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 89
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The year 1831, when Hollister & Keeler's cattle were seen on the prairie, is the first mile- stone in the history of the village; in 1853, when the village was surveyed, the second; the opening of the railroad, the third; the village incorpora- tion, the fourth; and the rebuilding after the fires of 1891, 1893 and 1894, the fifth. The events and names, connected with the evolution of Keeler's Prairie into a prosperous town, are given in the following historical notice.
Settlements. - From Dr. Spencer's sketch of early settlement, the following story is, in the inain, taken:
Ralph O. Keeler was the first settler in this vicinity, he coming here with a drove of cattle for the Hollisters in the summer of 1831, to pasture on the prairie; the headquarters of the cattle ranch was upon the high ridge north of Weston, where is now the new cemetery. The Keeler homestead was afterward located on the same hill, the adjacent land entered by Ralph O. Keeler at Bucyrus, and the Keeler family became residents here in 1833, where the new ceme- tery is, and where the son, W. O. Keeler, was born in 1833 and buried in 1892. The next settler was Thomas Taylor, Sr., who moved from Richland county, Ohio, in 1834, and located 120 acres in what is now Milton, and built his log honse very nearly where the well known "Taylor House is now situated. His deeds were given May 7, 1835, and signed by Andrew Jackson, president. The forty acres upon which is located the principal part of the business houses of Weston was a part of the Keeler estate, and is described as the S. E. K of the S. W. 1 Sec. 35, Township 5, Range 9. After Keeler died, in 1848, the administrator of the estate sold this forty acres to W. P. Raynor for $66.68. Raynor sold it to Taylor in 1849 for the same consideration. At the same sale Joseph Middleton bought eighty acres, which lies in the southeast corner of the section, for $13338. The plan- ing-mill lots and land, later owned by W. B. Ladd, is a por- tion of the estate, forty acres of which has since been sold for over $1,500. Mr. Taylor, in 1-51, bonght ten acres where the planing-mill stands, paying for it slon. In 1-35. Moses Moore entered the eighty acres cornering at the Cook mill. and built his home on the ridge where E. H. Fox recently lived. He afterward built the frame house where Mr. Fox resided. Mr. Moore afterward built and operated the first hotel in Weston, in 1855. John Inscho located the land known as the Spangher farm, but up to bol no thoughts of a town here were entertained. Moore and the Morehouses, west; Sammel and Alvin Clark and Captain Russ, south; Inscho and Charles B. Smith, east: Win. Miller and George !
Blodgett, north of Thomas Tayior, were all content to farm the lucky sand ridges and go to Gilead for their groceries, without any hope or expectation of seeing a thriving village grow up where the town now is. The location of the village is therefore mostly upon land ownei by Mr. Taylor. Where the hotel and Mrs. Powell's store are, are sand ridges that Taylor's boys cleared the hazel brush from and farmed. or used as herding grounds for their cattle, when the foods were deep on the prairie. The grass of the prairie grew tall and rank, furnishing fine lurking places for deer and bears. Samples of this prairie grass are yet to be found on the farm of Charles Baldwin, just east of town. I have seen it eight or ten feet tall.
Charles Smith bought the east seventy acres of Joseph Middleton in 1849, and built a cabin just west of where Ed. Baldwin lived. Wm. Miller bought the Keeler homestead in 1848. So, to recapitulate, the landed proprietors of the embryo.town. in the year 1850, were Thomas Taylor, Wm, Miller, Charles B. Smith and Moses Moore. Alvin Clark, father of I. E. Clark, was located on the old homestead. and Samuel Clark on the farmi now owned by Mr. White, they having come into Milton township in 1835, and settled first at Groff's Corners, in the Hutchinson settlement, but in a year or two removed to the above named locations. In 1850, there began to be talk of a railroad from Toledo to Cincin- nati. Grading began in 1853, and was completed partially, but was not ironed until 1859. The location of the Dayton & Michigan railroad gave an impetus to business of all kinds; towns sprang up, sawmills were built all along the line, and there was a genuine boom in the back-woods of the Black Swamp.
