Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 26

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 26

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).

It does not appear who the contestant was, or the grounds of contest. Therefore it is inferred that Mr. Wade established his claim to the office, for in 1841 he was again elected.

Levi Showalter resided in the township until his death, and to the end was a hale, hearty old man, with the same frank, brusque manners, sterling honesty, and neighborly spirit that were always his lead- ing characteristics. He was respected and trusted by all who knew him, and left be- hind him pleasant memories.

James Burns, one of the best citizens, in- dustrious and honest, after years of toil, accumulated a competency for himself and family, died surrounded by kind friends and neighbors, regretted by all.

George Burket was born in Berks County; Pa., and emigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio, at which place he was married to Mary Fox, in 1831 he came to Hancock; Ohio, with his wife and two children. He settled on the farm afterwards owned by his son Jacob. Mr. Burket was a tall slender man, and of rather delicate health. With the help of his family, he cleared a very val- uable farm, at which place he died about 1862.

Jacob Burket, son of George Burket, was born in Fairfield County, in December, 1811,

Digitized by Google

230

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

and when about five years of age, his parents removed to Perry County, where he re- mained until 1831, when he came to this township. When Mr. Burket came, there were but two other families in the town- ship, Phillip Cramer, who resided where his son afterwards resided, and Nicolas Folk, who lived on what is since known as the Teatsworth farm. Mr. Burket was present and voted at the first election held in the township. He said that at that election, Phillip Cramer, Nicolas Folk and George Burket were elected trustees, and Wenman Wade, clerk. Mr. Burket was married in 1832, to Sarah Cramer, by Esq. John Cramer. This was the first marriage in the township. Mrs. Burket died in 1850, and he was again married this time to the widow of Phillip Cramer, Jr. After a long and active life on his farm, Mr. Burket moved to the village of Rawson, where he quietly en- joyed his declining years. He always en- joyed the esteem of his neighbors, and had a host of friends.

Nicolas Folk came from Fairfield County, and took up his abode on Tawa Creek about two miles north of where the village of Rawson now stands on or near the Teats- worth farm, which he entered. Mr. Folk was a small man, rather feeble in health, but succeeded in clearing up the farm on which he lived and died. He was highly re- spected by all who knew him.

Rev. Richard Biggs was born on the 12th day of November, 1806, in Columbia County, Pa., and died at his home in the town of Rawson, Ohio, on the 18th day of July, 1880. In 1824 he united with the Methodist Church in Northumberland County, Pa. He shortly afterwards removed

to Summit County, Ohio, where in July, 1836, he was licensed to preach. In 1838 he removed to Hancock County, and settled near the present town of Rawson. Two years later he was admitted to the Northern Ohio Conference at is session at Norwalk, and for more than thirty years was an itin- erant minister, serving charges at Findlay, Kalida, Defiance, Clarksfield, Amherst, Dal- ton, Congress, Chesterville, Marcellus, Mil- lersburg, Shaneville, Pleasantville, Mt. Blanchard, Arcadia, Adrain, Bluffton, Betts- ville, and McComb. Left an orphan when but six years of age, his educational privi- leges were very limited; yet such was his diligence in his studies, that he began teach- ing when he was sixteen. He was always a close student, and kept up with the times. He was a man of unyielding rectitude, and pure in his life, modest and retiring in his disposition, yet faithful in the discharge of his duty. He commenced the ministry when it meant hard labor, and little pay; the country being new, the appointments being a long distance apart and the people scat- tered and poor, yet he earnestly and uncom- plainingly toiled to lay the foundation of good society, good government and good morals.

During the Civil War he fearlessly de- fended the cause of the Government against the opposition in the north, and boldly stood up for "Old Glory" when ministers were obliged to lay their revolvers down on the desk before them when they commenced their discourses, as a menace to those who might want to make trouble when they ex- pressed admiration for the flag and prayed for the victory of the Union cause. His faithful wife passed away in 1883, and of

Digitized by Google

231

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

ten children the Rev. Peter Biggs, now re- siding on Lime Avenue, is the sole survivor.

