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 49

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 49

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Freese, George Griffin, Ed Turner and H. Kannell, councilmen. The elec- tions, 1885, resulted as follows: Mayor, O. M. Holcomb, Democrat; clerk, James Turner, Republican; treasurer, Henry S. Samsel, Republican; councilmen, H. Einsel, Democrat: Henry Kannel, Republican; Paul Miller, Democrat; marshal, B. H. Spitler, Democrat; street commissioner, John Strouse, Repub- lican; school board, A. J. Shintz. Democrat; J. W. Snyder, Democrat. Daniel Hart was the first street commissioner, elected in' 1876. Jacob Leach was elected marshal in 1876; U. E. Cory, in 1877; L. L. Lehman, 1879; T. S. Hanna. 1883; W. S. Lowry, 1884-85. E. J. Turner was elected treasurer in 1877, and Henry Samsel, in 1881.

Postmasters .-- Thomas T. Treat was the first postmaster at Bloomville in 1837-38. On the purchase of Treat & Price's store by the Brown Bros., it is said that they carried on the postoffice for some time. In February, 1873, Lorenzo Bevington succeeded Daniel Behm as postmaster. In September, 1885, David Blaney was commissioned postmaster at Bloomville.

Churches .- The Baptist Church of Bloom dates back to May 27. 1827, when the "Honey Creek Church " was organized. Three years later Elder Lewis Seitz was appointed pastor, and has held that office down to our own times.

In 1840 an itinerant preacher, named Rev. George R. Brown, succeeded in establishing a Universalist society at Bloomville, but it disestablished itself after a very short time.

The several attempts made to organize new religions, among which was the Mormon, failed in this township.

Mount Pisgah Reformed Church, Bloomville, was organized August 25, 1850, with H. K. Baines, pastor; George Swigart and Philip Heilman, elders; Adam Baker and F. Zimmerman, deacons. The church was built on an acre tract of land donated by Simon Koller. The pastors of the church since Mr. Baines' time have been J. C. Klahr, D. Kelley, M. Keeffer, J. H. Good, W. W. James, J. A. Keller, L. Grosenbaugh, J. A. Steplar, J. D. Gehring. Samuel Shaw (appointed in 1876), J. W. Shaw, and J. S. Myers, the pastor in 1884-85.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomville has a history extending over more than half a century, being almost a contemporary of the old church at Melmore, and a sharer in its official and ministerial life for many years. In 1835 the society erected a house of worship on the Stinchcomb farm, and the old building was carried down the years until a church of native stone was erected. The membership of this church at Bloomville is about 100, and the value of the property $3,500. Rev. E. S. Tompkins is the present pastor.

United Brethren Church of Bloomville was organized May 7, 1882, with . the following named members: Rev. Jacob Gerber, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, Mrs. Henry Dittenhafer, Mrs. Maggie Koller, Mrs. J. R. Wilson, John Shook, Susan Shook, A. J. Spitler and Mrs. Ellen Spitler. The church house was dedicated to the worship of God on the 14th of May, 1882, Bishop J. Weaver officiating. The house is a neat brick structure, beautifully situated on corner of High and Marion Streets. On the 28th of May, 1882, a Sabbath-school was organized with a membership of twenty persons, with A. J. Spitler as super- intendent. The school has since that time steadily grown to a prosperous con- dition, numbering at the present time 100 or more members. Only one death has occurred in the class since its organization. The pastors have been Rev. M. E. Spahr and Rev. G. P. Macklin, and the present incumbent is J. H. Arnold.

The Presbyterian Church of Bloom, in its earlier history, belongs to that of the church at Scipio Centre. In 1834 a frame building was erected by the

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BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

Presbyterians of Bloom, who had been organized by Rev. James Robinson in 1830. John Davis was the leading builder of this church. On its destruction by fire a small brick house was erected on what is known as the Ravely farm. This stood the test of time so well that it had to be torn down, and its pio- neer brick is, in fact, a large factor in the more pretentious building in Bloom- ville Village. Rev. W. T. Hart is pastor of this church.

