History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 83

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 83

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The German Methodist congregation, in the northwestern part of Liberty Township, was organized previous to 1850, by ministers con- nected with the church at Bucyrus. Services for several years were generally held in the little red schoolhouse erected some years pre- vious on the Van Duzzen farm. About the year 1854, their first church edifice was erected on land donated by a Mr. Plummer. During the war, while the church was under the charge of Rev. Phillip B. Weber, this building was almost completely destroyed in October, 1862, by a mob, who were opposed to the draft. The and altar were torn down and windows benches smashed because the preacher advised the peo- ple from his pulpit the previous Sabbath to obey the laws, and drafted men to peaceably

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

report themselves to the United States Com- missioner. Notwithstanding these outrages, the Pastor continued his work during the next winter, and the drunken roughs in the neigh- borhood, who were guilty of the crime, could not force him to discontinue preaching until, on the night of May 20, 1863, they set fire to the building and it was totally destroyed. After the lapse of over twelve months, another church edifice was erected one-half mile south of the old site. The congregation now num- bers about ninety persons, and Rev. John Haas is Pastor.

The Zion Church edifice, commonly known as the Conley Church, near the center of Lib- erty Township, was built about the year 1856. It is a union church, and owned jointly by the Evangelical Association and the Church of God, or Winebrennarians. Rev. William Adams, of Plymouth, was the first minister of the lat- ter denomination who preached in the town- ship, and their services were held several years previous to the year their church was erected. The first society of the Evangelical Association was organized about the year 1846, by Rev. D. Swartz, officiating minister. David Pfleiderer was the first Class-leader. In 1852, Revs. G. Haley and B. Keler perfected the organization of this congregation, and, in a few years, Zion Church was built. In the year 1879, the United Brethren Church, through the labors of Rev. Moses Spahr, organized a small congrega- tion and erected a neat chapel, near the center of School District No. 6. About the year 1842, a small Baptist Conference was organ- ized at Sulphur Springs, which held services irregularly for several years.

In the early days of the township many pio- neer settlers could not be induced to lead a religious life, and it was difficult to obtain from many a promise to lead even a moral one. In order to accomplish as much good as possible, John O. Blowers inaugurated at the Maxfield Schoolhouse a society called the "Moral

Society." The members of this association pledged themselves to abstain from certain practices, and the society was greatly instru- mental in checking the spoliation of the timber on the Government lands, which crime had been carried on to a great extent in the neigh- borhood. The first efforts in the interest of temperance reform were made about the year 1835. The movement was aided and encour- aged by John O. Blowers, John G. Stough, William McCurdy and others. The Parcher Distillery had just been started in Whetstone Township, and efforts were made to persuade Parcher to quit the business. This establish- ment did not run very long, but it is doubtful whether it stopped on account of the great work of the movement. Temperance meetings were held in the Blowers Church, and a society formed composed of citizens, from both Whet- stone and Liberty Township. Drunkenness and fighting were much more common and fre- quent in those days than at the present time. Log-cabin "raisings " were held every few days, and at these all the men and boys of the neigh- borhood would assemble. An abundance of liquor was generally provided by the host, and by the time they had raised all the logs, many men and boys were under the influence of liquor. Numerous fights would then follow. If no other reason could be found for a quarrel, they fought to see "which was the best man," and the fame of the victors of these drunken brawls would extend for many miles to other settlements. These heroes, so-called, would visit the "raisings" for miles, accompanied by their friends in order to have a trial of strength with the general victor of each respective neighborhood. These drunken strifes were not only settled at "raisings," but on all great days-when the settlers turned out to a Fourth of July celebration or general muster. When the influence of the temperance movement com- menced to affect the best class in the township, many settlers refused to provide liquor at rais-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ings, and it was also banished from the harvest fields and tables. Some substituted, on these occasions, a beverage called "metheglin," made of honey and water, boiled and fermented, and often enriched with spices. When one listens to stories told by those early pioneers, he is forced to believe that the Temperance move- ment has improved the farmers, if it has failed to stop the traffic in the cities, towns and vil- lages of the nation. The anti-slavery senti- ment of Liberty was never organized into a society, but there were a few Abolitionists even at an early day.

