USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. I > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
After retiring from the office of adjutant general. Mr. Howe pur- chased the Hardin County Republican and the Kenton Daily Republican from E. L. Millar, and became editor, as well as proprietor of both papers. However, he did not continue long in the newspaper business, disposing of his interests to William M. Beckman in February, 1895. In July of the same year President Mckinley appointed him general
410
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
agent of the Department of Justice, a position which he held until his death. General Howe had only been at the head of this work a few months, when he came home ill from a trip connected with business for the Department, and after suffering two weeks from typhoid fever in a malignant form passed away November 1, 1897.
Aside from his business and military duties, General Howe took great pleasure in the work of secret societies and attained the rank of brigadier general in the Uniformed Rank of Knights of Pythias. He was also a prominent Mason, Odd Fellow and Elk, all of which organ- izations were represented at his funeral. In his home life General Howe was a devoted husband and father.
General Howe was married in 1877, to Miss Amanda Downing, and two children came to bless their home. One of these, Warren Howe, died several years before his father passed away, and the other, Miss Mabel, a favorite of President and Mrs. McKinley, in 1900, when not quite sixteen years old.
General Howe's funeral was one of the largest ever held in Kenton, and was attended by the entire Ninth Regiment Knights of Pythias ; Adjutant General Axline and nearly all of the governor's staff; a large number of state officials; distinguished citizens from all parts of the state and the other secret orders to which the dead man belonged, together with all the citizens of Kenton. The business houses were all closed during the funeral, as a token of respect, and the floral offerings were most profuse and beautiful. President and Mrs. McKinley sent a telegram of condolence, as did many other distinguished friends unable to attend the services, and the remains were laid to rest in Grove cem- etery. Company G, of this city, in which General Howe had enlisted as a private just twenty years before, fired a salute over the grave, and his busy, useful life was ended.
DR. HENRY A. TOBEY was born just over the Hardin county line, in Union county, but much of his young manhood was spent at Mt. Victory, and he always referred to that little city as his native place. So it is fitting that his great and useful life should be remembered in this volume. IIe was born on a farm, April 6, 1852, and received his early education in the country schools, and the village school at Mt. Victory. For a time he had a little tin store in this village, but friends, recognizing his ability, persuaded him to enter college. In 1870 and 1871 he was a student at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and afterward read medicine with the late Dr. James Watt of Kenton. He then entered the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he graduated with high honors in 1875. He formed a partnership with Dr. Henry Conklin, of Sidney, after graduation, and continued in prac- tice there until in 1877, when he was appointed assistant physician of the Columbus State Hospital for the Insane. In 1880 he was called to take charge of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane, being at the time the youngest man who had ever held the position in the state.
411
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
In 1884 Dr. Tobey decided to once more enter private practice, and located at Lima, Ohio, but two years later he was prevailed upon to take charge of the new State Hospital for the Insane at Toledo. He opened this institution and continued at its head many years, his ability being recognized by all, and his work among the unfortunate patients attracting attention from noted specialists all over the United States. All who came in contact with Dr. Tobey recognized at once his rare tact in dealing with people, his devotion to duty and his unbounded charity in the broadest sense of that expressive word. Hardin county people who knew him personally speak of him in the highest terms, and say that to the day of his death he cherished the memory of his boyhood friends and surroundings.
On September 8, 1881, Dr. Tobey married Miss Minnie Conklin of Sidney, Ohio, and they had an ideal home at Toledo. Mrs. Tobey died a few years before her husband passed away, but three daughters sur- vive them. In 1892 Dr. Tobey left the Toledo hospital on account of failing health, and lived retired until death claimed him August 18, 1908. His work will never be forgotten, for, as the founder and head of the great institution in Toledo for Ohio's unfortunate citizens, he left a monument that will endure longer than a marble one.
DR. JOHN WESLEY HILL was born in Putnam county, Ohio, May 8, 1863. He is the son of John Wesley and Elizabeth Hill, the former being a retired minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, now living at Ada, Ohio. John Wesley, Jr., like most of the sons of Methodist ministers, lived in various communities, though most of his education was obtained at the common schools of Ada, and afterward at the Ohio Northern University, that place. He came to Hardin county in 1870, and from that time on has resided much in Ada. He received the degrees of D. D. and LL. D. from President Lehr of the university, and at the age of twenty-one began preaching at Sprague, Washington. However, his first public work was when, as a youth, he stumped the state of Indiana for James G. Blaine. Later, he took a course at Baldwin University and then entered the Boston Theological Seminary.
