USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 26
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
Mr. Thompson has resided in this township continuously
418
History of Hancock County.
since he first came here in 1833, and has never been absent from it more than a month at a time. He has been present at every election held in the township, the first of which were held at his father's house. Such is the confidence re- posed in him by his neighbors, that he has been called up to fill almost all the offices in his township. On his father's side, his ancestors were of the old Puritan stock, and on his mothers side, they were from Ireland.
JOHN T. M'CONNELL.
Mr. McConnell was born in Penn. in 1809, and came to this township In 1838, and at once commenced clearing up the farm on which his son, D. J. McConnell now resides. He resided for some years in Jefferson County, Ohio, where in 1830, he was married to Eliza Dunlevy. Mrs. McCon- nell died in February, 1862. Mr. McConnell was the father of twelve children, seven of whom are now living, only two of whom, however, are living in this county. Mr. McCon- nell always followed the occupation of farming.
He had a fair common school education, and was a mem- ber of the Presbyterlan Church for more than thirty years, and was one of the first members in this township. He was a man of strong constitution ; never sick. He was a man of strong convictions, slow to yield a point, and tenacious in his belief. He was a good neighbor, and an honest man At his death, he left a beautiful farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land, well improved. all by his own labor and in- dustry. His first neighbors were John McKinley, E. R. Burns, William Ivers, Benj. Marshall, James McConnell, Willard Boutwell and Thomas Walls, all of whom are dead except McKinley and Burns.
On the farm which he cleared up, are to be found some
419
Ancient Mounds.
interesting relics of the past. About the center of the farm is a mound or ridge, which from its formation, was no doubt built as a defense against enemies of some kind. The earth is thrown up in the shape of a mound or ridge, about thirty feet wide at the top, and scooped out or excavated, forming a rude fortification, commanding the surrounding country In and around this the timber was evidently removed, as the present growth is not more than eighteen or twenty inches in diameter.
About twenty rods east of this was a mound higher than any other portion of the ridge, and from bones and other articles found there, is evidently the burial place of the dead of those who built the mounds. In the neighborhood are other mounds of similar character, all no doubt built by the same parties.
The following list comprises the names of those who have been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace.
William Morrison-1837, 1840, 1843.
John McKinley-1837, 1840, 1843, 1846.
James Reed-1846, 1849, 1855, 1858.
Wm. M. Marshall-1849.
James Cummings-1852.
John A. Ewing-1852, 1855. Jonathan Dunlap-1858, 1861, 1864. N. Mains-1860.
James L. Henry -- 1863.
Isaac Thompson-1866, 1869.
W. M. McKinley-1867, 1870, 1873, 1875. M. C. Palmer-1872, 1875, 1878. Joseph Henry-1879.
420
History of Hancock County.
A table giving the number of acres of grain sown and the- number of bushels produced, and also the number and value of live stock, as returned by the Township Assessor in 1881.
Wheat, 2,792 acres.
48,376 bushels.
Oats,
571
66
17,635
Corn,
2,449
95,360
Flax, 211
66
1,981
Hay, 1,177
1,344 tons.
Horses,
661 number.
$32,990 value.
Cattle,
1836
21,420
Sheep,
5230
66
6,530
Hogs,
2820
7,230
421
Boundaries.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
TP. 2 N.
R. 9 E.
AREA, 23,040 ACRES. POPULATION 1,866.
John Byal, John L. Carson, and John Rose, com- missioners, at their session March 2, 1835, " Ordered that the original surveyed township number two north, in range nine east, be laid off and formed in a body politic and corporate, and designated Pleasant town- ship." Previous to this date it had been a part of Blan- chard township.
This township lies in the northwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Portage township, on the south by Blan- chard township and on the west by Putnam County. It derives its name no doubt from its pleasant location and scenery, and is an original township of thirty-six sections.
John Algire, of Fairfield County, made the first entry of land in this township. The northeast quarter of sec- tion thirty-one being bought by him March 15, 1833. On the 20th day of April, same year, Alexander Kil- patrick, of Hardin County, entered the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirty-one. Edward Steveson, of Franklin County, entered the west half of the northeast quarter of section twenty-seven, and on the same day John J. Needles of the same county entered the east half of the northeast quarter of the same section. On the 19th day of October 1833, John McCulloch, of Jefferson county and William Woods, of Washington
I
422
History of Hancock County.
