USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 53
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"And this is the way Arcanum, now one of the prettiest, busy towns in Ohio, got its name, and no town in the state is in advance of it in enterprise, intelligence, energy and prosperity. "C. C. POMEROY, Civil Engineer."
Another version of the story about the naming of the town is to the effect that Gunder had a bull which, for some un- known reason, he called "Arcanum." This animal, it seems, had strayed away and while looking for it he came upon a group of men working long the right-of-way of the new rail- way. Suddenly catching sight of the bull he exclaimed, "There's Arcanum," whereupon the name was seized upon and applied to the neighborhood railway station.
Like many other traditions this is probably a corruption of the true story and we can do no better than accept the plaus- ible statement made and signed by the engineer who laid out the town as above noted.
The Greenville and Miami railway was not completed to Arcanum, however, until 1852, but its coming was the great "red letter" day in the history of the village and township. From henceforth Arcanum was put in close touch with Day- ton and the outside world, and the long, tedious journeys to this market through the slashes of Painter and Ludlow creeks and over the corduroy roads became a thing of the past. Messrs. Samuel and John Smith were the pioneer merchants.
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They opened the first store here June 20, 1851, and through their energy, industry and business qualifications helped to make the place develop rapidly.
The rapid growth of the new village is forcibly indicated by the following business directory, published in 1857:
Dry goods stores, grocers and grain dealers-S. D. Smith, J. Thomas & Son, Albright & Oliver, John Smith, J. F. Roser, and Sprecher & Bro.
American Hotel-John A. Raylor.
Steam grist mill and distillery-Voorhes, Shepherd & Bro. Physician and surgeon-Jesse J. Paramore.
Cabinet warerooms and undertaker-C. Bartling.
Tailor-Israel Steinmetz.
Coopers-Henry Kester, Henry Glasmeir.
Carpenter and joiner-George Lowe.
Boot and shoe maker-Samuel Garrett.
Wagon and carriage maker-D. B. Baker. Blacksmith-A. Deweese.
Carpenter and joiner-John Fleck.
Brick and stone mason-P. Snodderly.
Carpenter and joiner-S. B. Thomas.
Station man (G. & M. R. R.)-James Battern.
Tailor-A. B. Steinmetz.
Mason and bricklayer-John C. Bocanon.
Arcanum has long been known for its business enterprise and its large mercantile establishments are the wonder of the stranger accustomed to the trading facilities of the ordinary village.
This village has likewise shown much enterprise in relig- ious, social and educational enterprises.
The Methodists built a church here as early as 1856. and now have a strong congregation.
The United Brethren built a brick church in 1860, on the corner of East and South streets, where the present church now stands. Previously they had worshipped in a little log church on the farm now owned by Andrew Clark, one-fourth of a mile east of Arcanum, where they had organized a society in 1853. The present church was erected in 1896, at an ap- proximate cost of $10,000. This is one of the strong denom- inations of the county and has now an enrollment of about 400 in the church, and 500 in the Sunday school.
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The present church officers are:
P. W. Byers, Jacob Miller, Jr., G. T. Riegle, William Clark and E. B. Hawley.
Trustees of the church-Sunday school superintendent, G. T. Riegle ; class leader, H. O. Hoffman ; president of W. M. A., Mrs. E. B. Hawley ; president of Golden Link Society, Mrs. Myrtle Shumaker; president of C. E., Miss Nettie Robbins ; president of Junior C. E., Mrs. Nana Cartmell ; general stew- ard, C. A. Smith ; class stewards, Marion Trump, J. H. Potts, H. O. Hoffman, Abraham Nyswonger.
The Reformed denomination built a church in 1879, but the society at the present time is practically dormant with a mem- bership of about thirty-five.
Arcanum has produced some men of exceptional talent in the past and now takes great pride in referring to the Sigafoos brothers-Charles P. and Edward-who are sons of George IV. Sigafoos, deceased, at one time a prominent dry goods merchant in the village. Charles P. Sigafoos was born May 4, 1865 and received his elementary education in the public schools. He was graduated from the Ohio State University in 1889, spent one year at the University of Virginia and four years at Johns Hopkins' University. He soon became a pro- fessor of biology in the University of Wisconsin and during some twenty years in this chair has probably tutored more stu- dents in this science than any other professor in the United States.
