USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 34
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There exists a conflict of recollection as to the point of location of the first church building in Pulaski Township, which is quite difficult to reconcile. Some say that it was at Lafayette (now Pulaski) in 1839-40; and that the denomination that built and dedicated it was the Methodist Episcopal; but it is more probable that, practically, it was a sort of township house, never dedicated to religious purposes by any denomina. tion, and that it was used for school instruction, religious, political and all secular meetings-its doors being open to all. This could hardly have been the first church building in Pulaski Township. Yet others claim that in Bryan and Pulaski the first regular church houses were built by Meth- odists, and dedicated in 1858; while yet another authority, very accurate in memory and exactness in his statements, is of opinion that the German Reformed Lutherans built a church in Pulaski in 1846. The hewn-log
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court house was for a considerable length of time used for religious meet- ings, and afterward the present one. Outside the town, there are two churches in Pulaski Township-the United Brethren, on Beaver Creek, and the Tunkard Church, on Lick Creek. The United Brethren Church was built in the spring of 1862. It has no regular pastor, but is supplied every two weeks by Rev. Mr. Butler. Jeremiah Bard is Superintend- ent of the Sunday school, which is attended by an average of sixty-five pupils. This church will comfortably seat 250 persons.
CHURCH BUILDINGS AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The First Church building of Lafayette (now Pulaski) has already been mentioned. The present buildings, in style of architecture and in- side finish, are highly creditable to the congregations that built them. The Methodist edifice was completed and dedicated in 1873, and the pas- tor who now ministers to its communicants is Rev. Mr. Scott of West Unity. The German Reformed, or Reformed Church, as now known, was erected in 1874, and has a resident pastor in charge-Rev. Mr. Steiner, who entered upon his ministry in this church in April, 1882. The membership is about 100. His congregation purchased a very pleasant home for him and such successors as may have spiritual charge of the congregation. Upon Mr. Steiner also devolves the labor of min- istering, at stated periods, to two other churches-the Bunker Hill and Beaver Creek. The two denominations in Pulaski co-operate in Sunday school work-holding their schools alternately in both churches, and the number of pupils in attendance under the joint arrangement averages 175.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
The situation of Pulaski, on the banks of Beaver Creek, possesses unusual attractions. The soil is a sandy loam, exceedingly fertile ; and heavy rain-falls, that render the streets of many other towns almost im- passable by reason of the depth of the clay mud, benefit the road-ways of Pulaski, which never continue for any length of time affected detri- mentally by them.
In the town and neighborhood are several artesian wells, one or tsvo of which are equal, in the volume they discharge, to any in the State.
As stated in another place, it was where Pulaski now stands that the first grist and saw mills, within the lines of the present Williams County, were erected. These antiquated structures, and the comparatively prim- itive rude machinery they employed for turning out work, are long ago perished ; but upon the site of the old Perkins' Mills now stand the Pulaski Flouring Mills, now owned by Enoch Cox, employing two run of French buhrs, and operated partly by water and partly by steam, which
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keep the mills perpetually in motion. A steam saw-mill operated in another part of the town by William F. Roop, and a general merchandise store by Aaron Stoner, now constitute the business of the town.
ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP. BY CHARLES A. BOWERSOX.
This is the southwest township of Williams County. It borders on Defiance County, Ohio, on the south, and De Kalb County, Ind., on the west. It was organized December 2, 1832. It was the first township organized in the county. As nearly as can be ascertained, the first set- tlement was made in this township in December, 1827. This first pio- neer was Samuel Holton. He settled on Fish Creek, one mile north of Edgerton, on what is now known as the Burkhart Farm. It is claimed by some that one John Zediker, who came from Pennsylvania, was in the township as early as 1821-22; this, however, is not well sustained, and the honor of being the first pioneer in the township is generally accorded to Samuel Holton. He also contests with one James Guthrie the honor of being the first settler in the county. The weight of the evidence is in favor of Mr. Holton. In the further history of this township, it is assumed that he was the first white settler therein.
