History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 48

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 48

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).

James Magee came to the township in 1821; he was accompanied by three brothers-in-law: John Clements, John Magers and William Moderwell. James Magee was the father of William Magee, who is still living in Bucyrus, and who assisted at the raising of the mill of James Robinson on the Sandusky. It was first built as a saw-mill, and later a grist-mill was added; a small dam was erected to fur- nish the power, but even with this the supply of water was so small that it was impossible to run it in dry weather. Later the mill burned down, and only the saw-mill was rebuilt. Wil- liam Magee has a record showing that in his early days he assisted at the raisings of IOI mills, houses and barns, and some of these buildings were built almost entirely of walnut logs. John Clements was one of the commis- sioners from 1839 to 1845, and his son James was sheriff and probate judge. William Moderwell was the father of J. Watson Moder- well, a prominent stock-buyer, farmer and land owner. John Magers was a Pennsyl- vanian and a Presbyterian, and when he en- tered the land it was one unbroken forest. This he cleared, and lived on the same farm until his death, which occurred on July 18,

1862, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He was one of the first commissioners of Craw- ford county, elected in 1826, and voted to lo- cate the county seat at Bucyrus.

William Handley settled in the northern part of the township in 1822, near the Bear Marsh. This was the name given it by the In- dians before the arrival of the whites, on ac- count of its being a favorite resort for bears. Near him were Nelson Tustison and William Matthews who came in 1825.

David Dewalt, came in 1823 and John Mayer in 1824.

Joseph Smith and James Tarnes came in 1825. Smith was known as Capt. Smith, having been a commissioned officer in the War of 1812, and on account of his military ex- perience was elected captain of a militia com- pany raised in and around Sandusky township. He was a graduate of an eastern college and had come west for his health believing the rugged life of the open air would be of ben- efit, but he died a few years later of consump- tion. Tarnes settled on a quarter section in the western part of the township on which he built his cabin of hewed logs. He was a black- smith by trade, and near his cabin he built a small shop and was the first blacksmith in the township, and here he carried on his trade for. many years, clearing his land and farming in connection with his blacksmithing.

Isaac Hilborn settled in the northern part of the township in 1825. He came with nothing, and mauled rails to secure the money to pay for his land. He was an expert marksman and resorted to his rifle to secure cash to pay his taxes and purchase necessaries. Coon skins then brought from 25 cents, but occasionally a dollar for those that were well dressed. One night when hunting coons with his young son, Robert, they were attacked by wolves. He placed the boy in the hollow of a tree, and with a large fire-brand kept the wolves at bay, occasionally rushing forward and waving the blazing brand in their faces until the scared animals sneaked back into the forest. Hilborn later moved to Auburn township where he died April 30, 1864, and was buried in the Hanna graveyard.

In 1826, the arrivals were Andrew Dewey. George M. Kitch, Henry Magner, John Ram- sey and Joseph Wert. Isaac Dorland came

315

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

into the township the same year from Liberty township, where he had first settled three years previously. He was a tanner by trade, and dressed skins for several years. Joseph Wert was born April 28, 1775. He established the first Sunday school in the township, was active in church work, and died Jan. 1, 1855, and was buried in the Biddle graveyard.

Other of the early settlers were William and Philip Beatty, Isaac Henry and John Peter- man in 1827; John Davis, Charles Burns, Isaac Beck, William Core, Peter Long, John Ruth, John McIntyre and two sons, Emanuel and Patrick, in 1828; Abel Dewalt, John Ka- ler and Adam Stone in 1830; William and George Cox, Andrew Dickson, John Luke and Samuel Stone in 1831; Benjamin Lobe in 1832; John Brown, Matthias Pfahler and Lewis Rutan in 1833; John Kile in 1834; Jacob Ore- wiler and John P. Wert in 1835.

Charles Burns was probably the most pa- triotic of the early pioneers; he was born in Dauphin county, Pa., and made it a duty every Fourth of July to read the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and when he had advanced in years and his eyesight was failing he had one of his sons read it to him; and still later, one of his grandchildren read the document to him each Fourth of July until his death, which occurred on Oct. 2, 1869.

