County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 44

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 44

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near : " Here's a bear ! here's a bear !" she ran up and caught the little animal by the back of the neck, and, despite its growls and struggles, ran with it to the cabin. The men came up, and, after a few minutes talk, came to the natural conclusion that the mother of the cub was not far distant, and resolved to find her, if possible. The next day, the men, while hunting, found a hollow tree that looked as if it might contain a bear. One of them began cutting it down, and, while thus at work, scared a porcupine, which ran out of a big hole high up in the tree. The men at first thought that this must be the animal that had made the scratches on the sides of the tree; but, the tree was so near down, the cutting was continued ; and the first thing the chopper knew the report of a rifle rang out on the air, and a large bear fell to the ground within five feet of him, dead. The animal had come out of the opening above, and was seen by Mr. Singer, who brought it to the ground with one shot. The cub was kept for some time, and finally sold for 50 cents, and taken East. Mr. Singer was quite a bee-hunter, and his cabin table was often graced with a fine dish of strained or candied honey. One day, the Indians, who were encamped on the creek about thirty rods east of David Singer, Jr.'s, present residence, wounded a bear, which crawled into a large hollow log, and could not be dislodged. One of their number, who had come from Canada, and whom they did not like, was told that he was too cowardly to enter the log by crawling, and pull the wounded bear out by the leg. It was thought still alive, and full of fight. After a little time, he entered the log head first, and soon emerged, pulling the animal, which was dead, out by the leg. One day, one of the Indians got drunk, and declared that he would kill his squaw, and proceeded to put his threat into execution. Several Indians came to Mr. Singer, and begged him to interfere, which he accordingly did, and, with their help. bound the desperate savage hand and foot. The mosquitoes were very bad, and pestered the captive to such an extent that he soon came to his senses, and demanded that his bonds be taken off; but, this was refused, until his complete sobriety was assured, and his promises were given that he would behave himself. Mrs. Singer smoked, every year, many venison hams on shares for the Indians. John Singer and David Singer, Jr., one day wounded a deer, and, while trying to cut its throat, were knocked back by the animal, which sprang to its feet, and ran off through the woods. It was afterward caught, with the assistance of the dogs. The Singer family had, for years, a pet deer, with a bell around its neck, which was used as a decoy in hunting. It would meet other deer in the woods, and bring them close to the cabin, when they could easily be shot from some concealment. Samuel Cain, now living in the western part of Northwest Township, located in the township near Union Corners in

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1838. He tells several interesting hunting incidents. One day, he broke an ox-yoke, and went to William Van Fossen's to get another. While on the way, his dog discovered a cub, and chased it, growling, into the top of a tree. The mother bear appeared upon the scene at this juncture, . and charged furiously upon the dog, which nimbly got out of her way. She passed close to Mr. Cain, who swung his hat at her, causing her to veer around him. She ran into a swamp, and was seen no more. Mr. Cain had no gun, but he went some distance and called to Clark's boys, of Superior Township, who came up and shot the cub. On still another occasion, Mr. Cain, John Anspaugh and Jacob Anspaugh were walking in the fresh snow, near the tamarack swamp, in the northeast corner of the township, when they discovered a fresh bear track. They immediately called their dogs, which followed the bear into the swamp, and soon treed it there. John Anspaugh was the first one to reach the tree, and, at the first shot, he brought the animal to the ground. It proved to be a young bear, and its flesh was very tender and sweet. Many stories, similar to the above, might be narrated, but this will suffice to show what sport the early settlers enjoyed.

GENERAL GROWTH OF THE TOWNSHIP.

