Person Page - 2

     John was born on 8 April 1824 at Broome, New York.¹ He was the son of George Washingon Ashley and Sally Page. John died on 3 November 1853 at age 29.¹

     Obadiah died. He married Elizabeth Smith at East Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹ Obadiah was born on 2 May 1739 at Middletown, Connecticut.² He was the son of Obidiah Dickinson and Hanah Rockwell.

     Elizabeth Smith was the daughter of John Smith and Mary NN----. She married Obadiah Dickinson at East Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹ Elizabeth died.

     William was born on 7 May 1758 at Rochester, Massachusetts.¹ He was the son of Thomas Ashley and Mary Gifford. William Ashley enlisted in July or August 1775, served in Captain John Grant's company, Colonel Seth Warner's regiment; he was at the taking of St. Johns, the battles of Sorel and Montreal and in the retreat from Quebec, returned to the United States the last of June, 1776.

He enlisted July 1, 1777. Served in Captain Ebenezer Allen's company, Colonel Samuel Herrick's regiment of Vermont Rangers. Was in the evacuation of Ticonderoga and at the capture of Burgoyne, served until the last of December, 1777. He enlisted in February or March, 1778 and served two months in Captain Clark's company guarding the frontiers, then enlisted and served seven months as Sergeant in Captain Brookins company, Colonel Gletcher's regiment of Vermont militia. He also served in the Vermont militia at various other times, one under Captain Dewey.

He applied for pension, November 16, 1826 in Darke County, Ohio. The claim was not allowed as the service he rendered was not on the Continental Establishment, which was required by the Act of March 18, 1818, under which he applied. William was said to be a comrade of Nathaniel Niles who wrote the Hymn of Bunker Hill.

William lived for a time in Chenango Co, NY. after the war and then moved to Drake County, Ohio.

Poultney Vermont

Poultney, Vermont lies on the level plain of the Poultney River near the New York borderline, a neat clean village in the heart of the district that produces unfading green, purple, and mottled slates. The streets are orderly and well planned; the unpretentious brick and wooden houses with slate roofs, and here and there traces of Colonial dignity, are well kept. In spite of the fact that the depression caused slate to be widely replaced by cheaper materials, thus undermining the industrial foundation the town, Poultney has maintained a brave and attractive front. The population includes a large proportion of Welsh, who left their native slate quarries in Wales for this new quarrying field. Hooker and Son opened the first quarry in Poultney.

Green Mountain Junior College, at the western end of Main St. was founded in 1836 by the Methodist Episcopal Church as Troy Conference Academy, became Ripley Female College for a time, and took its present name and status in 1931. The fine red brick buildings with white trim are set back on an elm shaded campus, and center around Ames Memorial Hall, with its rounded, white pillared portico. The athletic field is behind the school. This is one of the oldest and most respected secondary schools in Vermont.

The town was settled in 1771 by Thomas Ashley (William's half/brother) and Ebenezer Allen; the latter subsequently moved north to Grand Isle. Both of these pioneers, with other Poultney settlers, were with Ethan Alllen and Benedict Arnold at the capture of Ticonderoga (including William). The origin of the name Poultney is not definitely known, but it is thought to derive from Lord Poultney, a friend of Governor Benning Wentworth.
Sgt. William Ashley began military service in August 1775 at American Revolution, Vermont.
He married Phoebe Howe in 1779 at Vermont.² William died on 27 December 1828 at Ashley Family Cemetery-Floyd Farm, South of Ithaca, Darke, Ohio, USA, at age 70.³

     Phoebe was born on 19 February 1761 at Marlborough, Massachusetts.¹ She was the daughter of Nehemiah Howe and Beulah Wheeler. She married Sgt. William Ashley in 1779 at Vermont.¹ Phoebe died on 4 January 1833 at Darke County, Ohio, USA, at age 71.²

     Loami was born on 9 August 1784 at Vermont.¹ He was the son of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Occupation: (an unknown value). He married an unknown person on 1 June 1818 at Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York. Loami died on 25 September 1855 at Bachman, Ohio, USA, at age 71.¹

     Occupation: Rev.. Elisha was born on 25 February 1796 at Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York.¹ He was the son of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Elisha died on 15 June 1863 at Merom, Sullivan County, Indiana, at age 67.¹

     His body was interred at in Old Cemetery Abbottsville, Ohio.¹ Alanson died. Alanson was born at Vermont.¹ He was the son of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe.

     She married Alfred Ayers.¹ Sardis was born on 29 April 1801 at New York.² She was the daughter of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Sardis died on 19 May 1853 at Union City, Indiana, at age 52.²

     William died at Pulaskiville, New York.¹ He was an elder. William was born on 31 December 1786 at Rutland County, Vermont.¹ He was the son of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe.

     Occupation: Rev.. Harry was born in 1798.¹ He was the son of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Harry died on 27 June 1841 at Licking County, Ohio.¹

     Philanda was born in April 1780 at Poultney, Vermont.¹ She was the daughter of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. She married Hiram Burtch in 1795 at Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York.¹ Philanda died in September 1857 at age 77.¹

     Rheumilla was born on 19 September 1789 at Poultney, Vermont.¹ She was the daughter of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Rheumilla died in 1838.¹

     She married Amasa Mead at New York.¹ She married John Weed at Forestville, New York.¹ Phebe was born on 16 March 1792 at New York.¹ She was the daughter of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Phebe died on 3 February 1860 at Marengo, Illinois, at age 67.¹

     Her body was interred at in Bird Cemetery.¹ She married John Higgins.¹ Purnell was born in 1804 at New Hampshire or New York.¹ She was the daughter of Sgt. William Ashley and Phoebe Howe. Purnell died in 1830 at Mt. Liberty.¹

     

Nehemiah moved from Marlborough to New Marlborough about 1749, and to Poultney, VT in 1775. He served at Ticonderoga and Bennington in the Revolutionary War.

He was a miller. Nehemiah was born on 13 January 1720/21 at Marlborough, Massachusetts.^1,2 He was the son of Peter Howe and Grace Bush. He married Beulah Wheeler on 4 March 1746/47 at Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts.^3,2 Nehemiah died in April 1777 at Poultney, Vermont, at age 56.⁴

     Beulah was born on 1 March 1724/25 at New Marlborough, Massachusetts.¹ She was the daughter of Benjamin Wheeler and Hannah NN----. She married Nehemiah Howe on 4 March 1746/47 at Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts.^2,3 Beulah died circa 1799.⁴

     Percival died.

     
     
      Charles Ellsworth Brown
     
     
      " My Great Grandfather was Col. William Brown who came from North Carolina [?] and served in the Revolutionary Army, and at one time served on Washington's staff. He was with General Francis Marion some of the time and later came to Indiana [should be KY] and laid his land grant where Greencastle now stands. He then went back home to North Carolina [should be VA] and never came back and let it go by default. He had sons Robert and Francis who was my Grandfather. He married a Marksberry of Kentucky. There was by this marriage four boys and three girls, Nicholas Smith, William, Issac and John. Elizabeth married Meritt Niclos, Millie [Jane] married John Waldrop.
     
     
      My Grandfather was in the War of 1812, served all through the war. Was in the Battle of the Thames and saw Tecumpsey after he was killed. Grandfather said the Indian and Col.
Whitley were locked in each other's arms and had killed each other with knives.
     
     
      Our school history books all claim Dick Thompson [Johnson] killed Tecumpsey but Grandfather was there and saw the two men after they were dead. He claimed that Col. Whitley killed him with his knife and was not shot as was claimed.
     
     
      Grandfather moved from Kentucky to Putman County, Indiana where Isaac was born 1828. Then moved from there to Crawford County Illinois in 1832. Isaac was four years old. They crossed the Wabash river at Darwin. Some people by the name of Devore who lived on what is now known as the Davis farm north of Robinson. They built a big fire to guide people across the Prairie to their home. Grandfather had been out here the year before and had built a Log Cabin house which burned about two years ago.
     
