Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 22

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189

USA > Ohio > Hancock County > Findlay > Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens > Part 22

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and was at first named Welfare. On June I, 1829, agreeable to the petition of sundry citi- zens of the township, the name of Welfare was changed to that of Delaware. The township no doubt owes its present name to the fact that the Delaware tribe of Indians made this part of the county a favorite resort. This township now includes Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, in Township 2 south, Range II east and Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31, in Township 2 south, Range 12 east. It is lo- cated in the southeast corner of the county and bounded on the north by Amanda and Jackson Townships, on the east by Wyandotte County, on the south by Hardin County, on the west by Madison Township. It contains thirty sections of land, or 19,200 acres.

The soil of Delaware Township is generally a black sandy loam, intermixed with clay in some parts. The Blanchard River traverses the township from south to north and with its fertile bottom lands and numerous creek bot- toms, makes it one of the best agricultural dis- tricts in the county. Many of the most beau- tiful farms in the county are to be found here. The land-as in all parts of the county-was heavily wooded, and the improvements we see here are the result of most arduous toil.

The timber that was found here was of the usual kinds, indigenous to the country, such as sugar, beech, elm (white and black), ash, the different varieties of the oak, walnut, hickory, hackberry, buckeye, etc.

The township is well watered by the Blan- chard River, which crosses it, and by the creeks and runs tributary to it. The most consid- erable creek is in the eastern part of the town- ship and called Potato Creek. Good drinking

water can be had in all portions of the town- ship by sinking wells from ten to thirty feet.

The lands in this township were mostly pur- chased by emigrants from the southeastern counties of Ohio. A few, however, were from Pennsylvania and Virginia. This was a full township of thirty-six sections until the forma- tion of Wyandotte County in 1845, when one tier of sections on the east side were taken to help form that county.

Asa M. Lake made the first entry of lands in this township Dec. 12, 1822. The tract en- tered was the west half of the northwest quar- ter of Section 1. This tract was on the east side of the Blanchard River and is now occu- pied in part by the village of Mt. Blanchard. In 1823 entries were made in the following or- der as to dates: Michael Buck, west half of the northeast quarter of Section 2; Curtis Berry, east half of northeast quarter of Sec- tion 2; John Brundage, the southwest quar- ter of Section 1; W. J. Greer, east half of northwest quarter of Section 1; John Rose, east half of southwest quarter of Section 14; William Davis east half of northwest quarter of Section 14. Then followed entries by David Augustus, Marquis Lafayette Plumb, Levi Edgington and others, in 1826, and by Josiah Elder, Godfrey Wolford and others in 1827.

Asa M. Lake built a log cabin on a parcel of ground afterwards owned by Michael Treece and in the limits of the village of Mt. Blan- chard. The parcel of land had been used by the Indians as a burying ground and many skele- tons and relics have been found there.

Amongst the first settlers of this township, in addition to Asa M. Lake, were Josiah Elder, the Hamlins, the Wolfords and the Greers. The settlement here was perhaps the very earliest in the county next to that at Findlay.

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Don Alonzo Hamlin was the first sheriff of the county and was also county assessor. God- frey Wolford was coroner of the county and was also county commissioner, and Asa M. Lake was one of the first justices of the peace in the county.

Mr. Lake after coming to this county resided here up to the time of his death. He was a typ- ical pioneer-hardy, industrious and honest- and succeeded in building up for himself and his children a home in one of the richest sec- tions of our county, living long enough to see a thriving village built up on the very lands he had redeemed from the wilderness, and peo- pled with an intelligent and energetic popu- lation, supplied with schools and churches and other appliances of civilization. The redman who had been his early companions had long since removed westward, and herds of domes- tic animals taken the place of the wild. Josiah Elder, whose parents came to this part of the county almost simultaneously with the Lakes, after spending an honest, active lifetime, al- most, in the township, died many years ago on the old homestead.