A very large portion of the wealth obtained by the inhabitants of Liberty, since 1820, has been the direct result of the many bountiful crops gathered from the soil. A few citizens have engaged in other enterprises, hoping to find an easier and quicker way to financial prosperity. Mr. McMichael, the first settler, erected a grist-mill a few months after he arrived, but the proprietor soon found that, owing to the scarcity of the motive-power, water, his dreams would not be realized, and he rented the establishment, which, during the next score of years, passed into the hands of many others who, each in turn, hoped to realize from the investment what his predecessor did not. This old mill, a great accommodation to many pioneer settlers. was finally destroyed after many years' valuable service. During the summer of 1824, Calvin and Nehemiah Squier, built a saw-mill on the Sandusky River for John O. Blowers, at the northwest corner of his farm. After running this mill a few months, he sold it to Eli Odell, of Whetstone Township, and in 1825. Odell took in Asa Wetherby as partner. In a short time, Mr. Wetherby purchased the mill, and, after con- tinuing the business until 1829, sold out to a man named Ball, who, in a few years, trans- ferred the establishment to George Fleck. Many of these early proprietors persisted in running the mill on Sunday, notwithstanding

the admonitions of John O. Blowers, who finally, in 1834, re-purchased the concern, in order to stop Sunday milling. He sold it to his brother-in-law, Nehemiah Squier. Previous to 1830, a grist-mill was added to the establish- ment. Mr. Squier conducted the business many years, and then, during the next two decades, many other men were proprietors. Finally, in 1867, J. B. Squier and W. S. Bacon, the own- ers. having erected a new steam mill with im- proved machinery at Sulphur Springs, removed the business from the banks of the Sandusky to their new building. Mr. Bacon sold out to his partner in 1874, and the business at the present time is being conducted by the Doctor's sons, Edgar A. and Oscar W. Squier. Thus, three generations have been interested in this, the only mill of Liberty Township.

A little distillery was started by a man named Wood, about the year 1826, upon land belonging to Edward Hartford. The distillery was just east of the Blowers Mill. Wood, the proprietor, got into trouble, left the township, and the business was discontinued. A tannery was started by David Hawk and Jacob L. Gur- well. previous to the year 1830, near the present site of the Union Church, northeast of Annapo- lis. In those days bark was plenty, and any person having sufficient capital to prepare vats could engage in the tanning buisness. David Kinter ran one a short distance west of Annap- olis, previous to the year 1840, but he did not have much business. Several years after, Blowers erected the first saw-mill in the Town- ship ; other men erected mills. The tax dupli- cate of 1832, proves the following parties were engaged in the business during that year : Cronebaugh & Shafner, George Fleck, Jr., and John Slagle. By 1836, six other saw-mills, owned by Jas. Decker, Frederick Decker, Aaron Decker, John H. Fry, John Kroft and Andrew Wingert had been erected. Three of these were owned by the Decker family, and Aaron had a grist-mill in connection with his establishment.

to. Keplinger

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The village of Annapolis, or Sulphur Springs Post Office, was originally laid out, in the year 1833, by John Slifer, formerly of Maryland, who named the town to honor the capital of his native State, but in the early days many people in the neighborhood called it Slifertown, as a nick- name. The original town plat contained twenty acres, comprising the " southern portion of the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 14." This was part of the 160 acres which Slifer purchased from the Government, previous to the year 1825. In the year 1841, he sold his farm to Judge R. W. Musgrave. Through bad management he was soon very much reduced in circumstances, and in a fit of despondency committed suicide, during the summer of 1842, by shooting himself. When he was buried his body was disinterred by the doctors. Slifer, during his life, held several minor township offices and was Justice of the Peace from 1835 to 1841. He was a good scholar, a fine, but exceedingly careless, pen- man. The following anecdote is related of him : On one occasion, he sent up to the Court of Common Pleas a transcript from his docket, that was so illegible that Judge Ozias Bowen, who then presided, was unable to read it. Whereupon the Judge, in a tone of mingled dignity and austerity, exclaimed, "The people must be fools to elect such ignorant men as Justices of the Peace." Hon. Josiah Scott, then a practitioner at the Crawford County bar, quietly remarked to Judge Bowen. " How would it be, Judge, if this ignorant Justice knew more and could write a better hand than any of us ?" Whereupon Slifer, who was in the court room at the time, came forward and called upon Zalmon Rowse, Clerk of the Court for a pen and sheet of paper, which he promptly paid for on the spot. Then he copied the transcript in a bold, beautiful round hand, almost equaling the celebrated signature of John Hancock to the Declaration of Independ- ence, and handed it to the Court, who was

thunderstruck with astonishment. "Why," exclaimed the Judge, "didn't you write it that way before ?" "Because." answered Slifer, with quiet dignity, " Because, sir, I supposed I was writing it for the perusal of men and not of boys."

