History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 104

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 104
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 104

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).

Statistics, 1880.

Population, 1820.

Votes cast for Secretary of State at October elcetion, Charles Town- send (Rep.), 238; William Lang (Dem.), 147; Charles A. Lloyd (G.), 7. Total, 392.

Votes cast for President and Vice-President at national election in November, James A. Garfield ( Rep.), 252; Winfield S. Hancock ( Dem.), 155. Total, 417.

1881 .- For Governor, Charles Foster ( R.). 185; John W. Bookwalter (D.), 119; A. R. Ludlow ( P.), 19; John Seitz, 10. Total, 335.

Assessor's Return for BS1, showing Products and Valuation for the year 1880 .- Wheat-acres sown, 2550; bushels produced, 44.591. Acres sown for harvest of 1$$1, 3022. Buckwheat-acre-, 10,5; bushels. 121 Oats -acres, 1075; bushels. 24.605. Barley-acres. 1; bushels, 12. Corn-acres, 2939; bushels (shelled , 117,910. Meadows-acres, 987; tons hay, Hex. Clover-acres, 337: tons hay. 404; bushels seed, 272; aeres plowed under for manure, 31. Flax-aeres, 57, bushels seed, 386. Potatoes- acres, 70.75; bushels. 4571. Tobacco-acres, 1.25; pounds, 110. But- ter-pounds, 45,414. Cheese-pounds, 30. Sorghum-acres, 212; gal- 'lons molasses, 2038. Maple-pounds sugar, 401; gallons syrup. 1s. Bees-hives, 16; pounds honey, 935. Egg ---- dozen, 55,750. Grape wine-gallons pressed. 3. Sweet potatoes-acres. 75 ; bushels, 33. Or- chards-aeres ocenpied, 390; bushels apples, 21,237; bushels peaches, 1014; bushels pears, 31; bashels cherries, 62; bushels plums, 11. Wool -pounds shorn, 4786. Dogs-number, 133. Sheep killed by doge- number, 51; value, $188. Sheep injured by dogs-number, 27 ; value, 854. Domestic animals died from diseases: Hogy-225; value. $101. Sheep-47; value. $111. Cattle-21; value, $411. Horses-30; value, $1740. Bonds exempt from taxation, $1965.

Abstract of Decennial Appraisement of Real Estate for ISSO .- Nom- ber of aeres, 22,918. Value of land, $$44.460. Average value per acre, $19.39. Value of buildings, $0,970. Aggregate value of lands and buildings, 8175,430, Average value per acre, including buildings, $20.74. Value of city, town. and village lots. 83700. Value of building .. $13.670. Aggregate value of lots and buildings, $17.3-0. Aggregate value of real estate. $420.331.20. Aggregate value in duplicate of faso, $276,550. Number neres arable land, 12.755. Number seres meadow or pasture land, 425. Number aeres uncultivated or woodland, 9735.

The past year added greatly to the commercial facilities of the town- ship by the construction of the Toledo, Delphos, and Burlington Narrow Gange Railroad From Delphos across the township to Shanksville, thus affording an outlet to the P. F. W. & C. R. R. and the canal at Deiphos. Within the present year this life has been pushed northward to Toldto. and southwand to Davton, thus allowing an outlet to the great east and West lines either north or south. At this moment the whistle of the

train is heard by the writer as it takes its departure from Celina for Dayton for the first through trip. Such a road must add greatly to the wealth of the township by the shipping advantages it offers and serve a great convenience as a line of travel to the county seat, while it also introduces the advantages of a telegraph line.

The farms, the schools, the railroad, and the industrial and commercial enterprises here abounding, are carrying the township forward to a full development by safe and certain steps upon a solid basis. With a fertile soil and increasing advantages, the township must steadily grow in wealth.

Soldier's Record.