In 1853, Thomas Taylor made the first plat of Taylor- town, or Westfield, and that name it bore until 1957. when it was changed to Weston. Thomas Taylor, Alvin and Samuel Clark and John Inscho conceived the idea of building a sawmill. Alvin Clark knew of a young machinist at Re- public, Ohio, who could put up their mill for them. It was J. H. Covert. Thomas Taylor furnished the location for the mill, which was on the south side of the railroad, across from the remains of C. W. McDonald's old sawmill. Before the mill was erected, Inscho left the firm. The engine and boiler were hauled from Huron county on wagons. It was not until the spring of 1854 that the mill was in running order. The railroad grade was then constructed, and to make it through the swail that lay between Main street and the location of the mill. the contractor had dug deep trenches on each side, and it was thought that those trenches would furnish plenty of water to operate the mih: but the summer of 1854 was dry, the water evaporated. and the mill was forced to stop. The inventive mind of Covert set him to boring in the earth with a two-inch auger welded on to an iron rod; he welded on rods and kept on boring untis, at a depth of fifty-two feet, water was reached that raised to the surface. and thus was constructed the first fountain welt known in northwestern Ohio. It flowed a full two-inch stream; it flooded the mill, it filled the trenches; it kept on flowing until water impeded the operation of the mill, and the proprietors were forced to cut a ditch through the sand ridge to give their fountain room to display its running qualities. Covert says he has frequently shot deer from the mill, but that often the mosquitoes would settle on the sun barrel so thickly before he could take sight at all as to com- pletely hide the sights, and this prevented a deadly annat the deer. I told him to put his mosquitoes along with the grass pikes, but the oldl settlers corroborated the yarn.
On October 5, 1553, Thomas Taylor laid out a town ptat of thirty-one lots, surveyed by Svivanns Jefferson, which he named Westticket. In 1860, Eh Bruner, a radiroad survevor. replatted the thirty-one lots and surveyed a new plat of thirty two lots more, which was recorded in that year, and the name of the town was Now Westfield. One morning May, 1854, Jonathan Crom, who had the contract for the first mile of the railroad in Weston townsay, code She saw mill and said he wanted some lamber, as he wanted to band a house that day. Mr. Taylor went up and "stepped att" the lot across from Baldwin's hotel, and now known as the "Gillespie lot," sold it to Mr. Crom, who got his lumber
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sawed, built his house that day and moved in his family that evening. That evening, Covert and William Taylor wrote on a board in large letters, " Taylortown," and nailed it on the mill, and so gave to the village another of its many names. We may say, then, that the village of Weston was not started until in 1854, when the Taylor sawmill was put in operation. Levi Taylor established a general store in what is now Powell's clothing store. Dr. W. M. Beil is said to have erected the first frame house that year. Jonathan Crom built his shanty, started a saloon and kept a few gro- ceries. Benjamin West came in 1854, and, wishing to get an eligible site for his blacksmith shop, went directly across the street from Crom's saloon, and located his forge just about where Indlekofer's post office building now stands. In 1855, Moses Moore got out the frame and started the first hotel building, which building later belonged to Amos Nie- fer, but which was not completed and in operation as a hotel until 1856. Levi Taylor built the front half of the building, later owned by Mrs. Poweil, in 1854, and in the fall of that vear pat in the first stock of dry goods and groceries that the village ever saw.
In 1856, John Hoover came to Westfield and worked a year or so for Benjamin West, then bought the business of West, and, as he owned the lot where the hotel and the " Worth House" are now situated. he built a shop on his own lot, where Hartman's drug store stands.
In December, 1858, Henry Atkins came from Tiffin with a stock of goods which he had hauled over on wagons. He occupied Levi Taylor's building, as Levi had quit keep- ing store. Atkins continued in business here until his death in 1872.
Watson Baldwin, father of Ed. and Charles, came from Portage township in December. 1855. In 1856 he built and operated an ashery on the lots just east of the gristmill. He died in 1867. Ed. Baldwin is now one of the leading busi- nes: men.
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In 1855, in the fall, D. A. Gunn moved into More's hotel, More's wife having died in June of that year. Mr. Gunn kept the hotel one year, being succeeded by William Taylor, who kept it until the fall of 1859, when Sanford Baldwin became the landlord, and, with a vacation of only six months, Mr. Baldwin kept hotel here from 1859 down almost to his death, in 1895.
