1700 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY session, and Gideon Palmer, George N. Thornton and. Lyman Ames were elected trustees. The elder in charge was Joseph Jackson. Rev. Adam Snyder was called to the pastorate in August, 1864, and after some years a new edifice was occupied. The United Brethren society of the Clyde section, prior to 1865, held their meetings at the home of Rev. Daniel Smith, on the Bellevue and Perrysburg highway west of the town, and on what became known later as the John Chamberlin farm. When the Methodists occupied their new home on Buckeye Street, in 1865, the United Brethren people purchased the old quarters on Duane Street, but later their organization was practically disbanded. The Protestant Episcopal society dates its beginning from 1875. A permanent organization was effected in 1879, known as the Grace Protestant Episcopal, and they occupied their new church on Buckeye Street, May 21, 1886. A society of Universalists was organized by the Rev. George R. Brown in this vicinity, about 1836, and a frame meeting-house was built. The organization had various pastors or supplies until about 1888, when services were discontinued. The church property was purchased by the Lutheran society, which became Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, organized by Rev. G. A. Harter, in 1887. The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Clyde was established by Elder J. H. Waggoner in August, 1867. Their house of worship was dedicated January 20, 1878. Clyde is a prosperous, enterprising village, with large manufacturing interests, two strong banking institutions, a population of something below 4,000, surrounded by a thrifty agricultural community of high ideals. WOODVILLE AND WOODVILLE TOWNSHIP The first improvements in now Woodville Township were made within the present Village of Woodville in 1825, where the following year Thomas Miller and Harriet, his wife, occupied their little log cabin in the deep and lonely wilderness. Two years later Mr. Miller died and Mrs. Miller used the home as a tavern and entertained travelers going and coming between the Maumee and Sandusky River sections. The township is situated in the northwest corner of the county, joins Ottawa County on the north, Wood County on the west, and since its organization, April 1, 1840, has undergone some changes in its outlines. The township takes its name from Amos E. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1701 Wood, prominent in its organization and who served his district in Congress. He died during his second term in office. It was at Wood's home that the first election for township officers was held, April 14, 1840, at which Lester Allen, David Dunham and Archibald Rice were chosen trustees; Ira Benedict, clerk; and Jared Plumb and Ira Benedict, justices of the peace. The township is traversed by the Maumee and Western Reserve road. It was after the lands ceded by the Indians one mile on each side of this road, which was laid out 120 feet in width, came into the market, that settlements began along this "pike," made into a corduroy affair in 1825. There had previously been an occasional "squatter," including Thomas and Mrs. Miller, referred to, and C. B. Collins, who located in section 35 in 1826. Ephraim Wood and G. H. Price, his son-in-law, purchased lands in sections 27 and 28, and thereon built their little cabins. The south part of the Village of Woodville is now located on a portion of the Price purchase. The land of Wood was on the opposite side of the Portage River, whereon he built his cabin. He later connected up a frame addition and turned the home into a tavern. Congressman Amos E. Wood was a son of Ephraim's, and it was at this tavern the first election was held, after the son fell heir to the property. Among other early settlers were Lester Allen, in the eastern section, and the Baldwin and Chaffa families, in 1831. David Dunham came in 1833, followed by David B. Black, Archibald Rice, Ira Kelsey, John H. Scott, John Moore, Jared Plumb, James Scoville, Erastus and Samuel Pitcher, Peter Kratzer, Edward Down, Anthony Nuhfur, Ira Benedict, John Vanetta, Hiram Preston, Fred Myerholtz, Henry Seabert, William Black, Michael McBride, Dr. A. R. Ferguson, W. C. Hendricks, and T. L. Truman. Catharine Seager taught the first school in Woodville, in a schoolhouse built in 1836. In 1839 the Lutheran society built a frame church which was later used for school purposes. The home of John Moore was taken over for a schoolhouse in 1836, with his daughter as teacher. Sugar Creek was honored with a schoolhouse in 1837. In 1857 the township board of education levied a tax of a half mill each for German and English schools; which would indicate that German was taught in the public schools. Among the early teachers were W. P. Catlin, a Mr. Baker and "Bent" Brown. Afterwards Brown was a professor in the Republic Normal and then founded the Normal University at Valparaiso, Ind. 1702 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY D. B. Banks, whose son, Ira B., was later a merchant at Pemberville and Weston, built the first grist mill in Woodville Township on the bank of the Portage River near now Woodville, in 1835, with a sawmill on the opposite river bank. Although directly on the river, the Banks mill was operated by ox and horse power. There were several sawmills in that section and a woolen mill in Woodville, owned and operated by W. J. Keil. Woodville Village, on the Portage River, was platted in June, 1836, by Amos E. Wood and George H. Price, and, as stated, was named in honor of Mr. Wood—thus, the town is older than the township. Shipping facilities are furnished by the Pennsylvania Railroad System and the Lake Shore electric. In former years an electric line ran from Woodville to Bowling Green, Wood County. An important earlier industry was the flouring mills established in 1860 by Henry Seabert, and for many years operated by W. H. Bruns. The Woodville Normal, now absorbed by another school, was established in 1881 by the Rev. George Cronnenwett, for the purpose of supplying teachers for the parochial schools of the Synod. The Lutheran Solomon's Parochial School was started in 1862. The change in the Ohio school system was one cause for the suspension of the Woodville Normal. The Woodville Lutherans, from the Osnabruck section, established themselves here about 1830. For forty-seven years Father George Cronnenwett was the only Lutheran pastor, as elsewhere noted, in all this section. The finest church of the times was built in 1864. The congregation and membership is one of the largest in Northwestern Ohio. Father Cronnenwett related the following to the historian Meek: "I can speak from personal knowledge only of the northwest part of Sandusky County, Woodville Township and vicinity. The first German settlers came there in 1833—Seabert and Schuler. The latter went to Perrysburg. The next year three more families came up the river. One mother brought a dead child hid in her shawl for fear it would be cast into the lake or river, as is the custom at sea, and she had it buried at Lower Sandusky. Other families came until there were nine in Woodville Township, and they did not have room enough in the barn of Mr. Sever to put away their chests and trunks and some were stored in the barn of Amos E. Wood. The Maumee Pike was not then made. These settlers' lived there in the dense woods. Some children sickened and died and were buried without coffins. The parents longed for TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1703 a minister to come among them. Some of the husbands and fathers went to work on the Maumee Canal, from Toledo to Defiance, to get money to buy provisions for their families. In 1834 some were unable to buy flour in Fremont. They got such supplies as they could and carried them on their shoulders to Woodville. They bought their land at $1.25 per acre. One widow traveled on foot in wooden shoes to the land office at Bucyrus to buy her land. In 1835 they raised a crop of corn and ground it with their coffee mills to make bread. "In 1841 I was sent as a missionary from Ann Arbor, Mich., to visit the Germans at Toledo, Perrysburg and the Black Swamp. I preached at Woodville but hesitated to accept a call from them until they came after me to Michigan with teams. I had at first very poor lodging. It was a sort of porch on one side of a wagon shop, another family occupying the opposite porch. We had a stove and two beds in one small room. When it rained we had to place an umbrella over us when sleeping. The roads through the woods were very bad and often hard to find. I often missed my way in going to preach to the settlers at a distance. Sometimes I had to follow marks blazed on the trees through the woods." The United Brethren society was organized about 1867, and held their meetings in the Union Church until 1874, when they purchased the old German Methodist building. The Rev. William Norton was the first pastor of the Methodist Episcopal society, organized in 1844, in the old schoolhouse, where services were held until the Union Church was completed. This latter structure was built in 1859 by the combined efforts of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Evangelical societies, each having a member on the official church board. When the Presbyterians and Evangelicals suspended their organizations the property was vested in the Methodist society, and finally passed to Solomon's Lutheran Church in 1909, when the Methodist society ceased its operations. The German Methodists organized a society in Woodville in 1843, with the Rev. E. Reinschneider as pastor. In 1843 Father Rappe, the Catholic missionary, said mass at Woodville, and on the organization of a society, services were held in a building purchased for the purpose which had been a private residence. The organization was later discontinued. Woodville is a prosperous, thriving village, with its business section spread along the wide Main Street on the line of the old 1704 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Maumee and Western Reserve Road. All lines of business are well represented, with two strong banks to take care of the financial needs. Woodville is in the great limestone belt underlying that section of Ohio. The Portage River runs through the township from southwest to the northeast and divides the township in practically equal parts. Then there is Toussant Creek, in the northern section, which flows into Lake Erie, and Sugar Creek to the southeast, both streams paralleling the Portage. Between these streams are the valuable limestone ridges, with the underlying Niagara and water lime formations passing from northeast to southwest through this section of Sandusky County. There are three areas of the water lime, while there are two large areas of the Niagara formation. Consequently the lime industry here is of great volume. The Niagara belt has been developed by quarries and large lime plants at Woodville and also Gibsonburg. The deep Trenton formation of the Woodville section, in the years between 1891 and 1915, brought to Woodville great wealth from its oil production, which income has been utilized in the development of other valuable industries. MADISON TOWNSHIP AND GIBSONBURG Madison Township is in the middle western section of Sandusky County and joins Wood County on the west. Gibsonburg is the principal business point. The township was organized in 1833 and named for President Madison. The first election was held on July 4 that year, in the blacksmith shop of Jacob Garn, where future elections were held for some years. The first township officers were : Trustees, Jacob Garn, A. Holcomb and William Whitford; supervisors, Jesse Johnson, John Reed and George Ickes; treasurer, Daniel McIntosh; justices of the peace, John Reed and David Smith; constable, William Smith; overseers of the poor, Henry P. Allen and Frederick Clark; fence viewers, Elias Miller and Gideon Harmon. It is stated that the first arrival in the township was Henry P. Allen, who built his log cabin in 1831. A little later David Smith, whose descendants still reside in this section, settled here permanently. Daniel Smith, a son, was admitted to the practice of law in 1874 and was for many years a justice of the peace. David Reeves was a civil engineer and when he came to later Madison Township in 1832, he surveyed the township outlines. He located near present Rollersville. Among other settlers who TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1705 located in this section in 1833 and 1834 were George Ickes, Jacob Garn, Benjamin Cramer, Abraham Shell, Charles Hazelton, Elias Miller, and Jeremiah King: Later on arrived Noah P. Hathaway, Jacob Kemmerling, William Driftmyer and John W. Hutchinson. Peter Kemmerling's home was within the limits of now Gibsonburg. Among the first improvements was a sawmill built on Sugar Creek in 1836, operated by Crawford King. Jacob Garn followed with another sawmill where he located. The first school teacher of record in the township was Eliza Davidson, who taught in the Standard district, and was followed there by Daniel Smith. GIBSONBURG As has been noted, Gibsonburg is in the great limestone belt, and the lime industry, with quarries for building and road purposes, is one of its greatest assets. The town was founded by Gen. W. H. Gibson, whose name it bears, from his land purchases there. For the town plat surveyed in August, 1871, his associates were J. F. Yeasting and T. D. Stevenson. The Yeastings were among the early and substantial settlers. W. H. Yeasting, the well known Toledo banker, is a descendant. The first house in Gibsonburg was the Ezra Bell home on easting Street. Thomas Dunlap, a blacksmith, built the second dwelling on the Lutheran parsonage corner. His shop was on the present site of the town hall. Gibsonburg was incorporated in April, 1880. The first village officers chosen were : Mayor, Eli Reeves; clerk, S. B. Stilson; treasurer, Adam Hornung; marshal, George Kanukle; councilmen, W. M. Hobart, Eli Reeves, Elijah' Garnes, J. W. Maroin, harles Sander and T. D. Stevenson. The post office was established in 1871, with T. D. Stevenson the first postmaster. The first business structure in the village was that of Joseph Bowers, located where the Wichman Block was afterwards built. Philip Zorn and Adam Hornung established the earliest mercantile business here in 1871. What was known as the Gibson Hotel was constructed for William H. Gibson and operated by John Patterson. The present important lime industry was inaugurated when W. H. Gibson & Company opened lime kilns in 1873, followed by L. Friar & Company, in which the Zorn-Hornung Company, held the largest interests. This important mercantile firm also established the grain trade and built an elevator in 1875. The village 1706 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY has two strong and prosperous banking institutions. The National Mortar & Supply Company, with its home offices at Pittsburgh, was established in 1907 and developed large interests here. The Ohio & Western Lime Company was the successor of the Standard Lime Company. The lime industry is Gibsonburg's greatest asset. Gibsonburg's first schoolhouse was built of logs, located on Madison Street west of where the railroad was put through, and near where the Pennsylvania depot now stands. The second school building, a little more pretentious and built of hewn logs, stood on the site of the present large Zorn-Hornung department store. Later a frame building was constructed on the site afterwards occupied by the Hotel Williams. This schoolhouse was later sold to the Methodists for a church and that society then moved it to where the present M. E. Church stands. The Lutheran Society put up a schoolhouse about this time. The present brick village school building, later improved and enlarged, was built in 1894. Prof. Orrin Bowland was the first superintendent, The first structure for religious purposes in Gibsonburg was known as the "basswood church," built by the Evangelical Society in 1858, and stood on the Gibsonburg Bank corner, at Main and Madison. Bishop Long conducted the dedicatory services. A new church edifice was erected by the society in 1873. The Lutheran Zion Society was formed in 1875, by the Rev, P. H. Buerkle. A church was built in 1876 which was in use until a pretentious new church was constructed and dedicated April 9, 1893. The society has an excellent parsonage and a parochial school was early established. The Methodist Society also occupied the basswood church for their first services, held in 1873. The first minister to preach regularly for this denomination was the Rev. C. W. Wolf, who arrived in Gibsonburg earlier in the same year. A Methodist class was organized by his successor, Rev. J. L. Scott, and in 1878, an old schoolhouse was purchased and moved to the site of the present building. It was used for holding services in practically its original condition for some years, and finally added to and enlarged to a modern structure. The parsonage was built in 1889 and the Rev. J. W. Shultz was the first occupant. For some years the Gibsonburg charge also took in Rollersville, Kansas, Washington Chapel and Tinney. The Christian Society here was organized in 1879, by Rev. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1707 A. C. Bartlett, who continued for some time as the first pastor. The present church structure was occupied in 1886. Until May, 1896, when Gibsonburg was made a separate parish, the Catholic Society here was an adjunct of the Millersville parish, six miles to the southeast on the Pennsylvania railroad. The first edifice at Gibsonburg was a building purchased from the Lutheran organization in 1892, by the Reverend Father Dechant, under sanction of Bishop Horstmann, and dedicated Sunday, October 30, 1892, as the Church of St. Michael. The initial resident pastor was Father Philip A. Schritz, the priest's home being constructed in 1896. The present pretentious brick church was dedicated in June, 1905, when the priest in charge was Father J. B. Wendling. The present United Brethren Church of Gibsonburg was occupied in 1897. Known as the Salem Society, the class was organized by John Bright and Samuel Hadley, the first services being held in the various homes of the members, or in the schoolhouses. The first church of logs was built on land donated by the Rev. D. P. Hurlbut in 1845. The location was some two miles south of the present village of Gibsonburg. It was the first church structure in Madison township. The first ministers were the Rev. John Long and the Rev. Peter Fleck. In 1870 a second church was built by the Salem United Brethren Society near the old log structure. The first pastor there was Rev. Michael Long. The initial pastor for the present Gibsonburg church was Rev. S. H. Raudebaugh. JACKSON TOWNSHIP Jackson township on the southern border of Sandusky County west of the Sandusky River, is bordered on the south by the County of Seneca. It was organized in December, 1829, and named for Andrew Jackson. The principal water course is Muscallonge Creek, flowing diagonally through the center of the township from southwest to northeast, a tributary of the Sandusky. Wolf Creek eastward, another Sandusky River tributary cuts off the southeastern portion of the township. West of the Muscallonge and flowing in the same direction through Jackson township is Muddy Creek, a tributary to Sandusky Bay. Among the great masses of boulders sprinkled in a northeast to southwest belt over the surface of the township is the noted "Harrison Rock" elsewhere described in these volumes, named for General Harrison, whose trail from Fort Seneca on the Sandusky River to Fort 1708 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Meigs, on the Maumee, passed near this great boulder. The old Indian trail southward from Lower Sandusky, also ran near this point. One of the first settlers in Jackson township, in 1828, one year before its organization, was Peter Stultz, who came from Franklin County, and built a log cabin on the banks of Muscallonge Creek. He was soon after followed by his brother Henry who also built a cabin in the same locality, near the Greenburg Road crossing. The Stultz families were followed by Gilbreath Stewart and then David Vernon, David Klutz and John Garn. The latter built a mill on Muddy Creek, a great convenience to the new settlers. Others who established themselves in this section were George and Lewis Overmyer, John Mowry, John Mooney, Hugh lams, George Gier, Michael and Eleazer Shawl, George Roberts, Hugh Mitchell, Samuel King, George Camp, Peter Warner, Samuel Clinger, Peter Whitmore, Andrew Swickard, Henry Havens and others. Land purchases from the government began in 1828, and increased through the years following. The trails were early used and the first road was opened through the wilderness from Muscallonge Creek to Ballville on the Sandusky River, where the Chambers Mills were located. Henry Stultz built a sawmill on Muscallonge Creek near his home and John Garn constructed one on Muddy Creek, followed by two more sawmills on Muscallonge, one each built by Jacob Winters and Joshua Smith. The first school in Jackson township was taught by James Drake in a log schoolhouse located on the Greenburg pike, about 1833, and the second school in 1834 was held in a log building located in the southern part of the township on Muscallonge Creek. The first church services of record were held in 1829 at the cabin of Gilbreath Stewart on Muddy Creek. The minister in charge was the Rev. Jacob Bowlus. Meetings were also held in the old Mud Creek schoolhouse with preaching by Jeremiah Brown, and in Jacob Winters' barn on Muscallonge Creek. In 1866, Eden Chapel was built near Winters Station, mostly by the efforts of United Brethren followers, while some twenty-five years previous, a church was built in what was known as the Mowery settlement. The Evangelicals were also early represented in the township. Burgoon, one of the principal towns of the township, is pleas. antly located near its south line and at the junction of the Penn- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1709 sylvania and old Lake Erie & Western Railway. It was named for Isadore H. Burgoon, then superintendent of the latter road. With good mercantile service, good schools and churches, and surrounded by a prosperous community, Burgoon is a thriving, progressive village. Helena, another prominent village, is located in the northwest corner of the township on the Pennsylvania railroad, and is partly in the township of Washington. It has separate schools, three churches and good business institutions. Millersville also on the Pennsylvania road was laid out by Peter Miller, who was its first postmaster. St. Marys Catholic Church is supported by a large and prosperous surrounding community. RICE TOWNSHIP Rice township, on the north borders Ottawa County, and joins Fremont on the south. When Ottawa County belonged to Sandusky, Rice township was a part of Bay township. When Ottawa County was formed in 1840, a large portion of Bay township was included within its borders, consequently a new township was formed for this section of Sandusky County. It was named Rice, in honor of Ezekiel Rice, an early settler on the Portage River. In another chapter reference is made to a colony of French located on the lower Maumee River, who were during the War of 1812, ordered by the military authorities to move back into the interior for protection. Concerning the movement of this colony to the now Rice Township section; Everett in his history of Sandusky County in effect relates the following : "In January, 1813, by direction of the Government, about twenty French families living along the Maumee River packed their possessions and started for Lower Sandusky. It was a fortunate circumstance that heavy ice, well covered with snow, gave them an easy course of travel and at the time made it possible to avoid the savage enemies of the forest. All being in readiness, a French train was formed of one-horse sleighs, runners of which were made of boards. The train was placed under direction of a Frenchman named Peter Maltosh, who had been an Indian trader. He knew the country thoroughly and proved himself a faithful and valuable guide. "The journey to Locust Point was made over the lake ice with ease, in one day. On the following day Port Clinton or Portage, as it was then called, was reached. The train was held close together and the order of the sleighs frequently changed, so that 1710 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY the horses having become weary, breaking the way, were rested in the beaten track in the rear. Upon arrival at the mouth of the Portage, the horses were almost exhausted. Maltosh on the following morning directed the train to follow his tracks; he assured them that he would be at Lower Sandusky far in advance of the train and would have at the mouth of Muscallonge Creek teams to assist them to the end of the journey. The horses, stiffened by two days' travel through the deep snow, entered upon the third day's trial of endurance with reluctance. The train slowly moved across the head of the bay and entered the Sandusky River. The delight of the band of weary travelers, on reaching the mouth of Muscallonge Creek ( at Sandusky River) can be imagined. There a number of fresh teams were in waiting. The effect of finding the welcoming hand of friendship thus extended far to them, can only be appreciated when it is remembered that these people were strangers in a strange country. They found inhabitants in America even less secure, and were now fleeing from a savage foe under command and direction of the hereditary enemy of their mother country. With what delight then did these discouraged and exhausted refugees receive this token of friendship and promise of protection. "These teams from Fort Stephenson took most of the load and broke the way. Lower Sandusky was easily reached and the colony was given quarters in government barracks during the remainder of the winter. In the spring cabins about the fort were occupied, but the forest was full of hostile Indians, and at a. signal all were ready to flee into the enclosure. On the 1st of August, 1813, the French families, by order of the Government, were removed to Upper Sandusky. While on the way the sound of Procter's cannon was heard at Fort Stephenson which they had just left. The families remained at Upper Sandusky until the conclusion of the war, and were then moved back to Lower Sandusky in government wagons. The war having closed, it now became necessary for them to seek homes and earn their own livelihood. "Of the colony, Joseph Cavalier and wife both died at Fort Stephenson before the removal of the company to Upper Sandusky. Their son Albert, and one of the few survivors of the company, was left in charge of his aunt, Mrs. Jaco, Gabriel O'Dett, Le Point and Thomas De Mars made squatter improve. ments on the river bank eight miles below Lower Sandusky, on the tract since known as the Tucker farm. Mrs. Jaco married TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1711 Le Point, and Mr. Cavalier was received by Mr. De Mars. Mr. Jaco died during the progress of the war. Le Point served as a soldier during the war. The land sales of 1821 caused serious confusion among all these French squatters. Few of them were prepared to purchase land, and those who had the means did not understand how to profit by the opportunities offered. The land on which Le Point and De Mars had located was purchased by Samuel Cochran and the inhabitants were compelled to seek other homes. De Mars purchased a tract on Mud Creek. The Bisnette family permanently settled on the farm at the bend of the river, later owned by Mr. Enoch. The Catholic cemetery is located near the site of their cabin. A member of the company, named Minor, squatted on Negro Point, and remained there about two years. He returned to the Maumee." In the early German emigration to America, a large number made locations in the western portion of Rice Township beginning about 1835. This locality was dense forests then and the work of home making was stupendous. The greatest activities in clearing were from about 1838 to 1850. Among the early arrivals were the families of John Smith, Christian Kline, Henry Schwint, William Seigenthales, and Gotleib Gnepper. The early French of the Rice section, being Catholics, some time after the close of the War of 1812, were ministered to by Father Gabriel ReShoir of Detroit, who held the first mass, and a regular society was formed about 1829. The Catholics of this section now mostly belong to St. Josephs Church, Fremont. In 1849 or 1850, Joseph Lambert, Sr., and others formed the Fishing Creek Evangelical Society in the southern part of the township, and meetings were mostly held in the schoolhouses convenient until a church was built in the Kingsway settlement in 1860, which on the disbanding of the society about 1879, was for some time used by the Trinity Lutheran organization. A large settlement of Lutherans in the western part of Rice Township which began about 1832, in the early years held services about the various pioneer homes. A regular Lutheran Society was formed by Rev. Henry Lang of Fremont, in 1843, and a log church was built, where the congregation held services until 1867, when a substantial brick church was constructed. The Trinity Lutheran organization was effected in 1892 by Rev. Carl Ackerman, and the Zoar German Methodist Episcopal Society was established in 1844, in the central part of the township and a church was built by the organization in 1873. 