History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 39

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 39

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).

The doubts of the editor as to Crestline's future were never realized. What was forest and farming land in 1850 was a thriving vil- lage at the first census in 1860, and each suc- cessive decade the census enumerator has given Crestline a flattering growth until today it has a population of about five thousand people.

The first lots were sold at auction, and G. W. Emerson was the first purchaser, the lot later coming into the possession of Daniel Babst. On this lot was built a hotel, which was known as the Emerson House, and was the second hotel in the place. The first hotel was the Crestline House, built by Jesse R. Straughan and was run at the start by a man named Brown of Mansfield. It was opened

in April, 1853, when the Ohio and Pennsyl- vania was completed to Crestline. It soon passed under the management of Thomas C. Hall, who disposed of his store at Livingston and came to Crestline and ran the hotel sev- eral years, making it one of the popular places along the road. An interesting incident oc- curred in connection with this first hotel. Mr. Hall disposed of it to Miller & Morz. Later it was kept by A. Moorhead, Thomas White and others until in 1877 the management passed into the hands of Mrs. E. Lepez. The ground and building were owned by the Lar- wills, descendants of one of the original own- ers of the town, and Mrs. Lepez arranged to sell to James Lindsey, her rights consisting of the lease, furniture and fixtures. The papers were all drawn up, and nothing re- mained to be done but the signing of the pa- pers, and Mr. Lindsey, Mrs. Lepez and the agent of the Larwills left the hotel for the lawyer's office to complete the transaction. Just as they were leaving a heavy train with two engines drew up in front of the build- ing, and almost immediately, smoke was seen coming from the roof of the hotel followed by a blaze, a spark from one of the engines having set the building on fire.' The building was of frame built many years previously; it was very dry, burned like tinder and build- ing and contents were a total loss. The loss to Mrs Lepez was $2,000, partly covered by insurance. If the freight had been five min- utes late James Lindsey would have been the loser.

Crestline's first severe fire was in Septem- ber, 1859, when flames broke out in the bag- gage room of the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago road. It was before the town had any fire department, and the building was soon reduced to ashes, with a loss of about $11,000, mostly falling on the railroad com- pany.

The most severe fire was also in September, ten years later, when the block from the Con- tinental Hotel to Bucyrus street was prac- tically all destroyed. It occurred about 2 o'clock on the morning of Sept. 13, the fire starting in the Franklin House, just north of the Continental Hotel. The more severe losses were the baggage room of the C. C. & C. road, the saloon of Charles Courtright, the

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building being owned by Daniel Babst; the Franklin House owned by Mrs. Courtright, the clothing store of Davis & Newman, Lind- sey & Lovejoys' saloon, barber shop of G. A. Fisher, Robert Ralphan's saloon, Fred Schaack's bakery, Western Hotel, old Wash- ington House owned by D. Babst and oc- cupied by the clothing store of Stahley & Neuman; H. A. Schoeber's shoe store, the Hoffman corner, occupied by O. L. Lawson, jeweler, Dr. William Pope, drugs, and Adam Hoffman, grocer. The total loss was about $75,000. The Galion Fire Department was hurried to the scene by special train and gave valuable assistance. Another serious fire was when the Continental Mills were burned down in 1879. These mills were erected in 1857, and were one of the large industries of Crestline for many years. They were rebuilt later.

From its start Crestline was a great rail- road centre, shops were located there employ- ing hundreds of men, and it was the end of a division on two roads, making the town the home of a large number of train crews, and this with the passenger traffic over the various roads made the hotel business one of the lead- ing industries. The leading hotel after it was built was the Continental, run by L. G. Rus- sell for many years, and the most popular hotel under his management between Pitts- burg and Chicago, but the introduction of dining-cars, robbed it of much of its patron- age. Mr. Russell had two hobbies; one was flowers, and he kept a large nursery, and the hotel was constantly supplied with beautiful blossoms. The other was his menagerie, which was just east of the hotel. Here he kept bears, wolves and foxes, eagles and other birds, and few of the thousands of passen- gers who went through Crestline failed to enjoy the two things for which the Conti- nental was celebrated-an excellent meal and the menagerie.

The original Crawford county was a home for bears, and many interesting incidents are handed down in the way of bear stories, but since 1830 it is probable there were no wild bears in the county, but Crestline had a real bear story as late as 1857. A man named Caldwell had a bear which he kept chained near Parker's saloon, near the railroad track.

