646 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER LXV.

POLK TOWNSHIP AND GALION

LOCATION - NAME - EARLY SETTLERS - FIRST ROADS -AN INDIAN CAMP-MILLS-FIRST SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS -EARLY RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND PREACHERS - THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GALION-FIRST POST OFFICE AND STOP STORE - CHURCHES - THE RAILROADS AND BANKS-THE PRESS.

THIS township was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow, and bears the name of President Polk. It once belonged to old Richland, but is Low the southeastern township of Crawford County. It contains twenty-one sections of and, considered among the richest in Central Ohio. Gallon, the only important town, is located in the southern part of the township. Its any settlers were principally from New York and Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Leveredge and his sons, James ad Nathaniel, together with George Wood and )avid Gill, came in 1817, and -were the first settlers on the present site of Galion. To these were added, in 1818, Benjamin Sharrock, and, in 1819, Asa Hosford. The Leveredges did the first clearing and put up the first cabins. Benjamin Leveredge's cabin was erected of unhewn logs, near the spring, now within the corporation limits, on Atwood street. That of James Leveredge stood on the site now occupied by David Mackey's fine brick residence on Atwood street, and Nathaniel's stood near the center of the present public square. The old well on the square, filled up several years ago, was dug by him, and was but a few yards from his cabin door.

The vicinity was heavily timbered in those days, and rather swampy. This was twelve years before Galion was laid out.

The Whetstone Creek (formerly called the Olentangy) passes a little north of Galion, and upon land north of this creek, George Wood and David Gill settled in 1818, erecting then.

* Now in Crawford County, formerly in Richland.

cabins near the old army road over which troops passed in 1812, which was, probably, the first road cut through the township by white men. The site of these cabins is yet marked by a few apple-trees.

In those early days, the Wyandot Indians had a camp on the south side of the Whetstone, east of the Catholic Cemetery. They were peaceable, and rendered valuable assistance to the whites at their log rollings, and in the construction of their primitive homes.

Asa Hosford, yet living near Galion, relates that he employed these Indians to assist him at a log rolling, the only pay required for their services being a plentiful supply of whisky. In the evening, after working hard all day, and being slightly intoxicated, they, at his request, executed a war-dance at his house. They placed one of their number, named "Buckwheat," in the center of the cabin floor, and began their dance in a circle around him. They became greatly excited, but Mr. Hosford had taken the precaution to conceal their arms. that they might not be able to commit any serious outrage. After a time, they dragged Buckwheat roughly from his seat, threw him upon the floor, and one of them, placing his foot on his neck, imitated the operation of taking his scalp, and of plunging their knives into him; and Buckwheat played his part well, going through all the necessary motions of a dying white man.

These early settlers were followed in 1820 by Nathaniel Story and Father Ketteridge, the latter living with the former, who was a trapper

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 647

and hunter, and erected his cabin near Reisinger's Corners, west of town. Rev. James Dunlap came m 1822, and Nathan Merriman in 1824, the latter erecting, in the following year, the first distillery in Polk Township. It was located near the spring, before mentioned, and was familiarly known throughout the settlement as the " still house."

About the same year, the first grist-mill in the township was erected by John Hibner on the land now owned by John Burgener. The buhrs were made of "nigger heads." Near the railroad bridge may yet be seen the ruins of this mill. The next mill was built by Asa Hosford, a few years after, on his farm southwest of Galion, which is yet in operation and owned by him.

The first hotel was kept by Asa Hosford in 1824, on the J. R. Clymer property west of town. The large orchard adjoining the property was raised from the seed by Mr. Hosford. He was elected in 1826, the first Justice of the Peace, and was, from the time of his location, one of the prominent men, visiting the State capital frequently in the interest of this section, which owes much of its prosperity to his efforts. He circulated a petition to have a road cut through the woods from Mansfield to Upper Sandusky, and was afterward instrumental in getting a north and south road, from Columbus to Lower Sandusky, through this settlement. The opening of these roads aided largely in developing and settling the country. These roads intersect at Reisinger's Corners, and Main street, in Galion, was formed by that portion of the east and west road, which passed within the present limits of the corporation. Its original course was, however, changed nearly fifty years ago. When laid out, it diverged to the northward at the corner of East Main and North Columbus streets, following the meanderings of Whetstone Creek to a point beyond the present eastern limits of Galion.

The first schoolhouse was erected near the residence of C. S. Crim, on West Main street. in 1822. It was of round logs, and was modeled after the generality of cabins in those days. The first school teacher was David Gill, who, however, only taught two or three weeks, when Asa Hosford took the school and continued it to the end of the term. The next schoolhouse was of "scutched logs " (which means that the logs were lightly hewed on the outside after the building was erected) and stood on the ground now occupied by the old graveyard on West Main street. This building was also used for religious worship. This building having been destroyed by fire, the next school was taught in a log building on the site of Joel Riblet's residence.

The first religious meeting in the township was held in Benjamin Leveredge's cabin, near the spring. It was a Methodist meeting, at which Russel Bigelow, who organized many churches through this county, in an early day, preached a most eloquent sermon. Though possessing a limited education, Bigelow was very eloquent, and one of the most remarkable of the pioneer preachers.

Galion was laid out September 10, 1831, by Michael and Jacob Ruhl, whose father had entered several quarter-sections of land in the neighborhood. The original plat consisted of thirty-five lots, and extended from the Ristine Block, which covers Lot No. 1, to the alley west of the old frame meeting-louse on West Main street.

