USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 52
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EARLY AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOLS.
In the early winter of 1841, a small log schoolhouse was erected in the northwest part of the township, on land now owned by Isaac Parsons, by William H. Billings, Jonathan Butler, Thomas Whaley, John Whaley, T. F. Whaley, Adolphus Rogers, Hiram Russell, and possibly a few others, who resided either in the township, or in the adjoining States of Michi- gan or Indiana. The first teacher in this house, and, so far as known, in
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
the township, was Miss Abigail Hills, now the wife of T. F. Whaley, who taught two or three months during the winter of 1841-42. She had enrolled about ten scholars, received her pay from the public school fund, and during the term was married to Mr. Whaley, which occurrence did not stop school until the end of the term. This house was used by all the families in the northwest part, and by several in the other States, un- til about 1846-47, when the district was divided, those families along the center of the western side of the township erecting another log school building where Samuel Cain's orchard now is. The log house on Par- son's farm was used a few years, perhaps until 1849, when a frame was built a short distance north of it,' Mariah Marquart being the first teacher. This house was used until about four years ago, when a larger and better frame schoolhouse was constructed a short distance east, for about $900. The old frame is now used by a Grange lodge, which was organized a few years ago, and which is yet in active working order, with many of the most prominent citizens in the township as members. The second school house in the Whaley neighborhood was built, about 1848, in T. F. Whaley's orchard (on the land now his orchard), and was a small frame structure. This house was used for educational purposes until about 1860, when another frame building, called the " Old Red Schoolhouse," was erected on the old Whaley farm, and used until about four years ago, when it was succeeded by a neat brick structure, which cost about $1,100. The first schoolhouse at Columbia was built in 1849 or 1850, and is now occupied as a residence by Mr. Reeves. The first teacher is said to have been Rebecca Tomus, who taught during a few months of the sum- mer of 1852, the house not having been completed before that time. Mariah Kinney taught the second term. The second schoolhouse in this district, a frame, was constructed, during the last war, by Mr. Gillis, for about $1,000. The building was two stories in height, containing two neat school rooms, one above, and one below. For several years two teachers were employed, and the school enumeration in the district was about 130. Among the teachers were Robert Carlin and wife, and Jeffer- son Friend and wife. One year ago, the present brick schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $1,500. The schools taught by two teachers in the second frame house in Columbia were much the best ever taught in the township. The school was graded, and during one winter, Mr. Friend and his wife were paid $100 per month. Several finished scholars re- ceived the foundation of their education at the " Columbia Graded School." The first schoolhouse in the northeastern part was built about four rods west of the Winebrennarian Church, not far from the year 1845. It was erected by Daniel Smith, William Stickney, Anson Smith, Thomas Knight, and perhaps two or three others. This house, a frame structure,
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NORTHWEST TOWNSHIP.
was soon burned to the ground by a man, it was thought, who had been put out of the house for disorderly conduct while Divine service was being held there. Nothing could be proved, however. A second house was built about 1854, and the present one some five or six years ago. The other districts throughout the township had their first schoolhouses built from 1848 to 1855. The present Centre Schoolhouse is a large, fine brick, and cost in the neighborhood of $2,000.
DEVELOPMENT OF MORALS.
