County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 40

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 40

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).

INCIDENTS AND AMUSEMENTS.

Daniel Barrett tells many interesting anecdotes of life in the woods of Madison, ere enough families had arrived to mar to any serious extent the primitive wildness of the country. At that early period, deer, wolves, bears and various other wild animals roamed the forest, scarcely molested by the report of the settler's rifle or the echo of his ax. Along the river and larger creeks many valuable fur-bearing animals were to be found ; and those who became expert trappers and hunters could at first make much better wages than those who devoted their attention to the cultivation of the farm. There was no market worth mentioning for farm productions ; or rather, the market was so far away, and transportation was made at such a cost, that there was practically no market. Scarcely no attempt was made to raise anything, except such as was wanted for home consumption. There was no money. Barter and exchange took the task of conducting all commercial relations between the settlers. The value of all articles was ascertained by the demand for them, as compared with the demand for other articles whose worth in money was known. Poor men who came into the woods with large families, found themselves unable to meet the problem of life, and were forced to return East. Others, by dint of the utmost economy and self-denial, managed to pull through, and, in the end, secure good homes.

REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER LIFE.

One day in winter, about the year 1839, Josiah Woodworth and Dan- iel Barrett went hunting northeast of Kunkle's Corners. They had not gone far, ere they saw the fresh tracks of two bears in the snow. They immediately started in pursuit, Woodworth leading the way. After

Digitized by Google

412

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

moving rapidly for some distance, Woodworth suddenly stopped short and exclaimed. " Hold on, I see them !" and with that he drew his rifle to his eye and fired, and away scampered the two bears at full speed, Woodworth following the one at which he had fired, and Barrett the other. The lat- ter could not keep up with his animal, which was soon lost to sight and sound. He stopped and returned to see what had befallen his companion, and, while going rapidly along, saw the very bear he had been following coming back ; but although the hunter endeavored to get a shot, it was impossible, owing to the thickness of the underbrush. The bear soon dis- tanced him, and he stopped for a moment to regain his breath. While standing there panting, he glanced carelessly upward, and was astonished to see two half-grown bears standing quietly on a large limb high above his head, eying him with curiosity and composure. He instantly raised his rifle, took deliberate aim, fired, and one of the bears came tumbling down, shot through the neck, and bounding like a rubber ball when it struck the earth. Barrett cut a heavy cudgel with his hatchet, and al- though the wounded bear reared up for fight, it was soon finished by re- peated blows on the head. He endeavored to load his rifle to shoot the bear yet in the tree, but his hands were so numb with cold that he made but sorry headway. While thus engaged, Woodworth came back, having been outrun by the bear he had been following. Upon a sign from Bar- rett, he shot the bear in the tree, which fell to the ground, dead. Wood- worth immediately claimed that the bear Barrett had shot was the one he had unknowingly killed at the first fire; but when the ground was ex- amined, and Woodward's bullet was found deeply imbedded in a tree, not having touched the bear, he was forced by the demands of consistency to give up the controversy. The dead animals were taken home and furnished excellent meat for the families, while the hides were sold for $3 each.

Cyrus Barrett and his sons came across a very large bee-tree on one occasion, and cut it down, whereupon they found a large quantity of fine honey ; but for some time were unable to get it, owing to the furious at- tacks of the bees. Some men could readily find bee-trees, while others could not. Often many gallons, and even barrels, of the finest honey were obtained, and this found a very welcome place on the settler's table. It was excellent on the huge johnny-cakes that were baked before the old fire-places, and made good sweetening for cranberry, crabapple and other wild sauces. While some families had all they could do to live comforta- bly, others were more fortunate, or, perhaps, more successful, and really enjoyed life in the backwoods. They had an abundance to eat-had pork, beef, wild turkey, squirrel, coon, fish, and occasionally a bearsteak ; had an abundance of corn bread, wheat bread, potatoes, turnips, tomatoes, cab- bages, pumpkins, melons, garden products, maple sugar, honey, molasses,

Digitized by Google

-- -

413

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

wild fruits and berries, buckwheat and beans. Many made their own gar- ments from flax or wool, but usually the material was purchased, and then made into the necessary apparel by the wife and mother.

FIRST BIRTH.

William Barrett, whose birth occurred in the township on the 21st of April, 1840, was the first white child born within its limits.

MAIL FACILITIES.

