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 76
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 76
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DELPROS.
The thriving town of Delphos is located on the east line of Van Wert and west line of Allen counties, the town being nearly equally divided by the Miami Canal, which is the boundary between the two com !!!. ..
The first plat of the town was made by Jolin O. Bredeick, which plat lay on the east side of the canal. Shortly afterwards Ferdinand Bredeick platted some lots on the west side of the canal. This was in the year 1815. These lots were surveyed by Elias Everett. The town was then known by the name of East Bredeick and West Broderick. Some time after this Messrs. Holister, Bliss & Pettit made an addition, which they called section 10. Then Sammel Forrer another addition. which was named Howard. These names were finally dropped, and the original town and its additions took the name of Delpho».
The town has been enlarged by quite a number of additions, viz .. Mary V. Bredvick added 60 lots ; Howard. 24 lots; Bredeick's heirs, 4> lots and a public square. -_ Moennig, first addition, 69 lots ; second addition, 32 lots; J. M. C. Marble, 9 lots; Imber, 9 lots; Shenk, 42 lots ; Cline & Marble, 120 lots.
The town was incorporated in 1851. The first mayor was Hon. Leser Bliss. The population of Delphos in ISTO was 1668, and in love, 3514. The present population is over 4000, and rapidly increasing.
There are three railroads in the town-the P. F. W. & C. and two branches of the T. C. & st. L. Narrow Gangs going Greiftty for slap- ping east or west, north or south. The Miami and Erie Canal is much used for the shipment of timber, buaber, and other heavy freight.
Present officer -: C. C. Marshall, Mavor; H. Lindeman, Marshall : O. J. Ostendorf, Cleik: I. Trame, Treasurer.
First House,-The first house built in the town was a for house by Ferdinand Burdeick : first frame house by Henry Menckhans; first brick by Capt. MeCune. The M. E. Church was built about the same time.
First Stores .- The first store was kept by F. Broderick; the second, by Gilmore & Soft ; third, by Each & Wrocklage ; fourth, by Hollister & Bli-4; fifth, by White & Newton.
First hotel was kept by James Groover. First Macksmith was - De Camp.
Jeph Jan :.
100
Thomas W. Bowdell,
tronge Somunumoller.
John G. Slangh,
100
181s
r. J. Cralis,
..
Aries. Pita. Sie.
X ito.
Acres. Date.
Naine, See. 31 Thomas Pollock,
152 1-36 35 David Sudmiller, 40)
1800
32 John MeC'allough, 160 160
Addison MeC'ullongh, John Montgomery,
320
Henry Bamgartuer, 40
33 Michael Stippich. 640 1×18 Mark Halter. 160 1~$9
34 Fred. Marquand. Daniel Bre wer, 450
160 1-35 36 Gudford D. Coleman,
Martin Baker, 320
35 Heury Trentman, Jul IL. France.
80
1815 George March, Robert Thomas, :
40 1:35
John Greathouse,
40
Abstract of votes given for justice of the peace in Washington Town- ship, Van Wert County, Ohio, on the 8th day of June, 1840. Thomas W. Bowdle having the highest number of votes for justice of the peace, was declared elected. Thomas W. Bodle, 7 votes ; Oliver Stacey, 3 votes; total, 10 voles.
Joseph Gleason, J. P; Thomas Gilliland, J. P. ; Robert Gilliland, Clerk.
Poll-book of the election held in the township of Washington, in the county of Van Wert, on the 12th day of October, 1841.
James Cavett, Jr., James G. Cavett, and T. W. Pring, Judges; John D. Cavett and William Nuttle, Clerks.
List of votes cast :-
1. John Cavett.
7. David Pring.
2. William Nuttle.
8. Thomas W. Bowdle.
3. Abraham Hire. 9. John Hire.
4. James G. Cavett, Jr.
10. Orren Burright. 11. William Told.
Walles Aldridge, Sr., David Lloyd. R. E. Thomas. Thos. J. Chamberlain,
1.2.4
14
176 35.36 Samuel Parsons
320 80
1-35
168 =
21 Francis C. Walden,
40 18 19
Zach. Stewart,
20 80 1837
David King.
1851
John Reed.
9.4
David Landner,
40
1819
George P. Tiffany,
80 1837 Nicholas Smith, 80 : E. J. Leypodle.
80
1849
James Gilliland.
