USA > Ohio > Defiance County > History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, etc.; military record; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; farm views, personal reminiscences, etc > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
Shaw lives, and Ransom Osborn bought the 100 acres where George Norrick lives, in Section 17.
All these lands were sold at $5 per acre, part down and part on time. No lots in the town were sold that year, nor any other lands within this town- ship.
During all the year 1838, Mr. Edgerton sold no lots nor lands anywhere. Although building and paying out large amounts of money, no one was willing to buy land of him. Many of those employed were the owners of small tracts of land, which they were seek- ing to improve, and many had families to support, and a little money was a necessity to them. Land was everywhere cheap -too cheap to sell. The spec- ulations in 1836 were land speculations -no rail- road or fancy stocks, or wheat corners then-and when the financial crash of 1837 came, down went real estate everywhere, and fortunes with it. Specu- lators' lands were in the market at less than the Gov- ermment price, $1.25 per acre. Section 11, in this township, where Lash, Edson and Babbage now have fine farms, were sold for $1 per acre by an Eastern man, who had entered it with large quantities in other counties.
In 1839, there were only six land sales made- 120 acres in Section 14, May 13, to Stephen Hinkle, being the Elliott farm now; eighty acres in Section 17, to Amzi D. Meese, being the Widow Shaw farm; and eighty acres to William H. Slater, in Section 18, now part of the Hemery farm. There was also sold to Jonathan C. Bayes and James Cornell 240 acres in Section 23, Clinton Township, Fulton County. This land is now in part the town plat of the town of Wanseon, on the Air Line Railroad. There was neither canal nor railroad thought of anywhere near that part of the country then.
Among the earliest settlers in the township were David Landis, Mark W. Babb, William Hollinger and Nelson Tustason, on the Fort Wayne road; Alonzo Works, Ezra Dickson, James Thomas, Lnther Loveland, Lewis Michalls and Hugh J. Marcellus, on the Newville road; Allen Pearson, David Blain, Joshua Hall, Isaac Miller and Isaac Wartenbe on the Edgerton road; Buenos Ayres, David Grier, John Ryan, Ebenezer Johnson, Casper Ginter and Thomas McCurdy, on the Bryan road. All the above were here in 1846. The first settler on the Bryan road was Buenos Ayres, on Section 15, now the John Clem- mer farm, and the next David Grier, on Section 1, where his widow now lives. He bought his land in 1840. Loveland and James Thomas were the first settlers on
William Allen commenced the first clearing on tlie Fort Wayne road, and William Hollinger and Mark W. Babb followed. They bought their land October 11,
280
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
1842. On the Edgerton road, Joshua Hall was the first settler. He bought in the northeast quarter Sec- tion 8, November 25, 1840, and settled there soon thereafter. On the Spencerville road, William H. Slater built the first cabin in 1840, and Amzi D. Meese followed.
MILLS.
The first mills were those erected at Hicksville by the Hicks Land Company. Mr. Edgerton com- menced the erection of new mills, and completed them in 1838-39, at a cost of $20,323, and ran them until the 10th of December, 1840, when they were burned. This was a great loss to the country around as well as to the owners of the mills.
The Hicks Company, notwithstanding their losses determined at once on rebuilding the mills, and steps were taken to that end. New mills were built in 1841-42 at a cost of $9,542.21, and they con- tinned to run successfully until burned, Jan. 9,1850.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first birth in the township was a boy, the child of Buenos and Sarah Ann Ayres, in 1837. It lived abont seven montlis. The first death was in 1836, a child (not born here) of Samuel C. Arnold, who married a daughter of Mr. Osborn. It was buried in the old graveyard, where the Hicksville flouring mills of T. W. Kerr & Co. now stand. The first girl born in the township was Anne Josephine O'Connor, daughter of Joseph M. and Margaret O' Connor. She was born in 1838, in a board kiln, which had been fitted up for temporary family use. It stood in front of where John Clay now lives, on Lots 181 to 184.
But what could a town be without a wedding ? The first wedding in the township was that of Allen Parker and Esther Osborn, who concluded to do their part toward giving the town character and growth. They were married November 14, 1839, in a little frame house on the corner where Lewis & Otis' drug store now is, on Lot 138, the same building now on Lot 97, Edgerton's Second Addition, and occupied by Mr. Wright.
Amzi D. Meese was the first Justice of the Peace; Ransom Osborn and Alonzo Work were his imme- diate successors.
VOTERS OF 1845.
