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PULASKI TOWNSHIP.

BY H. S. KNAPP.

SETTLEMENT.

In October, 1833, Judge John Perkins removed from Brunersburgh, with his sons, Isaac and Garrett, and son-in-law, John Plummer, and these, accompanied by John Moss, George Lantz, Henry Jones and a Mr. Hood, established themselves on Beaver creek, and named their colony Pulaski. Judge Perkins built a grist and saw mill on the Creek, which, it is believed, was the first erected within what now are the limits of Williams County.

ORGANIZATION.

At the session of the Commissioners of Williams County, held at Defiance, August 8, 1837, it was ordered, that the "south half of the southern tier of sections in Town 7 north, Range 3 east, be taken from said town and added to Town 6, in said range, and upon petition the name of said

town is changed from Beaver to Pulaski, and the said Township of Pulaski is hearby organized ; and the. Auditor is ordered to give notice of an election to be held at the house of Alonzo Rawson, on the 26th inst., for the purpose of electing the necessary officers for the government of said township.” The Alonzo Rawson above mentioned belonged to one of the most eminent pioneer families of Northern Ohio, his three brothers being the late Abel Rawson, a distinguished lawyer who settled in Tiffin, in 1826, and Dr. L. Q. Rawson, who settled in Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) in 1827, and Dr. Bass Rawson, of Findlay, one of the early pioneers of Hancock County. Alonzo Rawson opened the first stock of goods at Lafayette (since changed to Pulaski), in a house built by himself, end afterward sold to A. W. Boynton, when Mr. Rawson removed

from the county. The same building and rooms are now occupied as a store by Aaron Stoner. At this time there was no white settlement in the township, except at what is now Pulaski, and its inhabitants, like those at Williams Centre, then anticipated that when the seat of justice would finally leave Defiance for a point near the geographical center, it would settle permanently at Pulaski. No dreamer then, contemplated the erection of Defiance and Fulton Counties, and the destruction of the original county lines.

ELECTIONS AND VOTERS.

At an election for Justice of the Peace held in Pulaski. Township, April 6, 1840, Reuben H. Gilson, David Pickett and David Landaman

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acting as Judges, and Alonzo Rawson and Jabez Jones as Clerks, the following persons voted: Daniel Davidson, David Pickett, Reuben H. Gilson, Robert Thompson, Isaac Swagger, Daniel Wyatt, Sr., William Kilpatrick, Isaac Perkins, James McKinley, Philetus S. Gleason, Jabez Jones, Ezra Wilson, George B. Jones, Alonzo Rawson, John Kaufman, David Landaman, Alfred Shepard, John Oakes, Henry Johnson, George Shook, John Beavers, Seymour Montgomery, Aquilla Caszet, Peter Deck, John Harris, Benjamin Smith, Barnabas Peddycoast, William Johnson, John Flannahs, J. R. Capsil, Daniel Wyatt, Jr., Samuel A. Baker, Benjamin Kent, George Everett, John Perkins and Garrett Perkins.

The above election being held the year Bryan was platted and named, there were then, of course, no voters on the space now occupied by the town.

A special election was held in Pulaski Township, November 28, 18,40; David Landaman, James McKindley and John Hanna, Judges ; and George Lantz and Ezra Wilson, Clerks. The election was called to make choice of a Justice of the Peace. Thirty-six votes were cast, of which Daniel Wyatt received sixteen and Ezra Wilson twenty ; no politics at this election.

October 12, 1842, at the general election held in Pulaski Township, sixty-four votes were cast, of which Wilson Shannon, Democratic candidate for Governor, received forty-nine votes, and Thomas Corwin, the candidate of the Whig party, thiry-four votes. Those who voted were: William A. Stevens, Benjamin W. Evans, Ezra Wilson, Thomas C. McCurdy, Thomas Kent, Jacob Youse, Seymour Montgomery, Isaac Swagger, Robert Traylor, Daniel Kite, Benjamin Kent, Jasper Fulkerson, Robert Thompson, George L. Higgins, Daniel Wyatt, Andrew J. Tressler, John Dinsmore, Thomas J. McDowell, Andrus Dutcher, George Shook, James B. Godwin, John Oakes, Henry Wilson, John McDowell, Isaac Perkins, John Perkins, John A. Alexander, David Landaman, James Alexander, R. H. Gilson, David Harris, George B. Jones, William Oxenrider, John Harris, Jabez Jones, William Johnson, William Johnston, Henry Johnson, Thomas Shorthill, Adam R. Bowlby, William I. Bowlby, Jacob Beavers, John Kaufman, John E. Traylor, William Kilpatrick, John Wyatt, Henry Deivert, Philetus S. Gleason, George Lantz, John Clam-pet, David Picket, Andrew Hamilton, James Shorthill, George Mather, Volney Crocker, Jacob Over, John J. Hill, John D. Martin, Garrett Perkins, Aquilla Caszet, George Everett, Benjamin Smith and James McKinley.