From that early period until the present, the township has had a steady, substantial growth. After the construction of the Air Line Rail- road through this township, its growth and development were very rapid. The people are largely of the agricultural class, and the many fine farms, good houses and spacious barns, show that the people of St. Joseph 'Township are industrious and prosperous. The population in 1880 was 2,073; the tax duplicates of 1881 show an entire property valuation of $782,000.
The experiences of the early pioneers of this township were similar to those of the early settlers of all new countries. They cut down and c'eared away the vast forests, built their log cabins and barns, and planted their newly cleared fields. Times were hard, money and the common necessaries of life often scarce. For many years Defiance was their nearest market ; it required four days to make the journey. They received from 50 to 75 cents for a bushel of wheat, and paid from $5 to $10 for a barrel of salt. To raise a log cabin or barn required the help of all the neighbors for miles around. In the fall of the year neighbor helped neighbor to " log off" the new grounds and prepare them for seeding. In the evening-time, they gathered together in each other's
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cabins, and around their old-fashioned fire-places told how they were getting along, told their hunting stories, or talked about their old homes in the East. Then, with torches made from the bark of the hickory tree, they would go through the woods, or along well-known trails, each to his own home. Wild beasts, bears, wolves, panthers and wild cats and wilder Indians, roamed through the dense forests.
Corn bread was their staff of life; venison their meat; honey from bee-trees, maple sugar, wild plums, cranberries and wild blackberries their luxuries. Amid these wild scenes these early pioneers passed years of substantial enjoyment, to which the minds of the few who remain revert with real regret because they are irrecoverably gone.
Indians were more numerous than whites. They were of the Ottawa, Miami, Wyandot and Pottawatomie tribes. On the banks of the St. Joseph River, near where was once the village of Denmark, and on Fish Creek, they used to encamp in bands of from twenty to upward of a hundred. They wandered through other parts of the township hunting game, but were more numerous along the streams. Down the St. Joseph River, from the former site of the village of Denmark and on the western bank, is a low, level meadow. It was a sort of a prairie in that early time. It is yet called "The Indian Meadow." It is said these Indians tilled this piece of ground after a manner, and there raised corn for food.
The wife of Judge Long, who moved to Denmark in the fall of 1836 with her parents, and whose father, Judge Payne C. Parker, was the founder of the little village, says that she once saw in camp on the banks of the river an Indian squaw, said to be one hundred and fourteen years old. She was comparatively helpless, unable to walk, and crawled about on the ground like a child. The camp was on the south side of the river, not far from where the house of Mr. Dietsch now stands, and a little northeast thereof. They made their living principally by hunting, selling or trading their furs at Brunersburg and Defiance; they were friendly, indolent and filthy. In 1840 to 1842, they were removed to the West.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Samuel Holton first settled on Fish Creek, one mile north of Edger- ton. He built the first saw-mill ever built in the township. It stood on the banks of the creek, about twenty rods up the stream from where it is now spanned by a bridge. This mill was built as early as 1830. It was operated for many years. Finally it fell into decay, was torn down, the dam destroyed, and the waters of Fish Creek suffered to flow on unvexed to the St. Joseph River. Some time after the construction of the saw- mill, a rude contrivance was placed therein for the purpose of grinding.
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Every mark of these pioneer improvements has been obliterated, and a stranger, riding along the banks of the creek, would hardly dream that at that point were built the first saw-mill and grist-mill in St. Joseph Town- ship. Shortly thereafter, a grist-mill was built at West Buffalo, which, for many years, did the milling for the people of the four townships cor- nering there.
MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS.
To Samuel Holton and wife was born the first white child in the town- ship. This was some time in 1831 or 1832. The first persons married in the township were this Samuel Holton and his brother John. They mar- ried daughters of the Widow Fee, who then lived on the river, northeast of Edgerton, on what is now known as the Rishel farm. Later along, in 1836, William Bender married another daughter of the Widow Fee. This was a wedding of considerable consequence. The people gathered in. They came down the St. Joseph River from Denmark in boats. Daniel Farnham, who had lately moved into the township, was there.
DEATHS.
