HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 225 publicly subscribed by the villagers for that specific purpose, for there is nothing on record on corporation minutes of village expenditure therefor, in early 1863, save the passing for payment on February 23, 1863, of "a bill of Milo Porter, amounting to $10, for constructing one hundred, feet of fire ladders." The understated information regarding the Wauseon Fire Company was obtained from the original records of that organization. It appears that: "At a meeting of the citizens of Wauseon, held at E. L. Barber's office December 29, 1862, a constitution governing fire companies was read, also that part of the statute of Ohio concerning fire companies. "Constitution and by-laws, prepared by E. L. Barber, F. A. Hunt, and Wm. T. Altman were adopted January 9, 1863. On Jan. 14, 1863, officers were elected. N. W. Jewell was called to the chair; A. Hunt was chosen foreman ; J. C. Cornell, first assistant foreman ; H. M. Dudley, second assistant; J. Q. Riddle, secretary; and E. L. Barber, treasurer. The following citizens of Wauseon constituted the company: A. L. Ackerman, L. W. Agler, H. T. Brigham. J. Baumgardner, J. H. Brown, A. Bridge, Rufus Briggs, A. Baker, J. F. Buzzell, J. C. Cornell, B. F. Culbertson, Henry Clay, H. M. Dudley, J. Domitio, Wm. Eckerfield, Cyrus Downer, Frank Ferris, Dennie Foster, Rbbert Graves, W. H. Gavitt, G. E. Heath, R. I. Hough, Bart Hough, Myron Hough, G. H. Helwig, Wm. Hunt, A. Hogeboom, W. H. Highshew. Will Hall, L. F. Johnson, L. Lyon, C. B. Lyon, Benjamin Miller, Wm. Meeks, J. T. Mann, C. McClarren, Woody Newcomer, Al. Norton. John Nicely, H. D. Peck, J. Q. Riddle, C. C. Riddle, R. Richardson, Edward Springer, A. B. Smith, G. W. Stokes, Charlie Smith, M. B. Schumbs, R. M. Scott, L. I,. Sears, M. Snelbaker, H. H. Williams, J. P. Thiel, and S. Woodward. The first fire was reported that on "Thursday, April 30, 1863, at about 2 p. m., a fire was discovered in the dwelling house of B. S. Waldron, about one hundred rods from the engine room. The engine and company were on hand soon after the fire was discovered, but on account of the scarcity of water did but little execution. The company afterwards took the engine to the reservoir, and worked it successfully," stated the report. Mrs. Samuel Edgar reminiscently wrote to the Delta "Atlas" some years ago, regarding "Early Days in Old Fulton," and made reference to the Wauseon Fire Company. She wrote: "It was either in '67 or '68 that Mr. Edgar and I were coming to -Wauseon from our farm, south, now known as the Clinger-Serrick farm. We did not go to start a fire, but we discovered a fire in the little old woodshed on Main street, owned by the railroad company. How well I remember the little hose cart building, and what a hose cart it was in a case of fire. Mr. Edgar and Calvin Biddle got to the front, and called for help, and somebody called: 'Fire.' 'Fire.' Everybody, merchants, clerks, and farmers, turned out. Then the hose cart stuck in the mud, in front of Eager's store. The fire was put out, and the town saved. Now a beautiful park occupies the locality of the old woodshed." Quoting again from the Fire Company records: "On Saturday, May 30, 1863, the company met, and appointed a committee of three, `to select a style of uniform, the company having voted to uniform themselves. At that meeting, a vote of thanks 226 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY was unanimously given to J. Q. Riddle, and the Phoenix Insurance Company, for a beautiful silvered trumpet, having upon it the inscription 'Presented to the Wauseon Fire Co. by the Phoenix Ins. Co., May, 1863., On June 6th, 1863, the 'committee on Uniforms made their report, and were appointed a committee to, procure the cloth for making jackets, and the belts, and the caps already made., " So that evidently the Fire Company was by that time well established. The Council Records contain no further record to the Fire Company, or to fire equipment, until 1866, when it was decided to borrow $600, "for purchase of hose and fixtures for fire engine." In 1868, the Wauseon Fire Company transferred its engine and hose to the village council, and soon afterwards the village fire department was formed. In 1871, the village valuation was $171,882, and the total taxation was six mills, of which a one-half mill was apportioned to the Fire Department for its purposes. The first reference made to remuneration to the mayor for his services as such was in 1872, when $20 was voted to Mayor Naaman Merrill. It is, of course, possible that the $4.50 shown on the financial statement of Wauseon 's first treasurer, N. W. Jewell, as having been paid to Nathaniel Leggett, in 1858, was recognized as the mayoral stipend. THE FIRST EPIDEMIC other than that which was almost chronic among the early settlers, who suffered much from malarial fever and ague, was an outbreak of small pox, in Wauseon, in April, 1862. Two cases were reported, and the council took prompt measures to deal with them, resolving: "that Henry Cone, and all the members of his family be required to stay closely at home, not to go out in the streets, nor in any portion of the village, and avoid coming in contact with any person or persons whatever, except those who may be sent by the proper authorities, to minister to the .wants of said family" and it was further resolved "that there be a red flag placed on the door of the residence of said Henry Cone, and kept there so long as they are afflicted with the small pox, and that there be a red flag placed on the corner of Fulton and Elm streets, as a signal to warn all persons, that the small pox exists in the locality." The Council further resolved: "That the Board of Health be requested to urge upon the attending physician, in any case of small pox, the necessity of changing his clothes on entering a house, to see such patient, and replacing the same on leaving, keeping the clothes used in the sick room in such a manner and place that the contagion will not be spread by any carelessness." Apparently, the outbreak was confined to the Cone family, and it is to the credit of the village authorities that it recognized its liability to care for the stricken family; Mrs. George Lindeman, who volunteered to nurse the family through the affliction, was paid one dollar a day for such services, the money coming out Of village funds. Probably the most potential happening in the history of Wauseon was that whereby it became the county seat of Fulton. That event is fully described in another chapter, but the contest waged and won by Wauseon in 1869 opened a new era for the village, which there- after, and rightly, took premier place among the incorporated places HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 227 of Fulton county. But before passing on to more recent history, it might be well to "sum up" the development effected by the pioneers of the village in the first fifteen years, or so, of its establishment; and also give some of those worthy. "city fathers"—Wauseon will be a city some day, undoubtedly—brief biographical mention, before passing on. Wauseon, from nothing we might say, had in fifteen years grown into a place of commanding importance in the county. By contrast with Ottokee, the county seat, which in 1868 had one hotel, three stores, court house, jail, and county offices Wauseon undoubtedly deserved premier place. Its taxable valuation stood at nearly $170,000; it had five churches, a large graded brick school building, several fine brick business blocks, the leading newspaper, the Northwestern Republican, and a population of nearer 2,000 than 1,500. "Brown's Gazetteer," of 1868, stated, of Wauseon : "The past seven years show a rapid progress, equalled by few, if any, on the air line road Within the past few years, several fine brick blocks have been put up, city, public, Masonic and Good Templars' halls established, giving tone, and bespeaking enterprise." Quoting further from the "Gazetteer," it appears that in 1868 there were in Wauseon: ten grocery stores, those of : M. S. Baker; Beach & Co. (H. H. Beach and H. L. Moseley, partners) ; Bloomer and Palmer (Albert S. Bloomer and Myron T. Palmer) ; Briggs & Co. (Alanson Briggs and David J. Disbrow) ; George Lipp ; M. Mattison & Co. ; John J. Robinson ; Semi& and Shelley; T. 0. Williams & Co. (Thos. W. Williams, and Gilbert S. Waite.) Six dry goods stores, those of : 'Clement and Greenleaf (Geo. S. Clement and Chas. C. Greenleaf) ; Eager, Cook & Co. (Zina & Hy E. Eager, Stephen H. Cook, Jas. P. Cawley & Noah K. Green) ; Hunt & Newcomer, (Wm. W. Hunt & Jas. K. Newcomer) ; Edward Koch ; Francis A. Palmer; and Springer & Cornell (Isaac Springer and Jonathan C. Cornell) ; three furniture dealers, A. Bridge, Augustus Kaempfer, and Andrew Mikesell ; two shoe stores, that of Ferris & King, and Daniel Ritzenthaler ; two hardware dealers, John Q. Riddle and Garver Bros. ; three drug stores, Read & Hollister, Andrew J. Knapp, and Melford D. Ford; several meat markets, and many tailoring and millinery establishments. Then industrial Wauseon included at that time: a flouring mills, owned by Brigham and Lyon (Joel Brigham and Marcus Lyon) ; a foundry, owned by David Andrews; four saw and planing mills, shingle mills, and sash door and blind factories, those of Beal Williams and Co., Cutshow & Co., William Meeks, Nevin & Brooks ; several smithies and carpenter shops. Anson Huntington and William