The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 63

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 63

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CEMETERIES.

Henkle Cemetery .- This piece of land is situated on the extreme south- east corner of the southeast quarter of Section 20, and was donated for this purpose by Reuben Henkle. The first occupant of this land was James Hill, who settled here in 1825, and whose aged mother died either in 1825 or in 1826, and was the first person interred in this cemetery. The second person was Phœbe Lay, since which it has received the remains of many of the pioneers-John Mahan, Samuel Tidd, William Given and others.

Round Head Cemetery. - This was first dedicated to use by the reception of the body of Samuel Zimmerman, a son of Michael Zimmerman, who died August 1, 1836, aged nineteen years; since which the grounds have been filled with the dead of the early settlers and others of this vicinity. A few years since, the Trustees purchased grounds just east of Round Head, on nice, elevated lands, which they have laid off into lots and fenced and improved, so that it is now a pleasant location, and well suited for the purposes intended.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery. -- This consists of about two-thirds of an acre, which was donated for the purpose by James Hill, about 1848. The first person buried here was Margaret Sharp. It has since become nearly filled. In the spring of 1879, the Trustees purchased two acres of land of Samuel J. Wirick, a little south of the church, and on the east side of the pike, fenced and laid it off into lots, and have made it a nice cemetery. First buried here was Marietta Hill, a daughter of James R. and Elizabeth Hill. She died November 11, 1879.

TAYLOR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

From authority of some of the oldest residents of this township, it appears that it was erected into a township about the time Hardin County was organized, or very soon after, as the first election was held May 4, 1833. As it was first organized, it embraced Hale, Buck, Lynn, and per- haps a part of McDonald Township, in addition to its present territory. But of its exact limits, originally, or positive date of organization, we are left totally in the dark, so far as the record of any official act touching upon this matter is concerned, as we have elsewhere asserted that the burning of the court house, in March, 1853, destroyed all the Commissioners' re- cords relating to these matters. But there are persons still living here who were residents here then, and whose recollections are clear and distinct upon these matters, and from them we have obtained the above approximate dates, which are evidently as nearly correct as it is possible to obtain them. The township is said to have received its name in honor of Gen. James Tay- lor, of Kentucky. Geographically, it is located in the southern central part of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Lynn and Buck Townships; on the east by Buck and Hale Townships; on the south by Logan County, and on the west by McDonald Township. Its length is about six miles, by four and one-half miles in width, and contains twenty-seven square miles, or 17,280 acres.

SURFACE, SOIL, STREAMS AND TIMBER.

The surface of this township is more diversified than most of the other townships. Some of the northeastern portion of the town- ship and along Taylor Creek, which is the principal stream of the township, the surface is quite broken and hilly, while some of the western and northwestern portion is generally level, other portions are undulating. The soil is principally a clay and loam, rich and productive, yielding good crops of corn, wheat, oats and hay. The subsoil is a gravel, strongly mixed with a disintegrated limestone, and in some places crops out near the sur- face, and furnishes the best material for building pikes and roads. There are but two streams of any size, Silver Creek, which rises in Sur- vey 10,013 and flows in a northeast course through the township into Buck, and finally empties into the Scioto River above and west of Kenton, and Taylor Creek, which rises on the land of S. Stewart near the south line of the county, takes a northeast course through this and Buck Townships, and empties into the Scioto just above Kenton. This township, like most of the other townships of Hardin County, was originally very heavily tim-

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TAYLOR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

bered, the varieties of timber being about the same as have been mentioned in the history of other townships, oak, ash and beech being the leading or most abundant varieties, of which there have been great quantities of beau . tiful logs cut and sawed into lumber, besides thousands which in the early settling of the country were rolled into log heaps and burned to get them off the land.

PIONEERS.

Two brothers-Charles W. and Samuel Stevenson-were the first per- manent settlers of 'Taylor Creek Township, locating on Survey 10,014, in March, 1827. The history of this family will be found in another portion . of the work to which we refer our readers, viz., Chapter IV, of the General History.