By 1835 conditions were much improved. There were about fifty families in the town- ship. Industries and improvements had been started, markets were nearer, and excellent flour and meal could be obtained within a few miles. Mansfield and Bucyrus were the prin- cipal trading points. A rude shingle factory was erected by Mr. Ruth in about 1836, but turned out an inferior product and was dis- continued after a few years. Isaac Beck owned a one-horse saw and grist-mill on the river about 1835 and conducted it for about four years. The foot-wear of the community was attended to by John Kaler a cobbler, who during the winter season, in accordance with pioneer custom, traveled from house to house mending shoes. John McIntyre, whose orig- inal trade was that of weaver, had a loom in one end of his cabins, which he operated when not engaged on his farm.

The first tavern in the township was the cabin of John B. French where travelers were

principally entertained as a convenience and generally without any charge. John Luke came to the county from New Jersey, and es- tablished the first tavern at Luke's corners where the road between Liberty and Sandus- ky townships crosses the Sandusky river. It was on one of those fractional sections which are now a part of Liberty township. This tavern was on two important roads and did a large business, Mr. Luke becoming fairly well to do in this world's goods. It was the only early tavern ever in the township. Across the road from his tavern he gave land for the Luke graveyard, in which several of the old pioneers are buried, the first known interment being Mary Peterman, a child who died Nov. 15, 1838. Other burials are Matthias Am- brosier, born April 16, 1776, died Dec. 12, 1850; John Essig, born Feb. 12, 1798, died Aug. 26, 1880; John Peterman, born Sept. 20, 1776, died Sept. 27, 1859; Jesse Spahr, born March 3, 1800, died May 5, 1881; Jacob Waters, born June 5, 1788, died Sept. 26, 1860.

Some years ago an attempt was made to convert the Knisely Springs into a watering place. At a heavy expense the buildings were remodeled, a little lake was constructed, and for a time it was a popular resort for picnic parties, and a few regular boarders, but the in- vestment did not prove profitable, and after several parties had tried and failed the hotel was closed, and it is now again a residence.

In the early days .Jacob Warner had a black- smith shop in the township about two miles east of Annapolis, and Z. Staple also had a blacksmith shop near where John B. French first settled in 1821. Henry Kalb about 1836 had a saw-mill on Slate Rock run.

Sandusky township is the only township in the county which has no village and never had one. It has no postoffice today but is sup- plied by rural route from Bucyrus and Tiro, yet it has had in the past three postoffices, and one of the first offices established in this coun- ty was in Sandusky township. There were so many settlers along the Sandusky river on ac- count of the excellence of the land, that the people petitioned for better mail facilities and their request was granted, and in 1834 a post- office was established called Loss Creek. John Clements was appointed the first postmaster

316

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

on February 7, 1834. He served three years and was succeeded on July 21, 1837 by Oba- diah Roberts. On July 29, 1840 Matthew Torrence was appointed the postmaster and served until Jan. 26, 1852, when the office was temporarily discontinued, but the demand for mail facilities was such that it was opened again on Sept. 27, 1852, with Matthew Tor- rence again the postmaster, but with the name changed to Camp Run. The office now con- tinued for over 20 years as Camp Run and with no change of postmaster until it was finally discontinued on July 21, 1873. These offices were in the southern part of the town- ship near Loss Creek after which it was first named. After the office had been discontin- ued there was a general desire for its re-estab- lishment, and pressure was brought to bear and on March 31, 1880, a postoffice was again started in the same neighborhood and this time called Biddle. William H. Korner was the first postmaster, being appointed March 31, 1880. Succeeding him were Joseph Parr, Jan. II, 1883, Thomas S. Dewald July 11, 1884, Woods R. Mitchel, Jan. 6, 1890, Isaac Kieffer, Feb. 12, 1891, S. S. Elberson, May 10, 1893, Guy E. V. Fry, Feb. 12, 1895. The latter served until the postoffice was discontinued on Jan. 14, 1904, since which time patrons have been served by rural routes.

The first justices of the peace were ap- pointed by the commissioners of Delaware county, on April 15, 1821, and had jurisdic- tion over the entire county, the appointees be- ing Westell Ridgely of near Leesville, and Joseph Young of near Bucyrus, neither town then being in existence. The first election was May 15, 1824 when Matthias Markley and Ichabod Smith each received 22 votes, both living in what is now Liberty township. The following are the justices of Sandusky town- ship.

Westell Ridgely-1821. Joseph Young-1821. Matthias Markley-1824-27-30. Ichabod Smith-1824-27. John Cox-1832-35. Disberry Johnson-1833. John Slyfer-1835. Obediah Roberts-1838. Peter Esler-1840. Adam Stone-1844-47-50. Henry Cobb-1842-45. Isaac N. Fry-1848. Andrew Dickson-1850-56-59-62-65.

