200 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY November of the same year George Bishop, of Franklin County, took up the southeast quarter of Section 7. These entries were followed by others made by Levi Williamson, William Newell, John Swank and others. Judge Mordica Hammond, the first white man to settle in the township, came here in 1827, locating on the Blanchard River, in Section 35, there being no neighbors nearer than Mt. Blanchard ; indeed but a very small portion of the land in the township had been entered at that time. The Judge resided at the time of his death, upon the same tract of land which he had reclaimed from the wilderness, and converted into a beautiful farm. Judge Hammond was not long without neighbors. Peter George, William Greer, the Ecberts, Ralstons, Williamsons, New-ells, the Missmores, the Treeses and others quickly followed. This part of the county was heavily timberd with oak, elm, ash, sycamore, walnut, sugar and beech, a large part of which was wasted because of there being no market for it, and if there had been there were no means of transportation. The soil is rich and productive, especially along the water courses. The population is a purely agricultural one, there being no manufacturing establishments of any moment in the township. There are many valuable farms and beautiful farm buildings here ; the township is one of considerable wealth, and its people are industrious and energetic. The township is well drained by the Blanchard River, which passes through from south to north, and by its tributary creeks and runs. Wells which are easily dug or drilled in any part of the township, furnish a bountiful supply of wholesome water. The first schoolhouse was built in 1832, and the first school was taught by the past venerable Aquilla Gilbert. There were then no public school funds, and the compensation was one dollar and fifty cents per scholar, paid by voluntary subscription. The district included all of Jackson and Amanda Townships, and if the schoolmaster boarded around, as was then the fashion, he certainly had to spread himself over a good deal of territory. The first church was built in 1833. At an election held in the township in the same year there were ten votes cast. A hand-mill owned by Godfrey Wolford, was the first in the township, and Mr. Gilbert used to say that he and Judge Hammond, with whom he resided during the winter of 1828-9, used to go to mill every other day to grind enough meal to feed the Judge's family. The first flouring-mill was built in 1835 by Michael Missmore, but as it was propelled by water, it was rather uncertain as a means of procuring bread in seasons of drought. But before the land was cleared of its timber the streams were less liable to floods and droughts, and the people were wont to make provisions for the short time of drought in summer by laying in a stock of meal and flour to tide them over. This Missmore mill was the first frame building erected in the township. The markets for the first settlers were Portland and Sandusky City, but as was said by one of the old pioneers, it made but very little difference to them where the market was, as they had little to sell. Aquilla Gilbert and L. P. Hamblin were HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 203 the first couple married in the township, Asa M. Lake, Esq., of Mt. Blanchard, officiating. Capt. Dan. Gilbert, their son, was the first white child born here. Capt. Dan. served through the Civil War in the noted Fifty-seventh 0. V. I. The first death was that of Mrs. Margaret Williams, wife of an old hunter and pioneer. Her remains were interred in what is now the Mt. Blanchard Cemetery. Among the stalwart pioneers of Jackson Township was Levi Sampson, a man of limited education, but possessed of a large stock of good common sense, sterling integrity, and a perseverance that overcame all obstacles. His life, though one of labor and toil during the first years of his residence here, was so good naturedly enjoyed by him, and so cheerfully did he meet all the hardships and disappointments of pioneer life, that he was known among his neighbors as "Sunny Sampson." He became quite wealthy, and had a well improved farm and good buildings. In 1851, just previous to the adoption of the present State Constitution, he was appointed associate judge, in place of Michael Price, resigned. Judge Sampson died many years ago, sincerely regretted by his many friends and neighbors. Alpheus Ralston was the son of William Ralston, and was born in Rockingham County, Va., in June, 18o1. Whilst quite young his parents removed to Wood County, in the same state, but now West Virginia, where he remained until his twenty-fourth year. In 1826 he came to Ohio, and settled in Pickaway County, and in the same year was married. After a residence here of about four years, he sold out his possessions and coming to Hancock County in 1830, took up his residence in this township, on the same tract of land on which he lived the remainder of his life. At that time his nearest neighbor on the north was Mr. Chamberlain, three miles distant, and Mr. Woodruff, on the south, about the same distance. There were no neighbors on the east narer than the Blanchard River, six miles away ; and Phillip Cramer on Tawa Creek, seven miles distant, was the nearest family west. The Perrysburg and Bellefontaine road was not yet located or opened up, only a wagon track through the woods led to Findlay. Mr. Ralston was at the first election in the township, and with Aquilla Gilbert, Mordica Hammond, the Beards, and others, effected the organization of Jackson Township. His first near neighbors were the Williamsons. Mr. Ralston was the father of eight children, and his son LaFayette succeeded to the farm of his father. Joseph Newell was born on July 6, i8o8, in Shenandoah County, Va., and when six years old, came with his parents to what is now Fairfield County, Ohio. Here he remained until 1836, and was married here. In that year he came to this township and took up his residence on lands entered by him some years previously. Mr. Newell was one of the pioneer Methodists of the township. The year preceding his immigration here, a society had been organized by a Methodist itinerant, of which Mr. Newell's brother James, and two sisters and a Mrs. Bond were members. His wife became a member of the same society the year after they came here, and Mr. Newell 204 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY a few years later. The first church in the township was built on Mr. Newell's land, and there has been a church, and a regular preaching-place there from that day to the present. Mr. Newell raised a large family and provided liberally for them. He won and retained the friendship of his neighbors and was an honest citizen, a warm friend and consistent Christian. The early ministers, no matter to what denomination they belonged, always found a welcome at his house, and a cordial invitation to its hospitality. George Treece was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, on January 9, 1827, and in November of the same year came to this county, his father's family locating in Jackson Township. Mr. Treece was one of the largest farmers and land owners in the township. He followed farming strictly during his active life, but the last ten years of his life lived retired in Findlay. His neighbors had great confidence in all he did or said. The first company muster of the township was held at the house of Aquilla Gilbert, and the company—about fifty men in all—was composed of men from Amanda, Richland and Jackson Townships under the command of Capt. Godfrey Wolford and Lieutenants R. M. Hamblin and Josiah Elder. Wild game was plenty in all parts of the township ; the hunting of it was a source of profit as well as pleasure, and the table of the backwoodsman was scarcely ever without a supply of venison or bear steak, or a squirrel pot pie. There are now eight school buildings in the township, nearly all of which are brick structures, and the enumeration of youths of school age, amounts to four hundred and ninety-six. In 1863 a post office was established on the road from Findlay to Mt. Blanchard, about six miles from Findlay, and called .Ewing's Corners, with Jesse Ewing as postmaster. The office was, however, discontinued after about eight years. Mr. Ewing was the only postmaster. North Liberty or Houktown, as it is generally called, was laid out in April, 1853, on a part of Section 27, by J. F. Houk. In 1867 John Doty and A. M. Houk made an addition of twenty-eight lots in addition to the original plat of fifteen by Mr. J. F. Houk, and in 1869, six more lots were added by Jacob Hoy. The place never assumed very large proportions or very much importance. It never advanced beyond a cross-road village, and its business was entirely local, being confined to the trade of the immediate neighborhood. Its location is in a rich agricultural district, but remote from the railroad. In 1856 a post office was established here, under the name of Houcktown, and some of the