History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 59

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass, ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 852


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 59
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 59


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Churches .- In 1853 was built the first church of the township, and dedi- cated by the Methodist Episcopal denomination ; it was originally located in


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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.


the southeast corner of the'northeast quarter of section 20, town 9 south, range I east, at what has been called "Cottrell's Corners," and stood there for a number of years, when the centre of the Methodist population shifted to Fay- ette, to which place the church was removed. The building was destroyed by fire in 1859 or 1860, and a substantial brick edifice was erected in the place of the old one. The Disciples have completed a substantial building for worship, during the past year. They are in a flourishing condition. These two named churches are the only ones in the township, and not one is outside of the vil- lage of Fayette. The worshipers of the township attend at Morenci, Fayette, or Masters Corners, in Franklin township.


Saw-mills .- The first saw-mill was built upon the farm of Rensselaer S. Humphrey, now the western limits of Fayette, by R. S. Humphrey and James P. Emerick. The same was run by them for a few years, when the mill was sold to one Taylor, who, in 1859,"was gored to death by a vicious bull, upon the farm of Philander Crane, two miles east of Fayette. The mill was soon after abandoned. About the time of the building of this saw-mill, another was built by Calvin Ackley, near the meridian line. The mill was simply an ex- periment to test a new invention-the application of a band saw. It proved a failure and was soon abandoned. The next, and now the only, saw-mill in the township (except at Fayette), was built by James Baker, on section 13, town 9 south, range I east, and is now owned by Thomas T. Baker and Alphonso Whaley. All these saw-mills were run by steam. All the competitive indus- tries of Gorham township, excepting the single branch of agriculture, have been driven to Fayette or centralized at other points upon lines of railroad, outside the limits of the township.


The first physician of this township was Dr. John Kendall, who settled a few rods north of Fayette, in about 1839 or 1840, but he left and went to Franklin township about 1841 or 1842. The next physician was Dr. Joseph O. Allen, who located within the present limits of Fayette in 1851. About this time one Dr. - - Davis settled at Cottrell's Corners and practiced there for two or three years and left. This is all of the M. D.'s who settled here at an early date, before Fayette started its journey for village life, and there are none now practicing outside of Fayette.


Post- Offices .- In 1839 Gorham post-office was established and held for a number of years at the house of Erastus Cottrell. He was the first post- master. It was afterwards removed to Fayette, and later was changed in name to Fayette, and is the only post-office ever located in the township.


The First White Child .- Phila Farwell was the first white child born in the township. She now is the wife of Charles Perry, living just over the line of Gorham, in Medina township, Mich., but she is fully identified with the in- terests of her native township in all its relations.


Justices of the Peace .- Erastus Cottrell was the first justice of the peace ;


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the second, Amos Belding; the third, Israel Mattern, and the fourth Jared C. Parker ; Oliver B. Verity the fifth. Israel Mattern has held the office for a great many years in succession, and is to-day an acting justice of the peace residing at Fayette.


Miscellaneous .- The first election held in the township after its organiza- tion, was at the residence of Erastus Cottrell, on the first Monday of April, 1838. In 1853 was shown some of the physical manifestations of what is called "Spiritualism," which for weeks upon weeks drew large crowds of visitors to witness, many of whom are living to-day to testify to the same.


History of Fayette .- Fayette is located at the terminus of the Chicago and Canada Southern Railroad, and is built upon the east half of section nineteen, and the west half of section twenty, town nine south, range one east, and was dignified with the name as early as 1852, but was not incorporated until in the year 1872. Henry Boyd, of Maumee city, opened a general store in the year 1852, the first in Fayette, which has changed proprietors several times since. Henry Gamber, Rensselaer S. Humphrey, Daniel Keifer and Dr. Amos Kendall, cleared the land where Fayette is located. Humphrey, in 1845, Keifer, in 1846, and Gamber and Kendall about 1848. In the year 1856 Rens- selaer S. Humphrey and Dr. Joseph O. Allen built and began to operate a steam grist-mill and saw-mill. The same mill is in operation to-day, having been furnished with such modern improvements as the times demanded. Joseph O. Allen, Arthur Allen and Judson T. Trowbridge are the present pro- prietors. They manufacture flour by the roller process, and do an extensive business in merchant lumbering.


