CHAPTER XI

HARRISON TOWNSHIP

Organization—First Settlers—List of Electors in 1840—Some of the Original Land Entries —Pioneer Reminiscences—An Indian Sherlock Holmes—An Early Marriage in Harrison Township—A Pioneer Methodist Church—Harrison Baptist Church—St. Thomas' Lutheran Church—German Evangelical St. Paul Church—The Hertz Family—Henry Showalter.

On March 27, 1839, a petition was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, asking that a new township be set off and called, Harrison. It was ordered that township 2 south, range 1 east, and township 1 south, range 1 east, be organized under the name of Harrison township and that, when said territory should again be divided, township 2 south, range 1 east, should hold the name.

And it was further ordered that the auditor notified the electors of said township to meet on Thursday, April 11, 1839, at the house of Henry A. Lords, for the purpose of electing their officers.

FIRST SETTLERS.

The actual settlers that came in between the years 1836 and 1840 were about as follows :

1836.—Joseph Johnson, Davis Johnson, Abel Johnson, Abel Johnson, Jr., and Jesse Foster.

1837.—William Johns, J. W. Johns, James Foster, Robert Manley, Allen Walters, Joseph Osborn, John McPherson and H. A. Lords.

1838.—M. F. Richey (from Crawford County), Peter Hertz (from Holmes County), J. R. Glenn and Clark Glenn (from Jefferson County);, Amasa and H. C. Preston, E. M. Jones, Jacob and Eli Bauserman, Asa Cook, Philip Kilmer, A. Whitmarsh, David Richey, George and Erastus Lynch and Peter Maddox.

1839.—H. G. Germann and sons—Jacob, Charles, Peter, Henry and John; Peter A. Germann, MI. and J. Kreischer, William and John Bowman, Fred Myers, F. Files, Philip and George Reidenbach, Henry Showalter, Thomas Calender and others.

LIST OF ELECTORS IN 1840.

The following list of 33 electors was recorded in the poll book of Harrison township for the election held on the 13th of October, 1840: Joseph Johnson, Davis Johnson, M. F. Richey, Erastus Lincoln, John Hudspeth, George Lincoln, Elijah Baubeen, William Bower, Jonathan Lewis, Amasa Preston, Clark Glenn, Asa Cook, Rejoice Cook, John Mc-

174 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Pherson, Abel Johnson, Peter Maddox, Edwin G. Jones, Josiah Foster, James R. Glenn, Norman C. Preston, Jacob Stamm, John M. Lords, Noah Banker, Joseph H. Osborn, John S. Lords, Robert Manley, Allen Walters, John Manley, Jacob Bauserman, Jr., Frederick Myers, William Glenn, and Simon Wyant. The clerks of election were William Bower and Clark Glenn, and the judges, M. F. Richey, Amos Preston and Robert Baxter.

SOME OF THE ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.

PIONEER REMINISCENCES.

At an early day Aaron Hoover moved into the woods on the farm he still owns, built a log cabin and commenced clearing up his land. He noticed that a deer was coming into the clearing for browse. Having no gun of his own, he borrowed one from one of his neighbors and went out to the clearing, where he found the deer. It seemed so tame that he thought he would drive it up close to the house, so he would not have so far to carry it after it was

176 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

killed. But to his surprise the deer wouldn't drive!

When the Showalters settled in Harrison. township, they had no horses and the boys. trained their oxen so they could ride them and guide them with the whip. On one occasion Abraham Showalter started after the cows on one of the oxen and when he came up with them two deer were with the cows. He turned the cows in the direction of home and followed on and the deer kept along until he drove them into the barnyard, which was nothing but a small piece of ground surrounded by a fence made of logs and brush.

Two large bucks got into a fight west of where Stephen Capper lived, between his place and M. F. Richey's. They were heard fighting in the night but little attention was paid to the matter. A week or two later in going through the woods, a settler found them with their horns locked, one dead and the other almost starved to death. One was a seven-pronged and the other an eight-pronged buck.

