The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 75

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 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Saint Peter's German Reformed Church was organized August 16, 1868, at Forest, by Rev. Charles Shoaf, with fifteen members; but it continued for only a brief period, when the organization ceased and has never been re-organized.

Catholic Church, Forest .*- About fifteen or twenty years ago, there were about fourteen Catholic families at Forest. Their number, however, never increased sufficiently to warrant the erection of a church; for, although new families would be added from time to time, yet death took away many of the members, whilst others moved to places closer to a church and Cath- olic school, so that at present only eight families remain. Thus, of the earliest Catholic settlers, John Sullivan, William Bowler, Thomas Manning, Peter Brown and James Dorgan died at Forest; Louis Bittel and Thomas Mongiven departed this life after moving elsewhere; Ferdinand Kurtz, James Moran and James Lilis are living at other places, whilst the Widow Manning, the Widow Curtin and the family of Jacob Schotts still remain. The first priests coming to Forest were Fathers Mathias, Kreusch, Henry Drees and Patrick Henneberry, of the Society of the Most Precious Blood. Father Mathias the people used to call " the old saint." Afterward Father Murphy, from Lima, attended; then again Father Mathias and Father Christian French, C. P. P. S. From 1866, the priests stationed at Kenton attended this place, as a rule, once in each month, generally on week days but exceptionally on Sundays. Then came, in order, Fathers Nicholas Ray- mond Young, Augustine M. Quatman, Nicholas J. V. Fas, and, toward the end of 1871, the writer of this sketch. Forest remained in our charge ever since, excepting about seven months in 1881, when the priest of Bellefon- taine, Rev. Honoratus Bourion, had received the appointment. Our rev-

* By A. S. Siebenfoercher.

684

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

erend assistants, mentioned elsewhere in this work, very frequently con- ducted divine worship at this station. At first, service was held principally in the houses of Mr. Kurtz and Mr. Moran. The former still remembers helping Father Patrick to make the first rough confessional. In 1875, we celebrated mass in one of the rooms of the public school building. We rec- ollect teaching catechism and hearing confession in one room, whilst the teachers' institute met in the other. Since 1875, service has been held in the house of Mr. Schotts. Among the more devoted members, for the last nine years, Jacob Weiman deserves to be honorably mentioned.

Patterson Methodist Episcopal Church .- We have been unable to obtain as full and complete a history of this society as we desired, from the fact that all its first members, it appears, have passed away, either by death or removal; but, from the best information we could obtain, it was organized about 1847, in the old log schoolhouse just east of the village, by Rev. Fechtly. Some of the members were as follows, viz .: A. F. Stanley, Elizabeth Price, Mrs. Purdy, John Jackson and Henry Zimmerman and wife Betsey, with A. F. Stanley as Class Leader. They held services in the schoolhouse until about 1852, when they erected their present frame church, which was duly dedicated to service. The society has had its sea- sons of prosperity and its times of adversity. They had, at one time, a season of great revival, and forty persons were taken into full connection in the church. At its maximum of prosperity, it has had a membership of about a hundred and forty members. Some of the early ministers were Revs. Williams, Hagerman, Joseph Good, Joseph Wykes, Enos Holmes, I. N. Smith and Bigley. The present membership is seventy-three, with Rev. J. H. Cater in charge. Stewards, Freeman Owen, Benjamin Jackson, C. L. Freeman Owen, John Gardner and Z. Sherwood.

Forest Methodist Episcopal Church .- The early history of this church is nearly gone to oblivion, like that of the Patterson Church. It was, however, probably organized a few years later than that at Patterson. Some of the first members are believed to have been as follows: Rev. Bainbridge, Henry Bainbridge, Andrew Bainbridge, Mr. Blue and Conrad Zimmerman. Their church building was the first erected in Forest, and has gradually increased in membership until now (1883) the church has a membership of 120, with Rev. J. H. Cater as its pastor, and J. S. Hale, Samuel Briggs and E. H. Van Buren, Stewards. Class Leaders are E. D. Cole, W. K. Evans and J. H. Forney.

CEMETERIES.

