EAGLE TOWNSHIP. - 407

CHAPTER XVI

EAGLE TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION, NAME AND AREA-LOCATION, AND POPULATION BY DECADES-TOPOGRAPHY AND WATER PRIVILEGES-TIMBER AND SOIL - MILK SICKNESS - PIONEERS PRIOR TO 1839 - GRIST AND SAW MILLS-EARLY EDUCATION-RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES-JUSTICES-TOWNS AND POSTOFFICES- RAILROAD FACILITIES AND PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

ALL of the territory now composing Eagle Township, belonged to Findlay up to December 6, 1830, but on that date Liberty was erected, and the four western tiers of sections in Township 1 south, Range 10, became a part of the latter subdivision. The two eastern tiers of the same township. and range still remained in Findlay Township, until March 7, 1831, when Townships 1 and ? south in Range 10 Were set off by the commissioners from Liberty and Findlay "to be known and designated by the name of Van Buren." On the 3d of December, 1832, in compliance with a petition of certain citizens residing therein, Township 1 south, Range 10, was taken from Van Buren and erected as Eagle Township, receiving its name from the stream which flows through it. No change has since occurred in its territory, which covers a full congressional township of thirty-six sections, or an area of 23,040 acres.

Eagle lies south of Liberty and Findlay Townships, west of Jackson, north of Madison and Van Buren, and east of Union. In 1840 it contained a population of 524; 1850, 950; 1860, 1,371; 1870, 1,330 and 1880, 1,284, showing a gradual decrease since 1860. Between 1860 and 1870 the falling off in population was forty-one, and between 1870 and 1880 it Was forty-six, or a total decrease since 1860 of eighty-seven inhabitants. This would indicate that the farms are increasing in size or that marriage is less prolific than in former years, both of which, perhaps, are true.

A general sameness prevails in the topography of Eagle Township, showing a gentle dip toward the north, the streams flowing in that direction. The surface is level, except along Eagle Creek, where low bluffs are found at intervals. This stream comes in from Madison Township near the southeast corner of Section 3a, and, winding northeastward, traverses the whole eastern part of Eagle, leaving it near the northeast corner of Section 1; thence pursues the same course through Findlay Township, and empties into the Blanchard in the east suburb of Findlay. Eagle Creek has been of incalculable benefit to the country through which it flows, not only as a source of drainage, but as a furnishing power for mill purposes during the past fifty-three years. It receives two small runs in this township from the west line of Jackson. Tiderishi Creek has its source in the northeast part of Van Buren Township. It flows northward into Eagle about a mile and a half, then sweeps around toward the west, and after flowing some two and a half miles in that direction, through Sections 27, 28 and 29, makes a sharp turn northeastward, 'and describing a half circle passes into Union Township,

408 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

near the northwest corner of Eagle, and discharges its waters into Ottawa Creek in the southwest quarter of Section 1, Union Township. Tiderishi receives three small tributaries in its route; one from the south near its source, one from the east near the center of the township, and a third from the southeast a short distance from its mouth. Ottawa Creek crosses the southwest corner of the township, while Comer's Run takes its rise in the northeast portion. It can thus be seen that the entire township is thoroughly supplied with good water privileges and surface drainage. Pure water may be found at a slight depth in every part of Eagle, the wells generally ranging from fifteen to twenty-five feet.

The original timber consisted of the finest quality of oak, walnut, ash, maple, elm, beech, linn, buckeye, cherry, sycamore and other less valuable kinds found in other sections of the county. A rank vegetation covered the rich soil, forming a dense thicket almost impassable. A sandy vegetable loam is the predominating soil in this township interspersed with strips of heavier clay and gravel lands, all of which are very fertile.

From the earliest settlement some portions of Eagle Township have been affected by that dread disease commonly known as " milk-sickness. " The best medical authorities disagree as to the producing cause of the disease, some attributing it to mineral and others to vegetable poisoning. The writer has seen its unfortunate effects, both on man and beast, in different counties of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and has noticed in nearly every case that the cattle were allowed to roam at will and feed upon the rank vegetation natural to the country. Dr. A. F. Burson, of Mt. Blanchard, who has had a long and successful experience in the treatment of " milk-sickness," gives it as his opinion that the disease comes from the cattle eating the three leafed poisonous ivy. It is, however, evident that wherever the country affected has been under cultivation, and a good drainage system prevails, "milk-sickness" soon disappears.

