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 54
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 54
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Adam Poorman was also a very hard-working and industrious man, and did his full share in improving the country. He was also a friend to the stran- ger and the new settler. His farm was often overflowed by water of the creek. In 1846 he sold the same to Daniel Thomas, and bought land and moved into Dover township on section 6, town 10 south, range 2 east, and commenced again his pioneer's life upon soil equally liable to overflow with water as where he first settled, in Franklin. Here he died, many years ago, respected and la- mented by his neighbors. He had three sons and three daughters: Cornelius was killed by a falling tree, in 1849; Michael and Marion are still living in Dover township, well advanced in years, men of family, having good farms. His daughter Anna, now the wife of Royal C. Stevens, is, by some, claimed to be the first white child born in Franklin township.
Soon after John Shaffer and Adam Poorman had got their cabins up, John McLaughlin and Samuel Ayers came to the township from Richland county, O., to hunt themselves homes. They got to Bean Creek just at dark and found the bridge, built by Shaffer and Poorman. They thought to cross with the team, but Samuel Ayers said he would try it first, and accordingly walked nearly over, carefully examining the same; but as the north end was the low- est, resting on driftwood, then abundant in the creek, the poles of the bridge floated and he fell through into the water up to his waist. They then re- turned their horses to the wagon, and hearing the sound of the cow-bell some eighty or ninety rods north, concluded to try and cross the bridge on foot, leaving the team, and make for the cow-bell. They found it at the cabin of
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
John Shaffer, at about eight o'clock that night, and where they stayed over night. The next morning, with the assistance of Mr. Shaffer, they fixed up the bridge and got the team over the creek, and Mclaughlin and Ayers went on their way farther west, soon found themselves homes, and returned to Rich- land county, where they resided. They soon prepared themselves and fam- ilies to come to Williams county, now Fulton. Another sister, Elizabeth, came in the winter of 1837, with the family of Samuel Ayers, to their new homes in this wilderness. They were originally from Perry county, Pa. They settled each as follows: John Mclaughlin on section I, town 7 north, range 4 east; Samuel Ayers on section 2, town 7 north, range 4 east ; Joseph Mclaughlin on section 1, town 7 north, range 4 east, Ohio survey. John McLaughlin's sister, Elizabeth, married Adna Reynolds. On that event- ful day she did a washing in the morning, for the family, shelled, that morning also, one-half bushel of corn, and that afternoon carried it on her shoulder, through the woods, to Bird's mill, located on Mill Creek, north, got it ground, again re-shouldered and carried it home, baked the wedding cake, and was mar- ried the same evening. The distance to Bird's mill was at least two and one- half miles, making five miles to and from, for the lady to travel. This was in the fall of 1838. Rachel Mclaughlin married one Porter, and now lives in Steuben county, State of Indiana. David married Libbie Rogers; he died many years ago. Joseph is living, and has raised a very fine family, and is highly respected. Asher Bird settled here on section 8, town 10 south, range I east, in 1837, and that year built the first water-mill on Mill Creek, which gave it the name it bears at the present time. This was the first grist-mill built and run in the township.
In 1837 Joseph Ely, Martin Pike, William Young, James Baxter, Jabez Jones and Albert Chatfield all settled on the west side of the creek, excepting Albert Chatfield, who settled upon the east bank, farther north. They, with the other settlers at this time, began to make roads and build bridges, which were crude, barely cut out, and old logs removed sufficient for a team and wagon. This answered the purpose of the early settlers until the stumps began to de- cay. In 1838 Jacob Shaffer, sr., settled on section 12, town 10 south, range I east; Michael Shaffer on section 35, town 8 north, range 5 east ; David Ely on section 2, town 7 north, range 5 east, and Thomas Walters on section 36, town 8 north, range 5 east. John Bowser, sr., came from Fairfield county, O., in the spring of 1838, and settled on section 34, town 8 north, range 5 east. He had six sons, a part of whom were full grown, that came with him. The father bought each one of his boys one hundred and twenty acres of land, and with the aid of the whole combined, being very industrious, soon cleared up the homestead, and the rest as fast as needed. John Bowser was a preacher of the society of the United Brethren in Christ. His house long served as the traveler's home, and a meeting-house. His settlement here soon drew many
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of his old neighbors from Fairfield county, to wit : Dorsey Barnes, his son-in- law ; Ozias Barnes, John J. Clark, Jacob Hanshy, Moses Kirtz, Noah Specht, all followers of Father Bowser, who was soon surrounded with a religious ele- ment of his own faith. In an early day camp meetings were held upon his lands. He died in 1844. Aaron, his youngest son, became a very able and successful preacher among the brethren, and served several terms as presiding elder in the district. He died a few years ago at Columbus Grove, Putnam county, O. Jacob, the oldest son, who lived near the old homestead, was drowned October 4, 1884.