St Stephen's Church is referred to under the head of " Small Settle- ments" in this chapter.

Schools of Bloomville .- The condition of the schools of Bloomville at the close of August, 1884, is shown by the following statistics: Total number of pupils, 183-83 boys and 100 girls, of whom 18 were attending the high school; 1 school-house, value of property $12,000; 4 teachers, average pay $67, $45 and $33; local tax, $1,787.45; revenue. $2,415.06; expenditures, $1,971.05. The schools are now presided over by the following named teachers: Prof. Bowman, superintendent; high school, Prof. Bowman: grammar school, C. H. Shock: intermediate school, Miss Cable; primary school. Miss Snyder. The school building of the village was completed in 1875, at a cost of $7,500, and opened by Supt. J. K. Hamilton.

Newspapers .- A reference to the chapter on the press of the county points out the beginning of newspaper enterprise at Bloomville, in July, 1874, and the changes which led up to the publication of the Record by the present mayor of the town.

Societies .- Bloomville Lodge No. 667, I. O. O. F., was chartered May 10, 1877, with the following members: J. W. Bell, J. Swigert, Arthur Adams, Henry M. Patterson, John Winters, A. D. Einsel, J. S. Myers, L. L. Hossler, S. G. McClelland, Val. Dennis, H. H. Beel, A. B. Stewart and W. P. Dove. The P. Gs. are named as follows: A. Adams, J. W. Bell, H. H. Beelman, Val. Dennis, William Dove, H. F. Carson, L. L. Hossler, F. P. Klahr, M. D., S. C. McClelland, Jacob Myers, Alonzo Prouse, H. M. Patterson, John Swigert, A. B. Stewart, H. S. Samsel, A. B. Stuky. The present N. G. is J. A. West. 1885-86. The present secretary is Charles M. L. McIlvain. A. B. Stewart is G. R. to G. L.

W. T. Brown Post, G. A. R. No. 191, Bloomville, was established in Decem- ber, 1881, and named in honor of W. T. Brown, a soldier of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio National Guards. The charter members are D. W. Fisher, D. L. Fisher, N. S. Lehman, G. M. Martin, W. L. Reid, A. D. West, T. G. Valentine, J. T. Boyd, James Turner, S. S. Lehman, S. H. Taylor, Jonathan Creshner, W. A. Teel, S. Hilbert, William Carson, Jacob Carson, N. Holt, R. R. Kershner, G. O. Olds, V. Dennis, F. S. Brobst, S. B. Hossler, T. A. McClellan, H. H. McClellan and J. Beelman. The commander of the post from 1881 to 1885 was J. T. Boyd.

Procles Lodge No. 192, K. of P., was organized and the first officers in- stalled October 30, 1884, viz .: J. C. Miller, P. C .; D. W. Fisher, C. C .; A. F. Walker, V. C .; J. N. Snyder, prelate; M. E. Bliss, M. of E .; B. M. West, M. of F .; G. F. Swigert, K. of R. and S .; S. J. Friston, M. of A .; A. J. Shoutz, I. G .; J. C. Gray, O. G .; H. S. Samsel, P. F. Samsel, G. W. Moore, and D. L. Fisher, together with the officers, were charter members of this lodge. It now claims twenty-six members.

Business and Professions .- The business and professional circles of the village in 1884 are made up as follows: J. Beeman, Jonathan Cashner and John Shook, furniture; Bevington & Co., books and stationery; L. C. Birk. harness; E. P. Bliss and Ogden & Swigert, dry goods; Bliss House; F. A. Chatfield, Klahr & Samsel, druggists; Henry Einsel, grain dealer; Farns-

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

worth & Moore, A. F. Spitzler & Co., and Zimmerman & Moore, grocers; T. J. Foster, J. W. Hoy and A. M. Martin, physicians; J. S. Ink, agricultural implements; C. Keller, F. P. Lyda, boots and shoes; Paul Miller, sash, door and blind manufacturer; J. Shoutz & Son, flour-mill; Charles Patterson, jeweler; A. B. Stuckey, meat market; John Swigert and D. R. Whiteman, hardware; J. A. West, auctioneer and stock-dealer; W. J. Cook, barber; E. P. Bliss, dry goods, boots and shoes, etc .; L. C. Birk, livery; Frank A. Falter, general merchant.

