Pioneer History of Clarksfield, pages 51 - 60
Three Barnum brothers, Levi, Ebenzer M., and Eli, came from Danbury, Conn., to Clarksfield. They were sons of Levi Barnum, who died in 1796. Their mother died in 1807. Levi Barnum was in business in Pittsburg in 1819, engaged in making saddles. He had purchased land in Clarksfield and made such representations as to induce his brothers to move here. Ebenezer, at seven years of age, went to live with Jonas Benedict, whose son, Platt, was one of the founders of the village of Norwalk, O. At fifteen years of age he was apprenticed to Samuel Tweedy to learn the hatter’s trade. In 1815 he married Betsy Nickerson and lived at Danbury for two or three years, then lived in New York for a year, following his trade. In June, 1819, he and Eli, with their families, left New York, going by stage to Philadelphia and hiring a team to carry them to Pittsburg. There they purchased ox teams and proceeded by New Lisbon and Wooster, entering Huron county at New Haven. They did not learn of the location of Clarksfield until they reached Peru. They arrived here in July, after a journey of two weeks from Pittsburg. Eli settled on the farm afterward owned by Benajah Furlong, east of the Hollow. He also owned the Dunham farm, southwest of Stilesburg, now owned (in part) by William Winans. In 1824 he and Allen Mead bought out Joseph Osyer, who owned the farm on Hartland Ridge, now known as the Eno Holiday farm, and Mr. Barnum moved there. He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in Hartland. He soon afterwards moved to Norwalk, and was the superintendent of the infirmary. He died in Norwalk. His children were Levi, Horace, David M., Henry, Lucy and Mary.
Ebenezer M. Barnum first lived on the farm across the road from his brother’s, now known as the Fisher farm. Soon after their arrival, he and his wife were attacked with the chills and fever and Mr. Barnum became so ill that his life was despaired of, but he finally recovered, and his wife also. Mr. Barnum moved to Milan in a few years and worked for Henry Lockwood making hats, for several years. In 1829 he obtained from Richard Huyck a deed of thirty-one acres of land at the southwest corner of Hamlin’s corners, (now Twaddle’s) one mile east of Clarksfield village. He lived in a log house here for a time and later built a frame house. In 1857 he moved to the village into a house which had been built by Zelotus Barrett, which is now occupied by John Barnum. Here he died in 1868 and his wife in 1885. Their children were Francis, Mary, John N., Joseph S., William L., Stephen Gregory, Sarah A., and Ebenezer M., Jr. Francis and Mary died in infancy. John N. was born in 1820, and married Catherine Croxford in 1840.
They first lived in the old log house on the home farm and then built the house at the Hamlin corners, now owned by John Howard. In 1856 they moved to the village into a house built by Warren Cooley, now owned by Vern Stiles. Mr. Barnum opened a store in the building which stood in the bank south of the Cobb store, which was built by David Stevenson. He afterward became the owner of the Cobb store and carried on business with Dr. Disbro. He afterward carried on the business alone until he retired from active business a few years ago. His children are Emma, Mary and Herbert. A son, Joseph, died some years ago. His wife, Catherine, died in 1886, and a few years afterward he married Elizabeth Norton and they are now living in Clarksfield village.
Joseph Barnum was born in 1823, and married Sally Bacon of Ripley in 1845. He learned the trade of harness maker of Starr Hoyt and followed the business for a while and then lived on the Benajah Furlong farm for a time. From there he went to Ripley and then Missouri, where he lived until his death in 1899. He was engaged in the mercantile business for many years.
William L. Barnum was born in 1825 and married Maria Scott in 1845. They lived in different places in this township. Mr. Barnum became a minister and now lives in Michigan. His first wife died and he is living with a second wife. He has a daughter, Marilla.
Stephen Gregory Barnum was born in 1828, and married Lucinda Norton in 1849. They moved to Missouri in 1855 and lived in Minnesota and Missouri until 1883, when Mr. Barnum died. They had two children, Susie and Charles, both of whom are deceased.
E. M. Barnum, Jr., died at the age of three years.
Sarah A. Barnum was born in 1833, and married Levi Stuck in 1855. They moved to Missouri very soon afterward, where she died in 1856.
