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250 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. which formed a very thin dish of soup, with a cup of coffee occasionally added for breakfast. This, says Mr. .Geiger, was the fate of many a poor apprentice of the old country. Young Geiger was serving his time, distant about twelve miles from the parental roof, which he was permitted to visit occasionally, on the Sabbath, but had to be at his post promptly on Mon- day morning, performing his journey on foot. His parents used to slip an odd shilling into his pocket, with which to get an extra lunch. Thus young Geiger struggled on, in a half-starving condition, for about two years and a half, when his father bought his time and set him free. At the age of eighteen, he sailed for America, arriving in New York February 15, 1854; from there came to Defiance, where he landed February 25, and worked on the Wabash Railroad, which was being built at that time. In November he went to Adrian, Mich., and worked at his trade for William Campbell for $6 per month and board for two months, after which he worked by the piece, remaining there about three years, until the panic of 1857, when he was thrown out of business and came back to Defiance, and went into the woods in Henry County, where his brother Coonrad had settled. Here he. put up a foot lathe, turning out bedstead and chair stuff, until the fall of 1858, when he returned to Michigan and secured a job in the town of Hudson, where he remained until the spring of 1859, when, in company with William Hoffman (whose acquaintance he made at Hudson), he returned once more to Defiance, secured water-power from the canal of William Groeher, erected a small shop, and commenced the furniture business on a small scale, Geiger turning out and manufacturing the material, Hoffman, being a cabinet-maker, put the material together and finished it up ready for market. About two years thereafter, they purchased from Dr. I. N. Thacker, at a cost of $275, the lot upon which their large furniture factory now stands, Mr. Geiger trading his gold watch for 9,000 feet of oak lumber with which to build, putting in an eight-horse-power at $400, purchased from Capt. Willi am H. Thornton on credit for four years. War times coming on, business became brisk and money plenty, and they soon got out of debt. In 1865, they added largely to their factory, and put in an engine of twelve horse-power. In 1871, purchased, fifty feet front on the corner of Clinton and Front streets, and in 1873 built thereon their fine three-story brick block for warerooms. Mr. Geiger was married, at Defiance, May 2, 1859, to Miss Caroline Kerner, an orphan girl, who was born in Germany May 21, 1842. Nine children have been born to them-Catharine, born September 10, 1860; William, born January 29, 1863; Emma, born September 10, 1865; Reinhold, born November 9, 1867, died July 9, 18-; Caroline, born September 29, 1870, died June 29, 1872; Mamie and Bertha, twins, born December 24, 1872; Amanda, born February 2, 1876; Clara, born January 8, 1880. William G. Hoffman was born February 15, 1830, at Ditzingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, he being the youngest of a family of four children of Carl and Anna Mary (Epple) Hoffmann-Carl, Fredericka, Andrew, William. His father died in his native land. His mother, accompanied by the daughter and the subject of this sketch, arrived at New York July 20, 1854, after being on the waters of the Atlantic sixty days. From New York, he went to Lancaster, Penn., his mother and sister remaining at Lancaster, where the daughter was married, Mr. Hoffman's mother came West in the spring of 1857, and settled at Ann Arbor, Mich., where she died April 8, 1879, at the advanced age of ninety years seven months twenty-five days. Mr. Hoffmann soon after took his departure for Columbia, Penn., where he remained eleven months,, working at his trade, and then took up his journey across the country on foot for Adrian, Mich., being four weeks on the road, accomplishing 900 miles in this time. Ile soon found work after reaching Adrian, with a Mr. Fisher, remaining three months. He then worked in the Michigan Railroad shops, where he continued two years. During this time he formed the acquaintance of Miss Catherine Koerner, to whom he was married December 1, 1856, at Edgerton, Ohio. Mrs. Hoffmann was born October 4, 1836, at Affalterbach, Wurtemberg, Germany, she being the fourth child of a family of eight children of Michael and Catherine (Henzler) Koerner. Mr. Hoffmann has had a family of six children-Caroline M., Catherine J. (dead), Bertha J., Charles C., Edward W., Gertrude M. F. Mr. Hoffmann came to Defiance May 1, 1859, and, with Mr, Geiger, went into the furniture business, under the firm name of Hoffmann & Geiger, commencing on a small scale, Mr. Hoffmann doing cabinet-work and Mr. Geiger turning. Before going into business, Mr, Hoffmann had been working at his trade fifteen years, ten years of this time being spent at Stuttgart, Germany, where his trade was learned. About two years after they went into business, they purchased the property on which their factory now stands, on Perry street, and in 1871 purchased the lot on corner Clinton and Front streets, and in 1873 built thereon their fine three-story brick block for salesmoms, at that time being the finest in the city. They still continue business, doing an extensive wholesale and retail trade. Henry B. Hall was born in Newton, Sussex Co., N. J., 1814; was married, June 4, 1836, to Miss Maria Dean, of Stanhope, Sussex Co., N. J., im- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 251 migrating to Ohio the same year, locating in Huron County, and, being a millwright by trade, put up a flouring mill on the Mohickin River, in that county, for one Mr. Smith. In 1840, moved into Erie County, Ohio, to the town of Venice, three miles west of Sandusky City, and assisted George Lawton in putting up a large mill, 108 feet in length by 80 feet in width, with eight run of stone. This mill was built by Mr. R. H. Haywood, of Buffalo, N. Y., and was located one and a quarter miles northeast of Venice, on a stream called Cold Creek, proceeding from several large springs, and of great depth and clear as crystal. In 1842, he left Venice and located at the small town of Delaware, in Upper Canada, and there built a small mill for one Acres. In 1844, he moved to Defiance County, and took up eighty acres of wild land in Tiffin Township, on Tiffin River, and cleared up forty-five acres and set out a fine orchard, numbering seventy-five trees. Mr. Hall was not calculated for a farmer, and in 1849 built and put in running order a grain elevator in John Tuttle's warehouse at Defiance, and the next year put the machinery in a mill for William A. Brown (late of Defiance) for the same purpose. In 1851, he sold his farm to John Grass, and moved to North Defiance and built on Lot No. 16 (then Williamstown), where he has continued to reside ever since. In October, 1857, he entered into a contract with R. H. Gilson (who had been appointed Receiver) to finish up the hotel—" Russell House "—which had been commenced by S. S. Sprague. In 1849 or 1850, Mr. H. built the two-story hotel building which is still standing opposite John Tuttle's warehouse, north side of the Maumee, for Reuben Straight, who ran it for a number of years, and it was called the Exchange. Afterward, it was kept by Frederick Cox, Samuel Kintigh, Lorenzo Thomas, George Thompson and Gideon Yarlot (who now owns and occupies the same, but not as a hotel). Mrs. Hall died February 8, 1876. They had a family of seven children, viz.: Isabella A., Jonathan (who died in infancy), Nancy Jane, Elizabeth, Sarah C., Theodosia M. and Stephen E. Of this number three are living--Isabel, Theodosia and Stephen E. Mr. H. married, for his second wife, Evelyn A., daughter of Jacob J. Myers, of Defiance, March 13, 1877. From 1848 to 1874, Mr. H. did a great amount of contracting and building. The first dwelling-house built by him in this town was for John M. Stilwill, southwest corner of .Washington and Second streets, near Second street bridge, now the residence of Alfred A. Ayers. He built the former woolen mills for Gibson & Brown and machine shops for Kettenring & Strong, all destroyed by fire in 1864. In 1869, he built the Baptist Church, northeast corner of Wayne and Third streets, besides many fine brick residences of the town, such as Peter Kettenring's, E. P. Hooker's and others. Mr. H. has followed the undertaking business in this town for the past twenty-eight years, and is now devoting his whole time to that business. Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver, daughter of Capt. Lawrence Teats, was born at Adelphia, Ross County, March 23, 1825. Her grandfather, Christopher Teats, was in the war of the Revolution. Her maternal grandfather (Maj. Engle) also in the Revolutionary war, was a native of Virginia, and came to this State in 1806. Capt. Teats was in the war of 1812. He was born in New Jersey in 1791, and was married to Miss Elizabeth Engle, of Ross County, Ohio, in 1816, by whom he had six children, five sons and one daughter, Elizabeth, the subject of this sketch. He died at Adelphia, Ross County, in 1834. Mrs. Teats removed from there with her little family to Defiance, in 1840, and died in Williams County, September 29, 1876. Our subject married David L. Oliver, of Defiance, December 27,1840, whose father, John Oliver, was one of the early settlers of this county, coming from Piqua, Miami County, in 1822, and entering the farm on which Job English now lives, in Defiance Township, which he cleared up, and set out a fine orchard. He moved from there on the farm now occupied by C. Biede, which he mostly cleared up, and set out another fine orchard. From there he moved into the town (Defiance), on the lot now occupied by S. T. Sutphen. Surrounding the fine brick residence of Mr. Sutphen we find quite a number of fine apple trees which were set out and grafted by Mr. Oliver with grafts brought by him from Piqua on horseback, that being the only method of travel in those early times. Wolves were plenty in those days and for their scalps there was quite a bounty offered both by the State and county, and the early settlers received quite a revenue from them. At one time, Mr. Oliver being from home for several days, Mrs. Oliver visited a large pole wolf-trap erected by her husband and upon her near approach was soon made aware of a captive by the snarling, growling and snapping of teeth of a hungry wolf. Mrs, Oliver, like many others of our pioneer women, was too much accustomed to the nightly visits of the wolves, which came in droves howling around their log-cabin homes , to be easily frightened at the sight of one of their number, and especially when in so secure a prison. Mrs. Oliver returned to her house and provided herself with a good, sharp and substantial pitchfork and returned to the trap, and by inserting, the fork between the logs soon succeeded in spearing the prisoner to death. Mr. Oliver moved from Defiance in 1837 to Lucasville, Scioto County, at which place he died in 1842, To David 252 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. L. and Elizabeth were born seven children, two sons who died in infancy, and five daughters, viz.: Katie E., who married Frank G. Brown, a resident of Defiance; Carrie, married James Thiebaud, of Vevay, Ind., where they now reside; Eliza j., married Andrew Pontious, of Defiance, now a resident of Cincinnati; Ella A., married Isaac T. Waterhouse, of St. Paul, Minn.; Jessie J., the youngest, who remains at home with her mother. Mr. Oliver was a carpen- ter by trade and put up many of the early frame buildings of Defiance, among them the Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian Churches. He was among the first to do cabinet work for his neighbors, and also made coffins which were sent to different parts of the country as per order (there being no undertakers here in those days), and the friends would call and settle at a Convenient season as they came to town. Mrs. Oliver relates an instance which oc- curred in her girlhood days; as related to her by Mr. Oliver at her father's house, on one of his visits while a young man. He said he had met on his way an old acquaintance whose coffin he had made for his burial several weeks before, which quite surprised the Teats family until Mr. Oliver explained by saying the man had informed him that he was alive and well and had no immediate need of the coffin; a fact not known to Mr. Oliver until informed by the gentleman himself, whom he supposed was dead and buried. Mrs. Oliver recollects when the pickets of Fort Winchester were standing on the grounds where she now resides. Also relates a circumstance in connection with the big apple tree now standing on the north bank of the Maumee as related to her by Pierce Taylor (deceased), one of the early settlers of Defiance, who stated that he was acquainted with an old Indian chief "who said he was born under said apple tree," and as near as Mrs. Oliver can recollect dates, thinks the tree is at least 155 years old, but by whom planted, or how it came there is mere conjecture. Mrs. Oliver and brother Jacob kept house five weeks for one Mr. Fox, who lived in the woods near where Charloe now is in Paulding County, while he and his wife were gone away on a visit, and saw none of her sex during that time, their nearest neighbors being two miles distant, and the next five miles distant. Indians were frequent callers, it being in the fall of the year and their hunting season, although they were friendly. Her husband, David L. Oliver, was born in Marietta, Ohio, June 7, 1813, and died at Defiance, Ohio, May 13, 1856, aged about forty-three years. Mrs. Oliver married for her second husband, Simon P, Moon, who was born October 28,1815 near Winchester, Va., who for about twenty-five years preceding his com- ing to Defiance was a resident of New Orleans, and was quite an extensive dealer in hay and grain. Their present place of residence is very pleasantly situated on the banks of the Auglaize near the place where stood Fort Winchester, and within a stone's throw of where once stood the old fort, Defiance. John W. Garman, son of George P. Garman, was born in Union County, Penn., February 16, 1818; came to Defiance County with his father in the fall of 1846 and settled on Section 3, Defiance Township, at which place his father died the next year after his arrival. He is still living on the homestead and remembers the following families who were living in the township outside of the town when he came, viz.: Elias Shirley, Nathan Shirley, Adam Hall, Jeremiah Andrews, -- Harris, John Shirley, William Schooley, James Hudson, Abram Hudson, ---- Wells, — --- Elkins, Donnelly and Joseph Greer. Mr. Garman thinks James and Abram Hudson were abqut the first settlers in the township outside of the town of Defiance. Jesse Hilton, a cousin of Mrs. Joshua Hilton, was born and raised in Somerset County, Me., and moved with his family to Highland County, Ohio, in 1815. He sold his property here in 1822, and with Joshua Hilton removed to Defiance Township, purchasing the farm immediately west of the Baltimore & Ohio depot. He cleared this land and remained in possession until 1834, when he sold it, removing to Brunersburg and kept tavern for two years. He then immigrated to Michigan, but returned to Fulton County, Ohio, where he died a few years ago. Mr. Hilton was a Whig in politics and in religions belief a member of the United Brethren. Maurice S. Holston, son of D. F. and Sarah (Russell) Holston, was born May 17, 1852, in Philadelphia, Penn. His parents were born, the former in the State of New Jersey, the latter in the State of Delaware. They had six children, five now living— Maurice S., Ella J., Lewetta, Lottie M. and Mary R. Maurice S., the subject of this sketch, received his education in Wilmington, Del., and attended college there. At the age of sixteen, he returned to Philadelphia, and entered the Boston Book Publishing Company's house as clerk, remaining there three years. In 1874, he came with his parents to Van Wert County, Ohio, and was engaged in the hoop manufacturing business at that place. In 1876, the company started a branch business at Holgato, in Henry County, Ohio, to which place he came the same year. Qn January 6, 1877, he was married to Miss Clara H, Sapp, of the same county, daughter of Lemuel and Catharine (Rettig) Sapp. The fruit of this marriage is one daughter, Rachel J. Holston, born November 28, 1877. Mr. Holston came to Defiance County in the spring of 1879, and commenced the hoop manufacturing on a very extensive scale at De- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 253 fiance in company with his father, D. F. Holston, turning out by steam power 32,000 per day. A brief sketch of the works appears in another part of this work. Livingston E. Beardsley, photographer, Defiance, was born January 30, 1840, at