Manufacturing Industries. - The Oar Factory was established in 1874 by J. D. Wilsey, who operated it for eleven years. This was a great industry, and its recent removal was a serious loss to the business of the village. The build- ings remain and offer a good opportunity to an enterprising manufacturer.

The Bloomville Sash, Door and Blind Factory and.Saw-mill were established several years ago, and are still carried on by Paul Miller.

The Bloomville Mill Company was organized August 29, 1874, with W. Stew- art, Jacob Hopler, A. B. McClelland, John Swigert, Benjamin Knapp and James Winters, members. The capital stock was $16,000.

The new tile and drain-pipe factory gives employment to a number of men. This is only the beginning of what will prove one of the largest industries in the county.

Shoutz & Sons' Steam Flouring-mills were built in 1880 by the present owners, on the site of the old sash and door factory. The machinery consists of six sets of rollers, one buhr, one purifier and one Morris Bolt elevator, giv- ing a capacity of sixty barrels per day. The value of the mill is placed at $16,000.

The Honey Creek quarries, known as the Koller Quarries, are now worked by J. D. Wilsey, who gives employment to seventeen men.

The quarries known as Fisher's and Francis' give employment to large forces of men and supply a good quality of building stone.

The Bemenderfer and other limekilns are important factors in the manu- facturing life of the township.

William Richard, the inventor of the pruning shears, in June, 1869, fol- lowed up this invention by a second, improving the first, and the second by a third, patented September 20, 1870, the first and last being purchased by Chester Hunter, of Clyde. In May, 1885, he patented the "Eclipse" shears, one of the most perfect in the world. The small shears or scissors is certainly one of the finest scissors known-the patent is applied for. Mayor Holcomb is associated with the inventor in the ownership of these patents.

SMALL SETTLEMENTS.

The postal village of St. Stephen is an old settlement, but a new postal town. Here is the church of St. Stephen, and in the neighborhood a large number of intelligent and industrious farmers. St. Stephen's Catholic Church, southeast of Bloomville, was founded in 1842. Among the early members were Martin Steinmetz, Philip Falter, Matthew Delaney, Joseph Danker, John Worm, Fred and John Steigmeier, Jacob Maier, Nicholas Lehman, Stephen Dick, Joseph Juend, Henry Sieger and Nick Duercher. 4 Rev. Salesius Brun- ner was the first priest. He was succeeded by Revs. Matthias Kreusch, Jacob Ringely, A. Dambach, M. Baker and Nicholas Gales. February 1, 1874, Rev. Philip Rist, the present pastor, took charge of St. Stephen's parish. The con- gregation numbers over 200 souls. The old church has given place to the new church, erected at a cost of $7,000, the corner-stone of which was placed Oc- tober 1, 1885.

& W. Lawhead

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BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

Elizabethtown was surveyed August 29, 1838, by James Durbin for James Fisher, on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 6, Town 1 north, Range 16 east, and named after Elizabeth Boyer, wife of Dr. Fisher. The location was on what is known as the "Beachman farm" or "Blackman's Corners," but every vestige of it has disappeared before the industry of the agriculturist. The population of Elizabethtown in 1840 was ninety-six, and the business and manufacturing interests were represented by one saloon, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop and the mere sign of general store, which did not materialize.

RAILROADS.

The only line of railway which passes through Bloom Township is the North-western Ohio. This road strikes the township at the extreme northeast corner of Section 25, and, taking a northwesterly direction, in which it passes through Bloomville Village, it leaves the township at the northwest quarter of Section 5.

STATISTICS.

