Pioneer History of Clarksfield, pages 131 - 140
Hermon S. Adams clerked for Mr. Cobb in 1842 and 1843. He married Maria Brooks, a sister of Winslow Fay’s wife. She died, leaving two little girls and he married Emma (Drake) Hildreth.
William Pierce, a carpenter by trade and his wife, Rizpah, came from Sudbury, Vt., and lived here from 1842 until 1846. He clerked for Mr. Cobb part of the time. He lived on the back street where Lewis Beers lived at the time of his death. He moved from here to Oberlin. His children were Henry, Ellery and Hermon. Ellery became a lawyer.
In 1842 Cornelius Brown owned 40 acres of land south of Simeon Blackman’s on the east side of the road and lived there with his large family. He moved to Michigan and committed suicide by hanging.
Daniel Freeman lived here in 1842 and was warned out of town. He was not the Daniel Freeman, a brother of John, who lived in New London township at a later date.
In 1842 Simeon B. Sturgess lived here and carried on the "Railroad Store," in company with Abel D. Howe. He went to Norwalk and died there.
David Minor was a son of David and was born at Woodbury, Connecticut in 1797. He married Sally Hyde, a native of Oxford, Connecticut. He came to Clarksfield with his family in 1843 and bought land a half mile west of Whitefox corners and lived in a log house until he built the frame house where Charles Philips lives. He was the postmaster of the East Clarksfield postoffice and kept a small stock of goods to sell to the patrons of the office. About 1870 he sold out and moved back to Woodbury where the wife died in 1879 and he the next year.
Their children were Frederick, born in 1827 and died in 1897, Elvira A., born in 1830, living at Brooklyn, N.Y., and Aurelius, born in 1832, living in New York City. He practiced law in Salt Lake City for some years.
George Fox was a carpenter and worked in New York City, then moved to Hartford, Connecticut and then to Woodbury. In 1843 he came to Clarksfield with David Minor, Farman Patchen and George Peck. He did not bring his family, but sent for them when he found he would like the country, and settled on a small farm next east of Mr. Minor’s on the north side of the road, where Sedgwick Barnes had made some improvements. He lived there for many years, but died in New London in 1880 at the age of 73 years. His wife died in 1877 at the age of 67. They had two children, George Augustus, who married Mina Smith and lives in Clarksfield on the Simeon Hoyt farm, and Sarah, who married William Sharp and lived in Clarksfield until the death of her husband. She is now the wife of Mr. Hitchcock and lives in New London.
George Peck with his wife and three sons came to Clarksfield in 1843 and settled on a farm near the southwest corner of the angling road running west from Barrett’s church, on the farm now occupied by Mr. Hero. He was a tailor by trade but followed farming. In 1853 he sold the farm and moved to Ripley township, this county, and died in 1894. His wife, who was Emily Andrews, died in 1876. Of the sons, Samuel lives in Ripley township, George H. is a physician at New Philadelphia, Ohio, and Edwin is a physician at Cleveland, Ohio.
Farman Patchen, who came to Ohio with Mr. Minor, owned an interest in some of the land bought by Mr. Minor, but may not have lived in this township. He owned considerable land in this township at different times. He lived on Hartland Ridge and moved to Collins where he died.
Electa Post, a sister of Parley Post, married Roderick Stocking and he died in the east, leaving quite a family of children, Julia, Lydia, John, Arvilla, Harriet, Marcia, Erastus, Malvina and Jared. About 1843 the family came to Clarksfield and lived near the Gridleys, and also in Hartland. Mrs. Stocking married Zebina Russell, but they did not live together long. She afterward married a man by the name of Searles and went to Wyandot county, Ohio and lived until they became too old to take of themselves, when she went to Kansas with her children and died there. Lydia married Mr. Cochran, brother of Augustus Barrett’s wife, John married Betsey Ames, of New London and lived at Quincy, Michigan until the wife died, when he married Caroline Gates and lived in Illinois and finally in Kansas. A few years ago, while on his way home from a visit in Clarksfield, he stopped in Illinois to make a visit. He fell down stairs and was dead when picked up. Harriet married George Hosmer, a brother of Titus and Daniel Hosmer and they live in Kansas. Julia and Arvilla are dead.