About forty lots were formed from the real estate comprised in the original village plat. These were listed on the tax-duplicate of 1834 at $125, and at $550 in 1835. During the first year, houses were erected by James L. Gurwell, John Bolinger, Jacob Peterman, Peter Stuckman, Nicholas Bolinger (and Ben- jamin Sinn. In the fall of 1834, ex-Judge Enoch B. Merriman opened a stock of dry goods in the village, and Daniel Young, his clerk, sold the first pound of coffee. In about two years, Merriman transferred the store to his nephew, G. N. Davis, who continued the business about two years, when Merriman again took possession of what was left, and in a few months transferred them to Pomeroy A. Blanch- ard. another nephew. Blanchard remained in Sulphur Springs several years. In the fall of 1836 or early in 1837, Cornelius and James F. Dorland started another store in the village. Cornelius soon sold out to his brother, who con- tinued the business some months afterward. For a few months in 1840 and during the year 1841, the place was without a store until ex-Judge R. W. Musgrave established one, which he sold to Horace Rowse, of Bucyrus, in 1844. The latter was a merchant of Annapolis until autumn of 1851 ; his brother Stephen was a partner most of the time. Musgrave also started an ashery, and shortly afterward another store, which he transferred to his brother-in-law. Thomas Gil- lespie. About the time Annapolis was laid out, Frederick Beard kept a blacksmith-shop a short distance west of the place. Winebar, another blacksmith, was a character of the village for many years. A linseed oil mill was started by James Gurwell and Jacob Peterman about 1839, who transferred it to William Souder,

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

and he conducted the business many years. A few months after this enterprise was established, an attempt was made to run a little distillery on the same lot, but this was a failure. A small pottery establishment was conducted at the same time by the same parties with no bet- ter success. John Birk, a hatter, was in busi- ness as carly as 1838, and John L. Dawson started a cabinet-shop in 1837. William Dicks was a shoemaker, and his brother, James Dicks, a harness-maker, about 1841. James McKee built a saw-mill about 1839, and David Hawk started a tannery north of the site now occupied by Zarbe's Hotel. John Grogg put up a log house and kept the first tavern about 1836, and shortly afterward Cornelius Dorland and Robert McKee erected a hotel on the lot now occupied by Fry's store. Dr. Turley put up a fine building for the same purpose on the lot now occupied by the Sexauer Brothers' carriage establishment. This building was destroyed by fire in 1847. Dr. Daniel L. Kelly was the first physician to locate in the place. It is very doubtful if he knew much about medicine, as he started a saloon and neglected what little practice he might have obtained. Dr. George L. Zeigler moved to the village in 1842, and Dr. J. B. Squier in 1848. Dr. Turley also prac- ticed medicine at an carly day. The physi- cians at the present time are Dr. J. B. Squier, Dr. H. S. Bevington and Dr. M. M. Carrothers. George Heiby, who removed to Liberty in 1836, has been a citizen of the village for many years, and served as Assessor of Liberty Township twenty-four terms. Although the place was quite a business center, it had no post office until about 1843. It is difficult to obtain the exact order of those who served as Postmaster from that date until 1860. In a small village, every one is his own clerk, and so long as he secures his mail matter from the stock on hand, it does not matter to him who pockets the meager stipend paid by the Government. G. W. Teel, however, is authority for the following

order : Horace Rowse, Thomas Gillespie, R. W. Musgrave, Dr. George L. Zeigler, George Heiby, J. N. Biddle, who was appointed in 1861 and served until his successor, Al Fry, the present incumbent, took the office in 1868. Jonas Harmon was Dr. Zeigler's Deputy, and for several years the office was kept in Har- mon's gun-shop.

Many different firms have been engaged in business at Annapolis during the past forty years. The following is a list of the principal establishments at the present time : Sexauer Brothers, carriage-factory ; J. B. Squier & Sons. steam flouring-mill ; George Hummiston, steam saw-mill ; Klopfenstein & Co., dry goods and general store ; Scott & Keller, dry goods and general store ; J. H. Fry, Jr., hardware ; Dr. H. S. Bevington, drugs ; Charles Heibert- hausen, boots and shoes ; F. Obendroth, boots and shoes ; G. Seits, magon-maker ; A. Young, undertaker and cabinet-maker ; William Haffner, saddler ; John Zarbe, hotel and grocery ; Capt. S. S. Smalley, shoemaker ; Jonas Harmon, gun- smith.