The first assessment roll of Bloom Township which it is possible to obtain is for 1841, and it gives 22, 585 acres valued at $62,848; town lots valued at $568; horses, 237, valued at $9,480; cattle, 562, valued at $4,496; 1 carriage valued at $60; total value, $77,452; total tax, $1,026.23; delinquencies from 1840, $69.41.

The statistics of assessment and taxation of Bloom Township for 1884 place the value of 20,009 acres of land at $786, 740, and of 292 acres in Bloom- ville at $128,460. Chattel property in the township is valued at $256, 770 and in the village at $89,420. Real and personal property in the township and village show a total value of $1,261,390; which, divided among the 2,161 persons in the township in 1880, would give the worth of each one at $583.06. The real worth of the township may be placed at $3,000,000. The total tax for 1884-85 is $16,706.63, together with $118 dog tax.

The predial statistics of the township for 1884 are as follows: acres of wheat, 3,302; of rye, 5; of buckwheat, 4, yielding 22 bushels; of oats, 1, 738, yielding 62,588 bushels; of barley, 2, yielding 20 bushels; of corn, 2,491, producing 48,346 bushels; of meadow, 1,288, yielding 1,618 tons of hay; of clover, 1,336, producing 1,620 tons of hay, 1,338 bushels of seed and 25 acres plowed under for manure; potatoes, 108 acres, yielding 10,847 bushels; butter made for family use, 77,050 pounds; sorghum syrup, 78 gallons; maple sugar, 1,040 pounds and 1,283 gallons of syrup; 4 hives produced 50 pounds of honey; eggs, 30,625 dozens; grapes for 1883, 5,950 pounds; sweet potatoes, 125 bushels; 427 acres of apple trees produced 8,125 bushels in 1883; 190 bushels of pears, 2 of cherries and 3 of plums; acres of land cultivated, 14,184; of pasture, 1,109; of woodland, 3,940; of waste land, 136; total acre- age, 19,369; wool, 32,218 pounds; milch cows, 192; dogs, 117; sheep killed and injured by dogs, 42; animals died of disease-70 hogs, 32 sheep, 9 cattle and 5 horses.

The schools of Bloom Township, in August, 1884. present the following statistics: local tax, $2,124.80; total receipts, $4,476; expenditures, $2,590; number of houses, 9; value of property, 1,200; number of teachers, 23; aver- age salary, $38 and $21; number of pupils, 405-225 males and 180 females. . The statistics of population are given fully in Chapter XIII of the general history.

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVII.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP AND TIFFIN CITY.

C LINTON TOWNSHIP, as established by the commissioners of Sandusky County in June, 1820, embraced the territory within the following named boundaries: Commencing where the line between Townships 2 and 3 strikes the river on the east bank; thence along such line to the northeast corner of Township 2, in Ranges 15 and 16 east, to the southeast corner of Township 2; thence west to the line between Townships 1 and 2; thence north, with the meanders of the river to the place of beginning. The name was suggested by the Bowes, Butlers, Vances and other settlers, in honor of De Witt Clinton, then governor of New York State. In December, 1824, the commissioners of Seneca County established Clinton Township within the boundaries of the original surveyed Township 2 north, Range 15 east. Since that time the sections east of the river have been governed "variously," sometimes by Hopewell and sometimes by Clinton; but, as related in the organic history, such mutations were stopped, and the township is now Clinton throughout its length and breadth.

The Sandusky River enters the township in Section 30, just at the south- west corner of what is known as Springdale addition to Tiffin, flows northeast, and thence northwest to the great bend where it turns east, and thence flows north by east through the city and township, leaving Clinton in the northwest quarter of Section 5. The terrace is high above the water level, generally ly- ing some distance back on each side, giving a large strip of valley or bottom lands, and presenting a hundred beautiful scenes well worth the labor of a painter.

Honey Creek, that old stream, sweetened by the name of pioneer memories, looks into the township in its extreme southwestern corner, while Rock Creek and its tributaries, the ancient mill-drivers, water the central southern sections, and, flowing in a tortuous course northwest, enters the Sandusky just east of Washington Street bridge. The name given to it is well deserved. During a great part of the year there are more rocks than water visible; but when water does appear it comes in torrents, as the history of many an old time bridge can tell.

