USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 16
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for those days, built of solid black walnut. In 1904 it burned and for many miles the flames. from that old house of seasoned wood could be seen. General Blackburn was a man of extremely fine proportions and dignified mien and a lover of military life.
Elida was platted in 1852 by Griffith John on the part of his farm used as a sugar camp. Daniel Myers is said to have erected the first building in Elida after it was laid out, except the Lutheran Church. The contract was let for $90, to be completed from. the stump at that. The siding is of the finest black walnut. and is well preserved. The building was on Main street, but was moved back some years. ago to make room for Moore's Hall. Mr. Moore occupied a part of the house as a dwell- ing and conducted the first grocery of the vil- lage in the other part. The village was incor- porated in 1878.
Pioneers .- The township records do not show that there were any township officers elected until the spring of 1833, when Wil- liam Bowman, John Brand and Samuel Rich- ards were elected trustees; Griffith John, clerk,. and John Ireland, justice of the peace. John Ireland resigned as justice in the spring of 1834 and was succeeded by Asa Wright, who served until the spring of 1837, when he was succeeded by Isaac Bowyer, during whose. term of office the credit system must have pre- vailed to an alarming extent, as the index to- his old civil docket shows that over 200 judg- ments had been rendered in the short period of five years. Mr. Bowyer died in the fall of 1842. Charles Crites was elected to the same- office in the month of January following, and did, perhaps, more business during the six years he served than any justice before or since in the same length of time.
The first settlements in German township- were made about 1830-31. The pioneer set- tlers were Peter and George Ridenour, Wil- liam, George and Samuel Knittle and Thomas Cochran, followed by Isaac Bowyer. Griffith John, William Bryan, Smith Cremean, Jacob Cremean, Michael Noll, John Brand, William Myers, David Beiler, Samuel Miller, Henry Huffer, Philip and John Herring. John Ire- land, Jacob Hartman, Samuel Richards, John
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Summerset and George Povenmire, who came about 1832. In 1833 came J. S. Baker, Charles Ireland, James Holland, Joseph Leaser and Richard Hughes.
Other early settlers within the original boundary of German township were: Michael Bowers, Daniel Conrad, James Johnson, George Miller, James Peltier, John Pool, John Steamen, Jacob Sawmiller and Robert Tate. From 1835 to 1849 their numbers were increased by Thomas Greer, Wesley Cochran, Arthur Statts, John Stalter, Peter Verbrycke, Jacob Richardson, William Westbay, Thomas Edwards, Jacob Haller, Charles Crites. Chris- tian Stalter, Alexander McBride, James Lut- trell and others.
Jesse John states that his father, Griffith John, settled in German township in 1831 and died in 1856, leaving 12 children, four boys- Ethan, Jesse J., Abia and Jehu, who was killed in the War of the Rebellion June 19, 1864; and eight girls-Sallie ( wife of Curtis Cremean), Melissa (wife of James Baxter), Emily (Mrs. Curtis Baxter ), Vienna Tamsey ( Mrs. S. D. Cremean), Mar- tha ( Mrs. D. L. Crites), Louisa ( Mrs. Henry Roush), and Mrs. Jesse Carr. All of these children are dead except Mrs. D. L. Crites, whose biography will be found later on in this chapter. Griffith John at his death owned 1,640 acres of land in German, Amanda and Marion townships. The homestead was owned for years by Abia John, who died in 1903. Mr. John was born in Pennsylvania and came to German township in 1831. His ancestors came from Wales about the close of the American Revolution. He was a fine busi- ness man and comprehended the advantages of the building of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway through the township. The value of his property was greatly increased during his lifetime. 'The members of his fam- ily reside about Elida.
The Crites family, of whom there were four brothers-Charles, Cyrus, Jacob and Elias-settled in German township, and since the organization of the township the name of Crites has been a very familiar and honored one. Jacob Crites came to Allen County in
1842 and bought 10 acres of land west of Allentown. He married Mary J. Carman and in 1859 she died, leaving a family of seven children: Mary Adeline, Stephen, Emeline, Henrietta (deceased), Obed B., Cyrus D. and Daniel Hicks. Mr. Crites married a second time and one daughter (Mrs. S. A. Post ) was born in 1863. Mr. Crites was a man of great industry and energy. He served two terms as county commissioner, one term of which was during the building of the new Court House, and by his wisdom the county was saved many dollars. He filled all the township offices and. was a very public-spirited citizen. For more than 50 years he was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He was the adminis- trator of more estates than any man in the surrounding county. He died March 13, 1904. Of his children, Stephen D. Crites is a banker and grain merchant of Elida, and has just closed two terms of successful work as State Senator for the 32nd District; and Cyrus D. Crites is a well-known financier, ex-county auditor, and at present cashier of the First National Bank of Lima.
