OREGON TOWNSHIP - 851
OREGON TOWNSHIP.
Oregon Township lies in the Southeast part of Lucas County, and is bounded on the North by Maumee Bay, on the East by Lake Erie, on the South by portions of Wood and Ottawa Counties, and on the West by the City of Toledo. It is the largest Township in the County. comprising an area of about 80 square miles, The soil is arable and productive, with the exception of the marshes on the Lake and Bay. Originally, it was heavily timbered and the manufacture of lumber and staves was there extensively carried on. There is still a large Lumber and Stave Mill in operation in the Eastern part of the Township. The late Captain Eber Ward, of Detroit, and others held large tracts of land in this part of the Township. Captain Ward carried on ship building hero and had a canal connecting his yard with Lake Erie.
Oregon Township was originally included in the territory of Port Lawrence and Manhattan Townships. On June 11, 1837, a petition was presented to the County Commissioners by Isaac Street and others, asking for "a new Township, to include the territory on the East and South side of the River, and to be known by the name of Oregon. Whereupon, the Board considered said petition and granted the prayer thereof, and ordered an election to be held on the 4th day of July following at 10 o'clock A. m., at the house of Isaac Street; and also, that Trustees and a Township Treasurer. to take charge of the School fund in said Township, be elected at the same time and place."
Isaac Street and others had laid out a Town in this territory which they called " Oregon," and the same parties, less than a year later, engineered the organization of the Township, and were interested in having it called by the same name, though it had been popularly designated as "Utah." Henry W. Hicks, who owned a fine estate on that side of' the River, devised the euphonious name of " Yondota," and although it found its way into the records in the transfer of his farm, it was not accepted as the name of the settlement. The name Oregon was suggested by Pierre M. Irving, a nephew of Washington Irving, who lived in Toledo from the Spring of 1836 to the Summer of 1838; and it was probably inspired by his uncle's "Astoria," which had then awakened great interest in John Jacob Astor's trading lands in which is now Oregon Township. Thus, the name is associated with a very pleasant romance. Mr. Irving was here to look after his uncle's interest in Toledo. He left with his wife for a temporary visit to New York in the Summer of 1838, but never returned, dying in that City in February, 1876.
Oregon Township has been modified in its boundaries as follows: On December 2, 1856, that portion of Oregon included within Toledo
852 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
City limits, was annexed to Port Lawrence Township; and on the same day that part of Port Lawrence outside the City, was attached to the Township of Springfield.
By an ordinance of Toledo City Council, passed July 2, 1872, and concurrent action by the Board of County Commissioners, of December 30, 1872, Oregon Township was further reduced in area, by the addition to the City of Toledo of all the remaining land included within the following boundary line, to wit:
From the Maumee River, in the Township of Manhattan, to the center of the mouth of Wisyon Creek, thence up the center of the channel of said Creek to a line running North and South through the center of Sections 28 and 33, Town Nine, South of Range Eight East; thence South on said center line to the center of said Section number 33, same Town and Range ; thence Southwesterly, through the center of Section number 5, Town 10, South of Range Eight East, to the Southwest corner of said Section ; thence, due South, on the line dividing Sections 7 and 8 and 17 and 18, same Town and Range, to the Wood County line; thence Westerly, on the line between Wood and Lucas Counties, to the main channel of the Maumee River.
On November 2, 1874, the Board ordered " that all that portion of Manhattan Township outside of the new City limits of'-Toledo and South of the center of the channel of the Maumee River, be annexed to and constitute a part of Oregon Township."
SALE OF INDIAN LANDS.
The several grants or reservations provided for in the treaty with the Ottawa tribe of Indians in February, 1833, soon began to find their way to market. The earliest record of such sales, is the deed of Au-to-kee, a Chief of that tribe, and son of Fish-qua-gun, another Chief of' the same. The sale was made in August, 1835, to James W. Knaggs, and consisted of 125 acres, being the West half the grantor's tract on the South side of the Maumee River and near the mouth of that stream.
On the same day Au-to-kee, for $1,000, sold to Geo. B. Knaggs and R. A. Forsyth the property known as Presque Isle, constituting the remaining portion of grantor's reservation, and containing 81 acres. This deed bore the following certificate
To the President of the United States: We do hereby certify, that the consideration named in said instrument, which was duly paid to the said Au-to-kee in our presence, is a full and fair consideration for said tract, as we verily believe." (Signed by John E. Hunt and Horatio Conant, and by James Jackson, Sub-Agent.)
As a sample of the form of such conveyance, the deed of Au-to-kee is herewith given in full, as follows:
Know all men by these presents : That I, Auto-kee, a Chief of the Ottawa tribe of Indians, and son of Fish-qua-gun, in consideration of the sum of $1,000, to me in hand paid by James W. Knaggs, of the County of Wood and State of Ohio, do hereby give, grant and convey to said James W. Knaggs, and to his heirs and assigns forever, all that certain tract or parcel of land contained in the West half of my tract, lying in said County of Wood at the mouth of the Maumee River (South side) adjoining Presque Isle, which I lately granted to Robert A. Forsyth and Geo. B. Knaggs, and bounded by said Presque Isle on the West ; on the North by Lake Erie ; on the East by the East half of said half of said tract; and on the South by land granted to Alexis Navarre by the United States at the treaty with the said tribe of Indians in February, 1833, at which treaty this said tract was granted to me, the West half of which, containing 125 acres, I hereby grant to James W. Knaggs. To have and to hold, to him and to his heirs and assigns forever, for their proper use and behoof. And I further covenant and promise with and to the said James W. Knaggs, the above granted premises to him, his heirs and assigns forever, to warrant and defend.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 4th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1835. AU-TO-KEE. [L.S.]
