History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 168

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 168

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The Township is a rich and well populated tract of land, and contains as good farms as are found in the vicinity of Toledo.

Adams Township was set off from Port Law- rence, Waynesfield and Springfield Townships, and was organized under the name of Carey, in 1856. In 1860 the name was changed to Adams.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Settlements were made within the boundaries of the present Township of Adams as early as 1833. In that year Orlando Bushnell, who is believed to have been the first settler, erected his log-cabin on the East half of the Northwest quarter of Section One, Township Two, United States Reserve. Mr. Bushnell appears to have been the pioneer Temperance man of the Town- ship; for, in putting up his log-cabin, he re- solved to have no whiskey at the raising;

whereupon, the neighbors who had been invited became indignant, and refused to help put up his house. Mr. Bushnell, however, remained firm in his purpose, for he was a Temperance man from principle. He said he would chop up the logs into pieces small enough to handle himself, before he would consent to use intoxi- cating liquors at the raising. Some friends at Vienna, 16 miles distant, learning the circum- stanees, came over and raised his eabin for him. Thus, the first house in the Township was raised without whiskey, which was a remarkable event for those early times. The use of whiskey at logging-bees and raisings was so common in the pioneer days, that it has been said, that " nearly all the land in Northwestern Ohio has been cleared by whiskey," a statement which no doubt somewhat exaggerates the truth.

But few of those whose names appear as original purchasers of land from the Govern- ment became actual settlers in this Township. Augustus Whitney entered the East half of the Northeast quarter of Section Two, Town Two, United States Reserve, in 1834. Hle sold, without making improvements, to Valentine Bargy, who still resides on the premises, and is among the prosperons farmers of the Township. William M. Hudson, who entered the West half of the Southeast quarter, and the East half of the Southwest quarter of Section Two, Town Three, sold without improvements, to Michael Carney and Charles MeTague, who divided the property between them. Mr. Carney died in 1882. Mr. McTague still lives on his portion of the estate. He has reared an interesting family, one of whom, Miss Ella McTagne, has a good reputation in the Township as a Teacher.

Wm. W. Wadsworth, of Genesee, New York, purchased of the Government about 500 acres of land in this Township, through his agent, Benjamin Joy, in 1834. James Egnew entered the Southeast quarter of the North west quarter of Section Twelve, Town Two, in 1834, where he settled, but early removed to Swanton. John Patten, in 1833, entered the West half of the Northeast quarter of Section Twelve, Town Two, where he settled and reared his family. He died suddenly of heart disease in 1883, ared 73 years. A son and danghter ( Harvey and Nancy Patten, unmarried) reside on the homestead in the old, but still neat, log-house, which has stood for over 50 years.

Amos Atkins entered 97.52 acres, Southwest fractional part of Section Thirteen, Town Two, in 1831. He sold to Elnathan C. Hubbell in

[841]

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Angust, 1841. Mr. Atkins died many years ago, (1828), a race-course and an attendant liquor- but has a son living in Toledo.

Bernard Cass, a half-brother of Gen. Lewis Cass, came to what is now Adams Township with three sons-Samuel, Charles M. and Joseph G .- in 1833. Bernard Cass entered the North- west quarter of Section twenty-five ; Samuel, the East halfof the Northeast quarter of Section Twenty-five; Charles M., the East half of the Southeast quarter of Section Twenty-three; Joseph G., the Northwest quarter of Section Twenty-four, United States Reserve. Joseph G. Cass is the only one of the brothers living, and resides on the old homestead property.

Most of the old pioneers have passed away. The following named are among the oldest residents now living in the Township: Harvey Kellogg, Samuel Nason, David Byrnes, Valen- tine Bargy, Cyrus Davis, John W. Clark, David Kaley, John Halpin, Charles McTague, G. W. Norton, Joseph G. Cass, Henry Driver, Alonzo Lane, James P. Robinson, N. R. Locke and Peter Y. Mersereau. .

