[Vermilion Twp.,Erie County, Ohio]

  Three Pioneer Histories from
  the FIRELANDS PIONEER("F.P."):
MEMOIRS OF TOWNSHIPS.- VERMILLION.
  by Wm. H. Crane; from F.P., Nov. 1858.
VERMILLION - S. E. QUARTER.
  by Benj. Summers; from F.P., Nov. 1858.
EARLY TIMES AND INCIDENTS IN VERMILLION.
  by Benj. Summers.; from F.P., June, 1863.



MEMOIRS OF TOWNSHIPS.- VERMILLION.
by WM. H. CRANE.
      
NAME OF TOWNSHIP.
  Vermillion was named after the principal
river emptying into the Lake through its
territory.

NATURAL APPEARANCE.

  The North part is level and the South
part has gravel Ridges and low lands. The
timber was white, black and red oak, white
wood, black walnut, hickory, maple, and a
variety of other kinds. There has been no
change of timber since the first settlement.

SOIL.

  All kinds, principally sandy loam, gravel
and clay marl; stone quarries extensive,
and at the present time extensively worked.
  Iron ore has been found and worked in
the township for the last twenty-five years
or more.

MARSHES.

  Not extensive. There are some small
ones in the south-east corner of the town-
ship which have been mostly reclaimed and
are productive.

RIVERS.

  Vermillion, La Chapelle and Sugar
creek. The Vermillion rises in Ashland
county, runs north through the eastern
towns of Huron county, and some of the
western towns of Lorain county, and enters
into Lake Erie though the township of
Vermillion, near the east line of the town.
It was so named by the Indians from a
paint found on its banks.

  The Sugar creek was so named from the
fact of a mound at its mouth in the shape of
a sugar loaf, and also that the Indians made
sugar from the extensive sugar orchards
along the creek. La Chapelle (a French
name,) rises in Huron county, passes
through the township of Wakeman, Huron
county, Florence and Vermillion, Erie
county, into the Lake.
  The native animals were the hear, wolf,
deer, wild cat, and many other smaller kinds,
which at the time of the first settlement of
the town were very plenty. For a number
of years the bear and wolf were trouble-
some by committing depredations on the
sheep and hogs of the settlers. Most or all
of the larger animals have disappeared.

ANCIENT REMAINS.

  Several remains of ancient fortifications
and mounds have been discovered. There
are two extensive fortifications on the banks
of the Vermillion, and one in the south part
of the township, on the farm now owned
by John Summers, Esq., and some smaller
ones in other parts of the town - when,
and by whom built, is more than tradition
tells.
  There are quite a number of mounds, in
the township, where the bones, and some-
times the whole skeleton of the human race
have been found. The bones and skeletons
found are very large, and some of the in-
habitants think they must have belonged
to a race of beings much larger in size than
the Indians found here by the first settlers.
In this connection I would say that Mr.
Jonathan Brooks, now living in town,
stated to me, that his father, Benjamin
Brooks, who lived with the Indians four-
teen years, and was well-acquainted with
their language and traditions, told him and
others that it was a tradition of the Indians
that the first tribe occupying this whole
country, was a black-bearded race, very
large in size, and subsequently a red
bearded race or tribe came and killed or
drove off all the black beards, as they called
them.
  The Indians found here by the first white
settlers, belonged principally to the San-
dusky, Tawa and Chippewa tribes. No
Indian village in the township.

FIRST WHITE SETTLERS.

  William Hoddy came in 1808, William
Austin, George and John Sherrats, Enoch
Smith, and Horatio Perry in 1809. Almon
Ruggles, Solomon Parsons, Benj. Brooks,
Barlow Sturges, Deacon John Beardsley,
and James Cuddeback, in 1810. Peter
Cuddeback and others in 1811. The above
settlers emigrated from New England and
from New York State. They came with
teams mostly.
  The first house was built in 1808 by Wm.
Hoddy, on the Lake shore, near the mouth
of Vermillion River; the second house by
Wm. Austin, 1809, a short distance west of
the mouth of said River. Peter Cuddeback
built the first frame house in 1818. Wm.
Austin built the first stone house in 1821,
and Horatio Perry the first brick house.
The first school house was built on the Lake
shore, near the present residence of Jacob
Sherrats in 1814. First teacher was Miss
Susan Williams, in the summer of 1814.
First pupils, J. J. Cuddeback, Jacob Sher.
rats, Joseph Brooks, and others.
  The first child born in the township was
John Sherrats, son of George Sherrats, in
] 809. He now resides in Van Buren Co.,
Michigan.
  The first couple married was Bud Martin 
and Catherine Sherrats, in the spring
of 1814, both now dead.
  The first death was that of a stranger 
- name not known - at the house of Barlow
Sturges, in the winter of 1810-11. The
first death of the actual settlers was Mrs.
Parsons, wife of Solomon Parsons, and
mother of Levi Parsons, Esq., formerly of
Sandusky City, and Burton and Ira Parsons, 
of this township, in the year 1812.
  The first mill built was a hand mill, built
by George Sherrats, in the year 1809-10,
and the first flour made in the township
was made in the same mill in the spring
of 1810. Shortly after Peter Cuddeback 
built a similar mill, and for three
years or more the inhabitants of the town-
ship, and some from ether townships, got
all their flour made at those two mills, and
there has up to the present time been no
other flouring mill in the township. The first
saw mill was erected on LaChapelle creek,
by Job Smith, 1819.
  C. P. Judson opened the first store in
the township, at month of Vermillion river,
where the village of Vermillion now is.
  The first fruit orchard was planted by
Peter Cuddeback in 1812, on the farm now
owned by his son, J. J. Cuddeback.
  William Austin commenced keeping the
first public house, at or near the mouth of
Vermillion River.
  The first mail through the township, was
carried on foot, by a Mr. Leach.
  The first physician was a Doct. Strong.
He was here before the war.
  The first Religious meeting was held at
the house of Wm. Austin, by a missionary
by the name of Badger, in the spring of
1810.
  The first Congregational Church was
organized Feb. 20, 1818. The first meet-
ing house was built near the centre of the
township, in the spring of 1828, and on the
22d day of May, the same year the first
pastor, the Rev. Harvey Lyon, was installed
over the church. The first Methodist Class
formed in the Fall of 1831. Members,
John Myers and wife, Miss Zuba Jackson,
and subsequently Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Julia 
Summers, wife of William B. Summers;
John Myers, Class Leader; Preachers,
Warren Sheldon and Edward Thompson.
Vermillion village, situated at the mouth of
Vermillion River, near the north-east cor-
ner of the Township is the only village
in the township.
  Your committee have been unable to as-
certain the time the township was organ-
ized, and the names of its first civil officers,
and will endeavor to report further at some
future time.
  Many interesting anecdotes of persons
and incidents of the first settlement of the
township, together with hunting stories and
narrow escapes from the wild beasts, might
be related; some of which probably will be
by those better acquainted with facts than I.

VERMILLION - S. E. QUARTER.
   by BENJ. SUMMERS, ESQ.

