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 52
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 52
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Official Roll .- For the office of county auditor, first, Isaac Springer, about seven years; Abram W. McConnell, served three years, re-elected ; treasurer, H. L. Mosely, four years ; recorder, Richard Taylor, three years ; William H. Stevens, three years; Albert S. Bloomer, nine years ; county commissioners, Joel Brigham, six years ; James Cornell, two years (appointed) ; E. L. Barber, three years ; H. H. Williams, one year (resigned and Thomas J. Cornell ap- pointed, who served until his death in October following); surveyor, John Spillaine, six years ; Anthony B. Robinson, six years ; Lucius B. Fraker, three years, re-elected ; prosecuting attorney, Henry H. Ham, two terms, four years; William W. Touvelle, two terms, four years; Mazzini Slusser, one term, two years ; coroner, Dr. J. H. Bennett, Charles E. Bennett, Noah W. Jewell, George Hartman, Levi Miley ; school examiner, by appointment, Joseph D. Aldrich, Joseph H. Bennett, - Buel, - Lindsey, - Sater, H. L. Mosely and L. M. Murphy.
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FULTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLV.
HISTORY OF DOVER TOWNSHIP.
T HE history of Dover township has been obtained from the early settlers yet living, as no records appear to be in existence. At the date of the first settlement by the whites in Dover township that part north of the " Ful- ton fine," was included in the territory of Michigan, and those settling on said territory 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 December, 1836, when this strip of land, the entire length of this county from west to east, became an integral part of Ohio. The pioneers entered their lands upon the Michigan survey at the city of Monroe at the mouth of the river Raisin, at the head of Lake Erie. At a commissioners meeting held at the city of Toledo, June 4, 1837, the township of Chesterfield was established by taking all of town nine south, ranges one and two east, south of the Harris line, and the fractional township, town ten south, ranges one and two east, extending to the Fulton line on the south. All the territory south of the " Fulton line" within the boundaries of Lucas county, west of Swan Creek township, was styled the township of York, in which some of the very early settlers within the present limits of Dover township have voted. At a commissioners' meet- ing in Lucas county, 1838, York was subdivided and the township of Clinton was erected, by taking all of town seven north, range six east, and fractional town eight north, range six east, of the Ohio survey, up to the said " Fulton line." The first election thereafter, of Clinton township, was held at the cabin of Isaac Tedrow in the western part.
It is found upon examining the records of Lucas county that at a regular session of the county commissioners of said county, held at the city of Mau- mee, June 5, 1843, the township of Dover was organized by taking from Ches- terfield township all of the fractional township ten south, range two, east of the Michigan survey ; and all of fractional township eight north, range six east, and one tier of sections off of the north side of town seven north, range six east of Clinton township of the Ohio survey, and contains in its area about twenty-one sections, or 13,119 acres of land. This township has for the past thirty-six years been recognized as the center township of the county.
Boundaries .- Bounded upon the north by Chesterfield ; on the east by the township of Pike ; on the south by Clinton, and on the west by Franklin. It is the last township organization of the twelve of Fulton county as it now exists.
Water Courses .- In this township the streamlets in the northwest part flow west across the corner of the township of Franklin and empty into Bean Creek,
59
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
sometimes called Tiffin River, while in the south and southwestern part they flow southwest, reaching the Maumee at Defiance. In like manner the waters of the east and northeast flow east by southeast into Bad Creek and reach the Maumee River soon after passing the southeast corner of the county near White House. These topographical peculiarities of the township present some- thing singular and striking to the observer, and have excited the attention of the geologist. All the inclinations of this township are very gentle, with what- ever course the streamlets take, running obliquely across the slopes of the country, generally denominated as "sand dunes." These sand dunes, or ridges, were formed by the action and force of winds and water at some ancient day. These form the summit of the township and are supposed to be the first out-croppings of land in the decline of water from an ancient lake here exist- ing, anterior to the glacial period, which once covered the great Maumee Val- ley above the great limestone ridge, which crosses the Maumee at Grand Rapids, in Lucas county.
Depressions on the surface abound among the sand dunes of this township without any outlets, and in many places constitute a characteristic feature, as of these a small number may have been very small lakes, or ponds. A majority of them have been so far filled with peat, marl and vegetable mold as to become swamps, or wet prairies.