     
      Isaac Brown married Lydia Stamm they raised four boys Benjaman, Francis, Ellis Nicolis, Charles Ellsworth, and Marion Isaac.
     
     
      When my Great Grandfather came to Indiania to lay his land grant he started out on horse back with an ax and as he traveled he blazed a tree and all the land he could ride around in a day and blaze, was his. General Marion rode a fine stallion and his name was Selam. The name Marion has been give to some of the boys and they all have horses named Selam.
     
     
      Grandfather deeded the ground that comprises the old cemetery so anyone can be buried in it. Grandfather, Grandmother and one daughter are buried in the cemetery on the Davis farm north of Robinson. Father and mother are buried in the old cemetery at Robinson, IL.
     
     
      This is all I know and is just the way my father told it to me. This is my 78th birthday.
     
     
      I hope you are all well. I have been sick for the past few days.
     
     
      Love to all,
     
     
      Dad
     
     
      Jan 9, 1943
     
     (at the time Charles wrote this letter he was of poor health and in his 78th year. There are some errors in the narrative, however the letter provided excellent clues to the past)
     
      Obituary of Charles E. Brown
     
     
      Charles E. Brown, 79, died at the Brooks Hospital in 1944. He was the son of Issac and Lydia (Stamm) Brown. Surving are his wife and three daughters, Mrs Myrle Crocker of Cortland, NY; Mrs. Leona Nolen and Mrs. Dora Effert both of Rochester, NY; and one brother Marion Brown of Robinson. Funeral at Buchanan Funeral Home with Rev. Murray in charge. Interment in the old Robinson Cemetery.

He was a merchant. He married Minnie Pearl NN----.¹ Charles was born on 9 January 1865 at Crawford, Illinois.² He was the son of Issac Marksbury Brown and Lydia Stamm. He married Rose M. Surrell on 16 June 1885 at Robinson, Crawford County, Illinois.² Charles died on 18 January 1944 at Robinson, Crawford County, Illinois, at age 79.

     Rose was born in August 1869.¹ She was the daughter of Abraham Surrell and Sarah A. NN----. She married Charles Ellsworth Brown on 16 June 1885 at Robinson, Crawford County, Illinois.² Rose died.

     Harry was born on 11 April 1860 at Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He was the son of Hercules Hodges Crocker and Lydia Ann Nye. He married Rosa Bonheur Tuttle on 26 June 1879 at Berlin Hights, Erie, Ohio.¹ Harry was divorced from Rosa Bonheur Tuttle on 12 January 1893 at Erie, Ohio.² He married May Mathews after 1893. Harry Hercules Crocker was ill with heart disorder/stroke; Cerebral Hemorrrhage (Apoplexy), Generalized arterio Selerosis-Chrome Myocarditis. Harry died on 10 June 1927 at Cerebral Hemorrhage, Cortland, Cortland, New York, at age 67.³ His body was interred in 1927 at Cortland, Cortland, New York, Cortland Rural Cemetery.³

     Rosa was born on 31 January 1859 at Berlin Hights, Erie, Ohio.¹ She was the daughter of Hudson Tuttle and Emma Dianis Rood. She married Harry Hercules Crocker on 26 June 1879 at Berlin Hights, Erie, Ohio.² Rosa was divorced from Harry Hercules Crocker on 12 January 1893 at Erie, Ohio.³ Rosa Bonheur Tuttle married Alfred Staley Sr on 22 November 1893 at Sandusky, Ohio.⁴ Rosa died on 31 December 1905 at Berlin Hights, Erie, Ohio, at age 46.⁵

     She married Raymond R. Smith.¹ Madge was born on 12 July 1885 at Berlin Heights, Ohio.^2,3 She was the daughter of Harry Hercules Crocker and Rosa Bonheur Tuttle.
     
      Madge Trypheus Crocker
      SHE LOVED HER FAMILY
     
     
      I would like to dedicate the Genealogy work that I have done to two of my ancestors, Madge Trypheus Crocker and Florence Edna Miller. Aunt Madge who I never knew did extensive work on her Crocker family line, as well as many other lines back to the Mayflower.

      I only wish that she could have known that it was appreciated; though her brother, my grandfather, was not interested; that I her great grand nephew did find it interesting and was glad that I could carry on and add to her work.
      The extensive as well as major work she did made my efforts all that much eaiser. The Birth, Death, Marriage certificates she gathered along with letters and other documents will add to our family history for generations to come.

      Madge I wish we had met and I hope you know we are greatful!

                Mahalo,
      Tracy.

     Hercules was born on 6 March 1828 at Nantucket, Massachusetts.¹ He was the son of Luther Crocker and Chloe Hodges. He married Lydia Ann Nye on 21 June 1849 at Franklin County, Indiana.^2,3 Hercules Hodges Crocker was ill with heart disorder/stroke; Paralysis. Hercules died on 1 November 1878 at Chicago, Cook, Illinois, at age 50.^1,4 His body was interred in November 1878 at Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Rosehill Cemetery
.

     Lydia Ann Nye was ill with heart disorder/stroke; Heart disease.
Lydia was born on 22 June 1833 at Scipio, Indiana.¹ She was the daughter of Joshua Nye and Mary C. Moorehead. She married Hercules Hodges Crocker on 21 June 1849 at Franklin County, Indiana.^2,1 She married Edwin James Blood on 23 July 1879 at Cook, Illinois.³ Lydia died on 12 November 1888 at Chicago, Cook, Illinois, at age 55.¹ Her body was interred on 15 November 1888 at Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Oak Woods 25925 (D-5-123).⁴

     
     
     Hudson Tuttle -- Spiritualist, Clairvoyant, and Author
     
     Berlin Hights "Voice" October 1982
By Ellen Maure
     
     
      "That I was born in what was then a wilderness on the southern shores of Lake Erie and for the early years of my life to the time I began to write for the superior intelligences had exceedingly limited social and educational advantages, may be of interest to the readers as showing how the communications transcended my own capabilities and the education which came with its inspiration"
     
     
      With these words Hudson Tuttle, now into his later years of authoring, introduced his readers to a sketchy personal history. As a very young man Hudson was unusually concerned with religion. His parents were Unitarians and often opened their door to preachers who traveled the area, offering food and lodging. It was during these early years that he grew to be a doubter of church doctrine and turned to science for answers. At this time, too, Tuttle admits to experiencing "spirit influence". At about sixteen years of age he attended his first seance, "one bleak and blustery night in March I walked across the fields two miles or more". After an hour at the table Tuttle's hand began to move uncontrollably, he relates and taking a pencil he wrote scrawls, then words and finally whole sentences. The remainder of Hudson Tuttle's
      autobiographical sketch illustrates that he was convinced that the "spirits" influenced and even edited every word he wrote. His books, among them Arcana of Nature, Philosophy of Spirit and Life in Two Spheres are articulate though often archaic in style and make for difficult reading. Those interested in leafing through the writings of this Berlin Hights native may choose from a selection of his works at the Berlin Library.
     
     
      Our talented citizen, Mr. Hudson Tuttle was a few days since the recipient of a substantial Christmas gift from one of his literary admirers, a Russian nobleman whose name we have not learned. It was a check on a New York bank from a bank in St. Petersburg, Russia for $100.00. This is a rare compliment to the talents of our esteemed friend and shows that Mr.. Tuttle's abilities as an author are achieving a world-wide reputation. The Close Bros. cashed the draft.
     
Hudson was born on 4 October 1836 at Berlin Hights, Erie, Ohio.¹ He was the son of Nathan Tuttle and Moriah Leland Monroe. He married Emma Dianis Rood on 12 October 1857 at Warren, Ohio.¹ Hudson Tuttle witnessed History of BERLIN TOWNSHIP [Erie County, Ohio]
by Hudson Tuttle
from HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO
1879 by W.W.Williams
pages 475-489


NAME.