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of H. Conant and Jaques Navarre.
The State of Ohio, Wood County, ss.: On the 4th of August, in the year of our Lord 1835, personally came Au-to-kee, Indian Chief of the Ottawa Tribe, the maker of the within deed, and the purport and meaning of the within deed being fully explained to him, he acknowledged that he signed and sealed the same and was content and satisfied with the consideration made therefor; and that he executed said deed and makes the above acknowledgment without any circumvention or undue influence or persuasion of the said grantee or of any other person whomsoever.
Before me, Horatio Conant, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and I further certify, that I was present at the execution of the within deed, and counted out and delivered to the said Au-to-kee the consideration mentioned in said deed, $1,600. Witness my hand and seal, the day and year above written.
H. CONANT,
Justice of the Peace.
November 18, 1835, Jaques Navarre, Francis Navarre, Peter Navarre, and Antoine Navarre, of the Indian Reservation at the mouth of the Maumee River, on the South side of said River, for $800, sold to Geo. B. Knaggs, 60 acres of land bounded oil the East by Duck Creek ; on the North by Maumee River and the line run by Ambrose Rice, Surveyor; the same having been granted to the Navarres by the treaty of 1883. The decd was signed by Catharine, wife of Peter Navarre, and by Catharine, wife of Jaques Navarre.
November 18, 1835, James W. Knaggs sold to Daniel Chase 258 1/3 acres of the Reservation of the Navarres, for $5,000. The same day, Knaggs and Forsyth sold Presque Isle to Daniel Chase for $3,000, being the same tract purchased of Au-to-kee June 3, 1835, for $1,000.
August 3, 1835, Geo. B. Knaggs, for $12,880, sold to Daniel Chase 160 acres granted by treaty of 1833, to Wa-sa-on, an Ottawa Indian; 80 acres granted by the same treaty to Joseph Cavalier Renjard, and next to a tract assigned to Cheroo, an Indian Chief ; and 100 acres granted to the Navarres by treaty of 1833; making 340 acres, the price averaging $37.88 per acre, against about $13 per acre paid for the sauce a few weeks previously.
August 3, 1835, B. F. Hollister sold to Daniel Chase for $1,600 a tract of land known as the Cheroo Reservation, on Little Creek, or McCarthy's, Village at the mouth of Maumee River, being the same re served to Cheroo, Principal Chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Indians.
OREGON TOWNSHIP. - 853
ENTRIES OF GOVERNMENT LANDS.
The following table, compiled from. Lucas County records, shows the names of the persons who entered Government lands in Oregon Township, together with the locations, dates and acreage purchased by each:
RANGE EIGHT, TOWN NINE.
Sec. Fraction. Purchaser Date Acres
23 Lots 1 and 2 in frac Timothy Griffith 1836 88.27
23 S W frac. 1/4 Daniel Chase 1839 81.59
23 N E 1/4 S E 1/4 Daniel Culver 1852 40
24 Lots 2, 3 and 4 in frac Timothy Griffith 1836 129.31
24 W 1/2 E 1/4 Erastus Cone 1852 80
24 W 1/2 S W 1/4 John Brown 1849 80
25 N 1/4 S E 1/2 James M Langston 1852 80
25 N W 1/4 N W 1/4 Thomas Wayne 1852 40
25 W 1/2 N E 1/4 Erastus Cone 1852 80
25 E 1/2 S W 1/4 Alex. McCabe 1852 80
25 E pt S E 1/4 George W. Reynolds 1852 87
25 W 1/2 S W 1/4 Isaac Heckman 1849 80
26 E 1/2 N E 1/4 Asa Lapham 1846 80
26 E 1/2 S W 1/4 Benjamin Scott 1849 80
26 W 1/2 S W 1/4 Sirile Plumey 1849 80
26 E ½ S E 1/4 Eli M. Williams 1849 80
26 W 1/2 S W 1/4. Patrick Fox 1849 80
27 S E 1/4 S W 1/4 Frederick Prentice 1849 40
28 S W pt S E 1/4 Daniel Chase 1836 53.78
28 S E 1/4 S E 1/4 Nathan Etson 1848 33.78
33 N E 1/4 Joseph J. Applegate 1836 160
34 S W 1/4 and E 1/2. N W 1/2 Daniel Chase 1839 240
34 E ½ and W 1/2 N W 1/4 Same 1839 400
35 S W 1/4 S W 1/4 Same 1839 320
35 W 1/2 S E 1/4 Same 1839 80
35 E 1/2 N E 1/4. William Damphy. 1852 80
36 E pt N E 1/4 Michael DeBott 1852 84
36 E 1/2 N W 1/4 and E 1/2 S. W 1/4. Jacob Meyer 1852 160
36 W 1/2 N W 1/4 and W 1/4 S W 1/4 Nathan White 1852 160
36 W 1/2 N E 1/4 & W 1/2 S E 1/4 John Heffelbower 1852 160
RANGE EIGHT, TOWN TEN.
