(RETURN TO THE HENRY & FULTON COUNTY INDEX) 250 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. unbroken wilderness ; in the process of developing its resources to the present condition. This furnishes a reason for the existence of this volume. it is intended to be a memorial of inestimable value to the descendants of these worthy pioneers, as well as to all who may hereafter partake of the benefits of their indomitable industry and perseverance. We had almost neglected to speak of our beautiful Maumee River, the pride of northwestern Ohio. The dam built by the State to feed the Miami and Erie canals, backs the water more we than twenty-live miles, extending nearly to the western line of the county, thus giving us a beautiful and placid stream which is a marvel of beauty. It furnishes navigation for pleasure boats of all kinds; and excursions trp and down the river are of almost daily occurrence through the summer season, and in winter gives our young people the best of skating, which they are not slow to utilize. Accomplished skaters are very numerous among those who live along its beautiful banks. The following is a list of the chattel taxpayers of Napoleon township in 1837, viz.: Amos Andrews, Samuel Bowers, Catharine' Delong, Jesse Essex, John Glass, Henry Leonard, George Bowers, Alexander Craig, Frederick Lord, James Magill, Jonathan Kneely, Lorenzo Patrick, Adolphus Patrick, John Patrick, John Powell, Edwin Scribner, George Stout, Hazael Strong, Reuben Straight, Israel Wait and J. P. Whipple,—twenty-five names in all. We believe all of them are dead with the exception of Frederick Lord, who, at last account, was living at Paw Paw, Mich. Among our best citizens many of these names are found, showing that they are well represented. The value of the real estate in the township at that time was $18,792; 25 horses valued at $1,00o ; 88 head of cattle valued at $700 dollars ; money and merchandise to the amount of $425, making a total valuation of $20,941, on which was assessed a tax of $286.97.8. In the present year, 1887, just fifty years, the same items are as follows: Religion is also not neglected. Besides the numerous church edifices, filled with attentive congregations, in the county seat, there are two Lutheran and one United Brethren churches outside of the town of Napoleon, where neighbors can attend worship nearer home. Okolona is a small village with post-office on the Wabash, St. Louis and Western Railway, in the southwestern part of the township. It has considerable local trade, and is a convenience to the people in that locality. SKETCHES OF PIONEER RESIDENCE OF NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP. Hazael Strong was born in Vermont, March 23, 1804. He was married to Sabrina Garrey in 1833. Mrs. Strong was also born in 1804. They settled in Henry county and Napoleon township in the same year they were married, Mr. Strong was the first auditor of Henry county, having been appointed to that position by the associate judges at the time the county was organized. HENRY COUNTY - 251 He held the office until his successor was elected at the first general election. He afterwards held the office of county recorder ; he was clerk of the Common Pleas Court fourteen years ; he also held the offrce of county surveyor, for which office he was peculiarly well fitted, as he took great pride in doing his work with the greatest possible accuracy ; he also served as deputy treasurer of the county during the term for which Israel Wait AN as elected, doing the greater portion of the work of the office. They had only one child, a son, who died in 1861. Hazael Strong died in 1877. His widow still survives at the ripe age of eighty-three years. Hon. John Powell was one of the first settlers in Henry county, having permanently located here in 1835. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y., Dec. 14, 1806 ; was married in Erie county, 0., Jan. 9, 1831, to Esther Magill, who was born in Huron county, 0., Dec. 7, 1811. They had a family of twelve children, five of whom are dead ; one of them, Volney Powell, having been murdered in a South Carolina massacre, Oct. 20, 1870. Four of their sons served their country in the War of the Rebellion. Samuel Powell belonged to Co. B, 38th Regiment 0. V. I., of which regiment Hazael B. Powell, M.D., then quite a young man, was surgeon. Volney Powell belonged to the 14th Regiment 0. V. I., and was afterwards in the one huudred day service. George Powell was also in the one hundred day service. When Mr. Powell settled in this county Napoleon consisted of one log house, owned by a man named Andrews. Several log houses were added to the place during the summer of 1835. In the same year Mr. Powell was elected township clerk, and in 1837 was elected county auditor. After serving two terms, he served as deputy sheriff. He was then elected justice of the peace, and in 1840 was, by the Legislature, appointed associate judge of Henry county, which office he held one term. He also filled the office of county commissioner, three terms. He began business in Napoleon, as a shoemaker ; in 1836 he began merchandising, which vocation he followed until 1851. He then kept a hotel or tavern, as it was then called, but soon again entered the mercantile business which he continued until 1862. After the first court-house burned, in 1847, the question of removing the c0unty seat to the town of Texas, a few miles farther down the river, in Washington township, arose. The people of the county were divided on the question, and up0n that issue Mr. Powell was elected county commissioner, which fixed the county seat at Napoleon. Mr. Powell died July 27, 1886, and his aged wife followed him in December of the same year. Edwin Scribner, was born in New York in 1808, and brought to Henry county when a lad of eight years old, in 1816. There was not at that time a wagon road in the county, nothing but Indian trails. Flour and meal could only be obtained by taking wheat to mill at Monroe, Mich. When a lad of thirteen years of age, he rode on horseback and alone, to Greenville, Darke county, 0., and brought back with him a bundle of rolls of wool to be spun 252 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. and woven into clothing for the family. Mr. Scribner erected the first sawmill in Henry county in 1838, on Dry Creek, in what is now Washington township. He died May 16, 1887. Allen B. Scribner, a son of the above, was born in Henry county May 25, 1825. He was married in Delaware county, 0., August 24, 1863, to Mary C. Potter, who was born in that county in 1841. They have had four children. Mr. S. is at present engaged in the sale of hardware and agricultural implements in Napoleon. George Stout came to Napoleon in the autumn of 1834. Napoleon township was then an almost unbroken wilderness. He purchased a town lot in Napoleon and built the second log cabin in the place. He lived in this cabin while he built a public house or tavern, into which he moved his family in March, 1835. This he opened for the entertainment of guests as soon as it could be made ready. The first two or three terms of the Common Pleas Court, was held in the dining room of this hostelry, and the first grand jury of Henry county slept in the hay-mow in the barn. At this time there were but few settlers in the county. Those nearest were Hazael Strong, John Patrick, and Amos Andrews, who lived four miles down the river, and Elijah Gunn, who lived on Girty's Island, five miles above town. For a distance of fifteen miles from the river, on both sides, the county was a vast unbroken wilderness. As an inducement to settlers, a town lot was offered by the original proprietors of the town, Messrs. Phillips, Cory and Level, to the first permanent settler. Upon this lot a log cabin had been built by a man named Holloway, being the first erected in the place. It was quit-claimed by Mr. Holloway, and also afterwards by several others, none of whom remained long enough to entitle them to a deed, and was finally deeded to Mr. Stout as the first actual settler in the town. This was lot No. 25 on the original plat of Napoleon. The house was somewhat pretentious for those days, as it was built of hewed logs, the greater portion of the buildings of that day being of round logs. It was afterwards weather- boarded and plastered, and is still standing, being the oldest house in town. Joseph A. Stout, a son of the above, was born in Holmes county, 0., July 13, 1819. He was married to Sarah C. Palmer. They raised two children, Albert T. and Ella A. Stout. The latter married Johnson N. High, and resides with her husband in Kansas. Mr. Stout came to Henry county with his parents in 1834, and had with all the settlers of that early period an abundant experience of the trials of pioneer life. John G. Stout, a brother to the above, came to Henry county with his parents in 1834. He was at one time a superintendent of public works in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He was married to Sarah Ryan January 24, 1841, They had a family of eight children, one of whom, John P. Stout, is an examiner of pensions in Washington. HENRY COUNTY - 253 Adam Stout was born in Richland county, 0., September 29, 1819. He was married to Mary J. Barnhart, who was born in Maryland, 0., in 1826. They had eight children. He moved with his parents to this county in 1833. Hon. James G. Haly was born in H0lmes county, 0., Dec. 6, 1816. He was married August 12, 1845, to Harriet Conkling, who was born in Montgomery county, 0., February 3, 1821. He was admitted to the bar of Ohio in the summer of 1840; was elected prosecuting attorney for the county in the same year. He served four years by election and one year by appointment of the court. He served six years as justice of the peace of Napoleon township, was elected county auditor in 1845, and served four years. In 1851 he was elected to the Legislature from Putnam and Henry counties, and sat during the first session of that body under the present constitution. He was appointed collector on the Miami and Erie Canal, and was stationed at Junction, in Paulding county, where the Wabash and Erie Canal joins the Miami and Erie, He filled the position for a term of three years, during which he collected and paid over to the State of Ohio, more than a quarter of a million dollars. He then entered into partnership at Napoleon with Edward Sheffield (since deceased) in the practice of law. This partnership continued until the beginning of the War 0f the Rebellion in 1861. He recruited and organized Company D, Sixty-eighth Regiment, 0. V. I., and was appointed quartermaster of the regiment, in which capacity he served one year, when he resigned on account of failing health. He then formed a law partnership with J. M. Haag and William Sheffield (since deceased), which continued until he was elected probate judge of Henry county, which office he held twelve years. Since his retirement from the judgeship he has retired from active life and occupies himself superintending his farm near town. Six children were born to them. Hon. Alexander Craig settled in Nap0leon township in 1835. He and his wife were both born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and 1801, respectively. They were married in 1827. Mr. Craig held the office of sheriff two terms, and that of associate judge of Henry county one term. They had a family of four children. Mr. C. is now dead. William C. Brownell, with his wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Osborn, came to Henry county in the autumn of 1835, and settled in what is now known as Flat Rock township, and came to Napoleon in 1842. or '43 ; was elected sheriff of the county in 1843, and served one term ; was school examiner several years, and was also county surveyor for a long time, doing a larger amount of surveying in the county than any other man. They had seven children. He lived and died a consistent member of the society of Friends. William H. Brownell, a son of the above couple, was born in Rensselaer county, N. V., September 6, 1832, and was brought to this county in 1835 with his parents. He remembers seeing many Indians in his boyhood, as they 254 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. frequently stayed all night at his father's house. Mr. B. held the office of county surveyor one term. He was a farmer in his early life, then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until the Rebellion. He enlisted in Napoleon in Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio three months men, and served the time in West Virginia. He took part in the battles of Phillippi, Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. After their term of enlistment expired the regiment re-enlisted and reorganized as the Fourteenth Regiment 0. V. I., for three years. He was appointed first lieutenant of Company D ; was in the fight at Wild Cat, Ky., and in numerous skirmishes between Ringgold and Atlanta. When he reached Atlanta he was c0mpelled to resign on account of his health. When he arrived home he weighed only 115 pounds. He has since filled many responsible positions, and is now cashier of Meekison's bank. He has had six children. John O. Palmer settled with his parents in Henry county in 1837. He was born in New York June 22, 1832, and married in Napoleon, 0., September 24, 1857, to Margaret Tressler, who was born in Ohio August 19, 1837. They had three children. Mrs. Palmer's mother came to Henry county, a widow, in 1849. James Shasteen was one of the earliest settlers in the county. He came with his parents in 1826. He filled the offices of justice of the peace and assessor. He furnished three sons to the Union army. Peter Shasteen belonged to the Fourteenth Regiment 0. V. I.; was wounded at Chickamauga, and died from the effects of the wound soon after. Emanuel Shasteen belonged to the artillery corps, and died in the service. James Shasteen, jr., belonged to the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, 0. V. I., and survived the war. S. L. Curtis was born in Java Lake, N. Y., October 11, 1836, was married to Mary Chapman, who died in 1872 leaving two children. He married Margaret A. Guaintance, in Napoleon July 1, 1874. He settled in Henry county in 1838. William Dodd was born in New Jersey June 18, 1810. He was married to Mary Thompson in Henry county about the year 1837. When quite young Mr. Dodd enlisted in the U. S. Army, then stationed at Fort Leavenworth, During the three years he served in the army they were engaged in a very active campaign, under the command of Colonel Dodge, against the Comanche Indians, near the Rocky Mountains. After his term of enlistment expired he returned to the States in 1836. He also took part in the Canadian Rebellion n 1837. He held a colonel's commission from the Provincial Congress of Upper Canada. He was a contractor during the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal. He held the office of sheriff, and also that of treasurer of Henry county. He died April 22, 1859. Mrs. Dodd was brought to the Maumee Valley in 1821, when she was four years old. She is believed to, HENRY COUNTY - 255 have taught the first school in Henry county. The school room was in the residence of John Patrick, three miles below Napoleon on the river. She also taught at Independence, six miles below Defiance on the river. Many of our oldest citizens attended her school in their early days. She also taught at Waterville, in Lucas county and the Indian mission school, near Waterville. She is now spending the evening of her days with her children in this vicinity. She has spent sixty-nine years of her life on the Maumee river ; the greater portion of this time she resided in Napoleon. This couple had six children. Their eldest son, Ezra S. Dodd, was attending school in St. Louis when the war began. He at once enlisted in the First Missouri Regiment of Infantry for one year. At the battle of Wilson's Creek he was taken prisoner and was held eighteen months. After his release he came to Napoleon, and raised Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, 0. V. I., and was appointed captain. He was in numerous engagements, and was on board of the first gunboat that passed the gauntlet at Vicksburg. He was promoted to the rank of major of the regiment, and held that position when mustered out of the service. He now resides in Toledo, 0. William Dodd, jr., was a member of Company I, Sixty-eighth Regiment, 0, V. I., and died in the service October 12, 1862. Edwin C. Dodd, another son, was a member of the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, 0. V. I., Company B, and served to the end of the war. George Frease was born in Pennsylvania, August 20, 1812. He was married in Summit county, O., June 7, 1835, to Elizabeth Willard, who was born in Ohio, December 10, 1812. They had eight children, several of whom are prominent in business circles at this time. Mr. Frease settled in Henry county in 1843. Thomas Brown, a millwright, settled in