At the election in Pulaski Township, held on the 11th of October, 1843, Bryan had commenced business life, and E. H. Leland, Adam R. Bowlby and Daniel Langel were Judges, and N. M. Landis and John

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Cameron acted as Clerks. The following-named persons voted : Daniel Landaman, E. H. Leland,* Thomas Kent,* Daniel Langel,* S. R. Brown,* Henry Trevitt,* N. M. Landis,* John Cameron,* James Short-hill,* John Perkins, Isaac Swagger, John Johnson, Robert Traylor, Jesse Lan* Jacob Teems,* William Cronk, David Harris, John Oaks, John A. Alexander, William Kilpatrick, George Lantz, William Yates, Benjamin Kent, Jr., David Wyatt, Jacob W. Guyer, Garrett T. Hitt.. Willia m Stough, Andrew Hamilton, Edington Sterner, Sylvester Lewis, A. W. ' Boynton, James Guthrie, Jacob Beavers, Adam R. Bowlby, Charles Young, George Beavers, Thomas Kent, Sr.,* Christian Harris, David Pickett, Benjamin Smith, John Peticord, John Hanna, Jacob Youse, * James B. Godwin, Hezekiah Hanna, Jabez Perkins, Seymour Montgomery,* John Clampet, John Kaufman,* Lewis Rose,* Andrew J. Tressler,* George W. Kent, Reuben H. Gilson,* Jacob Over,* John P. Wyatt,* B enjamin Kent, Sr., William Johnson, Hustin Brown, John Godwin, John Harris, Garrett Perkins, Samuel Myers,* Daniel Davidson, Thomas J. McDowell,* Philetus S. Gleason, William Earlston, Daniel Tharp, Ashford Kent, William I. Bowlby, Heman Harman, George B. Jones, Jeremiah Beavers, James McKinley, Samuel K. Miller, John Traylor, William Oxenrider, John Collins, Washington Leonard, Alonzo Rawson, Jabez Jones, Isaac Perkins and John McDowell.*

October 18, 1846, at a special election, Daniel, Langel, David Tharp, and David R. Bowlby, Judges, and Andrew J. Tressler and Joshua Dobbs, Clerks of said election, there were 105 votes cast. As it may, for obvious reasons, be matter of interest to know who then voted, the names of the electors are given as follows : Francis M. Case, Jacob Stauer, Joseph Mankin, William A. Stevens, John B. Alexander, Jacob Over, Daniel Langel, Andrew J. Tressler, Thomas Kent, Leonard Naftzger, E. H. Leland, Isaac- Swagger, Solomon S. Little, Thomas H. Blaker, Levi Cunningham, Peter Himes, George Keckler, John Stauer, William Peoples, Thomas Stakes, Peter Deck, Sr., William Yates, Henry Batlo, James S. Gurwell, Sanford W. Smith (sworn), George Snalling, John Sadoris, John Mattocks, Ezra Wilson, Joseph S. Johnson, R. II. Gilson, David W. Harris, George Shook, John Godwin, James Alexander, Daniel Tharp, Samuel Kent, Alfred Shepherd, Adam R. Bowlby, Robert Tompson, N. M. Landis, John Kaufman, Jacob Youse, Barnet Brown, John Perkins, Joseph S. Boynton, Jeremiah Beavers, John Paul, James B. Godwin, Isaac Perkin, John P. Wyatt, Jacob Beavers, George B. Janes, Washington Leonard, Robert Russell, Stephen I. Doughton, J. E. Washburn, M. D. Doughton, Henry Carbaugh, George Lantz, Samuel Paul,

* At this election eighty-three votes were given, of whom those marked with an asterisk (5) were citizens of Bryan, and on the basis of an average of five members of a family to each one who voted, a fair estimate of the population of the town at that date can be made.

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George W. Beavers, James S. Guthrie, William I. Bowlby, Jeremiah Scarnell, Samuel K. Miller, Joshua Dobbs, James B. Akey, Benjamin Smith, Jonathan Davis, Henry Johnson, Joel F. Pool, William B. Yates, Stephen Kent, Elias Johnson, James Eariston, John Shaw, George W. Kent, Thomas Shorthill, John Oaks, John Lantz (sworn), Michael Lickel, Elijah Athey, James Oxenrider, Joseph Fulton, Jacob Teems, Charles Case, A. W. Boynton, Daniel Wyatt, Jabez Jones, James McKinley, Jared Griswold, Volney Crocker, Moses Johnson, William Stongh, Elijah Perkins, John A. Molbash, Garrett Perkins, Jabez Perkins, William Oxenrider, Jr., Joseph Dixon, Thomas Kent, Benjamin Kent, Giles H. Tomlinson. Total, 105.

