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 88
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The records, in possession of David Main, date back to the beginning of Rev. S. C. Hub- bell's pastorate, or to August 1, 1871. James Davidson was then clerk of Session. David Main and George Weddell were elected ruling elders. Among the officials, other than those mentioned, were Robert Dunipace and Robert Forrester. In January, 1872, a number of members were re- ceived, and the affairs of the society were re-
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ported in a flourishing condition. William Ban- deen was elected elder in 1875, vice Robert Forrester, deceased. Rev. J. C. Murch was called in June, 1878. In April. 1879 ( another statement says 1882 ), David Main succeeded James Davidson as clerk of the Session. John Wight was elected elder in April, 1882, vicc Rob- ert Dunipace, deceased, while in November, 1886, James Davidson resigned the treasurership, and Robert S. Davidson was elected. In July, 1888, 1
Edmond Loomis and William Bandeen were chosen elders, while John Wight and David Main were members of the Session. In 1891, the question of permitting instrumental music re- ceived favorable consideration, and Jessie Eckis was appointed organist; Mattie Wight succeeded her, but recently Margaret Davidson and others have filled the position. The board of elders, in 1895, comprised David Main, E. L. Loomis. WVm. Bandeen and John Wight.
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CHAPTER XLVII.
WESTON TOWNSHIP.
PREAMBLE-POPULATION-SURVEYOR-ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIALS-LIST OF PIONEERS-EARLY SCHOOLS-FIRST DITCH -- A CURIOUS RECORD-PIONEER ROAD --- CHURCHES.
WESTON VILLAGE-ITS GROWTH, INDUSTRIES, ETC .- SETTLEMENTS [ FROM DR. SPENCER'S SKETCH OF EARLY SETTLEMENT |-CORPORATION AND OFFICIALS-POST OFFICE-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES -- THE WESTON GAS CO .- BANKS-FIRES-SOCIETIES, ASSOCIATIONS, OPERA HOUSE, ETC.
T HE territory, now known as: Weston town- ship, was among the first municipal divis- ions of the county to attract the agricult- ural pioneer from the river front, and prove later that the back lands were as fertile as the lands along the river, if not more so. In 1840, when the census enumerator first consid- ered the township, he counted heads in what are known as Weston, Grand Rapids and Milton, and reported a population of 539. In the half century ending in 1890, the population of the same territory inbreased to 4, 866, while it boasted of four incorporated villages-Weston township and village being credited with 1, 558 inhabitants, of which number 845 belonged to the village.
Sixty-six years have vanished into the past since the first faint gleams of civilization were introduced into this portion of the wilderness. It is true that Chicago was built and destroyed and rebuilt within that time; but it is question- able if a small band of settlers ever carved out of the forest so many rich farins, or so many happy homes, as the pioneers of Weston did.
The United States surveyor, Samuel Holmes. ran the exterior lines in 1819, while P. F. Kellogg surveyed the township into sections, in 1821.
Organization and Officials .- Weston town- ship, was established June 14, 1830, under the .name "Ottawa Township," included a large
part of the territory ( western Grand Rapids. Milton, Jackson and western part of Washing- ton ) in Range 9, south of the Maumee, with the islands in that river. The place of meeting was fixed at Edward Howard's house; but for some reason the Act of the commissioners was ignored. On December 6, 1830, the name was changed to Weston, and an election was ordered to be held on April 4, 1831, at the same' house. On the appointed day, the voters assembled, and elected themselves to fill the following named offices: Trustees-Edward Howard, William Pratt and Emanuel Arnold; clerk -- R. A. Howard; treas- urer-R. M. W. Howard; overseers of the poor --- M. P. Morgan, Jacob Crom and James Don- aldson; fence-viewers-William Loughrey and Joseph North; constables-William North and William Wonderly; road-supervisor-James Den- aldson; justices of the peace ( elected June 21. 1831 ) -- Emanuel Arnold and Alexander Pugh. The road supervisor received seventy-five cents. and the treasurer, seventy-five cents, for their labors that year, the trustees making their pay equal to the work performed. Of course. what is now Grand Rapids township was then the set- tled part of Weston, and the officers named ro- sided therein. The twenty-even voters present in April, 1831, were the officials named above. with John Flavel, Joseph Kling, Isaac Maires
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Levi Cartwright, George W. Bement, Joseph Keith, Levi Felton, John Wonderly, Silas George, joel Smith, Moses Marsh. Jacob Macklin, John Gingery, and John Melinger. At the election for justices, held June 21, 1831, twenty-five votes were cast-the new voters being Allen Green, Sr., and Allen Green, Jr., Hezekiah and Samuel Green, Deake Taylor, Samuel Van Horn, Charles McKenan, Jacob Walters, Jacob Martin, Daniel Crom, Matthias Reams and Henry Kim- berlin. The document from which this list of voters is taken, is in possession of Ed. H. Bag- galey, of Weston, who, in September, 1895, offered it to the Herald for publication.
