and the Moravian mission there described might perhaps as justly have been credited to Huron since both townships were organized under one local government continuing till 1820. B. F. Flemond is said to have visited the country along the lower Huron as early as 1790; but, however this may be, he settled here in 1805 on land known as lot fifteen, and lying on the east bank of the river just above the present Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad bridge.
Mr. Flemond was a very remarkable man for his time. He was not highly educated, at least in the arts and sciences, but had considerable knowledge of the French and English languages, and spoke several Indian dialects quite fluently. Endowed with an excellent memory, a genial disposition, and indomitable courage, he was of great service to General Harrison in the war of 1812 as a guide and scout.
He was also interpreter and assistant executioner in the case of the two Indians hung at Norwalk for the murder of Jno. Woods and George Bishop.
Mr. Flemond was married in 1811 to a daughter of W. Pollock, who resided near the south line of the township. This was no doubt the first Christian marriage solemnized in this vicinity. His first enterprise in this section was the establishment of a trading post or store for the purpose of bartering eastern goods with the Indians for furs and other articles of value. Mr. Flemond probably died about the year 1827, and his wife survived him for about twelve years. He also left three daughters, one of whom married John McCarty, and after his death became the wife of John Miller. She lived on the old farm until 1850 or there about, when she moved west, settling in Wood county, I believe.
Almon Ruggles came to Huron in 1808, and Jabez Wright, for many years agent of William Winthrop, who owned at one time nearly the whole township, came here in the same year. Winthrop H. Wright, at present a very large land owner in this section, is the son of Jabez Wright, whose wife, Tamar, was a daughter of Almon Ruggles. W. H. Wright was born on the farm which he now owns, in 1813, and has resided here since.
Jabez Wright and Almon Ruggles conducted the original survey of the township, completing it in 1810, the work occupying nearly two years, and being quite complete in its details.
Mr. Wright was at one time a judge of common pleas, and his accidental death by falling down the lake bank in 1840 was sadly felt by a host of warm friends.
Cyrus Downing came to Huron in 1809, settling on land west of the present village, near Saw-mill creek, where he resided about three years, removing to Cleveland, and dying there about the beginning of the war of 1812.
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Mr. Jeremiah Daniels came here in 1809 also, and married a daughter of Mr. Downing in 1813, settling on a farm near the old Downing home, afterward owned by W. J. Hinde.
Mr. Daniels carried the United States mail between Huron and Cleveland for several years. The round trip was made in a week (no accidents preventing), and was without doubt considerable of a journey, when the condition of the roads and the dangers of the forest are considered.
Savages at that time were marauding occasionally on the Reserve, and though Mr. Daniels never met with any serious injury, it is said that he passed through several exciting experiences.
Major H. Russell came to Huron in 1809, and in 1810 built a log house on the Jeremiah Benschoter farm, afterward owned by Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs. Joseph Paxton. This building used as a hotel and store was probably the first public house in Huron county, it was opened for the reception of travelers in 1810; in the same year Mr. Russell, with J. S. Sprague as iron worker, began the construction of a forty ton sailing vessel, which he finished in 1811. This boat was fastened mostly with wooden pins instead of bolts. Two years later a second and larger vessel was completed and named The Fair America. British agents soon after purchased her, and she is said to have been delivered at Buffalo to them.
Mr. Russell cleared a field on the W. G. Sage farm about this time, but it was afterward allowed to grow up to small timber, obliterating all traces of its first subjugation.
Asa Smith visited this section in 1806, but did not locate permanently until 1810. He was elected justice of the peace in 1811, and was quite an active citizen until his death in 1815. His wife survived him for a number of years, dying in Sandusky in 1832.
J. S. Sprague settled on the east side of the river at first, but afterward moved onto land west of town, which is still known to old settlers as the Sprague place. He was a man of great natural ability and very highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a justice of the peace for eighteen successive years, when he declined re-election on account of business relations, and from a feeling that he had done his full share of public service.
He died in January, 1861, at the old homestead, and his honored and beloved wife followed him a number of years later, dying at the residence of her son-in-law, J. Durham, in April, 1872.
In I811-12 William B. Smith and mother started a hotel at the mouth of Huron River, on the east side, and they continued it through the war. Mr. Smith frequently told of hearing the guns of Commodore Perry when the memorable naval battle of Lake Erie occurred in September 1813. He was married in 1819, moved to Sandusky in 1820, and was elected county treasure Huron Township in 1840. He was highly respected and a very useful citizen both in public and private life.
