USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 76
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Benjamin Ulin came from Coshocton County, Ohio, and settled on land now owned by Mr. Ibling about 1833-34, being one among the first set- tlers in the township. In 1838, he erected a horse-mill for grinding, which made very good flour. He resided here several years, thence moved to Iowa. His children were Eliza, John P., Andrew, Benjamin, Sarah, Eliza- beth, William and Samuel, all of whom moved West except John P., who now resides in Cessna Township.
Harrison P. Darst, a native of Woodstock, Va., born in 1817. About 1831, he emigrated to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he married Catharine Teegarden, born in that county in 1815. In 1839, they removed to Hardin County and settled in this township, on the southeast quarter of Section 27, on land which he entered from the Government, upon which he resided till his death October 31, 1860. Mr. Darst was an active member of the Christian Church, and a minister in the same about, twenty years. Their children were as follows: Sarah E., George W., John S., Rebecca J. and Maria M., now living, and Susanna, Lucinda and two infants, deceased.
John L. Kahler was born in Germany in 1778 and married Mary A.
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Schiber, born March 26, 1785. They emigrated to America in June, 1834, and, in 1836, entered forty acres of land in the southwest quarter of Section 34, Washington Township, where he resided till his death in May, 1841. Mr. Kahler was a weaver by trade. His children, John L., Frederick, John G. and Elizabeth, are all deceased but John G., who married Mary E. Markley and is still a resident of this township.
Frederick Markley, a native of Germany, emigrated to America about 1836, and, in 1838, settled on Section 32, where he still resides. Children -- Mary E., Frederick, Catharine, Barbara, Mary M., Sarah and Christina.
Archibald Smith came here from Franklinton, Ohio, and settled on the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 26, in 1840-41, He married Elizabeth Williams; she died on the place where they first settled. He died while on a journey to his son in Union County. Children-Mag- dalena, Mary, William and John.
Conrad Wejount, a native of Germany, married there and emigrated to America in 1835, and settled on Section -, where they died. Children- Susanna (deceased), and Mary, now the wife of Charles Tierce, of Dun- kirk.
John G. Smith, a native of Germany, married Susannah Wejount and settled on Section 33, where he still resides. His wife died and subse- quently he married Dorothy Baker. Children-John, Henry, Jacob, Adam, Mary, Susanna, Margaret, Catharine and Sarah.
George Lynch and Jacob Crow were early settlers, locating here about 1834-35; the former has a son now a resident of Kenton.
TOWNS.
North Washington is the only town in the township. It was platted and laid out into lots, streets and alleys by Judy Shaw and A. Landis in the summer of 1852. The first house erected here was a log cabin, built by Ephraim Harvey, and the second by George Orth. The first frame house was erected by C. W. Show, which is now occupied as a drug store and dwelling. The first store was opened by Show & Darst, in the above-men- tioned frame house. Peter Ash was the first blacksmith; the first physi- cian, Dr. Rayl; but the first to remain and become permanently settled was Dr. E. B. Heistand. The post office was established about 1852 or 1853, and Samuel Andrews was appointed Postmaster. His successors have been as follows: Frank Kinnear, Pierce and Lukens, Albert Behrends and Ezra May- nard, the present incumbent.
The village is now represented by the following businesses: Two gen- eral stores, G. W. Burnworth and John Reifenstine; one grocery, by Mrs. Smith; one drug store, by J. J. Orth; two blacksmiths, Charles Guider and Henry Mason; one saw mill, with one set of buhrs for grinding, owned by G. W. Burnworth; one warehouse, owned by Frank and Levi Pores; and two physicians, Dr. Joseph Saeger and Dr. W. R. Brayton.
SCHOOLS.
It is believed that the first school ever taught in this township was by Wilmot Munson in 1838. In 1841, William Simpson taught in a cabin on land then owned by Renatus Gum. Then there was a log schoolhouse built on Andrew Kridler's place; this was one of the primitive kind, with puncheon floor, slab seats and greased paper for window lights. This house was succeeded by a small frame house built on Mr. Thorne's place about 1850; then this was succeeded by the present frame schoolhouse,
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
built in 1874. Other schools were established in the east and southern parts of the township soon after, and now (1883) this township is divided into eleven subdistricts, with eleven good schoolhouses, in which are em- ployed eleven teachers. The average number of weeks of school session is 29, enrolling 242 boys and 222 girls; total scholarship, 464; total receipts for school purposes in 1882 were $3,615.86; total expenditures, $3,448.44, leaving balance on hand, September 1, 1882, $167.42; total valuation of school property, $5, 000.
