Henrietta

Henrietta Township was officially recognized in 1827 with the first settlers arriving in 1817. There were native Americans living in the area for hundreds of years prior to 1817. These first settlers that came to the township were by nature a tough and adventuresome people. The first recognized settler was a gentleman named Simeon Durand. Mr. Durand was born in France but had come to the “New World” looking for a better life. The amazing story of Simeon Durand is at the age of sixteen he accompanied Marquis de La Fayette (The famous General La Fayette of the American Revolution) as his interrupter! One could rightfully assume that Henrietta’s Simon Durand was in the company of Generals George Washington and La Fayette at many important moments of the American Revolution! Simeon Durand is buried in the Andress Cemetery on Gore Orphanage Road in Henrietta Township. This history is found in a wonderful “History of Lorain County “written in 1879 by William Brothers. While the attaching stories of the other first settlers lack the historical drama, we hope you will find them of equal significance for their true grit and determination in carving out the beginning of our current township.