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CHAPTER XVI
BLOOM TOWNSHIP.
BLOOM, or Town 1 north, Range 16 east, is one of the oldest and richest divisions of the county. The population in 1830 was 389, increased in 1880 to 2,162, including the village of Bloomville, which then contained 689 inhabitants. The township is watered by Honey Creek, Silver Creek and tributary streams. Honey Creek enters the township in the northeast quarter of Section 1, flows in a general southwestern course, and leaves the township in the southwest quarter of Section 18. Along its banks are numerous springs, and here, too, many of the early saw and grist-mills were erected. The, pioneers selected the neighborhood of the creek for their homes, and opened their first farms. Silver Creek may be called a native stream, has its source in tile southeastern corner of the township, and, flowing generally northwest, leaves the township in the northwest quarter of Section 19. The county drain enters this creek, and it is also fed by a number of rivulets.
The geological formation of Bloom has been referred to in Chapter I. The State Geologist, in Volume V, page 633, says: "For building purposes the limestone which is quarried from the coniferous formation at Bloomville, Seneca County, has a higher reputation than the Helderberg limestones, and indeed, it is said, that these quarries produce one of the best limestones in northwestern Ohio. The material has been quite extensively used in Tiffin for many
430 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. .
years for trimming and stone fronts, and also for general building purposes in Mansfield and surrounding country. Good material for flagging, bridges and foundations is quarried, and a slab twenty-five feet square might be obtained. It has already displaced in a measure the sandstones which are quarried in that vicinity."
The specimens of this stone are of an attractive gray color, and are highly fossiliferous. Some fossils have apparently been entirely removed at some period, and their places supplied with a clear crystalline calcite, and some of the fossil forms are therefore strikingly apparent upon polishing the surface of the stone. Under the microscope the stone is found to be a grand aggregate of fossil fragments, among which are rhombohedral crystals.
In November, 1884, a dynamite explosion took place at the old Francis Stone quarry, just east of Bloomville. A dynamite blast had failed to discharge, and Alexander West, a brother of Dr. West, and two Germans were trying to remove the dynamite and prepare a new fuse, when it exploded. Mr. West's hands and arms were terribly mangled, one of his eyes badly injured and the side of his face frightfully bruised. The Germans were only slightly hurt.
The soil is fertile, and a glance at any or all the farms will justify the name, "Bloom," in its literal acceptation.
Organic and Official. - Bloom Township, as established in 1824, comprised the towns of Bloom, Scipio, Reed and Venice (vide transactions of commissioners' board), and was named in honor of the German patriot, Bloom, on the suggestion of John Seitz. In after years, Scipio, Venice and Reed were organized, and this township was reorganized within its present boundaries. In December, 1824, Scipio was detached; in December, 1826, Reed was established, and in June, 1829, Venice was set off as a separate township. Owing to the vagrant character of the pioneer clerk's office, the records of the first decade of the township are not to be found. The record of elections from 1835 to the present time has been fortunately preserved, and from these old books the following list of leading town officers is made:
1835.-Henry Opt, I. G. Watson, J. Q. Hammond, trustees; H. Perky, clerk.
1836-Isaac G. Watson, John Newman, Abraham Kagy, trustees; H. Perky, clerk.
1837.-Abraham Hammon, Abraham Kagy, James Dornan, trusties; W. B. Smith, clerk.
1838.-Abraham Hammon, James Boyd, Samuel Gross, trustees; Thomas Treat, clerk.
1839.-James Boyd, Samuel Gross, Lewis Seitz, trustees; Thomas Treat, clerk.
1840.-Jacob Myers, J. C. Martin, Lewis Seitz, trustees; Joseph Pennington, clerk.
1841.-Joseph McClellan, Samuel Gross, Lewis Seitz, trustees; Joshua Preble, clerk. -
1842.-Benjamin Huddle, Samuel Gross, Joseph McClellan, trustees; John A. Morison, clerk.
1843.-Benjamin Huddle, Jacob Hessler, Joseph Swigert, trustees; Julius A. Treat, clerk.
1844.-Jacob Hessler, Henry Opt, .John T. Reid, trustees; Henry Perky, clerk.
1845.-Henry F. Hall, Henry Opt, Jacob Hessler, trustees; Samuel Gross, clerk.
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1846.-Jacob Hessler, James Boyd, Henry Opt, trustees; Abraham Kagy, clerk.
1847.-Same trustees and same clerk as in 1846.
1848.-Nathan Martin, Louis Spitler, James Boyd, trustees; Abraham Kagy, clerk.
1849.-Same trustees; Jacob Hessler, Henry Perkey, justices; Abraham Kagy, clerk.
1850.-Same as in 1848.
1851.-Ira Gulick, Henry Opt, Nathan Martin, trustees; Lewis Seitz, Jr., clerk.
1852.-Same as in 1851.
1853.-W. H. H. Hedden, Henry Opt, Ira Gulick, trustees; H. M. Betz, clerk.
1854.-W. H. H. Hedden, John T. Reid, Ira Gulick, trustees; H. F. Hoss ler, clerk.
1855.-John Wax, J. T. Reid, H. F. Hessler, trustees; H. F. Hosslsr, clerk.
1856.-George A. Blackwell, D. H. Watson, John Wax, trustees; John Newman, clerk.
1857.-H. Opt, Ira Gulick, G. A. Blackwell, trustees; John Newman, clerk.
1858.-John Einsel, D. H. Watson, G. A. Blackwell, trustees; Jacob Geiger, clerk.
