USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 24
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As a proof of the strictness of church rules, and their enforcement. in years gone by, it is related to me by a friend that the late William Taylor, of Findley, was once reported to the congregation that met at the house of Jacob Poe, as having been guilty of violating the rules regarding the keep- ing of the Sabbath day, which violation occurred in this wise :
At that day the means of transportation of produce and other barter to a market, was by floating it down the Blanchard, Auglaize and Maumee, to Perrysburg or Toledo. Mr. Taylor was in trade at Findley, and desiring to make a trip, had his fleet of canoes loaded, waiting for a rise in the river, and a favorable time to set out on his voyage. After waiting a few days, the favorable time to start came on Sun- day, and Mr. Taylor being impatient by delays, shoved off his canoes, and silently, perhaps, floated down the peaceful
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History of Hancock County.
Blanchard, never intending any disrespect to the day or the church. But the church dignitaries could not overlook so flagrant a breach of church regulations, and Bible com- mands, and Mr. Taylor was cited to appear and answer, and to show cause why he should not be visited with the penal- ties of his disobedience. My friend says he came, an- swered, confessed, and was forgiven.
In 1832 the first school house was built in the township, on the farm now owned by John Reed, Esq. Richard Wade was the first teacher. . There are now eight school houses in the township, the most of which are commodius buildings. The youth of school age number three hundred and seventeen.
There are one Evangelical, one United Brethren, one Christian Union, and one Presbyterian Church building, in the township. Each of these churches has a flourishing Sunday School attached, under the charge of efficient and zealous superintendents.
The first mill, or rather mills-for there were a flour, and lumber mill both-was butilt by John Byal, and is near the Infirmary. The flour mill was run by water. The machin- ery was moved by a large overshot wooden wheel, which kept plashing and creaking all day, and about which there was to us boys always a charming atmosphere of coolness, and a capital place for fishing. The water pouring over the dam, not in a rush, but slowly and at times almost noise- lessly, the slow but continued movement of the old wooden wheel, the long drawn-out screech of the wooden machinery of the mill, the quiet movements of the miller, all had a lazy feeling inseparably connected with them, which I guess was contagious, for when we boys got sprawled out on the grassy bank of the river, near the old mill, we were sure to
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Indian Green and Burying Ground.
be infected with such feelings, and it required something tolerably exciting to fully arouse us.
In about 1844 Miller Johnson built a saw mill at the site of the Holden Mill, and in about 1853 Amos Hartman, now of Iowa, built a flouring mill at the same place, both of which mills are now standing.
When the township was first settled wolves were very plenty, and also very destructive, killing the sheep, hogs, and even young cattle of the settlers. Near where the Blanchard Church now stands Mr. Poe had some young cattle killed by the wolves. Numbers of wolves were killed for their scalps, for which the State paid a bounty.
In this township is the Indian Green, Plum orchard, and Indian burying ground. Of the Indian Green, as it was called, is said by the early settlers, that quite a considerable tract of land on the north bank of the river, had been par- tially cleared up, on which the Indians had a burying ground, and perhaps a village, and certainly some kind of fortifications or earth works, of which I have heretofore spoken. In addition to this there were several acres of lands along the river bottoms which had not only been cleared, but cultivated as every indication plainly showed. Whether the presence of so many plum trees was the work of the Indians, or of that eccentric person already alluded to-Johnny Appleseed-will perhaps never be known. The fact however remains that they were here, and among them were also a number of apple trees.
The Indian burying ground was frequently visited by members of their tribe-the Ottowas-and at one time a white man by the name of Ellison, with his family, settled on this ground. Ellison dug up quite a number of skele- tons, and opened graves for such trinkets as were buried
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History of Hancock County.
with the dead. This coming to the ears of the Indians, they visited the place, and were so emphatic in their denun- ciation of the vandalism, that Ellison thought it prudent to quit the premises, which he did. This plum orchard and burying ground covered some twelve acres or more.
Of the earliest settlers of this township, I have already spoken of the McKinnis family. Nelson Poe, a descendant of that family, resides upon the old farm of his father, Jacob Poe, who came to this part of the county with the McKin- nis.' Jacob Poe was a hardy specimen of the backwoods- man. He was a relative of the celebrated Indian fighters, Adam and Andrew Poe, and was possessed of the physical strength and courage attributed to the celebrated brothers. He lived to a good old age, respected and honored.