Macedonia, Summit County, Ohio. His father, Rev. Leonard E. Beardsley. came from Batavia, N. Y., to Ohio in 1835. He was educated at Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio, and is a member of the Erie Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Crawmer, whose parents moved from Livingston County, N. Y., to Summit County, Ohio, in 1814. Our subject accompanied his parents to Cleveland,. Ohio, in 1846, in which place his youthful days were passed, and his early education acquired in the public schools of that city. In July, 1860, he went to Maumee City, Ohio, and received a course of instructions in Maumee Commercial College. In the spring of 1861, upon the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, he shouldered his musket and enlisted in Company C, Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in their three months' organization, and, upon the expiration of that term of service, re-enlisted for three years in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Toledo, Ohio, September, 1861, and again re-enlisted as a veteran at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1863, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865. He entered the service as a private, but was soon promoted to the office of Corporal, then to Sergeant, and subsequently to that of Sergeant Major of the regiment, which position be held until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and about thirty other smaller battles and skirmishes, and was with Gen. Sherman in his memorable march to the sea, At the close of the war, he came to Defiance and engaged in the business of photography with his old acquaintance and friend, W. D. Blackman, who retired from the business in the fall of 1868. September 28, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha A., daughter of Joseph G. Cass, Esq., of Lucas County, Ohio, and one of the pioneers of the Maurnee Valley. His success in the practice of his chosen profession has been flattering in the extreme, and in artistic photography he has not a rival in Northwestern Ohio. His work in all its details shows a perception of true artistic effects. His management of light and shadow is excellent and the whole furnishes a composition most pleasing. While many photographers seem to possess a good mastery of the methods of manipulating, yet often there is lacking what may be termed " finish;" again while the workmanship may be pronounced perfect, grace in position is often lacking, and an ungainly pose will often spoil the effect of an otherwise good work. Such faults are never to be found in the work of this establishment. The most trifling detail is not omitted, and the result is a picture of artistic excellence; or in other words, a work showing harmony in its composition, beauty in its finish and truth in its outlines. His apartments are well fitted up and possess every facility for the convenience of patrons, and in calling the attention of our readers to the high excellence of his work we are only paying a just tribute to his efforts, and which have brought him a patronage he richly deserves. In short this establishment deserves the consideration of the public whom it endeavors to please. Christian Harley, retired merchant, Defiance, was born in Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, in 1822, and is a son of John and (Bertch) Harley, who emigrated to this country in 1835, and located in Columbiana County, Ohio, on a farm for some years, then removed to Crawford County, Ohio, where they died. They were parents of four children, viz.: John, Alexander, Jacob, and our subject. By his first wife he had one child, viz., Christopher. V After arriving in this county, our subject was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Pennsylvania, with whom he served the regular time. In 1842, he settled in Florence, Erie County, Ohio, and began business for himself. In December of the same year, he was married to Regina Stilzer, a German lady. Here he followed his business until 1846, when he engaged in the mercantile business in the same place, which he followed until 1861, at which time he sold out and came to Defiance, and entered the employ of Cobb, Pearson & Squires, as salesman, and soon after he and Mr. Cobb bought out the interest of the other two and the firm became known as Cobb & Harley until the following April, when he bought Mr. Cobb's interest and conducted the business alone several years, when he took in his son, Charles A , as a partner, and afterward his son Alonzo. In April, 1877, he sold his interest to his two sons, since when he has lived a retired life. To Mr. and Mrs. Harley were born nine sons and four daughters, all living, viz. : Helena A., Caroline Q. , Charles A,, Alonzo F., Henry A., Clinton C., Perry C., Matilda N., Edward, Willie M., John A. Q., Nellie and Jay D. E. Forrest. His grown-up children are all in business and in good circumstances. Mrs Harley died in 1880, at the age of fifty-five years. His second marriage was celebrated with Miss Mary R. Stoody, of Toledo. Ohio, in 1882. Mr. Harley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has been connected since 1841. In religious matters, lie has always been deeply interested, and accredits his great success to the influences of Christianity. In the church he has held the responsible positions of Trustee, Class Leader and Steward. 254 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. CHAPTER XXI. ADAMS TOWNSHIP—VOTERS IN 1845 - PERSONAL REMINSCENCES THIS township occupies the northeast corner of Defiance County. Tiffin Township is on the west and Richland on the south. Henry County bounds it on the north and east. It was organized while be- longing to Henry County, April 6, 1836, and was named after Judge Bishop Adams, who was the first settler in the township, Section 18. Among the earliest settlers were Eli Markel, Jacob Schock, John Hornish, Jacob Tittle, Tollman Voorhees, A. Bot- tenberg, Joseph Frantz, Jacob Swartzel, Darius Jones, John Scott and John Hively. Adams is a full township and contains thirty-six sections. The great prairie is in Section 16. The county ditch has nearly drained it. It was formerly a great marsh or pond, created by beavers cut- ting timber and damming it by embankments. In draining it, a number of relics were found, such as elk horns, many skeletons, etc. it is now owned by William Allen, and contains about two sections of land. The Ridge or Adams road seemed to have been an ancient lake shore and ran from the Maumee at Independence, to Detroit, Mich. It makes a high and sandy road and was much traveled by the ancient red men from near Detroit. The township, since it has been drained, produces good crops and is productive in wheat, corn and grasses. There are two Lutheran Churches, one on Section 13, and one on Section 10, and one German Baptist or Dunkard, on Section 31. it is a frame, has no bell; one Catholic Church on Section 28. The Lutheran Church cost $2,000 ; the Dunkard Church cost $1,500; the Catholic Church cost about $2,500. The United Brethren Church has no bell; it is a frame, and cost about $1,200. There are nine school districts in the township but only eight school buildings. The people of Adams have always taken a lively interest in education. One saw mill in the township is owned by Mr. Diehl, on Section 20, steam power, and cost $2,500. It was built in 1877. There is one portable saw mill owned by Peter Celing & Co., worth $2,000. It sometimes propels a threshing machine. The present Justice is John Knape, who is now filling his third term, and Munson Whitney, who is now tilling his second term. VOTERS IN 1845. In the October election of 1845, the following were the voters: Jacob Layman, George Briggs, Walter Williams, Daniel Bruner, John Hornish, Charles Tubbs, Darius Jones, John lively, James K. Potter, John Hornish, Jr., Michael Shock, John Swanck, John W. Goodenough, John Esterbrook, John Shock, Joseph Stone, Ephraim Markell, Jacob Noffsinger, Philemon Dodd, Jacob lively, Jacob Swartzel, Samuel Stone, John Scott, Jonathan Davison, John Whitney, A. T. Parker, Aaron Deal; George Briggs, A. T. Parker and Aaron Deal, Judges; Darius Jones and Charles Tubbs, Clerks. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. Aaron Diehl was born April 9, 1814, in Montgomery County, Ohio, ten miles west of Dayton, and remained there until 1843, at which time he came to Adams Township. He is of German descent, his great-grandfather having come from that country. An uncle,. John Diehl, was one of " Marion's men" in the war of the American Revolution, in North Carolina. His father was a substitute in the war of 1812, and deserved a pension. He then lived in Montgomery County, Ohio, where he died August, 1875, aged eighty-six years. His wife. Susannah Miller, was born in Virginia, in 1791, died April 5, 1878, aged eighty-six years ten months and two days. Their family were Aaron, Jacob, Samuel, Elizabeth, Hannah, Abraham, John, Eli and Noah, all living but Elizabeth and Hannah. Mr. D. was married, April 5, 1838, to Miss Catharine Russell, of Montgomery County, and formerly from Washington County, Md. She died in the spring of 1881. Their family consisted of David, Susannah, Margaret, John H., Mary C., Russell A. and Nancy. Of these, Susannah, Margaret and Nancy are dead. The rest are living. Mr. Diehl began his homestead on Section 21. He has 160 acres, which he purchased in 1835. The pioneers were Darius Jones, Charles Tubbs, J. Swartzel, John Shrimplin, who is Township Clerk, John Hornish and Ephraim Markel. Mr. D. has held the office of Trustee two or three years, and has been Treasurer three terms, He has never been an office-seeker. Ephraim Markel was born February 4, 1819, in Delaware County, and came to Adams Township in 1835 with Eli Markel, an uncle, in September, and was seven days making the trip. Eli Markel died about 1860, his wife about 1869. Mr. Markel mar- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 255 ried Miss Barbara Layman, April 19, 1840. His children are Mary A., Aaron, Daniel, Eli and Nancy, all living but Nancy and all grown and married. His homestead contains eighty acres. The township was very wet at an early day, the lauds being overflowed from the "big swamp" or marsh, which is now drained and mostly cultivated. At an early day, Markel spent much time as a hunter for bear and deer. He generally killed three or four bears and about forty or fifty deer. Ho wasquite successful in trapping wolves, which were then plenty. He also used a trap for bears and caught a good many. John Shrhnplin was born November 10, 1840, in Knox County, Ohio, and came to Adams Township, Defiance County, Ohio, with his parents, Abraham Shrimplin and his mother, Susannah. His mother died April 16, 1875. Mr. Shrimplin yet resides in this township and is its present Clerk. John Hornish was born December 30, 1823, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and mune with his father, John Hornish, Sr., to Adams Township, Henry County, Ohio, but now of Defiance, in 1836. When his father landed, there had been four families who preceded him, viz. : Eli Markel, Mr. Grubb, Mr. Rodman and Jacob Shock. The three former had been here some time. Markel and Grubb were the oldest in the township. Grubb had preceded Markel some time, John Hornish, Sr., born January 12, 1788, died August 2, 1866, aged seventy-eight years six months and twenty days. His mother, Catharine Ely Hornish, died about August 2, 1854, aged fifty-nine years. John Hornish, Sr.,. was born in Rockingham County, Va., and Mrs. Hornish in Washington County, Penn., and came to Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1819. His family consisted of Henry, Nancy, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Catharine and Eli. Of these, Nancy, Henry, Catherine and Eli are dead. The rest are living and married. John Horuish, Jr., married Miss Eve Frese December 27, 1846. Their family are Catharine, Eli, Henry, Elizabeth, Samuel, John W., Peter, Mary A,, George, Nancy E., Emma and Ida. Of these, three are dead—Eli, Henry and Ida. Mr. Hornish has been a great hunter since he came to this county. When he viras about thirteen years old, he had quite an adventure with a large buck. He wounded it quite severely and it was brought to bay by the dog; the buck at once stood for fight with glaring eyes, within a few feet of Mr. H., who stood his ground and snapped his gun several times; finally the gun went off, shooting it in the breast, when it at once made a dash at Mr. H., but in doing so caught one antler under a root, which checked it long enough for Mr. H. to dispatch it with his knife. Some years after this occurrence, Mr. H. and J. K. Potter were hunting along the banks of a small creek in Adams Township, near where Mr. Potter now lives. Mr. H, was on one side of the stream and Mr. Potter on the other side, when they came upon an old bear and her cubs, and after firing several shots they brought her to the ground. Appearing dead, Mr. H. stepped up, picked up a club and struck the bear across the head, when he found that she had been playing " possum," for she sprang to her feet and struck a terrible blow at Mr. H., barely missing him, making it necessary to call Mr. Potter to shoot her. Mr. H. has 65() acres of land and about 200 acres cleared and well improved. It makes a valuable homestead. Jacob Swartz was born November 2, 1802, in Warren County, Ohio, and caine to Adams Town- ship in 1836, and was at its organization. Mr. Swartz has been dead many years. He found the country wild, with bear, deer and wolves and plenty of Indians. The forests were very heavy and water found in abundance everywhere. The neighbors of Mr. S. were one or two miles away. The principal settlers were Adams, Bishop and Phineas, Eli Markel, John Hornish, Darius Jones, John Scott, Jonathan Davison, John and Jacoll Hively, Mr. Grubb, Jacob Shock, Mr. Swartz, etc. Mr. Swartz married Miss Sarah Becktell, of Montgomery County, Ohio, in November, 1828. His family consists of Sarah, Elizabeth, Philip, Catharine (dead), Rachel S. These are all married. Mrs. Swartz died about 1866, aged about sixty-eight years. Charles Tubbs was born January 21, 1810, in Oswego County, N. Y., and came to Adams Township in 1836, and settled on Section 11, where he now resides. He married Miss Lucy Howe, of Mexico, Oswego County, N., Y. She died August 16, 1870. Her children were William B., Alfred S., Charles D. and A.rba F. He married the second time, Miss Charlotte Robinson, February 25, 1871. Her family is Alice E., a girl six years old. When he first settled in' the township, John Scott, Darius Jones, John and Jacob Hively, James Davison, John Hornish, William Mozier, Jacob Swartzel, George Grubb and Eli Markel were in it. The voters were then all present and named. The first school was taught by Mrs. Tubbs in the summer of 1837. It was a subscription school. There were about nine scholars. It was a hard township to clear and make roads in. Mr. Tubbs did not spend much time in hunting for game, but has been an industrious and successful farmer and is a friend to the common school system of Ohio. Henry Lehman was born September 12, 1820, in Germany, and came to Adams Township in 1837, and located on Section 21. He married Miss Mary Jane Williams February 1, 1846. She died August 256 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. 1870. The children were Adelia, John W. and Caroline, twins, Waiter, Francis E., Mary Jane and Henry, Of these, Adelia is dead. Mr. L. married for his second wife Mrs. Annie Davis, a widow of Joseph Freed, who had five children-Eliza J.,William D., Catharine, Elezan and Cora V., all living. She had no family by Mr. Lehman. The Dunkard Church, located on Section 31, was built in 1878. Its speakers are Henry Lehman, Aaron Diehl, Charles Williams, Joshua Domer, Zadoc Clear, Isaac Flory, Oliver Westrick, Ephraim Markel, Leonard Hire, John W. Lehman, John Flory, Jacob Lehman, Henry Flory, Richard Beheybible, John Hornish and William Hire. T. J. Tittle was born in Richland Township Ohio, October 21, 1825, His father, Jacob Tittle, first came to Defiance County in 1824, and settled in Richland Township, where he lived until 1839. He then removed to Adams Township, where he died in 1840 or 1841, aged fifty-five years. