USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 22
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
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DIXON
Was laid out by Robert Gilliland about 1854 and was known for sometime as "Bobtown." It is located on the Ohio and Indiana State line, where it is crossed by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway. It has a popula- tion of about 150 inhabitants, who reside equally on each side of the State line. Hence it has never been incorporated.
It has two large general stores-one con- ducted by Payne Morgan in Indiana and one conducted in Ohio, by A. J. Wood; a small grocery owned by Nathaniel Davis; a large grain elevator owned by Bert Long and Earl Marshall, of Convoy, who also handle hay and salt, hard and soft coal, flour and corn meal. Messrs. Long and Marshall purchased the ground and business of Singer Brothers (Wil- liam and Thomas). who had twice burned out -as the fires could never be explained and having strong suspicions of a fire bug, they re- fused to rebuild again.
S. J. Clem is a buyer and shipper of live- stock, and also packs and ships poultry in the winter season. His assistant in the stock bus- iness is James E. Solinger. Davis & Filler handle the bulk of the coal delivered at Dixon. Joseph T. McIntosh is a resident carpenter who contracts and builds houses and barns at Dixon and in the surrounding territory. A large hardware and buggy business is owned by Melvin A. and Harry Clem, known by the firm name of M. A. Clem & Brother.
Dr. J. D. Morgan, who came here from Cummingsville, Tennessee in 1882, has built up an immense practice and besides owning the finest residence in Dixon has two farms and is a stockholder in the People's Savings Bank at Van Wert.
Salway Brothers (Frank and Walter),
while residents of Dixon, are proprietors of the Monroeville Machine Works at Monroe- ville, Indiana. They do general repair work of all kinds from shoeing a horse to patching a boiler. The blacksmith shops, two in num :- ber, are owned respectively by Hackett S. Boner and J. D. Cox, who is the oldest resident of Dixon. The station agent of the Pennsyl- vania Company is R. E. Wishman, who form- erly resided at Bourbon, Indiana. The mana- ger of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany's office is Francis May.
Dixon has one church-a Union Church, built by the people. The church society has a membership of 90; there is also a good Sun- day-school. The Methodists are the prevail- ing denomination at Dixon.
The postoffice is in charge of Charles Hoeken, who bears the distinction of being the first appointee in Van Wert County, under President William McKinley. Dixon has two rural routes; the carriers are Sylvester G. Fortney and Samuel Mollenkopf.
Dixon's location on the State line has been a hindrance to its growth. But its merchants as a rule have been successful and have en- joyed a good trade in their respective lines. It is one of the best grain shipping points on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, as the country in any direction from the town is productive and farmers are wide-awake.
NOTES ON TULLY TOWNSHIP AND CONVOY VILLAGE. (BY DR. B. F. LESLIE.)
The first election in Tully township was held in 1839 at the home of John G. Morse. Before they organized, Mrs. Morse named the township "Tully," after her home town in New York State.
At this election William Henny was chosen
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
justice of the peace, and Thomas Anderson, township clerk.
Tully township has a rich black soil well adapted to the raising of all kinds of crops. The township was originally heavily timbered, except for a few swamps. It did not make very rapid improvement until about 1868, when people began ditching and opening up outlets for the water. From that time on the farmers began to raise good crops and make good im- provements.
The Sugar Ridge road runs nearly through the center of the township. In 1865 there were only four or five houses north of this road. Section 11 in this township was appraised by John Shaw, real estate assessor, at $1.25 per acre, in 1880; at $5 in 1890; at $18 in 1900, these figures being the appraised value of the land, exclusive of the buildings. This section is located about the center of what used to be called the Bear Swamp. Today this land is selling from $80 to $100 per acre. In 1865 there were only four buggies owned in the township.
Convoy and Dixon are the only villages in the township.
Convoy, located in the eastern portion of the township, was laid out and platted June 16, 1854. In 1865 there were about a dozen houses, a Catholic church, two small general stores, a saloon, a blacksmith shop, and a saw- mill in the center of the town. There were also two doctors, Allen and Leslie, the latter of whom still continues in the active practice of his profession.
