Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1, Part 57

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 57

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).

Schools. - The first school building was "raised at the Forks," in 1835, by the residents, on land donated by Albert Keyes, twenty rods east of the C. & T. railroad crossing of the Port- age. Almira Webster taught the first class there in the summer of that year, the " directors " pay- ing her one dollar a week and giving her a permit to "board round." Among her students were Hiram, Almira and Lucina Powers, Orissa, Emily and David Calkins, Orlando and Lyman Web- ster, Asa and Albert Fuller, Betsy Pember and a boy named Eyster. When J. H. Schroeder ar- rived in the " fifties," Peter Bell taught school on the N. E. corner of Sec. 10. He was then an old teacher. Dr. Palmer taught here for many terms in the second house built across the road, which was moved to the present school house lot in 1875. A special school district was organized in 1876, and in April, 1877, J. H. Schroeder, A. G. Thornton, George Buttorf, Henry Menter and R. J. Simon were elected directors. The principals were B. R. Hubbard, H. B. Knoff, I. N. Van Tassel and W. R. Barton, prior to 1881, when George H. Withey was ap- pointed superintendent, with Ida Williams and Alice Burney, teachers in the lower grades. John S. Hoyman succeeded Withey, and held the position for five years, or until June, IS91. D. R. Jones, his successor, also became a lawyer when R. F. Beausay, who was admitted to the bar in March, 1895, was appointed superintend- ent. S. S. Simpson is now the superintendent. The .present $12.000 school house was erected in ISSo-SI to supercede the old two-story frame structure of the old district. In April,

265

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

1895, J. S. Hoyman and D. B. Brown, both Democrats, received 261 votes, against eighty- eight cast for Mrs. Bowlus and Mrs. Haskins, the Republican candidates for the school board.

The German Lutheran school, supported by members of that society, had 112 pupils enrolled in ISS4, but were willing to pay the double school tax rather than send their children to the common school.

Churches .- The first Methodist sermon was delivered at A. H. Powers' house in 1834, and there, the same year, Rev. J. Wells, of Fremont, organized a Methodist class of forty-five mem- bers. For many years, this denomination had scarcely a representation here. In ISSI a class was re-organized by Rev. J. Stewart. In 1888 a church building was erected, which was dedi- cated October 7, 1888, by Elder Rutledge. In 1887 George A. Criger was pastor; in 1888, Rev. E. D. Winfield; in 1890, G. M. Hunter; in 1892, L. C. McBride, and B. L. Rowand, 1893. The permanent organization of the society took place March 19, 1893. when Thomas N. Bierly. S. V. Sheffner, J. F. Bruning, A. Bressler and Henry Basor were chosen trustees; J. L. Wilkins, J. C. Stewart, J. F. Bruning, Mrs. George H. Speck and Mrs. Lee Williams, stewards, and R. F. Beausay, superintendent.

The Seventh Day Adventists organized a class of a few members, and in December, 1891, held baptismal services.

There was a time in the history of Freedom township in the early " forties " when the excite- ment over Spiritualism ran very high, many strange and interesting stories of their meetings as they were held night after night in that vicin- ity, might be related. One of the principal me- diums was a bright young school teacher, a lady of more than ordinary intelligence; who is still living, but not in this State. She was also a somnambulist, and it is stated that at one time she boarded with a family living on the bank of the Portage while teaching, and on several occa- sions was found wandering about in a comatose state. She consulted the most noted mediums and read all their leading books. She wrote her own biography and a large number of poems. The latter slie would write in the night. After waking from a short sleep she would call for a light, and write sitting in bed. Like other relig- ious organizations of the township, the Spiritual- ist had many followers for a season, again only few, and again a large class.