Henry county in 1845. Nativity, Ohio. S. F. Hamlin, a millwright, settled in Henry county in 1849. Nativity, Ohio, Charles Sweet, a millwright, settled in Henry county in 1858. Nativity, New York. D. W. Frease was born in Stark county, 0., July 28, 1837, is a son of George and Elizabeth Frease, who were natives of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1812, and settled in Henry county in 1842, where they still reside. Henry Willard, the father of Elizabeth Frease, died in Henry county at the advanced age of ninety-four years. The subject of this sketch was married at Napoleon February 16, 1871, to Julia Feighner, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1845. Mr. Frease enlisted February 14, 1864, in Company B, Thirty- eighth Regiment, 0. V. I., and served until the close of the war. He was in the following battles and campaigns, viz.: The campaign of Atlanta, campaign 256 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. of Georgia, siege of Savannah and campaign of North and South Carolina, anc served until the end of the war. He is now a justice of the peace for Napoleon township. He came to the county with his parents in 1842. A. H. Tyler settled in Nap0leon in 1847. He was the first county clerk ever elected in Henry county. That officer, previous to the present constitution, was appointed by the court. He has since filled the offices of justice of the peace, county school examiner, and was a member of the constitutional convention that framed the present constitution, which was adopted in the year 1851. Dr. Tyler was born in New Haven, N. Y., January 27, 1819 He was married to Elizabeth B. Grannis, in Huron' c0unty, 0., October 29 1846. They had four children born to them. Mrs. Tyler died in Dr. Tyler served as assistant surgeon in the Sixty-eighth Regiment 0. V. I. for two years. He married again, and is now residing on his farm near Napoleon. Bennett Stenbird was born in 1822, and settled in Henry county in 1847. He enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment, 0. V. I., at Toledo, September 17, 1861, and received his discharge at Atlanta, Ga., September 12 I 864. Herman A. Myerholtz was born in Hanover, Germany, June 17, 1835, and settled in Henry county with his parents in 1848. He was married in Defiance county, 0., March 17, 1864, to Louisa Shults, who was born in Prussia in 1844. They have several children. He has held several offices of trust in the county and township. He was township trustee, and justice of the peace and treasurer of Napoleon township. He was the first infirmary director of the county. He, with his brother Henry, have carried on the business of grocers and provision dealers for many years. They also have been engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile f0r a number of years. H. F. Myerholtz, a brother of the above, was born in Germany June 24 1844, and married to Mary Gilson September 15, 1868. He came to Henry county with his parents in 1848. He enlisted in Company F, Sixty-eighth Regiment, 0. V. I., and served until January 27, 1863, when he was discharged at Cincinnati, 0. He re-enlisted February 9, 1865, and served until the close of the war. Although in active service from the time of enlistment until the close of the war, he escaped without the slightest wound. W. Linn settled in Henry county in 1849. Reuben P. Calkins was born in New York April 2, 1821. He was married in Ohio to Annie E. Thompson, daughter of William and Rebecca Thompson of Stark county, 0. Four children were born to them. Mr. Calkins's parents settled in Henry county in 1836. Mr. C. himself came in 1856, Christian H. Heiberg was born in Germany November It, 1833. He was married in Henry county November 17, 1865, to Anna Drewes, whose parents were natives of Germany, and who settled in Henry county, where Mrs. H, was born. Mr. H. settled in Henry county in 1848, and suffered the privation! HENRY COUNTY - 257 common to the settlers of that period. In early times in this county it was not an uncommon thing for the farmer to shoulder a bag of grain and carry it to mill, as that was frequently the easiest way to get it there. The forests at that time were full of game. Squirrels were very numerous, and materially assisted the farmer in gathering his corn crop. Mr. Helberg enlisted in the Sixty- eighth Regiment 0. V. I., October 15, 1861. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Atlanta, and marched with Sherman to Atlanta. He was wounded, and the ball was never extracted. John Dancer was born in Jefferson county, 0., June 3, 1823. He was married to Margaret Huston in Ashland county, 0., November 5, 1849. Mrs. Dancer was born in Columbiana county 0., May 28, 1827. They had six children. Their son George was a member of the Seventy-seventh Regiment, 0. V. I., and served three years and ten months. Mr. Dancer settled in Henry county in 1848. William Mason was born in Milan, 0., April 12, 1817. He married Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Wayne county, 0., September 23, 1824. They had four children, and were early settlers in the county. Hon. William A. Tressler was born March 19, 1824; was married Jan. 23, 1845, in Frederick county, Md., to Anna Elliott, who was born Jan. 14, 1823. They came to Henry county in the spring of 1849. Mrs. Tressler died Nov. !88E Mr. Tressler has lived in the county ever since his first arrival. He has held the office of State Senator two years, was county treasurer four years, was mayor of Napoleon four years, marshal of the town two years, and justice of the peace eight years, which office he now fills. George Daum is the son of George and Margaret Daum, both of whom are deceased. They were born in France, in 1798, in the same town and on the same day and hour. The subject of this sketch was born in France, Jan. 12, 1834, and married in Napoleon, 0., in the autumn of 1871, to Rachel Spieth, whose parents were Germans. They have a large family of children. He settled in Henry county in 1846. He was at one time clerk of Pleasant township, was elected sheriff in 1872, which office he held four years, was elected county commissioner in 1876 and served one term, was again elected sheriff and again served two terms, or four years. He was again elected county commissioner in 1886, which office he now holds. Mr. Daum enlisted in Cleveland Oct. 1, 1862, in Company D, 124th Regiment, 0. V. I. He was promoted from second lieutenant to captain of the company, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was wounded in the battle of Nashville, in the second day's fight. He also took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. Henry E. Cary was born in Huron county, O., Jan. 14, 1838, and removed with his parents to Henry county in 1846. His father, Joel Cary, was born in Vermont in 1814, and died Sept. 21, 1849. His mother, Harriet W. C. Cary,. 258 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. was born in Connecticut, in 1818, and still resides in Napoleon. Mr. Cary was married in Napoleon, Dec. 27, 1886, to Amelia M. Roach, who was born in Providence, Lucas county, O., Jan. 22, 1845. They have three children. Mr. Cary enlisted in Company G, 163d Regiment, O. V. I. as lieutenant, and served ninety days. His brother, Harlem P. Cary was a member of the 68th Regiment, O. V. I. On his way home he died with small-pox, at Chattanooga, Tenn. Mr. Cary claims to have the oldest grocery house in Napoleon. Homer P. Hopkins was b0rn in Erie county, O., May 29, 1837, and was married Oct. 1, 1867, to Mary A. Neidhamer, who was born in Michigan, in 1847. Mr. Hopkins enlisted in Company H, First Regiment, M. V. I., at Adrian, Mich., July 25, 1861. The regiment was assigned to Hooker's brigade, and during the winter of 1861 was kept as guard at Annapolis, Md. He witnessed the celebrated contest between the Moniter and Merrimac in Chesepeake Bay. He was in the battle of Mechanicsville, and was shot through the arm at Gaines's Mills. He took part in the siege of Richmond ; at Chancellorsville he narrowly escaped death; while lying flat on the ground a shell burst and a piece struck the ground between his arm and head as he lay with his arm bent, and buried itself eight inches in the hard earth. After he was wounded he lived six days without food except a few berries He was in several of the hard-fought battles of the war, was with Burnside in the march from Falmouth, Va. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He has removed from the county. Mrs. Eliza Hill was born in Jefferson county, O., Feb. 16, 1825, was married in Holmes county, Aug. 16, 1844, to a son of Abraham and Sarah Hill, in Holmes county, O. They had nine children. Edward Lingle was born in Butler county, O., June 21, 1818, and was married in the same county to Margaret Weaver, Dec. 3, 1846. Six children were born to them. The parents of this couple were all from Pennsylvania. Mr. L. held the office of coroner six years, and that of infirmary director, three years. He settled in Henry county in 1850. Jacob Bales was the son of David and Ann Bales, of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio in 1812. He was born in Wayne county, O., Sept. 27, 1821, and was married in the same county, in 1841, to Salome Sidle, who was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 9, 1819. They had eleven children. Mr. Bales filled the office of assessor and township trustee. Conrad Clay was born in Stark county, O., April 20, 1822. He was married in Defiance county, O., Oct. 9, 1851, to Julia A. Stoddard, who was born in Connecticut, Feb. 17, 1834. They had nine children. He lost a valuable mill by fire in 1871. He, together with his parents, John and Julia Clay, settled in Henry county in 1850, as also did William H. and Abigail Stoddard, the parents of Mrs. Clay. Andrew Sherman was born in Germany, and settled in Henry county in HENRY COUNTY - 259 1852. He was married in Sandusky City, 0., May 9, 1849, to Eva Walter, also a German. He settled in Henry county in 1852. Henry Panning was born in Germany, February 21, 1821. He was married in Henry county, 0., January 28, 1851. Miss Othnar was also born in Germany, December, 1824. They had nine children. Mr. P.ls parents settled in this county in 1854. His wife's parents came in 1858. Mr. Panning settled in this county in 1851. Henry Dachenhaus settled with his parents, who are Germans, in Henry county in 1850. He was born January 5, 1825, and married in Henry county, October 18, 1854, to Sophia Precht, also of Germany, where she was born in 1828. Seven children were born to them. Henry Buhlart was born in Germany May 15, 1844. He was married May 30, 1867, to Eliza Ludetnan, who was born in Cleveland, April I, 1844. Mr. Buhlart, with his parents, Henry and Louisa Buhlart, settled in Henry county, in 1849. Mrs. Buhlart's parents, Frederick and Catharine Ludeman, settled in Henry county, in 1845. Mr. Buhlart was a member of the Sixty-eighth Regiment 0. V, Infantry, and was in a number of battles during his term of service. Robert K. Scott was born in Armstrong county, Pa., in 1826, and settled in Henry county in 1851. He practiced medicine five years, then engaged in merchandising. In 1861 he was appojnted major of the Sixty-eighth 0. V. Infantry, which he recruited. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel November 29, 1861; was at the battles of Fort Donaldson, Pittsburgh Landing, then at the siege of Corinth. He commanded a brigade in the battle of Hatchie River. His regiment was placed in the command of Major-General McPherson. He took part in the battles of Port Hudson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills and Big Black. He was placed in command of the Second Brigade, Seventeenth Army Corps. He was taken prisoner during the investment of Atlanta, was exchanged and returned to his brigade, with which he accompanied Sherman in his famous march to the sea. His brigade was mustered out of service July 10, 1865. He was made a brigadier-general January 12, 1865, and before the close of the war was made a major-general by brevet. In January, 1866, he was ordered to take charge of the Freedman's Bureau, in South Carolina. In 1868 he was elected governor of South Carolina, and again in 1870. He returned to Henry county in 1876. He married Jane Lowry, by whom he has one son, R. K. Scott, jr., who was for some time captain of Company F, 0. N. G. The governor is now engaged in manufacturing. William McHenry, the son of Dr. McHenry mentioned above, was born in Seneca county, 0., May 21, 1845. He was married September 3, 1873, to Anna M. Reiter, who was born in Henry county, January 15, 1855. They have two children. He enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment 0. V. Infantry, October 8, 1862. He was transferred to Company I, in the same regiment, June 15, 1863. He took part in the battles of Chicka- 260 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. mauga, Mission Ridge, Dandridge, Kenesaw Mountain and Lovejoy Station. He received a wound at Dandridge, and another at Lovejoy Station, and was honorably discharged on account of disability, November 15, 1864. He served five years as guard at the Ohio Penitentiary, during a part of which time he filled the position of instructor of schools and librarian. He came to Henry county with his parents in 1850. David Meekison was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1812, and came to Henry county in 1853. He was married in 1835, in Dundee, Scotland. They had eight children. Mrs. Meekison died June 3, 1875. He married again and still lives in Napoleon. David Meekison, jr., a son of the above, was born in Scotland, November 14, 1849. He was married August 24, 1881, to Clara E. Bowers, who was born in Henry county, August 4, 1860. Three children have been born to them. Mr. Meekison made the first start in public life by joining the Fourth U. S, Artillery, in which he served three years as a private. He then returned to Napoleon, and received the appointment of clerk of the town, to fill an unexpired term, after which he was elected and served two terms. His second term as probate judge will expire in December, of this year, 1887. He is an active and public-spirited citizen, and is foremost in all enterprises that tend to advance the well-being of the place. He came to Henry county in 1855. Julius Chappnis was born in France, August 6, 1841. He was married at Texas, in Henry county, in September, 1861, to Ann Hardy, who was born in Virginia, December 24, 1837. They have six children. Mr. Chappnis settled in Henry county in 1853. Abraham L. Willard was born in Stark county, O., April I 2. 1819, and came to Henry county in 1852. He owned and ran a boat on the canal for ten years. He was never married. He still lives in Napoleon. Henry Otte was born in Germany, in 1831 ; was married in 1855 to Elsie Myer, who was also born in Germany. They had seven children, and were early settlers in the county. Jo. Christ Buchele was born in Germany, June 18, 1838, and was married in Henry county, in 1854, to Christina Singer, who was also born in Germany, July 20, 1832. They had nine children. They settled in Henry county in 1853. John F. Oberhaus was born in Germany, July 18, 1842, and was married in Henry county, April 19, 1872, to Sophia M. Beaderstat, who was also born in Germany, Dec. 12, 1851. Mr. Oberhaus had a brother in the Sixty-eighth O, V. Infantry, in 1851, and served until the close of the war. They had several children. Julius Van Hyning was born in Summit county, O., January 3, 1822, and was married in the same county January 19, 1851, to Sarah Willard, who was born in Stark county, January 1, 1822, They had six children. Mr. Van Hyning belonged to the Sixty-eighth O. V. I., and took part in the battles of HENRY COUNTY - 261 Fort Donaldson, Pittsburgh Landing, Fort Henry, and was wounded at the battle of Crump's Landing, Tenn. He was h0norably discharged from the service for disability. He settled in Henry county in 1858, and still resides on his farm near Napoleon. Nathaniel Hartman was born in Pennsylvania in 1835, and was married in Henry county November 2, 1856, to Lydia R. Ritter, who was born in Ohio in 1838. Seven children were born to them. Mr, H. was a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-third 0. V. I. during the " late unpleasantness," and died in Napoleon in 1886. He settled in Henry county in 1850. John Wait was born in Pennsylvania March 3, 1826, and married to his second wife in Henry county, September 5, 1871, to Annie M. Strole, who was the widow of Milton Atkinson, who enlisted in Company B, One Hundredth Regiment, 0. V. I., in 1862, and was lost in the battle of Limestone Ridge, Tenn., in 1863. His real fate is not known, but he is supposed to have been killed. Mr. Atkinson left four children. Mr. Wait had one child by his first wife, and two by his second wife. He belonged to the Ninety-sixth Regiment 0. V. I.; was in several battles and escaped unharmed. He settled in Henry county in 1867. H. H. Fast was born in Ohio, and settled in Henry county in 1852. William F. Daggett was born in Lucas county, 0., May 24, 1830. He was married in Washington township, Henry county, December 25, 1855, to Alvira L. Scribner, who was born in the same township January 24, 1833. They had eight children. He was recorder of the county six years and auditor three years. He settled in Henry county in 1852. Charles E. Reynolds was born in Massachusetts June 15, 1844. He was married at Napoleon September 12, 1866, to Sarah E. Parker. Two children were born to them. He served as auditor for several years ; also as county school examiner for many years, which office he now fills, He also served as clerk of Napoleon township ten years. He enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Company F, Sixty-eighth Regiment, 0. V. I., and served until the close of the war. He entered the service as a private, and was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant. He was in the battle of Little Hatchie. At the siege of Richmond he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby prison, where he remained one month, when he was exchanged, but was afterwards again taken prisoner while on Sherman's raid, near Norton, Miss. He was confined first at Mobile, then at Cahaba, Ala., and lastly at that shed on earth— Adersonville—where he spent thirteen months, until the final exchange. Like all the unfortunates who entered that worse than hell, he suffered such tortures and privations as no pen has yet been able, adequately, to describe. The close of the war released him, with such of his comrades as had survived. He now resides in Napoleon, and is engaged in the business of insurance. He came to Henry county in 1854. 