HISTORY


OF


DEFIANCE COUNTY,


OHIO.


CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY ; ITS TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, ETC.;

MILITARY RECORD; PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND

PROMINENT MEN; FARM VIEWS; PERSONAL

REMINISCENCES, ETC.



CHICAGO:

WARNER, BEERS & CO.

1883.



FRONTPIECE - COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DEFIANCE, OHIO



2007 PICTURE OF DEFIANCE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DEFIANCE, OHIO



1883 MAP OF DEFIANCE COUNTY, OHIO





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PREFACE.


THE history of Defiance County, Ohio, which has been for some time in course of preparation, is herewith I presented to the patrons of the work, in a form which it is confidently believed will prove satisfactory to all, being in strict accordance with the announcements made in the prospectus issued some two years ago.


The work was undertaken in the belief that there is a proper demand that the events which relate to the early times should find a permanent record, and with what fidelity to facts and with what patience of research we have accomplished the task we leave to the judgment of our patrons, in whose keeping the traditions of that day remain, and for whom the work was undertaken. Fully aware of our inability to furnish a perfect history from meager public documents, inaccurate private correspondence and numberless conflicting traditions, we make no pretension of having prepared a work devoid of blemish, Every important field of research has been minutely scanned, and, while we acknowledge the existence of unavoidable errors, we claim to have prepared a work fully up to the standard of our promises, and as accurate and comprehensive as could be expected under the circumstances.


To the citizens of the county for the co-operation we have at all times met with, and to all who in any way contributed to the work or aided us in its preparation, we tender our thanks ; we especially desire to mention the names of Jacob J. Greene, William C. Holgate, H. N. Prentice, William Carter and Alfred P. Edgerton, who furnished us with many facts and events of by-gone days.


CONTENTS.


.

 

PAGE

 

PAGE

CHAPTER I.—HISTORY OF THE TERRITORY NORTHWEST OP THE OHIO —The Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio--Surveys and Grants of the Public Lands—Treaties made with the Indians—First Officers of the Territory—The Second Grade of Territorial Government— Early Laws of the Territory—Local Courts and Court Officers—Organization of Counties—Early Territorial Villages and Towns—Territorial Officers —Hostility of Indian Tribes—Military Expeditions— Organization of the Second Grade of Territorial Government—Members of Territorial Legislature of 1799-1800—First Council and House of Representatives

9-20

CHAPTER XVII—TOWNSHIP VAGARIES —Johnny Appleseed—Pioneer Home—Pioneer Wedding—Navigating the Maumee—First County Fair—The Hebrews—Table of Population by Townships

108-111

CHAPTER II—GEOLOGY —Our Sedimentary Rocks—Our Drift Geology —Glaciation — Erosion -- Modifications —The Great Scandinavian Glacier—Lake Beaches Due to the Shifting of the Earth's Center of Gravity—Glaciers and Glacier Movements 

21-27

CHAPTER XVIII.—THE MEXICAN WAR

112-113

CHAPTER III.—AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF DEFIANCE COUNTY 

27-29

CHAPTER XIX.—MILITARY RECORD OF DEFIANCE COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION —The Call for Troops— Fourteenth Ohio Infantry— Twenty-first Ohio Infantry—Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry— Forty-eighth Ohio Infantry— Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry—One Hundredth Ohio Infantry —One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Infantry— One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Infantry— Additional List of Defiance Soldiers

113-155

CHAPTER IV.—THE MIAMIS —Little Turtle

30-33

CHAPTER XX.—DEFIANCE— Population– Post Office—Incorporation —Hotels— Banking —Industries—Newspapers—Schools of Defiance— Pioneer Physicians — Societies— Churches of Defiance— Cemeteries —Defiance Township—Personal Sketches

156-253

CHAPTER V.—THE HISTORY OF THE SHAWNEES—The Sale of Their Reserves— The Final Removal—Their Great Chiefs

33-55

CHAPTER XXI.—ADAMS TOWNSHIP— Voters in 1845—Personal Reminiscences 

254-257

CHAPTER VI.—BRITISH EXPEDITION P THE MAUMEE IN 1780—Early Indian Councils-Defiance, the Heart of the Indian Nation—John Brickell's Captivity—Spencer's: Indian Life at Defiance

55-60

CHAPTER XXII—DELAWARE TOWNSHIP — Village of Delaware Bend —Dunkard's Church—United Brethren Church at Sherwood—Personal Reminiscences