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In 1816 Reed Sanford opened a trading post at the mouth of Huron River, on the east side near the old Smith’s hotel. J. B. Flemond and F. Grahamhad direct charge of the business, and were eminently successful in their management of it. Mr. Flemond’s command of the Indian dialects, and his genial disposition and knowledge of the tastes and habits of the Indian made him very valuable in such a position.
William Winthrop was an early settler, and an active business man, as well as a very large land holder. He built the first saw- mill in this vicinity at the mouth of Saw-mill creek, which drains the prairie section and empties into Lake Erie about two and a half miles west of Huron village. Of late years this has been little more than a dry run, from the fact that the prairie lands are so thoroughly drained as to precipitate the water into the main outlet very soon after it falls in the form of rain. In an early day, however, when the wild grass, the sink holes and bogs prevented rapid evaporation and drainage, this stream furnished a very uniform supply of water for milling purposes.
Messrs. N. M. Standart and C. Butler opened a general store at the mouth of the Huron River, but dissolved partnership a year later, and Mr. Standart soon became deeply interested in the development of Milan.
In 1824 Daniel Hamilton, in connection with N. M. Standart, opened a general supply store and commission business at Huron, and were assisted by Charles Standart and P. Adams as salesmen. Mr. Adams boarded men working on the harbor improvement about this time, and later, probably in 1825, removed to the old Adams homestead (now owned by Chris. Drumm), on the Sand road, running from Spear’s Corners to Huron, where he resided until his death. When Mr. Adams left the store the stock was purchased by Charles Standart and G. H. Gibbs, who conducted the business till the winter of 1826-7. Mr. Standart then took the business alone and conducted it a year or so, when he built a warehouse and dock, and embarked in the general storage and commission business.
Tower Jackson, probably the oldest remaining settler on the fire-lands at this writing, came to Huron in 1819 from Milan. He was married at Monroeville in 1822 to Sarah Clock, a lady widely known and highly respected, and an aunt of D. H. Clock, editor and proprietor of the Erie County Reporter, now published at Huron.
Mr. Jackson engaged with H. W. Jenkins in the dry goods and grocery trade on his settlement at Huron, remaining with him for several years In 1830 he went into partnership with R. E. Cole in the general merchandise and vessel building business. They built the steamer Delazvare in 1832. Mr. Jackson removed to Racine, Wis., in 1846, and in 1848 to Cleveland, O., where Mrs. Jackson died in 1854. He returned to Huron a year or two later, and was married to Miss Button , with whom he is still enjoying domestic felicity at the advanced age of ninety years.
Mr. Jackson is a very vigorous and hospitable gentleman, and though not blessed with a college education, he takes a deep interest in all educational matters of a local nature. He built the Huron House in 1832 and the American House in 1840, and has taken a lively interest in all matters pertaining to Huron’s welfare for a great number of years.
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H. W. Jenkins built the Ohio Hotel in 1832 or thereabouts, and after conducting it very successfully for a number of years, went to Cincinnati in 1840, and afterward removed to the Isthmus of Panama, where he died in 1850.
When, in 1827, ’Squire Merry, of Milan, as agent of the United States government, took charge of the harbor improvements at the mouth of the river, he was assisted by a number of efficient mechanics, and among them T. Clark was regarded as best able to manage the carpenter work, necessarily quite extensive and very important, from the fact that the lake is quite open, here so that at times a very heavy sea comes thundering in upon the quays at either side of the river mouth.
The reader will remember that Milan had not then secured the canal, and Huron was much more prominent as a town than Milan — indeed the latter, with all her advantages of active business men and water power, was quite an unimportant town at that time.
At once the active attention of moneyed men at Buffalo, Detroit, and other lake cities, was turned to Huron by the government aid which had been granted for harbor improvement, and vessel building was begun in a spirit that argued well for the future development of the place.