The original name of Berlin was Eldridge, from one
of its earliest proprietors. He became unpopular, so
much so that in 1832 the people petitioned the com-
missioners of Huron county to change the name, sta-
ting as a reason that they did not desire to perpetuate
the name of an unworthy man. It seems the people
were mistaken, for those intimately acquainted with
Mr. Eldridge remember him as a pleasant gentleman.
He purchased the eastern half of the township as a
speculation, and the taxes, imposed unequally, rested
so heavily on unimproved lands, improvements being
exempted, that he was unable to pay his taxes, and
was ruined by owning a half of one of the best town-
ships on the Fire-lands. Rumors came from Con-
necticut that he had been guilty of forgery to redeem
his credit, and possibly the innate hatred the settler
felt toward the land speculator, was at the root of the
popular sentiment. The petitioners suggested Lyme
as a desirable name, but as there was already a town
by the same name in the county, - it then being
a part of Huron county,- the commissioners objected.
It was at the time of the Milan-Berlin treaty. Noah
Hill, who always was deeply interested in polities,
suggested that, as the county had Milan, it should
have Berlin, too, and thus the town was named.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The township, as first surveyed, was five miles
square, but received additions of territory extending
its boundaries to the shores of Lake Erie. The sur-
face is level, except the valleys formed by the streams,
from the lake to the ridge, where it rises from fifty to
one hundred feet, and then extends southward nearly
as level as before. This ridge was once undoubtedly
the ancient shore of the lake. It extends through the
township from northeast to southwest, and at the
"pinnacle" the base of the bluff is sixty feet above the
level of the lake, and its slope presents three distinct
terraces, or shore lines, at the respective heights of
one hundred, one hundred and fifty and one hundred
and ninety-five feet above the level of the lake. These
indicate successive periods of subsidence.
There are indications of salt in many places in the
township. There is, in fact, a line of so-called "licks"
parallel with the edge. The two most noted
among early hunters as the resort of deer, were
located on lands occupied by Nathan Tuttle and
Ezekiel Sayles. Between these a deep path was worn
by the deer. These licks present, during dry seasons,
a saline efflorescence crusting the surface. That on
the Sayles land was in the valley of the Old Woman
creek, and the early settlers dug a pit, into which
they sank a section of a hollow tree, and the salt
water came in sufficient quantities to allow them to
make salt in a small way. Salt then being difficult
to obtain, and costly, this was quite advantageous.
The belief in the value of this salt spring was so strong
in the mind of the early proprietor, Fosdick, that the
surrounding land was withheld from sale for many
years. At a later day Prof. B. L. Hill, and others,
made explorations, but without results, the site of
the old spring being obliterated by floods, and they
were unable to find it. However, they obtained salt
water.
The surface formation is almost exclusively of the
drift, and in places boulders, often of large size, are
thickly scattered.
The soil of the portion south of the ridge is sandy,
mixed with fields of loam running almost into clay.
The western part, below the ridge, is also sandy,
either yellowish or black, and the north eastern portion
is clayey, as it is along the shore, which is unequaled.
for the production of wheat. There is, thus, the
greatest variety of soil, and the farmer is enabled to
grow whatever crop he pleases, having soil adapted
for all.
There are two streams or creeks in the township,
the Chapelle, running through the eastern portion,
and the Old Woman creek, which has two branches,
the east and west, arising in Townsend, and flowing
northward through the centre portion, uniting about
one and a half miles northwest of the heights, and
emptying into the lake. From this union to the lake,
the stream is like a canal, with wide and marshy
borders. The name of the latter stream is said to
have been given because an old squaw was drowned
at its mouth.
There are four small marshes, two of which have
been reclaimed, and when land becomes more valuable,
no doubt but the others will be also. The surface
was heavily timbered, and the forest presented almost
an herculean task to the pioneers. Oak was the pre-
vailing growth, plentifully mixed with ash, elm,
hickory, basswood, walnut, whitewood, and, along
the streams, butternut and sycamore.

VILLAGES.

There are three small villages in the township.
Berlinville, on the old State road, in the old times
of stage coaches, was a busy little centre, with good
tavern, store, and the only post office in the township.
Berlin Heights is the largest, and is the natural centre,
towards which the people gravitate. It has three
stores, an hotel, saloon, several manufactories, a saw
and grist mill, three churches and a fine graded
school. It is noted for its intelligence and enterprise.
Directly north of the Heights, on the L. S. & M. S.
R. R., is Ceylon, a place that started up and grew
rapidly for a time. It has two stores, two saloons,
an hotel, sawmill and post office,

MAIL FACILITIES.

The mail is carried by hack from Ceylon, on the
northern division, via Berlin Heights, Berlinville,
East Norwalk, to Norwalk, on the southern Division,
giving all these places the advantage of morning and
evening mails. The L. S. & M. S. R. R. passes
through the northern part of the township, and sends
a spur south to the quarries and gravel bed. The
advantages of extending this spur to the Heights are
so apparent, that it certainly will be done at no
distant day.

CEMETERIES.

There are six burial grounds in the limits of the
township - two at the Heights, under the control of
the township; one at Berlinville; one in the southeast
part, known as the Chapel ground; one east of Har-
per's corners, known as the Peak ground; and one
at the mouth of the Chapelle creek, directly on the
lake shore, which is being rapidly washed away.

ABORIGINAL RACES.

The Indians were not the aboriginal race. They
were preceded by that mysterious people, the mound
builders. Interesting fortifications, referable to this
pre-historic race, are found on the farm originally
owned by Curtis Benschooter, on the summit of the
high bank of the creek, and this earthwork has great
interest as having evidently been built to protect
against incursions of an enemy, who would come
by water from the lake, and traces of works lower
down show that at that time the water stood at a
much higher level, and the wide marsh was then a
bay, opening with a wide mouth into the lake. There
were mounds on the farm of Jasen Thompson, with
graves, and the present site of the residence of Mr.
Henry Hoak seems to have been an ancient sepulcher.
He has, in making excavations, brought to light sev-
eral fragmentary skeletons, one of which has especial
interest from its remarkable state of preservation and
rare peculiarities. It was buried deeper than the
others, so that it was enveloped in the clayey subsoil,
and hence had been better protected than those
enveloped in the loose sand. The skull of this speci-
men measures but nineteen inches in circumference,
which would almost indicate it was idiotic, and is
remarkably low. The arms are of unusual length,
the under jaw extremely massive, and the height less
than four feet. Yet the individual eviidently was not
idiotic, as she had attained all extreme old age, which
the idiot savage cannot do.
In 1852, Mr. H. L. Hill, in cutting an oak, discov-
ered three hacks, made by a small ax, and found that
there were two hundred and eighteen annual rings on
the outside of it. This would carry the age of the
markings back to the earliest French voyageurs, in
fact, much earlier than has been supposed those hardy
adventurers penetrated this remote region. Now, the
farmer, turning with his iron plowshare the mellow
fields, often finds the flint arrow head, the stone ax,
the spear point, alike of red man and mound builder,
and if of reflective mind may moralize over the decay
of races in that dim past, of which these mute
weapons only remain.

THE EARLIEST PIONEERS.

