USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
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The reader will see that the growth of this county has been rapid when he considers that only three road districts existed at the commencement, and the territory comprised four original surveyed townships-Flat Rock, Pleasant, Marion and Monroe-twelve miles square, which will appear separately written in this work. Each now has its own road districts, and good farms along their roads ; but formerly it was a wilderness, the haunt of wolves, bear, deer, wild turkeys and frogs. No pen picture can make the reader realize the change that this region has undergone. In all this territory were only a few inhabi- tants, and they settled along the river in the original survey (Flat Rock town- ship), within a distance of about three miles, and the land they tilled would not equal a section (640 acres) of territory. Now good farms and roads are all over this territory. Flat Rock township, six miles square, contains eleven road districts and good roads.
Florida, the first village in the township and county, is situated on the Miami and Erie Canal and Maumee River, and here the township records are kept, and township business done. Its early business men have passed away. Many are dead ; some have removed, and a few are yet living here. Adam Stout, Lyman Back and Jared McCarty, the last two under the firm name of Back & McCarty (all deceased) were its first permanent merchants. There were a few others at the commencement of digging the canal-Adam Stout as early as 1840, and Back & McCarty about the autumn of 1842. About 1846 Back & McCarty dissolved partnership, Mr. McCarty retiring. Mr. Back continued the business until his death, in 1850, and Mr. Stout until about 1852, when he sold to Emanuel Barnhart and Isaac Karsner, who continued the business for a time, when they dissolved, Mr. Barnhart retiring. Mr. Kars- ner continued for some years, when he sold to Dr. Robert K. Scott. Dr. Scott sold out to Mr. Karsner, and removed to Napoleon and associated him- self with S. M. Heller, then in business at that place. Mr Karsner continued the business until about the close of the war, when he took as partner his step- son, Captain Washington W. Bowen. This firm was of short duration, when the firm name was again changed to Weaver & Viers, Dr. Henry L Weaver and Ezra Viers having purchased the stock of goods. This also was a short- lived firm, Mr. Viers selling to Mr. Karsner, when the firm name became Weaver & Karsner, and continued until about 1875, when it again changed to
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Isaac Karsner & Son. This firm continued to perhaps about 1879, when they closed their business entirely, leaving the house out of business. About this time, or before, S. M. Heller & Co., of Napoleon, opened a branch store in the building erected by Tuttle & Egler, and continued the business for a time when they removed their goods and left the village. About 1869 Andrew Tuttle, of Defiance, and Jacob Egler erected a store building on the present site of John Dancer & Son's storeroom, and opened a stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., under the firm name Tuttle & Egler. About 1871 Mr. Egler sold his interest to E. Y. King. Shortly after Mr. Tuttle sold to Miner Ice. Shortly after Mr. Ice sold to David F. Brubaker, and the store was continued for a time by King & Brubaker, when the latter retired and Mr. King became sole proprietor. Shortly after this Mr. King closed out entirely and went to Harvey county, Kan., and engaged in farming. About this same time George C. Weaver opened a stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, queensware, etc., in the old building of Isaac Karsner & Son, where he continued to the time of his death, in April, 1881, when John Dan- cer bought the stock and removed it to the old stand of E. Y. King. After having erected a new building in place of the former, which was destroyed by fire, the business was continued for a time under the firm name of John Dancer & Son, the son, William H. Dancer, being the partner. This firm was succeeded by John W. Long and Andrew Tuttle, under firm name of Long & Tuttle, by whom the purchased goods were removed to their newly repaired building which they yet occupy. This firm is doing an extensive business in dry goods and groceries, boots and shoes, besides buying grain of all kinds, and selling agricultural machinery. Long & Tuttle bought and repaired two of the old warehouses and storerooms occupied in carlier times when the canal was doing a lively business, and until the railroads were built on either side, the Wabash first, then the Baltimore and Ohio. This firm have repaired two of these buildings-one a commodious storeroom and the other a warehouse, in which they have placed an engine for elevating grain and shelling corn. Their grain business this year will amount to about forty-five thousand bushels of wheat, besides barley, rye, corn and oats.
