USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 19
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ENUMERATION OF YOUTHS.
Early in the history of Pleasant township, Between the Ist and 20th of October, 1840, each settler adopted some distinguishing mark all the youths in the township, between the ages
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Uriah & A. Drumb 80
32 Levi Drumb 80
1836
32 Joseph Thompson 160
1836 1836
30 Adam Conrad
353
1836
28 Margaret Thompson 160
Abigail Gleason 80
Peter Stump
40
1851
1836 1836
36
Aaron Hipshire
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
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156
HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
of 4 and 20, unmarried, were enumerated. The results of such enumeration appear below, and indicate that the girls outnumbered the boys by seven, there being 36 of the former and 29 of the latter.
District No. I.
Heads of Families
Males Females
Samuel M. Clark
4
I
George McManima
I
Daniel Cook
2
Joseph Gleason
I
I
Lewis Stultz
I
William Johns
I
J. W. Johns
I
Robert Gilliland
I
7
7
District No. 2.
Heads of Families
Males Females
William Miller
2
I
Samuel Maddox
2
I
Levi Sawyer
I
Nancy Bronson
4
-
4
7
District No. 3
Heads of Families
Males Females
William Davis
3
4
Elisha Wells
2
Lyman S. Wells
I
Solomon Farnam 3
3
Stephen Gleason I
4
Isaac Hagerman
3
3
Mrs. Gleason
I
-
-
II
17
District No. 4.
Heads of Families
Males Females
Aaron Hipshire
I
Daniel Hipshire
4
I
William Thorn
2
Jacob Kyle
2
John Myers
2
7
5
EARLY ELECTIONS AND OFFICIALS.
The first election held in Pleasant township for county officers was in October, 1837. The judges appointed were Daniel Cook, Levi Saw-
yer and Elisha Wells. Mr. Wells declined to serve and Stephen Gleason, who had only been a resident of the county three days, was ap- pointed in his place. John F. Dodds and Asa Hipshire acted as clerks. A hat was used as a ballot-box. About the middle of the day, a fight occurred and the judges and clerks ran out to see the fight, carrying the hat with them. The election resuked that fall in the election of Robert Gilliland as county commissioner, James Gordon Gilliland as treasurer, and John F. Dodds as auditor.
At an election held April 6, 1840, the fol- lowing officers were elected: Trustees-Ly- man S. Wells, Samuel M. Clark and James T. Maddox; clerk, Thomas R. Mott; treasurer, Robert Gilliland; overseers of the poor-S. M. Clark and Daniel Cook; fence viewers-E. R. Wells, J. Q. Graves and Thomas Thorn; supervisors-District No. 1, Robert Gilliland, District No. 2, William Miller, District No. 3, J. H. Eaton, District No. 4, Benjamin Thorn.
At an election held October 13, 1840, for the election of two justices of the peace in Pleasant township, Joseph Gleason received 20 votes; Thomas Thorn, 21 votes; Stephen Glea- son, II votes; Lyman S. Wells, 10 votes; and Samuel M. Clark and Samuel Maddox, each I vote. Joseph Gleason and Thomas Thorn were declared duly elected, and were commissioned one week later.
From the poll book of the election held in Pleasant township for State and county offi- cers, October 18, 1840, it appears that there were 46 qualified electors, whose names were as follows: A. A. Alderman, Levi Sawyer, Lyman Elliott, George Baney, P. S. Russell, William Myers, Aaron Hipshire, P. Jacob Hines, J. W. Myers, Daniel Hipshire, Alex. York, Robert Gilliland, William Johns, John Smith, S. H. Alderman, William Davis, Mathew Flagg, S. M. Clark, Lyman S. Wells,
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
John Clayton, John Myers, T. R. Mott, John Hester, William Lewis, E. R. Wells, W. A. Wells, William Clayton, William Parent, Daniel Cook, Stephen Gleason, William Thorn, Jacob Kyle, Jacob Thorn, Isaac Daugherty, Joseph Gleason, Solomon Farnam, Isaac Shaf- fer, Enoch Hoaglin, Aaron Hoaglin, Thomas Thorn, George McManima, Henry Foster, L. McManima, Joshua Shaffer, Elisha Wells and Davis Fasnaught.
S. M. Clark, Lyman S. Wells and John Smith were judges, and Thomas R. Mott and Stephen Gleason, clerks.
On May 1, 1841, Elias Evers was commis- sioned justice of the peace.