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1785. The children, T. J. and James, with their families reside on the old homestead in Adams Township. Rachel lives in Williams County, Ohio. Mr. T. states that the United Brethren Church in Adams Township was organized in 1845. They held their first meeting in a log schoolhouse near where Mr. Tubbs now lives. They have now a new church edifice, built in 1870 at a cost of about $1,000, and have a membership of seventy-five. Abraham Battenbury organized the class in Adams Township and was their first preacher. The present preacher is George W. Dinius. Emanuel Hull, son of Andrew and Catharine (Thompson) Hull, who were Pennsylvanians by birth, was born in Berlin Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, March 14, 1830, and settled in this county in Adams Township in October, 1819, where he died February 7, 1882, aged fifty-two years ten months hsd twenty-four days. He was married February 19, 1851, to Miss Jane Osborn, of this county, who was also born in Berlin Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, August 29, 1833. They had a family of nine children, seven boys and two girls, as follows: Sylvester A., born July 3, 1854; Zachariah F., born February 23, 1858, died May 30, 1882; Mary E., born April 5, 1859, and deceased when about three years of age; George W. was born April 3, 1862, and died in infancy; David W,, born May 15, 1863; Levi W., born June 16, 1866; Ida J., born July 7, 1869; James E., born July 27, 1872; and Andrew V., born September 5, 1876. Of this number (who are living) all are living at home on the farm in Adams wrth Mrs. Hull, except the eldest, Sylvester A., who is head clerk in Levi & Ginsburg's wholesale tobacco and liquor store in Defiance. He was married December 14, 1876, to Miss Barbara M. Peter, of Richland Township. To them was born one child, Philip Emanuel, November 26, 1879, and deceased at its birth. His wife, Barbara M., soon followed after. Her spirit departed from its tenement of clay, December 14, 1879, after which Mr. Hull lived a single life until August the 10th, 1882, when he married Sarah E. Peter, sister of his first wife. His mother, when a girl of fourteen years, came to this county with her father, Elijah Osborn, in February, 1846, her mother, Nancy, having died about a year previous to their departure from Mahoning County, this State. February, 21, 1846, Mr. Osborn loaded three teams with his family and household goods and traveled across the State for a future home in Richland Township, this county, occupying six days in making the trip, Mahoning County being on the east line of the State and Defiance on the west, After pursuing their journey as far as Gilboa, Mr. Osborn concluded to make two loads of his effects and let one team return. By this arrangement it became necessary for the children, six in number, to pursue their journey on foot, which came very near costing all of them their lives, 'as they were soon broken out with measles and were obliged to wade through the mud and water of the Black Swamp, a distance of several miles, arriving at Independence on Saturday night the 25th, weary and sick, Here they put up and were kindly cared for, and in a few days were able to go to their new home, distant about three and a half miles, moving into an old schoolhouse until Mr. Osborn could get up his log-cabin. Mr. Osborn died August 8, 1868. John Wisda, son of John and Mary (Slagel) Wisda, was born in Klatan, Bohemia, March 23, 1844; immigrated with his parents in August, 1854, arriving first at Baltimore, Md., thence to Sandusky County, Ohio. His father's family consists of four sons and two daughters- John, 'Joseph, Albert, James, Mary and Anna. Albert is engineer on a Texas railway; James is a blacksmith residing in Fremont, Neb, ; the rest are residents of Defiance County. The father was killed by a tree he was felling about eight years after he came to Sandusky, in August, 1861, Mr. Wisda, our subject was married August 29, 1871, to Gertrude Lutz, daughter of Michael and Catharine (Hasset) Lutz. Their children are John G., born June 12, 1872; Anna C., born February 24, 1874; Michael A., born July 20, 1875; Joseph A., born August 9, 1877; Frank J., born November 14, 1879; Richard T., born October 21, 1881. Mrs. Wisda's father was from Bavaria, Germany, her mother from Ireland. They came to this country in 1841, to Seneca County, and thence to Adams Township in October, 1850. The subject of this HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 257 sketch came with his mother and family from Sandusky County to Tiffin Township April, 1871. His mother is living in this (Adams) township. Mr. W. bought eighty acres in Section 8, resided there about two years, then came to the farm of 140 acres, where he now lives on Section 20, in fall of 1876. Defiance is his present post office. Mrs. Wisda was born February 21, 1851, in Adams Township, where her father entered the land in Section 28. His children were Catharine, Mary M., Gertrude, John G., Michael J., Helen, Joseph, Anna B. Of these, Catharine and Michael are dead. CHAPTER XXII. DELAWARE TOWNSHIP—VILLAGE OF DELAWARE BEND—DUNKARD CHURCH—UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH AT SHERWOOD—PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. THIS township is located in the south-central part of Defiance County. Washington Township bounds it on the north, Noble and Defiance on the East and Mark on the west. Paulding County touches it on the south. The Maumee River flows through the southern part of it, and the B. & O. Railroad crosses the township, Since the completion of this road, the township has improved rapidly. The two prosperous villages of Sherwood and Delaware owe their existence and their growth largely to the railroad. VILLAGE OF DELAWARE BEND. The most conspicuous structure is the new Catholic Church, frame, with its cupola and bell, which was built in 1880, and cost $3,000. It is gothic in structure and quite imposing. There are about thirty members, Its priest is Frederick Ruhen. The membership had a church at first across the river. The village was laid out by W. D. Hill & Co., in 1874. There are about fifty houses built, and the prospect for a branch railroad from Bryan, in Williams County, is considered quite flattering. The lots commanded a fair price at the first sale. They number 170. The village was laid out almost in the woods. The town has three groceries, two saloons, one blacksmith shop, one saw mill, one dry goods store, two doctors, Wallace Moats and J. K. Denman, who has a drug store in Sherwood. In October, 1845, the following settlers of Delaware Township voted: James D. McAnally, Joseph C, Sprague, John A. Swartz, John Travis, James H. Blue, David Shirley, James M. Kellogg, George B. Woodcox, James Gordon, Robert Evans, William Brown, William K. Blue, James Shirley, James M. Evans, Jonathan Pefly, James Brown, L. H, Sales, James Hays, James Hill, Barnabas D. Blue, Daniel M. F. Hill, George Snook, Alfred M. Woodcox, Josiah Mullican, Montgomery Evans, James Peacock, Benjamin Mullican, Peter Blair, William Bercaw, Barnabas Blue, Joseph Blair, Andrew Hughes, Hiel Hughes, Joseph Miller, Josiah Mier, Caleb Ritchhart, George Slough, John C. Hill, William Slough, C. B. Mullican, John Gordon, Jacob Pefly. James Gordon, James Shirley and C. B. Mullican, Judges. Montgomery Evans and James D. McAnally, Clerks. DUNKARD'S CHURCH. The branch of this church, now called the Maumee District, located in Defiance County, west of Brunersburg, between Georgetown and Emerald Station, formerly belonged to the Lick Creek District, Will- iams County, under the care of John Brown and George Stockman up to about 1854, when the above district was organized, Peter Huff and Daniel Shong being its ministers, with a body of members about thirty-five in number, Jacob Kintner, Sr., J. G. Kintner, B. Lintz, D. Cover, G. Willhelm, holding the office of Deacon. In 1857, Eli Metz was chosen to the ministry, and in 1858 he was ordained to solemnize marriages and to baptize. On May 29, 1859, he baptized Jacob Kintner, Jr., for the first one, and his wife the second one. The church now began to increase in number, and in the fall of 1861, Peter Bollinger and Jacob Kintner, Jr., were chosen to the office of Deacon, and on the 17th day of October, 1864, Jacob Kintner, Jr., was chosen to the ministry and Reuben Sponseller and Samuel M. Kintner to the office of Deacon, At this time the care of the church was given to Eli Metz and Daniel Shong, under whose care it was slowly on the increase. On the 13th of October, 1868, Nelson Woodcox, David Shong and David Barrack were elected to the office of Deacon, and Jacob Kintner was ordained to solemnize marriages and baptize, and in 1870, on Christmas Day, Isaac Stockman and David Cover were chosen to the ministry. The church now numbered about eighty members. In 1873, Messrs. Stock- man and Cover were ordained to the second degree of the ministry, i. e., to solemnize marriages, and as Peter Huff died, and Eli Metz moved away, therefore John Brown, of Williams County, was appointed as Presiding 258 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. Elder over this congregation until October 8, 1878, at which time John Brown resigned his care of this church, and Jacob Kintner was ordained Bishop or Presiding Elder over this congregation, in which office he still remains. At the same time, Daniel Lorah, a minister, moved here from Missouri, was also ordained to the second degree in his office. In consequence of several series of meetings held at this time, the church rapidly increased, at the present numbering about 114 members. Feeling the necessity of a house to worship in, but being in limited circumstances financially, they came to the conclusion to build a cheap house of worship, in which they succeeded in raising the funds, and gave Jacob Kintner and David Shong the job of erecting a building, 34x56 feet in size and sixteen and one-half feet high inside, for the sum of $1,000, which was completed in 18'78, being the first church built in this vicinity. UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH AT SHERWOOD. About thirty years ago, the United Brethren Conference sent a minister by the name of Thomas to preach to the people along the Maumee River, who occasionally preached in the vicinity of the present location of Sherwood. A few years after, Conference appointed a camp meeting, which was held at that time, and another time a year or two later, on the same place where the village of Sherwood stands. In A. D. 1874, under the charge of Rev. Jonas Lower, a society was organized. In A. D. 1879, the class, assisted by the liberality of the inhabitants, built a nice, comfortable church house, at a cost of $1,350. The society at present has a membership of thirty-eight, Eli Kaser, Class Leader. The Sabbath school is in a flourishing condition and has a total attendance of 110, superintended by G. N. Barnes. Rev. Longs- worth is the present preacher. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. U. R. Snook, M. D., gives the following in reference to his family: William Snook entered his land in Delaware Township in the spring of 1824 (where the B. & 0. R. R. now crosses the Maumee River), buying on both sides of the river. He moved with his family into the new home in the same fall, He first moved from near Trenton, N. J., to Warren County, Ohio. During the Black Hawk war, he was a private in the Ohio militia, who participated in the expedition that defeated and broke up the strength of that celebrated savage chieftain. Some time during the winter of 1827-28, my uncles, George, John and Peter, who were boys from fourteen to eighteen years old, went out on a coon hunt; as was the then prevailing custom of the country, as coon skins were the main medium of exchange—in fact, were ,legal tender for all commodities of life purchasable in the then vast wilds of Northwestern Ohio. In fact, they were in this county (Paulding) used to pay taxes with. After killing several coons, and being about three miles from home, they found what appeared to be a " den tree," or a tree in which, as was often the case, several coons made a home during the winter months, and they proceeded to fell the tree. When it fell, my uncle George (being the eldest) with the dog ran in to the top of it, to kill the coons as soon as they should run out of the hole. But instead of being a lot of coons, it proved to be a large black bear, which at once grappled with my uncle, giving him a true bruin embrace, and at the same time laid hold of his left arm with its vice-like jaws, biting it through in three places, stripping the flesh from the bone; then biting him in the left cheek or side of his face, laying the bone bare. All this time the other two boys, John and Peter, were doing all they could to disable the bear with their axes, using them with all the skill and force that boys of their age were capable of, and avoiding striking George with them. After some time spent in this unequal contest, uncle George succeeded in throwing his right hand and arm down the bear's throat so far that it choked him, and they both fell together in the snow, my uncle covered with his own blood, which flowed freely from his wounds. When bear and boy fell together in the snow, John and Peter succeeded in pulling George from the bear, and managed by strenuous exertions to drag him home, as he was so weak from the loss of blood that he could not walk or stand alone without aid. The next day an Indian ran across the spot where the fight occurred, and traced up the bear for a few rods from where it occurred, and found it so prostrated from the wounds received in its struggle with the boys that it could not rise from the place where it lay, and he dispatched it with his tomahawk. At the time my grandfather (William Snook) settled in Delaware Township, there was only one store (trading post as they then were called) in Defiance, and only some five or six families, and the old fort. Montgomery Evans was my grandfather's nearest neighbor, he having settled about one and a half miles above and on the opposite side of the river from him. " Uncle Sammy Hughes," as he was called, lived some three miles away. There were some three or four more settlers, but I cannot recollect their names, who settled along the Maumee about the time my grandfather did. There were no mills or roads in the country at that time, the river being the only thoroughfare, except Gen. Anthony Wayne's " trail" HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 259 as it was called—a road cut through the woods on the south side of the river from Fort Defiance to Fort Wayne, which at this date was impassable except during the winter months, when well frozen up; then persons going with a team must carry an ax to cut out any fallen timber which the wind had blown down across the "trail." The river, during spring, summer and fall, was used as a means of transportation, the early settlers using the canoe, "pirogue," or "slap-together," which they pushed up and down the stream with the "setting polo," and after a time the keel boat came into use. During the winter months, when the river was frozen over, it was used as a road, and heavy loads hauled from various points with ox teams mostly. As I above remarked, there being no mills in the county, my grandfather "hollowed out" a round hole in a birch log with his az, then after burning this with fire to get out the ax marks and then scraping out all the coal and charred wood, placed the corn in it and with the aid of a spring pole with an iron wedge fastened in the lower end of it, would in this way reduce the corn to meal, so they might have " Johnny-cake" with their hominy, venison and bear steak. Truly we of this modern age, civilization and improvements can hardly realize the hardships of our old pioneers, who first, ax in hand, began the herculean warfare upon our gigantic forests, and natural obstacles that our fathers had to contend with. In the fall of 1828, my grandfather (Robert Murphey) on my mother's side, settled with his family in what is now known as Carryall Township, Paulding County, about one and one-half miles above where Antwerp is now situated. At that time there was only one other family in that settlement, Thomas Runyan, who had settled there in the spring before. They both came from Hamilton County, on the Big Miami River. Some time during the summer and fall of 1832, Antwayne, a chief of the Pottawatomies, and several of his braves, after having imbibed somewhat freely of the white man's " fire-water," paid my grandfather Murphey's residence a visit, the men folks being all out at work, and only grandmother and aunt being in the house. The Indians, as was their custom when peaceable and not on scalping bent, and bloody slaughter, unbuckled their belts, depositing scalping knives, tomahawks, guns and bullet pouches in one corner of the log-cabin, distributing themselves around the capacious fire-place where grandmother was cooking the noonday meal, Antwayne squatted directly in the middle of it and in the way of her getting at her culinary efforts. This was not to be endured, and after grandmother had requested him several times to get out of the way, he replying in his broken English, "Me good Injun, me no hurt white squaw, Me big Injun, me heap good Injun, Me no hurt white squaw," she drew from its resting place over the " jice," the family rod, and at once bestowed "on big Injun," good Injun's naked shoulders, with no light hand, good, sturdy blows, which made him howl with pain, and jump up in great surprise. Giving the characteristic whoop of defiance, he sprang for his deadly weapons of war, but as he did