DELAWARE TOWNSHIP. - 397

CHAPTER XV.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION, SUBSEQUENT CHANGES AND AREA-LOCATION, BOUNDARIES AND POPULATION-TIMBER, STREAMS AND SOIL-PIONEERS-A NOTED HUNTER -FIRST MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS-EARLY MILLS-CHURCHES-~SCHOOLS JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-MT. BLANCHARD-ITS FIRST BUSINESS MEN -POSTMASTERS-MAYORS-RAILROAD AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES-PRESENT MATERIAL AND SOCIAL INTERESTS OF THE VILLAGE.

SOON after the first election of county officers was held, April 7, 1828, two new townships, called Amanda and W elfare, were erected from Findlay Township, which previously embraced the whole county. As the minutes of the commissioners' journal from the organization of the county up to April, 1829, have been missing for some years from the record book in the auditor's office, it is not possible to give the original boundaries of these townships; but old settlers have stated that Amanda and Welfare then embraced the whole southeast portion of the county. On the 1st of June, 1829, in compliance with a petition presented by the citizens of Welfare Township, the board of commissioners changed the name of that subdivision to Delaware. Upon the erection of Jackson Township December 7, 1829, a part of Delaware was taken into that township, leaving the latter composed of the full congressional Township 2 south, Range 11 east. On March 4, 1834, Township 2 south, Range 12, was attached to Delaware, where it remained till its erection as Richland Township, March 2, 1835. The next change in the boundaries of Delaware occurred June 1, 1840, when the two western tiers of sections were taken in the formation of Madison Township. Wyandot County was erected February 3, 1845, and the five eastern tiers or thirty sections of Richland Township became a part of the new county, thus wiping out Richland as a subdivision of Hancock. The remaining tier of sections was attached by the commissioners to Delaware Township, March 5, 1845, and no change has since occurred in the territory of this subdivision. It contains thirty full sections of land twenty-four in Township 2, Range 11, and six in Range 12, or an area of 19, 200 acres.

Delaware is the southeastern township of Hancock County, and is bounded on the north by Jackson and Amanda Townships, on the east by Wyandot County, on the south by Hardin County, and on the west by Madison Township. In 1840, it contained a population of 532; 1850, 1,035; 1880, 1, 231; 1870, 1, 280; 1880, 1, 455.

The lands of Delaware Township were originally densely covered with oak, elm, ash, maple, walnut, beech, hickory, sycamore, cottonwood, Jinn, buckeye, hackberry and several other kinds of timber, most of which has long ago disappeared before the ringing blows of the woodman's a$. The Blanchard River enters the township in Section 38, and meandering northward through the central sections thereof strikes the northern boundary

398 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

line in Section 2, half a mile northwest of Mt. Blanchard. It receives, in its course through Delaware, Potato Creek and Hancock Run from the south east, and from the southwest, Wolford's Run and Ripley's Run. Along the Blanchard the surface is rolling, while back from that stream it is generally more level. The prevailing soil is a black, sandy loam, very rich and productive, but on the higher lands a clay mixture predominates, which, however, does not lessen its fertility or value.

Pioneers.-Late in 1821, or early in the following year, Asa Lake and his wife, Cloe, with their son, Asa M., and daughters, Lydia and Martha, removed to this township, and built their cabin on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 1, which was afterward entered by Asa M., December 12, 1822. This was the first settlement made in Hancock County south of "Chamberlin's Hill." The Lakes, natives of Kentucky, removed from that State to Ohio and settled near the salt works east of the Scioto River, in what is now Jackson County, whence they came to Hancock. In 1824 the father was assessed by Wilson Vance, assessor of Findlay Township, for two horses and eleven head of cattle. Findlay Township then embraced the whole county and was under the jurisdiction of Wood County; and this was the first assessment made within its limits. The parents were aged when they died at the old homestead on the Blanchard. On the 14th of September, 1826, Asa M. Lake was married to Miss Charlotte Greer, daughter of William J. Greer, Sr. The ceremony was performed by Joshua Hedges, a pioneer justice of the peace, who resided about two miles north west of Findlay. This was the first marriage in the township. Lydia Lake was subsequently married to George W. Wolford, and Martha became the wife of Jesse Rose. Both Asa and Asa M. Lake voted at the first county election held April 7, 1828; and upon the organization of Welfare (now Delaware) Township, in 1828, the latter was chosen justice of the peace, and twice re-elected to the same office. In October, 1830, Asa M. Lake laid out the village of Mt. Blanchard, upon the farm which he settled and improved. The family of Asa M. Lake removed to Logan County, but returned to this township, where he died. His widow is said to be still living in Illinois, and all of the children have removed to the West excepting William, who is yet a resident of Delaware Township.