In the year 1850 James E. Scofield engaged in the mercantile business at Florida, which was of short duration, when he took a partner in the person of George W. Waterman, under the firm name of Scofield & Waterman. They erected an ashery, and ran it in connection with their other trade. The firm soon dissolved, Mr. Waterman taking the ashery, and Mr. Scofield the store. Mr. Waterman added an oven for pearl-ash, which he continued for some time, when he closed out and removed to Hutchinson, Kan., but was, during or since the war, in South Carolina with his brother-in-law, Governor R. K. Scott, in the railroad business. Mr. Scofield continued in the dry goods and grain business up to about 1852, when he sold his goods to Barnhart & Kars-
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ner, but continued in his storeroom, selling drugs and medicines. On Feb- ruary 24, 1864, he went to Oakland Station (now Okolona), on the Wabash Railroad, in Napoleon township.
In about the autumn of 1849 David Harley erected the storeroom now known as the old school-house, and engaged in merchandising, which he con- tinued for a time when he sold the building to the school directors, they con - verting it into a school-house.
In about 1852 John and Jacob Frease bought, at administrator's sale of the estate of Lyman Back, the plank warehouse and storeroom combined, erected by him just before his death in 1850. They put in it a stock of goods usually kept in a first-class country store. It was placed in charge of George Irease. This firm sold their stock of goods to David Harley and F. A. Woodward, and removed to Napoleon. The new firm of Harley & Woodward continued the business in all its parts for a time, when C. K. Woodward bought Mr. Ilarley's interest. Soon after this John J. Stockman bought the warehouse and store room, when the old firm removed their goods to a small storeroom in the house now occupied by Long & Tuttle. The storeroom at that time was much smaller than now, it having since been remodeled and enlarged by the latter firm. The firm of Woodward Brothers continued for a time, when they closed out, C. K. Woodward returning to his farm in Liberty township, and F. .. Woodward and David Harley moving to Napoleon, where they again engaged in merchandising. Some time after this, about 1865, John J. Stockman opened a store in the plank warehouse, of which he was now the owner, and continued the business, together with grain buying, for a time, when he took a partner in the person of Joseph Ice. This firm continued for a time, when William H , a son of the elder Stockman, became the partner, which latter firm was Con- tinued up to the death of John J. Stockman, when the entire stock of goods was closed out at administrator's sale. Since that time there has been nothing of any importance in the old plank warehouse. A\ hardware stock of small amount was continued there for a time, supposed to be the property of W. H. Stockman, but the store was in charge of W. T. Faucet, neither of which per- sons are now residents. The business now being generally closed along the canal, the little village of Florida began to decline. The probable cause of this may not be out of place. The firm of Smith & Scofield, at Oakland Sta- tion, on the Wabash Railroad, north of Florida, drew largely from all the former patrons of the place, and, morcover, the county seat, Napoleon, had grown since 1835, and down to 1850 in more than double proportions, and became a natural trading center to which the farming people were glad to resort. The Wabash road went into operation about 1852. It passed about two miles north of the town, and where once had been the most flourishing village of the county, there was nothing but a way station on the old canal, which, too, had practically gone into disuse. Many business men left about this time, of com-
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
pletion of the Wabash Railroad. About twelve or fourteen years later the the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was finished, passing the town on the south, and Holgate, a new town on that road, cut the trade again. Florida, however, has not become wholly depopulated. The country in the vicinity contains many fine farms, and the village still holds some small trade. The village is pleasantly situated on the river in the northwest part of Flat Rock township, and contains some two hundred and fifty inhabitants. It has had some manu- facturing industries. David Harley, a contractor on the canal during its con- struction, shortly afterward erected a saw-mill on the present site of the flouring-mill of J. E. Klingelhofer. To this was added one run of stone for flouring and grinding corn. This was the first grist-mill in Henry county after its organization in 1835. Isaac Karsner was foreman in the mill for a time. It afterward became the property of Gibbons Parry and Isaac Karsner, under the firm name of Karsner & Parry. This continued for a time when Daniel Fribley and Peters Gibbons were added to the firm, and Mr. Karsner retired and went to merchandising. The firm name then changed to Parry, Gibbons & Fribley, who in about 1856, erected the flouring-mill now owned by J. E. Klingelhofer. This mill had two heavy run of stone, together with the light ones in the old mill. This firm remained until about 1860, when it dissolved, Dr. Parry retiring, and Mr. Fribley selling his interest in the saw- mill, but retained it in the flouring-mill, of which he became sole proprietor. Austin F. Gitchel became a partner with Peters Gibbons. They entirely rebuilt the saw-mill. The firm name became Gibbons & Gitchel, which was continued until choice timber was scarce and portable mills became frequent, after which it went into disuse and decay. But little of it is now left, only the flume which supplies the flouring-mill. About 1865 the flouring-mill passed into the hands of John Spangler and David Boor, of Defiance. This firm re- mained for a time when Mr. Boor sold his interest to Alfred Elkins, and the firm then changed to Elkins & Spangler. After a short time Mr. Elkins be- came sole proprietor and continued up to his death, in March, 1881, he being killed in the mill. His widow, with her two sons, John and Newton Elkins, continued the business for a time, when it was sold to Sigg & Klingelhofer, under whom it was quite extensively repaired. In 1886 it passed to J. E. Klingelhofer, Mr. Sigg retiring. J.[E. Klingelhofer, the present enterprising owner, had all the old machinery taken out and replaced with full roller pro- cess, second to none in north western Ohio.