Mrs. Henry Helms, a sister of Mr. Elder, related to D. B. Beardsley some years ago the incidents connected with her wedding day, in that long ago. She was first married to Wil- liam J. Greer of this township. She relates that her intended husband and herself trav- elled from Delaware Township to Findlay on horse-back (both on one horse) through the almost trackless wilderness, where they ob- tained a license, and then in the same manner went to the residence of Joshua Hedges, a justice of the peace three miles west of Find- lay where they were married, and returned to their homes. The trip occupied three days.

the center of the township, on the farm owned by J. A. Rose. The first school was taught by John Wolford. The school population was not large at that time, and were easily accom- modated in the log schoolhouse. The enumer- ation of school age in this township is 355, out- side the town of Mt. Blanchard. There are now eight schoolhouses in the township, one graded and seven common or ungraded.

The first church in Delaware Township was built in 1838, by the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination, in the town of Mt. Blanchard. But it must not be supposed that the people were without religious services up to that time. Services had been held in schoolhouses and private houses. There are now seven churches in the township, three Methodist Protestant, two Methodist Episcopal, one Baptist and one Presbyterian.

Godfrey Wolford built a flouring mill on the Blanchard River in 1830, near the center of the township. The mill was known as Fahl's Mills. And Felix Miller built a sawmill-the first in the township-on the Blanchard River, near the south line of the township.

The only stillhouse ever in the township was built in 1833 by Abner Bell. It was run but a short time and was then sold to Samuel Thornton and removed to Jackson Township, where it was operated for several years.

The first white child born in this township was John B. Elder and it is believed to have been the first white child born in the county. Marion Greer was the first white female born in the township. Nancy Williams, wife of Nathan Williams, was the first white person who died in this township.

The first election for township officers was

The first schoolhouse was built in 1830 near held in 1832. R. W. Hamlin, Harvey Smith,

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and John Rose, were elected trustees; Godfrey afterwards supposed by some to have been Wolford, clerk, and D. O. Hamlin, treasurer.

The first couple married were Asa M. Lake and Charlotte M. Greer, and the second couple, William J. Greer and Rosanna Elder. Both couples were married by Joshua Hedges, J. P., of Findlay.

In 1828 or 1829, as John H. Greer, M. S. Hamlin, J. Greer and D. O. Hamlin were out at play, they came to where a tree had been blown out by the roots and in falling had left bare the skeleton of an Indian. Here they found a large amount of jewelry, consisting of finger rings, ear and nose rings, wristlets, breast plate, necklace, and quite a large nug- get, which they supposed to be copper, all en- graved with some French characters. Sup- posing the rings to be nothing but tin and of no particular value, they divided them equally among themselves as nearly as they could. There was a trading post established in what is now Wyandotte County, the agent of which, hearing of this find, sent word that if they would bring them to him, he would pay them all they were worth. M. S. Hamlin sent his portion of the property, for which he received seven dollars in money. The nugget laid around for a long time, pieces being frequently knocked off and it was finally lost. This was

gold.

In 1830 John Greer and M. S. Hamlin, two lads, concluded that they would take a hunt and with their guns and ammunition, on a beautiful morning, they started on their way. After spending some time in the sport and securing what game they wanted, they started on their way home, but after travelling some time, and not reaching home, it became evident that they had lost their way. After a few moments of consultation, they agreed on the direction they would take, when, traveling until late in the afternoon, they came to an opening or clear- ing, when they found to their great surprise and disappointment, that they had arrived at Upper Sandusky. They then struck off on the old Indian trail. To reach home that night they knew was impossible, but they determined to go as far as they could. Just as the sun was setting, they came to an Indian wigwam. The old Indian and his squaw kindly took them in, administered to their wants and they had a good night's rest. The next morning the In- dian pointed out the old trail to them, bade them God speed, and they resumed their weary tramp on their road home, where they arrived the same day.

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CHAPTER XVI.

EAGLE, JACKSON, AND LIBERTY TOWNSHIPS.

EAGLE TOWNSHIP.

From the records of the county commis- sioners for the 3rd of December, 1832, we find that "a petition was presented by sundry citi- zens of the original Township I south, in Range 10 east, praying to be organized. Township I south, in Range 2 east, was ac- cordingly set off, and formed into a body poli- tic and corporate, and the said township shall be called Eagle."