Andrew Ayres, enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, in Co. A, 99th O. V. L., and was discharged May 30, 1863. Re-enlisted Feb. 14, 1>65, in Co. D. 193. O. V. L., and was discharged Aug. 4, 1865.

Milton Dennison, private 10th Ind. Battery from Jan. 3, 1862, to Jan., 1865.

G. W. Woodin, private Co. D, 7Ist O. V. I., from Oct. 19, 1861, to Dec. 19, 1965.

George Raach, private Co. G, 9th O. Cav., from Aug. 21, 1863, to Aug. 21, 1865. G. W. Mortimore, private Co. A, 99th O. V. I., from July 24, 1862, to June 26. 1865.

T. Q. Hickernell, private Co. E, 118th O. V. I., from Aug. 13, 1862, to June 24, 1865.

James Clover, private Co. A, 40th O. V. I., from Sept. 15, 1861, to Oct. 7. 1804.

John Griffin, private Co. E. 118th O. V. L., from Aug. 22, 1862, until his death, which occurred in Kentucky, October 18, 1963.

C. A. Kelly, corporal Co. E, 11sth O. V. L., from August 13, 1862, to May 15, 1865.

Michael Dickson, private Co. E, 118th O. V. I., August 13, 1862 Died in Kentucky in Dec., 1862.

John R. Fryer, private Co. E, 46th O. V. I., from Nov. 1861, to Jan., 1863.

John Custer, private Co. K, 15Cth O. V. I., from May, 1864, to Aug., 1865.

J. M. Archer, corporal Co. A, 41st O. V. I., from Ang. 10, 1841. to Sept. 28, 1862. Re-enlisted as private Co. M, 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery. Sept. 10, 1863, to Sept. 28, 1865.

John Bevan, sergeant Co. E, 56th O. V. I., from Oct. 15, 1861, to Jan. 31, 1864. Re-entered service as quartermaster-sergeant 56th O. V. I. Dec. 17, 1863, till April 25, 1865.

MENDON.

Description of Plat .- The town of Guilford is laid out on a part of the east and west fraction of the southeast quarter of section 21, township 4 south, range 3 east, on the south bank of the St. Marys River, in the county of Mercer, and State of Ohio, The streets cross each other at right angles, and are laid out north and south and east and west ; the van tion at the time of survey being 4 - 20' cast. Main, Warren, Wayne, and Green Streets are each 72.5 feet in width; Mill, High. and Market Streets are each 66 feet wide. All the lots except Nos. 1 and 3 are five poles wide and ten poles long. Lot No. I is ten poles long, and on the east line four poles, and on the west line seven poles wide. Lot No. 5 is len poles long, and on the east line eight poles, and on the west line nine poles wide, measuring to low-water mark. The town contains forty-three lots and a piece of public ground on Main and Market Streets, which, including the streets, is 24.5 poles long and 14 poles wide. Good and sufficient stones have been planted at the northeast corner of the publ . ground, at the southeast corner of lot No. 23, and at the northeast comme of lot No. 7. All of which is hereby certified to be correct, to the best of my knowledge and ability.

(Signed)

ROBERT GRANT, Co. Sur.

State of Ohio, Mercer County, $8.

Before me, John N. Brown, an acting justice of the peace in and for said county, personally came Justin Hamilton and Thomas Parrott, pro. prictors of the town of Guilford, and severally acknowledged the within plat and above description thereof to be their voluntary act for the pur. poses therein expressed, and that the same is in strict conformity with twir wishes and intentions.

Given under my hand this 29th day of May, 1834. (Signed) JOHN N. BROWN, J. J.

Entered for and recorded June 2d, 1834. (Signed) J. W. RILEY, Recorder.

Such is the foundation of Mendon ; for although recorded under the name of Guilford, that of Menton was soon after adopted, simply as a preference by the magnet proprietors. Here for years its chief features were a school house, a horsemill, and store; but these of course gres with the growth of the settlement until the log school-house gave place

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OIHO.