Pioneers.-Early in the summer of 1829 John Woodruff and wife and their sons, Adam, Elijah and William Y., came to Eagle Township, and were the first white settlers who took up their residence within its boundaries. John entered lands in Sections 25, 26 and 35, June 1, 1829; Adam in Sections 25 and 26, on same date, and Elijah in Section 13, five days afterward. The parents built their cabin on the east bank of Eagle Creek, in Section 28, where Mrs. Isaac Smith and family now reside, and here both spent the balance of their lives. Adam Woodruff and his wife located on the section immediately north of the parents. Their cabin stood close to Eagle Creek on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Nicholas Rinehart. Adam died on this place. One of his children, John, is a wealthy citizen of Dunkirk, Ohio. Elijah and William Y. were single when they came to this township. Upon his marriage, Elijah settled on his farm in Section 13, where he resided till his death. Five of his children are residents of the township. William Y. remained a bachelor till late in life, and finally settled in the northwest part of the county. The Woodruffs took a prominent part in the organization of Eagle Township, and were among its first officials.

The next settlers were John Decker and Coonrad Line, both of whom came in 1830. The former was sent out by George Bishop to make a settlement on his land in Section 24, Mr. Bishop's son, John D., assisting the Decker family to move here in the spring of that year. Mr. Decker was one of the first trustees of the township. His sons, Elias and Elijah, were

EAGLE TOWNSHIP. - 409

young men at that time, and helped the father to erect a cabin and make a clearing on the Bishop farm. After several years' residence in this township the family went West. Mr. Line, a native of Pennsylvania, first settled in Fairfield County, Ohio. On the 1st of February, 1830, he entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 24, and began improving it the same year, which work he continued throughout the following spring and summer. In the fall of 1831 Mr. Line returned to Fairfield County, and on the 22d of September married Miss Catherine Cross, a native of Maryland, and toward the close of November arrived with his young wife at his rude log-cabin in the forest of Eagle Township, About one year passed away when an event occurred which somewhat relieved the monotony of forest life. This was the birth of their son-Peter on the 11th of October, 1832, who is yet a resident of the township. Mr. Line assisted in organizing the township, and filled the office of township treasurer about fifteen years. In 1861 he was elected commissioner, and served one term. The parents spent the balance of their days here, and two of then children, Peter and Elijah C., are worthy farmers of the township.

In 1831 Benjamin O. Whitman and William Williamson took up their residence in Eagle Township. Mr. Whitman was a native of New York, there married Deborah, the eldest daughter of Job Chamberlin, Sr., who settled on "Chamberlin's Hill " in the spring of 1822. Upon the death of Mrs. Chamberlin, January 8, 1820, Mr. Whitman and wife came to Hancock County, and went to live at the home of Mr. Chamberlin. In 1831 Mr. Whitman settled on a piece of land in Section 2G, Eagle Township, previously purchased by his father-in-law. In the spring of 1833 he was elected justice of the peace and filled the office one term. His house stood on the west bank of Eagle Creek, and here he resided till his death, his widow surviving him a few years and dying in 1854. Mr. Williamson was a half brother of Aaron Williamson, who first settled in Jackson Township. He came from Pickaway County, Ohio, and located in the southeast quarter of Section 1, where he lived till a short time before the war, when he went to Illinois. He served as justice of this township from 1830 to 1841 inclusive.

William Ebright removed to this township from the Blanchard River about 1832, settling in Section 13. He had located on that stream, in what is now Amanda Township, some three or four years prior to coming to Eagle Township. He removed from the township at quite an early day.