There was no regular church building erected in the vicinity of the Forks until 1862, when the German Lutheran denomination built a frame

house which they now use. The Bethlehem Lutheran Society is the oldest local organization, dating back to 1861. An addition was made to the building in recent years, and, since Rev. C. J. L. Benzine became pastor, thirteen years ago, the membership has increased to 400. The brick school house, to accommodate 100 pupils, and the brick parsonage, built in 1894 at a cost of $4,000, have been erected. . In ISSo, the old church building was enlarged at a cost of $1. 8oo. There are now about 200 members. The pipe . organ cost $1, 100 in 1881 or 1882. Prior to 1861, the Pemberville Lutherans formed a part of the Switzer Church in Troy township.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Freedom township was incorporated December 20, 1861, with William Heckman, Henry Schroe- der, Henry Hagemeyer, trustees, and Caspar H. Scherman, clerk. Rev. George Cronewett was their pastor.

The United Brethren Society of Pemberville signed articles of association December 10, 1877. and elected J. Conser, Geo. M. Bell, Albert Froney, M. Hobart and H. Long, trustees. They built a house of worship, which ultimately was purchased by the Presbyterians for $1, 500.

A Presbyterian Society was organized in 1863: but there was nothing accomplished by the mem- bers toward employing a preacher or building a house of worship. On April 21, 1878, Rev. P. C. Baldwin succeeded in re-establishing a Pres- byterian organization and in acquiring a church house. In 1882 a parsonage was erected. The first members were Marcene Hobart, Lewis For- rest, Dr. R. J. Simons, Henry Bruning and their wives, with Mrs. Scott, while Dr. Simons was the first ruling elder. Rev. James Quick, pastor from 1882 to December 1, 1884, died in 1889; Rev. John R. Tercy, 1889; G. C. Gerlach, in IS90; Rev. J. A. Bartlett in 1893-95. when he re- moved to Celina, Ohio. In February, 1894. A. J. Shontz was elected secretary, H. H. Bruning, treasurer, and J. H. Bahrenburg, trustee. The first trustees were Messrs. Hobart, Forrest. Bruning, named above, with J. Conser, George Bell. John Wight and Albert Froney, and the first clerk was W. D. Stewart. In September and October, 1881, a number of members were received. In 1883 F. M. Boyer, H. F. Bowlus, G. Hebling and Dr. Simon were elders. In March, 1882, Rev. J. Quick was appointed clerk, and he signed the records until December, 1884. H. F. Bowlus was appointed clerk in February, 188 ;. and continued as such until February, 1889. when Rev. G. C. Gerlach became moderator and clerk; but in February, 1893, Mr. Bowlus re-

266

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

sumned charge of the records of session, a position he still holds. There were 196 members received since organization, but the greater number have been dismissed to New Rochester and other churches.

The English Lutheran Society was organized in July, 1895, by Rev. Engers, of Toledo, under the title ---- "Martin Luther Society." Daniel Rife presided at the meeting, with H. W. Schroeder, secretary. There were twenty members reported .in October, 1895, who worship in the town hall.

Secret Societies .- Pemberville Lodge, No. 516, F. &. A. M., was organized May 2, 1877, and chartered October 17, of that year. It is said that Henry Bruning. D. W. Brown, R. L. Van Camp, J. P. Evans, M. Hobart, W. D. Stewart, John Edmond and A. Rees were the first officers in lodge rank, while on another authority, Gustavus Hebling is named as first master. Tak- ing the official list of presiding officers, G. He- bling served until 1879, when Morris Rees was installed; G. Hebling, again, from December 27, 1879, to December 28, 1882; then J. O. Cable to 1884; Henry Bruning to 1885; D. B. Brown to January, 1889; E. W. Pember to December 28, 1889; D. B. Brown to December, 1891; Thomas N. Bierly to January 13, 1894; J. E. Ladd to January 12, 1895; and M. Hobart, 1895. In December, 1895, D. B. Brown was elected. The secretaries in order of service are M. Ho- bart, 1877-78 and 1880; Henry Bruning, 1879; Charles Gerding, 1881 and 1882; G. Hebling, 1883 and 1885; J. P. Evans, 1884; T. J. Lake, 1886 and 1895; J. P. Muir, 1887; R. F. Muir, 1888, 1890 and 1891; H. L. Davis, 1889; John S. Hoyman, 1892 and 1893; L. A. Challen, 1894; and J. L. Jackson, 1896. The number of members in June, 1895, was sixty-five.