B. Olcott were in business as tanners; John P. Thiel was a brewer; and L. Stowe was a showman, and also a wagonmaker and blacksmith, and a cooperage was conducted by Zina Eager, employing thirty men. The public City Hall was listed as being on the southwest corner of Fulton and Elm streets; E. L. Barber was mayor; Lorenzo Lyon, postmaster; and Rollin Ford, justice of the peace. The early administrators and workers for Wauseon deserve credit for having developed the village so substantially within about fifteen years of its existence, and Ottokee had no logical argument; apart from its central location, with which to refute Wauseon's claim of place as the county seat. The mayoral succession, from 1857 to 1870 is as follows : 1857, 228 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY Nathaniel Leggett ; 1858, N. W. Jewell ; 1859, Nathaniel Leggett; 1860, Anson Huntington ; 1861, J. A. Durbin1882, J. W. Jewell ; 1863, J. W. Jewell ; 1864, E. F. Greenough, also in 1865 ; 1866, and 1867, Anson Huntington ; 1868, E. L. Barber, A. J. Knapp taking his place before the end of the year; 1869 and 1870, A. J. Knapp. Nathaniel Leggett was a very capable man; a pioneer of Fulton county, as well as of Wauseon. He was prominent in Swan Creek Township affairs, while it was still part of Lucas county, and was one of the leaders of the movement which culminated in the organization of Fulton county. He was the first treasurer of the county. By profession an attorney, he took active part in almost all phases of public affairs. Unfortunately, he died somewhat early in the life of the county His death on February 24, 1862, brought into establishment the Wauseon Cemetery, as will be narrated a few pages hence. Noah W. Jewell was one of the capable physicians of Clinton Township, and gave much of his time to public affairs. His life will be reviewed in the Medical chapter. Anson Huntington died at Garret, Indiana, December 17, 1881, aged 77 years. He suffered "a shock of palsy" four days before he died and did not recover consciousness. He came to Wauseon, from Massachusetts, in 1855, and at his request, his remains were brought back to Wauseon for burial. "He was a man of sterling qualities, strong and vigorous mind" and did "much to advocate the interests of the community." E. F. Greenough was born in New Hampshire in 1808; graduated from Dartmouth College; settled in Danville, Pennsylvania, and practiced as an attorney until 1832, when he moved to Salisbury, New Hampshire, where he was. a merchant. His son, Charles F., who later became so prominent a citizen of Wauseon, was born there in 1849. In 1859 E. F. Greenough retired from business and in the following year came to live in Wauseon, with the public affairs of which place he remained associated with until his, death in 1875. Col. Epaphras Lord Barber, one of the proprietors of Wauseon, and of its earliest projectors the one who remained longest a resident of it, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1830; at eighteen he joined an engineer corps, but after a few months entered private school, two years later returning to engineering, and eventually becoming a civil engineer. His coming to Fulton county and to Wauseon has been hereinbefore narrated. After the railroad had been completely laid, he, in about 1866, severed his connection with the company, and took up permanent residence in Wauseon, two years later becoming station agent. He resigned two years later. When the outbreak of civil war came in 1861, he headed the first company raised for service in Fulton county, in April. He served in a number of regiments in 1861 and 1862, but at the end of that time Was forced to resign, and re- turn to Wauseon, his partner, Nathaniel Leggett, having died. In 1863, he established a banking house in Wauseon, taking into partnership Naaman Merrill, in 1865.. Colonel Barber was probably the most effective of all the public workers for Wauseon during the first two or three decades of its existence. He died in April, 1899, and was buried in Wauseon Cemetery. A. J. Knapp was born in Homer, New York, in 1822, and died niar Wauseon in 1891. He came from Bellevue, Ohio, to Wauseon HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 229 in 1860. From 1860, through the period of war, he was postmaster, and also druggist. At one time he was in business as a grocer, but did not succeed. He was a prominent member of the Congregational Church, at Wauseon; was one of its twelve charter members, was its first clerk, and also choir leader. His death was hastened by a fall two years earlier, his hip being fractured, and the disease resulting taking a fatal course. He was much esteemed in Wauseon, as "a truly companionable man." John H. Sargent, partner with Col. K L. Barber in establishing Wauseon, was a resident of Cleveland, and at that time, and for the greater part of his life was a man of some prominence in that city. At one time, he was city engineer of Cleveland, and held many other important engineering appointments. He does not appear to have ever taken up residence in Wauseon. Gen. E. L. Hayes was one of those who suffered materially by his national service during the Civil war. He was the principal merchant in Wauseon when he left in 1861 to take up arms for the nation, but he never again resumed that position. He later said: "The war almost ruined me financially. I came home with impaired health, disposed of what little was left, and came here (New Jersey) to start again in life today I am struggling along, as best I can." That was in 1903. Isaac Springer was one of the most enterprising merchants of Wauseon, and also took prominent part in county affairs. He died in 1898, near Wauseon, aged 71 years. He served two terms as county treasurer, and twice as county auditor. Henry Stern, one of the early merchants died in 1911. He was one of the charter members of the Oddfellows lodge in Wauseon, established in 1860. Hiram Pritchard was responsible for much of the brick building done in Wauseon, from 18.65. He later became one of the leading grocers, and was prominent in the organization of the People's Bank. He died in 1912. Naaman Merrill, partner with Colonel Barber in banking and real estate business in Wauseon, was the son of Levi Merrill, one of the pioneer settlers in Fulton Township, in 1838, Naaman then being thirteen years old. He, Naaman, had good part in the building of the school' system, was one of the pioneer teachers, and when the county had been only a few years established was appointed clerk of the courts. He held that county office for several years, and having read law in the meantime, was admitted to the bar of Fulton county. He died in 1879, the latter part of his life having been lived in Wauseon. Marcus Lyon, partner with Joel Brigham, in the most important enterprise of early Wauseon days, died in 1902, aged 75 years. The Wauseon Flour Mill, eventually became one of the landmarks of the village, and is still one of the principal business undertakings of that place. When Marcus Lyon came to Wauseon, it had a population of only a few hundreds. He was interested in many phases of the business life of the place, but his chief interest was in the flour mill, first in partnership with Joel Brigham, and later with Messrs. Clement and Greenleaf. Joel Brigham was one of the strong personalities among the strong 230 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY men who were early residents of Waueson. He came to Clinton Township in 1853, and to Wauseon in 1859. He was for some years a justice of the peace, was mayor of Wauseon twice, and for two terms was county commissioner. For over thirty years he was a trustee of the Wauseon Cemetery, serving in that capacity almost until his death, in 1908, at the age of ninety years. WAUSEON CEMETERY. Joel Brigham was one of the founders of the Wauseon Cemetery. Nathaniel Leggett, one of the proprietors of Wauseon, died on February 24, 1862, and "on the day after his death James Cornell, Anson Huntington, and Joel Brigham started out to locate a suitable place for a cemetery. After looking at several places, they finally decided to locate on the present site. At that time, the land was covered with heavy timber. Mr. Leggett was buried on February 26, 1862, and thus was the first person buried in this cemetery." On March 13, 1865, the following named citizens of Wauseon formed themselves into a cemetery association, under the name of the Wauseon Cemetery Association : E. F. Greenough, W. C. Williams, James Cornell, N. W. Jewell, John Newcomer, E. L. Barber, Geo. S. Clement, L. B. Smith, Naaman Merrill, John Spillane, Anson Huntington, J. Q. Riddle, Joel Brigham, D. W. Hollister, Isaac Springer, F. J. Harper, M. D. Munn, Milo Porter, Jas. M. Gillett, R. A. Franks, D. O. Livermore, Jas. K. Newcomer, A. J. Knapp, M. E. Blizzard, Benj. Miller, Joseph Domitio, Geo. Woodward, A. C. Hough, Alanson Pike, Rollin Ford, A. Bridge, H. H. Beach. A week later, in the office of E. F. Greenough, who presided, a meeting was held to pass by-laws; and at that meeting an assessment of ten dollars was made on each member. On April 6, 1865, Rollin Ford was chosen secretary, pro. tern., and by ballot the following were elected officers of the association: Isaac Springer, A. J. Knapp and HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 231 James M. Gillett, trustees ; E. L. Barber, treasurer; Naaman Merrill, clerk. A year later, Joel Brigham became trustee, vice