COUNTY
OF
WILLIAMS,
OHIO.
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
WITH
An outline Sketch of the Northwest Territory, of the State,
and Miscellaneous Matters.
ILLUSTRATED.
WESTON A. GOODSPEED, CHARLES BLANCHARD,
Historical Editor Biographical Editor.
CHICAGO:
F. A. BATTEY & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1882.
WILLIAMS COUNTY COURTHOUSE COURTHOUSE. BRAYN, OHIO
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PREFACE.
This volume goes forth to our patrons the result of months of arduous, unremitting and conscientious labor. None so well know as those who have been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met with in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the inauguration of the enterprise, a large force have been employed—both local and others—in
gathering material. During this time, most of the citizens of the countyf to contribute from their recollections, carefully preserved letters, scraps of manuscript, printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public records and semi-official documents have been searched, the newspaper files of the county have been overhauled, and former citizens, now living out of the county, have been corresponded with, all for the purpose of making the record as complete as could be, and for the verification of the information by a conference with many. In gathering from these numerous sources, both for historical and biographical departments, the conflicting statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete nature of public documents, were almost appalling to our historians and biographers, who were expected to wave therefrom with any degree of accuracy, in panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other's statements as to dates of birth, of settlement in the county, nativity and other matters of fact. In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance of authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability to furnish a perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of our promises, and given as complete and accurate a work as the nature of the surroundings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not and will not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured that all just thoughtful people will appreciate our efforts, and recognize the importance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been accomplished in preserving the valuable historical matter of the county and biographies of many of its citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed into oblivion. To those who have given us their support and encouragement, and they are many, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years go by the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing reading matter, but of treasured information of the past that becomes a monument more enduring than marble.
October, 1882.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
Williams County Courthouse
Courthouse Pictures September 27, 2007
PREFATORY Agricultural Society, Auditors and Commissioners Bar of Williams County Common Schools County Commissioners’ Session, June 7, 1841 Court House, County Early Social Conditions Fair Grounds Fair of 1882 Financial Condition First Court House and Jail Formation of County Infirmary Jail, County June Frost of 1859 Landmarks, Destruction of Medical Society Murder, Convictions for Native Timber, Destruction of Population Post Offices Proceedings of County Commissioners Railroad Conductor, The First Railroad Enterprise, The First Railroad Projects, Other Recorders1824 to 1882 Rival Railroad Schemes Settlers, First White Tax on Professions Taxation, Basis of, in 1882 Terms of Court at Bryan Then and Now GEOLOGY, POLITICS AND PRESS Building and Road Material Drainage |
227 234 243 229 232 233 212 228 228 223 238 221 244 232 228 243 244 241 224 231 220 222 218 217 219 238 217 222 234 231 238 213 247 250 253 |
GEOLOGY, POLITICS AND PRESS (Continued) Election Statistics Geological Structure Journalism of the County Politics of the County Stryker Mineral Water Timber, Native Topographical Features Water OHIO AND MICHIGAN WAR ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS Pipes Stone Implements Utensils, Domestic and Other MILITARY HISTORY Aid Societies Calls for Troops, New Cavalry, The Third Cavalry, The Ninth Close of the Rebellion Continued Enlistment of Volunteers Draft, The First Enlistment in 1862 Enlistment in 1863 First War Meetings Fourth of July, 1861 Infantry, The Fourteenth Infantry, The Thirty-eighth Infantry, The Sixty-eighth Infantry The One Hundredth Infantry, The One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry, The One Hundred and Forty-second Lincoln, Assassination of Meetings, Political and War, in 1863 |