257-266

CHAPTER VII.—GEN. WAYNE'S EXPEDITIONS —Daily Journal of Wayne—Gen. Wayne—Treaty of Greenville

61-78

CHAPTER XXIII.—FARMER TOWNSHIP — The Village of Farmer Center —First Voters—Personal Reminiscences 

267-277

CHAPTER VIII.—DEFIANCE COUNTY IN 1812—The Death and Burial of Capt. Logan— Gen. Winchester's Order Book— Winchester's Departure

79-83

CHAPTER XXIV.—HICKSVILLE TOWNSHIP —Roads—Sales of Land- Mills— Voters in 1845—Hicksville—Village of Hicksville—Schools - Churches —Secret Societies —Physicians—Attorneys—Press — Business Industries—Personal Reminiscences

278-308

CHAPTER IX.—SURVEYS

83-84

CHAPTER XXV.— HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP —Ayersville—Churches Ayersville Grange—Voters in 1845— Personal Reminiscences.  

308-317

CHAPTER X.—ORGANIZATION OF WILLIAMS COUNTY —Early Proceed-

ings of the Commissioners—Court House—First Election

84-85

CHAPTER XXVI.—MARK TOWNSHIP— Schools—Mark Center—Person- al Reminiscences

317-324

CHAPTER XI.—ORGANIZATION OF DEFIANCE COUNTY —Full Text of

the Rill Organizing Defiance County— Rejoicings at Defiance—Court House

85-87

CHAPTER XXVII.— MILFORD TOWNSHIP — Churches — Arrowsmith

Mill—Personal Reminiscences

324-334

CHAPTER XII.—COUNTY OFFICIALS of County Officers

88-89

CHAPTER XXVIII.—NOBLE TOWNSHIP —Personal Reminiscences

334-340

CHAPTER XIII—THE COURTS —The Bench

90-91

CHAPTER XXIX.—RICHLAND TOWNSHIP —The Village of Independence — Voters in 1845 —Fort Defiance Grange, No. 267—Personal Reminiscences

340-346

CHAPTER XIV.—THE BAR —The Present Bar—Horace Sessions—John Beaston Semans—William Semars—Samuel H. Greenlee—Gilbert L. Myers—Erastus H. Leland—Maj. Samuel A. Strong—Thomas Cowan —Thomas T. Cowan—Hamilton Davison—George W. Killey—John

F. Deatrick—Silas T. Sutphen—Henry Hardy—William Carter

91-106

CHAPTER XXX. — TIFFIN TOWNSHIP— Early Voters—Village of Evansport— Evansport Lodge, F. A. A. M., No. 511 —Personal Reminiscences

347-369

CHAPTER XV.—CANALS

106-107

CHAPTER XXXI—WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP —Georgetown—Voters in 1845 Personal Reminiscences

369-374

CHAPTER XVI.—RAILROADS

107

 

 



PERSONAL SKETCHES.



DEFIANCE TOWNSHIP.


Adams, Nathaniel B.

Ashbaugh, Samuel S/

Austin, Mrs. Ruth

Brubaker, John

Brubaker, Mrs. Eliza

Bauer, Joseph, Jr/

Brown, William A.

Bronson, Charles E.

Blanchard, Ledger

Blanchard, Joseph

Blanchard, Gideon

Blair, Enos

Blymyer, William Gaylord

Bechtold, Dr. Anthony

Bethel George W.

Beardsley, Livingston F.

Corwin, Isaac

Carroll, Thomas R.

Carroll, William

Cary, Robert

Casebeer Capt. J. F.

Carter, William

Culley, Frank C.

Downs, Mrs. Sophia

Dickman, Peter

Davis, Z. H.

Foust, John A.

Felton, Rev. Truman

Flickinger, Charles Andrew



218

235

201

221

234

223

230

235

236

236

236

237

244

245

247

253

216

222

222

226

233

235

244

211

217

218

226

232

246

Gorman, Michael

Gorman, John W.

Greene, Jacob J.

Graper, John D.

Geiger, Christian L.

Hoeffel, Michael, Jr

Heatley, James B.

Hively, John

Haller, J. S.

Harris, Henry B.

Higgins, William

Holgate, William C.

Holgate, Curtis

Hoffman, William G.

Hall, Henry B.