In 1832, Edward Howard, William Pratt and Emanuel Arnold, the trustees, established five school districts, and entered earnestly on the work of public improvement.
The fall election of 1834 was presided over by Thomas Davis, James Donaldson and Williamn Wonderly, with R. A. Howard and A. W. Oli- ver, clerks. There were 17 votes cast for James Findlay, and 26 for Robert Lucas, gubernatorial candidates; 24 for Epaphroditus Foote, and 19 for James Wilkinson, candidates for commis- sioner; 18 for Addison Smith, and 7 for George W. Wood, candidates for coroner; and 22 for Joshua Chappel, candidate for county assessor.
The whole force of forty-three voters included the following named old residents: John W. Hooper, Benjamin Atkinson, Elias Hedges, Thomas Davis. Ira S. Patterson, Robert A. How- ard#, Peter Smith. David Harbaugh, A. W. Oli- ver, James Donaldson#, Reed Wilber, Benjamin Harbaugh, William Wonderly", Joseph Keith", Nicholas Gee, Harvey Burritt, a physician, Oli- ver Campbell, Emanuel Arnold#, Tilton Bunting. Peleg Attwood, Henry Kimberlin ( June, 1831 ), Peter Keith, Al. Shell, William Laughrey". Thomas Silsbey, William Martin, Edward How- ard*, Thomas Goundry[?], Robert Bamber, Jr., Richard Close, Matthias S. Van Fleet, John Crom, Charles McCarns. John Grim, David Hedges, John W. Yates, John Fowler, Levi Ful- ton, A. Brown, Samuel Van Horn, Joseph Kling, John Gingery and David Taylor. Of the num- ber, those marked thus* voted at the first meet- ing. From 1831 to the date of the organization of Grand Rapids, residents of that township took a leading part in the official life of Weston. Therefore, for the purposes of the two chapters, the lists of trustees, justices, clerks, treasurers and assessors are given here.
Among the office holders from April, 1831 to April, 1841, may be named Gabriel Guyer, John Gingery, Neptune Nearing. Jacob Harris, Lewis
Bortel. Jonathan Crom, William Patten. B. Mc- Cue, Edmund Battles, Matthias Oberdorf, Jacob Macklin, John O'Campbell, Joseph Keith, Fran- cis Hinsdale, William Baker, Joseph Henry. Jacob Walters, David Hedges, Moses P. Morgan. Samuel Dull, John Crom, Enoch Gruber, H. M. Lone, William Gruber, John Wood, Alex. Pugh, David Harbaugh, Asa Gilbert, John Fowler, A. R. Williams, Hiram Scoville and Anson Owens. Many of the men named served in after years. From the county records we learn that Thomas Davis and William Pratt were trustees in IS34; in 1838, James Donaldson, E. Arnold, Enoch Gruber; in 1839, Benjamin Olney, Alex. Brown, William Pratt; and in 1848, C. Honeywell and William Pratt.
An entry in the trustee's journal, made April 3. 1849, by Clerk Olney, shows that on April 2 the board authorized him to purchase a book in which their transactions would be recorded, and one for recording indentures. In reporting the purchase of such books, he enumerates the State reports, laws, etc., turned over to him, and also names one township, one stray, one indenture and one ear-mark book received by him from his predecessor in office. He writes on page 2. of the minute book: " The records have been very imperfectly kept, and several copies of the laws are lost."
The oldest journal of trustees, in possession of clerk Coward, dates back to the record of the election of 1849. From it the following names of trustees are taken:
1849 -- William Pratt, Henry Kimberlin, Calvin Honeywell. 1850 52 -- William Pratt, Henry Kimberlin. Thomas S. Sabin. 1853 55-William Pratt, Smith Bassett, Thomas S. Sabin.
1856 -- Robert B. Mead, Joseph W. Ross, Smith Bassett.
1858 -- Joel Foote, Joseph W. Ross, Isaac A. De Wit.
1859 -- Joel Foote, William Pratt, Isaac A. De Witt.
