OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Norwich -- pt 4
***********************************************************************
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 12, 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 4 -- Settlement of Norwich.

    William Robinson, Sr., a native of Delaware, married Lytica Coleman,
and in May,1832, arrived in Norwich Township.  He settled on lot
twenty-seven, in the second section.  He lived there twenty-five years,
and then removed to Fetchville township, Ohio, where he died August 10,
1864.  Mrs. Robinson died the following February. The following children
of this couple are: James, Thomas, Christina, Martha, Anna, Huriah,
John, Eliza, Jordon, Wesley, and Aaron, who all grew to maturity.    In
the spring of 1833, Charles B. Niver, came from Seneca County, New York.
He purchased six hundred acres of land in section one. On lot twelve of
this purchase, he built a log house, and toward fall returned east for
his family, with whom he arrived back in Norwich, about September 20th
of the same year. His wife was Emily Moore. They had five children:
Laura Jane, who married Edward Knapp. Marvin , who lived at home; John,
who married Thalia Reed. Albert E., married Etta Green and lived on the
west part of the original homestead; and Mary who remained at home. Nr
Niver's first wife died and his companion later was Prudence Douglass.
John Niver, a brother of the above, came to Ohio with the family.  He
remained about one year, and then returned to his eastern home. After
two or three years, he again came to Norwich, married Sarah White, and
begun life on the south part of the original purchase.  He also lves
with his second wife. He had seven children.     A short time after John
begun settlement, another brother, Dennis, came on.  His wife was
Marietta Parsons.  They had at this time six children.  He settled on
the eastern portion of the tract, The children now number nine.      Guy
C. Boughton, of West Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massachusetts,
married Harriet Sprague, of Middlebury, Addison county, Vermont.  In
1815, he removed to Ohio, locating in Grafton township,Lorain county.
Here the family lived some eight years, an then settled in Eaton
township , Ohio. In 1834, they located in Norwich township, on lot
number thirty-eight. Three children were born prior to this date: Axie;
N.J. and Darwin. Two other children; Julia and Jefferson, were born in
Norwich. Guy died November 7, 1854.
    In 1827, Nelson Pratt and two brothers, Parley P. and Orson, came
from Columbia county, New York, and located in Amherst, Lorain county.
They were mormon.  After two years, Nelson settled in Peru township,
Ohio.  In 1835 or 6, he became a resident of Norwich township, locating
at, or near where Havana village. He married Finette, daughter of
Frederick Delano, one of the pioneers.  From this marriage, one son, was
born, this was Edwin D.. who married Elizabeth Slyer and lived on lot
thirty-four. Nelson Pratt has three times married, as follows: Azubah
Spalding, Marietta Ensign, and Mrs. Mary Ann Felton, who died in 1872.
Two children were born of the second marriage.
   Henry Niles married Lucretia Miner by whom he had eight children:
Henry, Cyrus, Daniel, Sands, John H., Lucretia, Cyntha, Philura and
David.
   In 1799 or 1800, the family settled in Halifax, Vermont, where they
remained until 1831. At this time they removed to Ohio, locating in
Greenfield township.
   In the month of February, 1834, they made a permanent settlement in
Norwich township.  This was on the farm which was occupied by the widow
and heirs of the son, John H. On the 20th day of the March following,
while engaged in rafting logs on the mill pond near his house, he fell
into the water, and was drowned before assistance could reach him.
    John H., son of John H. Niles, was born at Halfax, Vermont, June
25,1809.  he begun life as an operative in a chair factory.  Coming to
Ohio, he devoted a portion of his time to school teaching.  In 1836, he
was united in marriage to Miss Marian P. Nichols, by whom eleven
children were born. Eight are accounted for--: Sanford P.,Ellen D.,
Lucretia M., John M., Henry H., Clark E., Charles F. and Philura R.
Malcolm, another son, was inthe Union army during the rebellion, and
died at Knoxville, Tennessee.  Mr. Niles was the historian of the
Firelands Hitorical Society, and in that capacity did much to preserve
the relics of by-gone days. He wrote a sketch of Norwich which has been
preserved to this day. He was repeatedly in office, having been for
twelve years justice of the peace and half that number of years, county
commissioner.  He died February 14,1878.          
***********************************************