Soil .- All varieties of deposit are present in the soil which defies classifi- cation by the common run of farmers. The average depth of the deposit in this township is about 150 feet, and at the Fulton county fair ground, is known to be 200 feet having been penetrated by the drill but a few years ago. In this boring water in abundance was obtained at a depth of 184 feet, and it rose to within twelve feet of the surface, but was never utilized for the fair ground. Water is usually found near the underlying rock. There need be but a few dry borings on this territory. The extreme summits of the township mark a water-line above Lake Erie nearly 200 feet.
Timber .- The extreme west end of the township touches closely upon the timber lands of the Bean Creek Valley, which is composed principally of oak and some elm, with here and there whitewood and hickory. From there east- ward over the balance of the township, in the regions of sand and sand dunes, a large part of the surface is denominated prairie, covered with a wild grass in summer. When first occupied by the whites, the only trees of note upon these uplands were oaks of a few varieties, and these so sparsely set that their tops, as a rule, did not interlock with each other, yet were very dwarfish in their old age, and a wagon could be drawn in any direction between them. The lower plateaus or marshes were without timber. This gave the name of the country -"Oak Openings"-but since the fires have become frequent, a dense growth of oak, interspersed with hickory, is all over this part of the township, and the lowest lands with the aspen or poplar, usually called "quaking asp."
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FULTON COUNTY.
In the more primitive state these uplands, sparsely wooded as they were, were covered over densely with the whortleberry bush, but since the plow and cultivation, together with the drainage system, have been the order of the day, they have nearly disappeared from the soil.
Domestic Uscs and Water Supply .- The sand, wherever found here, rests upon clay, and in the more elevated ridges the clay is overlaid with quick- sand, and these form the basins of water supply afforded by the falling rains, and this is all the supply we can have above the clay, and even these may be- come exhausted in great periods of drouth. This underlying clay in some places may be met near the surface. Wherever reached it is impervious to water, and hence checks the tendency of sand towards leaching. Aside from this supply, we have none other, only by piercing the Erie clay to the bed rock, where may always be found a supply of good water. These are called " artesian wells," and are often brought to use by the wind-mill, a great im- provement over the windlass of pioneer days.
On these oak openings to-day there is a vigorous and dense growth of young oaks of several varieties, with considerable white hickory and some soft maple, that has grown up since white occupants stopped the burning of the undergrowth that was so customary under the Indian reign. Aspens or pop- lars are springing up in great numbers on the prairies. Their light, down- covered seeds, flying everywhere with the wind, enables them to possess promptly any territory that has freshly become available. The sand dunes and "oak openings " have, in former years, been classed as very poor lands, and, at one period since it commenced to settle, was supposed it would never raise grass of any kind, except the wild grass found upon prairies, but to-day it is fairly competing with the timber lands adjoining in the production of all the domestic grasses, corn, wheat, and oats, and for potato production it can- not be beaten by the choicest cleared timber lands of the county. It stands in competition with other soils for quality.
Being the last township in the county, organized with a scattered popula- tion at the time, and apparently a thin soil for general agricultural purposes, Dover township has arisen from its apparent sterility at a greater rate of pro- gress than any other township in the county, and, since the advent of under- draining has taken its place, she is in full competition with her neighboring sister townships. Dover has upon its soil, for product, a class of men who have clear views of justice, and fixed opinions of right and wrong-a class of men who do not seek office, whose independence in politics is noted, and to the politician often gives offence, yet devoted to principles as dear to them as their fathers, and to the law of good morals, which bids them to love their neighbors as themselves. These descendants of the sires proved themselves worthy of their high lineage in the late rebellion, and proudly marched under the stars and stripes upon the battle-fields of the South, in response to the calls of their
,
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
country for aid. This township was never backward, and furnished more than its quota.
Indians and Camping Grounds -Upon the banks of what is styled Brush Creek, at Spring Hill, in Dover township, is situated one of the Indians' favo- rite camping-grounds, as noted by Judge Ambrose Rice, who surveyed this territory at a very early day. Its fine springs furnished what, to the Indian was second only to his beloved whiskey-pure, sweet, cold water. The re- mains of their dead may still occasionally be seen when turned up by the plow- share, or thrown out by the spade. This place lay in their line of travel from the east to the west, and in their migratory hunting excursions in the wilder- ness it became an intermediate resort for rest, one of a few such places in the county. Their chief places of living were always near the rivers, of which they were very fond.