1859.-John F. Heilman, Henry Geiger, G. A. Blackwell, trustees; Jacob Geiger, clerk.
1860.-D. H. Watson, I. B. Steinbaugh, L. R. Owen, trustees; W. T. Brown, clerk.
1861.-D. H. Watson, I. B. Steinbaugh, L. R. Owen, trustees; W. T. Brown, clerk.
1862.-D. H. Watson, I. B. Steinbaugh, Henry Geiger, trustees; W. T. Brown, clerk.
1863.-Ed Saul, H. Geiger, Daniel Spitler, trustees; William DeWitt, clerk.
1864.-Jacob Hessler, R. A. Blackwell, D. H. Watson, trustees; Jacob C. Geiger, clerk.
1865.-R. A. Blackwell, J. Wax, John Newcomer, trustees; Jacob C. Geiger, clerk.
1866.-D. T. See, H. Einsel, John Wax, trustees; W. DeWitt, clerk.
1867.-D. H. Patterson, H. F. Hessler, Henry Einsel, trustees; W. DeWitt, clerk.
1868.-Edward Saul, Henry Geiger, D. H. Patterson, trustees; W. DeWitt, clerk.
1869.-John Wax, William Mitchell, M. Finch, trustees; W. DeWitt, clerk.
1870.-Samuel Mull, H. F. Hessler, Henry Geiger, trustees; W. DeWitt, clerk.
1871.-H. Kirgis, L. R. Owen, H. F. Hessler, trustees; W. DeWitt, clerk.
1872.-I. B. Steinbaugh, L. R.. Owen, H. F. Hossler, trustees; S. S. Lehman, clerk.
1873.-Daniel Seitz, I. B. Steinbaugh (I. G. Watson, deceased), L. R. Owen, trustees; S. S. Lehman, clerk.
1874.-S. H. Wolf, I. B. Steinbaugh, L. R. Owen, trustees; S. S. Lehman, clerk.
1875.-Daniel Seitz, S. H. Wolf, I. B. Steinbaugh, trustees; S. S. Lohman, clerk.
1876. Daniel Seitz, Conrad Klahr, I. B. Steinbaugh, trustees; U. E. Cory, clerk.
432 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
1877.-Daniel Seitz, Conrad Klahr, Abraham Sponseller, trustees; S. S. Lehman, clerk.
1878.-Michael McNamara, A. Sponseller, C. Klahr, trustees; S. S. Lehman, clerk.
1879.-Henry Einsel, Michael McNamara, A. Sponseller, trustees; S. S. Lohman, clerk.
1880.-John Newcomer, J. P. Echelberry, Eli Spitler, trustees; P. F. Samsel, clerk.
1881.-S. B. Hessler, George M. Martin, Eli Spitler, trustees; P. F. Samsel, clerk.
1882.-Same as in 188.1.
1883.-Daniel Seitz, Eli Spitler, George M. Martin, trustees; P. F. Samuel, clerk.
1884.-John E. Miley, Henry Scheerer, W. L. Reid, trustees; P. F. Samuel clerk.
The officers of Bloom Township in 1885 are William Reid, Republican, S. B. Hessler, Republican, Henry Kirgis, Democrat, trustees; P. F. Samsel, Democrat, clerk; H. S. Samsel, Republican, treasurer; S. S. Lehman, Republican, assessor; B. H. Spitler, Democrat, Fred Bolland, Republican, constables.
Pioneers of Bloom Township.-When Hadley and Hampton beheld this township in 1821, it appeared beautiful in its wildness. In 1822 the vanguard of the pioneers arrived, and then was begun that round of labor which resulted in giving to the county even before its organization, a garden spot for all time and a well-organized community. In reviewing the history of the settlement of the county, the following names are selected to represent the pioneers of Bloom. The few who may chance to be left unnoticed in this particular portion of the work, find mention in one or other of the many chapters devoted to general, local and personal history.
James Beauchamp, who owned 135 acres on the southwest quarter of Section 6, died in 1830, when Thomas McMillan was appointed administrator of the estate. Sidney Smith was appointed guardian ad litem for his five children . . . . Jacob and Rosa Bessey, natives of Germany, parents of Mrs. Abraham Sponseller, who was born in this county in 1842, came to Bloom Township in an early day. Mr. Bessey died in 1867 ; his widow now resides in Crawford County .... Joseph Burnsides or Birnside, who subsequently settled near the present City Cemetery of Tiffin, located land near Bloomville in 1822, but found it to have been previously purchased .. . .The Bixler family must be named among the pioneers, so also Henry Blackman, a name familiar in all old residents' societies . . . . George Bever, Robert McClellan, Jacob Black, Noah Rhinehart were the only supporters in this township of Butterfield's History, in 1848 . . . . Thomas and Elizabeth (Hughes) Boyd, located on Honey Creek in 1822, being the first permanent settlers, where they resided until their deathMrs. Boyd dying in 1834, Mr. Boyd November 27, 1847 . . . . James Boyd, born in 1805 in Pennsylvania, came to Bloom with his parents in April, 1822, married Miss Eliza Steele and after her death married Miss Mercy Smith, who died in 1865. Mr. Boyd died in 1871 at his home on Honey Creek . . . . James T. Boyd, son of James Boyd, was born in Bloom Township in 1842 . . . . Adam and Catherine (Pike) Buchman, natives of Bavaria, came in 1833 to Bloom Township, where the former died in 1881 . . . . James and Eliza Boyd (both deceased), parents of Mrs. George Shumaker, of Pleasant Township, came from Pennsylvania to Bloom Township in an early day.
