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 78
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The corniferous outcrop in Thompson is of a marked character. On the northwest quarter of Section 20 it was worked years ago by John W. Paine. On the southwest quarter of Section 16, George Good and Samuel Royer quar- ried in fine horrizontal beds of this conformation, and so on throughout the township. Reuben Hartman's quarries on Section 14; John M. Krauss' on Section 15; Wygart's on Section 11; Isaac Kerns on Section 10; Joseph Sherek's on Section 21; the Hoover quarry on Section 29; the old Grimes quarry on Section 2; Benjamin Bunn's on the same section; William Clem- en's, George Sheffield's and Charles Smith's old quarries in Section 1 were all good exposures or so lightly covered by drift material as to rank with outcrops. In some localities within the township the corniferous rocks present many evidences of upheaval and convulsion, leaving several crev- ices or openings, sometimes called fissures, which are said to connect with the nether world. Sink Creek disappears in one of these fissures and it is called the "River Styx" of this part of the continent. In the ancient history of European countries it is a common thing to find related the fact of a river or lake springing into existence in one night; within this township, in our own times, the phenomenon has taken place on a small scale. Years ago Samuel Horner decided to dig a well, and, in prosecuting this determination he struck rock at a depth of six or seven feet, when a stream of water rushed forth, which has since continued to flow. Samuel is said to have used an iron bar and not the Scriptural Mosaic rod.
In the Sandusky Clarion of August, 1844, now in possession of Mr. Wag- goner of Toledo, that gentleman states the following facts: "A man well known to myself had a team of three yoke of cattle plowing in the spring. When it commenced raining he stopped his work and turned his cattle loose in the field. The rain proved to be a strong storm lasting several days. When it held up and the cattle looked for after, one of them was missing, supposed by the owner to have jumped the fence and strayed off, until more than three weeks after- ward when the ox was found in the lot, where it had settled down through the soil into the crevice of a rock below, and nothing but his head and shoulders out. He was taken out, and lived, with no other injury than the loss of hair from the bruised part; another ox was lost three weeks, and found at the bottom of a sink-hole in the woods, the sides of which he had browsed clean."
The existence of these holes, the rise and fall of the waters which appear in them, and their connection with other phenomena in northwestern Ohio, all
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
pertain to the philosophy of history rather than to history, and for this reason their existence is only referred to here.
The township historian, writing in 1873 for D. J. Stewart's atlas, refers to another natural curiosity in this vicinity. He says: "This township possesses a far more remarkable phenomenal curiosity than these sink-holes. We refer to Thompson's Cave, which affords an interesting object to the casual visitor, or to the scientist and geologist. The entrance to this remarkable subterran- eous natural structure is situated a short distance from the original track of the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad, in Section 1, near the extreme northeast corner of the county. It is located on land owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Kinney, which was formerly owned by her husband, Mason Kinney, deceased, one and one-half mile from Bellevue, and not quite a mile from Lewisville, in this township. The discovery of this cave is generally attributed to George and Henry Hassan, and the first exploration of it to Lyman and Asa Strong. Prior to 1815 we find that it was known to exist by some of the early settlers nipon the fire lands, as mention is made of it in a manuscript now in our pos- session, written in 1814. It was then a sort of general rendezvous for rattle- snakes, and from this circumstance was yclept 'Rattlesnakes' Den.' It was a frequent resort for hunters in those days, who delighted in killing these ven- omous reptiles. They were ultimately successful in exterminating them, and none have been seen in the vicinity for many years." In 1844 the water rose to within thirty feet of the surface, or a height of 170 feet in the cave.
The soil throughout the township is of the most fertile character, the farms show the care bestowed upon them, while in everything pastoral Thompson ranks among the first agricultural districts of all Ohio.
The creek named "Sink Creek," already noticed. and the two county drains are the only water courses in the township, but it is said that many creeks. such as Cold Creek, draw their supplies from subterranean streams here of which the geologist has little or no knowledge.
Since the removal of the old Mad River Railroad track there has not been a line of railroad running through the township. However the "Nickel Plate," running just north of the county line, and the Baltimore & Ohio, coursing through the township next south, afford reasonable facilities to the people of Thompson Township.