For some time after a daily mail was carried along the Angola road, no office was established in the township; but in 1847 one was applied for and obtained, and was located at the house of Elias Barrett, and the office called Deer Lick, named thus from the fact that near there was once a brackish spring that was a great resort of deer. The mail was at first carried on horseback, and often came so soaked with rain that it was nec- essary to dry it before it could be read. After a few years, the office was discontinued, but, in 1880, was re-established, the Postmaster being Phil- lip Weidner, and the office-" Kunkle's."

THE FIRST SAW-MILL.

In 1852 or 1853, a Mr. Kirkendall and Jacob Dohm built & saw-mill on the river a short distance east of Pioneer, securing a fall of about five feet by extending the race across a bend of the stream. Kirkendall re- tained his interest only a short time; and then sold to Dohm, who owned and conducted the mill many years, at times doing a splendid business. It remained a water-mill while in operation; and the old race will be vis- ible scores of years to come. The dam was destroyed by court process, as it had become a nuisance. The old building is yet standing silent and deserted.

MOUND BUILDERS' WORKS.

At an early period, Messrs. Norris, Joy and McCarty discovered two or more pre-historic mounds at the confluence of Silver Creek and St. Jo- seph River, and opened the same, taking therefrom four or five crumbling skeletons. The skulls and larger bones of the body were quite sound, but the greater portion of the remainder soon crumbled to powder. There are other mounds in the vicinity.

SOCIAL PROGRESS.

After 1843, the settlement of the township was quite rapid. The vi- cinities of Kunkle's Corners and Pioneer were the oldest, but, by 1845, there was scarcely a section that did not have one or more log cabins thereon. Each was surrounded by a small clearing, that slowly widened with each year. A rail fence protected the sides of the cabins (not always,

Digitized by Google

414

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

however) from the too friendly approaches of the domestic animals. The winding paths were cut wider and worked; bridges were built; timber disappeared ; better habitations were erected ; money became plentier : markets were nearer and better ; comfort took the place of privation, and schoolhouses and churches began to mark the cross-roads.

KUNKLE'S CORNERS, OR "PODUNK."

In about the year 1855, Augustus Moore opened a small store at the corners, the stock consisting largely of groceries, being worth about $300. A fair trade was obtained, but after continuing some three years, the stock was closed out and the building sold to Levi Hendricks, who sold goods for a short time. Since then the merchants have been Weaver & Wid- ner, Hendricks & Greek, Kunkle, Wallace, Stambaugh, and perhaps one or two others. Mr. Kunkle, in whose honor the corners were named, sold goods for many years from a stock, the average worth of which was about $2,500. Phillip Widner and William Stambaugh are in business at present. About nine years ago, John Shock and Jacob Neisley erected a steam saw-mill at the village; but after a short time Mr. Shock died, and his interest went to his son, John Shock, Jr., who, with Mr. Neisley, is yet operating the mill. A shingle saw has been placed in the building. The mill realizes sufficient business to keep it running about half the year. Alfred Hendricks and Oliver Coy are at present operating a planing mill, the same having been started in 1882. William Whitley was probably the first blacksmith, coming in some thirteen years ago. Three carpen- ters are now residents of the village. A restaurant was conducted for a short time during the winter of 1881-82. Kunkle's Corners has never been properly laid out and recorded, but its pretensions are as great as those of many villages have been. A number of years ago, a drunken fellow in the neighborhood, while under the influence of " O be joyful," applied the derisive title of " Podunk" to the village. Of course the vil- lagers do not recognize the authenticity of the appellation. Some sixteen or eighteen years ago, Greek, Hendricks and Warner owned and operated a saw-mill in the southern part of the township, continuing the same probably eight or ten years, and doing good work. The Wabash Rail- way, which extends through " Podunk," is at present negotiating with the citizens for the necessary grounds and funds for a station. The citi- zens have offered $2,000 for the station, but the railroad magnates are willing to take $1,200 if the residents will give the grounds and grade the track for a specified distance at the village. An arrangement will be effected in the near future. Some ten years ago, the citizens expended much time and money in assisting to grade the Coldwater Railway, hop- ing that they might have a station ; but they were disappointed.

Digitized by Google

415

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

VILLAGE OF PIONEER.