The first established burial-place in this township is on the Hueston land, on the bank of the Blanchard, in the southwest corner of Section 1, and was dedicated to the reception of the dead by James E. Hueston, on the death of his wife, Mrs. Margaret Hueston, who died August 18, 1831, and whose body is deposited here, and from that time to the present has re- ceived many of the dead of the early settlers of this neighborhood. The old Patterson Cemetery, situated half a mile northwest of Patterson, on the north line of Section 18, was generously donated for burial pur- poses by Josiah Price about 1849-50. A few years since, it was deeded to the Trustees, and is now kept fenced and put in order by them. Here rest the remains of many of the early and prominent men of Patterson and vicinity, such as A. W. Worley, Dr. A. F. Stanley, John Mc Vitty, Henry Zim- merman and many others. Patterson Cemetery, situated just a few rods further, and on the opposite side of the road from the old cemetery, was

WILLIAM STEWART

687

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

purchased by the Trustees for burial purposes, and it is believed received the body of the child of Capt. P. C. Boslow for the first burial in these grounds, since which there have been deposited here the remains of Will- iam Pisel, Josiah Price, Stephen Purdy, William Copeland and others.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

From the most authentic sources now to be had, this township was or- ganized by the Commissioners in December, 1835, or at their first regular meeting in 1836, as the first general election was held in the spring of the latter year at the cabin of Richard Hamilton, and the first officers elected were as follows: Township Clerk, George Adams; Justice of the Peace, Alexander Anderson; Trustees, Benjamin Ullin, George Lynch and John Fry; Constable, Richard Hamilton. At this election there were eleven votes cast, as follows: Allan McBride, Mahlon McBride, Asa Church, Alexander Anderson, John E. Fry, Richard Hamilton, Jacob Slider, Solo- mon Slider, Jacob Crow, George Lynch and George Adams. The Judges at this election were John E. Fry, Richard Hamilton and Asa Church; Clerks, Alexander Anderson and George Adams. This subdivision of Har- din County is in the central part of the northern tier of townships, and is designated as Town 3 south, Range 10 east. It is bounded on the north by Hancock County, on the east by Blanchard Township, on the south by Cessna Township, and on the west by Liberty Township. It is six sections or miles from east to west, and the same from north to south, forming a perfect square of thirty-six sections, or thirty-six square miles, containing an area of 23,040 acres.

STREAMS, SURFACE, SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.

There is but one stream in this township of any importance-Hog Creek-which takes its rise in the north part of Cessna Township from two sources, one in Section 9 and the other in Section 4, flowing north-north- west into this township, forming a junction in the northeast quarter of Section 29, from which point originally it nearly lost its identity in its ex- pansion into and over the great Hog Creek Marsh, but again re-appearing at the north west part of the marsh in Liberty Township and flowing a west and thence in a northwest course until it empties into the Maumee River, and by it into Lake Erie. The entire surface is very level, with but very few undulations, and these are very slight. The soil is generally a deep, rich loam, with just enough admixture of clay and sand to give it the right consistency to constitute it one of the best and most productive soils in the county or in the State, yielding with ease of cultivation abundant crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay, and especially adapted to the growth of all escu- lents, roots and vegetables.

This portion of the country, like the most of Hardin County, with the exception of the marsh (of which we shall speak more definitely hereafter), was originally very heavily timbered, and it took many hard blows from the ax, by the brawny arm of the pioneer, to fell the mighty giants of the forests, and years of patient waiting for the forces of nature to decompose

688

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

the stumps and roots, and thus remove them as obstacles to the free and easy cultivation of the soil. The principal varieties of timber were white, red and black oak, beech, ash, elm, maple-soft and sugar-hickory, lynn, and some walnut and sycamore; of these, oak, ash, beech and elm predom- inated.