Freedom Lodge, No. 723, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 29, 1883, under a charter granted in May, 1882, to the following members: T. J. Lake, E. Smeed, D. B. Brown, R. J. Si- mon, Fred Gerding, J. T. Anderson, J. E. Fish, J. C. Bruning, S. B. Agnew, George Hiser, Tobias Henline, M. S. Frazier, William Agnew, John Craft and O. Peters. The past grands are named as follows: T. J. Lake, E. Smeed, D. B. Brown, R. J. Simon, J. E. Fish, dropped: J. T. Anderson, M. S. Frazier, A. Peters, J. C. Scott, H. B. Knoff, withdrawn; A. Keil, C. H. Hammond, E. E. Lake, W. J. Young. H. H. Bruning and Byron Shaw; Hiram Isbell and G. E. Bushnell, elected in June, 1895. In December. 1895, James Rogers was elected noble grand. The secretaries from 1883 to the present time are named in the order of service: T. J. Lake,

1883; E. Smeed, 1884; J. C. Scott and R. J. Simon, 1885; J. T. Anderson, 1886; R. G. Simon and A. L. Muir, 1887; H. B. Knoff and H. L. Davis, 1888; F. M. Lewis and M. S. Frazier, 1889; A. Peters and Dr. Brown, 1890; ]. E. Fish, 1891-92; John S. Hoyman, 1893; George H. Speck, 1894-96, and W. H. Bruning, elected in December, 1895. There were ninety-five members reported in October, 1895.

Wood Encampment, No. 256, I. O. O. F., was chartered April 15, 1891, with the following named members: I. F. Pheils, T. J. Lake, J. C. Scott, S. B. Hooper, Melvin Frazier, T. N. Bierly, J. C. Seiler, J. H. Chidester. Edwin Smeed. Junlier Smith, G. O. DePawe, D. B. Brown, Heman Allen, Byron Shaw, C. H. Ham- mond, J. V. Beverstock, John Muir, H. H. Bru- ning, J. S. Hoyman, H. M. Anderson, J. T. An- derson, H. Isbell, E. E. Lake, C. S. Habad, J. C. Bruning (chief), G. E. Bushnell, M. M. Fow- ler. The past chief patriarchs are: J. T: Lake, J. V. Beverstock, I. S. Hoyman ( two terms ), C. H. Hammond, J. T. Anderson, Byron Shaw and H. H. Bruning (two terms). The scribes who have served the encampment are named as follows: C. H. Hammond, J. V. Beverstock, J. C. Seiler, and C. H. Hammond, who was again scribe in 1895. There were forty-three members in June, 1895.

Reba Lodge, No. 239, D. of R., was instituted in 1889, with fifteen charter members. The first noble grand was Nancy Smead. The present membership is sixty-five. Mrs. T. J. Lake is the deputy grand master; Mrs. Byron Shaw, noble grand, and Miss Elva Bushnell recording secretary.

Benedict Post, No. 26, G. A. R., was named in honor of Napoleon Benedict of the 3rd Ohio Cavalry, who waskilled in the retreat from Love- joy's Station, Ga., in August, 1864. The charter members were Leroy Moore, G. Hebling, A. Vanetten, I. W. Krotzer, Jacob H. Furry, J. W. Vanetten, T. J. Lake, A. Hines, H. Allen, A. Bressler, William Finlay. James Muir, Theo. Alexander, J. D. Muir, W. W. Dunipace, R. Housholder, William Isbell, James Stewart, S. S. Canfield and J. J. Hemminger. T. J. Lake was the first commander, and Theo. Alexander. the first adjutant. The charter was issued May 4, ISSO. W. W. Isbell died in October, 1889. and J. W. Vanetten of the zend, in May. 1890; W. W. Weddell and J. H. Furry died in 1805; Alanson Bushnell and Daniel M. Hobart, with C. C. Layman, adjutant. John D. Muir was elected commander, in 1881 T. J. Lake, with J. C. , Mclaughlin, adjutant, in 1884: Robert | Black, 1885; R. F. Lewis, 1886; Heman Allen,

