YONS, OHIO HISTORY & PHOTOSYONS, OHIO HISTORY & PHOTOS
   
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The following newspaper article is from the Exponet weekly that was published in Brooklyn, Michigan in 1904. It gives some Lyons area history, but of course, it is seen thru the eyes of an 80 year old man whose recollections may or may not have been too good. J.C. Carpenter was my Gr, Gr. Grandfather who lived the last
48 years of his life in Lyons, Ohio. His wife's obituary. is already on one of the
Lyons pages. (Cordelia Thompson Carpenter). J.C. died in 1908 and in buried
in Lyons, Ohio. Lou Jacobs, [email protected] OLDEST PIONEER Of This Country is J.C.Carpenter of This Place. Came to This Country Many Years Ago That the faculties of our venerable townsman, J.C. Carpenter are still bright and intact the following interview with a reporter of the Exponet will substantiate. James C. Carpenter was born in Orleans county, N.Y. Mar 19, 1824, being one of a family of thirteen children and is the only surviving member. He came to this country with his parents in August 1828. Samuel Carpenter, his father, who was familiarly known as "Uncle Sam" settled two miles south of Adrian, at the Carpenter Hill, named after him and still retaining that designation. At that time there were three small buildings where stands the beautiful city of Adrian today. The instinct of the savage to make the best use of nature's resource was responsible for the Indian trail which passed through that point from Detroit to the Maumee river. Thus following a ridge and passing through Lyons on the raise of ground now occupied by the cemetery and AUGUSTUS NOBLE'S residence. Many were the Indians and frequent were the trips they made to and fro along this trail. A pilgrimage of annual importance was enacted when they went to Detroit to receive presents from the British government for their services in the War of 1812. Prominent among their many depredations being the Raisen Valley massacre, a monument having been erected at Monroe, Mich. the past summer to commemorate that battle. The nearest inhabitants to Mr. Carpenter's place lived about a half mile south, their names being PETERS and BAKER. From this point there was no white inhabitants until the Maumee river was passed. Speaking of the Indians Mr. Carpenter said as a whole they were very peacable. One bad Indian among them by the name MATEAU was a habitual drunkard and consequently very ugly and bloodthirsty. He was killed by one of his own tribe. When Mr. Carpenter first saw the ground that now supports our little village there was nothing but a log house, build by JENKS MOREY and used as a hotel, to designate the spot. Mr Carpenter's brother settled south of this place on the farm now owned by CHAS. HOLT. Soon after this the state road was cut out, known as the territorial road. At that time the state line was about five miles south of the present boundry. A party of Ohio surveyors came through surveying a new state line running through what is now Seward. Here there was a fight and General BROWN of Tecumseh, Mich., with about 100 men captured the surveyors and put them in prison at that place. It is a matter of history that Ohio desired the territory comprising and adjoining the county of Lucas which at that time extended to Williams county and in lieu of which Michigan was given the upper pennisula. A difference in survey is marked by a jog of equal proportion across the state the present day. At that time the settlers were obliged to go to Maumee to pay their taxes and to Adrian to have their grinding done. Caravans of 20 teams journeying west along the territorial road were a common spectacle in those days. To the mind of one who has outlived all the early settlers of this part of the country, such as Mr. Carpenter, the changes have been many and remarkable but they have been the growth of years and when he looks back at the hardships of the past it hardly seems creditable to presume the many difficulties that have been overcome. Years ago parties came from Toledo to look over the ground for a narrow gauge railroad from Toledo to Fayette. Mr. Carpenter together with DAVIS BROWN secured the right of way but the road never materialized. It was with great pleasure and enthusiasm that he heralded the coming of our present railway and has taken many a ride to make his satisfaction complete. He so enthusiastically anticipates the building of the electric railway from Adrian to Defiance, which passes through Lyons, that he is willing to give five dollars to ride from here to Carpenter hill.(the road as surveyed touching that point) and view the spot he coasted down hill on many years ago.This is his last gratifying hope. By the way, he was the first to give the right of way for the new project. Although having passed his eightieth birthday he put out 3 acres of corn and a half acre of potatoes besides a good big garden the past season. He had the ground fitted but he done all the other work himself: planting the corn with a very old corn planter and cultivated and hoed it, besides harvesting the whole crop. He says, however, he will not repeat it another season. Mr. Carpenter we dare say is the oldest pioneer of this country living today and he is enjoying the best of health. |
 Back to The Lyons, Ohio Index Page. Below are links to other sets of web pages that I have posted. Haughton Cemetery History & Tombstone Inscriptions; Lucas Co., Toledo, Ohio Early FULTON County, Ohio School Class Photos BEULAH United Methodist Church BITTIKOFER Family History Jacob MISER Family History MCCONNELL Family History Samuel WIGGINS Family History  Lyons Ohio History Copy Right & Web Right 2000 & 2001 Last updated July 25, 2000 Web page by Charles Paul Keller Renovated October 25, 2000 
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