Edward Sigafoos was born December 14, 1868. After a course in the common schools he entered Ohio State Univer- sity and was graduated from that institution in 1891. While in the latter school he manifested a taste and talent for mili- tary science and was persuaded by some prominent citizens of the state to apply for entrance in the regular army of the United States. After passing the required examination at Washington, D. C., he was appointed a second lieutenant and spent two years in the excellent advanced military school at Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1898 he was commissioned first lieu- tenant and served one year under General Wood at Santiago, Cuba. He has recently attained the rank of major and is serv- ing with the army in Vera Cruz, Mexico. In December, 1895. he married Opal, the daughter of Dr. Donovan Robeson, of Greenville, Ohio. The progressive spirit of Arcanum is re- flected in the schools which maintain a high standard. The high school course comprises four years and leads up to col-
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lege admission. The school library contains 1,000 volumes. Prof. O. G. Hershey has been the enterprising and enthusi- astic superintendent for several years.
Arcanum is well provided with fraternal and secret organi- zations, having Masonic, Odd Fellows, K. of P., and Junior order lodges.
Arcanum Lodge No. 341, I. O. O. F. was instituted August 9, 1858, with the following charter members: Adam Bartoch, Jacob Thomas, Joseph Gootlieb, Adam B. Steinmetz, Samuel Garsett, Samuel D. Ross, Evan Henninger, Thomas Morton and Philip Sprecher. It now owns property valued at $7,500 and has a membership of about 200.
Jewel Rebekah Lodge No. 255 was given charter May 18, 1888, with twenty-three members. It now has about forty members.
The Masonic lodge is known as Ithaca Lodge No. 295, F. & A. M. and was organized at Ithaca, October 21, 1857, with ten members, viz .: William A. Matchett, Daniel Ridenour, William Colville, S. C. Engle, Martin J. Colville, Milton Mc- Neal, J. H. Engle, Caswell Sharp, Clark Baker and Elijah Heath.
This lodge now owns its own property and has a member- ship of about one hundred.
There is also an Eastern Star lodge here.
Arcanum now has a fine, large brick city building. erected about 1890, at a cost of some $12,000. It contains the offices of the various city officials, the fire department and an excellent auditorium with a seating capacity of several hundred. The city also owns its own water works and electric light plant. There are two hotels, two banks, two newspapers, a building asso- ciation, a postoffice, elevator, tile yard, saw and planing mill, lumber yard, two flour mills, a creamery, monumental works and other enterprises. A large proportion of the tobacco pro- duced in the county is raised in the level black land of Frank- lin, Monroe and Twin townships, and much of this is mar- keted in Arcanum where several large warehouses are located. The Peoria division of the C. C. C. & St. L. railway gives a good east and west outlet to the village and the Ohio Electric railway makes connection with Dayton and Greenville quite convenient.
Several blocks of the main streets have recently been paved with brick and other public improvements made.
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The census of 1910 showed a population of 1,361, in the town and a total of 2,925 in the entire township.
The tax duplicate for 1913 showed real property to the ex- tent of $904,560, and chattels to the extent of $548,560 in Ar- canum and $2,094.570 in real estate and $882,290 in chattels in Twin township outside of Arcanum.
Patterson Township.
This township occupies the northeastern corner of the county, was erected in March, 1841, and was taken from the north end of Wayne township which then extended to the old Greenville treaty line. In 1848, the northern part was cut off, when Darke county was reduced to its present size, and in the same year sections 2, 11, 14 and 23 of township 12 north, range 3 east were detached and added to Wabash township. The watershed passes through the central part of this town- ship in an east and west direction separating the upper basin of the Wabash from the head waters of Swamp Creek branch of the Stillwater. The southern section of the township is rolling and the soil is largely of a light clay formation. In early days it supported a fine forest of beech, sugar, maple and oak. Like Wabash township, the northern portion contains a larger proportion of dark alluvial soil and formerly supported a heavy growth of timber in which Linden, Sycamore, and Walnut were especially noticeable. Isaac Finkbone, who seems to have been identified with the early settlement of Wayne and Wabash townships, is also mentioned as the pio- neer settler here, coming in 1827 or 1828, to the southeast quarter of section 32. He was soon followed by Philip Pitzen- berger, who squatted in the southeast quarter of section 33. James Patterson, Sr., was the second landowner who settled in the township, and his son gave the township its name. Rich- ard and Thomas Mendenhall, John Day, Samuel Day, Dr. Greer, John Puterbaugh, James Davidson, Anthony Cable, John DeWeese, William Russell and Arphaxed Julian are also mentioned as prominent early settlers. Although this township was late in settlement and backward in develop- ment it has made commendable progress, as shown by the fact that the census of 1910 gave it a population of 1,632, as against 319 in 1850, while the tax assessment of real estate in 1913 was $1,739,680 and for chattels $387,430.
