The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 72

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

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Victory Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F., at Mount Victory, was insti- tuted July 10, 1874, by M. Denel, M. W. G. M., of Urbana, Ohio, with the following charter members, viz .: Horton Park, Peter S. Howe, F. L. Denman, W. A. Rinehart, J. N. Richardson, A. Thompson, W. M. Tits- worth, A. J. Stouffer, D. B. Rinehart, D. H. Le Van, E. W. Riley, C. W. Morrow, T. J. Boyd and Daniel Butler. Elective officers: Horton Park, N. G .; Daniel Butler, V. G .; W. N. Titsworth, R. S .; F. L. Denmon, P.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

S .; and D. H. Le Van, Treasurer. Present membership, thirty-four, with the following officers: Peter S. Howe, N. G .; John McDonald, V. G .; T. P. Willaur, R. S .; L. Winders, P. S .; and Daniel Butler, Treasurer. The lodge meetings are every Saturday eve, at Odd Fellows Hall.

Ridgeway Lodge, No. 693, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 29, 1880, by H. P. Gravatt, M. W. G. M., with the following charter members, viz .: O. V. Fisher, A. Williams, M. M. Cottrell, J. A. Rumer, A. Baldwin, R. P. Lukens, Joseph Miner, E. W. Riley, A. Koplin, J. H. Dickison, J. Davis, R. McElhaney, T. J. Cottrell, D. H. Keach and O. C. Hutchison, with the following officers: D. H. Keech, N. G .; John Davis, V. G .; M. M. Cottrell, R. S .; E. W. Riley, P. S .; and R. P. Lukens, Treasurer. Present membership of the lodge is forty one, with officers as follows: A. Baldwin, N. G .; Jacob Vasser, V. G .; James Gardner, R. S ; J. D. Cor- win, P. S .; and T. G. Vasser, Treasurer. The meetings of the lodge are every Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows Hall, Ridgeway, Ohio.

CHURCHES.

The first sermon ever preached in Hale Township was by Thomas V. Green, a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the house of Lewis Andrews, in February, 1832, from the following text: Mark, xvi, 15th verse, " Go preach the Gospel to every nation." The first hymn sung, " Jesus, the name high over all." Second hymn, " How beauteous are their feet." At this meeting a class was organized of the following four members: James Andrews and wife Mary, and Lewis Andrews and wife Mary. The first circuit preacher was Rev. Thomas Simms. This was then a part of the Bellefon- taine Circuit. The first family Bible and hymn book were bought by James Andrews, costing $4-half a month's wages in that day. Preaching con- tinued to be held at his house for about ten years, Lewis and James An- drews serving as class leaders. Then meetings were held in the schoolhouse till the organization of churches at Mount Victory and Ridgeway, when the members here mostly united with those societies, and this organization ceased.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Ridgeway was first organized in the schoolhouse, about 1851-52, and erected a frame church building in 1852- 53, which served as a place of worship till the summer of 1873, when they erected their present church edifice at a cost of about $2,500, and the house was dedicated to service in December of the same year, Rev. Thomas Har- vey Wilson preaching the dedicatory sermon. Some of the first ministers on this circuit were Revs. William S. Morrow, D. D. Davidson and Mr. Day. Since 1856, they have been as follows: Revs. Lemuel Herbert, A. J. Frisbee, Joshua M. Longfellow, Samuel Boggs, H. J. Bigley, Hiram Shaffer, P. Webster, Leonard Richards, David Rinehart, L. O. Cook, Heury Boyer, J. W. Morrisson, Caleb Hill, Mr. Douglass, V. Pond, William Shultz, J. S. G. Reeder, J. W. Whiting, T. J. Jagger, and John Parlett, who is the present pastor in charge. Class Leaders, Moses Kennedy, George Rule, William Rumer, Charles Rush, and the present one now serv- ing is Moses Kennedy. The present membership of the church is about thirty-six. A Sabbath school was organized at an early day, and has been kept in good prosperous condition most of the time, The average attend- ance at present is about forty-five, with Harper Willis as Superintendent.

After the organization of the society of Methodists ceased in the An- drews neighborhood, spoken of above, and about the same time the church at Ridgeway was organized, a class was formed at Mount Victory, some of

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HALE TOWNSHIP.

whom were as follows: Dr. Blair and wife, Timothy Meers, Jonathan Jones, Mary Asbury and James Boyd. They held their meetings first in the schoolhouse, then in the United Brethren Church, till about 1858, when they purchased of Isaac W. Pennock the unfinished Baptist Church, which he had bought at Sheriff's sale, then completed and soon after duly dedicated for service. This house served the people until the erec. tion of the present large and substantial brick church in 1879, at a cost of $3,100. The church now has a membership of 140, with B. W. Day as pastor, and W. I. Witcraft, E. A. Chapin, F. M. List, Elias Converse- and George W. Wooley as Class Leaders. The Trustees are W. I. Witcraft, Elias Converse, E. A. Chapin, J. M. Boyd, Harris Williams, S. G. Hum- phrey and William Bloomer (the latter died in March, 1883). They have a large and flourishing Sabbath school, average attendance 125, with E. A. Chapin as Superintendent.