Edward Cooley was one of the early settlers, but the exact date of his coming cannot. be ascertained. He erected the first house on the site of the present
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village of Bloomville . . . . David Crapo was among the pioneers of the third decade of this century.
John and Hannah (Kershner) Davis, former a native of Maryland born in 1785, latter of Pennsylvania, born in 1790, were married in 1816, and November 12, 1824, came from Perry County, Ohio, to Section 8, Bloom, where they permanently settled. John Davis and Russel Munsell built, in 1826, a saw-mill on that farm, which mill was rebuilt later and sold to John Shoutz. Mrs. Davis died in 1840, Mr. Davis in 1849. Their son, William M., of Bloom Township, was born in 1819, in Perry County, Ohio . . . . Jacob and Elizabeth Detwiler, natives of Pennsylvania, parents of Jacob Detwiler, who was born in 1828 in Columbiana County, Ohio, settled here in 1844. Jacob Detwiler, Sr., died in 1850, his widow in 1860 . . . . Edward Delaney came from Ireland in 1831 or 1832, and selected the beautiful wilderness of Bloom for a home . . . . Mrs. Mary Donnell widow of James Donnell and sister of the pioneer, Thomas Boyd, came in 1822. James Boyd, a brother, arrived at the same time. The latter moved to Iowa in later years with his sister, and died there . . . . James Donald, who was one of the builders of the first saw-mill, arrived prior to 1826 . . . . Evan Dorsey first settled in Bloom, and afterward became interested in other townships . . . . William DeWitt, father of Mrs. James T. Boyd, of this township, was a pioneer of Bloomville.
John and Elizabeth Einsel, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, parents of Henry Einsel, who was born in 1834, came from Fairfield County, Ohio, to this county in 1833, where Mrs. Einsel died in 1865, and Mr. Einsel in 1872.
John and Barbara (Myers) Fisher, of Maryland, located here in 1835. John Fisher died in 1879, his wife in 1859 . . . . James Fisher, M. D., a name well known in the history of Tiffin, and who is referred to in the chapter on physicians, first settled in Bloom . . . . George Free settled here about 1823, and was known as " Section 3;" he passed to his reward long years ago . . . . . George and Elizabeth (Ellenberger) Free, former born in 1785, died in 1848, latter born in 1796, died in 1867 (parents of John Free, late of Reed Township, born in Virginia in 1819, died in 1874), came to Bloom Township in 1822.
Samuel Gross, one of the oldest men living here, was born in 1810 in Pennsylvania, and in 1831 moved with his parents to Tiffin. He married, in 1830, Miss Ann Owen, born in Pennsylvania in 1807, and they then located in Bloom in 1831. The old couple still occupy the log house which they built on coming here, which is the oldest residence in the township, and Mr. Gross' workshop still stands, a well-known landmark.
Nehemiah Hadley and J. C. Hampton, who settled in Bloom in 1822, are referred to in the chapter on pioneers. It is there related that they were temporary settlers as early as 1821, the former accompanying the latter on a commercial incursion. Hadley was a great hunter, and was known to the pioneers of Iowa, where he settled . . . . John Coles Hampton, born in Virginia in 1803, settled permanently in Bloom Township in 1822, and here married, in 1832, Elizabeth Long. He was an auctioneer here for nearly forty years, until his death in 1885 . . . . Rev. Henry F. and Susan (Sellon) Hall, parents of Mrs. John Rice, of Bloom Township, who was born in New York State in 1826, settled here in 1835. (vide Pioneer Chapter) . ...John George and Catherine Hawblits, natives of Germany, came to Stark County, Ohio, in 1830, bringing their son, Peter Hawblits, now of Bloom Township, who was born in 1829. After nine years' residence in Stark County, Ohio, they settled in Bloom Township, but are now residents of Venice Township . . . . Jacob Hossler, born in 1806, in Pennsylvania, father of Samuel B. Hossler (latter born
436 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
there in 1842), moved with his parents (his father, Frederick Hessler, was born in Pennsylvania in 1782) to Stark County, Ohio, in 1821, and there married Anna Funk, a native of the place, and in 1834 came to Bloom . . . . Jonas Hessler, Benjamin Hottel and Isaac Jeffries are named among the old residents of the county . . . . Michael and Hannah Hunsicker, parents of Mrs. Conrad Briner, of this township, were early settlers here.
Abraham Kagy, born in Virginia in 1803, came with his parents, in 1820, to Fairfield County, Ohio, there married Miss Elizabeth Ruch, of that county, and in 1823 they settled in Bloom Township. They had a large family, and at one time owned over 1,000 acres of land. John, their son, has lived all his life in Bloom Township. Abraham Kagy still lives on the old homestead. His wife died in 1863. His mother, Hannah Kagy, died in this township when over ninety years of age . . . . Truman King, George King and Rufus Kirstmer were all early settlers here . . . . John and Eve (Reigle) Koller, former a native of Pennsylvania, settled on Honey Creek, Bloom Township, from Pennsylvania, in 1834. Mr. Koller built the first brick house in the township. He died in 1845, and his widow, who subsequently married William Watson, died in 1863. Nathaniel, son of John and Eve Koller, was born here in 1834 . . .. Simon Koller was born in 1802, in Pennsylvania, married there Mrs. Mary Magdalena Bricker, also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1810. In 1838 they came to Ohio, and to Bloom Township in 1846. Mrs. Koller died in 1881, Mr. Koller in 1882.