M. F. Richey and James G. Gilliland went to the State Fair at Columbus, walking there and back. They each bought a Durham calf, one six months and the other seven months old, and drove them home. They paid $5o apiece when the price of an ordinary cow or steer was $10 to $12. However, that was the first effort made to improve the stock of cattle in this county.

AN INDIAN SHERLOCK HOLMES.

Davis Johnson told the writer that one time when he was out hunting he met an Indian, who told him that a deer he had killed and hung up had been stolen by a white man. Johnson asked him if he knew who it was that stole the deer. The Indian said that the man was lame, that he smoked a pipe with a short stem, that he had a long gun and a dog witha short tail and that he was an old man. In answer to Johnson's request for an explanation the Indian said that the man was lame because he walked on the toe of one boot and at every step twisted his foot. He smoked a short-stemmed pipe because he knocked the ashes of his pipe against a tree and the Indian could see where the man's finger-nail scratched the moss off the bark. He had a long gun because he had leaned it up against a tree and the Indian could see where it had rubbed the bark. The dog had a short tail because he had sat down on his haunches and made the print of his tail in the snow. He was an old man because—the writer will let the old men explain how the Indian told that. There was no doubt as to who got the deer, as there was one man in the neighborhood that filled the bill.

AN EARLY MARRIAGE IN HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

William Kear, who married Mary Johnson, made an arrangement with the justice of the peace of Willshire to marry them on Sunday. As it was to be the first marriage performed by the justice, his associates concluded to have some fun at his expense. When he started, he found that half a dozen of his neighbors were going the same way. They took delight in joking him on the journey. When they arrived at the Johnson home, the squire threw the bridal rein over a post and, hurrying into the house, asked, "Where is that couple that want to get married?" They were sitting on the floor with their feet down on the hearth a couple of feet lower. He said, "Stand up," which they did. He then said, "By the power granted me by the State of Ohio, I pronounce you man and wife. By G—, didn't I come it over the boys?" walked out to his pony, mounted and rode away while the others were hitching their horses.

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 177

A PIONEER METHODIST CHURCH.

The first Methodist Episcopal Church in Harrison township was organized in the fall of 1841 by Rev. Simeon Alderman at the log cabin of M. F. Richey. The first class consisted of Edson Stewart and wife, M. F. Richey and wife, Stephen Capper and wife, Mr. Glean and wife, and Mr. Lincoln and wife. Edson Stewart was the first class leader. This society retained its organization for about 12 years, when on account of its members moving away it was disorganized.

HARRISON BAPTIST CHURCH.

A council convened at the Harrison school-house on Saturday, March 12, 1853, for the purpose of constituting a regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ. Elder D. D. Johnson was chosen moderator and Rev. S. M. Brower, clerk. Delegates were present from Bethel, Duck Creek, Mount Gilead, Pleasant View, Willshire and Wapakoneta. The constituent members were Elder John Larue, C. Larue, Deacon Aaron Balyeat, Martha Balyeat, Thomas and Nancy Baxter, John Baxter, Lucinda Baxter, David Balyeat, Sarah Balyeat, and Susannah Brubaker. The sermon was preached by Elder Drury, of Mount Gilead; the hand of fellowship given by Rev. D. D. Johnson, of Willshire; and the charge by Rev. S. M. Brower of Wapakoneta. A meeting followed; lasting until April 21st, which resulted in 13 additions by baptism and two by experience. Aaron Balyeat was chosen deacon and clerk at the first business meeting and John Larue was called as pastor for half his time and a council was called to convene in August to consider his ordination. At the August business meeting, the church voted to unite with the Auglaize Association and elected theirpastor, Deacon Balyeat and Samuel Smedley, delegates. At the December meeting, 1857, the first steps were taken toward the erection of a meeting house by appointing a meeting at the home of Deacon Balyeat for December 24th to fully discuss the matter. Elder John Larue, Abram and Aaron Balyeat were appointed a building committee. The house was built during the summer of 1858. The pastors have been : Revs. John Larue, A. Larue, R. Edmonds, I. Bloomer, W. W. Robinson, D. B. Beckard, V. D. Willard, A. Snider, W. S. Kent, W. H. Gallant, J. E. Thomas, J. J. Willet, H. H. Smith, C. S. Wians and A. W. West. Of these, John Larue, R. Edmonds, V. D. Willard and D. B. Beckard each served the congregation twice.