From 1844 to 1855, the settlement and improvement of Florence was most rapid. All the soil was taken up largely by actual residents, and the heavy forests went down before the ax of the executioner. At first cabins were set in small clearings, where the standing trees were only sufficiently far away to insure the safety of the families from falling trecs in case of a severe storm. Such clearings were dotted with stumps and heaps of branches, limbs, roots and logs; but as time passed on, the results of constant industry were visible in broad fields without a stump or an encumbering heap of dead forest remains. Crops became more abundant; the acreage of grain and other farm productions rapidly mul- tiplied ; success in the creation of homes became assured ; competence slowly took the place of want; roads were established and bridges built ; wet tracts of land were reclaimed by wise systems of drainage; the causes of malarial ills were largely removed; sufficient, comfortable, and even fashionable clothing usurped the place of buckskin and "linsey- woolsey ;" larger and better residences drove the primitive log-cabins to decay and ruin, but not forgetfulness ; stores and mills were established at cross-roads and along well-traveled highways; and schools and churches came to strengthen the intellectual and moral being. The early settle- ment of the township was quite equally distributed, as, in 1845, rude log cabins could be seen every mile or two within its limits. One of the most striking features of the early settlement and improvement was the

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wholesale destruction of the forests. Every available means was em- ployed to give whole farms of magnificent timber to swift and indiscrimi- nate destruction. Log rollings, where from ten to forty men assembled, were to be seon every day throughout the year, and the air was scarcely ever free from heavy clouds of smoke and falling ashes. Thus time slipped away, until to-day some sections of the township are hardly yet out of the woods. Country industries sprang into life here and there in the township, to supply home demand. Benjamin C. Pickle, an old settler and an excellent citizen, started an ashery at Union Corners at a very early day, and at the same time sold goods from a small stock he kept on hand. Goods were given in exchange for ashes, and the latter was man- ufactured into potash and sold. The old ashery is yet in existence. Sev- eral small stores and many asheries were started in various parts of the township, until at last the foundation of villages led to their discontin- uance.

TOWN OF EDON.

In 1850, there were three families living on the present site of the incorporated village of Edon-those of Henry Stuller, John Garwood and Thomas Smith. In 1855, Andrew Sheline built a small log cabin about fifteen rods north of the corner at Edon. A short time before this, Mr. Sheline, with the assistance of several neighbors, had cut down about two acres of forest at the northeast corner of the principal cross streets, and here he erected a steam saw-mill, which began operating in May, 1856. Stuller lived some distance west of the crossing, Garwood south- west, and Smith east, and all lived in log houses. In 1866, the saw-mill was sold to Mr. Hill, and afterward to various other parties. This mill, entirely new and in a different location, is yet in operation. In 1856, Mr. Sheline erected a grist-mill at Edon. The structure was two-storied, about 30x30 feet, contained two sets of buhrs and was operated by the same engine that propelled the machinery of the saw-mill. John Allen bought an interest in both mills in about 1860. A few years ago, the old grist-mill was moved a short distance south, and has since been used as a town-hall, a cooper-shop, a warehouse, etc. In 1876, Wesley Thomas and James Robinett erected a new grist-mill, at a cost of about $7,000. It is a frame structure, two stories in height and has three runs of stone. Lately it has been doing good work. In 1866, Andrew She- line and Joseph Allomong erected a three-story frame building, 40x60 feet, at a cost of about $2,000, designing the same for a woolen factory. Three looms, one jack of 220 spindles, a set (three machines) of forty- eight inch manufacturing cards, a twenty-four inch double-roll card, a picker, a napper, a dresser, a fuller, a scourer and an excellent engine were placed in this building, at a cost of about $13,000, making the total

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cost of building and equipments not less than $15,000. At that time, just at the close of the war, woolen machinery commanded almost fabu- lous prices, and, in view of subsequent events, the wisdom of the enter- prise at Edon may be seriously doubted. At first, an excellent business of carding, spinning, weaving and dressing was done, there being not less than seventy thousand pounds of wool used during each of the first two or three years. For several years after that, from fifty thousand to sixty thousand pounds were used ; but after that the business decreased to an average of about twenty-five thousand pounds per annum. About twelve years ago, Allomong sold his interest to Sheline, and the latter, a year ago, sold to his son, Eli B. Sheline. As the woolen business gradually decreased, stave manufacturing machinery, a shingle saw, a molding ma- chine, a handle machine and other apparatus were placed in the building. The wood work done for several years past is worth at least $20,000 per annum and the woolen work about the same, making a total manufactur- ing capacity of not less than 840,000 per year. It can be justly said that this is not only the most important industrial establishment ever at Edon, but one of the most important in the county or in Northwestern Ohio. An average of eight or ten workmen has been constantly em- ployed.