Eagle Township contains 23,040 acres, and is bounded on the north by Liberty and Find- lay, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Madison and Van Buren, and on the west by Union. It takes its name from the creek of the same name which runs through it, and is situated in the first range of townships south of the base line.

The first land entered in this township, was the west half of the northeast quarter of Sec- tion 35, by John Woodruff, on the first day of June, 1827. On the 6th day of June, 1829, Elijah Woodruff entered the northwest quar- ter of Section 13. These farms were after- ward owned by William Yates and J. Alspach. On the 7th day of August of the same year, Phillip Heakes entered the lands afterward owned by the heirs of George Arnold in Sec- tion 12, and in November of the same year,

George Bishop entered the northwest quarter of Section 24-for a long time the John D. Bishop farm and mill. The northwest quarter of Section 9 was entered by Joshua Hedges of Pickaway County, on the 28th of Septem- ber, 1830, and on the 37th of November, in the same year, Shun Sager entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 31. In the latter part of the year 1831, entries were made in Sections 5, 6 and 8, by Jacob Powell, all of Fairfield County, Ohio, and by John Bright in Section 21. Other entries fol- lowed, and much of the land in this township was speedily taken up.

The soil of this locality, especially along the Eagle and Tiderishi Creeks, is of a rich sandy loam, and many very valuable farms are lo- cated along these creeks. In other parts of the township, a fertile clay predominates which produces good crops of corn, wheat, oats and grass. The surface is quite level, with a ten- dency to be rolling in the immediate vicinity of the creeks. From the begining of settlement here until within the last twenty years, this township, with others surrounding it, was the center of the "milk-sickness," elsewhere men- tioned in this work. The timber was of the prevalent varieties mentioned in other parts of the county, such as walnut, ash, oak, sugar and

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beech, etc. The timber and vegetation through- out the township was of a large growth.

Eagle Creek and Tiderishi, with their tribu- taries, furnish an abundance of water for stock and ample outlets for drainage in all parts of the township. Eagle Creek crosses the town- ship from south to north, in the east part, and Tiderishi also from the south, pursuing a north- westerly course, passing out near the north- west corner. These streams, of course, are small, and yet Eagle Creek furnished water- power for mill purposes for more than fifty years after the first settlement of the country. But by the clearing off of the forests, and the underdraining of the soil, the surplus water fall is now so quickly passed into the streams and flows away, that the time waterpower would be available, would not reimburse the investor for his expense, and consequently all of the water mills, not only in Eagle Township, but throughout the entire county, have been abandoned. Not one remains to tell the tale.

enough electors to fill the offices. Benjamin Whitman, Conrod Line, George Bishop, John Woodruff and John Decker were voters at the election.

The first schoolhouse built within the limits of the township was in the Bishop district in 1834. At that time Mr. John D. Bishop and Benjamin Whitman were the only taxpayers in the district. Rachel McBride taught the first school in this district. There are now nine substantial and comfortable school buildings in the township.

Until 1840, religious services were held in the residences and schoolhouses, no church buildings being erected in this township before that time. In 1840, the United Brethren Church erected a building on the farm of John Woodruff on the east bank of Eagle Creek. It was of hewn logs, small in dimensions, but large enough to accommodate all the religiously inclined of the sparse settlement. Among the first members of this society were Mrs. Wood- ruff, Conrod Line and wife, and some of the Deckers.

The first settlement made in this township was by John Woodruff in the latter part of 1829, and by John Decker, Benjamin Whit- The first mill was known as Decker's hand mill, and here by a great deal of mus- cular power, corn could be ground fine enough for mush making. It was, however, a slow, laborious process. In 1830 George Bishop erected a saw-mill, and in 1833, a flouring-mill, on the site still known as Bishop's Mill. In 1854, John D. Bishop, who then owned the property, installed steam power, as the mill previous to that time had been propelled by water power. But after a few years' trial he became dis- satisfied with this, and removed it, again returning to water power until the mill was abandoned about 1890. Perhaps no mill in man, Conrod Line, Jacob Zolland, R. W. Mc- Clellen, in 1830. These pioneers were fol- lowed in 1831 by John D. Bishop, Elias Decker, Amos Crum and others. Most of these first settlers came from Fairfield and Franklin Counties. Whitman was from New York and McClellen was from Pennsylvania. The first settlements were on or near Eagle Creek in the eastern part of the township. The Nunamakers, Heldmans, Arris, Bormuths and others very soon afterward made settlement in the west part, and the Powells and others located on the Tiderishi, in the northwest cor- ner. At the first election in 1833, when the township was organized, there were barely the county was of more real benefit, when

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mills were most needed, than was this one. Not only did the immediate neighborhood patronize it, but people came from a great distance to have their corn and wheat ground here.