  Deacon John Beardsley erected the first
log house back from the Lake shore in
Vermillion, on lot no. 12, 2d section, in
the year 1815. He settled first in 1810,
near the mouth of Vermillion River, but
the unhealthiness of the location and con-
sequent sickness of his family, induced him
to move hack to the less fertile but more
healthful ridges. Here his family soon re-
gained health. He was a good and useful
man. Though eccentric in some of his
views, and probably in error, especially in
his theory of preserving his family from
the contamination of the world by educating
them at home instead of at school - he
was liberal to a fault, very negligent of his
dress; of a tall and robust frame, fully do-
voted to his Christian duties. He first in-
troduced religious meetings into the differ-
ent neighborhoods round about by holding
reading meetings, which ho conducted by
singing, prayers, reading a sermon, &C
and which in the absence of regular clergy
was very beneficial in keeping up the forms,
and, to some extent, the spirit of religion,
and steadying the Ark of the Lord in the
wilderness.
  The writer hereof distinctly remembers
the impressions of the first religious services
he attended in the wilderness. It was in
the Fall of 1817, at the dwelling of Joel
Crane, Esq., near the township line. 
Deacon B. officiated. His dress was remarka-
ble to a person just from the refinements of
New England. Woolen shirt, flannel
wamus, tied by strings, and unmentiona-
bles of same material, without fulling or
dressing, and domestically colored with
butternut bark, composed the main fea-
tures of his wardrobe; and in the sum-
mer following, shoes and stockings were
generally dispensed with. A few years of
back woods experience brought the most of
us into uniform with our worthy deacon.
The Deacon was a pillar of the first Con-
gregational Church organized in his neigh-
borhood, and was also an almost indispen-
sible accompaniment of a log or frame rais-
ing. Cheerful and happy himself, he dif-
fused the same spirit around. He raised a
numerous family, most of whom died ere
middle age, and now rest by his side in the
grave yard donated by him to the public,
in the southeast part of the township,
called the "Ridge cemetery." He was
elected the third Justice of the Peace
of the Township, but by some mis-
take never was commissioned. His chil-
dren were Philo, Joseph Smith, (who died
in 1822) Ann, Clement, Sophia, Joseph
Smith 2d, Harriet, Seth - who died in
1848 - Maria, (in 1844,) John and Irene.
Ann married Capt. Elliot, and died in
1844, Sophia married Allen Eddy, and died
in 1849, Harriet married Mr. Blasdel, and
died in 1842, John married Leah Corkins,
and died in 1849. All who married left
issue. Philo removed west about 1830.
Irene, wife of D. L. Washburn, Esq.,
and Clement, who married Sarah Akers,
have numerous offspring, and still reside
in Vermillion, and are the only known sur-
vivors of the children. Clement is now
- 1858 - Commissioner of the county of Erie.
The deacon died of lockjaw in the year
1831, perfectly resigned and composed, in
full assurance of a blissful immortality, and
exemplified beautifully that
"The chamber where the good man meets his fate,
Is privileged beyond the common walks of life
- Quite on the verge of heaven."
  His aged widow still survives him.
  Enoch Smith built the next house on the
ridge, where Henry Tod now resides and
removed into it from the Lake shore in
1815. This was on lot three, 2d Section.
Smith and his aged wife still survive in
Florence. He has ever been a laborious
and industrious citizen, and a hardy pio-
neer. He had children - William, Rebecca, 
Laura, Lyman, Amanda, Henry and
John. William, Rebecca, Laura and Lyman
deceased, leaving issue. Hannah and John
survive.
  A Mr. Wilcox, about the same time
built and remained a short time on north
one-half of lot two, 2d section, near the
spring where John Summers, Esq., now
resides.
  Jonah Bartow and his son, Jonah, Jr.,
built a shanty about the same time near
the centre of the east fifty acres of lot 11,
in the same section, a hundred or more
rods from Beardsley's, east. The old
gentleman went some years afterwards to
reside with his children, in Milan, and died
there. Jonah, Jr., married Hannah Allen,
became a resident of the Ridge, just east of
the cemetery, and died in 1833, leaving
three or four children. The widow and some
of the children still reside in Erie county,
but not in Vermillion.
  John Austin, son of Capt. William Austin, 
also built a shanty on the north part of
lot six, one-half or three-fourths of a mile
south of Bartow's, and lived in it a short
time. This was on the north part of the
farm now owned by Benjamin Summers.
  In the spring of 1817 Eli Winton, of
Newtown, Conn., moved into the house
built by Wilcox, near the spring. Winton
was a miller by trade.
  In November, 1817, Mark Summers, also
from Newtown, bought Winton's right, and
moved his family in with Winton's. At the
same time Philo Wells, from Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., took up temporary quarters at Austin's 
shanty, and soon after built on lot No.
nine, 1st section of Vermillion, about one-
half a mile east of his present residence.
Deacon Beardsley, about same time, built
on lot five, 2d section, near where his son
Clement now resides.
  Winton, during the Winter of 1817-18,
built and removed to the block house on
lot number three. In 1817, Joel Crane,
Esq., and Capt. Luther Harris settled just
over the line in Florence, on lots 41 and
51, and Dr. A. H. Betts and Levi Jackson
a little further south. And Robert W.
Betts located a half a mile south of Wells.
In the spring of 1818 Ziba Harris set-
tled one half a mile east of Wells, and
Robert Wells, father of Philo, with his
younger sons, Charles and Lemuel, settled
near Mr. Betts. Samuel Sanders had set-
tled near where Sugar creek crosses the
North Ridge, as early as 1815, or 1816,
and Benjamin Demund a little farther west,
on the same ridge. John Bartow and fam-
ily, son of Jonah, and Leonard Norton, his
son-in-law, came in in 1818, and settled
near tile old gentleman. In the summer of
1819, Amason Washburn settled on S. E.
corner of Lot six, 2d section, where he still
resides. Jesse Ball settled on the farm he
now occupies, lot three, 2d section, about
the same time.
  This may be said to complete the pioneer
settlement of the south-east part of the
township. A log school house was erected
on the township line, near Capt. Harris',
and a school opened by Capt. Harris, in
the winter of 1817-18. In the winter of
1819, Benj. Summers, son of Mark, taught
a while. The next year a school house was
built where William H. Crane now resides,
in Vermillion, and Capt. Harris and Benjamin 
Summers were amongst the first teachers 
therein. At this time the school district 
embraced the whole south-east corner of the 
township, and a few families in Florence, 
and twenty-five to thirty was the
average daily attendance.
  The school was supported by subscrip-
tion, and such was the scarcity of money
that usually the subscription was payable
in grain or whisky or work; and our preju-
dices incline us to the opinion that our
schools then were as well conducted as they
have ever been since. Although the set-
tlers in this part of the township did not
suffer from war and sickness so much as
the earlier settlers on the shore, still their
lands were hard to clear, and difficult to
plow amongst the stumps and roots.--
Sprouts from stumps and roots were very
troublesome. Most of them were poor, and
bought their lands on credit, and with the
strictest economy and industry, could
scarcely sustain themselves.
  Philo Wells, Esq., was from Dutchess
county, New York, originally, with his
wife, Hannah Lewis, from Connecticut.
He had little to begin with but a good
trade, (blacksmith,) good health, iron con-
stitution, and indomitable energy, industry
and perseverance.
  He united blacksmithing and farming,
and soon after tavern keeping, and soon was
a go-a-head citizen, and exercised much in-
fluence. He succeeded Winton in the jus-
ticeship for six years, and has become com-
paratively wealthy. Large quantities of
bog iron ore have been taken from the
farm he first "took up," which has added
materially to his means.
  His wife died in 1848, and he married
for his second, Mrs. Smith, of Connecticut.
  He had issue: George, Lewis, Wheeler,
Eliza and Emeline. George and Wheeler
became residents of Illinois, and merchants;
are married and have issue. Lewis is an
enterprising citizen, unmarried. Eliza mar-
ned Thomas B. Abel, and died in 1849,
without issue. Emeline died young.
  Joel Crane, Esq., and Captain Luther
Harris settled in Florence, close to the
south line of Vermillion, and were part of
this south-east quarter settlement. Crane
was better off than the other settlers. His
wife was Olive Mitchell, and came from
Connecticut. He had issue - Simeon M.,
who was twice married, first to a Miss Ingham, 
and second to a Miss Rockwell, and
has numerous issue. Ann was married to
the well-known and eminent financier and
surgeon, G. G. Baker, M. D., of Nor-
walk. She had one daughter, not now
living. William H. Crane married Harriet,
eldest daughter of Dr. Chandler, Esq. They
have issue, a son and daughter, and reside
on the old homestead in Vermillion, where
the family located a few year's after settle-
ment.
  Both sons are enterprising citizens.
Esquire C. died in 1844, and his wife in
1857. Crane succeeded Summers in the
justiceship three years. One son, Edward,
died early.
  Captain Harris and his wife were aged
when they came here - were worthy pio-
neers. He died at Milan at the advanced
age of over ninety years, his wife preceding
him a few years. Four of his younger
children came with him. Amos, who be-
came a physician settled at Milan, married
a Miss Goodrich, and raised an interesting
family, and was highly respected. He
died in 1843. Abagail, who married Rev.
Prof. John Monteith, now of Elyria, was a
most worthy woman, and they raised an
interesting family also. Abraham, a mer-
chant, not sucessful, and removed west
many years ago. Delpha, who married a
Rev. Mr. Burbank, now resides in the east
part of the State.
  Jesse Ball first settled on the Lake shore,
but came to this neighborhood in 1819,
married ___ ____ , and had issue: Horace,
Orrissa, Sally and Susan, deceased; and
Jesse Jr., Eli, Julia, Ann, Harriet, Eliza,
Emily were hard working and successful pi-
oneers, though their way has been a thorny
one, all occupying a respectable position in
society.
  Samuel and Jesse Sanders, with their
families, settled at an early day in this
section, and their families have now gone
to parts unknown. The brothers are both
dead. They made no permanent mark,
and were of the fluctuating class of popu-
lation.
  Benjamin Mann and wife settled on the
North Ridge, near Sugar Creek, in 1816 or
1817. He died in a few years and his
widow returned east.
  Eli Winton married Artemesia San-
ford, and had issue: Eliza, Morton,
Orlum, Montville, Olpha, Rolson, and
Marietta. Eliza married Col. F. Champney, 
and died in 1844, leaving numerous issue. 
Morton went west long ago.
The others reside in Lorain county, except
Montville, who is in Vermillion, and has a
large family - as have some of the others.
  Robert Wells, father of Philo, was too
old to labor, when he came with his sons.
He was known as a pious and good man.
Charles, his son, married a Miss Durand,
removed first to Lorain county, and then
to Illinois. Lemuel went east, and was a
long time Consul at the Island of St. Cath-
erines, South America.
  Robert W. Betts married Susan Furman,
of Florence. Had one daughter that came
to womanhood. She married L. Hale, had
issue, and resides in Florence. Mr. Betts
followed farming and milling, and has ever
been remarkable as a strictly honest man
and Christian.
  Mark Summers, whose wife was Dinah
Botsford, was originally from Connecticut,
but had pioneered Delaware county, N. Y.,
previously to coming here. He possessed
an iron frame, was a laborious pioneer, and
honest, and by persevering industry had
obtained a competency. He had mechanical 
genius sufficient to make any thing in
wood and iron, from a nail to a rifle gun,
lock, stock and barrel, and from a rake
tooth to an old-fashioned bull plow.
  He died in his ninetieth year - in 1855
- his wife in 1842. They left issue: Sally, 
who married Daniel Chandler, Esq., of
Florence, and who raised a numerous fam-
ily; Benjamin, who married Olive Stevens.
She died in 1826, and he married the sec-
ond time Julia Burr, of Florence, and has
three children, living: Betsey, who mar-
ried Samuel Walker, of Perkins, and has
two children; John, who married Sarah
Stewart. She died, leaving two children,
and he married Mary Ann Hill, of Berlin,
who has one son. Most of these descen-
dants still reside in the county. Sally and
Benjamin were nearly grown when they
came to Vermillion, and may be considered
pioneers.
  Benjamin succeeded Esquire Wells in
the justiceship, for six years, was for a few
years Associate Judge of the District, be-
fore and at the time Erie was set off, and
twice represented the Fire Land District in
the Lower house of Assembly.
  John is now Justice of the Peace, and
has been Commissioner of the county for
one term.
  Amason Washburn married Sallie Whitney, 
and removed here in 1819; was poor
like most of the settlers. Like Wells, he
united blacksmithing and farming, and pos-
sessing a vigorous constitution, by perseve-
ring industry and frugality, and the good
luck of locating on an iron bed, obtained a
competence. They had issue: Wheeler,
who died in 1833 without issue; David L.
who married Irena Beardsley, and has a
numerous family, and was three years Jus-
tice of the Peace; Charles, who married
Sally Ball; Marietta, who married Benajah
Butler; - these reside in Michigan; 
Benjamin S. married Sarah Brobeck; Betsey
married to James Mordoff; Delpha married
to John Harrison; James to Miss Webster,
and Amason, Jr., to ___ . Most of these
have issue, and together are quite numer-
ous, and mostly in good circumstances.
  Like other neighborhoods, we were most-
]y poor, but we were content, and our en-
joyments were as great as at any time since
our means have almost infinitely increased.
We had our difficulties, bickerings, quarrels
and reunions, like others; and like others,
have to all appearance nearly buried the
hatchet, though in all probability it would
require little labor to resurrect it again.
We have, notwithstanding our evil deserts,
been abundantly blessed, and rejoice in a
goodly law. The Giver of all be praised.


