1950 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY the L. E. & W. steam line and the Western Ohio electric, was platted in 1855 for Frederick Keller and J. G. Kelley. The village was named for L. Q. Rawson, then president of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. When the post office was established, in 1863, James C. Benham was the first postmaster. Mount Cory, on the Western Ohio electric and L. E. & W. Railroad, and in Union Township, was platted in July, 1872, for Samuel Kemerer and Mathias Markley. The place was named for Judge D. J. Cory of Findlay. The post office was established in 1873, with Benjamin Wildermuth the first postmaster. The village has an exceptionally fine school building. Williamstown, on the Toledo & Ohio Central division of the New York Central, and in Madison Township, was platted in April, 1834, for John W. Williams. It is commonly called "Bill Town," and some there are who know it by no other name. The post office, established in 1835, with Christian Welty postmaster, was first called Eagle, for Eagle Creek, with headwaters in that vicinity. About 1837 Daniel Opp built a tavern in Section 15, Madison Township, and a post office was established there named Crow. It was soon discontinued. In the early days of Jackson Township there was a post office named Clements, and Ewing's Corners. Now there is Houcktown and Beagle. Jacob T. Houck established Houcktown in April, 1853, then known as North Liberty. The post office was inaugurated in 1856, with Robert Davidson postmaster. Hassan was a post office in Orange Township, opened in 1858, with James Morrison postmaster, and in 1883 a post office in the vicinity was established named Cordelia, with William M. McKinley postmaster. Cannonsburg was laid out in December, 1839, in Union Township, for Franklin Ballard, Benjamin and James C. Marshall and William McConnell. Thompson Bartel was the first postmaster when the office was established in 1841. Jenera, in VanBuren Township, was laid out in April, 1883, for Samuel Feller, John Helderman and Peter Traucht and was named for Dr. A. B. Genner, the first postmaster. It is in a prosperous community. New Stark, a little hamlet, lies about four miles further south. There is Mortimer, north of Findlay, at the junction of the Nickel Plate and Ohio Central division of the New York Central; Cass Township once had a post office named Wineland, with the office at the home of Cyrus Stacy, who looked after the mail; in TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1951 Big Lick Township is West Independence; in Jackson Township, Martin Hollabaugh, in September, 1836, platted a place called Martinstown ; a post office was established in Portage Township in 1857, called Portage Center, with Jarvis Humphrey postmaster, and in 1837 Jacob Andre had a plat surveyed in the same township he named Lafayett. With the later change in the mail service and the free delivery system, many of the foregoing historical situations have changed, and while some early prosperous towns have not thrived, others have made healthful advancement. And while a section of the City of Fostoria is in Hancock County, its story properly belongs to Seneca County. CHAPTER LXXXVI PUTNAM COUNTY NAMED FOR GENERAL-WATERWAYS-MILITARY POST-PIONEERS -SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-NEWSPAPERS-OTTAWA-OTHER VILLAGES. Putnam, named for Gen. Israel Putnam, was one of the fourteen counties of Northwestern Ohio formed from the Indian lands by an act of the Legislature passed April 1, 1820, and being then unorganized, was attached to Wood County for governmental purposes until February 2, 1824. On the latter date Williams County was organized, and Putnam came under the jurisdiction of Williams, until it obtained its own organization in 1834. Originally Putnam County embraced some 500 square miles, but from time to time portions were set off to other counties until it took its present form. Beginning in the northwest corner of the county and reading in regular order, the townships of Putnam are : Monroe, Palmer, Liberty, Van Buren, Perry, Greensburg, Ottawa, Blanchard, Monterey, Jackson, Union, Pleasant, Riley, Jennings and Sugar Creek. Before the Indians came or at least before the Indians that history knows about, the Mound Builders were along the Blanchard River, and left a number of evidences' of their handiwork. The Blanchard, while a tributary of the Auglaize, is the county's main waterway, and in an exceedingly tortuous course, runs in the general direction of east to west through its center and enters the Auglaize in Perry Township, about two miles east of the Putnam-Paulding County line. The Auglaize River, Putnam's largest stream, enters the county at the southern border in Jennings township and about two miles east of the Putnam-Van Wert County division line. The general course of the Auglaize here is northward and flowing then somewhat to the west, the stream leaves Putnam County on its west line north of the center and in Perry township. On its right the principal tributary of the Auglaize next to the Blanchard, is the Ottawa River. Entering Putnam from Allen County at the south, the Ottawa runs north- - 1953 - 1954 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY erly through Sugar Creek township, veers to the west and reaches the Auglaize about two and a half miles northwest of Kalida. The principal tributaries of the Ottawa River on its right, are Sugar and Plum creeks. From west to east entering the Blanchard River in Putnam County, are Deer, Bear, Cranberry, Riley and Dukes creeks. One of the reservations granted to the Ottawa Indians at the treaty of 1817, held at the Foot of the Maumee Rapids, was within present Putnam County. This treaty stipulated that "There shall be reserved for the use of the Ottawa Indians, but not granted to them, a tract of land on Blanchard's forks of the Great Auglaize River, to contain five square miles; the center of which tract is to be where the old trail crosses the said fork (river)." The Ottawa village known to approaching civilization as Tawa Town consisted of some twenty-five cabins or shacks built of poles set in the ground and covered with bark. It was located on both banks of what was known as Tawa Run and within the limits of now Ottawa. Of long standing, it was visited as early as 1750 by French traders and missionaries and when the Ottawas removed to the West, there yet remained along the Blanchard members of the tribe at a very late period. There was another Ottawa Town on the Blanchard about two miles up the river. The late George D. Kinder, a veteran newspaper man and historian, who wrote a history of Putnam County has this: "The principal trail, which ran from Wapakoneta to the Rapids of the Maumee, crossed the Blanchard River near where the river bridge on the road to Columbus Grove now stands. Tawa Village was practically the center of the reservation of five miles square. The most pretentious cabin in the village at the time of the removal of the Indians was the council-house, which was constructed of logs, and located on what is now Walnut Street, in Ottawa. The trading cabin of Deardorf and Freede, fur traders, was the next cabin in size. It was also used by the early French missionaries as a place in which to hold religious services. A crude altar occupied the east part of the building, and, at a window in one end a lamp was kept burning for years at all hours. It was for this reason that the Indians and early travelers generally spoke of it as "The Light House." The Indians had cleared about five acres of land in the river bottom immediately west of their village, on 'which they raised corn. This tract and another of about one acre was practically all the land that the tribe cultivated. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1955 "During the later years of the tribe on this reservation, Peton-i-quet was recognized as their chief. In their conversations, however, the Indians usually spoke of him as their half-chief. In explanation of this, they said that Pe-ton-i-quet had a twin-brother, who was also a chief, and although this twin-brother had been killed, the remaining twin could only be a half-chief. The white men who met Pe-ton-i-quet spoke favorably of him, and said that he was not only sober in his habits, but honest in his dealings and kind in his disposition. He was not a full-blood Indian, his father being a Frenchman. When the removal was made, he and several others refused to accompany Colonel Hollister to their new home, but they all followed their kindred towards the declining sun a year or two afterwards. "Among the Ottawa Indians of the reservation was one called Tom. Tom was the most worthless vagabond known to exist among all the tribes of the Ottawas. He was known as a thief and an habitual drunkard, too lazy even to hunt or fish. He had a wonderful thirst for strong liquor; being drunk was his normal condition, being sober the exception. Tom, when on an extra big drunk, celebrated the occasion by whipping his squaw. The squaws, to even up with him, furnished him an extra amount of `red liquor,' which made him helplessly drunk. While in this condition they caught him, took him down along the river bank and, after divesting him of all his clothing, tied him to a log and left him all night to the mercy of the mosquitoes. It is said that next morning Tom was scarcely recognizable by any of his companions. This bit of squaw justice worked to the full satisfaction of the squaws, and ever afterward, when Tom became abusive, all they had to do was to 'buzz' like a mosquito and he fully understood their meaning. Tom went west with the other Indians of his tribe, who were very anxious to leave him behind, and tried many plans to consummate their desire." The principal military post of historical interest in Putnam County was located at the site of the town of Fort Jennings, where a fort of that name was built during the War of 1812. It was just before he had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Northwest Army, and while Winchester was still at the helm, that General Harrison from St. Marys wrote to Governor Meigs of Ohio under date of September 20, 1812, that "from Fort Wayne there is a path which has sometimes been used by the Indians, leading up the St. Joseph, and from thence by the headwaters of the River Raisin to Detroit. By this route it appears to me very 1956 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY practicable to effect a coup-de-main upon that place (Detroit) and if I can collect a few hundred mounted men I shall attempt it." However, this plan was not carried out. There had arrived at St. Marys a regiment of Kentucky troops under Col. Joshua Barbee, which was ordered to build at St. Marys a fortification and stockade as a protection for stores and supplies and which was named Fort Barbee. There also arrived a regiment under Col. Robert Rogers, another regiment of riflemen under Col. William Jennings, together with an Ohio corps of cavalry under command of Colonel Findlay. The cavalry was ordered to burn the Ottawa towns on the Blanchard River, while Colonel Jennings was ordered to open a direct road from St. Marys toward Defiance and also to build a post by the Auglaize River for the protection of supplies. This post was named Fort Jennings in honor of the colonel, in consequence of which the pleasant village at its site retains the name. Colonel Jennings was stationed there for some time awaiting the advance of supplies delayed on account of