USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Wapakoneta > History of Auglaize County, Ohio : with the Indian history of Wapakoneta, and the first settlement of the county > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
172
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
ST. JOHNS.
This village was founded by Daniel Bitler and John Rogers, in April, 1835, and named St. Johns, as a compromise between the founders, who both had decided preferences as to name. Daniel Bitler opened a store and blacksmith shop in 1834, while the site was still known as the Indian Village, "Black- hoof," bearing its name in honor of a noted chief of the Shawnee nation. His name is perpetuated by the small stream-Blackhoof Creek-which flows through and about the village, although the village name itself was changed. The first dwelling was erected by Ed. Williams, although at same time many Indian huts remained, some of which were ocen- pied by the early whites. About the year 1835, Daniel Bitler opened the first hotel. Following these initial steps, came growths and decays of enterprises and men, until distant, but approaching railroads, gave impetus to competing towns, which, in turn, have retarded the growth of the village more than they robbed it of its strength. At this time, the business interests are represented by Wm. Bitler, proprietor Bitler House and store; Wm. Giberson, proprietor Giberson House and store; Gnagi Bro's, general merchandise and cooperage; Wm. Perkins, dealer in hats and caps, and boots and shoes ; Thos. Emerson, druggist; Win. Bush, wagon manufactory; and Wm. Herring, proprietor steam saw and grist mill. There are two resident physicians, Drs. Van Trump and J. M. Shaw. From its foundation its religious history traces with its growth. The Methodists were the pioneers, and organized a class at the outset, holding services in dwellings at first, then in the log school-house - significant of the period - until strength and ability enabled them to erect an early house, which was in turn superseded by the comfortable building they now occupy.
The Christians, too, have a society which grew from weak- ness to the maturer strength of to-day, and now they enjoy a substantial and comfortable building. Neither has education been neglected, for the facilities have been planted and fos- tered with a protecting care, until a substantial brick building, of two apartments, supplies the place of the rude log building, which had its era, as is general in new communities. The school records show an enrolment of 105 for the school year 1879-80.
The town is pleasantly located on a broken, sandy elevation, thus being almost removed from miasma, and well supplied with excellent water. Its position is on the line of Union and Clay townships, being chiefly in the latter, at a distance of six
173
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
miles from the county seat, on the Wapakoneta and Belle Centre pike.
Radiating from St. Johns, settlements were formed along the line of the Bellefontaine road, and eastward, in line of Belle Centre pike. The territory comprised within the township was of a low, swampy character, except along the line of the de- posit ridge, which crosses the northwest corner, reaching its highest and most broken point at St. Johns. Judging by the topography, there was little to encourage settlement, save the fertility of the soil, which is unsurpassed in the county. Still, a rich soil under water, and heavy timber, presented obstacles which necessity alone was courageons enough to meet and overcome; for the writer has been told by an honored pioneer that, on his arrival here, the lack of ten dollars was all that caused him to remain. The composition of the soil reveals a heavy loam, with clay and gravel sections.
The surface being generally flat, has required extensive arti . ficial drainage, which is yet only begun in some sections, while other portions have been well drained. The timber was of a heavy character, embracing about all the indigenous varieties of the county. There are no important streams, but branches take their sources here, which assume size and names in other territory.
The inhabitants are English and German or their descend- ants. The north and east parts were settled chiefly by immi- grants from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other eastern States, while the southwestern part was settled by Germans, and is still occupied by their descendants. The inhabitants are as yet chiefly engaged in the clearing and draining of the land. There are nine schools within the township, which in harmony with the improvements in other fields are developing under a promise of greater efficiency and usefulness. The interest a citizenship takes in education is largely an index to the con- dition of the schools The people can afford to foster educa- tional facilities with tender care, while teachers, laboring under a grave responsibility, may well afford to realize those respon- sibilities, harmonize their efforts with that realization, and lift the school system to a level of living thought.
The M. E. Church of St. Johns was organized at the house of Charles Lusk, with twelve members, in 1833. Charles Lusk was appointed leader of this class, and its meetings were conducted at his house for an indefinite period. During this time the class was one of several organized along a line ex- tending into Allen County. Revs. J. B. Finley and John Alexander were the pioneers in the work of organization. In 1835 Revs. David Burns and Wesley J. Wells succeeded to 15*
174
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
this field. At this writing the organization has a good house in the village of St. Johns with a very creditable membership. A rather strong society of Protestant Methodists have a very substantial brick building in the eastern part of the township. The German Methodists in the southwest have a strong society and a good frame building.