267

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

1887, with Robert Black, adjutant; James Muir, | H. K. Allen, Lula Culver, Clayton Hobart, R. 1888; Wm. Weddell, 1890, with John Hatha- ; F. Muir, Mrs. V. Frazier, Dora Vanetten, J. W. way, adjutant; H. C. Heisler, 1893; Wm. Wed- Keyser, Mrs. S. M. Harns, Mrs. M. Bowlus and J. C. Alexander, officials in lodge rank. dell, 1894; and S. S. Canfield, elected in July, 1895, vice Weddell, deceased. Robert Black has served as adjutant since 1887. There were forty-two. members in October, 1895.

Benedict Relief Corps, No. 276, surrendered its charter in' 1895. Among its first members were Lillian Cornwell, Plumnie Babcock, Mary Hathaway (of Luckey), Mrs. Kesson, Mrs. J. Muir, Mrs. James Moore, Mrs. Bressler, Fannie Hath- away, Emma Brown and others.

Camp A. Jolly, No. 12, S. of \'., was char- tered April 1, 1884, with the following named members: H. L. Davis, Frederick Lewis, John : Purcell, A. L. Muir, A. Keil, James Muir, Ned Altman, Ray Hathaway, H. Lake, H. L. Brown, O. S. Bressler, B. J. Froney, J. Mclaughlin and Albert Isbell.

De Molay Tent, No. 211, K. O. T. M., was instituted June 30, 1894, with the following named members: E. A. Saxby, D. B. Brown, M. D., Frank Brown, J. F. Bruning (the first commander), C. H. Hammond (the second com- mander), L. T. Slee, W. F. Whitten, J. B. Wal- ters, J. W. Morrison, Fred Stahler, J. W. Hays and W. W. Henton. The tent numbers thirty -. three members. E. A. Saxby has been secre- tary since organization.

Kenilworth Court, A. O. F. of A., was organ- ized June 26, 1895, with E. A. Saxby, chief ranger, and the following namned officers in. court rank: E. C. Chaffee, W. W. Krotzer, J. P. Muir, J. F. Krotzer, B. F. Green, B. G. Hawthorne, J. W. Morrison, S. S. Dilley, and trustees, By- ron Shaw, J. H. Cook and L. T. Slee.

Acme Lodge, I. O. G. T., No. 44, was char- tered March 11, 1885, with G. Helbring. Mrs. L. J. Walk, F. M. Boyer, Mrs. D. B. Brown,

The P. O. S. of A., Camp 79, claimed as offi- cers, in 1891, the following named: E. D. Griffin, J. E. Isbell, W. H. Daly, B. F. Rickett, W. H. Bruning, C. H. Pember, M. F. Krotzer, W. H. Boren, Eugene Jenkins and Chauncy Fair.

The Mannerchor organized in August, 1893, with J. H. Schinke, president; C. A. Fehr, sec- retary; Charles Nieman, treasurer; J. F. Meier, conductor, and A. H. Oberschulte, manager. Contemporary with this association was the " Æolian Quartette," composed of S. W. Stahler, F. W. Schultz, C. S. Hobart and George H. Speck, and " The Thespian Club."

The Pemberville Library .- This semi-public institution may be said to have been founded by Thomas N. Bierly, in 1893. His donation of 600 volumes was placed in charge of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which building a room was fitted up and the books in- stalled therein. Mr. Bierly donated a hundred or more volumes to the Presbyterian Society, thus giving to that denomination the nucleus of a second collection of books.