EARLY TIMES AND INCIDENTS IN VERMILLION.
    BY THE HON. BENJAMIN SUMMERS. 
from THE FIRELANDS PIONEER. June, 1863. 
pages 72-88

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
  From the circumstance that in the earliest 
record extant the ear-marks which the earliest 
settlers in Florence and Vermillion townships 
had caused to be recorded, are drawn off in the 
hand writing of Harlow Case, step-son of Almon 
Ruggles; and then follow others, for 
Vermillion, in Ruggles' own hand, as Township 
Clerk, it is probable Judge Ruggles had been 
Township Clerk of the two when together, and 
that the earliest records had been made on 
loose papers, and that when the Record Book was 
obtained he did not transcribe the doings of 
the Township Board, but only the ear-marks, 
which were deemed too important to be lost.
  Stephen Meeker, Jeremiah Van Benschoter, 
Peter Cuddeback, John Beardsley, James 
Prentiss, William Austin, Almon Ruggles, Rufus 
Judson, and Francis Keyes, are amongst the 
names most frequently mentioned in the earliest 
records as holding the most important offices.
  The first record of a Township Meeting is in 
the hand writing of Judge Ruggles and was held 
at his residence on the 6th day of April, 1818 
when Almon Ruggles was elected clerk; Peter 
Cuddeback and Jas. Prentiss, Judges of 
Election; Francis Keyes, John Beardsley and 
Rufus Judson, Trustees; Jeremiah Van Benschoter 
and Horatio Perry, Overseers of the Poor; Peter 
Cuddeback and Francis Keyes, Fence Viewers; 
Peter Cuddeback, Lister and Appraiser, and 
Stephen Meeker, Appraiser; Peter Cuddeback, 
Treasurer George Sherarts, Francis Keyes, Wm. 
Van Benschoter, and James Prentiss, 
Supervisors.
  Mr. Cuddeback seems to have carried off the 
honors of office on this occasion, probably 
without pledges to the dear people, or 
opposition, as the emoluments were nothing and 
the public crib empty, or not yet built; or, 
rather it evidences the willingness with which 
he bore the burthens of a poor community; for 
it was resolved, soon after, "that all township 
officers perform their duties free of expense 
to the township."
  To the Yankee settlers the German and Dutch 
names were a source of wonder and amusement. On 
that subject an anecdote was told about our 
enterprising early pioneer Jeremiah Van 
Benschoter, which was usually pronounced 
Benschooter. A gentleman came from the South to 
Milan, in search of a man living off somewhere 
towards the lake, and he had forgotten the 
name. Several persons were naming the settlers 
living in that direction; but without success, 
till at length one says, "What does the name 
sound like? Can't you think of something 
sounding like it?" After reflecting a moment -
"Why, yes; it sounds something like Buffalo, 
Cattaragus and Lake Erie." "Jeremiah Van 
Benschooter, by - !" exclaims the lucky 
interrogator--and it was all right.
  An incident which occurred on the receipt of 
the first copy of the laws by the first Justice 
of the Peace, (James Prentiss,) is as follows: 
The settlers, having immigrated from various 
States, on hearing the laws had arrived, were 
anxious to hear what they were in the new State 
of their adoption; so several of them went up 
in the evening to hear the law. Esq. Prentiss, 
beginning at the first page, read on till it 
was time to adjourn for home, and an 
interesting time it must have been. Closing the 
book, a death-like silence reigned a short 
time, when one of them shook his head 
ominously, with the exclamation, "Vell den, it 
ish tam crooked," and again shaking his head, 
"tam straight too " -- which being unanimously 
carried, they adjourned, well satisfied with 
their evening's progress in the knowledge of 
the law. The following copy from the records will be interesting, as indicating the relative 
wealth in cattle, horses and houses, of the 
citizens in 1818, taken from the township 
records:
TAX LAID ON THE INHABITANTS OF VERMILLION, 
ACCORDING TO THE LIST OF 1818.
Job C Smith.......$O,30
John Miller..........50
Curtiss Hard.........30
Isaac Ransom.........28
John Beardsley.......60
John Bartow..........30
Jonah Bartow.........10
Mark Summers.........20
Eli Winton...........10
Enoch Smith..........20
Philo Wells..........70
Robert Wells.........90
Levi Platt...........30
Almon Keeler.........50
George Sherarts......90
Joseph Brooks........20
Jonathan Brooks......80
Horatio Perry........70
William Austin.......70
James Cuddeback......40
Eunice Sturges.......60
Josiah Pelton........60
James Prentiss.......40
Rufus Judson.........80
Solomon Parsons......20
Jesse Ball...........60
Almon Ruggles......1,50
Benjamin Root........30
Abraham Traxel.......30
Samuel Hall..........40
Samuel Washburn......70
Stephen Meeker.....1,70
Henry Scribner.......10 
Alexander Duker......90
Francis Keyes........60
Isaac Tillotson......40
Isaac Tillotson,Jr...30
Jeremiah V.Benschoter 70
Henry Chevoy.........70
Wm..W..Benschoter....40
Daniel V.Benschoter..50
Reuben Brooks........10
Martin Judson........40
Verney Judson........30
Peter..Cuddeback...1,10
    Amount,      $23,20
This also indicates the number of people 
subject to taxation and their personal property 
- as 5 cents here represent one head of cattle, 
and 20 cents a horse. Meagre as it appears, it 
was as difficult for them to pay it, and much 
more so, than for us to pay what we do at this 
day.

FIRST LITERARY SOCIETY OF VERMILLION.

  Some time in the winter of 182021, (if I 
remember correctly,) having heard of debating 
societies, several of the b'hoys agreed to hold 
a debate. We met, by agreement, in the old 
deserted log cabin of Rufus Judson, on the 
shore. We had a comfortable fire - some hickory 
bark for lights a bench and one or two 
dilapidated old chairs for seats. The crowd 
consisted of Capt. Josiah S. Pelton, President; 
Charles P. Judson and Jonah Bartow, Jr., on the 
affirmative; Burton Parsons and Benjamin 
Summers, opposition. It being the first trial 
of our oratorial powers, and as we were not 
very confident of our skill in such matters, we 
had not invited the neighbors as spectators.
  The question for discussion was one very many 
times adopted for such occasions in early times 
and suited to our supposed capacities. "Which 
are the most useful to mankind - Horses or 
Cattle?" Cattle led off. It is unnecessary to 
give the reasoning, pro and con. Suffice it to 
say, the fall of man - eating the forbidden 
fruit - the materials - workman, or 
workwomanship of our first mother's efforts at 
needle-work, with the expulsion from the garden 
- the deluge - Babel, &c., all came in from one 
or the other side, as pertinent to the issue; 
and after an hour or two of amusement, 
tremendous thrusts and skillful parries, the 
President gravely told us we had spent most of 
our ammunition wide of the mark, and wound up 
with an argument against horses and giving the 
cattle the victory.
  Unpromising as was this first sly effort at 
debate, it grew to be an institution, and at 
its meetings in after years many young men 
found tongue who would otherwise have been 
greatly surprised at their own voices in 
meeting.

DRESS.