JOSEPH GERISH CASS was born at Ros- common, Ililshorough County, New Ilamp- shirp, October 7, 1807. Ile is a son of Barnard and Martha (Trumbull) Cass. The former had two half-brothers, Benjamin and Jonathan. The latter was a Major in the Revolutionary War, and had three sons, George, Charles and General Lewis Cass ; and two daughters-Mary and Deborah. Barnard Cass moved to Musk- ingum County, Ohio, in 1816, where Jonathan bad 4,000 acres of choice lands. He laid out the Town of Dresden in that County, which became his residence. Joseph's mother and sister Philena died when he was 12 years old. In 1882, the family with the exception of two brothers, came to the Manmee Valley, and set- tled in the Northwest quarter of Section 24, now in Adams Township, which is still the home of Joseph. The settlement was made in a dense forest, with no improvement of any sort nearer than Maumee City, three miles dis- tant. So straitened in circumstances was Joseph, that be was compelled to divide his time between clearing his own land and work- ing for others for means of support, until re- lieved by small erops. During the real estate speculation of 1835-36, he sold his farm to a Maumee party at what was considered a good price, and removed to Knox County, where he bought land and remained for 13 years. The sale of his farm having meantime failed, he was compelled to take it back and again occupied it. Mr. Cass's life, though not an eventful one, has been marked by pervading consideration for the rights and welfare of his fellow-men, especially in the promotion of sound morals and good order For 60 years, in principle and practice, he has been strictly a Temperance man. When he was about 20 years of age

shop at Dresden, patronized mainly by laborers employed in the construction of the Ohio Canal, so far reached their natural results among the youth and the older residents, as to arouse his alarm and to canse in him the positive resolve to abstain from gambling and the use of intox- icating liquors, which resolution never has been broken, but has remained as a ready and effec- tive shield from temptation to either practice. Mr. Cass has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for about 40 years, being initiated at Newcastle, Coshocton County, Ohio, and united with Northern Light Lodge at Maumee in 1850. Having,in the manner already stated, succeeded in erecting a one-story log-cabin, 18x20 feet in size, and cleared and planted with corn three acres of his land, Mr. Cass took the next step by going to Jackson Township, Knox County, where, July 19, 1833, he was married with Miss Mary Wilson, who accompanied him to their forest home, making the trip by the Ohio Canal to Cleveland, and thence by Steamboat to Mau- mee, via Detroit. Coming as she did from a home of comfort, the bride was found adequate for every demand on her energies and courage which were liberally taxed in all the ways known to such trials. The mother of six sons and six daughters, 11 of whom grew to matu- rity, she had ample occasion for the exercise of the physical and mental resources which alone could have given success in such extraordinary charge. A sincere Christian, her convictions and faith abided and guided her througout the long years of her activity, and made their mark on the children of her care. She died January 2, 1876. July 2, 1878. Mr. Cass was married with Miss Ellen A., daughter of Caleb Farqu. har, of Coshocton County, whose relations to the large family have been from the first most happy.

HARVEY KELLOGG was born in Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut, January 19, 1813. He was the youngest of five children- four sons and one daughter-of Joseph and Martha (Beebe) Kellogg. The parents were devoni members of the Congregational Church of South Canaan, of which the father (Joseph Kellogg), was an acting Deacon for more than fifty-seven years. In this faith, Harvey was reared and in early life united with the Church at South C'anaan. From this Church he and his wife brought letters of fellowship to the Pres byterian Church of Sylvania, when they came to settle in Lucas County, in 1837-which Church afterwards adopted the Congregational form of government. In addition to a Com- mon School education, Mr. Kellogg enjoyed the advantages of Academic instruction for one year in Columbia County, New York, and in 1830, when a little over 17 years of age, he engaged in teaching in his native Town, where, a few years later, he was clected a member of

