CESSNA TOWNSHIP - 627

CESSNA TOWNSHIP.

This township is situated near the center of Hardin County, and is bounded on the north by Washington Township, on the east by Pleasant, on the south by the Scioto River, and on the west by Marion Township. It is six miles from east to west, and has an average breadth of about four miles from north to south, containing twenty--two and a half square miles, or 14,400 acres. appraised in 1880 at $303,899, an average of $21.10 per acre, about one-third Of it; present cash value. In 1880, nearly one-half, viz., 6,587 acres, were reported as wood lands, 6,000 acres as plowed lands, and the balance, 1,814 acres, as meadow lands. The township is situated on the water-shed or backbone of the State, as the water from the southern part of the township finds its way to the Gulf of Mexico through the Scioto, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, while the waters falling on the north part of the township find their way to the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, through the Blanchard, Hog Creek, the Maumee and the Great Lakes.

SOIL, TIMBER. PRODUCTS, ETC.

The township is generally level, with gentle undulations, and with many small marshes-bear or buffalo wallows, as they are generally called-many of which are drained, and are very fertile. The whole township, with the exception of a little of the Scioto Marsh, which lies in the southwest corner, is susceptible of easy drainage. Considerable tile is already laid in the township.

The soil is a deep black vegetable mold, resting on a limestone clay subsoil. The stone is white or water limestone, but no quarries of good building stone, gravel or sand have been found in tile township. Bowlders, or drift rock, are found scattered over the township, but not in such profusion as to be cumbersome.

628 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

The township was originally very heavily timbered, with the exception of a few small prairies with elm, ash, beech. soft maple, sugar maple, hickory, basswood or lynn, burr oak, with some white oak, pine or Spanish oak, walnut and hackberry. Her forest is being very rapidly denuded, that her rich lands may be made available for the production of grain and grass.

The soil is well suited to the production of all the cereals, but wheat and corn are the staple crops. The average yield of wheat, from 1870 to 1880, was 15.42 bushels per acre, and of corn, for the same time, 36.6 bushels per acre. But with the drainage and better culture of the present, it may be inincreased very materially, if not almost doubled. The grasses all seem to do well ; clover and millet are most extensively cultivated, and clover-seed is quite generally raised for market. Cattle are only found in small herds, while hogs and sheep are more extensively- raised. Some very nice droves of each are found, and a nice flock of sheep is seen on almost every farm.

PIONEERS.

There is probably no doubt that Charles Cessna was the first white settler in what is now Cessna Township. He was a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, but came to this county and settled in the then wilderness of this township, locating on Section 12, in 1830, where lie resided until his death. He was buried in the Salem Cemeterv. He had a large family of children, some of whom were as follows : Rachel, James. Jonathan. Rebecca and Colonel.

Isaac Gray was, perhaps, the second settler. He came here from Franklin County, Ohio, and settled in the west part of the township, on the borders of the marsh, in 1832, where he remained through life. He was an industrious, honest and worthy citizen, and a member of the Disciple Church. He was twice married. By his first wife, Catharine, he lead the following children Thomas, Jesse, Johnson. James, Mary Ann, Gilbert, Adeline, Isaac, William and Catharine. His second wife was a Miss Hamilton. by whom he lead one child, Wesley.

Daniel Trump came here from Licking County, Ohio. and settled near Mr. Gray and close to the Marion Township line, in 1832-33. He married Sarah Walker. Their children were Abigail, Jacob, and others. After several years' residence here, he removed with leis family to the `rest. Thomas McGoldrick settled on Section 25, in 1832-33, but, after a few years, sold out and moved away.

Jacob Ryan came here from Coshocton County, Ohio, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 14, where he entered 120 acres in the fall of 1832. He married Catharine Alkire, and resided on the place where he first settled till his death. His wife survived him, and died in Coshocton County, while living with her daughter. Mr. Ryan was an excellent man, a good farmer, and highly respected by all who knew him. He was the father of the following children : Mary, George. Christena, Nancy, Rachel, Susan, and two or three who died young.