One summer afternoon some boys began teasing him. Bruin became very angry at their constant irritation, and his strains finally succeeded in breaking the chain by which he was confined. The scared boys promptly sought safety in flight, but the bear seized one of the boys named Hassinger, who lived near Leesville, on whom he inflicted terrible wounds with his teeth and claws. The boy's frantic screams brought the owner, who, with a heavy club, succeeded in driving away the bear and rescuing the boy. Young Hassinger was taken to the home of Rev. Mr. Barr, and Dr. William Pope sent for. An examination showed that his right thigh and leg were hor- ribly torn, his back terribly bitten and bruised, some of the wounds made by tthe animal's teeth being an inch across. Several ribs on the right side were broken, one of them in two places. The bear in the meantime roamed the streets at will, everybody hurriedly giving him right of way. He was finally captured an hour later by the owner, but the indig- nant citizens insisted the town was not large enough to accommodate .both them and the bear, so the next morning poor Bruin was shot by Mr. Caldwell. The Russell bears were kept in large dens with heavy iron bars, and became great pets, the amount of cakes and even pies they were fed by an interesting public would have depleted any bakery in the village.

The cholera year of 1854 struck the little town of Crestline. It broke out in July among the people living in some shanties on the Ohio and Indiana road on the low, damp, marshy ground about half a mile west of the crossing. It started on Wednesday, and by Friday morning there were seven deaths. The matter was serious and the citizens took prompt and vigorous action. Several of the citizens purchased the shanties where the plague was raging; they removed the sick to fresh and clean quarters, and buried the seven dead. Then they applied the torch, and the shanties, with all their furniture, bedding and clothing were soon a heap of ashes. Of the dozen or more removed, all recovered except- ing two. One man died that same day, and the other, a little girl, died on Saturday morning.

One of the important industries of Crest-

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line some forty years ago, were the Crestline Lock Works, which were established in 1870, the people subscribing $8,000 towards erect- ing the buildings on condition that a certain number of men should be employed. C. A. Faulkner & Co., conducted the business for one year, and then sold to John A. Thoman & Co., who operated them until 1874, when they failed and went into bankruptcy.

In 1871 a brass foundry was established in Crestline, by G. W. Dyar and for a number of years did quite a successful business.

The business section of Crestline, and the principal residence portion are well paved with brick, two streets, however, comprising about one mile of paving, being McAdamized. The police department consists of five men, who are under the direction of George Rhodes. The streets are well lighted.

Crestline has two fire-engine houses, the Central station being located in the City Hall building. At this station there is one hand- relief engine, and two carts, with about IIOO feet of hose, altogether, 500 feet of which are new hose. Several hundred feet more are to be added. At the other station, which is located on Main street, there is one truck, with ladder of 20 feet extension, and 600 feet of hose. There is a telephone alarm system with fifteen stations for calls. The depart- ment numbers altogether 23 men, some of whom are paid. Charles P. Helfrich has been fire chief for the last ten years, and has two assistants-Clarence Helfrich and Fred Bloom. The company has had no disastrous fires to contend with for a long time, the last one of any consequence being in the spring of the present year (1912) at the Pennsylvania Railroad shops, when 200 or 300 barrels of oil were destroyed.

About 300 men are employed in the engine and car shops of the Pennsylvania road at Crestline and at one time engines were built there, but today the shops are most extensively used for repairs. There is a large round- house, having 36 stalls for engines, a few of them, however, being otherwise occupied. A few years ago this roundhouse was enlarged by a 16-foot extension. F. M. Cairns is fore- man and W. F. Beardsley, master mechanic.

The first school in the town of Crestline was taught by a man named Edgerton in an

old log schoolhouse situated about a mile and a half northwest of the present site of the town on the Leesville road, and school was held here by one teacher or another up to 1850. About 1853, when Crestline was in- creasing rapidly in population, a two-story frame schoolhouse was erected in the east part of the town, and not long afterward an- other one was built in the west part. These two buildings were used until 1868, at which time a union school building was erected. This building, with the two lots on which it stands, cost over $30,000 and reflected credit upon all concerned in the project. It is a brick building, with three stories and base- ment, 72 feet in length by 65 in greatest width and contains eleven school rooms, besides six smaller rooms used for offices. It was de- signed by Mr. Thomas and built by Miller, Smith & Frayer, contractors, and was opened to the children April 12, 1869. In the im- mediate vicinity is the School Park, planted with evergreens and shade trees and traversed by gravel walks. In the center of the grounds an elegant fountain was erected and around the base six hydrants for drinking purposes. The Board of Education under whose wise supervision the school and grounds were de- signed and laid out consisted of Jacob Stah- ley, president, D. W. Snyder, John Berry, S. P. Hesser, C. Miller and Nathan Jones- names worthy to be held in grateful remem- brance by the citizens of Crestline. The rapid growth of the town made the large handsome central structure insufficient to properly care for the increasing number of school children, and ward buildings were erected, the first east of the railroad track. Last year a handsome high school building of brick was erected on the central lot, and Crestline now has ample school facilities.