At the election held April 4, 1842, the offi- cers elected were: Trustees-Thomas Thorn, George McManima and Robert Miller; clerk, John C. Richey ; treasurer, J. Hines; assessor, Isaac Daugherty.
At the election held April 3, 1843, these officers were elected: Trustees-William Johns, Lyman S. Wells and Alpheus Royce; clerk, Eben C. Royce; treasurer, Edward R. Wells ; assessor, Isaac Daugherty.
On September 26, 1843, the trustees ap- pointed John C. Richey township clerk, vice Eben C. Royce, removed from the township.
On October 28, 1843, Joseph Gleason was commissioned a justice of the peace.
The officers elected at the election held April 1. 1844, were: Trustees-Robert Gilliland, Lyman S. Wells and William Stripe; clerk, John C. Richey; treasurer, Walter Bucking- ham; assessor, Isaac Dougherty.
On April 7, 1845, these were the officers elected : Trustees-George McManima, Abra- ham Zimmerman and W. H. Parkinson; clerk, G. E. Burson; treasurer, William Stripe.
On July 18, 1845, Jacob Thorn was ap- pointed clerk.
The election of April 6, 1846, resulted as 9
follows: Trustees-Robert Gilliland, George McManima and Abraham Zimmerman; clerk, Jacob Thorn ( appointed in default of the clerk- elect to take the oath of office) ; treasurer, Wil- liam Stripe.
EARLY TOWNSHIP FINANCES.
On March 7, 1842, were reported the re- ceipts and expenditures of the township for the year commencing the first Monday in March, 1841, and ending the first Monday in March, 1842. The amount of taxes collected and drawn from the county treasurer was reported to be $121.15. The following items were rep- resented in
Expenditures.
To amount paid Daniel Cook for services as
trustee $ 4.50
To amount paid Elias Evers, trustee. 3.75
To amount paid Thomas Thorn, trustee. 3.75
To cash paid S. M. Clark, treasurer. 3 45
To cash paid William Thorn, supervisor 23.39
To cash paid J. Smith, supervisor 12.47
To cash paid School District No. 7.25
To cash paid School District No. 3. 27.43
To cash paid William Thorn, District No. 1. 3.75
To cash paid William Davis, District No. 3. -75
To cash paid Elias Evers, District No. 2 .. .75
To cash paid J. Gleason, clerk. 3.75
Total $93.99
On March 6, 1843, the trustees met and pro- ceeded to settle with the treasurer, who showed a balance of funds in hand, as follows: Town- ship funds, notes and justice of the peace re- ceipts, $38.93; road funds, $38.48; school funds, $61.86; a total of $139.27.
THE KEAR FAMILY.
Thomas R. Kear, one of the early settlers of Van Wert County, and one prominently con- nected with its early history, was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, April 27, 1806.
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
His father, John Kear, was a shipbuilder and sailor, as was his father before him, and was connected with the Reed family, of Balti- more, Maryland, in the building of ships and managing the same in mercantile business, for many years before and after the Revolutionary War. At Annapolis, Maryland, July 31, 1798. John Kear married Mary Reed, a sister of the two brothers with whom he was associated in business.
During the Revolutionary War John Kear worked in the shipyards, assisting in the building of some of the ships that did noble service in the war for freedom. During the War of 1812 he served as a private in Captain Holt's company, 8th Regiment of Virginia Mil- itia. After the close of that war, he returned to Maryland and having to a considerable ex- tent lost his health, with his family removed to Zanesville, Ohio, from which town he later re- moved to Licking County, Ohio, where 'he died November 31, 1820, leaving a widow and six children. Of the three daughters in the family, Eleanor married Richard Pring on August 26, 1819; Mary Ann married John Pring, a brother to Richard Pring; and Amelia married Frederick Baylor. Of the three sons, Thomas R. Kear is the principal subject of this sketch ; John. R. Kear died unmarried Septem- ber 29, 1832; and William R. Kear married Mary Johnson, in Harrison township, Van Wert County, by whom he had several children -after her decease, he married her widowed sister, Mrs. Ann Foster, in Iowa or Nebraska.