County, Pa., entered lands in section twenty-eight, and on the same day Eliakim Crosby entered the west half of section twenty-nine. Jacob Lamb, of Fairfield County, entered the southeast quarter of section thirty, and George Kalb entered the west half of the northeast quarter of section twenty-six, on the 2d day of Novem- ber, 1835.
In 1834 entries of lands were made by Henry Hemry Nathan Fidler, John Kalb, Benjamin Cummins, Anthony Wilcoxson, Robert Fletcher, Robert Sherrard, Alexander Amspoker, Benjamin Todd, Bennet Kiger, Michael Price and others.
The first settlement in this township was made in 1833 by Edward Steveson, Benjamin Todd and John J. Needles, at and near where the village of McComb now stands. In the following year William and Alexander Kilpatrick, George Algire, John Kalb, Alexander Ams- poker, came to the same neighborhood. In 1835 Robert Morrison, John Bartholomew, Charles Blakeman, Michael Price, David Wright, Jacob Thomas and others rein- forced the new settlement.
Benjamin Todd came from Franklin County, O., and settled on the present site of the village of McComb. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the township, having helped to organize the township, and has held various offices since, discharging the duties of all with honesty ana fidelity. He was also a member of the first church organization in the township., and has ever since led a consistent Christian life, and now, at the age of ninety years, and having raised a large and respectable family of children, he resides in the village of McComb, surrounded by the triumph of himself and compeers,
423
Needles-Algire -- Kalb.
over nature. loved and respected by all who know him, almost the last of the hardy pioneers of this part of the county.
John J. Needles emigrated from Franklyn County also, and redeemed from the wilderness a beautiful farm. He was a rather impulsive, eccentric kind of a man, but withal a kind neighbor and a good citizen. He removed to Iowa in 1856 and there died about six years ago.
William Kilpatrick, after a residence of a number of years, moved to Defiance County in 1859, and his brother Alexander, followed him after having made this town- ship his home for nearly half a century. Both were honest men and good citizens.
George Algire still resides here, on the same lands he cleared up and beautified, one of the oldest residents of the township. A small wiry man of good constitution, untiring energy and industry, he has accumulated a competency, and enjoys it in the society of his friends. He has been a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than forty years. As a minister he is fervent and zealous, of considerable ability, he plainly points out the way as he understands it. As a christian he has led a consistent life. As a man and neighbor he commands the greatest respect.
John Kalb, another of that noble band, after a long and useful life closed up his earthly career on the first, of March, 1872. In his death the community lost a valu- able member. Mr. Kalb was a member of the Methodist church for many years, and two of his sons, John S. and and Isaac N., were ministers of that church. Father Kalb was a fine speeimen of the frontiersman, and con- tributed his full share in clearing up the county.
424
History of Hancock County.
Charles Blakeman is still living, and a resident of Mc- Comb. He, too, was a farmer, and a man of probity and industry, and has always enjoyed the esteem of his neigh- bors. He is now in his old age, quietly enjoying the fruits of his labor.
David Wright, Sr., still resides on the old home farm, made pleasant and valuable by his own industry and economy. He is passing the declining years of his life sur- rounded by his family and friends, beloved by all.
The soil of this locality is a rich black loam, on a clay subsoil. On the ridges, or higher lands, the soil is much mixed and made up of sand and gravel. The entire body of land in this township is rich and very productive.
The timber does not vary much from that of other parts of the county, being principally walnut, ask, oak, elm, maple and beech.
The head waters of Portage River, with some small tributaries, are sufficent, with wells, which are from ten feet to twenty feet deep, to supply all the water necessary.
The first election was held in 1835 and Benjamin Todd, George Algire, Charles Blakeman, Michael Price, John Kalb, John J. Needles, Alexander Amspoker, Robert Morrison, Robert Fletcher, Benjamin Cummins, David Wright and Jacob Thomas were the voters. The officers elected were Benjamin Todd, J. J. Needles and Alexander Amspoker, Trustees : Benj. Todd, Clerk; George Algire, Treasurer; Benj. Todd, Justice of the Peace.
The first church organization was in the year 1835. The Rev. Thrap, of the Methodist church, at that time organized a class, of whom Benj. Todd and wife, and John
425
First Church-School-Mill.
Kalb and wife were the members. Services were held in private houses, and in the school house until 1850, when the Methodists erected a church building, which was the first in the township.