The most important manufacturing interest in Liberty Township is the carriage establishment of the Sexauer Brothers, located at Sulphur Springs. These young men were born in Bucy- rus, and removed to Annapolis many years since, where their step-father, Mr. Kinninger, followed his trade as a wagon-maker. In 1862, the Sex- auers started their present establishment. The character of their work was sufficient to guar- antee a ready sale, and they soon established a reputation which extended not only throughout Crawford but into neighboring counties. Thesc young men, Louis, William, Frederick and Lewis, succeeded in a very short time in having a larger trade in farm wagons than any other firm in the county. Many years since, they commenced manufacturing carriages, buggies and light spring wagons. The reputation obtained by building first-class heavy farm wagons has not suffered by the many light, strong, neat and

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stylish vehicles which they have made and sold since commencing this finer branch of manu- facturing. Their work exhibited at county fairs has frequently obtained premiums, and carried off the first prizes against strong competition.

The first schoolhouse in the village was erected in 1837, on land donated by John Slifer. Pre- vious to the construction of this building, the children attended the schools taught at the Bell Schoolhouse, situated at that time about one- half mile south of Annapolis. For some years, the citizens of the village and neighboring terri- tory had many discussions in regard to the lo- cation of their school building, and, in thirty- five years, several different special districts were formed ; the lines of those adjacent being changed frequently, in order to satisfy, if pos- sible, all persons interested. Finally, on Octo- ber 2, 1872, the citizens assembled, and, by a vote of fifty to two, created the present special district, embracing " all the fractional Section 13, Section 14, the northeast quarter of Section 22, and the east-half of the east quarter of Section 15 in Liberty Township." The voters then elected the following Directors : C. W. Perse for one year, William Sexauer for two years and Dr. H. S. Bevington for three years. December 14, 1872, it was decided, by a unani- mous vote of the citizens, to levy a tax of $3,000 for the purpose of building and furnishing a new

schoolhouse, which was erected in 1873 by James H. Kemmis, who received $3,316 for his services. The building was furnished and pro- vided with a bell, at an additional cost of some $700, so that the citizens have expended about $4,000 for educational purposes, and have pro- vided for their children an edifice which is an ornament to their little village. It is in very striking contrast to the first building erected for school purposes in the township. The first enumeration taken in the new district showed 53 boys and 69 girls ; total, 122. Robert McKee and Jennie Birch taught the first schools in the new building during the winter of 1873-74.

The only secret society in the village, at the present time, is a lodge of the Knights of Honor, which is composed of many prominent citizens residing in the town and on neighboring farms. This lodge was organized January 2, 1878, with the following thirteen charter members : Dic- tator, H. S. Bevington ; Assistant Dictator, Charles Heiberthausen ; Vice Dictator, C. F. Sexauer ; Reporter, J. H. Wert ; Financial Re- porter, W. K. Evans ; Past Dictator, A. Fry ; Chaplain, J. B. Wert ; Sentinel, Henry Heibert- hausen ; Guardian, J. H. Fry ; Treasurer, Will- iam Sexauer ; Guide, Thomas Laux, John Guiss, Jr., and William Heffner. The last two and William Sexauer were the first Trustees.

CHAPTER XX.

HOLMES TOWNSHIP-ORIGINAL BOUNDARY-PIONEER SETTLEMENTS-EARLY INDUSTRIES-CON- FEDERATE X ROADS-UNDERGROUND RAILROAD-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS

"THE generations of to-day can scarcely real- ize the hardships passed through by their parents and grandparents more than half a cen- tury ago. Surrounded as they are with the loving endearments of home, and with all the pleasures that riches can bestow, they are apt to forget at what a cost their enjoyments were

purchased by their ancestors, who cleared up the forests, and, from primeval wildness, cre- ated the bright habitations of civilization. The dear old father and mother, who are stand- ing, as it were, on the brink of the grave, are the only ones who love to live over the wild ex- periences of pioneer life. To them the remem-

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brances are sweet ; and they love to tell of the privation and adventure through which they passed while the red man was yet an inhabit- ant of the woods, and animals of ferocity roamed unmolested and unscared. They have no need to desire a draught of the waters of Lethe's stream to drown in forgetfulness the miseries of a wrecked and ruined life. No remorse can pierce their hearts "like a tooth of fire," with sad recollections of kind acts omit- ted or left wholly undone. Though their lives have been checkered with sunshine and shade, and though their lot has been humble and ob- scure, yet they have left memorials, more last- ing than monumental marble, in the beautiful homes reared by their endeavors.