Michael Burke entered the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 2, January 22, 1823, and settled upon it the same year. In 1824 he was assessed for two horses and two head of cattle. His name would indicate that he was an Irishman or of Irish parentage, but where he lived ere coming to this county is not known. Burke was a noted wolf hunter and spent the most of his time in the pursuit of game. On the 13th of November, 1826, he sold his land to Don Alonzo Hamlin, and with his family soon afterward left the county.

Daniel Hamlin and family were the next to locate in this township. He was a native of Maine, and removed to New York where he married, and about 1818 immigrated to Crawford (now Wyandot) County, Ohio. In 1824, with his wife Keziah, sons Don Alonzo and Daniel, and daughters Lorain P. and Azuba, he removed to this township and built his cabin on the Blanchard, in Section 2. Miss Lorain P. Hamlin married Aquilla Gilbert, now of Vanlue, and Azuba married David H. Edgar, a pioneer of Hardin County, whose school she was attending at the time of her marriage in March, 1831. Daniel and his son, Don Alonzo, voted at the first county election in

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP. - 399

April, 1828, at which time the latter was elected sheriff of Hancock County, defeating Reuben Hale, of Findlay, by thirty-nine to thirty-four. He served till the following October election, when he was chosen county assessor, which position he filled several years. In 1828 or 1829 Daniel Hamlin gave the old homestead in Section 2, to Don Alonzo, and removed to land which he had previously entered in Jackson Township, Hardin County, where both he and his son Daniel died in the summer of 1831. His widow, who survived him several years, also died on the homestead in Hardin County. Don Alonzo married Miss Elizabeth Slight. daughter of Thomas Slight, a pioneer of Findlay, who bore him several children. About 1840, he went to Iowa, where he passed the balance of his days. After his death some of his children returned to Hancock County. Don Alonzo possessed a better education than the average pioneer, and therefore wielded quite an influ ence among his neighbors. Many of the first settlers could neither read nor write, and a man of even limited education was the exception, and therefore looked upon by his less fortunate neighbors as a scholar. Such men as Don Alonzo Hamlin were great blessings to the scattered settlements in molding the sentiments of the people and encouraging the early establishment of schools.

The Greer family were the next to cast their fortunes with the Blanchard settlement. In the spring of 1825 William J. Greer and his wife, Sarah, natives of Maryland, located on the east half of the northwest quar ter of Section 1, immediately east of the Lakes, entered by him December 10, 1823. They had eight children when they came to this township, viz. William J., John H., Charlotte, James, Fielder D., Henry and Samuel. Charlotte was married to Asa M. Lake September 14, 1826, this being the first marriage in the settlement. William J. was subsequently married to Miss Rosannah Elder, daughter of Robert Elder, which was the second marriage in Delaware. Joshua Hedges, a justice of the peace, then residing northwest of Findlay about two miles, married both couples. A recent local publication tells an amusing story about the marriage of Mr. Greer and Miss Elder, giving an account of their trip through the forest to Findlay for the license, thence to Squire Hedges, where they were married, and thence back to their home in Delaware Township, both riding the whole distance upon one horse. Henry Greer (a brother of the groom), now a resident of Mt. Blanchard, says: "There is not a word of truth in this story. Squire Hedges came to Robert Elder's house, and it was there the marriage occurred. Our family and some of the Hamlins were at the wedding." Such seems to be the fate of many similar pioneer yarns. In the summer of 1827 another daughter, Maria, was born to William J. Greer, Sr., she being the first white female born in the township. The parents were Methodists, and the first class of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this section was organized at their .cabin on Potato Creek, by the Revs. Thompson and Gavit. Both died in this township, and here, too, the four eldest sons passed away. Henry is the only one of the children now residing in the county.