A peculiar natural feature of this township was the "Hog Creek Marsh, " which embraced most of the western portion of the township, including ten or twelve sections of land. This was covered in the summer with a tall, coarse grass or a thick growth of bushes, and in winter mostly covered with water, being entirely unfit for cultivation; in fact, much of it was impossi- ble to be traversed, even by stock in the driest weather, without miring. The only benefits to be derived from it were a crop of flags which it pro- duced, which were gathered in abundance, from which the long leaves were stripped and used by the coopers in the manufacture of barrels; and along the borders of said marsh some coarse grass was cut and cured for hay, and in some few places large crops of cranberries were gathered, which was probably the most valuable of anything obtained from this great and other- wise almost useless scope of lands. Not only were these lands a great ex- panded waste, but they were more than this-they were a barrier to the free intercourse of the surrounding sections of country one with the other, and to the commerce and the transportation of the products of those sections. In the construction of the road now known as the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, which passes east and west through the center of Washington Township and also of the marsh, this great waste of land proved a very expensive portion of the road to build; the material upon which to lay the ties and rails had to be hauled great distances, and after completion and trains were running over it, every now and then a portion of the road would sink and require a large amount of material to again fill up and raise the road to its proper level. It seemed to be almost impossi- ble to reach the bed of the marsh and obtain a solid road bed. This con- dition of things lasted for about ten years, till finally it ceased to sink, the material having reached a solid stratum at the bottom of the marsh. During this period of time, many a train was precipitated into the marsh, and much time wasted and many of thousands of dollars expended in repairing losses and damages. This marsh probably embraced about 8,000 acres of land, and before any ditching or draining was done was not in demand at the Government price, $1.25 per acre, and now some of it is worth from $75 to $100 per acre. And it is probable that the average value of the entire body of these lands would now be upward of $40 per acre. It is true it has cost many thousand dollars to drain it to its present condition, but if we enter into a little financial calculation, the result is astonishing. Assuming that there are 8,000 acres, and that the average value is now only $25 per acre, the difference in the value of this entire body of land now and its former value is $191,800-a nice little fortune-even after deducting the several thousand dollars that have been expended in draining and improving it.

ROADS AND PIKES.

From the description of the surface and the soil of this township, it is plainly discernible that here is not much material convenient for construct- ing pikes, hence we would not expect, neither do we find, but few pikes constructed within this territory. There are, however, three pikes built, viz., one from North Washington, south upon the section lines to the south boundary line of the township, a distance of nearly four miles; one run-

689

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

ning east and west upon the boundary line between Cessna and Washington Townships, a distance of three miles; and one from North Washington to Dunkirk, a distance of two miles within this township, thus constituting about nine miles of pike in the township; and these are of a superior qual- ity, being thoroughly macadamized. The balance are mud roads, which in the summer season are, from the level and smooth surface of the country, among the most beautiful roads in the State over which to ride. And even in the winter and wet seasons, they are, from the nature of the soil. far better than those of some other portions of the county.

PIONEERS.

John Fry was one of the first to locate within what is now Washington Township. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and with his parents, Enoch and Mary Fry, emigrated to Ohio at an early day and settled in Coshocton County; thence, in 1832, removed to this county and located on land now owned by Mrs. Hannah Curn in Washington Township, from where, after a few years' residence, they removed into Blanchard Township and settled on land now owned by Alonzo Lynch, where the parents died from that ter- rible and then prevailing disease-milk sickness. Enoch Fry was the father of the following children: Jacob, John, Joshua, Daniel, Jonas, Stephen and Catharine. Of these, John died of milk sickness; Daniel ac- cidentally shot himself, from the effects of which he died; the balance of the children, after a few years' residence here, returned to Coshocton County, where Jacob resided till his death, in April, 1881; Joshua and Catharine still reside in that county. Jonas is now a resident of Muskin- gum County, Ohio, and Stephen moved West. John Fry, the second son, married Mary Mowry, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of George W. Mowry, who settled in Blanchard Township in 1832, where he resided un- til his death: by her he had five children-Enoch, George W., Charity, Col. Jefferson and John. Of these, Charity, the only daughter, died young; George W., in 1850, moved to Illinois; in 1851, to Oregon; in 1853, to California, where he resided about twenty years, and thence removed to Washington Territory, where he still resides; Enoch, in the spring of 1851, crossed the plains to California, where he remained about five years; started to return by vessel, was shipwrecked, but was saved, and returned to California, where he remained one year longer and then returned to Ohio; and he, Col. Jefferson and John are now residents of Blanchard Township. Enoch, the eldest son above mentioned, served in the war of the rebellion, four years, in the Ninth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Jefferson en- listed in the Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served over three years, and re-enlisted as a veteran; was taken prisoner and con- fined in a rebel prison, but finally paroled. John also served about one year near the close of the war in the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Andrew Petty settled and erected the first cabin in the north part of the township about 1832-33, but. remained only a short time and moved away. Also another man by the name of Petty, about 1833, settled on land now owned by John Bame; was rather eccentric, an old bachelor, never mar- ried, resided here a few years and also moved away. About 1834, Mr. Young came from Pennsylvania and settled upon the land that Andrew Petty vacated, as mentioned above, but remained only a few years, when he returned to Pennsylvania. Richard Hamilton, a native of Richland Coun- ty, Ohio, settled here one mile east of North Washington. He married a

690

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Miss Lynch, a daughter of George Lynch. He located here about 1834, and resided about twenty-five years, and removed to Idaho, where he still resides. The first election of the township was held at his cabin, and he served as the first Constable, also filled the office of Justice of the Peace for more than twenty years.