John D. Bishop was the next permanent settler. In 1820 his father, George Bishop, came from his home in Franklin County, Ohio, and on November 9, at the first sale of lots, purchased lot 11 in Findlay for the small sum of $12. On the 12th of the same month he entered the northwest quarter of Section 24, Eagle Township, and in 1830 sent out his son John D., with John Decker and family, to settle the latter on his entry. In 1832 he and his son again came to the township, and built a saw-mill on the west bank of Eagle Creek. The following year they erected a grist-mill, and John D. settled permanently upon this land, which his father had always intended he should do in due time. He married Miss Sidney A. Williamson, of Pickaway County, Ohio. The mills were burned down in 1837 or 1838, but were immediately rebuilt, and have been in operation ever since. Mr. Bishop served two terms as commissioner of Hancock County, and was always one of the township's most progressive citizens. He died May 9, 1884, after a residence in the county of more than half a century.

410 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

The Powells, Jacob, John and Philip, came in 1833. They were born in Pennsylvania, whence they removed with their parents to Fairfield County, Ohio. In the fall of 1831 they each entered land in Eagle Township, Jacob in Section 5, John in Section 9, and Philip in Section 8. Jacob married Miss Mary M. Hart, in 1831, and in June, 1833, removed to this county, settling permanently the following month where he now lives. Mr. Powell has been justice of the peace twenty-four years, a fair evidence of his standing in the community where he has lived so long. His wife is the mother of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity and nine are yet living. John Powell, with his wife, Polly (Fellers), came in the fall of 1833, and located in Section 9. He was twice married, and died in Findlay March 2, 1885. Philip Powell married Elizabeth Fellers; he did not settle permanently on his land till 1834. His wife died here, and he was afterward twice married, dying upon the old homestead, Where his son, Peter, now lives, August 29, 1866. The parents of these three pioneers came to the county at a later day and passed their declining years among their children.

About the same time that the Powells came to the township, Jacob Sharp, Henry heel and Amos Crum settled here. Mr. Sharp was a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and the pioneer blacksmith of this part of the county. He came here a single man about 1832, and soon afterward built a cabin and opened a blacksmith shop in Section 23, which he carried on many years. In 1835 he married Julia A. Whitman, a niece of Benjamin O. Whitman, who died in 1854. Mr. Sharp remarried and went to live in Hardin County, but in 1866 removed to Michigan, where he died in 1871. Rev. Lyman Sharp, born on the old homestead in 1836, is a resident of the township. Henry and Catherine heel, natives of Pennsylvania, settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, about 1823, and some six years afterward located in the northwest corner of what is now Amanda Township. On the 31st of May, 1833, Mr. heel entered the northwest quarter of Section 14, Eagle Township, to which he soon removed, and here he died in 1854, his widow surviving him about four years. They reared a family of seven sons and two daughters, four of whom are living and reside in this county. John and Samuel live in Benton, Mrs. Robert Barnhill in Liberty Township, and Abraham is one of the feW surviving pioneers of Eagle Township. Amos and Rebecca Crum settled in Section 13, on the east line of the township, in 1833; he died upon the home farm, his widow in Allen County. In 1845 "Clements " postoffice was established at his house, and Mr. Crum was postmaster until his death, being succeeded by his widow. One of his sons is a business man of Dunkirk. Hardin County.

In 1834 Moses Elsea. Peter Oman, Jacob Zoll, Henry Stiner, Daniel Feller and George W. Alspach came into the township. Mr. Elsea was from Pickaway County, and in the spring of 1834 built his cabin on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 11, which land he had previously entered. He raised a family of six sons and four daughters, and accumulated a large estate, Which his descendants are now enjoying. A few years ago he removed to Findlay, where his wife, Mary A., died, April 11, 1884, and he March 311, 1885. Peter Oman came with Mr. Elsea from Pickaway County, and settled in the east part of Section 10, immediately west of the latter. Both he and his wife are still living upon the old farm. Jacob Zoll came in 1833, but did not settle here till the following year,