Harvey Hology,

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ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

the School Board and of the Examining Com- mittee. The same year (October 20, 1835) he was united in marriage with Miss Betsey A. Kellogg, and with her removed to Springfield Township (now Adams), in the Spring of 1837. Their first attempt at house-keeping in the then new country was in a log-cabin of a single room, with the Bushnell family, until Mr. Kellogg could get a space cleared and a house erected for himself. Their reminiscences of those days are pleasant, and many relics of their primitive mode of living might have been preserved and handed down to their grand- children, had they known the interest the present generation would have taken in such things. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg have lived where they now reside over 50 years. They have two sons living-Joseph G. and Isaac B. Kellogg. In 1885, the 50th anniversary of their marriage was celebrated. It wasa jubilee signalized by the warm congratulations of many friends and many gifts and tokens showing in what estimation Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg are held by their friends and neighbors. Their house has been a home for several orphan children whom they have brought up. Besides devel- oping his farm, Mr. Kellogg has been active in many other directions and in public affairs. He has taught school 13 terms; served as Justice of the Peace, by successive elections, 15 years; was Postmaster at Hickory, in his Township, seven years. In 1877 he was elected to the General Assembly by a plurality vote on the National Party ticket, and while a member of the House served on the Committeeson Tem- perance and on Unfinished Business. He has always been a strong advocate of Temperance and an active Sunday school worker. In 1883 he was chosen President of the Lucas County Sunday-school Union, and each successive year since has been elected to fill the same position. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg have taken an active part in the co-operative Christian work which has resulted in the establishment of a Union Church in their neighborhood, and he is one of the Board of Trustees of the Womans' Christian Association of Adams Township.

JEREMIAH REYNOLDS was born March 25, 1823, in Pennsylvania. His parents came to the Manmee Valley when he was quite a small boy. At about the age of 17 he went to live with Harvey Kellogg, on his farm, in Adams Township. Being left an orphan by the death of his father, he depended mainly upon his own exertions ; but he was a young man who made friends and secured the confi- dence of those with whom he had dealings. He was therefore trusted and prospered. Such is the reputation Mr. Kellogg and others gave him. He was married June 21, 1845, with Miss Rhoda Ann, daughter of Daniel Cothrell, of Springfield Township. She was born in the State of New York, where her father was born

March 24, 1802, he dying in October, 1884. Her mother, Sarah Grant, was born in Orange County, New York, in 1805, and died August 15, 1878. The year preceding his marriage he had purchased of Harvey Kel- logg 40 acres of land adjoining Dorr Street, which he made his home. He introduced the first power Threshing- Machine into the neigh- borhood, and for 15 years followed the thresh- ing business vigorously and laboriously, Sum- mer and Winter, with such unremitting persis- tence, that at last he fell a victim to the dust of the machine, which caused the disease of the lungs of which he died December 6, 1868, when hardly yet in the prime of life. He was twice elected Justice of the Peace for Adams Township, serving for two terms, and was Postmaster at the time of his death. lle be- came a member of the Masonic Lodge at Syl- vania at an early date, and was buried by that Order. A successful farmer, he had 185 acres of improved land at the time of his death. He was a strong advocate of total abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors, when such position required a firm will; was a good neighbor and an honest citizen. Mr. Reynolds left a widow and seven children, four sons and three daughters. D. Edward, born June 19, 1850, married Miss Calista Micham of Adams; Sarah A., born May 4, 1854, died April 4, 1879 ; Charles, born March 24, 1859; Hattie E., born February 16, 1848, married Charles Micham October. 1879; James B., born April 28, 1866; Mattie S., born May 14, 1864; Perry A., born April 24, 1856, married Miss Emma Shellenber- ger, Septembr , 1880. Two sons, Charles and James B. Reynolds, and one daughter, Mattie S., are living at home with their mot' er. D. Ed- ward lives in Sylvania, and also the married daughter, Mrs. Charles Micham ; while Perry A. lives on a farm in Adams Township. Mr. Reynolds was for several years Postmaster at Hickory, Adams Township, and also served as Trustee and Justice of the Peace.

OBSOLETE TOWN PLATS.