D. T. Lee settled in the township about 1835 . . . . John Lewis, wife, four sons and one daughter came to Bloom Township in December, 1833, and settled on the Marion State road near the county line. John Lewis died there about 1845, and Mrs. Lewis in 1840. Both are buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Eden Township . . . . In June, 1835, Henry F. Hall settled in the northeast corner of Bloom Township, having come from Steuben County, N. Y., in Juno of that year. His daughter, Mrs. John Rice, refers to the farm as follows: "There was also a pretty good log-house that the original builder had intended to be a nice one for those pioneer times. The doors and windows were cased nicely; the gable ends were sided up and the roof was covered with shingles instead of clapboards, but he had sold out before it was all finished, and a man named John Lowman owned it. He was a rare specimen of the genus homo, and spent his time in studying out a perpetual motion, and the doors, both outside and inside, were covered with circles, angles and curves and all sorts of geometrical designs that would almost have driven an inventor crazy. He was too much of a genius to spend his time on commonplace things. He had lived there five years without any sash or glass in his windows. In winter they hung blankets over them, and in summer he said they put a chair in at night to keep out the dogs. Unlike most of the houses of that day, the chimney was built inside of the house, but the big fire-place occupied a large place below the stairs, and the chickens had a nice comfortable roost behind the chimney on the ends of the sticks of which it was made, and those that did not come in at the door, found their way in through the chinks between the logs. Father had the true Yankee pluck and went to work, and soon the dogs and chickens. found out that a new family had moved in."
Nathan and Elizabeth (Devins) Martin, former born in Pennsylvania in 1785, came from Canada to Bloom, in 1839, where his two brothers had settled at an earlier date. He died in 1862, his widow in 1870. This old settler was a soldier of the Revolution . . . . John Chapman Martin born in 1798, in Pennsylvania, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1812, and there married Kiss Mary Ann McCandlish, a native of Ohio. They came here in 1828.
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Mrs. Martin died in 1870, Mr. Martin in 1881 . . . . George and Magdalena (Troxel) Muckley, former a native of Germany, latter of Pennsylvania, parent of Mrs. Jacob Detwiler, of Bloom Township, who was born here in 1834. came from Stark County, Ohio, in 1833. Mr. Muckley died in 1843, and his widow married Isaac Rohrer and now lives in Mahoning County, Ohio .... Joseph-McClelland, born in Mifflin County, Penn., August 25, 1787, moved to Shelby County, Ky., in 1815, to Bloom Township in 1822, to Hopewell in 1854, where he died aged seventy-two years, four months and thirteen days .... A. B. McClelland, born January 7, 1818, in Centre County, Penn., settled i» Bloom in November, 1834 . . . . Jacob Meyer was a settler of the third decade . . Butler and Mary (Boyd) Munsell, parents of Mrs. Isaac S. Baldwin, of Bloom Township, who was born in this township in 1838, were early settlers here . . . . Roswell Munsell settled in Bloom in 1822, and the following fall assisted Davis in erecting the first saw-mill . . . . Aaron Malony and wife, Mrs. Edwin Bristol, S. G. Malony and John C. F. Malony left Maryland in October. 1830, and arrived in Bloom Township in January, 1831. Rachel McLelland, two daughters and one son, James Beecham and wife and children came also to Bloom in 1831, and the three families settled in this township.
Levi Neibel, John Newman, Samuel and Henry Nisley were all old and useful residents.
Lewis R. Owen, born in 1815, in New York State, came to Bloom Township from Scipio Township, in 1835 . . . . Zeli Owen and William Owen were also old settlers.
John Pennington and Henry Perkey, are named among the old residents. . .Philip J. Price one of the early settlers of Eden, moved to Bloom Township, and is mentioned in the history of Tiffin.
Samuel and Elizabeth (Parks) Ralston, parents of Mrs. Samuel B. McClelland of Bloom Township, who was born in Virginia in 1828, settled in this township in 1834. Mr. Ralston died about 1867; his widow still resides here.. . John T. Reid, born in Maryland in 1807, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1813, with his uncle, and to Bloom Township in 1831. It is also stated that, this settler arrived in 1828 . . . . Lowell Robinson settled in Bloom in 1823; died in California. He served the county as associate judge, and for this reason, a sketch of him appears in the law chapter .... Gain Robinson and Lyman Robinson are names identified with the early years of Bloom . . . . Rev. James Robinson settled here in 1830, and took a prominent part in the church work of that period .... Jacob Rodezel settled in Bloom about 1829. . Timothy P. Roberts, so well known in the history of Scipio, is said to have erected the first frame house in this township . . . . Isaac Rohrer was another old settler.
