USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 41
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men, theother officers holding over. Taking all things into considera- tion, there is not a livelier or better town in Northern Ohio than Pioneer. It is the center of a large, thrifty, well-populated country, and its busi- ness and trade are fixed.
SCHOOLS OF THE TOWNSHIP.
In 1842, the first schoolhouse in the township-a rude log structure- was erected one mile east of Kunkle's Corners. As stated at the begin- ning of this chapter, the township was first divided into two school dis- tricts in April, 1843, and from this it will be seen that the log school- house was erected before the township was organized, or before districts had been created, and was located where it would do the most good. The probability is that Miss Angell taught the first term, though this is not certain. In May, 1843, the scholars in this district-No. 1-were as follows : Celinda Angell, Orpha C. Angell, Alpheus Angell, Christina Barrett, Benjamin Barrett, Sally Ann Barrett, John Barrett, Mary Ann Barrett, Elijah Barrett, Charles Woodworth, Hannah Woodworth, Ray Woodworth, Miles Woodworth, Mary Ann Young, Sarah Hunt, John Connelly, William Connelly, Calvin Connelly, Harrison Connelly, Jacob Reasoner and Elizabeth Reasoner. The amount of school money on hand in 1843 was 855.72. In March, 1844, three additional school districts were created, making then a total of five in the township. At this time none of the districts enumerated scholars except Nos. 1 and 4, the former numbering twenty-seven scholars, and the latter five, as follows : Jasper A. Best, Abner Johnson, Celestia Johnson, Nancy Johnson and Lucy M. Rogers. This was the first enrollment at what is now Pioneer. The school districts then were as follows : District No. 1, Sections 1, 6, 7, 12, 31 and 36 ; District No. 2, Sections 2, 3, 10, 11, 34 and 35; District No. 3, Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 32 and 33; District No. 4, Sections 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29; District No. 5, Sections 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30. An examination of the town- ship map showing the sections, will reveal the location of each school dis- trict. From this it may be learned that, in 1844, quite a heavy settle- ment was in the southeastern part, a small one was in the vicinity of Pioneer, and, with these exceptions, no other part of the township con- tained children of school age. Going back, it was stated that a log schoolhouse was built in District 1 in 1842. This house was destroyed with fire within a year. and another log house was built on the same site, and used until 1846, when a brick school structure was erected, the brick being manufactured by David Connelly, and the house being constructed by Jacob Young. Connelly afterward burned more brick for the settlers' chimneys. Alanson Smith and Miss Angell were among the first teachere
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in the brick house. After this house had been used about ten years, it was torn down, and the brick used in the construction of a new frame schoolhouse, at Kunkle's Corners, the brick being filled in between the studding. This frame is yet standing, but was superseded in 1881, for school purposes, by a new brick house. District 4 (near Pioneer) had school in the cabin of Mr. Johnson as early as 1844, and several terms were taught there, though but few children were in the neighborhood. The first schoolhouse-a frame building-was erected in 1847, and was. located where the old burying-ground now is. The first teacher was Miss Rachel Baker, of Amboy, Mich., who taught a summer term of three months for $1 a week, and boarded around. Miss Snow, of Bridge- water Township, taught in the same house during the following summer. After the house had been used for schools without intermission until just before the last war, a new frame building was erected at a cost of $700, to which several additions have been made, the structure being yet used for educational purposes. The additions have cost about $400, making the total cost of the house about $1,100. There are four rooms, each con- taining a department of the graded school. When this house was erected, two teachers were employed for the first time; and when the L addition was built about ten years ago, two new rooms were formed, and since then two additional teachers have been employed. A new house will be erected in the near future. A High School Department was created a few years ago, since which time, smiling young ladies and gentlemen pass out to battle life with diplomas of the Pioneer High School. A fitting interest has been created in the village schools ; but a new house ought to be built.
SCHOOLS CONTINUED.