The oldest church society in Crestline was formed by the Methodists in 1844, in what was then called Minnerly's schoolhouse, later known as McCulloch's. This, however, was several years before the laying out of the town. John Lovitt was the principal mover in this enterprise. The church edifice, which is still standing on Thoman street, was built in 1854. Those most active in the work were Mr. Minnerly, Francis Peppard, David Kerr. Francis Conwell, David Thrush, David White

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and Mr. Howland, who, with their wives and a portion of their families, were among the first members. In connection with this church is a large and flourishing Sunday school.

After the Methodists came the German Lutherans, who organized their society about 1851, the original members of which were Henry Lambert, George Hass, Michael Web- ber, B. Faltz, John Keller and others. Their meetings were first held in the schoolhouse, but in 1861 they erected a new church edifice at a cost of $3,000. The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Meiser. The Sunday school was established at the same time as the church and has kept pace with it in growth and efficiency. The organization is known as the Trinity German Lutheran Church.

The second German Lutheran church was an offshoot from the first Lutheran society above mentioned and resulted from a differ- ence of opinion on the part of some of the members in regard to matters of belief or church government. These members, among whom were Charles Christman, Peter Sleen- becker, Michael Reh, C. Morkel and others, in 1879 withdrew from the parent body and founded the Second German Lutheran So- ciety, erecting a church on E. Mansfield Street at a cost of $4,000. Their first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Shultz of Galion and their early meetings were held in the old German Reformed Church. A Sunday school was also organized.

In 1854 a society of English Lutherans was organized by Rev. A. F. Hills and among the first members were A. W. Stine, David Mc- Cartel, William Knisely, David Keplinger, Isaac Miller, David Lichtenwalter, Elizabeth Warner, Hannah Stine, Jane McCartel and D. Minich. A church edifice was soon erected, though the early meetings were held in the residences of the members. The church now constitutes an active and flourishing society, with a large and effective Sunday school.

The German Reformed Church, situated in the northwest part of the town, was organ- ized in 1858, by Rev. M. M. Stern of Galion, who was followed by Rev. John Rettig, Rev. John Winter and others. A brick edifice was .erected in 1862 at a cost of $2,000. Among the first members of this society were Joseph Bender, Philip Eichorn, Frederick Eichorn

and David Bluem. This church also has a large Sunday school.

Commencing about the middle of the year 1854 the Presbyterians of Crestline and the vicinity had held occasional meetings in vari- ous places, being ministered to by Rev. Luke Dorland. On Feb. 20, 1855, their society was organized into a church by Rev. I. N. Shepherd of Marion, Ohio, and Rev. Silas Johnston, of Bucyrus. The organization was effected in a schoolhouse and for some time afterwards meetings were held occasionally in the different church buildings already erected. Rev. J. P. Lloyd was the first pastor and among the original members were John and Mary White, John S. and Jane Smith, Alex- ander, Martha J. and Margaret Patterson, Sampson Warden, P. and Mary Mansfield and John and Elizabeth Jane Banbright. The second pastor, Rev. James Shields, remained seven years and was succeeded by Rev. W. W. Macamber. The Sunday school was organ- ized August 12, 1862.

Like the Presbyterians, the early Catholics held their first services in the houses of the members of that faith. A regular organiza- tion was effected in 1858 by Father Gallagher of Cleveland, who was pastor at Mansfield at the same time, the society taking the name of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The early meetings were held in the houses of the orig- inal members, among whom were Mike Dunn, Patrick Dunn, J. A. Barrel, Laurenz Raindl and Thaddeus Seifert. A frame church was erected on North street in 1861 at a cost of $1,000.

Both Jackson and Polk townships were a part of Richland county up to 1845, and at the first election only twelve votes were cast; this was about 1821; John Williams was the first Justice of the Peace. Daniel Riblet was a Justice for eighteen years while it was a part of Richland county, and William Robin- son was a Justice for nine years. Since Jack- son has been a part of Crawford the following are the Justices :

Robert Lee-1845-47. Stephen Kelly-1846.

John Franz-1849-52-55.

James Robinson-1851.

David Ogden-1853-56-59-79-82-85-88-91-94-97.

Abraham Holmes-1857.

George W. Good-1858-61-64.

