USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43
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Though the Knights Templar flourished for a time, and thousands of the youth of Europe joined the order and marched victoriously to the city of David, and those who survived returned with great pomp, yet when the excite- ment was passed and the sound reasoning of men began to control their ac- tions, and a careful research of the records of the order was made, it was found that its rubrics were too broad and expansive, too catholic in their nature to permit the rules and regulations formulated by the hierarchy to be accepted for the government of the order. When this became known an effort was made to produce a compromise, but all propositions coming from that source were of such a nature that they could not be accepted, and proved futile, and oppres- sion produced a breach that was never healed, a chasm that never closed, a river that was never bridged over.
When the heads of the churches found that suasion and ordinary pres- sure would not bring the order under abject surveillance and meek obedience, a determination to rule or ruin was made manifest, the machinery was put in operation for its destruction, the bulls of expulsion and excommunication were
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promulgated and sown broadcast through the land, and so far as the Roman or Greek churches knew, it was crushed out through the anathemas issued by the ruling spirits and power brought to bear upon the civil authorities. Yet it lived throughout the continent and Great Britain; it survived persecution through the bigotry, ignorance, superstition and ostracism of the dark ages ; like its confreres, it kept up the line of succession, and its good works and moral teachings and precepts were perpetuated and brought down through the ages of men, a cherished heirloom to the present generation, and its history is of the brightest recorded upon her pages, to which its followers and patrons point with pride and veneration.
Many persons, brother Masons, who came to this country during the eighteenth century were Knights Templar, and when they found themselves congregated in number sufficient, made application through and received from the Grand Lodge and Grand Commandery in Great Britain authority to or- ganize subordinate commanderies in this country, and many were instituted, and in the latter part of the last and early part of the present century, the membership having become quite numerous, several Grand Commanderies were organized in the States. By an agreement previously entered into by and between the several Grand Commanderies, delegates were sent to Phil- adelphia in June, 1816. The Grand Conclave assembled, and on the 22d of June, 1816, the Grand Encampment or Commandery of the United States was duly organized, and by virtue of the power and authority thereto delegated, assumed control of the order in this country equal to that exercised by that of other countries; since which time Grand Commanderies have been estab- lished in every State and Territory in this country.
Many of the early settlers of Ohio were Knights Templar Masons when they came here, and early in this century subordinate commanderies were in- stituted, receiving authority as did the other branches of the order from the older States, and as they increased in numbers they began to think that it would be well to have a Grand Commandery in Ohio. Thereupon the proper application was filed with the proper authorities of the Grand Commandery of the United States for authority to organize a Grand Commandery, and Octo- ber 24, 1843, the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio was duly organized at Lancaster, and Michael Z. Kreider, an eminent physician resid- ing in Lancaster, was elected the first grand commander.
Erie Commandery No. 23, Knights Templar .- In September, 1869, N. H. Moore, J. D. Lea, C. J. Parsons and others applied for and received a dispen- sation to organize a subordinate commandery of Knights Templar in this city, which was issued of date of November 6, A. D. 1869, and N. H. Moore was elected the first commander of the Erie Commandery No. 23, Knights Templar, at Sandusky. That by authority from the Grand Commandery, a charter was issued of date of September 15, 1870, and the names of Neil H.
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Moore, James D. Lea, C. J. Parsons, E. S. Chester, J. D. Buck, C. H. Gid- dings, Isaac B. Massey, William Swanson, H. E. O'Hagan, J. A. Hubinger, F. W. Alvord, L. M. Lea, E. Hadley, H. H. Eldis, A. J. Lyon, S. Marks, V. Scott, A. C. Townsend, and John R. Minor, appear therein as charter mem- bers, and it was signed by Heman Ely, R. E., grand commander, and John D. Caldwell, grand recorder. The regular stated meetings of Erie Commandery are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Its membership in good standing at this time is 105, and the officers under the charter for the years 1869 and 1870 were as follows :
1869 .- E. C., Neil H. Moore; G. I., J. D. Lea; C. G., C. J. Parsons ; prelate, J. D. Buck ; S. W., D. G. Pelton ; J. W., J. R. Minor ; treasurer, A. C. Townsend; recorder, V. Scott; Str. Br., H. E. O'Hagan; Swd. Br., Isaac B. Massey ; warder, William Swanston ; sentinel, E. Hadley.
