748 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY

LYNN TOWNSHIP.

This was the last constituted township of Hardin County; the act of the Commissioners setting apart this territory, which was taken from Buck, Taylor Creek and McDonald Townships, as a new township. was done September 8, 1857, and named by them " Silver Creek." An election was duly called, and the same was held at the house of W. D. Gunn, on September 19, 1857, with A. A. Piper, Milton Iron and Nathaniel Norman as Judges: J. M. Piper and W. D. Gunn, Acting Clerks. The following officers were elected Trustees: Joseph Brown. S. S. Cutts and Daniel S. Vermillion; Clerk, J. M. Piper; Treasurer, John Rice; Constable, M. Borst. On April 5, 1858, was held a regular township election, when the same officers as mentioned above were re-elected, and, in addition. A. A. Piper was elected Assessor. At the above-mentioned election, September 8, 1857, a vote was taken by the citizens upon the name the new township should take. Three names were proposed and voted for, viz., Lynn, Fillmore and Silver Creek. For the former twenty-one votes were cast; four for Fillmore and two for Silver Creek; hence its name was established by its citizens to be Lynn, and from that time since it has been recognized as Lynn Township. This township is abundantly supplied with a species of tree known as the Lynn tree, and this, it is said, was the pretest for its name. The township occupies a central position in the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Cessna Township, on the east by Cessna and Buck Townships, on the south by Taylor Creek, and on the west by McDonald Township. It is about six miles long from north to south, and three and seven-eighths miles wide from east to west, containing twenty-three and one-quarter square miles, or 14,880 acres.

STREAMS, SURFACE, SOIL. TIMBER, ETC.

It has no streams of any size or importance, except the Scioto River, which forms its entire northern boundary between it and Cessna. This stream has a general southeast course. In the western part of this township is a small stream, known as McCoy's Run, which rises near the south line of the township and flows almost directly north through the entire length of the township, and empties into the Scioto. In the east and southeastern portions of the township are Lick Run and Jordan Run..

Of the surface, we may describe the southern part of the township as quite rolling, while the central and northern portions are level or slightly undulating.

The soil is a loam and clay, and is rich and productive, capable of yielding abundantly large crops of wheat, oats, corn and hay. The great portion of this township is yet new, and much hard labor is necessary to

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remove the heavy forests and ditch and drain the land; yet there are now many good and well cultivated farms with fine improvements. And in passing over some of the more recently settled portions, one will observe many hundreds of acres upon which the woodman's ax has thoroughly done its work, and the black and decomposing stumps stand thickly, like so many dark specters, over the surface, but which in a few years more will entirely disappear and leave the land free and easy of cultivation. The soil is of that clay nature by which it holds a remarkable amount of water, and the great important feature or necessity is to thoroughly ditch, tile and drain it, and it then constitutes the most productive of lauds; and to this work the people are now rapidly giving their attention.

This land was originally very heavily timbered, embracing principally the following varieties: Oak, ash. Lynn, beech, maple, walnut, elm and hickory. Of the three first mentioned, manv fine logs and much beautiful lumber have been obtained, and great quantities still remain and are becoming very valuable, from the nearness and increase of the markets now existing. A large amount of the smaller Lynn timber is being cut and worked into staves for barrels.

From the above description of the soil, it is evident that mud roads were prevalent and difficult to travel; but the citizens are entering with much interest and enterprise upon the work of building pikes, and already several are completed and others proposed and in process of construction. The first one built was the Round Head & Kenton pike, and the next the Yelverton & Kenton. The south part of the township appears to be well supplied with gravel and material. while the central portion will have further to haul their material. Bat a few years' time, with attendant prosperity, will enable the citizens to have all the principal and most important roads well graveled and in good condition.

The Chicago & Atlantic Railwav runs through the north part of the township. A station named Oakland has been located near the northwest corner.

The old Hall trail from Bellefontaine to Fort McArthur passes through this township. entering it through the land of William Boons, on the David Wallace Survey, No. 10,037, thence through the William Stewart farm, the A. A. Piper and E. G. Gunn lands in the Walter Dun Survey, No. 9,935, and northward to Fort McArthur Arthur in the northwest corner of Buck Township. In some places, remains of the old corduroy bridges which were constructed seventy years ago, are yet visible.

