History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 47

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088

USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 47

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William Brayton, now living, proceeded to New York State, having with him a description of the marks on the boy, and there, in the house of one Smith, he found his alleged brother, but, on closer investigation, the stranger proved to be one of the Todd family, of Michigan, who was known as William Todd. He entered the army in 1861 and died at Nashville. The fate of Matthew Brayton is unknown. .... Lande- lin and Elizabeth Brosemer, natives of Baden, where they married, came to America about 1832, and settled on the farm now occupied by their son, who was born in this township in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Brosemer afterward lived in New Riegel until Mrs. Brosemer's death, caused by a team of horses running away. Landelin Brosemer was born in 1803; died in 1885. .... The Bakeis family, of whom Nicholas Bakeis is a member, have resided for over forty-three years on their homestead.

George and Mary Cline, natives of Maryland, and parents of Mrs. William

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Johnson, came from Lancaster County, Penn., to this county about 1836, and here the former died in 1861, and the latter in 1856.

Frederick and Frederica Dible (both deceased), parents of Mrs. John Luzander, born here in 1838, were early settlers of the township. .... Isaac and Eleanor De Witt, parents of Mrs. Samuel Kiser, of Loudon Township, were pioneers.

Anderson and Julia Ewing, natives of Pennsylvania, parents of John F. Ewing, of Adrian, came from Pennsylvania, in 1840, to this county, where Mrs. Ewing died in 1847: Anderson Ewing subsequently married, and removed into Wyandot County, where he died in 1875.

Theodore M. and Sabrina (Torrey) Frink. natives of Massachusetts, the former born in 1804, the latter in 1808, came to this township in 1837, from Tymochtee Creek, where they spent the winter of 1836; Mrs. Frink died in 1855 ..

Jacob Gwyer was in the township in 1832, but was not a settler. Many depredations were credited to this old resident of Stark County while among the first settlers of Seneca County. About the time of the Michigan con- spiracy case he was arrested on a charge of murder, escaped from prison, and completed a bad career by suicide .... John and Margaret (Limbauch) Grine, natives of Belgium, came to Seneca County in 1847, and here Mrs. Grine died in 1839. ... John and Elizabeth Guilliam (both deceased), parents of Mrs. John Mathias, were early settlers in this county.

Joseph W. and Elizabeth (Titler) Harsh. natives of Wayne County, Ohio, born in 1823 and 1829. respectively, came to the township in 1848 .... Charles Henderson was an early settler .... John Hile settled in the township at an early day: died in 1869. ... Nicholas and Catharine Huss, and their son Paul, all natives of Germany. the latter born in 1843, came direct from the father land to this county in 1846, where Mrs. Huss died in 1873. Nicholas Huss and his son Paul are now residents of New Riegel.

Ben Jenkins, the trader at the Big Spring, was among the first settlers of the township, and with John Jenkins caused the site of Springville to be surveyed into town lots .... Lewis and Margaret Jenny, natives of Europe, parents of Mrs. Francis Kalmes, came in an early day to this township, where they died. Archibald Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Big Spring Town- ship about 1820; was killed by lightning in 1845; his widow died in 1879.

Francis Kalmes, a native of Belgium, born in 1822, came to this county in 1846. ... A. J. Kinney, born in New Jersey in 1807, came from Wyandot County, Ohio, about 1843, and settled here .... Austin Knowlton, born in Massachusetts in 1809, has resided in this county since 1830, and is called the "Father of Big Spring." Mrs. Rhoda Knowlton (widow of Timothy Knowlton, who died in Massachusetts in 1823), mother of Austin Knowlton, after her husband's death moved with her family to Wyandot County, Ohio, and after remaining there a few years settled here, where she died at age of eighty-six.

Joseph Lafontaine and his parents (Nicholas and Mary Lafontaine), all natives of Belgium, came to America in 1841, and settled in Big Spring Town- ship, where the parents died .... Christian and Catharine Lenner, natives of Bavaria, where they married, came to New York in 1831; to Stark County, Ohio, in 1832, and in 1837 to this township, where Mrs. Lenner died in 1876: Christian Lenner lives with his son Daniel .... John Lugader, born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1814, came from Wyandot County to this county in 1833.