Baptist Church, Mount Victory .- About 1852 or 1853, Elder Lyons or- ganized a Baptist society, some of whom were as follows: Thomas Gar- wood and wife, Joseph Elliott and wife, William McClerin and wife, and Artimacy Elliott. In 1857, they commenced to erect a frame church, but were unable to completely finish the building, and becoming involved in debt, the house was finally sold at Sheriff's sale and purchased by I. W. Pennock, who sold it to the Methodists as above stated. From this time the society ceased to exist as an organization, and no church of that denom- ination has ever been organized here since.

United Brethren Church, Mount Victory, was organized at the school- house, one-half mile south of the village, in January, 1852, by Rev. Henry Snell, consisting of the following members: John Garwood and wife, Thomas Garwood and wife, William McCall and wife, George Seaman and wife, David Williams and wife, Samuel Jones and wife. Anninias Jones and wife, Joshua James and wife, Isaac Andrews and wife, Rachel Dille, Hopy Garwood, Jonathan Jones, E. C. Wright and wife, James Wright and wife, and others whose names are not now obtainable, to the number of fifty-five in all. They erected the present frame church build- ing the following summer, so as to be occupied for services, and subse- quently finished the fitting up, and the house was dedicated in the summer of 1855, Rev. John Hill preaching the dedicatory sermon. The church has been served by the following ministers: Revs. Henry Snell, F. B. Hendricks, William Miller, James M. Ley, Thomas Downey, Hobert Wilgus, Mr. Bodey, Jacob Kiracoffe, Mr. Johnson. James Wilkison, R. Moore, J. H. Kiracoffe, Mr. Parthemore, and Mr. Montgomery, who is the present pastor. The first Class Leader was John Garwood, and Rev. Henry Snell is the present leader. In building the church, a great amount of work was done by the members without any charge, so that when the church was completed it had not cost, in actual money paid out, over $500. The church prospered for many years, and at one time contained a large membership, but from time to time many died and others moved away, until the membership became very small, so that at present there are only about twelve members. The house has become old and dilapidated, and unless the Grace of God moves the hearts of the people to more earnestness in behalf of the interests of the church, it is in great danger of becoming extinct. They had a Sabbath school connected with the church until a few years ago, when it ceased for want of sufficient interest to keep it up.

Church of God -This church was organized in February, 1872, by Elders D. S. Warner and Burchard, in the Schertzer Schoolhouse, with the

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

following members: Simon Schertzer and wife Bell, T. C. Bonham and wife Elizabeth, Milton Marsh and wife Louisa, J. W. Wade and wife Ma - linda, Silas Schertzer and wife Catharine, Solomon Schertzer and wife Lu- cinda, J. N. Haines and wife Charlotte, Allen Haines and wife Malissa, Edward Haines, Iowa Haines, Nancy Schertzer, John James and wife, James Ellison and wife, Thomas Thompson and wife Sarah, Mrs. Susan Harger, Charles Harger, Hannah Schertzer, Sarah Minshall, Ellis Minshall, Rees Minshall, Elizabeth Minshall and Henry Leadman, with Simon Schertzer and Milton Marsh as Elders, and J. W. Wade and Silas Schertzer as 1 eacons. In the summer of the same year, they erected their present frame church, 30x35 feet, at a cost of about $1,200, and the house was dedicated in the following December by a sermon by Elder J. C. Sea- brooks, of Pennsylvania. The following ministers have served the church: Elders W. P. Small, Solomon Kline, J. W. Cassel and Aaron McNutt. The present membership is about thirty, with Samuel D. Young and T C. Bonham as Elders, and Charles Melvin and Edward Buff as Deacons, the latter deceased March 8, 1883. Trustees, T. C. Bonham, Nathan Haines and Solomon Schertzer. The church has a small cemetery of its own, which is mentioned under the heading of cemeteries, Emanuel Schertzer, who died July 9, 1844, being the first person interred there. A good Sunday school has existed in connection with the church since its organization, with an average attendance of about thirty; present Superintendent, Charles Mel - vin.

