USA > Ohio > Fulton County > The County of Fulton: A History of Fulton County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships; Also a Biographical Department. > Part 20
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164. Trumpet Creeper. (Tecoma radicans, D. C.) B. A culti- vated climber.
165. Hardy Catalpa. (Catalpa catalpa, Karst.) B. Cultivated. A valuable tree.
166. Catalpa; Larger Indian Bean. (Catalpa speciosa, Warden.) B. Not so upright a growth as the preceding.
167. Button-bush. (Cephalanthus occidentalis, L.) A. Common shrub in swamps.
168. Common Elder. (Sambucus canadensis, L.) A. Common shrub, along fence rows and roadsides.
169. Red-berried Elder. (Sambucus pubens, Mx.) A. Not found in many places.
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170. High Cranberry-bush. (Viburnum opulas, L.) A. This shrub was found by the early settlers, but is not now found except as developed into the Snowball.
171. Dockmackie. (Viburnum acerifolium, L.) A. Not very com- mon small shrub.
172. Arrow-wood. (Viburnum dentatum, L.) A. A not very common tall shrub.
173. Sweet Viburnum; Sheep-berry. (Viburnum lentago, L.) A. A small tree. Not common.
174. Black Haw. (Viburnum prunifolium, L.) A. A common large shrub or small tree.
175. Snowberry. (Symphoricarpus racemosus, Mx.) B. Not com- mon shrub. Cultivated.
176. Coral-berry. (Symphoricarpus symphoricarpus, MacM.) B. Small shrub. Cultivated. Rare.
177. Small-flowered Honeysuckle. (Lonicera dioica, L.) A. A rare small shrub or vine.
178. Trumpet Honeysuckle. (Lonicera sempervirens, Ait.) B. A. cultivated vine. Common. Perhaps wild also.
179. Chinese Honeysuckle. (Lonicera japonica, Thumb.) C. Cul- tivated. Common vine about houses.
180. Italian Honeysuckle; Woodbine. (Lonicera caprifolium, L.) B. A cultivated vine.
181. Bush Honeysuckle. (Lonicera tartarica, L.) C. Cultivated. A beautiful bush when in flower.
182. Weigela. (Diervilla rosea.) C. A cultivated shrub. Compiled from my own observations.
THOS. MIKESELL.
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CHAPTER XIV
YORK TOWNSHIP
T OPOGRAPHICALLY, this township in general is level. Bad Creek with its tributaries drains the territory and flows in a southerly direction, entering the township at its northern boundary and running across it until the water finally makes its way to the Maumee river. The valley or bottom lands adjacent to these streams are especially fertile, highly improved and very valuable. Some other parts are not so rich for agricultural purposes. The streams mentioned above afford the drainage of the surrounding country.
The principal varieties of timber which abounded in exhaustless supply and excellent quality were hickory, walnut, butternut, ash, poplar, sugar maple, oak of all kinds, cherry and sycamore.
With the advent of the first white settlers, the woods abounded in game of all kinds known in the country. Deer and wild turkeys, exceedingly plentiful, afforded the principal meat supply of the early settlers. Every man and boy and some of the female popula- tion were expert hunters, and many are the tales told of hair- breadth escapes from, and single-handed contests with Bruin, the arch enemy of the young domestic animals about the settlers' cab- ins. Wolves, panthers and wildcats also made night hideous and nocturnal travel precarious with their prowling, stealthy and de- ceptive methods of attack.
The first settlement of York township antedates its organization by a couple of years. The township organization was effected on June 6, 1836, after the territory came under the control of Lucas county, and the very early settlers went all the way to vote at what is now known as York Center.
William Jones and family are entitled to the honor of being the first settlers, they having located in the township in May, 1834. They settled on the northeast quarter of section eighteen about five miles west of Delta on the old George Wright farm. It is claimed by some that William, John and James King were in the township earlier in the same year, but this is merely supposition, and the honor of being the first pioneer of the township is generally accorded to William Jones. It might be added here that he only lacked a twelve-month of being able to contest with Eli Phillips (who is mentioned in connection with Royalton township) the honor of being the first permanent settler in the county. Mr. Jones purchased land in the vicinity mentioned, and there built his cabin
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and established a home. Other families arrived soon afterwards and became near neighbors of Mr. Jones, but it must be remem- bered that "near neighbors" in those days might be separated by several miles.
