HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 225


elected treasurer of the county, he sold his land and moved to Findlay. He served two terms as treasurer. He then purchased the old Trout farm at VanBuren. After residing here for some years he sold out and bought the Hollenback farm, joining the north corporation line of Findlay, where he resided until 188o, when he moved into town. Captain Howard died March 15th, 1889, beloved by all who knew hitn, and especially by the old soldiers of the Civil War for whom he always had the highest regards.


Samuel Howard was captain of Company G, 118 Regiment 0. V. I., in the late war, and was with that regiment in all its marches and battles until the spring of 1864. In 1863 he was detailed to go to Boston. to assist in organizing the drafted men of Massachusetts. He remained for three months, when he rejoined the regiment and went to Eastern Tennessee. In the spring of 1864 he had the misfortune to get his leg broken, and was discharged from the service. He was the father of eleven children, several of whom are living in Findlay at the present writing. The Howard M. E. Church on Cherry Street was named in his honor because of his liberal donations to the society for the buying of the ground and the erection of the building. Also the college campus, a beautiful plat of ground of ten acres, a mile north of the court house, and on which the college now stands, was the free gift of Capt. Howard to the College Corporation, besides contributing quite a sum of money toward the construction of the building. Capt. Howard was always interested in all public enterprises that looked to the advancement of the town or the entire county.


Samuel Morehead, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1798, and came to Ohio with his father's family in 1814, and settled near Massilon, Stark County. Mr. Morehead lost his mother before leaving Pennsylvania, and his father married again soon after he came to Ohio. He was a farmer, reared to the profession by his father, who followed the same business. In 1821 he married Mary Edger, and in 1834 came to this county, and settled in Portage Township, on the farm afterward owned by his son John E., who died in the spring of 1909. His parents were of Irish descent. The Moreheads are generally large muscular men, endowed with great physical endurance, and industrious, frank, openhearted, liberal and hospitable. They are known for their genial good nature. .


Mr. Morehead was a member of the Presbyterian Church for more than fifty years, and was one of the pioneers of that denomination in this part of the country.


His wife died in 1854, leaving two children John E. and Mrs. W. K. Leonard, of Big Lick Township, and he never married again.


The only attempt to build up a town in this township, was by Jacob Andre who laid out a town of seventy-two lots on the south line of Section 15, and called it Lafayette. It had great expectations, but its uneventful history was cut short.


The following is the assessor's report for Portage Township for 1909:


Wheat, acres sown 1,221 ; bushels produced, 19,200. Oats, acres sown, 1,208 ; bushels produced, 32,665. Spring barley, acres sown, 16; bushels produced, 360.


226 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


Corn, acres planted, 2,384; bushels produced, 87,83o. Irish potatoes, acres planted, 5o; bushels produced, 3,717. Meadow, acres in grass, 1,889; tons of hay produced, 3,287.


Butter, pounds made in home dairys, 32,300. Eggs, 30,000 dozen.


Orchards—Apples, acres occupied, 128; bushels produced, 3,260. Pears, acres occupied, 3 ; bushels produced, 9o. Plums, acres 1 ; bushels produced, 80.


Commercial fertilizers, pounds used, 3,500.


Horses, number owned in April, 1909, 255. Cattle, milk cows, 301 ; all others, 117 ; total 418. Sheep, 793 ; pounds of wool shorn, 6,315. Hogs, total number, 648 ; for summer market, 441.


All of the above items have decreased since 1881, except corn, which shows an increase of 8,000 bushels.


UNION TOWNSHIP.


The origin of this township is found in the records of the County Commissioners of the 4th of June, 1832, where we read : "There was a petition presented by sundry inhabitants residing in the original surveyed Township No. 1 south, in Range 9. praying to be set off as a township under the name of Union, which petition was favorably considered, and they were accordingly set off under the above name."


Union is bounded on the north by Blanchard Township, on the east by Eagle, on the south by Orange, and on the west by Putnam County. It is an original township of thirty-six sections, and contains 32,04o acres.


The soil in all parts of this township is exceedingly productive, especially that along the creek bottom where it is of a dark sandy loam, while the higher grounds are composed of fertile clay sometimes mixed with loam and sand, and is easy of cultivation. The principal crops are wheat, oats, corn and grass. This township is well watered by Ottawa and Riley Creeks, which also furnish good drainage for the adjacent lands, and by the numerous small tributaries that empty into them, assist in the drainage of the entire township.


On the 16th of October, 1829, Phillip Powell made the first entry of land, it being the north-east quarter of Section 2. April 2, 1830, John Bright entered the northwest quarter of Section 22 and in October of the same year, Phillip Cramer entered the south half of Section 1. The west half of the southeast quarter of Section 12 was entered by John Baker, January 30th, 1832, and the same year Richard M. Carson, of Pickaway County, entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, and Rudolph Snyder entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 36. About the same time the southwest quarter of Section 4 was entered by Daniel Tussing, of Fairfield County, and a little later, Abraham Rose, of the same county, entered the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 36.


Phillip Cramer, who settled on Tiderishi Creek, in Section 1, in November, 1830, was the first white settler in the township. His sons Jacob and Daniel afterwards resided on the same premises. When Mr. Cramer came, he had to make his own road through the forests to his lands—no neighbors, no clearing, all strange solitude under the gigantic trees that at that time stood thick




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 229


on the ground, together with the smaller growth and bushes. Mr. Cramer lived to a very old age, and was the pioneer minister of the United Brethren Church. He was a man of some ability, zealous in his "Master's Work," a good neighbor, honest in all his dealings, and much respected by all his acquaintances.


In the following spring, Nicolas Folk, settled on what is now known as the Teatsworth farm, on Ottawa Creek, (Tawa), and in the fall of the same year George Burkett and William Lytle, with their families, settled farther up the creek. Two or three families of the Wades settled near the center of the township. John Flick, and Daniel Fox and others along the creek. Levi Showalter, James Burns, Pancoast, Gibson and Taylor in the western part, and Benjamin Marshall, James West and others in the south part of the township. Benjamin Marshall was the father of our townsman John W. Marshall, now residing on Lima Avenue, and who has told his son that when he passed through Findlay, on his way to his lands there were but fourteen houses all told in Findlay. This was September, 1838.


Wenman Wade was one of that class of robust and pushing frontiersmen, who pave the way for a better civilization and prosperous country, • by boldly pushing out into the wilderness, and enduring the hardships and privations of pioneer life uncomplainingly. Honest, industrious and contented. Mr. Wade was one who enjoyed the confidence of the community in which he lived. He held the office of justice of the peace, and is entitled to the distinction of being the first person in the county whose election was contested, as the following notice will show :


"To the Clerk of the Court of Hancock County :—You are requested to withhold the return of the election of Union township, wherein Wenman Wade was elected Justice of the Peace, and the election is contested, and the same contest is to be tried on the 13th of September, 1838.

WILLIAM ROLLER,

Asst. Associate Judge."

September the 5th, 1838.


It does not appear who the contestant was, or the grounds of contest. Therefore it is inferred that Mr. Wade established his claim to the office, for in 1841 he was again elected.


Levi Showalter resided in the township until his death, and to the end was a hale, hearty old man, with the same frank, brusque manners, sterling honesty, and neighborly spirit that were always his leading characteristics. He was respected and trusted by all who knew him, and left behind him pleasant memories.


James Burns, one of the best citizens, industrious and honest, after years of toil, accumulated a competency for himself and family, died surrounded by kind friends and neighbors, regretted by all.


George Burket was born in Berks County, Pa., and emigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio, at which place he was married to Mary Fox, in 1831 he came to Hancock, Ohio, with his wife and two children. He settled on the farm afterwards owned by his son Jacob. Mr. Burket was a tall slender

man, and of rather delicate health. With the help of his family, he cleared a very valuable farm, at which place he died about 1862.


