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 72
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cabin. The report of the old Queen's arm they usu- ally accepted as a recognition of their friendly call, and retired for the night, accordingly, leaving the family to resume their repose undisturbed. Mr. Ort, as may reasonably be sup; osed, passed through many hardships -- suffered many privations incident to pioneer life. His first grist he carried to mill on his back, a distance of eight miles, and returned the same day. By his unflagging toil, he cleared up a farm of heavy timber land, made a comfortable home and secured a fair competence for those that might come after him. He died of consumption in the spring of 1863, at the age of forty-nine years; since which time, Mrs. Annie M. Ort, now in the six- tieth year of her age, being born April 8, 1824, has succeeded, by her more than common industry and good management, and provided for her house- hold, thought some of her children were quite small at the death of their parent. The farm now contains 246 acres, and is counted among the best farms on the South Ridge, which is unequaled for productive- ness by any portion of the county. The family consist of nine children-William, Henry, Mary, Catharine (died in infancy), George, John C., Katie C., Minnie and Adam S. William, the eldest, born February 6, 1842, remained at home, helping his mother, until April 26, 1866, at which time he mar- ried Sarah J. Davis, and by her had two children, both of whom died in infancy. His wife died August. 29, 1874. He then came to Defiance and engaged in the grocery business. He married, for his second wife, the Widow Marcellus, of Defiance, September 15, 1875. Henry, the second son, who still lives on the farm with his mother, was born February 7, 1844; married September 20, 1868, to Sarah A. Heister, who died June 16, 1880. Mary was born August 24, 1846; married, August 8, 1868, to Jacob P. Davis. Catharine, boru October 20, 1848, died October 5, 1849. Hattie, born Jannary 9, 1851; married, April 11, 1872, to John H. E. Sebatz. Minnie, born March 1, 1853, died June 22, 1876. George, born May 17, 1855, married May 18, 1878, to Catharine Hiro. John K., born February 18, 1858; married, June 9, 1879, to Elizabeth Hahn. Adam L., born July 3, 1860.
. Orestus U. Woodward, farmer, P. O. Defiance, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1832, and is a son of Eleazer and Henrietta (Ingraham) Wood- ward, natives of Connecticut. He died in New York in 1843. Mrs. W. came to Ohio, and died in Henry County in 1855. Nine children were born to them- five are living, four of whom reside in Henry County, Ohio. Our subject was reared on the farm, and ob- tained a good academic education. In 1856, he came to Defiance County, and in 1858, purchased a farm
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
of eighty acres, on which he located in 1859, the same place being his present home. He is a member of the first Defiance Grange, which was organized December 16, 1873, and is the present Master. He was appointed Deputy, and organized the Granges of the county Mr. W. began teaching in the public schools in New York in 1852, and afterward taught in Pennsylvania. He has likewise taught in the schools of Henry and Defiance Counties since 1855. In 1858, he was married to Miss Margaret J., daughter of Samuel Rohn, by whom he has had four children, viz., Clayton, Rollin, Grace and Gertrude.
J. B Elliott, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. De- fiance, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Decem- ber 5, 1837, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Seward) Elliott. He (Samuel) was born in Ireland in 1800, and in 1817, accompanied by his mother, brother and two sisters, emigrated to America and settled in Ohio. They were preceded in this county by two sons, and after the mother came two other sons. Samnel Elliott was a son of John Elliott, who died in Ireland. The children of John who came to this conntry were James, Moses, Andrew, Charles, John, George, Samuel, Jane, Thomas, Fanny and Simon. All originally settled in Holmes County, Ohio, and afterward a part of the family removed to Coshocton County, Ohio. Samuel was an Associate Judge of the latter county, and a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He located in this township in 1855, in which he bought 480 acres of land, all of which, excepting sixty acres, is owned by his children. He died September 12, 1859. He was married in 1826, and was the father of ten children, eight of whom are living, viz., Simon, Phoebe, John B., Albert, Nancy, Sarah, Samuel W. and Hester A. The deceased were Eleanor and Eli. Mrs. Elliott is living, at the age of seventy-eight years. Our subject was reared on the farm, and in the district schools he obtained a good practical edu- cation. September 8, 1861, he was married to Mi- randa, dangliter of Philemon and Rachel Dodd. He first settled in Adams Township, and in 1864 located where he now resides. To them have been born eight children, six of whom are living, viz., Nettie, Emma, Sarah, William F., Ruth and Rachel. Ellen and Charles deceased. In October, 1862, Mr. E. enlisted in Company G of the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served till Angust, 1863. Philemon and Rachel Dodd, parents of Mrs. J. B. Elliott, were natives of New Jersey, and located in Adams Township, this county, in 1842, in which both died, he in 1859, aged sixty years; she departed this life December 2, 1875, aged sixty-seven years.