Jacob Beem was born in Rockingham County, Va., September 9, 1785 ; removed to Belmont County about 1803, where he married Elizabeth McMilian, a native of Scotland ; subsequently they removed to several other counties, and in 1833-34 came to Hardin County, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 14, in this township, where he entered eighty acres of land, opened out a farm, and made a good home, where lie resided until his death, August 12, 1872. His wife died August 21, 1866. Mr. Beem was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a true type of the honest old pioneer farmer, and took great delight in hunting in those days of abundance of game. They were parents of eight children, of whom three now survive-James, William and Sarah. The deceased were Elizabeth, Eda, Jemima, Hester and Gilman.

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Levi Mathews was born in Stark County, Ohio, January 20, 1811. He married Elizabeth W Whetsel, who was born in Pickaway County, February 20, 1811. In May, 1834, they removed to this township and settled on the Northeast quarter of Section 5, where he still lives and has resided a period of nearly half a century. His wife died in 1867. They had three children, viz.: Milton (deceased), Mortimer and Elmer. Jonathan Mathews, a brother of the above, came here in August, 1834, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 7. He married Rebecca Donaldson in 1833, by whom he had the following children: Elizabeth J.. William R., Phebe Ellen, Joseph, Melvin. Lovinia and Genevra. Mr. Mathews died in 1875. His wife still survives, and now resides in Ada. Smiley Mathews was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and in February, 1835, came here and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 5. He married Phebe Donaldson. and resided on this farm until his death, in 1868. His widow still survives him, and resides on the home place. They were not blessed with any children of their own, but their kindness and generosity were abundantly extended to others, see several of whom they raised and to whom they extended a father's and mother's care and attention. Isaac Mathews, the father of the above mentioned Levi, Jonathan and Smiley Mathews came here in November, 1834, and settled. with his family, on the northwest quarter of Section 5, where he died, aged sixty-six years. He married Nancy Hamilton, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio. She survived Mr. Mathews twenty-one years, and died at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Their children were as follows Smiley, Jonathan. Levi. Rachel. Susanna, William, Lovina. James, Elihu. Rebecca and Harvey ; the latter died in infancy. This family have been anion; the most prominent and prosperous farmers of Cessna Township. and are well known for their high moral and Christian character.

Joseph Wilson was a native of Pennsylvania, and married Martha Holmes, born in Eastern Ohio. In the fall of 1834, Mr. Wilson, accompanied by his two eldest sons. Thomas H. and Isaac H., came from Carroll County, Ohio. and erected a house on land previously entered by him in Section 1. Cessna Township, Hardin County, Ohio and then returned for the balance of his family, who, with his wife, were Amos, Elizabeth, Mary, George and Samuel C., arriving at their destination in February, 1835. After a residence of some seven years, the parents returned on a visit to Carroll County, where the father died, and Mrs. Wilson, after burying her husband. carne back to Hardin Country and removed her family to Carroll, where they lived about fifteen years ere again settling in this county. She still survives, and resides with her daughter Mary, now Mrs. William Deming. of Kenton. Isaac H. and Samuel C. are also residents of Hardin Counts, while Amos lives in Kansas, and Elizabeth in Harrison County. Ohio: Thomas H. and George are deceased. Joseph Wilson and his wife "Aunt Patty," as she is most familiarly known, were the first Methodists who settled in Cessna Township, and may justly be called the founders of Salem Church.

Rev. Thomas Harvey Wilson was born in Carroll County, Ohio, March 29, 1817, and died in Fremont, Ohio, March 26, 1883, aged sixty-five years eleven months and twenty-seven days. He emigrated with his parents. Joseph and Patty (Holmes) Wilson, to Hardin County, in February, 1835. The family settled in Cessna Township, and were among the early settlers of the counts. Here he became familiar with the hardships incident to pioneer life. In his latter years, he took great satisfaction in meeting with the pioneers and living over again the early incidents of his life. He experienced religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1839, at a camp-meeting held about two miles west of Kenton, on the Scioto River. This marked a change in the course of his life. Such were his gifts and graces that in a few weeks after his conversion he was licensed as a local preacher.He was at once em-