Dr. Daniel L. Crites was the eldest son of Charles and Sophia (Ludwig) Crites and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1833. He was six years of age when he came with his parents to German township. After going to the common or public schools, he studied med- icine and for a time made that his profession. Soon after abandoning the practice he entered the service of his country in the War of the Rebellion and remained in the army almost three years. While in the service he con- tracted disease, which was the primary cause of his death in 1885. After the war he held numerous positions of public trust and was always loved and respected as a faithful public servant and enterprising citizen. Very few men of Allen County were better or more favorably known than he. Always generous and open handed, he was known far and near as the friend of the needy and unfortunate. It is related of Dr. Crites that while he was a candidate for public office 16 times he never suffered defeat. Whenever he employed car- riages to take voters to the polls, he instructed
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₹ the drivers to make no difference in carrying those who were supporting him and those who were thought to be against him. This was characteristic of the generous nature and kindly disposition of the man. It has often been said of him by his old neighbors and friends that "he was generous to a fault."
Mrs. Martha Crites, widow of the late Dr. Daniel L. Crites, was born September 25, 1833, near the site of the village of Elida, to Griffith and Rachel John, and was the first white female child born in German township. "Aunt Martha," as she is almost universally known and spoken of by her many relatives and friends, has spent her long and eventful life in Allen County and, up to about 10 years ago, in German township. It was her lot to be reared under very different circumstances from what falls to the lot of most young ladies of to-day. She relates some very in- teresting incidents which occurred during her girlhood days. Each spring she assisted in gathering the sap in the sugar camp, which was located where the town of Elida now stands. With an ox hitched to a sled on which was a barrel, they went from tree to tree and gathered the sap and hauled it to the kettles and she and her brother, Abia John, who was next older, were work-mates in managing the ox and gathering the sap. In those early days the river was a much more formidable stream than it is to-day, and, with no bridge, it was the duty of the John family to see to carrying peo- ple across the river in a boat ; many times when strangers came upon the opposite bank and hallooed, desiring to be taken across the stream, she was the one who pushed forth with the boat to meet them and bring them across the river. Their house was situated on the west bank of the stream and near the road, or Indian trail. Very frequently bands of In- dians came along on hunting and trading ex- cursions, often stopping at their house upon one pretext or another. While the nearest trading post was at Sandusky a hundred miles away, it was nothing unusual to see quite a band of "bucks" and squaws astride Indian ponies with children riding behind. She dis- tinctly remembers that on one occasion quite
a company of them proceeded along the trail; some of the squaws in the party had pappooses on their backs, but one strong-appearing squaw had a white boy seven or eight years of age tied on the pony behind her. This sight was such an object lesson to her that ever afterward she was afraid of the Indians, no matter where or when she saw them. She often ran and hid before they caught sight of her, fearing lest she too might be stolen and carried away. Her father's house was the place of holding meeting, as well as the stop- ping place, for the early circuit riders of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Crites' father was a large landowner and laid out the town of Elida, naming it in honor of his brother, Elida John. When the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- way was constructed through German town- ship, in 1854-55, he built the grade for one mile through his own land. In those days the construction of the railroad was as great an object of wonder as the building of the Pan- aina Canal is to-day. They were a large fam- ily of themselves and besides they were scarce- ly ever without some strangers about their table, which was always spread with plenty of wholesome food. Mrs. Crites' girlhood days must have been very busy ones, for she helped raise the flax as well as other crops. Then they prepared the flax and wool for spinning and wove the same into cloth from which they made the clothing and bedding for the entire family.
The first Sunday-school organized at Elida was a union of all the churches in the vicinity, and was held in the old Lutheran Church, which has long been replaced by a larger and more commodious brick one.
When Mrs. Crites became 22 years of age she was married. Two daughters blessed the union, namely: Mrs. Bertha W. Pfeifer. of Elida, and Mrs. Tirzah K. Sanford, of Lima. With the latter she has always made her home.
