Lyman Langdon, Early Defiance County Pioneer

Lyman Langdon

1809 - 1900

His obituary from the Defiance Weekly Express, August 23, 1900, p. 11:

"NOTABLE PIONEER

Good, Old Man of Noble Township Ends His Race.

Lyman Langdon, one of the most notable pioneers of the Maumee valley, died at his home in Noble Township, at mid-night, Sunday, August 19, 1900.  He was born at South Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York, Sept. 9, 1809, and lacked just twenty days of being 91 years old when he passed away.

At the age of twenty-three years, he was married to Fannie Marie Sanford.  Ten children resulted from that union, those living being Lucia A. Langdon, of Noble township; Mrs. Adeline Bridenbaugh, of Toledo; Emma B. Sheffield, of Noble township; Almira Sisco, of Kansas; and Grace E. Reid, of Van Wert.

In 1835, Mr. Langdon came to Ohio, driving through from Cleveland in a wagon and settling in what was then Williams county.  He passed through this city, which was then a town of 150 people.  He found here acquaintances from St. Lawrence county as follows: J. W. Moore, Erskine Perkins, Edwin Phelphs, Wm. A. Brown, Amos Stoddard, and other friends.  He located land with Dr. Oney Rice and Jacob Conley near Farmer Center.  On Sept. 16, 1836, he sold out his possessions in New York and with his wife and one child, drove through to Ohio in a wagon, being accompanied by his wife's brother, Seneca E. Sanford.

He reached this city after being on the road twenty- two days.  On Jan'y 25th, 1837, he rented Payne C. Parker's hotel at Georgetown (now Ney), and it became one of the most notable places in the northwest.  That same year he and Horatio G. Phillips bought four lots on Clinton street, this city, from Gen. John G. Hunt for $3,000, between First and Front streets.

In 1838, he resided in this city and was elected a justice of the peace and was appointed county judge in place of Bishop Adams, who had moved to Henry county.

He kept a tavern here at that time and some of the most notable men of the times and section boarded with him.

Late in 1841, the canal having been completed, he sold his property here to Samuel Rohn and C. I. Trude, and bought the farm in Noble township where he died, of Addison Goodyear and moved there in April, 1842.

After the formation of Defiance county, he, in 1849, went into the merchandising business with Horace Hilton at the north end of the Maumee river bridge, this city.  He purchased an acre of ground where the Joseph Ralston home now stands in North Defiance, and built a house in which he lived and which he afterwards sold to Joseph Ralston.

He sold his interest in the store to Mr. Hilton in 1851 and moved back to his farm in Noble township, where he built in the 1852, the house he died in.  Mr. Langdon also kept a tavern at this place.

Langdon Tavern, built 1852

 

 On Sept. 13, 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Langdon celebrated their golden wedding and received many useful and valuable presents.  The wife has been dead now for many years.

Lyman Langdon was one of nature's noblemen and was one of that heroic band of pioneers that reclaimed the northwest territory.  He was a man of broad views, keep perception, strict integrity and, while frugal and simple in his habits, was the soul of hospitality.  He had a wide acquaintance and his knowledge of the early settlement of the Maumee valley was not exceeded by any living man.

He was a grand, old man and while the news of his death will be received with regret by his friends everywhere, his noble life and deeds will stand as an imperishable monument of his goodness.   May he rest in peace.

The funeral occurred from the Langdon home in Noble township, at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday,  Rev. Jacobs, officating. The remains will be interred in Riverside cemetery."

The Langdon's 50th Anniversary was covered by the Defiance County Express, September 21, 1882, page 5.  A long article, here condensed, described the big party, including many friends and their family, that was held at the Langdon home.

"GOLDEN YEARS.

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARRIED LIFE OF LYMAN AND FANNY LANGDON.

 

"It is not often that it falls to the lot of man and woman to enjoy the bonds of wedded life for fifty years... 

Such an occasion as this took place last Wednesday, September 13th, at the pleasant farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Langdon in Noble township.  It was the fiftieth anniversary of their very happy wedded life.  On that day, they had gathered once more all their children living, five in number and all their grandchildren, seven in number, at the farm hearthstone...