1870 .- E. C., N. H. Moore ; G. I., J. D. Lea ; C. G., C. J. Parsons ; pre- late, Rev. Samuel Marks; S. W., D. G. Pelton; J. W., John R. Minor ; Treas., A. C. Townsend ; recorder, V. Scott; Str. Br., H. E. O'Hagan ; Swd. Br., - -; warder, William Swanston ; sentinel, Fred. Kelsey.
And the officers for the years 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888 were as follows, viz. :
1885 .- E. C., E. M. Colver ; G. I., T. L. Williams; C. G., C. M. Keyes ; prelate, E. H. Wilcox; S. W., H. C. Frederick; J. W., J. P. Seigfreid; treasurer, R. E. Schuck; recorder, Henry Bricken ; Str. Br., A. C. Townsend ; Swd. Br., J. G. Strobel ; warder, D. W. C. Ruff; sentinel, J. B. Taylor.
1886 .- E. C., Thomas L. Williams; G. I., Charles M. Keyes ; C. G., David R. Arnold ; prelate, Edwin Gillard ; S. W. Charles E. Black; J. W., Lewis M. Lea ; treasurer, Randall E. Schuck ; recorder, Henry Bricken ; Str. Br., Asa C. Townsend; Swd. Br., John G. Strobel ; warder, Samuel W. Miller ; sentinel, John B. Taylor, jr.
1887 .- E. C., T. L. Williams ; G. I., C. M. Keyes ; C. G., D. R. Arnold ; prelate, E. Gillard ; S. W., C. E. Black; J. W., L. M. Lea ; treasurer, R. E. Schuck; recorder, Henry Bricken ; Str. Br., A. C., Townsend ; Swd. Br., J. G. Strobel ; warder, S. W. Miller ; sentinel, J. B. Taylor, jr.
1888 .-- E. C., C. M. Keyes; G. I., D. B. Arnold; C. G., C. E. Black ; prelate, Edwin Gillard ; S. W., Charles Stroud ; J. W., E. B. King; treasurer, R. E. Schuck ; recorder, Henry Bricken ; Str. Br., A. C. Townsend ; Swd. Br. J. G. Strobel ; warder, W. L. Lewis; sentinel, John B. Taylor, jr.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. "The encouragement and support of brothers of the order when in sickness, distress, or on travel, and for the pur- pose of benevolence and charity." Such is the object of the order of Odd Fellows; an order that was first founded in this country as a permanent in- stitution in 1818, although it existed therein as early as 1808. The order is strong in Sandusky as the following record of societies will show:
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Ogontz Lodge No. 66 .- This Lodge of the I. O. O. F. is the oldest of the order in Sandusky. It was instituted on the 24th of July, 1846, with the fol- lowing charter members : John G. Camp, jr., John W. Witherell, Theodore Hosmer, William V. Moss, Bryan Hawley, Lester S. Hubbard, Jacob A. Bark- er and C. J. Chadwick.
From these number the charter officers were elected as follows: Noble grand, Bryant Hawley ; vice-grand, Lester S. Hubbard; secretary, John G. Camp, jr .; treasurer, Theodore Hosmer ; R. H. S., Charles Chadwick; L. H. S., Eli M. Barnum. Ogontz Lodge now numbers one hundred and thirty-one active members, among whom are found some of the most substantial ele- ments of the city's German population. It is composed mainly of Germans and does its "work " in that language. The present place of meeting is in the I. O. O. F. Hall at No. 127 Columbus avenue. The officers at the present time are : N. G., Sebastian Dussell ; V. G., Philip Linder ; financial secretary, Gottleib Herman ; recording secretary, Charles Osberghaus ; R. S., William Strack; L. S., Jacob Schmidt ; W., Fritz Eichel ; C., John Fettel ; R. S. S., Jacob Schoor; L. S. S., Paul Herder ; O. G., Fritz Lehner ; I. G., Jacob Lentz ; trustees, C. V. Wagner, George Erhardt and William Pfeiffer.
Vallahalla Lodge (English) I. O. O. F. was instituted under a charter May 30, 1855, but on account of the depletion of its ranks during the war, suspend- ed work, and under that name was never revived.