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Woodland (now Willowdell.)
The first village in the township was Woodland, which was laid out in 1859 in the southeast corner of the northeast quar- ter of section 20, on the south slope of the watershed. A Lutheran church was erected here in 1865. This neighbor- hood has become famous as the birthplace of "Annie Oakley" Mozee, whose biography appears in another chapter.
The Christians erected a church on the north side of the Beriin pike near the east line of section 8 in 1863, and another in the northeast quarter of section 25, range 3, about 1880. There is still a Lutheran church in Willowdell; another in the northwest corner of southeast quarter of section 30; the Walnut Grove Christian church in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 24, besides the churches in York- shire and Osgood villages.
The first school house was put up in the southeastern quar- ter of section 32, in 1842, and was erected by subscription. A. L. Wilson was the first teacher. There are now seven special school districts in this township not including those in York- shire and Osgood.
The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton railway (formerly Narrowgauge) was built through this township about 1881. It follows the section line between township 12, range 3 and township 11, range 4 from the Mercer county line to the northwest corner of section 30, and then turn southeastward. crossing into Wayne township in the southwest corner of sec- tion 32. Since its construction two thriving villages have de- veloped.
Osgood.
This village was laid out at the quartering of sections 1, 6, 12 and 7 in the "eighties" and now contains a town hall. hotel, station, public school, Catholic and Christian churches. lodge, elevators and stores.
The St. Nicholas Catholic church was organized in 1906, by Rev. Bernard Beckmeyer. Services were held at first in the village school house. Rev. John Rahrle soon took charge of the new parish which then numbered probably thirty-five families. A temporary church structure was completed in September, 1906, and services held therein. In this year a tract of land was purchased in the eastern section of the vil- lage and the erection of a new and suitable church building was soon entered into with zeal and devotion. A beautiful
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structure costing about $22,000 was dedicated September 6, 1908, and given the name St. Nicholas. It is a fitting memo- rial to tlie zeal and devotion of Rev. Rahrle and his small but zealous and devoted flock. In its brief existence this parish has thrived wonderfully and now includes about eighty-five families. Rev. Rahrle resigned in 1912 and was succeeded by Rev. Bernard H. Franzee. This congregation serves a large constituency of settlers of French and German descent who now comprise a large per cent. of the citizens of this town- ship and those adjoining. There are several fountain wells in this village as well as in the region to the north and east, near the headwaters of the small streams flowing northward from the watershed. The population in 1910 was 214.
Yorkshire.
This village is located one mile south of Osgood and was incorporated in 1901. Its rapid growth is shown by the fact that the population in 1910 was 182. This village contains a postoffice, bank, station, public school, Disciple and U. B. churches, brick and tile yard, elevator and warehouse. The Berlin and North Star pike forms the main east and west street of this village.
Wayne Township.
As in Greenville and other townships the actual first set- tlers of Wayne township were preceded by the surveyors and the "old squatters." Among the latter might be mentioned "Kill Buck," a half breed, or chief who built a cabin near "Bald Hill" in the northern border of the Stillwater settle- ment (Webster) in the early years of the century and re- mained until the arrival of the first settlers. Associated with his name is that of Connor, the old trapper and copper dis- tiller who lived to the north of Killbuck on a knoll skirting the western side of Swampy creek, near the present site of Versailles. While Connor hunted, trapped and carried on his varied activities, his son cultivated a small patch of corn with an old ox, which he also used to go to mill at Greenville Falls or Fort Rowdy (Covington, Ohio). With the advent of the settlers these eccentric characters moved further west. Isaac Finkbone, a stalwart frontiersman, succeeded Connor and distilled "firewater" for the use of the first settlers, who
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consumed large quantities of "bitters" at log rollings, cabin- raisings, sheep-washings and "huskin-bees."
The first notable settlement in the township was made by a party from the Stillwater settlement in Miami county, near Pleasant Hill. It is said that this party canoed up the Still- water keeping up the east branch, until they encountered a district of murky swamps and ponds to which they gave the name of "Black Swamps," while the lazy stream was called "Swamp creek." Here a small settlement was made which became known as the "Swamp creek settlement." David Ward, who settled in section 18, in 1815, is said to have been the first actual settler.
