GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
Located in the west tier of townships and in the second tier from the south. It has been formed since December, 1820. Its lands were taken from the south part of Washington and the north part of Harrison, the north tier of sections in
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the last-named township being added. Then the northern boundary was a line running some forty rods north of the Whitewater road. In June, 1827, it was reduced to its present size, which includes all of Town 11 north, Range 1 east. In December. 1833. the north tier of sections was thrown into Washington Township. but these were returned to the township in December, 1834.
In area, it includes about thirty-three square miles, or over 21,000 acres of land. The surface in the eastern part is gently undulating, and in the western part flat and level. Several sections in the south central part are considerably. broken. West Branch Creek and Second Branch Creek are the principal streams. West Branch Creek drains the eastern portion. Extending along the line of its general course there is to be seen a beautiful and valuable tract, known as West Branch Prairie. In the early day, this ground was wet, boggy, and generally deemed useless for agricultural purposes, but it has been reclaimed in the main, and is productive of heavy crops. There are few places more fascinating to the eye than is this prairie as it gently slopes upward on both sides of West Branch Creek. There are numerous springs along its course. which supply it the year round with pure running water. There is virtually no waste land in the township, and there is nowhere any soil better adapted to tillage. As is well known, but not realized. the surface was in the early day covered with a growth of a great variety of forest trees. In places the sugar maple abounds, and has been utilized to the manufacture of sirups especially. Many extensive gravel beds of the best quality are interspersed throughout the southern and eastern parts. Many of them are of use in the improvement of the highways, most of which are excellent.
From indications, this township was a favorite resort for the aboriginal occupants. On the arrival of the whites, several Indian camps were found, but within a few years. they disappeared. The prairie, heretofore mentioned, was a favorite resort. having for the red man a peculiar attraction.
Old settlers affirm that a spring on the lands of Elias Ross was a special attraction, not only to the Indian, but to troops of wild animals, on account of the purity and sweetness of its waters.
Indications show at least two Indian villages of considerable size within the present limits of the the township. One of these was located on Section 10, and the other on Section 3. both near fine springs. Indian implements of great variety and in considerable abundance are found strewn over the surface in the vicinity. A collection of such relics, made by C. M. Young, resident upon Section 3, within the years from 1876 to 1880. consist of about 1,000 specimens, most of which were found in this township, and many of which are rare. Remains of skeletons, supposed to have belonged to Indians, are found in abundance in many of the gravel banks, which have been opened up. One skull was found near the residence of Jesse Woods, of remarkable size.
The topography of the township shows that it possessed many points of interest and attraction ; its running waters, its prairies and its gently rolling surface were points at once marked to the quick, searching eye of the pioneer, and the date of its settlement was far back toward the beginning of the century. To whom the titular honor of being the first settler belongs is hard to determine. It lies between James Cloyd and Jonathan Pearson, with the evidence in favor of the former. Mr. Cloyd was born in Virginia, in 1790, and removed to Ohio when a child. Engaged as a soldier during the war of 1812, he was stationed much of the time at Fort Greenville. In 1815, he married Elizabeth Norftsinger, daughter of Andrew Norftsinger, one of the pioneers of the county. Mr. Norftsinger had built a block-house during the troublous period, and in this he lived until peace was declared. The site of this old fortification was in Neave Township.