so, the other braves caught and forced him out of doors, where they in one accord declared that he should not hurt white squaw who was "heap much brave, whip Injun." They finally succeeded in pacifying him, and after securing his accouterments they departed in good humor. If they had not been under the influence of whisky it is hard to tell how the rash act of grandmother would have ended, probably in a bloody tragedy. I was born in 1835, five years previous to the removal of the Indians from this part of the country by the Government in 1840. My father's Indian name was " Tobochimo," from the fact that he never in his dealings with them took any advantage of them in his trading. I recollect seeing our door yard filled with them, bartering coon and deer skins with my father for corn. In 1849, my father, Hon. Wilson H. Snooks, was elected as Representative to the Ohio Legislature. During the late rebellion, my family took an active part in it. My uncle, John S. Snook, being Captain of Company G, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and I, Quartermaster Sergeant in same company, during the first three months' service or first 75,000 troops called out by President Lincoln. At the organization of the Fourteenth Regiment for three years' service, my brother, J. S. Snook, Jr., enlisted as a private in August, 1861, and served in that command until the close of the rebellion with only the loss of two day's duty by sickness, being in every engagement that the regiment took part in and was the only one left of the color bearers on guard at the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., and the first one to scale the rebel works and carry our flag in triumph over the breastworks amidst the enemy. At the organization of the Sixty-eighth Regiment, my uncle, John S. Snook, became its Major, and a private in the rear rank of Company C. The Major was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and at the battle of Champion Hill, Miss,, during the Vicksburg campaign under Gen. U. S. Grant, was instantly killed, being shot through the heart near the close of the battle when the victory was ours. He now rests in a gallant soldier's grave on the field he so bravely and gallantly helped to win, having the love and respect of all the " boys " who yet survive of his gallant Sixty-eighth. From Revolutionary days down to present time, whenever our country needed defend- 260 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. ers with musket in hand, our name was ever found doing battle for the preservation and perpetuation of our noble and glorious Republic. Elias Miller was born in Harrison County, Ohio, July 19, 1817, and grew up and attended the district schools of that county, and married Miss Rebecca Foose, June 10, 1841, and removed to Crawford County, where he remained about two years, and then removed to Delaware Township, Defiance County, in 1855, and commenced improving his present farm on Section 19. His family is Johnson, born April 9, 1842; Emanuel, born December 4, 1843; Vincent N., born December 18, 1845; Zeno H., born October 7, 1848; Stewart W., born February 25, 1851. All living and grown. Johnson served in the war of 1861-65, and was wounded twice. The village of Sherwood which took its name from Secretary Sherwood, was laid out by William Taylor and William. Rock in 1875. The number of lots north of the railroad is about seventy-five. Mr. Elias Miller laid out all. south of the railroad, seventy-two lots', in 1879. The Miller brothers built the first store house in Sherwood. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built about 1868. It was organized by Elias Miller, Jacob Cone, Aaron Mitchell and wife, Uriah Smith and wife, John Rannel and wife, At first, preaching was by a local preacher, Rev. Archibald Robertson. The Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren unite in Sabbath schools. Mr. Miller had to go to Brunersburg to mill, and did his trading at Defiance, Mr. M. remembers one schoolhouse here and one near the old farm of Peter Blair, now owned and occupied by N. L. Blair which was probably the first in this locality. There is one schoolhouse at Sherwood. F. R. Gillespie was born August 9, 1852, at Sulphur Springs, Crawford County, Ohio, and remained there until 1860, when his parents removed to Paulding County, where he remained until 1874, and marrying Miss Mary Richner, September 2, 1873. He removed to Sherwood. in 1874, and engaged in business, keeping a boarding house and grocery. His family consists of Bertha, Walter and Charles B. Mrs. Gillespie died June 2, 1881, George W. Hill was born August 31, 1804, in Washington County, Penn. His mother was of Irish descent; his father, James Hill, was born in Washington County, Penn. In 1813, they immigrated to this State and settled at Lebanon, Warren County. In 1822, Mr. Hill came to Defiance County and purchased the farm in Delaware Township where George W. now lives. After making the purchase, he returned to Warren County, where he died January 15, 1823, aged about forty-nine years, In Delaware Township, his wife, Jemima, died February 28, 1841, aged about sixty-six years, The Hill family were Thomas J.,' John, George W., Clarinda, Daniel F., James M. and Mary E. Of these, but George W. survives. Mr. Hill married Miss Sarah A. Mulligan, of Defiance, March 16, 1834. His family are Josiah J., born March 17, 1835; Joseph E., born August 18, 1837; Henry H., born November 29, 1840; Mary Anne, born December 10, 1842; Benjamin F., born February 8, 1844. Of these, Mary and Franklin are dead. Mrs. Hill was born March 16, 1811. The family of Mr. H. was the eighth in the township. The families who were here or came about the same time, according to the recollection of Mr. Hill, are as follows: Benjamin Mulligan, Barnabas Blue, Samuel and Henry Hughes, Montgomery Evans, James Shirley, Thomas Warren and James Hill. Mr. Hill thinks this township was organized in 1824. The number of voters present at the first election was twelve or fifteen. Montgomery Evans was elected Justice of the Peace, John E. Hill was elected Constable. The Trustees were Benjamin Mulligan, Thomas Hill and James Shirley. Mr. H. first located on Section 27, where the ancient village was, and the Delawares had large fields of corn. Wayne came there to cut down their corn and did them much damage by destroying their food, which caused their village to be abandoned. The first school was in Section 25; teacher, Uriah McInally, The Methodist Episcopal Church preaching was in the cabins of the settlers and in schoolhouses. They have now a church at Sherwood. Mr. Hill spent a year or two in the ancient mission in Michigan on Grand River, and had to grind corn on a hand mill for food to feed some thirty persons, The homestead of Mr. Hill contains some 280 acres on the banks of the Maumee. The old Indian orchard at " Delaware Bend " is probably from seventy-one to one hundred years old. Mrs. George W. Hill (Miss Sarah Mulligan) was born in Jackson County, Va., in 1811. Her parents immigrated to Ohio and settled in Ross County in 1814. From there they moved to this . county in 1821, where Mrs. Hill has ever since resided. Their first settlement was made at what was then known as Delaware Town, a place on the Maumee River in Delaware Township. The place was so called from the Indians having once had a settlement there. Her parents located at that point with the intention of making large purchases of land when the sales would open, the lands belonging to the Indians having been put into market. Soon after Mrs. Hill's parents came, another family named McGinnis arrived and settled just opposite them, on what is now known as the Speaker farm. Mrs. Hill says McGinnis brought with him a barrel of whisky with which he intended opening negotiations with the Indians. During his absence the Indians found the whisky HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 261 and the result was they all got so beastly drank and made things generally so lively for the white settlers that during the night at about 8 o'clock, they started down the river to Defiance. The attempt to go away in the night was a very difficult one. The whole country was a swamp and the horses were frequently knee-deep in mud and water. A part of the way her father was obliged to go ahead of the team on his hands and knees in order to keep the path. The family following as best they could in the dark, guided by his voice. They reached Fort Defiance about 2 o'clock in the morning, and the next day her father with others returned to Delaware and brought their household goods. They then settled on the bottom land just opposite the Bouton farm on the Auglaize River, where they remained three years. Mrs Hill says she can yet well remember the many privations they underwent the first year, which were such as few of to-day ever think of. Corn bread was the staple product for food. Flour could only be obtained at Perrysburg or Fort Wayne. After the first year, however, traders opened up here at Defiance, and the family frequently indulged in such luxuries as apple pie made with wild crab apples and pumpkins. Salt was very scarce and cost $11 and upward a barrel. Like all old settlers, they had their corn mills, made of two circular stones having parallel bases, about three feet in diameter, the lower one being stationary, with a bevel projecting over the upper surface into which the upper stone fits. This upper stone had an orifice into which they dropped the corn five or six grains at a time with one hand and with the other turned the stone. On one side was an outlet and from this the corn came forth in the shape of pretty coarse meal. This meal was then sifted and the finest used for bread, while the remainder was boiled and made into what they called camp. During the year 1821-22, Mrs. Hill lived with the Prestons, who at that time occupied the old fort, using the block-house for storing grain. Preston kept tavern in a log house near the tort. His only guests were those who came as prospectors and those who were looking for future homes. The block-houses were in excellent condition at that time. They were built. of logs, the lower story being carried up about eight feet. Then the logs for the second story were allowed- to project over about two feet. The floor of the projection was pierced with numerous holes for the purpose of allowing those inside to shoot down upon the enemy as they came up or down the river. In fact, the fort and its surrounding houses were then just as Gen. Wayne had left them. Many of our citizens remember the bodies that were found at or near the site of the present residence of Mr. Myers, on Front street, and also the skull now in the possession of Dr. Downs, the latter remarkable for its wonderful preservation of hair. Mrs. Hill says the ground just there was long used as a French burial place, and she remembers distinctly of persons being buried there and that at the head of some of the graves were large wooden crosses. While she was at the fort, the graves were very distinct. In this place her parents buried their first dead. She also remembers the burial of a little girl of John Driver's. Mrs. Hill says in 1821 Timothy L. Smith was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and she thinks Arthur Burras was the first Constable of Defiance Township. When they came here in that year, 1821, there were but twelve families living between Perrysburg and Fort Wayne. The first above Perrysburg was the family of Moses Rice. Next, John Perkins and Montgomery Evans; still farther up, John lively lived on the Kepler farm. Near the famous old apple tree on Mr. South-worth's place, lived T. S. Smith; just above Smith Burras located and started the first blacksmith shop in Defiance. William Presten lived at the fort and kept tavern, Robert Shirley lived still further up above the fort, while on the Auglaize, lived Mrs. Hill's family, John and Thomas Driver and James Hinton. Mrs. Elizabeth Speaker was born May 9, 1817, in Lewis County, Ky., and came to Defiance County. Ohio, and settled in Delaware Township, with family of James Shirley, in 1839, in what was known as the " Bend," on the Maumee River. The persons arriving previous were Tobias Mulligan and father, Montgomery Evans and sons. Mr. Shirley improved his farm in the "bend." Elizabeth, married James Shirley, in June, 1839. He lived thirteen years and died in 1852. She then married Charles Speaker June 10, 1853. He died December 16, 1872. His estate caused much litigation. The children were--William, Robert, Eliza, Alexander, Louisa, Sylvester, Elizabeth, Emma and Frank, by her last husband, Four children are living, one by the first husband and three by the last husband. The family records are lost. The first settlers were George W. Hill, James Shirley, G. Lumbard, G. Blair and others. John Musselman was born May 30, 1803, in Shenandoah County, Va., and immigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he remained five years and married Miss Eliza Clemmer, in January, 1832, and came to Paulding County, Ohio, in 1834, now Delaware Township, Defiance County, on the banks of the Maumee, where he now resides. The township was then covered by a heavy forest and much wet land, so much so that it was settled only along the river. At that time it was known as Williams County. In 1843, Mr. Musselman put up a small tannery, 262 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. where he tanned all kinds of leather. The yard is now useless, and much like himself. John Cummings, who came in Wayne's expedition in 1794, lived with and died at Mr. M.'s. George Platter, George Platter, Sr., George Platter, Jr., and Joseph Miller were early settlers. They settled mostly along the river. It was supposed that the settlements would be only along the river, and that nothing would grow but grass, where now good wheat is produced. Tile drainage is now much used and is redeeming the land. Mr. M. acted as Justice of the Peace for Delaware Township for about nine years when in Williams County, and was Commissioner of Paulding County. Understanding the diseases of the country, though not having been a graduate, he was often employed to treat the sick among his neighbors, which was done quite successfully. He often met the eccentric " Johnny Appleseed," who frequently passed up the Maumee planting nurseries of apple-seeds. He planted seeds on different farms along the river. Mr. M. has some trees on his farm planted by " Johnny " at that time, grOwn from seed planted by him, that have fine fruit. His last appearance was about 1845, when he went to Fort Wayne. Mrs. tVf. died September 18, 1880, aged about sixty-six years. She was the mother of fourteen children, twelve living; these were named David, Amos, 'Diana, John, Mary, Cyrus, Eliza, Jane, Minerva, William, Ira and Ida, all married. Amos was in the army in 1861-65. Martha died July 25, 1840, Letitia, died August 17, 1846. George Kintner was born November 30, 1822, in Columbiana County, Ohio; removed to Crawford County with his parents in 1831, and came to Delaware Township in 1851. He married Miss Susannah Hockert, July 4, 1847, in Crawford County. Their family consists of Rebecca A., Catharine Anne, Jonas, Lovina, Lewis and George A. These all survive but Jonas, George A. and Samuel, who died young. When Mr. K. first arrived, his neighbors were James Gordon, Jonathan Peffly, Peter Blair, Frederick Slough, Peter Krnghton, Nicholas Huffborn, C. B. Mulligan and Montgomery Evans. The old orchard, he thinks, was planted by M. Evans, from seed obtained of Johnny Appleseed. There was plenty of game at the time of his arrival. Mr. E. B. Smith was born May 9, 1837, in Crawford County, Ohio, and came to Defiance County in 1850. He married Miss Rebecca A. Shoe, of Clermont County, Ohio. His family are Elizabeth, Louella, Charles, Isaac, Oscar, Lucia U. (died when three months old). He purchased and built at Delaware Bend in 1847. Mr, S. says his orchard was set out in 1830, by Mr. Snook, on the edge of the bottom. The apple trees planted by Montgomery Evans, and James Shirley were planted about the same time. Catharine Lewis was born July 19, 1812, in Muskingum County, near Zanesville, immigrated to Defiance County when about nineteen years of age, June 1, 1831, with her husband, James Lewis, and stayed in Defiance one year; then went to Huron County and remained there about two years and returned to Defiance and settled in Delaware Township about 1850, where Mr. Lewis died August 8, 1854. His children were Ellen Maria, James B. and William, who died young. The settlers were few, John Mothersbaugh, William Ronch, George Ronch, Virgil Moats, Henry Funk, John Kinsley and Daniel Swinehart, " The first man that settled on Mud Creek," Elliott Cosgrove, Daniel English and Harry McFeeters. When Mr. L. came to Defiance, there was a log church used by the Methodists. It stood where the Methodist Episcopal Church now stands. The Indians often got into the old log church to stay, and got out