Thomas, James and John Collins, with their widowed mother, came in the fall of 1828 and located or land now owned by Ira C. Richards on the Cabel and Calvin Survey, No. 10,015. Thomas married Sarah Bailey, by whom he had the following children: James, Mary, Jane, Beniah, Harriet, Mariah and Margery. Mr. Collins died September 16, 1867, aged sixty- seven years. James, his brother, married Elizabeth Hullinger. He was the father of the following children: Daniel, Margery J., Samuel, Amanda, John L., Sarah, Elizabeth and Mary, and two or three who died in child- hood. Mr. Collins died April 26, 1861, aged fifty-two years. John, the third brother, was twice married, and had several children, but early moved to the West; thence back to Indiana, where he died. Joseph, a fourth brother, came here and settled about one year later. or in 1829. He mar- ried a Miss Adams, by whom he had the following children, viz .: John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Elijah, Mary, Alanson and Anna. Mr. Collins died September 30, 1840, aged forty-four years.

James Scott came here from Greene County, Ohio, and settled about the same time or soon after the Stevenson family. Subsequently he mar- ried Jane Patterson and settled on land now owned by William Fry, on Survey No. 10,000, where he resided till his death. His children were Emily, Mariah, Tully, Ruhamia, Snook, Rebecca, Cynthia, Margaret and Charles, some of whom were deceased, and the balance have moved away. Mr. Scott was the first Justice of the Peace of Taylor Creek Township.

Samuel Hatfield came here from Logan County, Ohio, about the same time or soon after the Collins and the Bailey families. He married a Miss Zane, of Logan County; she died, and he married, for his second wife, Miss Nancy Collins. He had four children by his first wife and six by his last, but only one-Noah -- the eldest child by his first wife, is now a resident of this county. Mr. Hatfield never became owner of any land here, but sub- sequently removed to Michigan, where he and his wife died.

Joshua Caseman was a native of Kentucky but became an early settler of Logan County, Ohio; thence, in August, 1829, came to this township, where he was married to Eliza Bailey and settled on land now owned by O. Pyers, on Survey No. 10,001, where he resided till his death. His chil- dren were Hannah, Sarah, Lucretia, Elizabeth and three who died young.

William Bailey, a native of Virginia, married Mary Alcott and came to Hardin County in 1831 and settled on Taylor Creek, on Survey No. 10,015. Mr. Bailey was born in 1786 and married in 1817. His children were as follows: John, James, Nancy, Emiline, Silas, Basel, William, Thomas, Oner and Calvin, all of whom are now deceased but Thomas, who resides in McDonald Township. Mr. Bailey died December 6, 1853, aged sixty- seven years. John, the eldest child, married Emily Kerns, and subsequently

580

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

removed to Indiana, but again returned and settled in Lynn Township, where he died, March 19, 1883. Their children were Nathan, William, Margaret, Jacob, John, Marion, George and Thomas, all residents of Lynn Township, except Marion, who is deceased. James, the second son, married Sarah Deacons, and subsequently removed to Paulding County, Ohio, where he died. They had the following children: Mary M., George and Nancy (deceased), and Jerome, Louisa, Noah, Rebecca and Thomas. who all reside in Paulding County. Silas, the fifth child, married, for his second wife, Nancy Norman, June 14, 1849, and settled on the old home place of his father, where he resided until his death, March 10, 1882. Of his children, Nathaniel, Alwilda E. and Mary Rosella are deceased, and Jonathan, Mar- tha Jane, William, Fletcher, Basel W. and Curtis W. still survive. Basel, the next younger than Silas, married Eliza Collins and resided on a part of the old home place until his death. Their children were Kelly, Laura, Leighton, Elliott, Alice, Sallie and Mellie.

John Wilcox, with his sons, Jonathan, Samuel, William and John, all settled near Yelverton in 1832, where the father died. The sons subse- quently sold out and moved away, except Jonathan, who now resides in Belle Centre.