By the close of the year 1834 the following named persons were residing in this township: William, John and James King were living on section 24; John S. Trowbridge, Cornelius Trowbridge, Alanson Trowbridge and a Mr. Hampton, in addition to Mr. Jones.
John S. Trowbridge was born November 18, 1816, in Saratoga county, New York, and settled with his family in York township in 1834, thus becoming one of the first permanent settlers in what is now Fulton county. He was a highly respected citizen and filled various local offices with honor to himself and satisfaction to his neighbors. Cornelius Trowbridge came from Saratoga county, New York, in 1834, and Alanson Trowbridge also came the same year. Mr. Hampton came that year looking for land. He took an entry of eighty acres made by William King, and moved upon it, cleared it up and made a fine farm. As stated above, William King and family settled in York township in May, 1834, and located lands on section 24, where they erected a cabin, which be- came their home, rude as it was.
John Murray settled in York in the thirties. He came from Pennsylvania and settled upon section 26, cleared and improved a large farm, reared a family and died thereon.
Robert McClarren, a brother-in-law of William Jones, came from Maryland and settled in York township, February 6, 1836. He was born in Maryland, January 28, 1809.
Henry Fluhart located here in the very early days of the settle- ment of the township, locating on section seven. At a later period he moved to Missouri and has since died, but members of his fam- ily remained in Fulton county and one son, James, was well known as a newspaper man.
Abram Cole and family came in January, 1835, and settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 25.
Peter Wise, Gilman Cheadle and William Fowler came in 1836. 'Gilman Cheadle was an early pioneer farmer and stockgrower, and was born in Morgan county, Ohio, in 1807. He settled in York township in 1836, and lived there continuously until 1870, when he removed to Wauseon and lived the remainder of his life there. He served as a postmaster fourteen years, being first appointed by President Jackson. 'Gardner Tremain came in 1836. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, April 15, 1813, and in early manhood came to Fulton county. He settled on sections 25 and 36, where he lived the remainder of his life. Rev. Uriel Spencer and son, Wil- liam, came in 1835 and settled on section .17. He was afterwards elected auditor of Lucas county.
John Jones came with his father, Wilnam Jones, and hence may be considered among the settlers of 1834.
John Batdorf settled upon section 21, in 1842. He was born
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in Pennsylvania, in 1816, removed to Wayne county, Ohio, and lived there until 1842, when he migrated to Fulton county and settled in York township. H. E. Whitney came at a very early date, and with his family settled on section 25.
James Trowbridge, wife and two children, left Saratoga, New York, July 4, 1837, and landed at Perrysburg, in the Maumee val- ley, thirteen days later. His route of travel was from Albany to Buffalo, by freight boat on the Erie canal, and from there on Lake Erie to Toledo, on board of the boat, Commodore Perry.
William Fowler, Sr., came originally from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, to Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1828, and in August, 1835, he came to Fulton county with his family. With him were three sons, who may also be considered pioneers of that age-Wil- liam, Thomas and Robert. The father located on his farm in York township and died there many years ago.
Stebbins R. Stebbins came to York in 1844. He was born in Middlesex county, Connecticut, March 30, 1808, and at the age of nine years was brought by his parents to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, the family moving with ox teams, a distance of 650 miles. Stebbins R. came to York in 1844, and became engaged in farming, which he followed until 1883, when he removed to Wauseon and lived the remainder of his life in retirement. While living in York township he served as justice of the peace and also held other minor offices. George Wright came in' 1847, and settled upon section 7. He was a native of England, where he was born, November 1, 1802. William Markle and wife, from Pickaway county, came in 1844, and Elijah Smith and his wife came in 1849. Mr. Smith was from the State of New York, where he was born, December 17, 1809. They settled upon section 26. 'Alfred B. Gunn settled in York in 1844. At that time he was in Henry county, but became a resident of Fulton on April 1, 1850, when that part of Henry county became a part of the newly-organized county. He was one of the delegates to the convention that established the boundary line of Fulton county. He settled upon section 12 in York township, and during his long and useful career served a period of six years as county commissioner, and was one of the commissioners who located the court house at the place where it now stands, in Wauseon. Fur- ther notice of Mr. Gunn is given elsewhere in this volume.
