PREFACE

DURING the past few years a marvellous interest has developed in historic research. In the physical world geologists have explored the depths, astronomers the heights, while archaeologists have revelled in the intermediate fields. Step by step investigation has advanced, sometimes pausing to learn of a plant, and yet again wringing information from a world. An uncouth skull tells its story to the osteologist, a mound to the archæologist, the bashful rocks to a geologist, and a distant world to the astronomer. Naturalists have found

" Books in running brooks ; sermons in stones."

Everywhere historic research has been pushing backward and farther backward, until each plant and fossil and rock has been compelled to tell something of the story of its being. This tendency, so manifest in the physical world, is also observable in the world of man.

While a fossil is exhuming in the one field, a Troy is unearthing in the other, while each is asked for the narrative of its past. While one specialist seeks the development of organized life, another traces the development of organized society. By patient research the student follows the development of man from the individual on through the family, the clan, the community, the State, the nation, and back again to a foundation in the family. The mutation of nations taught the rise and fall of empire, for the ruins of one became the foundations of others. So with rulers, regardless of the power they exercised, and the splendor of their reign, for over the grave of one the sceptre of a successor is seen. At this point history became complex, and specialists entered the field to treat of particular races or independent States or nations. Even here classification became necessary to avoid incompleteness or unwieldiness. National history was then treated by periods, until political divisions suggested the local rather than the epochal method. Under this method the United States furnish a national history, each division a State history, and, finally, each county a local history. This method brought with it pioneer societies, which in turn gave rise to the publication of local histories to supply a demand already created by the pioneer associations.

This unassuming volume only dares announce itself as an effort to gratify this home demand. The plan adopted naturally suggested itself on account of its chronological simplicity, and will be found to embrace five general yet distinct departments.

1st. A general Introductory ; Discovery ; The Indians ; Indian Treaties ; Indian Tribes ; Titles to Ohio ; Military Expeditions ; Mound Builders ; Indian Wars ; Life of Wayne ; Council at Greenville ; The Shawnees ; Prominent Indians.

2d. The Northwest Territory; Title of Virginia; Ordinance of 1787 ; Population ; Ohio Land Company ; Settlement ; Officers ; Forts ; Moravian Missions ; Friends at Wapakoneta ; Post-Offices.

3d. Ohio.—Ratification of States ; Constitution ; Incidents of 1812 : General Hamar ; Stephen Johnston ; John Chapman ; Post-Offices : Counties ; Territorial and State Governors ; Election and Population Statistics.

4th. Van Wert County.—The Civil Organization ; Sketch of each township, with its towns, schools, industries, and churches, supplemented by many biographical notices of residents, and deceased pioneers.

5th. Mercer County.—Narrative as Civil Organization ; Separate Townships ; Schools ; Societies ; Enterprises ; Churches ; Biographical Sketches.

In the presentation of general matter which antedates the formation of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, it has been sought to present only such events as appeared to sustain a close relationship to the counties particularly under consideration. With this end in view, it was found necessary to glance back to the period of discovery, in order to trace out something of the chain of causes which brought about the formation and development of this section. In treating of the settlement it was necessary to consider the Indian tribes which held possession of the lands, and to treat of those Indians it was necessary to look hack to the discovery of America. In this research almost every step is attended by incidental events and characters which dare not be ignored. Each step, too, in search of the Indians revealed the imprints of another race so distinct that if not treated to some extent it might be confounded with the present race of Indians, and unfounded assumptions obtain. So a chapter is devoted to the mound builders, and this chapter necessitated another, devoted to archaeology and osteology. So it has been almost impossible to circumscribe the work and at me same time preserve consecutiveness, relationship, and cause and effect, even if the idea of completeness and symmetry was entirely ignored. The work, therefore, although ostensibly and really a narrative of the principal events which have characterized the formation and development of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, is necessarily much more comprehensive than its mere title indicates. In fact it has been no easy matter to determine just what material should be received and what rejected. In purely local affairs, it was difficult to determine upon a satisfactory limit, and even when this was done, such material as was generally acceptable required rare scrutiny to separate absolute truth from colored fancy, or absolute exaggeration. The object in view was the presentation of a volume

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iv - PREFACE.

which would do justice to the several features of this community by tracing its growth from the period of its infancy.