257 257 248 264 253 251 252 247 250 272 275 277 276 277 294 292 308 309 296 285-288 288 286 289 279 282 299 300 304 305 306 307 297 290 |
Vi - CONTENTS |
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MILITARY HISTORY (continued) Mexican War Militia. Organizations Militia System Opposition to the War Political Sentiment in 1860 Recruiting, Additional Regiments, Sketches of Return of Three Months' Men Return of the Troops Summary of Troops War Measures, Further Work of Aid Societies Bryan, Town of Benevolent and Social Institutions Bryan Manufacturing Company Burial Grounds Cabins, First Churches Corporation Dry Goods Stores, First Establishment as County Seat Fires and Fire Department Fountain Grove Cemetery Association Grand Army of the Republic Hotels Industries, Early Industries and Trade Library, Public Literary Societies Manufacturing in 1882 Marriage, First Museum |
291 279 289 279 291 299 282 298 298 293 295 336 321 339 317 328336 327 318 312 327 340 336 318324 318 321326 324 336 321 317 324 |
SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP (Continued). Montpelier Moral and Benevolent Agencies Organization Physicians, Early Roads and Bridges Schools Sewerage Facilities St. Joseph as a Highway Township Government Water Supply W., St. L. & P. R. R BRADY TOWNSHIP Birth, First Board of Education, West Unity Brady Insurance Company Business, Extent of Present Churches and Schools Death, First Facts of Interest, Additional First Events in West Unity General Progress Horse Thief Society Hotels Incorporation of West Unity Marriage, First Merchants, etc Miscellaneous Items Name, Origin of Pioneers and Industries Postmasters of West Unity Roll of Honor School Districts Secret Societies Teachers of West Unity Unity Mill Company West Unity West Unity Cornet Band |
372 368 378 377 379 377 378 368 377 376 383 389 398 398 389 383 385 384 388 387 398 387 383 399 384 382 382 388 395 403 393 393 399 383 402 |
Plat of Bryan, Additions to Schoolhouse, First Schools, Early PULASKI TOWNSHIP Adult Males, Enumeration of Christian Worship, First Places of Church Buildings, First Elections and Voters Justices of the Peace Miscellaneous Notes Organization Sunday Schools Towns in Pulaski ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP Asheries Birth, First Bridges Cemeteries Church Organizations Death, First Edgerton's Public and Business Men Elections Families. First Indian Trails Introductory Remarks Lawyers Manufactories Marriage, First Newspapers of Edgerton Physicians Politics Post Offices Public Halls Rebellion, During the Retrospective School Books Schools and Teachers Secret Societies Settlements, Early Spelling Schools Sunday Schools Taverns, Early Villages and Stores |
313 317 339 345 346 347 344 347 341 347 346 354 350 353 350 363 350 359 363 352 353 348 358 354 350 362 358 362 357 359 363 367 361 359 358 349 360 366 353 354 |
MADISON TOWNSHIP Additions to Pioneer Birth, First Churches of Pioneer Enterprises of Pioneer First Election First Permanent Settler General Improvement Incidents and Amusements Incorporation of Pioneer Industries of Pioneer Kunkle's Corners Mound-Builders' Works Officers of Pioneer Pioneer Cornet Band Pioneer Village "Podunk" Religious Societies Reminiscences of Pioneer Life Saw-mill. First Schools of Township Secret Organizations Social Progress Town Plat of Pioneer SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP Birth, Filet Bridges, Early Church Death, First Drainage Early History Educational Election and Other Statistics General Features Incorporation of Stryker Interesting Facts Marriage, First Oil Well Company Poll Book, Early Post Roads, etc Production Statistics Professional Men of Stryker Saw and Grist Mills Secret Societies |
419 413 424 416 411 419 417 414 408 406 407 413 419 425 415 414 423 411 413 421 418 413 419 432 434 441 433 434 426 439 444 425 438 433 432 444 429 433 435 437 434 437 |
Wild Animals SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP Additions to Monpelier Agricultural Wealth Business Resources Churches Lawyers Manufacturing Early Merchants, First |
351 376 377 376 380 378 375 375 |
Settlements, Early Springfield Grange Stryker, Village of Teachers, Early |
431 443 435 439 |
CONTENTS - viii |