In 1837 Samuel B. Darby and family came from Elmira, Chemung county, N. Y., and encamped upon the bank of Bean Creek, and put him up a cabin in a short time thereafter. He and family were nearly three months upon the road, and endured many hardships in getting here. He was a very prominent settler in Franklin, and many years the foremost leader in affairs of the county. He died at his old homestead July 15, 1881, aged seventy-seven years, his widow yet living with her son, Dr. Francisco L. S. Darby, at Wauseon.
Peter Minick and Peter Andre settled on sections one and two, town seven, range five east, in 1839. Peter Andre, in 1845, sold out and moved to Wis- consin, and soon thereafter died. Peter Minick lived many years, cleared up a good farm and made good buildings. His children have grown up and be- come well settled in life. Peter died in December, 1881, at the advanced age of seventy-five years ; his widow still lives on the farm.
Thomas Walters settled on section thirty-six, town eight north, range five east, in 1838; Joseph Ely, Leonard Whitmore, David Meriolett and George Miller also came during the same year. In 1839 came Benjamin Borton, Geo. McFarlan, Asher Ely and his sons, William and O. S. Ely, and John Sparks. In 1840 came John Wooster and Chauncey Loveland from Richland county. Wooster was a carpenter by trade, and became to the early settlers, a very useful man. In 1841 came Nathan Borton, a preacher of the Quakers, also John Borton, and settled on section thirty-five, town eight north, range four east, also Isaac Borton, John Jones, P. S. Vanortrick, and his two sons, Abram and John, and Peter Vandervier. In 1842 came John Kendall, who in an early day settled in Gorham, Christian Swartzentruver, Dorsey Barnes, and possibly others that have been overlooked.
From 1842 to 1850, the time of the organization of Fulton county, im- provements had been made rapidly, and the township began to present a homelike appearance; large immigrations commenced to move to Franklin township, as well as other townships of the county. In 1843 came John Den- nis, Orrin G. Greely ; in 1844 John Jacoby, John Fisher, Bethuel Borton and Peter Hagerman; in 1845, James S. Riddle, Adam Andre, Nathan Oliver, Nathan Borton, Phillip R. Fisher, John Mason, Josiah Mason, Reuben Mason, J. C. Mason, John Arch, Ezekiel Masters, Jacob Cox and his son, John Cox,
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Benjamin Persing and Lucius N. Chatfield ; in 1846, Benjamin Persing, John McGowen, George Kibler, David Carr and families, Daniel Thomas; in 1847, John Gype and large family, and William Ely ; in 1848, John Hardin, Gideon Long, Joshua Conoway, Obadiah Borton and Chockley Harlan ; in 1849, Richard Rider, Harvey Miller.
Of these that came prior to 1850, but few are now living, and by their deaths the old homesteads have passed into the hands of their descendants, while many have gone into strangers' possession, and to-day the farms and homes of the old pioneers are occupied by another generation of men and women, with scarcely a mark to show to the world the labors of their fathers and mothers, obliterated by the improvement of time ; the log cabin has been removed, the old log school-house has passed away, and their places are occupied by the brick or painted wooden ones, which now dot the land all over the county ; and where once was the Indian trail is now found well gra- ded highways and the iron rail to direct the course of the iron horse.
Now, of those who came to Franklin township since 1850, and at present upon the territory, will be found the names of Lafayette G. Ely, Michael Mart- zolf, Fred Crumrine, Garret H. Baum, S. W. Baum, John Shilling, James Ran- dall, Levi Kump, J. Garrison, W. Burns, Hamilton Persing, Asa Borton, Arthur Borton, Charles L. Stevens, Royal C. Stevens, Ozias Barnes, grandson of the old pioneer, Ozias Barnes, Anthony Snyder, Lewis Shipman, Jacob Koon, Jacob Shadle, Jacob Doriot, Eugene Doriot, John Winzler, William Dunabar- ger, Campbell Ely, Harrison Ely, Levi Kump, J. Sloan, William Russell, Har- rison Hittle, Levi G. Hittle, Ely Shipman, Josiah Shank, Daniel Prickett, Jacob Roth, Jacob Shoffner, Michael Lea, John Merelotte, Peter Merelotte, James B. Dickson, Reuben Wentz, Samuel Borton, John Gype, Adam Gype, Henry Brame, Thomas Andre, John Dennis, Christ B. Roop, Levi Buxton, J. J. Seiler, John Minich, sr., John Minich, jr., John Shilling, F. Gegax.