John Seitz, a native of Virginia, born in 1790, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, with his parents, in 1801. There he married, in 1811, Miss Magdalena Spitler, also a native of Virginia, and in 1823 they located permanently in this township, the name of which was bestowed by Mr. Seitz the year previous. Mrs. Seitz died in 1862, Mr. Seitz in 1874. Their son Daniel, born in 1825, and the first white male child to see the light of day in Bloom Township, is now the oldest resident of this part of the county . . . . Elder Lewis Seitz, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born in 1802, father of Aaron Seitz of Bloom Township (who was born in the township in 1844), married, in 1823, Miss Barbara Kagy, and in 1824 moved here. Mrs. Barbara E. (Bretz) Seitz, wife of Daniel Seitz, of Bloom Township, daughter of David and Frances Bretz, natives of Virginia, was born here in 1834 . . . . Martin Shaffner, father of W. H. Shaffner, of Tiffin, came to Bloom Township from Crawford County (formerly
438 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
from Pennsylvania), in 1843. He was the father of twenty-one children .... George Showman was a settler of 1835 . . . . Jacob Shock, a native of Stark County, Ohio (father of Mrs. Aaron Seitz, born there in 1842,) was an early settler. Died in 1878. . . . Jacob and Catharine (Seitz) Spitler, natives of Virginia, parents of Martin J. Spitler, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born in 1824, came to that county about 1802, where they were married, and in 1850 they moved to Bloom. They had seventeen children, and at their death left 127 descendants. Jacob Spitler died in 1865, his wife in 1863. Martin J., their son, came to this township in 1845 . . . . Lewis Spitler is also an old settler . . Frederick and Elizabeth (Prouse) Sponseller, natives of Stark County, Ohio, former born in 1815, latter in 1818, parents of Abraham Sponseller of Bloom Township, who was born in the township in 1845, were married in 1840 and then located here . . . .James Steele put up a saw and grist-mill about 1833 or 1834 . . . . Adam Stinebaugh, born in 1799, in Pennsylvania, moved when very young with his widowed mother to Maryland. There he married, in 1829, Miss Susanna Bowser, sister of the old pioneer of this county, Jacob Bowser, and same year came with her father, John Bowser, to Seneca County. He bought a tract of land where Republic now stands, and which he sold in 1835. In 1836 he bought land in Bloom Township, and here made a permanent settlement. Mrs. Stinebaugh died in 1856. Their only child, Isaac B., of Bloom Township, was born in 1829 on the site of Republic Village . . . . . Mrs. John Swigert, who died August 18, 1884, and her husband are numbered among the pioneers . . . . John Stinchcomb came from Maryland to this county in 1825, settled in Bloom Township, and there remained until 1851, when he moved to Clinton Township, where he died. His father, George Stinchcomb, was a native of Scotland, and died in Maryland. James Stinchcomb, his son, now of Clinton Township, was born in Bloom in 1831 . . . . . Bart Stout was one of the settlers of 1833 . . . . . John Stroh settled in Bloom in 1823 . . . . Edward Sutherland came in subsequently . . . . Joseph and Susana Swigart, natives of Maryland, parents of George Swigart of Seneca Township (who was born in Maryland in 1825), came to this county and fist settled in Bloom Township, afterward in Eden Township, where Mrs. Swigart died. Mr. Swigart is also deceased.
The Trail family, Thomas T. Treat and Julius Treat are names well known in the early history at Bloomville.
George and Mary (Grove) Valentine, former a Revolutionary soldier, a native of Pennsylvania, latter of Maryland, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1807 but spent their latter days in Bloom, and Mr. Valentine's grave in Woodland Cemetery is one of the few Revolutionary soldiers' graves in Seneca County. John Valentine, their eldest son, born in Maryland, for a time a soldier in the war of 1812, was married to Miss Sarah Talbott, also a native of Maryland; they settled in 1829 on a quarter section of land in Bloom Township, obtained from the government in 1822, and Thomas George, of this township,. their soil born in 1826, a soldier three years and three months in the war of the Rebellion, now occupies that same quarter section of land.
James R. Wilson, one of the lawyers of the county, settled in Bloom in 1834, and thirty-two years later was admitted to the bar . . . . .I. G. Watson, father of Mr,. Frank A. Chatfield, of Bloomville, was one of the pioneers of Bloom Township, whore lie died. in 1873; his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Watson, an old settler of Eden Township (1845) survives. Mrs. Margaret Watson, born in Centre County; Penn., June 25, 1823, settled in Bloom in 1830 . . . . . Jacob Webster is mined in the pioneer roster . . . . . Thomas West, born in
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1800, in Now York State, came to Bloom Township in 1823, and here married, in 1824, Miss Margaret C. Donnell, who was born in 1804, in Pennsylvania, coming to Bloom Township with her parents, John and Mary (Boyd) Donnell, in 1822. She died in 1836, and Mr. West then married Miss Nancy B. Boyd, born in Pennsylvania in 1806. Mr. West died in 1870; his widow, who resides on the family homestead, is the second oldest pioneer in the township, and the only representative of her father's family in the county.
BLOOMVILLE VILLAGE.
Bloomville was surveyed in December, 1837, by James Durbin, for P. J. Price, Thomas T. and Julius Treat, on Section 16. John C. Hunsicker's s addition was surveyed June 4, 1852, by G. H. Heming. Huddle's addition was surveyed in April, 1863, by G. H. Herring, for Lewis Huddle, north of New Haven Street. Henry Schearer's addition was surveyed April 6, 1871, by Dennis Maloy. Conrad Klahr's addition was surveyed by P. H. Ryan, in February, 1872. Ed P. Bliss made an addition in February, 1872, the survey being made by P. H. Ryan. E. J. Turner's addition was surveyed in July, 1873, by Samuel Gray. At the same time he surveyed the plat of Thomas west's addition. Henry Dittenhafer's addition was surveyed by Samuel B. Gray, in March, 1873, and his out-lots in August, 1873. John Kriley's addition was surveyed by S. B. Gray, in April, 1873.
The following additions to the town have since been made:
West & Knapp's, surveyed July, 1873; Eli Winter's, surveyed September, 1873; Eli Winter's, surveyed September, 1874; Conrad Klahr's, surveyed October , 1873; West's, surveyed August 11, 1873; Melinda Lee's, surveyed March, 1875; Benjamin Knapp's, surveyed January, 1877; Melinda Lee's, surveyed April, 1876; Henry Schafer's, surveyed September, 1880; Northwest, surveyed June, 1880;, Kriley's, surveyed May, 1882; Martin Koller's surveyed July, 1883.