On the 22d of July, 1819, soon after their arrival, the Barnum brothers sold their yoke of oxen to Captain Husted for $70 and purchased some pork, wheat, potatoes and whisky.
In 1818 and 1819 Captain Husted charged Levi Barnum for chopping, clearing and fencing some of his land, and June 25, 1819, he charged for twenty-seven bushels of potatoes planted at 62 ½ cents. He received from Barnum forty yards of shirting at 62 ½ cents per yard, and 168 pounds of tobacco at 50 cents per pound. In 1820, in the month of April, Levi Barnum moved here and settled on the west side of the road, north of Captain Husted’s house, on a farm afterward owned by Abraham Gray, but now owned by Will Franklin. He soon bought out Solomon Gray and moved over to the east branch, where he built a mill, but soon sold, or traded with Asa Wheeler, and moved to the farm where he died, three-quarters of a mile south of the Hollow, the place being known as the Patch farm. Here he made improvements and built a large frame barn in 1827, which stood for seventy-one years, outlasting scores of other frame buildings. He died Aug. 8, 1833, at the age of 42. His wife was Elizabeth Cameron Smith. Long after the death of her husband she married Samuel Parker. She died in 1861 at the age of 70 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnum’s children were Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Fanny, Thomas, Joanna, Margaret and Catherine.
Mary Ann was born in 1817, and married William A. Patch. They lived on a farm south of the Hollow, near the Essex Call farm, but afterwards moved to the Barnum homestead. She died in 1897. Their children are Mary E., Anna and Thomas.
Elizabeth Barnum was born in Pittsburg in 1818. She married Orville Furlong. They lived east of Mr. Barnum’s place, where Philander Barrett afterward lived, then moved to New London and then to Tennessee, where Mr. Furlong died. His widow came back to New London and died there in 1887. Their children are Rhoda and Elenor.
Fanny Barnum was born in 1825. She married Hiram Smith in 1854, and they lived in Norwalk. She died in 1897.
Thomas Barnum went to Putnam County, Ohio, about 1848 and taught school. He married one of his pupils and lived in Putnam County until his death in 1859.
Joanna Barnum married John Lucas and they lived in different places and finally went to Michigan. Mr. Lucas died many years ago his widow died in 1891.
Margaret Barnum married Herrick Bentley and they lived on a farm between Clarksfield and Wakeman. Mr. Bentley died many years ago and his widow lives in
Norwalk at this time. Their children were May and Arthur, the former being dead.
Catharine Barnum married Wilson Curtiss. They went to Michigan, where both died, the wife in 1896.
Levi Barnum’s first purchases after his arrival were of bran, corn for samp, flour, wooden dishes, etc.
Henry T. Vanderveer came here in 1819, obtaining a deed of Lot 20 in the 4th section in same year, but sold the south half of the lot to J. B. Trowbridge the same year, and the north half to Upton Clark in 1825. He probably lived somewhere near where Upon Clark built his house, on land now owned by Edward M. Day. In the year 1825 he was one day chopping a tree down and when the tree began to fall he saw a cow standing within reach of the branches. He ran to drive her away, but was caught himself and crushed to death. December 20, 1819, Captain Husted charged him with a coffin, $2.50. We know nothing more about the family.
Frederick Hamblin, (no relation to Hiel Hamlin) came to Clarksfield as early as 1819. The only reference to him we can find is in the township records and in Husted’s account book. In 1820 the trustees contracted with him to build a bridge across the river at Clarksfield, undoubtedly the first bridge in town. They were to raise $75 out of township funds and the balance by subscription. There are several charges in Husted’s account book, showing that Mr. Husted paid the subscriptions of several men and charged the amount to their accounts. Some of the items of Hamblin’s account are as follows: Sept. 2d, 1820, to board, 106 meals at bridge, $7.50. 1822, to 30 card handles, 50 cents. Credit, by 43 pounds drag teeth at 33-1/3 cents per pound, $14.34. By 18 pairs of cards, $10. He must have put in some of his time at making wood cards, which were very salable property in those days. Also: By 31 bushels wheat collected on subscription, $31. He must have been a hatter, or at least brought some hats here for sale, as further items indicate: By one hat to Indian, $1. 25. By one hat to Capt. Pearse, $2.50. By Castor to Indian, $6.00. This last was a beaver hat for an Indian to wear. The whole bill for hats was $21.75. Hamblin did not complete the bridge, for we find that the County Commissioners made an appropriation of $25 "to Smith Starr and Levi Barnum to complete the bridge across the Vermillion river near Husted’s mill in Bethel," on the 3rd of December, 1824.