The first post office was established in 1824, and Horace Hosford was first Postmaster. Mr. Hosford says if they averaged one letter per day, they did well. When this office was established, the inhabitants could not agree upon a name for the town. It had previously been numerously and variously named, but was best known as Goshen, Greensburg, Moccasin and Hardscrabble. The matter was submitted to the Postmaster General, who christened it Galion.

The first store was kept by Horace Hosford, who carried a general stock. At this time, the

648 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

town was situated at Reisinger's Corners, but buildings were rapidly erected upon higher ground, to the eastward, where the new town had been laid out by the Ruhls. The public square became the favorite spot, and the best buildings at the Corners were removed thither. In 1832, Asa Hosford erected upon this square the first frame house in the township. He also erected the first frame barn on what is known as the I. R. Clymer property, west of town, where he had kept the first tavern.

At this time, Jacob Ruhl kept a tavern where the Sponhauer Block stands, and his brother Michael kept the village store in a double log cabin on the Central Hotel corner. The first saw-mill in the township was erected by Jacob Ruhl in 1836, on North Market street, near the bridge.

In the log schoolhouse on Joel Riblet's lot, was organized the first Sabbath school in Galion by Mrs. Sarah Buhl and Mrs. Dr. Johnson. They were Lutherans, and the first religious services of the Lutherans were held in this building.

In 1839, the first brick block was erected by Davis & Bloomer, in which they carried on the dry-goods business for many years. The building is yet standing on the northeast corner of the public square.

The old red brick church, that stood many years on the corner of North Union and West Church streets, was erected in 1840, by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. The Lutherans afterward purchased the Reformed interest. This was the first church, and the Rev. F. J. Ruth, yet living and preaching, officiated at the laying of the comer-stone. The first Pastor was Rev. John Stough.

The same year work was commenced upon the old Methodist Church, yet standing on West Main street, and it was the first fully completed and ready for worship. The ground upon which it stands was donated by Father Fellows, who was an active worker in the church for many years.

Rev. Francis Clymer held the first United Brethren services in 1851, in the old Lutheran Church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church on East Main street, though no longer used for worship, was erected in 1851. Rev. Peter Kreush of the Shelby settlement was the visiting Pastor.

There are at present, eleven churches in Galion, viz.: the Methodist Episcopal, corner of Columbus and Walnut streets ; United Brethren, Walnut street, between South Market and Columbus streets ; English Lutheran, Columbus street, between Main and Walnut ; Baptist, Walnut street, between South Market and Union , Presbyterian, South Market street; German Reformed, West Main street; German Lutheran, South Market street ; German Methodist, corner of South Market and Atwood streets ; Episcopal, Union street, between Atwood and Walnut; St. Patrick's Catholic, North Liberty street, and St. Joseph's Catholic, North Washington street.

Galion became an incorporated village about the year 1840. Joel Tod was the first Mayor.

Between 1850 and 1854, two railroads, the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis, and the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati, were completed to Galion. These were afterward consolidated, and have been for years tinder one management. Their shops were located at Galion, and these, employing a large number of hands, have materially added to the wealth of the place. The Atlantic & Great Western Railroad put in an appearance at Galion in 1863. These three roads with their immense business and shops constitute the life and vitality of the town, which has made some mighty strides since they were completed. Sixty-five per cent of its population, of over five thousand, are railroad employes, and the average monthly sum paid out by these roads, to these employes, is over $40,000.

Many large, fine brick residences, churches and business blocks have been erected in Gal-

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 649

ion within a few years. In 1854, the brick schoolhouse on the comer of Liberty and Church streets was completed, and the first union schools organized by David Kerr, Superintendent. In 1869, the present large, brick school building was erected, costing over $75,000.

The First National Bank was organized in 1864, and the Citizens Bank in July, 1866.

The Galion Weekly Times was started in 1855, by John H. Putnam, who moved the office here from Union City, Ind. The first numbers were printed in the building now owned by James Martin, on East Main street. Dr. D. Alger became a partner, and the name was changed to the Galion Weekly Train. It was independent in politics. In a short time, I. V. D. Moore bought out Alger. When the campaign of 1856 opened, Mr. Moore retired and Jacob Riblet became a partner. The paper became Democratic, and was called the Galion District Democrat. In 1857, Andrew Poe purchased Mr. Riblet's interest. Mr. Putnam soon after left it, and it was sold out on execution. In 1864, it was bought by Matthias brothers, and the paper edited by P. Schnur, who was soon succeeded by H. S. Z. Matthias, and the name changed to Galion Democrat. The paper was soon after abandoned, and the office continued as a job office until July 6, 1865; when the Weekly Review was established by Mr. Matthias as an independent sheet. In 1871, it was purchased by John C. Covert, of the Cleveland Leader, who changed it to a Republican paper, and its name to the Galion Democrat. In 1872, it was purchased by G. W. De Camp, and in 1874, passed into the hands of its present proprietors, A. D. Rowe and F. E. Coonrod, and given its present name, Galion Review.

October 31, 1872, the Galion Sun, an independent weekly newspaper, was established by its present editor and owner, George T. Ristine, and was soon enlarged to its present size. Steam power was introduced in December, 1875, making it the first steam printing house in Galion.