BROWN TOWNSHIP.
Brown Township was constituted in December. 1833, being taken from Richland, and was bounded as follows : Beginning at the northwest corner of Township 13 north, Range 2 east, thence southward to the township line ; thence east to the east line of Section 35 ; thence north to the township line, and west to the place of beginning. Subsequently those parts of Townships 14 and 15, which lay directly north, and of equal width to this were added, but, in 1839, were laid off into a new township called Allen.
In length, Brown is six miles north and south, and in width, five miles. Much of the land was originally entered in quarter-section tracts, the law then requiring one-third down and the balance in installments. Subsequently, a " forfeiture " of eighty acres was allowed, that is, the half of the entry could be relinquished and the money that had been paid on the whole could be applied to pay for the part. A later law permitting the entry of forty acres, caused great rejoicing among the poorer classes of movers, and a rush of settlers came swarming into this part of the State.
Not all these lands were purchased directly from the Government. A grant had been made to the Miami and Erie Canal, and the company sent appraisers into this section to value the lands according to location, quality. etc.. which gave the range from $1 to $2.50 per acre. Land now within the corporate limits of Dallas was sold at $1 an acre, which would bring at this day $100. and is held at $125.
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Topographically. Brown .Township is one of the most level of the northern tier. Even along streams the surface is comparatively uniform in this respect. The Stillwater, which rises in the spread in Jackson, enters Brown. near the southwest corner of Section 7. on the place now owned by Lewis Kern. runs northeast to the pike on the C. C. Kertrow farm, in Section 6 ; thence nearly south across the northeast corner of Section 7, again to the line, then forms a sharp bend in the northwest quarter of Section 8 ; from thence proceeding rather crookedly. but without any very marked variations from a southeastwardly course to near Dallas, at which place the stream becomes very tortuous, with a general course north of east. to the township line. about one-fourth of a mile from the northeast corner of Section 23, and nearly half a mile north of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad. Several minor branches flow into the main stream. the principal auxiliary being the one which joins the Stillwater. a half-mile east of Dallas. This branch forms it bow over a mile to the westward before it reaches a point almost a mile and a quarter north of its mouth. Following a freshet, an aerial view of the township would show a maze of petty streams, but at other times many creeks are quite low and sometimes altogether dry.
Originally much of the land of this township was regarded as next to worthless, but systematic ditching and draining have rendered those very tracts the most valuable. Encouraged to persevere. a great deal of tile is still being put down by owners. Besides the uniformly even surface, the lands of Brown were characterized by a remarkably diversified yet well-distributed mixture of timber—almost every variety that was to be found in any part of the county being found here, and the trunks were generally straight. and of value for lumber and for mechanical purposes.
For many years. the timber was ruthlessly destroyed before the advent of the railroads and manufactories permitted its transportation and use. The numher of establishments for the manufacture of hubs, spokes, staves, etc., show that the supply. although sensibly diminished. is far from being exhausted.
The Pan Handle (old Columbus, Piqua & Indianapolis Railroad, enters the township near the southeastern corner of the southwest section (31) and passes out one-fourth mile from the northwest corner of the section. Reckoning, also, from the east, the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad enters the township almost at the center of the east line of Section 23, and passing through Dallas. goes in a straight line to a point a trifle south of the northwest. corner of Section 30. where it enters Jackson Township, its inclination southward being one-half mile in five.
John Woodington is reputed to have been the pioneer of the township. He located upon St. Clair's tract on Section 29. A. Teegarden came in the summer of 1820, and entered the southwest quarter of Section 18. Daniel Dewall settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 20, in the fall of the same year. David and Silas Riffle were early settlers ; the former is now Mayor, the latter came in 1828 ; Thomas Marcum moved in during 1829 ; I. T. Wise, from Miami County. in 1834 ; Wesley Millett. a maker of wagons. in .1836 ; J. H. White in 1837 ; .J. A. Wample, from Preble County, in 1838 ; 0. M. Searl in 1839 ; and J. E. Miller in 1840. White located on the northwest quarter of Section 23 ; McWitley on the east half of southeast quarter of Section 10 ; and Titus on the northeast quarter of Section 29. A few these of the pioneers, examples, so to speak. of the men who organized and developed this section of the county. The first death that occurred in Brown was that of Rachael Teegarden, wife of Abraham Teegarden. who (lied the next season after her arrival here. The first marriage was that of Polly Dewall, daughter of Daniel Dewall. to John Bruno, whose nuptials were celebrated three or four years after their arrival in the township. The first birth was a son to Daniel and Nancy Studybalser, who was named Philip. His parents had come to the township on a visit, and being detained here. Philip was born on the farm now owned by William Bachman.