A. Elliott, farmer, P. O. Defiance, was born in
Coshocton County, Ohio, December 27, 1839, and is a son of Samuel Elliott, of whom mention is made above. His boyhood was passed upon the farm, and obtained the advantages of a common school educa- tion. November 2, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, of the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry; served under Gens. Burbridge and Stoneman; saw active service until the close of the war, and was honorably dis- charged November 25, 1865. Upon his return to civil life, he settled on the farm where he now resides, owning 200 acres of land, 100 acres of which are well improved. September 22, 1868, he was married to Henrietta, daughter of John and Anna (Wolcott) Emory, of Fulton County, Ohio, by whom he has had three children, viz., Samuel, Flora Belle and Albert Wolcott.
Isaac F. Braucher, the only surviving son of Isaac E. Braucher, was born where he now resides Decem- ber 1, 1848. He was married, March 21, 1872, to Rose, daughter of John Parrott, of Knox County, Ohio, who has borne him four children, viz., Ger- trude, Alice, Earl and Mary. His brothers, Al. phonso L. and Benjamin F., were members of Com- pany G, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which they enlisted in September, 1861. The former was mnstered into service as Second Lientenant; he died at Somerset, Ky., January 2, 1862, aged thirty- three years. The Jatter died at his home Angust 6, 1862, at the age of nineteen years.
Samuel Rohn, farmer, P. O. Defiance, was born May 12, 1812, in Northampton County, Penn. He was reared on a farm, ard was nine years old when his parents settled at Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio. The following year, he came with his parents to Defiance County. He remained with his parents till about twenty-two years of age. In July, 1833, he was married to Miss Charity Hughes, daughter of Edward Hughes, of Adams County, Ohio. He and his wife settled in this county quite early, in which . both lived until they died. Mr. R. purchased land in his present vicinity, in which he first settled. At present he owns 370 acres of excellent land, highly improved. He has held some of the petty offices of the township, but has never had any aspiration for political honors. To Mr. and Mrs. Rohn were born ten children, six of whom are living, viz., Margaret, Helena, Adelia A., Orisa B., Samuel W. and Frank H. His deceased children were named Joseph, Telitha, Nancy J. and Martha E. Mrs. R. died in September, 1878, aged sixty-five years eleven months and twenty eight days. He has been quite successful in life, having accumulated a good property, and is spending his declining years amidst the comforts of life.
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XX X
TIFFIN TOWNSHIP-EARLY VOTERS-VILLAGE OF EVANSPORT-EVANSPORT LODGE, F. & A. M., NO. 511-PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
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HIS township was organized in 1832. The first election was held at the house of Ephraim Doty, and the following are remembered as first voters: Ephraim Doty, Enos Purtee, Lewis Purtee, Samuel Russell, Oliver Conrad, Peter Knipe, Jacob and George Hall, Jacob, John and Adam Coy, John and Thomas Holmes and John Snider. The officers elected were Jacob Coy and Ephraim Doty, Justices of the Peace; John Snider, Constable and Treasurer; James Guth- rie, Clerk; Jacob Coy, Ephraim Doty and probably Enos Purteo, Trustees.