399

to a frame building, the horse-mill yielded to the water-power, and the supply-store was succeeded by different and differing places of trade. Of the old institutions the log-cabin school and the horse-power mill have passed away, while the old " tavern," and the oldl "water-mill." still remain as way-marks and monuments along the line of growth. That growth was never rapid, never having been subjected to the accele- rating impulses of today during the long yesterday of tardy develop- ment. There were no special stimuli until very recently, and so, a few residences and a few additional stores were added, and the demands of the life and development of the town were amply satisfied. True, the old water-mill substituted steam for water-power, but the very building was outlived and had been outgrown already, and so lacked both capacity and capability to meet and answer the increased and increasing demands of the community. For this reason trade found its way to St. Mary's, Spencerville, or other milling towns, and Mendon was robbed of its natural and legitimate support, for the farmer who went to another town to mill did not find it necessary to return without family supplies in order to go to Mendon for those supplies. It is different to-day. it will be more radically different to-morrow. The new railroad brought trade, particularly by bringing a warehouse, where grain is bought and shipped. A new steam-mill now erecting will add that support, that business, that convenience, to-morrow, which was denied the town yesterday. A new hotel, carriage factory, and now stores, mean a continued and healthy growth. At the first faint gleam of the dawn of this better day we hear the prayer of the citizens for the advantages of incorporation, and see that prayer already answered. The boundaries of the town are enlarged above the old plat and the subsequent additions thereto.

Incorporation.

A petition signed by thirty-two voters was presented the commis- sioners in February, 1881, praying for the incorporation of the village, with the following description :-

To the Honorable the Commissioners of Mercer County, Ohio: The undersigned, voters of the town of Mendon, Mercer County, Ohio, ask that said towu be incorporated for general purposes, as authorized by · law; they also ask that the following limits be the boundaries of the said incorporation, to wit,-commencing on the south side of the St. Marys River at a point west of the original plat of Mendon at a stone corner on centre line of section 21 at a point parallel with the south line of Christ Maurer's old orchard; thence running south along said centre line to where it strikes the south line of said section, between see- tion 21 and 28: thence east on said section line to the southeast corner of said section 21; thence north on said line between section 21 and 22 to where it strikes a line parallel with the north line of Mill Street; thence due west on said parallel line to where it strikes the west side of Green Street on the bank of St. Marys river; thence along the me- anders of said river at low-water mark to the place where the river strikes Wayne Street; thence south on Wayne Street to the line south of the aforesaid orchard; thence west to the place of beginning to aforesaid stone, in T. 4 S .. R. 3 E., and to be known as the incorporated village of Mendon, in Mercer County, and State of Ohio, with a population of two hundred and forty-five inhabitants, and as will more fully appear in reference to a plat of said town herewith filed, your petitioners ask that the name of the proposed incorporated town be Mendon. The under- signed also submit the names of E. Mumaugh, Joseph Anderson, and F. S. Collins, as the persons authorized to act in behalf of the undersigned petitioners in prosecuting this petition.

(Signed).

E. MUMAUGU, and 31 others.

Response.

AUDITOR'S OFFICE, Celina, Feb. S. 1881.

To-day caine the Board of County Commissioners, met in this office. Members present, James B. Suyder, John Frahm, and J. F. Roemer.county commissioners, and J. V. Sidenbender, county auditor ; and this being the time and place fixed by the board for the hearing of a petition tiled in this office on the 6th day of December, 1550, by Joseph Anderson," E. Mumaugh, and F. S. Collins, for the incorporation of the village of Mendon, Ohio, and territory thereto annexed, as shown by the plat accompanying this petition, the board, upon examination, do find that the petitim contains all the matters required, and the name proposed is appropriate, that the limits of the proposed corporation are accurately described and are reasonable in size and that legal notice has been given for the length of time required by law, and that the prayer of said peti- tioners is right and just : it is therefore ordered that the prayer of said petitioners be granted, and that the agents for the petitioners proceed to organize said corporation according to law.