Almost every day in the early life of the village might be seen a free-for-all fight. It was a tough little village then. In 1874 the village of Convoy was incorporated. W. H. Zimmerman was elected mayor; A. J. Leslie, Dr. B. F. Leslie, F. Heath, H. S. Smith, H. Richmond and M. Welch, councilmen. The
first money expended was to build a calaboose, and instructions were given to the officers to arrest and punish every person who disre- garded law and order. Ever since that time Convoy has made a steady and substantial growth and has now about 1,000 inhabitants, all good citizens. The town has a brick school
TOWN HALL AT CONVOY.
house of six rooms, four churches, a bank, a drugstore, two grain elevators, four dry goods stores, four groceries, a cement block factory, a hotel, two good hardware stores, a cigar fac- tory and a large lumber-yard.
Convoy is located on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, and on the Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima Traction Company's line.
On the early morning of January 16, 1906, a fire broke out in the business part of Convoy and the wind blowing a gale at the time, 22 buildings, chiefly business houses, were burned before the fire was got under control, entailing a loss of about $65,000, with $35.000 insur- ance. The burned buildings will be replaced with either brick or cement-block buildings during the coming summer.
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CHAPTER XIII
HOAGLIN TOWNSHIP
Organisation-First Settlers-Names of Voters in 1844-Some of the Original Land En- trics-Indians Stcal a Horse-A. A. Giffin's Address on "Van Wert and the Country" : - St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church-Sketches of Some of the Pioneers.
At a meeting of the board of County Com- missioners, held March 2, 1840, a petition was presented signed by certain citizens of town- ship I south, range 2 east and township I south, range 3 east, for the organization of said town- ships. It was accordingly
"Ordered that said townships be and they are hereby struck off from Ridge and Pleasant townships and they constitute a civil town- ship and be known by the name of Hoaglin and when said Territory shall be again divided town I S., R. 3 E., shall hold the name.
"Ordered that the Auditor notify the qual- ified electors of said township to meet at the house of Jacob Speeler in said township on the Ist Monday of April next for the purpose of electing officers in and for said township."
At the election held under this order, seven votes were cast and the following officers elected : Trustees - Jacob Speeler, Elias Evers and Aaron Hoaglin; clerk, Enoch M. Hoaglin; justice of the peace, J. B. Groscost ; supervisor Elias Beamer; and constable, Jeffer- son Hoaglin.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Enoch M. Hoaglin settled in the township May 5, 1839; Aaron Hoaglin May 25, 1839;
and L. J. Mitchell, February 8, 1840. During the years 1839 and 1840 John Speeler. Adley Calhoun, Elias Beamer, David Tolan. Jacob Shaffer, Joshua Shaffer, William Hagerman, Henry Blythe, Jacob Stripe, John Clayton, Henry Taylor, Frederick Taylor, Andrew Hat- tery and Andrew Hattery, Jr., became residents of the township.
NAMES OF VOTERS IN 1844.
At an election for justice of the peace of Hoaglin township, held November 1, 1844, there were 17 electors, whose names follow : Jesse B. Groscost, James Murphy, John Murphy, Samuel Nestric, Andrew Hattery. William Hagerman, Aaron Hoaglin, Obadiah Harvey, Jacob Speeler, Elias Beamer, Jacob) Hagerman, Joshua Shaffer, Samuel Fritz, Enoch M. Hoaglin, William Harvey, Jacob) Stripe and Nathaniel Hattery. Enoch M. Hoaglin and Joshua Shaffer were the clerks of the election, and Samuel Nestric, Elias Beamer and Andrew Hattery, the judges.
SOME OF THE ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.
SEC. NAME.
ACRES. YEAR
2 Lyman Starling
325
18.35,
William Bebb
331
18.351
3 John Calhoun 160
1835
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
SEC. NAME.
ACRES. YEAR.