EAGLE TOWNSHIP. - 411

when, with his family, he located in Section 15. He died in 1861, and one of his sons, David, lives near the old homestead. Henry Stiner settled in the southwest part of the township, in Section 32, early in 1834. He afterward sold his farm to Peter Arras, and removed to Williamstown. Daniel Feller, of Fairfield County, located in Section 17, in the spring of 1834. His wife died the following spring, and he soon afterward sold his land to Jacob Cogley, and returned to Fairfield County. He again married, and in the fall of 1839 came back to this township, and settled in Section 20, where he has ever since resided. Of his family of twelve children, five are yet living. George W. Alspach also came from Fairfield County, in the spring of 1834, and entered the employ of John Powell. He was then a single man, and the same fall he went back to Fairfield County, but again returned and began work for Jacob Zoll, whose daughter, Elizabeth, he married February 15, 1835. He settled in Section 22, in a rude log cabin, without door or window, and began life in the wilderness. After a short trial of pioneer life Mr. Alspach and wife, in 1836, returned to Fairfield County, but in 1838 came back again and located on their farm, where he resided till his removal to Findlay in 1883.

During the years 1833-34 a number of other families came into the township. James Smith, a Yankee, familiarly called "Yankee Smith," came from Delaware County, Ohio, and located in Section 15, in 1833, whence he removed to Michigan, William Farmer, of Virginia, came from Fairfield County, Ohio, the same year, and died here. William Greenlee also settled in Eagle Township in 1833. His cabin stood in the northwest part of the township, but in a few years he moved away. Charles Phillips, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the northwest corner of the township in 1834, where he resided till his death. Jonathan Alspach, also a Pennsylvanian, located in Section 15 in 1834, whence he removed to Indiana. Peter Feller, a native of the Keystone State, came from Fairfield County, Ohio, in the fall of 1834, with his wife, Catherine, and eleven children. He settled in Section 8, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their days, the former dying in 1856, and the latter in 1859. Their son Joseph resides upon the old homestead.

In 1835 David Cogley, Samuel Yates, Peter Swisher, John McNeal, Lower Walter, Isaac Lanning, Jacob Yeider and Martin Hollabaugh took up their residence in Eagle Township. In 1834 Mr. Cogley, his wife, Elizabeth, and three children, all natives of Pennsylvania, came to Findlay, and the following year purchased the farm of Daniel Feller in Section 17, Eagle Township, where both he and his wife died, the latter in 1850, the former in 1853. Jacob, Jr., lives on the old farm. Samuel Yates, a native of Virginia, married Margaret Swisher in Franklin County, Penn., and in 1830 removed to Richland County, Ohio. In the fall of 1835 he came to this township, settling on Section 3, where his wife died in 1876, and he the following year. Their eldest son, Samuel, lives on a part of the old homestead. Peter Swisher and John McNeal were brothers-in-law of Samuel Yates, Sr., and came about the same time. The former is still a resident of the township, but McNeal died in Findlay. Lower Walter still lives on the farm settled by him in 183; while Isaac Lanning who came with him from Fairfield County, Ohio, died on his farm, which adjoined Walter's. Jacob Yeider, a German, came from Richland County, Ohio, about 1835, and settled in Section 11, where he spent the balance of his life. Martin Hollabaugh

412 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

was a native of Maryland, there married Delis Grate, and in June, 1835, with his wife and two children, settled on Section 36, in the southeast corner of the township. He built a large frame house, and the following year laid out Martins Town on his land and opened a general store, which he carried on till his death, caused by milk-sickness, July 21, 1837. The widow removed to Findlay, subsequently married Jacob Rosenberg, and is now the wife of Jacob Carr.

John Crist and Daniel Tiffany came in 1836. The former was from Fairfield County, Ohio, and settled in Section 22. where both he and his wife died-latter in 1841 and former in 1845. Tiffany, with his sons-George, Richard, Daniel and Luther-also two daughters, was from the Western Reserve, and located northwest of Martin Hollabaugh. John, Amass, Watson and Reuben Fabun came with the Tiffany and settled in the same neighborhood.

In the spring of 1836 David, John, Alexander and James McClelland came from Beaver County, Penn., the first mentioned settling with his wife in Section 34. The others entered lands, but did not settle permanently till the fall of 1839. In the spring of 1837 their parents, Robert M. and Rebecca McClelland, with three more children, Thomas, George W. and Nancy, left Beaver County, and traveling across Ohio settled on the land previously entered in Section 27. The parents died on the old homestead, where Mrs. James McClelland now lives, and George W. is the only one of their children now residing in the county.