Grassy Point Methodist Protestant Church was organized in the old schoolhouse at Grassy Point, it is believed, by Elder Plummer, consisting of the following members: Ira Baker and wife Rebecca, Benjamin Curl and wife Mary, Isaiah Oglesbee and wife Sarah, and Mrs. Oglesbee's father, James Paxton and wife, and probably a few others. They held their services in the old schoolhouse until the building of the new one, since which they have held services in it up to the present time. They have been administered to by the following pastors, viz., Elders Plummer, John Lawson, Mr. Senter, Mr. Mulvain, Mr. Shepherd (the latter died while on this charge), A. Munson, Mr. Knox, and Mr. Smith, who is now serving as the pastor of this people. Ira Baker was the first Class Leader, and served many years. The present membership is about forty, with Enos Baldwin as Leader.

Pleasant Grove Christian Church was organized April 3, 1872, at the Pleasant Grove Schoolhouse, by Elder William Webb, of Licking County, with the following members: Sarah A. Marshall, Thomas Dunson. Mary Dunson, Peter W. Lane, Matilda Lane, Harrison Lake, Mrs. Lake, Joseph E. Wood, Ruth A. Wood, Robert Hopkins, Andrew Thompson and Ann R. Thompson. Trustees, Robert Hopkins, Peter W. Lane and Joseph E. Wood; Treasurer, Harrison Lake; Clerk, Anderson Thompson. The first who served as Deacons were Peter W. Lane, Alexander McCulloch and Christian Copp. Services were held in the schoolhouse until the fall of 1878, when they erected their present frame church at a cost of about $1,000, and the same was dedicated on the second Sabbath in October of the same year, Dr. N. Summerbelle preaching the dedicatory sermon. He was from Yellow Springs, and was assisted by Elders C. T. Emmons, William Webb, Thomas Hestings and N. McCloud. The following ministers have served the church as pastors: Elders William Webb, for four years, N. Mc- Cloud, one year; C. T. Emmons, two years; L. D. Brown, two years, and A. C. Williams is now serving as their pastor. The present membership

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MARION TOWNSHIP.

of the church is about ninety-six, with Peter W. Lane, F. Wayne Sommers and G. L. Thompson filling the office of Deacons. A good Sunday school is conducted in connection with the church, with an average attendance of fifty scholars, with Zane M. Hiatt as Superintendent.

Presbyterian Church of Ridgeway was organized by Rev. Mr. Kalb at the White Swan Schoolhouse, in May, 1875, consisting of the following persons : Alexander Denison, W . J. Early, Nancy Early and Amy Hill, with Alexander Denison and W. J. Early as Elders. They held services in the above-mentioned schoolhouse and in the Methodist Church until in. 1879, when they erected their present church edifice, at a cost of about $1,600, and the same was dedicated to service in December of that year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. Robinson. Rev. J. Alexander has served this society as its pastor ever since its organization, and William Irwin, William J. Early and Alexander Denison have filled the office of Elders, the last two now serving in that office. The present membership is thirty. The present Trustees are William J. Early, R. J. Williams, Alexander Denison and William Swysgood.

Catholic Mission, Mount Victory .*- At Mount Victory, the Catholic priests of Kenton, ever since the year 1866, would frequently collect a little band of worshipers in some private house. There the people would assist at holy mass, receive the sacraments and hear the word of God. Only two Catholic families remain in the village at present, although formerly there were more, but when all the members from the neighborhood and from Ridgeway are collected together it makes still a little congregation of eight families.

MARION TOWNSHIP.

This subdivision is situated on the western boundary of the county, and is bounded on the north by Liberty Township, on the east by Cessna Town- ship, on the south by the Scioto River and Round Head Township, and on the west by Allen County. It contains nearly thirty-two sections, or 20,343 acres, valued at $309,740, or an average value of $15.22 per acre-about 35 per cent of its selling value. The population of the township, according to the census of 1880, is 986 `persons, all white, or a little over thirty to the square mile.

The township occupies the extreme summit of the water-shed of the State, the northern tier of sections being drained by Hog Creek, which heads up close to the Marsh, and the rest of the township by the Scioto River. The ridge in this township is among the highest lands of the State, being near- ly a thousand feet above Lake Erie; although so flat and wet, the great Scioto Marsh covers nearly one-half the township in the southeast and cen- tral part thereof; the low lands extend, in some places, to near the Allen County line, near the middle of the western line of the township, al- though a ridge of about two miles wide runs across the northern part of the township, valuable rolling lands, equal in fertility to any in the county, and if the great marsh can be thoroughly drained, Marion Town- ship will stand at the head of the agricultural list in the county.