A party of adventurers built and launched a rude
boat at the mouth of Walnut creek, Pennsylvania, in
1808. They were John Hoak, John McLaughlin,
George Miller, Nathaniel Burdue, Benjamin Pratt,
Mr. Richie, and Howard. They sailed up the lake
in the spring, bringing provisions, farming tools and
thirty barrels of whisky. They encountered severe
weather and had to cast overboard their whisky, but
when the storm subsided, they cruised about - and
gathered it up again. When they reached the mouth
of the Huron river, the sand-bar shut them out, so
they had to dig a canal to get their boat in. They
selected a field on the Kline and Minus farm, and
planted eighteen acres of corn; after hoeing it, they
hired an Indian to guard it, while they went after
their families. They returned in the fall in their
boat, but their families came by land, under the es-
cort of Henry Hoak, father to John Hoak. He was,
without doubt, the oldest of all the pioneers, having
been born in 1745. He remained until his death, in.
1832, at the age of eighty-seven, with his son, and
was a most exemplary and pious man. The majority
of this venturesome party settled finally in Berlin, in
181O-11, leaving the Huron bottom lands on account
of overflows.
John Hoak, who settled on the Kline farm for two
years, moved to the farm now owned by his son
Henry; built one of the first houses, in 1810. Only
four whites were present at the raising of the great
logs of which it was constructed, but Silas David, an
Indian chief, with his tribe, assisted. They were
forbidden, by him, to taste of liquor until the work
was done, then they drank and held a pow-wow to
their heart's content. One was so riotous they built
a pen of rails around him, covered it over and left
him till morning.
John Hoak had ten children, only one of whom,
Henry, remains in the township. John Hoak, with
the remainder of his family living, removed to La-
grange county, Indiana, where he died in 1859, at
the age of seventy-three years. He made a kiln of
brick, on his farm, in 1812, the first on the Fire-
lands.
The first white settler within the limits of the
township was Mr. John Dunbar, unless a Mr.
Tillison, who owned the land, which afterwards was
the homestead of Curtis Benschoter, preceded him.
The Tillison family were very hospitable, and it is
said Mrs. Tillison once told a guest if he would not
stay to supper she would "knock him down." This
rude hospitality showed itself in ways that would
offend the more fastidious tastes of the present. One
night John Thompson was caught at the Tillisen
cabin by a terrible storm. He, of course, did not
want to face the storm, and Tillison said they had
no spare bed. Mrs. Tillison was adequate to the
emergency: "I
say, Till," said she, "Tompk can
sleep with us," and he did. Another story told of
this family made many a hearty laugh around the
blazing hearths of the pioneers. The whole family,
with their guests, would sit in a circle, and above
their heads, suspended by a cord from the rafters,
was a jug of whisky. This arrangement saved the
trouble of waiting on any one, for the jug was swung
round and round, from mouth to mouth, till all were
satisfied.
John Dunbar came from the State of New York,
1809, and purchased the farm afterwards known as
the Weatherlow farm. His brother, Isaiah, came with
him. He soon after moved to the center, on the place
occupied by Dr. X. Phillips. The Dunbars disappeared
and left no trace.
Perez and Thomas Starr came from Connecticut in
1810, and built a mill on the lands now owned by
H. L. Hill. In the autumn of that year, Thomas
Starr built a house on the farm now owned by J. S.
Lowry. The night before the raising, the snow fell
six inches deep, and he feared no one would come,
but his fears were vain. In those days the neighbor-
hood extended five miles in every direction, and early
in the morning, "old Mr. Burdue" made his appear-
ance, whooping like an Indian, with four gallons of
whisky, and soon after, the hands came from Florence
and Milan, and after the job was finished, enjoyed
the "old rye" in a way which would not be satisfactory
to the Good Templars. The Starr brothers kept bach-
elor's hall for a time. In 1812, Thomas was drafted
into the army; from which he returned, and in Feb-
ruary, 1814, married Clementina Clark, of Florence.
He moved to the centerpart of the township. Thomas
Starr was a blacksmith, and used to go to Huron and
Vermillion to work on vessels. He did the iron work
on the first deck vessel built this side of Erie. When
he returned home at night, he carried torches, not
only to show him the way, but to keep off the wolves,
which howled around him. His eldest son, William
Eldridge, born in January, 1815, was the first male
child born in the township.
John McLaughlin, who came with the earliest ad-
venturers, settled on the western border of the town-
ship, on the lands adjoining McLaughlin's corners,
where he continued to reside until his death, in 1849,
at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in
1838. The only survivor of his family, in the town-
ship, is Milton McLaughlin.
Nathaniel Burdue, or "Old Mr. Burdue," as he
was called by everybody, settled near the spring now
used by the creamery. While living on the Huron
river, he set out one Sunday, with a piece of soap in
his pocket, saying he should travel until he found a
spring of soft water, and there he should locate. In
the afternoon he came to this beautiful spring, and
at once decided to make his home by its side. His
orchard was the first to bear in this section. Apples
were then scarce, and Mr. Burdue watched his orchard
with such vigilance that he became associated in the
minds of the boys with Cloven-foot himself.
William Fitzgerald came from New York in 1810,
accompanied by Joel Simpson, and settled on the
farm now occupied by Henry Hine. None of his
descendants remain.
Hieronymus Mingus came from New York State in
i811, and Aaron Fox and his wife came at the same
time. The eldest son of Mr. Mingus was killed in 1813,
in the battle on the Peninsula. The second son,
Jacob, lived and died on the farm now occupied by
his son, Benjamin. The third son, James, married
Phebe Darley, and settled in Townsend, Huron county.
He was the Nimrod of those days. Aaron Fox and
wife reside in the northern part of the township, on
the farm they selected in the wilderness.
John Thompson came from Pennsylvania at an
early day, and in 1813 married the widow Hubbard.
This marriage was, probably, the first in the town-
ship, although the honor is disputed, it being claimed
that Lazarus Young and Becky Laughlin have the
honor.
In 1811, occurred the first birth and the first death.
Milan has claimed Mrs. Millerman as the first child,
but Berlin has that honor. Her father, Lazarus
Young, was such a moving planet, that it is difficult
to decide, but there is little doubt that she was born
on Berlin soil.
The [first] death was accompanied with
horrible circumstances. The wife of John Dunbar,
while her husband was absent, in a state of insanity
threw herself into the fire, made of large logs, placed
against one side of the house. Her screams brought
Mr. Dunbar to the house, and he quickly took her
from the flames and placed her on the bed while he
could go after assistance, but she wildly ran after
him. All that day he shouted for help, not daring
to leave her, but not until near night did any assist-
ance come to the terribly afflicted family in their re-
mote cabin. She died that evening, and was buried
on the banks of the Old Woman creek, where now is
the township burying ground. Mr. Dunbar then
lived on the place afterwards occupied by Dr. X.
Phillips, and the splendid spring which gushes out
from the hill was long known as the "Dunbar
spring."
Jeremiah Benschooter was a native of Sempronius,
New York, as was his wife, Sally Weatherlow, whom
he married in 1808. He came to Berlin in 1811; and
settled on lot twenty, fourth section. They had
thirteen children: Harry, Milo, Ensign, William,
Curtis, Aaron, Weatherlow, Harriet, Delia, Betsey,
Jeremiah, Sarah and Mary Ann. Curtis Benschooter
passed nearly his whole life on his farm, removing to
the Heights in his declining age. He died in 1877,
at the age of seventy years. His son, Moses M.,
resides at Stone's corners, and is one of the most
successful physicians in the vicinity.
Othaniel Field came in 1810, and purchased section
nine, range six, of Samuel White, who had made
considerable improvements, by way of clearing. Field
was a Vermont man, and industriously devoted him-
self to corn raising, so much so that the destitute
new-comers gave his place the name of Egypt. For
a long time he kept bachelor's hall, and his eccentric
ways still linger in the memories of those who knew
him. He, after many years, married, but had no
children. He died in 1850, at the age of seventy-
nine, his wife surviving until 1876.
Stephen Meeker settled on lot ten, section four, in
1811, where he resided until his death, in 1849, having
been preceded by his wife by only a few weeks. He
worked at blacksmithing, and kept a public house,
and for several years held the office of judge. He
married Polly Platt, in 1799. They had seven chil-
dren: Barney, Hezekiah, Edward, Hanford, Grissel,
Maria and George T.
Daniel Butler came to Berlin in 1814, from Cleve-
land, to which place he came from Massachusetts, in
1811. Losing his wife, he returned to Massachusetts
in 1816, and married Jemima Bishop. They had six
children, and he had two by his first wife. The chil-
dren by the second marriage were: Amanda, Climena,
Lucinda, Daniel, Charles and Harriet, none of whom
are at present living in the township. He was an
able man, and was the first who held the office of
justice of the peace, or, at least, the second. For
many years before his death, which occurred in 1854,
in his seventy-fifth year, he had been subject to
insanity, which had a religious aspect, and caused
him to take his own life. He received a revelation
to build a house fifty by one hundred feet, for the
second coming of Christ, and not being able to build
the whole, built a quarter, and thus, for years,
his family lived in this most awkward tabernacle.
This building lately has fallen in ruins and been
destroyed. His son Daniel inherited his father's.
tendencies, and at last put an end to his own life, in
the same manner, in 1861, at the age of thirty-four.
Samuel Reed came in 1815. He was five weeks on
the lake, from Buffalo to Huron. He bought the
farm now owned by J. S. Lowry, where he lived till
spring, when he went to Milan to work on Merry's.
mill, his wife working for the workmen. In 1816,
he removed to Florence; in 1817, he purchased the
lot seven, range two of section two, and made the
first clearing on the farm of Juduthan Cobb, to whom
he sold it in 1820, and removed to Oxford in this
county.
Nathan Harris was born in Berrytown, Connecticut,
where he married Betsey Moon, and moved to the
then far west, stopping at Perry, New York, and
reaching Berlin in 1815. They had eleven children:
Thomas, Emma (Mrs. Sanders), Betsey (Mrs. John
Meeker), Hiram, Nathan, Anna (Mrs. Storrs). Mrs.
Harris died in 1845, and in 1846, Mr. Harris removed
to Indiana where he died in 1858.
The war having closed, and no danger to be appre-
hended from Indians, the tide of immigration poured
westward, and the unoccupied lands were rapidly ap-
propriated.
Samuel Lewis came from New York, near Seneca
lake, in 1816. He married. Elizabeth Hine, and pur-
chased lot nineteen, section fourth, which remained
in his possession until his death, in 1851, at the age of
fifty-five. He left a wife, now Mrs. Oliver Peak, and