James M. Safford lived here in 1843 and taught school in the upper room of the old Congregational church. He died in Illinois.
Dr. Hiram Barber lived here from 1843 until 1847. He lived in the Dr. Bunce house at the foot of the hill south of the race and in the E.M. Barnum house. His children were Lucius, and Dennis and Dennison, twins. He moved to Florence and finally went west.
Epaphras Bull Owen, better known as "Eppa" Owen, was an eccentric character and was a neighbor of Benajah Furlong and Milton Bissell at Saulsbury, Connecticut. He came here about 1843 and lived with Mr. Furlong part of the time. He wandered from house to house, willing to do any of kind of work, and would stay until his welcome was worn out and he would take offense at something and then go to some other place. After a while he married Clara Rusco and bought a farm north of Almanza Hamlin’s and lived there. He traded his farm there for a farm in Hardin county, getting badly cheated, as he found the most of the new farm under water when he moved there. His wife left him and he came back here but finally returned to Hardin county and died.
Harry Starr was a hatter and came from Connecticut about 1843, after his wife died, and lived with his brother, Smith Starr. After Smith died he went back to Connecticut.
Thomas J. Askin clerked for Mr. Cobb in 1843 and lived here for a couple of years.
Elijah Mudge lived on the Butler road on what is known as the Fisher farm. He was warned out of town in 1843.
Daniel Johnson lived in the Whitefox school district from 1843 until 1845. He was a shoemaker by trade. His children were Daniel, Mary Ann, Joel, Erastus and William.
Samuel and Horace Elliot lived on the Butler road in 1843.
David M. Conant, a methodist minister lived here in 1843.
Lewis F. Beers was a son of William and Hannah Beers and was born in Connecticut February 19, 1820. He came to Wakeman with his father’s family previous to 1829. They lived on the road from Clarksfield to Wakeman, a half mile north of the Townline. In 1841 Lewis married Dorothy Percy, better known as "Dothy," and soon afterward moved to Clarksfield. His wife died and he married Emily Easterly, sister of Anson Wheeler’s first wife. She died and he married Mary A. Hopkins, who survives him. Mr. Beers was the father of ten or eleven children only three of whom are living. Phoebe, Delano and Perry. He died in 1892.
Jason Wing came from Vermont to Ohio in 1838, living in Wakeman then Berlin, coming to Clarksfield in 1843. He bought just west of where the old Husted mill stood and lived there until his death. He was a tanner by trade and operated the Furlong tannery and later one which stood just west of his house, on the bank of the river. He died in 1879 at the age of 86 and his wife died in 1881, at the age of 82. Their children were Mary Ann, Joseph B., J. Clark and Summer A. Mary Ann married Barna Cooper and died at the old homestead in 1900. Joseph died in Wisconsin a few years ago. Clark went to Kansas when a young man and died there in 1898. Summer is living in Clarksfield.
Jeduthan King married Esther Rowland, a sister of Aaron and Levi. They came to Clarksfield about 1843 and lived a little west of Aaron Rowland’s on the north side of the road. They moved to Fitchville and both died there many years ago, leaving no children.
Adam McKibben lived on the west side of the Butler road, south of the Jones ashery from 1843 until after 1851. His children were Wesley, Geo. and Sarah.
S. Bingham, Charles M. Blanold, Lewis M. and Luther B., Carter, Napoleon B. Cross, Haman C. Lewis, William McConnell and Lorenzo B. Rounds lived here in 1843.
Franklin Phelps Hall was a son of Edmund Hall and Betsey Phelps and was born at Gorham, Ontario county, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1810. In 1835 he come to Milan, Ohio, and taught school. The next fall he and his brother bought a large farm in Fairfield township, Huron county. He lived on the farm and followed farming and school teaching for several years, and then studied for the ministry. He was licensed to preach in 1837, and was pastor of Baptist churches at different towns in Huron county during the years following. On June 2, 1839 he was married to Margaret Burn, a daughter of William Burn, a Scotchman who moved to Fitchville in 1832. She was born in Greene county, N.Y., May 14, 1818. About 1844 "Elder Hall," as he was called, came to Clarksfield and lived on the south side of the Medina road, a half mile east of the New London road, where Robert H. Hurlbut once lived. He taught a select school in a building which stood back of the E. M. Barnum house. It had been built for a cooper shop and was fitted up for a school house. In the next year, 1845, this building was rebuilt and made into a Baptist church and was long known as the "Old Baptist church" Mr. Hall preached here to goodly congregations. He bought the Halbert house, south of Almeron McKenney’s, and lived there until about 1849 when he moved back to his farm and lived there until a short time before his death, which occurred at Olena April 3, 1890. His wife died July 13, 1892. Their children were William E., born in 1841, died in 1870; Byron B., born in 1844, now living on the old farm. He followed the profession of school teaching until 1898; Sarah E., born in 1851 and died in 1864.