1712 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Rice Township is devoid of many small towns or hamlets There is Kingsway on the Wheeling & Lake Erie, which w& named for George W. King, a prominent member of the neigh. borhood. As an extensive portion of the northeast section of the township adjacent to the bay is marsh lands, affording fine opportunities in season for hunting and fishing, large tracts are owned here by organized hunting and fishing clubs. In early times, the Indians found the locality favorite grounds for trapping, as did the French. RILEY TOWNSHIP A glance at a local map of Riley township which on the north borders the Sandusky Bay inlet will show that the township is a network of small sluggish streams which flow northward into the bay. In early years the marsh sections were the favorite grounds for Indian and French trappers and more details of the region are given in the chapter treating of the Sandusky River and Bay and tributaries. From the west, Bark Creek takes a "bite" out of the township, then farther to the east, of course running northward is Green Creek. About a mile east of Green, runs South Creek, then still eastward is Raccoon Creek with Pickerel Creek some two miles farther eastward. Tributaries of Pickerel are Fuller and Strong creeks. At the north, between the Sandusky River and Green Creek is what is known as the Yellow Slough. The mouth of the Sandusky River and the arm of the bay, might be comparable in a way to the outlet of the great Mississippi. Concerning the marsh lands of this area, historian Meek in 1909 wrote as follows: "Pickerel, Raccoon, South and Green creeks flow sluggishly through shallow channels from south to north toward the bay, widening as they approach their outlets and assuming more the appearance of ponds than of running streams. Bark Creek also passes into and out of Riley township in Section 18, a distance of about one mile. Much of the north part of the township is marshland and up to within a few years ago was famous as hunting and fishing grounds and waters. Fish, fowls and fur-bearing animals were abundant and afforded a great source of revenue for the early settlers. "Many acres of these lands remained as government land until about 1856, when nearly all the northern end containing TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1713 these marshlands was entered, and finally large parts of the same became owned by two sportsmens clubs, one known as the Winnous Point Shooting Club, and the other as the Ottawa Hunting and Shooting Club. These clubs have virtually monopolized for sport and pleasure the hunting and fishing of the principal part of all these marshes and waters, so that what is owned by the individuals is small in comparison, and furthermore so restricted by the enforcement of rigid game laws, passed at the instance of these clubs, as to become of but little value for hunting or fishing purposes for the average land owner there. "The first settlers located on the prairies, and the heavily timbered district at the south was left till about 1835, when a class of industrious Germans began to take up lands there." The first settler in the territory which became Riley Township was Andrew Stull from Huron County. In 1820 he came with his goods in a wagon along the old army trail which passed through the center of Townsend Township about one mile south of the prairie, until he reached a point opposite to Section 1, Township 5, his destination. A way or road was then cut through by him and the spot reached, which was to be the home of the Stull family for many long years thereafter. The nearest neighbor, William Tew, was six miles away. The nearest physician, at Lower Sandusky ten miles distant. The nearest mill was in Huron County, more than twenty miles away. Michael Stull, a son of Andrew, in a conversation in 1881 said : "Our food was chiefly wild meat, venison, turkey and fish, the latter in plenty. Salt pork was 50 cents a pound, bread mostly corn." He further said that fish were so plenty in Pickerel Creek that he and his brother Jacob speared in one night fifteen barrels of pickerel. They built a platform of puncheons across the creek, covered it with earth and built a fire at the middle of the stream. He in one end and his brother in the other of a canoe moved along. Swans were often seen from the cabin door. Mr. Stull killed six deer in one day and a Mr. Charles Lindsey shot nine. Jonas Gibbs, Isaac Allyn, Christopher Straight, the Mark-hams, M. Bristol, Horton Twist, Charles Lindsey, David Camp, Joseph H. Curtice, John Karshner, the 'Woodford family, George Jacobs, Conrad Worman, William Pierson, William Harris, John Faust, Daniel Schoch, Cyrus Haff, Joseph and Samuel Meek, C. P. Daniels, Joseph Haaser, Charles Livingstine, W. B. Sanford, James Maurer, Adam Lutes, G. A. Wright and Henry Voght were 1714 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY all among the early settlers of Riley and prominent in its development. The hardships of improving this region were increased by the prevalence of the disease called "milk sickness," caused, as was supposed, by some unknown poisonous vegetation there growing, while the land was in its primitive state, and which was eaten by mulch cows. Here, as elsewhere, when the land became cultivated and tame pastures came into use, this disease disappeared. The nearer headwaters of. the various creeks of that section furnished sufficient power for water mills and Charles Lindsey built the first mills on Raccoon Creek at an early day—both a grist mill and sawmill. On Pickerel Creek James and William Beebe constructed a sawmill. Compared with later years, the volume of water in all small streams was much greater and when the forests were cleared, the water supply was such as to caus the abandonment of most water mills. A steam sawmill, the first in that locality, was built in Rile; township by Jason Gibbs, and about 1846, a grist mill was constructed on Green Creek by Eli Faust, and some four years later another grist mill was put up on the same stream. It is recorded that a Methodist circuit rider preached the firs sermon in the settlement at the cabin of a Mrs. Lathrop. Later services were held in a log schoolhouse near the center of the township. In April, 1853, at Tuttle's schoolhouse was formed the Tuttle's Methodist Class, Clyde Mission. About 1854 a United Brethren Society was organized by a Rev. Mr. Lemon. In 186E the Methodist and United Brethren people built a union church and the organization was known as the North Riley Class, Bay Shore Circuit. The South Riley United Brethren Class was organized in 1855, and in 1877 built a church. An Evangelical church was built in the western part of the township about the same year. The first schoolhouse in Riley township was the log structure above referred to, near the site where later was built the town house and was "raised" about 1846. The Faust schoolhouse was the second one built, both being used for school purposes for some years. Erlin on the old Lake Erie & Western railroad and the Sandusky branch of the Lake Shore electric line, is recorded as a hamlet with twenty residents in 1890. When a post office was established there Ira Dunham was the first postmaster. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1715 SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP The history of Sandusky township is in a measure the history of early Fremont, which follows later. Its organization in 1815 when this section was a part of Huron County, has already been presented. The township as originally constituted was reduced from time to time, until it took its present form in 1878, when Fremont township was established to include the old two-miles square reserve. The story of James and Elizabeth Whitaker the first permanent settlers and also the first white settlers in Ohio, has already been related as well as that of the Williams Reservation. It was nearly a half century after the Whitakers settled on their reservation on the Sandusky River below now Fremont, that Reuben Patterson arrived with his family in 1818, and took up quarters in an officers cabin within old Fort Stephenson. The following spring (1819) the family moved into a crude log house on the Whitaker Reservation where a small tract was cleared of timber for the summer and fall crops. Evidently, Mr. Patterson being in ill health, when the lands of this section came into market, his wife rode to Delaware on horseback and entered a forty-acre piece of land across the river east from Whitakers, where a family home was built and where Mr. Patterson died in 1841. Mary Whitaker, one of the daughters of James and Elizabeth Whitaker married George Shannon, who migrated to Lower Sandusky in 1809. When the War of 1812 came on, while the elder Whitakers remained, Shannon, the son-in-law, for the safety of his family took them to the Scioto, in the interior. At the close of hostilities they returned to the Sandusky and settled on a part of the Whitaker Reservation, given to them by Mrs. Whitaker. Among other early settlers mentioned in a previous chapter, were George and Michael Overmyer. Henry Bowlus, George Michel, Daniel Hensel, George Reed, Rev. Jacob Bowlus, Samuel Crowell, Aaron Ferguson, Basil Coe, George Engler and John Kuns. The history of the church organizations and schools come in the story of Fremont. SCOTT TOWNSHIP Scott township is located in the extreme southwest corner of the county and borders Wood County on the west and Seneca County on the south. It was organized April 8, 1830 and named 1716 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY for Merritt Scott an early settler, and who fought in the War of 1812. Within its borders were two prairie tracts; one in the southwest corner of the township and the other, the Tauwa prairie, in the southern section. These prairies were counterparts of the Liberty and Jackson prairies farther west in Wood County in the midst of heavy forests and at one time were shallow lakes. Even within the memory of men still living (1929) where are now rich, cultivated fields, water in the spring covered thousands of acres and where swam myriads of wild ducks, wild geese, and even the beautiful swans. Meek in his historical writings says : "There is a sand ridge bordering along the south prairie from eight feet to thirty feet higher than the surface of the prairie, and was at one time the route of an Indian trail. When the first settlers arrived this Indian trail over this sand ridge was worn about one foot deep by the ponies used by the Indians. This prairie was the first to be put under cultivation and before it was broken for cultivation furnished an abundance of pasture and tall prairie grass, which was cut and dried and stacked for winter feed. "When the land was first plowed, numerous elk's horns were plowed up and so also were many logs covered with earth to a depth of about eight to twelve inches. On the sand ridge for many years all kinds of Indian relics were plowed up." Among the early settlers in Scott township were Samuel Bickerstaff, Merritt Scott, Lewis Jennings, Henry Roller, Wilson Teters, Samuel Miller, Jacob Reinhart, James Buker, M. L. Smith, C. C. Barney, John Harpster, James Donnel, George N. Snyder, Phillip Miller, Jacob Kuntz, Daniel Long, Samuel Sprout, Michael Settzer, Jacob Havely, Elisha Moore, Reuben McDaniels, William Wright and David Solomon ; besides the Wyants, the Ballards and the Hathaways. Rollersville, partly in Madison township, divided by the highway, and named for Henry Roller, and Tinney, formerly Greensburg, named in honor of Judge John L. Green, Fremont, are the principal hamlets; with the Squires and Girton settlements in the southern section. Greensburg in early years was the mail distributing center for that section and Rollersville for the northern community, with David Smith the first postmaster. People from the Helena and Millersville district and even from the Gibsonburg community, received their mail at Greensburg. The most noted mail carrier for these two post offices was John C. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1717 Dean of Rollersville, who made deliveries from Fremont twice a week. The rural delivery has changed all this. The first church in Scott township was built at Rollersville in 1830, and a Congregational Society was organized there in 1842, with Rev. M. P. Fay the first pastor. A church was built in 1860. In the southern section of the township, in 1834 was formed the United Brethren Canaan Class, by David Long and David Solomon. A meeting-house was built in 1867. Among the first ministers of this organization were the Reverends Beaver, Moore and Davis. The Methodists organized a society known as Mount Zion Class and built a church near Tinney in 1872. Still another society was the Evangelical which built a church in 1870. Scott township has always been prominent in the educational forces of Sandusky County. The first schoolhouse was located a short distance west of now Tinney. Among the leading early educators were Levi L. Wright, W. H. K. Gossard, Samuel Long, L. M. Snyder, Sarah Long, Ellen Wright and Druzilla Gossard. One of the important educational features of this locality, was the Tinney Select School, organized about 1891 and conducted by G. F. Aldrich up to near 1903, and supported by private tuition paid by the attendants. To perpetuate the memory of the good work done, the Tinney Select School Alumni Association was formed with annual gatherings held at Tinney. A prominent early figure in Scott township was Dr. J. C. Thompson who took up the practice of medicine in this locality in 1844, and was active in the profession until about 1885. TOWNSEND TOWNSHIP Townsend township named for Abraham Townsend an early settler, is located in the extreme northeast corner of Sandusky County. Like the township of Sandusky, its early organization is related in a previous chapter. The streams running northward are Fuller and Strong creeks, tributaries of Pickerel Creek, and Little Pickerel, which cuts through the northeast corner of the township. An individuality of Townsend is its underlying springs, which are fed, it is believed, from the same head source as Cold Creek springs, about Castalia in Erie County, the waters coming from the underground streams from the south, possibly as far as the Logan County elevation. Artesian wells early brought these waters gushing in instances to as high as four to six feet above the surface. There is also the Rockwell Spring and others of less 1718 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY note in the township. Rockwell Spring was named for a man named Rockwell who built a mill there, later known as the Boice water-mill. Bordering the bay section are lower marshy lands originally covered with a luxuriant growth of coarse grass, such as described by James Smith, whose life among the Indians from 1.755 to 1759, is told about in an early chapter. The first recorded settler was Moses Wilson who, in the spring of 1818, built a log cabin on what was known as the North Ridge. Of the Townsend family mentioned, Mr. Meek the historian says that Mr. Townsend made improvements as early as 1818, on what was later known as the Brush farm. Abraham Townsend emigrated from New York to Canada before the War of 1812. His son Ephraim K. joined the American Army, which made it prudent for his father to return to his native country, which he did. The family consisted of the father and mother, two sons, E. K. and Gamalial, and five daughters, Margaret, Betsy, Mary, Amy and Eliza. The father removed to Huron in 1824 and later to Michigan. Ephraim remained and became owner of eighty acres of land. He was the first township clerk. He married Rebecca Tew, daughter of William Tew, Sr., in 1820. Mr. Tew built the fourth cabin there in 1818. He had a family of eight children. His son, Paul Tew, became a prominent and influential citizen and served as county commissioner when the brick courthouse was built in 1844. A. C. Jackson settled in 1822, with his wife, Amanda, and two children, to whom ten were added, born in Townsend. Other early settlers were Christian Winters, John Freese, Azariah Beebe, Robert Wallace, Ebenezer Rawson, Josiah Holbrook, Samuel Love, Daniel Rice, B. Wilder, James Lemmon, Sr., John Bush and Albert Guinall, who arrived between 1821 and 1825, while during the thirties the influx of settlers rapidly increased. One of the first school teachers in the township was Rachel Mack who conducted a summer school at the Beebe place. The first schoolhouse was built in 1826, on the Lemmon farm. Townsend post office, long ago discontinued, was established in 1824, with William Tew, Sr., the first postmaster. In 1853, the name was changed to York Station, and evidently back to Townsend. Whitmore Station on the Sandusky branch of the Lake Shore Electric and the old W. & L. E. Ry was once a post office, with Walter Devlin postmaster. Vickery the principal village of the township, located on the same two lines of transporta- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1719 tion, was platted in 1881, for Robert Vickery. When the post office was established, B. Sharp was the first postmaster. The town has a Methodist church regularly supplied. The first church services in Townsend township were held in the Jackson settlement, at which the Rev. Harry O. Sheldon delivered the address. The Methodist Society built a church on the North Ridge in 1848. The first minister to travel this circuit was Rev. Daniel Wilcox. Then in the north part of the township, in 1870, the United Brethren Society, built a church. A well conducted sporting organization, The Rockwell Spring Trout Fishing Club, after the idea of The Castalia Club, changed the course of the stream emanating from the springs, built a club house and established a fish hatchery. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Washington township, located in the westerly section of the county, its largest township, is bisected by the old Perrysburg and Fremont Western Reserve Road, which caused its early settlement. The first land entries were made in 1826, though the first permanent settlers began to arrive some four years later. Among the entries recorded, most of whom became settlers, were those to David Hess, 730 acres; Enoch Rush, 210 acres; Josiah Topping, 140 acres; Reuben Wilder 267 acres, with later tracts as shown by Meek to the following: Pontius Wheeler, J. H. Topping, George Waggoner, Samuel Waggoner, Robert Long, Jacob Nyce, Jonas Graham, Michael Hogle, William Floyd, David Grant, Magdalena Bowman, George Watt, David Church, Joseph Deck, A. W. Green, Jacob Hendricks, Daniel Karshner, Daniel Hendricks, John Mackling, Michael. Overmyer, Peter Poorman, John Rose, N. P. Robbins, William Rose, Solomon Shoup, John Shoup, Jacob C. Stultz, William Skinner, John Strohl, Hector Topping, John C. Waggoner, John Smith, Isaac Rhidenour, John Baird, William Chenaworth and George Hetrick. The quantities were generally not large, varying from eighty to three hundred acres, and in one instance, Daniel Hendricks, as high as 370 acres. For evident speculative purposes, one of the largest purchases was by Edward Bissell of Toledo who entered in 1836, 2,376 acres. Others of this class were, Dickinson and Pease, 376 acres; H- G. Folger, 532 acres; F. G. Sanford and James Easton, 426 acres. Meek further says: The settlers were nearly all natives of 21-VOL- 2 1720 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Pennsylvania and of German descent, but a large proportion came here directly from Perry County. Josiah H. Topping, David Grant and John Wolcutt were the first. Topping kept tavern on the pike. George Skinner came as the fourth settler in 1830 and settled in Section 26. From then onward settlements progressed, and among these hardy pioneers were : Joseph Cookson, Jacob Stultz, the Waggoners, Jacob Hendricks, Solomon Shoup, the Skinners, John Baird, Hugh Forgerson, William and Samuel Black, Michael Fought, A. G. Ross, Peter Morton, George Geese-man, Samuel Spohn, Jacob Moses, Joseph Garn, Henry Forster, Daniel Karshner, Christian Dershen, James Ross, Henry Bowman, David Hess, Henry Stierwalt, John Bowersox, Daniel Boyer, William Yeggle, John Avers, E. Humers, H. Bearing, John Mogler, David Deil, James Snyder, Martin Garn, Daniel Spohn, Jacob Heberling. John Waggoner, a native of Maryland, came in 1830 with his family of eight children. Philip Overmyer, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1833. He had seven sons, viz : Samuel, William, Daniel, Jacob, George, Philip and David. Jacob Overmyer settled here in 1833, coming from New York. He had a large family. Joseph Garn came in 1831 and was a preacher of the United Brethren faith, but never "rode a circuit-" Joseph Reed came in 1832. Henry Forster, Mr. Shively, Samuel Kratzer, Henry Reiling, John W. Bauman, John Lantz, Henry Myers, Casper Heseman and B. Karschner settled later. The earliest school in Washington Township was held in a log schoolhouse located on the Maumee and Western Reserve road, built on the old Hetrick farm, with Narcissa Topping the first teacher. A schoolhouse was built in 1834 on the Jacob Moses farm in the southwest corner of the township not far from Helena. In October 1837, a town plat on the Western Reserve road was laid out for David Hess and B. H. Bowman and was named Cashtown. The name is said to have been applied from the fact that the "merchants" there paid cash for farm, products, an innovation in those days. On account of the prominence of the Hess family there, the name was changed to Hessville. When the post office was established there it was known as "Black Swamp," by reason of the surroundings. David Berry was evidently the first postmaster. Mail comes there now by rural delivery from Lindsey about a mile and a half to the northeast. One of the extinct early industries was the distillery and mill operated by Henry Reiling. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1721 The Lutheran and German Reform as early as 1843, occupied a union meeting-house at this point, one of the supplies being the Rev. George Cronnenwett, many times referred to. In 1851, the Lutherans built a separate church further west on the public highway, and a most commendable structure followed in 1877. The Reformed Society still hold forth here. The Emanuel Lutheran Congregation, was established in a log schoolhouse west of Hessville in 1840, the organization being effected by Rev. Conrad of Tiffin. The Rev.. Cronnenwett of Woodville served the organization for nearly thirty years. Rev. C- H. Althoff also served as pastor for many years. Before the present commodious church was built the congregation held services in a small brick structure west of the present church, and before that as noted occupied the union meeting place. The Mt. Calvary United Brethren early built a church at the Four Mile House. Lindsey, the most important town of Washington township is about seven miles northwest of Fremont, on the southern branch of the New York Central. When the town was platted in November, 1853, for B. F. Roberts and E. B. Philips, it was named Washington, the same as the township, but was incorporated as Lindsey, and has separate school facilities. Not to be partial to names, when the post office was established it was called Loose, with William Overmyer the first postmaster. With a bank, good mercantile establishments, grain elevators, and general supplies for the surrounding community, Lindsey is a prosperous village. The churches are the Evangelical and Reformed. BELLEVUE AND YORK TOWNSHIP The first white arirvals in York. township were squatters, who came to this section as early as 1818 or 1819. They selected attractive situations, built crude log cabins and cleared small plats of ground in the wilderness, and while the men hunted much of the time, the women folk tilled the little patches of corn and garden spots. Then about the year 1821 or 1822, came the first permanent settlers. Among these were Rollin .Benson, A. D. Fallett, Jeremiah Smith, John Davenport, Hiram Baker, John Riddell, Isaac Slocum, H. R. Adams, James Chapman, Elder John Mugg, the Utley family and some others. Schools were early established and churches organized. The fact that the Free-will Baptist Church was the first society 1722 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY organized in the township gives some idea of the character of the first settlers. This was followed by the Christian Church Society and the Emanuel Evangelical. One of the important occupations is fruit growing, including cherry culture. The Highland Cherry Farm just west of Bellevue, is one of the largest cherry orchards in the country, containing some 6,000 trees, a beautiful sight in blossom time. There are several other small orchards, and cabbage growing for kraut making is largely carried on. A considerable portion of the land is rolling and the soil sandy, and there exist here evident subterranean waterways, which have some possible connection with the Castalia and other springs. BELLEVUE The western portion of Bellevue is in York township and consequently in Sandusky County. An important railroad point, with factories and large industries, it is a prosperous city with much wealth. The early little hamlet first took the name of Amsden's Corners for T. G. Amsden, a pioneer merchant. The post office was called York Cross Roads. When the old Mad River & Lake Erie railroad was completed to this point in 1839, the more euphonic name, Bellevue, was adopted. And certainly from its high elevation of 751 feet above sea level, a "beautiful view" of the surrounding fine country could be obtained. On the western edge of the Western Reserve, naturally the attractive locations were selected hereabouts early. It is recorded that the first settler was Mark Hopkins, who established himself here in 1815 ; that the next was Elnathen George one year later, then Return Burlington in 1817, and in 1819, Thomas G. Amsden, John C. Kinney and Frederick Chapman. The last three established the first store at the corners the building being located on the site of the city hall. They had enterprising real estate dealers even then, and Boudette Wood and Nathaniel Chapman were of this class at Amsden. Most of the land where the Sandusky County side of Bellevue is located, was purchased by Charles F. Drake in 1822, and the year following, land joining Drake on the west was bought by Dr. James Strong. Bellevue was incorporated January 25, 1851, Abraham Leiter was the first Mayor, S. Z. Culver, recorder (clerk), and E. D. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1723 Fallett, Thomas G. Amsden, B. F. McKim, D. Armstrong and J. M. Lawrence, trustees. Most of the business and factory section of Bellevue is on the Huron County side of the dividing line, but it may be said that with strong banking institutions, prosperous, enterprising merchants and business men in general, it is one of the most thrifty and progressive cities of its size in this territory. The churches are the First Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Church of the Immaculate Conception, St. Pauls Reform, St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran, St. Pauls Episcopal, The First Baptist and Bishop Seybert Memorial Evangelical. The First Congregational Society was formed in 1836, under jurisdiction of the Huron Presbytery as a Presbyterian organization, and so remained until 1846, when it was formally transferred to Congregational control. The present pretentious structure known as the Harkness Memorial, was built by Daniel M. Harkness as a memorial to his wife the late Isabell Harkness. The Methodist Society was organized in 1839, the first meetings being held in an old stone schoolhouse which stood near the site of the present Episcopal Church. The second meeting-house was of brick and the third in 1868. The First Baptist Society was organized May 4, 1836, the first pastor being Elder J. Kelley. Early services were held in an old brick schoolhouse, their first church being occupied in April, 1849. After a break in the organization Rev. Jesse Boswell organized a new society in 1883 and the present church was completed in February, 1886. The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a strong organization. A Catholic mission was established in Bellevue about 1853 by Father James Vincent Conlin, stationed at Sandusky. The first church was a remodeled warehouse on Center Street, which was occupied as soon as a, regular church body was organized, the first resident priest being Rev. James Monaghan. There were various changes in the church property until the present church and priest's residence were occupied. St. Pauls Reformed Society was well established in a good church as early as 1865. Two years later the structure was badly damaged in a storm, and after being reconstructed, was rededicated November 26, 1876. In 1890-, the building was enlarged and improved and again in 1905, practically rebuilt. The society has shown much progress and thrift. St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Society established itself in 1724 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY the present church completed in 1895 under the pastorate of the Rev. W. E. Schuette. The church organization was perfected July 10, 1864. The first meeting-house was taken over by the Catholics for a school and the second was the old church on Center Street. The St. Pauls Episcopal Society was organized in 1849, and the first services were held in a hall over then Ruffings dry goods store and later in the stone schoolhouse, the site of the Pike public school. It was on January 14, 1861, that a new church was consecrated by Bishop Gregory Thurston Bedell. It was about 1847 that the Rev. Mr. Punderson conducted the first services in the old stone schoolhouse, and Rev. R. K. Nash was the first rector to preach in the permanent quarters. Historian Meek calls attention to the fact that in the history of St. Pauls parish, four diocesans of national fame have shepherded the flock; Bishop Philander Chase of Kenyon, Bishop Charles Mcllvaine, Bishop Gregory Thurston Bedell and Bishop William Andrews Leonard. The now Bishop Seybert Memorial Evangelical Society sprang' from an organization effected in 1875 by Rev. G. W. Miesse. Rev. S. P. Sprenge, later a bishop, was the first regular pastor. The present church was completed about 1896, and the society is engaged in many forms of church work. Schools—It is recorded that Bellevue had in its earliest period two log school buildings—one on the Wright Bank Building site and the other where the Pike school is located. The stone schoolhouse referred to in the church history, was a one room affair built in 1832, and later enlarged and improved. In 1871, a two room, brick schoolhouse was built and later a second story was added. While the history of the Bellevue public schools belongs to the story of Huron County, the city has a fine central high school building, and the record of the schools shows fine progress. Grades were established here in 1851 with Rev. Mr. Waldo principal, a Miss Gardner, assistant, and Mrs. Covil and a Miss Wilkinson in the primary rooms. Of the long list of able superintendents down to the present, special mention is made of that well known educator and historian Prof. E. F. Warner who was superintendent from 1886 to 1914, a period of twenty-eight years and later state school inspector. Fremont Township, and the corporate limits of the city of Fremont, include the same territory, the civil administration being the same except as to township justices of the peace and constables. CHAPTER LXXX THE CITY OF FREMONT LOCATED ON HISTORIC GROUND - EARLY DAYS - PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT-BUSINESS INTEREST S-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES- INTERESTING SIDE LIGHTS. Talk to the Fremont banker, the merchant, the manufacturer, and he will discourse enthusiastically upon the great resources and business advantages of the city; talk to the preacher and he will tell of the fine Fremont church organizations; talk to the schoolmaster and he will refer with pride to the well organized schools and excellent educational equipment; talk to the home owner and he will enthuse upon Fremont's residential delightfulness; talk to the street-sweeper and he will point to the clean streets and well ordered surroundings. To the historian all this seems true, but to him Fremont is so much more than all that—so much different. Every foot within its boundaries to him is hallowed ground—a shrine to which he bows, worshipping. For in the long ago past on the picturesque hills overlooking the Sandusky, he visions the work of the prehistoric people the Mound Builders, who fashioned their earthen monuments, found when the earliest explorers came. His imagination takes him to the once neutral towns of the savages, one on the right and one on the left bank of the winding river, each designated as a refuge from hostile tribes bent on the destruction and annihilation of their foe. His mind travels by land and water the noted thoroughfares of the Red Man, connecting the Great Lakes with the Ohio. And on this Sandusky the British and traders established their posts during the War of the Revolution. Hard by on yonder plateau to the northward, was the western point reached by British and Colonial troops, with Israel Putnam at the head of a distinguished force at the time Bradstreet brought his expedition against Pontiac in 1764. Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, the Moravians Heckewelder. and Zeisberger, with many hundreds of other whites, were prisoners here when Detroit was the British depositary for Indian captives; and too, there was Samuel Brady. - 1725 - 1726 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Finally, there was Fort Stephenson of the War of 1812, so gallantly defended by Major Croghan and his little American band, and frequented by General Harrison and other distinguished officers. And up yonder a little way southward is Spiegel Grove, the beautiful estate of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, the nineteenth president of the United States, now, by gift, the property of the State of Ohio and where the old Scioto trail ran and through which passed the Harrison trace. On the banks of the Sandusky here was the old American Navy grounds reservation, and yonder Negro Point. Below was the historic Whitaker Reservation, the home of the Whitakers, the first monument to permanent civilization in Ohio. There are other factors and the list is a long one. But to the writer, one of the most fascinating spots is the point below Birchard Library Park, where before the War of 1812, the missionary Joseph Badger came as a messenger of peace and good will and dwelt for a time in his little cabin and established a mission for the Indians. All the important happenings above referred to, have been traced in the chapters pertaining to the general history of the Maumee and Sandusky County, except Spiegel's Grove. Consequently the local story of Fremont will be closely adhered to, with necessarily some repetitions. Croghansville, east of the Sandusky River, was laid out in 1816 by the United States surveyor, Wormley, about the same time Perrysburg on the Maumee was surveyed by the government. The United States land commissioner Josiah Meigs, suggested the names for both towns and his suggestion was followed in each instance. The new plat here was named Croghansville, honoring Major Croghan. The same as Perrysburg and most government surveys, Croghansville was provided with wide streets. A large lot extending to the river was reserved by Con- gress for a shipyard. On the west side of the Sandusky, the survey of the town of Sandusky was made in 1817, by what was known as the Kentucky Company and containing two or three names of the Cincinnati interests which exploited Port Lawrence (Toledo) the same year. The names of those who exploited Sandusky were: William Oliver, Thomas L. Hawkins, Thomas E. Boswell, Morris A. Newman, Israel Harrington, Josiah Rumery, Ephraim Johnson, William Andrews, David Gallagher, Aaron Furgerson, Randall Jerome, John Drury, Joseph Mominne, John La Cost, John An- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1727 derson and John B. Mominne. As this section was then under the jurisdiction of Huron County, the plat was recorded at Norwalk, the county seat. The entire reservation was originally surveyed into lots forty rods wide, numbered from north to south and abutting the river. Later surveys and readjustments changed the outlines of the project and when Lower Sandusky was incorporated in 1829, it embraced the whole of the two miles square reservation. The first mayor of record of Lower Sandusky, was John Bell, who was also the first mayor of "the City of Fremont" when the municipality attained that distinction in July, 1866. At a meeting of the city council or trustees, December 17, 1866, Col. William E. Haynes introduced the ordinance which divided the city into three wards as follows: First Ward—all of the municipality west of the Sandusky River and South of the center line of Croghan Street; Second Ward—all of the city west of the Sandusky and north of the center line of Croghan Street; Third Ward—all that part of the municipality lying east of the river. The ward representatives were first known as trustees and the first members were : First Ward, Plate Brush and David Belts; Second Ward, T. M. Quilter and Ambrose Ochs; Third Ward, Thomas Kelley and J. D. Botefur. These trustees organized by selecting J. D. Botefur president and Dr. F. Wilmer, clerk. The first pavement in Fremont was laid on Croghan Street in 1874-1875, before the business section of Front Street was improved. It was some eleven years afterward that the business portion of Front Street was paved. At present Fremont boasts of some eighteen miles of improved streets. The city hall which stands on the northeast corner of Birchard Library Park was completed in 1879, and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies February 21st, that year. It was in 1881 that the legislation was inaugurated which brought Fremont its city water supply. The plant was built under the direction of the late J. T. Cook of Toledo, one of the leading engineers of his time. With the growth of the city improvements and expansion was of course necessary, and it was in 1929 that the old standpipe in courthouse park, 100 feet high and twenty-five feet in diameter, with a capacity of 365,000 gallons, was finally razed. Stephen Buckland was evidently the first regular fire chief after the inauguration of the department in 1843. 1728 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY TRANSPORTATION The first transportation routes for the Fremont section, as has already been dwelt upon, were the Sandusky River and the old Sandusky-Scioto trail. All early heavy shipments were made by boats, and while of light draft, they were capable of lake navigation. Even during the American Revolution traders "sailed" their craft up and down the Sandusky from here to Detroit and other lake ports. Missionary Badger built a lake-worthy sloop as early as 1806 and brought it up the Sandusky to the Whitaker Reservation. Boat building at Lower Sandusky was an important pioneer industry, the necessary timber being at hand in the heavy oak forests. While early traders, no doubt, built and repaired their boats for service here many years before that date, when white settlers began to locate here permanently a sloop named the Nautilus was built at Lower Sandusky in 1816. When the canals of Ohio were projected, the Sandusky-Scioto line was one of the routes considered. Had Lower Sandusky (Fremont) been favored with a canal, it is problematical as to what effect it would have had upon the city's growth or prosperity. Possibly railroad projects under such conditions would have been delayed here. The old Mad River & Lake Erie railroad, the first to traverse Ohio, not considering the Toledo & Kalamazoo, missed Lower Sandusky, and it is of historical moment that when construction of the Mad River line began at Sandusky City, September 7, 1835, Gen. William Henry Harrison, turned the first spade of earth and Gov. Joseph Vance of Ohio took part in the ceremonies. The road was completed from Sandusky to Bellevue, a distance of fifteen miles, and the first train ran between these points in 1837. The project was completed to Tiffin in 1841 and through to Dayton, 1871. Among the first conductors on this road when it was in running order as far as Tiffin, was J. B. Higbee of Bellevue. Conductor Higbee related to the late historian Basil Meek, that while at Tiffin on one of his trips, he was informed by one of the agents of the road that he must prepare a car especially for a passenger to Sandusky. Being curious as to who such an evidently important personage could be, the reply was "I don't know but he is a big fellow they call by the name of Boz !" Higbee described Dickens as a pleasant appearing "roast beef eating" Englishman, and he naturally felt honored in having a passenger of such distinction. As Mr. Meek says, this was of course while Dickens was on his first visit to America. The line TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1729 eventually became a part of the Big Four system which runs through Clyde and Green Springs. Fremont is now well favored with transportation facilities, with the so-called Norwalk division of the New York Central lines, east and west, with the Toledo division of the better known Wheeling & Lake Erie; and the Lake Erie & Western, to the southward. The electric lines are the Lake Shore, two divisions, and the Fremont-Fostoria route. FALLS OF SANDUSKY The story of Col. James Smith, who with the Indians traversed the Sandusky River on several occasions between the years 1756 and 1758, when they buried their birch-bark canoes at the falls of the Sandusky'! just above now Fremont, has been already related in detail. It can only be speculated, could Colonel Smith return to these "falls" today, what his wonderment would be. At this point is located one of Fremont's most important projects. The present company in control is The Ohio Power Company. This organization took over the rights secured by The Fremont Power & Light Company, which upon its incorporation some twenty years ago, secured by purchase all the mill sites, river and flowage rights on the Sandusky for a distance of about two and a half miles, and constructed a hydro-electric plant at the point known as Ballville, above the main section of Fremont. The energy of the river flow at the "falls" has been conserved and the company furnishes power for factories and municipal lighting plants over a wide section; as well as for private use. In the olden days the Sandusky here furnished power for water mills which were superseded by steam power, and this new development has brought the energy under a single unit with a static head of some forty-four feet. Consequently, for a large part of the year some four thousand horse power is developed to generate electricity for public utilities and factories. A fine new concrete bridge, lately completed, now spans the Sandusky River on Fremont's main east and west thoroughfare, State Street, better designated in history as the Maumee and Western Reserve Road. The first bridge was built in 1827-1828, by James Birdseye. It was of course a wooden structure, the material being white oak, and without stone abutments; but the boxed-in ends were filled with stone to give solidity and prevent washouts. Not being of sufficient height, it was carried away by the flood of 1833. A much more substantial covered wooden 1730 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY bridge was then built in 1841-1842. Its construction was under the supervision of Rudolph Dickinson, a member of the Ohio board of public works. The roof was of pine shingles and the whole construction was so efficient that it was in service until replaced by the iron bridge built in 1877, which was replaced by the present fine concrete structure. BIRCHARD LIBRARY Birchard Library located on the site of old Fort Stephenson is one of Fremont's most valuable public possessions. It was established through the generosity of Sardis Birchard and furthered by the energy of the late Rutherford B. Hayes, who inaugurated the movement. In contemplation of the project Mr. Birchard had in his lifetime planned to donate about fifty thousand dollars including the site and in money. To carry out his plans he selected the following men as trustees: Rutherford B. Hayes, L. Q. Rawson, R. B. Buckland, William E. Haynes, E. Bushnell, J. W. Wilson, Thomas Stilwell, the mayor of Fremont, and the superintendent of the schools, W. W. Ross. At a meeting called by Mr. Hayes, he was chosen as chairman and Professor Ross, secretary. At a meeting of the city council in July 7, 1873, the following memorial was presented: "To the Council of Fremont: "The undersigned respectfully represent that Sardis Birchard of said city has conveyed real estate and other property to the value of $50,000, in trust to establish in Fremont a library and a gallery for paintings, pioneer, Indian and war relics, and other objects of interest for the free use of the people of Sandusky County, and that your memorialists have been appointed and have accepted the appointment to carry out this trust. "We also represent that in our judgment the Northwestern part of the site of Fort Stephenson, now owned by Lewis Lepplemann, is a fit and appropriate place to erect the Birchard Library Building, and that the remainder of the ground formerly occupied by Fort Stephenson ought also to be owned by the city of Fremont for a park or for other public use. Your memorialists therefore propose that if the city of Fremont purchase the site of Fort Stephenson for a park or other public purposes, the undersigned trustees of the Birchard Library will pay $5,000 of the purchase money in consideration of the right to occupy the northwestern part of said ground with said library, and thus the whole of the site of the old fort made famous by the heroism of Colonel TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1731 Croghan and his gallant comrades will be forever preserved as public property for the general benefit of the people of Fremont." At a meeting at the home of Governor Hayes in Speigel Grove, February 13, 1874, the library organization was perfected. The preamble of the articles of association is as follows: "Sardis Birchard, late of the city of Fremont, Ohio, having made in his lifetime gifts of property and money to constitute a fund for the establishment and maintenance of a free library in said city for the benefit of the people of said city and vicinity, and having designated Ralph P. Buckland, Ebenezer Bushnell, L. Q. Rawson, James W. Wilson, Wm. E. Haynes, Thomas Stilwell, Rutherford B. Hayes, the mayor of the city of Fremont, and the superintendent of the public schools of said city of Fremont, to have control of said fund and said library, the persons above named as trustees have formed themselves into a Library Benevolent Association under the name and style of the Birchard Library." Temporary quarters for the library were opened in the old Birchard Hall, State and Front streets. The Library Association contributed $9,000 from the Birchard estate toward purchasing the Fort Stephenson site of about two acres, and on March 29, 1878, the council passed an ordinance containing the following provision: "That said Birchard Library Association are to have the