The Christians have an old organization in St. Johns, which is among the very first in this territory. They have a very comfortable frame house of worship.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Robert Moore was born in Champaign County, this State, March 11, 1820. When he had attained his tenth year his parents moved to Union County, where he remained until Oct. 2, 1849, when he came to Clay township, where he still resides. At that time the land he occupied was a tract of wet timber land, considered almost worthless, because of the apparent im- possibility of drainage; but by persistent application a quarter section has been reclaimed, and by drainage has been trans- formed from a marsh into a highly productive farm. Mr. Moore was married in Union County to Miss Mary M. Castle in 1842. They have reared a family of twelve children, named Isabella E., Mary E., Malinda F., William J., Louisa J., Eme- line C., Lydia A., John D., James W., Millie A., Maria A., and Peter Lincoln. Of these one son and four daughters are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have attained a fair age, and are still in enjoyment of health and strength.
William Bitler was born near Reading, Pa., Feb. 22, 1807. His parents removed to Schuylkill County, Pa., in 1812. He married Miss Rebecca Snyder Feb. 27, 1828, and came to Franklin County, Ohio, Jan. 23, 1832. Two years later he came to this county, and settled at St. Johns. His wife died Ang. 14, 1857, and he was remarried Feb. 9, 1865, to Rosa A. Bechdolt. He was mail agent in this and Logan Counties from 1847 till 1872. The exposure incident to mail carrying in a new country unprovided with roads told fearfully upon his health, as he contracted the rheumatism in a violent form, by which he has been confined to his bed for a period of three months consecutively. In 1869 he erected the " Bitler House" in St. Johns, which he and his estimable wife has rendered not only a stopping place but a pleasant home for their guests. Mr. Bitler's family by first wife consisted of three sons and six daughters, named Christian, Arthur, Samuel, Mary (deceased), Hannah, Lucy A., Almira, Elizabeth (both deceased), and
175
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mehala; by his present wife one stepson, E. W. Parker, and two daughters, Aurora Belle (deceased), and Dora May.
James H. Coleman was born in Kentucky Jan. 14, 1796. When he was about fourteen months old his parents came to Warren County, Ohio. When he had attained, the age of twenty-two he moved to Shelby County, where he remained fifteen years, and then came to this county, where he has since resided, with the exception of about eleven years spent in Logan County. He is now one of the oldest settlers of this county, is the oldest man in Clay township, and one of the oldest settlers of this part of the State, as this is his eighty- third year of residence within its limits. He was the first jus- tice of the peace of this township, which office he held twenty- four years ; was county commissioner a part of one term, after which he was elected to same office, receiving the unanimous vote of his township. This is the only case of unanimity at an election in this township.
Asa Martin was born in Clinton County, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1822, where he remained until 1836, when he came to this township, where he has since resided. In 1844 he married Miss Hannah Coleman. They have reared a family of fifteen children, of whom thirteen are still living. Mr. Martin, with other pio- neers, has carved from the wilderness, by hard labor, a pro- ductive farm and pleasant home. See illustration.
Hugh Elliott was born in Washington County, Pa., Nov. 17, 1812, and in his sixteenth year came to this State with his father, who settled in Knox County. In 1838 he came to this county, and until recently resided in Union township, but of late has occupied his farm in Clay township. This farm of two hundred and ninety-two acres was offered to his two sons fourteen years ago, but they refused to accept it, believing it to be worthless. To day it is considered one of the best farms in the township, and could be sold at fifty dollars per acre. Mr. Elliott has engaged in stock raising in connection with farming, and has by severe toil and good management pro- vided for himself and children good homes.
S. S. Coleman was born in Shelby County, Ohio, April 1, 1823, and at the age of eleven years came with his parents to this county, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years in Allen County and one season in Kansas. He married Miss Nancy A. Copeland Dec. 21, 1844. They have reared a family of five children, all of whom still reside in this county except one daughter, who is in Kansas. Mrs. Cole- man died March 21, 1863, and the following September Mr. Coleman married Elizabeth Hanson, of Ross County, who is still living.