Since 1840 the township has developed very rapidly and can boast of some of the richest farmers in the county. Beautiful residences and capacious barns, with other outhouses, were erected and the country has an appearance of wealth and comfort. The soil is rich and easily cultivated, and the people are engaged in the lucrative oc- cupation of farming, and by their industry

and proper economy are living bounteously and accumulating wealth. Most of the main roads are now piked and those not so will be soon, and in traveling over the township one can see on every hand evidences of con- tentment and prosperity.

In 1850 a post office named Clement was established on the Bellefontaine road about six miles south of Findlay, with Amos Crum as postmaster. Mr. Crum was suc- ceeded by John Swank, who held the office until it was discontinued in 1864.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

On December 7, 1829, Charles McKinnis, John P. Hamilton, and Mordica Hammond, commissioners, received "A petition pre- sented by sundry citizens of Amanda and Delaware Townships, praying for a new township, to be set off as follows, to-wit: Number 1, Range II, south of the base line, into a body politic and corporate, and to be named Jackson, which was agreed to by said Board."

At the December session of the commis- sioners in 1836, it was "ordered that an

election be held in Jackson Township, to elect a treasurer and three trustees for Sec- tion 16, on the 20th day of December, 1836, and that notices thereof be set up in three of the most public places in the township, that there are twenty electors in the said township, at the usual places of holding elections." It was also ordered "that Sec- tions 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Township I south, Range 12 (now Biglick Township), and Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, in Range Number 1I, Township I south (now Jack- son Township), be attached to Amanda Township."

Jackson Township now comprises Sec- tions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, in township one south. It contains 19,200 acres, and was named in honor of Gen. Andrew Jack- son, who was then President of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Marion and formerly a part of Findlay, on the east by Amanda, on the south by Dela- ware and Madison and on the west by Eagle Township.

Peter George made the first entry of land in the township on the 21st day of Novem- ber, 1823, which entry was the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 35, after- wards owned by G. W. Krout. December 10, 1823, William Greer entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 35, afterwards owned by T. G. Hammond.

David Egbert entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 2, and in Sep- tember of the same year Alpheus Ralston entered the southeast quarter of Section 7, upon which he soon afterwards settled and lived on it to his death some years ago. In

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November of the same year George Bishop, of Franklin County, took up the southeast quarter of Section 7. These entries were followed by others made by Levi William- son, William Newell, John Swank and others.

Judge Mordica Hammond, the first white man to settle in the township, came here in 1827, locating on the Blanchard River, in Section 35, there being no neighbors nearer than Mt. Blanchard; indeed but a very small portion of the land in the township had been entered at that time. The Judge resided at the time of his death, upon the same tract of land which he had reclaimed from the wilderness, and converted into a beautiful farm.

Judge Hammond was not long without neighbors. Peter George, William Greer, the Ecberts, Ralstons, Williamsons, New- ells, the Missmores, the Treeses and others quickly followed.

This part of the county was heavily tim- berd with oak, elm, ash, sycamore, walnut, sugar and beech, a large part of which was wasted because of there being no market for it, and if there had been there were no means of transportation.

The soil is rich and productive, especially along the water courses. The population is a purely agricultural one, there being no manufacturing establishments of any mo- ment in the township. There are many val- uable farms and beautiful farm buildings here; the township is one of considerable wealth, and its people are industrious and energetic. The township is well drained by the Blanchard River, which passes through from south to north, and by its tributary creeks and runs. Wells which are

easily dug or drilled in any part of the township, furnish a bountiful supply of wholesome water. The first schoolhouse was built in 1832, and the first school was taught by the past venerable Aquilla Gil- bert. There were then no public school funds, and the compensation was one dollar and fifty cents per scholar, paid by volun- tary subscription. The district included all of Jackson and Amanda Townships, and if the schoolmaster boarded around, as was then the fashion, he certainly had to spread himself over a good deal of territory.

