USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievemen, Vol. I > Part 33
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The first house in the village was erected by Garrett Fitz- gerald on lot No. 12, Fitzgerald's addition. It was a round- log, single story building, 16 x 18 feet, used as a dwelling house for many years, and of which nothing now remains, a frame house having been built on the same lot in 1836, by Solomon Adams. The first store was built in 1828, on lot 11, Robinson's addition, by Merriman & Terry, a 20 x 32-feet structure of hewed logs, in which the firm carried on a gen- eral merchandising business with a stock representing $1,000 capital. This partnership continued but a short time, Mr. Terry retiring from the firm and devoting his attention to real estate business and general agriculture. Later on, Wil- liam Carey formed a partnership with C. H. Merriman in mercantile business, and, in 1834, built a new business room, the first frame building in the village, 22 x 44 feet, on lot 24, Robinson's addition. This partnership continued until 1844, when they sold out to Jacob Shaffer, who again sold out to
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Long & Kennedy, who carried on the business until 1850, and were then bought out by S. Potter who also disposed of his interest two years later to Knibloe & Norton, who sold out to Lewis Merriman and who, in a few years, took into part- nership B. F. Kennedy. After another few years, Merriman retired and Kennedy continued alone until 1883, when he sold out to Robert Linsey.
In 1852 a fine, frame, five-story flour-mill, 40x50 feet, was built at a cost of $12,000, by a joint-stock company of whom Charles Merriman, Long & Kennedy, Dr. William Chesney and Dr. Irvin were the principal stockholders, which mill did a good business for many years.
About 1860, a large frame carding mill, 30 x 50 feet, was erected by William Weber, of Delaware, and conducted suc- cessfully for several years.
The village is situated on Tymochtee creek and the old Bellefontaine road, one-half being in section 8 and the other half in section 17.
A little to the northeast of Marseilles, is pointed out the spot where Simon Kenton was made to run the gauntlet by the Wyandot Indians.
The Marseilles of today is an enterprising village of about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, and it has splendid schools with an enrollment of over seventy pupils.
MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP
The topography of Mifflin township and the general qual- ity of the soil have much in common with the surrounding townships, and its productiveness is in no wise behind, corn, wheat, grass and all root crops being well up to the average. Considerable attention has been given to the raising of stock, all testifying to the prosperity of the husbandmen.
This township, which embodies township 3 south, range 13 east, was under the civil jurisdiction of Crawford county before the erection of Wyandot, though it was within the res, ervation. The township assumed its present dimensions in 1845, the sale of the reserve taking place in 1843. It is bounded on the north by Salem township, on the east by Pitt and Crane townships, on the south by Marseilles, and on the west by Jackson. The Wyandot Reservation line in Mifflin ran from the north, parallel with and about a mile and a Vol. I-23
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quarter from the western boundary line of the township, through sections 5, 8, 17, 20 and 29, as far as Tymochtee creek in section 32, thence eastward, parallel with and about three- quarters of a mile from the southern boundary of the town- ship through sections 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36.
Among the first settlers in Mifflin township were Samuel Stansberry, born in 1806, who came to this township in 1830 and entered eighty acres of land. James Halstead also set- tled in this township in 1830.
John Clinger moved with his family to this county in 1830 and settled in Mifflin township, where he purchased eighty acres, which he cleared and occupied till his death, which oc- curred November 18, 1880.
Others that came about this period were: Wilford Whaley (born August 25, 1822), Andrew J. Kail, John Haner (born in New York), John Farmer, Daniel and Israel Straw, Abram Clark, William Bowsher, Hanson Hooker, Henry and Philip Haner, David Young, James, William and John Irvin, Alex- ander McCleary, John Hankins, Wolford Whaley, John Farthing, Andrew and Isaac Farmer, John Henry, Jacob Leonard, John Ackley, Richard Parlet, Thomas Hendrick- son, James Gibson, Martin Dickens, Daniels and his son Jul- ius, David Bowen, Sr. (a native of Pennsylvania; moved to this county in 1835, and June 17, same year, settled in Mifflin township; on the farm on which he located stood an old In- dian tavern.) From 1835 to 1839 came Wesley Davenport and Mr. Brown (who laid out Brownstown), Richard Lee, Wil- liam Lee, James O'Neil, Tunis Ten Eyck, Adam Smith, Moses Ricker, John A. Swartz, Jacob Hollanshead, Daniel Pierson, Walter Simerson, Thomas Snider, Abraham Clark and Cor- nelius Young.