In 1814. Mr. Cloyd moved to this township and sewed on the prairie, just south of the present site of Palestine. He was one of the first grand jury empaneled in the county, and bore a good name for energy, generosity and benevolence. His death took place May 26, 1872, and his remains rest in the Palestine
446 - HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
Cemetery. Jonathan Pearson settled on the prairie southeast of the village named, about 1816, but little was known of this man more than that he came originally from South Carolina, as did, also, Alexander Pearson. who was, perhaps. the third settler. Samuel Loring, who settled on the southwest quarter of Section 14, and who laid out the town of Palestine, was the next permanent settler. Peter Crumrine moved into German Township on March 12. 1817. The name of Daniel Wagner is associated with those of the pioneers. The family of which he was a member located on the northeast quarter of Section 24. on the edge of .the prairie. They were originally from Berks County. Penn.. whence they migrated, in 1806, to Ohio and then to this county and township. The elder Wagner was a soldier in the war for independence. and, at its conclusion. like other of the Continentals, returned to peaceful pursuits and derived a good farm for the family growing up about him. John Wagner had ten children. His oldest son, George, who was an early settler in Neave Township, was a solder in the later war of 1812, and was one of those surrendered by the cowardly Hull at Detroit, Mich. Two other sons, Daniel and William, located in German Township. The latter, still living on the homestead, has been a resident of the township since the fall of 1816, with the exception of a single year. He was born December 1. 1806, in Montgomery County, near Germantown, and was consequently only a mere lad when he came to the township. Himself and brother Daniel, six years his senior. were sent to the farm with some stock to winter through on prairie hay, which they had cut and stacked near where the house now stands. They came with their cattle in the fall of 1816, and built a but to serve as a temporary shelter till the family could join them in the spring. In this rude dwelling. with a family or two of Indians for their nearest neighbors, the first winter went by. They were shy and distrustful of the " sons of the forest." for the memory of atrocities committed upon the whites a few years previous was yet fresh in their minds. Daniel Wagner died March 9, 1876, just seventy-six years of age. He is remembered as a man of enterprise. fearless and free-hearted. The Wagner family were of German descent.
The fall of 1817 marked the actual beginning of the settlement of the township. A number of families arrived at this time and entering lands began the work of providing home and field. Martin Ketring and family and George Teaford, then a young man, arrived this fall and entered a part of Section 22. These people were likewise of German descent. The former was a native German. Their more immediate previous home was Fairfield County. Ohio. John. son of Martin Ketring, had been married previous to coming here, and is still living at a good old age. Teaford was soon married to Miss Magdalina Ketring and raised a large family, two sons of whom still live in the township and are among the largest farmers in it. The same fall, and in October, Henry Ross. a native of Virginia. located on land in the northwest part of Section 24. He came here from Pickaway County, and, about the same time. George Stingley and family, Virginians. located on the southeast quarter of Section 12, where a son now resides. The settlement in the extreme southwest part of the township was delayed until 1826. on account of its wet, level nature. Thus, briefly, we have noted the founders of imprOvement in German Township, and spoken of those who more than three score years ago laid the foundation for subsequent labors.
The staple products of the townshp are corn and wheat, with considerable oats and barley raised. Much of the corn is fed to stock, which receive considerable attention. There is no grain market in the township ; the nearest being Weaver's Station, in Neave Township. on the Piqua, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad. In the early years, what surplus grain was raised was hauled by team. either to Dayton or Piqua, and later, to Richmond, Ind. No line of railroad has, as yet, been constructed through the township, though it is thought one could be built with great advantage to the people and profit to the builders. The appreciation of education was a marked feature of pioneer settlers. As early as 1820,