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The first settler within the present limits of Dallas was John Tuttle. a native of Adams County. Penn.. who was a genuine believer in ghosts. hobgoblins. etc.. and was noted for spinning mythical yarns. Georre Tureen built the first house in Dallas. and sold the first goods. The first school in the township was taught by John Hainan. in a pole cabin. built in 1827. for the general accommodation of the settlers, for an area of several miles. Three old buildings long used as school-houses are still standing besides the fine union school buildings now in use.
David Riffle relates that in the famous ”squirrel year.” 1822. these animals made their appearance in such numbers that the clearings were actually covered with them—as much so as if a flock of blackbirds or flight of pigeons had settled on a small area. The Indians ascribed the circumstance to the failure of the mast. or nuts of any kind, in the woods that year. For many years. the squirrels had uninterruptedly increased until they had become very numercus : but 1822 was. to them. a famine year. Then the clearings were inconsiderable portions of .the lands, and it is not incredible that the ground was " covered with them.” It is said that in their ravenous hunger they forgot all fear. and if a person had an ear of corn in his pocket, they would swarm upon him and cut the very clothing with their teeth to get at the food for want of which they famished. They seemed to have an instinctive knowledge that in the southeastern country there was food to he had. and Millions of them migrated in that direction. and found their way. it is said. across the Ohio into Virginia. Great numbers became so weak. through starvation, that they " fell out of the ranks” and perished by the way.
The travel to Brown Township naturally directs his course toward the inviting village of Dallas, located one mile west of the east boundary of the township. and three and a half miles north from the southern boundary. Stillwater Creek flows through the northern part of the incorporation. Dallas is the second station east from Union City, on the Cleveland. Columbus. Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, and is distant therefrom ten and four-tenths miles. The distance west from Versailles to Dallas is nine and eight-tenths miles. It was laid out in 1845. and incorporated in 1867. Ansonia is the name of the post office. Main street runs north and south. with Olive. Elm and Pearl parallel to it on the west. Cross, Canal. Weller and High streets run east and west. intersecting the first-named at right angles. The town is symmetrical in its outlines and divisions. and conforms to the cardinal points of the compass, so that the stranger is not perplexed. as at Greenville, by the sun's rising at irreconcilable points of the horizon.
The amount of freight shipped from Dallas. including grain and manufactured articles, is much beyond the average of towns of similar size. amounting. annually. to between six and seven hundred ear loads. No telegraph station was located here till 1879. at which time J. H. Royer, station agent. took charge. The first operator was J. W. McCray, who is still (May. 1880.) night operator. Stephen Helm was engaged January 1. 1880, and remained until May 1. Mr. Royer is now day operator and express agent.
The first Postmaster in the town was Mr. Turpen. now a dry-goods merchant at Versailles. The first mail carrier was Samuel Baker. William White was the first Justice of the Peace, and held the office before the establishment of the present boundaries. Samuel Rinehart built the pioneer smithery. on the southeast corner of Main and Weller streets. which is still standing. It is difficult to ascertain with certainty who preached the first sermon in the township, but it is known that the second was by one Ogden. The first church stands yet. and is occupied as a dwelling-house, on the land now owned by George Teegarden. The Evangelical Lutherans have a neat brick structure, 32x45 feet. located in Baughman's Addition, in the southeast part of the town, on East Main street. The first preacher was Rev. E. A. Boehme. who also preached th-! dedication sermon. When the society was organized, there were only a score or more members since that time there have been steady accessions.
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The attention paid to education is evidenced to the stranger by the size, location and character of the school buildings. The new school building in Dallas is located on two acres of ground in Hulse's Addition. in the northwest part of town. There is a fine three-story brick structure, 34x56 feet, erected in 1873, at a cost of $10,000. The builders were Robinson & Frvbarger, of Green- ville. The contract was for $8,400. Extras amounted to $1,600. The upper story is used as a school hall for lectures, entertainments. etc.. is well seated and supplied with accessions to these ends. The second story is the high-school department. and the first or lower, the primary and intermediate. The first Superintendent was J. M. Syckes, who, with his wife as assistant and a good staff of teachers, secured to the community an efficient school. lie was succeeded by the present Superintendent. John S. Royer. a man of marked ability and great popularity as a teacher. He is one of the County Examiners, and by his influence, experience and presence has done much to give the school the excellent reputation it now enjoys. 0. J. Holloway was the last teacher in the grammar department, Miss Lizzie McAlpine. intermediate. and Flora Riffle, primary. Miss McAlpine has taught in the same room continuously since the school began and is in good repute. A fair supply of customary school apparatus has been provided. The officers of the present School Board are Dr. W. E. Hoover, S. Riffle and J. R. Knouff.