the next morning with bloody noses and much bruised from fighting, the result of bad " firewater." Two Indians named Cepenash and Segatehena, fought and pulled rings from their ears and made a bloody time of it in the church. She has often seen the chief, Oquonoxa, who resided where Charloe now stands. Milling was done at Bruners. burg, some four miles away. People came some forty miles to it down the Maumee River in pirogues. She remembers " Johnny Appleseed," Jonathan Evans, Foreman Evans, Pierce Evans, John Evans, the only doctor in the country, David Hull, Mr. Wasson and his nephew William Simmons, Mr. Preston, Mr. Gardenshire, Mr. Hateley, John Oliver and son David. There were then about twenty houses in Defiance, mostly log. Charles Smith was born in York County, Penn., April 24, 1809, and attended school and grew up in that county and married Miss Susannah Crowl, of the same county, September 8, 1833; continued to live there until 1837, and then removed to Licking County, Ohio, Harrison Township, remaining there until 1857, when he came to and settled in Delaware Township, Defiance County. He settled on Section 10, in Delaware Township, where he now lives. Had to foot it some distance on logs along the path to his land, to keep out of the water. The timber was quite large and very heavy, and ponds were plenty and nearly covered the surface of the ground. The land is now well drained and makes good farms, and is easy to cultivate. His children are Lydia A,, William H , Lucinda, and Francis M., all living and grown and married and have families. Both boys, Francis M. and William H., were in the war of 1861-65. Jacob Smith, an uncle, was in the war of 1812. Mr. HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 263 Crowl (Mrs, Smith's father) was in the war of Independence, in 1776. Mrs. Smith is dead. She went with her husband to Mattoon, El,, and was there but sixteen days when she took sick and died April 30, 1880, aged sixty-nine years. Deer were quite plentiful when he arrived in the country. Coons and turkeys are yet numerous. William H. married Rachel McFeeters February 26, 1865; and has three children--Clara, Anna and Charles Ray. Francis M. married May E. English November 26, 1868. They have had two children—Alice Netta and Harry E, Alice is not living. Lydia married Mr. H. C. Sinsebaugh, of Licking County, September, 1856, and is at Mattoon, Northern Illinois. Lucinda married John M. Johnson. Mrs. Montgomery Evans was a sister of Thomas Warren, and was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., 1787, and died August 1, 1875, aged eighty-eight years and four months. Her father moved to Ross County, Ohio, in 1811, and to Delaware County in 1812, where she was married to Mr. Evans in 1815, and in the following year they packed their household goods, loaded them on two horses, one of which Mrs. Evans rode and carried their infant son, and following an Indian war trail they wended their way to Defiance to fill the mission of the pioneers. Their route was through an unbroken forest, and a solitary campfire at night, the howl of the wolf, the gloom of the forest were all in striking contrast with the home the young mother had left. Mr. Evans was at home in the woods, having served as a spy under Gen. Winchester and Harrison. Now they were going to reside amongst the tawny tribes so recently their deadly foes. We may well imagine the feelings of a mother, surrounded by hosts of these same Indians, with but few whites on the river. Arriving at De- fiance, they first located in one of the block-houses in Wayne's. fort, using the magazine for a cellar, whore they remained about eighteen months. They then moved to Camp No. 3, on the left bank of the Maumee, about five miles below Defiance. Here Mr. Evans remained until 1823, when he in company with Thomas Warren, moved to Delaware Township on the right bank of the Maumee, some seven miles west of Defiance. The river was frozen over and they moved on the ice. The next spring, James Par- tee and John Plummer made sap troughs and tapped a few sugar trees, from which Mrs. Evans made 300 pounds of sugar. About the year 1825, an express mail was established from Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), by Fort Wayne to Detroit. The mail was carried by a Frenchman, who passed over the route once in two weeks. Mr. Evans house was a regular station on this route. After locating at Delaware, his provisions became exhausted before they could raise a crop. Mr. Warren went down to Prairie Damasque then the residence of Samuel Vance (brother of ex-Gov. Vance, of Ohio), where he bought two bushels of wheat which he wished to sow, but failed to get any corn for bread. On his way home, he thought of the destitution of his sister and her little children, and made up his mind to get his seed wheat ground at a horse mill just started by Mr. lively, about three miles below Defiance. He called at the mill and proposed to pay for the grinding, but Mr. Miller, like Mr. Warren, wanted bread. The toll amounted to about one-third of the two bushels. He reached home with his unbolted flour. It was then sifted and divided into three grades, The bran they ate when they were very hungry, the other grades were used as occasion required. Henry Slough was born September 16, 1813, near Baltimore, Md., and removed to Pickaway County, Ohio, with his parents, in 1821, where he followed the occupation of farming. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Hayes, of Pickaway County, April 10, 1834. and in 1842 he removed from there to Defiance County, settling in what was known as Newberry, in Delaware Township. He found the country new here, with few settlements except along the Maumee River, and extensive tracts of low, wet timber land extending for miles on either side of the river, with game, such as deer, bear, turkey, wolves, wild cat, etc., plentiful. The roads were new and almost im- passable, He went to Brunersburg to mill the first time on horseback, and to Defiance to do his trading. From here Mr. Slough removed to Paulding County, renting a farm near New Rochester, and after re-maining in said county some six or seven years, he removed back to Defiance County, settling on a tract of 120 .acres of land, he had purchased in Section 16, Delaware Township, and erected a cabin house and commenced clearing up a farm where he now resides. Mr. Slough's family consists of Isaac N., William A., John W., Henry H., Henry J. and Harriet J.; all living except Henry J. The boys have all been honored by their fellow-citizens with the offices of Justice of the Peace and other township offices. J. W. Slough was Sheriff of the county four years, from 1864 to 1868, and William A. Slough was Auditor five years, from 1876 to 1881. Nathaniel M, Blair was born March 28, 1843, on the farm on which he now resides in Delaware Township, distant about two miles from the village of Sherwood, Here he has always lived on the old homestead and now owns the same, having bought out the other heirs. He was married November 9, 1865, to Miss Emily Jane Tharp, who was born in Farmer Township, April 17, 1842, and daughter of Elisha Tharp, one of the first pie- 264 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. neers of Farmer Township, who is the only per- son now living in that township who voted at its organization for its first officers. The fruit of this marriage has been four children, viz. : Clarence D., born July 5, 1867; Elsie L., born July 17, 1869, died December 9, 1877; Leota E., born January 6, 1871; Annie S., born February 7, 1876. Mr, Blair's grandfather, Joseph Blair, came from near Detroit to this county in the spring of 1817, and was a squatter at Defiance until the land sales, when he entered the farm on which Stephen Haney now resides, on the banks of the Maumee at which place he died 1824, aged about eighty-five years. He was in the war of 1812. Peter Blair (father of Nathaniel) was born February 13, 1808, near Detroit, and came to this county with his parents when a boy of nine years, and grew up on his father's farm. In November, 1834, he was married to Miss Betsey Thighs, by whom he had four children, three boys and one girl, viz.: Mary A., Joseph, Nathaniel L. and Benjamin F.; of these, two are dead; Joseph died in infancy, Benjamin F. died November 27, 1880. Mary A., married Thomas Gordon, now deceased, lives in Marks Township. Mr. B. settled on the farm now occupied by his son Nathaniel, in 1845 or 1846. His first purchase was ten acres, upon which he built a log-cabin then purchased from time to time in addition thereto, amounting to 243 acres. While living in his cabin on the river bottom in times of a freshet, when the river overflowed its banks and the water came rushing around his cabin, the family were obliged to take refuge in the loft until the waters subsided. The sudden rise of the river often caught his hogs napping in their pens or in the field, and on such occasions Mr. B. had to get into his log canoe and paddle around and rescue them as best he could. There was then abundance of fish in the river and game of all kinds in the woods, deer in droves, turkeys in large flocks, bears were plenty and sometimes quite trouble- soul̊ among the shoats. Mr. B. kept no gun (a rare circumstance for those days) and very often had to go out accompanied by his little dog and with club in hand, club them away. Indians were numerous, but peaceable and friendly. Mr. B. never had any trouble with them except on one occasion, when he caught one of their dogs committing some depredation and Mr. Blair killed him. The Indian threatened the life of Mr. Blair and was armed with a large knife. In the altercation, Mr. Blair gave the Indian one kick which ended the controversy in the death of the Indian, for which Mr. Blair was obliged to pay $32. In the year 1847, Mr. Blair married for his second wife, Miss Sarah Gordon, of this county, and to them were born the following children-Thomas J., Peter, George, Nancy, Laura, Harriet, Evaline and America. Mr. Blair died on his farm, December 27, 1870, aged sixty-two years. Nathaniel L. thinks the first schoolhouse built in the township was built on this farm about the year 1850, and the first teacher was one Mr. Fay, now residing at Bryan, Williams County, Ohio. Preaching was held at private resi- dences and schoolhouses until quite recently. James M. Smith. The subject of this sketch was born in Crawford County, Ohio, December 24, 1850, and the next year, A. D. 1851, his parents, James and Mabala (Tucker) Smith, moved to this county and to Delaware Township, Section 30, and took up this farm on which James M. now resides, and to ac- complish which Mr. Smith was obliged to cut the road for several miles, this section being at that time a dense forest, and for a number of years they were obliged to go to Defiance for their milling and to do their trading. Mr. S. was born A. D. 1811, in Virginia, and died February 17, 1875, aged sixty- four years. His wife died February 21, 1861, aged forty-three years nine months and eleven days. James M. Smith was married April 13, 1876, to Miss Lucy C. Wilson, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Markel) Wilson, who was born in Defiance County, May 5, 1853. They have one child living-Ellen Adella, who was born March 25, A. D. 1879. Moses M. Haver was born in Harrison County, Ohio, September 5, 1842, and came to this county, November 8, 1853, with his parents, Robert Haver and May (Cree) Haver. He was married in Paulding County, January 11, 1872, to Miss Mary Musselman, daughter of John and Eliza (Clemens) Mus- selinan, who was born in Defiance October 28, 1840. They have a family of five children, as follows: Em- ily, born April 18, 1870; Iona, born November 12, 1872; Albert, born November 26, 1874; John, born December 28, 1875; Curtis, born November 24, 1879. Mr. Haver was a soldier in the late war, 1861-65, being among the first to enlist at the breaking-out of the rebellion, enlisting April 27, 1861, in the three months' service as a private in Company I, Twenty- first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Afterward enlisted in the One Hundredth Regiment as Sergeant and served to the close of the war, 1865, and was honorably discharged. E. T. Smith was born in Clark County, Ohio, April 12, 1837. His father came from Maryland to Clark County in 1806, and from there to Paulding County in 1850, at which place he died February 22, 1870. His mother's maiden name was Catharine Brendle. Mr. Smith was married to Sarah S. Wheaton, in Paulding County, December 23, 1860. Her parents were William Wheaton and Sarah (Hall) Wheaton. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have no family of their own, but they have an adopted son, Freddie A, HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 265 Smith, born October 27, 1870. Mr. Smith was in the war of the rebellion for a short time, having enlisted in Company I, Forty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, September 8, 1864, and served till June 13, 1865. His paternal grandfather was in the war of 1812. Mr. S. is now engaged in the milling business at Sherwood, Delaware Township, the firm being Boor & Smith, Simon P. Shook was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 12, 1822 settled in this county in 1854; was married in Crawford County, July 6, 1854, to Catharine Miller, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, March 9, 1830. They have had a family of seven children, as follows: Mary Ophelia, born November 7, 1854; John V., born October 4, 1856; Francis Marion, born October 1, 1858; Ada Adelia, born April 14, 1861; and died June 1, 1862; Ulysses Grant, born March 27, 1863; Oscar Howard, born February 25, 1867; and Emerson Wilbur, born September 3, 1871. Mr. Shook enlisted as a private in the late war of 1861-65, but failed to pass the necessary examination and was discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, November, 1863. Mr. Shook's parents, John and Mary (Grogg) Shook, were early pioneers of Ohio, immigrating from Pennsylvania to Columbiana County in 1804, afterward removing to Richland County, and from there to Crawford County, then to Williams County, in 1845 or 1846. Both died in Williams County. Mrs. Shook's parents, David Miller and Mary (Shims) Miller, settled in this county in 1865, and here her mother died September 17, 1866. David Benton Brown was born in Morrow County, Ohio, April 17, 1852, is the second son of Thomas and Rachel Brown, who were born, the former in Knox County, Ohio, in 1812, the latter was born in the State of Maryland, 1822. They had a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. One of the girls is dead, the remaining three, and the eldest son, reside near Bradner, Wood County, Ohio. The youngest son is principal of the Northern Indiana Normal School, located at Valparaiso, Ind. The early days of David, the subject of this sketch, were spent on a farm and attending district school, until he was eighteen years of age, when he attended the Normal School at Republic, in Seneca County, passing through a preparatory course of studies, after which he followed teaching for two years. In 1871, he took up the study of medicine at Freeport, in Wood County, Ohio, under N. W. Goodrich, M. D., and read with him until the winter of 1873, when he took his first course of lectures at the Physio-Medical Institute of Cincinnati for the term of five months, after which time he again returned to Freeport and formed a partnership with his early preceptor, Dr. Goodrich; and practiced with him and tended drug store until the winter of 1875, when he took his second course of lectures at Cincinnati, graduating on the 23d day of February, 1876, when he returned home considerably broken down in health from too much confinement, and was not able to go immediately into practice and face the storms and hardships of the physician's life. During the summer of 1876, he took a tour through the West; then returned and located at Bradner, Wood County, remaining there until July, 1879, when he removed to Sherwood, Defi ante County, his present location, where he is doing a very fair practice. Henry Funk was born in Zanesville, Ohio, June 17, 1816; was married in 1845 to Miss Elsa Nolan, of Allen County, Ohio, to whom were born ten children-George, Margaret, Sarah, Dosson, Andrew, Adam, Alfred, Lavina, Lucinda and Maretta; two of this number are dead, George and Dosson. Mr. Funk settled in Delaware Township, Section 3, in February, 1845, and had to cut the road some distance through the woods to get to the place he had chosen for his future home. Mr. F. cleared off a small patch upon which to erect his cabin, and he and his wife put up the first five, rounds. His wife's father (Samuel Nolan) and two sons, John and Jacob, and another young man, came up from Allen County, and with the assistance of neighbors within traveling distance and the help or his wife, he succeeded in getting up his cabin. Mr. F. says had it not been for the help from Allen County they could not have got it up, so few and far between wore his neighbors at that time. He then under brushed and partly cleared up about two acres in time for corn-planting. by leaving a portion of the standing timber, and raised a very good crop, which was his main support for the first year. The forest abounded with all kinds of wild game, and there was no lack for meat. Mr. F. was quite a hunter in his younger days, and visited this section of country on a hunting expedition when about eighteen years of age, and fell in with Conrad Slough and others at or near Defiance. Mr. F, on one occasion shot a bear near his house that was dragging a bog of the weight of about 200 pounds through the woods, and thinks he must have captured it in the neighborhood of Bean Creek, distant four or five miles. Mr. Funk's parents, Jacob and Nancy (Bush) Funk, came from Virginia to Ohio and settled in Fairfield County. Mrs. Funk was born in Pennsylvania, and died on this farm, February 5, 1874, aged forty-eight years. Her parents were Samuel and Rebecca (Burnfield) Nolan. Orlando Coffin was born in Defiance County. March 12, 1848. He is the only surviving member of a family of four children-George Coffin, born March 266 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. 