floods. During the delay detachments of troops were sent down the Auglaize and up the Blanchard River and Hog Creek to ascertain conditions among the Indians, considered unfriendly in their attitude. One detachment proceeded as far up the Blanchard as the Tawa village ( Ottawa) where they camped for several days. As a majority of the Ottawas had left with all their belongings, most of the town was burned. Three or four pioneers claimed the honor of being the first settlers in now Putnam County. Reliable authority, however, awards this distinction to the family of Henry Leaf. It is recorded that Leaf built a cabin on the south bank of the Blanchard, but later moved down to a new location at the junction of the Blanchard and Auglaize, where he built another log dwelling, and where it is known he was located in 1824. Although a white man, Leaf mingled with the Indians and when they left for their western reservation he accompanied them. The first permanent white settler evidently was Daniel Murphy, who arrived with his family at the mouth of the Blanchard in 1824 in a canoe from Fort Findlay. According to Judge George Skinner who located at Kalida in 1839, Murphy built a crude cabin of poles and made the point his permanent home. A cabin had been built previous to his location by two men and a woman, a mile upstream, but they did not remain there. Murphy's wife was the first person buried in Kalida cemetery. John Lang reported in the Delphos Herald that "the Indians TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1957 remained in this neighborhood to a late date. Their last camp was at Sulphur Springs until the year 1836, and below Fort Jennings (on the Auglaize) as late as 1839. Settlements were made at Fort Jennings in 1834, when Von der Embz, John Wellman and others settled there, and who were soon joined by Henry Joseph Boehmer. Disher, Peters, Raab, Rader and Shroeder `squatted' at Jennings as early as 1832." Another early resident tells this : "Jennings Creek took its name from Colonel Jennings, who led a body of men there from Fort Recovery and built a stockade at the junction of that stream with the Auglaize. Colonel Jennings died and was buried here. Ottawa River was named from the Indian tribe who had their hunting grounds along its course. The name of Hog Creek, as it was known, had its origin in the fact that, during the War of 1812, some white men living near Piqua undertook to drive a lot of hogs to the military garrisons on the Maumee ; and having reached this stream, which they found much swollen, and becoming alarmed at the hostile movements of the Indians, they undertook to force their stock across, some of which reached the opposite shore, another portion perished in the waters; but the most remained upon the first bank, and all were left to their fate by the owners, who made a rapid retreat homewards. The surviving hogs multiplied and replenished the wilderness. Hence the name of 'Hog Creek,' or `Swinonia,' as Count Coffinberry, under a poetic inspiration, designated it. "Sugar Creek derived its name from the maple orchards which supplied the Indians at Charloe with their sugar; Plum Creek, from the annual wealth of wild plums that its rich bottoms supplied, 'without money and without price' ; and Cranberry, from the numerous marshes that bore that fruit in its vicinity. Riley and Deer creeks were named by the Government Surveyor, Capt. James Riley; and Blanchard, by an Indian trader, who was the first white settler upon its margin. "The first store in the county was established by an Indian trader on Section 16, Liberty township. The first general muster was held at Ottawa, in 1839, at which all the able-bodied 'sovereigns' of the county were gathered, with plenty of 'corn dodgers,' music and whiskey." In now Blanchard township, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Crawfis were among the early settlers, and it was at the Crawfis home that the first township election was held. Joseph Hickerson, chosen clerk, carried the election returns to Defiance, then the county seat, to 1958 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY which section Putnam County was then attached. Hickerson took the oath of office while at Defiance and on his return home swore in all the other township officials. The first permanent settler in Jackson township was Elias Wallen, who located there in 1822. About 1820, Robert Wallen settled in the Perry township section. A township election for Perry was held at the cabin of Sebastian Shroufe in 1828. William Turner was an early arrival in Pleasant township. Religious services were held at the home of John Bogart in this township in 1834. The first election in Riley township took place at the home of Thomas Gray in April, 1834, when J. D. Walmsley was chosen justice of the peace. One of the first German settlers in this township was Christian Bucher, who was over one hundred years old when he passed on. Benjamin, George, Jacob, Samuel and William Clevenger, located on Hog Creek or Ottawa River, in Sugar Creek township in 1830. They built there what was known as the Clevenger Mills. Robert Martin and Solomon Sprague had located in the township in 1828. Abraham Baughman settled in Van Buren township in 1835. A considerable section of both Putnam and Allen counties, were early settled by that sturdy people the Mennonites. Prof. C. Henry Smith of Bluffton College has written much about this worthy sect whose interesting history is connected with a portion of Putnam County. The veteran Kinder in his lifetime also wrote that "in the spring of 1833, Michael Neuenschwander, who was a native of Alsace, together with his son John, came west to seek a new home in a new land. Having learned that Putnam County was a rich county, where land could be purchased cheap, they came directly here and selected two quarter sections. They then proceeded to the Government Land Office at Piqua, and entered this land. The father cleared up his quarter section, and occupied it until his death, forty-five years later. Returning to their former home in Wayne County, Mr. Neuenschwander brought the remaining members of the family and their household goods to Putnam County, making the trip in eleven days. At that time there were only a few neighbors, and these were Thomas Grey, John Sigafoose, Christopher Miller, and John Stout. In the fall of 1834, four additional families joined the settlement. These were Christian Suter, who was afterwards the minister of the congregation, Dorse Amstutz, Christian Bucher, and John Moser. In 1853 a large number of families arrived from Switzerland and Alsace, among them being the Steiners, Schumachers, Basingers, TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1959 Lugibills, Geigers, and others. The hardships of these pioneers were many indeed. It was necessary at first to go to Sandusky over a road that was scarcely more than a cowpath to procure flour for the household. It was considered a great boon when this household necessity could finally be purchased at Lima. Two of the sons of Mr. Neuenschwander returned to Wayne County to secure their brides. They had one horse between them, and the two women might have ridden this animal alternately. Daniel's wife, however, was not used to riding horseback, and preferred to walk the entire distance. In this way these two honeymoon couples passed the happy days of their early wedded life on the way to the new home that awaited their occupancy in the wilderness." In earlier years the preaching of the Mennonites was in German and the schools were taught in both the English and German languages. A pious, industrious, law-abiding people, there are yet a few of the older generation who still dress in the regulation garb and adhere to the old, approved customs. However, while the younger people still adhere faithfully to their church, modernism has wrought many changes. In Greensburg township the first white inhabitant was Henry Wing, who removed to it in 1825. At the first election held April, 1835, Wm. Bell, Abraham Crow and Joshua Powell were elected trustees : Frederic Brower, clerk; Nutter Powell, treasurer; and Frederic Brower, justice of the peace. At this election eight votes were cast. F. Brower settled there in 1833. Liberty township was settled in 1835—Alexander Montooth being the first white male inhabitant. Then came, a few months later, C. Hofstaeter ; Nicholas McConnell; Samuel, James and John Irvin ; Mr. Krebs and Oliver C. Pomeroy. In the succeeding years came L. Hull; Jacob Sigler; Henry Knop ; George Hagle ; Robert Lowry; James Woddell ; George Bell ; and James McKinnis. Wm. Galbreath, who located in Putnam County in 1834, aided in the erection of Fort Meigs, was present during the two sieges, and witnessed from the pallisades of the Fort (May 5, 1813) , the disaster which occurred to the forces of Colonel Dudley; and three days afterwards was with a force which crossed the river to bury the dead; but the bodies were so advanced in decomposition, that it was impossible to execute their mission. The wolves, eagles and buzzards held their hideous feasts during several days and nights. 1960 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Oliver Talbert, one of the old residents of the county, was at the surrender of Hull at Detroit, in 1812. The early market places of this section were Lower Sandusky (Fremont) overland, and Perrysburg and Maumee in canoes and pirogues down stream through the Blanchard River and Auglaize to Defiance and then down the Maumee. When the canals were built they furnished transportation for the western section of Putnam. An important event was the construction of the old Dayton & Michigan railroad, now of the Baltimore & Ohio system, which opened up the eastern part of the county to the outside world. Kalida was chosen as the first county seat of Putnam. It is recorded that the name was taken from the Greek word Kalidinus, suggested by the whirling or gyrating current of the Ottawa River where the town was located. It is also stated that the first term of Common Pleas Court, before a courthouse was built, was held in the home of Christian Sarber, a half mile south of Kalida, Judge William Helfenstein presiding. The family table used for meals and other purposes, was utilized as the judge's and the clerk's desk, as well as by other officials and attorneys. The room being small, the family bed was requisitioned by the judge for his "judicial bench." Too crowded for the jury, they went into the woods at hand and sat on fallen logs as they deliberated. When definite steps were taken to organize the county, William Cochran, Henry Morris and Silas McClish were appointed associate judges by the governor. According to instructions, on May 8, 1834, they met at the house of Abraham (not Christian) Sarber at Kalida, and after taking the oath of office, appointed Daniel Gray clerk of courts and Amos Evans prosecuting attorney. For county commissioners, William Priddy, Thomas Grey and Samuel Myers were named. An election for sheriff and coroner was ordered held May 31. After the county organization was effected, land was purchased by the commissioners, surveyed into lots and the town director, upon the sale of a portion of them, used the proceeds to build a courthouse and jail. Both buildings were of frame, the jail being constructed of heavy oak timbers. In 1839, these frame buildings were replaced by quite pretentious brick structures which were used until 1864, when the courthouse, with many of the records, was destroyed by fire. By this time the center of population was changing and the TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1961 towns on the old Dayton & Michigan railroad were growing in importance. The question of a new location for the county seat was brought up and Ottawa citizens, to further their interests, deposited $15,000 with the county commissioners as a guarantee for the erection of a new courthouse, should the vote ordered result in their favor. In a total of 3,154 votes cast at the election the majority for Ottawa was 672. As a consequence, a two story building of brick, of the regulation style, was completed in 1868, with a hall running through the center of the ground floor, the county offices, lining each side. The court room and offices of the sheriff and clerk were in the second story. This building served its purpose for half a century, when a movement was set on foot for a new structure. As a result, under an able commission in charge of the plans, Putnam County has one of the most beautiful courthouses in Ohio. It is built of Bedford stone, three stories, with rich interior finish and is finely equipped throughout. Concerning the early court of Putnam County and members of the bar, reference is made to the judicial history of this section. Some of the brick in the old Kalida courthouse were used later in the construction of a residence, still standing in the old village. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES The history of the early schools of Putnam County is in line with the pioneer schools of other sections of the Maumee and Sandusky valleys. When the law came into effect providing county boards of education, Prof. George D. Keinath, in 1914, was chosen the first county superintendent of schools, which position he still holds in 1929. His work has been eminently efficient and the district organizations most satisfactory. The various high schools of the county, including besides Ottawa, Leipsic, Columbus Grove, Pandora, Gilboa (Crawfis College) Vaughnsville and the schools of the other villages, have been characterized by their well grounded work and the record of their students in advanced courses of study in colleges and universities. What was known as Crawfis College came into existence through the will of John Crawfis, a distinguished citizen of Blanchard township, who bequeathed $25,000 to the township to be used in the establishment of a college or school of higher education. Beginning in 1888, a main building was completed, followed by the construction of two dormitories in 1889. A strong faculty was placed in charge and a fine equipment installed. The 1962 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY enterprise proved a success from the start and now is one of the well established high schools of Putnam County. Among the earliest church movements in Putnam County was that put forward by the Methodist Episcopal Society, which established an organization in the Gilboa section in 1833. Moses Williams and wife, Samuel Hall and wife, Sarah Crawfis, Louisa Guisinger, Samuel McDonald and G. W. Montgomery were the charter members. In 1911, Gilboa became the head of the circuit, but before that time was connected with McComb. At Columbus Grove, the M. E. Society built a new brick church in 1891. A Methodist class was organized at the home of Philip Hopper, Sr., two miles south of Columbus Grove, in October, 1839, where services were held until 1853. Preaching then took place in the schoolhouse and in a hall in the village. Elder Hopper then donated a lot upon which the first church, a frame structure, was built. Columbus Grove was made a regular charge in 1868. The beginning of Methodism in Ottawa was about 1855, when a class was organized by the Rev. John A. Shannon. The first brick church was built in 1858 and the present structure in 1900, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Bishop David H. Moore. The Methodists of Leipsic formed a society in 1870, and held their early meetings in the old schoolhouse, and in other churches in the village. The first church was built in 1884, when the Rev. J. S. G. Reeder was pastor. Leipsic's present fine M. E. church was dedicated in 1896. Among other churches of that faith in Putnam County are those at Cloverdale, North Creek, Continental and Dupont. The earliest Presbyterian Society to take form in Putnam County, was organized at Columbus Grove, September 9, 1836. The names of the charter members were Samuel, Williams, Elizabeth and Anna McComb, Joseph and Eleanor Belford, Joseph, Hannah and Martha Nichols, Joseph, Jane and Martha Combs, Adam Turner and Jane Pier. The first church was built of logs. From the beginning the society was prosperous and a frame church was constructed in 1851, when Rev. William K. Brice was pastor. A new brick church was completed in 1902. A Presbyterian Society was organized at Kalida in 1845 with a membership of fifteen. The old courthouse and private homes were used for the early meetings, until a frame church was built in 1852, superseded by a new building in 1873. The Presbyterian Society at Leipsic was another early organization. Rev. Daniel Glancy organized the St. John's United Brethren TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1963 Church at Columbus Grove in 1858. The first church edifice was built in 1860. This denomination also has organizations at Continental, Leipsic, Cascade and Wisterman. A Congregational organization was effected at Vaughnsville in 1889. There is a Christian Church at this village and also at Leipsic. A Lutheran Society was early formed at Leipsic and another at Continental, which also has a Dunkard organization. There are of course several other Protestant churches in the county. In especially the western section of Putnam County, a large percentage of the thrifty settlements are of sturdy German stock, most of whom are of the Catholic faith. Glandorf, two miles west of Ottawa is the center of one of the largest of these Catholic communities. Father Horstman celebrated the first mass at Glandorf on Easter Sunday, 1834. The first Catholic Church there was built of hewn logs, which also served as the pastor's residence. With the increase in population a second church, built of logs and weatherboarded with split shingles, replaced the old one and was dedicated in 1837 to St. John the Baptist. A school was opened the same year and a schoolhouse built. At the death of Father Horstman in 1843, he was succeeded by Father Bohne. A new church of brick was dedicated in 1848. A short time later the parish was placed in charge of the Sanguinist Fathers and a convent established in 1848. A new church of Gothic architecture with a spire 225 feet in height, was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour in 1878, and the parish, now with a fine school building, is one of the largest and most prosperous in the diocese. The present pastor is Rev. L. Schupp, with Rev. F. Goettemoeller assistant. A traveler through the southwestern section of Putnam County, in nearing the hamlet of Ottoville, Monterey township, is struck by the magnificence of a church edifice the two towers of which show prominently at a long distance. It is the Catholic church of the Immaculate Conception, with Rev. J. S. Arnolde now pastor and Rev. F. X. Hermiller assistant. The church, the fine new school building and the parish home, are delightfully located, and as the residents of the section are practically all Catholics, the few Protestant children attend the Parochial school. It was through Father John Otto Bredeick of Delphos, that this Ottoville church was established; for it was he who purchased forty acres of land at the village site and platted a section into lots. From the sale of lots a fund was started to build a church upon the choicest location. At the death of Father Bredeick the project was taken up by the Rev. F. Westerholtz and the work of 1964 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY building a frame church began in 1860. As the settlement increased the parish prospered and the present fine structure was begun under the pastorate of Rev. Michael Muller, and was finally dedicated in 1888. The Church towers reach a height of 180 feet. As early as 1838 Father Tunker of Dayton, administered to the mission at Fort Jennings, and in 1840 the Protestants and Catholics banded together and built a log church which also served for school purposes. This union existed until 1854. The Rev. Harry Herzog was established as the first resident pastor in 1850, but the following year Father Bohne became the local priest. Under his administration the church of St. Joseph was built in 1854, the structure of brick being superseded by a fine new church in 1882, while Father Heidegger was pastor. The pastor in 1929 is Rev. Philip A. Schritz. The cornerstone of St. Michael's Church, Kalida, was laid June 16, 1870. In early years the membership was identified with the parish of Glandorf and then the congregation was served by priests from surrounding charges. When Kalida St. Michael's was placed in charge of the Sanguinist Fathers of Glandorf, the first member of the order to serve the parish was Rev. Rochus Schuly. The school is in charge of the Sisters of Divine Providence. S. S. Peter and Paul's Church, Ottawa, is served by Father V. H. Krull with Father E. J. Yonder Haar, assistant. The site for the church was a gift in 1861 from Mathias Muller. The structure was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour in 1872. The school of the parish is in charge of the Sanguinist Sisters. The Catholic organization at Leipsic was established in 1873 and the first to administer to St. Marys Parish was Father Henry Kaempfer of New Cleveland. It was under this father's service that the first church was built in 1876. A more pretentious frame church was built in 1891. Rev. John A. Christ is the present pastor. St. Nicholas Parish, Miller City, under Rev. Henry Gerwert, is in a prosperous condition. The society was organized there in 1886, by Rev. Joseph Rosenberg, and the commodious site for a church was donated by Nicholas Noriot. The construction of a brick edifice was begun in 1887 and dedicated by Bishop Horstman in 1900. A well organized school is attached to the parish. At New Cleveland is the Holy Family Church now under the direction of Rev. Albert Kistner. It was organized as a mission by Rev. Sebastian Ganther in 1861, and the late John Weis gave a two acre tract upon which to build a church and parsonage. The structure built soon after the mission was established was improved TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1965 and enlarged in 1881 and again in 1916. Rev: Charles Barbier was selected as the first resident pastor in 1873. St. Barbara's Parish at Cloverdale is now under the direction of Rev. Henry E. Wichman and St. Joseph's Church at North Creek under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph P. Brobst. NEWSPAPERS A number of prominent men have been connected with the newspapers of Putnam County as a recital will show. The first newspaper in the county was the Kalida Venture, established by Francis Gillett who also practiced law at this then county seat to make "both ends meet" as near as possible. Among other early owners was the well known Horace S. Knapp, later a Toledo resident, who wrote "Knapp's History of the Maumee Valley." James McKenzie an attorney, was the next owner, followed by Luther Wolf and James Dixon. When the county seat was moved to Ottawa, Dixon followed with his paper and called it The Citizen. Pining for