630 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

ployed by the Presiding Elder as a supply on Richwood Circuit, and, in 1842, was admitted into the North Ohio Conference. He was first married to Miss Sarah Olney, in 1844. They lived happily together for thirty-three years, and were blessed with four children, only one of whom survives. Under circumstances most painful indeed, the wife and daughter were called away in August, 1877. His next wife was Mrs. Sarah Harris, of Fremont, Ohio, whom he married December 1, 1881, and she still survives. He enjoyed an unbroken membership in the church of forty-six years, and in the Conference of forty-one. He was Presiding Elder eleven years, on the best stations of the Conference, Centenary Agent one, and sixteen years on circuits. He was twice honored by an election by his brethren of the Conference to represent them in the General Conference. When he commenced his itinerate ministry, the country was new, circuits large, the roads almost impassable, the people poor, and the salaries very meager. No man in the Conference had a more vivid recollection of the hardships of the early preachers, and no man took more satisfaction in recounting them, or could more vividly describe them. Though he had been in very imperfect health during the winter, the last severe sickness was of short duration For some days in the former part of his affliction, his mind wandered: but before the closing hours, consciousness returned, and he died, as he had lived, in the full possession of his faculties and with a conscious sense of the favor and presence of his Savior. Mr. Wilson was a genial companion. Few men were blessed with better or more interesting conversational powers. His fine imagination, combined with his ample fund of varied and interesting anecdotes, made him the center of attraction in any social circle. He was specially endowed with great kindness of heart, and knew how to speak words of kindness and comfort to others. He possessed the rare faculty of entering into their feelings, and leading them from their grief to happier thoughts. His preaching was peculiar to himself. Its marked characteristic was a peculiar pathos that at once arrested attention, and awakened sympathy for himself and theme. When aroused, his powers of imagination and delineation were wonderful. It was no uncommon occurrence for his audiences to be swayed as a forest and melted to tears. He understood well the doctrines of his church, and was capable of stating them clearly and ably defending them. He was an evangelist in the true sense of the word. He understood the art of winning souls. Few men were more successful in leading men to Christ. He had fine executive abilities and a clear weight into character. He studied men closely, and possessed a wonderful power over then. In his work, he was always master of the situation; full of resources, his good sense never failed him, and he was always capable of measuring up to the emergency. He was brought to Kenton, the scene of his early manhood, to find his last resting place.

Allen Leper came from Richland County, Ohio, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 9, in April 1834, where he and his wife resided until their death. They had the following children John, James, Jane, Mary, Rachel, Kanhoppock, Catharine, Robert, Samuel, Asher and one daughter, the second child whose name we could not obtain.

John Houser settled on the northeast quarter of Section 10, in 1835, where his wife died, after which he married, for his second wife, a Miss McBride, and subsequently moved to Indiana.

Stephen Cessna, from Coshocton County, Ohio, settled on Section 17, but resided here only a few years till he died. He was a man of fine ability, and possessed of a character above reproach, and had his life been spared, would evidently have made a success in life, and have been a useful citizen in this community.

Thomas Hitchcock, a native of Richland County, Ohio, then a resident

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of Crawford County. in February, 1836, came to this township and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 7. He married Naomi Cory, by whom he had the following children, viz., Isaac, Cory, Sarah, Elmer and others whose names are not now remembered. After many years' residence here, they removed to Indiana, and subsequently to California. where his wife died. About 1843-44, Isaac Hitchcock, father of the above Thomas, settled at Huntersville, where he erected a carding machine. and carried on quite all extensive business for several years, and died here he was twice married. Children: Thomas, James, Nancy, Isabel and Mary, by first wife ; Henry, Moses, Sarah, Bigelow, Samuel and Jane by his second wife.

Peter Foglesong came here from Coshocton County, Ohio, and settled oil section 3, in 1836, he married a Miss Cessna and resided here till his death.

Chester Hatch, a native of Medina County settled on Section 1, in Cessna Township, in 1836, where he still resides, and is one among the most reliable and substantial men of the township. In his early life, he taught school in many years. He has always been a strong advocate of temperance. In an early day, when he erected his house, some of his neighbors told him he must get a jug of whisky, or they would not help him raise the house It was against his principles to do such a thing, but finally he went to Kenton and bought a jug filled with whisky. and started for home. On his way, he was reflecting upon what he was doing, and the more he thought upon the subject the more dissatisfied he became over his course of action: finally, he grasped the jug of whisky and dashed it against a tree, effectually destroying both jug and whisky, declaring that if he could not get his house raised without whisky, it should never be raised. But his neighbors helped him raise his house, although they had some fun and jokes over the broken jug, some of the pieces of which some neighbor had found and brought to the raising. Mr. Hatch is the father of two sons-David and William.