Samuel and Elizabeth Biddle settled in York township, October 13, 1842. They came from Pennsylvania, "the land of the Quak- ers," and raised a family of five girls and three boys. In his lifetime, Mr. Biddle was one of the foremost men of the township. He set- led on section 17, on lands that were entered and improved by Uriel Spencer, one of the first settlers. Mr. Biddle died, February 17, 1867. Calvin Biddle, son of Samuel, settled in York in 1842, having 'come with his parents from Pennsylvania.
Mark Berry, from Wooster, settled here in 1843, and Stillman C. Biddle in 1842. The latter came with his parents when but a small
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boy, and growing to manhood here, became one of the foremost men in the township.
Abner P. Brainard settled in York, in 1846. He was born in Genesee county, New York, December 20, 1828, and after locating in Fulton county became a brick manufacturer on quite an exten- sive scale. John Harrison came in a very early day and settled upon section 17.
The record of the first election in York township has been lost or improperly kept, but it is known that it was held at York Cen- ter, June 30, 1836, and elections were held at that place for a num- ber of years thereafter. One of the first justices of the peace, and in fact one of the first officers elected in the township was Alfred B. Gunn, but offices were not sought then as they are now. Mr. Gunn and Alanson Bradley were assessors for years. An office now abolished, and which it was difficult to get anyone to fill, was that of fence viewer. Alanson Bradley was born in Connecticut, April 12, 1802, and came to Fulton county in an early day where he filled the offices of school director, treasurer, assessor and land ap- praiser.
The first white child born in Delta, and it may be the first in York township, was to George Wood and wife, in 1841. The infant then ushered into the world was Mary Augusta Wood, who after- wards became widely known in the literary world, being a writer of considerable note. The first marriage was a social event of con- siderable importance, and was doubtless largely attended by the pioneer families in that section. The contracting parties were William Spencer of the male persuasion and Emily, a daughter of Mr. Donaldson, representing the gentler sex. The first school house erected in the township was located upon the farm of Wil- liam Trowbridge, one mile west of Delta.
The Presbyterians were the leaders in religious efforts in York township, the first meetings being held in the settlers' cabins. After continuing the services in the houses of the members for several years, school Houses were used, and later, houses for worship were erected. The first church built in the township was by the Presby- terian society of Delta; but at the present time, the township, in- cluding the village of Delta, has eight houses of public worship, located as follows: Four in Delta, one. each on sections 11, 29, 31 and 34, embodying in faith all the principal denominations of the county.
The first burying ground in the township was located at Delta, used by the German Baptist society, and a Mrs. Doolittle was the first person buried there. Nearly all the early churches provided a place for the interment of their dead, but these were gradually abandoned, and the cemetery at Delta contains the remains of many of the early pioneers.
The first tavern in York township was opened by C. B. Lewis at his private residence on the north side of the State road, at the present site of Delta. He kept a little tea and tobacco for sale, and
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on Sunday always had preaching in his house, so his was a dwell- ing, tavern, store and church. This was really the first beginning of business in Delta. The first resident physician was Erastus Lathrop, who settled near Delta and died very soon after the village was located. He has been succeeded by many others during the sixty-nine years that have elapsed since the organization of the town- ship ..
Delta was incorporated and assumed the position accorded by that legal proceeding by the election of a mayor and establishing a muni- cipal government. It has numbered among its mayors many esteemed citizens, not the least of whom is the present incumbent, George A. Everett. Delta is located in a beautiful agricultural district and is surrounded by the most fertile and highly prolific lands. The usual number of secret societies are represented in the town, each order being prosperous and numbering among its members many of the best people in the town and surrounding country. According to the census of 1900, Delta contains a population of 1,230. This is an increase of ninety-eight during the last decade, a percentage that is small, but it represents a substantial growth. It is a busy trading point, sustained by a large scope of good farming country, and its support is assured in the character and reputation of the business men. Some of the stores would do credit to a much larger place. Considerable manufacturing is also done, and an excellent public school in the village affords ample opportunities to the children in the acquirement of a good practical education.
