USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 10
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RECORDER.
Moses Lee, 1834-41; Jabez S. Spencer, 1841-47; John Dixon, 1847-49; Jabez S. Spencer, 1849-53; F. W. Schierloh, 1853 (appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Spencer, and served until the close of the term ) ; Joseph Tingle, 1853-56; John Nicewarner, 1856-59; Peter J. Bowman, 1859-65 ; James Monroe, 1865-72; W. N. Wetherell, 1872-78; William Alt, 1878-84; L. M. Ludwig, 1884-90; Joseph Justice, 1890-96; John Cowan, 1896-1902; Frank Gmeiner, 1902-09; H. C. Hummon, 1909-1912; Theodore Heckman, 1912 to the present time.
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TREASURER.
The first transaction in the treasurer's office of Putnam county reads as follows: "July 1, 1834-Received cash of Abraham Sarber, town director of Kalida, $1,388." All of the treasurers have been Democrats with the exception of W. S. Lenhart. C. M. Godfrey was probably a Democrat at the time he was elected, although he later became one of the pillars of the Republi- can party in this county. The complete list of treasurers follows: J. M. Cochran, 1834-37; Moses Lee, 1837-39; F. H. Gillette, 1839-43; C. M. God- frey, 1843-47; O. W. Crawfis, Sr., 1847-51; Stansbury Sutton, 1851-55; Z. R. McClure, 1855-59; F. S. Godfrey, 1859-63; N. H. McCracken, 1863-67; Henry Montooth, 1867-71; William McClure, 1871-February 1I, 1875; Stansbury Sutton, February II, 1875-September, 1875 (McClure died in office and Sutton was appointed to fill his unexpired term) ; N. H. McCracken, 1875-79; H. L. McDowell, 1879-83; L. N. Parker, 1883-87; O. W. Crawfis, Jr., 1887-91; W. S. Lenhart, 1891-93; Joseph Leopold, 1893-97; Ralph G. Spencer, 1897-1901 ; George D. Kinder, 1901-05; Herman McDougle, 1905- 1909; Frank J. Kohls, 1909-13; Charles E. Kohls, 1913 to the present time.
SHERIFF.
Every sheriff of Putnam county has been elected by the Democrats and, judging from the majorities which the sheriffs have been receiving, it seems like it will be many years yet before this unbroken record will be changed. Many of these sheriffs could tell some very interesting stories if they cared to disclose their experiences while in the discharge of their duties. One sheriff, Sherrard, hung a man by the name of Goodman on the spot where the old jail stood. It is probable that Sherrard had more exciting experiences than any other sheriff. The most famous jail delivery the county has ever known occurred during his administration, when murderer Goodman and sev- eral other prisoners tried to escape. Sherrard was struck with a brick-bat in a stocking by one of the prisoners, and the desperate criminals seized his keys and made a dash for liberty. Fortunately, nearly all were captured within a short time. The complete list of sheriffs of the county is as follows : William Cochran, Jr., 1834-38; David S. Gibbs, 1838-42; T. R. McClure, 1842-46; I. H. Vail, 1846-48; R. Douglass, 1848-52; John B. Fruchey, 1852- 56; James H. Vail, 1856-60; William Craybill, 1860-62; John Cunningham, 1862-66; W. W. Cartwright, 1866-70; Louis W. Albright, 1870-74; Henry Sherrard, 1874-78; Josiah Markley, 1878-82; Frank Rothman; Peter Wanne-
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macher, 1886-90; David C. Williamson, 1890-92; Frank E. Treece, 1892-94; B. F Burgess, 1894-98; Nicholas Miller, 1898-1902; Frank E. Treece, 1902- 1906; Joseph Zink, 1906-1I; Nicholas F. Miller, 1911-15; A. L. Tate, 1915 to the present time.
CORONER.
The first coroner, William Turner, was appointed by the court in the spring of 1834, and the first man elected to the office was James Taylor, who was elected in the fall of the same year. The coroners do not see to have left definite records, or at least there does not appear a complete list of these officials in the county records. The following roster is as complete as the records show : William Turner, 1834; James Taylor, 1834-38; Henry Blos- ser, 1850-54; Chris Raabe, 1866-70; John W. Vaughn, 1870-74; David Waltner, Jr., 1874-78; Joseph Fouriner, 1878-82; H. J. Rader, 1882-86; Jacob F. Leffler, 1886-90; S. F. DeFord, 1890-94; G. A. Light, 1894-98; E. J. Dech, 1898-1900 (re-elected in 1900, but resigned and A. F. Sheibley was appointed to fill out the term) ; A. F. Sheibley, 1902-06; E. L. Tupper, 1906-10; A. F. Sheibley, 1910 to the present time.
