USA > Ohio > Allen County > A standard history of Allen county, Ohio : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development > Part 27
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The American Indians came to the doors of the settlers, but those who tell such stories today hark back to the very earliest local civiliza- tion. While the American Indian will always be regarded with some
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
degree of admiration by the student of United States history, his story now belongs wholly to the past in Allen County. It is fitting that the names of Pht and Quilna should remain as household words, and while some of the prominent community family names are no longer found in local directories-have been transferred to the Lamb's Book of Life, many are still heard in Allen County.
There is sacred page authority for the statement that the places that "know us now shall soon know us no more forever," and when men and. women begin the downward slope of life's afternoon, they are reminded of it time and again. In two or three generations some families change almost wholly, and strangers occupy their places in society. One who has been away and then returns to a community stands aghast at the changes' in it. He wonders what has become of all his friends and relatives. Mankind has no continuing city, and these township studies emphasize that fact-changed farmsteads and changed households in every com- munity. While the frontier traveler always knew the settler was at home when his shirt was on the line-always in bed while his wife washed and
TOWN HALL, ELIDA
dried it, prosperous conditions seem to prevail all through Allen County today.
(GERMAN) AMERICAN TOWNSHIP
Upon the petition of the citizens living in German Township, and through action of the Allen County commissioners, August 16, 1918, this time-honored name was changed to American, Article II of the petition reading: "That good cause is shown why the name of said township should be changed, and which in the opinion of the Board of County Commissioners, justifies the change in the name of said township," and it is further stipulated that "the change shall in no wise affect the right of property, or the internal concerns of said township," and reading between the lines, it seems that "good cause" means patriotism. The name German had come into disfavor when the German nation changed its attitude toward the rest of the world. School books were undergoing changes at the time, and business concerns bearing the name German were eliminating the offensive designation, and the people of German
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
Township were caught in the wave of popular sentiment-hence, Ameri- can Township. However, there are residents of the township who a lit- tle later on would not have voted for the change, because of sacred associations in early history. They do not hold the German people responsible for the conduct of some of their leaders.
A glance at the map of Allen County shows that American Township occupies almost the exact geographical center, and history reveals the fact that in establishing its present boundary, it lost to Amanda and gained from Bath, and that again in May, 1857, American Township lost 1,040 acres-more than a full section of land-to Ottawa and the City of Lima. Allentown was the earliest settlement; township organization was effected in 1833, and among the settlers were: Bowman, Brand, Richards, John, Ireland, Wright, Boyer, Crites, Ridenour, Knittle, Coch- ran, Bryan, Creaman, Imler, Noll, Myers, Neely, Beiler, Miller, Black- burn, Huffer, Herring, Shobe, Hartman, Armstrong, Summerset, Proven- mire, Baker, Holland, Leaser, Hughes, Conrad, Johnson, Peltier, Pool, Steaman, Sawmiller, Tate, Greer, Statts, Stalter, Verbrycke, Richardson, Westbay, Edwards, Haller, McBride and Luttrell. Those active in developing Allentown were George Povenmire and William Myers, and as early as 1835, it was considered as the logical location for the seat of government in Allen County. Elida came into existence in 1852, although it was not incorporated until 1878, when there was an era of prosperity in the community. Griffith John was its founder, and it bears the name of his brother Elida John who never lived in the community.
While Allentown will always be a community center, A. D. 1920, there were very few residents who harked back to its early history. It is related that Gen. William Blackburn who located there in an early day gave a new impetus to the community. The site of the Blackburn home is still pointed out, the house having been destroyed by fire in 1904, and it was always a mecca for visitors. There is frequent mention of General Blackburn in Allen County history. While his home in Allentown was built in the log cabin era, it is always described as the Blackburn mansion, native walnut being used in building it. Including the incorporated vil- lage of Elida, the population of American township in the 1920 census is shown as 2,398, and its proximity to Lima gives to its citizenry every modern advantage.
AUGLAIZE-ITS PLACE IN HISTORY
Considered chronologically, Auglaize should precede American although it is alphabetical classification in this study of Allen County townships. It became an organized township March 5, 1832, and the community centers are : Harrod, Westminster and West Newton, West- minster having been platted two years later. Alexander Creps who located the town owned much of the land lying north of the Auglaize River : it has been said that he could walk from his home in Westminster to Lafayette many years later without leaving his own land, and that many things were done for the community with his money. West New- ton was platted in 1850, with Daniel Shields promoting the growth of the community. Harrod, on the Chicago and Erie road, is the only rail- way station in Auglaize. Tradition has it there was once a Maysville located in two counties and four townships, the Allen County portion being in Auglaize and Jackson, the remainder of the town being in two townships in Harden County. It was once a famous stopping place for frontier travelers bent on reaching either railroad or boat transportation in Toledo.
