Names of County Officers, Offices,
and Dates of Commission, of
Paulding County, Ohio.
1841, Nov. 1—William R. Daggett, Sheriff, 2 years
1841, Nov. 1—Ezra I. Smith, Surveyor, 3 years.
1842, Nov. 14-Donald H. Harrington, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1843, Nov. 14—Wm. R. Daggett, Sheriff, 2 years.
1843, Nov. 14-Israel Major, Coroner, 2 years.
1843, Oct 11—Alex. S. Latty, Auditor, 2 years.
1844, Nov. 25—Ezra I. Smith, Surveyor, 3 years.
1844, Nov. 25—John J. Snook, Prosecuting Attorney, 2years.
1844, Nov. 25—John Mason, Coroner, 2 years.
1845, Apr.. 7—Samuel Faigley, Coroner, 2 years.
1845, Nov. 14—Ephriam Burwell, Sheriff, 2 years.
1845, Nov. 25—Henry Macellus, Coroner, 2 years.
1847, Nov. 14—William R. Daggett, Sheriff, 2 years.
xxiii
HISTORY OF
1847, Nov. 25-Henry Marcellus, Coroner, 2 years.
1847, Nov. 25-Ezar S. Smith, Surveyor, 3 years.
1848, Oct. 31-John W. Ayres, Prosecuti.ng Attorney, 2 years.
1849, Nov. 14-Thomas C. Banks, Sheriff, 2 years.
1849, Nov. 25-Henry Marcellus, Coroner, 2 years.
1850, Nov. 25-Ezar L Smith, Surveyor, 3 years.
1850, Oct. 31-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1851, Nov. 8-Thomas C. Banks, Sheriff, 2 years.
1851, Nov. 11-Henry Marcellus, Coroner, 2 years.
1852, Jan. 17-Ezar I. Smith, Probate. Judge, 3 years.
1852, Jan. 17-James M. Russell, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1852, Feb. 17-Alex.. S. Latty, Auditor, 2 years.
1852, Feb. 17-Diehard S. Banks, Treasurer, 2 years.
1852, Dec. 27-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1853, Oct. 28-John Crossen, Sheriff, 2 years.
1853, Nov. 14-R. S. Banks, Treasurer, 2 years.
1853, Nov. 14-John Curtis, Commissioner, 3 years.
1853, Nov. 14-JohnMason, Commisioner, 1 years.
1853, Nov. 14-A. Sankey batty, Auditor, 2 years.
1853, Dec. 15-Noah Ely, Surveyor, 3 years.
1854, Nov. 18-Ezar I. Smith, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1854, Nov. 18-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1854, Nov. 18-Robert Russell, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1854, Nov. 18-Bernard B. Woodcock, Coroner, 2 years.
1854, Nov. 18-John Stair; Commissioner, 3 years.
1854, Nov. 18-John Mason, Commissioner, 2 years.
1855 , Nov. 5-Henry Oswalt, Commissioner, 2 years.
1855, Nov. 5-John Crosson, Sheriff, 2 years.
1855,. Nov. 5-James M. Russell, Treasurer, 2 years.
1855, Nov. 5-A. Sankey Latty, Auditor, 2 years.
1856, Dec, 9-Bernard B. Woodcock, Coroner, 2 years.
1856, Dec. 9--John S. Snook, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1856, Dec. 9-William G. French, Recorder, 3 years
1856, Dec.. 9-Henry A. ,Brown, Surveyor, 3 years
1856, Dec. 9-Levi M. Barnes, Commissioner, 3 years.
1857, Oct. 23 Robert Russell, Clerk of Court, 4 year.
1857, Oct. 23-Isaiah Richards: Sheriff, 2 years.;
1857, Oct. 23 - John Stair, Commissioner, 3 years
1857, Oct 23--Ezra J. Probate Judge, 3 years.
1857, Oct. 23 - Benjamin L. Wentworth, Auditor, 2 years
1857, Oct 23 - James M. Russell, Treasurer, 2 years.
1858, Oct. 23- Andrew P. Meng, Coroner, 2 years.
1858, Oct. 23- Henry Oswalt, Commissioner, 3 years.
1858, Oct 25, - John S. Snook, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1859, Nov. 28 - Samuel Forder, Commissioner, 3 years.
1859, Nov. 28 - Lewis S. Gordon, Recorder, 3 years
xxiv
HISTORY OF
1859, Nov. 28-Henry A. Brown, Surveyor, 3 years.
1859, Nov.28-Isaiah Richards, Sheriff, 2 years.
1859, Nov. 29-Ezra J. Smith; Treasurer, 2 years.
1859, Dec. 12-Benjamin L. Wentworth, Auditor, 2 years.
1860, Oct. 13-Elias Shafer, Coroner, 2 years.
1860, Oct. 13-Hubert Neveau, Commissioner, 3 years.
1860, Oct. 13-John S. Snook, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1860, Oct. 13-Fielding S. Cable, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1860, Oct. 13-William T. French, Clerk of Courts, 3 years.
1861, Dec. 23-Henry Oswalt, Commissioner, 3 years.
1861, Dec. 23-Freeborn T. Mellinger, Sheriff, 2 years.
1861, Dec. 23-Benjamin L. Wentworth, Auditor, 2 years.
1861, Dec. 23-Isaiah Richards, Treasurer, 2 years.
1862, Oct. 25-John Hardesty, Coroner, 2 years.
1862, Oct. 25-Lewis S. Gordon, Recorder, 3 years.
1862, Oct. 25-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1862, Oct. 25-Samuel Forder, Commissioner, 3 years.
1862, Oct. 25-James R. Cushman, Surveyor, 3 years.
1863, Nov. 23-Samuel Means, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1863, Novv. 23--Fielding S. Cable, Sheriff, 2 years.
1863, Nov. 23-Freeborn T. Mellinger, Sheriff, 2 years.
1863, Nov. 23-Isaiah Richards, Treasurer, 2 years.
1863, Nov. 23-Richard S. Banks, Auditor, 2 years.
1863, Nov. 23-John Hardesty, Commissioner, 3 years.
1863, Nov. 23-William N. Snook, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1863, Nov. 23-Eber Barnhouse, Infirmary Director, 2 years.
1863, Nov. 23-James Barnes, Infirmary Director, 1 year
1864, April 29-Noah Ely, Surveyor, until October, 1864.
1864, Nov. 26-Alonso H. Selden, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1864, Nov, 26-Noah Ely, Surveyor, 2 years.
1864, Nov. 26-Henry Oswalt, Commissioner, .3 years,
1864, Nov. 26-James Barnes, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1864, Nov. 26-John Brakefield, Coroner, 2 years.
1865, Dec. 12-Richard S. Banks, Auditor, 2 years.
1865, Dec. 12--Lewis S. Gordon, Treasurer, 2 years.
1865, Dec. 12-Andrew P. Meng, Sheriff, 2 years.
1865, Dec. 12-Charles Hakes, Recorder, 3 years.
1865, Dec. 12-Theodore G. Merchant, Commissioner, 3 years.
1865, Dec. 12-Bennett Savags, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1866, Dec. 4-Samuel Means, Clerk of Couk s years.
1866, Dec. 4-Fielding S. Cable, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1866, Dec. 4-Alonzo H. Selden, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
'r866, Dec. 4-John Hardesty, Commissioner, 3 years.
1866, Dec. 4-William N. Snook, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1866, Dec. 4-Jacob Switzer, Coroner, 2 years.
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO.
HISTORY
1867, Nov. 21-Lewis S. Gordon, Treasurer, 2 years signed).
1867, Nov. 21-Coe Cordon, Commissioner, 3 years.
1867, Nov. 21-Andrew J. Meng, Sheriff, 2 years.
1867, Nov. 21-Isaiah Richards, Auditor, 2 years.
1867, Nov. 21-Frederick W. Sashore, Surveyor, 3 years.
1867, Nov. 21-Lyle Tate, Infirmary Director, 3 years (resigned March 17, 1870).
1868, Oct. 30-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1868, Oct. 30-Charles Hakes, Recorder, 3 yers.
1868, Oct. 30-Theodore G. Merchant, Commissioner, 3 years.
1868, Oct. 30-Bennett Savage, InfirmaryDirector, 3 years.
1868, Oct. 30-Jacob Switzer, Coroner, 2 years.
1869, Oct. 4-Levi M. Barnes, Treasurer (appointed ,vice Gordon, resigned).
1869, Oct. 22-Fielding S. Cable, Probate Judge, 3 years (died).
1869, Oct. 22-Orland A. Russell, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1869, Oct. 22-Jasper A. Ferguson, Sheriff, 2 years.
1869, Oct. 22-Valentine V. Pursel, Auditor, 2 years.
1869, Oct. 22-Peter Hilty, Treasurer, 2 years.
1869, Oct. 22-John D. Carlton, Commissioner, 3 years.
1869, Oct. 22-Rufus Russell, Infirmary Director, 3 years,
PAULDING COUNTY,
1870, Mar. 17-William B. Crawford, Infirmary Director (to fill vacancy).
1870, Nov. 14-David C. Carey, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1870, Nov. 14-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, '''2 years.
1870, Nov. 14-Coe Cordon, Commissioner, 3 years.
1870, Nov. 14-Noah Ely, Surveyor, 3 years.
1870, Nov. 14-William N. Snook, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1870, Nov. 14-Henry Oswalt, Coroner, 2 years (failed to give bond).
1871, Jan. 30-Elias Shafer, Coroner (to fill vacancy).
1871, Oct. 14-Jasper A. Ferguson, Sheriff, 2 years.
1871, Oct. 14-Peter Hilty, Treasurer, .2 years.
1871, Oct. 14-Jacob Switzer, Coroner, 2 years.
1871, Oct. 14-W. R. Crawford, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1871, Oct. 14-Alonzo H. Selden, Commissioner, 3 years.
1871, Oct. 14-Charles Hakes, Recorder, 3 years.
1872, Oct. 14-David C. Carey, Probate Judge, 3 years,
1872, Oct. 14-Alexander Brown, Commissioner, 3 years.
1872, Oct. 14-Valentine V. Pursel, Auditor, 2 years,
1872, Oct. 14-Lewis Hamilton, Infirmary Dirctor, 3 years.
1872, Oct. 14 Orlando H. Russell, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1872, Oct. 14-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2
1873, Oct. 21-Hiram M. Ayres, Sheriff, 2 years.
HISTORY OF PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO.
1873, Oct. 21-Frederick Young, Treasurer, 2 years.
1873, Oct. 21-William N. Snook, Commissioner, 3 years.
1873, Oct. 21-Frederick W. Bashore, Surveyor, 3 years.
1873, Oct. 21-Samuel Craven, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1874, Oct. 21-Jacob Switzer, Coroner, 2 years.
1874, Oct. 19-Andrew Y. French, Recorder, 3 years.
1874, Oct. 19-William C. Means, Auditor, 2 years.
1874, Oct. 19-Thomas B. Howland, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1874, Oct. 19-Joseph Bowyer, Commissioner, 3 years.
1874, Oct. 19-William R. Crawford, Infirmary Dirtctor, 3 years..
1875, Oct. 30-0. D. Fuller, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1875, Oct. 30-Calvin L. Noble, Probate Judge, 3 years
1875, Oct. 30-Hiram M. Ayres, Sheriff, 2 years.
1875, Oct. 30-Frederick Young, Treasurer, 2 years.
1875, Oct. 30-Isaiah Richards, Recorder, 3 years.
1875, Oct. 30-D. R. Boore, Commissioner,.3 years.
1875, Oct. 30-Daniel Kauffman, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1875, Oct. 30-C. H. Cunningham, Coroner, 2 years.
1876, Oct. 14-John W. Ayres, Prosecuting Attorney, 2
1876, Oct. 14-Charles Hakes, Auditor, 2 years.
1876, Oct. 14-Thomas Chester, Commissioner, 3 years.
1876, Oct. 14-John C. Harris, Surveyor, 3 years.
1876, Oct. 14-Samuel Craven, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1877, Nov. 7-Jasper A. Ferguson, Sheriff, 2 years.
1877, Nov. 7-Samuel G. Robertson. Treasurer. 2 years.
1877, Nov. 7-Joseph Bowyer, Commissioner, 3 years.
1877, Nov. 7-John Fieds, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1877, Nov. 7-C. H. Cunningham, Coroner, 2 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Charles Hakes, Auditor, 2 years.
1878, Nov. 5-James Powers Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Samuel G. Robertson, Treasurer, 2 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Benjamin L. Wentworth, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Henry C. Boyland, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Francis M. Wade, Commissioner, 3 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Isaiah Richards, Recorder, 3 years.
1878, Nov. 5--Medary D. Mann, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1878, Nov. 5-Joseph B. Cromley, Clerk of Court, 3 yeasr.
1879, Oct. 27-Samuel J. Tate, Sheriff, 2 years.
1879, Oct. 27-G. W. McCaskey, Coroner, 2 years.
1879, Oct. 27-Henry Kretzinger, Surveyor, 3 years
1879, Oct. 27-Thomas Chester, Commissioner, 3 years.
1880, Mch. 15-George W. Sowers, Commissioner, (vice Jos. Bowyer, to succeed Bowyer, deceased) .
1880, Nov. 1-Samuel G. Robertson, Treasurer 2 years.