James M. Gillett. On April 26, 1866, by unanimous consent, it was agreed that the original members of the association, "those who had borne the burden and heat of the day," should each be entitled to a lot in the cemetery at its appraised value, and that they should be entitled to make the first selection, the order of choice to be determined by the drawing of lots. Lots were drawn in the office of Mr. Greenough, and the first choice fell upon George S. Clement. On that day, the appraisement of lots was reduced, so that their value stood at $5.00, $8.00, $12.00, $15.00, $20.00 and $25.00, and the original members made selections, in the order in which their names were drawn. A sale of lots by auction was held on April 30, 1866, but, the record states: "The attendance was very small. The people, who should be interested in fitting up and preparing' their final resting place, seem to be so taken up with the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things, that they can pay no attention to things of greater moment." On May 4, 1866, James K. Newcomer filed receipt of E. L. Barber, No. 1, amounting to $24.00, for payment in full of lots 10 and 11, in block K, the $10.00 advanced being refunded. On May 8, 1866, the trustees bought from Alanson Pike, the lot of land lying south of the cemetery, between the cemetery and the railroad, two acres in extent, for $225, payable, partly, by nine months note. And evidently this purchase had some connection with the note executed on September 5, 1866, by the trustees, for $220, in favor of Abraham Hogeboom, who loaned that sum of money "to replenish the treasury',, of the association. The association was however still in financial difficulties on April 5, 1867, when a meeting was held in the office of E. F. Greenough "for the purpose of taking into consideration ways and means for improving the cemetery grounds, and liquidating the debt accruing in the purchase of land." Joel Brigham and M. D. Munn were appointed a committee "to advise with the township trustees and village council, as to taking control of the cemetery." On April 12, 1867, it was resolved: "That the trustees of the Wauseon Cemetery Association transfer the control of the Association to the trustees of Clinton Township, and the incorporated village of Wauseon, conjointly." So, it happened that the Wauseon Cemetery passed into the control, conjointly, of Clinton Township, and the village of Wauseon, on April 27, 1865, the council and trustees agreeing to assume the debts against the association, "not to exceed $780." The lands conveyed were nine and one-half acres, "being the same land conveyed by E. L. Barber, trustee, and Sophia H. Barber, by deed, 19th December, 1865, to Isaac Springer, A. J. Knapp, and Joel Brigham, trustees of the Wauseon Cemetery Association ; and also the land .conveyed by Alanson Pike, by deed dated May 8, 1866, to the said and named trustees." The care of the cemetery by the council and township officials since that year has been praiseworthy and thorough. Wauseon now has as well-kept a burial ground as there is, probably, in northwestern 232 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY Ohio. And its financial status is sound. Clinton Township trustees also have guardianship of the Bayes Cemetery. THE SCHOOLS Rufus Briggs writing in 1903 to the "Fulton County Tribune," stated that a school was in operation in Clinton Township, as early as 1838. He wrote: "The first school was taught by Erastus Briggs (his father) in the winter of 1838, in the log house previously occupied by Elisha Williams. The house was occupied about two or three weeks, when it burned down, and destroyed all the books, which was a great loss." The same writer, in another article, stated that the log schoolhouse was situated on the north line, southeast quarter of section 25, and that nineteen children attended the first brief session, namely: John H., J. M., L. B., T. R., and Laura Williams ; Cyrus, Calvin, and Hannah Coy; William, Rufus, and Lucia. Huntington ; Cornelia, Luther, and Waltman Lamb; Chester, Catherine, Rufus, Marie, and Roena Briggs. The burning of the schoolhouse ended the schooling for that year. The next school was taught by Miss Cornelia Ives, in 1839. For the purpose a room in the log house of Erastus Briggs was used. Miss Ives taught for a session of two months, for one dollar a week. In the winter of 1839-40, a school was conducted by Mr. West, at West Barre. Regarding this school, Charles W. Cornell, of Wauseon, recently wrote: "The first school I attended was in 1839, over on the ridge, at West Barre, then in Henry county, as the line between Lucas and Henry counties was there at that time My first school teacher was J. C. West, a Baptist preacher from Defiance. He received $15 a month, and his board, for his services. We wanted the county to aid us in meeting the expense of conducting our school, so the next year we moved the schoolhouse across the road into York Township, and hired Mr. West again.........Again our application for financial relief was filed, ...... and again we met disappointment, the land agents refusing to give aid, as there were only three families in York Township." In 1839, according to Rufus Briggs, "a log schoolhouse was built on the southeast quarter of section 15, known as the Losure, or Tedrow district." Lorenzo Bennett was the first teacher in that school, and he was paid a salary of $10, a month. The pupils were C. H. Losure, and five children of the Tedrow family, Rachel, Catherine, Jeremiah, Isaiah and William. That school "was not used long" stated Thomas Mikesell. In the winter of 1840, school was held in a log cabin erected on February 21st of that year on the east line of the Elisha Williams Farm. Joseph Jewell was the teacher for the winter term,1840-41, and was paid a monthly salary of fourteen dollars. In 1844-45, Gilbert Clark taught school in the Williams District fop- sixteen dollars a month, and boarded himself out of that stipend. In 1846, G. S. Barnes was the teacher. He was paid thirteen dollars a month, and was boarded by patrons of the school. Thomas W. Williams succeeded him as teacher, receiving eleven dollars a month. Miss Taft, and Michael Handy were the teachers during the next four years, the former receiving $1.50 a week, and Michael Handy $13.00 a month. HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 233 Thomas Mikesell's "History of Fulton County" (1905) refers to a schoolhouse built, in 1840, in the centre of section 14, stating that it had a chimney of brick, made by John Tigert, and in a. later newspaper article, the same authority affirmed that "Long Bill" Jones taught in that school in 1840, adding that other later teachers thereat were Ben Bulger, William Fraker, Gamaliel Barnes, Betty Fleming, Elizabeth Cole, and Mrs. Amanda Pease. "Charley" Cornell, writing regarding early schools some years ago, gave out the information that: "In 1841 the first schoolhouse was built in Clinton Township. It was erected on the east side of section 26. It was built of logs, cut out of the wood which surrounded the building. The windows were covered with paper, to let in the light, and keep out the cold, as we had no' glass. The seats were puncheon, with legs driven in, while the desks were rough boards fastened to the wall It was a rough crude affair, but it was the best that those pioneers could do. It was in that building and district that the Public system was started in Clinton Township. A school organization was perfected, and the district received aid from the government." The earlier schools therefore must have been maintained by family subscription, although there is evidence that at least one other school district, the Tedrow District, received a money grant, for school purposes, out of Lucas county funds in that year. Cornell further stated: "The first teacher to hold school in that schoolhouse ....... was Michael Handy, then a young man who had come from Detroit, and was formerly of New York. The first lady teacher was .......... Mary Clough. Joseph Jewell taught in the school in its second year, and children came from a distance of six or seven miles to attend the school. Winter terms were all we had in those days, as everyone who was large enough to work had to help clear the forests and care for the crops. Arithmetic, reading, writing, geography, and a little grammar, was all that was taught. The contrast in the methods of teaching, and the text books used in those days, is no greater than between the log schoolhouse, with its puncheon seats, rough board desks, the open fireplace, and the teacher with his water beech birch and ........... published rules, any refraction of which meant the use of the birch, and the modern schoolhouse, with all the latest improvements...... Out of those pioneer schools grew strong fearless men, with a big vision........... who laid the foundation of our present development and prosperity." Charles W. Cornell, who in the early '50s was himself a teacher in Fulton county, and later became a Civil war veteran, was a worthy product of the pioneer school of Clinton Township. For almost four years he served his country, and his colonel wrote. of him : "He was always conspicuous for his splendid courage, and great gallantry, on every field., And many others of the hundreds of sturdy young patriots who rallied to the Union, from Fulton county in 186165, passed their school years in the spartan environment of the pioneer school. A creditable review of the history of Wauseon schools was written in 1910, by H. B. Sohn, and much of what follows is taken from that review. It appears that: "there was no school in Wauseon until the fall of 1854, when a temporary school was held in the carpenter shop of George Beal, on South Fulton street, now occupied by the Tribune Office, and then known as lot No. 3 of the newly incorporated village. 