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D. L. Keplinger-1862. Emanuel Warner-1864. B. O. Richards-1865. William Robinson-1865. Joseph Miles-1866. Jacob Stahle-1867. George Heis-1868. James Walsh-1870.

Jonathan Kissinger-1870.

John Neuman-1872. Jesse Williams-1872-75-78. James M. Reed-1875.

William F. Crowe-1876-98-99-1909.

F. M. Anderson-1881-84-87-90-93. Frederick Neuman-1897-1900-03-05-08. Ralph Glosser-1902-04.

William Robinson-1906. Carl M. Babst-1907. W. D. Mewhart-1909.

Jacob Ogden, who was elected to the posi- tion for ten terms, was filling the office when he died on Aug. 27, 1898.

Crestline was originally laid out in 1852, but its growth was so rapid that it was in- corporated on March 3, 1858, and the first officers elected were David Ogden, Mayor; William Knisely, Recorder; William P. Ker- nahan, E. Warner, Robert Lee, M. C. Archer, William Boals, Councilmen. Following David Ogden as Mayor was Silas Durand 1860, Samuel Hoyt 1861, Nathan Jones 1862-64- 65-74, Jacob Stahle 1863, Dr. J. McKean 1865, William Robinson 1866, George W. Pierce 1870, A. E. Jenner 1874, Dr. Edwin Booth 1876, Daniel Babst 1879-80-82-94, P. W. Poole 1884-86-90-92-03-05, F M. Ander- son 1888, Frank Miller 1896-98, J. J. Tisch- ler 1908-10.

Crestline has the finest water supply of any town in the county. Originally the town was supplied with water by wells, but the rapid growth of the town and the demand for pure water for the use of the locomotives de- manded a better system and in 1871 the neces- sary legislation was passed to give to Crest- line an adequate water supply. It was ob- tained at the Palmer Springs, in Richland county, about four miles east of the city. These springs are historical, as it was here that Col. Crawford and his army went into camp on the night of June 1, 1782, the night before they entered what is now Crawford county. The springs are over a hundred feet higher than Crestline, and the water is con- veyed by pipes to the city. Bonds were issued to the amount of $80,000. As usual, an im-

portant and necessary enterprise like this met with much expensive litigaton, but the im- provement was successfully concluded. Later the growth of the town necessitated the sink- ing of a number of wells near the springs, and the capacity is now ample, and the water pure and of good quality.

The Crestline Local Telephone Company was incorporated about ten years ago by Jacob Babst and others, and has today about a thou- sand phones in Crestline and the surrounding country.

In 1867, Jacob Riblet and William Hays of Galion, and John Newman of Crestline, established a bank under the firm name of Riblet, Hays & Co., which they conducted for two years, when they sold out to John A. Thoman & Co., who ran it as the Citizens Bank until the panic of 1873, when they were compelled to discontinue. In 1870 the Babst bank was organized by Daniel Babst and Jonathan Martin, the firm name being Babst, Martin & Co., Jacob Babst being the cashier, and he has been connected with the institution ever since. In June 1878, Jacob and Daniel Babst became the owners of the bank, the two sons of Daniel Babst, the original found- er, and the name was changed to the Babst Banking House. In 1876 the Farmers and Mechanics Bank was established by Booth & Stewart, and in 1878 was owned by Stewart & Son, and after running a few years was dis- continued. In 1897, the First National Bank of Crestline was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000; William Monteith being the president.

The first secret society organized in the village was Crestline Lodge No. 237 I. O. O. F., its charter dating Feb. 23, 1854. The charter members were John I. Kert. G. W. Keplinger, W. P. Kernahan, William Knott, William Boals, M. C. Archer. Elijah Johnson, William McGraw, and Daniel Laughbaum. The first officers were: William Knott, N. G .; W. P. Kernahan, V. G .; G. W. Keplinger, Sec.

On June 15, 1875, Crawford Encampment No. 187 was instituted by J. W. Parch, the Most Worthy Grand High Priest. The char- ter members were F. C. Berger, G. G. Cruzen, F. Newman, J. W. Sanders, E. Davis, John Snyder, and J. H. Becker. The first officers were John H. Becker, C. P .; F. C. Berger,

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H. P .; George G. Cruzen, S. W .; E. Davis, Sec .; John Snyder, Treas.

A German lodge of Odd Fellows was in- stituted on July 3, 1872, with the following charter members; F. Newman, Jacob Stahley, George Stoll, J. P. Zimmermacher, J. H. Becker, Adam Neff, John Bauer, John Et- singer, and John Cook. The first officers were George Stoll, N. G .; Jacob Stahley, V. G .; J. H. Becker, Sec .; F. Newman, Treas. In connection with the Odd Fellows is Rebecca Lodge No. 816.