William C. Parsons-1853. John Burns-1853.

Lewis Littler-1856-59-62-65.

Joseph Knisely-1868-71-74.

James Smith-1868.

Philip Keller -- 1870-73-76-79.

John Knisely-1877.

J. H. Blackford-1880-83-86-93.

John Burns-1882.

Josiah Keller-1886.

A. D. Grogg-1887.

Solomon Harley-1890-93-96-99-03-06-08-1I.

B. F. Warden-1890-98-01.

H. J. Roop-1911.

The first religious services in Sandusky, as in other townships, were conducted by itinerant ministers, who always received a cordial wel- come, and held forth in the cabin or barn of one of the settlers, all attending regardless of the denomination of the preacher. As early as 1822 a Methodist society was organized and services were held whenever a minister could be secured in the cabins of Mr. French, Samuel Knisely, and later Isaac Henry. The first ministers were Rev. John O. Blowers, who after 1823 was constantly preaching to the little congregations all over the central por- tion of the county; another early minister was Rev. James Martin, who came from England in 1823, settling in Holmes township, and gave spiritual teaching to the early pioneers. Ef- forts were made by the early missionaries to convert the Indians, who were still living in the township. One of these early missionaries was a Miss Melinda Hunt, who had her home on the Sandusky river, and from there visited the various Indian camps, where she sang to their great delight, they never tiring of the singing and always demanding more. She also taught them the lessons of Christianity, they listening patiently as they knew more sing- ing was to follow. By degrees her teaching had its effect, and many attended the regular services in the cabins. The impression pre- vailed that in her early days her family had been murdered by the Indians, and instead of taking the usual course of retaliation, she sought to convert them from their evil ways. When the Indians finally left this section, she followed them, continuing her good work in their new location still further to the westward.

The first camp meeting ever held in the county was in Sandusky township, on the farm of John B. French north of the Sandusky river. It was in 1831, and the settlers came

317

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

from many miles around, over 60 families

work, and by 1833 the building was finished. being present and erecting their tents in the It was a hand-made building, the settlers not only putting it up, but making the platform and the rough seats, and this structure re- mained practically as built and furnished by the early pioneers, except necessary repairs, until another church was erected, the old church being removed half a mile to the west where it did duty as a barn on the farm of William Stone, the land now owned by Caleb Pfahler. In September, 1870 the present church was dedicated. Before the church was built a graveyard had been started, for here the oldest tomb records the death of Emanuel McIntyre, who died March 4, 1829. Other graves are those of James Magee, who was a soldier in the War of 1812; Rev. J. F. Blay- ney, who died Aug. 16, 1886, after a half a century of religious work in many places; and many other names are there whose willing hands assisted in the building of the first church.

woods, while on the edge of the camp grounds over 100 Indians established themselves in their wigwams. The tents were erected around a square about an acre in size, and in this square was a platform, surrounded by roughly made seats for those in attendance. Services were held morning, noon and even- ing; among the ministers taking charge of the exercises were Revs. Prentice, Bell, Pal- mer, Chase and Havens. Game could still be shot in the woods, and other supplies were brought to the camp and all the food was cooked on the ground, and many had brought their cows, which gave them a supply of milk. There was also a little store adjoining the grounds where tobacco, candy, fruit, etc., were sold. The Indians attended the services, many of them understanding sufficient English to follow the minister. The Indians sat on the ground by themselves, and during the services a number were converted. Among the whites there were a large number of conversions, which greatly strengthened the churches of Sandusky township and the surrounding coun- try.

A Presbyterian church was organized in 1829, near the centre of the township. Occa- sional services had been held in the cabins of the settlers, and the nearest church of that faith was about three miles east of Crestline, where a church had been erected in 1822. This was the Hopewell church, and it was nothing unusual for the people to start on Sun- day morning, walk the twelve miles, and be there in time for the morning services. It was not alone these pioneers, but all over the county the people went long distances to hear the word of God. Nearly all wore moccasins in those days, but some of the women had real shoes, and these, on Sunday morning, carried their shoes on their long walk and when near the church stopped beside some little stream and put on their shoes, and thus appropriately dressed entered the house of God. After settlers became more numerous it was decided to build a church, and the site selected was about four miles southwest of the present town of Sulphur Springs. Money was scarce in those days, and instead of contribut- ing cash every man did a certain amount of

A Lutheran church was organized and a church erected about 1840 on Loss Creek, and in the southwestern part of the township is the U. B. church. Probably the first cem- etery started was what is known as the Biddle graveyard. Here the first record is that of George M. Kitch, who died Dec. 21, 1827. Here is buried Rev. Alexander Biddle, who was a United Brethren Minister for 62 years.