Organization and Officers. -A petition, signed by 112 residents of Sections 9, 10, 15 and 16, Town 1 north, Range 16 east, asking for the incorporation of Bloomville, was presented to the commissioners by John Andrews and Albert Gaetz, agents for petitioners, and then August 22, 1874, permission to organize was given. The first elections were held in 1875, when Jacob Hossler was elected mayor, vice James Turner, declined nomination; S. S. Lehman, clerk; J. T. Reid, S. Holt, L. D. Revington, E. J. Turner, Conrad Klahr, and C. B. Walker, councilmen; John Swigert, treasurer, and E. B. Watson, marshal. In 1876, Henry Schearer, Jefferson Freese and D. H. Watson were elected councilmen.
The elections of 1877 resulted in the choice of Jacob Hossler, mayor; S. S. Lehman, clerk; Dr. J. W. Bell, Jacob Beelman and N. S. Lehman, cooncilmen. In 1878 the councilmen elected were Alfred Owen, A. Einsel, D. R. Whiteman, James Turner and J. Basore. In 1879 Henry Einsel was elected mayor; S. S. Lehman, clerk; John Winters, L. D. Bevington, F. P. Klahr, councilmen, and in 1880, David Blaney, A. Owen and J. Beelman, councilmen. The elections of 1881 resulted in the choice of John Andrews, for mayor; S. S. Lehman, clerk; D. Snyder, H. W. Patterson, John T. Reid and F. P. Klahr, councilmen. In 1882 F. D. Wilsey, was elected clerk; J. S. Ink, J. F. Wilsey, John Hershberger and Sol. Hilbert, councilmen.
The elections of 1883 resulted in the choice of James Turner, for mayor; A. F. Walker, clerk; H. Sheer, Jacob Beelman, N. J. Farnsworth and A. F. Spitler, councilmen. The mayor resigned, when John Swigert was appointed. In 1884, O. M. Holcomb was elected mayor; A. F'. Walker, clerk; Jefferson
440 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Freese, George Griffin, Ed Turner and H. Kannell, councilmen. The elections, 1885, resulted as follows: Mayor, O. M. Holcomb, Democrat; clerk, James Turner, Republican; treasurer, Henry S. Samsel, Republican; councilmen, H. Einsel, Democrat; Henry Kannel, Republican; Paul Miller, Democrat;, marshal, B. H. Spitler, Democrat; street commissioner, John Strouse, Republican; schoolboard, A. J. Shintz, Democrat; J. W. Snyder, Democrat. Daniel Hart was the first street commissioner, elected in 1876. Jacob Leach was elected marshal in 1876; U. E. Cory, in 1877; L. L. Lehman, 1879; T. S. Hanna, 1883; W. S. Lowry, 1884-85. E. J. Turner was elected treasurer in 1877, and Henry Samsel, in 1881.
Postmasters.--Thomas T. Treat was the first postmaster at Bloomville in 1837-38. On the purchase of Treat & Price's store by the Brown Bros., it is said that they carried on the postoffice for some time. In February, 1873, Lorenzo Bevington succeeded Daniel Bohm as postmaster. In September, 1885, David Blaney was commissioned postmaster at Bloomville.
Churches.-The Baptist Church of Bloom dates back to May 27, 1827, when the " Honey Crook Church " was organized. Three years later Elder Lewis Seitz was appointed pastor, and has held that ofce down to our own times.
In 1840 an itinerant preacher, named Rev. George R. Brown, succeeded in establishing a Universalist society at Bloomville, but it disestablished itself after a very short time.
The several attempts made to organize new religions, among which was the Mormon, failed in this township.
Mount Pisgah Reformed Church, Bloomville, was organized August 25, 1850, with H. K. Baines, pastor; George Swigart and Philip Heilman, elders; Adam Baker and F. Zimmerman, deacons. The church was built on an acre tract of land donated by Simon Koller. The pastors of the church since Mr. Baines' time have been J. C. Klahr, D. Kelley, 11I. Keeffer, J. H. Good, W. W. James J. A. Keller, L. Grosenbaugh, J. A. Steplar, J. D. Gehring, Samuel Shaw (appointed in 1876), J. W. Shaw, and J. S. Myers, the pastor in 1884-85.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomville has a history extending over more than half a century, being almost a contemporary of the old church at Mohnore, and a sharer in its official and ministerial life for many years. In 1835 the society erected a house of worship on the Stinchcomb farm, and the old building was carried down the years until a church of native stone was erected. The membership of this church at Bloomville is about 100, and the value of the property $3, 500. Rev. E. S. Tompkins is the present pastor.
United Brethren Church of Bloomville was organized May 7, 1882, with the following named members: Rev. Jacob Gerber, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, Mrs. Henry Dittenhafer, Mrs. Maggie Koller, Mrs. J. R. Wilson, John Shook, Susan Shook, A. J. Spitler and Mrs. Ellen Spitler. The church house was dedicated to the worship of God on the 14th of May, 1882, Bishop J. Weaver officiating. The house is a neat brick structure, beautifully situated on corner of High and Marion Streets. On the 28th of May, 1882, a Sabbath-school was organized with a membership of twenty persons, with A. J. Spitler as superintendent. The school has since that time steadily grown to a prosperous condition, numbering at the present time 100 or more members. Only one death has occurred in the class since its organization. The pastors have been Rev. M. E. Spahr and Rev. G. P. Macklin, and the present incumbent is J. H. Arnold.
