USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievemen, Vol. I > Part 31
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Any sketch of Nevada, however brief, must contain allu- sions to such men as Messrs. Kuenzli Bros., who, by their en- terprise and vigorous business methods, have transformed an insignificant tile yard, operating a few weeks during the summer season, into a factory of splendid proportions operating throughout the entire year. The handful of men who formerly found employment during a few summer weeks, have been replaced by a goodly force of men who are given steady employment; and the open sheds and primitive kiln methods of the past, have been long relegated and a modern steam-heated building substituted. Their output of manufactured ware is now very considerable, and their estab- lishment comprises one of the chief industries of the town.
In like manner the lumber industry is represented by Messrs. Orwiler & Armstrong, whose mills afford employ- ment for several men and whose equipment is adequate in every way to their large and thriving business. They have a stock from which all local demands are met, and a thrifty community finds their establishment a great convenience.
The printing interests are, and for nearly thirty years have been, very efficiently cared for by the enterprising pub- lishers of The Nevada News, Wilcox & Holmes. This part- nership was formed in 1883 and has since been continuously active in the development of this line of work. They now have an equipment which facilitates all manner of book and commercial printing, and their growing business fully attests the merit of their work, as well as their success as competitors in the open markets of the world. The Nevada News is the
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largest paper printed in the county, and its mechanical and editorial merits meet wide approval. The paper credit- ably reflects the life of a prosperous community, and the home endorsement accorded it is its best advertisement.
The mercantile, banking and other interests of the town are in the hands of successful men. Grain, hay, vegetables, live stock, poultry and milk are bought and shipped exten- sively, the town with its mills, elevator, creamery and stock yards affording a splendid market for all these products. The local telephone with its aggregate of about 500 tele- phones, renders a full twenty-four service and brings the people for several miles around into quick communication. The Venture Gas Co. supplies natural gas for heating and lighting at standard rates and renders a good service. Gas is used for street lighting as well as for all public buildings.
The main as well as the other streets are macadamized.
Throughout the town the streets are provided with good sidewalks of either brick, concrete or flagstone paving, all of which together with the roadways, are maintained in good condition. These conveniences, together with the handsome shade trees give the town a beautiful appearance, especially during the summer season.
The main line of the Pennsylvania Railway, with their double tracks, passes through the center of the town and affords superior traveling and shipping facilities. The sta- tion, which is most admirably and efficiently officered, is a popular shipping point, and an excellent and obliging place at which to transact any manner of railway and express busi- ness.
The National Government is also represented by a post- office of the third class, suitably provided with four rural routes, the obliging carriers of which serve a rich and pros- perous community. The office, under the present regime, with the aid of a most efficient clerical and messenger force, leaves nothing to be desired in the prompt and satisfactory distribution and despatch of the rapidly developing parcel post, postal saving and other branches of the postal business.
Two splendidly equipped garages provide competitive salesrooms and mechanical departments for the proper care of the growing automobile business. The best and most pop- ular machines on the market are here represented with ac-
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commodating agencies and skilful mechanical attention is given. A safe estimate of the machines owned in this com- munity would place the number at not less than two hun- dred.
The substantial character of the public buildings at Ne- vada, their size and beauty, attest the liberality and enter- prise of the people. The high school building, although erected in 1876, is nevertheless a handsome, commodious and convenient structure, modern in appearance and equipped with every appliance for the work in hand. The building, which is pleasantly situated in a spacious and shaded campus, is steam heated and provided with all the paraphernalia re- quired in schools of the first class, to which class this school was advanced several years since. It is, therefore, an insti- tution in every way suited to the demands of the times, a delightful place of instruction, and in perfect harmony with the statutory enactments of the state in regulation of the same.
Nevada is a little city of beautiful churches. The church edifices here, in size, beauty and adornment, are such as would do credit to any city of ten thousand population in Ohio. Two of these buildings-the Methodist and Luth- eran-have been erected during the past decade, and would be ornaments on the streets of any city in the state. These beautiful structures also correctly reflect the religious sen- timent of the town and community, and bear witness to the devotion and sincerity of her people.