The first Sunday School in the county is claimed by Sandusky township, having been first held in the cabin of Joseph Wert, soon after his arrival in 1826. This township was the birthplace of Robert Cowden, who organ- ized the Crawford County Sunday School As- sociation in 1867, and from that time on de- voted his life to the Sunday school work, be- ing one of the recognized leaders in the State. He was born in the township in 1833, and his father died when he was a boy of but five years of age, and his death is another record of the trial and experiences of the early pio- neers. Kind neighbors did all that was pos- sible, one of them making the coffin, and on the day of the funeral they assembled at the little cabin where services were held. A wa- gon was secured on which to carry the coffin. to the graveyard several miles distant, the fam- ily and friends walking behind this improvised hearse. The distance was too great for the

318

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

little son to walk, so he rode, having for his joining townships. It is thought that there seat his father's coffin. Robert Cowden learned the carpenter trade at the age of 15 to assist in the support of his mother, entered the army, rose to the rank of colonel, was later postmaster of Galion, and then devoted all his time to religious work in connection with the United Brethren church.

The first school in Sandusky township was taught probably during the winter of 1826-27, in a small round log cabin, on the farm later owned by Alexander Smith. Miss Jane Ho- gan, who afterward became Mrs. Smith, was the teacher. The cabin, though divided into two compartments, was provided with but one window, and the appointments were of the crudest kind. During the following winter Mr. Dewey taught a term of three months in his own cabin, having about fifteen or twenty pupils. Mr. Dewey's cabin was much better lighted, having three glass windows, and it is said he kept an unusually successful school. He was a well educated man and continued in this occupation until the first schoolhouse was erected a number of years later. Miss Mary Ann Higby taught a short term in Dewey's cabin during the summer in 1828, and afterwards taught many terms in this and ad-

may have been other schools taught previous to 1826, but, if so, there is no definite record of them. In 1830 a hewed log schoolhouse was built on the corner of Isaac Henry's farm. It was in use for about fifteen years, when it was superceded by a frame building. The second schoolhouse was built south of the river in 1838, and was used for many years. Another was built in 1842 in the extreme northern part of the township.

Sandusky township with its eighteen square miles has five school districts, No. I being on the northwest quarter of section 2 on the land of O. J. Keller; No. 2 the southwest quarter of section II on the land of O. P. McKeehen; No. 3 the northwest quarter of section 23, the land of Angelina Roop; it is opposite the township hall, which is the exact centre of the township, Holmes and Sandusky being the only township where the township hall is ex- actly in the center. No. 4 the northeast quar- ter of section 34 on the land of Louisa Mc- Michael; No. 5 the northwest quarter of sec- tion 36, the land of George Lahr.

Sandusky township is the only one of the sixteen townships in the county through which no railroad passes.

CHAPTER XX

TEXAS TOWNSHIP

Texas Township-Early Settlers with Their Mills on the Sycamore-Benton Incorporated as a Village to Comply With the Law-Its Early Mayors-"Old Pipes' " Store Gives the Name to Pipetown-"Bishop" Tuttle, an Influential Citizen and His Hobbies-Post- masters and Justices of the Peace.

"Ah! on Thanksgiving Day, when from East and from West,

From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest.

When the gray-haired New-Englander sees round his board

The old broken links of affection restored,

When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,

And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,

What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye? What call; back the past like the rich pumpkin-pie?" JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.