MERCANTILE PURSUITS.

A man named Herbert built a small plank house on the northwest corner about 1856, and began selling from a stock of notions, valued at about $75. He built an ashery, and conducted it and the store until his death a few years later. Robert Smith, John Aller and Dr. Ezra Mann, located at Edon in about 1857 or 1858. Mr. Smith built a storehouse, and placed therein about $1,000 worth of a general assortment of goods. This was about 1858. Two or three years later, his goods went to George Huber, who did a lucrative business with his store and with his sale of liquor. In about 1866 or 1867, he sold to Cook & Eichelberger, both of whom retired from the business in a few years. Klink Brothers proba- bly went into the same room with a stock of goods next; but, after a few years, built the hardware storeroom, and, in about 1869 or 1870, sold to C. S. Garrison and C. A. Bowersox. Mr. Bowersox soon sold out to Garrison, who has since been in business in the town. John Aller and George Ball, under the firm name of Aller & Ball, opened a store about 1868 or 1869; but after a few years retired. John W. Thomas was in some way associated with them in business for a time, and after- ward continued alone. His stock finally went to Young & Garside. A year ago Garside secured the entire interest. Walter Young opened a store in about 1875 or 1876, but sold to R. A. Haskins about four years later. Mr. Aller opened a drug store after he had disposed of his dry

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goods, and continued until about 1877, when he sold out to T. S. Car- vin & Co., who are yet in business. Klink Brothers sold hardware for a time. David Holmes bought him out, but, later, sold to James Robi- nett, who, in about 1879, transferred his stock to Charles Hine. Emmet Burke now owns the stock. The principal physicians in the villiage have been, in about the order of their coming, Ezra Mann, Edwin Knepper, J. G. Cameron (there at present), Dr. Marvin, Dr Webb, John Shutt, Dr. Phillips, George W. Noble (yet there), and Dr. Williams. The Post- masters have been John Klink, C. S. Garrison, James Garside and T. S. Carvin, the present agent of Uncle Sam. A few years ago David His- song and Andrew Sheline built fine frame hotels. This was one of the results of the railroad boom. In the autumn of 1873, Robinett & Burke built a saw-mill, but about two years later the former sold to Eli She- line. In 1878, Burke sold his interest to John King. Several others owned interests in the mill. At present David Hissong owns two-thirds interest, and Mr. Metzler one-third. Jacob Brosey and Frank Studor built a saw-mill about 1860. Among the owners of this mill have been Samuel and Daniel Cook, John Willibee, Emmet Burke and John Wag- ner. It is now owned by Cook & Wagner, who have placed in the mill a planing machine and a side-sawing machine. The Hissong Mill was burned a year ago, but was soon rebuilt.

INCORPORATION OF EDON.