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a schoolhouse was erected on the southwest quarter of Section 14, on land now owned by George Kester. The structure was by no means imposing or attractive. It was of logs and nailless. without glass or sawed lumber. The first teacher was William R. Jones, whose reputation comes down to us, as of an excellent man and teacher." The second schoolhouse was built in 1822, on the northwest quarter of Section 13. on land now owned by J. Wenrick. This dates the beginning of school interests in German Township. which have held even place with those of other townships from origin. There are now eleven school buildings, besides the one situated in the village of Palestine, three of which belong to the colored settlement. The number of school children enumerated in German Township in 1879 was as follows : White youth, 364 ; colored, 151 ; total, 515 ; number in the Palestine school. 133 : total number in the township, 648. The number of youth between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one was 140. The school buildings are all good. substantial structures, with the single exception of a frame house, and the schools are reported to be in fine condition. The first settlers were obliged to erect their cabins without the use of sawed lumber, there being no saw-mills accessible at the time. in the vicinity. One of the first demands of the settlers was for lumber, to erect buildings. In the absence of saw-mills, this want was frequently met by the use of the whip-saw. or more commonly, the puncheon. The former of these methods was extremely slow And laborious, and the latter was the Bernier resort to secure lumber. To meet the urgent demands, the rude pioneer saw-mill was erected, propelled always by water power, as steam was not then in use as a motor. The first mill of this kind erected in the township was built by Joshua Mitten, in 1820. on Section 24. on West Branch. This was rude enough, but still a great advance over the former method. Some years after, this mill had been built, an apparatus for cracking corn was attached to it, and this was noted as the pioneer grist-mill of the township. She served to supply the few scattered inhabitants with cracked corn, which, at the time, largely took the place of wheat flour. In order to supply another and urgent demand, a copper still was erected on Section 36. by John Puterbaugh. Its capacity was not very great, and for its influence, value and success, we cannot speak. A cheese factory was soon started at the same place, and by the same person, the Mr. Puterbaugh above named. All of these pioneer enterprises, rude, but bespeaking a disposition to make the most of home products. have been supplanted by more pretentious and modern structures. At present, a large steam flouring-mill run by Ira McClure, and a large saw-mill owned by James McCabe, in Palestine. furnish the necessary supply in this direction in the township.
CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.
The first religious meetings in German Township were held in the cabins of the settlers. The pioneer preacher was Jacob Ashley, of the Lutheran Church. He came up once a month from Germantown and held services, for which he received a salary of $12 per year. David Miller, son of old Jacob Miller, first minister of the Miami Valley. and Benjamin Bowman. came over from Indiana at an early day, and spoke to the people of things eternal and spiritual. They were ministers of the German Baptist Church. The first church built in this township was known as the " St. John's." a Lutheran enterprise, erected in 1826. south of Palestine, on land owned by John Ketring. The old structure was constructed of tree-trunks cut from the forest surrounding, but, in 1868, this was supplanted by a more comfortable and frame building. The old church was used by the Lutherans alone for many years, and then the German Reformed organization united with them, the two using the same church, employing the same minister, but having two separate and distinct societies, and two sets of church officers. In 1866, the latter-named society re-organized, and the Lutherans from that date were merged with them. Rev. I. Stuck was the first minister under the new organization.
448 - HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
Wesley Chapel. on Section 29, was probably the next church erected. It was built and used up to within a few years of the present time by the Methodists. It is not now in use by any denomination. Possibly the next church building constructed was the house built on Section 24, on the farm of William Wagner. by the Lutherans. It is now used by the members of the German Reformed denomination.
The Universalist Church at Palestine was organized by Rey. Elihu Moore and ten others, on June 18, 1868. The minister named was the one first employed. Their first meetings were held in the old Palestine schoolhouse. Within a few V ears subsequent to the organization, the society erected their present fine building, at a cost of about $3,000. The first officers of the society were H. L. Hill, George Kester and M. M. Jeffries, as Deacons ; George Kester, Treasurer, and Harrod Mills as Clerk. Six deaths have transpired in the society since its origin, and there is a present membership of 105 persons. The Disciple Church of Palestine was organized in April, 1873, by John M. Smith, with about twenty members. Earlier meetings were held in the Universalist Church. In the summer of 1877, the denomination erected their present fine and commodious building at a cost of $1,500. The officers at organization were Joseph Snyder and James Willery, as Elders ; Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Deacon, and J. A. Spittler, Clerk. There is an adjunct of value in a flourishing Sabbath-school, superintended by James Wilcox.