John Boylan, for more than forty years a resident here, came from near Newark, Licking County, Ohio, in 1832. He was one of the first school teachers in the county, and for many years taught "the young ideas how to shoot," and how to shout too, for that matter, for I have a very vivid recollection of the energetic manner in which he swung the birch.
Mr. Boylan was a local preacher of the Methodist Church, and one of its earliest members in the connty. As a minister he was fervent and touching in his appeals, and powerful in his exhortations. After his long residence here he went west, and is now a resident of Iowa.
Richard Watson and wife are both dead, and all their living children but one are now residents of the county. Mr. Watson was a good neighbor, an enterprising citizen, and honest in all his dealings. He died, leaving to his children a fine farm, which he had reclaimed from the wilderness. Mr. Watson, though a strong partisan of the
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Comer-Tan Emon-Fountain.
Democratic school of politics, did not attempt to imperti- nently intrude his opinions on others. He held the office of Coroner of the County for one or two terms.
Isaac Comer came to this township from Fairfield County, and located on the farm now owned by J. B. Wagner, about four miles west of Findley, on the Benton road. Mr. Comer was one of those large, jolly, good-natured men that we oc- casionally meet. Frank in all his sayings, kind and gen- erous in his acts, honest and prompt in his dealings, he was universally liked, aud his death was sincerely regretted.
The Rev. Geo. Van Emon, one of the purest men who ever lived, may well be claimed by this township, as nearly all his life in this county was spent here. As a minister he was sincere, and his words carried conviction with them. As a christian he was blameless. As a neighbor he was kind and hospitable. As a citizen he was one whose exam- ple might be safely followed.
William Fountain, or the old man Fountain, as he was familiarly called, came to the county in 1830, and settled in this township, on lands on which he resided for nearly fifty years, and up to the time of his death. Of an unassuming and retired disposition, attentive to his own affairs, taking little part in public matters, his acquaintance was never very extensive. But no man in his neighborhood was more high- ly respected, or considered more trustworthy. Mr. Fount- ain came from Franklin County, and lived to be almost a centenarian.
Mr. F. was born in Caroline Co., Md., January 6th, 1784. He was of Irish descent, and was the second of three brothers. In 1824 he came to Franklin Co., Ohio, and set- tled in Plain township. In 1809 Mr. F. was married to Sarah Barton, by whom he had five children. Mrs. F. died
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History of Hancock County.
in 1821, and Mr. F. married Mrs. Rebecca Smith, with whom he lived until the time of her death, a period of more than forty years. Mr. F. sold his farm in Franklin, and came to Hancock, taking up his residence on the farm on which he died. At the time of his death he was the oldest person in the county.
DANIEL CUSAC
Was born in Mifflin County, Pa., in January, 1790. His parents were natives of Ireland, and were married before leaving that country. Mr. Cusac came to Perry County, Ohio, when quite a young man, and there married Sarah Sellers, who died in October, ISS1, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, having survived her husband about four- teen years. Mr. Cusac came to this county in 1838, and took up his residence in this township, on the farm on which he died. He had ten children, nine of whom are still liv- ing. John and Mrs. Judge Cooper, two of the children, re- side in Portage township. Two of them, Capt. Isaac Cusac and Mrs. Mulford. are in Pleasant township. The others, William, James, Mrs. John Reed, Mrs. James Cooper and Mrs. Robert Poe reside in Liberty township. Mr. C. had a limited common school education, but was a man of good strong common sense. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church for fifty years, and led an upright, honest life, respected by all who knew him.
Unassuming and domestic in his habits, he made no figure in public, and although his counsel and advice was sought for, it was given with modesty and fairness, and for the best interests of those desiring it. He died at a good old age, loved and respected, and left to his children a good name, and to his wife a good home.
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McKinnis-Poe.
PHILIP MCKINNIS
Was the second son of Judge Robert McKinnis, one of the very earliest settlers of the county, and was born in Butler Co., Pa., January 9th, 1801. He came with his father's family to Ross Co., O., when young. In 1822 the family came to this township, and settled on the river, near the present site of Cronninger Mills.