One of the moving spirits in this settlement was Thomas Childers, the old order or "Hardshell" Baptist preacher previously mentioned, who settled about one mile southwest of Versailles. Here a church was erected about 1819 or 1820, being probably the second church erected in the county. Among the families connected with this congregation were the Childers, Carlocks and McDonalds of the border Stillwater settlement and the Wards, Bakers, Yorks and Holes of the Swamp creek settlement. The early Baptist burial ground adjoined this church. This building was afterwards moved to north Versailles and later to the Wood addition where the congregation worshipped for several years, but finally dis- banded, leaving no successor in this vicinity.
Among the early settlers on Indian creek and Swamp creek at and near the present site of Versailles were the Atchisons, Lewis Baker, Richard Brandon, David Ward, and William Hoel. It is interesting to note that the families comprising this settlement were largely of the "New Light" denomina- tion, and that William Hoel deeded three or four acres to the Christian church as a site for a church building and burial ground about 1821. A society was organized in 1822 or 1823, by Rev. Samuel Kyle, of Piqua, with William Hoel, Aaron Carson and James Whitman as trustees, and a building was erected about 1826. This was the beginning of the Chris- tian church of Versailles, making it the oldest denomination with a continuous history in that village. Among the pioneer settlers might also be mentioned Aaron Grier, Henry Swisher, Peter Radabaugh, William McGriff. John Wyland, Thomas Bayman and N. York.
Wayne township was named after Gen. Anthony Wayne and when first laid off by the county commissioners in 1817.
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comprised all of the county north of a line commencing at the northwest corner of township 12 north, range 1 east, and run- ning thence east to the northwest corner of township 9 north, range + east, thence south to the middle of said township, and east to the county line, thus including the territory now in- cluded in the township of Mississinawa, Allen, Wabash, Pat- terson, Jackson, Brown, York, Wayne, over half of Richland and part of Adams. In 1819 that part of Wayne township lying in township 9 north, range 4 east, was taken into Adams township. In 1820 all of Wayne township that lay in range 1 was attached to Washington township as then constituted. In the same year Richland township was formed, the north- ern part being taken from Wayne and the southern from Greenville and Patterson. In 1841 Patterson township was taken from the north end of Wayne and contained all of that township that lay in townships 12 and 13, range 3, and town- ships 11 and 12 in range 4.
The southern part of this township is drained by the main stream of the Stillwater, the central and northern part by the Swamp creek branch with its tributaries. As before noted the central part was originally very swampy. It has been re- claimed by extensive drainage and is now quite productive.
The C. C. C. & St. L. railway runs through the central part of the township in a direction generally south of west. The C. H. & D. traverses the northeastern section. Versailles in the central part and Webster in the south central part are the principal villages. The entire population of the township, in- cluding these villages, in 1910 was 2,954.
As a French colony became established here in the "thir- ties" we herewith incorporate a sketch of the "Holy Family Parish of Frenchtown," which throws considerable light on the history of this settlement:
Holy Family Parish, Frenchtown.
We have noted in a previous chapter that the first French settler arrived on the site of Frenchtown in 1836, and was soon followed by other families of the Catholic faith who banded themselves together in a small community, observed public worship according to the customs of their faith under the zealous and saintly Navarron, and, in 1838, erected a hewed log church at St. Valbert's in conjunction with the little com- munities at Russia and Versailles.
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The years immediately following were times of trial, hard- ships and privation but the active French peasants by indus- try and frugality soon made large openings in the dense prim- eval forest, cleared and cultivated their fields, erected substant- tial habitations and made the wilderness blossom as the rose. For many years oxen were used to help turn the soil, to haul the heavy timbers, or to follow the rude trails. We have a beautiful and touching word picture of the trials encountered by the faithful in order to be present at the stated worship in those days written by a pastor of the flock.
"At the appointed hour on Saturday afternoon the march began for St. Valbert's. With a compass for a guide, headed by Father Navarron, the little band entered the woods and with a hatchet, blazed the trees as they walked along to aid them in their journey until they reached St. Valbert's. The trees once being blazed, the future they considered a real pleasure when the weather was favorable, but not so during the heavy snows of winter and the rainy seasons of spring and fall-for then, walking became rather difficult-with the snow one and two feet deep clinging to their wooden shoes in their attempt to pick their way. Swamp creek, which still bears the same name and pursues the same course, though not so violent as in the early days, had to be crossed on the way, and after a heavy rain would overflow, together with its many branches, making it almost impossible to cross. Nothing daunted, the low places were sought for and then, with shoes and stockings in hand, the creek and streams were forded and the journey continued. * *
"For nine long years these hardships, these trying times of faith were endured and the spring of 1848 found the Holy Family parish, Frenchtown, worshipping for the first time in their own temple, rude and rough in its construction of large logs, but neat in appearance, while its modest interior spoke of the pride of its worshipers to beautify and adorn the house of God. *
"These three parishes remained united until 1849, when the alloted time of good Father Navarron with his kind and faith- ful people being spent, he was transferred to other fields and Father Loui, his successor, became pastor of the self-sustain- ing parish, which, in the meantime had increased to forty some families.