In 1857, Dr. Philo came over from Gilead, and kept a little grocery on the corner now owned by John Henry; and upstairs, in the same building, Price Cornel operated the first shoe shop of the town. Dr. W. M. Bell came soon after.
In 1859, J. E. Clark erected a store where Depew's store stands. That was burned soon after, and, in 1861, was re- placed by the Depew building.
In 1959, Thomas Taylor & Son built a gristmill on the site of the present inill. It was burned a few years later. John Bamber was probably the first regular carpenter to work in the village; he built a store for Levi Taylor in 1854; also the house now occupied by Mrs. Evans, for Mr. Taylor. Levi Taylor was the first agent of the railroad company, followed by William Stone, I. W. Clayton and W. W. Wine- gardner.
W. O. Keeler was born, in 1833, at the old homestead north of Weston. He also, in after years, kept a store in Weston for about a year.
The first post office was established in 1857, with Dr. Philo, master, who received mails twice a week, and deliv- ered letters at his convenience.
In 1864, I. B. Banks established his dry-goods business here, now occupying the first brick business block built here; L. Ames established a shoe store in 1866; Joseph Ship- man, a meat market in 1865; John Heidleberg, a tailor shop in October, 1867, and the beginnings of Weston's trade and commerce were made.
Corporation and Oficials. - The petition for organizing the territory known as the S. 1 and S. ! of the N. J of Sec. 35, T. 5. R. 9, and the N. ! of the N. & of Sec. 2, T. 4. R. 9, as a village,
under the name " Weston, " was presented De- cember 2, 1872, by John W. Canary, and on February 10, 1873, the order of incorporation was made. The first election of village officers occurred on May 5, 1873, with the following result: Mayor, Sanford Baldwin; clerk, Frank M. Young; treasurer, Isaac W. Clayton; marshal, William Strope; councilmen, Ira B. Banks, John E. Clark, John H. Whitker, B. S. Beverstock, Henry Kiel and Lewis Dubbs. The first meet- ing of the council was held on May 12, 1873. in a room over Harper & Young's boot and shoe store. The first ordinance passed was the one to " protect ornamental and shade trees."
The mayors elected since the close of the first year are named as follows: Sanford Baldwin. 1874; H. C. Uhlman, 1875; L. K. Parks, Sep- tember, 1875, vice Uhlman, resigned; John Henry, 1877: Samuel H. Wood, 1879: John Hoover, Sept., 1879, vice Wood, removed from Weston: J. W. Williams, 1881: Samuel L. Irwin, 1883; E. D. Moffett, appointed in October, 1883: Wallace W. Hill, 1884; George W. Pore, 1885 (did not qualify); Jolin Hoover, 1885; G. P. Thompson, 1887; J. A. Holmes, ISSS; Abner G. Wood, 1889; J. A. Holmes, 1890-1896.
The councilmen elected annually, since April, 1874, are named in the following list:
1844-E. L. Waltz, Thomas D. Avery, Sid Vanatta.
1875 -William Soash, John Heidelberg, Lewis Dubbs, W. M. . Bell.
1876-S. Baldwin. S. Sterling, G. B Spencer and H. Kiel.
1877 -- S. Irwin, W. M. Bell, C. F. Boyer, John Hoover.
18TS -- C. W. McDonald, H. C. Chian, Henry Kiel.
1879-S. K. Saylor, H. Sattely, A. E. Smith.
1880-Sanford Baldwin, Theodore Smith, James W. Will- iams.
1881 -- B. S. Beverstock, I. B. Banks, H. A. Motley, Henry A. Kiel.
1882 -William Foreman, Caspar Lewis, C. W. Bradshaw.
1883 -Daniel M. Long, Henry A. Kiel, Henry .A. Motley.
1884 -- William D. Mudge, Charles W. Bradshaw, John E. Clark, A. J. Munn.
1885 -- Thomas W. Taylor, Joseph W. Long, Andrew J. Munn (did not qualify.)
1885 -Jacob Oswald, Thomas W. Taylor, Joseph W. Long.
1886-Luther Ames Abner G. Wood, William Foreman. 1887 J. W. Long, T. W. Taylor, J. E. Clark.
1888 1. K. Henderson, James Blodgett, J. IL. Conklin.
1889- Martin 1 .. Groff, Charles Healy, A. L. Avery.