John B. Martz and his parents, Henry and Margaret Martz, all natives of Belgium, came direct from their native land, in 1846, to Big Spring Township, where the parents died. ... Nicholas and Theresa Marks, natives of Germany,

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BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP.

where they were married, former born in 1809, latter in 1823, came direct from their native land to this county in 1850, and settled in this township .... Joseph E. and Mary A. (Sneeringer) Magers, pioneers of Stark County, Ohio, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively, settled in Seneca County in 1852; the present clerk of Seneca County is their eldest son .... Lewis and Josephine Mathias, natives of Europe, settled here at an early day, and here their son Nicholas, of New Riegel, was born in 1849; Lewis Mathias died in 1878; his widow survives him .... Lewis and Clara Mathias (both deceased), natives of Luxemburg, Germany, came to America in 1840, and set- tled here. ... Mack and Eliza Mccullough, parents of Mrs. John F. Ewing, of Adrian, settled in this county in early times, thence moved to Wyandot County, Ohio, where they died .... John and Magdalena Miley, natives of Vir- ginia, parents of Mrs. Jacob Black, came, about 1828, to Seneca County, where Mrs. Miley died in 1856, Mr. Miley, in 1874 .... Dr. John Montgomery, after a long and painful illness, died at Adrian, January 29, 1885; Dr. Mont- gomery had been a resident for a great many years and was widely known .... Hugh Mullholland was elected the first treasurer of the township in April, 1833.

John Peer and Philip Peer settled in the township, previous to its organiza- tion .... Nichols and Elizabeth Plenz, natives of Germany, parents of Mrs. Paul Huss, of New Riegel, came here about 1848, and have ever since resided here.

Richard Reynolds was a settler prior to 1833, in Big Spring Township.

Anthony Schindler, who settled on Section 12, Big Spring, in 1833, may be considered one of the pioneers of the German colony .... Charles Schindler settled on his farm in 1835 .... Christian and Elizabeth Schlemmer (both de- ceased), parents of Mrs. Jacob Herbert, were early settlers in the county .... Adam and Kathrina (Effert) Simonis, natives of Germany, parents of Peter Simonis, of Fostoria, were among the pioneers of this township .... Conrad and Elizabeth Smith, natives of Germany, parents of John M. Smith, came to Seneca County in 1834, where latter died in 1870, former in 1880 .... Timothy and Catharine Smith, natives of New York, parents of William Smith, of Big Spring Township, who was born in 1815, in New York State, came to Seneca County in 1833, and here died, former in 1853, latter in 1883. ... Jacob Spraw, a native of Bavaria, born in 1809, came to Ohio in 1832, locating in Big Spring Town- ship .... Andrew Springer was one of the first American pioneers.

Henry Tull, born in Luxemburg, Germany, in 1819, came to America in 1849, locating in this county.

Dr. A. S. Uberoth, one of the physicians of the township, was mangled to death by a train on the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad, February 16, 1883. His watch, umbrella and other articles were found scattered along the track. This showed that he had been dragged by the train for some dis- tance and met with one of the most horrible deaths which it is possible to depict.

George Wehrle, of New Riegel, who settled in the township in 1833, was the first president of the village .... Michael Wagner, one of the oldest inhabi- tants of this county, died at New Riegel, September 9, 1885, aged one hundred and two years ... . John and Elizabeth Wullenschneider, natives of Germany, married in Licking County, Ohio, and settled here many years ago, where former died in 1860 .... . Joshua Watson was one of the first settlers; his name is almost forgotten.

John Young and family settled in Big Spring in 1833, and were among the first settlers in the wilderness .... Samuel and Isabella Young, natives of Penn- sylvania, parents of Mrs. Jonathan A. Haines, were married in Wayne County,

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Ohio, where they remained until 1833, then came to this township, where Mr. Young died in 1859; his widow remarried and now resides in Adrian; Mrs. J. A. Haines was born in Seneca County, in 1835.

