Henry Hanford facts for kids

Henry Hanford (1784–1866) was an important farmer and the first white settler of Lewistown, Ohio, United States. He played a key role in the early development of this area.

Early Life and Moving West

Henry Hanford was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1806, he moved to the new frontier of Hamilton County, Ohio with his brother Thaddeus. He settled near the Ohio River in Columbia Township.

Life on the Ohio River

While living by the Ohio River, Henry Hanford helped transport supplies. He ran a special boat that carried goods from Columbia to Natchez. This was an important job for people living in new settlements.

Starting a Family

In 1810, Henry Hanford married Harriet Chamberlin. She was from New York. Two years later, Henry and Harriet moved their young family. They settled in what was then Champaign County, which is now Clark County.

Settling in Logan County

In January 1834, Henry Hanford decided to buy land in Logan County, Ohio. He purchased 250 acres (about 1 square kilometer) of land. This land was bought from the government at a land office in Piqua.

Expanding His Land and Business

Henry Hanford continued to buy more land. He used another land office in Wapakoneta. Eventually, he owned a large amount of land, about 825 acres (over 3 square kilometers) in Logan County.

He also became an important businessman in the area. He opened a general store in Lewistown. This store sold many different goods that people needed. Henry Hanford also became the first postmaster of Lewistown. This meant he was in charge of the mail service for the community.

Family and Legacy

Henry and Harriet Hanford had seven children together. All of their children grew up to be adults. Henry Hanford passed away on December 31, 1866. He was buried in the Lewistown Cemetery in Ohio. His work helped establish the community of Lewistown.