*By A. S. Siebenfoercher.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Mathew Dolson, a native of Canada, settled on lands in the forks of the two roads, near Huntersville, in 1833. He married, and had a family of several children. He resided here several years, but subsequently moved away with all his family.

Isaac McElhaney, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America and first settled in Pennsylvania, but soon removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he married Miss Margaret Kirkland, and in the fall of 1834 removed to Hardin County and settled on the east half of the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 10, in Marion Township, where he resided till his death. He died April 2, 1871, aged seventy-two years. He was thrice married, and was the father of the following children: Margaret, John, Mary Ellen, James, Martha J., Catharine and Nancy.

John McClure, a native of Ireland, married Mary Kirkland, in Licking County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1834 came to this township and settled on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 10, where he still lives and has resided a period of forty-nine years. His wife died February 4, 1866. Subsequently, he married Mrs. Eliza Ann Cory. Mr. McClure has sustained the reputation of an honest, upright man and a worthy citizen.

Sampson Shadley was a native of Virginia, and early removed to Lick- ing County, Ohio; thence, in the fall of 1834, came to this county and set- tled on the north side of the marsh, south of Huntersville. He was twice married; by his first wife, Catharine Trump, he had the following children: Jacob, Christena, Ann, Hiram, Sampson, Lydia, Polly and Docia. His second wife, Mrs. Lyon, from Columbiana County, bore him five children, viz., Henry. Asa, Maria A., Sarab E. and William W. Mr. Shadley re- mained a resident of the place where he first settled till his death, and was interred upon his own farm. He was an honorable and a just man, and in his later years a devoted member of the Methodist Church.

John F. Sudor, a native of Harrison County, Va., born in 1812, married Nancy Brown, of Lewis County, of that State, and emigrated to Logan Coun- ty, Ohio, in the fall of 1834; in 1839, came here with his family and settled on Section 32, where he resided till quite aged, when he removed to Ada, where he died November 11, 1879. His wife still survives, and resides upon the old home place with one of her daughters. Mr. Sudor purchased eighty acres when he first settled here, for which he paid $2.50 per acre, and commenced right in the woods, poor and penniless, and by industry and economy became the owner of 400 acres of excellent land. He sus- tained an untarnished integrity, and was respected by a large circle of friends. Their children were Minerva J., Margaret Ann, Permelia E., Mary D. and Sarah C .- all living.

James McAdams, a native of Tennessee, came to Fayette County, Ohio, in the summer of 1833, where he married Sarah Haines, and in the month of November, 1834, removed to this county and settled on Section 3, where he entered his land and began right in the woods; and here he resided till his death, November 21, 1856. His father, James McAdams, who also settled with him, died here. Mr. McAdams' children were Mary C., Han- nah, Alfred O .. Melvina, Samuel H., Charles G., Rachel J., James E. and five who died in infancy.

James Thompson, a native of Maryland, married Michey Kelly and re- moved to Harrison County, Obio; tbence, in 1835, settled in Marion Town- ship, on the northwest quarter of Section 8, where he remained a resident till his death. Their children were Henry, Elizabeth, Thomas, Edwin, Charity and James.

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MARION TOWNSHIP.

Samuel Kirkland was a native of Virginia, but of Irish descent. He came here and settled near Huntersville in the spring of 1835. He was elected the first Justice of the Peace of this township, and served many years by re-election. He was a man of more than ordinary intellectual ability, and was a highly esteemed citizen. Subsequently, he removed to Iowa, where he died. His first wife was Elizabeth Emmerson, by whom he had three children-Rebecca, James and Mary. His wife died of cancer. His second wife, Nancy McBride, bore him three children-Keziah, Mar- garet and John. His third wife, Love McBride, moved West with him, where she died-after which he was twice married.

Isaac McCoy was a native of Virginia; settled about two miles west of Huntersville, about 1835. He married Miss Christopher, a daughter of Leven Christopher. Subsequently, he sold his farm and removed to the place where he now lives, on the northwest quarter of Section 30.

Thomas Irwin, a native of Ireland, came to America while young, and, in the fall of 1835, settled in this township, near Huntersville. He mar- ried Esther Kirkland. About 1857-58, they bought property in Ada, to which they moved, and have since remained residents of that town.

David Kirkpatrick came from Guernsey County, Ohio, and settled on the north west quarter of Section 31, about 1835, where he resided about twenty years, and removed to Iowa, where he died. He was a man of con- siderable wealth, and when he settled here he entered nearly a whole sec- tion of land.

Thomas Monitt settled northwest of Huntersville, on Section 1, where he entered over one and a half sections of land, but resided there only a few years and moved away.