The following settlers of Hicksville voted at the election held in October, 1845: Bela Edgerton, Jos- eph M. O'Connor, Joseph Jamison, Byron Bunnell, Alfred P. Edgerton, Streper Hinkle, John Ryan, Ebenezer Johnson, Joshua Hall, Albert Pond, George Clemmer, Daniel Hale, Buenos Ayers, G. O. Williams, Isaac Wartenbee, Alfred O. Williams, Truman Forry, Ezra Dickeson, Samuel Diehl, James W. Blain, Hugh J. Marzellis, Madison Reniball, Casper Gin-
ter, Andrew Finley, Edward Wood, Lewis Michaels, Hays G. Lure, David Blain, Charles E. Johnson, David M. Quin, Thomas C. M. Curdy, Alonzo Works, David Landis, Allen Pierson, Charles Bevington. Luther Loodend, Richard Ford; Byron Bunnell and Streper Hinkle, Judges; Bela Edgerton and Joseph M. O'Connor, Clerks.
HICKSVILLE.
Hicksville was laid out in 1836, for John A. Bryan, Henry W. Hicks and Isaac S. Smith, by Mil - ler Arrowsmith, then Deputy Surveyor of the coun- ty. As thus surveyed the town remained until 1841, when all the lots except those on High and Main streets were vacated. As mentioned before, it was founded by the members of the land companies hav- ing large investments in this locality, for the purpose of enhancing the value of their property and enabling them to dispose of it on favorable terms. When Ransom Osborn, whose sketch is given below, moved to Hicksville in 1836, he found only two cabins had been erected by the company; one was occupied by Daniel Comstock, the other by Robert Bowles. Mr. Osborn's cabin was the third. It stood near the homestead of A. P. Edgerton. When A. P. Edgerton arrived at the village, April 17, 1837, he found here a log cabin in the middle and at the crossing of Main and High streets, where Ransom Osborn kept board- ers; a log cabin occupied by Buenos Ayers, in which he took his first meal in Hicksville, on Lot 143, where Stull's store now is; a cabin occupied by Ephraim Burwell, on Lot 139, where Dr. Rakes- traw's house stands; a cabin occupied by Robert Bowles, on Lot 202, back of St. Paul's Church; a shanty on Lot 200, where Dr. Bracy's house stands, and a shanty occupied as a store on Lot 216, near the corner where his office is; and a log blacksmith shop where Ben Davis' house stands, on Lot 17, Auditor's plat. The saw mill was raised on Lot 18, Anditor's plat, on the ground now occupied by John A. Miller's house, and had been running. There were neither provisions nor money here, and nothing but woods and debts everywhere around. Streper Hinkle was the first blacksmith, Ezekiel Mowry the next. Mr. Edgerton found also the white ash tree, sawed down, in front of Lot 208, near St. Paul's Church, with its stump scooped out, wherein Mrs. Osborn, with spring-pole pestle, pounded corn for hominy to feed her hungry boarders. Mr. A. P. Edgerton was the first Postmaster. A mail route extended from Toledo to Fort Wayne along the south side of the Maumee River and its nearest office to Hicksville was at Cranestown, Paulding.
The law permitted the establishment of post offi- ces and of special routes to supply them if the mail
281
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
could be carried thereon for the receipts of the spo- cial office. A route was therefore secured from Cranesville to Hicksville, eleven miles, the mail to be carried once in two weeks.
A contract was made September 29, 1838, with David Landis to carry the mail once in two weeks, afterward changed to a woekly and finally to a semi- weekly mail. Maria Landis, now the widow of Solon De Long. and Ransom Osborn were the witnesses to the contract. John Landis was the first mail carrier, and afterward his brother, Absalom Landis, then a little short-legged, stubby boy.
The first sermon was preached in Hicksville by Rev. Joseph Miller, in the winter of 1837, at the log cabin occupied by Ransom Osborn.
VILLAGE OF HICKSVILLE.
Was incorporated in 1871; the first Mayor was Thomas C. Kinmont, who was elected twice. The second Mayor was James E. Coulter, who served one term. The third Mayor was A. Summers, who was elected in the spring of 1880. The present Mayor is J. E. Coulter.
SCHOOLS.