CHURCHES.
Christian Church, northwest corner of Section 34 .- This society was organized about 1843, by Rev. Christian Stipp, assisted by Conrad Show, with the following constituent members, viz .: Mrs. James Leper, Mary Leper, Catharine Leper, Anna Leper, Rebecca Leper, Harrison P. Darst, Catharine Darst, Benjamin Ulin, Elizabeth Ulin, Sarah Ulin, John Ulin, Andrew Ulin and wife, Richard Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, Moses Riley and wife, John Riley and wife, Anthony Wagoner and wife, Thomas Dunlap and wife and two daughters (Lavinia and Vina), Samuel Axford and wife, Leonard Packer and wife, and perhaps a few others. About 1844-45, they erected a log church edifice, which has served as a place of worship to the present time. Benjamin Ulin and H. P. Darst were chosen as the first Deacons, after which the office was filled by Anthony Wagoner and Andrew Ulin. The ministers who have served the church as pastors have been Revs. Christian Stipp, Martz, Harrison P. Darst, Mr. O'Neil, Mr. Thompson, David Kinnear and Rev. Holverstott. This society was quite large and prosperous for several years, but subsequently many died and a large number moved away to the West, until at the present time there are only about ten members, with George Orth and !Walter McCloud as Deacons. Rev. Nicholas McCloud is their present pastor. A Sabbath school has been organized for many years, and is conducted through the summer seasons with a good attendance.
The United Brethren in Christ at North Washington was organized into a society at the schoolhouse in April, 1875, by Elder William H. Ogle, con- sisting of the following members: C. A. Guider, Thomas Waters, B. D. Bray ton, Savilla Waters, Samantha Pierce, Martha Andrews and Eleanor Obenour, with C. A. Guider as Class Leader. They have no church edifice, but have held their services in the schoolhouse since their organization. The following have served as ministers of the congregation, viz .: Elders William H. Ogle for two years; Merritt and Miller two years; Mr. Johnson one year; Mr. Stewart two years; and J. W. Lower is now serving the so- ciety. C. A. Guider and B. D. Brayton have filled the office of Class Leader. A Sabbath school has been held every summer, and during last season had an average attendance of about sixty, with B. D. Brayton as Superintendent.
Willow Grove Methodist Episcopal Church .- This society was organized in the Kridler Schoolhouse in 1876 by Rev. Taylor P. Jagger, with the follow- ing members: Daniel Helm, Elizabeth Helm, Frank Helm, Jacob Clark, Jacob Derringer, Emma Derringer, Mary Pugh, Charles Yocomb and Elizabeth Summerville, with Daniel Helm chosen Class Leader. The society was quite prosperous for some time, but from various causes it began to decrease in interest and membership, until finally it ceased to exist as an organiza- tion. From the time of its formation they held services about four years, during which they were served by the following ministers: Revs. Taylor, P. Jagger, and Andrew J. Frisbee.
Of R. Frissler
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McDONALD TOWNSHIP.
St. John's Lutheran Church .- This society was organized in an old log schoolhouse in District No. 2, in 1853-54 with the following constituent members: G. Borset, Michael Frank, Tobias Frank, George Karn, Adam Hensel, George Shultz, F. Speer, M. Casper, A. Guider and Louisa Kraft. They held services in the schoolhouse until, in 1873, they erected their present frame church building, at a cost of about $1,600, and the same was dedicated to service in October of that year, by Revs. Heiley and G. F. Roitz. Ministers who have served this church as pastors have been Revs. Harman, Mochalds, Doring, Bretsler, Bergley, George Miller, G. F. Roitz and Rev. Greicher, who is now administering to the society. Present mem- bership is about thirty, with Adam Hensel and George Shultz as Elders; Trustees are M. Casper, George Wolfert and George Karn.
CEMETERIES.