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CHAPTER XV
SWAN CREEK TOWNSHIP
I HIS is one of the townships that was included in the town- ship of York when the latter was erected, and prior to the organization of Fulton township, it included all the terri- tory now embraced by the latter, south of the "Fulton Line." When originally organized, Swan Creek township was de- scribed as follows : All the territory belonging to Town seven north of Range eight east; also, the southern tier of sections in Town eight north of Range eight east, and including all the territory north to the Fulton line. It will be noticed that this description does not include the two southern tiers of sections in the present limits of the township, but it must be remembered that this strip of terri- tory was a part and parcel of Henry county prior to April 1, 1850, when Fulton county was organized. Swan Creek was organized in 1836, but the names of the officers who were elected then to administer civil affairs are no longer remembered; neither can it be learned who first served after the township was given its pres- ent limits. In March, 1841, Fulton township was organized, and nine years later Fulton county, as it now is, was created, thus giv- ing to Swan Creek its present limitations.
The surface of the township is gently undulating in some parts and quite level in others. The greater part of the northern portion of the township was heavily timbered, and contains, naturally, the strongest and readiest soil for agricultural purposes. A great deal of this township is what, in local parlance, is called "open- ings," or "open lands," a designation or qualification as applied to the character of the land the origin of which is somewhat difficult to determine. There is comparatively little waste land in the town- ship, and the condition of the farms, buildings, and surroundings are indicative of thrift and prosperity. The natural drainage of the township consists of a small sluggish stream called Blue Creek, a somewhat larger one called Bad Creek, both coursing in a south- easterly direction, and Swan Creek, from which the township was named, running almost due east, and all tributaries of the Maumee river. These streams are the objective points of all the numerous ditches 'now threading the township, by means of which it has, within a comparatively few years, obtained a very excellent drain- age.
Swan Creek township was mainly, especially in the northern part, covered with heavy timber, though there was originally consider-
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able marshy land upon which there was only shrubs and brush. But the wet lands have been recovered by ditching and under-tiling, until they are very valuable and highly productive. It is said that this boggy land originally seemed like earth floating on water, and that in the early days a pole could be forced into it to the depth of twenty feet. The principal varieties of timber were black walnut, sugar maple, elm, ash, oak, beech and hickory. Some of the choic- est timber was used for buildings, making rails, and sawing into lumber, but much of it which would now be very valuable was burned in clearing the land.
Among the first to establish a home within the bounds of Swan Creek township was William Meeker, who was found there in the woods as early as 1833, according to the reminiscences published in regard to the life of Peter Manor, the Frenchman of the Mau- mee. Another conspicuous figure in that early day wilderness was Nathaniel Leggett, an extended mention of whom is given on an- other page. Clearing the land and hunting was his occupation for about ten years, and there was no doubt fully as great a fascina- tion in those pursuits as in many of our later day pastimes and vocations. He located in Swan Creek, about 1834, and he is said to have been a great worker and hunter. He encouraged settlers to come to the place, and did much toward starting the township on its final prosperous career.
Others of this township's first settlers were John Witmer, Wells Watkins, Joshua Fassett, Thomas Gleason, David Williams, Ec- cles Nay, Looman Hall, Sidney Hawley, William Fewless and Jesse Browning, all of them becoming residents therein prior to 1840. John Witmer settled in the northwestern part, on what is now section seventeen, in 1834.[ He came from Berne, one of the three leading cantons of Switzerland, and both he and his wife were natives of that country. After settling in Swan Creek, they first lived in a bark shanty, in the woods, and on June 21, 1834, a terrible storm of wind and rain blew down the trees of the forest in a frightful manner; but fortunately not one limb struck the pioneer's cabin. In due time a portion of land was cleared and planted and a better house erected.
Wells Watkins was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, April 7, 1818. He grew to manhood there, and on August 6, 1838, when but twenty years of age, he left the place of his birth and journeyed nine days to reach Fulton county, where he settled and endured the hardships of pioneer life. The first winter he carried his grists three miles on his back to a horse mill; walked to Perrysburg to market, starting on Monday morning and returning on Saturday evening, paid fifteen dollars per barrel for flour, fifteen cents a pound for pork, one dollar and fifty cents per bushel for potatoes, etc. At that time he had to chop two and a half cords of green hickory wood for a day's work, for which he would receive fifty cents. Indians were numerous, the nearest village was Maumee, and this state of things continued for some time after his settle- ment in the township. Mr. Watkins was in Company H, One
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Hundred and Thirtieth regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the one hundred day service during the war of 1861-5.
