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 48
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 48
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The third story was
designed for, and always has been used as an Odd Fellows Hall. The Wool- son block was built in 1876. The Madison block was an old and somewhat dilapidated building and was partially destroyed by fire in 1885. In 1886 it was rebuilt and made a good business block, by its present owner, Joseph Mat- tison. The Ham block was built in 1886, the main design of its construction being to provide a good building for the Wauseon post-office. J. A. Read & Son's fine building was erected in 1880 by its present owners, and the Eager & Green dry goods block but a few years previous. The Miller block was built for a furniture store and manufactury, in 1870, and is still used for that purpose.
For some years a hall in the Cheadle block was devoted to public amuse- ments, it succeeding an old hall in what was called the Mikesell block, and which stood at the northeast corner of Fulton and Elm. This building was destroyed by fire in 1867, and its site remained vacant until 1882, when a bill- iard hall and saloon building was placed thereon. When the court-house was built the court room was then somewhat used for assemblages of a public char-
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
acter, but of course not for amusements or theatrical performances. For the purpose of gratifying the public taste for a class of amusements better than could find suitable facilities in the Cheadle Hall, Walter Scott, an enterprising citizen, built the Wauseon Opera House in 1879. It stands on the east side of South Fulton street. The first story contains two very large business rooms, and the second is all included in an auditorium capable of seating six hundred people, with an ample stage, and the usual scenery and facilities of a first-class opera house. In the winter of 1879-80 it was formally opened to the public.
The most prominent manufacturing enterprise in Wauseon is the flouring mill. It was built in 1862 by J. C. Cornell, and was the old-fashioned buhr mill, and steam was the motive power. To procure water a reservoir was made by removing the dirt from a space of about one-fourth of an acre of land, which, thereby, became a sort of drainage deposit for the extreme wetness of the surrounding soil, and a basin for rainfalls. This plan is still used to pro- cure water for the large mill which now occupies the place of the old one, which was burned in the month of February, 1881. Immediately upon the destruc- tion of the old mill, a new one, with all the new and improved kinds of ma- chinery, was built. Its capacity is two hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day, and it is run without cessation the year round, except on the Sabbath. A large portion of the productions of this mill is exported to foreign countries. Marcus Lyon, George S. Clement and Charles S. Greenleaf, gentlemen who long have been prominently identified with the business interests of Wauseon, now are, and for a number of years have been, the owners of this property.
The other manufactories of Wauseon are of minor importance, consisting only of those necessary to supply local needs, except the Automatic Plow Company, which was formed in 1886. This company manufactures corn- plows. Their factory was built late in 1886, and is on Commercial street.
At the October election in the year 1869, the removal of the seat of justice from Ottokee to Wauseon, was submitted to the qualified voters of the county for their decision. By a slight majority the vote was in favor of removal; and the subsequent winter the General Assembly passed an act whereby Wauseon became the county seat. The county commissioners at this time were Joseph Ely, of Franklin township, A. B. Gunn, of York township, and Milton McCaskey, of Fulton township. Early in 1870 the board of commis- sioners purchased land on the west side of South Fulton at the southwest cor- ner of that street and Chestnut, from John A. Read and Walter Scott, and soon thereafter began the construction of the court-house thereon. The contract for the court-house was let to Vass & Bensman, of Perryburg, O., for the sum of forty-six thousand dollars, and for the jail to John Litzenberger, for eighteen thousand five hundred dollars. C. C. Miller was the architect of the court- house. By the first day of January, 1872, the building was completed and ready for occupancy. In the same month the county records were removed to Wau-
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seon, the county officers duly installed in their respective offices, and the spring term of the Common Pleas Court held at Wauseon. As speedily as possible the county jail and sheriff's residence were built, and Wauseon took a new lease of prosperity. From 1870 to 1880 the population of the village increased about thirty per cent.
Wauseon's first school-house still stands at the northeast corner of Clinton and Elm street. It is an old-fashioned building of wood, put up in 1856. It contains two rooms and is yet used, it being the place where the youngest chil- dren of school age in the village receive their first instruction.