The first elections in Mifflin were held at Brown's Cor- ners, later known as Brownstown, never regularly laid out, where there was in days of yore an inn in which refresh- ments for man and beast, more especially man, were dis- pensed, and it was no unusual thing at the organization of the township, at which time there was a great deal of travel, to find the "Corner Inn" and the trading-house that also stood there crowded with wayfarers on their way to Henry, Hancock or Hardin counties. The first settler at Browns- town was the individual after whom it was named, and who lived there about three years, then moved away. Early set-
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tlers had to go to Upper Sandusky and Tiffin for their sup- plies, until the first store in Mifflin was opened up, which was in Brownstown, kept by Daniel Straw.
The first sawmill erected in the township was on Tymoch- tee creek, in section 8.
The first physician is said to have been Dr. Cover, and the first cabinet-maker Daniel Straw.
The first school held in the township was in the traditional primitive "temple of learning," located in this case on the land of Martin Dickens, two miles east of Brownstown. Among the early teachers may be mentioned William Harri- son, Benjamin Olney, William Jones and Nancy M. Swartz.
The old Bellfontaine road, which was cut by the troops under General Harrison in 1812, enters Mifflin township from Pitt township, on section 13, through a corner of which it passes, thence through sections 24, 23, 26 and 27, and enters Marseilles township at section 33, after traversing in a southwest direction. Another road enters on the east, on section 36, leading due west into Jackson township, on section 31. From this highway a branch strikes off on sec- tion 32, leading north and northwest, and also entering Jackson on section 30. Other roads traverse the township to and from all the cardinal points of the compass.
The township is watered by a number of streams, brooks and rivulets, but the main stream of all is Tymochtee creek, which enters the township from Marseilles in section 32, and courses through a number of sections ere it bids adieu to the township on its way to the Sandusky river. Of the many tributaries to the channel of Tymochtee in this township, Warpole Run is the chief, connecting with it from the south- east in the northwest quarter of section 10, and the several veins that contribute toward its existence have their sources in sections 34, 26 and 25 respectively, and in Pitt township, from which latter two streams, one named St. James' Run, emanate. Sugar Run rises in section 17, flows nearly due north and unites with Tymochtee in the extreme west of sec- tion 3. Oak Run has its birth in Jackson township, enter- ing Mifflin in section 18, and another in section 19. A small reinforcement meets Oak Run just as it is about leaving Mifflin for Salem township, in the northwest corner of sec- tion 4. Besides these tributaries mentioned, there are seven or eight streamlets, all adding their mite to the whole.
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Previous to any church building being erected in Mifflin township, services in the early settlement were held in school houses or in the cabins of the settlers.
Methodist Episcopal church, Wesley chapel, held their first meetings here in the winter of 1858-59, at Swartz's school house, and the society was organized in the winter of 1859, with about forty members. Their first church building was the first church building in the township. It was a frame structure and cost about $800, and was located in the southeast corner of section 15.
Methodist Episcopal church, Salem chapel, held its first meetings in this township in a log school house near Par- lett's corners, in 1857, and an organization was formed a year later with about twenty members. The first church building erected by this congregation in this township was named Salem Chapel, in the northwest corner of section 32, a brick structure, 32 x 40 feet, at a cost of $2,000.
The history of St. Mary's Catholic congregation, Kirby, dates back to 1860, at which time a number of Catholic fam- ilies had located at Kirby and vicinity. These first settlers were visited at intervals by the Rev. Father P. Henneberry of New Riegel, Ohio, religious services being held in private houses.
In 1863 the building of a church was planned by the lit- tle congregation. Mr. Frees donated six lots bounded by Main and Jackson streets, and Mr. George Thiel, one of the church trustees, collected the necessary funds. The church, a little frame structure, was built in 1865 and dedicated June 14, 1873, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmour of Cleveland.