In 1828 the steamer Sheldon Thompson, of 242 tons burden, was built here by Captain F. Church. In 1832, the United States, of 336 tons, and the Delaivare, of 170 tons. The Columbus, of 391 tons, was completed in 1835. The energetic Captain Walker, in 1836 built the DeWitt Clinton, of 493 tons, and the Little Eric, 149 tons. In 1837 '^he Cleveland, and in 1838 the Great Western, of 780 tons, (the first upper cabin steamer on the lakes in all probability,) and the General Scott, of 240 tons were finished. There were numerous other vessels built at the port in an early day, and in fact much vessel building has been done here from time to time in more recent years, but data are not accessible if indeed it were unquestionably desirable to devote a greater space than has already been given to this industry in a volume that aims to be a history of the development of this section rather than an encyclopedia of chronological events.
Among early vessel men of particular prominence were Capain Reed, Captain F. Church, Captain Pangburn, Captain B.Parsons, Captain F. D. Ketchum, Captain W. Cherry, Captain Asa Keating, Captain Joseph Keating, Captain S. Wilson, and Captain S. F. Squires.
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Lying as it does, Huron was a general stopping place for boats passing up and down the lakes and carrying all the passengers and freight that was moved from east to west for a great many years; in fact, up to the date of the completion of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. J. B. Wilbor, who came here on the steamer Walk-in-the-Water, in 1820, from Tonawanda, N. Y., used to tell how some eight yoke of cattle were hitched to the old steamer to assist in bringing her up the current of the Niagara River from that port, her engines, like those of other steamers of an early day, being too weak to propel her against any considerable resistance.
In 1832 Mr. Wilbor, with N. M. and Charles Standart, engaged in commis- sion business and general mercantile operations under the firm name of Wilbor & Co., continuing until 1837, when the firm dissolved, and Mr. Wilbor went into trade with J. Fleeharty. The latter firm continuing until 1844, when Mr. Wilbor moved to Milan where he remained a few years, but returned to Huron, from whence he was elected county treasurer in 1850, and removed his family to Sandusky in 1854. Returning to Huron in 1857, he went into partnership with J. W. Sprague, building several large vessels here, and doing a general commission mercantile and forwarding business until 1861.
A. Shirley came to Marble Head Peninsula in 1810, with his wife’s family, the Ramsdells. He resided on the peninsula when the Indians killed the three pioneers whose death is commemorated by a little granite slab near the farm of Robert Killey. Indeed it is said that he took an active part in driving the red-skins away. Removing to Huron in 1828 he kept the old red tavern for several years, when he purchased the land known as South Huron and laid it out in town lots. Messrs. S. Van Rensselaer and B. Carman were the surveyors who helped Mr. Shirley very materially in this undertaking, and the work was very creditable to all concerned in it.
Mr. Shirley was an active and respected citizen, taking an important part in all matters of general interest. He built the “ Shirley House ” at the corner of Main and Berlin streets in 1833, but received little material benefit from it as he died a year or so later of asiatic cholera. His descendants still reside in this vicinity. His wife, a relative of the Ramsdells, now living in the western part of Erie county, was a lady noted for her benevolence, intelligence and Christian spirit. W. B Shirley, of Huron, recently deceased, was a son of this pioneer couple.
D. Curtis settled on the lake shore very soon after Flemond came here; his son, Harvey Curtis, who was born on the old homestead in 1807, was probably the first white child born in this township, if not in Erie county. Efforts have been made to contradict Mr. Curtis’s claim to this distinction, but none seem to know really any more of the event than Mr. Curtis himself, and his claim is substantiated by recorded evidence, so as before stated, he was probably the first white child born in this vicinity. Mr. Curtis remembers hearing Perry’s battle on Lake Erie. His relatives still reside in this vicinity and in Milan.
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Minor Curtis, senior member of the firm of M. Curtis & Son, who deal so extensively in threshers and engines at Milan and have sub-agencies in various parts of Ohio and Michigan, is a relative of Harvey Curtis.
Like most other old residents Mr. Curtis remembers incidents much better than dates. A great many little pioneer experiences that would be particularly interesting if their dates and relations to other events could be definitely ascertained, are necessarily omitted from this work on account of the difficulty above mentioned. Our sources of information are however on the whole uncommonly reliable.
Huron’s first religious organization was the Presbyterian society, which began its course here in 1835, though occasional services were conducted by Rev. E, Judson, A. Newton, and others from 1829 to this date. Mr. Newton was called to Norwalk in 1835, where he remained for thirty-five years.