Since her organization in 1843, Dover has the smallest territory of any town in the county, and has a very unequal fight for funds for township schools and other purposes on account thereof.
Church Societies and Schools .- Church associations and schools were form- ed as soon as the settlement of Dover township began, as early as in 1836. It is a question which of the two societies, the Disciples or United Brethren, had the first organization in this township. The Disciples, however, furnish data from their church record of their organization, which was March 1, 1841, held at the residence of Moses Ayers, and that Benjamin Alton was the officiating minister. The society have maintained an uninterrupted organization up to the present date. They have a fine brick church edifice, built in 1882, at Spring Hill, now their present place of worship, and the largest membership of any society. The United Brethren organization was made at a very early date, under the labors of John Bowser and Alonzo H. Butler. They were organized and have continued until the present time without an interruption. The society has a small chapel, built at Spring Hill in 1860, and have quite a prominent membership. A society of the United Brethren was organized at North Dover about 1882 by Rev. Bartlett, and built a small chapel for their meetings.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has two classes- one organized at Spring Hill as early as 1842, under the labors of James Gay, with Samuel Warren and wife, Ebenezer Fuller and wife, Newell Newton and wife, Isaac Tedrow and wife, and Peter Lott and wife as leading members, and for a long time held their meetings in an old log school-house just east of Spring Hill. After holding their services in various places they have steadily increased in mem- ship. In 1887 they built for themselves a very fine wooden chapel costing nearly $2,oco, and dedicated the same August 7, 1887, at Spring Hill, Revs. Belt, Fitzwater and Gordon officiating.
In the eastern part of the township the Methodist Episcopal Society was
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FULTON COUNTY.
organized by W. W. Winters, in 1857, and in 1876 they built a chapel for their use at Ottokee, and hold a fair membership to this date.
In 1847 Elder Hosea Day organized a Christian Church at Ottokee, with a fair membership, which in later years, for want of pastoral service, lost their identity, and finally consolidated with the Disciples, who were quite prominent over the whole township.
In 1858 the Disciples, under the labors of Elder L. L. Carpenter, formed an organization at Ottokee, which in after years, like the Christian denomina- tion, became disintegrated and was merged into the Wauseon and Spring Hill Societies.
Settlers .- The first white man who settled in what is now Dover township, with his family, was William Jones, known as " Long Bill." He came in the fall of 1836, and settled in the southwest part of the township, in which locality the future immigrants were confined until in 1838.
The first cabin erected in the township was for Jones, size 14 by 16 feet square. At this raising were only two men, one boy, and two Indians. The whites were William Jones, Aaron Little and the boy, Jacob Boyers, also Mrs. Jones. The raising was on Sunday, there being no time for rest in the wilder- ness until a shelter was provided. William Jones sometimes preached for the Disciples, there then being a few of that faith in Clinton township on the south. That faith was afterwards supported by the labors of William Jewell and Rob- ert K. Shepherd, as preachers, residents of the soil, and still later by Lawrence B. Smith and Zephaniah Shepherd, son of R. K. Shepherd.
In the spring of 1837, Alonzo H. Butler and wife settled upon section seven, town ten south, range two east, upon lands now owned by Charles B. Carter, just north of the "Fulton line." During the summer and fall of the same year quite a large acession was made to the little band of settlers in the arrival of Peter Lott and wife and three children ; Salathiel Bennett and fan)- ily ; Elijah Bennett and family ; Michael Ferguson ; James Gould, and Parel Smith, all with families.
Following thereafter, in the spring of 1838, were William Hoffmire, John J. Schnall, Adam Poorman, Nathan Gay, Eben French, Mortimer D. Hibbard and family, with his father and mother, also Randolf Hibbard.
From 1838 to 1846 came Moses Ayers and family, Joseph Shadle, Jacob Nolan, William Fuller, John G. Tiffany, Henry Herreman, William Jones, jr., Oscar A. Cobb, Richard Marks, Alonzo Knapp, Warren W. Hodge and family, Comfort Marks and wife Betsy, Archie and Betsy Knapp, Elisha Cobb and mother, and John Atkinson and family. A greater portion of these settled near Ottokee, at the east end of the towship.