1860-61 - Levi Taylor, William Pratt, Joel Foote. 1862 --- Levi Taylor, William Ward, Joel Foote.
1863 -- Samuel AleLain, David Petteys. Joel Foote.
1864 - Levi Taylor, David Pettoys, Robert M. Brown.
1865- Levi Taylor, David Petteys, Robert M. Brown.
1866-Levi Taylor, David Petteys, William Pratt.
1861 -- Ira B. Banks, William N. Chapman, William Pratt. 1868-Charles B. Smith, John Mckee, William Pratt.
1869-Charles B. Smith, Samuel R. Junkins, James Donaldson:
1870 -Charles B. Smith, Samuel R. Junkins, Edwe'd Baldwin. 1871 -- Charles B. Smith, Samuel R. Junkins. B. S. Beverstock.
1872 - Barney S. Beverstock, J. S. Benschoter, Samuel R. Junkins.
1873-Sandford Baldwin, J. S. Benschoter, Evan Jones.
1874-Sandford Baldwin, S. R. Junkins, Evan Jones
1875 -Sandford Baldwin, Ebenezer Donaldson. Evan Jones.
1876 7 8 -Sandford Baldwin, John Rowland. Evan Jones. 1879- Richard Green, John Rowland, Evan Jones.
1-80 John Ward, John Rowland, Lvan jones. 1881 John Ward, John Rowland. S. H Wood. 1-82- John Ward, Jon Rowland. Lewis Fitch.
18-3 Richard Green, Sandford Baldan. Joseph 11. Wright. 1884 John Rowland, Robert D. Henderson, Jos. 11. Wright. 1455 -John Rowland, Robert D. Henderson, John W. Brown. 1886 -- R. D. Henderson, J. 11. Wright. Ebenezer Donakison.
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The trustees elected since April, 1887, are named in this paragraph: Ebenezer Donaldson, 1887; Joseph H. Wright, ISS8; R. D. Henderson ( 3 years ), William Stretsberry ( 1 year ), 1889; William Stretsberry ( 3 years ), 1890; Joseph H. Wright, 1891; Sandford Baldwin, 1892; W. H. Pugh, 1893; W. E. Jones ( died in April, 1895). 1894; Sandford Baldwin, 1895 (3 years ), Joseph H. Wright appointed vice Jones. The death of Mr. Baldwin, in 1895, created a second vacancy. James Stretsberry, Luther Wisely, A. S. Taft, 1 896.
The funds in the Weston township treasury in November, 1848, amounted to $3.34, to which $156. 57 was added by April 11, 1849. Of the total, the sum of $136.07 was expended in 1849, leaving a larger balance to the credit of the suc- ceeding year.
In early times it was customary in Wood county to sell poor people to the best bidder. More than one case is credited-to Weston town- ship. On March 7, 1859, the trustees sold Spencer Parley, a pauper, to Wesley Ebert, who agreed to pay the trustees $2 a week for one year, except for the time the trustees would have him away for medical treatment. In April, 1862. Jonathan Crom agreed to board and lodge Parley for $1. 75 a week. This is only one of several cases of the same character.
The justices were Alexander Pugh (written "Brown" in record), who qualified August 15, 1831, and resigned May 5, 1832; Emanuel Ar- nold, 1831, resigned November 5, 1832; Robert A. Howard, 1832; Henry Kimberlin, 1833-38; Andrew W. Oliver, 1835; Frederick Bassett, 1836; John W. Culbertson, 1837; Thomas Davis. 1838 to 1856; Benjamin Olney, 1840; Bela M. Bennett, 1841; William Martin, 1843-46 to 1855; Tobias Rudesill, 1850; Gabriel E. Guyer, 1854; Charles Hollis, 1855; Isaac B. Snively, 1856 and 1873; James J. Vorhes, 1856; Samuel Dewese, 1856; R. B. Mead, 1859; George W. Wade, 1859; Seneca E. Sterling, 1861; Edward Quig- ley, 1862; John A. Miller, 1864-67: David Don- aldson, 1864: John Campbell, 1866; John Camp- bell, 1869-72: S. J. Harper, 1870; Barney Beverstock, 1870 and 1888; Solomon Phillips, 1873; Ebenezer Donaldson, 1875-79: D. A. Gunn, 1876, resigned in 1878; John A. Henry, 1878; Carlo Call. 1881-84; Stephen G. Robin- son, 1882-91: James W. Williams, 1885; James Long, 1888, resigned same year; B. S. Bever- stock, 1891; G. P. Thompson, 1894; and G. P. Thompson, 1896.