  The dress of the pioneers, up to 1820 and 
later, was usually, for the males, dressed deer 
skins for pants and home-made flannels and 
linens for shirts and coats, with a wool hat or 
coon skin cap. Fulled cloth for a dress coat 
was common, and as conveniences multiplied, the 
deer skin pants were superseded by woolens, 
with large patches of deer skin covering each 
knee, and seated with the same - that is, the 
woolen would be worn for special occasions till 
holes came in the knees and seat, and then they 
were rigged with the skins for every-day wear, 
and would do long service. The deer skin pants 
were an excellent dress, and warm and pleasant 
in dry weather but in the water they became 
elongated to twice their dry length.
  An amusing incident took place at the hanging 
of the Indians at Norwalk for the murder of 
Gibb &c., near Sandusky.(N0TE. - The Indian, 
Omeek, one of the two who murdered Gibbs and 
Buell near Sandusky, was executed at Cleveland 
in 1812, before Huron Co. was organized. Those 
hung at Norwalk committed the murder on the 
Peninsula.-EDITOR.) A young man waded through 
the long wet prarie grass, between Huron and 
Norwalk, to see the hanging, and his speed 
being much impeded by his pants dragging under 
his feet, he cut off and cut off at the lower 
end, till arriving at Norwalk, a hot June sun 
soon dried his pants and they shrunk up to some 
distance above the knees, and he became almost 
as much an object of curiosity as the Indians 
themselves.
  At that time, common satinett for a pair of 
pants cost $4,50; for a coat, $6,00; vest, 
$1,25; trimmings and making, say $6,00. Two 
shirts of common cotton, $4,00; shoes and hat, 
$3,00 - equal to $20,25 for a very plain suit; 
and a young man might possibly pay for them 
with three months' labor. This was not to be 
thought of by the great majority of settlers 
who had families to support, farms to clear, 
buildings to erect and lands to pay for.
  The dress of the ladies (for they were as 
truly ladies then as now) was, for every day, 
common tow and linen, and home-made plaid 
flannels, with a calico dress of very moderate 
dimensions for special occasions.
  The small folks, in many families, rolled 
about in almost primitive nudity, and enjoyed 
it hugely.
  The ladies, however, would contrive various 
little ornaments, and would appear rather 
prettily dressed.

THE WOMEN.
  The women of those times bore their full 
share of all the hardships incident to pioneer 
life, and although their names do not come down 
to us on the public records, either as 
statesmen or officers, their noble acts of 
hospitality - their watchings by the cot of the 
dead and dying - their almost universal 
encouragement of virtue, and condemnation of 
vice - their patience under privation and 
suffering, and their never-tiring industry and 
self-denying economy, entitle them to 
everlasting respect and reverence.

GASTRONOMY.
  The most primitive method was pounded corn 
wet to a batter, placed on a chip and baked 
before the great fire of the pioneer, with 
venison, bear, raccoon, turkey and hog to 
match, and no better johnny cake was ever 
eaten, or better suppers provided, hungry 
hunters and woodchoppers and half famished 
children being judges. Next came the bake 
kettle, with its great iron cover, set on coals 
and coals heaped on top - making a new era in 
housewifery. Then followed a tin reflector, 
which would bake, roast and broil; and as frame 
and brick building superseded the log hut, good 
brick ovens, and lastly, the stove, with all 
its various culinary conveniences.

BEAR STORY.
  It would scarcely be just to Vermillion not 
to record one hunting exploit, or bear story. 
Therefore, as a sample of frontier life, take 
the following, which occurred in my immediate 
neighborhood:
  In the early Spring of 1819 or '20, Deacon 
John Beardsley's boys were cutting the small 
brush, which were very thick in the windfall on 
the south side of the marsh in the southeast 
part of the township.
  As the boys (Philo, Smith and Clement) were 
going to their work, they heard a strange noise 
in the brush, and Philo and Smith declined 
going on; but Clement, the younger, insisted on 
searching out the cause of the noise, and 
against the remonstrances and orders of the 
elder ones, persevered till he found an old 
bear and three cubs bedded under a large log, 
or tree, which had fallen across another tree. 
Some one was dispatched after help, now the 
game was discovered.
  There were but two or three hunters residing 
in the neighborhood, and they were all gone 
from home. Whereupon Mr. Amason Washburn, 
recently from Connecticut and who had never 
hunted, with his son Wheeler, a lad of 14, and 
a large dog of his, together with some fifteen 
or twenty women and children, gathered for the 
conflict. The children, as they arrived, having 
amused themselves with irritating Bruin with 
sharp sticks, which would bring her out, with a 
growl, a few feet, when the care of the little 
blind cubs would call her back. Arrived on the 
ground, Mr. Washburn, sensible of his own 
nervousness and inexperience with firearms, 
assigned to the lad the duty of firing at the 
bear, while he, armed with an ax, would "pitch 
in" as circumstances might require. The boy, at 
eight or ten paces distant, aimed for the 
sticking point, and probably made a good hit. 
The dog pitched in and was soon 'hors du 
combat' in Bruin's stout embrace. Washburn 
advanced to the rescue; but thinking it a pity 
to injure the skin by a blow with the bit of 
the ax on the back, let drive at her head, 
which she dexterously dodging aside, the blow 
fell on the ground, when she let up the dog and 
made off - bleeding profusely. The dog being 
disabled, matters rested for several hours, 
till Mr. Enoch Smith, an old hunter, came with 
another dog, which, being set on the track, 
soon came on the game; but he got so warm a hug 
that he also came off disabled. The old bear 
was never found. The young ones were tamed and 
made us quite familliar with the habits of 
bears. And thus ends this very singular bear 
story, which is, however, literally true.

WOLVES.

  The new settlements were much infested by the 
large grey wolves, which frequently made night 
hideous with their horrid howlings. I have 
racked my brain in contriving how to give the 
present generation an idea of the horrid 
discords made by a pack of them. Convene a 
modern brass band, let them strike at once or 
as quickly as convenient the most discordant 
notes of an eight octave instrument, and that 
is one wolf, multiply that by five, ten or 
twenty, and you have a pack in concert as 
nearly as can be any way not wolf, maybe a 
little exaggerated.

WOLVES AND COURTING.

  Notwithstanding the dangers of the way, the 
boys would go " sparking" in those early times, 
and verified the old Roman poets assertion 
which Englished means, young folks will manage 
to enjoy each other's society, though usually 
rendered "love conquers all." As in those days 
of one-roomed houses, such interviews could not 
be had in the day time, the night was 
appropriated to devotions at cupid's altar, and 
a blanket thrown across a few chairs between 
the beds of the family and the big fire place, 
improvised a snug and warm private room, where 
Bill and Kate could whisper their loves, and 
lay plans for future happiness. One of them, 
returning during the small hours of the night 
from such a visit, afoot, (for horses were 
scarce and such reconnoissances were performed 
without cavalry,) had a mile or more of woods 
to pass through, and finding by the howling 
that a wolf was on track - being unarmed - and 
not considering a roost on a tree for three or 
four hours on a cold winter night as very 
desirable for a featherless biped, made haste 
to get through. The wolf gained fast, though 
often stopping to howl for help; and just as 
our hero hounded off one end of a log bridge of 
30 or forty feet span, the wolf set up a 
terrific howl at or near the other end of it, 
which "set each particular hair on end," "Like 
quills upon the fretted porcupine;" and if ever 
he did any tall running it was then; being just 
through the woods, the wolf left and lie 
realized that
    "He that runs, and runs away,
    May live to run another day."

ANOTHER WOLF STORY.

  About 1818, Stephen Smith, a small but active 
batchelor, wishing to go from the residence of 
Judge Meeker, on the lake shore, to Esq. 
Barnum's, in Florence, a distance of five or 
six miles, and return early enough in the 
morning so as to make no inroad on his daily 
wage's, procured a horse and set off in the 
early part of the evening. There was a bridle 
path through the woods, but, in the gathering 
darkness, he lost it, and finally became 
entangled in the brush and grape vines, then 
growing in a thinly-timbered tract back of 
Judge Ruggles', known 'as Ruggles' Vineyard. 
Much to his annoyance, he was soon surrounded 
by a noisy pack of wolves. His horse became so 
restive and his unwelcome visitors so 
clamorous, he judged it best to tree for the 
night. So, tying his horse, he made the best 
speed he could up a middling sized hickory, and 
after attaining a safe altitude, as he 
supposed, found a projection, on which he 
seated himself, and clinging with arms and legs 
around the trunk, held on for dear life, 
congratulating himself that though not a very 
agreeable roost on a cool September night, 
still it was better than a berth within the 
hungry maws of a pack of wolves. The wolves 
would approach the horse and the foot of the 
tree, snapping and growling, and then go a 
little way off and raise their demoniac howl 
for more help, at intervals, throughout the 
night. At the first streak of light in the East 
they decamped, leaving Stephen safe and sound, 
and as it became light enough to begin to 
discern objects, and he gained assurance that 
the wolves had indeed left, he prepared to 
descend again to earth; when lo! on attempting 
to extend his limbs downward, he found, to his 
inexpressible surprise and chagrin, that he had 
been sitting all night on a small projection at 
the foot of the tree, not having ascended at 
all!

BIOGRAPHICAL.