September 13, 1832, Lyman Langdon and Fanny M. Sanford were married at Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York.  In the year 1835, they moved west, and settled in the then very small village of Defiance.  While here, they kept the only tavern in the place on the lot now occupied in the Myer's Opera House.  After residing here until the year 1842, they moved to the farm where they now live.

At that time, all around them was new.  There were no railroads and no canal, and for a long time, Maumee was the point to which grain had to be hauled to find a market.  But hard work tells.  While many have become discouraged in those years of toil, these pioneers of the Maumee valley toiled on, and to-day have the enjoyment in their advancing years, of a home surrounded by pleasant memories, respected and loved by all who knew them.  From a wilderness, they have made a home for their old age...

 

Early in the morning before invited guests began to arrive, the five children - Lucia Langdon, Mrs. Addie Bridenbaugh of Toledo, Mrs. Emma Sheffield of Noble, Mrs. Almira Sisco of Augusta, Kan., and Mrs. Grace Reid, of Toledo - were made a present each of $100 in money by their father and mother.

 

At about 3 o'clock, when the guests were assembled, Rev. N. Crary of Hicksville, offered a prayer...and h noted that the host and hostess, who were set in the midst of their friends in the same, old 'split bottom chairs in which they had sat over fifty years ago to do their courting, and it was observed by many of the guests that for an old lady, Mrs. Langdon did look quite pert and that Langdon did still cast 'sheep eyes' at her.  

 

At the close of Mr. Crary's remarks, Mr. Langdon followed, recounting the important events in his life - spoke of the ups and downs - and of the many happy days, he had passed with the friends present, only regretting that his home had not been large enough to have all of his friends present...  Following him, others spoke of the many pleasant days that they had enjoyed...Then the time was spent in hand-shaking, until it was announced that refreshments...were ready...

 

At about six o'clock, the guests began to take their departure, all wishing the happy couple 'long life and happiness.' Among the guests, we noted the following:

Albert Langdon and wife, of St. Lawrence County, NY

Truman Barnes and wife of St. Lawrence County, NY

Ezra Leonard, wife and daughter of Danville, Ill.

E. Lord and wife of Fulton County, O.

Dr. S. W. Goodrick and wife of Wood County

Miss Ella Russell of Huron County, O.

Rev. N. Crary and wife of Hicksville

Mrs. Harriet Hopkins and daughter, Hiram Rice and wife, Aaron Rice, Mrs. Eliza Hill, and Mrs. Liddia Rice of Farmer township
Edwin Phelps of Granville, O.
S. Cameron and wife and J. Y. Garwell and wife, and J. O. Wisler and wife of Tiffin township.
Chester Blinn and wife and Mr. Beatty and wife of Stryker, O.
Mrs. C. A. Duffee of Toledo
Capt. John Partee and wife, Wesley Sanford and wife, Miss Nettie Sanford, Sheldon Sanford and Miss Jessie Sanford, Frank Goddard and wife, Miss Emma Lehman, D. Bruner and wife, John A. Sheffield and Henry Langdon and wife, and Lucia Langdon of Noble township
Jesse Chapman and wife of Milford township
Jos. Ralston and wife, John H. Kiser and wife, C. P. Tittle and wife, Miss Mary Tittle, K. C. Carley and wife, W. G. Blynmyer and wife, Mrs. William A. Brown, Mrs. John Kiser, Mrs. Jesse Colby, Willis D. Colby, Mrs. Mary Lyman, and S. F. Cheney and wife of Defiance"

Among the gifts presented by friends from abroad were:

- gold headed cane by Albert Langdon Ira Heston and Nelson Sanford

-pair gold, bowed spectacles for each from their children

-five dollar gold piece by Truman Barnes and wife

-silver mounted salt dish by Mr. and Mrs. Sanford

-Cravon picture (gilt frame) of Mr. and Mrs. Langdon from Mr. and Mrs. Leonard of Danville, Ill.

(crayon picture)

-pair ruby gold-lined goblets supposed to be from J. Ralston and wife

 

 

 

 

 

Many, very many more tokens of esteem and regard would have been given, but guests were informed by this invitation that no presents were expected, and they all knew what that meant.  

One of the pleasant arrivals of the occasion...was a letter from friends in Illinois - Lyman and Fanny Langdon."