1880, Nov. 1-George W. Sowers, Commissioner, 3 years.
188o, Nov. 1-John Field, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1880, Nov. 1-Medary D. Mann, Prosecuting Attorney, 2 years.
1880, Nov. 1-P Alvin Dix, Commissioner, (appointed ; see certificate).
1881, Oct. 21-Joseph B. Cromley, Clerk of Court, .3 years.
1881, Oct. 21-George Gussler, Commissioner, 3 years (resigned).
1881, Oct. 21-Samuel J. Tate, Sheriff, 2 years.
1881, Oct. 21-B. L. Wentworth, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1881, Oct. 21-B. S. Murphy, Auditor, 3 years.
1881, Oct. 21-Isaiah Richards, Recorder, 3 years.
1881, Oct. 21-James Powers, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1881, Oct. 21-C. V. Ganell Coroner, 2 years.
1882, Jan. 24-P. Alvin Dix, Coroner, (vice Ganell, failed to qualify).
1882, Nov. 10-A. J. Stenger, Treasurer, 2 years.
1882, Nov. 10-Martin N. Utley, Commissioner, 3 years.
1882, Nov. 10-Lewis H. Plattor, Prosecuting Attorney, 3 years.
1882, Nov. 10-Daniel Kauffman, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1882, Nov. 10-Thos. H. B. Bashore, Surveyor, 3 years.
1883, Jan. 30-Darius Leeth, Infirmary Director, (appointed vice John Field, deceased).
1883, Nov. 12-P. Alvin Dix, Coroner, 2 years.
1883, Nov. 12-Frank M. Wade, Commissioner, 3 years.
1883, Nov. 12-David W. Parr, Sheriff, 2 years.
1883, Nov. 12-Darius Leeth, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1883, Nov. 30-George W. Sowers, Commissioner, (appointed, vice G. Gusler, resigned).
1884, Oct. 20-Frank M. Bashore, Recorder, 3 years,
1884, Oct. 20-Samuel Dotterer, Infirmary Director 3 years.
1884, Oct. 20-Thomas J. Champion, Clerk of Court, 3 years.
1884, Oct. 20-R. D. Webster, Auditor, 3 years
1884, Oct. 20-John V. Sharp, Commissioner, 3 years.
1884, Oct. 20-A. J. Stenger, Treasurer, 2 years.
1884, Oct. 20-W. G. Lee, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1885, Oct. 23-David W. Parr, Sheriff, 2 years.
1885, Oct. 23-J. L. Slager, Coroner, 2 years.
1885, Oct. 23-Oliver Morrow, Surveyor, 3 years.
1885, Oct. 23-Samuel. G. Bowyer, Infirmary Director. 3 years.
1885; Ict. 23-Thomas Chester, Commissioner, 3 years.
1885, Oct. 23-W. H. Snook, Prosecuting Attorney, 3 years.
1886, Nov. 18-Michael Finan, Treasurer, 2 years.
1886, Nov. 18-Daniel Davidson Commissioner, 3 years.
1886, Nov. 18-Henry Downhour, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1886, Dec. 3-Henry Downhour, Infirmary Director (appointed).
1886, Dec. 3-Francis M. Wade, Commissioner (apoointed).
1887, Feb. 10-John W. Zuber, Infirmary Director (appointed).
1887, Nov. 16-Thomas J. Banks, Infirmary Director, I year.
1887, Nov. 16-Samuel Dotterer, Infirmary Director, 3 years (resigned).
1887, Nov. 16-R. D. Webster, Auditor, 3 years.
1887, Nov. 16-Warren G. Lee, Probate Judge, 3 years (deceased).
1887, Nov. 16-Frank M. Bashore, Recorder, 3 years
1887, Nov. 16-Thomas J. Champion, Clerk of Courts, 3 years..
1887, Nov. 16-Daniel W. Hixson, Coroner, 2 years.
1887, Nov. 16-Edward C. Swain, Sheriff, 2 years (resigned).
1887, Nov. 16- Michael Maloy, Commissioner, 3 years.
1887, Nov. 16-R. D. Webster, Auditor (apointed).
1888, Sep. 7-Henry E. Spring, Probate Judge, (appointed vice W. G. Lee, deceased).
1888, Sep. 15-Vance Broduix, Probate Judge, (unexpired term of Warren G. Lee).
1888, Sep. 15-Henry Hyman, Treasurer, 2 years.
1888, Sep. 15-Oliver Morrow, Surveyor, 3 years.
1888, Sep. 15-Daniel H. Dunlap, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1888, Sep. 15-Thomas Chester, Commissioner (appointed).
1888, Sep. 15-Wilson H. Snook, Prosecuting Attorney, 3 years.
1888, Sep. 28-Thomas Chester, Commissioner (appointed).
1888, Sep. 28-Thomas J. Banks, Infirmary Director (appointed).
1889, Aug. 8-John J. Clark, Sheriff (appointed, vice E. C. Swain).
1889, Nov. 13-Daniel Davidson, Commissioner, 3 years.
1889, Nov. 13-John Hosford, Coroner, 2 years.
1889, Nov. 13-Peter Kemler, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1889, Nov. 13-A. H. Saylor, Sheriff, 2 years.
1890, Apr. 2-Andrew Sprow, Infirmary Director (appointed, vice S. Dotterer, deceased).
1890, Nov. 17-Ephriam V. Ridenour, Auditor, 3 years.
1890, Nov. 17-Wiliam B. Jackson, Clerk of Courts, 3 years.
1890, Nov. 17-Michael Maloy, Commissioner, 3 years.
1890, Nov. 17-Joel Sloppy, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1890, Nov. 17 -Lafayette Lewis, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1890, Nov. 17-John Yeager, Recorder, 3 years.
1890, Nov. 17-Michael Finan, Treasurer, 2 years.
1891, June 6-Ephriam V. Ridenour, Auditor, (appointed, vice R. D. Webster, resigned).
1891, Dec. 7-John Powers, Commissioner, 3 years.
1891, Dec. 7-C. V. Gorrell, Coroner, 2 years (refused to qualify).
1891, Dec. 7-David H. Dunlap, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1891, Dec. 7-Willis F. Corbett, Prosecuting Attorney, 3 years.
1891, Dec. 7-Edward Staley, Sheriff, 4 years.
1891, Dec. 7-W. J. Johnson, Surveyor, 3 years.
1892, Feb. 11-G. M. Brattan, Coroner, (appointed in place of C. V. Gorrell, who refused to qualify).
1892, Nov. 25-J. H. Hosford, Coroner, 2 years (resigned).
1892, Nov. 25-Peter Keinler, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1892, Nov. 25-John B. Zuber, Commissioner, 3 years.
1892, Nov. 25-Michael Finan, Treasurer, 2 years.
1893, Nov. 15-William H. Cullen, Auditor, 3 years.
1893, Nov. 28-Edward Staley, Sheriff, 2 years.
1893. Nov. 28-John Coupland, Clerk of Courts, 3 years.
1893, Nov. 29-James H. Dickenson, Commissioner, 3 years.
1893, Dec. 1-Darius Leeth, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1893, Dec. 1-Charles H. Yeagley, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1893. Dce. 1-Permenas F. Harris, Recorder, 3 years.
1894, Feb. 22-J. L. Slager, Coroner, (appointed in place of J. H. Hosford, resigned).
1894, Nov. 23-W. F. Corbett, Prosecuting Attorney, 3 years.
1894, Nov. 23--John Powers, Commissioner, 3 years (duplicate Dec. 9, 1895).
1894, Nov. 23-William H. Mustard, Surveyor, 3 years.
1894, Dec. 7-George Speice, Treasurer, z years.
1895, Jan. 10-John Powers, Commissioner, first Monday in January to third Monday in September, 1895.
1895, Jan. 11-Russell Randolph, Infirmary Director, 3
1895, Jan. 14-W. M. Hunter, Coroner, 2 years.
1895, Nov. 9--Charles E. Hakes, Sheriff, 2 years.
1895, Nov. 9-Marcus E. Wright, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1895, Nov. 9-Andrew W. Batson, Commissioner, 3 years,
1895, Nov. 9-Lewis W. Hebenthall, Coroner, 2 years (deceased).
1895, Jan. 7-Andrew W. Batson, Commissioner, first Monday in January to third Monday in September, 1896.
1896, June 3-J. L. Slager, Coroner, 2 years (appointed to vacancy caused by death of L. W. Hebenthall).
1896, Nov. 14-James H. Dickenson, Commioioner, 3 Yelp's,
1896, Nov. 14-Frank L. Harris, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1896, Nov. 14-Parmenas F. Harris, Record 3 years,
1896, Nov. 14-N. G. Sanerwein, Treasurer; ; years.
1896, Nov. 14-John C. Coupland, Clerk of Courts, 3 years
1896, Nov. 14—Charles W. Gordon, Coroner, 2 years.
1896, Nov. 14-Floyd, Atwill, Auditor, 3 years.
1896, Dec. 8—John Shock, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1896, Jan. 6 - James H. Dickinsin, Commissioner, first Monday in January 10 third Monday in
September, 1897.
1897, Jan. 18—P. F. Harris, Recorder, first Monday in January to first Monday in September, 1897. 1897, Nov. 17—Henry B. Wilson, Sheriff, 2 years.
1897, Nov. 17-0. E. Winernan, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1897, Nov. 17 W. J. Johnson, Surveyor, 3 years.
1897, Nov. 17—M. P. Jacobs, Commissioner, 3 years.
1897, Nov. 17—John W. Zuber, Prosecuting Attorney, 3
1898, Nov. 18 John K. Price, Commissioner, 3 years.
1898, Nov. 18—Nicholas G. Sauerwein, -Treasurer, 2 years.
1898, Nov. 18—A. H. Mouser, Coroner, 2 years.
1898, Nov. 18—R. L. Zimmerman, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1899, Jan. 14—Marcus E. Wright, Infirmary Director, first Monday in January to first Monday in Monday in September, 1899.
1899, Jan, 14-C. W. Gordon, Coroner, first Monday in January to first Monday in September, 1899. 1899, Nov. 21.-=.T. W. Poorman, Sheriff, 2 years (failed to give bond ; office declared vacant).
1899, Nov. 21—Darius Leeth, Probate Judge, 3 years.
1899, Nov. 21—John W. Wortman, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1899, Nov. 21—Joseph B. Weible, Commissioner, 3 years.
1899, Nov. 21—John A. Jenkins, Clerk of Courts, 3 years.
1899, Nov. 21—David Filley, Recorder, 3 years.
1899, Nov. 21—Allen Bybee, Auditor, 3 years.
1900, Jan. 19—Henry B. Wilson, Sheriff, (appointed, vice T. W. Poorman).
1900, Nov. 15—T. W. Poorman, Sheriff, 2 years.
1900, Nov. 15—Oliver Morrow, Surveyor, 3 years.
1900, Nov. 15-George Croll, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1900, Nov. 15—P. P. Dorring, Commissioner, 3 years.
1900, Nov. 15—C. W. Gordon, Coroner, 2 years.
1900, Nov. 15—F. W. Dunham, Treasurer, 3 years.
1900, Nov. 15—John W. Zuber, Prosecuting Attorney, 3 years.
1901, Nov. 14—William Runyan, Infirmary Director, 3 years.
1901, Nov. 14—J. S. McKanna, Commissioner, 3 years.
History of Paulding County, Ohio.
CHAPTER I.
PRE-HISTORIC AND INDIAN,
The county is not as rich in specimens of pre-historic nature as are some of the other counties of the state, yet there is every evidence that portions of that strange people, the Mound Builders, once trod the primeval solitudes of our dark forests. There are no mounds worthy of note in the county, but just over its eastern border, in Perry township, Putnam county, is one whose contour is yet sharply defined. It is situated on the east bank of the Auglaize river, and is about ten feet high, and fifty feet in circumference. A few years ago this mound was examined by a shaft being sunk in its center. At the depth of four feet a human skeleton was found which was evidently the remains of some one buried there since the erection of the mound. At the depth of eight feet were found quantities of broken pottery and other articles of that extinct race, whose mysterious works left us are the only traces of their existence. Who were they, from whence did they come, and what became of them ? are the questions more easily asked than answered. Regarding them the learned may have his theory, and the mediocre and unlettered their beliefs, but the mysteriousness of the Mound Builders still remains. That there was a time in pre-historic days when huge animals, of the now extinct species, roamed the
1
2 - HISTORY OF
wilds of Paulding county, is abundantly verified by portions of their remains which are now and then unearthed. A very rare specimen was discovered in May, 1891, of which the Paulding Democrat says as follows "Last Wednesday, while the son of John Cozat, a farmer residing about six miles southwest of Paulding, was engaged at some work along Flat Rock creek, he noticed something peculiar projecting from the bank into the water, and upon examination found it to be an enormous tooth, weighing 4V2 pounds, which is one of the largest specimens of that kind ever found. It is thought by many, who have examined it, to be the tooth of a mastodon, an animal of the Tertiary period, and allied with the mammoth.”