1 N E ½ John L. Wayne 1858 160
1 S E 1/4 E. S. Wayne 1858 1160
1 S W 1/4 Samuel Wayne 1858 1160
1 N W 1/4 --------- Buffington 1858 160
2 Whole Daniel Chase 1839 644
3 N 1/2 Same 1839 820
3 W 1/2 S W 1/4 Barzilla A. Peterson. 1841 80
3 S 1/2 E ½ J. J. Miller 1842 80
3 W 1/2 S E 1/4 Eli Williams 1848 80
2 E 1/2 E 1/2 S E 1/4 Horace Howland 1848 40
3 W 1/2 S E 1/4 SW 1/4 John Brown. 1848 40
4 E 1/2 S E 1/4 Barzilla A. Peterson 1846 160
4 E 1/2 N W 1/4 & E 1/2 S W 1/4 John Honnigman 1849 160
4 E ½ S. W. 1/4 Barzilla A. Peterson 1848 80
4 W 1/4 S W 1/4 Geo. R. Peckham 1842 80
4 W 1/2 N W 1/4 Henry Wilbey 1848 80
4 W 1/2 N E 1/4 Samuel Scott 1848 80
4 E 1/2 N E 1/4 J. E. Scott 1848 80
5 W 1/2 E 1/4 Elijah Woodruff 1848 80
5 E 1/2 S E 1/4 John Phillips 1842 80
5 S E 1/4 S W 1/4 Fred. Baker & Christian Eiglan, Feb 1851 36.70
5 N E 1/4 S W 1/4 Same 1853 35.90
8 N W frac. and S E frac. Gab. and J. L. Crane 1833 128.92
8 S pt N W fr. 1/4 and S W 1/4 Oliver Stevens 1832 243.24
8 N 1/2 S E fr. 1/4 or lot 2 Thomas S. Manly 1848 59.15
9 E 1/2 N E 1/4 George Coy 1843 80
9 W 1/2 N E 1/4 William Calvert 1843 80
9 W 1/2 S E 1/4 Charles Coy 1838 80
9 E 1/2 S E 1/4 Ulrich Kemple. 1836 80
9 E 1/2 N W 1/4 John Vangunten. 1836 80
9 W ½ S W 1/2 Geo. and Daniel Coy. 1848 80
9 W 1/2 N W 1/4 Willard J. Daniels 1848 80
9 E 1/2 E 1/2 S E 1/4 Raymond & Co 1846 40
9 W 1/2 E 1/2 S W 1/4 Austin Bunce 1846 40
10 W 1/2 S W 1/4 James Rideout 1841 80
10 E 1/2 N 1/4. Matthias Smithton 1841 80
10 W 1/2 N E 1/4 Jacob Berry 1848 80
10 E 1/2 N E 1/4 Henry Gilman 1854 80
10 W 1/2 SE 1/4 Adam Dressel 1852 80
RANGE NINE, TOWN TEN.
1 Whole Margaret Bailey 1839 643.06
2 Whole Same 1839 640
3 Whole Same 1839 640
4 Whole Same 1839 640
5 W ½ R. H. Gilson 1853 160
5 S W 1/4 Philo W. Boyd 1853 160
6 E 1/2 N W 1/4 & W 1/2 N E 1/4 John A. Bryan 1836 160
6 W 1/2 S E 1/4 & E 1/2 S E 1/4 Same 1839 160
6 E 1/2 N E 1/4 & W 1/2 S W 1/4 Sylvanus P. Jermain 1836 210
6 E 1/2 S W 14. Wm. W. Frayer 1853 80
6 W 1/2 N W 1/4 Amos Boyd 1853 80
7 W 1/2 N W 1/4 William Taylor 1851 80
7 S E 1/4 William B. Dicks 1852 160
7 E 1/2 N E 1/4. George W. Reynolds 1852 80
10 Whole Margaret Bailey 1839 640
11 Whole Same 1839 640
12 Whole Same 1839 645.28
13 Whole fractional Same 1839 93.77
14 Whole fractional Same 1839 112.40
15 Whole fractional Same 1836 126.86
18 W fr. W 1/2 or lot 4 Dennis Hart 1851 48
18 E 1/2 W frac Jacob Weber 1853 46.60
18 Lot 85, Reserve Almon Gibbs 1823 27.70
10 S E 1/4 Philo B. Scott 1848 160
11 S E 1/4 Philo B. Scott 1847 160
11 S W 1/4 Adolph Letz 1848 160
11 E 1/2 W 1/4 John Yohn . 1842 80
11 W 1/2 S W 1/4 Joseph Hildebrand 1842 80
12 E 1/2 S W 1/4 John B. Arnold 1849 80
12 W 1/2 N E 1/4 Jacob Keiser 1849 80
12 N E 1/4 Andrew Metzker 1849 160
12 E pt. N E 1/4 Victor Plumey 1849 71-51
12 S E 1/4 Andrew Metzker 1848 160
12 W 1/2 S W 1/4 Enoch Kent 1842 80
12 E 1/2 S W 1/4 John B. Arnold 1842 80
13 N W frac Coonrod Dusernois 1849 95.33
14 W pt. W 1/2 frac. or lot 4 Milton Huntley 1851 46
14 E pt. W 1/2, lot 3 Edward Woodruff. 1851 46
14 E pt. frac Wm. Van Orden 1851 94
15 W pt. frac Sylvester Brown 1841 89.83
15 N E frac. 1/4 James Cahoo 1842 80.43
17 N E frac. and N W frac. Philo Bennett 1833 161.12
17 E fret. pt.. Charles A. Crane 1839 20.36
TRANSFERS OF REAL. ESTATE.