  Capt. William Austin was one of the earliest 
settlers, and located about half a mile west of 
the mouth of the river. He boasted that he 
dandled Commodore O. H. Perry, the hero of Lake 
Erie, on his knees while a babe. He made 
nineteen consecutive yearly voyages to the 
banks of Newfoundland, thence to Spain and home 
again to New London, Ct., before he came to 
Ohio, and mostly as captain. He was a man of 
much energy, and built one of the first boats 
ever launched from these shores, and sailed her 
before and during the war of 1812. He built the 
first stone house in Vermillion, in the year 
1821. His social qualities were of the most 
genial kind - but his long absolute control of 
his dependents made it very unsafe to cross his 
path. His rule aboard ship was to have every 
thing in its place, and the least deviation 
from rule by an inferior, was visited with 
certain punishment.
  Of the strictest veracity, he would never 
admit of flatteries, and was as outspoken and 
abrupt as honest. On an occasion when his man 
attempted to get a favor by appealing to his 
pride, and saying to him how obliging and 
clever a man he was considered to be. "Clever," 
said he; "CLEVER! CLEVER!" "so is the devil so 
long as you please him," and the matter was 
settled. He was a full believer in premonitions 
and warnings from some unseen agents, and said 
he had never to meet any unusual danger without 
being timely warned of its approach. I will 
relate two incidents. His warning always came 
in the shape of a raving white horse, and 
generally in a dream. Once as he was returning 
to this continent, the ship making good way 
with a favorable wind, he retired after dinner 
and fell asleep - when the old white horse 
came, mouth wide open and in great fury at him 
- he bounded from his bunk, hastened on deck, 
and sang out: "about ship in an instant!" with 
all the energy he was master of. The order was 
instantly obeyed and as the good ship wore 
round the fog lifted, the breakers were less 
than eighty rods ahead, and the iron bound 
coast of Labrador in plain sight just beyond. 
"Ten minutes more on our course and we would 
never have been heard of again," was his 
comment.
  Again about 1814 or perhaps earlier, late in 
the Fall he was on his way from Huron or 
Sandusky to Detroit, and had several merchants 
as passengers. It was one of those delightful 
Indian Summer days which we have all seen, but 
which are easier seen than described. On the 
way to the Islands the old white horse paid him 
another furious visit, and about noon he tied 
up in Put-In-Bay. The passengers were 
indignant; fine day, fair wind, and nothing to 
hinder but the old man's obstinacy or laziness. 
But he was immovable, not a foot would he stir 
out of harbor that day, and they had to submit. 
Just after night fall, came on one of those 
furious snow storms and gales which so 
distinguish Lake Erie navigation in the 
beginning of winter, and which have so 
frequently destroyed immense quantities of 
shipping and numerous lives, and in the morning 
the deck was burthened by a foot of snow, and 
the wind blowing a hurricane outside the 
harbor. His passengers were very thankful now 
for their escape, and the next day with a fair 
sky, they landed safely in Detroit. I make no 
comment, let each one believe as much or as 
little as he pleases; I have only to say Capt. 
Austin believed what he said, and his boast was 
that in a long experience on water, he had 
never met with a serious disaster, and had 
escaped very many in the same manner as above.
   He had several sons and daughters, none of 
whom remain, and he died some years since in 
the West. Their names were: John, George, 
William, Jedediah, Sally, Betsey, Nancy and 
Polly. John was married and built one of the 
first shanties on the ridge, en the farm now 
occupied by B. Summers. They had several 
children and left for the Islands about 1819. 
George married Charlotte the relict of Fred'k 
Sturges, and had issue: Charles, Elizabeth and 
Charlotte.  Sally married John Allen; Betsey 
married Job C. Smith; Nancy, Dickson; and 
Polly, J. Conklin.           
  SECOND SIGHT. There have been and still are 
persons who give credit to stories of marvelous 
visions and gifts of second sight. A case in 
point I will now put on record, as it very 
nearly concerns myself; and for the facts is 
herein stated, myself and some neighbors yet 
living can vouch.
   There was amongst the early settlers a 
batchelor of some thirty years, bearing the 
time honored name of John Brown a good, whole- 
souled Fellow but like many others of that 
class, fond of the intoxicating cup. He was an 
excellent nurse and was frequently employed in 
those sickly times in that capacity, and withal 
claimed to have been born with the gift of 
second sight. In the summer of 1819, he boarded 
in the family of Enoch Smith, about fifty rods 
west of Mark Summer's residence, S.E.quarter of 
Vermillion. Summers and Brown were on excellent 
terms and both fond of joking, and scarce ever 
met without a passage of that sort. One evening 
Brown retired before the family, and while the 
family was yet up arose from his bed three 
times and went out without saying any thing to 
them.
  In the morning he was in great distress of 
mind, and, in explanation, said, "Uncle Mark 
was going to die, or be very sick; that on the 
three occasions that he went out in the evening 
he had been compelled to go, and that at the 
bars to the road he had seen him come along 
with a coffin on his shoulder; that he set it 
down and passed a joke with him as usual and 
then took it up and went on towards home."
  Smith's people were of this class of 
believers and advised to keep it secret.     
  Brown also related it to Dr. Betts, (Rev. A. 
H. Betts,) and others, and exhibited the utmost 
grief at the thought of losing his good friend, 
Uncle Mark. Amason Washburn was about to raise 
his log house, and Brown, although very fond of 
a log raising and the usual accompaniment - 
whiskey - told some of the neighbors he would 
not go, for he feared Summers would get killed 
there, and he, if he went, might get 
intoxicated and be the means of his death. None 
of the family of Summers were yet let into the 
secret. I remember well of meeting Brown as I 
returned from the raising and with what 
eagerness he inquired if anyone had been hurt, 
and how rejoiced he appeared when he learned 
there had been no accident, and then he went on 
to get his share of the good cheer.
  Just one week after this, Mr. Summers was 
taken with the common billious fever of the 
country, and came as near to death as seems 
possible and live. The neighbors met and made 
his grave clothes and all but Brown gave him 
over for dead but he continued to wet his lips 
insisting that while there was life there was 
hope. Even after he had recovered so he could 
set up, many expected he would relapse and die, 
so firm was the conviction of Brown's gift and 
sincerity. We of the family were not informed 
upon the subject till this time, when my father 
said he should get well, for he had an 
assurance while lying so sick, that he should 
recover and live fifteen years and drink water 
from the spring, out of his tin cup as 
Hezekiah, the King, did wine out of the golden 
cup. And he did. I make no comment further than 
this. The vision was made public before the 
events took place; and Brown's conduct and 
extreme anguish attest his own sincerity 
throughout.
  George Sherarts, with his wife Margaret and 
several children, came From Pennsylvania in the 
year 1809. He paid out the last shilling he had 
for ferriage across the river, and located half 
a mile west of Captain Austin's. Himself and 
wife were of the good old Pennsylvania German 
stock. No one acquainted with Geo. Sherarts 
doubted his worth or honesty. He soon opened a 
fine farm, paid for it out of his savings, and 
raised a numerous family - fourteen children. 
He built the second stone house in the 
township, occupied till recently by his son 
Jacob. He was esteemed as industrious, honest 
and pious, and an excellent citizen. The 
children were: Christina, who married Jacob 
Compton - he died 1818; Betsey, who married 
Jonathan Brooks, left one daughter Betsey; 
Katharine, who married Budd Martin; George Jr. 
who married Mary Cuddeback; Polly, who married 
Sylvester Cuddeback; Rebecca, who married 
George Butterfield; Jacob, who married 
Katharine Sherarts [and] 2nd Elizabeth 
Bomhart[Baumhardt]; John, who married Susan 
Sherarts; Hannah, who married David Shafer; 
Rachel, who married Nathan Cuddeback; Barbara, 
who married Simon Sherarts; Sophia, who married 
William B. Andrews.
  Katherine [Martin]'s children were Rosanna, 
Almon, William, Lafayette, Clarissa.
  Polly wife of S. Cuddeback.
  George Jr. married Mary Cuddeback.  Children 
- James, Calista, Jane, Sidney, Franklin, 
Sarah, Roxana.
  Peter Cuddeback and his wife Jane were of the 
Dutch stock of the Mohawk, New York, and came 
also with several children in 1811, and settled 
two miles west of the river. Uncle Peter and 
Aunt Janey were noted far and wide for thrift 
and unbounded hospitality. Although their 
children to the number of near a dozen, were 
usually at the family board, scarcely ever did 
they fail, for a meal, to also supply the wants 
of visitors -- travelers, immigrants, or any 
others who would partake of their good cheer. 
They had enough for each and for all; and it 
seemed to be the peculiar delight of Aunt Janey 
(as she was familliarly called) to cook for and 
wait on her friends, and she counted all 
strangers and newcomers as such, As well as 
those of longer standing.
   He was also somewhat of a public man, being 
one of the Board of Trustees of the township or 
many years, Treasurer, &c., and his house the 
place of holding elections. They were patterns 
of industry. He was, by trade, a carpenter and 
joiner, to which he added farmer and shoemaker. 
(I speak from personal observation of his 
habits.) He arose early and labored on the farm 
or in the shop till evening. After supper, in 
the Winter, he mounted his cobbler's bench and 
made and mended shoes for his family's use 
(never for others) till 10 or 11 o'clock; then, 
the children having become quiet, he read some 
book for half an hour or more, and just before 
12, would visit his barn and stables and see 
that all was right amongst his brute 
dependents, and then go in and retire for the 
night. Every thing must be in apple-pie order 
about him. The porker must not trespass on 
biddy, nor biddy on porker. His industry and 
economy enabled him to add land to land, till 
in 1833, when he died, he was possessor of a 
considerable tract of land, and one of the 
thriftiest of the pioneers.
  His second son, James J., occupies the front 
part of the farm. They had issue. Polly married 
Geo. Sherarts Jr.; Sallie, (Mrs. Russel Mason); 
James J. married Miss Davis; Hiram, deceased; 
Fanny, (Mrs. Allen Pelton); Nathan married 
Rachel Sherarts; Norman; Amos married Miss 
Hammond; Jane, (Mrs. Curtis); and Permilla, 
deceased.
  Peter Cuddeback died in 1833. His widow still 
lives at an advanced age, with her son James J.
  Rufus Judson settled, adjoining Peter 
Cuddeback's farm east, in 1811 or '12. He had 
previously resided in Jesup a year or two. He 
was a blacksmith and farmer; married, in 
Connecticut, Miss Barnum, and had ___ sons. 
Charles P., who married Miss Allen, was many 
years a Justice of the Peace, and removed to 
Washington Territory about 1850. Wakeman and 
Eli S. who removed west, and George, now a 
successful lake captain hailing from Cleveland.
  Mr. Judson had the reputation of having had a 
quarrel with hard work, and although a prudent 
man, made no great advancement. His wife, an 
excellent woman, was lost on the lake whilst 
returning from Buffalo. He married ____ _____ 
for his second and died in 18__.
  He related to me, that when the babe pined 
away, while in Jesup, and was likely to die, he 
went to Huron and paid a dollar for four pounds 
of pork, and they fed it to the babe, who was 
very eager for it; that it began immediately to 
recover; grew very fleshy; and he had no doubt 
but the pork saved his life. Does this fact 
conflict with the theories of the vegetarians 
and those who so loudly condemn pork eating?
  James Cuddeback came in in 1810, and settled 
half a mile west of the river. His wife Hannah 
is sister to Mrs. Peter Cuddeback, and still 
lives with her daughter Mrs Capt. Geo. Stone. 
He was industrious, prudent and a good honest 
citizen, became insane for many years and died 
in 18__. Children -- Rhoda who married Daniel 
Stannard; Hannah, who married Wright Meeker; 
and James, a deaf mute, who was run over on the 
railroad at Vermillion, in the Spring of 1862, 
and killed instantly; and Emily, wife of Capt. 
Geo. Stone; Sarah; and Paulina.
  Almon Keeler and wife, Mahetabel, were from 
Newtown, Ct., and settled next east of Rufus 
Judson, about 1816-'17. He was a good citizen, 
and left a wife and four small children. He was 
killed by the fall of a tree; about 1821 or 
'22, by going to hold a torch beyond where a 
raccoon tree was expected to reach while Mr. 
Judson felled it. The tree broke down a dry 
hickory, which fell on and crushed him to death 
instantly. His widow married ___ Shephard, 
Esq., of Brownhelm, Lorain Co.,where she and 
three of the children died with the sick 
stomach, which so devastated that township in 
early times.
  Barlow Sturges and his wife Eunice, and 
Frederick his son, and his wife Charlotte, came 
in 1810 and settled at the mouth of the river; 
kept tavern and ferry. Capt. Barlow Sturges 
died in an early day and his son died in 1818. 
Frederick left Barlow, a son; Eunice, wife of 
Sylvester A. Pelton; and Sarah, wife of Austin 
Pelton - daughters, then small children. 
Frederick's widow (Charlotte) married George 
Austin, son of Wm. Austin, and still lives in 
Vermillion, a widow of nearly four score years.
  The Sturgeses, father and son, were seafaring 
men of good abilities and generous impulses - 
both captains. Frederick commanded the Minerva 
in 1815, on which Samuel Reed, of Berlin 
Township, was wrecked at Coneaut. Both indulged 
too far in the practices of the times, which 
were too common amongst all classes, and 
especially sailors, and proved the ruin of many 
valuable men.
  They bought and occupied a large farm at the 
mouth of the Vermillion, on which the village 
now stands, but died before paying up for it, 
and the family saved only a part.
  John Sherarts and his wife, Elizabeth, came 
in 1809 and settled one-half mile west of the 
river on shore; sold out and removed in 1818. 
Their children were - Mary, who married Herrick 
Parker, Esq.; Betsey, who married John T. 
Ashenhurst; Katherine, who married Christopher 
Shafer; David, who married Betsey Compton; 
Caroline who married Charles Crandall; John, 
who married Abagail Gordon; Jane, who married 
Asa Fisk, and Angeline, who married David 
Hammond.
  Capt. Josiah S. Pelton, with several 
children, came in 1818, from Euclid, where he 
lhad lost his wife a year or two before. He was 
originally from Connecticut, near Hartford, and  
had been in the West India trade as Captain of 
a trading vessel; had Failed, and being 
advanced in life, was illy qualified to begin 
in a new country as a farmer. He was a man of 
more than ordinary talents and reading; but had 
fallen into habits which prevented success. His 
oldest son, Josiah S., Jr., became the manager 
and main support of the family, and being 
uncommonly industrious and a shrewd manager, 
has become comparatively wealthy. He married a 
Mrs. Sophia Leonard, of Buffalo, and has 
children - Josiah S., Levi A., George, Lucy and 
Mary Ann. 