SEC. NAME ACRES. YEAR.
3 John A. Graham 169
1836
17 George Miser 160 1848
3 Charles Steadman
160
1836
17 Asa Houseman 40
1850
3 Charles C. Marshall 7
1851
18 Isaac Hoaglin 80 1839
4 William Palmer
320
1839
18 John Calhoun 160
18.39
4 Michael Lonkle 84
1839
18 Abram Boyd 80
1839
4 Henry Freeman
84
1851
18 Joseph Hoover 43
1839
4 William Geiseman
84
1851
18 Timothy Shaffer 216
1840
5 D. W. Burt
655
1851
18 John Hoprichter 80
1850
6 D. W. Burt
411
1842
19 Enoch M. Hoaglin 86
1839
6 Mathew Black
43
1850
19 C. B. Mitchell
86
1840
6 Lewis Kline
87
1850
19 Jacob Shaffer 86
1840
6 John Sacken
43
1850
I9 Joseph Shaffer
86
1840
7 William Hickman
131
1839
19
George Stout
80
1849
7 John Keifer 80
80
1844
19 George Deims 80
1851
7 Elias Beamer
120
1851
19 Joseph Fife
80
1851
7 Benjamin Kile 43
1851
160
1836
7 Enoch M. Hoaglin 40
1851
160
1838
7 Joseph H. Cave 43
1851
20 Henry Blythe
160
1839
7 John Hattery 129
1852
20 John Calhoun
160
1849
8 Christopher Little
80
1839
21 William Harvey
160
1849
8 John Calhoun 80
1839
21 John Warrick 160
1849
8 James Handly 80
1842
160
1849
8 D. W. Burt 160
1851
21 Lynn Starling 80
1849
8 Reese Ludwig 240
1851
21 John Bucher 80
1851
9 Christopher Little
80
1839
22 Lynn Starling 240
1836
9 Abram Sayers 86
1839
22
William Mumaugh
80
1836
9 Amos Sayers 160
80
1850
22 O. Harvey 40
1849
22 James Boals
80
1850
22 Nathan Allen
40
1851
10 Abram Sayers
80
1839
Mary Mann 160
1837
10 A. Calhoun 260
1850
23 George Lear 160
1837
IO John Calhoun 320
1851
23 Sarah Armon 80
1837
II John G. Steadman 160
1836 23
B. Osman 80
1837
23 James Huston 80
1837
II Fred Mohr 160
1851
25 Eli Felters 80
1856 1849
14 Elijah Foster 160
1849 25 William Bebb 320
1851
1850 25 William Austin 80
1851
15 Lynn Starling 160
1836
26 David Ridenour 160
1851
15 Solomon Day 40
1836
26 James C. Bowers 40
1851
15 Solomon Hash
40
1836 26 Jesse B. Stephens 160
1851
15 Mathew Little 80
1839 26 James Thompson 40
1851
15 Samuel Devore 80
1839
26 Sarah Stephens 80
1851
15 Adam Snyder 160
1839
26 Jacob D. Harter 80
1851
16 Abraham Walborn 400
1850
26 Archibald McDonald 80
1852
16 James Harvey 80
1850
27 Jacob Stripe 160
1836
16 Obadiah Harvey 80
1854
27 Samuel A. Miller 200
1850
16 Christian Mohr 80
1854
27 William Corathers 27 Joshua Green 160 80
1851
17 John Calhoun 86
1839
1851
17 Moses Calhoun 160
1839
27 William Judd 40
1851
17 Henry Taylor
120
1839
28 Lynn Starling 320
1836
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1836
9 A. Calhoun
160
1850
10 Jesse Reed
40
1839
23
II Lynn Starling 320
1842
1836 25 Joseph Burwell 160
14 Robert Calhoun 320
14 Lynn Starling 160
1839
22 Stephen Durbin 80
9 Daniel Downs
1840
19 John Hoprichter 80
1850
7 John Murphy
20 Morris Rees
20 Jacob Grubbs
21 John McCreary
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
SEC. NAME.