Jacob Burket, son of George Burket, was born in Fairfield County, in December, 1811,


230 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


and when about five years of age, his parents removed to Perry County, where he remained until 1831, when he came to this township. When Mr. Burket came, there were but two other families in the township, Phillip Cramer, who resided where his son afterwards resided, and Nicolas Folk, who lived on what is since known as the Teatsworth farm. Mr. Burket was present and voted at the first election held in the township. He said that at that election, Phillip Cramer, Nicolas Folk and George Burket were elected trustees, and Wenman Wade, clerk. Mr. Burket was married in 1832, to Sarah Cramer, by Esq. John Cramer. This was the first marriage in the township. Mrs. Burket died in 185o, and he was again married this time to the widow of Phillip Cramer, Jr. After a long and active life on his farm, Mr. Burket moved to the village of Rawson, where he quietly enjoyed his declining years. He always enjoyed the esteem of his neighbors, and had a host of friends.


Nicolas Folk came from Fairfield County, and took up his abode on Tawa Creek about two miles north of where the village of Rawson now stands on or near the Teats-worth farm, which he entered. Mr. Folk was a small man, rather feeble in health, but succeeded in clearing up the farm on which he lived and died. He was highly respected by all who knew him.


Rev. Richard Biggs was born on the 12th day of November, 1806, in Columbia County, Pa., and died at his home in the town of Rawson, Ohio, on the 18th day of July, 1880. In 1824 he united with the Methodist Church in Northumberland County, Pa. He shortly afterwards removed to Summit County, Ohio, where in July, 1836, he was licensed to preach. In 1838 he removed to Hancock County, and settled near the present town of Rawson. Two years later he was admitted to the Northern Ohio Conference at is session at Norwalk, and for more than thirty years was an itinerant minister, serving charges at Findlay, Kalida, Defiance, Clarksfield, Amherst, Dalton, Congress, Chesterville, Marcellus, Millersburg, Shaneville, Pleasantville, Mt. Blanchard, Arcadia, Adrain, Bluffton, Bettsville, and McComb. Left an orphan when but six years of age, his educational privileges were very limited ; yet such was his liligence in his studies, that he began teaching when he was sixteen. He was always a close student, and kept up with the times. He was a man of unyielding rectitude, and pure in his life, modest and retiring in his disposition, yet faithful in the discharge of his duty. He commenced the ministry when it meant hard labor, and little pay ; the country being new, the appointments being a long distance apart and the people scattered and poor, yet he earnestly and uncomplainingly toiled to lay the foundation of good society, good government and good morals.


During the Civil War he fearlessly defended the cause of the Government against the opposition in the north, and boldly stood up for "Old Glory" when ministers were obliged to lay their revolvers down on the desk before them when they commenced their discourses, as a menace to those who might want to make trouble when they expressed admiration for the flag and prayed for the victory of the Union cause. His faithful wife passed away in 1883, and of


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 231


ten children the Rev. Peter Biggs, now residing on Lime Avenue, is the sole survivor.


In 1845, Edson Goit, Esq., a pioneer lawyer of Findlay, erected a flouring mill on Ottawa Creek, Thomas Pickens doing the millwright work. This was afterwards better known as the Teatsworth Mill. It was located two miles north of Rawson, where may still be seen the remains of the embankment forming a part of the darn. It was originally a water-mill, but after its sale by Goit to James Teatsworth, steam power was added, with wood, which was then plenty, used for fuel. The mill was a great convenience to the surrounding country, and its loss—for it was torn down and removed many years ago—was very seriously felt by the people of the country around it.


The first church built in the township was by the United Brethren, and is known as the Clymer Church. There are now ten churches in the township as follows : United Brethren, two; Evangelical, two; Christian Union, two, and one each of the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Church of God, and United Presbyterian.


The first schoolhouse was built at the center of the township, and a schoolhouse has been kept there ever since. There are now ten school buildings in the township, all of them, I believe, of brick, and furnished with furniture of the most modern style. The schools of this township have the reputation of being among the best in the county. The enumeration of children of school age averages about six hundred.


Most of the first settlers of this township were from the eastern and'middle counties of the State, and very largely from Fairfield County.


Union Township has three villages within its boundaries, mention of which will be made in another chapter of this work.


VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.


The records of the county commissioners for March 7, 1831, show the following entry : "A petition of sundry inhabitants of Hancock County was presented for setting off the original surveyed township, numbered I and 2 in Range 1o, south of the base line, into a township, which was accordingly set off, to be known and designated by the name of Van Buren."


At the March session of 1834 the commissioners ordered that Township 2 south, Range 9, be attached to Van Buren Township, for corporate purposes. This township which was named for President Van Buren, is situated on the south line of the county and is bounded on the north by Eagle Township, on the east by Madison, on the south by Hardin County, and on the west by Orange Township. It contains 15,36o acres.


The timber consisted principally of walnut, the different varieties of oak, ash, maple and elm, with beech, sycamore and buckeye. It required much time and great labor to remove this great mass of timber in clearing up the land and preparing it for cultivation. The soil in the low lands is a black loam, on the uplands clay, but all mingled and enriched by other substances as to be very fertile. The township is watered and drained by Ottawa and Riley Creeks, both of which have their sources here. Good drainage can be had anywhere in the township by these and their small tributaries.


The first entry of land was the northwest quarter of Section 27 on the 4th of January, 1831, by Benjamin Sparr. In April of the


232 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


same year, Samuel Green entered the east half of the southwest quarter of the same section, and in July, James West entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 23. May i6th, 1833, John Diller entered the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section I̊ and in December of the same year Solomon Bergman, of Licking County, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 17. Peter Pifer and C. Price, both of Pennsylvania, on the loth of May, 1834, made entries of land, the one took up the northeast quarter of Section 8 and the other the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 9.


In October, 1834, Robert Shaw of Portage County, Peter Foltz of Fairfield County, Isaac Ashburn of Knox County, Joseph Smith of Columbiana County, Henry Freed and Daniel Besserman both of Stark County, Ohio, made entries of land here, other entries speedily followed, many of them by newly arrived emigrants from Germany.


Nicholas Essinger, Adam Gassman and Peter Pifer made the first settlement here, as early, perhaps, as 1833. Not far from the same time Adam Reddick, Peter and Henry Heldman came in, and were quickly followed by Philip Heldman, Michel and Peter Wilch, all from Germany. Soon the Stinemans, the Freeds and the Bessermans, the Hassons, the Barmouths, the Prices and others, nearly all Germans, followed and began to open up farms. These pioneers were industrious. thrifty, honest and moral, and their robust health, the result of frugal living, their energy and solid strength backed up by a fixed determination to succeed in the land of their adoption, soon enabled them to open up valuable farms, and today we have not a more industrious, honest, peaceable and contented people than those found in this township.


The first log schoolhouses built in the township were at Fulhert's and John Tilles' and were erected about the same time. The schoolhouses here, as elsewhere in the county, followed close on the settlements and these were perhaps built as early as 1834. There are now six schoolhouss in the townhip having a good attendance.


The German Reform Church building at Jacob Traucht's was the first erected in this township. There are now one Methodist Episcopal and one Dunkard, one German Reform and one German Lutheran Church in the township.


WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.


At the meeting of the county commissioners, on the 5th day of March, 1832, Charles McKinnis and Robert L. Strother, two of the commissioners being present, the following record was made : "It appearing to the Board of Commissioners necessary, that they set off the original Township 2 north, in Range 12 east, which shall be a body corporate and politic, and known by the name of Washington Township." This township was named in honor of the "Father of his country" and is situate in the northeast corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Seneca County, on the south by Big Lick Township, and on the west by Cass Township. It contains thirty-six sections of land, of 64o acres each, or a total of 23,040 acres.