As a place of amusement and great public assemblies, the Masonic-Pythian auditorium, erected in 1905, will bear com- parison with any similar building in any of the neighboring cites. This beautiful ground floor theater, with balcony and ample stage room, is gas lighted and furnace heated, and fully equipped with scenery, electricity, and all the appointments essential to the production of the largest traveling amuse- ment enterprises. Its booking includes some of the largest and most popular companies in America, secured direct from the great theatrical agencies at New York and Chicago. Splendid lecture and entertainment courses are also pro- vided, and of which the people of the community have the ad- vantage at a very nominal cost.
The auditorium, representing a valuation of $20,000
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is the property and reflects the enterprise of the Masonic- Pythian fraternities, both of which are exceptionally strong in this vicinity. Each of the lodges have a large and com- modious lodge room upon the second floor, with the suitable entrances and ante-rooms, the first floor of the main building being occupied as business rooms. The stage is situated at the back of the lodge rooms and beyond is located the audi- torium annex with its seating capacity of six hundred. The entire building is in strict compliance with the state law as regards fire protection and sanitation, and has successfully undergone all necessary inspection.
Nevada Lodge No. 234, K. P., with its membership of about two hundred, and its auxiliary, Nevada Temple No. 412, Pythian Sisters, is one of the influential lodges of that order in the state.
Masonry is likewise strong, Nevada Lodge No. 343, has a membership of about one hundred and sixty, the same being supplemented with Nevada Chapter No. 186, R. A. M., and a chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Odd Fellowship, the Modern Woodmen of America and other societies are also well represented with suitable lodges, camps and courts, and a wholesome spirit of fraternity and unanimity of actions dominates the community.
Recently the care of the dead-the highest known test of civilization, has engaged the attention of this people, and a cemetery, such as might easily suffice for any city of twenty thousand, has been provided. The cemetery, which has been suitably enlarged by purchases of adjacent lands, is a most beautiful spot, suggesting quiet repose, religious meditation and a poetic love of the artistic and sacred. A mausoleum, containing a chapel, rest room, vault and one hundred crypts, has just been completed. It is constructed with a view toward both beauty and endurance, and is an age-defying edifice embodying the advancement of our times in science and architecture.
The improvements and advantages above enumerated, to- gether with others which might worthily be made the subject of mention, combine to make Nevada a very desirable place of business and residence, an invitation which finds constant expression in the characteristic geniality and hospitality of her people.
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES
The histories of the thirteen townships included in Wyan- dot county are presented in this work, alphabetically ar- ranged. They serve to complete the picture of the pioneer times, which is always so full of interest to young and old alike. The early settlers in these townships were men of good judgment and great sagacity, when they resolved to drive their stakes for homes. They saw in the near future the grandeur, beauty and agricultural wealth these lands in the hands of industry, intelligence and economy, would pre- sent to the world. Its soil, timbers, prospects for markets, all these and more, were great incentives for the founding of new homes in the forest. A glance at these townships now, with their beautiful farms in high state of cultivation, with large barns and splendid farm houses, fields teeming with rich crops, or pastured by excellent stock; the com- modious school houses and churches, all give strong proof how well the aim of the pioneer settlers were directed when first the tall timbers fell by the woodman's axe in Wyandot county.
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP
Before the organization of Wyandot county in 1845, the territory which composes Antrim township was included in the counties of Crawford and Marion. It is bounded on the east and south by Marion and Crawford counties, on the west by Pitt and Crane townships and on the north by Eden township. The greater part of this township was within the old Indian reservation.
The surface of the township is undulating and well watered by the Sandusky river and its tributaries. Broken Sword creek enters the township at the north, at a point near the northeast corner of Section 5, and flows in a south and southeast direction and enters the Sandusky near the center of Section 19. Grass Run and Gray Eye Run flow from the eastern part of the township, form a junction in Section 21, and empty into the Sandusky near the southwest corner of Section 20. The soil of Antrim township is very fertile and well adapted to wheat raising, as well as to the culture of oats, corn and other grains. Large crops of corn from
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the bottom lands, and wheat from the elevated as well as the lower tracts are annually gathered.
The first house built in the township was a hewed log structure, and was erected by John Kirby in 1819 on land entered by Colonel Kirby.