160 1838
22 Withan Thomas, 160
1833
Ludwig E. Hertz,
-14
1837
John C. Hankins,
40 1847
James Gillsand,
160 1838
O. R. Beckwith,
40
1818
William Bobb,
: 80 80 1851
E. R. Curus, E. Bebb,
160
1836
240 1849
23 Matthias Hemker,
80
1845
9 Daniel Clinger,
40 =
William E. Brown,
THORENS Elrock.
80
Win. Cochran, .
40
Fred. Glick.
40
S. L .. Hittle,
120
.6
David J. Bonman,
40
Jacob Little.
10 C. A. Curtis,
40
1850
Camper Grize,
40
Charles Moore,
40
Abraham Evans,
40
Isaac Harp .;
= 80 40 1851
Samuel Farrer.
480
1831
Joseph Klager,
120
Van Horn & Aughen- bangh.
160 1834
80
=
25 Frederick Bredick,
40
G. D. Coleman,
2.40
..
=
John Greathouse.
80
80
1545
Jacob little,
10
..
80
26 Hugh S. Wycoff,
1 Go 1835
Stanton C. Dix.
40
=
George Mar-h,
=
John H. Weichard,
Jacob Puterbangh,
160
=
John C. Carpenter,
40 =
Conrad Baumgartner,
40
David Clouse, Francis Kemper,
40
27 B. Grief.
1815
12 Simon Perkins,
400 1835
John B. Bertling,
40
Job Il. Jackson, 1>;1
Fred. Findeman,
20)
4.
Joseph Eicholt,
1:37
Mathias King.
60
1851
George Welte, 1850
Hiram Baker.
85
Peter Roez.
40
Henry J. Gurdeman.
120
13 Nichola : Baker. 200
40
Conrad Wellman.
80
28 Edward Bchb.
610
1836
George Miller,
40
29 Jacob G. shaffer, Jalars H. Mitchell,
George Viter, Casper Loppmld.
HO
=
320
T. W. Kibe.
160
1:37 1-38
11 Demas Adios, Henry a. Wyhoff, Pavel Brewer.
160
1:35
Seth Matton,
..
160
1>31 30 William B bb.
160
1836
15 Bernard Erholt, Andrew Shumaker, Henry 1und,
120
Comfort Barnes,
NO
=
T. J. Crails,
336
First Hills .- The first mill in the town was a saw mill, built by E. N. Martin in 1-15. In I'll be built a frame grist mill, four stories high, with three run of burrs. Its power was water from the canal.
1
..
5 John Aldridge. 360 1837
140
166 1839
20 Samuel Bree -. Heury Shaver,
160
1836
6 John Williams, Jesse Hoffman, Martin Miller,
John G. Staugh.
80 160 40
1×51
" William Priddy, Samuel Knittie,
176 1836
John M. Henry,
80 81
1819
Wales Aldridge,
Henry S. Wycoff,
160
& Hiram Langdon,
80
1530
Henry W. Holm, Samuel Helt,
40 280 160 :
1832 1:53
Anton Hobiegrave,
Mathias Dratmau,
40
David M. Joues,
Mary Cormode,
80
Lewis Copk.man,
160
James l'ettit,
Grandi-on Curtis, James Bryan,
11 Ww. Helmkamp,
John H. Hoffman,
James W. Carpenter,
John H. Merchant,
George S. Beer,
160
..
=
=
John H. Baumgartner, 40
=
Cnilford D. Heilmann.
40
Christ. Longemeyer,
40
44
Joseph Harsh,
80
Isaiah Perigo.
80 =
3 Jul 11. Elvell. 1836 1853
Thomas A. Washburn,
John Ferrel, Franklin Elliott, 1959
18 David Fim, David King.
212 1:35
40 80 1836
42 16 Abraham Hire.
Nathan David,
168 88
J. S. Jones, George Lance, Fred. MeDorman,
94 :
William Bebb,
16
..
Joseph Peamer,
132 1835-6
E. H. Curtis.
Ashbel Burright, Joseph Cavett,
5. T. W. Pring.
= Win Bel:man, 80
M. Kabreman.
210 1:34
40 1:47
1 John F. Busche, 663 1853
1815
Herman Busch, John Linderman.
1836
John C. Carpenter,
John H. Ropenhoff
RES. OF JOHN SUMMERSETT , WASHINGTON
Co. OHIO TVP, VAN VIERT
RES. OF GEORGE COVER , WASHINGTON TW'P VAN WERT CO. OHIO.
279 - 280
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
First child born in the town was Amelia Bredeick, the present wife of George Lang.