It was not until after the last war, and after the village had attained considerable size, that lots were properly laid out and recorded at Bryan. In September, 1867, Andrew Sheline, Robert Lees, Conrad Yockey, Thomas Smith, George W. Hunter, John Aller, Thomas Laux, Samuel Cook, Jacob Keltenbach, John Klink and George Huber, owners and pro- prietors of the land, employed a surveyor and laid out forty-one lots on the southwest quarter of Section 16, the southeast quarter of the south- east quarter of Section 17, and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 21, and named the village " Weston." At that time the village had a population of some ten or twelve families. In Decem- ber, 1868, Rebecca Garwood made an addition of seventeen lots, the same being laid out on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 20. In August, 1873, H. S. Hine made an addition of sixty- five inlots and ten outlots, from the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 16, and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 21. In April, 1874, Andrew Sheline made an addition of some seven or eight blocks, on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 17. In October, 1874, Joseph Garwood had attached to the village an addition of two blocks of eight lots each, surveyed on the

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northeast quarter of Section 20. In December, 1874, H. S. Hine at- tached his second addition, which consisted of forty-one lots on the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 21. In May, 1874, a petition signed by fifty citizens of Edon was presented the County Commissioner by H. S. Hine, praying that the village might be incorporated under the name of Edon, and that it might have the following bounds : The south- west quarter of Section 16, the southeast quarter of Section 17, the north- east quarter of Section 20, and the northwest quarter of Section 21. Action on this petition was deferred by the County Commissioners until the same had been amended, so that the following land was stricken out of the bounds to be incorporated as above given : The southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 20, the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 21, the northeast quarter of the south west quarter of Section 16, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 17. The prayer of the amended petition was granted August 13, 1874.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND OFFICERS.

On Monday, the 5th of April, 1875, the first election of village offi- cers was held in Edon, James Pollit, Jacob J. Burkhart and Hiram Mer- chant being Judges of Election, and James H. Smith and D. M. Mowry, Clerks. Seventy-nine votes were polled with the following result : Eras- tus Hoadley, Mayor ; Robert R. Lees, Clerk ; S. F. Garwood, Treasurer; B. F. Ewan, Marshal ; David Hissong, Solicitor; Andrew Sheline, Jonathan Burke and J. P. Rummel, Councilmen for two years ; H. S. Hine, J. W. Thomas and Eli Sheline, Councilmen for one year. The Council at first met in the Sheline House, but, in autumn, 1875, a com- bined jail and council room was built at a cost of about $500. David Darr became the first Street Commissioner. The first corporation tax was levied May 25, 1875, as follows : One mill for general corporation purposes ; one mill for building street crossings ; one half of one mill for fees for Marshal; and six mills for building corporation prison and coun- cil room, making a total of eight and one-half mills. In April, 1876, E. R. Sheline was elected Clerk; J. W. Thomas, James Robinett and Samuel Cook, Councilmen. In April, 1877, Jonathan Burke was elected Mayor; E. R. Sheline, Clerk ; S. S. Eyster, Treasurer ; J. C. Day, Marshal; Andrew Sheline, E. Everhart and F. B. Metzler, Councilmen. J. M. Shutt was appointed Solicitor. In the fall of 1877, A. W. Lewis was elected Marshal. In April, 1878, J. W. Thomas, James Robinett and Samuel Cook became Councilmen. In April, 1879, Jonathan Burke was elected Mayor ; E. R. Sheline, Clerk ; S. S. Eyster, Treasurer ; T. P. Hoad- ley, Marshal ; C. W. Dean, Street Commissioner; Walter Young, H. S. Hine and A. Sheline, Councilmen. In August, 1879, J. W. Stuller was

