USA > Ohio > Fulton County > A standard history of Fulton County, Ohio, an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. I > Part 48
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Several of the Flickinger family were worthy pioneers. Isaac A. settled in Gorham in 1851, and cleared 100 acres, developing a fine farm. Abram M. Flickinger was appointed associate judge of the Common Pleas Court of Fulton county, in the early '50s. And regard- ing John Flickinger, who died "from a surgical operation" October 31, 1892, Col. J. H. Brigham said: "His first business venture. . . was a failure, and empty-handed he left the home of his father, and came to Fulton county, to begin again the battle of life. He taught school winters, and worked upon the farm the balance of the year. He was industrious and frugal. ..... Shortly after coming ...... he married Rebecca, daughter of John Viers, and from that time to the day of his death they have resided in our midst; and year by year we have scen the wilderness where they commenced life transformed into the comfortable home which is left to shelter his loved ones, when
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he can no longer labor for their comfort." That was all. John Flick- inger had no long record of consequential appointments in the town- ship, county, or state administrations, to add weight to his name. He was called: "John Flickinger, the Pioneer"; a sufficient honor. His labors, and the labors of men such as he, have right of first place in the story of the evolution of Fulton county from wilderness and pestilential swamp to a land of agricultural plenty. The labor of the pioneer settler was the first essential; and to him should be, and is, accorded the premier place in the record of honor.
Cornelius Brink was a settler of 1850. He was then forty-eight years old, and had a family of seven children. James, the youngest, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1836. Cornelius died in 1863, and his wife, Hannah (Bodley), in 1883. James farmed throughout his life in Gorham, and for some years was a township trustee. Jacob, his elder brother, appears to have settled in Gorham earlier, for his son Byron was born in that township in 1847. Jacob died in 1853, and eventually, in 1872, Byron bought a farm in Chesterfield Town- ship. He was a capable, progressive farmer.
Anson M. Aldrich came into the township in 1854 for the purpose of lumbering, which was his business. He erected a steam saw-mill,
East Main Street. Fayette, Ohio,
in partnership with James Baker, and in 1856 purchased eighty acres of wild land, which he cleared, and upon which he afterwards lived, rearing a family of eight children.
The Allen family, of course, will always be associated with the history of Fayette. The family is referred to extensively elsewhere, but a brief review should have place here. Dr. Joseph O. Allen, after graduating from Buffalo University, came west, and settled in Fayette, in 1851. He was the pioneer physician of Fayette, and during the years when money was scarce, he supplemented his professional earn- ings by undertaking a business enterprise, erecting a flour and saw mill at, or on the outskirts of Fayette. He held the principal interest in that business for fifteen years. He also was one of those chiefly instrumental in bringing the Chicago and Canadian Southern Railway
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through Fulton county, being the representative of the railroad cor- poration entrusted with the important work of negotiating for right of way. He was prominent in the local administration, holding many township offices. He also was postmaster at Fayette for two terms. The family home of the Allens was in New York State, and there the parents of the three brothers Allen who came into Fulton county lived and died. Charles L. was the second brother to come to Fulton county and Fayette. He came in 1859, and took up residence with his brother, the doctor. He taught school for a while, and when the Civil war began, in 1861, was a grocer's clerk. He enlisted in the Thirty- eighth O. V. I., in 1861, and in 1864 was invalided. His last capacity was that of regimental adjutant. From that time he has lived in Fayette almost continuously, taking part in the business enterprises of his brothers, which included the founding of the Bank of Fayette, which had a long life. He also became prominent in county affairs, being twice elected state representative. The third brother, Arthur, did not take up permanent residence in Fulton county until 1865. He was one of the progressive business men of Fayette, active also in the township administration. He was township clerk for some years; was a justice of the peace; and was a member of the village council and of the school board. The Hon. Charles L. Allen is one of the contributing editors of this current historical work, and has always shown a sincere and helpful interest in all public work of consequence to the county. In the '80s, he was chairman and speaker at some of the immense open-air temperance meetings held on the fair grounds, more than three thousand persons gathering for one meeting.
. Christian Hettinger settled in Gorham Township in 1855, living for the first five years in a log cabin, notwithstanding that he paid $2,100 for the 160 acres he settled upon. Later, he more than doubled his land holdings, and proved himself to be a worthy pioneer.