The next, a small brick, was erected on the north side of Chestnut street. It fell into disuse for educational purposes when in 1868 the building for a spe- cial school district, of which Wauseon was quite the larger part, was built on Monroe street, near the park known as Monumental Park. The special school district building is a three-story brick, containing six rooms, and the usual halls necessary to a building of that size for school purposes. It was built by J. Q. Riddle and a man named Cutshaw, the latter being the mechanic, and the for- mer furnishing the material. Its cost was $15,000. This building was not well designed for its use, and although expensive, it was not well built. It is about the only institution of the town of which the average Wauseon citizen is not reasonably proud. It is not stating the case too strongly to say that the excel- lent people of the village are thoroughly ashamed of the unsightly, badly de- signed, and probably dangerous school-house where their children receive their education. So far as the management of this school is concerned, it always has been excellent, both on the part of the board of education and the teachers, and a number of the graduates of the high school have become intelligent and use- ful members of society. Many who went forth from its walls have been and now are numbered among the most efficient of the common school teachers of Fulton county. The average yearly attendance in all its schools for the last ten years has been about two hundred and seventy-five pupils.
An examination of the business history of Wauseon discloses the fact that the representatives of its trade in all channels since its first rude beginnings in the woods, have been unusually reliable and solvent. In proportion to its busi- ness and population, the failures have been few, and commercial disasters of any magnitude entirely unknown. The trades and general business are now repre- sented by about fifty establishments. Its express and freight receipts will com- pare favorably with many places of twice the population. Its citizens travel and mingle with the outside world and patronize the public library, and are thrifty intelligent and generous. Poverty and want among any of the inhabitants are exceptions to the general prosperity of the people, of rare occurrence, and the different church organizations, the civic societies, comprising the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the noble fraternity of the Grand Army of the Republic, are ever ready to alleviate privation and distress. None of the chil-
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
dren of Wauseon go hungry, but few ill-clad, and the means of moral and men- tal culture are freely provided for all. Surely the paths of this pretty village have been and shall continue to be prosperous and pleasant.
CHAPTER XLII.
HISTORY OF AMBOY TOWNSHIP.
A T the date of the first settlement of Amboy township by the whites, as early as 1834 or 1835, that part north of the " Fulton line " was included in the territory of Michigan, and, with all the other townships north of said line, the people did all their legal business, and paid their taxes at the city of Adrian, the county seat of Lenawee county, and continued to do so until in December, 1836, when this entire strip of land became an integral part of Ohio, under the jurisdiction of Lucas county. The land office on this survey was at the city of Monroe, near the mouth of the River Raisin, at or near the head of Lake Erie. All persons living on this disputed strip prior to its transfer to Ohio, were residents of Fairfield township, Lenawee county, and Territory of Michigan.
At a commissioners' meeting held at the city of Toledo, June 4, 1837, the township of Amboy was organized by taking all of town nine south, range four east, south of the Harris line (now the State line of Michigan), and all of frac- tional township ten south, range four east, extending to the "Fulton line" south.
The first election under this organization was held at the residence of David Duncan. The officers assumed jurisdiction and held the same until March 1, 1841, when the south part (all of town ten south, range four east) was erected into Fulton township, and passed under her jurisdiction, and so remained until 1846, when, at a commissioners' meeting held June 2, at the city of Maumee, upon a petition signed by many of the residents of Fulton township (there being no remonstrance from citizens of Amboy), they attached to Fulton township the south tier of sections of town nine south, range four east, to wit : Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36.
Amboy at present contains about twenty-six full sections of land, or an area of 16,677 acres, valued at the last assessment, together with the personal property, at $333,640, as shown upon the duplicate of the county for 1886.
All of the alterations of this township were made when this county's terri- tory was a part and parcel of Lucas county, prior to 1850, the time of the or- ganization of Fulton county.