Hilton, Jesse

Holston, Maurice S.

Harley, Christian

Kiser, Mrs. Julia A.

Kettenring, Peter

Killey, Daniel H.

Kahlo, Joseph J.

Kniss, John

Lewis, William, Jr

Lindenberger, Edward F.

Lehman, John

Lauster, Peter William

Levi, Joseph I.

McCollister, John

McFarlan, Mrs. Hannah

Miller, John,

212

252

233

247

249

216

227

232

234

235

238

239

242

250

250

252

252

253

210

214

223

246

249

214

215

218

220

248

237

211

221

CONTENTS

Miller, Charles L.

Miller, Horace P

Miller, Abijah John

Marquardt, Conrad

Newton, Townsend

Neill, Lewis

Oliver, Mrs. Elizabeth

Preisendorfer, John M.

Powell, Dr. W. S.

Royce, Charles V.

Richardson, Lay Whitney

Ralston, Joseph

Rowe, John

Stevens, Frederick F.

Schneider, John Jacob

Squire, Virgil

Shead, Frank J.

Shirley, Philip

Schlosser, Peter

Stow, Rev. William B.

Sauer, Henry

Scott, John Lawrence

Strong, Charles Carroll

Southworth, Burr B.

Tuttle, John

Trampe, Frederick

Thacker, Dr. I. N.

Viers, A.

Weisenburger, G. M.

Weisenburger, Francis J.

Wood, Harvey

Wilhelm, Main

White, Hon. Elmer

Widmer, Daniel

Widmer, John

Ziegler, Peter

Ziegler. Michael

222

224

235

235

232

239

251

237

245

212

225

228

249

212

215

220

224

208

224

231

232

234

236

248

213

220

245

237

215

216

223

229

243

245

245

222

222

Bunnell, Joseph

Bunnell, Joseph S.

Butter, Ephraim

Clemmer, John

Clemmer, George

Crook, Edward W.

Casebeer, James

Clay, J. C.

Edgerton, Alfred B.

Donafin, Isaac

Elliott, Hugh

Edson, Ptolemy

Forlow, Amos

Forlow, Benjamin

Forlow, J. B.

Fish, Simon W.

Gingrich, Jacob

Griffin, L. E.

Gale, Lucius

Greer, Mrs. E. R.

Hill, Hon. W. D.

Hilbert, Peter

Henning, Frederick

Henry, Abram

Henry, William J.

Huffman, D. G.

Hoffman, Michael

Hoffman, John A.

Hoffman, G. W.

Kerr, Robert Filmore

Kleckner, William J.

Kinmot, William

Kinmot, Dr. T. C.

Loveland, Luther

Lawson, John

Maxwell, William R.

Maxwell, James

Miller, John A.

Norick, George

Osborn, Ransom

Otis, E. D.

Otis, Dr. William D.

Parker, Allen

Pettit, B. S.

Phillips, Asher P.

Putnam, L. R.

Ryan, John

Ryan, J. C.

Richards, Dr. W. H.

Rakestraw, Dr. B. M.

Scott, George W.

Swilley, John

Summers, A.

Tracht, Michael

Tracht, George

Thompson, F. M.

.

Tannehill, C. V.

Thoman, Conrad

Warner, Amos

Warner, George

302

304

305

289

299

295

297

300

287

298

290

307

301

294

301

305

290

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306

308

289

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295

307

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304

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304

294

296

302

302

293

306

293

299

307

305

292

295

297

293

296

298

305

293

300

297

305

296

300

301

291

291

300

301

306

304

308

ADAMS TOWNSHIP.


Diehl, Aaron

Hornish, John

Hall, Emanuel

Lehman, Henry

Markel Ephraim

Shrimplin, John

Swartz, ,Jacob

Tubbs, Charles

Tittle, T. J.

Wisda, John



254

255

256

255

254

255

255

255

256

256

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.


Ayers, Joseph Prudden

Ashton, James

Brechbill, Henry

Brechbill, Abram Troxell

Boutell, N. A.

Boutell, John

Fullmer. A.

Hill, H. J.

Hoeltzel, Philip George

Kraft, Jacob

Mix, E. B.

Myers, Jacob K.

Povenmire, Abraham

Sanford, John M.

Skiver, Augustus




312

313

309

311

315

316

316

316

314

313

316

312

317

313

313

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP


Armstrong, George C.