Thomas R. Kear, as a boy and young man, was a sailor and worked as a ship carpenter. Removing to Licking County, Ohio, where his father had taken up his residence, he there with his brothers-in-law, John and Richard Pring, engaged in the work of millwrighting. As their business increased and pushed Westward they moved to Champaign County, Ohio, and
made that their home for some years. Here Thomas R. Kear met and married his wife. Catharine Frisinger, a daughter of Peter Fri- singer, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and also in the War of 1812, in which he served as a private in Capt. Christopher Morris' company of Light Infantry. 4th Regiment of Virginia Militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Huston and Lieutenant Colonel Wooding. Peter Frisinger died in the service January 4, 1815, and was buried at Norfolk, Virginia. Mrs. Kear had five sisters, who mar- ried and lived to the time of their death in Champaign County, Ohio, where they left many descendants, who still live in that county. Her brothers, William, Jacob, Noah, Peter and John, moved to Mercer and Van Wert coun- ties, Ohio, between the years 1819 and 1835, John and Peter coming to Van Wert county in 1830. Many descendants of these brothers live in these counties at this time.
In 1829 Thomas R. Kear, with his brothers- in-law-the Prings-went to Willshire town- ship, Van Wert County, to build a mill at the village of Willshire, but it was not thought advisable to build it on account of the scarcity of cleared lands, so they went over into the State of Indiana and built a mill at or near Muncie, and later one at Pleasant Mills ( Mol- lica) and then returned to Champaign County for a season. In 1835 Thomas R. Kear moved to Willshire township and took up his res- idence there, working at the carpenter trade and attending to an undertaking business until he moved to the village of Van Wert, when the county seat was moved to that place. He was the second sheriff of Van Wert County, and held that office at intervals for several years. He was an active State militiaman, and when war broke out between the United States and Mexico he was appointed by Governor Mor- decai Bartley, May 1. 1846, aide-de-camp, 2nd
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Brigade, 12th Division of Ohio Militia, for the term of six years. He was with his regi- ment to the close of the war, but saw no active service, as they were not taken out of the State.
Mr. Kear built the first mill in Van Wert, for James Watson Riley, who had contracted with the Board of County Commissioners to build a mill at Van Wert, as one of the con- ditions and considerations for moving the county seat to Van Wert. John and Richard Pring helped him to build this mill, and it was purchased, and operated as the first mill in Van Wert, by Samuel Clark, one of the oldest residents of the village. Thomas R. Kear and Joseph Gleason built the first steam mill in Van Wert. Later Mr. Kear purchased the interest of Mr. Gleason, and operated the property as a combined saw and grist-mill until the year. 1856, when it was purchased by Dr. William Smith.
Mr. Kear died in May, 1864, leaving a widow (Catherine Frisinger Kear), who sur- vived him many years. He was also survived by eight children. Of the daughters, Mary Mar- garet married Jackson Pence, and had seven
children; Lydia Ann first married Emery R. Underwood (who died in the army in 1862 or 1863, leaving two children) then married Thomas Malloy, by whom she had one child, and finally became the wife of Benjamin Balt- zell; Amanda Ann married William P. Wol- cott, late recorder of Van Wert County, by whom she had two sons who arrived at matur- ity-Harry K. and Edward W. Wolcott, How a prominent law firm of Norfolk, Virginia ; Sarah Ellen married George V. Asher, of Lick- ing County, Ohio, and to them were born three children. Of the sons, John J. married Mahala Boles and to them were born eight children; Benjamin F. (who served three years in the Civil War) married Alice Beagles, by whom he had three children-after her decease mar- ried Mrs. Jane Fowler, a war widow with two children, by whom he had five children; Rob- ert Thomas married Catharine Tope and to them were born five children; Wiley McDon- ald married Malinda Romig, of Brandon, Iowa, and to whom were born seven children, the eldest being Lieut. C. R. Kear, United States Navy.
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CHAPTER IX
YORK TOWNSHIP
Organization-First Settlers-An Early Election-Some of the Original Land Entries- Jonestown-Incidents of Pioneer Life-Pioncer Recollections.
York township was set off as a civil town- ship at a meeting of the Board of County Com- missioners held at Van Wert, June 3, 1837, and the qualified electors were ordered to meet at the house of Sylvester R. Woolery on the 15th of June for the purpose of electing town- ship officers.
FIRST SETTLERS.