Captain Husted had an account with Elijah Morris which began while he was still at Danbury and the account ran until 1819, but merged into the account with Jachin Morris, who probably came here with Husted, because the account contains items like the following: "1817, November 1st, to one day of Jachin, sick." "Dec. 3rd, to pair of boots for Jachin." Husted charged Elijah Morris with 25 rods of land in Clarksfield, in September, 1817. Jachin worked for Mr. Husted, as the items like the following show: "To ½ day lost by headache." "To 2½ days lost, toothache." "July 13, 1818, to one day at Wheeler’s raising." The accounts of other persons contain charges for work "by Jachin." In the year 1819 Jachin was working on his own account and boarded with Mr. Husted some of the time. Among his purchases were "deer skins for pantaloons, $4.50." "To a cotton shirt, $2.00." "To making skin pantaloons, $1.00" "To pair mogasons, 37½ cts." His accounts continue until December, 1821. What became of him, we are unable to learn. He might have been a cooper by trade, for he was credited with flour barrels to the amount of $12.26. In 1829 E. and J. Morris sold the whole of Lot 15, 3rd section, the same lot of which Philemon Peck’s farm was a part, to Samuel Jennings.
In 1817 Jonathan Anderson, who had been a soldier and fought at Ludy’s lane, and his son, John, came to Florence, from Homer township, Countland county, N.Y., (the same place from which Robert Fletcher and Dan Minor came) and the year following another son, Alanson and his wife, who was a sister of Simeon Blackman, followed. The latter settled in Florence Corners and the old "Anderson" house is yet one of the landmarks of the village. In two or three years John moved to the south line of Clarksfield township, obtaining the deed to his farm, which is a mile east of Barrett’s Corners, and is now owned by W. K. Hoover, in 1821, from Benjamin Crampton, whose sister he married. He was a local preacher, and was a good man, but somewhat peculiar. He had a habit of addressing almost every man as "Bub," and this gave him the name of "Bub John." Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had no children and Solomon Hubbard, and his wife, Bythinia Gifford, took care of them at the end of their days. John died in 1865 at the age of 65, and his wife, Saphronia, in 1861, at the age of 61. Jonathan Anderson lived with his son John in the latter years of his life and died in 1845 at the age of 83.
It is probable that Henry Hopkins lived here in the winter of 1819-20, and taught school. He bought of Captain Husted venison at three cents per pound, pork, flour, etc. He received credit for "School Tax, $14.98." Moses B. Hopkins was born here Jan. 16, 1820, and was probably a son of Henry. We find the name of Moses B. Hopkins in J. J. Cobb’s account book in 1841.
Levi Munson Bodwell came here in 1820, and settled on a farm one-half mile north of the Hollow. His mother was a half sister of Ebenzer Barnum. His first wife was Ann Eliza Vanderhoof, who died in 1840, at the age of 34. His second wife was Charlotte Day. He taught school in Wakeman in 1820, being the first male teacher in that township. In 1825 he moved away from Clarksfield, but returned by 1832. In 1826 he deeded to the heirs of Eli Seger thirty acres of his farm, and in 1828, eighty acres to Smith Gray. In later years he lived on the Essex Call farm, the farm now occupied by Elmer Shays. He went to Kansas and died at Baldwin City. His children were Levi, Lester, Edwin, Joseph and Munson.