SURVEYOR.
F. C. Fitch, 1834-37; E. B. Fitch, 1837-40; Benjamin A. Dunning, 1840-43; Elias Everett, 1843-45; L. E. Hawley, 1845-49; Jacob Blosser, 1849-52; Samuel Parker, 1852-58; John Sheakley, 1858-62; D. S. Crites, I862-63; C. A. McDowell, 1863-65 ; H. F. Knowles, 1865-70; Lewis E. Holtz, 1870-76; Aaron Overbeck, 1876-82; Elias W. Dimock, 1882-88; Daniel W. Seitz, 1888-94; James D. Huddle, 1894-1900; O. C. Talbot, 1900-06; John T. Maidlow, 1906-II; J. S. Cartwright, 1911-15; Perry Ford, 1915 to the present time.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
The first prosecuting attorney of Putnam county, Amos Evans, received the munificient salary of fifty dollars a year; the present prosecutor is paid a yearly stipend of seventeen hundred dollars. The term was at first two years, then changed to three, and is now two years. Many of the incumbents of this office in the county have become among the strongest members of the local bar. The complete roster follows: Amos Evans, 1834-35; Hamilton Davidson, 1835-37; Francis H. Gillette, 1837-39; Edson Goit, 1839-40; Wil- liam G. Burge, 1840-41; William L. Rose, 1841-42; A. A. Skinner, 1842-45;
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
George L. Higgins, 1845-46; James Mckenzie, 1846-53; Azariah Budd, 1853-57; James Mckenzie, 1857-1859; Azariah Budd, 1859-61; James C. Gribben, 1861-62; David I. Brown, 1862-63; J. R. Linn, 1863-67; James An- derson, 1867-71; Stansberry Sutton, 1871-75; A. V Watts, 1875-79; James T. Lentzy, 1879-83; William C. G. Krauss, 1883-86; John P. Bailey, 1886- 92; Charles Frayer, 1895-95; James P. Leasure, 1895-98; G. W. Risser, 1898-1904; B. A. Unverferth, 1904-09; J. W. Smith, 1909-1913; A. A. Slay- baugh, 1913 to the present time.
PROBATE JUDGE.
The office of probate judge was created by the constitution of 1852 and was again recognized by the constitution of 1912. It is interesting to note that a majority of the probate judges of Putnam county have not been lawyers. The first man elected to the position, John Dixon, was a lawyer. Taylor was a veteran of the Civil War and a merchant of Kalida. Kuhns was a real estate agent and held the office for twelve years, the longest of any incumbent. Gordon was a contractor and was recorder of Butler county several terms before coming to Putnam county. Bacon was a druggist; Uphaus, a manufacturer ; Thomas, a lawyer; Armstrong, a farmer; Powell and Boehmer, lawyers; Heidlebaugh, a school teacher; Mersman, a manu- facturer.
The complete list follows : John Dixon, 1852-55; A. J. Taylor, 1855-61 ; John Kuhns, 1861-73; John H. Gordon, 1873-79; Samuel S. Bacon, 1879-85; John H. Uphaus, 1885-91; A. Z. Thomas, 1891-97 (died in office and the governor appointed David N. Powell to fill the unexpired term. Powell served from February 15 to October 15, 1897) ; J. B. Armstrong, 1897 (Mr. Armstrong was elected to fill the unexpired term of Thomas) ; Amos Boeh- mer, 1897-1903; A. M. Heidlebaugh, 1903-09; Joseph Mersman, 1909 to the present time.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The first board of county commissioners was appointed May 5, 1834, by the associate judges. They were Thomas Gray, William Priddy and Samuel Meyers. In October of the same year, an election was held for county com- missioners and the following were elected: William Priddy, Benjamin Clevenger and Sheldon Guthrie. The complete list since that time follows :
1835, Isaac McCracken and Joel Wilcox; 1836, Christian Huber; 1837, William Scott; 1838, Christian Huber; 1839, William Scott; 1840, J. D.