In 1855 George I. Amsbaugh came from Richland County, Ohio. His son, Relmon D., married Estella, a daughter of Willard E. Gay, who settled in Gorham Township in 1839, or 1841.
William and Mary (Schlotman) Woollace came to Gorham in 1857, Mr. Woollace buying eighty acres for which he paid $1,700. They had six sons, Franklin, Perry, James, Wm. A., Amos, and John E., all of whom had part in the clearing of the land.
Jacob Van Ostrand, and his wife, Parmelia Merritt, came from Huron County, Ohio, in 1860, and lived on their farm of 160 acres in Gorham Township for the rest of their lives. Their son, Charles H., was a capable public servant; he served more than one term as county commissioner, and was prominent locally.
Calvin W. Thomas came into Gorham, from Pike Township, in 1859, having lived in Pike for about four years, during which he had cut much lumber. He cleared a good farm in Gorham, and for twenty years was identified with the school administration.
Noah S. Leist did not purchase a homestead in Gorham Township until 1874, but he was in the neighborhood very much earlier, having come with his grandfather, Daniel Schlotman, in 1859. Land which, thirty years earlier, could be purchased at two to three dollars an acre, he had to pay $55 an acre for; now it would be worth probably $200, or nearly that much, an acre.
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So, tlic labor of the early settlers brought general prosperity to the neighborhood. They were laboring for themselves, it is true, or for their immediate kin, but all the while they were building up the wealth of the community. So, has the wealth and power of this mighty rich nation been developed-by the sweat of the brows of men who were happy in industriousness, who were content with little in return, and who did not expect wealth, or prosperity to come without labor-and constant labor.
TOWNSHIP RECORDS
As to general township history, there is little on record. The early official township records were, it is supposed, destroyed in the first great fire at Fayette. Gorham Township was organized at a commis- sioners' session held in the city of Toledo, March 6, 1838, and the first election was held in the home of Erastus Cottrell, near what became Fayette, on the first Monday in April of that year. Who the first officers were cannot be stated, but the Cottrell and Coffin families, . who seem to have taken the lead in the matter, were probably rep- resented.
The first justice of the peace was Erastus Cottrell, and, according to Verity, the second was Amos Belding; the third, Israel Mattern ; the fourth, Jared C. Parker; and the fifth, O. B. Verity. Other jus- tices included Arthur Allen, Amos Kendall, Nathan Shaw, and Jacob P. Ritter.
The first store to be opened in Gorham Township was probably that conducted by Elijah Snow, and later by his son, Gabriel D. The store was established as an adjunct to the ashery the Snows had built on the east side of section 17, town 9 south, range 1 east, although that was not, it is believed, the first ashery built in the township, for Hiram Farwell, the pioneer settler, is known to have been in such business very early. Another ashery was erected south of Handy in 1841, by Philander Crane. The ashery industry appears to have dwindled to one plant only, by the middle 'forties, and for the next fifteen years the Snow ashery seems to have been the only one operated. It was discontinued in about 1860.
The pioneer physician of the township was Dr. John Kendall. He is also stated to have been the pioneer doctor of Franklin Township; and there are so many conflicting records that it is somewhat difficult to decide upon the most feasible. He is, according to one record, sup- posed to have settled at Pettis ville, and to have died there about 1871. The Gorham record asserts that he settled in Gorham "in about 1839 or 1840, but went to Franklin Township about 1841 or 1842." The county records shows him as of Franklin Township in 1850, when he was appointed associate judge of the Common Pleas Court of Fulton county. And a family record shows that his son, Dr. Amos Kendall, settled in or near Fayette in 1843, and that, with the exception of a few years in the 'forties, during which he lived on Bean Creek, near Chatfield's Corners, Franklin Township, Dr. Amos practiced in Gorham Town- ship for the remainder of his life. Dr. John Kendall, however, it may be assumed did not practice in Gorham for more than one or two years. Dr. Joseph O. Allen was the next to come, settling within the
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limits of the village of Fayette, in 1851, and he is claimed to have been the pioneer physician of Fayette.
FAYETTE
The Cottrell settlement was of course the beginning of Fayette, al- though the corporate limits eventually developed a mile or so beyond their land. Cottrell's Corners was what might be called the first com- munal center, and the first post-office was located there, in 1839.