Elijah Dutton and his wife, Diadama, moved from Egremont, Berkshire county, Mass., to Clarksfield, arriving July 4, 1844. Mr. Dutton bought fifteen acres of land on the north side of the Medina road, just west of Isaac C. Scott’s. The wife died here in 1848. In 1862 Mr. Dutton went to Urbana, Ill., and lived until his death in 1867, at the home of his adopted daughter, Harriet Somers. He suffered the amputation of one arm for cancer of the hand, when past 70 years of age. His children were Laura, who married Jesse Mead and died in 1875, Roxy, who married George Lawrence and died in 1845, Pamela, who married Nyram Eldredge and died in 1880, and Eliza Ann, who married Edward Barnes and died some years ago.
With Mr. Dutton came George Lawrence, with his wife and three children George, Charles and Angeline. They lived in the Barkdull house and Mr. Lawrence worked in the Ben Hill blacksmith shop. He died March 28, 1845, at the age of 36 and his wife died August 28, 1845 at the age of 32. George married Alice Yeaman and they lived at Clarksfield while he worked in the grist mill, until 1865, when they moved to Clyde, where they still live. Charles went to Iowa and died a few years ago. Angeline married a man by the name of Peck and lives in South Dakota.
Rev. Richard Biggs lived here in 1844-45. His children were Henry, Sarah, Rachel and Margaret.
William Curtiss, an own brother of Lucius Curtiss, better known as "one eyed" Curtiss, of Wakeman township, was apprenticed to a man in Connecticut, but ran away and changed his name to Lyman Riley. He married Betsy Church and came to Clarksfield about 1844 and lived at the village, while he worked at stone cutting in the old Furlong tannery building. The next year he bought a house of John Hayes in Geneva village, at Rowland’s corner and lived there. He worked at stone cutting in the old foundry building, near his home. In 1846 he bought 19 acres of land of Lott Pixley east of Rowland’s corners. His children were John, George, Rebecca, Abbie, Lucinda and Helen. George was drowned in the Hayes mill pond in 1850. Mr. Riley and his wife separated and she went to Michigan. He married the widow of Gilbert McCord, a sister of Joseph Ronk. They went to Wellington and to South Dakota in 1884 and in 1887 he went to Missouri, where he died. The wife died in 1885.
Dr. A. Evans lived here in 1844. He lived in the Dr. Bunce house at the foot of the hill, in the E.M. Barnum house and in the Gilpin house. He used to complain of the health of the community and say that it was "deplorably healthy."
James Hewitt lived on the Butler road across from where Sedgwick Barnes lived, from 1844 until after 1851. His children were of the Jones Margaret, George and Jane.
Mason Hand, who married Sarah Rusco, lived on the Butler road south of the Jones corners in 1844.
Spencer Putnam came here about 1844 and lived across the corner from Platt Sexton’s. He was a tanner by trade and operated the Wing tannery part of the time. He had a crooked eye, which gave him the name of "Cock eye Put." He moved to Bellevue, where his wife Almary died, some time after 1851. He went into the army and was killed. His children were Emeline, who married William Sexton and died in 1861; Luther and Judson.
Henry Bevington was a brother of Peter Bevington and came here about 1844 and lived in the Joe Potter neighborhood. He afterward lived on the Butler road where Sedgwick Barnes afterward lived. He traded farms with Mr. Barnes and moved into the log house built by Hiram Cunningham just east of the center of the township, and lived here until 1851. He would not work but associated with thieves and counterfeiters and was finally sent to the penitentiary for horse stealing. He died in California in 1894. His children of school age in 1818 were John, Louis, Francis and Margaret.