Reuben W. Hamlin comes next in the order of time. He was a native of Maine, removed to New York with his parents, where he grew to manhood, served through the war of 1812, and subsequently married Lovisa Earl, a native of the Empire State. In 1818 he and his wife settled in Cleveland, Ohio, then a small hamlet, where he carried on a little store, and here

400 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

his first child, M. S., now a resident of Mt. Blanchard, was born. In 1824, with his wife and three children, he left Cleveland and took up his residence in what is now Crawford Township, Wyandot Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 1825, arrived at the settlement on the Blanchard, and at once began the erection of a cabin in Section 2, near the improvement of Daniel Hamlin. He soon became familiar with the lauds of Hancock County, and throughout the pioneer days was one of the popular laud hunters of this region. He sold the first goods in Delaware Township, carrying on a small store at his house for the Carlin Bros., of Findlay, about five years. His name is found among the seventy-four electors who voted at the first county election April 7, 1828. At the general October election, held that year, he and Thomas Slight were opposing candidates for coroner, but Slight was elected. Reuben W. Hamlin was the father of eight children, six of whom are living, but only one, M. S., is a resident of this county, the others having removed to the West. The mother died in 1837, and in 1838 Mr. Hamlin went to Indiana where he lived several years. Returning to Ohio he settled in Wyandot County, there remarried, and died in 1854.

Godfrey Wolford also came in 1825, and settled in Section 11. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and was married in Coshocton County, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Elder, daughter of Robert Elder, and she bore him five sons and three daughters, viz.: Gideon, Robert E., John F., Mayor C., William, Catherine, Elizabeth and Phoebe. In April, 1828, Mr. Wolford was one of the three commissioners elected to serve until the succeeding October election, when he was again a candidate for the same position, but was defeated. He was afterward a justice of the peace of Delaware Township from 1834 to 1851, inclusive. In 1826 he built a hand-mill, which was used by the struggling settlers until 1829-30, when he erected a grist-mill on the Blanchard, which he operated for several years, and then sold to John Hanley. It was the first mill built south of Findlay in this county, and was of inestimable value to the pioneers of the southern part of Hancock. Mr. Wolford was a very useful citizen, and exerted a good influence in the township. He and his wife removed to Indiana, and there died, but two of his sons, Robert E. and John F., reside in Madison Township.

In the fall of 1825 Robert and Catherine Elder and five children, viz. Ephraim, John, Joseph, Jeremiah and Rosannah, natives of Pennsylvania, who had previously settled in Coshocton County, Ohio, located near the site of Mt. Blanchard. Ephraim and, John were married, while Elizabeth, the wife of Godfrey Wolford, had come out the previous spring. The other three were single. Rosannah subsequently married William J. Greer, Jr. In March, 1826, Mrs. Ephraim Elder, who is a daughter of John Wolford, gave birth to a son. From the fact that the little stranger was the first white child born in the settlement, some one suggested "Blanchard" as an appropriate name for the boy, but the mother stoutly refused, and named him John B. Three of the Elders-Ephraim, Josiah and John-cast their votes at the April election in 1828. The first case on the civil docket of the court of common pleas was brought by Robert Elder and wife, in November, 1828, against Asa M. Lake and wife for slander. The suit was decided in favor of the defendants, the plaintiffs being ordered to pay the costs, which were $2.22, truly not a very heavy bill; but the case goes to prove that the pioneers did not dwell in such Christian harmony as some of the few yet living would have us believe.