ACRES. YEAR.
28 Warren Stripe
320
1838
29 Lynn Starling 320 1836
29 William Mumaugh 160 1836
29 Isaac Reese 160 1836
30 William Stripe 160 1836
1836
30 Joseph Stephens 86
1836
30 Francis Scott 160
1839
John Clayton 86
1839
30
Elias Beamer 86
1841
31 Lynn Starling 320
1836
31 Jacob Stripe 339
1836
32 William Stripe 320
40
1836
32
William Waugh 80
120
1839
33 Jacob Newman
80
1838
33
William Waugh
80
1839
33
Henry Springer
320
1849
33 John N. Deatrick
180
1851
34 Adam Wolford
160
1849
34 George Burcaw
160
1849
34 Henry Springer 160
1849
34 John M. Franklin .
160
1851
35 Moses Thompson
120
1839
35 Henry Springer 160
1849
35 jchn N. Deatrick 80
1851
35 John M. Higgins 160
1852
36 Godfrey Brown
160
1839
36 Samuel Brown
120
1839
36 Moses Thompson 40
1839
36 Hugh F. Jones
80
1840
36 R. Rathbun
40
1851
36 Edward Timmons 160
1851
36 Elizabeth Shupp 40 1852
INDIANS STEAL A HORSE.
At one time the Indians stole Enoch M. Hoeglin's only horse. He finally found their camp and upon entering it discovered that they were in a state of intoxication and enjoying an exciting revelry. He made inquiries for his stolen horse but they would not give him any information, pretending to know nothing about it. He vainly persisted in his inquiries and they as persistently pleaded ignorance of any knowl- edge of the horse. He finally charged them
with having stolen his horse. This aroused the anger of the demons. A painted warrior rushed out with a large knife and uttering a war-whoop advanced upon Mr. Hoaglin in a ferocious manner, exclaiming, "Me no steal white man's horse. Me kill pale face." Mr. Hoaglin immediately covered the Indian with his rifle and the latter stole back into his hut. Shortly afterward Hoaglin recovered his horse, which he found hobbled among the Indian ponies.
VAN WERT AND THE COUNTRY.
"The following address was given by A. A. Giffin, of Hoaglin township, at the annual banquet of the Business Men's League, held in Van Wert, on March 6, 1905, the address being in response to the toast, 'Van Wert and the Country.'"
If I were an artist, I would paint you three pictures of "Van Wert and the Country"-as they used to be, as they are now and as they will be-but as I am not an artist I will tell you a story.
When I was but a small boy, circumstances dropped me down in a little opening in Hoaglin township. My home was a log shanty with only one room in it. I longed for society, I longed for an education. I started out search- ing; I saw a cow path through the forest; I fol- lowed it for a mile or so; I came to another log shanty, but it had two rooms in it. I pulled the latch string and pushed the door open; I en- tered the living room and saw the church fur- niture-benches for seats, a four-legged table with an oilcloth cover. Some books lay upon the table; they indicated age. I picked up one of them, and turned to the title page; it was "The Farmers' Dictionary, 1840." I turned over a few pages and found the word "auditor." I looked for the definition which was,-"A town man that can figure. Better known as a Court House rat." I turned over a few more
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32 Jacob Newman
32 Henry Newman 40
1836
1839
32 Michael Keefer
80
1853
33 Abner Root
1836
30
30 Jacob Stripe 160
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
pages and saw the words, "Business man;" I looked for the definition,-"A town man that keeps store. He buys and sells things and tries to cheat people, especially the farmers." I turned a few more pages; I found street broker,"-"A town man with money. He walks up and down the street seeking some one to devour; a robber." I turned back a few pages and my eye rested on the word "lawyer," -"A man devoid of the truth ; a liar."