Sandusky Lodge No. 669 I. O. O. F. was instituted July 10, 1877. Its charter members were J. W. Newman, Allen A. Lyman, Daniel Kunz, Louis Linx, Henry D. Seeley, Frederick W. Alvord, A. W. Dwelle, William Korgele, Herman Kugel, J. W. Traber, C. W. Lane, G. P. Brestol, H. E. Cowell and W. Palmer. The lodge has a present membership of over one hundred per- sons, and is officered as follows: N. G., Fred. Gerold ; V. G., J. Piercey ; Sec., William Ohlemacher ; Perm. Sec'y, David Staner; Treas , Paul Swissinger, R. S., J. Fay ; L. S., Conrad Kreins; Warden, William Bing ; Conductor, Butler Allen ; R. S. S., William Diebold ; L. S. S., Charles Matheas ; O. G,, Henry Miller ; I. G., Adolph Long; Trustees, Conrad Martin, Herman Kugle and Walter W. Bowen.
Sandusky Bay Lodge No. 179, Daughters of Rebeckah, I. O. O. F., was chartered May 21, 1886, with forty-eight members.
Erie Encampment No. 27 I. O. O. F. was instituted on March 3, 1848, with Bryan Hawley, Hiram K. Steele, John Tift, Abijah Ives, John W. Buck- man, Thomas Johnson and Sumner P. Webber as its charter members. Of the first officers Thomas Johnson was elected chief patriarch ; Hiram K. Steele, high priest ; John Tift, senior warden ; Bryant Hawley, junior warden ; J. W. Buckman, scribe, and Abijah Ives, treasurer.
When first organized, and for some years subsequent to that time Erie En- campment worked in German, but afterward a change was made since which
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the work of the order has been conducted in English. Erie has a present membership of fifty. Its meetings are held on the first and third Friday even- ings of each month. The present officers are as follows : Christian Schlenk, C. P .; Butler Allen, H. P .; A. Kolb, S. W .; P. Swessinger, J. W .; Charles Osberg- haus, scribe ; C. V. Wagner, treasurer.
Canton Perry No. 38 I. O. O. F. was instituted by charter dated April 9, 1886, with these charter members : Butler Allen, Charles Bauman, W. W. Bauman, H. E. Dwelle, M. Falotico, Adam Kolb, Ed. Keiner, Conrad Martin, John Mawby, Charles Osberghaus, Philip Schmidt, J. Smith, Paul Swessinger, John C. Whetstone, C. V. Wagner, Philip Ohlemacher, Conrad Kreins and S. D. Cutliff. The membership of this society numbers eighteen persons, and is officered as follows: Captain, A. Kolb; lieutenant, Paul Swessinger ; ensign, M. Falotico ; accountant, C. Baumaux ; standard bearer, Philip Ohlemacher ; guard, C. V. Wagner ; sentinel, Christian Schlenk ; picket, Charles Osberghaus.
The combined Odd Fellows organizations, through the medium of an in- corporated company formed for the purpose, have made preparations for the erection of a temple on Washington Row, west of the Sloane House. The building, according to the plans proposed, will be three stories in height, and cover an area sufficient for four stores on the ground floor. The second story will be used for office and dwelling purposes, while the entire third floor will be fitted for the uses of the order. The entire cost of the building and land is estimated at thirty-five thousand dollars.
Knights of Pythias. This order is as strong, proportionately, as any of the other similiar organizations of the city, and its object is just as worthy and commendable. Friendship, charity and benevolence are the fundamental prin- ciples of Odd Fellowship. The order is founded upon naught but the purest and sincerest motives. Its aim is to alleviate the suffering of a brother, succor the unfortunate, zealously watch at the bedside of the sick, soothe the pillow of the dying, performthe last sad rites at the grave of a brother, offering con- solation to the afflicted, and caring, with a brother's love, for the widow and orphan.
Brotherly love and charity are the pillars on which it rests. Friendship and truth the bond and surety of its preservation.
Western Reserve Lodge No. 128 K. of P. was instituted July 7, 1881, the charter members being William Altstaltter, Charles Baetz. John F. Bredbeck, Henry Denhel, Louis Duennisch, C. J. Gibaut, Henry Graefe, J. Greenfelder, jr., T. J. Holzaepfel, J. M. Holzaepfel, Joseph Hower, Frank Kerber, Gust. Kirner, Fred. Kranz, R. P. Krudwig, Charles Kubach, F. R. Lange, Charles Miller, jr., H. Neumeyer, George Peters, W. E. Sloane, William C. Smith, E. L. Steuk, R. S. Tebbutt, I. J. P. Tessier, Charles L. Wagner, G. Zimmerman.