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
The names of Auglaize settlers: Goode, Stevenson, Ford, Hamilton, Weaver, Heffner, Underwood, Shockey, Clum, Serkes, Leatherman, Ask- ing, Coon, Williams, Grant, Holt, Hardesty, Ice, Jacobs, Maus, Patter- son, Grubb, Perkes, Smith, Blair, Stedman, Harrod, Shellenber- ger, Vermillion and Yazelle. The comment is heard today that some of the foremost citizens in Allen County came from the southeasternmost township-Auglaize. While all the soil is not the best, the conditions were conducive to good citizenship there. It is related that Francis Stevenson and John and Arabelle Goode located in Auglaize in 1829, Mrs. Goode being the first white woman in the community. Her only neighbors were the Indian squaws until Mrs. Stevenson joined her hus- band one year later. The 1920 census shows the citizenship of Auglaize, including the incorporated Village of Harrod, as 1,733, and it is a pros- perous community.
THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE IN AUGLAIZE
The distinguishing physical characteristic of Allen County-the Devil's Backbone-is in Auglaize Township. An old account says: "The
AN OLD HOUSE IN ALLEN COUNTY
surface is rolling in the east and level in the west; a curious formation is the Devil's Backbone, a ridge of gravel extending for some distance between Westminster and West Newton. It was undoubtedly thrown up by the wash of some great inland sea, and is in curious contrast to the surrounding soil. Near this used to be many large sloughs or mud pits seemingly without bottom, but they have nearly all disappeared," and some have offered the suggestion today that the ice had melted while a glazier was passing over Allen County in prehistoric times, and the Devil's Backbone simply marks the site of the wreck-there having been a good deal of debris deposited there. The gravel used in early road- building was secured from this peculiar earth formation.
So many things in nature are always attributed to the glacial period, and like the bluffs along river courses the Devil's Backbone seems to be the terminal moraine of a glacier. The theory prevails that the Great Lakes were scraped out by glaciers, and the Devil's Backbone seems to be one point that resisted glacial action. There is a ridge ranging from a quarter to a half mile in width, extending southward from this forma-
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
tion in which there is a deposit of carbonated calcium lying about twenty- four inches beneath the surface and covered with alluvial loam, about which there is some speculation as to its commercial value. The deposit spreads out under about five acres of the Botkins property, the owner not caring to lease it. for development. There are shells in the calcium deposit, and an analysis reveals the properties of mineral soap. Adjacent land is adapted to farming, and for years the Devil's Backbone has been the mecca of many tourists and students of natural earth formations.
BATH TOWNSHIP IN HISTORY
While it is known that Bath was an organized township before official records were made in Allen County, neither the records of Allen nor Mercer give the time of its organization. In its early history it included Ottawa, and June 6, 1831, Jackson Township was detached from it. Bath Township is at least contemporary with Allen County. It was in 1829 that Christopher Wood located the future seat of justice of Allen County in Bath-a beautiful site for a village. An old account says the north- east corner of section No. 31 in Bath Township became the county seat,
A QUAINT HOMESTEAD AND BOARD WALK IN LAFAYETTE
the State of Ohio selling it for $200 to Allen County. A list of the set- tlers includes the names: Wood, McClure, Fetters, Boope, Cotner, Weaver, Crawford, Johnson, Allison, Byerly, Smith, Snyder, Driver, Wolf, Custard, Woolett, Greer, Atmur, Ronsly, Douglas, Baker, Miller, Hagerman, Hodsell and Thayer. It is related that Christopher Wood and his sons arrived in 1824, after sixteen days en route from Logan County. They came through the woods, and when they stopped with Pht at Shawneetown, they found this Indian chieftain had twenty acres of cleared land, thus confirming the story that he was a tribal leader and the most progressive of the Shawnees.