James Kinney to John Patterson, March, 1836
Joseph Stowe, Jr. to Dwight F. Stowe. May, 1836.
Peter Navarre to Willard Smith, May, 18:36, part of Navarre grant.
Oliver Stevens to Jos. Stringham, September, 1836.
Ammi Richards to Aurora Spafford, 1838.
George Powesland to George Bedding, April, 1837.
Luther Whitmore to Warren lsham, lots in Oregon Village, August, 1836.
Ebenezer Griffin to Swanton Whitmore, July, 1836.
Luther Whitmore to David Coomer and Joseph Miller, .July, '37.
Daniel Brown to Erastus G. Back, September, 1837.
Leonard Whitmore to F. W. Jenison, October, 1837.
A. M. Noble to Heze. Hubbell and Elijah Herrick, 1838.
The East Manhattan Land Company to the Ohio Railroad Company, January 2, 1838, in consideration of $64,000 in hand aid certain land on the East side of Maumee River.
Charles Butler to John C. Jones, Ammi C. Lombard, Edward A. Nicoll, Charles Butler and Erastus Corning, Trustees of the American Land Company, .January 18, 1838, 251 acres of land.
Luther Whitmore to William Phillips, October, 1838.
Charles G. Keeler to Samuel Merritt, December, 1883.
Aurora Spafford to Charles V. Merrill, February, 1839.
Jerome Smith to Hiram Vinal, May, 1839.
Justus Brown to Jonathan Brown, June, 1837.
Joseph J. Applegate to John Consaul, Jr., and Hiram Waterbury, January, 1841.
Oliver Stevens to Philander Fox, April, 1841.
Joseph Prentice to Fred Prentice, February, 1845.
George R. Crane to Charles A. Crane, June, 1846.
JAMES CURTIS MESSER, fifth child of Ebenezer S. and Sally (Whitchill) Messer, was born in Greenfield, Eric County, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1834. His ancestors on his father's side were of English nativity, and among the earliest settlers of New London, New Hampshire. The father was a farmer, and in 1844 came West and settled on a farm now within the Sixth Ward of Toledo. Remaining there two years, he removed to what Was known as the " Stickney farm," now within the First Ward, Toledo. On this farm in De-
854 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
cember, 1847, his mother died. Two years later he returned to the East Side, and for a time conducted a Saw-Mill, located nearly opposite Elm Street. In 1849 he settled on a farm, where lit died March 10, 1855, and where the family, then consisting of three children, remained for several years. In 1858, James purchased his present farm in section Nine, Oregon Township, where he has since resided. His early school privileges were meager. The limited resources of the country at the early period of the family's settlement here made their experiences very severe. Of six children, James alone survives. During the War of the Rebellion, he vas not only a warns supporter of the Union cause, but was active and effective in the organization of the First Regiment, Ohio National Guard in 1863. He was made Second Lieutenant of Company A, of what was known as the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment O. V. I., mustered May 12, 1864. In September following it was mustered out, when it resumed its place in the State Militia, Lieutenant Messer being promoted to the Captaincy, which he retained until the Company was mustered out in 1868. Since the formation of the Republican party, Mr. Messer has been an active member of the same. His business capacity and earnest interest in the affairs of the community early led to his election to various local offices. Commencing in 1858, he acted for two years as Township Trustee, four years as Assessor, nine years as Clerk, and six as Treasurer. He represented Lucas County in the Sixty-Second General Assembly of Ohio, and in 1887 was again elected to the same position. Agriculture has found in him an active supporter. He was for many years Vice President of the Lucas County Agricultural Society, and is now a Director and the General Superintendent and Chief Marshal of the Tri State Fair Association at Toledo; also President of the Lucas County Horticultural Society. His well-directed efforts have been exceptionally successful in his business undertakings, while his course of conscientious integrity has commanded in special decree the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, as shown in their oft-repeated calls of him to positions of public trust, he frequently receiving nearly every vote cast in the Township when he was a candidate. In August, 1872, he was initiated and became a member of Maumee Valley Lodge No. 515, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. In 1876 he passed the Chairs of the Subordinate Lodge, and in December, 1880, was elected to represent District No. 31 in the Grand Lodge of the State for the years 1881-82, filling such position with satisfaction to the District. He yet retain, his connection with the Order. Mr. Messer was married May 21, 1862, with Miss Marion Martineau Lilleland. Nine children have been born to them, of whom four are now living. Nelson M. was born April 8, 1863; James C. Jr., born July 9, 1864, died February 21, 1867; Anna L., born April 22, 1867; Jennie C. and Johnnie C., born July 22, 1869, the latter dying March 26, 1870 ; Harvey M., born February 19, 1872, died February 19, 1872; Marie M., born February 9, 1873, died February 27, 1873; Bessie M., born January 23, 1877, died January 23, 1877; and Martha J., born August 16, 1879.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Much of the land described above was held by speculators. The first actual settlers came into the Township long before a Government Land Office had been opened in this region, and while the territory was in possession of the Indians. Near the mouth of the River, in what is now this Township, an Ottawa Village existed, probably from the days of the Pontiac War. The widow of the famous Chief; Kan. tuck-ee gun, and his son, 0-tus-sa, dwelt at this Village. The French had a Trading-post in the vicinity about the middle of the 18th century, and there were French settlers about the mouth of the River-the Navarres and others as early as 1808, and their names and posterity are now numerous in the Northeastern part of the Township.