Isaac Longwell and Sarah Winslow were the first couple joined in marriage in the township, and Rebecca Welsh, daughter of Zachariah and Hannah (Stein) Welsh, was the first white child born therein, the year of her birth being 1822. Magdalene Hite was born in 1823, probably the sec- ond white child born in the township. Abner Jurey, an in- fant, was the first to pass away, the date of his death being August, 1821. He was buried in the Macedona graveyard.
In 1825-26, David Bibler built a grist mill east of Wyan- dot on the Sandusky river, the first mill constructed in the township. He was also the first "tavern keeper" in the town- ship. John Kirby was the first merchant in Antrim township, his store being located in the village of Wyandot. Most of the early settlers were located within the village of Wyandot, south and east of the Reservation line, but after the organization of the county, settlements were more gen- eral, and quite extensive.
The early schools of Antrim were conducted under very great difficulties, the neighbors being far apart and the facil- ities meager. According to the best information we are able to obtain, the first schools of the township were held in a log cabin in the dooryard of Thomas Terry, Ethan Terry be- ing the first teacher. It is also stated that schools were held in the dwellings of Messrs. Howe and Longwell, and that Nathan Howe was, perhaps the first teacher. It is quite cer- tain that the first schoolhouse was erected in the village of Wyandot in 1827-28. It was, of course, a cabin, and the first teacher was Thomas T. Thompson, who subsequently taught in the mission schools.
As early as 1820 the people of Wyandot and vicinity be- gan to assemble occasionally for divine worship. The first meetings were held in the old log schoolhouse in the north- east part of the village, and these were continued with more or less regularity till 1835, when an organization was effected. The members were of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion and few in number, William Brown and his wife Margaret being
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the only members from the village. In 1838, the Methodist Episcopal church building was erected just south of the village, being the first building of the kind erected in the township.
The first white settler to locate in Antrim township was John Kirby, in 1819. He settled on land that in 1820 was entered by Col. M. H. Kirby. He was born in Halifax county, Virginia, and came to Highland county, Ohio, in 1814, and from there to Wyandot county, where he died late in the forties, leaving a large family of children.
Jacob Coon also located in this township in the same year. He came from Pickaway county, and located in the southern part of the township in 1819, and resided on the same farm for sixty years.
Zachariah Welsh came to this county in 1821, and settled in Wyandot village. He died in 1849; his wife's demise occurred in 1857. Edmund R., his son, was born in Chilli- cothe, Ohio, in 1810. He came to this county with his par -. ents and died January 29, 1880, in Nevada, to which place he removed in 1865. He came from Fairfield county.
Jesse Jurey came from Highland county in 1820 or 1822, and settled west of the village of Wyandot, where he lived and died. Walter Woolsey came from New York state and set- tled in the township in 1820.
In 1820, Col. M. H. Kirby entered 640 acres where Wyan- dot now is situated. He made additions to this till he owned 1,200 acres, on which he moved from Columbus in 1839, remaining till 1843, when he was appointed receiver of the Northwestern Land Office. These were the principal set- tlers up to the date last mentioned, and, in fact, to the date of the organization of the county, 1845, after which time set- tlements were rapidly made.
Isaac Longwell came from Licking county in 1821, and took up his abode in this township. William T. Howe set- tled here about the same time. Thomas Terry came soon after from Highland county, Ohio. He was formerly from Old Virginia. He died in Marseilles Township. His son-in- law, Josiah Robertson, moved to the township with him. Abner Jurey located in Antrim in 1822. He was born in Virginia, and was married in this county to Priscilla Wins- low. He died in 1851. Jacob Brewer moved to the township from the Darby Plains in 1824. Henry Brown, born in Penn-
HIGH SCHOOL, NEVADA
A MAIN STREET RESIDENCE, NEVADA
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sylvania, moved to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1818, and to this township in 1826.
Thomas Thompson moved from New Philadelphia to this township in 1827. He was afterward a missionary, and was employed on the Mission farm. He was also a school teacher. He died in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1884. Isaac Miller first settled here in 1836. He was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1784. John Leith came from Fairfield county in 1832 or 1833.
