The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-01-30
BIOGRAPHY OF SARDIS
BIRCHARD.
FUNERAL oBsEoUIEs.

| SARDIS BIRCHARD OF Fremont, Sanuubky
county, Ohio, was born in Wilmington, Wind
ham county, Vermont, January 10, 1901. He
lost both of his parents while he was yet a
child. His father, Roger Birchard, died In
1905, and his mother, Drusilla Austin Birch
ard, in 1873 Both Of his grandfathers were
Revolutionary soldiers. His grandfather, Elias
| Birchard, died of disease contracted in the
| service, near the close of the war. His grand
father, Captain Daniel Austin, served as an
officer under Washington throughout the war,
and survived many years. The Birchards
were among the first settlers of Norwich, Con-
necticut
When his mother died five children survived
her. of whom the subject of this sketch, Sardis,
was the youngest. He was taken by his sister
Sophia, who had married Rutherford Hayes
became one of their family and lived with
them at Dunmerston, Vermont, until 1917,
when he accompanied themin their emigration
to Delaware, Ohio. Young Birchard acquired
the rudiments of an English education by an
irregular attendance at such schools as were
kept at that early day, in the country towns
of Vermont. He became an expert hunter
and horseman for a boy Of his age, and gained
some knowledge of business in the store Of
his brOther-in-lsw, Mr.. Hayes.
In Ohio he worked with his brother-in-law
in building, farming, driving and taking care
of stock, and employed all mis- spare hours in
hunting. He was able, With his rife, to sup
ply his own and other families with turkeys
and venison.
! In 1922, his brother-in-law, Mr.. Hayes, died,
leaving widow and three young children,
and large unsettled business. Mr.. B., who
was barely twenty-One years old, at once as
sumed the duties of the head of the family,
and applied himself diligently to the manage
inent of the unsettled affairs of his brother-in-
laws estate, and to the care of his household
He first visited his future homo, Fremont,
then Lower Sandusky, in September, 1924.
His companion was Benjamin Powers, since
banker of Delaware, Ohio.
In the summer of 1925, while moving in
the bayfield,, he was seriously injured in
health By oYer-exertion. From the effects of
this he never entirely recovered. In the
winter of l825-26, he was confined to his bed
with an attack called consumption, and it was
supposed he would not live till spring. He
however talked hopefully of his condition, an
spoke Of a horseback trip to Vermont, and
cheerful disposition, aided by the elasticity of
his constitution, carried him through. In
May he set out on horseback, making short
days journeys at first, and reached Vermont,
where he remained until the approach of WIN
ter, when he travelled south to Georgia, and
remained until the spring of 1926.
Thisyea he made his first purchase of goods.
as a retail dry goods merchant. His stock was
made up in New York and shipped to Cleve-
land, he accompanying it. His intention was
to sell to laborers on the Ohio canal, which
was then being built from Cleveland south
wardly. After passing down the canal into
the Tuscarawas Valley, he became dissatisfied
with that trade, and sold part of his goods in
bulk to another trader, and took the rest to
Fort Ball (new Tiffin), on the west side of
Sandusky River.
Here he remained, trading successfully with
the new settlers, until December, 1927, when
he removed to Lower Sandusky-having de-
cided to go with DR.. L. Q. Rawson, who pre-
ceded him a few days. He was first in Lower
Sandusky in business alone, in store on the
corner of Front and Croghan streets, where
Dryfoos' block now is.
Mr.. Birchard received the Indian trade to a
large extent, by refusing to sell them liquor.
He was in trade three or four years, and hav-
ing accumulated ten thousand dollars, consid-
cred himself rich enough to retire. About
1881, however, he formed his first partner
ship with Rodolphus Dickinson and Esbon
Husted-Mr. B. furnishing the capital. The
firm name was R, Dickinson d Co.; and they
soon had in operation one of the largest retail
stores north of Columbus, and west Cleveland,
their yearly sales amounting to fifty thousand
dollars.
Sales were largely on credit. He bought the
first vessel with Richard Sears, each owning
and equal interest. The vessel was named
"John Richards" schooner worth then four
thousand dollars, and about one hundred tons
burden.
The first shipment of wheat, out of Lower
Sandusky, according to the best of MIR. BIS re-
collection, was made on this schooner; and
this shipment was probably the first sent east
ward from any lake port west of Cleveland.
The wheat from the ridges of Seneca county
was then much sought after for starch manu-
facture. Wheat was then worth about fifty
cents busheI.
In 1885, Esbon Hustled died, and his place
in Mr.. Orchards firm was taken by George
Grant, who had been a clerk in the establish
ment, since the formation of the firm. In 1871
Mr.. Grant died, and the firm was dissolved;
the business being settled by Mr.. Birchard.
On the first of January, 1851, Mr.. B., in
partnership with Lucius 3. Otis, established
the first banking house In Fremont, under the
name of Birchard & Otis. On the removal of
Judge Otis to Chicago, in 1856, Mr.. B. formed
partnership with Anson H. Miller, and DR.. |
James W. Wilson, under the name of Birch
ard, Miller & Co. In 1868, the First National |
Bank of Fremont was organized, and the |
banking house of Birchard. Miller & Co., was |
merged into it. 1t was the second National |
Bank organized in Ohio, and the fifth in the |
United States. Mr.. Birchard was elected /
President of the Bank, on its organization, and |
held the position till his decease.
Mr.. B., attended the sales of U. S. lands
at Delaware, about 1920 by Platt Brush, Reg
lister of the Land Office. The sale included all /
of the lands from Delaware county north to
the State line, except Indian reservations. The
land was sold at public auction, the minimum
price being fixed at Sl.25 per acre. The sale
continued two or three weeks, and large
crowds of people attended. On certain tracts,
there was brisk competition in the bidding,
and some land sold as high as $40 per acre.
During period now embracing nearly half
a century, Mr.. Birchard has been active and
conspicuous, where good words and works
were required, in the promotion of every i'm
portant scheme, designed to advance the well
fare of the town and county of his residence.
He was connected with the first enterprise
that opened river and lake commerce, be-
tween Fremont and Buffalo. Appropriations,