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Boundaries .- This township is in the extreme northeastern part of the county, and bounded on the east by Richfield township, in the county of Lucas; on the south by Fulton township; on the west by Royalton township, and on the north by Ogden township, Lenawee county, in the State of Michi- gan, or the " Harris line." Amboy lies wholly within the disputed territory which was adjusted by the Congress of the United States in December, 1836, and was then turned over to Ohio. It was the third township organization of Lucas prior to Fulton county. The extreme eastern part of this township is west from the city of Toledo about fifteen miles, and on an average of twenty miles from Wauseon, the county seat. Its nearest railroad station is about six miles south, Swanton, on the Lake Shore Railroad.
Soil .- The soil of this township is referable entirely to the drift deposits, and would be classified as drift clays. The township is traversed from the southwest to the northeast, near the center, with a beach ridge of sand and gravel. This clay, with slight deposits of sand and gravel, covers the major portion of the territory, and is deposited with a flat and often a very level sur- face. This beach ridge, crossing nearly through the center of the township, has, with its branches, but a small area, yet it crosses many farms that would be otherwise destitute of sand, and it affords to the farms and the township a desirable variety. This beach of sand and gravel abruptly terminates about two miles south of Metamora, a small village near the northeast corner. Clay suitable for brick-making can be found in this township in abundance, but, as yet, few bricks have been made.
Timber .- The clays of this township support a heavy forest growth, in which no single class predominates. White oak, burr oak, white elm, white ash, and basswood, with a sprinkling of sugar maple, cottonwood, and some whitewood, sycamore, and but few beeches are met with, and this forms the growth of timber upon its soil, as it appears to-day, and was found by the first settlers. Where this sand and gravel beach overlays the clay, elm, basswood and beech become rare, yet a heavy growth of timber covers its soil. There are no opening lands in the township. With proper care and protection, Am- boy township has sufficient timber for all building purposes for generations to come, and this is one of her internal sources of usefulness as well as wealth.
Water Courses .- The main water course of this township rises beyond the western boundaries of the township, in the township of Royalton, and runs a northeasterly direction through the village of Metamora, and thence east, leav- ing the township near the northeast corner of section twelve, town nine south, range four east, into Lucas county. It is called Ten Mile Creek, and empties into Maumee Bay, on or near the line between the States of Michigan and Ohio. The summit of this township is on its northwest border. The streams on the north side of Ten Mile Creek have a gentle course to the southeast, while upon the south side they are few, and a short distance south of Ten Mile
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Creek are gently inclined to the south, and empty into Swan Creek. All the inclinations of this township are very gentle with whatever course the stream- lets take, the slope being gently inclined to the east and south by east. There are no very singular surface depressions in the locality, and but few wet prai- ries or marshes.
Topography .- The highest lands upon the north side of this township are about one hundred and forty feet above Lake Erie, and fall off to the south with a descent of fifteen feet to the mile. At no place within its limits is there an out-crop of the underlying rock, and there are but few glacial boulders in the soil. The overlying rock on this territory is first the Huron shale ; then the Hamilton group; next the Corniferous limestone. Its water supply is attained by surface drainage, and fails in severe drouths; otherwise a good supply can only be obtained by the auger below the clay-drift, where can be found an abundance of good water to be utilized for general purposes by using the wind-mill.
This township was among the earliest that began settlement in 1834, and held a scattered population for a long period of time. The settlers endured many hardships and privations, and were poor in purse and household effects while they were clearing away the forest to raise corn and wheat for their bread and fattening a little pork for their families to subsist upon. Cabins had to be raised for shelter, roads opened, bridges built, and many other things were required to be done before any revenue could be returned to replenish an empty purse. There were no laggards here, no idlers; the crash of falling timber was heard early and late in that busy circle of early pioneers, and after- wards came the burning and logging, and fitting the land for corn, potatoes, and a little garden after other crops had been put in by the ax and hoe. There was but little plowing and the crops were tended by the whole family with the hoe as best they could. Often half of these crops were destroyed by birds and wild animals, so prevalent in those new forest homes, and it is often remarked by these sturdy pioneers that with all their effort to keep soul and body together with sometimes poorly supplied larders, an empty purse, with home-made clothing for their Sunday wear, how well they enjoyed this kind of life; to chop the first tree, to build the log cabin, to move into it, with none other near, was exhilarating. There was no repining. It was a necessity that they should live in this way, and they with joy obeyed this will as though it was the command of God, and in their rehearsals of those days they often manifest a desire to live them over again. The gun was often brought into use to supply food for the families. How anxious these pioneer men and women were to get a little piece of ground and secure themselves a home, and rear their families, and when away at work how cheering the thought as he went from his toil to his cabin and family at the close of day; no loitering places,for modern day fixtures to draw him away from his family. To recall
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these days are cheering reflections of an inspiration not possessed by our modern belle and gentleman. It can be well said for these old pioneers that " labor is the life of nature, and to serve all men her highest freedom."