The Methodist Episcopal class at Columbia was first organized at the house of James Coon in the northern part of Florence Township, in the year 1843, by Rev. James Alderman, who then lived at Pulaski, doing missionary work over a circuit of Evansport Mission, which mission com- prised all Northwestern Ohio. The first members were James Coon and wife, James McClarren and wife, Martin Perkey and wife, J. R. McCon- nell and Benjamin B. Tomus. As soon as the schoolhouse in the north- western corner of Florence was built, services were held there, and later in the schoolhouse at Columbia. Finally, the frame church was built some ten or twelve years ago. Some of the ministers of this class have been James Alderman, Ferris and Coleman, Winter and Mower, Boggs and Fairchild, Burgess and another, Chapman and another, Parker and another, Lindsey and Albright, Warner and Nickerson, Thomas and Albright, Poucher and Boyers, Miller and Kemp, Zimmerman and Barnes, Cameron, Powell and Bowers, Dunham and IIill, and Poucher at present. Great revivals were conducted by Everhart, Cameron, Dunham, Thomp- son and Olds. The Close Communion Baptists organized a small class at Thomas Whaley's at quite an early day, but later met at the school- house near there. A Free-Will Baptist class was early organized at Will- iam Billings'. Neither of these classes survived many years. The Wine- brennarian class, in the northeast corner, was organized at an early day. Adam Beaver, Wesley Houtz, Aaron Culbertson are said to have been among the first members. The church was built some eight or ten years ago, and cost about $1,800. Other denominations assisted with the un- derstanding that they were to have the use of the church. There were a few United Brethren, Dunkards and Methodists in the neighborhood. Some trouble arose a few years ago over the use of the church, which culminated last year in the erection of a new church near there by the United Brethren for about $1,400. Among the Dunkards are Adam Kimmell, David Throne and Jesse Collins. Among the United Brethren are Ira Mclain, Ambrose Hoverstack, John and William Hyserman, Alfred McCloe, George Kint, Ferris Kintigh and William F. Kintigh. The German Reformers once had a small class in the northeast corner. A
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
Methodist class once met at Centre Schoolhouse. One man in the town- ship, it is said, has been converted twenty different times, and still he is not satisfied with the mercies given him. The United Brethren organ- ized a class many years ago in the southern part. The society grew and finally built a fine frame church that cost about $1,600. The Presbyte- rians have a fine frame church building on Section 36, which was built a number of years ago. The class at first was strong, and its strength was increased by meetings. It is at present in good working condition.
VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA.
This little hamlet was laid out in February, 1854, by J. R. McConnell, William Rannels and Alfred D. Gambell, proprietors, on the north half of the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 10 south, Range 4 west, there being a total of forty-five lots. In about 1850, George Porter opened a small store about half a mile east of Columbia, and at the same time be- gan making black salts and some pearl-ash. About three years later he moved to what is now Columbia, which was at first called Porter's Corners, from his store and ashery. Since his commencement the following-named men have been in busines in the village : Fenton & Hall, William & Bar- tholomew, Ferrier, Lehman, Crawford, Long, Maddon, Bates, Gamber, Lyon, Goodrich, Beck, Shepard, Hamilton, Cameron, Pierce and Poucher. The first blacksmith was Barger, and the second, White Foster. The vil- lage has had the usual number of doctors, and at times in its career has been bright and promising. Of course, if the town had a railroad, it would soon treble in population, and no doubt become a power in the land.
The following table, from the assessment rolls of 1880, shows the pres- ent school valuation :
SCHOOL DIS- TRIOT NO.
Building.
Location.
Acres.
Value.
1
Frame
Section 17
.50
$500
2 ..
Brick
Section 20.
.60
800
8
Frame .
Section 82
1.00
100
4
Frame
Section 84.
.50
500
5.
Brick
Section 27
.60
800
6
Frame
Section 14.
.60
500
7.
Frame
Section 18.
.50
400
8
Brick
Section 25
.50
800
9
Frame
Section 1, Range 10.
.25.
...
400
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.
JAMES T. ASHTON was born in Paterson, N. J., August 1, 1886, to James and Elizabeth (Balch) Ashton, natives respectively of England and Connecticut. These were the parents of three children-James T., who came to Bryan in 1862; Oliver C., who came here in 1857, and engaged in merchandising, and Elizabeth, who is married and residing in the Empire State. The father having died early, the duty of rearing these children fell upon the mother, who gave them a good academic edu- cation. James T., was reared in Colchester, Conn., attending the Bacon Academy until fourteen years of age, when he engaged as a clerk in Colchester, served his employers a number of years and then bought them out and ran the business until 1862, when he came to Bryan and entered into mercantile business with his brother, Oliver C., and for many years did a lucrative trade. They have now withdrawn from mer- cantile affairs and are looking after their landed interests. September 19, 1865, Mr. Ashton married Miss Mary L. Stevens, a native of this county, born June 20, 1844, and daughter of William A. Stevens, one of its first settlers and officials. To this marriage have been born five children, viz .: Clara E., James T., Frederick W., Walter and Emma. The two brothers Ashton are members of the Masonic fraternity and in politics are Republicans.