The soil of this locality is somewhat varied. The entire part of the township, except the north tier of sections, is a heavy clay soil, with patches of vegetable mould in the depressions and along the streams, and occasionally some


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 233


sand and clay mixed on the higher points. The north tier of sections, from one to six inclusive, has a gravel ridge running through them, covering about one-half of the section, with a narrow strip between the ridge and the Wood County line, of a deep, rich, black vegetable mold. Near the foot of the slope of the gravel ridge, is a strip of red clay, not more than four or five rods wide, but very productive. The surface of the whole township slopes gently to the north to the summit of the ridge, from thence to the north line of the township the declination is more abrupt. The east and middle branches of the Portage River furnish outlets for all the underdrains that the farmers have in place, and sometimes serve as a convenience for watering stock. These branches are now known by the name of Arcadia and Fostoria Creeks, one passing through the town of Arcadia and the other one through the town of Fostoria. The east branch has its source in Section 12, in Big Lick Township, running in a northeasterly course, entering this township, in Section 35, running across the township in a northeasterly course, leaving it near the northeast corner of the county. The middle branch rises at the south line of the township, about four miles southeast of the village of Arcadia, crossing the township, leaving it near the northwest corner.


As these streams are dry in summer time, when there is not plenty of rain, they are not of much account for watering stock, but possess great value as outlets for the drainage of the lands. They form deep cuts through the ridge in the north part of the township, washed out in the past years when the country south of the ridge was a lake, or at least a morass.


The first entry of land in this township was made November 24th. 183o, by Joseph Long,

of Fairfield County. Ohio, who made entry of the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 4, and on the same day, Caleb Roller, of the same county, entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 5. December 1st, 183o, John Gersuch, of Wayne County. Ohio, entered the northeast quarter of Section 5, and on the 17th day of the same month, he made entry of the northeast quarter of Section 1. On the 17th day of December, 183o, James Connelly. of Richland County, Ohio, entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 3.


On the 17th day of March, 1831, the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 2, was taken up by John Norris of Wayne County. Thomas Kelley, also of Wayne County, on April 16, 1831, made entry of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and on the 7th of May of the same year, Richard Cole, of Columbiana County, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 1. These entries were followed in the same year by those made by William Norris, of Seneca County, James G. Wiseman, of Perry County, William Wiseley of Fairfield County, Michael and Liverton Thomas, of Wayne County, John Mackrill, of Richland County, James Beason, David Peters and others.


John Gorsuch made the first settlement that was made in this township, on the northeast quarter of Section 1, in April, 1831. The next settler was James Sweeney, who located on the southeast quarter of Section 4, in the same month, and John .Norris settled on the northeast quarter of Section 2, about the first of May ; and in the same month, James Wiseman located on the northwest quarter of Section 12. Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Wiseman having come to the township in the prime of manhood, and


234 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


endured all the hardships of pioneer life, both lived to a ripe old age, and died on the farms they first settled on. Mr. Gorsuch also died many years ago. Mr. John Norris moved to Portage Township, on Section 32, where he died, the oldest of the four pioneers in this township. In 1832 several more families settled in the township, among them those of Jacob Heist and Elijah McRill, William Eckels, William Ferrill, James Bryan, Liverton Thomas, Joel Hale and Elijah R. Anderson.


This township, like almost all the others of the county, was very heavily timbered, the principal kinds of timber being white, red, bur and swamp oak ; white, red and hickory elm ; white, black and blue ash ; white and black walnut ; hard and soft maple; wild cherry ; shellbark and white hickory, bass wood, cotton wood, sycamore and buckeye. In the early settlement of the township, nearly all this timber was valueless except for fencing, and was regarded as a great drawback in the way of improvements, but such is the demand for timber at this day, that what was then destroyed or wasted, would now bring fortunes to the lucky owners. The first schoolhouse in this township was built in 1833 or 1834, and was located on the northwest quarter of Section 12, on the farm of James Wiseman, afterwards owned by Gov. Foster. The first school in that house was taught by Isaac Wiseman, and was the first school in the township. There are now nine schoolhouses and schools in the township. The enumeration of youths of school age is about six hundred.


The United Brethren have an academy in that part. of Fostoria which is situated in this township. The schools of the township are at present in a flourishing condition, and much interest is felt in their success by the patrons, The school buildings are all comfortable and commodious.


The religious sentiment of the township finds expression through seven churches—two Methodist Episcopal, one Evangelican Lutheran, one Presbyterian, one German Reformed, one German Baptist, and one United Brethren.


The first election in Washington Township was held in the fall of 1832, when General Jackson and Henry Clay were national candidates for the presidency. Twelve votes were cast at this election. The names of the electors were John Norris, John Gorsuch, Silas Gorsuch, Nelson Gorsuch, James Sweeney, James Wiseman, Liverton Thomas, Jacob Heistan, Elijah McRill, William Ferrall, James Bryan and William Eckels. The vote stood, as now remembered, Clay eight, Jackson four. If "Young Harry of the West" had met with the same success throughout the entire United States "Old Hickory" would not have his name on the list of men honored with the highest office the greatest Republic in existence can bestow. Liverton Thomas was elected justice of the peace, and was the first elected in the township.


The Lake Erie & Western Railroad runs across the township in a diagonal direction from northeast to southwest, and is paralleled by the Toledo, Fostoria & Findlay electric line throughout. What was called the old Continental Road, graded through from Tiffin, Ohio, to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1855, changed hands in 188o, and is now the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad well known over this part of the United States, was at once completed from Buffalo to Chicago, crosses this township from east to west a little south of the center. Both these roads pass through the town of Arcadia where they cross, making the


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 235


occasion to build this village. The following incident illustrating pioneer life was formerly related by the Hon. Henry Sheets : "When Jacob Heistand came to this township from Wayne County, he brought with him several head of cows and young cattle, and not having any enclosure in which to keep them, allowed them to roam at large in the woods. He took the precaution, however, to put a bell on one, that he might be able to find them when wanted. But one evening when he went for them, he found that they had strayed farther away than usual, he did not find them until dark, and on his return, in passing around one of the large swales in the neighborhood, he lost his bearings, and the cattle not being very particular as to the course they took, went in an opposite direction from home. Mr. Heistand followed them until late in the evening without coming to his or any other clearing. The woods were infested by wolves, which now commenced to howl close to him ; the cattle gathered close about him, through fear of the wolves. Mr. Heistand concluded that he would stay with the cattle, and procured a cudgel with which to keep the wolves at bay. But they becoming more bold, and howling fiercer and fiercer, he concluded to start on again, hoping to strike some clearing, which he happily did in a few minutes, but about four miles from home. The clearing was that of James Wiseman, with whom he remained during the night."


James G. Wiseman was born in Greenbriar County, Va., in August, 1790. He served in the War of 1812 as a cavalryman, under Capt. Lewis. Mr. Wiseman was married in 1814 to Miss Elizabeth Summers, and in September, 1817, removed to Ohio, settling in Madison County. He and his wife made the trip from Virginia to Ohio—a distance of more than four hundred miles—on horseback. After two years' residence he moved to Perry County, where he made his home until the spring of 1831, when he came to Washington Township. Mr. Wiseman was a medium-sized man, rugged and hardy, and well fitted to endure the hardships and privations of frontier life. He was passionately fond of hunting, and was an expert in the use of the rifle, but he never allowed this fondness for sport to interfere with the real business of life, that of making a comfortable home for himself and family. He cleared up a large and rich farm. He was an honest, genial, whole-souled man, ever ready to assist the needy, and no man more fully enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors. Mr. Wiseman died in 1873, and his wife survived him seven years. They were the parents of thirteen children, and lived to see all of them become married men and women except two, one of which died quite young, the other being killed in the War of the Rebellion.