DELAWARE TOWNSHiP. - 401

Robert Elder and wife and their four sons spent the balance of their lives in Delaware Township, where the widows of Ephraim and Josiah still re side. Mrs. Wolford removed from the county, and Rosannah, upon the death of Mr. Green, married Simeon Ransbottom, and, for her third husband, Joseph Helms, and died in Findlay. Josiah was perhaps the most prominent and best known member of the family, though all of them are well remembered in this township.

No more settlers came into the township for the next three years, but in the summer of 1828 John Wolford and sons-Absalom W., George W. and Andrew-located on the Blanchard in Section 23, where he entered 160 acres of land June 17 of that year. They soon afterward erected a sawmill, and subsequently began the erection of a grist-mill, but. ere the latter was completed John Wolford died; and in August, 1832, Felix Miller purchased the property and finished the mill. Mrs. Ephraim Elder, of Mt. Blanchard, is a daughter of Mr. Wolford, and at this writing the only surviving member of his family.

Among other pioneers of this period were John Rose, Nathan Williams, Warren and Van R. Hancock and Harvey Smith. Mr. Rose entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 23, December 10, 1823, but did not locate upon his land till 1828. He was one of the first township trustees, and in 1832 was elected county commissioner, and in 1855 justice of the peace. His wife, Margaret, died January 6, 1863, and March 21, 1883, he too passed away. Both were natives of Maryland. One of his sons, Aaron F. B. , yet resides in the township. Nathan Williams and wife, Nancy, who came in the summer of 1828, are not so well remembered by the present generation. Mrs. Williams died soon after coming here, this being the first death in the settlement. Nathan afterward married Annie Hamlin, sister of Reuben W. Hamlin, and removed to Michigan. The Hancocks settled in the northeast quarter of Section 14 in the summer of 1828, and lived in the township for many years. Harvey Smith came the same summer, and settled in Section 1. He resided in this part of the county until after the close of the Rebellion, when he followed his brother, Cephas, to the West. All of the foregoing, except John Rose, voted at the general election in October, 1828.

The year 1829 ushered in Michael Casner, William Davis and Ayers Stradley. Casner settled in Section 10, where he resided till his death, his family afterward removing to the West. Davis entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 14 in 1.823, though he did not settle upon it for some six years after that date. He and his wife died in the township, and their son, Asariah, is now residing nn the old homestead. Stradley built his cabin on Potato Creek, and after a residence of several years here died, and the widow removed with the family to Indiana.

Samuel F. Treece and wife, Maria, natives of Pennsylvania, removed with their parents to Pickaway County, Ohio, where they were married. In the fall of 1830 they came to Hancock County, and settled in the northwest corner of this township. After a residence here of some twenty years they removed to Jackson Township, and in the spring of 1882 to Arlington, where they are now living.

In 1830-31 Felix Miller, Josiah Smith and Cephas Smith located in the township. Miller, in August, 1832, became owner of the saw-mill erected by John Wolford, in Section 23, and completed the grist-mill begun by the

402 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

latter. Josiah Smith, who is now living at Forest, Hardin County, settled in Section 1, while his brother Darius, who came with him, built his cabin in Amanda Township. Cephas Smith settled in Section 7, whence he removed West about 1850-51.

The township was now pretty well settled; large clearings had been made in the forest, and those who came later found a hearty welcome and willing hands ready to render any assistance needed. From 1831 to 1835 Dr. A. F. Burson, John Lafferty, William Musgrave, James Taylor, John P. Gordon, Abner Bell, Joshua Brown, Abijah Smith, Michael Shafer, Job Phillips, Samuel R. Phillips, Robert Wilson, George Sebastian, John Treece and a few others came into the township. But more than a decade had then passed by since the first cabin was erected in Delaware Township, , and these later comers can scarcely be regarded as pioneers in the true sense of that term, though many of them did their full share toward building up and improving their adopted county.