D. C. BAXTER, one of the prominent citizens of Bryan, was born April 29, 1840, in Fulton County, Ohio. His father, James Baxter, was a native of Pennsylvania, where his youth was passed. He went to Knox County, Ohio, at an early day, where he married Miss Marcia Morrison. In about 1828, they emigrated to what is now Franklin Township, Fulton County, Ohio, then a part of Williams County, and consequently were among the first settlers of that locality. Mr. Baxter entered 200 acres of land from the Government, it at that time being in a state of nature. He erected on this one of the old-fashioned back- woods cabins, into which he moved his household goods and family, and in this manner began life's battle in the backwoods of old Williams County.
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He always made that his home, dying in 1856 on the land he had entered. His widow married Timothy Hickson, since deceased, and is now living in West Unity. D. C. Baxter is the third of a family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living. He received good educational advantages in youth, and began for himself in the capacity of pedagogue, continuing the same in Fulton and Williams Counties a total of twelve terms. In 1866, he went to West Unity, where he engaged in stock trade and mer- chandising, and for some time held the position of Postmaster under Lincoln's administration. In 1871, he moved to Bryan, and in January, 1872, was elected Cashier of the First National Bank-of which he was a stock-owner-a position he held until February, 1882. Besides his inter- est in the First National Bank of Bryan, Mr. Baxter is a partner in a private bank at Fayette, is junior member of the firm of Gleason & Baxter, hardware dealers of Bryan, and owns an interest in a hardware store at Hicksville. He possesses valuable town property, including a half-in- terest with Hon. J. N. Nelson in the Armory Hall, and conjointly with A. J. Tressler and A. M. Pratt, owns one of the finest farms in Williams County. This he has acquired entirely by his own labors, having began life a poor boy. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fra- ternities, and is a Sir Knight of Defiance Commandery and Camp degree Odd Fellow of Bryan. He is of Scotch descent on his father's side, his great-grandfather being the progenitor of the name in America. His mother is a native of Vermont and of English descent. Mr. Baxter was married in March, 1861, to Miss Maria Shepardson, who has borne him one son-Charles E., now a student of Williams College. Mr. Bax- ter is a stanch Republican in politics and one of the prominent men of Williams County.
JAMES Q. BEATTIE was born in Cumberland County, Penn., April 25, 1817. His father, Robert Q. Beattie, was born in the same county March 11, 1791, and January 30, 1815, he married Mary Kelso, who was born in 1798. To this marriage were born nine children, of whom three brothers and three sisters are yet living. In 1838, the fam- ily moved to Richland County, this State, and located on a farm near Mansfield, where Mrs. Beattie died July 19, 1845. In 1848, Mr. Beattie married Eliza Cook, and to this union six children were born. December 5, 1872, Robert Q. Beattie took his departure for "that un- discovered country, from whose bourn no traveler e'er returned." James Q. Beattie is the second son born of his fathers' first marriage. He was reared to manhood in his native State, where he received only very limited educational advantages. Notwithstanding this fact, he has paid considerable attention to educational matters, and to-day is one of the well-posted citizens of Bryan. He has always made farming his oc-
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BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.
cupation, and owns good farming interests in Williams County. He married Miss Asenath W. Cleland, November 18, 1841, who was born July 5, 1819, in Washington County, Penn. They remained in Rich- land County until October, 1849, when they emigrated to Williams County, Ohio, where they have been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1874, they removed to Bryan, where they are esteemed and respected citizens. They have had born to them a family of eight children, only two-Robert C. and Mary A .- of whom are yet living.