Schools .- Samantha Crandall taught the first school in the bounds of Franklin township, in the old cabin of Joseph Bates. She had to cross Bean Creek on a felled tree across the creek, evening and morning, and wade through swales and water to and from school. Her mother taught the next school. They both died over thirty-five years ago. The time of Samantha Crandall's teaching was in the year 1836, and was conducted as a private school of the neighboring families. This cabin stood on section 2, on what is now known as the Shilling farm ; afterwards Miss Jane Brundridge taught the school. The
second school-house built (log cabin) was erected by Samuel B. Darby, on the east bank of Bean Creek, near Darby's land, and Samuel B. Darby taught the first school here, in the winter of 1839. In 1842 a new frame school-house was built on the same site. The Asher Ely school district was organized in 1845, and hewn log cabin was built for the district. The first teacher was Augustus Porter. The Methodists and Presbyterians used this house for a long time as
I. S. Ely
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FULTON COUNTY.
a place of worship. Franklin now has seven school districts and one joint school district, formed from German and Franklin. A. W. Fisher, in his his- torical reminiscence, says, "that which is now called sub-district number four has produced over forty teachers, five doctors, three lawyers, three merchants, two jewelers, one minister, one professor, one editor, one portrait artist, one railroad conductor, one telegraph operator and one commercial traveler," and claims it as a record of which few country schools can boast.
The first shoemaker was Benjamin Persing; the next was John Hardin, who settled on the west side of section 2, in 1848, and made shoes and boots some three years; the next was Joshua Conoway, in 1848, who carried on the industry for quite a number of years. He is now a resident of Spring Hill, in Dover township. He, to the old settlers, was a very useful man, for he com- bined, for his industry, all the trades necessary in business life : he was a mill- wright, wheelwright and carpenter, and, when necessary, plasterer, painter, mason, blacksmith, wagonmaker, shoemaker, tailor and farmer.
John Borton put up and distilled the first oils from peppermint, spearmint, sassafras and butter-weed, in 1841, and has always made it a successful busi- ness industry. He is still in the business. The second still was erected by Asher Ely, in 1844, and run three years, and afterwards abandoned. Next was Nathan Borton's, in 1846, who manufactured large quantities of oils for many years. About this time John Mason built a still-house on section 1, and run for about twenty years, when the industry was abandoned, and their still- houses have long since fallen into decay. George Kibbler, in 1852, built a whisky-still in connection with a grist-mill, the first and only still ever built and run in Fulton county. In 1864 the whole was sold to a man by the name of Gigax, who repaired the same, ground a couple of grists, when he lost the dam by floods, and then the mill and still were abandoned.
Grist-Mills .- The first grist-mill in this township was built by Asher Bird, sr., on section 8, town 10 south, range I east, on Mill Creek, in 1837. Bird run this mill until his death, in 1842. It was abandoned at a very early date, 1849 or 1850. This was, without doubt, the first regular grist-mill in Fulton county.
In 1850 George Kibbler built a grist-mill in connection with a saw-mill, and run them until his death, in 1864, when they passed to other parties, and were soon abandoned. These were both water mills and built on Mill Creek. No industry of this kind, by water or steam, is carried on to-day within the present limits of Franklin township.
The first cider-mill was built and run by Chockley Harlan, in 1856. The press was of the beam and lever style, then the easiest to " rig up;" it con- tinued only a few years. Some years later John Gype and brother put up an improved cider press, which is in use to-day, doing a large and profitable bus- iness.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
The first cane-mill put up in the township was on section 12, on P. R. Fisher farm, by Obadiah Borton, in 1850, and here was worked the first sor- ghum raised in Franklin, and here was made the first sorghum syrup. In 1858 John Mason built a mill for grinding cane, and run the same for fifteen years. In 1865 Joshua Conoway put up an extensive cane-mill and did a big business for six or seven years, when he sold out his farm to Samuel Harley, and the mill was then abandoned.