Ami Nunemaker and Adriel Gilberson settled on Section 31 in 1836. The former came from Fairfield County, Ohio, but was a native of Germany. He entered his land in 1832, and four years later with his family and David Houdeshell, now of Arlington, located permanently. Mr. Nunemaker died at Mt. Cory in 1884. Gilberson sold his land to George Bormouth, and left the county many years ago. Samuel Povenmire, of Pennsylvania, came from Pickaway County, Ohio, about 1836 and still resides in the township. William Foreman also settled in Eagle in 1839.

Joseph D. Kelley and Henry Oman, natives of Pennsylvania, located in the township in the spring of 1837. The former was born October 12, 1812; married Sarah A., daughter of Henry Oman, in 1836, and the fol lowing spring accompanied his father-in-law to Hancock County.. In the fall of 1837 he settled on his present farm in Section 33, where he and his wife have ever since resided. Seven children have been born to them, five of whom survive. Mr. Oman, with his wife, Eleanor, and family, settled on the northwest quarter of Section 9, where the parents resided till their death, the mother dying in 1849 and the father in 1859, in his eightieth year. Six of their children are living, all residents of Hancock County.

George C. and Magdalene Schmidt and family emigrated from Germany, and a few years afterward entered land in Section 18, Eagle Township, and in 1838 settled near the west line of that subdivision. The parents died here in 1864 and 1895, respectively, and their sons, Christian and Michael, and daughters, Mrs. Jacob Cogley and Mrs. Joseph Feller, are residents of the township.

The same year (1838) Jacob Gorby, with his mother and brother-in-law, Joshua Grate and wife, came here from Portage County, Ohio. His mother died in 1841 and his sister (Mrs. Grate) in 1845. In 1852 he located on Section 7,. where he lived until his removal to Rawson.

PAGE 413 - PICTURE OF JUSTUS CHASE

PAGE 414 - BLANK

EAGLE TOWNSHIP. - 415

The foregoing list of pioneers embraces the first ten years of settlement, though a few others no doubt came in during that period. Many later comers did more toward the development of the township than some of those mentioned, but the object of this article is to name the pioneers,

Grist and Saw mills.-John Decker's hand-mill was the first one used in this township, but the process was so slow and required so much labor to grind a small amount of corn that it was only patronized from stern necessity. In 1832 a saw-mill was built on Eagle Creek on the northwest quarter of Section 24, by George and John D. Bishop. As soon as the mill could be got in running order, they began getting out material for a frame grist mill, which was erected in 1833. These mills were burned down in 1837 or 1838, but John D. Bishop, with commendable enterprise, at once rebuilt them. The mill was remodeled in the spring of 1865 and has ever since been in successful operation. In 1854 Mr. Bishop put in steam power, but after a few years' trial steam was abandoned, and the water power again adopted. This old mill was of incalculable benefit to that portion of the county throughout the years when flour was scarce and a mill a blessing to the struggling settlers.

In 1835 Jacob Powell put up a saw-mill on Tiderishi Creek on the site of Willow Creek Station in Section 5. It was operated for many years. Isaac Smith built a saw-mill on Eagle Creek, close to his residence, in 1852, which was running till 1816, his sons taking charge of it at his death in 1869. Some three years ago Jacob B. Smith put up a steam saw-mill a short dis tance southwest of the old site, which he now operates. A steam saw-mill was built by the Blymyers on the Lima road in Section 8, many years ago, and is still carried on by one of that family. In 1860 Henry and Albert Shank and Augustus Sheffield erected a steam saw-mill on the corner of Mr. Shank's farm in Section 1, which ran till a couple of years ago. G. W. Rinehart had a saw-mill on his farm, but it, too, has ceased operations. Doubtless other small saw-mills have been owned and operated in this township, but the foregoing are those best known and remembered.