In 1871 John S. Butler, of Chesterfield township, erected a planing-m Il. The same plant, with extensive improvements, is now owned and operated by L. H. Vosburgh, who has in connection with it a saw-mill, sash and blind factory, and heading machinery; also an extensive lumber yard with a good stock of shingles, lath, cedar posts, etc.


Present Mercantile Business .- The mercantile business of Fayette is now represented as follows : A. P. Greiser, general stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and fancy goods ; Howard & Co., the same ; Huffman & Co., the same ; John F. Shaw, family groceries ; F. Vernier, the same; L. A. Pur- cell, clothing and gents' furnishing goods; Acker & Sons, the same; Perry & Allen, hardware, stoves, iron, etc .; Rorick & Cawley, drugs, medicines, wall- paper, books, and stationery; Andrew L. Kendall, the same. The bank of Fayette, a permanent establishment, commenced business in 1885. The busi- ness is owned by Colonel E. L. Barber and E. S. Callender, of Wauseon, and Arthur Allen, Judson T. Trowbridge, and the Hon. Charles L. Allen, of Fayette. Charles I .. Allen is the cashier and general manager. This institu- tion is rapidly gaining the confidence of the community. The representatives of wagon-making and blacksmithing are Garlick & Booth, John Vine, Eli


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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.


Foglesong. Mrs. N. M. Shaw and Mrs. A. M. Empy, represent, each, the millinery business.


Educational .- Fayette is a special school district. The public school build- ing is a large and convenient brick structure, with four departments, and has an average attendance of about one hundred and thirty pupils.


The Fayette Normal, Music and Business College is an institution of which the village may well be proud. It was established in 1881. Its growth has been of that steady, permanent nature, that insures health and longevity. It is provided with ample buildings and grounds, and through an able and effi- cient faculty has become a prominent institution in the northwest. This col- lege is rapidly gaining public favor, and is destined to become a prominent feature of the village.


Religions and Churches .- The first established church denomination was the Methodist Episcopal, the edifice being one mile east of Fayette, and stand- ing on the southeast corner of Asa Cottrell's farm. It was removed to Fayette at a later day, and was destroyed in the first great fire of the village. This organization has flourished continuously since its beginning in the primeval forest, about the time of the first advent of the whites. Their present house of worship is a substantial brick structure, pleasantly situated on Main street. Its pastor is the Rev. Theodore W. Brake.


The Christian Union was the next society to construct a church edifice, located on Gorham street, near the public school building. It was erected about 1874.


In the year 1886 the denomination of Disciples, or Church of Christ, hav- ing become quite strong in numbers by the growth of population, and feeling the need of a place of worship, erected a fine brick edifice on Cemetery street, which they now regularly occupy.


Commercial .- In the year 1872 the Chicago and Canada Southern Railway Company completed the construction of its line to Fayette, and run the first cars to it July 4, since which date Fayette has been the terminal point. It furnishes a good outlet for the produce of the country contiguous, and makes this village a good market for all country produce. The construction of the Wabash line, with a station one and a half miles directly north of this village, also furnishes large shipping facilities with a good healthy competition in the township. Its station is called North Fayette, just over the northern boundary of Gorham.


Newspapers .- The first newspaper published in Fayette was the Fayette Journal, by Delos Lyon, and its first issue was in the year 1874. Lewis Hol- comb purchased the plant in 1876, and conducted the paper until February, 1878, when the present proprietors, M. Lewis and George W. Griffin, took pos- session. The paper is non-partisan in politics, and is devoted to the interests of the village and community, and now is called the Fayette Record. A large amount of job work is done at this office.


E. H. RORICK.


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FULTON COUNTY.


The Bar .- Fayette has never for any length of time, supported a member of the legal fraternity. There have been made several spasmodic efforts by gen- tlemen of this profession, to secure a competency in the pursuit of that honor- able vocation, but the peaceable and law-abiding character of its citizens has so far rendered unfruitful all attempts in that direction.