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
Wamsley; 1841, Christian Huber ; 1842, James Belford; 1843, W. B. Thrapp; 1844, Nicholas McConnell; 1845, W. B. Thrapp; 1846, Nicholas McConnell; 1847, S. Ramsey; 1848, H. J. Boehmer; 1849, William Kilpatrick; 1850, H. J. Boehmer ; 1851, Samuel Prekey; 1852, Henry Kieheffer; 1853, Clark H. Rice; 1854, William Krause; 1855, Henry Kieheffer; 1856, Clark H. Rice; 1857, Robert Stewart; 1858, William Krause; 1859, O. W. Crawfis; 1860, John Diffenbaugh; 1861, Conrad Henry; 1862, Simon Maple; 1863, Conrad Henry; 1864, John Diffenbaugh; 1865, Simon Maple; 1866, Herman Recker ; 1867, Conrad Henry and B. H. Lehmkuhle; 1868, Herman Recker; 1869, Michael Bridenbaugh; 1870, B. H. Lehmkuhle; 1871, W. W. Place; 1872, Michael Bridenbaugh; 1873, Charles Wannemacher; 1874, W. W. Place; 1875, William Schaffer; 1876, Charles Wannemacher; 1877, C. F. Mallahan and Jarvis Postlewait (the latter appointed) ; 1878, William Schaffer and James H. Smith (the latter elccted to fill vacancy) ; 1879, Ferd Unterbrink ; 1880, Thomas J. Williams; 1881, John H. George; 1882, Ferd Unterbrink; 1883, William Boehmer; 1884, John F. George; 1885, John T. Mallahan ; 1886, William Boehmer; 1887, James H. Smith; 1888, John T. Mallahan; 1889, G. B. Brinkman; 1890, James H. Smith; 1891, Amos Liggett; 1892, G. B. Brinkman, J. T. Mallahan and William Agner (the two last named appointed) ; 1893, William Agner; 1894, J. W. Poast and D. G. Leffler (the latter appointed) ; 1895, Samuel Cartwright; 1896, D. G. Leffler ; 1897, J. W. Poast; 1898, Samuel Cartwright: 1899, Ignatius Stech- schulte ; 1900, David Owens ; 1901, J. H. Rower ; 1902, Ignatius Stechschulte; 1903, D. F. Owens; 1904, J. H. Rower; 1905, B. A. Ruhe; 1906, Jacob Bright; in 1906 a law was passed changing the tenure of office of the county commissioners from one year to two; 1908, B. A. Ruhe, Jacob Bright and Jacob Best ; 1910, Jacob Best, John R. Forney and George Herman; 1912, Frank Kracht, John Forney and Jacob Best; 1914, Henry W. Little, Frank Logan and William Schlagbaum.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
Since the organization of the county, in 1834, it has been included in several different congressional districts. It is rather difficult to designate all the men who have represented it, but the list of those representing this district since 1852 have been taken from the official records and are complete to 1915. The counties given are those in which the congressman lived when elected.
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OIIIO.
1852-54-A. P. Edgerton, Williams. 1854-67- Richard Mott, Lucas. 1867-68-J. M. Ashley, Lucas. 1868-70 -- William Mungen, Hancock. 1870-74-C. N. Lamison, Allen. 1874-78-A. V. Rice, Putnam. 1878-80-Benjamin LaFever, Shelby. 1880-85-William D. Hill, Defiance. 1885-86-George E. Seney, Seneca. 1886-88-M. M. Boothman, Will- iams.
1888-90-S. S. Yoder, Allen.
1890-92-Dennis D. Donovan, Hen- ry.
1892-94-Ferd C. Layton, Auglaize. 1894-96-Dennis D. Donovan, Hen- ry. 1896-98-F. B. Dewitt, Paulding. 1898-02-David Meekison, Henry. 1902-04 -- John S. Snook, Paulding. 1904-06-W. W. Campbell, Henry. 1906-14-T. T. Ansberry, Defiance. 1914-N. E. Matthews, Putnam.
REPRESENTATIVES IN STATE LEGISLATURE.
