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CHAPTER IV
FLORENCE TOAVNSHIP
This township Avas first named Jessup, from Ebenezer Jessup, one
of the original proprietors. It is situated south of Verniillion and east
of Berlin. It Avas first surveyed in 1807, and afterAvards surveyed into
lots by Jabez Wright in 1809.
The surface is rolling, and the soil a sandy loam and clay. Fine
timber formerly grew in abundance, and white oak, ash, walnut, hickory,
beech and maple were obtained here in large quantities. Quarries of
sandstone have been opened in various parts of the township, but one
after another have been abandoned.
Vermillion River, which has its rise in a little lake of the same name
in Ashland County, passes through this township on its Avay to the lake.
There is but one other water-course in the toAvnship: Chapelle Creek,
that rises in ToAvnsend, and entering Florence from Wakeman, a mile
and a quarter east of the Avest toAvn line, empties into Lake Erie.
Game abounded for many years after the settlers came, but the
larger animals like bears and Avolves belonged more to the marshy districts,
and Avere seldom seen. Deer, wild turkeys and small game Avere
plentiful. The first bear Avas killed by tAvo of the best hunters in the
country, Richard BreAver and Christopher Schaeffer. The latter AA'as.
out with his gun one evening when a bear ran across his path; as he
raised his gun some SHOAV fell on it and obscured the sight, and the bear
got aAvay. The next morning he obtained the assistance of BrcAA'er and
tAvo good dogs, and tracked the bear into Berlin. Here the animaWran
into a log and Avas wounded by BreAver's shot, which Avas the signal for
the dogs to make the attack. They AA'ere worsted, however, and BreAver
grabbed the bear by the fur and plunged his hatchet into his head. He
was an unusually large one, the flesh on his sides measuring six inches.
Schaeffer Avas a famous hunter, and killed more bears than anyone in the
township. He Avas noted for his success in deer hunting, and is said to
have killed over a thousand. The last season that he hunted he killed
seventy.
The original proprietorship is given in the folloAving tables. In the
left-hand column are the names of the original Connecticut sufferers
AA'hose claims Avere satisfied in lands of this toAvnship, with the amount
of each one's loss computed in pounds, shillings and pence. In the
right-hand column are the names of those AVIIO by inheritance or other-
AA'ise came into possession of the original claims as adjusted, and to
whom the lands of the toAvnship AA'ere awarded by lot.
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