Jerry French and his sister lived with Milton Bissell’s family in 1844. They both went to Conneaut, Ohio.
John Hand, a son of Enoch Hand of New London, a noted hunter, lived here in 1844. He was called "Black John Hand," to distinguish him from Harvey Hand’s son, John. He was a man of low stature, dark complexion and with stiff black hair. He had no regular home but lived wherever he might find a night’s lodging. He was a famous hunter and killed many deer, turkeys and other game. He often killed and ate mud turtles, for a change.
E.H. Chamberlain lived here in 1844 and clerked for Mr. Cobb. His wife was a relative of Mr. Cobb. She had a son by a former marriage, Elmer Westcott, who also worked for Mr. Cobb. Chamberlain went back east where he had come from. Westcott remained and lived at Mr. Cobb’s as shown by the school enumeration. Mr. Cobb sent him to California with a shingle mill and he did not return here.
Alexander Jones was a son of Jesse and Polly Jones and was born at Attica, N.Y. in 1821. His father died when he was a lad and he came to Ohio with his invalid mother and found employment in various ways. In 1842 he married Julia Starr, of Berlin. She was a daughter of Thomas Starr and Clementina Clark. Mr. Starr was a relative of Smith Starr and came to Berlin in 1810 and did the iron work on the first vessel built on Lake Erie, west of Erie. In 1814 he married Clementina Clark of Florence, a sister of Upton Clark and this was the first wedding in Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Jones lived at Berlinville about eighteen months while he was engaged in the business of making potash. In 1844 he obtained by purchase or exchange, fifty acres of land in Clarksfield, of Anson L. Crawford, who had obtained the land of John D. Jones, a brother of Alexander. This was on the Butler road, about a mile south of Whitefox corners, where Aaron G. Rowland now lives. He moved to this place and carried on quite an extensive business in making potash as well as farming. He kept a small stock of goods which he bartered to the farmers for their ashes. In 1855 he sold out here and moved to Rochester, Ohio, where he carried on a store, ashery and cooper shop. In 1875 he moved to Cleveland and bought the American House and kept hotel until his death in 1888. His wife died January 4, 1902. She was born Dec. 5, 1821. Their children are Lizzie, Jennette, Alice, Almeda and Elnora their two boys dying young.
George M. Cleveland was the youngest son of Dr. Benjamin Cleveland, of Litchfield, Connecticut, and was born in 1816 and moved to Seneca county, Ohio, with his parents, in 1833. When he became old enough he began the business of making fanning mills at Savannah, Ohio. In 1842 he was married to Sarah Mefford. In 1844 he moved to Clarksfield, first living in the house just west of the hotel, then in a log house on the Pulver place. He entered into partnership with Abel D. Howe and they manufactured fanning mills. It should be remembered that in those days the grain was threshed with a flail and fanning mills were a necessity for cleaning the grain. They bought a house which stood east of Starr Hoyt’s, in the orchard of David Williams and had been built by one Lawton, a son-in-law of Williams, but never occupied as his wife died before the house was finished. The house was moved over near the Seger foundry and used for a factory of fanning mills. Mr. Cleveland moved to Norwalk about 1849 and operated a tannery. In 1857 he was elected Sheriff of the county. In 1866 he bought a large flouring mill at Norwalk and operated it for years. He died in 1900 and his wife is yet living. He had children, Helen and Pitt. His nephew, William P. Cleveland, lived here in 1844.
Patrick Mallory lived on the northeast corner of the intersection of north and south center road and the south town line road from 1841 until after 1851. He was a local preacher of the sect known as "Christians" (pronounced with a long I in the first syllable). He had two sons, John and Charles. He moved to Iowa.
In 1842, Rev. Sackett, a "Christian" preacher, held revival services in the school house south of David Lee’s and organized a church with quite of membership. The neighborhood came to be knows as "Sackett’s Harbor" from this occurrence. Several "Christian" preachers lived in that vicinity, one after the other, as will be noted in the history but the organization fell to pieces years ago.