Nimrod and Mary Zender, native of Switzerland and Luxemburg, respect- ively, came here at an early day, where they died. Here their son Joseph was born in 1835.

ADRIAN VILLAGE.

Oregon (now Adrian) was surveyed by R. M. Shoemaker, in February, 1844, for Erastus H. Cook and DeWitt C. Henderzon, on west half of northwest quarter of Section 36, Big Spring Township. Prior to this time the location was known as Foster's Mills, under which name it was established a postal town early in the "thirties," with William White postmaster. He was succeeded by John Carr, who had the office in 1847. C. G. Fenn was succeeded in Au- gust, 1885, by William Haines. The town has since been extended into Sec- tion 35.

The Business Circle is made up as follows: D. F. Bascom and Adam Vetter, blacksmiths; Isaac W. Kline, grocer, business now owned by William Haines; James Curtiss, dry goods; Lewis Etchin, boots and shoes; Shober Bros., meat market; J. H. Snyder, stoves and tinware; Miss Anna Haines, milliner; Mrs. Catherine Krell, hotel; John F. Ewing, carpenter. E. Slack's flouring-mill was burned in 1884. Dr. W. H. Paul left Adrian in the summer of 1884, and Dr. John Montgomery died here in February, 1885. C. G. Fenn has been postmaster for almost a quarter of a century, succeeding Lou Anderson and James Curtiss in that office, James Kline established a steam saw-mill in the winter of 1883-84.

Schools .- Adrian High School Association was incorporated January 13, 1869, with James C. Runneals, Frederick Hahn, Timothy B. Hawkins, James T. Ewing, James J. Zint, H. B. Curtiss, M. L. Knowlton, William Nease and Dr. J. A. Lutz, members. The object was to build a house and conduct a high school at Adrian.

The condition of the schools of Adrian, August 31, 1884, was as follows: Number of male pupils, 26, of female pupils, 34, of whom 26 were in the high school; one house valued at $2.000; 2 teachers receiving $36 and $30, each, per month; local tax, $267.44; revenue, $800.64; expenditures, 513.07.

Societies .- Adrian Protection Horse Company was organized April 20, 1874, with the following members: James J. Zint. B. Copley, L. Walton, J. R. Higgins, John Baker, John Kimble, D. Wander, Martin Wenner, John Haines, and the trustees then elected George Wander, Levi Haines, and David Lenhr.

Adrian Lodge No. 494, I. O. O. F., was organized under State law, Janu- ary 20, 1877, with Joseph Zint, G. W. Shober, Louis Etchen, Jacob Bloom, W. H. Slaymaker, A. Johnson, John Greer, T. B. Hawkins, Frederick Sho- ber, John Snyder and Josiah Haines, original members.

May Flower Grange 290, was organized at Adrian, January 30, 1877, with W. H. Coply, J. R. Higgins, Daniel Lemer, John Grier, J. W. Eckleberry, G. W. Mullholland, H. Vogle, Charles Bier. D. H. Wander and Benjamin Coply, members.

Churches. - Methodist Episcopal Church. The early records of this church are not to be found; the oldest record is that of the Sunday-school, which points out that the Oregon Sunday-school was organized May 17, 1845. The subscribers were Charles Foster, L. C. Anderson, Stephen McKennie, Al Yancer, William White, Anthony Frederick, Samuel Young, William Blew, J. W. Frederick, I. C. Waggoner, W. Young, Austin Knowlton, F. Waggon-

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BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP.

er, Peter Wenner, Levi Hare, Jacob Yancer, Al. Loy, S. H. Foster, Susan An- derson, R. Taft, Hannah Clark, Mary Whittlesey, Curtis Berry, Thomas Ba- ker, Ira Taft, Aaron Strouse, Sarean Blew, Andrew Vance, Josiah Flack.