The first school house was built in 1838 at the present site of McComb. It was of the then approved style, round log, clap board roof, mud chimney order of archi- tecture. There are now eight good school buildings in the township, and an enrollment of four hundred and forty-four children of school age.
The first flouring mill was built by Thomas Pickens in 1845 on Pickens' Run. Previous to that time a hand mill owned by William Todd, was the only means of making bread-stuff in the township. In 1841 George Algire built a saw mill on Algire's Run. Its capacity for manufacturing lumber was three hundred feet per day. The first steam saw mill was built in 1850 by Tipton & Porter, and the first steam flouring mill was built by Capt. Isaac Cusac in 1857.
Thus has this part of the county been developing little by little, with the hardest of labor, the greatest of patience, and most persevering industry, until to-day Pleasant township is one of the most populous, wealthy and beautiful in the county. Her farms, and farm build- ings, will compare favorably with those of any other part of the county, whilst in honest thrift, intelligence and true hospitality her people are surpassed by none.
List of persons who have been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace :
Benjamin Todd-1835, 1838, 1843, 1846, 1849.
George Hemry .- 1838.
28
426
History of Hancock County.
Renjamin Cummins-1850, 1853, 1856, 1859.
Thomas B. Kelley-1855, 1874. Charles Pursey-1856. Samuel McBride-1859.
Isaac H. Myers-1862, 1865. Daniel High-1862.
J. E. Creighton -- 1861. Jackson Crites-1865, 1868. S. H. Fairchild-1868.
A. R. Bechtel-1869. Elisha Todd-1870. Joseph C. Brown-1872. William H. Todd-1873. Jacob Priest-1876. Isaac Cusac-1877, 1880.
W. S. Kelley-1880. F. F. Parker -- 1880.
OLNEY.
In April 1857, Isaac Fairchild laid out the town of Olney on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and the west half of the southwest quarter of section fifteen, which comprised forty lots. The plat- ting of the town was as far as it ever progressed, and it was only a town on paper. The lands on which this town was to have been built are now owned by J. B. Williams.
427
Platting-Incorporating.
MCCOMB.
Benjamin Todd laid out a town on the northeast part of the west half of the northeast quarter of section twenty-six, in 1847, and called it Pleasantville. The town originally comprised only eighteen lots. After- wards successive additions were made by Mr. Todd, Ewing, Rawson and others. The town is pleasently situated on the ridge running from Tiffin to Ft. Wayne, and about ten miles from Findly. The village is the largest in the county, outside of Findley, and being situ- ate in a fine farming country, and having good railroad facilities, bids fair to become a place of some importance.
This town was incorporated in 1858, when the name was changed from Pleasantville to McComb,
The first Mayor was William Chapman. For some years the town waited and watched for the completion of the Continental Railway, which had been graded for miles, both east and west of the village, alternately be- tween hope and fear, the energies of the place became paralyzed, business gradually fell off, and everything came to a stand still, and a state of retrogression was setting in. The people, however, appreciating the situa- tion, roused up and procured the building of the McComb and Deshler Branch of the Dayton and Michigan Rail- road, and thus obtained communication with the outside world, and, as if fortune was now determined to smile upon them, the Continental changed hands and under the name of N. Y. C., and St. L. Railroad, has already more than fifty miles of road completed, beginning at Arcadia and running west through McComb. To say that the long expectant people of this village are jubilant, but tamely expresess the situation.
428
History of Hancock County.
A post office was established here in 1847 with Wil- liam Mitchell Postmaster. He has been succeeded by Zelotus Barney, James Porter, Eliza Fisher and Mrs. Margaret Barney, present incumbent.
The Odd Fellows have a flourishing lodge here, estab- lished in 1859, callod McComb Lodge No. 354.
The business of this place is rapidly on the increase. A number of good business houses have recently been erected, as well as many residences. There are already two well stocked dry goods stores, two hardware stores, two neat well filled drug stores, one clothing store, two grocery and provision stores, two meat markets, one furniture store, two harness shops, four blacksmith shops, one jewelry store, one gunsmith shop, two wagon and carriage shops, two saw mills, one steam flouring mill, two shoe shops, one undertaker, one livery stable, one pump factory, two hotels, fire physiciasn, one attor- ney, and one news paper, the "McComb Herald," by a Mr. Darke, and three churches, one Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian and one Disciples.