On the 13th of June, 1836, Jesse Stone, of Columbus, sold to Norman C. Baldwin, William Neil, John C. Spink, Elnathan Cory, Dwight Woodbury, Elias H. Haines, Henry Bennett, S. B. Campbell, Needham M. Stewart, Christ. Neiswanger, Joseph HI. Larwell, Daniel B. Miller, Jesse Stone, David W. Deshler, David Ladd, Robert T. Lytle, John E. Lyon, James Q. Adams and Jeddediah D. Cummings, tracts 17 and 18 of United States Reserve, containing 443.49 acres, for $40,000. The same month the plat of the Town of Marengo was surveyed and located in the above tract of land, then owned by an association, of which Elnathan Cory, Norman C. Baldwin, John C. Spink and William Neil, of Columbus, were Trustees, and A. E. Wing, of Monroe; Joseph H. Larwell, of Woos-

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

ter; N. C. Baldwin and Dwight Moody, Directors. The plat was surveyed by Hiram Davis, Surveyor of Wood County. The lots were 20 by 100 feet; there were 10 full blocks of 40 lots each; 10 fractional blocks of from 4 to 35 lots, with 40 Water lots 100 feet square. The proprietors reserved all rights of ferrying, and purchasers of Water lots were granted the use of one-half of the street adjoining their lots for handling property. The " City of Marengo " was finally closed out by order of Court, in August, 1838.

The plat of the Town of Vinton was located on the South side of Swan Creek, in Section Thirteen, Town Two (now in Adams Town- ship), and adjoining the French Grant. It was surveyed by Samuel Divine, County Surveyor, and recorded June 11, 1836. The proprietors were Daniel Hubbell and Amos Atkins. The plat contained 54 lots and 10 streets.

June 14, 1836, Rev. James Gilruth a Metho- dist Preacher, then of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Mary, his wife, deeded 3623 acres of land in Sections 17 and 20, now in Adams Town- ship, to Nathan Jenkins, Wm. P. Reznor and David Higgins, as Trustees for themselves and Jolin Patterson, of Columbus; Ezra M. Stone, of Norwalk; Charles Borland, of Mansfield; and Rev. H. O. Sheldon. The price paid for the property was 836,250. On this property was soon laid out the plat of EAST MARENGO, by what was known as the East Marengo Company. Sales were made of lots in this plat as follows:

To H. O. Sheldon, 11 lots, October, 1838, for $6,864.

To Alonzo Rogers, Angust 11, 1837, one lot con- clitioned that said Rogers erect on the same "a house at least 18x25 feet, two stories high, finished on the outside and painted white ; to be done and complete within 5 months from date."

To David D. Prouty, lot for $100, first payment to be made in S months ; assigned March 10, 1840, to Francis D. Cochoran.

In September, 1840, the East Marengo Com- pany laid out a sub-division on the Southeast quarter of Section 17 and East half of North- east quarter Section 20, River Tract, No. 14, called East Marengo. Iliram Davis was the Surveyor. This plat was recorded by W. P. Reznor and Nathan Jenkins, Trustees, Septem- ber 21, 1840.

LATER PLATS.

CENTRAL GROVE, located on that part of River Tract No. 15, Town 3, United States Reserve, lying between the Maumee River and the Miami and Erie Canal, was platted by Wesley J. Wells and George Vogel, Trustees, October 7, 1874, and three days later recorded.

TOLEDO HEIGHTS was platted and recorded by Wm. H. Ingraham, June 18, 1874. It is situated on River Tract No. 18, Town 1, United States Reserve.

NORWOOD was laid out and platted by Edwin Conant, Sallie Lee Conant and Albert E.

Macomber, as a division of their respective half-interests in the Northeast quarter and Northeast quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section 4, Town 3, in May, 1877. It lies be- tween Dorr Street on the north, Nebraska Avenue on the south and Brown Avenue on the cast, and is divided east and west by Ger- mania Street, containing lots numbered from 1 to 38 inclusive.