Indian History.—When tile curtain of history rose from the dark shadows which veiled the pre-historic race, the civilized world saw the Ohio country occupied by the Wyandots (or Hurons), and the Shawnees. The latter tribe had been driven from Florida, about the year of 175o, by the Seminoles and Creeks. They had fled down the Cumberland river, and so on into Ohio, where they sought and received the protection of the Miamis. The Wyandots, the Delawares and the Shawnees were of the Algonquin family. By the treaty at Fort McIntosh, in 1875, the Ottawas, the Wyandots and Delawares were assigned to the northern section of what is now the state of Ohio, west of the Cuyahoga river. The Wyandots fought the invading armies of the Iroquois with desperate valor, until in a long contested battle their warriors were well nigh exterminated and the shattered remnants of the tribe took refuge in distant Michigan. They were a race of heroes, and when General Wayne ordered his intrepid scout, Capt. Wells, to go to Sandusky, and cap-- ture a prisoner there, to get information from ,him, the veteran Indian fighter said : "I can easily take a prisoner, but
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 3
not from Sandusky." "And why not from Sandusky ?" said Wayne. To which Wells rejoined : "Because there are only Wyandots there." "Well, why will not Wyandots do ?" And Wells replied, "For the best of reasons—because Wyandots will not be taken alive."
With this race of warriors out of the way, the Iroquois advanced upon the second line of Ohio defenses, and endeavored to subjugate the Miamis. But at this date a new element entered into the great game of war, with the resistless western marches of the Virginian riflemen and the British infantry. On the one hand, England enriched the Ohio tribes with armaments and gifts in vast profusion ; and on the other, the United States proposed (in the Pittsburgh treaty of 1778) to the Delawares and their allied tribes to organize a friendly state, contracting to admit this aboriginal empire, when so organized, as one of the states of the Union. The tangible gifts of the British officials outweighed the rather misty promise of an Indian legislature, and the Delewares, Shawnees, Miamis, Wyandots and other tribes remained hostile to the Americans for nearly twenty years, and shattered more than one gallant army, until at last Wayne's famous- American legion broke their power, forever in the great general battle of Fallen Timbers.
As this legion, on its march to glorious victory, passed through the confines of Paulding county, its history, in connection with the county history, will have a direct bearing, and will be meet and proper. When the white settlements began at Marietta and along he Ohio, the war-thirsty tribes of the northwest, under the control and instigated by the British agents, began their merciless depredations. General Harmar had been defeated, and Governor St. Clair, at the head of an army, of upwards of three thousand strong, had been surprised upon the banks of the Wabash in the south-
4 - HISTORY OF
west part of Mercer county, and his force entirely destroyed or dispersed, a detail of which disaster may be found in the fragment of an old army song :
" 'Twas November the fourth, in the year of ninety-one,
We had a sore engagement near to Fort Jefferson ;
St. Clair was our commnder, which may remembered be,
For there we left nine hundred men in the West Ter'tory."
This aroused Congress to a different policy. The commanding officers of the hitherto fatal expeditions might have been good generals, and undoubtedly were. in a combat with civilized armies, but they were entirely Unaccustomed to an Indian warfare. How Genera? Washington, who was reared to this class of fighting from his youth, could have committed the fatal blunder of selecting generals devoid of training in the peculiar duties demanded of them, is quite inexplicable. The lessons received, however, were not in vain. A new commander was selected, and this time a man who had fought both the whites and Indians, who possessed not only unquestioned courage, but likewise a keen conception and quick resolve in his actions, the intrepid hero of Stony Point, General Anthony Wayne. This selection was made despite the opposition of, or, as Governor Lee of Virginia, puts it, "to the extreme disgust of all orders in the Old Dominion." But the President had selected Wayne not hastily, nor through partiality or influence, and no idle words affected him.
In June, 1792, Wayne went to Pittsburgh and proceeded to organize the army which. was to be the ultimate arbitrator between the Americans and the Indian confederation. Through the summer of 1792, the preparation of the soldiers was steadily attended to. "Train and discipline them for the service they are meant for," said Washington, "and do not spare powder and lead, so the men be made marksmen."
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 5
In December, 1792, the forces, now recruited and trained were gathered at a point twenty-two miles below Pittsburgh on the Ohio, in a camp which was called Legionville, the army itself having been denominated the Legion of the United States.
While Wayne's army was gathering and practicing target-shooting, the peace measures of the United States were pressed with equal perseverance. An expedition was sent to examine the field of St. Clair's defeat. This body reached its destination in February, 1792, and a letter from Capt. Buntin to St. Clair regarding the expedition says : "In my opinion the unfortunate men who were taken alive by the enemy were used with the greatest torture : and the women have been treated with extreme cruelty." Next there were peace commissioners sent to the various tribes. Colonel Trueman repaired to the Miami villages with friendly messages and offered the most reasonable terms. Other peace commissioners were sent to the Indians on the Wabash, accompanied by the Moravian missionary, John Heckewelder and every effort was made to effect a friendly adjudication of the difficulties with the tribes.
On the part of the Indians these peace offerings were received with a diversity of opinion. Some of the chiefs, among whom was the Wyandot war chief, Little Turtle, urged the acceptance of the terms offered while others, QS yet intoxicated with the easy victories obtained over largely superior armies, were unwiling to listen to any argument offered. In vain did Little Turtle say to them : "Brothers we heretofore had chiefs opposed to us who were sleeping, but I say to you, the 'Great Wind' (the name given to General Wayne by the Indians) is a chief who never sleeps." They urged on by the British, who secretly promised them succor, would hear to no terms whatsoever.
6 - HISTORY OF
General Wayne's legion passed the winter of 1792-3 at Legionville until the last of April, 1793, when it was then taken down the river to Cincinnati. There it encamped in the vicinity of Fort Washing. on, on a high plateau, selected for that purpose by Wayne's quartermaster-general Colonel Hobson, from whom the camp received the name of "Hob- son's Choice." It was urged by some that the camping ground was too far distant from Fort Washington and the town, it being located on what is now the western part of Cincinnati. Wayne, upon inquiry as to who had chosen the place, said: "Then it is Hobson's choice, and we must take it."
After encountering many obstacles, General Wayne, during the summer of 1793, was perfecting the discipline of his army at Hobson's Choice. Profiting by the errors of his predecessors, he at the same time tried to acquaint himself with every thing pertaining to the disposition of the Indians, their location, number, chiefs, and all other matters of interest to a commander of an invading army in a hostile country. He knew that he had a bold, vigilant and dexterous enemy with whom to contend. It was, therefore, indispensable to him to use every precaution in his movements to prevent a surprise. To secure his army against the impossibility of being ambuscaded, he organized a body of spies or rangers, selecting for it the best woodsmen the camp afforded. He placed this corps under the command of Captain Ephriam Kibby, who had distinguished himself as a bold and intrepid soldier. The corps was divided into two companies, one commanded by Kibby in person, and the other by Captain William Wells, who had been taken prisoner by the Indians when a boy, and had grown up to manhood with them, consequently being well acquainted with their wiles and strategems.
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO. - 7
On the 7th of October, 1793, Wayne's army left their camping ground at Hobson's Choice, and removed to Fort 'Greenville, which, under Wayne's direction, was strongly fortified. Here they went into winter quarters, having been sufficiently provisioned to that end. Nothing in particular occurred here, excepting a skirmish with a party of Indians, who made an attack upon some soldiers who were guarding a train of supplies. The Indians were easily repulsed, with some loss on both sides.
During the spring of 1794, negotiations were again opened with the Indians, and terms of peace offered them, but they were rejected. General Wayne then pushed his advance further into the Indian country, to the place of the St. Clair disaster, where he erected a work of defense, which was named Fort Recovery, signifying the the hitherto lost ground had been recovered. This fort was in the southwest part of Mercer county, and was at once strongly fortified, and made the basis of future operations. During the advance of the army Captain Wells and his scouts were constantly making .raids into the enemy's country, for the purpose of taking prisoners, from whom to obtain information. In one of these expeditions they crossed the river St. Mary and passed on to the Auglaize. On the high about one mile north of where now stands, the stirring little village of Oakwood, they came upon a party of three Indians in camp. Two of the Indians were instantly shot and killed, and the remaining one taken prisoner. When the paint was
washed from him, he proved to be a white man, named Christopher Miller. He afterwards joined the scouts and did valuable service during the remainder of the campaign. A few days afterwards a Pottawatomie chief was captured near Charloe. Truly, he who meanders along the dark
8 - HISTORY OF
Auglaize in Paulding county is treading upon historic grounds.
The army remained at Fort Recovery until about the 1st of August, when, Wayne having learned from prisoners taken that the enemy had gathered in great numbers at Grand Glaize (now Defiance), he hurriedly moved upon that point. To deceive the Indians a feint was made to the westward, as if to attack the villages on .the Wabash, but the army really crossed over to the Auglaize, and passed down the west bank of that stream to its confluence with the Maumee, and on the 18th arrived at a point just above Waterville, where he erected a temporary fortification for the protection of their stores and baggage, and named it Fort Deposit. On the morning of August 20th, 1794, the army moved on down the river to attack the Indians encamped in the immedate vicinity of Presque Isle Hill. There the battle of "Fallen Timber" was fought, and regarding it we quote from Gen. Wayne's official report : "The legion was on the right, its flank covered by the Maumee ; one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brigadier-General Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brigadier-General Barbee. A select battalion of mounted volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Major Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form in case of action. After advancing about five miles, Major Price's corps received so severe a fire as to compel them to retreat. The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood which extended for miles on our left, and to a considerable distance in front, the ground being covered with old fallen timber, which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 9
three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for nearly two miles at right angles with the river. I soon discovered from the weight of their fire, and the extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite grounds and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first ; and directed Major Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole force of mounted volunteers, by a circuitous route. At the same time I ordered the front line to advance with trailed arms, and arouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up to deliver a close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge so as to not give them time to load again. I also ordered Captain Campbell, who commanded the legionary
cavalry, to, turn the left flank of the enemy next to the river, which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude ; but such was the impetuosity of the first line that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all their coverts in so short a time that, although every possible exertion was used by the offrcers of the second line of the legion, and by Scott, Todd and Barbee of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action, the enemy being driven, in the course of an hour, more than two miles through the thick woods already mentioned. From every account the enemy amounted to two thousand combatants. The troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hundred. This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed in terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the influence of the guns
10 - HISTORY OF
of the British garrison. The loss of the enemy was more than that of the portion of the legion engaged. The woods were strewn for many miles with the dead bodies of the Indians and their white auxilaries, the latter being armed with British muskets and bayonets."
Wayne remained a few days in the vicinity of the battle field, laying waste to Indian villages and fields of growing corn, then returned to Fort Defiance, and thence on up the Maumee to Fort Wayne ; one detachment passing up Flat Rock creek and encamping a few days about one mile southwest of Paulding, on what is now the farm of Mr. B. A. Holcombe.
Roll on, sweet river, to Lake Erie roll ;
Thy name is inscribed on history's scroll ;
No prouder did Sherman march down to the sea,
Than "Mad Anthony" marched along the Maumee.
The legion remained at Fort Wayne until November, 1794, then returned to Fort Greenville and went into winter quarters. Its hardships had been innumerable, but its mission had been eminently successful ; and now, covered with the laurels of victory, it rested from its labors.
The Indians never recovered from their signal and decisive defeat, and soon after, at a general treaty at Greenville, sued for peace. Thus ended the Indian wars in Northwestern Ohio. Their homes on the Maumee had been destroyed. Here for years they had dwelt in calm security. Its beautiful banks were studded with their villages, and the rich bottoms covered with cornfields. Here their wise men had met around the council fires, and the returning braves had exhibited the trophies of their victorious expeditions. In war the river was their base line of attack, their source of supplies and their secure refuge. But Wayne's legion spread the black
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mantle of desolation over the valley, and the mighty prowess of its red men was crushed forever. By treaty and purchase in 1805, 1818, 1829 and 1842, tbe Indians disposed of their lands, and on the last date a remnant of the Ottawas sold their last acre within the limits of Ohio and removed the following year to the far west, settling near the mouth of the Kansas river.
The largest Indian village ever located in the county was Charloe, beautifully situated upon the left bank of the Auglaize, in Brown township. It was near the center of an Indian reserve, four mites square, and known as Oquanoxa's reserve. Here dwelt that chieftain with about Goo Indians, a portion of the Ottawa tribe, until the year of 1820, when the reservation was sold, and Oquanoxa and his followers took up their line of march toward the setting sun.
At the time of the first settlements of the county there were several straggling bands of Indians along the Auglaize and Maumee rivers. Some of the names of Indians remembered by the old settlers were Ant. Wayne, Totigose, Saucy Jack, Big Yankee Jim, Draf Jim, P. Ashway, a squaw named Songs, and two brothers, named Pokeshaw and Wapacanaugh. They were generally peaceable and kind to the settlers excepting when under the influence of "fire water." No Indian tragedies of any note ever occurred within the limits of the county.
CHAPTER - II.
ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY.