Levi Bodwell married Lucy Starr, Edwin married Melissa Starr and Joseph married Emma Barnum. Lester went east to live. Levi, Edwin and Munson live in Kansas. Joseph is in Alaska, but his wife lives in California. We learn that Horace Bodwell, who might have been a brother of L.M., went down into a well on the place of Levi Barnum, afterward owned by Abraham Gray, and was overcome by the "damps." He fell to the bottom and it was some time before the lifeless body was recovered. Omri Nickerson was the one who finally succeeded in getting a rope fast to it. In his account with Captain Husted he received credit for 18 cents for cutting frock for Mary Jane. In 1832 he received credit for $24 for "Henry’s Exposition," (probably a book.) He is charged 18 cents "for a broom without a handle," and $10 for a fanning mill.
In 1821 John Hough came to Clarksfield from New York. He had learned the trade of saddle-tree and hame-maker of Benjamin Stiles and he married his step-daughter, Rebecca Trowbridge, who had come to Clarksfield in 1818. She died in 1827 at the age of 23 years. She left three children, two of whom died young and the third, Charles, who married a Miss Sanford, of Fitchville, went to California with Andrew Stevenson and others in 1852, and died there soon after his arrival. Mr. Hough married for his second wife, Ruth Hill of Wakeman, a sister of Ben Hill, and had eight more children. Two died in infancy. Anne married Philo Oscar Stevenson and died in 1854 at the age of 24. Cordelia married William Denman and died some years ago. Ellen died in 1855 at the age of 17. William married Mary Barnes of Birmingham and died in 1872. Jonathan died in 1846 at the age of six years. Frances married Dr. Forde, of Kentucky, who died twenty years ago. She and her daughter are living in Cincinnati, Ohio. John Hough and wife went to Oberlin to live and died there in 1872, only a few days apart, followed in a few days by Charles Hoyt and William Hough. The Hough home was the farm just south of the village of Clarksfield, the place being owned by Calvin Johns at the present time. He followed the business of making hames and saddle trees as long as there was a demand for such goods. He had a log shop at the foot of the hill south of the house, by the side of the road, where Nunkey Hoyt used to work. He afterward built a frame shop back of his house where both worked as long as Mr. Hoyt was able to, and after that "Uncle Rob" Hurlbut did the iron work on the hames. He also carried on farming quite extensively, owning 250 acres of land. Mr. Hough was a man of strong character and very religious. He always did what he thought to be right, "though the heavens fall."
His accounts in the earlier days contain the usual charges for whisky, yet in later years he was an uncompromising opponent of the habit of drinking. When the Underground Railroad was in operation he became one of the most fearless workers and is said to have carried over the line more than one thousand escaping slaves. He had a dark room in his house where the slaves were hidden until they could be taken to the next station. Among the charges in Captain Husted’s account book are the following: Pint of whisky "to wash sheep by." To quart whisky "training day." To cherry coffin, $1.25. To coffin for wife. $3. To coffin for child, $2.50. 1828. To board from March to August, 21 weeks, $26.25. This indicates that Mr. Hough boarded with Mr. Husted for a time after the death of his wife. When Mr. Hough came here Charles Hoyt, or "Nunkey," as he was generally called, came with him.
It is possible that Hoyt
came first, in 1821, and Hough did not come until the next year, as shown by
their accounts. Hoyt’s account contains the following charges in 1821: To hauling
wood for coal pit, 50 cents. To old house for shop, $5. Also other charges for
hauling wood for coals. Mr. Hoyt lived with Mr. Hough until his death in 1872,
when he was about ninety years old. He was unmarried, and little is known about
his early history. He was a man of small stature and was liked by all. Omri
Nickerson came here as early as 1821 and began working for Samuel Husted and
boarded with him for a year and a half after that. He built a tannery at an
early day, in 1825, perhaps, as shown by a charge in Husted’s account, "tohay
when after bark mill" in May, 1825. He had a shop of
some kind soon after he came here, as shown by the following charges: "1821,
to 12 light frame in shop." To building shop one foot longer than agreed."