Now, friends, thanks to an educational force that has been abroad in our country for the past 30 years, these conditions have been radically changed. A strong educational force, so strong that it reached over into the country and picked up a farm boy, just out of his blue overalls and check shirt and plow shoes, and dropped him down in the Auditor's office (an old time "Court House rat"). A little later on, it picked him up again and dropped him down in the State Senate chamber. An educational force that was so plainly manifest at our recent Farmers' Institute, when there upon the stage stood the city man and the country man, elbow to elbow, and to the eye of the stranger they could not be distinguished.
Do you wonder what this educational force is? The main trunk we name the Grange edu- cator. The first branch from it we call the public road improvement; the second branch we call rural mail delivery ; and the third branch we call the country telephone. All combined make a powerful educator.
.
Thus far our city has outstripped the country in material progress, as is evidenced by your many business houses, and your hust- ling business men; by your stately churches and schoolhouses, manned by able God-fearing ministers and educators; by your daily news- papers which send the news twice each day, crisp and fresh, to the waiting public; and by your magnificent Public Library, thanks to the
donor, J. S. Brumback, the greatest of the kind in our nation.
But, members of the Business Men's League, I warn you now,-look well to your laurels. I stand upon the Public Square of your beautiful city and take a peep into the future; I look to the north; I see a small speck at the horizon. I look to the Southwest; I see another speck. I look to the northeast; I see another speck a little bit larger. I look to the west; there I see a spot-it gets larger, larger, larger. I look to the east; there I see a cloud -it seems to be moving, it is moving, it comes nearer, nearer, nearer, it is the rural trolley car; loaded to its very door with living freight, it stops at the Public Square. Out springs a swarm of school children. They are the boys and girls from the country on their way to the city college. While standing there in my vis- ion, another car comes flitting in from the west, another from the northeast, another from the southeast, another from the south and an- other from the north, all loaded down with the same precious burden. At eventime I board a car to go to the country; it is filled to the doors with business men and school children, and the plain, busy country folks. Our line of travel is fenced with beautiful residences, with neatly kept lawns. We go on as if we were flying. I see a large building, larger than its fellows; it's the township high school where the country boys and girls are fitted for the city college.
We ride on still farther, we alight from the car at a modest but beautiful farm home. I touch the electric button; my call is answered by a neatly dressed woman, whose every action indicates education and refinement. I am ushered into the sitting room, with its richly laid carpet and its beautiful furniture : the walls are decorated with beautiful pictures, showing domestic art in the highest degree. On one
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RESIDENCE OF ABRAHAM JONES, YORK TOWNSHIP
J. B. POLLOCK'S "STONE FRONT" HOUSE PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
THOMAS MORRIS' LOG CABIN YORK TOWNSHIP Where the First Welsh Sunday-School in the County was Held-in April. 1848
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PUBLIC SCHOOL, OHIO CITY
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PUBLIC SCHOOL, WILLSHIRE
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
side stands an organ; on another a piano. I look through the large arched doorway into the library ; there I see a book-holder with a large volume in its embrace. I touch the spring and the book flies open; I look at the title page and see, "The Farmers' Dictionary, revised edition." I turn a few pages, I see the word "auditor,"-"A skilled accountant, a public servant, an honest man, doing business for the good of all." I turn over a few more pages and come to "business man,"-"Not confined to the city ; the man with brains and energy, that does things for the good of society and the advance- ment of civilization."
I turn still farther. I look for "street broker,"-"A thing of the past; their place now supplanted by modern banking houses, owned and managed by honorable business men, who are willing to live and let live." I turn back a few pages. I see the word "lawyer,"-"An educated man, beautiful in his physiognomy, a toastmaster."
In conclusion, I will say I am proud of our city and country, and now extend a cordial in- vitation to each member of the Business Men's League, to come with their families and pay me a visit at my country home and we will try and have some doughnuts and pumpkin pies.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,
Better know as the Walborn Church is located three miles northeast of Van Wert in Hoaglin township.
Occasionally Lutheran services were held in the homes and schoolhouses from the year 1866, conducted by Revs. Cramer and Cor- bett.