The Kirby congregation was at first attended as a mission from New Riegel, and later on from Upper Sandusky and Bucyrus. The following pastors were successively in charge: The Rev. G. Spierings, Rev. Jos. Reinhardt, Rev. A. Gerardin, Rev. G. Peter, Rev. Chas. Braschler, Rev. D. Zinsmayer.
In July, 1875, the Rev. Father Jos. Rosenberg was ap- pointed first resident pastor of St. Mary's congregation. He enlarged the church and made a number of improve- ments. Under his successor, the Rev. Father John G. Mizer, St. Mary's school was opened in September, 1880. In April, 1882, were bought three acres of land outside the town of Kirby in Mifflin township, to serve as a cemetery, thus end-
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ing the use of the burying ground in the rear of the church.
With the growth of the Catholic population the want of a larger church was felt. In 1888 Mr. Paul Bricker donated three lots immediately north of the original parish prop- erty, on which the new church was to be erected.
The Rev. Father Fr. L. Hultgen assumed the pastorate of St. Mary's congregation in January, 1890. In April of the same year the foundation for the new church was com- menced. The cornerstone was laid June 15, 1890, and the church was completed in the fall of 1891. The building committee was composed of Mr. G. Thiel, Mr. Nich. Miller, Mr. Chas. Riedlinger, Mr. John Muller, Mr. E. Bremeyer, Mr. L. Wagner, Mr. J. Rall, Mr. J. Peiffer. Architect and builder is Mr. B. Kokence. The church is built of brick and generously trimmed with sandstone. Its dimensions are, width fifty-six feet, length, one hundred and four feet. Great was the joy of pastor and congregation on the day of its dedication for religious services, Nov. 22, 1891. They had indeed erected a beautiful temple to Almighty God.
In 1903 the Rev. Father Hultgen was transferred to Tiffin and succeeded by the Rev. Father Jos. Gerz. During his pastorate a neat frame school and pastoral residence were built, thus making the building outfit of the congregation complete.
In October, 1909, the Rev. Father Jos. Gerz was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Father J. B. Heinen in the pastoral charge. For a number of years the Kirby pastors had at- tended St. Joseph's Catholic mission, Salem township. In September, 1912, however, the mission was detached from Kirby by Rt. Rev. Bishop Jos. Schrembs of Toledo, who thus gave again to St. Mary's congregation the privilege of hav- ing regular religious services on all Sundays and Holy Days.
No debt encumbers at present the beautiful parish prop- erty, the last obligation having been paid off in the fall of 1912. The families that make up St. Mary's congregation number seventy-five, living in the town of Kirby, and in Salem, Mifflin, Jackson and Richland townships.
PITT TOWNSHIP
Pitt township derives its name from a Mr. Pitt who resided within the township at the time of its organization,
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and who removed here from New Jersey in 1822. This township is one of the most flourishing in Wyandot county, and the remarkable progress made in its social and material interests is well illustrated when the present prosperous condition of the township is compared with what it was at its formation.
The portion of Wyandot county designated by the above title was formed at the organization of the county in 1845. It is composed of twelve sections which formerly belonged to Salt Rock township, Marion county, and the remainder from the reservation. It is one of the southern townships of the county, being bounded on the south by Marion county, on the west by Marseilles and Mifflin townships, on the north by Crane township, and on the east by Antrim township.
Pitt is one of the most fertile townships of the county, a large portion of its area being made up of prairie land. The Sandusky river enters near the northeast corner of sec- tion 25, and flows in a tortuous, general northwest direction, leaving the township at the northwest corner of section 15, while the Little Sandusky creek enters near the center of the township on the south, and flows north, being joined by Honey Run from the east near the southern line of section 35, and uniting with "Big" Sandusky near the center of section 26. These streams water the eastern half of the township, which is also favored by several flowing springs. The western portion of the township is drained by several small streams.
The first thoroughfare laid out in this township was es- tablished prior to 1821, and was known as the Columbus & Sandusky road. It extended through sections 1, 35, 26, 27, 22, 15 and 16, and it was by this route the first settlers reached the Indian Mill above Upper Sandusky and the town of Delaware, where they were accustomed to go for supplies. They also went to the town of Fremont to obtain supplies and get their "milling" done. In 1839, the first sawmill run by water-power was constructed on section 35 by Thomas Holmes, and in 1844 this same enterprising gen- tleman built a grist mill, run also by water-power, on the Sandusky river in section 26.