(Signed) J. B. SNYDER, President of Board, J. V. SIDENBENDER, Auditor aud Clerk of Board.

At the first election hold under the incorporation, the following named officers were duly elected ;-

Mayor, L. A. Barber, Councilman, A. J. Lininger, F. S. Collins,

J. A. Martin, John Bevan, Joseph Hesser. Clerk, J. II. Moore. Treasurer, Wm. Hamilton. Marshal, Wm. Rider.

At this writing the business and professional interests are represented as follows :-

Hardware,-Collins & Collins.

General Supply Stores .- Murlin & Hamilton and W. F. & R. HI. Har- bison.

Timcare .- Christian Hauber.

Drugs .- John Bevan.

Groceries .- B. E. Woolam and Adam Panabaker.

Carriage Factory .- J. H. Rohrer.

Blacksmith Shops .- George Woodin and Win. & David Felker.

. Harness Shop .-- James Clark.

Boot and Shoe Shops -- Wm. Hommel and David Ayres. Grain Depot .- Marlin & Hamilton.

Hotels .- " Union House," A. J. Lininger, proprietor; " Mendon House," Joseph Anderson, proprietor.

Postmaster .- J. H. Manning.

Physicians .- A. J. Lininger, D. F. Parrott, G. R. Hagerman, J. B. Haines.

The village school has grown from the rude beginning incident to pioneer life until a frame building supplies the place of the rough log cabin of the past. The school now embraces two departments, while the enumeration shows 54 males and 63 females, or 117 youths of school age in the district.

The church organizations embrace one Methodist Episcopal and one Advent congregation. The former has a comfortable church building, while the latter is now erecting its first church, although the organiza- tion has existed for some time.

A steam grist-mill is now in course of erection, which will undoubt- edly add materially to the interests of the town and community.

Such is a view of the town just at the moment when it rises to new industries and greater hopes, for with railroad facilities it gives promise of renewed growth. Such is a view of the township and village as they present themselves to the careful but disinterested observer. The primeval forests have been cleared away, and the water drained away, until the whole territory, exclusive of the waste by streams, is under cultivation.

BIOGRAPHIES ( From Interviews).

DAVID PARROTT PROTSMAN, Mendon, Ohio.

David P. Protsman, son of John and Frances (née Parrott) Prots- man, was born in Washington County. Md., in the year 1814, during that period of agitation in the great Northwest. After he had passent his youth he looked westward and finally came to Ohio, where he married Miss Ann Maria Long at Union, Montgomery County, in 1-36. His wife was born in Cincinnati. O., in 1>20, and was the daughter of John and Mina Ann ( nfe King) Parrott. In 1837, or the vear following his marriage, Mr. Proteman came to Mercer County, where he still resides. In 1868 his wife die.t. leaving a large circle of friends to mouth her foss. Of this marriage ten children were born, viz. : John A., born 183; di-t 1.871 ; Elizabeth C., born 1×41; resides at San Francisco, Cal .: Henry J., born 1944 ; diod 1862: Mary En born 1846; resides at Mendon. O. ; Laura F., born 1849; resides at San Francisco, Cal .: Lucinda A .. horn 1852 ; resides at Van Wert, O .; Orlida Love, born 1$55 ; died 1856; Mar- tha E., born 1858; resides at Van Wert. O .; David Wilmot, born Isto ; died 1863; Charles E., born 1864; resides at Mendon, O. Of these children Henry J. entered the service of our country in the 99th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1962, and died at Nashville. Tenn., the same year. In 1869 Mr. Protoman married Mrs. Sarah Ann Chevington, who bore him two children, named. Cora, born in 1969, who died in infinev. ant Kate Madell, born in 1871. Mrs. Protsman died in 1877, and in Issi Mr. Protsman married Sarah Jane Berry, who is still living. Ma. Prots- man is one of the old and reliable citer ns of this section, and has devoted his attention chiefly to agricultural pursuits. His hand is in the western part of L'aion Township, and contiguous to the St. Marys River. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of forty years, which carries us back to the time when the connit could only boast one church building, and that one belonged to the M. E. denomination. He has taken a deep and abiding interest in all matters pertaining to education and religion, and during his active and useful life has won and retained the full esteem of all with whom he came in contact.