William Church was the oldest of eight children of Collis and Elizabeth Church, and was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., February 4th, 1818. His father was a farmer and William followed that occupation until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for many years, and after his return to farming he still did his own blacksmithing, including an occasional job for a neighbor. Mr. Church came to Ohio nearly eighty years ago, the family and household goods making the trip in a wagon. On their arrival in the state, they located in the northern part of Wayne County, near the village of Jackson. Here Mr. Church's mother died. In 1834 the family came to Hancock County and located on the


236 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


land on which the town of Rawson now stands. Mr. Church came to Findlay and learned his trade with David Webster. In 1840 he married Martha J. Teatsworth, and followed his trade for thirteen years. He then purchased the farm in Liberty Township known as the Burkhead farm. After a residence here of a few years, he sold out and removed to the farm in Washington Township where he resided until his death on September 16, 1903. Mrs. Church died in 1873. They were the parents of four children. Mr. Church was always a man of strict morals, but never united with any church organization his tendency, however, was toward the Baptist. He owned one of the finest farms in the county, on which are very tasteful and substantial buildings. He was always noted for his honesty and industry. He practiced economy without penuriousness, and hospitality without extravagance.


Charles E. Jordan was born in Belmont County, Ohio, on May 23rd, 1800. He was married to Margaret Moore, February nth, 1826, who lived until May, 1873, dying at Arcadia, Ohio. Mr. Jordan came to this township October 2nd, 1833, and settled on land adjoining Arcadia, on the farm where his son Capt. John Jordan afterwards died. Mr. Jordan had nine children, two of whom are still living. Although a pronounced disbeliever in the cause of the North during the Civil War, five of his six sons were soldiers in the Union army. James was killed at the battle of Resaca, and John died many years afterward as a result of wounds received in one of the many engagements in which he took part. His eldest son, Daniel S. Jordan, was married to Miss Sarah Catharine Kimmell, in 1853, and for many years owned the farm where Reeves Park is at present located.


AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.


TOWNSHIPS

WHEAT

RYE

OATS

CORN

 

Acres sown for harvest 1908

Bu. prd 1908

Acres sown 1908

Bu. prd 1908

Acres sown

1908

Bu. prd.

1908

Acres

planted

Bu. shelled prod. 1908

1. Allen

2 Amanda

3 Biglick

4 Blanchard

5 Cass

6 Delaware

7 Eagle

8 Jackson

9 Liberty

10 Madison

11 Marion

12 Orange

13 Pleasant

14 Portage

15 Union

16 Van Buren

17 Washington

1,479

2,011

2,559

2,383

1,403

2,367

2,270

1,603

1,612

2,297

1,751

1,910

2,136

1,221

2,088

2,035

1,327

25,414

29,16o

44,587

31,146

24,675

31,728

32,768

21,425

26,375

17,362

24,292

21,275

33,255

19,200

27,594

21,815

22,920

10

45

46

95

23

90

35

.....

23

123

.....

88

108

8

136

128

....

60

735

721

1,582

225

1,040

370

....

355

1,145

....

835

1,192

200

1,930

1,434

....

970

896

1,164

1,860

986

616

837

1,195

1,021

452

1,075

1,421

1,596

1,208

1,595

805

703

30,592

28,776

42,665

58,809

31,876

14,841

28,312

22,815

41,110

12,707

39,510

38,495

67,382

32,665

54,333

20,701

21,540

1,984

2,631

3,213

4,990

2,168

2,875

2,819

2,163

2,886

1,849

2,844

3,202

4,552

2,384

3,754

2,253

1,387

85,635

114,510

131,460

233,177

80,090

111,470

116,370

100,380 I

36,400

71,660

130,710

I23,080

193,595

87,830

70,030

99,570

48,608

Total

32,407

454,991

950

11,828

 18,400

578,129

47,954

1,934,647

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 237



TOWNSHIPS

IRISH POTATOES

MEADOW

CLOVER

 

Acres

planted

Bushels

Prod.

Acres in grass 1908

Tons of hay prod.

Acres grown

Tons hay produced

Bushels of seed orid.

1. Allen

2 Amanda

3 Biglick

4 Blanchard

5 Cass

6 Delaware

7 Eagle

8 Jackson

9 Liberty

10 Madison

11 Marion

12 Orange

13 Pleasant

14 Portage

15 Union

16 Van Buren

17 Washington

17

50

35

139

41

29

54

29

64

192

.....

38

50

24

50

12

2,111

4,565

3,553

12,378

3,472

3,300

4,781

2,780

5,480

2,865

21,340

.....

3,250

3,717

2,420

4,411

1,200

1,613

1,526

844

543

1,343

1,533

779

730

2,364

565

1,947

1,868

822

1,889

1,068

1,269

745

2,130

2,250

1,056

697

2,014

3,268

993

837

3,505

738

2,768

2,249

1,047

3,287

1,281

1,792

801

827

1,519

2,021

2,513

643

1,036

1,578

1,362

343

1,201

1,368

2,081

2,699

122

1,884

1,389

814

1,265

2,146

2,826

3,767

1,053

1,487

806

1,855

484

1,702

1,934

2,787

3,465

148

2,816

1,798

1,009

896

1,485

2,023

1,668

795

1,372

1,298

530

1,032

867

911

1,760

1,882

29

1,404

1,764

510

Total

865

81,623

21,263

30,653

23,400

32,348

20,226

TOWNSHIPS

MILK

BUTTER

EGGS

MAPLE PRODTS

HONEY

BEES

 

Gal. sold 1908 family use

Lbs. made in home drs. 1908

Doz. Prod.1908

No. trees Fm. which syrup

Gallons of syrup 1908

Lbs. honey 1908

No. hives 1908

1 Allen

2 Amanda

3 Biglick

4 Blanchard

5 Cass

6 Delaware

7 Eagle

8 Jackson

9 Liberty

10 Madison

11 Marion

12 Orange

13 Pleasant

14 Portage

15 Union

16 Van Buren

17 Washington

22,752

4,500

......

......

15,000

......

......

......

5,100

......

107,600

.....

6,400

.....

.....

......

4,000

40,459

60,180

57,900

66,150

46,270

37,670

46,350

32,920

74,600

46,800

44,500

68,940

44,128

32,300

49,480

60,153

19.980

37,470

80,900

64,770

67,555

39,100

78,980

97,900

38,300

39,345

37,916

60,300

102,935

117,395

30,000

76,660

50,450

20,460

2,964

1,125

3,849

365

1,550

1,688

2,309

380

2,555

950

465

105

.....

.....

623

664

96

1,075

500

1,544

85

172

727

794

125

960

282

285

60

.....

30

197

232

50

1,560

1,900

1,600

741

.....

15

.....

.....

1,608

600

3,300

.....

.....

.....

3,735

3,215

.....

40

85

60

49

.....

4

.....

.....

116

20

110

.....

.....

.....

180

186

.....

Total

165,352

828,780

1,040,436

18,688

7,116

18,284

850

238 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY



TOWNSHIPS

HORSES

CATTLE

SHEEP

HOGS

WOOL

No. owned

in 1908

No. owned

in 1908

No. owned

in 1908

No.

owned

in 1908

Pounds

shorn

1908

1. Allen

2 Amanda

3 Biglick

4 Blanchard

5 Cass

6 Delaware

7 Eagle

8 Jackson

9 Liberty

10 Madison

11 Marion

12 Orange

13 Pleasant

14 Portage

15 Union

16 Van Buren

17 Washington

265

490

411

508

428

518

463

426

464

423

501

572

639

255

657

433

356

570

961

822

1,723

873

1,330

1,326

1,106

977

1,098

1,136

1,498

1,355

418

1,466

1,176

715

1,044

3,202

1,591

1,680

1,715

3,514

2,477

3,493

1,364

2,244

2,699

3,069

959

793

2,690

2,111

1,275

1,048

11,483

11,087

2,345

1,649

2,263

2,402

2,003

1,852

1,902

1,841

2,191

2,714

648

2,449

1,981

907

5,508

25,586

11,145

14,379

5,565

22,341

7,510

22,250

10,963

11,161

17,830

18,370

4,736

6,315

13,045

11,411

2,360

Total

7,872

18,100

35,920

30,765

210,575




CHAPTER XIX.


