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Florence Township, Erie County, Ohio from HISTORY OF THE FIRELANDS by W.W.Williams 1879 pages 445-453.
[note: the following list of “sufferers” is abridged. Also included was the amount of loss, by whom classified, and amount classified. This refers to those claims granted in the “Firelands” in 1808 to those in Connecticut whose property had been destroyed by fire during the Revolution. All of the following claims were sold to Isaac Bronson, Ebenezer Jesup Jr., Jesup Wakeman, and Joseph Wakeman.]
Classification No.1, Section 1. Original grantees: Abigail Armour, Reuben Coe, Jonathan Coe, Humphrey Denton, Isaac Davis, Sylvanus Ferris, Josiah Ferris, Moses Ferris, Ezra Finch, Pack Ferris, Charles Green, Abel Gould, Joseph Wakeman, Abigail Hubbel, Jabez Thorp, Charles Green, Nathaniel Benedict, John Gregory Jr., Benj. Isaac’s heirs, Col. Steph’n St. John Classification No.2, Section 2. Jabez Thorp, Jonathan Darrow, Samuel Squire, Col.Stephen St. John, Ann Seymour, Timothy Whitney, Jarvis Kellogg, Desire Siscat, Mary Lockwood, Cyrus Bissry, Sarah Eversley, Stephen G. Thatcher, John Richards, Gershom Pritchard, Capt. Phin. Hanford, Ezra Waterbury, Hannah Gregory, Daniel Sturges, John Phillow, Daniel Webb, Nathan Burrill, Betty Jarvis, John Eversley, Thos. Fitch’s heirs, Charles Green, Joseph Hubby. Jr., Nathaniel Husted, William Jacobs, Joshua Knapp, Jonathan Knap, Israel Lockwood, William Lockwood, Andrew Marshall, Caleb Mead, Thomas Mesnard, Jesse Mead, Henry Mead Classification No.3, Section 3. Samuel Squire, Ann Hull, Solomon Sturges, Francis D. Swords, John Wilson, Hezekiah Sturges, Henry Mead, John Mesnard Jr., James Moe, Henry Marshall, Angus McCall, Elkana Mead, John Mysnard, Theophilus Peck Jr., Solomon Purdy, James Philips, Thomas Rich, Jonathan Raynolds, Oliver Fairchild, John Parrot, Thos H. Wakeman, Thos. Fitch’s heirs, Hannah Fitch’s heirs, Stephen and Hooker St. John, Fountain Smith, Mathew Benedict Jr., Samuel Benedict Jr., Nathaniel Benedict, Philip Corbon, Joseph Gunn, Benj. Hitchcock, Alexander Stewart, Nath’l Taylor 3rd, Mathew Taylor, Preserved Wood, Elijah Wood, Matthew Willis, Matthew Benedict, Daniel Hickok, Ebenezer Haytt, Daniel Haytt Classification No.4, Section 4. Daniel Haytt or David Haytt, Ebenezer Jesup(two rights), Jabez Hubbel, Enock Benedict, Hezekiah Sturges, Elijah Abel, Thos. H. Wakeman, John Perry, Aaron Jennings, Nathan Beers NAME. The name of the township was originally Jesup, after Ebenezer Jesup, one of the original proprietors of its soil. From some dislike of the gentleman, the name was subsequently, at a meeting by the inhabitants, changed to Florence.
The surface of the township is generally rolling. The soil is a sandy loam, with a more clayey soil in some portions. Sandstone underlies a considerable portion of the township, and several quarries have been opened. The King quarry, on lot number three, in the third section, and one on the Vermillion, in the first section, are the only quarries now worked to any extent. The former is owned by Joseph King, and was opened some thirty years ago. Grindstones were formerly quite extensively made from this quarry. The principal varieties of native timber were whitewood, white oak, hickory, black walnut, chestnut, beech, maple, cherry, ash, and basswood. The principal stream is the Vermillion River, which heads in a little lake of the same name in Ashland County. The origin of the name is not known, but it is thought by some to have been derived from a red clay found in many places along the banks of the river. The stream flows through the eastern part of the township, its general course being north, and empties into Lake Erie. La Chapelle Creek, the only other water course in the township worthy of mention, rises in Townsend, and, entering Florence from Wakeman about a mile and a quarter east of the west town line, flows through the west part of the township, and finally into Lake Erie.