In the first settling of this township many of the first dead were in- terred upon the lands upon which they lived, many of whom have no tomb- stone or anything to mark their last resting place. The Kridler Cemetery, on Section 4, in the north part of the township. was established as a family burying place at quite an early day, in which are interred some of the Moses, Baird and Kridler families, and perhaps a few others. It is kept well preserved, with a good fence inclosing it. The principal cemeteries of this township which are under the protection and care of the township are the Washington and the one on the township line on the southeast cor- ner of Section 33. The former is located on the Dunkirk & Washington pike, on the southeast quarter of Section 14. It contains about one acre of ground, is well inclosed with a good board fence, and has been in use for nearly forty years, and contains the dead of many of the early pioneers and their families. The latter contains about the same amount of ground and is well fenced and cared for. This has also been used for many years, receiving the dead of many of the early settlers of this vicinity. Both of these cemeteries are pleasantly situated and very appropriate places for the purposes for which they have been dedicated.
MCDONALD TOWNSHIP.
As there are no records, either of the county or township, of an official char- acter to give us any data upon the organization of this township, we have been compelled to take the statements of old pioneers who were residents here at the time of its institution, relative to that matter. From them we learn that the terri- tory now embraced in McDonald Township was originally included in Round Head Township, and held their elections under her authority, which was under the jurisdiction of Logan County until the organization of Hardin County in 1833. This township continued as a part of said Round Head Township till 1836, when the new township was erected by the official act of the Commissioners of said Hardin County, under the name of " McDonald Township." This name was sug- gested and given to the Commissioners for said new township by Peter C. Mc- Arthur, one of the early settlers, and it is said by some to have been thus given in honor of McDonald, an Indian chief, while others claim that it was thus named after William McDonald, one of the pioneers, which is, doubtless,
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
the correct version. The records of the township during the first sixteen years of its existence have been lost or destroyed, and the first elections and officials which are found upon record on the Township Clerk's books are for the year 1852, so that we are unable to give an account of its early officials.
BOUNDARIES, STREAMS, SURFACE, SOIL AND TIMBER.
The geographical position of this township is in the southwest part of Har- din County, and approaches a rectangle in shape, being longest from north to south, its width from east to west being much less, and, calculating its dimen- sions as a rectangle, it is eight miles long from north to south, and five miles wide from east to west, containing forty square miles, or about 25,600 acres. It is bounded on the north by Marion and Cessna Townships, on the east by Lynn and Taylor Creek Townships, on the south by Logan County, and on the west by Round Head and Marion Townships. The village of Round Head, which is noted as the locality and great camping-grounds of the Indians, prior to being occupied by the white settlers, lies almost contiguous to the western border of this township, and to this village, and through it. coursing in a north- east direction through McDonald Township, was the trail of the Indians as they passed to and fro from their towns in the Southwest to Fort McArthur and San- dusky; and on or near this trail were located the first settlers of this county, and of this township. The streams of this township consist of the head-waters of the North Branch of the Miami River, which rise in the eastern-central portion of the township and runs in a southwest course through the southern-central portions of the township, and passes into Logan County, leaving this town- ship and county on the farm of F. Harrod; and the Scioto River, which strikes this township on its west boundary line about one mile south of the Kenton & Round Head pike, thence flowing in a north and northeast course, forms- the boundary line of the township on the west and north to the extreme northeast corner of McDonald Township, a distance of about ten miles, receiv- ing no tributaries of any significance during this entire course, but passes through the center of the great Scioto Marsh, thus bringing a large portion of it embraced in McDonald, and, on the west and north of the river, leaves large portions embraced in Marion and Cessna Townships.
The surface of the township is somewhat diversified. The southern and southeastern portions are generally level; the central and western portions are undulating, some of the extreme western part along the Scioto River being somewhat hilly, and the northern portion, including the marsh, very level.
The soil of the flat, level portions is composed of a black loam, deep and rich, with a clay subsoil. The undulating or rolling lands are a loam and clay soil, underlaid with clay and gravel. The marsh is composed of a soil of great depth, but it is now so completely wet and saturated with water, as to be an entire waste, unfit and impossible of cultivation, and will thus remain, until some great artificial outlet is made by which the surplus water can be taken away, and these lands be thoroughly drained, then they would become the richest, most productive, and among the best lands of the county. How soon this will be accomplished we do not pretend to predict, but that it will be done, and these lands brought into fine cultivated farms, we deem just as certain, as was the results of the wonderful and mighty inventions of railroads, telegraphs and the innumerable and remarkable labor-saving machines of the present day.