In the west end William Waid, E. H. Patterson, Burdick Burtch, Jasper Dowell and mother, William Brierly, Joseph Jewell, William Jewell, James Wells, William J. Coss, Chandler Tiffany, George Tiffany and John Meader,
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
the last three in the east. Later were Thomas Walters and Robert K. Shep- herd, and so continued the settlement until the " Congress lands " were nearly all taken up, and the frontier was no more here.
To-day there is upon the soil of Dover township many grand and noble men and women, some of whom have taken their fathers' places by inheritance, and who were but bare-footed children in those primitive days; and others too who have come upon the soil of the township in place of many who have gone to other territory in the far west, and many to their long homes. They are men of whom the township may well feel proud, and most are quite prominent farmers. Some of these are as follows: David Ayers, John Funk, Gideon Ayers, George Miley, Harrison Schnall, Isaiah L. Hagerman, Willard D. Crout, Peter Gype, John Lathrop, Stephen Eldridge, Cornelius M. Spring, James Kahle, Daniel Foreman, James M. Gillett, DeLos Palmer, Harvey Shadle, Myron A. Beecher, Jeremiah Jones, Barnett and Adolph Kutzley, . Thompson Todd, Lucien H. Guilford, Valentine Theobold, George Guilford, John Seibold, Alonzo Marks, Luther Shadle, Lee Whitacre, John P. Shelters, C. B. Carter, Azariah Lathrop, John Smellie, Gavin Smellie, L. C. Cook, L. N. Cook, Barney H. Anderson, Levi McConkey, Jasper Dowell, Asa Borton, Lemuel F. Waid, Charles}Waid, Charles Baldwin Carter, William Somers, Al- fred F. Shaffer, John Huffmam, Oliver B. Huffman.
This township, from its first settlement in 1836, to 1845, was a land of "fe- ver and ague to the very edge." It has been no exaggeration of the histori- an to say, that for a few years after 1838, in the summer and fall, the largest half of the population were languishing on beds of ague and fever ; many a house wife was compelled to keep house and do the work for a family between the passing away of the "sweating stage" and the next " ague " attack. In this interval a large amount of work was done by them, and had to be, because help was scarce in such times as these. This picture is but a fair sample of the township and had to be endured until the winter frosts brought relief. Qui- nine was to them the staff of life, and often meant more than bread to the lan- guishing individual. But few of those early pioneers died from these malarial attacks, yet all who passed through those days can never forget them. This is spoken of as one of the trials of the settlers in early days, which, combined with general poverty, made "Jordan a hard road to travel." These incidents and trials of pioneer life are thus memorized that the rosy-cheeked youth of to-day may have some idea of what their fathers and mothers endured in sub- duing and developing a country for themselves, their children and their chil- dren's children. This they have left to you as their best gift. Yet, we can say "when your fathers and mothers, whose beds were made of pins put in the logs of their cabin, and sustained by one leg under the frame ; the foundations wove of bark and covered with straw for springs, enjoyed as much sweet re- pose as any of you to-day."
David Ayerd
47 I
FULTON COUNTY.
It was in this township that the county seat was located, in June, 1851, and Ottokee was the place designated. At that time it received its name and became a pronounced corporate village, and soon began to settle and build up rapidly, and was, for a few years, quite a prominent center for business, and bid fair for a large county town, but the loss of the Junction Railway immedi- ately after the movement of the people to bond the county for $50,000, was defeated, and the building of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railway had been assured, by which Wauseon became a point on said railway. The prospects for further building up Ottokee were destroyed. One fact here possibly may be worthy of note, that Oliver B. Verity alone, of all the men holding office at the county seat, from sister townships, and who came here as probate judge in 1858, has remained a citizen of Ottokee, in the township to the present date. The others only resided here during the life of their office, and then returned to their respective township or followed the county seat to Wauseon.
Business Houses at Ottokee .- The first store of goods brought to Ottokee was handled by Hosea Day ; the next by Ezra Wilcox and the third by George Marks and Ransom Reynolds; then followed thereafter in succession by Op- penheimer, Eliakim Stowe, John Sigsby, Warner Lott, Samuel O. Warren, Henry Herreman, Peter Lott, George G. Goulden, Charles F. Handy, and lastly David K. Numbers, who has been in trade here for several years.