earlier postmasters were Robert Davidson, J. R. Babcock, John Garst, Israel Sampson, Eli Gorsuch, John Ebaugh, and David Beagle. LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. Liberty Township from the organization of the county in 1828, until December, 1830, was a part of the township of Findlay. At the session of the county commissioners, held in that month, present, Mordica Hammond, John P. Hamilton and Charles McKinnis, it was determined that it was necessary to divide the town- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 205 ships of Marion and Liberty into three townships, by taking a strip two by six miles from the western side of Marion township and also a strip two by six miles from the eastern part of Liberty Township, and erecting a new township, Findlay. This township has an area of 15,36o acres. The first entry of land in this township was made July 3, 1821, by Vance, Neil and Cory, of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 8. Between this time and 1830, the following persons entered land in this township: December 20, 1821, Robert and Charles McKinnis, John Gardner, Jacob Poe, Thomas Wilson, R. L. Strother, Alfred Hampton, John Hobbs, Richard Watson, Isaac Corner, and some others. The first settlement was made in the spring of 1821, by Jacob Poe, and in the fall by Robert McKinnis and his sons, Charles, James, Phillip and John. Some of the descendants of these pioneers still reside on the lands entered by their ancestors. These men were followed by Fishel and his sons, John, Michael and Daniel, and some grown up daughters ; Johnson Bonham, John Boylan, Judge Ebenezer Wilson, William Fountain; Richard, William and George Watson; Isaac Strother, Nathan Frakes, Povenmire, John Price ; the Radabaughs, Solomon Lee, Abraham Bails and others. Liberty township was heavily timbered with walnut, ash, hickory, oak, sycamore, beech, sugar poplar and the ever present buckeye. No part of the land was without this heavy timber, and the immense forest trees of walnut, which was made into rails, or even burned up to make way for the plow, to say nothing of fine ash, oak or poplar, which would now be of incalculable value. Along the river, the soil is a rich black, sandy loam and silt, and on the ridges, sandy with a mixture of gravel. Between the ridge and the river, it is a rich vegetable loam, in places mixed with clay. On the north of the river, the prevailing soil is clay, and while not so good for the raising of corn, is excellent for wheat, grass and other crops, as well as fine grazing land. The principal crops are corn, wheat, oats and grass. The Blanchard River crosses this township from east to west, furnishing an abundance of water for stock and affording a good outlet for under drainage. Formerly it also furnished water for two mills—known as Heck's and Croninger's—for a considerable part of the year, and at which the people got their wheat and corn ground into flour and meal. The river bottom lands are exceedingly rich and productive, but are subjected to occasional overflow, by which crops and fences are damaged more or less. On the north side we have Watson's, Wilson's, Grassy and Worden's Runs, small wet-weather streams, whose channels furnish good drainage for the adjacent lands. There are several springs along Watson's and Wilson's runs, which keep them supplied with water the year around. On the south side Corner's Run enters the river on the Dye farm, and is the only creek of any importance on that side. None of these creeks furnish waterpower now. There was for a number of years a sawmill on Comer's Run on the old Povenmire farm, just south of the Findlay and Kalida State road, but that has long since been abandoned. On the farm of Nelson Poe, and some forty or fifty feet from the river, is what the people in the neighborhood call a sink hole, that is the water disappears in the ground, and is not seen again until it is emptied into the river. 206 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY The first church building in the township was the Blanchard Church on the Ewing farm, on Defiance road, which was built by the Presbyterians in 185o. The congregation, however, previous to that time, held services in private houses, and in the schoolhouse in the neighborhood. The society was organized in 1832 by Rev. Peter Monfort. The first state minister, the late Rev. George VanEmon was at the same time pastor of the church in Findlay. Of the first membership we find the names of Judge Wilson and wife, William Coen, wife and two daughters, Jacob Poe and wife, and Mrs. Judge McKinnis. The following story will illustrate the strictness of church rules, and their enforcement in years gone by : In early days produce of various kinds was transported to market by being floated down the Blanchard, Auglaize and Maumee Rivers to Perrysburg or Toledo. Mr. William Taylor was in trade at Findlay, and desiring to make a trip, had his fleet of canoes loaded, waiting for a rise in the river, in order to set out on his voyage. After waiting a few days, the favorable time to start came on Sunday and Mr. Taylor being impatient by delays, shoved off his canoes, and silently, perhaps, floated down the peaceful Blanchard, never intending any disrespect to the day or the church. But the church dignitaries could not overlook so flagrant a breach of church regulations and Bible commands, and Mr. Taylor was cited to appear and answer, and to show cause why he should not be visited with penalties of his disobedience. Having presented himself, answered, and confessed, he was forgiven. The first schoolhouse in the township was built in 1832 on the farm formerly owned by John Reed, Esq. Richard Wade was the first teacher. There are now eight school houses in the township, the most of which are commodious buildings. There are one Evangelical, one United Brethren, one Christian Union, and one Presbyterian Church building, in the township. Each of these churches has a flourishing Sunday school attached, under the charge of efficient and zealous superintendents. John Byal at an early day built a flour and lumber mill near the present site of the infirmary, these being the first mills in the township. The flour mill was run by water. The machinery was moved by a large overshot, wooden wheel, which kept splashing and creaking all day, and about which there was to the boys always a charming atmosphere of coolness and a capital place for fishing. The water pouring over the dam, not in a rush, but slowly, and at times almost noiselessly, the slow but continued movement of the old wooden wheel, the long drawn-out screech of the wooden machinery of the mill, the quiet movements of the miller—all combined to produce a lazy feeling that affected the boys who sprawled out on the grassy bank of the river, near the old dam, so that it required something pretty exciting to fully arouse them. In about 1844 Miller Johnson built a saw-mill at the site of the Holden Mill, and in about 1853 Amos Hartman, now of Iowa, built a flouring mill at the same place, both of which are gone. The early settlers suffered much from the wolves, which were very plentiful and also very destructive, killing sheep, hogs and even young cattle. Near where the Blanchard Church now stands Mr. Poe had some young cattle killed by the wolves. Numbers of wolves were killed for their scalps, for which the State paid a bounty. Indian Green, Plum Orchard, and the Indian burying ground are familiar landmarks in this HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 207 township. Of the Indian Green, it was said by early settlers, that quite a considerable tract of land on the north of the river had been partially cleared, on which the Indians had a burying ground, and perhaps a village, and certainly some kind of fortifications or earth works. In addition to this there were several acres of lands along the river bottoms which had not only been cleared, but cultivated, as every indication plainly showed. Whether the presence of so many plum trees was the work of the Indians or of that eccentric person already alluded to—Johnny Appleseeds—will perhaps never be known. The fact remains, however, that they were here, and among them were also a number of good apple trees. The Indian burying ground was frequently visited by members of their tribe—the Ottawas—and at one time a white man by the name of Ellison with his family settled on this ground. Ellison dug up quite a number of skeletons and opened graves for such trinkets as were buried with the dead. This coming to the ears of the Indians, they visited the place and were so emphatic in their denunciation of the vandalism, that Ellison thought it prudent to quit the premises, which he did. This plum orchard and burying ground covered some twelve acres or more. Among the earliest settlers of this township was also Jacob Poe, a hardy specimen of the backwoodsman. He was a relative of the celebrated Indian fighters, Adam and Andrew Poe, and was possessed of the physical strength and courage attributed to those celebrated brothers. He