Henry Hanford
Encyclopedia
Henry Hanford was a farmer and the first white settler of Lewistown
, Ohio
, United States
.
Hanford was born in Norwalk, Connecticut
. He emigrated with his brother Thaddeus, who had preceded him to the then new country, to Hamilton County, Ohio
in 1806. He settled at Columbia Township
, on the Ohio river
and was engaged in running a provision boat from Columbia to Natchez
. In 1810 Henry Hanford married Harriet Chamberlin, a native of New York. Two years later the young family moved to Champaign County, now Clark County
.
In January 1834 Henry Hanford purchased 250 acres (1 km²) of public land
(according to the provisions of the Land Act of 1820
) in Logan County, Ohio
, utilizing the land office at Piqua
. Later he acquired more land, using the Wapakoneta
land office, until he owned 825 acres (3.3 km²) in Logan County. He opened a general store and became the first postmaster of Lewistown.
Henry and Harriet Hanford had “seven children, all of whom grew to years of maturity”. Henry Hanford died on December 31, 1866 and was buried at Lewistown Cemetery, Ohio.
Lewistown, Ohio
Lewistown is a census-designated place in central Washington Township, Logan County, Ohio, United States. Until the 1829 Treaty of Lewistown, the community was the site of a Shawnee settlement. It said to have been named in honor of “Captain” John Lewis, a Shawnee leader...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Hanford was born in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. He emigrated with his brother Thaddeus, who had preceded him to the then new country, to Hamilton County, Ohio
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
in 1806. He settled at Columbia Township
Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Columbia Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 6,557 people in the township, 4,619 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, on the Ohio river
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
and was engaged in running a provision boat from Columbia to Natchez
Natchez
Natchez may refer to:* Natchez people, a Native American nation* Natchez language, the language of that Native American tribe* Natchez, Mississippi, United States* Natchez, Louisiana, United States* Natchez, Indiana, United States...
. In 1810 Henry Hanford married Harriet Chamberlin, a native of New York. Two years later the young family moved to Champaign County, now Clark County
Clark County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 144,742 people, 56,648 households, and 39,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 362 people per square mile . There were 61,056 housing units at an average density of 153 per square mile...
.
In January 1834 Henry Hanford purchased 250 acres (1 km²) of public land
Public land
In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called public land. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries...
(according to the provisions of the Land Act of 1820
Land Act of 1820
The Land Act of 1820 is a United States federal law that eliminated the purchase of public land in the United States on credit. It also reduced the minimum size of the tract from 160 to 80 acres . Additionally, the act required a down payment of $100 and reduced the price from $1.65 to $1.25 per...
) in Logan County, Ohio
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, utilizing the land office at Piqua
Piqua, Ohio
Piqua is a city in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,738 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.Piqua was one of the cities that experienced severe flooding during the Great Dayton Flood of 1913....
. Later he acquired more land, using the Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Wapakoneta is a city in and the county seat of Auglaize County, Ohio, United States with a population of 9,474 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan S A, which is included in the Lima-Van Wert-Wapakoneta, Ohio CSA...
land office, until he owned 825 acres (3.3 km²) in Logan County. He opened a general store and became the first postmaster of Lewistown.
Henry and Harriet Hanford had “seven children, all of whom grew to years of maturity”. Henry Hanford died on December 31, 1866 and was buried at Lewistown Cemetery, Ohio.
Further reading
- “Henry Hanford”, History of Logan County and Ohio. Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., 1880. (p. 735)