its old environment, the paper died from home-sickness. Another early newspaper at Kalida was the Kalida Sentinel established near 1860 by Elam Dayne. It was Democratic in politics and later owners were Luther Wolf and Levi G. Lee. The latter publisher moved the paper to Ottawa, where it was consolidated with the Putnam County Sentinel, established in 1841, which name the paper still bears. The partnership in early days included Stevens Godfrey, M. G. Gillette and 'Leonard Miller. In 1867, George D. Kinder the later veteran in the newspaper service and versed in the history of the Northwest, became sole proprietor and editor, and The Sentinel under his ownership for over a third of a century, was recognized as one of the leading weekly papers of Ohio of the Democratic faith. Upon Mr. Kinder's retirement in 1900, when the publication was taken over by a stock company organized for the purpose, he retained a desk in the office and made daily trips by habit to his old haunts until his death. It yet seems strange to Sentinel visitors to have his old familiar chair vacant, where he wrote scathing campaign articles in attacking his political enemies, although personally his manner was most genial and his temperament mild to a degree. Mr. A. P. Sandles, one of the best known men of Ohio, was at the helm of The Sentinel for a time and now the paper is ably managed and edited by Mr... Edward Sommers. During the Civil war, the late John McElroy of the National 1966 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY Tribune, of Washington, D. C., started the Ottawa Telegraph, but the publication was soon suspended and McElroy went to the Toledo Blade. The Ottawa Gazette, Republican in politics was established in 1881 by C. L'H. Long, who within a short time sold the paper to now Judge George Bassett of Toledo. Later owners were J. M. Hoffa, C. P. Godfrey, J. H. Letcher and E. B. Walkup, the latter disposing of the plant to a stock company. A later owner was W. J. Swisher and the publisher now is F. M. Chalfant. The Leipsic Free Press made its appearance in 1878, under the ownership of W. W. Smith. Upon his death in 1912, his son George F. Smith took over the management, the proprietor now being Henry E. Martin. The Leipsic Tribune published for some years was established in 1891 by Pratt Kline. The Continental News-Review started in 1916 is owned by N. W. Curtis. The Putnam County Vidette published by Joe E. Greinger, was launched by W. C. Tingle in 1874, W. H. Halderman being later the owner. Other papers of history include the Kalida Record, Pandora Times, Ottoville Tri-County News, Ottoville Leader with varied careers. OTTAWA The Town of Ottawa was surveyed by two enterprising men, Aughenbaugh and Barnett in June, 1834. As the Indian village of Tawa had been located there the plat was given the name of Ottawa. As has been noted, before this time and especially in 1833, a number of white families had taken up their residence in that vicinity; including later, William Galbreath, C. F. Pomeroy, David and John Cox, Michael Rowe, Samuel Runyon and one or two others, who took up their abodes where the Indians had left when they moved westward. Michael Rowe built a cabin in 1834 which he utilized as the first regular tavern in Ottawa, and which he continued to operate until his death, after long service as a landlord. Long after that the old tavern which had entertained many noted guests, was occupied as a marble works for tombstone making. The first frame building in Ottawa was built by William Williams and when the post office was established in 1847 with Dr. C. M. Godfrey postmaster, it was given the name of Buckey; this because there was then another post office in Ohio named Ottawa. The office was given its present name through the efforts of Doctor Godfrey, in 1862. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1967 John Cox established a general store in Ottawa in 1835, and in the same year the first permanent physician, in the person of Dr. C. P. Pomeroy, located there. C. M. Godfrey arrived at Ottawa in 1836, studied medicine under Dr. Pomeroy and was long a prominent physician at the present county seat. Ottawa's first schoolhouse of logs, was built in 1836, the first teacher being the late Mrs. Isaac McCracken of Kalida, who was then Priscilla Compton. Ottawa is favored with an excellent public school system, the present efficient superintendent (1929) being Prof. Thos. I. Curtis. Ottawa was incorporated in February, 1861, with J. B. Fruchey the first mayor. With a railroad, the county seat, and the attorneys locating there, with the surrounding settlements increasing, the little city assumed more importance, and today it is blessed with wealth and prosperity. OTHER VILLAGES When the village of Leipsic was established in 1857, it was first named Creighton, for its founder, John E. Creighton. The older section of Leipsic, laid out in 1852 by John W. Pickenpaugh, when the town proper grew up on the old Dayton & Michigan railroad (now of the B. & O. system) became known as West Leipsic. Early settlers in the Leipsic locality, were Wellington Hurd, David McClung, J. B. Swartz, C. W. Askam and Al Tingle, with some others. The families of D. G. Lefler and W. P. Young arrived in 1860. A thriving early industry which made Leipsic a town of importance was the timber and stave business, the Buckeye Stave Company having a large factory there. With the Baltimore & Ohio, the Nickle Plate, and The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (known as Henry Ford's railroad) together with the Toledo & Lima Electric, Leipsic has fine shipping facilities and is in the center of a prosperous community. Columbus Grove was platted in December, 1842, for Capt. Frederick Fruchey, by Benjamin Dunning. The situation was in the midst of a famous Indian sugar grove, and as Captain Fruchey and others of the first settlers were from Columbus, Ohio, the name was most appropriate. The first house, of logs, was built by John Mumea and the first frame and brick structures were built by Samuel Sterling. An ashery, established by Durrey Brothers was the first industry in Columbus Grove, while in 1853 a sawmill was run by John Brice who added facilities for grind- 1968 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY ing corn and buckwheat. James Pier operated the earliest tavern and a store was opened by Sheldon Guthrie in 1843. Columbus Grove has the same transportation facilities as Leipsic, except in place of the Nickle Plate east and west, it has the Ohio Northern railroad. The village was incorporated in 1864 with David Jones the first mayor. Pandora has had a changeable career. It was first platted for John Stroud in 1836 and called Columbia. Stroud as already noted, had built on Riley Creek one of the first grist mills in Putnam County. Henry Kilheiffer was the early tavern-keeper. Also as related in the chapter on the old Bench and Bar, the court and lawyers in their circuit traveled from Findlay to other court sessions down the Blanchard in canoes. On their land route between Findlay and Kalida, Putnam's old county seat, they passed through Pandora and stopped at Kilheiffer's tavern. The old lawyers and even the judges were not always "tetotalers" and many stories are told of the stirring situations which occurred at the old hostelry in which Kilheiffer also kept a store and evidently a bar. The name of Columbia was later changed to Pendleton and in 1850 a new plat was made for Brice W. Viers. In 1853, East Pendleton was surveyed by Henry Blosser, county surveyor of Putnam. When the Ohio Northern railroad was built in 1882 through Pendleton, then a narrow gauge, known as the Pittsburg, Akron & Western, the name of the town was changed to Pandora, which was incorporated in 1892. It is in this section that the thrifty Mennonites have a large settlement. In an historical woolen mill, The Pandora Manufacturing Company, makers of overalls, was established in 1901, adding activity to the community. But the enterprise was discontinued in 1917. Kalida, first platted in 1834, has already been told about. Gilboa was laid out in 1837, and the first improvement was a house built by Nelson McCollister. A tavern was opened in 1839 by Benjamin Stewart and a stock of general merchandise placed on the market by Edward Mercer. At one period, the leading town in Putnam County, Gilboa, was given a serious setback by the cholera outbreak in 1848. Continental, at the junction of the old Nickle Plate and the former Toledo, St. Louis & Western, now also of the Nickle Plate system, was first called Marice City, being platted in 1888 by George Skinner for Gen. A. V. Rice of Ottawa. In 1899, the name was changed to Continental and upon its incorporation Polk Berbage was chosen the first mayor. Bel- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1969 more in the midst of an old settlement was laid out for Wesley G. Montgomery in 1862, and named Montgomeryville. When the post office was established it was called Belmore and about 1869, the town was given the same name. West Leipsic was incorporated in 1882 and R. Haskell was the first mayor. Ottoville incorporated in 1890, established by Rev. John Otto Bredeick, in 1845, has already been told about, as has Glandorf founded by Rev. Father Horstman, the settlement of the German colony there dating from 1834. The town was incorporated in 1891, with William Altd-Kruse the first mayor. Miller City was platted in 1882 by Aaron Overbeck for Nicholas Noriat and Nicholas Miller. The village was incorporated in 1890. Cloverdale started in 1891, was first called Drucilla and incorporated under its present name in 1902. Dupont in the western part of Putnam County, in Perry township, was laid out in 1877 and incorporated in 1888. Other villages and hamlets are Vaughnsville, Jones City and Seitz, in Sugar Creek township, near the Allen County line; Rushmore and Rimer also near the Allen County line and farther west; Elm City; Kieferville and Hartzburg on the main Nickle Plate route ; Cuba and Myers Corners in Greensburg township ; Huntstown, East Mandale and Cascade in Perry township ; and Muntanna and Douglass in the southwestern section of the county. CHAPTER LXXXVII HENRY COUNTY WATER COURSES-EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST COURTS-EARLY OFFICERS- COUNTY SEAT - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES - BUSINESS INTERESTS -VILLAGES. Henry County lies in one of the richest agricultural sections of Northwest Ohio. On the north is Fulton County, on the east Wood, on the south Putnam, and on the west Defiance and a small portion of Williams County. The Maumee River enters at its near middle western border, meanders in a northeasterly and then an easterly course, and leaves the county about five miles south of the northeast corner. The principal Henry County tributaries of the Maumee are North and South Turkey Foot creeks. The northern stream reaches the river at Damascus and the southern tributary about two miles below that. Other creeks from the north which flow into the Maumee are, from west to east, Brubaker, Garrett, Obernouse, Vannyning, Dry and Bad. From the south, starting from the west, are Wade, Lick and Big creeks. West and East Beaver creeks, which from the south join and then reach the Maumee below Grand Rapids, also run through the southeast part of the county. Naming the townships in tiers from north to south and in their order from west to east, the thirteen subdivisions of Henry County are as follows : Ridgeville, Freedom, Liberty, Washington ; second tier, Napoleon, Harrison, Damascus; third tier, Flat Rock, Monroe, Richfield; southern tier, Pleasant, Marion, Bartlow. Henry has the distinction of being the only county in Ohio which, so far as known, has no prehistoric mounds, the work of the Mound Builders, although along the Maumee there would seem to have been several natural situations for them. The banks of this historic stream, however, were the favorite hunting grounds of the Indian, and from the river itself, the dense bordering forests and in places prairies were viewed by the early French, the English and later the American military, as "the course of Empire" (rather this republic) took its way. An Ottawa Indian reservation included a part of Henry - 1971 - 1972 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY County and remnants of the tribe remained here until in the '30s, when they were removed to their western home. Three chiefs mentioned by history were Wauseon, Oxinoxica and Myo. Of the three, while lower in rank, Myo was said to be the shrewdest and displayed the most wisdom in dealing with the whites. He was rather small of stature and upon his death in the Henry County section his skeleton, or at least his skull, was for many years exhibited by Dr. L. L. Patrick, one of the pioneer old school physicians here. As was the case of the prehistoric mounds, while there were many thrilling early tragedies within the borders of now Henry County, there were no important military engagements either in connection with the Indian conquests, the campaign of Wayne, or during the later War of 1812. There are several sites of old military camping grounds and some traders' headquarters, and the old Indian trail ran along the Maumee, the route later taken by Wayne, which became the military road during 1812, all familiar to Henry's earliest settlers. The forests of the region were favored with wild game up to within the memory of men yet living, especially in the Deshler section. There are many stories extant of the experiences of early hunters, and the notorious Edwards put his narratives of the chase in book form. As the settlements gradually crept up the banks of the Maumee from the Lower Rapids, the location of Damascus was finally reached, where evidently occurred the first signs of permanent improvements within now Henry County. John Patrick, an Indian trader who also cultivated small clearings for corn and other crops, was one of the earliest who could be termed a settler. There were also David and "Sammy" Bowers, traders who made early improvements, followed by Judge Cory, Elisha Scribner, Squire Bucklin and his son Charles, Richard Gunn, Carver Gunn and Osman Gunn, farmers. Prominent among those who opened a trading store in the vicinity was Samuel Vance, brother of Governor Vance of Ohio. Vance's first building was a double log house on the river, built in the '20s, and a sign in front read, "Accommodations for man and beast." A brick building was later put up. Others were David DeLong and his two sons, Jefferson and Nicholas. Damascus is a corruption of the title given to the openings or prairie of that section by the early French—Prairie du Masque. It was in 1816 that Edwin Scribner came to the Henry County region when he was eight years old. Of course then there were TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1973 no improved roads, only Indian trails and the military route up and down the river. Flour and supplies came from Monroe, Michigan. At the age of thirteen, young Scribner rode alone on horseback to Greenville to procure carded wool, which the household spun and weaved into cloth for clothing. Later he built the first sawmill in Henry County, located on Dry Creek. Hazael Strong arrived from Vermont in 1833. From Lower Sandusky came Jared and Susanna Scofield through the Black Swamp. In the party were two families of fourteen members in all. They first camped in the open until they built cabins at their location near Girty's Island. In 1826 the parents of John Shasteen arrived, and when John Powell established himself as late as 1835, there was only a log house there built by a Mr. Andrews. The Township of Auglaize, established by the commissioners of Wood County in 1820, embraced all of Henry County, together with Williams, including now Defiance, Paulding and Putnam counties. All that remains of this township, which was reduced from time to time, is that part located in the northeastern part of Paulding County. Henry, among other counties, was formed from Indian lands April 1, 1820, and named for Patrick Henry, the patriot and statesman. For governmental purposes it was under the jurisdiction of Wood County until the organization of Williams County in 1824, when its seat of government was located: at Defiance. At a meeting of the commissioners of Wood County at Maumee, August 20, 1820, the petition of the citizens of Damascus, asking to be attached to Auglaize Township, was granted. At a special meeting of the same board March 19, 1823, at Perrysburg, it was ordered on petition that "so much of the Township of Auglaize as is contained in the unorganized County of Henry," be set off and organized into a township to be named Damascus. This township embraced the entire County of Henry, which was much larger than at this date. The county was given its own government by an act of the Legislature passed in 1834, and in 1835 Napoleon, a village in the making and platted in 1832, was designated as the county seat. The first county officials selected were : Commissioners, Isaac E. Brancher, Amos Cole and Xenophon Mead; auditor, Hazael Strong; treasurer, Israel Waite; sheriff, E. Husted; surveyor, William Jackson; clerk, J. N. Evans, whom the associate judges, David S. Cory, Reuben Waite and Pierce Evans, also appointed acting recorder. The story of the early courts is told in the, chapter on the Judiciary. 1974 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY The first Court of Common Pleas was held in 1835 in the log tavern of George Stout. David Higgins was presiding judge, and Frederick Lord prosecuting attorney. During this year Henry Leonard, under contract with the commissioners, built with logs a two-story courthouse adjoining his tavern in the rear on the east side of Perry Street, near the Maumee. The upper floor of this house was used for the court sessions and the lower floor by the commissioners, juries, and other county officers. In 1844 a frame courthouse of larger size was built on the site of the present building. This house of wood, with most of the records, was destroyed by fire in April, 1847. The business of the county was conducted in different buildings for several years following this fire. An endeavor to move the seat of government a few miles down the Maumee to the competing Village of Texas delayed a new building. In December, 1849, plans were obtained and in January, 1850, contract was made with James Durbin, Achilles Smith and William Russel to construct a courthouse and jail in one building of brick and a separate building to contain four fireproof offices; and December 28, 1852, the commissioners accepted these buildings at a cost of $11,000. These buildings were in use nearly thirty years when the courthouse was destroyed by fire the first part of November, 1879 ; and the present commodius structures were built in 1880-82. Napoleon was surveyed in 1834 by Miller Arrowsmith for Horatio P. Philip, Benjamin Leavell and Elnathan Cory. It was first planned to establish the town a little further down the river at the point later known as "Goosetown," but on account of the proposed site being subject to floods, the location was wisely changed. The original plat contained twelve blocks, with a total of 112 lots. The town was named Napoleon after the township in which it was located and it was incorporated June 2nd, 1863, the first officers being as follows : Mayor, Justin H. Tyler; recorder (clerk) , Ransom C. Reynalds ; councilmen, Henry Kahla, Daniel Yarnell, George W. Waterman and George Bogart. Mayor Tyler was the father of Judge Julian H. Tyler, Toledo. Of course additions have been platted from time to time, and while most of the business and residential section lies north of the river, there is an important portion of the little city, designated as South Napoleon, on the opposite side of the river. There was quite a contest over selecting a name for the village when the question of incorporation began to be agitated about 1850. The canal had added to the population and the volume of TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1975 business. The matter was discussed for two or three years before definite action was taken, the disagreement upon a name being the principal cause of the delay. Some wanted the name changed to Henry, the same as the county. There were many Germans and they evidently were not charmed by the name Napoleon. In 1853 a petition was presented to the county commissioners which read as follows: "To the commissioners of Henry County. The undersigned, legal voters of the Town of Napoleon, respectfully ask your honorable body to incorporate the following territory, to-wit : Northeast fractional quarter, containing 116.93 acres; northeast fractional south half, 82.24 ; east half northwest quarter, 80 acres; west fractional south half, 75.44 ; west half, northwest quarter, 80; containing four hundred and thirty-four and sixty-one hundredths acres, and being all in section thirteen, in township number five, north of range number six east ( sec. 13, T. 5, R. 6 E.). Said territory to be incorporated into a village, and to be called `Henry.' For a more particular description of which territory, and the relative position thereof, you are referred to the accompanying plat, showing that portion of section thirteen north of the Maumee River proposed to be included in said limits of incorporation. We also state that Dr. Lorenzo Patrick is fully authorized to act in behalf of the petitioners in prosecuting this petition. Napoleon, 0O., February 28, 1853. (Signed) W. J. Jackson, L. L. Patrick, Wm. C. Brownell, W. H. Moe, George Stebbins, John Glass, John Powell, Enoch L. Mann, J. P. Rowen, Isaac Lightcap, John McCartney, Paul P. Doud, Thomas Yarnell, A. Craig, D. M McCann, Alph M. Hollabaugh, William Dodd (out of the limit), W. H. Mallory, Harrison V. Conway, James O. Caldwell, Henry N. Low, Josiah Pearce, J. W. Steward, James Armstrong, Thomas Barrett, G. C. Eastman, Adam Hawk, Israel Strole (not a resident), J. H. Tyler Jr., John Glass, A. H. Tyler, S. R. Me-Bane, Isaac VanHorn, H. D. Taylor, George McCann." The petitioners were aided in their work by the newspaper The Northwest, which dropped the name Napoleon and in its columns referred to the town only as "Henry." The opposition to the change of name was led by Augustin Pilliod, evidently a Frenchman, but the petition was allowed. However, the advocates of Napoleon were not dismayed. When election day arrived to select village officials, such a concerted demonstration by the Napoleon advocates was staged, amounting almost to a riot, that the election was deferred for a year. Then 29-VOL. 2 1976 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY another petition signed by 150 residents and taxpayers was presented to the commissioners, asking for incorporation, and was again granted, resulting in the name of Napoleon being retained, and the officials before named started the municipal government functioning. According to the historian Knapp, the following were residents in Napoleon in 1837: Judge Alexander Craig, James G. Haley, Gen. Henry Leonard, James Magill, John Powell, Hazael Strong, George Stout, and John Glass. There were three small frame houses, the others being made of logs. The first house erected in the place was a log cabin, 12 by 14 feet, and was offered to the public by Amos Andrews as a tavern. On the usual road, on the north side of the river, between Maumee City and Fort Wayne, thirty-five years ago (1837), after leaving the former place the traveler would not see a house until he reached Waterville, six miles above Maumee City, where he would find five or six dwellings. Passing up seven or eight miles farther, he would reach the tavern of Mr. Tiehean, a half-breed Indian. Then he would not see another until eighteen miles above, where was a group of three or four standing at Providence; thence he would reach the hospitable house of Samuel Vance, occupying the site of a farm which was found by Wayne's army in a high state of cultivation, in 1794, and which was then known as Prairie du Masque, and now as Damascus. This point would bring the traveler twenty-seven miles above Maumee City. The next house, about two miles above Damascus, was a tavern and trading post, owned by John Patrick. Three miles above this, the traveler would reach Napoleon, where he would discover the settlers above enumerated. Some of the leading interests of Napoleon (1872), and which will afford a general idea of its business condition there, are here given : Five church buildings : Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, and German Lutheran. The Swedenborgians also had a church organization. There were two well conducted newspapers—The Northwest, by L. Orwig & Company, and the Napoleon Signal, by P. B. Ainger ; two banks—the First National, organized February, 1872, and that of Sheffield & Norton (William Sheffield and J. D. Norton), a private institution and the oldest, established in 1866. The senior member of this firm was a pioneer of the Northwest, and, when in practice, a successful TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1977 lawyer, and one of the best known business men on the river, having held responsible official positions near thirty years earlier; and Mr. Norton had achieved an established reputation in commercial circles in Cleveland before his removal to Napoleon. In manufactures, there were then in. Napoleon a shingle factory, planing mill, stave factory, ashery, two grist mills, two sawmills, a handle factory, tannery, woolen mill, two foundry and machine shops, four wagon shops and one carriage shop, seven blacksmith shops,' three tailor shops, two boot and shoe shops, four carpenters, two harnessmakers, one brewery and one distillery: Also four hotels, four dry goods stores, six family groceries, three hardware stores, and two drug stores. One of the early residents of Napoleon was James B. Steed-man, later of Toledo, a noted general in the Civil war, and who married. Sarah Miranda Stiles, a popular young lady of the village. Steedman was then in the contracting business and his geniality made him popular in the community, where he had a wide acquaintance. SCHOOLS Located in a beautiful situation in a grove of native trees, Napoleon has a finely equipped high school building, and her schools, well organized and for years under competent supervision, are fully abreast with the times. Athletics are prominently stressed and enthusiastically supported. The first school in the embryo town was held about 1837 in a little log building which stood near the old Craig tavern. One of the first and perhaps the earliest teacher was a Miss Mary Whipple. When the schools of Napoleon Township were regularly organized in 1858, the first directors were John Powell, William Dodd, Justin H. Tyler, W. A. Stout, W. J. Jackson and H. McHenry. The first teacher in the high school when the graded schools were established was Charles Horr. The primary teachers were Miss H. E. Reynolds and Miss Sarah S. Powell. The first central school building was destroyed by fire, after which a three-story brick building took its place, and while still in use, a new and modern structure is the city's proud possession. CHURCHES Evidently the first religious services held in Napoleon were conducted by those affiliated with the Methodist Church. The 1978 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY first meetings were held in the various homes of the town and in Craig's Tavern. Rev. Austin Coleman was perhaps the earliest minister, who preached to what there was of the settlement in 1835. Napoleon was made the center of the surrounding circuit in 1854, with the Rev. Ambrose Hallington, yet well remembered throughout the Maumee Valley, the pastor in charge. The other appointments were Texas, Florida and Hartmans. One great feature of the early church work here was a well organized Sunday school at Napoleon attended by all classes and denominations. The first Methodist Episcopal church here was built in 1860, when Rev. G. W. Miller was pastor and E. C. Gavitt was presiding elder, who preached the dedicatory sermon. The building stood on the corner of Washington and Webster streets. Napoleon was made a station in 1868, with the Rev. N. B. C. Love the first regular pastor. The first frame church was replaced by a commodious brick structure in 1898, the dedicatory services being conducted by Bishop C. C. McCabe. One of the leading early Presbyterians of Napoleon was James A. Parker. He with others organized a Presbyterian society June 15, 1861, and Mr. Parker was elected elder. The meeting was held in the old courthouse, and Rev. E. B. Rosenberger, who assisted in forming the society, preached the sermon of the day. This pastor and L. D. Anderson were chosen as a committee to further the interests of the organization, and until regular quarters were established services were held at the various places of convenience. A new frame church was begun within a short time, but before completed it was demolished by a severe storm. In its place a still better building of brick was erected on the same site, which was completed about 1864. The new pastor for the society at this time was Rev. D. K. Richardson, followed by Rev. Daniel Edgar and then Rev. J. P. Lloyd. In 1900 a modern church of stone of most pleasing architecture was built, with the pastor's home adjoining. Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Napoleon is one of the strong organizations of that denomination in the Maumee and Sandusky valleys. The society dates back to 1856, when a meeting of the Lutherans was called by the Rev. P. Ruprecht, although services had been held at the pioneer homes previous to that date by ministers of the faith who journeyed to and fro in their work and stopped here while passing through. Rev. Mr. Koening was one of these and he conducted services several times in the Goose- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1979 town section. The first regular pastor was Rev. A. W. Bergt, who served the congregation some eight years, meetings being held in an old structure until 1864, when services were held in the courthouse and the Episcopal Church. The present commodious church was dedicated in 1905 and built under the pastorate of Rev. Theodore A. Saupert. Before that Rev. Mr. Dulitz was pastor for ten or twelve years, followed by Rev. A. F. Fisher, who remained fourteen years. While Rev. Mr. Fisher was pastor a parochial school was established and a school building put up, now superseded by a new structure. Rev. F. J. Lankenau, pastor since about 1909, in 1929 is also vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states, and chairman of the Fiscal Board. The Emanuel Lutheran Church, its society being made up largely of the German element, was founded in 1883 by the Rev. Louis Dammann and is also in an expanding, prosperous condition. While there were a few French Catholics along the Maumee in the Henry County section at a very early day, the first movement to establish a church at Napoleon culminated in 1856 when Bishop Rappe visited the little settlement here and found eight or ten Catholic families, who seemed willing to assume the burden, although their heads were already hard pressed to furnish their children their daily bread. Augustine Pilliod, a sturdy Frenchman, referred to elsewhere, was the most forehanded, and leading the way a humble structure, size 24 by 30 feet, was built and christened for Saint Augustine. The society for a time was served by Rev. F. Westerholt of Defiance, who was succeeded by Rev. A. J. Hoeffel. The first resident pastor, who came in 1864, was Rev. P. J. Carroll. As the parish prospered an addition was built to the church and a parochial school established, with Ellen Carroll, the pastor's sister, in charge. The present fine house of worship was begun in 1880 and dedicated with impressive ceremonies June 17, 1883. Growth and prosperity have attended both.church and school. BUSINESS INTERESTS Besides all classes of retail mercantile trade being represented by prosperous merchants, Napoleon has several important manufactories. Civic organizations of a progressive and wide-awake character keep the prosperous little city in line for new industries 1980 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY and new institutions. Three solid banking houses are a great aid to the general prosperity. These are The Commercial State Bank, The First National Bank and The Napoleon State Bank, with combined resources of something near five million dollars. Other aids to the city and county in general are the two enterprising weekly newspapers, the Northwest-News, which still carries the name of L. L. Orwig & Sons as owners and publishers, and the Henry County Signal, whose proprietors and publishers are Belknap & Belknap.. The first attempt at giving Napoleon a newspaper was in 1845, when a weekly named The Journal, whig in politics, was started by Martin Schrunk. Support was lacking and it soon suspended. After a struggling career of two or three years the publication came into the hands of Thomas S. C. Morrison. Upon Morrison's death no paper was published for a time until the plant was taken over by John M. Hague. From this time on prosperity smiled upon the (democratic) Northwest, and when in 1869 Caughlin & Hubbard became the owners they enlarged the paper, and in 1875 Luther L. Orwig became the owner, editor and publisher. With the years Mr. Orwig became not only one of the best known newspaper publishers in Ohio, but one of Napoleon's leading men of affairs. The Orwigs, father and sons, have made an enviable record as newspaper men and public-spirited citizens. The paper became the Northwest-News when the News, launched by W. E. Decker, was taken over by the Orwigs. In 1845 another whig paper, christened The Star, appeared, but soon faded from the Henry County constellation. The next venture and a failure was The Republican, issued by L. H. Bigelow in 1865. In 1866 came the first issue of the Henry County Signal, with George W. Readway editor. Although a republican paper in a democratic section, the Signal made its influence felt, and later the paper passed through the hands of J. S. Foulke and D. B. Ainger and back to Mr. Foulke. The latter gentleman published the Signal from 1873 until it was purchased by J. P. Belknap, whose sons, Belknap & Belknap, are publishers, with N. J. Belknap editor. Besides being well known in the newspaper field, the Belknaps are prominent in the civic affairs of the Henry County capital. Napoleon also has a