In 1784, the state of Virginia ceded to the United States the great Northwest Territory, which she claimed by her charter, and by the conquest of Gen, George Rogers Clarke. This great territory embraced the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and that portion of Minnesota lying between the upper waters of the Mississippi and Lake Superior. In 1875, congress defined the methods by which the national government would dispose of lands in its northwestern domain ; and two years later came the ordinance of 1787, authorizing the board of treasury to contract with would-be purchasers of such territory. In the same year the Ohio company was formed by a syndicate of New Englanders, and in 1788, Marietta, at the mouth of the Muskingum, was the first town founded within the limits of Ohio. Washington was the first county formed in the northwest territory. It included all the eastern part of the state as far west as the Scioto river, with Marietta as its seat of justice. Hamilton county was the next to be organized, with Cincinnati as its county seat. It included that region between the two Miamis, up as far from the Ohio as an east and west line drawn through the Standing Stone fork of the Big Miami. Wayne county was the fifth to be formed in the northwest territorial region. Its boundaries are given as follows : "Beginning at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, upon Lake Erie, and with the said river to the portage be-
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 13
tween it and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum, then down the said branch to the forks at the carrying place above Fort Laurens, thence by a line west to the eastern boundary of Hamilton county ; thence by a line west and northerly to the southern part of the portage between the Miamis of Lake Erie, where Fort Wayne now stands : thence by a line west and northerly to the southern part of Lake Michigan ; thence along the western shores of the same to the northwest part thereof ; thence by a due north line to the territorial boundary in Lake Superior. and, with the said boundary through Lakes Huron, St. Clair and Erie, to the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, the place of beginning." This county was organized in 1796, under the first form of our territorial government, and included within its limits about twenty-six of the present counties of Northwestern Ohio, of which Paulding county one. The ofd town of Detroit was the seat of justice. The few whites in this region were, like those of Detroit, Canadian French, Indian traders, or renegade tories. For more than a hundred years Detroit had been the center and headquarters of all military and commercial affairs about the head of Lake Erie and the foot of Lake Huron. The Maumee river country was merely an out post or province of Detroit. Communication with the civilized world was by way of Detroit and Canada. A majority of the whites in the lake region were French, of Canadian origin, and still hold,. ing Canadian prejudices, and retaining their Canadian connections in all matters of religon, politics, friendship and commerce. Between the Detroit settlements and the settlements on the Ohio river, there existed no bond of sympathy ; in fact, until 1796, they had always been the bitterest enemies,. and both retained much of the old prejudices engendered by the French and revolutionary wars. Between the Maumee and the Ohio lay an almost trackless wilderness,
14 - HISTORY OF
over the whole vast extent of which were stretched a mighty and unbroken forest yet ignorant of the woodman's ax.
Ohio was the first state to be carved out of the great northwest territory. It was admitted into the union in 18o2. The northwestern part was the last to be organized and settled. The Indians having ceded their lands to the whites, the legislature of the state, by an act of February 12, 1820, proceeded to divde the newly acquired territory into counties. First of these counties Paulding is one, and it dates its creation to the year above mentioned. It was named in honor of John Paulding, a native of Peekskill, N. Y., and one of the captors of that brave and accomplished, but unfortunate officer, Major Andre.
The base line from which the public land surveys were made was established in May, 1819, by Sylvanus Bourne. This line is the southern line of the county and extends from the Indiana and Ohio state line eastward through the counties of Putnam and Hancock, and forms the south line of Seneca county to Huron county, where it connects with lands known as the Western Reserve.
The township lines were established in 182o, by Alexander Holmes, Samuel Holmes and others ; and in 1821-22 the townships were divided into sections by James W. Riley and his assistants. The county of Williams was organized February 2, 1824, and Paulding county was attached to it for judicial purposes, until is own organization in 1839. In the 4th of March, 1845, by an act of the legislature, the county of Defiance was organized. Its territory was composed of eight townships taken from Williams county, three from Henry, and a half township from Paulding. The formation of this new county reduced Paulding county to its present limts, which, were it not for the half township taken from its northeastern corner, would be a rectangle, extending east
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 15
and west, twenty-four miles in length, and eighteen miles in width. It embraces within.its territory ten full townships six miles square, and Emerald township, containing thirty-two sections, and Auglaize county, on the south by Van Wert county, and on the west by Allen county, Indiana Its south line is the forty-first parallel of north latitude, and the meridian of eighty-four degrees and thirty minutes, west longitude, crosses the county near its eastern boundary. The numbering of townships begins on the south and runs north ; the ranges on the west and runs east. Benton township is number 1, range 1 ; Harrison, town 2, range 1 ; Carryall, town 3, range 1 ; Blue Creek, town range 2 ; Paulding, town 2, range 2 ; Crane, town 3, range 2 ; Laity, town 1, range 2 ; Jackson, town 2, range 3 ; Emerald, town 3, range 3 ; Washington, town 1, range 4 ; Brown, town 2, range 4; and Auglaize, town 3, range 4.
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 17
CHAPTER III.
THE EARLY SETTLERS.
As is the case with the first settlers of almost every country, the earliest settlers of Paulding county planted their primitive homes along the banks of its streams. On the rich alluvial bottoms of the Auglaize are yet to be seen the sites where were built the cabins of the Careys, the Hudsons, the Shirleys, the Romines and the Shroufes. Along the Maumee came the Musselmans, and the Banks and the Reynolds families ; also the Cordons, the Runyans, the Murphys, the Applegates, and Gen. H. N. Curtis. On the Little Auglaize came the Harrells, the Mellingers and the Curtises ; on the Blue Creek, the Moss brothers, the Reeds, the Barnhills, and the family of Robert Hakes ; while on Flat Rock, or Crooked creek, the Woodcocks, the Malotts and the Wentworths. were the first to tread the forest paths and to swing the "settler's echoing ax."
The first white settlement made in Paulding county was on section 19, Auglaize township, by Shadrach Hudson, in 1819. Isaac Carey came in the autumn of the same year. He came from Miami county, Ohio, by the route which had been opened by Gen. Wayne, to Defiance, thence up the Auglaize to his place of location. The farm upon which he settled is about one-half mile east of the present village of function, and is owned by Reason Johnson. Upon this farm, January 21, 1826, was born Daniel Clark Carey, who has
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 17
the notoriety of being the first white child 1:n own to have been born within the limits of the county. A few years ago he removed to Hutchinson, .has., but only remained about two years, when he returned to the scenes of his youth, preferring the majestic forests of Paulding county to the broad prairies of the "far west. Shadrach Hudson was the father- in-law of Isaac Carey. Upon his farm stood the oldest house in the county. It was built of hewed logs 20x30 feet in length, about fifty years ago. It was photographed in the summer of 1800, the picture enlarged and distributed throughout the county as a pioneer relic. Nathan Shirley came in 1823, and Thomas Romine in 1825, both settling on farms on the Auglaize. The settlements on the Maumee were begun in 1825. Denison Hughes, William Banks, David Applegate, William Gordon, Reason V. Spurrier and Gen. H. N. Curtis, came to the county about that year, and May be regarded as the first settlers of its northern part. Of these, the Banks and Gordon families came from Cincinnati ; their route lay along the military roads which ran up the Miami river to its headwaters; then crossing over to the headwaters of the St. Mary's river, they loaded their household goods and wagons into pirogues and came down that river to Fort Wayne, thence down the Maumee to their respective places of landing. Their horses were unharnessed and driven across the country along the winding Indian trails that were not sufficiently wide to permit the passage -of vehicles.
Joseph Mellinger commenced the little Auglaize settlement in the year of 1828, and was shortly after followed by William Harrell, Benjamin Kniss and Dimitt Mackerel. These settlers reached the county from the southern Ohio counties by crossing the water shed which extends east and west through the state, and striking the headwaters of the
18 - HISTORY OF
Blanchard river, passed down that stream to its confluence with the Big Auglaize, thence overland to their places of settlement.
In 1834, the Moss brothers natives of England, commenced improving farms on the banks of Blue Creek, while further tip that stream, about the same year, Robert Barnhill and Joseph Reed built log cabins and began battling with the frowning forests. In 1837, Thomas Wentworth began the Flat Rock settlement. His nativity was the state of Maine. In 1835, he, with his family, left the pine-covered hills of that state to find a home in Paulding county. He embarked upon \a, coasting vessel and sailed down the Atlantic to New York, and reached Buffalo by way of the Hudson river and New York and Erie canal, thence on Lake Erie to Toledo, then up the Maumee to New Rochester, near the present site of Cecil. Here he rested with his family for a year or two, then cut a wagon-track road through the dark forest ten miles to the south and commenced the improvement of a farm near where now stands the enterprising village of Payne.
Thus have we shown our readers the routes by which the first settlers reached the county ; also their names, date of entry and places of location. We should now pay to them that tribute which is their due ; and would that our unskillful pen was equal to such a task. They were men of integrity, hardy and brave, and whether they were clearing away the forests, engaged at the hand-mill in cracking corn for food, or chasing the bounding deer for the same purpose,. they showed a fortitude and determination of spirit which is worthy of imitation. But they have passed away, and they who gaze upon their last resting places may say : here rest the great and good—here they repose after their generous toil. A sacred band they were, and now they take their last sleep together, while every new-born spring that is ushered
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 19
in comes with its earliest flowers to deck their graves. Theirs is no, vulgar sepulchre—although in many instances the green sod may be their only monument ; yet it tells a nobler history than pillared piles or the eternal pyramids. Touch not, then, the ancient elms that bend their branches over the lowly, graves of the first settlers of Paulding county. for their shadows fall upon the resting places of those who need no columns pointing upward to tell us that beyond the purple hills they have found a happy home.
The habits of our first settlers were, in the most part, exemplary, their hardships many and their wants few. Their houses were built of logs, with puncheon floors, clapboard roofs, and greased paper for windows
The garb of the first settlers was of the simplest homespun. The flax patch furnished the material for the bed ticking and the tow linen for shirts and trowsers. The wool was carded, spun, woven and fashioned into garments by the nimble fingers of the pioneer's wife and daughters. They were the manufacturers of the linsey-woolsey. How often was the tired backwoodsman lulled to sleep by the sweet hum of the spinning wheel as the faithful and toilng wife plied her vocation late in the mght. A few of these old dust- covered articles yet remain in the county.
The township lnes were established in 1820, but the townships were not organized until a much later date. Three of the townships, Crane, Carryall and Brown, were organized .before the county. Crane was organized in 1825 ; Carryall in 1829 ; and Brown in 1830. Prior to the organization of the county, the citzens of the above mentioned townships paid their taxes, attended court, etc., at Defiance, which was then the county seat of Willams county.
This fort stood eight or ten rods south of the old fort built by Wayne in 1894. It had four block-houses, connected
20 - HISTORY OF
by a continuous wall of pickets about twelve feet high, composed of logs hewn so as to stand closely together. The block houses were considerably higher than the pickets, with an upper story extending over the lower about three feet. Port holes and loop holes were arranged at regular distances, both in the block houses and stockade. The block houses were roofed over with logs and covered with earth to prevent the- bullets from passing through. There was an underground passage-way, extending from the inside of the fort to the Auglaize river, built for the purpose of escape and for obtaining water without being exposed to the shots of the Indians. The fort faced eastward toward the Auglaize river, and as late as 1822 two of the block houses and two
houses, built inside the fort, were yet standing in very good repair and occupied by families. In one of these resided, about one year, Judge Robert Shirley and family, before his removal to Brown township, near the present site of Charloe. With these few sketches of interesting general history, we will now proceed to the township histories direct, giving the same in alphabetical order :
Auglaize Township.—This township was attached to, Brown until the year of 1840, at which time its own organization was effected. -An election was called, and John Mason, Sr., and Nathan Shirley were elected the first justices of the peace ; Adam Hall was elected the first constable, and A. C. Adams the first clerk. The first actual settler in the township was Shadrach Hudson. He came from Miami county, Ohio, in the year of 1819, and built a log house on section 19, on the right bank of the Auglaize river, about one-half a mile east of the present village of Junction. This house is known as "the oldest house in the county." The following description of it was given in June, 1890, by a correspondent of the Oakwood Sentinel
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* * * * "It was built by Shadrach Hudson in 1822 or '23. It is of square logs, is two stories in height,. and has a huge fire place in each end. There are two rooms on the first story. The house stands on and commands a fine- view, both up and down the Auglaize river. It is a pity the old house was not engraved for the county history. It wilt soon be a thing of the past and forgotten. I wish that some- artist would take a sketch of the building and its surroundings, which are very picturesque." (Photographs were made of the building shortly after the above was written and sold throughout the county.)
"The house is situated on what is known as the Potter farm, one mile northeast of Junction. Near by is the cemetery where sleep the Hudsons, the Careys, the Shirleys, the Romaines, the Potters, and many other deceased pioneers. Its builder, Mr. Hudson, was a soldier with St. Clair, was at the battle where that general was defeated by the Indians ; also in the war of 1812, during which he visited the Maumee valley, where, being impressed with its fertility and natural beauties, he afterward settled. At one time he was a teamster 'employed in hauling supplies for the army. One night he arose in his sleep, harnessed his four-horse team, hitched them to the wagon, and was about to start on his tedious journey, when he awoke. Mr. Hudson and his wife lived a life of piety, and daily gathered their large family around the family altar. They were very hospitable and entertained many a stranger who chanced to pass that way. What huge roasts of bear meat, venison and wild turkey they used to make before those old fire-places l Their fumes seemed to fill the very air with their appetizing flavors. I wonder if departed ones ever come back to visit their abodes while in the flesh ! If they do, what a host of them come back to that old house. In former days I often visited friends there
22 - HISTORY OF
and used to think what stories its old walls could tell if they could speak. But all are gone !