Organic and Official .- This township was established under authority of the commissioners of Sandusky County, given April 25, 1820. As set off at that time it included almost the whole of the present county east of the San- dusky River, together with the district bounded as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of the Seneca Reservation; thence north to the old trail from Croghansville to Strong's; thence east to intersect the fire lands, south with that line to the base line; thence west along base to a point whence a line due north will strike the northeast corner of the Seneca Reservation. A reference to Chapter IV (Transactions of the Commissioners' Board) and to the history of Seneca Township, will point out the changes since 1824. The first election, held at Joseph Parmenter's house May 6, 1820. resulted in the choice of officers.
There is no record of this election to be found, and, further, there is not one person in the original organized township (which comprised the present townships of Thompson. Reed and Venice, and a strip two and one-half miles in width on the east side of the present townships of Adams, Scipio and Bloom) who can relate anything respecting the first township board.
Following is a list of names of trustees, clerks and justices from 1838:
1838 .- John Decker, George Weiker, trustees.
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THOMPSON TOWNSHIP.
1839. - Jacob Bunn, David Underhill, Samuel Arnold, trustees: Horace R. Dimick, clerk.
1840. - Stephen Fisher, Jacob Bunn, William McCauley, trustees;' H. R. Dimick, clerk.
1841 .- William McCauley, J. Wollenschlegel. Peter Borgner, trustees; J. G. Horner, clerk.
1842 .- Stephen Fisher, Peter Borgner, H. R. Dimick, trustees; Jacob Bunn, justice of the peace; J. G. Korner, clerk.
1843 .- George Billman, Henry Wagner, Jacob Korner, trustees; H. R. Dimick, clerk; David Underhill and John Terry, justices.
1844. - George Billman, Henry Wagner, Jacob Korner, trustees; J. C. Wales, clerk; George Billman, justice of the peace.
1845 .- George Bolin, Henry Wagner, Jacob Korner, trustees; H. R. Dim- ick, clerk.
1846 .- Peter Borgner, George Billman, John Royer, trustees; John Grimes, clerk.
1847 .- H. R. Dimick, John Royer, P. Borgner, trustees; John Grimes, clerk.
1848 .- Henry Wagner. Samuel Arnold, John Royer, trustees: John Grimes, clerk.
1849 .- John Royer, Henry Wagner, Jacob Korner, trustees; John Grimes, clerk.
1850 .- Henry Hoover, John Royer, Jacob Korner, trustees; John Grimes, clerk.
1851 .- Henry Hoover, John Royer, Jacob Korner, trustees; George Schock, justice of the peace.
1852 .- Melchior Reik, William Heater. John Grimes, trustees; S. P. Huff, clerk.
1853 .- Levi Korner, William Heater, George Billman, trustees: S. P. Huff, clerk.
1854 .- George Billman, Levi Korner, Silas McHenry, trustees; Samuel Horner, clerk; C. L. McCarty, justice of the peace.
1855. - Silas McHenry, Levi Korner, F. Harpster, trustees; Samuel Hor- ner, clerk.
1856 .- George Schock. George Billman, J. C. Horner, trustees; S. Horner. acting clerk.
1857. - George Billman, Isaac Tompkins, John Bunn, trustees; J. C. Hor- ner, clerk; C. L. McCarty, Joseph Horner, justices.
1858 .- George Billman, John Bunn, Samuel Arnold, trustees; Peter Ebersole, clerk.
1859 .- John Bunn, F. Harpster, George Schock, trustees; J. C. Horner, clerk.
1860 .- Fred. Harpster, Joseph Sherck, Anthony Krupp, trustees; J. C. Horner, clerk; Henry Diamond, justice.
1861 .- Fred. Harpster, Joseph Sherck, Anthony Krupp, trustees; B. F. Schock, clerk.
1862 .- John Werely, F. Harpster, Joseph Sherck, trustees; James Bolin, clerk; C. L. McCarty, J. Hoover, justices of the peace.