Mr. Whitesides also from Medina County, settled on the same quarter-section at the same time with Mr. Hatch. He taught school many years: was a man of firm character and principle, and who, with Mr. Hatch, did much toward molding the morals and good character of this community. Mr. Whitesides died on the adjoining section on the north, in Washington Township. He was the father of one child - James

Loyd Leonard settled on Section 16, in 11836. He was noted as a great hunter, but resided here only a few years, then moved away.

Moses Kibby with his wife Tamar. settled near the northwest corner of Cessna Township in 1837, where his wife died. He subsequently moved to Lima, Ohio, where he died. Their children were Lucy, Harman, Janette and others.

Samuel Calhoun, about 1838-39, came here and purchased the place of John Houser, but, after a few years' residence, moved away. William Cessna, Thomas Leedom and Joseph Leper also settled here between 1832 and 1835. Some of the McCoud family, who were early-settlers at Fort McArthur, became quite early settlers on the Scioto River in Cessna Township ; but their history will be found in Buck Township, where the family first located.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

Cessna Township was organized in 1834, and is the Congressional Township 4 south, Range 10 east, and was named for Charles Cessna, one of the early settlers within her borders. The first election was held at an old schoolhouse on Section 11. The record is so badly mutilated we were only able to ascertain that Charles Cessna was one of the Trustees, and Joseph Lemont, First Clerk. In 1835, we find Thomas McGoldrick, Charles Cessna and Jonathan Mathews were elected Trustees; Joseph Wilson, Clerk; Daniel

632 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Trump, Treasurer, and Thomas McGoldrick, Constable. Thomas Leedom seems to have been the first Justice of the Peace, although no account of his election exists. Samuel McCoy served fifteen or twenty years as Justice of the Peace in the early history of the township, but none of either of their descendants are left to tell the tale.

In 1840, the following township officers were elected : John A. Houser, Levi Mathews and John Leedom, Trustees ; William Mathews, Clerk and Constable ; Smiley Mathews. Treasurer. In 1850. Jonathan Mathews, George Bateson and Chester Matchwere elected Trustees ; Bernard Mathews, Clerk ; James Leeper, Treasurer, and Elihu Mathews, Assessor. The present officers of the township are J. N. Huey,. Josiah Obenour and Valentine Eccarius, Trustees ; S. D. Guider, Clerk; Jonathan Davis, Treasurer; G. J.J. Witherall. Assessor; S. R. Calvin, Constable.

The following is a list of the Justices of the Peace: Thomas McGoldrick, Thomas Leedom, Samuel McCoy, Peter Ash, F. M. Cory, .Jonathan Mathews, Simon A. Reid, Robert Whitesides. Ellis Sams, Valentine Eccarius, Charles Jackson, George Mesbaum, T. J. Miller and .John C. Smith, Simon A. Reid and T. J. Miller.

The following gentlemen appraised the land of the township: Harrison P. Dart. 1850; Simon A. Reid, 1860: Michael Shirkey, 1870: John U. Strahm, 1880.

The present population of the township by the census of 1880 is 966, all white. There are at present about 200 voters in the township, pretty evenly divided. Democrats an and Republicans both claiming a majority on a full vote, but, at this time, a majority of the township officers is Republican, although the election generally turns or the personal popularity of the candidate, and as a general rule fills the offices with the best men.

CHURCHES.

In this as in most other backwoods districts, the first preaching was held in private houses, schoolhouses, and in the grove, when the weather permitted. Early in 1835, the Rev. Kinnear, a Methodist preacher, organized a small class at the house of Joseph Wilson in Section 1. This class consisted of seven persons, viz.: Joseph Wilson and wife, Samuel Badley, wife and daughter, Ellen, John C. Dill, who was chosen class leader, and Susan Teeters, who subsequently married Isaac Draper. About 1840-41, tire society, having largely increased, then numbering about sixty members, erected a log building on the corner of Mr. Wilson's farm, he donating a lot for that purpose, and the church was dedicated under the name of "Salem." The ministers were the same, who preached to the Kenton class, this whole region being then in one circuit. About twelve years ago, the old structure was torn down, and the present neat frame edifice erected, three-quarters of a mile west of its former site. Salem Church possesses a large membership, embracing many of the leading citizens of Cessna Township, while the large number of young people belonging to the church is a healthy sign of prosperity and stability of character. A good Sunday school is connected with this church, and Methodism may be said to be the prevailing belief in Cessna Township.