The first school at Hicksville was taught by Ran- som Osborn in 1836. It consisted of but five pupils -Joseph Bunnell, Sarah Bunnell, Alexander Yaxley and Mary and Caroline Osborn, the two daughters of the teacher. Mr. Osborn taught several terms. The school remained a district school until 1873. In March of that year, an election was held at which it was decided by a vote of 59 to 3 to establish a special school district, and shortly after the following School Board was elected: J. D. Phillips, three years; D. G. Huffman, two years; William Warner, one year. Subsequent elections for members of the board have resulted as follows: 1874-William Warner; 1875- D. G. Huffman; 1876-J. D. Phillips, resigned in 1878; 1877-Rev. S. S. Hyde, resigned in 1878; 1878-J. C. Clay, three years; U. E. Babb, two years; J. M. Ainsworth, one year; 1879-A. Summers; 1880 -J. E. Coulter; 1881-J. C. Clay; 1882-A. D. F. Randolph. In 1874, the main part of the present brick school building was completed. The contract price was $7,400, but with the recent addition, interest, etc., this original cost has been more than doubled. Henry Harris was the first Superintendent in the new building, serving one year. His successors have been F. J. Miller, 1875-77; O. B. Tannehill, 1877-79; F. M. Priest, a few months iu 1879; T. Reese Mil- lison, 1879-82; C. A. Fyke, present incumbent. There are now seven departments, and the course em- braces twelve years. The last school enumeration gives 487 children of school age within the district.
CHURCHES.
Union Presbyterian Church was organized in Farmer Township, September 2, 1848, by Rev. John M. Crabb, an itinerant missionary of Maumee Pres- bytery, old school, with Jesse Fisher and Arthur Cle. land as Ruling Elders. Fourteen individuals consti- tuted the membership. These were Jesse Fisher and Nancy, his wife, Arthur Cleland and Mary, his wife, John Miller and Margaret, his wife, Isaac Miller and Nancy, his wife, William Cleland, William Cle- land, Jr., Andrew Cleland, Joshua Hall and Mary, his wife, and Joshua Woodcox.
Rev. Mr. Crabb was the minister of this church until the close of 1857. Rev. John M. Layman suc- ceeded in 1858, and remained until 1865. He was followed by Rev. B. O. Junkin, in the same year, who was the minister of the church until 1869. Af- ter him, in 1870, Rev. S. S. Hyde took the field and remained until the close of 1877. His successor was Rev. James Quick, in October, 1878, who remained till February, 1882. Rev. F. M. Baker succeeded him in September, 1882, and is the present minister of the church.
During these thirty-four years, the membership increased from fourteen, at the organization of the church, to ninety-one, at the close of Mr. Quick's ministry.
Hicksville Presbyterian Church was organized on the 12th of May, 1855, by Rev. J. M. Crabb and Elders Arthur Cleland and Thomas Richardson, who had been appointed a committee for this purpose by Maumee Presbytery. Eleven members had been dismissed from Union Church, to enter, with others, into the new organization. These were Daniel Rea- son and Sarah, his wife, John Reason, Matthew R. Scott, and Sarah Ann, his wife, James Maxwell and Elizabeth, his wife, James Miller and Sarah, his wife, Miss Harriet Reason and Mrs. Jane Freese. With these were Israel Richards and Eliza, his wife; Abraham Miller and Eliza, his wife; Mrs. Sarah Moore and Mrs. Eusebia Tustison. Abraham and James Miller were elected Ruling Elders. On the following day, May 13, Isaac Hall and Jane, his wife, C. F. Maynard and E. Frances, his wife, Mrs. Hannah C. Maxwell, Mrs. Sarah S. Reason and Miss Ellen G. Reason were added to the above, making a membership of twenty-four, which had been increased to sixty-three at the close of Mr. Quick's term of service. These churches have had a common history, as they have had, in fact, a com- mon membership. The same ministers have served them both, dividing their labor equally between them, and, with the exception of Mr. Crabb, having their homes within the bounds of one or the other of the churches. Those who constituted the early member.
18
282
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
ship of these churches were among the original set- tlers of the country, and did their full share toward its development, and in giving the community a sub- stantial and honorable character.
The first minister of these churches, Rev. J. M. Crabb, a native of Kentucky, was a strong man, whose positive character did much to fashion the elements with which he had to deal. He was a stranger to fear, and no one chose to come under his rebuke. One of his good members had fallen into the habit of using some loose expressions in his con- versation, and thoughtlesssly did so, on one occasion, in Mr. Crabb's presence. His quick ear heard, and was prompt to speak: " What is that you are say- ing?" That was enough! The rebuke was felt and heeded. He was a good man, and had the respect and confidence of his people.
The next minister, Rev. J. M. Layman, was of Irish parentage, unostentatious, a man who could handle the ax with his compeers, and, at the same time, do effectual work among Greek and Hebrew roots. His Hebrew Bible was his constant compall- ion, and he came to be a recognized authority, as a scholar, in these Bible languages. His term of serv- ice covered the period of our civil war, and, by his quietness and prudence, he passed through it, sharply watched, but retaining the good will and con- fidence of all parties, a very difficult feat for any minister to perform.