However, the first to settle actually within the bounds of present Fayette was Rensselaer S. Humphrey, in all probability, although members of the Keifer and Gamber families were in the vicinity in the same year, or the next, 1845-46. Verity says that Humphrey "was the first to clear up the land upon which a part of Fayette is located. He built the first log cabin within the present limits of the village, and cut away the brush for a highway, now the main street." He further states that the four pioneers of Fayette were Henry Gamber, Rens- selaer S. Humphrey, Daniel Keifer, and Dr. Amos Kendall; and that they were the first to clear land where Fayette is located. Humphrey, in 1845, Keifer in 1846, and Gamber and Kendall about 1848. It seems from other records, however, that Henry Gamber did not come to Fayette until 1852, although his son, John J., was in the territory in 1845, and purchased a farm of 160 acres in 1846.
Rensselaer S. Humphrey, however, seems to have been the most enterprising pioneer, and his action in establishing a store and black- smith's shop upon his farm seems to have been the influencing factor in drawing to the vicinity other settlers. Dr. Joseph O. Allen came in 1851, and he was equally progressive. He associated with Hum- phrey in more than one business enterprise. Humphrey built, and in partnership they conducted, the first saw-mill in the township, it being put into operation on Humphrey's farm in 1856. In that, or the next year, they erected a steam grist mill, also the pioneer grist mill of Gorham. And that well-known flouring mill is still in oper- ation, the plant now consisting of flouring mill, saw-mill, boiler and engine house. The flouring mill covers 30x40 feet of ground, and is three stories high, with basement in addition. Its present capacity is seventy barrels of flour and 1000 bushels of feed in twenty-four hours ; and it is equipped with a new 70 horsepower boiler and a 60 horse- power engine. The saw-mill makes an average cut of 6,000 feet, or about 500,000 feet in a year, 300,000 feet of which lumber is shipped to other markets. Therefore, it will be seen that the industry begun by Humphrey and Allen has been of much consequence to Fayette throughout the whole of its life.
Captain Charles L. Allen, who joined his brother in Fayette in 1859, and has since made it his home, save for the years of the Civil War, when he went into the zone of strife, has therefore been able to watch its growth almost from the beginning. He is now in his eighty-second year, yet his activities, mental and physical, are those of a well-preserved man of sixty, or less. His recollections are valuable historically, and a few years ago, he fortunately put them into local print. He wrote of "The Early History of the Old Normal Town" as follows:
"The 'Old Tavern.' The old Hardenburg Hotel was the first
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tavern to open its doors in welcome to the sojourners of this, then sparsely settled, corner of God's country, Gorham Township.
"William Hardenburg, the proprietor, came here at the suggestion of his brother-in-law Stephen Chaffee, a pioneer farmer of the town- ship. Hardenburg was an operative Mason located in Providence, R. I., and he came, accompanied by a carpenter, and all the ready-made accessories necessary for the construction of a 'Tavern', as he termed it.
"It was a roomy two-story-and-basement building, in size forty by eighty feet on the ground. In those days a ballroom was second only to the bar, as a source of revenue, and with this important matter in view a spacious ball room, 40x40 feet, capable of accommodating 100 dancers, was finished on the second floor, the balance being devoted to sleeping apartments. The porches in front furnished the best quarters possible for visiting and social interchange of opinions, while the con- venient bar was accessible at any old time its patrons considered necessary.
"This house was opened for business July 4, 1866, and the day was ushered in by salutes of cannon shot from midnight to sunrise. The whole country for miles around 'heard the joyful sound', and soon there commenced to gather the biggest crowd that Fayette had ever seen. They came from far and near, the old and young, the boys and girls, all flocked to Fayette, to ascertain the cause of the unusual com- motion, and incidentally to spend the Fourth, and work up a dance for the evening.
"Some came prepared to stay, others took chances on the hotel feed room, and village groceries. The result, as near as the writer re- calls, was that our neighbor, Morenci, was called upon for help to feed the hungry ; and, it has been said that only by steady work at a nearby pump was the bar supply kept out of the hands of a receiver. Any- way, it was a big day, a fact that has never been successfully disputed. "There is no question but the advent of the Hardenburg Hotel was an important factor in the growth of Fayette.