Among those of the English race who settled in the Township prior to the Indian treaty of 1833, may be mentioned Joseph Prentice, who settled on the East bank of the River in 1825 ; Luther Whitmore, 1829 ; Robert Gardner, 1830 ; Hiram Brown, 1831 ; Gabriel Crane, 1831; Oliver Stevens, 1832 ; Elias Fassett, 1833. We make the following mention of these pioneers and their families in the order named :
Joseph Prentice carne to Port Lawrence in 1817, and was interested in the original Port Lawrence Company c, as elsewhere stated. He, with his two sons, William and Augustus, and his wife and daughter, rowed a skiff from Buffalo, bringing with them such household goods as they could make room for in one small boat. For his settlement he selected the Southeast portion of the tract on the East side of the River, to which he removed with his family in 1825, and where he resided until his death, which occurred March 6, 1845. His widow, Mrs. Eleanor Prentice, survived him about 10 years.
Frederick, a son of Joseph Prentice by a second marriage, was born at Port Lawrence December 6, 1822, and was 13 years old when his father died. He had been brought up without education, save what his mother gave him, there being no Schools nearer than the River Raisin and Fort Wayne ; yet he became an enterprising, energetic business man. Alter his father's death, the support of the family devolved on him. he had been brought up among the Indians, an Indian woman having been his
OREGON TOWNSHIP. - 855
nurse, and he had acquired a better knowledge of the Indian language than of the English. He therefore became an interpreter for Indian Agents and traders, which, with hunting and fishing, enabled him to support the family comfortably. He continued in this occupation until he was 18, when he engaged in the business of supplying the Toledo market and the River Steamboats with wood, and in getting out ship and building timber. In 1849 he built a Steam Saw mill on the East side, just below Bridge Street, which he operated for a number of years. He made extensive purchases of wild lands in Oregon Township, taking off the timber and selling in limited tracts to actual settlers; and while making the business profitable to himself, hastened the development of that portion of the county. In 1857 he met with financial reverses which compelled him to compromise with his creditors. Since then he has had a varied experience of losses and success ; has made a good deal of money and spent a good (teal.. His home now is in New York City.
Luther Whitmore, with his family of six children, came from Worcester County, Massachusetts, and in April, 1825, settled in Wood County, spending the first year on the East bank of the Maumee, opposite Turkey Foot Rock. In 1826, moved to the Vance faun ; in 1827, to the Kee farm, at Fort Meigs ; in 1828, to Marengo; and in 1829, to River Tract No. 84, where Luther Whitmore, Jr., now lives. The six children were : Leonard, Mary Ann, Luther, Betsey B., Walters, July Ann (so named from having been born on the 4th of July, while her parents were temporarily sojourning in Canada). The oldest (Leonard) was married with Mary Jenison, daughter of Victor Jenison, who settled in Perrysburg in 1818. The children of Victor Jenison were Nathaniel, Martha, George, Jerusha, Charles V., Mary (Mrs. Leonard Whitmore), Olive (widow of 0. G. Howland), Frances, Calista, Harriet (Mrs. L. B. Gunn) and Ralph. Charles V., Olive, Harriet and Ralph are living in East Toledo.
Charles V. Jettison built the first Steam Sawmill in the Township, on the River bank, on the old plat of " Oregon," in 1836-7, and furnished the plank for the first bridge built across the River, at Maumee. In 1837 Mr. Jenison built the Schooner Ottawa, which is still, or has been until quite recently, a sailing Vessel on the Lakes.
Mary Ann Whitmore became the wife of Gabriel Crane, one of the pioneers. Mr. Crane was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the Township, and left three sonsJames H., Henry J. and Amos W. --- all living in East Toledo.
Luther Whitmore, Jr., was married with Martha Trask, of Toledo. In early life be lived most of the time for seven years with John Hollister, Indian Agent at Perrysburg, and was present with him at every annual payment of the Indians for six years. He says: "After the payments the sights were something I shall never forget. There were then at least 300 Indians to one white man in this part of the country.