In 1844 Lewis Howes lived in the Whitefox district. His children were Cordelia, Catharine, Silas, Lewis, Lorenzo and Polly.
David Rowland, a brother of James C. Rowland, lived here in 1844-45. He lived near Asahel Dowd’s and in Dr. McMillan’s log house. His children were Joseph, David, George and Elizabeth. He afterward lived at Pontiac, Michigan and probably died there.
John Delany, an Irishman, lived in lived until his death in 1894 at the age 84. Besides operating the sawmill, the Whitefox district in 1844 and had a son, Richard.
Luther A. Townsend lived at Clarksfield in 1844 and had children, John H., Mary J., and Charlotte.
James H. Tanner lived in Ransom Day district in 1844 and in the Rowland district in 1845. His children were Basris M., Phebe A. and Mirantha.
Sylvester Day lived here from 1844 to 1848. He, instead of John, Jr., as was stated on page 66, was the eldest son of old John Day.
William Burr lived in the hotel in 1844.
Nathan Wilson, who had a son John lived in the Dowd district in 1844.
Other men who lived here in 1844 were Lewis Beebe, Nehemiah Brown, Jonas Clark, Charles Grooner, James H. Parmer, W.C. Pratt, Lorenzo D. Reynolds, A. J. Turner, George S. Roberts and James Roberts.
Abraham Yeaman was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1813 and moved to Richland county, Ohio, with his parents when a year old. He lived on a farm until he became of age, helping to run saw and grist mills as he was old enough. In 1834 he moved to Venice, Erie county, O., and worked in the mill at that place, most of the time as foreman. In 1837 he was married to Miss Tasena Elizabeth Cowell. In 1845 he bought the Squire & Lawton mill at Clarksfield and moved there. He operated the mill here until 1861, when he went to Norwalk and operated a mill there for two years and then came back to Clarksfield and lived until 1865, when he sold out here and moved to Clyde, O., where he lived until his death in 1894. His wife had died in 1889. When he moved here he lived in the house just east of Cobb’s store, the one now owned by Lucretia Reynolds, but which stood back at the foot of the hill and had another story under the present structure. He afterward lived in the house across from Squire Starr’s where Emma Spurrier now lives, and then in the Gilpin house, back of the Congregational church. They were the parents of nine children, of whom three are living. Mrs. Alice Lawrence, of Clyde, Mrs. Libbie Weeks of Green Spring, O., and Mrs. Mary Terrill, of Chicago, Ill. Henry died in 1887 and Russell in 1889. One boy was drowned in the river here. When Mr. Yeaman came here he was associated with John Massey, who came here and lived a short time, then sold out to Mr. Yeaman and moved away.
Chauncey and DeWitt Cooley lived here in 1844-45.
Uriah Tucker, a native of New York state, lived in Venice, Erie county, Ohio. When Mr. Yeaman moved to Clarksfield he sent Mr. Massey back to Venice to get Mr. Tucker to come here and operate the sawmill, which belonged to the Squire & Lawton property. Mr. Tucker moved here in October, 1845, and lived in the upper part of the same house that Mr. Yeaman occupied, then he moved to a house on the bank of the race west of where the old Husted mill used to stand, afterward building the house which stands there now and living there until 1851, when he bought seven acres of land of Abel Barnes, just west of the river on the south side of the road, where he built a house and lived until 1873, when he moved to Toledo and he built a good many bridges and a few mill dams. He was married three times, the first two wives being sisters. The first wife had five children, two of whom Reuben and Mary Ann, lived here, but now live in Castalia, Erie county, O. The second wife had a son, Eli, who lives in Fremont, O. When he came here he was married to Harrie Bettis, of Vermont, and they had a family of six children, William, Pamela Ann, Sarah Jane, Milton, Alida and Henry. William lives at Chicago, Milton and Henry live in Toledo. Ann married John Carpenter and died in Clarksfield, in 1902. Sarah married James Gray and also lives here. Alida died many years ago. Harriet Bettis was born in 1827, married in 1843 and died at Toledo in 1902.