262 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. Patrick Ragan was born in 1800, in County Cork, Ireland ; was married in 1844 in Canada to Norah Hagerty, who was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, in 1822. They had six children. Mrs. Ragan died in 1856; Mr. Ragan in 1866. They settled in Henry county in 1854. James P. Ragan, a son of the above, was born in Gilead, near Grand Rapids, in Wood county, O., March 17, 1852, and came with his parents to Henry county in 1854. After teaching scho0l a number of years he studied law, and was admitted to the bar March 16, 1878. He resides in Napoleon and is engaged in the practice of his profession in partnership with Hon. J. M. Haag, John Diemer was born in Bavaria, February 2, 1837. He was married in Napoleon, in 1860, to Josephine Greber, who was born in Bavaria in 1840. They had twelve children. Mr. Diemer enlisted in the Fourteenth Ohio three months troops, and served four months. He was honorably discharged and returned to Napoleon, He was in many skirmishes and battles during his term of service, among which were Philippi, Laurel Hill, Cheat River and Carrick's Ford. Since the war he has continued to reside with his family in Napoleon. He has kept a meat marrket for many years. He came to Henry county in 1850. John D. Belknap came to Henry county in 1850, and was one of the first men to enlist in the Fourteenth Regiment, three months men, and was instantly killed at Laurel Hill. He was married before coming to this county. They had three children. His son, J. P. Belknap, is the editor and proprietor of the Henry County Signal. Jonas Shumaker was born in Wayne county, O., October 26, 1821. He was married in Crawford county, O., May 25, 1847, to Esther Speigle, who was born in Stark county, O., December, 1829. They had seven children. He was a member of the board of education nine years. He settled in Henry county in 1850. Joseph Shumaker, brother to the above, was born in Wayne county, O., May 13, 1828. He was married in Crawford county, O., October 18, 1853, to Mary A. Weiler, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage. They had seven children. Mr. S. came to Henry county in 1858. Jeremiah J. Thompson was born April 12, 1850, in Holmes county, O.; was married in Henry county September 3, 1871, to Mary Foncannon, who was born in Seneca county, O., May 21, 1853. They had two children. Mr. Thompson settled in Henry county in 1853, George Stoner was born in Maryland, July 16, 1828. He was married in Seneca county, O., November 16, 1852, to Louisa Wilkins, who was born in Ohio, January 31, 1830. They have a family of eleven children. He settled in Henry county in 1866. Thomas J. Howell was born in Ohio, February 15, 1850. He was married in Henry county November 4, 1870, to Eliza Elarton, who was born in Sen- HENRY COUNTY - 263 eca county, 0., October 15, 1852. Mr. Howell settled in Henry county in 1867. Mrs. Howell's father, Samuel Elarton, enlisted in the moth Regiment 0. V. I., during the War of the Rebellion. He served his country three years, and died in Libby prison. Richard Howell, a brother of the subject of this sketch, belonged to the 113th Regiment 0. V. I., and served three years. John Snyder was born in Ohio, August 13, 1841, of German parentage. He was married in Henry county October 31, 1864, to Catharine Leifer, who was born in Richland county, 0., August 8, 1841. They had five children born to them. Mr. Leifer, the father of Mrs. Snyder, settled in Henry county in 1853. William M. French was born in Licking county, 0., July 18, 1847, and was married in Henry county March 31, 1868, to Sarah E. Miller, who was born in Marion county, 0., January 24, 1850. The parents of Mr. French, William S. and Mary G. French, settled in Henry county in 1862. Henry H. Freytag was born in Germany, in 1845 ; was married in Henry county June 24, 1869, to Catharine Rohrs, who was born in Germany in 1849. Mr. F. settled with his parents in Henry county, in 1851. His wife's parents, John and Mary Rohrs, came to the county in 1858. Justin H. Tyler was born November 15, 1815, in Massachusetts, and was married June 21, 1847, to Alice Olmsted, who was b0rn in New York city, in 1825, and died in Napoleon, January 2, 1860, leaving two children. Mr. Tyler was married the second time, on February 21, 1861, to Hattie M. Peck, at Shelbourne, Mass., where she was born June 21, 1832. Four children were born to them. Mr. Tyler was admitted to practice law in 1841. He first located at Huron, 0., where he held the offrce of township clerk, and also was clerk of the village of Huron, three years. He then came to Henry county, where he has held the office of prosecuting attorney four years. He was also a member of the Ohio Legislature two years ; he was also school examiner for several years, and was the first mayor of the village of Napoleon, which office he held three terms. When he first came to the county, in 1852, Napoleon was a village of about three hundred inhabitants, and a large portion of the county was an almost unbroken wilderness. He has practiced law in the county thirty-five years. He does not now engage actively in the duties of his profession, leaving the bulk of the work to be performed by his son, Julian H. Tyler, who promises to fill with credit the position so long held by his father. Although Mr. Tyler is not a member of any churcb, he has been a most liberal contributor to the construction of church buildings, claiming that he has contributed to nearly every church built in the county. Mr. Tyler etas originally a Whig in politics ; and after the disruption of that party lie became an ardent Republican, and, although always in the minority, he continues firm in his allegiance to that party. He resides in Napoleon. Lewis Y. Richards was born December 20, 1831, in Greene county, 0.; was 264 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. married November 8, 1860, to Harriet Augusta Brancher, who was born ii 1839, at Defiance. They had two children. He came to Defiance county in 1846, and removed to Henry county in 1853. He enlisted October 3, 1861 in Company A, 68th 0. V. I., as second lieutenant. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant, and afterwards became captain of his company. He was ii the battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Fort Donaldson, Siege of Corinth, Hatchi River, Port Hudson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills and Big Black. was offered a commission as major, in 1863, but declined, and was =stem out of service at the expiration of his period of enlistment, November 24, 1864 at Chattanooga, Tenn. Since that time he has resided at Napoleon. Christian H. Axe was born in Wayne county, 0., September 16, 1837, an was married in Henry county December 9, 1860, to Mary A. Freysinger, why was born in Wayne county, 0., May 31, 1840. They had three children. MI Axe's parents settled in Henry county in 1849, and those of his wife in 1859. Thomas W. Durbin was born in Maryland, August 24, 1822, and was mar vied May 22, 1850, to Lucinda King, who was born in Perry county, O., July 1832. They had five children. Mr. Durbin was clerk of the Court of Com mon Pleas for Henry county during one term of three years ; he also held th office of county commissioner during one term, and has been county record( since January 7, 1884, being now in his second term. He came to Henry county in 1843. CHAPTER XXVI. (1) HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP OF the early organization of this township it appears that no written records are preserved, but in common with many other of the county's civil divisions, the early records have been neglected and allowed to become destroyed or lost. The township occupies a position in the extreme southwestern part of the county and its territory was formerly embraced within Flat Rock. The earliest settlers in this locality were George A. Hofricker, Henry Saur, Frederick Loesch, George Dirr, Andrew Gardner and Peter Grimm, who came here in the year 1836. The following year, 1837, there were others, some of whom can be recalled. They were John P. Hornung, George A. Young, Adam Minsell, John Friberger and Paul Renolet. From this time down to 1844 there were Casper Mangas and his sons Peter, Jacob and Henry; Paul Eding and (1) By James E. Scofield. HENRY COUNTY - 265 his sons Gerhart (Jared) and Harmon; Theobold Bolley, George and Daniel Wolfe, John Bates, John Helrich, Stephen Byal, John Wilhelm, Daniel Des- granges, Frederick Martz. James Shasteen (the first justice of the peace), Henry Schall and John Diemer, all heads of families, with exception of the sons of Mangas and Eding. About 1840 Mr. Easterbrook, an Englishman, taught the first school in the settlement and continued three or four winter terms of three months each. While thus engaged he wrote a pamphlet biography of his life, styling himself David Crocket second. Among other things it contained reminiscences of his teaching among the "benighted beings," as he styled them, of the wilds of Henry county. James E. Scofield, the writer hereof, followed him as teacher of the same school in 1844-5, two winter terms, of three months each, and remembers many of the inhabitants of that time, together with many of his pupils, including his wife, then a school girl ten years his junior. Here may be given the names of the younger heads of families, some of whom have married daughters of the first settlers : John Hofrieter, Joseph Schneider (a shoemaker), Henry Dirr, George Dirr, John Bawman, Charles Kesselmeyer (a wagon maker), and perhaps other names not remembered. The following are names of remembered pupils, now old men and women, having well improved farms and families of grown up children, some of whom are settled for themselves on farms and others in villages and cities, in business; George N. Wolf, Harmon Eding, Henry Grimm, Peter Grimm (deceased), William Saur, John Loesch, Henry Loesch, Meni Loesch, Adam Loesch (deceased), Andrew Loesch, Margaret Saur, Caroline Wolf, Elizabeth Wolf, Daniel Wolf, Phil. lip Dorider, John M. Young, Elizabeth Grimm (deceased), Henry Bates (deceased), Paul Heisch and others perhaps whose names are n0t remembered, children then between the ages of four and twenty years, and attending school. It is supposed this township was detached from Flat Rock in the year 1843. It was then a howling wilderness of water, frogs, wolves, bear, deer, turkeys, coon and other animals of various kinds, all of which have now disappeared, and this vast wilderness, by the energy of its inhabitants, made to blossom like the rose. The records of Flat Rock township show names of heads of families residing in town three, north of range six, east, now Pleasant township, then attached to Flat Rock. Their children, that is, of the families, enumerated for the public schools in the year 1838, were as follows: Joseph Waddel, male; Casper Mangas, 4 males; Peter Hornung, 1 male and 1 female; Peter Hornung, jr., 1 female; - March, 4 males; G. A. Hofrickter, 2 males, 1 female; George Dirr, 1 female; Peter Grim, 2 males, 2 female; Andrew Gardner, 2 males, 5 females; John Friberger, 1 male, 4 females; David Dorider, 2 males, 2 females; John Bates, 2 males, 1 female; - Helrich, 1 male, 1 female ; in all 22 males and 19 females; total, 41 children between the ages of four and twenty years. In the four original surveyed townships, three and four north of ranges six 266 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. and seven, east, Flat Rock, Pleasant, Marion and Monroe, all these included in Flat Rock, contained 56 male and 51 female school children; total 107. None of these children were then enumerated in three and four, north of range 7, east, now Marion and Monroe. After the detachment of Pleasant and Marion from Flat Rock, Marion remained in Pleasant for a time from recollection of the oldest inhabitants). It is known that James Shasteen was the first justice of the peace and officiated as such in 1844. Who were the first trustees and clerk is not certainly known, but it is supposed that Henry Schall was first clerk, and continued for several terms. A few years later Charles Hornung was clerk, and also justice of the peace for thirty-nine years in succession. It is also supposed that Theobold Bolley was first treasurer. The writer well remembers that he was treasurer in 1844-5, from the fact of drawing his wages as school teacher from him. The village of New Bavaria was known by that name from the name of a post-office situated on the Ridge road as early as 1844-5. Charles Hornung was postmaster, who has been continued since, with the exception of one year (1860), when he acted with the Republicans in the Lincoln and Hamlin campaign of that year, for which he was beheaded, and Henry Schall appointed to fill the vacancy. Immediately after Mr. Lincoln's inauguration Mr. Hornung was reinstated and has been continued since. New Bavaria was surveyed and platted in the year 1882, a short distance west of the old post-office site, at the crossing of the Ridge road and the Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroad, and estimated to contain about one hundred inhabitants. This railroad gives it an outlet for the products of an excellent farming country surrounding it. Messrs. Charles Hornung & Sons, for a number of years, have been engaged in merchandising, together with farming and stock raising. Recently, Charles Hornung has retired from the mercantile business, leaving that branch with his sons, Jacob and John H., but attends to his farm and stock, of which he has a fine herd. Jacob Hornung is also engaged in extensive manufacturing, using steam power. He manufactures heading, hoops, lumber and staves, for which he finds a ready market. The firm of the store have a warehouse connection, and buy all kinds of produce. This makes a h0me market for the products of the farms in the vicinity. J. Hammerer is engaged in the manufacture and repair of boots and shoes. About two miles south, on the same railroad, is located Pleasant Bend, a station established at or about 1879, at the time of the completion of said railroad, with a post-office of that name. Jacob J. Fraker is the postmaster. The village was surveyed and platted in 1882. It is estimated to contain about one hundred inhabitants. Jacob J. Fraker, in connection with the post-office, is dealer in general merchandise and grain, also all kinds of country produce. Being only a short distance from New Bavaria, the trade, from necessity, is divided, both places doing a thriving business, and each having the trade of an HENRY COUNTY - 267 excellent farming community. J. W. Jones & Co., general merchandisers, together with factory (steam power), manufacture lumber, hoop and heading. The village contains two saw-mills, owned by Philip Burrel and William Martz, both doing a thriving business, and will, no doubt, so long as the timber lasts. There are no churches in either of these villages, but in the vicinity near, erected before their existence. The German Methodist, a fine, roomy frame building, situated a short distance north of Pleasant Bend and northwest of New Bavaria, near to both places, and well attended. The German Reformed, a larger, more expensive and commodious brick building, is