EZRA E. BECHTOL, County Clerk, was born in Superior Town- ship, Williams County, March 7, 1841, and is the son of Adam and Mary (Starr) Bechtol, the former a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Adam was a molder, and worked at that trade till about 1837, when he came to this county and entered 320 acres of Government land in Superior Township, which at that time was a dense forest. Here his wife, who had borne him seven children, died in January, 1851. His second and present wife, who was Elizabeth A. Hight, has borne him five children, of whom four are still living. Ezra E. Bechtol was reared in this county, and August 30, 1862, enlisted in Company K, Sixty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to join his regiment at Bolivar, Tenn. His regiment made its first important move through Mississippi the winter of 1862-63, worked along the line of the Memphis & Charleston R. R., and then co-operated with Grant until the fall of Vicksburg, and participated in a number of severe engagements, among others, Port Gibson, Jackson and Champion Hill. At Vicksburg his regiment was veteranized; subsequently it joined Sherman at Acworth, Ala., and fought through all that campaign up to and including the 22d of July, 1864, when the battle of Peach Tree Creek was fought, in which our subject was shot through the left shoulder by a musket ball, which caused his confinement in hospital till September 25, when he re- ceived a thirty-days furlough, came home, then reported at the hospital in Columbus, and April 10, 1865, received his discharge. On his return home, he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University four years, during and after which time he taught school five terms. In the fall of 1875, he was elected Clerk of the Common Pleas and District Court of Williams by the Republicans; served three years; was defeated at the next elec- tion, but in 1881 was re-elected over his successful competitor of 1878. November 11, 1869, he married Miss Louanna M. Griffith, who has borne him one daughter-Florence. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
CHARLES S. BENTLEY was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, September 5, 1846, and is the son of Stoughton and Orsey (Baldwin) Bentley, natives of Ohio, to which State their parents came at an early
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day. The elder Mr. Bentley died in Erie County, Ohio, September 5, 1852. His widow (now the relict of Joel Chapman) resides in Bryan with Charles S. Adamson Bentley, the grandfather of Charles S., was one of the earliest Disciple ministers in this State, and was quite re- nowned in his day. Baldwin Bentley, eldest brother of Charles S., at the breaking-out of the rebellion, enlisted in Company A, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry-which regiment was almost wholly made up of students from Hiram College, of which James A. Garfield was then the President-and died in his country's defense. Charles S., after eleven years of age, lived on a farm until sixteen, attending in the inter- val the common schools. He then entered Hiram College, and afterward Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1865. For three years thereafter he clerked in a store at Portage, Ohio, and then entered Hillsdale (Mich.) College, from which he graduated in 1870. He next engaged in the wholesale lumber busi- ness at Allegan, Mich., and while there employed his spare hours in the study of law. In the spring of 1872, he entered the law office of Hon. D. Cadwell, of Cleveland, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of the same year. February, 1873, he formed a copartnership with the Hon. A. M. Pratt in the practice of law at Bryan, which association still continues. May 1, 1874, he married Miss Isabel Kempton, who was born in Hillsdale County, Mich., January 20, 1849, and to this union one daughter was born-Isabel L .- March 30, 1875. Mrs. Bent- ley died October 30, 1877. Mr. Bentley has filled the office of Prose- cuting Attorney of Williams County, and also has been School Examiner and City Solicitor. He is a stanch Republican, a leading member of the bar and an influential citizen.
SCHUYLER E. BLAKESLEE, attorney at law, was born near Avon Springs, N. Y., and when a child was taken by his parents, Ozi and Achsa (Taylor) Blakeslee, to Geauga County, Ohio, where the father en- gaged in farming. The parents were natives of the Nutmeg State, and to them were born eight children. The father was a Captain in the war of 1812, and was present at the battle of Black Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y. At this battle, Col. Samuel Blakeslee, father of Ozi and grandfather of Schuyler, was in command of the American forces, the General in charge of the same being absent at the time. The father lived in Ohio after the war, serving in many minor offices, and for a time was Captain of a com- pany of State Militia. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving in early years an academic oducation, and when twenty-one years of age entered the law office of Gov. Seabury Ford, who resided at Burton, Geauga Co., Ohio. Here he remained until he graduated in law. In 1844, he came to Bryan, where he began the practice of his profession,
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which he has continued until the present. Mr. Blakeslee is a man of un- usual mental endowments, and since 1844 has been one of the recognized leaders, not only of the Williams County bar, but also of the bar of North- western Ohio. He has been Commissioner of Insolvents, Prosecuting Attorney, and has represented Williams County three terms in the Lower House of the State Legislature, first in 1856, and then in 1869 and 1871. He was the author of several bills which became laws of the State, and was one of the most active members of the sessions in which he served. He was an Old-Line Whig, but since the formation of the Republican party, has been an earnest soldier in its ranks. The county has no better citizen.