1863 .- J. W. Paine, John Werely, Jacob Korner, trustees; James Bolin, clerk.
1864. - William McCauley, Jacob Korner, J. W. Paine, trustees; E. T. Conser, Amos Decker, Joseph Sherck, justices.
1865 .- Jacob Kuhn, Jacob Korner, John W. Paine, trustees; A. Kern,
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
appointed trustee; B. F. Schock, clerk; C. L. McCarty, Joseph Sherck, jus- tices.
1866 .- W. R. Alexander, John Westrich, A. Kern, trustees; B. F. Schock, clerk.
1867 .- W. R. Alexander, John Westrich, George Good, trustees; James Feese, clerk.
1868 .- Solomon Hartman, George Good, John Westrich, trustees; J. A. Feese, clerk.
1869 .- William Baker, Solomon Hartman, George Good, trustees; Amos Decker, clerk; Joseph Sherck, justices.
1870. -- Solomon Hartman, William Baker, J. W. Paine, trustees; George Good, appointed trustee; Amos Decker, clerk.
1871 .- J. D. Rubert, D. Albright, William Baker, trustees; Amos Decker, clerk.
1872 .- William Burger, William Baker, J. D. Rubert, trustees; David Rubert, clerk.
1873. - J. D. Rubert, William Baker, Levi Kern, trustees; Samuel Decker, clerk: Amos Decker, justice.
1874. -- Henry Billman, William Baker, J. D. Rubert, trustees; Samuel Decker, clerk.
1875 .-- Henry Billman, William Baker, J. D. Rubert, trustees; W. F. Bennehoff, clerk.
1876. -- Charles Rinehart, Henry Billman, J. D. Rubert, trustees; W. F. Bennehoff, clerk.
1877 .-- Charles Rinehart, Henry Sanders, William Baker, trustees; W. F. Bennehoff, clerk.
1878 .- John Bolin, H. Sanders, C. Rinehart, trustees; W. F. Bennehoff, clerk.
1879 .-- Henry Sanders, John Bolin, Vincent Koby, trustees; W. F. Benne- hoff, clerk.
1881 .- Joseph Dick, L. E. Scothorn, Isaac Weiker, trustees; R. H. Nagle, clerk.
1882 .- Joseph Dick, L. E. Scothorn, C. C. Wollenschlegel, trustees; W. Wingard, clerk: Samuel Decker, justice; J. A. Feese, L. Horner, assistant clerks.
1883 .-- C. C. Wollenschlegel, A. Humm, N. Henney, trustees: Samuel Horner, clerk.
1984 .-- Martin Sherck, Lyman Clemens, A. Humm, trustees; L. K. Royer, clerk; Samuel Decker, Samuel Horner, justices.
Pioneers of Thompson Township .- Although this was one of the first divis- ions of the county to receive the honors of establishment from the commis- sioners of Sandusky, it was one of the last to receive a full quota of settlers. While the squatters of 1819-20 were actually on the ground prior to the land sales and for years afterward, yet the working pioneers did not come until 1829. In 1832-33 the influx of German pioneers gave a new impetus to agri- cultural life, and from this dates the phenomenal progress which has marked this pastoral township for its own. In the following pages an effort is made to notice all the pioneers:
William Baker came here at an early date .... Francis Ball, a native of Germany, settled here in 1832. . . . Reuben Bennehoff, an uncle of the popular recorder of the county, settled in Thompson Township in 1833, died February 5, 1881. in his seventy-fourth year. Another branch of the Bennehoff family came about this time .... Philip Bowers, a Pennsylvanian, was here in 1840 ....
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THOMPSON TOWNSHIP.
George and Mary (Pearce) Bolin, natives of Virginia and Maryland, respect- ively, and parents of Enoch and James Bolin, came to this county in 1831, George Bolin having entered land in 1830. They both died in Thompson Township in far advanced life, the father in 1880, when ninety-one years old .... Harman Bolte, a native of Germany, maternal grandfather of Burtis M. Finch. was a pioneer .... John and Sarah (Boyer) Borger came in 1833-34 to Thompson Township: the former died in 1859, latter in 1879. Of their chil- dren, who came with them to Ohio, William resides here. ... John Bunn, grandfather of Judge Bunn, of Tiffin, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Seneca County at an early period of its history, settling here .... Jacob and Elizabeth (Leiter) Bunn. came to Thompson Township in 1833 and settled on an entirely new farm. He died in 1878, aged seventy-six years. His widow is now in her seventy-eighth year .... John Burman, born in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1818, came to Flat Rock in 1843.