Blair, Nathaniel M.

Brown, David Benton

Coffin, Orlando

Frink, Henry

Gillespie, F. R.

Hill, George W.

Haver, Moses M.

Kintner, George

Lewis, Catharine.

Miller, Elias

Musselman, John

Platter, Jacob

Snook, U. R., M. D.

Speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth

Smith, E. B.

Smith, Charles

Smith, James M.

Smith, E. T.

Slough, Henry

Shook, Simon P



266

263

265

265

265

260

260

264

262

262

260

261

266

258

261

262

262

264

264

263

265

MARK TOWNSHIP


Crawford, Thomas

Colby, Dr. Levi

Critchfield, Lyman R.

Devore, E. H.

Frederick, John P.

Frederick, Peter

Haver, Robert

Hutchinson, William C.

Kleckner, Samuel

Kyle, Josiah

Knight, William J.

Martin, Henry

Onstott, Samuel

Rice, George N.

Spealman, G. w.



319

320

322

318

319

320

318

318

320

321

322

319

318

321

321

FARMER TOWNSHIP


Alexander, Thomas M.

Allen, Mrs. Harriet M.

Earlston, Mrs. Susannah

Farmer, Enoch

Foot, Orley N.

Gardner, James A.

Haller, Mrs. Cassandra

Haller, William M.

Hill, Horace W.

Huber, Anthony

Hopkins, Oney Rice

Knight, Richard

Lord, Randall

Lord, William

Miller, Dr. B. E.

Martin, William

Norway, John

Price, William

Price, John

Ridenour, Susannah

Rice, mrs. Lydia

Reynolds, Dr. J. J,

Tharp, Elisha

Welden, Ethan R.

Waltz, George

Wolford, Emanuel

Wilder, Levi W.



270

270

273

268

271

273

268

269

273

273

276

271

271

271

271

273

272

274

274

270

270

271

272

273

273

274

274

MILFORD TOWNSHIP.


Battershell, Rudolph J.

Barry, Charles W.

Crary, Nathaniel

Chapman, George W.

Green, Jacob, Jr

Gingery, Ava

Henry, John

Haller, John F.

Hulburt, C. M.

Hootman, John Jackson

Hootman, John



330

331

327

332

326

327

327

328

330

330

330

HICKSVIILE TOWNSHIP.


Ainsworth, John M..

Babbage, William

Brinker, Simon P.

Rabb. Mark W



305

290

293

301

 

 

CONTENTS

Hootman Christepher

Pierce, William G.

Serrill, Jacob D.

Stone, Alpha

Wartenbee, Isaac

Wilcox, A. W.

331

325

327

331

331

332

Hall, George, Sr.

Hall, Adam C.

Key, Francis L.

Kibble, Parmenas

Kibble, William Nelson

Kuhn, Christopher

McCaulery, Philip

Miller, David

Moon, Jacob, Jr.

Partee, Lewis

Purtee, Obadiah

Purtee, George

Purtee, Enos

Rath, William

Rethmel, John H.

Rethmel, Ezra

Rogers, Alexander,

Russell, Dr. Houston

Russell, John J

Schlosser, Samuel

Shuter, Samuel

Skinner, Charles A.

Snider, John

Snider, Solomon

Snider, Amos

Snider, Samuel

Spangler, Abraham

Spangler, Peter

Spercer, Frederick

Stever, John G.

Strawser, John

Sullinger, Adam

Walter, John N

Weiland, John G.

Wissler, John W.

Wissler, David

Yeager, Thomas

Yeagley, B.

353

353

357

366

367

351

361

357

360

363

352

355

355

357

363

365

362

358

360

360

354

357

353

355

355

355

360

361

357

363

362

365

368

360

356

336

354

365

NOBLE TOWNSHIP


Hilton, Brice

Langdon, Lyman

Perkins, John

Partee, John

Plummer, John

Statler, Barnett G.

Travis, William



334

337

335

335

335

336

336

 

 

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.


Braucher, Mrs. Mary

Braucher, Isaac F.

Evans, Pierce

Elliott, Thomas

Elliott, J. B.

Elliott, A. 

Hill, John

Kepler, Samuel

Ort, Henry

Rohn, Samuel

Taylor, John, Jr.

Weidenhamer, Benjamin

Woodward, Orestus U.


TIFFIN TOWNSHIP.


Andrews, William F.

