SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO - BIO: BIRCHARD, Sardis (published 1888)
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Historical Collections of Ohio
Henry Howe LL. D.
Published 1904
copyright 1888
Sandusky County

SARDIS BIRCHARD,

was born in Wilmington,  Vt.,  January 15,  1801.  He lost both parents
while yet a child,  and was taken into the family of his sister Sophia, 
who had married Rutherford Hayes.  In 1817 he accompanied them to
Delaware,  Ohio.  In 1822 his brother-in-law,  Mr. Hayes died,  leaving
a widow and three young children.  Mr. Birchard at once devoted himself
to his sister and her family.  He never married,  but through life
regarded his sister's family as his own.  He was a handsome,  jovial
young man and a universal favorite.

In the winter of 1824-5,  with Stephen R. Bennett as a partner,  he
bought and drove a large drove of fat hogs from Delaware to Baltimore. 
"Two incidents of this trip,"  says Knapp,  in his 'History of the
Maumee Valley,'  "are well remembered.  The young men had to swim their
hogs across the Ohio River at Wheeling,  and came near losing them all
by the swift current.  In the meantime they were overtaken by a tall, 
fine looking gentleman on horseback,  who had also a carriage drawn by
four horses with attendants.  He helped Mr. Birchard to get the hogs out
of the way,  chatted with him,  and advised him to dispose of them at
Baltimore as the best market.  This gentleman,  as they soon
ascertained,  was none other than Gen. Jackson,  then on his way to
Washington after the Presidential election of 1824,  in which he was the
highest in the popular vote,  but not the successful candidate,  for the
election being thrown into the house John Quincy Adams was chosen."

In 1827 Mr. Birchard removed to Fremont,  then Lower Sandusky,  and
engaged in selling general merchandise.  He was largely patronized by
Indians,  because he refused to sell them liquor.  Mr. Birchard found
the Indians very honest in their business transactions,  and when any of
them died with debts unpaid they were settled by Tall Chief,  their
leader.  Mr. Birchard was very successful in his business ventures.  He
was connected with the first enterprise that opened river and lake
commerce between Fremont and Buffalo;  was instrumental in securing
legislation for the construction of wagon roads,  and later,  largely
interested in the construction of the first railroads of the Maumee
Valley.  He contributed largely to benevolent objects.  The Birchard
library is a gift from him to the city of Fremont.  He died in 1874, 
bequeathing his estate to his nephew,  ex-president Hayes.


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