Allen married Fanny Cuddeback; Sylvester A. 
(still younger) married Eunice Sturges; Austin 
married Sarah Sturges; and Franklin married 
Eliza Davis for his first wife, and for his 
second, ___ ____.  There were three daughters - 
Phoebe married Anson Cooper; and Charlotte, 
Levi Parsons, Esq.; and Lucy, wife of John 
Miller. All these sons and daughters have 
issue, and they and their descendants are 
mostly amongst the most respectable class of 
citizens.
  Solomon Parsons came with his wife and 
children from Delaware Co., N.Y., in 1809; had 
issue - Levi, Burton and Ira (sons), and Sarah 
(Mrs. Dickerman) and Phoebe (daughters.) He was 
advanced in life, and Mrs. P. died early in 
1812. All the sons remained with us till within 
a few years. Levi married Charlotte Pelton and 
had a son Nelson and daughter Sarah. She died 
in ____ and he married a Miss Maria Michael, 
from Maryland, and they had issue. 
Burton married Lavina Clark and had issue - 
John and James. His second wife, Mary Burgess; 
their issue - Sarah, Ellen, Dennis, Corrington, 
Alvah, Almon R. and Burton. Ira married Miss 
Maria Davis and has issue
- Henry, William, Edward and Sarah. All these 
sons are respectable, industrious and thrifty 
citizens, and Levi and Burton have frequently 
held the office of Justice of the Peace and 
other township and county offices.  Levi now 
resides at Springfield, Ohio. These sons were 
young men, as were many others mentioned herein 
when they immigrated to Vermillion, and have 
been treated in these notes as pioneers -- as 
truly they were.
  Horatio Perry came from Cleveland, and was a 
brother of the Perrys of that place. He settled 
on the place next west of Capt. Austin in 1809, 
and married Miss Prentiss. He was a very 
energetic and ambitious pioneer, and soon 
outstripped all competitors in money-making. He 
broke down with hard work before he was 30 
years of age, and his wife died young, leaving 
one daughter, Sohia, who married ____ Hamlin, 
of Elyria.
  As an instance of his untiring industry, he 
used, when having hired help to log, to have 
his table and oxen so situated that he could 
eat with one hand and feed his cattle with the 
other - so as to be ready to start to work when 
the meal was over. So says tradition.  He 
married Miss Smith for his second wife and has 
issue.   Finding it burthensome carrying on a 
large farm profitably, and himself an invalid, 
he sold out many years ago and has since 
resided near Elyria. He became devotedly 
religious soon after his health failed, and 
was, while he remained, one of the main pillars 
of the Congregational Church, with the 
reputation of an honest man and a liberal 
supporter of the benevolent enterprises of the 
church.
  John Miller settled on Chapelle Creek, about 
a mile from the lake, in 18__. He was from 
Connecticut, and had been a sailor. He had two 
sons, who are still living on the shore, - John 
and Isaac - both hunters. Isaac was considered 
the Nimrod of Vermillion; made hunting his main 
business while game lasted, and for many years 
killed as many as 100 to 200 deer besides other 
game, annually. He is a small, thin man with 
iron nerves and a lynx's eye, and his trusty 
rifle was a sure hit - 4, 5, or 6 deer in a day 
was no uncommon feat, and whatever might be the 
success of others, Ike was always in luck. 
Contrary to the usual experience of hunters, 
Isaac, as the game grew scarce, turned his 
attention to the farm and has now a good one on 
the lake shore.
  One daughter, Ann, married Jos. Brooks.
  A man by the name of Burroughs made an 
opening and raised a house on Lot No. 1, second 
section, in 1815 or '16, in the south-east 
quarter now owned by B. S. Washburn. I believe 
he had a family somewhere in Florence. He left 
the county in 1818.
  Benjamin Brooks and wife and three children, 
came in 1809. He was a captive amongst the 
Indians for many years in his younger days, and 
well acquainted with their manners, languages 
and traditions. He settled on the shore next 
east of Geo. Sherarts, on the farm now occupied 
by his eldest son, Jonathan.  He died within a 
few years afterwards; his widow survived him 
many years. Children, Jonathan, Joseph, Betsey. 
Jonathan married Betsey Sherarts, and has 
issue: Asenath, wife of Zebulon Carey; Laura, 
wife of Richard S. Harris; Mary E., wife of 
Philander Crozier; Margaret, wife of Leonard 
Loomis; James P. married to Eliza Allport; 
William H., married Catharine 
Bomhart[Baumhardt]; Sarah E., wife of Jonathan 
Jones. Himself and wife are now old, and 
counted amongst the noblest works of God - 
honest people.
  The other son, Joseph, married Ann Miller, 
and has issue: Eunice; Caroline, wife of _____ 
Sherwood; Lucy, wife of Albert Sherwood; and 
Benjamin. His second wife, Maria Kitchen; 
issue: Mary Ann and Elizabeth. He was an 
ingenious mechanic and farmer, and good man; 
removed to Michigan some years since. He 
settled a little east of Judge Ruggles.
  Betsey, the daughter, married Jas. Prentiss, 
the first Justice of the Tp., and has issue: 
Cyrus Sally, Warren, Calvin, Clarissa and 
Luther.
  James Prentiss, Esq., settled near the mouth 
of Sugar Creek, was an industrious and worthy 
citizen, and died about 1836.
  Hon. Almon Ruggles, surveyor of the 
Fire Lands, deserves honorable mention in a 
history of their early settlement. Would it had 
fallen to the lot of an abler pen to perform 
that duty for him. He was born in the year 
1770, in Brookfield, Fairfield County, 
Connecticut, and was the son of Ashbel Ruggles 
of that place and a twin brother of Alfred 
Ruggles. Losing his parents when quite young he 
lived with a maternal uncle until nearly or 
quite of age; after which he enjoyed nearly all 
his educational advantages, which consisted of 
about one year's attention to study at a 
school. After becoming competent he taught 
school in his native town and elsewhere in the 
county for some seasons; after which he went to 
the State of Virginia on a surveying 
expedition, and traveled somewhat in the 
Southern States. Returning to Connecticut, he 
was employed as clerk in a store in Danbury, 
and subsequently as bookkeeper for Jessup & 
Wakeman at Westport (then Saugatuc,) Ct. He was 
very much beloved and respected by all his 
acquaintances there. Leaving the employment of 
the latter gentlemen, he came to New 
Connecticut to survey the Fire Lands in 1805. 
He returned to Ct., two or three times before 
becoming a permanent resident, and was married 
there in 1808, to Annis Dibble daughter of Ez. 
Dibble, of his native place. He soon returned 
to Ohio leaving his newly married wife at her 
fathers, while he combatted the hardships of a 
Surveyor's life in the then wild and far off 
West. On one of his return trips to Connecticut 
in company with three or four others; he 
traveled the whole distance on foot, and as an 
incident of the performance it is said, reached 
home with just fifty cents in his pocket. In 
1808 the Fire Lands were mostly surveyed into 
townships during which time he had his head 
quarters at Huron.
  In 1810 he moved his family to the Fire 
Lands, consisting of his wife and one daughter, 
Rebecca, then one year old, and settled on the 
lake shore midway between Vermillion and Huron 
rivers, where his industry soon opened up a 
fine farm.  For many years he acted as land 
agent for different Connecticut proprietors 
viz: the Richard's of New London, Jessup & 
Wakeman his former employers, Eldridge, and 
others.
  After the organization of Huron county, he 
was its first Recorder in 1809.  He was 
appointed by the Legislature, Associate Judge 
of Huron County, in 1815 as near as can be 
ascertained, but did not long hold his seat on 
the bench, if indeed he ever took it. He was 
elected State Senator in 1816, and was re-
elected in 1818, as he served two terms. He was 
elected State Representative in 1824. Judge 
Ruggles was not famous as an orator, but 
possessed good practical common sense 
abilities, all devoted to the service of his 
constituents and his country.  None ever 
doubted his integrity though they might 
disapprove his acts; and in all positions of 
honor, trust and profit, filled by him, he gave 
general satisfaction.
  "The memory of the just shall not perish;" 
and the memory of Almon Ruggles is enshrined in 
many hearts of the old pioneers and their 
children. He was literally one of the solid men 
- square, thick set frame, of immense muscular 
power and robust constitution; he was well 
fitted for the arduous duties of a surveyor and 
pioneer. Being land agent also for several 
eastern owners, especially the Messrs. 
Richards, - who owned most of the township -he 
was well known to the early settlers, and his 
active benevolence, sincerity, hospitality and 
manly, yet simple deportment gave him great 
influence. His house was the abode of generous 
yet unostentatious hospitality. There the weary 
wanderer after a home in the wilderness - rich 
or poor, learned or unlearned - found a welcome 
to the frugal board and homely shelter of the 
pioneer; and his wife and children were worthy 
co-workers with the honored and affectionate 
master of the mansion. He was emphatically a 
good man. Although the financial agent of land 
speculators for many years, not one of the 
settlers ever breathed the idea that he had 
been wronged or oppressed by Almon Ruggles. He 
was a peace maker at home and abroad - much 
preferring to suffer wrong than to wrangle and 
quarrel for his rights. Very many difficulties 
were quietly settled by his friendly 
intercession, and he had none of his own to 
settle. Judge Ruggles possessed fine 
conversational powers. He had an almost 
inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and generally 
entertained both the learned and unlearned by 
his happy use of it. He knew just where a laugh 
should come in in conversation and would often 
set the example by laughing himself, and his 
laugh was very apt to be contagious. It was 
something more than a smile or the laughing of 
the face - it was a hearty laugh, and shook him 
all over. He laughed "from head to heel."
   As an instance of his accommodation of 
himself to his company and his ability to 
entertain it, it has been related that once at 
his supper table, one of his numerous laborers 
in harvest time was rather garrulous and 
boasting of his physical prowess, and said he 
could handle or throw any man he ever saw. The 
Judge, after listening for some time to his 
talk, said, with a mirthful smile: "Sam, I can 
throw you." Sam defied him to try it. "Wait," 
said he, "till I eat my bowl of bread and milk, 
and I will go out and throw you down." Supper 
ended, all hands adjourned to the door-yard, 
and a ring was formed to see the sport, when 
Sam went to the ground with the heavy weight of 
the Judge uppermost to the no small amusement 
of the circle. The Judge laughed so heartily 
that he could not do his best; but threw his 
competitor three times before he would give it 
up, when he declared he didn't know what was 
the matter with him, and was told that he must 
be careful for the future about boasting of 
himself.
   Judge Ruggles was an ardent lover of books; 
spent much time in reading; was of a 
philosophical turn of mind, and 
constitutionally disinclined to believe in the 
miraculous. Without being superstitious, he 
believed in the principles of the Gospel and 
aimed to carry them into practice in his 
intercourse with his fellow men. His piety was 
of the reserved and quiet kind. He had great 
reverence for God, and in his death manifested 
decidedly the christian trust, and spoke of the 
support and resignation which it gave him in 
his last hours.
   He was extremely plain and unostentatious in 
his deportment every where, and continued so 
till his death, notwithstanding the growth of 
style and fashion around him.
   Although not a professor of religion, his 
morals were unexceptionable;  and his house and 
barns were ever open to the early itinerants 
and missionaries. He was also a fast friend to 
the temperance reformation. Though he held many 
public stations and performed the duties 
incumbent upon them with ability and fidelity, 
yet it was in the social circles of life - 
amongst his family, his neighbors and fellow 
citizens - that his happy and cheerful turn of 
mind, in making all around him happy, was most 
fully appreciated. Far above all the wily arts 
of the demagogue, he had the highest 
appreciation of the franchises and duties of an 
American citizen. Believing that the 
perpetuation of our liberties depended on the 
free and independent action of every voter, he 
would never use a printed ballot - always 
writing his own, and would not write one for 
another only at his request and by his naming 
each person he desired placed on it. Had all 
been as careful to maintain their own 
independence, and avoid intruding on that of 
others, he would not have lived to see a few 
wily wire-workers dictating to the masses what 
ticket to vote; nor free citizens charged with 
treason to party for exercising their own 
choice nor would we have seen fealty to party 
exalted above fealty to the country, its 
constitution and laws nor the partisan exalted 
above the patriot.
   He built a mill on Vermillion River, near 
the south line of Florence, for the proprietors 
of the land in 1809, which was carried away by 
a freshet. In 1811-12 he built a mill near the 
north-east corner of Florence township, long 
known as Ruggles' Mill - since as Mason's - on 
the Chapelle Creek, which was a great benefit 
to the settlers for many miles around. His 
companion, who came with him here, died 1815, 
leaving two daughters - Rebecca, wife of Lyman 
Case, and Betsey, wife of Xenophon Phillips, 
M.D. of Berlin.
   In 1816 he married widow Rhoda Buck, by whom 
he had issue - Charles and Richard. His second 
wife had been the wife of Alexander Case, by 
whom she had children - Harlow, Lyman and Eliza 
- and was also the mother of one daughter by 
her second husband, viz: Hester Buck. Her 
second husband was Capt. Aaron C. Buck.
   Here were four sorts of children brought up 
in one family - all treated so nearly alike 
that neighbors could see no difference - all 
well educated - all brothers and sisters 
indeed. All came to maturity - honored, honest 
and industrious, and amongst the most 
respectable of our citizens. What is still more 
remarkable, Lyman Case and Rebecca Ruggles 
intermarried and lived happily together till 
death separated them.
   Judge Ruggles died July 11,1840, in the 70th 
year of his age, leaving a handsome property; 
yet far richer in the affections of his 
neighbors - regretted and respected by all.
   His second wife died in 1851.
   Harlow Case married Almira Walker, of 
Berlin. Issue - Andrew, Henry, Almon and 
William, of whom only Andrew and Almon are now 
living. They are both at present in China.
  Lyman Case married Rebecca Ruggles, and have 
issue - Caroline S. and Sidney. He had two sons 
- Byron and Carlton - by his first wife, 
Caroline Weatherlow.
  Eliza Case married Wm. H. Root. Issue - 
Maria, Harriet and Sarah dead.
  Betsey Ruggles married Xenophon Phillips, and 
has issue - Emilie A., Mary E., Lina E., and 
Cora R.
  Hester Buck married Capt. Aaron Root; has 
issue - Henry, Edward, Charles and William; 
Emma and Julia, daughters.
  Charles Ruggles married Julia Mallory, and 
has issue - Mary, Alice and Robert (dead). He 
lost one wife, Mary Douglass, and one child of 
hers - Elsie.
  Richard Ruggles married Eleanor Post, and has 
issue - Almon R., Frances, Charles, Ashbel and 
Lillian.
  These two sons still reside on the farms 
occupied by their honored sire, and are 
respected and thrifty citizens; and the 
daughters were worthy so noble a parentage.