At the preliminary meeting Rev. Conger preached from Proverbs 11:30, “ He that winneth souls is wise.” The following named members joined the society and meeting adjourned to the school house where an evening meeting was held. Original members: J. T. Roberts, Jerusha Jenkins, Clarissa Homan, L. Newkirk, Mary Jones, A. Sheffield, Dorothy Sheffield, R. Morril, Jane Morril, Eli Holliday, Katherine Holliday, Horace Holliday, O. A. Beecher, Josiah Tracy and Cynthia Wadsworth. R. Morril and E. Holliday were elected deacons and elders, and were duly installed at this meeting. Revs. E. Conger, Xenophon Betts and E. Judson conducted the proceedings.
Regular meetings were kept up in the school house till 1840, when A.Sprague, J. Wright, J. Sly and J. Tracy, erected the house since occupied by Mr. Alvord, and let the church lease it at a nominal rental for a number of years.
Arrangements were begun in 1850 for the erection of the present church edifice which was completed and occupied in 1854. Rev. C. H. Taylor, J. W. Sprague, C. Woodward and H. Holliday are credited with very active and valuable service in securing the erection of this church.
Rev. E. Cole made the dedicatory prayer in January, 1854, and Rev. C. H. Taylor preached the dedication sermon. The latter was installed as pastor on the same day. The present parsonage was not built until 1884.
The ministerial succession was as follows: Rev. J. W. Beecher, Rev. F. Fitch, Rev. S. Smalley, Rev. S. Dunton, Rev. E. Cole, Rev. C. H. Taylor, Rev. W. T. Milliken, Rev. G. E. Pierce, Rev. J. G. Rossiter, Rev. J. D. Jenkins, Rev. H. B. Dye, Rev. A. Baker, Rev. H. B. Rice, Rev. C. K. Smoyer, Rev. J. H. Snowden, Rev. E. L. Dresser, Rev. E. O. Hoyt, and the present incumbent. Rev. W. T. Hart.
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Since its organization there have been received into membership some three hundred and fifty-four people, of whom two hundred or more are still members. During revivals in 1873 thirty-four conversions were made, and in 1887 twenty-five. The first superintendent of Sunday school was Mr. J. Tracy, whose name was mentioned in connection with the first regular place of worship.
A Baptist Church was organized at Grangers’, or Haley’s Corners in 1833, and services held in the school house for many years.
The present very strong Episcopal society was started in 1837, Rev. F. M. Levenworth beginning his labors here at that time. The work was taken up in 1839 by Rev. Samuel Marks, a man of sterling qualities, fine education and affable disposition. He was dedicated to the service of Christ by Bishop McBvaine, at Philadelphia, Pa., and seemed to have an inspiration proportionate to the directness of his ordination from the aknowledged head of his religious denomination. Fully equal to a much more important position he remained until his death a few years ago, in the service of his little flock at Huron.
The name of this honored servant of Christ has been commemorated by both the Masonic and Odd Fellows Societies, of each of which he was a member, honored beyond the common degree by his brethren. But there is no honor that can outshine or outlive the loving pastoral service which he rendered both in and out of the pulpit. Many a loving friend both at Huron and in other parts of the State will echo the sentiment of the writer, and add many a verifying example of his faithful service.
The Methodist Society in 1871 erected their present church and have regular services.
There are two German churches, a Lutheran and an Evangelical, each of which is flourishing, and there is a prospect that a Catholic Church will be erected during the coming summer, grounds having recently been purchased with that end in view.
The German Lutheran Society was organized in 1862, and their house of worship erected in 1868.
Mr. John Graham, with neighbors and friends in “West Huron,” near the western line of the township, erected a church for the Methodists of that section, and considerable interest has been manifested in its success from time to time by outside parties, as well as by local friends. Gustavus Graham and John Graham, jr., are descendants of the founder of this place of worship, Erie county people know both these gentlemen too well to need an introduction by the writer.
Alvin Coe, in 1810, is said to have taught the first school in this section, and his successor was Miss T.Ruggles.
In 1815 Wm. Chapman opened a school on lot twenty-five, section three, and conducted it with gratifying results for several years. Winthrop H. Wright, before mentioned, remembers attending this school some time after it was first opened.