TOWNS AND VILLAGES


Sketches of Arcadia, Arlington, Benton Ridge, Cannonsberg, Deweyville, Findlay (Including Gas and Oil Industry and Findlay College), Fostoria, Houcktown, Jenera, McComb, Mt. Blanchard, Mt. Cory, Rawson, Shawtown, Van Buren, Vanlue, West Independence, Williamstown, Etc.


ARCADIA.


This town was laid out in July, 1855, by David Peters and Ambrose Peters. It comprised 135 lots, on the south part of the north half, and the north part of the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 22. Other additions were made by 'William Wheelan and Charles E. Jordan. The town is located about nine miles northeast of Findlay at the crossing of the Lake Erie & Western and the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroads, and has a population of about six hundred. The country surrounding it is rich and well improved, and there seems to he no good reason why Arcadia should not become in time quite a busy place. Its inhabitants are intelligent and enterprising and already quite a large trade is done here. The main street has been paved with brick at a cost of $12,000.


The business of the town is represented by the following concerns :


The Arcadia Bank & Savings Company, with the following officers : Abraham Ebersole, president ; John Baker, vice-president ; G. W. Dick, secretary and treasurer ; Fred P. Conaway, teller. This bank has a capital stock of $25,000, of which $13,750 is paid stock. Two general stores, one drug store, two hardware stores, handling buggies and farming implements, one grocery store, one meat market, two barber shops, two saw mills, one repair shop, one tin shop, one tile factory, one concrete factory, one elevator mill, two blacksmith and wagon repair shops, two livery barns, one electric light plant, two depots.


Arcadia has two churches—one Methodist Episcopal and one Lutheran Church—and one four-room schoolhouse. In Fraternal Organizations there are lodges of the Knights of Pythias, Rathburn Sisters, Maccabes, and Modern Woodmen. There is also located here two doctors, one preacher and one undertaker. The Odd Fellows instituted a lodge here in July, 1874, and had a membership of forty-four, which has since moved to Fostoria.


The Lake Erie & Western Railroad was completed through Arcadia in the spring of


- 239 -


240 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


1859. The N. Y., C. & St. L. Railway commenced laying its tracks here on the 28th of May, 1881, and on the 2nd day of June the cars ran across Main Street. The Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay Electric Line runs parallel with the Lake Erie and Western from Findlay to Fostoria.


The town of Arcadia was incorporated in 1859, at which time George W. Kimmel was elected mayor, and Dr. D. B. Spahr, clerk. The office of mayor has since been filled by the following persons : Jacob Peters, Joseph Dillery, E. B. Warner, C. E. Jordan, J. E. Beeson, A. D. Harbaugh, George Stahl, J. W. Fisher, Joseph Dillery, Henry Ludwig, William Karn, J. B. Gordon, R. F. Taylor, Ad. Huffman, J. E. Bricker, W. H. Dillery, the last mentioned being the present incumbent. Joseph Dillery was elected mayor five times and J. E. Bowman was six times elected clerk.


In 1859 a post office was established here with A. W. Frederick, postmaster, who has been succeeded by David Peters, Jacob Peters, William Karn, Joseph Smart, William Moffat, J. H. Beeson, W. Moore, J. H. Wheeland, Harrison Nye, A. M. Nye, and J. C. O'Neil. The last mentioned has resigned and C. W. Blake has been appointed to fill the office.


ARLINGTON.


This town was laid out in November, 1854, by Robert Hurd, Esq., on the southwest part of Section 6, and the southeast part of Section 1. It originally contained seventeen lots, but since its first platting, successive additions have been made, until now it is quite a village, its Main Street extending for a distance of one mile. It is located in Madison Township at the crossing of the Toledo and Ohio Central and Northern Ohio Railroads, and in consequence has ample passenger and shipping facilities. At present there is a good prospect of an extention of the T. G. & S. Electric through the town.


Upon the establishment of a post office here in 1846, Dr. B. Beach was appointed postmaster, and has been succeeded by L. P. Wing, E. B. Vail, W. K. Drake, Thomas Stark, Phillip Wilch, L. S. Lafferty, E. P. Lease, C. F. King, Holmes Wheeler, Levi W. Hinchey and the present incumbent N. D. Stein, who has held the office for the last six years.


The trade of the place was insignificant until after the location of the railroads, when it sprang up by leaps and bounds. The population in 1880 was one hundred and thirty-six, whereas in 1909 it is over five hundred.


In 1892 the town was incorporated and James Huff was the first mayor, he being succeeded in turn by Eli Bowman, Dr. Thomas B. Trovenger, Holmes Wheeler, Dr. John Trovenger, N. S. Wescot, L. E. Huston and the present mayor E. J. Pugh, now nearing the end of his second term.


The finance of the town is being looked after by the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company, incorporated under the laws of Ohio in 1900 with a capital stock of $25,000, surplus of $1,000, and resources of $112,000. The officers are Pres., R. J. Dorney ; Vice-Pres., B. G. Bibler; Cashier, H. 0. Fellers ; and Assist. Cashier, Miss D. Dorcas Dorney. The company owns its own building, a fine pressed brick and glass front, with upper rooms for rent. Societies


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 241


are represented by the Odd Fellows, with Rebeccas, Maccabees and Ladies, Knights of Pythias with Pythian Sisters, Grand Army of the Republic and Sons of Veterans with the Lady auxiliaries, Modern Woodmen of America.


There are three general stores, two hardware stores, one drug store, one hotel and three restaurants, one shoe store, one clothing store, one furniture store, two milliner stores, one harness shop, one meat market, two grain elevators, two livery barns, two pool rooms, one confectionery store, one bakery, one moving picture show, four barber shops, three blacksmiths, and two coal yards. There are also one saw-mill, with planing-mill attached, one hoop factory, one driller and roofer, and a stone-crusher on the confines of the village. One stock yard is located here from which are shipped an estimate of one hundred car loads of stock each year, Mr. Isaac Bishop being the main shipper.


Arlington is supplied with four churches, one Methodist Protestant, one Methodist Episcopal, one German Lutheran and one English Lutheran, with two resident pastors. Three physicans look after the physical welfare of the people both in town and the surrounding country. The village prides itself on having a good schoolhouse of six rooms and an enumeration of two hundred and forty scholars.


In a business as well as in a social way, Arlington is certainly a lively town of its size, and the residents take great pride in the advantages they enjoy. Of course the bulk of the trade is maintained by the farming community, which here is a source of unfailing wealth in this productive country.


Of the twenty-five rural mail routes in the county, Arlington has two—Nos. 14 and 15—that carry the mail to the surrounding farm community.


Arlington also has a municipal Electric Light Plant, built by the town at a cost of $14,000, with which it lights its own streets and furnishes electric lighting to its citizens at a fair rate.


The Arlingtonian, a bright newspaper, is edited by Frank Bitler, who is equal to the task of demonstrating to the public how to run a newspaper.


BENTON RIDGE.