Western Reserve Lodge, though but seven years old, has a membership of sixty-four. It, in common with all other of the Pythian organizations of the
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city, holds its meetings in the comfortable rooms at No. 620 Water street. The present officers are D. G. C., I. J. P. Tessier ; C. C., Charles V. Marquart ; V. C., J. M. Holzaepfel; prelate, William F. Kubach; K. of R. S., I. J. P. Tes- sier ; M. of E., James Flynn ; M. of F., G. Zimmerman; M. of A., John F. Cameron ; I. G., E. L. Steuk ; O. G., M. P. Byriel.
Courtesy Lodge No. 252 K. of P. was instituted September 6, 1887, with fifty-nine charter members, and is now officered as follows: A. W. Miller, P. C .; George C. Beis, C. C .; E. J. Fay, V. C .; L. M. Lea, prelate ; C. E. Col- ton, K. R. S .; Henry Gertig, M. F .; F. P. Zollinger, M. E .; J. J. Deitz, M. A .; Daniel Schaefer, I. G .; J. M. Lloyd, O. G.
Garfield Division No. 13 K. of P. was instituted March 30, 1882, with char- ter members, viz : Chas. Baetz, Geo. J. Beier, Ph. Bing, J. R. Booth, Jno. F. Bredbeck, M. P. Byriel, John Cameron, John Campbell, Henry Dehnel, Louis Duennisch, James Flynn, C. J. Gibaut, J. Greenfelder, jr., F. J. Holzaepfel, J. M. Holzaepfel, Joseph Hower, Jacob Keene, Frank Kerber Gust. Kirner, Chas. Kubach, Chas. P. Fuchs, Richard Budd, Wm. F. Kubach, Christ Kue- beler, F. R. Lange, Geo. J. Marquart, Chas. Miller, jr., Henry F. Nusly, Geo. A. Owram, Geo. Peters, Chas. Reinheimer, Fred. Schwenk, Wm. C. Smith, E. L. Steuk, R. S. Tebbutt, I. J. P. Tessier, Fred. G. Till, Chas. H. Walther, Frank Ward, jr., G. Zimmerman.
The present members of the division are: Sir Knight Captain, I. J. P. Tes- sier ; lieut., John F. Cameron; herald, John R. Booth ; sentinel, M. P. Byriel: guard, F. A. Kerber ; recorder, G. Zimmerman; treasurer, James Flynn ; chap- lain, W. C. Smith ; quartermaster, John G. Dorn. Division membership forty
Endowment Rank Section No. 528 K. of P. was instituted in November, 1882, with fourteen charter members, viz: James Flynn, John R. Booth, G. Zimmerman, Christian Kuebeler, Chas. Wagner, Geo. Peters, Fred. Schwenk. Wm. C. Smith, Herman Miller, E. L. Steuk, Joseph Hower, G. C. Wattles, Chas. Caetz, Jacob Greenfelder. Present membership 13. Officers for ISSS: Joseph Hower, president ; Gottleib Zimmerman, vice-president; William C Smith, secretary and treasurer.
The Grand Army of the Republic is a military order, numbering in its State membership about forty thousand persons. The order has for its foun- dation stone the great principles of fraternity and charity. It is not, in the most strict sense of the word, a secret organization, yet it has its unwritten work and rituals.
McMeen's Post was organized on the 18t', of March, 1880, with the follow- ing charter members: Elisha M. Colver, William A. Till, W. J. Affleck, Chris- tian Henry, J. R. Booth, S. D. Cutliff, B. F. Church, John Heeter, Charles Groesch, Robert Kimball, George A. Free, William Nash, Henry Landan, Martin C. Cross, John S. Murthy, Henry Bernard, John Geiser, Foster F. Neill, T. M. Cook, James Duffy, Philip Cann, and George R. Marvin.
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The officers for 1880 were William A. Till, post commander ; W. J. Affleck, senior vice commander ; J. R. Booth, junior vice commander; S. D. Cutliff, adjutant ; George A. Free, quartermaster ; T. M. Cook, surgeon; Martin C. Cross, chaplain ; Christian Walter, quartermaster sergeant; Christian Henry, sergeant major.