The first taxpayers of German township. in 1834, were: Casiah Baxter, John Brand. Isaac Bowyer. William Bryan, Michael Bow- ers. George Coon, Jacob Cremean, S. and P. Carlin, Daniel Conrad, William Denniston.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, SPENCERVILLE
ALLEN COUNTY INFIRMARY RECEIVED. DIG SATURDAY OR SOREN
ALLEN COUNTY INFIRMARY, BATH TOWNSHIP
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, DELPHOS
ALLEN COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME, SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP
THE BRICE HOMESTEAD, LIMA
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John East, Joseph Edwards, Samuel Fritz, John Harnig, Jacob Hartman, Henry Huffer, Andrew Hesler, John Ireland, Griffith John, James Johnson, William Knittle, Ferdinand Miller, George Miller, William Myers, Michael Noll, George Povenmire, James Pettin, John Pool, George Rideman, Benjamin Reed, John Summerset, John Steamen, Christian Stukey, Jacob Sawmiller and Robert Tate.
Schools .- It is said that David Ridenour was the pioneer school teacher of German township in 1833. In 1834-35 a schoolhouse was erected on the Thomas Cochran farm in which Asa Wright taught school. There is a question whether John Summerset preceded or followed Wright in this school. In 1837 John Bowman presided over a school in Section 16 and in 1838 John Custer taught in Allentown. In Elida Special School District in 1884 there , were enrolled 143; in 1904, 163. In German township in 1884 there were enrolled 281 ; in 1904, 276. The valuation of school property in 1904 in Elida was $5,000; in German town- ship, $12,000. Following is a list of the teach- ers of Elida village for the year 1904-05 : Bert Highlands, superintendent; Leah Pearl Lud- wig, Mina Bechtol and Rhoda Brown. The teachers of German township for the same period were: R. R. Brenneman, J. H. Baker, Charles V. Kilgore, Guy LaRue, Louie Oen, Fay Bolender and Nora Bowersock.
ELIDA.
BY HON. S. D. CRITES.
The village of Elida was laid out and plat- ted by Griffith John, its founder, in 1852. It is situated on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway and the Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima traction line. It is also situated in the heart of a prolific oil field and in the midst of a fertile agricultural district. During the year 1905, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company handled at this station 484 car-loads of freight, principally of grain and live-stock. The village has a population of about 500.
Its business houses and plants consist of four general stores, one meat market, one hard-
ware store, one restaurant, one confectionery,. two implement stores, two blacksmith shops, one sawmill, one grain elevator and one bank.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was or -- ganized in the year 1831 by Revs. Joseph Hill and Jesse Pryer. The members of this society were visited at irregular intervals by circuit preachers until 1853, when Revs. Harrison, Maltbie and N. B. C. Love reorganized the- society in the house of James Kennedy situ- ated on the identical spot now occupied by the residence of S. D. Crites. The members of this society were: James Kennedy, Malinda Kennedy, James Peltier, Jane Peltier, Henry Herring, Smith Baxter, Mary Baxter, Ethan John, Lucy John, Griffith John, Rachel John,. Margaret Cremean, Jesse J. John, Elizabeth Bowyer, Fleet Clark, Mary Clark, Elizabeth Priddy and Catherine Evans. Of this num- ber, Smith Baxter is the only survivor. Al- though 80 years old Mr. Baxter is still an active member of this society. In 1855 the society erected a substantial frame church sided with black walnut lumber. In this. church they worshiped until the year 1890, when at a cost of $7,500 they erected a hand- some brick structure with a seating capacity of 500. The old frame church is now used by Crites & Crites as one of their warehouses. The society now has a membership of 180. It maintains a live Sunday-school and a large and active Epworth League.
The United Brethren (Liberals ) .- From- the best information obtained by the writer, Rev. John L. Luttrell organized this society in 1867. The first members were: John L. Lut- trell, Lockey Luttrell, B. F. Sherrick and wife,. Anna Sherrick, Franklin Furry, Joseph M. Blackely and wife, James G. Wisher and wife, G. W. Quick and wife and Margaret Morris. The society had no permanent place in which to worship until 1870, when they came into. possession of the old frame schoolhouse. In this house they worshiped until 1875, when they erected a substantial frame building. This- building was used until 1905, when it was en- larged and veneered with concrete blocks and modernized so that the society now has one of the most artistic and convenient churches in
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the county. Including the gallery. it has a seating capacity of about 400.