six children: Lyman, Charles, Baldwin, Luther,
Clarinda, and Mary (Mrs. Raws), none of whom now
reside in the township. They had lost four.
Lewis Jones came from New York, Bushkill, in
1816, and purchased lot seven, range five, and after
a few years removed to lot twelve, range six; he, after
a time, removed to Wood county. His wife, Hannah
Ewiliken, was a native of Ulster county, New York.
They had eight children: Levi, now living in this
township; Alvah J., Morris, Betsey (wife of Captain
Kelley, of Milan), Polly (Mrs. Green, now of Town-
isend), Gideon, Amos and Hannah.
Aaron Benschoter and wife came from Neversink,
New York, in 1816, with their family, William,
Daniel, and a daughter who married Oliver Peak.
They were middle-aged when they came, and lived to
advanced age. William purchased lot twenty-seven,
range four, when both he and his wife died, in 1833.
Their daughter, Esther, married Joel Fox, and is the
only member of the family remaining in the township.
Oliver, Alanson and Betsey D., moved to the West.
Daniel purchased lot twelve, range eight, and soon
after, losing his wife; married Rebecca, daughter of
Hezekiah Smith. They had six children: Gardner,
Leander, Sheffield, Hoffman, Cordelia and Eliza.
Gardner and Hoffman, only, reside in the township,
the latter remaining on the old homestead. Mrs.
Benschoter died in 1877.
In 1816, Baswell Wood and James Kellogg came
from Tolland, Connecticut. James Kellogg settled
on lot seven, range one. He had three children:
James, Arlica (Mrs. Keeler), Lydia (Mrs. John An-
derson). He died hi 1821, his wife, Nancy Wood,
several years later. Baswell Wood settled on lot
eight, range third, where he resided until his
death, in 1851, at the age of eighty-one. He had six
children: Andrew, Nancy, Sally (Mrs. Nehemiah
Smith), Margaret and Baswell. Mrs. Wood and her
youngest child died in 1818. Andrew Wood resided
in the township until his death, in 1874, at the age
of sixty-eight.
Jared Hine came in 1816 from Litchfield, Connec-
ticut, and purchased lot eleven, range eight, which
he made his permanent home. In 1815 he married
Betsey Miner, of his native town, and the next year
moved to the far-off wilderness of Ohio. His land
was first settled by Fitzgerald, who sold to Anson
Fox, who sold to Hubbard, from whom it was pur-
chased by Mr. Hine. These owners had each made
some improvements. Yet the country was then wild
enough, and the first night the young couple stayed
in their new home they were disturbed by a prowling
bear. One night, hearing a scream in the forest,
Mrs. Hine, thinking it was her brother was lost,
went to the door and blew a horn. Every time she
stopped the scream answered nearer, until Mr. Hine,
whom she had awakened, thinking it no human
voice, told her that she had better come in. It was
a panther; and, although they were secure, the night
was passed anything but pleasantly. Mr. Hine was
an energetic man and upright citizen, and held the
office of justice of the peace for fifteen years. He
was the third chosen to that office. He died in 1844,
at the age of fifty-six. They had but one child,
Henry W., who still resides on the old homestead.
In 1817, Jared was joined by his brothers Sheldon,
Nathaniel and Charles, and, the next year, Sheldon
returned to Connecticut and married Sally Osborne,
returning with his brother Amos.
The journey from Connecticut in those days was a
greater undertaking than a voyage to Japan would be
at present, and consumed almost as much time. They
were forty days on the road, driving ox teams. When
Sheldon arrived with his bride he found the log house
he had left, with all the stores for the coming year,
had been burned. This, united with ague by which
he was prostrated, was enough to discourage any or-
dinary man, but these pioneers were heroic in their
endurance, and by sheer pluck and perseverance con-
quered the wilderness.
Sheldon Hine purchased lot eight, range eight, of
Joshua Poyer, and resided there until his death in
1854, at the early age of forty-six. He suffered from
malarial disease of the new country, and his untiring
industry exposed him recklessly to all kinds of weather.
He built a saw mill on the Old Woman creek, where
he worked night and day, and also a cider mill. The
saw mill was not only a great accommodation to the
people but of profit to him. He soon became pos-
sessed of large tracts of land in various parts of the
township. Mrs. Hine still survives, enjoying a green
old age. She had seven children: Lucius A., who
devoted his life to reform; Horatio S; Daniel N;
Theodore B., now in Toledo, but still owning the old
homestead; Lenian G., now practicing law in Washing-
ton, D. C; Julia (Mrs. S. T. Burnham), now living
in Saginaw; Laura F. (Mrs. Powers), now living in
Kansas.
Amos Hines purchased lot nine, range eight, where
he lived until his death in 1854, at the age of sixty-
four years. He built a saw mill on the Old Woman
creek, which was a great convenience to the people.
Before leaving Connecticut lie married Polly Allen.
They had three children: Lorenzo, Allen, and Mary
(Mrs. Simms), who only survives. Mrs. Hine still
resides in the old homestead, which she keeps in ex-
cellent repair. It is an old fashioned Connecticut
farm house, the first brick house erected in the town-
ship except Judge Meeker's, on the lake shore, which
was built first, but before that section became a part
of Berlin.
Nathaniel Hine staid only for a short time in Ber-
lin, removing to Florence where lie was drowned in
1826, leaving a wife and three children.
Charles Hine purchased lot eight, range eleven, the
farm now owned by L. S. Chapin. He was twice
married, but was childless. He died in 1855, aged
fifty-six years. His second wife, a few years since,
married Mr. George Butler, of Milan.
Oliver Peak was born in Starksburg, Vermont, in
1797, and came to Berlin in 1817. He had previously
married Mary Benschoter, daughter of Aaron Ben-
schoter. He purchased lot eighteen, section four,
which he always retained. They had five children:
Daniel, George, Mary J. (Mrs. George Douglas, now
of Toledo), and Amy. George is the only one now
residing in the township, being one of the most in-
fluential and enterprising farmers.
Oliver Peak came into the wilderness with little
means, but by industry and economy amassed con-
siderable wealth, and had the satisfaction of seeing
all his familv more than usually prosperous. His first
wife died, and he married the widow of the late
Samuel Lewis with whom he lived till his death. He,
for many years, was justice of the peace, and was an
upright, honorable and patriotic citizen.
Reuben Brooks came with Mr. Peak from New
York, and for a time both held the same lot of land.
He afterwards purchased lot seventeen where he re-
sided until his death, about 1860. Only one son,
Absalom, is now a resident of the town.
Hezekiah Smith was born in Waterford, Connecti-
cut, in 1776, and married Rebecca Miner, of that
place. Their son, Paul C., came to Berlin, and set
tied on lot seven, range two, in 1817, and the next
year Mr. Smith with his family came and settled on
lot ten, range one. He built a frame house which
was one of the first. He resided on this farm until
his death in 1829, at the age of sixty-three, and his
wife died in 1834, aged sixty-three. They had eleven
children: Paul C., Turner M., Nancy, Rebecca, Maria,
Nehemiah, Patty (Mrs. Benjamin Smith), Hezekiah,
Theodore, Henry and Emeline. Turner M. pur-
chased lot ten, range two, where lie resided until his
death. Before removing from Connecticut, he mar-
ried Anne Whiteman. They had three children:
Gurdon, and Lucas, now residing in Minnesota, and
Horace who is a progressive farmer, still holds the
homestead, which he has brought to a high state of
cultivation, and where he says he shall remain until
he dies. He has made a speciality of Herefords, and
has a splendid herd.
Daniel Reynolds came from New York in 1817, and
settled first on lot nine, range eleven, and then on
lot twelve, range eight, where he remained until the
death of his wife, Phoebe Thorn, in 1846, at the age
of sixty-one years. He had four children: Isaac T.,
Rachel (Mrs. Hiram Judson), Jane, and Polly (Joseph
Tucker). He died in Milan in 1876, at the advanced
age of ninety-one years.
David Walker came from Connecticut in 1817, and
located on section five, range two. They were indus-
trious, as they were obliged to be to support their
family of eleven children. As he was located on one
of the main thoroughfares he opened a hotel, and
soon after became postmaster.
Norman Walker, his brother, came two years later
and bought a farm near David's, but it seems he
could not withstand the climate and died. His
daughter married Elsworth Burnham, and her mother
resided, until her death, with them.
Joshua Phillips came from Lima, New York, in
1817 with his wife (Rebecca Smith), whom he mar-
ried in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was an elder in
the Baptist church, and added preaching to his clear-
mg away the wilderness, farming, and working at
masonry. He purchased lots ten and eleven, range
six, and opened the first quarry. They had seven
children: Zalumna, Zebah, Joshua, Rebecca (Mrs. J.
S. Lowry), Xenophon, Solomon, and Eliza (Mrs. T.
C. Chapman). Zalumna was thoroughly identified
with the business interests of an early day, having a
store at the heights, and for a time held the office of
judge and sheriff, and was once sent to the legislature.
This store was built on the site now occupied by
the town hall. It was then a dense forest, and Mr.
Phillips paid Prentice K. Loomis seventy-five cents
to cut down the trees where he intended to build.
J. S. Lowry was the builder, and for many years was
regarded as highest authority in architecture.
Xenophon, for many years, practiced medicine with
marked success, and acquired quite a wide fame for
his treatment of climatic diseases. In after years,
throwing up the practice, he became a voracious read-
er and enthusiastic disciple of Parker and Emerson.
It is to his industry that we owe many of the personal
facts of this portion of the history of our township.
The story of the trials of the Phillips family illus-
trate the hardships endured by all early settlers.
They moved from the log house on the Chapelle creek
where they stopped a short time, to the house Mr.
Phillips was preparing. It was not yet finished. It
was ten by twelve feet square, made of chestnut logs,
split in two through the middle, and notched together
at the corners. The floor was made of split logs, and
at one end a wide space was left to build a fire. On
one side a doorway was cut through, but windows
there were none, and at that time none were needed,
for the roof had not yet been laid on. The first day
of January, 1818, a warm sunny day like May, the
family moved into the new house. The tall tree tops
of the interminable wilderness closed over its roofless
walls, and in the interstices the stars shone down on
their slumbers. Before morning a storm came up, a
cold sleety rain, and the weary father broke his wagon
box in pieces to make a temporary roof in one corner
under which his household huddled together till the
storm had passed.
Mr. Phillips brought three horses and a cow with
him, but two of the horses soon died, not being able
to bear the exposure and coarse food; all they had was
a coarse grass which grew on the wettish lands in
branches, and this kept green all winter, and the snow
rarely ever was deep enough to prevent grazing.
Sometimes elm and basswood were cut down to allow
the cattle to feed on the tender branches. After the
death of the horses, the one left and the cow mated,