It is difficult to tell who first died in St. Joseph Township. On the farm now owned by Judge Parker are three graves. They are situated east of the Edgerton road and south of the Bellefontaine road, and not far from the bank of the river. A person riding along the Bellefontaine westward, after passing the house of Judge Long about seventy rods, and looking toward the south, will see the place of these early burials. Daniel Farnham says they were plainly marked in 1835. The names of those thus buried in the woods were Baker, Horton and Stailey. They were probably the first, but of what they died, when and by whom buried, it has been impossible to find out. A little farther south and nearer the river bank is the grave of Zediker, who once owned that land. He died at an early period, and was buried in the woods. By his side was buried a child, an infant daughter, of one Thomas Hill.
CEMETERIES.
The first graveyard in the township was located on the farm of Judge Parker, now owned by Judge Long. Persons were buried there as early as 1838. Rev. Elijah Stoddard was one of the first buried there. George Aucker was also buried about the same time. Judge Parker, who died in 1857, was buried there, and several of his children, who died before him. Later, their bodies were exhumed and removed to the cemetery at Edgerton. The wife of Judge Parker, who survived him some years, and his daughter, Urilla Stough, were also buried at Edgerton. There were
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quite a number buried in this early graveyard, but at present it is diffi- cult to find even their graves.
A little later, they began to bury on the farm of Daniel Farnham. Sallie Farnham, mother of Daniel Farnham, was the first person buried there, some time in 1844, aged sixty-seven years. Mr. Hanks was the second, and a Mr. Edwards was the third. This cemetery is still in a tolerable state of repair, and is now, and has been used by the people of the edge of Indiana for the burial of their dead. Still later, a grave- yard was started southwest of Edgerton, on the Clarksville road. The people in the southwestern portion of the township buried there for many years. It is still kept in pretty fair condition. In the eastern part of the township, on the Bryan road, is another cemetery of early origin. It was connected with the first church building erected in the township. The old church fell into decay, and has been torn down, but the cemetery is kept in very good repair, and is still used by the people in that part of the township. Some of those residing in the northwestern part of the township laid their friends away in what is known as the Leonard Grave- yard. wer in the edge of Indiana.
In the early times, the dead were often buried in some favorite spot at home. Here and there, all over the township, on the farms of the early settlers are these graves-now almost forgotten. The last cemetery located in the township is the one at Edgerton. To this, many of those buried on farms, and in other cemeteries, have been removed. It is the most beautiful in the county, and is kept in excellent condition.
WILD ANIMALS.
Bears, wolves and deer were very abundant. Deer came in upon the wheat-fields in the fall and winter. The pioneers, lying in watch for them on moonlight nights, were able to shoot them with comparative ease, and thus kept up a good supply of venison. It is related by the earlier settlers that deer would venture so near to their buildings that they were able on moonlight nights to shoot them from their barns. Wolves were more cautious, and though they destroyed sheep and made night hideous by their wild howling, yet they were killed in comparatively fewer numbers. The Worthingtons, in St. Joseph Township, and the elder Bush, in Flor- ence, did the largest business in that line. Bears were death on hogs. It was no uncommon thing for the settlers to find some of their hogs killed and partially devoured, or so injured as to die. Daniel Farnham killed one between his house and the farm of the elder John Casebeer. John W. Bowersox killed a very large one on his farm, in the northwest part of the township. Aaron Streets killed one, just north of that, in the edge of Florence Township. It is not related that bears ever attacked any of the
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early settlers, though John Wesley Bowersox, a resident of St. Joseph, was once compelled to seek refuge from wolves by climbing a tree, just south of the tamarack swamp, in the south part of Florence Township.
FIRST FAMILIES.