In 1827 he married Susan Dukes, and commenced life on the farm now owned by Conrad Renninger. He was a man of strong constitution, scarcely knowing what it was to be sick. He had a limited common school education, but was a man of good hard common sense. . He had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living. Mr. McK., after a long residence in the county, sold out and removed to Putnam County in 1855, near Gilboa, and finally to near Leipsic, where he died in 1868, his wife surviving him some two years. Their remains now rest in Maple Grove Ceme- tery.
Mr. McKinnis was a fair specimen of the frontiersman. Possessed of great endurance, courage and industry, backed by the strictest honesty, he won and held the respect of all who knew him. His word was as good as his bond; he punctually fulfilled all his engagements, redeemed all his promises, and faithfully discharged every duty. He was a member of the old School Baptist Church for over thirty years. His son William, who resides in Findley, is the only one of the family now living in the county.
NELSON POE
Came to this township when he was but three months old, having been born in Ross Co., O., September 4th, 1822. He was the third son of Jacob Poe. His mother was a
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History of Hancock County.
daughter of Judge McKinnis. His paternal ancestors were of German extraction, whilst his mother's people were Scotch Irish. The father of Mr. Poe settled on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. At the time of his coming here there were bnt a very few families in the county, but the Poe family was possessed of that kind of pluck which never gave way before difficulties, or became discouraged at privations.
On his father's side, Mr. Poe is distantly related to the celebrated historical fighting brothers, Adam and Andrew Poe, and also to the eminent divine, Rev. Adam Poe. Farm- ing has always been the leading occupation of Mr. Poe, al- though during the winter seasons of thirty years, he taught a country school. He is a man of fair education, and has always been regarded as a successful educator. He may well be termed a self-educated man, for his school privileges were very limited. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at present, and has been a church member for the past sixteen years.
In 1846 he was married to Mary Lytle, who still lives to add to his enjoyment. They are the parents of three chil- dren. The eldest son was killed during the late war. The second son-Luther-resides in Fostoria, and the youngest, a daughter, is at home with her parents. Mr. P.'s school days were passed in the old log school house, under the in- struction of such primitive teachers as Richard Wade, Benj. Cummins and others.
. Mr. Poe has resided in the county longer than any other person, with the single exception of Job Chamberlain, of Findley. He has witnessed the steady but great transfor- mation of a wilderness into fruitful fields; has seen the dense forests disappear, and in their places spring to life,
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Farm Buildings.
beautiful fertile fields; has lived to see an uninhabited country settled by an industrious, thrifty, wealthy, happy people, with school houses and churches in every neighbor- hood; to see railroads built, traversed by the iron horse drawing the trains well laden with the products of this rich county; to see telegraph wires stretched all over the land. And in this great work he has been no idle spectator.
This township contains some of the finest farm buildings in the county. Amongst them is the fine brick residences of W. C. Watson, R. W. Boyd, Elijah Gowdy, Cornelius Ewing, John Hart and Samuel Mosier, and the very sub- stantial frame dwellings of Joseph Wilson, Jacob Grubb, Wm. Renninger, C. C. Harris, all on the north side of the river, whilst on the south side, Crondall Watson, Henry Sherrick, Henry Rudisill, John Radabaugh, Joseph Barn- hill, David Bish, J. M. Moorehead and others living on the south side have equally tasteful dwelling places. The farms are well improved, and supplied with the best of out-buildings.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
.
Below we give the names, with the dates of their elec- tion of those who have held this office.
Benjamin Cummins-1831, 1834.
Johnson Bonham-1834, 1843.
Merriman Price-1836. James H. Barr-1841.
Van Burton-1841, 1844. .John Smith-1842.
William S. Burkhead-1844.
Aaron Hall-1845, 1848, 1851.
Levi Taylor-1837, 1840, 1853.
John Radabaugh-1847, 1880.
26
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History of Hancock County.
Thomas H. Taylor-1853, 1856, 1859, 1862. Alexander Philips-1850, 1868, 1872, 1875. John Hall-1853, 1856, 1859. W. H. Fountain-1860, 1863, 1866.
J. E. Dresbach-1865.
Joseph Wilson-1872.
John Reed-1873.
Henry Rudisill-1877. 1880.
R. W. Boyd-1877.
Table showing the number and value of live stock, and the number of acres of grain sown, and bushels produced, as returned by township Assessor in 1881.
