History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time, Part 53

Author: Douglass, Ben, 1836-1909
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : R. Douglass
Number of Pages: 926


USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 53


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He was Justice of the Peace of Paint township for a great many years, was an old time Whig and an active politician. He had many a spirited contest in the local elections of Paint, notably with James Pinkerton, whom he successively defeated until the "labeled bottles" entered the canvass. He was a member of the Methodist church for over twenty years, subsequently uniting with


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the United Brethren congregation of West Lebanon. When Mr. Bales came to the country he found it a bleak and dreary waste, infested with Indians, bears and wolves. For several years he lived without meat, and as coffee commanded an exhorbitant price it was a delicacy seldom relished and only indulged, as Daniel Bales says, "when there was a birth in the family." Mt. Eaton had no existence when he penetrated the wild woods; Massillon was barely dreamed of then, and Canton but a cluster of cabins. He took his first wheat to New Philadelphia, and traveled twenty- three miles to get his flour.


He was a whole-souled, generous man, lived a sincere and pious life, his house being recognized as " the preacher's home," having entertained fifty-six ministers while living there.


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.


CHAPTER XXI.


FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.


FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, was organized for civil purposes June 7, 1820. The population in 1870 was 1,302. The following is the list of the officers of the township, as appears upon the official records :


Justices of the Peace-Samuel Mitchel, commissioned July 6, 1820; Jacob Nixon, July 29, 1820; Jacob Nixon, May 5, 1823; Samuel Mitchel, July 5, 1823 ; Jacob Nixon, April 22, 1826 ; Samuel Mitchel, April 22, 1826; Jacob Nixon, May 12, 1829; James Taylor, May 26, 1829; John Alexander, April 27, 1832; John Hughes, April 27, 1832; John Hughes, April 18, 1835; John Alexander, April 18, 1835 ; Nicholas Smith, April 30, 1838; John Alexander, April 30, 1838; John Hughes, July 23, 1838; William Boles, April 16, 1841 ; John Hughes, October 21, 1842; James Swarts, April 25, 1844; John Hughes, October 23, 1845; James Swarts, April 14, 1847; David Gabriel, October 21, 1848; John Kimber, April 12, 1849; Robert Stitt, October 20, 1849; Joshua Wilson, April 11, 1850; David Gabriel, November 3, 1851 ; Joshua Wilson, "April 19, 1853; Hugh Truesdall, October 21, 1854; Stephen Henry, November 16, 1855; Joshna Wilson, April 28, 1856; James Swart, October 18, 1858; Joshua Wilson, April 19, 1859; S. M. Henry, November 20, 1860; James Swarts, October 22, 1861 ; S. M. Henry, Octo- ber 22, 1863; Cornelius Smith, October 15, 1864; Andrew Moore, October 15, 1866; Cornelius Smith, October 15, 1867; Andrew Moore, October 20, 1869; Cor- nelius Smith, October 18, 1870 ; John R. Mckinney, October 12, 1872; Cyreneus Geiselman, October 22, 1873 ; John Butler, April 12, 1875 ; R. A. Schmuck, April 13, 1876.


At first election held in Franklin township, April 28, 1820, David Mitchell and Daniel Kirkpatrick were Judges, and John Boyd and John Brown were clerks.


1820. Trustees-David Mitchell, Samuel Vanemman, Isaiah Jones; Clerk- Michael Kanny; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan; Listers-Samuel S. Moore, William Thomas ; Constables-Andrew Alexander, John Floyd ; Overseers of Poor-John Boles, Robert Buckley; Fence Viewer-James Finley; Supervisor-Nicholas Jones.


The above Trustees were sworn by Benjamin Jones, April 29, 1820.


1821. Trustees-John Hughes, S. S. Vanemman, John Miller ; Clerk-Michael Kanny; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan ; Lister-Picket Doughte.


1822. Trustees-John Hughes, S. S. Vanemman, John Miller ; Clerk-Michael Kanny; Treasurer-Samuel Mitchel ; Lister-George Wilson.


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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.


1823, Trustees-Jonathan Peppard, John Boyd, Samuel Vanemman ; Clerk- John McClellan ; Treasurer-David Mitchel; Lister-S. S. Vanemman.


1824. Trustees-James Hindman, Jacob Nixon, Samuel Mitchel ; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan ; Lister-John Hughes.