ALEXANDER PARTNER

was born near Mifflin, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1833, in which year his father moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, and finally to this town- ship in the fall of 1-40. Alexander was married in 1818 to Martha J Fryer of this township. Their family consists of four children, men Orlanda (married). W. F. Orpheline, and Abbie. Mr. Partner is now serving his fourth year as mfirmary director.

400

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

DR. W. C. CoLE

was born June 3, 1815, in Jefferson County, New York, and while yet young was taken with his parents to Seneen County, where he spent his youth in the town of Tyre. He afterward went to Ontario, Canada, and studied medicine, finally graduating from the Medical University of New York in 1837. He at once commenced the practice of his profes- sion at Waterloo, but in Is40 came to Ohio, and, locating at Titfin, practised until 1814, when he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he re- mained until 1854. At this time he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where be made his home, while practising throughout the Southwestern States. When the civil troubles broke out in 1960 he was in Texas, but returned to Memphis that year, where he remained ontil 1563, when he suffered the loss of all his property, amounting to nearly $150.000, by fire. Up to this time he had taken no part in the war, but after his misfortune be emne to Ohio in 1863, and went on duty in the General Hospital at Camp Dennison. He was afterwards transferred to hospital duty at Nashville, Tennessee, but in 1864 was compelled to resign on account of physical disabilities. In the fall of 1867 he came to Mendon, where he spent one season in the treatment of special diseases. In 1870 be purchased his present country home in this township, but leased it dur- ing several years, while he was practising at Shanesville and Van Wert. He at length removed to the old farm in the spring of 18%1, and has so repaired and improved it as to render it as pleasant a home as the com- munity can boast. Here he designs practising, in the treatment of patients for special diseases, as he is prepared to board and lodge those from a distance who may desire his treatment. Here he will make a specialty of surgery in the treatment of the eyes, fever sores, varicose ulcers, and such other maladies as are not generally specially treated by physicians. He has had a wide experience in treatment of such cases, commeneing with 1840, when he performed a successful operation upon cross eyes, about the same time it was first successfully performed in Europe. He was married April 8, 1838, in Cayuga County, New York, to Miss Sarah De Camp. His wife died, while three sons and one daughter survived ber. In 1>57 he married Mrs. Parmalli, who subsequently died, leaving one child, who is still living. In 1870 he was married to Miss Pampel, of Shanesville, who is still living. His children by this marriage are two daughters.

...

DR. D. F. PARROTT

came to this township in 1830 from Fayette County. Ohio, where he was horn Feb. 8, 1x22. His father lived here about eleven years, and then went to lowa, where he still resides. His mother died in 1971. Five of their children are still living, of whom G. G. Parrott and our subject are still in this township, the others being in lowa. The Doctor worked on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he began the study of medicine, which he pursued as his opportunities would permit until his twenty-eighth year, when he commeneed the practice of his profession in Piqua. He remained at. Piqua ouly about four months, however, when he came to Mendon, sont finally went to Will-hire, where be practised about six months, and went to lowa. Two years later he attinled the lecture course at Cincinnati, atter which he went to Fayette County, and practiced two years. He married Margaret E. Mckinney, of Clermont County, Dec. 21, 1853, and in 1856 returned to Mendon, where he has since practised medicine except during the period of army service, having served as private in Company K. One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from Oct. 8, 1862, to June 15, 1865. While in the army he was detached for hospital duty as dispenser. At Mossy Creek, Teun., he was placed in charge of the ambulance corps during the engagement. He has but one child living, named Charles Sumner. When we last met the oft Doctor he was actively engaged in superintending the erection of an extensive tile factory, which he pro- poses operating about a half-mile south of Mendon.