Florida, being located in the center of a large grain growing country, with a good flouring-mill, for sale and custom work, will add materially to its present trade. Mr. K. intends manufacturing flour for shipment, which will give em- ployment in winter when the canal is closed. The first physician of the vil- lage was Dr. John L. Watson. He was here on a farm in the woods, on the south side of, and up the river from Florida. Whether a graduate is not known, but it is presumed that he was, as he was a man of excellent education.
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About 1842 Dr. George W. Patterson located in Florida and practiced for some years, when he moved away. In 1840 Dr. Gibbons Parry located at Independence, some five miles above Florida. His practice extended to this point, and further east along the canal, then in course of construction. Shortly after he removed to Florida, where he has since remained. He obtained a lucrative practice, and now lives on his farm a little out of town, enjoying the fruits of his well spent life, and is aged over eighty years. There were sev- eral other physicians, but of short residence, many of whose names are forgot- ten by the present inhabitants.
In about 1860 Drs. Henry L. Weaver and Abraham Mckinney located here and commenced practice under the firm name of Weaver & Mckinney. They remained for a time, when a dissolution occurred, Dr. Weaver retiring, and went to merchandising. Dr. Mckinney continued for a time, when he removed to Defiance, and is yet in practice. About 1866 Dr. Tyler located here and practiced, but soon returned to Napoleon. About 1872, Dr. J. M. Stout came here and practiced and Dr. H. L. Weaver became associated with him. This firm practiced for a time, when Dr. Weaver returned, went into other business, and Dr. Stout moved to Holgate, where he is yet in practice. About 1876 Dr. Albert M. Pherson located at Florida, and yet continues in his practice. Dr. Stanton E. Miller located here in the spring of 1887. About 1848 Dr. John L. Arnold located here and practiced in connection with his other business (groceries and provisions) together with his farm, which he obtained soon after his location. Issac Karsner read medicine with Dr. Gib- bons Parry to better prepare himself for the profession, having had some prac- tice in earlier days of the country. He practiced in connection with his other business for a time, and is yet living in the town, but doing no other business than looking after his farm. He is now in the sixty-seventh year of life.