" Moved out of the old house up into the new,
Even unto a heavenly mansion.
Thou dear, old house ! Thou canst not feel nor see;
Inanimate I know, but still a dear, old house to me.' "
The township originally consisted of thirty-six sections but upon the construction of Defiance county, in 1845, its northern half was struck off and added to Defiance township, of that county, the sections preserving the number of the original survey. This territory was taken from Paulding county in order to make Defiance, which was to the county seat of the newly formed county, nearer its geographical center. To increase the size of Auglaize township, after its half had been cut off, sections 13, 24, 25 and 36 were taken from Emerald township and added to it on the west. The township, is therefore, seven miles in length from east to west, and three miles wide from north to south, excepting on the west tier of sections, where it is four miles in width. Owing to this addition, this township has two sections numbered 24, two 25, and two 36; these are distinguished from each other by the ranges, those taken from Emerald township being in range 3, and those in Auglaize proper, being in range 4. Through the carelessness of some county officials, serious mistakes are sometimes made in consequence of this arrangement of sections. For instance : A few years ago the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 36, town 3 north, range 4 east, was advertised to be sold at sheriff's sale, much to the surprise of the owner, as he knew nothing of the debt for which the sale of the land had been ordered. Upon inquiry into the matter, it was found that the land which should have begen advertised was of the
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 23
same description as the above, excepting the range, which should have been 3 instead of 4. This mistake in the substitution of one figure for another, slight as it was, made a difference of just six miles in the location of the two pieces of land.
The largest stream in the township is the Big Auglaize river. It flows through the western Dart from south to north. Flat Rock enters the township from the south, and Little Flat Rock and Six Mile from the west all three flow eastward and empty into the Big Auglaize. Bull Run enters from the south and empties into Big Flat Rock. Eagle Creek has its sourse in the western part of the township, flows westward and discharges its waters into the Auglaize. There are several stone quarries in the township. On the farm of Samuel M. Doyle, one-half mile east of Junction, is a quarry of blue lime, and furnished stone for the construction of many aqueducts and culverts along the line of the Miami canal, when that thoroughfare of commerce was being built ; also stone for the large iron bridge across the Auglaize river, near the location of the quarry. It has been idle for some years, but is being worked at present. Another quarry, on the farm of Jacob Davis, consists of blue, gray and white lime, and furnishes many parts of the county with stone for building and other purposes.
Frederick Ruffner built the first and only flouring mill in the township in 1865. It is located in the Village of Junction, is a frame, with two run of buhrs, turbine water wheel and is furnished power from the Miami canal. Owing to the complicated conditon of its ownership, the mill has not been in operation for several years. The first saw mill erected in the township was built by William K. Daggett, in the year of 1841. It was situated about one mile north of Junction,
24 - HISTORY OF
and was furnished power by water from the canal. This mill was in operation for nearly forty years.
The first school taught in the township was by A. C. Adams, in 1840. It was in a log cabin which stood on section 26, range 3, a small buildng with clapboard roof, puncheon floor, and stick chmney. Ten or twelve pupils were in attendance at this school. The first school house built in the township was in the village of Junction in 1854. It was a one-story frame, 28x3o feet in dimensions ; a part of it is yet standing and is used as a dwelling. Upon the organization of the other subdistricts, which occurred between the years of 1854 and 186o, they were at first furnished buildings of hewn logs, but are now all supplied with good, substantial frames, excepting the one in Junction, which is a two-story brick, built in the summer of 1876, at a cost of $2,500. In subdistrict number 4 (known as the Bethel school), is a large one-story frame with two rooms on ground floor, built in 1878, by John Q. Gray, contractor, at a cost of about $1,000. The Bethel and Junction schools each employ a principal and assistant teacher ; the remaining four subdistricts employ but one teacher each. About boo pupils receive instruction at these schools.
The first postoffice established in the township was in the village of Junction, in 1842. It was called the same as the village, and John Mason, Sr., was the first postmaster. The office still exists. One other office was established in 1882, named Arthur, in honor of Chester A. Arthur, who was then president of the United States. John Moore was the first postmaster at this office. It is located in the eastern part of the township. Junction postoffice is situated on a mail route, 'extending from Delphos to Defiance, and has a tri-weekly mail—Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Arthur is on a star route leading only
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from that point to Defiance, and receives a bi-weekly mail--Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The first sermon preached in the township was in the cabin home of John Mason, Sr., by a Methodist minister named Solomon Biggs. The first church organization effected in the township was at Junction, in 1849. by a Methodist Episcopal minister named Adams, and the first Sabbath-
school was opened the same year by that reverend gentleman. There are now five religous organizations in the township--the Christian, the Methodist, the United Brethren, the German Reform and Catholic—ali of which have church edifices, the last four named being in the Junction and the first named at Arthur, five miles east of the Junction.
The only village in the township is Junction. It was laid out in 1842 by John Mason, Sr, and Nathan Shirley, It is situated in the western part of the township at the Junction of the Wabash and Erie and Miami canals. In its early days it was a flourishing and enterprising place, so• much so, that Capt. Dana Columbia sold his property on Columbia street in the now busy city of Fort Wayne, and located at the Junction, believng that he would better his chances for gaining wealth by so doing. In those days canals were the great thoroughfares for commerce, and the opening of the Wabash and Erie and Miami extension canals gave to Junction its flattering prospects. Daily lines of packets. ran on both canals, and many passengers were transferred at this place. This gave a prosperous business for hotels, of which there two or three. There were three or four large,. well-filled dry goods stores and groceries ; three large warehouses for the storage of grain ; canal collector's office and residence and half a dozen saloons. The wharves were lined with canal boats, loading and unloading grain and other freight, giving to the village the semblance of an embryo city,.
26 - HISTORY OF
which many of its citizens believed it to be. But commerce found other channels than the canals through which to discharge its wealth ; and for many years the dust of decay has been settling upon the once thrivng village. The warehouses have all burned, and many of the other buildings have rotted down. The streets have a forlorn and wo-begone appearance, so much so, that if Goldsmith had traversed them he might have been inspired to improve upon his celebrated poem, "The Deserted Village," if improvement was possible. In common parlance, the place has been going "down hill" for several years, and farmers in that vicinity remark that "its site will make a good corn field when its rubbish is moved away."
Brown Township.—This township was the third to be organized in the county, which event occurred in 1839. It' received its name from Fort Brown, a small stockade that was built at the confluence of the Big Auglaize and Little Auglaize rivers in the year of 1812, and occupied for a short time by a detachment of Gen. Harrison's army, commanded by Col. Brown. The stockade was soon abandoned and all traces of its fortifications are now obliterated. The township, when first organized, included Auglaize, Washington, batty, Jackson and Blue Creek townships. Christian Shroufe was the first white man and actual settler in the township. His rude cabin and pioneer home was erected about one mile south of where now stands the thriving little village of Oakwood, on the Litchenberg farm. Mr. Shroufe settled in the township in the year of 1826. He was shortly after followed by Dr. John Kingery, Robert Shirley, John Hudson, Pierce Taylor, John Kimmell and "Grandpap" Jeffrey. In 1837 came John W. Ayres and the Hawkins family ; in 1845 Dr. Royal B. Cooper ; and later, about the years of 1849-50, the flow of immigration became quite extensive and
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 27
the township received a number of settlers. Among them the writer remembers the following : James M. Russell, Harrison Hanville, Jacob Keck, Andrew Linnaberry, Webster Jones, Chester Sackett, Jacob Switzer, James Mather, John and William Stair, A. L. Darling, E. W. Gleason, Dwight G. Blakeslee, Rodney Young, the Bidlock family, Daniel and Jacob May, the Robinson and Lighthill families, C. J. Freede, Sr., Eli Budd, Samuel, Andrew, Jesse and Robert Caskey, Joseph Williams, John Kretzinger and Josiah Hoover. A few years later came the Fuller and Burt families. These may all be justly classed with the pioneers. of Brown township. Some of them, happy in old age, are yet living to enjoy the fruits of their early struggles ; a few have found homes in other lands ; but many are dead—gone fo that bourne whence none return—and their descendants, now themselves whitening with the snow of age, live to honor and perpetuate the memory of their fathers by telling the story of their struggles and hardships as pioneers. The first election held in the township was at Fort Brown in 1830, at which there were about forty-five votes cast, the voters coming from what are now Auglaize, Washington and Brown townships. The first justice of the peace elected was Dr. John Kingery. The other first officers are unknown. There are thirty-six sections in the township, none of which are fractional. The principal stream is the Big Auglaize. It enters the township near the southeast corner, flows westerly arid northerly and leaves it near the northwest corner. The Little Auglaize and Blue Creek are small western affluents of the Big Auglaize.
An. extensive stone quarry was worked, between the years of 1855-6o, by Hon. C: L. Noble, one mile south of Charloe, also a stone mill for sawing stone, at Canal Port, near by. Neither is operated at present. The first grist mill
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in the township was built by Pierce Evans in 1834. It was located on the Little Auglaize, near its mouth, and was soon washed away by high water. A saw mill was run in connection with this mill, and was the first in the township. A few rods above the former site of this mill, on the same stream, stands a flouring mill, owned by Alexander Brown. It was erected in 1849-50, by Jacob Switzer, and was for many years the only flouring mill in the township. The first steam saw mill in the township. also in the county, was erected in 1852, at Charloe, by Dwight G. Blakeslee. the old form of upright saw was used. The first school taught in the township was by John D. Carlton, in the year of 1834. It was taught in an unoccupied cabin on the farm lately owned by D. C. Carey, near Charloe, and fifteen or twenty pupils were in attendance. The first school house in the township was erected at Charloe in 1835. It was a log cabin, 20x24 feet in size. There are now ten school buildings in the township, all good substantial frames, excepting the two-story brick at Oakwood, erected in 1884, at a cost of about $2,600. The buildings at Oakwood, Charloe and Melrose, have two rooms and employ two teachers; the other districts, but one. The first postoffice in the township was at Ft. Brown. It was on the route from Piqua to Defiance, and the mail was carried on horseback once a week. On the opening of the Miami canal the route was changed and the office became extinct. The present offices are at Charloe, Oakwood and Melrose. The first sermon preached n the township was by a Methodist Episcopal divine named 1. J. Hill, in 1830. He established a church about that date war Charloe. Among its first members were Rhoda Hudson and Robert Shirley and wife. There are now seven church difices in the township ; two at Melrose, Methodist Episopal and Disciple; two at Oakwood, the old and new Meth-
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 29
odist Episcopal (the old one will be abandoned upon the -completion of the new) ; Prairie Run chapel, U. B., one mile east from Oakwood; Centenary chapel, U. B., in the north part of the township, and the Lutheran, -near Charloe. The first Sabbath school in the township was organized at Charloe, by C. B. West, in 1841 Regarding this pioneer Sunday school, the Paulding Republican, of July 23, 1891, has the following : "What is at present known as the Charloe Union Sunday school, was the first, and consequently is the oldest Sunday school in . Paulding county. It was organized in 1841, by C. B. West, who held the superintendency until he moved away in 1850. David C. Carey was then chosen superintendent, and held the office until 1870, when he was elected probate judge, which necessitated his moving to Paulding. Dwight G. Blakeslee was next chosen, and remained superintendent for one year, when, upon his moving to Oakwood, Mr. Blakeslee was reinstated. The school is in a flourishing condition, the highest average in the school's existence—'41-91 ! Fifty years ! Fifty annual elections of officers and yet only three different superintendents, excepting Eli Day and Martin Myres, who each held the office three or four months. Is there a Sunday school in this state than can excel this record?"
Canal Port St. Andrews and Newbergh are now extinct villages of the township—all three having been absorbed by Melrose. St. Andrew's was laid out May 31, 1850, by James M. and Alexander Mather, two gentlemen of Scottish descent, from New Brunswick, and was named after the patron saint of Scotland. Newbergh (Royal Oak postoffice) was laid out aMy 7, 1851, by David Shriver and Leonard Kimmel. A. L. Darling opened the first place of business in this place of 1850. It was a small grocery store kept in the
30 - HISTORY OF
front room of a small cabin in which he resided. On a small white oak tree in front of this house he nailed a piece of a store box, upon which was traced, in rude charcoal characters, the words, "Royal Oak Grocery." From this fact came the name which the place always bore. Canal Port, on the canal, one mile north of Charloe, was known as Exchange bridge. (The towing path changed sides of canal at this place.) It was never but little more than a "paper town," although Mr. J. A. Boyd, an enterprising timber dealer of the county, for many years did an extensive mercantile business at this point, and yet resides here, in what is known as the `seven gabled-house." At Canal Port was also formerly located a stone mill, for sawing stone obtained from the Noble quarry, with which it was connected by a tramway about one-half a mile in length. At this mill for several 'ears, between 1858 and 1868, large blocks of magnesian imestone were sawn into handsome building blocks and argely exported. The stone was a beautrful buff color, conaining nodules of chert, and was found in the quarry in ayers about four feet in thickness. The mill and tramway lave gone to decay, and the quarry is no longer worked, al- hough it is thought that large quantities of excellent stone ould yet be obtained from it. It lies just above the mouth of Slue creek, on the west side of the Auglaize river, one mile outh of Charloe. Charloe is the oldest village in the town- hip, and will be described under the head of "County Seats," urther on in the work. Oakwood was laid out as a village September 17, 1872, by William C. Hedges, and the sureying done by L. E. Holtz, of Ottawa. As early. however, s 1851, goods were sold by John Crosson, who owned the arm upon which much of the village stands. In 1854, when' le Tiffin & Fort Wayne railroad (now Nickel Plate) was being built, a general store was opened by a contractor named
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Hazen, and run until the road collapsed. Shortly after the war, S: S. Shisler and N. C. Whiting opened small country stores in the place, and Mr. Whiting established a ferry for the transportation of teams and passengers across the Augiaize. A postoffice was establishee some years before the town was laid out, on a mail route leading from Ottawa to Charloe. This route was maintained until the opening of the Nickel Plate, in 1881. The place received a boom in 1871-72, while the "Continental railway" was in process of construction, but it was not until some ten years later, on the completion of the New York, Chicago, St. Louis & Pacific railway, that it began to show signs of permanent thrift, upon which has been built a prosperous and enterprising village. It now contains the large and well conducted grocery houses of A. N. Wiseley and Levi C. Kech; the dry goods and clothing house of Electius Wiseley ; an excellent drug store, by I. L. Ackley ; large hardware store by S. S. Shisler ; several restaurants ; the Nickel Plate hotel, John Rumele proprietor ; Garland house by F. Andrews ; good depot building, two-story brick school house, steam flouring mill ; saw mill and planing mill, Josiah Hoover proprietor ; two physicians. The village is incorporated and has a population of about 400.