and it seemed that they were so lonesome in the wilds
that their affection for each other was affecting to be-
hold.
One day when Mr. Phillips was on the prairie
working at masonry to earn the wheat to feed his fam-
ily, the mother sent Zalumna and Zebah for game.
They were gone until late in the afternoon, returning
without the least success. The former says he never
can forget the disappointment of his dear mother, for
they had nothing but potatoes, and she baked some
for their supper and they ate them with salt.
In 1817, Noah Hill came and purchased lot seven,
range seven, of Nathan Smith, a Methodist preacher.
He returned to Tioga, Pennsylvania, for his family,
and the next year came and made a permanent settle-
ment. He was of Connecticut birth, as was his wife,
Sukey Butler. They have had eleven children:
Horace L., Edwin I., Elihu P., Benjamin L., Mary
Aim, Rachel, Henrietta, Hester C., George S., Noah,
Sarah C. and Sterling U. It can be said that this
widely connected family, by their sturdy New England
ways, industrious habits and liberal ideas, have made
a deep impress on the character of the township.
Noah died early, and Sterling was killed at the age of
twelve years by the falling of the old Parmenter
bridge. Edwin and Horace are farmers, and Elihu
has retired from his farm and is living at his ease.
He served one term as State senator, in 1852-3.
Benjamin was an eminent physician, a professor in
the Cincinnati Eclectic College, and author of stan-
dard works on surgery. He was State representative
for one term, and died in California, where he had
gone for his health. George is a successful physician.
Noah Hill, for many years, was justice, and was
well known for his integrity of character. Before
coming here, he worked at ship building, and helped
build the brig "Commerce," which the famous Cap-
tain Riley lost on the coast of Africa. He early saw
the evils of intemperance, and for the last thirty years
never tasted a drop of any alcoholic drink, not even
indulging in lemonade, which, he used to say, he
refused out of spite. When the old Congregational
church was sold, he purchased it by subscription, and
refitted it, making of it a "Free Discussion Hall,"
and by that noble act making the future character of
the towns-people. This hall was destroyed by fire,
but not before the people saw the necessity of a free
place of meeting, and the town hall, in 1867, took its
place. He died in 1864, at the age of eighty years.
His wife still survives, at the age of ninety-five.
Timothy Tennant came from Auburn, New York,
in 1818, and settled on lot three, range seven, where
his son-in-law had began improvements the year pre-
vious. His wife was Temperance Pomeroy, of
Connecticut, and he was born in Lyme, in the same
State. They have had twelve children: Sophia (Mrs.
Soper), Charles P., Daniel, Sterling, Henry, Lucy
Ann (first wife of Edwin I. Hill), Fanny J. (wife of
H. L. Hill), Caroline (wife of R. M. Ransom), Cla-
rissa (Mrs. Glenn), and Eliza.
Daniel Tennant came into Berlin, in 1816, when
fifteen years of age. He carried the mail, soon after,
from Berlin to Fremont, weekly, - Wolverton, the con-
tractor, bringing it from Cleveland. He married, in
1833, Caroline Bennett, by whom he had two children.
Charles, the only one living, resides on the old home-
stead, which is one of the premium farms. His wife
dying, he married, in 1858, Mary Ann Blain, of New
York, and in 1873 retired from the farm to the
Heights. Mr. Tennant was a blacksmith, and brought
his anvil with him. His rule of business was never
to disappoint a customer. He died in 1845, at the
age of seventy-five, and Mrs. Tennant, who survived
him eight years, died while on a visit to her daughter,
Mrs. Glenn, in Tiffin.
Thomas Stephens settled, in 1818, on lot eight,
range four, where he resided until his death, in 1835.
He was the second justice of the peace, and a good
teacher. He taught in the old log school house at
the Heights. He left a wife and two children: Lu-
cinda (Mrs. Steen), and Polly, the first wife of Wil-
liam Poyer. Out of school he was the premium
swearer of the town, but in school, nothing would
bring swifter or severer punishment than an oath.
Nathaniel Thorp came from Hebron, Connecticut,
in 1818, with Moses B. Burnham, and in 1822, pur-
chased lot eight and nine, range one. He has been
twice married, by his first wife having four children,
only Jeremiah is now living, residing on the old
homestead. Mr. Thorp had the reputation of being
the hardest working man in the township. He died
in 1854, aged sixty-two years. Moses and Elsworth
Burnham purchased lot three, range six.
John Wetherlow and George Whitney came, in 1819,
from Seneca county, New York, and purchased lot
ten, range seven. This was the lot on which the
first improvement in the township was made, by John
Dunbar. Mr. Weatherlow died in 1837, leaving a
wife and five children: Lucy (Mrs. A. Halbite), Car-
oline (first wife of Captain L. Case), Samuel, William
and John.
Jonathan Cobb came in 1819, from Tolland, Con-
necticut, and bought of S. Reed, lot seven, range
two, where he resided until his death, in 1837, at the
age of thirty-six years, He made, for the time he
lived, great improvements; built the first framed house
- yet standing,- a mill, and was an energetic business
man. He left a wife and three children: Ahira,
Ralph L., and Sally (Mrs. Elihu P. Hill).
Oliver Pearl came from Connecticut in 1819, and
settled on lot two, range two, and resided there until
his death in 1835, where his widow, now in her
eighty-sixth year, still resides with their son Addison.
They have had ten children, five of whom are now
living: Oliver, Ancil H., William, Emeline, Albert,
Marilla, Addison, Harriet, and Jerome.
Thomas and Titus Daniels came from Chenango
county in 1819, the former settling on lot three, range
two, and the latter on lot three, range three, on
which they remained.
Cyrus Call came in 1819 as a pioneer Baptist mis-
sionary, and contracting to settle as resident pastor,
retained that position for ten years. In 1820, he
moved his family from Lake county, and purchased
lot seven, range five, where he resided until his death
in his eighty-eighth year. His wife was Sally Cross,
whom he married in New York State. They had
nine children: Polly (Mrs. Middleton), Essex, Sally
(Mrs. Hanes), Jo, Carlo, Harriet, and Dana C.
David Butler came to Delaware county from Len-
nox, Massachusetts, in 1805, and in 1820 to Berlin.
His wife was Abigail Barr, of Massachusetts. He
purchased lot five, range twelve, where he resided
until an advanced age.
Hiram Judson came from Woodhury, Connecticut,
and purchased lot seven, range eleven; in 1821, a val-
uable tract reserved on account of the supposed salt
spring. In 1825 be married Rachel Reynolds, and
has since remained on this farm. They had three
children: Elizabeth, Mary, and William. The latter
remains on the old homestead. Mrs. Judson died in
1861. Mr. Judson is well preserved at seventy-nine
years.
David Butler settled on the western limits of the
township in 1822. He had a family of twelve chil-
dren, none of whom now reside in the township.
George, for many years, was a farmer, and well known
as a farrier. He now resides in Milan, - his daughter,
Mrs. William E. Squire, remaining on the homestead.
Cromwell Tillinghast and wife came to Berlin in
1827, purchasing the tract of land on which they
have since remained. They have four children
Mary (Mrs. Leman Hine, of Washington, D. C.);
____(Mrs. Fred. Otis, of Chicago); Oliver C., who
married Miss Lizzie Reynolds, and remains on the
old homestead, and Charles, residing on the Otis
place. Two other brothers came from Connecticut
at nearly the same time, George and William, and
the Otis family came the same year. Joseph Otis
purchased the farm of John Thompson, built a saw
mill above the Parmenter bridge, and added greatly
to the business of the section. Of his family, the
three sons, James, Frederick and Edwin, after farm-
ing for some years, removed to Chicago, where they
have become identified with the business interests of
that city, and the daughter, ______ (Mrs. Sherman),
resides in Norwalk.
Eliphalet Harris may be ranked with the pioneers
of Berlin, although he first settled near Portland,
now known as Sandusky. He was born in 1795, at
Flushing, Long Island. He came, with his wife, a
native of Glastenburg, Connecticut, in 1816, to the
present site of Sandusky, then a marsh, covered with
ducks and geese. He established the first tannery in
the county of Huron; taught the first public school
and singing school in the county, and assisted in set-
ting up the first press, from which the Clarion was
printed for many years, and as deputy sheriff, assisted
in the first public execution - that of three Indians.
He was a hard-working man, as the clearing of two
farms testify, and the story of his struggles with
privations and hardships, would make a volume
stranger than fiction. On his first farm, near the
city, he was one day briskly chopping. His large
family were destitute and hungry. There was no
meat, and little bread. He could do nothing for
them, and chopped away with harder blows to over-
come his feelings. Suddenly, he saw a large bear
mount a log in the clearing and look at him. It
was but the work of a moment to seize his ready gun,
and a lucky shot laid bruin dead. Bear steak was
the first meat the Harris family ate in Ohio. Mr.
Harris had a family of twelve children, only two of
whom are residents of the township, William and
Daniel. He died at Berlinville, 1857, aged sixty-two.
Mrs. Harris died at Norwalk, Ohio, 1876, aged
seventy-six.
Nathan Tuttle came from Sempronius, New York,
in 1832. He married some ten years previously,
Moriah Monroe from Massachusetts. He purchased
a portion of the "fraction" and of portions of contigu-
ous lots, about a mile directly west of the Heights.
They are still living at the ages of seventy-nine and
eighty years, well preserved after the hardships they
have endured. Of their four children, J. M. is at
Norwalk, having an elevator there; Lucy is the wife
of Henry Hoak; David is in Wakeman, and Hudson
resides on the homestead. He married in 1858, Miss
Emma D. Rood. They have three children: Rosa,
Carl and Clair.
Robert Douglass came from Scotland to Canada,
where after residing eighteen years, he removed to
New York, and after three years, in 1833, he came to
Berlin, purchasing a tract of land on the shore,
where he resided until his death. His family con-
sisted of eight children: Agnes, Margaret, George,
Mary, Isabella, James, Betsey and Letitia. George
became an active business man, and for some years
before his removal to Toledo, where he now resides,
handled a large amonnt of real estate in this adjoining
townships. James is now the only member of the
family in the town. He married Cornelia King in
1857, and resides on a farm adjoining the old home-
stead, a part of which he also owns, and is a leading
farmer and fruit grower. In 1874, he ran for state
representative on the democratic ticket, and although
the ticket was lost by two hundred and forty majority,
he was elected by thirty-three votes, and re-elected
against about similar odds in 1876.
L. B. Chapin came from Connecticut in 1841, and
purchased a part of the Mulinick lot. He was a man
of culture, and had practiced law. He set a good
example by his thorough farming, and well kept farm.
He died in ____. Leonard resides with Mrs. Chapin
on the old homestead, and L. S. on the farm once
owned by Charles Hine. Leonodus, the only other
surviving child, resides in the west, and is actively
engaged in railroad building.