The early preachers at Adrian were Rev. Warner, who was here about thirty-eight years ago with Mr. Dodge and Philip Cole, 1850; James Milligan and Philip A. Drownd, 1854; Mr. Close, 1856; Mr. Biggs, R. K. Good, 1860; Mr. Holmes, 1863, and J. W. Miller, the last preacher from the Carey Circuit. In 1868 Adrian was detached from Carey, and created a circuit, with Samuel L. Boggs, preacher. In 1870 R. M. Culver came. He was followed by J. W. Hill, in 1873; I. N. Kalb, 1875-78; Philip A. Drownd, 1878; John Houghtley, 1880; Benjamin L. Rowand, 1882; Rev. M. C. Howey, the present pastor. The society has a membership of thirty-seven. The present brick church was erected in 1854, but prior to this time, services were held in the old school- house on the Knowlton farm.

The Catholic Church of St. Nicholas was founded in 1855 for the accom- modation of the French population; but, from the beginning, half the member- ship was made up of Germans. The church, however, is known as the French Church. The pastors who have had charge of the congregation since 1855 are named as follows: Revs. L. Molon, Bally, Dolweek, Laux, Moes, Magen- hann, Burkell, and the present pastor, Rev. Joseph P. Gloden. The house of worship, located on the highest point of land in the county, Section 23, Big Spring Township, was erected in 1856. The membership is about 500.

Universalist Church of Adrian was organized in 1870, with the following named members: John Slaymaker, Sr., and wife, J. T. Ewing, I. A. Lom- bard and wife, William Haines and wife, F. Hahn and wife, S. Keenan and wife, Joseph Zint and wife. The present membership is about twenty. The church was erected prior to the regular organization in 1869, at a cost of about $1,600. The first pastor (1870) was Rev. N. A. Saxton. He was preceded by George R. Brown, of Clyde. The pastors since Rev. Saxton's time have been varied. Rev. D. R. Biddlecomb was the last preacher, who left for Akron several years ago. The organization is observed, but no regular services have been held.

Evangelical Trinity Church of Adrian was founded in 1869, by B. Popley, John Wonder, William Brayton, Eli Gear. James Loy, John Scheirman and Rev. E. B. Crouse. The church was erected the same year at a cost of about $2,000. Since George Wonder settled here in 1871, he has been connected officially with the society. The original society was organized years ago, but never erected a house of worship. Rev. C. M. Rinehold succeeded Rev. Mr. Wingerd in April, 1885. The congregation numbers about fifty.

NEW RIEGEL VILLAGE.

New Riegel was surveyed by G. H. Heming in January, 1850, for Anthony Schindler. Walter Myers' addition to New Riegel was surveyed by Heming in April, 1855, within the angle formed by Tiffin and Perry Streets. John Wer- ley's addition to New Riegel was surveyed in January, 1877.

Organic and Official .- New Riegel Village was incorporated December 2, 1882, on petition of B. J. Murphy and thirty-nine other residents, presented to the commissioners of the county, December 28, 1881. The local records, however, acknowledge the order of February 5, 1883, as the act of incorpora- tion, because under this order, the first village elections were held April 2, 1883.

The record of this election is as follows: For trustees, Andrew Werley, 42 votes; B. G. Wullenschneider, 47; Celestine Friedman, 44; N. Plenz, 29;

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Peter Clause, 26; John Werley, 28. The first three named were elected. Andrew Werley was chosen president, which position he now holds; Charles H. Klein was appointed clerk, which position he still holds in conjunction with the treasurership. Joseph Zender, elected first marshal in 1883, was succeed- ed by Joseph Wullenschneider, who is now serving (March, 1885). In June, 1884, sidewalks and street crossings were authorized, and a series of public and private improvements commenced.

Andrew Werley, the first postmaster at New Riegel, was appointed in 1877, and served until April, 1878, when he resigned in favor of C. H. Klein, who has also been notary public since November, 1881.