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elected Marshal. In April, 1880, A. W. Lewis was elected Marshal and Street Commissioner ; John Brooks, S. F. Garwood, T. S. Carvin and A. Kuster, Councilmen. In April, 1881, Jonathan Burke became Mayor ; Solon Burke, Clerk; S. S. Eyster, Treasurer; A. W. Lewis, Street Commissioner; Sylvanus Dalley, Marshal ; Jacob Metzler, Samuel Cook, Rufus Isenhart and Jacob Keltenbach, Councilmen. In May, 1881, Henry Allwood was appointed Marshal, but he refused to serve, and Adolph Krause was appointed in his stead. In April, 1882, David Hissong was elected Mayor ; Solon Burke, Clerk ; John Klink, Treas- urer ; S. S. Eyster, Marshal ; Andrew Sheline, Street Commissioner (he did not qualify, and Eli Sheline took his place); Andrew Kuster and William Latimer, Councilmen.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Florence Lodge, No. 545, I. O. O. F., was instituted July 1. 1873, by W. C. Earl, P. G. M. and Special Deputy, with the following charter members : James Pollit, J. W. Thomas, Henry King, Samuel Keiss, O. B. Johnson, W. H. Hillard, Joseph Garwood, John Zimmerman, John Friend, J. W. Stuller, John Bordner, Frederick Mocherman and David Keiss. The first officers were John Friend, N. G .; David Keiss, V. G .; O. B. Johnson, Secretary ; John Zimmerman, P. S .; Henry King, Treas. The present officers are T. S. Carvin, N. G .; R. M. Isenhart, V. G .; E. Leek, R. S .; J. M. Toner, P. S .: S. S. Eyster, Treas. The lodge now numbers fifty-seven members, pays a rent of $65 per annum for its hall, owns property worth $600, and has in funds about $1,000. The charter is dated May 14, 1873.

Edon Lodge, No. 474, A., F. & A. M., was instituted July 17, 1873, by Norman Relyea, with the following charter members : J. G. Cameron, Emmet Burke, John Aller, C. S. Garrison, Norman Relyea, J. A. Head- ley, J. D. McConnell, Frederick Coldsnow, Edwin Powers, H. S. Hine, William Malcom, Robert Longhead, C. A. Headley, G. B. Near, James Thorne, T. J. Fetterhoof, Jacob Haughey, H. Spangler, John Willibee, Jr., G. W. Lindersmith, Thomas Davis, D. Isenhart, Sylvester Isenhart, W. J. Pardy, Hezekiah Edwards, Sr., Hezekiah Edwards, Jr., T. J. Bur- lew, Hiram Hoadley, Jr., Fred Hardenbrook, C. McKillen, Henry Cass- ler and Simon Bookmiller. The first officers were Norman Relyea, W. M .; J. G. Cameron, S. W .; Emmet Burke, J. W .; John Aller, Sec .; Hiram Hoadley, Treas .; H. Edwards, Jr., S. D .; J. D. McConnell, J. D .; G. W. Lindersmith, Tiler. The present officers are T. S. Car- vin, W. M .; F. P. Davis, S. W .; J. M. Toner, J. W .; F. X. Hager, Treas .; L. W. Johnson, Sec .; H. Edwards, Jr., S. D .; F. Cassel, J. D .; George Huber, Tiler. The charter was granted October 22, 1873. The

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lodge pays rent of $50 per annum, has property valued at $600, and num- bers fifty-four members.

Boone Post of the Grand Army of the Republic was instituted May 23, 1882, by T. Q. Waterhouse, District Mustering Officer, with the fol- lowing charter members : William Miller, H. S. Snyder, Curtis Garri- son, R. D. Scott, R. H. Chesholm, David Singer, H. H. Root, John Kentner, S. D. Dalley, David Darr, Israel Willabee, P. J. King, Conrad Zwichy, Christian Snyder, Leander Carlin, Wesley Bowersox, David She- line and Mr. Carl. The first and present officers are B. F. Ewan, P. C .; L. W. Johnson, S. V. C .; George Alberts, J. V. C .; A. W. Lewis, Adjt .; Erastus Hoadley, Q. M .; John Stuller, Sergt .; S. S. Eyster, Chaplain ; Edward Everhart, O. of D .; John W. Cox, O. of G .; Hiram Merchant, S. M .; Benjamin Esterline, Q. M. S. The lodge meets every first and third Wednesday nights of each month, and pays for its hall as rent $9 for three months.

The Good Templars have had organizations in Edon, though little could be learned of them.

ITEMS OF PRESENT AND FUTURE INTEREST.