Melrose, a rival of Oakwood in commercial importance, is located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate railroad and Miami canal, two miles west of the above described village. It was laid out, about the year 1854, by Messrs. Gibson & Pennington, but had only one house and used only as a banking ground for ship timber until about the year of 1872, when Amos Rathburn erected a building and began business. The town remained only a small packet landing until 1881, • when, upon the opening of the Nickel Plate, several large business buildings were immediately erected, among the first
32 - HISTORY OF
being that of Alex Brown, a general store and hotel. He was followed by George W. Bentley, dry goods and groceries ; the general store of J. G. Patterscn & Co.; Grant & Edwards, hardware merchants: J. H. Myres, hotel ; J. H. Shirley, grocery house and several other places of business.
Blue Creek Township.—In the year of 1837, Robert Barnhill cut a winding road up the forest-covered banks of Blue Creek, built a log cabin on the southwest quarter of section 14, and became the first actual settler of the township. He was followed in 1839 by Robert Hakes, James Cunningham and Daniel Traul, who with their families may be said to be the first settlers of the township. The settlement made by them was on sections 14 and 15, then in the heart of a dense forest, ten Miles from any other settlement. These hardy pioneers, like most others, were hunters and depended largely upon the fruits of the chase for subsistence until their farms could be cleared and the cereals grown. Upon the site of this first settlement are now some of the finest farms in the county. The first white child born in the township was George Hakes, son of Robert and Caroline Hakes. He grew up to manhood, entered the Union army in the early days of the civil war, and became one of its victims dying of disease at Nashville, Tenn. Robert Hakes remained a few years in Blue Creek township, then became a citizen of Brown township, settling near Oakwood, where he lived until happy old age, and then found rest beneath the silent clay. The descriptve location of the township is town 1, range 2 north. It was organized in 1846, but was not attached to Brown until April 6,, 1857, when an election was held at the Reed school house, in sub-district number 1. At this election, the first in the township, eleven voters cast their ballots, named as follows : I. N Glover, Joseph Reed,.
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Hiram Davis, Alanson McCombs, John Eller, James Barnhill, Lewis Place, Samuel R. Glover, Joseph Bowyer and R. W. Haskins. The first officers elected were Joseph Bowyer, Hiram Davis and Roswell Haskins, trustees ; Joseph Reed, treasurer ; I. N. Glover, clerk ; Alanson McCombs, assessor, and Hiram Davis, constable. There are thirty-six sections in the township, of which sections, I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 are fractional. Robert McDaniel and Maria Barnhill were the first couple to be united in the holy bonds of matrimony in the township This marriage contract was solemnized October 19, 1839. Blue Creek, after which the township was named, is the only stream in the township, and flows through it from southeast to northwest. The soil is a rich, black loam, from one to two feet in depth. The surface is low and level, and covered with a heavy growth of ash, elm, oak, hickory, cottonwood and sycamore timber ; yellow poplar, hard maple and beech are found along the creek. There are no flouring mills in the township. The first sawmill was erected in the eastern part of the township in the winter of 1870-71. The first school taught in the township was by Marie Smith in the year of 1850. It was in a log house on the Reed farm. Seven pupils were in attendance. There are now nine districts in the township, all sup. plied with good houses. Dague and Scott have special districts and graded schools. The first sermon preached in the township was at the residence of Joseph Reed, in 1848, by Rev. Luther, a Free Will Baptist minister. At the same place, in 185o, Rev. Abram Shingledecker, of the U. B. denomination, organized the first church, of which the following were the first members : Joseph, Mary and Lucinda Reed and John, Nancy, William, Hannah and Edmund Barker. The second church organized was in the win,ter of 1871-72, at the Reed school house, by Rev. Graham, a United
34 - HISTORY OF
Brethren minister. There are now four church societies in the township : s United Brethren, Methodist, Baptist and Christian. All have church edifices The first Sabbath school organized in the township was at the Reed school house, in 1851, by Samuel Stone. The first postoffice was established in the township in 1872. It was located on the Paulding and Van Wert pike, and named Point Pleasant. Upon the opening of the Mackinaw railroad the office was moved to Dague.
Benton Township.—This township, town 1, range 1, is the southwest corner township of the county. It received, for its first settlers, Jonathan, David and George Ball, John Northup, Daniel Malott, Henry Shugars. Jacob Henry, John Ricks, Deliverance Brown, James M. Anderson and David Malott. The first settlement was made about the year of 1839, on section 17. The first cabin was built by Jonathan Ball, who, with his family, ventured in the forest wilds and commenced the building up of a beautiful home Phebe E. Ball was the first white child born in the township her parents were George and Bethena Ball. The first marriage solemnized in the township was that of David Malott and Nancy Ball, in the year of 1840. Death waved its dark wand and Nancy, wife of Jonathan Ball, was its first victim in the township. This sad event occurred in August, 1843. Death is ever surrounded with its terrors, but among our pioneers its stern relentlessness fell with apparently a heavier stroke than in a more populous country. The solemnity of a burial among the early settlers, where a wife, mother and friend, was laid away to her lonely rest beneath the somber shade of the oak, or the elm, left its sad impression for many months. The organization of the township took place in 1843, and the first election was held on the first Monday of April of that year, by order of A. H. Palmer, clerk of the
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 35
board of commissioners, at the residence of John Northup, a building which stood about twenty feet north of where old Mr. Jordan now lives in the village of Payne. Thomas Wentworth, Jonathan Ball and David Malott, were judges, and Theodore G. Merchant and Daniel Malott, were clerks. The township at that time embraced within its limits what are now Harrison and Paulding townships. Six of the voters, Daniel and David Malott, William, David and Jonathan Ball and John Northup, were residents of Bentcn proper; B. B. Woodcock, Niram Strout and. Thomas Wentworth, lived in what is now Harrison, and John Fisher and Theodore G. Merchant, in what is now Paulding township. The officers elected at this election were : Daniel Malott, clerk ; Theodore G. Merchant, treasurer Thomas Wentworth, John Shepard and David Malott, trustees ; Niram Strout, assessor ; David Malott, constable, and William Ball, B. B. Woodcock and David Malott, fence viewers. An incident is related of one of the first elections of this township which is worthy of note in this work, if not worthy of imitation. It is illustrative of the honesty of purpose of the first voters of the county and is as follows : An election was held at the- house of John Northup, the ballot box being Mr. Northup's old opossum skin cap. Dana Columbia, of Junction, was a candidate for the office of county commissioner; but after the balloting had proceeded for some 'length of time; a horseman arrived post-haste, and by speaking so derogatorily of the character of Mr. Columbia, and by so emphatically declaring that he was not a suitable person for the office, he so influenced several of the voters as to cause them to want to change their votes. After some parleying with the judgeS and clerks, it was decided to begin the election over again. Accordingly the old "'possum" skin cap was turned upside
down, the tickets already cast emptied out and thrown away,
36 - HISTORY OF
and a new ballot taken. This was certainly a wide departure from the Australian system of balloting, but it resulted in the defeat of Mr. Columbia, and the illegality of the proceeding was never tested. There are thirty-six sections in the township, none fractional. Flat Rock creek is the largest stream in the township, flowing from southeast to northwest. Blue creek and Paulding run are also streams in the township. The first public school was taught by W. H. Kilpatrick in 1854, in a log cabin on section 16. The first frame school house in the township was erected in the autumn of 1863. It was located on section 20, and was 20x20 feet in size. Its cost of building was $375.
Crane Township.—This township, the first to be organized in the county, received its name from Oliver, Crane, one of its early settlers. Its organization took place in 1825 and at its first election Gen. Horatio N. Curtis was elected justice of the peace. A record of the other first officers has not been preserved and their names are unknown. The first settlements were made about the year 1822. The first settlers were : Oliver Crane, Ephraim Seeley, Samuel Hughes, Ephraim Burwell, Samuel Jordan and Dennison Hughes. There were many Indians camped along the river then, but they were generably peaceable and kind to the settlers, excepting when under the influence of whisky, at which time they were sullen and quarrekome. Mrs. Lattimore relates an incident of an Indian named Ant. Wayne, who was cruel to his wife. One day he came home in a state of beastly intoxication, when his squaw, concluding that she would get even with her copper-colored lord, gave him a severe chastisement, which entirely cured him of his cruelty to her. At the time of the first settlement the forests of the township abounded with game, and fish was plentiful and easily obtained. It is related that the fish were so thick on the fords of the Mau-
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 37
mee as to frighten and impede the progress of horses. The first postoffice established in the township was Cranesville, located near the site of New Rochester. There are now two offrcers within the township limits—Cecil and Knoxdale. The first marriage in the township was that of Mr. Young and Miss Sherry, in 1825, and was solemnized by Oliver Crane. The first school in the township was taught in 1827, in a small log house which stood on the north bank of the Maumee, about two miles northeast of Cecil. The first school house was built in the village of New Rochester, in the year of 1836. It was a log cabin 20x24 feet in size, and until a few years ago its moldering remains yet stood and were pointed out to the writer as the last house standing in the once enterprising and bustling village. All the rest had been battered down by the storms of time, and now this one, too, is gone. There are eight school districts in the township at present, all supplied with good houses. The only grist mill ever built in the township was erected on the Marie-DeLarme, in 1850. It was a small frame and was built by Zachariah Ashton. It was in operation for only a few years and has long since rotted down. The early settler's got their grain converted into flour and meal at a mill in Brunersburg, Defiance county, erected by a Mr. Perkins, in 1828-29, and was one of the first flouring mills built in the Maumee valley. Up to the erection of this mill, the nearest one to the settlers of Crane township was at Waterville, about fifty miles down the Maumee. In those early days transportation was generally done by means of pirogues on the river; but sometimes by ox teams, and the journey to and from often occupied several days and was full of hardships and danger. During these milling excursions, the wife and little ones of the pioneer remained at home alone, often with scanty fare, and with anxious hearts awaited his return. A story is told of
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an instance where the team of a pioneer perished in one of these trips, and he, himself, only escaped with feet and hands so badly frozen as to maim and cripple him for life. Such were the trials and hardships of the early settlers. Well may we pay to their memory that reverence which is their due. The first village of the township was New Rochester. It was located on section 11, avid a more extensive history of the place will be given elsewhere in this work. Cecil and Knoxdale are the preent villages of the township. Cecil, located at the crossing of the Wabash and Mackinaw railroads, was laid out April 1, 1871, by Martin N. Utley, and is now a thriving place of about four hundred inhabitants. It has a fine two-story brick school house, built in 1879; a two-story town hall, also of brick ; three churches, Methodist, United Brethren and Catholic ; all frame structures ; fine hotel, two depot buildings, saw mill and tile factory, large stave factory, owned and operated by Beugnot Bros. ; and several business houses, the principal of which may be mentioned is the large general store of M. N. Utley. Knoxdale is only a small station on the Wabash railroad, five miles west of Cecil. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,202 ; in 1890, it was 1,417. The number of voters May 18, 1891 was 355.