Andrew Porter was born in Kentucky, May 11, 1800, and on September 29, 1830, was united in marriage with Rebecca Dunlap, who was born in Morgan County, Ohio, July 2, 1805. They came to Greene County; thence, in 1833, to Hardin, and settled on land now owned by his son, James T., on Survey No. 10,000, where he died, October 6, 1867. Mr. Porter was a man of quiet and reserved habits, a kind neighbor and much respected cit- izen.

Elisha Byers settled near where Yelverton is now located, about 1834, but subsequently removed to the West.

Benjamin McIntire also settled near Yelverton with a large family of children, some of whom were married when they came here. They settled here about 1834-35, but subsequently they sold their property and all moved away.

Thomas Wilcox, a native of Ross County, Ohio, married Hannah Gates, and in the fall of 1833 removed to Hardin County and settled near Yelver- ton, on land now owned by the widow of Thomas Sloan. He finally re- moved to the place where his son, H. N. . Wilcox, now lives, where he died in April, 1858, aged fifty-seven years.

Henry D. Thorp came here from Logan County and settled on land now owned by Edward May, on the Scott & Fox Survey, No. 10,001, about 1832 or 1833. He married a Miss Moots, of an early pioneer family of Logan County. He was the first Sheriff of this county, but, in 1834-35, he removed to Logan County again, and subsequently to Missouri.

Homer P. Stevenson was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1816, and was a half brother to Charles W. and Samuel, the first settlers of the town . ship previously spoken of. He came here about 1835. In 1840, he mar- ried Mary Ann Hullinger, and is still a resident of this township, and whose biographical sketch will appear in another part of this work. Mr. Stevenson has served as a Justice of the Peace for many years, and is a very worthy citizen.

Jeremiah Liles came from Ross County to Logan County, Ohio; thence, about 1836, located on the place where he now resides in Taylor Creek Township.

Andrew Miller came here from Muskingum County and settled where he now resides, about 1836 or 1837.

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TAYLOR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Jacob Seig was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed with his parents, while young, to Virginia; thence, in 1828, removed to Logan County, Ohio; thence, in 1839, he came with his parents to this county and located on the place where his son, P. K. Seig, now resides. He died January 5, 1855, aged seventy years.

ROADS, RAILROADS, TOWNS.

As was mentioned above, this township has an abundance of gravel of good quality, which makes excellent pikes, of which this township has a good supply, and of which we mention the Kenton & Bellefontaine pike, the Yelverton & Kenton pike and the Taylor Creek pike, all running in a . northeast and southwest course, diverging by three different routes from Kenton toward Bellefontaine, and one main pike coursing east and west, pass- ing through from Silver Creek eastward to the other pikes. The old " Hull trail" passed through the west part of Taylor Creek Township, to Fort McArthur, and northward to Sandusky.

It has one railroad, the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western (orgi- nally Mad River & Lake Erie).

There was at this time need of a town and station, and, in 1858, Messrs. Harris & Goss laid off some land in lots, streets and alleys, surveyed by R. D. Millar for a town, which was named Yelverton, in honor of Mr. John Yelverton, of New York, who at that time was a large stock-holder in this railroad. In 1867, a subdivision was made by Stevenson & Rude. In 1868, an addition was made by Charles Main. Philip Hisey opened the first store, in 1858, and a post office was established with Mr. Hisey as Post- master. R. K. Lane was the first blacksmith. At one time, there were three stores in the village, but at the present time there is but one, a gen- eral store, by Philip Hisey, and a population of about seventy-five.

In the first running of the railroad, a station was placed six miles south of Kenton, called Hudsonville. In June, 1867, Frederick Hanger laid off some land at this station into lots, streets and alleys, surveyed by R. D. Millar for a town, which was duly platted and recorded under the name of Silver Creek, from the name of the stream which passes near by it. The first store was opened by Frederick Hanger. He was succeeded by Robert Ewing, who was also the first station agent and Postmaster. It is now a small village with about fifty inhabitants, with two stores by Robert Ew- ing and John Rice; one steam saw mill, by Samuel. Wenner; one black- smith, James McWilliams; one tile factory, by Chamberlain & Winner, and one warehouse for receiving and shipping grain, by John Rice.