There are two other large streams flowing east through the center of the township, which enter the river in Section 17, just below Tiffin. The north- eastern sections are watered by a nameless creek, while a number of short spring creeks are found meandering almost everywhere throughout the thirty- six sections. In the centre of the northeast quarter of Section 33 is a spring lake, another near the river on Section 5, and another on Section 8.

In the neighborhood of the river and creeks the land is much broken, and throughout the township "rolling heavily." It is as fertile as land may be, and shows the result of years of labor in the number of fine farms, orchards and gardens.

The geological features of the township, particularly in the neighborhood of Tiffin, are interesting, as here the line between the Niagara and Helderberg

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

groups of rock occurs. In the Geological Report (Vol. V, p. 628) it is said that the quarries of the city, although producing only Helderberg rock, show, at some times at their bases, exposures of the underlying Niagara limestone. These quarries are located on the eastern side of the ridge known as the Cin- cinnati axis, and the characteristics of the rocks are much the same as those in the quarries on the western side of the anticlinal in the Helderberg forma- tion; but the stones at Tiffin are more massive and are therefore more suitable for heavy construction. The courses are often twenty-six inches in thickness, and the stones produced are used largely for foundations and bridge work. The product of quick-lime from these quarries is also large. The stone is. light drab in color; it is bituminous and gives forth a strong odor when ham- mered, but this characteristic is not so marked as in the dark colored varieties. The principal market for all three of the quarries at Tiffin is furnished by the immediate neighborhood. Besides the quarries in the table there are several smaller ones which are worked in the vicinity of the town and which produce the same kind of material in less amount.

Fire clay is found even within the boundaries of the city, and brick-yards have been carried on from the close of the third decade of this century. Tile works and the now much prized terra- cotta find a place in the economical ge- ology of this township.

Settlement by Pioneers and Old Residents .- The first direct reference made to that part of Ohio known as Clinton Township, Seneca County, was in 1812. Long years before that, however, the district was known to the trappers, hunters and traders of the Sandusky, who took particular pains to picture the country at once inhospitable and dangerous to life and limb. In 1812 Surveyor Meeker and some laborers opened a road from Upper to Lower Sandusky, over a route planned by Gen. Bell, as told in the military chapter; subsequently a stockade was constructed, and a few log-houses built on the site of the camp of Col. James V. Ball's Pennsylvania Regiment, which camp was named Camp Ball, prior to the building of the fort in 1813. Here, November 18, 1817, the. first white American came to settle, and with him came two wanderers, who never hitherto settled in any place, and who may be wandering still-William Murphy. of Oxford Township, Delaware County, who wandered Westward. and died of hardships, and Lyman Main, of Troy Township, Delaware County, a great hunter. The first place the writer sees the name of Erastus Bowe is in the " History of Delaware County, " page 318, where he is entered as a voter in 1809, and an emigrant from Vermont. There also the names of Panl D. But- ler, who came from Massachusetts in 1808, and Thomas Butler, his son, both old settlers of Fort Ball, appear as residents of Delaware Township, and whose great-grand and grandchildren, respectively, are now residents of Delaware. Erastus Bowe built a log-house just north of Washington Street bridge in 1817 .. and in June, 1818. brought his family from Delaware, Ohio, making the first permanent settlement that year. His son, Erastus G. Bowe, is now in Tiffin, linking the present with the very beginnings of the township and city. Then came the Spencers, Butlers. Abner Pike (the old sentry of Oakley), Joseph Vance, David Risdon, Josiah Hedges and all those pioneers and old settlers who raised the township from a wilderness to be the fairest part of a whole State. In the following notice of pioneers a full effort has been made to give the names of them all and a brief notice to each. In view of the fact that the great num- ber of them find mention in the general and township histories, as well as in the chapters of personal history, this review is published, so that no one whom it is possible to identify with the progress of this division of the county may escape honorable mention. Doubtless many names of good men and women do

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

not appear here; but such names will be found in that chapter of history treat- ing on the subject with which their lives were linked.

