First Families of the Firelands
Member jure Mina Elizabeth Hall (1900, Perkins, Century); member no. 373
Member jure Mina Elizabeth Hall (1900, Perkins, Century); member no. 373
The First Families of the Firelands is a heritage program administered by the Firelands Genealogical Society, a chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. It honors those whose ancestors settled in the Firelands, a region in northern Ohio encompassing present-day Huron and Erie Counties, during the region’s foundational eras. These lands trace their roots to the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War, when the state of Connecticut awarded tracts of land in the far Western Reserve to citizens whose homes had been burned by British forces, especially during the coastal raids of 1779-1781. Known originally as the “Sufferers’ Lands,” this area came to be called the Firelands, and it was gradually opened to New England settlers seeking new opportunities in the early 19th century.
The Firelands developed with a distinct character, culturally shaped by its New England roots and geographically defined by the southern shore of Lake Erie. As towns like Norwalk, Milan, and Sandusky grew, the area became known for its educational institutions, small industries, and participation in progressive social causes. Milan, for example, was briefly one of the busiest ports in the United States during the mid-1800s due to its canal connection and shipbuilding economy.
By 1900, when my ancestor Mina Hall appears in the records of Perkins Township, Erie County, the region had entered a new phase of development. The city of Sandusky had emerged as a major commercial hub, with electric streetcars, active railroad connections, and a growing tourist trade fueled by nearby attractions like Cedar Point. Rural townships retained their agricultural foundations but were increasingly tied to regional markets. Life for working-class residents, particularly young women like Mina, often meant employment in domestic service or local industry. Erie County’s social fabric in 1900 reflected both the aspirations of the Progressive Era and the lingering hardships of 19th-century rural life.
Membership in First Families recognizes ancestors who lived in the Firelands prior to 1860 under the categories of First Pioneer (pre-1820), First Settler (1820-1860), or Century Ancestor (living 100+ years ago).
My qualifying ancestor, Mina Elizabeth Hall, was born in Paulding County, Ohio, in 1888. She endured considerable hardship in early life, losing her mother at the age of one and her father by the time she was four. By the age of 14, the 1900 United States Census records show her living in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio, listed as a “servant” in a household whose identity has been lost to living memory.
Though her presence in Erie County was humble and undocumented by family lore until recent research, it now stands as part of the historical record. Her life reflects the resilience of many young women of the period who found work in service households as a means of survival and opportunity. Mina later married Charles Franklin Cavender and continued her life in Ohio, raising a family that included my maternal grandmother.
Additional memberships will be added as they are approved.
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