The Wood family reached Sugar Creek in Bath April 16, 1824, and that after erecting the necessary cabin and planting his crops, he returned for his family in Logan County. The settlement at Fort Amanda had been by residents of Montgomery County about seven years before this settlement in Bath, although Wood was justice of the peace when Bath had civil jurisdiction over all of Allen County. Christopher Wood was a community builder, and when Lima was placed on the map he gave up his rural residence and became land agent in the town-perhaps the first
Vol. I-13
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
"dealer in dirt" in Allen County. He died in 1856, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Samuel McClure was a contemporary of Mr. Wood, a son, Moses McClure, being the first white child born within the present limits of Allen County. Moses McClure was born in 1826 along Hog Creek in Bath, there being mention of him again in another chapter. In 1857, four sections of land were taken from Bath in creat- ing Ottawa, and aside from the City of Lima spreading into Bath, it has no community center. The recent census credits 2,570 persons to Bath Township. The wealth of Bath is its agriculture.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP-LAFAYETTE
It is related that Jackson was detached from Bath, June 6, 1831, taking with it two sections of land, although it was December, 1834, that it became an organized township. Later in shaping up to congressional requirements, Jackson lost area to Bath, Auglaize and Perry townships. It has one community center-Lafayette. In 1827, Jacob Hawk pur- chased land and began life in Jackson under wilderness conditions. Other sturdy sons of toil and hewers of wood and drawers of water were: Allison, Bresler, Helser, Balsinger, Barber, Binkley, Carlisle, Claybaugh, Knoble, Carter, Curtiss, Elder, Edgecomb, Evans, Fisher, Faurot, Hall, Jamieson, Jones, McCafferty, Marsh, Meek, Cotner, May, McClure, Akerman, Neeley, Nash, Mehaffey, Osman, Paulin, La Rue, Patterson, Prosser, Robinson, Reese, Arnold, Rumbaugh, Rains, Staley, Snodgrass, Sasseton, Tucker, Watt, White, Wood, Walton, Wollett and Ward-some of these names appearing frequently in the development of Allen County history. The 1920 census gives 1,670 as the population of Jackson Town- ship and Lafayette. The directory today would show many names not given in the early history. In March, 1868, Lafayette became an incorpo- rated village. It is a business center with all branches of business repre- sented necessary to make it a first-class residence community.
MARION TOWNSHIP AND DELPHOS
It was necessary to establish definite boundary when Marion became an organized township in December, 1833, and land was taken from Amanda and from Jennings Township, Putnam County. While it is irreg- ular in outline, it has six square miles of land more than the township requirement-thirty-six sections. The community centers in Marion Township today are Delphos, Landeck and Scotts Crossing. Pioneers in Marion were: Coon, Cochran, Knoop, Moore, Miller, Mannion, Wool- lery, Washburn, Waggoner, and in the 40's when Delphos was placed on the map, Henry Moenig who was the first settler selected his cabin site where there was a large stump which he utilized as a table, building his cabin around it. Landeck and Scotts Crossing sprang up later.
Father John Otto Bredeick was the man with a vision who put Delphos on the map of the world. While yet a resident of the Kingdom of Bavaria, he had two emissaries watching developments in the western part of Allen County. His brother, Ferdinand Bredeick and Theodore Wrocklage, represented him in watching the developments along the pro- posed Erie Canal across Western Ohio, and in the museum of the Del- phos public library is the purse in which he sent the money for the pur- chase of land as soon as the route of the canal was settled upon through the country. Three routes were being considered, and for a time the whole thing was an uncertainty. Before there was a Delphos, there was a Howard, section 10, and East and West Bredeick, the canal dividing
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
them. There were differences to settle in the early history of the com- munity.
There were speculators alert, and the master mind of that great Catholic leader, Father John Otto Bredeick, was in evidence when he suggested the name Delphos and thus united the four ambitious com- munities. While there is mention in history of the Ten Mile woods, sec- tion 10 was the number of the local section of the Erie Canal when sold out for construction. While the word bonus does not appear that early in the annals of the commuity, Father Bredeick encouraged settlers by offering low prices and long-time payments, and thus a thrifty class was attracted to the community. Few men are on record as community build- ers with a broader vision of the future than had this Bavarian priest concerned in the development of Delphos and the surrounding country. He had lived in a country served by the canal as a commercial waterway, and none had dreamed of a railroad at Delphos when this long-headed pioneer was shaping its future history. However, when Delphos was placed on the map of Ohio it was in Putnam County. Ottoville in that
HIGH SCHOOL, DELPHOS
county also traces its development to the same master hand-Father John Otto Bredeick.