In August, 1835, the following-named persons were residing in this township : The Widow Fee and her children were living on Section 10, in said township ; the Widow Craig, on Section 11; George Aucker and Robert Mccullough, on Section 15; Solomon Lewis, father of William Lewis, once Sheriff of Williams County, on Section 33; Samuel Holton, on Section 21, and Mr. Haskins on Section 27. Turner Jolly was a young man having no abiding place. A Mr. Talbot was in the township then for a short time, but did not remain. Most of those parties are now dead. Daniel Farnham came in 1835 ; Judge Parker and David Aucker in 1836 ; John Bratton, in 1837 ; John W. Bowersox, Benjamin Cornell, John Cornell and George Long, in 1838. John W. Bowersox, Daniel Farnham and wife, and John Bratton are the last of the grown up per- sons, then in the township, now remaining. Judge Parker moved into the township from Defiance. He had sold goods in Defiance for a number of years previous. He first came up the river to trade with the Indians. He bought a large tract of land, built a house, and then removed his fam- ily. The frame house, built as early as 1836, still stands, and is now occupied by Judge Long. He laid out, at about this time, the village of Denmark. It had its public square, storeroom, ashery and schoolhouse, and in 1840 was quite a village. This was the first village in the town- ship. He had a large family of children, but three of whom grew to womanhood. Mary died unmarried at twenty-four ; Urilla married J. S. Stough, M. D., and has since died ; Harriet married George E. Long, formerly Probate Judge of the county, and is still living, the last of the family. Daniel Farnham has resided in the township continuously since 1835. He first sold goods for Judge Parker at Denmark. He was mar- ried to Miss Caroline Sawyer, at his own house, in 1840, Judge Parker performing the marriage ceremony. A large family of children grew up around them ; he owns a large tract of land in the western part of the township, and considerable property in Edgerton. He and the companion of his youth are living in the enjoyment of great plenty in the village of Edgerton. Benjamin Cornell and wife are both gone. George Long lived for many years on his farm three miles northwest of Edgerton. He did a mercantile business in part of his dwelling house as early as 1850, and for some years thereafter. He owned and cleared up a large farm on the Bellefontaine road, and later on removed to Edgerton, where he died in 1880. John Bratton still lives on his old farm, one and one-half miles
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west of Edgerton. The companion of his youth departed this life in February, 1881, leaving him alone. John W. Bowersox resides on the farm first settled by him in 1838. His wife died many years ago, and he has never remarried. The old log cabin built by him in the fall of 1838, still stands. He lives with his daughter in the enjoyment of plenty of this world's goods, the result of his own hard labors.
David Aucker and wife, who came into the township in 1836, and lived on the river bank just north of Denmark, have both been dead sev- eral years. Mr. Blair, father of Seth and Wright Blair, and who resided at Blair's Corners, southwest of Edgerton, died there in 1839 or 1840. He was one of the earliest settlers in that part of the township. John Skelton came into the township from Stark County in 1889, and settled in the northwestern part of the township; he died a number of years ago, and his wife in 1881. Two of his sons live on the old farm, and another in the community.
Jacob Aucker now owns and lives on the farm entered by his parents in 1836. Though but a lad then, he is now comparatively an old man.
INDIAN TRAILS.
These are not well defined in this township. The Bellefontaine road, running from Defiance, Ohio, to Lima, Ind., is said to have been laid and cut out along the line of an Indian trail. It was certainly crooked enough in the beginning to have been laid out in that way. There was another Indian trail leading from where Samuel Holton lived in St. Joseph Town- ship, along the banks of Fish Creek, to where his brother, John Holton, resided in De Kalb County, Ind. This trail has altogether disappeared, nor is there any road running along the line thereof.
BRIDGES.
The first bridge of any consequence in the township was the one across the St. Joseph River at Denmark, Ohio. It fell into decay, and was replaced by a new one, which in its turn gave place to the one that now spans the river at that point. The bridges that obtained in the early times, were those known as corduroy. By this means the new roads across the swamps and bogs were rendered partially passable.
EARLY TAVERNS.
The first tavern was at Denmark, at the private house of Judge Park- er. Here the early pioneers stopped and left their families while they ex- plored the wilderness for the lands formerly entered by them. Judge Parker entertained the traveling public for many years, though he never had any hotel building than his private house, still standing. Later on,
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George Long fed the traveling public at his house on the Bellefontaine road. Benjamin Cornell, who lived on the Bellefontaine road still near- er the State line, occasionally kept travelers over night. Soon after Ed- gerton was started, perhaps in 1855, one Mr. Thursby built the large frame hotel now standing in Edgerton, and known as the Arlington. About that time John H. Newman kept hotel on the west side of Michigan ave- nue, in said village.
