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68 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
ToAvnship, where he remained for many years, and then moved to
NorAvalk. Ilis practice was large, extending far beyond the firelands,
because of his unusual success in treating malarial fever, a disease
common in HCAV countries.
In 1811 occurred the first birth and the first death in the toAvnship.
The birth Avas that of a daughter of Lazarus Young who aftenvards
became Mrs. Millerinan. The death was a horrible tragedy. The wife
of John Dunbar had been left insane by a fever, and one day thrtnv
herself iiito the fire. Her screams brought Mr. Dunbar to the house,
and he pulled her from the fire and laid her on the bed. He could not
leave her, and all that day he shouted for help; but not until near
night was there a passerby to assist him. She died that evening, and
there Avas no minister within reach to attend the funeral.
One of the hardships of the pioneers Avas the lack of mills to grind
their corn and wheat. The first mill Avas built by the Starr brothers
and Mr. Seymour for the proprietors, Eldridge, Fosdick and Miner.
Previous to this the nearest mill was on the River Raisin, and there
the settlers had to take their grist by boat, which was exceedingly
dangerous. One of these milling expeditions stopped for the night at
one of the Sister Islands. A high wind tore tlieir boat loose and it
drifted out into the lake. It was a terrible prospect, marooned in
the middle of the lake and tlieir grist lost; but the wind changed
and their boat drifted back to them again, and they went on tlieir way
rejoicing.. This first mill, soon after its completion, was purchased by
John Thompson. In those days the forests held the water, and by means
of a dam sufficient AOAV Avas secured to run the mill nine months in
the year. •
The first postmaster was Jeduthan Cobb, in 1820. The mail Avas then
carried on horseback from Cleveland to LoAver Sandusky, IIOAV Fremont,
by Robert Wolverton. He aftenvard rail a sort of coach or hack,
carrying the mail and passengers.
After the first hotel, or "tavern," AVIIS built by Mr. Walker, on
his farm, a Mr. Beebe secured the contract for carrying the mail. He
ran a line of stages through on the telegraph road, and the passing of
these ponderous vehicles Avas quite an event in the monotonous life
of those days.
The first school in the toAvnship Avas taught during the Avinter of
1811-12, in a house on what Avas then the Fitzgerald farm. This school
Avas suspended on account of the war, many of the settlers leaving and
returning east. The feeling of insecurity was so great that in 1814
there were only four families left.
The second schoolhouse was built of logs covered with "shake," on
the farm of Daniel Butler, in 1815, and the scllfcbl was first kept by
Sophia Case.
The third schoolhouse Avas built near, "old man Burdue's" spring.
in 1818. It was 16 by 20 feet, and the logs Avere of all sizes and
lengths, some running f^r-beyolid the others. The roof Avas covered
with "shake," held doAvn by heavy poles. The floor Avas made of logs