Hotels .- Fayette has one hotel, a fine brick building, pleasantly located on Main street, and easy of access by the traveling public.


Physicians .- Dr. Joseph O. Allen was the first physician in Fayette. He has now retired from practice. Dr. Van Buskirk was the next, who died many years ago. Dr. Turrell and Dr. Amos Kendall, both of whom have died or left for other parts, formerly practiced here. The present corps of physicians are Estelle H. Rorick, H. F. Van Buskirk, C. B. Herrick, Edson Emerick, all able, energetic, and well qualified in their profession.


Post-Office .- The post-office was established here in 1854, and Dr. Joseph O. Allen was postmaster for a number of years.


Population .- In 1887 the population of the village was estimated at one thousand persons, and has shown a healthy growth for a number of years.


Miscellaneous .- Dr. Joseph O. Allen came in the spring of 1851 ; Charles L. Allen in 1859, and Arthur Allen about the same time. They all came from Clarkson, Monroe county, N. Y., and have had a large influence in moulding the sentiment of the village. Hon. Charles L. Allen has been twice elected to the Legislature of Ohio.


Official Roll of Honor. - This township has furnished one representative for two terms, Hon. Charles L. Allen ; three commissioners to-wit: William Sut- ton, four years; Heman A. Canfield, six years, and Charles Van Ostrand, two years; one probate judge, Hon. Oliver B. Verity, twelve years, or four terms ; one associate judge under the old constitution, Hon. Abram M. Flickinger, two years; O. B. Verity, county school examiner, six years, making a record of thirty-six official years for the township in the county official roll. In 1852 Oliver B. Verity was elected as land assessor in the district composed of Gor- ham, Chesterfield, Royalton and Amboy, and in 1870 was appointed United States Assistant Marshal, by the United States Marshal, for the Northern District of Ohio, to take the census in the townships of Dover, Chesterfield, Royalton and Amboy. In 1874 he was selected as superintendent for Fulton County Infirmary, and held the position six years, ending March, 1880.


In conclusion, a word to the old pioneers: You are passing away; the younger people are fast filling your places ; they must increase, and you must decrease. If you have rounded out your lives to such perfection that you can contemplate your departure from the scenes of pioneer life with composure, and peacefully at last lie down, not to dreams, but to enter upon the pleasant reali- ties of an eternal life, where many of your fellow pioneers before you have gone from these earthly labors to enter upon the higher and nobler activities of that


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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.


better land, and when from the sublime heights of the grand hereafter, you shall look down upon these scenes of your earthly pilgrimage, and see how really small were the trials which vexed you here, and how they have, if rightly improved, worked out for you a greater nobility of character, how will the soul swell with gratitude to Him who hath led you through all these years of toil to work up and round out a life for which your children shall rise up and call you blessed.


CHAPTER L.


HISTORY OF PIKE TOWNSHIP.


E ARLY MENTION .- At the date of the first settlement of the whites upon the lands of the present limits of Pike township in 1833, the part lying north of the "Fulton line" was under the jurisdiction of the territory of Michi- gan, county of Lenawee, and in the township of Fairfield, and its surveys were made by the authorities of Michigan as early as 1819 and 1820. Its county seat was Adrian. The inhabitants thereof did all legal business, and paid their taxes at Adrian, until December, 1836, when, by a compromise of existing claims between the territory of Michigan and the State of Ohio, by and in the Congress of these United States, it became the property of Ohio. Lucas county then being the adjoining county to a large part of the transfer, was, by an act of the Legislature of Ohio, June 20, 1836, given the jurisdiction of the same on her entire northern limits, of which she immediately assumed munici- pal control, and organized from the south part of Fairfield the township of Royalton to the " Fulton line." All the territory south of the "Fulton line," and now included in this township, was of the Ohio survey ; said survey was done and completed by Judge Ambrose Rice at a very early day, and for a long time was included in the township of York, which had its organization when it was a part and parcel of the county of Wood, to which all the inhab- tants of this strip, south of said line, paid tribute and voted up to March I, 1841.


