Individual Details
Wilbur Cahoon
(27 Dec 1772 - 25 Sep 1826)
Wilbur Cahoon, son of Reynolds (senior) and Mary, was born 27 December 1772 in Hancock, Berkshire County Mass. He died in Avon, Ohio of a stroke on 27 September 1826.
He had married Priscilla Sweet of Rhode Island in 1795.
They lived in Salisbury, Herkimer Co. New York .
Wilbur's first name was for his mother's maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Wilbur.
Wilbur and Priscilla had seven children all born in Salisbury.
They were Susan, Jesse, Wilbur, Ora, Orra, Huldah and Melissa.
In 1814, Wilbur traded his 100 acres in N.Y. for 800 acres in Avon to Orrin Ensign who had surveyed the township of Avon in the Ohio Territory.
In 1814, Wilbur and his family arrived in the township that was eventually named Avon.
Wilbur and Priscilla were Avon's first permanent settlers. Wilbur built the first saw and grist mills in the village.
Their eighth child, Leonard, was born on 1 December 1814. He was the first white child born in Avon.
That Wilbur had learned his carpentry skills from his father is proven by the fact that the home <../house/wcahoon.htm> he built still stands today on the banks of French Creek in Avon. He built the home in 1825, and only lived one year after its completion.
Wilbur married Priscilla Sweet, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, in 1795. (Priscilla Sweet was born on 20 May 1773 and died on 2 May 1855.)
History of Lorain County Ohio, p. 272:
Wilber Cahoon purchased his lands in Avon, of Orrin Ensign, (who had surveyed the township, and received in payment certain tracts, lying in different sections of the township), paying therefor in eastern lands. He had in addition to the three hundred acres in section eleven, about two hundred acres in section six. Mr. Cahoon did not live to witness the completion of the first frame house in the township. Suddenly and swiftly came the pale messenger; while in full health he was stricken down with apoplexy, and in one brief hour was dead. This was in 1826. The wife and mother survived him many years; she died in 1857.
History of Lorain County Ohio, p. 273:
The first wheat sown was by Willier Cahoon, on section eleven, in the fall of 1815. The previous season a crop of corn was raised on the same ground.
The spring following his settlement in Avon, Wilber Cahoon planted an orchard of one hundred trees on section eleven. The trees were procured at Newburgh, Cuyahoga county. The greater part of this orchard is still standing.
History of Lorain County Ohio, p. 275:
The first saw mill was erected on section eleven, in the fall of 1815, by Wilber Cahoon. The waters of French creek were utilized to propel the rude machinery of this mill, which was in operation full fifty years; now there is scarcely a vestige of it remaining. Another saw mill was built on the same stream, by Messrs. Jameson & Hemingway Brothers, in the year 1834. This is still in operation.
In the summer of 1818, Mr. Cahoon built a grist mill near the saw mill mentioned above, the water, propelling which, being supplied from the same pond. There were two run of stone. This mill was finally abandoned in consequence of a scarcity of water.
The "French Creek Factory" was built in March, 1875, by Wilber and Joseph B. Cahoon, on section eleven. The first season there were one hundred and twenty-five cows in contribution. There is at present a capital invested of fifteen hundred dollars. During the season of 1878, the milk of two hundred cows was used.
He had married Priscilla Sweet of Rhode Island in 1795.
They lived in Salisbury, Herkimer Co. New York .
Wilbur's first name was for his mother's maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Wilbur.
Wilbur and Priscilla had seven children all born in Salisbury.
They were Susan, Jesse, Wilbur, Ora, Orra, Huldah and Melissa.
In 1814, Wilbur traded his 100 acres in N.Y. for 800 acres in Avon to Orrin Ensign who had surveyed the township of Avon in the Ohio Territory.
In 1814, Wilbur and his family arrived in the township that was eventually named Avon.
Wilbur and Priscilla were Avon's first permanent settlers. Wilbur built the first saw and grist mills in the village.
Their eighth child, Leonard, was born on 1 December 1814. He was the first white child born in Avon.
That Wilbur had learned his carpentry skills from his father is proven by the fact that the home <../house/wcahoon.htm> he built still stands today on the banks of French Creek in Avon. He built the home in 1825, and only lived one year after its completion.
Wilbur married Priscilla Sweet, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, in 1795. (Priscilla Sweet was born on 20 May 1773 and died on 2 May 1855.)
History of Lorain County Ohio, p. 272:
Wilber Cahoon purchased his lands in Avon, of Orrin Ensign, (who had surveyed the township, and received in payment certain tracts, lying in different sections of the township), paying therefor in eastern lands. He had in addition to the three hundred acres in section eleven, about two hundred acres in section six. Mr. Cahoon did not live to witness the completion of the first frame house in the township. Suddenly and swiftly came the pale messenger; while in full health he was stricken down with apoplexy, and in one brief hour was dead. This was in 1826. The wife and mother survived him many years; she died in 1857.
History of Lorain County Ohio, p. 273:
The first wheat sown was by Willier Cahoon, on section eleven, in the fall of 1815. The previous season a crop of corn was raised on the same ground.
The spring following his settlement in Avon, Wilber Cahoon planted an orchard of one hundred trees on section eleven. The trees were procured at Newburgh, Cuyahoga county. The greater part of this orchard is still standing.
History of Lorain County Ohio, p. 275:
The first saw mill was erected on section eleven, in the fall of 1815, by Wilber Cahoon. The waters of French creek were utilized to propel the rude machinery of this mill, which was in operation full fifty years; now there is scarcely a vestige of it remaining. Another saw mill was built on the same stream, by Messrs. Jameson & Hemingway Brothers, in the year 1834. This is still in operation.
In the summer of 1818, Mr. Cahoon built a grist mill near the saw mill mentioned above, the water, propelling which, being supplied from the same pond. There were two run of stone. This mill was finally abandoned in consequence of a scarcity of water.
The "French Creek Factory" was built in March, 1875, by Wilber and Joseph B. Cahoon, on section eleven. The first season there were one hundred and twenty-five cows in contribution. There is at present a capital invested of fifteen hundred dollars. During the season of 1878, the milk of two hundred cows was used.
Events
| Birth | 27 Dec 1772 | Hancock, Berkshire County, Massachusetts | |||
| Death | 25 Sep 1826 | Avon, Lorain County, Ohio | |||
| Burial | Avon Cemetery, Lorain County, Ohio |  |
Families
| Spouse | Prissilla Sweet (1773 - 1855) |
| Child | Ora Butler Cahoon (1804 - 1881) |
Endnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial 12921579.