well equipped public library centrally located and with a good patronage. TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1981 HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES Liberty Center, on the Wabash Railroad, in the northern part of the county, was first platted in June, 1863, for Alpheas Buchanan, since which time additions have been laid out by E. T. Coon, Calvin C. Young, G. P. Parish, Ward Woodward, Daniel Ehrgood and Orle Buchanan. With good schools and church organizations, a flourishing bank, an enterprising newspaper, the Liberty Press, and prosperous business institutions, Liberty Center has all the attributes of a thriving, pleasant village. In the extreme southeast part of the county, at the junction of two lines of the Baltimore & Ohio and on the Toledo & Lima electric line is Deshler, Henry County's largest village outside of the county seat. John G. Deshler, of Columbus, took up large tracts of timber land in this section in early times, and was the means of establishing sawmills and stave factories in the vicinity. The first plat of Deshler was laid out in 1873 by Frederick H. Short as trustee for a syndicate which included himself. There were 200 lots in this first survey, which contained two public squares, one of which is used as a park and the other for school purposes. As the surrounding lands became cleared and drained, making it one of the richest agricultural sections of the Black Swamp, additional tracts were platted and the village was incorporated in 1876. Deshler has two banks, good business institutions, thriving churches and well organized schools. The Deshler Flag, a sprightly weekly newspaper, was established in 1876 by J. M. Lockhart. Two other good towns on the east and west line of the Baltimore & Ohio are Hamler and Holgate. The latter place also has the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, and Hamler what is better known as the "Clover Leaf" line. Holgate was platted in 1873, by Andrew J. Weaver, the same year the B. & O. was completed. One of the first merchants was Newton S. Cole. William Johnson started the Holgate Times in 1873. Hamler was named for John Hamler, a large early investor in that section. The first plat of the town was surveyed for the late Congressman William D. Hill of Defiance. There is also in Damascus Township the prosperous Village of McClure, on the "Clover Leaf." It was platted for John McClure in 1880 and incorporated in 1886. Each of these towns has a bank, good schools and well organized churches. Other stations on the "Clover Leaf" are New Bavaria, Elery, and Malinta. On the Wabash are Colton and Okalona. Ridgewell Corners, Gratton and Pleasant Bend complete the list 1982 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY in the county, except Texas, Damascus and Florida (Snaketown), the old thriving villages of canal days. Texas, while it had its earlier settlers in the vicinity, was established by James Durbin in 1849. When the county seat was located, Texas was a formidable rival of Napoleon for the honor. Florida (Snaketown) is classed as the oldest village in Henry County. Among its first "general merchants" were Lyman Black, Adam Stout and Jared McCarty. A post office was established there in 1842, with Dr. George W. Patterson postmaster. These old river towns on the abandoned canal have a picturesque setting and still show visible evidences of their busier early trading days. The old sepulchral locks are surrounded with romance, and where this once busy artificial waterway ran there is a formidable movement on foot to construct a boulevard from the Lower Rapids to Defiance, as well as beautify the Wood County side of the Maumee and above with recreation parks, including the preservation of old points of interest and historical importance. One of these spots in Henry County is the site, on the west side of the river opposite Girty's Island above Napoleon, of the trading post of James Girty—not Simon Girty, as has sometimes been related. Of course the story about Simon Girty in connection with this island is simply legendary, the island being named for James Girty because his post was opposite that point. CHAPTER LXXXVIII PAULDING COUNTY ORGANIZATION IN 1839—OLD INDIAN CEMETERY-BALLOT BOX A 'POSSUM SKIN CAP-CHARCOAL FURNACES-EARLY COURTSCHURCHES-PHYSICIANS-TOWNS. The western tier of counties in Ohio bordering upon the Indiana state line, from north to south in their order are : Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, Mercer, Darke, Preble, Butler and Hamilton. Thus Paulding County is third in the line from the north. Of the list given, Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, and Mercer, belong in the Maumee Valley. Paulding was one of the counties created and laid out from the Indian lands of Northwestern Ohio, by an act of the Ohio Legislature passed April 1, 1820, but at that time, for judicial purposes, it was attached to Williams County, with the county seat at Defiance. The various changes in the county lines of that section are told about in the chapter on the Evolution of Ohio Counties. At the time Paulding was given a full fledged organization in 1839, the county seat was located at New Rochester, a village laid out on the south bank of the Maumee River about one mile north of the present town of Cecil. New Rochester then had the most promising outlook of any village in the county. It was laid out in 1835 by Dr. John Evans, Robert Clemmer, Rev. N. L. Thomas and Rev. Joseph Miller. With such talent it must have had a good reputation. Rev. Mr. Thomas built the first house in the forest clearing and Isaac Savage the second home. When New Rochester became the county seat it boasted of some thirty-five families, had three hotels, two or three general "stores" and two blacksmith shops. All structures were seemingly of logs. Being on the daily stage line which ran between Toledo and Fort Wayne, the outlook was bright indeed. Then in the order of things within the next two years, Paulding's county seat was removed to Charloe, laid out by Benjamin Hollister, who made the town to order for the seat of government. The town site, named for Charloe Peter, an Indian chief, was upon a beautiful, high situation overlooking the Auglaize River, where had thrived an Indian village. There, - 1983 - 1984 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY the Indian squaws had tilled the soil of the bottom lands, and raised vegetables, while their lords and masters fished in the Auglaize and hunted game in the deep, surrounding forests. Just north of Charloe was the old Indian cemetery, and almost to this day in that vicinity, have been found Indian relics, including pipes, silver brooches and other trinkets. Charloe, too, had a flattering outlook until it lost the county seat to Paulding, in 1851. New Rochester never possessed a courthouse and the only term of court held there was over the log store of Gen. H. N. Curtis. The county offices were scattered about the other log structures. In order to get the county seat at Charloe, Hollister built a brick courthouse, size 30 by 40 feet, two stories, with a substantial stone foundation. The county offices were in six rooms on the ground floor, the court room above being finished in black walnut. The building was to remain the property of the county so long as the town remained the county seat. When the removal came, the structure reverted to the Hollister heirs, who, being in affluent circumstances, allowed their claim to default. Becoming common property, the building was used as a church, schoolhouse and a community hall. Even poorer families occupied parts of it as their home. Later, when a new schoolhouse was built, the once seat of justice and county offices became the abode of screech owls and bats, and perhaps on Hallowe'en hobgoblins appeared there. Anyway, about its decay a poet penned these lines "Ah, sad indeed, old house, has been thy lot, In time old age uncared for and forgot; To silent dust thou'rt crumbling unbemoaned, And sadder yet by old-time friends disowned. For many years thou wast fair Charloe's pride, And little dreamed of ills that now betide ; Within thy walls hast stood full many a pioneer, Is there none now to drop for thee a tear?" And as to Charloe- "When Paulding a shire town was made, And thither folks began to wade, Then Charloe's flower began to fade, And droop, and died, and away was laid." 1986 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY The first courthouse in Paulding was built in 1852. It was not as good a structure as the Charloe building. The courtroom in the second story was reached by an outside stairway in the rear. It was burned in 1868, with some valuable records. It was replaced by another building costing $2,000, to be used as a courtroom; and another one-story affair, narrow and long, was put up for county offices. The present well appearing courthouse in the central town square was completed and occupied in 1888. The cornerstone was laid December 21, 1886, by the Masonic order, with appropriate ceremonies. The present substantial jail was built in 1874. Andrew J. Smith, by appointment, was Paulding County's first sheriff, and Matthew Fleming was the first official elected to that office. General Horatio N. Curtis was the first clerk of courts and the first elected county recorder. Andrew Clemmler was the first auditor, William Gordon the first treasurer, and Ezra J. Smith the first probate judge. The original board of commissioners were John Kingery, Thomas Banks and Christian Shroufe. Paulding County is named for John Paulding of Peekskill, New York, one of the three captors of Major Andre in the war of the Revolution. The county contains about 413 square miles and is a part of what is or was known as the great Black Swamp. It is the most level county in Ohio. A locomotive headlight may be seen on the railroad from the grade at Defiance to Antwerp, a distance of more than twenty miles. No basins of importance exist that are not drainable, and the drainage system in the county has wrought almost miracles in making rich, tillable farms, from lands considered almost valueless—except for timber. The largest streams are the Auglaize and Maumee rivers which meet at Defiance. The townships of the county are : Auglaize, Benton, Blue Creek, Brown, Carryall, Crane, Emerald, Harrison, Jackson, Latty, Paulding and Washington. The principal agricultural product is corn, with as high as three and a half million bushels produced in one year. Then comes wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, potatoes and hay; with sugar beets an important crop. The population of Paulding County and growth shown before and since its organization is as follows : 1830, it had 161 inhabitants; 1840, 1,034 ; 1850, 1,766; 1860, 4,945; 1870, 8,544; 1880, 13,485; 1890, 25,932; 1900, 27,528. Since this date, on account of the decrease in the timber TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1987 business and attendant industries, the population has somewhat decreased. In 1920 it was 18,736. In the early settlement days there were several Indian villages along the Maumee and Auglaize within now Paulding County. The occupants were generally peaceable and kindly disposed, except when under the influence of liquor obtained from the white, so-called merchants. Naturally, the pioneer settlers, too, selected locations along the banks of the Maumee and Auglaize for their homes. There they found fishing as well as hunting and had access to the outside world by the water route. Shadrach