T0WNSHIP GOVERNMENT.

On the first day of April, 1817, the first town
meeting was held in Thompson's mill. A strange
assembly of only thirteen rough men in grotesque
costume, patched and mended until the fabric could
not be distinguished, or of enduring buckskin, with
coon skin caps and fawn skin vests. They had con-
cluded that the township needed a government, and
they did not wait for the State to supply them, but
felt fully competent to make such a government
themselves. The judges were not troubled to count
the votes, as every voter was elected to office; and
some had two. The following is the list of township
officers: John Laughlin, Samuel Reed and John
Thompson, trustees; Henry Brady, clerk; John Hoak,
treasurer; Daniel Butler, constable; Lybeus Storrs,
lister and appraiser; Chnstopher Brubaker and Thos.
Starr, path masters; John Hoak and S. S. Reed,
fence viewers; Heironymus Mingus and Christopher
Brubaker, poor masters.
The new government was afraid of the poor tax,
and at once proceeded to "warn Rachel Taylor to de-
part the township of Eldridge." Who Rachel was,
or when she was expected to go in the wilderness, is
not stated, nor whether the officers were satisfied with
a show of authority and allowed her to remain.
The population rapidly increased, so that, when in
1826, the trustees first divided the town into school
districts according to the law passed the preceding
year, there were eighty-nine families then in the farm
districts.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first postmaster was Jeduthan Cobb, in 1820.
The mail was then carried on horseback from Cleve-
land to Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, by Robert
Wolverton. He afterwards ran a sort of coach or
hack, carrying the mail and passengers.
After Walker built his hotel, or tavern, as it was
then called, Mr. Beebe secured the contract for carry-
mg the mail. He ran a line of stages through on the
telegraph road, and the coming and going of these
ponderous vehicles was quite an event in the monot-
ony of the life of those days.
The wide territory to the north of Berlinville,
which has now two post offices, then had none, and it
was a great convenience when an office was granted at
the center. This office gave the present name to the
place, for, as there were so many Berlins, some other
name had to be given to avoid confusion, and Berlin
Heights was suggested by the high lands, overlooking
the lake, on which it was situated.
Elihu P. Hill was the first postmaster, succeeded
by William Pearl, and by Jesse S. Davis, who has
retained the position for the last twelve years.
The first hotel was built by David Walker, on the
old Walker farm. The second was erected at Berlin-
ville, on the site of the present one, by David Coulter.
It was built of hewn logs. He sold to Geo. Roberts,
father of George Roberts of Milan, who sold it to
Harry Walker. Each owner added improvements.
The next was built near, or on, the site of Mr.
Grumman's house and store, of logs, by Calvin Hig-
gins, who started a tannery, the first in the township
and the last.
The first hotel at the Heights was the present
House, erected by Mr. Jesse I. Davis in 1855, and
occupied, except for a short interval, by him since
that time.
The first school in the township was taught by
John Leland, in the winter of 1811-12, in a house on
the Fitzgerald farm, now Henry Hine's. It would
probably be a great curiosity at the present time.
This school was soon suspended on account of the
war, the people leaving with their families for places
of safety - Cleveland or Pennsylvania. It is said that
the panic was so great, that in January 1814, only
four families resided in the township. And yet the
Indians were always friendly, and no instance of their
depredation is recorded in the township.
The second school house was built of logs, covered
with "shakes," on the farm of Daniel Butler, in 1815,
and the school was first kept by Sophia Case, and
afterwards by Mr. Brady and Mr. Dunn.
The third school house was built near the Burdue
spring, east of the Heights, in 1818. This house would
now be a great curiosity. It was sixteen feet by twenty,
and the logs of which it was built were of all lengths,
some running out many feet beyond others. The roof
was shakes held down by heavy poles. The floor was
made of logs split through the middle. The seats
were made of the same, without backs, and the writing
desks were of the split slabs, supported by pins driven
into the log wall. There were three windows, but as
there was no glass, strips were placed across the open-
ings and greased newspapers placed over them. The
fire place occupied the whole end of the building, and
the only limit to the size of the sticks was the
strength of the boys to bring them in. There was
not a board or a nail in the house. This school was
opened by Thomas Stevens, who received ten dollars
a month, paid in work on his farm or produce, and
by way of gratuity, an occasional "bee" of chopping,
hoeing, husking, etc. From this small beginning,
the township has made great advance in the interven-
ing sixty years. The central district, in 1874, erect-
ed a school building at a cost of thirteen thousand
dollars. This school is graded, and the higher grade
has been taught from the beginning by Mr. Job Fish,
whose popularity has never waned, but constantly in-
creased. There are now ten school houses in the
township, valued at twenty-six thousand four hun-
dred dollars, and the annual expenditure for school
purposes is three thousand six hundred and eighty
dollars. The central district supports, besides the
main school, one at the "East End," at a cost of one
hundred and seventy dollars per year, in a building
costing five hundred dollars.