The population of Edon, in 1860, was about sixty ; in 1870, about two hundred ; at present, about six hundred and fifty. The various branches of trade and industry are represented to-day by the following firms and individuals : Dry goods, C. S. Garrison, James Garside; hard- ware, Emmet Burke; grocery, M. Bowman ; furniture, Palmer & Allo- mong; harness shop, J. G. Brooks ; jewelry, Theodore Peters; agricult- ural implements, Johnson & Burke; millinery, Mrs. John Aller, Miss H. Lees ; restaurant, George Huber ; hotels, Andrew Sheline, David Hissong ; blacksmiths, Gus Yackey, Steiffel & Thiel ; saw-mills, D. His- song, Cook & Wagner ; grist-mill, Nichols & Fee; woolen and handle factory, Sheline & Son; barber, J. W. Stuller; butchers, Manerhan & Long, A. Daub; wagon-shop, Charles Steiffel ; pump and tin shop, A. Kuster; livery, Huber & Albert; washing machines, S. S. Eyster ; un- dertaking, John Newman ; cooper shop, H. H. Root; shoe shops, Rhine & Engle, George Hauck, J. Kauffman ; drugs and books, T. S. Carvin & Co .; insurance, J. M. Toner; cheese factory, J. M. Welker; wind- mills and scales, Toner & Sheline; lumber dealers, Fitzgerald & Huber, A. Strauser, Allomong & Lees ; photographer, Riley Harger ; cigar man- ufactory, Benjamin Bowman; brick manufactory, Kalterbach & Kiser ; galvanized iron works, Andrew Kuster; paint shops, Thomas Myers, Luke Brothers.

TOWN OF BLAKESLEE.

In November, 1880, John Boman laid out fifty-six lots on the south-

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east quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 34, and named the vil- lage thus founded in honor of S. E. Blakeslee, an eminent lawyer and distinguished citizen of Bryan. An addition of eighteen lots was made in December, 1881. John Boman had lived upon the village site since April, 1853. The second house was erected in October, 1880, by J. N. Chilcote, and the third by Theodore Long in April, 1881. The fourth was built by John O. Street. The Long building was a store, as was also the Street building, though the latter was used as a dwelling. R. A. Leonard opened a small grocery ; J. K. Deal did the same ; J. F. Snyder opened a hotel. Others who built dwellings were Jacob Shoup, Peter Hewart, Peter Monn and others. Chilcote had the first stock of goods. Other merchants have been John Somerlott, Long Brothers, Henry Lines, Martin Redman, John Boman and J. O. Street. Chilcote & Somerlott built & saw-mill in February, 1881. The citizens of the village gave depot grounds and right of way to the railroad company, besides about $1,000 in money. G. H. Meredith is the present station agent. James Fitzgerald opened a lumber yard in 1881, and has on hand several thou- sand dollars' worth of lumber. Conrad Sachar's Addition to Blakeslee was made in November, 1881, and consisted of thirty-six lots on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 35.

VILLAGE OF WEST BUFFALO.

In November, 1836, John D. Martin, owner and proprietor, employed & surveyor and laid out 157 lots on the southeast fraction of Section 36, and named the village thus founded West Buffalo. During the latter part of 1838, he sold the village property to the Depew Brothers, and, in 1840, sold his interest in the saw-mill and grist-mill to them also, as stated a few pages back. The Depew Brothers made efforts to sell the lots, and for a time seemed reasonably certain of success, but notwithstanding the inducement held forth by the presence of the mills, only four lots (noticed further back) were ever sold, and they were purchased by a man who never expected to locate upon them. In about 1847, the town lots were sold, and the Depew Brothers retired to more lucrative fields. A few houses were built there later, a blacksmith came on, and a merchant ap- peared with a small stock of goods, but after this had gone on in a very feeble and sickly state for many years, the land was surrendered to the adjoining farms, and West Buffalo died without hope of resurrection.

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County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 44

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