right to erect, maintain and occupy a building for the Birchard Library on Lots Nos. 221 and 240, and that said city have the right to erect, maintain and occupy a building on said premises for a City Hall, where the same is now being erected on the corner of Croghan and Arch Streets, and that no other building, fence or structure of any kind shall hereafter be erected or put upon any part of said lots, nor shall the same ever be used for any purpose other than as a public park or any part thereof sold or conveyed without the consent of both the said City Council and the Birchard Library Association. The control and supervision of said Park shall be vested in the City Council and said Birchard Library Association jointly, but said City Council shall have the exclusive use and control of the building now on said Lots." The cornerstone of the library was laid July 18, 1878, and the building completed in 1879, and occupied as a library, with Mrs. Jessie E. McCulloch the first librarian. The original structure was added to in 1896, by a donation made by Elizabeth Green Kelley of Chicago. The book collection of some 20,000 volumes, 1732 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY has been wisely selected and the service is admirable. There are also housed a large number of valuable heirlooms and war relics from the Revolution down; and portraits of many historical characters as well as rare maps adorn the walls. PARKS Besides Fort Stephenson Park, Fremont is adorned with several other beauty spots. One is another gift of Sardis Birchard named Birchard Park, a plot of some ten acres containing a fine grove of native forest trees. The situation is the square bounded by Birchard Avenue, Croghan, Washington and Jefferson streets, and in season is enjoyed by the townspeople as well as many from the surrounding sections. Diamond Park is within the triangle of Birchard Avenue, Buckland Avenue and Monroe Street. It is the third gift of Mr. Birchard and is beautified by shrubbery, and flowers in season. A gift of Mrs. Susan Lusher is Lusher Park in "Flower Valley" at the meeting point of Whittlesey and Tiffin streets. HISTORICAL SITUATIONS Historically, the Sandusky County Fair Grounds are located about where the forces of Maj. Israel Putnam camped when the army of Bradstreet's expedition came west in 1764 to chastise the recalcitrant Indians. An appropriate name for the grounds, therefore, would be Putnam Park, designated by a proper monument. One of Ohio's most noted historical points is the site of the cabin of Ohio's first white settlers, James and Elizabeth Whitaker, on the left bank of the Sandusky River below Fremont. Its proper designation and preservation have been neglected and it is fortunate that some 480 acres of the old Whitaker Reservation has been purchased by Joseph Mooney of Detroit, a former well known resident of Toledo. Mr. Mooney has enclosed his fine estate, which he calls "Peninsular Farm," with a substantial ornamental wire fence and it is understood that he will establish the location of the Whitaker home by a proper memorial and hopes to have the old James Whitaker stone grave marker returned to Whitaker's burial place, where he will give it proper care and protection. Peninsular Farm will be one of the show places of Fremont. Mention has already been made in the story of the Whitakers that Mrs. Whitaker was allowed $5,000 by the government fo TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1733 damage done by the forces the British General Proctor, at the time of the attack on Fort Stephenson, War of 1812. This claim was never paid, and as late as when Congressman Norton represented the district in which Sandusky County belonged, he was appealed to by the Whitaker heirs to see if something could be done to secure payment. It was found that the matter had run so long that no favorable interest could be aroused in Congress, consequently the attempt at collection was dropped. The will of Mrs. Elizabeth Whitaker recorded in the probate court records of Sandusky County, reads as follows: "I Elizabeth Whitaker of the County of Sandusky in the State of Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say—First it is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second I have the following property Two mares and two colts one horse one cow and calf one sheep—Two beds and bedding one bedstead, large brass kettle, 3 iron pots one bake oven and two spiders 6 stone jars 2 crocks 6 earthen jars and crocks some crockery 2 tin buckets harness for one horse and iron chains one side saddle 1 pair smelting irons one fire shovel 2 spinning wheels a clock real —candle moulds—and other small articles of household furniture. "I also have claims proven on the U. State to eight thousand dollars and up, and for spoclatum during the last war. I also have a judgment against Hugh Patterson of Sandwish U. Canada Richard Patterson Senty above thirteen hundred dollars rendered 1811 I believe. I have also claims on my brothers George & William for my share of my fathers estate. I have also a chest containing valuable articles delivered & now in the possession of Harvey J. Harmon. I give and bequeath the above property to my sons Isaac George and James Whitaker, my daughter Rachael Scranton and Eliza Wilson and An Wilson heirs of my daughter Nancy. The three children of my daughter Nancy to have one share to be equally divided share and share alike with my children. The three children of Nancy Wilson to be charged six hundred dollars advanced to her in her lifetime. Also my son Isaac is to be charged one hundred and eighty six dollars for two horses a saddle and bridle property that Isaac took and carried off. It is also my will that of the share which shall be coming to Isaac the interest only shall be paid to him annually during his life and at his death shall be paid to his children my executor investing the amount in some productive fund. 1734 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY "I do hereby appoint my son James Whitaker my executor o this my last will and testament. In case that my son Jame should not survive me I do hereby appoint Harvey J. Harmon. "In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and sea this 15th day of Feb. 1833. her "Elizabeth X Whitaker (Seal) mark "Signed declared and sealed in presence of us who are requested to witness the above will Giles Thompson Rebecca Thompson." Isaac Williams, a trader at Upper Sandusky, as has been noted, married Sarah Vincent, a captive white woman, and reared one son, Isaac Williams, who married and settled on a tract of land on the east side of the Sandusky River opposite the Whitaker Reserve, which his mother occupied while a captive. After the death of Isaac Williams the United States by the treaty of 1817 gave to his widow and her two children 160 acres of land at a place called Negro Point and north of the Whitaker Reserve, and separated from it by the Sandusky River. This tract was for many years occupied by descendants of the original owner, but has passed to other purchasers and at present is owned by several different persons. In the survey of Croghansville in 1816 the Government reserved a certain outlot on the east bank of the Sandusky River near the head of Brady's Island for a Navy Yard, but it was never used by the Government for that purpose, as the east channel of Sandusky River which fronted this land was of shallow draft. Later this land was sold and sub-divided and that part of this tract fronting on Sandusky Avenue was occupied by residences. BUSINESS AND BANKS The list of Fremont's manufacturing institutions and industries is a long one. The fame of many is world wide. The record for prosperity, through times of depressions as well as when business has been at high tide, has been remarkable. Although thousands of men are on the employed list, there have never been strikes of consequence and labor and capital have been harmonious. To name the various large industries, is hardly pertinent to this history. All branches of the retail trade are represented and with progressive merchants, home institutions are patronized by an exceedingly large percentage of the population. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1735 The financial interests of Fremont are taken care of by The First National Bank, The Croghan Bank and Savings Company, The Fremont Savings Bank Company, The Colonial Savings Bank and The Liberty Banking Company. The first bank in Fremont or Sandusky County, was a private enterprise started January 1, 1851, by Sardis Birchard and Judge Lucius B. Otis, under the firm name of Birchard & Otis. When Judge Otis in 1856 removed to Chicago, Mr. Birchard took as a partner Anson H. Miller, and in 1857, James W. Wilson became a member of the 'banking firm, the name then being Birchard, Miller & Company. In 1863, The First National Bank of Fremont was organized under the National Bank Act of that year and the institution took over the assets of the house of Birchard, Miller & Company. It was the second national bank organized in Ohio and the fifth organized in the United States. The first officers of the First National were: President, Sardis Birchard ; vice president, James W. Wilson; cashier, Anson W. Miller. These men with James Justice, Martin Bruner, Robert Smith and Augustus W. Luckey formed the board of directors. Upon the death of Mr. Birchard, January 27, 1874, James W. Wilson was chosen as president, which position he held until his death on July 21, 1904. By profession he was a physician. The bank has had but five presidents and four cashiers, the present president being John M. Sherman and William A. Gabel, the present cashier. The record of the bank has not been surpassed by any financial institution of the country. The Fremont Savings Bank was organized in 1882 and its record is also established on a similar high standard. With the Croghan Bank & Savings Company, The Colonial Savings Bank and The Liberty Banking Company, Fremont is able to take care of the needs of any and all meritorious enterprises. NEWSPAPERS There are two well established daily newspapers in Fremont—the Fremont News and the Fremont Messenger, both evening editions. The News is published by the The Wrigley Brothers Printing Company, and the Messenger is published by The Fremont Messenger Company, under a change of ownership and reorganization in 1925. The first issue of a newspaper in Lower Sandusky appeared in July, 1829. The publisher was David Smith and he called his paper the Lower Sandusky Gazette. Besides being the editor, Smith set his own type and run off his "edition" on a hand-lever 1736 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY press. His "devil" for a time was Reuben Rice of later Ottawa County. The life of the Gazette was less than two years. Alvin G. White started the Lower Sandusky Times in July, 1837. In 1839, Clark Waggoner, later the editorial writer and historian of Toledo, came into the possession of the Times, changed its name to the Lower Sandusky Whig, the first issue of which appeared May 4, the above year. All these old newspaper presses were of crude make, and Waggoner's press was known as a "Ramage," somewhat of an improvement over the Ben Franklin invention. Everett tells the story that the press used by Waggoner had once been utilized in printing the Albany (N. Y.) Argus during the War of 1812. From Albany it was moved to Courtland -County in 1818 by David Campbell, and to Sandusky City in 1822, where it was used in printing the Sandusky Clarion. Then in 1837 it was brought to Lower Sandusky. Waggoner with the Whig, was an enthusiastic supporter of General Harrison for the presidency in 1840. About 1885, at a historical meeting at Fremont attended by Mr. Waggoner, in speaking of his old newspaper press, he said: "The condition of my old 'Ramage' was such, that before using it, I found it necessary to brace it from the floor to hold it up, and to brace it from the ceiling to hold it down. Only one page of the paper was printed at an 'impression,' and that was found to be sufficient to take the muscular resources of the average pressman, as the weekly show of blisters on my hands abundantly testified. The type and other materials of the office, were in keeping with the press. After repeated repairs the veteran finally gave out, somewhat after the manner of the 'wonderful one boss shay,' and in 1841 was followed by a Washington iron press, purchased of Charles Scott, then proprietor of the Ohio State Journal. I had seen no happier day than was that on which this addition was made to my office, and the old press was inconsiderately stowed away in a back yard to become fuel for the inappreciative. I remained here until September, 1843, when yielding to the pressure of hard times, I removed my office to Milan, and started the Milan Tribune. It is a pleasure here to state that my first apprentice, Mr. Isaac M. Keeler, entering the office of the Whig September 17, 1840, obtained so strong a hold on the printing business that now he does credit to his former preceptor in the conduct of the Fremont Journal." Among the carrier boys of the Whig were William Haynes, E. F. Dickinson and O. A. Roberts. In the handwriting TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1737 of Clark Waggoner, is pasted this notation on the first issue of the Whig : "Lower Sandusky, May 4, 1839. "Toledo, May 4, 1894. 55 "I deem it a high privilege to be permitted to write these dates, marking as they do the passage of time since the early age of eighteen years I issued the first number of this newspaper. This is not the occasion for a review of the long line of activities and experiences which, with me followed that advent in business life. Sufficient now to say that throughout the intervening years God's providence never failed of wisdom and goodness which it is my privilege here to recognize. "CLARK WAGGONER. "May 4, 1899, on this 60th anniversary of the Lower Sandusky Whig it is my high privilege again to look upon its pages. "C. W." The Whig later became the Lower Sandusky Telegraph and then the Lower Sandusky Freeman and finally the enterprise ceased to exist. The best known of Fremont's early newspapers was the Fremont Journal, which had a long and honorable career. It was Fremont's first formally established newspaper and appeared January 27, 1853, with I. W. Both, publisher. The details of its long career are hardly necessary here. The recognized local democratic organ, the Sandusky County Democrat, was started in the fall of 1837, by party leaders headed by John Bell. After a more or less successful career, the plant was taken over in 1856 by I. M. Keeler of the Journal. The germ of the present Daily Messenger, was the Democratic Messenger, started by J. D. Batefur in 1856. There were many changes in ownership and in 1884, the plant was purchased by George Kinney the attorney, A. V. Bauman, L. A. Dickinson, Charles F. Pohlman, Jr., and George W. Lesher, who incorporated the enterprise under the name of The Messenger Printing Company. M. E. Tyler became editor and L. Q. Fletcher associate. Through the various changes in ownership the paper has been recognized as the organ of the democratic party. The Fremont Daily News was established by Henry E. Woods, who issued the first number May 2, 1887. After some changes, the plant was purchased by Wrigley Brothers, June 2, 1892. 