Through the various churches in which he preached Dr. Hill rose rapidly, until he now occupies the pulpit of the Metropolitan Temple, of New York City, a large institutional church which he found bur- dened with a $50,000 debt. This debt has been provided for and the church is on a solid financial basis. It contains a large pipe organ, in memory of President Mckinley, and other notable features. During the campaign of 1908 Dr. Hill accompanied Mr. Taft on his Western tour, speaking everywhere for the presidential candidate, and during the summer of 1909 he occupied the pulpit of the Marlebone Pres- byterian church in London, England.
CHAPTER IX.
SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL STATUS
THE COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS-BLANCHARD, BUCK, CESSNA, DUDLEY, GOSHIEN, HALE, JACKSON, LYNN, LIBERTY, MCDONALD, MARION, PLEAS- ANT, ROUNDIIEAD, TAYLOR CREEK AND WASHIINGTON.
BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP. Outside of Dunkirk, which has a large and elegant school building, Blanchard township has seven rural schools. No. 1, Maple Grove, is located three miles northeast of Dunkirk; No. 2, Woods school, one and one-half miles northeast of Dunkirk; No. 3, Oak Harbor, one mile east of Dunkirk; No. 4, Sixteen, three miles southeast of Dunkirk; No. 5, Bridgeport, four miles southeast of Dunkirk; No. 6, Buckeye, two and one-half miles south of Dunkirk, and No. 7, Rose Run, one mile south of Dunkirk. These are all substantial brick buildings, in which school is held eight months each year.
There are three country churches in Blanchard township : Blanchard River Church of Christ, Harris Chapel, Methodist Episcopal and Bridgeport Christian church. Blanchard River (Disciples), which is three miles east of Dunkirk, was organized in the schoolhouse on sec- tion 16, summer of 1874, by Rev. Philip Axline, with the following members : David and Charity Higgings, Thomas Chamberlain and wife, and Isaac and Emily Miller. A little later a church was built and ded- icated by Rev. William Dowling of Kenton, but in the disastrous cyclone of 1887 the building was utterly destroyed, scarcely a trace of it being left. However, this brave congregation rebuilt in a short time and now have a congregation of about sixty. A good Sunday school is kept up, and the attendance averages about fifty. The following ministers have served this church: Revs. Axline, Dowling, Griffin, Adam Moore, Skates, Grimm, Pierson, Ferrol, Oaldecker, Galliger and Stewart.
Blanchard Christian church was organized December 2, 1866, by Elder N. Hurd, in the Miller school house on Section 16, with twenty- nine members, most of them coming from the Johnson, Thompson, Hine- baugh, Hurd, MeLain, Fry, Hull, MeCloud and Steele families. They held their meetings in the school house until the summer of 1875, when they erected their present church. It was dedicated July, 1875, by
412
413
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Rev. A. C. Hanger. The following pastors have served here: N. Hurd. Elijah Grubb, II. H. Holverstott, A. Leonard, C. W. Rimer, Chapman Hunt and Hance. This church has a membership of about fifty.
Harris Chapel Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the Miller school house January 1, 1869, by Rev. F. Plumb, with twelve members. In 1871 they erected their present church, which was ded- icated in 1873. The following pastors have preached in this church since 1868: Revs. Francis Plumb, John C. Miller, I. N. Smith, J. M. Longfellow, Joseph Wykes, W. W. Lance, L. O. Cook, John Graham, Joseph H. Cater, W. R. Shultx, W. W. Winter, J. C. Clemens, J. T. Pope, J. W. Hill, E. A. Strother, L. H. Lindsey and W. W. Curl. Church and Sunday school have an average attendance of about sixty.
The Dunkirk cemetery is situated on the Kenton and Dunkirk pike, one-half mile south of the latter city. It was first a private burial place on the farm of Levi Bodley, and the first person buried there was a stranger, who came to Dunkirk to work and died in 1835. Mr. Bodley afterwards donated the land to the township trustees and it is now in their hands as a public cemetery. It is now one of the prettiest country or village cemeteries in the county, and in it are resting many soldiers and pioneers. It is well kept up and presents a neat, trim appearance at all seasons.
A pioneer cemetery is located on the old Fry farm some distance from Dunkirk, but all traces of it will soon be lost.
BUCK TOWNSHIP is one of the most progressive and enlightened of the fifteen separate organizations that compose Hardin county, and stands in the front rank of social, religious and intellectual life. Many of the children of this township have graduated from the Kenton high school, and many are now in the various higher institutions of learning of this and other states.