The assessors elected since 1842 have been: James Donaldson, 1842; William Martin, 1845 --
49; William Martin, 1849-53; Henry Kimberlin, 1854; James Donaldson, 1855; Thomas S. Sabin and Matthew Wilson, 1856; David Petteys and Allen Bortel, 1858; David Donaldson, appointed in 1858; Joseph W. Ross, 1859; Jesse Kerr, 1860; Jacob Crom, 1861; Edward Gallagher, 1862; Ja- cob Crom, 1863; Thomas Sterling, 1864; Jessc Kerr, 1865; David H. Bassett, 1369, 1873-74: David Petteys, 1872: William B. Kerr, 1876-79: D. B. Pugh, 1880; John Q. Wade and John Mc- Lain, 1881-82; John Q. Wade and J. S. Benschot- er, 1883; David L. Dull, 1885; W. B. Kerr, 1885; David L. Dull, 1886; Jerry Huffman, 1886-88; W. H. Walters, 1887-88; L. S. Baker, 1888; Albert Neifer, 1889-90-91; Burt Dewese, 1892- 93; T. J. Winnup, 1894-95.
The clerks chosen since 1838 are named as follows: P. B. Brown, 1838; G. E. Guyer, 1848: Stephen B. Olney, 1849; Gabriel E. Guyer, 1850; George Kimberlin, 1853; Gabriel E. Guyer, 1854: Hamilton R. Pratt, 1855; Foster II. Pratt, 1858: George Kimberlin, 1859 to 1871; D. A. Avery, 1871; John Freyman, 1872; Frank M. Young. 1873; Daniel B. Pugh, 1874; W. W. Hill, 1880; George Hospelhorn, 1882; George Oswell. 1883: Alex. Williamson, 1884; Ed. H. Baggally, IS85 and 1887; Jesse L. Pugh, 1886: Lewis S. Baker, 1888; Charles B. Saxby, 1890-92-93; A. L. Coward, 1894-95; Lewis Toan. 1896.
The treasurers, other than those elected from 1831 to IS38, were: Harvey Burritt, 1839-52; George Laskey, 1852: David Donaldson, 1855: G. E. Guyer, 1857: Jeremiah Atkinson, 1859: Isaac N. Clayton, 1869; D. A. Avery, 1875; Jacob Heater, 1882; I. B. Banks, 1883: Benja- man F. Kerr, 1884; W. C. Singer, ISS; and 1889; R. A. Housley, 1886; W. D. Mudge. 188; : Samuel C. Oswald, 1888-90: B. B. Buck, 1893. re-elected in 1896.
In 1896, William Martin and Charles Bald- win were elected school trustees.
List of Pioneers. -- The male inhabitants of the township in 1839, aged 21 years or over, are named as follows: E. H. Eaton, Ralph O .. Keeler, John Fowler, Edwin Howard, Elijah Hox, Adam Hemperly, Joseph Owens, Joseph Owens, Jr., Anson Owens, William Wondedy, John E. Carson, James Donaldson, Heury Kim- berlin, John Gingery, Dennis McCornell, John Pugh, Samuel Van Horn, Gabriel Guver, Gabriel Guyer, Jr., Alexander Pugh, Alexander Brown, Asa Smith, Samuel Carson, John Crom, Jona- than Crom, Peter Dull, Jacob Walters, Matthew McClury, James T. Martin, Jacob Harris, Jo- seph Ward, Gideon Cornell, Samuel Dull, Jacob Macklin, Jacob Dull, James Hecks, Matthias
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'Reams. Christian Kling, Joseph Kling, Allen Bortel, Lewis Bortel, Mathias Oberdorff, Sam- ue! Oberdorff, Daniel Oberdorff, Benjamin Ol- ney, john Ward, Calvin Honeywell, Conrad Albright, Enoch Gruber, Edward Kirkpatrick, Jolin Bortel, Einanuel Arnold, M. B. Bennett, Robert Siften, Daniel Townsend, Alva Gillet, Harvey Bennett, Lewis Shell, William Pratt, William Long, Thomas Davis, Nathaniel Gee, James Bowerman, Edward Howard, P. B. Brown, Isaac Barkhammer, B. McGuire. Smith Phillips, James Smith, Dresden Howard, Will- iam Price, Jared Owen, Henderson Kinow, J. S. Gregory, William Grover and Hiram Sea- ville. This list embraces many of the settlers within what is now known as Grand Rapids township. It varies from the list given in the last named township in some particulars, but fully covers the names of the pioneer men of Weston, omitting such pioneers as Thomas Tay- lor, who settled across the line in Milton, in 1834. Daniel Rice, with his son John, and Jolin's second wife, with her children, Clarissa, Thomas, Julianne and Samuel Junkins and Anna Belle Rice, also four children by his first wife, namely, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy and Isaac Rice, came in 1833 and settled in Section IS, where Philip Hyman now lives. There Daniel Rice died in 1834, in his seventieth year, be- queathing his property to his children and grand- children. John Rice died in September, 1833, was buried in the Howard cemetery, but a few years later his remains were taken to the newer cemetery on Beaver creek. In 1828, Alexander Brown and his father-in-law, Joseph North, were the first settlers to move back from the river into the dense forests that lay thick and dark be- tween the river and the broad, grassy swamp now known as Keeler's prairie. Brown located a heavily-timbered tract of land along Beaver creek. or, as it was also then called. "Minard's creek," and built the first cabin in a beautiful beech and maple grove, just back of where his son Samuel erected, in 1883, a brick mansion. The bluff banks of Beaver creek, covered thickly with forests of sugar-maple, beech, oak and hickory timber, rapidly attracted the attention of settlers, and ere long Brown had neighbors on all sides of him.