The Business Circle is made up as follows: Altwise Bros., and George Klein & Son, furniture; N. Dandlinger, blacksmith; William H. Focht, F. Walter and F. M. White, physicians (Dr. J. M. Drescher has removed); Peter Huss, John Wissler, shoe-makers; C. H. Klein and J. & A. Schalk, dry goods, etc. ; C. H. Klein and N. Mathias, groceries; Joseph Zender, butcher; Peiffer & Clouse, saw-mill; Smith & Clouse, agents for well augers and earth elevators; Nicholas Petty, wagon-maker; A. & C. Wangler, builders and contractors; Mar- tin Wetzell, harness-maker; B. G. Wullenschneider, proprietor of the Empire House; Thomas Marks and John Zimmer, saloons. Joseph Plentz, who was

shoe-maker here, moved to Tiffin in 1885. Andrew Werley established his grain trade here in 1881, and built an elevator the same year.

Churches. - The Catholic Church. - As early as 1825 a few Catholics moved to the vicinity of New Riegel, who were visited at intervals by the Redemptorist fathers. Ten years later Rev. Father Trehenhens, C. S. S. R., visited the neighborhood, and has been engaged ever since as a traveling missioner, journeying on foot throughout Seneca and the adjoining counties. In 1845, the congregation of the Most Precious Blood established a mission at New Riegel, with Fathers Sales and M. Brunner and five priests of the congregation in charge. The property of the church at New Riegel is valued at $25,000, the church itself is one of the finest buildings devoted to religion in northwestern Ohio, while the monastery, convent and schools are buildings equally suited to the wants of a large religious community and a great congregation. The num- ber of the congregation is over 600, principally Germans. The Catholic schools are attended by 160 scholars in charge of two sisters and one lay teacher.

Other religious denominations claim representation here, but are without organization or house of worship.

Schools .- The statistics of the schools of New Riegel for the year ending August 31, 1884, are as follows: local tax, $34.32; revenue, $542.74; expendi- tures, $245.25; one schoolhouse-value of property, $450; two teachers, average salary, $35; number of pupils enrolled, 23-18 boys and 5 girls; average attend- ance, 11. This was set off as a special district about ten years ago. The schools of St. Boniface in connection with the church are in charge of two sisters, and the male school has been in charge of Jacob Schiffer for the last seventeen years.

SMALL SETTLEMENTS.

Springville, on the southeast half of Section 29, Town 1 north. Range 13 east, was surveyed in May, 1834, by D. Risdon for Benjamin and John Jenkins. Springville does not now contain any business house. Mr. Cooke carried on a store there for many years, until the building burned down.

Charles Foster, John Ganz, Adam Felter, and Eli Gehr were the first set- tlers at Springville.

Dr. D. Peters and Dr. George H. Scoles were resident physicians at Spring- ville, in 1847-48; but Dr. Lang was the pioneer resident physician in 1834.

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BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

French Town is the name given to the French settlement, west of New Riegel, settled by the Lafountaines and others between 1840 and 1847. Com- fortable homes and well cultivated farms characterize that portion of the town- ship known under this name.

Alvadia, or Alvada, a small settlement in Section 18, was surveyed in Jan- uary, 1876, by A. C. Turner for William Smith and T. J. Anderson. The business men of Alvada are, Beitler Bros., general store; James Beitler, black- smith; Louisa Ludwig, grocer; Nicholas Schira, shoe-maker; H. J. Star & Son, grain dealers; Frank Kopfler, hotel; N. Schira, Peter Nye and F. Kopfler, saloons; Benjamin L. Ludwig, postmaster.

RAILROADS.

The railroads which cross Big Spring Township are the Indiana, Blooming- . ton & Western and the Ohio Central; the former enters the township in the northeast quarter of Section 25, takes a southwesterly course, passing through Adrian Village, and leaves the township at Section 35; the latter penetrates the township in the northwest quarter of Section 2, runs in a southeasterly direc- tion, passing close to New Riegel Village, and leaves the township at Sec- tion 13.

CONCLUSION.