Moses and Sarah P. (Snow) Abbott, natives of Massachusetts, parents of Francis Abbott, came from Huron County, Ohio, in 1822. They are both deceased .... Andrew Albrecht, father of Philip, came from Baden, Germany, in 1832, and settled at Tiffin .... Mary J. Albrecht, born in Tiffin, Ohio, Octo- ber 2, 1832, died at her home in Bowling Green October 24, 1884. July 12, 1866, she was married to Martin Albrecht .... Gideon W. Allen died July 26, 1983, after many years residence in Seneca County .... John Andes settled at Tiffin in 1852, moved thence to Fostoria, and has taken a full part in building up that city .... John Anway, who entered the west half of southwest quarter of Section 23, Clinton, was the first person to patent United States lands in the county. He settled here in 1821 .... John Ardner died at Tiffin, in his sev- enty-fifth year, August 9, 1885. ... Robert Armstrong (see Indian and pioneer histories) .... W. W. Armstrong, son of John Armstrong, of New Lisbon, Ohio, was born March 18. 1833. He entered the office of the Seneca Advertiser in 1847, and remained there until 1852, when he received an appointment in the State treasurer's office. In 1854 he purchased the Advertiser office; was postmaster at Tiffin from 1857 to 1861; was elected Secretary of State in 1862, and was re-elected. In 1865 he sold the Advertiser to the Myers Brothers, purchased the Cleveland Plaindealer, and has since, as before, held a very high place in the Ohio political world. He married Miss Sarah V., daughter of Josiah Hedges, November 10, 1857. ... Anthony H. Arnold, born at Lan- caster. Ohio, August 11. 1826, came to Tiffin in 1847, married Miss Mary R. Fanning in 1855, served as constable of Clinton Township from 1861 to 1879, and also was deputy sheriff for about seventeen years; he died in July, 1885.

Ezra Baker, who settled in Seneca County in 1833, died in April, 1873, aged seventy-four years. He built one of the first mills in the county now standing in Clinton Township .... William Baker died December 9, 1874. ... Frederick A. Baker, born in Frederick County, Md., May 31, 1818, came to Seneca County in 1845, and in 1847 settled on the Portland Road near Tiffin; died June 5, 1885 . Col. James V. Ball, (see Military History) .... Lewis Baltzell, who died September 11, 1874, was born in Frederick County, Md., November 29, 1800, came to Clinton Township in July, 1829, and made his home here until his death . John Baugher, who built the first court house, was a native of Maryland (see Martin of Martin & Megley) .... Ferdinand Baumgartner, who died Septem- ber 24, 1872, was one of the old residents of the township .... John Beard set- tled in the southern part of Clinton, about 1824, where he competed with Levi Cressy as blacksmith: born in Pennsylvania in 1794, died in 1832. His wife, Hannah (Doane) Beard is also dead .... George Beck, born in 1800, died December 5, 1875 .... John Beck, another old resident, died December 18, 1884. aged over eighty-two years .... Rev. J. J. Beilharz, was one of the early preachers, coming here in 1841 .... John Bell, born in 1811, died August 24, 1880, was one of the pioneers, so also was Vincent Bell . .. . Rev. R. R. Bement, the first superintendent of the Tiffin Union School in 1850-51, must be classed among the old residents .... F. Don and Charlotte (Platt) Benham, natives of Connecticut, parents of Mrs. Benjamin F. Tomb, of Pleasant Township (who was born in 1845). came to Scipio Township in 1838, and in 1840 moved to Tiffin, where Mr. Benham was express agent for many years. He was born in 1804, died in 1882; Mrs. Benham was born in 1808, died in 1877. ... Jacob and Rosanna (Clink) Bender, natives of the old coun- try, father and stepmother, respectively, of Lewis F. Bender, of Clinton Township (who was born near Red River, Canada, in 1823,) arrived in this

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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