John Usher Pease

Mr Pease lived on Monroe street. His home was demolished to make way for Interstate 23.

"John Usher Pease died at Sylvania, February 12, 1870, he was born at Parsonsfield, Maine, August 1796. In his 17th year he "bought his tune'' (the remaining four years of his minority), of' all uncle, and enlisted as a Drummer Boy in the War of' 1812. He was at the battle of Plattsburgh, Lake Champlain. With limited School privileges, he fitted himself' to teach, which he did in Western New York, where he was married with his first wife, Who moon died, bearing one child, a daughter (Mrs. Hetty C. Wilson). His Second wife was a daughter of Gen. David White, who with Judge William Wilson, were the founders of Sylvania Village, where in 1835, Mr. Pease and family settled."

"He engaged in mechanize trade with Wm. Bancroft, whose wife cooked the first meal of vituals prepared by a white woman at "the Forks," as Sylvania was then called; while their daughter (Mrs Dr. Joel Green) was the first white child born at that place. Mr. Pease soon became prominent in political affairs, acting with the Democratic party, and held several public offices, including County Treasurer, Associate Judgeship, and Justice of the Peace. Of decided Anti-Slavery sentiment, he co-operated with the Free Sailors and then -with the Republican party, until deafness and general decrepitude compelled cessation of active life. He was a Free Mason, though not affiliating with the order during his latter years. Though too old for military service at the outbreak of the Rebellion, he was the first one at Sylvania to give a bounty to an enlisted Soldier. He suffered much, but patiently, during the last months of his life."

Clark Waggoner, History of Toledo and Lucas County, p 888-9

Political activities:

Treasurer of Lucas County 1839-44. (Waggoner, p366)

Elected to Lucas County Treasurer, October 8, 1839 as a Democratic candidate. (Waggoner, p332-name cited as John H. Pease)

Elected to Lucas County Treasurer, October ?, 1841 as a Democratic candidate on the "Union ticket" made up of Democrats and "Tyler Whigs". (Waggoner, p338)

Selected as a Lucas County delegate at the Lucas County Democratic County Convention to the Democratic State Convention, November 30, 1841. (Waggoner, p338)

A non-elected Independent candidate for Lucas County Treasurer, October ?, 1843, 504 votes. (Waggoner, p340)

A non-elected Democratic candidate for Lucas County Auditor, October ?, 1845, 578 votes. (Waggoner, p342)

A non-elected Democratic candidate for Lucas County Infirmary Director, October ?, 1846, 678 votes. (Waggoner, p342)

Selected at the Lucas County " Free Soil" meeting held in Toledo, July, 1848 as a Lucas County delegate to the National "Free Soil" Convention in Buffalo. (Waggoner, p342)

President of the Lucas County "Free Democracy" convention in Swanton, OH, August 15, 1849. (Waggoner, p343)

Appointed to a central committee at the Lucas County "Free Democracy" convention in Swanton, OH, August 15, 1849. (Waggoner, p343)

Delegate from Lucas County to the "National Democratic Convention " at Pittsburg, July? 1852. (Waggoner, p344)

Non-elected Republican candidate to Lucas County Infirmary Director, October 1856, 1335 votes. (Waggoner, p346)

Delegate representing Sylvania at the multi-political party "Union County Convention" at College Hall (formerly the Wigwam), in Toledo, August 31, 1861. (Waggoner, p350)

Helped secure a bond used to move the Lucas County Court-House and Jail in fulfillment of the move of the Lucas County seat from Maumee to Toledo, 1852. (Waggoner, p367)