In September, 1824, he was charged for seven meals on raising 
day,
which may have been the time when the tannery was raised. This tannery was located
just south of the present grist mill. When the addition for the engine room
of the mill was built, about 1850, in digging for the foundation one corner
of an old tan vat was uncovered and a woodchuck hide in a good state of preservation
was found. It might have been like the leather which entered into the construction
of the "wonderful one hoss shay," found in the pit where the tanner
died." The land upon which the tannery was located was two acres which
Nickerson purchased of Smith Starr in 1824 and it was sold
to Samuel Husted in 1829. It was sold by him to George Conkey in 1829, but whether
Conkey
operated the tannery or not we are unable to say. In 1823 Nickerson received
a deed of 100 acres of land in Lot 15, 4th section, the land now
owned by Joel Rogers and wife on the New London road. Part of this land was
owned by Worlin Carlton at the time of his death. He was a cousin of Joseph
Nickerson and came from Connecticut. He went from here to Townsend after living
here only a few years.
The first physician to make a settlement in the wilderness of Clarksfield was Andrew McMillan. He was of Scotch parentage but was born in the state of New York. About 1820 he came with his father’s family to a farm near Monroeville, and in July, 1822, he came to Clarksfield. He was married in November of the same year to Effie D. Wheeler, daughter of Samuel Wheeler. He practiced medicine and studied, and in 1827 he graduated from the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati. He experienced all the hardships of the life of a pioneer physician, riding through the woods at night, being treed by wolves, and such annoyances. He owned different pieces of land, but built the house where Mrs. Towsley lives and died there in 1849 at the age of 52. A row of marble slabs in the south cemetery tells a tale of sadness in connection with Dr. McMillan’s family of children. The first child, John, died in 1824 at the age of sixteen days. Two infant sons died in 1826. In 1834 four more children, Effie, Andrew, William and Harriet, died of dysentery, between the 17th of July and 20th of August. These comprised the whole of the children born before that time. Seven more children were born: Andrew, who died from an injury received in the pineries of Michigan; Harriet, who married Andrew J. Parkhurst and died at the age of 22; John, who was killed in a railroad accident in 1892 at the age 51; Lucy, William Franklin, Mary and Charles Edwin, who are all living in the west. Dr. McMillan was caught by the tumbling rod of a threshing machine about 1837 and received severe injuries. After the death of Dr. McMillan in 1849, the family moved to Minnesota, where the mother died. Mrs. McMillan’s mother, Mrs. Wheeler, died in Clarksfield in 1847 at the age of 84. Dr. McMillan, or "Doctor Mac," as he was familiarly called, was much respected in the community.
Ira Peck was born in Addison county, Vermont, in 1789, and came to Clarksfield in 1818, probably settling on the Ezra Dunham farm, a portion of which is now owned by W. H. Winans. He afterward lived in the northwest part of the township and built the barn on the farm now owned by Humphrey Butler. He also owned he farm known as the Bostwick farm. Mr. and Mrs. Peck raised a family of ten children, viz: Henry T., Philemon R., Amanda A., Riley R., Alvah M., Martha M., Calvin L., Argalus N., Samuel J., and Edward E. Henry T. Peck, or "Harry," as he was generally called, married Abbie Haskins and settled in Wakeman township, on the Florence road not far north of the Clarksfield line. He children’s names are Warren, Royal, Byron, Dell, Ed, Wilmer, Henry, Virgil, Everett, Atlanta, Julia, Lavina, and Alice. The widow is living in Wakeman.
Philemon Peck married Caroline Taintor of Hartland and lived on a farm on the Florence road, a short distance north of Clarksfield village. The names of his children are Erastus, Albert, Henry, Chancy, Josephine, Marcus and Meda. Albert and Chancy lost their lives in the Civil war.
Amanda Peck married Rufus Munger and died in Wisconsin.
Riley Peck married Maria Reynolds and lived on a farm next south of Harry Peck’s place. His children were Arvilla, Celina, Charles, Ira and Cynthia.
Alvah Peck was born in 1816 and married Pamela Post. After her death he married her sister Fanny, who was the widow of Hiram Tower and a daughter of Isaiah Post of Hartland. She died and his third wife was a lady from Rochester, O., where Mr. Peck lived for many years and where he died in 1899.