1825. Trustees-Jacob Nixon, J. J. Brown, Thomas Patrick ; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan ; Lister-John Smith.


1826. Trustees-J. J. Brown, Nicholas Smith, Thomas Patrick ; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan; Lister-James Bolin.


1827. Trustees - John Hughes, Isaiah Jones, Jonathan Peppard ; Clerk- John Alexander ; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan.


1828. Trustees - John Boyd, Valentine Geiselman, Jacob Nixon; Clerk- John Alexander ; Treasurer-Jacob Burgan.


1829. Trustees-Ephraim Cutter, Valentine Geiselman, Alexander Sanderson ; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer -- Jacob Burgan.


1830. Trustees-James Hindman, William Boles, James Taylor ; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer-William Norton.


1831. Trustees-James Hindman, William Boles, William Patterson ; Clerk- John Alexander; Treasurer-William Norton.


1832. Trustees-William Patterson, Samuel Mitchel, Jacob Nixon; Clerk- John Alexander ; Treasurer-Aaron Franks.


1833. Trustees-William Patterson, Samuel Mitchel; Clerk-John Alexander; Treasurer-Aaron Franks.


1834. Trustees - James Hindman, Alexander Sanderson, John Hughes; Clerk-John Alexander; Treasurer-Aaron Franks.


1835. Trustees-John Hughes, Benjamin Lawrence, Jacob Nixon; Clerk- John Alexander ; Treasurer-Aaron Franks.


1836. Trustees-William Boles, Valentine Geiselman, John Brenizer ; Clerk- John Alexander ; Treasurer-Aaron Franks.


1837. Trustees-John Hughes, John Brenizer, John Boles; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer-Aaron Franks.


1838. Trustees-William Boles, John Brenizer, Henry Munson ; Clerk-John Alexander ; Treasurer-Jacob Nixon.


1839. Trustees-James Hindman, Henry Munson, Aaron Franks; Clerk- John Alexander ; Treasurer-Benjamin Lawrence.


1840. Trustees-Aaron Franks, Henry Munson, James Hindman ; Clerk- Samuel Scott; Treasurer-Benjamin Lawrence.


1841. Trustees-Henry Munson, Jacob Harmon, Aaron Franks; Clerk- Samuel Scott ; Treasurer-Benjamin Lawrence.


1842. Trustees-Samuel Mitchel, Jacob Harmon, Aaron Franks ; Clerk-Sam- uel Scott; Treasurer-Benjamin Lawrence.


1843. Trustees-William Noland, Samuel Mitchel, Jacob Harmon ; Clerk- Samuel Scott; Treasurer-Benjamin Lawrence.


1844. Trustees-Jacob Nixon, James Hindman, Aaron Franks; Clerk-David Gabriel ; Treasurer-John Ernsperger.


1845. Trustees-Jacob Nixon, William Boles, Moses Lockhart; Clerk-David Gabriel; Treasurer-George Ernsperger.


1846. Trustees-Jacob Harmon, Andrew Brothers, George Gardner; Clerk- David Gabriel ; Treasurer-William Boles; Assessor-Aaron Franks.


1847. Trustees-Jacob Harmon, George Gardner, James Boyd ; Clerk-Daniel Gabriel ; Treasurer-Valentine Geiselman.


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.


1848. Trustees-James Boyd, Jacob Harmon, Henry Munson; Clerk-A. A. Bainbridge; Treasurer-Valentine Geiselman.


1849. Trustees-James Boyd, James Knox, Peter Weiker; Clerk-Jacob Cas- tel; Treasurer-Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor-Jacob Reaser.


1850. Trustees-Samuel Metzler, Harvey Messmore, George Gardner; Clerk- J. G. Castel; Treasurer-Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor-Levi Snure.


1851. Trustees-Morgan Butler, James Gabriel, Jacob Harmon ; Clerk-John Noland ; Treasurer-Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor-Levi Snure.


1852. Trustees-Peter Weiker, Morgan Butler, Robert Barnes; Clerk-J. G. Castel; Treasurer-Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor-John Hughes.


1853. Trustees-Peter Weiker, James Boyd, Cornelius McIntire; Clerk-Wil- liam Weiker; Treasurer-Adam Hensil ; Assessor-John Hughes.