Conclusion .-. This history of Freedom and villages is based primarily on records found within the township, and on documents and newspaper files searched at Bowling Green; and secondarily on the historical papers written for the Bowling Green newspapers by Messrs. Van Tassel, 1877: Evers, 1875, and Bierly, 1889, from which 2,000 words were taken, with a few items from the local paper. The roster and record of soldiers furnished to the Federal army during the Civil war (given in the Military chapter), is based on a list of soldiers compiled by the writer from the relations of veterans.

CHAPTER XXXI.

GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP.

ITS ORIGIN AND NOMENCLATURE -ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIALS - EARLY SETTLEMENTS - THE HUCKLEBERRY WAR -THE WAR OF 1835-THE CHOLERA - HOLIDAY ACCIDENT -- COMMON SCHOOLS -- CHURCHES ; GRAND RAPIDS VILLAGE-EARLY AND OTHER TRADERS, ENTERPRISES. ETC .- INCORPORATION AND OFFICIAL LISTS - SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT - MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS-CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.

G RAND RAPIDS was unknown as a town- ship until 1888, having previously been a part of Weston. Though the first set- tlements were made near the Head of the Rapids (where the surveys were inade in 1819 and 1821), the township of Weston organ- ized there, and the beginnings of civilization made there, the persons and events have gener- ally been grouped under the head of Weston township, and these groupings have been con- tinued so long it is now difficult to separate them. The Census of 1890 credits the town- ship with 1, 021 inhabitants.

In 1829, the residents in the neighborhood of the present town of Grand Rapids, petitioned the commissioners to authorize a new township. On June 14, 1830, the petition was granted, and Ottawa township was formed out of the territory in Range 9, south of the Maumee, including the islands adjacent. The place of meeting was fixed at Edward Howard's house, but, for some reason, the meeting was not held. On Decem- ber 6, 1830, the commissioners changed the name to "Weston," and ordered a township meeting to be held on April 4, 1831. The officers then elected were those mentioned in the chap- ter devoted to Weston township and village. The efforts of the pioneers did not rest with the organization of the township, for in 1832 they petitioned the Post Office Department for an of- fice in their principal village, and December 15, 1832, Weston post office was established with Edward Howard in charge. On March 30, 1837. the naine was changed to Gilead, and, in 1868. to Grand Rapids.

Organization and Officials .- The township was organized September 25, 1888, when the officers, elected on the 17th of that month, inet to transact business. Ebenezer Donaldson, W. B. Kerr and J. W. Brown (the first trustees), A. J. Friess (the first clerk), and Thomas D. Avery

(the first treasurer) were present. Asher Thurs- tin was elected trustee in 1890; John Katon, elected in 1891, resigned in 1892, when Jerry E. Huffman was appointed to fill the vacancy; W. B. Kerr was re-elected in 1892; John Long in 1893; John Mccain in 1894: W. B. Kerr in 1895, and Jasper N. Mosier in 1896. Azor Thurstin was elected clerk in ISS9, to succeed Friess, and served until April, 1893; the present ( 1896) clerk, Frank L. Sheats, was elected in 1894; Thomas D. Avery was elected treasurer in 1896. The first justice of the peace was S. G. Robinson, elected in 1891; the second, Ebenezer Donald- son, elected as an additional justice in 1893. under an order of the probate judge; the third. J. S. Benschoter, elected in 1894; in 1896, Frank A. Crosby was elected justice of the peace. In 1895, I. Huffman was chosen assessor. W. A. Katon, J. N. Mosier and M. G. Judson, road supervisors, and J. S. Foor, with Martin Keche- ley, school directors. In April, 1895, over thirty women voted for school officers, Mrs. B. F. Kerr being the first of them to cast a ballot. There were 156 votes cast for trustee and clerk, and 153 for assessor. In 1896 Truman Rigg, L. A. Pettys, and Lester Heyman were elected mem- bers of the school board, the other members being A. W. Nafus (1894), and Napoleon Conrad (1895). In April, 1894, the question of build- ing stone roads was submitted, but defeated on a vote of 136 against 108. The last session of the Legislature authorized the village and township trustees to build a town hall, but so far no serious action has been taken in the matter.