ASHERIES.
The first ashery was at Denmark ; it was started as early as 1840. It stood west and across the road from the present residence of Judge Long. Not long afterward Daniel Farnham started one on his farm. As he was selling goods at the same time, he did a large business, exchanging goods for ashes. Many years afterward an ashery was started at Edgerton.
MANUFACTORIES.
The only factories of any consequence in this township were the oar factory built in Edgerton along about 1860, the woolen factory started later, and the handle factory located there very recently. The oar factory burned down a few years after it was built; the others are still in opera- tion. Joseph Spindler started a tannery in Edgerton soon after the town was started. He has continued in the business there ever since, making good leather and doing a good business.
VILLAGES AND STORES.
The first village was Denmark, and on the lands originally owned by Judge Parker. The first building was his residence. Its limits were on either side of the Bellefontaine road from near the river to a point west of the residence of Judge Long. It extended north of where his barns now are, the public square being not far from where his new barn stands. West and a little north of said barn was built the first schoolhouse built in the township. There is nothing left to indicate to a stranger that there was once the site of a smart little village. Judge Parker brought on the first stock of goods. Frederick Stevens and John D. Martin had sold goods before this just across the river, on the farm now owned by Mr. Dietsch. Judge Parker kept his first stock of goods in what is now the dining-room of Judge Long's residence. Daniel Farnham clerked for him about four months, in the fall of 1836. Judge Parker then built a storeroom, that stood just west and across the road from Judge Long's residence, and near where a large maple tree now stands. In 1840, Daniel Farnham started a store on his farm. He rafted lumber down the St. Joseph River to Fort Wayne, and with the proceeds purchased his stock of goods. It is said that he kept his first stock of goods in a
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box under the bed. He sold goods here until 1855, when he removed his stock to Edgerton. Still later than Farnham, George Long started a general store at his residence on the Bellefontaine road. He kept his first stock in the sitting-room of his house. He did a big business with the surrounding farmers. He built a store building near his residence, and did business there until in the fall of 1864, when he bought out John Ainsworth, at Edgerton, and entered into business there. Edgerton was started some time in 1854. Much of the lands whereon the village is located was once owned by the railroad company. It was purchased for the company by Hon. E. Foster. Subsequently it passed into the hands of Sargeant, Bement and Crane. The first store was brought there by the railroad company. William Hill purchased that stock of goods and moved them into a frame building, west of Michigan avenue and south of Indiana street. In 1855, Daniel Farnham built a storeroom and began business on the corner where his brick block now stands. He did busi- ness in this building until 1872, when he began the erection of his pres- ent business-room, into which he moved in May, 1873. George Helwig worked for him on the farm, clerked for him after he removed to Edger- ton for a number of years, was for a long time a partner, and recently has been doing business for himself. Denmark and Edgerton were the only villages started or built in the township. Edgerton is a pleasant little village, on the west bank of the St. Joseph River. Its streets are wide, shady and always dry. It has several fine brick and frame busi- ness houses, four good stores, three drug stores, hardware stores, furniture room, and has always been cursed with more saloons than it needed. Its population in 1880 was 782. The amount of taxable property, as shown by the duplicates of 1882, was $142,000. It has excellent schools, always well attended, and five churches, Methodist, Catholic, German Lutheran, Disciple and Presbyterian. The merchants have always had an excellent trade, and this village has the reputation of being one of the best markets for produce on the Air Line Railroad.
POST OFFICES.
The only post office in St. Joseph Township for many years was at Denmark. Judge Parker was the first and only Postmaster. Subse- quently, it was removed to the residence of Mr. Marsh, less than three miles north of Edgerton. While there the whole family, apparently, were Postmasters. Before this office was finally discontinued, one was estab- lished at Edgerton. Dr. Barkdol had charge of this office among the first. He was an appointee of President Buchanan. Since then, J. O. Rose, Albert Knight, William F. Roop and John L. Terpening, have
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