The lands of this township, where brought into cultivation, yield to the earnest tiller of the soil abundant crops of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and hay, and as they are from year to year becoming better ditched, tiled and drained, and brought under the evaporating and congenial influences of the sun and at- mosphere, so are the labors of the husbandman becoming better and better remunerated by an increase of crops and ease of cultivation.
699
McDONALD TOWNSHIP.
The lands of this township, with the exception of the marsh, were originally very heavily timbered, and, unlike some of the county, it contained an almost impenetrable thicket of undergrowth of the spice and thorn bush, which ren- dered the labors of the pioneers still more tedious and laborious in opening out the country and preparing themselves homes and farms. The principal varieties of the timber were white, red and black oak, beech, elm, ash, hickory, maple, and some walnut and cherry, the latter two varieties having now, how- ever, become almost extinct.
This township consists entirely of the Virginia Military Lands, and is situ- ated on the extreme northwest corner of that body of lands ; the Scioto River which, as above mentioned, forms for so long a distance the boundary line of the township, is the dividing line between the Military and the Congress Lands, all on the west and north of it belonging to the latter class of lands.
This township is well supplied with the best of gravel for making good roads and pikes, as every knoll or little hill is imbedded with excellent gravel, and the citizens have been making abundant use of the material, and have many good pikes already built, and others in progress of building. The first pikes built were the Belle Center & Roundhead, the Kenton & Roundhead pikes ; then the Belle Center & Yelverton pike was built, then the McDonald pike was the next constructed, and the last and more recent one built, and one of the longest in the township, is the Belle Center & Marsh pike, which extends in a straight line due north and south for about eight miles in this township, and one of the most important to the citizens of any in the township. The Chicago & Atlantic Railway crosses the north corner of the township.
PIONEERS.
The first to locate in this township were the families of Donald McArthur and Daniel Campbell, who settled a short distance northeast of the village of Round Head in 1822. Peter C. McArthur and Daniel Campbell had previously come from Ross County in 1818, and erected a cabin in the unbroken forest, but went back to Ross, and did not return until the year first mentioned. These families being the very first permanent pioneers of Hardin County, we have thought it best to give their history in Chapter IV of the general work, where the principal events connected with their settlement will be found.
Alexander Given was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 14, 1811, a son of William and Jane Given, he a native of Maryland and she of Vir- ginia, who emigrated while young to Ross County, where they were mar- ried, and, in 1829, he removed to Hardin County and settled near the Scioto River in Round Head Township, where they resided till their death; he died in 1848 and she in 1851. Alexander Given came in 1830 and was united in marriage, May 6, 1832, with Mary J. Campbell, a daughter of one of the first settlers of McDonald Township. She was born in Ross County in 1816. Mr. Given settled on the place where he still lives and where he has now made a continued residence of over half a century. Here he pur- chased 100 acres and commenced right in the woods; to this land he has since added by purchase 100 acres more, so that now he owns 200 acres, and has brought it all under fence and all in cultivation but about twenty-five acres, which he has reserved for wood and timber. Mr. Given was not only one of the first settlers of this township, but he has been closely identified with its growth and progress, and its secular and political affairs, having served in all the prominent offices; was Treasurer for twenty years and a Justice of the Peace for eighteen years; also served as Land Appraiser in 1850 for the district embracing the five townships of Buck, Taylor Creek, Lynn, McDonald and Round Head. His wife died in 1850, and, in 1855, he married
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Mrs. Isabella S. Gunn. She was born in Logan County in 1811. Mr. Given is the father of five children, all by his first wife, viz .: Eliza J., wife of Squire Cooney; Mary H., wife of Thomas J. McDonald; Alexander F. and two deceased-Daniel and Rebecca.
f Isaac Holt was probably the next settler in this township. He came here from near " Little Sandusky" about 1829-30, and settled on land now owned by John Hineman, where he remained about three or four years, then removed to Iowa.