Benjamin Clark and William Clark are names connected with the early history of the township (1820). but farther than this nothing authentic can be learned of them .... William Clemens, born in Pennsylvania in 1824, came with his parents to Adams Township, this county, in 1831; then in 1862 moved into Thompson Township. He was killed in the railroad accident at Ashtabula in 1876 .... N. P. Colwell came to Thompson Township in 1831, settled in Republic in 1838, and was. for eleven years, clerk of Scipio Town- ship, and justice of the peace for sixteen years .... William Cornell, referred to in the general history, was a pioneer.
John and Julia Ann (Royer) Decker, parents of Hon. Jacob Decker, of Bellevue, came from Wayne County, Ohio, to Thompson Township in 1830; John Decker died in 1854, his widow in 1875, in the eighty-seventh year of her age .... A. Dewald, a Pennsylvanian, is said to have settled here in 1831. .... John Dillingham, who died in Porter County September 20, 1861, settled at Bloomingville in the fire lands in 1813, and moved to Indiana in 1836. . Solomon Dimick was among the pioneers, and is said to have been here as early as 1820.
Michael and Susan (Fisher) Fauble came to Thompson Township in 1833 from Pennsylvania .... George Fender is classed among the old settlers.
John Glassner, a native of Prussia, came to Ohio, locating in Thompson Township in 1835: he died in 1863; his son John, born in Prussia in 1818, also came to Thompson Township at the same time .... George Good and Emanuel Good, natives of Pennsylvania. came in 1831 or 1832 .... Samuel Grimes, born in Vermont in 1786, married Mary Arnold, also a native of Ver- mont. born in 1792: they came to Ohio in 1823, residing some months in Thompson Township: then moved into Sandusky County, and in 1828 returned to this township; he died in 1868, his wife in 1858.
John Harpster, a native of Pennsylvania, entered eighty acres of land where Flat Rock Village now stands, in 1828, and is living at Clyde, Ohio .... David Harpster came with his parents to this county in 1828, settling on the site of Flat Rock .... Frederick Harpster, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1830 from Wayne County, Ohio, to Flat Rock, and at one time owned all the land now occupied by that town. He died in 1874. ... Jefferson Hoover, a native of Ohio, was here in 1847 .... Joseph and Hannah Horner came to Thompson Township in 1835, where former carried on first tailor shop in vicin- ity of Flat Rock. They died in 1853. Squire Samnel Horner, their son, also came in 1835 .... John Heater and Ira Holmes are names connected with the early days of Thompson Township.
Jacob and Elizabeth Kern came to Thompson Township from Pennsyl-
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
vania in 1833. He died about 1852, his widow in 1855. Their son, George, born in 1821, still resides in Thompson Township .... Isaac Kern, born in Pennsylvania, was brought by his father, Jacob Kern, to Thompson Township in 1832 .... Anthony Kern, born in Pennsylvania in 1813, came to Thompson Township with his parents, Peter and Rachel Kern, in 1831 .... Charles and Catherine Krupp came from Bavaria with their family, in 1833, direct to Thompson Township, Anthony Krupp being one of their sons.
Hiram Longbrake, a native of Ohio, was here in 1859.
William McCauley was one of the projectors of Thomsontown in 1840 and one of the old settlers ... . Benjamin Murray was here at an early date ... . Dr. Joseph Myers and Dr. Henry L. Harris were physicians at Lewisville (Thomp- son Township) in 1847.
Henry Neikirk, born in Ohio, came in 1845.
Joseph Osborne was among the pioneer settlers.