Since the organization, there have been received into the church over 300 members. In 1902, the old church being too small, a new one was built and furnished at a cost of $2,500. Since then there have been 12 additions to the membership. Rev. A. W. West is pastor of the church at present.

ST. THOMAS LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church organization might be said to date back to the earliest settlement in Harrison township by the Germans in 1839, when services were held at private houses by preachers that came on horseback from Fort Wayne. Indiana. It is a German congregation. In 1846 church services were being held in a log schoolhouse. In 1858 a frame one-story church was built, 20 by 40 feet in dimensions. The small congregation were happy in their new home. It was quite an improvement over the log house.

In September, 1898, the cornerstone was laid for a new brick church building, 32 by 72 feet in ground dimensions and 20 feet to the

178 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

square, with a steeple 102 feet high. The total cost of the building was $6,232. It is well built and nicely furnished.

Since 1870 there have been six pastors, as follows: Revs. G. Gruber, 1870-82; F. W. Frauka, 1882-84; N. F. Kunchick, 1884-89; Charles Strauser, 1889-93 ; J. H. Klausing, 1893-1900 ; A. T. C. Bunck, 1900-06.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL ST. PAUL CHURCH.

Away hack in the '30's, when deer roamed through our forests, when wild turkeys abounded and wolves prowled about at night in search of their prey, in the dense primeval forests then covering our now beautiful country, there came to this county a number of immigrants from over the sea and took up their abode in what is now the northern part of Will-shire and the southern part of Harrison township.

These people were Germans and brought with them not only strong muscles but willing. hands as well, and as a result, shortly after their sojourn here, they were able to call a few log huts their homes, in which they lived as contentedly as the king in his palace.

Not unlike the Pilgrims, these people brought with them the desire for religious worship, but being few in number and scant in means they at first held worship in houses round about, for they were too poor to maintain a minister, and so each in his turn led the worship.

Thus some years passed until about 185o, when Rev.. J. D. Gackenheimer, a missionary from Germany, who at the time was working in Pennsylvania, was asked to come as a missionary. To this call he readily responded, and services were held in houses, barns, school-houses, etc., until the desire for a suitable place of worship became so strong that in 1853 atract of land 20 rods square, located in section 31, Harrison township, was bought of P. Kreischer for $5 by the organization known as the German Evangelical St. Paul Church, it being a union of Lutheran and Reform. Upon this tract immediately was begun the foundation for a new frame church, 30 by 40 feet in dimensions, which was completed in 1854 and dedicated to the Lord.

The above-named Rev. J. D. Gackenheimer was the minister for the next 20 years.

The first members of the church were : John Giessler, Philip Hott, Jacob Kreischer, Frederick Feigert, Philip Giessler, Adam Venter, Jacob Gehres, Peter Wendel, Peter Kreischer, Michael Kreischer, Adam Schaadt, John N. Diestler, John N. Wendel, Peter Gehres and Philip Schaadt—all immigrants from Hessen-Homburg, Germany.

The year 1866 made this church a part of the organization known as the German Evangelical Synod of North America.

This same year the church property was enlarged by an additional piece of land purchased of P. Kreischer on which a well was dug for school and church purposes.