John McBride settled on land now owned by N. Ahlefeld and George McElroy about 1834, where he resided until his death in 1862. He was a man of integrity, a good neighbor and worthy citizen. His children were as follows: Margaret, Mahlon, Allen and Mariah, who now survive and reside in the West; Nancy, Bebecca and Love are deceased.

William Thorne was a native of Maryland, then a resident of Virginia, where he married Margaret Fulk, and removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, thence to Trumbull County, and in July, 1836, came to this county and settled on land now owned by Elizabeth Summerville, where they resided till their death; he died about 1848 and she about 1853. Their children were James, Elizabeth, Henry, William, Mary, Thomas, Cassander, Benja- min, Sarah, Rachel, Jacob, Rebecca and one that died in infancy.

Robert McMillen, of Irish descent, came here from Knox County, Ohio, about the same date and settled on land now owned by the heirs of Joseph Ream. He was thrice married, his first wife dying before he came to Har- din County; his second wife was Susanna Baker; she died and he married Mary M. Smith. About 1843, he moved to near Dunkirk, thence a short time prior to the war of the rebellion he removed to Illinois, where his wife died. He subsequently removed to Missouri, and died in that State. Some of his children are dead and the balance of them are in the West.

Andrew Kridler was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Washington County, and when young went to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he mar- ried Mary Thorne, and in the fall of 1836 came to this county and settled on land now owned by Willis Young, where they resided until their death. His wife died December 8, 1866, aged fifty-nine years. Subsequently Mr. Kridler married, for his second wife, Margaret Arnold, who was also a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kridler died October 2, 1870, aged sixty-three years, and in twenty-four days after, or October 26, 1870, his wife died of cancer. Mr. Kridler was a resident here thirty-four years, and sustained an unblemished character for honor and integrity, and was a worthy member of the Christian Church. He was the father of the following child en: Elizabeth, Cassander, Henry, Albert, Margaret, Lucinda, Andrew J., Sarah A., Samuel, Mary Matilda and one died in infancy.

John Gum came here from Knox County, Ohio, but was a native of the State of Delaware. He settled on land now owned by William McElroy. He was thrice married; his last wife was Mrs. Catharine Williamson. They subsequently removed to Dunkirk, where he died. She subsequently died in Kenton. A further account of the family will be found in the his- tory of Blanchard Township in this volume.

Adam Orth, a native of Germany, married Mary Weaver and emigrated to America in 1831 and settled near Pittsburgh; thence he removed to Wayne County, Ohio, and from there came to Hardin County about 1835, and set- tled on land now owned by Jacob and Charles Stair, where he opened out right in the woods and resided on that place until about 1860, when he sold his farm and purchased another about two miles west of his first loca- tion, where he died December 22, 1870, aged seventy-six years. His first wife died in Pennsylvania soon after their arrival in that State. Subse- quently he married Mary E. Troutman, also a native of Germany; she

691

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

died March 31, 1878. , Mr. Orth by his first wife had the following chil- dren: Margaret, John (deceased), George, Leonard, Elizabeth, and one that died in infancy. By his second wife he had John G., J. Adam and Frederick (deceased). While a resident of Wayne County, Mr. Orth ped- dled clocks, but after his arrival in this county he gave his exclusive atten- tion to farming. He cleared 100 acres right from the woods, had a good orchard and other improvements.

William Wilcox, a native of the State of New York, married Miss Lurena Hopkins, and, in 1838, settled in this township on land now owned . by Marion Tarr. Here he resided several years; thence he returned to his native State, but finally removed to Wisconsin. He had three sons, David, Jackson, and one name not known, and two daughters, Mary and Lurena; the latter, the eldest child, is deceased

William S. Baird was a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and married Rachel Booth, and came to Hardin County about 1838, and settled on land now owned by Daniel Berger, where he died September 15, 1854, aged forty-five years. His wife died July 31, 1858, aged forty-eight years. He was a good farmer, and "the noblest work of God -an honest man." Their children were Mary, Rufus, Eli, William and Artimas; all survive but the latter.