United Brethren ( Radicals) .- This society seceded from the main church in 1886 on ac- count of the action of the general conference, in changing the discipline so as to admit mem- bers who belonged to fraternal societies. They have in which to worship a good substantial frame building. Some of the best citizens of the township are members of this society.
Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church .- The following history is taken from a copy of a sketch deposited in the corner-stone of the new church in 1876: The congregation was organized by Rev. Abraham Doner in 1837 and continued until 1852. During his ministry the old frame church building, which gave place to the present church building in 1876, was erected. Mr. Doner died in 1857. After a vacancy of two years Rev. P. J. Stirewalt was appointed pastor, and served four years, when he returned to Virginia. He was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Stirewalt, who served two years. After a vacancy of one year, Rev. T. W. Cor- bett became pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Nunemacher. At this time the member- ship was 38, being 13 less than at a former period. . In October, 1865, Rev. A. S. Barthol- omew became pastor ; the building was remod- eled and meetings held every Sunday. In 1876 the congregation numbered 217. On August 19, 1876, the corner-stone of the new church was placed by Rev. A. S. Bartholomew. The tower is 115 feet high. Previous to this time the Reformed German Lutheran and Evangelical Lutherans worshiped together un- til the reorganization, when the form of wor- ship of the German Evangelical faith was adopted. The church building cost about $8,000.
The Elida Village School District was first organized as a separate school district in 1868. This district now maintains a High School of the second grade. Since 1870 the following named gentlemen served as princi- pals of the school : S. D. Crites, 1870-82: J. V. Stewart. 1882-83: John Davidson, 1883-90; H. W. Bowersmith, 1890-91 ; E. C. Akerman,
1891-96; William McGirr, 1896-1901; J. L. Fortney, 1901-03; and Bert Highlands, 1903 --.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. -
This township was organized by the com- missioners' board June 6, 1831. It is a large tract of very valuable land-one of the richest in Allen County. The first survey was some- what larger than the present township. Orig- inally it included all of township 3 south, range 8 east, the eastern half of township 3 south, range 7 east, and the northern tier of sections of township 4 south, range 8 east, and contin- -uation of that line in range 7. But in Decem- ber, 1833, Auglaize and Perry townships claimed their sections, and the next year, De- cember, 1834, Bath claimed her eastern sec- tions, and the township was then organized as a congressional township under her original name, Jackson.
The soil is a rich variety, from light sand and gravel to heavy clay. The township has a large number of beautiful creeks and small streams, all flowing into the Ottawa River. The soil is under excellent cultivation and the farmers are progressive and highly educated in the arts of agriculture. In their midst is a thriving grange, the largest in the county, with a commodious hall and all the conveni- ences for entertaining large gatherings. A first-class lecture course is maintained here each year, during the winter months.
The roads are all graveled, and carefully repaired as needed. In fact the roads of this township are noted throughout the county. The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- way passes through the township, and fur- nishes ample shipping and transportation facil- ities. In a very short time the township will have an excellent electric line. For many years the stone quarries have been extensively worked and many thousands of dollars added to the general wealth of the township.
In 1840 the population of the township was 1, 176; in 1880, it was 1,893, and to-day about 2,000. This is about 55 to the square mile.
In 1834 the assessed value of the township
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was $472, a steam-mill valued at $160 and personal property, $3,800. The total tax levied was $57.53. In 1904, just 70 years later, the assessed value of Jackson township was $979,466 and the total tax levied, at the rate of 19.8 mills, was $19,393.42.
Pioneers .- The pioneers of this township were very early upon the ground. We find that Jacob Hawk in 1827 purchased the first parcel of land within the present limits of the township, and began life in the wilderness. Along with him as pioneers came the following sturdy sons of toil and hewers of fortune, whose names are found on the list of taxpayers in this township in 1834 (which was the first assessment roll) : Alex. Allison, Matthew Al- lison, Jacob Bresler, George Balsinger, George Barber,. Hector Carlisle, John Claybaugh, James Carter, Chauncey Curtiss, Jacob Elder, Eyre Edgecomb, Urich Edgecomb, Jeremiah Evans, Jethro Fisher, Silas Faurot, Jacob Hawk, John Hall, Anthony Hall, Richard Hall, Joseph Hall, James Hall, James W. Hall, John Jamieson, Samuel Jamieson, Elijah Jones, Samuel McCafferty, Benjamin Meek, Joseph Mash, Samuel McClure, Moses McClure, George May, William Neeley, Elizabeth Nee- ley, Thomas Nash, Silas Osman, Enos Paulin, Samuel Patterson, James Prosser, John Rob- inson, William Rumbaugh, David Rumbaugh, William Reese, William Roberts, J. Rum- baugh, James Rumbaugh, William Rains, John Staley, Jacob Staley, Peter Staley. Jr., Melchoir Staley, Peter Staley, Robert Snod- grass, David Sasseton, Lemuel Tucker, Wil- liam Watt, James Watt, Adam White, Tobias Wood, Samuel Watt, Joseph G. Walton, Dan- iel Woollett, Abram Ward, William Ward, John B. Walton, Joseph Ward, Philip Woollett and George White.