lived to a good old age, respected and honored. John Boylan, for more than forty years a resident here came from Newark, Licking County, Ohio, in 1832. He was one of the first school teachers in the county. He was also a local preacher of the Methodist Church, and one of its earliest members in the county. As a minister he was fervent and touching in his appeals, and powerful in his exhortations. After his long residence here he went west, and became a resident of Iowa. Richard Watson, another early settler, was a good neighbor, an enterprising citizen and honest in all his dealings. He died leaving to his children a fine farm, which he had reclaimed from the wilderness. Mr. Watson, though a strong partisan of the Democratic school of politics, did not attempt to impertinently intrude his opinions on others. He held the office of coroner of the county for one or two terms. Isaac Comer came to this township from Fairfield County and located on the farm now owned by J. B. Wagner, about four miles west of Findlay on the Benton Road. Mr. Corner was a large, jolly, good-natured man, frank in all his sayings, kind and generous in his acts, and honest and prompt in his dealings. He was universally liked and his death was sincerely regretted. The Rev. Geo. Van Emon may well be claimed by this township, as nearly all his life in this county was spent here. As a minister he was sincere, and his words carried conviction with them. As a Christian he was blameless ; as a neighbor kind and hospitable. He was a citizen whose example might be safely followed. William Fountain, or the "Old Man Fountain," as he was familiarly called, came to the county in 183o, and settled in this township, on lands on which he resided for nearly fifty years, and up to the time of his death. Of an unassuming and retired disposition, attentive to his own affairs, taking little part in public 208 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY matters, his acquaintance was never very extensive. But no man in his neighborhood was more highly respected, or considered more trustworthy. Mr. Fountain came from Franklin County and lived to be almost a centenarian. He was born in Caroline County, Md., January 6, 1784, of Irish descent, and was the second of three brothers. In 1809 he was married to Sarah Barton, by whom he had five children. Mrs. Fountain died in 1821 and Mr. Fountain married Mrs. Rebecca Smith, with whom he lived until the time of her death, a period of more than forty years. Mr. Fountain sold his farm in Franklin County and came to Hancock, taking up his residence on the farm on which he died. At the time of his death he was the oldest person in the county. At the time of the great gas boom in Findlay, in 1887, and the town was building up rapidly and extending its boundaries, the City Council took into the corporation the entire extent of Findlay Township, four by six miles. The city corporation tax being burdensome to the farmers included, one by one or in bunches they applied to be transferred from city to country. As Findlay Township had been disposed of by former enactment, the farms lying west of Main street, and what is known as the Bellefontaine and Perrysburg road through the county, were assigned to their original location in Liberty Township, and in like manner those lying east of said road, which included Main Street in Findlay, were assigned to Marion Township. In this way fully two-thirds of the lands included in Findlay Township originally, and later to the corporation of Findlay, were returned to the two townships out of which Findlay Township was formed. A large portion of this township has been very prolific in the production of petroleum, and the Standard Oil Company have very valuable leases and property by way of tank farms, pumping stations, and pipe lines located in Liberty Township. Also a great many of the farmers have reaped substantial benefits from the royalty falling to their share of the fortunate find, and a goodly number have retired to a quiet life on the proceeds, many of them moving to the town of Findlay, where as good citizens they are enjoying the evening of a well spent life. There were no towns ever laid out in Liberty Township, and nothing of a public nature except the County Infirmary has been located therein. Almost all the roads in this township are well piked and in a good condition for travel the entire year. CHAPTER XVII. MADISON, MARION AND ORANGE TOWNSHIPS. MADISON TOWNSHIP. This township had its origin in 1840, when at the June session of the county commissioners, it was "ordered that Section Nos. I, 2, I I, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36 in Township 2 south, Range 10 east, and Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32 in Township 2 south, Range 11 east, to be set off and constituted as a new township, called Madison." The twelve sections first mentioned were formerly a part of Van Buren Township, and the last twelve mentioned as being in Range II were taken from Delaware Township. This township was named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States. It lies on the south side of the county, and is bounded on the north by Eagle and Jackson Townships, on the east by Delaware, on the south by Hardin County, and on the west by Van Buren Township. Its area is 15,360 acres. The soil for the most part consists of a compact clay subsoil, covered with a vegetable mold. Along the streams may be found small areas of alluvial land, which is very fertile. The soil in the wet lands consists of a deep black loam, which is very productive when properly drained. Gener ally speaking the lands of this township can be considered as only moderately fertile. The timber in this part of the county was hard and soft maple, beech, hickory and ash. The different varieties of oak were abundant in all parts of the township. Black walnut, blue ash and red elm was found along the streams. On the wet lands were black ash and sycamore. This part of the county was very heavily timbered. Although the township can all be well drained, there are but few streams of water, and they are not of much importance as water courses. Eagle Creek, which is formed by the junction of what is called the east and west branches, which unite about eighty rods northeast of the southwest corner of Section 14, and thence take their course as one creek. Flat Branch is so called on account of the small amount of fall it has. It drains the southeastern part of the township, and is a tributary of the East Branch. Buck Run is in the northeast part, and empties into Eagle Creek, near the north line of the township. The West Branch of Eagle Creek rises in the Hog Creek Marsh in Hardin County, and the East Branch rises near the Hardin County Line. - 209 - 210 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY On the first day of June, 1829, Abel Tanner made entry of the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 23, and on the same day William Y. Woodruff entered the northeast quarter of Section 2. These were the first entries of land in the township. Squire Carlin on the 9th day of July, 1829, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 11. John Long-worth, of Pickaway County, entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 5, on the 5th of May, 183o, and in September of the same year,. Chancy Rickets entered the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 2. In November, 1832, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 5, was entered by Alexander Grant, of Franklin County. In October, 1834, Robert Hurd and Robert Shaw, both of Portage County, made entries of land in Section 7, and Henry Imhoof, of Stark County, entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 6. Other entries speedily followed, and settlements were made in many portions of the township. According to the most authentic information, Simeon Ramsbottom was the first to settle in this township, though Abel Tanner and Abner Hill came the same year. Tanner came in February, 1825, from near Kenton, Ohio, where he had resided for three years previous. He and his wife were both natives of Rhode Island. He located on the banks of the West Branch of Eagle Creek, near where Gen. Hull camped as he passed through in 1813. Mr. Tanner died in 1833, aged forty-two years, and his wife died three years later. Simeon Ramsbottom settled on the west bank of Eagle Creek, two miles below Tanner. He was a native of Virginia. His wife was born in Ireland. Mr. Ramsbottom died in 1851, his wife having died many years previously. The family of Abner Hill consisted of himself, his wife and step-daughter. He resided in the township for many years. He committed burglary by breaking into Carlin's Mill at Findlay, for which exploit he was sent to the penitentiary, and was the first person consigned to that institution from this township, or perhaps from the county. Settlements were very soon after made by Jacob Helms, Benjamin Sparr, Andrew Rickets, John Diller, N. B. Martz, J. W. Williams and others, and farms were opened up all over