Schools did not start up in the northeast part until about the year 1850, when two frame schoolhouses were erected, and used until a few years ago, when both districts were merged into one, and a new house was built about half way between the old ones. Some trouble is likely to arise over the school-lot, as, it is stated, the deed of conveyance was not re- corded before the death of the land-owner. Old District No. 3, in the southwest part, had a school in 1852, in a cabin owned by D. J. Worley, the teacher being Miss Julia Clark, of Jefferson Township. She had about twenty-two scholars. Some trouble arose over the use of the house, and the latter part of the term was taught in the cabin of Henry Sheets. After two or three years, a log schoolhouse was built near the church, and the first teacher was John West. Three terms were taught in this house (one of the teachers being Miss Dunlap), after which the old " Basswood Schoolhouse " was erected on the same site. This was not far from 1856. This house was used until ten years ago, when the present brick was
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constructed at a cost of $600, all except $100 being paid by the town- ship. A frame schoolhouse was erected at the center of the township about 1852, Milton Zuver being the first teacher. Eight years ago, the present frame was erected by Nathan Kirk for $525. Jones Whitney gave the ground upon which the house was located. Alfred Douglas was the first teacher in this house.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Rev. Daniel Brown organized & Methodist class in the old Basswood Schoolhouse, in the southwestern part, not far from 1858. There were but few members at first, though the class was greatly strengthened by United Brethren and Winebrennarians, who met with them to worship, and who helped to bear the expense of keeping the class together. The schoolhouse was used until the church was built, some thirteen years ago. By this time, the old Methodist class had almost wholly disappeared, and the society had become Winebrennarian, and the church was constructed under the auspices of members of the latter denomination, though much assistance was received from other classes and from outsiders. Among those who assisted in defraying the cost of constructing the church were John Barnhart, Hiram Mott, Samuel Bartley, Basil Hardesty, Jacob Croft, Henry Troxel, Henry Hayen and Ira Mercer. The ministers have been Brown, Stewart, Porter, Neal, Updike, Cline, Sands, McKee, Mowan, Lilly and Slough, at present. Sunday school was first organized during the last war, and has been kept up a portion of the time since. In about the year 1862, the United Brethren class at Union Chapel was or- ganized, and consisted of the following members, among possible others : Timothy Kirk, John Kast, Christina Kast, Thaler Judd and wife, and two or three others. The ministers have been Joseph Brown, Joseph Dixon, John Martin, George Tuttle, James Snyder, Jonas Lower, Emanuel Miller, William Denios, J. K. Alwood, J. W. Rhodes, David Holmes and Abram Tussing. The church, which was begun in 1870, and finished in 1871, cost $1,200. Among those who paid the burden of the expense were William Kirk, Nathan Kirk, Hiram Waldron, Nathan Har- rison, Father Judd, James Cummins, Charles Cook and William Finnecal. The class has done good work since it was first organized. The first Sun- day school was begun in the spring of 1871, and has been held every summer since, with an average membership of about forty. As early as 1846, the Evangelists and the United Brethren held meetings in the old brick schoolhouse in the southeastern part, and finally at Kunkle's Cor- ners. Among those interested in later years were Daniel Barrett, Levi and Jacob Daso, Martin Batterson and William Shinnabarger. It is said that early preaching was held at the old cabin of the Barretts as early
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as 1843, the ministers being Ferrier, Lillibridge and Butler, who were circuit riders, and appeared about once a month. The Presbyterian Church at " Podunk " was built about ten years ago, by James Connelly, and cost about $1,600. The leaders in this movement were Hughes, Gray and Ovenhouse. The class is much run down at present.
CHURCHES OF PIONEER.