The first four years of the life of this post were full of ups and downs, dis- couragements and ill luck. Many times it was believed best that the charter should be surrendered, and that the business be closed, but the same faithful- ness and courage that characterized the army Sie of some of the leading mem- bers, served them in this dilemma, and they steered the craft through safely ; and the following two years, the fifth and sixth, witnessed the acquisition of new life in the society, giving it an impetus in growth and development, both numerically and financially. The present membership numbers two hundred.
The McMeens Post takes its name from Dr. Robert R. McMeens, formerly surgeon of the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who died suddenly at Perry- ville, Ky., while in the faithful discharge of his duties as medical director. Surgeon McMeens was among the first to offer his services to his country. On first entering the service he was made regimental surgeon, and by his gen- tlemanly deportment and undoubted professional skill, won for him the confi- dence and esteem of his brother officers; and a: their request he was appointed medical director. Up to the date of his death. October 30, 1862, he continued in active service, filling many important positions in the medical department of the army. In his death the army lost a kind hearted, faithful and efficient officer, the country a true patriot, and the medical profession one of its bright- est ornaments.
McMeens Post does not number among its members any officers that at- tained a high rank during the war, a colonel being the highest. Its officers have been, and still are, mostly from the ranks, and its standing in the depart- ment aptly illustrates the quality of the men that went to make up the rank and file of the grand army that saved the nation, and made stable the unity and integrity of the republic.
The present officers of McMeens Post are as follows : Charles B. Dennis, post commander; R. W. Forster, senior vice-commander; Joseph T. Marshall, junior vice-commander ; Josh. B. Davis, adjutant ; Benjamin W. Thompson, quartermaster ; Edwin Gillard, surgeon; Isazs T. Mack, chaplain ; Lewis M. Lea, officer of the day ; John Heeter, officer c: the guard.
Craig Camp No. 143, Division of Ohio, Sins of Veterans, was organized October 22, 1886, with the following charte: members : E. T. Rogers, F. H. Heyler, Ph. H. Traub, C. C. Canfield, E. S. Hines, C. N. Weis, Jacob Wilder- kehr, E. T. Briggs, Alta F. Cook, H. S. Oram. C. A. Craig, J. W. Cherry and C. W. Kelsey.
Sandusky Lodge, No. 102, Knights of Honor. was instituted April 16, 1875,
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with charter members as follows: L. H. Lyman, B. F. Ferris, P. J. Niederlander, A. C. Niederlander, W. S. Spencer, William H. Van Horn, Frederick Groch, Charles C. Martin, I. B. Massey, Voltaire Scott, A. D. Kinney, E. M. Colver, J. W. Farwell, A. Bear, R. M. Hubbard. The lodge has a present member- ship of fifty-eight persons, and is officered as follows : Dictator, L. R. Hawes ; vice-dictator, Gottleib Zimmerman ; reporter, B. W. Townsend ; financial re- porter, N. A. Hadden ; treasurer, Charles E. Boughton ; guard, F. C. Reh- berg; inside guard, J. W. Farwell; outside guard, William W. Collins ; past dictator, W. C. Zollinger.
Royal Arcanum. The only representing society of this order in this city is Erie Council No. 152, which was chartered on May 3d, 1880, upon the follow- ing membership: J. D. Woolsey, D. C. Powers, J. W. Cherry, E. J. Waye, B. F. Ferris, E. E. Upp, P. H. Clemons, William S. Milne, H. C. Huntington, C. Ruff, Mozart Gallup, Arthur Phinney, Albert Texter, Henry Graefe, U. T. Curran, E. M. Colver, J. Q. Nichols, S. B. Dewey, WV. V. Latham, John Mc- Kelvey, Charles V. Olds, R. M. Wilcox, J. W. Holland, E. Hadley, Thomas McFall, E. H. Howe and F. W. Thomas.
The society has prospered fairly well and has fifty-seven members on its roll. It is officered as follows : Past regent, A. J. Neesly ; regent, J. Q. Nich- ols ; vice-regent, A. M. Roegele; deputy grand regent, William K. Marshall ; orator, E. J. Wayne ; secretary, F. H. Schnaitter ; treasurer, Charles A. Git- cher ; warden, J. L. Reiger ; guide, Frank Pelz ; sentry, Otto Ilg.