Early Settlements .- In the reminiscences of Dresden W. H. Howard, it is related that, in May, 1821, his grandfather. Thomas (aged 63 years), his father, Edward (aged 43), his uncle, Robert A. (aged 23), with their wives and children, left Yates county, New York, embarked on Capt. Anson Reed's schooner at Cleveland, and on June

269

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

17, that year, landed at Orleans of the North. The Indians were then encamped along the river bank, and Major Stickney, the agent, was among them. When first seen from the schooner, they were engaged in dancing and various sports; but when the vessel approached they set up a fearful yell, and ran to the water's edge to see her. The grandfather of D. W. H. Howard entered the land where Woodville village was subsequently founded, but, in 1822, the party moved to Grand Rapids, where they erected three cabins, and from which to the Indian mission, eight miles below, they cut a road in 1823. settling opposite the In- dian village of " Kinjoino." Dresden attended the old mission school for three years, being the only Caucasian pupil (save a few French-Indian half-breed children), and learned their language. Later, he engaged in trading with the tribes: in 1831, his uncle, William, and family arrived; in 1832, he aided in transporting Indians across the country to new reservations, and in 1837 and 1839 assisted in removing them to the Osage river, in Kansas. The principal chiefs of the Ot- tawas, remembered by him, are Nawash, Ottuso, Charlo, Ocquenoxie, Kinjoino, Ottokee, Waseon and Waseoniquet; of the Pottawatamies -Waw- bonsee, Bawbeese, Meteah, Winamac; of the Miamis - LaFontaine and Richardville; and of the Shawnees - Joseph and William Parks. James Sassaquas, the last full-blooded represent- ative of the once great Miami nation, in the old hunting-grounds, died at Peru, Indiana, Febru- ary 13, 1895, aged eighty-four years. He hunted with the Ottawas of the Maumee in his boyhood, and lived to see the last of the old warriors pass to the " Happy Hunting Grounds."

At that time the principal town of the Indians was located not far from the site of the " Howard Hotel, " while along Beaver creek and on the sand ridges were other Indian lodges. They were the only neighbors of the Howards, until William Pratt and Joseph Keith appeared upon the scene and, shortly after, Richard Howard, then aged nineteen years. Dr. Spencer, of Weston, speak- ing on this settlement at the Rapids, gives the fol- lowing particulars: " They entered land in what

is now Section 8. Edward Howard's farm faced the river in the northwest corner of the section, and the school house and part of the village are on land entered by Edward Howard. He was a shrewd business man, and began at once the im- provement of his farm, and opened trade with the Indians. He built a house and kept the first tav- ern in Gilead or in Weston township. It was at his house that the first election was held. Travel- ers along the river road below Grand Rapids, and

but a short distance below the wagon bridge over the river, cannot pass by unnoticed, the ancient looking building facing the river from the south side of the road, with its great wooden colonades or pillars. That is the location of Ed. Howard's house. Robert Howard owned the farm on the south of Edward's, while Richard located down the river, near the mouth of Beaver creek. The first death in the settlement was that of Thomas Howard, who died May 25, 1825. A wooded bluff, on the banks of a sharp little ravine at the northwest corner of Ed. Howard's farm, was chosen as a site for a burying ground. This cemetery is the family burial place of the Howards. Here lie buried, among others of the family: Thomas Howard, May 25, 1825, aged 66; Will- iam, January 2, 1833, aged 53; Richard, January 26, 1834, aged 32; Edward, February 2, 1841, aged 63 ; and Robert Howard, November 26, 1872, aged 74."

Alexander Brown and his father-in-law. Jo- seph North, were the first to move back from the river, up Minard's creek toward Keeler's Prairie. This venture was made in 1828, and must be considered the beginning of settlement in Westo township.