1854. Trustees-James Sanderson, Aaron Franks, Peter Weiker; Clerk- James Hoy; Treasurer-Adam Hensil; Assessor-Levi Snure.


1855. Trustees-Robert Stitt, John Firestone, Peter Weiker ; Clerk-James Hoy ; Treasurer-Adam Hensil ; Assessor-Aaron Franks.


1856. Trustees-John Firestone, Aaron Franks, Mark Taylor ; Clerk-James Hoy; Treasurer-Adam Hensil ; Assessor-Cyrus Hughes.


1857. Trustees-John Firestone, Aaron Franks, Mark Taylor ; Clerk-James Hoy ; Treasurer-Adam Hensil; Assessor-Cyrus Hughes.


1861. Trustees-Robert Barnes, A. J. Moore, Samuel Weiker ; Clerk-Andrew Butler ; Treasurer-Adam Hensil ; Asseesor-Robert Reed.


1862. Trustees-Robert Barnes, A. J. Moore, Samuel Weiker ; Clerk-Andrew Butler ; Treasurer-Adam Hensil.


1863. Trustees-Cornelius Smith, C. Geiselman, S. Weiker; Clerk-S. M. Henry ; Treasurer-A. J. Moore ; Assessor-Seth Smith.


1864. Trustees-Mark Taylor, Michael Moore, R. Vangilder; Clerk-Andrew Butler ; Treasurer-Jacob Half hill ; Assessor-Seth Smith.


1865. Trustees-Mark Taylor, Michael Moore, Thomas Metzler; Clerk-A. G. Barnes ; Treasurer-Jacob Half hill ; Assessor-Finley Franks.


1866. Trustees-D. A. Lawrence, Peter Weiker, Thomas Metzler; Clerk-A. G. Barnes; Treasurer-J. Half hill; Assessor-Finley Franks.


1867. Trustees-D. Lawrence, Peter Weiker, Finley Franks; Clerk-A. G. Barnes ; Treasurer-J. Half hill; Assessor-C. Geiselman.


1868. Trustees-Finley Franks, John Firestone, Adam Eyman; Clerk-A. G. Barnes ; Treasurer-Thomas Metzler ; Assessor-C. Geiselman.


1869. Trustees-John Firestone, Adam Eyman, A. Rumbaugh; Clerk-Sam- uel Morr; Treasurer-Thomas Metzler ; Assessor-Andrew Butler.


1870. Trustees-A. Rumbaugh, Levi Miller, Israel Franks; Clerk-Samuel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-C. Geiselman ; Assessor-Andrew Butler.


1871. Trustees-Levi Miller, Israel Franks, Thomas Taylor; Clerk-Samuel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-C. Geiselman ; Assessor-William H. Miller.


1872. Trustees-Thomas Taylor, Lewis Walter, J. B. Franks; Clerk-Samuel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-J. C. Walter; Assessor-W. H. Miller.


1873. Trustees-Lewis Walter, Jacob Franks, Robert Scott ; Clerk-Samuel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-Mark Taylor; Assessor-C. Smith.


1874. Trustees-Robert Scott, David Herman, R. A. Schmuck; Clerk-Sam- uel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-Mark Taylor; Assessor-C. Smith.


1875. Trustees-R. A. Schmuck, David Herman, Peter Lowe; Clerk-Sam- uel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-Mark Taylor ; Assessor-Seth Smith.


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1876. Trustees-Peter Lowe, David Gertgey, Henry Munson ; Clerk-Samuel Morr, Jr .; Treasurer-Mark Taylor; Assessor-Seth Smith.


1877. Trustees-Henry Munson, David Geitgey, Rollin V. Bowers; Clerk -- W. A. Crow ; Treasurer-James B. White; Assessor-David Herman; Constables -Israel Franks, Ira A. Swat.


MORELAND.


This is the only village in Franklin township. It was laid out by Jonathan Butler and George Morr, January 17, 1829, on the farm of George Morr, plat and certificate recorded January 19, 1829; record found on page 95, volume 7, County Recorder's office. The first building in the place was erected by a man named Loux, for a blacksmith shop.


FIRST SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS.


The first settlement made, outside of Wooster, in Wayne county, was in this township, and upon the farm now owned by Thomas Dowty. James Morgan and Thomas Butler were the two first white settlers, removing there in 1808. Soon thereafter came John Boyd, Robert Buckley, John and James Cisna, Tommy Lock, Samuel Mitchell, Jacob Nixon, William Nolan, Jacob Miller, Moses Lockhart and John Hughes.