In 1845, Edson Goit, Esq., a pioneer lawyer of Findlay, erected a flouring mill on Ottawa Creek, Thomas Pickens doing the millwright work. This was afterwards better known as the Teatsworth Mill. It was located two miles north of Rawson, where may still be seen the remains of the embank- ment forming a part of the dam. It was originally a water-mill, but after its sale by Goit to James Teatsworth, steam power was added, with wood, which was then plenty, used for fuel. The mill was a great con- venience to the surrounding country, and its loss-for it was torn down and removed many years ago-was very seriously felt by the people of the country around it.

The first church built in the township was by the United Brethren, and is known as the Clymer Church. There are now ten churches in the township as follows : United Brethren, two; Evangelical, two; Christian Union, two, and one each of the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Church of God, and United Presbyterian.

The first schoolhouse was built at the center of the township, and a schoolhouse has been kept there ever since. There are now ten school buildings in the township, all of them, I believe, of brick, and fur- nished with furniture of the most modern

style. The schools of this township have the reputation of being among the best in the county. The enumeration of children of school age averages about six hundred.

Most of the first settlers of this town- ship were from the eastern and middle coun- ties of the State, and very largely from Fairfield County.

Union Township has three villages within its boundaries, mention of which will be made in another chapter of this work.

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.

The records of the county commissioners for March 7, 1831, show the following entry: "A petition of sundry inhabitants of Hancock County was presented for setting off the orig- inal surveyed township, numbered I and 2 in Range 10, south of the base line, into a town- ship, which was accordingly set off, to be known and designated by the name of Van Buren."

At the March session of 1834 the commis- sioners ordered that Township 2 south, Range 9, be attached to Van Buren Township, for corporate purposes. This township which was named for President Van Buren, is situated on the south line of the county and is bounded on the north by Eagle Township, on the east by Madison, on the south by Hardin County, and on the west by Orange Township. It con- tains 15,360 acres.

The timber consisted principally of walnut, the different varieties of oak, ash, maple and elm, with beech, sycamore and buckeye. It re- quired much time and great labor to remove this great mass of timber in clearing up the land and preparing it for cultivation. The soil in the low lands is a black loam, on the uplands clay, but all mingled and enriched by other sub- stances as to be very fertile. The township is watered and drained by Ottawa and Riley Creeks, both of which have their sources here. Good drainage can be had anywhere in the township by these and their small tributaries.

The first entry of land was the northwest quarter of Section 27 on the 4th of January, 1831, by Benjamin Sparr. In April of the

Digitized by

Google

232

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

same year, Samuel Green entered the east half of the southwest quarter of the same section, and in July, James West entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 23. May 16th, 1833, John Diller entered the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section. 10 and in December of the same year Solomon Bergman, of Licking County, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 17. Peter Pifer and C. Price, both of Pennsylva- nia, on the 20th of May, 1834, made entries of land, the one took up the northeast quarter of Section 8 and the other the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 9.

In October, 1834, Robert Shaw of Portage County, Peter Foltz of Fairfield County, Isaac Ashburn of Knox County, Joseph Smith of Columbiana County, Henry Freed and Daniel Besserman both of Stark County, Ohio, made entries of land here, other entries speedily fol- lowed, many of them by newly arrived emi- grants from Germany.

Nicholas Essinger, Adam Gassman and Peter Pifer made the first settlement here, as early, perhaps, as 1833. Not far from the same time Adam Reddick, Peter and Henry Held- man came in, and were quickly followed by Philip Heldman, Michel and Peter Wilch, all from Germany. Soon the Stinemans, the Freeds and the Bessermans, the Hassons, the Barmouths, the Prices and others, nearly all Germans, followed and began to open up farms. These pioneers were industrious, thrifty, honest and moral, and their robust health, the result of frugal living, their energy and solid strength backed up by a fixed deter- mination to succeed in the land of their adop- tion, soon enabled them to open up valuable farms, and today we have not a more industri-

ous, honest, peaceable and contented people than those found in this township.

The first log schoolhouses built in the town- ship were at Fulhert's and John Tilles' and were erected about the same time. The school- houses here, as elsewhere in the county, fol- lowed close on the settlements and these were perhaps built as early as 1834. There are now six schoolhouss in the townhip having a good attendance.