Such is the general plan of the work, and although every endeavor has been put forth to render the volume complete and reliable, we are conscious that defects and errors will be discovered. Every intelligent reader will appreciate the difficulty of preparing a work of this nature which will prove even approximately perfect, while absolute perfection need neither be demanded nor assumed. Dependent largely upon the memory of the older citizens, in the absence of any historical society's records, it will not appear surprising if every incident of settlement and growth did not find itself recorded in this volume. No pains have been spared in an earnest effort to attain accuracy and completeness. The material has been gathered from every available source, and compiled with a view to the presentation of valuable matter in an attractive

Without daring to indulge the belief that this aim has been realized in every instance, it is still hoped the effort will meet the approval of those readers who, knowing the fallibility of every endeavor, do not demand absolute perfection, especially where it is least to be attained. To such readers the volume is submitted without further comment or apology.

In this connection we return our thanks to all those who in any manner assisted in the collection of material, or otherwise contributed to the success of the work. Especially are our thanks due the officers of both Van Wert and Mercer counties for their many courtesies and valuable assistance throughout the prosecution of the work.

Hoping the volume will not prove altogether unworthy of the effort it has cost, it is placed in the homes of the people for whom it was designed, and whose liberality rendered it a possibility.

THE PUBLISHER.

CONTENTS.