Within a tadias of four miles of Delphos there are over thirty mills constantly raplayed in cutting and preparing lumber for the market. Immense quantities of timber are annually conveyed to market by the ruilroads and canal.
The enterprise and growth of Delphos can be seen by the following list of business establishments: 2 steam sawmills, 2 grist mills. I paper- mill. I woollen mill. I machine shop and foundry, I stirrup factory. 2 planing mills, I handle factory, I excelsior works. I union stave factory, I hoop and stave factory, I Washington stave factory. I tight-barrel factory. I wheel factory. 2 brick yards, & livery stables. 4 hardware stores, & stove and tin stores, 9 drygoods stores. I willnury establish- ments. 4 drug stores, 12, grocery and provision stores, So saloons, 4 butcher shops, 3 jewelry stores, 2 harness shops, 2 undertaking estab- lishments, 3 furniture stores. & wagon shops, 6 blacksmith shops. 6 boot and shoe shops, 7 baker shops, I tammery, 1 brewery, 2 banks, 2 news- papers, 2 warehouses, ; elevators, 6 hotels. 2 publie balls, I Masonic hall, I Odd Fellow's hall, I steam fire engine, 2 hand engines, and there is now being erected railroad shops for the T. D. and B. R. R.
Delphos originally was settled by Germans, principally Catholics. They have one of the finest churches in Northwestern Ohio. The fol- lowing are its dimensions: Whole length 192 feet; width of moin build- ing 78 feet, with two wings, forming a cross; width of cross 100 feet; width of front Se fett; height to comb of roof of feet ; height of tower 222 feet; length inside 158 feet; with inside 75 feet; inside of cross 92 feet; height of middle arch 58 feet ; andienceroom is 120 feet long. It has a seating capacity of 1500. The church building was commenced in 1878. Cornerstone was laid June 15. 1-79. The building was comt- pleted in ISSO. Dedicated January 16. Isst. The total cost of build- ing was $60.000, butt were it to be built at the present time it would cost much more.
The society has a membership of some three hundred families. The present priest is Father Hoeffel.
Presbyterian Church
was organized in 1849. The following ministers have filled the pulpit : Rev. W. Johnson, Rev. Mr. Graham, Rev. Mr. Cameron, Rev. Thomas Ellecock, Rev. James Young, and Rey .-
The present brick building was erected in 1569, being 3x by 60 feet, at a cost of $6000. Officiating ministers: Rey. Edward Scott, 1972. the present pastor. Elders: W. S. Campbell, Ezra Ford, William Scott. J. R. Evans. Deacons; W. H. Evans, John Lytle. Trustees: R. K. Lytle, S. D. Chambers. Henry Davis. W. T. Dolby, and C. W. Rigley.
There is a Sabbath-school connected with the church, of which Dr. J. R. Evans has been the superintendent for ten years, with teachers and 130 scholars.
C. C. Marshall was the first mover to establish this church, and in one year had collected twelve hundred and fifty dollars."
It is eminently due to the memory of the Rev. Father Bredeick, a Catholic priest of Delphos, to state that in August, 1552, he convened lot No. 47 in the town of Delphos to the Board of Education on certain conditions, but the lot was never appropriated to its original use. He therefore donated it to the Presbyterian Church, which donation was ratified by an act of the Legislature on the petition of the Board of Education and the excenters of his will. Passed March 11, 1×59.
1
The Newspapers of Delphos.
The first newspaper to make its appearance in Delphos, then called Section Ten, was the Section Ten Budget. in the year 1945, by Benj. F. Metcalf, who afterwards became a distinguished Common Plas Judge. Noah Huber succeeded Mr. Metcalf in 150, and changed the name of the paper to the Delphos Oracle. Mr. Huber sold to O. S. Perry. in 1852, and removed to Oregon. The Oracle was conducted by the latter until I×54, when S. F. Browne, now and for many years a resident of Denver, Col., became owner of the office and rechristened the paper The Northwestern Republican, which lived until 1856, when it expired for want of support. From last until 1869 Delphos was without a news- paper. In May of 1.69. D. H. Tola established the Delphes II rell. which he still continues to publish, and which is founded on a solid and firm foundation. The Herald is Democratie, and has a large circulation.
The Delphos Courent was established April, 1877, by E. B. Walkup. In March, 1575, E. K. Taylor purchased a halfinterest in the paper, which he sold to H. S. Thomas in January, 1879. In June, Isso, Mr. Walk up again became sole owner by the purchase of Mr. Thomas's inte- rest, and has so contante. The forest isa four page paper. Is by 14. nine columns, the largest in the city : subscription prier. $2.00; has al- ways been consistently and steadfastle Republican, the editor lewing a hearty sympathy for the principles, career, and success of that party.