the township. When N. B. Martz came to this township in 1834, he found a man by the name of John Diller living in Section 11, on lands which he had bought of a Mr. Moreland, who claimed he had purchased them from Simeon Ramsbottom. Mr. Martz said that it was his impression that Ramsbottom was the first settler within the present limits of Madison Township, and that John Tullis came with him. He said also that, from the appearance of the buildings, clearings, and fruit trees when he first saw the Diller's and other places, he was led to believe that the first settlement had taken place at least ten years before that visit. The Methodists erected the first church building in the township at Arlington, in 1858. It must not be supposed that religious worship was unknown prior to this time, or that no minister had visited this region. Here as elsewhere the schoolhouses and private houses were used as places of HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 211 worship. There are now four church buildings in the township ; two Methodist Episcopal, one Protestant Methodist and one Disciple. The first schoolhouse built in the township was on the land now occupied as the German Lutheran" Cemetery, at the west line of the township. It was of the usual style, of logs, with clapboard roof. There are now eight school buildings, all comfortable and commodious. The first hotel, or tavern, as such places were then called, was kept by John Diller, and was located on the west bank of Eagle Creek, at the place now known as Waterloo. This tavern was called the Cross Keys. The people of this township devote themselves to agricultural pursuits, and are a peaceable, quiet and thrifty community. Education and respect for the law commands the attention of all. The first settlers were principally from the eastern part of the State and from Pennsylvania. There are, however, quite a number of Germans and their descendants. John W. Williams, one of the early settlers, and proprietor of the village of Williamstown, who died about thirty years ago, at a ripe old age, was perhaps at the time of his death the oldest person in the township. Mr. Williams was postmaster for many years, and was ten times elected justice of the peace. He commanded the confidence and respect of his neighbors, and had many sincere friends. Christian Welty, an early resident here, was one of those substantial men who sought a home in the then far west. He was a man of good judgment, sound mind and strict integrity. Andrew Rickets, after a long and useful life, died about 1878, leaving his family a goodly inheritage, accumulated by industry and frugality. His widow, a very estimable lady, and a fair specimen of the goodly dames of the early years of this county, resided and died in Findlay, respected by all who knew her. Mr. Rickets, besides holding several township offices, was for two terms, a commissioner of the county, and filled the office with both ability and fidelity. Robert Hurd, who came to this township in 1839, was born at East Haddam, Conn., March 16th, 1785, and emigrated to Portage County, Ohio, in 1820, and settled in Twinsburg Township, as agent for the brothers, Aaron and Moses Wilcox—twinsfrom whom the township derived its name. Mr. Hurd made extensive entries of land in and about the present site of the town of Arlington, in 1834, and his sons, William B. and Lorenzo, and son-in-law, Joseph Fitch, at once settled on part of these lands, then all in the wilderness. Mr. Hurd laid out the town of Arlington, and was active in the formation of the township of Madison. For a number of years Mr. Hurd held the office of justice of the peace. He frequently appeared in justice's courts as an attorney, conducting his case with great ability. He died at Arlington in the year 1861. Napoleon B. Martz was the son of Michael Martz, and was born in Rockingham County, Va., in November, 1809. He came to Hancock County in 1834, and settled on the farm afterwards owned by his son Dorillas. He was married in November, 1830, to Hannah Nicolls, who accompanied him through the journey of life. Mr. Martz was a resident of the county for forty-one years, when he went still farther west, settling in Douglas County, Ill., where he spent the remainder of his in- 212 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY dustrious life. Mr. Martz' grandparents were from Bavaria, hence his German extraction. He was a man of excellent morals and business integrity, although not a member of any church denomination. He had a fair English education, and strong common sense. His opinions were the result of careful thought, and his advice was sought by his neighbors. Honest, intelligent, social and accommodating, he easily won, and always held the esteem of his neighbors. MARION TOWNSHIP. The records of the county commissioners for the session of the 6th day of December, 1830, show the following entry : "It appearing to this Board necessary to divide the townships of Findlay and Amanda into three townships after the following manner, to-wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 31, in Township i north, in Range 12, running thence north to the northwest corner of Section 6, in Township 2, in Range 12, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 4, in Range II, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 33, in Township i north, in Range i i, thence east to the place of beginning, which boundary shall be a separate township, and become a body corporate and politic, and shall be known and designated as Marion." The township was named in honor of the dashing South Carolina Ranger, Gen. Francis Marion, of Revolutionary fame, and is bounded on the north by Cass Township, on the east 'by Big Lick, on the south by Amanda and Jackson and on the west by Liberty and partly by Findlay corporation, and contains about thirty-four square miles. This township was formerly very heavily timbered with oak, walnut, ash, elm, poplar, beech and sugar maple, together with other trees. The soil in the northern part of the township is a productive clay, somewhat rolling and well drained, and brings forth fine crops. The river bottoms are exceedingly rich and productive, being a rich sandy loam, and the south end of the township has a soil of very rich, sandy loam. The conditions for the agriculturist are almost ideal and Marion Township farmers are among the princes of the land. The township is well watered and drained by the Blanchard River and its tributary creeks, Wolf Creek, Prairie Run and Lye Creek. The river enters the township in Section 35, and running a direct course to the north for three miles, where it makes a sudden turn and takes a direct course to the west to the western boundary. Formerly there were mills located on this stream, one three miles east of Findlay, Marvin's and one about six miles from Findlay, known as the Marvin mill. At the present time they are a thing of the past. Elnathan Cory made the first entry of lands on the 28th day of November, 1822, of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 21. On the 24th day of October, Alexander Robertson entered the south part of the northeast quarter of Section 23. Jonas Hartman, of Pickaway County, entered the southeast quarter of Section 24, on the 28th day of April, 183o, and on the 15th day of October of the same year, Rezin Rickets, of Seneca County, entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 15. December 28th, 183o, Allen Wisely entered the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 14. Following these were entries made by Jacob Iler, of Pickaway County, Joseph Orwig, Daniel Egbert, Major Bright, of Fairfield County, Nimrod Bright HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 213 and John Leeder, of Pennsylvania, Isaac Jones, of Richland County, and others. Marion Township's first settlers were Asher Wickham, Joseph Sargeant and Othniel Wells. These parties settled near the western line of the township—Asher Wickham on the George Burns farm, now owned by Banker E. C. Taylor ; Joseph Sargeant on the T. J. Burns place two miles east on the East Sandusky Street road, where it forks with the East Main Cross Street road, and Wells on the Charles Thomas farm at the north end of the bridge crossing the river three miles east of Findlay. Very shortly after, Allen Wisely, Major Bright, Aaron Baker, Lewis Thomas and others commenced improvement in different parts of the township. Major Bright became the owner of a large tract of land. He at one time held the office of Associate Judge for this county. He was a long resident of the township, and some of his descendants still live in this and Big Lick Township. Perhaps no man in the township was better known, or more generally respected than was Allen Wisely. He owned a very valuable farm on the New Haven road just east of the center of the township, that was well improved and delightfully located. The first church edifice erected in the township was the old Baptist Church opposite the Davis residence, on the Tiffin road. Some years later another hewed log