1738 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY These owners incorporated the publication under the name of The Wrigley Brothers Printing Company in January, 1908. SCHOOLS The present commodious high school building, after delay in construction, was occupied about 1911, and reposes upon historical ground. Fremont's first schoolhouse built in 1816 stood in the same place, a few hundred feet west of old Fort Stephenson, where Colonel Croghan three years before achieved his great victory and made it possible for the youth of Fremont to enjoy today the blessings which surround them on every hand. This first schoolhouse of course was built of logs, was of the old, primitive style, and a miniature thereof with a border in miniature of forest trees, would be an appropriate memorial to be left by some high school class. A more pretentious building of hewn logs took the place of the first one in 1817. Instead of oiled paper windows, the second building was lighted by glass, then a novelty, had a well built fireplace and puncheon desks and seats. The name of the first teacher is not known, but in the winter of 18181819, Mrs. L. C. Ball conducted a select school in one of the old Fort Stephenson barracks rooms. These early schools were mostly supported by private subscriptions. In 1834 the second log schoolhouse was burned premeditatedly, as a victim of the cholera had died within its walls during the summer epidemic that year. It was replaced by a one-room stone building, to which another room was soon added. The "stone schoolhouse," was the place where all the youth of Lower Sandusky received their education, until the graded, union school system was established in 1850, and a building of brick constructed on Howland Street, on the east side of the river. From this date with the rapid growth of Fremont, the schools kept abreast of the times. In the establishment of the graded schools, the Akron plan was closely followed after a favorable vote of the electorate, which system developed under an act passed by the Ohio Assembly in 1849. The members of the first board of education were: Rev, H. Long, Jesse Olmstead, Homer Everett, J. G. G. Downs, J, H. Hafford and D. Capper. This board had charge of two schools in the old stone house, one in the brick east of the river, one in a frame building at the east end of the Sandusky bridge called the "Bridge schoolhouse," and the fifth school held in the basement of the old Methodist Church. It was in the opening of the school year 1853 that the new four room school building constructed un- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1739 der the supervision of the foregoing named school board was occupied, and that fall the first graded schools were opened. The teachers named were Rev. F. S. White, Horace E. Clark, Sarah G. Downs, Elizabeth Ryder and a Miss Mitchener. For the school year opening in the fall of 1854, J. W. Hiett was the superintendent. A new school building on John Street and another on Hickory Street were opened in 1863. A regular graduate course of study was laid out in 1864. The first high school graduate was Eliza Bushnell, at the commencement of June, 1867. In 18671868, a new two-story school building was constructed east of the river, and for the times, a fine three story building in the main section of the growing little city. Then followed the now old high school building occupied in 1891. An improved school system for Fremont was established in 1894, when the board of education was made up of Dr. M. Stramm, president; Basil Meek, clerk; D. B. Love, J. V. Beery, Dr. O. E. Phillips, A. Moos, H. C. Grund and E. S. J. Bingman. The improvements in additional buildings, better organization and equipment from this time on until the new high school building was occupied, and since then, have been rapid and commendable. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS Fremont's church societies are as follows : First Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, St. Ann's Catholic, St. Joseph's Catholic, Trinity Evangelical, First Reformed, St. John's Lutheran, Grace Evangelical Lutheran, St. Mark's Lutheran, East Side Chapel (Presbyterian), St. Paul's Episcopal, First Church of Christ Scientist, United Brethren Memorial, The Brethren Church, St. Casimirs, Warren Chapel and one or two other societies. Much of the history of the Fremont church organizations mill be found in the general chapter on Religious Organizations. The First Presbyterian Society was organized November 30, 1833, the meeting being held in what was then the courthouse and later used as the St. John's Lutheran parsonage. The organization was perfected under the direction of Revs. Ellory Bascom, Enoch Conger and Xenophen Betts of Huron Presbytery; others present being David and Mrs. Elizabeth Camp, Jacques and Mrs. Sophia Hulburd, Alexander and Mrs. Hannah Ross, Joseph and Mrs. Mary Cookson, Samuel and Mrs. Mary Crowell, James and Mrs. Ross, Eunice Everett, Nancy Cookson, Margaret Nyce, John and Ruth Magee, W. C. Otis and Henry Spohn. David Camp and 1740 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY W. C. Otis were chosen ruling elders and John Magee clerk of the session. Rev. Ellory Bascom was the first minister. Under the name of The First Presbyterian Church of Lower Sandusky, the society was incorporated in March, 1837. The first regular meeting place from about 1839 to 1846 was in a two-story frame building near the east end of the Sandusky River bridge. A church was built on the site of the present commodious structure in 1847, and with later additions was razed when the church now occupied was completed in 1873. While the edifice was being constructed, services were held in Birchard Hall. A parsonage was built in 1891. The pastor in 1929 is Rev. James R. Walter. The story of the Methodist Episcopal work here from the early days is fully told in the chapter on that subject. The earlier Methodist Society was supplied by ministers from the Huron circuit until 1823, when Lower Sandusky circuit was made a part of the Lancaster district with Rev. Benjamin Boardman local preacher, the presiding elder being Rev. William Swazy. Before 1834, services were held in the old log schoolhouse, site of the present high school building. The first church was built in 1834, and in 1851 a brick church was built at the corner of Park and Birchard avenues where the cornerstone for a later commodious edifice was laid August 23, 1883. Rutherford B. Hayes, with Basil Meek, John Stierwalt, E. H. Bristol, H. R. Finefrock, D. June, C. B. White, T. F. Siegfried and R. B. Dudrow were the building committee. The late president Hayes contributed one-fourth the cost of the edifice. This church was nearly destroyed by fire February 6, 1888, and immediately rebuilt as the present structure. Dr. J. W. Hamilton who dedicated the former church, preached the dedicatory sermon. Such noted men as Dr. E. D. Whitlock, J. W. Holland, J. L. Albritten and J. A. Hoffman have served as pastors. The present minister is Rev. Robert Burch Foster. On September 13, 1832, at Detroit, occurred the death from cholera of one of the most noble and heroic figures of the old Northwest. His remains were deposited in crypt under the second St. Anne's Church begun in Detroit in 1818 and completed in 1828, the first church having been destroyed by the great fire of 1805. When this second church property was sold for commercial purposes in 1886, the remains of this hero, always loyal to the United States government, were transferred to the then new St. Anne's Church, Howard and Nineteenth streets, the City of the Straits. This great character was none other than Father TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1741 Gabriel Richard known as the priest of St. Anne's. He arrived in Detroit in 1798, and as Catlin in his "Story of Detroit" says, was destined to make more important history and advance the general welfare of the people more than any one man of his time; although he came only in the capacity of an humble parish priest to take' charge of old St. Anne's Church and to supervise the Indian Mission there. For his loyalty to the American cause during the War of 1812, he was once imprisoned in the Sandwich jail on the Canadian side of the river. He was stricken with the terrible disease while nursing patients afflicted with the fatal malady. Catlin further says that "in personal appearance Fr. Richard was very tall and angular. His arms and legs were long and his hands big and bony. His face was almost cadaverous, ghastly pale and disfigured with a livid scar extending the length of one cheek, the result of a wound received while he was escaping from a mob of the French Revolution. For years he had been one of the foremost promoters of education and public charity." He founded two o schools for boys and two separate schools for girls. The latter were probably the earliest vocational training or industrial schools in the country. The girls were taught the ordinary household arts as well as book learning. He furnished looms, spinning wheels and the apparatus for making wool and flax into yarns, as well as dyeing and weaving. He brought the first printing press to Michigan, printed the first book and published the first newspaper issued in Detroit; also brought to Michigan the first church organ. Among the many other activities he was a promoter of road building. It was this Father Richard who said the first mass celebrated in Lower Sandusky. The event was the beginning of St. Anne's Catholic Church there, and the reader can readily see why this parish bears the name. As the story runs and retold by historian Meek, it was upon a blustering March night in 1823 that this earnest Father arrived to say mass to a little gathering of faithful French Catholics in a rude log cabin in the frontier village of historic Lower Sandusky. His journey was wearying and tortuous. The wonderful beauty of the Sandusky country, with its picturesque, winding rivet, its noble forests, and all surroundings so fascinating to the hunter and trapper, had long appealed to the adventurer. Then followed other brave men willing to dare much in order to secure a home where they could gain a livelihood for their loved ones. Hence in 1816, Lower Sandusky's population 1742 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY numbered 200 white settlers. Of these people, three brothers, Joseph, Anthony and Peter Momenay, French Catholics from Detroit had located here and it was through their representations as to the charming local conditions that induced John B. Beaugrand then a thrifty merchant and trader of the City of the Straits to take up his abode with them in this new settlement. Beaugrand's first visit to the Sandusky was in 1822, and in the following year he returned to locate permanently, bringing with him his wife and seven children, "all faithful Catholics." The outlook was most satisfactory to the Detroit merchant except as to religious privileges, which he immediately set about to remedy. He called on his old pastor, Father Richard of St. Anne's Church, Detroit, and asked him to come to the Sandusky, and bless his household and home- It was in the latter part of March, 1823, as stated, that Father Richard arrived. Beau-grand's home, a two-story log structure, stood near the river north of the present, main traffic, Fremont bridge. After holding here impressive services and saying mass, Father Richard visited the French families at La Prairie north of Lower Sandusky and within a few days returned to Detroit. It was some years before another priest visited the Lower Sandusky section, but beginning about 1826 and up to 1831, Bishop Fenwick, on his trips north to Detroit, on two or three occasions stopped here to administer to the Momenays, Beaugrands, and other devout Catholics. Continuing the story from the church records as told by Meek in 1909, as it is a part of the history of Fremont : "On one of these visits Bishop Fenwick was accompanied and assisted by the Rev. S. T. Badin. In 1831 Lower Sandusky was also visited a few times by Rev. Edmund Quinn, pastor of St. Mary's at Tiffin, Ohio. After another lapse of time the Redemptorist father, F. X. Tschenhens, attended Lower Sandusky from Peru, as a station, from 1834 to 1837. During 1835-6, Rev, E. Theinpont, from Tiffin, also visited Lower Sandusky occasionally. "In July, 1834, Bishop Purcell, accompanied by the Rev. J. M. Henni, of Canton, and F. X. Tschenhens, of Peru, made his first Episcopal visit to Lower Sandusky; and his second, in 1836, when the Revs. S. T. Badin and H. D. Juncker assisted him on his missionary tour through northern Ohio. The Rev. Joseph McNamee, of St. Mary's, Tiffin, paid a few pastoral visits to Lower Sandusky, between September and November, 1839, when the Rev. P. J. Machebeuf, stationed at Tiffin from November, 1839, to December, 1840, was commissioned by Bishop Purcell to look TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1743 after many missions and stations in northwestern Ohio. Lower Sandusky was included among these; he attended it about one month, at first from Tiffin, beginning in November, 1839, and after that (January, 1841-5) from Sandusky. "Mass was celebrated in Mr. Beaugrand's house by all the visiting bishops and priests until 1839, and during the following year in Joseph Hunsinger's residence. By this time the Catholic population of the town and vicinity had grown too large to be accommodated in private houses and Pease's Hall was then rented and was used as a place of worship until 1843, when the turner shop of John Christian was rented and fitted up. Father Machebeuf in the meantime raised a subscription for a church edifice and in this received liberal assistance from Mr. Beaugrand's two sons-in-law, L. Q. Rawson and A. Dickson, although they were not of the Catholic faith. A site was purchased for $200, on State Street, from L. Brush, who gave the deed December 13, 1841, and the church was commenced in the fall of 1843. It was a plain, frame structure, 30x40 feet, and cost about $2,500. Although at the time the interior was not completed, mass was said in the church in May, 1844. At that time the mission comprised about thirty families, the larger number living on farms in the neighborhood, and few of them being possessed of large means, but their liberality attested their zeal. From 1845 until January 1846, Rev. P. Peudeprat, assistant to Father Machebeuf, had charge of a number of his missions and among these was Lower Sandusky, which he attended monthly. Father Peudeprat was succeeded in February, 1846, by Rev. Amadeus Rappe, formerly of Toledo, and he at once had the interior of the church finished and it was dedicated by Bishop Purcell, to St. Ann, on June 8, 1846. "Father Rappe had as his assistant in his vast field of missionary work, extending over northwestern Ohio, Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, who visited Lower Sandusky from the latter part of 1846 until 1848, when he was transferred to Cleveland. Rev. Morris Howard, of Tiffin, was then in charge for a few months, when Rev. William L. Nightingale was appointed first resident pastor of St. Ann's Church, at Lower Sandusky, this being about the time the name was changed to Fremont. During his pastorate, which lasted until the early part of 1850, a frame house, located at the corner of Croghan and Wood streets, was bought for his residence. About 1849 the grade of State Street was considerably lowered, in consequence of which it was difficult to reach the church, which 1744 