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The present schools are fairly well graded, and supplied with an excellent corps of teachers; Miss Rena Halladay, a graduate of the Milan Western Reserve Normal, under the principalship of Prof. B. B. Hall, has charge of the High School; Miss Allie Snyder, a teacher of twenty year’s very successful experience at Vermillion and elsewhere, has charge of the A Primary School; Miss L. Spor, a young lady of recognized ability, has charge of the Grammar School, and Misses M. Kiefer, and Mary Hall, a lady of many years successful experience in her special line of work, conduct the two lower primaries.
Superintendent Dougal, a stranger among the professional teachers in this part of the State, has undertaken to introduce some improvements in the school course. He is credited with bringing about a change in the time of graduation.
The school house is a fine new brick building, erected in 1886 at a cost approximating $20,000. The special district boundaries are identical with those of the village corporate limits. The enrollment reaches from two hundred and fifty to three hundred.
Prominent among the early papers of the reserve was the Commercial Advertiser, published in Huron. It began its short course in January, 1837; was burned out in 1838, resumed in 1839, and discontinued in 1842. Volumes one and two, published by H. C. Gray & Co., were shown us. It is a four page paper, six columns to the page, and largely made up of clippings. The markets are reported as a matter of course, and some effort is made to keep up with local port entries and clearances, but the present style of general local news is almost entirely wanting. One number contains an account of the appearance of a wolf on the ice in the harbor, and the efforts of hunters to capture the brute. Among the literary clippings is an account of General Santa Anna’s visit to Louisville, Ky., and the statement by a Cincinnati Whig correspondent that an irate citizen of Cincinnati went gunning after the distinguished Mexican, but failed to get him because of a change of route, occasioned by an ice gorge in the river. Under “Late and interesting news from Texas,’’ this journal tells eight days after the occurrence, of the interment of General Austin ; it also mentions indications of a rumpus between Mexico and the United States over affairs connected with the Republic of Texas. The issue of February 21, 1837, contains an account of a public meeting for the purpose of preventing blacks and mulattoes from coming to Sandusky, in violation of an express statute law. Dr G. R. Morton is reported as chairman and Albert S. Cowles as secretary; committee on resolutions Messrs. Wheeler, Brown, Cowles, Lester and Hull. A local correspondent calls attention to the fact that Huron, while behind only
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one town (Cleveland) on the lake shore between Buffalo and Detroit, and while building two and three steamers costing from thirty to seventy thousand dollars each, has not a fit place in which to worship the God vouch safing her material blessings. The issue of March 21, 1837, contains Martin Van Buren’s Inaugural Address. April 11th of the same year announces the opening of the Welland Canal upon the fifteenth of that month. April 25th contains a proclamation concerning public lands by Samuel Houston, president of the Republic of Texas. May 30th announces that there are all told forty two steamboats plying on the lakes, and expresses great satisfaction at the increase during the preceding twelve years, from one to the number stated. The issue of Tuesday, July 18, 1837, says, Daniel Webster arrived in Huron on Friday, on the steamboat Thomas Jejferson. A goodly number of our citizens went on board, but the lateness of the hour deprived many of che opportunity who wished to see him. He is, as we learn, hastening on his way homeward.” Many clippings in this paper from contemporaries would be of interest to readers of United States History, as it covers the Seminole War, Texan struggle with Mexico, and the Patriot War in Canada, but in a local history it does not seem advisable to go into further detail on these subjects. As a local paper, though not up to the present standard in local matter, and of course slow in outside news like others of its day, it may still be considered a very excellent paper for those times.
The facilities for travel may be compared with those of today by noting the time (six days) in which the steamboats proposed to make the round trip with passengers from Buffalo to Detroit, during the summer of 1837. Their advertisements are the same in regard to this matter, and of course the distance could not have been made in so short a time by any other means of transportation.
The Huron Beacon was published from 1853 to 1854, but no copies are accessible.
The Huron Times was a local publication, started in 1876, but afterward removed to Sandusky by its editor, J. D. Sweeney.
The present Huron Reporter began its course in the spring of 1879, Mr. T. M. Clock, son of the present proprietor having it in charge. It was then a four page paper, but in the following December, D. H. Clock, the present editor, took it in charge and enlarged it to an eight-page paper, securing a local editor in the towns of Vermillion and Berlin as well as at Huron, and devoting a page each to matters of special interest to the respective villages. As a county paper, it is very creditable to its energetic and able editor, and is securing a full share of the patronage accorded to local papers by the intelligent population for which this section is noted.