church was built about forty rods west of this, and was used for all orthodox denominations to hold services in. Both of these have long since disappeared but on the spot of the last mentioned stands a very comfortable frame building known as the Union Bethel, where, as before, all denominations worship. In quite an early day there was built on Section 27 a small log church, to which was given the name of Bethlehem, and where the pioneers held service until about 185o when it was replaced by a frame structure ; this in turn gave way to a handsome brick edifice which serves the people of the present day. Besides there is a church in the eastern part of the township known as Mt. Zion. These two churches are both of the United Brethren denomination. The first schoolhouse in the township was built on William Marvin's farm, in 1836, and the first school was taught by Adam Robinson. There are now seven good school buildings in the township, all brick, and the enumeration of school children amounts to four hundred and twenty-eight. In April, 1831, occurred the first election. Asher Wickham, Joseph Sargeant, Allen Wisely, John Dewitt, Lewis Ward, Joseph Johnston, Aaron Baker, Major Bright, Adam Beard, Justin Smith, Henry Powell, Edward Bright and O. Wells, were the voters. The immigration to this townshiup came largely from Fairfield County, Ohio. In 1837 Daniel Opp put up a frame building on the farm now owned by N. A. Morrison, close to the township house, and commenced tavern keeping. A postoffice was also established at this place, and called Crow, with Mr. Opp as postmaster. After about two years, Mr. Opp died, and since then there has been no postoffice in the township. In 1851, when the writer of this was seven years old, his father's family moved from Carroll County, Ohio, and settled on a farm in Section Io of this township, and although there had been numerous improvements made, the country was largely uncleared, undrained with no made roads, only the natural ways cut through the woods and along the clearings, with corduroy—logs laid side by side- 214 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY through the swampy places and even at that time there was but one frame house in the township, that being the one still standing on E. C. Taylor's farm, in Section 21. Marion Township has a special pike tax and the citizens in consequence have the benefit of very fine roads. The material for building these roads has been largely taken from a stone quarry owned and operated by Charles S. Johnston living on the Mt. Blanchard road on the banks of Lye Creek. Many miles of stone road has already been made of stone taken out of this quarry, and the supply is inexhaustible for all time to come of the very best material known in the county. William Marvin and sons owned and operated a saw and grist-mill on the Blanchard River, three miles east of Findlay along in the early fifties. This was sold to William Gillespie and the Marvins built a flouring mill and distillery one half mile farther up the river where the residence of Guy Grable now stands. This mill did a good business in custom grinding and whisky was made out of corn and rye, of a quality that it is impossible to obtain at the present day. ORANGE TOWNSHIP. Orange Township had its genesis December 6th, 1836, when the commissioners of Hancock County ordered as follows : "That the original surveyed township Number 2 south, Range 9, in Hancock County, Ohio, be set off into a separate township, politic and corporate, and named Orange. Ordered that the voters be notified thereof, to meet on the third Tuesday in December, A. D., 1836, to elect township officers." This township is in the southwest corner of the county, and retains its original limits of thirty-six sections, comprising 23,040 acres. It is bounded on the north by Union Township, on the east by Van Buren, on the south by Hardin County, and on the west by Allen County. The face of the country in this township is generally level, although it has sufficient undulation to render drainage easy and abundant. While the northern part is quite flat, the center and southern portion is beautifully rolling. The soil is varied, but very fertile in all parts of the township. In the northern part was what was called "the marsh," a low, wet tract, formerly utterly unfit for cultivation, until by the expenditure of a large sum of money in ditching and draining, it became one of the richest tracts of sand and vegetable mould in all the county. In other parts of the township the soil is of loam, sand or clay, and sometimes of all combined, but in no part of the township is the soil poor or unproductive. The crops produced are of the principal cereals and vegetables, in abundance and of the best quality, thus showing the varied richness of the soil. The outlets for drainage are the branches of Riler and Tawa Creeks, both of which flow into the Blanchard River, those of Riley running westward by way of Bluffton and those of Tawa running northward by way of Benton Ridge. Henry L. Dally, of Tuscarawas County, made the first entry of lands in this township, being that of the southeast quarter of Section 19. This entry was made May 1st, 1834. On the 12th of June, 1834, William Bryan of Richland County, Ohio, entered the south half of Section 6, afterward owned by Beriah Ewing, R. Greer and A. Kimmell—Sopher Ewing, son of B. Ewing now owns his father's farm—David Thompson, of Stark County, Ohio, entered HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 215 the northeast quarter of twenty—afterward owned by Asa Battles who became a prominent man of the township—and Samuel Thompson, of Columbiana County, entered the west part of the southeast quarter of Section 22. In September of the same year, George McManima, of Richland County, entered the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 17. In August of the same year, John Stump, of Seneca County, took up the northwest quarter of Section 18—afterward owned by Thomas Murray, of Bluffton. In October, 1834, John Carnahan, of Putnam County, entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 7, and Henry Atler, of Pennsylvania, entered the southeast quarter of Section 19, and Joseph Morrison, also of Pennsylvania, entered the northeast quarter of Section 19, and in November, 1834, Simeon Dudgeon, of Knox County, entered the southeast quarter of Section 21. These entries were followed by others, and in a very few years all of the land in the township was taken up. It is said that in 1833, Henry L. Dally, David Thompson and William Bryan came here and were the first settlers of the township. At that time, and for several years afterwards, the Wyandot Indians claimed the country as a part of their hunting grounds, and were frequent visitors to the cabins of the palefaces, but, as they were peaceably disposed, and honest, they were welcome. The first settlers were followed by Stump, Shaw, the Battles, the McKinleys, the Marshalls, John Hassan, William Agin, E. S. Crawford, James T. McConnell, James Reed and others, who formed settlements in various parts of the township. James built the first frame building in the township, and James T. McConnell built the first brick one. The first election was by order of the commissioners, in the fall of 1836, at which there were fourteen votes cast. Every voter was elected to an office in the township. The pioneers of this township early appreciated the blessing of education, and were not unmindful of the moral and religious training of their children, and as a consequence, churches and school houses followed in the wake of the settlement. Next to shelter for themselves and families, they provided these other necessaries to civilization, good order and prosperity. The first schoolhouse was built in 1837. There are nine good schoolhouses in the township, with an enrollment of about five hundred youths of school age. In the early days, teachers in the common schools received fifty cents a day, and boarded around with the families, a week at each place, and were in many families expected to sleep with the children, and have control of them from the time they left home in the morning until they returned at night. The reading of that day was confined principally to the Bible, common school books and occasionally a newspaper. But these, however, were quite sufficient to occupy their leisure hours, which were but few, so busy were they in building cabins, clearing up the ground for cultivation, and assisting their neighbors to do the same. The Episcopal Church of North America erected the first church building in the township in 1837. There are now quite a number of comfortable places of worship in the township. The first marriage was that of George McManima, and a Miss Morrison, both of whom have long since passed away, and no known descendants of this union are now residents of this towship. David Thompson was the, first 216 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY white child born in Orange Township, and a Mrs. Ivers, who died in 1838, was the first person