Joseph Parmenter, at whose house the first election was held in 1820, was one of the first actual settlers of the county .... Joseph Philo settled in Thompson Township at an early date. .. . The Pratt family and H. Purdy's family were also among the first settlers, coming here prior to the organization of 1820. ... John W. Paine, born in 1820, came to Adams Township in 1829 with his parents, John and Sarah Paine. He died in 1882. His widow now resides at the family homestead.
G. W. Reaham, an Ohioan, was here in 1839 .... John Royer, a native of Pennsylvania, grandfather of the present mayor of Tiffin, settled in Thompson Township in 1829 .... John Royer, Jr., born in Thompson Township, is a son of the famous pioneer, John Royer, and is said to have been the first child born to Pennsylvanian settlers in Thompson Township in 1831 .... Samuel Royer, a resident of the county for over fifty-seven years, died in his fifty- ninth year, in Angust, 1884; he was the father of the estimable mayor of Tiffin, and a pioneer of this township. .. . Isaac Royer came in 1829. . .. Abram Romig, a Pennsylvanian, came here in 1832.
John and Magdalena Sherck came to Thompson Township in 1834 and removed to Michigan in 186S. Their son, Hon. Joseph Sherck, mayor of Bellevue, Ohio, was brought by his parents here in 1834, moving to Bellevue in 1873 .... Abram Sherck, with Samuel Sherck and William McCauley, founded Thompsontown in 1840. .. . George Schock, born in 1812 in Pennsylvania, and his wife, Rachael (Korner), also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1816, came to Thompson Township in 1836, accompanied by their parents, George and Margaret (Siebert) Schock (now deceased), and Andrew and Sarah (Hendricks) Korner .... The famous hunter and trapper, Snow, is supposed to have been the first white resident of the township .... The Sponables, referred to in other pages, were early residents here .... Samuel and Sarah (Wilts) Stewart located on Section 2, Thompson Township, in 1829. In 1867 they moved into Flat Rock, where the former died in 1870; his widow now resides there . ... Peter Stetler, a Pennsylvanian, came to the county in 1837.
A. H. Twiss and family came here at a very early date; it is said they were here about 1819. ... Isaac and Christina (Scothorn) Tompkins, parents of Mrs. James Bolin were early settlers in this township.
James Underhill, David Underhill, Jasper Underhill and other members of that family were among the first permanent residents coming in Decem- ber, 1819.
Levi Waggoner, a Pennsylvanian, came in 1831 .... Elias Weiker came from Pennsylvania to Thompson Township in 1833, with his parents, George and Susanna Weiker (both deceased), and now resides in Bellevue .... Isaac
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THOMPSON TOWNSHIP.
Weiker settled here in 1842. ... John Weller settled here in 1844. ... George Wetzell, a Pennsylvanian, came in 1854. ... John Welsh, James Whitmore, Nathan Whitney and William Whitney were all here about or at the time the township was organized .... The Wollenschlegels settled here at an early day.
. Daniel and Catharine Wonder, parents of George Wonder, were born in Pennsylvania and there married and lived until 1823; then moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1830 to Thompson Township; thence to Wyandot County, where Mrs. Wonder died. Daniel Wonder, now ninety-four years of age, resides with his son George, in Big Spring Township.
Benevel Yarger, a native of Pennsylvania, father of George E. Yarger, of Fostoria, located at Flat Rock in 1851, and in 1861 moved to Carey, Ohio.
J. M. Zermillizer, a Pennsylvanian, came in 1857 .... J. M. Zahm settled in or near the township in 1832.
Isaac Lewis, the Bowmans, Kellys, Anthony and George Zahm, Peter Schoendorf, John Host, the Hein family, the Umlors, Westrichs, Neises. Krupps, Kuhns, Knapps, Glassners, McCauleys and others were here prior to 1840, and shared with the pioneers, hitherto noticed, in their toils, their pleasures and their sorrows. Referring to the early settlement of this division of the county, the following testimony is taken from Stewart's work, published in 1874: "The greater portion of the early settlement of Thompson Township consisted of people from Pennsylvania, and of immigrants direct from Germany; a good substantial class of people, naturally inclined to improve the soil and to enrich the township and county by persevering industry and toil. In the southwestern portion of the township, a large number of Germans formed a settlement. They belonged principally to the Roman Catholic Church, and established a nunnery, which has greatly prospered, and has received many devout persons, professing the creed of the Church of Rome, within its portals. Here reside those eminent Christian women known as Sisters of Charity, a title they richly deserve for the real good which they do among the poor and needy."