SAW MILLS.

The first mill ever erected in the township was built by Charles W. Stevenson, on Taylor Creek, in 1833-34, and run by water-power. This mill was run about eight or ten years, and then passed out of use. There was a saw mill at Yelverton, but it has long since gone out of use. Messrs. Russell & Scott erected a mill at Silver Creek, which ran a few years and ceased to be used. In 1867-68, Mr. I. Oglesbee erected a steam saw mill located on his land in the east part of the township, which has continued in operation to the present time. These are the principal mills that have been in existence in this township. There has never been a grist mill in the township.

SCHOOLS.

The first school that was ever taught in Taylor Creek was by Jonathan Seig, in a log house of the primitive kind, located near where the St.

582

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Paul Methodist Church now stands; this was about 1835-36. And from this time on, from settlement to settlement, schools multiplied, until, in 1882, the Board of Education renders the following report: Total re- ceipts for school purposes, $3,497.50; total expenditures, $2,783.61; bal- ance on hand September 1, 1882, $713.89; number of schoolhouses in the township, 9; number of rooms, 9; number of teachers necessary to supply the schools, 9; average wages per month paid teachers-male, $35, female, $25; average number of weeks the schools were in session, 28; number of scholars enrolled, boys, 240, girls, 150; total, 390.

CHURCHES.

St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. - This class was first organ- ized in 1835-36 by Rev. Enos Holmes, at the house of John Collins. Some of the members were James Andrews and wife, Rebecca Por- ter, Unity Stevenson and Nancy Collins, with James Andrews as class leader. But this organization, it appears, did not continue long, and, in 1843, a re-organization was effected at the house of James Stevenson, by Revs. Phillips and Nickerson, with the following members, viz., Rebecca Porter, Unity Stevenson, Nancy Collins, Silas Stevenson, Harriet Bailey, James Andrews and wife and Rebecca Seig, with Silas Stevenson as class leader. Services were held for some time at the house of Mr. Stevenson, then in the schoolhouse. The above mentioned ministers served the society two years, when the conference sent to the charge Rev. Thomas, who preached two or three times and deserted them, after which no preaching was had until about 1853, when the Scioto Mission took charge of the society and placed it under the care of Rev. John K. Ford, who effected a re organization, consisting of the following members: Rebecca Porter, Unity Stevenson, Harriet Bailey, Andrew Porter, Mrs. Jane Scott, Jacob Sponsler, Margaret Sponsler, John Evans, Lavinia Evans, Lydia Seig and P. K. Seig. This organization took place at the Taylor Creek Schoolhouse, where they continued to hold their services until the fall of 1877, when they erected their present neat brick church, which was dedicated Decem - ber 13, 1877, by Elder David Rutledge and Rev. J. S. G. Reeder, who was then the pastor in charge. The following ministers have served the church since its organization: Revs. Lemuel Herbert, S. Roberts, Mr. Taylor, J. Bower, David Bull, A. J. Frisbee, J. M. Longfellow, Enos Holmes, Mr. Morrisson, Samuel Boggs, H. J. Bigley, Hiram M. Shaffer, P. Webster, Leonard Richards, David Rinehart, L. O. Cook, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Boyer, Mr. Morrisson, V. Pond, William Shultz, J. S. G. Reeder, Mr. Whiting, T. I. Jagger and John Parlett, the latter being the present pastor; class leaders, John Evans, Silas Stevenson, Ira Richards, Thomas McElree, John Reefer, and C. A. Porter, who is their present leader. The present mem- bership is forty. A Sabbath school was organized soon after the church was instituted the last time, in 1853, and now has an average attendance of about forty, with C. A. Porter as Superintendent.