Preface - 3

Introduction - 17

Discovery - 17

The Indians - 18

Indian Nations - 22

Habits and Implements - 22

Treaties - 23

Tribes of the Upper Ohio - 27

Titles to Ohio - 28

Early White Men in Ohio - 29

Early Military Expeditions - 29

Organization of Illinois County - 33

Western Expeditions - 34

The Mound Builders - 36

Archeology - 36

Bourneville Fortification - 37

Carlisle Fortification - 37

Sacred Enclosures - 38

Newark Works - 38

Mounds - 39

Implements - 39

Osteology - 40

Paleontology:—

Mastodon Giganteus - 41

Mammoth - 43

Indian Wars :-

Todd's Defeat - 45

Clarke's Expedition - 45

Harmar's Expedition - 45

St. Clair's Defeat - 46

St. Clair's Life - 48

Wayne's Victory - 49

Wayne's Life (with portrait) - 54

Greenville Council - 56

Surrender of British Posts - 70

The Shawnees - 71

Prominent Indians - 73

Northwest Territory :-

Virginia Title - 78

Ordinance of 1787 - 79

Character of Population - 80

Ohio Land Company - 81

First Settlement - 81

Surveys and Grants - 82

Treaties - 82

First Officers - 83

Second Grade Government - 83

Early Laws - 83

Local Courts - 83

Organization of Counties - 83

Villages and Towns - 84

Officers - 84

Military Expeditions - 84

Legislators - 65

First Council - 85

Early Forts - 86

Moravian Missions - 90

The Friends at Wapakoneta - 98

Post Office      - 102

Ohio - 103

State Constitution - 106

Incidents of tile War of 1812 - 114

Life of Harrison - 118

Life of Colonel Johnston - 120

Life of Stephen Johnston - 121

Life of John Chapman (with portrait) - 121

Post Offices in Northwest Ohio - 122

County Organization - 124

Governors - 124

Statistics - 124

United States Senators - 126

Presidential Elections - 126

Population by Counties - 127

Van Wert County:-

Introduction - 131

The County - 131

Mounds - 132

Relics - 132

Early Incidents - 132

Wolves - 133

Taxes - 133

Voters in 1839 - 133

Commissioners' Journal - 133

Early Marriages - 139

Election Statistics - 140

Enumeration in 1839 - 141

Judiciary - 142

Officers - 142

Resident Attorneys - 144

County Infirmary - 144

Court Proceedings - 144

Probate Proceedings - 145

Receipts and Disbursements - 146

Justices of the Peace - 147

Military Record - 151

Founders of Van Wert - 159

County Seat - 160

Early Incidents           - 163

Early Enterprises - 165

Early Institutions - 166

Incorporation - 166

Officers - 166

Newspapers - 168

Societies - 168

Fire Department - 170

Hook and Ladder Company - 170

Gas Company - 170

Manufacturing and Industrial Interests - 170

Notes on Early History - 174

Churches - 177

Biographies - 181

Pleasant Township - 190

First Inhabitants - 190

Original Land Entries - 193

Record of Marks and Brands - 193

Officers - 194

Churches - 196

Societies - 196

Biographies - 196

Ridge Township - 200

Churches - 203

Biographies - 203

Jackson Township - 211

Biographies - 211

Hoaglin Township - 212

Biographies - 215

Union Township - 217

Officers - 218

Churches - 221

Biographies - 221

Tully Township - 222

Convoy - 224

Dixon - 224

Biographies - 227

Harrison Township - 231

Churches - 232

Biographies - 232

Willshire Township - 936

Early Physicians - 240

Abanaka Station - 241

Churches - 241

Willshire - 242

Cholera - 212

Reminiscences - 241

Oration of Captain Riley - 250

Riley's Journal - 252

Biographies - 253

Liberty Township - 259

Churches - 260

Dull Station - 260

Shasta Station - 260

Biographies - 263

York Township - 269

Early Settlers - 270

Churches - 270

Jonestown - 270

Biographies - 970

Jennings Township - 273

Churches - 274

Venedocia - 274

Biographies - 277

Washington Township - 277

Delphos - 278

Middlepoint - 282

Biographies - 284

Mercer County :-

General Mercer - 291

Establishment - 292

Early Observations - 192

Geology of Van Wert and Mercer Counties - 296

Political Divisions - 303

Senators - 303

Representatives - 304

Congressmen - 304

County Officers - 305

Infirmary - 306

Licensed Ministers - 306

Teachers' Institute - 306

Celina Circuit - 309

Churches - 309

Railroads - 312

A Tragedy - 113

Commissioners' Journal - 314

Military Record - 331

Population of Towns and Townships - 337

Justices of the Peace - 338

St. Marys Township - 339

Jefferson Township - 343

Celina - 343

Officers - 346

Court House - 346

Jail - 349

Schools - 349

Societies - 350

Newspapers - 350

Business Interests - 350

Churches - 351

Biographies - 352

Centre Township - 373

Neptune - 373

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vi - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Churches - 373

Biographies - 376

Union Township - 387

Early Settlement - 387

Civil Organization - 393

Officers - 394

Education - 397

Statistics - 398

Mendon - 398

Biographies - 399

Dublin Township - 404

Early Settlement - 404

Incidents - 407

Officers - 408

Schools - 409

Churches - 409

Shanesville - 409

Mercer - 412

Biographies - 412

Black Creek Township - 417

Early Settlement - 418

Biographies - 418

Liberty Township - 422

Churches - 423

Biographies - 423

Hopewell Township - 426

Churches - 426

Biographies - 426

Washington Township - 433

Statistics - 434

Macedon - 434

Wabash City - 436

Churches - 435

Biographies - 435

Recovery Township - 440

Fort Recovery - 441

Burial of the Remains of the Heroes of Fort Recovery - 442

Churches - 445

Monterey - 416

St. Joseph - 446

Biographies - 449

Franklin Township - 455

Montezuma - 456

Biographies - 456

Gibson Township - 458

Biographies - 458

Granville Township - 462

St. Henry - 462

Burketsville - 462

Biographies - 462

Butler Township - 468

Coldwater - 469

Philothea - 469

Biographies - 469

Marion - 473

Chickasaw - 476

St. John's - 476

Rose Garden - 476

Marysville - 476

Carthagena - 476

Colored Citizens - 476

Biographies - 479

Patrons' List—

Van Wert County - 483

Mercer County - 485 

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of General Anthony Wayne - 54

" Jonathan Chapman - 121

VAN WERT COUNTY

VAN WERT

Court House - 131

Residence of W. H. Clymer - 149

" William Smith, M.D. - 172

" Walter L. Scott - 180

" Col. I. N. Alexander - 172

" H. H. Uppegrove - 180

" and Business of Matthias Springer " 149

Patrons' Elevator and Warehouse " 225

Van Wert Carriage Works " 206

Bulletin Office, J. H. Foster " 172

Portrait of S. Swineford " 161

" Major I. D. Clark - 161

Portraits of Joseph Gleason and wife - 161

Portrait of James G. Gilliland - 161

" Robert Gilliland - 161

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP

Residence of Peres M. Dix (with portraits) - 191

" Aaron Balyeat - 180

" E. R. Wells. (with portraits)             - 198

" Capt. T. J. Davis - 198

Portraits of Joseph Rank and wife - 261

RIDGE TOWNSHIP

Residence of Lewis Frager - 267

" Moses H. McCoy (with portraits) - 267

" J. J. McMillen (with portraits) 234

" Rufus Duprey - 205

" Samuel Arnold - 234

" J. B. Fronefield - 256

" Alex. H. McCoy - 234

Portraits of Smith Hill and wife - 202

" David McCoy and wife - 202

" Alex. McCoy and wife - 202

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

Residence of B. C. Cogswell - 210

HOAGLIN TOWNSHIP

Residence of A. R. Merrick - 225

" Gottlieb Mohr - 210

" Henry Rumble - 210

" Frank Carlo - 214

" Isaac Hoaglin - 214

Portrait of John W. Hoaglin - 214

UNION TOWNSHIP

Residence of Michael Beck (with portraits) - 219

Daniel Snyder - 210

Store of William H. Snyder - 210

TULLY TOWNSHIP

Residence of William Frech - 220.