The first school in Tiffin was taught by Ephraim Doty, in a double log cabin, which stood on his farm in the north west quarter of Section 21. Hester Ann, George and William Partee, Caleb, Andrew and Polly Coy and Houston Russell and Kitty, Rachel and Abner Doty were the pupils. One end of this double cabin was used for a blacksmith shop. The first schoolhouse was afterward built near the old Evansport Cemetery. John Arnold and John Cam- eron were early teachers in that shop. There are now ten schoolhouses in the township, six of them brick. Ephraim Doty was the first settler in the township, coming about 1825 and settling on Tiffin River, then called Bean Creek. Enos Purtee fol- lowed soon after; also Lewis Purtee and William Graham. Samuel Russell and John Acus came in the spring of 1831, and in the fall of the same year the Coys, Sniders, Halls and Mrs. Conrad. Mr. Hol- lingshead and James Guthrie settled soon after, but did not remain long.
The first sermon was delivered at the cabin of Enos Purtee by Rev. Prior. There are now six churches in the township, two at Evansport, a Meth- odist Episcopal Church on Section 33, which cost over $1,000, a German Methodist Episcopal Church on Section 15, which cost abont $700, a United Brethren Church on Section 15, which cost over $800, and a Catholic Church on Section 31, which cost over $3,000,
Tiffin River was the only public highway open to the first settlers, and canoes and pirogues the only means of conveyance or transportation. About 1847, a boat called the Experiment plied between Evans- port and Brunersburg; its capacity was 600 bushels of wheat.
Ephraim Doty, the first settler, died in 1845. He built the first saw mill in the township, on Doty Run, on the old up and down style; he also had the first brick kiln in the township, from which the settlers got their brick to build the chimneys of their cabins. About the year 1834 or 1835, Lewis Purtee built a saw mill on Webb Run in Section 34, and had a small run of stone to grind corn for the early set: tlers, but it has long since passed away. Mr. John Plummer, an old hunter, trapped in the township several years before any settlement was made, and settled in the township about 1835. Mr. Frederick Von Beron erected a tannery about 1842, in Section 16, and carried on quite extensively until about 1866, when he sold his farm and moved to Iowa. About the year 1847. there was a small distillery carried on by Jacob Kintighi, which disappeared abont 1855. Abont the year 1852, a great wolf hunter named Skiver came through the township, and was so well skilled in hunting wolves that he rid them all out so they have troubled nothing since. He could track them better than a dog. About the year 1837, came the Toberons, Hockmans, Biderwells, Shermans, Rum- keys, Wisemiller and Miers; all German families, and settled on the east side of Tiffin River, forming what is called the German settlement, but now mostly En- glish.
The soil of Tiffin Township along the river was covered with walnnt, poplar, beech, sugar, white ash, huckleberry, dogwood, wild cherry, white and red oak, making farms when brought under cultivation equal to gardens. Away from the river, the timber was mostly burr oak, white oak, black ash, elm and hickory, with some beech and sugar ridges, making it more difficult to bring under cultivation, but with proper drainage it brings good wheat and corn, clover and timothy, all kinds of fruit do well, but apples and pears do the best. As an agricultural township, Tiffin is second in the county in wheat and corn, with plenty of good pasture land to roar horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, there being some fine stock in the township.
EARLY VOTERS.