CHURCHES.

THE FIRST CHURCH.
The Methodists held class meetings even earlier
than 1812, in private residences, and had occasional
preaching from Nathan Smith, Mr. Westhich, Dennis
Goddard, ___ Walker, and later, William Pattee.
At one of these meetings the following resolution,
which is a most excellent article of faith, was
adopted:
"WREREAS, Our lots, by Divine Providence, are east
in this wilderness land where we are destitute of the
preached word, destitute of an able shepherd to take
us by the band, and believing it is our duty, as pro-
fessed followers of Christ; and also; feeling it to be
our desire, and esteeming it to be our highest privi-
lege on earth to do all we can to the declarative glory
of God, the advancement of the Redeemer's cause in
the world, and the good of souls; and believing that
it will most conduce to this glorious end to form our-
selves into a conference state, in brotherly compact,
and thereby mutually strive to maintain the glory of
God, keep the Christian Sabbath, watch over one an-
other in love, and be helps to each other in our pil-
grimage journey, and finding ourselves to be in union
in sentiments; we, therefore, the: undersigned, do
hereby this day agree to unite in brotherly compact,
in the best of bonds, for the purpose above named.
March 4, 1818."
This document is in the handwriting of Joshua
Phillips, and is signed by him, Robert Wolverton, P.
G. Smith, Levi Fuller, Fanny Smith, Rebecca Smith
and Luther Harris.
In the following October, some of these met at the
residence of Perez Starr, in Florence, with others
from that township, and were organized by Elder
Warner Goodale into the Baptist Church of Berlin.
This organization held its meetings at private resi-
dences in Berlin and Florence. Elders French, Hart-
well, Hanks, Tucker, Abbott, Rigdon, and Call,
preached occasionally.
The first settled minister of the gospel in the town-
ship, and in fact between Cleveland and the "Indian
Land," was elder Call. He settled on the farm where
he always resided, lot seven, range five, in 1820. He
married, before moving from New York State; Miss
Sally Cross. Their family consisted of nine children
and, including great grandchildren, his descendants
number one hundred. He died in 1861 at the age of
eighty-eight, and his death was soon followed by that
of his wife at the age of eighty.
The Congregational Church was organized by Rev.
A. H. Betts and S. B. Sullivan in 1823, with nine
members. A. H. Betts preached occasionally until
1829, when Everton Judson preached one-third of the
time for two years; then F. Ba