For a number of years after the arrival of the first settler in Florence, deer, wolves, wild turkeys, and smaller game too numerous to specify, were found in great abundance. Bears, though not infrequently seen, were not so numerous as in more marshy townships. The honor of killing the first bear naturally fell to Richard Brewer and Christopher Shaeffer, two of the best shots in the county. Shaeffer was out with his gun one evening, when a bear suddenly loped across his path a short distance in front of him. Just as he raised his rifle to fire, a little snow dropped from the branch of a small tree above him upon the barrel of his gun, obscuring the sight, and the bear got away. The next morning he obtained the assistance of Brewer, and with two good dogs they tracked the bear into Berlin, where they found him in a marsh. The bear ran to a log, which he had no sooner reached than Brewer fired, but only wounding, not killing, him. The report of the gun was the signal for the onset of the dogs. They seized the animal as he tried to escape, but were being badly worsted in the encounter, when Brewer grabbed the bear by the fur and plunged a hatchet into his head. He released the dogs, rose upon his hind legs, gave one piercing howl, and fell over on his back, dead. The bear was an unusually large one, the flesh on his sides, it is said, measuring six inches. Shaeffer subsequently killed a bear in Florence, the only one ever killed in the township. He has probably killed more deer than any man in the county, often following them by day and by night. He killed by actual count one thousand deer, after which he kept no record. The last year that he hunted, and when deer were less numerous than formerly, he shot seventy. One method of his hunt at night was to fix up a torch of some kind which would attract the deer within range of his gun.
The first family that settled in the township was that of Ezra Sprague. Mr. Sprague was born in Alford, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, March 27, 1785, and emigrated to Ohio in 1807. The same year he married Harriet A. Griswold, of Windsor Township, Ashtabula County, and resided in the vicinity of Grand River until the Spring of 1809, when, with his wife and one child, he came to this township. He settled where his daughter, Laura, lives on lot number thirty-eight in the fourth section, and resided on his original location until his death. He died January 6, 1856. Mr. Sprague was a man of strong traits of character. He was the first justice of the peace in the township, and afterwards held the position of associate judge of Common Pleas for fourteen years. In the early years of his official duties he rode to court on horseback with a blanket doubled up for a saddle and strips of basswood for stirrups. Mrs. Sprague died January 23, 1853, aged seventy one. They had a family of seven children, only two of whom are living, viz.: Mrs. H. F. Merry at Sandusky City, and Laura Sprague in this township on the old homestead. The sons, Simon H. and Solomon G. Sprague, were well known residents of this township for many years. The former was the oldest of the family, and was born prior to their settlement in Florence. He died January 17, 1874. His widow still resides in the township. Solomon G. Sprague was born May 9, 1816, married Mary Collins, December 15, 1857, and died January 27, 1876. His family still reside in Florence. In July, 1809, Eli S. Barnum and his sister Rachel, Rufus Judson and family, Charles Betts and Joseph Parsons, arrived from Danbury, Connecticut. Barnum located on the southwest corner of what is now called Florence Corners, and was the first settler at that place. He subsequently married Miss Root, then of Henrietta, sister of Mrs. Calvin Leonard. He was the proprietor’s agent for the sale of the lands of this township, and was a justice of the peace
The first school house was built at Sprague’s Corners on land owned by John Brooks, Sr., lot number thirty-seven, section four. The first teacher was Ruth Squire, daughter of Joab Squire, and afterwards wife of Erastus French, of Wakeman. The school derived its support from the parents of the scholars, who paid in proportion to the number sent. The school house was subsequently taken down, and rebuilt on the south side of the road. Adaline Squire, a sister of Ruth, who afterwards became the wife of John Brooks, Jr., was also one of the earliest teachers. The second school house built in the township was located half a mile west of Birmingham, and Rhoda Root kept the first school in it. Her practice of opening the school with prayer was the cause of some displeasure to a certain individual, and a school meeting was held on one occasion, to consider his grievance, which resulted in the teacher being sustained. A few years after, a school house was erected in the village of Birmingham.
