The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-07-14

the public spirit and liOeraIity Of Seedham
STANDARD, Geo. W. Choat, and Others, was be-
guil in 1855. and finished in lSs7, al a cost of
Ss.UJ0. The present membership o. The church
Inc Methodist Episcopal Church. OF ;his
place, was organized IN lo5J, and their house
OF worship was erected In lsii-5. The pres
eri membership Is about laU-
The parish of 1t. Lukes Episcopal Church
was organized in lSi6. 4 church building
erected Ia lh47, which was DESTROYED by IRE
in ls57, and a new bJ.lding Immediately con-
strueted or the site of the ola one.
ST. AnthODy's Roman Catholic Church was
built in 1906
There have been twelve or fifteen revivals
OF religion enjoyed by these churches either
separat'i sr uniiedly. Some OF them the
most powerful and extensive known IL ONO
A spiIiJOf IIaternaI union has characterized
Christians, and great and lasting benefits Sc
cured 10 this community through regular
services and Christian efforts.
The first sunday School in the township,
and amoog the first on the Fire Lands one
being organized about the same time at Flor
encs-was commenced Al spear ; corners II
tine Spring OF 1919, ,afterWard under Inc SupcI-
inteiIdency Of Mr.. PhilO Adams. Scripture
verses were Tvclteu, and pTZes given in tine
form OF cards io thOs- reciIlng the highest
numbers. sunday Schools have been MAIN
tanned in this village regularly since lS5Jand
also in school houses in the neighbOrnOOd,
part Of tho year. There are now in The ag-
gregate about JpJ children and youth under
Sunday School Instruction
The first day school was taught on the site
OF the Town HalI, and In iS-i, the yellow
school houSe' was erected. and was Tor some
years the only school building. Schools were
held also in "A lew neig ignberhOods during The
winter season.
The trustees of Huron Institute received a
charter in 1882, and the building was ready
for use, in part, in December oi Inc same
year. Tie first Summer session, with few
Students, was held in the Office OF John
Smith, Esq. This institute was designed 10
give a classical course, and was founded On
the Manual LABOR System, very popular at
that day. Rev. u. Barber was the first prin-
cipaI, after him Rey.Henry Ballentine, Sir l..
CRickok, Ii. W. Williams, Rev. Henry Bis
sell, Rev. Lemuel Hissell and Others
number Of Students were here prepared
for college, some OF whom have occupied
high positions In professional life. In 1895
the building was leased to Rev, Asa Brainard
and >. F. Newman for a Normal School. II
continued under charge of the last named
till 1870. when the premises were leased 10
Miss Della Palmer, the present principal
The school has been prosperous, large at
tendance OF pupils, and the teachers drilled
here are always in demand.
The cause OF Temperance early received
attention, by sermons and various oryaniza-
tiOns. The order OF Good Templars was eS-
tablished In 1866. There has been a growth
OF popular sentiment on this subject.
Erie Lodge 239, r. and A. MasOns was char
tered in 1853 and has been one OF the most
prosperous in the State.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INIIABITANTs.
The early settlers coming largely from
Connecticut, they brought the"Steady habits
of that land with them. Their characters"
II
quality to Law an excellent foundation for
the superstructure since built upon IL. AL
though not all religious men, in an orthodox
sense, thew were men of good habits and
highly esteemed. As business men they were
capable and entsrprising.
TO this II may be added that: in no commu-
have The Bible, the Sabbath and the Sancln-
airy been more honored than herein our
past history. No community has manifested
more Intelligence. as is evident 1Iom the
large amount of reading matter passing thro'
Post Otfipe I'm III a e
tions the citizens of Milan have stood largely
on the side of right. IS to patriotism and
human rights the numbers nave always
been great.
or the hardships of pioneer life there is not
time for details. The long journeys in
wagons and on horses, occupying sometimes
six or seven weeks, or even three months 10y
delays and sickness. Mrs. Susan Kellogg
WiIbor narrates how she, only seven year
of age, and her brothers ten and twelve
years, walked large part of the "ay from
Batavia, N. Y, coming To Townsend in ISL
and afterward 10 Milan in 1870. Seth Jen-
ming, Esq., tells us of the fever and ague of
the early DAYS on the prairies in the Spring
and Summer Of lsls, living on milk and
venisOn and little -four and meat, till corn
was ripe enough 10 boil or ist. OF mince
pies made OF venisOn, pumpkins and cram
berries, sometimes there was plenty and
good of its kind ana at other times the
families lived on ratiOns. The Hon, Elisha
Whittlesy says of these times, There were
no aspirations for fast horses or Fifth Ave
nue. houses, but in log houses there was
and fellow feeling that relieved the desti-
tute."
Mention might be made of citizens of this
township, who deserve special RENE branca
some have already been alluded to. OF
David AbbOtt-a man OF eccentric habits,
hut great courage and perseverance,, OF Mr..
EUeneZer Merry, who is described as a man
OF acute observation, practical beneyOlence,
unbounded hospitality. His widow is yet
alive-in comfortable health and lust COM
pleting her S6th year, herself almost a cente-
marian. Much might be said of Rev Everton
JudsOn than whom no one eXerted more in
huence in all the interests of the place-com.
mercial as well as educational, moral and re.
ligious-a man of great knowledge of human
nature of many practical gifts and OF public
spirit, an able preacher and successful pas
tor.
Others there are whose names are worthy
of a pa sing tribute, for their labors and sae-
rifices. and influence in laying the founda-
lions and building mp this place. With such
men and women, and with such a soil favor
able to the cereals and TO fruits, as is seen III
beautiful farms, and with climate unusual
ly healthful. we have cause of gratitude TO
the God of Nations this day. Truly 1.-THE lines
have fallen to us in pleasant places and we
have goodly heritage" Finally, the reco-
lectIons OF the Pioneer Fathers, remind us of
sons who,in the war OF rebellion lS6l-5 fought
to preserve the foundations laid and to whose
memOry-about fifty of them lost their lives
the monument in our park was erected, in
the year 1867.
The memory of all these deeds OF courage,
OF toll, OF sacrifice, patriotism and love, on
the part of fathers and brothers, let us cher
1sh. Let us initiate their virtues. and Ieave
them as the richest legacy to our children.
The Historian hereby acknowledges his oh
legations TO Peter Hathaway. ST. Mr.. Elan
Ward, Mr.. A. B. Foster, Mr.. +. q. Lockwood,
DR.. NJ. stuart and others, for their assistance
in furnishing statistics. pamphlet of narra-
tives. &c.