This enterprising country town is located at the corners of Sections 16, 17, 20 and 21, the land at the corners of the last three having been entered by James A. Rogers not far from the year 1840. Section 16 (school land) was not subject to entry or improvement until some years later. In 1842, Mr. Rogers employed two young men, P. W. Norris and Owen McCarty, to clear ten acres for him on the corner of Section 17. These young men immediately began work by erecting a small log shanty on that section, in which to live while the land was being cleared. At that period, not another house was within several miles of the place, but all was heavy forest and unbroken solitude. Norris did the cooking for McCarty and himself, and both young men put in their time to good ad- vantage, and soon the ten acres of timber were upon the ground, ready for the torch. McCarty and Norris were brothers-in-law, and the former entered into some sort of contract with Rogers to purchase for Norris the eighty-acre tract at the corner of Section 17, where the ten acres had been cleared; but no deed was made out, and finally Norris became the owner of eighty acres at the corner of Section 21. During the winter of 1842-43, Mr. Rogers, with the assistance of McCarty, Norris, and several men from the Smith settlement in Bridgewater, erected a large, comfort- able, round-log residence on the corner of Section 20, where Mr. Joy now lives, and in February, 1843, moved, with his family, into this house. During the ensuing year, and until 1845, Norris lived with the family of Mr. Rogers, clearing, in the meantime, quite a large tract on his own land, on Section 21. In 1845, Norris erected his log house (having made up his mind to get married about this time) ; and while Rogers was as- sisting on the building, he cut his foot severely with the ax, and about a week later died, with much pain, from the effects. The Widow Rogers re- mained with her family in her house until 1848, when she married G. R. Joy, and yet lives on the site of the old log house. In 1848, P. W. Nor- ris, Mrs. Rogers and Silander Johnson were the only families living in what is now Pioneer. Johnson had appeared about four years before, locating a short distance north of the corners. In January, 1849, Sam- uel Doolittle came with his family, and built a house on the corner of Sec- tion 21, where Mr. Kelsey now lives. In May of the same year, Benson Doolittle arrived, as did, also, Ebenezer Doolittle, the father of Samuel. The father at first lived with Norris, purchasing, in the meantime, a por- tion of the farm belonging to Johnson ; and when the latter had vacated his house, Mr. Doolittle immediately occupied the same. All these fam- ilies lived within the present corporate limits of Pioneer. A short time before this, Christian Thuma had moved his family into a small log cabin just without the corporate limits. From this on until 1853, the families

Digitized by by Google

416

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

of Jacob Weaver, Abigail Bear and Joseph Rogers established themselves in this little settlement, and these, with the other families, constituted the Pioneer of 1853. P. W. Norris became Postmaster in April, 1851, nam- ing the office Pioneer, and subsequently naming the village after the post- office. Other Postmasters (not all) have been G. R. Joy, Joseph Rogers, Mr. Canfield, E. P. Converse, W. F. Kelsey, Orin Kelsey, and the pres- ent agent, T. C. Durbin. The first physician was Richard Gaudern, who is yet there, having practiced about twenty-five years. Others, since, have been Erastus Cottrall, Joseph Rogers, Hainer, Shoemaker, Young and Merz. The village has had good doctors, but they are less numerous than in other villages of the same size, doubtless owing to the healthful surroundings of Pioneer, and the experience and skill of her followers of Esculapius.

PIONEER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

In 1854, Joseph Rogers brought the first stock of goods to Pioneer, the same being worth about $500, and consisting of a general assortment of articles that were in demand in country stores at the time. Mr. Nor- ris soon went in with him, but after a few years sold out, and Rogers con- tinued on alone until a short time before the last war, when he failed in business, and his affairs were wound up. Bolds, of Toledo, his creditor, took charge of the goods and employed & Mr. Canfield to sell the same, which he did for a time, but finally purchased the stock, and within a few years sold to Kelsey & Gordon, probably, though this is uncertain. Da- vid Worth was the second merchant, a Mr. Colmer, third, and & Mr. Roberts, fourth. G. R. Joy was the fifth, having taken Worth's place. After him came Bolds, the sixth, and then Canfield, the seventh. Since then there have been (representing dry goods, groceries, drugs, hardware, etc.) the following merchants, although the list or the order should not be regarded as perfect : Barnum & Wakefield, Hadley & Bennett, E. P. Converse, Daniel Smoot, Perkey & Gaudern, Doty & Hall, W. McMahon, A. C. Marshall, T. K. Knauer, E. Darlington, M. H. Doty, Charles De- roy, A. J. St. Clair, Clark Riddle, J. P. Colwell, George Durbin, Badger Brothers, Henry Harley, Albert Sumner, S. T. Woodruff, Park Smith, Mathias Kelley, Culver & Hanna, Henry Zuver, Daniel Cogswell & Brother, Garter & Masters. The present business of the village is shown as follows :