The German Reform Church building at Ja- cob Traucht's was the first erected in this town- ship. There are now one Methodist Episcopal and one Dunkard, one German Reform and one German Lutheran Church in the township.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

At the meeting of the county commissioners, on the 5th day of March, 1832, Charles Mc- Kinnis and Robert L. Strother, two of the commissioners being present, the following record was made: "It appearing to the Board of Commissioners necessary, that they set off the original Township 2 north, in Range 12 east, which shall be a body corporate and poli- tic, and known by the name of Washington Township." This township was named in honor of the "Father of his country" and is sit- uate in the northeast corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Seneca County, on the south by Big Lick Township, and on the west by Cass Township. It contains thirty-six sections of land, of 640 acres each, or a total of 23,040 acres.

The soil of this locality is somewhat varied. The entire part of the township, except the north tier of sections, is a heavy clay soil, with patches of vegetable mould in the depressions and along the streams, and occasionally some

Digitized by Google

233

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

sand and clay mixed on the higher points. The of Fairfield County. Ohio, who made entry of north tier of sections, from one to six inclusive, the west half of the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 4, and on the same day, Caleb Roller, of the same county, entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 5. December Ist, 1830, John Gersuch, of Wayne County. Ohio, entered the northeast quarter of Section 5, and on the 17th day of the same month, he made entry of the northeast quarter of Section I. On the 17th day of December, 1830, James Connelly. of Richland County, Ohio, entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 3. has a gravel ridge running through them, cov- ering about one-half of the section, with a nar- row strip between the ridge and the Wood County line, of a deep, rich, black vegetable mold. Near the foot of the slope of the gravel ridge, is a strip of red clay, not more than four or five rods wide, but very productive. The sur- face of the whole township slopes gently to the north to the summit of the ridge, from thence to the north line of the township the declina- tion is more abrupt. The east and middle branches of the Portage River furnish outlets On the 17th day of March, 1831, the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 2, was taken up by John Norris of Wayne County. Thomas Kelley, also of Wayne County, on April 16, 1831, made entry of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and on the 7th of May of the same year, Richard Cole, of Columbiana County, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 1. These entries were fol- lowed in the same year by those made by Will- iam Norris, of Seneca County, James G. Wise- man, of Perry County, William Wiseley of Fairfield County, Michael and Liverton Thomas, of Wayne County, John Mackrill, of Richland County, James Beason, David Pe- ters and others. for all the underdrains that the farmers have in place, and sometimes serve as a convenience for watering stock. These branches are now known by the name of Arcadia and Fostoria Creeks, one passing through the town of Ar- cadia and the other one through the town of Fostoria. The east branch has its source in Section 12, in Big Lick Township, running in a northeasterly course, entering this township, in Section 35, running across the township in a northeasterly course, leaving it near the north- east corner of the county. The middle branch rises at the south line of the township, about four miles southeast of the village of Arcadia, crossing the township, leaving it near the northwest corner.

As these streams are dry in summer time, when there is not plenty of rain, they are not of much account for watering stock, but pos- sess great value as outlets for the drainage of the lands. They form deep cuts through the ridge in the north part of the township, washed out in the past years when the country south of the ridge was a lake, or at least a morass.

John Gorsuch made the first settlement that was made in this township, on the northeast quarter of Section 1, in April, 1831. The next settler was James Sweeney, who located on the southeast quarter of Section 4, in the same month, and John Norris settled on the north- east quarter of Section 2, about the first of May; and in the same month, James Wiseman located on the northwest quarter of Section 12. Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Wiseman having come

The first entry of land in this township was made November 24th. 1830, by Joseph Long, to the township in the prime of manhood, and

Digitized by Google

234

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

endured all the hardships of pioneer life, both lived to a ripe old age, and died on the farms they first settled on. Mr. Gorsuch also died many years ago. Mr. John Norris moved to Portage Township, on Section 32, where he died, the oldest of the four pioneers in this township. In 1832 several more families set- tled in the township, among them those of Jacob Heist and Elijah McRill, William Eck- els, William Ferrill, James Bryan, Liverton Thomas, Joel Hale and Elijah R. Anderson.