Early Schools .- In the Beaver Creek settle- ment, we find a record of most interesting events. The line between District No. 4, and the gigantic District No. 5, split the Beaver Creek settlement into two parts, crossing the Gilead road, where that road crosses Beaver creek. Thus Alexander Brown, Alexander Pugh, the Norths, Jacob
Crom, Jacob Walters and other stanch patriots lived in No. 5, while in No. 4 resided the equally persistent Macklins and others. A school had been taught in the year 1832 by Miss Sarah Ed- wards on the east side of Beaver creek, at a. private house. Now, at the spring election, a vote was to be taken for school districts of a joint school between Districts Nos. 4 and 5, and there arose a whiff of civil war in the great struggle between Districts Nos. 4 and 5 for the majority of the school board, whose power and preroga- tive it was to locate the proposed new school house. District No. 4 wanted the building lo- cated in the center of that district, or where the Randolphi school house now is, but the residents of No. 5 wanted to locate it east of Beaver creek, near where Capt. John McKee lived. No. 4 won, but compromised, and the house was lo- cated three-quarters of a mile west of the later Randolph school, on land donated by Jacob Macklin. A teacher named Garzely presided therein first; but he was succeeded by Morris Brown, who located land, known later as the Henry Strow farm, and taught school in con- nection with his vague agricultural work.
The Dewese school, or District No. 7, was organized in 1851, in Barrett's log cabin, which stood on the present farin of G. W. Wade. Of the seven voters in the district, Robert Brisbin, Sam Gingery and Amos Dewese, Sr., were chosen directors. The unofficial voters were Peter Phenix, Sam Dewese, Christian Gingery and Augustus Bassett. Jonathan Crom built a log school house for $62, in which - Martin- dale presided as master during the winter term of 1851-52; Mary Harris during the summer term, and Morris Brown during the winter of 1852-53. The succeeding teachers were Eliza Clark, George Cass, Jane Clark, Ebenezer Donaldson, Marga- ret Carr, Wesley Thurstin, Sarah Carrothers. John Evers, Dennis Patrick and W. H. Wood, who taught one term each, and Amanda Rogers, who taught two terms. A frame house was erected in 1859 at a cost of $350, which was used until Centennial year, when the present house was built at a cost of $800, and opened by Z. Waltz.
The records of the board of education, in possession of the clerk, begin April 15. 1861. At that time the members were Joseph Ward, T. Waggoner, T. S. Sabin, William Ward, Elias Walters, W. M. Bell, G. W. Wade and George C. Gilmore, with George Kimberlin, clerk. The tax levy ordered was tour mills. In 1802. Joel Foote was a member. In April, of that year, a motion to cancel the salaries of members was
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lost; two years later, a new school house was erected in Sub-District No. 8; John McKee was school librarian for the township, and in every particular the members were beginning to realize the responsibility of their position. In 1872, Joseph Burket, D. A. Avery and George C. Gil- man were appointed a committee to draft rules for the government of schools, the trouble in District No. 5 showing the necessity for such rules.