1890 -S. C. Oswald, W. Mullally, G. H. Depew.
1891-James K. Henderson, Bernard Indlekofer, George W. Barnes.
1892 -- Ebenezer W. Schooley, Caleb F. Greiner, Jay Brown. 1993-1. K. Henderson, B. Indlekofer, G Q. Hartel.
1894-W C. Mullally, C. F. Greiner, C. W. Bradshaw.
1895 G. W. Taylor (RO, James V. Baldwin (R), \. P. Thomas (D.).
1896 E. J. Martz, I. N. Neifer, T. J. Pugh, J. V. Baldwin. G. W. Taylor. . A. P. Thomas.
Clerks .- Frank M. Young, 1874: Elam Day, 1874; R. D. Henderson, 18;6; Frank M. Young, 18;8; Carlo Call, 1880; Edwin Baggally, 1882:
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
W. W. Hill, 1886; Edwin H. Baggally, 1888; L. S. Baker, 1892; B. B. Buck, 1894-96.
Treasurers .-- Isaac W. Clayton, 1874; D. A. Avery, 1875; I. B. Banks, 1883; Seneca Sterling, 1885; I. B. Banks, 1887; J. D. Conklin, 1891; George R. Banks, 1893-96.
Marshal .- John W. Lingo was elected mar- shal in 1896.
School Trustees .- In 1896, Edward Baldwin, J. M. C. Cook, W. C. Mullally, George H. De- pew, G. B. Spencer and J. Moorhead were elected.
The Cemetery Trustees elected in April, 1883, were Frank M. Young, G. W. Todd and John E. Clark; in 1884, I. B. Banks; D. M. Long, 1886; R. D. Henderson, 1887; J. M. Oswald and A. J. Munn, 1888; B. S. Beverstock, 1889: E. Stearns, 1890; Al. Neifer, Seneca Sterling and E. A. Saxby, 1892; Charles Healy, 1893; George B. Spencer and W. W. Hill, 1894; E. A. Moore, 1895.
Russ addition. was approved in 1876; W. P. Noble's addition in September, 1877. In De- cember, 1881, the question of building a town hall and engine house .was discussed, and for the ensuing decade many improvements were pro- posed. In January, 1882, the purchase of the cemetery was considered; but in July, 1882, a tract of twenty-two acres was purchased from S. J. Harper and Ed. Baldwin, at $75 an acre, for a new cemetery. The vote on the question of constructing water works, taken in February, 1892, showed 150 votes for and 54 against. In April, 1892, S. C. Oswald, William Mullally and George H. Depew were elected water works trustees, and it appeared for a time that the vil- lage would have a good water system; but the mayor refused to sign the bonds, the court sus- tained him, and so ended the proposal.
Post Office .- The Federal officers of Weston, i. e., the postmasters, are named as follows: Dr. Philo, 1856 or 1857; Levi Taylor, 1859, for whom Amos M. Neifer was deputy, is said to have succeeded Dr. William M. Bell, though old set- tlers state that the Doctor was never postmaster. Mr. Neifer is equally positive that the Doctor kept the office at his house, before Dr. Philo be- came master, and he also states that William Stone preceded Clayton; Isaac W. Clayton, 1869; Amos M. Neifer, 1873 ( his cash book begins July 5, 1875 ); Frank M. Young, 1878; Carlo Call, April, 1882; Edwin H. Baggally, Jannary, 1885; Bernard Indlekofer, October, 1885; J. D. Conklin, July, 1889, and Bernard Indlekofer, July, 1893, the present postmaster.