Carryall Township.—This township occupies a position in the northwest corner of the county. It was the second to be organized, and for many years was the most flourishing and populous. It derived its name from a large rock in the Maumee river, just above Antwerp, which was shaped like a boat used by the French voyagers in navigating the river, and called by them a "carryall." James Hinton settled in the township as a "squatter" in the spring of 1827. In the autumn of the same year David Applegate built the first log cabin and became the first actual settler. He was followed
PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO - 39
in 1828 by Brasier Campbell, William Banks, Reason V. Spurrier, Thomas Runyan, Robert Murphy, Sr., Zachariah Graves, Dennison Hughes and Samuel Holton. Among other early settlers are A. J. Smith, who came from New York state in 1830 ; Wilson H. Snook, Sr., and William N. Snook, who came from Warren county, Ohio, in 1834; Jesse Pocock and Joseph Cole, in 1844 ; Henry Oswalt, in 1847, and John L. Chaney, in 185o. The township was organized in 1829, and the first election was held in a log cabin which stood about one-half a mile north of the present limits of Antwerp. Twelve votes were cast at this election—the names of some of the voters being as follows : David Applegate, Richard Banks, William Banks, Thomas C. Banks, Sr., Robert Murphy, Sr., Thomas Runyan, Hugh E. Runyan, William Rodgers and A. J. Smith. The first township officers elected were : Reason V. Spurrier, treasurer ; Robert Murphy, clerk ; Richard Banks, William Rodgers and A. J. Smith, trustees. Many of the representative men of the township at present are descendants of the above named families. Wilson H. Snook was county commissioner nine years, and a member of the Ohio state legislature one term. He erected the first frame barn in the township, and in the orchard he planted are yet to be found trees grown from seed. furnished by that famous follower of Swedenborg, generally known as "Johnny Appleseed." This eccentric individual was born in Massachusetts in 1775. His real name was Jonathan Chapman, but from the fact that he always carried a load of apple seeds with him he derived the cognomen of "Johnny Appleseed." He was a harmless old man, whose .hobby was to travel from place to place along streams in the wilderness, and plant apple seeds. He traveled throughout Ohio, and even as far west as Illinois. The first orchard he planted in Ohio was on the present farm of Isaac Stodden, in Licking county. He
40 - HISTORY OF
died in Allen county, Indiana, near Fort Wayne. Several of the first settlers of the county remember of having seen him. Judge Carey has an article regarding him n the Oakwood Sentinel, of August 6, 1891, of which the following is an extract :
"He lived for others solely, so far as I remember him, denying himself all the comforts of life, unless it was the comfort of knowing that he was doing great and lasting good. He seemed proof against peril and empowered with ubiquity. The Indians considered him crazy, fed and warmed him, but never molested him as he traveled through their wilds and up and down their streams ; I may not he able to relate much that is new or old in regard to Johnny. When I was quite young, four or five years old, I remember he stayed at my father's house (Isaac Carey), clothed in rags, and shoes bound on his feet ty strings to hold them on his feet and the pieces of shoes from parting company. He seemed as happy as a lark, and I might as well say here that he was full of exhortation and good words, a good supply of religious tracts that he distributed. With a liberal hand in every cabin where they could read. Johnny was a follower and believer in Emanuel Swedenborg, and a member of the New Jerusalem church. Johnny, I remember, was not a believer in fire and brimstone combined and burning forever ; for he said that he thought that the worst part of hades would not be worse than smoky houses and scolding women. But Johnny was a bachelor, and that may account for a part of that fling at the scolding women. My father, on one occasion, asked Johnny why he never married ; he turned the subject by saying that in the world to come he should have a wife. He would not wear good clothes. My father at one time made him a present of a pair of shoes about as good as new, expecting he would put them on ; bit no ; he packed
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them away in his bundle of valuables and packed them on, saying they were too good to wear, but they would make a fine present for some needy person. Johnny not only peddled apple seeds, but catnip, pennyroyal and hoarhound, and in that way these streams in an early day had these useful herbs. Johnny, if crazy, and I do not think he was, knew where to place his nurseries at the head of streams, and then, with a canoe loaded with apple trees, float down stream with a light pot or tin pail on his head, stopping at the cabins and giving out seeds and selling, or pretending to sell, trees, as I think he but seldom, if ever, got much value for the same."
The first white child born in the toweship was William R. Banks, December 28, 1828. He is yet living, is justly proud of the notoriety which his birth has given him, and often furnishes pioneer reminiscences to the county papers. His parents' names were William and Hester Banks. The- first marital vows that were plighted in the township were those of David P. Murphy and Nancy P. Runyan. They were married in 1829, by H. N. Curtis, Esq. Mr. Murphy died in 1834, and his wife, after living a widow thirty-seven years, took her second husband, Dr. B. B. Woodcock. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 30, 1808, her parents being Thomas and Hannah Runyan, who came to the Maumee country in 1824 There are thirty-six sections in the township, none of which are fractional. The Maumee is the principal stream of the township. It enters near the southwest corner and flows northeasterly through it. Along this stream are many large tracts of bottom lands, and many fine farms. The Marie-de-Larme is a small creek which flows easterly through the northern part of the township. It has a north and south fork. Six Mile creek crosses the southern portion of the township. A reservoir, which serves as a feeder to the Wabash and Erie canal, laid partly in this
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township and partly in Crane. It was formed by throwing tip an embankment and cutting off the waters of Six Mile creek. The reservoir was abandoned by an act of legislature in 1888, and the channel of the creek again opened as originally. A stone quarry of blue lime was formerly opened in the bed of the Maumee river a short distance below Antwerp, but is not worked at present. A man named William Roberts taught the first school in the township, in 1833. It was a select school, taught in a log cabin, and numbered about fifteen pupils. The building stood on the north bank of the Maumee, about two miles northeast of Antwerp, near the present residence of Conrad Slough. About one-half of the ground upon which the house stood has been washed away by the river. John Billieu, John Snook and R. S. Banks taught in this building in early days. There are now ten school houses in the township, all good frame structures, excepting the Union school building at Antwerp, which is a fine two-story brick, containing six rooms. The first and only flouring mill ever in the township was erected by Peter Snook and James W. Johnson, in the year of 1872. It is located in the village of. Antwerp, is run by steam power, and is now owned and operated by Thomas Carr. The first saw mill was erected in 1854, by Alexander Comparet. It was run by steam power. There are now several steam saw mills in the township.
The first postoffice in the township was located about two miles east of Antwerp. It was named Paulding-Williams office. The first postmaster was Reason V. Spurrier. The first mail-carrier was John Owens. He traveled on horseback on the route lying between Fort Wayne and Defiance. The first sermon preached in this township was at the residence of William Banks, about two miles east of Antwerp, by a Methodist minister named Pryor.
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It is stated, however, that there was one sermon preached before this one, by a man namd Wood, but as he stole a receipt for a wolf's scalp and ran away, his sermon did not have a very Christianizing effect, and was ignored by the citizens. Shakespeare's sentence, "He stole the livery of Heaven to serve the devil in," is certainly applicable to this erring divine. Was he a sheep in a wolf's clothing, or vice versa? Let us hope for him that he repented of his larcenic act and was forgiven. The first members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Carryall were William and Hester Banks, Reason and Mary Spurrier, Dennison and Hannah Hughes, Joel and Marie Munson, John and Mary Banks, Hugh E. and Sophia Runyan, W. H. Snook and wife.
A United Brethren church was organized, in 1846, by David Landis, in a log school-house, near what was then called Clark's Corners. Some of its first members were, Rachel, Chase and Rebecca Wentworth, John and Harriet Collins, and Sophia Brown. A third church organization took place September 20, 1847, near McCormick's Corners. Richard Banks and wife, Mr. and Mrs. John Banks, Joseph Clark and wife, Jesse Brown and wife, and Susan Brown, were some of the first members. There are seven church buildings in the township-one Catholic, one Presbyterian, one Christian, two Methodist, and two United Brethren. The first Sunday school in the township was organized in 185o, by John Lincoln and Henry A. Brown.
Emerald Township.—This township, although settled as early as 1826, was not organized until 1852. Prior to that time it was attached to Crane township. The first actual settler was William Gordon, who, in the spring of 1826, built a small cabin on the bank of the Maumee, in the northwest corner of the township, and moved his family therein. In the following year the settlement begun by Mr. Gordon
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received an addition by the settling of George Plattor, Guy Hamilton and John Musselman, who also built cabins along the Maumee, and commenced battling with the frowning forest. Of these first settlers, John Musselman yet lives on the farm which he cleared up; and at the advanced age of ninety years is one of the best preserved specimens of pioneer life in the county. He is in the enjoyment of good health, is an extensive reader, especially of the county papers, and is thoroughly posted on all the leading topics of the day. Among other early settlers who became residents of the town' ship may be mentioned John Fahy, who came in 1838, and Lyal Tate and Richard Carle, in 1840. These last named pioneers settled along the line of the Wabash and Erie canal, which was then in process of construction. Mr. Carle was a stone-cutter, and assisted in stone work along the canal. He died in 1880, aged about sixty-five years. Mr. Tate was a contractor on the canal, and became one of the first and most successful merchants of the township. In 1887, fifty years after his emigration to America, and Queen Victoria's jubilee year, he visited the home of his birth, in the north of Ireland, accompanied by his only son, Samuel J., and returned after an absence of six weeks. He died in Paulding in 1890, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Fahy became a farmer near Tate's Landing, and died in the spring of 1891, aged eighty-nine years. The first election in the township was held in 1852, at the residence of Lina Parish, on Six Mile creek. The first officers elected were : John Musselman, justice of the peace ; Abraham Latty, clerk ; Anthony Whip- part, treasurer, and Lina Parish, Thomas Whalen, Sr., and Richard L. Carle, trustees. The township received its name from the fact that a number of the noble "sons of Erin" had settled within its limits. The first school in the township was taught by Isaac McCowan, in a cabin belonging to David
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Hughes, and situated on section 5. It had a clap-board roof, stick chimney, mud fire place, and a seating capacity of about twenty, which number of pupils attended. The first school house was located on section 6. It was built by John Mussel- man for a residence, bue was sold by him to the township for a school house. There are now eight schools in the township (one especially for colored pupils.) Three of the sub- districts have good brick buildings, and the township board of education has arranged to erect brick buildings in each of the remaining districts whenever new houses are needed. The township has two postoffices--Reid's and Emmett. Reid's was the first to be established and was so called in honor of Captain Robert M. Reid, who was largely instrumental in securing its establishment. It is located on the defunct Wabash and Erie canal, in the western part of the. township. Daily mails are carried between this office and Emmett, on the Wabash railroad, two and one-half miles north of Reids.
The first religious society organized in the township was at the residence of Thomas E. Jones, in the year of 1866. Its denominations was United Brethren, and the first preacher was Michael Johnson. There are now four church organizations in the township and two church buildings. The colored U. B. church hold their meetings at the school house in subdistrict No. 1. The Evangelical Lutherans held their meetings at the residences of members until the year of 1870, when the society erected a hewed log building, two miles east of Tate's landing. It is called Mt. Zion church. The present membership is about fifty. The old school house in the Scott district was purchased by the Christian society and fitted up for a church. The first saw mill in the township was built at Tate's landing, in the year of 1859, by Francis Reiniche
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and his father-in-law, Theibault Didier.. It has steam power, and is now owned by Francis Reiniche, who, in 1880, put in machinery for cutting staves and is now doing a flourishing business. There are no flouring mills in the township. The Maumee river is the principal stream of the township, and crosses its northwestern part. Six Mile, Gordon creek, and, big and little Flat Rock creeks are its other streams. Tate's landing and Emerald ire small villages in the township. Neither is incorporated. Emerald, at one time, was quite a flourishing place. For many years it was the nearest railroad station to the town of Paulding, and much of the freight and passenger traffic for that village was transferred here. It contained a telegraph and express office, hotel, two general stores, and was connected with Paulding by a daily hack line. On the opening of the Paulding & Cecil railroad, in 1880, the fate of Emerald was decided. Since that date it has been on the decline. The telegraph and express office has been removed to Cecil and the hack line to Paulding has ben discontinued. Only one small grocery store is now kept in place, and the two principal merchants of Emerald in its palmy days—Pat Haley and Peter Schehr—have become tillers of the soil. The nucleus around which gathers the mercantile business of Tate's landing is the stave factory of Francis Reiniche. He has a general store, and his son, Joseph, Reiniche, and Conrad Kinkle, are the proprietors of groceries and restaurants. James Powers owns and operates a tile mill and brick kiln in the southern part of the township. Peter Bakel, John W. Wortman, D. C. Thqmpson, John Kinzer, E. Chemin, John Powers, William Hanenkratt, P. L. Anderson and Alex. Scott, are among the prominent farmers of the township. Judge A. S. Latty, a resident of Defiance, has a fine farm and country residence one mile south of Emerald ; also Judge S. T. Sutphen, of Defiance, has a fine
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farm and residence in the township. The township contains only thirty-two sections ; sections 13, 24, 25 and 36 having been added to Auglaize township.
Harrison Township .—To Thomas Wentworth is accredited the honor of being the first actual settler of this township. He erected a log cabin in the year of 1837, with his wife and little ones, soon after occupied the same. This little forest-surrounded home was located on section 36, about two miles east of where now stands the stirring village of Payne, and was, at the time of building, ten miles from any other human habitation. Mr. Wentworth, having opened up a pathway into this wild and primitive region, was shortly after followed by Phineas S. Russell, Theodore G. Merchant, Fielding A. Hughes, Niram Strout, John Sheppard and Adam and Jonathan
Snellenberger, who built cabins near that of Mr. Wentworth, thus forming what was known for many years as the "Flat Rock Settlement." A few years afterwards came other pioneers, who settled in various parts of the township ; among these may be mentioned, David Malott, Edward Rice, Thos. Lamb, Francis Quince, John Ryel and job Pugh. The first white child born in the township was John Russell in 1843. His parents' names were Phineas S. and Louise Russell. The first couple married in the township was John Lincoln and Harriet E. Wentworth. The father of the bride, Thomas Wentworth, performed the ceremony. This couple settled in Carryall township and reared a highly respectable family of one son and two daughters. The son removed to Utah and became an eminent Methodist Episcopal minister, and the girls became successful teachers in graded schools. Mrs. Lincoln lived many years after the death of her husband, and died in 1887, respected by all who knew her. The township was organized in 1844, and the first election was held at the residence of Dr. B. B.