In the wake of Father Bredeick's efforts about Delphos came the fol- lowing German and other population: Bredeick, Wrocklage, Esch, Lou- deck, Hunt, Long, Wahuchoff, Lye, Geise, Schroeder, Poling, Woerrner, Shenk, Marshall, Hayes, Ditto, Ludwig, Wright, Galespie, Baxter, Wilte, Wellman, Lanse, Mesker, Luesmann, Kemker, Reinemeyer, Grothaus, Karriman, Gengler, German, Scott, Wekger, King, Jettinghoff, Linde- mann and Osenbach-all thrifty settlers who soon developed the com- munity. Since 1848, Delphos has been in Allen County, offsetting the loss of Fort Amanda when Auglaize County was securing recognition from the Ohio Assembly. At Delphos the canal is now the boundary between Allen and Van Wert counties, the postoffice and legal portions of the Delphos city government being in Allen County. The 1920 census gives Marion Township and wards 1 and 2 in Delphos a population of 5,300, although the citizens of Delphos claims a population of 6,000, including the part across the canal in Van Wert County.
WATERWORKS PARK, DELPHOS
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
In 1846, when F. J. Lye and family arrived by wagon from Tiffin to take up their residence in Delphos, they "stuck in the mud" on the present site of Main Street, and they carried their earthly store from the wagon to the home of friends where they lived until they could construct their cabin. The visitor to Delphos today finds it difficult to reconcile such a story with the modern improvements-street, business and residence communities. The public library and high schools are in Van Wert; the postoffice is in Allen and while the community assets are in two coun- ties, the average citizen thinks only of one Delphos; he is unconscious of the Erie Canal as a dividing line when crossing it. However, Delphos is a border city serving the citizens of three counties: Allen, Van Wert and Putnam, and in turn drawing its patronage from all of them.
Father Bredeick opened the first store in Delphos in 1845, immediately after the canal was an assured thing in the community. He had obtained 600 acres of land, and others who made heavy land investments were: Benjamin F. Hollister, G. H. Bliss, Samuel H. Pettitt and E. Kimber. Samuel H. Farrar, an engineer employed in locating the canal, also invested in Delphos realty. The different land interests finally united in platting the town, and since it required a week for the settlers to make the return trip from Piqua with supplies, all were glad of the opportunity. There was a remarkable growth of the town from 1845, when they could only see out by looking straight up until 1854, when the settlers had measurably conquered the forest. The Erie Canal was the hope of Del- phos, and the first canal boat to pass through the town was the William Marshall, owned and operated by Piqua capital. It was July 4, 1845, and from that day on Delphos was in communication with the outside world. In 1846, Governor-Elect William Bebb was a passenger on the first packet, the citizens meeting the packet at a lock a mile from town and supplying fresh horses to insure his "triumphant entrance" into Delphos. It was a gala day, and the population turned out enmasse to do honor to the governor of the commonwealth.
When the Erie Canal was opened across New York, the construction crew fired a gun every five miles so the people would know the progress, and there was almost as much demonstration in the vicinity of Delphos. There was a drydock established there in 1846, owned by Father Bredeick and operated by John Daub and B. Nate, and the one boat built there, the "M. King," proved too heavy for canal water and it was sent to Ohio River service. In 1849, there was an ashery established in Delphos, and every particle of wood ash produced by the settlers was soon converted into collateral. Pearl ash as sold in the crude state was used in the manu- facture of baking soda. There was considerable revenue from it. While the community had its humble beginning, Delphios is now a commercial and manufacturing center, the Delphos Community Club always alert for anything that will advance the community interests.
"Delphos has always been one of the best little country towns in Ohio, both in the days of the canal and now that we have railroad advan- tages," said a local enthusiast ; "the people find what they need in Delphos stores, and they are inclined to spend their money at home." The town established its supremacy in the days of the Erie Canal, when less fortu- nate towns "wagoned" their supplies from Delphos. The canal still affords water for industrial purposes, and the people are interested in the newspaper discussion of waterways, wondering what it may mean for them in future. There are doctors, lawyers and ministers-the people need not leave town for professional service nor business accommoda- tions, and a population of more than 5,000 makes it a city of the first class with reference to United States mail service. Delphos is a railway
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
center, and the Toledo, Delphos and Western (Clover Leaf) shops are . among the best assets of the community.
There are 100 railway employees in Delphos besides the engineers and conductors who live in the town. The roundhouse and repair shops give employment at home, and Delphos is also a terminal point on the Northern Ohio Railway. It has interurban service between Lima and Fort Wayne. The American Road Machine Company ; the Delhpos Bend- ing Company-buggy and auto bows; the Delphos Paper Mill; Ricker Brothers Furniture Factory-bank furniture and tables; the John C. Schaffer Handle Factory; Whirrett Brothers Stirrup factory; the D. Steinle Soft Drinks Company; the Mueller Implement and Auto Com- pany with the largest implement warehouse in Northwestern Ohio, and a number of auto sales and repair shops-many men taken out of the production ranks to repair autos, and while the Northwestern Ohio Light Company maintains an office on the Allen County side in Delphos, its
PUBLIC HALL AT DELPHOS
plant where the current is produced is in Van Wert County. It serves a chain of towns and lights farmhouses about the country.