George W. Leith moved to Antrim in 1837. In 1845, he was appointed Associate Judge, serving seven years. He died at Nevada March 10, 1883. Lair, Isaac and Jacob Miller were also settlers of 1836-37, coming with their parents, and being then almost grown to manhood. Jacob Keller first pur- chased land here in 1825. He was born in Virginia in 1797. Benjamin Hite came in about 1840. He was born in Perry county in 1815. D. W. Wilson was one of the early settlers, as was also James Daughmer. Peter Brewer was born in this township in 1825.
CRANE TOWNSHIP
As Upper Sandusky, the county-seat town, is in Crane township, and as so much has already been written of the same, a lengthy account of it need not be given here.
This township derives its name from the Wyandot chief- tain, Tarhe, or "The Crane," and was organized in 1845. It lies wholly within the limits of the old Wyandot Reserve, and for that reason its lands, with the exception of those embraced by the original plat of the town of Upper San- dusky, were not placed in market until the autumn of 1845. Yet, a considerable number of men with their families, who are not mentioned in the sketch of Upper Sandusky, set- tled outside of the town limits, before the lands were offered for sale, but, for a few months at least they were only "squatters."
The surface of the township is level and the soil remark- ably fertile. The increase of population has been gradual. Among its points of interest which are shown to strangers are the Old Mission church, the Nine Oaks, Crawford's bat- tle ground, on Section 17, just north of Upper Sandusky, Vol. I-22
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and the sites of old Fort Ferree, the Indian mill, the Indian spring, etc.
Although the town of Upper Sandusky was clothed with corporate powers in the spring of 1848, it appears that no separate assessments regarding town and township were made until a number of years later.
CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP
Crawford township is perhaps more replete with historic incidents than any other township in Wyandot county, for it was here that the lamented Colonel Crawford suffered death by the Indians by being burnt at the stake, in 1782, and here a monument has since been erected to his memory. And it was in the wilds of this locality that the seven-year-old child of Mathew Brayton was captured by the Indians and never found.
Crawford township was organized in the county of Craw- ford in 1825, and became a part of Wyandot county in 1845. It is one of the northern tiers of townships of the county, and is bounded on the north by Seneca county, on the east by Tym- ochtee township, on the south by Salem township and on the west by Ridge township.
The soil of this township is very fertile, and the farming community is a prosperous one. Tymochtee creek courses through the southeast corner of the township, and the other portions are drained by numerous artificial and natural drains, which renders the production of grains and vegetables profitable.
The territory comprised in this township was once one of the most famous of the Indian sporting grounds, being the seat of an extensive village of Delaware Indians, who, under command of Captain Pipe, the notorious Delaware chief, executed Col. William Crawford. The exact spot where the burning took place is not now positively known.
In many instances land was purchased or entered and settled upon when nothing but the leafy canopy of the forest trees served the eager and determined home-seekers as a shelter from the wrath of the elements.
As has already been stated, Asa Lake was first to locate in this township, and in 1819, he erected the first abode that graced the primeval solitudes of this locality. It was a
1
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double log cabin, about 18x20 feet, and was located on Sec- tion 26. About two years later, Daniel Hodges founded a home near the village of Crawfordsville, and in 1823 John Carey built a hewed-log house on the south bank of the Tym- ochtee, nearly opposite the old Delaware village of Captain Pipe. William Brown erected his cabin in the same year, but probably after Mr. Carey had built his. However, this is uncertain, as we arrive at this conclusion by the fact that Carey was already in the vicinity at the time of Brown's arrival.
The first regular thoroughfare constructed in the town- ship extended from Tymochtee to Carey's mill. It passed through sections 25 and 26, and in Tymochtee extended through section 16 and 20. The early settlers went to Dela- ware for supplies usually, though as early as 1823, John Carey, and Elijah Brayton erected a saw and grist mill on lands owned by Mr. Carey, in what is now Tymochtee township. A carding machine was also operated in connec- tion with this mill. At present the township can boast of five mills-one saw mill at Crawford, two saw mills at Carey and two grist mills at the latter place. The first store of this territory was kept at Crawfordsville, by William M. Buell, who was also the first merchant of Carey.