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Woodcock, on the first Monday of April, same year. Paulding township was then included in the voting precinct. The number of ballots cast was twelve. The names of voters residing in Harrison, proper, were B. B. Woodcock, Thomas Wentworth, James Wentworth, Theodore G. Merchant, Niram Strout, John Sheppard, James Lattimore and Charles C. Anderson. Those residing in Paulding township were A. F. Hughes, Daniel Sevengood, John Fisher and Joel Culver. B. B. Woodcock was the frrst township clerk. There are thirty—six sections in the township. All bordering on the north and west lines are fractional ; the remaining ones are full sections. There are four streams in the township. The principal one is Flat Rock, which flows through the southeast corner of the township. Six Mile creek flows through the northwest corner of the township. Much of the land along this creek was injured by the back water from the reservoir, and, it is said that this township sent several volunteers to :he famous "Reservoir War," which led to the abandonment of the great nuisance and reclaimed the land from the watery element. A small branch of Six Mile rises in section 18 and eaves township in section 1. Wild Cat creek is a small tribuary of Fiat Rock. There are no grist mills in the township. The first saw mill in the township was erected by Adam Snellenberger in 1858. It was located on the northeast quarter of section 36, and was run by water power. There are now several steam saw mills in the township.
The first step taken toward the education of the youth was in a select school taught by Mrs. Caroline Merchant, in [844, at the residence of her husband, Theodore G. Merchant. The building was located on section 36, and about fifteen pupils were in attendance. The school was taught more for be purpose of disseminating knowledge than for the paltry emuneration received, and proved in after years to have
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been seed sown upon good ground. This estimable Christian lady, then a young wife, but now for many years a widow,. resides at the little city of Westerville, Ohio, and often, no doubt, as she sits at eventide by the window of her residence, and looks out upon the towering walls of Otterbein University, her thoughts wander away through the dim vistas of the past to the pioneer days of her youth when she taught a little class of backwoods pupils in the wilds of Paulding county. All honor to this first teacher of Harrison township. Let the petagogues of to-day pay to the memory of this primitive teacher that tribute which she so richly deserves. The first school house in the township was built in the year of 1850. It was a log cabin, 16x20 feet in size, and situated on the northwest quarter of section thirty-six. There are at present eight school houses in the township ; all good frame structures and supplied with modern -furniture. Payne has a graded school and employs four teachers. The first post-office was located at the house of Adam Snellenberger in the year of 1858. Mr. Snellenberger was the first postmaster. The office was on a route leading from Paulding to Monroeville, Ind. It was called Payne. It was moved to Malottville in 1872, but still retained its former name; and in 1881, the name of the village of Malottville was changed to Payne, the same as the office. There is one other office in the township. It is called Smiley, and is located on the Nickel Plate railway, three miles west of Payne. The first sermon preached in the township was at the residence of Theodore G. Mer-chant, in the year of 1843, by Rev. Joseph Miller, a United Brethren minister. The lrst church society was organized at the same place, the same year, by Rev. Joseph Miller, assisted by Rev. Charles B. Gardner. It was of the U. B. denomination, and its first members were as follows : Theodore G. Merchant and wife, Niram Strout and wife, John
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Northup and wife, William and Sarah Sheppard, Mrs. H. J. Woodcock. The second church was organized, in 1864, by Rev. John Brakefield, and was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Louis Stillwell was first clasleader. The first members of this society were Louis Stillwell and wife, P. W. Hardesty and wife, A. F. Hardesty and wife, Anna Hardesty, Jonathan Snellenberger and Caroline Christopher. The Flat Rocks society of the Disciple church was organized March 18, 1877, with fifteen members, Elder E. Leavitt minister in charge. The first officers appointed were Samuel Wiltzie, Jonas Fry, A. D. Underwood, Evans Wood, Silas Brattain, H. K. Vaut, Mary Wiltzie, Emma Underwood, Rachel Underwood, Alice K. Wood, Mary Bainbridge and Rachel Brattain. The first Sunday school organized in the township was in 1854, at the Merchant school house, by Adam Hardesty. About twenty pupils were in attendance. There are now several in the township, attended by four or five hundred pupils. Such are the changes wrought out by the hand of time. The church buildings of the township are located in the village of Payne, and will be described in the Payne "write-up." Part of Payne and Smiley are the only villages of the township. The former will be given a special history, and the latter is a small station on the Nickel Plate, in the extreme southwest corner of the township.
Jackson Township.—John and William Moss, two brothers, natives of England, purchased lands from the government, built a small cabin on the banks of Blue creek, in section 26, and in 1836 became the first actual settlers of Jackson township. Jesse Fox and Edmund Barker also date their coming into the township at about the same year. Among other early settlers, who came afterward, the names of Edward McQuestion, Deliverance Brown, John Anderson, Abram Bennett, Jacob Myers, Jotham Rollins, John
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Loar, William Hays and Henry Barchus may be mentioned. The township was organized in 1851. Prior to that date it was attached to Brown. The first election was held at the residence of Edward McQuestion, on what was afterward known as the Dague farm, in the spring of 1851. Ten ballots were cast at this election. The names of the voters were : Deliverance Brown, John Anderson, William Moss, William Stillwell, David Barnhill, William Hoover, Edmund Barker, Robert Barnhill, Joseph Reed, Sr., and John Barker. Deliverance Brown, John Anderson and William Barker were elected the first trustees ; William Moss, clerk ; Joseph Reed, treasurer ; William Moss and John Anderson, justices of the peace, and John Barker, constable. The farm settled by the Moss brothers is now owned by John Bowholtz. The first white child born in the township was George Moss, son of John Moss. He grew to manhood in the county, married Miss Anna Stair, settled in Charloe as a merchant, and afterward moved to Pawnee City, Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he yet resides, a wealthy and influeneial citizen. His ,eldest son traveled in Europe, became an eminent artist and now has a studio in New York city. The first marriage contract legalized in the township was that of Edward McQuestion and Jane Barker. There are thirty-six sections in the township, none of which are fractional. The principal stream of the township is Flat Rock, flowing through the northern part. Blue creek flows through the southern part. The soil of the township is generally a black loam and very fertile; along the streams clay formations are to be found. There are no stone quarries in the township. The principal timber is oak, ash, sycamore, cottonwood, elm, maple and beech. Some poplar and black walnut was found in early days. No flouring mills were ever built in the township ; and no saw mills until within the past few years, when several were
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built along the line of the Nickel Plate railroad. The first school taught in the township was by John D. Carlton, in 1852, in what is known as the Keck district. The btilding was a log cabin and seven pupils were in attendance. It was the first school house erected in the township, and stood on the north bank of Blue creek, in section 26. There are now seven sub-districts in the township, and the special district of Hedges and Broughton. All the districts have good frame houses excepting the building in the Hedges and Broughton district, which is a large two-story brick. The villages are situated about three-fourths of a mile apart, and this building is located about equi-distant between the two. It has four departments, but only three teachers have as yet been employed. The first sermon preached in the township was by a U. B. divine named Abraham Miller, in the year of 1840. He held meetings at the cabins of the settlers. The first church society was organized by him about the year of 185o. The names of the first members are Deliverance and Julia Ann Brown, John and Rebecca Anderson, Joseph and Mary Jane Crosby, Ward Dart, Mrs. Ann Dart, Mrs. Henry Barchus, William Barker and wife, John Barker and wife, Edmund Barker and wife, Elizabeth Fry, William Stillwell and John Owens. For many years the society was the largest in the township. Meetings were held in the Anderson school house, and often in summer, actuated by the sentiment that "The groves were God's first temples," its members gathered beneath the umbrageous shade of the forest trees, and poured forth their souls in pious prayer, or sang their songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Most High. In 1875 the society erected the first frame church in the township, on the bank of Blue creek, in section 26. It is yet standing and is the largest church building in the township.
The first church erected in the township was of hewed
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logs and was on the south bank of Flat Rock, in the northern part of the township. It yet stands and is known as "Elm Chapel." A neat frame church was erected at Hedges in the- year of 1888. These constitute the churches of the township. The first Sunday school was organized by Rev. Abraham Miller, assisted by John Anderson, in the year 1854.
Latty Township.—This township, the last to be organized in the county, occupies a place in the southern tier of townships, south of Jackson, west of Washington, east of Blue Creek, and extends on the south to Hoaglin township, Van Wert county. The township was named Latty in honor of Judge Alexander Sankey Latty, who was a resident of the county and in an official position at the time of its organiza tion. Its first settlement began in the year of 1853. In the autumn of that year Edward Leonard Kimmell built the first cabin, on section 36, and became the first actual settler. The township was organized in 1855 and prior to this date- Edward McQuestion, Lydia Kohn, Mark Pease, Lee Kohn, William Eaton and a few others had planted homes within its limits. The first election held in the township was at the cabin Of Lemuel Tucker, in 1856. Nine votes were cast at this election, the names of voters being as follows : Lemuel Tucker, William Eaton, Edward McQuestion, J. Bennett, William Grove, Lee Kohn, Mark Pease, William Priest,. Wilson Kohn and Adam Weimer ; trustees, William Eaton, Lemuel Tucker and Fred Bennett ; clerk, Edward McQuestion. The soil of the township is exceedingly fertile and is destined to become one of the best agricultural townships in the county. Within the past few years great improvements- have been made in the way of ditching, building roads and clearing up farms. The ditching of Prairie creek, alone, which extends entirely across the township, cost the county about $13,000. The first school taught in the township was.
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in a small log house which stood on the corner of William Eaton's farm. The name of the first teacher has been forgotten. Fifteen or twenty pupils were enrolled. The first school house in the township was built in 1857. It was located on the northwest corner of section 36. There are now eight school buildings, all good, commodious frames. The first saw mill erected in the township was in the year of 1872, by Philander Gilbert. The first postoffice was named Gilbert's Mills and was established in 1873. Philander Gilbert was the first postmaster. The office has been transferred to Grover Hill, a small village one and a half miles north of its former location. It is the only office in the township and bears the name of the village in which it is located. The first sermon preached in the township was at the school house in section 36, by a Methodist minister named Emanuel Kauffman. He also organized the first church society the following year. Rev. Kauffman enlisted in the war, became a captain of Company I, One Hundredth 0. V. I., and served gallantly on the tented field. His widow yet resides in the village of Antwerp. The names of some of the members of the first religious society were Hannah Kohn, A. T. and Margaret McClure, James McClure and Lucinda McClure. The second church organization was effected in 1877, by the Christian denomination. The Methodist Episcopal chapel is a neat frame structure, 32x50 feet in dimensions. The first Sunday school was organized in 1860 by a Methodist minister named Miller.
Paulding Township.—This township occupies a central position in the county and is the most populous. It is bounded on the north by Crane ; on the east by Jackson ; on the south by Blue creek, and on the west by Harrison townships. The first settlement was made in the year of 1842 on Flat Rock, about four miles southeast of Paulding,
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by a squatter named Michael Kimmell. The first cabin was built in the spring of 1843, by John Fisher, who was really the first actual settler of the township. The first white child born in the township was Almira Fisher. Her parents names were John and Rachel Fisher. Other early settlers of the township were William Haney, Elias Shafer, Eber Barn- house, Fielding Hughes, Theodore G. Merchant, Byron Norton, Bennett Savage, A. S. Latty, Joseph Cable, T. W. French, Nepthalian Gregory, Jacob Long, Philip W. Hardesty, Isaiah Richards, Amos F. Hardesty, Daniel Kauffman and Levi M. Barnes. The township was organized in 1851 and the first election held the same year in the town of Paulding. Seventeen ballots were cast at this election, the names of some of the voters being as follows : John Fisher, Ethan Burwell, A. S. Latty, Elias Shafer, James Chaney, Theodore Merchant and William Haney. There are thirty- six sections in the township—none fractional. The largest stream is Flat Rock. The Indians called this stream Crooked creek; and it is so named on some maps. It enters the township in section 30, and flows in a northeasterly direction entirely. throughout. Big south run is a southern affluent of Flat Rock, and Big run and Opossum run are northern tributaries of the same stream. Little Flat Rock has its source in section 4, of this township, flows an easterly course, and discharges its waters into the Big Auglaize river at Junction. The first grist mill in the township was built by Elias. Shafer in 1855. It was located on Flat Rock at the foot of what is now South Main street in Paulding. It was a small frame, with one run of buhrs ; was operated only for a few years and then went to decay. Portions of the old dam and frame of the building are yet to be seen, and are pointed out to the visitor as pioneer relics of a now thriving and bustling village. A steam flouring mill was erected in
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Paulding in 1876, by Eugene Linn. It was never regarded as a successful enterprise and is no longer in operation. A third, and now the only flouring mill in the township, was completed in 189o, by the large manufacturing firm of Paul Weidmann & Co. It has a capacity of one hundred barrels :a day, and is the best mill in the county. A further mention of it will be given in the special history of Paulding, the village in which it is located. The first saw mill put in operatio