located on the Ridge wagon road, about one mile west of New Bavaria. It is accessible from both villages and vicinity. It has a large membership and is well attended. It has mounted in its belfry a large, expensive bell of modern manufacture. Nicholas Laubenthal, the present clerk of the township, lives about two miles east from New Bavaria, along the Ridge wagon road. He is engaged in merchandising and the sale of agricultural machinery and wagons ; also, he is engaged in farming and saw-milling,—the latter when water is plenty, which is not in good supply only part of the year. A little farther east of him is now being erected a Catholic church edifice, of brick, at an estimated cost of twenty-four thousand dollars. This building is to replace the old one destroyed by fire some time ago. The society have a large membership, many of whom come from a long distance. Peter Mangus, one of the foremost farmers and stock dealers of the township, commenced business for himself about the year 1844; then a poor young man, without any capital except his hands and energy. Now he has one of the finest of farms, of about one hundred and eighty acres, with good buildings and al. necessary implements for modern farming ; besides this he has other wild lands. In about 1851-2 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jackman. They have raised a large family of boys, who have left the parental roof, except the three younger ones, whose ages range from fourteen to eighteen years, and are yet under the care of kind and indulgent parents. The same may be said of Henry Dirr and family. These gentlemen and the writer were much together in the early days of settlement of this township. Much might be said of many others of later date. Pleasant township is traversed from northwest to southeast by a beautiful ridge, which enters on the west line of section seven, one and a half miles south of the northwest corner ; thence passing through the central part through sections seven to seventeen, part of sixteen, through twenty-one and twenty-two, and corners of twenty-three and twenty-seven, through twenty-six and twenty- fjve, where it passes out some distance north of southeast corner into Marion township. At a very early time there was a wagon road survey along this ridge for ingress and egress, which extended from Defiance and Independence, —the latter a small village four miles east of Defiance,—to Maderia, in Putnam 268 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. county, where was erected a steam flouring-mill. Maderia, like Independence, is among the things of the past. Settlement was first made along the ridge. From this ridge the land immediately descends into lowlands on either side, which is of very rich soil. The ridge was crossed in many places by sales and rivulets which are now made into artificial creeks, thereby making an excellent drainage outlet, thus rendering available an immense quantity of as good farming land as is in this or any other State. Along this road the very first settlements were made, as the vicinity afforded very passable roads. The land had also dry places enough for immediate farming, as fast as the woods could be cleared away, thereby giving the settler an early crop. HOLGATE. This village is situated in the northeast portion of the township, the corporation line being on the township line between the townships of Pleasant and Flat Rock, in sections one and two, at the junction of the Baltimore and Ohio, and Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroads, and crossed by the Napoleon and Kalida pike, a wagon road much used for many years before Holgate was known. The village having six directi0ns for ingress and egress,-four by rail and two wagon roads, makes it a desirable place for business. It contains about thirteen hundred inhabitants, including about three hundred school youth between the ages of six and twenty one-years, within the school limits, which includes something more than the corporate limits of Holgate. It has also a large and commodious school-house, brick structure, which is presided over by Professor William E. Decker (editor of the Holgate Times), as principal, together with his assistant, Miss Tillie Eager. This school has a large attendance. Andrew J. Weaver commenced general merchandising here in the autumn of 1873, at the time of completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and laying out and platting the place. He has recently retired from business on account of failing health, and is now erecting a fine residence. The present business houses are those of E. W. Poe & Co., general merchandising; Daniel Fribley, general groceries, flour and feed ; Valentine, Kimmick and Frederick Spicer, boots and shoes, connected with making and repairing ; B. W. Justice and Ed. Swartout, barbers and hairdressers; Isaac Sadesky, general clothing; Roller, tin and hardware ; Newton S. Cole, general hardware, including stoves, farming utensils, wagons, buggies, and general farming machinery of all kinds. He commenced there in the spring of 1874, and is now erecting a large and commodious building of brick, for the accommodation of his extensive and increasing business. Henry H. Fast, general hardware, farming utensils, machinery, etc. He has only been in the business about four years, but has recently erected a fine residence. L. Gillet, general merchandise ; Henry Voigt, meat market ; F. H. Voigt, general druggist and pharmacist. In con- HENRY COUNTY - 269 nection with his drugs he keeps clocks, watches and jewelry. L. M. Turney, general druggist and pharmacist ; William S. Schuyler, general merchandise in two separate buildings ; Joseph Voigt, furniture and undertaking ; physicians, Drs. J. Townsend, J. C. Becker, J. B. Archer and James M. Stout ; Brayer Brothers, manufacturers of staves and heading ; Shelly Brothers, manufacture staves and hoops; Jacob Laubenthal, saw and planning mill, and sash and door factory ; Gates, saw-mill, sawing only sycamore for tobacco boxes ; G. W. Walker, general saw-mill ; E. L. Hartman, flouring- mill ; William Kaufman, postmaster and proprietor of the Kaufmanville portion of the city, originally known as an ashery. In connection with his business as postmaster he manufactures black salts. F. Buchenberg, merchant tailor and ready made clothing ; Jesse Ware, blacksmith ; Harman Binger, blacksmith ; Mrs. Harris, milliner; Mrs. Mangas, milliner ; Christ Brickle and Hartwick, wagon-makers and blacksmithing; J. M. McEwing, groceries; H. D. Tripp, bakery and canned goods; Frank Edwards, groceries; William Edwards, dentist; E. E. Nothstine, photographer. The present officers of the corporation are as follows : Dr. James M. Stout, mayor ; Ed. Swartout, marshal ; B. T. Burrin, William Ritz, Henry Bortz, Valentine Kimmick, Henry Meyer and Jacob Laubenthal, councilman; William E. Decker, clerk. The latter person, William E. Decker, is editor of the Holgate Times, published weekly. The village has five livery stables and seven saloons ; E. Minsor is a paperhanger and painter. There are two hotels, the Holgate House, L. Heacock, proprietor, and the Forest House, S. Margrat, proprietor ; other business interests are, E. B. Linde, dealer in organs and pianos; G. Zachreck, carpenter, builder and general contractor ; William Retz, Christian Stauber and Phillip Fahrer, general carpenters and builders; Lot Barter and Izadon Hurr, masons and plasterers. Holgate was surveyed and platted in the year 1873. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was completed in the same year. The Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroad, built as a narrow guage in 1880, but changed to standard in 1887. George W. Edwards, proprietor of one of the liveries with his father (now deceased) settled near the vicinity ab0ut 1836, and has resided here ever since. The father was known as " Edwards, the bear hunter of Henry county." Mrs. Edwards is a daughter of Michael Hill (deceased), a settler of about the same time, and who opened up a farm on the banks of Turkey Foot Creek, northeast of Holgate. The writer well remembers these families as they obtained their mail as late as 1846 at Florida, he being a clerk in the post-office and store of that village at that time, and later was postmaster and proprietor of a store ; he also surveyed the road along Turkey Foot Creek, through this settlement. The progress of opening up this wilderness was, of necessity, slow and tedious, taking many years. After Napoleon, the beautiful county-seat, loomed 270 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. up to pretentious proportions, equal to or in excess of Florida, this settlement, with its increasing numbers, used Napoleon for mail and other supplies, therefore, the acquaintance became limited, and finally ceased almost entirely. The first settlers of Pleasant township in 1836, were of foreign birth, mostly from Bavaria, Germany, and some from Baden, and later from France. From these parents the present population, American born, are descendants, and are in active business, although many of the parents are yet living. Since the early settlement many relatives and their acquaintances have immigrated here, and settled the vacant lands in this and adjoining townships. They show much energy, and are law-abiding, industrious citizens of which any township or county may feel proud. They speak the English language equal with any other American citizen, but retain their own, which is handed d0wn to their offspring. Their native tongue is taught in their churches and Sunday-schools, and they are also taught to read and write their own language, which is invariable in religious worship of all denominations. CHAPTER XXVII. HISTORY OF RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP. THIS was one of the five townships originally organized in the territory at present embraced in Henry county. We know tbat it was organized as early as 1837, but the misfortune of the fires makes it imp0ssible to even approximate its limits at that time, it certainly included, as late as 1854, the township of Bartlow, which in that year was detached and given an independent organization. The township, as now organized, embraces the thirty-six sections of land contained in the government survey of township four, north of range eight, east. The growth and improvement of these sections were very slow and limited, and became marked only in the last few years, and it remained among the last of the hunting grounds reluctantly surrendered by the professional hunter and the delighted sportsman. The onward march of progress, however, compelled these men, step by step, like the poor Indian, to turn their footsteps westward, or yield and adopt the habits of civilization and the customs of social life. The fragment of the duplicate which remains of the year 1837, shows that at that time there was but one piece of land listed for taxation—the east half of section one—in the name of Dewald Macklin, valued at $321. Buildings were assessed at $321. There were four horses, forty-six head of cattle. The total value of chattel property was $328, and the aggregate tax $6.70. The HENRY COUNTY - 271 personal taxpayers were Angel Arnold, Peter Hewit, Joseph Macklin, John Mason, David Murdock, William Piper, John Rowland, Jacob Sowers and John Sturgeon. In 1839, came Silas and Robert Rowland. The duphcate of that year shows 1.281 acres of land valued at $3,042, subject to a tax of $53.23, and chattel property worth $720, taxed with $12.60. A few of these early corners, a few only hunters, left as civilization and cultivation arrived, the majority, however, died on their first settlements, which are now converted into fine and valuable farms, and occupied by their descendants. We believe there is not one of the original stock now living. A contrast will show the rapid growth and improvement of this township. In 1860 its population was only 277 ; this, in 1870, had increased to 396, and in 1880 to 857, and may at present be safely estimated at 1,200. The duplicate of 1887 shows 23,003 acres of land, valued at $179,870, and $41,190 worth of personal property subject to a tax of $5,194.94. The township is divided in eight school districts, and contains in each a good, comfortable school building. There is but one church in the township, and this belongs to the denomination of United Brethren. The township has no railroads and no villages, except in the northwest corner of section six were the "Clover Leaf" nips. At this point Peter Brillhart, on the 19th of May, 1881, laid out an addition to the hamlet of Grelleton, platted into twelve lots and four alleys, and four acres for stave factory grounds. The southeast corner of section sixteen has been named West Hope, and a post-office of that name is established there ; there is also a small country store, but no plat has ever been made, nor any division of lots laid out. For many years the roads in this township were in a miserable condition, and during the wet seasons of the year ingress and egress were almost impossible. This was due mainly to the absence of drainage, the natural facilities for which were not good. Beaver Creek is the principal, in fact the only, natural water course. The west branch of this creek enters the township in the center of section thirty-four, running northeasterly to the center of the south side of section twenty-four. The east branch enters at the center of section thirty-five, winds through sections thirty-five, thirty-six and twenty-frve, uniting with the west branch at twenty-four, and then northeasterly through sections twenty-four, thirteen, twelve and one. The artificial drainage, both surface and sub-soil is now good, and money and labor expended on the roads have made them very fair and passable during the greatest part of the year. There is yet considerable very good and fertile lands to be obtained in this township at a moderate price. They are, however, being rapidly taken up by actual settlers, and as the valuable timber is about used up, these lands must be converted into farms, and in a few years Richfield will rank among the best agricultural parts of Henry county. When these lands are once improved and brought under cultivation, as 272 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. many acres already are, the owner and occupant should indeed be a happy, and contented man. There is certainly no happier or more independent life than that lived by the farmer. No worry of business, no fear of bankruptcy, no bills to meet need disturb his sleep when his day's toil is ended. He, too, has the consolation of knowing that he is a producer, adding daily to the necessities and comforts of his fellow man and to the substantial wealth of the world. The soil and the muscle of labor must produce all the wealth that is possessed, and he who cultivates a hill of potatoes, raises a bushel of grain, fashions the product of the mine into a useful implement of husbandry has done more for his fellow than all the millions who ever lived since the accumulation of wealth began. And think of the improvements which then and since have been made, and the aid they have rendered to agricultural labor. Farming has almost ceased to be labor and has become pleasure. Every day something new is introduced into farming and yet old things are not driven out. Every one knows that steam is now used on the farm for plowing and threshing and working machinery, and one would have thought that by this time it would have superseded all other motive powers. But while new things come the old do not go away. One life is but a summer's day compared with the long cycle of years of agriculture, and yet it seems that a whole storm, as it were, of innovation has burst upon the fields ever since we can recollect. The sickle was in use in Roman times and no man knows how long before that. With it the reaper cut off the ears of the wheat, only leaving the tall straw standing, much as if it had been a pruning knife. It is the oldest of old, implements—very likely it was made of a chip of flint at first, and then of bronze, and then of steel. Then came, in England, the reaping hook, which is still used there on small farms, and to some extent on large ones, to round off the work of the machine. The reaping hook is only an enlarged sickle. The reaper takes the hook in one hand and a bent stick in the other, and instead of drawing the hook toward him, the reaper chops at the straw as he might at an enemy. In America we had the cradle ; then came the reaping machines, which simply cut the wheat and left it lying on the ground. Now there are the wire and string binders, that not only cut the grain, but gather it together and bind it in sheaves, a vast saving in labor. On the broad page of some ancient illuminated manuscript, centuries old, you may see the churl, or farmer's hired man, knocking away with his flail at the grain on the threshing floor. The knock, knocking of the flail went on through the reigns of