Joel Rogers was a son of Benjamin Rogers who was descended from one of three Rogers brothers who came to Massachusetts on the Mayflower. He was born in 1793 and in 1816 was married to Betsy Ells, who was born in 1796. Their children, twelve in number, were Myron, born in 1818, Morris in 1820, Smith in 1821, Potter and Palmer, twins, in 1823, Mary in 1825, Daniel in 1828, Benjamin in 1830, Harriet in 1832, Jeremiah, in 1834, Reuben in 1836, Elizabeth in 1838 and Joel M., in 1840. The twins were named for Potter Palmer, a relative of the late well known business man of Chicago, of the same name, and who was a relative of Joel Rogers. Potter died in 1826, but the rest of the family grew to maturity. In 1832 the family came from Lyons, N.Y., to Hartland township, and lived near Ranson’s corners. In 1845 Mr. Rogers bought out Daniel Livermore and lived in the log house west of Ephraim Day’s, in Clarksfield. After a few years he moved to Berlin and from there to Wakeman township, near "Brushwood" school house, and died there in 1854. The widow died in Clarksfield in 1888 at the age of 92. Myron Rogers married Maria Phillips, of Hartland, and they lived on the Norwalk road northwest of Clarksfield until the death of Mr. Rogers in 1889. He was a Justice of the Peace for about thirty years. His widow lives at Lodi, Ohio. Morris married Charlotte Livermore and died in Iowa in 1881. Smith married Harriet Harris, a sister of Hiram Harris, and died in Michigan in 1872. Palmer married Matilda Day, a sister of Ephraim Day, and they live in Iowa. Mary married Lemuel Smith and lived in Clarksfield until his death in 1862. She afterward married Avery Edwards and lived in Wakeman until his death, but now lives at Delta, Ohio. Daniel married Mrs. Victoria Fanning for his second wife and died at Sandusky in 1899. Benjamin married Almira Buck, a granddaughter of the second Mrs. Cyrus Dunning and lives in Clyde, O. Harriet married Matthew Gregory and lived in Clarksfield until her death in 1901. Jeremiah lives in Cleveland. Reuben married Emily Clark and they live in New London. Elizabeth married J. J. Dunning and they lived in Clarksfield for some years but now live in New London. Joel M. married Ariette Day and after her death, Lydia Daley, and now lives in Norwalk.
James A. Carley was born in Vermont in 1806 and was married to Nancy Kimball in Massachusetts. She was a cousin of David Stevenson’s first wife. They moved to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and in 1843 to Peru township, this county, and in 1845 to Clarksfield village. He was a blacksmith and worked for David Stevenson in the Ben Hill shop which had been moved across the road when Mr. Pulver bought the place, and lived in the E.M. Barnum house. In 1846 he lived on the Butler road a short distance south of the Jones corners. He moved to Vermillion but came back and lived in the old "Mansion House" at Rowland’s corners. From here he went to Rochester, O., and kept hotel but came back here and lived in the Eli Thomas house, near Spring Brook and died there in 1852. His widow married Essex Call but they separated and she died in Indiana in 1890. Their children were Albert A., who died in the army, John T. living in St. Louis, Mo., James R., living at Collins, O., Harry M., living at Florence, Charles H., living at Muncie, Ind., Caroline A., living at Lima, O., and Coridon D., living at Chicago, Ill., besides Harriet, Miles and Josephine, who died in youth in Clarksfield.
In 1845 Fitch Swan lived in this township, south of Ephraim Gridley’s and later across the line in New London. His children were George, Merritt and Harriet.
Charles Hill, a singing school teacher, lived here in 1845. His children were Charles and John. He was a brother of Ben Hill.