In 1852, the Methodist Episcopal class at Pioneer was organized by Rev. David Ocker, in the old schoolhouse, with some six or eight members, among whom were P. C. Grannis and Esther, his wife, John Fulton, William Fulton, Barbara Fulton, Catharine Fulton, Mary Grannis and Henry Smith and wife. The class grew stronger under the impulse of stirring revivals, and, in 1859-60, was strong enough to build a frame church, which was used constantly until the present brick edifice was erected at a cost of over $4,000. The old house cost some $1,500, and was provided with a bell and steeple a few years after its erection. Among the ministers have been Revs. Lindsey, Butt, Perkey, Poe, Roberts, Hen- derson and Colgan, Barkdoll, Cheney, Boyer, Hoag, Fegtley, Ferris, Miller, Powell, Zimmerman, Prentice, Clark, Rusbridge and the present able man, S. H. Alderman. The present membership is about one hun- dred and sixty. The Sunday school has been conducted many years, and numbers about seventy-five members. This is the strongest class in the township, and its excellent influence is felt over a large section of country. The United Brethren class at Pioneer was first organized a short time after the Methodists started up, by Rev. William Moffatt, and the first. class consisted, it is said, of some twelve members. Ministers have been : Kelso, Cherry, Gear, Holmes, Crossland and Cross, Thomas, Ward, Brown, Martin, Lilly, Keller, Baldwin and Crawford. The church was built in 1860, at a cost of $1,000. Additions and improvements to the amount of about 8400 have since been made, much of which was done nine years ago. The present membership is about eighty. Nine years ago, the Sunday school put on new strength and vigor, and has continued thus until the present. Prior to 1860, members of all denominations conducted a very large and thrifty Union Sunday School in the old school- house at Pioneer. But after the construction of the churches, and each class had doubled in strength and zeal, separate schools were instituted. Mr. Joy says the Methodists had their first class in 1848, and were preached to by Rev Sampson, from Hillsdale County, Mich. Among the members at this time were Mr. Norris and wife, Mr. Johnson and wife, Mr. Laughlin and wife, and Mrs. J. S. Rogers. This is probably the true origin of the Methodist class at Pioneer, though the connection of the society with the one formed in 1852 is not clear. The old class might
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have died out about 1851, and a year later a new class might have been formed. This conjecture is probably correct. In April, 1870, the Bap- tist class at Pioneer was organized with the following members : Samuel Wells, S. T. Woodruff, Mary Woodruff, Levi Thomas, Heman Thomas, Abiden Thomas, Hannah Ely, John Culver, Rhoda Culver, Betsey Cul- ver, Gilbert D. Hart, E. H. Kenrick, Elsa Joy, C. M. Williams, Mary DeWitt and Abba Thomas. The ministers have been L. M. Rose, C. B. Shear, W. Prentiss, R. D. Clark, William Reed, M. Hayden and R. P. Jones. The church, which was begun in 1881, is not yet finished (June, 1882). The present membership is about forty. The Sunday school was begun in 1871, now numbers about sixty members, and is con- ducted by Z. G. Swan, Superintendent.
PIONEER CORNET BAND.
This band was organized in the autumn of 1879, and the first set of instruments was purchased later in the same year. In July, 1880, the old set, at an estimated value of $91, was given in part payment for a splendid new set, which cost $465. In April, 1882, a band fair was con- ducted for an entire week, and $216 was realized, which amount was used in purchasing uniforms for the members. Subscriptions have been solicited and obtained from the citizens to defray the expense incurred in securing the new instruments. For the past two years, the citizens of the town have been regaled with music sweeter than that of Orpheus. It may be, also, that the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and even the rocks and trees, gather round to listen to the divine strains. The music should not be permitted to die out in mournful cadences in the surround- ing forests, but should be wafted harmoniously at all times on every breeze.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
BY SOLOMON JOHNSON.
GENERAL FEATURES.
Springfield Township occupies the southeast portion of Williams County. It is a perfect Congressional township-six miles square-and contains about twenty-three thousand acres. The surface of the town- ship is quite level, especially in the eastern part. Tiffin River, or Bean Creek, is the largest stream that flows through the township. It trav- erses the western portion, from north to south. Owl Creek, a small tributary of Bean Creek, and Brush Creek, a branch of Owl Creek, flow through the eastern part of the township. Beaver Creek, which is quite
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a large western tributary of Bean Creek, crosses Section 19 and enters Bean Creek at the northwest quarter of Section 29. Coon Creek, a small tributary of Bean Creek, traverses the southeast part of the town- ship and flows into Bean Creek just south of the township line. The soil for the most part is a loamy clay, and is very fertile. There is but little sand or tough, yellow clay in the township. No doubt Springfield Township was one of the best-timbered townships in the county. Its for- ests consisted of an immense quantity of burr oak, white oak, hickory, beech, ash, black walnut, poplar, elm, etc. The township is well adapted to agriculture. Wheat, corn, oats and clover seed are raised extensively. Apples and pears are abundant.
EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP.