how many kings and queens we do not know (they are all forgotten, God wot), down to the edge of our own times. The good old days when comets were understood as fate, and witches were drowned or burned— those were the times of the flail. The flail is made of two stout staves of wood joined with leather. They had flails of harder make than that in those old HENRY COUNTY - 273 times—hunger, necessity, fate, to beat them on the back and thresh them on the floor of the earth. There was an old wagon shown at the Royal Agricultural show in London said to be two hundred years old. Probably it had had so many new wheels and tongues and other parts as to have completely changed its constitution — still there were wagons in those days, and there are wagons now. Express trains go by in a great hurry, slow wagons gather up the warm hay and the yellow wheat just as they did hundreds of years since. You may see men sowing broadcast just as they did a thousand years ago on the broad England acres. Yet the light iron plow, the heavy drill, the steam plow, are manufactured and cast out into the fields and machinery, machinery, machinery, still increases. Machinery has not altered the earth, but it has altered the conditions of menls lives. New styles of hats and jackets, but the same old faces. The sweet violets bloom afresh every spring on the m0unds, the cowslips come, the wild rose of mid-summer and the golden wheat of August. It is the same beautiful country, always new. Neither the iron engine nor the wooden plow alter it one iota, and the love of it rises as constantly in our hearts as the coming of the leaves. The wheat, as it is moved from field to field, like a quarto folded four times, gives us in the mere rotation of crops a fresh garden every year. You have scented the bean field and seen the slender heads of barley droop. The useful products of the field are themselyes beautiful, while there are pages of flowers that grow at the edge of the plow. CHAPTER XXVIII. HISTORY OF RIDGEVILLE TOWNSHIP. THIS township is in the northwestern corner of the county, and the only one remaining of range five, being township number six, the balance of this range having been detached and given to Defiance at the time of the organization of that county. The area of the township is the same as that of Freedom, the two northern tiers of sections having been taken to form Fulton county. Of the civil organization of the township little is known, the records having been destroyed in the fire of 1847. However, it is known that it was prior to 1840. The topography of the township varies slightly from the balance of the county, inasmuch that through the township, from north to south, runs the Belmore Ridge, and from this fact the township derives its name. The Ridge 274 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. is first noticeable at or near Lake Ridge, Mich., and then runs in a semi-circular shape, continues through the northwestern part of Henry county, touching Defiance county, then back into Henry county through the southwestern part of the county, and finally emerging into the Black Swamp. The Ridge is well defined, being from three to ten feet higher than the adjoining country. At many places along the upper part of it are found huge bowlders, which, according to the theory of Dr. Newberry, were deposited there by icebergs, at a very remote period, when this locality was the bed of a lake. The township is devoid of natural waterways, with the exception of a couple of small creeks, or rather apologies for creeks. The bed of the Coldwater and Mansfield Railroad cuts the farms diagonally in the northeastern part. The principal thoroughfares are the Bryan and Napoleon pikes, and what is called the Ridge road. The latter runs nearly north and traverses the Belmore Ridge. The first one is merely a continuation of the second one, which runs from Napoleon to the hamlet of Ridgeville. This is one of the main roads of the county, and is now one of the best, owing to the fact that it is being graveled. It was laid out by one Barton Palmer, at an uncertain but early date. Previous to this time all travel between Napoleon and localities northwest, was done by way of Gilson's Creek (which is about a mile west of Napoleon). The creek bed was followed up to where the creek branches, in section nine, town five, north, in Napoleon township, then along a bridle path which is now the pike. From the duplicate of 1847 the following names are found : George and John Tubbs, Joseph Bear, J. Fenton, George Harmon, Adam Rowe, Lorenzo Higby and Barton Palmer. These were the oldest settlers in Ridgeville township. A few of them were here before Defiance county was organized, and when the county was organized, land that originally laid in Henry county was given to it, and thus a few of them live at present in Defiance county, although they never changed their residence. They have, however, sons who are now classed among the best and most thrifty farmers in Ridgeville township. Near the southeastern corner of the township is situated the hamlet of Ridgeville Corners. The place was originally laid out by Barton Palmer, at a very early but uncertain date. He was also the projector of the several roads that lead into the hamlet. At a certain point in Ridgeville Mr. Palmer owned and conducted a tavern, and at that time it was the only house of accommodation for miles around. Mine host Palmer conceived the brilliant idea of having all the roads of this immediate section center at his place of accommodation ; (heretofore bridle paths were the only thoroughfares). He began immediately to set his plan into execution, and, as a consequence, Ridgeville Corners is one of the main road centers of Henry county. It is at present a thriving little place of about one hundred and fifty inhabitants, and has a furniture and undertaking store, two dry goods stores, and two groceries, one black- HENRY COUNTY - 275 smith shop, two saw-mills and a tile yard. Mail is received daily by the somewhat antiquated " overland mail." There are two churches, a Methodist and a Congregationalist. The fatter was the first church established in the township, and was in the year 1846. Previous to this time services were held semi- occasionally, and at uncertain places. No regular preacher was here, and some minister from an adjoining settlement would make " an appointment " at a certain house, and then the setters would gather for religious worship and also for a " visit." Visiting was begun at an early period,—in fact in 1836. In this year George Tubbs and wife moved to this township, and, as soon as they were settled, two ladies from near Wauseon, having heard of them, came to see them, riding along what is now the Ridge Road, but then only a bridle path. On the following Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Tubbs,—the former on foot and the latter on horse-back, returned the visit, also expecting to hear a sermon from an itinerant preacher, but who failed to appear, and the people where they visited promised to send him over the following Sunday. He started, but before arriving he ate some cheese made from sour milk, and was compelled to turn back, and shortly after reaching the starting place was gathered to his fathers. The township is distinguished as the home of a large den0mination of Mennonists, followers of Simon Menno, their founder in Germany. They have some peculiar notions, and " believe that the New Testament is the only true rule of faith, that the terms Person and Trinity ought not to be applied to the Father, Son and Holy Gh0st ; that there is no original sin ; that infants should not be baptized ; and that Christians ought not to take oath, hold office, or use physical force." They do not exercise the elective franchise, and take no part whatever in politics. They are distinguished for their sterling honesty and fair dealing, punctually fill every engagement, respect every promise, and believe in strictly minding tbeir own business. They have many peculiar customs; are simple in dress and manner of living ; abstain from litigation ; deal cautiously with those not of themselves ; their general business is usually adyised and directed by one man selected for that purpose ; they are frugal, industrious and though exclusive, are, as a rule, good citizens. The township has very strong surface indications of natural gas, sufficient certainly, to justify more extensive investigation than has yet been had. In the summer of 1881 Herman A. Meyerholtz commenced boring a well for N% ater on his farm near the Corners, when reaching the depth of about one hundred feet, a vein of gas was struck powerful enough to expel the drilling tools from the well, and greatly frightened the ignorant and superstitious people employed in the work ; and upon light being applied to the combustible, a flame of twenty feet shot into the air. Haste was too slow to enable them to get away in time to escape the perils of what they supposed to result from a trespass upon the domain of the prince of darkness. The terror of the simple and superstitious 276 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. residing in the neighborhood was so great as to compel Mr. Meyerholtz to fill up the well, which he did with considerable difficulty. Several wells have since been bored with similar results. This township has had some regard for her educational interest. Its graded school is maintained at Ridgeville Corners, and the balance of the territory is divided in six districts, in each of which a first-class common school is conducted, and where are taught arithmetic, English grammar, penmanship, geography and American history. The material condition of the township may be ascertained by the duplicate of 1887. Then we find that there were nineteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight acres of land listed for taxation, valued in 1880 at $31,840, but which has greatly increased in value. The chattel property is assessed at $65,140, and the total tax paid is $6,441.96. The census of 1860 showed a population of four hundred and twenty-four souls, which in 1870 amounted to seven hundred and sixty-four, and in 1880 had increased t0 eleven hundred and nineteen. A proportionate increase has been made since. This township is fortunate in the recent discovery of valuable gravel pits, which will enable its citizens to not only get, at a comparatively trifling cost, the best of roads, but to contribute materially to the roads of the whole county, and the township is certainly to be congratulated on the enterprising character of its electors who were the first to f0llow the example of Napoleon township and vote upon themselves a tax to apply this gravel "where it will do the most good "—on the roads. Ridgeville is excellently ditched and drained, its farms well improved and tmder high cultivation; its residences and farm buildings well befitting every agricultural country, and it IA ill ever rank as one of the most prosperous and thrifty townships in Henry county. In addition to the post-office at the Corners, Uncle Sam has provided another office named Tubbsville, on the Pettisville road about half way between the Corners and the latter place. A daily mail is received and the master, William B. Tubbs, keeps the office at his residence. The population of the township is mixed. Besides the Mennonists already mentioned, there is a large population of Germans, a few English, and the majority of those residing at and in the immediate vicinity of the Corners, have come from the Western Reserve. HENRY COUNTY - 277 CHAPTER XXIX. HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. THIS is the last township in alphabetical order, and possesses more intrinsic historic interest than any other of the townships of Henry county. It was the hunting ground of the last of the Ottawas, from which three chiefs and a small band of followers were reluctant to retreat from the advancing feet of Caucasian civilization. These three chiefs were Oxinoxica, Wauseon and Myo, the latter ranking third in the Indian degree of power. He was a small, but exceedingly wise, or more properly, cunning Indian. He died on the Maumee and his skull was for a number of years preserved by Dr. L. L. Patrick, one of the pioneer physicians who had the courage to combat with the malaria and bilious fever of the Maumee, and who was an uncle of George Patrick, now residing in Liberty township and well known as one of the most prosperous agriculturists of the Maumee valley, also an uncle of the first wife of O. E. Barnes who is well known to the citizens of Henry county as sheriff and clerk, for many years. This township was originally named Myo, in honor of the chief so called" Little Chief "—but possessed of more judgment and distinction than the two who ranked him in authority. At the time of the organization of the township there were but eleven voters and their names may be rec0rded among the pioneers. These were Edward Murphy, Noah Holloway, James O'Niel, Michael Connelly, sr., the father of Michael and James Connelly, who still reside on the old homestead, Edward Scribner, whose descendants still reside in the county, William Anglemeyer, some of whose descendants still reside in the township, John Lamphier, now a well-to-do and prosperous farmer residing in Liberty township, on the west line of Washington, David Edwards, whose sole surviving representative, Martha, is now married to Robert Showman and now lives upon the old homestead, David J. Cory, who was one of the first associate judges of Henry county and who died childless at Findlay at a ripe old age, haying a large fortune, and was universally respected. The first voting place was in an unhewed log school-house, known as Murphy's school-house, situated near where the fine brick residence of Michael Connelly, jr., now stands. Abraham Snyder, now of Damascus township, was at that time, (1839) then a hunter in wbat was then the wilds of northwestern Ohio. The last known of Myo as a township on the duplicate of the county was in 1847. Then there were 7,975 acres of land valued at $23,016.45, paying a total tax of $518.85, and an additional tax of $112.23 for school-houses. 278 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. At this time John Biggins, still living ; Dennis Bresnahan, dead; Peter Donnelly, living; August Groff, dead ; John Grumling, living; Ephraim Hy- ter, living; Daniel Hartnell, sr., deceased ; John Kettering, now of Harrison township ; Daniel Moore, dead (sons living on homestead), and Nelson Poison, had moved and settled in the township. Between the making of the duplicates of 1847 and that of 1848 the Maumee river was made the southern boundary of the township, and sections six, and parts of one, two, three, four, five, seven and eight of Damascus attached, and the name changed to Washington. We then find on the duplicate of 18,48 the additional names of Charles Bucklin, David Mohler, William Anglemeyer, James Durbin, Thomas W. Durbin (present recorder), David Edwards, Edward O'Hearn, John Lamphier, John H. Poison, A. Smith, Michael White, all of whom are still living, or leave descendants. This township was the last of the hunting grounds of the Indians in Henry county, and in fact: in northwestern Ohio ; a reservation for the last of the Ottowas having been retained in the possession of that tribe for many years after the whites had obtained a majority of populati0n. The reservation set aside for the Ottowas extended into Henry county at the northeast corner, and was situated as follows : Commencing a little north of the half section line of twenty-four east, running southwest with the west line of the northeast one- fourth of section thirty-four, thence in a southeastern course to the Maumee River in the north half of the southeast one-fourth of section two, in the government surveyed township, five north of range eight, east. This is still one of the best sporting fields in the county. Game, however, is limited to the smaller class— pheasants, quail, rabbits and squirrel. The time, however, has certainly come to hang up the rifle and the trap, and the rapidly disappearing forest also suggests putting aside the ax and the saw, and picking up the shovel and the hoe, and learn that, " The who by the plow would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive." The topography of this township differs materially from all others in the county. The southeastern part consists of what is known as " openings," i. e., quick-sand swamps—very wet, where nothing but swamp grasses, shaking asps, and bull-rushes grow, and of sand knolls covered with "scrub oak." A few years ago this part of the township was not considered worth the widow's mite, but by thorough ditching, and at considerable expense, has been converted into productive and valuable farms. The balance of the township was more like the other parts of the county—very heavily timbered. But the timber has gone, and it is too late to say, " woodman, spare that