The Presbyterian Church of Bloom, in its earlier history, belongs to that of the, church at Scipio Centre. In 1834 a frame building was erected by the
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Presbyterians of Bloom, who had been organized by Rev. James Robinson in 1830. John Davis was the leading builder of this church. On its destruction by fire a small brick house was erected on what is known as the Ravely farm. This stood the test of time so well that it had to be torn down, and its pioneer brick is, in fact, a large factor in the more pretentious building in Bloomville Village. Rev. W. T. Hart is pastor of this church.
St Stephen's Church is referred to under the head of " Small Settlements " in this chapter.
Schools of Bloomville.-The condition of the schools of Bloomville at the close of August, 1884, is shown by the following statistics: Total number of pupils, 183-83 boys and 100 girls, of whom 18 were attending the high school; 1 school-house, value of property $12,000; 4 teachers, average pay $67, $45 and $33; local tax, $1,787.45; revenue, $2,415.06; expenditures, $1,971.05. The schools are now presided over by the following named teachers: Prof. Bowman, superintendent; high school, Prof. Bowman; grammar school, C. H. Shock; intermediate school, Miss Cable; primary school, Miss Snyder. The school building of the village was completed in 1875, at a cost of $7, 500, and opened by Supt. J. K. Hamilton.
Newspapers.-A reference to the chapter on the press of the county points out the beginning of newspaper enterprise at Bloomville, in July, 1874, and the changes which led up to the publication of the Record by the present mayor of the town.
Societies. -Bloomville Lodge No. 667, I. O. O. F., was chartered May 10, 1877, with the following members: J. W. Bell, J. Swigert, Arthur Adams, Henry M. Patterson, John Winters, A. D. Einsel, J. S. Myers, L. L. Hessler, S. G. McClelland, Val. Dennis, H. H. Beel, A. B. Stewart and W. P. Dove. The P. Gs. are named as follows: A. Adams, J. W . Bell, H. H. Beelman, Val. Dennis, William Dove, H. F. Carson, L. L. Hossler, F. P. Klahr, M. D., S. C. McClelland, Jacob Myers, Alonzo Prouse, H. M. Patterson, John Swigert, A. B. Stewart, H. S. Samsel, A. B. Stuky. The present N. G. is J. A. West, 1885-86. The present secretary is Charles M. L. McIlvain. A. B. Stewart is G. R. to G. L.
W. T. Brown Post, G. A. R. No. 191, Bloomville, was established in December, 1881, and named in honor of W. T. Brown, a soldier of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio National Guards. The charter members are D. W. Fisher, D. L. Fisher, N. S. Lehman, G. M. Martin, W. L. Reid, A. D. West, T. G. Valentine, J. T. Boyd, James Turner, S. S. Lehman, S. H. Taylor, Jonathan Creshner, W. A. Teel, S. Hilbert, William Carson, Jacob Carson, N. Holt, R. R. Kershner, G. O. Olds, V. Dennis, F. S. Brobst, S. B. Hessler, T. A. McClellan, H. H. McClellan and J. Beelman. The commander of the post from 1881 to 1885 was J. T. Boyd.
Procles Lodge No. 192, K. of P., was organized and the first officers installed October 30, 1884, viz.: J. C. Miller, P. C.; D. W. Fisher, C. C.; A. F. Walker, V. C.; J. N. Snyder, prelate; M. E. Bliss, M. of E. ; B. M. West, M. of F.; G. F. Swigert, K. of R. and S.; S. J. Friston, M. of A.; A. J . Shoutz, I. G.; J. C. Gray, O. G.; H. S. Samuel, P. F. Samsel, G. «'. Mooro. and D. L. Fisher,together with the officers, were charter members of this lodge. It now claims twenty-six members.
Business and Professions.-The business and professional circles of the village in 1884 are made up as follows: J. Beeman, Jonathan Cashner and John Shook, furniture; Bevington & Co., books and stationery; L. C. Birk. harness; E. P. Bliss and Ogden & Swigert, dry goods; Bliss House; F. A. Chatfield, Klahr & Samsel, druggists; Henry Einsel, grain dealer; Farns-
442 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY..
worth & Moore , A. F. Spitzler & Co., and Zimmerman & Moore, grocers; T. J. Foster, J. W. Hoy and A. M. Martin, physicians; J. S. Ink, agricultural implements; C. Keller, F. P. Lyda, boots and shoes; Paul Miller, sash, door and blind manufacturer; J. Shoutz & Son, flour-mill; Charles Patterson, jeweler; A. B. Stuckey, meat market; John Swigert and D. R. Whiteman, hardware; J. A. West, auctioneer and stock-dealer; W. J. Cook, barber; E. P. Bliss, dry goods, boots and shoes, etc.; L. C. Birk, livery; Frank A. Falter, general merchant.
Manufacturing Industries. -The Oar Factory was established in 1874 by J. D. Wilsey, who operated it for eleven years. This was a great industry, and its recent removal was a serious loss to the business of the village. The buildings remain and offer a good opportunity to an enterprising manufacturer.
The Bloomville Sash, Door and Blind Factory and Saw-mill were established several years ago, and are still carried on by Paul Miller.
The Bloomville Mill Company was organized August 29, 1874, with W. Stewart, Jacob Hopler, A. B. McClelland, John Swigert, Benjamin Knapp and James Winters, members. The capital stock was $16,000.