Frederick Reed - 226

" Alexander Mentzer - 220

Residence of D. Shepard Sr Son - 226

" Convoy School - 226

HARRISON TOWNSHIP

Residence of Abraham Balyeat (with portraits) - 230

" Peter Hertz - 233

" John M. Sproul - 233

" Peter Germann - 256

" Jonathan McConnell - 478

WILLSHIRE TOWNSHIP

Residence of Elias Dull - 238

" John W. Dull - 238

" Lenhart Dull - 237

" Frederick Shinerer - 237

" Samnel Beldon - 268

" Frederick Lillich - 256

" Dr. J. F. Shaffner (with portraits) - 247

" A. W. Chilcote (with portraits) - 247

" Fredrick Schrum (with portraits) - 209

" Mrs. George M. Schumm (with portraits) - 198

Portrait of Peter Frysinger - 261

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP

Residence of John A. Smith - 262

" Simon Kiser - 262

" Peter Brubaker - 271

" E. W. Robinson - 268

" Joseph Wert - 205

" Wert Agler - 205

Store and Warehouse of J. M. Dull Sr Bro. - 271

Portraits of Martin Lintemoot and wife - 261

Portrait of Matthias Brewer - 261

YORK TOWNSHIP

Residence of Abijah Goodwin - 268

JENNINGS TOWNSHIP

Residence of Morgan H. Morgan - 272

Tile Works of John T. Thomas - 272

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Residence of Henry Saum (with portraits) - 276

" George Cover - 280

" John Summersett - 280

Middleport and Flouring Mill of Priddy & Beaghler - 206

MERCER COUNTY.

CELINA CITY.

Court House and Jail - 288 to 289

Residence of J. F. Blizzard - 371

" John W. De Ford - 348

P. A. Ellis (Ellis house) - 366

Residence of Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey           - 358

" Dr. J. N. Hetzler - 361

" Luzerne Jones - 348

" Jacob Kreusch          - 371

" Hon. F. C. Le Blond - 353

Mercer County Infirmary       - 307

Store and Residence of J. W. McKee - 366

Reservoir - 300

Residence of A. P. J. Snyder - 371

" T. G. Touvelle - 300

Carriage Factory and Residence of Alex. Wyckoff - 342

CENTRE TOWNSHIP

Residence of Judge G. W. Raudabaugh (with portraits) - 378

" Stephen Howick - 382

UNION TOWNSHIP

Residence of C. B. Collins (with portraits) - 390 and 391

" Dr. W. C. Cole - 405

" Christian Maurer (with portraits) - 402

" M. Miller (with portraits) - 396

" George W. Wooden - 371

DUBLIN TOWNSHIP

Residence of Peter Dull - 414

T. J. Dull (Star Mills) - 420

Residence of Branson Roebuck - 414

BLACK CREEK TOWNSHIP

Residence of Charles H. Jordan - 307

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Residence of Uriah LaRue (with portraits) - 430 and 431

" J. Bumbauld - 443

" David Porterfield (with portraits) - 437

Salesroom of Peter Portz - 448

RECOVERY TOWNSHIP

Residence of J. H. Adams, M.D. - 448

Woollen Factory - 453

Residence of W. Krenning - 453

" J. H. W. Krenning - 453

Drug Store of Nickerson & Co. - 448

Residence of J. S. Rhodes - 448

" Frederick Schneider (with portrait) - 443

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Residence of J. H. Monroe 420

GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

B. Bruns Family Page - 463

Harness Shop and Residence of J. B. Drahman - 478

Store and Residence of W. H. Lemm - 474

Residence of William Simison - 474

Store of M. A. Schlegel - 478

MARION TOWNSHIP.

Residence of John Link - 474

Residence, Store, and Elevator of Henry Gast - 478

Residence and Office of A. R. Greer, M.D. - 478

Residence of Joseph Wobeler - 474

MAPS.

Ohio - 9 and 10

Van Wert County - 13

Mercer County - 15