tree. What sad havoc was wrought in the early days when the " clearings " were being made, and when trees had no positive value and no market. It is only in later days that the value of forest or timber lands has been apprecjated, HENRY COUNTY - 279 Think! The forest lands of the United States, excluding Alaska, embrace 500,000,000 acres, or twenty-eight per cent. of the entire area. The farmers own about thirty-eight per cent. of the forest area, or 185,000,000 acres. The rest is owned by railroad corporations, mine owners, charcoal burners, tanners, lumbermen and speculators. The farmers are the most desirable class of owners, and they begin to learn the value of their wood, and devote time and thought to its preservation. Now they begin to cherish their woodlands, and add millions, yearly, of trees for shelter and beautification, and for subsequent profit to those who will come after them. The farmers' area of forest is increasing in all the Western States, and groves are plentiful as in the days of the Druids in England, or of the classic deities of Greece and Italy, and are put to much better purpose. One thing is to be noted, that trees will flourish on lands that will not return a remunerative crop. The conifers will thrive under apparently most inhospitable conditions. Forest trees return to the soil the nutriment they take from it, thus maintaining its productive power and encouraging their own growth. The routes of transportation now render access to market easy, by land or water, and these facilities, with the extension of railroads, grow better every year. The railroads need many hundreds of ties for each mile (60,000,000 a year in all, at an average of two ties to a tree), and these ties must be renewed every seven or ten years. One acre of land may contain and perfect from four to six hundred trees In a few years these trees will produce a rich harvest of ties, and the surplus wood will give an immense supply of fuel and fencing. The farmer, with a big w0od lot, may well ask, " What shall the harvest be ?" and then look out for a rich profit. As matters go, the thirty-eight per cent. owned by the farmers now will soon be seventy-five per cent. of the tree area, and forestry is commanding the attention of our most thoughtful and considerate men. The duplicate of 1887 indicates the material wealth of the township, and shows 18,178 acres of land, valued in 1880 at $219,175, and chattel property valued at $130,854, listed for taxation, and a tax of $8,190.72 paid. The educational interests have not been overl0oked, and the township is divided into ten distrjcts, with good, well-provided buildings in each. The spiritual welfare of the people is attended to in three churches ; one, a Protestant Methodist, at Texas, and two at Colton,—a Church of God, and one Methodist Episcopal.; The population in 1860 was 894; in 1870, 1,141, and in 1880 amounted to 1,249. A proportionate increase has been maintained since that time. The township is situated in the same tier of townships with Freedom, Ridgeville and Liberty, and like these townships has contributed its twelve northern sections to the formation of Fulton county. It is in the eighth range, and is one of the oldest in the county, having had a settlement long before Napoleon was thought of as a county seat, and contained a hamlet of good size before the woodman's ax had begun gnawing at the pillars of God's first tem- 280 - HISTORY OF HENRY FULTON COUNTIES. ples in any other part of the county. It had an important trading post before the surveyor's chain was stretched and the streets of the present county seat were marked, although it was not platted until many years later. Texas was, and is, the principal village of the township, and is one of the oldest in the county. It is beautifully situated on the north side of the Miami and Erie Canal, and on the north bank of the Maumee River. A ravine runs around the north and west sides, so that the town plat lies high and dry. The outlet lock of the twenty-four mile level of the canal is at this place ; and the slack-water in the Maumee River, caused by the dam at Providence, gives the river a great depth and a width of not less than one hundred rods. A public ferry connects the banks, the expense being paid by the county. The village was recorded April 2, 1849, by James Durbin, the proprietor. The streets were laid out to the cardinal points; those running from north to south are named mainly from the timber natural to the soil, and those running from east to west are named numerically, beginning at the canal. Through the eastern part of the town runs what is called a hydraulic canal. It leads from the canal and was built for the purpose of supplying motive power for the mills in the lower part of the town, which were the first erected in the county. The first brick burned in the county was made here, and the first brick court-house, the one destroyed by fire in 1879, was constructed of brick manufactured at this point, being transported from there by canal to Napoleon. The village, in its early days, was the most important trading point in Henry county, being the best market for miles around. It was also a formidable rival of Napoleon !-or the county-seat. In 1865 Captain George Carver conceived the idea of boring for oil, and a company was formed in February, 1866, under the name of the Henry Lucas Co., Oil and Mining Company. Work was at once begun, and at a depth of about four hundred feet a vein of gas was struck of sufficient force to blow the tools, which weighed fifteen hundred pounds, clear out of the well. A stream of water shot into the air for twenty feet, and continued to spout for a couple of days. At last it subsided and work was resumed. Their method of boring was very primitive, for instead of casing the hole, they continued to bore in the water ; reachmg a depth of over eleven hundred feet they discontinued, thinking there was nothing any farther down, not at that time knowing anything of the purposes to which natural gas could be converted. The vein of water which was struck was of a strong, sulphurous kind, and heavily charged with gas. By taking a glass of it fresh from the well, it is noticed to sparkle like champagne. It is impossible to fill a bottle of fresh water and then cork it lightly, as the generated gas will surely break the bottle. After the futile attempt to strike oil, the land was sold to Captain J. W. Geering, who, thinking that there was an opportunity to start a sanitarium, built a large hotel on the grounds, and thoroughly equipped it with all modern HENRY COUNTY - 281 conveniences. But alas ! for human fancies! his dreams were doomed to be blasted, and now the hotel is a huge residence. At present the town presents an aspect that dimly recalls to mind the Sleepy Hollow of Irving's creation. There are a few stores here, but the weather-beaten siding, dingy inside and general look of dilapidation leads one to believe thats its peaceful inhabitants are enjoying the sleep of Rip Van Winkle, or are soothing themselves with the fumes of tobacco which gave to Wouter Van Twiller his sublime indifference. They are still smoking, and the world wags on as they remain in a semi-morbid state, not caring, and much less thinking of what goes on around them--a veritable Knickerbocker settlement minus the scheming " yank." The next and only remaining hamlet in the county js called Colton. and lies at the center of section twenty-one on the line of the Wabash, St, Louis & Pacific Railroad ; is twenty-six miles west of Toledo, and ten miles east of Napoleon. The town plat was recorded July 14, 1855, and by John R. Osborn, the proprietor, At present it is a thriving hamlet of about two hundred inhabitants, and with a good hotel, express office, post-office, and does a comparatively thriving business. The population, like that of all the other townships of the county is small. The southeastern part is settled mostly by Irish or their descendants, who came here during the construction of the canal, and locally is known as " Ireland." The north is mostly German or of German extraction. A good sprinkling of the Yankee is also found here. The whole population is honest, industrious, thrifty and enterprising, except in the villages where a little energy, capital and modern attachments would certainly do good. HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY CHAPTER XXX. THE ORGANIZATION OF FULTON COUNTY . Erection of Fulton County—Act Creating It—Fixing the Seat of Justice—Naming It— The First Court-House — First Term of Co in Held in Pike Township — The First Jail—Propositions to Change the County Seat — Burning of the Court-House at Ottokee — New Court- House Erected— Removal of County Seat to Wauseon— The New Court-House — The Jail— The Infirmary—List of County Officials. THE growth and development of the country in this section of the State had, about the year 1850, become so marked, that it was deemed prudent that a new county should be erected out of parts of the counties in the northwest territory. Furthermore, the county of Lucas embraced a very large tract of land, and in the more remote portions thereof, especially in the west and southwest portions, the convenience of the people demanded the erection of a new county. In this locality then, as well as now, resided men of energy, integrity and determination, who not only felt the necessity of a new county organization in this region, but who saw the great advantages to the country by such a movement in case it could be carried out successfully. Among those who took an active interest in the project may be recorded the names of Nathaniel Leggett, Wilham Hall, A. C. Hough, Stephen Springer, Michael Handy, Mortimer D. Hibbard and a few others. These not only discussed the project, but gave such substantial assistance as finally completed and consummated the work, and made the erection of the county of Fulton not only possible, but an established fact. There has been, perhaps, no event of greater importance to the county, or its people, than that which gave it an existence, and it is therefore pardonable that the full text of the act creating it should be set forth. It is as follows: AN ACT TO CREATE THE COUNTY OF FULTON. " Sec. 1. Be it enacted, etc., That such parts of the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, as are embraced in the boundaries hereinafter described, be, and the same are hereby created into a separate and distinct county, which 286 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON shall be known by the name of Fulton, to wit : Beginning on the State line between the States of Ohio and Michigan, at the northeast corner of township nine, south of range four, east of the Michigan meridian ; thence south on the township line to the southeast corner of town ten, south of range four, east, on the Fulton line ; thence west on said Fulton line to the northeast corner of town eight, north of range eight, east ; thence south to the southeast corner of section number twelve in township six, north of range eight, east; thence west on section hnes to the southwest corner of section number seven in township six, range five, east, on the county line between the counties of Henry and Williams; thence north on said line to the southeast corner of town seven, north of range four, east ; thence west on said township line to the southwest corner of section number thirty-five in said town seven, north of range four, cast; thence north on the section lines to the Fulton line ; thence west on said Fulton line to the southwest corner of section number eleven, in town ten, south of range one, west of the Michigan meridian ; thence north on section lines to said State line; thence easterly with said State line to the place of beginning." Thus having erected and described the boundaries of the county of Fulton on the 28th day of February, 1850 (the same being so named in honor of Robert Fulton), provision was next made for the administration of its affairs by section two of the act, as follows: All suits, whether of a civil or criminal nature, which shall be pending within those parts of the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, so set off and erected into a new county previous to the first Monday in April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution within the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, respectively, in the same manner as though the said county of Fulton had not been erected, and the officers of said counties, respectively, shall execute all such process as shall be necessary to carry into effect such suits, prosecutions and judgments ; and the collectors of taxes for the counties, respectively, shall collect all taxes that shall be levied and unpaid within the aforesaid portions of their respective counties at the time of the passage of this act. By section three it was provided : That all justices of the peace and other township officers within those parts of the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, which are, by this act, erected into the county of Fulton, shall continue to exercise the functions and discharge the duties of their respective offices until their term of service shall expire, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified, in the same manner as if they had been elected or commissioned for the county of Fulton ; and all writs and other legal process within the territory hereby erected into the county of Fulton, shall be styled as of the county of Fulton, on and after the 1st day of April, 1850. The election of officers for the county was provided for as follows: Sec. 4. The legal voters residing within the limits of the county of Fulton FULTON COUNTY - 287 shall, on the first Monday in April, in the year 1850, assemble in their respective townships, at the usual places of holding elections (the voters residing in each of the fractional townships taken from the counties of Henry and Williams, shall assemble in the township immediately adjoining such fractional township and lying towards the center of said county of Fulton), and proceed to elect the different county officers in the manner prescribed in the act to regulate elections, who shall hold their offices until the next annual election, and until their successors are elected and qualified. The succeeding section (5) provides for the annexing of the fractional townships not taken for the new county, and annexing the same to adjoining townships, or creating new townships out of them, as the commissioners of the counties of Henry and Williams may deem expedient ; also, empowering the commissioners of the county of Fulton to annex the fractional parts taken from Henry and Williams counties to the adjoining townships already established within Fulton county, or to erect them into new townships as, in their judgment, shall seem prudent. Section six of the act provides that the county of Fulton shall be attached to, and made a part of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Ohio, and the Courts of Common Pleas and Supreme Court of the county of Fulton, shall be holden at some convenient house in the township of Pike, until the permanent seat of justice shall be established within and for said county. The next section (7), provides " That Laurin Dewey, of Franklin county, Mathias H. Nichols, of Allen county, and John Riley, of Carroll county, be appointed commissioners to fix upon and locate the seat of justice of said new county of Fulton, agreeably to the provisions of the act entitled" an act for the establishment of seats of justice. The first, and perhaps the most important duty in connection with these events was that of locating the seat of justice in the newly created county. On meeting for this purpose several sites were recommended to the commissioners —one near the center of the county, Etna, Fluhart's Corners, Delta and Spring Hill. After much deliberation, and the hearing of arguments by those interested in the various places named, the commissioners decided upon the site nearest the center of the county, in the township of Dover, at a point that then had no distinguishing name. Several names were suggested by persons present, but none seemed to meet with general approval. One of the commissioners observing Dresden NV. H. Howard on the outer line of spectators, called upon him to suggest a name for the county seat, to which a reply came at once " Ottokee" (this being the name of a chief of the Ottowas). It was at once declared to be the name of the seat of justice of the county of Fulton. The question of confirming this as the county seat was them submitted to a vote of the people of the county. At the first election, while Ottokee received more votes than any other site, still it had not a majority of the ballots. 