There are two villages in this township-Little Sandusky and Harpster. The village of Little Sandusky was origi- nally established by the Indians, and Harpster was formerly
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known as Fowler. Both of these towns will be given further notice in another chapter. The town of Bowsherville was platted in thirty-four lots at an early date in the history of the township, but it never prospered and has no place on the map today.
At this late day it is difficult to state just who the first settler in Pitt township was. John Wilson, a native of New York state, is reported to have located here in 1820, being the first white man to call the locality his home, but it is also stated that Walter Woolsey came here in the spring of the same year. The former was a married man with eight children, and the latter was a bachelor, also from York state. He built a little log cabin in Little Sandusky in 1820, but in his maturer years he married.
It is also stated that Ebenezer Roseberry, a somewhat noted hunter and frontier sportsman, located in the southern part of the township as early as 1818, though it is not quite certain that any white man ventured to raise his cabin in that locality as early as that date. For 1820, we find the names of Ora Bellis, William and Samuel Morral and Ne- hemiah Staley; and in 1821 there appeared re-enforcements in the persons of Jacob Snyder, David H. Bargley, George Johns and Peter Bowsher. Anthony Bowsher was also one of the first settlers. He was born in Union county, Penn- sylvania, in 1800, and grew up, so to speak, on the frontier, the family moving from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day, and settling near Circleville, Pickaway county. An- thony was married in the fall of 1818, and in the spring of 1819 settled in this township, built a small cabin on "Gar- bland," and with one Staley, his father-in-law began im- proving eighty acres of land, which was surveyed during that year. In 1828, Major Bowsher, as he was latterly called, erected a building at Bowsherville. and began keep- ing a hotel and a store, which occupations he continued for forty years. He had a race track and for many years Bowsherville was a favorite rendezvous for sportsmen of this and adjoining counties. Among others said to have located in Pitt township in the early twenties were Alexander Frazier, Cornelius Wilson, Michael Harmon and Jacob Brewer.
In the spring of 1820, John Wilson built a log cabin eighteen feet square in Little Sandusky, and this was prob-
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ably the first clapboard roof put up in the township. The first schools were taught in a log cabin on Section 10, the house having formerly been occupied by Anthony Bowsher as a dwelling. William Brown, of New Jersey, was the first school teacher. In 1824, the first school building in the township was erected on Michael Harmon's land, the north- east quarter of Section 11, and here Mr. Brown taught at intervals for seven or eight years. Other early teachers were William Howe and Mary Howe. Ora Bellis established the first store in Pitt township, at Little Sandusky, as early as 1820.
The German Reformed church of Pitt township is now known as Emanuel Reformed church. It was organized in 1852. The first meeting of the society was held at the home of John Kepler, on Section 12, in 1850. The church was organized with about twenty-five members. In 1854 the so- ciety built a frame building, on the southwest quarter of Section 12, the structure being 25x35 feet in dimensions, and costing about $700. In 1872, this old church building was succeeded by a new one, a comfortable brick building, cost- ing $2,300, with dimensions of 35x50 feet. This church is now and has been for at least a number of years served by the same pastor as the Trinity Reformed church at Upper Sandusky. It is in a prosperous condition.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Bowsherville was or- ganized in 1853, meetings being held in school houses until 1859, when a church building was erected on the northwest quarter of Section 6. It was a frame building 30x40 feet. The society organized with about thirty or forty members.
The society known as the Fowler Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1853, and was originally made up of members from the Bowsherville society and a few from Little Sandusky. In 1878-79 they erected a church building, of brick, 40x60, at a cost of $5,000.
HARPSTER
The thriving little village of Harpster is located on the Hocking Valley railroad, about seven miles south of Upper Sandusky. It was founded in 1876 by David Harpster and John Wood. The town was originally known as Fowler, the name having been changed some twenty years ago. Its growth,
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while moderate and conservative, has been steady, and the population in 1910 was 239. Its business interests are alive and up to date and it possesses a splendid sytem of public schools.