who died within its limits. The first mill was built by John Stump, and there was great rejoicing amongst the inhabitants at its completion, as previously the burden of obtaining flour had been a great inconvenience to the people, owing to the distance to be traveled and the almost impassable condition of the roads, if roads they might be called. John McKinley, one of the pioneers of Orange Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., September 23, 18o 1, and at the age of two years came with his father, William McKinley, to Trumbull County, Ohio, then on the frontier of civilization. On the 13th of March, 1823, he was married to Mary Marshall, and in August, 1836, he and his family came to Hancock County. The country was entirely destitute of roads, and Mr. McKinley had to cut his way through the woods to the place where he afterwards resided, camping at night in the wilderness through which he passed. Not in the least discouraged, he at once went to work, and with the assistance of his sons, then mere lads, and the encouragement and assistance of his good wife, he soon opened up a good farm. He lived on this farm until reaching the age of eighty-five, bearing the reputation of being honest in his dealings, frugal, but not stingy, and hospitable alike to neighbors and strangers. Mr. McKinley was present at the organization of the township, and was one of the fifteen voters present. He held the office of justice of the peace for twelve years, and the office of county commissioner for six years. Quite a number of his descendants are still living in the same neighborhood. Henry L. Dally came to this township from Tuscarawas County in 1833, and his was the first family that settled in this part of the county. The family consisted of himself, wife, four sons and four daughters. The country was entirey new, and they had no neighbors within three or four miles. Mr. Dally was a tall, muscular man, inured to hardships, industrious and honest in all his dealings, and a good neighbor. He located on and cleared up a farm in Section 36. He and most of his family were members of the Disciples Church. After remaining here for nearly twenty years, he became restive, and finally, in 185o, he emigrated to Iowa, and again he became a frontiersman, and was lost to the people of this county. Isaac Thompson was the second of ten children of David Thompson, a farmer, who came here from Stark County. Isaac was born in Marlboro Township of that county, February 25, 1828, and when five years of age, was brought to this township by his father's family. This family was the second to settle here. As Benjamin Marshall, a pioneer of Union Township, and Josiah Dunlap were coming to this county on horseback, they overtook David Thompson twenty-five miles this side of Bucyrus, 0., traveling to his goal on foot, barefooted and bare-headed. They proffered him the aid of money to buy shoes and a hat, but were met by the response that he had plenty money to buy shoes, and as to a hat he declared that he never wore one. Young Thompson commenced life in the woods, amid all the ups and downs of a frontier residence. He has always followed the independent occupation of a farmer, and became the owner of a very valuable farm of 28o acres, well improved and very productive. Mr. Thompson has a fair common school educa- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 217 tion, although his entire attendance at school was only fifteen months, and that after he was fifteen years old. He is a man of good natural ability, good business tact, and safe councilor, and his advice and assistance in business matters is sought by his neighbors, with whom he stands high. In October, 185o, he married Louisa McKinley, by whom he had six children, all living. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Disciples Church, and has been for about forty-three years. His Christian life has conformed to his profession. He is very punctillious in all his business transactions ; honest, conscientious and faithful in the discharge of all his duties ; firm in his convictions of right, not easily turned aside from what he deems to be right. He has resided continuously in this township since he came here in 1833, and has never been absent from it more than a month at a time. He has been present at every election held in the township, the first of which was held at his father's house. Such is the confidence reposed in him by his neighbors, that he has been called upon to fill almost all the offices in his township. In 1908 he was called on to make a speech at a school reunion, and all present were delighted with the remarks of a man of eighty years old, hale and hearty. James T. McConnell was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and came to Orange Township in 1838, and at once commenced clearing up a farm in Section 11. He resided for some years in Jefferson County, Ohio, where, in 183o, he was married to Eliza Dunlevy. Mrs. McConnell died in February, 1862. Mr. McConnell was the father of twelve children, three of whom are still living, Daniel J. and James C. residing in Findlay, and Patrick in Union County. Mr. McConnell always followed the occupation of farming. He had a fair common school education, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church for more than thirty years, and was one of the first members in this township. He was a man of strong convictions, slow to yield a point, and tenacious in his belief. He was a good neighbor, and an honest man. At his death he left a beautiful farm of 16o acres, well improved by his own labor and industry. His first neighbors were John McKinley, Benjamin Marshall, father of John W. Marshall, now residing on Lima Avenue, Willard Boutwell, E. R. Burns, William Ivers, and Thomas Walls ; all of whom have passed to the other shore. On the farm which he cleared up, are to be found some interesting relics of the past. At about the center of the farm is what appears to be an -ancient fortification. The earth is thrown up in the shape of a mound or ridge, about thirty feet wide at the top, and scooped out or excavated, the location commanding a view of the surrounding country. In and around this the timber was evidently removed, as the growth of trees, when discovered, was much smaller than that in the forest surrounding. About twenty rods east of this was a mound higher than any other portion of the ridge, and from bones and other articles found in this mound, was evidently the burial place of the dead of those who built the mounds. In the immediate vicinity are other mounds of similar character, all no doubt built by the same people and for the same purpose. The Northern Ohio Railroad, on its route from Bluffton to Jenera, passes through Orange Township, east and west, on which there are two stations, El Rose and Cordelia. But the farmers do almost all their trading at the two places first named. 218 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Owing to the richness of the soil in this township, the natural roads remained too hard to travel for a good part of the year, as very little had been done by the county in building pike roads. In April, 1896, a special act from the legislature of the State was obtained through the then representative, J. A. Kimmell, empowering the people of this township to levy a special tax for the purpose of improving their roads by the building of stone pike. Considerable opposition was made to the passage of the act on the grounds that such legislation was unconstitutional and that the payment of the levy could be enjoined by any citizen of the township. Nevertheless the bill passed, and the people of the township stood up to it to a man, with the results that today Orange Township has the best and prettiest roads of any township in the county. As one drives along these thoroughfares with a fine pike on one side of it and a fine summer road on the other, lined with beautiful shade trees on both sides, together with the fine buildings of the thrifty farmers with their orchards and gardens of vegetables and flowers, one can imagine he is driving along some grand avenue through some nobleman's estate in a foreign country. The transition that has taken place in these matters since forty years ago seemed like a dream to the writer as he lately passed over the township within the last year. It is certainly a beautiful place to reside in, and the people are to be congratulated upon their pluck and energy in placing it in the condition it is found today. CHAPTER. XVIII. PLEASANT, PORTAGE, UNION, VAN BUREN AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIPS. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. It was ordered by the county commissioners, at their session March 2, 1835, "that the original surveyed Township Number 2 north, in Range 9 east, be laid off and formed in a body politic and corporate, and designated Pleasant Township." Previous to this date it had been a part of Blanchard Township. This township lies in the northwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Portage Township, on the south by Blanchard Township and on the west by Putnam County. It derives its name, no doubt, from its pleasant location and scenery, and is an original township of thirty-six sections. Its area is 23,040 acres ; population 2,024. The soil of Pleasant Township is a rich black loam, on a clay subsoil. On the ridges, or higher lands, it is much mixed and mostly made up of sand and gravel. The entire body of land in this township is rich and very productive. The timber of the virgin forests was very abundant and valuable, but for reasons heretofore mentioned gave small returns to the owners. Some small tributaries of the Portage River furnish ample facilities for drainage of the lands, which are completely underdrained with tile. Many of the inhabitants are supplied with water for domestic use from wells drilled into the underlying rock. John Algire, of Fairfield County, made the first entry of land in this township, the northeast quarter of Section 31 being bought by him March 15, 1833. On the loth day of April, the same year, Alexander Kilpatrick, of Hardin County, entered the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 31. Edward Stevenson, of Franklin County, entered the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 27, and on the same day John J. Needles of the same county entered the east half of the northeast quarter of the same section. On the 19th day of October, 1833, John McCulloch, of Jefferson County and William Woods, of Washington County, Pa., entered lands in Section 28, and on the same day Eliakim Crosby entered the west half of Section 29. Jacob Lamb, of Fairfield County, entered the southeast quarter of Section 3o, and George Kalb entered the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 26, on the 2nd day of November, 1838. In 1834 entries of land were made by Henry Hemry, Nathan Fiddler, John Kalb, Benjamin Cummins, Anthony Wilcoxin, Robert - 219 - 220 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Fletcher, Robert Sherrard, Alexander Amspoker, Benjamin Todd, Bennet Kiger, Michael Price and others. The first settlement of this township was made in 1833 by Edward Stevenson, Benjamin Todd, and John J. Needles, at and near where the village of McComb now stands. In the following year William and Alexander Kilpatrick, George Algire, John Kalb and Alexander Amspoker, came to the same neighborhood. In 1835 Robert Morrison, John Bartholomew, Charles Blakeman, Michael Price, David Wright, Jacob Thomas and others reinforced the new settlement. Benjamin Todd came from Franklin County, Ohio, and settled on the present site of the village of McComb. He was the first justice of the peace in the township, having helped to organize the township, and held various offices afterward, discharging the duties of all with honesty and fidelity. He was also a member of the first church organization in the township, and ever afterwards led a consistent Christian life, living to upwards of ninety years, having raised a large and respectable family of children, he was loved and respected by all who knew him. John J. Needles emigrated from Franklin County also, and developed from the wilderness a beautiful farm. He was a rather impulsive, eccentric kind of a man, but withal a kind neighbor and a good citizen. He removed to Iowa in 1856 and there died in 1875. George Algire resided all his life on the same farm he entered and cleared up. He was a small wiry man of good constitution and untiring energy and industry. He accumulated a competency, and enjoyed it in the society of his many friends. For more than forty eyars he was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As such he was fervent and zealous, of considerable ability, and led a consistent Christian life. As a neighbor and man he commanded the greatest respect. John Kalb, another of that noble band of pioneers, after a long and useful life closed up his earthly life on the first of March, 1872. In his death the community lost a valuable member. Mr. Kalb was a member of the Methodist Church for many years, and two of his sons, John S. and Isaac N. were ministers of that church. Father Kalb was a fine specimen of the frontiersman, and contributed his full share in clearing up the country. The first election was held in 1835 and Benjamin Todd, Charles Blakeman, Michael Price, John Kalb, John J. Needles, .Alexander Amspoker, Robert Morrison, Robert Fletcher, Benjamin Cummins, David Wright, and Jacob Thomas were the voters. The officers elected were Benjamin Todd, J. J. Needles and Alexander Amspoker, trustees ; Benjamin Todd, clerk ; George Algire, treasurer ; Benj. Todd, justice of the peace. The first church organization was in 1835. The Rev. Thrap, of the Methodist Church, at that time organized a class, of whom Benj. Todd and wife, and John Kalb and wife were the members. Services were held in private houses, and in the schoolhouse until 185o, when the Methodists erected a church building, which was the first in the township. The first schoolhouse was built in 1838 at the present site of McComb. It was of the then approved style, round log, clap- 221 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY board roof, and chimney order of architect. The township is now supplied with a full complement of fine schoolhouses with an enrollment of an average of four hundred scholars. The first flouring mill was built by Thomas Pickens in 1845, on Pickens Run. Previous to that time a hand-mill owned by Wiliam Todd, was the only means of making breadstuff in the township. In 1841 George Algire built a saw-mill propelled by water power on Algire's Run. Its capacity for manufacturing lumber was 30o feet per day. The first steam saw-mill was built by Tipton & Porter in 1850, and the first steam flouring-mill by Major Isaac Cusac in 1857. Thus has this part of the country been developing little by little, with the hardest of labor, the greatest of patience, and most persevering industry, until today Pleasant Township is one of the most populous, wealthy and beautiful in the county. Her farms and farm buildings will compare favorably with those of any other part of the county; whilst in honest thrift, intelligence and true hospitality her people are surpassed by none. Pleasant Township has two railroads crossing its territory, the N. Y. C. & St. Louis, commonly called the "Nickel Plate," which passes through from east to west, south of the center ; and the Deshler branch of the C. H. & D., passing from the southeast to the northwest with the crossing at McComb. These railroad facilities, together with the fine condition of the wagon roads gives to the farmers of this township the greatest convenience for marketing their grain and stock. PORTAGE TOWNSHIP. At the session of the County Commissioners in March, 1835, "Ordered that the originally surveyed Township Number 2 north, Range io east, be set off into a separate township, politic and corporate, and named Portage. Ordered that the voters be notified thereof, and to meet the first Monday. in April to elect township officers." In 1850, on the formation of Allen Township, two tiers of sections on the east side of this township were detached and made a part of that township, so that Portage now includes only twenty-four sections instead of thirty-six that go to make a full township. This township derives its name from some small branches of the Portage River, which arise about the center of the township flowing north into Wood County, and finally into Lake Erie. It lies on the north line of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Allen Township, on the south by Liberty, and on the west by Pleasant. Its area is 15,360 acres. The first entry of land was made by Henry Lamb, October 18, 1831, of the south half of Section 19. Henry Culp, of Fairfield County, entered the north-west quarter of Section 20, on the 24th of September, 1830. The east half of the northwest quarter of Section 15 was entered on April 21, 1831, by William Cromlish. July 24, 1832, John Thompson entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 22, and on the 19th of August, 1833, John Morehead, of Stark County entered the northeast quarter of Section 22. On the 18th of June, 1833, Samuel Howard, of Richland County, en- 222 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY tered the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4. The soil in the northern portion is of sand and loam ; the sandy portion is known as sand ridge. The south portion has a preponderance of clay, of a yellowish hue. This clay in some places is mixed with sand and gravel, but all is easily tilled, and exceedingly productive. Until quite recently this township preserved much of its timber in its primeval forests, but in the last twenty years it has been reduced to a minimum. This timber, in the north was sycamore, elm, hickory, oak ; in the south poplar, oak, ash, walnut, beech and sugar. This township is drained by the west branches of the Portage River, through which ample outlet is afforded for carrying off the surplus water in wet seasons. Its