This township, like almost all the others of the county, was very heavily timbered, the prin- cipal kinds of timber being white, red, bur and swamp oak; white, red and hickory elm; white, black and blue ash; white and black walnut ; hard and soft maple; wild cherry: shellbark and white hickory, bass wood, cotton wood, sycamore and buckeye. In the early settlement of the township, nearly all this timber was val- ueless except for fencing, and was regarded as a great drawback in the way of improve- ments, but such is the demand for timber at this day, that what was then destroyed or wasted, would now bring fortunes to the lucky owners. The first schoolhouse in this town- ship was built in 1833 or 1834, and was located on the northwest quarter of Section 12, on the farm of James Wiseman, afterwards owned by Gov. Foster. The first school in that house was taught by Isaac Wiseman, and was the first school in the township. There are now nine schoolhouses and schools in the township. The enumeration of youths of school age is about six hundred.

The United Brethren have an academy in that part of Fostoria which is situated in this township. The schools of the township are at present in a flourishing condition, and much interest is felt in their success by the patrons,

The school buildings are all comfortable and commodious.

The religious sentiment of the township finds expression through seven churches-two Methodist Episcopal, one Evangelican Luth- eran, one Presbyterian, one German Reformed, one German Baptist, and one United Brethren.

The first election in Washington Township was held in the fall of 1832, when General Jackson and Henry Clay were national candi- dates for the presidency. Twelve votes were cast at this election. The names of the electors were John Norris, John Gorsuch, Silas Gor- such, Nelson Gorsuch, James Sweeney, James Wiseman, Liverton Thomas, Jacob Heistan, Elijah McRill, William Ferrall, James Bryan and William Eckels. The vote stood, as now remembered, Clay eight, Jackson four. If "Young Harry of the West" had met with the same success throughout the entire United States "Old Hickory" would not have his name on the list of men honored with the high- est office the greatest Republic in existence can bestow. Liverton Thomas was elected justice of the peace, and was the first elected in the township.

The Lake Erie & Western Railroad runs across the township in a diagonal direction from northeast to southwest, and is paralleled by the Toledo, Fostoria & Findlay electric line throughout. What was called the old Conti- nental Road, graded through from Tiffin, Ohio, to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1855, changed hands in 1880, and is now the New York, Chi- cago & St. Louis Railroad well known over this part of the United States, was at once com- pleted from Buffalo to Chicago, crosses this township from east to west a little south of the center. Both these roads pass through the town of Arcadia where they cross, making the

Digitized by Google

235

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

occasion to build this village. The following incident illustrating pioneer life was formerly related by the Hon. Henry Sheets: "When Jacob Heistand came to this township from Wayne County, he brought with him several head of cows and young cattle, and not having any enclosure in which to keep them, allowed them to roam at large in the woods. He took the precaution, however, to put a bell on one, that he might be able to find them when wanted. But one evening when he went for them, he found that they had strayed farther away than usual, he did not find them until dark, and on his return, in passing around one of the large swales in the neighborhood, he lost his bearings, and the cattle not being very par- ticular as to the course they took, went in an opposite direction from home. Mr. Heistand followed them until late in the evening with- out coming to his or any other clearing. The woods were infested by wolves, which now commenced to howl close to him; the cattle gathered close about him, through fear of the wolves. Mr. Heistand concluded that he would stay with the cattle, and procured a cud- gel with which to keep the wolves at bay. But they becoming more bold, and howling fiercer and fiercer, he concluded to start on again, hoping to strike some clearing, which he hap- pily did in a few minutes, but about four miles from home. The clearing was that of James Wiseman, with whom he remained during the night."

James G. Wiseman was born in Greenbriar County, Va., in August, 1790. He served in the War of 1812 as a cavalryman, under Capt. Lewis. Mr. Wiseman was married in 1814 to Miss Elizabeth Summers, and in September, 1817, removed to Ohio, settling in Madison County. He and his wife made the trip from

Virginia to Ohio-a distance of more than four hundred miles-on horseback. After two years' residence he moved to Perry County, where he made his home until the spring of 1831, when he came to Washington Township. Mr. Wiseman was a medium-sized man, rugged and hardy, and well fitted to endure the hard- ships and privations of frontier life. He was passionately fond of hunting, and was an ex- pert in the use of the rifle, but he never allowed this fondness for sport to interfere with the real business of life, that of making a comforta- ble home for himself and family. He cleared up a large and rich farm. He was an honest, genial, whole-souled man, ever ready to assist the needy, and no man more fully enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors. Mr. Wiseman died in 1873, and his wife survived him seven years. They were the parents of thirteen chil- dren, and lived to see all of them become mar- ried men and women except two, one of which died quite young, the other being killed in the War of the Rebellion.