The German Baptist Church was constituted an organization at an early day by David Miller and Benjamin J. Bowman. John Weaver was the first preachar to serve the new society. He was succeeded by John Crumrine. Since then. William Marius, Mr. Harter and Jacob Miller have had charge of the congregation. Meetings were held in barns and houses till 1868, when their present fine building was erected, just south of Palestine. The membership is about one hundred and seventy-five persons. The Pleasant Grove U. B. Church is situated in the extreme northern part of the township, near the Washington line. thus serving both townships. The society was formed January 14, 1857, and meetings were held in a private house, located on the southwest quarter of Section 3, for two years, when room was supplied by the construction of the present church edifice. The organization was effected by Rev. Jacob M. Marshall. Elias Ross has been Steward since its formation. The Palestine Christian Church was organized in the year 1836, by Elijah Williamson, with a small membership. The first meetings were held in an old schoolhouse. Mr. Williamson and Richard Brandon were the first ministers. James Woods, Thomas Himes, John Crum, Joseph Heck, Henry Grove and their wives, and Philip Manuel were among the first members. The present meeting-house was built in 1859, and the society has an enrollment of 103 members.
The early custom of burial at sites near the homes has originated a number of grounds in the township. There are eight cemeteries in the township. of which the one at Palestine is the chief and largest.
The population have been peaceful and law-abiding, hence any infraction of right is, the more marked. Two crimes have been committed of late, most sanguinary in character. The victims were Wesley Guger and Stephen Wade. On the evening of October 24, 1877, after dusk, a body of armed and masked men halted before the house of Mr. Guger in Palestine, called him out, and deliberately shot him down. Where the mob was from, where they went, or who they were. has never been ascertained. The murder had no grounds so far as known save a charge of petty thieving. The second murder was committed in the dead of night in the fall of 1878. Stephen Wade, a colored mak was shot in his own house by a body of mounted men, masked and armed. He was charged with stealing, or more especially with harboring his sons, who had annoyed the community by various thefts. Two notices were served upon them to leave the country. The first was thus worded : " To Stephen Wade, Robert, Benjamin and Philip Wade—you are each and every one of you hereby advised to leave and
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stay away from Darke County, Ohio, within thirty days from date, or suffer the penalty. This means business." The above was penned in red ink. A second notice was dated September 14, 1878, but not received by the Wades till October 1. following. It was as follows :
You and your whole family are hereby notified, for the last time, to leave this county in haste.-
This was legibly written in black ink. No notice was given to these warnings. A mob. at midnight, surrounded Wade's dwelling, and aroused him. A shot was fired through the front window and struck an old clock just over Wade's bed. He discharged a shot into the mob, without effect, followed by yells and execrations. Wade reconnoitered from a window. and saw the mob firing at random into the house. He ran to the back. door to escape, but, as he threw it open, a gun was fired, and he received a load of shot in the left eye, which penetrated the brain. A cry, and then he expired without a struggle. A post-mortem examination disclosed sixteen No. 1 shot in the brain. We turn relieved from the inscription of these acts, whose bearing is a cloud upon the fair fame of any community, and reflect upon a love of law and justice. Such acts belong in localities destitute of school and church. and the better class of townsmen reprehend them, and would gladly see their perpetrators punished with the rigors of the law.
We find that the first piece of ground platted for a village site in the township was located on the northwest quarter of Section 24. The survey was caused at the instance of Nathaniel Ross, and the incipient town at one time contained a saw and grist mill, a grocery and a store., Bright anticipations of churches, schools and factories were doomed to disappointment. A rival sprang up across the prairie, which in time proved its ruin, and New London City exists only in this brief allusion to it.
Palestine was laid out, in 1833, by Samuel Loring. A beautiful view from the site of the present village is thought to have suggested the name. Loring's plat consisted of ten lots in the southeast part of the present corporation. Kester made the first addition, just north of the original sites. Samuel Guger and Abraham Weaver laid out the northwest part, and William Miller the southwest part. Col. David Putnam has since made an addition to the northeastern part. Palestine is to-day a very flourishing country village, containing one drug store, two groceries, one dry-goods store, one hotel, two blacksmith-shops, a wagon-shop, meat-market, grist-mill. saw-mill, shoe-shop. and health is attended to by three physicians.
In the northwest corner of the township, there exists a colored settlement, the foundation of was laid by a man named Clemens. It has grown to considerable proportions. They have three schools, and a church (Methodist Episcopal) building. There is a small hamlet, known as Tampico, here.