A very ancient and peculiar gun barrel was found in Lynn Township in March, 1877, on lands owned by L. T. Hunt and James S. Robinson. four miles above old Fort McArthur on the south side of the Scioto River, about ten rods from the bank. between it and a former spring, where for many years was a hunter's camp, being about due east of the Scioto Marsh and on the west side of a new road opened out in 1877-78 at Hunt's Ferry. It was found partially under an old stump, at the side of which a tree a foot or more in diameter had grown. The gun barrel is in possession of Mr. Hunt at Kenton. It is three feet four inches long. heavy at the breech, smaller at the middle and heavy toward the muzzle, has a large bore nine-sixteenths of an inch, with deep rifles. It is evident it had been lost for a long time, as there was not a vestige left of either the lbek or the stock, they having completely rusted or rotted away. It was probably an old "flint-lock" of the french traders, who frequented the Maumee and Blanchard over one hundred years ago, as that style of gun has long since gone out of use.

750 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLERS.

As nearly all of the hrst settlers are deceased, and as in this township it appears that in many instances their descendants, who still survive, have all moved away,thus making it more difficult to obtain as definite information, in some cases, as we would desire, yet we have endeavored to make use of all the remaining sources from which to obtain a knowledge of them. and from what we have gathered it seems very probable that John Canaan was the first permanent settler in what is now Lynn Township. He came here from near Hanging Rock, on the Ohio River, about 1828, and settled near where Henry Norman now lives, where he resided many years, and perhaps till his death. His children are all deceased or moved away. Of his children were Miritta, William, Jehu, Washington, and it is believed some others whose names we could not learn. Washington was killed in a well, which accident is mentioned on another page. One grandson, a son of Jehu. now resides in Kenton, this county.

William Haines was probably the next settler, who located here near where Mrs. Canaan settled at about the same time. It appears that he married Miss Nancy Hatfield in Logan County, Ohio, and removed from there here and remained a resident here till his death. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. They had tile following children: Elizabeth. Sarah, Matilda, Jackson and Thomas.

Daniel S. Vermillion was born iii Monroe County, W. Va., October 7, 1807;. He married Priscilla Hisey in 1830. He removed to Ohio and settled in Lynn Township in 1834, upon the tract of land where he still lives, having made a continued residence here of nearly half a century. He was one of the first Trustees of the township, and has been one of her enterprising and useful citizens whose biographical sketch appears in this work, giving, a more full account of his wife and family.

William Koons, it is believed, was a native of Virginia, where he married Martha Shepherd, but early removed to Ohio and settled near Bellefontaine. About 1836-37, he removed to this township and settled on the David Wallace Survey. and remained near where he first located till his death. His children were Martha and Mary (twins), William and Jacob.

Edward Wilcox was twice married; his second wife was Mrs. Jane Monroe whom he married in Moss County, and, about 1836-37, removed to this county and settled on land where his son James now lives, and there resided till his death. He was a quiet, unassuming man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen. Their children were Anna, John, Aaron, William, Sarah, Jane, James, Edward, Gordon and Thomas. Joseph Brown married Elizabeth Koons and removed here from Logan County soon after Mr. William Boons settled here, and located just west of him on the Wallace Survey, where it is believed he remained till his death. His children were Martha, Jacob and John.

Jonathan Wilcox, a brother of the above Edward Wilcox, married Rozaline McConkey; settled here about 1839-40, was a blacksmith by trade and carried on that business through life; he was, it is believed, the first mechanic of that trade in this township. He seemed to possess a natural mechanical genius, and was an excellent workman. Subsequently be removed to Belle Centre. His children were Anna, Eliza, Sarah, George W. (now a blacksmith at Round Head), John and Alexander.