Jesse Garwood, a native of Pennsylvania, where he married Cidney Gregg, came to this county and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 3, in the spring of 1835-36. Here his wife died, and about eight years after, he married Mrs. Rachel Swain. He subsequently removed to Allen County; thence went to Iowa; but again returned to Allen County, after which he removed to Fulton County, Ohio, where he died. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. By his first wife he had the following children: Bani, Isaac, Fenton, Senith, Hannah, Joseph, Lydia, Catharine and Cyn- thia A .; by his second wife, Jesse, Malissa and one name not obtained.

Patrick Conner settled in the southwest quarter of Section 4, in 1836. He was thrice married. His second wife was Mrs. Margaret Smith. By his first wife his children were Sarah, Charles, Elijah, Abraham, John, Lizzie, Ann, Lydia and William; by his second wife, Jacob, Samuel, Lydia, Daniel and Mary.

Alexander Lantz was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1812, where he married Julia Ann Wolverton. In 1833, removed to Logan County, and, in the spring of 1836, to Hardin County and entered eighty acres of land on Section 31, where he has since resided. The great char- acteristic of Mr. Lantz's life has been his unflinching devotion to the busi- ness of buying and selling stock. For forty years he has made this his leading business. He has traveled almost every road and by-way in North- west Ohio. Ho has, probably, bought, shipped and sold more stock than any other man in this part of the State. In an early day, he was a great hunter, and says that from the date of his killing his first deer to the time when he shot his last it was just forty years, and that, the last hunting he did, his last four shots killed five deer. He is the father of the following children: Sarah Ann, George, Elizabeth, Newton, Tamar, William,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Emily, Lot, Alexander, Julia Ann, James, and one who died in infancy, All are living but two-Julia Ann and William; the latter died in the war of the rebellion.

Samuel Patterson was born in Ireland in 1807, emigrated to America with his parents in 1812, and settled in Harrison County, Ohio, and there married Jane Davis. In the fall of 1836, they removed to Hardin County and settled on Section 19, Marion Township. Here he entered 240 acres and began right in the woods-not a stick amiss; and here he made a beautiful farm, with fine buildings and improvements. Subsequently, he purchased more land, until he owned 440 acres. He was a man of great industry and financial ability, and won the esteem and respect of his many acquaintances. He was an active Christian worker, first in the Methodist Church and later in the United Brethren Church. He was a local and

itinerant preacher for about forty years. He died March 12, 1874. His children were William D., Catharine, Sarah Jane, Margaret, Samuel, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Mary, Esther, Jemima, Joseph, Nancy, Ella and Susanna; all now living except Joseph, Rebecca and Esther. Henry Stull came here from Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1836, and entered, there, quarter sections of land; resided here a few years, sold out, and moved to Illinois with all his family.

Meshack Ryan came from Fayette County, Ohio, and settled near Hun- tersville in 1836, resided here many years, but subsequently removed to Indiana, where he died. He married Elizabeth Garner, by whom he had the following children: Henry, James, Mary, Elizabeth, Matilda, Enoch, Job and Benjamin.

Joshua Ford, a native of Maryland, came to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1827; in 1836, removed to this township and settled on the southwest quar- ter of Section 5. In 1838-39, he erected a horse mill for grinding-one of the first mills in this section of the county. He remained a resident here till his death. He married Sarah Kelly and had the following children: Ruth, Thomas, John, Joshua, Amos, Henry, James, Michey E. and Loyd.

Asaph Shadley, a native of Virginia, and a brother of the above Sampson Shadley, settled here, just west of said brother, in the fall of 1837. He married Margaret Wolverton in Virginia. He remained a resident here through life, but died suddenly in Michigan, while there on business; his remains were brought back and interred upon his own farm. His children were John S., Nathan, Ann, Susan Jane, William A., Daniel V., David and Elizabeth.

William Harriott, a native of Virginia, became an early settler of Adams County, Ohio; thence, in the spring of 1837, removed to this township and entered 160 acres in Section 31, where he resided till his death. He mar- ried Julia Ann Hoover, of Allen County, by whom he had the following children: Ephraim and Caroline, deceased-the former served in the war of the rebellion, was taken prisoner and confined in the Andersonville prison and was finally exchanged, but not until so far exhausted by starva- tion, that, upon obtaining food, he over ate, and died in a few days.

Hamilton Scott came here from Carroll County, Ohio, in 1837-38, and settled on Section 22, and remained a resident of the township until his death. He had a family of fourteen children, all deceased but two -Jane, now the wife of William Scott and resides in Ada, and Martha, who resides in Indiana.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 72

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