Only a few of those above recorded are now residents of Bryan. Even within the comparatively brief space of thirty-six years, the larger number have passed the portals of the tomb, while some have removed, and of these a majority have died in other homes. Charles Case settled in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he became prominent at the bar and represented that district in Congress. Subsequent to the civil war, he occupied a responsible place connected with the United States Internal Revenue service at New Orleans. Others in the list might also be mentioned, who removed to other sections, and afterward often regretted that they had not remained in Bryan, and " let well enough alone."

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Following embraces a list of names and dates of commissions annexed thereto : Payne C. Parker, June 4, 1825 ; George Lantz, June 8, 1827; Jabez Jones, June 20, 1834 ; H. C. Conoway, December 31, 1836 ; Harman Doolittle, May 15, 1837. [The foregoing were elected in the territory then comprising three townships, of which Pulaski was one, and after Pulaski was organized as a district township, the following were chosen] : David Pickett, January 24, 1838 ; Ezra Wilson, December 24, 1840 ; George Lantz, April 29, 1840 ; Adam Bowlby, December 27, 1845 ; William A. Stevens, February 1, 1842 ; John Godwin, December, 31, 1843;' Alonzo Rawson, February 13, 1844 ; Giles H. Tomlinson, December 7, 1844 ; William Stough, February 22, 1847 ; W. McKean, October 26, 1850 ; Adam R. Bowlby, February 14, 1852 ; Adam R. Bowlby, January 13, 1855; William Stough, April 13, 1855; Edwin J. Evans, April 13, 1855; William H. Ogden, January 18, 1858; Edwin J. Evans, April 16, 1858 ; William Stough, April 16, 1858; William H. Ogden, January 10, 1861; Elen Langel, April 9, 1861; Henry Gilbert, April 17, 1863; Edwin J. Evans, April 23, 1864 ; Elen Langel, April 23, 1864 ; John H. Palmer, April 23, 1864 ; Eli T. Richardson, November 25, 1864 ; •William H. Ogden, April 10, 1867 ; Ed-

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win J. Evans, April 10, 1867 ; William Stough, April 15, 1869 ; Cyrus S. Bowman, October 21, 1869; George E. Long, May 12, 1871; William Stough, April 9, 1872; Milton B. Plummer, April 16, 1874 ; William Stough, April 13, 1875 ; M. B. Plummer, April 17, 1877 ; John S. Williams, April 10, 1878 ; William F. Roop, October 21, 1879 ; Jacob Teems, April 17, 1880 ; George C. Coy, April 18, 1881.

ENUMERATION OF ADULT MALES.

Following is a list of White male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one years in the :township of Pulaski, Williams County, Ohio, on the first day of May, 1848, as taken by Andrew Premier, Township Assessor : James B. Akey, James Alexander, J. A. Alexander, S. H. Alderman, David Beechler, James Bell, John Beavers, Adam R. Bowiby, William I. Bowlby, Jacob Beavers, Jeremiah Beavers, George Beavers, John A. Butler,A, W. Boynton, S. S. Case, John Cameron, Henry Caszet, Aquilla Caszet, John Collins, Volney Crocker, William Cronk, John Clampet, Rotor Deck, Samuel Deck, Isaac Deck, M. D. Dowton, Daniel Davidson, Benjamin W. Evans, John Earlston, George Everett, John Fields, Samuel Fowler, Benjamin Gardner, James B. Godwin, John Godwin, P. S. Gleason, Calvin Gleason, R. H. Gilson, James T. Guthrie, Andrew Hamilton, John Hart, William Hilton, Peter Himes, John Hanna, Hezekiah Hanna, John Himes, Garrett T. Hitt, William Johnson, John Johnson, Henry Johnson, George B. Jones, Jabez Jones, Thomas Kent, Benjamin Kent, Thomas Kent, Sr., George Kent, Ashford Kent, Willtiam Kilpatrick, Benjamin Kent, Sr., John Kaufman, N. M. Landis, E. H. Leland, Daniel Langel, Reuben Lewis, James McDowell, Thomas I. McDowell, Samuel Meyers, Samuel K. Miller, James McKinley, Noah B. Mackey, Jacob Over, William Oxenrider, John Oaks, John Peticord, Garrett Perkins, John Perkins, Jabez Perkins, David Pickett, Isaac Perkins, Joel F. Pool, James Shorthill, W. A. Stevens, David M. Shoemaker, Alfred Shepard, Benjamin Smith, George Shook, Isaac Swagger, William Stough, Simon Sines, G. II. Tomlinson, Daniel Tharp, Jacob Teems, Allen Tingley, Robert Traylor, John E. Traylor, Robert Thompson, Andrew J. Pressler, John P. Wyatt, Daniel Wyatt, Henry Wolfe, Alpheus Willson, Isaac Warfield, Ezra Wilson, William Yates, Jacob Youse, George Lantz, Jesse Lantz, Seymour Montgomery, Alonzo Rawson, Lewis Rose, John Paul—total, 111.