288 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. On the occasion of the second election the town received a clear majority, and became, by the will of the people, the seat of justice of Fulton county. While, by a majority of the popular vote of the county, Ottokee was the regularly chosen seat of justice, there had been a marked opposition to its selection, and that opposition by no means disappeared after the matter had been settled, but manifested itself by frequent murmurings of discontent from various quarters. The town of Ottokee was situate in southeastern part of Dover township, on an elevated tract of land, and as near the center of the county, geographically, as it well could have been. In fact the location was well chosen, and, were it not for the building of the railroad through the county, several miles south of the place, it is much doubted whether the seat of justice w0uld ever have been removed. In the next year, 185 I , the court-house was built. This was a frame structure, two stories in having a frontage of about forty or fifty feet, and a depth of about eighty feet. The court and jury rooms were on the upper floor, while the offices for the county officials were on the lower, or ground floor. It was a large., commodious and airy building, presenting a tasty appearance with the large dome on its top. It was built by Amos H. Jordon, of Royalton township, and cost somewhere about five or six thousand dollars. It was provided by the act creating the county, that the courts should be held at some convenient house in Pike township, until the seat of justice should be fixed. In pursuance of this the associate justices, John Kendall, A. C. Hough and William Parmalee, designated the residence of Robert A. Howard, as the place for holding courts, and here the first term was held in 1850. Owing to he fact that the transfers of cases to the counties from which this county was -armed were incomplete, and the further fact that there was hut little or no business transacted at this court, in lieu of business, those attending indulged n a game of ball. It is said that on this memorable occasion, Oliver B. Verity (afterwards probate judge), W. A. Bates, Spencer T. Snow, Benjamin Hallett, William Sutton (then county commissi0ner), James, Augustus and William Howard, and others whose names cannot now be recalled, took a part n that sport, which has since become recognized as " our national game." Judge Saddler came on horseback to preside at the court, and the associate justices at this time were, Socrates H. Cately, Abraham Flickinger and William Parmalee. After the completion of the court-house, the courts were held Ottokee. In the year 1853 the first jail was built at the county seat. This was a substantial frame building, lined with heavy, hard wood plank, and thoroughly spiked. Although built of wood, there was never an escape from it on account of its weak construction. There did escape, however, two prisoners, through the door, by reason of the carelessness of the watchman, he having left the safety bar out of place. FULTON COUNTY - 289 Connected with the jail was the sheriffs residence. The whole building cost about $3,800. The town of Ottokee continued to hold the county buildings for a number of years, and the place grew in population and value until the building of the railroad through the southern tier of townships, when the question of removal was agitated. In the year 1863 Wauseon made an attempt under an act of Legislature, known as "an enabling act," but, on a submission of the proposition to the people, it was voted down. The town of Delta then asked that the seat of justice be removed to that place, and urged. in support of argument, that a tier of townships would be taken from the county on the east, thus increasing the area and population of this county ; and, furthermore, that the town, Delta, would then be situate in the geographical center of the county, as enlarged, and the most accessible place for the county seat. In the Legislature of 1864 an act was passed similar to the Wauseon act, and the question was submitted to the people, as to whether the county seat should be removed to Delta. but on a count of the vote, the proposition was defeated by a very large majority. During this period of agitation and on the 16th day of July, 1864, the court-house building at Ottokee was destroyed by fire, and with it all of the county records and other valuable material in the offices of the county officials. The building was insured for about one-half its original cost. During the next year, 1865, the county commissioners entered into a contract with Hiram Pritchard, for the erection of a new brick court-house on the site of the old building. This was a one-story brick building, plain but substantial, and cost about $5,000. It was arranged to be used only for court purposes, the county officers' departments being in a separate building, on land adjoining the court-house. This latter building cost about $2,800. These buildings answered the needs of the county for several years, but attending court, or transacting business with the county officials, or at the county seat, was attended with great inconveniences. The railroad had become a recognized thoroughfare of travel, and to all parties from outside the county, and those within it, as well, a carriage or stage ride of at least four miles was necessitated. This inconvenience was all the more marked, as the now growing towns of Wauseon and Delta were on the line of the railroad, and soon again was another effort made for the removal of the seat of justice, this time with success. In the winter of the year 1869, the Legislature passed another enabling act, by which the seat of justice of Fulton county was authorized to be removed from Ottokee to Wauseon. The question was then submitted to the people of the county, and in the month of October, of that year, at an election held for the purpose, the proposition was carried. The enabling act contained a condition that before the change could be accomplished, there should be raised by subscription among those desiring the change to be made, the sum of $5,000, 290 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. which sum should be paid over to the county commissioners, and used as a part of the building fund. On the 19th day of January, 1870, Isaac Springer, trustee of this subscribed fund, paid the same into the hands of the commissioners, who were at the time, Joseph Ely, A. B. Gunn and M. 0. McCaskey. Lots numbers one hundred and forty-nine and one hundred and eighty-nine of the original plat of Wauseon were deeded to the commissioners, or their successors, for the site of the court-house building. These lots were situate at the southwest corner of Fulton and Chestnut streets, having a front on the first named. The bids for construction of the building ranged from $43,000 to $56,000. The lowest bidder was F. M. Brooker, and the contract was let to him, but failing to give the required fidelity bond, the contract was awarded to Alexander Voss and H. B. Bensman, at the price of $44,350. The building is of brick, with stone chimneys, two stories in height, and with a tower and belfry on the Fulton street front, much higher than the main building. It is a building n0t only substantial, but elegant, and an ornament to any town; one in which the commissioners, the architect, the contractors, and the people of the county have reason to feel just pride. Its interior is admirably arranged, the large, well lighted and well appointed offices for county officials occupying the ground floor, while the courtroom, judges and jury rooms are on the second floor. Access is had to the upper floor by two stairways, one at the front and the other at the rear of the building. The total cost of the building, including extra work, amounted to $45,772.27. The contract for its construction was made on May 31, 1870, and the building was first used for court purposes in the early part of the year 1872. Although Ottokee ceased to be the county seat of Fulton county in the year 1871, the jail, the place of confinement for offenders, was maintained at that place for nearly four years longer, and until the building of the present jail and sheriff residence at Wauseon, in the year 1876. The contract for this building was let on the 16th day of February, of that year, to John Lichtenberger, of Ft. Wayne, Ind., at the price of $18,500. This is, in all respects, a model county jail, both in point of security and arrangement. The materials used in its construction were of the most modern and approved quality, and the prisoners do not at any time have access to any substance except stone and iron. The building is located on Chestnut street, at Wauseon, in the rear of the land occupied by the court house. The sheriff's residence is attached to the jail and is well arranged as to comfort and convenience. The buildings at Ottokee having been vacated by the change of the county seat, were still owned by the county. The increase in population in this locality, the same as in nearly every county in the State, the incoming of new families, the infirmities of age and the unfortunate condition of some persons who had:become a charge upon the public, led to the establishment of an institution within the county, and to be maintained at the public expense, called the In- FULTON COUNTY - 291 firmary, by which it is commonly known throughout most localities, as a home for aged, decrepit and indigent persons. Early in the month of May, t 874, the buildings owned by the county at Ottokee, and under charge of the commissioners, were turned over to James Riddle, Robert Lewis and 0. A. Cobb, as infirmary directors, and the work of making the changes necessary for its intended use was at once commenced. A tract of land, some three hundred acres in extent, was purchased in the vicinity and a sufficient county farm was established. 0. B. Verity was appointed infirmary superintendent, an office he filled for six years, when he was succeeded by John T. Whittaker, who also served for the same length of time. He was in turn succeeded by Samuel Atkinson, the present superintendent. The building will accommodate about seventy inmates. COUNTY CIVIL LIST. Having reviewed the various proceedings had in the formation of the county, and the several acts relating to change and location of the county buildings, to the final erection of the same and the establishing of the seat of justice permanently at Wauseon, it is proper, in this connection to furnish a list of those who have had a part in the administrative affairs of the county. It will be remembered that in the destruction of the old court-house at Ottokee, the records of every kind were destroyed and for that reason it is impossible to verify the lists prior to the year 1864, except from the recollection of persons generally conversant with the county’s affairs. In the main, however, the list prior to 1864 will be found correct. The dates set opposite the names of officers represent the year of their election, where no date is given it will be understood to mean that the officials held during the years of which no record exists. SHERIFF. George Brown, Charles Smith, Myron H. Hayes, Oscar A. Cobb, Jacob Huffmire, 1864-6; Joel H. Brigham, 1868-70-76; Sullivan Johnson, 1872-74; Harvey L. Aldrich, 1878-80; Frank T. Blair, 1882-84; Daniel Dowling, 1886. TREASURER. Nathaniel Leggett, Isaac Springer, Julius Marsh, L. L. Carpenter, 1864; A. B. Canfield, 1866-68; David Ayers, 1870-72; H. L. Moseley, 1874-76; Jared M. Longnecker, 1878; Thomas A. Kelley, 1879; James M. Howard, 1881-83; John B. Schnetzler, 1885. AUDITOR. Mortimer D. Hibbard, A. C. Hough, Jason Hibbard, 1864; Ozias Merrill, 1866-68; L. G. Ely, 1870-71-73-75; Isaac Springer, 1877-80; A. W. McConnell, 1883; Thomas Kelley, by appointment ; A. W. McConnell, 1888. 292 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. J. H. Read, A. Carmichael, N. Merrill, M. R. Brailey, J. W. Rosborough, 1864, 1868, 1870; Octavius Waters, 1866; W. W. Touvelle, 1872 ; M. Handy, 1874; H. H. Ham, 1876-78 ; W. H. Gavitt, 1880-82 ; Mazzini Slusser, 1885. RECORDER. C. Allman, Joseph Jewell, S. B. Darby, R. H. Howard, J. K. Newcomer, W. H. Stevens, jr., 1866-69 ; Richard Taylor, 1872-75 ; Albert S. Bloomer, 1878-81-84. PROBATE JUDGE. Samuel Gillis, 1851-4; Lucius H. Upham, one month, unseated; Socrates H. Cately, 1854-58; Oliver B. Verity, 1858-1870; Caleb M. Keith, 1870-79; Levi W. Brown, 1879-88. The years given for the last above officials represent their terms of incumbency of office, having been correctly ascertained. CLERKS OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. Samuel Durgin, Naman Merrill, Harry B. Bayes, 1861-64; Samuel Durgin, 1864-67 ; Truman H. Brown, 1867-70 ; Daniel W. Poe, 1870-73 ; Albert Deyo, 1873-79; Albert B. Smith, 1879-88. COUNTY. SURVEYOR. John Spillane, 1865; Osceola E. M. Howard, 1868; Anthony B. Robinson, 1871-74-77-80; Lucius B. Fraker, 1883-86. CORONERS. W. M. Schnetzler, 1864; Josiah H. Bennett, 1865 ; John Fenton, 1866; Charles M. Canfield, 1868-69; John Odell, 1871-73; S. T. Worden, 1875-77; Charles E. Bennett, 1879-81; George W. Hartman, 1883. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. Christopher Watkins, William Sutton, Jonathan Barnes, Warren McCutchen, Stephen Houghton, E. Masters, George Taft, Joel Brigbam, James Cornell, William Dye, Henry Jordon, Elias Richardson, 1864; Joseph Ely, 1865 ; A. B. Gunn, 1866; Milton O. McCaskev, 1867 ; Joseph. Ely, 1868 ; A. B. Gunn, 1869 ; A. B. Thompson, 1870 ; H. A. Canfield, 1871 ; Joseph Shadle, 1872, A. B. Thompson, 1873 ; D. B. Allen, 1874 ; Joseph Shadle, 1875; A. B, Thompson, 1876; E. L. Barber, 1877 ; Richard H. Scott, 1878; Charles Blake, 1879 ; E. L. Barber, 1880 ; Richard H. Scott, 1881 ; Charles Blake, 1882 , Charles H. Van Ostrand, 1883 ; James C, Vaughan, 1884 ; Henry H. Williams, 1885; Sylvester W. Baum, 1886. FULTON COUNTY - 293 The present county officials are as follows : Auditor, Thomas A. Kelley ; clerk of the courts, Albert B. Smith ; probate judge, Levi W. Brown ; treasurer, J. B. Schnetzler ; recorder, A. S. Bloomer ; prosecuting attorney, Mazzini Slusser ; sheriff, Daniel Dowling ; county surveyor, Lucius B. Fraker ; county commissioners, J. C. Vaughan, T. J. Cornell, S. W. Baum ; infirmary directors, S. G. Aumend, L. H. Guilford, W. P. Cowan. CHAPTER XXXI. Geographical Location of Fulton County—Boundaries—Position of Townships— Streams-Topography—Ditching and Draining. FULTON county occupies a position, geographically, in the northwestern portion of the State, in the country incident to the historic Maumee valley; and although no part of the river Maumee lies within the county, the early history of this locality is inseparably connected with that valley ; it is auxiliary to, but not co-extensive with it. Fulton was created by the surrender of portions of the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, the greater part, by far, being taken from the county first named. It is bounded on the north by the State of Michigan, east by Lucas county, south by Henry county and west by Williams county. The county is, perhaps, as regular in conformation as any within the State. Its townships number twelve, being in a range of four, east and west, and three north and south. Gorham township occupies the extreme northwest corner ; east of that lies Chesterfield, then Royalton, and 0n the extreme east and in the northeast corner of the county, lies Amboy. On the second or middle tier on the west is located Franklin and next east of that is Dover ; then Pike, and on the extreme east Fulton township. Of the lower or southern tier of townships, first on the west is German, the largest in area of the county's sub-divisions ; east of German is Clinton, within the bounds of which is located the county seat, Wause0n. East of Clinton lies York, and on the extreme east and in the southeast corner of the county is the township of Swan Creek. The old " State line," or as it has otherwise been known, the Fulton line, passes an almost due east and west course, intersecting the townships of Franklin, Dover, Pike and Fulton. This line was the former boundary between the States of Ohio and Michigan, and concerning which boundary there was a serious complication between the authorities of the two States. A full and accurate account of this controversy will be found in the chapter devoted to the 'Land Titles," of this work. 294 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. Fulton county can hardly be said to be a well watered district, and there are but few streams of any considerable size within its limits. The largest, undoubtedly, is the Tiffin River, 0r, as it is commonly called, " Bean Creek." This stream has its headwaters in the ,northern and northwestern townships, Gorham and Chesterfield, and in the townships north and within the State of Michigan. Its general course is southwest, through the east part of Gorham, into Franklin, which it intersects, and thence across the northwest corner of German and passes into Williams county on the west. There are many tributaries to Bean Creek in Gorham township, thus making