"Fayette in 1866. There was, at the period of its advent (1866) two small general stores in Fayette, the oldest on the corner now occupied by the Farmers State Bank, and run by G. W. Thompson and A. D. Cadwell, both of whom have long since joined the silent majority beyond the river.
"Among the prominent citizens of Fayette at this time (1866) it might be well to mention the names of some who gave many hard days work and earnest thought to the improving and building up of the village. The list of grand old pioneers was, in part: R. S. Hum- phrey, J. O. Allen, Henry Gamber, Nathan Shaw, L. Ellsworth, J. B Snow, P. F. Chambard, J. P. Emerick ; and then, from nearby country the Coffins, Fords, Griffins, Matterns, Gorhams, Chaffins Aldrich, Rices Ritters, Gambers and many others of equal worth and benefit to a growing community. Yes! and there was John Gamber. 'Uncle John', of blessed memory, always to the front in good works, an in- spiration to all helpers. All of these grand old heroes of the early days of Fayette have passed away. They rest from their labors, but in very truth, 'their good works do follow them.'
"The several parcels of land upon which Fayette is located were taken up from the government: that on the north-east corner, by
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Hemon Leonard; southwest corner, by Justice Cooley; northwest cor- ner, by Hiram Farwell.
"At the time the hotel was built, there were four blocks, one on each corner, with eight lots to a block. Across, south of the hotel was the general store of Allen Bros., and on the southwest corner a store owned by a Mr. Wightman, who a few years later sold to Jared Parker, was located. He moved his stock of goods from Handy. There were two blacksmith shops, one on the site now occupied by Wright Carpenter, who followed that vocation there for many years. The other was located near where the electric depot now is, and was owned by William Barringer; while on the north side of the street Remington Taylor had a workshop and dwelling. He was a wagon-maker. Cutting Wiley also had a wagon shop, located about where the express office now is, across west from the old bank building. These, with the dwellings of Dr. J. O. Allen, G. W. Thompson, and the dwelling now occupied by Dr. Berry, constitute a good share of the buildings then occupying the four original blocks of the village.
"The Mill. A few years before the hotel was built, say about the year 1853, the grist and saw-mill was built by J. O. Allen and R. S. Humphrey. The building and putting into operation of this mill was the prime factor in making the village out of Gorham Center. Prior to that date, it was the custom of the people to go to Medina, Michigan, to mill, a long and hard day's work. Many of the farm teams wore horns and worked without a harness. They were perhaps more perfectly reliable than the present-day automobiles, but when the short-of-rations farmer started to Medina to mill from Western Gorham, it was a sad parting from his family, for his return, as to date, was an uncertain quality. Tradition tells us, however; that they all got back-sometime. There is no record of deaths from old age on the trip.
"The mill has been running every week since its construction, and one of its engines has been in constant service to this date.
"The School. The school house, when the hotel was built, was lo- cated where stands the residence of Mrs. Ella Ely. It was a small two-room building, and, being located in the woods, the teachers had everything in their favor in securing good government. Since then, there have been three fine brick buildings built in Fayette for school purposes, and Fayette has established the reputation of furnishing superior facilities for educational purposes, Wisman, Ewers, Dodds, and Perry, and last, but not least, Clark, proving instructors and organizers of more than ordinary ability.
"The Railway. The Chicago and Canada Southern made Fayette a railroad town in the year 1871; and George Letcher built a grain house, and made this one of the best grain markets in northwestern Ohio. He did a large business in grain, seed, and dressing pork, and about this time opened a bank, which also gave an impetus to the busi- ness of the place. He built two fine brick blocks, one on the corner of the Farmers Bank, fronting west, and one on the corner of the old Bank of Fayette.
"A fine opera hall was on the second floor of the last-mentioned He sold his banking interest to Bryan Baxter, in about the year 1882, and in 1885 sold to Allen Bros. and Trowbridge. C. L. Allen bought the east half of the bank block, and Allen and Trowbridge bought the
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bank building. These buildings were burned down, and afterwards rebuilt by C. L. Allen, and Trowbridge.
"There have been two banking institutions established in Fayette within the last few years, the Farmers State Bank, and the Fayette State Savings Bank, while the old Bank of Fayette went into liquidation in September of 1913, after twenty-seven years of satisfaction to all of its patrons.