ENCROACHMENT ON THE LAND BY THE LAKE.

  At the first settlement of Vermillion; and 
for many years afterwards, there was a wide 
sand beach extending from the mouth of the 
river west, the whole length of the township in 
some places timbered with basswood and other 
trees - and from four to ten and fifteen rods 
in width. After the building of the Black Rock 
dam for a feeder to the N.Y. and Erie Canal, 
(1826,) the lake gradually arose some two feet 
or more, and the beach began to disappear till 
now the wear upon the farms has become a 
serious matter, and many acres of the best of 
land are yearly swallowed by the surging 
billows of Lake Erie. When Horatio Perry built 
his brick house in 1821, he placed it "away out 
back in the lot" (as we expressed it,) some 
twenty rods from the road. That house was 
washed into the lake a year or two since. Capt. 
Austin's stone house shared the same fate years 
ago; and notwithstanding efforts have been made 
to barricade against the action of the waves - 
those efforts have been detached and feeble and 
of little avail. Where the first school house 
stood, near Jacob Sherarts, a point of land on 
which the school house stood lake-ward of the 
road is gone - that and another house built 
still further from the lake have been carried 
away; the road and two or three rows of the 
orchard which were south of the road have all 
gone into the lake. This waste extends west to 
nearly the western limits of the Tp., or to 
where the sand formation of Berlin and Huron 
reaches the lake. Several of the lake lots of 
the village are nearly worn away, and the 
houses have to be removed or perish in the 
waves.