it one of the best naturally drained townships of the county ; in fact, there has been a less number of artificial drain ditches constructed in this township than any other county except Franklin. The extreme northeast part of Gorham is drained by a small stream called Mill Creek. South of Bean Creek, and maintaining a general course of nearly the same direction, is Brush Creek. This has its source or head near Spring Hill, in the western part of Dover township ; thence it flows southwesterly, crosses the northwest corner 0f Clinton, enters German, and flows its general course southwest across the last named township and leaves it at the southwest corner of the county. The township of York has a number of streams that have their courses generally in a southerly direction, yet artificial drainage has been resorted to in order to free its lands of their marshy or swampy character, and adapt them for agricultural pursuits. Its streams gradually find their course south into Henry county and discharge into the Maumee. Bud Creek has its source jn the central part of Pike township, whence it runs southerly and with an inclination to the east, touches the northeast part of York, crosses Swan Creek and passes on into Henry county on the south. Swan Creek is a small stream having its headwaters in the southwest part of Fulton township; thence it flows south and east across the north part of Swan Creek township, into Lucas county on the east. The South branch drains largely the northern and eastern part of the township. It maintains a general course bearing east and passes beyond the borders of this into Lucas county. Blue Creek is a small stream flowing from the central part of Swan Creek township south, and then east into Lucas county. Ten Mile Creek rises part in each Amboy and Royalton townships and runs east and northeast past Metamora and into Lucas county. These are the larger and more important streams of this county, which in ordinary localities would be entirely sufficient to thoroughly drain the whole territory embraced by the county. But unlike the counties in the eastern and southern parts of the State, Fulton has no hills of any magnitude to give headway or force to its streams. The hills are no more than a slight rise of ground in any portion of the county ; while in many localities there seems to be a gen- FULTON COUNTY - 295 eral depression of the surface, insomuch that they cannot rid themselves of their surface water without resort to artificial drainage. The general slope of the surface is to the southeast and quite moderate. The lowest land in the county is in the township of Swan Creek, where the surface lies ninety-five feet above Lake Erie, while in northwestern Gorham the altitude reached is about two hundred and fifty feet above the lake. In the central part of the county, embracing the northern part of Clinton, nearly all of Dover, about three-fifths of Chesterfield, the southwest part of Royalton, the west half of Pike, and the northwest corner of York, is an elevated sandy plateau with an average elevation of about two hundred feet above lake water. Prior to about the year 1858, there was a vast amount of land lying within the county that was wholly unfit for agricultural purposes, on account of its swampy character, and inasmuch as there were no streams within the county available for water power, there was but little prospect for advancement or progress by way of manufacture, and the inhabitants must, per force, seek some channel or adopt some means whereby the county might be built up and made productive. This peculiarity of situation, if it may be properly called such, was not entirely single to this locality, but there were several counties similarly possessed. Here the climate, the soil and the natural situation of the land showed favorable for good results in agricultural pursuits as soon as the surface of the land could b properly drained of its surplus and sluggish water. The Legislature made provision for draining by the ditching process, and by this must the county stand or fall. It can hardly be within the province of this chapter to enter into a &tailed narrative of the laws passed by the Legislature from time to time, bearing upon the subject of ditch draining, but sufficient it is to state that such was the fact ; and under this act and its several amendments and supplements has the vast amount of draining been done within this county during the last twenty-five and more years While by far the greater part of the draining done in the county has been of that kind known as ditching, still there has been laid by the commissioners, or those acting in the work for them, a large amount of tile, or pipe made, from the native clay. The latter is used where it may be laid to advantage. Tile draining is usually done by the individual in cases where he desires to carry the water from some depressed portion of land to some already established ditch or other stream. It was in the year 1859 that ditching commenced in this county under the direction of the county commissioners, and since that time there are but very few square miles of the surface of the county but has in some manner been opened for this purpose. Of course there are localities where this is not necessary, on the more elevated lands of sandy character. The work is carried on to such an extent that each year, for several years past, there has been at least one hundred miles of ditching performed in this county. 296 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. The following record, by townships, will show first, the date of digging the first ditch therein ; second, the number opened, or dug ; third, the number deepened or widened, or both, and fourth, the number cleaned out : Amboy, 1862 ; forty-eight new, sixteen deepened and widened, and three cleaned out. A total operated upon of sixty-seven. Royalton, 1859; thirty-eight new, sixteen deepened and widened, and one cleaned out. Total, fifty-five. Chesterfield, 1864 ; thirty-f0ur new, seventeen deepened and widened, and six cleaned out. Total, fifty-seven. Franklin, 1859 ; fourteen new, four deepened and widened, and one cleaned out. Total, nineteen. Gorham, 1865 ; twenty-eight new, five deepened and widened, and one cleaned out. Total, thirty-four. Dover, 1864; forty-six new, twenty-eight deepened and widened, and six cleaned out. Total, eighty. Pike, 1859 ; fifty-one new, thirteen deepened and widened, and six cleaned put, Total, seventy. Fulton, 1862 ; forty-four new, twelve deepened and widened, and four cleaned out. Total, sixty. Swan Creek, 1859; seventy new, nineteen deepened and widened, and twenty cleaned out. Total, one hundred nine. York, 1859 ; sixty-one new, sixteen deepened and widened, and ten cleaned out. Total, eighty- seven. Clinton, 1859; seventy-one new, twenty-eight deepened and widened, and twenty cleaned out. Total, one hundred nineteen. German, 1859 ; thirty-one new, seven deepened and widened, and one cleaned out. Total, thirty-nine. CHAPTER XXXII. GEOLOGY OF FULTON COUNTY. IT is a well established fact, the result of scientific research, that the whole country about this region has at some time, ages ago, been covered with water of unknown depth, and that these waters were constantly changing as if in motion, or by under currents, tides and waves. In the course of ages these waters receded, having found some outlet into the vast bodies of water that now so largely cover the earth's surface. Again, the labors of those who, during the last two hundred years, have devoted themselves to the study of the- FULTON COUNTY - 297 structure of the globe, have resulted in the creation of the science of geology, and the claim which this department of human knowledge has to science, depends upon the symmetry which has been found to prevail in the arrangement of the materials forming the earth's crust. By the slow process of adding act to fact and by comparing the observations of the devotees of the science in different lands, it has been found that the rocky strata of the earth hold definite relation to each other in position, and hence in age; that many of them are distinguished by constant or general features, and contain characteristic or peculiar remains of plants or animals by which they may be recognized where-ever found. This sequence of deposit forms what has been aptly termed the Geological Column and the changes which are recorded in the strata of different formations, both in regard to the physical c0ndition of the earth's surface, and the organic forms that inhabited it, constitute that which is known as geological history. Of this record the different ages, periods and epochs follow each other everywhere in regular order, and form a grand and uniform system of change and progress, compared with which the successive eras of human history drop into insignificance. The observations of geologists have shown that the materials which compose the earth's crust form three distinct classes of rocks, the igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Of these, the first class includes those that are the direct result of fusion. These are divided into two subordinate grops, volcanic and plutonic, of which the first includes such as are produced by volcanic eruption, lava in its various forms, pumice, obsidian, trachyte, etc. The second class of igneous rocks — the plutonic — comprises those massive, rocky forms which are Without distinct bedding, have apparently been completely fused, and yet were never probably brought to the earth's surface by volcanic action. Having consolidated under incalculably great pressure, they are, in structure, dense and compact, never exhibiting the porous and incoherent condition which is so characteristic of purely volcanic rocks. The plutonic rocks are granite in some of its varieties, syenitc, porphyry, and part, but not all, of basalts, diorites and dolerites (greenstones). None of these igneous rocks are found in place in this region of county, although they exist in vast quantities in the mining districts of the west and on the shores of Lake Superior. From the latter region numerous fragments were brought and scattered generally through this region during the glacial period, and they constitute a prominent feature in the drift deposits that cover so large a part of Ohio. Abundant evidence exists that the earth has been consolidated from a gaseous through a liquid state, and that the consolidation resulted from the cooling of an intensely heated mass, but that near the center this cooling process has never been entirely completed and makes its existence manifest even to this period, through not infrequent volcanic eruptions. Again , is it evidenced in penetrating the earth to a great depth, which, as it is increased, the higher becomes the temperature. 298 - HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES. It is a matter of supposition that the igneous rocks were formed first and that they constituted the primeval continents. As soon, however, as they were exposed to the action of the elements, they began to be worked down and washed away, and the materials derived from them were deposited as sediment in the first existing water basins. That process has been going on through all subsequent ages, so that by far the larger part of the rocks which we now encounter in the study of the earth belongs to the class of sedimentary deposits. These are commonly known as sandstone, shale, limestone, etc., the consolidation of the comminuted material having been effected by both chemical and physical agencies. The differences discovered in these sedimentary rocks are, for the most part, dependent upon very simple causes, such as are now seen in operation upon every coast. The rains that fall upon the land give rise to rivers, and these on their way to the sea excavate the valleys through which they flow, transporting the materials taken into suspension to the points where the motion of the currents is arrested and their power of suspension ceases, that is, in the water basins where they debouched. In the gradual arrest of the motion of river currents, the coarsest and heaviest materials first sink to the bottom, in obedience of the laws of gravitation, then, in succession, the fine and still finer until all are deposited. Shore waves are still more potent agents in the distribution of sediments. Whether they break on cliff or beach they are constantly employed in grinding up, and by their under-tow carrying away the barriers against which they beat. Nothing can resist their force and ceaseless industry. In time the most iron-bound coast and the broadest continent must yield to their slow but sure advance, and the comminuted materials are spread far and wide in the rear of their line of progress. Rain, rivers and shore waves are the great destructive agents in geology— the greatest levelers known—but in the same measure that they demolish, the sea builds again. She sifts, s0rts and spreads anew and in regular order, the materials she receives from them, thus laying the foundation for new continents. These, when raised above the sea-level by internal forces are again cut away, again to be rebuilt. Upon the retreat of the sea the surface of the land would be again covered with vegetation, acted upon by atmospheric influences, washed into hills and valleys, and locally covered with sand or clay, the products of this local washing. Any excavations now made upon this continent would reveal distinct and legible records of this last inundation, viz.: Beneath the superficials, a limestone; below this, a shale; below that a sandstone, or conglomerate; and all these resting upon the rocky foundations of the continent ; the result of a previous submergence, and representing a previous geological age. To be sure these rules are not without some occasional irreconcilable deviations, sometimes called faults, or exceptions, owing to a variety of causes, but are of not sufficiently frequent occurrence to demand any lengthy explanation, or any FULTON COUNTY - 299 notice other than mere mention. Having followed the geological evolutions of our continent thus far, its importance to the average reader being an apology for its length, we may now turn and observe the geological formation and construction of this locality, as the same is laid down in the geological reports and surveys prepared by Prof. C. K. Gilbert, from which the strength of this chapter is taken, and to which is added the result of a recent drilling for oil. in the vicinity of Wauseon, showing the different strata penetrated and its thickness. The bedded rocks of Fulton county are covered with a heavy sheet of drift, to a depth of from fifty to at least two hundred feet. These are mainly on or near the line of the Air-Line Railroad, and the rock struck in each case was the Huron shale — either the characteristic black shale or associated masses of pyrites. At Delta it was drilled through in boring for oil, and found to have a thickness of fifty-five feet. Under it was found twenty feet of soft gray shale, representing the Hamilton group, while the upper part of the Coniferous group appeared to be quite argillaceous. Comparing the altitudes of these beds in the neighboring counties, Henry and Lucas, where they outcrop, the general dip is found to be to the north and west, and it is probable that its continuance carries them under the Waverly group within the limits of the county. So far as can be judged the greater part of the county is underlaid by Huron shale, and this is c0vered in the northwest portion by the beds of the Waverly group. In boring for water near the south line of Gorham township, cannel coal was struck, and was said to have been penetrated to a depth of three and one- half feet. Overlying it was the blue clay of the drift, but as the underlying material was not determined, it remains uncertain whether the coal was in its original position, or was merely a drift boulder transported from the Michigan coal field. All present information or knowledge tends toward the latter theory, although the nearest outcrops of the coal measures are about forty miles distant. The unmodified Erie clay (sand, gravel and boulders), appears in the northwestern part of Gorham township, and presents the same features as are found in the county on the west, except that the deep marshes are wanting, or nearly so. The beach line which limits it crosses the west line of Franklin township, a half mile north of the " Fulton line," and runs northeast to Fayette, and thence to the Michigan line, which it intersects three miles west of the east line of Gorham township. The lacustrine clays (post-glacial epoch), have resulted from the redisposition of the Erie clay, and differ from it in that they lack the coarser materials, are more homogeneous, and are dep0sited with a flat, and often nearly level surface. They cover the county generally. In Franklin, German, the south part of York and Clinton, and the eastern part of Amboy, their extreme flat-