176
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
Wm. Lusk, son of Charles and Anna Lusk, was born in Vir- ginia July 14, 1817, and when about eighteen years of age came with his parents to this county. He had very limited educational opportunities in the old State, and here it fell to his share to work rather than attend school. The father was a strict temperance man, and the son became likewise an ad- vocate of sobriety, and notwithstanding the influences by which he was surrounded during his youth when liquor was a factor in the fields, he is able to say he never has used intoxi- cating liquor during his whole life. In 1833 he united with the M. E. Church and in 1859 was licensed as a local minister, which relation he still sustains. From 1839 to 1845 he lived in Missouri, but he returned here at the latter date, where he has since remained. He has a large tract of well-improved land, just west of St. Johns, and has recently erected a very fine frame residence, an illustration of which appears in this volume. He is now giving especial attention to fine sheep and cattle.
John Rogers was born in Orange County, New York, Oct. 20, 1800. His parents subsequently moved to Sussex County, New Jersey, and finally to Licking County, Ohio, in 1814. In 1821 he went to Richland County, Ohio, and shortly afterward married Miss Mary Hadley of Mt. Vernon. In the autumn of 1833 he came to Anglaize County and settled on the site of the Black Hoof Village, when he became one of the two origi- nal proprietors and founders of St. Johns. Two years later Clay township was organized, and at the first election he was chosen trustee of the township. He afterwards held the office of justice of the peace. His wife died about 1841, and ten years later he married Mrs. Nancy a Bechdalt, née Coleman, who with his seven children survives him. To the develop- ment of the community he contributed his full share; and having attained his eightieth year, he laid down the burden of cares and years April 30, 1880, and embraced that rest which awaits even the restless. He was thus closely associated with the village and township, having assisted in the founding of both, and continued identified with then during a period of nearly half a century.
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized in 1836 from Wayne town- ship, and is in the southeast part of the county. In this town- ship heads two of the important rivers of the State, the Miami and Scioto. About one-fourth of the township is prairie or black muck, a' ' it is only a few years since it was covered
177
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
with water, and only good for duck shooting. The Mucha- nippe Creek, the head of the Miami, was deepened, and drains much of this land which was considered worthless; it is now as good as any in the county, and the balance of the township is a gravel clay loam, excellent for wheat and corn. There is one gravel road passing through this township from Round- head to Wapakoneta. The following names are some of the early settlers of this township: Bazil Day, John C. Hurley, Joseph Cline, William Black, Daniel Black, R. L. G. Means, John McLean, Alanson Earl.
The village of New Hampshire, situated in this township, was laid out by John Kindle in 1836, and was given its name by Mrs. Kindle. The town płat covers sixteen acres of ground. The first store was started by Hiram North; Orin North built the first steam mill; this was followed by J. J. Hutchinson with a store. The village now has two hotels, two stores, two blacksmith shops, one grocery store, and grist and saw-mill, and one physician (S. J. Pollock), one M. E. Church, and one . Baptist Church.
R. L. G. Means was born in Coshocton, Ohio, in 1811; was taken to Virginia when less than two years of age. His father and mother both died while he was very young. He has no recollection of them. He returned to Coshocton with his uncle, Ephraim Means, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. He then went to Newark, Licking County, Ohio, remained there about two years, when he came to Champaign County, where he remained up to the time of his removal to this county. He married Sally North, May, 1834. After paying the minister two dollars, his worldly pos- sessions only amounted to seventy-five cents, besides owing for his wedding clothes. Mr. Means now commenced the bat- tle of life in earnest. With liabilities of about twelve or fifteen dollars, and assets seventy five cents, he took a contract of splitting rails at thirty-three cents per hundred, and renting land until his debts were paid, and he had a balance of sixty- five dollars left. He then borrowed forty dollars and came to Allen now Auglaize County, and entered eighty acres of land in the fall of 1835. He moved on his land in the spring of 1836, without a dollar, and an indebtedness of forty dollars on his land.