As early as 1837 or 1838, Albert Chatfield built a saw-mill on Bean Creek, and carried on quite an extensive business for many years. The mill has long since fallen into decay. The old land marks of the same are still visible. A grist-mill was built near the old saw-mill many years after, and run a few years, when it was burned. The first steam saw-mill was built by John Borton, near the south side of section 35, town 7 north, 4 east, of the Ohio survey, in 1856, to which was afterward added a lath and shingle-mill. Both were burned in 1879, and never afterward rebuilt. Another steam mill was, in later years, built near the eastern side of the township, and is now owned and controlled by John and Peter Gype, and, in connection with it, is a cider-mill and press. As a saw-mill it is doing a large and flourishing business. It was built at very early date by Michael Shaffer, who sold to Gype & Smoker. It was once burned, but afterwards rebuilt. It is now the only saw-mill in the present lim- its of Franklin.
Stores .-- In 1838, a man by the name of Hastings started a store just west of Bean Creek, on the old Maumee and Angola road, and west of Samuel B. Darby's residence, upon the south side of section 32, town 8 north, 5 east. After a few years it was abandoned. In that early day of Franklin the spring freshets of Bean Creek would overflow a wide area of country, and often the settlers would have to " boat it " to the store for the trade desired by them. In 1838 Leonard Whitmore brought a small stock of goods to the Bean Creek valley, and located east of Bean Creek on section 10, town 10 south, range I east. He traded there for a number of years. The early settlers say it was abandoned in 1843.
Reuben Mason, in 1850, opened a store at his residence, and in 1852 laid out the village of Trenton (it only existed on paper), and built a large store- room, and sold goods for nearly ten years. He was postmaster at Blanc, for eleven years, and until the post-office was abandoned. The Blanc post-office was first located at the house of Jabez Jones, in Franklin township, in 1850. The mail was carried on horse-back from Toledo to Angola, once a week. John S. Butler, the first mail carrier, is yet living in Chesterfield, in this county.
In 1839, soon after the arrival of Samuel B. Darby, to the banks of the winding Bean, he opened a store and sold goods for a few years, when he abandoned the trade. Thus, as the country has grown older, business of all kinds has drifted to common centers upon the railway lines. And as no lines
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FUI.TON COUNTY.
of this kind are yet in Franklin, all that was once this busy center, workshops and stores, have departed. There is not now a wagon shop, tailor shop, shoe shop, grist-mill, still or store, within the limits of Franklin township.
Physicians. - The first physician was Ira Smith, who came in 1840. He practiced some three years and left. In 1841 or 1842 Dr. John Kendall came from Gorham township, and bought and settled on section 35, town 8 north, range 5 east, and was for many years the only physician of general practice in the township. He left the township about 1860, and settled at Milburn, some five miles west of Bryan, Williams county, and died soon after. Dr. Kendall was one of the associate judges in the early days of the county of Fulton. A son of Dr. John Kendall, Amos Kendall, in 1846 settled on Bean Creek, near Chatfield's saw-mill, and commenced the practice of medicine. He however stayed but a few years and moved back to Gorham, where in later years he died.
In 1860 came Dr. Schmidt, and practiced medicine until 1865, when he left and settled in Edgerton, Williams county, where he died. Lastly was Dr. Wil- son, from Stryker, who in 1867 built a log house and office on lands owned by Joseph Ely. His fame soon spread to such an extent as to bring him patients from nearly every State and Territory of the Union. He soon had to build a hotel for the accommodation of his patients, and a bus line was established from Archbold on the Lake Shore Railroad to his office. In 1873 he moved to Arch- bold, and there soon after died. He was a wonderful man, a mystery to all, yet his success was not greater in healing disease than other physicians; his power was in diagnosing disease, in which capacity he seemed to be unusually expert.
Churches .- In 1849 the Methodist Episcopal denomination built a church, the first in the township, which was located near Master's Corners. In 1852 the Presbyterians built a church also near Master's Corners, which was the sec- ond church of that faith built in the county, the first being at /Etna, in Pike township, at that time. In 1852 and 1853 the Baptist denomination built a church near the Corners, which was used for a number of years, but subse- quently moved away, and is now located on section 2, town 10 south, range I east. The disciples have an organization in the southwest part of the town- ship, and built a church on section 2, town 7 north, range 4 east, in 1861. They dedicated it February 20, 1862. This church was organized under the labors of Elder L. L. Carpenter. A church of the Reformers or Lutherans is located on section 34, town 8 north, range 5 east. They have a small chapel extemporized from a school-house, in which services are regularly held. These comprise the list of churches and church organizations within the limits of Franklin township.
This township has had at different times three brick yards, in each of which brick was made for several years, and also a brick and tile yard was opened near the Angola and Toledo road west of the creek, and worked by J. Shadle
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
for two years, and then abandoned. To-day this industry has been fully aban- doned by all, and no brick or tile are made in the township.
