Norwalk Township, Huron County, Ohio
Township #4 in Range 22
Early Beginnings
On 9 Nov 1808, a board of directors of the proprietors of the half million acres called the "Sufferers' Land" passed a resolution to name all the townships therein. All members of the board were from Connecticut. In that resolution, township number 4 in range 22 was named Norwalk, probably through the sponsorship of Taylor Sherman who was the only member of the board from Norwalk, Connecticut. He was the father of Gen. W. T. Sherman of Civil War fame. In early 1817, Norwalk was part of the extensive township of Huron. In February, 1817, the townships of Bronson and Norwalk were separated from Huron Township, and combined under the name of Norwalk. On 8 Mar 1820, the townships of Ripley and Fairfield were annexed to that then known as Norwalk. On 4 May 1822, Ripley, Fairfield and Bronson were set off from Norwalk, leaving Norwalk as an independent township. Norwalk Township was incorporated by act of legislature 11 Feb 1828.
On 9 Nov 1808, a board of directors of the proprietors of the half million acres called the "Sufferers' Land" passed a resolution to name all the townships therein. All members of the board were from Connecticut. In that resolution, township number 4 in range 22 was named Norwalk, probably through the sponsorship of Taylor Sherman who was the only member of the board from Norwalk, Connecticut. He was the father of Gen. W. T. Sherman of Civil War fame. In early 1817, Norwalk was part of the extensive township of Huron. In February, 1817, the townships of Bronson and Norwalk were separated from Huron Township, and combined under the name of Norwalk. On 8 Mar 1820, the townships of Ripley and Fairfield were annexed to that then known as Norwalk. On 4 May 1822, Ripley, Fairfield and Bronson were set off from Norwalk, leaving Norwalk as an independent township. Norwalk Township was incorporated by act of legislature 11 Feb 1828.
Early Settlers
Early in 1809, Nathan Comstock, with hired men Darius Ferris and Elijah Hoyt, traveled from Connecticut to Norwalk Township where they erected the first pioneer house of record and cleared about 10 acres of land which they sowed to wheat. After the wheat had been sown, the three returned to Connecticut. In 1810, Abijah Comstock, by arrangement with his father and his brother Nathan, took up Nathan's interest in Norwalk and traveled there to reside in the house built by Nathan, and to harvest the crop of wheat sown in 1809.
Other early settlers, and the dates of their arrival in Norwalk, were:
Other early settlers, and the dates of their arrival in Norwalk, were:
|
Benjamin Newcomb c.1811
Joseph Pierce 1815 Levi Cole 1815 Samuel B. Lewis 1815 Hanson Reed 1815 Dr. Joseph Pierce 1815 Major David Underhill 1815 Timothy Baker 1815 Horace Morse 1815 David Gibbs 1815 Henry Lockwood 1815 |
L. Lockwood 1815
Stephen Lockwood 1815 Joseph Underhill 1816 Daniel Warren 1816 Marks Rosbeck 1816 Platt Benedict c.1816 Captain John Boalt c.1816 Sally Boalt 1817 William Gallup 1818 Hallet Gallup 1818 |
Some First Events
- William Gallup and Sally Boalt were the first to be married on 2 May 1819.
- Thomas, son of Abijah Comstock, was the first to be born in 1812.
- Angelus Lewis, daughter of Sam B. and Angeline Lewis, was the first of record to die in the township on 1 Sep 1817.
- Hanson Reed, assisted by his father-in-law Abraham Powers, built the first saw mill in 1816 or 1817.
- Dr. Joseph Pierce, who came to Norwalk in 1815, was the first practicing physician in Norwalk. He also was appointed as the first postmaster in 1816. The post office was kept in the house of Levi Cole until July 1818 when Dr. Pierce resigned as postmaster. Platt Benedict succeeded Dr. Pierce as postmaster in 1818.
- The first merchants were Peter Tyce and Frederick Forsyth who began business in 1818 as the "Red Store" on the corner of Main and Hester Streets in Norwalk.
- The first school house was built in the fall of 1816, close to the township line between Ridgefield and Norwalk.
- The first teacher was Charles Seymour Hale, son of General Hale of Herkimer [N.Y.?]. He was followed by Ann Boalt, sister of C. L. Boalt, and then by Tamar Palmer. The students were:
Asher, James, Miner, Lyman and Manley Cole
David, Isaac, Aurelia and Louisa Underhill
Alanson, Alva and Betsey Pixley
Jonas and Eliza Ann Benedict
Almira, Daniel, John and Mary Ann Morse, among others. - In September of 1816, Peter Tyce and his son John erected the first frame building in the region and used it for a store.
- Early in 1818, the first public religious services were held at the log house of Platt Benedict and consisted of reading the services of the Protestant Episcopal Church and a sermon by a layman.
- Davis Gibbs was elected the first justice of the peace in April, 1817, and appointed county clerk in 1825. He held that latter office until his death at Norwalk 16 Mar 1840 at age 59.
- The first election in Norwalk Township was held at the house of Hanson Reed in April, 1817.
Early Population Indicators
- The Poll Book of 13 Oct 1818 listed the names of 56 electors.
- The 1819 enumeration of white males over the age of 21 in Norwalk showed 109 names.
- Similar enumerations for 1823 and 1827 showed 80 and 131 names respectively.
- The Poll Book of 5 Apr 1824 listed the names of 67 electors.
- 1840 U. S. Census - 2,613
- 1880 U. S. Census - 7,078
Cemetery Locations in Norwalk Township
The numbers of the cemeteries below, correspond
with the circled numbers on the map above.
with the circled numbers on the map above.
|
Information compiled by Ken Shute.
Maps by Bob Kerner.
Transcribed from the old Huron County OHGenWeb site
© 2005-2014
All Rights Reserved.