Upon examining the records of the commissioners of Lucas county, it is found that, at a regular session of the county commissioners of said county, held at the city of Maumee, March 1, 1841, the township of Pike was organ- ized by taking from Royalton all of town 10 south, range 3 east, of the Michi- gan survey, and all of fractional town 8 north, range 7 east, and one tier of sections off the north side of town 7 north, range 7 east, and so remained until 1846. Again at a commissioners' meeting, held at the city of Maumee, June 2,


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FULTON COUNTY.


1846, an addition was made to Pike township by taking from Royalton the south tier of sections of town 9 south, range 3 east, and Pike assumed juris- diction over this added tract.


Boundaries. - Pike township as at present constituted, contains sections 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, and 31 of town 9 south, range 3 east, and sections 1, 2, 3 4, 5, 6, and fractional sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, of town 10 south, range 3 east, north of the Fulton line ; and of the Michigan survey south of the Fulton line in the Ohio survey ; all of fractional town 8, range 7 east, to-wit : fractional sections 30, 29, 28, 27 and 26, and sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, off the north side of town 7 north, range 7 east. At pres- ent it contains about twenty-eight full sections of land, or an area of 17,839 acres, valued in 1886, as appears upon the duplicate, $291,670 personal and real. This township embraces two fractional township surveys and part of two other township surveys. It is bounded on the north by Royalton, on the east by Fulton, on the south by York, and west by Dover and Chesterfield town- ships, and is about equally divided east and west by the "Fulton line," once the boundary between the territory of Michigan, and the State of Ohio. Pike appears as the eleventh township in its organization, when this region was un- der the municipal control of Lucas county prior to 1850, the year of the organ- ization of Fulton county.


Population .- The first white man, as near as can be ascertained, settled here in the fall of 1833. The population, by the United States census of 1880, shows in round figures, 1, 147. It was a fair and proportionate increase, ac- cording to its area, with other townships in the county. It has no populous commercial center or village within its boundaries.


Soil, etc .- The soil of this township probably is varying as much as the township of Dover on its western boundary. The extreme eastern and south- eastern part is referable entirely to the drift deposits, and is what may be denominated clay and sand mixed, of the lacustrine order, largely modified at many points with the second beach sands, which lies near its southeastern cor- ner, traveling in an angular direction northeast across the township of Fulton on the side of which sand spurs put out and are prominent for one and two miles at different points upon its eastern boundary. The center of this town- ship is largely modified from the western part, by the overlapping of the finer sands of the second beach formation upon its western boundary, which put out in spurs from Dover township. The whole township has a very gentle incli- nation east, and with these sand spurs makes the surface gently undulating at various points.


This township has a rich soil, susceptible of high cultivation, and produc- tive of all the cereals of agriculture, and less subject to early frosts (except a small part of its northwestern corner) than its neighbor township, Dover, on the west. While sand and muck largely prevails in all the frost regions of this


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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.


and other townships, wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, and clover and timothy, with everything to enhance the interest of agriculture, can be as successfully pro- duced all over the area of this township, and is capable of supporting as fine dairies as the more heavier lands of the county.


The raising of sheep and hogs is also quite a prominent industry of this township.


The lands in the western part of this township, and angling upon its north- ern line to the northeast are denominated "openings," embracing half of the area of the township, and are considered light sand lands, often subject to early frost, which in some seasons are serious drawbacks to the successful raising of corn and buck-wheat, which require a time later to mature. Wheat is success- fully raised upon this land, of not so large an average, but more uniform in a period of ten years than clay land, the quality generally good. Large prairie areas are prevalent in the north and northwestern part, and before underdrain- ing had been done they were wet and covered with a species of wild grass, which in the early history of white settlements, was cut and dried, and was the principal cattle food for winter; this was before the cultivation of domestic grasses. There is not a foot of waste land in Pike township at present, and largely improved by the great amount of underdraining now being done.


Timber Lands .- The eastern end of this township was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, the more prominent of which was the white and burr oaks, elm, hickory, black walnut, cotton-wood, and some white ash, with now and then the famous whitewood. The buckeye may be found in small quantities along the valley of Bad Creek. The forest afforded to the settler all the rail timber used in clearing and building purposes in the past, and what is now standing is fully sufficient for the use of the farmers for gen- erations to come.