Alanson Earl was born in- Canada in 1813, was brought by his parents to the United States the same year; he came to Logan County, Ohio, in 1815, from thence to Clark County, where he remained until 1832, at which time he came to Allen, now Auglaize County, and settled in what is now Goshen township. He married Rachel Day 1833; they raised a fam-
178
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
ily of eight children, seven still living. We can give but little of Mr. Earl's early history, only as we can gather it from others. He died in 1867, Mrs. Earl having died in 1853. There were but few settlers in the eastern part of the county when Mr. Earl went to Wapakoneta to enter his land. He started from where Mr. Elsworth lived, on the section line where the Waynesfield and Wapakoneta pike is now located. Then followed the section line by a blaze on the trees to where lie struck the Lima and Wapakoneta road, there not being a road in the neighborhood. J. S. Earl, son of the above, is per- haps the oldest male resident of Goshen township.
Judge John McLean was born in Bedford County, Pa., in 1809. He went to Richland County, Ohio, in 1833, and mar- ried Mary Cobean in 1837, moving immediately afterward to Goshen township, Auglaize County. They raised a family of four children, two boys and two girls, of whom are still liv- ing John G., in New Hampshire, and Mellissa Earl, who occu- pies the old homestead, with whom Mrs. McLean now lives. Robert A. died in the army in 1863. Sarah E. died in 1862. Mr. McLean was one of the earliest settlers of this township. He was elected associate judge for the county after its first organization, which office he filled until the new constitution abolished the office. He died May 5th, 1875.
James Burdin was born in Clinton County, Ohio. He came to Anglaize County about 1832, and settled in Duchouquet township, raised a family of two children, one still living, viz., W. H. H. Burdin, Esq., of Goshen township. Mr. Burdin died March, 1850. W. H. H. Burdin was a prisoner of war about fifteen months, and was one of the men placed under the fire of the Union guns at Charleston for the protection of the city.
John Conley was born in Ireland in 1808, and came to Ame- rica while young. He learned the stonemason trade, superin- tended the building of some of the arches on the Miami Canal in Shelby County. Married Eliza Marshal in 1838. He came to Auglaize County in 1839, and died in 1860, leaving his wife and six children. His widow died in 1876. Both are buried in the Goshen township cemetery. Henry and Alphonso are now residents of the old homestead in Goshen township.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP. HISTORICAL.
Wayne township was organized in 1834, and is the northeast township in the county. Its area is twenty-seven square miles, being four and a half miles north and south, and six miles east
179
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
and west. It was named in honor of Anthony Wayne. The first election was held at the house of Samuel Mocraft in 1834. There were thirteen votes cast at this election. The next elec- tion was held at the house of Wm. Black. James Mahan was the first justice of the peace. Joseph Dawson, Allen Gilmore, and Richard Berry were the first trustees.
The surface of the township is undulating, the soil rich, and well adapted to the raising of wheat, corn, and grass. In the southeast part of this township the Wallace fork of the Scioto rises. Willow branch rises in the centre of the township, and empties into the Muchanippe in Goshen township. Wrestle Creek, one of the branches of the Auglaize River, also heads in this township, and runs east. The township is well watered. The devil's half acre, as it used to be termed, is in this part of the township, and just north of it, on section two, is the high- est land in the State, and is the dividing ridge between the waters of the Auglaize and Scioto Rivers. The East prairie is divided between this and Goshen township. In early times it afforded a good deal of feed for stock, and early pasture, as the grass would come earlier in the spring than in the timber. It has cost a great deal to bring it into cultivation. There are miles of ditches in it, ont from ten to thirteen feet wide and from four to seven feet deep. It is now nearly all cultivated, and thousands of bushels of corn and potatoes are raised upon it annually.
In the fall of 1830, or spring of 1831, the first settlers, William Hiett and John Hurley, arrived, and built cabins on the north side of the prairie. From that time until 1834 the following persons arrived: Jacob Williams, Gilbert Hur- ley, Thomas MeCall, Daniel Ellsworth, H. W. Bowdle, James Mahan, Sr., James Mahan, Jr., Joseph Dawson, Isaac Dawson, Samuel Lowman, Samuel Mocraft, Henry Whetstone, Eli E. Carson, Simon Mocraft, Wm. Cox, Richard Berry, Moses Ross, Aaron Oram, Wm. Kent, Alex. Kent, and during the next year or two, Lee Turner, Simon Maxon, Benj. Madden, J. C. Berry, Harris Wells, Samuel Cavender, and Lyman Pratt, most of whom brought their families and scattered over about fifteen miles of territory. In the fall of 1836 they built the first school-house of logs, cabin style. They could get no glass for the windows, so they used paper. Strips of wood were nailed across the windows, the paper pasted on, and oiled with coon's oil, which rendered the paper semi-transparent. The next trouble was to keep the birds from cutting the paper. The writing desks were made of puncheons, about ten feet long, and laid upon pins in the wall. There were two such desks. The seats were saplings, split in two, about ten feet long, and
180
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
legs put in the round side with the flat side up. Such was the school-house in which many of the children of the early settlers received all their education. Asa R. Mahan taught the first school in the winter of 1836 and 1837. He was employed for three months at ten dollars per month. A. D. Berry taught in 1837 and 1838. Wm. Gilmer in 1838 and 1839.