Clement Rice was a native of Pennsylvania, where he married Eliza McCracken, and at an early day removed to Muskingum County, Ohio; thence, in 1832, he removed with his family to this county and settled where

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Mrs. Mary Rice now lives in Lynn Township, and here resided till his death. Of his children, James, John, Robert, Richard, William, Rebecca and Margaret are deceased; George resides in Fayette County, Ohio, and Thomas in Taylor Creek Township, this county. John, who was the oldest child who came to this county, married Eliza Seaton and settled near his father, where he resided till his death. He died December 20, 1861, aged fifty-nine years. He was a man of undoubted integrity and held many of the most important offices of his township; he was several years Treasurer of Taylor Creek Township, and at the organization of Lynn Township was elected its first Treasurer and held the office by continued re-election up to the time of his death. In an early day he served as a Captain in the militia, and at one time served as County Assessor. He was a worthy member of the United Presbyterian Church, and a useful and worthy citizen. His chil dren were Calvin (deceased), Robert, Rebecca, John S., Thomas, Adam M., Nancy Jane, Albert N. (deceased), and Martha A. All those surviving are residents of Hardin County, except Thomas, who resides in Fayette County, Ohio.

Robert Stewart, a native of Virginia, married Isabella McDonald, and. in 1841, removed to Ohio and settled in this township on land now owned by the heirs of Davis Derr. After a residence here of many years, and having cleared up and obtained a good farm and home, he removed to Illinois, but remained there but a short time, when he removed back to Hardin County; thence he removed to Kansas, remaining there only two or three years; he again returned to this county, where he died, January 25, 1868, aged seventy years. His wife survived him and died May 1, 1876, aged eighty. Their children were as follows: William, Mary, Martha Jane (deceased), John, Rebecca (deceased), James (deceased) and Robert, who died in infancy.

William Wilkin married a Miss Holmes and removed from Highland County, Ohio, to Hardin County about 1844, and settled on land on the A. Walke Survey, where he resided till his death. Of his children, two anremembered, Mary and Curtis.

Henry Albert was born is Switzerland, but emigrated to America in an early day and became a resident of Clark County, Ohio. In 1845-46, he removed to this county and settled on the Walter Dun Survey, No. 9,935, where he resided till 1881; he removed to Illinois. He was a kind neighbor and a good citizen. His children were Martin, Frank, William, Philip and John.

John R. Gunn was born in Logan County, Ohio, October 24, 1814. Ho had two brothers, Walter D. and Robert, and one sister, Isabella S. Their father, John Gunn, was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1770; emigrated to Canada in 1800 with the English Army, in which he served several years. He finally settled in Montreal, thence at Malden, and from there went to Wapakoneta, as a trader among the Indians in 1804. In 1808, he removed to Logan County, Ohio, and settled on McKees Creek. where, during the war of 1812, he kept a tavern and rendered aid to the United States in the Commissary Department, for which services, after his decease, his widow received a warrant for 160 acres of land. He died in 1842. His widow survived him inane years and died in 1864. John R. married Miss Emily Garrett in 1844, about two years after having settled in this county. He became a resident of Lynn Township in 1842, with his two brothers, Walter D. and Robert, all of whom followed surveying, and many lands of Union, Logan, Hardin and Champaign Counties were sur-

752 - HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

veyed by them. John R. Gunn was an active, enterprising business man, and became a large land holder, owning 1,000 acres or more. He took an active part in all the public improvements of his community, in the building of roads, schools and churches. His children were as follows: Mary A., Clara, Angus, Agnes, Alice. John M., Kenneth C. C., Florence V., Elgin and Robert.

Nathaniel Norman was a native of Virginia, born October 30, 1805. He married Tabitha Perry and settled in Brooke County, Va. In 1847, he removed to Hardin County, Ohio, and settled in this township on land where his son, Henry W., now lives, remaining here until his death on February 11, 1872; his wife died February 5, 1868. Mr. Norman served as a Justice of the Peace eighteen years, and filled the office of Township Trustee and other offices many years.

Amos Piper was born near Lowell, Mass., July 31,1792, and was united in marriage to Betsey Caldwell, and removed to Ashland County, Ohio, in 1834, and to Lynn Township, Hardin County, in 1848. He died January 1, 1868; his wife died February 8, 1855. He served one year in the war of 1812.

MILLS.