16, 1850, died January 29, 1875; John M., born April 14, 1852, died January 21, 1875; Emily, born March 12,1846, died July 24, 1873, The parents of this family, Gilbert and Elizabeth Coffin, were natives of New York, and died, the former in 1875, the latter in 1874. They settled in Defiance County in 1846. The subject of this sketch was married, November 2, 1875, to Minerva Musselman, who was born in Paulding County, Ohio, April 14, 1.851. Her parents, John and Eliza (Wilson) Musselman, were born, the former in Virginia, the latter in Ohio, both residents of Paulding County, Section 31, where Mrs. Musselman died. Mr. Musselman still survives. Jacob Platter, with Nancy, his wife, and children, came to Defiance County, from the southern part, of Ohio, about the year 1824. They had four sons- Jacob, Jr., Louis, George and John, and four daughters--Betsy, Anna, Hannah and Mary. Jacob Platter, Sr., was killed by an accident while building a fiat boat on the Maumee River. Louis was the only one of the family of children that settled in Delaware Township, in then Williams, now Defiance County. He was married February 24, 1831, to Elizabeth Gordon, of the same township. They had two sons, Oliver and William, and three daughters, Caroline, Harriet and Mary. William enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died July 21, 1862, at Corinth, Miss. Louis Platter was born March 1, 1799, and died July 21 1842. Of the children, but two are now living Oliver. is now in Washington Territory, and Harriet Dysinger is still living in the county. George C. Armstrong was born February 18, 1826, in Connecticut. His mother died when he was a small boy, His father, Lee Armstrong, married again, and when George was about eight years of age, 1834, they took their departure for the West, and settled in Noble Township, Ohio, on what is now known as the Charles Krotz farm, on the Tiffin River, near Brunersburg, where Mrs. Armstrong died in February, 1835. Soon after the death of his step- mother, the children were bound out. George C. was bound to Peter Blair, of Delaware Township, with whom he lived till was seventeen, when he compromised with Mr. Blair for his time, and, penniless, started out in the world to shift for himself, his father having moved to Indiana, where he died in 1856, aged about sixty-one years. Mr. Armstrong the subject of this sketch, by his industry and economy, soon saved enough to purchase a team of horses and a threshing machine. This was his first investment, and in a short time he made a purchase of sixty acres of choice land from Christopher Platter, in Section 31,.Delaware Township, of fine bottom land on the Maumee River, on which he now lives and to which he has continued to add acre by acre, until he has now about 600 acres in a body, in Delaware and Mark Townships, with a fine farmhouse and large, commodious bank barn, and now, at the age of about fifty-seven years, is surrounded with all the comforts of life, the result of industry and economy, Mr. Armstrong was married to Miss Mary Platter in October, 1851, who died in 1853. He was married again, November 26, 1854, to Miss Caroline Platter, a relative of his first wife. The fruits of this marriage were Harriet, William, Eda, Elizabeth, John and Edward. The two latter died when about four or five years of age. Harriet married Stewart Miller, of Sherwood; William, the oldest and only son living, remained at home helping carry on the farm. He was married to Miss Bell Simpson, of Delaware Township; and has one child-George Armstrong, born January 1, 1882. Mrs. Caroline Armstrong died August 26, 1871. Married for his third wife Parmelia Simpson, November 24, 1876, with whom he is still living. She is the eldest daughter now living of William Travis, deceased, and was born in what is now Delaware Township, January 10, 1880, and is probably the oldest woman now living that was born in the township. Mr. Armstrong thinks there is no doubt as the to old Indian orchard in Dela- ware " Bend " being the result of seeds planted by old Johnny Appleseed, and was set out or replanted by Montgomery Evans and a Frenchman by the name of Lumbard. Evans and Lumbard owned the farm. Lumbard was d owned and Evans became its pos- sessor. Mr. Armstrong says the early settlers along the Maumee River in Delaware Township were William Travis, George W., John, Daniel and Thomas Hill, Mr. Mulligan, Thomas Warren, George Snook and brothers, James Shirley, Montgomery Evans, Samuel Hughes, Joseph Miller, Lewis Platter, George Platter and Guy Hamilton. Mr, Armstrong says the first school was on the west end of his farm, taught by one Smith, in 1828, as he was informed by Peter Blair, to whom he was bound. as heretofore spoken of, His farm is watered by Maumee River on the south, Gor- don Creek and Platter Creek, these creeks deriving their names from William Gordon and Jacob Platter, who were the first persons to settle at or near the mouth of each. FARMER TOWNSHIP. RECEIVED TOO LATE FOR INSERTION IN PROPER PLACE. MILLER ARROWSMITH, of Farmer Township, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, March 14, 1808, and was married in the same county, July 1, 1832, to Miss Celinda Caraway, also a native of the same county. Mrs. A. died at Defiance, August 10, 1847. The first visit of Mr. Arrowsmith to the Maumee Valley was in June, 1833. He then bought land near Defiance, on which he settled in October following. Judge John Perkins was then County Surveyor, and, from age, and being engaged in other pursuits, he did not wish to perform the work of the office, and appointed Mr. Arrowsmith Deputy County Surveyor, the duties of which he discharged with accuracy and fidelity during a period of fifteen years. He is one of the oldest Surveyors in Northwestern Ohio. The Genera] Assembly of Ohio, at its session of 1845-46, elected Mr. Arrowsinith a member of the State Board of Equalization, and he proved one of the most efficient members of that body. From 1848 to 1852, he was Auditor of Defiance County and Postmaster at Arrowsmith's, during a period of about fifteen years. Excepting minor offices, those enumerated fill the measure of his public life. Mr. Arrowsmith might have continued in office, and filled a larger space in the public eye, but his tastes and inclinations led him, in 1852, to engage in agriculture, and in this favorite pursuit. on his well-cultivated acres, and among books and friends, in Farmer Township, he is spending the evening of his days. He is now in his seventy-sixth year,- and quite vigorous and active. The pioneers of the valley are ever specially welcome under his hospitable roof. HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 267 CHAPTER XXIII. FARMER TOWNSHIP—THE VILLAGE OF FARMER CENTER—FIRST VOTERS— PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. Farmer Township was organized in the fall of 1836. At first, it was called "Lost Creek" Township, but afterward received the name of " Farmer," in honor of Nathan Farmer, who came into the township as early as 1833. The township was heavily timbered and somewhat wet; but after the farms were cleared and drained, it proved good land for culture, yielding fine crops of wheat, oats, corn and grass, and is now one of the most productive in the county. It was largely settled by people from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and the New England States. They have always been friendly to the common school system, and have spent much money in the erection of schoolhouses and the employment of teachers. The sixth public examination of teachers of common schools in Defiance County, we find was held at Farmer Center March 5, 1852. Twenty-five teachers were present, and sustained a close and thorough examination in all the branches of learning required by law to be taught in common schools at that time. There were in the county at that time seventy- eight school districts, containing 3,455 scholars. There had been built, during the year past, six new schoolhouses, at a cost of about $1,500. There are now (A. D. 1882) nine frame and one brick schoolhouse in Farmer Township. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1855, and organized as a congregation in 1848. Rev. John Crabb was the pastor. The church cost $1,000. The materials at that time were very low. The membership is about seventy. The preacher is Rev. James Quick, of Hicksville, Among the first settlers were Nathan Farmer, John Hickman (first settlers), Elisha Tharp, Elijah Lloyd, Colin Tharp, Orson V. Sawyer, James K. Eager, Oney Rice, Oney Rice, Jr., John Rice, William Powell, Levinus Bronson, Edward Lacost, James W. Fisher, Isaac Wartenbe, Daniel Comstock, James Crain, Laura Hopkins (widow) and William Wartenbe. James W. Fisher was elected the first Justice of the Peace, but failed to qualify, and Oney Rice, Jr., was elected at special election; William G. Pierce, Constable; Levinus Bronson, Clerk. The present Justices of the Peace for Farmer Township are A. Stone and William Lane; the Trustees are Charles Case, Oney Allen and Wilson Nichols; the Treasurer, John Murray; the Clerk, E. O. Stone. The Indian name of the creek running through the township is Buck-que-o-ke-uh. Interpretation, Marsh Creek. This name was appropriate. The head branches were marshes, made by beaver dams, at every tangible point, and their selections for dams could not have been surpassed by modern engineers. The selection of their sites for houses, in a bordering bluff, where they entered their dams far below the water level of their ponds, and ascended above the water level into their cells, gave them security and comfort, until the rapacity of the white man encouraged their destruction for their furs. The so-called Old Lake Shore Ridge, from northeast to southwest, is cut through by this creek, and the southeast part of the township has an even surface, with a descent of eight feet to the mile, until the water of Lost Creek collects and passes into the Maumee River. This is now channeled, by ditching, and in time the flooded lands will be made valuable. A Mr. Hoffman settled near the northwest corner of our township (Farmer) in 1841, and his little boy, just in his first pants, wandered out of sight of home, and the lost boy was followed by wild excitement, The dwellers in the scattering cabins were notified by those who could not go into the woods, while the entire male population were scouring the woods in search of the lost boy. He did not wander far, but was not found until he had expired. His last thoughts wore, perhaps, that he should undress and retire to rest. He had tried to take off his pants, but failed. THE VILLAGE OF FARMER CENTER. This town was platted from four lots of forty acres, in 15, 16, 20 and 21, and, for convenience and location of duplicate, numbered and platted by John Norway, by act of the Legislature, and authorized by Auditor John M. Sewell. The lots had been sold to various persons prior to that time.- The town has 120 inhabitants, one hotel, one wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, two groceries, two dry goods stores, one good school, eighty scholars, a brick schoolhouse and a number of private dwellings. The town is growing moderately, and is handsomely located. It is in con. ter of township. There are" two cheese factories in this township. One company was organized in 1875 It has a capital of forty shares of $50 each. The Secretary is L. 268 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. C. Conkey; Treasurer, John Norway. The Directors for 1880 were C. F. Go ler, B. H. Conkey and G. D. Ensign. The other company is a private one, and organized in 1873 at Williams Center._ It has a capital of about $1,500. Mr. Giles H. Tomlinson operates the factory It is an individual affair, and not joint-stock. FIRST VOTERS. The following is a list of the voters at the first fall election after Defiance County was organized: Ira Brown, Jesse Haller, Joseph Bradley, Martin Johnson, Levi Nichols, Miller Arrowsmith, James W. Fisher, Adam Mortimer, C. C. Sawyer, Daniel Hilbert, A. C. Biglow, Ira Freeman, William Mann, IL F. Teavitt, Spencer Hopkins, J. F. Mortimer, W. P. Franks, Jacob Conkey, Oney Rice, Sr., O. N. Foot, Henry Mavis, R. M. Kens, J. C. Rice, William Mann, Jr., Edward Lacost, Thomas A. Sawyer, William Earlston, James J. Lloyd, Philip Selders, Orin Ensign, Anthony Huber, Charles Samlin, Elijah Lloyd, William C. Callender, Levinns Brunson, William O. Ensign, Joseph Oxenrider, Ebenezer Lloyd, Alexander Tharp, James K. Eager, Edward Eager, C. F. Manard, J. D. Sliter, Ryer Reynolds, Thomas Carey, John Chancy, Randall Soul, Elias Lentz, Samuel W. Chapman, P. C. Fisher, Stephen Sisco, Andrew Mavis, John R. Husten, John Marshall, T, E. Lloyd, James Callender, Josiah Reynolds, James C. Reynolds, Joseph Barney, John Fisher, Colin Tharp, Elisha Tharp, Elisha Tharp, James Freeman, Joshua Gardner, William Gardner, James Gardner, Thomas Blair, Captil Callender, Andrus Rice, Keeliu Leonard, Reubin Sisco, Jared Halbert, John Hochman, J. C. Callender, Oney Rice, Jr., Z. H. Conkey, Stuart Wartenbee, S. R. Wartenbee, Isaac Earlston, S. A. Sanford, Nathan Farmer, Darius Allen, J. L. Tharp, John Denmer, O. V. Sawyer, S. T. Dalrymple, McDaniel Campbell, Frederick Deetrish, David Gardner, John Earlston, Sylvester Sisco, Sanford Hulbert, R. C. Hyde. W. P. Franks, Anthony Huber and Jared Haller. Judges. S. H. Sanford and Joseph Barney, Clerks. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. Enoch Farmer was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, April 29, 1828, and came to Farmer Township, Defiance County, in May, 1839, with his parents, who purchased the farm now owned by James Gardner, in Section 1, in October, 1833. His father helped organize the township in 1835 and was elected Trustee, and repeatedly re elected to the same office. His father was from North Carolina, Surrey County, born in 1796, and died in Wisconsin December 10, 1871, aged seventy-five years. He lived near Daniel Boone, on the Yadkin River, in North Carolina. He followed Boone's trace to Kentucky when but seventeen years old, and led his parents to Montgomery County, Ohio, five miles from Dayton. He went from there to Indiana in 1829, and stayed there two years. Mrs, Farmer died January 12, 1830. He then returned to Montgomery County, Ohio. He then came to Farmer Township, in 1833, and remained there until 1835, and then removed to Howard County, Iowa, and remained there five years, and then removed to Minnesota in 1860, and remained there a short time and returned to North Carolina, where he remained a short time, and again removed to Brown County, Minn., where he died in 1871. He seemed to have been very restless, and not contented until he changed his abode. In his meanderings he passed through many hardships. He had a good farm in Farmer Township, and sold it for $25 per acre. Still he de- sired to go West. Mr. Enoch Farmer married Miss Mary Deardorff, May 11, 1851; she died February 16, 1874. His family are Edom (dead), Hattie I., Nora E., Howard W., Mary B. (dead). He married for his second wife, Miss Mary A. Wannamaker. Mrs. Cassandra Haller was born in Champaign County, Ohio, July 12, 1810, and came to Bruners- burg, Defiance Co., Ohio, with her husband, Jesse Haller, in 1831, and remained there until 1837, Jesse Haller, her husband, was a tanner, and carried on the business in Brunersburg about seven years, and then removed to Farmer Township in 1837, and settled on Section 32, where Mrs. Haller now resides, Jesse Haller die1 September 30, 1876, 'aged about seventy-one years. He was born March 21, 1805, in Mason County, Ky. His father, John Haller, emi- grated from Kentucky to Urbana, Ohio, in 1802. II e came to Brunersburg October 22, 1833, aged sixty-five years. He had been married twice. His first wife was Mary Allen, who died in Mason County, Ky., January 28, 1811. His second wife, Mary Weaver, died in Champaign County, Ohio, January 3, 1815. Jesse Haller was married, December 22, 1830, in Champaign County, Ohio, to Miss Cassandra Arrow smith, sister of Miller Arrowsmith, of Farmer Town- ship. In November, 1831, he, with his family, removed to Williams County, Ohio, then including the present county of Defiance. Their household goods were hauled in a wagon to the Auglaize River, and then shipped to Defiance in a pirogue. The family traveled on horseback, fording the brooks, then flush from recent rains, one of which was too deep to ford, and the only ferry-boat untried horses, but they carried their riders across in safety. In their new home they were again upon the frontier. The Indians were more numerous there than the whites. He located on the right bank of Bean Creek, below the present town of HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 269 Brunersburg, where he established a tan-yard, and remained there until September 30, 1837. He then moved upon the land he occupied at the time of his decease. His family are William M., Amanda L. (dead), May Elizabeth, who married F. N. Horton, Commissioner of Defiance County. Mrs. Haller says the trip, when she and her husband moved from Brunersburg in 1837, consumed four or five days. A road had to be cut through swamps and marshes that required four days. The underbrush had to be all cut and removed, requiring much labor and caus- ing considerable delay. Mrs. Haller relates that when she first came to the township a stranger was found dead-in a cabin— a hunter, who had died alone. Mr. Arrowsmith sent a statement to the Defiance Democrat that his first visit was in the fall of 1834. At that time, Nathan Farmer and John Hickman lived on Section 1, Keelin Leonard had raised a cabin on Section 2, on lands afterward owned and occupied by Colin Tharp. A hunter had lived on the east side of Section 0, and -- -- Findlay had lived in a hut on Lost Creek, in Section 32. But four entries of land had been made in the township. This stranger was found dead in the hut on Section 9. The coffin was made by Obadiah Webb, who lived on the east bank of Bean Creek, opposite to the farm now owned by Lyman Langdon. The coffin was lashed on a pole, and carried by lAbraham Webb and William Sibble, on their shoulders, to the hunter's camp, a distance of nearly thirteen miles in a direct line and their route was through the woods, without a path to guide them. They crossed Bean Creek at dusk, and, with a pocket compass to guide them, and a hickory torch to light their way, they set ou with their burden on their lonely route, and reached the hut at 3 o'clock in the morning. He was bured on the northwest quarter of Section 10. This was the first death in Farmer Township. William M. Haller was born September 30, 1831, in Champaign County, Ohio, and when about six weeks old his parents, Jesse Haller and Cassandra, his mother, came to Noble Township, then Brunersburg, where his father established a tan-yard, where he worked. His father removed to Farmer Township about 1837, and located on Section 32. His father, Jesse Haller, died on said section in 1876, aged about seventy- one years old. His wife is still living, and is seventy-one years old. His family were Will- jam n M,, Amanda L. (died), Mary E., married Mr. F. N. Horton, now one of the Commissioners of Defiance County. William M. Haller married Miss Amanda Price, July 4, 1858, the daughter of John Price, who settled in this county in 1830. Her family is Clara A. and Vernon S., both living. In an early day, Mr. H. saw the eccentric and strange old adventurer, "Johnny Appleseed," who frequently visited Farmer Township, and died near Fort Wayne about 1847, He knew many of the eccentric peculiarities of that strange man. He was often in this neighborhood, intent on planting apple trees, but always harmless and lonely, Johnny Appleseed attended a camp meeting at the farm now owned by Arrowsmith & Ridenour, in 1843, but was an attentive hearer. He frequently rebuked the young men for their levity, and appeared much displeased if they were not attentive hearers. Appleseed's appearance was peculiar. He wore a coffee sack for a coat, drawn on over his head, and his dress in other respects was equally curious. The Ottawa Indians were removed by Dr. Colby about the year 1843, so that he knew but little of them. They had for a long time gathered in Farmer Township and also along the St. Joseph River, and annoyed the early settlers a good deal. They were quite unruly when they could obtain whisky from the traders, but always refrained from murder. At the time of Mr. Haller's arrival, the neighbors were Isaac Wartenbe, William Wartenbe, M. Arrow- smith, James Fisher, Martin Johnson, Jared Hulbert and others. Dennis Boyles, Ezra Crary, Elias Crary, Darius Allen, Levinus Bronson, Jacob Conkey, Dr. Oney Rice,- Spencer Hopkins, John Rice, Edwin Lacost: these were the earliest neighbors, and first in the township and in the adjoining one. Many of them were voters at the first election. The "Lost Creek" Presbyterian Church was built about 1853. Mr. James Quick, of Hicksville, is their pastor. The membership is about seventy. The church is of frame and cost about $1,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1859, and cost about $1,500. The membership is about seventy. Their preacher is Rev. Mr. Long, of Hicksville. It is quite a strong church. Neither of these churches has a bell. The Lutheran Church was built in 1860. The preacher was Rev. Mr. Long, of Hicksville. In point of membership, it is quite strong; cost, about $1,500. It has no bell and is a frame. These churches are all in the northwest corner of the township. Farmer Township has expended a good deal of money in the erection of schoolhouses. There are about nine schoolhouses in the township, two of which are of brick. Much interest is taken in education, and the fitness of teachers is well guarded. Mr. Haller has a post office at his house, named " Wilseyville." There is also another office at Farmer Center, and both are regarded as quite a convenience. The office was established in 1842. Mr. Haller is Postmaster; was appointed in 1867. Mr. Haller enlisted, in August, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Inf an- 270 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. try. He saw much active service, and participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war of 1861-65. He was wounded in the right wrist at Dallas, Ga., a musket ball passing through the bone. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in July, 1865, He has served as Trustee of the township five terms. He owns eighty acres of excellent land, on which he has recently built an elegant residence. Thomas M. Alexander was born July 17, 1813, in Trumbull County, Ohio, - and removed to Wayne County with his parents in 1815. He remained there until he was twenty-five years of age. He married Miss Sarah Firestone, February 14, 1829. His family consists of Harriet E., Solomon F., George F., Eleanor A., John A., William S., Willard 0., Frank E. All grown and living but Sarah C,, but none married. Mr. Alexander came to Farmer Township in 1855. lie purchased a farm of eighty acres and added 160 acres to it. He then sold eighty acres of that and purchased 292 as a homestead. He has a good house and improvements. He possesses the oldest barn in the settlement. He has a fine orchard, having many trees from nurseries planted by the eccentric " Johnny Appleseed." 'The trees are very large. and bear very well. The diameter of two trees is six feet and six feet three inches.' Mr. Alexander went to the polls at the Presidential election in 1880, at the head of five sons, and voted for the candidate for President. It is rare that a pioneer heads such a delegation. Mr. A. has done much labor in clearing up and preparing his farm. He attends mill at Hicksville, as it is the most convenient place for trade and milling at all seasons. Susannah Ridenour was born October 13, 1811, in Frederick County, Md., and came to Harrison County, Ohio, with her father, Daniel Helbert and Catharine Helbert, her mother. She married John Ridenour January 29, 1839. He removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, and remained two years, and then to Wayne County, where he remained five years, and in 1845 removed to Farmer Township, on Section 18, where Mrs. R, now resides with a daughter, Mrs. Aaron Sellers. Mr. John Ridenour died November 11, 1860, aged fifty-three years. His family was Alfred, Augustus L., Rebecca, Martha, Lowman, David, Daniel, Darius, Margaret J. (dead), Ralha, Anne (dead). She is a member of the Lutheran Church, and has been since she was fourteen years of age. She has been a widow twenty years, and in raising her family saw many hard times. Her sons are all grown and married. Mrs. Harriet M. Allen, wife of Darius Allen, was born December 27, 1819, in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and came with her parents, Oney Rice and Ammarilla (Clark) Rice, of Rutland, Vt., in 1836, from St. Lawrence, N. Y., and landed in what is now Farmer Township, and located on Section 17, southeast quarter. Mr. Allen died February 8, 1869, aged sixty-two years. The members of her family are Oney (deceased) and Ephraim C. The early settlers were John Rice, Oney Rice, Sr., Jacob Conkey, Laura Hopkins, Randall Lord, W, G. Pierce, Edward Lacost, Harrison Conkey, Lavinus Bronson, Lyman Powell, Isaac Wartenbe, William Wartenbe and Nathan Farmer. Levinus Bronson came March 6, 1836, with his parents, Levi and Sarah Bronson, and was present at the organization of Farmer Township, and was elected first Clerk. He married Almira Powell November 24, 1833. .A.hpira, his wife, died June 17, 1851, aged fifty-seven years. Mrs. Lydia Rice, widow of Dr. Oney Rice, was born in Bennington County, Vt., November 20, 1808, and came to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., with her father, Aaron Barrows and Huldah Langdon, his wife, in 1813, and there, having married Dr. Oney Rice, Jr., November 10, 1831 (Rev. Mr. Cannon having performed the marriage ceremony), came to what was then Farmer Township, in Defiance County, Ohio, in 1836. The family of John Rice, Laura Hopkins, Oney Rice, Sr., came in June, 1836. The families of Oney Rice, Sr., Jacob Conkey and wife, William G. Pierce and wife, Randall Lord and wife, entered the township at the same time, The township was organized in the fall. .Dr. Oney Rice and family settled on Section 21. The Doctor built a log cabin, in which he and his family lived. The settlers were Edward Lacost, John Rice, Spencer Hopkins, Harrison Conkey, all came and helped raise his cabin. It was of split logs, for the upper and lower floor, made of basswood logs, and window frames and sashes bought in Defiance; the door was made of pine boxes. The cabin was about the third raised in the township, that of Mr. Wartenbe being the first. The Doctor continued to practice until July, 1848, and had a great ride in the county and in the adjoining parts of Indiana. The only rival he had was Dr. Ladd, in Clarksville. He (Dr, Ladd) died about 1870, near Clarksville. Dr. Rice kept up a large practice until he was compelled to suspend the increasing labor. He was about fifty- one years old in 1848, when he died. His family, Uretta M., Ellen A., Hiram F., Aaron A., all living. Hiram was in the war of 1861-65. He was wounded in August, 1862, and came back in July, 1865. He was wounded in the right hip bone in the battle of Dallas, Ga. The limb injures him when he plows, and it is easily lamed. Mrs. Rice is now seventy-five years old, and resides with her son at the old homestead. Mr. Oney Rice served as Justice of the Peace, and was appointed the first Postmaster at Farmer HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 271 Center; was also a Commissioner of the county, and one of the founders of the Universalist Church in this township. Was a man greatly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. Richard Knight was born in Beaver County, Penn., January 26, 1816, and came to Wayne County with his parents, when twelve years old, in 1828. That year he settled eight miles east of Wooster, and came to Farmer Township in 1850, and built a saw mill in Farmer Center and ran it four years, and sold it to Mr. R. J. Gibblen, and he to Mr. Perkins, in whose possession it was accidentally burned in 1858. Mr. Knight purchased what is now the John Rice farm, and improved it by putting up a barn and finishing the house, and sold to G. T. Hughes, and then removed to his farm of sixty-seven acres and the 200 acres south of the Center. He married, Sep. 12, 1839, Miss Harriet Firestone, of Wayne County. His family is Ellenor F., married to N. O. Foot, Eugenie, wife of K. V. Haymaker, married in 1881 ; Eliza Jane, dead; Eugenie M., dead; all girls. He formerly went to Brunersburg to mill. Great changes have taken place since he arrived in Farmer Township. Since the township has been drained, land has become rich and valuable. Mr. Knight is a carpenter by trade, and does a-good deal of w.-rk in the township. He learned his trade in Wayne County, Mr. Knight was one of the first Infirmary Directors, a position he held nearly one year, when he resigned on account of failing health, He is a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, Bryan Lodge, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the same place. Has been a Director of the Farmers' National Bank at Bryan. Mrs. Knight was born in Wayne County, Ohio, September 2, 1820, and is a daughter of George and Rebecca (Carle) Firestone; he died in 1851 and she in 1868. Jacob and Martha (Dickson) Knight, parents of the subject of this sketch, were natives of Pennsylvania; he died in 1857, and she in 1868. Randall Lord was born in Rutland County, Vt., December 16, 1812, and came to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and thence to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1835, where he remained six months, and then came to "Lost Creek," in Farmer Township, Defiance County, in July, 1836, The township was not then organized. Mr. Lord arrived in July, too late for the spring election. He thinks Dr. Oney Rice was the first Justice of the Peace; William G. Pierce the first Constable. He cannot name the Trustees nor Treasurers, but thinks Bronson was elected Township Clerk. John Rice, Edward Lacost, Isaac and William Wartenbe were present, and voted- at the election, and there were twelve other voters. Mr. Lord is a shoemaker by trade, and states that he had the honor of making the first pair of boots and shoes worn in Farmer Township. He has worked at his trade over fifty years, and can do a good job yet. He has a shop at the Center, and does a good deal of work yet. The old gentleman is very neat in person, and has a neat shop; in fact, in appearance he reminds the observer of an ancient New England gentleman in person and manners. William Lord was born May 8, 1838, in Farmer Township, Defiance Co., Ohio. Attended school there during his youth. He married, April 18, 1861, Miss Louisa Randall; she deceased, leaving one child. Mr. Lord married, for his second wife, Miss Adeline Cox. Mr. Lord at present keeps the Farmer Hotel. His family is one son-David ---seventeen years old. Mr. Lord served in the late war in Company D, private, One Hundred and Eighty-third Ohio Volunteers, February 16, 1865, and got back July 15, 1865: was in no battles. Dr. B. E. Miller was born February 7, 1846, at Saville, Medina Co., Ohio, and when young moved to Smithville, Wayne County, where he remained until about twelve years of age, when he went to Bridgewater, Williams Co., Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1859. His mother having died in December, 1859, he remained at Bridgewater, There were four members of the family left-Cyrus, Benjamin E. and Elizabeth A., one sister, Rebecca, having died in 1859. Dr. Miller married Ella M. Gonser May 20, 1873. Their family consists of: Charles E. and Maud May. Dr. M. graduated in Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1871, having attended the first course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., 1869 and 1870. Settled in Farmer Center in July, 1875. The doctor who preceded him was Dr. Martin Thrall, who practiced about twenty years, and died in 1878. There have been about eleven physicians, at different times, who have practiced at Farmer Center since Drs. Rice and Thrall were here. Dr. Rice, in his day, had a large practice and few equals. Dr. J. J. Reynolds was born in Henry County, Ohio, March 26, 1854, and attended lectures at Detroit, Mich., in 187'7 and 1879, and graduated at Detroit; read medicine under Dr. J. H. Bennett, of Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio; came to Farmer Center in May, 1879, and entered into practice; married Miss Mary Duncan, of Detroit, March 