It is difficult to realize that the township of Holmes was once, and but a short time ago, the unmolested home of wild animals and wild In- dians, and that its pleasant slopes were once the sporting grounds of the Mound Builders, who followed their peculiar occupations in un- known centuries before cither white or red man became their successors. These strange people have left a few evidences of their presence in the form of nearly obliterated earthworks along the course of Broken Sword Creek, though to the passer-by nothing would appear to lead him to suspect that the mysterious race, whose origin and fate are so perplexing to the archæ- ologist and chronologist, once lighted his camp- fires on the banks of the winding stream, or, with war implements of stone or copper, wan- dered the forest paths in pursuit of game. They have passed away, with almost all the evidences of their presence. and in their place the Indian has reigned for his allotted time, and has been succeeded by the white race, whose steady advancements by superior skill and intelligence, have driven back the aborig- ines, until but a remnant remains, scattered throughout the country, to tell of the once happy and warlike race of native Americans. Will the white race also have its day, and pass

from the stage of action, giving place to some more highly developed order of humanity ? Nothing but time can tell the decrees of fate, or solve the problem of human destiny.

The early records of Holmes, like those in the other townships in Crawford County, have been lost or destroyed, and there is but little left to guide the historical investigator to the numerous items of interest of this division of the county, save the traditions handed down by the generations of the past to those of the present. The memories of the old settlers are filled to overflowing with neighboring traditions, and, though in matters of detail they cannot always be trusted, yet in general their accuracy may be depended upon. None of the land in Holmes could be purchased by the settlers until after 1820, and the western part of the township was owned by the Wyandot Indians prior to 1836, at which date a strip of land on the east- ern side of the reservation was purchased of the Indians by the Government, and was sold at public auction at the date last mentioned. That portion of the Wyandot sale that after- ward became a part of Holmes Township, was something more than two sections wide, and, on account of the numerous and inexhaustible beds of excellent limestone, has proved of greater value to the citizens than any other portion of the township. The stone has been taken out in large quantities by Nicholas Pool, Adam Gearhart and Christian Reiff, and much of it has been sold to the citizens for the foun- dations of their houses and barns, and the walls of their wells, at the rate of from $1 to $2 per load. A number of years ago, the town of Bueyrus purchased one of the best quarries on Broken Sword Creek, consisting of two acres, underlaid with deep, large beds of fine stone ; but this quarry has not been worked to any extent worth mentioning. Lime has been burned since 1838 or 1840, sufficient in amount to supply the large demand.

The township, one of the most attractive and

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wealthy in the county, received its name from Deputy Surveyor General Samuel Holmes, who was authorized to make a re-survey of its terri- tory in 1836. It lies wholly on the northern slope of the Ohio water-shed, and its entire sur- face is drained by tributaries of Sandusky River. The principal stream is Broken Sword Creek, which enters the township, coming from the east and flowing across Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 8, 7, 18 and 19, southwestwardly into Todd Township. It has a small valley fifteen or twenty rods wide, which in some places ap- proaches one side of the stream, thus forming a series of low bluffs, that in early times were covered with a heavy forest of poplar. This timber has been highly prized because of its lightness and durability, and has been exten- sively used in the construction of houses and barns. Brandywine Creek, the largest branch of Broken Sword in Holmes, flows from Liberty Township across Sections 12, 11, 10 and 9, uniting on the latter section with the larger stream. A small branch of the Sandusky River, called Grass Run, flows angling across the lower two tiers of sections in a southwest- ern direction. These streams, with a few small branches, afford ample drainage to the township. While the land was yet covered with heavy woods, the southeastern third, which is almost as level as a floor, was wetand muddy the whole year. Having but little or no slope, and being thickly covered with fallen logs, which lay strewn in promiscuous confusion, the flat land retained the water, and even in sum- mer time, as related by Joseph Lones, the trip to Bucyrus could not be made without walking ankle deep in water and mud a large part of the way. Sometimes the fallen trees lay so thickly upon the ground, that, by skipping from one to another, miles could be traveled without once having tto step into the water. The northern and western parts of the town- ship are abundantly rolling, and in some places the hills are quite long and steep. The surface

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 83

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034