Dry goods, A. C. Marshall, Hall Brothers, M. H. Doly & Co., Had- ley & Hilton ; druggists, M. T. Hodson & Co., S. L. Bailey ; grocery, A. Gonter ; boots and shoes, H. Thomas ; jewelry, J. R. Hagerty ; hard- ware and agricultural implements, H. A. Hardy ; hotel, C. G. Sweet ; harness shops, J. H. Anders, I. Mercer ; furniture and undertaking, H. E. Loomis; millinery, Mrs. C. J. Ryan, Mrs. Tucker, Mattie Findley ;

Digitized by Google

417

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

physicians, Richard Gaudern, G. Young, H. S. Shoemaker ; restaurant, E. L. Slough ; dentist, William Siddall ; butcher, O. C. Mercer ; picture galleries, F. H. Sweetman, W. Woodruff; tailor, J. Orth ; newspaper, The Alliance, C. J. De Witt, editor and manager ; barbers, W. M. Helmes, George Rhoads ; saloon and billiard hall, W. M. Stephens; grist mill, Throne & Sons; saw and planing mill, Emery Sibley ; blacksmiths, D. Cogswell, C. F. West, J. T. Joy; wagon shops, Samuel Russell, B. Moore; livery, J. W. Barger, James Andrews, G. Smith ; coopers, Smith Broth- ers, Daniel Slough ; tannery, -; wool-buyers, A. C. Marshall, M. T. Doty & Co., Hadley & Hilton, Hall Brothers ; produce dealers, R. Bar- num, Ennis Brothers.

FORMER INDUSTRIES OF PIONEER.

Cornelius Van Orsdale, a blacksmith, located in the village in 1857. Andy Irwin erected the Pioneer Hotel in 1854. G. R. Joy built the second the same year, and continued until 1880, when Mr. Sweet took possession. The Pioneer House tried to kill out Joy's Hotel, but after twenty-one different proprietors had vainly struggled through a period of twenty years to accomplish that result, the attempt was abandoned. In 1854, P. W. Norris built a grist-mill and a saw-mill, at a cost of about $4,000, operating both mills with one engine, and placing in the former two sets of buhrs. After the saw-mill had been in operation some ten years, it was destroyed by fire; but the grist-mill is yet running, under the ownership of Throne & Sons, who are doing an excellent business. Va- rious others owned the mill after Norris. In 1862, G. R. Joy built a saw-mill, and did good and profitable work with it until it was finally sold, but soon re-purchased and re-sold. After numerous other changes in the ownership, the mill went to the present owner, Mr. Sibley. Ma- chinery for planing, and for manufacturing spokes, laths, shingles, etc., has been used in the mill. Brown & Sperry began doing an excellent cabinet business in 1856, continuing some eight years, and employing some three assistants. Snowdon & Schenk erected a tannery, about 1867, sinking some ten or twelve vats. The property has changed owners many times, and the business is yet continued. A great quantity of excellent leather was turned out formerly, but the work is lighter at present. Lewis & Lemon built a cheese factory, some seven years ago, but at the end of two years it was burned down. Milk from more than three hun- dred cows was consumed, and hundreds of pounds of excellent cheese were shipped away or used in the neighborhood. Daniel Cogswell made carriages for about four years, beginning not far from 1875. He employed con- siderable help, and constructed some fifty vehicles per year, all of which found a ready sale at home. Charles Wright engaged in the same pur-