was a log-hut, constructed, in 1835 or IS36, on the Cameron lot, or that known in recent years as the Henry lot, where I. B. Banks' store now stands, on Main street. The puncheon floor, benches and desks; the cut-off round logs, with ribs and weight-poles to hold down the clap- boards; the small windows, with a few panes of 8xIo-inch glass; and Jesse Osborne, who presided therein at a salary of twenty-five cents per dient -all told that it was a pioneer school house. The children attending, in 1843, were Mary Tay- lor, Thomas and William Taylor, Samuel Mc- Atee, Olmsted, Amelia and Melicent Keeler, and a few precocious urchins of twenty-one years of age and over, who came at intervals to learn "readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic" from Dr. Os- borne. The hut was called the " Taylor School." but not a few called it the "Keeler School." On September 6, 1873, the Weston village dis- trict elected J. E. Clark and H. C. Uhlman, di- rectors for one year; T. D. Avery and E. L. Waltz, for two years; and W. J. Trimble and D. A. Gunn, for three years. Clara Foote was ap- pointed teacher for the primary school that fall at a salary of $25 a month, and John McConkie for the higher department, at $50. In May, 1874, there were thirty-seven votes cast for and twenty-nine against the proposed loan of $4,000, for a site and school building. Wyckoff & Ord- way were awarded the contract for building in July, on their bid of $4,640. In April, 1876, a tax levy of eight mills for building, five for tuition, and two for contingencies-fifteen mills in.all -- was made. W. C. Catlin and wife were elected teachers in June, 1876, with Louisa M. Singer, Clara Allyn and Mertie Clark. In September, 1877, there were 132 males and 124 females be- tween the ages of six and twenty-one years in the district. In 1879, the respective numbers were 137 and 128. A reference to the list of council- men will point out with sufficient clearness the members of the board from 1873 to 1890, for the greater number of the men who directed the af- fairs of the corporation were also directors of the school district for one or more terms. In De- cember, 1891, the school board, then comprising H. C. Uhlman, Jacob Oswald, G. H. Depew, J. W. Long and L. S. Baker, with Ed. Baldwin, clerk, discussed the proposition of building a large school house. Geo. E. Ryan, who was principal of the school from Inne, 1890, down to June, 1895, was the teacher. In 1894, Dr. Gco. B. Spencer and William Mullally were chosen directors, and the former as secretary. George H. Depew was elected president, and W. C.
Schools .-- The first school house in the village ! Mullally, treasurer, the other members being H.
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
A. Kiel, Josiah Morehead and H. C. Uhlman. On April 3. 1893, the question of levying a tax not exceeding eight mills, for the purpose of erecting a $15,000 school house, was adopted by a vote of 132 pro and 117 contra. In August, 1894, the question was re-submitted, 115 voting for, 110 against. In November, 1894, the bonds were purchased by the Citizens Bank of Weston, for $16,002.50, and in February, 1895, the building contract was awarded to Winchester Jumper, on his bid of $11,673.79
Churches. -- The Presbyterian Church of Weston was incorporated November 16, 1865. It was organized June 11, 1864, by Perry C. Baldwin, the first pastor, with Isaac Van Tassel, Eli Wilson, and Perry C. Baldwin, trustees. In 1866-67, a house of worship was erected by Presbyterians and Methodists, on a lot donated by Thomas Taylor, Sr., which continued in use down to December 18, 1887, when the present building was dedicated. This cost $6, 193.25, all of which was paid that day. In 1834, a Mr. Kimberlin preached to the Presbyterians of the settlement. The next year. Mr. Van Tassel, who had charge of the mission on the island be- low Grand Rapids, preached in the log school house, and long after the mission ceased to exist he was in the habit of filling the pulpit at Taylor Town, until his accidental death, in 1849. With the trustees named in the act of incorporation were Louisa Van Tassel, James, Etta, and Theresa Wilson, and John Barton as members. On August 6, 1886, a building committee, made up of I. B. Banks, W. C. Singer and H. C. Uhl- man, was appointed, and by March 11, 1887, the present house of worship was completed at a cost of $6,350, Rev. N. C. Helfrich being then pastor. In 1874, the parsonage was erected. In 1892, Rev. Adam Schaffer was called as pas- tor, and under his administration the membership has increased to 150. Messrs. Uhlman and Singer, named above, with A. M. White and J. W. Williams, are the elders of the Church; John A. Stearns, the third elder, moved to Bowling Green in 1895. Revs. John H. Tenney and M. L. Donahey preceded Mr. Helfrich in the pastorate. The membership is about 175.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is contein- porary with the Presbyterian in its beginnings here, but older as an organized body. In 1859, the following named members were enrolled: Mary H., Sarah, Harriet M. and Martha Taylor; Hannah, Emilene, Anna and J. E. Clark; Mrs. Healy, Maria Healy, and Ed. Baldwin. Rev. John A. Shannon preached to this class in the school house until the Union church was con-
pleted in 1867. In 1871-72. when Amos Neifer was recording steward, and I. W. Clayton a member of Church committee, the class erected a building which was dedicated in July, 1872, by Rev. L. E. Belt; the successor of Mr. Graham as preacher-in-charge. The membership is over 200, while that of the Sunday-school is 312. The officers were W. B. Ladd (now deceased). Lewis Toan, H. G. Strawser, W. W. Hill, Ed. Baldwin, A. G. Wood, A. T. Munn, Geo. H. De- pew, C. F. Greiner, Carlo Call, George I. Dewese ( resigned in May, 1895), Charlotte Mullally, Kate Beverstock, J. W. Long, Charles Baldwin, M. L. Groff, S. K. Saylor, j. E. Clark, and Rev. James Long. Plans for a new church building, made by architect Brown, were adopted June II, 1895, and shortly after the construction of the new meeting house was commenced.