This township, now one of the richest in the county, was originally settled by native citizens. To-day it is a rare thing to meet an American born resident other than the children of the German and French pioneers, who now may be called the sole possessors of the southwestern division of Seneca County.

CHAPTER XVI.

BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

B LOOM, or Town 1 north, Range 16 east, is one of the oldest and richest divisions of the county. The population in 1830 was 389, increased in 1880 to 2,162, including the village of Bloomville, which then contained 689 inhabitants. The township is watered by Honey Creek, Silver Creek and trib- utary streams. Honey Creek enters the township in the northeast quarter of Section 1, flows in a general southwestern course, and leaves the township in the southwest quarter of Section 18. Along its banks are numerous springs, and here, too, many of the early saw and grist-mills were erected. The pio- neers selected the neighborhood of the creek for their homes, and opened their

first farms. Silver Creek may be called a native stream, has its source in the southeastern corner of the township, and, flowing generally northwest, leaves the township in the northwest quarter of Section 19. The county drain enters this creek, and it is also fed by a number of rivulets.

The geological formation of Bloom has been referred to in Chapter I. The State Geologist, in Volume V, page 633, says: "For building purposes the limestone which is quarried from the corniferous formation at Bloomville, Sen- eca County, has a higher reputation than the Helderberg limestones, and in- deed, it is said, that these quarries produce one of the best limestones in north- western Ohio. The material has been quite extensively used in Tiffin for many

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IHISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

years for trimmings and stone fronts, and also for general building purposes in Mansfield and surrounding country. Good material for flagging, bridges and foundations is quarried, and a slab twenty-five feet square might be ob- tained. It has already displaced in a measure the sandstones which are quar- ried in that vicinity."

The specimens of this stone are of an attractive gray color, and are highly fossiliferous. Some fossils have apparently been entirely removed at some period, and their places supplied with a clear crystalline calcite, and some of the fossil forms are therefore strikingly apparent upon polishing the surface of the stone. Under the microscope the stone is found to be a grand aggregate of fossil fragments, among which are rhombohedral crystals.

In November, 1884, a dynamite explosion took place at the old Francis Stone quarry, just east of Bloomville. A dynamite blast had failed to dis- charge, and Alexander West, a brother of Dr. West, and two Germans were trying to remove the dynamite and prepare a new fuse, when it exploded. Mr. West's hands and arms were terribly mangled, one of his eyes badly injured and the side of his face frightfully bruised. The Germans were only slightly hurt.

The soil is fertile, and a glance at any or all the farms will justify the name, "Bloom," in its literal acceptation.

Organic and Official .- Bloom Township, as established in 1824, comprised the towns of Bloom, Scipio, Reed and Venice (ride transactions of commission- ers' board), and was named in honor of the German patriot, Bloom, on the suggestion of John Seitz. In after years, Scipio, Venice and Reed were organ- ized, and this township was reorganized within its present boundaries. In De- cember, 1824, Scipio was detached; in December, 1826, Reed was established, and in June, 1829, Venice was set off as a separate township. Owing to the vagrant character of the pioneer clerk's office, the records of the first decade of the township are not to be found. The record of elections from 1835 to the present time has been fortunately preserved, and from these old books the fol- lowing list of leading town officers is made:

1835 .- Henry Opt, I. G. Watson, J. Q. Hammond, trustees; H. Perky, clerk.

1836. - Isaac G. Watson, John Newman, Abraham Kagy, trustees; H. Perky, clerk.

1837. - Abraham Hammon, Abraham Kagy, James Dornan, trustees; W. B. Smith, clerk.

1838. --- Abraham Hammon, James Boyd, Samuel Gross, trustees; Thomas Treat, clerk.

1839 .- James Boyd, Samuel Gross, Lewis Seitz, trustees; Thomas Treat, clerk.

1840 .- Jacob Myers, J. C. Martin, Lewis Seitz, trustees; Joseph Pen- nington, clerk.

1841 .- Joseph Mcclellan, Samuel Gross, Lewis Seitz, trustees; Joshua Preble, clerk.

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1088

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088