OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Norwich -- pt 3 *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 August 11, 1999 *********************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio The Kelley Family Collections Newspaper article, Plains Dealer compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925 And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley 1998 *********************************************************************** Part 3-- Norwich Settlement-- During the summer of 1817, Hosea Harnden began life on lot thirty-seven, section two, later owned by John S. Hester. On the 13th of February, 1818, John Fletcher, Bartholomew Rossman and Benjamin Moore moved their families into the surveyor's house in the northwest part of the township. John Fletcher began on lot thirty-eight, afterwards owned by Peter Brown, B. Rossman made a commencement on lot thirty-one, same section, while Moore settled on lot twenty-three, and, as fast as possible erected cabins on their possessions and removed their families from their cramped and uncomfortable quarters in the surveyor's house. The same year. Elisha Ellis began on lot twenty-eight; Agustus Cook, began on lot thirty-nine; Beck with Cook settled on lot forty. In 1819, Asa Gilson located on lot thirteen, section three, where his widow, Aunt Nabby, continued to live. the following came this year: Jabez F. Ivory, Daniel Farman, James Loomis, Loab Lindsey,Alvin Blodgett, Dr.Hurlbert, and others. The settlers were poor and bought their land on credit. No deeds had been given, and a written agreement constituted the title. A few acres of clearing, or perhaps a log cabin, constituted their only property. These were often bartered to new comers for a little money, or, perhaps a team or a rifle. Trading lots and moving from one to another, when they had so little to move, was almost as easily done as swapping rifles, and it was not uncommon for two or three individuals to suceed each other on the same lot in as many years. In 1820 or 21, a difficulty broke out about the titile to the land, that nearly ruined the settlement. When David L. Coit sold the north half of the township to Judge Canfield, in 1815, it was on credit of ten years. A deed was given and a mortgage taken on the land for security. He became dissatisfied with Canfield's management, commenced suit against him to recover the title, enjoined Williams. Hopkins, and Hinman from making further sales, and caused writs of enjectment to be served upon all the settlers who had taken possession under them. Williams, Hopkins, and Hinman becoming satisfied that their title was worthless, sought a compromise that they might save themselves the expense of surveying land. They,however, failed, ad were finally obliged to abandon the enterprise. The litigation continued until 1826. Coit recovered the title, but nearly all the settlers had gone. Those that remained were: Wilder Lawrence, Jonas Gilson. George H. Woodruff, Naum Gilson, Augustus Cook, and Asa Gilson. They had made no more improvements than were necessary to furnish them living; for they expected to be compelled to pay for not only the land, but what improvements they had made, should the territory be again put into the market. The deserted fields soon grew up to briers and bushes, and the fences and cabins passed into ruins. In the spring of 1827, Coit re-surveyed the two sections, and sold the land to the settlers, old and new,at the rate of two dollars per acre. New settlers came in, and those who had remained through the stampede began improvements in earnest, laying out roads, setting out orchards, etc., feeling assured there was no further danger of losing the product of those ten years of labor and hardship. John Bowen, from Marion county, Ohio, was among these settlers. He married Christina Robinson and settled on lot twenty-three, section three, building his log house a few rods east of the site of his present comfortable home. Mr. Bowen built the second brick kiln in the township, and for many years prosecuted the business. This venerable couple had eight children. Martha Jane, Agnes, John M., William K., Henry C., Sarah E., George and Melinda C. Frederick Gorman came from Vermont, and, with a wife and three children, settled on lot twenty-seven, in 1828. This farm was later owned by David Nichols. In 1830, the first section began to settle. Ebenezar Brown made a commencement on the lot later owned by A. F. Rulisson. Zachariah Burrell erected his log cabin on the lot afterwards owned by John Gunns. Ezra Pruden and family, consisting of a wife and eleven children, came from the state of New York to Ohio, in 1831. He located on lot number thirty-six, where he remained until his death, in 1854. His wife had died, in 1849. Of the children, we are able to give the following: John, the eldest, married Ann Ennis, and lived in Toledo, Ohio. Silas married Sally Thompson; he lived in Michigan. Ezra, Jr., marrie Naomi Adaline Owen; he lived on lot thirty-four, section four. They had two children: Charles F., and Charlotte A. William married Maria Pratt,and lived in Indiana: Jonas, who lived in Putnam county. The following children were dead: Mary, Elizabeth. Gabriel, Eugene, Benjamon and Rachel. *********************************************** To be contnued in part 4--