The second order to organize in Crestline was the Masons. Arcana Lodge No. 272 was granted a charter Oct. 26, 1855, the charter members being J. R. Straughan, Erastus S. Spencer, Matthew Elder, J. McCluny, E. C. Gregg, J. J. Bening, George Bewson, A. P. Cann, John Newman, John Franz, John A. Thoman, J. Warden, J. Eddington, H. A. Donaldson, H Gusleman. The first officers were J. R. Straughan, W. M .; E. S. Spencer, S. W .; Matthew Elder, J. W.

Crestline Chapter No. 88 was chartered Oct. 15, 1864, the charter members being M. C. Archer, David Ogden, John H. Berry, William Boals, Benjamin Eaton, Robert Lee, John McGraw, William McGraw, Thomas Boorman, J. S. Potter, W. H. Shamp, H. W. Stocking, J. H. Brewster. The first officers were: David Ogden, H. P .; Nathan Jones, King; T. B. Fowler, Scribe; D. W. Sny- der, Sec.

The importance of Crestline as a railroad center brought many railroad men to the place, and many of these being Masons an Encampment of Knights Templar was insti- tuted, but after being in existence for twenty years it was removed to Mansfield.

Connected with the Masonic Fraternity is Harmony Chapter No. 43, Order of the East- ern Star.

The Knights of Pythias have three or- ganizations-Crestline Lodge No. 266, Craw- ford Company No. 89, and the Pythian Sisters.

Crestline Lodge No. 859 order of Eagles is the most recent of the secret societies.

Peter Snyder Post G. A. R., was organized Aug. 31, 1881, and was named after Peter Snyder, a member of Co. E, IoIst Ohio, who died Jan. 2, 1863, from the effects of a wound received three days previous at the battle of Stone River.

Crestline has a number of benevolent and trades organizations," the railroad employes making many of these very strong.

It was Aug. 26, 1851, that Rensselaer Liv- ingston was appointed postmaster of Living- ston, followed by Thomas C. Hall and John Gates, and during the incumbency of the lat- ter, the post office was removed to Crestline, and took the name of that town on Sept. 4, 1854. The following have been the post- masters of Crestline, with the dates of their appointment :

Rensselaer Livingston-Aug. 26, 1851.

Thomas C. Hall-Nov. 5, 1852. John Gates-July 29, 1853.

A. E. Jenner-April 26, 1855.

Alexander Hall-April 16, 1861.

Albert M. Patterson-Oct. 28, 1864.

John C. Williams-June 14, 1832.

Reuben Stahley-July 3, 1886.

John G. Barney-Oct. 9, 1889.

William L. Alexander-Feb. 5, 1894.

Albert Haworth-March 9, 1898.

Crestline being an important railroad cen- ter, over two hundred and fifty railroad clerks are paid off at this point.

CHAPTER XV

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP

The Erection of Jefferson Township-Indian Trails-Roads-Wingemund's Camp- Drainage and Topography-The "Windfall"-First Settlers-An Early Marriage-An Early Tragedy-Mills-Taverns and Tanneries-Justices-Stone Quarries-The Lees and Leesville-Graveyards-Schools and Churches.

Sandusky, Tymochtee and Brokensword streams, Never more shall I see you except in my dreams. Adieu to the marshes where the cranberries grow; O'er the great Mississippi, alas! I must go. -The Wyandot's Farewell Song.

Jefferson township is the youngest township in the county, and was erected in 1873, by the Commissioners of Crawford county, by a division of Jackson township. That township was created in 1845, seven miles wide and four deep. At that time the western portion of the township contained the bulk of the population, on account of the important town of Leesville, the principal one in the township, and the little town of Middletown. In 1850, the influential men who controlled the affairs of the county lived at Bucyrus, Leesville and West Liberty. About that time three rail- roads came to Jackson township, and at the crossing of these roads in the eastern part of the township, a town was laid out, which was called Crestline. Its growth was the most rapid of any town ever started in the county. In 1850 its site was forest land, with a few acres cleared for farming purposes. In 1860 it had a population of 1,487, and in 1870 it had increased to 2,279, and dominated the affairs of the township. Instead of all the business of the township being conducted at Leesville, the affairs were all transferred to Crestline, which was inconvenient to the west- ern portion, so a petition was presented to the county commissioners praying for a divi- sion of the township. So strong was the feel- ing for this division that the petition was

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 39

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302