The Peter Himes, above named, was shot and killed by Benjamin F. Everett, while endeavoring to enter the dwelling of the latter during the night. No one believed that the intents of Himes were larceny or robbery ; yet his proceeding was unlawful. Everett gave himself up to the legal authorities, by whom he was tried and acquitted.

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TOWNS IN PULASKI

The place known as Pulaski never had a town organization. The first white population having gathered there. the elections, the post office, and the small amount of trade then in the township, all centered at point. The first schoolhouse and the first house of worship were also established at Pulaski.

Bryan is the only town that has ever been incorporated in the township. The date of its charter and of its first and present town officers are recorded in their appropriate place. It was incorporated with certain other towns named in the act, by a law passed by the Ohio Legislature March 7, 1849, at a period when the cities and towns in the State derived all their municipal powers from special acts of the General Assembly. Many so-called cities of Ohio have assumed the burdens, and undertaken to wear the habiliments of " cities," whose population and taxable wealth at the time they started out with the self-imposed yoke were much less than what Bryan can now exhibit.

FIRST PLACES OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.

Religious meetings in the early settlement of Pulaski, as of other townships, were held at private houses, and often in the forests, and as schoolhouses were erected they were used outside of schoolhours, on Sundays and evenings. The old-fashioned Methodist camp-meetings were always held in the best selected groves—God's own temples—and generally gathered from far and near the best elements of backwoods life, and also a few of the baser sort ; for even in those more pure and primitive times, there were a few who would attend these meetings for purposes quite different from those that governed the good people who were zealously active in them. But some of the class who came to sneer and mock, returned home contrite, praying men.

There exists a conflict of recollection as to the point of location of the first church building in Pulaski Township, which is quite difficult to reconcile. Some say that it was at Lafayette (now Pulaski) in 1839-40 ; and that the denomination that built and dedicated it was the Methodist Episcopal ; but it is more probable that, practically, it was a sort of township house, never dedicated to religious purposes by any denomination, and that it was used for school instruction, religious, political and all secular meetings—its doors being open to all. This could hardly have been the first church building in Pulaski Township. Yet others claim that in Bryan and Pulaski the first regular church houses were built by Methodists, and dedicated in 1853 ; while yet another authority, very accurate in memory and exactness in his statements, is of opinion that the German Reformed Lutherans built a church in Pulaski in 1846. The hewn-log

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court house was for a considerable length of time used for religious meetings, and afterward the present one. Outside the town, there are two churches in Pulaski Township—the United Brethren, on Beaver Creek, and the Tunkard Church, on Lick Creek. The United Brethren Church was built in the spring of 1862. It has no regular pastor, but is supplied every two weeks by Rev. Mr. Butler. Jeremiah Bard is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which is attended by an average of sixty-five pupils. This church will comfortably seat 250 persons.

CHURCH BUILDINGS AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The First Church building of Lafayette (now Pulaski) has already been mentioned. The present buildings, in style of architecture and inside finish, are highly creditable to the congregations that built them. The Methodist edifice was completed and dedicated in 1873, and the pastor who now ministers to its communicants is Rev. Mr. Scott of West Unity. The German Reformed, or Reformed Church, as now known, was erected in 1874, and has a resident pastor in charge—Rev. Mr. Steiner, who entered upon his ministry in this church in April, 1882. The membership is about 100. His congregation purchased a very pleasant home for him and such successors as may have spiritual charge of the congregation. Upon Mr. Steiner also devolves the labor of ministering, at stated periods, to two other churches—the Bunker Hill and Beaver Creek. The two denominations in Pulaski co-operate in Sunday school work—holding their schools alternately in both churches, and the number of pupils in attendance under the joint arrangement averages 175.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The situation of Pulaski, on the banks of Beaver Creek, possesses unusual attractions. The soil is a sandy loam, exceedingly fertile ; and heavy rain-falls, that render the streets of many other towns almost impassable by reason of the depth of the clay mud, benefit the road-ways of Pulaski, which never continue for any length of time affected detrimentally by them.

In the town and neighborhood are several artesian wells, one or two of which are equal, in the volume they discharge, to any in the State.

As stated in another place, it was where Pulaski now stands that the first grist and saw mills, within the lines of the present Williams County, were erected. These antiquated structures, and the comparatively primitive rude machinery they employed for turning out work, are long ago perished ; but upon the site of the old Perkins' Mills now stand the Pulaski Flouring Mills, now owned by Enoch Cox, employing two run of French buhrs, and operated partly by water and partly by steam, which

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keep the mills perpetually in motion. A steam saw-mill another part of the town by William F. Roop, and a general store by Aaron Stoner, now constitute the business of the town.