The new tile and drain-pipe factory gives employment to a number of men. This is only the beginning of what will prove one of the largest industries in the county.
Shoutz & Sons' Steam Flouring-mills were built in 1880 by the present owners, on the site of the old sash and door factory. The machinery consists of six sets of rollers, one buhr, one purifier and one Morris Bolt elevator, giving a capacity of sixty barrels per day. The value of the mill is placed at $16,000.
The Honey Creek quarries, known as the Koller Quarries, are now worked lay J. D. Wilsey, who gives employment to seventeen men.
The quarries known as Fisher's and Francis' give employment to large forces of men and supply a good quality of building stone.
The Bemenderfer and other limekilns are important factors in the manufacturing life of the township.
William Richard, the inventor of the pruning shears, in June, 1869, followed up this invention by a second, improving the first, and the second by a third, patented September 20, 1870, the first and last being purchased by Chester Hunter, of Clyde. In May, 1885, he patented the "Eclipse" shears, one of the most perfect in the world. The small shears or scissors is certainly one of the finest scissors known--the patent is applied for. Mayor Holcomb is associated with the inventor in the ownership of these patents.
SMALL SETTLEMENTS.
The postal village of St. Stephen is an old settlement, but a new postal town. Here is the church of St. Stephen, and in the neighborhood a large number of intelligent and industrious farmers. St. Stephen's Catholic Church, southeast of Bloomville, was founded in 1842. Among the early members wore Martin Steinmetz, Philip Falter, Matthew Delaney, Joseph Danker, John Worm, Fred and John Steigmeier, Jacob Maier, Nicholas Lehman, Stephen Dick, Joseph Juend, Henry Sieger and Nick Duercher. Rev. Salesius Brunner was the first priest. He was succeeded by Revs. Matthias Kreusch, Jacob Ringely, A. Dambach, M. Baker and Nicholas Gales. February 1, 1874, Rev. Philip Rist, the present pastor, took charge of St. Stephen's parish. The congregation numbers over 200 souls. The old church has given place to the new church, erected at a cost of $7, 000, the corner-stone of which was placed October 1, 1885.
PAGE 443 - PICTURE OF J. W. LAWHEAD
PAGE 444- BLANCH
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Elizabethtown was surveyed August 29, 1838, by James Durbin for James Fisher, on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 6, Town 1 north, Range 16 east, and named after Elizabeth Boyer, wife of Dr. Fisher. The location was on what is known as the "Beachman farm" or "Blackman's Corners," but every vestige of it has disappeared before the industry of the agriculturist. The population of Elizabethtown in 1840 was ninety-six, and the business and manufacturing interests were represented by one saloon, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop and the mere sign of general store, which did not materialize.
RAILROADS.
The only line of railway which passes through Bloom Township is the North-western Ohio. This road strikes the township at the extreme northeast corner of Section 25, and, taking a northwesterly direction, in which it passes through Bloomville Village, it leaves the township at the northwest quarter of Section 5.
STATISTICS.
The first assessment roll of Bloom Township which it is possible to obtain is for 1841, and it gives 22,585 acres valued at $62,848; town lots valued at $568; horses, 237, valued at $9,480; cattle, 562, valued at $4,496; 1 carriage valued at $60; total value, $77,452; total tax, $1,026.23; delinquencies from 1840, $69.41.
The statistics of assessment and taxation of Bloom Township for 1884 place the value of 20,009 acres of land at $786,740, and of 292 acres in Bloomville at $128,460. Chattel property in the township is valued at $256,770 and in the village at $89,420. Real and personal property in the township and village show a total value of $1,261, 390; which, divided among the 2,161 persons in the township in 1880, would give the worth of each one at $583.06. The real worth of the township may be placed at $3,000,000. The total tax for 1884-85 is $16,706.63, together with $118 dog tax.
The predial statistics of the township for 1884 are as follows: acres of wheat, 3,302; of rye, 5; of buckwheat, 4, yielding 22 bushels; of oats, 1,738, yielding 62,588 bushels; of barley, 2, yielding 20 bushels; of corn, 2,491, producing 48,346 bushels; of meadow, 1,288 yielding 1,618 tons of hay; of clover, 1,336, producing 1,620 tons of hay, 1,338 bushels of seed and 25 acres plowed under for manure; potatoes; 108 acres, yielding 10,847 bushels; butter made for family use, 77,050 pounds; sorghum syrup, 78 gallons; maple sugar, 1,040 pounds and 1,283 gallons of syrup; 4 hives produced 50 pounds of honey; eggs, 30,625 dozens; grapes for 1883, 5,950 pounds; sweet potatoes, 125 bushels; 427 acres of apple trees produced 8,125 bushels in 1883; 190 bushels of pears, 2 of cherries and 3 of plums; acres of land cultivated, 14,184; of pasture, 1,109; of woodland, 3,940; of waste land, 136; total acreage, 19,369; wool, 32,218 pounds; milch cows, 492; dogs, 117; sheep killed and injured by dogs, 42; animals died of disease-70 hogs, 32 sheep, 9 cattle and 5 horses.
The schools of Bloom Township, in August 1884, present the following statistics: local tax, $2,124.80; total receipts, $4,476; expenditures, $2,590; number of houses, 9; value of property, 1,200; number of teachers, 23; average salary, $38 and $21; number of pupils, 405--225 males and 180 females. The statistics of population are given frilly in Chapter XIII of the general
history.