Digitized by Google

418

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

suit about 1865, and continued for ten years, doing a profitable and ex- cellent work. A Mr. Crosier manufactured boots and shoes as early as 1858. Other men in the shoe trade have been Barnhart and the Thom- ases. Norris & Rogers conducted an ashery, beginning in 1854. Black- salts were turned out at first, but finally pearls were manufactured to the extent of about forty tons per annum, and conveyed in wagons to Bryan, Defiance, Adrian, and even Toledo. This was one of the most important and extensive industrial pursuits ever conducted in Pioneer, or in the town- ship. Families for miles around brought loads of ashes there, exchanging the same for goods from the store. As many had but little money or credit, and as they had numerous unsatisfied wants, they were thus ena- bled to get what they desired, which could not have been done if there had been no demand for ashes. Joy & Magarah kept the first livery in 1860. These have been the principal industries, and about the only ones. Of late years, the wool-buying and produce-dealing of the town have as- sumed gigantic figures. The wool-buyers (whose names appear above), for the last eight years, have purchased annually about eighty thousand pounds of wool. Ohio wool commands a better price in market than that of Michigan, and citizens of the latter State, taking advantage of that fact, transport their wool to towns in Ohio, where it eventually enters market as Ohio wool. Pioneer is thus made an extensive wool market, notwithstanding the fact that it has no railroad. The produce trade is even more marvelous, and is made a specialty by some to the exclusion of other business. Six or eight coopers are kept busy all the time to supply the necessary tubs, barrels, etc., for the trade. The produce trade last year was not less than $150,000, that of Barnum & Co. alone being $72,- 000. Ennis Brothers did about the same. The former firm, last year, shipped 2,200 barrels of eggs, 5,700 tubs of butter, and 150,000 pounds of dried apples, five teams being used on the road. A heavy poultry busi- ness was done last winter. There is no probability that this trade will decrease. Pioneer, with a railroad, would be beside itself with joy and enterprise. The population has gradually increased from about 20 in 1850, to about 70 in 1855, about 150 in 1860, about 300 in 1865, about 425 in 1870, about 660 in 1880, and about 720 at present.

SECRET ORGANIZATIONS.

Pioneer Lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M., was granted a charter October 19, 1870, and a dispensation January 27, 1870. The charter members were O. C. Ashton, A. C. Marshall, J. P. Snowden, E. H. Kenrick, C. G. Sweet, Sidney Hill, C. F. Haviland, Jacob Schenk, R. W. McMahon, M. O. Palmer, William Eagle, A. J. Sinclair, Martin Perkey, Clark Backus and E. F. Keeler. The first officers were : O. C. Austin, W. M .;

Digitized by Google

419

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

A. C. Marshall, S. W .; J. P. Snowden, J. W .; E. F. Keeler, Treasurer ; C. G. Sweet, Secretary ; E. H. Kenrick, S. D .; Sidney Hill, J. D .; William Eagle, Tiler. The present officers are : C. G. Sweet, W. M. ; E. F. Keeler, S. W. ; S. L. Bailey, J. W .: Willian Eagle, Treasurer ; O. P. Gay, Secretary ; A. C. Marshall, S. D. ; T. L. Converse, J. D .; C. F. Haviland, Tiler. The present membership is twenty-two; the lodge property is worth about $350, and the members pay $35 annually for rent. The Odd Fellows Lodge received its dispensation May 10, 1870, and its institution August 10, 1870, the charter members being G. R. Joy, James Pallitt, Mathias Kelley, E. P. Converse, Andrew Irwin, J. L. Zuver, John Moore, J. S. Ely, G. Magarah, S. G. Eggleston and Daniel Stough. The first officers were : G. R. Joy, N. G .; J. L. Zuver, V. G .; E. P. Converse, Secretary ; J. S. Ely, Permanent Secretary ; G. Magarah, Treasurer. The present officers are : J. Fulton, N. G .; T. B. Snowden, V. G .; H. E. Loomis, Rec. Sec .; W. H. Durbin, Per. Sec .; T. C. Durbin, Treasurer. There are twenty-four members at present. The lodge pays $50 annually for its hall, and owns about $600 worth of prop- erty. Joy Post, No. 152. Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in November, 1881, with the following charter members : Emery Sibley, Clark J. De Witt, W. H. Durbin, C. H. Gay, Henry Shaffer, W. H. Zuver, William Siddall, George Magarah, B. F. Ewan, Lyman Bigbee, S. H. Mead, H. S. Shoemaker, Andrew Irwin, J. S. Mott, Jacob Zuver, C. R. Perkins, P. V. Fulton, B. Hosmer, Adam Shaffer, Jr .. J. H. Funk, G. N. Richardson, H. E. Loomis, M. H. Doty, William Belcher, J. F. Hoover and C. B. Hale; total twenty-six. The present and first officers are : Emery Sibley, C .; Caleb Hale, J. V. ; H. E. Loomis, S. V. ; C. J. De Witt, Chaplain ; W. H. Durbin, Adjutant ; M. H. Doty, Q. M .; James Hoover, O. of D. ; Charles Day, O. of G. The charter was granted December 1, 1881. The present membership is forty-two. The lodge meets every first and third Wednesday of each month.