Buck township has ten school districts, each one furnished with a substantial brick schoolhouse, well built. well lighted and furnished with modern facilities for teaching. In each of these schools a term of eight consecutive months of school is held every year, and a high standard of scholarship is kept up, the children going direct from the schools in the country to high schools, where they make good records. No. 1 is known as the Six Mile school, and is located about three miles west of Kenton on the Roundhead pike; No. 2, Wolf Creek, is situated near the stream of that name five miles south of Kenton on the Mt. Victory pike ; No. 3, Enterprise, five miles south of Kenton on the Belle- fontaine pike; No. 4. Spring Grove, two miles south on Bellefontaine pike; No. 5, Maple Grove. four and one-half miles south of Ridgeway pike ; No. 6. Champion, four and one-half miles south on Taylor Creek pike; No. 7, Compromise, two miles east of Mt. Victory pike on a mud road; No. 8, Espy Grove, two miles south of Kenton on Mt. Victory pike ;
414
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
No. 9, Black and White, six miles south of Kenton on Mt. Vietory pike, and No. 10, Scioto Valley, two miles west of Kenton on the new pike. Only one of these buildings (Compromise) is on a mud road.
Outside of South Kenton, which is in Buck township, there is but one church-Wolf Creek Methodist Episcopal church, or Wilson Chapel. This society was organized by Elder Roberts in the old schoolhouse, in 1852, with six persons as members, all of whom are now dead. They were: James and Matilda Richards, Leonard and Mary Richards and IIenry G. and Martha Johnson. All of these charter members now sleep in the cemetery just across the road from the church. In 1873 the present church was built at a cost of about $1,250, and was ded- icated that year by Rev. T. H. Wilson, for whom it was named. Among the ministers who have served the people here are: Revs. Rinehart, Leonard Cook, Philip Lemasters, William Dunlap, James C. Clemons, D. W. Day, William Smith, James Gowdy, W. F. Spencer, John Parlette, Daniel Carter, J. W. Barnes, E. Snow, W. D. Philpot, J. F. Newcomb, Webster Powell, W. T. Stockstill, David G. Hall and J. J. Richards (the present incumbent). For many years Wolf Creek church was attached to Mt. Victory, but for the past ten years it has been connected with South Kenton for preaching purposes, the minister residing there. About 1889 a tower was added to the building at a cost of two hundred dollars, and in 1907 an addition at the rear for social purposes, costing more than three hundred dollars. The present membership is about sixty. There is also a Sunday school in connection with the church, of about sixty-five members. The ladies of the society have a flourishing Finance Society, and have accomplished much for the church during the few years they have been organized. Mr. James Spar is the super- intendent of the Sunday school, with Mr. Kenrick Kennedy as assistant. Mrs. D. Kennedy is the efficient president of the Ladies Aid Society.
The Wolf Creek cemetery lying just across the road from the church, was laid out in 1879, and though comparatively close to the Grove cem- ctery of Kenton, is largely used as a burying place, even by citizens of Kenton. It is well kept up and contains many fine monuments. At first one and one-half acres of ground were purchased of Samuel Mentzer, but from time to time it was found necessary to enlarge it, until now it covers seven aeres. It is well drained, admirably located and beautifully kept up, a regular sexton being employed for this pur- pose. There are few country cemeteries anywhere that are better looked after than this, and many persons who have seen it pronounce it the finest rural burying place in the county. The first trustees were: P. F. Latimer, M. D. L. Mentzer, E. L. Butler, Z. O. Hatcher and Jacob Ever- hart, all of whom, with the exception of Mr. Mentzer, are now buried in the cemetery. The present trustees are M. D. L. Mentzer, A. L. Zuck, Henry Myers, George Ansley and A. E. Mallow.
Located elose to the Mentzer Clay Works, on the road connecting the
415
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Mt. Victory and Ridgeway pikes, is the Wolf Creek Grange Hall, the home of a flourishing grange which is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. It is a substantial frame structure which was erected in 1900 at a cost of $300. This grange is in a flourishing condition, with seventy-one enthu- siastic members, and meetings are held regularly. Occasionally a supper or entertainment is given, and the organization contributes much to the social life of the community.