July Ann Whitmore was married with Sylvester Brown, a son of the pioneer, Hiram Brown. The latter had been a Tanner and Currier in Monroe, previous to settling in this Township. He had two sons-Sylvester arid Augustus-the latter in Omaha, Nebraska; and two daughters-Julia, wife of James Rideout, and Caroline, who died in 1844.
Robert Gardner came from Wayne County, New York, and settled on the East bank of the River in 1831. His son, Nathan Gardner, is now one of the old residents of the Township. There were two daughters Mrs. Amy Coy, widow of Charles Coy; and Catherine, wife of Stephen Green, of Richfield Township.
Oliver Stevens, one of the oldest settlers, still living, is referred to elsewhere.
Herman Crane was the owner of one of the first Ferry-boats at Toledo, a flat scow capable of carrying teams. In the Spring of 1836, when the freshet carried away the Swan Creek bridge, Mr. Crane ran his Ferry boat for the accommodation of pedestrians and teams in crossing that stream. For a number of years the settlers in Oregon Township living mostly on or near the bank of the River, crossed in their own canoes or boats.
There were no roads in the interior till 1833, and not many till 1840. Those which did exist were very poorly constructed and often impassable. The first road was the Woodville road, opened to connect the River at East Toledo with the Western Reserve and Maumee Road. It was only an opening cut throng h the woods 12 feet wide; and, of course, made a better avenue in Winter than in Spring and Fall. After the organization of the Township in 1837, and from that to 1850, most of the roads within its limits were laid out. At the same meeting of the Board at which the Township was set off, June 11, 1837, the following roads were established, viz.: Numbers 5, 12, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, and ordered recorded in the said numerical order.
Elijah J. Woodruff, a prominent old settler, is still living in the Township, and has served it in an official capacity almost from the ti tire of its organization.
Also should be named, George B. Treat, Wesley Hicks, son of Lawson Hicks, an early settler; John Consaul, Asa W. Maddocks and others. Mercino and Philander Fox became settlers in Oregon about 1831. The former lived in the Township two or three years, arid removed West; the latter died soon after settlement. Hiram Vinal, a farmer living on Section 7, Town 10 South of Range 8 East, settled in the Township in 1833.
856 - HISTORY OP TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
The tax duplicate of Lucas County for 1838 contained the following list of residents of Oregon Township, with the description and amount of personal property on which they were taxed for that year
HORSES AND CATTLE.
Applegate, Joseph, $144. Brown, Jacob, $80.
Brown, Hiram, $24. Booth, .J. H., $24.
Crane, Gabriei, $24. Consaul, William, $24
Consaul, John, $72. Denman, Msses, $16.
Franchman, Michael, $24. Hayes, Samuel, $48.
Hicks, Lawson, $24. Jamison, George, $48.
Mowoner. --, $128. McClay, David,-$40.
Navarre, Peter, $8. Navarre, Robert, $24.
Navarre, James, $160. Navarre, Alexander, $240.
Navarre, Antoine, $96. *Oregon Steam Mill Co.
Phillips, David, $8. Prentice, Joseph, $32.
Rino, Aaron B., $88. Salsbury, Russell, $32.
Treat, George D., $64. Whitmore, Luther, $40.
(t)}Whitmore, Luther, Jr., $160. Woodruff, E. J., $24.
*Merchant's Capital, $1.000.
(t}Including pleasure carriage, $50.
JAMES WRIGHT is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Elms) Wright, and was born at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England, August 20, 1820. His father was for many years engaged in Hardware trade, but such was his financial condition, that the son was early obliged to begin the battle of life on his own responsibility. His School privileges were very moderate. While yet a mere boy, he engaged to work a farm, but was speedily attracted to Gardening, which he studied with much care, and as to which he gained much knowledge which in after life became very valuable to him. In 1860, having by economy and care, accumulated the requisite means, Air. Wright left England for the United States, and came to Toledo. There he was for three years engaged in tile-draining. In 1863 he purchased in Oregon Township three acres of land upon which he now resides. The condition of the property was by no means assuring for use of Gardening, being wet and unpromising. But under his intelligent management, it gradually advanced in condition, until it became one of the most fertile and productive Gardens in the County. By irrigating and draining, he year by year improved the land, meantime making its products pay cost and profits. It is now safe to state, that no tract of land of equal extent in this region, has been as carefully or as successfully managed, as has that. Wells for watering in dry weather, and tiling for drainage in wet weather, together with judicious treatment of the soil in cultivation, have steadily developed it to its present remarkable condition. For many years past, the cash sales of products from these three acres have amounted to $1,000 annually Subsequent to his original purchase, Mr. Wright added two acres to his Garden tract, on the opposite side of the road, to which two acres more have since been added -making seven in all-the entire tract now being in the highest state of cultivation. He was among the first Gardeners in this part of Ohio to produce Celery for market, in which he has been specially successful, his product being generally and well known for its superior qualities. His success in life has been due to his conscientious regard for honesty in deal or to the intelligent, persistent adherence to fixed methods and industry in the pursuit of his business. Mr. Wright was married with Jane Entwistle, in Liverpool, England, in 1845. They had six children, of whom five are now living-four sons and one daughter. The mother dying, Mr. Wright was married with Ann Baines, in England, August 25, 1860, they having one son and two daughters.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The oldest records of the Township have been lost, and there are now none extant previous to November 10, 1846. At that date George D. Treat was Township Clerk by appointment of the Board of Trustees, consisting of Elijah T. Woodruff and Gabriel Crane. From the Township records and those of the Board of Education, we are able to furnish the following list of Township officers :
CLERKS-Leonard Whitmore, 1837-41 ; Gabriel Crane, 1841-46; George D. Treat, 1846; Charles Brown, 1847-48; George P. Treat, 1848-50. Oliver Stevens, 1850; George D. Treat, 1851; Ezra Howland, 1852-64; Henry L. Phelps, 1864; Sylvester A. Brown, 1865; James C. Messer, 1866-69; Thomas Crofts, 1869-73; James C. Messer, 1873-76; DeWitt Hicks, 1876; Jacob Brand, 1877; James C. Messer, 1877-80; D. W. Maginnis, 1880 82; Alfred Yenger, 1882-87; N. M. lesser, 1887.