It appears that there never ha; been a grist mill in Lynn Township, and the saw mills have been mostly of the portable kind, temporary. moving from place to place, as occasion required The tirst saw mill of which we gain any account was located on laud of James noun,r. which was sub. sequently burned down The next was on land of Esquire Gary. Through various portions of the township the people of a neighborhood cut and haul their logs to some central point, and when a quantity sufficient is collected, a mill is brought and located there and says them into lumber as desired, thence the mill is moved to another point where logs have been collected. and the wants of the people are thereby supplied.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was erected on the land of John Canaan, now the Norman farm. Subsequently one was erected on lands of D. S. Vermillion. The first teacher was a Miss Jeffers. As the settlements increased and schools were needed in which to educate their children, the primitive log schoolhouses sprang into existence, and as the country grew older and the homes and conditions of the people improved, so the condition of the schools anti schoolhouses was improved, until now (1883) there are six sub-school districts. with as many good brick and frame houses, with six rooms, where are employed six teachers. The average wages of male teachers are $30 per month, and of female teachers $20. The average number of weeks the schools were in session, twenty-eight; the total receipts of the township for school purposes in 1882 were $3,603.78; total expenditures, $2,156.01; balance on hand September 1, 1882, $1,553.72; total value of school property, $5,800; total enrollment of scholars, male, 107; female, 120; total, 227. In 1858, the tax levied in Lynn Township was $75; in 1882, it was $744, nearly ten times the amount that it was twenty-four years previous. This shows progress and prosperity.

CHURCHES.

Lynn Valley Methodist Episcopal Church.-This society was organized in the winter of 1876, by Rev. J. S. G. Reeder, with five members, as fol-

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lows: Anna Bradley, Mary Miller, Sarah Dulen, :Mary Hill and J. H Carder, with J. H. Carder as Class Leader. The organization was effected the Piper Schoolhouse, where services continued to be held until the erection of their present church edifice in 1881, at a cost of $1,600. The house was dedicated January 1, 1882, by Dr. D. Rutledge. Ministers who have served as pastors are Revs. J. S. G. Reeder, D. whiting, T. J. Jagger and John Parlett. Present membership, forty-five; Class Leader, J. H. Carder; Stewards, L. M. Bradley and S. H. Carder; Trustees, J. H. Carder, R. A. Brelsford, J. M. Piper, William Ruhlen, J. H. Fuls, L. M. Bradley, R. Seigel, T. Modd and H. G. Walgamot. A Sabbath school is organized, with Robert Brelsford as Superintendent.

SOCIETIES.

Lynn Valley Grange, No. 581, was instituted February 11, 1874, by Park Snodgrass, at the Piper Schoolhouse, with the following charter members: J. M. Piper, G. W. Brelsford, Richard Seigel. J. H. Carder, John H. Fuls, William Ruhlen, A. A. Piper, A. E. Swain, J. R. Swain, J. M. Rainsburg, A. K. Rarey, J. W. Flynn, George W. Thomas, William Thomas, Gotlieb Dittus, Charles Mitchell, J. B. Stewart, L. A. Stewart, Elizabeth Rarey, Elizabeth Piper, Ellen Brelsford, Sarah Seigel, Nancy Mitchell, Eliza Thomas, Malinda Swain, Euphemia Ruhlen, Susan Carder and Catharine Flynn. Officers: A. K. Rarey. M.; Charles Mitchell, O.; John W. Flynn, Lect.; William Thomas, Steward; George W. Brelsford, A. S.; John H. Carder, Chaplain; Richard Seigel, Treasurer; A. E. Swain, Secretary; J. R. Swain, G. K.; Elizabeth Rarey, Cer.; Sarah Seigel, Pom.; Nancy Mitchell, Flora; and Eliza Thomas. L. A. S. Their meetings were held at a dwelling house on Mr. Seigel's place for about two years, at which time they purchased the old schoolhouse and built an addition to it at a very small cost, and this building has served them to the present time. Present membership, about twenty. Officers: N. R. Piper, M.; H. N. Bradley, O.: Richard Seigel, Lect. ; L. M. Bradley, Chaplain; S. H. Dulen, S.; Willis Brelsford, A. S.; G. W. Brelsford. G. K.; W. R. Siegel, Secretary; J. M. Piper, Treasurer; Ruth Fuls, Cer. ; Susan Carder, Pom. ; Mary J. Dulen, Flo.; and Eliza Carder, L. A. S.

AN ACCIDENT.

In 1854, while several men were engaged in digging a well near the Norman Schoolhouse, two men, Washington Canaan and William Rice, were killed by "fire-damp " in the well. It is believed that carelessness, recklessness and ignorance were the causes of this disaster, by which two men in the prime of life lost their lives.