James Morgan entered the first land in the township.


Samuel Mitchel was the first Justice of the Peace.


One of the early school-houses that we have mention of was built on the farm of Daniel Daringer (now Stephen Harrison's), who donated half an acre of land for a site, and is known as the Polecat school-house. Old William Hughes was one of the first teachers.


Old Johnny Boyd had the first distillery, and it was on the farm now owned by Mark Taylor. He sold it in quantities- "Yes, sir ; just as little as you want, sir."


The first grist-mill was built by a brother of David Mitchel, on the farm now owned by Andrew Bucher, and was the only one ever in the township.


James Morgan was of Welsh descent though a native of Vir- ginia, and his wife was an English lady named Cox. They re- moved to Ohio in 1806, and settled in Franklin township in the spring of 1808, raising a crop of corn that year. He had a family of ten children, to wit: Jesse, Isaac, John, James, Joseph, Wil- liam, Jonathan, Sarah, Rebecca and Hannah, not one of whom is


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.


living in Wayne county. He died of dropsy in 1822, and is buried in the graveyard on the Jacob Bucher farm. In the early days "Priest" Jones used to preach at Morgan's. Jesse, his oldest son, perished in a snow-storm near the present site of Indianapo- lis ; he was on horseback, the drifts overwhelmed him, he got into a swamp, became lost and died.


Thomas Butler was born in Monongahela county, Virginia, but in what is now Preston county, West Virginia, August 10, 1783, and came to Franklin township in 1808, settling on the farm now owned by John and Elizabeth Butler and Isaac Munson. He entered 160 acres of land, the second land entered in the township, and being a single man boarded with James Morgan, and on April 12, 1809, married Rebecca, daughter of Mr. Morgan (first marriage in the county). He built a cabin and moved therein, but which was fired and destroyed when he was at Mr. Morgan's, by the Indians. Mr. Morgan had eight children, to wit: Sarah, Jane, Elizabeth, Morgan, Jonathan, Isaac, John and Andrew. Truly indeed was the county a wilderness when Butler and Morgan entered it. The bottoms of the Killbuck then abounded in plum thickets, cherry and sycamore trees and considerable walnut. For years Mr. Butler kept his wheat in the trunks of sycamore trees. Bears were plentiful and wolves numerous, Mr. Butler on one occasion killing one within half a mile of his house. Mr. Butler was a great talker, a pioneer of the true type, and performed a brave part in the early settlement of the county.


Jonathan Butler, his brother, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Holmes then, but Wayne county now, as early as 1818, and was the builder of the famous Butler mill. He died in Indiana. His father, Thomas Butler, Sr., an early settler likewise, died at Jonathan's.


Samuel Mitchel was born near Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pa., June 5, 1776. His father was a farmer, and with him Samuel remained until he was twenty-one years of age, the family having removed to Washington county, Pa., where the subject of this sketch remained a few years with his parents. In the spring of 1812 Samuel Mitchel emigrated to Wayne county, settling in Franklin township, on the farm now owned by his son, Samuel Mitchel. On his arrival he entered 160 acres of land, and soon


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thereafter purchased a quarter section more. He immediately put up a cabin in which to find shelter, and set himself to the task of clearing spaces for cultivation. In this rough diminutive cabin, built in haste and true primitive rudeness, the family lived for eight years, when he erected a more comfortable frame dwelling, in which they resided for twenty years, when in the same yard he built a still more commodious brick.


He was married January 6, 1808, in Washington county, Pa., to Mary McGugen, by which marriage he had four children, Jesse, Ann, Maria M. and Samuel. Jesse was a merchant in Fredericks- burg, where he died February 7, 1839. Ann, the oldest daughter, died at the age of nine years, September 3, 1818. Maria M., the second daughter, married John McClellan, and lives in Wooster.


He died on his farm in Franklin township, March 18, 1864. Mr. Mitchel was identified with the interests of Franklin township for over half a century, and saw its transformation from a howling waste to pleasing and productive fields. He and Jacob Nixon were the two first Justices elected after the organization of the township, June 7, 1820. He was elected Commissioner of Wayne county, in 1814, or two years after he came to the county. He was drafted in the war of 1812, but hired a substitute in the person of Caleb Bundy, whom he paid $100. Few of the backwoodsmen had more varied experience than he, but whether dealing with the treacherous Indians or fighting the bears and wolves that carried away his pigs and lambs, he ever managed to escape without seri- ous harm.