TOWN PLAT, ADDITIONS, INCORPORATION, OFFICERS, ETC.

In October, 1853, P. W. Norris employed a surveyor, and laid out twenty-four lots on the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 16, Township 9 south, Range 2 west, and named the village thus founded, Pioneer. In April, 1855, he made an addition of thirty-five lots, and two large blocks. In 1858, a petition was presented to the County Court of Common Pleas, praying that a portion of the town might be vacated, and making some alterations in the lots. The petition was signed by A. Sum- ner, J. W. Wood, L. D. Stark, John Brown, J. S. Rogers, Simeon Bar- ronne, S. M. Dixon, Jeremiah Zuver, Richard Gaudern, W. A. Keys, Al- exander Bigbee, Jacob Zuver, E. A. Crane, Charles Mowry, Samuel

Digitized by Google

420

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

Best, V. Keys, M. Barnhart and P. W. Norris, and was engineered suc- cessfully through the court by S. E. Blakeslee, of Bryan, attorney, the prayer of petitioners being granted October, 1858. These men-the petitioners-were more than two-thirds of the resident proprietors of the town at that period. G. R. Joy has made five additions to Pioneer, the first one being in July, 1860. Other additions were made by Norris, Masters and Stough. A petition, dated January 7, 1876, and signed by seventy-four citizens, was presented the County Commissioners June 5, 1876, urging the incorporation of the village, with the following terri- tory : All of Section 16, except the northeast quarter ; all of Section 17, except the northwest quarter; all of Section 20, except the south- west quarter, and all of Section 21, except the southeast quarter. This petition was duly considered, and granted in autumn of 1876. The first election of municipal officers was held April 2, 1877, with the following result : William Siddall, Mayor; H. S. Shoemaker, Clerk ; Emery Sibley, Marshal; Henry A. Harley, Treasurer ; Martin Perkey, E. H. Kenrick and George Young, Councilmen for one year ; G. R. Joy, Sim- eon Durbin and A. D. Ewan, Councilmen for two years; 117 votes were polled at this election. In April, 1878, Martin Perkey, J. F. Hadley and William Myers were elected Councilmen; J. M. Scovill, Mar- shal, and Adam J. Shaffer, Street Commissioner, the other officers hold- ing over. In April, 1879, G. R. Joy, Simeon Durbin and B. E. Doo- little became Councilmen, and C. G. Sweet, Treasurer. In March, 1878, sealed proposals were called for to build a jail for the village after speci- fications prepared by a committee appointed by the Council, with the fol- lowing result : E. W. Loomis, $119.38; J. C. Blackford, $133; O. S. Finegan, $120; Charles Gay, $143.88. After considering all these proposals, they were all rejected by the Council ; and, after a few months, re-considered, and Mr. Finegan erected the building after a new plan. In Januury, 1879, A. C. Marshall took Mr. Perkey's place as Council- man, and at the same time O. P. Gay took that of A. D., Ewan. At the April election, 1879, M. H. Doty, P. V. Fulton and H. A. Harley be- came Cemetery Trustees. In August, 1879, John Atkinson took Mr. Marshall's place as Councilman. In December, 1879, the Council pur- chased of Samuel Eggleston a tract of ground 30x32 rods, for $500, the same to be used as a cemetery. In April, 1880, Emery Sibley, T. B. Hall and O. P. Gay became Councilmen ; P. V. Fulton, Cemetery Trustee, and G. W. Durbin, Street Commissioner. In April, 1881, T. C. Durbin became Mayor ; H. S. Shoemaker, Clerk; G. S. Sweet, Treasurer ; W. M. Helms, Marshal; G. R. Joy, Cemetery Trustee; Thomas Hall, Owen McCarty and S. L. Bailey, Councilmen. In April, 1882, C. F. Haviland, Mr. Garry and Mr. Wilkinson became Council-

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.

County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 40

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885