Martha Peck died single. Argalus Peck married Mary Taylor. He was an excellent school teacher, but his mind was clouded at intervals. He lived in various places, but his home was in New London at the time of his death. He became hopelessly insane before he died.
Calvin Peck married Rachael Spurrier and lived for a time in this township, but moved to Wisconsin. They came back and he went into the army and died of wounds received in battle. Samuel Peck married Julia Randall and now lives in Illinois. Edward Peck died young. Samuel is the only one of the family living.
Ira Peck died in 1861 and his wife in 1853, after her mind had been clouded for years. She used to be the terror of small children.
Benjamin Carman came here as early as 1822, and boarded with Benjamin Stiles for some years. He afterward lived in a log house on the Stiles farm, towards Charles Fisher’s place. He was a surveyor and in later years moved to Norwalk and was county surveyor for some years
In 1822 Jonathan Baldwin obtained a deed of one hundred acres of land on the New London road, next north of Zelotus Barrett’s farm. There was no house upon it. Baldwin was a single man and lived at Barrett’s for some years. He was an iron worker by trade and became dissatisfied with the prospect here and went away one day without telling where he was going. Nothing was heard of him for nineteen years, when word came from him, saying that he had a family and wished to come back to his farm, but had no means, John Knapp went to Cumberland Gap, Tenn., and brought the family here. A house was built and Baldwin lived in it until his death in 1868 at the age of 71 years. The widow and children continued to live there until the former died in 1890, and place was then sold to Sherman Blackman, but a portion of the place had been previously sold to pay the expense of moving here and building the house.
Zelotus Barrett was a son of Philander Barrett and was born at Mendon, Ontaria county, N.Y., in 1798. His father died in 1814 and he came to New London. It is uncertain just when he came to this township, but it must have been during the first years of the settlement, as early as 1824. His first wife was Betsy Smith, a sister of Sherman and Major Smith, and they were married in 1821. She had two sons, Philander and Smith. She died in 1839, at the age of 34. Mr. Barrett’s farm was on the New London road, near the south line of the township, the farm known as the "Knowlton" farm. Mr. Barrett was shaving lath one day, a good many years ago, and a cross-grained piece broke and let the drawing knife enter the knee joint.
Amputation was performed and for the rest of his days Mr. Barrett stumped around on a wooden peg, which gave him the name of "Pegleg Barrett" to his acquaintances. He lived in New London township for many years and became a wealthy man. He died in 1876.
Salmon, or Zalmon, Rockwell came here in 1819 and chopped seven acres for Captain Husted. In 1834 he bought of John M. Smith a piece of land and sold it ten years later to Michael Shays. This land was on the west side of the New London road, south of the Major Smith farm. Rockwell lived on the east side of the road, just north of the widow Carpenter’s house, about this time. He was a half-brother of Horace Porter, who lived nearly across the road. He went to Michigan and died there.
Stephen Day was a native of Rutland, Vermont. He came to Clarksfield as early as 1822, obtaining the deed to his farm of 100 acres in 1823. This farm was located just south of what was known as "Day’s Corner," on both sides of the north and south road. The log house stood on the east side of the road in what is now John McDonald’s orchard. The children were Stephen Ransom, Lucinda, Corydon, Alzina, David R., and Sally.
Stephen Day died in 1825, at the age of 39. The widow continued to live on the farm. Ransom, the eldest, a boy of twelve years of age when his father died, became the main support of the family. In 1830, the widow married John Bates and had two more children, John and Silas.
Ransom Day married Maria Catharine Wood, only daughter of Ezra Wood. He bought the old homestead and lived there until Hiram Cunningham bought the east part of the farm in 1849 and then he built the frame house on the west side of the road, where he lived until his death. Their children are Arsula, Sarah, Lucinda, Nancy, Corintha, Stephen E., David and Ida, all living but Sarah and Corintha. Mr. Day died in 1876 at the age of 63, and his wife in 1880 at the age of 62.