SALES OF LANDS.

Among the other early transfers of property, were the following :

Cyrus Fisher to Ezra Goodale, Theodore Lee, Wm. C. Corwin, and Oliver Stevens, 80 acres, Sec- tion 9, $180 ; 1830.

Isaac B. Worden and Triphena Worden, to Ros- well Riley, 2616 square rods of land on the left bauk of the Maumee River, and on the road leading from Port Lawrence to Miami, $100; 1830.

Wm. P. Bennett to Tunis Lewis, 80 acres, $200; 1830.

Silas Barnes to Jona. Simmons, 1830.

Theo. S. Lee to Sam. Allen and Otis Hathaway, 80 acres, Section 9, $100, 1832 ; the same having been patented by the Government to Dexter Fisher in 1831. Daniel Hubbell to John Mackley, 1833.

Samuel Merritt, to Nancy Merritt, 1834.

Silas Long to James MeLaughlin, 1834.

John Mickle to Bingham D. Abbott, 1834.

United States to Charles Allen, September, 1834. Alvin Evans to Henry Bennett and S. B. Camp- bell, 1836.

John McNess to Eli Charter, February, 1835. Ezra B. Dodd to Ezra Goodell, October, 1835. Sylvester Brown to John U. Pease, March, 1836. George Lewis to Nathaniel Rathbun, 1836. David Prouty, to Gieo. S. Hazard, 1836.

Benjamin Davis to Jared N. Stebbins, 1836. Zenas Leonard to Charles G. Keeler, May, 1836. WV. E. Morton to Mathew Byrnes, October, 1835. John Mickles, to Joel W. Crane, 1836. Joseph Titsworth to Eli Hubbard, 1836.

J. G. Cass and Corser to J. E. Hunt, 1835.

Edward Corser to Joseph G. Cass, February, 1836. Henry Williams to Theodore T. Woodruff, March, 1836.

Marmaduke Bunting to John Knaggs, March, 1836. Stephen L. Gilleat to Michael Sterling, 1838. J. G. Worthington to James Harris, 1839.

DAVID KALEY is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1822. His parents came to Amer- ica in 1832, and that year his father died of cholera at Putnam's Corners, eighteen miles below White Hall on Lake Champlain, while the family were on their way from Quebec to Buffalo, New York. His father was buried near the old battle ground at Fort Ticon- deroga, and the family proceeded to Buffalo, arriving there in the spring of 1833. It con- sisted of five boys and one girl, of whom two are now living, viz .: David, the subject of this sketch, and Daniel Kaley, a resident of Wood County, Ohio.

David, after remaining in Buffalo till the spring of 1837, went with the family to Water- ville, Lucas County, Ohio, where his brother-

David Kaley

said the

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C. R. Bowen

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ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

in-law had a contract on the Miami and Erie Canal, then being constructed. Here David worked on the Canal about six years. In the meantime, (in 1838), his oldest brother died; and the balance of the family, in 1843, removed to Troy Township, Wood County, Ohio, where they bought a farm and where his mother and brothers, John and Daniel, made their perma- nent home.

In 1849, David and his brother Bartholomew went to California by the overland route, reaching the mines after a four-months jour- ney, on November 18, 1849. They spent nearly four years in mining and other operations, quite successfully, realizing about $11,000 cach, and returned by steamer in May, 1853. In the autumn of that year Mr. Kaley purchased the valuable and beautiful farm near Dorr Street, in Adams Township, on which he now resides. He has since erected the buildings and made most of the improvements upon the place. This farm contains 200 acres, mostly of rolling and rich soil, and is one of the finest farms in Lucas County.

Mr. Kaley was married May 3, 1854, with Miss Ellen Carey, who was born in Ireland March 15, 1833, and same year came with her parents to America. They have bad 10 chil- dren-five sons and five daughters-all living, except James B., the youngest son, who died July 19, 1885. The children and years of their birth are as follows: Edward, born 1855; Win- ifred M., 1858; David and John (twins), 1860; William D., 1862; James B., 1864; Mary E., 1865; Ella A., 1868; Agnes, 1870; Theressa, 1872.