There are a number of very tasty dwellings, many of them surrounded by beautiful grounds. Altogether the village has an air of thrift and rapid growth, which is very encouraging to its people, and the beauty of its location, its healthfulness, and intelligent society, are sources of just pride to the inhabitants. Four hundred and twenty-three was the population in 1880.
There is here a fine brick school building, and three teachers are employed to conduct the schools. There is an enumeration of one hundred and eighty-one youth in the district.
Mayors. 429
The following named persons held the office of Mayor of the village :
William Chapman.
Benjamin Cummins.
S. H. Fairchild.
W. J. Sholty.
Charles Blakeman.
J. R. Turnpaugh. A. R. Bechtel. E. Todd.
I. H. Myers.
A. Bennett.
J. T. Smith.
Isaac Crusac.
W. H. Conine.
S. A. Cooper. H. W. Hughes.
430
History of Hancock County.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP.
TP. 2, N.
R. 10, E.
AREA 15,360 ACRES. POPULATION 914.
The County Commissioners at their session in March, 1835, "Ordered that original surveyed township No. 2 north, range 10 east, be set off into a separate township, politic and corporate, and named Portage. Ordered that the voters be notified thereof, and to meet the first Monday in April to elect township officers."
In 1850, on the formation of Allen township, two tiers of sections on the east side of this township were detached and made a part of that township, so that Portage township now includes only sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, IS, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.
This township derives its name from a branch of the Portage River, which runs through it. It lies on the north line of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Allen township, on the south by Liberty, and on the west by Pleasant.
The first entry of land was made by Jacob Lamb, on the 13th of October, 1831, of the south half of section 19. Henry Culp, of Fairfield County, entered the north-west quarter of section 20, on the 24th day of September, 1830. The east half of the north-west quarter of section 15 was entered on the 21st day of April, 1831, by William Crom- lish. July 24th, 1832, John Thompson entered the west
431
First Settlers.
half of the north-west quarter of section 22, and on the 19th of August, 1833, John Moorehead, of Stark County, entered the north-east quarter of section 27, and Samuel Moorehead entered the south-east quarter of section 22. On the 1Sth of June, 1833, Samuel Howard, of Richland County, entered the north-west quarter of the south-east quarter of section 4.
The first settlers in this township were John Thompson, on the farm now owned by James Deter, and George McClay on the farm just north of him, Charles Crist, John and Amos Cooper in 1833, George Taylor, Ezra Hazen on the Edgington farm, Robert Walters, Samuel and John Moore- head, John Reed, sr., and a little later Sandford F. Dulin, George Mitchel, Mahlen Morris, Switzer and John Norris.
A number of these old settlers still reside on the lands they entered and cleared up with so much labor. Samuel Moorehead resides here with his son, John E. John Cooper is still a resident of the township, and relates many inci- dents in pioneer life.
Sanford F. Dulin is one of those early settlers who always had faith in the future of this township. He has cleared up and now occupies, with his aged wife, a valuable farnı, and although well up in years, is as jovial and light-hearted as in his younger days. Just at his farm, are a good brick school house, and a comfortable frame church, in the success of both of which Mr. Dulin has always felt a deep interest.
John Thompson, after a residence of many years in the township, got the western fever, which took him off, and I believe he is not now living. He was a most excellent man, and respected by his neighbors for his intelligence and his honesty.
John Moorehead, who attained a ripe old age, and by in-
432
Historyof Hancock County.
dustry and honesty accumulated quite a property, passed peacefully away only a few years ago, surrounded by a num- ber of his children, and in the midst of many friends.
John Reed, sr., too, is dead. After improving one of the tracts of land in the township, and rearing quite a large family, he died almost in the prime of manhood, lamented by all who knew him.
Mahlen Morris was one of nature's noblemen. Honest, industrious, intelligent, he was called upon by his neighbors to look after the affairs of the township, in more than one responsible station. He was four times in succession, elected a Justice of the Peace, and filled the office faithfully.
In 1846 he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, and with his family removed to Findley. In 1848 he was re-elected, and in 1849 he died of an attack of typhoid fever. His loss was universally lamented. Such had been his conduct of the affairs of the office that he had won the confidence of all the people of the county.
The first school house was built near Pleasant Hill, but the exact date I could not learn, perhaps in 1834. The second school house was built in Judge Cooper's district, and the first teacher was Miss Rebecca Hedges. There are now six good substantial school buildings in the township, and valued at $2,440. and an enumeration of three hundred and four youth.