There are no railroads touching this township in any part, neither are there any post-offices in the township; but for many years the people have had to get their mails at Tedrow in Dover; Fayette, in Gorham ; and Elmira, in Ger- man township; and in the western part at West Unity, in Williams county.
The first white child born in this township was Annie Poorman, now the wife of Royal Stevens, of this township. The second, a male child, was Marion Poorman. It is claimed by the very earliest settlers living that a child was born to Mrs. Irena Holt, a sister of Isaac and John Reynolds, of Franklin, and soon after birth died. This was really the first white child born in Franklin town- ship.
Ransom Reynolds and Pollonia Crandall were the first persons married in Franklin, and Adna Reynolds and Elizabeth Mclaughlin were the second couple married.
Official Roster of County Officers. - This township since it began to settle has supplied Williams and Fulton with the following county officers: George Ely, auditor of Williams; Samuel Ayers, treasurer; Ezekiel Masters and Jo- seph Reasoner, commissioners. Ezekiel Masters served two terms of six years as commissioner of Fulton county, Joseph Ely five terms or fifteen years, and Sylvester Baum the present commissioner; Ezekiel Masters two terms in the Legislature of Ohio; Lafayette G. Ely has served three terms as auditor ; John Kendall, associate judge under old constitution, 1850; James S. Riddle served as infirmary director six years ; Samuel B. Darby, recorder one term, and filled a vacancy by the death in office of Joseph Jewell; William H. Stevens, three terms or nine years as recorder. The number of years service in some county office by the official roster of this township amounts to fifty-two years for Ful- ton county since its organization, April 1, 1850.
Reminiscences. - In a very early day, as early as 1836, a man came into this county and entered some land on Bean Creek or Tiffin River, at the Fulton line, being the head of navigation. It is reported that he was a surveyor and engi- neer; that he laid out a city, platted it, and called it the city of New Amster- dam, and marked the steamboat landing, the public square and public park, and many other things, among them lots sold. Then he went to Cincinnati, representing it to be almost the garden of the world, and would make one of the great cities of the west. He sold his plat and the land adjoining for quite a sum of money. The land was conveyed from one person to another for some years, when finally a man came to Toledo, on a hunt for the city of New Am- sterdam. He finally, through Robert A. Howard, found his way to Bean Creek, and enquired of Samuel B. Darby, for the city of Amsterdam. As the river happened to be at the height of navigation, Darby told him if he had a boat he would convey him to the site of the city ; but the water would be from one to
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FULTON COUNTY.
ten feet deep, and that the land had been sold for taxes, and further informed him that he (Darby) hield the tax title, and would like to have the money on it. The man soon left, and has never been back since, or any other person claiming the original title. The town is now owned by Mr. Coon and P. W. Poorman, residents, and is said to be yet mostly in the woods. This tract with others in the vicinity was entered at the land office by one Heffenstine, and on this prop- erty the city was located (that is, on paper).
CHAPTER XLVII.
HISTORY OF FULTON TOWNSHIP.
DRE-HISTORIC .- At the date of the first settlement by the whites of Fulton township, then called and known in this Northwest as the "Six- Mile Woods," its political divisions were as follows : That part lying north of the " Fulton line " was included in the Territory of Michigan, and of those set- tling in said territory all their legal business and the payment of taxes were done at Adrian, then the county seat of Lenawee county. They so continued to do until December, 1836, when this strip of land, lying between the Fulton and Harris lines, was assigned to and afterward became a part of Ohio. This was the result of what has been termed the "Michigan War." In this State- line contest between Ohio and Michigan, some of the early settlers of what was erected into Fulton township participated (mostly in behalf of Michigan). One Peter Broadsword went from this disputed territory to Waterville, south on the Maumee River, to mill, and on his return was taken prisoner of war, near old Swanton, on the Ohio side, and was detained with his grist of corn meal until his captors became convinced that he was not in any manner aiding the "Wolverines ; " and upon fair promises, made by Peter, he was per- mitted to return to his family with the provisions, for which they had become very much in want. The portion lying south of the Fulton line, in the State of Ohio, was, at this time of the early settlement of the territory, and up to 1841, included in Swan Creek township, as near as can be ascertained, and there were about twenty-five families, settlers on the territory now under municipal control of this township, when the disputed strip was turned over to Ohio. It may be said, in the language of a writer in Lenawee county's history, that the early settlers of Fulton township had many things to contend with; it was said that the land was too low, or the water was too high and there was no way for drainage. The land is level, and was heavily timbered and required much labor to fit a small piece for cultivation. When the crops 62
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