VILLAGES.
Thompsontown was surveyed November 12, 1840, by Jonas Hershberger for William McCauley, Abram Sharchand and Samuel Sherck, on the corners of Sections 14, 15, 22 and 23. The plat of Thompsontown was vacated in 1843 at the request of the original owners.
Lewisville was surveyed by Jonas Hershberger for Fred. Harpster, John Wingard, Jacob Connor and George Schoch, Jr., January 21, 1841. George Schoch's addition to Lewisville was surveyed by G. H. Heming, April 5, 1853, the streets being a continuation of a parallel to streets in the original town. Homer & McCarty's addition to Lewisville on the east half, northeast quarter of Section 11, was surveyed April 6, 1856. by G. H. Heming.
A postoffice was established here under the name of Flat Rock Postoffice, and by this name Lewisville is generally known. The business circle of the village is made up as follows: R. B. Hickey, hardware; John M. Terwilliger, grocer; and William Shaffer rice J. M. Terwilliger, postmaster, in charge of the postoffice. At one time there was a station here on the "underground railway."
CHURCHES.
Reformed Church, of Thompson Township, was organized in 1830, and in 1832 a house of worship was erected on a lot donated by John Heater. This building gave place to a larger one in 1843, and this in turn to the present beautiful brick church of 1873. The original members were John Royer,
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Wollenschlegel, Adam Good, Jacob Bunn, John Bunn, Sr .. John Bunn, Jr., Henry Bunn, Isaac Lewis, Henry Bowman, Rudolph Bowman and Henry Stetler. The first pastor was Rev. Stauch. The value of property is estimated at $7,000.
Evangelical Association. This was founded here years ago, and is now pre- sided over by Rev. J. A. Burket, of Flat Rock Circuit.
United Brethren Church, at Flat Rock, founded some years ago, has a small membership. The meeting-house cost $1.000 (ride history of Fostoria).
Zion Reformed Church, of Thompson Township, was organized in 1830. German Reformed Zion's Church was reorganized under State law, December 13, 1860. John Royer, Sr., presided. with D. W. Kelley, secretary. Harrison Wilt, Levi Korner and Edward Kern were elected trustees.
St. Michael's Church dates its beginning back to 1833, when Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, C. S. S. R., came to visit the few Catholic families then in this neighborhood, and repeated his visits for years until Fathers Alig and Mal- hebouf were appointed his successors. Very Rev. Sales Brunner came in 1844. In 1847-48 the first regular church building was begun and completed, taking the place of the first log building. In 1883 the present Gothic building was commenced. This is one of the largest country churches in Ohio, and is built on the same plan as St. Joseph's Church at Tiffin. The congregation num- bers about 400, the number of families belonging being seventy-one. Among the first members were the late John Adam Perhard Stein, Ch. Krupp, John Host, Hein, Leopold Kuhn, John Westrich, A. Krupp, B. Ramschlag, William Glassner, John Glassner and Daniel Neis. Many, if not all, of those pioneer members donated lands for church. school and cemetery. The pres- ent congregation built the new church and school of their own means. under the direction of their building committee, Anthony Krupp, Peter Hepp, Ferd. Schoeffel, Jacob Gerber, Joe Dick, Balzer Layman, Michael and Gerber. The trustees are Anthony Gerhardstein, Joseph Greulich, Jacob Greulich and Anthony Ham. The church is in charge of the priests of the Order of the Most Precious Blood. This society was incorporated July 15, 1848, when Rev. Francis Maria Sales Brunner, Rev. Maria Anthony Meyer, and Rev. John Wittmer, were elected trustees, Rev. F. M. S. Brunner, superior, and Rev. M. A. Meyer, clerk. The locations named in acts of incorporation were Big Spring and Thompson Townships.
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