-
1 1
1
Banka,
The First National Bank of Delphos was established January, 1861, with a capital of $100,000, The following stockholders constituted the first board of directors: D. G. Roebuck. F. I. I.e. J. M. C. Marble. R. K. Lytle, H J. Buchmer. B. Esch, and Henry D. Clark. Original officers were: 1 .. G. Rocback. President; J. M. C. Marble, Cashier. Feb. 20, 1880, the capital of the bank was reduced to $50,000. Present board of directors are: Jas. Buchner, A. Shenk, F. H. Stall- kamp. F. Allstaetter, T. Wrocklage, and S. D. Chambers.
Present officers: T. Wrocklage, President ; Jas. Boehmer, Cashier.
Commercial Bank-Plas bank, formerly known by the name of the Commercial Bank of Delphos. Obio, as a private bank, was on the 20th day of March, IST. incorporated as a Side Bank, and chartered ander to act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed Feb. 26, 1-53. with a capital of $100,000. On January 1. 1850, the capital Was reduced to $50,000. The present officers are: R. K. bytle, President : Dr. R. E. Jones, Vice-President; W. H. Fuller, Cashier.
Delphos Handle Factory
was established in 1872 by John T. and E. T. Hartwell, under the name of "Hartwell Brothers." The establishment manufactures handles, neck yokes, swingle trees,
Number of hands employed 23; engines used. 53 horse power; capi- tal invested 825,000. It is situated on lot No. 2. When in fall blast they manufacture 1800 axe-handles per day.
Ohio Wheel Factory
was organized in Toledo in 1869, by T. S. Page and W. P. Garret. In November, 1871, it was consolidated with the Hub and Spoke Company, with its headquarters at Delphos.
The grounds upon which the buildings are placed, occupy five acres. equivalent to eighteen town lots, the Miami and Erie Canal on the cast, and Pittsburg. Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad on the north. and connected with the Toledo. Delphos and Burlington Narrow-gauge Rail- road. The main building is brick, 60 by 125 feet, four stories high, having an engine and boiler room; also machine shop, 40 by 100 feet ; a two-story drying-kiln, 30 by 100 feet: warchonse, 50 by 15o fert. two stories high. Shells for hub-blocks and spokes. 20 by 1000 feet, two stories high. The business of the mill requires 1,500, 000 feet of hickory, oak, and other lumber per annum.
The capacity of the manufactory is as follows: There are bent daily of fellows 199 sets, which presents an aggregate of 45,000 sets per an- num. Six thousand spokes are finished and turned out per day. and the product of chu blocks amounts to neatly 200.000 per year ; one-half of which are sold in the block, while the remainder are kept to finish for the bodies. Over one hundred men are employed, and the capital in- vested is $112.000. The engine is 120 horse power.
The officers of the company are J. M. C. Marble, President : T. Wrock- lage, Vice-President ; H. J. Trame, Secretary and Treasurer, and G. F. Almy, Superintendent.
Delphos Stave Company
was incorporated in 1×69. The incorporators were John Ostendorif, Theodore Wrocklage. J. M. C. Marble. and H. J. Trame. It occupies five acres of ground, or eighteen town lots. It' manufactures flour and salt barrels, staves, hoops, and headings. The transactions amount to $50,000 per annum. The buildings consist of the factory, warehouse. office, and shops. John Ostendorf is President, and C. P. Washburn, Treasurer and secretary.
Pittsburgh Hoop and Stare Company.
Hoops, staves, and headings are manufactured in this establishment, which covers five acres of ground, and has a capital stock of $22,000. . Number of hands employed. To to 100 ; size of factory, Go by 120 fort; additional building, 40 by 120 feet ; engine-room, 40 by 15 feet : six dry kilis. 24 by 32 feet ; two warehouses, one So by 100 feet, and the other So by 80 feet : four stave shops, 21 by 100 feet: two engines of 100 horsepower each. The company manufactures 20,000 lamps per day, 20,000 staves, and 1500 sets of heading. C. Megran is President. M. Steinmyer is Treasurer atul Secretary, and Thomas A. Weger is Super- intendent.