His home was in the deep and solitary woods; there were no roads or avenues of travel ; no near neighbors to come in case of danger ; no markets and no money, Wooster existing but in name, with its few and scattered houses. It required the soldier's cour- age to encounter the situation. Among the desperate inhabitants of the forest whom he met was Simon Girty,* "the white savage,"


" Whose vengeance shamed the Indian's thirst for blood ; Whose hellish arts surpassed the Red Man's far ; Whose hate enkindled many a border war."


On one occasion he came to Mr. Mitchel's house and made


* Girty was the son of an Irishman, and for twenty years was the Raw-head- and-bloody-bones of the border, produced when nature was in hell and disciplining herself to her worst mischief. He was a besotted human devil, a grog-burnt fiend, whose wife could no longer endure him, and who was killed by his paramour.


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.


inquiry for horses, which was the source of indescribable dread and terror to the family. Mr. Mitchel was originally a Presbyterian, but when he came to Wayne county he united with the old Seceder church at Wooster, then under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Ir- vine. He subsequently united with the Associate Reformed body, under Rev. James Peacock, and when, in after years, the two churches united and consolidated into what is now known as the United Presbyterian church, he became a member of it.


Samuel Mitchel, his youngest child, was born in Franklin town- ship, September 28, 1820. His occupation until within several years has been that of a farmer. He remained with his father on the old homestead, which he now owns, until his death, continuing thereafter upon it until 1868, when he removed to Wooster. He was married May 24, 1849, to Mary A. McClellan, sister of John McClellan. He has been a hard-working, industrious, frugal man, and by the exercise of economy and care has accquired a compe- tency which enables him to live in comfort and retirement. He is a quiet, unassuming, upright citizen and honest man. He united with the Presbyterian church in 1859, since which time he has been a member.


John Hughes was born in Fayette county, Pa., March 13, 1785, where he lived with his father and followed the occupation of a farmer. He married Jane Fleniken, of Greene county, Pa., from which marriage resulted the following children: Minerva, James F., William, John, Cephas, Robert, Cyrus, Alford, Jane and Helen. His wife died July 23, 1835, and he was married again in June, 1836, to Jane Boyd, of Greene county, Pa. The following were the children of his second marriage : Samuel B., Mary Ann, Sarah A., Nancy, Lucretta, Josephus and Ellen.


Mr. Hughes was among the first settlers. He came to Wayne county in the fall of 1816, and entered two quarters of land, the same now owned by his son Alford Hughes, in Franklin township. He also bought a quarter second-handed, the one now owned by his heirs, and now occupied by his son Samuel. In that year did some clearing and built his cabin, 18x25 feet, then returned to Jefferson county, Pa., and in April of 1817 he brought his family to Franklin township, where he continued to reside until his death, April 18, 1861. Mr. Hughes was in many respects a more than ordinarily valuable citizen, and was possessed of considerable enter-


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prise. He was one of the early settlers of Franklin township, serving as Justice of the Peace for many years.


Hugh Morgan, Sr., was born on Cheat River, Va., January I, 1759, his wife, Mercy Ayers, being born December 15, 1763. He immigrated to Wayne county 1814-15, settling on the farm now owned by John Brown, on the west side of the township. Here he lived and died in 1844, his wife surviving him three years. He had ten children, viz : Stephen, Dorcas, Phoebe, Mary, Jane, Margaret, Elizabeth, Priscilla, Rebecca and Temperance. All were girls save one, all were born in Virginia, all grew to woman- hood, all lived in Wayne county at one time, and all are dead.


Hugh Morgan, son of Stephen Morgan, and grandson of Hugh Morgan, was born January 26, 1821, in Clinton township, and lives within 100 rods of where he was born, although in Franklin township. He pursues the occupation of farmer, though he fol- lowed teaching regularly in the winter, and occasionally in the summer, from 1843 to 1857, since which time he has been devoted to agriculture, and more recently giving some attention to the nursery business. He was married, May 28, 1857, to Sarah Weiker, of Franklin township, and has seven children, to wit: Florence, Floraette, Almada, Mary E., Linnet, Sarah E. and Rhoda J. Morgan.