TREASURERS-James Maddocks, 1843-46; William Prentice, 1846-55; Alonzo Rogers, 1855-57; Oliver Stevens, 1857; John Consaul, 1857-60; Sylvester Brown, 1860-66; Charles A. Crane, 1866-69; James C. Messer, 1869-71; Wesley Hicks, 1871-73; Thomas Crofts, 1873; Victor Metzger, 1877-80; Wesley Hicks, 1880-82; George Gladieux, 1882-86; Victor Metzger, 1886; Gottleib Yohlin, 1887.
TRUSTEES-Elijah J. Woodruff, Gabriel Crane, 1846; Elijah J. Woodruff, Gabriel Crane, John Consaul, 1847 ; Asa W. Maddocks, Gabriel Crane, E. J. Woodruff, 1848; John Brown, E. J. Woodruff, Gabriel Crane, 1849; Orlin Phelps, E. J. Woodruff, Gabriel Crane, 1850-52; Oliver Stevens, John Consaul, Gabriel Crane, 1852; Oliver Stevens, Gabriel Crane, Alonzo Rogers, 1853-55; Charles A. Crane, William W. Consaul, Sylvester Brown, 1855-57; Charles A. Crane, William W. Consaul, Luther Whitmore, 1857; William W. Consaul, Augustus Brown, Horace Howland, 1858; Charles A. Crane, Horace Howland, Sylvester Brown, 185-59 ; Peter B. Porter, Wesley Hicks, James C. Messer, 1860; James C. Messer, Wesley Hicks, Michael Debolt, 1861-63; Wesley Hicks, Darius Blandin, Michael Debolt, 1863; Charles A. Crane, James Rideout, A. Benedict, 1864; J. L. Wynn, Charles A. Crane, Albert Royce, 1865; J. L. Wynn, Wesley Hicks, Frederick Bayer, 1866 Peter B. Porter, Albert Royce, Jacob Lungendolph, 1867; Edward Burt, James Crofts, Gilbert Bartley, 1868-70; Charles A. Crane, James Crofts, William W. Consaul, 1870; Charles A. Crane, Win. E. Cummings, C. F. Roberts,
OREGON TOWNSHIP. - 857
1871; Charles A. Crane, Cutler F. Roberts, James Crofts, 1872 ; George J. Miller, Gilbert C. Bartley, Edward Burt, 1873; Wesley Hicks, Edward Burt, Gilbert C. Bartley, 1874; Charles H. Brown, Thomas Wynn, Patrick McHenry, 1875; William Nixon, Gilbert C. Bartley, Horace Coy, 1876; George Gladieux, Enos Mominee, Conrad Smithlin, 1877; Daniel Maginnis, George Navarre, John B. Kohne, 1878-80; D. B. Maginnis, Gilbert Burr, George Navarre, 1880; D. B. Maginnis, James S. Metzger, George Navarre, 1881-83; Amos Debolt, Charles Cook, George J. Miller, John Mominee, 1884-86; George J. Miller, Fred. Matthews, Lloyd Albertson, 1886; Enos Mominee, 1887.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-Joseph Prentice, 1537; Oliver Stevens, John Consaul, Jr., 1840; John Consaul, Jr., 1843; Elijah J. Woodruff, William Prentice, 1846; Elijah J. Woodruff, George D. Treat, 1849; Benjamin Bixby, George D. Treat, 1852; Alonzo Rogers, 1853; David Crane, 1855; Ezra Howland, 1856; Samuel S. Curtis, 1857; Horace Howland, 1858; Amasa Benedict, 1862; Ezra Howland, 1863; George D. Treat, 1865; Oliver Stevens, 1867; George D. Treat, 1808; Stephen Hideout, 1870; Peter B. Porter, 1872; H. J. Dowe, 1874 ; David W. Maginnis, William Nixon, 1875 ; John L. Brown, 1876; David W. Maginnis, 1878; George Southwick, 1879; David W. Maginnis, 1881; John B. Kohne, 1982; David W. Maginnis, 1884; Jonathan Wynn, L. B. Bailey, 1887.