John Arnold was one of the earlier settlers in York township, having settled south of Ven- edocia in 1836 on what is now known as the Alban farm. Among the early settlers at that time were Lewis Culver, Asa Culver, John Keith, Joshua Goodwin, Jacob Goodwin, David Walters, William Morman, Leonard Varner, John Powers, James Wilson, Sylvester R. Woolery, Samuel Moore, Robert Thomas, Fur- man Jackson, John Heath (father of William Heath), John Bevington, John McCollum, Evan B. Jones, Joshua Bridenstein and George Reece.
Edward Smith came from Champaign county in 1838. He served in Company M, Second Indiana Heavy Artillery, during the War of the Rebellion. Robert Thomas came to Van Wert County in 1836. Jesse Atkinson was one of the early settlers, coming here in
1836. He was one of the first county commis- sioners.
John M. Jackson was born in Madison County, February 2, 1835, and came with his parents to this country in 1836. His father was a chair-maker and found sale for his product at Fort Wayne, where he took his chairs on rafts. John Bevington was born September 22, 1807, came to this county in 1832 and died July 19, 1841. He had seven children.
John F. Baxter came to this county with his parents (Thomas and Nancy Baxter) in 1848. On July 21, 1862, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Company A, 52nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, be- ing mustered out June 17, 1865. Alexander W. Brown was born December 26, 1826. In 1846 he came to York township, where he spent the rest of his life in farming.
John Heath became a resident of Mercer County at an early day. His son, William Heath, was born while his parents were oc- cupying an Indian camp in Mercer County. William Heath is a resident of York township at a good old age and lives on some land that his father entered in 1835.
About 1840 to 1847 the families of John Rich, Jesse Tomlinson, Daniel Burris, Jacob Miller, Levi Rowland, Thomas Broadnix, Sam-
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
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uel Curl, John W. Conn, Andrew Putnam, Jonas Harp, William Carter, Jesse Clark, Jesse Atkinson, Conrad Hunstead and John Houtser came to York township.
The first grist-mill was a horse-power mill on the north bank of Jennings Prairie, and was owned by Mr. Clark. It was afterward re- moved by Lewis Culver and remodeled. The second one was built by William Bebb near Venedocia. The first gunsmith was John Heath. The first couple married were Lewis Tomlinson and Rachel Boroff. The first school house was built on the land of Jesse Atkinson.
AN EARLY ELECTION.
At the election for State and county officers held October 18, 1840, the number of qualified electors was 23; their names were as follows : Francis Elliott, Robert Thomas, John Mc- Collum, David Walters, Jesse Atkinson, John Arnold, Joshua Goodwin, Joseph Clark, Jacob Ross, Jacob Miller, Joseph Moore, James Wal- ters, William Marrs, John Heath, Lewis Cul- ver, Josiah Clink, Jesse Tomlinson, John Keith, Tobias Moore, Joshua Bridenstein, Will- iam Morman, Adam Wolford and Sylvester R. Woolery. The judges of election were John Arnold, Sylvester R. Woolery and Joshua Goodwin. The vote is shown on a preceding page, in Chapter V.
SOME OF THE ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.
SEC. NAME.
I James McCray 163
I John Zimmerman 173
1836
I John Weikart 160
1836
I Alex. Cheevers 80
1836
16
Jacob' Dibert 80
1839
I Michael Todd
80
1836
16 Francis Feltus 80
1839
2 Michael Yoakman
87
Fred Cary
87
1836
16 Robert Wolcott 80
1839
2 James H. Young
160
1836 17 Evan B. Jones 320
1836
2 Andrew Foster
160
SEC. NAME. ACRES.
YEAR.