William Church was the oldest of eight chil- dren of Collis and Elizabeth Church, and was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., February 4th, 1818. His father was a farmer and William followed that occupation until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed for many years, and after his return to farming he still did his own blacksmithing, in- cluding an occasional job for a neighbor. Mr. Church came to Ohio nearly eighty years ago, the family and household goods making the trip in a wagon. On their arrival in the state, they located in the northern part of Wayne County, near the village of Jackson. Here Mr. Church's mother died. In 1834 the family came to Hancock County and located on the

Digitized by Google

236

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

land on which the town of Rawson now stands. Mr. Church came to Findlay and learned his trade with David Webster. In 1840 he mar- ried Martha J. Teatsworth, and followed his trade for thirteen years. He then purchased the farm in Liberty Township known as the Burkhead farm. After a residence here of a few years, he sold out and removed to the farm in Washington Township where he re- sided until his death on September 16, 1903. Mrs. Church died in 1873. They were the pa- rents of four children. Mr. Church was al- ways a man of strict morals, but never united with any church organization; his tendency, however, was toward the Baptist. He owned one of the finest farms in the county, on which are very tasteful and substantial buildings. He was always noted for his honesty and industry. He practiced economy without penuriousness, and hospitality without extravagance.

Charles E. Jordan was born in Belmont County, Ohio, on May 23rd, 1800. He was married to Margaret Moore, February 11th, 1826, who lived until May, 1873, dying at Ar- cadia, Ohio. Mr. Jordan came to this town- ship October 2nd, 1833, and settled on land adjoining Arcadia, on the farm where his son Capt. John Jordan afterwards died. Mr. Jor- dan had nine children, two of whom are still living. Although a pronounced disbeliever in the cause of the North during the Civil War, five of his six sons were soldiers in the Union army. James was killed at the battle of Re- saca, and John died many years afterward as a result of wounds received in one of the many engagements in which he took part. His eldest son, Daniel S. Jordan, was married to Miss Sarah Catharine Kimmell, in 1853, and for many years owned the farm where Reeves Park is at present located.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

TOWNSHIPS

WHEAT

RYE

OATS

CORN

Acres sown for Bu. prd. Acres sown Bu. prd. Acres sown Bu. prd.

harvest 1908

1908

Acres planted

Bu. shelled prod. 1908

: Allen H

1,479

25,414

970

30,592

1,984

85,635

2 Amanda

2,011

29,160

735

896

28,776

2,631

114,510

3 Biglick

2,559

44,587

721

1,164

42,665

3,213

131,460

4 Blanchard

2,383

31,146

1,582

1,860

58,809

4,990

233,177

5 Cass

1,403

24,675

225

986

31,876

2,168

80,090

6 Delaware

2,367

31,728

1,040

616

14,841

2,875

111,470

7 Eagle

2,270

32,768

370

837

28,312

2,819

116,370

8 Jackson

1,603

21,425

9 Liberty

1,612

26,375

355

1,021

41,110

2,886

1 36,400

Io Madison

2,297

17,362

123

1,145

452

12,707

1,849

71,660

II Marion

1,751

24,292

. ..

835

1,421

38,495

3,202

123,080

13 Pleasant

2,136

33,255

108

1,192

1,596

67,382

4,552

193,595

14 Portage

1,221

19,200

200

1,208

32,665

2,384

87,830

15 Union

2,088

27,594

136

1,930

1,595

54,333

3,754

70,030

16 Van Buren

2,035

21,815

128

1,434

20,701

2,253

99,570

17 Washington

1,327

22,920

...

21,540

1,387

48,608

Total

32,407

454,991

950

11,828

18,400

578,129

47,954

1,934,647

...

1,075

39,510

2,844

130,710

12 Orange

1,910

21,275

1,195

22,815

2,163

100,380

Digitized by Google

237

TOWNSHIPS

IRISH POTATOES

MEADOW

CLOVER

Acres planted

Bushels prod.

Acres in grass 1908

Tons of hay produced

Acres grown

Tons hay produced

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.

Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 26

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

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