234 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY Miss Lidea Gorsuch, who later became Mrs. James Hogeboom taught the winter term of this school, and Mrs. Zerada Leggett Waldron, taught the summer term. Provision for a public school was made immediately following the incorporation of the village, and one of the incorporators, Epaphras L. Barber, set aside ground on the northeast corner of Clinton and Elm streets, to be used exclusively for school purposes. The first schoolhouse was erected on the site in 1856, and was the plain two-story frame building, with its lower and upper room, so popularly known as the Old White School (Little White Schoolhouse). This first schoolhouse was built by Ben Hogeboom, father of James and Abe Hogeboom." It will be interesting here to give an extract from a reminiscent article written about fifteen years ago by James Hogeboom. The extract. begins: "It was in the spring of 1855 when father moved his family to Wauseon; and what a wilderness it was then After being here a few months, I became disgusted with the whole country, and I told father that if he wanted to stay in this mudhole, to be eaten alive by the mosquitoes, or die of ague, he should stay, but that I was going out of the place. Father was a carpenter, and I had always worked' with him at his trade. It was along about this time that he was awarded the contract for building the 'Little White School House,' where for half a century, or more, the babes of this little city first learned to read and write. Father wanted me to stay and help him with the building, which I did. "The logs from which the lumber for this little schoolhouse was sawed were cut from the school lot, or from the streets of the village. Thomas Bayes had built a sawmill, and was ready to install the machinery when he sold it to William Meeks and Thomas Frazier. We hired Dora Swan to haul the logs to this mill, where they were sawed for the building, it being the first sawing done in Wauseon. On April 5, 1856, everything was ready and the 'Little White School-House, was raised. It was completed and ready for school that fall, father receiving $1,100 for it, having furnished everything, including seats. In the winter of 1856-57, John Deming and Miss Comstock taught school in this new building, being the first teachers." Quoting again from Sohn's "Souvenir History of the Wauseon Public Schools," it appears that: "Wauseon grew very rapidly during the first few years of its settlement, and it was only a little while after the erection of the White School that more school room was needed. Accordingly, a small one-story brick schoolhouse was built on the north side of West Chestnut street, the property still standing as a residence. Children from the south end of the village attended this school, which was used for the primary grades, but this second schoolhouse was not long used, for in 1868, a special school district having been created, of which Wauseon was the larger part, there was erected on the northwest corner of Elm and Monroe streets the plain three-story brick building that, few years ago, was remodeled for use as a county hospital. The contract for the building was given to J. Q. Riddle for $15,000, and he employed to build it a man by the name of J. N. Cutshaw. The building had to be condemned twenty-six years later, and for several years before that time was in a deplorable condition. "When the Rev. Solomon Metzler, and his associates asked the HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 235 assistance of the municipality in the erection and maintenance of a normal school building, certain local residents protested . . . . . . Rev. Mr. Metzler insisted ......... (and) ........ the people of the town voted a bond issue for the erection of a normal school building, and house for boarding of out-of-town students. Local residents furnished money for the sites. A modern three-story brick and stone building was built for the school, between East Elm and Beech streets, costing two-thirds as much as our present high school building. From the opening of the normal school in 1888, until shortly before its discontinuance, the high school students attended classes there, the old brick school being used entirely for pupils of the grammar and intermediate grades. When the Normal was discontinued the lease was to revert to the municipality. However, some of the teachers, claiming they had lost money THE OLD NORMAL SCHOOL BUILDING, WAUSEON, NOW USED FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. in the enterprise, tried to prevent the village authorities from taking possession of the building ....... In the meantime, the high school was accommodated in the city hall. Matters were brought to a crisis in the winter of 1893-94 by the cracking of the walls of the old brick schoolhouse, due to the action of the quicksand beneath its foundation ........... The village immediately took possession of the normal school building for the use of the intermediate and grammar grades, the high, school students waiting until the following fall, to permit part of the building to be altered. This building was the home of all the grades, with the exception of the primary, until the spring of 1908, when the new high school building was completed. The latter structure, a modern, two-story building, of red pressed brick and stone, was erected at a cost of $35,000, in 1907-08, and today is regarded by school authorities throughout Ohio, as one of the best of its size to be 236 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY found anywhere. Besides providing an assembly hall, class and laboratory rooms ample for a high school of 250 students, it houses the first two primary grades, and in the basement has a gymnasium for the use of the students. Linked inseparably with the history of Wauseon schools are the teachers Among the very earliest were Mrs. Hannah Comstook Tubbs, the first teacher in the White School, in the fall of 1856, John Spillane, a strict disciplinarian, Mrs. Mary Huntington Hunt, Mrs. Ella, Jewell Tubbs, Miss Deming, Mrs. Libbie Lyon, and Mrs. Nellie Bickford. The latter taught in the schools of the county for twenty-six years (Mrs. Libbie Durgin Lyon taught also for many years, and for many years was a member of the Board of Education) ........ Mrs. Augustus Wood was another pioneer. teacher ....... Mrs. Wood organized the town's first kindergarten class. Another 'select, school of early days was for students of higher branches, conducted by J. O. Allen, who in 1860, or 1861, had taught the upper room in the old White School. Mr. Allen's select school was situated in the old Mikesell Building, a three-story brick structure that occupied the site of the Cochrane Building, on Elm and Fulton streets. Others of the earliest teachers of the grades below the high school were Mrs. W. C. Kelley, Martha Jordan Moore, Mrs. Clay, Sarah A. Johnson, Hattie Herbert, Miss Allen, Mrs. Ellen Spring Anderson, Mrs. Minnie Waid Darby, Mrs. Anna Fleet Miller, Mrs. Anna Butler Brinkman, Miss E. R. Lyon, Lottie Abbott, Mrs. Alice Powers Smith and her sister Mrs. Buell, Mrs. Amanda Jones Clark, Mrs. Clara Williams Browning, and Mrs. Emma Brigham Taft The record for long service is held by Mrs. Addie DeMeritt, who, when she retired in 1909, had taught thirty-three years. Almost as remarkable is the record of Mrs. Phoebe Riddle, long teacher of the sixth grade, who taught practically a quarter of a century." HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 237 Regarding the almost life-long service of Mrs. DeMeritt, as school teacher, the following was written shortly after she died in 1919: "It has fallen to the lot of few people to exert a greater influence upon the lives of the children of Wauseon and vicinity than that of Mrs. DeMerritt. For thirty-two years she taught the second-grade pupils of our public schools. It was in the 'Little White School House, where she reigned as the mother queen and teacher of those American jewels As the message of her death passed from one to another, frequent was the expression heard: She was one of my first teachers, and I will ever remember her for the kindness and patience shown me, and for the inspiration of the nobler and better things in life I gained from her.' No finer tribute could be paid to the worth of any life than this." Continuing, from Mr. Sohn's article: "The very first of these teachers (high school), who presided over the upper room of the 'Old White School,' teaching grammar as well as high school branches, was John Deming, who taught here in the late '50s. About 1860, or 1861, J. 0. Allen was the teacher, and in 1861 a man by the name of ,Delano, from Cleveland, took charge ......... During war times, there were the two Watterson brothers, one succeeding the other ........ In 1865 D. L. Hinckley was principal, and was succeeded that year by the most distinguished of all our high school teachers, at least in name—Marquis de Lafayette Buell —who held the position for two years. Miss Emma Springer was principal in 1870, another woman principal, Mary A. Curtiss .....succeeding her........The real launching of the high school, on a farm basis probably came in 1875. On July 4th of that year, the board of education, meeting in the office of President Albert Deyo, took under contract, as superintendent, a youth fresh from Marietta College This teacher was J. E. Sater, now United States district judge at Columbus. Remaining here until the early '80s, Mr. Sater put the school on a higher grade than it had ever been before....He also organized the high school Alumni Association But Mr. Sater was ambitious to become a lawyer, and studied for the profession while yet in Wauseon. Soon after Mr. Sater, came a superintendent by the name of Job H. Scott    .......Then came A. G. Crouse, one of the most popular teachers Wauseon has ever had....... But he was too able to remain long in Wauseon, leaving in 1885 ....... His successor was W. S. Kennedy." Professor C. J. Biery was superintendent for more than a decade, and a very capable one. In 1914, when, under the new school laws, all the schools of the county passed under the direct control of the county board of education, he was appointed county school superintendent, resigning that office a, year later, to accept a professorship at the State Normal College, Bowling Green, Ohio. As principal of Wauseon High School, he was succeeded by M. L. Altstetter, who in 1919 asked for an extended leave of absence, his place being taken by P. S. Johnson, the present principal. Extensive review cannot here be given to the history of the township schools. In 1888, there were twelve school districts in Clinton Township, in addition to the Wauseon district, and a special joint district at Pettisville,. that schoolhouse being located in Clinton Township, but many of its pupils being from German Township. And 238 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY at that time all districts were provided with substantial well-built structures. The Clinton Township schools of the present (1920) consist of nine one-room elementary district schools, the aggregate value of which is $8,700. In 1919 the enrollment was 307. In addition there are the Wauseon schools, elementary and high, valued at $78,100, and serving 442 pupils in elementary grades, and 218 in high. Pettisville is a separate rural district, the two-room schoolhouse there being of second grade consolidated class. It is valued at $3,530, and 63 scholars were enrolled for the 1919 sessions. The boards of education of the three Clinton Township school districts are: Wauseon district; Dr. E. G. Cole, president; G. Scott Roos, clerk, P. M. Clingaman, A. M. Barber, and Carl F. Orth; Pettisville Special district: W. J. Weber, president; Geo. McGuffin, clerk; A. J. Lantz, F. D. Lehman, and Adam Britsch; Clinton Township district: C. R. Shadle, president; J. F. Dimke, clerk; 0. E. Meller, J. E. Crew, J. C. Barckert, and John Gorsuch. WAUSEON CHURCHES The founding of Wauseon churches was prefaced, of course, by religious activities in Clinton Township. many years before Wauseon came into existence, its members being, in great measure, drawn from those pioneer church societies of the township. The Rev. Uriel Spencer, an ordained Methodist minister was probably the first to hold religious services in Clinton Township. He preached in the to cabin of Elisha Huntington in October, 1836, and later in other cabins in the settlement. And a class of the Disciples, or Campbellite, church was organized early, and meeting held in Elisha Williams, cabin, or in the cabin used for school purposes in the Williams district. Other denominations formed societies in the settlement soon after the pioneers came in sufficient numbers. In 1840, or 1841, the Rev. J. C. West, a Baptist minister from Defiance, taught school at West Barre, and held what might be termed a religious revival at that place, using the school house for his meetings. "Quite a number of persons were converted and' baptized in Turkey Foot Creek, near the home of a Mr. Wise." It is somewhat difficult to determine which denomination was the first to actually build a house set apart exclusively for church purposes. One authority states that "the first church of any denomination was erected at Pettisville, by the Baptist Society; another affirms that "the first church, br house of public worship, built in Clinton Township was erected by the Campbellites, or Disciples of Christ, on the east side of a public highway, in section 17, near the present residence of A. R. Loveland. It was a frame building, and was erected about 1852." Of Wauseon churches, the first to be built was the frame church which stood until 1875 on the northeast corner of Fulton and Elm streets, where now is the brick block occupied by the Wauseon "Republican." The construction of the frame church by the Methodist Society was begun in 1855, and it was dedicated in 1857. In the '70s, after the Methodists had built their larger brick church, the wooden one was purchased by the Catholic Society, and moved to the northwest corner of Clinton street, where it was for many years known HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 239 as St. Caspar's Church. The Congregational Society of Wauseon was organized in 1861, and a church built in 1864. The Disciples or Christian Church was organized in 1862, but a church building was not erected until 1864, in which year the First Baptist Church, of Wauseon, was organized. The church was built in 1868. Other churches were of later establishment. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The "History of the Central Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church," published in 1914, by the Methodist Book Concern, states, regarding the Wauseon Methodist Episcopal Church: "When the settlers came to the vicinity of what is now Wauseon, they brought their religion along with them. Among them, from 1837 on, were Methodists. The Rev. Chas. Babcock, of Waterville Circuit, coming in 1838, was the first preacher. Their number increased as the years passed, the services being held in log cabins, and then .......... in log schoolhouses and barns All were common people, living in the country, there being no village nearer than seven or eight miles. "Doubtless the first Methodist preacher in that vicinity was the Rev. Uriel Spencer; who settled a few miles east of Wauseon, in 1835 or 1836. He had to give up the regular ministry because of throat trouble, and came here .......... and preached occasionally. “The pastors who served the church here from 1838 to 1860, when the church had its first resident pastor, were as follows: Chas Babcock, Alex Campbell, Liberty Prentiss, J. W. Brakefield, Hatch and Thomas, Wm. Thatcher, and Mower, Octavius Waters, J. M. Wil- 240 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY cox, Hy. Warner, John Crabb and Thompson, Ambrose Hollington, and John Fraunfelter, Martin Perkey, W. W. Winters and D. D. S. Reagh, A. B. Poe and P. Steven. In 1860 a parsonage was built in Wauseon, and it became a station. The station preachers from 1860, in order of service, were : Lewis J. Dale, F. L. Harper, P. R. Henderson, A. M. Corey, Benjamin Herbert, J. R. Colgan, C. G. Ferris, E. A. Berry, N. B. C. Love, John Wilson, G. H. Priddy, E. S. Dunham, J. D. Simms, J. H. Fitzwater, J. W. Donnan, D, F. Helms, A. B. Leonard, M. D. Baumgardner, W. E. Hill, Wm. McK. Brackney, F. E. Higbie, W. W. Lance, Daniel Carter, C. W. Hoffman, Geo. B. Wiltsie, and S. R. Dunham, present pastor. Early officials of the church included James Pease, John Linfoot, Wm. Mikesell, Wm. Baves. Thomas Bayes, and Daniel Ritzenthaler." The record above-quoted further states: "The first church building in Wauseon was the Methodist, and was started in 1855, when the town was one year old, and dedicated in 1857, by Rev. Thomas Barkdull, a presiding elder of the early days. This was a frame building, and cost $1,300. In 1874, the construction of the present two-story brick building was begun. It cost $15,000, and was dedicated in August, or September, 1875. It was repaired and added to in 1913, at a cost of nearly $3,500. "A parsonage was built in 1860, on the same lot with the church and was used until 1874, when it was sold, and the new church placed on part of the same ground it had occupied. Then, until 1903, there was no residence for pastors. In 1903, a house and lot were bought, for $2,000." The Wauseon Methodist Episcopal Church is a strong and active organization. Its Sunday School is prosperous, and is much strengthened by the enthusiasm of its men's and women's Bible classes. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WAUSEON. The Congregational Society of Wauseon was organized on June 11, 1861, growing out of the society founded at Lena, in 1854, and its early history is briefly sketched in the "Manual of the Congregational Church, in Wauseon, Ohio" published in 1874. It stated: "This church was organized June 11, 1861, by Rev. James R. Wright, assisted by J. G. W. Coles, of Bellevue, Ohio. It consisted of the following named persons: A. J. Knapp and, wife, Joel Lyon and wife, Mrs. E. F. Greenough, Mrs. Judith Dudley, Jerome H. Shaw, and John Bates. A. J. Knapp was elected clerk, Mr. Wright engaged to preach every other Sabbath, occupying the Methodist Episcopal Church, and closed his labors July, 1862. In September, 1862, Rev. Wm. Bridgman, of Oberlin, was engaged to supply the pulpit, ........ and remained four months. In June, 1863, Rev. Gideon Dana was called and remained two years. In the Winter and Spring of 1863, arrangements were matured for the erection of a house of worship, which was built at a cost of $2,174.85, including lot and fixtures, and was dedicated, October 7, 1864, Rev. Amzi Barber, of Geneva, Ohio, preaching the sermon. Immediately following the dedication of the house the church enjoyed a revival, the result of which was 23 were united to the church. Under Mr. Dana's leadership the membership increased by 53 ........ In September, 1865, Rev. G. W. Walker be- came pastor, and continued until August 1, 1869....... In July, 1869, Rev. D. D. Waugh was called to the pastorate ....... and continued HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 241 until June 1st, 1872     During the winter of 1871 and 1872, the house of worship was enlarged by 16 feet, and by a vestry, 24x18 feet, at a cost of $1,250.00    November 1, 1872; Rev. Mr. Edwards was employed In the June following the Church and Society extended a unanimous call to Rev. F. W. Dickinson, which he accepted." The total membership of the church in 1874 was 160. But during the next three decades, the membership outgrew the capacity of the first frame building, and early in the new century prominent members sought to bring the church to a unanimous decision to rebuild. That was effected, and on Sunday, February 5, 1905, the last morning service was held iri the old church, a new and beautiful stone church having been erected, on the southeast corner of Clinton and Elm streets, at a cost of more than $16,000, which figure was somewhat in excess of the estimated cost. The new church, "a model of beauty and convenience" was dedicated on February 12, 1905, by Dr. H. C. King, president of Oberlin College, whose text was "The Surpassing Significance of the Christian Church." The pastor of the church, Rev. F. E. Kenyon, and his building committee, had labored diligently that the passing into the new church should be attended with success, and although the cost exceeded, by several thousand dollars, the original amount set aside for the building, the cost was met soon after the building was completed, and occupied, with the exception of $1,600, which had been pledged, and was soon collected. The building has adequately met the needs of the church since that time. The total seating capacity of the auditorium and Sunday School rooms, which are separated from it by sliding doors, is about five hundred persons. The Rev. F. E. Keynon was pastor for many years. He is still resident in Wauseon, and prominent in the church, being editor and part-owner of the "Fulton County Tribune," one of the long-established newspapers of the county seat. The Rev. A. B. Eby was pastor until quite recently, resigning the pastorate, so that he 242 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY might join in the work of the Survey Department, of the Interchurch World Movement. He made a religious survey of Fulton County, for that organization. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, of Wauseon, was organized in 1862, the principal founders being Elder L. L. Carpenter, and Brother Burnet. The Funk family, into which Elder Carpenter married, also has place among the founders of that church. Elder Carpenter was county treasurer in 1862, and had consequently to reside in Ottokee, which probably is the reason why the Rev. Elberry Smith is named as having been the first pastor. At the end of his term as county treasurer, Elder Carpenter took up residence in Wauseon, and became pastor of the Wauseon church. A house of worship was erected in 1864, on the north side of Elm street, east of Fulton, and that has ever since been the location of the church. Forty-three years later a magnificent pressed brick and stone structure replaced the original building. It was dedicated in October 1907, by the church's principal founder, Elder L. L. Carpenter, who returned to Wauseon, from Wabash, Indiana, for the purpose. The original building, during the forty years, had many times been enlarged, but eventually it was found necessary to rebuild; and in order to adequately meet the prospective requirements of the rapidly-growing church a building with seating capacity for 800 persons was decided upon, and eventually built, at a cost of more than $23,000, $9,000 of which was raised at the dedicatory services. The pastor of the church at the time of rebuilding, and for some years previous to that, was the Rev. Chas R. Oakley, and much of the credit for the successful consummation of the project is due to his energetic and forceful efforts. The church is constructed of white pressed brick, with stone trimmings, and the architectural design is very pleasing. It is not possible to name all the pastors, but the names of a few, who were early in the charge, are on record. Following Elder Carpenter, Elder Parker became pastor; then, in chronological order, came Elders Baker, Gibbs, Terry, White, Atwater, Nesslage, Newton, and Moore. The church is now in a very prosperous condition, and has a thriving Sunday School; but very soon they will lose their pastor, C. F. Evans, who has been with them for three years. He has tendered his resignation, to take effect in August, 1920, and his successor has not yet been appointed. The FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, of Wauseon, dates back to 1868. The Baptist Society was organized in 1864, and it is understood that its first pastor was the Rev. George Leonard. The Baptists have the distinction of having been the first to build a brick, or stone, church in Wauseon, and the pioneer members of that church in Wauseon must have been men of broad vision, or of substantial means and liberal disposition, for their numbers were then few, yet the church was well and substantially builded, and has served the needs of the denomination to this day. Hiram L. Moseley was one of the pioneers of the church, and undoubtedly its affairs were close to his heart. He, one of the early merchants of Wauseon, lived almost opposite the church, and appears to have given much time to its affairs. His daughter states that her mother often, in the late '60s, while the church was under construction, would, at the lunch hour "go out and look through the woods toward town to see if Mr. Moseley was on his way home," HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 243 and that, having caught sight of him, she would hurry indoors and serve the dinner. But more than once he did not come until the dinner had become cold. He had "been over to see how things were progressing with the church building," and "he thought more of climbing the church tower than of his dinner." Another of the founders was Abraham Falconer. He and Moseley were deacons for many years. Early ministers were Homer Eddy, J. J. Davis, and Stephen F. Massett. The society has followed an even course during the almost sixty yews of its existence, and has contributed much to the religious upbringing of the people of Wauseon. Church records are not available, but its progress has apparently been good. At present the church is without a pastor. ST. CASPAR'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The members of the Catholic Church, in Fulton county, were in the early days of settlement visited by missionary priests, who came from Cincinnati. There were more Catholics in German Township than in any other township, and the records consequently centre in Archbold, which was the first of the Fulton county towns to have a resident pastor. That occurred in 1875, prior to which the small groups of Catholics throughout the territory constituted missions, visited periodically by mission priests; and it was the duty of the resident pastor at Archbold to care for the spiritual needs of all the people of the church living along the "Air Line," from Swanton to Edgerton, and including missions at Swanton, Delta, Wauseon, Archbold, Stryker, and Bryan. The records go back to 1850, and the mission priests sent into the county during the next twenty-five years were: 1850, Rev. Thilieres; 185865, A. Hoeffel ; 1865-67, N. Kirch ; 1867-69, P. Baker; 1869-70, I. Eyler and Monsignor Rappe; 1870-73, Charles Braschler ; 1873-75, L. Vogt. Father H. Delbaer was the first resident pastor, and 1877 he was succeeded by N. S. Franche. In 1881 came F. Nunan; in 1882, Father Primean ; in 1884, G. C. Schoeneman ; in 1886, F. H. Muehlenbeck ; and in 1898, Father Peter H. Janssen. St. Caspar's Parish, in Wauseon, may be assumed to have well begun its existence when the old Methodist Church was acquired, in 1875, and removed to the northwest corner of Clinton street, and there repaired, and made suitable for the purposes of worship, by the Catholic Society of Wauseon. It was probably during the pastorate of Father Vogt that arrangements were made to purchase the Methodist Church building. It served as St. Caspar's Church until destroyed by fire in 1894. At that time, the communicants of the Catholic Church in Wauseon numbered only about twenty families; nevertheless the destruction of their church did not dishearten them, and they made immediate plans for the erection of a larger brick church building. It was dedicated in 1895, and though simple in style has well served the Catholics of the vicinity since, as a place of worship. Father Muehlenbeck was pastor at that time, and it was mainly by his efforts that