Rev. B. O. Junkin followed Mr. Layman. He purchased a small farm near Union Church, and made improvements on it, with reference to a permanent home, but after four years returned to Western Pennsylvania, leaving the churches in about the same condition as when he took the charge of them.
His successor, Rev. S. S. Hyde, was a native of Massachusetts, and a Congregationalist until he as- sumed the charge of these churches. But coming to his field in 1870, the year of the re-union of the oldl and new schools, he entered heartily into the enthu- siasm of the time, and stirred up his churches, in the same direction. An active man, he soon secured the confidence of his churches, and of the outside com- mnnity, in which he was given a position no one of his predecessors had occupied. For several years, he was the only resident minister in Hicksville, and as such was called to attend funerals and to solem- nize marriages in all the surrounding country. In
Sabbath school gatherings and conventions, he was more frequently chosen to preside than any other, and was expected to be ready with a speech on al- most any occasion, and seldom failed to respond. During the seven years of his ministry, both houses of worship were greatly improved, an organ was ob- tained for the Hicksville church, and a communion
service for each of the churches. Until the Meth. odist Episcopal house of worship was built at Hicks- ville, the two denominations worshiped together in the Presbyterian Church, and made one congregation. holding service on alternate Sabbaths, and the Luth- erans, who for a time had no separate service, were alike embraced within the circle of the common in- terest and influence. At Union Church, the congre- gation was similarly constituted. Besides the work at these two churches, Mr. Hyde preached every two weeks, for several years, at Farmer Center, and for some months at Edgerton, in the one direction from Hicksville, and at Antwerp, in Paulding County, in the other, at which latter place, as the result, a Pres- byterian Church was organized July 11, 1871, and a house of worship built, and dedicated November 7, 1875.
But the time came when the two churches, Union and Hicksville, required his whole service, and the other points were relinquished to other hands. As a citizen, Mr. H. interested himself in whatever per- tained to the welfare of the community, particularly in the temperance cause, in which he occupied no half-way position; in the Old Settlers' Association, of which he was made an officer, and in the Cemetery Association as one of its Trustees, for successive years. Near the close of his work in the churches, he was employed, for nearly a year, as Superintendent of the Hicksville Union School, in which position, in connection with the teachers with whom he was as- sociated, a higher standard of school work was at- tained than had hitherto been reached.
In 1878, his name went on the list of " honora- bly retired " ministers, but he has continued to preach. especially on funeral occasions, as there has been a demand.
Rev. James Quick, his successor in 1878, was for several years a missionary of the A B. C. F. M. in Ceylon, and brought to the churches a zeal for for- eign missions, which very much quickened their in- terest, and led to the formation of ladies' mission- ary associations in each of the churches. Mrs. Quick was very active in this direction, and contributed largely to the results achieved. During Mr. Quick's ministry, Union Church was much strengthened by valuable accessions, and he left it stronger finan- cially, as well as numerically, than it had ever been before.
The First Presbyterian Church in Hicksville was built in 1858, on Lots 157, 158, 159, 160, donated for a church by A. P. Edgerton. The contract was made by the Trustees of the church, Alfred P. Ed- gerton, James Maxwell, Daniel Reaser, Sr., Matthew K. Scott and Israel Richard, February 15, 1858, with John Adams, Jr., and Alexander Smith, to complete
283
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
the church by the 1st day of November, for the sum of $1,800. The work was done and final settlement made with the contractors, October 23, 1858, the ex- tra work being $18, the entire cost $1,818.
The church property was conveyed to the Trustees in this manner: " To the Trustees of the First Pres- byterian Church of Hicksville, Defiance County, and State of Ohio, in trust for said church so long as they shall receive the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechism, according to their substance. Said church to be in ecclesiastical connection with ' The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America,' in contradistinction to the 'New School, or Constitutional Assembly of the Presbyterian Church,' said property to be alter- nately held by the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, in case said First Presbyterian Church of Hicksville shall become extinct or depart from said Westminster Confession."