The first church was built by the Presbyterians on Sand Ridge, near where Miles Wilson now lives. Amongst the first members were Miles Wilson and some of his family, John Norris and wife. The second church was built by the United Brethren, on Ten Mile, in 1836. Treat Demming and wife, and Samuel and Henry DeRhodes were of the first membership. There are now three churches in the town-
433
First Marriage.
ship; two Methodist Episcopal and one United Brethren. These buildings are valued at $1,834.
The first marriage in the township was that of Amos - Cooper and Elizabeth Poe. The first child born was Allen Cooper, son of the Judge, and the first death was that of a child of John Norris. There are many well improved farms, and many good, substantial and comfortable farm buildings in this township.
On the farm of Geo. Mitchell are very fine farm buildings; the same may be said of those of Judge Cooper and Adam Crumrine. John E. Moorehead, G. W. Montgomery, T. F. Edgington, John Lewis, and a number of other residents have fine dwellings and substantial out buildings. The roads and farms generally are in good condition, and thrift, indus- try and valuable improvements are seen every where, sure indications of the intelligence and prosperity of the people.
The soil in the north part of the township is of sand and loam; the sandy portion is known as the Sand Ridge. The south part has a predominance of clay, of a yellowish hue. This clay in some places is mixed with sand and gravel, but all is easily tilled, and exceedingly productive. More than one-third of the land in the township is wood land, prime- val forest.
The timber in the north part is sycamore, elm, hickory, and oak. In the south poplar, oak, ash, walnut, beech and sugar principally. The whole surface of the township was heavily wooded.
This township is watered by the west branch of the Port- age River, and by numerous springs along Sugar Ridge. and other points in the township.
There was a Post Office established in this townsiph in 1860. with Jarvis Humphrey as Post Master. Upon the re-
434
History of Hancock County.
moval of Mr. Mumphrey from the township, Joseph John- ston succeeded him, and held the office until his faculties became impaired by age, so that he was unfit to further dis- charge the duties, when Mrs. G. W. Montgomery, the present incumbent, was appointed.
There are 15,443 acres of land in this township divided as follows : Plow land 6,623, meadow and pasture 2,646, uncultivated and wood 6,174, all appraised at $386,515. Houses appraised at $33,940, mills $600, other buildings at $21,650, total lands and buildings $442,105.
JOSEPH JOHNSTON
Was a native of Virginia, where he was born on the 4th day of April, 1801. His father-Isaac Johnston-moved from Boutetot County, Va., to Ohio, in 1811, and settled at Portsmouth, in Scioto County. The elder Johnston was a potter by trade, and followed that business whilst in Ports- mouth.
The subject of this sketch has been a farmer all his life. In 1827 the family came to this county, and took up their residence in the village of Findley. Mr. Johnston was mar- ried in 1832 to Susan George, and removed to what is now Marion township, and in the same year was elected Sheriff of the county, which office he filled acceptably one term. He had for neighbors in this township, such men as Asher Wickham, Charles Thomas, E. S. Jones.
In 1853 Mr. Johnston sold his Marion township farm, and removed to this township, where he still resides. He had a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living. He is of English descent, had but limited educational facilities, and was compelled to depend upon his own resources in that direction. He helped build the first school house in Marion
435
Joseph Johnston.
township, helped to organize, and was a voter at the first election held in that township. He was prominently con- nected with the early history of the county, and his industry and energy, with his good common sense, gave him quite an influence with the early settlers.
He has lived long enough to see the vast improvements made in the county, and to enjoy the fruits of his labor. His wife died in 1850, and he afterwards married Jane Dudgeon, who died in 1879. In 1863 he was appointed Post Master at Portage Center, which office he held about sixteen years. In 1870 he united with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and is still a member. His family has be- come separated, some reside in Michigan, some in Indiana, and some in this county. Few men have passed through so checkered a life as has Mr. Johnston, coming to the county at an age when new scenes would be most vividly impressed on his mind, and when the surroundings would be most heartily and most fully appreciated. He remembers with pleasure those who were his companions in that half cen- tury ago, many of them long since dead. Mr. Johnston, al- though in feeble health from old age, and past hardships, still retains his memory, and loves to talk of those days and scenes, and people of long ago.
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.