St. Paul's German Reformed Church was or- ganized September 27, 1882. by Rev. W. Hus- tedt. F. J. Brand was secretary of the meeting. There is no mention made of this society in the Herald of 1883-86, but in 1894 a statement is made that the organization took place in 1885, and that in IS87 the members purchased the old Union building from the Presbyterians. In IS92 Rev. John Berry was pastor.
The Christian Church, known also as the Disciples Church, occupied the German Lutheran house in June, 1895, Rev. L. L. Carpenter being the preacher. The proposition to organize a society here was well received, and on June 23, a society was organized with Rev. G. M. Kemp, pastor; J. J. Stout, H. D. Baker, E. W Schooley, J. M. C. Cook and H. Spray being trustees. In September, 1895, there were thirty-six members, among them being the trus- tees and their wives; Thomas Miller, B. J. Rosencrantz, W. P. Potter. John Bassett, and their wives; Jessie and Nellie Baker, Madams Smith, Kesler, Gingerich, Fillmore, Bruck, Bamber, Pugh, St. Clair, and Kenzie, with Vida and Hattie Miller, Eunice Mitchell and Jennie Whitney. Albert Whitney and Charles Mitchell were also named among the members.
The Catholic Church mission was established here in the "eighties," but like the older church at Wurtzburg, the mission was consolidated with the more important parish of Custar.
The Weston Gas Co. was organized in Oc- tober, 1885, with Z. Waltz, W. D. Mudge, J. H. Biddle, G. W. Pore, Sanford Baldwin, A. ). Mnou, L. Ames. J. Stratsbery, H. G. Strawse. B. S. Jones, J. W. Williams. A. L. Avery, W. H. Soash, A. C. Wood, F. J. Banks, J. E. Clark, H. C. Uhlman, W. B. Ladd, G. B. Spencer, S.
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
J. Harper, C. F. Lewis, Oswald Bros., J. L. Dull, E. H. Baggally, T. W. Taylor, C. W. McDonald Il. A. Motley, Edward Baldwin, G. W. Penning- ton, J. W. Long, Singer & Henderson, and Will- iam W. Hill. In February, 1886, the drill was down 720 feet, later a show of oil was made, near the old Taylor inill, but in a short time it resolved itself into a water well. No. 2 was drilled next, which proved a producer of sulphur water, and so on to the end, each deep well yielding a fine mineral water.
Banks .- The first banking-house was that established by A. J. Munn, in 1878, and carried on by him as a private bank until 1890, when it was merged into the Exchange Bank, under a State charter.
The Exchange Banking Co. was organized May 14, 1890, and the same month a charter was issued to A. J. Munn, William Mullally, J. W. Long, G. H. Depew, W. D. Mudge, J. E. Clark, J. W. Williams, B. S. Beverstock, Ed. Baldwin and Z. Waltz. The capital stock was $100,000. In 1890, the following named officers were chosen: A. J. Munn, Pres .; W. C. Mullally, V. - P. ; B. B. Buck, cashier; W. D. Mudge, assistant cashier, and they retain their positions with one exception -B. S. Beverstock being elected vice-president in 1891. George S. Depew took the place of Mr. Beverstock in 1895. A. T. Munn was appointed assistant cashier in 1894. The bank building, in which are the bank and the Herald office, was erected in 1886, at a cost of $3, 500.
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