Wayne township has some excellent improvements. The farms are generally small, from forty to one hundred and sixty acres, with good buildings. The land lies well for drainage, fall enough can be secured to drain the deepest ponds. There is no waste land in the township. The land that was thought to be too low and wet for anything but grass is now cultivated, and produces good crops of all kinds of grain. F. A. Berry, the son of Richard Berry, who settled in 1834, says the first settlers suffered many privations. Provisions for the families and grain for the stock had to be brought from Logan and Champaign Counties, which made toilsome trips, as the roads were bad. The Bellefontaine and Lima road was not cleared all the way, and there was no bridge between the north fork of the Miami River and Lima. After there was grain enough raised for bread they had to go to Cherokee to mill, a distance of fifteen miles, which would require two or three days. After they succeeded in raising wheat for sale, it had to be hauled to Portland, now Sandusky City, or Lower Sandusky, now Fremont. It took about eight days to make the trip, and wheat sold for fifty to sixty cents a bushel. It was the only way they had to get money to pay their taxes, and get coffee, salt, and other necessaries for their families. Sugar was made at home. Deer and coons were plenty, and were the principal meats of the early settlers, as wild turkeys were scarce. The first settlers had a great deal of trouble with their stock, there being no pasture for them, except the wild woods, which was common to all.
Waynesfield, situated in the southwest part of the township, was laid out by E. G. Atkinson, who opened the first store; the first physician was Henry Leaman. It has a good trade, being surrounded by a rich agricultural country. It now has three stores, one hotel, two churches, two physicians, and a steam grist and saw mill.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Byrd Richardson was born in Montgomery County, Va., in 1809. He married Nancy Smiles, and moved to Shelby County, Ohio, in 1830, then moved to St. Johns, this county, in 1831. When they first came to St. Jolins, the Indians
181
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
were still on their reservation. Mrs. Richardson tells us that she has stayed many nights in the cabins with the Indians, has seen the stakes where it was said they tortured their pris- oners. The Chief' Blackhoof was buried on Mr. Richardson's farm. All the white people she can remember living near St. Johns, at that time, was James Coleman, Henry Princehouse, and John Rogers. The Indians left for their western homes the ensuing year. Mrs. Richardson could relate many singu- lar incidents connected with the early history, had we the space to give them. They moved to Union township in 1833; from there to Wayne township in the spring of 1834, built a rail pen, and lived in it for six months, when they moved into their house. Mr. Richardson died in 1871. Mrs. Richardson raised a family of seven children, one son and six daughters. The son and one daughter died, leaving five daughters still living in Auglaize County. The father of Mr. Richardson lived to be one hundred and ten years of age, he having come to this county in 1830.
Mrs. Richardson still lives on the farm to which she first inoved, and says her happiest days were those she spent among the Indians, and in the woods. She thinks the people were more honest and sociable than now. She says her hus- band made rails for twenty-five cents per hundred, and boarded himself.
.
Samuel Lowman was born in Virginia, in 1807. His pa- rents moved to Champaign County, Ohio, when he was 14 years old. He married Mary A. Plummer of Clarke County, Ohio. In 1834, he entered a piece of land in Wayne township in this county, which township was at that time a portion of Allen County, between places called the " Devil's half acre," and " Devil's backbone," in early times. The former place was named so on account of the swampy nature of the land, over which an extensive log bridge was built. The latter name was given to a narrow, gravelly ridge, one-half mile in length, and only of sufficient width for a road. He built a log house, and being one of the first settlers, his house was a stopping- place for travellers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.