The first saloon was opened in 1851, by Ezra Wilcox, who had a succes- sion of followers down to 1865. The last in the line was George Merrill.
The first hotel of Ottokee was opened up by Wm. Jones. He was followed by Henry Taylor, who died in 1862, after which the house was run for a few months by Calvin Taylor ; next by Richard H. Bagley, then by Charles Hil- ton, now Swanton, and lastly by Abner Wilcox.
A second hotel was opened about 1853, on the south side of the street, by Ezra Wilcox, who afterwards sold to David Fairchilds, and he to Lewis Breese. The next owner was Doctor W. C. Robinson, who left it about 1859, since which time there has been but one hotel kept at the town. A temperance hotel was kept for a number of years by John Miller, at and prior to the location of Ottokee, and was about two miles west. Another, by Burdick Burtch, on the farm now owned by I. L. Hagerman, was established and run by Burtch at a very early day. It was discontinued in 1858.
James M. Gillett erected a large building at Spring Hill, 1853, for a wagon shop, but changed his plans and opened the same as a temperance hotel and run it for a few years. He sold out to Daniel Ronk, and he to Chauncy Ste- vens, and the last named to Garrett Rittenhouse, who was the last proprietor at Spring Hill.
Brick, tile and pottery were first made by Eben French (familiarly known as old man French), who put up an oven on the property now owned by
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Charles B. Carter, near what was known as "Chatfield's Corners," where was made all kinds of pottery, which was peddled through the county at a very early date, about 1846. He also made brick in small quantities, and made the first tile that was ever manufactured in the county. Mr. French, at about this time, put up and burned brick on lands now owned by Levi McConkey. Brick were made soon after by Joseph Shadle, and continued for a number of years upon his farm, south of Ottokee, but stopped in 1865, after burning brick enough for the county infirmary and other buildings. "Long Bill " Jones, in 1839, made brick on the farm now owned by De Witt Williams, and this was as early as any were made. The last brick made in this township were by Amasa B. Verity, upon the premises now owned by Oliver B. Verity. Tile was manufactured for one or two years, at the saw-mill of James Kahle.
Ottokee Cemetery .- This place, for burial of the dead, was commenced at a very early day, but was not organized as " Ottokee Cemetery " until 1853. Betsy Knapp, wife of Archie W. Knapp, who came here in May, 1846, and died June 26, 1846, was the first person laid to rest in the cemetery. Ayres Cemetery was laid off for burial purposes the earliest of any in this territory, at the very beginning of its settlement, or as soon as 1838. It was used before any other place was selected, but who was the first person buried cannot be ascertained. Spring Hill Cemetery was the last regularly laid out burial- place in the township, about 1860. Oscar A. Hibbard, son of Mortimer D. Hibbard, was the first person buried therein.
Physicians .- Doctor Blaker was the first resident physician, followed in succession by Drs. Wm. Hyde, McCann, V. Gurley, S. T. Worden, B. M. De Lano, Henry Herreman and Welcome C. Robinson, each of whom engaged in general practice before Ottokee and Spring Hill had an existence as villages. After Spring Hill started, the first physician was Doctor Wm. Hyde, who edu- cated for the profession Noah W. Jewell, now of Wauseon. Dr. Jewell suc- ceeded Dr. Hyde. Next in order was Dr. Robert C. Ely, followed by Drs. Buchanan, Leach, Webb, Estelle H. Rorick and George P. Campbell, the last named being now in practice there.
Spring Hill .- M. D. Hibbard opened the first store of goods, upon a small scale, at a very early day. He was followed by Thomas Walters, and after- wards by William Jewell, Robert Shepherd, Francis Laudersdale & Son. The latter were burned out about 1860. Feis Guggenheim, Tarring Osmun, G. W. Wallace, Wesley Huffman and George Walters have also been in trade at the place.
In the year 1852 Louis Stumm brought to Ottokee from Delta, a press, and published for a time the Fulton County Advertiser. It was, in a few months, changed into the hands of J. W. Rosenburg, and the name changed to the Fulton County Union. In the winter of 1854 the paper was sold to J. W. Carter, who run it until his death, August 18, 1855, after which Ben. Frank
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