Robert Summerville, a native of Lancaster County, Penn., was mar- ried in Beaver County, Penn., to Eleanor Derringer. Thence he removed to Wayne County, Ohio, and, in 1842, came to this county and settled on land now owned by Mr. William Pfeiffer. Subsequently he moved into Hancock County, where he died October 4, 1862. His wife died while a resident of this county-January 16, 1849. Their children were Hannah, John, Daniel James, Catharine, Benjamin and William, all now deceased but the two last mentioned.

Leonard Morrisson, a native of Butler County, Penn., married Mary Ann Whysong in Fayette County of the same State. In 1836, he removed to Hardin County, Ohio, and settled on land now owned by N. Ahlefeld; sub- sequently he moved to the farnı known as the Emmett farm, situated in the east part of Washington Township; thence he moved to the place now owned by Peter Cerson, where he died May 7, 1867, aged sixty-two years. His wife still survives and resides with her son John L. Their children were as follows: Camille, Sarah Vinah, Angeline and James, all now de- ceased, and Savilla Ann, William R., Sarah, John L., Robert J. and Win- field S., who survive.

Reuben Zahner, a native of Pennsylvania, married Sophia Myers, and came to Hardin County and settled on land near the Sidney Baird farm in 1848, where he lived till his death. Their children were William, Michael, Mary Ann, Caroline, Cordelia, Jesse and Sophia, all married and settled in this neighborhood except Cordelia, who is deceased.

Barnhart Wagoner, a native of Germany, settled in Washington Township on land now owned by Samuel Taylor in 1834, where he resided many years. He was twice married and was the father of twenty-four children. He was a remarkably strong, active and muscular man. Subsequently he and all his family moved to the West. Some of his children who were well known here were Anthony, Barnhart, Francis, Lewis, Lena, Theresa, Sallie, Fanny, Susan and Margaret.

Jacob Griner, a native of Germany, settled in this township near Dun- kirk about 1838-39, where he resided till his death. He was twice mar- ried. His second wife was Margaret Wagoner. He had three sons-Jacob, Isaac and Daniel.

692

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

William Hartoon settled near the Cessna Township line in 1836. He died on the place where he first settled, on the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 35. His children were William, Mollie and Caroline, who all moved away.

John Kraft, a native of Germany, settled on the southeast quarter of Section 34, where he died; his wife still survives, and now resides in Ken- ton. Most of their children died young. Two-Charles and Christopher -still survive.

Ephraim Crawford, from Columbiana County, settled on the southwest quarter of Section 34 about 1838. He was married in Columbiana County to Susan Hively and still resides here where they first settled. Their children were seven, two of whom were Emery and Stephen.

Samuel Hively also came from Columbiana County and settled on the east part of Section 33, in 1837, where they still reside. He married in Columbiana County, and has two sons-George and David-and four daughters.

Harman Obenour was born in Washington County, Penn .; removed to Stark County, Ohio, and, in 1836-37, came to this township and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 33, where he died in 1852. He was twice married, and was the father of the following children: By his first wife, John, Henry, Elizabeth, David, Susan and Frederick; by his second wife, Har- man, Sarah, Josiah, Amos, and three who died in infancy. Those who sur- vive are possessed of an excellent moral and Christian character, have made a success in life and are highly respected citizens of the community.

John Reifenstein was a native of Germany, where he married; came to America and settled on Section 32, where he and his wife died, leaving no issue. Mr. Reifenstein was an intelligent, educated man, and a valua- ble citizen.

Jacob Shroll was a native of Pennsylvania, but early came to Crawford County, Ohio, and married a Miss Sheofstall, of Bucyrus, Ohio; she died in 1879 or '80. They settled in this township on the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 31 in 1837. Their children were David, Emanuel, Catharine, Har- man, Lydia and Frederick. Mr. Shroll still resides upon the place where he first settled; has accumulated an abundance of this world's goods, and more than all, has lived an honest, upright life, and is highly respected by his numerous friends.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 75

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