"The parish continued to grow in numbers and under the direction of Father Loui, an addition was built to the old log
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church, which became too small to conveniently accomodate its members. With the passing years prosperity smiled upon his happy band, the many trials and hardships known to the early settlers gradually disappeared and the worship of religion was elevated to a high standard.
"Each year saw its newcomers and raised the membership of the parish. Filled with an earnest desire to serve God in the best manner possible and actuated by the lofty ambition to make him better known and loved, they appealed to their beloved pastor for a larger church, a more suitable and up-to- date building. Father Brisard heard their plea and relying on the earnest co-operation of his faithful flock, he at once set to work to satisfy their wish. Plans were prepared and no time was lost in putting them into execution. With all their will- ingness and ready help it was a very difficult task.
"Brick masons were scarce, as also were skilled carpenters. The bricks were burned on the ground near the cemetery, while the stone was hauled over fifteen miles of heavy, rough roads. A few weeks saw the old log structure razed to the ground, but it required the labor of many long months to re- place it with the present brick edifice. Gumption and work, and still more work, backed by a firm and fixed will to suc- ceed, kept them steadily employed.
"The corner-stone was set in place in the year 1866 and a few weeks later services were held within the sacred walls. They had given their best efforts to its completion, and were now reaping the reward of their many sacrifices." * * *
"In June, 1899, to meet the crying needs of his good people, Father Denning superintended the building of an addition to the rear of the church which included a large sanctuary and two sacristies which not only increased its capacity, but also enhanced its beauty."
"The Rev. James Kelly succeeded Rev. Denning as resident pastor and during his short term, the commodious nine-room pastoral residence was planned and completed.
In March, 1905, Rev. Kelly was succeeded by the Rev. Fred- erick Veil, who after a three-year pastorate was followed by the present pastor, Rev. John Gnau.
The line of pastors since the founding of the church has in- cluded the following names: Navarron, Loui, Rollinet, Hob- ryam, Converse, Henneberg, Langlois, Brisard, Kreusch, Kay- ser, Richert, Heurer. Roth, Bourian, Boehmer, Jakob, Missler, Denning, Kelly, Veil and Gnau.
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"The first road which was cut through the northeastern section of the county was that done by the government in 1847, and called the Fort Recovery road, connecting French- town and Versailles. The state road through the southern part of the county was also cut through at this time."
Versailles.
Versailles, the largest village and most important trading center in the northern part of the county was laid out in 1819 by Silas Atchinson under the name of Jacksonville. It's lo- cation, no doubt, was determined by the intersection of four important highways, viz .: the state road, running from Belle- fontaine, through Sidney to Jacksonville and thence to Green- vlle; the Piqua, Fort Rowdy (Covington) and Fort Recovery road ; the St. Mary's and Greenville road, and the Sidney Cyn- tha Ann and Jacksonville road. These roads in early days were distinctly mud roads, ungraded, corduroyed through the swamps and bridged after the "hogback" style over the small streams. However, they were relatively important and were a determining factor in Jacksonville's growth and prosperity. The erection of the "Bee Line" railway through here in 1853 instead of through the county seat was another factor of great importance in determining the future of the village. Its inter- mediate location with reference to Greenville, Sidney and Celina also contributed materially toward making it the com- mercial center of the northeastern part of the county. That part of the town lying north of the creek was known as Georgetown in early days and later as North Jacksonville. The coming of large numbers of French settlers about 1833 caused the two towns to be incorporated under the name of Versailles, in honor of the old French capital. Although lying in the Swamp creek valley, one of the most fertile sections of the county, Versailles is built on a glacial knoll, slightly ele- vated above Indian creek, has a sanitary location with plenty of good water and good drainage facilities. Being eighteen miles from Sidney and some thirteen from Greenville, it lias a large territory from which to draw trade and has prospered in a commercial way. A disastrous fire razed the central and business section of the village on July 6, 1901, causing a loss estimated at some four hundred and fifty thousand dollars with insurance approximating two hundred and twenty thous- and dollars. The fire started mysteriously in Sheffel's old
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