In 1873, a petition asking that parts of Wes- ton, Plain and Washington be established as a sub-district, was granted. Within the bounda- ries were fifty-one children divided according to families, as follows: George Long, J. Conklin, Harrison Gill, A. White and Dan Gingery (3 pupils each), E. W. Lamb, Joseph Richardson, W. Wade and Moses Wilcox (2 pupils each), Orrin Tyler (1), S. T. Fairbanks (4), J. Taylor and W. T. Gillespie (5 each), E. C. Minton (6), and David Porter (7). In 1882, the contract for erecting a brick school house in Sub-District No. 9, was awarded to Joseph Gill, on his bid of $500, and the carpenter work to H. L. Phillips, for $365. This may be called the introduction of brick houses for school purposes in this town- ship - a modest beginning, which gradually led up to the construction of the large house at Wes- ton, in 1895. The present school board com- prises: W. H. Walters, president; M. N. Love- well and Charles Baldwin, directors; A. S. Cow- ard, clerk.
First Ditch .- The first township ditch was authorized April 26, 1855. The assessments were paid by J. Rochtee, William Brooks, Jacob Walters, Richard Green, John Williams. John Gingery, John Hill and Elizabeth Walters. Sub- sequently, in 1857, the east and west ditches were opened, followed by the Beaver Creek, Middle and Green and Rochtel ditches.
A Curious Record .-- The early clerks of the township had very little work to do on the rec- ords, if one is to judge from the estray book of 1851. That book was found by the writer, and the entry, of which the following verbatim copy is, through the courtesy of the present township clerk, here given: . This day Dec. 13, 1851, Jacob Long made return of his ear mark for Chattle, Sheep & hogs; To be recorded as fol- lows, to wit, a square crop of the right Ear and a slit in the left. -- G. E. Guyer, Twp. Clerk."
Pioneer Road .-- The third road established in the original township, and the first in the present township, was that very acconanodating road still in use, called " the Gilead road." which ran about wherever there was dry land
enough, and wherever there was a settlement, and finally brought up at Collister Haskins' place, where the Findlay road strikes the Portage river. The description in the petition to the commis- sioners is as follows: "Starting from the river road above the mouth of Beaver creek, on the line between the farms of Henry Kimberlin and Richard M. W. Howard, then following the nearest and best route to tlie bridge over Beaver creek near James Donaldson's, thence by the nearest and best route to Hollister's farm, and from there by the nearest and best route to in- tersect the Findlay road at Collister Haskins'." On the surveyor's map of the road, the place where Ralph O. Keeler and his herders were camped was called "Hollister's Prairie:" this was the first name applied to the Keeler Prairie; and the settlement which afterward became New Westfield, Westfield, Taylortown and, finally, Weston. It was completed in 1834. The petitioners were Wm. Bigler, Benjamin Farns- worth, Samuel Hamilton, Neptune Nearing. N. M. Forsythe, J. H. Jerome. Volin Winslow, S. H. Wilson, Ep. Foote, Jacob Bernthisel, James Gray, C. O. P. Hunt, Jesse Decker, B. H. Howard, Nicholas Sypher, M. P. Morgan, Jesse T. Pugh, George Barron, James C. Adams, John Crom, Sr., W. L. Bellinger and Collister Haskins.
Churches. - The Christian or Disciples Church is located in the northeast corner of Section 26, and may be considered one of the village places of worship.
The East Beaver Creek United Brethren Society, referred to in the chapter on Grand Rapids, built a church on the N. W. corner of the N. W. } of Section 27, in 1859 or 1860, which was used until the society disbanded, when the building and ground were sold to a Mr. Gill.
The Christian Union was organized a short time ago, and worshiped in the old East Beaver Creek church for a season, but the society, like its predecessor, is said to have disbanded.
In the history of Weston village, the settle- ment of that neighborhood is minutely described. and sketches of the churches, schools and indus- tries of the village given.
WESTON VILLAGE.
The village of Weston, though one of the old settlements of Wood county, is to-day a characteristic Ohio town, with its churches, lodge- rooms, mills, banks, newspaper, hotels, large mer- cantile houses and enterprising business men.
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Practically outside the limits of the Northern Ohio oil field, so far as the tell-tale drill has ex- plored the adjacent territory, Weston relies for trade on the beautiful country round her, and directs her energies to foster that trade. Long ago, the swaddling clothes of the hamlet were cast away, and by degrees brick blocks took the places of the little frame buildings of the olden time; while the residence streets were extended, and many fine dwelling houses were erected. In 1895, a new school house and a new church were built, old wooden sidewalks gave place to the modern stone walks on part of Main street, and, on both sides of the railroad, evidences of a strong desire for such improvements, such as water-works and street paving, were manifest.
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