Mr. Morgan is a gentleman of culture and education ; was a successful teacher ; is a believer in books, libraries and the general diffusion of intelligence among the masses.


Moses Lockhart, Sr., was born near Romney, Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1788. He was married in Virginia to Phobe Mor- gan, daughter of Hugh Morgan, of Wayne county, in 1812. He came to Ohio in 1813, settling in Franklin township, on the farm where his son Moses now lives, where he entered 400 acres of land, all in woods and prairie bottoms of Killbuck. The cabin was built near the site of the present house, the latter built in 1820. Here Moses Lockhart lived until his death in March, 1839. He had six children, four of whom survived him-three daugh- ters and Moses Lockhart, Jr., the bachelor, now residing on the old farm. Elizabeth, the wife of James Moore, of Clinton town- ship, is one of the surviving daughters. Moses Lockhart, Jr., was born April 14, 1821. His grandfather, William Lockhart, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, participated in the battle of Brandywine, etc., and died in Warren county, Ohio,


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.


The Munson Family .- Isaac Munson, Sr., removed with his fam- ily from Connecticut to New York, where his wife Eleanor Andrews Munson died in August, 1815. Soon after her death he, with his son Henry, started for the west, passing the winter of 1815 in Holmes county. In the spring of 1816 they came to Wayne county, settling on the farm now owned by Henry Munson, buying the farm of 160 acres second-hand. Here Isaac Munson continued to live until death, July 10, 1830. He was a soldier under Washington in the Revolu- tionary War, entering the service as a volunteer at the age of fifteen, for which he drew a pension, getting it paid at Chillicothe.


Until 1821 Isaac Munson and his son Henry kept bachelor hall, when Henry, on November 15, married Mary Cutler, of Holmes county now, but Wayne county then. From the time Henry came to this farm he lived on it until 1861, when he re- moved to Shreve, remaining there five years, then returned to the old homestead, where he made his home with his son Henry until the period of his death, which occurred December 1, 1867. His wife died May 4, 1872. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters, viz: Ezra, Isaac, Samuel, Eleanor, Mary, Eliza- beth and Henry. All the daughters are dead.


Isaac Munson was born September 19, 1823, and was married to Eliza A. Lowe, from which union there were three children, Mary, Phoebe and Jacob. His wife dying, he re-married in the fall of 1856 to Miss Susan Thomas, and by this marriage has a son, Charles. Henry Munson, Jr., was born in Franklin township, Feb- ruary 12, 1837. He was married to Miss Rebecca Jones, daughter of John Jones and granddaughter of Isaiah Jones, February 15, 1861, and by this marriage had five children, viz: John Henry, E. N., James K., William B., and one that died in infancy. His wife Rebecca died September 28, 1874, and on November 30, 1876, he was re-married to Martha McCartney. Eleanor, the oldest daugh- ter of Henry Munson, Sr., married Jared Barker, of Summit county, and died September 9, 1856. Mary married Isaiah Jones, of Holmes county, and died in 1862. Elizabeth died, unmarried, October 12, 1856. Samuel C. Munson, son of Henry Munson, lives in Medina county, and is married to Jane Hughes, daughter of John Hughes, of Franklin township. Ezra Munson resides in Caldwell county, Missouri, and was married to Ann Eliza Wycoff, of Franklin township.


The Munson family are noted throughout for their sterling


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character, their industry, hospitality, courtesy and general good qualities as neighbors and citizens.


Henry Munson, Sr., in 1816 or 1817, opened up and burned the first lime, and had the first kiln in Wayne county, burning the first lime in a log heap to test its quality. People for fifty miles around came to him for it. He furnished the lime used in building the old Wiler House, in Mansfield, hauling it there by oxen at about fifty cents per bushel, at nights sleeping under the wagon, and turning the oxen out to graze.


CHURCHES OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.


Jacob's Lutheran Church was built in 1844 on lands donated by Jacob Herman, and was named Jacob's church by Jacob Snider. Rev. Kline was the first preacher. George Moore, Jacob Snider, Michael Schaff, Philip Moore, Adam Geitgey and his sons Adam and George Geitgey, George Reinard, and others, with their families, were the first that belonged to this church. Before it was built they went to Woos- ter and listened to Father Sonnedecker and Rev. Weygandt.




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