Horses, 472 number. $24,470, value. Cattle, 1,120 14,070, 4,980, 4,580,
Sheep, 2,310
Swine, 1,675
Wheat, 2,709 acres.
52,884 bushels.
Oats, 225
7,325
Corn, 2,539
112,030
Flax. 31 ..
235
Hay, 509
613 tons.
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First Land Entries.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
Tp. 2, S., R. 10, E.
TP. 2, S., R. 11, E.
AREA 15,360 ACRES. POPULATION 1,235.
At the June session, 1840, of the County Commissioners, it was " Ordered that sections No. 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36 in township 2 south, range 10 east, and sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32 in township 2 south, range 11 east, be set off and constituted as a new township, called Madison." Those sections in range 10 were a portion of Van Buren township, and those in range 11 were a part of Delaware township.
This township was named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States. It lies on the south side of the county, and is bounded on the north by Eagle and Jackson townships, on the east by Delaware, on the south by Hardin County, and on the west by Van Buren township.
On the first day of June, 1829, Abel Tanner made entry of the west half of the north-west quarter of section 23, and on the same day William Y. Woodruff entered the north-east quarter of section 2. These were the first entries of lands in the township.
Squire Carlin on the 9th day of July, 1829, entered the west half of the south-west quarter of section 11. John Longwith, of Pickaway County, entered the east half of the north-east quarter of section 5, on the 5th of May,
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History of Hancock County.
1830, and in September of the same year, Chaney Rickets entered the east half of the south-west quarter of section 2. In November, 1832, the north-east quarter of the south-east quarter of section 5, was entered by Alexander Grant, of Franklin County.
In October, 1834, Robert Hurd and Robert Shaw, both of Portage County, made entries of lands in section 7, and Henry Imhoff, of Stark County, entered the west half of the north-west quarter of section 6. Other entries speedily followed, and settlements were made in many portions of the township.
The timber in this part of the county is maple-sugar and soft-beech, hickory, ash. The different varieties of oak was abundant in all parts of the township. Black walnut, blue ash, and red elm is found along the streams. On the wet lands are black ash and sycamore. This part of the county was very heavily timbered.
The soil for the most part consists of a compact yellow clay subsoil, covered with a vegetable mould. Along the streams may be found small areas of alluvial lands, which are very fertile. The soil on the wet lands consists of a deep black loam, which is very productive when properly drained. Generally speaking the lands of this township can be considered as only moderately fertile.
Although the township is well watered, there are but few streams of water, and they are not of much importance as water courses. Eagle Creek, which is formed by the junc- tion of what is called the east and west branches, which unite about eighty rods north-east of the south-west corner of section 14, and thence take their course as one creek. Flat Branch is so called on account of the small amount of fall it has. It drains the south-eastern part of the town-
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First Settlement.
ship, and is a tributary of the East Branch. Buck Rum is in the north-eastern part, and empties into Eagle Creek near the north line of the township. The West Branch of Eagle Creek rises in the Hog Creek Marsh in Hardin County, and the East Branch rises near the Hardin County line.
"The weight of authority," writes Dorillas Martz of this township, "is that Simeon Ransbottom was the first to set- tle in this township, though Abel Tanner and Abner Hill came the same year." Tanner came in February, 1825, from near Kenton, Ohio, where he had resided for three years previous. He and his wife were , both natives of Rhode Island. He located on the banks of the West Branch of Eagle Creek, near the camping ground of Gen. Hull, as he passed through in 1813. Mr. Tanner died in 1833, aged forty-two years, and his wife died three years later.
Simeon Ransbottom settled on the west bank of Eagle Creek, two miles below Tanner. He was a native of Vir- ginia. His wife was born in Ireland. Mr. Ransbottom died in 1851, his wife having died many years previously.
The family of Abner Hill consisted of himself, wife, and step-daughter. He resided in the township for several years. He committed a burglary by breaking into Carlin's Mill at Findley, for which exploit he was sent to the Ohio- Penitentiary, and was the first representative to that insti- tution from this township, if not from the county.
Settlements were very soon after made by Jacob Helms, Benjamin Sparr, Andrew Rickets, John Diller, N. B. Martz, J. W. Williams and others, and farms were opened up all over the township.
Mr. N. B. Martz says that when he came to this township in 1834, he found a man by the name of John Diller living.