MELVIN M. BOOTHMAN, merchant, was born in Jefferson Town- ship, Williams Co., Ohio, October 16, 1846, and is one of nine living children, of a family of ten, born to Lemuel M. and Melisendra (Hart) Boothman, who were natives of Trumbull County, Ohio, and of English descent. Lemuel Boothman was reared and educated in his native coun- ty. At the age of eighteen months he was left an orphan, and was reared by a Mr. Mitchell. The spring of 1843, he came to Williams county ; purchased eighty acres of land in Jefferson Township, it, at that time, be- ing all woods; cleared a place, sufficiently large in which to erect a log cabin, and shortly afterward married, moved upon his place and began clearing and improving it. He lived on this farm until 1878, when he sold out and moved to Bryan, where he has since resided. M. M. Booth- man was reared in Williams County, assisting his parents on the farm at clearing and farming. He received a fair common-school education, and January 4, 1864, enlisted for three years, or during the war, as private in Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Toledo, a few days after his enlistment. He participated in his first battle the 7th of August, 1864, at the right of Atlanta, known as Utoy Creek, when his company lost eleven men killed and wounded. After that occurred the battle of Jonesboro, September 1, 1864, in which the company went in with thirty-three men and came out with a loss of nineteen. It was here that Mr. Boothman was one of five who lost left limbs. He was shot directly through the left knee, by a musket ball, which resulted in the amputation of that limb the next morning. The wounded went into hospital on the field, and after a few days were re- moved to Atlanta ; remained there until October 29, and thence were re- moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., Nashville, Jeffersonville, Ind., Camp Den- nison, Ohio, and from there received a thirty-day furlough. He received his final discharge June 7, 1865. He began then going to school, after- ward engaged in teaching, and in this way acquired a good practical edu- cation. He attended the law school at Ann Arbor in October, 1869, graduating in September, 1871. He then came home, and the 20th of
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June of that year married Miss Angeline Bushong. That same fall, he was elected County Treasurer by the Republican party, and re- elected in in 1873, serving two terms. He then began the practice of his profes- sion, in partnership with B. E. Sheldon ; subsequently (1881), with Thomas Emery. Mr. Boothman has made the practice of law a success, and he and Mr. Emery are doing a good legal business. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the parents of four children-Howard E., Grace, Dale M. and one as yet unnamed.
CHARLES A. BOWERSOX, present Representative from Will- iams County to the State Legislature, was born October 16, 1846, in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio. He is the youngest but one of a family of seven, four of whom are yet living, born to John W. and Mary Jane (Breckenridge) Bowersox, who were both natives of Maryland, and of German and Scotch-Irish descent respectively. John W. Bower- son was reared in his native State, and when a young man, moved into Pennsylvania, where he married, after which he moved into Stark County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade, shoemaking. He came to St. Jo- seph Township, Williams Co., Ohio, in October, 1838, where he entered a large tract of land from the Government. He has lived on this farm ever since. At the time of his arrival, settlers were very few, and wild animals and Indians were far more pentiful than civilized people. His wife died in March, 1868. Charles A. Bowersox was reared in Williams County, receiving his education in the log schoolhouse of that early day. The winter after he was sixteen years old, he began teaching school and vocal music, and from the proceeds of his labor as teacher, together with what he earned farming summers, he has educated himself. He entered Otterbein University at Westerville in 1870, and graduated from the class- ical department in June, 1874. He then came back to Williams County, and for two years superintended the schools of Edgerton, during which time he was a member of the Board of County Examiners. In 1875, he was elected Probate Judge of Williams County, and after serving his term of three years, formed a partnership in the practice of law with Hon. Edward Foster, which has since continued with success. The fall of 1881, Mr. Bowersox was elected Representative to the State Legislature by the Republican party, and is at present occupying that position. He was married, June 10, 1875, to Miss Laura A. Jarvis, of Westerville, Ohio,. also a graduate of Otterbein University. She was born December 8, 1854, in Stark County, Ohio. The log cabin erected by John W. Bow- ersox in St. Joseph Township on his arrival is yet standing, and in this cabin five of his seven children were born.
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