area is 15,36o acres. The first settlers in this township were John Thompson, on the farm afterwards owned by James Deter in Section To, and George McClay on the farm just north, Charles Crist, John and Amos Cooper in 1833, George Taylor, Ezra Hazen on the Edington farm, Robert Walters, Samuel and John Morehead, John Reed, Sr., and a little later on Sanford F. Dulin, George Mitchell, Mahlen Morris, Switzer and John Norris. Most of these first settlers cleared up their farms and remained living on them their entire life time. Having endured all the labor of removing timbers and draining the soil, they felt inclined to enjoy the fruits of their toil. Their house was their castle. Their rich farms supplied them plentifully with the good things of this world. Sanford F. Dulin was one of those early settlers who always had faith in the future of this township. He cleared up, and occupied until the day of his death, together with his aged wife, a valuable farm, and to the end was as light hearted and jovial as in his younger years. Close to his farm was a good brick schoolhouse and a comfortable frame church, in the success of both of which Mr. Dulin always felt a deep interest. John Thompson, after a residence of many years in the township, went further west, where he spent the balance of his life. John Morehead, who attained a ripe old age, and by industry and frugality coupled with strict honesty accumulated quite a property, passed peacefully away about thirty years ago, surrounded by a number of his children, and in the midst of many friends. John Read too is dead. After improving one of the tracts of land in the township, and rearing quite a large family, he died almost in the prime of manhood, lamented by all who knew him. Mahlen Morris was one of nature's noblemen. Honest, industrious, intelligent, he was called upon by his neighbors to look after the affairs of the township, in many responsible positions. He was four times in succession elected a justice of the peace, and filled the office faithfully. In 1846. he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and with his family moved to Findlay. In 1848 he was re-elected, and in 1849 he died of an attack of typhoid fever. His loss was universally lamented. Such has been his conduct of the affairs of the office that he had won the confidence of all the people of the county. The first schoolhouse was near Pleasant Hill, but the exact date could not be ascertained— perhaps about 1834. The second HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 223 schoolhouse was built in Judge Cooper's district, and the first teacher was Miss Rebecca Hedges. The township is now supplied with its full quota of good brick schoolhouses, with an enumeration of over four hundred pupils. The first church was built on Sand Ridge in Section 5, by the Presbyterians. Amongst the first members were Miles Wilson and some of his family, and John Norris and wife. The second church was built United Brethren, on Ten Mile in 1836. Treat Demming and wife, and Samuel and Henry DeRodes were of the first membership. The first marriage in the township was that of Amos Cooper and Elisabeth Poe. The first child born was Allen Cooper, son of the Judge, and the first death was that of a child of John Norris. There are many well improved farms, and many good, substantial and comfortable farm buildings in this township, among which, in the past may be mentioned those of Judge Cooper, Adam Crumrine, John E. Morehead, G. W. Montgomery, T. F. Edgington, John Lewis and others. The roads and farms are generally in good condition, and thrift, industry and valuable improvements are seen everywhere, sure indications of the intelligence and prosperity of the people. There was a post office established in this township in 186o with Jarvis Humphrey as postmaster. Upon the removal of Mr. Humphrey from the township, Joseph Johnston succeeded him, and held the office until his faculties became impaired by age, so that he was unfit to farther discharge the duties, Mrs. G. W. Montgomery was appointed. Upon the establishment of the rural routes the office was discontinued. Joseph Johnston, above referred to, was a native of Virginia, where he was born on the 4th day of April, 18o1. He was a farmer all his life. His father, Isaac Johnston, moved from Boutetot County, Va., to Ohio in 1811, and settled at Portsmouth, in Scioto County. The elder Johnston was a potter, and followed that trade whilst in Portsmouth. In 1827 the family came to this county, and took up their residence in the village of Findlay. Mr. Johnston was married in 1832 to Susan George, and removed to what is now Marion Township, and in the same year was elected sheriff of the county, which office he filled acceptably for one term. He had for neighbors in this township such men as Asher Wickham, Charles Thomas and E. S. Jones. In 1853 Mr. Johnston sold his Marion Township farm, and moved to this township, where he resided to the time of his death. He had a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew up. He was of English descent, but had limited educational facilities, and was compelled to depend upon his own resources in that direction. He helped to build the first schoolhouse in Marion Township and helped to organize, and was a voter at the first election held in the township. He was prominently connected with the early history of the county, and his industry and energy, with his good sense, gave him quite an influence with the early settlers. He lived long enough to see the vast improvements made in the county, and to enjoy the fruits of his labors. His wife died in 185o, and he afterwards married Jane Dudgeon, who died in 1879. In 1863 he was appointed postmaster at Portage Center, which office he held about sixteen years. In 1870 he 224 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and remained a member until his death. Judge John Cooper was a native of Fay, ette County, Pa., where he was born April 25, 1811. He was the eldest son of James Cooper who came to Pennsylvania from New York. Mr. Cooper's ancestors on his father's side were Scotch, and on his mother's side Low Dutch. In 1812 the family came to Perry County, Ohio, and settled near Somerset. That part of the State was but sparsely settled, and the land which the Judge's father had entered had to be reclaimed from the wilderness, and here the Judge labored until 1832, when he came to this township, bringing with him his young wife, Jane Eliza, daughter of Daniel Cusac, whom he married in 183o. There were but seventeen families in the township, including Portage and the west half of Allen, when he came here. He at once located on the same land where he spent his entire life. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper celebrated their Golden Wedding, at the fiftieth anniversary of their wedded life, 188o, and all their children were present. His first neighbors in the township were John Thompson, Robert Walters and John Howard, and they were about the only residents of what is now Portage township. The Judge held important offices in the township and county. In 1849 he was appointed one of the associate judges of the county and held that office until the adoption of the present constitution. In 1862 he was elected county commissioner, and served six years as such. He was also one the first directors of the County Infirmary. Mr. Cooper had no other educational advantages than that furnished by a common country school, such as they were in those days. He was not a member of any church, but in religious belief he had a leaning to the Old School Baptists. He was always a friend to schools and churches. He was the father of nine children. Samuel Howard, was the son of a farmer, and was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., December 7th, 1814. He was brought up on a farm, and has followed that vocation all his life. When but a few months old his parents came to Richland County, Ohio. Mr. Howard was the father of eleven children, most of whom are still living. He came to this county in 1833, and settled on what is called "Ten Mile Creek," in this township. They were surrounded by the forests ; Indians plenty ; game in abundance. Mr. Howard said that when he got up in the morning, and wanted to kill a turkey, he was at a loss to know which direction to go, as they were gobbling all around him. Mr. Howard said that his father had fifty dol- lars in money when he came here, and that he borrowed it of him to enter forty acres of land on condition that he should keep the family in provisions for one year, and as there were eleven of them in the family, he said it required a great deal of hard labor on his part to do so, especially as flour was sixteen dollars per barrel, and corn one dollar and a half per bushel. The settlers had to go to Tiffin to mill, and to the village. of Findlay to trade. In December, 1837, he married Elisabeth Carroll, who died his widow in 1901. Building a cabin in the woods, he commenced life full of hope and energy, determined to succeed. In 1850, having been