Among the business interests of Florida not before mentioned, there may be named the following: R. A. Wood opened a stock of dry goods and boots and shoes, which was continued for a time, and then sold to Jones & Andrew (Millet Jones and Calvin R. Andrew). These firms were in the building now occupied by Long & Tuttle. The business was, after a few years, closed out, Mr. Andrew going to Dakota, and Mr. Jones resumed his trade as a carpenter. About 1846 Lyman Back, in connection with his dry goods business on the street north of the canal, opened a grocery and feed store for the accommoda- tion of the boating people. This was soon followed by Adam Stout and others, some adding "fire water " and other beverages for the inner man. The saloon business became common, and in fact at one time outranked other branches of trade, but with the general?decline these went down, so that there is but one saloon in Florida at this time. About 1847 Matthias Diemer and Andrew Bolley opened a general boat and feed store, all kinds of groceries and provisions, vegetables, including " fire water," and did a prosperous business
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for some years. Diemer Brothers' business so increased that they were com- pelled to add more room, which they did by erecting a new and more commo- dious building to accommodate their increasing trade. Boatmen made it a point, when going east, to lay in supplies, such as oats, potatoes, cabbage, and other commodities for the round trip to Toledo and return, including as much water as vessels would hold. Diemer Brothers continued this business until about 1860, when Jacob Diemer retired and went to Napoleon, and engaged in the grocery and saloon business. Matthias Diemer continued in the old stand until about 1866, when he sold to Lewis F. Richholt, and went to Na- poleon, where he engaged with his brother. Mr. Richholt continued for a time in connection with his saloon. When the canal became of little impor- tance for trade he purchased the old warehouse of Karsner & Son, remodeled it, and engaged in the grain trade both here and at Toledo. He also erected a grocery house in town. Mr. Richholt was elected treasurer of Flat Rock township three terms. He erected the new school-house in 1882-3, after which he closed out and went to Dakota, leaving his treasury bondmen and grain creditors to account his folly in grain gambling and the neglect of other business. About 1838 Robert Newell engaged in blacksmithing. He was the first regular smith in the village, and continued up to his death, in 185 1 or 1852. Peter Sester was the next, who now lives on his farm in Napoleon township. William Calhoun, Jacob T. Groshner, William Goldenstar, all fol- lowed in the same trade. Frederick Loenhart, John J. Andrew and F. B. Loenhart are the present smiths in the village. About 1850 Henry Andrew (now deceased), together with his son-in-law, Joseph Rogers, engaged in cab- inet work. About 1844 John Truby engaged in wagon making. He was fol- lowed by George Hopkins, Jasper H. Smith, Smith & Loenhart, and F. B. Loenhart, who yet continues in connection with blacksmithing. The first shoemaker of the town was Jacob Barnhart, about 1840; the last were Henry Harris and D. Rasmus, who are now in that business. The first hotel was erected about 1840 by Joseph A. Brewer, but was first used for store pur- poses and as an ashery. Mr. Brewer moved away, when the storeroom, with additional buildings, was converted into a hotel, and the ashery into stables by John B. Rundle, and by him occupied as a hotel. The subsequent propri- etors were Hiram Scobel, Dr. Gibbons Parry and William Goldenstar. It was finally converted into a dwelling and occupied by different families. This house is yet standing and occupied as a dwelling by its owner. The next hotel was erected soon after the first, and was occupied by Christian Stoat. Then J. C. McCrackin became host; then Joseph Stout. The property was afterward sold to George Hopkins, who continued it for a time and called it " White Hall." It was again sold to John Dancer for a private dwelling, but eventually be- came the property of the M. E. Church society for parsonage and church pur- poses.
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In 1871 this society erected their church on the property. This was the first church building in the village. Soon afterward followed the United Brethren Church in 1874; then the Evangelical German Reform Church in 1875. A few years later the German Lutheran society built a brick church edifice. These four buildings are neat and substantial edifices sufficient for the necessities of their respective societies. Prior to the several church erec- tions worship was conducted in private dwellings and school-houses.
At an early day William Bowen, a devout Methodist, and proprietor of the village, donated a portion of his lands for church and school purposes. A small frame building was erected by the school authorities and church mem- bers and was used by both up to and after the death of Mr. Bowen, when it was found that neither had any title in fee simple. The property was deeded by the heirs to the school authorities, and was used many years for school and church purposes.
The first post-office at or near Florida was established about 1834, with Isaac P. Whipple as postmaster. It remained there until about 1842, when, at the death of Mr. Whipple, it was moved to Florida and George W. Patterson appointed postmaster. In about two or three years Mr. Patterson left the town and Lyman Back became postmaster, and continued as such to the time of his death in 1850, when James E. Scofield became his successor. He con- tinued to 1856, when he was deposed for refusing to support James Buchanan for president, and Henry Andrew became his successor. In about a year Mr. Andrew was succeeded by Isaac Karsner. In 1860 James E. Scofield became Mr. Karsner's assistant and removed the office back to its old quarters. In 1861 Mr. Scofield was appointed to fill vacancy caused by Mr. Karsner's resig- nation, and continued to 1864, when he resigned and removed to the little sta- tion of Oakland, on the Wabash railroad (now Okolona) where he again be- came postmaster for a term of years, mention of which has been made in this chapter. John A. Vincent became his successor at Florida, but soon moved away, and Henry L. Weaver became his successor and remained until his resig- nation in 1885. John W. Long, the present incumbent, next succeeded to the office. It may be well here to mention that during Mr. Weaver's term the office was in the hands of an assistant, and at three different locations besides the first.