The first church was built in 1833. At an election held in the township in the same year there were ten votes cast.

A hand-mill owned by Godfrey Wolford, was the first in the township, and Mr. Gil- bert used to say that he and Judge Ham- mond, with whom he resided during the winter of 1828-9, used to go to mill every other day to grind enough meal to feed the Judge's family. The first flouring-mill was built in 1835 by Michael Missmore, but as it was propelled by water, it was rather un- certain as a means of procuring bread in seasons of drought. But before the land was cleared of its timber the streams were less liable to floods and droughts, and the people were wont to make provisions for the short time of drought in summer by lay- ing in a stock of meal and flour to tide them over. This Missmore mill was the first frame building erected in the township.

The markets for the first settlers were Portland and Sandusky City, but as was said by one of the old pioneers, it made but very little difference to them where the market was, as they had little to sell.

Aquilla Gilbert and L. P. Hamblin were

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FINDLAY HIGH SCHOOL, FINDLAY

PUMPING STATION. RIVERSIDE PARK, FINDLAY

ST. MICHAEL'S SCHOOL, FINDLAY

COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE, FINDLAY

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the first couple married in the township, his possessions and coming to Hancock Asa M. Lake, Esq., of Mt. Blanchard, offi- ciating. Capt. Dan. Gilbert, their son, was the first white child born here. Capt. Dan. served through the Civil War in the noted Fifty-seventh O. V. I.

The first death was that of Mrs. Mar- garet Williams, wife of an old hunter and pioneer. Her remains were interred in what is now the Mt. Blanchard Cemetery.

Among the stalwart pioneers of Jackson Township was Levi Sampson, a man of limited education, but possessed of a large stock of good common sense, sterling in- tegrity, and a perseverance that overcame all obstacles. His life, though one of labor and toil during the first years of his resi- dence here, was so good naturedly enjoyed by him, and so cheerfully did he meet all the hardships and disappointments of pioneer life, that he was known among his neigh- bors as "Sunny Sampson." He became quite wealthy, and had a well improved farm and good buildings. In 1851, just pre- vious to the adoption of the present State Constitution, he was appointed associate judge, in place of Michael Price, resigned. Judge Sampson died many years ago, sin- cerely regretted by his many friends and neighbors.

Alpheus Ralston was the son of William Ralston, and was born in Rockingham County, Va., in June, 1801. Whilst quite young his parents removed to Wood County, in the same state, but now West Virginia, where he remained until his twenty-fourth year. In 1826 he came to Ohio, and settled in Pickaway County, and in the same year was married. After a resi- dence here of about four years, he sold out

County in 1830, took up his residence in this township, on the same tract of land on which he lived the remainder of his life. At that time his nearest neighbor on the north was Mr. Chamberlain, three miles distant, and Mr. Woodruff, on the south, about the same distance. There were no neighbors on the east narer than the Blanchard River, six miles away; and Phillip Cramer on Tawa Creek, seven miles distant, was the nearest family west.

The Perrysburg and Bellefontaine road was not yet located or opened up, only a wagon track through the woods led to Findlay. Mr. Ralston was at the first elec- tion in the township, and with Aquilla Gil- bert, Mordica Hammond, the Beards, and others, effected the organization of Jack- son Township. His first near neighbors were the Williamsons. Mr. Ralston was the father of eight children, and his son LaFayette succeeded to the farm of his father.

Joseph Newell was born on July 6, 1808, in Shenandoah County, Va., and when six years old, came with his parents to what is now Fairfield County, Ohio. Here he re- mained until 1836, and was married here. In that year he came to this township and took up his residence on lands entered by him some years previously. Mr. Newell was one of the pioneer Methodists of the township. The year preceding his immi- gration here, a society had been organized by a Methodist itinerant, of which Mr. Newell's brother James, and two sisters and a Mrs. Bond were members. His wife became a member of the same society the year after they came here, and Mr. Newell

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 22

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1189

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189