Lucinda Day married William Hendryx. Corydon Day went west and died. Alzina Day married John Day. David R. Day married Aurilla Blackman. Sally Day married Reuben Tripp. Arsula Day married Johannus McCord and they live in Oregon. Sarah married Carlton Clark and died in 1864 at the age of 24. Lucinda married Walter Bissell and is the present wife of Truman Edwards and lives in Fairfield. Nancy is the present wife of Carlton Clark. Stephen married Alice Litchfield and lives east of Philander Barrett’s corners. Corintha died when a young lady. David married Jessie French and lives in Brighton. Ida married Cyrus Bidwell and lives at Bedford, O.
Augustus Porter obtained a deed of a tract of land on the south side of the 3d section, in 1824, but he lived here in 1822. He lived near the bank of the creek between the Stiles settlement and the New London road, between the Medina road and the section line road. He was a man of violent disposition and small boys had a wholesome fear of him and dreaded to pass his house. His wife was a sister of Dan Minor and Mrs. Asa Wheeler. He moved from here to Townsend and his wife died there. He was sent to the penitentiary for a vile crime and died there.
In 1811 Town Clark and his brother Upton, with their widowed mother and some younger children, came to Florence from Onandaga county, N.Y. The two brothers went to Greenwich to live in 1818 and to Clarksfield in 1823. Town Clark married Philotha Case of New London and moved to Seneca county, where he died.
Upton Clark married Sally Day, Dec. 28, 1819. She was a sister of Ephraim Day. Their house was built near the present residence of Edward Day. He received the deed of this land from Henry Vanderveer in 1825. In 1839 he purchased from Ira Starr the farm now owned by his son Carlton. Their children were Augustus F., Elias W., Olive, Samuel J., Rollin A., Calvin C., Sarah E., Emily E., and William F.
Rollin married Mahala Case and lived for a time on the farm next south of the farm owned by Henry Stiles about 1837. He now lives in Kansas. Calvin married Sarah Day and after her death, her sister Nancy. They live where Upton Clark did. Emily married Reuben Rogers and they live in New London. William married Libbie Rogers and they live in Iowa. The other children died unmarried. Upton Clark died in 1865 at the age of 69, and his wife in the same year at the age of 63.
In 1817 Daniel Bills came from Connecticut to Hartland and settled on Hartland Ridge, at Miller’s Corners. He married Hannah Waldron, a daughter of Joseph Waldron of New York state, but afterward of Hartland, for his second wife. He was a brother of Elijah Bills. The children were Lothrop, Ortency, Roby, Daniel, Sherman, Mindwell, Hannah, Myron, Roxana and Spencer.
Lothrop was the son of the first wife and did not live at home much after they came here. His wife was Lucy Smith.
Ortency was born in 1813 and married Taylor Starr. She died in 1841. Roby was born in 1813 and died in 1893, unmarried. Daniel was born in 1820 and was said to have been the first white male child born in Hartland. He married Margaret, daughter of Jacob Clawson. They lived on the farm now owned by Andrew Blackman for some time and about 1857 bought the Worlin Carlton place, on the New London road south of Clarksfield village. He died in 1898. His children living are Mrs. George Lee, Mardie, (Shays) Donna, Blakeman) and Sherman.
Sherman Bills was born in 182-. He ran away from home when he was 17 years old and went west, dying in California, unmarried.
Mindwell Bills was born in 1824 and married Sereno Manchester and after his death she married a Mr. Robinson and lives in Illinois. Here daughter, Ortency Manchester, married Thomas McKim and died quite a number of years ago. Mrs. Robinson is the only one of Bills family living.
Hannah C. Bills was born in 1827 and married Burton French. They lived in Wakeman.
Myron H. Bills was born in 1829 and married Martha Clawson, daughter of John G. Clawson. He hung himself some years ago. He lived near Norwalk. Roxana Bills was born in 1831 and married Charles Shelton. (No relative of the Wakeman family.)
Spencer C. Bills was born in 1833 and married Carrie Parson. He died in Indiana.
In 1824 Mr. Bills traded farms with Daniel Minor and moved to Clarksfield, on the place now owned by Charles Fisher, and built the house now occupied by Mr. Fisher. He died in 1862 at the age of 80 years. He was a soldier in 1812. His wife died in 1842 at the age of 47 years.
End of Pages 51 - 60
Transcribed by Lowell Dunlap