The town of Benton Ridge is situated on the gravely ridge running from Findlay west into Putnam County, and nine miles in a south-westerly direction from Findlay. It was laid out in November, 1835, by William Mires, on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 35, and was originally composed of but thirty-six lots. In 1855 William Powell made an addition of five lots, and in 1867 he made a further addition of eleven lots, and in 1868 he made a third addition of ten lots. The town was named in honor of the sturdy Missouri Senator, Thomas Hart Benton, who served that State uninterruptedly as U. S. Senator from 1821 to 1851, and was contemporaneous with Clay, Calhoun and Webster. The location is beautiful and healthy, and is surrounded by a rich and productive agricultural country.


The immediate vicinity of the town was settled at a very early day by the PowellsWilliam, Jacob, John and Daniel—David M. Baldwin, Jacob Engle, Solomon Foglesong,


242 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


Knepper, Michael Fisher, Owen Hughs and other like enterprising frontiersmen.


The business of the town is confined principally to supplying the surrounding country with some of the most necessary articles of trade. Not having as yet any convenient railroad facilities (a branch of the C. H. & D.—now in the interest of the Baltimore & Ohio system—passing a mile and a quarter north of the village), the town has made advancement slowly, but has held its own, with a steady trend to improvement in building and trade.


A post office was established here in 1840, called Benton Ridge, and D. M. Baldwin, William Miller, Phillip Ballard, Isaac Sperow, M. Merchant, T. J. Saunders, J. G. Saunders, J. H. Saunders, H. W. Hughes, Peter Baldwin, Newton Cherry and J. H Whistler (the present incumbent), have held the office of postmaster.


In 1875 the town was incorporated as a hamlet for special purposes of police protection, and later as a town, with R. S. Palmer as mayor, followed by William Brown, William Wittenmyer, E. M. Jones, A. D. Whistler, Frank Alword, John West-ley Powell, Byron E. Powell and the present incumbent, Amos Wittenmyer.


The business of the town consists of two general stores, two meat markets, two drug stores—a small stock kept by each of the two doctors—two barber shops, two blacksmith shops with wagon and carriage repair, with one each of hotel, restaurant, tin shop, bakery, photograph gallery and jewelry, furniture store, fence material dealer, two coal dealers, saw and planing-mill, and a cement block factory.


Benton Ridge is supplied with the Farmers, Bell and Home telephones, with a local exchange of two hundred phones. They have two churches, Methodist Episcopal and Evangelical, one resident minister and two doctors.

The special school district, which composes not only the village, but a large extent of the surrounding farming country, have built a beautiful and commodious pressed-brick schoolhouse at the eastern end of town, with a cement basement and two stories above, comprising four rooms. Surrounding the building are spacious playgrounds and shade trees for the pleasure of the pupils. The enumeration is about one hundred and seventy of school age. The present population of the town is four hundred.


CANNONSBURG.


This town, located in Union Township, was founded by Benjamin Marshall, Franklin Ballard, William McConnell and James C. Marshall. It was laid out on the east part of Section 35 and the west part of Section 36 and consisted of 36 lots, with two streets, or rather roads, crossing at right angles. At one time it was a place of considerable neighborhood importance, and the author has been informed more than forty years ago by some of the then oldest inhabitants that they remembered the time when it was as large as Findlay then was. But it never rose to the dignity of more than a small country village. Railroads came just near enough to it to ruin what trade it had.


In 1867, the author commenced the practice of medicine in this village, and at that time it had two general stores, one grocery


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 243


and drug store, two churches, two wagon and buggy shops, one blacksmith shop, one grist-mill, one shoemaker, one preacher and three doctors. But all these have passed and in 1908, three of the four corners were planted in crops, and it resembled Goldsmith's "Deserted Village."


A post office was established here in 1841, with Thompson Bartell as postmaster, since which time E. P. Leslie, H. P. Eaton, D. W. Cass, Fuller Ballard, Henry Lue, J. D. Buss, J. A. Combs, Sr., J F. Steinman, J. A. Kimmell, J. A Combs, Jr, and Lydia A. Rossman have held the office. The office was discontinued several years ago.


DEWEYVILLE.


Deweyville was laid out by John B. Williams on the south part of the west part of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and the north part of the west part of the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 15, Pleasant Township. The plat of said village consisting of 40 lots, was acknowledged June 5, 1880, before Edwin Phifer, surveyor, and recorded July 19th, 1880, by Joseph F. Guntzwiler, recorder. This village has not been incorporated.


FINDLAY.


Findlay, now the county seat of Hancock County, was first laid out in the year 1821, by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory, and in the autumn of the same year, Wilson Vance and family removed to the place. Mr. Vance was soon joined by Squire Carlin, William Taylor, John Patterson, W. L. Henderson, John Boyd, Reuben Hales and Parlee Carlin, with others, so that in a few years quite a village had sprung up.


The town was replatted in 1829, and on the 26th of September of that year, Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory appeared before Judge McKinnis, one of the associate judges of the county, and acknowledged the platting of the town of Findlay, consisting of 156 lots of fifty by two hundred feet. The town plat was located on Section 13, in Township 1 north, Range 10 east.


The lands in this section-598 acres in all—were entered in parcels of fifty-five acres by Vance, Neil and Cory, seventy-six acres by Mcllvain and Neil, seventy-five acres by Asa M. Lake, eighty-eight acres by John Gardner, one hundred and twenty-seven acres by Elnathan Cory, seventy-nine acres by James Gilruth, and eighty acres by Joseph Westenhaver. John Gardner received a patent for his, dated June 3rd, 1822, signed by President James Monroe. He afterwards sold to Thomas and John Simpson, and they to Wilson Vance, March 14th, 1828. This tract was the west part of the southeast quarter of Section 13, and contained eighty-eight acres. The consideration by Vance to the Simpsons was three hundred dollars. The east part of the southeast quarter, was owned by Vance, Neil and Cory, and was that part of the section on which the town was laid out. The lots numbered on Main Street, from north to south. The lot now occupied 'by the old Squire Carlin residence—corner of Main and Front Streets, southwest—was No. 1, and the business room of J. S. Patterson & Sons, corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, No. 16, the then southern boundary of the town. In these numbers, from one to sixteen, the Public Square, now the Courthouse Square, was not counted. There were seventy-six lots on the west side of Main Street, the lot on the corner of Front and West Streets being the last number on that side.


244 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


On the east side of Main Street, the lot occupied by the Tavern Hotel, is numbered twenty-seven, and on South Main Street the lot on the northeast corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, now occupied by the Frey Drug Co., was numbered ninety-six. There were eighty lots on the east side of Main Street, ending with No. 156, owned by the late Mrs. W. C. Cox, and on the corner of Front and East Streets. No part of the land between Front Street and the river was laid out into lots at that time.


The following certificate of Wilson Vance, surveyor, was attached to the town plat :


"1st. All streets and alleys cross at right angles due north and south."


"2nd. Main Street is one hundred feet wide.


"3rd. Broadway (the space between Main-Cross and Front Streets north of the rear end of the Court House) is one hundred and fifteen and a half wide.


"4th. Main-Cross Street is eighty-two and one-half feet wide.


"5th. Crawford, Putnam, Front, Back (now Sandusky), East and West Streets are each sixty-six feet wide.


"6th. Farmers and Mechanics alleys are each thirty-three feet wide, and all other alleys are sixteen and one-half feet wide."


Attached to the plat, by the proprietors, Vance and Cory, was the following acknowledgment :


"The public grounds, streets and alleys, are to the best of our knowledge, correctly designated by the notes attached to said plat, and are appropriated as public ways for the benefit of said town, and to no other use whatever."


Thirty-nine lots were donated to the county commissioners, in trust, to be sold, the proceeds arising from such sale to be used in the construction of county buildings. The ground known as the Public Square was not named as one of the lots donated for county purposes, and by the terms of the acknowledgment above referred to it was appropriated for public use for the benefit of the town and it so remains, unless a subsequent contract with the proprietors, or the town authorities, placed it in the hands of the county commissioners, of which I have not been able to find a record.