16, 1880. Orley N. Foot was born February 11, 1818, in Vermont, and came to St. Lawrence County, N, Y., when two years of age, and remained there until he was of age, and then came to Defiance County in 1838, and within that year taught the Clarksville school three months. At that time there was a grist mill conducted at that place by a man by the name of Weldon. He owned the mill, but a man by the 272 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. name of Jared Ball conducted it. It has changed hands many times. There was then what was expected to be a thriving village there, the families of Dr. Ira Ladd, Guy C. Noble, L. C. Noble, Jared Ball, Mr. Bailey and a number of other families. The village was laid out by a man by the name of Clark. Thomas Slater, Sr., Widow Lewis, Thomas Olds, William Sawyer, Thomas Sinkey, Jacob and John Green owned lands near the village. In 1839, he went to Farmer Township, and located one and a half miles north of Farmer Center. In 1839, he taught school at Pulaski, Williams County, and in the spring of 1839, brought on his wife from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he had married in August, 1837, previous to coming out. Her name was Fanny Bowker. The family of Mr. Foot is Newell O.. Julia 0., Johnson O. Newell 0. is now deceased. Johnson a served three- years in the late war, and returned safe from the war. Mr. Foot has been in business in Farmer about forty-four years. He has dealt in stock, and traded much in property of that sort, and has been always trusty and the poor man's friend. There is quite a feeling for Mr. Foot, who is regarded as a benefactor to the farmers and stock- growers of the township. He is indulgent and friendly to all. Elisha Tharp was born in Montour County, Penn., March 1, 1806, and came to Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1818, and resided there with a brother two years, and then removed from there to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1820, where he married Miss Anne Beck April 4, 1836. Ho then removed to " Lost Creek" Township, now " Farmer," in the spring of 1836. The township was organized in the spring of 1836, as "Lost Creek," but after due consideration changed to " Farmer Township," believing it the better name, and called from an old settler by the name of Nathan Farmer. Mr. Tharp is the only person now living in the township who voted at its organization, and who voted for the first officers. James Fisher was the first Justice of the Peace, elected at a special election, but failed to give bond. Oney Rice was then elected Justice, and qualified in the proper manner and served the legal time. At the time Mr. Tharp came into the township, the following persons were there: Levinus Bronson, Oney Rice, Jr., John Rice, Nathan Farmer, Edward Lacost, Jacob Conkey, Harrison Conkey, Colin Tharp, James and John Fisher. The names of persons at the first election: Nathan Farmer, Elisha Tharp, Elijah Lloyd, Isaac Wartenbe and William Powell The first election was held at the residence of William Powell, where George Zigler now lives. The family of Mr. Tharp is Rachel M., Oscar P., Mary E. (dead), Emily J., Susannah B., Elizabeth (dead), Francis M., Elmaretta, Alfred B., Elzara M.; all grown; two brothers and two sisters single. Mrs. Anne Tharp was born July 15, 1815, and died June 1, 1868, aged fifty-three years. Mr. Tharp is of English descent. Mr. T. has many anecdotes to tell of the first settlers, the hard pioneer times, the game that existed when he first came, which make his reminiscences quite interesting. John Norway, the youngest of a family of seven children of John and Elizabeth (Randles) Norway, was born on a farm in the township of Lisbon, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., December 31. 1836. His facilities for obtaining an education were the common schools of that time, with the addition of about two years in the academy at Ogdensburg, N. Y., under the tutorship of Prof. Roswell G. Pettibone. With the exception of about three months in his thirteenth year, when he sojourned in Canada with his sister Jane Eliza, then the wife of Hugh Mills, he never left the old farm home until the spring of 1857, when, with his sisters Eleanor and Elizabeth, he loft for the then Far West, and joined the other members of the family, George. Charles and William Henry, at Chippewa Falls, Wis., in the latter part of April of that year. He engaged with a United States surveying party, under a Mr. Fellows, as contractor, in making subdivisions in about fourteen townships on the upper Chippewa River during the summer months of 1858. He came to Farmer Center, Ohio, on the 28th day of December, 1858, and has resided continuously in the township ever since. He was married to Miss Julia 0. Foot March 5, 1864, and their family consists of Flora, born May 3, 1865; Laura, born October 9, 1867; Clark LeRoy, born July 26, 1874, died February 8, 1875; Clyde Russell, born July 13, 1877, and John Ralph, born December 16, 1879. Mr, Norway was appointed Postmaster at Farmer Post Office by Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General, and commissioned May 10, 1861, and was succeeded by N. E. Cory in 1863, while Mr. Norway was temporarily located at Williams Center. He again assumed the duties of Postmaster, as Deputy, upon the decease of Newell 0. Foot, October 8, 1865, and was appointed Postmaster again by William Dennison, Postmaster General, and commissioned May 2, 1866, and holds that position to this date (1882). Mr. Norway was commissioned a Notary Public by Jacob D. Cox, Governor of Ohio, February 19, 1867, and by renewals of commission every three years has held that office ever since, his familiarity with the system of Government surveys, obtained while on Government survey, rendering him well adapted to the position of Conveyancer, in which capacity he is considered among the best. He has held many minor offices of trust, to which he has been repeatedly elected by the citizens of his township at various HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 273 times, and has been largely identified with the educational interests. He has been in the mercantile business since the fall of 1859. James A. Gardner was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, November 29, 1818, and came to Farmer Township in 1842. He married Miss Elizabeth Hartman, of Farmer, November 11, 1845. She died January 14, 1847, aged twenty-one years. He married Miss Susan C. Miller, of Stark County, Ohio, November 30, 1848. His family is Cynthia S., by his first wife; Ira F., Celestia E., Mary E., Henry G., James B., Ada J., George B., William P., Clement L. and Charles; all living, the eldest married. Mr. Gardner purchased the old "Nathan Farmer" place in Section 1. The first cabin in the township was erected on this farm in 1833. Mr. Gardner purchased it of Nathan Farmer. It then had about twenty acres cleared. Mr. Gardner went, at that time, to Bruners- burg, to the Hilton mill and to Clarksville to get his milling done. It then took one or two days to make the trip to Defiance, when the roads were deep and new. Then game—such as deer, bear, turkey, wolves and the like--was quite plenty. The wolves soon disappeared, the bear followed, and deer about 1860. The forests were quite heavy, and it took much toil to clear up a farm. Since the land has been cleared and drained, farms have greatly increased in value and are quite productive, raising fine crops of wheat, corn, oath and hay. Mr. G. has a homestead of 160 acres, with good barn and new frame residence. Mrs. Susannah Earlston was born near Earlston, N. Y,, September 20, 1805, and married Abel Hartman in Pennsylvania May 8, 1823 Mr. Hartman died August 21, 1831. His children were ()bed E., Elizabeth C., Mary J. and Sarah S. Mrs. Hartman married Isaac Earleton January 27, 1872, in Marion County, Ohio. Mr. Earlston died December 23, 1877. His children were Daniel E. (dead), February 16, 1863, at Bowling Green, Ky.; Ruth, who married B. F. Lord, February 1, 1868. Mrs. Earlston's children are all dead except two. Horace W. Hill was born November 2, 1829, in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended school thee, and came to Farmer Township in February, 1847; married Miss Ellen A. Rice, daughter of Dr. Orley Rice, De- cember 25, 1856. His family are Forest W., Elsie L,, Ida U., Mary F. (dead) and Clara Maud. The ancestors of Mr. Hill were English and Irish. The name of his father was Ira. His brothers, Calvin and Joseph, resided in Ashland County. Ira Hill, his father, was a blind man; his blindness occurred in consequence of and being operated upon at Willoughby College, Ohio. He died some years since in Vermillion Township, Ashland County. The mother of Horace W. died in Farmer Township in 1863, aged sixty-three, with cancer. Ethan R. Welden was born January 9, 1813, in Clinton County, N. Y., near Plattsburg. Attended school at Plattsburg, where he learned the wagon- maker's trade. He resided at that time at Plattsburg, and remained there until about 1841, when he re- moved to St. Lawrence County, N. Y, where he resided until 1854. He married Miss Harriet Spaulding, at Plattsburg, February 14, 1839. In 1854, he came to Farmer Township, where he has since resided. As soon as he landed, he opened a wagon- shop, and has worked at his trade ever since. His family consists of Hiram O., Emily E., Gilbert M., Edna (dead), Eugenia (dead), William S. Hiram and Gilbert, wagon-maker. Mr W. served as Justice of the Peace in St. Lawrence County, N. Y.. and was twice elected Trustee of Farmer Township, Mr. W. was in the militia at Plattsburg during the war of 1812. William Martin was born June 6, 1809, in Cumberland County, Penn., and came to Trumbull County, Ohio, and from there t Beaver County, Ohio, and remained there until nine years old, and then went to Columbiana County, and from there to Farmer Townsnip, Defiance Co., Ohio, in 1848. He married Miss Maria Hahn, March 19, 1849. His family, Sarah, John (dead), Elizabeth, George, Henry, Maria and Emory; all living and grown but those mentioned. George Martin married Miss Sarah Gardner, and has three children living— Ora, Gertrude, Park; three dead—Moses, Blanch and Cloyd. Mr. M. has a homestead of 120 acres, and resides in a good frame house and has a good frame barn, He has cleared 100 acres of land and done much hard work. George Waltz, born March 26, 1814, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and resided there until twenty-two years of age, and then went to Carroll County, Ohio, where he stayed eleven years, and from there removed to Farmer Township, Defiance Co., Ohio, in September, 1848, and purchased 126 acres of land and afterward added forty acres, making in all 160 acres in his homestead. He married Miss Mary Bow- man in January, 1836. She deceased February 9, 1862, aged forty-four years. She left six children— Mary Jane, Henry B. (dead), Phoeba, Susan, William C.. Henrietta and Virgil. Mr. Waltz married Miss Sarah Crabb March, 1867; has no family by this marriage. Mr. Waltz has about one hundred acres cleared in his farm. He states that he chopped many nights, in clearing his land, by moonlight. He has a good frame house and barn, but it was struck by lightning in 1876. Anthony Huber (deceased) was born in Germany January 7, 1815, and was a son of George and Franciska (Harmon) Huber, natives of Germany. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the farm, 274 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. and when old enough became a weaver. In 1836, he came to this country, and for five ensuing years worked at different kinds of labor. In 1841, he returned to his native land, in which he stayed one year, and returned with his parents and brothers and sisters, all of whom settled in Hamilton, Ohio. December 26, 1842, he married Franciska, daughter of Lewis and Catharine (Maer) Foghter. In 1843, he removed to this township, where he bought 148 acres of wild land, on which he built a log cabin and moved in without windows or doors. He cleared up his land, and lived there until his death, which occurred December 15, 1873. Eight children were born to them, seven of whom are living—George, Lewis, Caroline T., Eliza and Agatha R., Harman, Franciska (deceased). At his death, Mr. H. owned over eight hundred acres of land, 300 of which were in Kansas. Mrs. Huber was born in Germany December 3, 1818. William Price, farmer, P. 0. Williams Center, Ohio, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., August 9, 1820, and is a son of John and Sarah Price, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Stark County, Ohio, in 1823; moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1834 located in Hancock County, Ohio. In 1845, the subject of this sketch settled one mile north of Farmer Center, this township, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres, to which he has since added 130 acres, owning now 290 acres of well-improved and valuable land. In 1846, he was married to Sarah A., daughter of Isaac L. Tharp, who bore him the following children: Orley F. (deceased), Sarah E., Joseph E. (deceased), Virgil T. (deceased), L. A. (deceased), John H. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), Rachel M., Laura I. (deceased), and Orpha I. (deceased). Mrs. P. died August 31, 1878. His second marriage was celebrated with Mrs. Fanny D. Wolford, widow of Emanuel Wolford, May 19, 1880. Mr. P. has been Clerk of the township six years; he has been blessed with success and good health, and for fifty-one years he has not lost a day's work on account of sickness. His second wife is a (laughter of Thomas J. Sweet, a native of New York, who settled in Farmer Township in 1845, in which he resided for a number of years. Mr. P. is a member of the Farmer Township Detective Association, and a Trustee of the society. John Price, farmer, P. 0. Farmer Center, Ohio, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., July 27, 1814, and is a brother of William Price, whose sketch appears above. In 1850. he purchased eighty acres of land where he now resides, to which he has added by purchase, and at present owns 410 acres of well-improved land. He was married, in 1837, to Rachel, daughter of Caleb Beals, of Wayne County, Ohio, who has borne him eight children, six of whom are living, viz,: Amanda, Sarah, Mary E., Margaret, Eliza J. and Annabel M,; Solomon and Oliver, the second and fourth children, deceased. Mrs. Price departed this life August 27, 1882. Mr. P. has filled the offices of Assessor and Trustee, and is a member of the Farmer Township Detective Association. He is one of the successful and intelligent farmers of the county, and has been the architect of his own fortune. Emanuel Wolford, deceased, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 12, 1827, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fox) Wolford, of Pennsylvania. He was married, Nov. 26, 1857, to Fanny, daughter of Thomas J. Sweet. To them were born four children, two of whom are living, viz., Frank W. and Carrie E.; Ida 0. and Effie D., deceased. Mr. W. died October 10, 1872. His father, Samuel, served in an Ohio regiment during the late war. Harry Sweet, son of Thomas J. Sweet, was a member of the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the entire late war, and was wounded twice, Hiram Sweet, another son, belonged to the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and saw active service throughout the war. Levi W. Wilder, so well known throughout this and adjoining counties as farmer, drover and violinist, was born at Three Rivers, Canada, December 27, 1830. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to New Hampshire. In 1839, they again removed to Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio, where, at the age of thirteen, Levi worked for William Skinner for $6 a month, going to school winters, and doing chores for his board. When sixteen, he came to this county, and when twenty he had paid for his present farm $295, including interest. When twenty-three, he married Olive N. Stone, and two children—Lillie Clarina and Otis Lee— have added to their married happiness. Mrs. Wilder is familiar with farm life from childhood, and is eminently qualified to adapt herself to every circumstance. Her practical good sense and sound judgment have contributed, in no small degree, to their financial prospects, while her social and intellectual attainments have made their home an attractive center of a large circle or friends, who are always welcome to their hospitable board. Mr. Wilder never took time to hunt, except for a couple of times, when he was highly successful, on the first day shooting the only deer of the party, who were old hunters. On the second time he hunted, his bearship treed the valiant captain of the hunt, and after allowing the bear to escape the party were marched home. Mr. Wilder tells a good story of his hunting experience, In 1880, he wrote out an address to the citizens of Hicksville, the manuscript of which