Hudson is said to have been the first settler within now Paulding. He located in a beautiful situation on the right bank of the Auglaize about a half mile east of the later village of Junction, in Auglaize township where he built his little wilderness cabin. He arrived in 1819, from Miami County, and had been a soldier with General St. Clair's army and was present at St. Clair's defeat. He also served in the army of General Harrison, War of 1812, and it was while on these campaigns that he became attached to the upper Maumee Valley for a permanent abode. Mr. Hudson and his estimable wife entertained many early travelers who passed that way in their pilgrimages, and their wilderness home was a favorite stopping place. Their first neighbor was Isaac Carey who settled on the river near them later in the same year. A son, Daniel Clark Carey, was pronounced the first white child born in Paulding County. This D. C. Carey was one of the probate judges of the county, and held several other responsible positions. Other early settlers on the Auglaize, were Nathan Shirley, 1823, and Thomas Romaine, 1825. Thus it will be noted that the first arrivals located along the Auglaize. However, about 1825 permanent settlements within now Paulding, began along the Maumee. Other arrivals in this section were William Gordon, H. M. Curtis, Dennison Hughes, William Banks, David Applegate and Reason V. Spurrier. In Blue Creek township in the south central part of the county, one of the first settlers, perhaps the first, was Robert Barnhill, and Jonathan Ball was the first arrival in the southwest part of the county in Benton township, where he built the first log cabin in that section. Crane township in the north central portion of Paulding, was named for Oliver Crane its first permanent citizen. There was for some time a post office called Cranesville in that vicinity. The earliest actual settler in Carryall, the northwestern township of the county, was David Applegate; although 1988 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY before him there was James Hinton, a squatter. Up to the present, the name of Snook has been ever familiar throughout Ohio. William H. Snook, Sr., and William N. Snook arrived in Paulding County in 1834. Emerald township received its name because there came here at an early day, emigrants from the "auld sod." William Gordon was among the first and built a log house on the Maumee in 1826. There were no early arrivals in present Latty township. The first was Edward L. Himmell, who built a home in the then wilderness in 1853. The first post office in this township was Gilbert Mills, which was long ago abandoned. In 1828, Joseph Mellinger located on the Little Auglaize and later in the same vicinity came Benjamin Kniss, William Harrell and Dimitt Mackerel. Where Robert Barnhill established himself on Blue Creek, later came John and William Moss from England in 1835. At the first election in Jackson township in 1851, ten votes were cast and William Moss was elected both justice of the peace and township, clerk. From Miami County, after a tedious journey, arrived in 1835 Thomas Wentworth, who located where was the later known Flat Rock settlement on Flat Rock Creek near now the Village of Payne. The first settler in Brown township near present Oakwood in the eastern part of the county on the Auglaize River was Christian Shroufe in 1826. At the election held in 1830, in a territory comprising nearly one-third of the county, thirty votes were cast and Dr. John Kingery was choen justice of the peace. One of the early mills on the Little Auglaize was built by Pierce Evans in 1834; but high water took it out. From an article on Paulding County this story is taken regarding the early elections : "The election was held at the house of John Northrup, the ballot-box being Mr. Northrup's old 'possum skin cap. Dana Columbia of Junction, was a candidate for county commissioner. But after the balloting had proceeded for some length of time, a horseman arrived post-haste, and declared that Columbia was an unfit man for the office and that his character was such that he would be unsuitable for the position. He so influenced several of the voters as to cause them to want to change their votes. After some parleying with the judges and clerks of the election board, it was decided to begin the balloting. `over again.' Accordingly, the old 'possum skin cap was turned upside down, the tickets already cast emptied out and thrown away and a new ballot taken." Mr. Columbia in the "new elec- TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1989 tion" was defeated and the legality of the election never questioned—at least by a suit. The first board of commissioners of Paulding County as noted consisted of Christian Shroufe, John Kingery, and Thomas Banks; Andrew Clemmler, auditor; clerk, Gen. Horatio N. Curtis; treasurer, William Gordon. Andrew J. Smith was the first sheriff, by appointment, and Matthew Flemming, the first elective sheriff. When the office of probate judge was established, Ezra N. Smith was the first probate judge elected in Paulding. The present county officials (1929) are as follows: probate judge, R. V. Shirley; clerk of courts, Hayes A. Genser; sheriff, Frank L. Jackson; auditor, Herbert M. Barnes; treasurer, Albert G. Blakeslee; prosecuting attorney, Mervin Day; surveyor, Ray H. Schultz; recorder, Mary G. Bybee; commissioners, John H. Plumb, Owen L. Jeffery and James M. Bashore. The first board of county school examiners consisted of J. O. Shannon, S. N. Webb and H. A. Brown. The 1929 board are : Prof. Wm. Schumacher, Prof. A. F. Ptak and Mrs. Anna Ritchie. As noted the timber, lumber, stave and hoop-making business was among Paulding's leading early industries. Howe in his work written in 1888, speaks as follows about Paulding's charcoal furnaces: "Charcoal Furnaces—On my way on the railroad from Cecil to Paulding•, about a mile and a half south of the former, my attention was attracted by a huge brown building, and on the plateau beside it, and in contrast with it, lines of structures shaped like beehives, about fifteen feet at the base and about as high. These were on the line of the railroad and Wabash Canal. The beehive-like structures were twenty-three in number, and being white as snow (constructed, I believe, of brick and plastered with lime), formed a strong contrast to the dingy buildings and the dead aspect of the landscape around them. Attracted by the oddity of the scene as I gazed upon it from the cars, I was told that this was the Paulding furnace, the only one in Northwest Ohio, and the beehive-like structures were kilns for the burning of the charcoal. The ores smelted were from Lake Superior. I am informed that beehive ovens will yield, in four days' burning, from forty-five to fifty bushels of charcoal per cord of wood. "This furnace was established here in 1864 by Graft, Bennett & Co., of Pittsburg, and because the country was full of wood. The ore is brought from Lake Superior by lake to Toledo, thence to this point by railroad and canal. 1990 - STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY "This furnace proved a great civilizer. In taking up land there could be no agriculture until the woods were cleared. In a short time they were employing 250 hands in clearing the forest and in other ways, clearing annually 1,000 acres of woodland. They used about 120 cords of wood per day, making forty-five tons of iron. The company built the first railroad in the county, the line from Cecil to Paulding. The furnace is not now running, and the increased and increasing value of the woodland will probably prevent a resumption." The opening of the Miami and Erie, and Wabash and Erie canals gave impetus to the settlement of Paulding County. A number of the employes upon the construction work remained or later returned and the canal of course was an outlet for shipping. Sawmills sprang up at many points and new industries developed. The Village of Junction spoken of and laid out in 1842, was at the junction of the two canals, which fact gave the place its name. Men of foresight even believed it would develop into a rival of Fort Wayne, and several investors moved there from the latter place. It was the transfer point for canal service, both freight and passenger, and the Junction was a busy point. The two or three hotels prospered from the daily line of packets and it hardly seems credible that at this early day there were a number of general stores here, well stocked and prosperous, not to mention several places where wet goods were dispensed. A sawmill had been built in the forties by William K. Daggett, and a water-power flouring mill was constructed at the point in 1865, by Frederick Ruffner. In 1842 a post office was established with John Mason, Sr., postmaster. The town had a canal collector and the view of a dozen canal boats loading and unloading at the docks and warehouses was inspiring. When the railroads came the swan song of the Junction was sung. The story in connection with the early courts of Paulding County will be found in the chapter on the Judiciary, and something of early schools and churches in the general chapters on these subjects. Among the earliest church services were those held at Charloe, where also the first Sunday school in the county is said to have been organized in 1841 by Mr. C. B. West; who with David C. Carey and Dwight C. Blakesly, carried on the work as superintendent for fifty years or more with only slight interruption. The present church organizations in Paulding are the Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Evangelical TOLEDO AND THE SANDUSKY REGION - 1991 Lutheran, St. Joseph's Catholic, Church of the Nazarene and the A. M. E. It was in 1830 that the Rev. J. J. Hill of the St. Marys M. E. Circuit held services regularly in Brown township and the year following began holding meetings in the Milligan settlement. The St. Marys circuit at this time included some 300 miles of travel, and it took about four weeks to make the tour. Regular preach-ing was begun at the Junction in 1849. A Methodist Society was organized at Paulding about 1851, being a mission with Rev. John S. Shaw, pastor. For a few years it was in the Toledo Dis-trict and then in 1859 was included in the Antwerp Circuit with Rev. David Buell, pastor. Paulding became a station in 1887. St. Paul's Church, Payne, was established from a class organized in 1864 by Rev. John Brakefield. The Bethel Christian Church sprang from a meeting held by Elders John Gillespie and John Bushong in 1858, in an Auglaize township schoolhouse. This section was then included in the Auglaize conference but as soon as the church was organized it was transferred to the Maumee Conference. Later, the two were consolidated as the Northwestern Ohio Christian Conference. The United Brethren were established in Paulding County as early as 1846, probably the first gathering being in 1846, in a log cabin at Clark's Corners, under the leadership of David Landis. Later services were held at McCormick's Corners and in Blue Creek township. One of the first physicians of the county, of course of the old school, was Dr. John Kingery, followed by Dr. Royal B. Cooper, Dr. B. B. Woodcock and Dr. Marcellus. From an article on Paulding County written by Nelson W. Webster is taken the following : Doctor Kingery was not only a physician, but a farmer and a shoemaker as well. From an old account book left by him is taken the following entry : December 4th, A. D. 1845. John Kretzinger to John Kingery, Dr.