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY had been built on an eminence, consequently it became necessary to lower the lot on which the church stood. "In 1850, Rev. A. Carabin succeeded Father Nightingale, and remained in charge until July, 1852, when, stricken with paralysis, he was obliged to give up all pastoral work. His successor was Rev. Thomas Walsh, who remained until June, 1856; Rev- John Roos taking his place in July. About this time the German members of St. Ann's asked Bishop Rappe's permission to organize a separate parish and as he did not deem it expedient to comply, ill feeling arose and in April, 1857, there was open opposition to the bishop. This led to his leaving the parish without a pastor. "In the meanwhile the Germans organized, collected funds and built a brick church, costing $7,000, making the new property far more valuable than the old. After about six months, when Bishop Rappe found the seceders from St. Ann's still determined to have a German parish, to be known as St. Joseph's, he finally yielded and sanctioned their organization in December,, 1857, by appointing a pastor for them in the person of Rev. Louis Molon, who at the same time was charged with St. Ann's as a mission. In July, 1859, Rev. George Peter was appointed assistant. In March, 1861, Father Molon severed his connection with St. Joseph's. Bishop Rappe then assigned him to the pastorate of St. Ann's and he served until July, when Rev. Michael O'Neill was appointed his successor and remained in charge until May, 1865. During his pastorate St. Ann's was enlarged by an addition of thirty feet, making its dimensions 35x70 feet. In August, 1864, he bought a tract of land for a cemetery, covering about fifteen acres, St. Joseph's parish taking the north half of it and both parishes dividing the expense of $1,400. In May, 1872, Father Carroll bought three lots fronting on State Street, at the intersection of Rawson Avenue, for the purpose of there eventually erecting a new church. He was succeeded by Father O'Callaghan, who remained until August, 1877, and during his pastorate the first school building was erected at a cost of nearly $3,000. Rev. J. V. Conlan succeeded and during his pastorate many needed improvements were pushed to completion. In April, 1883, Rev. J. D. Bowlus took charge and in November of that year he bought three lots adjoining those purchased by Father Carroll, on the west and a very comfortable frame house on one of these was so changed and remodeled that it became suitable for a parochial residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have had charge of the school since that time. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1745 "In August, 1887, Rev. T. P. McCarthy was appointed priest at St. Ann's. He was not satisfied with the progress the parish had made and soon made it evident that he expected to bring about many changes, all for the better. He appointed a building committee to consider the erection of a new church and the plans of priest and committee were approved by Bishop Gilmour and the foundation for the present imposing structure of Gothic architecture, was begun in the fall of 1888, and the good bishop was able to lay the cornerstone on June 9, 1889. This church with its fine finishing of antique oak, its beautiful frescoes and stained glass windows, is one of the fine buildings of Fremont. It was dedicated on Sunday, July 26, 1891, by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Boff, at that time administrator of the diocese, the priest in charge at that time being Rev. A. E. Manning, who succeeded Father McCarthy 'n March, 1890. In April, 1893, the old church, so long a landmark, was torn down, mass having been celebrated in the ancient structure for the last time on Sunday, July 19, 1891. "Father Manning was succeeded by Rev. Patrick O'Brien, Rev. C. V. Chevraux taking charge in 1897, and Rev. J. McClosky in 1900. In 1906 Rev. Edward M. O'Hare took charge of St. Ann's." He was succeeded by Father Elder and the present pastor is ather James Lane (1929), the church and school being in a nourishing condition. The present pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Fremont, is Father Joseph R. Waechter, with Father H. R. Weger assistant, 1929. The early history of the parish is told in connection with the story of St. Ann's. Prominent in bringing St. Joseph's into existence, It ere the names of Gabel, Andres, Baumgartner, Buchmann, Buisack, Gompert, Duerr, Geschwind, Haberstroh, Henn, Haser, Reinich, Ochs, Stuber, Rimmelspacher, Schmidt, Schwartz, Wilhelm and Toeppe. Meek wrote that "on September .21, 1862, Rev. Seraphin Bauer was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's." He found the parish encumbered with debt and he set to work immediately to clear it off. He also bought property and in every way proved himself a wise and judicious priest. As noted, the society built a substantial brick church and the organization thrived and prospered. In 1859 the church was provided with a bell and a very fine organ and in that year was built the first parish school. This school has continued its good work and kept pace with the growth of the parish in providing for the intellectual and moral needs of 1746 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY the young. The Notre Dame Sisters, of Cleveland, supplanted the lay Sisters in 1876. For a number of years, however, a first-class school building was needed to take the place of several buildings which had been utilized for the purpose, and in June, 1903, three lots were purchased at a cost of $8,250. They adjoin the rectory lots and face the present fine church. The magnificent new school building was completed under the supervision of Rev. Frederick Rupert, in September, 1908, at a cost of $74,000. In 1864 the present pastoral residence was built and the land for a parish cemetery purchased, a tract of six acres, which, in 1897 was increased by the purchase of two and one-half additional acres. In 1870 a beautiful Calvary was constructed in the cemetery, with an image of the Crucified on His cross surmounting it. Father Bauer blessed it on the Feast of All Souls of the same year, in the presence of a large concourse. The two lots on which the present church stands were bought in 1873, for $4,000. In 1878 a fine brick house was erected which was intended to be the pastoral residence, but was first used as a school building and will be used as a club room and library. Improvements and repairs were continually made on the old church, entailing large expenditure. However, it became a burning question—the erection of a new church, one that would be a testimonial of the strength of St, Joseph's. On September 8, 1881, on the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity, ground was broken for the imposing structure which now shelters the congregation of St. Joseph's. On April 30, 1882, Bishop Gilmour blessed the cornerstone of the new edifice, and the late Rutherford B. Hayes, formerly President of the United States, set the stone in place. The church was put under roof that year, at a cost of $50,000. On July 9, 1893, Bishop Horstmann dedicated this superb edifice and it is one of the most beautiful and complete church buildings in this section of Ohio, Its total cost could not have been less than $100,000. To briefly mention some of its interior—the three fine altars are of oak and the pews of Canadian cherry birch. The sanctuary windows and the Stations of the Cross are choice examples of Munich and Inns• Bruck art. The beautiful sanctuary, the vases for the altar and the rich vestments were imported from Europe. In 1899 a new organ was installed at a cost of $6,000. "A grand ostensorium was imported from Paris, in 1894, The dimensions of the new church are 71 x 162 feet and the beau. tiful spire, 250 feet high, can be seen from any part of the city, TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1747 In November, 1893, the old church was converted into a hall for the use of the church societies, and in 1898 a residence was built for the parish sexton. St. Joseph has been particularly mindful of the needs of all its members, establishing confraternities and societies for youth, middle life and age. In 1878 was established the Society of Holy Infancy, for the children; in 1881, the Court of Mary, for young girls; in 1871, a sodality for young ladies and m1872 one for young men; in 1889 was established the St. Stanislas Union, for boys and young men; in 1873, the confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, for married women and widows. The first society was established in 1867, for men of mature years and has been one of the most helpful organizations of the church. In the same year was founded the Confraternity of the Living Rosary, an organization which numbers more than a thousand members." The charter members of Trinity Evangelical Society organized under the pastorate of Rev. John Mech, in 1861, were George and Mary Joseph and George and Catharine Michael. It was first a mission and then connected with the Fremont circuit, the first pastor being Rev. J. G. Zinser. A church was built in 1862 under the pastorate of the Rev. L. Scheurman. Services were conducted until 1870 in German, after which the English language was used. A new church was built in 1894, while the Rev. IV. P. Schott was pastor, and the organization prospering, the church property was improved from time to time with the expansion. The minister in 1929 is Rev. E. E. Nietz. As noted elsewhere, in early days, it was in many communities the custom for those of the Lutheran and Reformed faith to unite in holding services and even building churches. The history of the First Reformed Society of Fremont is closely connected with that of St. John's Lutheran. As the various church organizations of Fremont collaborated with the late historian Meek in specially developing the history of the religious organizations of that section, he is again quoted here as follows : "The history of the Reformed Church of Fremont begins in connection with the St. John's Lutheran Church. In 1842 a congregation was incorporated under the name of the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed St. John's congregation. In 1843 this congregation purchased the old courthouse property. it first, a Lutheran minister was on the field holding regular services, but the Reformed, as yet, had no pastor. Accordingly, on January 1, 1853, it was decided to change the name to that of the 1748 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Evangelical-Lutheran St. John's congregation, and with the change of name St. John's congregation also acquired the title to the church property, in 1856. "About the year 1857, through the influence of Henry W. Imler, the Rev. Jeremiah Heller, a German Reformed minister, organized a distinct congregation. The earliest record of their proceedings is dated November 5, 1857. The following persons were elected elders : E. B. Buchman, Michael Binkley and Alexander Neamann ; deacons : Frederick Tschumy, John Melhaupt and H. Zweler. They were inducted into office on November 9, 1857, when preparations were begun for the erection of a church edifice, and a lot was purchased on South Front Street. In 1858 a church was built on the same. The cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on June 5, 1858, and the church was finally completed and dedicated on January 1, 1859. "On February 1, 1862, at a joint meeting, the Salem Congregation of the Four-Mile House, and the Fremont Congregation were united as one charge. The following were elected Trustees; Fremont Congregation : Daniel Karshner, D. Koons and Peter Bauman ; Salem Congregation : A. Hensel, Peter King and William Rearick. J. J. Seibert was elected treasurer, and George B- Heller, clerk. With the congregation thus organized and equipped the pastorate of Rev. Heller came to a close. "The next pastor was the Rev. J. B. Thompson who began his labors in 1863. He served five years and then resigned. Rev. James Leibert entered upon his duties as pastor April 9, 1868. In the fall of 1870 he contracted a severe type of typhoid fever from which he died November 13, 1870. After the death of Rev. Leibert the congregation was supplied for over a year by professors and students from Heidelberg Theological Seminary, at Tiffin, Rev. Reuben Good and C. G. A. Hullhorst preaching the most of that time. "At the meeting of General Synod in 1869, the name of the denomination was changed to that of the Reformed Church in the United States. Since that time this congregation has been known as the First Reformed Church of Fremont, the word "German" being omitted. In 1872 Theodore J. Bacher, a theological student at Heidelberg, took charge of the congregation and upon his graduation from the seminary was ordained and installed as pastor. He served until 1875, when failing health obliged him to resign. "Rev. Jesse Richards succeeded Rev. Bacher. After a pas- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1749 torate of about five years, he resigned June 1, 1881. September 13, 1881, Fremont and Salem congregations were divided. The Salem congregation and the congregation at Lindsey were con- stituted a charge known as the Lindsey charge, and the Fremont congregation was constituted a separate charge, though the congregation southeast of Fremont was served for some time by the pastor from Fremont. Rev. J. I. Swander, of Tiffin, was next called. He began his labors in September of 1881, and continued until April, 1893. Rev. James S. Keppel succeeded Dr. Swander April 1, 1894. He served the congregation for nearly four years, closing his pastorate January 1, 1898. The eighth regular pastor of the congregation was Rev. J. C. Smith, his labors extending from May 1, 1898, to the spring of 1904. On April 24, 1904, the congregation extended a call to George W. Good, a senior in Heidelberg Theological Seminary, and after his graduation and licensure, he entered upon his work May 8th. He was ordained and installed May 22, 1904. "The membership and attendance of church and Sunday school becoming largely increased, the need of a Sunday school room was seriously felt, but on account of the rather unfortunate location of the church, which was liable to be visited by possible floods, it was deemed best to relocate the same. After casting about by the consistory, a meeting of the congregation was held April 29, 1906, to consider the question of purchasing the old Buckland homestead, corner of Birchard and Park avenues. The first floor of this historic old home was converted into a main auditorium, a main Sunday school room and a primary room. The church was dedicated September 9, 1906. The second floor was transformed into an eight-room parsonage, and was first occupied as such by Rev. G. W. Good." The pastor of the First Reformed Church in 1929 is Rev. L. G. Fritz. St. John's Lutheran : As told in the general chapter on religious organizations, among the early representatives of Lutheranism in the Lower Sandusky were emigrants from Germany and Pennsylvania as early as 1820. They were ministered to by missionaries from Western Pennsylvania and Somerset, Ohio. From 1836 to 1841, Rev. A. Conrad of Tiffin preached to the people of this branch of the church here. He was followed by Rev. J. J. Beilharz of the same town, from 1841 to 1843, who in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Lang who figured so prominently in the work of this section.