SAMUEL NICKOLS,

a native of Un'on Township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born September 26, 1822. In April, Is51, he moved to Richland County, where be re- mained until August 16, 1832, when he settled in this county. There were then no roads here worth the muse, the old trails answering the purpose of road. He still lives on the farm to which he first moved, there being at that time but three sticks cut off it. The farm now con- sists of 420 acres, and is well improved, having as good buildings as any farm in the township.

He married Sarah Ann Dillon, January 30, 1845, she being also a native of Belmont County. Their family consisted of nine children, of whom but three survive. They were named. Emmeline (deceased), Anna Elizabeth (deceased). William (dressed), Logan (deceased), John (deceased), Ara (deceased , Maria Alehine, Mary Ada, and Tabitha Jane. Maria A. is the wife of Jesse Nelson, of this township.

Of the deceased children, all except Emmeline died in the year 1440. within seventeen days, of diphtheria, that tell and awint destroyer of human hte.

MOSES COLLINS

came from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to Dayton, Ohio, in 1997 and the next year to the present village of Mercer, where he aparat .. an ashery and kept a supply store. The remainder of his life was di voted to these enterprises at this place. He married Emily Shallen- berger in Favette County, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1824. Their chil- dren's names are as follows: Isaac W. Collins, Jacob S. Collins, David S. Collins, George W. Collins, Henry A. W. Collins, Cyrus B. Collins, All are dead except Henry A. W. Collins and Cyrus B. Collins. More, Collins died January 25th, 1854; Emily Collins died December 15th, 1856.

C. B. COLLINS,

a son of the above, was born in Mercer, in the old red house now ocen. pied by Dr. Adams, in August, 1841. He remained at home until 1-65. when he moved to the Custer farm, in Union Township, where he lived until 1869, when he moved to Mendon, and engaged in the drygood- trade in the building now occupied by Collins & Collins, hardware hier- chants. Here he continued business about five years, when he morel to the small farm northwest of Mendon, but after a short period to his present home-farm in sections 32 and 33, which consists of 359 apres. Ile was in the military service from May 2d to September. 1864, during which period he served as third sergeant Company K. 156th Ohia National Guards, which formed the 80th Battalion at home. Sites moving to his present farm he has dealt extensively in all kinds of live stock, and is to-day the leading stock-dealer in the county. At the time he moved to his home-farm it was without any buildings worth the name, whereas it is now well improved, and supplied with all neces- sary buildings, as will fully appear by reference to engraving elsewhere in this volume. Since 1869 he has hell the office of township treasurer. On July 1, 1865, he married Jerusha L. Murlin, who died July 2, 1966. He was remarried October, 1869, to Halie Davis, a daughter of Samuel Davis, of Centre Township.

THOMAS PARROTT

was born April 25, 1793, in Coke County, Tenn. When fifteen years of age he came to Fayette County, O., where he remained until I>22, when he came to present limits of Union Township. He first settled at mouth of Twelve-mile Creek, at present site of Mendon, where he lived about thirty years. He and Justin Hamilton, as shown elsewhere, were the original proprietors and founders of Guilford, which name they subisce- quently changed to Mendon. After leaving Mendon he moved to the farm east of town, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was here visited by the writer in the fall of Isso and found to still take a lively interest in the community he had helped so long to develop. Since that time we have learned of his death, which occurred Dec. 24. Issn. He was married in 1819 to Elizabeth Coil, who died in 1843. Their fainily consisted of nine children, as follows: Andrew, John H., Eliza. beth, Joseph, Wesley, Lavina, Howard. Amelia (cee'd), and Sophtonia (dec'd). Andrew was probably the first white child born in this township

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History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 104

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton Number of Pages: 878

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878