The following were the voters of Tiffin Township in October, 1845: Reuben Brown, Permenus Kib- ble, Frederick Ingle, Henry Graham, Wesley Brown,
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-HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
Isaac H. Huyck, Isaac W. Gibbs, William Purtee, James Purtee, Henry Brown, Lewis Purtee, John Collins, Jr., Andrew Sellinger, Jacob Coy, Lawrence Purteo, Patrick McCauley, Mordecai Cameron, Will- iam Stinger, Robert Kibble, John Snider, David Stranser, Henry McCauley, Israel Denman, John Sellinger, Christian Thurmburg, Thurston Russell, Daniel Kintigh, Levin Porter, Simon Figley, Philip MeCanly, E. F. Lindenberger, William C. Porter. Jacob Hall, Henry Hockman, Henry Toberian, Jacob Smith, Stephen Squires, Daniel Martin, Aaren Ben- nett, Alonzo C. Barber, Dederick Biderwell, George K. Kendal, Frederick Tebrian, Solomon Snider, John Donaldson, Samuel Russel, Jacob Dieden, Enos Pur- tee, Ceonrod Rumka, George Purtee, Frederick Van Beron, Caleb Sellinger, Rolle Sellinger, Michael Jus- tic, Jelin Plummer, John R. Cassel, Isaac Evans, Elihu Taylor, Thomas Churchman, Ely Johnston, Solomon Wisler, Coonred Myers, George Hall, John P. Winters, Henry Shearman, Thomas Winters, Nathaniel Mitchel, Efferson Toel, John Wisler, H. B. Hall, John A. Garber, William S. Kintigh, David Myers, Jacob Kintigh, Simon Kent and E. W. Fuller. Patrick McCauley, John Donaldson, and Solomon Snider, Judges; Daniel Martin and Henry McAuley, Clerks; election held at the residence of Jacob Hall.
VILLAGE OF EVANSPORT.
The town was laid out by Jacob Coy and Albert G. and Amos Evans, December 14, 1835. The orig- inal plat consisted of 122 lots. It has a population of abont 350. It has two churches, one Methodist Epis- copal, brick, built in 1874, and cost $2,800 and one United Brethren Church, frame, cost about $800, aud built in 1876. There is one Masonic and one organized Odd Fellows hall. The Masonic hall was built in 1875, The Odd Fellows built in 1871. They have about fifty members each. The school buildings are frame, but have two departments, with about eighty scholars in attendance. There are two dry goods stores, one drug store, one hardware store, five cooper shops, two black- smith shops, two shoe-maker shops, one wagon shop, ยท three millinery and dress-making shops, one harness shop and one post office and twe hetels. The grist mill at Evansport is the only one in the township. It was built in 1836-37 by Jacob and John Coy and John Snider. The saw mill was built about the same time and by the same parties. Both have been running continuously up to the present time The mill is now owned by Fribley & Kimball, the latter pur- chasing an interest in December, 1882. It has been remodeled and rebuilt by Fribley & Co., and does an extensive business. This first mill was built by Coys & Snider, and ceased to grind in 1868. In 1872, Daniel Fribley and Abram Coy built the present
mill on same site, or nearly so, where the old pio- neer mill stood.
EVANSPORT LODGE, F. & A. M., NO. 511.
This lodge was organized under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, October 17, 1875, the charter members being as follows: Enos Kimble, Abram Coy, William B. Showman, John S. Cameron, Samuel Denaldsen, Robert B. Cameron and George W. Scott, John M. Welker, of Bryan, Ohio, being appointed first W. M. At the first election of officers held un- der the charter, the following were chosen: Robert B. Cameron, W. M .; Enes Kimble, S. W .; Samuel Donaldson, J. W .; Abram Coy, Treasurer; John S. Cameron, Secretary; George W. Scott, S. D .; James C. Sandford, J. D .; William B. ' Showman, Tiler. At the time of its organization, the financial condi- tions of the people in its jurisdiction, was such as to prevent many from making application for membership, but as money began to be more plentiful, in consequence of which times got better, men good and true began to inquire the way, and the growth of the ledge from that time to the present has been a steady one, the membership at present numbering sixty. . Present officers for 1883 are Jehn . S. Cameron, W. M .; Judson McCord, S. W .; Frank W. Ury, J. W .; Abram Cor, Treasurer: J. H. Hock- man, Secretary; Robert B. Camerou, S. D .; Sandford Posey, J. D .; and Robert C. Hall, Tiler. Stated meet- ings are held on the first and third Friday evening's of each month, hour of meeting, 7 o'clock, P. M. All Masons in good and regular standing are cordially invited to meet with the brethren of said ledge.
PERSONAL REMINISCENSES.
