Wakeman Township, Huron County, Ohio
Township #4 in Range 20
Early Beginnings
Wakeman Township was named after Jessup Wakeman. He was one of the original 74 grantees of land in Wakeman Township, pursuant to the enactment in 1792 by the State of Connecticut, granting land on the west end of the Western Reserve to Connecticut property owners whose property had been destroyed by fire during the Revolutionary War. Wakeman Township was attached to Florence Township (Erie County) until Feb., 1824, at which time it was organized as an independent township by the county commissioners. In April, 1824, elections were held in a log school house near that of Augustin Canfield for township officers.
Wakeman Township was named after Jessup Wakeman. He was one of the original 74 grantees of land in Wakeman Township, pursuant to the enactment in 1792 by the State of Connecticut, granting land on the west end of the Western Reserve to Connecticut property owners whose property had been destroyed by fire during the Revolutionary War. Wakeman Township was attached to Florence Township (Erie County) until Feb., 1824, at which time it was organized as an independent township by the county commissioners. In April, 1824, elections were held in a log school house near that of Augustin Canfield for township officers.
Early Settlers
The first family to settle in Wakeman was that of Augustin Canfield in May, 1817. He came from New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut with his wife and four children, his brother Burton Canfield, Seymour Johnson, and his hired man.
Some other early settlers, and their dates of arrival in Wakeman, were:
Some other early settlers, and their dates of arrival in Wakeman, were:
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Amial P. Pierce 1817
Samuel Bristol 1817 Erastus French 1817 Dr. Harmon M. Clark 1818 Barzilla S. Hendricks 1819 Abram Bronson 1819 Sheldon Smith 1820 Burton French 1820 Silas French 1821 |
Justus Minor 1821
Chester Manville 1822 Justin Sherman 1822 Philo Sherman 1822 Leveritt Hill 1822 Merritt Hyde 1823 Amos Clark 1823 Russell Barnes 1824 |
Some First Events
- The first wedding in Wakeman was that of Marshall Johnson and Marinda Bradley in Oct., 1820.
- The first child born in the township was Burton Canfield on 18 Apr 1818.
- The first death was that of Mrs. Hendricks. mother of Mrs. Abram Bronson, in 1820.
- Justin Sherman built the first frame building, a barn, in 1823. He also built the first frame house in 1827.
- The first public house was kept by Marcus French.
- In 1823, Burton Canfield built a saw mill on the Vermillion (river). Another was built by Justin Sherman on the La Chapelle (river) in 1823.
- The first post office was established 1 Jan 1833, with Justin Sherman as postmaster, who kept the office in his house.
- The first school was opened by Mrs. (Harmon M. ) Clark in her own house, in 1818. Her students were Calvert C., Royal R., and Sarah Ann Canfield; Lemuel B. Bennett; and Minott Pierce. She taught for the equivalent of $1.00 per week, paid in produce, and she boarded herself.
- The first election of a school board, of record, was on 31 Oct 1828 when Augustin Canfield was elected clerk; and Justin Sherman, Philo Sherman, and Samuel Bristol were elected directors.
- Dr. Harmon M. Clark was the first physician to practice in the township. He had been a surgeon and assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy in the War of 1812.
Early Population Indicators
- The 1829 Census of Wakeman Township showed 33 white male inhabitants over the age of 21 living there.
- 1840 U. S. Census - 702
- 1880 U. S. Census - 1,450
Cemetery Locations in Wakeman Township
The numbers of the cemeteries below, correspond
with the circled numbers on the map above.
with the circled numbers on the map above.
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Information compiled by Ken Shute.
Maps by Bob Kerner.
Transcribed from the old Huron County OHGenWeb site
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