Prior to the year 1847, Putnam county was in the same district with Allen, and, later, was with Henry county. Following are the list of state representatives and their years of service: Nathan S. Landes, 1847-48; Charles B. Edson, 1848-49; Sidney S. Sprague, 1849-50; William H. Snook, 1850-52 ; James G. Haley, 1852-54; James Mckenzie, 1854-56; Henry J. Boehmer, 1856-68; W. J. Jackson, 1858-60; David I. Brown, 1860-62; Benjamin A. High, 1862-64; H. J. Boehmer, 1864-66; S. M. Heller, 1866-69; H. J. Boehmer, 1869-71 ; S. M. Heller, 1871-72; J. J. Moore, 1872-74; George W. Light, 1876-78; David I. Brown, 1878-82; I. H. Kahle, 1882-86; Amos Boehmer, 1886-90; Milton E. McClure, 1890-94; William F. Hoffman, 1894-98; N. B. Ross, 1898-1902 ; O. J. O'Donnell, 1902-06; Joseph Justice, 1906-10; John Cowan, 1910, still serving. After 1870 Putnam county elected its own representative. Before this was made a separate district, in 1870, the following were residents of this county: Mckenzie, Brown and Boehmer.
STATE SENATORS.
From 1834 Putnam county has had representation in the state Legis- lature and during the eighty-one years which have elapsed since that time it has been included in several districts. It was first included in a district composed of Allen, Mercer, Darke, Shelby, Wood, Miami, Williams, Lucas, Van Wert, Paulding, Henry and Putnam counties. Gradually the number of counties composing the district was reduced and now consists of the five counties of Wood, Hancock, Henry, Fulton and Putnam. This district
PUTNAM COUNTY INFIRMARY,
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
has had two senators in the Legislature. The complete list of senators follows : James Johnson, 1833-34; John Hunt, 1835-36; Curtis Bates, 1837-38; John Hunt, 1839-40; Jacob Clark, 1841-42; John W. Walters, 1843-44; A. P. Edgerton, 1845-46; Sabirt Scott, 1847-48; James Cunningham, 1849-51; William Mungern, 1852; Samuel H. Steadman, 1854-56; William S. Lunt, 1856-58; Joseph N. Westcott, 1858-60; George Laskey, 1860-62 ; Charles M. Godfrey, 1862-64; J. C. Hall, 1864-66; A. M. Cory, 1866-72; H. P. Page and D. W. Howard, 1872-74; William H. Tressler and E. D. Potter, 1874-76; P. P. Brown and E. D. Potter, 1876-78; J. B. Steadman and David Joy, 1878-80; John A. Wilkins, 1880-82; J. H. Brigham and J. D. Norton, 1882- 84; W. H. McLyman and O. B. Ramey, 1884-86; E. S. Dodd and H. C. Groshner, 1886-88; William L. Carlin and William Geyser, 1888-90; William W. Sutton and John Ryan, 1890-92; T. H. McConica and John C. Rorick, 1894-96; T. C. Harbaugh and John Vogt, 1896-98; William G. Leete and Adam Schafer, 1898-1900; T. C. Harbaugh and George C. Dunham, 1900-02; Calvin P. Godfrey and George C. Dunham, 1902-04; Calvin P. Godfrey and L. H. Austin, 1904-06; R. A. Beatty and Amos Boehmer, 1906-08; Amos Boehmer, 1908-12; E. F. Weiser, 1912-1914; C. C. Cass, 1914 to the present time.
COUNTY INFIRMARY.
In 1865 a vote was taken to build a county infirmary, but the proposi- tion was defeated. At the April election, 1866, another vote was taken and carried by eight hundred and six majority, only one hundred and fifty-one votes being cast against the measure.
In 1869, John Kern, Isaac Vail and Presley Corron were appointed and constituted the first board of directors. Those succeeding and years of service are as follows: 1869, Jessie Joseph, to fill vacancy; 1869, Samuel Kline; 1871, Isaac Vail; 1872, Jessie Joseph; 1872, Herman Recker, to fill vacancy; 1873, Herman Recker; 1874, Jacob S. Williams; 1875, Lewis N. Crawfis; 1876, Eli Stevic; 1877, Jacob S. Williams; 1878, Lewis N. Crawfis; 1879, Eli Stevic; 1880, Henry Recker; 1881, Joseph Faber ; 1882, Kemp Samsal; 1883, Henry Recker; 1884, Joseph Faber; 1885, Kemp Samsal; 1886, Joseph Miller ; 1887, J. R. Rimer ; 1888, R. E. Gilbert; 1889, Joseph Miller; 1890, J. R. Rimer; 1891, R. E. Gilbert; 1892, W. F. Sherman; 1893, James Williams ; 1894, J. W. Summers; 1895, W. F. Sherman ; 1896, James Will- iams; 1897, J. W. Summers; 1898, A. H. Wingate, to fill vacancy ; 1898, 8
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
A. H. Wingate; 1899, J. B. Uphaus; 1900, J. M. Shank; 1901, J. W. Pfister ; 1902, J. B. Uphaus ; 1903, J. M. Shank; 1904, J. W. Pfister; 1905, D. W. Light; 1906, James H. Hunt, appointed; 1906, James H. Hunt; 1908, James H. Hunt; 1908, D. W. Light; 1908, Henry J. Lammers ; 1910, Henry S. Baxter ; 1910, W. T. Elter; 1910, Henry J. Lammers. The board of in- firmary directors ceased to exist in 1910, by an act of the Legislature passed in that year.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.