The Coy Family. Jacob Coy, Sr., and his wife were natives of Germany who immigrated to Beaver County, Penn., in 1857. They were married March 8, 1776, and had a family of five sons and three daughters. John Coy, son of Jacob Coy, Sr., about 1800 settled in Greene County, Ohio, and in 1804 married Mary Jones, and they had six sons and three daughters. John Coy died November 8, 1823, aged forty-one years, his widow and all his family moving to Tiffin 'Township in the fall of 1831. All the members of the family entered Government land. Mary (Jones) Coy, the widow of John, was born in Kentucky August 13, 1787. Her father, John Jones, born in Wales in 1752, came at an early age to America. His wife (nce Nancy Powers) was born in Scotland in 1756, and came when bnt a child to America. They were married in 1776 and had four sens and five daughters.
Jacob Coy, son of John and Mary Coy, was born February 20, 1807, in Greene County, and married
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
January 7, 1830, Mary Shank, and immigrated to what is now Tiffin Township in the fall of 1831. He entered 109 acres of land in Section 3, and com- menced his improvements where Evansport now stands. The village of Evansport was laid out in 1835 by Jacob Coy, Albert Evans and Amos Evans. The first copartnership was formed by Jacob and John Coy and John Snider, in the spring of 1835, for the purpose of building a grist and saw mill. The latter was completed September, 1835, and the for- mer April, 1837. This firm, under the style of Coy & Snider, remained in business up to 1857. Jacob and Mary Coy still survive at a ripe old age, having raised a family of eleven sons and two daughters. Abram Coy, son of Jacob and Mary Coy, was born January 18, 1833, in Evansport, and still resides within a few feet of where he was born. He re- mained at home until twenty-four years old, helping clear up the farm. February 19, 1857, he married Margaret, daughter of John M. and Margaret (John- son) Donaldson, born August 13, 1830, in Lycoming County, Penn., and her parents were natives of Penn- sylvania. Her father was a millwright, and as- sisted in putting up the first mill at Evansport and settled on Section 3. They had six sons and four daughters -- David (dead), John, Rachel (Mrs. C. A. Skinner, and living on the old Donaldson homestead), Mary (wife of Judge J. J. Greene, of Defiance), Mar- garet (Mrs. Abram Coy), Susan and James (both dead), Samuel, Jacob C. and William. Mr. Donald- son was in the war of 1812 as Captain, and had four sons, all commissioned officers, in the late war. One son, James, died in the service; the rest completed. their services at the close of hostilities. The fami- lies who " pitched their tents " together when they first came to Tiffin Township were those of Jacob, . Mary, John and Adam Coy, and John Snider and Jacob and George Hall. We are enabled to give the following sketch of Mary Conrad, whose maiden name was Mary Jones, and whose first husband was John Coy and second husband Oliver Conrad. She was born on the present site of Booneboro, Ky., in the early days of Indian hostilities, and expe- rienced the privations of that era. She sought ref- uge in Boone's fort, and soon after located in Greene County, where she married John Coy, by whom she had nine children. Mr. Coy died in 1823, and after eight years, she, with the old spirit of frontier life, moved into what is now Tiffin Township, when there were but seven families residing therein, wlio all pitched one tent on the banks of Tiffin River near the present residence of Thomas Rethmel. Mrs. Coy, after remaining a widow for years, married Oliver Conrad. She was a fine shot, and found the accom- plishment of service in protecting her crops. She
was energetic and firm as adamant, and beloved by all who knew her. She died in the faith of Jesus Christ at the age of eighty-three. She died December 16, 1870, at her daughter Nancy's (Mrs. John Snider), and was buried at Evansport.