HOW FAR WILL THIS WASTE PROCEED?

  A little east of the river at the N. E. 
corner of the Fire Lands, the shale or clay 
slate rises above the water level, and forms an 
"iron bound" shore which effectually guards the 
land, and from Cranberry Creek west the shore 
is sandy and prevents waste. Between those 
points, some six miles or more, the soil is 
clay loam or marl, and probably as natural to 
wheat as any on earth, and as productive. The 
banks are from 15 to 25 feet high, and the 
awful surges produced by north east storms 
undermine them and they slip off and are 
carried into the lake. Unless some systematic 
effort is made to guard the banks, and all work 
together, I see no probable end to this wear, 
until the lake arrives back far enough to find 
the slate rock above its level; which is 
generally beyond the south boundaries of the 
front farms. This is a sad loss to contemplate, 
as they are some of the very best lands in 
Ohio.
  Query. - Would not a law which should compel 
each owner to fortify his front against the 
action of the lake, be highly beneficial? As it 
is, it is of little use for one to do so while 
the negligence of his neighbor admits the enemy 
on his flanks and he is soon surrounded and his 
fortifications demolished.

BLOODY MURRAIN.

  Next in arrogance to that annually recurring 
pest of the new settlement - ague and fever - 
was the bloody murrain, which raged throughout 
the Fire Lands for many years. This disease and 
its ravages may have been described by others. 
I don't recollect of noticing any such, 
however, and therefore notice it here. It was 
accompanied with high fever, excruciating pain 
and a discharge of blood at both organs of 
evacuation. More properly perhaps, it was an 
inward bleeding producing the other symptoms. 
What caused it was never fully settled. Doctors 
disagreed as usual. It affected neat stock 
only, and was not a prevailing disease till 
some years after the first settlement. A 
prevailing opinion amongst farmers was, that it 
was owing to the presence of blood suckers in 
the liver, and that when they happened to open 
or perforate a large blood vessel an inward 
hemorrhage ensued, and in nine cases out of 
tell proved fatal, despite the use of the 
thousand and one "infallible" remedies to be 
found. Sometimes all animal would recover; but 
probably just as often without remedies as 
with.
  A prevailing opinion also was, that the 
animal drew up the blood-suckers from the 
brooks, &c., with the water; but strong 
objections to that were the two facts that 
blood-suckers (leeches) were much more numerous 
in New England, where they had no murrain, and 
the leeches found in the diseased livers were 
of a different form from the water leech, being 
almost round and of all sizes, from that of a 
fippenny bit to that of a copper cent, and 
about the same thickness when in a state of 
rest.
  Query. - Whether it were not a parasite, 
produced by the peculiar climate, water and 
food of the times?
  To give the reader of the present day an idea 
of what we suffered from it, I will relate some 
of my own experience; not because mine was more 
severe than others, but because I know and 
remember that experience.
  My father kept one yoke of oxen for a team 
and bought two cows for family use on our 
arrival, and before the year had expired the 
cows and one ox had died with murrain. So 
severe were his losses that at one time he was 
obliged to sell land to keep up his team. After 
I came of age, I concluded - in view of the 
ease with which cattle lived in the woods - to 
enter into the stock-raising business, and 
converted my available crops into fifteen head 
of young cattle. Before a year had expired, six 
of them (and the most valuable) were dead of 
murrain. The cow I commenced with had nine 
heifer calves in succession, and all died of 
murrain before three years of age. Truly not 
encouraging. Sheep were equally unhealthy, and 
between the climate, dogs and wolves, were 
decidedly uncertain property.

CONCLUSION. 
  Of all who came to Vermillion Tp. previous to 
1820, as the head of families, there are only 
Mrs. Jane, widow of Peter Cuddeback, her sister 
Hannah, widow of James Cuddeback, and widow 
Charlotte Austin, who came here the wife of 
Captain Frederick Sturges, residing on the Lake 
shore; and Philo Wells, Amasa Washburn, and 
Susannah, widow of Jesse Ball, residing upon 
the ridge; the others have passed away from the 
scenes of their earthly toils. As I have passed 
around gathering up the facts recorded in these 
papers, every thing seems to say, passing, 
"passing away." As I have rambled over the 
grounds where in youth I chased the nimble 
deer, and sought the bear and wolf and other 
denizens of the forests, the absence of game 
and forest, and presence of houses, fields, 
lowing cattle and bleating sheep, say "passed 
away," the scenes of early youth and manhood. 
As I have entered their dwellings and met the 
children of the pioneers now aged, gray old men 
and women (surrounded by children and grand 
children,) who were my associates and scholars 
forty-five years ago, I have been reminded that 
we are all "passing away."  The old pioneers 
have done making history; we are writing part 
of their histories; soon we shall finish the 
last page of our own, and perhaps some kind 
friend may record the same.
  I find many of their children and grand 
children are in the armies of the Union - 
periling their lives in defense of the liberty, 
the equal rights and laws guaranteed to us by 
the blood and treasure and sufferings of our 
fathers - periling all to save their country 
and subdue a most wicked, causeless and cruel 
rebellion, instituted in behalf of slavery - 
whilst, (sad indeed is the thought,) others 
appear to be equally zealous for the success of 
the rebels and the triumph of the direst 
tyranny on earth. They are all "making 
history," their deeds will be recorded and the 
choice is theirs and ours whether our names 
shall descend the stream of time as the friends 
of our country, its constitution and laws, of 
freedom, humanity and justice; or as the 
enemies of all these and the friends and 
supporters of the foulest despotism on earth; 
whose great central idea is "capital shall own 
labor," and that foul absurdity, democracy, 
civilization and liberty founded on human 
slavery. In a word, the question rests with us 
to decide individually whether we die Patriots 
and are embalmed in the memories of future 
generations, or Traitors execrated by mankind 
and disowned by our own posterity.
  All these momentous questions will soon be 
decided irrevocably, the moments fly apace. The 
fathers are gone; their sons are fast going - 
yes, these evil and perilous times of 
rebellion, of strife, blood, carnage and death 
are also passing away. Shall the Model 
Republic, American liberty, equal and just 
laws, pass away too? May the All Wise shield us 
from such a disgrace, such an irretrievable 
calamity - bless us, and save this fairest, 
broadest, richest heritage of earth, for future 
generations of Free Men - an asylum indeed for 
the down trodden and oppressed of all nations.  

---------------------------------------------------------------
"Notice: the above material is Public Domain (no copyright)."
---------------------------------------------------------------
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Ted Reising
tedohio@yahoo.com
Dec. 15, 1998
---------------------------------------------------------------