The old town of Fowler derived its name from C. R. Fowler, who had lands adjoining the town. The village was located near the center of the township, just south of the old Wyandot reservation line. The first store in the village was established by David Harpster, who erected several buildings in the place.
LITTLE SANDUSKY
Little Sandusky was an old Indian village ere the whites settled what is now Pitt township. The Indians opened a trading post here as early as 1818. The village was laid out by the whites in 1830.
Little Sandusky is situated on the banks of the Little San- dusky creek near the Indian reservation, and was once an important trading post. Before the days of railroads, it had a daily line of stages which ran between Columbus and Detroit, and the prospects for its future greatness seemed quite flat- tering; but the march of time and the decree of fate gave it rivals in sister towns which taxed its vitality more than it could endure and prosper beneath, and the result has been an existence of mediocrity, both in the number of its inhabi- tants and the extent of its commerce.
The first house erected in the village was built by John Wilson in 1820. It was made of round logs, was eighteen feet square, and is now used for a stable. In the same year, Walter Woolsey also erected a log cabin, somewhat smaller, in the village. It is stated in the beginning of this chapter that Ora Bellis conducted a store in Little Sandusky in 1820. This was while it was yet an Indian village. After the town was regularly laid out, the first business room was built by Cor- nelius Wilson in 1830. He kept a sort of hotel and general store, and continued in the business for fifteen years.
The first white child born in the village was Henrietta, daughter of Joseph and Clilorine Wilson, May 27, 1822, then the only white family in the place.
The Little Sandusky of today has about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, a general store, a Methodist Episcopal church
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and schools which are up to date. Besides being one of the most historic towns in Wyandot county it has very romantic surroundings.
RIDGE TOWNSHIP
In the first settlement of Ridge township there were no established roads, and this was the cause of much inconven- ience to the settlers. The first regular road constructed was what was called the Mount Blanchard road, as was designated by the commissioners' report. Supplies were obtained from Upper Sandusky, Findlay and Sandusky City, and the thor- oughfares leading to these points constituted the chief lines of regular travel till the sectional roads were legally estab- lished.
At the organization of this county in 1845, the portion now known as Ridge township was existing under the title of Amanda, in Hancock county. It is a fractional township containing but fifteen sections, and was annexed to this county at the above date, deriving its name from the high limestone ridge which extends across its northern part. It is bounded on the east by Crawford township, on the south by Richland, and on the west and north by Hancock county. The southern portion of the township is comparatively low, and was once covered with a heavy growth of timber-beech, sugar maple, ash and walnut-much of which still remains, though the work of improvement is going on rapidly. With the present drain- age, large crops of wheat are being harvested from these lands, that at one time were supposed to be adapted to corn raising only. The northern part is of an entirely different makeup, both as to soil and surface feature. It is considerably elevated above the south half of the township, the soil consisting of a sandy loam, with clay base (white and yellow), and is espe- cially adapted to the raising of wheat, an interest closely looked after by its inhabitants.
The first white man to locate in Ridge township was Will- iam Homan, who located here with a wife and five children in 1832-33. He was followed soon after by Andrew Bates, with a wife and three children. In 1834, Jacob Jackson came to the township. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, but had removed with his parents to Ohio in 1822. George Greek was one of the few struggling pioneers in 1836. He
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was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but he had removed with his parents to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1816, where he grew to manhood. James Hunter came in 1836, from Fair- field county, this state. Casper Updegraff was one of the. early settlers, and located in the township about 1840. He was a man of great physical power and endurance, and did much hard labor. Another pioneer was Benjamin Fickle, who came from Pennsylvania to this township in 1841. Among those coming to the township at a little later date were Solo- mon Bocher, James Wohlgamuth, Joel Chesebrough and Henry Brown.
The first grist mill was located on section 14, and was operated by Isaac Wohlgamuth. It was a horse mill, and was established in 1848. It has long since been out of com- mission. The first saw mill was erected by John Long, in about 1836. It was run by water, and was constructed on the old upright plan. Progress soon compelled the old mill to cease operations. The first store was established by Eli Ragon, at what at that time promised to be a prosperous village- Ridgeville-but never reached much beyond the platting of its twenty-four lots. The town of Jamestown was also plat- ted with twenty-four lots, but never assumed the dignity of a village.
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