Schools .- For the honor of being the first school teacher of Jackson township there are two claimants. The first of these, Thomas Hull, is said to have taught in a schoolhouse erected in section 24 in 1833.
Opposed to this is the statement of Mrs. Nancy Ann ( Vincent) Cunningham, that she presided over the first school ( District No. 6) in 1838 and in 1839 taught school in a de-
serted cabin east of the present village of La- Fayette. She further states that her father's ( William Vincent) house was generally used for religious meetings, there being neither school nor church buildings in the township in 1837 nor even for some years later.
In 1905 the school enrollment of the town- ship was 508; valuation of school property, $19,000 ; school tax, 7 mills ( LaFayette vil- lage 2.8 mills). The teachers of Jackson town- ship in 1904-05 were: La Fayette village schools-P. E. Kilgore, W. E. Binkley, Blanche Kinsey and Gertrude Eversole; dis- trict schools -- Goldie Kidd, C. H. Shull, Lona Markel, E. H. Elmore, A. E. Hedges, F. B. Cotner, E. E. Long. S. V. Fisher, B. B. Brown, William Yant and J. T. Hubbell. Jackson township has its schools well organ- ized, with A. E. Hedges as township superin- tendent. C. A. Graham was the first township superintendent, and he has the honor of thus organizing the schools.
THEN AND NOW-A HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE AND COMMUNITY.
BY MRS. MARY E. MEHAFFEY.
Dr. N. Sager was among the early settlers of LaFayette, and practiced medicine for many years, and until his son, Dr. Newton Sager, Jr., succeeded him. In the early days he was considered a fine physician, and had an exten- sive practice for miles around, traveling through dense forests and over rough roads. He was a man of few words, kind, gentle and refined in every movement, and no gossip. in the sick room or out of it, ever escaped his lips. .
The Doctor owned a large general store. and the patronage was from far and near. This general store was carried on by worthy young men of the community, who afterward were prominent in business circles for their industry, integrity and moral worth. Outside of the general store. Dr. Sager carried on an ashery, where the early settlers found a ready market for the ashes gathered from the log heaps of oak, walnut and other valuable timbers. The field ashes brought two cents a bushel in trade. and the house ashes brought three cents a
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bushel. From these ashes large quantities of black salts, pearl ash and soda were manufact- ured by leaching, burning, grinding, mixing and the application of a process known only to the employees in the factory. The products above-named were sent to market in New York City, and were started on their way by being hauled to Forest, Ohio, to be shipped from there on the Mad River Railroad to Sandusky City, and thence, on Lake Erie, to their desti- nation. Dr. Sager took the same route to the city to lay in his spring and winter goods. Rob- ert Mehaffey, a young man not yet out of his teens, from County Tyrone, Ireland, had charge of the ashery, and was one of the gen- eral-utility men working in the interests of Dr. Sager's affairs. In after years, by economy, industry and good habits, he established for himself quite a name in the affairs of home, county and State. Also at this date a young man, Jacob Grubb, utilized some of the forces that ran the ashery, and managed a carding machine, which brought forth, from the wool of the black and white sheep, black and white rolls, which the mothers and wives spun and wove into blankets and clothing for the house- hold.
Mary E. Richardson, in June, 1851, taught school in District No. 5, one and one-half miles from the "cross-roads" village of LaFayette. Forty-two pupils were enrolled, of whom 21 were Halls. There being so many of the same name, they had, for convenience' sake, to be designated as "William," "Devil Bill" and "Little Bill;" "Big Joe," ."Little Joe" and "Monkey Joe." The Akermans came next in point of numbers. Henry Akerman, one of the pupils, was the father of Prof. E. C. Aker- man, who is now superintendent of the Bluff- ton schools, and who was recently elected to the auditorship of Allen County.
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