Buck township is also the home of Friendship Club, an account of which is given elsewhere, and from time to time various literary societies have flourished at the different schoolhouses. Calhoun Park, located on the bank of Taylor creek, about one mile south of Kenton, is a favorite resort for picnics and social gatherings, and has been fitted up by the water works authorities with seats, a shelter building and various other conveniences, making it an attractive little park for pleasure seekers,
Dr. Guy Potter Benton, who is the present head of Miami Univer- sity at Oxford, Ohio, was born in Buck township, his old home being a little southwest of Calhoun park on the Bellefontaine pike, and other citizens of this township are doing good work at home and in various parts of the state.
CESSNA TOWNSHIP has six schoolhouses located as follows: No. 1. Salem School, near the Salem church, in the southeast corner of Section 2; No. 2, Pleasant Hill, southwest corner of Section 5; No. 3. Shingle School, on Shingle pike on west line of Section 25; No. 4, Ried's School. northeast corner of Section 10; No. 5, Bateson, in northeast corner of Section 23, and No. 6, Beech Grove, midway on west line of Section 15, on south side of Kenton and Lima pike.
Cessna township has many cemeteries, some of which are aban- doned wholly or in part as burial places, but all of which are well looked after by the trustees. The owners of lots also take an interest in keeping up these sacred spots, and none of them are given over to weeds and disorder, as was common some years ago with country cem- eteries.
Ft. McArthur cemetery is merely a little plot of ground in the woods on the George ITeil farm, in which lie the remains of sixteen sol- diers of the War of 1812. This little burying place was the earliest cemetery of the county, being nearly one hundred years old. No tomb- stones mark the last resting places of the heroes. but it is probable that in the near future Congress, or some patriotic organization, will take the matter in hand and suitably mark these long neglected graves.
Cessna cemetery lies near the intersection of the Range Line road and Traeger pike, and is the last resting place of the man who was the first settler in this township and gave it his name-Charles Cessna. While not used by the residents of this vicinity exclusively as a burying place, some of the people whose ancestors lie here still use it as a burying
416
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
ground. According to some of the old residents, this cemetery was laid out before 1840. It was beautifully located and is not in the least neglected.
Bunn, or Wheeler cemetery is located quite close to the Ft. Mc Arthur cemetery on the south line of Section 5. It is fenced and cared for, but wholly abandoned as a place of burial, the last grave being dug there many years ago. Many of the pioneers of this section lie buried there, and being in the hands of the trustees of the township it will be respected and cared for, which cannot be said of the numerous little private cemeteries all over the county, many of which are now being farmned over, and all traces of them lost.
IInntersville cemetery is located about one-half mile from Hunters- ville, in Cessna township. It is well kept up, mostly by the trustees, but a portion of it is under the control of an incorporated organization. In this cemetery, which is still used by the residents of Cessna and Marion townships, are buried many of the oldest settlers of Hardin county. It is well located and presents a beautiful appearance in summer, with its well trimmed sod, fine monuments and neat appearance in general.
The old log church, which was erected about 1840 on Joseph Wilson's farm in section 1, stood right in the center of Salem cemetery. It was, in truth, a church-yard in those days, for the remains of the pioneers were buried all about the little building their hands helped to fashion. About 1870 or 1871 the log church became unfit for use, and it was decided to erect the new frame church on its present site, about a mile west of the cemetery. Of course no trace of the old church remains, but the cemetery is kept up and still used by descendants of the pioneers and other citizens, as a resting place for the dead.
Obenour cemetery is located near the north central part of section 4. not far from the Washington and Cessna township line. At one time a Methodist Episcopal church stood near the cemetery, but all trace of it is now gone.
A short distance from the Fairview church, on a cross road, lies Fairview cemetery, on section 23. This is in general use among people living in the vicinity, and has many good monuments in memory of the dead.
Smith cemetery is located in Washington township, across the road from Cessna, but is a joint cemetery for both townships. An old res- ident of that section gave it his name, as it was located on his land, and the names on the monuments show that many of the pioneers of both townships are lying here.
There are two churches in Cessna township-Salem and Fairview, both of which are Methodist Episcopal.
Fairview church is located on the Lima pike, six miles west of Kenton. This church was built in 1894, at a cost of $1,500, by a little society made up of members of other churches who had moved into the
417
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
neighborhood, and the remains of the society that had held serviees for some years in a schoolhouse west of the present church. At first it had a membership of only twenty-three, but it is now a flourishing congre- gation, with services held every two weeks in charge of Rev. J. C. Crider. There is a Sunday school of seventy-five members, with Irvin Foit as superintendent ; an Epworth League that is well attended, and a Ladies' Aid Society. in connection with the church. Miss Lucy Sparang is president of the Epworth League, and Mrs. A. II. Fulton, of the Ladies Aid Society. During the past two years the church has been repainted and repapered, a wood house built, a cement porch placed in front, and a fine new piano purchased. All these improvements eost about five hundred dollars.