On the l0th day of October, 1829, the commissioners of Hancock County, met "for the purpose of taking into their care their proportion of the town lots of Findlay, which were deeded to said commissioners, by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory, and said Charles McKinnis and John P. Hamilton, present, ordered that the aforesaid lots be offered at public sale, on the ninth day of November next. It is further ordered, that the county auditor advertise said sale." On November 9th, 1829, the commissioners, Charles McKinnis and John P. Hamilton, present, proceeded to sell the above mentioned lots, and the following sales were made : Lots 2, 8, 9, 13, 17, 26, 29, 32, 43, 46, 51, 61, 79, 86, 89, 92, 95, 98, 104, 105, 108, 111, 116, 142, 146, 148, 156, sold for prices ranging from five dollars for No. 148, to two hundred dollars for No. 8. The aggregate received was $1,025.40. The first frame house in the town was built by Squire Carlin, and stood on the same lot on which he afterward built the brick house on the southwest corner of Main and Front Streets, and now used for business purposes. This same frame building was afterwards moved to the east side of South Main Street on the north side of the alley between Hardin and Lincoln Streets, and at the present owned by John Parker.


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 245


The second frame building was erected by William Taylor, who occupied it as a dwelling, hotel and dry goods store. This building stood on the lot adjoining the Davis Opera House, on the south. Many years ago it was removed to the west end of Sandusky Street, where it was burned down. It was about twenty-five feet square and a story and a half high. As Mr. Squire Carlin built the first frame building, so he also built the first brick building in the town, on the lot aforementioned. This too he used as a dwelling and dry goods store.


Benjamin Cox, the first resident of the town, was also the first tavern keeper, carrying on business in a log house, on the east side of Main Street, between Front Street and the river bridge. The town was then a straggling village of log huts, with streets and alleys impassable the greater part of the year, and with no business to talk of, except some traffic with the Indians and now and then the task of entertaining a lone traveler in his search for a home in the wilderness. As the population increased and buildings multiplied, more room was wanted, and additions were demanded, land holders adjoining the old town platted and offered for sale numbers of lots.


In February, 1830, William Byall's addition of twenty lots was laid out. This addition was on the south side of Sandusky Street, east of Main Street. In 1837 Joseph and Elnathan Cory laid out an addition of forty lots. In 1840 John C. Howard laid out eleven lots, Jonathan Parker eight lots. Cory's addition of thirteen lots was laid out and Baldwin's addition of twelve lots and Vance and Cory's addition of seventy-eight lots were laid out in 1848.


S. & P. Carlin's addition, on the south side of East Sandusky Street, was made in 1848 and consisted of thirty-nine lots and in 1852 they made another addition of twenty-eight lots. An addition of fourteen lots was made in 1854 by Nathan Miller. A sub-division of out-lots was made by J. M. Coffinberry, and Wilson Vance made an addition of 113 lots in the same year. Hurd's addition of four lots and the Western Addition were laid out in 1855.


Byal’s second addition was made in 1860 and Vance's addition of 111 lots was made the same year. Cory's addition to Vance and Cory's addition was laid out in 1863. The continuation of Vance and Cory's of forty-four lots was made in 1866. E. Barnd made an addition in 1868. Another continuation of Vance and Cory's was made in 1869. Jones and Adams addition was laid out in 1873 and in 1875 P. Carlin made an addition of seventeen lots.


These various additions met with a ready sale, and are now occupied for the most part by beautiful residences and fine busines houses. Pleasant streets, substantial sidewalks and beautiful grounds all tell of the energy and industry of the owners. The tract of land occupied by these additions was at the early settlement of the place scarcely more than a swamp or swale, worth at most no more than government price, but is now worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars.


EAST FINDLAY.


But the old town and these many additions do not comprise the whole of the town of Findlay. East Findlay—an addition to Findlay—was laid out by James H. Wilson in August, 1847, on the north part of the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 19 and comprised but forty lots. In 1863 the proprietor laid


246 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


out an addition of thirty-five lots and thirteen out-lots which he designated as the continuation of East Findlay. In October of the same year, Cory's addition to East Findlay consisting of eleven lots, was laid out, and in 1866 Cory laid out nine lots more, and in 1873 he added nineteen additional lots. This addition, or suburb of Findlay, which comprises all that part of the town east of Eagle Creek, is pleasantly located and the principal streets, running east and west, correspond with like streets of the main town. There are a number of comfortable residences here. The streets are wide and bordered with shade trees. There are several manufacturing establishments here, which are noticed elsewhere in this work. The children of this part of town attend school at the Huber building.


Eagle Creek which divides this from the main town, is spanned by three bridges, one at Main Street, one at Sandusky Street and one at Lincoln Street. Along the creek were numerous stone quarries from which a very large portion of the stone used for building and other purposes was taken. In this part of town are located the "Eagle Mills." Also East Lawn, the beautiful residence built by M. B. Patterson, Esq.—a most charming place—is also located on east end of Sandusky Street. The building is a two-story frame with basement, built in a tasteful style of architecture, and surrounded by ample grounds highly ornamented with shrubbery. The grounds also contain a large greenhouse, filled with the rarest plants and flowers, and a beautiful island, surrounded by an ample fish pond. The whole is surrounded by a nicely trimmed hedge.


The magnificent home built by H. H. Albon stands just across the street, on an eminence commanding an extensive view of the town and surrounding country. It is one of the handsomest homes in the county. There are a number of other well arranged and comfortable private residences in this part of town. The ground on which the town is located is high and slightly rolling with a warm, sandy soil. A great many of the business men of the town reside here.


Eagle Mills, the extensive flouring establishment, formerly under the management of McConnell & Kirk, and now owned and operated by David Kirk and Sons, are located here and do a very large business, in the way of merchant and custom work. These mills have long been one of the industries of the town and under whatever management they have been, their work has always been satisfactory. Immense amounts of wheat is here floured and shipped to eastern markets and has always been considered of the best brand.


There was formerly an engine-house here, in which was kept one of the engines of the town under the management of an efficient volunteer company, which has now passed out of existence.


NORTH FINDLAY.


North Findlay, situated on the north side of the river, and a part of the town of Findlay, was laid out in 1854 by William Taylor, who was one of the first settlers of the county and for more than forty years a resident of Findlay. It never had a separate existence as a town. The plat of the original town of North Findlay is in the southwest corner of the west half of the northwest quarter of fractional Section 18 and consisted originally of forty-seven lots. Lot number one is on the northeast corner of Main Street and Center Street (or Tiffin road) and the plat from thence extends


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 247


north and east. The lots in the original town are nearly all occupied by good substantial dwelling houses and public buildings.


An addition of sixty lots on the west side of Main Street was laid out in July, 1857, by A. F. and D. M. Vance of Urbana, Ohio. This plat had some very desirable building lots and although it was at that time a considerable distance from the main town, lots sold readily and were soon occupied as dwelling places. Just south of this addition was quite a body of land used at that time for farming and pasturage purposes, which was the property of William Vance, of Urbana. Mr. Vance yielding to the demands for platting and selling this tract, in September, 1859, divided the ground into sixty-two lots with the necessary streets and alleys. These lots sold readily and at very good prices.


The land on the east side of Main Street between the river and the Tiffin road, was owned by Judge D. J. Cory, and as this tract separated the new town of North Findlay from the old town, he in March, 1861, laid out nineteen lots, one tier facing on Main Street and one on Center Street. These lots were in immediate demand and sold readily. And almost every one is now the site of a good dwelling house. Such is the beauty of this location, and the character of the improvements thereon, that Main and Center Streets in North Findlay have been long acknowledged as one of the most picturesque spots in the town.