Oregon Township raised $4,912.50 to furnish its quota of the 300,000 men called for in December, 1864.
SCHOOLS.
The settlers built a log School-house on the Woodville road in 1834. In this the first School in the Township was taught by Elizur Stevens, a brother of Oliver Stevens. Mr. Stevens went into the "Patriot War " and was captured by the British and sent to Van Dieman's Land. He afterwards returned, broken in health, and died at his father's in Lebanon, New York.
After the organization of the Township (September 10, 1837), four School Districts were laid out. The amounts of money then distributed among the respective Districts, were as follows: No. 1, $26 24; No. 2, $10.05 ; No. 3, $20.65 ; No. 4, $13.29; total, $70.35.
Among the early Directors of Schools in the Township we find the names of Lawson Hicks and Rariel Salisbury, District two, 1839 ; Elijah J. Woodruff, George D. Treat, District three, 1839 ; John Consaul and Robert Denman, District three, 1840; Oliver Stevens, Lawson Hicks, Ebenezer Ward, District two, 1841 George D. Treat, John Consaul, Jr., James Maddocks, District three, 1841 ; Joseph W. Prentice, Francis W. Jenison, Hiram Brown, District one, 1841; Gabriel Crane, Hiram Brown, Hiram Vinal, District one, 1842.
Napoleon Denny commenced teaching in District No. 1, January 11, and continued 1 3/4 months, at $12 per month ; No. scholars, 23. July Ann Whitmore was employed as Teacher June 24, 1839, and taught eight weeks at a salary of $2.00 per week ; No. scholars, 14.
May 14, 1842, the original four Districts were resolved into two.
The enumeration of white youths in the Township October 1, 1842, shows: District No. 1-Males, 26; females, 20. District No. 2 Males, 12; females, 20. Total, 38 males, 40 females.
Under the new act of March 14, 1853, the first School Board consisted of Sylvester Brown, Clerk of the first District ; George D. Treat, Clerk of Sub-District No. two; John L. Brown, Clerk of Sub-District No. three, and Ezra Howland, Township Clerk. They net in April, 1853, and organized by electing George B. Treat, Chairman of the session. One hundred dollars was voted for incidental expenses, and a two-mill tax imposed for tuition.
A fourth District was set off October 22, 1853, and on January 20,1855, Librarians were appointed to take charge of the School Libraries.
In 1856 the number of Districts was increased to six, and the number of scholars and division of the School-house and tuition funds were as shown below:
Scholars. School- house Fund. Tuition Fund.
No. 1 51 $88 14 $270 96
No. 2 47 81 23 249 71
No. 3 45 77 76 239 03
No. 4 87 150 35 462 22
No. 5 13 22 47 69 03
No. 6 35 60 48 185 93
Total 278 $480 43 $1,476 88
The Township now contains 11 Districts, with School population as follows: Males, 471; females, 457; colored, 3 ; total, 92S; between the ages of 16 and 21, 240.
The Oregon Cemetery was laid out by the Trustees of the Township on the West half of Section eight, Town ten, South of Range eight East, March 1, 1856, and contained in the original plat three acres of ground. An addition was made to it in 1872,
CHURCHES.
The oldest Church in the Township, is that of the Baptists, now in East Toledo. There are no records giving the date of organization, but Mr. Oliver Stevens and others of the first settlers are confident that the Baptists were the first to form an organization in the Township. (In Chapter ii; Part viii, will be found record of other Churches in Oregon.)
CHARLES COY was born in Oxfordshire, England, April 1, 1817, and died after one week's illness, September 15,1883. The family came to the United States in 1832, and settled in Stark County, Ohio. In May, 1835, they calve to what is now Ross Township, Wood County, where Charles has since lived. He is the oldest of three brothers. His life-work was farming, which he pursued with success, meantime winning and maintaining the highest
858 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Of an enquiring mind, he sought diligently for such knowledge as promised most assistance in the activities and duties of life. Earnest and economical in management, he was able to provide himself with ample means for every demand. Corning to this region more than 50 years ago, he saw the then solid forest-the Black Swamp-slowly yield to pioneer enterprise and vigor, and the Wilderness transformed to fruitful fields. Toledo, meantime, advanced from a struggling Village to a great commercial City. Himself strictly correct in personal habit, he ever was a friend to virtue and good order in the community -in every respect challenging the esteem of all who knew him. He was many times called to serve his neighbors in local official positions-as Township Trustee, School Director and Supervisor of Highways. He was at times associated in business ventures with leading men in Toledo, and was recognized as among the most enterprising of the farmers of the County. In 1852 Mr. Coy was married with Mercy Gardner, daughter of Robert Gardner, who settled in the the Maumee Valley in 1830. They had seven children-Mary Elizabeth, wife of Hiram Egleston; Alice, who died in infancy; Caroline, wife of Thornton Dixon ; Louisa T., wife of Isaac Rideout; Addie, wife of Frederick Wachter, who died August 31, 1884; Charles Henry, and William O.