The first settlers of Crawford township were not blind to the necessities of education, and, as early as 1828, erected a schoolhouse on what is now the southeast quarter of section 26. Among the first teachers were William Hackney and Adeline Potterfield. Others were James Heron, John A. Morrison, Jane Coddington, Mrs. Maynard, Laura Starr, Erastus Ranger, Clem Allen, J. Newman, Miss Eliza Ingram, S. Johnson, Dr. Kirkham, Hiram J. Starr, Jesse Wilson, Eliza Lewis, Emma Carey and McD. M. Carey. As the pop- ulation of the township increased, other districts were formed and school rooms were erected.
According to our best authority, Asa Lake and Nehemiah Earls located here as early as 1819. They were men of fam- ilies, and settled in what is now Section 26, then Government land, though afterward entered and settled upon by Daniel Hodges, who was also one of the earliest residents of the township. As early as 1830, he built a brick house, the first of the kind in the township. He located in Crawfordsville in 1821.
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Hon. John Carey, generally known as "Judge" Carey, and whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, came to this township and located with his family in 1823 or 1824. He was born in Virginia in 1792.
Christopher Baker came to this locality in 1822, and located on Section 11. In reaching his land, he came via Harrison's army trail through Delaware, Marion and Upper Sandusky to the Tymochtee, and then cut a path from Lish's Ferry. The Wyandot trail, running from Big Springs to the twelve-mile reservation, passed near Mr. Baker's cabin. His son, John Baker, one of the old residents of the township, was born in Ross county, Ohio, August 14, 1815.
Curtis Berry, Jr., was born in this township April 19, 1831. He came with his parents, Curtis and Sally (Cavitt) Berry, to this county from Ross county in 1827, and located with them in this township in 1829. His father was born in 1782, and was reared in Virginia. He came to Ross county about 1804-6. His mother was of Irish descent, her father Francis Cavitt, coming from Ireland. The parents were married in 1812, while living in Ross county. On coming to this county, Mr. Berry purchased eighty acres of land, but at his death owned a whole section. He died December 29, 1855; his wife September 4, the same year. They had ten children. The mother of Curtis Berry, Sr., was a resident of Philadelphia, and an intimate acquaintance of Colonel Crawford. In playful kindness, she tied his necktie for him the morning he departed on his fatal expedition against the Indians of Ohio.
George James moved to this township with his parents, John and Elizabeth James, in 1822. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1807. His parents moved to Pike county in 1810, and from that point to this county. They entered eighty acres in this township, and reared ten children.
McD. M. Carey, son of Hon. John Carey, settled in this township with his parents in 1823-24.
Smith Kenfield was one of the early and prominent far- mers of the township, having located here prior to 1825. Hiram J. Starr, a grain and stock dealer of the township, came in 1830. William Brayton came in the '20s, and located with his parents in Tymochtee township, settling later in Crawford in 1834. His father, Elijah Brayton, was one of the
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first millers in the county, beginning operations by erecting a saw and grist mill in Tymochtee township, in 1823. He and John Carey also owned and operated a saw mill and card- ing machine, located on the Carey road.
A LEAF FROM AN OLD SETTLER'S DIARY
William Brown was one of the few first white settlers of Crawford township. He was born in Maryland September 12, 1796. His wife, Eliza Kooken, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1804, and they were married July 3, 1822. From an old diary begun by Mr. Brown in 1822, we obtain some interesting facts given in entries as follows:
"November, 1822, entered land near the Big Spring Res- ervation.
"July 20, 1823, left Columbus, Ohio, for my land, with the intention of building a cabin, digging a well, etc. On my arrival, my heart for the first time failed me. The day was dark and rainy. We had spent more than half of it driving from Tymochtee out, the road being nothing but mire and water. The ground where we halted was clothed with a heavy growth of timber, so much so that we could scarcely see the sun at noon, and to add to our misfortune, we could not work without being stung by nettles, neither could we re- main at ease for the hungry mosquitoes. The difficulties I could have borne with fortitude had I been there on a visit for a few days only, but when I reflected that they could be removed only by years of hard labor, I was ready to con- clude that I had acted the idiot in purchasing the land, and the lunatic in attempting to settle it.
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