The earliest religious meetings were held at the house of Eli S. Barnum, at Florence Corners, at which itinerant preachers officiated. The first religious society organized was of the Congregational order. The meeting was held at the house of Mr. Barnum, a missionary by the name of Loomis officiating on the occasion. The society included members from this township, Vermillion, Wakeman, and Clarksfield. The present Congregational church at Florence Corners was organized January 7, 1832, by a cominittce of the presbytery of Huron, consisting of J. B. Bradstreet, Xenophon Betts, and Samuel Dunton. The following are the names of the members who joined at the time of the organization: Charles Whittlesey and wife, David Shaver and wife, Simeon Crane and wife, Uriah Hawley, Mrs. Mary A. Baker, Mrs. Tryphena Leonard, Mrs. Ruth Hines, Mrs. Mary Barnum, Mrs. Sarah M. Dunton, Mrs. Alice Olds, Mrs. Hannah Haise, Mrs. Betsey Thompson, John Phillips and wife. Uriah Hawley was chosen clerk. The church building was completed in 1842, costing two thousand and twelve dollars, the lot for which was donated by Jessup Wakeman. The church for several years after its organization was supplied by preachers from neighboring towns. The first regular pastor was the Rev. Eldad Barber, who was called October 10, 1842. He officiated as pastor of the church for nearly thirty years, and his labors ended only with his death, in the Spring of 1871. He was followed by Hubbard Lawrence, who continued until April, 1878. Rev. Mr. Hale then preached for the church until August of the same year, since when Rev. Mr. Wright has officiated as pastor. The present membership of the church is fourteen. Thomas A. McGregor is church clerk. The First Congregational Church, in Birmingham, was originally of the Presbyterian order, and was organized in the year 1838, by a committee consisting of Philo Wells and Mr. Xenophon Betts, of Vermillion, and Joseph Swift, of Henrietta. The members were: Philo Wells and wife, Calvin Leonard and wife, Joseph Swift and wife; Xenophon Betts and wife, and a few others whose names are not remembered. In February, 1845, the church, by amendment of its charter, adopted the congregational form, but continued under the care of the presbytery until January, 1874; when it withdrew therefrom. Eldad Barber was probably the first preacher. Rev. Goodell and Carlisle preached at a later date, after which Mr. Barber again officiated. The last pastor was Rev. C. C. Creegan, of Wakeman. The membership at present is about twenty-five. Charles Graves is clerk and A. Lawrence, deacon. The society do not hold regular services at present, and their building is occupied by the Methodist Episcopal society, Rev. Mr. Royce officiating once in two weeks. The Sabbath school numbers about sixty scholars. David Leonard is superintendent. The Methodists held meetings at the old log school house, one mile south of Florence Corners as early as 1816 or 1817, at which Rev. Nathan Smith, the first preacher in the township, usually officiated. There are now two societies of this denomination in the township, one at Florence Corners and another at Birmingham. The writer is unable to give the facts of their organization, although applying personally to many who were supposed to be able to furnish the necessary information. And a letter, with postage enclosed, addressed to the pastor of the church at Florence Corners, who is said to have the early records of both churches, fails to elicit the courtesy of an answer. A Baptist church was organized in 1818, at the house of Luther Norris, by John Rigdon, a minister from Richland County, and their meetings were held alternately at the house of Mr. Norris and at Florence Corners. About the same time, a Baptist society was formed in Henrietta, Lorain County, where meetings were held in the school house about a mile east of Birmingham, and the Baptists in Florence subsequently united there. In July, 1837, by resolution of the church in Henrietta, a branch was organized at Birmingham, consisting of the following members: James and Catharine Daly, Henry and Mary Howe, John and Ann Blair, Richard and Catharine Laughton and Hannah Brown, and the society was called the “Henrietta and Birmingham Baptist Church.” In May, 1840, the branch at Birmingham organized independently. The Disciples Church at Birmingham, was organized in 1845, with about forty members. It continued prosperous, under the labors of able men, the membership increasing to about seventy, when Sidney Rigdon, one of its preachers, embraced the doctrine of Mormonism, and drew off about one-half of the church. A house of worship was erected the same year, in which the society was organized, costing about twelve hundred dollars. Almon Andress, now of Birmingham, was the first elder of the church, and has continued as such for nearly fifty years. Jonathan Bryant officiated in the same capacity for some time, and Silas Wood was deacon. No regular services have been held for some time. The Evangelical church, in the the first section, was formed about twenty years ago, at the school house just east of Mr. Clary’s, with a membership of about twenty. In 1866, the present house of worship, on the county line, was erected, and cost about nine hundred dollars. The membership at present numbers about what it did originally. Rev. George Hassenflug is pastor. POST OFFICE. The first mail route through the township extended from Cleveland to the old county seat on Huron River. The post office was at Florence Corners, and Eli S. Barnum was the first postmaster. He kept the office in his dwelling, and continued postmaster for many years. His successors have been William F. Perry, Jeremiah Baker, and George P. Baker who continues to hold the office. Cyrus Butler was the first postmaster at Birmingham. G. W. Chandler is the present incumbent.
Florence was organized as an independent township April 7, 1817. The first election for township officers was held at the log school house one mile south of Florence Corners. Joab Squire was elected clerk; Eli S. Barnum, John Brooks, Sr., and Isaac Furman, trustees; Ezra Sprague, justice of the peace. The number of votes polled was seventeen. The township officers elected on April, 1879, are as follows: W. J. Rowland, clerk; E. B. Peck, George Taylor and A. B. Denman, trustees; John H. Poyer, treasurer; Charles A. Heale, assessor; H. G. Thompson and N. G. Taft, justices of the peace.
