Seth Henry Todd8, (Isaac7, Moses6, Hezekiah5, Caleb4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Nov. 23, 1833, in Wakeman, Ohio, died May 2, 1914, in Wakeman, O., married March 18, 1860, Martha Elizabeth, daughter of Cyrus and Mary Ann (Burrill) Strong, who was born Aug., 1836.
He was a farmer and stock raiser all his life. He attended Oberlin College; was a lecturer at Farmer’s Institutes; was president of the Wakeman Bank from the time of its foundation in 1892, until his death.
The following is Mr. Todd’s obituary:
Seth Henry Todd was a pioneer child, born Nov. 22, 1833, in the early days of the settlement of the Western Reserve. He lived his entire life, in Wakeman, Ohio, with the exception of eighteen months, which was spent near Topeka, Kansas, at the time of the border troubles.
He obtained his education in the schools of Wakeman Township and Oberlin College. He was for a short time a successful teacher.
He was the second child in a family of five children of Isaac and Fanny (Booth) Todd, who were charter members of the Second Congregational Church, of Wakeman, also members of the First Congregational Church. This early environment may in a measure account for his sterling integrity of character. His children’s and grandchildren’s earliest recollections of him are his stories woven about those early days.
Mr. Todd joined the church in 1850, but felt he had experienced a change of heart at the early age of 11 years. All his years were so closely associated with his church that it seemed a part of his life, and in a letter written two weeks before his death, he spoke of the last Communion Sabbath, when twenty-five young people were taken into the church, as the happiest day in his life, and that his faith in God was renewed.
He served the church in the capacity of trustee for half a century, being elected to this position in 1864, and for more than a quarter of a century he was superintendent of the Sabbath-school. At the time of his death he was deacon. He gave of all he had, money, time and energy in the erecting of the present Congregational Church edifice, being chairman of the building committee at that time.
Mr. Todd was a progressive, scientific farmer. He was a member of the Grange and at their meetings received and gave incentive to the betterment of agricultural and stock interests. This activity has given him prominence among stock men.
He gained a wide acquaintance with men in his public and institute work, having lectured in every county in Ohio and in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In this work his good cheer and comrad-ship won him many friends who mourn his loss.
As President of the Wakeman Bank Co., since its organization he has earnestly tried to merit the confidence placed in him.
In temperance reform he was active and used his influence to overthrow the evil.
Mr. Todd was a man of years who had never grown old in spirit, he was fond of children and young people, and interested himself in all lines of work for the advancement and greater good of the communities interests.
He was an inspiration to those in his home, and all with whom he came in contact, to live a complete well rounded life.
Mr. Todd had so often expressed the desire to leave this life without extended illness, when he ceased to be active, and as he expressed it, useless. God was very good to him and on May 2, 1914, at the noon hour, after only three short hours of pain, and being administered to, he turned himself on his side and quietly breathed his life away. It did not seem like death, but that he had been taken.
To err is human, to love divine, and through his great love for mankind and the influence of eighty years God gave him may he still live in our midst.
This veteran farmer and swine breeder died suddenly of heart trouble, at his home near Wakeman, Huron County, Ohio, aged 81 years. For a quarter of a century previous to about a decade ago Mr. Todd was foremost among Ohio swine breeders and exhibitors, having developed the Todd Improved Chester White. Increasing years did not extinguish his interest in the breed which he did so much to develope, for he continued to raise hogs to the very last. He was also a sheep breeder and exhibitor of note. As a farmer’s institute lecturer for many years, he interested and helped hundreds of Ohio farmers to grow better hogs and to put the business on a better basis. For a great many years he was a regular and valued contributor to the Ohio farmer. Mr. Todd is survived by Mrs. Todd, four daughters and two sons, one daughter having died many years ago. One of the sons, Charles, now owns the farm settled by his grandfather Todd. His other son, Albert, owns the first farm purchased by his father, the latter having bought a smaller one in his later years, which he managed and worked every day up to May 2, 1914.
Children:
*1878. Elva Lorena, b. Feb. 21, 1861.
1879. Jennie Delight, b. July 18, 1864, d. July 15, 1895, in Chicago, Ill., m. Aug. 18, 1892, Rev. George B. Laird. They lived in Chicago, Ill.
*1880. Charles Henry, b. April 13, 1866.
*1881. Albert Strong, b. April 11, 1868.
*1882. Sarah Harriet, b. Dec. 8, 1871.
1883. Mable Elizabeth, b. Jan. 23, 1875, in Wakeman, O.; graduated from Oberlin College in 1898; she is a teacher of music in Akron, O.
*1884. Mary Grace, b. Dec. 23, 1876.