To the newspapers, as usual, the author of these lines is under obligations for dates and noteworthy events that could have been secured in no other way.
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For the use of volumes one and two of the Commercial Advertiser the writer is indebted to A. J. Brainard, an old and respected citizen of Huron, whose name has not before been mentioned in this article. He came hereabout forty years ago and has been one of those quiet, useful citizens whose unostentatious good works are never appreciated until it is too late.
For access to valuable data we are under obligations to D. H. Clock of the Reporter and others. Were this an essay on newspapers and newspaper men in general, the writer might wax eloquent over the many past courtesies as well as the present favors. But it is merely local and we forbear.
Mark' s Masonic Lodge is one of the old established institutions of the town, named in honor of Rev. Samuel Marks, and embracing in its membership the best of men, and those whose names might have been much more widely honored under more propitious environments than they have enjoyed in this quiet section of our great Republic.
Lake Eric Lodge I.O O. F., was established in 1887, and is, as far as can be determined at this early stage of its existence, destined to shine among similar organizations in the near future.
Morse Post G. A. R., was also established in 1887, and is in quite a flourishing condition.
The Knights of Labor have established a prosperous lodge which began its course in September of the same year. Three new lodges in a single year is a record not often beaten by towns of Huron’s size.
Tlie first physician located at Huron was Dr. A. Gutherie, who settled here in 1813, remaining until 1817, when he removed to the Dominion of Canada, and for some years the village was undoctored as it were, except by Dr. McCrea, who lived in the western part of the township.
Dr. Charles Fegget came here in 1830, and remained until his death, in 1832. The doctor and his wife were accidentally drowned in the Huron River, near Wint Wright’s farm, by the upsetting of a row boat. Their bodies were not found until the next day, when their unaccountable absence from the village called out a searching party.
In commenting on the medical practitioners who followed Dr. Fegget at Huron, Dr. G. S. Haskin, to whom we are under obligations for data of considerable importance on several subjects, says that numerous physicians were attracted to Huron by the great marshes which were considered miasmatic. But he adds, all is not gold that glitters, and the enticing swamps were delusive, as they were on a level with Take Erie, and the waters were pure and refreshing.
Dr. Haskins was a pioneer, and came to the Reserve in 1831, locating at Huron in 1832, and practicing here until his death in 1886. He was quite universally esteemed as a physician, and had many warm personal friends.
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Dr. J. Caldwell settled in Huron in 1833, and continued to practice until 1866, when he died. Dr. J. T. Cushing came in 1865, and Dr. E. H. McNutt in 1874; both have since removed to fairer fields. At present there are three practicing physicians. Dr. J. B. Esch (son of I Dr. Esch, of Cleveland lately deceased, and brother of W. J. Esch who has just succeeded to his father’s extensive practice in that city), is one of the most popular and able physicians in Erie county. He came to Huron some eight or ten years ago, and is the oldest resident doctor in the village. Dr. E. G. Goodsel, who began here in 1882, is enjoying a good practice, and Dr. F. W. Morley is quite widely known and employed. He located here in 1884 or thereabouts.
Attorneys have never seemed to have a particular desire for Huron ozone. Whether this peculiar coldness of the profession was due to the very peacable character of the people or some other equally potent cause, we are not prepared at present to state, but for some reason lawyers have always been scarce here, and this is sufficient for present purposes, without discussing the reasons further.
Mr. T. Alvord, the only member of the legal fraternity now at Huron, is a young man of acknowledged ability, and far brighter prospects than any of his predecessors. He secures a share of the practice before the Court of Common Pleas at the county seat (Sandusky).
Among prominent families who came here in a comparatively early day, and whose descendants are a part of that staunch and intellectual farming community for which Erie county is noted, are the families of J. Van Benschoter, E. M. Granger, John Hughes, Wolvertons, David Everett, Swifts, Starrs, Rosekelleys, Jarrets, Isaac Collins, B. B. Jones, the Harris families, Edwin Stowe, the Coles, the Scotts, the Hardys, the Cowans, Quayles, Dales, Crisses, Carpenters, Meekers, Ryans, Lakes, Krocks, Brooks, and many others whose names are prominent in the village affairs, but do not at present come to mind.