Joshua Fassett was a native of Ontario county, New York, and settled in Swan Creek township in 1834. Eccles Nay was born in Bristol, Vermont, September 11, 1807. In early manhood he mi- grated to Ohio, and settled in Swan Creek township in 1834. After paying for his land he had no money left, and no personal property of any kind except an ox team. But the few neighbors, among whom were David Williams, William Meeker and Sidney Hawley, were kind and accommodating, and subsistence was partially pro- vided from the abundance of wild game all around. The settlers had to go with ox teams to Maumee for provisions, a journey of three days. Wolves were abundant, and the early settlers used to build fires to scare them away from their cabins at night. Mr. Nay was at twenty-seven log-house raisings the first summer after his arrival, and that fact gives us some idea of the rapidity with which that locality was being settled at that time. James Nay, grandfather of Eccles Nay, was one of the "Tea Party" at Boston, and carried away some of the tea in his shoes, which was in the possession of his friends at his death. He was also in the Revolu- tionary war and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill.
In 1834, as nearly as can be ascertained, William Fewless, an Englishman by nativity, came from Long Island to Swan Creek, but the malaria and mosquitoes were so annoying that he became discouraged, and returned to his former home. He did not remain at Long Island a great while, however, before he returned west and came into Swan Creek township once more, where he lived for many years and cleared and improved a farm. He died there in 1881.
John Watkins, a native of Steubenville, Jefferson county, came into this township about a year later than William Fewless, but he was a resident there only a few years, when his land, on the organization of Fulton township, was included therein, and in consequence his allegiance was changed. He was a cousin of Wells Watkins.
Jesse Browning, who died in Swan Creek in 1867, went there from Oswego county, New York, his native State, in 1835, and about the same time Alexander and Africa Spalding became set- tlers; also John Viers. Africa Spalding was a native of Maine, and John Viers was born in Jefferson county, Ohio. The latter died July 2, 1873. In 1836, Ormand Pray settled on land in the neigh- borhood of the farm known as the J. D. Lutz farm, and about this time a man named Crosby, who was a hatter by trade, located about three miles due south of Centerville. Mr. Crosby has been dead many years and left no descendants. In 1839, Jacob Reighard, a member of that provident class of people known as Pennsylvania Dutch, came from the Keystone State and settled in section twenty- eight of this township, where he lived the remainder of his life,
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dying in 1866. He was buried in the Raker cemetery, which burial ground was established in 1836.
Socrates H. Cately, who is given appropriate mention elsewhere, was also one of the early settlers of Swan Creek township. Com- ing to those who settled her at a later date, among the more promi- nent are to be found the Templetons, Braileys, Bassetts, Blakes and Lewises. Thes families were all people of push, energy and resolute intellectual force, some of the members rising to local prominence as business and professional men and teachers.
John Templeton, the progenitor of the Templeton family in Swan Creek township, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1807. Early in life he came with his parents to Ohio and settled in the thriving county of Wayne. There he lived until 1853, when he removed to Fulton county and located in Swan Creek township. The family descended from the Highland Scotch and Irish and its members were very stout and robust. John Tem- pleton, in his best days, weighed 446 pounds, and could take an iron bar seven inches square in his hands and lay it out of his road. He was known to lift a dead weight of a thousand pounds, but his splendid gifts of nerve and muscle. were never expended in the physical opposition of anyone. Nathaniel Templeton, grandfather of John, lived `near where Simon Girty led the Indians across the Ohio into Pennsylvania, and was with Crawford in the battle with the Indians on the Sandusky plains. He was wounded in the first day's fight, and, overcome by the loss of blood, was captured on the third day and tomahawked and scalped by the Indians. His comrades obtained and buried his body and carried his gun home to his wife. This relic is still in the possession of the Templeton family, considerably over one hundred years old.
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