Since the organization of Adams Township, Mr. Kaley has held some of the local offices, such as Trustee and Member of the Board of Education. He was one of the enterprising and successful farmers of the Township, and one of' its most public spirited citizens. In the Spring of 1888 Mr. Kaley moved from his farm that he had occupied for over 30 years, to his pleas- ant residence on Warren Street, Toledo.

CHARLES R. BOWEN was born in Otsego County, New York, May 26, 1837. His parents, Daniel W. and Sarah ( Richardson) Bowen, were both of Revolutionary stock. Hisfather's father was with Ethan Allen, at the capture of Ticonde- roga, and was at the battles of Bennington and Saratoga ; while his mother's mother was one of the few children saved at the massacre and burning by the Indians in Cherry Valley. Charles R. lived on the farm until 17 years old, when he went to Rockford, Illinois. Remain- ing there one year, he returned East, stop ping in Lenawee County, Michigan, where his parents, meantime, had removed. In the Spring of 1858, he made the trip to the Rocky Mountains, spending a year on the plains and in the mountains, hunting and prospecting. In June of that year, while with 18 others in the

mountains, some 50 miles West of Denver, Col- orado, they were surrounded by forest fires started by Indians, when all of the party but himself and one other were burned to death, while he escaped only with severe injury. In 1859 Mr. Bowen returnd to Lenawee County, where he remained until after the beginning of the War of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, in which ho served until wounded at the battle of Stone River, and on the 7th of March, 1863, was hon- orably discharged at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, when he returned to Adrian, Michigan. His wound preventing his return to the field, he was active in enlisting and organizing several Companies for the Ninth and Eleventh Regi- ments, Michigan Cavalry. His brother, Elmer Bowen, a member of the Ninth Michigan, was with Sherman on the " March to the Sea," and now resides at Ypsilanti, Michigan ; one brother-in-law, II. C. Ingraham, of the Eight- eenth Michigan Infantry ; another brother-in- ław, Chauncey Cunningham, transferred from the same Regiment to Tennessee Cavalry, was killed by bushwhackers. Three cousins of his were killed in the service-Silas Pierce, of a New York Regiment, in the Wilderness; ho- renzo Smith, of Fourth Michigan Infantry, killed in the Wilderness; and Allen Smith, of Ninth Michigan Cavalry, killed in Georgia. In 1871 Mr. Bowen became a resident of Adams Township and has since remained such. He has been largely engaged in growing Fruit, in which he has been successful. Politically he is actively a Democrat. He has held most of the important Township offices, now serving in his second term as Justice of the Peace. Ilis Post Office address is Toledo. In 1866 Mr. Bowen was married with Miss Cecelia J., daughter of Philoand Louisa (Hascall) Carter. Mrs. Bowen was born in Cuba, Alleghany County, New York, October 21, 1848 They have had five children-Chester P., born in Adrian, July 22, 1867 ; Louis A., born at Toledo, August 9, 1869 (dying November 29, 1875); Clarence and Lawrence, born Angust 4, 1875; and Lorena June, born March 5, 1883.

ORGANIZATION OF ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

The following resolution of the County Com- missioners, adopted December 3, 1856, describes the territory in the Township of Carey as then set off. No change has since been made, ex- cept in the name of the Township, changed from Carey to Adams in 1860:

Resolved, by the Commissioners of Lucas County, that the territory heretofore belonging to the Town- ship of Port Lawrence, and which was on the 2d day of December, A. D. 1856, set off from said Township of l'ort Lawrence and annexed to the Township of Springfield, together with Sections numbers 4, 5 and 6 in Town No. 3, United States Reserve ; the South fractional half of Sections number 31, 32, 33 and 34 in Town No. 9, S. R. T. E .; the South fractional half of

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 168

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408