Early Education - In 1834 the first schoolhouse in the township, a small log building, was put up near Eagle Creek, John D. Bishop, Benjamin O. Whitman, Coonrad Line, Jacob Sharp, Amos Crum and some of the Woodruffs being the principal movers in the enterprise: They engaged Miss Rachel McBride to teach, and throughout the winter of 1834-35, the few children of this locality tramped through the snow-covered forest to this primitive buildng. In 1838 another small schoolhouse was built on the corner of Jacob Powell's farm; and a year or two afterward a school building was erected on Section 15. The township had now three schoolhouses, and in a few years others made their appearance: These rude log structures soon gave way to frames, and today Eagle Township contains nine first class brick schoolhouses, not surpassed by those` in any other township of the county, while the standing of the schools is excellent.

Religious Societies.-Though religious services were held quite early in this township, no organization was effected for about ten years after the first settler built his cabin on Eagle Creek. A society of the Evangelical Association was then organized in the Powell Settlement by Jacob, John, Henry and Samuel Powell and their wives, Peter and Jacob Feller and wives, and perhaps a few others. They erected a church on the farm of Jacob Powell. It was constructed of planks placed upright, and then weather-boarded. In

416 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY,

1875 it was superseded by the present brick building. The old structure is now doing service as an outhouse on the farm of Mr. Jacob Powell. A class of the Methodist Episcopal denomination was organized at the house of Joseph D. Keller, by Rev. Wesley J. Wells, about 1845. The seven organizers were Joseph D. Keller and wife, Joseph Oman and wife, Polly Houdeshell, Margaret Harris and Ara Rinehart. In 1851 a frame church was built on the farm of Mr. Keller, which served the congregation until the erection of the present handsome brick structure in 1872. The third church building was erected by the United Brethren society on Section 26, in 1854, on the farm of Adam Woodruff. This society was organized a few years before, Mrs. Coonrad Line, Isaac Decker and wife and some of the Woodruffs being among its principal supporters. Their first church was a small hewed-log building, which after about ten years was succeeded by "Pleasant Grove" Church, erected on Section 13. The Lutherans also organized a society and put up a church about the same time as the Methodists and United Brethren. Two other societies have been organized and buildings erected, viz. : the German Reformed and Methodist Episcopal Churches, near the center of the township, but neither has been used for sometime, and both societies are doubtless extinct.

Justices.-The following justices of the peace have served the people of Eagle Township since its organization: Benjamin O. Whitman, Jacob Powell, William Williamson, Jacob Miller, W. W. Hughes, John Miller, Henry Bishop, John Swank, Peter Bender, John Wise, John Croft, Abraham Keel, Peter H. Powell, L. W . Scothorn and Jacob B. Smith. The last mentioned and Peter H. Powell are the present incumbents of the office.

Towns and Postoffices. - This is purely an agricultural township, possessing neither village nor hamlet, though an attempt at "town making" was undertaken nearly fifty years ago. On the 30th of September, 1836, Martin Hollabaugh, who had settled in the southeast corner of Eagle the year previous, laid out a village on the southeast quarter of Section 36, Eagle Township, and the southwest quarter of Section 31, Jackson Township, which he recorded as Martins Town. He opened a general store, which he carried on till his death in 1837. If he had lived, a small town might have sprung up here, but his death destroyed all such prospects, and Martins Town never emerged from its shell.

Clements postoffice was established at the house of Amos Crum, on Section 13, in 1845, with Mr. Crum as postmaster. Upon his death Mrs. Crum attended to the office, and she was succeeded by John Crossly, of Jackson Township, to whose house the office was removed. Noah Sherrick, of Jackson, succeeded Crossly, and in 1858, John Swank, of Eagle, became

postmaster. In 1862 he moved across the road into Jackson Township and held the office until its discontinuance in 1866.

The Lake Erie & Western Railroad crosses the northeast corner of the township, and Willow Creek is a flag station located on Section 5, for the accommodation of that neighborhood. The township possesses no other railroad facilities, though Findlay, Rawson, Mt. Cory, Jenera and Arlington are within easy communication for shipping purposes. There is, perhaps, no township in Hancock County that excels Eagle in improvements and general appearances. Fine houses and barns greet the eye on every section, while there is not a foot of land but what is rich and subject to cultivation. Nature has done much for this part of the county, but the energy and enterprise of its citizens have in a great measure improved nature's handiwork.