History of Bellevue, (Huron County) Ohio United States of America

The city of Bellevue in the extreme northwest corner of Huron County and the southest corner of Sandusky County, increased from 5,776 in 1920 to 6,256 in 1930. Of this population, 3,644 is in Bellevue Township, Huron County, and 2,612 in Bellevue Township, Sandusky County. Bellevue Township in Huron County was organized in 1927 from part of Lyme Township, being that part of Bellevue in Huron County. It is on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad; the New York Central and St. Louis Railroad; the Pennsylvania, the Wheeling and Lake Erie and the Lake Shore Electric line. It is on state auto routes 18 and 59 and on United States auto route 20, thirteen miles west of Norwalk. State auto route 4 from Sandusky to Marion crosses route 20 three miles east of Bellevue. This city of growing importance industrially, has railroad repair shops, flouring mills, factories for the manufacture of plows, ditching machines, cultivators, soda fountains and handles. This is a great grain and fruit shipping point for the surrounding region and in this territory are extensive sauerkraut and fruit canning factories. Near by are extensive limestone quarries of the France Stone Company and other stone companies. Industries which have been associated with the growth of this city are the Ohio Cultivator Company, the Wise Soda Apparatus Company, the Conway Stove Company and other substantial industries.

C M Carrick is superintendent of schools, the total enrollment of which at the close of 1930 was 1,311. There are five school buildings, valued at $700,000 and excellent work is being done. There is a corps of about fifty teachers. Principals of the various schools are: High school, Alfred Ross; junior high, Gertrude Munn; Pike school, Blanche Warner; Ellis school, Gertrude Ihle; and McKim school, Clara Erdman. Tessora Baker is the school nurse. O A Overmyer is president of the board of education; vice president, Dr H K Shumaker; and the other members are Charles B Dillon, C A Wolslagel and C J Friedley.

Lyme Township, of which Bellevue Township was formerly a part, was once a part of Wheatsborough Township, now Groton Township, Erie County. There were scattered settlements in all the townships along the lake shore prior to the War of 1812, but the surrender of Detroit by General Hull exposed the country to the ravages of the enemy and there was a general exodus to the south until after Groghan's victory at Ft. Stephenson and that of Commodore Perry on Lake Erie in 1813. After these battles the settlers found it safe to return to their abandoned homes. Comrade Hawks, in 1818, was the first settler in the northeast corner of the township. Levi Sutton about 1814 erected a sawmill on Frink Run in the south part of the township and one at Bellevue about 1830.

FROM: History of North Central Ohio, by William Duff. Historical Publishing Co, Topeka-Indianapolis, 1931.

Prosecuting Attorney of Toledo, Ohio, was born, June 25th, 1841, in Huron county, near Bellevue, in that State, being the youngest son of Daniel B. and Betsy H. Ford. His father, who was a native of New Hampshire, where for many generations his ancestors resided, was a farmer by occupation, and an early emigrant to Ohio. Mr. Ford received his education in the common schools of his native State and of New Hampshire, at the Normal School of Minnesota, at Winona, and at the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. His instruction was broad and liberal, and his culture in literature and the sciences, as well as in those branches which are called into practice in every-day life, was thorough and comprehensive. Upon leaving school he entered the office of Messrs. Baker & Collins, attorneys, Toledo, as a law student, in the spring of 1865. He remained with them until 1867, when he was admitted to the bar, and immediately commenced practice, which has been most profitable and most honorably conducted ever since, with the exception of one year, when he travelled in the Northwest for the benefit of his health, during 1869. In January, 1871, he became Prosecuting Attorney for Lucas County, Ohio, and has ever since filled that high and responsible station. In that capacity, single-handed, he has conducted examinations and arguments, in the most important criminal trials, against the various members of one of the ablest bars of the State, embracing some of the most talented attorneys who have ever appeared before any bench in this country. In a great majority of the cases he has tried, he has secured convictions, against the most ingenious defences and against the most powerful array of counsel. Mr. Ford, in addition to his forensic and argumentative ability, is remarkably skilful as an examiner and as an analyzer of testimony. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, of which he is an active and influential member. In 1867 he was elected City Solicitor of South Toledo, and was re-elected in 1870. In 1871 he was chosen Prosecuting Attorney, and so ably had he administered his duties, and so impartially, without fear or favor, that the people honored him with a re-election in 1873, and another in 1875. He is generally esteemed for his eminent talent as a lawyer and for his faithful services, and it is quite probable that his very large constituency destine him for still more responsible public trusts. He was first married to Sarah E., eldest daughter of Lorenzo L. Morehouse, of Waterville, Ohio, on June 12th, 1865. This lady did not long survive, having been in very delicate health prior to her marriage. He was again married, October 12th, 1870, to Grace Greenwood Moore, daughter of John A. Moore, a leading dry-goods merchant of Toledo.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

History of Bellevue, (Huron County) Ohio

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