the liabilities incurred in the erection of the church were met. Rev. P. H. Janssen succeeded Father Muehlenbeck, and served the congregation for fourteen years, until Wauseon was attached to Swanton. Fathers Berthelot, Keibel, Elder, Kennedy, and McFadden, successively, and faithfully, looked after the spiritual welfare of the parish, until the appointment of a resident pastor. The parish had for several years desired a resident pastor, and the Bishop of 244 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY Toledo finally, in 1919, appointed Rev. Thomas Quinlan, who took charge on Thanksgiving Day, 1919. The parish purchased ground for its own cemetery, in 1911, and has since beautified and maintained it. The congregation is small, scarcely fifty families, but they are devout and industrious people, and are deserving of praise for having so well maintained St. Caspar's Church. The UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, Wauseon, was formed in 1878, according to the official records of the "Fulton Circuit, Michigan Annual Conference, of the United Brethren in Christ." The Rev. S. P. Klotz was circuit preacher in 1875-78, and in 1877 the circuit included the following named church societies: Olive Branch, Zion, Pleasant Grove, Spring Hill, Etna, and Union. The circuit preacher's annual report to the 1878 conference recorded that he had "formed a new class of forty-five at Wauseon." It is presumed that so the Wauseon church came into existence, although the compiler of the "History of Henry and Fulton Counties" (1888), made the following statement: "The United Brethren Church in Wauseon is largely the result of the efforts of an aged retired preacher of that faith, named John Miller, who, desiring a place of worship for the people living in Newcomer's Addition, built, in 1874, a small house of worship out of. his own means, near the center of the addition, on land belonging to himself, and which by common consent was called Miller's Chapel. This was the neuclus for the people of that faith, and they grew in numbers and resources. until, in 1879, they began, and in 1880 completed, a good brick meeting-house, on the east side of Fulton avenue, its dedication taking place in August, 1880. Bishop Weaver conducted the dedicatory services." R. C. Skeels, of Chestnut street, Wauseon, the only surviving charter-member of the Wauseon Church, states that "in 1876 or 1877, Uncle Miller built a little house at the edge of town, and. had Klotz dedicate it. There Were only a few members, but he held a meeting, and had quite a revival, and so formed the Brethren," which statement harmonizes with the circuit preacher's report, in 1878, which report may have covered the activities of the previous year. Mr. Skeels, who for forty years was prominent in the church, says that the "Rev. S. P. Klotz was the preacher at Zion, Delta, Church for a couple of years, and was .sent from there to organize a Wauseon class." The church opened in 1880 cost $3,000 to erect, and at the outset, and for many years thereafter, was held, jointly, by the United Brethren Church and the German Brethren, the 'former society eventually acquiring the share of the German society. The first pastor was G. W. Crawford. J. W. Lilley was presiding elder for several years, and the Rev. S. P. Klotz again came and held the charge for a year or so. Other well-liked pastors were Hendrickson and Williams; and the Rev. C. P. Hopkins, the present pastor, has made many friends since he took charge. The church members are now discussing the desirability, or otherwise, of building a larger church. Among prominent early laymen of the church were members of the Mikesell family, and H. W. Cherry, "Billy" Wier, and several members of the Skeels family. THE TRINITY CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, Of Wauseon, was built in 1895, on West Chestnut street, and was the cul- HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 245 mination of the efforts of more than twenty years of gradual growth of the association. Members of the Hartman family were among those early prominent in the affairs of the Evangelical Association and a church known as the Hartman Church, or as the Evangelical. Church of the Evangelical Association was founded in 1872, and built about two miles west of the village of Wauseon. The Wauseon society, in the '80s, rented a room on Elm street, in the Cheadle block, for their services, and they grew steadily as the years passed. It has been stated that "some of their pastors have been noted for their humble piety and devotion to the cause of practical religion, and have accomplished much permanent good." THE CHURCH OF GOD, a small association of devout and conscientious citizens, was founded about thirty years ago. Mrs. Sophie Becker, Nathan Gorsuch and his wife, Fred Becker, and others of like conviction on religious matters, held meetings at Ottokee, and the movement spread to Wauseon, and meetings were for some time continued in private homes in that village. About nine years ago, in 1911, the present church building, of cement block construction, was erected on the 500 block of North Fulton street, west. The building cost about $2,500, and was dedicated in December, 1911, by the Rev. J. L. Williams, of Stoneboro, Pennsylvania. David M. Gerrick, of Auburn, Indiana, was appointed resident pastor in 1911, and has so continued to the present. There are about thirty-five church members, and a good Sunday School is conducted. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY OF WAUSEON, branch of the mother church in Boston, Massachusetts, was organized in 1911, with eleven chartered members. The dwelling house, No. 128 Clinton street, has been remodeled, in the form of an auditorium, and services are regularly held. Mr. L. H. Deyo, one of the founders, is chairman of the. board of directors; D. W. Raymond is first reader; and Ellen Raymond is second reader. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, which for many years shared with the United Brethren the church building on the east side of North Fulton street, has grown unostentatiously but steadily, having members of strong faith, and firm and unchanging conviction. A fine brick church was built by them in 1915. THE WAUSEON CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE was incorporated on March 13, 1920, following organization in 1919, that action being the outcome of meetings instituted about three years ago, when a Nazarene Mission and Sunday School began to hold their services in Oddfellows Hall, N. Fulton Street, being then known as the Pentacostal-Nazarene Mission. Soon after the organization of the church in 1919, the building situated on the corner of Oak and Franklin streets was purchased, as was also the corner lot, but the building has not yet been used for church services. The first pastor was L. E. Gratton. He was succeeded by Ernest Bradford, present pastor. The church trustees are C. E. Root, Mrs. C. E. Root, Ray S. Baker, J. E. Stevens, and L. E. Gratton. The members follow a strict religious code. WAUSEON FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS There are many old-established fraternal societies in Wauseon. The first to be founded was the Wauseon Lodge, No. 362, of the Inde- 246 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY pendent Order of Oddfellows. Its charter shows that it was formed on May 10, 1860, and that the charter members were A. J. Knapp, E. L. Barber, J. Reichert, N. Stern, and Sep. Gray. At present it has about fifty-five members, the present Noble Grand being C. M. Gibbs. The Rebekah Lodge, No. 658, was organized on November 22, 1907, with the following charter members : Jennie Monroe, Laura Turney, Carrie Howe, Fanny Gates, Mary Spurgeon, Gertie Welling, Bertha Turney, Minnie Foster, Lillian Hallett, Emma Stevens, Hattie Snelinger, Anna Weber, Mrs. James Hodges, H. H. Hodges, Elsie Trimble, Clara Hawkins, Cora Weir, Phoebe Steele, E. A. Tann, M. M. Thomas, M. M. McCann, Ed. Foster, Joseph Perry, C. W. Hallett, E. D. Hawkins, Wm. H. Biddle, Nora Cammern, Lou McCann, Etta Tyner, J. Tyner, J. T. Steele, Geo. Weir, and L. S. Jameson. Oddfellows Hall is a substantial brink building situated on the southwestern corner of North Fulton street and Elm. MASONIC BODIES. The Wauseon Lodge, No. 349, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organized on March 16, 1864. The charter members were : Wm. H. Drew, Rollin Ford, Eugene S. Blake, W. A. Blake, James F. Hunt, Shipman Losure, Isaac Springer, Marcus H. Hayes, W. F. A. Altman, James R. Hibbard, John J. Doughty, Michael Handy, Avery Lamb, Oliver B. Verity, D. O. Livermore, A. H. Jordan, H. H. Beach, Jacob Bartlett, D. W. Hollister, H. M. Dudley, James J. Robinson, H. B. Bayes, J. W. Bayes, John S. Cately, John Spillane, Gustavus Brown, Samuel P. Grandy, Lawrence Forest, Jacob C. Hoffmire, Wm. W. Hunt, Wm. Fraker, Naaman Merrill, Elias Richardson, W. W. Bowers, and Avery Lamb. Of these charter members, Wesley A. Blake, who lives on his farm about a mile or so west of Wauseon, was the only one living in 1914, when the lodge celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and he was accorded signal honor on that occasion. "All through life Brother Blake has dedicated and consecrated his life to Masonic work and teaching of the order. He is a quiet unassuming citizen, loved and honored in Masonic circles, and respected and loved by those who know him." In