The members being few and scattered, no regular pastor was called until the year 1872, at which time the church society organized and called Rev. John Snyder. In August,
1873, the corner-stone of the first church was laid. At this time the members (numbering 10 or 12), being few and apparently weak, met with many discouragements but through their unyielding efforts the church was completed and consecrated in 1874. This church was made possible by two persons, viz .: Jeremiah Dippery and Mrs. Louisa Walborn, who did not withhold hand or purse until the church was completed. The latter is the oldest mem- ber of the church today. Owing to the peculiar situation of the territory from which the church draws, because of its location, and the constant removal of its members, the mem- bership never has been large.
During the pastorate of Rev. E. M. Potts early in the year 1900, the congregation re- solved to build a new church. The corner- stone was laid June 10th of the same year and the structure was consecrated January 6, 1901. The building is an attractive one and a credit to its members, who at this date number 60.
The following ministers have served the congregation since the organization : Revs. John Snyder, T. W. Corbett, George Sill, L. M. McGreery, O. Reber, B. F. Hoefer, E. M. Potts and H. N. Miller.
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE PIONEERS.
James Harvey came to Van Wert County with his parents in 1841. After helping to clear their farm, he started out to earn one for himself, which was a slow process, as work was scarce and wages low. The writer well recollects when he was a boy that Mr. Harvey then about 17 years old, worked for his father, J. G. Gilliland, at 31 cents a day to pay for a cow Harvey's father had bought for $8. He put in a full month plowing corn and the writer followed, setting it up. After earning money enough to buy a piece of land and arranging
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
a home, on October 20, 1850, he married Wil- helmina Reece. They raised a family and his sons are among the best farmers in Hoaglin township. Mr. Harvey owns a good farm and is now resting and enjoying a ripe old age. He has always held the respect and confidence of the community, in which he has lived the last 65 years.
O. H. Harvey came to Van Wert County In 1841, and it can hardly be said that he ever settled anywhere. In 1846 he married Zillabe Hoaglin, by whom he had 13 children. He built 22 houses for himself to live in, moved his family 25 times; and cleared not less than 150 acres of land in Van Wert County.
William Giffin came to Van Wert County when the north part of the county was mostly woods, with neither roads nor farms, and settled in Hoaglin township in the woods, where it required courage and hard work and plenty of it to make a home. He was county surveyor and for many years was called upon to survey for individuals.
He raised a large family. We have with us : D. J. Giffin, A. A. Giffin, I. N. Giffin and W. S. Giffin, names that are familiar to the citizens of the entire county. They are always the first and most active in all good works.
Henry Taylor came to Hoaglin township with his parents at an early day. He had his peculiarities and his faults, but his faults were his only defects and only injured himself. When he and his parents came to the county, they were poor and had not been here long when they ran out of provisions and money. Starvation, as Henry said, stared them in the face. They were strangers in a strange land; what neighbors they had were almost as poor as themselves. In this extremity Henry ap-
pealed to James G. Gilliland for help. Gilli- land had no corn, which was all that was asked, but gave him a letter to a Mr. Coch- ran in Allen County, telling him to let Henry have all the corn he wanted and he would stand good for the pay. Henry got his corn and worked almost day and night at whatever he could get to do to get money to pay, and walked to the Auglaize River to carry the money to pay for the corn. Until they were able to clear land and raise a crop, Henry depended upon Mr. Gilliland for provisions and would drop his own work, no matter how urgent, to help Gilliland when called upon. He went even farther and, as long as he lived, he would go out of his way to do a favor for any of Mr. Gilliland's family.
Taylor had but little education, yet he was a good business man and accumulated consid- erable wealth. He was gifted with good mother wit and could hold his own with the best in repartee. In a conversation with the writer, one of his neighbors of many years said: "I have seen Henry tried and never found wanting, I have seen him on the wit- ness stand when his own interests would have been served by withholding or coloring his tes- timony, but the truth and the whole thruth came without hesitation. He was the friend of everybody, himself excepted possibly."
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