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Florence Township Blakeslee, Town of Churches Edon, Town of Edon's Trade and Population Education, Development of Elections at Edon First Settlers Growth of Township Hunting Exploits Incidents of Pioneer Life Incorporation of Edon Life in the Backwoods Mercantile Pursuits at Edon Schools of Edon Secret Societies West Buffalo, Village of JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP Birth, First Beaver Township Churches Death, First Development, Gradual Effort at Removal of County Seat Land Entries Markets, Early Marriage, First Murder, Case of Organization Products of Field and Forest Population by Decades P reachers Schools and Teachers School Districts School Lands Settlers, First Stream, The Only Taverns, Early West Jefferson Village CENTRE TOWNSHIP Bear Trap Bear and Cubs Centre, Village of Churches |
460 466 455 460 461 458 448 464 452 461 457 450 456 465 459 461 472 468 473 472 471 471 476 472 472 475 468 471 477 473 474 475 469 468 472 472 483 480 489 496 |
Freedom, Village of High School, The Hunting Incidents Industrial Enterprises Locations of Settlers Lost Child Melbern, Village of Methodist Church at Centre Mills and Shops at Centre Miscellaneous Incidents Original Limits Schools Schoolhouses and Cemeteries Settlers, Early Settlers, Subsequent Struggle for Life Valuation of Township Wild Honey BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP Birth, First Bridgewater Centre Chased by Wolves Death, First Early Pioneers Early Taverns, Stores, Asneries, Mills, etc Election, Second General First Sale of Merchandise First Settlement Interesting Events Marriage, First Miscellaneous Notes Organization Physician, First Post Office, First Religions Organizations School Districts MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP Adventure with a Bear Alvordton at Present Amusing Incidents First Birth, Death and Marriage General Features |
489 496 479 487 486 486 493 492 491 484 477 494 498 477 479 483 498 485 507 610 503 507 501 508 506 504 498 502 507 507 606 507 507 513 511 515 520 520 519 519 |
NORTHWEST TOWNSHIP Asheries, Etc Bear Story Catalogue of Early Settlers Development of Morals First Election Formation of Township Further Events of the Early Settlement Milling Interests Ownership of Land Post Offices Pottawatomie Indian Pre-historic Occupation Settler, First Settler, Second Schools School Valuation Stores, etc Unfortunate Occurrence Village of Columbia Way to Trap a Bear BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Bryan and Pulaski 541 Brady Township 652 Bridgewater Township 785 Centre Township 764 Florence Township 743 Jefferson Township 756 Madison Township 696 Mill Creek Township 801 Northwest Township 809 Springfield Township 706 St. Joseph Township 605 Superior Township 622 |
583 528 531 539 534 634 530 532 524 533 526 537 525 527 537 640 533 530 540 529 |
MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP (continued) Physicians Primrose Village Settlers, First Schoolhouses and Churches Schools and Teachers Township Officers Villages in Township PORTRAITS. Alvord, H. D Bradley, E. D Bradley, J. H Cameron, J. G Cameron, 8. P Carr, W. H Elliott, T. Finch, G. W Fulton, F. H. Gamble, B Garside, James Gaudern. Richard Gaudern, Mrs. H. J Gaudern, " Mother " Gleason, P. S Hart, Frank 0 Hodson, Thomas Holmes, David Rent, Thomas Kniffin, B. F Lamson, R. F Money, George W Ogle, E. Owen, Selwyn N Rings, George Stough, William Stubbs, John W Stubbs, W. M |
522 521 515 519 522 522 519 |
viii - CONTENTS |
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ILLUSTRATIONS |
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Black Hawk, Sac Chieftain Buffalo Hunt High Bridge Indians Attacking Frontiersmen Indians Attacking a Stockade Lake Bluff La Salle Landing on the Shores of Green Bay Mouth of the Mississippi Niagara Falls |
74 26 33 55 71 62 24 31 92 |
Perry's Monument Pioneer Dwelling Pontiac, Ottawa Chieftain Present Site of Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, 1833 Source of the Mississippi Tecumseh, Shawnee Chieftain Trapping Williams County Court House |
91 60 42 58 22 68 28 215 |
MISCELLANEOUS |
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Areas of Principal Countries of the World - 203 Area of the United States - 203 Constitution of the United States - 79 Miles of Railroad in Operation - 203 Population of Ohio - 203 Population of the United States - 203 Population of Principal Countries of the World - 203 |
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Peas.