In the west end, and over the balance of the township is what in geology is termed the " second beach," produced by the receding waters of the glacial period, is of sand and often quite heavy ridges, covered with oak. Before the white man began to settle these lands, the oak was very dwarfish and scattering on these ridges, while the level plateaus or marshes were without timber ; but since the fires have been kept away, a dense forest growth of oak has made its appearance all over these sand lands, vigorous and noble in its forest home, and since commencing drainage the low lands are losing their wild grass, and its place filled by the aspen and willow, now so prevalent here in the "openings." The whortleberry, like the wild grass of the prairie, has almost disappeared from the soil. It was said by the more fortunate neighbors of surrounding townships, that these openings were good for nothing but raising frogs and whortleberries, which they declared were the "chief support" of the pioneers, and yet this being the chief support, as they declared, in the berrying season, the more fortunate neighbors would, with their wives and


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FULTON COUNTY.


children, for a dozen or more miles, fill the woods and purloin from Pike town- ship " our chief support," as they frequently declared, but to-day the residents do not more often hear the sound of the frog than in the vicinity of " our more fortunate neighbors," and they do not appear as of yore as in the caravans to the " mecca" of these oak openings.


Water Supply .- The sand openings soil, wherever found in this township, rests entirely upon the unmodified Erie clays and under the more elevated ridges underlaid with quick-sand, and forms the only basis of water supply afforded by falling rains, and is all the supply above the clay drift. These may become exhausted in great periods of drouth. This underlying clay, modified by the lacustrine deposit, is found in many places throughout the openings near the surface, and wherever it projects out it is nearly impervious to water. Aside from this supply, there is no other acquired than by piercing the clay drift to the bed rock, about one hundred and forty feet, where there may always be found a bountiful supply. In these modern days the deep-well sup- ply is easily utilized by the wind-mill, which is gaining favor among farmers generally.


Post- Offices .- This township has but one post-office, established in 1848 or 1849 and called "Winameg," situated upon what is familiarly known as " Ætna," near the center of the township. It was so named by the Hon. D. W. H. Howard, in memory of a noted chief of the Ottawa tribe, who formerly roamed over the forest of this county. The first post-office established in the township was at the house of Lyman Parcher, called " Parcher's Corners," but was soon after removed to Alfred R. Shutes's, and then abandoned. Another post-office existed some years at the residence of Robert A. Howard, called " Essex." and when the county seat was established at Ottokee, this office was abandoned.


Water Drainage .- The drainage of the township is chiefly to Bad Creek, the northern branch of which has its rise in the prairies of the northwest part of the township, and running a southeasterly course to about the center of the township ; thence south until it meets the south branch near, and a trifle south- east of the Salsbury cemetery, near the farm of the late Joseph Salsbury. Here it receives the waters of the south branch, which has its rise in the prairie lands of Dover township, near its center, and enters this township on the west, near the Fulton line, and thence, with its numerous tributary streams upon either side, made more rapid by surface and underdrainage, crossing to the north side of the Fulton line, and so continuing an east course until it unites with the north branch south of the Fulton line, on lands owned by Henry S. Isabell. And still there is a more southerly branch of the same creek, or range of waters, with its lesser streams, having its rise in and about Ottokee, and running east and northeast until it unites with the north and middle branches of this whole western drainage, at or near said Salsbury cemetery. The


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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.


streamlets of this township have a gentle inclination east and southeast, and run obliquely across the geological determination of the beaches until they empty into the Maumee River, at Texas, in Henry county. This township has an elevation of about one hundred and forty feet above the water level of Lake Erie, with an inclination of about fifteen feet across the township, south, to the Maumee valley.


Rebellion Record .- This township answered well every call of the chief executive of the nation for soldiers, to put down the rebellion, and promptly filled their quotas without a resort to the draft; and to-day it proudly points to her loyalty to the flag, in common with her sister townships of the county. She had her soldiers in every part of the volunteer service of that period, irre- spective of party, or party affiliations. The boys in blue rallied at the call, sat- isfied that loyalty to the stars and stripes was the duty of every good citizen.




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