In 1874 Mr. Gackenheimer resigned as minister and so the church the 38 acres, which had been taken up as government land by him, and retained part of it as parsonage property until the year 1883 when it was finally disposed of and another three-acre lot purchased of P. Kreischer contiguous to the other church property, and a dwelling and other necessary buildings erected for the minister.

As time went on and the population of the district increased, the demand for a new church became apparent, and so after the preliminary steps had been taken the corner-stone for a modern frame church was laid August 21, 1892 ; within it were inserted two documents—the old one taken from the old church, which

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 179

gives the details of the foundation of the congregation as well as existing conditions at that time, and the new one a rehearsal of the present conditions and recent growth of the church. The size of the church is 36 by 70 feet, with steeple 115 feet high, furnished with a bell. The church complete cost $5,000. The dedication occurred September 17, 1893, with appropriate exercises, at which time there were 91 paying members, 200 communicants and 340 souls.

On September 14, 1900, the semi-centennial of the founding of the church was celebrated in the form of a jubilee with exercises to suit the occasion.

These people at all times have believed in giving their children German as well as English training, and to this end they have always had a German school during the summer months so as not to interfere with the district school. Not having a suitable schoolhouse, it was decided in 1900 to build a modern frame schoolhouse 28 by 40 in dimensions, which cost $1,000 and was properly dedicated on Thanksgiving Day that year.

In 1902 the parsonage was remodeled by lining with paper and by putting on an extra coat of siding.

To remedy the evil of the deep mud in front of the church during damp weather, it was recently decided to pike with stone in front and also on the east side along the church ; this is to be done in 1906, which year will also see the erection of a new summer house for the minister.

The church at present has 400 souls. Within the last 20 years there has been raised for missionary purposes the sum of $4,095.

Following are the ministers who have served the church : Rev. J. D. Gackenheimer, 1850-74 ; Rev. H. Ludwig, 1874-77; Rev. C. Reiner, 1877-82 ; Rev. F. Zimmermann, 1882-86 ; Rev. J. Stilli, 1886-91 ; and Rev. F. Schlesinger, 1891—.

THE HERTZ FAMILY.

The founder of the family in Van Wert County was born in Germany, and came, to this country and located in Harrison township in 1838. They lived in Van Wert from May until August of that year, making their home in a log house, where The Central Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company's building is now located. While living in Van Wert, a daughter of Mr. Hertz, who later married Henry Showalter, discovered some bullets buried on the lot now occupied by the store of D. R. Bonewitz's Sons, on the corner of Main and Market streets. She reported the find to her father and he and some others unearthed about 100 pounds of bullets and some silver plate, that had, doubtless been buried by some of Wayne's army on their march from Fort Adams to Fort Defiance.

After they moved on their land in Harrison township, they cleared an acre of land and sowed it in wheat, but as winter set in early it did not come up until spring. However, they threshed 18 bushels of wheat from that acre. They had cleared another acre during the win-ter and put it in corn and gathered a good crop—what was left by the coons and squirrels.

Peter Hertz was born in Germany in 1820, came to Harrison township with his parents in 1838 and helped to clear up the home farm. On January 17, 1840, he was married to Mary Germann and they lived on the home farm for 25 years until they were separated by the death of Mrs. Hertz. She was the mother of five children. Mr. Hertz was respected in the community and held many positions of honor and trust.

180 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

HENRY SHOWALTER

Came to Harrison township in 1839; he was then single. He purchased land of Norman Preston and on September 16, 1841, was married to Mary Hertz. They cleared up a farm, enduring all the hardships incident to a new country, and raised a family that are a credit to them and to the community.

At one time, shortly after the writer commenced business in Van Wert, Mr. Showalter brought a load of flaxseed to town that came to $120. There was a mistake made of $20, which was not discovered until he reached home. The next day Mr. Showalter came to town horseback to correct the mistake by paying back the money overpaid.

Mrs. Showalter is still living and recounts many of the scenes of her early life to her children and grandchildren.