Barnhart, Mrs. Martha

Bennett, Aaron

Bergman, Solomon

Black, George

Bohn, Alexander

Brown, Henry

Brown, John Wesley

Cameron, John

Cameron, Lydia (Stenger)

Cameron, John P.

Cameron, Robert B.

Cameron, Samuel P.

Churchman, William

Collins, Joseph

Coy Family, The

Craine, John T.

Dieden, Jacob

Enneking, Frederick

Erman, Jacob

Figley, Jacob

Figley, Simon

Fribley, Daniel

Garber, John A.

Garber, Brice H,

Garber, DeWitt Clinton

Gares, Peter

Gurwell, James S.

Gurwell, Martin

Hall, Jacob

Hall, George C.

Hall, Adam

Hall, William

Hall, Jesse



341

346

341

343

346

346

343

344

345

342

344

343

345




358

363

364

360

360

359

366

366

350

350

351

351

359

361

349

348

368

365

366

362

367

367

358

359

359

359

362

364

365

352

352

332

353

353

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.


Beattie, S. K.

Benner, George W.

Bostater, Andrew

Donley, Henry

Donley, William

Doud, Mrs Clarinda

Earlston, John

Garver, Isaac

Goller, George

Gorrell, James

Hanna, Mrs. Mary

Hartshorn, Dr. N. W.

Keller, Mrs. Mary

Kintner, John

Lorah, Henry

Mason, John

Moon, Samuel Perry

Pearce, William, Sr

Persin, Christopher

Ridenour, George

Scott, Andrew

Strawser, Philip

Struble, Martin

Ufer, William

Ury, George W,




374

370

371

373

374

371

374

371

374

372

373

374

373

373

373

372

373

372

372

370

373

372

369

371

370




ILLUSTRATIONS.



Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. G. C.

Arrowsmith, M.

Allen, Mr. and Mrs. D.

Ainsworth, J. M., residence

Babbage, William

Beardsley, L. E.

Beattie, S. K.

Boutell, N. A.

Braucher, Isaac

Brechbill, Mr. and Mrs. A. T.

Brechbill, Mr. and Mrs. John

Bronson, C. E.

Cameron, John and Lydia

Casebeer, J. E.

Casebeer, James

Court House and Jail

(lemur, John

Conrad, Mrs. Mary

Crook, E. W., residence

Deatrick, J. T.

Gares, Peter, residence

Haller, Jesse

Haller, Cassandra

Haller, Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. Albert

Forlow, Amos

Forlow, Benjamin

Flickinger, C. A.

Foust, John A.

Funnier, A.

Greene, Jacob J.

Mr. and Mrs. J. F., portraits and residence

Hall, Mr. and Mrs. George C., portraits and residence

Hardy, Henry

facing 264

facing 184

facing 232

facing 104

facing 40

facing 200

facing 368

facing 136

facing 248

facing 312

facing 312

facing 56

facing 296

facing 200

facing 40

frontispiece

lacing 296

facing 352

facing 288

facing 88

facing 136

facing 40

facing 40

facing 168

facing 200

facing 360

facing 120

facing 216

facing 184

facing 184

facing 328

facing 72


facing 56

Harley, C.

Henning, Fred, residence

Higgins, William

Hill, H. J.

Holgate, William C.

Hoeltzel, P. G.

Huber, Mr. and Mrs. A.

Kerr, R. F., residence

Knight, Richard and Harriet

Miller, Mr. and Mrs. David, portraits and residence

Mix, E. B.

Preisendorfer, J. M.

Prentice, H. N.

Price, Mr. and Mrs. John

Price, Mr. and Mrs. William

Ralston, Joseph

Ridenour, George

Rohn, Mrs. Sarah

Rohn, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel

Sutphen, S. T

Skiver, Augustus

Snider, Mr. and Mrs. John, portraits and residence  

Struble, Martin

Swilley, John

Thompson, F. M.

Ufer, William

Wilhelm, Adam

Woodward, Mr. and Mrs. O. U.

Map Defiance County

facing 120

facing 288

facing 56

facing 360

facing 24

facing 360

facing 232

facing 104

facing 264


facing 152

facing 248

facing 200

facing 248

facing 272

facing 272

facing 120

facing 368

facing 312

facing 344

facing 96

facing 360

facing 352


facing 368

facing 296

facing 136

facing 368

facing 120

facing 344

 7





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