1869-71, Jacob S. Williams; 1871-75, Samuel McDowell; 1875-85, William R. Sherrard; 1885-92, C. A. McDowell; 1892-1900, James Ridge; 1900-02, John E. Nemire; 1902-15, W. P. Frantz.
After the board ceased to exist, the superintendent was appointed by the county commissioners. W. P. Frantz was the first man appointed by the commissioners and is still serving in that capacity.
TAX COMMISSIONERS.
The Legislature of 1912-14 enacted a law creating the office of deputy tax commissioner. Joseph Kersting was appointed by the commissioners to fill this office for Putnam county. He served for nearly two years, when he was superseded by R. B. Layton. The law has been decentralized and the duties of the deputy tax commissioner transferred to the county com- missioners.
CHAPTER VI.
TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION. -
BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP.
Blanchard township was organized in 1833, the year before Putnam county was organized, and at that time included the territory now in Van Buren, Riley, Blanchard and Richland townships. Richland township and the south tier of sections of Riley township were detached from Putnam county in 1848 and added to Allen county. When Blanchard township was organized, in 1833, it was a part of Williams county and the county seat was then located at Fort Defiance. The order creating the township is found in the commissioners' records of Williams county.
As far as known, there were only eight voters in the township at the time it began its career, although after the organization of the township the settlers began to come in rapidly. Otho Crawfis and his wife, Sarah Agner, had the honor of being the first settlers in this extensive township. They were natives of Fairfield county, Ohio, and settled in Putnam county on October 17, 1831. The year following, came Samuel Hall, Joseph Hick- erson and H. M. Crawfis. In 1833 the population was increased by the fam- ilies of Abraham Hardin, Hezekiah Bonham, William Prichett, Calvin and Alexander Morehead. The year 1834 saw a still larger number of fami- lies casting their fortunes with the pioneers of this township. In this year came William Patrick, Henry Pope, Joseph Wade, Samuel Hickerson, Jos -. eph Bowen, George Shoemaker, Thomas McClure, Andrew McClure and Charles Guysinger. The following year brought in the families of George Stewart, George Bacon, Azariah Smith and John Stewart.
Unfortunately, the early records of Blanchard township were burned many years ago and definite data on its early history is hard to obtain. It is known that the first election was held at the home of Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., and that the following officers were elected: Samuel Hall, Abraham Hardin and Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., trustees; Joseph Hickerson, clerk; Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., justice of the peace. Hickerson was selected by the voters to take the election returns to Defiance, and, while in the county seat, he
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was sworn in as clerk. Upon his return he swore the other officers in and then the new county was ready for business.
An interesting story is told of Crawfis, who had been elected justice of the peace, and the story has the unusual advantage of being true. When he received his commission as justice of the peace for Blanchard township, Williams county, from Defiance, signed by Governor Lucas, he returned it, thinking that he lived in Putnam county. Within a short time the commis- sion was returned to him with the official information that it was correct and that Putnam county had not yet been formally organized.
FIRST EVENTS.
Rev. Elam Day, a Methodist, preached the first sermon in the town- ship, at the home of Samuel Hall, in the fall of 1832. Martin Hickerson, born in 1833, a son of Joseph Hickerson, was the first white child born in the township. The first death was that of a Miss Killpatrick, and it oc- curred the same year. The year 1833 also witnessed the first marriage, that of Samuel Myers and Margaret Hardin, the wedding taking place on Christmas day. The first road was the Findlay-Defiance road, and was sur- veyed through the township in the early part of the thirties.
Gilboa, the first town, was laid out in 1837 by Elisha Stout, who also built the first grist-mill in the township. The first election for township trustees was held in Gilboa, November 19, 1852. Wolves were plentiful in this part of the county, also deer, wild turkeys and other game could be seen. The first school in the township was taught by James Wade. The school house was built of logs, with hewed benches for seats and wide boards nailed against the wall for writing desks. It was heated by a fireplace made of mortar and sticks. Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic were the only branches taught. Mr. Wade was followed, in order, by Eliza Emmons, Emeline Hubbard, William Pierman, Mrs. Susan McClish, Mary Cart- wright, James Agner, Lydia Shelby, Jane McDowell, Luella Agner, Laura Higginbotham and Nettie Diviney.
PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
Justice of the peace, A. V. Logan, of Gilboa; trustees, Hugh Harris and L. A. Pitney, of Gilboa, and John Crawfis, of Leipsic; clerk, W. H. Tobias, of Gilboa ; treasurer, W. B. Gierhart, of Gilboa; constables, Henry Bowman and Richard McClure, of Gilboa.
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
GILBOA.
Gilboa, as was stated before, was laid out in 1837. Nelson McCal- lister built the first frame house in the village, but it was only a short time until the town began to grow. About the year 1839, a tavern was opened by Benjamin Stewart and Edward Mercer started a general store. Black- smiths, mechanics and men of different trades began to settle here and it became a thriving village.
It is characteristic that Gilboa had the most rapid growth of any town in the county. From 1840 to the early fifties it was classed as the most thriving town in the county. At the time the early surveys were made, in 1852, for the Dayton & Michigan railroad, the citizens of Gilboa made an active and persistent contest with Findlay and Ottawa for the location of that road through their town; they failed in their efforts, and this was the first blow which the town suffered.
Among the earlier prominent and active citizens of this village were: Matthew Chambers, Sr., who built the brick hotel; Col. M. C. Ewing, who owned what was then the largest general store in the county; Dr. T. E. Paul, who settled here in the practice of medicine in 1845; William Mc- Clure, who also kept a tavern and later became county treasurer; Simon Maple, merchant, who later became county commissioner; Stansbury Sutton, who kept a general store until he took up the duties of prosecuting attorney and, later, county treasurer ; Dr. Lyman W. Moe, who took up the practice of medicine in 1847.
In 1848 an epidemic of cholera almost decimated the village. Early settlers relate the horrible sufferings and deaths of the victims of this de- vastating disease. For a time it seemed as though the entire village would be wiped out, but its ravages were finally checked, although the effects of this dreaded disease were felt for some time.
The town was incorporated by an act of the Legislature in 1848 and has retained its corporate life ever since. The Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western railroad was built through its limits in 1888, and gave an impetus to the growth of the town and its business, evidenced by the construction of new business buildings and residences.
Situated as it is, in the center of what was the earliest settled, and still among the best agricultural, portions of the county, surrounded by splendid farms, it has always kept a good trade, and even in the darkest years, after its failure to secure the Dayton & Michigan road, and, later, the epidemic
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
of cholera, it has still retained its progressive air. It has not progressed as rapidly in the past twenty years as formerly, but, owing to its early bear- ing, it has retained its place as an agricultural center.
Its business interests at present consist of an up-to-date bank, drain-tile plant, elevator and business houses which deal in all the necessities which the farmers require. It has a very modern high school building and is one of the nine educational centers of the county.
The present officers are: Mayor, P. C. Stateler; clerk, J. G. Knepper; treasurer, P. C. Davis; marshal, Frank Wood; councilmen, O. V. Todd, W. B. Gierhart, J. M. Reed, John Moffit, William Clymer and Banner Per- kins. The population of Gilboa in 1915 was three hundred and forty-five.
M'CULLOUGHVILLE.
Mcculloughville, located on the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western rail- road, was platted in 1888 by L. E. Holtz, civil engineer, for D. U. McCul- lough. This town was the site of Crawfis College and a postoffice was es- tablished here for the convenience of the college and the surrounding coun- try. But this was later served by a mail route and the town has ceased to exist.
LIVINGSTON.
Livingston bears the distinction of being one of the few "paper towns" of the county. It was laid out, but never materialized.
Blanchard has within its boundaries two institutions which will be dealt with in another chapter, the county infirmary and Crawfis College.
GREENSBURG TOWNSHIP.
Greensburg township was created by the county commissioners within a year after the county was formally organized in 1834. Henry Wing, the first settler, named the township, although history does not record why he chose the name. Wing built a rude log cabin and located here with his fam- ily as early as 1825, but he had been in the township for several years prior to that date. Just when he came to the state of Ohio is not known, but he is found at the mouth of the Blanchard river in 1814 guarding supplies for the army. The War of 1812 was not yet closed and he seems to have taken some part in that struggle. In 1819 Wing was helping Capt. James
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