Early and Prominent Settlers .- Elijah Gunn, in about 1826, settled on what is known in history as " Girty's Point," which contains a large extent of as fertile land as is in the State. The Gunn tract is now owned by his heirs who reside thereon. Much of this rich and highly productive land, which gently rises back from the river at this historic point, and including Girty's Island, is owned by different parties, among whom are Leroy Wait, Anthony Shultz's heirs, and Henry Boesling. All these farms are under excellent culti- vation, having good buildings, rendering them very valuable farming lands.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
In 1833 Girty's Island was a dense forest with an undergrowth of whortleberry, wild grapes, buckeye, and other growth indigenous to the rich soil. On some of the small islands surrounding it, grew great quantities of wild onions. The smaller islands have disappeared. The larger portion of the main island, con- taining about thirty acres, has been somewhat diminished from its original size by ice and wash. About one-half is now under cultivation. This island is yet the favorite resort of pleasure seekers for recreation. It was commonly reported that a cannon was shoved off the foot of the island during the war along the Maumee. Some of the boys of 1833-4 have sought for it without result, the water at that point being extremely deep. Many relics of warfare have been plowed up on the farms adjoining the river, such as sabres, gun- barrels and bullets; also Indian relics such as rings, brooches, buckles, toma- hawks, pipes, stone hammers and arrow heads of flint. At that time (1833) the Indians were more numerous than the whites, but perfectly civil. They had camps near this island on the south bank of the stream, and came each year and burned bones at the graves of their deceased friends. The old forest farms of Judges Wait and Cole, on the south bank of the river opposite and west of this island, are now in the possession of heirs and purchasers, but in a good state of cultivation, now having but little woodlands as compared with their state fifty years ago. No pen picture can make the reader realize the change from then to the present. Among the enterprising residents might be named Henry L. Weaver, Ernest Weaver, Joseph Lowry, John A. Andrew, John Brinkman, William Goldenstar, Isaac Karsner, Dr. Gibbons Parry, Christian Stout, James E. Scofield, John Brubaker and David Brubaker. All of these owned and lived on their farms between, 1833 and 1850, except Ernest Weaver, John Brinkman and William Goldenstar the latter two having bought improved farms. There are many other excellent old farms near Florida, but they are mostly owned by farmers that bought already cleared farms from heirs and some of the older inhabitants who have removed from the township. Many others in the immediate neighborhood and in Richland township, Defiance county, contribute liberally to the trade of Florida, which makes it a village of much prosperity and likely to remain so in the future. It will grow in number of inhabitants as the country and soil is capable of sustaining a population mul- tiplied by ten or twenty of its present. The same may be said of the county in general, and indeed, of all northwestern Ohio. Flat Rock is one of the best " cleared up " townships in the county, containing more of the " old " farms, perhaps, than any other section.
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CHAPTER XX.
HISTORY OF FREEDOM TOWNSHIP.
E VERYWHERE we turn we are bewildered by the fire of 1847. Even the record of the civil organization of the townships cannot be found. It is known, however, that Freedom was one of the first of the five townships organized in the territory now composing Henry county ; that it, and Napo- leon township, in 1840, included nearly, if not all of the said territory north of the Maumee River, together with all of Fulton county, which was organized in 1850. At that time, with all of its territory, it had a population of only one hundred and five. By the organization of Fulton county, there was left to Freedom township not even the originally surveyed territory-two tiers of sections having been taken from the north and given to Fulton county; and there is now left to Freedom township but twenty-four sections of land. Not- withstanding this, the township has had a wonderful growth both in population and valuation. In 1850 it contained four hundred and sixty souls, and the taxable valuation of the property amounted to $27,602. In 1860 the popula- tion, with greatly diminished territory, was four hundred and fifty and the val- uation $71,697. In 1870 the population was eight hundred and twelve, and the valuation of land $85,279. In 1880 the census showed twelve hundred and thirty-five population, and the land was valued for taxation at $230,480.
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