In treating of the early settlement and organization, it might be well to go back to the time when Springfield Township was included in Tiffin Township. The Commissioners of Williams County met at Defiance on December 6, 1831, and, upon application for a new township to be erected by striking off the north end of Defiance Township, they ordered " that a new township be erected and incorporated by the name or appellation of Tiffin Township; " and, upon examining the proceedings, I find that said Tiffin Township was bounded " on the south by Township 4 north, in Range 4 east, and extended north to the north boundary of Williams County, including Range 4 east. On March 30, 1835, the Commission- ers of Williams County met at Defiance for the purpose of extending the northern boundary of certain townships to the Harris line, and of erecting a new township in said county. After the Commissioners had finished some other business, I find the following on their books as a rec- ord of the proceedings at that session : "The board further ordered that there be a new township erected and organized, as follows : Commencing at the northern boundary of Town 5 north, of Range 4 east, and includ- ing all the territory within Range 4 from said north line of Town 5 to the northern boundary of said Williams County, as defined and established by an act entitled ' An Act Defining the Northern Boundary of Certain Counties within the State and for other purposes,' passed February 23, 1835. Said new township is hereby erected and organized by the name of Springfield." The Commissioners instructed the Auditor to advertise an election to be held at the house of-, in said township, on the 16th day of May next, for the purpose of electing the necessary officers, etc. The name of the person at whose house the election was to be held was left blank, but by examining the records in the Township Clerk's office, I find the following: "The township of Springfield was organized the 16th day of May, 1835. At an election held at the house of Sarah Luther,
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on said 16th day of May, the following persons were elected to the re- spective offices set opposite their names : Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerk ; Bruce Packard, John Stubbs and Harmon Doolittle, Trustees; Daniel Colgan and Abram Worts, Overseers of the Poor; Joseph Stubbs, John Fields and Joseph Bates, Fence Viewers; Joseph H. Stubbs and Calvin Gleason, Constables ; John Lindenberger and Joseph Bates, Supervisors; Thomas J. Prettyman, Treasurer. At a meeting of the Trustees-John Stubbs and Harmon Doolittle on the 5th day of September, 1835, Dan- iel Colgan was appointed Treasurer. At an election held in the township of Springfield September 5, 1835, Jonathan B. Taylor and Harmon Doo- little were elected Justices of the Peace. All the above persons were qualified ; those required to give bail did so as the [law] directs. At- test, J. B. Taylor, Clerk."
" At a meeting of the Trustees on the 12th day of November (pres- ent John Stubbs aud Harmon Doolittle), Daniel Colgan was appointed Treasurer."
From the above it seems as if there were two meetings at which Dan- iel Colgan was appointed Treasurer. I mention both of them, as I desire to give the facts verbatim as I find them on the Clerk's book. Daniel Colgan must have been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas J. Prettyman, which occurred August 4, 1835.
EARLY POLL-BOOK.
By consulting the records in the County Clerk's office at Bryan, Ohio, I find the following : "Poll-book of the election held in the town- ship of Springfield, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, the 5th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1835-John Stubbs, Daniel Colgan [and] Joseph Stubbs, Judges; and Joseph H. Stubbs [and] Cal- vin Gleason, Clerks of said election, were severally sworn as the law di- rects, previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices. Number and names of electors-1, John Stubbs; 2, Joseph Stubbs ; 3, Daniel Colgan ; 4, Joseph H. Stubbs ; 5, Calvin Gleason ; 6, John Hol- linshead ; 7, Jonathan B. Taylor ; 8, Harmon Doolittle; 9, John Lin- denberger ; 10, Abraham Worts. Harmon Doolittle received for the of- fice of Justice of the Peace, 10 votes ; Jonathan B. Taylor received for the office of Justice of the Peace, 10 votes. It is hereby certified that the number of electors at this election amounts to ten. Attest John Stubbs, Daniel Colgan, Joseph Stubbs, Judges of Election ; Joseph H. Stubbs, Calvin Gleason, Clerks of Election."
Without a doubt Harmon Doolittle and Jonathan B. Taylor were the first Justices ever elected in Springfield Township. The writer has seen the statement that Jacob Coy was the first Justice of the Peace elected in
M
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Springfield Township, but that is certainly an error, as Jacob Coy tells me that he was never elected Justice of the Peace in and for the Town- ship of Springfield.
At an election held in Tiffin Township April 2, 1832, Jacob Coy and Ephraim Doty were elected Justices of the Peace. At that time, Tiffin Township included the territory now embraced in Springfield Township.