Salem Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1836 at the home of Joseph and Martha Wilson ; with the following people as charter members: Joseph and Martha Wilson, Keziah Cessna, Isaae Kinnear and wife, Henry Kyle and wife, and several others. Henry Kyle was the first class leader. Meetings were held at the Wilson home until 1837, when a log church was built on the site of the present Salem cemetery, which was used till 1855. The meetings were then held in the school- house until the present church was erected in 1870, about half a mile west of the old location. The trustees at that time were John D. Cessna, Chester A. Hatch and W. H. Martin. The church, which eost $1.000, was completed in 1871 and dedicated by Rev. Thomas Harvey Wilson. The class leaders then were J. D. Cessna and Chester A. ITatel. and the membership was about one hundred. At present the member- ship is twenty-seven, with Rev. J. C. Crider as pastor. E. S. Kavlor is the class leader, and the trustees are E. S. Kaylor, N. S. Martin, II. D. Alexander and W. G. Cook. The Sunday school has a membership of about thirty, and Lloyd Hemmerly is the superintendent. The Ladies' Aid Society has twenty members, and the president is Mrs. Mollie Kaylor.
DUDLEY TOWNSHIP has ten schoolhouses, not counting the one in Hepburn. No. 1, Morison, is located one mile west and one-fourth mile north of Pfeiffer's Station on the Morison and Bloom pike; No 2, Mt. Pisgah, on the Old Sandusky road, one-half mile south of Pfeiffer ; No. 3. Shecklar. one mile east and one-half mile north of Hepburn; No. 4. Kelly School, southwest of Pfeiffer Station about two miles; No. 5, Pleasant Hill, one mile south and one-half mile east of Pfeiffer; No. 6. Hampton, two miles south and one mile east of Pfeiffer; No. 7, Wild Cat, two miles south and two east of Pfeiffer; No. 8, Ballenger, two miles south and one-fourth mile west of Pfeiffer: No. 9, Scioto Valley, one and one-fourth miles south of Pfeiffer, and No. 10, Dusang. three and one-half miles south and one and one-half miles east of Pfeiffer.
Outside Hepburn there are three country churches in Dudley town- Vol. I-27
418
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
ship. There are two United Brethren churches, both bearing the name- Otterbein, located one and one-half miles south of Pfeiffer on the Mt. Victory and Pfeiffer pike, one liberal in policy and the other radical.
Rinehart Methodist Episcopal church is located two miles south of Pfeiffer, on the Mt. Victory and Pfeiffer pike, close to the United Brethren churches. There are three cemeteries in Dudley township not including the Hepburn cemetery. Morison cemetery is three-fourths of a mile east of Pfeiffer, on the Kenton pike. Lee cemetery is one- fourth mile east of Pfeiffer. Otterbein cemetery is located near the churches of that name, south of Pfeiffer.
In the community north of Mt. Victory about three miles is found the Rinehart Methodist Episcopal church, built by Rev. D. B. Rinehart, in whose honor the church is named. Methodism was first organized in this community about the year 1836, by Enos Holmes, with the following charter members: Henry Jackson and wife, Henry Burris and wife and Henry Shanks and wife. The following ministers served it: Lantley, Armstrong. Ward. Brakefield, Burgess, MeKnapp, Gunley, Belle, Godman, Mickerson, James and Day. Under the pastorate of Brother Day the society was dropped. About three years after it was dropped, it was reorganized by the Rev. John K. Ford and was added to the work known as Scioto Mission. The services were again held at the home of Francis Lattimore; then, at the different schoolhouses, last of which was the one located just south across the road from the present ehureh.
In 1873 the present church was built, under the pastorate of Rev. D. B. Rinehart, at a cost of $1,244, and was dedicated by Harvey Wilson of Kenton. It has always belonged to the Mt. Victory eharge, being served by the pastors indicated in the Mt. Victory record found else- where. In 1908 the church was repaired at a cost of $500 and made to appear new. The church has given one of her sons to the ministry, Joshua Smith. Very few country charges are as faithful to the services and as loyal and true to their pastor as this one. Harmony and good will have always reigned and the peace sung by the angels has a response in the hearts of the members.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.