What is now Texas township was first a part of Crawford township, organized in 182I by the county commissioners of Delaware county, the new township including the pres- ent Texas, and the territory for 16 miles to the west, the present townships of Sycamore, Tymochtee and Crawford in Wyandot coun- ty. Here the first election took place April I, 1821, but there were no votes cast from Texas township, as at that time there was not a settler in the present township, the entire region being a dense forest; in no part was there an acre, or a half acre or even a quarter but what was covered with trees; it was the forest primeval awaiting the coming of the pioneer and the axe of the settler. In 1825 Crawford township was divided by the com- missioners of Delaware county, the eastern six miles being Sycamore township, and the two eastern miles of this township were the pres- ent Texas township. The first election was held in the house of George Kisor where Deunquat now is, two miles west of the pres- ent village of Benton; there were several set-

tlers then in Texas township who may have participated in this election. Until the or- ganization of Crawford county in 1826, Tex- as township was under the judicial supervision of Seneca county. In 1845, Wyandot county was erected and on March 6, 1845, the Craw- ford county commissioners arranged the new townships, the dividing line of the two coun- ties being through Sycamore township, the four western miles of that township going to Wyandot and the two eastern miles re- maining in Crawford. The clause in the res- olution relating to Texas is as follows: "All that part taken from township one (I) south, range fifteen (15) east, be, and the same is hereby, organized into an independent town- ship, and shall be known by the name of Tex- as." It was named Texas after the independ- ent state of Texas, whose admission to the Union had been a subject of political discus- sion for many years, and the act admitting it to the Union had been signed by President Polk on March I, just five days before the commissioners gave the new township its name. The township contained only 12 square miles.

Lying, as it did, on the nothern border of the Wyandot Reservation, the township was first inhabited by white hunters and other ad- venturous spirits, who made their living in the main by trespassing on the Indian reserva- tion in search of game, which was more abundant there than in the regions which had been already settled by the white man. These hunters and their families, when they had any,

319

320

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

were generally a worthless and shiftless class of people, with little regard for the rights, either of the Indians or for those of their early white neighbors, whose hogs they appro- priated whenever they could find them running at large in the woods, together with any other property on which they could lay their hands. Though they often made considerable money by the shooting and trapping of furbearing animals, they spent the greater part of it for liquor and seldom invested any of it in the purchase of more land or the improvement of their property. Their children were usually ill clad and poorly fed and often extremely dirty. It was for the benefit of the community when this class of settlers finally disapeared and was replaced by an industrious, God- fearing class of men, who set to work to sub- due the wilderness, cultivate farms, establish little industries, and build schools and churches, which have made the township what it is today.

One of the last of this shiftless band of petty thieves was waited upon by his indignant neighbors and peremptorily ordered to leave that section. It was the fall of the year, and the man protested against being driven away just as winter was approaching; that his chil- dren were without clothing, and it would be impossible to protect them from freezing. The settlers were humane, and returned to their homes, and a few days later again called with a supply of winter clothing they had gathered for the wife and children. The man was now more reluctant than ever to leave so generous a neighborhood, and he was only finally compelled to leave after some very forceful threats, and a little accidental vio- lence, and the neighborhood was not only rid of him but it had a good effect on others who were inclined to live partly on the labor of others.

The township is drained in the northern part by Buckeye creek, a small tributary of the Sandusky river and by two or three small streams that empty into the Sycamore. Through the southern part the Sycamore passes, and its largest branch is the Big Run. The land in both the northern and southern parts of the township is quite rolling, especial- ly along Sycamore creek, where the hills rise in some places to 80 feet above the bed of

the stream. In the central part of the town- ship it is more level, but this part is well drained and contains the most fertile territory.

The first settler in Texas township not be- longing to the wandering hunter class, was George Bender, who came from Pennsylvania with a wife and three children and entered a tract of land in the southern part in 1824 and built a round-log cabin thereon. About three years later he built a rude dam on Sycamore creek, southwest of the present village of Pop- lar, or Benton, and employed a man named James McGrew to construct a saw-mill. But having unfortunately erected his mill on the land of John Hazlett, he received notice that he must relinquish his claim to the property. Hazlett took charge of the mill and conducted it until 1834, when its usefulness came to an end owing to the washing away of the dam. Bender in the meanwhile had erected another mill further down the creek on his own land, which was operated for a few years and then discontinued. Bender also conducted a farm, the work being done by a team which con- sisted of a large bay horse and an ox; these he used to hitch to one of those old fashioned wide-track wagons and with the odd rig he was often seen on the streets of Bucyrus in the early days, it taking two days to make the trip to Bucyrus and return. His first cabin had two doors, hung on wooden hinges, one on each side of the building, while one end was entirely occupied by the fire-place. A pleasing addition to his domicile was a long shed, made of rough boards, which answered the combined purposes of swine, cow and horse stable. Bender was the first postmaster at Poplar and died in 1850. His wife, Mary, died in 1832.

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.

History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 48

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