At an early day, the Presbyterians organized a small class where David Hizer lives, composed principally of the Mathews family and James Hamilton.

The Disciples Church formed, and still have, a considerable church in the township, but own no house of worship; they meet at the schoolhouse in District No. 2.

The meeting house called "Obenour's" was built by the Protestant Methodists, on the north line of Section 4, at an early day, and passed into the hands of the Evangelical Church. It. is now very little used and is rapidly falling into

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decay. Though these comprise nearly, if not all, the active religious bodies in the township, yet most of the leading churches have adherents living within its boundaries, and the community ranks as highly moral and religious.

SCHOOLS.

The schools of Cessna Township, during her early settlement, were like those in most other new settlements in Ohio, few and far between ; taught in some kitchen or some rudely constructed log cabin, with the larger part of one end appropriated as a fire-place; a log cut from one side and greased paper over the opening, forming the window; a puncheon floor, long slab benches, and a plank against the wall for a writing desk, completing the furniture. The first school of which we can get any account was taught by James Hamilton, about 1835, at his own house. John G. Lee taught a year later, in a house on Section 8. The first schoolhouse was built on Section 11, about the year 1836, and a year or so later, one was built on Section 8. Among the early teachers, besides the two above named. was Simon A. Deed.

At present, the township is divided into six school districts, all furnished with brick or frame houses, with the latest improved desks and seats, black boards. etc., and supplied with well qualified teacher;. in fact all that is necessary to give the rising generation a fair start on the high road to knowledge and a fair education.

CEMETERIES

The first interment in Cessna Township was on fractional section 36, just across the river from Fort McArthur, where three or four soldiers were buried during the occupation of the fort in 1813, but their names are lost to history. Since the settlement of the country, some others have been buried on the same knoll. The Huntersville Graveyard is on Section 6, but the time of its location we have not been able to learn. The Salem Graveyard is located on the south line of Section 1, and has not been in use very long.

The Trustees have bought and fenced four acres on the west line of Section 33, but as yet none of the dead have found a resting place on this beautiful plat. The settlers in the northwest part of the township used the Obenour Graveyard. A cemetery on the south line of Section 33, Washington Township, is now used by many of the inhabitants of the northern part of Cessna, and the custom so prevalent in most newly settled communities, of each farmer burying on his own farm is fast being abandoned, and the dead are being congregated in public cemeteries, where their resting places will be taken care of and respected.

SOCIETIES.

The only society that exists in Cessna Township is the First Mutual Protection Association of Hardin County. The object of tile society is to protect the property of its members from theft or malicious destruction, and to arrest and convict criminals.

The officers are : President. J. D. Cessna; Secretary, W. M. Reed; Treasurer, George Cessna ; Captain. W. A. Martin; First Lieutenant, W. A. Guider; Second Lieutenant, Charles Craft; Third Lieutenant, William Detwiler; Fourth Lieutenant, Josiah Obenour ; Fifth Lieutenant. Benjamin Ault; place of meeting. Schoolhouse, District No. 1.

PIONEER REMINISCENCE.

When Levi Mathews first settled on the farm where he now resides,.he lived in an old Indian bark house until he cut logs and put up a cabin, and got it ready to move into. He says that game was so plentiful that he scarcely ever needed to go off his own land for a supply of meat. Deer, turkey, rabbit or squir-

634 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

rel, and occasional bears and wolves, were plenty about the marsh. Allen Leper, one of the first settlers of Cessna Township, a regular backwoodsman and hunter, who settled in the township in 1833, came from the backwoods of Pennsylvania, and was perhaps the best trained hunter and Indian scout that settled in Hardin County. John Perry Euline, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 19, 1817, and came to Hardin County in 1835, is about the last representative of the old-time hunter left in the township. He still can be seen with his trusty rifle on his shoulder, with nothing larger to shoot at than a rabbit or squirrel, and he sighs for the game of "Auld Lang Syne."