In the summer of 1809, Almon Ruggles and his brother, in fulfillment of a contract with the proprietors of the township, erected a grist mill on the Vermillion near the south town line. The mill was no sooner put in operation, than a sudden freshet swept mill, dam and everything before it. In 1811, the Messrs. Ruggles began the erection of another mill, on the La Chapelle, near the north line of the township, which was completed the next year. The mill proved a great convenience to the settlers not only in this, but in adjoining and more distant townships, as no grinding could be obtained short of Newburg or Cold Creek. The proprietors subsequently added a saw mill. A number of years afterwards, the mills were bought by Harley Mason, who also built another sawmill on the same stream, a short distance above. The first sawmill in the township was built by Eli S. Barnum, on the La Chapelle, in the summer of 1810. On the same creek a saw mill was built, at an early date, by Job Smith. Smith was an early settler in Berlin, but afterwards removed to Brownhelm. The mention of his name recalls the following story: He is said at one time to have purchased a stock of goods in New York, for which he agreed to pay the owner five hundred coon skins, “taken as they run,” by which the merchant naturally understood an average lot. But it appears that Smith attached, in this instance, at least, a very different meaning to the phrase. The skins not being delivered, the dealer came on to investigate the matter, and inquired of Smith when he would fulfill his contract. “Why,” said Smith, “you were to take them ‘as they run’; the woods are full of them, take them when you please! ” The mill built by Smith, was afterwards owned and run for many years by Chester King. In 1816, William Blackman erected a saw mill on the Vermillion, above the forks of the river, where the stone quarry now is. Before completing it, Harley Mason came in and purchased a half interest. Soon after it was finished, Mason sold his interest to Blackman, receiving in exchange a farm of eighty acres, now occupied by Mr. Hiram Smith. This proved a fortunate transaction for Mason, and equally unfortunate for Blackman, for shortly afterwards a freshet carried away the dam, mill and all, leaving the owner without a dollar in the world. He then removed to New London, where he bettered his fortunes. In 1816, Perez Starr, and his brother Dudley, erected a saw mill, and the next year a grist mill, on the Vermillion, on or near, the site of the present grist mill at Birmingham. Perez bought his brother out shortly afterwards, and carried on the business for a number of years, when they were bought out by Cyrus Butler, who operated them until his death. The next owner was Ahira Cobb, who subsequently traded them, with other property, to a man of the name of Dunham, of Cleveland, for property in that city. The mills burned down while Dunham owned them, and the mill-seat was afterwards purchased by Silas Wood, who, at the time, owned a stone grist mill farther up the river, built by Wines & Walker. This he then took down and moved to Birmingham, and erected the present grist mill, having, the year previous, in 1854, built a saw mill there. These mills are now owned by G. H. Arnold.
The first store in the township appears to have been opened at Birmingham, by Erastus Butler. In the county assessor’s list of merchants and traders, with their assessed capital, in Huron County, for the year 1826, he is the only trader mentioned for this township. The amount of his capital as given was eighteen hundred dollars. In 1828, the name of Cyrus Butler appears with only a capital of five hundred dollars. In 1829, Ferris & Wood, of Florence Corners, were assessed on seven hundred and fifty dollars. In 1830, J. V. Vredenburg with six hundred dollars, J. L. Wood, six hundred dollars, and Charles P. Judson, seven hundred dollars, are mentioned. Cyrus Butler, a pioneer merchant of Florence, and at one time, the owner of the old mills at Birmingham, had, at one time, a forge, a short distance below the mills, and manufactured bar iron for a few years, the ore for which was obtained in Vermillion. The works finally went off in a freshet. An ax factory was formerly carried on there, for a short time, by a man by the name of Pratt. Birmingham, as we have seen, from the mention of some of its early enterprises, was once a place of considerable business activity. It had, among its business men, such men as Perez Starr, Ahira Cobb, Uriah Hawley, Silas Wood and others, men of great energy, business experience and property. The village neglected the opportunity, once presented, of securing a railroad and its glory have long since departed. And at Terryville, where once was heard the busy hum of industry, is now a collection of only a few old houses. Birmingham is now a place of some two hundred and fifty inhabitants, with three churches, two school houses, one grist mill, one saw mill, one hotel, one drug and hardware store, one general store, one grocery, one millinery and fancy goods, one furniture shop, two blacksmith shops, one carriage shop, two wagon and repair shops, one cooper shop, one cigar factory, one meat market, one tailor shop. At Florence Corners there are two churches, one school house, two general stores, one harness shop, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop. At the present time there are three saw mills in the township, viz.: Wilber T. Mason’s on the La Chapelle, Edwin Botsford near Florence Corners, and Eli Grave’s southwest of Birmingham. There are two cheese factories — those of George P. Baker near Florence Corners, and George Van Fleet at Birmingham.