School Building
is a large substantial brick building, which was erected in 1869, and cost $30,000. The schools have one superintendent and twelve teachers, in- cluding German department, with five hundred scholars. The school is taught nine months in the year. E. W. Hastings is the superintendent, and has the following excellent teachers as his assistants: Miss E. W. Hastings, Miss Louisa John, Miss Jahavia Taylor, Miss Emma Jemison. Mise Stella Hughes, Miss Vier Leveking, Miss E. W. Bailey, Miss It . zie Lye, Joseph Limbach, . Finck, and H. Holtgreve.
50
282
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
Delphos Flouring Mills
are owned by Abraham Miller and P. W. Morton, and were built in 1847 by E. N. Morton. In I:56 Abraham Miler, T. F. Conklin, and J. Shotwell became the purchasers; afterwards they sold to Cooper and T. F. Conklin, and in 1-38 Abraham Miller and J. Shotwell purchased it. In 1861 P. W. Morton bought J. Shotwell's interest. In 1976 P. W. Morton owned three-fourths interest and Abraham Miller one-fourth in- terest. Its valuation is $20.000.
It has four pair of buhrs, and ruus about sixty days by water and the remainder of the year by steam. Its engine is a 65 horsepower, and makes 50 barrels of flour daily in the twenty-four hours, and manufac- tures all kinds of custom work.
It is situated on the Hydraulic lot, on the Miami extension of Miami canal. Size of the mill, 40 by 60 feet; first story, 10 feet; second story, 12 teet ; third story, 14 fret ; fourth story, 12 fret. Mr. Morton's capital stock when he came to Delphos was twelve dollars and fifty cents.
Railroads.
The Toledo, Cincinnati, and St. Louis Railroad shops are situated in the north part of town, and occupy ten acres of ground, which, together with $20,000, were given by the town for the creation of the shops at this place. The dimensions of the shops are as follows: The machine shop is so by 142 feet, with wing of 25 by 95 feet, need for engine-house, hans foundry, and store-room ; it is 10} feet high. Boiler and black smith shop i- 60 by 90 feet; 16 feet high. Engine or rotar-house is 55 by 120 by 200 feet, with ten stalls: 18 feet high. Car shop is 60 by 112 feet ; transfer table, 50 by 142 feet. These are the main shops for the road. They are built of brick with metallic rood. The supervision of the erection of the . buildings was under Robert Martin, of Delphos.
Toledo, Delphos and Burlington Railway, leading from Toledo to Delphos, Celina, and St. Louis, It is now called the Toledo. Cinemaati and St. Louis Railway. This road has direct communication with felina, Van Wert, and State line. The main line continues from Mendon to Spencerville, eight miles, thener to Delphos, twelve miles, and thenre to Toledo It has a branch road from Mercer to Shanesville four miles long.
This road. N. G. R. R., is a consolidation of the following roads: 1, Toledo and Mamince R. R .; 2. Toledo and Grand Rapids R. R. ; S. To- ledo, Delphos and Indianapolis R. R .; 4, Delphos and Kokomo R. R .; 5. Delphos. Buttton and Franklin R. R .: 6. Tololo. Franklin and St. Louis R. R .; 7, Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis R. R .: 8. Dayton, . Covington and Toledo R. R .; 9, Cincinnati and Northern R. R .; 10, Dayton and Southeastern R. R.
The length of the consolidated road is seven hundred miles, bat the road is not yet complete. The gauge is three feet. By a new device, called the " Ramsey transfer," the products of the farmer and the mer- cantile, manufacturing, and mining interests are placed in the cars, and without change vartied to the Eastern vities, thereby saving a large amount to the shipper. This is the first narrow gauge so coustroetel in the United States for commercial purposes, and is the longest in the world, and thus far has proved eminently successful. So great has been the passenger and freight inerease that the demand of the counties through which the road passes has required the officers to take addi- tional energetic measures to accomplish these ends. Toledo, the lake terminus of this railroad, is destined to become a city of great commer- cial importance.
In regard to its course through Mercer County we may state that it enters near the east corner of Union Township, and in its course, after entering Mercer County, passes the town of Mendon ; thence four miles to Mereer; thence to Oregon, four miles; thence three mile- to Celina ; thence live and a half miles to Montezuma; thence tive and a half miles to Chickasaw ; then passes midway between St. John and Rose Garden, and about one and a half miles east of St. John on the old Indian boundary, and passes out of the county in Marion Township Hear St. Johns, and reaches Versailles, Parke County, the whole dis- tance being about thirty-sis miles. Celina subscribed $15,000 to the stock of this road. It was incorporated in the spring of 1879, and the capital stock invested is $7,000,000.