MISFORTUNE OVERTAKES DELPHOS
In 1854, Delphos was visited by cholera and the town was almost depopulated-those who were not attacked by the disease being frightened out of the community. The ravages of "flu" were almost as serious two and three years ago. On May 3, 1872, the town was swept by a con- flagration. Because of the havoc wrought it was always called "Black Friday." There were no firefighting preparations, and sixty-four build- ings were consumed in the heart of the town. While there was plenty of water in the canal, it could not be utilized until apparatus arrived from surrounding towns, both Lima and Fort Wayne responding to the call of distress. The citizens of Delphos soon established a breadline and fed the firefighters who rescued them.
The J. W. Hunt drug store, in which J. H. Wahmhoff was once a clerk and is now the proprietor, was always the social center of Delphos and community questions were always threshed out there. It was a waiting station for everybody, and a center for courtship always. They tell the story there that Amelia Bredeick, who became the bride of G. F.
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
Lang, treasured for years the bureau that was used as an altar in the first Catholic Church in Delphos. She was a niece to Father Bredeick. There has been a Delphos Historical Society, including both Allen and Van Wert County members, its object being to perpetuate the history of Delphos and vicinity. There is a unique community book hand-written by J. H. Wahmhoff, a line reading: "It is our purpose to chronicle such facts and findings as are yet obtainable; we find that with the passing of time much of our historical data is no longer obtainable at first-hand," and what is true at Delphos is true in other communities.
MONROE TOWNSHIP-WEST CAIRO
When Monroe Township was first settled in 1835, it was part of Put- nam County. By the spinning of the wheel of fortune, its first settlers later found themselves residents of Allen County. It was in 1848 that the whirligig of time worked so many changes on either border of Allen County. For thirteen years the Monrovians had been Putnam County citizens. Some of the Putnam-Allen County residents were: Peters, Harpster, Early, Parker, Tipton, Kidd, Van Meter; and settlers coming to Monroe in Allen were: Adams, Alstaetter, Allison, Ayres, Bliss, Beardsley, Broughton, Beamer, Bowers, Beasel, Beatty, Buckmaster, Berryhill, Bentley, Vance, Statler, Borlander, Blackburn, Beitler, Burnett, Cook, Crain, Cupp, Close, Crawford, Cunningham, Custard, Curtis, ยท Craig, Downing, Decker, Drew, Doman, Daniels, Dennis, Everett, Edge- comb, Fleming, Fidler and Fensler. In 1848, Jacob Miller laid out West Cairo at the intersection of the Perrysburg and Bucyrus roads, and the village lay dormant awaiting developments until April 12, 1875, when it was organized and it still maintains a corporate existence. Rockport is another hamlet in Monroe. It was platted in 1836 by Samuel Rockhill, and the postoffice there was known as Cranberry. The entire population of Monroe was 1,641, in the 1920 census. Agriculture is its industry.
EARLY LIMA-OTTAWA TOWNSHIP
When Lima became the seat of government in Allen County March 3, 1831, it was in Bath Township. Christopher Wood of Allen, Justin Hamilton of Mercer, and Adam Barber of Putnam County were the commission appointed by the State of Ohio to locate the county seat in Allen County. This was effected in advance of the formal local organiza- tion of Allen County June 6, 1831, from which time official business was all transacted within the bounds of the county. The site was surveyed in April by Justin Hamilton of Mercer-the mother county. It seems that the original plot of Lima is "out of pocket," although a copy of it was made in 1890-since then no one has seen it. However, it is known that lots appraised at $75 as shown on it, have since changed hands at a $50,000 valuation. When Lima was located, the site was a wilderness as yet unfurrowed by the plow, and undisturbed by the sounds of indus- try. With the pure blue sky above unstained by the smoke of a wilder- ness cabin, Gen. James W. Riley who had made the original survey of Allen County surveyed the site of the town, and laid off the military square in the center. In lieu of an Allen County courthouse the initial court proceedings June 6, 1831, took place in the cabin home of James Daniels, Sr., on the bank of the Ottawa River east of the military square, and since there were no local hostelries the Daniels home was also open to strangers.
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