The following is a copy of the poll book of an election held April 4, 1836: "Poll book of the election held in the township of Springfield, in the county of Williams, on the 4th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1836-John Stubbs, Daniel Colgan and Joseph Stubbs, Judges ; and James Guthrie and Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerks of said election, were sev -- erally sworn as the law directs, previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices. Number and name of electors-1, Joseph Stubbs ; 2, John Hollinshead ; 3, Chauncy Clark ; 4, Harvey Clark ; 5, David Carpenter ; 6, John Stubbs ; 7, Jonathan B. Taylor ; 8, James Guthrie ; 9, Lewis' Clark ; 10, Joseph Clark ; 11, Daniel Colgan; 12, John Lin- denberger. It is hereby certified that the number of electors at this elec- tion amounts to 12. Attest James Guthrie, Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerks; Daniel Colgan, Joseph Stubbs, John Stubbs, Judges. For Township Clerk, Jonathan B. Taylor had 10 votes ; for Trustees-John Linden- berger had 11, and Joseph H. Stubbs and Lewis Clark 12 each ; for Treasurer, John Stubbs had 10; for Overseers of the Poor, John Stubbs and Daniel Colgan had 12 votes each ; for Supervisors of Roads, Preston Barber, David Carpenter and John Fields had each 11 votes; for Con- stable, Joseph Stubbs and David Landaman had 12 each ; for Fence Viewers, Daniel Colgan and Lyman Sanford had 12 each ; for Justice of the Peace, James Guthrie had 12 votes. James Guthrie, Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerks; Daniel Colgan, John Stubbs, Joseph Stubbs, Trustees." James Guthrie was elected Justice of the Peace to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Harmon Doolittle from the township.
At an election held October 11, 1836, there were twenty-three votes cast. James Brown had 17 votes for Representative in Congress, and Patrick G. Good had 6 votes for the same office. Joseph Vance had 6 votes for Governor, and Eli Baldwin had 17 votes for Governor. At an election held October 10, 1837, there were twenty-six votes cast. Parlee Carlin had 25 votes for Representative, and George W. Crawford had 1 vote for the same office; Curtis Bates had 22 and John Patterson 4 votes for Senator ; Jonathan B. Taylor had 26 votes for Sheriff. At a meeting of the Commissioners of Williams County, held at Defiance March 7, 1836, they "erected " a new township, " bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing at the south line of Township 7 north, Range 4 east, and extend [to] the State line between Ohio and Michigan,
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said township to be known by the name of Bradie." Also that the citi- zens meet on the first Monday of April next, to organize the township and elect officers. From the above facts, it is safe to assume that Spring- field Township was reduced to its present limits in the spring of 1836, and that at the election held in April of that year, none were voters in the township but those who lived within its present limits.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
It is claimed that James Guthrie settled on Bean Creek about 1827. If such is the fact, he must have been the first settler in what is now Springfield Township, and very probably in what is now Williams County. Peter Knipe settled on the southeast corner of Section 33, in the spring of 1831. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to Ross County, Ohio, at an early day. He left Ross County and settled on Bean Creek, near Brunersburg, in the year 1827, and from there he moved within the present limits of this township. Josiah B. Packard settled in the north part of the township at an early day. Rev. Thomas J. Prettyman settled on the north part of Section 29, in the spring of 1833. He was a Method- ist local preacher, and a leading man in the community. Lewis W. Prettyman, a son of Thomas J. Prettyman, has lived in the township ever since his father settled here. He was four or five years of age at that time. No doubt he has lived longer in Springfield Township than any other person. Daniel Colgan settled on Section 20, in the year 1833. He lived there until his death, which occurred in 1867. He came from Champaign County, Ohio, to Williams County. He was a native of Kentucky. William B. Sprague, and his father, Solomon Sprague, came to Williams County, and settled in the south part of this township about 1832 or 1833. They were natives of Rhode Island, and are distant relatives of ex-Senator Sprague. James Luther settled at an early day, perhaps in 1833, near the place where Stryker now stands. I have been informed that John Hollinshead first settled on a farm on the west bank of Bean Creek, and that Daniel Colgan bought the claim in 1833, after which Mr. Hollinshead moved farther north. Among the other early settlers were John Stubbs, Joseph Stubbs, Harmon Doolittle, Jonathan B. Taylor, David Carpenter, John Lindenberger, Lewis Clark, Harvey Clark and Chauncy Clark. The Stubbses came from the State of New York. They were natives of New York, but of Welsh descent. The Clarks were natives of New England. Lewis Clark and his wife, who was one of Peter Knipe's daughters, live on the south part of Section 21 at present.
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