Knights of Maccabees. Two societies of this order are in existence in this city : Protection Tent No. 7. and Junior Camp No. I, with uniformed rank. The first, Protection Tent, was chartered on September 16, 1884, with William Forde, Frank L. Welch, DeWitt Herman, Thomas O. Whitmarsh, Henry Graefe, Henry W. Wagenet, Charles Graefe, Frank E. Jones, Willard A. Bishop, G. A. Marsh, jr., Lewis A. Biehl, Fred. C. Wininger, Charles H. Reeves, Theo- dore F. Spencer, Herbert A. Chandler, Leonard S. Johnson, August H. Arend, John Traub, A. R. Scudder and Fred W. Stephens as original members.
The uniformed rank, Junior Camp No. I, of the order, was instituted Feb- ruary 23, 1886, with charter members as follows : Charles H. Reeves, Charles Graefe, L. R. Hawes, J. M. Schumacher, F. W. Stephens, George F. Schmidt, L. A. Biehl, J. H. Jones, J. J. Marquart, J. M. Kistner, Joseph Andres, Frank Spiegel, H. A. Chandler, Clayton Platt, Thomas Hickling, Charles A. Craig, Frank H. Jones, Charles H. Ferguson, C. Arnold, C. G. Shippel, P. Schu- macher, William E. Fischer, W. C. Dahnk, M. P. Kinney, C. B Wilcox and Lewis F. Flint.
Sandusky Council No. 2, Order of the Red Cross. This order, over the charter of which appears the symbolic words, omnia pro caritati, was organ- ized on the 18th of July, 1885, with these persons as charter members : George D. Williams, William Balsley, Charles Graefe, George W. Knight,
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Wilber F. Clark. Ed. P. Brohl, Ed. C. Riegger, E. J. Miller, Albert Apple, Wilby Clothier, William Bender, William B. Curth and J. C. Scheifler.
Prominent among the orders of the city not hereinbefore mentioned, is that known as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the first society of which, in Sandusky, was organized in 1871, and was known as Sandusky Di- vision No. 130. The present organization is known as Put-in-Bay Division, No. 208.
The Ancient order of Hibernians has an organization in the city, as also has the National Union (Bay Council No. 49) ; the Druids, whose mystic ini- tials are V. A. O. D., by Guttenberg Grove, No. 9 ; the D. O. H., by Blue- cher Lodge No. 109, and the Knights of Labor (K. of L.)
The German societies, other than some above mentioned, are abundant, and are represented by the Active Turn Verein, the Social Turn Verein, the Arbeiter Unterstuetzungs Verein, the Frohsiun Gesang Verein, the Sandusky Liederkranz, the Union Benevolent Association, the Bavarian Benevolent As- sociation, the Harmonie Singing Society, and possibly others, all of which for further mention will be found in the " German chapter " of this work.
The Sandusky Light Guard. This, the only military company of the city, was organized pursuant to the provisions of the State Legislature, in the year 1875, and was mustered into service as a part of the Ohio State Guard on the 3d of May of that year. Henry Dehnel was the first commandant, and upon his retirement was succeeded by George Bachman, and the latter in turn by Charles M. Keyes, in 1878.
On July 13, 1885, Captain Keyes was made lieutenant-colonel of the Six- teenth Regiment Ohio State Guard, to which the Sandusky Guard was at- tached, and Edmund B. King succeeded to the command of the company. His commission was dated July 29, 1885.
The Sandusky Light Guard is a well-uniformed and well-disciplined com- pany, and numbers fifty-one young and active men. It is officered as follows : Edmund B. King, captain; George P. Barker, first lieutenant; W. L. Lewis, second lieutenant ; W. R. Zollinger, first sergeant,
PORTLAND TOWNSHIP.
The history of old Portland township was made between the years 1827 and 1872. Prior to the first named year it was attached for civil purposes to Perkins township, but in that year it was detached and erected into a separate township and given the name of Portland, signifying " land lying upon the water," a name that years before, by common consent, but not by any com- petent authority, was applied to this city.
Portland, as a township, never acquired much history except through its connection with Sandusky, by which it was eventually absorbed and passed out of being. Unfortunately its early records cannot be found, and it is pre-
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sumed that they have been destroyed or lost. There does remain, however, a record book, showing proceedings from 1838 to 1859, from which a partial list of its leading officers has been obtained ; and it will be observed that many of these officers were residents, and, occasionally, officers of the municipality of Sandusky, which was an integral part of the township, although a corporation by itself. From an old township record found in the city clerk's office the fol- lowing persons were found to have served in the local offices of Portland town- ship, from the year 1838 to 1858, both inclusive :
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