Early Mills.-A small hand-mill, built by Godfrey Wolford, in 1826, was the first mill of any kind in this portion of the county, and the pioneers came long distances to do their grinding. Mr. Wolford was a black smith and therefore a very useful man. For the convenience of the settlers he set up the mill in the open space between the double log-cabin of Ephraim Elder, where each man did his own grinding, and no charges were made. This rude mill served the purpose till 1829-30, when Mr. Wolford erected a grist-mill on the Blanchard in Section 11, which was the first flour ing-mill operated in the county outside of Findlay. It was a godsend to the pioneers of this portion of Hancock, as the difficulty of procuring bread stuffs was one of the greatest hardships they had to undergo. In 1834 this mill was appraised by the assessor at $500. It ran constantly during the milling seasons, and though it was often frozen up in winter, and stopped in summer by low water, the judicious farmer tried to keep sufficient flour on hand to bridge over these stoppages. Mr. Wolford ran the mill for several years, then sold it to John Hanley. A saw-mill was subsequently added thereto. These mills finally became the property of George S. Fahl, who carried them on till 1862, when he turned them over to his son Silas, who, in 18 l2, added thereto a steam planing-mill, shingle-mill and lath factory, all of which are still in full operation.

About 1831-32, John Wolford built a saw-mill on the Blanchard in Section 23. After getting it in running order he began the construction of a grist-mill, but he died before its completion; Felix Miller bought the property in August, 1832, and finished the mill. In 1834 these mills were in full operation, and were appraised at $600. Steam was finally substituted for water-power, but after some years the machinery was taken out and the buildings allowed to rot down.

Churches. - The first religious society in this township was organized in 1828-29, at the cabin of William J. Greer, Sr., by Revs. Thomas Thompson and Elnathan C. Gavit, itinerants of the Methodist Episcopal Church then stationed with the Indians at Upper Sandusky. William J. Greer, Sr., and wife, Robert Elder and wife, Mrs. Mordecai Hammond, Mrs. Godfrey Wolford, Mrs. Ephraim Elder, Mrs. John Elder and George Swigart and wife, of Hardin County, were the organizers of this class. Mr. Greer lived immediately east of the site of Mount Blanchard, on Potato Creek, and the society continued to meet at his house till the erection of a hewed-log school-

PAGE 403 - PICTURE OF S. F. DULIN

PAGE 404 - BLANK

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP. - 405

house, in the fall of 1833, on the corner of his son's (William J. ) farm. This was used some five years, when the society, in 1838, built a frame church in Mt. Blanchard. It was the first church erected in the village, and served the congregation about twenty years, at which time the erection of the present frame structure near the southern limits of the town became a necessity. Delaware Township can boast of six church buildings, three of which are in Mt. Blanchard, viz. : the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant and Presbyterian, all of which have good buildings and flourishing congregations. Outside the town the Methodist Protestants have two churches and the Baptists one, though the latter organization is almost extinct.

Schools.-The pioneer school of Delaware Township was opened about 1829, in a cabin erected by Robert Elder, on Section 11, and subsequently fixed up for school purposes. It was taught by John Wolford, and the Hamlins, Greers, Lakes, Hammonds, Wolfords and Elders were the pupils. In 1830 a small log schoolhouse was erected on the farm of John Rose in Section 14, which was opened and taught that year by Joshua Corbin. This was the first building erected for school purposes. In the fall of 1833 a hewed-log schoolhouse was put up on the farm of William J. Greer, Jr., being the second one built in the township. With the increase of population schoolhouses made their appearance in every portion of the township, and these were, from time to time, succeeded by buildings more in harmony with the age. The township now contains seven good schoolhouses outside of Mt. Blanchard, while the one in the village is a two-storied brick structure of three rooms, and under the graded system.