There are two organizations or lodges of secret societies in Dallas, the Ansonia Lodge, A.. F. K. A. M,. chartered on October 21, 1874, by the Grand Lodge of Ohio. and the Odd Fellows. Ansonia Lodge, No. 605, instituted June 18, 1875. The former received. their charter from Asa H. Batten, G. M., and Ferdinand Wilmer, Chairman of the Committee on Charters and Dispensations. The first officers were John S. Royer. W. M.; S. A. Hostetter, S. W., and W. E. Hooven, J. \V. The lodge thus started gained rapidly and has a present membership of seventy-one persons. elected from the very best men of the vicinity. The charter members were J. S. Royer. S. A. Hostetter, W. E. Hooven, David Riffile, J. E. Leas. Jacob J. Pohlman. L. C. Anderson. M. W. Burtch, James McFarland, John B. Wertz. Phillip H. Cromer. Robert Davidson. E. M. Crick, Alexander Lop- pen. Joseph Smith and Orlando Porter. The present officers are Joshua Herring, Master : S. A. Hostetter. Senior Warden .James Abbott, Junior Warden ; J. S. Royer. Secretary : James White. Treasurer Charles Harmon. Senior Deacon ; 0. F. Johnson. Junior Deacon. and William Davison, Tiler. The place of meeting, alternate Friday evenings. is at Hostetter's Hall.
The charter members of the Odd Fellows were J. J. Peters, Wesley Millett, L. C. Garver. John Vanscoyk. C. D. Garver. N. Hartle. 0. J. Hager, T. J. Earhart, John Stuliy. G. AV. Fifer. Peter Denise. S. A. Nead, L. J. Minnich, F. P. Hartle, N. S. Wervel and Levi P. McKibben. The first officers of the society were Wesley Millet, V. G. :.J. J. Peters. V. G. : L. C. Garver, P. S. ; G. W. Fifer, Secretary, and John Stuby, Treasurer. The present officers are George Bertz, N. G. ; L. C.
Anderson. V. G. :.J. E. Leas. Treasurer and Secretary Vanscoyk, the Permanent Secretary. and L. C. Garver. Treasurer. The lodge assembles Saturday evenings at the I. O. Q. F. Hall. in Hertz & Baughman's building. The town has a band of thirteen instruments : it was organized in 1876 under the leadership of John Castal. the next and present leader was and is A. J. Young. It is a pleasant accessory to the town. and the delight of old as well as young to hear their music. The place is well supplied with reputable physicians. Dr. W. E. Hooven came to Dallas in 1870 : Dr. L. C. Anderson is associated with Dr. Hooven, his former instructor. in practice of medicine. Dr. John H. Knouff studied under John A. Smith. of Piqua. Ohio. graduated at Cincinnati in 1858. and saw two years' service as Assistant Surgeon in the Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; has been in practice in Dallas ever since. and Dr. S. A. Hostetter has been a practitioner in
Dallas since 1871.
The place has the usual accessories of shops for blacksmiths, saddlers, butchers. shoemaking and groceries. There are two hotels—the Miller House, on
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the corner of Main and Weller streets, kept by Henry E. Miller. and the Ansonia Hotel, by Messrs. L. and C. J. Wolf. This latter house was built in 1854-55 by John Hathaway, who was its first landlord. A number of persons have had charge prior to present owners.
Messrs. Tracy & Quincy were the pioneers in Dallas in the drug trade. which they started here in 1868. They were succeeded by Dr. Hager, in the spring of 1870 and the fall of 1871. S. A. Hostetter & Co.. present owners, came into possession. The present store was built in the spring of 1875. Bertz & Baughman began dealing in agricultural implements in the spring of 1873 : they made several additions to their buildings, increased their trade. and handle a stock of $6.000.
Messrs. R. P. and A. E. Vernier run a saw and planing milt-located south or the railroad, and just east of the Ansonia Stave Works. This enterprise was started in the fall of 1872, as a mill to " rough out material for the Royer Wheel Company, of Cincinnati. It then Cmployed falai fifty to fifty-five hands. This was for the first eight months, during which the disbursements of the company at this point were over $54.000. for lumber and labor. It was run by this firm about four years. when J. H. Royer. who had been managing agent for the several mills of the company, purchased it and additional to a continuation of the manufacture of hubs. spokes. etc., also got out stave material. In the spring of 188(), the present firm purchased the buildings and what machinery remains. The main building is 90x36 feet. with several large sheds attached. The original cost of the building was $10,000.