Population .- In the last census of 1880 this township had a population of 1,264. The development has been slow, and not until later years did it receive agricultural possibilities that has astonished its people, and in the future is more than likely to keep pace with its sister townships of the county. The first twenty-five years of the settling of Amboy township was slow because of the lack of means of its people, they having come to the territory in very limited circumstances, but through courage and energy they slowly mounted the ladder to success. It was not until the construction of the plank road, in 1850, that a route was opened from the city of Toledo westward, running through this township from east to west, and then did its prosperity begin. Ever since that event the discouragements have been far less than to those who came to possess the country.
Roads .- The first road penetrating this township was the territorial road. or known as the Vistula and Indiana road, laid out by the territorial Legisla- ture of Michigan, about 1832. It was opened at a late date, about 1835, and in 1850 became the bed for the plank road, which for many years was the only outlet for Toledo via Sylvania, westward. In the very early history of the township a road was built running from the old Vistula road south on the sand beach through the township towards the Maumee River, which served as a route of travel in getting to Maumee for milling and trade, and by reason of these roads the central and northern part of. Amboy was the first settled and earliest developed.
The inhabitants in this locality are probably as well situated and as com- fortably supplied as anywhere in the county.
Agriculture .- In the early days here was found covering the territory a dense forest, which required many years of the ambition of the best blood of the country to remove; and after that a great amount of labor was needed to begin a higher state of cultivation before the development of agriculture be- came a fixed fact ; for it was found that when the forest was removed the soil was rich in all that develops agricultural powers, and to-day, with the system of drainage which every industrious community has adopted, Amboy is second to none in agricultural possibilities. Its natural advantages in soil are equal to any other township of the county, and its productions to-day confirm every statement herein made, as shown by the reports of productions of this town- ship in 1886, and taken in the spring of 1887.
Acres of wheat, 1323; bushels raised, 22,983. Acres of rye, 179; bushels raised 3.331. Acres of buckwheat, 51; bushels raised, 989. AAcres of oats, 635; bushels raised, 27,618. Acres barley, 11 ; bushels raised, 419. Acres of corn, 1,682; bushels raised, 59,613. Acres of meadow, 1, 155; tons of hay,
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
1,096. Acres of clover, 294; tons of hay, 335; bushels of seed, 236. Acres of potatoes, 93; bushels harvested, 7,065. Butter manufactured, 26,787 pounds. Cheese manufactured, 141,000 pounds. Sorghum made, 102 gallons; maple syrup, 205 gallons, and 120 pounds of maple sugar. Amount of eggs pro- duced, 33,661 dozens. Wool produced, 5,016 pounds. Cows in township, 543. Orchards, 352 acres; bushels of apples, 21,368; pears, 35 bushels; peaches, 6 bushels; cherries, 25 bushels; plums, 18 bushels.