"Pastimes. And how about the hotel? In the big fire that burned up Fayette root and branch, the old wooden hotel, with its myriads of occupants, went with the bunch. It changed owners and occupants many times, but always kept up its reputation. The last owner was Mr. L. Hitchcock, who, on the site of the old one, built the brick structure which is known as Hotel Central. Referring again to the 'Old Tavern', it passed through many hands, and various landlords served the public. Vince Brown was perhaps the man who came near-
T. & W. Depot, Fayette. Ohio.
est being an all-around hotelman, although Woollace and Carpenter (Jim and Wright) were close seconds. In the days of their popular reign, there were frequent gatherings. The farmers came in and spent their leisure hours in a species of recreation that in these latter days seems to have been forgotten. But they were a jolly good-feeling crowd. There was Hank Emerick, Ben Dee, George Gamber, Ace Bailey, Squire Mattern, John Whaley, Nate Salsbury, Milo Rice, Steve Chaffee, Jim Baker, Benjamin Russell, Cy Ford and many others who were wont to gather. Pitching quoits was a favorite pastime. As a rule, there would be four contestants, or rather four pitchers, in pairs. They used horseshoes for quoits, and the party first securing ten points was acclaimed the victor. The penalty for the defeated was 'the drinks', and (in the language of the preacher) : 'Hence you perceive' there were frequent calls upon the dispenser of the needful. Thus, they whiled away the time. But there were, in connection with this passing of time, other games of chance, including wrestling, square holds and side holds, back hold, and rough-and-tumble, now called catch- as-catch-can. The younger (18 to 25) took part in these exercises, the
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penalty of defeat being the same as in the quoit contests. Sometimes one of the old fellows would think he was it, and would take a chance on a fall with the young fellows; in this case there were devious results. They were a jolly lot of old scouts, and I have my doubts as to there having been any improvement in these latter days on the real enjoy- ment of pioneer life and early day recreation.
"The 'Old Tavern,' Bill Hardenburg's monument, although long since reduced to ashes, will forever be a cherished memory, so long as there is living a Fayette citizen who was present at its christening.
"Fayette has grown to be a thriving village of more than one thou- sand happy citizens. We have our churches, our schools, our lodge rooms, our splendid stores, railroad and mail facilities, electric lights, produce dealers, a live paper and, to cap the whole outfit, a commerce club, a genuine booster; while our grain handling, coal delivery and lumber yard are second to none. Happy proud Fayette!
"The Grit of the Pioneer. Now, while you think of it, take an- other look at the old landmark, the hotel of '60. Think of the gall a man must have had to erect such a monster in a town of 200 people, in a sparsely settled neck of the woods, eleven miles from a railroad, with the wild woods crowding the back door! But men of gall and pluck lived in those days. The men I have mentioned, the first settlers in this now 'Garden of the Gods', were the kind of material that build great nations. They never knew the meaning of the word 'quit.' They shouldered all the vicissitudes and inconveniences of pioneer life, pressed sturdily forward, conquered all difficulties, and their manly efforts crowned with victory are the heritage of the generation now enjoying the fruits of their labor. The old man, Hardenburg, after leaving Fayette, kept a hotel in Archbold, and from there he returned to his old home in Providence, where he died full of years and many good deeds.
"In the reminiscences I have jotted down, there may be some slight errors as to dates. Unimportant they are, as there are but few now liv- ing to disnute them, and a year or two in ancient history doesn't count.
"Old Time Lodges. Referring to the old-time lodges of Fayette; the Masons and Oddfellows are in a class by themselves. The order of F. and A. M. was instituted in Fayette A. D. 1867, with William Sutton, W. M. and C. L. Allen, secretary. Of the charter members the sole representatives now remaining are James Grisier and C. L. Allen. The lodge is now in prosperous and healthy condition, with C. D. Hause, w. m., and Prof. Clark, secretary. They own their pleasant and commodious lodge room, are well equipped and have a good surplus. The increase in membership fully makes up the losses. Of the Odd- fellows, the same may be said. They are a strong lodge, own their own lodge room, and are abundantly able to care for their unfortunate and needv wards.
"The Eastern Stars and Rebekahs, in their several worthy and im- portant interests are reliable adjuncts and fully and cheerfully do their important parts in maintaining the organizations.
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