In October, 1860, Edson Goit having purchased the lands adjoining A. F. and D. M. Vance's addition, on the north, laid out twenty-seven lots; and in June, 1864, he added thirty more. William B. Taylor and Aaron Hall became the owners of a parcel of land directly west of Goit's addition and laid out fifteen lots in 1866.


In November, 1874, Judge Cory laid out sixteen lots fronting on Center Street, east of his first addition. And about the same time P. and M. Taylor laid out an addition on the east side of Main Street north of the original plat, and Gray and Patterson laid out lots fronting on Center. Street, and on the north side of that street. Thus by successive additions, each addition to satisfy purchasers, has North Findlay become quite an important part of the town of Findlay. The town is regularly laid out, the streets and alleys crossing at right angles. The streets east of Main, commencing at the south are Center, Cherry, and Walnut. Those on the west are Fiar, High, Donolson, Corwin, Fillmore, and Howard. Running parallel with Main are Cory and Clinton.


The Lake Erie and Western Railroad passes through this part of the town. North Findlay is connected with the main town by the magnificent river bridge on Main Street. Whilst there are no pretentions to grandeur in architectural design or magnificence in finish, yet there are very many tasty and comfortable dwellings in this part of town. The streets are beautified by hundreds of shade trees, principally maple and when in leaf, they present a cool and inviting appearance.


On the 17th day of March, 1838, the Legislature of Ohio passed "An Act to incorporate the town of Findlay, in Hancock County." The first section of that act provided that "So much of the township of Findlay, in the county of Hancock, as herein described, to-wit : The S. E. part of the S. E. quarter of fractional Section No. 13, Township 1 north, of Range 11, so far east as the bank of Eagle Creek ; also the east half


248 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY


of the N. E. quarter of Section 24, Township 1 north, of Range 10, and also what territory of the N. W. quarter of Section 19 as is situated southwest of Carlin's millrace, be and the same is hereby created a town corporate, and shall be hereafter known by the name of the town of Findlay." Section 2nd provides for an election at the court h0use, on the first Saturday in April next, to elect a mayor, recorder and five councilmen.


An act to repeal the charter of the town of Findlay, was passed March 13th, 1843. Why, or by what influence this last act was passed, we are unable to say.


The Legislature, on the 4th of March, 1845, passed another act, entitled "An Act to repeal the act entitled 'An Act to repeal the charter of the town of Findlay,' passed March 13th, 1843, and to declare in force the act incorporating said town, passed March 7th, 1838."


The business of laying out, opening up and improving streets, was carried on through the different administrations and economy in expenditures, and a freedom from indebtedness, characterized the conduct of our municipal- affairs previous to the advent of what is now known as the "gas boom," but since that important epoch the same rule of economy has not been observed, and extravagance and its consequent indebtedness have been the rule instead of the exception. Speculators in real estate obtained a majority in the municipal councils and, in order to dispose of the real estate with which they were loaded, imposed expensive burdens on the tax payer. Much of the present debt, however, was run up in the building of water works, in paving streets, building schoolhouses, a high school and a city building.


The following persons held the office of mayor previous to 1858, but owing to the loss of records we cannot give the exact order in which they were elected. John Adams, W. L. Henderson, Abraham Younkin, 0. A. Ogden, N. Y. Mefford, Josiah S. Powell, Jacob Carr, and perhaps others. In 1858 Charles Carroll Pomeroy, late of Kentucky, and a most eccentric young man, was elected, hut resigned before the end of his term, being succeeded by Ezra Brown. Since then the following persons have held the office of mayor and clerk :


Mayors—Ezra Brown, 1859; Israel Green, 1860; G. W. Twining, 1861, 1863 ; Jacob Carr, 1864, 1866; N. W. Filkin, 1867 ; J. A. Bope, 1868, 1869; G. F. Pendleton, 1870; D. B. Beardsley, 1872 ; Wm. Gribben, 1874 ; Jacob Carr, 1876 ; Wm. Vance, 1878, 1880 ; William W. Siddell, 1882, 1884; Wm. L. Carlin, 1886, 1888.; J. R. Kagy, 1889 ; The. Totten, 1890; Thomas Mehan, 1892; B. W. Waltermire, 1894 ; Georg Nemeyer, 1896 ; D. T. Winders, 1898; Geo. Nemeyer, 1900;

C. E. Watson, 1902; C. B. Metcalf, 1904; J. B. Walker, 1906, 1908 ; E. Lincoln Groves, 1910 —.


Clerks—S. F. Gray, 1859; Wm. Klamroth, 1860; H. S. Shannon, 1861 ; J. P. Dennis, 1862 ; Sam Huber, 1863 ; B. F. Kimmons, 1864, 1865, 1866; J. C. Martin, 1867; D. H. Pugh, 1868 ; E. G. DeWolfe, 1869; Lem McManniss, 1870; J. W. Davidson, 1872; Jesse Wheeler, 1874; J. A. Meeks, 1876; W. T. Platt, 1878, 1880, 1882, 1884 ; Jacob H. Boger, 1886, 1888, 1889 ; W. R. Black, 1890; Marion G. Foster, 1892 ; S. P. DeWolf, 1894,


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 249


1896 ; A. W. Ray, 1898, 1900, 1902 ; J. C. Eddie, 1904, 1906, 1908.


THE FINDLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY.


The Findlay Public Library threw open its doors to the citizens of Findlay, January 27, 1890. It was an outgrowth of a small library conducted by an association interested in the circulation of books in the community. An act was passed April 16, 1888, by the General Assembly of Ohio, authorizing the establishment of a public library and the election of a library board of trustees, consisting of six members, three from each of the two political parties. The members of the first library board consisted of C. B. Metcalf, president ; W. D. McCoughey, J. A. Kagy, W. H. Wagner, Sam W. Mills and Mr. Adams.


The southeast double basement room of the court house was granted by the commissioners for the use of a library and with a nucleus of 900 books from the association, the present library was inaugurated. Miss Nellie Baker was elected librarian. A small fee was charged for the privilege of borrowing the hooks and it was not until January, 1905, that the system of free library books was established. An additional room was secured from the commissioners to meet the growing demands of the library.


The library now contains over 8,000 volumes with an average circulation of 3,500 per month. Miss May Morrison the present librarian succeeded Miss Nellie Baker in 1902. Miss Ella Maxwell is assistant librarian. The present board of trustees consists of S. H. McLeod, president, Prof. J. F. Smith, Prof. C. T. Fox, Mr. W. S. Neeley, Mrs. G. W. Ross and Mrs. G. F. Pendleton.


FINDLAY COLLEGE.


Findlay College, among the most recent additions to the schools of Findlay, is among the leading educational institutions of Ohio. While the establishment of a college, under the auspices of the Church of God had been in contemplation for many years, the initial movement looking to that end took definite shape in a resolution introduced at the general eldership held at Findlay in 1881. That body authorized the committee on education to take the proper Steps to form an incorporation and to select a location for the proposed institution. Findlay was selected as the most appropriate site for the college, and on January 23, 1882, articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of State, "Findlay College" being the name adopted. The incorporators were Jeremiah M. Corvell, Robert L. Byrnes, Isaac Schrader, Tobias Koogle, Jacob M. Cassel, Anderson C. Heck, John C. Strickler and George F. Pendleton, the four last mentioned being citizens of Hancock County. February 8, 1882, the articles of incorporation were signed and the board of trustees organized by electing Isaac Frazer, president ; Eli G. DeWolfe, secretary ; and E. P. Jones, treasurer. The first annual meeting of the board was held at Findlay, June 21, 1882, when a permanent organization was effected.


The site selected for the institution was a ten-acre tract lying about one mile north of the court house, situated on the west side of Main Sreet and surrounded on all sides by streets 5o feet in width. This ground was deeded to the Findlay College, July 23, 1882, by Samuel Howard and others ; the