Justices of the Peace.-The following is a complete list of the justices of Delaware Township from its erection, as Welfare, in 1828, up to the present: Asa M. Lake, Godfrey Wolford, John Lafferty, Harvey Smith, Benjamin Corbin, Robert Taylor, John Rose, Thomas Miller, Robert Park, E. A. Sheffield, Jacob Bridinger, Jacob Harris, George W. Beard, Josiah Fahl, Balser Hauman, Elias Wilson and James C. Treece. Messrs. Fahl and Treece are the present justices of the township.

Mt. Blanchard. This is the only village in the township, and was laid out on Sections 1 and 2 by Asa M. Lake, October 19, 1830, and originally embraced 53 lots; but several additions have been made to the plat. It is believed to be the site of a Wyandot village, and lies on the high lands immediately east of the Blanchard River, from which stream the town derived its name. James Taylor was the first business man of the village, soon followed by John P. Cordon, James Greer, Abner Bell, Elijah Strad ley and Samuel K. Thompson. Dr. A. F. Burson came to Mt. Blanchard in 1832. He was the first physician to locate here, where he followed his profession about thirty years. Other early physicians were Drs. C. R. Fairchild, Peter Stephens and Mansfield. Dr. Burson is still a resident of the village, though retired from practice for many years.

In 1834 a postoffice was established at Mt. Blanchard, and John P. Cordon appointed postmaster. His successors have been Elijah Stradley, Chester Cook, W. W. Smith, John Lafferty, Joseph Patterson. L. A. Baldwin, Henry Greer, C. H. Stewart and J. C. Treece.

Mt. Blanchard grew slowly with the passing years, and on the 5th of December, 1885, was incorporated. The following citizens have filled the mayoralty, in the order named: Dr. John Foster, H. C. Pickett, J. W.

406 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Turnpaugh, J. W. Wingate, W. W. Hughes, A. F. Naus. J. W. Pickett, Jacob Harris, R. W. McVay, Isaiah Bell and R. W. McVay.

The town possessed no railroad facilities until the construction of the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Narrow Gauge. This road was commenced in the summer of 1881, reached Mt. Blanchard in December, 1882, and the first through train passed over the line from Delphos to Mt. Blanchard January 1, 1883. It crosses the northern part of the township east to Mt. Blanchard, thence diverges northeastward to Carey, and affords a shipping outlet for this portion of the county. Its construction infused considerable new life into Mt. Blanchard, but some of the citizens of the village now claim that the road is of very little advantage to them. The Cleveland, Delphos & Western Telegraph Company opened a line from Delphos to Mt. Blanchard on the same day the road was opened, and this is also finished to Caret', and has been a great convenience to the town and surrounding country.

The town now contains two dry goods stores, two general grocery stores, two drug stores, one boot and shoe store, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, a good steam flouring-mill, a steam saw and planing mill, a meat market, a hotel and a saloon, and has five physicians. The Odd Fellows, Masons and Grand Army of the Republic have each a lodge in the village. Comet Lodge, No. 344, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1858, and now contains nearly sixty members. The lodge owns a hall which was erected many years ago. Mt. Blanchard Lodge, No. 519, F. & A. M., was instituted in 1818, and has a membership of about thirty. It meets in a rented hall. Stoughton Post, No. 388, was organized October 13, 1883, has between forty and fifty members, and meets in the council room of the village. The Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant and Presbyterian (organized in 1850) denominations have each a church in Mt. Blanchard. The people of the town are particularly fond of referring to their efficient graded union school;-organized in 1868. The present commodious two-story brick building was erected in 1873, at a total cost of about $8,000, succeeding the more modest frame, whose predecessor was the old-fashioned log structure of "ye olden time," built when scholars were few and money scarce. It contains three comfortable school-rooms, fitted up with such modern conveniences as are found in all the graded schools of Ohio, while a competent teacher has charge of each room. The official census of 1880 gives Mt. Blanchard a population of 285, but its citizens now claim nearly 400. It is a healthy, bustling little place, possessing many nice homes and a well shaded street. The handsome residence of M. S. Hamlin, in the south part of the town, will compare favorably with the finer residences of metropolitan cities.