Within seven years of Brown's and North's migration from the Rapids, there were no less than eighty-four adult males having their homes within the township. The names of the pio- neers are given in the following list: Emanuel Arnold, Alexander Brown, P. B. Brown, William Biggar, ---- Bartlett, Bela Bennett, Edmund Battles, Lewis Bortle, John Crom, Sr., Daniel Crom, -- Cooper, William Collett, James Don- aldson, Levi Felton, John Fowler, J. N. Graham, William Gruber, Alva Gillett, Edward Howard. B. W. Howard, D. W. H. Howard, E. W. Hedges, D. Harbogle, Samuel Junkins, Henry Kimberlin, Ralph O. Kceler. Robert Keith. Peter Troup, Moses P. Morgan, Jacob Macklin, David Murdock, William and Joseph North, Guy Near- ing, Andrew Oliver, Matthias Oberdorf, Alexander Peugh, P. C. Parker. John Rice, Thomas Silsbee. John Skinner, Jacob Walters, Sr., A. R. Will- iams, William Wonderly, Thomas Davis, Sam- uel Dull, David Edwards, Andrew Foster, Rob- ert Bamber, Harvey Burritt, William Baker. Jacob Crom, John Crom, Jr., J. W. Culbertson, Gideon Cornel, A. B. Crosby, E. Foote, John Gingery, Enoch Gruber, Gabriel Guver, George Nicholas, R. A. Howard, R. M. Howard, David Hedges, Jacob Harris, F. Hinsdale

Junkins, John Kimberlin, James Kerr, William Loughrey, B. McC Kee, James McGeehan, William .

270

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

tune Nearing, Benjamin Olney, Anson Owens. William Pratt, William Patton, Matthias Reams, John Soash, Hiram Scovill, D. Taylor, John Ward, Hiram Wade, and Samuel Van Horn.

In January, 1884, Dr. J. B. Spencer contrib- uted his historical reminscences to the Sentinel. and from his paper the following references to the old settlers and their homesteads are taken: In 1834, Thomas Taylor, Sr., located land and built a log house very near where the "old Taylor house" at Weston stands; at the same time, James Hutchinson, and his son Andrew were building a house five miles farther south, near what is now Groff's Corners, on the edge of the Jackson prairie. John Gingery was also ven- turesome enough to settle back from the river in the thick forests. In 1830 he settled on the farmi later owned by D. H. Bassett, near the McKee school house. The next year he moved back to Gilead. Jacob Walters, Sr., about this time also settled on the farm, later owned by his son Jacob. Jacob Crom, in 1830, located the farm later owned by Capt. Mckee. John Crom, Sr., located the land where Rev. James Kerr lived in 1884, and built his house where the old orchard is, north of the U. B. church. Alex. Peugh located the farm later owned by Albert Heyman. He was a single man, and kept bach- elor's hall for a few years, traveling nine miles through swamps and forests to see Eliza Hutch- inson, who afterward became his wife. John Rice, step-father of Thomas and Samuel Junkins, located the farm in 1833, later owned by Phillip Heyman; Henry Kimberlin located at the mouth of Beaver creek in 1832; Jacob Macklin, on the farin later known as the Carson farm; William Martin, the farm later owned by William Martin; Samuel Dall, the farm later owned by Joseph Wright, just south of Potter settlement; John Crom, Jr., occupied the farm owned by D. H. Bassett, at McKee's Corners; J. Gingery first set- tled there, but never owned the land; Jonathan Crom, son of Rev. John Crom, Sr .. settled the farm later owned by Lester Pettys; Daniel Crom settled on the farin later owned by Floyd McKee, on the Wapakoneta road; one daughter of Rev. John Crom, Elizabeth, married Jacob Walters, Sr. She was eighty years old in May, 1883. An- other daughter, Sarah, married Matthias Reams, in Harrison county, Ohio, and moved into Wes- ton township, settling on Beaver creek, living on the same farm until Mr. Reams' death about 1881. Another daughter of John Crom, Susan, married Peter Dull, and settled on the farin where she lived in 1884 with her sous, David L. and John. Gabriel Guyer, in 1833, located the farm

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.

Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1, Part 57

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1060