David Poe, a native of Kentucky, born in Breckinridge County, but early emigrated to Ohio, was married in Brown County to his wife Elizabeth, who was born in Ireland, but who, while young, emigrated to America with her parents and settled in Washington County, Penn., where ber parents died, after which she came to Brown County, Ohio. After their marriage, they removed to Kentucky, thence to Ross County, Ohio, and from there to Fayette County, and thence, about 1831, removed to Hardin County and settled on land now owned by John Miller, where he remained till quite aged, when he removed to the village of Round Head, where he died. He was twice married and was the father of the following children: William, Andrew, Barbara, Robert Allen, John, Stephen, Genova and one daughter who married George G. Moore and died young. Several of the children, now quite advanced in years, are still residents of this township, and are among the reliable and worthy citizens. Of these, R. A. Poe, in 1845, married Jane Breece, who was born in Logan County in 1824, a daughter of Robert and Alida Breece. She was a worthy member of the Methodist Church since 1854 up to the time of her death, February 11, 1882. To them were born seven children, of whom five now survive-Lydia E., wife of E. Hatfield; George H .; Genova, 'wife of L. H Mahan; Anna, wife of John W. Thomas, and Griffith B .: Lizzie and Emma are deceased. On Sep- tember 10, 1882, Mr. Poe married for, his second wife, Miss Margaret Shaffer, a native of this county.
Another settler of this period was William McDonald, after whom it is said the township was named.
Jacob Fuls was born in Pendleton County, Va., February 3, 1794; emi- grated to Ross County, Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Anna Hessar in 1820; thence he removed to Fayette County, and thence, in April, 1832, he removed to Hardin County and settled in the woods of McDonald Township on land now owned by John Faurot. There were then only three settlers within a distance of five miles, the closest neighbors, and in other directions it was much further to any settler, and here he re- sided till his death, August 31, 1868; his wife died January 15, 1872, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Fuls' aged mother came to this wilderness with him and died January 27, 1836. Mr. Fuls was a plain pioneer farmer, honest and upright, a kind neighbor and a good citizen and a devoted Methodist. His children were as follows: Elizabeth, Margaret, Philip, Mary Ann, Amelia, John, Anna C., Jacob, Samuel, Phebe and Simon P.
James Hayes came here from Logan County about 1832-33, and settled on land now owned by Joseph Zahler, but resided here only a few years and removed to Illinois.
Michael Fickel settled on land where the White Schoolhouse now stands, about 1833, but resided there only about three or four years and moved away.
Ezekiel Storer settled where J. H. Fields now owns and resides, about 1832, where a few years after he died and was buried in the Fuls Burying Ground. Of his children, some died and the others all moved away.
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McDONALD TOWNSHIP.
William Connell, who came here from Fayette County, Ohio, settled on land now owned by Joseph Zahler about 1834-35; remained here only a few years and moved away.
Thomas Coil also came here from Fayette County about 1836, but re- mained only about two years and moved away.
William Hemphill was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1826. His father, Andrew Hemphill, was born in Kentucky in 1799, emigrating with his par- ents to Ross County in 1800, where he married his wife, Anna, who was a native of that county, born in 1802. They removed to Highland County, Ohio, and, about 1833, came with his family to Hardin County and settled- in this township, where his wife died in 1840. Subsequently he married Mary Riley, and finally removed to Logan County, where he remained till the death of his second wife, after which he returned to this township and resided till his death in 1879. William was but a child when brought to this county by his parents, grew to manhood under the sturdy influences of pioneer life, and was united in marriage with Margaret Derr, who was born in Wayne County in 1827. Mr. Hemphill has now been a resident here for about half a century, and has been one of the township's tried, faithful and best citizens. He is the father of the following children: Joseph S., John D., James, Martha A., Lizzie, Mary F. and William S.
Samuel Bell settled on the place now owned by Mr. P. Wells about 1835, where he resided till his death. He was a good substantial citizen, and served as one of the early Justices of the Peace. John Bell, a brother to Samuel, came here at the same date and located on land adjoining his brother on the west, but after a few years' residence moved away.
Martin Bruen came here about 1835-36 and settled near Mr. Fuls; then he settled on land now owned by George Littleton.
Jacob Zahler came here with his father (a native of Germany) about 1836, and settled on the place where he still resides. Mr. Zahler is one of the true pioneers, an excellent neighbor and most worthy citizen; has filled many of the township offices, and is now serving as one of its Trustees.
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