2 H. D. V. Williams
174
1841
3 Daniel Canfield 80
1836
John F. Edgar 334
1836
3 Robert Edgar
254
1836
4 Samuel D. Edgar 334
1836
4 James Donaldson
334
1836
5 Henry Zimmerman 174
1836
5 John Gongway 160
1836
5 John M. Donaldson
40
1836
5 Alex. Biddle
174
1836
6 Samuel Painter
332
1836
6 Joseph Nofzgar
348
1836
7 Andrew Cochel
80
1836
7
Theo. B. Thomas
80
1836
Levi Rowland 328
1836
7
James Casteel
124
1837
7
Evan B. Jones
41
1839
8 Evan B. Jones 120
1836
8 John Weikart 40
1836
8 James G. Donaldson 320
1836
8 Alex. Biddle 160
1836
9 Evan B. Jones 550
1836
9 A. Cochel & H. Tolerton 80
1836
IO James Hooper 320
1836
IO Samuel Francher 160
1836
10 Peter Bevelthymer 160
1836
II James M. Young 160
1836
II Andrew Foster 80
1836
II David Cook
160
1836
12 Robert Lisle 640
1835
13 Lewis Culver 200
1833
13 William Morman 240
1835
13 John Arnold
120
1836
13 John L. Harter 80
1837
Benjamin Strothers 320
1836
14
Samuel Stiles 160
1836
14
James Walters 40
1836
14 Christian Woods 80
1837
14 Philip Scrock 40
1839
15
Andrew Cochel 160
1836
15 Daniel Arnold 160
1836
15 Joseph Saint 240
1836
ACRES. YEAR. 15 James Wilson 40
1839
1836 15 John Williberg 40
1841
16 Robert McQuoron
80
1839
16 George Clouse 80
1839
1836 16 F. C. Elson 80
1839
1836 17 John M. Donaldson 160
1836
II George McMarrian 80
1836
14
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
SEC. NAME.
ACRES.
YEAR
SEC. NAME. ACRES.
YEAR.
17 Hugh Lynn
160
1836
28 John Towns
40 1836
18 Evan B. Jones
361
1836
28 Joshua Bridenstein 160 1856
18 Henry Newman 165
1836
28 Daniel Barris 40 1837
18 Josiah Casteel 40
1836
28 Jesse Atkinson 40 1835
18 James Ross
82
1836
28 John Cost
40
1846
19 Henry Newman
165
1836
29 Jesse Atkinson 80
1836
19 George B. Ellis
246
1838
29 Sylvester R. Woolery
80
1836
I9 John Hughes
80
1838
29 John McCollum
40
1836
I9
James Clingan
160
1839
20 John Heath
80
1836
29 Henry Newman 160
1836
20 Andrew Coil
120
1836
1839
20 Joseph Heath
40
1836
30 John Stacts 167
1836
20 George Reece
80
1836
30 Wesley Miner
160
1836
20
James Lavin 160
1836
30 Eli M. Deniston
83
1837
21
John Towns 200
1836
21
Robert Thomas
40
1836
31 Jesse Tomlinson 80
1834
31 John Heath 242
1835
21
James Lavin 40
1837
31 John Sheets 2.46
1835
31 Francis Elliott
82
1838
21 Tobias Moore 80
1839
32 John Tomlinson 160
1835
21 John Cunningham
40
1839
32 Jesse Atkinson 120
1835
21 George Knox
80
1839
32 John McNeil 80
1835
22 Reuben Waites
80
1836
32
Furman Jackson 40
1836
22 William McClure
40
1836
22 Levi Saint
240
1836
22 William Lynn
40
1836 32 John Ross
40
1837
22 Mary E. Reed
80
1839
32 John McCollum
40
1839
23 Levi Culver
80
1836 32 Elizabeth Bevington
40
1851
23 Samuel Stiles 40
1836
23 Alex. McVickers
120
23 John A. Freeman
160
1836 33
.160
1849
23 Lantz Shannon 160
1836
23 James Mitchell
80
1836
24
Washington Mark
320
1832
33 John Morris 40
1850
34 Lucinda Mark 80
1833
24 Ebenezer Culver 80
1834
34 James Mark 120
1833
24 Lewis Culver 40
1834
40
1835
25 Washington Mark 120
1832
34 George Vanemon 120
1836
34 William Lake 120
1836
34 A. McClung 40
1837
25 John Keith 80
1838
34 John House 80
1838
25 Isaac Miles 80
1838
25
Edward Williams
40
1839
35 Robert Leslie 320
1835
1851 35 Jonathan Vanemon 160
1835
26 Samuel McClain 320
1836
35 James Edgar 160
1836
1836 36 William Marrs, Jr. 240
1835
36 Robert Stram 80
1836
36 William Farris 320
1836
28 Robert Thomas
80
1835
28 Samuel Moore 120
1836
28 Jesse Miller
40
1836
28 Sylvester R. Woolery 80 1836
JONESTOWN
Or Tokio, as the postoffice is called, is a
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25 John Keith
240
1832
25 Jacob Goodwin
40
1837
34 Washington Mark
40
1839
25 Jacob Goodwin 40
26 John Smith 320
27 William McClain .480
1836
27 Samuel McClain 160
1836
1836 33 Sarah Mark
40
1834
Thomas Hughes
33 L. Bawe 80
1849
33 John Griffith 80
1850
24 Wesley Rush
200
1833
32 J. W. Morton 80
1836
32 William Carder
40
1837
21 John Powers 80
1838
30 Abram Rankin 160
1836
20 Henry Newman 160
1836
30 George M. Ells 83
1837
21 Thomas Towns
40
1836
29 John Sherwood 240
1836
29 C. Elliott 40
33 James Mark
240
1833
34 Matilda Mark
163
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
small village on the "Clover Leaf" Railroad, located in a good farming section.
INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE.
!
Samuel Arnold, of Ridge township, a son of John Arnold, says that the wolves were plenty at that time and he recollects that one night, after they had butchered, they were cutting up the hogs within a couple rods of the house when the wolves came close up to where the men were working and howled and he was afraid to go to the house which was only two rods away. He says Clarissa Gleason was his first school teacher-that was in 1839 or 1840-and that he has a card of merit that she gave him, which is in her own handwriting.
A short time after Levi Rowland settled in York township he had a dream that in crossing the prairie he had been attacked by a wolf. The next day he started out to hunt his cows. Hearing the bell on the opposite side of the prairie, he had gone a short distance, when he recalled his dream. Going back to the woods he cut a heavy hickory club and started out in the tall grass after the cows. He had gone but a short distance when he came upon a large wolf that showed fight, which Mr. Rowland killed with his club. He always felt that the dream had been sent as a warning.
In 1840 the Bickfords settled in York town- ship. They had provided themselves with two barriels of flour and other provisions in pro- portion. Frank says that if it had not been for what they brought with them they would have starved. Their nearest neighbors, with the exception of one family, were three miles distant. After they had been here some time, the boys became very tired of salt meat. One evening Levi Rowland came to their house with a saddle of venison on his shoulder, and told Mr. Bickford that he had put the forequarters
in the fork of a tree, and that if the latter would go and get it he might have it. But Mr. Bick- ford was no woodsman and, being afraid that he might get off the trail, would not venture. But Frank and his brother Will wanted some fresh meat and said they would go. Frank was 8 and Will was 12. They took a butcher knife and found the venison. Each cut a shoulder and started for home. It was then past sundown. They had gone but a short distance when they heard the wolves coming. They did some "tall" running and the wolves followed them almost to the door, but they saved the venison.
PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS.
BY J. B. BRODNIX.
So far as history of York township in the early days is concerned, there is but little of it speaking after the manner of men. There was not much in the township except primeval for- ests filled with bear, wolves, deer, raccoons, porcupines, wild cats, catamounts, etc.
My father was born and raised in the "City of Brotherly Love." In 1836 with his family he left Philadelphia for Dayton, Ohio, cross- ing the Alleghany Mountains in a Virginia schooner, drawn by a team of mules, and pro- ceeding from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati on a boat on the Ohio River. From Cincinnati to Day- ton, and from there to Yellow Springs in . Greene County, the journey was made in wag- ons, finally going from Yellow Springs to the Long Prairie in York township, Van Wert County, in 1839. The family lived in a pole pen on the farm of Evan B. Jones, while a log cabin on the east half of the southwest quar- ter of section 3, York township, was being built.
When we were unloaded on the Long Prairie, father and mother both cried, and of- fered the man that moved them all that they
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
had-$25-to take them back to Dayton where he lived. This the man refused to do on account of the terrible roads.
With the assistance of neighbors living 10 miles away, my father built a log cabin 18 feet square in a dense forest, without a road to any place. The nearest neighbors was two and a half miles away; David W. McCoy and Dan- iel Beard, three miles; Evan B. Jones, three miles; Levi Rowland, four miles ; John Arnold and Leonard Varner, three and a half miles each. There was a village of Wyandot Indians on the Little Auglaize a mile and a quarter from us. They were very kind and hospitable.
In December we moved into the log cabin, half of it floored with puncheons and with a bed quilt serving for a door. There was a fire- place five by seven feet in dimensions, a mud- back wall and a stick chimney. When night would come, the wolves would approach the house and scratch and howl until we could hear nothing else. For 10 years between the months of November and February, from sun- set until sunrise, nothing could be heard ex- cept the howling of the wolves and the hooting of the owls.
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