Silver Creek Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church. - The first organiza- tion was effected at the Norman Schoolhouse, about 1860 or 1861, it is be- lieved, by Rev. A. J. Frisbee, consisting of the following persons: S. P. Layman and wife, Louisa Albert, Martha Koons, Joseph Brown and Eliz- abeth Brown. About 1863, they purchased an unfinished church building at Silver Creek, which had been erected by the Presbyterians, and who be- came involved in debt and unable to finish the structure. This building they completed and brought into condition in which to hold services, and

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TAYLOR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

the same was duly dedicated while the church was under the charge of Rev. Elisha Webster, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. Lorin Webster. The following have been ministers to this society: Revs. A. J. Frisbee, L. M. Longfellow, Samuel Boggs and H. J. Bigley, who served while the church was in the Mount Victory Circuit. It was then placed in the Round Head Circuit by the conference, after which the following min- isters were in charge: Revs. Isaac N. Kalb, Benjamin Bowen, V. Pond, Mr. Cameron and P. Webster. Again a change occurred, and this society was placed in the Ridgeway Circuit, the Mount Victory Circuit having been divided into two circuits; but it only remained one year in this cir- cuit, when the society was placed in the Silver Creek Missions, during which it was administered to by Revs. Samuel Hagerman and J. S. Reeder. Then again it was placed back in the Ridgeway Circuit, where it has since remained, and has been served by the following ministers: Revs. William Shultz, J. S. G. Reeder, Mr. Whiting, T. I. Jagger, and John Parlett, the present minister in charge. Class leaders have been as follows: S. P. Layman, Henry Albert, H. N. Wilcox, W. C. Pendre and F. Sherman; the two last mentioned are now serving the classes; present membership, about sixty. A Sabbath school has existed most of the time; has an average at- tendance of about thirty-five, with James McWilliams as Superintendent.

United Presbyterian Church of Silver Creek .- This society was organ- ized in the spring of 1881, consisting of fifty members, some of whom were as follows: James Ewing, J. B. Douglass, L. A. Stewart, Levi Derr, D. J. Derr, James McCauley, John Sloan, with their wives and some of their children, also Mrs. Douglass, Mary Rice, Mrs. Wenner, Mrs. John Rice, Mrs. William Stewart and others. They erected their present neat brick church in the

summer of 1881; it is 32x46 feet, and cost about $2,000. The house was duly dedicated, Rev. Williamson preached the dedicatory sermon, and was assisted in the services by Rev. Black, of Rushsylvania, and Rev. Wright, of Northwood. At the time of dedication they were $550 in debt, which amount was immediately raised, and the church was dedicated free of debt. The first Ruling Elders were James Ewing and Levi Derr. The church now has a membership of fifty-five, with the same Ruling Elders. The Trustees are J. B. Douglass, J. Sloan and D. J. Derr.

CEMETERIES.

There are two or three early family burial places, but only one fully constituted public cemetery. In 1851, P. K. Seig set apart a piece of ground for burial purposes, and his daughter, Martha Ann Seig, who died October 9, 1851, was the first person buried there. This was kept as a private burial place until about 1865, when Mr. Seig made it free to the public, on condition that an association be formed under the State laws creating and regulating cemetery associations; but the organization was never effected until February, 1883, when an association was formed with the following charter members, viz .: John C. Bailey, Freeman Por- ter, James T. Porter, James Lowry, T. W. Carr, Jr., Homer P. Stevenson and P. K. Seig, with P. K. Seig as President; J. T. Porter, Secretary; and H. P. Stevenson, Treasurer.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP.

It is believed-and so stated by Mr. D. H. Edgar-that this township was organized in 1833, the same year the county was erected; and such we find on record, it being one of the early settled and first organized town- ships of the county. It originally embraced all, or nearly all, of the north- ern portion of the county, and even some territory now embraced in Wyan- dot County; then Jackson Township was erected; then Washington, and later, Liberty Township. In 1845, Wyandot County was organized, and some territory then embraced in Jackson Township was attached to said county, and, to preserve the identity and dimensions of said Jackson Town- ship, a portion was detached from Blanchard and attached to Jackson Town- ship, which then left Blanchard with its present limits, being in form a rectangle, four sections wide from east to west and six sections long from north to south, embracing twenty-four square miles, or 15,360 acres. It is situated in the northern tier of townships, and bounded as follows: On the north, by Hancock County; on the east, by Jackson Township; on the south by Pleasant, and on the west by Washington Township. This territory was originally covered by a very heavy growth of timber, and required a long-continued and persistent labor to open out, clear up and bring the land into condition to be easily cultivated and productive, and its first settlers had to endure many hardships and deprivations.