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Historyof Hancock County. -
in section 11, on lands which he had bought of a Mr. More- land, who claimed to have purchased the lands of Simeon Ransbottom. Mr. Martz adds that his impression is that Ransbottom was the first settler within the present limits of Madison township, and that John Tullis came with him per- haps. Mr. Martz says that from the appearance of the buildings, clearings, and fruit trees when he first visited the Diller's and other places, he is led to believe that the first settlement had taken place at least ten years before that visit.
The first church building erected in the township was by the Methodist Episcopals at Arlington, in 1858. It must not be supposed that religious worship was unknown prior to this time, or that no minister had visited this region. Here as elsewhere the school houses and private houses were used as places of worship. There are now four church buildings in the township; two Methodist Episcopal, one Protestant Methodist, and one Disciples.
The first school house built in the township was on the land now occupied as the German Lutheran Cemetery, at the west line of the township. It was of the usual style, of logs, with clapboard roof. There are now eight school buildings, all comfortable and commodious. The enrollment of youth is two hundred and twenty-three males, and one hundred and ninety-five females, making a total of four hundred and eighteen.
The first hotel, or tavern as such places were then called, was kept by John Diller, and was located on the west bank of Eagle Creek, at the place now known as Waterloo. This tavern was called The Cross Keys.
The people of this township devote themselves to agricul- tural pursuits, and are a peaceable, quiet and thrifty com-
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Williams-Welty-Rickets.
munity. Education and religion command the respect and attention of all. The first settlers are principally from the eastern part of the State and from Pennsylvania. There are, however, quite a number of Germans, and their de- scendents.
John W. Williams, one of the early settlers, and pro- prietor of the village of Williamstown, died but a few years ago, at a ripe old age, and was perhaps at the time of his death the oldest person in the township. Mr. Williams was Post Master for many years, and was ten times elected Justice of the Peace. He commanded the confidence and respect of his neighbors, and had many friends.
Christian Welty, a resident here, was one of those sub- stantial men, who early sought a home in the west. He was a man of good judgment, sound mind and strict integ- rity.
Andrew Rickets, after a long and useful life, died but a few years since, leaving his family a goodly heritage, ac- cumulated by industry and frugality. His widow, a very estimable lady, and a fair specimen of the goodly dames of the early years of the township, now resides in Findley, re- spected by all who know her.
Mr. Rickets, besides holding several township offices, was for two terms, a Commissioner of the county, and filled the office with both ability and fidelity.
Robert Hurd, who came to this township in 1839, was born at East Haddam, Conn., March 16th, 1785, and emi- grated to Portage County, Ohio, in 1820, and settled in Twinsburg township, as agent for the brothers, Aaron and Moses Willcox-twins-from whom the township derived its name. Mr. Hurd made extensive entries of lands in and about the site of the present town of Arlington, in 1834,
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History of Hancock County.
and his sons, William B. and Lorenzo, and son-in-law, Jos- eph Fitch, at once settled on part of these lands, then all a wilderness. Mr. Hurd laid out the town of Arlington, and was active in the formation of the township of Madison, from parts of Delaware and Amanda townships. For a number of years Mr. Hurd held the office of Justice of the Peace. He frequently appeared in Justice's Courts as an attorney, conducting his cases with much ability. . Mr. Hurd! died at Arlington in 1861.
NAPOLEON B. MARTZ
Was the son of Michael Martz, and was born in Rock- ingham County, Va., in November, 1809, and came to Han- cock County in 1834, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Dorillas. He was married in November, 1830, to Hannah Nicholls, who still accompanies him in the journey of life. Mr. Martz was a resident of the county forty-one- years, when he got the western fever, and went to Douglas County, Ill., where he now resides.
Mr. Martz' grand-parents were from Bavaria, hence his: German extraction. He is a man of good morals, although not a church member. He has a fair English education, and good strong common sense. His opinions were the re- sult of careful thought, and his advice was sought by his neighbors. Honest, intelligent, sociable and accommodating, he easily won, and always held the esteem of his neighbors.
The following persons have been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace.
Solomon Watkins-1840.
Joseph Leslie-1840. Thomas Reese-1843. N. B. Martz-1813.
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Williamstown.
J. W. Williams-1846, 1849, 1852, 1855, 1858, 1861, 1864, 1867, 1870, 1873.
Joel Markel-1849, 1852.
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