John Todd was a son of James Todd and Sally Ainsworth and was born in Dauphin county, Pa., Nov. 10, 1818. His father was a great grandson of Hugh Todd who came from the north of Ireland and whose brother is believed to have been an ancester of the Todds of Kentucky, of whom the wife of Abraham Lincoln was a member. On the 10th of September, 1844, he was married to Martha Atkins, of Cleveland, a daughter of Quintus F. Atkins, a noted Abolitionist, and they came to Clarksfield the same month. He had studied for the ministry and was chosen pastor of the Congregational church at this place. They first lived in the house next east of Dr. McMillan’s where Charles Puder now lives, and their eldest son, "Jimmie," was born here. After the parsonage was built, south and west of the church, they moved into it. He became interested with Deacon Gaston, of Oberlin, in planting a Christian colony and college in the Missouri valley and in 1848 he and Mr. Gaston went to Iowa, most of the way on horseback, to choose a location. They decided upon a point at Percival and Mr. Todd moved his family there in 1851. Owing to floods and the prevalence of fevers the colonists moved to the higher ground at Tabor after a year. This was the beginning of the town and college of Tabor, Iowa. Mr. Todd was pastor of the church there for more than thirty years, and saw it grow from nothing to become the second in the state, in size. Tabor College was founded in 1866 and Mr. Todd served as Professor of Natural Sciences and as Treasurer and was a trustee until his death. He dropped dead at the house of a neighbor while circulating a petition urging the enactment of a certain temperance law. His wife died at Tabor and he married again. His children are Prof. James E. Todd, State Geologist of South Dakota, living at Vermillion; Rev. Quintus C. Todd, of Tabor; Mrs. Margaret Currier, of California; Miss Martha Todd, of California, and Mrs. Bertha Campbell, of Iowa, Mr. Todd was a man of strong convictions and whose influence for good was much felt in the communities where he lived. The older residents of this township have tender recollections of John Todd and Father Huestis, who worked together, although belonging to different churches.
James P. Wilson was born in Dutchess county, N.Y., March 1, 1786. He served in the war of 1812, carrying despatches on foot from Cleveland to some of the western forts. In 1813 he was married to Phebe Powers who was born in 1791. He settled in Greenfield township, Huron county, O., in 1815, but lived in Norwalk township from 1819 to 1827. The wife died in 1830. About 1844 he came to Clarksfield. He once lived near Lyman Knapp’s and also on the east side of the Butler road, next to the New London line and built the first house on that place, a log block house, some time after 1846. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Winans, August 23, 1880. His children were Isaac P., born in 1814, James H. in 1816, Hanson R., in 1818, Harriet E., in 1820, Ira, in 1822, Saphrona, in 1825, Adeline, in 1826 and John in 1830. Isaac lived in Illinois some time ago, Ira in St. Paul, James in Texas. Adeline died in New London two or three years ago. Harriet married David K. Winans and died in 1893. John married Amanda Johnson and died at the home of Abraham Johnson.
Amasa Finch, who was born in 1799, married Alma Wicks, who was born in 1802 at Rensselaerville, N.Y. She was a daughter of Israel P. Wicks and Prudence Abbott, natives of Long Island. Mr. and Mrs. Finch moved from Pennsylvania to Townsend, in this county, in 1833 and to Clarksfield in 1844 or 45. They bought out Alonzo Bishop, in 1845. This farm was west of Clarksfield, a half mile, on both sides of the road. The house stood on the south side of the road, and they lived here for some time. They also lived at Sexton’s corners and in 1857 were living in the David Williams house. They moved to Wakeman township and from there to Townsend. Mr. Finch died in 1877, and his wife in 1885. Their children were Platt W., Julia, Mary, Ethlalinda and Chauncey. Platt married Mary Ann Cooley and lived in Clarksfield until his death in 1896. He practiced medicine in the later years of his life. Julia married Sanford Waldron and lived in Wakeman township. Mary married Herman Owen, of Fairfield, and died in Clarksfield in 1857. Ethalinda married "Little Hoyt" Husted, and died on the Huestis place in 1866. Chauncey married Matilda Scott and lived in Clarksfield for a numbers of years until after his wife died in 1876. He was married twice after this and died in Townsend in 1897, by suicide.
James Seeley was born at Oxford, England, April 6, 1813, and died in Cleveland, Ohio, August 7, 1889. He married Laura Sweet, who was born in New York state Jan. 6, 1822 and died in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1866. They had six children, James, who was killed in the army, Ann Elizabeth, Mary Lucinda, Laura Ellen, Ida Alvira and Alice Maria. The latter married John Ries and died in this township in 1899. About 1844 Mr. Seeley moved to Clarksfield and worked for Smith S. Gray as a journeyman shoemaker in a shop which stood south of Cobb’s store. He bought the house east of the E.M. Barnum house and lived there. He moved to Norwalk some time after 1851.
End of Pages 131 - 140
Transcribed by Lowell Dunlap