Gen. J. M. Cor-e. President ; - Darling, General Superintendent ; Gen. R. G. Butter, General Manager; W. J. Sherman, Chief Engineer; Herbert Stewart, Secretary and Treasurer; N. Z. Eaton, Cashier. Pay- master, and Purchasing Agent; 1. W. Mellvaine, Auditor; W. W. Bbodes, General Freight and Passenger Agent; W. G. Bronson, Direc- tor and Superintendent.
MIDDLEPOINT.
This village is situated on the P. Ft W. and C. R. R. nearly midway between Van Wert and Delphos. It is surrounded by a good agricul- tural community, whereby it becomes a point of purchase and shipment of a large amount of grain and other farm products. This, in conner- tion with some manufacturing and comunetent enterprises, gives to the
little village something of business importance beyond the average town of its size. The enterprising and energetic character of its business men will readily account for this prosperity. The village might be said to be of teecht origin, having been laid out in 1-52, as shown by the subjoined description :-
Plat of Middlepoint, situated in Van Wert County, Ohio, in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 19, of Town 2 S., Range 4 E., adjoining the north line of the Ohio and Indiana (P. Ft. W. and C.) Railroad, on land belonging to S. B. Sykes and H. N. Sykes, pro- prictors, and surveyed by S. C. Newton, to wit, seven lots numbered 4, 5. 6. 7. 8, 9, and 10 are 66 by 132 feet ; 8, 9, and 10 front southerly on the railroad, and 4, 5, 6. and 7 front westerly on Mill Street. Three lots, numbered 1, 2, and 9, front northerly on North Main Street, and contain severally the Isth. 20th, and 32d of an arre. There is an alley addition to land conveyed to the Ohio and Indiast Railroad Company, 1} feet in width, and next adjoining on the north. All streets are GO feet wide, and all alleys 14} Feet wide.
Given under our hands and seals this fifteenth day of September, A. D. 1852.
Executed in presence of E. G. Langsworth, David King, and Nathan- iel Sykes.
LORENZO B. SYKES.
HARRISON H. SYKES. [SEAL.]
The State of Ohio, Ven Wert County, 8%. :
Before me, W. H. Ramsey, Probate Judge within and for the county of Van Wert and State of Onio, personally came the above-named L. B. Sykes and Harrison N. Sykes, and acknowledgel the signing and seal- ing of the above and foregoing plat of Middlepoint for the purposes therein expressed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal at Van Wert, this 22d day of November, in the year of our Lord 1852.
W. H. RAMSEY, Pro. Judge.
Entered for record Nov. 22, 1852, and recordel Nov. 25, 1852. O. W. RosE, Recorder.
Since the date of this plat several extensions and additions have been laid out and ammexed to the village. At the beginning, houses were built by L. B. and H. N. Sykes, Wortman and John A. Estill.
Incorporation.
At a meeting of the county commissioners. hekl Sept. 9. 1874, the following action was taken :-
A petition was this day presented to the board, signed by not less than thirty of the legal voters of this State ro-pling in such territory, praying for the incorporation of the village of Mehllepoint, in Washing- ton Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, including the northeast quarter and east half of northwest quarter of section 19. T. 2 S., R. + E., in said county, and all the lots, streets, alleys, roads, highways, and rathoa ! tracks of said village and the several additions taureto. Thereupon the board appointed the fourth day of November next at ten o'clock A. M. as the time, and the auditor's office of said county as the place for the hearing of said petition ; and the auditor was directed to give legal no- tice to the agents of said petitioners according to law.
Auditor's office, Van Wert County, Ohio. Nov. 10, 1874. This being the day fixed by the commissioners of Van Wert County, Ohio, for hearing the petition for the organization of the incorporated village of Middlepoint, said commissioners ivet as per said appointment. Present : Abraham Balyeat. Samuel Miller, and M. H. Morgan.
Thereupon said petition came on to be heard, undt said Commissioners being satisfied that said petition contains all the matter required, and that its statements are true, that the name proposed for said corpora- tion is appropriate; that the limits thereof have been accurately de- scribed, and that the same are not unreasonably large or small, and the inap or plat thereof is accurately made; that the persons whose name- are subscribed thereto are legal voters, residing in said territory; and said commissioners being further satisfied that the notice required in law has been given, and that there is a population in said territory of over two Inmadred persons. and said Commissioners deeming it right and proper that said petition be granted; it is ordered by said Commission. ers, that the corporation as named and asked for in said petition be and the same is hereby organiz , and the Auditor of said county is directed to make complete transerije of all the proceedings herein.
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