securing a chapter of Royal Arch Masons for Wauseon "Brother Blake was again a prominent figure," stated a local paper, in 1918. "In the spring of 1868, he and two brothers went to Bryan, where the Royal Arch degree was conferred upon them. This made eleven Royal Arch Masons in the county, and they at once petitioned for the establishment of a chapter here. Their petition was granted, and in October, 1868, Wauseon Chapter, No. 111, Royal Arch Masons, was organized." The charter members were: Wm. W. Hunt, Wm. H. Drew, Wesley A. Blake, H. Van Grandy, J. C. Carpenter, Benjamin Davis, Jr., William Sutton, Charles Hoff-mire, Milo Rice, Anson M. Aldrich, and James Baker. The first officers were: Wm. W. Hunt, high priest; William Sutton, king; Charles Hoffmire, scribe. The Wauseon Council, No. 68, of Royal and Select Masters was founded on March 10, 1879, and of that body also, Mr. Blake was a charter member. There were seven original members, namely: John A. Reed, W. A. Blake, W. W. Touvelle, N. S. Sargent, N. Merrill, J. S. Newcomer, and Walter Scott. J. A. Reed was elected illustrious master, and Wesley A. Blake, deputy master. HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 247 Mr. Blake was also prominent in the forming of the Fulton Chapter, No. 67, of the Order of Eastern Star, on October 29, 1896, the charter members of which were : Clara Van Rensselaer, Rebecca J. Croninger, Consuela Smallman, Bertha (Blake) Hodges, Cora Gelzer, Pauline Stotzer, Samantha Biddle, Mary J. Reed, Frances Fuller, Geo. D. Newcomer, W. D. Van Rensselaer, W. A. Blake, Eliza Scott, Lydia Hanna, Lou Cornell, Ida Gingrich, Clara Spencer, Dorothy Ritzenthaler, Laura Biddle, Belinda New- comer, Addie Jones, J. C. Fuller, Fitch J. Spencer, Harry Gingrich. Clara Van Rensselaer was elected worshipful matron, and Eliza Scott, assistant matron. Mr. Wesley A. Blake was honored by election to office of worshipful patron. The Masonic Hall, corner of Fulton and Birch streets, was obtained somewhat unusually. When Smallman, the grocer, was erecting, or perhaps had erected, a brick two-story building, the Masonic lodges arranged to add two additional stories to the building. The ownership of the building is still so divided, and the upper stories admirably meet the needs of the Masonic bodies. "Next door" to the Masonic Hall is the building of the Knights of Pythias, which in numbers is the strongest fraternal organization in Wauseon. The present strength is about 300, and their building, on Fulton street, is worth more than $6,000. Wauseon Lodge, No. 156, Knights of Pythias, had its inception in a meeting called for the purpose of initiating such a Weal branch of the order, which meeting was held on April 25, 1883, in the Oddfellows Hall, Wauseon. In consequence, charter was granted to the local body on May 24, 1883, said charter naming the original members, as follows : L. W. Brown, F. G. Blackman, R. S. Blair, C. F. Baker, A. C. 248 - HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY Bloomer; C. E. Bennett, W. H. Backman, F. T. Blair; F. L. S. Darby, D. O. Fruth, Joseph Cammern, A. Gallagher; J. P. Gass, W. H. Handy, H. H. Ham, J. H. Hogeboom, Geo. M. Hawes, T. F. Ham, W. F. Hubble, C. B. Ham, C. Kimerer; E. D. Lane, J. B. Leu, J. F. Leu, J. H. Matthews, J. McCance, W. 0. Mason, W. H. Nachtrieb, H. M. Pratt, F. J. Spencer, W. C. Scott, F. A. Stempel, T. J. Stephens, G. W Shick, M. Slusser, W.. H. Sohn, G. Trapschuh, A. Turney, A. N. Van Arsdale, and H. H. Williams. The first officers were : W. H. Handy, chancellor commander; H. H. Ham, vice chancellor; T. F. Ham, prelate; F. T. Blair, master of finance; D. 0. Fruth, master of exchequer; I. H. Mathews, keeper of records and seals ; A. Gallagher; as master at arms; C. F. Baker; inner guard ; H. M. Pratt, outer guard; G. Trapschuh, representative. The present officers are: C. L. Goff, chancellor commander; C. L. Canfield, vice chancellor; C. E. Trory, prelate; H. H. Davenport, master of finance; Russell Goff, master at arms ; W. E. Disbrow, keeper of records and seals; R. S. Campbell, master of finance; F. J. Spencer, master of exchequer; .Eugene Buttermore, inner guard; Roscoe Marks, outer guard. The associate lodge, the Pythian Sisters of Wauseon, Temple No. 337, was organized on June 8, 1907, and the charter bears date of June 8, 1907. The first officers were: Lou Williams, most excellent chief of the temple; Fannie May Warvel excellent senior of the temple; Mary A. Files, past chief of the temple; Fanny Lingle, excellent junior of the temple ; Lucy Mohr, manager of the temple; Kathryn Weir, mistress of records and correspondence; Leah Clark, mistress of finance; Ruth Larned, protector of man, James Hydorn, N. A. Lingle, Frank Olcott, James Partridge, Bay, most excellent chief of the temple; Lou Marger; excellent senior of the temple; I Davenport, excellent junior of the temple; Clara Myers, manager of the temple; Flor. Snyder, mistress of records and correspondence; Leah Clark, mistress of finance; Ruth Larned, protector of the temple; Mary Waldeck, guard. The Buckeye Camp, No. 3902 (Wauseon) Modern Woodmen of America, was organized on May 22, 1896, with the following charter members: J. T. Buchanan, James Burdick, M. J. Dangler, Dr. George Hart man, James Hydorn, N. A. Lingle, Franke Olcott, James Partridge, H. H. Petersen, Geo. Schletz, Geo. Selig, John Trondle, L. W. Wallace, Geo. J. Ziehrs, S. L. Valentine, B. F. Gilson, and S. B. Clark. The growth of the camp has been very satisfactory, and at present has about 235 members. The present officers are J. J. Ladderman, consul; Harold Miley, adviser; G. A. Stratton, banker; Frank Bullinger; watchman ; Harding Andrews, sentry ; E. W. Bourquin, clerk ; 0. A. McConkey, Fred Dangler; and William Ford, managers. The associate organization, the McIntire Camp, No. 1197, Royal Neighbors of America, was instituted on November 22, 1898, with the following named charter members: Fannie Lingle, Nellie Ruppert, Emma Dangler; Laura A. Hydorn, Allie Fox, Lydia E. Yarnall, Gertrude Lingle, Minnie Hill, Carrie Howe, Barbara E. Selig, Minnie Petersen, Cora May Palmer; Lulu L. Clark, Della Eberly, Lizzie Olcott, Clara J. Zieler; Alice Hill, Maudie G. HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY - 249 Kelsey, Mary A. Weir; Kate Weir; Lovina Schletz, Mrs. J. P. Funk- houser, G. W. Hartman, Lida Gregory, and Stella Bayes. The Modern Woodman lodge rooms are on N. Fulton street, i. e., between Beech and Elm streets. WAUSEON PUBLIC LIBRARY The present magnificent and useful public library in Wauseon is the culmination of the earnest but humble efforts of public-spirited and intellectually-inclined residents in Wauseon in the seventies. Its inception followed the Women's Temperance crusade conducted in Wauseon in the early seventies, the members establishing a reading room in the Cheadle block of Fulton street. It appears that: "the reading room was established as an auxiliary to the temperance work, and was carried on for about a' year. Quite a library of books and periodicals were donated for this purpose. .......... This reading room was in charge of a committee or board of directors, consisting of Mrs. E. L. Barber; Mrs. C. M. Keith, Mrs. Dr. Holloway, Mrs. Syd. Shaffer, and Mrs. Libbie Lyon. After continuing for about a year; it was decided to discontinue the reading room, and the question arose as to the disposition of the books and property. These ladies then decided to make it the nucleus for the founding of a public library, and a call was issued by them to the people of the town, to secure their co-operation in the work. The first call issued produced no result A second call was likewise fruitless, but at the third meeting, people became interested enough to attend, and an organization was effected. All the books and property of the reading room, were turned over to the Library Association. The meeting at which the organization was effected was held in the Disciples Church, on March 16, 1875, and among the prominent early workers for the success of the Library Association were D. W. H. Howard, M. T. Palmer, Miss Jennie Gray, Zina Eager; Mrs. H. T. Brigham, Charles Greenough, Mace Britton, Warren Williams, Mrs. Geo. Howe, and Mrs. W. C. Kelley. During the early years of its existence, the library was maintained by the sale of membership tickets, the membership fee being $3.00 yearly, later reduced to $1.00 a year. This means of revenue was supplanted by entertainments, socials, and the like, but to meet the ever-growing expenses of the association meant constant tax upon the enterprise, initiative, and resourcefulness of its promoters. Finally, its maintenance was assumed by the Board of Education of Wauseon, and a tax of one mill for library purposes was exacted,. in 1904, in which year the library owned 2,200 volumes, in addition to periodical unbound literature. The library has changed its location many times since it was first established, one writer; in 1905, stating: "The wanderings of the library have been as devious as the wanderings of Aeneas. The first home of the library was in the rooms of what is now the Eager House, with Miss Eva Boughton as librarian. It was next moved to the Swartz House, again removed to a room now occupied by Dr. Coles, as a dentist room, over F. R. Smallman's grocery store. From here to the rooms over Spencer and Stuemple's dry goods-establishment. When it was moved from there to the City Hall, it was taken charge of by Miss Hunt,