Joseph H. Roush is a dealer in grain, and has been in business here since 1873. During 1878-79, he bought and shipped 100.000 bushels of corn and 30.000 bushels of wheat. Later purchases show comparatively greater amounts of wheat raised and sold here. Martin Kuntz was engaged in operating a grist and saw mill, located in the southeastern part of the town. south of the railroad. The sawmill was built in 1850, the grist-mill five years later. The present owner made the purchase in February, 1865, and has run the mills steadily to the present. There are two runs of buhrs. thirty-horse power engine. The capacity of the gristmill is from twenty-two to twenty-four barrels in twenty-four hours.
The Ansonia Stave Company, whose works are located in Baughman's Addition, in the southwest part of the town, do an extensive business in staves. headings, etc. The mill, sheds. etc.. occupy two acres. The mill itself is about forty feet square, with an L one story. The present capacity and actual business of the factory is 247,000 hubs. assorted sizes, 500,000 barrel staves and much headings. Besides this, forty barrels for flour are made daily in the cooper department. About a dozen men are employed. The aggregate business annually. is from $25,000 to $28,000. The company began their works in 1873, on a small scale. Messrs. Robison & Rigdon were proprietors until 1876, when they sold to Roush, Leare & Co., and they, in the spring of 1877, disposed of the same to J. H., C. A. and W. A. Roush ; the last named, in the spring of 1880, sold his interest to his partners, who continue the business.
A post office was established in Dallas in 1872, and S. H. Light, the present incumbent, who was appointed March 16, 1880, is the successor of E. Leare. the first official. A large amount of mail matter goes through this office. It is estimated, that the population of this local post-office district is not less that 3,500. There is no office north of here, this side of Mercer County, and some families of that county get their mail at Dallas. The present Mayor is David Riffle ; the Clerk is Charles Schneiderman : Marshall, Preston Riffle ; Council. Jacob Deardorff, George McEldorney. S. S. Riffle, L. C. Garver, Marion TulliS and G. C. Hulse.
ANSONIA M. E. CHURCH.*
Long before Dallas (now Ansonia) became a preaching place. the Methodists held regular services at different places in the towns and country around. An
• From the pen of the Rev. John R. Colgan, Furor 11. E. Church.
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occasional service was held in an schoolhouse a little north of the village, and later than this in the village schoolhouse. H. O. Sheldon, J. T. Bower, H. Boyers, M. Perkey, A. Armstrong, H. Burns, and others, were some of those who preached here before the society was organized in Dallas. Among these, we mention the honored name of J. P. Durbin, D. D.. who, I am told, was accustomed at one place to lay the corn for his horse to eat on an oak stump, that he might be ready to move on as soon as he was done service. His own dinner he got as best he could, on the way. As early as 1845 to 1850, Methodist preaching was done in the house of Mr. White. near Dallas. In 1863, Hill Grove Circuit, which embraced Dallas, was organized, with Benjamin L. Rowand as Pastor. In 1864, D. G. Strong, since gone West. was placed in charge, but was called during the year to fill a vacancy at Quincy. Logan. County. and Henry Burns, a local preacher of fine ability, and now residing in Versailles. filled the unexpired term of Mr. Strong, and also supplied the charge the next year. In 1866, Jason and William Young filled the charge, and Henry Burns again in 1867. In 1868, Valentine Staley ; in 1869. James Jackson ; in 1870, P. M. Young ; in 1871, M. M. Markwith. The charge embracing Dallas was known part of the time as Wabash, and part of the time as Versailles. In 1872, it took the name of Dallas ; R. D. Oldfield, Pastor. The following are the Pastors, terms of service and salary, as far as reported in the conference minutes. since 1872 : E. D. Whit:ock. 1873, one year, salary $650 ; T. L. Wiltse. 1874, two years. salary $710 : R. D. Oldfield. 1876, one year. salary $725 : J. R. Colgan. 1877. three years, salary $750. The above do not include any rents. as there is a good parsonage. In 1875. the name of the charge was changed to Ansonia—the name of the railroad and the post office. In 1873. a church was dedicated at a cost of $3.200. It is a model brick structure, 36x55 feet, with a fine bell. The existence of this house is due. as in most other cases, to the untiring energy of a few. Among these. we name W. E. Hooven. M. D., H. W. Fry, N. D. Poling. S. Kersliner. J. H. Roush. G. M. Glick and D. Poling. On a corner near the church is a neat parsonage. worth about $1.000. The working, as well as paying agency, in securing_ this desirable property, was Jacob Holdeman. The membership of this church is about eighty. The Sunday school has an average of about one hundred and twenty.