Protestant Episcopal Church. - The first service of the Protestant Episcopal Church held in Hicks- ville was on Sunday, November 9, 1873, whon the Rt. Rev. Joseph C. Talbot, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Indiana (visiting his friend, the Hon. Alfred P. Edgerton and family, at the time) preached, after morning prayer, to a large congregation in the Presbyterian Church on the "Liturgical Worship of the Episcopal Church." After the conclusion of the service, the Bishop suggested to Mr. Edgerton the eroction of a church for the benefit of his family, the friends visiting him during the summer and autumn, and the people of the village, a proposition which was promptly accepted by Mr. Edgerton, and was afterward carried into execution. The next serv- ice by Bishop Talbot was held in Commercial Hall, Sunday, November 29, 1874, when he preached upon the " Catholicity of the Episcopal Church," proving its Protestant character as against the specific errors of the Roman communion.
From the Standard of the Cross, published at Cleveland, Ohio, October 23, 1875, is the account of the Constitution of St. Paul's Church in Hicksville:
"At the suggestion of Bishop Talbot, Mr. Edgerton has erected the past season, opposite the old home- stead in Hicksville, a neat little church, at his solo expense, and has conveyed it in trust, together with the lot on which it stands, to the Diocese of Ohio, as a free gift, to be forever held as a free church, and on Sunday last, October 17, at the request of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Ohio, acting as the ecclesiastical authority, it was solemnly con- secrated by Bishop Talbot. The intrument of dona- tions road by the Rev. Mr. Tate, the sentence of con- secration by the Rev. Dr. French, the prayer by the Rev. Mr. Tate, and the lessons by the Rev. Mr.
Fisse, the Bishop taking only such portions as are assigned him by the rubric and the consecration sermon. The church thus built and consecrated is a wooden edifice, finished in the interior in ash-open roof -- square Elizbethan windows of stained glass, and all the work is as well and substantially done as in our best city churches. It is heated by a furnace, the aisle and church are handsomely carpeted in re the seats are abundantly provided with prayer books, hymnals, and kneeling stools, and there is a fine cab- inet organ. The cost of the church as consecrated was $2,000. A full history of the church is found in the parish records of St. Paul's Church, Hicksville."
Methodist Episcopal Church. - Services by minis- ters of this denomination were held occasionally at Hicksville soon after the first settlements were made here, and about 1840 Rev. J. D. Martin began to preach regularly once in two weeks. He was sent by Elder M June, of the Pulaski Circuit, as a supply. A church organization was offected, which remained quite small until about 1875, at times there being no male members at all. For ten or twelve years, they worshiped in the schoolhouse and subsequently for about the same length of time, through the kindness of the Presbyterians, they held services in the meet- ing house of the latter denomination. The early serv- ices in the schoolhouse were often held under the most discouraging circumstances.
Mrs. C. A. Rakestraw (at that time Miss C. A. Albertson) says that time after time herself and other sister ladies have searched around among the school officers for the key of the house, and then made lights and fire, when they expected meeting.
But if it may seem a little surprising at first view thus to find a few humble females struggling along alone endeavoring to carry the church and thus to keep alive the cause of the Redeemer, we have only to remember that it was not the only time that Jesus first manifested himself to the women.
Finally the church began to increase both in nu- merical and financial strength, and in the year 1875 Hicksville was made the head of a circuit. The Rev. B. Wallace was sent upon the new circuit and took up his residence at Hicksville. The same year the Hon. A. P. Edgerton donated to the Methodist Church a lot of land large enough upon which to build a church and ,a parsonage, on the corner of Morill and Edgerton streets.
The parsonage was built in 1875, and the church the next summer (1876). The cost of the parsonage was about $1,000 and the church $5.000.
There is at present a membership of about ninety. They have preaching every Sabbath morning at 11 o'clock; at 7:30 in the evening. They also have a large Sunday school in a flourishing condition.
Lutheran services were held in Hicksville as early
284
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
as 1859. From 1859 to 1877, occasional services were held by the following-named Lutheran pastors, viz : Bartholomew, Herring, Hunt, Synider and Long. The congregation was organized under the pas- toral services of the Rev. J. M. Long, in the adop- tion of a constitution and the election of its officers, September 9, 1877. At the organization, the commu- nicant membership numbered but 21. The roll of membership now numbers 42. The congrega· tion having no house of its own, holds its services in the Presbyterian Church. Rev. J. Wesner, its pres- ent pastor, served the congregation since December, 1881. Thepresent council consists of the pastor, ex- officio; Jacob Gruber, Elder; W J. Kleckner, Deacon.
The Christian Church at Hicksville was organ- ized 1 74, with twenty-five members, their first meet- ing being held at Commercial Hall. In 1876, a neat brick church was erected on Main street, since which it has had regular pastoral services, its mem- bership having reached 165, and it has a very large Sunday school. Its present pastor is R. G. White, of Ashland, formerly of Toledo. This church is har. monious and prospering.
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.