Early Settlers .- Jared Hoadly was, without doubt, the first resident settler of Amboy township. He entered his land in the month of July, 1833, and late in the fall of the same year he moved to Amboy township. It is found that in the early part of January, 1834, he built himself a cabin upon this purchase, on section seven. He lived in Amboy township for many years and in later life, moved into Michigan. He was a very prominent man with the first pio- neers, and very influential in all the affairs of the township. He was prosper- ous in all his business adventures. He bore well the hardships incident to early life in a new country, and his home was the asylum of the distressed and unfortunate. His outlet for trade was at Perrysburgh, and occasionally at Adrian. His milling was mostly done at Tecumseh, which was reached by roads winding about through the woods and swamps, over unbridged creeks, and it often required three or four days with ox teams to make the trip. The most plentiful thing was game, of those days. Indians were by no means scarce, as they liked the idea of being near the first white settlers for the purpose of trade and barter. They were, upon the whole, a benefit to these early fathers and oftentimes company in the lonesome hours of wilderness life; and besides, they kept the settlers informed of all newcomers for many miles around. They were always peaceable; the settlers had nothing to fear from the Indian. They would assist the families in erecting their first cabins, in order, chiefly, to get what whisky they could drink. It may be said of them that they did their part in making the early pioneers and their families more comfortable for their being here, as many of these old settlers can testify. Mr. Hoadly was an ac- tive man and performed his full share of labor in the developing of the town- ship in its very primitive days. He held the plow to break the first piece of land plowed in Amboy, and built the first cabin of which we have any record. He has long since passed "over the river" from the toils and scenes of this life.
Among the other settlers that came to this township in 1833 that can be found recorded in the memory of the present living generation were Alvah Steadman, Aaron Steadman and David Steadman, father of Aaron and Alvah, Frank O'Neil, Charles Blain, William Blain, John Roop, Joseph Roop and Alfred Gilson. The Blains, originally, were from Lodi, near Syracuse, Onon- daga county, N. Y., and first made a halt at Toledo, at a very early day, from whence they came on foot across the country westward, and settled in Amboy, which was then under territorial rule of Michigan, and said to be in the town-
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FULTON COUNTY.
ship of Blissfield. Their advent was late in the fall of 1833. They each have raised large families, all of whom have grown to man and womanhood and are settled around their parents on parts of their father's estate. These pioneers, after subduing an interminable wilderness and enduring their share of the trials and privations incident to a pioneer life, acquired a fair share of this world's goods, and a fine share of lands on sections 18 and 19, which estate is now divided among the children. Charles Blain is living to-day at the advanced age of seventy-five years. His mother, Sarah Blain, died in 1874, at his home in Amboy township, at the age of one hundred and four years. Alvah Stead- man is supposed to have been the second settler in the township, but possibly that honor will have to be divided with John and Joseph Roop, yet the best informed of the old pioneers accord that honor to Alvah Steadman. They all came so nearly together that it will be impossible at this late day to settle the question. Joseph Roop made the first brick in the township and carried on that industry for many years. Many of the old settlers show the brick man - ufactured by Joseph Roop, now used in comfortable dwellings. The foot- prints and marks of these first settlers are shown and spoken of all over the township.
These families, being the advance guard in subduing a wilderness, had a large share of the winter of 1834 in which to arrange for a garden and potato and corn patch, one of the first thoughts of the settlers of that day, and gen- erally planted among the logs with spade, hoe or an ax, and in the fall were prepared to help the coming immigrant with a fair share of their summer's in- dustry, for which they usually obtained a little cash, not greenbacks or gold, but a little silver and the balance in wildcat notes of that period, upon which there was often a large loss to the receiver.
On examination it is found many of the homes of these first beginners have passed into the hands of strangers-later immigrants upon the soil, who since have done their part well, and claim some recognition as pioneers of Amboy township or the county of Fulton. From the old tumble-down cabin will be seen fine residences, mammoth barns, good out-houses and well-drained lands, surrounded by good rail fences. It is now fifty-four years since the advent of the first settler, Jared Hoadly. With many of that year's immigrants full a month's work from each was required to cut and clear out roads and make bridges, etc. No turnpike work could be done in those days. Frank O'Neil settled where Metamora is now located. He built the first cabin in that part of the township, and there alone with his family enjoyed the full fruits of a pioneer's life and the honor of being ahead of the other settlers.
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