The first settlers here were compelled to travel through the dense for- ests to Logan County to obtain meal or flour-a distance of about forty miles. Some would use " hominy blocks " to pound their corn, then sift out the finest for meal to make bread. This difficulty of the pioneers in- duced John McBride to visit the Wyandot Indians at Upper Sandusky, and purchase a hand mill, about twenty inches in diameter, with two small buhrs, which ground very well by being turned by a lever or sweep, and was regarded as a great acquisition to the settlement. This mill would grind about two bushels per day. Subsequently, a horse mill was pur- chased by William Ford, of Allen County, about fifteen miles distant, which was much resorted to and did very good work. This mill ground for this neighborhood for about twelve years. This was succeeded by a draft mill, built by Mr. Benjamin Eulin, in Washington Township. A great trouble and hindrance to the early settlers was the "milk sickness," which prevailed in some sections to an alarming extent, and in some families half their number died of this dreaded disease, and many oxen and horses that ran at large in the woods would become affected with the disease, and often die in a short period of time. After the country was opened out and culti- vated, the disease disappeared, and there was no longer danger in the free use of milk and butter. Game-such as deer and turkeys-was plentiful, which, together with the wild hogs, furnished the settlers with an abun- dance of meat.

SURFACE, STREAMS, SOIL, TIMBER, ROADS, ETC.

The surface of Blanchard Township is generally level or slightly un- dulating. Its principal stream is the Blanchard River, from which the township takes its name. This stream rises in Pleasant Township, near

THOMAS SLOAN

587

BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP.

Kenton, flows north to northeast and passes through the southeast part of this township, receiving, in its course, one small tributary, known as Cessna Creek, then, in a northeast direction, enters Jackson Township. This is the only stream of any importance within this township. The soil is rich and productive, yielding, abundantly, wheat, corn, oats and hay. The soil is a loam and clay, with enough admixture of sand to give more warmth and dryness than generally exists in the eastern and southern parts of the county. As stated above, this was originally very heavily timbered, and, as Mr. Edgar states, the trees were tall and straight, with very little undergrowth, this having been destroyed and prevented by yearly fires by the Indians. This gave a clear sweep for the hunters, whose view for- game was thus unobstructed; and the appearance of these mighty forests, with their straight, towering trees reaching heavenward, with such a clear and unobstructed view over the surface underneath their branches, was beautiful indeed; and with the abundance of wild game, which then ex- isted here, it is not strange that the pioneer hunter was fascinated with the beauty of the situation. The varieties of timber are the same as have been enumerated in other townships, the leading and most valuable being ash, maple, oak and beech, of which there have been thousands of most beauti- ful logs sawed into lumber. This township is well supplied with gravel for building roads, and also has some limestone quarries, which produce some good lime, and much of the stone is found in thin layers, one upon another, which are easily flaked off and broken into small fragments and then used for building macadamized roads, and for ballasting railroads. This township has built and has in construction several of these macadam- ized roads, and it can boast of some of the best pikes in the county. The progress and improvements here have been rapid. A little more than fifty years ago the first white settler set his foot upon the soil of Blanchard Township. Now it contains many beautiful, cultivated farms, with fine dwellings and improvements. These, with its fine pikes, railroad, tele- graph and telephone lines, with all their conveniences, are in marked con- trast to the wilderness and wild scenes of those days. If there be the same degree of progress during the next fifty years that there has been in the past fifty, who can imagine or portray the condition of this people and country then? It is beyond the power of the pen of the historian, and we can only leave it to be developed as the years roll by.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 63

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076