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62 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
The following copy of the records will be interesting, as indicating
the relative wealth in cattle, horses and houses, of the citizens in 1818,
taken from the township records:
TAX LAID ON THE INHABITANTS OF VERMILLION, ACCORDING TO THE
Job (.'. Smith $ 0.30
John Miller 50
(Jurtiss Hard 30
Isaac Ransom 2S
John Beardsley GO
Jonah ISiirtow 10
John Bartow 30
.Mark Summers 120
Kli Winton 10
Knock Smith 20
Philo Wells 70
Robert Wells 90
Levi Watt .'10
Almon Keeler 50
(icorge Sherarts 00
Joseph brooks 20
Jonathan Brooks SO
Horatio Perry 70
William Austin 70
James Giiilileback 40
Eunice Sturjjes GO
Josiah Pclton GO
James Prentiss 40
Rufus Judson 80
LIST OF 1818
Solomon Parsons 20
Jesse Ball GO
Almon Unfiles 1.50
Benjamin Hoot 30
Abraham Traxel 30
Samuel Hall 40
Samuel Washburn 70
Stephen Meeker 1.70
Henry Scribner 10
Alexander Duker 90
l-'rancis Keyes GO
Isaac Tillotson 40
Isaac Tillotson, Jr 30
Jeremiah V. Benschoter 70
Henry C'hevoy 70
Wm. \'. Benschoter 40
Ueulien Brooks 10.
Daniel V. Benschoter 50
Martin Judson 40
A'erney Judson 30
Peter Cuddeback 1.10
Amount $23.20
This also indicates the number of people subject to taxation and their
personal property—as 5 cents here represent one head of cattle, and
20 cents a horse. Meager as it appears, it was as difficult for them to
pay it, and much more so, than for us to pay what we do at this day.
The first log house was built in 1808 on the lake shore near the mouth
of the river by William Haddy. Peter Cuddebach built the first frame
house in 1818. In 1821 William Austin built the first stone house and
later the first brick house was built by Horatio Perry. The first white
child was John Sherrarts, born in 1809. The first marriage was that of
Bud Martin to Catherine Sherrarts in 1814. Peter Cuddebach planted
the first orchard in 1812. The first death was that of a stranger at the
house of Barldw Sturgis, in the winter of 1810-11. John Ruggles was
the first postmaster, and the mails were carried on foot and a Mr. Leach
was the first mail carrier. William Austin opened the first hotel. C. P.
Judson was the proprietor of the first store. A Congregational Church
was the first church in the township, and was organized in 1818. And
the first meeting house was built near the center of the township in 1828,
and on May 22 Rev. Harvey Lyon was installed as the first pastor. The
second church was a Methodist Church organized in 1831. There are
now nine churches in the township.