Joseph Collins. William Collins came to this county from Lycoming County, Penn., in March, 1837, aged about seventy-seven years; purchased land, and lived in Tiffin Township eleven years; died in 1848, aged eighy-eight years. Joseph Collins, son of William Collins, was born in Lycoming County, Penn., in 1808; was married to Matilda Tallman in 1831. They bought 200 acres in Section 11, in Tiffin Township, where they moved in 1835. They endured many hardships, in common with those who moved into the thick woods. Their land was cleared by him. Malarial fevers and ague were frequent; supplies often gave out before their crops came in, then long journeys had to be made to get provisions. An incident: Once Mr. Collins was very sick; the flour was all gone; Mrs. Collins must get some. Early in the morning, after leaving the sick man, unable to leave his bed, with their two little girls, aged two and four years; she had to go two miles to the river, through the woods, with no path through the deep snow except a " blazed way," that is, a chip taken off from trees, marking them so that the marks could be seen from one large tree to another; then, after crossing the river, to the farm now occupied by Thomas Rethmel, where J. Leisure lived, she found they had gone to mill the day before; Mrs. Leisure was sick, the man gone, and would not be back be- fore night, and they had nothing in the house to eat; if she went home she would have to come back, and that would take all day; so, with an anxious heart, she stayed, doing what she could for Mrs. Leisure in the meantime, who needed her. Mr. Leisure came with his meal after dark, too tired to go any further. She took what meal she could carry; it took her a long time to get home; she heard the wolves bowl on her way. When she got home, Mr. Collins was making efforts to get out, but could not stand alone; the chil- dren were crying. Before she could make gruel, she had to go out in the cold, and grope around to cut wood. Mr. Collins died March, 1859, aged about fifty years, having lived here twenty-four years. His wife. Matilda Collins, remained a widow for sixteen years. She died January, 1875, aged sixty three years, having lived here forty years. They both were respected by all of their neighbors. The children of Joseph and Matilda Collins were Elizabeth, born May 9, 1832, married to David Justus, July, 1849, de- ceased; Mary Ann Collins was born March 22, 1834, died July 15, 1857, aged twenty-three years; Martha M. Collins, born October, 1849, married to Louis
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
Kucal; Rachel R., born September, 1851, married to Daniel Allison; Tryphena - Collins, born December, 1857, married to Oliver Allison; Joseph Collins, born 1859.
Abram Tallman Collins, oldest son of Joseph Collins, was born July 19, 1837. in Tiffin Township. Married to Magdalena Kindigh April, 1865. Their children were Etta C., died aged fourteen months; Charles T., born April, 1870. Mr. A. Collins en- listed in Company E, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under first call for troops; en- listed again in Company F, One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was in service till the close of the war. In 1865, moved to Stryker, Williams County, where his busi- ness of livery has since been conducted.
John Cameron. The subject of this sketch, and the eldest son of Mordecai and Nancy (Isaacs) Cameron, was born in Donegal Township, Lancaster Co., Penn., June 24. 1807. On the 19th of November, 1829, he was married to Miss Lydia Stenger, of Wayne County, Ohio. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Mohican, in Wayne County, Ohio, where he lived about three years; then moved to Wooster, Wayne County; remained there but a short time, when he returned to his father's, where he left his family and determined to go West and obtain a home for himself and family in Western Ohio. In 1833, he started, alone, with no one to hear him company save the rifle and the compass, and after several days' travel over roads and through swamps almost impass- able, he came to where Toledo is now situated. Only a few huts then marked the place of this now beautiful city. Remaining there a short time, and after painting a schooner belonging to Capt. Platt, he resumed his journey, passing several Indian tribes on his way up the Maumee River. After reaching "Fort Defiance, " he changed his course, and came up Tiffin River as far as Mr. John Wissler's, where he remained a short time looking at the country around Lick Creek, when he returned to his family, yet in Wayne County, Ohio. This was his first visit to Defiance (then Williams) County. Eight more round trips were made by him, all of which were ac- complished on foot. In the spring of 1834, in ccm- pany with his brother, Samuel P. he returned again, and bought land on Lick Creek. In the fall of the same year, he moved his family to their newly adopted home. For many years the log cabin was their castle and he shared bountifully in the hard- ships incident to those early days of pioneer life. He took an active part in showing land to the early settlers, and thus became acquainted with the loca- tion of the most valuable lands throughout the county, as well as with the early settlers, by whom
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