The present population of Huron village is about thirteen hundred, and that of the township outside of the corporation is somewhat less, making a total of not far from twenty-three hundred, or about half that estimated by the authors of a history published a few years ago.
Before the completion of the Milan canal, the prospects for Huron’s advancement wete very bright, except that there was a great deal of suffering and death from cholera in 1834. The five physicians residing here at this time labored manfully for a time, but continuous influx of foreign immigrants,
In many cases bringing infected goods and those sick with the dread disease, had its effect even on the medical practitioners, and when one of their own number died, the others, excepting the valiant Dr. G. S. Haskins, left for more congenial parts.
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After this scourge had departed, as it did with early winter, business interests began looking up and immigration increased until within the next decade a population of over two thousand had settled here, and business during the first half of the time had been very extensive and profitable, but as intimated in the History of Milan, the business men began moving up to the new head of navigation, and a great shrinkage in real estate values followed, involving several active and wealthy men so deeply that they never entirely recovered.
Property that had been nominally worth thousands of dollars was sold for taxes, and destructive fires (said in some cases to have been set for the sake of securing the insurance) were quite common. During these conflagrations the records of the village were destroyed, and this fact has been a matter of considerable inconvenience to the city fathers as well as to us.
Betrayed in a certain degree by her early friends who sought better investments at Milan, and hampered for lack of sufficient capital and enterprise, Huron has still her great natural advantages and some stirring and successful business men. Among the few men who have remained with Huron during adversity and success ever since his first settlement in the village in 1833, is Jno. W. Wickham. A very great loser by shrinkage in real estate values during the dark days already mentioned, Mr. Wickham has never flagged in his efforts for and interest in the commercial development of the town.
The old gentleman is eighty two years old, but his intellectual vigor and social powers are unimpaired. No pleasanter hour was spent by the writer in search of data for the present work than that with Mr. Wickham at his comfortable fireside. His wife, a daughter of S. Van Rensselaer, one of the pioneers of Huron, is a lady remarkably well preserved for her advanced years. She attended the Erie County Teachers’ Association held in Huron April 14, 1888.
Jno. W. Wickham, jr., conducts the large business established in 1833 by his father and at present covering all the principal lines of trade carried on in Huron. Mr. J. Winchell is intimately connected with the management of the business, having assisted in the office for years.
This firm handles pine lumber in considerable quantities, and also buys and packs a great portion of the catch of Huron fishermen. The fish interests at this point are far from insignificant, indeed they are quite important and give employment to a large number of men. Wickham & Co. also handle salt, sand, lime, plaster, etc., and buy many thousand bushels of grain during the year.
There is also a large elevator at the L. S. and M. S. crossing which handles a great deal of the grain of this section. This business is controlled mainly by a company of dealers more specially interested in grain and potatoes.
The village has two hotels. The Aicher House, an establishment run for years by John Aicher, now deceased, is at present under the proprietorship of John Aicher, jr., a very well informed and thorough young business man, who is bringing it back to its old-time reputation as a comfortable, well kept hotel.
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The Shepards have started a hotel recently in the new brick block on Main street, and are doing a fair business considering the size of the town and the limited amount of travel. These gentlemen are also somewhat interested in the fishing business.
The Lake Shore Railroad passes through the town from east to west, this being that part of the main line known as the northern division which branches at Elyria and runs via. Sandusky to a junction with the southern division at Millbury, near Toledo.
A branch of the W. and L. E. railroad leaving the main line at Norwalk, terminates here. This company has quite extensive dockage here, and great quantities of coal and iron ore are handled during the summer season. Sage’s Grove, just east of the river, perhaps a mile from town, is quite a lovely little picnicing ground, and attracts many rural visitors from further inland during the heated part of the year.
The O. N. G. boys occasionally camp at tne grove during the summer and indulge in sham soldiering, sham lovemaking, and champagne to their heart’s content.
Whatever may be Huron’s future, there is no disputing the fact that she has as many natural advantages and as few disadvantages as any port on Lake Erie.
Her society includes many who might honor the social circles of any city in the land, and her hardy fishermen and sailors are noted for their courage and the tender hearts that beat beneath the rough exterior. Thanking her citizens for uniform courtesy and kind assistance in the difficult task of securing reliable data for this work, the writer hopes sincerely that the time may come when Huron can truthfully say again that she is second to but one Ohio lake port city.